It was another exciting weekend on the Professional Golf Tours from around the world.
First, I will start with the Australasian PGA Tour. This week it was the Cellarbrations QLD PGA Championship and it was played at the City Golf Club in Toowoomba, QLD. And for once we had a New Zealand player win on the tour. Gareth Paddison (New Zealand) scored rounds of 67-3, 67-3, 62-8, and 66-4 for a 72 hole total of 262-18.
He won by 2 shots and it was his 3rd win on the Australasian Tour after 10 years of playing that tour on and off between the times he has spent time on the Challenge and European Tours and in recent times One AsiaTour and the Charles Tour back home. He has worked very hard on his game throughout his career and in my opinion really deserves this win and I hope it gives him a lot of confidence to go on this year and win some tournaments on the One Asia Tour. He took home the $AU17,250 first prize cheque, plus he earns an exemption onto the PGA Tour of Australasia until the end of 2012. And he will bring some good news to New Zealand after all the destruction that has going on in Christchurch with the devastating Earthquake that Struck last Tuesday.
First, I will start with the Australasian PGA Tour. This week it was the Cellarbrations QLD PGA Championship and it was played at the City Golf Club in Toowoomba, QLD. And for once we had a New Zealand player win on the tour. Gareth Paddison (New Zealand) scored rounds of 67-3, 67-3, 62-8, and 66-4 for a 72 hole total of 262-18.
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| Gareth Paddison (NZL) with the Cellarbrations QLD PGA Championship trophy |
Tied for 2nd on -16 were Kieran Pratt (Australia) and Terry Pilkadaris (Australia). In 4th place was Peter Wilson (Australia) on -15, Michael Hendry (New Zealand) was the next best New Zealander with 4 rounds in the 60’s to finish at 5th at -14 which is another good finish for him. He is heading to Columbia next week to play in his 1st nationwide tour event as a member of that tour. Next best New Zealander was Douglas Holloway (New Zealand), he finished tied 29th at -7, Hamish Robertson (New Zealand) was in 51st place at -1, and David Klein (New Zealand) was tied 57th at +8.
Andrew Buckle (Australia) leads the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit with $AU26, 600.00. Gareth Paddison (New Zealand) with the win moves to 6th on the list with $AU 17,899.00. The PGA Tour of Australasia now takes a break until next summer, and I look forward to bringing you all the results when it recommences. So now to the USPGA Tour and this week they played 2 tournaments. The 1st one was the WGC – Accenture Match play Championship that was played at Ritz-Carlton GC, Dove Mountain, Marana, Arizona. It had the Top 64 ranked golfers in the world playing 18 hole knockout matches.
There were some major upsets in the 1st round. The main one being Tiger Woods (USA), who was one of the Top Seeds. He was beaten by Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) on the 19th hole in the 1st round. It will be just another disappointment to him, but I am sure he will be back winning soon. Also in the 2nd round Rickie Fowler (USA) thrashed Phil Mickelson 6&5, and the World Number 1, Lee Westwood (England) was beaten by Nick Watney (USA) 1up. And he lost his number 1 world ranking. So to the Quarter Finals.
The 1st one was between Ryan Moore (USA) verses Luke Donald (England), Luke Donald (England) prevailed 5&4 to Advance to Semi – Finals. The 2nd one was between Matt Kuchar (USA) and Y. E. Yang (South Korea), Matt Kuchar (USA) prevailed 2&1 to Advance to the Semi – Finals. The 3rd one was between Martin Kaymer (Germany) verse Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain), and Martin Kaymer (Germany) prevailed 1up to advance to the Semi – Finals. And the 4th one was between J B Holmes (USA) verse Bubba Watson (USA), and Bubba Watson (USA), prevailed on the 19 hole after nearly blowing his big lead of 5up after 10holes. So to the Semi – Finals.
They were meant to be played on the Sunday with the Semi – final in the morning and the 18 hole final in the afternoon. But Snow was forecast for Sunday, so they moved the Semi – Final matches to Saturday Afternoon. The first match was between Luke Donald (England) verse Matt Kuchar (USA), and Luke Donald (England) thrashed him 6&5 to advance to the final. And the 2nd match was between Martin Kaymer (Germany) verses Bubba Watson (USA), Martin Kaymer (Germany) prevailed in a very close match 1up.
