Tiger Makes Big Announcement
Tiger Wood’s announced today that his announcement yesterday that he was making an announcement today is really an announcement that his agent will be making about an upcoming announcement of a business adventure with Kelly Tilghman (a golf channel anchor).
Maybe he’s hiring her to regulate his pain medication….. Now on with some real news.
Stricker Pulls off the 3-Peat in High Drama
Chalk another one up for the old “Cheesehead.” I think he was just sandbagging when his 5-stroke lead disappeared on Sunday. After all, Strick had just shot 63 on Saturday at a golf course he dreams about playing all year long. So you expect me to believe he could double bogey #5 and take back-to-back bogeys on 15 and 16 to put himself at a 2-stroke disadvantage with only two holes left to play? I’m not buying it.
"I didn't get down, and Jimmy (caddie) was right there telling me the whole time, it's not over yet; just keep plugging," Stricker said.
He was trailing Kyle Stanley from Gig Harbor, WA., a young-gun who was hoping to make the John Deere his 1st win. Poor Kyle didn’t realize that he was about to become a victim of the old outlaw in a Clint Eastwood-type ending.
After birding 17, Strick pulled his drive into a fairway bunker leaving a horrible downhill lie with an awkward stance. Blocked by trees, he would need to somehow chop it out and get up and down for par to force a playoff. Err, I mean hit a career shot and roll in a 25 birdie putt from off the green for the win.
After taking and retaking his stance three times –one foot in the bunker and one foot out- he finally settled in and hit a hook around the trees that landed in the center of the green and rolled into the fringe leaving a 25 foot up and down for the win. After the shot Steve gave “knucks” to the fans as he walked up to the green with a huge grin on his face. When he drained the putt, the typically reserved Stricker, pumped his fists and danced around the green.
This was the 44 year-old’s 3rd consecutive win of the John Deere and 11th win of his career. (8 of which have come after he turned 40.)
Perhaps Steve can ride the wave this week at The Open Championship across the pond and get his 1st major this week!
Check out my British Open Predictions.
Next up: British Open, Royal St. George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, Kent, ENG, July 14 – July 17, ESPN, Defend Champ. Louis Oosthuizen
LPGA TOUR
Ryu So-yeon Wins US Open in 3 hole playoff
South Korean Ryu So-yeon won the rain-delayed US Open in Colorado Springs. She benefitted from playing the final three holes twice on Monday morning. She poured in a 6-foot birdie putt on 18 the first time around to force a playoff with Hee Kyung Seo, also from South Korea, and then poured in 5 footer in the playoff to win.
She was promptly drenched on the green by fellow Korean players and former winners Pak Se-ri and Ji Eun-hee who were armed with champagne bottles.
This is the 6-time winner’s (Korean LPGA) 1st major.
Next up: Evian Masters, Evian-les-Bains, France, July 21-July 24, Golf Channel, Defend Champ. Jiyai Shin.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Jeff Sluman Gets Trifecta at Pebble
‘Seems like this year the Geezer Tour has been eerily mirroring the Big Boy Tour. It wasn’t a 3-peat but Sluman won the First Tee Open at Pebble Beach for the 3rd time in the last four years. (Last year Jeff tied for 14th – Nice of him to give somebody else a chance.)
Sluman who finished with a 3-day total of -10 wasn’t playing in the last group and had to dodge some bullets from Jay Haas and Bobby Clampett, both were at -10 but fell back.
Haas and Clampett had senior moments on the dreaded par-5 14th. They both hit ugly chips shots and double bogeyed the hole.
This is Jeff’s 4th Champion’s Tour Victory.
Next up: The Senior Open Championship, Walton Heath GC, July 21-July 24, ESPN2/ESPN, Defend Champ: Bernard Langer
NATIONWIDE TOUR
Next up: Chiquita Classic, TPC River’s Bend, Maineville, OH, July 14-17, Defend Champ. Tommy Gainey
Until next week… Don’t forget to set your alarm clock for the crack of dawn. Its BRITISH OPEN TIME!
