Rory McIlroy – photo Getty Images

Rory McIlroy was already the favourite in many people’s eyes for this coming week’s Open Championship at Hoylake, but his stunning come from behind win at the Genesis Scottish Open has him heading south to Lancashire, confirmed as the man most likely to win the Open for the second time at Royal Liverpool.

McIlroy may well be seen as the man who shot Bambi to some extent, given that his birdie, birdie finish resulted in him defeating the man who had the clubhouse lead for 40 minutes, Robert McIntyre, who was attempting to become first Scot to win his national open since Colin Montgomerie in 1999.

McIlroy, though, had many fans of his own and while the large crowds who flocked to the Renaissance Club in North Berwick would dearly love to have seen the 21 year old McIntyre take the title, McIlroy was a truly popular winner.

For the man from Northern Ireland the win continues a remarkable run of consistency which has seen him finish inside the top ten in, now, each of his last seven starts, although his first win since the Dubai Desert Classic in February, and sets him up nicely for a 5^th major, especially given his success at Royal Liverpool in 2014.

McIlroy began the final round one ahead of Korean 21 year old Tom Kim but on a day where winds gusting up to 40 m.p.h. swept the layout on the shores of the Firth of Forth, Kim, McIlroy, Tyrrell Hatton and McIntyre all had the lead at various stages and several others were withing striking distance before McIntyre’s brilliant final round of 64 appeared to establish an unassailable lead, especially given the demands of the final two holes.

McIlroy missed a golden opportunity at the 16^th and faced the task of producing birdies at the final two holes to win, or secure at least one to force a playoff.

His 5 iron approach at the 17^th finished 4 feet from the hole then at the last he hit a superb 2 iron to 11 feet and when that was holed the title and the US$1,575,000 was his. He also becomes the first person to have won the Irish Open, the Scottish Open and the Open Championship titles.

McIlroy will move back to the number two position in the game behind Scottie Scheffler who continued his remarkable run when he shared 3^rd place with David Lingmerth and Byeong Hun An.

Scheffler earns his seventh consecutive top-five on the PGA TOUR and 18^th straight result of T12 or better; Scheffler’s Official Money total of $19,016,842 is the highest in a single season in PGA TOUR history.

“Yeah, it feels great,” said McIlroy. “I came here this week, we are obviously on the eve of The Open Championship but you know, you’re thinking about trying to prepare for that.

“But then you know you think about the weight that this tournament carries, being co-sanctioned for Race to Dubai, FedExCup, all the stuff at the end of the year as well, so I feel like I sort of killed two birds with one stone this week and gave myself an even bigger lead in The Race to Dubai, got myself up there in FedExCup, and obviously a huge confidence boost going into The Open next week.

“I’ve had my chances over the last couple of months and been knocking on the door. Just haven’t quite been able to get it done so hopefully this breaks the seal and we can go on from here.”

Ryan Fox – led the Australasians – file photo PGA of Australia

The leading Australasian was Ryan Fox who continued his love affair with Links golf to finish in a share of 12th, a closing nine of 32 playing a key role in his improvement from 18th overnight. Fox has recorded 4th and 6th places in this event previously.

Min Woo Lee was the next best in a share of 34th place, while Daniel Hillier was 54th and Lucas Herbert 60th.

Three players, Byeong Hun An, David Lingmerth and Nicolai Hojgaard, gained a start at next week’s Open Championship by being amongst the leading three players this week and not otherwise exempt for Royal Liverpool.

RESULTS

 

 

Allisen Corpuz soon after her great win – photo James Gilbert USGA

Displaying a level of calmness and composure well beyond her experience at the elite of women’s golf, 25-year-old, Allisen Corpuz, today won not only her first LPGA Tour title but the greatest title in women’s golf, the US Women’s Open.

Beginning today’s final round at Pebble Beach Golf Links one shot back of Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, Corpuz would have been forgiven for backing off today and finishing inside the top ten perhaps without necessarily challenging for the title.

But, with a display of brilliant ball striking and clear thinking after outplaying those around her, Corpuz stood on the 18^th tee three shots ahead and, as she had all day, plotted her way along one of golf’s finest finishing holes to claim not only the title and a US2$ million but an assured future in the game and a special in its history.

This was, after all, the first occasion the event had been played at a venue as American as apple pie and for that alone Corpuz will be forever associated with this historic moment but so too will the manner she conducted herself over the demands of a golf course where one false step may well have brought her dreams undone.

