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Francesco Molinari (Italy) |
And all the Champions from various tournaments around the world were present as well. Come late Sunday Afternoon it had come down to a two horse race between Lee Westwood (England) the new Number 1 in the World and Francesco Molinari (Italy). At the Start of the final round Francesco Molinari (Italy) had a 1shot lead over Lee Westwood (England). Francesco Molinari (Italy) started at -14 and Lee Westwood (England) -13.
On the 16th tee the lead was still one to Francesco Molinari (Italy). Lee Westwood (England) went for the green on the short par 4 that is just under 300metres. But he pulled his drive left and his ball landed right behind the Bunker pin high, in an extremely hard position to get the ball up and down. Francesco laid up in the left had rough with an iron. But Francesco put his 2nd shot to within 4feet of the hole and made an easy birdie 3 to move to -19. Lee Westwood (England) on the other hand fluffed his difficult chip shot short of the green in the grass above the Bunker, But managed to get up and down for a par 4.
So onto the 17th hole, Francesco Molinari (Italy) put his tee shot to the middle of the par 3 green. But Lee Westwood (England) again pulled his tee shot into the left bunker. He had a very difficult long bunker shot that he got out to about 20feet. But showed real inner strength to sink the putt and stay only two shots behind Francesco Molinari (Italy) heading to the 72nd Hole still 1shot behind. Francesco Molinari (Italy) calmly two putted for his par 3 and move to the last hole at -19.
So onto the 72nd Hole. Francesco Molinari (Italy) teed off 1st and hit his tee shot into the left rough, Lee Westwood (England) hit a brilliant drive long and down the left side of the Fairway leaving him a mid iron to the Par 5 18th Hole. Francesco Molinari (Italy) laid up to around 100 metres of the green for his 2nd shot. Lee Westwood (England) hit an Awesome 2nd Shot to within about 30feet of the pin giving him a decent chance at making eagle. Francesco Molinari (Italy) hit his 3rd shot to 20feet, which meant Lee Westwood (England) must make the eagle putt for any chance of being in a playoff. He gave it a good shot but it just missed. That meant Francesco Molinari (Italy) only had to two putt which he did. Francesco Molinari (Italy) won the WGC – HSBC Champions with a score of -19 by 1shot from Lee Westwood (England) after rounds of 65-7, 70-2, 67-5, 67-5: 269 -19. He picked up a cheque for €860,153 euros. And moves him to 4th on the Race to Dubai Standings with €2,201,614 only 1million euro behind Martin Kaymer (Germany) with three Tournaments left to play.
It was his first WGC win and his first win in four years on any tour. When he sank the winning putt his brother Edoardo Molinari (Italy) who is also a professional and played in the Tournament as well finishing on +1 20shots off the pace also won a Tournament on the European tour back in September,(Which makes them the first Brothers to win on the European Tour in the same Season in a long time) came running onto the 18th green to give him a hug and congratulate him on his Achievement. The Two Brothers had also represented Europe in the Ryder Cup in Wales in early October which Europe won 14.5 – 13.5 over the USA. So it has been a great year for the Molinari Brothers and Italian Golf as Matteo Manassero (Italy) (The Teenage Sensation) also won in Spain last month to be the youngest winner in European tour history at the tender age of 17years.
But 2nd place for Lee Westwood (England) wasn’t too bad as he had not played since the Ryder Cup in early October due to injury. And he proved his Number 1 ranking is no fluke with such a high finish. And with Tiger Woods (USA), Martin Kaymer (Germany) and Phil Mickelson (USA) all finishing below him it can only have increased his points on the Number 1 ranking. Lee Westwood (England) will next play at the Race to Dubai Championship which starts on Thursday 25th November. He also moves to 3rd on the Race to Dubai Standings with €2,362,143 just 900 000 euros behind Martin Kaymer (Germany). But I feel his chances of winning back to back Race to Dubai titles may be gone because he is too far behind Martin Kaymer (Germany).
