Sweet 16!

It’s the God’s honest truth that in my life I can never recall making anything close to a 16 on a hole. Not that it means I’m super badass or anything because 16 strokes are a lot of strokes! Well, in the first round of the Valero Texas Open, 27-year-old Tour star Kevin Na suffered that fate…the fate of a nasty 16 on the 474 yard par four 9th hole at the TPC San Antonio Oaks Course. It was jokingly described by Aussie Geoff Ogilvy as “a comedy of errors” as he watched NA hack around in the woods as he stood on teebox in the group behind. Have no fear Kevin, that six footer you made for a 16 put you just behind the record of a 17 from the 1998 Bay Hill Tournament. And who performed that masterpiece? You guessed the master of blow-up himself ‘Long’ John Daly! See the comedy below.

Where in the World Are...

...Rory's sticks???

Apparently on the way out of Augusta Rory McIlroy charted a plane to Kuala Lumpur for this week's Euro Tour stop. You can trust those private charters, right? Well apparently not as upon landing in Kuala Lumpur McIlroy learned that his golf clubs have come up missing. I know what your thinking...they came up missing on Sunday at Augusta too right? Shame on you. Anyway, I am taking theories on where the sticks may be.

Oh and one more extra punch in the face...A Green Jacket clad Charl Schwartzel was a fellow passenger on the plane. Coincidence???

May the Schwartz-el Be With You

Growing up as a boy in Johannesburg, South Africa Charl Scwartzel emulated his great countryman Ernie Els. After joining the youth programs as a teenager he got to not only meet his idol, but almost become a protege to Els. But on Sunday at Augusta National he did something his mentor was never able to do in his great career – slip into the Green Jacket as a Masters champion. His fabulous final round 66 included a 30 yard chip in birdie on the difficult 1st, a 100+ yard eagle hole out on the 3rd, and four straight birdies to close the round. He leaped the field in tremendous fashion on his way to a two-shot victory that wasn’t entirely decided until the final few holes.

Ninth ranked player in the world 21 year old Rory McIlroy slept on a 4-shot 54-hole lead entering Sunday and was vying to win the Green Jacket in wire-to-wire fashion. After a mediocre 37 on the front nine that nearly evaporated his lead, the 10th hole buried the youngster. After hitting tree off the tee his ball bounded nearly 50 yards left of the fairway near the cabins, where he was forced to chip out leaving him over 250 yards to the green. Another wild hook, a bad chip that struck a tree, and a merciful two-putt lead to an ugly triple-bogey seven and essentially killed his hopes mentally. A double-bogey on “Golden Bell” and a couple more bogies led to a final round eight-over 80 and a tie for 15th. It was difficult to watch, but the young man took it in stride and I’m sure will learn from the experience.

The all too familiar roars were out on Sunday…the Tiger Roars! After sticking a three wood to 12 feet on the par five 8th, Woods found a way to roll in the eagle putt sending echoes through the lob-lolly pines and almost shaking the 4th green where the leaders were putting. This eagle got Tiger to five under on the day and ten under for the tournament, and more importantly just one shot back entering the final nine. But a three put bogey on “Golden Bell”, a failed opportunity on “Azalea” and a missed eagle chance on “Firethorn” lead to an even par second nine, giving him the clubhouse lead with a lot of players in contention yet to finish.

2008 US Open champ Geoff Ogilvy matched Woods –10 clubhouse lead with an epic display of five straight birdies on the back nine and a 31! Luke Donald was next, despite a crippling water-logged double-bogey on “Golden Bell” he was able to get to the house matching Woods and Ogilvy at –10. It wasn’t until the dueling Aussie group of Adam Scott and Jason Day dashed the hopes of a 5th Green Jacket for Tiger coming to the house at –12. Scott led for much of the late back nine sweeping in birdie putts and par saves with his long putter. While Day just hung around and rallied by closing with birdies on both 17 and 18. But they had no idea on the display Scwartzel was putting on behind them.

After an easy birdie at the par five “Firethorn” Scwartzel rolled in a 20 footer on the Verne Lundquist announced “Redbud.” He then averted the Eisenhower Pine enroute to another birdie at “Nandina” putting him in position of only needing a par on the closing “Holly.” He did one better by rolling in another 20+ footer for birdie to the pleasure and exclamation of my brotha Jim! He posted a 14-under-par 274 and received the Green Jacket from Phillip in the friendly confines of Butler Cabin amongst my brotha, close personal friend Chairman Billy Payne, Low-Am Hideki Matsuyama and his translator.

Sunday was an unbelievably competitive day at Augusta National where and unheard of seven players had an outright or share of the lead at some point in time during the day. In the end it was the 26 year old South African who cashed in on the biggest win of his career…a Green Jacket. As usual the top 16 and ties are invited back for the 2012 edition: T2 Adam Scott and Jason Day, T4 Tiger Woods, Luke Donald, and Geoff Ogilvy, 7 Angel Cabrera, T8 Bo Van Pelt and KJ Choi, 10 Ryan Palmer, T11 Justin Rose, Steve Stricker, Lee Westwood and Edoardo Molinari, T15 Fred Couples, Trevor Immelman, Brandt Snedeker, Ross Fisher and Rory McIlroy.

