Schwartzel Outduels Haas In Playoff For Valspar Championship

The 6th playoff of the 2015-16 PGA Tour season came down to a battle of will between Bill Haas and Charl Schwartzel.

While Haas struggled to a 1-over-par 72 on the day, Schwartzel made six birdies en route to a 67 on a blustery Sunday in Palm Harbor, Florida. One of those was a 65-foot bomb on the hourglass-shaped 13th green, the first of three birds over the closing holes that would stake him to the clubhouse lead at 7-under.

Although Bill Haas had a decent record as a front-runner, he was unable to close the door over the final stretch at Innisbrook’s Copperhead course.

Related: See the clubs Schwartzel used to win. 

Ted Bishop’s Book

Ted Bishop’s time as PGA of America president ended a month early in 2014, when he was dismissed by that organization after he called Ian Poulter a “lil girl” on Twitter for Poulter’s tweet against Nick Faldo (trust us, it was a complicated 48 hours). Nearly two years later, Bishop is poised to self-publish a book titled Unfriended: The Power Brokers, Political Correctness and Hyprocrisy in Golf. Word on the street is that the PGA of America requested a review copy, was rebuffed, and may now be considering legal action.

A leader of any organization needs to keep the finger well back of the trigger button and Bishop didn’t do that. In addition, the squabble between Poulter and Faldo wasn’t Bishop’s fight, so why he chose to comment is uncertain. That said, were his words enough to warrant a dismissal, just one month out from his term’s end? That’s what makes this broken relationship so compelling, 18 months later. If this book goes to press in the summer of 2016, as Bishop anticipates, our guess is that a major publishing house will get its hands on the manuscript.

Hend Returns For More At True Thailand Classic

Photo Credit: European Tour (Twitter)

Three splendid stories came out of Thailand last week. Scott Hend, runner-up in the event in 2015, closed strong with a 68 to secure a one-stroke victory.

Runner-up Piya Swangarunporn sizzled in Round 4, scratching seven birdies and and an eagle onto his scorecard to move from 11th place to solo second on Sunday and earn Asian Tour playing privileges through the end of 2017. Thomas Pieters posted a dandy of his own on the last day, a 68, to claim a third-place finish and a boost into the top-64 in the world rankings, securing one of 64 spots in the PGA Tour’s WGC-Match Play Championship this month in Texas.

The day belonged to Hend, however, as the long-baller from Australia eclipsed last year’s second spot with a rock-solid 68 over the final 18 holes, etching five birdies against one bogey. A three-putt par on the 18th green, after two mighty three-metals found the putting surface, was enough to earn a champagne shower from his manager.

“GET ME A TOWEL!”

HOW ABOUT A TROPHY INSTEAD? CONGRATULATIONS SCOTT HEND, WINNER OF THE 2016 #THAILANDCLASSIC. HTTPS://T.CO/WYM1YFCRTP

— THE EUROPEAN TOUR (@EUROPEANTOUR) MARCH 13, 2016

The victory brought Hend into the top-15 in the Race To Dubai rankings.

Lee Jung-Min and South Korea Win Titles at World Ladies Championship

The Mission Hills’ Olazabal course was the site for Lee Jung-Min’s marathon, 27-hole Sunday and 8th career professional victory. Lee finished off the second half of Round 3 early, then stormed off with eight birdies for 66 and a one-stroke victory over Lee Seung-Hyun. Seung-Hyun came to the final hole with a chance at birdie to win outright. Like Jung-Min, she stumbled with a bogey, missing out on a playoff.

South Korean golfers claimed the top-five spots and 10 of the first 13 at the event, which was sanctioned by the European, Korean and Chinese tours. In addition, Jung-Min and partner Ko Jin-Young spirited away the team competition by the sizable margin of 15 strokes, over runners-up France (Gwladys Nocera and Celine Herbin.)