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Robert Garrigus (USA) with Children's Miracle Network Classic Trophy |
It was another great weekend for Professional Golf Tournaments around the world. On the USPGA Tour they played there final event of the Season, which was the Children’s Miracle Network Classic. It was played on two courses over the first two days. The courses were Magnolia GC, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Palm GC, Lake Buena Vista, Florida. They played the final two rounds at the Magnolia GC. Robert Garrigus (USA) shot a brilliant final round of 64-8 to finish at -21 after 72holes and win by 3shots. It was a fine win for Robert as he blew a 3shot lead in the St Jude Classic, at Memphis, Tennessee in June when he stood on the 72nd hole there and made a Triple Bogey 7 on the par 4.
But this time he didn’t choke when the pressure came on. Robert birdied the tough par 4 17th hole and a solid par on the 72nd hole ensured an easy win for him. It was his 1st ever win on the USPGA Tour, and a win that some people thought would never happen. He is now exempt on the tour till 2012. His final position on the USPGA Tour Money list for 2010 was 51st with the US$1,583,275 he made. He had started the week in 122nd position on the money list and retaining his PGA Tour Status was not looking good. So I am very happy for Robert as I always like to see a player come back from adversity. Matt Kuchar (USA) took out the money list title for the first time in his career with US$4,910,477. But since the FedEx Cup started in 2007 there has been less importance put on winning the money title.
Two other players that started the week right on the 125 cut off mark that is required on the money list to keep their cards, managed to retain their PGA Tour Status for 2011. Roland Thatcher (USA) who was leading the tournament by 4shots at the start of the final round shot a poor final round of 72even. But the sole 2nd place on -18 was enough to secure him in the Top 125. He eventually finished at 122nd on the money list. But he had to hole a 5foot putt on the final hole to do it. It made me very nervous to watch it. His final money earnings were US$796,157. And Troy Merritt (USA) shot a fine final round of 67-5 to finish right in the last position for regaining his 2011 PGA Tour status at 125th position. The US$786,977 was US$33,000 more than Johnson Wagner (USA) who will now have to return to the final Stage of USPGA Tour Q-School in early December which he will have to be in the Top 25 places and ties to gain his 2011 PGA Tour playing Status.
Other players to narrowly miss out on retaining their card’s for 2011 Season were Woody Austin (USA), Aron Price (Australia) and Michael Allen (USA). But they will still have some Status on tour next year. The USPGA Tour proved its wealth with producing 90 players earning over US$1,000,000. And you could hardly feel sorry for someone earning US$750,000 and missing out, could you?
Another event on the PGA Tour that came to a Climax over the weekend was the Kodak Challenge. The Kodak Challenge is a season long competition that picks 30 holes on the PGA Tour at 30 different tournaments. The player’s best score out of the 4 rounds they play at each hole selected at those tournaments is the score that counts on that hole. Players must play at least 18 of the 30 holes to qualify to win the US$1million take all prize. Well after the 30 holes were completed 3players were tied at -17. They were Aaron Baddeley (Australia), Troy Merritt (USA), and Richie Fowler (USA). They played the Kodak Challenge Hole for the week, which was the 17th hole as the playoff hole. Troy Merritt (USA) hit his 2nd shot to two feet on the par 4 and calmly rolled in the putt to win the US$1million!! So well done to him. He was the second player to win the US$1Million. Kevin Streelman (USA) won the first Kodak Challenge in 2009.
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Stuart Appleby celebrating a holed putt in his final round |
Well, to the Australasian PGA Tour which was staging the JBWare Masters at the Victoria Golf Club on the Sand Belt in Melbourne. Tiger Woods (USA) was playing in it for the 2nd Straight year. He putted poorly for the first 3rounds, but caught fire on the last nine holes to shoot a final round of 65-6. He finished the last 6holes birdie, par, eagle, par, birdie & eagle they brought a huge roar from the huge crowd that had gathered round the 72nd green. And saw Tiger punch his fist in the Air in excitement!! He finished 4th place at -7, and I feel the tournament organisers would have been happy, even though they had to pay US$3million to Tiger for appearance money. Tiger said he would return again next year and bring some more USPGA Tour players with him because the Presidents Cup is on the Following week in 2011 at Royal Melbourne GC. The eventually winner was Stuart Appleby (Australia) who also shot a 65-6 in the final round to finish -10. It was a fine win for Stuart winning in his home State of Victoria.
Finishing 2nd was Adam Bland (Australia) on -9, 1shot back, who was leading by 3shots heading into the final round, but a final round of 73+1 was his down fall. He had a 20foot eagle putt on the last green to force a playoff, but unfortunately it just missed. But his 2nd place will give Adam a lot of Confidence heading up to USA for the 2nd Stage of US PGA Tour School this week. Best of the New Zealanders was Michael Hendry (NZL) on -2, tied for 13th, then Gareth Paddison (NZL) on -1, tied for tied for 16th, Michael Campbell (NZL) had a solid finish for him scoring 70-1 in his final round and finishing +1 in tied 28th place, his best finish on any tour in a long time, so it is good for him. He has recently got a new coach, Bob Torrance who is the father of the great Scottish European Tour player Sam Torrance (Scotland). Doug Holloway (NZL) was +3 tied for 35th, Mahal Pearce (NZL) +10 tied for 56th, Josh Geary (NZL) & Josh Carmichael (NZL) tied for 58th on +11.
The European Tour was in Singapore for the Barclays Singapore Open at the The Tanjong & The Serapong, Sentosa GC,Singapore,Singapore. It was the 3rd to last event of the season on the Race to Dubai. It was a rain interrupted tournament that meant a Monday finish was necessary to get the tournament completed. Adam Scott (Australia) shot a final round 68-3 to finish -17 and win by 3shots from Anders Hansen (Denmark). It was Adams 2nd win this year having won the Valero Texas Open back in May on the USPGA Tour. And it was the 3rd time he has secured the Barclays Singapore Open Title. Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) finished 3rd equal on -13 4shots back and has closed the gap even more on Martin Kaymer (Germany) in the Race to Dubai standings with only two tournaments left. Also Ian Poulter (England) had a fine defense of his title, eventually finishing in tied for 6th place on -11, but wouldn’t be pleased with his final round of 73+1. Unfortunately the New Zealanders in the field all failed to make the cut. With the best of them being Mark Brown (NZL) at -1 after 36holes.
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| Adam Scott with Barclays Singapore Trophy |
Well this coming weeks tournaments are, in the USA the second Stage of USPGA Tour School commences with Brad Iles (NZL), Danny Lee (NZL) & Michael Hendry (NZL) being the 3 New Zealanders still involved and eager to make it to the final stage in early December. On the European Tour, it heads to Hong Kong for the UBS Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong GC,Fanling,Hong Kong. Grégory Bourdy (France) will look to defend his 2009 title he won. And players will be looking to secure their place in the Top 60 on the Race to Dubai Money list as it comes to a Climax next week at the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World, at the Jumeirah Golf Estates,Dubai,United Arab Emirates. Mark Browns chance of making it will only be if he wins this week I feel as he is currently 107th on the Race to Dubai Standings heading into this week’s tournament.
And on the Australasian Tour they play the Cellarbrations NSW PGA Championship at Wollongong Golf Club, NSW. With a lot of New Zealand’s less known PGA Tour Professionals competing. Let’s hope for a New Zealand winner.
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