by Gary Williams | Nov 6, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions… November golf is sneaky sensational in the south. First freeze gives you dormant fairways and low humidity firmness across all the turf conditions. Padraig Harrington is a true star on PGA Tour Champions and he’s undeniably one of the five most engaging talkers in the game. On virtually any topic. Eric van Rooyen won with an eagle and returns to the winner’s circle after injury and a build back. He was considered a Presidents Cup hopeful four years ago and may be again. Excellent reporting from Eamon Lynch of Golfweek on the handful… Read more
by Gary Williams | Oct 30, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions… Celine Boutier won for the 4th time this season in a 9-hole marathon playoff. She won a major in her home country, was part of a victorious Solheim Cup team and is currently first in the Race to CME Globe. I would still take Lilia Vu’s season with two majors. Jasper Stubbs won the Asia-Pacific amateur championship, and with-it invitations to the Masters and the Open Championship. The 21-year-old came from six shots back of Sampson Zheng to get the win at Royal Melbourne. The event, created in 2009, is a fabulous showcase of… Read more
by Gary Williams | Oct 23, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions… The person responsible for the REDZONE, more importantly, the REDZONE on a two-hour flight deserves the same lofty status afforded Jonas Salk, Albert Einstein, Ben Franklin, and the Wright Brothers. The USA team of Gordon Sargent, Nick Dunlap and David Ford won the World team Amateur Championship in Abu Dhabi. These three were part of what I believe will be the most productive U.S. Walker Cup team collectively on the professional level since the 2011 team which included Spieth and Cantlay and a host of others with excellent professional resumes. Adrian Meronk is having… Read more
by Gary Williams | Oct 16, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions… The Lexi Thompson invite seemed ill timed and clunky considering the season that she’s had on the LPGA, but she was compelling and competitive, and she deserves big credit for all of it. The merits for a mixed event were already there and should not be predicated on ONE female player being competitive in a men’s event. Find the right facility in the middle of the season to accommodate hosting men and women simultaneously, its overdue. Eric Cole is a professional golfer in the purest way. He’s always wanted to play for a living… Read more
by Gary Williams | Oct 1, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions… Luke Donald was appointed Ryder Cup captain in the middle of utter turmoil for Team Europe and the DP World Tour. He did a brilliant job in every facet starting with flipping the format of Friday’s opening session. Superb in all departments. Zach Johnson let the team pick the team and his captains picks went 4-12-4. An atrocious winning % and Sam Burns, Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas came up small. He has to own the decisions… which he will. The cries for less captains’ picks will come from American fans. I can only… Read more
by Gary Williams | Sep 25, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions… Europe was gritty and resilient and earned the Cup back with a tie, but we are past these team events ending in ties. This is a compelling TV show, resolve the event with a winner determined. Caroline Hedwall paved the way for Carlota Ciganda getting the moment. Hedwall’s stroke play year has been very ordinary, didn’t matter, she’s a match play savant. Stacy Lewis played her cards and her insistence on trotting Lexi Thompson back out there the morning after the shank was gutsy and worked and to put her in the anchor match… Read more
by Gary Williams | Sep 18, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions… Sahith Theegala winning on tour early was as inevitable as almost anyone being a sure thing winner. He’s also a true prince of a guy. Eric Cole continues to be the best 35-year old story in professional golf in 2023. Seven members of the European Ryder Cup team finished in the top 10 at Wentworth. I repeat, Europe is not an underdog. The BMW PGA and the Players need more opportunity for the two tours members to play in the respective flagship events. Justin Thomas finishing 5th in Napa will not ease the consternation… Read more
by Gary Williams | Sep 4, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions… Ludvig Aberg is that guy. Tron Carter hitched his wagon to the right star. He’s an easy pairing for Luke Donald since guys will fall over each other to play with him. It can be argued that Europe has the current best player in the world in Hovland, the biggest global star in Rory, the biggest alpha in Rahm, and the most exciting rookie in the Ryder Cup in Aberg. Let me repeat, Europe is not an underdog. For 48 hours professional golf felt like the big four sports. Loaded phone lines on the… Read more
by Gary Williams | Aug 28, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions… Viktor Hovland has turned his biggest weakness into an asset and that’s why he’s going to get to #1 in the world. Jordan’s Spieth’s missed birdie putt on 17 at the Valspar proved to be the theme of his season. Just when you think he’s going to be him, he just wasn’t. The POY race stalled the first week of April and never reignited unless Hovland just stole it, which he won’t. Rahm in a close vote. Vijay Singh won on Sunday which was a reminder that no one will ever win as much… Read more
by Gary Williams | Aug 21, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions… Victor Hovland is that dude. He is most certainly now the best and most capable player without a major and has the goods to be #1. Scottie Scheffler’s ball striking season is mind blowing and his putter has kept him from a 5-win season. Europe is not an underdog. Let me repeat, Europe is not an underdog. No Cameron Young in the Tour Championship leave’s a crack for a few guys but I think the crack is very small for Sam Burns and Lucas Glover. Justin Thomas is not going to Napa for the… Read more
