Golf Events from the Weekend 13th February

Yani Tseng (Taiwan) with the 

ANZ RACV Ladies Masters Trophy

Well it was another exciting weekend on the Professional Golf scene. First I will start with the ANZ RACV Ladies Masters that was played at the RACV Royal Pines Resort in Queensland. And again it was the Amazing Taiwanese Golfer Yani Tseng (Taiwan) that won again. She went back to back after winning the Handa Women’s Australian Open last week in Melbourne, Australia.

With rounds of 67-5, 66-6, 63-9 and 68-4 for a 72 hole Total of 264-24 and won the Tournament by 4shots. She earned $AU 75,000 for her efforts and with her win she takes the Number Woman’s golfer ranking in the world. These back to back wins will give her a huge boost of confidence when she heads back to the USLPGA Tour soon. And I wouldn’t be surprised if she wins one of the Majors on that tour this year. Maybe it will be the US Open or British Open?

2nd equal place went to Stacy Lewis (USA) and Nikki Campbell (Australia), they both finished 72holes at -20 on 268. But the most amazing performance of the weekend went to the young New Zealand Amateur Golfer Cecilia Cho (New Zealand) from the Pakuranga GC in Auckland, New Zealand. She shot 4 rounds in the 60’s and they were, 69-3, 67-5, 68-4, 67-5 for a 72 hole total of 271-17. Had she been a professional, she would of won $AU 17, 250. The 16 year old golfer will now head back to New Zealand to play in the NZ Open that is starting on Thursday (17th Feb).

Lee-Anne Pace (South Africa) who won the Order of Merit on the Ladies European Tour last year also finished tied 5th on -17, 271.  She had a brilliant final round of 65-7. Unfortunately all the other New Zealand Lady Golfers in the field missed the cut that fell at -4. The ALPG and the LET Tours head to New Zealand this week for the Pegasus New Zealand Women's Open hosted by Christchurch at the Pegasus Golf and Sports Club. The 1st round starts on Thursday (17th Feb) and it is sure to be a fine tournament with a lot of High Profile players from USA and Europe making an appearance including defending Champion Laura Davies (England). I will report back the results next week.

So to the Europe Tour and the Race to Dubai. And this week it was the final leg of the desert swing. It was the Omega Dubai Desert Classic that was being played at the Emirates GC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. And the number 1, 2 and 3 players in the world were competing and paired with each other in the 1st 2rounds. But Lee Westwood (England), Martin Kaymer (Germany) and Tiger Woods (USA) all didn’t have great tournaments, with Lee Westwood (England) fearing the best at tied for 15th at -5.

Alvaro Qurios (Spain) with the Omega Dubai 

Desert Classic Trophy

But it was the Young Spanish Professional that stole the show, Alvaro Quiros (Spain) scored rounds of 73+1, 68-4, 68-4, 68-4 for a 72 hole total of 277 -11. And it included a hole in one on the 155metre par 3, 11th hole in the final round; he also had holed his 2nd shot on the par 4, 2nd hole earlier in that round. He earned € 301,353 Euros for the win and moves to number one on the Race to Dubai Money list with €558,376 Euros from the 4 events he has played this season. He surpassed Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) who was the previous week’s leader. There are still 5 South African Golfers in the top 10 on the list, the most of any country in the top 10. It was Alvaro Quiros (Spain) 5th win on the European Tour. And with such an awesome start to this season, he is sure to contend at the 4 majors this year and I wouldn’t be surprised if he broke through and even won one. Perhaps it will be the US Masters in April. 

Tied for 2nd were Anders Hansen (Denmark) and James Kingston (South Africa) on -10. They both had chances to force a playoff but were unable to convert their opportunities when it counted. Low Australian was Scott Strange (Australia) at tied 4th at -9. Rory McILroy (Northern Ireland) who started so well and was the 36 hole leader on -11, played poor golf the last 2 rounds to finished at -6 and tie for 10th place. That will frustrate him, but I am sure he is heading for a big season ahead. 

Tiger Woods (USA) playing in only his 2nd tournament of 2011, showed traces that he is nearly back to his best with a 66-6 in the 2nd round. And was only one back after 54holes, but unfortunately a final round 75+3 derailed any chance he had of getting his 1st win on any tour in 15months. He ended up finishing at -4, tied for 20th place.

Best of the New Zealanders this week was Danny Lee (NZL), with rounds of 74+2, 69-3, 78+6 and 67-5, he had a 72 hole total of 288even par which left in tied 42nd place. And it earned him € 10,126 Euros. That places him in 111th place on the Race to Dubai rankings with €23,778 Euros from 4 events. He soon is going to have to decide which tour he is going to play for the rest of the 2011 season as he gained his Nationwide Tour Card at the end of last year at USPGA Tour Q-school. And the 1st tournament on the Nationwide Tour starts in late February. My personal opinion is he will focus on the Nationwide Tour as his game is more suited to America Conditions and he owns his own house in the USA as well.

The other New Zealand player to make the cut was Mark Brown (New Zealand), and after a great start with rounds of 69-3, 70-2 to be -5 after 36 holes and inside the Top 10, he went backwards on the weekend, scoring a shocking 79+7 in tough conditions on Saturdays 3rd round and a 72even par in the final round to finish on 290+2 after 72Holes. He tied for 55th place and earned € 5,831 Euros that puts him 101st on the Race to Dubai standings with €28,283 Euros from 6 Events played and next week’s tournament being played on the same course he won the Johnnie Walker Classic on in India in 2008 should bring back some good memories for him, so look for a good performance next week from Mark Brown (NZL).