While not a necessarily recognised name on the LPGA Tour, Corpuz has played well this season with just two missed cuts in 12 starts and has two top 4 finishes amongst those starts.

When asked what were her previous memories of the US Women’s Open, Corpuz was quick to identify the win of fellow Hawaiian Michelle Wie in 2014.

“Yeah, I mean, the big one, of course, is Michelle winning in 2014 at Pinehurst,” said the champion. “I remember being at home and just being amazed.

“Yeah, just really being inspired by her. Just all the history. I mean, a major championship, it’s really cool.”

This was not the first time Corpuz had been in contention in a major having been in the mix a couple of times already in 2023 but she acknowledged those experiences had played a key role in today’s outcome.

“I feel like everything that’s happened this year has kind of prepared me for this moment. It’s super special that both of my parents out here this week. I mean, my dad only does KPMG and the U.S. Open, so really nice that he’s out here.

“I had a ton of family, friends out. I had my aunt and uncle and cousin out earlier, boyfriend’s parents, my college teammate. Just a lot of people out here.

“It was just really awesome to know that we’re at Pebble, such a historic venue, and yeah, just really amazing.”

When asked what it was that kept her as calm as she appeared expecially given the occasions and what was at stake Corpuz responded;

“I think I’ve always had a pretty calm demeanor. Not so much on the inside, but projecting that outwardly. I’ve always been pretty calm. I just like to take a bit of time to think about things. That’s just kind of who I am.

“I spoke with my mental coach, Bill Nelson, a bit this morning just to try to calm down a little. Really just tried to keep things steady. For me I get a little quick, so really just tried to slow everything down and enjoy the moment.”

Corpuz paid tribute to her caddie, who by chance happens to be the husband of fellow LPGA Tour player and winner, Jennifer Kupcho.

“Yeah, we just got randomly connected at the end of January last year and he’s just been on the bag ever since. We had a really good first week. He’s just really calm, and I think he knows what to say in the right moments for me, especially since we’ve been working together for about a year and a half now.

“He was a pretty solid player on his own, and obviously married to Jennifer Kupcho. I think she gives him some advice to pass on to me. He has some advice for me. Yeah, just kind of has always felt like an older brother to me.”

England’s Charley Hull and Korean Jiyai Shin tied for the runner-up position three shots behind the winner, their respective rounds of 66 and 68, allowing them to threaten the leader if she was to stumble.

Hannah Green, Grace Kim and Minjee Lee tied as the leading Australasians in a share of 13th place and will earn around US$167,000 each, Green’s final round of 69 the fourth best of the day.

Lydia Ko and Gabi Ruffels finished tied for 33rd.

Opinion footnote – If they can find a way to stop the ridiculous practice of rushing across the green to spray water on winners then this writer will be a lot happier. Corpuz was unable to enjoy a very special moment on her own due to others admittedly wanting to congratulate her but perhaps also to share her moment of fame.

SCORES

 

 

 

Minjee Lee – reacts to the crowd after a birdie at her 9th hole today – photo James Gilbert USGA

Australia’s Minjee Lee had done so well to work herself into contention on day two of the US Women’s Open before an agonising double bogey at her final hole has her now eight shots from the lead and in a share of 11^th place as the event heads into the weekend at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Tied in 5^th place with one hole to play and very much in the hunt, given the two shot leader Bailey Tardy is in her first year on the LPGA Tour and in rarefied atmosphere, Lee found trouble from the tee at what was her final hole of round two but the 9^th hole at Pebble Beach after starting at the 10th today.

It was a body blow for the defending champion, especially given the dramatic recovery from the slow start she made but with only six players under par for the tournament, at 1 over she is still very much a consideration for the final 36 holes.

Lee, finished her opening round on Thursday four shots off the lead but with two early bogeys in her afternoon tee time and a second round of 68 by the now 36 hole leader, Tardy, the West Australian had fallen nine shots off the pace, needing something special to get back into the mix.

That would come at the par 4 16^th hole (her 7th) where, after just missing the fairway left, she found a way to work the ball around the tree on her line short of the green and then feed off the very distinct right to left camber in the green to eventually find the bottom of the hole for eagle.

Lee almost repeated the dose from shorter range at the 18^th (her 9^th) to move under par for the tournament and although she would bogey the short par 4 4^th hole after finding the fairway bunker from the tee, she made the almost obligatory birdie at the 6^th and even allowing the demands of the 8^th and 9^th holes it appeared she would be well placed for the weekend.

As it turned out she still is but it was case of what might have been to some extent.

