The Golf Watch

Harrington wins player of the year

Padraig Harrington received one of the highest honors from his peers, winning PGA Tour player of the year.  Harrington is the first European player to win the award since its inception in 1990.  The PGA Tour does not release vote totals, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a close race between Harrington and Tiger Woods.

Andrew Romero won rookie of the year.  He captured his first PGA Tour win earlier this year in New Orleans, but his strong performances at the four major championships probably sealed the deal. He made the cut in all four. 

Dudley Hart won comeback player of the year.  Think he can pull a Stricker?

Romero wins, Lonard locks up spot in Masters, Cink dq'd...

Despite the weather delays, it was a pretty exciting weekend at the Zurich Classic...so let me catch you up.

-Andres Romero won for the first time on the PGA Tour.  Romero said that he plans to continue to play on the PGA Tour until the British Open.  This is another big step for Argentinian golf, as Angel Cabrera captured the US Open last year.  I think we have all learned that when Romero gets hot, watch out.

-Peter Lonard may have ended up one shot short at the Zurich Classic, but at least he received a consolation prize, a spot in the Masters.  Because Lonard drained a 5-foot par putt on the final hole of regulation, he finished in solo second, allowing him to sneak into the top-50 in the world golf ranking and giving him the opportunity to play at Augusta in two weeks.  When Lonard was asked after his round about the likelihood of playing in the season's first major, he said, "No, it'll probably be on my TV screen while I'm drinking beer or something."

-You might have seen it during NBC's coverage, but Stewart Cink was disqualified from the Zurich Classic because he broke rule 13-4, in that he played a shot from a fairway bunker that went into a greenside bunker, and his caddie raked the fairway bunker before Cink hit his greenside bunker shot.  Crazy, right?  Well, ESPN.com's Jason Sobel does a pretty good job of explaining how mind boggling it all is.  Sobel writes, "We get the rule (sorta) and we get why it was instituted by the USGA (kinda), but in circumstances such as this where the caddie would have to wait 180 yards behind his player, it sure doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense."  The policy was instituted last October.   

Romero moves up to 29 in world golf ranking, Furyk regains second position

With his win at the Deutsche Bank Players' Championship in Germany, Andres Romero is now ranked 29th in the world golf ranking.  Romero had jumped to 51st in the world after his third place finish at the British Open last week.  In addition, JIm Furyk has returned to the world's number two position, replacing Phil Mickelson.  Furyk successfully defended his Canadian Open title yesterday at Angus Glen. 

Romero wins first European Tour title

Andres Romero wasn't able to hold the lead last Sunday at the British Open, but this week was different.  Romero captured his first European Tour win earlier today at the Deutsche Bank Players' Championship in Germany, joining a strong contingent of Argentine golfers who have won in 2007.  "I feel great to win my first tournament.  I didn’t expect it to come that quick.  But, the last tournaments I had very good results and I was playing great last week at the British Open," said Romero through a translator after shooting a 2-under 70 (19-under-par overall).  Denmark's Soren Hansen finished three strokes behind Romero at 16-under-par.

Romero tries to follow in Cabrera's footsteps, finishes third at British Open

Andres Romero said a little over a week ago prior to the Scottish Open that Angel Cabrera's win at the US Open motivated him and gave other Argentinians hope.  On Sunday, Romero had the lead for a short while as he came to the par-4 17th hole.  Romero ended up hitting his second shot out of bounds and double-bogeyd the hole.  After a bogey on the 18th, he was behind Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia, and finished in solo third at 6-under-par overall..  Romero had an interesting day with 10 birdies, four pars, two bogeys, and two double-bogeys, giving the 26-year-old a final round 4-under 67. 

Romero says Cabrera's win has caused a huge ripple in Argentina

Andres Romero, a rising star on the European Tour from Argentina, said on European Tour Weekly on The Golf Channel that Angel Cabrera's US Open win has had a huge impact in Argentina.  "Not only has he (Cabrera) motivated me, but he has given all of the Argentinians on tour great hope.  To win and come first at the US Open is just a massive achievement for him," said Romero, who finished 35th on the Order of Merit last year.  "That win has caused a huge ripple in Argentina.  A real explosion, I would say.  I think his win is going to motivate both professionals and amateurs alike, it’s also going to motivate those who aren’t so well off to take up the game."  Cabrera and Romero will be playing this week at the Scottish Open.