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Dubai Duty Free Irish Open 2019 Review

 

The European Tour headed to Ireland’s Lahinch Golf Club for the second of the lucrative Rolex Series events. Jon Rahm became the first man to win 3 Rolex Series events, making it three wins, three top-fives and no worse than T15 in 8 Rolex Series events.

Jon Rahm Irish Open Final Round Scorecard Image Spacer

 

How it Happened

England’s Robert Rock, who combines the roles of European Tour Pro and golf instructor to the stars, entered Sunday atop the leaderboard after a sublime Saturday 60 catapulted him to -13. Eddie Pepperell & Rafa Cabrera Bello started the final round one shot back, with Rahm five shots behind.

Spain’s Cabrera Bello got off to a fast start, with 3 birdies through five compared to Pepperell’s +2 and Rock’s +1 at the same stage. Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger found a run of three birdies on the trot between 5 & 7, as Rahm got into his groove with four birdies to a lone bogey at the turn. Cabrera Bello notched two more birdies, but four bogeys in 6 holes left him on -1 and out of contention whilst Pepperell recovered with three birdies to tie with the Spaniard and overnight leader Rock (level-par) on -13.

Andy Sullivan and Wiesberger both carded 6 birdies and two bogeys to finish on -14 for a share of second, but Sunday belonged to Jon Rahm. An incredible birdie putt from well off the green on No. 2 was followed by a pin-hugger from right of the fairway at the seventh. However, it was a long-range eagle putt at the 12th that launched him to the top of the pile on 14-under. A bogey at the next proved irrelevant as the World No. 8 sunk a further three birdies for -16 and a two-stroke victory. Ultimately, Rahm was able to do what he does best: Aggressive golf.

Open Championship Qualifiers from the Irish Open

The T2 was enough to earn Wiesberger a spot at The Open, alongside Rock (-13, T4) & Paul Waring (-12, T7).

 

PGA Tour: It’s Your Time, Mr Wolff

When Matthew Wolff gained with PGA Tour card, talk of his unconventional swing spread like wildfire, with his heel-lifting, knee-jerking, club-flailing style about as unique as they come. However, he’s no novelty. In fact, it’s taken just four PGA Tour starts for Wolff to notch his first title at the 3M Open. Bryson DeChambeau (hardly conventional himself) eagled the 72nd to seemingly steal the victory at the death. However, the newbie also eagled the final hole to leapfrog DeChambeau in sensational style. You could say there were a lot of boys & girls crying Wolff at TPC Twin Cities. With a whacky but efficient swing and superb putting to match, this looks like the birth of a new star… Expect plenty of terrible Wolff-related puns for years to come!

 

Jon Rahm – What’s in the Bag?

Driver: TaylorMade M5

Fairway Woods: TaylorMade M5 (3-wood & 5-wood)

Irons: TaylorMade P-750 (4-PW)

Wedges: TaylorMade Hi-Toe

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Red

Golf Ball: TaylorMade TP5x

 TaylorMade Banner for Jon Rahm Irish Open Champion 2019

 

 

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

 

 

The Latest Golf Trends: Summer 2019

FootJoy Flex Spikeless Golf Shoes in white Image Spacer

 

Casual Golf Shoes

The idea of spikeless golf shoes is no longer new. However, taking away the spikes was just the start. Now we have “casual” golf shoes, which are in actual fact a lot more than just golf shoes. The FootJoy Flex Spikeless Shoes (pictured) are the perfect example of blurring the line between on and off-course fashion; looking and feeling great wherever you are and whatever you’re doing. The Puma Ignite NXT Spikeless (pictured)Spikeless DISC Shoes offer a sportier look, whilst the adidas AdiPure SP shoes tick the smart-casual “streetwear” box.

