DJ slipping on stairs, Steph shining on the Web, and major caddie changes were just a few of the many surprises in 2017.
DJ slipping on stairs, Steph shining on the Web, and major caddie changes were just a few of the many surprises in 2017.
Coming off three straight victories, world No. 1 Dustin Johnson was the clear favorite heading into the Masters. But on the eve of the first major, Johnson slipped on the stairs at his rental home and injured his back. He tried hitting balls the next day, but he withdrew in order to recover for the rest of the season.
The PGA Tour handed out the first slow-play penalty in 22 years at the Zurich Classic. Rookie Brian Campbell and partner Miguel Angel Carballo each received a bad time and were assessed a one-shot penalty as a team. “I kinda felt like it was a little unfair,” Campbell said, “but nothing we could do about it.”
Phil Mickelson and Jim Mackay; Jason Day and Colin Swatton; and Rory McIlroy and J.P. Fitzgerald were among the many high-profile player/caddie combos who parted ways in 2017. The experienced loopers were replaced by relatives and best buddies in a trend that has become more popular in recent years.
Jordan Spieth swore it wasn’t a big deal, but he still raised plenty of eyebrows at the Byron Nelson when Spieth switched out his trusty Scotty Cameron 009 for a mallet putter. He missed the cut, and then put his old faithful back in the bag. Two months later he won the claret jug.
You never know what Phil might do next ... but skipping the U.S. Open?! Yes, Mickelson did just that, but he had a very good reason to miss the only major he has yet to win - his daughter, Amanda, graduated from high school. “I mean obviously it’s the tournament I want to win the most,” he said. “But this is one of those moments where you look back on life and you just don’t want to miss it.”
Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry received a controversial sponsor exemption into the Web.com’s Ellie Mae Classic in August, but boy did he deliver. He missed the cut, but he shot a pair of very respectable 74s and brought out plenty of fans to the TPC Stonebrae. “It’s two days of golf I’ll remember for a long time,” he said.
Jason Day and Rory McIlroy started the year at Nos. 1 and 2 in the world ranking, but they both failed to win a single trophy. Day was understandably distracted for the first half of the year as his mother battled cancer. While McIlroy injured his rib early in the year and struggled to return to 100 percent.
International captain Nick Price used one of his two picks on India’s Anirban Lahiri. The move was a bit surprising, and it turned out nobody was as surprised as Lahiri. “I was honestly expecting him to deliver bad news but my wife and I were just in shock.”
Lydia Ko started the year by changing her clubs, coach and caddie, but she didn’t win a single tournament in 2017. While still only 20 years old, it was still surprising not seeing her in the winner’s circle. Ko lost her No. 1 ranking in June and finished the year at No. 9.
Bernhard Langer won seven titles, three of the five majors and the first two playoff events, but the dominant player on the PGA Tour Champions still didn’t win the season-long points race. The Charles Schwab Cup instead went to Kevin Sutherland, who was No. 5 in the standings heading into the season finale and won his only trophy of the year.
Hideki Matsuyama can sure keep a secret. A day after nearly becoming the first player from Japan to win a major, Matsuyama announced his wife had given birth to their first child. But it was a surprising announcement since it was not publicly known he was married. “No one really asked me if I was married, so I didn’t have to answer that question,” he said.