Golf Comment: Classy Rory McIlroy and deserved joy for Ian Woosnam
I doubt he sees him as a direct challenge to his No1 status yet but I do think that Jordan Spieth’s win at the Masters will have niggled Rory McIlroy a little.
And so it was that Rory won at his very next tournament, the WGC Cadillac Match Play Championship, which concluded on Sunday after five days and some seven rounds.
Once again, he was magnificent. He won all seven of his matches on the way to the title, three of which he finished on the final day.
He may not have been at his best throughout but he always did enough when it mattered, and his eagle at the 17th in the semi-final against Jim Furyk was extraordinary.
Young Englishman Danny Willett also produced a great performance to beat Furyk into third place and secure his PGA Tour card.
McIlroy will of course be fancied this week at The Players Championship, where Tiger Woods will return to action again. It’s a great course with iconic holes such as the 17th and a real golfer’s layout, which is why I wouldn’t be surprised to see Justin Rose do well.
I was delighted, meanwhile, to see a young Welshman by the name of Ian Woosnam win his maiden title on the Champions Tour in Texas.
As a former world No1 and a Major winner, Woosnam should have been inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame when he turned 50 and given an exemption for the Champions Tour. It didn’t happen, but by winning the Insperity Invitational on Sunday at the age of 57 he righted that wrong and earned that richly deserved tour membership himself.
Sam Torrance OBE is a multiple Ryder Cup-winning golfer and media commentator. Follow him on Twitter @torrancesam