The Monday Mulligan: the week that was in golf …
- themondaymulligan
- Jun 19
- 7 min read
CLUTCH from J.J. Spaun in Oakmont as he outlasts the field down the stretch to snatch a breakthrough victory following the toughest test in golf! Elsewhere we were treated to some big breakthrough wins, maiden victories, droughts which were scrubbed clean, as well as a teenage amateur winner on LET Access. All that and much more covered below in a huge week of golf.
The U.S. Open lived up to the hype, proving to be one of the toughest tests in golf where only one the 156 golfers who started the tournament ended in red figures. That golfer was our winner, J.J. Spaun, whose final score of 1-under was enough for him to win by two shots. How he got there was a story in itself. Thursday started as expected, with a handful of players holding it together for a full round and sitting pretty on the leaderboard. However, maintaining that for the full four days proved a challenge as the lightning quick greens, paired with impossible rough, was tougher than many in the field had ever experienced. Through the first two days there were plenty of highlights, with Patrick Reed’s albatross, Maxwell Moldovan’s incredible eagle on his first hole of the tournament, as well as plenty of incredible escapes out of testing positions around the course. The layout and preparation proving just as hard, if not harder, than everyone had predicted. After the first day of competition, Spaun led the pack and only 10 were in red figures. The second day was no better as evident by the cut line which settled at 7-over. Conditions were beginning to deteriorate into the weekend as the second round was suspended due to dangerous weather and darkness. By the 54-hole mark it was Sam Burns who led the field of which only four were in red figures, the other three being Adam Scott, J.J. Spaun and Viktor Hovland. We were set for a grandstand finish with plenty of big storylines across the field and eight countries represented inside the top 10. The final round got off to the worst possible start for J.J. Spaun as he bogeyed five out of the first six holes and dropped well down the order. It is a true testament to his mental resilience and grit that he hung in there and rallied as players began to fall away as the conditions worsened. Play was suspended temporarily as a storm rolled through, soaking the course and leaving its mark on the 125th U.S. Open. After the delay, Adam Scott found himself struggling and dropped away rapidly as it became a four-way race between Spaun, Hatton, Ortiz, and a fast-finishing MacIntyre. But it was Spaun who hung tough and birdied the final two holes to win by two, his final putt from over 60 feet to put an exclamation mark on an incredible finish to the tournament. MacIntyre finished in solo-second, one shot ahead of Viktor Hovland. Best of the Aussies was Adam Scott who, despite a horrendous final round of 9-over, proved all class as he maintained his composure to the end and made time to congratulate his fellow competitors. At 44 years old and in his 96th consecutive start in a Major, it was an incredible performance from Adam Scott.
JJ Spaun wins his first Major in remarkable fashion at the 125th U.S. Open
(photo courtesy of: www.msn.com)
A birdie-birdie finish at the Meijer Classic saw Spain’s Carlota Ciganda break an eight-and-a-half-year drought from the LPGA Tour winner’s circle. It was some elite approach play which stuck it to a foot on the 17th for birdie and a clutch 4-footer on 18 which ensured she avoided extra holes and took out the solo victory by one shot. Ciganda set herself up in a strong position at the 36-hole mark after rounds of 69 and 67. She maintained this momentum into the weekend and, in a six-way tie for the lead after 54-holes, she remained composed down the stretch to sign for a Sunday 5-under (67) for the win. It was a mature showing by the Spaniard who outlasted the leaders with many of them stumbling down the stretch or falling away completely. In solo-second was Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi who was followed one shot further back by her countrywomen, Somi Lee. Best of the Aussies was Karis Davidson who finished in T7, only four shots back of the lead.
