This week's winners and losers from the golf world
Winners:
Jordan Spieth
The Texan almost threw away the tournament on Sunday, but made a great up-and-down on the 72nd hole to force a playoff with Daniel Berger. In overtime, Spieth hit an incredible bunker shot to win his 10th career PGA Tour title.
Harry Ellis
Ellis claimed the British Amateur on Saturday, beating Dylan Perry in the final at Royal St. George's. Ellis was four down with five to go, but fought back to force extra holes, and then won it with a par on the 38th hole of the match. The victory earns him a trip to this year's Open Championship, as well as the 2018 U.S. Open, and likely an invite to the Masters. "I just want to soak up the experience there and get as much from it as I possibly can," Ellis told the Golf Channel. "It has always been a dream to play in majors, and I get to play in three now. My game is in a good place so hopefully I can do something there. For me I just want to soak it in."
Andres Romero
Romero won the BMW International Open in Munich on Sunday, thanks to a bogey-free 65, edging Thomas Detry, Richard Bland, and Sergio Garcia by one stroke. The win is the 36-year-old's first European Tour title since the 2007 Deutsche Bank Players' Championship of Europe. "I'm really happy, after ten years winning on the European Tour, especially here in Germany. I'm really, really happy," Romero told europeantour.com.
Losers:
Rory McIlroy's putter drama
McIlroy's last two weeks with the flatstick went like this:
- McIlroy arrived at Erin Hills with a new TaylorMade Spider in the bag, and then missed the cut.
- He had 59 putts through the first two round at Travelers, and barely made the weekend.
- He brought five putters to the practice green Saturday morning, and switched to TaylorMade TP Mullen model en route to a 70.
- He made another switch before Sunday's round of 64, and told Kevin Maguire of ESPN after the round, "it might be one that stays in for a few weeks."
No more Mickelson, 'Bones' moments
The longtime partnership ended Tuesday, with both Phil Mickelson and Jim "Bones" Mackay releasing statements on the split. The pair won five major titles since hooking up in 1992, and gave golf fans a number of great moments, like when Mickelson ordered Mackay to tend the flag on a 61-yard shot at this year's Masters.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)