OB SPORTS GOLF & LEISURE
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SUMMER 2018
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obsports.com
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TOUR REPORT
challenge Rahm's supremacy. The 2016
NCAA champ from Oregon ripped
Trinity Forest for a 23-under-par 261 to
win the AT&T Byron Nelson.
And what of the two brash bashers,
Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy?
Both have won in 2018, DJ at Ka-
palua and Rory at Bay Hill, yet their
seasons have been tinged with disap-
pointment, notably Rory's final-round
setback at the Masters.
DJ has regained his spot atop the
world rankings, though he's not domi-
nating the way he did the previous two
seasons. And if it weren't for Tiger and
Phil, Jason Day might own the rights to
Comeback Player of the Year. The Aus-
tralian and former world No. 1, has re-
bounded from an oh-fer 2017 with
triumphs at the Farmers in San Diego
and at the Wells Fargo in Charlotte.
Grades: Mickelson: A
Watson: A
Rahm: A-
Wise: A-
Johnson: B+
McIlroy: B+
Day: A
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THE ENGLISH BEAT
Lee Westwood has sunk to No. 101
in the world, former No. 1 Luke Don-
ald has plummeted to 249th and 2016
Masters champ Danny Willett has free
fallen from 11th to 424th.
Yet, somehow, English golf is on a
roll. Seven players are ranked among
the top 50, including young Euro star
Tommy Fleetwood at No. 10, Valspar
champ Paul Casey at No. 13, and
shocking Houston Open winner Ian
Poulter ranked No. 27. Throw in Justin
Rose at No. 3 and English golf is en-
joying a renaissance not seen since
maybe the actual Renaissance.
Grade: A-
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PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR:
68-year-old Tom Watson, winning the
Masters Par-3 Tournament.
SHOT OF THE YEAR: 15-year-old
GT Nicklaus, caddying for his
grandad, Jack, at the Masters Par-3
Tournament, was given a chance to
play the final hole. All he needed was
one swing. Hole-in-one. Brought tears
to the Golden Bear, who called it his
favorite Masters memory.
