Minjee Lee eliminated at LPGA matchplay

Ariya Jutanugarn defeated Minjee Lee – photo Getty Images 

Minjee Lee has been eliminated at the quarterfinal stage of the Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play event in Las Vegas.

Lee won her round of 16 match against England’s Mel Reid on Saturday morning but against Ariya Jutanugarn it was a different story with the Thai golfer always in charge and running out the winner by a 5&4 margin after leading 5 up through ten holes.

Lee was 6 over when her match finished compared the 4 under she was when finishing her morning match.

In that morning match, Lee defeated Reid by 5&4.

In tomorrow’s semi-finals,  Ariya Jutanugarn takes on American Ali Ewing while Sophia Popov meets Shanshan Feng to find the winner of the inaugural staging of the event at the famed Shadow Creek.

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Minjee Lee advances to round of 16 at match play

Minjee Lee in action today – photo Getty Images

Minjee Lee is the only Australian to advance from the group stages of the Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play event at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, recording two wins and a halved match in the round-robin stages of the event.

Lee confirmed her place in the Round of 16 with a 4&3 victory over Moriya Jutanugarn on Friday after defeating Cheyenne Knight in round two and sharing the honours with Jaye Marie Green on Wednesday.

Lee will take on England’s Mel Reid in the knockout phase of the event, Reid having topped her group after a playoff against Azahara Munoz to do so.

Lee’s fellow Australians, Hannah Green, Sarah Kemp and Su Oh have all missed out on graduating, Kemp unbeaten in her three matches in the group stage but three halved points were not enough to get the job done.

One of Kemp’s halved matches was against one of the game’s hottest players at present Patty Tavatanakit after being two up on the recent major winner through 13 holes.

Green and Oh recorded a win and two losses in their matches.

 

 

 

 

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Elvis Smylie Begins International Professional Journey

Elvis Smylie – photo Bruce Young

One of Australian golf’s most exciting golfing prospects in some years, Elvis Smylie, begins his international professional career in late June when he takes advantage of an invite to play the European Tour’s BMW International Open in Munich in Germany.

The event is one of at least four European Tour starts the 19-year-old left-hander is hoping to gain over the next couple of months, with other opportunities beyond those likely to present themselves, dependent on how he performs in the early events.

Smylie set Australian golfing tongues wagging when, soon after turning professional at the age of 18 earlier this year, he finished runner-up and 3rd in two of three PGA Tour of Australasia events in Victoria and NSW. Those efforts came just a few weeks after finishing runner-up in yet another PGA Tour of Australasia event at Rosebud on the Mornington Peninsula after consecutive weekend rounds of 63 in what was his last event as an amateur.

His world ranking jumped from outside the top 1500 to just inside the top 500 currently but it would appear there is a lot more upside to come.

Those performances immediately confirmed much of the promise he had displayed as an amateur when winning the Australian Junior Championship, twice winning one of Australia’s more significant amateur events, the Keppera Bowl, in Brisbane and contending at various stages of the 2019 Australian Open.

Smylie during this year’s early season events on the PGA Tour of Australasia – photo PGA Tour of Australasia

The fast start to his professional career further justified the decision to turn professional at the age of 18 and provides the youngster with the belief he can mix it in the hurly burly world of professional golf.

Not that self-belief is lacking in Elvis Smylie. He has a nice balance of just that without the arrogance sometimes associated with such.

His innate capacity to handle a stage much bigger to that on which he had been playing since beginning the game at the age of 8 when his then and still coach, Ian Triggs, took him under his wing, is hardly surprising also.

Smylie’s pedigree involves a father and mother who were both tennis professionals, his mother, Liz, in particular, the winner of four Grand Slam Doubles titles and still a commentator for the BBC during Wimbledon.

Elvis, Liz and father, Peter, will leave for Germany in mid-June and although his schedule is not totally confirmed beyond his initial start at the BMW, he is all but guaranteed those four European Tour events and, courtesy of his performances in golf to date, he will gain access to the final stage of qualifying for the Open Championship at Royal St Georges in July.

Smylie will base himself in England where he has two sisters Jordi and Laura to provide a solid and familiar base for his campaign.

The US and European management company CAA (Creative Artists Agency), with whom Smylie has recently signed, have been instrumental in Smylie gaining a start in Germany and are working hard on other opportunities for him.

