Happy Westwood, off-intention McIlroy, actual Thomas: golf talking factors

A resurgent Englishman, a stuttering Northern Irishman and an American’s tips sport feature in AFP Sport’s golf talking factors this week:

– Westy’s secret weapon –

Outdated school Lee Westwood’s gorgeous early-season compose has set him in the physique for a Ryder Cup space with the outdated world #1 taking part in a pair of of the absolute top golf of his long profession.

Closing twelve months, the 47-twelve months-former Westwood grew to become the oldest winner of the Trek to Dubai, 20 years after first finishing high of the European Tour’s expose of advantage.

He led the Players Championship at Sawgrass going into the final spherical, the 2d consecutive week that he had featured in the closing neighborhood after the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

Ending 2d in the abet of Justin Thomas returned Westwood to the sphere’s high 20 for the first time since September 2013 and his caddie — and fiancee — Helen Storey need to buy a ample quantity of credit score for the Englishman’s renaissance.

Storey, a fitness trainer, first picked up the internet on the tail cessation of 2018 with magical results, Westwood straight winning the NedBank Championship in South Africa.

She hasn’t set it down since and Westwood’s rise and relaxed manner possess considered him fancied by many to total his major drought at The Masters at Augusta next month, the build apart he has completed 2d twice and has 5 high-10 finishes previously decade.

“I’m certainly having as mighty fun on the golf course as I’ve ever had,” stated Westwood. “That potentially helps me play some big golf.

“I accept as true with at my stage of my profession there’s not loads a caddie can present me. Nonetheless, clearly, Helen gets me in an incredible temper available. Psychologically, she can reduction me and notify the issues that I must hear.”

DeChambeau, who had a front row seat to search the pair’s chemistry in high-stress closing teams on every the past two Sundays, is convinced of Storey’s obvious have an effect on.

“I accept as true with Helen is a big a part of it,” DeChambeau stated. “She’s keeping him real and stage-headed. She’s a rock. Keeps his tips centered on the true issues. She’s been superior for him. And that is the reason one of his secret weapons.”

– Unhurried down, Rory –

There would possibly perchance be an adage in strokeplay golf, play the course not your opponent. Nonetheless Rory McIlroy appears to possess forgotten it recently, to his price.

The four-time major winner has plunged out of the sphere’s high 10 and uncared for any other lower — by a huge 10 strokes — on the Players Championship final Friday.

McIlroy was already one of the indispensable longest hitters on tour, so he raised a pair of eyebrows with his revelation that seeking to internet extra tempo and distance to sustain with vitality-hitter DeChambeau had thrown his once enviable tender swing out of kilter.

“I’d be lying if I stated it wasn’t anything else to enact with what Bryson did on the US Delivery,” stated McIlroy.

“October of final twelve months, I used to be doing a microscopic little bit of tempo coaching, started getting sucked into that stuff,” stated McIlroy.

“Obviously I added some tempo and am hitting the ball longer, nonetheless what that did to my swing as a total potentially wasn’t a exact thing. That’s what I’m aggravated with.”

DeChambeau, who completed third at Sawgrass after winning at Bay Hill the outdated week, stated he was flattered that any individual was seeking to reproduction his “bomb and gouge” strategy.

DeChambeau, who has vastly bulked up his muscular physique while remodeling his swing and educate routines, warned: “This breeze that I’m on is not taken lightly.

“I wasn’t seeking to persuade any individual. I used to be staunch seeking to play my possess sport and hit it to this point as I presumably would possibly perchance.”

– So shut to history –

Justin Thomas stated Sunday’s 68 to grab the Players Championship was one of the indispensable absolute top rounds, tee-to-green, of his lifestyles. It was also inner a whisker of being the absolute top closing spherical ever considered at Sawgrass.

Thomas had hit 17 greens in law when he lined up his system on the 18th. No player had found out all 18 in the closing spherical at Sawgrass, with Hal Sutton the final to hit 17 on his approach to victory in 2000.

Left with a wedge from 122 yards, some noise from the 17th green quite unsettled Thomas on his backswing.

He underhit his shot, shouting “Gargantuan hop!” in vain, as the ball dug its heels in two inches rapid of the putting floor.

Thomas was aware that he had uncared for out on making history.

“I did know that, and I’m not happy in regards to the fact that I uncared for 18 with a sand wedge to screw that up,” he stated.

“I possess to possess backed off. Whoever was putting on 17, I heard the fans and I used to be interested by that over my shot, which is staunch horrendous mental work by me.”

– World rankings –

Men’s high 20 for the week starting build apart March 15, 2021 (change from final week):

1. Dustin Johnson (USA) 11.57 pts

2. Justin Thomas (USA) 9.50 (+1)

2. Jon Rahm (ESP) 8.69 (-1)

4. Collin Morikawa (USA) 7.79

5. Bryson DeChambeau (USA) 7.43 (+1)

6. Xander Schauffele (USA) 6.94 (-1)

7. Patrick Reed (USA) 6.33 (+1)

8. Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 6.26 (-1)

9. Patrick Cantlay (USA) 6.09

10. Webb Simpson (USA) 6.08