Van Rooyen eagles 18 to win WWT Championship

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Lucas Glover smiled wryly when he was told he and Tiger Woods are the only two players in the PGA Championship field this week who have won majors at Bethpage Black. “That’s probably about it,â€� he joked when asked what else they might have in common. “That and we’ll have 14 clubs in the bag this week, I guess. “That’s pretty cool to have that (in common). That might be the only thing that anybody will ever use he and I’s name in the same breath. And any time you’re lumped in with him. It’s a pretty big honor.â€� But the now 39-year-old three-time PGA TOUR winner hopes he might have something else in common with Woods … the ability to recapture some old glory. Woods has famously returned from injury in the last year, winning the TOUR Championship and the Masters to pull within one of Sam Snead’s record 82 PGA TOUR wins. At East Lake it was Woods’ first TOUR win in five years and at Augusta it was his first major win in nearly 11 years. Glover, who won the 2009 U.S. Open, has faced similar lengthy win droughts. He has also battled some minor injuries, including most recently his knee. The last of his three TOUR titles came at the 2011 Wells Fargo Championship. But this season … well you could say he’s trending. Glover sits 31st in the FedExCup this season thanks to the fact he has four top-10s and 11 top-20s from 15 starts. Last season he managed just one top-10, back in October of 2017, so it is a welcome return to form. Related: Featured groups, tee times | Rethinking Tiger Woods | Spieth ‘flying under the radar’ in latest career Grand Slam bid | Nine things to know about Bethpage Black | The First Look Especially considering his FedExCup positioning since his last winning season reads 219th, 114th, 185th, 147th, 106th, 43rd and 135th. “I don’t think there’s been anybody to play this game that hasn’t been fried at one point or another,â€� Glover said. “It was pretty up and down and some lean times, but again, I don’t know of anybody that’s played this game for a long time that hasn’t gone through some ups and downs.â€� “Like (former NFL player) Brian Dawkins said in his Hall of Fame speech, you’re going through something so you’re going to come out on the other end, so that’s the way I’m looking at the last few years is I’ve come out the other side. “I haven’t won, I haven’t accomplished any of my goals, but I’ve come through it.â€� Glover’s victory in 2009 came in extremely wet conditions. The rain is again falling at Bethpage in the early part of this week. Back then he held off the likes of Woods, and Phil Mickelson as they charged towards him. He might have to do so again should he find himself in contention. “Any experience you have, good or bad, you can make it a positive, and that’s what I’m trying to do … I’m in every way a different person than 10 years ago, but I can still lean on all of that,â€� he adds. “My golf swing is different, my putting stroke is different, my brain is different, everything is different. But at the same time, I still get comfortable when I walk into the clubhouse or drive through the gate. “It’s just that calming feeling. It’s almost like how I imagine some guys feel driving down Magnolia Lane at Augusta that have had success there. It’s just like an automatic deep breath, like I’ve done it here, let’s see what we can do again.â€�

