GOLF EVENTS FROM WEEKEND 28TH NOVEMBER.

Robert Karlsson (Sweden) and Martin Kaymer (Germany)

with their Trophies

Well it was another big weekend on the Professional Golf tours around the world. On the European Tour they had the Climax to the Race to Dubai at the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World at Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. And there was also the Race to Dubai title to be decided as well.


The Race to Dubai is in its 2nd year and is basically a revamp to the European Tour Order of Merit title that goes to the player that has won the most money throughout the season. This year it was won by Martin Kaymer (Germany) who won four tournaments throughout the Season including the 2010 PGA Championship. He received a bonus of €1,092,418 out of the $7.5 million Bonus Pool that the top 15 players each get a share of for playing so well throughout the season. So his total earnings for the 2010 Race to Dubai Season are €4,461,010. And that is €200,000 more than Lee Westwood (England) earned in the1st season of the Race to Dubai last year.


Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) was 2nd in the final standings of the Race to Dubai with €3,896,996, which was less than 600, 000 Euros behind Martin Kaymer (Germany). And 3rd on €3,222,423 was last year’s Race to Dubai Winner Lee Westwood (England), but he still holds on to his Number World Golf ranking for another week. So that covers all about what happened in the Race to Dubai for 2010.


Now let’s get to the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World. It was an exciting end to the Tournament with Robert Karlsson (Sweden) and Ian Poulter (England) finishing 72 holes at -14. So they went back and played the 18th hole again as the 1st playoff hole. Both players on the Par 5 hit great 3rd shots to less than 5 feet from the hole and made easy birdies. So it was back to the 18th hole for the 2nd playoff hole. This time Ian Poulter (England) hit a poor 3rd shot to 30 feet, but Robert Karlsson (Sweden) however hit his 3rd to 5 feet again. Ian Poulter (England) was careless with marking his ball and moved his marker which meant he incurred a 1 shot penalty, and basically handed the tournament to Robert Karlsson (Sweden) when he missed his par putt. 


It was a great win for Robert Karlsson (Sweden)  He was coming back from an eye problem that kept him out of Golf for a while. The win pocketed him € 910,349 and he finished 6th on the Final Race to Dubai Standings with €2,296,486, and it just backs up his 2008 European Order of Merit win which he won €2,732,748. That was before the Race to Dubai began in 2009. Tied for 3rd on -13 were Alvaro Quiros (Spain) & Lee Westwood (England). And back in 5th place was Rory McIRory (Northern Ireland) at -12 after he eagled the 72nd Hole. The Two players who had the only chance of winning the Race to Dubai both finished on -7 tied for 13th place. They were Martin Kaymer (Germany) and Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland).

So that is the end of the European Tour Season for 2010. But the 2011 Race to Dubai starts on the Thursday 9th December with the Alfred Dunhill Championship, which is being played at Leopard Creek CC, Malelane, South Africa with Pablo Martin (Spain) looking to defend the title he won last year.

Peter O'Malley (Australia) 

with the Trophy

And so to the Australasian PGA Tour. It staged the NSW Open hosted by Nathan Green. It was played at the Vintage Golf Club, NSW. Peter O’Malley (Australia) and British Amateur Tom Lewis (England) both finished 72 Holes at -14, along with Peter Cooke (Australia). So that meant they were heading back to the 18th Hole for a three way playoff. And Peter O’Malley (Australia) prevailed with a par on the 3rd playoff hole to win his first tournament on any tour in 5 years. And it will do his confidence the world of good heading into the Australian Open which starts on Thursday.


The New Zealanders didn’t fear so well with only two making the cut that fell at even par. They were Gareth Paddison (NZL) who fired rounds of 72+1, 68-3, 68-3, 73+2: 281 -3 to finish -3 as did Brad Shilton (NZL) who fired rounds of 68-3, 73+2, 71even, 69-2:281 -3. But the rest of the 8 New Zealanders in the field failed to make the halfway Cut.


This week’s tournament on the Australasian PGA Tour is the Australian Open Presented by Century 21 and is played at the Lakes Golf Club in Sydney. Most of Australia’s Top Professionals will be playing as well as the long hitting John Daly (USA) and the Crowd favourite Fred Couples (USA). New Zealand will have its leading professionals playing, that will be lead by Michael Campbell (NZL) who is trying to revive his Career out of a major form Slump. The Forecast for the Coming week in Sydney is for Strong Winds and Heavy Rain which will mean that scoring will be very difficult. I can’t wait for Thursday because the Australian Open is always one of my favourite tournaments and is considered one of the big three to win on the Australasian Tour, along with the Australian PGA & Masters.


On the USPGA Tour this past week there were no Tournaments. But this week there are two big Tournaments coming up. The 1st is the Chevron World Challenge which is being played at Sherwood CC, Thousand Oaks, California. The defending champion is Jim Furyk (USA) who will be keen to win it again. It is also known as Tiger Woods Tournament as he always donates all his winnings to his Charities for the Tiger Woods Learning Centres. He will be very keen to win this tournament as he has not won a tournament at all in 2010, and the last time he didn't win a Professional Tournament anywhere in the World was back in 1995 when he was an Amateur. The Full field of 18 players is Paul Casey (England), Martin Kaymer (Germany), Sean O'Hair (USA), Stewart Cink (USA), Anthony Kim (USA), Ian Poulter (England), Luke Donald (England), Matt Kuchar (USA), Steve Stricker (USA), Jim Furyk (USA), Hunter Mahan (USA), Camilo Villagas (Columbia), Dustin Johnson (USA), Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland), Bubba Watson (USA), Zach Johnson (USA), Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), and Tiger Woods (USA). So I wish Tiger all the best in finally getting a win in 2010.


The other tournament this week on the USPGA Tour is the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament that is being played at Panther Lake Course, Winter Garden, Florida  and Crooked Cat Course, Winter Garden, Florida. It is the last Chance for PGA Tour Hopefuls to gain a USPGA Tour card for 2011 season with the top 25 players and ties getting them. The next 50players get full Nationwide Tour Status for 2011 season. And the rest of the 170 odd players earn some Status on the Nationwide Tour. It has been nicknamed the Fall Classic and the tournament that all the USPGA Tour Members would like to avoid playing in. But on the other hand, players like Michael Hendry (NZL) and Danny Lee (NZL) this is there 1st ever time at the qualifying School Finals and they may look at it as a great opportunity to gain a card on the wealthiest tour in the world. And at least if they finish inside the top 75 they will gain a Nationwide tour card for 2011. So for Josh Geary (NZL), Steve Alker (NZL), Danny Lee (NZL), Tim Wilkinson (NZL) and Michael Hendry (NZL) this week could be a Career Changing week. Tim Wilkinson (NZL) got his 2008 USPGA Tour Card here 3years ago back in 2007, so this week should bring some good memories back. It all starts on Thursday morning New Zealand time. And it is played over 108 Holes between two courses that will be completed on Tuesday morning (7th December) New Zealand time. So it will be the Survival of the fittest. Best of luck to the 5 New Zealanders competing as just getting to the final Stage is an Achievement in its self. I really do hope a couple of New Zealanders make it inside the top 25 players and ties and gain full Status on the 2011 USPGA Tour because right now there are no New Zealand players exempt on the USPGA tour for 2011.


Well that is about it for now. I hope in next week’s report I can report a win by a New Zealander in the Australian Open and 5 New Zealand Golfers have their USPGA Tour Cards or at least Nationwide Tour Status.