The Monday Mulligan: the week that was in golf …

themondaymulligan
Mar 20, 2023
7 min read

David Micheluzzi is the name, winning in pink is his game!

What a huge week in golf with a little controversy thrown in amongst some thrilling finishes around the world, especially considering there wasn’t an ‘elevated’ event in sight.

Getting us started this week is David “Micha” Micheluzzi’s barn-storming charge down the stretch from 5-shots back to stamp his authority on the NSW Open and, by doing so, secure his first-place finish on the PGA Tour of Australasia’s Order of Merit. The 26-year-old’s third win this season was enough to ensure he is now unreachable at the top of the table with only one event remaining. By finishing in the top spot, he has secured a tour card on the DP World Tour for next season and, more urgently, has earnt himself the opportunity to tee it up at The Open later this year. It was a crushing result for Queenslander Kade McBride, who led for most the day, only to have the lead ripped away on the 72nd hole where he made a double-bogey. With only one event on the PGA Tour of Australasia remaining, the pressure is on for the remaining two DP World Tour cards up for grabs, those spots currently held by Brendan Jones and Tom Power Horan.

David Micheluzzi as the NSW Open Winner

Photo courtesy of PGA of Australia website

A thrilling finish in the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship saw Taylor Moore post a clubhouse lead and then watch some big names faulter as they attempted to match him. The pack of chasers included Spieth, Fleetwood and Schenk, all chasing their first win for the season. Moore, in only his 46th start on tour, looked like a seasoned pro as he closed with a 4-under 67 and quietly stalked his way up the leaderboard and into the clubhouse with the lead. Whilst the majority of the crowd got behind Jordan Spieth, everyone loves an underdog and they were devastated to see Adam Schenk, who led from Thursday onwards, fall short on the last hole to finish solo second. Despite not getting the win, the result is his best on tour and should give him some much-needed momentum heading into the remainder of the season. It was an enthralling spectacle and one which the Valspar Championship organisers and TV presenters should be proud of, given the scrutiny some of these non-elevated events have been under.

Taylor Moore as victor of the Valspar Championship

Photo courtesy of PGA Tour website

It was a strong week of results for Australian Golf with Gabriela Ruffels claiming her second victory as a Professional with a two-stroke victory at the EPSON Tour’s Carlisle Arizona Women’s Classic. The win sees her move to the top of the EPSON Tour money list, with an eye on the opportunity to gain an LPGA Tour card by seasons end. Ruffel’s led at the start of the final round and kept her cool to card a bogey-free, four-under 68 and take out the W. It was her silverware to lose on the final day, as the nearest chaser eagled the final hole to appear closer than she was for the majority of the day. The win caps off a string of competitive results for Ruffel’s who is spoken highly of amongst Australian Golf and is a name to watch out for.

Gabriela Ruffels after her second Professional Win

Photo courtesy of PGA of Australia website

Danny Lee (Iron Heads GC) took out individual honours and the Fireballs GC claimed the team title at the Liv Golf League’s event in Tucson. It was another nail-biting finish in the world of golf which went to a four-way playoff between Lee, Ortiz, Steele and Oosthuizen. Lee missed a getable putt on the second playoff hole before bouncing back on his next attempt where he holed one from off the green. The celebrations which ensued (and likely still are) were fun to watch and speak to everything that The Liv Gold League is trying to bring to the game of golf. For Lee, in only his second start since joining the league, it was a matter of who can stay standing as the leaders fell back ahead of him. Leishman opened the door with two bogeys in the first 3 holes, whilst early chargers included Howell III (four-under through six) and Ortiz (five birdies in the first nine holes). Oosthuizen then took the lead and looked solid before three bogeys in a four-hole stretch brough him back to the pack. It is only the second playoff since the Liv Golf League began and one that Danny Lee is sure to remember.

