It was a big weekend in golf: an LPGA major and the third legs of the playoffs on both the PGA Tour and the Web.com Tour.
Weather played a major role at both the BMW Championship in Chicago and at the Evian Championship in Evian, France. The LPGA’s fifth major was shortened to 54 holes, the last 18 of which were played under lift, clean, and place rules. Rain pushed the final round to Monday at the BMW Championship, where Tiger’s final round woes of 2013 continued as he shot even par 71 and finished T11. Meanwhile, another past Masters winner raced up the leaderboard and toward a possible date with destiny in Atlanta.
In this edition of HtL, we have some saucy fare from France, a deep dish or two from Chicago, and some home cooking (for me) from Columbus.
Hole #1: Mr. Fifty-Nine VI
Jim Furyk birdied two of his last three holes on Friday to card the PGA TOUR’s sixth 59. The next best score on a day when the wind averaged 20 mph was 65, turned in by Jordan Spieth and Jimmy Walker. Furyk’s round included 11 birdies, one eagle, and a bogey. [Link]
Hole #2: Pettersen Beats Girl Half Her Age
Suzann Pettersen, 32, shot 68 on Sunday to best amateur Lydia Ko, 16, by two strokes and capture her second major, the inaugural Evian Championship. Pettersen showed the strong competitive side she is known for in refusing to relinquish a two-stroke lead down the stretch. Likely next for Ko: turning pro. [Link]
Hole #3: If Scott Piercy’s Ball Moves in the Woods and There’s No Videographer Present (Because It’s Scott Piercy), Is It a Penalty?
Tiger Woods gets “the talk” from Slugger White following Friday’s Round. Receives two more shots and Sergio on Saturday. [Link]
Hole #4: Golf Tweets on Twitter
Plenty of golf news, tips, and commentary finds its way onto Twitter. Here is one week’s worth of tweets from manufacturers, players, and instructors. [Link]
Hole#5: Soon You’ll Know Who Gets Their PGA TOUR Cards
South Korean Seung-Yul Noh won the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, the third leg of the Web.com Tour Finals, to secure his 2014 PGA TOUR card. The fate of others will be determined in two weeks at the Web.com Tour Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. [Link]
Hole #6: Putting with POTUS
Who plays the most rounds with the president? Vice President Joe Biden? A celebrity? A professional golfer. Nope. It’s Marvin Nicholson. Who? Exactly. [Link]
Hole #7: Disciplining Your Driver
Suffice it to say that this “advanced golf lesson” is best for those who do not pay for their own golf clubs. [Link]
Hole #8: Is It the Archer or the Arrow?
When Stenson goes looking for a new driver he can consult this list of the longest drivers on the PGA TOUR and the drivers they employ. The question, though, is whether it’s the swing or the club that most impacts distance. [Link]
Hole #9: Beware the Charging Hawkeye
Iowa native Zach Johnson charged up the leaderboard to win the BMW Championship Monday afternoon after rain suspended Sunday’s final round. Johnson shot a 65 to finish at -16 and overtake third round leader Jim Furyk who shot an even par 71 and finished -13. Nick Watney shot 64 and slid into second at -14. Johnson’s victory puts him in the coveted top five in the FedExCup standings. That means that if he can win the TOUR Championship, he’s guaranteed to also win the FedExCup. [Link]