WEIRD AND WONDERFUL

The Swedes dominated European golf this weekend, but it was play-offs that held the spotlight in the US.
In Germany Niclas Fasth, fresh from his 4th place at the US Open, held of fast-closing local favourite Bernhard Langer to win the BMW International Open by two shots at the Munich Eichenried Golf Club while in France fellow Swede Linda Wessberg picked up her second European Ladies Tour title with a one shot victory over England’s Trish Johnson in the Vediorbis Women’s French Open at Le Golf D’Arras.
Coincidence? Then how about this.
Both Hunter Mahan and Lorena Ochoa had to win play-offs before they were able to claim their respective titles at the inaugural Travelers Championship and Wegmans LPGA.
Mahan had to fight every inch of the way for his maiden PGA win before a brilliant approach at the first extra hole of sudden death edged him to victory over a tenacious veteran journeyman Jay Williamson.
Likewise Ochoa, caught at the tape in the regulation last 18 holes by Korean In-Kyung Kim, had to wait until the second extra hole for her third win of the season and what turned out to be the perfect warm-up for the US Women’s Open starting at Pine Needles in North Carolina on Thursday.
More coincidence? Perhaps, but it’s funny how often similar results occur in the weird and wonderful world of golf.
Cheers
Neville Leck
Latest
-
News
Martin Kaymer among frontrunners as Alejandro Canizares sets Austria pace
Former world number one Kaymer shot a 68, leaving him one shot behind Canizares.
-
News
Dustin Johnson bidding to hit back from disappointing Masters defence
Johnson had to hand back his green jacket and hang around to present new champion Hideki Matsuyama with his.
-
News
Hideki Matsuyama hopes Masters victory can inspire youngsters back home in Japan
Matsuyama became the first Japanese male to win a major at Augusta.
-
News
Justin Rose relishing packed major schedule after taking positives from Masters
Rose signed for a closing 74 which included a birdie on the 18th.
-
News
Hideki Matsuyama hopes Masters win ‘opens the floodgates’ for Japan
Historic win was seen around the world.
-
News
Jon Rahm ready for baby duties after finishing with a flourish
The new father was left wondering might have been at Augusta on Sunday.
-
News
Masters day four: Hideki Matsuyama makes history for Japan
Matsuyama became his country’s first male major winner while new dad Jon Rahm produced the round of the day.
-
News
Hideki Matsuyama survives nervy final round to win Masters green jacket
A one-shot win over Will Zalatoris made Matsuyama the first Japanese winner of a men’s major.
-
News
Hideki Matsuyama remains on course for maiden major title at Augusta
Matsuyama steadied the ship after a shaky start to his closing round.