Carlota Ciganda breaks an eight-year drought on the LPGA Tour to win the Meijer Classic
(photo courtesy of: www.lpga.com)
Darcey Harry set about putting Wales back on the map in women’s golf this week as she had her maiden victory in Belgium at the Hulencourt Women’s Open. The 22-year-old rookie, in just her eighth start on the Ladies European Tour (LET), ended up running away with it to win by three shots ahead of Nastasia Nadaud. Starting Sunday one shot back and after a bogey on the second hole, Harry rallied and showed excellent composure down the stretch to play some mature golf and claw her way back to the leaders. An eagle putt on 13 and a birdie on 14 were reward for effort and enough to give her a margin down the closing holes, eventually signing for a 4-under (68). In solo third was New Zealand’s Amelia Garvey. Best of the Aussies was Kelsey Bennett who put together another T10 finish.
Darcey Harry clinched her maiden LET Title at the Hulencourt Women’s Open
(photo courtesy of: www.ladieseuropeantour.com)
Battling some rough weather and conditions at the Great Lakes Championship, the Epson Tour was finally greeted to some sun for the final round. Competitors made the most of the conditions and plenty threw their hand in the mix. It was a 6-under (66) from Riley Smyth which got the job done and secured her second Epson Tour victory, this one by a single shot. The American put together seven birdies and one bogey for her final round which proved enough to hold off the field, however it didn’t stop a nervous wait by the eighteenth green as she watched the final group finish but were unable to equal her clubhouse lead. The win puts Smyth in a strong position in the standings and Race for the Card, with plenty of points on offer through the remainder of the season. Finishing in a tie for second and one shot back were America’s Laney Frye, Germany’s Isa Gabsa and Japan’s Erika Hara. Best of the Aussies was Su Oh who finished in T23.
Riley Smyth claims second Epson Tour victory at the Great Lakes Championship
(photo courtesy of: www.epsontour.com)
It was a dramatic finish to the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge as it went to extra holes to decide a winner amongst the four ladies who finished at 1-under par. It took just the one extra hole for 15-year-old French amateur Alice Kong to make the difference and come away with the win off the back of a 13-foot birdie putt. She made her way into the playoff after a final round 1-under (70) which showed maturity beyond her years and adds this win to an already impressive amateur record. The remaining three in that playoff were England’s Gemma Clews, Australia’s Justice Bosio and Austria’s Katharina Muehlbauer. Unfortunately for the Aussie, this is her second playoff this season however she is showing strong form and if she keeps knocking on the door her time will come.
French amateur Alice Kong wins the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge
(photo courtesy of: www.letaccess.com)
Up Ahead
Here we go, it’s another Major week as we head to KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Amy Yang was our 2024 winner and will be hoping to bounce back after a disappointing MC last week. This Major offers a purse of $USD 12 million and a valuable 650 points in the Race to CME Globe. Field Ranch East at PGA Frisco is sure to throw up a tough test and I am sure we will be treated to another great showing at a Major.
The PGA Tour is straight back into it this week as players will dust themselves off and be thankful for the easier conditions on offer at TPC River Highlands for the Travelers Championship. Historically the players have scored well here and being a signature event, there is plenty of class in the field which would suggest it will remain that way for this year’s edition. The defending champion is Scottie Scheffler, who beat Tom Kim in a playoff at this event last season. A purse of $USD 20 million is on offer along with 750 FedEx Cup points.
The Ladies European Tour is off to the Czech Republic this week for the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open to be played at Royal Beroun Golf Club. Marta Martin is the defending champion whilst the tournament offers a purse of €300,000.
The Epson Tour will head to Sweetgrass Golf Club this week for the Island Resort Championship presented by Delta County Chamber where Soo Bin Joo is our defending champion. The tournament offers a purse of $USD 225,000 and 500 points in the Race for the Card.
The LIV Golf League has another week off this week, resuming next week in Dallas while the DP World Tour also has another week off and will head to the Italian Open for a start on the 26th June. LET Access also has a week off before they head to Sweden for their next three tournaments. The Asian Tour continues an extended break and aren’t back until early July when they will compete in the International Series Morocco.
That’s it for this week, I hope it covered what you were after and if not, feel free to get in touch and offer some suggestions so we can improve the blog here at The Monday Mulligan. We are stoked to be back and capturing the highs and lows across the world of golf.
That’s it for now, stay safe and play well!
Play well,
TMM
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