 

Adidas Ultimate 365 Print Shorts Image Spacer

Shorts & Skorts

They’re on Tour now. In fact, they’ll be seen during practice rounds at The Open Championship for the first time ever this year (Why not on tournament days? Your guess is as good as mine). But there’s plenty of choice for everybody, from weekend warriors to clubs professionals, with Glenmuir Keble Golf Shorts offering an affordable smart look and the adidas Ultimate365 Print Shorts (pictured) providing a more casual summer look.

Daily Sports offer a superb range of eye-catching skorts for lady golfers, whilst the Under Armour Ladies Links Woven Skort is specifically engineered for golf performance.

 

Garmin Approach S60 Golf Watch Image Spacer

 

One to Watch

As FitBits and Apple Watches become commonplace in all walks of life, golf is rolling with the times. GolfSixes saw Tour players use rangefinders for the first time in competition, but I want to focus on golf & fitness watches. Bushnell’s iON 2 and Neo Excel GPS watches have sky-rocketed in popularity recently, with its combination of advanced golf settings, fitness tracking and phone notifications. Garmin offer an extensive range of GPS watches, from the more affordable Approach S10 to the top-of-the-range Approach S60 (pictured) & S60 Premium.

 

 

 

SunglassesOakley Crossrange Golf Sunglasses Image Spacer

Oakley’s golf-specific sunglasses have drawn a lot of attention with the likes of Bubba Watson and Rafa Cabrera Bello sporting the look on the PGA Tour’s summer swing. Fitted with Prizm Golf lenses- specifically engineered for optimal golf course vision- Oakley’s sunglasses may come in a wide range of styles & colours but they all offer the same outstanding performance.

 

 

Cobra F9 Woods Lifestyle Image Image SpacerClubs

Cobra’s F9 Speedback Driver (pictured) stole the 2019 headlines in the woods department, proving a huge success on Tour and flying off the shelves in golf clubs across the country. Meanwhile, Odyssey’s revolutionary Stroke Lab technology was a genuine game-changer with the flatsticks. Stroke Lab putters, fitted with a uniquely weighted shaft to promote feel & consistency, have dominated Tour bags and helped amateur golfers conquer the greens.

That said, Odyssey faced stiff competition from TaylorMade’s Spider X; an update on the much-loved previous Spider putters.

 

 

Titleist Pro V1x Open Championship Golf Balls Image Spacer

 

And finally, balls…

Titleist Pro V1 & Pro V1x won’t be knocked off their perch as the market leader any time soon. The Open Championship Pro V1Pro V1x balls (pictured) feature the coveted Claret Jug to make your ball stand out on the course.

However, if you’re looking for something new then the Callaway Triple Track Golf Balls may be for you. The three lines- a bold red line flanked by thinner blue lines- have been proven to optimise alignment to make that perfect putt that much easier.

 

 

 

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

 

 

U.S. Open 2019 Preview

 

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Redemption for the USGA?

Ridiculous rulings, calamitous courses and delusional decisions have sparked an annual tradition of complaining about the USGA prior the U.S. Open. However, this year has been lacking in moaning golfers. Just as millions of men, women & children around the world take to the golf course as a form of therapy, four rounds at Pebble Beach may be just the medicine to settle disgruntled Tour Pros.

The organisation needs redemption, and there is no better place to find redemption than this picturesque Oceanside course. Just please, please let Pebble Beach remain Pebble Beach.

What’s Been Said

Jack Nicklaus has labelled Tiger his personal favourite for the week. Sure, it’s just an opinion, but The Golden Bear knows a thing or two about golf.

The man himself claims that his strategy- unlike his body and his opponents- “hasn’t changed that much” from his legendary 15-stroke win here in 2000.

Tiger’s playing partner, Justin Rose, believes the key to any U.S. Open is not compounding errors, saying “It’s about not making doubles and triples in a U.S. Open” because “birdies are hard to find.”

Several “experts” believe this is a tougher test for Brooks Koepka than any of his Major wins, with Rich Beem describing Pebble Beach as “significantly different” to any of the courses he’s won on.

“I think, big picture, you still had the right champions every single time.” Jordan Spieth said when discussing the USGA controversies of recent years. The Texan had not been shy in criticising decisions in the past, so perhaps this is a sign of a new tune from the players.

