It’s a tough year for 54-hole leaders. At Bay Hill, Henrik Stenson joined the dubious ranks of those who failed to convert their Saturday lead into a Sunday victory. At points, he looked invincible, but a late three-putt undid a lot of solid ball striking.
This week, we got our last look before the Masters at world #1 Rory McIlroy and the short game looked shaky, but he still managed a T11 finish. The Irishman will also be the new face of EA Sports PGA TOUR 2015 video game, replacing Tiger Woods who held that role for 15 years.
Also this week, Arnold Palmer’s course design company announced its first project in Scotland. The King will build a second course at Castle Stuart. And we also saw not one but two albatrosses over the weekend, which was pretty cool.
Let’s hit the links.
Hole #1: Winning at Bay Hill Every Time
It used to be Tiger’s tournament to lose, now it might be Matt Every’s. Every came from three-strokes down in the final round. His closing 66 lifted him past Henrik Stenson and a fading Morgan Hoffman to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational for the second straight year. [Link]
Hole #2: Golf’s Rarest Shot
It’s a one in a million shot, the albatross or double eagle. On Saturday, Daniel Berger made the first in the history of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. On Sunday, Zach Johnson made the second. [Link]
Hole #3: Kim Wins in Phoenix
Hyo Joo Kim won the JTBC Founders Cup in Arizona. Her final round 67 included five birdies on the last eight holes to take three-stroke victory over second-place Stacy Lewis. [Link]
Hole #4: LPGA Rookie Surprised to Learn of Record
Alison Lee’s 63 on Saturday tied the course record at the JTBC Founders Cup, a fact that Lee was unaware of until reporters told her. [Link]
Hole #5: Where Do College Golfers Come From?
How does your state fare? Surprising that sunny Florida produces just a few more collegiate golfers than wintry Ohio does. Not surprising that California sends more than double that number to Division 1 schools. [Link]
Hole #6:Hawaiian Golf Gangs
From the “You can’t make this up” category, a city bus in Pearl City, Hawaii, was damaged by one group of young males trying to attack another group that had just hurriedly boarded the bus. [Link]
Hole #7: Must Swede TV?
“The Parneviks” launched this past week on Sweden’s TV3. As you might guess, it’s a zany reality show based on Jesper Parnevik, his family, and a steady stream of Swedish celebrities visiting his Florida home. [Link]
Hole #8: Marco Dawson, Conquistador
Marco Dawson got his first Champions Tour win Sunday at the Tucson Conquistadores Classic. Bart Bryant finished in second, one stroke back. [Link]
Hole #9: Euro Tour Calls It
Four days of high winds, heavy rain, and soupy fog led to the cancellation of the Madeira Islands Open, when it became clear they would not get the necessary 36 holes in. [Link]