CAA have not had a large involvement in golf although they were managing the interests of Patrick Reed until recently. They do however have many high-profile entertainment and sporting clients and a family connection (Smylie’s brother-in-law Ash Simons) works for the company.

Given his already disclosed talent, Smylie had been the subject of several approaches from management companies but the family connection along with CAA’s proven track record in the talent management industry proved the deciding factor.

Peter Smylie will handle much of the day to day management of his son while CAA will attend to sponsorships and invites. CAA have a role in event sponsorship and commercial arrangements on both the European and PGA Tours.

“They got out of golf management as such when the arrangement with Patrick Reed finished but we were talking to Ash to get some general advice and that’s how it came about,” said Smylie.

CAA are currently working on invites to events around and after the Open Championship but there are other events beyond those which may also be possibilities. Obviously, if Smylie can play well in the events he can earn an invite to it will make ongoing opportunities more forthcoming.

That he wants to begin his international professional career in Europe is encouraging for the young man who appears to have a very strategic approach of his career path.

Traditionally, the means of young Australasians getting their careers established before heading to the US was to play in Europe first before even contemplating earning their right to play the PGA Tour.

In more recent years, more and more Australasians are heading directly to the US, many of them because of playing collegiate golf or when the Nationwide Tour visited here in the 2000’s several earned enough money through co sanctioned events in Australia to play their way onto the secondary tour and then the PGA Tour.

Some, like Jason Day, Rod Pampling and Stuart Appleby, headed direct to the US and succeeded but Greg Norman, Adam Scott, Robert Allenby, Ian Baker Finch, Nick O’Hern and others cut their teeth in professional golf through Europe first.

Smylie is aware of the importance of rounding out his game and skills with the variety European countries and golf courses provide and further highlights his measured approach to the development of his career.

“I think the European Tour allows you to learn so much about your game with changing conditions every week so I think the first couple of years would be great for me before I think about the US. I could then make the step to the PGA Tour when I think my game is ready.”

In some respects Covid has worked in Smylie’s favour as it has forced him to stay at home and play PGA Tour of Australasia events, gain experience at that level and earn enough money to have the security of his card on that tour when he returns from Europe.

“I think the good thing that I have done so far in my professional career is that I had the opportunity to play events here rather than just jump into possible invitations in Europe. Those events early in the year have provided me a great grounding and a chance to assess where I am at. Ironically, it has been because of Covid.”

“Not that I necessarily wanted to put myself in the position I did down at Rosebud as I had to make four birdies on the back nine to even make the cut. I knew if I didn’t do something I was going home so I was happy I was able to dig in and do it.

“I think I have the capability of doing something special early on and that exposure in Victoria, even though I was playing my last event as an amateur there, and at the NSW Open has helped that belief.”

Smylie won several titles as an amateur but points to his second Keperra Bowl victory and of course his win in the Australian Junior Championship in 2019 as the highlights.

“I think winning your national championship with the sort of names on that trophy kick started things for me and winning the 2020 Keperra Bowl for the second year running really displayed to me that I had taken my game to the next level when I shot 25 under there after winning by just two shots in 2019.”

The win at the Australian Junior Championship earned Smylie a start at the Australian Open at the Australian Golf Club in 2019 and not only did he make the cut there he was inside the top ten heading into the weekend before eventually finishing 33rd.

Smylie holds his 2019 Australian Junior Trophy – photo Bruce Young

Understandably, Smylie and his father have been putting all the pieces together for this first European campaign and one of the issues he will need to address is the appointment of a caddie which is made a little more difficult because of the uncertainty of his schedule.

“It is still up in the air at present. Obviously Clayts (former professional and respected golf analyst Mike Clayton) worked for me in those early events here in Australia, but he is busy with his golf course design work but hopefully he might be able to do something in the events back here in Australia later in the year.

“Mike is very calm and doesn’t talk a lot on the golf course either unless he has something to say. He keeps me distracted when the timing is right however by providing plenty of history tit bits on events also.

“I like to do my own yardages in conjunction with Clayts but will have to get more focused on that aspect as I used range finders throughout my amateur career and in the events early in the year we were also allowed to do so so that will be an adjustment I have to make.”

Smylie suggests the strength of his game are his short game and his capacity to get it round in a decent score even when things aren’t 100%.

“Being able to put a score together even when I don’t have my A game. It is almost like a never give up mentality as there is always something to play for.