Brooks Koepka U.S. Open 2018 Image SpacerIt’s All So Obvious

When trying to predict any golf tournament, you’re usually looking at who has a strong case for winning. It’s quite rare for there to be an obvious candidate, especially in a Major. The 2019 U.S. Open almost offers too many obvious candidates. Brooks Koepka has won the last two, as well as the last two PGA Championships. Dustin Johnson is World No. 1 and a U.S. Open Champion. Rory McIlroy just won by seven shots in Canada. Jordan Spieth is a serial Major winner and is bang in form. Tiger Woods won by 15 strokes here in the 2000 U.S. Open.

You find yourself desperately and unsuccessfully scrambling for a reason that half the field won’t win. There are too many “obvious” winners. To bet on one of them would be to bet against the rest, and that would be simply ludicrous.

Patrick Cantlay and Matt Kuchar have emerged as potential candidates due to their supreme bogey avoidance, but it seems unlikely that this will play as big a role at Pebble Beach as previous years.

 

 

If the USGA can’t get it right at Pebble Beach with perhaps the greatest and deepest pool of talent ever, they never will.

I expect to see a display of great golf on a great golf course. It’s as simple as that.

 

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

 

 

Last Week on Tour

 

GolfSixes

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What Happened?

While England surprised nobody by topping Group A, Thailand surprised many by topping Group B ahead of Sweden, defending champions Ireland and England Women. Australia needed a nearest-the-pin challenge to overcome Germany Women by a mere 19 inches, with nothing to separate them after three Group C matches and a playoff hole.

Thailand’s team was made up of 49-year-old Thongchai Jaidee and 20-year-old Phachara Khongwatmai, and a hole-in-one over the swimming pool on the sixth (the first in the tournament’s history) by Jaidee to beat Ireland kick-started a Thai domination of the knockouts; cruising past Scotland and eking past Spain before beating England’s Paul Waring & Tom Lewis in a nearest-the-pin challenge on the second playoff hole.

 

Pros & Cons

There is no questioning the fun side of GolfSixes. But how exactly do you balance fun with competition? Where do you draw the line?

Personally, I enjoyed the tournament. There were a lot of smiles, great sportsmanship and awesome fans. However, I never found myself quite as invested in the competition as I felt I should’ve been. I know that it was meant to be less formal than traditional European Tour events, but I don’t think this has to take away the “edge”. I fully support the European Tour in trying something new, so I wouldn’t criticise a single thing that was trialled in Portugal, but if it were up to me you wouldn’t see a top-level golf tournament decided by a nearest-the-pin challenge in future.

Canadian Open

Rory McIlroy TaylorMade M5 Driver Banner Image SpacerRory McIlroy dominated. The Northern Irishman matched his best-ever score of 61 in the final round at Hamilton Golf & Country Club. He opened with a 3-under 67 before going one better the next day as Brandt Snedeker shot 60 and Canadian Ben Silverman carded a 61 on home soil. McIlroy got going on the weekend, though, with a bogey-free 64 to tie for top spot with Matt Kuchar and Webb Simpson on -13. Home favourite Adam Hadwin (-12) entered Sunday at T4, closely followed by fellow countryman Mackenzie Hughes (-9). Graeme McDowell’s Saturday 70 kept him on 8-under as he chased a Top-10 to qualify for The Open Championship at Royal Portrush in his childhood hometown.

Rory wasted no time in breaking away at the top, with back-to-back birdies opening up a two-shot lead after two holes. In the blink of an eye it was five birdies in 7 holes. Then came a stretch of four consecutive birdies between 11 and 14 to reach 9-under for the round and -22 for the tournament. With the title all-but wrapped up, he bogeyed the 16th. How does he respond? With an outrageous approach to set up an eagle on 17, of course. A closing bogey made it a seven-stroke lead.

