Australian Adam Scott is the new world number one, for the Official World Golf Ranking, while Tiger Woods slips to second place and does not promise anything about his return to the field in the short term. It is a "twist" announced and based more on calculations (earnings made in the last two years in proportion to the tournaments played) than on direct challenges between players. Unfortunately nothing can be done about it: Woods is recovering from back surgery and will certainly also miss the next Major, the US Open (June 12-15) and therefore does not accumulate points, even if his agent makes agreements for an event in Argentina, in October, for a doubles match with world number four Matt Kuchar. The conditional is a must though, because Tiger is silent on his website. Everything remains fixed at the blog which only talks about "a slow recovery".
Scott, who will be 34 on July 16th, is still an excellent number one: handsome and photogenic, with a powerful and spectacular swing, he also has a good hunger for victories. His only weakness is the putter. In fact, he uses a "broomstick", literally "a broomstick", i.e. a very long putter, placed against his chest to avoid moving his hands under tension. It is an instrument that will be banned from competition in 2016 or at least that can no longer be anchored to the body. Scott, in recent months, will therefore have to work on himself to overcome his psychological problem on the greens and to remain at the very high levels he has reached.
For now, however, he keeps his "whore" and puts two other tournaments on the agenda this month, in addition to The Players: the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, in Texas, this weekend and The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club on following weekend. Two important occasions to consolidate the role of number one in the world and to prepare for the US Open, the true goal of all great players. Scott already boasts a victory at the Masters, in 2013, but aspires to complete the Grand Slam and to achieve, at least once in his career, a victory in each of the other Majors (in addition to the US Open, the Open Championship and the PGA).
Tiger, 39 years old in December, in turn will continue to pursue his goal, the record of 18 Majors won in his career by Jack Nicklaus, and will give it up only if forced by "illness". For now he's been stuck at 14 since 2008, but golf is a sport that reserves satisfaction up to a "late" age. Living proof of this is Miguel Angel Jimenez, 50, fresh champion of the Spanish Open, at the end of four intense days and a final playoff with Thomas Pieters and Richard Green.
This is the 21st victory on the European Tour for the Andalusian player, the 14th since he turned 40. His secret? “There is no secret – he says – good food, good wine, good cigars and some exercise”. The "mechanic's" secret dream is now the Ryder Cup: he could be the oldest player ever to join the team in the Europe-United States match, which this year will be played at Gleneagles. “I would like – he claims – to break every record for a fifty-year-old. I hope to join the team and defend the European colors in Scotland." With this victory, pursued by Jimenez for 27 years, the champion becomes number 25 in the world and number 5 in the Race to Dubai.
Unfortunately, Matteo Manassero is not doing much, and he also finished only 28th in Girona. It is still a period of transition for the young Italian player who from Thursday to Sunday will however have to strenuously defend the very prestigious title won at Wentworth in 2013 in the BMW Pga Championship, the most important tournament on the European circuit.
Meanwhile, on the North American front, Brendon Todd, 29, wins the HP Byron Nelson Championship and achieves his first success on the Pga Tour. This is the eighth player who climbs the podium for the first time on the US circuit this season.
