Great is a word that’s bandied about far too much, especially when it comes to sport. Admittedly, performances can be great even when the person or people doing the performing have yet to achieve greatness – or may never achieve it, unless you downgrade the meaning to “very good” or “nearly great” or something similar.

Nelly Korda (pictured above, technical glitches permitting, with her latest trophy, her fourth in a row) is on a great run and may well be on her way to becoming an all-time great but only time will tell. That’s the problem with becoming a true great – short bursts of brilliance aren’t enough, you have to perform at the highest level time and time again, year in, year out. It’s punishing, exhausting and demands levels of skill, determination and concentration that are hard to acquire and even harder to sustain.

Leona Maguire, whom Nelly beat comfortably in the final of the T-Mobile Match Play at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, is already one of Ireland’s best-ever golfers and a Solheim Cup legend in the making  – probably nearer made than not.  She led the qualifiers for the matchplay stages but in the final Nelly, the world No 1, was imperious and won 4 and 3.  “I didn’t feel like I did a lot wrong, “ Leona said.  “Nelly just did a lot more right.”

Another young woman who had a great week was Lottie Woad, an Englishwoman who is a student at Florida State University.  She won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur with a finish for the ages, to snatch the title from Bailey Shoemaker, who had stormed to a final round 66, without a single dropped shot.  The American was the favourite to win when Lottie had a sloppy bogey 6 at the 13th, to fall two shots behind and hit a tree with her drive at the treacherous 14th.  She salvaged her par 4 somehow, then, seemingly nerveless, birdied the 15th, 17th and 18th to win by one.  Wow.

Goodness knows how they reacted down Farnham way, where Lottie learned her golf but at home in Lichfield I jumped in the air with an unedifying screech when the last putt, which reminded me of Sandy Lyle’s winning effort all those years ago, tracked into the hole.

Lottie’s caddie for the week was Steve Robinson, an England national coach who also works with former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick on the performance and mental side of the game.  He said that he couldn’t wait to see Billy Foster, that doyen of caddies, who now works with Matt and tell him that the job’s not so hard after all.  “What a proper finish!”

Robinson is a Yorkshireman, so perhaps that explains why a wee girl from Surrey should be a Leeds United supporter.   Ah well, we all have our crosses to bear…

Woad is obviously a player to follow but it’s hard to forget the youngest player in the field, a 15-year old Californian with an eye-catching first name:  Asterisk Talley.  It means little star in Greek apparently and Asterisk, who played in the Junior Solheim Cup in Spain last year, is quite happy to be unique.  “I feel like I want to be the only one that has a name like that,” she said. 

Who knows, if her game continues to flourish, she might inspire a glut of Asterisks on the birth registers of the world in the years to come.  She finished in a share of eighth place this year, coming home in 32, four under par, with birdies at the 11th, 13th, 17th and 18th, indicating a showwoman’s taste for the dramatic.

There’s been plenty of captivating golf in the last couple of weeks including a nailbiting win for Ashkay Bathia, one of my new favourites.  I think he was born in Los Angeles and he’s sporting a bit of a hippy look at the moment (always good in my book), he’s a lefty (or leftie – feel free to choose your preferred spelling) and he’s so skinny that he’s taken the much-coveted, nowadays antediluvian title of  “the walking 1-iron” from the sainted Ken Brown.  Admittedly no one uses a 1-iron these days but some of you out there will remember them; and a very few will have been able to hit them…

One last bit of big-time golf that tickled me:  the news that Rory McIlroy had taken himself off to Las Vegas to consult the oracle that is Butch Harmon in the hope of solving the mystery of the Masters.  Probably not a bad idea but when Rory’s daughter Poppy heard that he was going for a lesson, she was puzzled and said, with the blunt wisdom of a three-year old, “Why Daddy?  You already know how to play golf.”

Let’s hope your daddy keeps that thought in mind this week, Poppy.

Here in the sodden midlands of England we’ve been playing a bit of golf between deluges but we can’t seem to agree on the season and the attire required.  Opinions vary widely- and wildly – as the photo shows.  Guess which one is just back from a tour of South America…

Our local park is much more sodden than the golf course but the lake pictured below is meant to be there – it’s not an overflow – and it’s a while since I’ve snapped the cathedral with its three spires.  It was the pedalos that caught my attention and reminded me of a school trip to Annecy and its vastly bigger lake many years ago.  That pedalo voyage did not end well but that’s a story for another day – and explains why the photographer is on terra firma and not on the water.

And, finally, let’s have the cake even if we can’t eat it.  This marvel took pride of place at a singing golfer’s 80th birthday do.  Bon appetit.

