Archive for March, 2011

With an unflappable opening three rounds, Martin Laird went into Sunday at Bay Hill virtually on cruise control. He had a two-stroke advantage after leading all day Saturday and a blistering second-round 65 on Friday. Then, 11 short holes later, golf’s abiding karma seemed to have other plans. The 29-year-old suddenly found himself five over par on the day—six over for the championship—and watched helplessly, it seemed, as others preyed on his misgivings. Steve Marino, the new leader, needed only to par-out to capture his first title. Justin Rose, who posted an early 68, could even sneak into a playoff [...]

It was Gary Woodland’s greenside composure, after all, that propelled him to victory at the Transitions Championship last weekend in Tampa. Woodland, the 26-year-old pride of Topeka, Kansas, sunk a 10-foot par putt on 18 to post a four-under 67 Sunday. It was his only par on the back nine, and proved to be a daunting accomplishment. Playing in the group behind, co-leader Webb Simpson attempted to imitate Woodland’s success from a similarly difficult spot above the flagstick. Simpson, however, made bogey, handing Woodland first career win on the PGA Tour by one stroke. The victory gives a streaking Woodland [...]

The weekend at Doral slated two of golf’s premier heavyweights against each other, once again, in what became a dramatic fight to the finish. No, it wasn’t the promising pairing of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson during the first three rounds that etched the week’s final headlines. It was two buzzwords—youth and Europe—that led the way, both of which have resounded on tour now for some time. Youth, in the end, prevailed in the wide-eyed gaze of 29-year-old Nick Watney. But before getting to Watney’s heroics, let’s quickly recap some of the top finishers. Of the nine players to finish [...]