The Year in Review – Part One - Professional Golf

I’ve decide to do my Year in Review now – I'm looking at 6" of snow followed by this morning's freezing rain – my year is over. It seems like a great day to look back at what happened this year. I’m going to follow last year’s format and write on the same five areas – professional golf, the newsmakers, architecture, my blog and my business. I will post all week - I hope you enjoy my review.

2007 in Professional Golf

Player of the Year - Tiger Woods
Only won major – but seven wins was very impressive all the same. Throw in the Fedex Cup his refusal to play all four Fedex events before winning it anyway and you have another dominate year – including over the commissioner.

To the commissioner in China: “Could I ask a quick follow-up; could you ever envision today where because of this Tiger Woods would be a member of The European Tour and would you welcome that?”
Tim Finchem: “I've learned after 11 years to let Tiger speak for himself.”

....and to let him do whatever he wants to do.


You'd Think they'd Learn
Rory Sabbatini couldn’t learn from Steven Ames could he? He had to go and call Tiger out saying "He struggled out there. He had to battle for that win. And I think that made me realize, you know, he is, I'd say, as beatable as ever." – the newly focused Tiger went out and dominated finishing the year with five straight wins.

Fed Ex Cup
Everyone who got the scoring put your hands up – anyone, anyone – and therein lies the problem. They promoted the series so much and yet created a scoring system that nobody was able to follow without TV’s help. It was all done to get the players to play more fall events – yet the players still won’t play all the events. Lucky for Finchem that Woods won and that he and Lefty ended up head to head – imagine if they were out of it by the last event – who would watch? They’ll try again next year – but look out if Woods and Michealson both don’t contend!

Highlight of the Year
Mike Weir beating Tiger at The President’s Cup was the biggest event of the year. Not only because Mike beat him head to head, but it was the way he came back down the stretch. Canada celebrated the only thing that actually mattered to us at the President’s Cup. I think American won – but to be honest I’m not sure. If only the winner of this event qualified for the Ryder Cup – then it would mean something!















Highlight by a Non-Canadian in Supporting Role - Woody Austin
When Woody Austin donned the snorkel on the 14th at the Presidents Cup – we all admired a man for having a sense of humour in the middle of intense pressure. Not only was he not taking himself too seriously but he also showed the American’s the way they need to be in order to finally win the Ryder Cup.

First Runner-up - Woody Austin
Austins suprising fall into the lake at The President's Cup was followed by a stunning run of three birdies after. The fall into the lake was funny and he handled it well - if you weren’t a fan of this guy before – it was real easy to be after that.

Lowlight
Looking at the greens at East Lake GC – a course not meant to played at tournament condition in the September heat – but they tried. They had to because of the change in dates done to suit Finchem’s Fedex Cup (the worst idea of the year).

Tournament of the Year – The Open
The British Open was by far the highlight of the year. I’ll never forget the made for television moment when Padraig and Sergio crossed the same bridge on #17 in different directions. That was epic – too bad Sergio would not make eye contact – but that really didn’t matter. While the golf was far from perfect – I can’t remember a more compelling finish to a major. The rollercoaster of emotion from Padraig’s double bogey through to Sergio lost opportunity when he missed such a make able putt.

Hole of the Year – 18th at Carnoustie
How could it not go to the 18th at Carnoustie with the entire calamity of both players – and the history Jean Van De Velde. There is not a tougher finishing hole in all of tournament golf – and what an impact it had on the outcome!

Tournament Course of the Year– Southern Hills
I loved the way Kieth Foster handled the changes to the course. The 9th and 18th greens were moved but you could not tell. All the chipping areas meant avoiding a major renovation while toughening up the place - other should take note on how it's done.












Quote of the Year from a PGA Player– Boo Weekly

"I don't know nothing about the FedEx Cup, I never was good at math."

I think Boo should also have the last word on the year too....

"It's been a windwhirl."