Chicago’s golf season may be in its final days as far as 2014 goes, but you wouldn’t know it by developments over the last few days. On the PGA Tour Wheaton’s Kevin Streelman made a final-round charge in the Shriners Hospital for Children’s Open in Las Vegas on Sunday. Making five birdies in a six-hole…
Daily Herald Columns
Medinah reflects on its Ryder Cup, looks to the future
This week the world golf spotlight in on Gleneagles in Scotland, where the 40th Ryder Cup matches begin on Friday. Don Larson, who was chairman of the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah, headed overseas to witness how things unfold this time, but he’ll never forget that epic week at Medinah in September of 2012. “Now…
Sainz’ title defense in Chicago Open is in limbo
Carlos Sainz Jr. will be the focal point of the Chicago Open, the last big tournament of the local season – assuming he plays, that is. Sainz, 28, earned his PGA Tour card two weeks ago and the premier circuit’s 2014-15 season begins next week. The Chicago Open features a pro-am on Friday and tournament…
Elgin’s Carlos Sainz is now a PGA Tour member
The Chicago area has a new member on the PGA Tour. Elgin’s Carlos Sainz Jr. earned playing privileges for the 2014-15 season after finishing in a tie for 31st place in the Web.com Tour Championship on Sunday at TPC Sawgrass in Florida. Sainz, 28, had only one top-10 finish and survived the 36-hole cut only…
Ghim, Hardy could make collegiate debuts at Illini Invitational
Three weeks ago University of Illinois men’s coach Mike Small won the Illinois PGA Championship for a record 11th time, with two of those victories coming at Olympia Fields Country Club in 2010 and 2013. This weekend Small reverts from player to coach with hopes that his well-regarded Illini can do as well at the…
Donald is out of both FedEx Playoffs, Ryder Cup
These are not the best of times for Luke Donald even though his last tournament round was a great one – a 67 to conclude the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday in Boston. “A nice round but a disappointing season on the PGA Tour,’’ the former Northwestern star and former world No. 1 said via…
Back-to-back tournaments present a challenge for WGA
This may well be the busiest two weeks in the Western Golf Association’s 105-year history. The WGA, based in north suburban Golf, does much of its fundraising for its Evans Scholars Foundation through the staging of big tournaments. Until last year that basically meant putting on three events that were spread out over the course…
Next LPGA tourney could be a momentum-builder for Jeray
Nicole Jeray has been toiling on the LPGA Tour since turning pro in 1993, and this week’s Wegmans Classic could be critical to her remaining on the women’s premier circuit. “I need to play good in Rochester (N.Y.) so I can get up on the money list,’’ she said. “I started the year really well….
Malm’s alternate status for PGA has evaporated
Yes, there will be a Chicago area contingent in the year’s last major. Luke Donald, Steve Stricker and Kevin Streelman will tee it up Thursday in the 96th PGA Championship at Valhalla, in Louisville, Ky. But there’ll be some notable absentees, too. Mark Wilson and D.A. Points, both going through sub-par seasons, have the week…
Endurance will be the key to winning Western Amateur at Beverly
No tournament in golf, amateur or professional, requires as much to win as the Western Amateur. The Western Golf Assn. is conducting its annual golf marathon for the 112th time this week at Chicago’s Beverly Country Club, and Wednesday is an especially big day because it includes the largest cut of the event – from…