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Bravo! Bravissimo! Just weeks ago, Italian Francesco Molinari broke a 70-year drought by winning on the PGA TOUR at the Quicken Loans National and now he has upstaged himself with his Claret Jug claiming efforts. Welcome to the Monday Finish where Molinari became the first Italian to win a major championship, continuing a serious purple patch of form with his efforts at Carnoustie. A healthy congratulations also to Troy Merritt, who needed an actual Monday finish to win the Barbasol Championship. FIVE OBSERVATIONS 1. The search for the perfect golf swing has been going on since before Thomas Kincaid tried to master it, and write it down, in 1687. Through the times of Old and Young Tom Morris. Past the likes of Harry Vardon, Walter Hagan, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead and Ben Hogan. Into the era of Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus. And, of course, it continued through Tiger Woods and the plethora of young talent we see before us now. The reality is – there is no perfect swing. But if you find one that works – and you can replicate it often – you just might make something of yourself at this game. Francesco Molinari’s ball-striking of late has been downright incredible. Many of us would wish for that sort of consistency in our game for just one round. The way in which his swing held up on Sunday as Carnoustie showed some of its infamous teeth was incredible. The only player in the field to go bogey-free on Sunday (he also was blemish-free on Saturday!), his 2-under 69 deserved the reward. The first Italian to win a major. Incredible stuff. It came not long after he destroyed the field at the Quicken Loans National. That week Molinari had a birdie putt from inside 20 feet on 40 of his 72 holes. (55.6 percent). Insanity. While distance has clearly changed the game and been advantageous to big athletes, it is great to see measured accuracy can still flourish. Now Molinari missed plenty of fairways at Carnoustie … but it was generally by mere fractions and not into dangerous bunkers or deep rough. His last six starts worldwide now include three wins and two seconds. If he keeps replicating that swing of his there is no telling when this run might end. 2. While his mechanics are one thing, you also have to pay special tribute to Molinari’s mental toughness. Sunday produced one of the all-time great final rounds in terms of entertainment. Tougher winds and pin placements meant the difficulty of Carnoustie came out. And with a history of players coming from behind at the venue fresh in everyone’s minds there were multiple challengers. There were stumbles from the guys out front, including the defending champion Jordan Spieth. There were charges – from the likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose, no less. At one point a six-man playoff for the Claret Jug looked extremely plausible. But amongst all this hysteria and roars, Molinari stayed calm. Playing with Woods he could have easily been pulled into the madness. For a good stretch it appeared Woods was about to produce history. Woods pulled ahead of the Italian early in the round. Others might have tried to chase him. Molinari stayed steady. And Woods, like the others, dropped a few shots. The game plan never wavered. The pressure mounted but – at least on the outside – Molinari showed no signs of feeling it. That’s a special type of human. 3. If you haven’t been converted to the side that says Woods can win again – you’re too tough. Two early birdies on Sunday and the golf world was heading for meltdown. Woods joined the lead, then held it alone. Most likely vintage Woods – the guy who notched up 79 PGA TOUR wins – puts the hammer down from there. But this version still has some kinks. Woods used to be able to recover from his bad shots. But a double bogey on the 11th hole was a killer blow and when followed by a bogey the dream became a long shot. But hey, perspective still needs to be maintained. A year ago you would have received better odds on Woods never playing an Open again as opposed to leading on Sunday in one. His return from back surgery continues to take strides upward. And his T6 finish was enough to have him sneak into the field at the World Golf Championships – Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club. He has won there eight times. Maybe this was all part of the script … a farewell to Akron with a famous victory anyone? 4. As always, there can only be one winner and the list of those who got very close was long in Scotland. Along with Woods having his chance, Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele tied second. Kevin Chappell could’ve stolen it. Jordan Spieth let it slip. We tend to overanalyze the guys who don’t win. Point out what they could’ve done. But all of the contenders added to the incredible story this week. Rose had to birdie the last on Friday to make the cut so his weekend was superb. McIlroy had early stumbles Sunday so we shifted focus elsewhere … then, as true champions do, he eagled the 14th and announced his intentions. Kisner had bunker troubles early but he never gave up, showing fighting spirit. It was similar for Schauffele, who could have given up when he dropped four shots in three holes. Instead, last season’s TOUR Championship winner fought back and showed the future is bright. Spieth’s Sunday 76 was the most deflating. But his form hasn’t been great this season so it wasn’t too shocking. Instead, let’s hope the former FedExCup champ takes the positives out of the week and surges forward. 5. While the fight for the Jug was going on in Scotland in near perfect weather, the Barbasol Championship faced multiple weather delays that stretched into Monday. The opposite field events are always critical for so many players looking to keep their FedExCup hopes alive and Troy Merritt was no exception. Since claiming a breakout win at the 2015 Quicken Loans National, Merritt had been unable to truly kick on like he would have preferred. He was 56th in the FedExCup that year but then barely snuck into the Playoffs the season after. Last year he slumped to 151st and had to fight his way back via the Web.com Finals. Entering this week he sat 131st just looking to surge his way into the top 125. Now he’s projected to 65th and has a two-year exemption. His poise under the gun down the stretch was impressive as multiple players tried to run him down. FIVE INSIGHTS 1. In the space of 21 days, Molinari moved from 123rd to 7th in the FedExCup. 2. Molinari averaged 307.37 yards off the tee and hit just 26 of 60 fairways. But he was able to hit 48 of 72 greens. He needed just 111 putts for his four rounds and three-putted just once. 3. It was Molinari’s third win in last six starts worldwide. (Won – The Open Championship; T2 – John Deere Classic; Won – Quicken Loans National; T25 – U.S. Open; 2nd – Italian Open; Won – BMW PGA Championship) 4. The last three Open Championship winners at Carnoustie have trailed going into the final round (Francesco Molinari – three back in 2018; Padraig Harrington – six back in 2007; Paul Lawrie – 10 back in 1999). 5. Rory McIlroy now owns top-five results, including victory in 2014, in his last four appearances at The Open. (T2 2018, T4 2017, T5 2016, Won 2014). Also posted a T3 in 2010, giving him top fives in half of his 10 starts.

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