The off the course developments this week were almost as interesting as the competition on the course.
Tiger Watch 2016 may be longer than expected after he looked stiff at a media event and dunked three straight wedge shots in the water at Congressional. Maybe we won’t be seeing him in Dublin in a little over a week for the Memorial.
Elsewhere, Mickelson reached an agreement with the Feds. A former European Ryder Cup Team captain (McGinley) indicated that a former European Ryder Cup Team member (McIlroy) has issues between his ears. (Wonder if his thoughts have changed after Sunday.) And the membership of an Open Championship venue put up the sign “No gurlz aloud.”
Let’s hit the links.
Hole #1: Sergio Wins in Dallas
Sergio Garcia and Brooks Koepka both finished regulation play at 15-under, but when Koepka yanked his drive into the water on the first playoff hole the Byron Nelson title went to the Spaniard. [Link]
Hole #2: The Eagle Has Landed
An eagle on the final hole sealed the Irish Open victory for Rory McIlroy at the K Club. [Link]
Hole #3: Jutanugarn Doubles Up
Ariya Jutanugarn got her first LPGA win two weeks ago. This week she got her second at Kingsmill. [Link]
Hole #4: Mickelson’s Mulligan
Phil Mickelson agreed to return $931,000 in allegedly ill-gotten gains from that insider trading inquiry of a few years ago. Wouldn’t it be nice to be in a position to give up (nearly) a million bucks? [Link]
Hole #5: No More Muirfield for Open
When the membership of Muirfield failed to pass a new rule to admit women members, the R&A acted promptly, and properly, to exclude the club from the Open Championship rota. [Link]
Hole #6: Vandals Strike in Houston
ATV riders tore up the site of the Shell Houston Open. [Link]
Hole #7: Marshmallow
Jordan Spieth has a pretty good trick with a marshmallow. [Link]
Hole #8: The Toughest Greens
Think Oakmont will have the toughest greens of the year? That might not be the case. [Link]
Hole #9: ICYMI Tiger Dunks Three
I don’t think he wanted any part of that third ball. [Link]