In-form Masters runner-up, so bruised by his play-off defeat at Augusta, can end on a high in DP World Tour Championship where he has unfinished businessThose who belittle the value of an order of merit chase may need to look away now. The Race to Dubai has never seemed more appropriately named, given the appealing pursuit likely to occur in the Middle East from Thursday. That two Englishmen are at the forefront of proceedings both adds allure and to the sense that the nation’s golfers – plus their recurring success – are not appropriately recognised at home.If Tommy Fleetwood had any doubts regarding whether to play in this weekend’s Nedbank Challenge in South Africa, they were forcibly removed by the...
Move to May from mid-summer for poor relation of four majors was promoted as being in best interests of PGA Tour, and quite possibly comes at Europe’s expenseYou need not spend much time assessing the complexities of golf scheduling to feel sympathy for those charged with implementing it. Climate, television schedules, clashes with other sports, sponsors’ demands and player preferences are just some of the elements in an eternally difficult equation. When professional golf takes place in a certain place at a certain time, there is always a strong reason for it. Far more often than not, that outweighs external sniping.This week has seen long-awaited confirmation of something relating to a seismic shift. That it took so long for the...
The Texan is only 24 and may feel like he has run out of worlds to conquer if he completes the career slam on Sunday by winning the US PGA ChampionshipOne of the most gloriously overblown lines in the history of sports broadcasting was delivered in 1984 by the peerless darts commentator Sid Waddell. Contemplating Eric Bristow’s effortless dominion over his peers, Waddell mused: “When Alexander of Macedon was 33, he cried salt tears because there were no more worlds to conquer. Bristow is only 27.”You have to wonder what ancient historical allusion the much-missed Waddell would have extemporised upon exposure to Jordan Spieth. Come Sunday, there is a fair chance that Jordan the Great will have become only the...
The young Texan is looking to complete a full set of majors at Quail Hollow but the Northern Irishman could turn into party pooper for the home crowdThe enthralling conclusion to the Open Championship did not supply proof of Jordan Spieth’s ferocious competitive spirit . Events at Royal Birkdale last month merely served as a reminder. Though his technical ability is hardly irrelevant, Spieth’s psychological approach has played a massive part in pulling him to the brink of history: at this week’s US PGA Championship he can become the youngest golfer in history to complete a grand slam of majors.“The pros and cons of it being so soon? Pros is you believe you’re in form,” says Spieth. “When you feel...
The American’s triumph ended the run of maiden major winners and has put a different slant on next month’s US PGA Championship when he can secure a career grand slamGolf has its mojo back. It should hardly be disrespectful to those who had claimed the seven majors before the Open Championship that Jordan Spieth’s success has a broader appeal. Every sport benefits, after all, from blue-chip players winning blue‑chip events.Such a theory will be borne out in a matter of weeks as Spieth attempts to become the youngest player in history to claim all four major titles. Among those entitled to savour spine‑tingling events at Royal Birkdale on Sunday was the PGA of America; its US PGA Championship has suddenly been ramped...