“I remember I was 6 over through 14 holes in the event at Rosebud and it would have been easy to chuck it in but I dug in and finished at 4 over and then finished strongly to make the cut and eventually nearly won the event. I think being able to turn a 75 into a 72 is a great asset in this game.”

Smylie is a member at both Southport and Sanctuary Cove Golf Clubs on the Gold Coast and over the last few months has played with several others who are members at Sanctuary Cove including the likes of Anthony Quayle and Dylan Perry who are both members of the Japan Tour and on occasions with Brad Kennedy who, interestingly, beat him by one shot in the event at Rosebud.

“Southport is my home club but the practice facilities here at Sanctuary Cove are brilliant and have allowed me to work very hard on my game since my last event a few weeks ago at the NSW Open.”

So Smylie heads to Europe with the golfing world at his feet. An already proven capacity to play well in the paid ranks, a catchy name, a left-hander to boot and a tall elegant young man provide several points of difference and if he can achieve success at the next level again he could well go on to great heights in the game.

There is a lot to like about the way Elvis Smylie goes about his business and his upbringing will go a long way to keeping his success or otherwise in perspective.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sarah Kemp completes impressive week in Virginia

Sarah Kemp in action this week – photo Getty Images

Australia’s Sarah Kemp has finished 4th at the Pure Silk Championship in Williamsburg, Virginia recording her second-best LPGA Tour career finish in the process.

Kemp began her final round two behind the lead of eventual winner Wei Ling Hsu of Taiwan and Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn.

The 35 year old was still very much in the hunt through 11 holes of her round but Lu and Jutanugarn finished strongly, Lu in particular with an eagle at the 15th and a birdie at the 16th sweeping her into the lead.

Jutanugran had her chances also when she hit the lead through 14 holes before a double bogey at the 15th cost her the chance of a second LPGA Tour victory.

For Kemp, the US$66,000 and moves her to 29th in the Race to the Globe points race. She is now the second highest ranked Australian on the LPGA Tour this season.

“I thought about it (winning), said Kemp. “Not going to lie. I thought about winning, which I’m okay with. Like I want to get comfortable with that. Sure, I got a little ahead of myself thinking that, but the more I put myself in the situation the better I’m going to be at it.

“I’m playing great, so this is fun. This is so much fun. I loved being nervous. I loved being in contention. I want to do it more often. So I take heaps of confidence from a this week.”

Katherine Kirk finished 25th and Sarah Jane Smith 53rd.

The LPGA Tour’s next event is a match-play tournament in Las Vegas followed by the US Women’s Open at Olympic Club near San Francisco.

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Historic major championship year continues with Mickelson victory

A very proud Mickelson with his 6th major championship trophy – photo Darren Carroll PGA of America

What a start to the 2021 major championship season in tournament golf.

Not only have we witnessed the first Japanese golfer to win a major championship but even topping that achievement today was the remarkable and stirring PGA Championship victory by Phil Mickelson.

Mickelson’s two shot win over Louis Oosthuizen and Brooks Koepka on Kiawah Island might well have been considered one of the great major championship wins irrespective of his age, but that he was able to do so at the age of 50 (three weeks short of turning 51) and become, by three years, the oldest in the game to do so added a whole new dimension.

Beginning the day with a narrow one shot lead, the opening few holes exposed a Mickelson, perhaps a little tentative with the situation, and that was confirmed later when he acknowledged the help of his brother Tim in getting back to the committed approach he had adopted over the opening three days.

It was perhaps understandable given the magnitude of the task he faced, but the pep talk from his caddie had him refocused on what he needed to do and he paid credit to him.

“I’ll tell you a perfect example, and this is an intangible that makes him relatable or understand me, get the best out of me and makes him a great caddie is I’m walking off 6, I had made some uncommitted swings the first six holes.

“I had been striking the ball awesome the first three days. I had a wonderful warm up session, like I was ready to go and I made some uncommitted swings the first six holes. He pulled me aside and said, “If you’re going to win this thing, you’re going to have to make committed golf swings.”

“It hit me in the head, I can’t make passive — I can’t control the outcome, I have to swing committed. The first one I made was the drive on 7. Good drive on 7 gave me a chance to get down by the green and make birdie. From there on, I hit a lot of really good shots because I was committed to each one.”

Mickelson traded blows with, initially, Koepka early on with bogeys, birdies and a double bogey constantly changing the margin between the pair but by the turn Mickelson was two ahead.

