- Everyone who followed golf over the past two years knew it was a matter of time before Hideki Matsuyama won on the PGA Tour and began to make a name for himself in the US, but I'm not sure how many expected it to happen so quickly. After an incredible 2013 where he didn't even play in the United States full time and yet still notched six top 25 finishes, Hideki has has an up and down season, chasing high finishes with missed cuts and battling injuries. The last two tournaments, however, have been fantastic, and he is now peaking right before the US Open, where he managed a top 10 last year. Hideki will win a major someday, and who knows...perhaps that time is sooner rather than later.
- Kevin Na might not be going home incredibly happy after hitting his tee shot in the water during the playoff, but he can at least take some solace in the fact that he was able to rally on the final day, shoot an eight under par round, and get himself into position to win hours before the leaders had to start making shots. At this time last year, Na was worried about a back injury which kept him from playing, and which put his future on Tour in doubt. He now has two runner up finishes this season.
- I could have sworn that Bubba Watson had this tournament in the bag after he birdied the fourth hole. Alas, he failed to birdie the two par 5's on the front, and a bogey-double on the back erased his chances. Bubba can add his name to the list of top players this season who had a lead on Sunday and failed to convert, a list that includes Adam Scott, Matt Kuchar, and Rory McIlroy. Some comfort for Bubba - all three of these men ended up winning later in the year.
- Speaking of Adam Scott, the world number one is certainly playing like the title he was given two weeks ago. He followed up a win at Colonial with a forth place finish at Memorial where he certainly had a chance to win until some stumbles on the back nine. Scott is certainly someone who is going to have a lot of confidence as he enters Pinehurst.
- We have a Ben Curtis sighting! Coming off of four straight missed cuts, Curtis returns close to home and notches his first top 10 since 2012. It still amazes me that it's been 11 years since Curtis' Open Championship victory, and that we never got to see Curtis really become a top name player. One plus side is that he is only 37 years old - he still has some time to start climbing back.
- Why haven't we seen more of Thorbjorn Olesen this season? I would have bet money on the fact that Olesen would make the jump to the US and instantly translate his game into immediate success. It's shocking to me that this is his first top 10 of the season. Also collecting his first top 10 of the season is Steve Stricker, but to his defense, this was only his sixth start of the season.
- I'm not going to write anything on this Phil Mickelson/insider trading stuff until I learn more about it. Phil maintains his innocence and no charges have been filed yet, so I'm going to hold off on passing judgment. It is an incredibly odd story, however.
- Congratulations to Thongchai Jaidee on his first victory in two years. For some reason, I've had a thought in my head that Jaidee would be part of the conversation entering the weekend at the US Open, and his victory this week at least allows me to think I'm not completely crazy.
- We have a new number one on the LPGA Tour, as Stacy Lewis won her second event of the season to pass Inbee Park in the Rolex Rankings. It is probably fitting, as Lewis has played better than anyone the past several months. Lewis is no doubt the queen right now, and it is up to the others to win and win often if they wish to overthrow her.
- The tournament was actually closer than it was, and big congratulations to Christina Kim for hanging in there until the 18th hole. This is Kim's second top 10 in four tournaments, and her best finish in several years. One good tournament is a fluke, but two is a trend, and right now, I would start buying some stock in Christina Kim if there are any available.
- I think it's safe to say that, no only is the Asian domination of the LPGA Tour over, but Asian golf is in pretty rough shape on Tour. Na Yeon Choi looked like she was poised for a great week, but two weekend rounds in the 70's ended that. The big name Korean stars are having a tough time even getting top 10's, and they've had to rely on mid level players like Haeji Kang and Meena Lee to carry the torch for them. Shanshan Feng has split her time between the LPGA Tour and the JLPGA Tour, which has prevented her from really lighting it up this season. And while Japan can celebrate Hideki Matsuyama's victory at Memorial, they also have to be wondering where ANY of their ladies are, as Japan as a whole has struggled mightily this season.
- Here are some notable players who finished outside the top 10 for the first time in what seems like forever:
Michelle Wie: T23
Lydia Ko: T46
Lexi Thompson: T66
These three round tournaments, I'll tell ya...
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