Chipping In - Was that the last ever World Matchplay?

Chipping In is a weekly column by golf journalist Nick Bonfield

Illustrious Ilonen

Well, what a fantastic victory it was for Mikko Ilonen in the Volvo World Match Play Championship at the London Golf Club in Kent. After coming through a tough quarter-final against Victor Dubuisson, the impressive Fin triumphed against the hitherto undefeated Joost Luiten – a man who’d been in sublime form over the first three days, culminating in a 7&6 quarter-final routing of Pablo Larrazabal - in Sunday’s first semi-final. Elsewhere, Henrik Stenson holed a tramliner on the 18th green to see off an unlucky George Coetzee and set up a Scandinavian showdown in the final.

In truth, Stenson was battling with his golf swing in the windy conditions as strong gusts swept across the Kent venue’s International Course on Sunday afternoon. By contrast, Ilonen was exhibiting the same impressive consistency that had characterised his surge towards the final. He moved 3up at the 14th and closed out the contest with a conceded birdie at the short par-4 17th.

In doing so, Ilonen – the first Fin to win the Matchplay – collected a cheque for €375,000 – the most lucrative prize of his career and a sum befitting his ascension up the world rankings. Only 18 months ago, Ilonen was outside the top 300, but three victories in 16 months – the 2013 Nordea Masters, 2014 Irish Open and 2014 World Match Play – have moved him to a career-high 37th and into the top 10 in the Race to Dubai standings. Perhaps now, he’ll come to be recognised for what he is: an excellent golfer and one of the European Tour’s most underrated players. It takes huge effort to transform yourself from a journeyman to a consistent winners, so congratulations must go to Ilonen for achieving that feat.

Matchplay: where next?

It will be interesting to see what happened next with the World Match Play. After a five-year association, Volvo has announced it will no longer sponsor one of the most prestigious events on the European Tour roster. Guy Kinnings, head of Global Golf at IMG, the tournament organisers, suggested they were hopeful of finding a sponsor and that there was no set blueprint moving forward. So, the event could stay at the London Club, travel abroad again or go on another strategic rotation.

For what it’s worth, I’d like to see the event remain in England, at the London Club or elsewhere. The London Club is a large venue in pristine condition that can, and did, accommodate a large number of fans, but atmosphere did seem to be slightly lacking. For this tournament to increase in standing, the emphasis should be on attracting top-quality names. The likes of McIlroy, Rose, Garcia, Donald and Westwood were missing this time around, and event organisers must look at finding the right slot in a congested global golfing schedule.

Top Europeans are willing to travel, and they love golfing in England, but it must be workable with their other commitments. I’m not sure the post Ryder Cup and FedEx Cup Play-offs position enables the event to reach the heights it should, and I’d like to see it return to an April or May slot on the calendar.

Still, it was an exciting, well-attended event, and good to see the likes of McDowell, Stenson and Patrick Reed taking part.  The policy of inviting Americans to compete is a good one; perhaps having three, rather than one, in the field would increase the World Match Play’s global prestige and help the event return to its past reverence, when the likes of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player consistently took part.

Great Scott

The Hong Kong Open, which ran concurrently to the Volvo World Matchplay, produced some late drama as Filipino Anglo Que birdied the 72nd hole to force a play-off with Scott Hend.

Hend, who plays full-time on the Asian Tour but competes in a number of co-sanctioned events each season, made a safe par at the first extra hole to secure victory after Que fluffed his chip following an errant approach. The big-hitting Australian had won 10 times since turning professional in 1997, but victory at the Hong Kong Open, his 11th overall, signifies his first European Tour success in 106 attempts. He now has full European Tour playing privileges until the end of the 2015 season following a potentially career-changing triumph.

Crunch time

This week represents the last chance for those languishing outside the top 110 in the Race to Dubai standings to force their way into card-retaining territory and avoid a daunting trip to Q-School next month. The ISPS Handa Perth International doesn’t have the largest prize pool – and funds have presumably been spent in attracting the likes of Jason Dufner and Charl Schwartzel to Australia – so those outside the bubble need to put in a strong showing to preserve their playing privileges.

As it stands, Lee Slattery occupies the nerve-jangling 110th spot in the standings, less than €30,000 ahead of a nine-strong group including Ricardo Santos, Matthew Nixon, Carlos del Moral and David Drysdale. With €198,300 on offer for the winner, it’s all to play for.

Marvelous Martin

Ben Martin produced the finish of his life to claim a maiden PGA Tour victory at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. The 27-year-old, who entered the final round with a two-shot lead, was usurped by Kevin Streelman atop the leaderboard after a back-nine birdie-blitz from the two-time PGA Tour champion. But Martin responded in style, making a birdie at the 15th before draining a long eagle putt at the par-5 16th to wrestle back the initiative and edge one clear. He made a safe par at the dangerous 17th and birdied the 72nd hole to complete an impressive two-stroke victory. He’s now set his sights on a Jimmy Walker-esque start-of-season surge with the circuit’s biggest names only playing sporadic tournaments until the New Year.

Next week, the PGA Tour returns to Georgia for the McGladrey Classic, while the European Tour travels down Under for the ISPS Handa Perth International.
 

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