McIlroy wasn’t the only Northern Irishman celebrating on the 18th, as McDowell sunk a sublime 30-footer at the death to qualify for The Open and return home.

 

 

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

 

 

GolfSixes 2019: Developing Golf

 

GolfSixes England Men's Team 2018 Image Spacer

GolfSixes, now officially GolfSixes Cascais, will run over Friday and Saturday this week.  The two-day, six-hole Greensomes matchplay tournament will be broadcast free-to-air on BBC Red Button, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website in an attempt to attract attention to a new brand of golf.

What is GolfSixes?

It’s been compared to cricket’s Twenty20 format, but it’s so much more than that. The comparisons are understandable though, with it being a sped-up version of the sport in a less formal manner. There will be three 6-hole group stage matches on Friday, followed by 6-hole quarter, semi & final matches on Saturday.

The format will be “greensomes”, whereby both teammates tee off, before choosing one ball to complete the hole with; alternating shots from that point. The less formal manner includes the legalisation of range finders (an attempt to speed up play), allowing players to wear shorts and a final hole which coincides with a swimming pool and plays to the tune of a live DJ. Finally, in a growing trend across all Tours, two of the competing teams will be England Women and Germany Women.

What’s the Point?

Golf needs to grow. It needs more players, more viewers and more exposure. Some of the most cited reasons for a lack of new interest in the game? Slow play, outdated rules and a lack of diversity. This tournament addresses all of these issues, and BBC’s digital coverage provides the perfect opportunity to showcase this.

GolfSixes Groups 2019 Image SpacerOn the Tee

Group A features England, Scotland, India and hosts Portugal. Tom Lewis & Paul Waring of England enter the tournament as joint-favourites, while Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher & David law is the only team in which both players have wins this year. Group B consists of defending Champions Ireland, Sweden, Thailand and England Women. Ireland’s Paul Dunne & Gavin Moynihan are considered a front-runner again, but Alex Bjork & Joakim Lagergren of Sweden is my pick for the week. England’s Meghan MacLaren has earned deserved plaudits for speaking out against inequality in the sport, but it was her golf that did the talking as she finished runner-up in the Jordan Mixed Open; proving the ability of herself and her female counterparts to compete alongside the men. MacLaren will play alongside Florentyna Parker.

Australia, France, Wales & Germany Women make up Group C. Scott Hend & Wade Ormsby give the Aussies a strong chance, and France’s Matthieu Pavon, playing with Romain Wattel, is one of the headline names. Finally, Group D has been touted as the toughest pool with South Africa, Italy, Spain & Denmark. George Coetzee & Brandon Stone of South Africa is honestly the strongest duo, but Nacho Elvira is a decent partner for Jorge Campillo, who boasts five Top-3 finishes and a win this season.

 

This will be the third edition of GolfSixes, but each year the European Tour continues to innovate and experiment. Sometimes it will work, sometimes it won’t, but ultimately this is developing golf. And besides, it should be fun!

 

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

 

 

Women’s Golf Day 2019

 

Women’s Golf Day is back, and this year it’s bigger than ever! 2019 marks just the fourth edition of the annual event, but, courtesy of a deal with the ANNIKA Foundation, this year’s event promises to be the best yet.

 

The Story So Far

In three years, the one-day celebration has made its way to over 900 golf venues across 52 different; reaching a whopping 50,000 women & girls around the world. This includes people with a lifelong affection for the game and absolute beginners alike, with events ranging from first-time training sessions to 18 holes for females golfers (and non-golfers!) of all ages.

However, when Elisa Gaudet founded WGD in 2016, it was not solely based around getting ladies out on the course. In fact, the official Women’s Golf Day website suggests a four-hour event consisting of two hours of golf and two hours of socialising. The first two hours may revolve around lessons on the driving range or in chipping & putting, or alternatively a 9-hole round. Meanwhile, the second half could be a simple sit-down-and-chat that allows beginners and experienced golfers to intermingle, or a host venue may arrange for speakers and visitors to provide information and entertainment.

 

What Next?

