Tiger Woods makes Masters 15th and most improbable major win
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Fallen hero, crippled star, and now a Masters champion again.
Tiger Woods rallied to win the Masters for the fifth time Sunday, a comeback that goes well beyond the two-shot deficit he erased before a delirious audience that watched memories turn into reality at Augusta National.
Woods had gone nearly 11 years since he won his last major, 14 years since that green jacket was slipped over his Sunday red shirt. He made it worth the wait, closing with a 2-under 70 for a one-shot victory and setting off a scene of raw emotion.
He scooped up 10-year-old Charlie, born a year after Woods won his 14th major at Torrey Pines in the 2008 U.S Open. He hugged his mother and then his 11-year-old daughter Sam, and everyone else in his camp that stood by him through a public divorce, an embarrassing DUI arrest from a concoction of painkillers and four back surgeries, the most recent one just two years ago to fuse his lower spine.
“WOOOOOOO!!!” Woods screamed as he headed for the scoring room with chants of “Tiger! Tiger! Tiger” echoing as loud as any of the roars on the back nine at Augusta National.
“It’s overwhelming, just because of what has transpired,” Woods said in Butler Cabin. “Last year I was lucky to be playing again. At the previous year’s dinner, I was really struggling. I missed a couple of years not playing this great tournament. To now be the champion … 22 years between wins is a long time. It’s unreal to experience this.”
Woods lost his impeccable image to a sex scandal, one of the swiftest and most shocking downfalls in sport.
He lost his health to four back surgeries that left him unable to get out of bed, much less swing a club, and he went two years without even playing a major. It was two years ago at the Masters when Woods said he needed a nerve block just to walk to the Champions Dinner. At that time, he thought his career is over.
Now the comeback is truly complete.
He wrapped his arms around his father when he won his first green jacket in 1997, changing the world of golf.
“Now I’m the dad with two kids there,” he said.
He wanted his children to see him win, once saying they saw him only as a YouTube legend. They were at the British Open when he had the lead briefly. They couldn’t make it to East Lake last September, when he won the Tour Championship for his first victory in five years.
“I wasn’t going to let that happen to them twice,” he said. “To let them see what it’s like to have their dad win a major championship, I hope it’s something they’ll never forget.”
Woods won his 15th major, three short of the standard set by Jack Nicklaus. It was his 81st victory on the PGA Tour, one title away from the career record held by Sam Snead.
“A big ‘well done’ from me to Tiger,” Nicklaus tweeted. “I am so happy for him and for the game of golf. This is just fantastic!!!”
It was the first time Woods won a major when trailing going into the final round, and he needed some help from Francesco Molinari, the 54-hole leader who still was up two shots heading into the heart of Amen Corner.
And that’s when all hell broke loose at Augusta.
Molinari’s tee shot on the par-3 12th never had a chance, hitting the bank and tumbling into Rae’s Creek for double bogey. Until then, Molinari had never trailed in a round that began early in threesomes to finish ahead of storms.
And then it seemed as though practically everyone had a chance.
Six players had a share of the lead at some point on the back. With the final group still in the 15th fairway, there was a five-way tie for the lead. And that’s when Woods seized control, again with plenty of help.
Molinari’s third shot clipped a tree and plopped straight down in the water for another double bogey. Woods hit onto the green, setting up a two-putt birdie for his first lead of the final round.
The knockout punch was a tee shot into the 16th that rode the slope just by the cup and settled 2 feet away for birdie and a two-shot lead with two holes to play.
Xander Schauffele failed to birdie the par-5 15th and scrambled for pars the rest of the way for a 68. Dustin Johnson made three straight birdies late in the round, but he got going too late and had to settle for a 68 and a return to No. 1 in the world.
Brooks Koepka, one of four players from the final two groups who hit into the water on No. 12, rallied with an eagle on the 13th, narrowly missed another eagle on the 15th and was the last player with a chance. His birdie putt on the 18th from just outside 10 feet never had a chance, and he had to settle for a 70.
