STAND-OUT PERFORMANCE CAME FROM WONDER WOODS IN THAT MASTERS TRIUMPH
DEREK LAWRENSON winds up the golf season by picking Woods’ Masters triumph as the stand-out performance
AS a farewell column for 2019, let’s reflect on another momentous season and hand out some accolades...
MALE PLAYER OF YEAR TIGER WOODS
THE players went for Mr Consistency, Rory McIlroy. The public sided with the majors man, Brooks Koepka. But it was Tiger Woods who brought wonderment to the start of the season with his victory at the Masters and history at the finish with his landmark 82nd PGA Tour triumph. It was an uneven season, of course, but forget top ten every week — he had already written the book on that. This week marks the tenth anniversary since that fateful evening when he crashed into a fire hydrant and precipitated the most spectacular downfall in sporting history. Who thought it would end up being a wonderful tale of redemption?
FEMALE SUZANN PETTERSEN
SURE, it is hard on the brilliant Ko Jin-young of Korea, who won two majors and finished third in the British Open. But nothing comes close to that glorious day at the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles, when the fate of her continent rested with the feisty norwegian, playing in just her third event in two years. It all came down to an 8ft putt on the 18th, as Pettersen blocked out the noise to roll it home. At 38, secure in the knowledge that nothing else could compare, she rode off into the sunset.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR THE OPEN
IT was really Tiger at the Masters, of course, but on the basis that no one can claim two prizes, let’s reflect on the week that ran it a close second. We always knew the return to Portrush for the first time in 68 years would be special but a home winner? Step forward Shane Lowry, who somehow managed to keep mind and soul together in the teeth of some wonderful Irish madness. The fact he hasn’t mustered a single top ten since tells of the high emotional price that sometimes has to be paid.
LOW MOMENT NEDBANK CHALLENGE
YOU put up a record first prize in European Tour history of a whopping £1.95million. You would think they would come from all corners to try to win that. Except they didn’t. The winner, Tommy Fleetwood, was the only man in the world’s top 20 in South Africa a fortnight ago. It wasn’t just the superstars who stayed away. They had to go down to 76th place in the Race to Dubai to fill out the 60-man field. Yes, we know there are a lot of tournaments and players cannot compete every week but it was an embarrassing look for the game.
NEWCOMER ROBERT MacINTYRE
In Abu Dhabi in January, he was singled out by Tommy Fleetwood as one to watch. ‘It’s unusual for someone to have such control of their game at such an early age,’ said the Englishman. And so we learned about the likeable 23-year-old from Oban, whose rookie year unfolded in the seamless manner that Fleetwood predicted. The next great Scottish golfer? It will be interesting to see how he copes with the expectation next season, but the signs are all positive.
PRAT OF THE YEAR SERGIO GARCIA
THE Spaniard had a bit of competition, to be fair, with Bryson DeChambeau managing to take more than two minutes to miss an 8ft putt at one event, but Garcia won comfortably in the end with his shameful antics at the Saudi Invitational, when he sulkily took lumps out of several greens, outraging his fellow pros. Just to make sure, he then threw his club at his caddie during The Open. I’d have
thrown it back at him.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO... JORDAN SPIETH
THE can’t-miss kid from 2015, who won two majors that year and almost won two more, wasn’t even considered for America’s Presidents Cup team next month, having fallen to 43rd in the world. Tied third at the PGA Championship was his only top-five finish.
MOST IMPROVED BRENDON TODD
THE 34-year-old from north Carolina began the year ranked outside the world’s top 2,000 and with seemingly no future. he had the long-game yips so bad he spent a year seemingly unable to hit the ball anywhere bar right. now look at him. Two weeks ago, he won for the first time in five years. Then he won again. On Sunday, in Sea Island, Georgia, he finished fourth. his ranking is now 72.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR BROOKS KOEPKA
‘I’ve been out here for, what, five years. Rory McIlroy hasn’t won a major since I’ve been on the PGA Tour, so I don’t view it as a rivalry.’ Straight talking from Brooks Koepka and words that will be reheated on more than one occasion in 2020. He has certainly whetted the appetite nicely for next season.