Tour golfer update
Shell Houston Open
We know Stuart Appleby enjoys golf in Hawaii. He won the tour's season opener there...and not for the first time. But his mainland golf looked a little less spectacular this year, with just one top 20 finish in his last six starts.
That record changed at the Shell Houston Open. The Australian began as he meant to go on, shooting 66 on Thursday to take a lead he never lost. And what was a two stroke lead going into the final round ended up as a six shot rout as challenger after challenger faded.
His score for Sunday's round was the second-lowest of the field (no danger of a choke there), and he was the only player to break 70 every day. For the record, Bob Estes, Steve Stricker, Mathias Gronberg and Jerry Smith filled the next four places.
Like many Australians, Appleby exudes a relaxed self-confidence. And whatever it is they put in the water down there, it seems to work: Aussies hold exactly a third of this year's PGA Tour titles.
This throws up some questions about the nature of international team competition. Perhaps it's the "international" team that's the strongest, and the Ryder Cup is just about bragging rights for second place?
Monday, April 24, 2006
That record changed at the Shell Houston Open. The Australian began as he meant to go on, shooting 66 on Thursday to take a lead he never lost. And what was a two stroke lead going into the final round ended up as a six shot rout as challenger after challenger faded.
His score for Sunday's round was the second-lowest of the field (no danger of a choke there), and he was the only player to break 70 every day. For the record, Bob Estes, Steve Stricker, Mathias Gronberg and Jerry Smith filled the next four places.
Like many Australians, Appleby exudes a relaxed self-confidence. And whatever it is they put in the water down there, it seems to work: Aussies hold exactly a third of this year's PGA Tour titles.
This throws up some questions about the nature of international team competition. Perhaps it's the "international" team that's the strongest, and the Ryder Cup is just about bragging rights for second place?
Monday, April 24, 2006
Verizon Heritage
It was a good weekend for Aaron Baddeley.
On the Saturday, he celebrated his first wedding anniversary with wife Richelle.
On Sunday he spoke at a special Easter service on the 18th green at the Harbour Town Golf Links (Baddeley is a devout Christian who is very open about his faith).
And a few hours later, he won his first PGA Tour title; beating Jim Furyk by a shot to take home the Verizon Heritage title and just under $1 million. Enough to pay for more than a few candlelit dinners.
Furyk was up among the leaders from the start, and it took Baddeley two further rounds to catch up; they were tied for the lead as round 4 started. The young Australian's cause was helped by a monumental eagle on the 18th on Friday, compensating for a triple bogey earlier in the round.
Baddeley's Sunday play was a little more tremulous than on previous days. Fortunately, his five birdies were one more than his bogeys. And Furyk missed his birdie putt on the 18th to hand his opponent a virgin win.
Monday, April 17, 2006
On the Saturday, he celebrated his first wedding anniversary with wife Richelle.
On Sunday he spoke at a special Easter service on the 18th green at the Harbour Town Golf Links (Baddeley is a devout Christian who is very open about his faith).
And a few hours later, he won his first PGA Tour title; beating Jim Furyk by a shot to take home the Verizon Heritage title and just under $1 million. Enough to pay for more than a few candlelit dinners.
Furyk was up among the leaders from the start, and it took Baddeley two further rounds to catch up; they were tied for the lead as round 4 started. The young Australian's cause was helped by a monumental eagle on the 18th on Friday, compensating for a triple bogey earlier in the round.
Baddeley's Sunday play was a little more tremulous than on previous days. Fortunately, his five birdies were one more than his bogeys. And Furyk missed his birdie putt on the 18th to hand his opponent a virgin win.
Monday, April 17, 2006
The Masters
How times change. Not so long ago, Phil Mickelson was the "best golfer never to win a major." Then he won the Masters in 2004.
So people asked whether he'd be a one-major wonder, like so many before him. Then he won the PGA Championship, the last major of 2005.
And the questions stopped.
After the 2006 Masters, the questions are back. But this time people wonder if he might do the Grand Slam. He's halfway there, but it's a bit like suggesting someone might conquer Everest because they already made it to Base Camp.
Mickelson himself dismisses talk of such achievements, saying, "Let's settle down Grand Slam talk and stuff," and adding later on Sunday... "I don't think about ultimately...leaving a legacy...I just try to play well and compete and hopefully win as many as I can."
The Masters victory wasn't as assured as his 13-stroke win the week before. But that was less about Mickelson's play and more about the quality of the competition. Early in the fourth round, some big names were clustered around the top of the leaderboard.
Including Tiger Woods.
In fact, all seemed set for a Tiger charge. And his five birdies would have sent us into a playoff, were it not for the three bogeys that went with them. Woods blamed his putting, missing three and six foot eagle opportunities, among others.
