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A Lim Kim posts a legendary ending, Amy Olson almost wrote a storybook ending, Lee Westwood goes back in time, Matt Fitzpatrick wins in Dubai, and more in this week’s Monday Scramble:
1. A Lim Kim became South Korea’s latest big winner, rebounding from five shots behind with a frenzied finish to capture the US Women’s Open.
TO CARRY OUT: Kim’s shots on the final three holes at Champions Golf Club (2ft 16, 1ft 17, 10ft 18) will go down in tournament history as her three birdies in a row pushed her ahead of Amy Olson. and in the record books as a great champion.
Making her big debut, 25-year-old Kim is another unlikely champion, ranked 94th in the world, the lowest position of any US Women’s Open winner since the rankings were established in 2006. He was making only his third start on the LPGA and his first in the United States; she hadn’t been able to finish in the top 50 before. His only two professional victories had come at the KLPGA. It didn’t even have a Wikipedia page!
Wearing a mask on the field, as he had done all week, Kim’s closing of 67 was the lowest score in the final round on a day when the wind chill dropped temperatures to the mid-30s. Starting the day in ninth place, she was the author of the largest final round comeback, by position, in tournament history. He won with 281 3 under par.
Olson excited after birdie putt to close USWO
2. Playing despite the loss of a family member over the weekend, Amy Olson lost a late lead in the final nine and tied for second at the US Women’s Open.
TO CARRY OUT: It was an emotional weekend for Olson, who learned Saturday night that his father-in-law had passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. He likely benefited from the storm that hit the Houston area and postponed the final round on Sunday, when the emotions of defeat were still so raw. As a result, he was able to get more rest and had a full day to try to process the unthinkable tragedy, not to mention trying to regroup for the final day while trying to win his first major title.
On Monday morning, Olson came out and played some of the best golf championships of his career. Shaking off three first bogeys in a row to take a two-shot lead in the last nine, he looked at the leaderboard for the first time on the 13th green and saw that Kim was charging. At least he looked, that’s one of the reasons he lost the 2018 Evian, after not knowing where he was until the 72nd hole. That day he asked his caddy for his position, they told him one ahead and proceeded to double bogey to lose.
This time, Olson did little wrong on the final stretch; in fact, he scratched his hybrid 4 at par 3 16. But his tee shot landed beyond the flag and leapt onto the green, a difficult lie in the rough. He caught too much ball on his pitch and left his 15-foot par stop short, landing two shots behind Kim. Needing to hole his approach on the final hole, he settled for a closing birdie and a share of second place.
Then the excitement began to flow, as he wiped away his tears on the 18th green.
“I had no idea what to expect,” he said later. “I felt very weak and powerless the last few days. I think the Lord just helped me. It just makes you realize that life is much more important than golf. “
Westwood, 47, is number one in Europe for the third time
3. Lee Westwood became the oldest winner of the Race to Dubai, finishing second in the DP World Tour Championship to claim the all-season prize.
TO CARRY OUT: At 47 years, seven months and 20 days, Westwood is the oldest player to become number one in Europe, 20 years after first winning what was then the Order of Merit title. That is the longest span in the history of the tour.
Although he entered the week at No. 4 on the standings, guaranteed to take the Race to Dubai if he won the tournament, Westwood’s fitness was in doubt due to a prolonged back injury. That ailment left him out of the first leg of the Dubai doubleheader, and he had only limited practice while being worked on by the tour’s physiotherapists.
Westwood finished with three straight rounds of 68, but still looked poised to finish third in the standings as he watched the final holes from the players’ lounge. That’s when Laurie Canter, tied for second with Westwood, made a mess at par 3 of the 17, charging herself with a double bogey after failing twice to find the surface of the green from the left side of the green. That mistake put Westwood in line for the $ 3 million prize.
Approaching 50, Westwood thought his Ryder Cup playing days were over, especially after serving as vice captain in 2018. His conquest of Dubai won’t count towards qualification, but after becoming number one in Europe, he should figure. heavily on Captain Padraig Harrington’s standings. plan to stay in top shape for next fall. Westwood vowed to be ready.
