- US Open qualifier at 12, LPGA champion at 16, and now a major champion at 19. Lexi Thompson was never satisfied with being an "up and coming star". She always wanted to be a winner and a champion. The media may keep referring to her as the "19 year old", but anyone who has followed the LPGA knows Lexi has had the game for some time to cash in on a major.
- If Lexi's putting is as good the rest of the year as it was this week, watch out. She may go on a tear and start collecting trophies in bunches. She hits it farther than anyone on Tour and her ball striking is among the best, if not THE best. Mentally, Lexi has shown herself to be tougher than competitors twice her age, and she takes her bogeys and mistakes and moves on from them. The putter might have been the only thing holding her back, and if that's now working, it may become Lexi's era.
- There were so many great stories leading into Sunday and so many people I was rooting for, but I think the one I was leaning towards was the one that got very little play in the social media build up for the final round. It would have been fantastic to see Se Ri Pak finally win the career grand slam, especially after all she has been through the last couple of years. Unfortunately, it was just not in the cards for her, but the last two weeks have shown that Pak is at least healthy enough to contend. With a lot of the Korean stars struggling, how ironic is it that it's the mentor that rises to the occasion to give the country some hope? Hopefully, Pak continues her strong play, and maybe we can see her cash in on a victory this season. There is another major that she hasn't win yet - one that takes place in France...
-The initial reaction is to be disappointed that Michelle Wie was unable to win on Sunday, but keep a few things in mind before recasting her as the "phenom who couldn't win." With the conditions as difficult as they were, Wie's one under par round should have been enough to win, and she just to happened to catch a buzzsaw named Lexi. Also, Wie is going from being in the complete depths of despair to challenging for titles. New players on tour are told that it takes time to "learn how to win", and in Wie's case, it is "relearning how to win." Seeing how she played, how she putter, and how she kept it all together mentally gives me far more positives than it does negatives, and I still believe we will see Wie hoist a trophy before year's end.
- I'm sure Charley Hull is going to say that nerves weren't the reason for her +4 76 on Sunday, but if you are 18 years old, you are in one of the final groups going for your first major title, you're playing with a legend of the game, and you're name isn't Lexi Thompson, than nerves were bound to sneak in somewhere. It is a natural, normal reaction that will become easier to fight the more times she's in contention. With all these teenagers winning around her, I know it may seem like it is important for Hull to make a huge splash now. But it isn't. Give her some time to grow her game the way she needs to.
- Another week, another "who?" winning on the PGA Tour. This time, it was Matt Jones cashing in on his first PGA Tour win. While Jones has been playing better this season than someone like Steven Bowditch, he is still another name that very few people likely know. It is, however, a rather feel good story. Not only has Jones played well recently, but he had a chance to qualify for the Masters in his final event last season, and missed a shot putt to knock him out. This was a redemption story for Jones, as well as a fulfillment of his talent. Besides, winning in a playoff by holing a chip? That's one of those highlights that sticks around for years.
- Why can't players win when they're in the lead? 54 hole leaders are now 9 for 20 this season, and one of them was Steven Bowditch, who tried all he could to give his lead up last week.
- Two weeks, two missed opportunities for Matt Kuchar who went from favorite to win the Masters to real question mark in one day. It's one thing to be handed an opportunity like he was at Bay Hill and not cash in, but it is entirely another when you dominate the tournament for three rounds and allow yourself to be overtaken. Kuchar is one of the top players on Tour, and yet he could not win the last two times he has had that opportunity. That is a major concern for me.
- Congratulations to Shawn Stefani and Retief Goosen, who both finished in the top 10 and earned enough FedEx Cup points to meet the conditions of their medical extensions. They will now have their cards for the entire season, and be given better status on Tour to help set their schedules.
- Right now, I am feeling really good about both Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy's chances at Augusta. Sure, Sergio didn't play great on Sunday, and Rory didn't play great UNTIL Sunday, but they both seemed like they worked out the problems that may have plagued them heading into this week. This is a perfect example of how Houston helps prepare for Augusta - these two have to be excited entering this week that their games are going up at the perfect time.
- One man who can't be as excited is Phil Mickelson, who once again failed to notch a top 10; however, he did come close and actually played pretty decent this week, despite admitting he was still sore from his oblique muscle. You wouldn't think that Phil would have any chance to win the Masters with the way he's played recently, but he is someone you can never count out, especially at that golf course. Phil can go a whole year without a top 10 and then magically win the Masters.
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