Swedish golf legend Annika Sorenstam called Women’s Golf Day “inspiring” as an initiative that echoes her desire to “share my passion for the game”. It should come as no surprise, then, that the ANNIKA Foundation has pledged its support to growing the initiative via its globally-recognised brand. Year upon year, the day has grown in popularity, not least thanks to the universal reach of social media. Whilst attaching arguably the most prestigious name in women’s golf to the initiative is a huge boost regardless, there is one other very important factor that Sorenstam brings to the table: European influence.

Whilst the 240 locations advertised on the Women’s Golf Day Location Finder (see link below) is very impressive, only 11 of those locations can be found in Europe as opposed to 228 in North America (Ile aux Cerfs Golf Club in Mauritius are flying the lone flag for the rest of the world… Obviously). Previously, we could only hope for the European figure to rise. Now, with Annika on board, that hope edges nearer expectation.

 

Click here for the Women’s Golf Day Locations (https://womensgolfday.com/locations)

 

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

 

 

U.S. Women’s Open 2019 Preview

 

This week, the biggest names in women’s golf will battle it out at the Country Club of Charleston in the 74th U.S. Women’s Open; the second Major of 2019.

The trophy is etched with star names, and we can expect to see another one this year. Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn claimed the title last year, following in the prestigious footsteps of Annika Sorenstam, Inbee Park and many more. However, this year sees one very significant difference from the champions of any previous women’s Major: A million-dollar winning prize.

The USGA announced a rise of $500,000 for both the men’s and women’s tournament purses, taking them to $12.5 million and £5.5 million respectively (the highest purses in both games’ majors). This serves as a huge boost not only for the event but also for the women’s game as a whole. However, it hasn’t come out of the blue. Ultimately, nobody is going to be dishing out more than $5 million without good reason. Purses for golf tournaments are, to a greater or lesser extent, investments in the tournament, players and sport. As the standard of the women’s game continues to rise, the viewing figures and prize money will follow suit.

Ariya Jutanugarn with U.S. Open Trophy 2018 Image Spacer

 

Last year

I mentioned Ariya Jutanugarn’s win last year, but that doesn’t tell half the story. Jutanugarn held a seven-stroke lead on -15 at the tenth tee on Sunday, but a final-hole bogey appeared to seal one of the largest collapses in tournament history as a triple-bogey on the tenth and three more bogeys to just the lone birdie saw her drop five shots. Pair that with a 2-under back-nine from Hyo-Joo Kim, and suddenly we’re heading to a playoff. But, somehow, Jutanugarn rallied to win the playoff and pip Kim to the title for her second Major; the first since the 2016 British Open.

 

This Year

The bad news for Jutanugarn is that nobody has successfully defended this title since Karrie Webb in 2000-2001. But that’s not so bad for the fans, with Major successes being shared out more than ever since Inbee Park’s six titles in 3 years (2013-2015). The reigning Champ is considered well down the pecking order, with South Korea’s Ko Jin-Young the favourite after her ANA Inspiration victory put her top of the Rolex Annika Major Award rankings. Other favourites include the aforementioned Inbee Park, despite the absence of a Major in nearly four years, and Australia’s Minjee Park looking to end a 13-year drought for her homeland since Karrie Webb’s seventh and final Major victory at what is now known as the ANA Inspiration in 2006.

Brooke Henderson with CP Women's Open Trophy Image Spacer

 

21-year-old Brooke Henderson has emerged as a prime candidate due to a good record at this tournament (T10 in 2014, T5 in 2015 & T13 in 2017) and outstanding form this year (six Top-10 finishes, including a win and a T2 last week, in ten starts). A victory here would give her the most Majors (2) and most Tour wins (9) of any Canadian golfer in history. Meanwhile, the most-favoured Englishwomen are Bronte Law, after her first professional win at last week’s Pure Silk Championship, and Charley Hull. They both enter the tournament as outsiders, but Georgia Hall’s heroics at the British Open last year have sparked fresh hope for English golf.