Fitzpatrick reflects on second career win in Dubai
4. Matthew Fitzpatrick won the DP World Tour Championship for the second time, walking away with a 68 in the final round to beat Westwood by one.
TO CARRY OUT: It was Fitzpatrick’s first title in 27 months, since the 2018 Omega Masters. He also won the final season of the European Tour in 2016. Since 2015, he is 71 under par in this event, 14 shots better than any other player in that span. He also rose to the best position of his career at 16th place in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Tied for the lead into the final round, Fitzpatrick birdied the first four holes, and five of his first seven, to get ahead. He played his last 11 holes at 1 over par, the only blemish coming on par 3 of 17, when he needed a 6-foot save for the bogey after missing the green and running his first putt much farther.
After starting the week in 16th place in the rankings, Fitzpatrick jumped up to second place, just behind Westwood. Patrick Reed finished third, whose attempt to become the first American to win the Race to Dubai was held back by a 71-70 weekend after holding the 36-hole lead.
Viktor Hovland, who traveled around 8,500 miles after winning the Mayakoba Classic, tied for third in Dubai, two shots behind.
5. Harris English and Matt Kuchar won the QBE Shark Shootout for the third time, breaking scoring records in the process.
TO CARRY OUT: Who knew Georgia and Georgia Tech alumni could coexist so well? For the third time, English and Kuchar lifted the trophy in Naples, this time after finishing at a whopping 37 under par and winning by nine strokes.
“That’s ridiculous,” Kuchar said afterward. “It’s hard to imagine how good the golf was.”
The 37 under par total broke its own record (34 under par) and has now become the first team to win three times, with titles in 2013, 2017 and ’20.
From the way English is cleaning it up, it would be a big surprise if he didn’t win at least once in 2021. His improvement in hitting the ball over the past year has been remarkable.
Still smiling ?: Hinako Shibuno. Leading by four at one point on Saturday, the 2019 Women’s British Open winner, dubbed the “Smiling Cinderella,” loaded the final 74 rounds to fall out of the lead and take fourth place solo. His final round was an almighty fight, but he was able to save his score with two late birdies.
Strong defense: Jeongeun Lee 6. The 2019 winner tied for sixth, the best result by a defending champion since Karrie Webb went back-to-back in the early 2000s.
Much ado About Nothing: Two course main configuration. Although there was a lot of fanfare about the fact that due to low daylight both Champions Golf Club courses were to be used for the US Women’s Open, it didn’t make much of a difference, at least not statistically. Jackrabbit players averaged a total of 36 holes of 147.13; Cypress was only slightly tougher, at 147.19. Mud balls were a major issue over the weekend, but congratulations to the USGA on presenting a fair 36-hole test amid difficult circumstances.
Right on target: Matt Wallace. According to the projection of the year-end world rankings, it will be Matt Wallace who takes the coveted and final 50 place, securing an invitation to the Masters 2021. Only losing me: Erik van Rooyen, which means he will have to reach the top 50 at the end of March.
More of the same, for now: Limited fans on the PGA Tour. The Tour sent a note to the players outlining their plans for the first months of the new year. Kapalua will have limited corporate hospitality, but the Sony Open, American Express, Farmers Insurance Open, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, and Genesis Invitational will have limited or no viewers. The only exception to the west coast swing will be the Phoenix Open, which at the time of writing is limiting attendance at 8,000 a day, a far cry from the 500,000 regular fans a week that TPC Scottsdale typically pack. Things will probably open up more in Florida, of course.
Video of the week: European tour. Congratulations to the European Tour video team, and to the players, and most importantly Dr. Ellie, for this wonderful tribute to the front-line workers who have been risking their lives to face the coronavirus pandemic for almost a year. .
Best wishes: Tom Weiskopf. The former Open Championship winner and prominent golf course designer has reportedly begun treatment for pancreatic cancer. We hope for a speedy recovery.
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