The Club de Golf Chapultepec hosted a World Golf Championship for the second consecutive year and they did a bang-up job with it. Glorious weather, enthusiastic and respectful crowds, a star studded leader board and a mad dash to the finish line all came together for a compelling start in the run up to the season’s first major.
Final group pressure is a cliche of the game but those cliches carry a nugget of truth. Twenty-one year old Indian Pro Shubanker Sharma showed his formidable skills over the first three rounds, taking a two stroke lead into Sunday’s final round. It was no surprise that the moment would ultimately prove a bit unnerving for him as he tried to close the deal in his first PGA Tour start. His 3 over round left him tied ninth at the end of the day but it’s a week to build on.
Bones McKay has slipped effortlessly into his new role as on course analyst for NBC/GOLF Channel since giving up Lefty’s bag to Tim Mickelson. He brings a unique perspective, intimate knowledge of the psyche of the modern player, and loads of anecdotes about his former boss and other touring pros. When Phil was surveying a dicey lie in the right rough after his drive on 10, Roger Maltbie asked McKay about Phil’s habit of policing his lie. McKay replied,“Phil is a great Jenga player” and he would often remove debris around a golf ball where Bones feared to tread. After tidying up, Phil stuffed his 109 yard wedge shot and made bird. Routine stuff.
The high stakes gambler that is Phil was in full flow on number eleven, a docile 5 par that played the 15th easiest hole of the day. But Phil made a hash of it. After pulling his drive to the right rough he played a 3 metal into the trees that fronted the right side of the green. A position play to the left front side would have given Phil a great angle of attack to the back pin. But not Lefty, it was go for broke and it cost him a dropped shot as his punch from an ivy covered prison cell hit some interested bystanders and settled within the tree line. Possibly his best shot of the day came next as he punched a low bark skimmer around and under the trees to set up par saving putt that he didn’t convert.
Tyrrel Hatton, the 26 year old Englishman, who took up membership on the PGA Tour this year finished tied 3rd and cashed a check for a cool $510 grand. But I bet he didn’t make any fans among the US viewing public with his surly demeanor and constant whinging throughout the round. Which is too bad, since he’s a talented ball striker with three wins in Europe in the past two seasons. His fiery personality might be a detriment to his play under pressure, but then again it might be the motor that drives him.
In the post mortem review of the yesterday’s golf on Morning Drive, Geoff Shackleford had a valid point. When Damon Hack asked him what he took away for the WGC, Shack replied that the golf fans at Club de Golf Chapultepec impressed him with their respectful appreciation of the game. “I didn’t hear any “Baba Booey’s “ or “ Mashed Potatoes” or any issues with hecklers,” said Shackelford. We’ve been subjected to those boorish rants from over-served and obnoxious fools for too many years on PGA Tour telecasts. Maybe we should hold all the tour stops outside the US or just allow Mexican patrons into the tournaments? Not likely but I’m in favor tossing out any loudmouth buffoon who utters any discouraging word or inane phrase.
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