golfweloveit

17 year old Kevin Shanahan has been a volunteer at the Honda Classic for several years and yesterday was working on the driving range at PGA National. He was wearing the shirt of Marjorie Stomeman Douglas High School where he is a sophomore and where on February 14 seventeen of his school ates were gunned down in a mass shooting.

Tiger’s caddie Joe La Cava told him about Kevin and he was called over to meet him. Most of the players were wearing black ribbons in solidarity.

Kevin said of his meeting with Tiger “it really felt like he talked from the heart. It didnt feel scripted. It came from being sincere and saying “I’m really sorry that you’re going through this”. It made me feel awesome.

Woods said I live here, It’s just a shame we’ve lost countless lives for no reason. It’s just a shame they have to deal with such a horrible tragedy at such a young age”.

After playing two rounds with Tiger Woods at Riviera Justin Thomas had had enough. He said “it was pretty wild out there and at the end it got a little out of hand. I guess it’s part of it now. I wish it wasn’t. I wish people didnt think it was so amusing to yell and all that stuff while we’re trying to play. I guss they think it’s funny but players are starting to time it wrong and they’re getting in peoples swings . It is completely unacceptable. We’re out here playing for a lot of money and a lot of points. You would hate to see something happen in the future…

Last year’s Player of the Year didn’t expand on this but those of us with long memories do remember Ryder Cups in America where the European players, their families and supporters were spat at and abused with the puropose of helping the other side win. Winning at any cost?

It’s unfortunate that the field of play is so close to the spectators because the players can hear what is said, from the inane you’re the man on the downswing to more specific sabotage. While the powers that be of the tours want more player fan engagement, such as in play interviews and wearing microphones, this is all a huge distraction and may be a cost too high.

Justin Thomas, from nearby Jupiter Florida has had a 67 in the first round of the Honda Classic and says he loves where his game is trending with six weeks to The Masters.

A closing round of 69 defeating Tony Finau and Kevin Na earned Bubba Watson his 10th PGA title.

This was played out against the second installment of Tiger Woods return. It wasn’t pretty to watch. Huge, very noisy crowds, some wearing “Make Tiger Great Again” shirts came to Riviera CC to watch him shoot 148 and miss the cut. His driving at Torrey Pines had been wayward, but this week it was his iron play which was really erratic. He said that he kept missing above the hole. He has decided to play again at the Honda Classic, his first back to back tournament since August 2015. Let’s hope the back can take it.

Bubba Watson was overjoyed to break his winless drought. “who would have thought that Bubba Watson – no lessons, head case, hooking, slicing, cant putt would get to 10 wins?” he said. He revealed that during his recent slump he had seriously considered retirement but his wife Angie had told him to “stop whining and go and play golf”.

He once again spoke about needing to be more in the moment. I remember the last time he spoke of needing to be more aware of his environment – when he competed in the 2011 French Open.

Ah yes. He who called the Arch de Triomphe “the arch I drove round in a circle”, the Palace of Versailles “that castle next to where were staying” and the Louvre “that building beginning with L”. And he complained about the “rowdy French crowds”. Really? The tournaments I’ve been to in France have been almost refined compared to the crowds they’ve had at Riviera and Scottsdale this year.

So steady on Bubba. The Ryder Cup is in Paris this year. If this form continues and he makes the team we could be in for some more of the same.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat climbed back into the top 50 in the world with his fifth win at the unique IPS Handa Super Sixes tournament in Perth Australia. In his second matchplay win (he won the 2015 Paul Lawrie Matchplay) he beat James Nitties 2 and 1 after an eagle at the fourth hole and birdie at the fifth.

Liking this photo of Kiradech, a chain smoker. He looks like a chimney announcing a new pope.

Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker are to join Davis Love III as vice captains helping to lead the American side in the Ryder Cup matches in Paris.

Captain Jim Furyk said “to win in Paris will be a great challenge (it is 25 years since they won away from home). To have Steve and Tiger share the journey is important for me and for American golf. Their knowledge and experience will be an invaluable resource in our effort to retain the Ryder Cup.

Woods, who was Vice Captain in 2016 and a player in 6 matches said “the Ryder Cup is very specual to me. I want to thank Jim for his confidence, friendship and support. My goal is to make the team and I am excited by the challenge”.

Last year Justin Thomas, the leading player on the PGA Tour took home $9,922,560. The leading female player, Sung Hyun Park won $2,335,883. It’s now been 10 years since Wimbledon was the last tennis major to introduce equal prize money. Golf is lagging way behind.

But this week the only professional event of its kind in the world took place in Australia. In 2012 the organisers of the Oates Victoria Open looked at why the female golfers were failing to attract sponsors and they decided to combine the womens and mens events at the same course. Men alternate tee times with the women and play for an equal purse – $AUS 1.3 million.This year Simon Hawkes won the mens event, Min Jee Lee repeated the win as a professional that she had four years ago as an amateur.

Golf Australia Chief Executive Simon Brooksbank says that the public loves seeing the finesse of the womens game and the strength of the mens game on the same course. Cheynne Woods, Tiger’s neice, played in this year’s event and was full of praise. “I loved it. It’s entertaining for the spectators to see a variety of groups and we appreciate each others sport. I think a lot of sponsors can learn from this, hopefully we will get more tournaments like this”.

European Tour golfer Richard Green said at the event “the Ladies European Tour are a hard working bunch of girls who deserve to have a job. Maybe this sort of format rolling alongside the men in some way whether on the Challenge Tour, Australian Tour or European Tour – it’s a great way to get extra interest”

Indeed, and it could be the answer to the Ladies European Tour’s dilemma, if only the men would buy in to the idea.

The way I see this is that it could answer the European Tour’s need to do something more interesting on Thursdays and Fridays in their events.

If they could offer the LET a 36 hole event on the weeks they dont have a tournament scheduled (obviously equal prize money wouldnt apply) alongside their own tournament at the same venue, and the men would have the weekend to complete their tournament, it would work. It would keep the women playing and showcase their talent to the public and sponsors. After all the men have amateurs to contend with at events like the Pebble Beach Pro Am and the Dunhill Links Championship, surely it would be even better to be with fellow professionals who can really play.

It was an unexpected result when Gary Woodland beat Chez Reavie at the first sudden death playoff hole at TPC Scottsdale to win the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Rickie Fowler had lead going into the final round, but had theee bogeys at the finish. Jon Rahm was close behind but had another mediocre weekend. his 75-77 finish last week was followed by a 72 at Phoenix. Mickelson made a late charge, birdieing 15,16,17 holes. But Woodland’s excellent 64 with 3 late birdies was enough to get to -18 and Reavie matched him after holing a huge putt on the 72nd hole.

Gary Woodland is in Butch Harmon’s stable of players and has recently been working on his short game with Pete Cowan. He dedicated his win to the baby twin he and his wife lost last year, her brother survived.

As ever the spectator party at the 16th hole was a source of controversy. Rickie Fowler, who bogeyed the hole in the final round said “I was disappointed. It went too far. I don’t want the negativity. Leave the heckling to a minimum, make it fun and support the guys out playing”. Jon Rahm was in favour of a deejay being there every day to block out the exterior noise. I turned the sound off all tournament. It was lovely just watching the pictures.