2021 RBC Heritage - Stewart Cink Wins

Cink is now a three-time Champ at HHI

 After the RBC Heritage changes dates in 2020 due to Covid-19 scheduling, the Hilton Head event returned to its usual Spring dates directly following The Masters. The field of players was at maximum strength, even though the number of golf fans was limited for social distancing efforts. The weather for the entire week was nothing short of superb, and the Sea Pines Resort was alive with the hum of the summer season. After the Sunday finale, it was Stewart Cink breezing to the Tartan Jacket, backing up his wins here in 2000 and 2004 with a 2021 title.

Cameron Smith went fishing on Wed.,
Then fired his best ever round of 62
on Thursday to lead the tourney.

No grandstands on 18th green

Cink finished at 19-under and was four strokes clear of second place. Cink set the three round low scoring record in 2021, at 16-under, but did not match Webb Simpson's final winning total of 22-under from 2020. In fact Cink was nearly a wire-to-wire winner at the RBC Heritage except for Australia's Cameron Smith finished just one stroke ahead of him after Thursday's round. Another high note for Cink was that his son Reagan was his caddie at Harbour Town, making this a unique win for their family. Finishing in second place was Harold Varner III, his highest finish on the PGA Tour, and he was tied with Emiliani Grillo at 15-under.

To view past blog entries from the RBC Heritage click on 2020 - 2019 - 2018 - 2017 - 2016 - 2015- 2014 - 2013

To view past blog entries from The Masters click on 2019- 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2009

To view past blog entries about the PGA Championship click on 2017 - 2012

To view past blog entries from the BMW Charity Web.com click on 2018 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 

2021 Masters Tournament - Hideki Matsuyama Wins

Dustin Johnson gives Matsuyama the Green Jacket

Hideki Matsuyama became the first Japanese player to wear the ceremonial Green Jacket, after finishing first at the Augusta National golf course. PGA Tour rookie Will Zalatoris played with determination and finished in second place by only one stroke. The Matsuyama victory set off a vivid celebration in Japan, a country that has great zeal for the game of golf, and it was a historical win at the 2021 Masters.

Japanese Caddie gives bow to the course at Augusta National

To view past blog entries from The Masters click on 2019 -  2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2009 

To view past blog entries from the RBC Heritage click on 2022 - 2021- 2020- 2019 - 2018 - 2017 - 2016 - 2015- 2014 - 2013

To view past blog entries from the PGA Championship click on Ocean Course at Kiawah 2021 - 100th PGA Champioship- Quail Hollow at Charlotte 2017 - Ocean Course at Kiawah 2012 

To view past blog entries from the BMW Charity Classic click on 2018- 2016 - 2015 - 2014

2021 Charleston Race Week - 25th Anniversary Sailing Results

Racing for the mark

The 25th CRW was Turtley Awesome

 After 107 races for 180 sailboats and countless sailors, the three-day Charleston Race Week regatta has determined the winners. For all the results click on Yacht Scoring. After being canceled in 2020, CRW went ahead with racing in 2021, but without any of the usual social gatherings. A daily covid protocol was executed so that contact tracing would be available if necessary. Cheers to the event organizers and volunteers event staff at Charleston Race Week. To read more about the overall effort and the final results of sailgib click on 25th Anniversary.

To view past blog entries on Charleston Race Week click on 2021 - 2018- 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009  

25th Anniversary Trophies

2021 Volvo Car Open - Veronika Kudermetova Wins

Russia's Kudermetova did not drop a set all week

 The 2021 Volvo Car Open finals match took place as scheduled at 1 p.m. on the Althea Gibson Club Court. Russia's Veronica Kudermetova wins her first WTA singles title over Danka Kovinic in straight sets. Kudermetova showed more fire during this match, often scolding herself after a missed shot, and was the clear winner on this day. Kudermetova does have one doubles title to her credit from 2019. It was clear in their remarks after the match that both players got something more than just a great tennis experience from the Volvo Car Open, and that they will be back in the future. 

Each of the doubles winners also drove off with a new Volvo,
Nicole Melichar and Demi Schurrs 

Women's tennis fans will get a second week of competitive tennis at the Daniel Island tennis facility this week during a WTA 250-level event, that is taking the place of one that was canceled due to the Covid economy. No fans will be alone to attend, but look for television coverage on the Tennis Channel.

To view past blog entries from the Volvo Car Open click on 2021 - 2019- 2018- 2017 -  2016- 2015- 2014- 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

2021 Charleston Race Week - Saturday Sailing

Don't Worry Be Happy Spinnaker

 The sailing fleet enjoyed better wind conditions on Saturday at the 2021 edition of Charleston Race Week, and the slight chance of rain forecast did not materialize. Five youth teams are competing, and though I failed to make their photo, it is important to mention them because it underscores how the sport of sailing still appeals to the younger generation. Other outdoor traditions con only wish they had the same enthusiasm. 

