MICHAEL Que won in Tokyo and Europe in Paris via dramatic fashions, making golf very much alive again worldwide. And both feats were emphatically embellished by Tiger Woods’ most recent win at the Tour Championship in Atlanta, Georgia.
Three great victories in three continents.
Que’s win in Tokyo put the Philippines back on the world golf map, the Filipino’s win reestablishing his stature as one of Asia’s best as well.
It snapped an eight-year losing spell for Que, 39, whose last international win was in the 2010 World Masters in Selangor.
A bit weirdly, Que’s victories on the world stage would be separated by years. His second global win was in the 2008 Philippine Open after crashing the world’s winning column with his breakthrough triumph in the 2004 Vietnam Masters.
But that one in Tokyo’s Tokai Classic was a win to remember, beating no less 2009 PGA Championship winner Y.E. Yang of South Korea by two shots.
Que did it with class: He birdied 16 and 17 to nail a blistering final-round 66 worth P10.22 million, his biggest career paycheck ever.
“I owe it to my wife, Tracy, and our two kids,” said Que, who is set to arrive on Tuesday (today). “They’ve always been the reason when I’ve been working hard to play well and stay competitive.”
Meanwhile, Europe’s 17.5-10.5 victory over the United States on Sunday was a huge Ryder Cup upset as the American lineup had the Top 17 players in the world.
Spanish Sergio Garcia was the perfect wild pick, surpassing Sir Nick Faldo as the leading scorer in Ryder Cup history.
He shared the spotlight with Francesco “Mollywood” Molinari, Italy’s first British Open winner, who became the first European to win all his five matches since Larry Nelson did the trick in 1979.
Tiger Woods was a disappointment because he lost all his four matches for the US?
Maybe. But by winning in Atlanta the week before, his comeback win to end a five-year victory drought woke up a sport that has been asleep for so long. He’s done his part.
If only for that, Woods deserves applause. Much of it, I’d say.