Despite finding the water with his approach at the 13th Mickelson was able to save bogey and had actually extended his lead to 4 and although the margin was reduced to two by the time he reached the dangerous 17th he had two holes between he and history.

His tee shot at the 17th was both unlucky and lucky. It took an enormous bounce forward and found the heavy rough at the back of the green but he was lucky to find a lie where he could at least get at the ball and the bogey save kept him two ahead.

Playing the last with a two shot lead, he fought both the golf course and massive crowds who engulfed area in which his tee shot came to rest and after a 9 iron to 18 feet he was swamped by the crowd which he described as both awesome and unnerving.

“It’s an incredible experience. I’ve never had something like that. It was a little bit unnerving but it was exceptionally awesome, too. So that was kind of a special moment that I’ll be appreciative of the way that people here have supported me and the entire tournament.”

Mickelson – battling the crowds at the 18th – photo PGA of America

While outwardly controlling the emotions it is hard to imagine Mickelson was not gushing with pride over his magnificent achievement.

“Certainly one of the moments I’ll cherish my entire life. I don’t know how to describe the feeling of excitement and fulfillment and accomplishment to do something when — you know, of this magnitude when very few people thought that I could. But the people that believed in me, my wife, Amy, Tim and Andrew Getson, those are the people that continued to inspire me to get the best out of me.”

Mickelson has worked hard for his inspiring victory and given what he has contributed to the attraction of the game he deserves everything he gets. He understands that golf at this level is as much part of the entertainment industry as it is golf and his capacity to engage and relate to fans is as much part of his legacy as his on course achievements.

Koepka too was battling the crowds and later described his concern for his safety given he is still in recovery from knee surgery.

“I don’t think anybody really understands until you actually you’re coming out of surgery how — I mean, even when I was doing rehab and there’s five people kind of standing by your knee, you get a little skittish.

“Like I don’t mind waiting or being in that crowd but getting my — I don’t know, it felt like somebody tried to, I don’t know what the deal was, but it’s what it is. Be putting it in ice today. It feels like s— right now.

“Right now, no, I’m super disappointed, pretty bummed,” said Koepka. “I’m not happy. I don’t know if there’s a right word I can say on here without getting fined, but it hurts a little bit. It’s one of those things where I just never felt comfortable over the putts. I don’t know why, what happened.

“I’m super happy for Phil. Like I said, it gives you hope that you can — or it gives me hope that, you know, I mean, I hope I’m still playing at 50, but to be able to come out and compete and actually win, that’s a whole another thing. So kudos to him but it was really cool to see.”

Amongst the Australians, the standout was Jason Scrivener, not only because he finished 23rd and as the leading Australian, but it was the South African born West Australian’s second appearance in a major.

Scrivener’s final round of 69 included four birdies in his first ten holes and further highlighted the slow but sure progress the late blooming 32 year old is making as a professional.

Matt Jones was 30th, Jason Day was 44th, Cameron Davis 59th and Lucas Herbert 71st.

Now it is on to the US Open in three weeks’ time. How can it possibly match the heroics of the Masters and the PGA? Perhaps it can.

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18 holes between Phil Mickelson and a place in golfing folklore

 

Phil Mickelson and brother Tim grinding over a par saving putt at the last – photo PGA of America

Phil Mickelson stands on the threshold of one of golf’s great milestones after his third round of 70 at the PGA Championship on Kiawah Island left him one ahead of two-time champion, Brooks Koepka, and two ahead of his joint 36-hole leader, Louis Oosthuizen.

If Mickelson is able to hold on to his narrow lead through another 18 holes he becomes the oldest player in the history of the game to claim a major title and given the popular figure Mickelson is with the golfing public (he is the true entertainer) then the reaction to such success might well equal the heights of those of Hideki Matsuyama and his achievement at Augusta National six weeks ago.

If Mickelson played rugby, he would be describing his third round as one of two halves, an opening ‘masterclass’ of 32 followed by a closing nine of 38.

Despite the slowed pace after making the turn, however, he continued to display some outstanding shot-making and strategic thinking and tomorrow promises one of the more intriguing final rounds in recent major championship history.

Highlights of Mickelson’s opening nine were his second shot to the par 5 2nd hole which finished 20 feet from the hole and, my particular highlight, the 2nd from a fairway bunker at the 3rd which spun back from behind the hole for a near kick in birdie.