“You want to play against the best to ever play,” Koepka said. “You want to go toe-to-toe with them. I can leave saying I gave it my all. He’s just good, man.”
Wood finished at 13-under 275 and became, at 43, the oldest Masters champion since Nicklaus won his sixth green jacket at 46 in 1986. That for years has stood as Augusta’s defining moment.
This was one is sure to at least rival it.
“This is definitely, probably one of the greatest comebacks I think anybody’s ever seen,” Koepka said, before rattling off Woods’ total PGA Tour victories and 15 majors.
Is the Nicklaus record back in play?
“I think 18 is a whole lot closer than people think,” Koepka said.
Koepka and Molinari both faced Tigermania in the majors and held their own, Molinari at Carnoustie to win the British Open, Koepka last summer at Bellerive to win the PGA Championship.
Molinari went 49 straight holes without a bogey, a streak that ended on the seventh hole. It was the double bogeys that cost him, and the Italian was gracious as ever in defeat.
“I think I made a few new fans today with those double bogeys,” he said.
Saskatchewan golf season opens Monday
Although golf courses across Saskatchewan have began opening for the season earlier this month, Monday, April 15 is the official opening day of the season.
Handicapping and score tracking through either your Golf Saskatchewan or Golf Canada public player membership will begin today for rounds played in the province. A list of member clubs can be seen here, for membership information click here.
Today also marks the opening of registration for the provincial golf championships. Participants can begin registering for Golf Saskatchewan’s eight tournaments at 1 p.m. The first event of the year is the 101st Saskatchewan Women’s Amateur Championship in early July at Moon Lake Golf and Country Club. To find the list of all the championships click here.
The Order of Merit Tours (OMT) across five different categories (junior women, junior men, men, senior men, and women) are also starting to inch closer. The juniors kick off in Estevan at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club on May 4 and 5 for a Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop.
The first women’s event is the Prince Albert Northern Ladies Championship at Cooke Municipal on June 1 and 2. Kim Brown is the reigning tour champion.
The men’s OMT schedule begins in the Queen City on May 25 and 26 with the Regina Dental Group Men’s City Amateur. David Stewart is the 2018 champion of the tour.
Waskesiu Golf Course will host the first event on the senior men’s OMT schedule from June 4 to 6 with the Senior Men’s Lobstick. Rick Hallberg will look to defend his OMT title in 2019.
For more details and registration information for all the OMT events click the “COMPETE” tab on the main page of the Golf Saskatchewan website.
Thompson’s trademarks speckled across Saskatchewan
Stanley Thompson’s most famous of his 150 golf courses aren’t located in Saskatchewan but the world-renowned course creator has left his mark on our province.
Thompson, who passed away in 1953, has his fingerprints on the Tor Hill Golf Club, Murray Golf Club, Royal Regina Golf Club, and Waskesiu. The Norway, Ontario born Thompson travelled the nation while working on the railroad and began visioning golf courses. Almost 100 are in play today across North America, South America, and the Caribbean. Prince Albert historian and avid golfer Dr. James Harris knows all there is to know about the famed Thompson. He spent five years writing a book, Stanley Thompson and Icons of Canada.
“Stanley was a visionary guy, the west wasn’t very populated and developed in those days and he travelled the length of the country,” Harris said. “He has definitely left his stamp on this province like he did with just about every other province in the country.”
Thompson is a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and has been enshrined into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame as well. He is also recognized as a ‘Person of National Historic Significance.’ Harris has played an estimated 30 of Thompson’s courses across the globe. He said Thompson had several characteristics when designing a course.
“He was very adamant that his golf course designs were difficult enough to challenge the best players but still be enjoyable for those who aren’t. The golf courses sort of all have that special quality,” Harris said.
Thompson “recognized the beauty in nature” when he created his courses. He tried to incorporate “green-to-tee” views on holes as well as elevation.
