Thompson goes from DFL to W

In blustery, cold (relatively speaking) and generally tough conditions on Sunday at PGA National, Michael Thompson showed grit and composure on the way to his first PGA Tour victory.

What’s interesting is when Thompson started the week, he had zero expectations. And when he was in second place after 36 holes, the 27-year-old native of Tucson, Arizona, was just happy he had made the cut. After all, he was off to a rough start in 2013, with three missed cuts and T78 in his first four events of the season.

In fact, in the last event he played, the Northern Trust Open, he shot 78-80 and finished at the very bottom of the leaderboard. Two weeks later, Thompson, who played his college golf at the University of Alabama and resides in Birmingham, found his roll.  (continue reading…)

Australia’s top golf broadcaster Luke Elvy and I break down the Honda Classic. We discuss winner Michael Thompson, runner-up Geoff Ogilvy, rookie Luke Guthrie, along with Tiger Woods’ bizarre week and Rory McIlroy’s abrupt walk-off and mental/dental problems. Check it out!

Free drop

I don’t even know where to begin and I know I am relatively new on the golf beat (second full season, third year), but the curious case of Tiger Woods’ “lost” or “stolen” ball on the 5th hole in the second round of the Wells Fargo Championship was the weirdest thing I’ve seen out here by far. The entire day was unusual, but it’s not often a player’s ball disappears into thin air, especially when it’ has “TW” and a Nike logo branded on it and hundreds of spectators in the vicinity. (continue reading…)

Apparently golfers are prone to injury in Maui waters

Another year, another golfer forced to withdraw from the season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions due to a freak injury while enjoying the Pacific Ocean. Last Saturday 2009 U.S. Open champ Lucas Glover was paddleboarding when his foot caught the side of the board and caused him to sprain his right knee (MCL), according to the AP. Glover was forced to pull out, reducing the PGA Tour’s season-opener to 27 players –the smallest field in Kapalua since 1999. (continue reading…)

Westwood: If only there were a major in Asia...

Lee Westwood put on a rather impressive clinic at the Thailand Golf Championship last week, snagging his third victory in Asia by a decisive seven shots over Masters champ Charl Schwartzel. Westwood fired 12-under 60 in the opening round and followed it with a 64 (in windy conditions — arguably a better round than the first, he tweeted) to match the Asian Tour’s lowest 36-hole total.

Reflecting on his play after rolling in the final putt, the Englishman reckoned it was the finest of his career: (continue reading…)

Allenby (d-)bags an award, after all...

Presidents Cup teammates Robert Allenby and Geoff Ogilvy nearly came to blows, exchanging heated words at the after-party for the Australian PGA on Sunday, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Several accounts from witnesses claimed Allenby approached Ogilvy and offered to settle the dispute physically and at least one glass broke before Allenby walked away. (continue reading…)

The International Team is stacked with five Aussies, giving them a clear advantage Royal Melbourne

Fred Couples possesses an outstanding golfing resume, but he’s in denial if he believes local knowledge is not just an advantage, but a necessity at Royal Melbourne. (continue reading…)

Adam and Ana top seed on red carpet

The Presidents Cup gala took place Tuesday night at the Crown Palladium, where all the players and their dates (no, Tiger didn’t have one) dressed to the nines before the Presidents Cup matches start on Thursday at Royal Melbourne.   (continue reading…)

It was Chalmers' second national title.

A closing 67 may have guaranteed Tiger Woods the lion’s share of the post-round headlines, but the final day of the 2011 Australian Open belonged to Greg Chalmers. (continue reading…)

Luuuuuke: FTW!

If for some reason you haven’t read this week’s SI Golf Group’s PGA Tour Confidential, do it now. We kicked around Luke Donald’s come-from-behind victory at the Disney, which also won him the PGA Tour money title and made him the frontrunner in the Player of the Year race.

Other topics include: (continue reading…)