Monday, June 16, 2014

No Drama At Pinehurst As Kaymer Laps Fiels

- The outcome was in doubt before the third round tee'd off, but no one really wanted to admit it. Martin Kaymer played a completely different golf tournament then everyone else. While they were struggling to make pars, Kaymer was all systems go, attacking pins and making putts in bunches. This wasn't a man playing a US Open. This was someone who picked up his golf clubs for a nice, friendly round of golf with his buddies at the local golf course. Wire-to-wire dominating performances at majors are nothing new, but this isn't the number one player in the world. Kaymer is someone who went through struggles up until this season. Whatever he did between last year and this year, he needs to keep doing...and never tell anyone else.

- Kaymer's lapping of the field, along with the lack of any real big names in contention left for yet another lackluster major in 2014. I'm not saying either Kaymer or Bubba Watson owe us an apology, but it's hard to watch a tournament when the end result is already determined. The Masters saw some of its lowest Sunday ratings ever, and I would not be surprised if the ratings are low again for this event, as well...though it won't be because of Donald Trump's idiotic assertion that the golf course caused low ratings.

- I'm pretty sure everyone who watched the US Open this weekend instantly became an Erik Compton fan. How can you not? Not only does he have a remarkable story, but he seems like one of the most genuine guys out there. Compton was already impressive, but this finish was on a whole new level. Now there is just one thing remaining...a victory.

- Only one person has a top 5 finishes in both majors contested in 2014 - Rickie Fowler. Let that sink in for a moment. The most consistent man in the major fields has been one of the most inconsistent golfers this season. In fact, take away the majors and the third place finish at the match play, and Fowler has only one other top 10 this season. I honestly have no idea what to make of this man. Hopefully we start seeing some consistency from him and he turns into the golfer we all thought he would be after his victory in 2012. A Fowler who is rattling off wins is good for the sport. It just needs to happen.

- We're going to be seeing a lot of Brooks Koepka on the PGA Tour this season. He already had unlimited sponsor exemptions thanks to becoming a Special Temporary Member, but with his T4 finish at the US Open, there are going to be a lot of tournaments who are going to want him in their field. He can already book a couple of events - the Open Championship, the PGA Championship, and next years Masters. When we talk about the youth movement on the PGA Tour, we have to make room for Koepka, who is going to impress a lot of people.

- Another major, another top finish for Jason Day. Since 2011, Day has finished in the top 10 six times in majors, including five times inside the top five. I have to wonder, if Day was completely healthy this season, if he wouldn't have walked away with this tournament. Day shows up in a big way for the biggest tournaments, and the only thing missing from his resume is a major trophy.

- Here's an interesting stat: For the first time since 2002 (when Tiger Woods was tearing up the world) the first two majors of the season have been won my two players who had already won majors. There is still a lot of parity on Tour, but there are a handful of golfers who are starting to step up in a big way in the face of the void at the top.

- Is anyone more under the radar than Jimmy Walker? FedEx Cup leader who has finished in the top 10 in both majors as well as the Players, and yet I don't hear a whole lot about him. It is like most people think his position at the top of the Cup standings is a fluke. I don't think it is. Walker is an impressive player, and when he walks away this season as the PGA Champion and heads to Gleneagles for his first Ryder Cup he will start being on the lips of more people.

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