GolfPunk fave Georgia Hall (no less!!) and nine of the past ten Champions will compete at the Women’s British Open for a 40% larger prize fund of $4.5m (circa £3.6m at time of writing) in recognition of the importance of the Championship and women’s golf according to the R&A.
You know something is iconic when its value on the second hand market can be more than when it was new. It happens to some old cars, it happens to certain fine wines and expensive spirits and occasionally it happens to golf clubs that are owned by famous dudes but it doesn’t happen often to regular golf kit.
It’s Manic Monday, so here is a very quick round up of all the results and stories from the weekend on the PGA Champions Tour, PGA Tour, European Tour, LPGA and Women’s European Tour.
Once upon a time what golfers wore on the course was not something that was talked about much. This might have something to do with the fact that they wore a standardised uniform of shirt, jumper of varying style and slacks. Oh, and of course the obligatory golf shoe which usually looked like something your grandad thought was cutting edge.
Justin Rose shot a third round 68 to close the gap on leader Gary Woodland to just one shot, with the field a further three shots back. Looming ominously in the pair’s rear-view mirror is one Brooks Koepka who shot a bogey free round of 68 to continue his slow, but continuous, move up the leaderboard.
When Graeme McDowell teed up at Pebble Beach in 2010 for the US Open golf championship, he had not previously won on the USPGA. However, he was a golfer in form having won the week before at the Celtic Manor Wales Open. 72 holes later and he stood on the final green sinking a short putt for the US Open title.
Tom Watson, a five time major winner, had often struggled at the US Open and coming in to the 1982 event he was not in great form. The US Open was the one he really wanted and to get it he was going to have to beat arguably the best ever golfer, Jack Nicklaus. He did it and will forever be remembered for ‘the shot’ on the par three 17th of the final day.
The 72nd US Open was the first one to played at Pebble Beach in 1972. Jack Nicklaus would prevail even after shooting a two over par 74 in the final round to finish two over par for the championship. Nicklaus finished three shots clear of Bruce Crampton with Arnold Palmer a further shot back in third.
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.
GolfPunk have long been supporters of the Longest Day Challenge. This year, once again, we are looking forward to putting together our own motley band of reprobates to test our ageing bodies to the maximum in support of Macmillan Cancer Support (more on our caper to follow!).
The crowds were out on mass to watch Tiger slay the beast, that is Bethpage Black, but it was his playing partner and holder Brooks Koepka who showed how it was done. Koepka’s course record, bogey free, seven under 63 was as unexpected as it was impressive. This is Bethpage Black after all where par is considered a good score.
After the debacle of last year when no broadcaster wanted the 4th major of the 2018 season and you had to find some obscure Facebook page set up by Eleven Sport to watch it, Sky will be showing this year’s event from Bethpage Black.
