The Monday Mulligan: the week that was in golf …
- themondaymulligan
- Jul 3, 2023
- 5 min read
Orange winning on Sunday again … the world of golf liked that! Plenty happening this week with Fowler breaking a four-year drought, debut winners and senior champs getting it done.
The people’s champion! Much maligned for his youthful exuberance and extravagant style on the golf course, Rickie Fowler completed his comeback today when he broke a drought stretching over 1600 days. It wasn’t so long ago that his slump in form brought about ridicule and plenty of reporters and media personalities making the call on his career. Through it all, Fowler kept to himself and put in the work. Sharing his first win as a husband and father with close family and friends surely makes it all worthwhile. Many of the nay-sayers have remained tight-lipped this season as Rickie has systematically moved up the world rankings with eight top-10 finishes for the season, something he hasn’t been able to achieve in almost six years. Fowler entered the Rocket Mortgage Classic with form on his side, however in a strong field it was anyone’s to take out. He didn’t set the world on fire early, but remained within a few shots of the lead as they reached the weekend. A clinical 8-under, 64 on Saturday secured him the overnight lead and he came out firing with three birdies in the first seven holes. However, he didn’t have it all his way and had to grind out a final round 68 with a birdie on the last enough to secure him a ticket to the playoff. Hadwin and Morikawa completed the trio heading back to the 18th for an additional hole, where Fowler birdied it again to claim the victory. A composed celebration marked the occasion and reflected the hard work which Rickie and his camp have put into this comeback. With 500 FedEx Cup points for the win and still time left in the season, anything is possible for BDR as his charge up the OWGR continues in 2023.
Rickie Fowler is back in the winner's circle after four years
Photo courtesy of pgatour.com
Talor Gooch continued his domination in the Liv Golf League, securing his third win for the season at Valderrama. It took all 54-holes and nerves of steel to get the job done, however Gooch displayed the composure we have come to expect as he outlasted DeChambeau and Koepka down the stretch. At the turn, Gooch was two shots back of Bryson, however with a bogey-free, 4-under on the back nine, completed with a winning birdie at the last, Gooch made history as the first three-time winner in the Leagues young history. DeChambeau finished one back at 11-under and Koepka rounding out the podium at 9-under. In the team format, it was Torque GC who also won for the third time as they close in on 4Aces GC’s lead. Torque were deserving winners and were well represented on the leaderboard with three inside the top-10. Not much is known about the impact the deal with the PGA and DP World Tour will have on the Liv Golf League, however they continue to put on a spectacle for golf which is well-received by the fans.
Talor Gooch takes out his third Liv Golf League event
Photo courtesy of livgolf.com
It was Daniel Hillier this week on the DP World Tour who broke through for his maiden victory at the 2023 Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo. Played at the Belfry, there were more than just points and cash on offer with the few remaining spots in the 151st Open up for grabs. Hillier stormed home with a final-round, 6-under as he set the clubhouse lead and had to wait for the final few groups to follow him in. Starting the day 3-shots back of the lead, Hillier didn’t have it all his way as he overcame some nervous moments after dropping a water-ball on the sixth and airmailing the 18th green. Throughout these hiccups, the 24-year-old looked like a seasoned veteran as he maintained his composure, dropping birdies and statements down the final stretch to close with and become the eventual leader. After setting the number at 10-under, nobody caught the young New Zealander who won by two shots over Oliver Wilson and Gunner Wiebe, the trio booking their tickets to Royal Liverpool later this year.
Daniel Hillier with his maiden DP World Tour Victory
Photo courtesy of europeantour.com
The LET Access series continued this week at the 2023 Vasteras Open by Elite Hotels where rookie Puk Lyng Thomsen took out the title. The 25-year-old held the overnight lead at 9-under and overcome a shaky start to eventually win at 8-under. Losing three shots in three holes to start her final round, the young Dane attributed the turn around to some composed and sound advice by her father on the bag, as she fought back and rolled in some crucial birdies down the stretch. Having been ruled out of playing through 2020 and 2021 due to significant injuries which required surgery, the win puts Thomsen back on track with her dreams of getting to the LET. With time still left in the season, she should take plenty of confidence into her charge towards that goal!
Puk Lyng Thomsen takes out the 2023 Vasteras Open
Photo courtesy of letaccess.com
Bernard Langer continued his domination as he took out the U.S. Senior Open and his record 46th PGA Tour Champions Title. Langer entered the final round with a two shot lead over Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker however he never gave anyone much of a chance, stretching his lead to as many as seven shots at times during Sunday. He eventually finished at 7-under and secured history with the most wins on the Champions Tour and a swathe of other records and historical facts. He remains one of the all-time greats, complementing a fine PGA Tour record with further domination since turning 50 and joining the Champions Tour.
Langer wins the U.S. Senior Open and his 46th Title
Photo courtesy of pgatour.com
Up ahead …
The US Women’s Open is on at Pebble Beach this week. With so many winners this season, it is fair to say that plenty will enter the week brimming with confidence. This major carries a purse of $US 10 million and a further 650 points in the Race to CME Globe where Australian Minjee Lee will be hoping to defend her 2022 title.
The DP World Tour moves back across the way to Denmark this week for the Made in Himmerland event. The course looks to be in stunning condition and the rankings are heating up which should make this some good viewing over the week for those who can sneak a peek.
The PGA Tour is off to Illinois this weekend where a strong field will compete in the John Deere Classic. The event has featured some great golf and exciting finishes in its history so definitely worth tuning in for come Sunday. J.T. Poston is the defending champ and the purse is $US 7.4 million.
The Liv Golf League back its straight up again this week where they will compete in London at the Centurion Club. With the same team format, same payouts and plenty of big names hitting form, it’ll be good to watch a consistent stretch of play from their roster this week.
That’s it for now, stay safe and swing well!
Play well,
TMM
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