For once, the blog is starting with a vaguely serious golfing topic – although admittedly there will be those who say that there’s nothing remotely serious about golf.  However, at the highest level it is biggish business, with quite a lot of noughts at the end of the numbers.  Probably not as big as Elon Musk, say, would consider particularly impressive but Donald Trump, for example, who likes big numbers, is keen on his golf and it’s a big part of his business portfolio.

Where’s this going, you might well ask.  Well, I’m just about to congratulate Guy Kinnings on his new job as European Tour Group CEO, taking over from Keith Pelley, who’s heading off back to Canada after a torrid stint in charge.  Given that a lot of knowledgable observers think that the European Tour (DP World) is on its way down the tubes (a technical description), crushed by the (US) PGA Tour and LIV and who knows what combinations, why would any sane person want to be in charge?

I don’t know Guy Kinnings well but I’ve known him for a long time and feel remarkably sanguine about him being the man at the top.  If anybody can navigate their way through the mire that is men’s professional golf at the moment, Kinnings has as good a chance as any.  He’s from Wolverhampton for a start; studied at Oxford; became a lawyer; joined IMG under the legendary Mark McCormack and has been in golf ever since.  There’s not much he doesn’t know.

“It’s a very proud day for me and my family,” he said.  “It’s a real privilege…and a responsibility I do not take lightly.  Our tour has such a wonderful history and I am delighted to have this opportunity to help shape the next exciting phase in its evolution…

“We have a great opportunity to look forward, a chance for us to focus on uniting and alignment…we have an ability now to bring the game together… I’m optimistic that we can look forward to a bright future…a more global mindset…

“That’s something we really welcome, something that plays to our strengths.  We have a global footprint, we have huge global experience.  Essentially for 50 years we’ve been growing relationships around the world, staging events in different countries and I think that that allows us a great opportunity to help shape the game in the right way

“For us globality [sic] is at our core, it’s in our DNA, it’s one of our three guiding principles:  there’s globality, there’s inclusivity and there’s innovation…

“Essentially it’s our job to continue to make sure we appeal to as many of the fans worldwide, from as many different backgrounds, different demographics, as we possibly can.”

Crucially also, this is a man who spent years looking after Colin Montgomerie, one of the most high maintenance, volatile men in any sport.  Kinnings has proved himself a diplomat sans pareil.  He’s the man for the job.  Surely?

Good luck Guy.

On a less optimistic note, I was sorry to hear that golf writing in Australia, if not exactly defunct, has officially fizzled out.  The AGMA (Australian Golf Media Association), founded 50 years ago as the Australian Golf Writers Association, has been disbanded.  At an extraordinary meeting, via Zoom (of course), last month, the remaining members voted unanimously in favour of disbandment.

I looked up my aged Roget’s Thesaurus and it confirmed that to disband is pretty final, coming up with words such as:  scatter, separate, part, break up, split up; deactivate, detach, let go; dissolve, disorganise, disintegrate.   Grim to those of us who remember the good times and all the wonderful Aussie sports writers who spent a good deal of their time covering their wonderful golfers.  Sadly, it seems there are no longer enough of them to merit an association.

I still have my NFS keyring somewhere, to commemorate the occasion when Dai’s suggestion that I, as a member of the AGW (Association of Golf Writers), should be allowed to play as a guest in the Aussie golf writers’ championship, was dismissed by the chairman with the immortal words:  “There’ll be no f…ing sheilas playing in my f…ing tournament.”

Ah, sweet days of enlightenment.

Looking forward to next week, Iain Carter, the BBC’s indefatigable golf correspondent, a former chairman of the AGW, will be busier than ever.  Not only will he be up to his eyes covering the Masters at Augusta National but he will also be keeping an eye on sales of his new book, due out on Thursday 11th April.

Published by Bloomsbury, it’s got a snazzy green cover and is called Golf Wars (with the ‘s’ cleverly depicted as a gold dollar sign), Liv and Golf’s Bitter Battle For Power And Identity.  It’s billed as “the compelling story of how golf was ripped apart…….this epic tale of fierce internal warfare has shaken golf to its core and marks a seminal moment in sporting history…”

Well, it promises to be a blockbuster and I look forward to reading an account that will make some sense of the whole sorry mess.

Good luck, Iain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was looking forward to a record-breaking and record-equalling sporting bonanza last weekend, but, as is inevitably the way with sport, things didn’t quite pan out as I had hoped.

First on the menu was the Six Nations rugby which I have loved all my life – right from the time it was just the Five Nations and Willie John McBride was one of Ireland’s most decorated forwards.  He was our local boy, working in the bank in Ballymena just up the road from Portstewart and post his rugby career he became a very accomplished and much sought-after after-dinner speaker.  He was the guest of honour at the council dinner in Portstewart when Dad was the captain, which was quite a coup for the club……….and Dad.

