Last week’s results would have surely injected new life into golf’s 2014 season. After all the moaning, mostly by us journalists, that the list of winners in recent times was taking the excitement out of the game, it was one jackpot after another on Sunday.
Ladies first, so let’s begin with the LPGA. It’s been a dramatic turnaround for the Tour, which is enjoying some of its best time on and off the golf course. And Jessica Korda’s win at the Airbus LPGA was another fine result for them.
The LPGA is doing well because a lot of good things are happening for them simultaneously. Firstly, the American girls are winning. Secondly, established names like Paula Creamer and Michelle Wie have started winning again.
The youth brigade, led by Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson and Korda, are playing great golf. Then there is the fantastic geographical diversity in the origin of winners – Aussie Karrie Webb, Korean Inbee Park, Chinese Shanshan Feng and Norwegian Suzann Pettersen.
Add to that fact that the ladies have been just brilliant in their interactions with the fans, sponsors and media. So, today, you have more fans attending LPGA Tour events, which are getting more media coverage and most importantly, it has been able to attract several new sponsors.
Korda has the potential to become one of LPGA’s poster girls as she is young (21), good-looking, very talented (this was her second LPGA victory) and has a great story.
As is quite well known now, she is the daughter of former tennis player, Petr Korda, the Czech who won the 1998 Australian Open.
Up north in Michigan, at almost the same time, Colin Montgomerie won his first major – albeit on the Seniors Tour. Monty showed the old boys why he was such a threat in his debut season, winning the Senior PGA Championship by four shots.
The Scotsman is a character and a fighter to the core. He remains extremely competitive, and not the most liked player in America. With all this, the Seniors Tour should be a fun place.
However, it was Rory McIlroy’s BMW PGA Championship win and Adam Scott’s brilliant effort at the Colonial that will be remembered more by fans.
I personally thought McIlroy would struggle for a couple of weeks before settling down for the US Open. But his win proved once again what an awesome player he is to be able to channel his energy and focus to the game after calling off his wedding to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki.
As for Scott, it was just amazing how he turned around the tournament after being two-over halfway through the second round and almost set to miss the cut. To win from there and retain his No1 crown was a stunning effort.
The victories, and the way they were achieved, should definitely add to the excitement at next month’s US Open.
Mickelson outlines his plans
Phil Mickelson may be having the worst time of his career on the golf course – not a single top-10 since finishing second in Abu Dhabi in his first tournament of the season, as well missing the cut at the Masters – but that doesn’t seem to have made any dent in his confidence level.
Perhaps Lefty is just trying to pick himself up and practicing lessons in self-motivation, but this is what he had to say in an interview with ESPN on what the future holds for him.
“The next five years are going to be the best of my career. I’m going to win a bunch of tournaments. I’m going to win at least one US Open, maybe two. And I’m going to make the 2016 Olympic team. And really, I’d love to make the 2020 Olympic team. I’d be 50. How cool would that be?”
The US Open win is realistic – and I’d hate to see him end up with six runner-up finishes and no wins in his national open – but surely, a place in the US Olympic team in 2020 is far-fetched.
Of course, Mickelson could replicate Miguel Angel Jimenez and play some scorching golf even at the age of 50, but I can foresee several other young Americans ahead of him in the rankings.
If he does make it to the team in 2020, it would be a sad reflection on American golf.
Walker’s birdie shot
At the Colonial last week, FedEx Cup leader Jimmy Walker hit a birdie with his tee shot on a 387- yard, par-4 hole. If you are perplexed as to how, he actually hit a bird mid-air with his shot.
The bird was not injured, and Walker saved a par after the ball dropped to the edge of the fairway.
Quote of the Week
“I love playing with Korda. It’s also really great playing with Charley as well. You feel old but it was a lot of fun.” – Michelle Wie, 24, speaking after playing with eventual champion 21-year-old Jessica Korda and 18-year-old Charley Hull at the Airbus LPGA Classic.
Stat of the Week
-5 – Adam Scott’s score on the par- 3s during his win at the Colonial last week. Normally, one would think that the winner would have exploited the par-5s better. But he was only three-under par for the par-5s.
