Chip-In’s & Chunks is all about the good and bad in the game of golf from the past week. Do you have something to add? Let us know on Twitter @Front9Back9 , Facebook or Google+.
Chip-In’s (the good)
Russell Henley Picks Up His Biggest Win of His Career
Russell Henley outlasted the likes of Rory McIlroy, Ryan Palmer, and Russel Knox on the first playoff hole to pick up his biggest victory of his career at The Honda Classic. It appeared Henley might lose his mind after hitting his tee shot in the drink on the 16th hole. But I have to give it to the 24-year old dude, he hung in there and watched as everyone else faltered as well. On the first playoff hole, he was the only one to hit the green on their second shots and cozied one up there for a two putt birdie.
Paula Creamer Sinks a 70ft Putt to Win the HSBC Women’s Championship
Another playoff was won in dramatic fashion in Singapore when Paula Creamer rolled in a 70ft eagle on the second playoff hole to win her first tournament since the 2010 U.S Women’s Open at Oakmont. If you haven’t seen the putt, here’s a link over to Golf.com. Great win for The Pink Panther and hopefully this win will give her some momentum an confidence as we get deeper into 2014.
Chunks (the bad)
Tiger Woods Withdraws on the 13th Green With Back Spasms
Tiger Woods quit on the 13th green on Sunday with what is reported to be back spasms. Of course he didn’t take the time to talk to the media, instead releasing a statement through his media person, Glenn Greenspan. The statement addressed the possibility of him playing next week at Doral and what happened out there:
“It’s too early to tell. I need treatment every day until Thursday to try to calm it down. We’ll see how it is. It’s the same feeling I had as Barclays.”
Pretty typical Tiger statement. He didn’t stick around too long after walking off, grabbing his daughter by the hand and jumping in his car to head home. All I can say is Tiger needs to get his sh*t together and figure out what’s going on with his game and body. The way he’s going, he will never win another major again. I would have just much rather seen Tiger withdraw before the round, instead of when he was 5-over. He knew his back was acting up on the range and could have easily withdrawn then. Instead it just looks much worse the way it all went down.
Rory McIlroy Falters Down the Stretch
I was writing this post earlier this afternoon when I felt Rory had a firm control of the tournament. I think I might have jinxed him. He ended up shooting a 38 on the back 9 on Sunday but still and a chance to win it with a 15-20 ft look at eagle on the 18th hole, but missed right. He ended up tapping in for birdie to make it in the four-way playoff. On the first playoff hole, Rory once again his a beautiful drive, but ended up air-mailing the green with his second shot. He then hit a below-average bunker shot and kind of chunked his fourth. He ended the first playoff hole with a par, which as mentioned above, wasn’t enough to extend the playoff.
What do you think? Do you have another chip-in or chunk to add to the list? Let us know below or hit us on Twitter @Front9Back9.
I do have to give it to Rory though. He was man enough to stand up to the camera and be interviewed by Roger Maltbie after his round. Unlike his other Nike Golf partner, Tiger Woods.
[…] WD’ing from The Honda Classic last week, Tiger Woods was able to get his back spasms in order in time to defend the WGC Cadillac […]