Bubs
After missing two cuts in a row, Masters champ Bubba Watson returned to the first page of the leaderboard, finishing tied for second at the Travelers Championship, where he won his maiden PGA Tour victory in 2010. Prior to the Memorial, Watson had finished T18 or better in his nine previous starts this season.
What’s next for the part-time* golfer? (continue reading…)
First man in; last one standing
Marc Leishman fired a bogey-free eight-under 62 to post a 14-under total at the Travelers Championship. Teeing off two hours and ten minutes prior to the final group, Leishman sat around and waited to see if it’d hold up — even though he didn’t think it would when he came off the course.
Hunter's new caddie on No. 18
Make that two high notes. With the help of a new caddie on the 72nd hole, Hunter Mahan, who has already won twice this season, rolled in a 20-footer for birdie to fire a career-best 61 at the Travelers Championship.
On the 18th tee, Mahan’s regular looper John Wood took off his bib and put it on David Finn, a 19-year-old from River Edge, N.J., who suffers from a mitochondrial disorder that has left his limbs shriveled and his mouth unable to form words. Finn, the “Golf Fanatic to the Bones,” “caddied” for Mahan as Wood pushed him up the fairway in his wheelchair. (continue reading…)
Poignant scene on the 18th green after Reid secures the victory
England’s Melissa Reid closed out on the 54-hole overnight lead to capture the Raiffeisenbank Prague Golf Masters on the Ladies European Tour. Playing in her first tournament since the tragic death of her mother four weeks ago in a car accident in Germany, Reid kept her composure as she rolled in a six-footer on the 18th green for the win. Via ESPNStar.com: (continue reading…)
The fans on the 17th hole at the Nationwide Tour’s Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open are known to have a good time. One overzealous man took it to another level on Saturday and stripped down to a handkerchief as he went for his glory run, according to Kansas.com’s Scott Paske:
Gay's misstep keeps 18 more players afoot
Brian Gay incurred a one-stroke penalty on No. 17 at TPC River Highlands (his third hole on Saturday morning and 8th of his second round). While searching for his ball in the hazard he found it by accidentally stepping on it.
Gay and his caddie, Kip Henley, tried to appeal the ruling after the weather-delayed second round. Despite nearly an hour-a thirty-minute-long discussion with VP of Rules and Competition Mark Russell, along with Stephen Cox, the rules official who was on-site, the decision held up.
Had it been overturned, Gay would have carded a 7 rather than an 8 on the hole to post a 36-hole total one-under instead of even par and changed the cut to one-under at the Travelers Championship. (continue reading…)
Olympic: a good U.S. Open venue?
I had a few post-U.S. Open discussion points I wanted to throw out there, but it’s obviously a little after the fact now. I should have a put something up earlier this week, but when I tell you I’ve been sick and barely been able to make it from my bed to the bathroom, I’m not kidding. I caught some sort of bug in San Francisco — thanks to the awesome weather — and naturally it got worse flying cross-country, not to mention the general exhaustion.
I still don’t have much of a voice, so don’t make fun of me if you see me at the Travelers this weekend (I’m trying to get my butt up there!). Good news is I’m pretty sure I’m no longer contagious. I mean, it’s been over a week. (continue reading…)
The rare reaction on the 16th tee to the shot that cost him the title
When the last putt dropped at Olympic — or rather didn’t — there was a sense of emptiness. That was it? The tournament was over? I was left with a pit in my stomach, like the plain salad and soup wasn’t enough to ease my hunger, or I had just watched a really compelling movie that ended with an anti-climactic cliffhanger.
Now this was nothing personal against Webb Simpson, a deserving champion, who shot impressive rounds of 68-68 over the weekend to rally from four shots back heading into the final round of the U.S. Open. And it had nothing to do with the venue. I loved Olympic Club with the large Cypress trees lining the fairways, built on a pretty steep cliff. It was severe and challenging, but a pure and fair test. (continue reading…)
Cantlay eyes PGA Tour card
There’s been chatter over the last month at least that Patrick Cantlay, the top-ranked amateur who just finished his sophomore year at UCLA, is expected to turn professional and sign with Tiger Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg of Excel Sports. After Cantlay finished T41 at the U.S. Open on Sunday, he said he hasn’t “really made a decision yet” *coughBScough* and planned to sit down with his family to discuss it, according to GolfChannel.com’s Rex Hoggard:
Keegan Bradley with his dad Mark Bradley looping for him on the 18th
At the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, Kevin Streelman came up with an idea to share a special moment with his dad Dennis on Father’s Day. A player can change caddies at any time and Kevin confirmed it with the walking official.
Four years ago, heading into the 72nd hole on Sunday, Kevin teed off well ahead of the leaders, allowing him the opportunity to surprise his dad when he told him to switch places with his caddie Mike Christensen. (continue reading…)
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