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Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) holding the Australian Open Trophy |
This year it was played at the Lakes Golf Club, in Sydney, NSW. The Lakes had recently been re designed by ex PGA Tour Professional, Mike Clayton (Australia), and this was its first big test in Championship Golf. It stood up well with the only complaints being that the greens were too slow. So to the final round and Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) took a 4shot lead into it.
He was cool and calm under the heavy pressure he was under. He birdied the Fourth, Eight, Thirteenth and Fourteenth holes and his only blemish came at the long par four 16th where he had a three putt bogey five. But he stood on the par 3, 72nd Hole at -19 and he had a four shot lead. And he hit a brilliant iron shot into 15feet of the pin and two putted for his 1st Australian Open Championship, and he was able to get his name on the Stone Haven Cup that goes to the Winner, Plus the AU$270,000 he earned for the win will come in handy.
He played great golf all week. And once he shot the bogey free 65-7 on Friday he never looked anything but the Champion to me. Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) scored rounds of 68-4, 65-7, 67-5, and 69-3:269-19. This win should do a world of good for his confidence and lead to bigger and better things on the USPGA Tour in the 2011 Season. It is his 2nd win in Australia having also won the 2008 Australian PGA Championship.
Matt Jones (Australia) was tied for 2nd with Alistair Presnell (Australia) on -15. Matt Jones (Australia) Stayed with Geoff Ogilvy (USA) for 14holes of the final round, but never got any closer than 3shots. But after playing the 1st 14 holes in 6 under par, he had a disappointing last 4holes with a 3 putt bogey on the par 3 15th Hole, and a poor bogey on the short par 5 17th hole, where he should have been looking at scoring a birdie or even an eagle. But he should become a better player for the experience.
Best of the New Zealand Golfers was Gareth Paddison (NZL). He scored rounds of 72 even, 69-3, 69-3 and 70-2: 280-8 for a tie for 9th place that earned him AU$37,000. It continued his fine run of form in recent months. And moved him up on the Australian Order of Merit list. Next best New Zealand Golfer was Michael Campbell (NZL) who had his best tournament finish in a long time. He scored rounds of 71-1, 71-1, 69-3 and 70-2:281-7 for a tie for 12th place that earned him AU$26,625 and should do him the world of good for his confidence knowing he has made back to back cuts on the Australasian Tour. Next best New Zealander was Michael Long (NZL) who scored rounds of 71-1, 68-4, 74+2 and 69-3:282-6 for a tie for 17th place that earned him AU$19,700 and finally the last New Zealander that made the cut was Mahal Pearce (NZL) who scored rounds of 72 even, 72 even, 72 even and 69-3:285-3 for a tie for 32nd place that earned him AU$9,390. So it was a good showing by all four New Zealanders that made the cut. But another Australian Open has pasted with still no New Zealander having won it. And David Smail (NZL) must still be having nightmares after leading by 3shots after 63holes in 2008 at Royal Sydney Golf Club, only to shoot 41+5 on the back nine and see his chances diminish. But there is always hope for the Kiwi’s next year.
The Australasian Tour and the One Asia Tour now head up to the Hyatt Regency Resort Course in Coolum, Queensland for the Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca -Cola, with the 1st round teeing off on Thursday. The Last New Zealander to win this was Greg Turner (NZL) back in 1999. And with the AU$1, 500, 00 prize money on offer it is sure to attract some good players.
Now to the USPGA Tour that Staged the Chevron World Challenge at the Sherwood CC, Thousand Oaks, California. It is known as Tiger Woods Tournament and all the money raised from it goes to his learning Foundation for Kids. So how fitting it was that Tiger Woods (USA) was leading by 4shots after rounds of 65-7, 66-6 and 68-4 to be -17 heading into the final round. But conditions changed on the final day with light rain falling.
Tigers Woods (USA) had a poor start to his final round with scoring 36 even on the front nine and with Graeme McDowell (NIR) scoring 33-3 on the front nine, Tiger Woods (USA) lead had been reduced to 1 shot. It remained that way until the par 5 13th hole. Tiger Woods (USA) hit his drive into the left rough, But Graeme McDowell (NIR) hit his drive straight down the middle of the fairway, Tiger Woods (USA) had to lay up, But Graeme McDowell (NIR) went for the green in 2 shots and landed 40 feet from the pin. Tiger Woods (USA) hit his 3rd shot over the green and his 4th shot, a chip from the back of the green went past the pin and off the green, then his 5th Shot landed 20 feet past the pin and he missed his bogey putt and ended up with a Double Bogey 7, Whereas Graeme McDowell (NIR) calmly 2 putted for a birdie 4.
