In a tense final day at the Players Championship, Si-Woo Kim held his nerve superbly to emerge the youngest ever winner of the Players Championship. In what many consider to be the proverbial ‘fifth major’ of golf, the 21 year old put together a cool final round 3-under 69. Beating off stiff competition from experienced players such as Englishman Ian Poulter and South African Louis Oosthuizen, the young South Korean made a nerveless par on the 18th to wrap up a 3 shot victory.
What can we learn from this year’s Players Championship?
Big Names Disappoint:
The Players Championship traditionally has one of the strongest fields in golf, barring maybe the Majors. It is to be expected that big names in the field such as Jason Day and Rory McIlroy would make a strong run at the championship. Alas it was never to be, with Jordan Spieth missing the cut (for the second year in a row) and world number one Dustin Johnson and world number two Rory McIlory both only piecing together two under-par rounds. The players in contention in the final round such as Ian Poulter failed to catch fire, with the Englishman carding a feeble 1-under round of 71 on the final day. The drama of the closing holes failed to materialise this year, with Si-Woo Kim grinding out an impressive even par back nine to hold off all challengers.
Are we seeing the Rise of Asia?
The comprehensive victory of South Korea’s Si-Woo Kim raises a question about the rise of Asian golfers on the main Tours. Si-Woo Kim’s victory coupled with Hideki Matsuyama’s fast start to this year’s season, where he won thrice could signal an Asian resurgence. That many Asian golfers have not been seen on the PGA Tour since the days of K.J. Choi who won the Players Championship in 2011, becoming the first Korean winner. The success of Matsuyama and Kim could lead them to even greater things, I even see one of them winning a major one day.
However, I do not think that the victories of Kim and Matsuyama will change American domination on the PGA Tour yet. There is just so much American talent coming through Q School and the Web.com Tour that I see very little prospect of that domination ending. In fact I feel that its only getting ever harder to win on the PGA Tour, as the pool of talent grows and fields become more competitive.
This Week on Tour:
The PGA Tour moves to Texas for the AT&T Byron Nelson with a strong field that includes six of the world’s top 20 players. Defending champion Sergio Garcia will face stiff competition from World number one Dustin Johnson and world number six Jordan Spieth, to name but a few. This year is the last year that TPC Four Seasons in Irving, Texas will host the AT&T, with the 2018 edition moving to Trinity Forest Golf Club in Texas.
Despite a poor showing at the Players, expect defending champion Sergio Garcia and world number one Dustin Johnson to make a solid run at the championship. But with the emerging talent on the tour, do not be surprised to see yet another first time winner.
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