The momentum the 50 year old (he is 51 next month) had built continued with further birdies at the 6th and 7th but perhaps an equally important moment was when he hit a superb bunker shot to save par at the 9th and made the turn five ahead of the field.

Mickelson’s worst shot came at the 13th when he pulled hooked his tee shot and followed Oosthuizen into an adjacent watery grave but after teeing up again (as he had not crossed the hazard line at any point further up the fairway) he almost made bogey after an iron to 12 feet.

The double bogey, however, along with a bogey on the previous hole was bringing him back to the field and when Koepka, playing in the group ahead, birdied the 16th, the pair were tied at 7 under.

Mickelson’s wild drive at the 16th cost him an almost obligatory birdie there although he made an excellent recovery from the sandy area well left of the fairway to get himself back in play and made par.

He faced the final two holes tied with Koepka although when Koepka bogeyed the last from the middle of the fairway, he was one ahead. He safely negotiated the 17th after an excellent tee shot created a birdie opportunity he was unable to convert, then produced a text book ‘Phil Mickelson’ up and down at the last to hold on to his one shot lead.

It was vintage Mickelson although the quality of some of his shots over much of the round perhaps even surpassed his previous best.

“Even though it slipped a little bit today and I didn’t stay as focused and as sharp on a few swings, it’s significantly better than it’s been for a long time,” said Mickelson

“So, I’m making a lot of progress, and I’ll continue to work on that and hopefully I’ll be able to eliminate a couple of those loose swings tomorrow. Because I’m playing a lot better than the score is showing and I think if I can just stay sharp tomorrow, I’ll post a score that is — that better reflects how I’m actually playing.

“I think that because I feel or believe that I’m playing really well and I have an opportunity to contend for a major championship on Sunday and I’m having so much fun that it’s easier to stay in the present and not get ahead of myself

“I think certainly my brother has played a big part in kind of keeping me present and in the moment and not letting a couple of bad swings affect me here or there, and so I think we’re having so much fun that it’s easy to stay present.”

The battle between four-time major winner, Koepka and the five time champion Mickelson promises much on day four although the chances do not stop there.

Oosthuizen remains very much in touch despite an ordinary day and any improvement from the South African could well see him win a second major title to go with his 2010 Open Championship.

There was some discussion over whether Oosthuizen’s tee shot at the 13th had also not crossed the hazard line further up the fairway which might have required he also to re-tee the shot but Mickelson was having none of it.

“His ball clearly crossed over the hazard. I didn’t think that was an issue. It flew down there, it had a big cut to it. There was no question in my mind from where we were at that it crossed way up there.

“Mine was on the edge, and I just didn’t feel good about it. I thought it was — I just didn’t think it was — as much as it hooked, I just didn’t think it crossed it there.”

Twelve players are under par (see scores below) and any one perhaps still considers themselves a chance to take the title with a strong finishing round.

The weather on day four promises a significant change in the wind direction and so many will face a new look Ocean Course at Kiawah Island.

This is a final round of a PGA Championship that promises so much more than in many of the previous stagings.

Of the Australians, Cameron Smith retained his lead amongst the six who made the cut.

Smith is in 33rd place at 2 over par, Jason Scrivener is at 4 over in his very first PGA Championship, Jason Day made ground with his round of 72 to be in 51st place, Cameron Davis is 68th and Lucas Herbert 75th.

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Sarah Kemp leads LPGA Tour event in Virginia

Sarah Kemp – file photo LET

NSW golfer Sarah Kemp has yet to win on the LPGA Tour but she has shown in 2021 that such a milestone is not beyond her and that has been further confirmed by the 35 year old taking the lead through 36 holes of the Pure Silk Championship in Virginia.

Kemp’s second round of 67 has her one ahead of Ana Belac, Stacy Lewis and Jessica Korda and she looks to improve on her current best finish on the LPGA Tour when runner-up at the 2019 Vic Open.

Kemp finished 5th in the opening event of the 2021 which was her best finish on the LPGA Tour in the US but since then she has been no better then 34th in four further starts.

“It was great,” said Kemp. “I slept great, had a really good warmup and I just felt really good.

“Sometimes you just feel like you’re going to play well, and it was one of those days. Hit some great shots. Made some putts. I didn’t miss a whole lot of fairways. Probably had under 30 putts, and that leads to 4-under. So it was very good.

