Monthly Archives: August 2012

By F. Edwin Miller

Along with the strong winds affecting play at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course, Tiger Woods’ chances are looking up.

(Andrew Redington, Getty Images North America)

Ocean Course’s four-time winner fended off the wind to end the PGA Championship’s second round on Friday with a (-1) par 71 to tie Vijay Singh and Carl Pettersson for the tournament  lead (-4) heading into Saturday.

“It is a little bit brutal out there because you’re playing so much drift,” Woods told reporters about the weather conditions. “Even if you hook or slice the golf ball, it doesn’t matter, it still drifts it back at the end.”

Despite Kiawah’s persistent winds, Woods expressed even more persistence in his chase for the year’s last major title.

“As far as the last couple majors, I’m right there with a chance. I like that,” Woods said. His finishes in major tournaments have significantly progressed throughout 2012 (T40 in The Masters, T21 in US Open, T3 in Open Championship). His last major win came in 2008’s U.S. Open.

The last 16 majors concluded with 16 different champions (none of them Woods). With continued play like today’s, Woods can indeed extend the streak to 17 and put an end to his four year major drought.

By F. Edwin Miller

Along with the strong winds affecting play at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course, Tiger Woods’ chances are looking up.

(Andrew Redington, Getty Images North America)

Ocean Course’s four-time winner fended off the wind to end the PGA Championship’s second round on Friday with a (-1) par 71 to tie Vijay Singh and Carl Pettersson for the tournament  lead (-4) heading into Saturday.

“It is a little bit brutal out there because you’re playing so much drift,” Woods told reporters about the weather conditions. “Even if you hook or slice the golf ball, it doesn’t matter, it still drifts it back at the end.”

Despite Kiawah’s persistent winds, Woods expressed even more persistence in his chase for the year’s last major title.

“As far as the last couple majors, I’m right there with a chance. I like that,” Woods said. His finishes in major tournaments have significantly progressed throughout 2012 (T40 in The Masters, T21 in US Open, T3 in Open Championship). His last major win came in 2008’s U.S. Open.

The last 16 majors concluded with 16 different champions (none of them Woods). With continued play like today’s, Woods can indeed extend the streak to 17 and put an end to his four year major drought.

By F. Edwin Miller

On the 72nd hole of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday, Jim Furyk attempted to will the ball further with his body after a failed bogey shot. His will, and overall play, proved ineffective.

On his way to what seemed like a victory, Furyk teed off on the final hole of the third round at Firestone with a one stroke lead. However, his shot landed in a bunker, followed by another shot that just missed the green, and an even more disheartening failed putt for par. Furyk’s series of misses allowed 2011 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Keegan Bradley, who converted an amazing 15-foot par shot on the final hole, to come from behind and win after Furyk bogeyed on a five-foot shot that would have forced a playoff between the two.

(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images North America)

“I’ve lost some tournaments in some pretty poor fashions, but I don’t think I’ve let one ever slip nearly as bad as this one,” 16-time PGA Tour winner Furyk told reporters after the meltdown on the final hole. “This was my worst effort to finish off an event.” Furyk’s “worst effort” earned him a tie for second at Firestone with Steve Stricker (-12).

The tournament’s winner; however, had something much different to say.

“This just feels so great,” said Bradley after wrapping up his third PGA Tour title with a -13 finish. “I just felt so strong coming down the stretch. I just enjoyed every minute of it.” Perhaps Bradley’s greatest moment of joy emerged just after his par shot fell through on the 18th. He let a greatly enthused full body fist pump rip after the putt fell. His win also cemented him a spot on the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup team.

(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images North America)

Bradley, along with Furyk, will enter the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island on August 9. Bradley, the 2011 winner of the tournament, will receive most of the attention as he looks to carry his momentum into Kiawah for perhaps yet another “fist-pumping” finish.

By F. Edwin Miller

On the 72nd hole of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday, Jim Furyk attempted to will the ball further with his body after a failed bogey shot. His will, and overall play, proved ineffective.

On his way to what seemed like a victory, Furyk teed off on the final hole of the third round at Firestone with a one stroke lead. However, his shot landed in a bunker, followed by another shot that just missed the green, and an even more disheartening failed putt for par. Furyk’s series of misses allowed 2011 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Keegan Bradley, who converted an amazing 15-foot par shot on the final hole, to come from behind and win after Furyk bogeyed on a five-foot shot that would have forced a playoff between the two.

(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images North America)

“I’ve lost some tournaments in some pretty poor fashions, but I don’t think I’ve let one ever slip nearly as bad as this one,” 16-time PGA Tour winner Furyk told reporters after the meltdown on the final hole. “This was my worst effort to finish off an event.” Furyk’s “worst effort” earned him a tie for second at Firestone with Steve Stricker (-12).

The tournament’s winner; however, had something much different to say.

“This just feels so great,” said Bradley after wrapping up his third PGA Tour title with a -13 finish. “I just felt so strong coming down the stretch. I just enjoyed every minute of it.” Perhaps Bradley’s greatest moment of joy emerged just after his par shot fell through on the 18th. He let a greatly enthused full body fist pump rip after the putt fell. His win also cemented him a spot on the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup team.

(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images North America)

Bradley, along with Furyk, will enter the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island on August 9. Bradley, the 2011 winner of the tournament, will receive most of the attention as he looks to carry his momentum into Kiawah for perhaps yet another “fist-pumping” finish.

By F. Edwin Miller

On the 72nd hole of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday, Jim Furyk attempted to will the ball further with his body after a failed bogey shot. His will, and overall play, proved ineffective.

On his way to what seemed like a victory, Furyk teed off on the final hole of the third round at Firestone with a one stroke lead. However, his shot landed in a bunker, followed by another shot that just missed the green, and an even more disheartening failed putt for par. Furyk’s series of misses allowed 2011 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Keegan Bradley, who converted an amazing 15-foot par shot on the final hole, to come from behind and win after Furyk bogeyed on a five-foot shot that would have forced a playoff between the two.

(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images North America)

“I’ve lost some tournaments in some pretty poor fashions, but I don’t think I’ve let one ever slip nearly as bad as this one,” 16-time PGA Tour winner Furyk told reporters after the meltdown on the final hole. “This was my worst effort to finish off an event.” Furyk’s “worst effort” earned him a tie for second at Firestone with Steve Stricker (-12).

The tournament’s winner; however, had something much different to say.

“This just feels so great,” said Bradley after wrapping up his third PGA Tour title with a -13 finish. “I just felt so strong coming down the stretch. I just enjoyed every minute of it.” Perhaps Bradley’s greatest moment of joy emerged just after his par shot fell through on the 18th. He let a greatly enthused full body fist pump rip after the putt fell. His win also cemented him a spot on the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup team.

(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images North America)

Bradley, along with Furyk, will enter the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island on August 9. Bradley, the 2011 winner of the tournament, will receive most of the attention as he looks to carry his momentum into Kiawah for perhaps yet another “fist-pumping” finish.