- Prior to this week, Rory McIlroy had three majors victories, all by considerable margins which made him look like the most dominate golfer on the planet. So why do I think his most recent, one shot victory at the PGA Championship is the most impressive win of his career? It's because Rory had to prove something on Sunday. He didn't have a large lead that he could run and hide from the field. He fell behind to several high class players and needed to fight his way back in sloppy conditions while his competitors continued to high high quality shots. One of the knocks against Tiger Woods is that he has never won a major coming from behind. He put a stranglehold on the field and never looked back. Rory needed to fight and claw his way for a win, which not only shows his physical talents, but his mental toughness, as well. When Rory made two bogies early, a lot of players in the field could have just collapsed and became an afterthought. Rory, instead, hits an incredible shot on a par 5 to set up an eagle. This is the kind of talent we're going to get used to seeing from the Northern Irishman.
- Hey guys, remember Phil Mickelson? Remember the 44 year old that hasn't recorded a top 10 in 2014? Yeah, that man almost won another major championship. Phil said last week that if he were to contend for the PGA Championship, it would "come out of nowhere." Well, out of nowhere it came, as Phil showed his old self once again. If it weren't for a few missed putts, Phil would have won his second PGA Championship. I'm sure Captain Tom Watson is feeling a lot better today, knowing that Phil is getting his game turned around, but how is Lefty feeling? He knows he doesn't have many majors left in him, and any that slip away have to feel like a lost opportunity, but at the same time, the fact that he was able to make a run at it when his game was primarily in shambles should make him encouraged going forward.
- Speaking of missed opportunities, how about elder statesmen Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, and Steve Stricker all notching top 10's in the PGA Championship. For Stricker, his time for winning a major is likely over, as he is quietly entering retirement. It would be a complete shock if someone only plays a few times a year suddenly wins a major. For Furyk and Els, however, they have to be both A) encouraged that they still have the game to compete in majors, and B) upset that they let an opportunity slip away. Els has not had a great season this year, so I'm sure the result is fine for him, but for Furyk, who has 8 top 10's this season without a victory, this had to seem like a bit of a waste. Opportunities aren't going to keep popping up for Furyk, so I'm sure top 10's aren't his goal. He wants trophies.
- Victor Dubuisson has decided to start peaking at the right moment. Dubuisson was a lock for the European Ryder Cup team after his runner up finish at the match play, but he then went on a stretch of golf where he did not play well. He took quite a few tournaments off in the summer, and was fairly quiet on both the PGA and European Tours. The US had to feel some confidence knowing that, perhaps, Dubuisson was a weak link for the Euros. Two straight top 10 finishes in majors ended that speculation, and now Dubuisson enters the Ryder Cup with a ton of confidence.
- Henrik Stenson will win a major in 2015. Check back on this blog post next year.
- Rickie Fowler's four top 5 finishes in majors this year was incredibly impressive, but to me, it means nothing unless he's able to cash in that confidence with a win in the playoffs. Yes, it is important to peak at the biggest events of the year, but what Fowler has really shown this year is that he is way too talented to only have one win out Tour. He is someone that can create buzz and get people excited about golf, but he needs some more trophies. If he leaves 2014 without a victory, then in the grand scheme of things, it will just be remembered as another really good season, not a great one.
- I wonder if Mikko Ilonen gave Paul McGinley something to think about this week. Ilonen currently sits at 47 on the World Golf Rankings and followed up his victory at the Irish Open in June with a top 10 in the PGA Championship. In the end, I'm afraid McGinley will end up going with someone like Ian Poulter, who has had an incredibly disappointing season, if only for the experience he brings to the table. Still, Ilonen would make a great story, and I would love to see McGinley take the risk.
- If you thought Mo Martin's victory was out of the blue, then you're going to be absolutely stunned by this week's winner on the LPGA Tour. Mirim Lee is a rookie on the LPGA this season, and was in a back and forth battle with Danish golfer Line Vedel for the right to beaten by Lydia Ko in the Rookie Of The Year race. Lee finished second at the Founders Cup, but had done nothing else this season until a 12th place finish a few weeks ago in Ohio. The fact that Mirim was not only able to handle the pressure of being in the final pairing, but also was able to stare down and beat some of the biggest names in women's golf is nothing to scoff at. This may be a flash in the pan like some other surprise winners we have seen on Tour, or it could be the start of a really good career for Mirim. How she handles her success will be the true test. It's hard to win, but it's even harder to sustain great play. Let's see how Mirim plays in the LPGA Championship.
- If I was a betting man, I would have bet my house on Sunday that Inbee Park was going to win the Meijer Classic. Some players just have it on certain days, and some don't. While Mirim Lee was playing the best golf she's ever played, Inbee struggled. I wonder if she wasn't still slightly worn out by the pressure of the International Crown two weeks ago. Several other big name golfers looked like they weren't playing at their highest potential, either. It's a shame, because a win would have been Inbee's second of the season, and would make everyone remember who Queen Bee was. Still, don't discount her for the season's fourth major. If Inbee gets motivated, she may be the player to beat.
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