“I really turned my putting around at the end of last year. I worked really hard. I was annoyed because I had hit the ball great for a couple years and I just didn’t convert the opportunities.

“At the end of last year I worked really hard on my pace and that’s probably — like today, the pace of my putts has been really good. I’m getting it three foot past, which I like. That’s a good putt. Have a go.

“So just putting really, because I feel like I’ve hit the ball the same for a couple years now.”

Katherine Kirk is the next best of the Australians in a share of 10th place and three from Kemp’s lead.

Sarah Jane Smith was the only other Australian to make the cut when she finished the opening 36 holes in 47th place.

Scores

 

 

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Mickelson’s day but six Australians make weekend at PGA Championship

Phil Mickelson – can he become the oldest to win a major title? Photo Darren Carroll PGA of America

Six of the eight Australians playing this week’s PGA Championship have advanced to the weekend but two of their more credentialed players have missed out.

Marc Leishman and Adam Scott finished the opening 36 holes of the event one shot beyond the required 5 over par and will sit out the final stages of the event, Leishman, in particular, having every reason to feel gutted after a double bogey, bogey finish saw him miss the chance to advance his cause.

Cameron Smith took over as the leading Australian after his round of 73 has him at 1 over and six shots from the halfway lead held by South African Louis Oosthuizen and the remarkable Phil Mickelson.

Smith made the turn after the demanding opening nine stretch (he started at the 10th today) in a respectable one over but was unable to take advantage of the opportunities the relatively easier front nine of the Ocean Course offered.

Smith is tied for 25th but he will still feel that two solid rounds could open the door to a very high finish on a golf course which is not allowing anyone to take control.

“I think it’s going to be really tricky on the weekend,” said Smith aware of the demands the field will face over the final 36 holes.

“I don’t think the course is going to get any easier. So just got to keep doing what I’m doing, keep missing in the right places I think around here is a big one, and yeah, just hope for the best. Hopefully some putts go in.

“It’s been real tough (thus far). It’s probably the two hardest condition days I think I’ve seen, to be honest. Maybe a few days around Augusta here and there, the British Open can get windy and wet, as we all know, but no, pretty tough stuff.

“I mean, a score is still out there, which I love. I think the course has been set up really nice. It’s just you’ve got to kind of get lucky with those longer putts to go in.”

Cameron Davis excelled on day one with his opening round of 69 but today it was a different story, although he can take some pride and solace in that he was able to recover from an opening double bogey and a near disastrous triple bogey at his 11th hole to finish with 78 and at 3 over for the tournament.

To have played the final eight holes of his very demanding opening nine (he started at the 10th) and then, after dropping five shots in three holes around the turn, played his last seven holes in even par was very encouraging.

Davis is in a share of 39th place and eight shots from the lead in just his second major championship.

Lucas Herbert could have been forgiven for thinking his tournament was on shaky grounds after his opening round of 76 but with five birdies in his first eleven holes on day two he had worked his way well inside the cut line and to even par for the tournament.

He would fall victim to the demands of the final stretch of holes with four bogeys in his final seven but it was an impressive comeback all the same.

“I just feel like I’ve just gotten out of a fight and I’ve won,” said Herbert. “Looks like I’ll probably make the cut. Yeah, I feel like I’ve had a win.”

Herbert had an unsettling start to the day even before he got on the golf course.

“It’s kind of a funny story with today. I turned up in some casual clothes to do some sort of warmups and whatnot, and I got to the golf course and realized I left my golf clothes at home. So I had my friend drive back and get them and bring them back.

“So I missed basically half of my warmup. And I got on the range straight back into the wind, and I think I hit about four 2-irons in a row over the left fence. So I Face-Timed my coach (in Australia) with like nine minutes till my tee time going, how do I fix this?

“There’s something really, really wrong. How do I fix this? It was like, we just had a laugh because it can’t get any worse. This is going to be a fun day. We’re going to be shouting fore left a lot. And then, all of a sudden, I’m out there hitting — I really don’t think I missed a shot through the first 13 holes. It was kind of funny really, that it sort of all came from that.”

Matt Jones and Jason Scrivener are also at 4 over, Jason Day, after a double bogey at his 12th hole, played his last six in 1 under to make the cut on the number while Leishman and Scott are heading home.

The leaders Oosthuizen and Mickelson played at opposite ends of the draw, Mickelson at the age of 50 defying logic and recent form to some extent to grab the outright lead when he finished his round some six hours ahead of Oosthuizen.

