Not every week in life can be as lovely as last week which I spent on Tiree, a small island in the Hebrides. I was with former Scotland international and Curtis Cup golfer, Suzanne Cadden, who is now an islander to her core and since I came home I’ve had to get used to locking up things again – you know, small items like the house and the car.
Only 12 miles by 3 approximately (at its narrowest point) but there’s so much to do on Tiree.
I’ve also been trying to increase the amount of exercise I take – three and a half years of near inactivity does tend to make 0ne very sedentary indeed and I felt that Tiree kickstarted me back into being a little more active again. So far this week I’ve done a bit of Nordic walking, a bit of cycling and a small exercise class and as my bones have now been officially declared “weak” my tiny little dumbbells have been moved from the bedroom to the kitchen in the hope I’ll be encouraged to lift them a little more often.
Problem is I always feel fatigued but I’ve come up with a new mantra for myself: “Don’t think Tired, think Tiree.” I’m quite pleased with that one!
Let’s turn to the golf. They say good things come to those who wait and the past seven days coughed up two very good examples of that little saying.
Tommy Fleetwood has broken his duck in America, finally cantering over the line to victory in the Tour Championship. His reward was the Fed-Ex Cup and a little cheque for $10 million and the popular Englishman’s megawatt smile is set to shine even more brightly after that consummate stellar display – particularly after his run of near misses.
I love this post from Tommy on his X (twitter) feed. Four words were enough: “How was your weekend?”
I remember interviewing Tommy at an Open – Hoylake a couple of years ago, I think – and being mesmerised by the whiteness and evenness of his teeth. It was quite distracting to be next to one of your heroes and trying to think up sensible questions to ask when all you wanted to know was who was his dental hygienist. Needless to say I’m hoping for lots of looks at those gleaming gnashers at Bethpage Black at the end of next month.
More good news thudded into my email inbox from the sister. It had passed me by completely that the US Senior Women’s Open was taking place at San Diego Country Club. This is a relatively young tournament, this being its seventh playing but already the roster of winners is impressive – Laura Davies, Annika Sorenstam, Jill McGill, Helen Alfredsson, Trish Johnson, Leta Lindley and now Wales’s finest, Becky Morgan.
Becky with her US Senior Open trophy. She’s the first person from Wales to win a USGA championship. [USGA/Steve Gibbons]
Jill Edwards was the captain of the British side that year and I wonder if she remembers all the little superstitious quirks she had to accommodate that week? Becky point blank refused to wear the team headgear. The baseball caps and visors provided for the team were rejected in favour of a much-loved, slightly washed-out, pale pink cap that had probably started life Welsh red. Nothing else would do and Jill sensibly allowed one of her star players the comfort blanket she needed.
Next on the list was Becky’s caddy – it simply HAD to be Alan, Jill’s husband, who was looking forward to a nice relaxing week watching a bit of golf. Instead he was press-ganged into service for every match, on duty for Becky, for whom he had successfully caddied in the past. Please don’t think Becky was anything other than a joy to have on a team but she had certain little superstitions upon which she was like the Rock of Gibraltar……..and Alan had a whale of a week helping his player hoover up loads of points. Happy days.
By the way, Becky won her Senior major by six from the evergreen Juli Inkster who has now three runner-up spots to her name and must be thinking, “Always the bridesmaid…….”
Of course, the big, big news of the week was Keegan Bradley’s announcement of his US side to take on the Europeans in next month’s Ryder Cup. His automatic qualifiers were locked in last week with Scottie Scheffler, JJ Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson Dechambeau already assured of their places on the team bus. The major imponderable was would Bradley pick himself?
We got the answer last Wednesday.
So, now we know. Keegan Bradley won’t have his clubs with him at Bethpage Black. [PGATOUR.com]
The home side always has an advantage in a modern Ryder Cup, seemingly, but a New York venue would appear to hand an even greater platform for success to the Americans than normal. The gauntlet has been well and truly thrown down and all that remains is for Luke Donald to pick it up.
Next Monday at 2pm is when he finally names his choices to round out the European side and then we have only a month to wait until battle is joined.
