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Popular Australian golfer Geoff Ogilvy salvaged his career in the nick of time by winning last weeks Barracuda Championship in Nevada.
The 37-year-old former top ten had plummeted to 251 in the world rankings, and with no exemptions left, was heading for the “petty cash” Web.com Tour.
Today he’s ranked 127, has two years exemption, banked $540,000 last week, and tomorrow will tee up among eight Australians in the USPGA field, the final major of the season.
And if Olgilvy can repeat last weeks outstanding form, he’ll be a genuine contender along with Adam Scott, Jason Day, and the fast-improving Marc Leishman.
New world number one Rory McIlroy with successive wins at the British Open and Bridgestone, will be the clear favourite, with Spaniard Sergi Garcia pressing him at every turn as he’s done in both of McIlroy’s wins.
And don’t discount the warhorse Phil Mickelson, the world’s best ever leftie, whose fourth Round 62 last week produced his magic of old with ten birdies.
For a small nation, Australia has done relatively well in majors.
There have been 430 majors played, the Americans dominating with 259 wins, Scotland 55, England 34, and Australia 16, from ten golfers.
Jim Ferrier was the first, capturing the USPGA in 1947.
Peter Thomson’s been the best, and in my books Australia’s best golfer in history, with five British Open wins – three consecutively from 1954 to 1956 as well as victories in 1958 and 1965.
David Graham won two majors – the USPGA in 1979, and the US Open in 1981.
Greg Noman’s won two Britsh Opens in 1986 and 1993.
Kel Nagle won the Centenary British Oopen in 1960.
Wayne Grady a USPGA victory in 1990.
Steve Elkington won a USPGA in 1995.
Finally, Ian Baker-Finch saw British Open success in 1991.
Ogilvy the US Open in 2006 after Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie both double bogeyed the seven-second hole for the Australian to win by a shot.
And Scott the 2013 Masters.
Now that Scott is no longer world number one the pressure is off, so expect a strong showing this week. He has been in the mix in every tournament recently, however, the odd bogey and patchy putting has typically upset a competitive card.
But the Aussie to watch is Leishman, he’s my roughie to win the USPGA, with McIlroy almost impossible to overlook, even though he’s capable of shooting 62 one day and an 80 the next.
The trouble for the field is Rory McIlroy is far more likely to fire in a 62, and four of them.
All that apart, it’s nice to see Geoff Olgilvy back to his normal self.