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…
Daily Herald Columns
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…
Top three stars aren’t needed to make Erin Hills’ Open a special event
ERIN, Wis. – Phil Mickelson doesn’t show up and defending champion Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day – the top three players in the Official World Golf Rankings – miss the 36-hole cut. What kind of U.S. Open is this anyway? Actually, it’s been quite a good one in terms of competitiveness and the…
Dustin Johnson’s the man to beat at Erin Hills
ERIN, Wis. — No matter how you slice it, Dustin Johnson is at the top of the golf world. The FedEx Cup standings say so. So do the Official World Golf Rankings. And, starting today, Johnson will defend the most prestigious title he’s ever won at the U.S. Open. So, what could possibly go wrong…
Could this be Rickie Fowler’s time to nab that first major title?
ERIN, Wis. – Rickie Fowler is sure that he’ll win one of golf’s major titles some day. So is most everyone else, and this week could be his time. In 2014 he finished in the top five at all four of them – the Masters, U.S. and British Opens and PGA Championship – and was…
Could this U.S. Open produce seventh straight first time major champion?
ERIN, Wis. – It would seem that the more established players would have the most success in a tournament as difficult to win as the U.S. Open. That hasn’t been the case lately, however. The last six U.S. Opens have had champions who won their first major title, and another could be in the offing…