Tied for 3rd on -9 were Richie Ramsay (Scotland) and Luke Donald (England). For Richie Ramsay (Scotland) it was one of the biggest pay days of his young golfing Career earning € 267,006 and moving to 39th place in the Race to Dubai Standings with €701,367 and virtually securing himself a place in the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World which starts on November 25th. Tiger Woods (USA) had a strong finish with scoring a 68-4 in the final round to finish up at tied for 6th at -8, I feel he is set for big things in early 2011 on the PGA Tour. The Low Australian for the week was Richard Green (Australia) who finished at -8 tied for 6th as well. He also is sure to make it to the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World with earnings of €1,102,793 that puts him 19th on the Race to Dubai money list with two tournaments left to play. Unfortunately no New Zealand Golfers qualified for this tournament.
Also on the European Seniors Tour they played their final event of the Season the OKI Castellón Senior Tour Championship, from the Club de Campo del Mediterráneo Course, in Castellón, Valencia, Spain. Mike Cunning (USA) prevailed with a score of -14 to win by 1shot from the Local Spanish Professional Jose Rivero (Spain) on -13. But the European Tour Senior Order of Merit Title went to Boonchu RUANGKIT (Thailand). It was a great for him to win the Order of Merit title as he won four times on the European Seniors Tour during the year. So he really did deserve his Number 1 European Tour Seniors ranking in my Opinion. The best New Zealander on the Final Standings was Simon Owen (NZL) in 63rd Position.
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John Cook and Bernhard Langer |
On the Champions Tour in the USA they also played there final event of the season, the Charles Schwab CUP Championship at the TPC Harding Park Course in San Fancisco, Ca, it was a good day for two Golfers, John Cook (USA) shot a 72hole score of 267 – 17 and finished 2shots clear of Michael Allen (USA) to win the Charles Schwab CUP Championship for the for the 2nd year running and defend his title. He scored all his rounds in the 60’s, which was a fine effort. And won US$440,000 for his effort. He finished 3rd on the Charles Schwab Cup Points list behind Fred Couples (USA) and Bernhard Langer (Germany). Bernhard Langer (Germany) won The Charles Schwab Cup with 3597 points, 826 ahead of Fred Couples (USA), with 5wins on the Season that included 2 majors his win was well deserved in my opinion. Unfortunately again there were no New Zealanders on the Champions Tour this year.
In other events around the Professional Golf World, Ji yai Shin (South Korea) won the Mizuno Classic played in Japan as part of the USLPGA Tour, it was her 2nd Victory of the LPGA Tour season and she moves to 2nd on the LPGA Tour money list. And in Australia on the Australasian PGA tour they played the WA PGA Championship. Victorian Professional Golfer David Bransdon (Australia) scored -17 for the 72 holes to win by two shots over Matt Griffin (Australia) who is also from Victoria. Best of the New Zealand Professionals was Doug Holloway (NZL) tied for 6th on -6, Followed by Hamish Robertson (NZL) tied for 34th on -2, then Brenden Stuart (NZL) tied 38th on -1 and Finally Scott Hill (NZL) in 54th place on +8 rounded out the New Zealanders that made the cut. The New Zealanders in the field that missed the halfway cut were, Grant Moorhead (NZL), Dale Clarke (NZL), Josh Carmichael (NZL), Jim Cusdin (NZL) and Brad Shilton (NZL).
Well onto next week’s tournaments, The USPGA Tour heads to the USA’s East Coast for the Final Event of the Fall Series, it is the Children’s Miracle Network Classic played at two courses of Magnolia GC, Lake Buena Vista, Palm GC, Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The Top 125 players on the 2010 money list will be exempt on the USPGA Tour for 2011 Season, With the Top 150 players gaining a mini exemption into some tournaments and entry into the US PGA Tour Q-School Finals in December. Players outside the top 150 on the money list will be heading to the 2nd stage of USPGA Tour School at many Venues across USA the Following week. It also is the Climax of the Kodak Challenge.
On the European Tour they head to Singapore, for the Barclays Singapore Open that starts on Thursday with Ian Poulter (England) the defending Champion and looking to go back to back. And the Australasian Tour is staging the JB Ware Masters at Victoria Golf Club on the Sand belt in Melbourne where Tiger Woods (Australia) the world number 2 will defend his title he won at Kingston Heath Golf Club, Melbourne in 2009. Camilo Villegas (Columbia) is also coming down under to challenge him. And the Top Australian players of the likes of Geoff Ogilvy (Australia), Robert Allenby (Australia) and Sergio Garcia (Spain) will also be there looking to win the Title. The Tournament starts Thursday morning. Sources: pgatour.com, europeantour.com, pgatour.org.au
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