We know that the big game, that bowl of commercials, America’s pagan holiday, got your attention last night. That’s fine. On Monday morning, however, we want you running down the weekend of great golf with us. The European, PGA, Korn Ferry and Champions tours were in action, from the middle east to the Panama canal. We had a playoff, a comeback, a rebirth, and a debut. In other words, just another week in the exciting world of professional golf. Let’s run!
PGA Tour: Phoenix Open to Webb in playoff
The enigma that is Tony Finau, became more enigmatic in Scottsdale. On Saturday, the USA international player and one-time winner, parlayed a 62 into a one-shot advantage. On his heels was the Players and US Open champion of the 2010s, Webb Simpson. Midway through round four, golfers like Adam Long, Hudson Swafford and Nate Lashley (early pursuers) had faded away. Justin Thomas was immersed in a 65 that would bring him to -14, and a tie for 3rd with Bubba Watson and Lashley. Simpson and Finau created a 2-man duel, and when Simpson dunked his tee ball on the 15th hole, Finau took a 2-shot lead to the 17th tee. Doing what most golfers would call proper, the Tongan Terror closed with pars and preserved his -17 total. Thing was, Simpson drove the 17th green and two-putted for birdie, then dropped a 20-feet putt for 3 at 18, and back they went to the 18th tee. Simpson made birdie again, and had a title for 2020.
On Saturday, Brandell Chamblee took to Twitter to prop Finau up. In his words, “At any minute, he could go off. He is more on the cusp of breaking out that (sic) any other player in golf.” Chamblee’s words proved prophetic: Finau could but didn’t. He is still on the cusp. And this makes his constant selection as an International-Team captain’s choice all the more baffling. Jim Furyk picked him in 2018 for Ryder Cup, and nada. Tiger picked him in 2019 for Prez Cup, and bupkus. Time is running out for Finau to learn to close the deal.
Korn Ferry Tour: Panama Championship heads to Hattiesburg, in the hands of Davis
It’s a known truth that the Triple-A tour is where the top tour pros learn to win. They often learn how to win, by losing. Chase Wright had a lead on Saturday evening in Panama, thanks to a round of 62. By Sunday’s end, he had played 13 more shots than the day before, and dropped 14 spots on the leader board. Left to battle thing out were Davis Riley, who signed for a fine 64 of his own on day 3; Roberto Diaz of Mexico, who closed with 65; and a host of others. Diaz was flawless in round 4, pairing 5 birdies with 13 pars. Por poco in the end; Diaz came up one shot shy. Riley was imperfect, with a pair of bogeys, but he added a birdie and a 12th-hole eagle to reach 10 beneath par. 4 golfers found their way to a tie for 3rd, at minus-eight, but no lower could they go.
Champions Tour: Morocco Champions debuts with a Quigley Qonquest
One of the scintillating aspects of Champions Tour golf, is the how is it that you win again scenario. Golfers who have passed half a decade on the fringe of contention, in the broadcast booth, or on the instructor’s tee, swiftly return to the realization that it ain’t easy! Stephen Ames had a Champions win in 2017, but earning the 2nd has been tougher than anticipated. Ames had a legitimate shot at the inaugural playing of the Morocco Champion, after opening with a stellar 63. Unfortunately for the Canadian, his tally rose in each round, and he concluded the week at 14 under par. Even more unfortunate was the presence of Brett Quigley, who never won on the youngster’s PGA Tour. Quigley opened with 69, then closed with 66 and 66. to absolutely cozen the trophy from Ames. While there were other pretenders to the top spot, only Quigley and Woody Austin (among the top 9) were able to reach the mid-60s on Sunday. Quigley stood -7 on the day through 15 holes, before his lone bogey forced him to duck and cover to the house. As for Ames, he made bogeys at 14 and 15, then followed up with birdies at 16 and 17. Needing one last chirp at the home hole to tie, he was shy with his effort, and away did the championship slip.
European Tour: Saudi International goes home with a #GirlDad
In a week that celebrated Kobe Bryant’s role as a girl dad, Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland fulfilled a promise to himself. Vowing to show his children that he could still close the deal, the Ulsterman balanced birdies and bogeys (3 of each) on day four, and held off Dustin Johnson for his first European Tour victory in six years. The 2010 US Open champion held a 1-shot lead after three rounds; fortunately for him, his closest chaser was France’s Victor Dubuisson. If anyone was less familiar with winning than McDowell, it was Vic. Dubuisson stayed close through nine, but lost his touch at the start of the inward half. 3 bogeys and a double dropped him to -7, 5 shots out of the top spot and into a tie for 6th place. Belgium’s Thomas Pieters had the best final round of the contenders, with 7 birdies for 65. His effort brought him a solo 3rd finish, at -9. Johnson saddled himself with at least 2 bogeys each round. On Sunday, he had a pair of eagles and a birdie, but needed a bit more of this, and bit less of that, to catch GMac.
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Don
Feb 3, 2020 at 11:01 am
I seriously don’t get the finau criticism. he played great all week, went low on the weekend, beat every player except one. maybe the article should be about how great webb finished and we can stop pretending finau gave it away. webb went birdie, birdie, and then birdie on playoff. congrats to him.
winning is hard. finau hardly gave away the tournament or choked. he simply got beat by a late birdie run. it seems the guy finishing second gets more criticism than guys missing cuts. (Spieth)
Ronald Montesano
Feb 9, 2020 at 7:40 am
Hey, Don.
Sorry it took so long to respond. We had to clear the comment, and while it’s not as complex as politics and engineering for me, it is a unique and covert operation. He did give the tournament away. He didn’t make birdie on 17, which he should do all the time. He didn’t hit good drives nor wedges on 18, twice. Webb did what he had to, to extend the tournament. Tony should have won. He is fast becoming the 2nd coming of Rickie Fowler, who also doesn’t win as often as he should.
Spieth has not entered a conversation, for me, for the past year. I can’t criticize a guy whose game is so far gone from what it once was. From the outside looking in, he needs to find a new caddie (which he won’t do) and get a true sense of where he goes awry. It might be as simple as, he woke up and found out that golf was difficult, after winning 3 majors. I would not fix the chicken-wing follow through. It’s what he knows, and all he can do is get worse by doing it. I believe it is 102% mental for him.