U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell won the World Match Play Championship on Sunday by closing out Paul McGinley on the 35th hole. For his efforts Mr. Campbell (or Cambo as he likes to be called on his web site) gets a check for about $1,800,000. That is the largest payout in golf.
To utilize some rap terminology:
Campbell is “stackin’ bank.”
Wow! Only six weeks after Jason Gore got his tour card, he has notched is first victory at the 84 Lumber Classic. He managed to control his nerves enough to eke out a 1 stroke victory over Carlos Franco.
Gore has been one of the biggest stories in golf this year and the story is just getting better. I still think you have to give the nod to Tiger as the biggest story of the year for winning two majors, but Gore is right there in 2nd place.
Above is a picture from the 2nd tee at Wolf Creek Resort in Eden Utah. This is definitely “Eden.” I’ll have a review of Wolf Creek posted here soon.
Today was my first round of the tournament of champions. Though I was even par after about 5 holes, I had a couple of swings that cost me a ton of strokes. I played my worst round of the year, and had my worst ever score on a hole in a tournament. For the first time this golf season (and perhaps even last season), I knocked a tee shot OB.
I didn’t expect to be in contention in this tournament to begin with. The players in this tournament are all “flatbellies” and are either the winners of their club championship or the local amateur champs from various tournaments. These guys can all stick. Many had caddies. Speaking of caddies, I’ll have a rant post about them shortly.
I did expect to be “respectable” and represent my club well. I did neither. The one thing a did accomplish was cleaning out the old golf balls out of my bag.
There was a funny comment one flatbelly I played with said. He was a bomber. Who isn’t these days? So I knock a decent drive down the fairway about 290. He blows it by me about 30 yards. I told him I just couldn’t try to keep up with him on the drives. He said “it helps to be young.” So what…am I old? That’s the first time someone has implied that I’m old other than my kids. #40 is coming up next month so I guess he’s right.
I do get a chance to redeem myself during the 2nd day tomorrow. I’m sure I’ll be starting very early since the leaders start late. I’ll be up at the crack of dawn…
Jason Gore has put himself in the final group tomorrow at the 84 Lumber Classic with a 67 today.
What a great story it would be for Gore to break through and take advantage of his 2 stroke Sunday lead.
I’m still wondering when the Gore/Nike commercials will be hitting the airwaves. You know they will eventually.
I’m in three men’s clubs here in town. Two of the three clubs have a year long match play tournament to determine the club champion. You play about 1 match per month over the summer golf season and if you win every match you get into the finals. I actually got into the final match in BOTH clubs this year! The previous match (27 holes) I lost to a guy who caught fire with four birdies in the last 5 holes.
Yesterday I played in the 18 hole club champ final of club #2. Here’s the hole by hole match:
1. Par 5: Opponent birdies and I par with a ball in the hazard. One down.
2. Par 4: I nearly jar my approach shot and hit the flag stick. 1′ birdie putt. Even.
3. Par 3: Both miss the green. I don’t get up and down. One down.
4. Par 4: I par, he bogeys. Even.
5. Par 5: I par, he birdies. One down
6. Par 3: Pars. Still one down.
7. Par 4: He knocks his tee shot into hazard and I par. Even
8. Par 3: Pars. Even
9. Par 4: I make 35 foot birdie. One up.
10. Par 4: He knocks tee into hazard and I par. Two up.
11. Par 4: Pars. Two up.
12. Par 3: Pars. Two up.
13. Par 5: He birdies and I par. One up.
14. He pars and I bogey. Even.
15. Par 4: I par, he bogeys. One up.
16. Par 4: I double, he bogeys on a terrible green. Even.
17. Par 4: I almost drive green, chip lips out. He chips close and we both birdie. Even
18. Par 3: I knock tee shot to 5 feet and birdie for the WIN!
CLUB CHAMPION!!!
As club champ I get to play this weekend in a two day “tournament of champions” which is sponsored by the local state golf association. It is at a great resort course called Wolf Creek. This is not the Wolf Creek I mentioned in Mesquite Nevada, but one up in Northern Utah.
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