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Lee Westwood (England) new Number 1 in the World |
It was played in Club de Golf Valderrama, Sotogrande, Spain and was the Andalucía Valderrama Masters. It was an Elite tournament with only the top 100 players in Europe playing. So competition was going to be tough. The Number One World Ranking was also up for grabs as Tiger Woods reign as number 1 Golfer was under feat.
Martin Kaymer (Germany) has had a brilliant year and if he finished tied for 2nd with only one player or higher he would have been the Number 1 player in the world come Monday Morning. But he struggled in very tough conditions as a lot of players did and scored rounds of 72,74,70,75:291+7 and finished in a tie for 21st. It was a double blow for him as he started the week having over a Million Euro’s Lead on Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland), but at the end of the week it was cut to just over 500000euros with Graeme McDowell (North Ireland) eventually winning this Tournament. But Martin Kaymer (Germany) has had a great year and is still the Player to beat and win the Race to Dubai which Climax’s on Sunday 28th November in Jumeirah Golf Estates,Dubai,United Arab Emirates at the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World.
Well the Final Stages of the Andalucía Valderrama Masters were Trilling Viewing. All the players in contention were struggling on the Final Day. Damien MCGRANE (Ireland) took the lead at -5 after holing his bunker shot for a birdie 2 at the 15th hole!! He got a high 5 from his playing partner Miguel Angel JIMÉNEZ (Spain) who is a well known golfer from that part of Spain. But his lead was short lived. He finished Double Bogey, Bogey, Bogey to eventually finish at -1 and in tied for 2nd place. But it was still a good week for Damien MCGRANE (Ireland) earning himself € 223,710 and moving to 32nd on the Race to Dubai money list with €736,583. He should easily be in the Top 60 Money earners that make it to the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World at the end of November. Soren KJELDSEN (Denmark) and Gareth MAYBIN (Northern Ireland) also finished tied for 2nd at -1.
But Graeme MCDOWELL(Northern Ireland) showed his real class in the end and prevailed to win. His final round score of 74+3 was the highest winning final round score of the season. But that scored was understandable with only 3players scoring below par in the final round which was played in extremely windy conditions. Graeme MCDOWELL(Northern Ireland) finished at -3 with rounds of 68-3,67 -4,72 +1 & 74+3: 281 -3 and earned € 500,000 for his win. It was his 3rd win of the Season having also won the The Celtic Manor Wales Open in early June and also winning the 110th US Open Championship 2 weeks later for his 1st Major Championship. He is now only 500000euros behind Martin Kaymer (Germany) in the Race to Dubai.
Graeme MCDOWELL(Northern Ireland) is planning to play the final 4events on the Race to Dubai Schedule in hope of Catching Martin Kaymer (Germany) and winning the Race to Dubai title for 2010 and the Bonuses that come with it. It was a great week for Irish Golf with 3 of the top four players coming from Ireland.
Another big story from this week was from a player that wasn’t even playing. Lee Westwood (England) who is resting from an injury at the moment became the Number 1 player in the World on the Official World Golf Rankings. He up staged Tiger Woods (USA) who had been on top of the rankings for 281 weeks in a row. He is the 1st European Golfer to reach Number 1 since Nick Faldo (England) in 1994. So it is a great achievement for him. But it may be short lived with Martin Kaymer (Germany), Phil Mickelson (USA) and Tiger Woods (USA) are all playing at this week’s World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, which tees off in the 1st round on Thursday (4th November). The next few weeks will be great viewing for the Passionate Golf Fan.
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Ben Crane with CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia Trophy |
It was his 2nd win on the PGA Tour this year having won the Farmers Insurance Open back in early January. The win earns him a cool $US 1 000 000. But because it was only a 40player invite field it doesn’t go down as an official PGATour win or money. Martin Laird (Scotland) continued on his great from the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open final round last Sunday where he lost in a play –off to finish 3rd equal here on -16, along with Luke Donald (England) who had the unfortunate experience of scoring a Triple Bogey 7 on the 9th hole that ruined any chance he had of victory. The best round of the day was scored by Robert Allenby (Australia) who shot 64-7 to lift him up to tied 5th place on -15 along with Ernie Els (RSA) and Rickie Fowler (USA) who is the 20 year old American sensation that is set for big things in the years to come.
Other golf news from the weekend was on the USPGA Senior Tour, they played the AT&T Championship and the little known Rod Spittle (Canada) who had to Monday qualify to even get into the field won when he defeated Jeff Sluman (USA) on the 1st playoff Hole. He parred the 1st playoff hole for his 1st ever USPGA Champions Tour win. They both finished 72 holes at -12. He collects US $ 262,500.00 for his win. No doubt it was the biggest Cheque of his golf Career. He moves to 36th spot on the 2010 Champions Tour Charles Schwab Cup Points list. But misses out on the field because only the top 30 on the list make it to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship which starts on 4th November.
Mike Hendry (NZL) won his 1st Stage of USPGA Tour School Qualifying at the Turtle Bay Golf- Arnold Palmer Course in Kahaku, Oahu, Hawaii. He finished 72 Holes -14 to win by 3shots to advance to the 2nd Stage which starts in a couple of week’s time. Danny Lee (NZL) also advanced to the 2nd Stage, having tied for 17th place on -2 at Carlton Oaks Country Club in Santee, CA . He two will play the 2nd Stage in a couple of week’s time. They will both need to continue the good form they have displayed to make it to the final Stage that starts on 1st December.
Brad Iles (NZL) had a disappointing Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island when he finished +7 after the 72holes to finish 20shots behind the eventual winner Brendan Steele (USA). His final standing on the Nationwide Tour Money list was a disappointing 45th spot. He was 20spots down on securing his 2011 PGATour card as the top 25 on the Nationwide Tour Money list gain 2011 PGATour card’s. It seemed a real reality about 2months ago that he would gain the 2011 PGATour card, because he was just inside the Top 25. But poor form meant some low finishes and missed cuts. And because he finished 45th on the money list he joins Mike Hendry (NZL) & Danny Lee (NZL) at the 2nd Stage in two weeks time. If he had finished in the Top 40th on the money list he would have been exempt to the final stage that starts on 1st December.
But to end on a good note, New Zealand’s Men’s Eisenhower Trophy Golf Team had their best finish since they won it 18years ago in Canada. The Team of Ryan Fox (His Father is the Famous All Black 1st Five Eight), Ben Campbell and Peter Spearman-Burn scored a score +3 after 54holes. This year it was played in Argentina at the Buenos Aires Golf Club. It was reduced to 54holes as the Tournament suffered some horrible weather in the 2nd round. The scores of the 3players were Ben Campbell 69 70 75, Ryan Fox 73 78 74, Peter Spearman-Burn 76 74 79 for a total of 435 New Zealand 142 144 149 for New Zealand. They finished 12shots behind the Eventual winners France. They finished in solo 4th their best finish in 18 years. 2nd was Denmark and 3rd was USA.
Next Week the USPGA Tour and European Tours are in Shanghai, China for the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions Tournament. It starts on Thursday 4th November.
Sources: pgatour.com, europeantour.com & www.golf.co.nz
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