So to the final and as predicted the snow arrived early Sunday Morning causing a bit of a delay. But as the Sun came up, it quickly melted away. This was the 1st Final ever to be played over 18 holes instead of the usual 36 holes in previous years. So the Final was between Martin Kaymer (Germany) who is the new Number 1 in the world, verse Luke Donald (England). Luke Donald (England) took the early lead. He was 3up after 5holes, But Martin Kaymer (Germany) though back well to have the match all square after 9 holes. When Luke Donald (England) hit his 2nd shot fat to the 10th hole and it landed in the desert, it looked like Martin Kaymer (Germany) would go 1up for the 1st time in the match. But Luke Donald (England) hit an awesome 3rd shot chip to 6 feet and holed the putt and when Martin Kaymer (Germany) missed his putt for birdie that match was still all square.
The both hit close 3rd shots into the par 5, 11th hole, Luke Donald (England) was 10feet and Martin Kaymer (Germany) 8feet. Luke Donald (England) holed his birdie putt 1st. And when Martin Kaymer (Germany) missed his, Luke Donald (USA) went back to 1up. Luke Donald (England) won the Par 3, 12th hole with a par 3 to go to 2up. The 13th hole was a par 5, both players hit good drives right in the centre of the fairway. Luke Donald (England) hit a fine 2nd shot with his 3wood about 5yards short of the green. Martin Kaymer (Germany) who hit a much longer drive, hit a long iron, on the green pin high and had a putt for an eagle. Luke Donald (England) chipped his 3shot within 5feet of the hole. Martin Kaymer (Germany) left his putt for eagle 5feet short and Luke Doanld (England) conceded the birdie putt. Luke Donald (England) then calmly rolled in his birdie putt. So Luke Donald (England) was 2up with 5holes to play.
Luke Donald (England) hit a poor drive down the Par 4, 14th hole in the left rough, and Martin Kaymer (Germany) hit a brilliant drive down the middle of the fairway. Luke Donald (England) then hit a great 2nd to just short of the green. Martin Kaymer (Germany) hit his 2nd to 15feet from the hole. Luke Donald (England) chipped stone dead and was conceded his putt. Martin Kaymer (Germany) just missed his birdie putt. So Luke Donald (England) was 2up with 4 holes to play. The then came to the short driveable par 5, 15th hole. Luke Donald (England) teed off 1st and went for the green, landing his ball 5yards short. Martin Kaymer (Germany) went for the green as well and land about the same distance short, just to the right of Luke Donald (England) ball slightly closer. Luke Donald (England) hit his 2nd shot 1st and landed about 4feet from the hole. Martin Kaymer (Germany) hit his 2nd shot chip shot to about 6feet from the hole. When Martin Kaymer (Germany) missed his birdie putt, he conceded Luke Donald (England) his birdie. So Luke Donald (England) was 3up with 3holes to play. Luke Donald (England) hit a great shot in the short par 3, 16th hole. It landed 12feet right of the hole. Martin Kaymer (Germany) hit his shot 30feet past the pin on the green. The match was basically Luke Donald ‘s (England) from there. Martin Kaymer (Germany) had a good run at his birdie putt, but missed to the right. He was conceded his par putt meaning Luke Donald (England) had 2putts to win. He hit his 1st putt to within 2feet of the hole. And was conceded the next. So Luke Donald (England) won his 1st WGC – Accenture World Match Play Championship.
He was never down in any of his 6matches all week. He won $US1,400,000.00 for his win and got 550 FedEx Cup points and is in 9th place on the list with 550 points from the 2 events he has played this year. 505 points behind running away early leader Mark Wilson (USA). It was his 3rd win on the USPGA Tour and his 1st since 2006. He also moved to 1st on the Race to Dubai Money List with €1,027,923 from the only event he has played on the European Tour this year. I feel this win may lead to big things for Luke Donald (England) in 2011. And with his improved world ranking of 3rd, it will really boost his confidence. Tigers Woods (USA) has slipped down to number 5 in the world now. That would be his lowest ranking in some time.
