Eventful start to the new season
There’s promise of much more excitement to come
THE first full week of the New Year was an eventful one and if the happenings are anything to go by, then 2019 should be one laden with all sorts of story lines and loads of exciting entertainment.
Just a few days ago Padraig Harrington was installed as the new European Ryder Cup captain, taking over from Thomas Bjorn, ahead of the biennial clash with the United States at Whistling Straits Golf Club in Kohler, Wisconsin.
That was preceded by an outstanding fightback by Xander Schauffele on the last day to snatch an unlikely victory in the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.
Justin Rose also regained the number one spot in the world rankings and Japan’s form player and world number 53 was invited to the US Masters at Augusta national golf Club in Atlanta and accepted.
All this transpired after a long string of changes to the Rules of Golf came into effect on Jan 1. The changes were determined by the R&A, the custodians of everywhere except the US and Mexico, which is overseen by the United States Golf Association (USGA ).
The raft of changes are set to alter the sport unlike at any other time over the last four decades or so. But, it will take some time before golfers around the world really get to grasps with the amendments.
Harrington’s appointment as Ryder Cup captain was welcomed by a wide cross-section of the game, including current and former star players, as well as the public in general.
A popular player in his own right, the three-time Major championship winner was not long in office before he was forced to brush aside suggestions from some quarters that Rory McIlroy might well not play in the three-day team event next year.
The quashing of this speculation by Harrington was swift and also right.
But it might not have arisen if McIlroy had not said that the “European Tour was a stepping stone”.
The 29-year-old Northern Irishman added that he planned to focus fully on playing on the US PGA Tour – albeit, at the expense of the European Tour.
McIlroy is a crucial competent in the European team, having played in the last five Ryder Cups – four of them victorious.
If he does miss out on Whistling Straits it could turn out to be massive setback, maybe an absence big enough to impact the tournament’s outcome.
Schauffele’s triumph was equally captivating. Having started the last round no fewer than five strokes off the lead, the 25-year-old from
San Diego, California, matched the course record 62 with a dazzling display of precision golf.
He did it with a one-shot victory over third round leader Gary Woodland, who finished runner-up, while former champion Justin Thomas was third and McIlroy tied for fourth, four shots back. Schauffele had a 23-under-par 269 total to show for his efforts.
Rose’s elevation to the top of the world again was also welcomed by fans and foe alike.
The Englishman did not even play the Hawaii tournament but still knocked Brooks Koepka off the summit.
It was the least Rose deserved after playing with a lot of commitment and confidence over the past couple of years .
Imahira‘s consistency won him the Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit last season and a slot at the Masters.
Such was his prowess that Imahira had 14 top-10s in the season, during which he also won the Bridgestone Open in the second half of the year.
Great stuff by any standards and a delightful start to the year, which we hope will be one filled with a lot of the same.