Tag: Lee Westwood

Something is missing in the Playoffs.

I know the playoffs are here, and I know I should be extra excited, but I am not.

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There is something missing and I know what it is—the greatest players in the world, who for the most part are already very wealthy –  are just chasing money.  I get pumped up when they are chasing majors, playing on historical courses, and chasing the sport’s iconic records, but  none of that exists here.  No offense, especially for Liberty National, but it is not historical in any way or fashion.  It is just another golf course.

In addition, when you can not only miss the cut but not even play in the event and still advance something is amiss.  Both of these occurred this week. Zach Johnson and Steve Stricker passed on the event for good reasons, but they still passed knowing that their carryover points were more than enough for them to advance. Many players missed the cut and they also will advance to the Deutche Bank.  Including Ernie Els, Graeme Mc Dowell, Dustin Johnson and Lee Westwood to mention only a few.  They should be bid a fond farewell—see you next year.  But they indeed will play next week.

I have the solution—everyone starts from scratch—zero points carryover from the regular season. The pressure would be fantastic—single elimination—I would be glued on every shot.  That would be a true playoff system and would be so compelling.  That way a true playoff champion would be crowned.

It was Phil’s day, and quietly, Woody’s day, too.

What a day of golf Sunday July 21, 2013.  It will be remembered for the almost Herculean performance from Phil Mickelson finally winning the British Open a championship.

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http://sports.yahoo.com/news/golf–lateral-hazard–phil-mickelson-s-legacy-grows-with-british-open-victory-030723530.html

In his own words, he never fully believed he could win.  Phil’s brilliant shot making and superb putting overcame a 5 shot deficit at the outset of the final round to overtake Masters Champ Adam Scott and third round leader Lee Westwood.  For Westwood, it was another bitter ending to a major—this makes a career record for the Englishman of 0-62 in the majors—he contends and falters-I do hope one day he breaks through and finally wins one—he in simply too good of a ball striker to end a career winless in majors—maybe next month at Oak Hill.

As for Scott, he failed last year, and again, this year, at The Open.  He does have the Masters on his resume, but losing majors when you have the lead is always a bitter pill to swallow.  As for Mickelson, only one major eludes him the U.S. Open—a tournament he has come in second a record 6 times.  Pinehurst next year could be the time to conquer golf’s grand slam.

You may recall what we mentioned in last week’s blog that it would take a player who had already been in the major winners circle to win at Muirfield and it did—as Phil pointed out, it was probably the best pure round of golf he had ever played! To watch him share the moment with his family, well, that is why Phil is so endeared to the public—he is American golf’s man of the people.  Congrats to Philly!

On a steamy day inMississippi,a veteran of nearly 20 years on tour, Woody Austin, regainedPGATour status with a dramatic win at the Sanderson’s Farm Championship in a 3-way playoff with Cameron Beckman and Daniel Summerhays.   Austin, who is 49 had only Web.com status and without this win, he would be back on the minor league tour, instead he is headed to the Canadian Open, ThePGAnext month and the tournament of champions next January plus a two year fully exempt status on thePGATour. An emotionalAustin, not unlike Mickelson, has no problem showing his emotions to us all—we can relate to Woody who, in his quest to get on the tour, was a public school teacher and a bank teller-well now he can visit the teller with his $540,000 first place check.  So happy for you, too, Woody, on this mid summer victory!

 What a journey, what a victory for two men one who wasn’t sure he could win a certain major and the other who wasn’t sure he could win again—period.  It is a great day in golf. July 21st, 2013.

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