Maybe we should all be traveling to Scandinavia for our golf vacations. They seem to play some awfully good golf there. In fact, it was a Scandinavian Slam this week on the major tours. Two Swedes and a Norwegian claimed titles on the PGA TOUR, European Tour, and LPGA Tour, respectively. Skål!
The struggles of the #175 (and falling) golfer in world continue. I followed Tiger Woods for his last five holes at Muirfield Village, and I was far from alone. Even shooting over par and dead last of those who made the cut, Tiger still moves the needle. Several thousand were walking with Woods, at a brisk pace, as the five-time Memorial winner played his final round of the 2015 tournament alone and in just over three hours.
Final U.S. Open qualifying tees off Monday morning. Major #2 of the year is getting close. Let’s hit the links.
Hole #1: Lingmerth Breaks Through at Jack’s Place
The Memorial Tournament’s final round featured Jordan Spieth shooting a 65 to post 13-under early; Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose, and David Lingmerth battling to better that number; a cat call; a water ball; and a shank that dropped a patron. In the end, it was Lingmerth joining Keith Fergus, Kenny Perry, Tom Lehman, Justin Rose, and defending champ Hideki Matsuyama who all notched their first PGA TOUR win at the Memorial. Lingmerth had to survive a three-hole playoff with Rose, coincidentally, to get the win with a par at the tenth at Muirfield Village. [Link]
Hole #2: A Tale of Two Woods
Woods shot a 63 on Thursday. That was Cheyenne setting a course record in the Manulife LPGA Championship. [Link] Woods shot an 85 on Saturday. That was Tiger shooting the worst score of his pro career after scrambling like mad Friday to make the cut. [Link]
Hole #3: Charge Comes Up Just Short
Suzann Pettersen’s 69 was good enough to withstand Brittney Lang’s 7-under par (65) charge on Sunday for a one stroke victory at the Manulife LPGA Classic in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. It was her 15th career LPGA title. [Link]
Hole #4: Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
Men Only. That’s the rule in the main dining room at Sherwood CC, a place that Bruce Jenner frequented as a member but Caitlyn Jenner might not be permitted. [Link]
Hole #5: Jack Nicklaus, Underachiever
Could the winner of 18 major championships be an underachiever? He seems to think so. But he also credits that feeling of underachievement as a motivation that led to more successes during his career. [Link]
Hole #6: Noren Soarin’
It was a four-shot romp in the wind for Alex Noren in the Nordea Masters. [Link]
Hole #7: Did He Do It to Himself?
Are Tiger’s on-course troubles all of his own doing? Brandel Chamblee thinks so. [Link]
Hole #8: Look Out Cameramen
Steve Williams is back. Williams and Adam Scott will reunite for the last three majors of 2015. Scott has been struggling of late and hopes to recharge his career with the guy who carried the bag for his one major, the 2013 Masters. [Link]
Hole #9: Are You Getting Excited?
Chambers Bay promises to be a very different U.S. Open venue. Players who have visited have professed both love and hate for the links. It should be fun. [Link]