Mickelson’s stunning homeward nine of 31 saw his fans enthusing over what might be. If he was to win this week he would become the oldest person after Julius Boros (age 48) to win a major.

“It’s really fun, obviously, to make a putt on the last hole, finish a round like that and then to have that type of support here has been pretty special. But it’s been a lot of fun so far,” he said.

Mickelson’s change in pre-shot routine is noticeable as he spends more time focusing ahead of the shot.

“I’m just making more and more progress just by trying to elongate my focus. I might try to play 36, 45 holes in a day and try to focus on each shot so that when I go out and play 18, it doesn’t feel like it’s that much.

“I might try to elongate the time that I end up meditating, but I’m trying to use my mind like a muscle and just expand it because as I’ve gotten older, it’s been more difficult for me to maintain a sharp focus, a good visualization and see the shot.

“Physically I feel like I’m able to perform and hit the shots that I’ve hit throughout my career, and I feel like I can do it every bit as well as I have, but I’ve got to have that clear picture and focus.”

Oosthuizen already has a major to his name, that coming at the 2010 Open Championship where he blitzed the field by seven shots at St Andrews.

“I did a bit of work last week with my coach and just sort of got a feeling in my swing back from a long time ago and started driving it again this week like the way I know I can hit a driver. That made my longer irons and my ball-striking a lot better.

“I’ve worked really hard on my putting especially and feel like that’s probably the best I’ve rolled it in a long time, so it’s great to know that the driver swing and the long iron swing is back, especially in these conditions. I just need to stay in it this weekend and try not to play myself out of it tomorrow.”

SCORES

Louis Oosthuizen – in action today – photo PGA of America Darren Carroll

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cameron Davis’ great recovery on day one of PGA Championship

Cameron Smith during his opening round of even par 72 – photo PGA of America Darren Carroll

Cameron Davis is this week playing in just his second major championship but given the manner in which he tackled the opening round of the PGA Championship at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island there will be plenty more to come and many further opportunities to contend.

Davis’ round of 69 leaves him tied for second place and just two behind the day one lead held by Canadian Corey Conners but his recovery from an early triple bogey highlighted the 26 year old former Australian Open Champion’s playing skills and constitution.

Davis birdied two holes early but was bought undone by a triple at the 6th hole. He bounced back immediately with a birdie at the 7th before an eight foot eagle putt at the 11th had him very much in contention at 2 under and when he added another birdie at the par 3 14th he had Conners in his sights.

Davis missed a very makeable 5 footer at the par 5 16th, two putted for par at the 17th and then after finding the rough to the right of the 18th he hit a fine approach to 15 feet and although he was unable to convert he had completed a remarkable round.

Davis was no doubt disappointed he had not been able to take advantage of the chances he made for himself late in the round but he was aware that he had handled the tough finishing stretch very well.

“Yeah, it was a really solid round other than one kind of really poor swing,” he said. “Other than that, most of the round was really solid. I’m pleased with the way I finished, those difficult holes down the finishing stretch there. Plenty of good stuff for tomorrow.

“I kept the ball in decent spots on the fairway. I had a good shot on 18, that was a funky lie there and managed to hit a great shot to keep it going. With the wind not being super strong, those final holes didn’t have as much teeth as they might have otherwise, like the last couple days in the practice rounds, those holes were a little more interesting in terms of the shots that you had to hit and how long they were playing.

“I hit good shot in the middle of the green, 17, which is really all you really want to do there and 18, after I hit a good tee shot, just took a poor bounce. Good little momentum savers, good, consistent shots kept the stress off and try and keep that going for the rest of the week.”

Cameron Smith is the next best of the eight Australians after his round of even par 72.

Smith is playing just his 19th major championship but with three top 5’s and four top ten’s already to his name he has proven he, too, has the game and the constitution to grapple the demands of the games’ greatest tests.

Smith began slowly with an early bogey at his 4th hole and although he would birdie the 5th and 7th holes he would make the turn in even par.

Birdies at the 11th and 13th had him within two of the lead then held by Cory Conners and when his tee shot at the par 3 14th finished eight feet from the hole it appeared he would move even closer. The putt would miss but he was nicely placed as he faced the demanding finishing stretch.

Smith would bogey the 15th and 18th and although now in a share of 31st place any round under par today is a good solid start.