Danny Lee celebrates his win in Tucson

Photo courtesy of The Liv Golf League website

An impeccable seven-under 65 at the Delhi Golf Club was what it took for Filipino Miguel Tabuena to claim his first win on the Asian Tour in just over four years. The 28-year-old started the round six shots back, however rallied in his final round to win the DGC Open. There were big stories across the board as overnight leader, India’s Rashid Khan, was also chasing his first win in nine years however fell one short to secure outright second ahead of Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat. The win is one to savor for Tabuena who only retained his tour card for this season by the narrowest of margins, but now finds himself sitting pretty on the order of merit in third after four events.

The Ladies European Tour travelled to Singapore this week which was host to the Aramco Team Series event. It was a sensational eight birdies in a ten hole stretch which secured individual honours for Frenchwoman Pauline Roussin. The 22-year-old carded an eight-under 64 on a faultless day which secured her second LET Title and one she will remember not only for her fantastic golf, but also having her mum at the event and her boyfriend on the bag making it extra special. The win is even more impressive when you look at the big names who were doing the chasing, with Danielle Kang finishing in second and world number one, Lydia Ko, ending the week in third place. The team event was taken out by Team Wolf which consisted of Christine Wolf, Casandra Alexandra, Eleanor Givens and amateur, Katsuko Blalock.

On the DP World Tour it was Matthew Baldwin who raced away to a seven-shot victory to claim his first DP World Tour title in his 200th start. Baldwin put on a clinic at St Francis Links in South Africa as he closed with a 68 on the card and secured a well-earnt victory after more than 11 years on tour. The leaderboard was jam-packed for the remainder of the top 10, however nobody could break away to challenge Baldwin with any real pressure. Adri Arnaus put on a solid showing to secure second, and then a pack of five players shared the honours of third being: Ahlers, Dantorp, Ferguson, Johannessen and Rozner.

The Hoag Classic was the setting for PGA Tour Champions veteran Ernie Els to come from five-shots back and win for the first time in nearly three years. Els shot out of the gate early with four birdies in his first seven holes and as the weather closed in, he did enough to gain and maintain a lead, winning by one when Doug Barron missed his five foot putt on the last. Story of the week went to Dicky Pride who won the Monday Qualifier and backed that up with a T4 during the event, enough to earn him another start next week to be played at the Mission Hills Country Club in California.

Other news …

The R&A and USGA proposed new model rule that relates to rolling back the golf ball sparked furor amongst the world of golf during the week. A little part of you has to feel sorry for the regulators who appear to be doing only what the great Tiger Woods suggested in 2007 when he referred to the potential for different golf balls to be played by weekend golfers and professionals in an attempt to protect the game. However, their solution to this suggestion copped its fair share of backlash, so much so that their request for comment will likely produce a mountain of replies to be considered. The premise is that as the golf ball continues to develop alongside the technology in our clubs, driving distances are making some courses no longer competitive for those with a significant swing-speed advantage. The proposed solution would see a new technical limitation placed on the golf ball which would ensure carry distances remain reasonable and golf courses do not need to look for more real estate to maintain the standard of their competitions. There are far better explanations out there, but suffice to say it got the golf world talking.

The other significant news after this weekend of golf, is that 85 out of the 100 available spots at the Masters are now locked in. As the excitement builds, so do the nerves for those who are yet to receive an invite and those right on the cut-line. It’s one to watch and keep your eye on as we close in on the first major of the year.

Looking ahead …

After a few weeks off it’s a welcome return for the LPGA Tour as they head to Arizona for the LPGA Drive On Championship where Leona Maguire will be defending her title. The DP World Tour remains in South Africa and will compete in the Jonsson Workwear Open. The PGA Tour hosts one of its more unique events in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match-Play Event in Texas which will welcome back Scottie Scheffler to defend his 2022 victory. Concurrent to the match-play event will be the Corales Puntacana Championship where they will compete for a US$3.8 million purse. The Liv Golf League has a week off before heading to Orlando, as does the PGA Tour of Australasia which will play its final event at The National GC (Moonah). A big few weeks of golf to look forward to as we close in on the Masters.

Play well,

TMM