The Royal Regina was redesigned by Thompson in 1925, that was his first work in Saskatchewan. Unfortunately, according to Harris flooding issues at the course have forced some alterations to his original design. The city of Regina commissioned Thompson to develop the Tor Hill and Murray courses in 1928. The Great Depression eventually stalled plans to construct both. The Tor Hill was opened in 1932, the Murray took until three decades later. Thompson’s most famous work likely lands within the Waskesiu course which opened in 1936. Harris said the Prince Albert National Park based facility never disappoints.
“Golfers enjoy themselves even though they might not shoot a good score. They enjoy the day, they enjoy the experience,” he said.
Harris said Thompson’s most famous courses are in the Rockies near Banff and Jasper. He was also instrumental in more than course construction. Thompson was crucial in the development of the western edge of British Columbia.
“He built Capilano Golf and Country Club in Vancouver,” Harris said. “That’s all tied into the development of the north shore and the Lion’s Gate Bridge.”
Harris’ book was released in late 2018. The project was the third in line of his golf works. During the 100th anniversary of the Cooke Municipal Golf Course in Prince Albert Harris was asked to write that courses history. He did the same for the 75th anniversary of Waskesiu. He has since joined the Stanley Thompson Society group and spent half a decade writing the 500-plus page story. He said the first few months of publication has gone very well.
“People who are not really golf nuts, let’s call them that have really enjoyed the book because of all the history involved with Stanley,” he said.
Other topics such as John A. MacDonald becoming Canada’s first Prime Minister, the Great Depression, and World Wars.
The book can be found in the proshops at both the Cooke and Waskesiu, Amy’s on Second in Prince Albert, McNally-Robinson in Saskatoon, and from the Stanley Thompson Society’s website.
Conners off to strong start at Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The last guy into the Masters left no doubt he deserved his spot.
Corey Conners followed up a thrill at the first tee – a greeting from Jack Nicklaus – with a 2-under 70 that put the Canadian in solid position after the opening round Thursday.
“I feel like I belong,” Conners said.
Playing in the first group of the day, he got a chance to watch Nicklaus and Gary Player hit the ceremonial tee shots that traditionally kick off the first major of the year. On his way back to the clubhouse after his one and only swing, the 79-year-old Nicklaus congratulated Conners on last weekend’s victory at the Valero Texas Open – the performance that got him into the Masters as the final entrant in the field.
“That felt pretty special,” Conners said. “It’s cool that that Jack Nicklaus knows who I am.”
The 27-year-old native of Listowel, Ont., endured a sluggish start, playing the front nine at 1 over. He was solid off the tee, but a little too cautious on the treacherous greens. Then in the middle of the back side, Conners made his move.
He rolled in back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th holes before making eagle at the par-5 15th.
After a booming drive left only 212 yards to the green at the bottom of the hill, Conners launched his approach over the water, the ball coming to a stop just 6 feet past the cup for barely more than a tap-in.
A three-putt bogey at the final hole put a bit of a damper on his day.
But Conners wasn’t complaining.
Not after his improbable journey just to claim a spot in the first major of the year.
Since he’s currently ranked outside the top 125 in the FedEx Cup, Conners had to go through Monday qualifying just to get into the Texas Open. He made a 20-foot birdie at No. 18 to sneak into a six-man playoff for the final berth in the actual tournament. Then, with a birdie at the first extra hole, he eliminated the other five contenders.
With a 10-birdie round on Sunday, Conners captured the first PGA Tour victory of his career – and an invite to Augusta.
Conners certainly understands the enormity of the odds of everything falling into place the way it has.
“Look, I’m a math and stats guy,” he said, standing near the giant magnolia tree that shades the porch of the stately clubhouse. “I know I was very unlikely to be here. I can say with certainly that I didn’t think I would be here, but it worked out very well.”
Conners is off to a much better start than his only other appearance in the Masters.
The fun continues! @coreconn holds the lead at #TheMasters ?? pic.twitter.com/1ENLpNAK7U
— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) April 11, 2019
After qualifying as an amateur in 2015, he opened with an 80 that left him no real chance of making the cut.
Now, with another solid round, he’ll be heading on to the weekend for the first time.
He has plenty of fans cheering him on.
