GOLF EVENTS FROM WEEKEND 9TH JANUARY

Well I will start off just recapping who won the 2010 PGA Tour of Australasia & One Asia Qualifying School Final Stage held at Peninsula Country Golf Club from 20th to 23rd December last year. It was Neven Basic (Australia). He scored rounds of 73+1, 69-3, 67-5 and 70-2 to finish the 72Holes on 279-9.

He won the Final Q-School by 4 shots over Paul Spargo (Australia) who was -5. In solo third place was Daniel Beckmann (Australia) on -4. In 4th place was Keith Nolan (Australia) on -3, then the best placed New Zealand Golfer competing was Brad Shilton -2. He scored rounds of 74 +2, 72even, 71-1 and 69 -3: for a four round total of 286 -2, and finished 6th and gained his card for 2011 on the Australasia Tour and also has his One Asia card for 2011.

Another New Zealander to gain his card for next year was Daniel Klein (NZL), he finished even on 288. And he also has his One Asian Tour card for 2011. Other New Zealanders to make it through are Josh Carmichael (NZL) +7, Mathew Holten (NZL) +8, Nick Gillespie (NZL) +8, Hamish Robertson (NZL) +11, Peter Spearman-Burn (am) (NZL) +12.

And so to the first event on the 2011 Australasian Tour Schedule. It was the Victorian Open Golf Championship, staged at the Spring Valley Golf Club in Victoria. In very difficult Conditions on the final day, Paul Sheehan (Australia) prevailed to win his first professional tournament since 2006. He only hit 5 greens in the final round. And it was his putter that saved the day. He shot a final round of 72+1. And he finished 72 Holes at -8 to win by 2 shots over the young Professional Matthew Griffin (Australia). Australian Golfers took up the Top 10 places.

Paul Sheehan (Australia) with Victorian Open Trophy

Best New Zealander was Doug Holloway (New Zealand) who was tied for 13th on -2 after 72 holes. He scored a fine final round of 69-2. Next best New Zealander was Mathew Holten (New Zealand) on +8, He finished with a 73+2 in the final round and tied for 36th Place. Also other New Zealanders to make the cut were, Brad Shilton (New Zealand) +11 after 72 Holes. He tied for tied for 50th place, but had a great final round of 69-2.

The next tournament starts on Thursday (13th January) and is the Cellarbrations Victorian PGA Championship proudly supported by Frankston City, it is being played at the Sandhurst Golf Club (North Course) in Victoria, Australia. Also this week on Tuesday (11th January) the International Final Qualifying (IFQ) for the 2011 Open Championship which is being played this year at Royal St George’s GC, Sandwich, Kent, England is being staged at Kingston Heath Golf Club, Victoria. The Top 3 player’s scores after 36 holes will gain a spot in the 140th Open Championship field in July. Next week I will be able to report to you the three  players that were Successful.

Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) 

holding the Africa Open trophy

And now to the first event on the European Tour for 2011, it actually was the 3rd event on the 2011 Race to Dubai Schedule, because the first two events were played in December last year. It was the Africa Open, played at the East London Golf Club, Eastern Cape, South Africa. There were 3 players tied at -16 after 72 holes. They were Chris Wood (England), Manuel Quiros (Spain), and Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa). They all went back to the 18th hole again to play it as the 1st playoff hole. Chris Wood (England) and Manual Quiros (Spain) both secured easy pars. But Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) rolled in his 8foot birdie putt to win the Africa Open and start his year off the best possible way.

He scored rounds of 70-3, 67-6, 69-4, and 70-3 to finish 72 holes at 276 -16, and of course he birdied the 1st playoff hole to win. It was his 1st win since winning the 139th Open Championship at St Andrews in Scotland last year. And should do a world of good to his confidence to continue the fine form he showed last year. He won € 158,500.00 for his win and he moves to number one on the Race to Dubai Standings after 3 events with €227,700 from all 3 tournaments. Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) had another good finish at tied for 4th on -15. There were no New Zealanders in the field and the best Australian Player was Wade Ormsby (Australia) at -10 in tied 21st place.

The European tour stays in South Africa again this week for the Joburg Open, it is being played at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club, Johannesburg, South Africa. And it starts on Thursday (13th January). A South African Golfer will be looking to win that as well. I will report back who won next week.

And now to the 1st event on the 2011 USPGA Tour Schedule and the Start of the 2011 FedEx Cup. The two times Defending Champion Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) had to withdraw because he cut his hand on Coral while have a swim before the Tournament even started. So the Tournament was assured of a new Champion. Well when it came to the 72nd hole late Sunday afternoon, there were 3 players that had a realistic chance of winning.

Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) came to the 72nd hole at -23 and -11 for the round needing a Birdie to get in the play off, and an eagle to win. If he birdied he would have set a new course record of 61-12.  He hit a great short iron approach to 8feet for his 3rd but just miss read his putt, and scored a disappointing par 5. But he had the best round of the year so far on the PGA Tour. His 62-11 was bogey free and just an awesome round. But at the beginning of the day he would have taken 3rd place if offered it.

Robert Garrigus (USA) came to the 72nd hole -5 for the day and -23 for the tournament. He hit his drive in the Fairway on the 660yards par five. Then hit his fairway wood 2nd shot to 15feet and had an eagle putt to secure the win. He pulled it slightly and had to settle for a birdie 4 and post -24 after 72 holes. Jonathan Byrd (USA) had a putt to win the tournament on the 72nd green. It was from 15 feet as well. But he left it a foot short and a play off was forced.

They headed back to the 18th hole again for the 1st playoff hole. Both players hit solid drives down the centre of the fairway which is one on the widest on the PGA Tour. Jonathan Byrd (USA) laid up with his 2nd shot to within 100 yards of the green. Robert Garrigus (USA) went for the green, but came up 5 yards short. Jonathan Byrd (USA) hit his approach shot to 15 feet. Robert Garrigus (USA) completely miss read his approach chip, and it landed 10 feet to the right of the hole. Jonathan Byrd (USA) putted for his birdie, but it miss on the left and he secured an easy par. Robert Garrigus (USA) attacked his birdie putt and rolled it 6feet past. But then gathered himself to hole the par putt. So the players then went back to the 2nd playoff hole, which was the 1st hole.

Jonathan Byrd (USA) with the Hyundai 

Tournament of Champions Trophy

Robert Garrigus (USA) hit 1st and nailed his drive over 300 yards, but it rolled just through the fairway into the rough. Jonathan Byrd (USA) hit his drive in the fairway but along way back. Jonathan Byrd (USA) then hit his long approach shot into 40 feet below the hole. Robert Garrigus (USA) hit his 2nd shot just inside him. They both had long putts for birdie. Jonathan Byrd (USA) had a brilliant putt that just slide past the left edge of the hole and stopped 18inches away leaving him a tap in for an easy par and putting a lot of pressure on Robert Garrigus (USA). Robert Garrigus (USA) hit his birdie putt too hard and it rolled 6 feet past the cup. His par putt to take the playoff in to a 3 rd hole hit the back of the cup and lipped out. That meant that Jonathan Byrd (USA) had won the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. It was his 2nd win in 3months having won the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in late October last year and that was also in a playoff, when he holed in one on the 17th  hole at the TPC at Summerlin to winning an Amazing play off that went 4 holes. 

The win yesterday brings his total wins on the USPGA Tour to 5, and he moves to 1st on the 2011 FedEx Cup points list with 500 points after 1 event. The win also gives him a cheque of $ US1,120,000.00 to lead the money list as well and he gets one the latest Hyundai Vehicles to drive. Robert Garrigus (USA) can’t be too this appointed though, after backing up his win at the last tournament of the 2010 season (Children’s Miracle Network Classic), with a 2nd place here. It should give one of the longest hitters on the USPGA Tour a lot of Confidence to achieve big things in the 2011 PGA Tour Season. And now he has put behind him the disappointment of blowing that 3 shot lead in Memphis last year on the final hole.

Other players to have good performances were Carl Pettersson (Sweden) & Steve Stricker (USA) on -20, although Steve Stricker (USA) would be disappointed with his final round 71-2. Ian Poulter (England) & Matt Kuchar (USA) were tied for 6th on -18. 8th was Bill Haas (USA) on -16, and to round out the top 10 players was Dustin Johnson (USA), Jim Furyk (USA) & Jason Day (Australia) in tied for 9th place at -14.

This week the USPGA Tour stays in Hawaii for the Sony Open in Hawaii, which is being played at the Waialae CC, Honolulu, Hawaii. It starts on Thursday (January 13th) There is $US 5,500,000 prize money on offer and it is the 1st regular tournament of the season with a lot of Qualifying School & Nationwide Graduates getting their first taste of USPGA Tour Tournament play. Ryan Palmer (USA) is the defending champion, and will be looking to go back to back. As a rule scoring is very low with the winning score being in the minus 20’s under par. So I look forward to reporting to you all how prevailed and took the trophy next week. So until then have a good week and happy golfing.

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com, http://www.pga.org.au/