Great Briton
Tiger Re-Injured?
Petals To
The Mettle
If Justin Rose had been born in the States,
the locals would be hailing him right now as
an American Beauty and celebrating his WGC
victory Sunday with flowery prose.
But he is an Englishman and comes from
a country that dearly loves its golf and its
gardens. He sprouted on the British scene
as a teenager, paid harsh dues in his early
years as a pro and finally, at 31, has fully
bloomed. His victory at Doral was his fourth
on a big stage in 20 months. And it positioned
him nicely for an overdue first berth on the
European Ryder Cup squad.
All Rose did Sunday in Florida was survive
the freakish gifts of Bubba Watson, outlast
the surpassing skills of Rory McIlroy and keep
his cool on a day when rain fell, wind blew,
and Tiger Woods’ sore Achilles forced him to
withdraw, disturbingly, once again.
The long-hitting Watson started with a
three-shot lead but his tools couldn’t keep up
with his imagination. With apologies to Forrest
Gump: Bubba is like a box of chocolates; you
never know what you’re gonna get.
Meanwhile, back in the real world, popular
Aussie golfer Jarrod Lyle discovered leukemia
has returned. The news came just days
before his wife delivered the couples’ first
child. The prayers of the entire golf world go
out to the Lyles.
At the Puerto Rico Open, Ryo Ishikawa
and his fellow Japanese observed a moment
of silence on the one-year anniversary of
the earthquake and tsunami that rocked
their country. Somehow, Ishikawa then
finished second. Our thoughts go out to his
countrymen as well.
Butch Harmon
Shoots Straight
Rory Just Wants To Be Rory
McNeill Rallies In Puerto Rico
WGC-Cadillac Championship winner Justin
Rose (right) with caddie Mark Fulcher
