Gary Player - The Legend

What a US Open It Was!

Wow!  What a US Open this year. I’ve let the dust settle for a couple of weeks before this entry, as I’m sure you have all had enough to read or watch what may be Tiger’s Greatest Major Victory.  Remember he’s had a few memorable victories in his 14 professional Major wins.  The 1997 Masters, his first Major, in a record setting 18 under par 270, 12 shot run away performance - announced his arrival to the golfing world.  The 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach when he tied the US Open scoring record with his 15-shot victory.  The 2000 Open Championship at St Andrews, another scoring record earned with 19 under par, 269 and joining the foursome of Grand Slam winners:  Gene Sarazan, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.  With the addition of Tiger they are the only golfers ever to win all four majors. 

The PGA Championship has also seen plenty of Tiger moments as I’m sure we all remember 1999, and the duel with a very young Sergio Garcia.  There was the record setting 18 under par 270 set at Valhalla in 2000, tying Bob May and then winning the exciting playoff to capture his third major title in a row.  He then won the Tiger Slam by winning the 4th major in succession at the 2001 Masters, and held all four major trophies at one time.  I think that’s enough but you get the gist....Tiger is totally awesome, and all his victories have been special for one reason or another; however, this year’s US Open playoff win against Rocco Mediate will be remembered as his finest performance.

We now face a Tiger-less PGA Tour for the remainder of the year, and his absence is an immense loss to the game.  Despite this loss, it gives plenty of players an opportunity to collect some wins, and either re-boot an old career or kick-start a new one without having to face-up against this competitor who has had a better than 50% win ratio the past 12 months.  That is exactly what has happened in the last few months, US Open aside, and the trend continued on Tour with the last three PGA Tour events. 

CBS Sports has provided the coverage at all three, and after watching the US Open, it has been great to be back on the other side of the camera and inside the ropes.  Stewart Cink won The Travelers Championship in Hartford, breaking a four year winless streak which I find unbelievable as Stewart has a powerful swing, a wonderful talent and one of the best putting strokes of all the guys with alternative styles.  He uses the long putter.

Hunter Mahan played well once again as defending Champion at the Travelers, and the old war horse Tommy Armour tied Hunter for second place - just one shot behind Cink.  This win may give Stewart Cink the added confidence that he’s good enough to be a regular winner on Tour.  I certainly think he is!!

The Buick Open was next in Flint Michigan at the beautiful Warwick Hills course, where the 47 year old Kenny Perry took advantage once again with Tiger’s absence. Kenny secured his 2nd win in little more than a month, adding to his title at The Memorial, and is now a lock to make the Ryder Cup Team, which was his goal at the start of this season.It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you set clear specific goals.

Watch out for Kenny Perry, Tommy Armour, Corey Pavin, Larry Mize and Olin Browne as they all hit the Champions Tour very soon; Major Champions Bob Tway finished (4th at the Buick) Paul Azinger and Fred Couples will join the competition as well, so the “old guys Tour” will be even stronger in a year or two.

The second AT&T National, hosted by Tiger Woods (from Orlando) played at the fantastic Congressional Country Club in Bethesda Maryland.  It was a tremendously patriotic affair on 4th of July weekend in our Nations Capital, supporting all our troops and servicemen and women.  I think this event has a big future especially with Tiger Woods hosting, and will become one of the better Tour events each year.  Although it went very well it did lack a strong field, although I imagine with Tiger back next year the field strength will improve.

Anthony Kim played extremely well once again on a tough course like the Quail Hollow Club, (Wachovia) in winning his second title of the year. He looked strong and confident during the final round and played like a veteran with the lead. He won easily in the end from a tightly bunched group with no one able to mount an effective challenge.  Tommy Armour played some great golf once again and finished second behind with five others at 9 under, tied for third. Like Kenny Perry, Anthony Kim has certainly taken advantage of Tiger’s absence with two Tour victories in the last three months and may very well be headed for a sensational career like Phil’s or even Tiger’s.  We’ll have to wait and see, but watch him at The OPEN Championship at ROYAL BIRKDALE.

I’m off now for a game with Robert Allenby at the newly reshaped Admiral’s Cove Golf Club.  Wish me luck with Robert as he is playing some wonderful golf as he prepares for The Open.

Finchy

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