I remember a few years ago Willie John was being interviewed about his own career and the current state of the modern game.  He made me chuckle with his remark that the forwards nowadays regularly ran further in one half of rugby than he himself ever did in the entire Five Nations series!

Anyway, be that as it may, this Scottish/Irish household was a gloomy picture after Italy and England’s respective victories on Saturday, the latter putting paid to my hopes of elusive back-to-back grand slams.  That is a very rare achievement indeed and despite receiving a text from Patricia before kick-off telling me she was nervous, I was, in fact, quietly confident.  Strike one.

Bravely putting that disappointment behind me I tuned in on Sunday to the Jonsson Workwear Open on the DP World Tour, which was played at Glendower golf club just outside Johannesburg.  My initial interest was in following Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin’s progress as he attempted to win his second DP World title, which would best Rory McIlroy, who a decade or so ago, had won his second DP World title by the age of 22.  McKibbin won’t turn 22 until the year’s end and he started Sunday’s final round four behind the leader Matteo Manassero.

An opening triple bogey pretty much put paid to Tom’s chances but a stout recovery saw him finish with a 69 and tied ninth – very creditable indeed, but not the win I was seeking.  There’s still time for that second win to come before he turns 22.  As for me…………….strike 2.

That disappointment was softened by seeing Manassero win for the first time in 11 years.  The Italian is 30 years of age now and had won four times on the DP World  tour, but never in his twenties.  He plummeted from 25th in the world rankings to 1800 and something and has spent the last decade trying to reproduce the brilliance of his teenage years.  Two wins last year on the Challenge tour helped him regain his card on the big tour, all of which has led to this dream comeback and, finally, the sweetest win of all – number five.

Meanwhile, over in China, one of this blog’s favourites, Kiwi Lydia Ko was entering the final round of the Blue Bay LPGA tournament tied with the American duo of Bailey Tardy and Sarah Schmelzel.  Ko, winner of twenty tournaments on the LPGA and former world No 1, needs one more victory to gain enough points for induction into the LPGA Hall of Fame, arguably the most difficult H of F in all of sport.  A closing 71 was never going to get it done, however, so the search for the last remaining points continues.  Strike 3 for me.

Bailey Tardy put the after burners on in the final dozen holes hoovering up an eagle and birdies galore and shooting a superb 65.  This gave her a four-shot cushion over Schmelzel in second place.  The beaming picture of Tardy enjoying her first LPGA win is in stark contrast to the tear-stained player who was docked a hole for slow play in the 2016 Curtis Cup played at Dun Laoghaire golf club.  It came very late in the match and she was distraught – but it’s good to know she has found calmer waters in her professional career.

Next, it was over to Bay Hill and Arnie Palmer’s tournament where, for a second consecutive Sunday, Shane Lowry was in contention, making this Irish heart beat faster.  Tied for the lead with the incredibly talented Scottie Scheffler, Shane opened up bogey, bogey against birdie, par from the American.  With eight holes left to play Shane was five back and Scottie had a four-shot lead over Will Zalatoris.  Strike 4.

Time to switch over to the Ladies’ European Tour and the Aramco Team Series playing at Feather Sound Country Club near Tampa in Florida.  Charley Hull was leading this three rounder after two days of competition and trying desperately to better her six runner-up spots since her last win in the States in late September 2022.  When I joined her, however, she had lost ground and was a couple adrift of German player Alexandra Forsterling as they were making their way into the heart of the back nine.  Bronte Law, however,  gave me a flicker of hope with an amazing final round of 67 and a total of eight under the card which saw her finish in third place.

Alas, too little too late for both Bronte and Charley and the efficient play of Alexandra saw her coast to a final round 67 and a three-shot victory.  And that, my friends, made it strike number 5 for me.

One footnote re last week’s blog about the Sunningdale Foursomes.  This year’s worthy winners were Harley Smith and Dylan Shaw Radford who eased to a 5 and 4 win in the final over William Shucksmith and Darryl Gwilliam.  Congratulations to all four and perhaps this quartet will head north to Wilmslow in April where the Cheshire club will be hosting the third playing of the Wilmslow Foursomes.

This new event is played along similar lines to its older brother at Sunningdale and is well worth supporting.  Check out the club website for details and I would urge all good female players to enter.  Can’t have the boys having it all their own way, can we?!

Funny how the brain works (if it works at all, that is) and how it makes connections whether they are actually there or not.