The other contenders all fell away; some gently, others with more drama. Rocco Mediate was up there, but saw his chances sink -- literally -- after visiting the water a couple of times and taking 10 on the par-3 12th.
In the end, it was the consistency of Mickelson that undid the field. Never in danger, his only fourth-round bogey came on the 18th hole when he was already three clear of the rest and had half an eye on the green jacket.
For all Tiger's dominance, the golf world years for a bit of competition. Talk of a Big Five faded along with Singh's form and Els's knee. But Phil Mickelson looks to have added some serious spice to the rest of the golf year. Next up: the US Open at Winged Foot.
Monday, April 10, 2006
So people asked whether he'd be a one-major wonder, like so many before him. Then he won the PGA Championship, the last major of 2005.
And the questions stopped.
After the 2006 Masters, the questions are back. But this time people wonder if he might do the Grand Slam. He's halfway there, but it's a bit like suggesting someone might conquer Everest because they already made it to Base Camp.
Mickelson himself dismisses talk of such achievements, saying, "Let's settle down Grand Slam talk and stuff," and adding later on Sunday... "I don't think about ultimately...leaving a legacy...I just try to play well and compete and hopefully win as many as I can."
The Masters victory wasn't as assured as his 13-stroke win the week before. But that was less about Mickelson's play and more about the quality of the competition. Early in the fourth round, some big names were clustered around the top of the leaderboard.
Including Tiger Woods.
In fact, all seemed set for a Tiger charge. And his five birdies would have sent us into a playoff, were it not for the three bogeys that went with them. Woods blamed his putting, missing three and six foot eagle opportunities, among others.
The other contenders all fell away; some gently, others with more drama. Rocco Mediate was up there, but saw his chances sink -- literally -- after visiting the water a couple of times and taking 10 on the par-3 12th.
In the end, it was the consistency of Mickelson that undid the field. Never in danger, his only fourth-round bogey came on the 18th hole when he was already three clear of the rest and had half an eye on the green jacket.
For all Tiger's dominance, the golf world years for a bit of competition. Talk of a Big Five faded along with Singh's form and Els's knee. But Phil Mickelson looks to have added some serious spice to the rest of the golf year. Next up: the US Open at Winged Foot.
Monday, April 10, 2006
BellSouth Classic
There were really two tournaments going on at the BellSouth Classic. Phil Mickelson played in one, and the rest of the field played in the other.
He started off on Thursday with a 63. And Friday's 65 gave him a six-shot lead that never looked in danger. By Saturday night that lead had grown to eight strokes. And on Sunday, the winning margin was a slender 13 shots.
It's hard to craft any kind of report about such a performance; it's not like the lead was changing hands over the final holes. There was only ever going to be one winner.
One of Mickelson's colleagues got it right. Zach Johnson noted, "...it was a display of perfect golf."
For the record, Johnson tied with Jose Maria Olazabal for second.
The real story is perhaps what this ultimately means for this week's Masters tournament. With question marks over Tiger's form, as he has other priorities right now (his Dad's poor health), is the stage set for Mickelson's second Masters?
One view was that he may have peaked too early.
But Mickelson doesn't see it that way, citing previous tournaments where he's carried good form from one to the next. He added, "I don't feel like this is not repeatable...I'm certainly not going to shoot this many under par at Augusta...but I should be able to play well."
The bookmakers still have Tiger as favorite. As of this morning, one bookmaker has the reigning champion at 5-2, with Mickelson second-favorite at 6-1.
Monday, April 03, 2006
He started off on Thursday with a 63. And Friday's 65 gave him a six-shot lead that never looked in danger. By Saturday night that lead had grown to eight strokes. And on Sunday, the winning margin was a slender 13 shots.
It's hard to craft any kind of report about such a performance; it's not like the lead was changing hands over the final holes. There was only ever going to be one winner.
One of Mickelson's colleagues got it right. Zach Johnson noted, "...it was a display of perfect golf."
For the record, Johnson tied with Jose Maria Olazabal for second.
The real story is perhaps what this ultimately means for this week's Masters tournament. With question marks over Tiger's form, as he has other priorities right now (his Dad's poor health), is the stage set for Mickelson's second Masters?
One view was that he may have peaked too early.
But Mickelson doesn't see it that way, citing previous tournaments where he's carried good form from one to the next. He added, "I don't feel like this is not repeatable...I'm certainly not going to shoot this many under par at Augusta...but I should be able to play well."
The bookmakers still have Tiger as favorite. As of this morning, one bookmaker has the reigning champion at 5-2, with Mickelson second-favorite at 6-1.
Monday, April 03, 2006
