Category: Hittin’ the Links

Big three or big four? The best young guns in the game? Rickie Fowler made a strong argument this week in his case for belonging in the heart of the conversation. Forget the Golf Boyz, Rickie. I think we have the makings of a great boy band, and I’d trade swings with any member of R2J2.

Next week, the LPGA will hold golf’s final major of the year, the Evian Masters. And the FedExCup Playoffs continue outside of Chicago at the BMW Championship. Speaking of which, in case you need them, here are the current playoff standings.

Let’s hit the links.

Continue reading “Volume Four Hundred Forty-Nine”

What a year we are witnessing on the PGA TOUR. We came into the year with Rory McIlroy being the undisputed world number one. Then Jordan Spieth seemed virtually unbeatable for a few months. Those two, along with Rickie Fowler, were even being dubbed “the new big three.”

Now Jason Day has joined the party in a big way. With his fourth win of the year coming Sunday at the Barclays, Day has replaced Fowler in the conversation or made it a big four. His 63-62 over the weekend was an incredible display.

Things are shaping up nicely for some epic duels in the future. And just imagine what it will be like if Tiger and/or Phil can get their games together when it matters. It’s going to be fun. Let’s hit the links.

Continue reading “Volume Four Hundred Forty-Eight”

It seemed like it was going to be a fairy tale ending to the regular season for Tiger Woods. In second place after the third round, it just felt like Woods would finally break out of his slump and get his first win since 2013. Instead, a triple-bogey seven on number 11 was a fitting coda to Tiger’s 2015 campaign. But the old Tiger just might maybe be back.

Another old guy, Freddy Couples shot 59… on Wednesday. And yet another won the Wyndham Championship. Let’s hit the links.

Continue reading “Volume Four Hundred Forty-Seven”

With nine top 10s in majors over six years, Jason Day has been on a lot of short lists to finally win one. On Sunday, on the shores of Lake Michigan, it happened.

His final round showdown with Jordan Spieth was great theater, but Day’s six-under 66 proved too much on this day for even the young Spieth who shot 68. The 2015 PGA Championship provided great story lines on a Dye course where birdies seemed about as likely as double bogeys (and where Dustin Johnson made a double-par eight on his opening hole Sunday).

Elsewhere, Brooke Henderson won the LPGA’s Cambia Portland Classic in an eight-stroke romp. And Tiger Woods, who missed the cut at Whistling Straits, announced that he will play the Wyndham Championship in a bid to extend his season.

Let’s hit the links.

Continue reading “Volume Four Hundred Forty-Six”

Will he or won’t he? All signs point to a return to play for Rory McIlroy next week just in time for the PGA Championship. He has a tee time with Jordan Spieth and Zach Johnson. He’s been posting photos and video of himself working out and hitting shots. Indications certainly favor Rory teeing it up Thursday, though he doesn’t have to commit until his official tee time.

Even if the World No. 1’s ankle won’t let him play, the field will be plenty loaded with Speith, the two Johnson’s, Mickelson, Furyk, Watson, Day, Garcia, and, yes, that Woods guy. Plus, oh, about 10 or 20 who could win without totally shocking us, and the rest of the field who we might be surprised to see win, but are fully capable of doing so including, if the stars align just right, the club pros.

Let’s hit the links.

Continue reading “Volume Four Hundred Forty-Five”

Troy Merritt was the class of the Quicken Loans National this week. His 10-under 61 on Saturday followed by a 67 Sunday were three shots better than the nearest competitor. But his story wasn’t the one that many fans were most interested in.

Tiger Woods was in contention after a 68-66 start. In fact, if you only considered Thursday, Friday and Sunday, Tiger Woods (T18, -8) looked an awful lot like his old self this week. Unfortunately, Saturday’s round was a sloppy 74. But even in his struggles, there were flashes of the greatness that led us to first watch in awe when he played. The WGC field might be happy that he won’t be at Firestone next week where he’s won eight times.

Elsewhere, Inbee Park hit a major milestone at the Women’s British Open and self-promotion master Donald Trump managed to not upstage the competition (at least not much). And the EuroTour was practicing for the Ryder and President’s cups at the Paul Lawrie Match Play in Aberdeen. Kiradech Aphibarnrat beat Robert Karlsson to claim the event and his third European Tour victory, becoming the youngest Asian player to reach that mark.

Let’s hit the links.

Continue reading “Volume Four Hundred Forty-Four”

Two players rode the momentum of their good play in the British Open to wins this week. Jason Day did not leave the big putt short this week, and beat a nation’s hope. Danny Willett put together four solid rounds, including a 62, en route to his victory in Switzerland.

Jordan Spieth may have fell short in his Grand Slam campaign, but he did get a drink from the Claret Jug, anyway. Speaking of the jug, the “The Tiger Woods of Iowa,” took his on the usual post-major media blitz.

Not a bad week in golf, unless your Robert Allenby. Let’s hit the links.

Continue reading “Volume Four Hundred Forty-Three”

That was one wild final day of the Open Championship!

For much of the back nine, the likelihood of a 2015 grand slam seemed like a very long shot, indeed. Then, for a short time, it seemed like it was fated to happen. But the cell phones clicked and the ball spun back (like balls aren’t supposed to in links golf) down into the depths of the Valley of Sin. Spieth was left with a difficult putt-chip up the steep ridge to make the playoff. His putt missed one-ball left of the cup.

Just like that, Jordan Spieth came up one shot short of keeping the dream of a modern grand slam alive.

Instead, a player that I never would have guessed to prevail on a links course birdied the first two playoff holes and then hung on through the last two to emerge victorious.

But what a spectacle the Old Course hosted this week… the wind blew, the rain fell, Tiger missed another major cut, Colin Montgomerie’s son worked the scoreboard, Graham DeLaet’s clubs got dusted, Tim Clark withdrew for an odd reason, DJ looked unbeatable and then he didn’t, Watson said goodbye to the Open, no one wanted this birdie, Robson read the names for the playoff and hung up his microphone, the amateurs nearly stole the show, and finally there was a new Champion Golfer of the Year.

What a week! Let’s hit the links.

Continue reading “Volume Four Hundred Forty-Two”

So should Jordan Spieth have played the John Deere Classic the week before he tries for the third leg of the Grand Slam at St. Andrews? When you go out and win, it’s hard to second guess that decision.

Honestly, I think it was a wise decision on his part, the big winner’s check not withstanding. By playing his way into Open Championship week, Spieth avoids having too much free time to think about it. Not to mention he avoids a number of extra pressers where he’d be asked what the Grand Slam would mean to him and does he think he can do it.

Are you stoked for the British Open? Let’s hit the links.

Continue reading “Volume Four Hundred Forty-One”