2014 - Just another Fascinating Year

By: Tony Dear


We have moved into an era in which there are no dull golf years. Constant coverage, heavy use of social media, more and more high-profile tournaments in the U.S. and around the world, and the ever-swelling number of golfers becoming superstars (or media darlings at least) more or less guarantee something of interest is happening in the game.

Of course, Rory McIlroy winning the Open Championship and then the PGA Championship a few weeks later is enormously more interesting than his girlfriend/fiancée status. Martin Kaymer winning the Players Championship and then the U.S. Open with a remarkable performance on a remarkable course is significantly more noteworthy than his sitting on the floor at the Jacksonville Airport while his phone charges (strangely satisfying though that was).

Bubba Watson claiming a second green jacket with a display of driving Bobby Jones and Alister Mackenzie could never have foreseen is colossally more remarkable than a dodgy Christmas rap in which he appears as Santa Claus.

Somebody, somewhere presumably, likes that stuff though.

The year 2014 had plenty of memorable moments (especially for Europeans who won three of the four majors, the Players Championship and the Ryder Cup) whether you enjoyed the actual golf or followed all the extracurricular activity.

Here, six Cybergolf writers tell us what they noticed.

Jeff Shelley

Most surprising player of the year (golfer who performed much better than anticipated): Lydia Ko.

Most disappointing player of the year: Tiger Woods.

Moment of the year (pro game) : Michelle Wie's win at U.S. Women's Open.

Shot of the year : Bubba Watson's 370-yard drive at the 13th in the final round to sew up the Masters.

Your moment of the year: Grandson Henry's huge smile, sprint towards and big hug for his Papa at Sand Point's (in Seattle) second hole.

Favorite course you played : Gamble Sands - Brewster, Wash.

One thing in golf during 2014 you wish hadn't happened: Further backslide of the game's popularity.

Looking forward to most in 2015: Continued national expansion of the First Green Foundation (of which I'm board president).

One change you'd make to the game tomorrow: I have two - 1) Remove barriers to golf participation (long-putter ban, inflexible cost structure at courses - fee should be based on number of holes played, slow play). And 2) Golf's powers-that-be immediately focusing on growth, not through dumbing-down 15" cups and soccer balls but by staying true to the tenets of a wonderfully traditional outdoor game played at places that benefit the health, welfare and environment of their communities.

Golf book of the year: "His Ownself" by Dan Jenkins

Jay Flemma

Most surprising player of the year: Rickie Fowler. Some say "I hope he emerges next year," but with them following Tiger so closely they missed that arrival completely. Tom Watson said, "Get ready to watch him run the table soon."

Most disappointing player of the year: Tiger Woods - for not knowing when to quit, and for commanding so much ink for last place, or nearly last, at the majors no less.

Moment of the year (pro game) : Martin Kaymer setting the 36-hole aggregate scoring record for any major ever.

Shot of the year: Bubba's drive at the 13th on Sunday at the Masters. There's still a warrant out for his arrest for that sheer murder.

Your moment of the year: Five words - National Golf Links of America.

Favorite course you played: I always say NLGA, but the greatest surprise this year was Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw's magnificent restoration of Old Town Club in Winston-Salem, N.C. It's better than Pinehurst.

One thing in golf during 2014 you wish hadn't happened: An entire channel devoted to following every move Tiger Woods makes. That's not journalism, that's maundering and enabling.

Looking forward to most in 2015: A big Cybergolf party at the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.

One change you'd make to the game tomorrow: When you turn pro, it's back to persimmon woods - just like baseball and ash bats.

Golf book of the year: "Draw in the Dunes: The 1969 Ryder Cup and the Finish that Shocked the World" - by Neil Sagebiel.

Joel Zuckerman

Most surprising player of the year: Michelle Wie - glad to see her finally start to fulfill her vast potential.

Most disappointing player of the year : Tiger Woods, of course!

Moment of the year (pro game) : Rory McIlroy winning the PGA Championship after being waved up by Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler in near darkness on the 72nd hole.

Shot of the year: Paula Creamer's 80-foot putt to win the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore - her first win since the 2010 U.S. Women's Open.

Your moment of the year: Winning the "fifth" major (a match-play tournament held at Dismal River GC in Mullen, Neb.) with partner Mike Whitaker.

Favorite course you played: Crystal Downs - Frankfort, Mich.

One thing in golf during 2014 you wish hadn't happened: Though I do like Rory McIlroy, I wish Phil had been able to complete his charge and win the PGA.

