LET’S go international, for a change.
Dominic Thiem and Rory McIlroy took the spotlight this week in dramatic, albeit constrasting fashions.
OK, lest I be accused of not supporting gender equality, teenager Bianca Andreescu also deserves mention here.
Down by a set against the living legend Roger Federer, Thiem, the 25-year-old budding comet from Austria, packaged a stunning 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory to win the BNP Paribas on Monday in Indian Wells, California.
Thiem’s triumph denied Federer, at 37 already the winningest of all time with 20 majors across his name, a record sixth title in the famed desert classic.
Thiem pocketed $1.3 million, the same cash stashed away by Andreescu, the 18-year-old Canadian who upset three-time Slam champion Angelique Kerber of Germany, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
It was a bitter loss for Kerber who, only last year, won Wimbledon at the expense of the highly touted Serena Williams.
Both Thiem and Andreescu were in disbelief.
“It just feels unreal what happened,” said Thiem. “He’s such a legend.”
“[I am] the fricking champion of Indian Wells,” said Andreescu. “It’s crazy.”
Over in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, McIlroy rallied with two improbable birdies on 15 and 16 to defeat Jim Furyk by one shot in The Players Championship.
To preserve those birdies coming from the 15th bunker and a two-putt four on the par-5 16th, McIlroy hit dry land on the island-green of 17 before driving home the winning tee shot right down the 18th and final fairway.
With his birdie-birdie-par-par finish on Sawgrass, one of the toughest courses in the world, McIlroy wrapped up a 70 to derail what would have been Furyk’s greatest victory ever.
Playing ahead of McIlroy, Furyk, he with the most awkward swing in golf, made a beautiful birdie after planting a 7-iron three feet from the hole on 18. His brilliant 67 gave him a one-shot lead over McIlroy.
But after bogeying 14, McIlroy roared back mightily with those back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16 to regain the lead en route to stopping Furyk from becoming, at 48, the oldest to win The Players Championship, which always draws the strongest field in the sport.
McIlroy won $2.25 million, by far the biggest winner’s check in golf. And, significantly, his victory primed him up for another shot at the Masters some four weeks from now—the only major lacking in his Grand Slam bid.
While McIlroy’s booming drives were a delight to see, watching his 9-iron land on the 150-yard 17th’s tiniest of greens was simply awesome—spectacularly avoiding water that was a virtual cemetery to many contenders past and present.
Ah, 17, Sawgrass’s signature hole.
Nineteen years ago, I was right there beside its tee mound with Jake P. Ayson and the late, lamented Vince Villafuerte.
After our rules seminar at the Sawgrass Clubhouse, our threesome had a walk-through of the killer course. Practicing that day were Vijay Singh and Fred Funk.
After Singh found water on 17, Funk, the funnyman that he is, said: “There goes your hundred bucks, buddy.”
But when Funk also got wet, Singh snarled back: “Quits!”
Ah, those were the days, my friend.
THAT’S IT Gilas Pilipinas needs two wins in its Group to advance in the next round of the Fiba World Cup from August 31 to September 15 in China. Gilas’ foes? Serbia, Italy and Angola. Because we are ranked 34th, we could beat Angola, seeded 39th? Possible. But No. 13 Italy? Improbable. And fourth-ranked Serbia? Next to impossible. Indeed, a miracle we badly need to survive Round 1. It can only come through divine intervention.