Plunging into the Winner’s Circle…In a Major Way

After the World’s #1 Yani Tseng passed 36-hole leader Stacy Lewis to lead by 2 strokes entering the final round of the Kraft Nabisco, the LPGA’s first major of 2011, it seemed all but academic for a Sunday stroll for the Tapaian Tseng. But as the winds picked up in Rancho Mirage, CA and the scores skyrocketed it was the former Arkansas Razorback Lewis, who stood up to the challenge.

Lewis’ impressive final round 69 in the face of the #1 player in the world, showed that there is more promise in the 26 year old then she has shown in her first two full seasons on the LPGA. Although she was able to score a few top 10 finishes in her first two seasons, she had not cashed in a title like she was predictably supposed to after her outstanding play in her first professional appearance at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open at Interlachen. She lead after the opening round in that event only to fall short in a tie for 3rd, a distant five shots behind winner Inbee Park. That event seemed to pave the way for immediate success for the former razorback…but it just never came.

In 2009 she finished a mediocre 47th on the money list, mustering just under $300,000, with a T4 as her best finish. That season also included a T9 at the LPGA championship. She improved a bit in 2010 finishing 21st on the money list grossing over $550,000, while finishing second to Ai Miyazato in the Tres Marias Championship in Mexico. But she still only compiled four top ten finishes (none in majors) throughout all of the 2010 season. All of this makes this breakout performance in the first major of 2011 unexpected, but not surprising.

Lewis struggled at a young age with scoliosis, which caused her to wear a back brace through much of her young life. But after clearing up the issue, it gave her the determination to move forward and become one of the better players growing up in her age group. She complied a very impressive amateur record winning such accolades as SEC Freshman of the Year, SEC Player of the Year, National Champion (Individual), along with many tournament victories. She was also a member of the winning 2008 US Curtis Cup team where she became the first ever to go 5-0 in that event! Those finishes along with that strong finish in the 2008 U.S. Woman’s Open, were all reasons why many thought she was poised to be a threat on the LPGA.

This big first career win may open the floodgates for Lewis, who has already collected over $370,000 in earnings in 2011, putting her third in overall standings. Also, her seemingly head to head victory over the top rated player in a major, shows she can win anytime, anywhere, and under any set of circumstances. Lewis no doubt earned the victory plunge she and her family made into Poppy’s Pond off the 18th green at Mission Hills Country Club. Although not without collateral damage...as her mother fractured her leg after making the leap! I guess the least Stacy can do is pay the medical bills, right?

Wat, My ROY, The Scot, and Lefty: The pre-Masters Southern Swing

With the Championship Week and the NCAA Basketball Tournament on CBS (shameless plug) I have been extremely immersed in collegiate hoops. But now that it’s winding down and my brotha Jim is calling the national championship game tonight, it has officially kicked off ‘A Tradition Unlike Any Other’ Week. But first let me describe the results from the last few weeks in the Florida Swing.
At the WGC Cadillac Championship 20-something American Nick Watney out played an extremely deep field at ‘The Blue Monster’ to capture his most prestigious crown to date. He was able to hold off fellow American Dustin Johnson, Dane Anders Hansen and Italian Francesco Molinari for a one shot victory and punch his already punched ticket to Augusta.
In the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook in the Tampa area rookie Gary Woodland continued his outstanding onslaught of the PGA Tour with his first career victory in come from behind fashion. He edged 54-hole leader Webb Simpson by one stroke on a highly contested Sunday, earning a spot in the top ten of the Fedex Cup standings, and an all-important trip in the field at Augusta. I’ll brag about this all year if his hot hand continues, as he was my pick for Tour Rookie of the Year.

Another stellar field was put together at Arnie’s place, as fast starts gave way to struggles on Sunday for many of the top players. As the week went on average scores plummeted and Scotsman Martin Laird held a two shot 54-hole lead and increased it even further on the front nine on Sunday. He lost a couple of wheels coming in, but had enough of a lead to par the closing hole for a one shot victory (his 2nd career PGA Tour win) over Steve Marino, who continues to be a PGA Tour bridesmaid.
Many of the stars came out to Houston for the Augusta warn-up known as the Shell Houston Open, but to many it was their last chance to earn a spot in the Masters. But Houston was not to be for the guys on the outside looking in as Phil Mickelson lapped the filed over the weekend firing an impressive –16 (63-65) for his first win since the 2010 Masters. He is looking to repeat his ‘Win for the Family’ this week for his 4th Green Jacket. Runners up Chris Kirk and Scott Verplank came up 3-shots short for the automatic bid.

Special shout outs to Michael Bradley who won the official / unofficial Puerto Rico Open and to the guys from Lake Nona who dominated to defeat Isleworth, Albany and Queenswood to retain the Tavistock Cup.

It’s Masters week…time to strap in and get it on!