Rather Late Weekend Wrap

Before we start, a special mention to Ryder Cup Star and Irish golfing legend and trail blazer, Christy O’Connor Jnr passed away last week. He had four European Tour victories, and never once finished outside the top 100 in 21 seasons on tour. RIP and enjoy a good few Guinness, it is well deserved.

So it has been awhile. That being said we should get the niceties out the way, like the Happy New Year and hope the year going forward is all that you want it to be. Buuuut that is just something people say, what we really want to ask is, hope that the December hangovers were well worth it and do you feel sufficiently fat enough to get to gym or is watching golf from the couch still the most acceptable form of exercise (provided the fridge is far enough away to cause at least a stirring of the heart?).

Indeed, if it is a stirring of the heart you are looking for, well the newest years has already provided that and more, and if you cannot get yourself down to stroll along the ropes at the early season events, the couch is exactly where you want to be!

Enough jabber, the golf season is on and a fair bit of catchup to catch up on.

Euro Front:

With the strong end of the season for the former world number one, and a couple new (albeit regular) trophies to place in his cabinet, Rory McIlroy has had a relaxed beginning to the European Season, as his norm.

The South Africans on the other hand have had very little chill in them and have begun the season quite emphatically. Notching two of the first four events of this fledgling year. Schwartzel banishing the blues of last year’s SA Open final round collapse with a stellar performance at what certainly must be his favorite course, Leopard Creek. The latest win takes him to a total of four Dunhill crowns.

Another South African who seems to only be on the rise, is young Brandon Stone. The Challenge Tour graduate and former SA Amateur Number One, began his official first European Tour Season with well quite a bang. Coming off a victory at the Lion of Cape Town Open to close out the Sunshine Tour Season last year, his form appears well in tact and apart from a mid round fumble yesterday on the challenging Glendower GC layout, Stone was able to close out his maiden European triumph with a flurry of closing birdies, finishing two ahead of fellow young Saffa Christiaan Bezuidenhout. As far as a first victory goes, I am sure Stone would have taken any event, but to pop his cherry by winning his home Open is something quite special.

State Side:

Something quite special happened this weekend, although a lot further away and on the other side of the pond, it will certainly resonate around the golfing globe and sets a marker that only a few can surely answer. Jordan Spieth is the man’s name and 30 under is his game. The Kapalua course has seen some low scoring over the years, but thirty shot below par is something only done by one other tour player, Ernie Els (at the same course in 2003). If that was not enough of a “hey watch out this year” kind of statement, well his eight shot victory margin tells the full story.

There appears to be only one way for this young star and that is upwards, Rory, Ricky, Day and co. you have your work cut out for you in 2016.

Other events of note included (backdated for my lack of presence) –

• Web.com Tour Q-School, was won by Canadian Adam Svensson on an impressive 20 under total and 7 clear of nearest competitors Americans Ian Davis and Jason Millard

• Sunshine Tour Q-School had the classic ups and downs that make and mark the event as more a marathon in survival than actual tournament. As with marathons, the race changes and sometimes the long time leader just never had a chance, this was not the case as Englishman Jack Harrison had one hand on the trophy with just the 90th hole to play, it was for all there, a mere formality he was to deal with. However surprises happen and as unfortunate a surprise for the Englishman, it was a double delight for Christiaan Bezuidenhout who scored back two shot on the last with his closing eagle. Leaping past Harrison and sealing an incredible comeback and success story for himself.

• Vusi Ngubeni Q-School, saw Trevor Mahoney race past any challengers and cement another year on tour (Sunshine Tour)

To look forward to this week –

• Joburg Open (Co-Sanctioned between European and Sunshine Tours)

• Sony Open (US PGA Tour)