Ror-y-ing His Way to Augusta

Only a few years ago Rory Sabbatini was known as a brash arrogant youngster whom many of the golf writers loved for headlines and fans hated. Like an ’05 incident in DC where, because of slow play, he started to play the 18th hole before his playing partner Ben Crane finished the 17th. Or in ’07 where after blowing a five stroke final round lead to Tiger Woods, he filled the golf gossip columns with his calling of Woods “more beatable now then ever.” These events along sparked venom amongst the golf pubic.

But this talented South African has seemed to grow into his own over the past few years to become a consistent competitor on the PGA Tour. Heading into this past week’s Honda Classic, Sabbatini had quietly amassed five career wins with his last being at the ’09 Nelson. And heading into the weekend at a blowing and cool Palm Beach Gardens Florida, his game seemed head and shoulders better then the rest of the field. And with the pending WGC Cadillac Championship looming this strong field contained the likes of Lee Westwood, Greame McDowell, Luke Donald, and Ian Poulter among other top rated players from around the world.

After an amazing 64 on Friday and an impressive follow up 66 on Saturday, it seemed like Sabbatini was in for a Sunday stroll at the famous “Bear Trap.” He approached the final round with a five shot lead on veteran fan-favorite Jerry Kelly and ’09 PGA and Honda Classic Champion Y.E. Yang. The improved weather on Sunday lowered scoring significantly, but the South African was able to hold his five shot lead through the turn. And then came some speed bumps.

Yang slowly but surely converted some birdies while Sabbatini continued to be a par machine. After a huge mistake bogey on the par four 14th the final group moved to the beginning of the “Bear Trap” with Sabbatini only leading by two stroke. Yang was first to strike and staked a shot to within 18 inches and a kick-in birdie on the difficult par three 15t h, consequently the closest shot of the week. And even though his once five shot lead was cut to one with three holes to play, this is where the talented South African failed to be outdone. He rolled in a much needed birdie putt on the 16th to all but clinch the title, and was able to negotiate the rest of the “Bear Trap” to finish the week at nine under-par and a one shot winner over Yang, who’s birdie at the 18th was not enough. Kelly finished two shots back and solo 3rd for the Wisconsin native.

As for Sabbaini, it was another memorable week for the now Stetson clad Texas transplant. He cashed in his sixth career title and cemented himself in the field at the ’11 Masters. His career finishes at the majors are anything but impressive as all but once has he finished any better then T20. In 2007 he did though have a magical week at Augusta finishing in a tie for second behind the champion Zach Johnson. In 2010 he failed to make a cut in the three majors he teed it up in, and did not participate in The Open Championship. But with this solid start in 2011 he looks to resupplant himself as the dominant Rory in the world of golf. But I’m sure Mr. McIlroy will have something to say about that!

Cool Hand Luke

Just like the movie Luke Donald was unfazed and unbreakable at the 2011 Accenture World Match Play crushing the will of top 64er after top 64er. Coming into the week at the Ritz Carlton Course at Dove Mountain in Tucson, AZ, the Englishman was ranked 9th in the World Golf Rankings – what he didn’t know is that he would leave the weekend ranked 6th!

In a week where Tiger Woods made headlines again with a shocking first round defeat to the ‘Great Dane’ Thomas Bjorn; it was all about the worldwide youth movement. Rickie Fowler backed up a solid first round win with a runaway crushing of world #4 Phil Mickelson. The now former World #1 wasn’t safe either as he was dispatched in round two by the youthful and improving Nick Watney. With Martin Kaymer being the only #1 seed to advance to the ‘Sweet 16,” this event was once again (as always) up for grabs.

The final eight in contention in the desert were: Ryan Moore (12) v. Luke Donald (3); Matt Kuchar v. Y.E. Yang (11); Martin Kaymer (1) v. Miguel Angel Jimenez (6); and Bubba Watson (5) v. J.B. Holmes (6 – alternate seed for taking Tim Clark’s slot). On Saturday morning it was clear that some players were ready and other were just flat out not! Donald jumped all over ex-US Amateur Champion Ryan Moore and rode it to a dominating 6 & 5 victory. Kuchar did much of the same to Yang, although the Korean made some ground up on the back, he was just too far back. Kaymer as grabbed a huge lead on his fellow Euro Ryder Cupper, but a flurry on the back nine got “The Mechanic” to the 18th, before dropping the game 1 down. But the battle of the long-ballers Watson and Holmes, may have been the match of the week!

J.B. was absolutely dominating in all aspects through the first ten holes as he held a five-up lead over the reigning champion at the Travelers and Farmers. But when you hit the ball like Bubba (and like J.B. for that matter) no lead or deficit is safe. Bubba chipped away into the lead and through 16 holes was down dormie-two with two holes to play. He hit a miraculous approach at the difficult par four 17th for an almost kick-in birdie to force the 18th. After Bubba drove it into the right trap Holmes drove it into the left rough and instead of playing it safe, tried to play a near impossible shot deeming himself unplayable in the desert and extra holes. In another marathon hole where Holmes hit the ball all over God’s creation, Bubba was able to par the hole and eliminate the stunned Holmes who lost the biggest lead in WGC match-play history.

But that wasn’t the only round Bubba had to play that day. The world’s number two-ranked player Martin Kaymer awaited him after his marathon against Holmes. Donald and Kuchar, who didn’t have to wait, got out on the course significantly earlier and played a very lop-sided match. This one seemed over midway through the opening nine as the Englishman blew out the normally consistent American 7 & 6 to earn a spot in the final. Kaymer and Bubba finally got out on the course and played a highly competitive see-saw battle that went down the 18th again, as Kaymer was able to hold off Bubba not only securing the slot in the final match, but securing the number one spot in the World Golf Rankings.

The four remaining players woke up to an incredibly cold and snowy morning in the Sonoran Mountains, where Dove Mountain collected over an inch of snow! The snow dissipated before the final matches began, but old man winter made his presence felt with the wrath of cold and blustery conditions. In the third place match, Bubba seemed to be worn down from an incredibly long week and fell down quickly to Mr. Consistency Matt Kuchar. The former US-Am Champ and Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket fended off a back nine surge from the long hitting Watson to the tune of a 2 & 1 victory. It was a solid match between two U.S. Ryder Cuppers.

The same flow could been seen the championship match between the two Euro Ryder Cuppers, as Luke Donald did what he did all week and took off out of the gates to a 3-up lead through five holes against newly anointed World #1 Martin Kaymer. The stubborn German did not back down and actually squared the match by the end of the outward nine. But some loose play from Kaymer coupled by some solid shots from the Englishman gave Donald the Accenture Match Play Championship and moved him to #6 in the new World Golf Rankings. The most incredible thing about Donald’s week was that he never once trailed in a match…not once! This win made him the second straight Englishman to bring home this title, following Ian Poulter’s 2010 victory.

***Special shout out to the man with two last names, Johnson Wagner, who was a winner for the 2nd time in his career in Mexico at the Myacoba Classic. Although this win does not get him the automatic bid into the Masters, it does get him 250 all important Fedex Cup points.