So it was a 3shot Swing in Graeme McDowell’s (NIR) favour. Graeme McDowell (NIR) now led by 2shots at -17 to Tiger Woods (USA) -15. So to the 14th Hole where Tiger Woods (USA) got his par 4 to Graeme McDowell’s (NIR) Bogey 5. Now Graeme McDowell’s (NIR) lead was only 1shot over Tiger Woods (USA) with 4 holes to play. They both made pars each on the Par 3 15th and Par 5 16th holes. Graeme McDowell (NIR) made a great bogey on the Par 3 17th hole when he was forced to take an unplayable lie for his 2nd Shot but got an excellent up and down. Tiger Woods (USA) secured an easy par. So that meant they were both -15 playing the par 4 72nd hole.
They both hit good drives on the par 4 18th and Graeme McDowell (NIR) hit his 2nd shot in first to 18 feet, while Tiger Woods (USA) responded with an excellent 8 iron to 3feet from the hole to put the pressure on Graeme McDowell (NIR). But Graeme McDowell (NIR) hit a brilliant putt that was always going in the hole. And when Tiger Woods (USA) rolled in his putt for a birdie 3, just as Graeme McDowell (NIR) had done, that meant they were tied on -16 after 72holes and it was back to the 18th hole for a play –off.
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Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) with the Chevron World Challenge Trophy |
In 3rd place was Paul Casey (England) on -12, 4th was Rory McIlroy (NIR) on -11, 5th was Hunter Mahan (USA) on -10 and the 2010 US PGA Tour player of the year Jim Furyk (USA) was back in 11th place at even par. So now the US PGA Tour has just one more sanctioned event left for 2010 season. That is The Shark Shootout that is being played at Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Florida and starts on Saturday morning New Zealand time. It is played under a fun unique format with 12 two man teams selected by tournament host Greg Norman. The first round is played under the Foursomes format, Day 2 is played under the fourball format, and the final day is played under the exciting scramble format that regularly produces scored in the high 50’s.The defending champions are Steve Stricker and Jerry Kerry. It will be exciting viewing, so it you can watch any of it, I recommend you do.
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Billy Mayfair (USA) medalist at the 2010 USPGA Tour School Final |
Best of the New Zealanders were Josh Geary (NZL) after a promising start with rounds of 69,67 to be place inside the top 10 after 36holes, he faded with rounds of 72,70,72,74 for a 6rounds 424-5 that left him tied for 50th, and he missed out on his 2011 USPGA Tour card by 5 shots. But it is not all doom and gloom for him, as he now has full playing status on the Nationwide Tour next year. Next best New Zealander was Danny Lee (NZL) who shot 426-3 for the 6rounds and finished up tied for 64th and he too has full playing Status on the Nationwide Tour in 2011.But he will have to choose between whether he sticks with the European tour which he is exempt for or chose’s the Nationwide Tour. I feel he will chose the Nationwide Tour as he has a house in Texas, USA.
The 3rd best New Zealander was Tim Wilkinson (NZL) who also shot 426-3 for the 6rounds, and he too has his 2011full Nationwide Tour Status. It was not so good news for Michael Hendry (NZL) who I thought at the beginning of the week would have a great chance at gaining his Full USPGA Tour status for 2011. But he got off to a poor start, he finished off strong with rounds of 70, 68, 71. But he ended the 6rounds 430+1 and was tied 100th which only gains him semi nationwide tour status. So I feel he may just concentrate on the One Asia Tour in 2011 and then try again next year. And lastly Steve Alker (NZL) continued on the way he has been playing all year, he finished the 6rounds 436+7 in tied 132nd. He may have to reassess his professional playing career in 2011 as he only has Semi status on the Nationwide Tour, and the fact that he didn’t even earn a pay cheque in 2010 on that tour suggest to me that the USA might not of been a good career move. I suggest he has a Season on the One Asia Tour to regain his confidence.
Other news from the Professional Golf Tours this week, Lee Westwood (England) will end the year as the Number 1 golfer in the world after winning the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City, South Africa on Sunday when he defeated Tim Clark (RSA) by 9shots. Lee Westwood (England) finished 72 Holes at -18 and it won him a cool US$ 1.25m. And on the European Tour they are staging the final stage of their Q-School as I write this they have completed 2rounds on the PGA Catalunya Resort Course in Girona, Spain with the unheralded German golfer, Florian Fritsch (Germany) leading after 36holes of the 108 holes on -9. Unfortunately no New Zealanders made it to compete at the final stage.
And on a final note, the 2011 Race to Dubai Schedule on the European Tour Commences in the early hours of Friday morning New Zealand time when Alfred Dunhill Championship tees off at the Leopard Creek CC,Malelane,South Africa. It is the start of a four tournament swing in South Africa with two tournaments before Christmas and another two in early January 2011. Players will be looking for a fast start to their 2011 Race to Dubai Campaign. Just like the Defending Champion Pablo Martin (Spain) did last year when he won this Championship and finished runner up in the South African Open the following week.
Well that is about it for this week, and again I hope in next week’s report I can have some good news to tell you all on New Zealand Professional Golfers winning tournaments and having high finishes from around the world on their respective tours.
Sources: pgatour.com, europeantour.com, www.pga.org.au
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