This weekend the golf world embraced emotions running the gamut from the deepest sense of loss to controversy to embracing victory and it came from some unlikely players who frankly have not been on our radar for quite a while.
First controversy—Morgan Pressel and Azahara Munoz had two “run-ins” if you will on the course in their semi-final match in the Sybase match play event in new Jersey. It left both players in tears and wishing it never happened—they are good friends and embraced after the match but it was tough watching controversy in a sport that frankly does not have much.
Next the sense of loss from J.J.Henry—who had perhaps the most unusual round of his career Sunday which included a hole in one and a double bogey both on par 3’s! He eventually “lost” the tournament but made a great par save on the 72nd hole to make the next week look enticing as he goes home to Fort Worth for the Colonial—otherwise known as “Hogan’s Alley”—where the great one was victorious 5 times including his final PGA Tour victory in 1959.
Embracing VictoryAzahara won the match play after the unexpected controversy with Pressel earlier in the day. A wonderful victory for the young Spaniard who came out of Arizona State University with such lofty expectations to win this prestigious grueling event. How exciting for her—especially with the recent loss of her grandmother who she was very close to. Watch out LPGA Tour Azahara is here!
Next to embrace the winners circle was cool customer Jason Dufner –he went 0 for 163 and then two wins in a month—doing it high style nailing a 20 plus footer on the 18th hole avoiding a playoff. He is 35 and now joins this ever growing list of “young lions” with enormous potential.
And finally a shout out to Nick Flanagan who won the Nationwide Tour event with his playoff victory over fellow Aussie Cameron Percy. Flanagan, after winning the U.S. Amateur a few years ago was a sure fire star—well something happened on the way to stardom—its called reality—it is hard to win on any tour.
It was a strange and productive weekend on both tours—it reinforced what I have known all along—emotions run high and winning is not given or granted it is well, won.