Last week, Hinako Shibuno, a 20 year old rookie from Japan, won the British Women’s Open by 1 stroke over Lizette Salas, when Salas missed a 5 foot putt on 18. It’s a cruel game. Shibuno kept it together and Salas didn’t. A shout out to Morgan Pressel for finishing 4th - her first top 4 major finish since 2010.
For many reasons, including a failed drug test, Doug Barron had been consigned to the golf wilderness for the past 7 years. Playing in mini-tour events until he turned 50, he managed to Monday qualify at this week’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Champions Tour event. A few days later, he was victorious, finishing 2 strokes ahead of Fred Couples. A lot of very good amateur golfers practice, stay fit, and bide their time until they turn 50 and can try and qualify for the Champions (senior) tour and feast on a bunch of 60 year olds. But actually making it happen is no small feat. The Champions Tour only allows a single Monday qualifier into its tournaments. Barron was good enough to seize the opportunity and make it count.
It reminds us of a round of golf played at a Poolesville, MD muni course 4-5 years ago. We happened to be paired with a coal miner from Pennsylvania named, Phil. In his mid-fifties, Phil’s game was so impressive that we asked him on the 4th or 5th hole what his low score was. “61, and I’ve done it 9 times.” He explained that he had once tried to qualify for the Champions Tour and shot a 65 at Nemacolin during a Monday qualifier, only to miss out by 1 stroke. This seems like a missed opportunity for the Champions Tour. Turning 50 really begins to level the playing field. The tour should celebrate, and provide more opportunities for underdogs like Phil to challenge the golf establishment. It would be good for business.
Lastly, we finish up with Justin Thomas and his record setting performance at Medinah this week. One of the top dogs for the past few years, a wrist injury set him back for much of this year. He didn’t allow a poor warm up session on the range on Thursday, which he deemed the “worst of my professional career” to affect him. Went out and shot 65-69-61-68 to win and put him in position to begin next week’s BMW Championship at East Lake with a two stroke advantage.
Hat tip to Patrick Cantlay. Went out and dropped 9 birdies to challenge Thomas and put himself into a position to win in Atlanta.