 

 

 

Regardless of the name on that historic cheque come Sunday, there is plenty of buzz around this golf tournament and I have no doubt the players will rise to the occasion. Expect history.

 

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

 

 

Father's Day 2019 Gift Ideas

 

Sock it to ‘em

Stance Socks Star Wars Pack Image Spacer

 

It’s a classic for a reason…

FootJoy Socks in a Bottle (£14.95)… Two pairs of high quality FootJoy golf socks in a sports performance water bottle. Just make sure he doesn’t put the socks back in the bottle after wearing them!

Foremost Golf are offering the Stance Star Wars sock collection, with Chewbacca, Darth VaderStorm Trooper and R2D2 (£12.99) all available as individual pairs of socks, whilst there are three different gift sets (£39.99) based on Star Wars films; A New HopeReturn of the Jedi & The Force Awakens.

Head Covers

Daphne's Tiger Head Cover Image Spacer

 

No, it’s not just another name for a hat…

Whether your dad plays like Tiger or like a donkeyDaphne’s animal-themed golf club head covers (£22.99) have you covered. From Buffalo and Chimpanzee to Labradors, there’s everything he could wish for.

Fathers can be like real-life superheroes, and what better way to tell them that than the awesome PopeyeBatman and Superman head covers? At just £24.99, they make the perfect addition to any golf bag.

 

Training Aids

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He needs all the help he can get…

The On Par Practice Balls (£4.99) and PGA Tour Power Play Impact Bag (£19.99) are both simple-but-effective tools that make for easy, fun practice in the garden.

The PuttOut Pressure Putt training aid (£19.99) is an advanced putting design at an extremely affordable price. For the same price, the PGA Tour Putting Mat features a sleek simulated green topped by a flagged hole and faux-hazards. This putting mat comes with a bundle of a training DVD and golf ball alignment tool.

 

Garmin Offers

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Foremost are offering reduced prices on the Garmin Approach S10 (now £119.99), the Garmin Approach S60 (now £299.99) and Garmin S60 Premium (now £399.99) golf watches for a limited time only in a special Father’s Day promotion. These make the perfect gift for any golf fanatic fathers, and the savings of up to £100 also make them perfect for the gift-giver.

 

 

Gift Cards

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Fathers can be difficult to buy for, and there sure is no shame in playing it safe. At Foremost Golf, you can choose from any of our selected amounts, ranigng from £5 to £400, or you can design a customised Gift Card with any amout you'd like. All Gift Cards come smartly presented in a Foremost Golf wallet with your Gift Card inside.

 

 

 

All products mentioned in this blog are IN STOCK and available for next day delivery. All products from Foremost Golf come with FREE Click & Collect Delivery to your local Foremost Golf Pro Shop.

 

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

 

 

Golf Fans & Etiquette

 

New York, New York

As the eventual Champion teetered on the cusp of one of the greatest collapses in Major history, one poignant sound reverberated around Bethpage State Park: “DJ! DJ! DJ!”. Dustin Johnson was stalking his gym buddy-turned-prey (how often do you get to use that phrase?) down the stretch, and the New York fans loved it. Was it a personal vendetta against Brooks Koepka? Maybe. Did they just want to see competitive golf for the first time in a week? Certainly.

After a nerve-racking display of escapology, he avoided the unthinkable collapse and, in his post-round interview, claimed that the fans’ chanting had spurred him on (ever the pantomime villain, eh?). But there was no bitterness there. This wasn’t a middle-finger-type message as in previous years. No, because according to Koepka, this felt like “A real sporting event”. And he loved it.

Ryder Cup Ramifications

2024 may still feel like somewhere Busted visited in 2002 (that’s the Year 3000, for those without my sophisticated musical palate) but, in actuality, it’s just five years from now. That can be a long time in golf, but in the city that never sleeps five years goes by in the blink of an eye. The Black Course at Bethpage may or may not change before the Ryder Cup, but the New Yorks fans absolutely will not.

