The biggest glut of tournament golf in the Chicago area in many years reached the overload stage this week with two of the most important championships sharing almost identical dates. The 23rd Illinois Women’s Open concludes its three-day run on Wednesday at Mistwood, in Romeoville, and the 87th Illinois State Amateur wraps up its three…
Daily Herald Columns
Moore returns to PGA Tour in hopes of defending JDC title
The John Deere Classic, Illinois’ only annual PGA Tour event, tees off for the 47th time on Thursday at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, on the outskirts of the Quad Cities. For defending champion Ryan Moore that means a return to the PGA Tour at the course that took his career to a new level…
Six straight days of LPGA tournaments are on tap at French Lick
The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, which ended Sunday at Olympia Fields Country Club, was a success by most every account. This week women’s golf moves in a new direction at a long-time destination. Indiana’s French Lick Resort offers both the historic Donald Ross Course and the Pete Dye Course that was named the 2017 Course…
Kang made her first LPGA win a tribute to her late father
Danielle Kang had been 0-for-144 in LPGA tournaments before she won her first tournament – and she picked a great event for her breakthrough. The 63rd KPMG Women’s PGA Championship – formerly called the LPGA Championship – is rich in tradition, being second in longevity and prize money to only the U.S. Women’s Open. On…
Defending champ Henderson is lurking going into KPMG finale
There’s no reason Canadian teen-age phenom Brooke Henderson can’t repeat as the champion of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship today. She’s again among those within striking distance of the lead with 18 holes to go. Last year Henderson, then 18, was two strokes off the lead after 54 holes, caught New Zealand’s Lydia Ko by…
Mom’s fighting spirit inspires Lexi Thompson
These are not easy times for Lexi Thompson, the best American player in women’s golf. Frequently the face of the LPGA Tour – at least at U.S. tournaments – Thompson uncharacteristically took a break from pre-tournament interviews at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Olympia Fields this week. She didn’t want to field questions about…
Olympia satisfies LPGA’s desire to play courses that have hosted men’s events
The tournament now known as the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is the second oldest event on the LPGA Tour, right behind the U.S. Women’s Open, but this week’s staging at Olympia Fields will mark the first time the tournament has been played in the Chicago area. Olympia Fields will host the second of the five…
Koepka played like Dustin’s double in claiming U.S. Open title
THIS PIECE WAS THE WINNER OF THE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF GOLF MEDIA AWARDS IN THE COMPETITION WRITING CATEGORY IN 2017. IT RAN IN CHICAGO’S DAILY HERALD ON JUNE 21, 2017. ERIN, Wis. – No, Dustin Johnson didn’t defend his U.S. Open title on Sunday. In fact, the game’s No. 1-ranked player didn’t…
Women’s major at Olympia Fields tries to match a successful U.S. Open
These are unprecedented times for spectator golf around the Chicago area. Last week it was the U.S. Open at Erin Hills. Next week it’s a women’s major – the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Olympia Fields. The best players in women’s golf start showing their skills at the south suburban private club on Tuesday in…
Thomas’ 63 is the best round in U.S. Open history
ERIN, Wis. – No, Justin Thomas isn’t leading the U.S. Open going into today’s final round but he’s definitely the man of the hour at Erin Hills. The 24-year old from Louisville, Ky., shot the lowest round in the 117-year history of America’s premier golf championship on Saturday – a 9-under-par 63. He trails Brian…