Sam Torrance: Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer’s Zurich Classic triumph a heartwarming tale for golf April 29, 2019 Jon Rahm continued his rise at the weekend by winning the Zurich Classic and the heartwarming nature of his victory made it even better. The Zurich Classic has been a team event since 2017 and the format makes it all the more enjoyable, with Rahm winning alongside partner Ryan Palmer in New Orleans. The Spaniard [...]
Sam Torrance: Tiger Woods has silenced his doubters with sport’s greatest comeback April 15, 2019 What Tiger Woods achieved on Sunday at Augusta National is almost indescribable. His fifth Masters win and first Major title for 11 years is certainly the best comeback in the history of golf and quite possibly in any sport. It’s difficult to think of anything comparable. To go through the injuries and personal problems that [...]
Tiger Woods back on trail of Jack Nicklaus record after ending 11-year Major drought at Masters April 14, 2019 When Hollywood scriptwriters come to pen the screenplay for the Tiger Woods biopic, the 2019 Masters will surely be the setting for the hero’s redemptive and climactic final scene. Eleven years after winning his last Major, the man who still draws audiences to golf like nobody else achieved what just a few months ago seemed [...]
Sam Torrance: Playing the Masters for the first time is an unforgettable experience April 10, 2019 A golfer's first time at the Masters is extraordinary, as two Englishmen making their debuts at Augusta National this week, Eddie Pepperell and Matt Wallace, will be discovering. One of the special things about the tournament is that it takes place at the same venue every year – a venue you have been watching on [...]
Fast starters at the Masters beware: Augusta National is a graveyard of first-round leads April 10, 2019 The Masters is synonymous with drama. From Rory McIlroy’s final-round nightmare in 2011 to Greg Norman’s collapse when holding a six-shot lead in 1996, there has been plenty of heartbreak. For all the despair, there has also been much joy. Augusta was the backdrop for Sergio Garcia’s emotional first Major title at the 74th attempt [...]
Sam Torrance: Rory McIlroy is my Masters favourite but Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods have strong claims too April 9, 2019 As the first Major of the year, the Masters is the tournament all players aim to be ready for and the shortlist of those expected to challenge at Augusta this week is a virtual who’s who of golf. Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods are among those with [...]
Sam Torrance: Tough cookie Kevin Kisner showed Major grit to win WGC Match Play April 1, 2019 A lot of golf goes into winning the WGC Match Play. Those who make it to the last four end up playing seven rounds in five days, so it is a grind. But Kevin Kisner is a tough cookie. Kisner, who reached the final last year only to suffer a 7&6 defeat to Bubba Watson, [...]
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 [...]