Golf sports and leisure
Issue link: https://digital.insidegolfmedia.com/i/529182
l TOUR REPORT OB SPORTS GOLF & LEISURE x SUMMER 2015 x obsports.com regular PGA Tour, so we're simply not as compelled to care about them. Most recently, one of the Champi- ons Tour's top talents, Colin Mont- gomerie, defended his title at a major, winning the Senior PGA Championship at the brutally diffi- cult Pete Dye course at Indiana's French Lick Resort. Monty, however, enjoyed a cake- walk over the final nine, sporting a 5-shot lead going into the final hole. The lack of drama was a buzzkill for TV ratings and fan interest. What the Champions Tour could use are some real rivalries with its greatest players to in- ject some competitive life back into the pro- ceedings. Otherwise, these feel like dressed- up exhibitions. ROCKING THE LPGA TOUR A smooth stretch of pavement seemingly awaited the LPGA Tour as this decade dawned. Then the potholes appeared. Michelle Wie disappeared, the American stars, save for Stacey Lewis, were AWOL and the Koreans who came to dominate were hard for U.S. audiences to distinguish. The good news? In the past six to 12 months, everything has changed for the better. No longer is the Tour greeted with apathy from fans and the media. Superstars, rivalries and exciting events are boosting the LPGA Tour into rarified air. The turnaround began with a thrilling duel in 2014 at the year's first major, when two of golf's most attractive young American stars, Wie and Lexi Thompson, dueled to the 18th, when Thompson prevailed. Wie then captured a wildly popular win at the U.S. Women's Open and the momentum has carried into 2015. Lewis remains the top American, with her girl-next-door appeal and huge competitive fires, yet it was her best friend on Tour, Brittany Linci- come, who beat her in a playoff to win the 2015 ANA Inspiration, a major championship, thanks to an eagle on the 72nd hole. And then there's Lydia Ko, who at 17 years old is a slight but clear Number One. Likable and im- mensely talented, the New Zealan- der has won three times around the world so far in 2015 and tied Annika Sorenstam's LPGA Tour record of 29 consecutive rounds at par or better. No question: These girls are good! COMEBACK KINGS One of the things we love about golf is that one great week can change everything for a player. Already in 2015, we've witnessed popular victories from missing-in- action types such as Padraig Har- rington at the Honda, Dustin John- son at WGC-Cadillac and Brandt Snedeker at the AT&T Pebble Beach. We've also seen a victory drought end for Jim Furyk at Harbour Town. Equally satisfying for golf fans was Phil Mickelson emerging from the doldrums of a miserable 2014 to contend at the Masters, eventually finishing tied for second. All we need is an NBA-style re- bound from Tiger Woods and 2015 will feel complete. ONLINE EXTRA! CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW JOE PASSOV ON TWITTER Michelle Wie and Lexi Thompson (pictured) dueled to the 18th, when Thompson prevailed.