The Monday Mulligan: The week that was in golf ...

themondaymulligan
Mar 6, 2023
5 min read

G’day everyone, welcome to The Monday Mulligan. I am super stoked to get this up and running and I hope this blog finds you well. I’m here to capture the highlights of the week of golf in a review of some of the competitions being played around the world. Enough rambling from me, let’s get into it.

Arnie’s Place, what a treat. The course looked in mint condition and TV coverage was pretty good for those who managed to catch some of it. With 550 FedEx Cup points on offer and a $20 million purse, it’s no surprise that 44 of the top 50 golfers in the OWGR teed it up (obviously aided by the fact this is now an elevated event on the PGA Tour). Some of the notables who missed the cut included Morikawa, Horschel, Matsuyama, Lee and Burns to name a few. But who can blame them, the scores speak for themselves in what was a brutal challenge and many a water-ball was lost. Story of the day went to Kurt Kitayama, who followed up his first 54-hole lead in his 50th tour start with a maiden win. The man was ice-cold down the stretch, after a slight hiccup on hole nine, he rallied to shoot an even par and hold off the contenders which included an early surge from Spieth and a late charge from McIlroy. An interesting side-note from this result, if the PGA Tours' intended changes to select elevated events in 2024 were in effect this week, it is highly likely that Kitayama may not have earnt himself a starting spot in this tournament. Just one of the many discussion points surrounding these changes is the lack of opportunity to those outside the top 50 in the standings … you may not agree, but an interesting take nonetheless.

Kurt Kitayama wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Photo Courtesy of gulnews.com

Across the way, in the alternate PGA Tour event the Puerto Rico Open, it was Columbian rookie Nico Echavarria who shot a four-under 68 in the final round to win. The result secures him a spot in The Players Championship, the PGA Championship and a two-year exemption on the PGA tour. Other notables were Higgs in T7 and Ogilvy in T11, his best finish in more than six years.

The 102nd New Zealand Open finished in fine fashion with 48-year-old Brendan Jones taking the honours. Played at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown, the course presented a unique challenge to a strong contingent of New Zealanders, Australians and plenty of representation from the Japan Golf Tour and Asian Tour. Another successful event on the PGA Tour of Australasia as it continues on a strong recovery after the impacts of COVID-19. The fourth round started with 17 players within seven shots of the winner and, after trouble from the front-runners, there were 20 players within four shots heading down the stretch. Jones finished strong and his win comes on the back of a sublime third round of 62, enough to get the Australian in front and hold on through the closing holes. It is Jones’ 19th career win, with the majority coming off the Japan Golf Tour where he has been an advocate for getting Asian golfers into the Australasian tournaments. The win boosts Jones into second on the PGA of Australasia’s Order of Merit, although he will need to compete in another two tournaments to become eligible for the crown, which offers the winner a start in at least one Major and a card on the DP World Tour.

Brendan Jones after winning the 102nd New Zealand Open

Photo Courtesy of the PGA Tour of Australasia

The Athena, a fun and unique format on the WPGA Tour of Australasia was played on the weekend at the Sandy Golf Links in Victoria, Australia. Featuring a Combine and Playoffs, the competition features some of the best of Australia’s female talent, both amateur and professional. The combine sees players battle it our through a series of skills challenges, the winners of which progress into the playoffs. Its fun, loud and entertaining! It was Grace Lennon who stormed home to win the event, setup by a dart on the third of four playoff holes in the final. Showing her true class, Grace committed 10% of her winnings to helping her caddie chase her own golfing ambitions. You just have to love watching professionals grow the game like that.

The LPGA Tour travelled to Singapore last week for the HSBC Women’s World Championship, colloquially known as ‘Asia’s Major”. After battling some wild weather, it was Jin Young Ko who defended her title and secured her second Women’s World Championship and her first win since the 2022 title. The event attracted a strong field with all five of last years Major winners making the trip to compete. Given the horrid conditions, the event attracted a brave crowd which was significant as it’s the first time since 2019 since fans were allowed to attend.

Jin Young Ko after defending her Women’s World Championship Title

Photo Courtesy of the progolfweekly.com

The Tour of Champions teed it up at Omni Tucson National Golf Resort in Arizona for the Cologuard Classic. Competing for $2.2 million, Miguel Angel Jimenez was there to defend his title however it was David Toms who held his nerve and won from the front for the first time in four attempts since turning 50.

The Joburg Ladies Open, a co-sanctioned event between the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the Sunshine Ladies Tour was held this week, as 132 contestants duked it out for a share of the €300,000 purse. This is only the second time the event has been co-sanctioned, however a strong showing and competitive field would indicate it is likely to continue into the future. It was England’s Lily May Humphreys who shot a final round 67 to storm from behind and run over the top of the field. It is Humphreys second win after her maiden victory in The Golf Flanders Trophy on the LET Access Series.

Looking head …

The DP World Tour did not compete over the weekend with the next event being the Kenya Open played at Muthaiga GC in Nairobi from 09 Mar 23. The Liv Golf Tour also did not compete over the weekend and won’t tee it up until 18 Mar 23 at The Gallery Golf Club in Arizona.

The PGA Tour is on an exciting stretch of golf leading into the first Major of the year which is just over a month away. This week sees another elevated event in The Players Championship, where my pick is Rahm to rise amongst a strong field and bounce back after an average showing at the API. It’s easy to pick the number 1 player in the world, however interestingly enough of the top-20 players SG:TOT over the last 36 rounds, only three have avoided missing the cut at this event within the last three years, one of who is Rahm.

The LPGA Tour fans will have to wait until 23 Mar 23 for the next event which will be the Drive on Championship at Gold Canyon in Arizona. Leona Maguire will be hoping to defend her title and repeat her impressive feat from last year when she became the first woman from Ireland to win in the Tour’s history.

Thanks for reading …

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Play well,

TMM