Beware the Blue Scorpion on the water

For a detailed report on the sailing results from Saturday click on CRW's Moving Day Report. And don't forget you can track the 2021 CRW action live on the water using the TracTrac link. A Sunday morning sailing race will help determine the final winners of the 2021 CRW, with an awards ceremony at 5 p.m. - which is only open for the winners to attend due to Covid protocols.

Hang Loose at the Bot Buoy

To view past blog entries from Charleston Race Week click on 2021 - 2018- 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

Getting Bullish on Charleston Race Week

2021 Charleston Race Week - 25th Anniversary Sailing Begins

Race starts are always exciting

 A Lowcountry regatta unlike any other has been 26 years in the making. The 25th anniversary celebration was put on hold in 2020 due to the covid shutdown, but Charleston Race Week is rebounding nicely in 2021. Every participant must sign a daily Covid waiver, and the overall weekend activities are greatly reduced. But the sailboat racing will proceed as usual, over Friday, Saturday and finishing up after Sunday morning races. Quantum Sails stepped up as the title sponsor in 2021 and is filming much of the regatta for sailing fans to view.

Traffic jam rounding the mark on Friday at CRW

On Friday morning at Charleston Harbor Marina the winds were calm in the early morning, which caused some slight delays on race starts until a breeze filled in late morning. Water conditions went from flat calm to a light chop in the afternoon after the tide turned. Winds ranged went from 8 to 15-knots, but were a little inconsistent during longer races, but in general I can report good conditions - click for CRW's Day One Report.

Sailors happy that the 25th CRW is underway!

A couple of things that are new for the 2021 Charleston Race Week involve technology. The CRW website offers a live tracking service during races now, using the TracTrac service. So even if you are on the water in Circle One, you can check in on racing on the other four circles. And while traditional buoys are still being deployed for gates, a new automated bot is on the water that can be left in place without anchoring. The bot marker has a GPS unit and a trolling motor that work in unison to keep it in place, for sailors to aim for and round during racing. From what I could see the bots worked great!

To view past blog entries from Charleston Race Week click on 2018 - 2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

 

25th Anniversary coolers on site

GPS automated BOT marker with trolling motor

2021 Volvo Car Open - Thursday Tennis

Muguruza of Spain has won two majors,
 Wimbledon and the French Open

 The Thursday matches at the Volvo Car Open began with breaking news from the French Open. Due to a covid outbreak in France, the tournament on the red clay at Roland Garros will be delayed by one week. The green clay courts at the Volvo Car Open, and the first stop on the road to Paris. 

The Thursday matches on Althea Gibson Court began with 6-seed Spaniard Carbine Muguruza, a past French Open Champ, versus 11-seed Yulia Putintseva. Muguruza blanked Putintseva in the first set, 6 - 0. However, after only two games in the second set, Muguruza retired from the match, and Putinitseva advances to the next round of play. To read more about Muguruza click here.

Emma Navarro of Mt. Pleasant

Australia's Ashleigh Barty is the Number One player in the World and she plays Daniel Island native Shelby Rogers at 7 p.m. on Thursday in the night session. That singles match will be followed up by a doubles match that features Mt. Pleasant's Emma Navarro. It will be a good night for the 'home town support,' All matches are televised on the Tennis Channel.

To view past blog entries from the Volvo Car Open click on 2019- 2018- 2017 -  2016- 2015- 2014- 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

Shelby Rogers of Daniel Island

2021 Volvo Car Open - Clay Court Season Begins

Yulia Putintseva advances on Monday

 The 2021 Volvo Car Open on Daniel Island is the first clay court tourney of the year. The VCO and other clay court matches will be on the road to Roland Garros when the French Open is held in May. The 2021 edition of the VCO is unique because it will not be open for fans to attend due to Covid-19 protocol. The entire tournament will be televised on the Tennis Channel again in 2021. The tournament is under new ownership and the stadium court is undergoing a major renovation

Volvo Car Open Trophy

presently, and promises to be a more modern facility for the future.

The weather in Charleston for the weekend qualifying matches and the rounds played on Monday and Tuesday was nothing short of 'Chamber of Commerce' days. The promos on the Tennis Channel between matches depict Charleston as a delightful city to visit, and when spring brings warm temps with low humidity, it certainly lives up to that billing. Four past champions were signed up to play in 2021, but two of them had to withdraw with injury at the last minute. 2014 Champ Andrea Petkovic and 2018 Champ Kiki Bertens withdrew, leaving 2016 Champ Sloane Stephens and 2019 Champ Madison Keys in it.

This year 17-year old Coco Gauff will make her VCO debut, and has been living up to expectations ever since she beat Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2017. To read more about Gauff and her experience thus far in the Women's Tennis Association click here.

The 2021 VCO will partner with the Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital at MUSC. To raise money they will let players Swing With a Cause at a target at the Althea Gibson Court.

Coco Gauff makes her VCO debut in 2021

Finally, the WTA 250 'Funament' will be held on Daniel Island the week after the VCO. This 32-player event will showcase tennis for fun, and likely is going to be unique to 2021. 

To view past blog entries from the Volvo Car Open click on 2019 - 2018- 2017 -  2016- 2015- 2014- 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009