Sam Torrance: Hard working Rafa Cabrera Bello deserves return to form October 11, 2021 Rafa Cabrera Bello is one of the hardest workers on and off the course so his first win in four years, at the Open de Espana on Sunday, is well deserved. He hadn’t even finished in the top 10 at an event since January, so the omens weren’t good when he began the final round [...]
Sam Torrance: USA’s record Ryder Cup win was the best I’ve seen September 27, 2021 This turned out to be a tough Ryder Cup for Europe, who were outplayed, out-thought and out-fought by the USA. The Americans were simply magnificent, sublime from Friday morning all the way through to Sunday evening. It was the best Ryder Cup performance I’ve seen in my career. Dustin Johnson led the way for the [...]
Sam Torrance: Europe gel as a team and that’s why they can win Ryder Cup again September 23, 2021 If not quite the great team of 1981, there is no denying that this US Ryder Cup line-up is extremely strong. And on paper, there is nothing that isn’t in the Americans’ favour. Whistling Straits is their venue, the course will be their set-up, and there will be even fewer European fans than usual. But [...]
Sam Torrance’s Open Championship preview 2021: I’d love to see Lee Westwood emulate best mate Darren Clarke at Royal St George’s July 14, 2021 It’s the Open Championship this week: one of the best tournaments you’ll ever play, with history that is second to none. I have so many great memories of The Open, from scaling a lamppost on the last fairway of the Old Course at St Andrews, aged 10, to watch “Champagne” Tony Lema win the Claret [...]
Sam Torrance: Stellar field including Rahm, Thomas and McIlroy has it all to play for at abrdn Scottish Open July 7, 2021 The abrdn Scottish Open marks the start of a fantastic time of year in the golf calendar. It means that the Open Championship, one of the sport’s biggest events, is just around the corner. But the Scottish Open is also a wonderful event in its own right and, with an extraordinary field, never more so [...]
Sam Torrance: Phil Mickelson would be the fairytale winner but Jon Rahm has justified favourite status at the US Open June 16, 2021 Another month, another major and this time it’s the turn of the US Open at Torrey Pines. A revamped golf calendar has squeezed major season into just 15 weeks, which leaves the rest of the year a bit barren but is great when you are in the thick of it, as we are now. The [...]
Sam Torrance: Phil Mickelson winning the US PGA Championship is among the greatest major wins ever May 24, 2021 “I absolutely believe a player in their fifties will win a major,” Bernhard Langer said last month. He didn’t have to wait long to see that prediction realised by Phil Mickelson in a quite incredible performance at the US PGA Championship. Mickelson, who turns 51 next month, was sublime at Kiawah Island last week. He [...]
Sam Torrance: History and form point to Rory McIlroy as US PGA Championship returns to demanding but exciting Kiawah Island May 18, 2021 The US PGA Championship doesn’t need any extra spice but the return to form of Rory McIlroy has provided it anyway. McIlroy won this tournament by eight shots the last time it was held at this week’s venue, Kiawah Island, in 2012. So, having ended an 18-month drought with victory at the Wells Fargo Championship [...]
Sam Torrance Masters review 2021: Why Matsuyama’s win is the best result for golf, heartache for Schauffele and a brilliant debut from Zalatoris April 13, 2021 You couldn’t pick a better Masters winner for world golf than Hideki Matsuyama. Japan has long had a huge involvement in the sport. They have a fantastic tour and have produced players like Jumbo Ozaki and Tommy Nakajima. They have also had women’s major champions, in Hisako Higuchi and Hinako Shibuno, but not men’s – [...]
Sam Torrance Masters 2021 preview: The five players I expect to challenge at Augusta – and why I’d love to see Rory McIlroy or Lee Westwood triumph April 6, 2021 Whether it’s in November or April, the Masters is special. I enjoyed the last one as much as any other, despite it taking place in autumn rather than the traditional spring conditions. But I’m very excited for this week’s 85th outing at Augusta, which I expect to play harder than it did five months ago. [...]