“Pretty good,” said Smith describing his thoughts on the round. “I thought the ball-striking was really up there today. I thought I putted well. A couple more putts go in and I’m right up there. Yeah, no work for me tonight. I’m just going to get a good rest and be here early in the morning.

“The last five holes I played 2-over and basically didn’t really miss a shot. I hit a bad drive on 18 but it didn’t really feel bad. That’s just the way it is around here. You just have to take advantage of those downwind holes as much as you can and really hold on and hit really good golf shots into the wind.”

Matt Jones and Jason Scrivener had 73, Marc Leishman and Jason Day 74, Lucas Herbert 76 and Adam Scott 78.

The leader, Corey Conners, has the lead by two and after his round described the greater self-belief he has as a result of several impressive performances of late.

“I have a lot of belief in myself, and I’ve been playing well for quite a while. I’m excited for opportunity to play against the best players in the world and put my game to the test.

“I have a lot of confidence in my game and I’m excited for the rest of the weekend. Didn’t try to force it to happen but definitely saw myself having a good day today and hopefully can keep that up the rest of the weekend.

“I’d say it’s impossible to be stress-free around this golf course. You can’t fall asleep out there on any holes. It’s very challenging. Yeah, I was fortunate to have a good day.

“Made it as least stressful as possible on myself. I hit a lot of really good shots and holed some nice putts early in the round, and that really helped boost the confidence. You know, played with a lot of freedom.”

The cut tomorrow appears at this stage as if it will fall around 4 possibly 5 over so several of the Australians have a chance of being around for the weekend, a couple perhaps even strong possibilities of contending as the week advances.

SCORES

 

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Eight Australians face Kiawah Island’s demands

Kiawah Island’s 15th hole – photo PGA of America

Eight Australians will tee it up at this week’s PGA Championship at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island in South Carolina, three having played the event when it was last played at Kiawah Island in 2012 and two playing the event for the very first occasions.

Kiawah Island promises a difficult assignment, the only time previously used for a major when Rory McIlroy recorded an stunning 13 under par in 2012, although he was eight shots clear of the runner-up.

Cameron Smith, Adam Scott, Marc Leishman, Jason Day, Matt Jones, Lucas Herbert, Cameron Davis and Jason Scrivener get the chance to tee it up amongst one of golf’s strongest fields, Jason Day the only of those to have won the event when he was successful in 2015 at Whistling Straits.

Day’s form of late, however, has been well below his best, missing his last three cuts and slipping to his lowest world ranking in nearly eleven years.

Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman appear the Australians most likely to do well this week, Smith now Australia’s highest world ranked player with consecutive top tens finishes at his last two starts in addition to a win in a teams’ event with Marc Leishman in New Orleans.

Leishman had a solid midfield finish last week in Dallas following an impressive 5th place at the Masters and a win with Smith in New Orleans. His game appears to have improved sharply after several ordinary performances earlier in the year and he should be suited over this layout.

Leishman did finish 27th at Kiawah Island in 2012 and although changes have been made to the golf course since he does have experience over the demanding layout.

Adam Scott has not missed a cut in his last 14 PGA Tour events but amongst those there has been only one top ten, so his current form does not suggest a big effort this week.

Scott did finish 11th when the event was last played here and it is the major in which he has enjoyed a relatively good record having recorded six top tens two of those 3rd place finishes.

Matt Jones has made four of his six cuts at the PGA Championship with a best of 21st behind Jason Day in 2015. His recent win at the Honda Classic suggests he is not too far from where he needs to be to better his previous best in the event.

Lucas Herbert will play his third PGA Championship having made the cut once in 2019 and sat out the weekend last year. Herbert has struggled for form of late and faces a big task if he is to better his previous efforts in the event.

Cameron Davis and Jason Scrivener get their chance to play a major championship for the second time, Davis an Open Championship previously and Scrivener a US Open. This, therefore, will be their first PGA Championship appearance.

Davis is a player good enough to be contending in major championships in the years ahead, but this year is likely far too early. He has, though, played well on occasions in 2021 PGA Tour events.

Scrivener has played only five events in 2021, one of those a runner-up finish to Tyrell Hatton in Abu Dhabi. His form has not been so good since however although that he has made the field for this week’s event is a reflection on his slowly maturing game.

Given current form then Cameron Smith appears likely to continue his impressive major championship record having finished inside the top five on three occasions in a limited number of starts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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