Bad lies
It’s been a week for all of us to digest Tiger Woods’ amazing win in the Masters.
Many people, myself in included, think it was the best tournament they have ever watched. Some think it’s the greatest comeback in all sports.
Tiger certainly gave us a lesson in course management. From the 12th to the 17th he was magnificent. He played away from the water at the 12th, 13th and 15th holes by aiming at least 45-feet to the safe side of the pin.
At both the 14th and 17th where there is no water he attacked the flag. His putting was also spot on. He never left himself 4 or 5-foot second putts, which add to the pressure over the final 9 holes.
He stuck to his plan and he knew, after Molinari’s tee shot at the 12th found water, that all he had to do was play the final 6 holes in par or better, and he was likely to win.
After reading that Francesco Molinari was aware of the branch that his ball hit on the 15th, I feel even more sorry for him. He knew if he played a normal wedge shot the ball would go under the branch. But, because he was in the second cut (rough), his ball popped up higher than normal and hit the branch.
That’s the problem with golf. If you don’t love the game enough it’s no fun, but if you do, it will break your heart.
Here are the PGA Tour players with the most wins
7th - Billy Casper – 51
In 1968 he won 6 tournaments. His wins spanned from 1956 to 1975, and in 1968 he won 6 events in one year. He also scored the most points of any American in the Ryder Cup.
6th – Byron Nelson – 52
Byron won 18 tournaments in 1945 alone, which is a record. Another record is the 11 that he won in a row.
5th – Arnold Palmer – 62
He won 8 tournaments in 1960, five years after his first win.
4th – Ben Hogan – 64
Hogan’s first win was in 1938 and his last was in 1959. Between 1948 and 1953 he won 8 of his 9 majors. During that time he also had a car accident. Doctors said he would never walk again, never mind play golf.
3rd – Jack Nicklaus – 73
Jack’s 18 major wins is a record, as are the 19 times that he was a runner-up. From 1962 to 1978 Nicklaus won an average of 4 tournaments per year.
2nd – Tiger Woods – 81
After his Masters win he’s now within one of Sam Snead’s total.
1st – Sam Snead – 82
Snead won the Greater Greensboro Open in 1938, the first of his eight wins in that event. His last was in 1965, a full 27 years later, at the age of 52 years and 311 days. In 1950 Snead won 11 tournaments, which is the second most behind Byron Nelson in one year.
Snead always disputed the number of 82. He believed he won more that weren’t counted as official events even though all the best players played in them.
Jack Nicklaus on Tiger’s win:
“It’s great to see Tiger be happy. He’s had a lot of unhappy times, some that he caused, I suppose, and some that happened. And I think he’s in a good place right now, and I think he’ll work to be in a better place. I was very happy for him, and I was proud of him.”
“What’s the saying? A rising tide raises all boats? He certainly is a rising tide, and he’s certainly going to raise the level of the game. That’s important to all the guys out there. They all want to see Tiger play well. Sure, they want to beat him, but that’s what it’s all about is the competition and beating someone at their best. Golf is in such a good place right now.”
Directly after Tiger’s win, Nike released this advert:
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The Round Golf Podcast…
This week on The Round Golf Podcast with Richard Kaufman he interviews John E Morgan.
The amazing story of the English golfer - and now Sky Sports broadcaster, who went from the Europro Tour to the PGA Tour in a matter of months. The American dream took a turn for the worse with an epileptic seizure, but John had already gone close to becoming the first golfer to win a PGA Tour event with blue hair! His anecdotes come thick and fast; the schoolteacher who picked on him, the international career cut short by a night out and a chance meeting while a buggy boy in Spain.
Make sure you click on this link TOMORROW, to access the podcast or you can subscribe to the podcast on itunes.
When the Ball Hits Back…
Here’s a great stat from the Mark Broadie, the Golf Stats Man...
The leaders in the fewest cuts missed over the last two years:
1 – Justin Thomas – 5%
2 – Dustin Johnson – 5,6%
3 – Tommy Fleetwood – 5,9%
4 – Bryson De Chambeau – 7%
5 – Hideki Matsuyama – 10%
6 - Tiger Woods – 10,5%
7 – Emiliano Grillio – 10,7%
T8 – Justin Rose & Rafa Cabrera Bello – 11,1%
10 – Rickie Fowler – 12,5%
Around the world
• CT Pan won his first PGA Tour title at the RBC Heritage at one of my favourite places, Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. His 4-under 67 set the clubhouse target at 12-under 272 while overnight leader, Dustin Johnson unravelled on the back nine. Matt Kuchar bogeyed the 17th and finished second on 11-under, while Patrick Cantlay, Scott Piercy and Shane Lowry tied for third at 10-under. Johnson made bogeys on the 11th, 12th & 13th and then double-bogeyed the 14th & 15th. His 77 saw him drop into a tie for 28th at 4-under. Rory Sabbatini tied for 10th at 7-under.
• Brooke Henderson successfully defended her title in the Lotte Championship at the Ko Olina Golf Club in Hawaii. That has taken her tally up to eight LPGA wins – a tie for the most by a Canadian alongside Sandra Post. She entered the final round in a tie with Nelly Korda and then shot a 2-under 70 to finish on 16-under 272, winning by four over Eun-Hee Ji. Ariya Jutanugarn and Minjee Lee tied for third at 11-under. Korda made an 8 at the last that sealed up a 77 which saw her drop back into 8th place on 9-under. Lee-Anne Pace tied for 40th on 2-under.
