It's all about the pink, baby.
Bubba Watson battled (if you can even call it that) the TPC Blue Monster and brought it to its knees in the second round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship. Watson, who teed off No. 10, fired off five birdies on his first nine for a five-under 31, and backed it up with another five-under 31 on the front side, including an eagle on the par-5 8th, to post a 10-under 62, matching his career low score on Tour.
Rory will battle frenemie (or maybe it's just enemy now?) Westwood
The match-up that we were all hoping for is no longer just a possibility — it is indeed happening. Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood both won their quarterfinal matches, beating Sang-Moon Bae and Martin Laird, respectively.
Why are we calling this a “grudge” match? I mean, aren’t Rory and Westy like besties?
The soundstage: a panoramic view of the 16th.
Buoyed by my complimentary words last week*, Spencer Levin is charging away from the pack during the second round of the Legitimate Businessmen Phoenix Open.
Wilson celebrates with his family on the 18th green with just a glimmer of sunlight remaining
Mark Wilson methodically played his way to a two-shot victory over Robert Garrigus, Johnson Wagner and John Mallinger, on Sunday at the Humana Challenge. This is Wilson’s fifth career PGA Tour win (2011 Waste Management Phoenix Open, 2011 Sony Open in Hawaii, 2009 Mayakoba Golf Classic and 2007 Honda Classic).
Dating back to the start of the 2011 season, Wilson and fellow Wisconsin native Steve Stricker have the most wins on the Tour, with three. Wilson has the same number of career wins as Tom Lehman. Kinda surprising the ’96 Open champ doesn’t have more, no? — considering Lehman was in contention so often, especially at majors, in the mid-to-late nineties.
So, is Mark Wilson underrated or overrated?
Scoreboard knocked down next to 18 at Palmer Private
For nine-and-a-half holes, President Bill Clinton shook hands, posed for pictures, signed autographs, kissed babies, etc. He also played some golf with Greg Norman, Scott McCarron and Humana CEO Mike McCallister at PGA West’s Palmer Private course.
While walking from eight green to nine tee, Clinton stopped to oblige some fans who wanted autographs. He looked around and called to one of his secret service agents and said, “Help me…” Not that he didn’t want to sign (he did for a few minutes), but because he’d be there until the sunset if someone didn’t intervene at some point. The fans all thanked him for supporting and reviving the tournament — which he sure has achieved. (I was here last year and the energy and buzz are like 20 times greater this time around, which is awesome.)
Keegan: Yes! I won't be referred to as "Pat Bradley's nephew" anymore!
As the year ends (only a few hours left!), we’re taking a look at the winners and losers of 2011. First, we reviewed the best shots. Then, we cringed through the greatest meltdowns. Now, we — with most of the credit going to Intern Shoshana — check out some players that exceeded the expectations set for them at the start of the season. Before you dig in, consider some of the guys you think distinguished themselves in 2011.
Man of honor!
Tough call for Mark Wilson, who shot a two-day total of one-over 145 and missed the cut by a stroke at The Players. (Well, maybe it wasn’t so tough, but it sure cost him a chunk of the hefty $9.5 million purse.) With his ball resting near a tree after an errant drive on the par-4 fifth, Wilson decided to hit the shot left-handed and struck it twice. At least he thinks he did.
Mark Wilson: stand-up guy
As you may remember, I wrote on Wednesday that I hoped to run into Mark Wilson this week and tell him the story of my clumsiness unfortunate mishap during his playoff against Jason Dufner at the Phoenix Open last Monday. The perfect opportunity struck on Thursday afternoon while I was perusing the range and speaking with some players, caddies and Marty Hackel, golf’s “Mr. Style,” and Wilson set up shop right next to us.
Mark Wilson: the hottest player on tour right now
Cheesehead Mark Wilson captured the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Monday for his second victory in three starts, beating Jason Dufner on the second playoff hole. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to watch it in real life because ironically, I was in such a rush to get from No. 18 (first playoff hole) to the 10th tee (second extra hole). It’s actually quite a funny story — in a morbid, laugh-at-myself kind of way.
Cheesehead!
When final-round play was suspended due to darkness on Sunday evening at TPC Scottsdale, Mark Wilson, who won last month’s Sony Open, held a two-stroke lead over third-round leader Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey, Jason Dufner and Vijay Singh at the (Phoenix) Waste Management Open. Wilson, a native of Wisconsin, wore a yellow visor and green shirt in support of the Green Bay Packers. He even broke out a cheesehead hat on No. 16 during the third round this morning (because of the frost delays, third round play wasn’t completed until Sunday afternoon).
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