Mon., May 16th, 2022 Edition
Lee holds off Spieth, wins again at low-scoring Byron Nelson
– Schuyler Dixon (AP) / Yahoo News
Per Schuyler: “K.H. Lee ran across the fairway to try to get a better view of the key shot in his second consecutive victory in the Byron Nelson.
The South Korean must have known it would be close, same as the low-scoring drama around him that included hometown favorite Jordan Spieth and a couple of other major winners in Hideki Matsuyama and Justin Thomas.
Lee’s 240-yard shot on the par-5 12th hole stopped less than 5 feet from the pin, and the eagle put him in front for good Sunday on the way to a 9-under 63 and a one-shot victory over Spieth at birdie-besieged TPC Craig Ranch.
A year ago, Lee was playing for a spot in the PGA Championship, where he’ll be again next week at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
This time it was for a place in history as the 30-year-old joined Sam Snead (1957-58), Jack Nicklaus (1970-71) and Tom Watson (1978-80) as the only repeat winners at the Nelson.”
B&B POV – K.H. Lee won the Byron Nelson for the 2nd year-in-a-row, besting a collection of the biggest names in golf.
Spieth finished one back and is playing his best golf of the year. We don’t know how much he’ll cost this week on Draft Kings, but we know we’ll be picking him in slot #1 and fully expect him to contend at Southern Hills.
WITB: K.H. Lee winning golf equipment 2022 AT&T Byron Nelson
– David Dusek/ Golf Week
DRIVER: Callaway Epic Max LS (10.5 degrees), with Graphite Design Tour AD DI 7 X shaft
FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway Rogue ST LS (15 degrees), with Graphite Design Tour AD GP 7 X shaft
HYBRID: Titleist TS3 (19 degrees), with Graphite Design Tour AD HY 95 X Shaft
IRONS: Callaway Apex (4), Callaway X Forged CB (5-PW), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid shafts
WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM7 (52, 56, 60), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts
PUTTER: Odyssey O-Works 2-Ball Fang Black
BALL: Titleist Pro V1x
GRIPS: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
B&B POV – Lee is not a household name, but the equipment he plays sure is. A bag split between Callaway and Titleist makes for a nice set-up, one that helped him earn a $1.6M payday Sunday. Nice.
Speculation time over as Tiger Woods arrives at Southern Hills Sunday ahead of PGA Championship
– Colby Powell / Golf
Per Colby: “Tiger Woods was on the grounds Sunday at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, preparing for the PGA Championship.
“I’ve gotten a lot stronger since the Masters,” Woods said on Sunday, according to USA Today. “We went back to work on Tuesday (after the Masters). Monday was awful; I did nothing and Tuesday was leg day.”
After his final round at the Masters, Woods committed to play The Open Championship this summer at St. Andrews, but sounded much less certain about the PGA Championship, simply saying, “I will try to get ready for Southern Hills, and we’ll see what this body is able to do.”
It appears his body is ready for another major championship.”
B&B POV – The big cat played Sunday at Southern Hills, and word on the course was that he was rippin’ it.
We aren’t surprised that he’s looking and playing stronger. He had to have been pleased with making the cut at the Masters. Motivation, big time.
We’re picking him to finish Top 25 at the PGA, and to win by year’s end (we’re going with the Hero Champ in Nov.).
Phil Mickelson’s shocking major win even more shockingly tarnished a year later
– Ryan Lavner / Golf
Per Ryan: “Mickelson – by all accounts healthy physically, if not mentally – will not defend his PGA title next week at Southern Hills, a year after he became, at age 50, golf’s oldest major champion in a stirring performance for the ages.
It’s the first time since the 2015 Open (McIlroy) that a major champion hasn’t returned the following year to defend his title, and just the fourth time overall since 1960.
Then again, never has there been a set of circumstances like this.
Mickelson isn’t recovering from a kickabout accident or knee surgery. His wounds are less visible: his ego bruised, his reputation tarnished, his future muddied.”
B&B POV – What a difference a year makes. This time (roughly) last year, Mickelson wowed golf fans across the world. He hit bombs after bombs and won the PGA in grand fashion. It was GREAT golf, and better entertainment. He took it to the young guns, especially staring down Koepka in the final group. Those sunglasses. So reflective. Cinemax and Jenna Sims were licking their lips in awe of the PGA TOUR Champions stud.
But now, he’s bottomed out. Or at least disappeared. The next time we see him, he’s probably going to be teeing it up in the Saudi Open in London. What a crazy, sad turn of events.
Stricker goes wire-to-wire for 2nd Regions Tradition win
– John Zenor (AP) / Yahoo News
Per John: “Steve Stricker couldn’t have predicted seven months ago that he’d be back on the 18th green celebrating another Regions Tradition victory.
But once he got going, there wasn’t all that much doubt.
Stricker completed at a wire-to-wire victory Sunday in the Regions Tradition, closing with a 4-under 68 for a six-stroke margin and his fourth PGA Tour Champions major title.
Stricker’s second Tradition win at Greystone Golf & Country Club came in his third event since returning from a six-month absence for health reasons. Two straight birdies punctuated the dominant performance.
Stricker has finished all 10 rounds since his return inside the top 10, including a tie for second at the Insperity Invitational. It was his fourth straight year at Greystone finishing in the final group, including a win in 2019 and runners-up finishes in 2018 and 2021.”
B&B POV – Seven months ago Strick was laid up in a hospital. Yesterday, he won his 4th PGA Tour Champions major by a whopping 6-strokes.
We love this win. Because we love Stricker. This was a victory for the “Good Guys.”
Minjee Lee overcomes a cold putter to win Cognizant Founders Cup
– Keely Levins / Golf Digest
Per Keely: “There were low numbers to be had at Upper Montclair Golf Club in New Jersey during the final round the LPGA Tour’s Cognizant Founders Cup. But Minjee Lee, the eventual winner, didn’t shoot one of them. On a day where seven of the top 10 players shot five under or better, Lee closed out with a two-under 70. Still, it was enough to win by two over Lexi Thompson and secure the 25-year-old’s seventh LPGA win.
For Lee, ranked No. 1 on the LPGA in 2022 in strokes gained/tee to green, it came down to putting on Sunday. She was close all day, lipping out and scaring the hole on numerous occasions, but putts just weren’t falling for the Australian.
Lee made the turn at one over for the round after a bogey on the eighth. At one point early in the back nine, she was part of a three-way tie for the lead. But a birdie at 14 pulled her ahead and put her on the 18th tee with a one-shot lead over her playing partner, Thompson.
Lee’s demeanor didn’t change much throughout the final round. From good shots to lipped out putts, she never gave much away. That is, until the final putt. She finished with a birdie on the 18th to win by two, pumping her fist and beaming at her 19-under 269 performance, and her first win since claiming the Evian Championship last July.”
B&B POV – Sky’s the limit for how many tournaments Minjee Lee is going to win in her professional career. Sunday, she won her 7th LPGA event at only 25 years old, beating playing partner Lexi Thompson by two.
Lexi is playing some good golf again, and now is the time for her to capitalize. She’s close to raising a trophy. And her putting is heating up.
Let’s gooooo!
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Enjoy this weekend’s recap!
-B&B