Tour golfer update
Fedex St.Jude Classic
Golf is a pressure game. Even more so when something close to a million dollars is at stake - a missed putt, a dropped place, and you just let the price of a very expensive car slip away.
Not to mention the ranking points at stake, and all that means for appearances at the big events later in the season.
So imagine the pressure faced by Justin Leonard as he approached the 1st hole on Sunday. Victory was his, but only if he held on to a slim 8-shot lead. Hang on a minute...
Yep, following in the tradition of Kenny Perry at last week's Colonial, Leonard took an eight shot lead into Sunday, but almost managed to enter the Hall of Infamy by letting David Toms get to within one stroke when all the scores were in.
On the LPGA Tour, Annika Sorenstam sparked talk of a slump (yeah, right) by only finishing third at the LPGA Corning Classic. The winner was Jimin Kang, who overtook Sorenstam on her way to a two-shot victory.
She was helped by a hole-in-one on Sunday, about which she said, "I think it bounced, one bounce in, twice, I couldn't tell. You wonder why I wear glasses." She also noted that her first-ever win on the tour wasn't likely to sink in until "...the check goes into my bank."
In Europe, the BMW Championship went to Angel Cabrera, who held off a strong challenge from Paul McGinley to claim the $830,000 first prize.
The event was overshadowed by the news that Darren Clarke's wife was admitted to hospital on the eve of the tournament. She's been undergoing treatment for cancer, and all here wish her and the family the very best.
The Champions Tour's first major - the Senior PGA Championship - went to a playoff, where Mike Reid beat Dana Quigley and Jerry Pate on the first hole.
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Golf is a pressure game. Even more so when something close to a million dollars is at stake - a missed putt, a dropped place, and you just let the price of a very expensive car slip away.
Not to mention the ranking points at stake, and all that means for appearances at the big events later in the season.
So imagine the pressure faced by Justin Leonard as he approached the 1st hole on Sunday. Victory was his, but only if he held on to a slim 8-shot lead. Hang on a minute...
Yep, following in the tradition of Kenny Perry at last week's Colonial, Leonard took an eight shot lead into Sunday, but almost managed to enter the Hall of Infamy by letting David Toms get to within one stroke when all the scores were in.
On the LPGA Tour, Annika Sorenstam sparked talk of a slump (yeah, right) by only finishing third at the LPGA Corning Classic. The winner was Jimin Kang, who overtook Sorenstam on her way to a two-shot victory.
She was helped by a hole-in-one on Sunday, about which she said, "I think it bounced, one bounce in, twice, I couldn't tell. You wonder why I wear glasses." She also noted that her first-ever win on the tour wasn't likely to sink in until "...the check goes into my bank."
In Europe, the BMW Championship went to Angel Cabrera, who held off a strong challenge from Paul McGinley to claim the $830,000 first prize.
The event was overshadowed by the news that Darren Clarke's wife was admitted to hospital on the eve of the tournament. She's been undergoing treatment for cancer, and all here wish her and the family the very best.
The Champions Tour's first major - the Senior PGA Championship - went to a playoff, where Mike Reid beat Dana Quigley and Jerry Pate on the first hole.
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Bank of America Colonial
Last time Kenny Perry won this event (2003), it was overshadowed by Annika Sorenstam's appearance. Despite winning again on Sunday, by a margin of seven strokes with a record-tying score, he again had to share media attention with a lady. This time playing elsewhere...
Paula Creamer became the second youngest ever to win on the LPGA tour. She's just 18 and graduating high school this week. The good news for ladies golf fans is that a Wie / Creamer rivalry sounds like the sort of match up that will drive even more interest in the woman's game.
Her victory came in the Sybase Classic, where she just squeezed in one shot ahead of Gloria Park and Jeong Jang, commenting afterwards, "I can't speak, let alone think."
In Europe, David Howell reprised his bridesmaid performance of the week before by losing in a playoff again. The happy bride this time was Stephen Dodd, who won the Nissan Irish Open and a check for just over $400k.
On the Champion's Tour, D.A. Weibring took the Bruno's Memorial Classic.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Last time Kenny Perry won this event (2003), it was overshadowed by Annika Sorenstam's appearance. Despite winning again on Sunday, by a margin of seven strokes with a record-tying score, he again had to share media attention with a lady. This time playing elsewhere...
Paula Creamer became the second youngest ever to win on the LPGA tour. She's just 18 and graduating high school this week. The good news for ladies golf fans is that a Wie / Creamer rivalry sounds like the sort of match up that will drive even more interest in the woman's game.
Her victory came in the Sybase Classic, where she just squeezed in one shot ahead of Gloria Park and Jeong Jang, commenting afterwards, "I can't speak, let alone think."
In Europe, David Howell reprised his bridesmaid performance of the week before by losing in a playoff again. The happy bride this time was Stephen Dodd, who won the Nissan Irish Open and a check for just over $400k.