Paul Casey, who almost certainly won’t be playing in ’24, expressed his concerns, whilst Rory McIlroy’s “No comment” was every bit as transparent. Supposedly the players are fearful of speaking out against the crowds for fear of future ridicule, but there appears a clear divide between Americans and Europeans on the subject.

There is no doubting that it will gift America a serious upper-hand. Some will argue that’s what makes the Ryder Cup what it is, but others will say that it’s not in the spirit of golf.

The Questions

Is this advantage for America unfair or is that the whole point of rotating hosting duties? Should rules be put in place to control fans or should they be given free reign? Are these types of fans a sign of golf moving forwards, or is it a step in the wrong direction?

Do you want to see New York-style fans at a Ryder Cup or not?

 

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com

 

 

USAPGA Championship Review

 

Brutal Bethpage

Tiger’s opening round perfectly summed up the golf course, recording three birdies and an eagle but finishing the day on +2 courtesy of three bogeys and two doubles. Rory McIlroy was 5-over through three on Friday but recovered with five birdies to a lone bogey to sneak inside the +4 cut line. Tiger (+5) had no such luck and was forced to spend the weekend back on his $20 million yacht (ouch). Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson and Bryson DeChambeau were just some of the other big names to miss the weekend. However, 2002 Champion Rich Beem, now 48 years old, stole the headlines by making the cut despite being 9-over on the 13th tee: shooting five birdies over the last 6 holes on Friday. This came after wide-spread criticism of his decision to even turn up.

Only seven men finished the week on par or better. By close of play Sunday, a +4 score had gone from the cut line to a share of 23rd.

Killer Koepka

“I don’t know what course Brooks was playing” Jason Day said of the bogey-free 63 (7-under). The American took just four holes to reach double-figures on day 2. His first bogey came at the start of the back-nine, but that didn’t stop him breaking the 36-hole Major record at -12.

Entering the final round, all the talk was about the potential for a record Major margin of victory as Koepka lead by seven. Despite a bogey on the first, the defending Champ was -1 for the day and -13 for the tournament after 10 holes, making Dustin Johnson’s 3-under front-nine fairly redundant. But then the wheels came off. Four bogeys on the bounce brought him back to -9 as DJ’s birdie at the 15th closed the gap to just one. Koepka’s bogey on the penultimate hole would have proven costly had his friend not done the same on both 16 and 17 to finish two behind Koepka’s -8 winning score.

Best of the Rest

Jordan Spieth made it clear before the tournament that he believed his slump was over, and his -2 T3 finish proved this to be the case as he chased the career Grand Slam. Matt Wallace equalled Spieth and Patrick Cantlay to share third spot; his best finish at a Major and the best from any Brit at Bethpage (that comes despite a 3-over back-nine on Sunday), putting the Englishman at World No. 25. McIlroy did more than just make the cut in his recovery from a perilous position as he finished T8 on +1.

New York Fans

They’re loud, they’re controversial and they’ll be back. The man who left with the Wanamaker Trophy arguably faced more negative comments from New Yorkers than anybody else, particularly when “half-choking” down the stretch, but Koepka was happy with the fans making this a “real sporting event”.

The talk of the town is now the 2024 Ryder Cup at Bethpage. Whether you love or hate the raucous, beer-fuelled atmosphere, there’s no question that the Americans will have a home advantage. Matt Wallace described it as “absolutely mental”, but in fact looks forward to that. However, the likes of McIlroy and Paul Casey were not so impressed. Koepka’s sympathetic “Good luck to Europe” comment really sets the tone for what will be a fascinating and long-standing storyline.

 

Brooks Kopeka - What's in the Bag?

Driver - TaylorMade M5

3-Wood - TaylorMade M2

Irons - Nike Vapor Fly Pro

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7Titleist Vokey SM4

Putter - Scotty Cameron Newport 2

Golf Ball - Titleist Pro V1x

 TaylorMade M5 PGA Championship 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by Joe Carabini

joe.carabini@foremostgolf.com