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 [...]
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 [...]