The 2011 Golf Season in Review
Having previously shared my opinion that end of season money spinners are a bore, I couldn’t resist offering the first review of the 2011 season. OK, it’s a little early, I’ll concede, and there’s interest in seeing whether Luke Donald can top both the US Money List and the European Order of Merit come the end of the season. But, as for individual tournaments, if you really believe any of the remaining events will overshadow those already completed, then I’m ready to hurl a hotdog in disagreement.
So which tournament has been the pick of the bunch? Well, I’m not about to summarise every event of the season, so I’ll concentrate on the big events, a few of which stand head and shoulders above the rest for sheer entertainment. If you think I am missing any that deserve inclusion then please feel free to tell me.
Runaway winners can sometimes kill a tournament as a spectacle, but occasionally watching someone dominate in a fashion that leaves their own peers searching for superlatives is truly thrilling. You know you’ve been privileged to witness something extraordinary and perhaps pivotal in the future of the professional game. This was why the performance of Rory McIlroy at this year’s US Open was so captivating and why it will live long in the memory. Coming of age, overcoming the demons of The Masters, the quality of golf was simply exceptional on a tremendously difficult course. Not since Woods was winning US Opens and Open Championships by a country mile have we seen anything like it, and for a change, this conquistador comes from this side of the Atlantic.
Solheim Cup
Even non-Europeans must agree that the Solheim Cup was one of the most enthralling events of the year. The level of play and excitement was straight from the top drawer all week, and the finish stirred the emotions of everyone involved. Women’s golf was given a tremendous boost by the event which was being touted as a mismatch and potential walkover for the United States, but the closely fought, unpredictability of the matches had the golfing world gripped.
The Masters
With the exception of just about everyone but Charl Schwartzel, The Masters in 2011 will be remembered for the anguish of watching Rory McIlroy collapsing under pressure. Here was a world class athlete succumbing to a mental breakdown that we could all sympathise with without ever having experienced the level of scrutiny he was having to endure. It was agonising but compulsive viewing. With three holes to go, McIlroy had already fallen out of contention while the likes of Luke Donald, Adam Scott, and even Tiger Woods, were making a charge. Schwartzel produced the kind of finish that should be remembered as one of the greatest of all time, but my suspicion is that it will be forever overshadowed by McIlroy’s meltdown. Whatever the outcome, this year’s Masters was undeniably engrossing.
The Open
It was Darren Clarke, but for a time it could’ve been Thomas Bjorn, Tom Watson, or even the amateur Tom Lewis, who walked away as winner at The Open in 2011. Each would have been a fairytale ending in its own right, so The Open seemed destined to be one of the most popular in recent years. As it was, Darren Clarke plucked a performance out of nowhere, and thus fulfilled his lifelong ambition. The changeable weather provided much fascination too, as a battle with the elements played out over the links of Royal St. George’s over the four days. The only disappointment for me has been the lack of form for Clarke since but perhaps in the off-season he’ll reassess his goals and we’ll see a resurgence in 2012. I’m optimistic that there will be more victories for him in the future.
Walker Cup
The Walker Cup surprised many people, not only for GB & Ireland’s win as underdogs, but also because this was utterly compelling viewing. Who needs the professionals? A lot of credit should go to the BBC for covering the event so comprehensively. Undoubtedly the profile and status of the Walker Cup was raised by the performances of Tom Lewis at The Open and Patrick Cantlay on the PGA Tour in the months preceding the matches. Either way, it demonstrated the gap between the best amateurs and the professionals continues to narrow, whilst providing further evidence (if it were required) that we fans love matchplay golf.
US PGA
Keegan Bradley created some long-handled headlines by clawing back a five shot deficit to beat Jason Dufner in a play-off to win the PGA Championship. Bradley subsequently failed to earn a spot on the Presidents Cup team, losing out to a man who’s plunged outside the top 50 in the world rankings but happens to be called Tiger Woods. Sadly, the belly putter and Bradley’s absence from the Presidents Cup were the overwhelming talking points after the US PGA Championship, which somewhat belittles Bradley’s achievement. In the interests of offering a comprehensive list of memorable events for 2011, I couldn’t omit the year’s final Major, even if it wasn’t the best spectacle. Still, if Bradley doesn’t warrant a mention on Fred Couples list, he certainly deserves one here.
Seve
For all the great golf and European success, the 2011 season will also be remembered for one great loss. Severiano Ballesteros was the heart of the European Tour for a golfing generation and his premature passing sent shockwaves through the golfing world. Not since the awful circumstances of Payne Stewart’s death has the golfing fraternity been so affected by the loss of one of its own. Thankfully Seve left us all with an abundance of happy memories and that famous pose on the 18th green at St. Andrew’s will remain one of golf’s iconic images for all time. He was a hero, a genuine legend of the game.