It has been a troubled, different kind of year in golf. We remember some of the outstanding moments
Anti-climax of the Year: LIV Golf International Series
Sandwiched between a thrilling Canadian Open, won by Rory McIlroy, and a tremendous US Open, the LIV opener was dull and pedestrian in comparison. A greater contrast between meaningful tournaments and a glorified exhibition could not be imagined. In order to mean something for fans (and dare we say it, the players themselves), the new series has to matter but nothing was at stake except money.
Heartbreak of the Year: Mito Pereira
Having led the US PGA Championship for almost three days, the unknown Chilean stood on the 72nd hole thinking: ‘Par to win, bogey for a playoff,’ and promptly drove into a water hazard – excuse me, penalty area – and made double bogey. He finished tied 3rd.
Short-lived Thrill of the Year: Rory McIlroy
He opened up the US PGA Championship with a blistering 65 that saw him atop the leaderboard. Even better, his round had all the old Rory magic of freewheeling drives, laser-irons and putts dropping from everywhere but, as so often in recent years, he flattered to deceive. A last round 68 got him a bit of respectability, lifting him to 8th.
Longer-lived Thrill of the Year: Rory McIlroy
Yup, come The Open at St Andrews the wee scamp was at it again; leading for three days, playing imperious golf and looking to get back on the majors trail at long last. He was then sabotaged in the final round by a putter that was colder than a dictator’s heart. But he won pots of money and returned to world number one.
You’ve Got to Be Kidding Award: Southern Hills Country Club
Venue of the year’s second major, it stretched to a frankly ludicrous 7,556 yards, par 70 and featured two par fives at 632 and 656-yards respectively. When will this lunacy end?
Moneygrab of the Year: Tiger Woods
He played nine rounds of golf but still won the PGA Tour’s ludicrous Player Impact Program (for the second year in succession) and picked up $15 million. Phil Mickelson, last year’s runner-up, came – err, nowhere.
Give Someone Else a Chance Award: Scottie Scheffler
Going into the Masters as the newly-anointed world number one, he was the bookies favourite and an unruffled stroll to a green jacket confirmed why. The result meant he had now won four times in six starts, an outlandish and freakish sequence of events. Even Tiger at his best couldn’t manage those sorts of numbers.
Nonsensical Ruling of the Year: USGA
The women in the final pairing of the last round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship were told, after 16 holes, that they were being monitored for slow play. So that’s two holes to play, in a women’s major, and they’re put on the clock? Madness. Nevertheless, Lexi Thompson and Hye-Jin Choi were both fined for slow play.
Doublespeak of the Year: Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka
It is perfectly okay for professional athletes to compete wherever they can get the most money – footballers, baseball players and basketball stars et al do it all the time. What is not acceptable is mendacity, falsehood and dishonesty. Mickelson only negotiated with the LIV series to strongarm his own tour into making changes he wanted, but when it backfired, he had painted himself into a corner. Almost until the moment he signed with LIV, Koepka was saying he would stay loyal to the PGA Tour. Oh, my apologies, it turns out he meant it, and only had a sudden and complete change of heart after the US Open.
Bunker Shot of the Year: Matt Fitzpatrick
The only contender. Last hole of the last round of the US Open and Fitzpatrick drove it into a bunker, nestled against a grassy mound, where the sensible option was to blast out sideways. He aimed miles left and cut it to the heart of the green. Honourable mention: Rory McIlroy on the 72nd hole of the Masters, holing out from right of the green – but that was to lift him to a respectable runner-up spot, three behind the winner – the whole tournament wasn’t on the line.
Redemption of the Year: Haotong Li
After a promising start to his pro career, he lost the plot, fell to 460th in the world and was on the verge of giving up. At the BMW International in June, midway through the final round he led by five but by the 18th he could only manage to get into a playoff with Thomas Pieters. On the first extra hole he skulled his approach 50-feet past the flagstick but then rammed home the putt for an emotional win. Never give up.
Quotes of the Year:
Phil Mickelson (on Saudi Arabia)
They’re scary motherfuckers to get involved with. We know they killed [Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi] and have a horrible record on human rights.
Charles Barkley
The TV basketball analyst, who is possibly even better known for his funky golf swing, was asked about LIV Golf and said: ‘If someone gave me $200 million, I’d kill a relative.’
Poppy McIlroy
When Rory McIlroy took his daughter into the press centre at the PGA Championship, he showed her the large pictures of former champions. When he pointed out his own photo, winning in 2014, she said: ‘That’s when Daddy was good.’
Rory McIlroy (After Greg Norman described him as ‘brainwashed’ against LIV Golf)
You know what? I’m going to make it my business now to be as much of a pain in his arse as possible.’
Rocco Mediate (On the LIV Golf players attitude to the PGA Tour)
Of course it’d be great to make the money, I don’t blame them at all. They’ve been going to Saudi Arabia for a million years for appearance money, that’s not even an issue. But do it the right way, how about a thank you?
Standout Statistic of the Year: The Men’s Majors
For the first time ever all four winners of majors in the men’s game were under the age of 30. Scottie Scheffler was 25, Justin Thomas 29, Matt Fitzpatrick 27 and Cameron Smith 28. You knew it was a young man’s game but this is just rubbing it in.
Haircut of the Year: Cameron Smith
The Aussie’s mullet will soon be as famous as that of John Daly – but hopefully not to be followed by the long white Santa Claus beard.
Major of the Year: The Open
It was the 150th episode of the oldest major in golf, played over St Andrews, which is widely regarded as the home of the game, and won with a stunning final round 64. Not much beats that.
Big Bad Wolf of the Year: Greg Norman
His long-held grudge against the PGA Tour culminated in him spearheading LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed upstart that threatens the world order of golf as we know it. Apparently, revenge is a dish best served cold.
Hypocrisy of the Year: Numerous LIV players
Most of them talked of either growing the game, wanting to provide for their families or the desire to play a limited schedule. Well guys, no-one decides how many or few tournaments you play except you; most of you are already rich, so how much provision does your family need? As for growing the game? Why not come clean and say: ‘I’m doing it for the money – and so would you,’ (which I definitely would).
Commentary of the Year: Anonymous
The award goes to the TV announcer I refuse to name who, watching the Australian Minjee Lee on the green shouted: ‘Minjee! How many holes are you going to shave today?’
Close but no Coconut Award: Cameron Young
He finished runner-up five times, including at the Open Championship and also finished third twice, one of which was at the PGA Championship where he narrowly missed getting into a playoff with Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris.
Surge of the Year: Rory McIlroy
He started the season-ending Tour Championship with triple-bogey, bogey and ended the day six strokes behind world number one Scottie Scheffler. But a sizzling weekend in which he shot 63-66 proved irresistible.
Disappointment of the Year: Cameron Smith
It is clear why past-their-best old stagers like Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia et al signed for LIV Golf. Easier still to comprehend why up-and-coming pros and amateurs took the leap for guaranteed money. The one real disappointment was The Open champion from Australia, who could have writ his name large in the rollcall of great champions.
Smart Move of the Year: Peter Uhlein
The 33-year-old American turned pro in 2011 and at the start of the year had over $4 million in career earnings but was still waiting for that first win. Not surprisingly, when LIV Golf came wooing he signed up. After eight events he had still not won but pocketed $12,814,786. Some may regard him as a pariah for joining the rebel circuit but do you think he’s bothered?