And the final New Zealander in the tournament was Michael Campbell (New Zealand), but unfortunately he missed another cut. He scored rounds of 76+4, 75+3 for a 36hole total of 151+7 to miss the cut by 7shots. Looks like his poor form is going to continue again this year. Next week the European Tour heads to India for the Avantha Masters that is being played at the DLF Golf and Country Club, New Delhi, India. It starts on Thursday (17th Feb).

I will report back who took home the spoils next week.

And now to the USPGA Tour and this week it was the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am that was played at 3 different courses, they were Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, Monterey Peninsula CC, Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill GC, Pebble Beach, California with the final round being played at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, California. And it was D. A. Points (USA) who shot a final round 67-5 to go along with his 1st 3rounds of 63-7, 70-2 and 71-1 to finish 72 holes at 271-15. His win was set up with eagle 3 on the par 5, 14th hole when he holed his wedge shot to a difficult pin placement. And he gave his Pro-Am partner who was well known Actor Bill Murray from the movie Caddy Shack a high five in celebration. And on the very next hole, the par 4, 15th hole he holed a curling right to left birdie putt from 35feet and that took him to -15 and with solid pars on the last 3holes he posted -15.

Hunter Mahan (USA) had posted a 66-6 earlier in the day, and the only thing that had ruined the brilliant round was a 3putt par on the 72nd hole after hitting the par 5, in 2shots. But as it happened he would have still lost by 1shot. The only other player on the golf course that could catch D. A. Points (USA) was Steve Marino (USA) that came to the 72nd hole  -13 and he had to make eagle to tie. He unfortunately hit his drive into the right fairway bunker, and had no chance of reaching the green in 2shots. His layup left him still over 200 yards to the green. And when his 3rd shot sailed left into the Pacific Ocean and he eventually holed out for a Triple Bogey 8, he ended up finishing at -10 tied 4th. He will be disappointed that he wasn’t able to secure his 1st USPGA Tour win, but on the other hand his 1st win can’t be too far off. A betting man would say he will win by the end of the 2011 season.

But it was D. A. Points (USA) day and he secured his 1st USPGA Tour win after coming so close the past few years. He won $US1,134,000.00 and got 500 FedEx Cup points that puts him 2nd on the list with 688 points from 4 tournaments, only 320 points behind the leader for the 2nd week running Mark Wilson (USA), and places him 2nd on the USPGA Tour money list with $US1,465,350. It must be a dream start to the season for D. A. Points (USA) with all the years in the early 2000’s that he failed at the PGATour Q-School, and now he is exempt on the USPGA Tour till the end of 2013. And to top it all off, D. A. Points (USA) and his Pro-Am partner Actor Bill Murray from the movie Caddy Shack secured the Pro-Am Title win with a score of 251-35 for the 72holes by 2shots. It was the 1st time Bill Murray had won the Pro-Am in over 35 years of trying. He played with Scott Simpson (USA) for years, but they were never able to achieve the win.

D A Points (USA) and Bill Murray the movie American Actor,

both celebrating there wins

In 3 rd place was Tom Gillis (USA) at -11, Aaron Baddeley (Australia) was the low Australian at tied for 6th on -9, and Steve Bowditch (Australia) after securing his tour card by finishing in the Top 25 on the Nationwide Tour last year had his best USPGA Tour finish in a long time, he was -8 in tied 9th place along with Phil Mickelson (USA). Next week the USPGA Tour heads to Riviera CC, Pacific Palisades, California for the Northern Trust Open and Steve Stricker (USA) will be looking to defend the title he won last year. With $US6,500,000  up for grabs as prize money, it is sure to attract some good players. It starts on Thursday (17th Feb). I will report back who won next week.

Tom Lehman (USA) with the

Allianz Championship Trophy

And finally to the Champions Tour, this week they played Allianz Championship played at the Old Course at Broken Sound, Boca Raton, Florida. Tom Lehman (USA) played a great final round of 69-3 to finish the 54holes at -13; he scored 3rounds in the 60’s with his 1st two rounds being 65-7 and 69-3. He won by 1shot and secured his 3rd Champions Tour win. It should give him a lot of confidence early on in the season and the $US270,000.00 he won gives him $US454,000 from the 2tournaments he has play on the Champions tour this year. He also leads the Charles Schwab Points list 454 points from 2tournaments. I can remember winning $150 at the TAB from a $5 bet on Tom Lehman (USA) to win the 1996 Open Championship which he did.

Jeff Sluman (USA) was tied 2nd on -12 with Rod Spittle (Canada), next was Olin Browne (USA) and Russ Cochran (USA) on -10. Peter Senior (Australia) after leading the tournament after 36 holes on -11, had a shocking final round of 77+5 and finished -6 to tie for 17th place. It will be a real knock to his confidence. But on the other hand it will be a great learning experience for him. And this being only his 2nd year on the Champions Tour I’m sure he will secure a victory this year.

Next week the Champions Tour heads to The Quarry, Naples, Florida for the Ace Group Classic which starts on Thursday (17th Feb) and I will report back the results next week. So until then, keep it on the short grass and hole all your putts.

Source: http://www.alga.com.au/, europeantour.com, pgatour.com