GOLF ASIA 35623
The eight players who have followed
Tiger Woods as world number one
have been there – as of mid
November – for a combined 308
weeks. Tiger topped the rankings for
623 weeks, spread over 11 spells.Finally, for the first time in a career full of stops, starts and question marks, Dustin Johnson ascends
to top spot in the world rankings after destroying a star-studded field at the first WGC of the year,
the Genesis Open. DJ’s ascent owes something to the ongoing struggles of dethroned world
number one Jason Day, who drops out with a double ear infection and flu, but more to a run of form
that has seen him play 23 official tour events over the past 12 months, winning four of them,
including the US Open, and adding 12 top fives and 16 top 10s. Equally impressive, DJ becomes
only the third PGA Tour player in history to win at least one event in each of his
first 10 seasons, after Jack and Tiger. Was he impressed by his
lofty position? “I don’t really understand it,” he
shrugs. “But I can read 1-2-3. I guess
that’s all that matters.”
Hideki Matsuyama
confirms his man-most-likely
to break big status by
winning the Waste
Management Phoenix Open,
as he also did in 2016. From
his last nine starts,
Matsuyama’s record reads
1st, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd,
T27, T33, 1st – that maiden
major seemed a case of
when and not if. Jordan
Spieth adds the ninth
win of his still embryonic
career, shooting a bogey-
free final round to win the
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-
Am. Sergio Garcia edges
out Henrik Stenson in the
Dubai Desert Classic, the victory
propelling him back into the
world’s top 10. On the back
of three MCs, Bryson
DeChambeau
withdraws from the
Genesis Open. “There
should be a rule if you get a
sponsor invite and
withdraw after 28 holes
you're (sic) not allowed any
other invites rest of year,’
snipes Grayson Murray. Rory
McIlroy plays golf with America’s
president, Donald Trump, and is
labelled a “fascist’ and a “bigot”
for doing so. “This wasn’t an
endorsement nor a political
statement of any kind,” he replies,
“It was, quite simply, a round of
golf.” And a new Guinness World
Record is set for the longest putt
ever made: at 395 feet, by some
Yo uTub e tr i c k s te r s.winning the Waste
Management Phoenix Open,
as he also did in 2016. From
his last nine starts,
Matsuyama’s record reads
1st, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd,
T27, T33, 1st – that maiden
major seemed a case of
when and not if.career, shooting a bogey-
free final round to win the
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-
Am.
out Henrik Stenson in thepropelling him back into the
world’s top 10. On the back
Brysonwithdraws from the
Genesis Open. “There
should be a rule if you get awithdraw after 28 holes
you're (sic) not allowed any
other invites rest of year,’WINNERS
& LOSERS“Obviously, a win is a win, but you’ve got to learn to finish out
Sundays like a true champion. He hasn’t learned how to do that yet”
Johnny Miller rains on Rickie Fowler’s parade – a four-shot win in the Honda ClassicF E B
1.2%
A new
USGA/R&A
report claims
that since
2003, driving
distances
have gone up
just 0.2 yards
per year – an
average gain
of 1.2%.
Yep, that’s
what they
say.DJ: A MAN ON FIRE
623623
The eight players who have followed
Tiger Woods as world number one
have been there – as of mid
November – for a combined 308
weeks. Tiger topped the rankings for
623 weeks, spread over 11 spells.including the US Open, and adding 12 top fives and 16 top 10s. Equally impressive, DJ becomes
only the third PGA Tour player in history to win at least one event in each of his
first 10 seasons, after Jack and Tiger. Was he impressed by his
lofty position? “I don’t really understand it,” he
shrugs. “But I can read 1-2-3. I guess
that’s all that matters.”