Congressional Rors

It was a laugher. The 111th US Open held for the third time at Congressional Country Club’s Blue Course produced one of the most lop-sided victories in the history of the illustrious tournament, and crowned a champion who has now been dubbed the heir apparent to Tiger. Rory McIlroy’s record setting 16-under-par 268 was the most impressive victory in the US Open since Tiger obliterated the field by 15 strokes in 2000. McIlroy’s wire to wire victory boasted rounds of 65-66-68-69, and more impressively, only 4 over par holes the entire week! But is it fair?

No I’m not questioning if Rory versus the field is fair because obviously it is only his second career Tour victory and first career major. What I’m questioning is the media blitz that is crowning him as the next Tiger. The quotes from players like Padraig Harrington all but guaranteeing his ascent to the top and eventual breaking of Jack Nicklaus’ 18 major championship record. And although he is the same age as Jack when he won his first title, please remember that McIlroy is the same kid who crumbled on the back nine on Sunday at the Masters, firing an 80 and blowing a 4-stroke 54-hole lead!

I’m not saying that McIlroy doesn’t have the potential and game to get to that Tiger-esque domination, but also take note that at this point in Tiger’s career, he had already won over 20 PGA Tour events! He looked like an unstoppable force and it was only a matter of ‘when’ not a matter of ‘if’ he was going to break Nicklaus’ major record. Between knee and Achilles injuries, pancake waitresses, pornstars and his wife taking a nine-iron to his grill (allegedly) his world is currently in shambles. But let me quickly point out that Tiger is sitting on 14 majors, only four shy of tying Jack, and a whopping 13 majors ahead of Rory!

I’m not saying Tiger will break any major records, but if healthy why doesn’t he have a chance? What I do know right now is that I would put money on Tiger passing Jack before Rory passing Jack. Nothing against this outstanding young man, in fact, I’m a huge Rory fan, but what I am essentially trying to say is we need to curtail all of this Rory-Jack-Tiger conversation for a bit. I would just like to see him win a few more majors before this conversation arises. Sure, he’s a pro’s pro with arguably the best swing in golf, amazing maturity for his age, and a personality and swagger people tend to gravitate toward. But there’s a lot of majors to win and a lot of young talent and potential looming for Mr. McIlroy.

Ask Dustin Johnson, Lee Westwood, Jason Day, Hunter Mahan, Rickie Fowler, Luke Donald, Bubba Watson, Nick Watney, Paul Casey, Matt Kuchar, Ian Poulter, Molinari’s Squared, Adam Scott, Steve Stricker and Justin Rose about wanting a major. Have you heard of Matteao Manassaro or Ryo Ishikawa? What would Sergio Garcia do to get a major? Is Phil Mickelson done winning majors? Or Charl Schwartzel? Or Graeme McDowell? Or Martin Kaymer? How about Louis Oosthuizen, YE Yang, Zach Johnson, Geoff Ogilvy or even Angel Cabrera? What about Tiger Woods for that matter? My point is that competition is so strong right now and there is so much parity on the PGA Tour and worldwide that nobody’s game is safe.

Sure, I would be extremely surprised and disappointed if McIlroy does not cash in on another major championship. I don’t even think it’s out of the question that he’ll win another one this season, but the talk needs to stop. I want to see how Rory handles the pressure of going for number two…three...four etc. How he deals with the stress of success and winning or disappointment and losing. And more importantly how he deals with the impending return of Tiger. To me all of that is in question and we may get some answers next month at Royal St. George’s. What I do know, is that McIlroy’s total and utter domination of a US Open track warranted talk of greatness, but will that quiet confidence he seems to carry, continue to keep that spring in his step?

This is a story that will unfold over the next decade and I’m more than ready to watch what this young man is capable of achieving. We may see even more of those ‘Congressional Rors’ at future major venues. He’ll get his opportunity at Green Jacket redemption next April at Augusta.

PS – Welcome American’s Robert Garrigus and Kevin Chappell to The Masters on CBS on the strength of each of their T3 finishes!

Oh, Oh, Oh...My God

Obviously 'Golf Boys' brainchild Ben Crane is a funnier guy then anyone who doesn't know could ever imagine. To think up and perform a golf boy band and have the means to produce a video is genious. Totally crushing most casual fans and outsiders view of the stuffy country club game, the youngsters on the tour have found and proclaimed a reputaion of their own, and it's not your fathers game anymore. With the help of the long-hitting fan fav Bubba Watson, the boyishly flamboyant and just as popular Rickie Fowler, and the ever brazen and solid Hunter Mahan; Crane has led the 'Golf Boys' as a viral explosion and You Tube sensation. Please view the below link to see the 'Golf Boys' debut song 'Oh, Oh, Oh' as Farmers Insurance is donating funds for charity by the amount of views the link generates. So its not all just about comedy and fun, it's also for a good cause.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DEBUT OF THE 'GOLF BOYS'

Pre-US Open Swing

Of course its US Open week and I haven’t had an update since The Masters. I am still trying to get over the fact that a South African named Charl won the ‘Tradition Unlike Any Other.” But he deserved it! Anyway it has been a long stretch between then and now so here is a quick overview of the events and pairity that has transpired on the PGA Tour.

