OB SPORTS GOLF & LEISURE
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SUMMER 2018
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obsports.com
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TOUR REPORT
Spieth has been an enigma. How
can it be disappointing to be ranked
No. 5 in the world as of late June?
Well, Spieth hasn't won since the
British Open last July; he's fighting a
cranky driver and he's alarming every
observer with the disturbing number
of short putts he misses. A near-record
comeback at the Masters reminded
everybody just how talented he is,
but his head-scratching season is
cause for concern.
Fowler is yet another enigma all to-
gether. He's without a top ten since
early January, except for his sensa-
tional runner-up finish at the Masters.
He's too good – and too good for the
game – not to be in the hunt and win-
ning more often.
Kaufman, sadly, has skidded to 415
in the world, just two years after his
only PGA Tour win and contending at
the Masters. Perhaps another vacation
is in order.
Grades: Thomas: A
Spieth: B-
Fowler: C+
Kaufman: D-
u u u
OLD SOUTHPAWS,
YOUNG GUNS, TWO
BELTERS AND A
BUCKEYE FROM OZ
Special mention goes to a pair of
aging, yet thriving, left-handers: Phil
Mickelson and Bubba Watson.
At a time when injuries and other
distractions seemed to have smacked
down Philly Mick, he roared back
with a T3 at Safeway to start the sea-
son, then a T2 at the AT&T Pebble,
and a stunning playoff win at the
WGC-Mexico Championship over
Justin Thomas, notching his first vic-
tory since 2013.
Watson has won at stroke play (the
Genesis) and match play (the Dell),
atoning for a winless 2017 when he
missed the cut at three majors.
From the Tour's youth movement,
23-year-old Jon Rahm remains the one
sure thing, with a W at the Career-
Builder, another on the European Tour
in his home country at the Spanish
Open and a fourth at the Masters.
However, look for Aaron Wise, 21, to
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