In My View

AUTUMN 2009

What a fantastic second half to the 2009 season it’s been!

Arguably THE women’s major that everyone wants to win is the U.S.Women’s Open, which is the oldest women’s major, and along with The Evian Masters, also has the richest prizefund. In keeping with recent years, another major was claimed by a player from Korea – Eun-Hee Ji, thus re emphasising the strength of women’s golf in Asia. For a long time it looked as if either the Americans Cristie Kerr, winner of this Championship in 2007, or Paula Creamer who is still trying to win her first major, might be triumphant. In the end, in an unpredictable and exciting final nine holes, Eun-Hee Ji triumphed over Candie Kung from TaiWan who shot an excellent 69 in the final round to sneak up to second place, and Cristie Kerr, who finished third after her usually reliable putting deserted her. After starting the back nine with a double bogey, it seemed that Eun-Hi Ji’s chances had gone, but several birdies later, including one of about 30 feet on the seventy-second hole.

Onto the Men’s (British) Open which this year took place at Turnberry. Venue in 1977 of “The dual in the sun” an epic encounter between two of the greatest golfers who have ever lived – Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. On that occasion Tom Watson was striumphant by a single stroke. It seemed that those memories and his obvious love of Scottish links golf spurred him onto playing some of his best golf for years. Much was made in the media of his age – 59, but all that stopped him from winning was a final hole birdie by fellow American Stewart Cink, who then went on to win our Championship after a four hole play-off. Lee Westwood came desperately close, yet again to winning his first major, and had the heartbreak of three putting the last green to miss out on the play-off. Surely Lee’s time will come next year.   

 Shortly after the U.S.Women’s Open, the world’s best women golfers flew to Europe to play in the Evian Masters, often referred to as the fifth major. This event has produced much drama in recent years, and this year was no exception. In 2008  American glamour girl, Natalie Gulbis claimed her first and only professional victory when she beat the Korean Jeon Jang in a play-off. This year Japan’s, Ai Miyazato claimed her maiden victory when she won The Evian Masters after a play-off with Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson. Having won oodles of tournaments in her native Japan, and being the biggest golf star, male or female in her home country, (Tiger Woods included), Ai’s truly a global star and one of the most well liked players in the world of women’s golf. Her victory was richly deserved and universally applauded.

From Evian, came to Britain for their final major of the year – The Ricoh Women’s British Open played at Royal Lytham & St.Annes. Scotland’s Catriona Matthew won comfortably after a superb display of controlled golf and brilliant putting. With this tournament being only her second event back after having her second child in May, her victory was quite remarkable and of course was enthusiastically and warmly greeted by the thousands of fans who watched either at Lytham or at home on the TV. Well played Catriona!

The men’s final major of the year was the U.S.P.G.A. Championship played on Hazeltine National golf Course in Minnesota. Tiger as always was the bookies favourite to win, but yet again, he faltered when nearing the finish line, possibly showing that he is no longer invincible! Instead,  Y.E.Yang, a little known player outside of Asia, became the first Korean to win one of the men’s major. Yang’s victory will undoubtedly spur more Korean men to take up the game, so expect to see the Korean men winning more global tournaments in the future.

Probably the event that I look forward to more than any other in the women’s golfing calender is The Solheim Cup - the female eqivalent of The Ryder Cup. This year, I went to Rich Harvest Farms with some trepidation because of the possibility of Europe being trounced by the Americans. I was buoyed by Catriona’s win at Lytham, Sophie’s near miss at The Evian, and having spoken at length to Alison Nicholas, the European Captain, I changed my opinion – it’s a woman’s perogative you know! – and thought that we had a slim chance of victory, if everyone played to their potential. In retrospect, it was one of the best matches that I’ve witnessed, with Europe having a genuine opportunity to win for the first time on American soil. Sadly, as has so often been the case, the Americans were too strong for us in the final day’s singles. I was extremely proud of Europe’s performance, and Ali’s captaincy, and the emergence of players such as Anna Nordqvist, and Tania Elosogui, and the reappointment of Alison Nicholas as Captain bode well for the next contest in Ireland in less than two years time.

The climax to the men’s European season was The Race to Dubai. So many Europeans had an outstanding year, but none more so than Lee Westwood and Rory MCIlroy, who were battling it out to be the European number one. With a final round 64 for a total of 23 under, Lee Westwood absolutely blitzed the field to win by six shots. Rory finished third, which put him second in the final money list, but surely it won’t be too long before he tops money lists all over the world. The news that Rory is planning to play most of his golf in America next year was greeted by sadness by a lot of European fans. His golf and easy personality have been like breath of fresh air.

The women’s final event of the year – The LPGA Championship, was full of excitement, and like Dubai allowed for several different scenarios, depending on who did what. In the end, Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa claimed her fourth “Player of the Year” title by a single point from Korea’s Jiyai Shin, who won more money than anyone else. Who won the Championship almost became a side issue to the Player of the Year contest. In the event, Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist closed with a superb 65 to claim her second tournament win on U.S.soil this year, and move up to seventh in the world rankings. A new driver has given her added distance off the tee, and with her incredibly consistent putting and Annika like calm on the course, I predict many more wins for Anna.

So, it’s been another outstanding year of golf with lots of excitement, emotion, records broken and two more losses in Transatlantic team events. In 2010, The Ryder Cup will be played in Wales, and The Curtis Cup in America. We need to win at least one of these to start to redress the balance, which in the last few years has definitely swung America’s way. I’m looking forward to it already!

Happy golfing!  

Mickey