It was not the best week in golf for many who have devoted their professional careers to the game. But we’ll get to that.
It was, however, an awesome week in golf for a guy who’s mere presence at the event is story enough.
It was also a very awesome week for a certain German golfer we know. And the LPGA launched perhaps their most innovative event to date. Let’s hit the links.
Hole #1: Langer in a Laugher
We can already hear Ivor Robson introducing. “Now teeing off for the Team Europe in the 2014 Ryder Cup… Bernhard Langer.” It could happen. At Royal Porthcrawl this week, Langer won the Senior Open Championship by 13 strokes over runner-up Colin Montgomerie, the largest winning margin in senior major history. His victory fueled speculation that he might be one of Paul McGinley’s captain’s picks (So why isn’t this also being said about the guy who’s won TWO senior majors this year and finished second in another? Isn’t it time to be nice to Monty?) [Link]
Hole #2: Go Lyle Go
After battling two bouts with Leukemia, Australian Jarrod Lyle is back to playing golf. Amazingly, he finished T11 at the Midwest Classic in his re-debut on the Web.com Tour. [Link] [And More]
Jarrod Lyle posts 4-under 67 in his first competitive round after leukemia battle. Tremendous story.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelGC) July 24, 2014
Hole #3: A Charging Clark
Tim Clark made five birdies on the back nine on Sunday to pass Jim Furyk enroute to an RBC Canadian Open victory. [Link]
Hole #4: No One Expects the Spanish Inquisition
The LPGA launched an interesting new event last week. The International Crown (held at Caves Valley GC in Owings Mill, Maryland) pitted four-player teams from eight countries (determined by world golf rankings) against each other. Teams were divided into two pools, and over the first three days each team played four-ball matches (aka best ball) against every other team in the pool. The top two teams in each pool, plus one wildcard team, then advanced to Sunday singles. The Spanish team of Azahara Munoz, Carlota Ciganda, Beatriz Recari, and Belen Mozo prevailed, much to our surprise. Also, much to our surprise, the Americans failed to make it to Sunday. If you missed it, you’ll have to wait until 2016 for the next one. It will be played every other year, so as not to detract from the Solheim Cup. [Link]
Hole #5: Summer Reading List
Need something good to read? The New Yorker has unlocked its archive, including all of its stories on golf. [Link]
Hole #6: Bike Golf
OK, we’re intrigued. Our favorite cardio sport and our favorite club and ball sport collide. [Link]
Hole #7: Are Soggy Pro-V1s Really Worth This?
This man survived a SECOND gator attack on golf course: http://t.co/TIHUtncwVo
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigestMag) July 24, 2014
Hole #8: Dicks
Dicks Sporting Goods gave pink slips to the more than 500 PGA professionals who worked in the stores. This can’t be good news for golf, in general, and certainly not for the pros who sold equipment, did fittings, and reshafted countless “disciplined” clubs in the retail outlets. [Link]
Hole #9: Golf World Is No Longer in Print
Today is the last day of work for 10 writers and staff @GolfWorldUS print gone http://t.co/8teSDmaCWj via @fishbowlny
— Danielle Tucker (@TheGolfClub) July 28, 2014
Bonus Hole: Dimples
We couldn’t leave you on the total downer. Here’s an interesting story about how you might someday drive a car that looks like your golf ball (at least part of the time). [Link]