Rory McIlory

Predictions For The 2018 PGA Championship

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2018 PGA Championship logo.jpg

Logo from wikipedia

The 100th PGA Championship is upon us; as the fourth Major of 2018, the world’s best will be at the Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis, MO, USA. Create by Robert Trent Jones, this 7500 yard beast will favour the long hitters. The last time the PGA Championship was held at Bellerive was in 1992 with Nick Price winning in a playoff, so I expect the we will see many changes in to the course over the past 26 years. The field is very strong, similar to all Majors, and returning Champion Justin Thomas will have play his best if expects to win back to back PGA Championships. Continue reading →

My Favorite Masters Pairing

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“A Tradition Like No Other”, coined by Jim Nantz of CBS Sports, definitely sums up all aspects of The Masters.  It is a tournament rich in tradition and is the most anticipated sporting event in the world! There are so many aspects of The Masters that I bet you cannot just pick three; I know I can’t! With the Honorary Starters ready to do their thing in 24 hours, I was wondering who would be my favorite Masters Pairing. Continue reading →

The 2018 Masters Champion Is……

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Let the predictions rain down like a monsoon! You name it, the odds makers are doing their thing and the “arm chair quarterbacks” are doing theirs! Today is a the craziest day of the Masters for just one thing…..predicting the champion. Of course, I do not want to left out of the fun so I am ready to jump on the roller coaster ride and let everyone know who (or at least who I think) will be all smiles as they don the green jacket! Continue reading →

Hole-In-One! Golf’s Biggest Prize

/ The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments

The biggest prize for any amateur is a hole-in-one! It is that one perfect swing where all your thoughts, actions, and intentions converge to produce something great. Every golfer dreams of hitting an hole-in-one; for some it is a matter of time; for others a stroke of genius!

Over the years, the PGA has produced a rash of these super strokes and I thought I would share them on this wonderful day! So hang and enjoy the action!

Dustin Johnson at the World Golf Championships – Cadillac Championship

J.B. Holmes matching Johnson’s amazing shot!

Francesco Molinari’s hole-in-one on No. 16 at Waste Management

Rory McIlroy’s hole-in-one in Abu Dhabi.

Richard Green Hole in One Albatross at Oates Vic Open Pro-Am

The top 10 aces on the PGA Tour up to 2011

These were all amazing shots. They are elusive and would be considered the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I have had 3 perfect swings over the years and try to hit number 4 every time I loop the course! The article by Golfsmith on the chances of a hole-in-one is quite interesting. They state: “Golf Digest and the National Hole In One Association estimate that a tee shot hit by an amateur golfer on a par-3 goes into the hole one out of every 12,750 times.” Although the changes of making that perfect stroke appears high, it can happen to anyone and anytime!

The exciting aspect of any hole-in-one is that no matter who makes it, everyone is excited! Are you still chasing your first hole-in-one?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

The Race to Dubai

/ The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments
Race To Dubai

Rory McIlroy – 2012 DP World Tour champion and Race to Dubai Number One (Getty Images)

The Race to Dubai is over. A la Vijay Singh in the 2008 FedEx Cup playoffs, Rory McIlroy has earned enough points to be championed winner before the race is officially over. Moreover, McIlroy must wait one more tournament, the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, before he can raise another championship trophy over his head.

The Race to Dubai winner receives The Harry Vardon Trophy (first awarded in 1937), and a seven year European Tour Card exemption. The winner of The Race to Dubai will secure Category 1 Membership of The European Tour similar to the winners of The Open Championship, the US Open, the US PGA Championship and the Masters Tournament. (European Tour)

Winning the Race to Dubai for the second time in three years, 26 year-old Rory McIlroy continues to demonstrate that he is the best player in the world. There are those professionals who test McIlroy’s great play, however none have demonstrated the ability to challenge him week in and week out! At this time, McIlroy overshadows all professional golfers.

Congrats to Rory McIlroy on another great win! I guess the real question is what is next for the young phenom! Will he have another year of winning two Majors? Is a Grand Slam is his future? Perhaps a career grand slam? Another player of the year?

It is very difficult to determine what is in store for young McIlroy. There is little question that the experts will be talking about a golfing dynasty, challenging Jack and Tiger as the all-time best, or shattering record after record! I would suggest that it is a bit early for that. Rory McIlroy is a great player, maybe one of the best, however longevity is every professional golfers nemesis. It is prudent to celebrate his current successes, but also prudent to talk about his future with cautious optimism.

Players such as Harry Vardon, Sam Snead, Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were the young stars of their day. What turned them into superstars was longevity! They had (have) long distinguished careers that stood (stand) the test of time. So before we buy tickets to his coronation, lets see what 2015 and perhaps 2016 are in store the best player in the world.

Rory McIlroy is a great player. I do congratulate him on winning the 2014 Race to Dubai. I also look forward to watching him play for many years to come!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!