“I wasn’t hitting it that well pretty much the whole day,” said Lee. “I just kind of — I wouldn’t say scraped my way around but just played to the best I could and tried to put up a score the best I could around here.

“Playing late in the day was actually really hard. We waited like 30 minutes on the eighth tee, and the last two holes was really tough, just having to have waited and then have to play in the cold.

“Yeah, it was just a tough test.”

Despite her last hole struggle Lee still feels very much in contention. “I feel like I’m probably in a pretty good position right now,” she said. “Just if I can be maybe a little bit more aggressive and, you know, maybe put up a score earlier than the girls. Maybe it won’t be as windy. Then see where I am after that.

“I actually really appreciate the golf course because it’s actually very demanding. Yeah, I like it. I like that it’s hard.

Lee leads the Australasians by two over Lydia Ko and Hannah Green who both recorded very respectable rounds rounds of 71 after opening 76’s to be tied for 26^th place at 3 over and ten shots from the lead.

Gabi Ruffels is in 47^th place at 5 over while Grace Kim finished on the cut mark at 6 over.

The leader Tardy has played only four events on the LPGA Tour this season with a best of 23rd but she utilised her considerable power to tame the demanding Pebble Beach layout.

Tardy’s outward nine of 31 threatened to blow the field apart but on the more demanding final nine she dropped a shot at the 14th but as the only player in the field with two rounds in the 60’s she deserves her place at the head of the field at present.

SCORES

The leader Bailey Tardy – photo Darren Carroll USGA

The famed and much photographed 7th hole at Pebble Beach Links – photo USGA

The US Women’s Open is played for the first time at one of American golf’s iconic venues this week when Pebble Beach Golf Links hosts the third major of the year for the women’s game.

Six times a venue for the US Open and once for the USPGA Championship along with other male events such as the US Amateur Championship, the stunning oceanside layout along the cliffs above Monterey Peninsula will witness the female game’s leading players vying for a first prize of US$2 million from a total purse of over US$10 million, the final figure announced on Wednesday.

Amongst the field will be five Australians and two New Zealanders with one, Minjee Lee, defending the title she won so brilliantly twelve months ago at Pine Needles.

Joining Lee will be New Zealander Lydia Ko, Lee’s fellow Australians Hannah Green and Grace Kim and three who survived Final Qualifying, New Zealand’s Amelia Garvey and Australians Gabi Ruffels Ruffels and Madison Hinson Tolchard, the latter of whom is currently attending Oklahoma State college in the US.

Perth’s Lee is perhaps not playing at quite the same level now that she was ahead of her win last year but she is not far from it and her game, built around demanding golf courses, should suit Pebble Beach. She has recorded top 20 finishes in her last three starts and just prior was runner-up at the Cognizant Cup, an event she won last year two starts ahead of her historic win.

Prior to her great win last year, however, in eight previous starts in the event, Lee had not recorded a top ten.

By her standards, Ko has struggled for much of the year following her win in Saudi Arabia earlier. This will be Ko’s 12^th US Women’s Open appearance, but she has only two top tens to her name in that time and a best of 3^rd at Cordevalle in 2016.

This will be the West Australian Green’s 5^th US Women’s Open but with a best of 48^th in her previous four and a roller coaster of form to date this year her chances of contending would appear slim. At her best she is capable of doing so but she has struggled since her win in Los Angeles four starts ago.

Sydney’s Grace Kim has taken to the LPGA Tour like a duck to water in 2023 and with a win in Hawaii already in her rookie LPGA Tour season, and one or two other strong finishes including an impressive 14^th place finish at the KPMG, then she stands a chance of another good week.

Kim made the cut although finished well back on debut in this event last year.

Gabi Ruffels, has taken the secondary Epson Tour by storm this year and has already secured her place on the LPGA Tour for 2024.

The Victorian has shown a capacity to handle the big occasions with three top twenties in major championships including when 13^th in this event in 2020.

Perth’s Madison Hinson Tolchard is studying at Oklahoma State and will play her first US Women’s Open after topping the qualifiers at her venue in Final Qualifying. The 21 year old has excelled in her golfing career at Oklahoma State and while the former Australian Junior Champion will be better for the experience this week she has done well just to make the field.

New Zealand’s Amelia Garvey will play her third US Women’s Open, missing the cut at her first two. A former University of Southern California golfing team member is now a Epson Tour player and gains a start this week courtesy of a gutsy playoff during Final Qualifying.

NSW’s Sarah Kemp is an alternate but it appears she will just miss out on a start.

PLAYERS