Rather Late Weekend Wrap - Golf Week 04.03.2019

Euro Front

Winner: Kurt Kitayama

Effectively his rookie year on tour, Kitayama is playing as though he is a seasoned campaigner. Comfortable is an understatement. The Oman Open through some devious conditions at the players, with shot making and patience (a lot of that) at an all time premium. It was the young American, who came out on top, with his 2nd win of the season, following his late 2018 Victory in beautiful Mauritius. It seems the gap year program piloted by Peter Uihlein and followed by World No3 Brooks Koepka and recently Im, is indeed still a strong option for the up and coming generations.

But, more to his solid performance down the stretch, with 2 birdies dropping in the last 3 holes, Kitayama moved 1 clear of a packed 2nd position, finishing on a respectable 7 under. His smile, certainly was not echoed by the grouping there, a 3-putt on 18 in the last round created a dull French portrait for Sordet, and 3 bogeys during the week on 17 for German Kiefer meant that 1st win would allude him for a week further.

De Jager (+1) was the best placed Saffa, with Justin Walters, Stone and Aiken a further 2 shots back.

State Side

Winner: Keith Mitchell

The low scoring seen in Oman was echoed during the Honda Classic, played out on the fast and firm PGA National. A return to good talking points and low scoring indeed was the week’s affair, with VJ stirring the Veins of many a 50+, and many who had previously asked if he was simply a place holder, who should step down for another to have a shot (this is assuming from the classic Masters query, maybe propagated a bit much by Gary Player taking his time to give up his ‘honourable’ tee time).

However, to those questioning his ability, and potentially more his golfing appearance; VJ simply replied ‘down to ageism’, ‘down to short putters and the golfing body’, ‘and certainly down to contacts and the wasted time in taking a glove off to putt’. Hail you VJ and good on you, great performance and the silky swing still looks good!

That being said, it really was Keith Mitchell who stole the show, with a Sunday that will likely be life changing (as is any victory on tour), but the way in which he accomplished it is more the life asserting memory he will carry for the rest of the season. A fine back nine stretch of 3 under, highlighted by his 15 ft birdie on the 18, shouldering his way clear of the 2 hopeful playoff contenders, who came in the form of Fowler (birding 3 of his last 4) and Koepka (2 in his last 3).

Also mention should be made of Ryan Palmer, who had 11 putts on the front 9 and delighted the patrons with a 63 to set the initial and strong looking club house lead.

Owever to those

Other events of note included

LPGA, new world No1 Sung Hyun Park (S Korea) fired a tourney shifting 64 in the final round, to set herself clear of 2nd placed Minjee Lee. The Aussie is making the maid of honour position a slight habit, with this week making 2 from 2 in the runner-up position. However, pretty certain we will be seeing the world No3 placing 1st fairly early on this season.

Spaniard Munoz was up the board again, continuing her stretch of form, and it was good to see Amy Olsen recovering from the social media storm of the last week, claiming a solid t-5. There are far more concerning activities on tour than a backstopped ball and a comradery fist bump, ask Fowler and his new ‘dropping’ style.

If you consider everything, the tour has just made it legitimate to back stop your putting on the green, it is fairly certain Amy was not trying to use the ball as a stop. It happens, the commentator even remarked “the crowd loves it when that happens”… https://www.golf.com/news/2019/02/23/lpga-amy-olson-respond-backstopping-backlash/. Have a read and a watch, make your own mind up, but really…

Sunshine Tour, with few events remaining, actually just 2 for those looking at retaining their cards, the Team Championship at Dainfern CC could be the backstop many players were hoping for. The betterball – foursomes – betterball format is a treat, and so too was the golf played by defending pairing du Plessis and Hugo. Their opening 58, catapulted them into a strong retention potential. However, foursomes can be the gravy, or it can be the broccoli of golf, and for the duo their 73 flatlined their efforts.

With the defending pair churning water, it was consistent week performers JC Ritchie and Jaco Prinsloo (rounds of 61, 66, 62) who went on to lift the trophy.

This weeks’s Limpopo Open sees a full field teeing it up around the challenging bush layout of Euphori Golf Estate and Hydro. The bubble mark is going to be ‘interesting’ to watch, always stressful and sometimes stomach jarring.

IGT, a low scoring engagement was the order of last week at Services GC, with 17 under being the not quite good enough number. It still needed a playoff to decide the winner. Sadly, for Brown, his flawless 63 and demolishing of the 18th, was matched by Barkers own 3 birdies on 18 for the week. Their display saw them teeing it up again, with Barker proving the eventual victor.

It is Divan Marais who sits precariously, just R450 above 16th placed Ruhan van Dijk. Top 15 make it through to Final Stage of the sunshine Tour’s Q-School being played later this month - http://igtgolf.org/oom/.

To look forward to this week

• Arnold Palmer Invitational (US PGA Tour)

• Commercial Bank Qatar Masters (European Tour)

• No Event (LPGA)

• Women’s NSW Open (Ladies Euro Tour)

• Limpopo Championship @ Euphoria (Sunshine Tour)

• No Event (Web.com Tour)

• Race to Q-School #8 @ Akasia (IGT Gauteng)