PGA Tour: Hahn Takes Title At Riviera

James Hahn was unable to dance across the 14th green as his first PGA Tour title came into view. Despite holing a 25-foot putt to eliminate Dustin Johnson on the third hole of a playoff, Hahn more closely resembled the last man standing than the conqueror of Hogan’s Alley.

Golfer after golfer came to the 18th green at Riviera with designs on hoisting the championship trophy, but none were able to claim the title in regulation.

Hideki Matsuyama birdied the last, but missed the playoff by one stroke. Keegan Bradley eagled No. 17, but also came up one slim shot shy of the overtime threesome. Jordan Spieth played the final hole with too much enthusiasm, making bogey to join Matsuyama and Bradley on the ship of tears. Retief Goosen, still chasing the devils that first appeared in the 2005 U.S. Open, failed to exorcise them yet again. The South African had the lead, then played the four-hole stretch from Nos. 13-16 in 5-over par to tumble head over tea kettle into a tie for 7th.

Despite fighting his swing down the stretch, Sergio Garcia seemed poised to leave Riviera as the victor with a one-shot lead and a par 5 to play. An unorthodox bogey on No. 17, however, and another on No. 18, meant the end for the Spaniard who missed the playoff by one stroke.

So Paul Casey, James Hahn and Dustin Johnson took to a three-man playoff.

After Casey’s par could not equal the birdies of Johnson and Hahn on the second playoff hole, the diabolical No. 10 at Riviera, the playoff was reduced to two. Johnson seized the momentum on the third hole by throwing a dart to 12 feet. Moments later, the momentum was gone when Hahn’s birdie putt went in and Johnson’s didn’t.

Hahn, the 291st-ranked golfer in the world, captured his first PGA Tour victory and gained entry to the Doral World Golf Championship and The Masters. It was a dream come true for the 33-year-old, who at one point sold shoes at Nordstrom to make ends meet.

Next Shot: Honda Classic (Feb. 26-March 1)

European Tours: India Secures Homeland HERO Champion In Playoff

Anirban Lahiri began each round of the HERO Indian Open birdie-birdie. When a playoff for the championship began on, you guessed it, hole No. 1, S.S.P. Chowrasia might have felt a bit nervous.

Two weeks removed from his first professional victory at the Maybank Malaysian Open, Lahiri was on the kind of roll professional golfers dream of. He had birdied one-third of his holes at New Delhi and didn’t disappoint in the playoff. Chowrasia could only ponder what might have been as Lahiri knocked down his 25^th birdie of the week to win the title.

Through 52 holes of the event, Chowrasia appeared to be a viable candidate for the title. He had made zero bogeys and posted 13 birdies of his own. The floodgates seemed to open late Saturday afternoon and Chowrasia stumbled home on Sunday to a 76.

Next Shot: Joburg Open (Feb. 26-March 1)

Ladies European/LPGA Tours: Ko victorious at Royal Melbourne

Lydia Ko did what winners do at the Australian Open. She muddled through a round on a world-class course, fended off her challengers and emerged victorious after the sands of Royal Melbourne had settled. Ariya Jutanagarn did what teenagers are supposed to do. She let shots slide from her grasp and dropped from a first-place tie entering the final round, into third place. Amy Yang seized the opportunity on Sunday to jump up to second.

Playing in a national Open on one of the most challenging courses in the world, Ko never broke 70 (there were just five recorded rounds in the 60s all week), but she never let her game slip. When she made a mistake, like attempting a flop shot when a bump-and-run chip was mandated, she acknowledged the mental miscue and soldiered on.

There was a bit of the spectacular, such as her hole-out eagle on No. 3. There was also a pinch of the dramatic, when Ko had to save a bogey with a 10-foot putt after the foozled flop shot. In the end, there was the 17-year old, the world No. 1, alone at the top.

Next Shots: Ladies European Tour — New Zealand Open (Feb. 27-March 1), LPGA — Honda Thailand (Feb. 26-March 1)

Ryder Cup Captains: Fact And Rumor

Darren Clarke was named captain of the European side for the 2016 Ryder Cup matches. The decision came down to Clarke and Miguel Angel Jimenez, with 2014 captain Paul McGinley reportedly casting the deciding vote. Some sort of understanding between Clarke and McGinley was reached, allowing McGinley to reconcile a vote in favor of the 2011 British Open champion and five-time Team Europe member.

Don’t shed any tears for Jimenez, though. Chances are excellent that the Spaniard will Flamenco his way onto the squad next year, then receive the nod as captain in 2018.

On the U.S. side, an impending announcement by the PGA of America on February 24th has been derailed by the incessant rumor mill. What might turn out to have been the worst-kept secret of the month is the identity of the next U.S. captain.

Davis Love III was reportedly selected to reprise the role he held in 2012. We’ll know soon enough and hopefully, we won’t care. Instead, we’ll let the players decide which of the two captains will be revered as a tremendous motivator and which will be cast away from history as a well-intentioned but failed coach.

Michael’s Links (and Tom Doak?)

Rumor No. 2 of the week is His Airness, otherwise known as Michael Jordan, having designs on a club of his own. Talk about #richpeopleproblems.

Whispers suggest that Jordan is over his membership at The Bear’s Club and wants to build a club of his own just up the street in Jupiter, Fla. The as-yet unverified Those In The Know suggest that the six-time NBA champion has confidential interest in Tom Doak as his preferred course architect.

Doak’s star continues to rise in an era of dwindling new-builds. His work at Bandon Dunes, Streamsong and Dismal River in the U.S., overseas in Australia, France and China, makes him a logical choice for any dream-song that MJ might attempt to sing.

Just Missed The Cut

Michelle Wie on Hawaii-Five-O camera

Although the Oscars grabbed the attention of those who love the silver screen, Michelle Wie made a debut of her own last week on the small screen. The 2014 U.S. Open champion played herself on Hawaii-Five-O. Wie would have preferred to play a villain, but we’ll let you see for yourself just how the young champion was cast.