A Legend Grows, Taylor Made For A Win and The Lang Haul

So this week around the world of golf was quite an amazing week. From the Monterey Peninsula to New Zealand the week was very newsworthy. "Cell-ebrities" weren't the only people making news and of course I am referring to comedian legend Bill Murray whom allegedly threw some cell phones over a balcony at a restaurant after some fans were constantly "getting in his grill" trying to take selfies with the "Ghostbusters" and "Caddyshack" star. It makes you wonder... what would have happened if "The Lama" was there? Maybe a 7 iron... 275 yards? By the way, I love some of the movies that Murray has done and I have enjoyed his "bit" during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am but... is anyone else growing tired of his antics?

Photo Courtesy: Golfweek

Speaking of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am what an exciting tournament we saw on the PGA Tour this week. Say what you will about the team event which was won by eventual winner Vaughn Taylor and his partner Gregg Ontiveros. But before we can look at that part of the story we have to look at the series of (to some) unfortunate events leading to his win. Vaughn Taylor to say the very least has been very much a journeyman for the last decade. Taylor wasn't initially in the field this week but come Thursday there he was... with his stand bag on the tee. He got into the tournament as the first alternate. Oh... about the stand bag. After not being able to "swing" the extra fees for his staff bag on his flight, Taylor opted to go with the "bag of millions". A TaylorMade stand bag that housed his TaylorMade R11s driver, RocketBallz Stage 2 fairway woods, Tour Preferred MB (2014) irons, Cleveland Golf RTX 2.0 wedges and Odyssey Golf Versa #9 putter. It had been a long time since Taylor won... going on eleven years and his life has changed. But, was it as much as his blistering round on Sunday which saw him start 6 strokes back behind 54-hole leader Phil Mickelson? Or was the focus on the fact that after going perfect for the week inside of six feet, the aforementioned Mickelson missed a birdie putt that agonizingly lipped out that would have forced a playoff? No matter how you look at it "Lefty's" final round 72 was simply not good enough. It wasn't about that final putt in the grand scheme of things as we have to think about what went on earlier in the day. Regardless, that is back to back great weeks for Phil. Welcome Back Lefty!!!

Meanwhile in Naples, Florida notice was served to the Champions Tour. Look out now fellows, as it turns out Bernhard Langer can putt without an anchored stroke. There is no doubt in my mind that when you look at the Champions Tour one name has really dominated the senior circuit for a few years now and that name is Langer. The 58 year old native of Germany notched his 26th victory this past weekend at Twin Eagles Golf Club on the strength of a a first round 62, a second round 66 and then a not as pristine 73 to hold on for the win. For what seems like a lifetime, Langer has used a long putter (ski-pole) and truth be told I do not recollect a time when he didn't use one. So what is the moral here? Old dogs can learn new tricks.

Photo Courtesy of: USA Today


Then there is the growing legend that is Lydia Ko. When the teen sensation first popped onto the scene there was a lot of hype that surrounded her... and for good reason. Ko was touted as a phenom and she has definitely lived up to the billing shaking the LPGA to its very foundation. Unfortunately, this wasn't only figuratively as it was literally as well. Sunday in Christchurch, New Zealand the final round of the New Zealand Women's Open was being contested. While she was getting set to tee off for the final round the region was shaken by a 5.7 magnitude earthquake. For those not in the know, Ko is a native of New Zealand. Ko would win the tournament by 2 strokes after firing a 70 but it was afterwards that makes her legend grow. The emotional 18 year old stated that she was going to be donating her earnings for the victory to help those affected by the earthquake which was also followed by 52 aftershocks. By the way, her earnings for the victory was roughly $33,000 USD. Now if I may be blunt for a second. I just wanted to state that it's a travesty that the LPGA  only makes that much for a win. I know what most would say... the LPGA doesn't have the following, television ratings, corporate sponsors or interest of the PGA Tour. This fact is a crying shame as the ladies are more approachable, the LPGA is a great product and truth be told more male amateurs can relate better to the swings of the LPGA than the guys on the PGA and they really deserve a heck of a lot more exposure... and winnings. Just some food for thought.

Until the next tee.