“There are way more Canadian people than I was expecting – or at least people pretending to be Canadians – out there,” Conners quipped. “It was awesome.”
Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters champion and the only other Canadian in the field, shot a 72.
Big Changes to Golf Rules for 2019
The golf season is about to tee off here in Moose Jaw this weekend and before you hit the links, you may want to brush up on the rules.
The Rules of Golf have undergone significant changes for the 2019 season after collaborative work between the sport’s governing bodies, the United States Golf Association and the R&A
“It’s the most significant change since 1984,” said Brian Lee, Executive Director of Golf Saskatchewan.
The rule book was trimmed down from 34 rules to 24. The changes were put in place to speed up the length of a round and also to make the game more accessible to the casual golfer.
Lee said they simply tweaked a lot of rules that were already in place.
“One of the most significant changes is going to be on the putting green where players are going to be able to putt with the flagstick in,” he said. “In the past, if your ball was on the putting green, the flagstick could not be in, but this year, it’s totally up to the player.”
The time that you have to search for your ball has been reduced from five minutes to three.
So far during the 2019 PGA Tour season, rounds have been about 15 minutes shorter with the new rules. Lee said that kind of change for local golf courses could be big.
“That could mean that the golf course could get an extra foursome out, which could impact their bottom line at the end of the year,” he said.
Players will no longer be penalized for an accidental double hit, for a ball accidentally moving while you’re searching for it or if the ball accidentally moves while on the putting surface.
“Also if you’re on the putting green, one thing you’ll hear people complain about is that it hit a spike mark, you’re now allowed to repair that before you putt,” said Lee
“There are no definitions anymore of a lateral hazard, water hazard, these are now known as penalty areas, whether they’re marked red or yellow, so similar to what it had been in previous years, but the options are now easier to understand.”
Some of the rule changes have been an adjustment for even the professionals with players receiving additional penalties in certain cases.
“Dropping the ball has been the most significant change to our game, it’s no longer standing erect at shoulder height, it’s now dropping from knee height,” said Lee. “At the LPGA Tour event last week, they had a player revert back to the old rule and she got an additional penalty.”
Lee added that the changes might add a bit of extra thought to a round at the start, but he feels they will be well received as players get used to them.
“Yes there’s going to be a learning curve, but if we give this 2-3 years, these will become the norm and we’ll think about why we didn’t do this 100 years ago,” he said.
Golfers in Moose Jaw will be able to get out on the course and test out the new rules this weekend as the Lynbrook Golf Club and Deer Ridge Golf Course will be opening up tee-to-green. The Hillcrest Golf Club has its opening day set for Monday.
Story courtesy Marc Smith/www.discovermoosejaw.com
Special Olympics champion providing golf tips online
Coming off a golf medal performance at the 2018 Special Olympics Games in Nova Scotia last August, Regina’s Taylor Carter wants to help his fellow competitors get the most out of their game.
Carter, 26, has launched a YouTube channel in collaboration with Special Olympics Saskatchewan promoting golf tips.
“I decided to do something with Special O,” Carter told Golf Saskatchewan. “The idea came from myself; I emailed the suggestion to them and Special Olympics wanted me to do the videos for them.”
Carter will provide content to the page on a weekly basis covering several areas of the game. He said he will provide tips on balance, grip, and the basics of equipment. He added that he’d also provide mental tips for other Special Olympics competitors. Carter has published three videos so far and hopes to develop his own game and skills too.
“I started the videos Monday, so I am kind of new to the whole thing but I’m hoping to get better over time, both at golf and the video production,” he said.
Carter’s debut video has been viewed over 130 times and in a week. He has 14 subscribers on the page in just a few days. He said overall the feedback has been positive.
“Yeah, it has been,” Carter beamed. “Some of my brother’s friends have said it’s really cool and they like it.”
Carter has a busy summer planned on the course as well, he will once again enter a Special Olympics event at the Evergreen in Nipawin on Father’s Day weekend. He will enter various tournaments in and around Regina as well this season.
