Sam Torrance: Paul Casey’s Valspar Championship win is another sign that European golf has never been stronger March 25, 2019 Is Europe taking over the PGA Tour? It’s a question worth asking after Paul Casey became the third consecutive player from this side of the pond to beat the Americans in their own back yard. On Sunday in Florida Casey outdid playing partner and world No1 Dustin Johnson, among others, to become the first man [...]
Sam Torrance: Mature Rory McIlroy is calm, in control and ready to handle Career Grand Slam talk at the Masters March 18, 2019 Rory McIlroy was sublime at The Players Championship – leading virtually from the start and winning in style – but what impressed me most was the way he took it all in his stride. Having struggled on the front nine at times last week without necessarily playing bad golf, he had another difficult start to [...]
Sam Torrance: Sublime Francesco Molinari is at the top of his game and can win the Masters March 11, 2019 Spectacular finishes seem to be part of the fabric of the Arnold Palmer Invitational and this year it was Francesco Molinari’s turn to take the title at Bay Hill with a sublime performance. Just as Rory McIlroy had 12 months earlier, Open champion Molinari carded a magnificent final round of 64 on Sunday at this [...]
Sam Torrance: Keith Mitchell and Kurt Kitayama find strong finishes to clinch landmark wins March 4, 2019 Keith Mitchell found himself in a familiar predicament at the Honda Classic on Sunday: facing a birdie putt from 15 feet for a victory that would change his life. The last time he had been in that position, back in August 2017, it was a title on the second-tier Web.com Tour – and, with it, [...]
Sam Torrance: Sublime Dustin Johnson is looking hard to beat as The Players Championship and Masters loom February 25, 2019 When Dustin Johnson hit an iron out of bounds at the 14th hole while trying to deny Darren Clarke his Open Championship at Royal St George’s in 2011, we wondered if he would ever do anything. Now look at him. Johnson claimed his 20th PGA Tour title on Sunday at the WGC-Mexico Championship. In doing [...]
Sam Torrance: JB Holmes’s Genesis Open win highlighted the need for slow play rules to be enforced February 18, 2019 American JB Holmes overcame difficult conditions in California to beat Justin Thomas by one shot and win the Genesis Open on Sunday. Many players struggled with wind gusting up to 30mph, but Holmes drives the ball low with a strong grip and club face position, meaning he’s less effected by the breeze than most. He [...]
Sam Torrance: David Law lands biggest win of his career in perfect style and Tiger Woods rivalry still spurs Phil Mickelson February 11, 2019 There is nothing better in golf than eagling the last hole and that fact will not be lost on David Law after the young Scotsman wrapped up his first European Tour title in style on Sunday. Law trailed overnight leader Wade Ormsby by five shots going into the back nine of the Vic Open in [...]
Sam Torrance: Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler lay down their markers for Major sprint February 4, 2019 Major season feels like something of a sprint this year, with all four taking place within a 15-week spell and finished by 21 July, which means that early form carries a bit of extra significance. With Justin Rose and Bryson DeChambeau already off the mark, Dustin Johnson became the latest player from the world’s top [...]
Sam Torrance: World No1 Justin Rose is looking good for the Majors after underlining his class with Farmers Insurance Open win January 28, 2019 What a start to 2019 for Justin Rose. The Englishman beat a strong field to win the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines yesterday and cement his position as world No1. Starting the final round with a three-shot lead, Rose shot three bogeys in the opening five holes to really put pressure on himself. His advantage [...]
Sam Torrance: Rory McIlroy’s decision to focus on the PGA Tour is the right one and can help him be successful in 2019 January 7, 2019 Rory McIlroy began the final day of the Sentry Tournament of Champions in second place and in contention for the first trophy of the new year. Unfortunately he shot a final round of 72 to finish tied fourth as Xander Schauffele’s amazing 11-under-par 62 saw the American claim the prize. For McIlroy there was one [...]