Man of Steele


In Texas the wind blowed and the scores were high in a less then stellar field at the TPC San Antonio. But Rookies Brandan Steele and Kevin Chapell fought tooth and nail to stay atop the leaderboard for a first victory. Despite charges from Brandt Snedeker and Charley Hoffman, the steady Steele brought home his first win and an invitation to the 2012 Masters.

Southern Gentleman

In the tournament formerly known as the Verizon Heritage, the pros took their games to one of the PGA’s oldest and most enjoyed tour stops…Harbourtown! The field was paced by top 3er at the time Luke Donald, accuracy and putting guru Ben Crane, Aussie Jason Day, and the awkward southerner Tommy (2-gloves) Gainey; among others. But nobody saw the Sunday charge from good ole Tennesseean Brandt Snedeker. “Sneds” fired a final round seven-under 64 to force a playoff with Donald with Gainey just one shot too many. On the second playoff hole the former Vanderbilt Commodore Snedeker sealed the deal, thwarting Donald’s chance at World #1 and capturing the Tartan Jacket for his second career win.

Bayou Bubba

In New Orleans it was a new week and the same Bubba. Of course it was another tournament sponsored by an insurance company, so it was no wonder that the reigning Travelers and Farmers champion cashes in at Zurich. Although it was not easy for the long hitting tour favorite, as it took a playoff with the talented youngster Webb Simpson who has been knocking on the door for a couple years now. But Bubba was just a bit too much on the par five playoff hole, and jumped into the winner’s cirlce for the third time in his career.

Like A Glove

In Charlotte, at the fair but difficult Quail Hollow, the field was dominated by Tigers and not of the Woods variety. Former Clemson Tiger’s Lucas Glover and Jonathan Byrd held off a Sunday charge from Rory Sabbatini to make it an all orange and purple final. One back and in the final group, Byrd made an unbelievable birdie three on the extrememly difficult 72nd hold to force the playoff. On the first playoff hole the 2009 US Open Champ Glvoer closed out his former teammate with a par four, stopping Byrd’s chance for his second win in 2011.

KJ-Ation

I spent a lot of time watching NBC’s coverage of the Tour’s claimed “5th Major”, but still didn’t get the initiative to write an entry. The tour’s deepest field took to the risk reward TPC Sawgrass for the annual Players Championship. The week was headlined by the return of Tiger Woods to competitive action, but just as soon as he teed it up, the was a WD next to his name. After showing visable signs of pain, and lack of game firing a 9-hole six-over 42, ‘The Striped One’ called it quits for the week. This led to one of the more interesting and entertaining Sunday’s since the wild one at Augusta. It seemed like a two horse race with vetrans David Toms and KJ Choi, but an unexpected visitor named Paul Goydos made another magical Sawgrass run. He came up a bit short as Toms and Choi capped their day deadlocked. On the first playoff hole, the signature island green 17th, the always steady with the flatstick Toms, inexplicedly missed a three-foot par putt basically giving Choi his biggest win to date. But don’t think he didn’t earn it!

Toms-Toms-Toms-Tooooooommmmms

On the heels of the disappointment of his 2nd place at Sawgrass David Toms prmptly came out on fire at the short but challenging Colonial. He opened the tournament with back to back eight-under 62’s and took a commanding stranglehold on the third leg of the Texas swing. A thrid round four-over 74 brought the field back into the mix and actually made it into a competitve tournament. Sunday was a two horse race between Toms and Charlie Wi, and a steady 67 from led to some vidication from his putting woe at the Players and a one shot victory at Colonial.

Rookie Fever

It was another windy and difficult scoring week in Texas as the Tour contined their stay in the Dallas Metroplex at the Byron Nelson. And once again their was another playoff! Sunday was an up for grabs free for all, but four players rose to the top: Ryan Palmer, Ryuji Imada, Joe Ogilvie, and rookie Keegan Bradley. Keegan Bradley posted an early two-under 68 to sit in the clubhouse at three-under total. He watched as the difficult conditions took their toll on the leaders. Imada held a one-stroke lead on the 71st tee, but promptly bogied in to finish one back. Palmer was one back of Bradly on the 72nd and stuck a wedge and drained the putt to force a playoff. But he could not match that magic as on the very same hole he drained his ball…into the greenside pond leading to a bogey and giving the New Enlander Bradley his first professional victory and an invite to next season’s Masters.

He's A Stricker

Finally out of Texas the Tour focused on my home, Dublin Ohio and Jack’s Memorial Tournament. I spent a few beer drinking extremely hot days walking around Muirfield Village watching the Tour’s best. Tour vet Steve Stricker’s assult on Muirfield’s front nine (a whopping 20-under for the week) paced the field growing a one time seven shot lead midway through Saturday’s third round. But a few stumbles down the stretch opened the door for the rest of the field. On Sunday “Strick” once again abused the front nine before a late afternoon weather delay once again tightened the field with Brandt Jobe and Matt Kuchar capitalizing on Stricker’s mishaps. But in the end the late finish had Stricker on the 72nd tee with a two-shot lead and although he bogied, he was still able to gain another emotional win at Jack’s place.

'Fraz' Your Glass

Long time journeyman Harrison Frazer finally won his first PGA event in 355 career starts at the Fedex St. Jude in Memphis. Frazer and Swede Robert Karlsson lapped the field and deadlocked through 72 holes and yet another 2011 playoff. After 3 playoff holes Frazer realized his long time dream and captured his first ever PGA win. Welcome to Augusta Mr. Frazer.