The Back 9-Edition 2
The Back 9-Edition 2
1. Tiger Woods barely made the cut at The Memorial (an event he has won 5 times) and then started his third round on the back 9. Woods shot his highest ever 9 hole score in competition; a 44. Perhaps his “new swing” is not quite finished yet.
2. Michelle Wie-remember her? Wie was actually tied for second late into Saturday’s second round at the ShopRite Classic (our fantastic site at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, in New Jersey) before making a double-bogey on the 16th hole. Wie has been on a free-fall over the last 4 years. She was ranked #7 in the world in 2010, #10 in 2011, #31 in 2012 and is now ranked #100. She has struggled with all parts of her game although for the last two months she has incorporated a very unique style of putting where she bends at 90° from her waist with her back parallel to the ground. Wie faded in Sunday’s last round to finish the event in a tie for ninth. That, however, is still her best finish on the year.
3. Is the Champions Tour really relevant anymore? And if you answered no to that question; was it ever really relevant?
4. Speaking of “going high” at Muirfield, former world #1, Rory McIlroy, shot his highest ever opening round in the first round with a 78. He did rally though and made the cut by shooting a 3-under par 69 in the second round before a sloppy 75 in the third round. You don’t need Stevie Wonder to tell you that the young Irish superstar is struggling.
5. It has been a largely controversy free week in golf. Thank you Sergio for not playing anywhere this week and for keeping your mouth closed.
6. Golf’s ‘Mr. Nice Guy’ Matt Kuchar won The Memorial in convincing fashion by shooting a final round 68 after holding the overnight lead. Kuchar has had an astonishing 35 Top 10 finishes on the Tour since 2010. No other player comes close to being that consistent. It is the second win of the year for Kuchar and leaps him into fourth place in the Rolex World rankings which is the highest he has ever been. He may very well climb even higher.
7. The runner-up at The Memorial was 26 year old American Kevin Chappell. Now in his fifth year as a professional, Chappell looks to be really coming into his own as a player and will be somebody to watch.
8. Karrie Webb won her 39th career LPGA Tour event at the ShopRite Classic. The 38 year old Australian Hall of Famer continues to have one of the finest swings in all of golf and for once her putter was as good as her ball striking. In very difficult scoring conditions on the Donald Ross Bay course, Webb rallied from 5 shots behind at the start of the day to shoot a closing round 68 and win by two shots.
9. “Wow N Watney +15, didn’t see this coming. Must be having some personal problems.” This was the Tweet that Nick Watney’s coach Butch Harmon made after Watney shot 15 over par in the first two rounds of the Memorial. Harmon has since deleted his Twitter account and apologized to Watney. When Watney was asked about the Tweet he responded with a curt “no comment”. Don’t take it personally, Butch.
