Golf Comment: In-form Walker shows Coetzee way
WINNING that first big title can do wonders for a player, as one American is proving and a South African may be just about to discover.
After 24 top-10 finishes, George Coetzee finally landed his first European Tour title on Sunday at the Joburg Open, coming from four shots back to win by three with a brilliant final-day performance. It’s no fluke either. He has looked a fine player when I’ve seen him and has been banging on the door for some time. He only has to look at Jimmy Walker on the PGA Tour to see what a boost that can be. More on him shortly.
One man Coetzee edged out in Johannesburg was English youngster Tyrrell Hatton, who finished in a tie for second in only his sixth European Tour event. The 22-year-old is one to watch. He secured his tour card in November with a run of four top-10s in five Challenge Tour events and made it into the top 10 at last month’s Abu Dhabi Championship.
American Walker, meanwhile, is enjoying a superb breakthrough season. He hadn’t won a PGA Tour title before October, but now has three in his last eight events following Sunday’s win at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Walker, 33, almost blew it, winning by just one having started the day six ahead, but the most important thing is that he didn’t. He looks almost certain to make his Ryder Cup debut later this year and coming through that sort of high-pressure situation can only serve him well during the nervier moments at Gleneagles. This week sees a host of top players take to the beautiful Riviera Country Club course in California for the Northern Trust Open as the run-up to the Masters gathers pace.
Ian Poulter, Padraig Harrington and Lee Westwood are among a strong European contingent, as is Justin Rose. The US Open champion is making his 2014 debut after almost two months off so he’ll be desperate to return to competition.
Sam Torrance OBE is a multiple Ryder Cup-winning golfer and media commentator. Follow him on Twitter @torrancesam