Looking forward to most in 2015: Going to England in May - playing in the Southwest and hopefully a few rounds near London.

One change you'd make to the game tomorrow: Get rid of stroke-and-distance penalty after going OB - stroke is penal enough.

Golf book of the year: "Arnie, Seve, and a Fleck of Golf History: Heroes, Underdogs, Courses, and Championships" - by Bill Fields.

Dave Droschak

Most surprising player of the year: Will MacKenzie

Most disappointing player of the year: Tiger Woods

Moment of the year (pro game) : Michelle Wie winning the U.S. Women's Open at Pinehurst

Shot of the year: Ian Poulter's chip-in at the 15th hole during his four-ball match on Day 2 at the Ryder Cup.

Your moment of the year: Rory McIlroy playing up with Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler at the PGA Championship as it was getting dark.

Favorite course you played: Cliffs at Mountain Park - Greenville, S.C.

One thing in golf during 2014 you wish hadn't happened: Mickelson taking Watson to task after Ryder Cup loss.

Looking forward to most in 2015: U.S. Open at Chambers Bay

One change you'd make to the game tomorrow: The selection process for the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

Golf book of the year: I write, I don't actually read books. Just one of my quirks over the years; the last two things I'd ever do are fish on a lake or read a book.

Tony Dear

Most surprising player of the year: I did not see either Billy Horschel or Chris Kirk coming.

Most disappointing player of the year: Tiger Woods certainly. Phil Mickelson had a pretty poor year too, and I was hoping for much better from Matteo Manassero.

Moment of the year (pro game) : Jamie Donaldson hitting his approach to a few inches on the 15th at Gleneagles to clinch the Ryder Cup (hey, I'm European).

Shot of the year: Martin Kaymer's second at the fifth in the third round of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst - a big draw from 202 yards out of sandy waste area to about six feet.

Your moment of the year: Playing Gamble Sands with David Kidd and Ron Whitten - the course's designer and one of my favorite golf writers. David's girlfriend (and touring pro) Tara Deyer-Smith filled out the most enjoyable four-ball I can remember.

Favorite course you played: Gamble Sands

One thing in golf during 2014 you wish hadn't happened: Mickelson's comments during the press conference following the U.S. team's defeat at the Ryder Cup were really unfortunate. I thought he was extremely disrespectful of one the game's greatest players.

Looking forward to most in 2015: The Open Championship at St. Andrews, and the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay will also be very special.

One change you'd make to the game tomorrow: PGA Championship to revert to match play . . . and going overseas. Can I have another? Greens-fee discounts for playing a round in less than three hours 45 minutes.

Golf book of the year: "Arnie, Seve, and a Fleck of Golf History: Heroes, Underdogs, Courses, and Championships" - by Bill Fields. Can I have two again? "America's St. Andrews" - by Blaine Newnham and Tom Cade.

Blaine Newnham

Most surprising player of the year: Jordan Spieth

Most disappointing player of the year: Tiger Woods

Moment of the year (pro game) : Rory McIlroy winning the PGA Championship in the dark.

Shot of the year: McIlroy's 5-wood over the water at the 18th to get into a four-man playoff at the Honda Classic.

Your moment of the year: A week-long stay at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort - perhaps the best place to play golf there is.

Favorite course you played: Gamble Sands.

One thing in golf during 2014 you wish hadn't happened: The Ryder Cup at Gleneagles when there are all those other wonderful courses in Scotland.

Looking forward to most in 2015: U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, of course.

One change you'd make to the game tomorrow: No more red tees for women. No more women's tees.

Golf book of the year: Ah, "America's St. Andrews."

[Editor's Note: Check out our Writer's Corner section - http://www.cybergolf.com/writerscorner - for the 2014 stories by Cybergolf's outstanding scribes.]

Tony Dear is an Englishman living in Bellingham, Wash. In the early 1990s he was a member of the Liverpool University golf team which played its home matches at Royal Liverpool GC. Easy access to Hoylake made it extremely difficult for him to focus on Politics, his chosen major. After leaving Liverpool, he worked as a golf instructor at a club just south of London where he also made a futile attempt at becoming a 'player.' He moved into writing when it became abundantly clear he had no business playing the game for a living. A one-time golf correspondent of the New York Sun, Tony is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America, the Pacific Northwest Golf Media Association and the Golf Travel Writers Association. He is a multi-award winning journalist, and edits his own website at www.bellinghamgolfer.com.