As weekends of golf go, that one was ok. Not bad. Quite interesting.
Three tournaments reached their conclusion at various times yesterday and whilst there was a win for a member of the next generation of golfing superstars, two of the elder statesmen showed they're not quite ready to hand the baton over.
First up was the UBS Hong Kong Open at Fanling. Prior to the event, unsurprisingly, defending champion Ian Poulter had talked up his chances of winning again and defying his patchy 2011 form. His Thursday effort of +1 wasn't quite on a par with Rory McIlroy and, although he chased him down to the end on Sunday, it wasn't enough to deny the Holywood lad his third European Tour win.
It was a fine performance from McIlroy and, for me, proved there is some substance to the hype and general brown-nosing to which he has been subject since his US Open win back in June. Members of the media had been queuing to blow smoke up his backside since then, proclaiming him the next world #1 and how he can win any event just by turning up. Which was clearly bollocks. He is on a fine run of form (2nd, 2nd, 6th and W for last four tournaments) and I hope it continues but he has a way to go before he can be anointed the best.
The sideshow from this result is that it ensures a modicum of interest in the season-ending Dubai World Championship starting on Thursday. Had he not won, it would have become a stroll to the money list title for world #1 Luke Donald. Now, at least, Donald has to finish in the top 20 to avoid being concerned about what McIlroy does.
Next up was another wheelbarrow filling stop, the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City, South Africa. Current world #3 Lee Westwood, as well as defending the title, was trying to close the gap on McIlroy above him in the OWGR. Against an anorexically thin field, his W was relatively unsurprising although he produced golf of breathtaking quality, especially during his 62 on Saturday. Tee to green, Westwood has always been Superman but his putter has previously been his kryptonite but not this time.
Added to his solid putting was a very lean appearance. His previous resurgence to the pinnacle of the rankings was accompanied by a shedding of a fair amount of spare timber and it looked like his recent gym work was worth the effort. I am looking forward to his PGA Tour sojourn in 2012 and hope it serves Europe well for the forthcoming Ryder Cup.
Last, but by no means least, the Chevron World Challenge - an event hosted (and participants chosen) by a certain Tiger Woods.
There have been one or two pieces written about his golf game (and his other games) since he last lifted an individual trophy at the Australian Masters in 2009. Since that time, the roar has been reduced to more of a wounded whimper but, as the physical and mental damage has improved, so has his golf. The swing changes, implemented to protect his shot left knee, were always going to take time to bed in but the warning signs of good things to come were at the US PGA this year. Albeit for only five holes until he tried to forget swing thoughts and let it happen, he looked ominously good. Niggling injuries hampered progress but he showed recently in Australia that he is very nearly there.
True, he came out on top at Sherwood against a fairly ordinary field and he suffered from a Saturday Struggle again, like in the Oz Open. This time, however, he was able to grind it out on the final day and that, for me, is the key. A year ago, he nearly won this event playing some pretty ropey golf but came unstuck when Graeme McDowell got involved at the death and he wasn't able to grind out the W.
I don't think the aura of invincibilty and intimidation will ever totally come back but, if his resurgence continues, I'm sure Rory will be less chirpy to see him at Medinah.
2012 looks like shaping up to be a very good year.
I am The Part-Time Golfer
Three tournaments reached their conclusion at various times yesterday and whilst there was a win for a member of the next generation of golfing superstars, two of the elder statesmen showed they're not quite ready to hand the baton over.
First up was the UBS Hong Kong Open at Fanling. Prior to the event, unsurprisingly, defending champion Ian Poulter had talked up his chances of winning again and defying his patchy 2011 form. His Thursday effort of +1 wasn't quite on a par with Rory McIlroy and, although he chased him down to the end on Sunday, it wasn't enough to deny the Holywood lad his third European Tour win.
It was a fine performance from McIlroy and, for me, proved there is some substance to the hype and general brown-nosing to which he has been subject since his US Open win back in June. Members of the media had been queuing to blow smoke up his backside since then, proclaiming him the next world #1 and how he can win any event just by turning up. Which was clearly bollocks. He is on a fine run of form (2nd, 2nd, 6th and W for last four tournaments) and I hope it continues but he has a way to go before he can be anointed the best.
The sideshow from this result is that it ensures a modicum of interest in the season-ending Dubai World Championship starting on Thursday. Had he not won, it would have become a stroll to the money list title for world #1 Luke Donald. Now, at least, Donald has to finish in the top 20 to avoid being concerned about what McIlroy does.
Next up was another wheelbarrow filling stop, the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City, South Africa. Current world #3 Lee Westwood, as well as defending the title, was trying to close the gap on McIlroy above him in the OWGR. Against an anorexically thin field, his W was relatively unsurprising although he produced golf of breathtaking quality, especially during his 62 on Saturday. Tee to green, Westwood has always been Superman but his putter has previously been his kryptonite but not this time.
Added to his solid putting was a very lean appearance. His previous resurgence to the pinnacle of the rankings was accompanied by a shedding of a fair amount of spare timber and it looked like his recent gym work was worth the effort. I am looking forward to his PGA Tour sojourn in 2012 and hope it serves Europe well for the forthcoming Ryder Cup.
Last, but by no means least, the Chevron World Challenge - an event hosted (and participants chosen) by a certain Tiger Woods.
There have been one or two pieces written about his golf game (and his other games) since he last lifted an individual trophy at the Australian Masters in 2009. Since that time, the roar has been reduced to more of a wounded whimper but, as the physical and mental damage has improved, so has his golf. The swing changes, implemented to protect his shot left knee, were always going to take time to bed in but the warning signs of good things to come were at the US PGA this year. Albeit for only five holes until he tried to forget swing thoughts and let it happen, he looked ominously good. Niggling injuries hampered progress but he showed recently in Australia that he is very nearly there.
True, he came out on top at Sherwood against a fairly ordinary field and he suffered from a Saturday Struggle again, like in the Oz Open. This time, however, he was able to grind it out on the final day and that, for me, is the key. A year ago, he nearly won this event playing some pretty ropey golf but came unstuck when Graeme McDowell got involved at the death and he wasn't able to grind out the W.
I don't think the aura of invincibilty and intimidation will ever totally come back but, if his resurgence continues, I'm sure Rory will be less chirpy to see him at Medinah.
2012 looks like shaping up to be a very good year.
I am The Part-Time Golfer
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