Amy Boulden produced a sensational round of a lifetime, firing a stunning bogey-free 64 (-8) to finish the week at 17-under-par and claim a three-shot victory from Australia’s Stephanie Kyriacou at the 2020 VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open. LET rookie Steph Kyriacou was making a charge of her own, turning in 31 (-4), while Morroco’s Haddioui was alongside her after an opening nine of 33 (-2).
Honma, that premium brand from Japan has just launched its first shop in Paris. However, it is no American Golf, or standard pro shop, and it would not look out of place on London’s Bond Street. In fact, we would not be surprised if we saw George Clooney walking out of it with a Nespresso in one hand and a Honma wedge in the other.
Germany’s Laura Fuenfstueck produced back to back rounds of 68 to lead by three shots at the halfway stage of the Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open in Sitges, near Barcelona. The 24-year-old from Langen was out of the traps quickly, racking up four birdies in her first 12 holes and made just the one bogey, on the par-4 14th, at Terramar Golf Club.
Scotland’s Craig Ross and England’s Eleanor Givens are the first round leaders lead in the The ISPS HANDA World Invitational, both carding an impressive 6 under par. Ross shot an impressive birdie free round of 64 Massereene Golf Club while Givens had seven birdies and one solitary bogey in carding a 67 at Galgorm Castle Golf Club.
So, as it’s set to hit 38°C (100°F in old money) in the UK tomorrow and one of the GolfPunk team has just realised that he has a midday tee time, doh! On that basis we had a quick shout around the office for tried and tested tips for keeping cool during this extreme hot spell and thought we should share them.
They needed it to be tough out there if they were going to challenge Shane Lowry but in the end, it was too tough and the conditions actually played in to the hands of the big man. For a man who grew up playing links golf up and down Ireland he was always going to be one of best equipped if the really high winds came.
Robert Rock of England came close to being only the second man to shoot 59 on the European Tour. After a string of five consecutive birdies, Rock had an eagle chance at the 18th hole at Lahinch to achieve the historic landmark. His long putt from the edge of the green went agonisingly close but missed on the left, leaving Rock to tap in for his sixth consecutive birdie, a back nine of 29 and a third round 60.
Congratulations to Gary Woodland who stood firm under the pressure of a charging Brooks Koepka, the world number one and winner of four of the last eight majors he had played in. Others launched a challenge, most notably England’s Justin Rose, but all faded away as Woodland stuck to his task.
Rory McIlroy shot a six under 64 in the third round of the Canadian Open to move into a share of the lead with the US’s Matt Kuchar and Webb Simpson. McIlroy’s countryman Graeme McDowell slipped back slightly but sits in joint ninth on eight under – Come on Gmac!
Keegan Bradley leads, some other folk are in second, third etc., including Shane Lowry of Ireland, but all we care about is how Graeme McDowell is doing. Gmac must be at The Open in July and we are cheering him all the way.
As Tiger Woods holed the winning putt some time around 7.35pm on Sunday I was asked an awkward question: "Are you crying??", "Seriously, mate, are you crying?" "I've just something... sniff... in my eye, that's ... sniff... all..."
We love celebrating the truly great shots but nothing makes us mortal golfers feel better than seeing our heroes occasionally making berks of themselves. Especially at the Masters. In 2018... here are the worst offenders...