• Scott McCarron had a wire-to-wire win in the Mitsubishi Electric Classic at TPC Sugarloaf, racking up his ninth Champions Tour title. He shot rounds of 68-70-71 to finish at 7-under 209 and won by two over Jerry Kelly (who shot a 5-under 67) and Joe Durant, Kirk Triplett and Kent Jones, who all shot 69.Retief Goosen tied for 54th on 9-over & David Frost tied for 6st at 11-over.
• Lanto Griffin won the Web.Com’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Championship in a play-off with Robby Shelton. He shot all four rounds in the sixties at The Senator Course in Alabama, but it was the birdie at the last that saw him tie with Shelton at 15-under 273. They parred the first three play-off holes before Griffin made birdie at the fourth to take the title. Oliver Bekker tied for 10th at 8-under and Tyrone van Aswegen tied for 26th at 5-under.
• Brendan Jones broke a 3-year drought with his 15th Japan Tour win at the Token Homemate Cup 2019. His bogey-free final round 7-under 64 at Token Tado Country Club in Nagoya included an eagle and 5 birdies and it gave him a winning total of 15-under 269, one clear of Matthew Griffin who shot a 65. Koumei Oda was third at 13-under. Shaun Norris was in a group tied for 18th at 7-under. Oliver Bekker tied for 10th at 8-under and Tyrone van Aswegen tied for 26th at 5-under.
• Matt Spacey won the season-opener of the 2019/2020 Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour series at Centurion Country Club. Following a second round 10-under 62, he shot a final round 69 to win on 16-under 200. Clayton Mansfield birdied the last to finish alone in second on 14-under, while Ruan de Smidt finished third a further two shots back.
• Samuel Simpson won the Boland Amateur Strokeplay at Paarl GC. The Bellville golfer shot rounds of 70-68-70 to win on 11-under 277, one clear of Kyle de Beer. Jordan Duminy was third at 7-under and Keagan Thomas fourth at 4-under.
• Donald Trump was so excited by Tiger Woods’ win at The Masters that he has decided to give him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He tweeted: - Spoke to @TigerWoods to congratulate him on the great victory he had in yesterday’s @TheMasters, & to inform him that because of his incredible Success & Comeback in Sports (Golf) and, more importantly, LIFE, I will be presenting him with the PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM! Tiger will be the fourth golfer after Arnold Palmer; Jack Nicklaus and Charlie Sifford to be given the Medal.
• For many years Mizuno have made the finest irons in golf. The new driver that was launched at this year’s PGA Show was also excellent and received rave reviews. Now they have got a golf ball that matches up to the rest of their product and Golf Digest agrees and have given it their Gold Award. For all you Mizuno fans, the RB Tour & RB Tour X it should be arriving soon.
Who’s up this week?
(Please note that this is the entry list as at Monday & is subject to change)
•PGA TOUR - Zurich Classic of New Orleans (team event) – Ernie Els & Trevor Immelman; Dylan Frittelli & Joaquin Niemann; Branden Grace & Justin Harding; Louis Oosthuizen & Charl Schwartzel; Rory Sabbatini & Brian Gay
• European Tour – Trophee Hassan II – Erik van Rooyen; Dean Burmester; Darren Fichardt; Richard Sterne; Jacques Kruyswijk; Christiaan Bezuidenhout; Haydn Porteous; Justin Walters; Zander Lombard; Louis de Jager; Scott Vincent
• LPGA - HUGEl-AIR PREMIA LA Open – Ashleigh Buhai & Lee-Anne Pace
• LET - Lalla Meryem Cup – Stacy Bregman; Laurette Maritz; Lejan Lewthwaite; Nobuhle Dlamini
By the rules
One of golf’s most controversial rules was changed when the new rules went into effect from January 2019.
Previously you were only allowed to repair ball marks or old hole plugs on the green.
They have now simplified the rule and added that any marks can be repaired. That includes shoe heel prints, flagstick indentations or spike marks.
This will eliminate any confusion, as to what a blemish on the green was caused by. Although, unlike many of the changes, which I believe will speed up play, this probably won’t, but I do believe it will save a lot of discussion and arguments.
On tour with Dale Dale Hayes Golf appreciates the ongoing support of City Lodge & SkyNet. The driving range
This month Elsabe Hefer looks at old faithful drills to help you brush up on some of your golf shots in preparation for Club Champs or for your game in general.
This week she looks at a drill to improve your bunker play.
Elsabe Hefer is a Fellow Member of the PGA; a former Gauteng North PGA Teacher of the Year and PGA Top 20 Teacher. She is the Head Teaching Professional at Zwartkop Country Club.
Tour News European Tour, Sunshine Tour, PGA and LPGA Tour schedules. Take a look at all the events plus the international golfing events coming up soon. And, to finish off.. The rare hole-in-one, the perfect fluke ever, it’s the best feeling in golf. Celebrate – get the certificate and have bragging rights forever! For further information and to join, contact Margaret on (012) 654-1144 or click here to send an email.
The Masters
“At my first Masters I got the feeling that if I didn’t play well, I wouldn’t go to heaven.” - Dave Marr
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