I was supposed to go to Lichfield this past week to go with Patricia to the theatre to see Fascinating Aida.  We have seen them a couple of times in the past and their own website describes them as “Britain’s raciest and sassiest musical cabaret trio”.  They are not for the faint-hearted or those who are easily offended but they do deliver some amazingly clever, observational, musical comedy, one of my all-time favourites being their song “Cheap Flights”.  It’s a humorous rhyming rant about all the add-ons you end up paying for on a flight that’s advertised as costing 50p.

Anyway, I didn’t get to Lichfield because of a misbehaving back which has kept me housebound this last week.  This gave me ample time to keep up to date with the golf news from all arts and parts of the world.  First to catch my eye was the report in the excellent Irish Golf Desk by Brian Keogh that Joe Lyons from Galway had posted an impressive final round 67 to win the Spanish Seniors’ Amateur Championship at Real Club Sevilla Golf.  A former winner of the West of Ireland Championship and the current Irish Senior Close Champion, Lyons is extending his considerable reputation with this international win………. but the new champ was forced to go home empty handed.

Ryanair refused to allow him to bring the trophy home with him!  Doh?  What’s that all about?  And my brain immediately jumped to Fascinating Aida and their famous ditty.  The airline did relent and send the trophy on the next flight, relaying it by courier up to Galway…. but only after Joe had tweeted about his disappointment in them.  What WERE they thinking?

And what was Jake Knapp thinking, I wonder, after winning on Sunday in Mexico on the PGA Tour in only his ninth start?  The 29-year old had played extensively on the Canadian Tour in honing his craft before earning his PGA Tour card last year after finishing high in the final season standings on the Korn Ferry circuit.  Simply teeing it up in Vidanta in the Mexico Open was quite an achievement considering that less than two years ago he was working part-time as a nightclub bouncer in order to finance his golf and pay for his travel and entry fees.  Asked what he learned from that experience he succinctly replied, “I didn’t want to be a bouncer all my life”.

No danger of that now.  For a start, $1.46 million has crash-landed into his bank account, not to mention exemptions and invitations into all of this year’s majors, plus PGA tour status until the end of 2026 at the earliest.  “Life changing” is a much bandied-about term but it was never more accurate than in this case and who doesn’t love a moving story?  I certainly do.

I only had to turn my attention to the DP World Tour to find myself reaching for the paper hankies again to dab my ever moistening eyes.  The tournament was the Magical Kenya Open, the venue Muthaiga Golf Club.  Where to start?

Perhaps with the winner, 34-year old Darius van Driel from the Netherlands.  A broken hand led to him giving up golf for a number of years but he found his way into the pro ranks almost a decade ago and managed a couple of runner-up positions on the DP World Tour.  Last year saw him lose his card but he gritted it out at tour school and bounced back, scooping the ultimate reward last week with his victory.

Another heartwarming story featured the man who was joint runner-up.  He was also possibly the man who delivered your Morrison’s shopping the week before last.  Joe Dean, like van Driel, earned his card at tour school last year and this was only the 29-year old Englishman’s second ever start on the main European tour.  Not having enough funds to play every event he was supplementing his income, not by being a bouncer a la Jake Knapp, but by working for the supermarket as a delivery driver.  There should be a vacancy there now if you’re interested.  Joe has tucked away almost 200,000 euros so he won’t be needing it.

And there’s more…….

Ever heard of Ronald Rugumayo?  No, neither had I.  That’s Ronald’s picture at the top of the piece – he’s holding his lucky ball.

Last Friday Ronald stood on the 9th tee (his final hole of the day) at Muthaiga Golf Club knowing that he needed a birdie to be sure of making the cut.  He decided to change his ball from a number 4 to his favourite, a number 3.  His second shot finished just over six feet away and his putt disappeared in the right-hand side of the hole making birdie and making history.

“Happens every week in a golf tournament somewhere or other,” I hear you cry.  Er, no!  Ronald is the first player from Uganda to make the cut in a DP World event.  Truly history in the making.

It was a brilliant moment for Ronald, for Uganda, for East Africa but also, I’m sure, for the R&A whose tireless efforts to spread the game in Africa are now bearing fruit with Uganda having a home-grown role model and hero of their own.

“There are no words that I can use to express how I feel,” said Rugumayo.

“I’m so grateful for Kenyans, my fellow Ugandans who flew all the way (to watch me). Honestly, it’s not about me as a player, it’s not about Uganda, it’s about East Africa. Everything I’m doing, I’m doing for East Africa.”

This is what golf does time and time again.  Just when you’re ready to wash your hands of it completely the sport throws up people and stories that are irresistible.  It’s all making me fall back in love a little bit, well, no actually, quite a big bit, with the men’s professional game again.

It’s similar to when you are out playing a load of rubbish and you reach the last tee and, from nowhere, you stripe it down the middle.  By the time you’re in the clubhouse you’re hooked again.