Johnson puts up historic Southern Arkansas low
Kade Johnson continued his strong collegiate golf season this week shooting the lowest round in the history of Southern Arkanasas University’s Div. III golf program.
The Yorkton product carded a six-under, 65 during the second round of the Natural State Golf Classic on Tuesday. Johnson finished the 36-hole regular season finale tournament in third place shooting 136, two strokes off his second victory of the season.
Saskatoon’s Roman Timmerman finished in 23rd after posting a score of 150, plus-8.
As a school, the Muleriders tied for third at the event in Heber Springs, Arkansas. The GAC Championship is next for the school, that starts on Sunday.
Golf Sask. welcomes new board members, encouraging budget
Golf Saskatchewan held their annual general meeting April 6 with positive news among the board of directors and finances.
33 people attended the event at the Wascana Golf and Country Club witnessing the organization’s audited report, message from the president as well as hearing from executive director Brian Lee. President Delbert Betnar said the meeting played out very well.
“We didn’t lose as much money as we’d hoped which is good, our goal is to get back into a non-deficient budget over the next two years.” Betnar said. “We’re going in the right direction. The fact Golf Canada to push out the membership plan and help the members here was a huge benefit.”
The organization expected to see a deficit of $85,000 but once the financial totals were calculated Golf Saskatchewan posted a deficit of $54,000. The organization is expected to be back on a balanced budget in two years. A large portion of the deficit is due to involvement at the CP Women’s Open in Regina.
The AGM included an election of new board members. Judy Sefton is the lone board member not returning to the executive. The Melfort resident is continuing to contribute to the sport. Betnar praised Sefton for her time and future endeavours.
“We’re going to miss her tremendously from a board perspective because she was a true asset,” Betner said. “At the same time, she’s going to help with Golf Canada and help out with our course rating so as a volunteer she’s still there.”
Danny Klugart and Diana Kerr have joined the board. Kerr brings experience in several volunteer positions, Klughard has played in Golf Saskatchewan championships for over 15 years. Betnar said bringing Kerr and Klughart on board is very beneficial.
“Getting that young experience and elite player aspect is good and getting Diana on, we get another female voice on the board which is good,” Betnar said.
Betnar returns as president, Yorkton’s Don Kunkel is the vice-president, Todd Bergstresser returns as the treasurer. Nipawin based Kevin Duchscherer and Larry Wagman of Regina were successful in returning to the board.
‘The last year was an exciting year, this is going to be an exciting year too but in a little different way. Hopefully we grow on the CP Women’s Open,” Bednar said.
Canadian Corey Conners wins Valero days after qualifying, will play Masters
SAN ANTONIO – Canadian Corey Conners claimed his first PGA Tour victory and earned an invite to the Masters on Sunday, winning the Valero Texas Open less than a week after qualifying.
Conners only entered the tournament field Monday, and he’s the first golfer to win on the PGA Tour after qualifying on a Monday in nine years. He made three birdies in the final five holes, shooting a 6-under 66. He was 20-under for the tournament, winning by two shots over Charley Hoffman.
Next stop for Conners: Augusta, Georgia, for next week’s Masters.
Hoffman, the 2016 Texas Open winner, shot 67 for 18-under on the weekend.
Ryan Moore closed with an 8-under 64, a shot off the course record, and was third at 17-under.
Si Woo Kim, The Players Championship winner in 2017, led the opening three rounds but dropped to a tie for fourth with Brian Stuard (15-under) after an even-par 72.
Conners, the 2014 U.S. Amateur runner-up, will play in his second Masters. Two of the top three finishers last year at Augusta missed the top 10 this week. Rickie Fowler was tied for 17th while 10 strokes back at 10-under with a final-round 69, and Jordan Spieth (72) was 7-under.
Incredible performance from @coreconn. What a battle, and what a champion ??? pic.twitter.com/PnembdLq9q
— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) April 7, 2019
Stuard finished with 66 to get to 15-under. Kevin Streelman closed with an 8-under 64 and was 14-under. He missed tying the course record when, after four-straight birdies, he hit his approach from the 18th fairway into the gallery and bogeyed.
