Every repeats at Bay Hill

Matt Every never blinked when Henrik Stenson took the lead late Sunday. He played a flawless, watery 18^th at Bay Hill and converted a 15-foot birdie to seize the lead from the mercurial Swede.

Stenson had putts for an eagle and three birdies during the last four holes, but he three-putted two of them and that was the difference.

For some reason known only to PGA Tour officials with impeccable timing, Stenson’s group was cautioned for being out of position twice on Sunday. I ask Seriously? to both the Tour and Stenson. Tour, this is your final pairing and will undoubtedly feel the impact of all the groups up ahead, so lighten up. Stenson, you’re a Ryder Cupper and a tour winner. Nothing should bother you, so toughen up.

Back to the champion. Every dog has its day and Matt Every is living a happy Groundhog’s day now, with back-to-back Arnold Palmer Invitational titles.

See the clubs Every used to win at Bay Hill. 

Double Double

Coffee drinkers know two creams and two sugars as a Double Double. In golf, it now refers to the law firm of Berger and Johnson, specialists in double eagle acquisitions.

On Friday, tour rookie Daniel Berger drew a 237-yard 4 iron into the hole on the 6th at Bay Hill for the second albatross of his competitive playing career (see the video above).

On Sunday, Zach Johnson matched Berger with a holed-out 5 iron from 207 on the 16^th hole.

Berger made eagle, birdie and par on the other long holes on Friday to hit for the cycle. But hey! Two double eagles in two days make for a nice gift for tournament host…

King Arnold Still Relevant

Is Arnold Palmer still relevant? Will the sun rise tomorrow?

The King was able to convince World No. 1 Rory McIlroy to at last compete in his eponymous invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando this week (Rory finished T11).

Bay Hill produced a typically-thrilling finish at this year’s API. In addition, Palmer’s golf course design firm announced plans to build the second course at Castle Stuart, in Scotland, in conjunction with Mark Parsinen.

Palmer’s courses haven’t always been well-received, so it will be interesting to see what his team of architects can do with some auld sod. For sure, the course will be compared with the original Gil Hanse course on property, so it’s go time for all the King’s men.

Mother, Mother Nature, I Have Heard You Call

In Portugal, the European Tour’s Madeira Islands Open was simply abandoned. Yeoman’s effort was made by organizers, competitors and grounds crew to complete at least 36 holes, but it wasn’t to be.

Downpours began on Wednesday and continued through the end of the weekend. Eighteen holes were completed and hope rained reigned for an exciting, Sunday-morning finish. Heck, the tournament brass even planned for a shotgun start, to get all the golfers around during the same four hours.

The European Tour’s COO, the appropriately-named Keith Waters, gave hope that the event would be rescheduled for later in the year.

[quote_box_center]”So we feel we must now make every effort to make sure that the Madeira Islands Open – Portugal – BPI takes place this year and that together we can show the world the true potential of this great event and this beautiful island.”[/quote_box_center]

Chasing Stacy

She’s not No. 1 in the world, and she’s not even No. 2. Yet when Stacy Lewis, the No. 3-ranked golfer in the world is in the hunt, other golfers simply play better.

Case in point, the JTBC Founders Cup in Phoenix. Hyo Joo Kim appeared poised for a calm Sunday stroll to victory until Lewis turned up the heat. Unfazed, the 2014 Evian Championship winner reacted with poise and seven birdies on the day to seize a three-shot victory for her second LPGA title.

Lewis’ consolation was a second-place finish and a sense that her game is shaping up as major championship season approaches.

Missed the Cut

Olympic Course to have test event in November

The International Olympic Committee announced that the long-awaited, Gil Hans- designed golf course in Rio de Janeiro will host a test tournament in eight months. This is the course that was built on protected land, encountered judicial delay, had backlogs on equipment and supplies, and still faces a possible revelation that the mayor and developers were in cahoots.

From the land of magical realism, where nothing is as it appears, we’ll believe it when we see it.

And Then There Were Two (Tours)?

An announcement on unification talks between the European and Australasian PGA tours was made this week. Since the U.S.-based PGA Tour took over operations of tours in Latin America and Canada, Europe had to take notice and wonder just how far the grasp of the Tour would reach. Deciding to be proactive, the European Tour Board reached out to the Australasian Tour and was met with open arms.

Will the Sunshine Tour in Africa be the final plum for one of the two tours? Stay tuned, for these are the Days of Our Swings.