Chipping In - Clark comes up trumps

Post by Golf Journalist Nick Bonfield

Clark comes up trumps

The RBC Canadian Open went a long way to nullifying the inevitable comedown from one of the best and most exciting Open Championships in recent history, and you can’t help but feel it would be one of the premier regular-season events on the PGA Tour if it had a more favourable position on the roster. Even still, the likes of Dustin Johnson, Greame McDowell, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Brandt Snedeker and Ernie Els made the trip across the Atlantic to support a tournament that produced a great deal of drama to the very end.

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At the 54-hole stage, it looked as if Jim Furyk – a two-time Canadian Open winner – was in a commanding and unassailable position, especially given his experience and form. But the 44-year-old hasn’t recorded a PGA Tour victory for the best part of four years, and that added pressure played a role. That said, sometimes you have to put your hands up and recognise there are factors outside of your control. Furyk shot an under-par final round – something he would undoubtedly have taken before the start of the day – but was usurped by a brilliant run from diminutive South African Tim Clark, who birdied five of his last eight holes to take the title by a single shot. You can’t help but feel sorry for Furyk, who just can’t seem to get over the line despite a run of excellent form, but Clark also deserves great credit. We mustn’t underestimate how difficult the modern game is for someone who averages a meager 269 yards off the tee, especially when that person has struggled horribly at the hands of injury and hasn’t won on the PGA Tour for 50 months.

Horsey by a nose in Russia

On paper, the Russian Open is arguably the weakest tournament on the European Tour roster. But, as is often the case, it’s those events devoid of top-class talent where fireworks are often produced. Perhaps it’s because lesser players raise their game in such tournaments. Perhaps it’s because the gap between best and worst in the field is considerably narrower than in premium tour events. Either way – and the Lyoness Open earlier this season is another example – they often produce riveting spectacles. In Russia, David Horsey chipped-in for eagle and Damien McGrane bogeyed the last hole to ensure the contest headed to a play-off. It was great entertainment and reinforcement that – given the vast quantity of professional golfers out there – all tournaments are capable of exhilarating.

Phenomenal performance at Porthcawl

Well, what a performance from Bernhard Langer. Again. As everyone expected. The German was imperious all week long at the Senior Open Championship and seemed to be playing a different golf course to everyone else. He tapped in for the simplest of birdies on the 72^nd hole to complete a record-breaking 13-shot rout over the rest of the field.  His fitness, ability and zest for the game continues to be hugely impressive, and just it goes to show what can be achieved when you apply yourself and set yourself the goal to be the best.

On another note, it was fantastic to see Royal Porthcawl playing host to a major event. With Royal Portrush now back on the Open roster, many have called for Wales’ premier course to follow in its footsteps. There may be some logistical challenges to overcome, but there can be no doubt about the quality of the golf course or its suitability as a major host.

No rest for the wicked

Many top names chose to take a week off following The Open ahead of an incredibly busy part of the season. The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and PGA Championships are followed in quick succession by the FedEx Cup play-offs and the Ryder Cup. It’s an exciting time to be a golf fan, but we have to face the reality that Tiger Woods might not feature heavily in the ensuing coverage.

Woods needs to average a top-three finish over the next two weeks in order to make the play-offs. If he doesn’t, US Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson also faces a mighty dilemma. After the Open, Watson said: “If Tiger's playing well and in good health, I'll pick him. But the caveat to that is if he doesn't make the FedEx Cup, what do I do then? That's not here yet.” On current form, you simply can’t see Tiger making the play-offs. Given his inauspicious Ryder Cup record and the magnitude of the surgery he’s undergone, it would take an extremely brave man to pick him. That said, the justification would be simple: it’s Tiger Woods. Enough said.

Next week, the world’s best players are in Ohio for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, while some of the PGA Tour’s lesser lights will battle it out at the Barracuda Championship, which once again assumes a modified stableford format.