On the Champion's Tour, D.A. Weibring took the Bruno's Memorial Classic.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
EDS Byron Nelson Championship
So much for the much-vaunted Big 5. By Friday night, it was already the Big 4, after Tiger Woods missed the cut (his first in 143 tournaments - a record likely to remain for some time).
Then by the end of play on Sunday, it was the Big 0, with victory honors going to the little-known (until now) Ted Purdy. Runner up was rookie Sean O'Hair, a 1-2 you'd probably have got good odds on last week.
Perhaps it's churlish of us to always focus on the top players. Time to give a little respect to the depth of talent in golf these days.
Of course, on the LPGA, it's not so much a focus on the top players, as a focus on the top player. Not only did Ms Sorenstam win the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship, but she did so by 10 strokes and thus recorded her 60th win, and 4th in the last 5 tournaments she's entered.
The golf world is, quite frankly, running out of superlatives, and possibly regretting using them all up for Tiger Woods.
Elsewhere, Jim Thorpe took the Blue Angels Classic on the Champions Tour. And in Europe, the The Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters went to Thomas Bjorn.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
So much for the much-vaunted Big 5. By Friday night, it was already the Big 4, after Tiger Woods missed the cut (his first in 143 tournaments - a record likely to remain for some time).
Then by the end of play on Sunday, it was the Big 0, with victory honors going to the little-known (until now) Ted Purdy. Runner up was rookie Sean O'Hair, a 1-2 you'd probably have got good odds on last week.
Perhaps it's churlish of us to always focus on the top players. Time to give a little respect to the depth of talent in golf these days.
Of course, on the LPGA, it's not so much a focus on the top players, as a focus on the top player. Not only did Ms Sorenstam win the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship, but she did so by 10 strokes and thus recorded her 60th win, and 4th in the last 5 tournaments she's entered.
The golf world is, quite frankly, running out of superlatives, and possibly regretting using them all up for Tiger Woods.
Elsewhere, Jim Thorpe took the Blue Angels Classic on the Champions Tour. And in Europe, the The Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters went to Thomas Bjorn.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Another day, another dollar. Vijay Singh held off Jim Furyk and Sergio Garcia in a playoff to win for the third time on tour this year and pocket a 7 figure winner's check.
At the start of Sunday you'd have got good odds on a Singh win. Garcia was six shots clear of the field and in form.
In the event, he shot a solid par round, only to find Singh and Furyk both shooting 66s to force the extra holes.
On the LPGA Tour, the expected Sorenstam win never materialized after she took five over par in the first round, though she recovered to come in T12.
Instead, the Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill went to Cristie Kerr.
On the European Tour, the Telecom Italia Open went to Steve Webster, his first win after five second places and ten years on tour. But he was probably most pleased by the 75 kg of Grana Padano cheese that came along with the prize money.
Monday, May 09, 2005
At the start of Sunday you'd have got good odds on a Singh win. Garcia was six shots clear of the field and in form.
In the event, he shot a solid par round, only to find Singh and Furyk both shooting 66s to force the extra holes.
On the LPGA Tour, the expected Sorenstam win never materialized after she took five over par in the first round, though she recovered to come in T12.
Instead, the Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill went to Cristie Kerr.
On the European Tour, the Telecom Italia Open went to Steve Webster, his first win after five second places and ten years on tour. But he was probably most pleased by the 75 kg of Grana Padano cheese that came along with the prize money.
Monday, May 09, 2005
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
And a good day for Tim Petrovic. His earnings for winning the Zurich Classic were almost as much as he got from the entire 2004 season. So no danger that he'll have to go back to delivering pizzas, as he once did when his golf career was faltering.
Petrovic beat James Driscoll in a playoff.
Over on the LPGA, Stacy Prammanasudh won the Franklin American Mortgage Championship by three shots from Lorena Ochoa. It was her maiden win.
Second-placed Ochoa also holds that position on the LPGA money list for 2005 (no need to ask who's first).
On the European Tour, Ernie Els modified his swing and got back to form in some style. He almost lapped the rest of the field, finally winning the BMW Asian Open by a 13 stroke margin.
On the Champions Tour, Jim Thorpe won the FedEx Kinko's Classic.
Monday, May 02, 2005
And a good day for Tim Petrovic. His earnings for winning the Zurich Classic were almost as much as he got from the entire 2004 season. So no danger that he'll have to go back to delivering pizzas, as he once did when his golf career was faltering.
Petrovic beat James Driscoll in a playoff.
Over on the LPGA, Stacy Prammanasudh won the Franklin American Mortgage Championship by three shots from Lorena Ochoa. It was her maiden win.
Second-placed Ochoa also holds that position on the LPGA money list for 2005 (no need to ask who's first).
On the European Tour, Ernie Els modified his swing and got back to form in some style. He almost lapped the rest of the field, finally winning the BMW Asian Open by a 13 stroke margin.
On the Champions Tour, Jim Thorpe won the FedEx Kinko's Classic.
Monday, May 02, 2005
