Good Monday morning, golf fans. What's the worst golf gift you've ever received?
1. Breaking the Puerto Rico Open curse
Adam Woodard for Golfweek…"Not only did Viktor Hovland earn his second PGA Tour win on Sunday, he also put to rest a curse that's been haunting the Tour for more than a decade."
Earlier this year in February, Hovland won the Puerto Rico Open, an event that's put a burden of sorts on its winners over the years. Players who won the Puerto Rico Open never went on to win another tournament on Tour, with one exception: Michael Bradley, who won the Puerto Rico Open in 2009 and again in 2011.
"Tony Finau won in 2016 and has yet to win since, losing in two playoffs along the way. Alex Cejka, 2015's champion, has lost in one playoff, same with 2013 winner Scott Brown, whose playoff loss was with Kevin Kisner against Jonas Blixt and Cameron Smith at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2017."
2. Peter Alliss, legendary golf broadcaster, dies at 89
As you have likely heard, legendary long-time commentator Peter Aliss' death was reported over the weekend.
And while the remembrances are many, the BBC's Ian Carter's lead—and discussion of Alliss the commentator's origin story—is excellent.
"Peter Alliss was nattering to a friend on a flight back from Ireland, discussing how he had missed a chance to win that week's golf tournament. It was a conversation that led to one of the greatest careers in sports commentary."
"Alliss' tale of golfing woe was clearly wonderfully told and it was overheard by someone working in television who could spot broadcasting potential. Ten days later a letter arrived from BBC producer Ray Lakeland."
"It said, so Alliss told me: "I was sitting behind you and you were telling the story of how you lost and it was very amusing. Would you like to come and work with us at The Open?"
"I was only 30 years old, I was still trying to win The Open," Alliss continued. "But they said just come up after your round and tell us what it was like out there, and that's what I did – and I've been there ever since."
3. Back-to-back for Bezuidenhout
EuropeanTour.com report…"The 26-year-old began his final round with a five shot advantage over Welshman Jamie Donaldson, who cut the deficit to two before turn as the South African struggled to make an impact on the scoreboard at Gary Player Country Club. But Bezuidenhout regained his form on the the back nine to sign for a 69 and finish on 18 under par overall to seal his third European Tour operated title of the season following his win at the Dimension Data Pro-Am on the European Challenge Tour in February and his magnificent four shot victory at the Alfred Dunhill Championship seven days ago."
4. Stanford wins as parents look on
AP report…"Angela Stanford won her home LPGA Tour event in front of her parents, closing with a 4-under 67 for a two-stroke victory Sunday in the Volunteers of America Classic."
"I just haven't had many chances to win in front of them. So to finally do it, it's so cool," Stanford said. "I couldn't even look over at my mom coming up 18 because I was starting to get teary eyed. I'm like, 'Just don't look over there, don't look over there.? I would have lost it."
"The 43-year-old former TCU star from Fort Worth won her seventh LPGA Tour title and first since the major Evian Championship in 2018. She finished at 7-under 277 at Old American Golf Club in the event that started in bone-chilling cold Thursday."
GolfWRX Recommends
One for the Memory Banks is part Final Rounds, part Dewsweepers, part To the Linksland, and part Rick Reilly—and 100% one of the best golf books you'll ever read! This hilarious and heartfelt travelogue features stories of golf and friendship. If you've played golf in the UK, One for the Memory Banks will connect with you on so many levels—if you haven't, this book will have you calling your travel agent!
Great gift for the holidays!
5. USWO's virtual fan experiences
The USGA is getting creative to offer fans the opportunity to experience the 75th U.S. Women's Open.
USGA report…"A number of experiences and activations have been designed specifically to bring fans around the world closer to the action and allow them to interact directly with the world's best players during the 75th U.S. Women's Open at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas, from Dec. 7-13. "This year marks a significant anniversary in our storied championship, and we are excited to unveil unique ways for fans to interact with the year's final major like never before," said Craig Annis, chief brand officer of the USGA. "While we won't be able to welcome the game's greatest fans on-site at Champions Golf Club, they will be given unmatched access to the championship and their favorite players across all of their devices from the comfort of their homes."
6. Brooks' 2020 finishes with a whimper…
Golf Channel's Ryan Lavner: "A moment of carelessness cost Brooks Koepka a cut in the final PGA Tour event of 2020.
Hovering near the cut line Friday at the Mayakoba Classic, Koepka missed a 10-footer for birdie on the par-5 fifth hole, his 14th of the day. That's when he stepped up and, without taking much time, lipped out the 1.5-foot comebacker, walking off with a bogey.
Even though he birdied the eighth hole, it wasn't enough for Koepka to make the cut. He stood at even-par 142, with the cut line falling at 1 under. Second-round play was suspended Friday because of darkness and completed Saturday morning in Mexico."
7. Lynch: The cautionary tale of Rickie Fowler
Eamon Lynch for Golfweek…"With the enigma that is Rickie Fowler, the most illuminating figure is this: 11 years into his career, he has more commercial sponsors than PGA Tour victories."
"…There was a period when Fowler's ample screen time on Sunday afternoons was earned through his fine play. Now that time is paid for by a seemingly endless parade of partners confident that Fowler can help them sell everything from insurance and automobiles to mortgages and underwear. It's the Arnold Palmer business model, and more power to Fowler for leveraging it so astutely. But at what cost to his career?"
"On Friday, Fowler missed the cut at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, the latest in a run of dismal performances in the year since he parted ways with his tag team of swing coaches, Butch and Claude Harmon, to work with John Tillery. His last top 10 finish was in January at the American Express."
8. Report: Cristie Kerr and caddie taken to hospital after golf cart accident
Golf Channel's digital team…"Cristie Kerr and her caddie were injured in a "serious" golf cart accident on Friday morning, according to Golfweek. Kerr, who shot 1-over-par 72 in the first round of the Volunteers of America Classic, withdrew from the tournament and she and her caddie went to the hospital."
"According to Golfweek…Kerr's husband, Erik Stevens, confirmed that the accident occurred in dark conditions at the Old American Golf Club and both Kerr and her caddie, Matt Gelczis, spent several hours in the emergency room with multiple serious injuries before being discharged late in the afternoon."
9. Hovland's winning WITB
Driver: Ping G425 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZURDUS Smoke RDX Black 6.5
3-wood: TaylorMade SIM (15 degrees @ 14.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei Blue AV Raw 85 TX
Irons: Callaway X Forged UT (21 degrees), Ping i210 (4-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI-85 X Hybrid (21), KBS Tour 120 X (4-PW)
Wedges: Ping Glide 3.0 (50-SS, 56-SS @55) Vokey WedgeWorks (60T)
Shafts: KBS Tour-V 130 X
Putter: Ping PLD Prototype "Hovi"
Tour Rundown: Bezuidenhout ends year with a double | LPGA Volunteers of America goes to Stanford | Hovland's second W