View From The Fairway - Rory's Fascinating Comments

Commenting on the stories you may have missed, Golfshake's Derek Clements shares his latest View From The Fairway.

IT WAS fascinating to listen to Rory McIlroy after his victory at the CJ Cup in Las Vegas. The Northern Irishman is one of the most naturally gifted golfers on the planet, somebody who plays the game by instinct and perhaps got bogged down with theory during his spell with renowned coach Pete Cowen. So it was interesting to hear him say: “I realised that it was time to get back to being me again, to play the game the way I know best. After the Ryder Cup I was done with golf for 2021. I just wasn’t enjoying being out there. Now it’s just a matter of me getting back to playing golf and playing golf my way. That starts with being creative and being visual.” It’s amazing the difference a victory can make, isn’t it?

THE European Tour has confirmed that a three-week ‘South African Swing’, co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour, will kick off the new 2021-22 season. The Joburg Open will take place from November 25-28 at Randpark Golf Club and start a run of three consecutive South African-based events, a year on from being the first European Tour tournament in the country since golf's Covid-19 shutdown. The tournament, taking place just four days after the conclusion of the 2021 season at the DP World Tour Championship, is then followed by the South African Open Championship (December 2-5) and the Alfred Dunhill Championship (December 9-12).

THE line-up for the Tiger Woods-hosted Hero World Challenge has been announced, with 15 of the world's top 20 set to tee it up in the Bahamas. Woods remains unable to compete as he continues his rehabilitation from February's car crash, with no news on a possible return to competitive action, although the 15-time major champion has acquired a star-studded field for his event from December 2-5. Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa and last year's US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau both feature at Albany Golf Course, with FedExCup champion Patrick Cantlay and former world No 1 Jordan Spieth among the other American names in action. Hopefully, Woods will be on site.

DO YOU remember Casey Martin? He was the PGA Tour golfer who made headlines because, having gained his playing privileges, he successfully sued the PGA Tour for the right to use a golf buggy to play in professional tournaments. Sadly, Martin has had his right leg amputated. The 49-year-old has suffered from a circulatory disorder called Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome since birth which makes walking difficult. He broke his leg in an accident outside his home two years ago, but the injury failed to heal properly, leading to the need for the amputation, which was just above the knee. Martin is currently Oregon State’s men’s coach, a role he has held since 2006, but he will take an absence of leave while he recovers from the operation. Martin famously sued the PGA Tour - and won - for the right to use a cart because of his disability, a case that made its way to the Supreme Court. It was not professional golf’s finest hour, to put it mildly. “I’ve lived with this fear all my life that if I break it, I’m probably going to lose it,” said Martin, who was on the same golf team as Tiger Woods at Stanford University and won his PGA Tour card at the end of the 1999 season. “In many ways I’ve exceeded what my doctors told me as a kid. I always felt this would be my destiny, so while it’s weird to be at this point, it’s not unexpected.”

Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography