Top 10 moments in golf from 2023

In 2023, whilst the women's professional game has continued to go from strength to strength, with increased prize funds, attendances and more TV time, the men's game has yet again been dogged by controversy. Merger talks, obscene amounts of money and player greed have been a constant theme - so much so that maybe female pros will want to distance themselves from, rather than aspire to be like as they fight for more equity in the game.

Anyway, it's not all doom and gloom. There have been some real highlights throughout this year. So, in no particular order, let's look at my top 10 moments in professional golf in 2023.

Rose Zhang makes history

No one could quite have predicted how this year would have gone for Rose Zhang, probably not even the player herself. There were stand out moments for the American throughout the year, winning the Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA) felt like the kick start of it all.

The Stanford University student then set a new record for the most weeks as World Number one amateur, surpassing Leona Maguire.

But the moment that took her career into a stratospheric trajectory was after her decision to turn professional at the end of May. Under a sponsor's invite, Zhang entered the Mizuho Americas Open and now the rest is history. It took a play-off against fellow American Jennifer Kupcho (fellow ANWA winner too) but the 20-year-old became the first player since Beverly Hanson in 1951 to win on her first LPGA debut. A phenomenal achievement from a phenomenal player. 

After automatically taking LPGA membership, Zhang made herself eligible for Solheim Cup selection and true to form, she did not require a Captain's pick and qualified to make her rookie appearance at Finca Cortesin.

Zhang is only just getting started, so after concentrating on her University studies over the winter, it'll be exciting to see how she comes out and tackles her first full year on the LPGA Tour.

Carolta Ciganda secures the Solheim Cup

This year's Solheim Cup took to the Spanish fairways at Finca Cortesin, with Team Europe looking to go for a historic third victory in a row. The week provided a fantastic opportunity to showcase Spanish golf and with that the weight of Spain was on Carlota Ciganda's shoulders.

Coming into Sunday with three wins you would not have thought that Ciganda was feeling any pressure. Going out into the second to last group, there was a real chance that her match could be the one that counted most.

Playing against Nelly Korda who had been struggling with her putting at the time, although not as much of a problem during the week, the putts just would not drop. Ciganda capitalised on this and was three up after eight holes.

However, the world number three at the time, Korda is there for a reason, drawing the match back to tied after 15 as Ciganda faltered.

With cheers ringing out for her team mate Hedwall, Ciganda found something on the 16th tee and a birdie followed.

Then the real magic happened on the tee at the par 3 17th. A sublime shot to two feet which would be nearly impossible to beat. Korda could not convert her birdie putt and had to settle for a par. As the match was so close, Korda did not concede the putt, so Ciganda had her fairy tale moment - holing out to win her match and retain the trophy for Team Europe.

It may not quite have been an outright victory but it was still a great moment for Ciganda to be the player that kept the trophy on European soil.

Bring on 2024 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club!

Europe make it look easy in Rome

As we waited for the Ryder Cup Sunday singles to get underway, it was a complete role reversal from two years ago. Europe were most likely going to win but by how much? They had in their sights the record-breaking total of 19 points set at Whistling Straits but surely the Americans would not give up 8.5 points of the possible 12?

As the Sunday singles played out, there did seem to be glimmers of the fight and passion which some of the US team had really needed. They did not give up and in the end it was the penultimate match on the course with Tommy Fleetwood against Rickie Fowler where the winning point would be scored.

It was a phenomenal week in Rome if you were behind Team Europe who won by a convincing five points, 16.5 to 11.5. But now it's all about 2025:

"I think one of the biggest accomplishments in golf right now is winning an away Ryder Cup. And that's what we're going to do at Bethpage."

We'll have to wait another two years to see whether Rory McIlroy's prediction comes true.

One thing is for sure, the European side needs to turn up with the same energy and passion they had in Italy if they stand any hope against the New York crowd who may not be in the vicinity of a Colosseum but they will be baying for blood.

A (Michael) Block Party

Although LIV might have wanted to steal the headlines, the PGA Championship belonged to 46-year-old PGA Professional Michael Block.

The Head Professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in California captured the imagination and hearts of so many club golfers around the world. Not just for making the cut but doing it in style, going into the weekend tied for 10th at even-par.

On a very damp Saturday, the fans came out in force to support him and some of the loudest cheers were for Block as he shot a third round of 70 to go into the final day tied eighth playing with Rory McIlroy.

Sunday may not have gone his way but Block finished off in quite some style with a hole-in-one that will go down in history:

This video alone has had over 8 million views. What a week for Block and a massive highlight for golf fans in 2023.

PIF/PGA to merge

Even over six months down the line, the irony is not lost on me that the potential truce in men's professional golf was announced on Women's Golf Day. Seemingly out of nowhere a little after 10 am (EST) on June 6th, the PGA Tour dropped the bombshell news that they had reached a landmark agreement with PIF - the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund - to unify men's professional golf. After nearly two years of division, it marked the moment that many didn't see coming, LIV Golf and the PGA and DP World Tours forming an alliance.

My phone exploded that day, something that has never happened before. I spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live, Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4 and ITV News, all wanting to get a female voice amongst all the noise this potential merger had caused.

We're still a couple of weeks away from finding out how this all potentially ends but with Jon Rahm making the switch to LIV Golf last week for the small sum of $300 million - the fight for power in men's golf isn't over yet.

Pebble Beach provides the perfect stage

In July, the women's second Major of the season, the U.S. Women's Open headed to Pebble Beach Golf Links. Like the AIG Women's Open at Muirfield, this was the first time that a women's professional golf event had been held at the prestigious golfing location. 

The 2023 U.S. Women's Open also boasted a purse of $11 million, the highest purse in women’s golf and among the leaders in all of women’s sports. With the winner receiving $2 million

As well as being the scene where Charley Hull made a charge for her first Major, ultimately missing out due to some equally excellent play from American Allisen Corpuz, Pebble Beach also witnessed the bowing out of two golfing greats.

It was also the final swan song for Michelle Wie West (+14) who was competing in her final event as a professional on the LPGA, a moment that she savoured:

"Honestly, the thing that stands out the most for me was having my husband on the bag. He's my partner in life, and to have him walk down 18 with me this week, to have him there by my side the whole week just meant everything to me, to have my family out here, to be at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Everything was just incredible."

Joining her was Annika Sorenstam (+15), who was also making her final U.S. Women's Open:

"First of all, I just want to thank everybody. It's been a great week in so many ways. Thank you to USGA. Thank you to Pebble Beach for hosting this big championship here. And to all the fans out there today, I just really felt the love and the support. It was just great to come down here the last few holes just feeling welcome and appreciated and having the family here and friends. It's been a special week in so many ways."

Celine fearless in France

You didn't need to be French to appreciate the final round of the Amundi Evian Championship in which Celine Boutier managed the expectations on her shoulders so well to become the first Frenchwoman to win the Major on home soil.

From the first tee shot, it seemed that Boutier was destined to win. The weather conditions weren't perfect. Although there was glorious sunshine, there were also strong gusty winds throughout her round. A birdie on the first, was matched by her playing partner Nasa Hataoka, to maintain a three shot lead.

You can't have a turning point on the second hole but I called it a momentum builder at the time as Boutier holed a long range putt for another birdie, whilst Hataoka settled for par.

The Frenchwoman's only minor blip in the round came on 13, where she narrowly missed out on making par, only her fifth bogey of the week.

With three holes to play the 29-year-old gave nothing away as she hit an impressive shot into the par 3 16th, again a safe par. A deep breath or two was all that we saw from Boutier, as she took a six shot lead into the final hole.

After laying up, she pitched onto the front of the green and used all five shots on the par 5 to make par and secure her maiden Major Championship.

Champagne flowed and all of France celebrated:

"It's everything. It's definitely the biggest dream of mine. If I was going to win one tournament it had to be Evian. I just really did not expect it to be this week. But I just feel like so grateful to be able to share it with my family and with all the French spectators."

A first Major that was followed up the following week with a win at the Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open and she headed into the AIG Women's Open looking for three in a row, it wasn't meant to be but Boutier had a fantastic season capturing four LPGA titles.

Vu's Major turning point

Another player to win four times this season was American Lilia Vu, where 2023 proved to be quite literally a major turning point in her career.

Having struggled since first obtaining her LPGA Tour card in 2019, Vu had come back fighting post-Covid pandemic to finally make her make in women's professional golf.

It's hard to pick just one moment from this year for Vu, especially as it included four victories, of which two were Majors, reaching World Number one, playing in her first Solheim Cup and finishing off the season as Rolex Player of the Year!

The now 26-year-old booked ended the Majors perfectly taking home the Chevron Championship in its new location in Texas in April and completing a Major double at the AIG Women's Open at Walton Heath.

It hasn't been plain sailing, even this season for Vu, but she continued to come out fighting. Talking ahead of the final round at the AIG Women's Open:

"I feel like post-Chevron Championship, I've been struggling a little bit, and to finally, hopefully, be in contention by the end of today, it just feels really rewarding. I felt like I've had a hard couple of months just with everything and dealing with just my expectations of myself, so it's nice to be in contention.

"I think Covid really gave me the time to really reflect and look at what needed to change, and it was my perspective on golf and just learning how to have fun again. I could get that tatted on my forehead because I say that all the time, but my best golf comes from having fun on the golf course."

And after accepting the Rolex Player of the Year Award, Vu added:

"I was definitely hard on myself this year, too, but much nicer. Came in with no expectations and tried to win every tournament that I played in. Just kept my goals really small, and I think that really helped me achieve Player of the Year.”

Viktor Hovland makes his mark

There was a chance that Viktor Hovland would make more headlines this season for the J. Lindeberg outfits he wore over his golf. Not that his golf was bad, far from it but many found the need to question his fashion sense. When asked about what he was wearing, Hovland said in May:

"Well, J. Lindeberg, they give me this stuff and pay me money to do so, so I just show up and wear what they want me to wear."

Fair enough!

The Norwegian made some big strides with his game this year, challenging on the biggest stages but it took until the end of the regular PGA Tour season in August for him to really shine.

Viktor Hovland made it back-to-back victories and secured the biggest win of his career at the FedExCup by holding off Xander Schauffele to claim victory at the PGA Tour season-ending Tour Championship. The title also came with a $18 million pay day!

Hovland came into the week off the back of winning the BMW Championship, where a final round course record of 61 was enough to give him a two shot victory over Scottie Scheffler.

At the start of the final week, Hovland started two shots back from Scheffler at eight-under-par but by Sunday's final round the Norwegian had taken a lead of six shots.

Whilst Schauffele tried his best to challenge the 25-year-old with a final round 62, Hovland remained steady with a bogey-free 63 to end the week on 27-under-par to win by five shots, becoming the third-youngest champion in FexExcup history.

Commenting on his 2022/23 PGA Tour season which included three victories, he said:

"It's been a great year. I feel like I've taken a lot of steps this season, contending in more major championships, I finally won in the U.S., I won a big tournament, Jack's event, and honestly, after that I felt like I've gotten so much better and it was very pleasing to see.

"Then obviously the last couple of weeks have just superseded that. It's been pretty surreal. Obviously you dream about it, but these things happen when you don't really expect them to, so it's just awesome to be sitting here."

Mixing it up on tour

This one flew a little under the radar. Maybe it was the fact it fell in December or more likely because Jon Rahm's move to LIV and ball rollback took over. Either way, the Grant Thornton Invitational, deserves a mention for bringing mixed golf to the LPGA and PGA Tours.

The unique co-sanctioned event saw 32 players, 16 LPGA and 16 PGA Tour, come together in a mixed pairs team format. Something that hasn't been seen on tour since the 1990s.

Three rounds with three different formats - scramble, foursomes and modified four-ball - made for a really interesting watch.

In the end, it was former World Number ones Lydia Ko and Jason Day who triumphed, with the win more important for golf than the prize associated with it. Ko said:

"I think this is just a great experience for me and I hope a lot of juniors who are either here this week or watching on the TV get inspired and hope that one day they play on the PGA or the LPGA and they too are paired up with another fellow player on the other tour.

"This is why I think the outcome and result is secondary. I think for us, we don't really get to I guess cross paths that much with other tours. Jason's only the fourth PGA TOUR player I've played with. I think it's a great opportunity, something that I can learn a lot from.

"I think these kind of different formats, it really brings people in that may not necessarily really like to watch 72 holes, your standard event. I think this is a great movement, and for Grant Thornton to give us an opportunity like this for not only us but hopefully the future generations, it's an exciting place to be and I'm grateful to be a part of this inaugural event."

With all the turmoil in men's professional golf, it's impossible to predict what 2024 holds but I'm looking forward to finding out!