What you missed: Three winless droughts ended and the best commentators in golf

Weren’t able to catch up with everything that happened at the weekend?From mexican commentators to Michelle Wie’s huge putt for victory, we’ve got it covered. 

There’s plenty that’s happened in the last week, headlined by a confident and impressive Phil Mickelson who is playing as well as he ever has – just in time for the first major of the year. He ended a near five-year wait for victory, and he wasn’t the only one to end a long winless run, with both Michelle Wie and Steve Stricker also lifting trophies this week. 

One of the true highlights of the WGC Mexico wasn’t just the play, but the enthusiastic Mexican commentators who make golf sounds like a football match – and if you haven’t already watched and listened to their commentary of Ross Fisher’s hole in one or Justin Thomas’s hole out eagle, we suggest you do immediately.

Elsewhere, Tiger announced he’ll be playing back-to-back for the next two weeks, and Martin Kaymer has joined the list of injured PGA Tour players. Plus, a first win for England’s Meghan Maclaren and repeat victory for George Coetzee on the mens and ladies European Tours this week. 

Three winless droughts come to an end

The winners on the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and PGA Champions Tour all ended long awaited droughts for victory last week – having waited a combined 15 years for a win on Tour. 

Michelle Wie overcame her putting demons of last year to hole an outrageous 36-foot putt on the 18th to win her first LPGA title in 4 years. Posting a 7-under 65 on Sunday at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore, Wie set the tournament target at 17-under-par – on the course where she four-putted herself out of contention in 2017. Fellow American and overnight leader Nelly Korda (whose sister Jessica won last week) missed a nine-foot birdie chance to force a playoff. 

“It was crazy, my head’s running at a million miles an hour,” said 28-year-old Wie.

“I wanted to win really badly, especially after what happened last year, I had some unfinished business. I knew if I shot seven, eight under I’d have a chance and that was my one and only goal.”

Phil Mickelson ended an even longer winless spell, having not lifted a trophy since the 2013 Open at Muirfield. Despite a strong challenge from the field, Mickelson was able to overcome a wayward driving spell mid-round to get to 16-under-par, matching World No.2 Justin Thomas – who had holed out for eagle on the 18th to set the clubhouse target. Tyrell Hatton eagled the 14th to also reach 16-under, but bogeyed his way out of the playoff on the 72nd hole. 

Mickelson, who hasn’t had as good a spell on the golf course (three top 10s in three starts prior to victory) since 2008, lipped out for birdie on the first playoff hole (the par-3 17th), but a bogey from Thomas meant that it was Lefty who lifted his 43rd PGA Tour trophy. And he said afterwards his game is in as good a shape as its ever been. 

“I can’t put into words how much this means to me,” Mickelson said. “I knew it was going to be soon — I’ve been playing too well for it not to be. But you just never know until it happens.”

“More is to come. I’m starting to play some of my best golf. I’m actually hitting some shots better than I ever have in my career.”

“I don’t know (when I’ll get to 50 PGA Tour wins). Seven more wins and I’ll be there, but I don’t have the month or the time, but I will get there.”

Steve Stricker was incredibly emotional as lifted his first PGA Champions Tour trophy at the Cologuard Classic – his first win since he captured the PGA Tour’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua in 2012.

The 12-time PGA Tour winner birdied the par-5 15th and closed with three pars for a 4-under bogey-free 69, finishing two shots clear of Jerry Kelly, Gene Sauers and Scott Dunlap. Much like Michelle Wie, Stricker had to contend with demons of his own at the same tournament this weekend. Last year he found the water on 18 to blow his chances of victory, but this time around he found the fairway – closing his round with a par to win the conquistador helmet trophy. 

”I was glad to finally make par on it and walk away with the helmet,” Stricker said, fighting back tears.

It’s been a long time. I cry every time, but it means a lot. You know, it’s hard to win. It’s hard to win anywhere and it was building on me.” 

Are these the best commentators in golf?

The WGC Mexico Championship was a true spectacle of golf, but it wasn’t just the play that grabbed attention of viewers across the world. 

Last year, the Mexican commentators earned a number of new fans due the football commentary style way they announce hole-outs, and this year was no different. When Ross Fisher made a hole in one and Justin Thomas holed out for eagle on the 72nd hole, many headed straight to social media to seek out the reaction – and it was well worth it! 

Coetzee puts on putting masterclass to win 2nd Tshwane Open

George Coetzee won his second Tshwane Open title by two shots after an impressive back-nine birdie run on his home course.

The South African entered the final round with a two-shot lead but found himself two shots back after posting back-to-back bogeys on the 3rd and 4th holes. He then delivered a putting masterclass, needing just ten strokes on the greens to birdie five of his next eight holes from the eighth and open up a three-shot advantage before play was suspended due to thunder and lightning at 3.37pm.

Coetzee held his nerve to card a 67, stay at 18 under and finish two shots ahead of England’s Sam Horsfield.

“A lot has happened since the last time I held that trophy,” he said. “I broke my ankle and I kind of needed to show myself that I could win on Tour again and it’s nice to come and do it again in front of the home crowd.

“They were amazing, I don’t think I could have done it without everybody out here supporting me the whole week.

“On the eighth hole I started making everything, me and the greens became one. That really made it easier for me to not worry so much about where I’m hitting it.”

Meg MacLaren’s first European Tour Win

England’s Meghan MacLaren won her first Ladies European Tour event at the Women’s New South Wales Open, closing with a level par 71 for a two-shot victory in Australia.

The 23-year-old, who was playing just her 11th LET event, opened up a four-shot lead thanks to a couple of birdies early on, and could afford two dropped shots at the 13th and 17th to finish two clear of the chasing pack. 

“It feels incredible. I didn’t think those words would be coming out of my mouth so soon,” said MacLaren.

“It can take some players years before they get over the line. To do it now gives me a lot of confidence.”

Martin Kaymer is sidelined with wrist injury

Martin Kaymer has become the latest golfer to announced he is to take an enforced break from golf due to a wrist injury. Kaymer, who follows sidelined Brooks Koepka and Hideki Matsuyama, withdrew after the first round of the Honda Classic due to a misplaced bone in his right wrist. The 33-year-old German said there is currently no timetable for his return. 

“The next time I’ll be back on the golf course? I don’t know yet, but hopefully sooner rather than later,” said two-time major winner Kaymer in a video posted on Twitter on Friday.

“I’ve been in Munich, seen the doctor. He told me that one bone was misplaced in my right wrist and that caused malfunction in the wrist, and that also caused irritation and inflammation.

Tiger returns to Valspar and Arnold Palmer Invitational

Woods announced on social media that following a week of recovery he has committed to both Valspar and the AP Invitational the next two weeks.

It’s another good sign for Woods and comes a few days after he posted a T12 finish at the Honda Classic last week and said his game was on track for the Masters April – which has always been the focus of his comeback.