Mackenzie Hughes (73) of Dundas, Ont., and Adam Svensson (70) of Surrey, B.C., tied for 42nd at 5 under. Nick Taylor (72) of Abbotsford, B.C., tied for 52nd at 4 under.
It was a wild round for Conners, a native of Listowel, Ont., who had not won on any of the PGA Tour’s affiliated circuits. He had 10 birdies and four pars that sandwiched four consecutive bogeys on the front nine.
He had a one-stroke lead when he rammed home a 34-foot birdie putt at No. 12, and stayed a stroke up with a tap-in birdie at the 14th.
Moore joined Conners at the top of the leaderboard with an 8-foot putt at No. 16 that was his fourth birdie in five holes.
Moore missed a birdie opportunity on the next hole when he couldn’t convert on a putt from inside 10 feet. Minutes later, Conners sank a 10-footer to save par at No. 15, then hit to four feet to set up a birdie at the 175-yard par-3 16th. His birdie at No. 17 gave him a three-shot lead walking up the final hole.
Conners looked like he would tuck this one away early. He birdied four of the first five holes at TPC San Antonio. Trailing by a shot going in the final round, he benefited from a three-stroke swing on the leaderboard on the third hole with a 10-foot putt on the par-3. Kim hit into the water fronting the green and double-bogeyed. Later in the day, Kim was grabbing at his right upper body with an apparent injury.
Conners was two strokes ahead, and with birdies on the next two holes he led by four over both Kim and Hoffman.
But Conners bogeyed the next four, and three of those came after tee shots put him in nice position either from the middle of the fairway or close to it.
The other bogey, on a par-3 at No. 7, he hit his tee shot into a bunker, then blasted over the green.
He made the turn and clicked off three consecutive birdies. The last player to qualify on Monday and win a PGA Tour event was Arjun Atwal in 2010 at the Wyndham Championship. That was the first time it had been done in 24 years.
Mclean commits to SAIT golf program
Deer Valley’s Carey Mclean will continue her golf career at the collegiate level.
Mclean, 17, has committed to play college golf for the SAIT Trojans of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) beginning next year. Mclean said she approached the Calgary based school while trying to plan her post-secondary education and SAIT checked all the boxes.
“I contacted SAIT and asked them if they had any golf opportunities and their coach, Stephen Yanitski emailed me back and said we’d love to meet you,” Mclean said. “We visited and I really liked the college. They seem more committed to helping you as a golfer. They have a better support system than the other colleges I looked at.”
The SAIT golf program returned to the ACAC in the fall of last year for the first time in two decades. The players, both ladies and men, compete in two regional events around Alberta. The conference also has a championship that leads to invites to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association National Championship. Mclean said she’s excited to have her scholarship opportunity locked up while still completing her high school.
“When I started golfing I never expected to play at this level. Getting a scholarship is exciting for me because I get to further my career and play golf, which I love,” she said.
Mclean competed for Team Saskatchewan at the junior women’s national championship last year and hopes to win the Saskatchewan juniors this upcoming season at Nipawin’s Evergreen Golf Course. She will also compete in the Saskatchewan Women’s Amateur Championship at Moon Lake Golf and Country Club in early July. Mclean is also a member of Saskatchewan’s High-Performance Program (HPP). She said the HPP was key in her development and post-secondary goals.
“For sure, Jason (Schneider, coach) works really hard to make sure we understand how we can improve our game and ourselves. He’s helped a lot with that. He checks in every week with us and makes sure we are doing what we need to do to better ourselves and our game,” she said.
Mclean plays several events across the Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) as well in the summer. She said broadening her horizons and seeing more courses in another province and moving from home will be a great learning experience.
“I’m excited to be able to live away from home and see the different courses there are. Playing the usual courses, you get used to it. I want to try challenging myself and playing with people at a higher level,” Mclean said.
In the classroom she was hoping to take occupational therapy however there is a waiting list for that program. For her first two years she is going to study tourism and travel and potentially move into the four-year occupational department.