The 119th US Open was a wonderful success and a crowning moment for Gary Woodland.
It may have been a bleary-eyed watch this side of the Atlantic due to the time difference.
But it was well worth sitting into the early hours to witness the world’s top players skilfully negotiate the tricky Pebble Beach links.
Woodland, who is up to 12th in the world, is certainly a worthy champion.
There was no catching – the 35-year-old en route to reaching the pinnacle of American golf by winning his national open.
All elements of his game were tested at Pebble Beach and none were found wanting. The stats show he didn’t three-putt a single one of those famous greens.
Remarkable to think Woodland was a sporting all-rounder as a kid and only really opted to dedicate himself to golf in his second year in college.
That fact alone makes a mockery of those parents who are fixated on grooming their kids as professional golfers from an early age.
Woodland is proof you should be given space to find your own path to the top.
He admitted at the weekend he only really made a firm decision on his future after having a moment of clarity as a basketball player in year one of his scholarship.
Struggling to mark a future NBA player – Kirk Hinrich, who went on to play for the Chicago Bulls – he realised basketball wasn’t going to be his
forte.
Golf became his No1 priority and he has gone on to have a great career, with three regular tour wins preceding his maiden major at the weekend.
Many had Woodland pigeon-holed as a slugger who would occasionally shine on the PGA Tour but ultimately fall short on the biggest stage.
Well, last week showed he has the desire and X-factor to take his game to the kind of level that saw him hold off Brooks Koepka down the stretch.
Woodland has credited his coach Pete Cowen for helping him unleash his full potential and there’s no doubt the Yorkshireman deserves a lot of praise.
Pete is nearly always straightforward and while his no-nonsense style is not to everyone’s taste, he has enjoyed a lot of success with many different players.
That’s a sure sign he’s a top coach and I suspect he is now as much a mentor and confidant to Woodland as anything else.
The new US Open champion has called upon three different coaches – Butch Harmon, Phil Kenyon and Cowan – and while they have all helped, he’s the guy pulling the trigger.
The way he closed it out on Sunday tells me he’s no flash in the pan.
Woodland has the game to kick on and challenge for more majors in the future.
Watch out for amateur talent
Some of the world’s hottest former amateur talent will tee it up as professionals for the first time at this week’s Travelers Championship.
Californian duo Matthew Wolff and Collin Morikawa are being tipped for big things on the PGA Tour.
Many believe they can go on to become the next Spieth or Thomas in the States.
Meanwhile, Viktor Hovland of Norway was the low amateur at this year’s Masters and ended his amateur career with an historic display at the US Open.
His final round 67 ensured he broke Jack Nicklaus’ longstanding 1960 record for the lowest 72-hole score by an amateur in the tournament’s history.
Hovland still has it all to prove in the paid ranks but he is an exciting talent and it’s a bonus he is European.
Let’s hope he does a Jon Rahm and gets his pro career off to a fast start.
It's Europe's turn to take centre stage
This week’s BMW International Open in Munich is the start of an exciting series of five high-profile events on European soil.
The German tournament and next week’s Andalucia Masters are sizzling appetisers for the Irish Open, Scottish Open and Open Championship at Royal Portrush on July 18.
It’s great to see the European Tour back in the heart of the continent after spending the early weeks of the season globe trotting.
This week’s event in Munich will be a low scoring challenge and it rarely fails to provide excitement and entertainment for the galleries.
The roll of honour speaks for itself with Monty, Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Sandy Lyle and Henrik Stenson all winning here in the past.
Ireland’s star names are resting up this week, so it is a good chance for Gavin Moynihan and Paul Dunne to fly the flag.
Opportunity knocks and it is a nice place to kick-start your summer season with some huge dates on the horizon.
BETTING SLIP
BMW OPEN
Tom Lewis - 66/1 EW
Powerful Englishman should suit layout in Munich.
Alexander Levy - 80/1 EW
Off form but always capable, especially at these odds.
George Coetzee - 120/1 EW
Proven tour winner offers huge value for South African.
TRAVELERS
Paul Casey - 18/1 EW
Boasts a brilliant record here and is closing in on a win.
Marc Leishman - 30/1 EW
2012 champion can go close again in Cromwel this week.
Emiliano Grillo - 40/1 EW
Form is improving here - capable of making an impact.
Matthew Wolff - 66/1 EW
There’s a lot of hype around Wolff ahead of his pro debut.
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