THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS. Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. In studio at WSBC Am Chicago.

 THE PHIL KOSIN ILLINOIS WOMEN’S OPEN TEE’S OFF TODAY AT MISTWOOD, for more information see Mistwoodgc.com or call (815)-254-3333. Mistwood on Renwick Road in Romeoville, admission and parking are Free. (RIGHT) from the deck oat the new Mistwood Clubhouse, with view of the Performance Center and putting green.         _____________________________________________________________________                                                                                                                                                 TOURNEY TIME and that it is. It’s time to get our body clock right after getting up at some early hour to watch “The Open Championship.” Congrats to Henrik Stenson on his first major victory, and to Phil Mickelson in the runner up spot to the “Champion Golfer of the Year.” Both players over the weekend ran away and hid from the field. Steve Stricker had a nice weekend and wound up getting his best finish in a major championship by finishing in 4th place.

The players get a week off and then it’s right back into another major at the PGA Championship at Baltusrol. If Stenson’s putter stays hot, he could be in the right place to win two straight majors, will he.

FORMER ILLINI player Thomas Pieters decided he wasn’t going to let Rory McIlroy have all the fun when it came to putting his clubs in their proper place. While Mcllroy destroyed his 3-Wood after a wide right shot that ended up on a maintenance road (Nike equipment will do that to you), by smashing the head off the club in the fairway. Pieters topped a wood shot from the low rough and the ball ended up on the green not far from the cup, after a very long hot running roll down the fairway. But long before that Pieters took the club over his knee, broke it into two pieces and gave them a free ride into some thick Gorse bushes. Thomas, keep those Callaway products on their toes.

THE ILLINOIS WOMEN’S OPEN, the late Chicagoland Golf Publisher Phil Kosin would be proud about what the IWO has transpired into. Mistwood has become a first-class facility, and the ladies have a great place to play for the championship. The purse has over doubled from the early days. With defending champion Madasyn Petersen not in the field defending her title, the title is wide open. Jenna Pearson of Wheaton a previous two-time winner of the IWO comes in as one of the favorites. The Gog Blog will have full coverage all three days with on-site coverage coming Tuesday and Wednesday.

THE ILLINOIS STATE AMATEUR hits the first tee on Tuesday and Wheaton’s T-K Kelly a two-time champion returns looking for his third title. Nick Hardy of Northbrook is expected to contend with Kelly for the title.

THE UL LPGA INTERNATIONAL CROWN is finally here. Korea and United States are the two favorites at the Merit Club in this eight country team championship that will include 32 players.

   THE ONWENTSIA CLUB of Lake Forest will host the IPGA Senior Masters Pro-Am today. The Senior Masters honors two IPGA professionals for their contributions to golf and golf in Illinois. More coming up on the event and this years award winners in the week ahead.

THE IPGA will host media day at the Royal Fox CC later this week, in preparation for next week’s championship, more on that coming up this week here on the site. So stay clicked in and GO PLAY. RS.