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| Luke Donald (England) with WGC Accenture Matchplay Trophy |
The consolation match between Matt Kuchar (USA) and Bubba Watson (USA) went to Matt Kuchar (USA) 2&1. The other tournament on the USPGA Tour this week was the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya – Cancun that was played at El Camaleon, Riviera Maya, Mexico. There was 132 players in the field and they were playing for half of the usual FedEx Cup points. Johnson Wagner (USA) and Spencer Levin (USA) finished 72 holes at 267-17. Spencer Levin (USA) had a final round 65-6 to Johnson Wagner’s (USA) 67-4. So they both headed back to the 18th hole for the 1st Sudden Death playoff hole. With Johnson Wagner (USA) making par to a Spencer Levin (USA) bogey. That meant Johnson Wagner (USA) had won his 2nd USPGA Tour event, and his 1st since 2008 where he won the Shell Houston Open. The win earns him $US 666,000.00 and he also gets 250 FedEx Cup points, which puts him 31st on the list.
It should give him a lot of confidence to win again this year. And he is now exempt on the USPGA Tour till the end of 2013. In 3rd place was the Champions Tour player John Cook (USA) on -14, a great performance by the over 50 year old. Chris Stroud (USA) was 4th on -13. Rory Sabbatini (USA), David Toms (USA), Brian Gay (USA), Briny Baird (USA), Jarrod Lyle (Australia), and Bobby Gates (USA) were all tied for 5th on -12. It was another great tournament that meant the players not in the WGC – Accenture Match play could still play another event, and gave a lesser name player a chance to win.
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| Johnson Wagner (USA) winner on the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun |
The USPGA Tour heads this week to the East Coast, and leaves the West Coast swing behind it. The 1st event on the Florida Swing is the Honda Classic which is played at the PGA National Champion Course, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Camilo Villegas (Columbia) is the defending Champion. And with $US5,700,000 up for grabs it is sure to attract a good quality field. And just a note, I was checking the World Golf Rankings that came out on Monday and for the 1st time in a long time, there are 4 European Tour players in the Top 4, Martin Kaymer (Germany) at Number 1, Lee Westwood (England) Number 2, Luke Donald (England) Number 3 and Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) at Number 4.
So to my final event I am reporting on this week. And it is the 1st Nationwide Tour event of the year, Panama CLARO Championship that was played at Panama GC, Panama City, PAN. And it was the Australian Golfer Mathew Goggin (Australia) who took away the spoils. He scored rounds of 68-2, 66-4, 67-3 and 68-2 for a 72 hole total of 269-11. He won by 2shot’s over Darron Stiles (USA) and Alistair Presnell (Australia) were both tied for 2nd on -9. It was Mathew Goggin’s (Australia) 2nd win in the USA have won a Nationwide Tour Event 11 years ago in 1999. After being on the USPGA Tour for many years, he lost his status on that tour last year and is having a season on the Natonwide Tour to try and get back his USPGA Tour Status. And with this win he leads the Nationwide Tour Money list after 1event with $US 99,000. And is well on his way to make it back to the USPGA Tour in 2012.
Erik Compton (USA) the 2time heart replacement man was leading after 54 holes at -13, had a poor final round of 75+5, but I feel he will gain alot of confidence from this performance and could well win on the Nationwide Tour this year. Best of the New Zealanders was Josh Geary (New Zealand), +1 and that left in 37th place. Danny Lee (New Zealand) finished +2 after a shocking final round of 79+9 that left him in tied 38th place when he started the final round at tied for 8th. And the final New Zealander to make the cut was Brad Iles (New Zealand) at +4, and he tied for 49th. Other New Zealanders in the Field that didn’t make the cut were, Steve Alker (New Zealand) at 143+3 after 36 holes to miss the cut by 2shots. And Tim Wilkinson (New Zealand) at 144+4 to miss the cut by 3shots. He is looking to gain back his USPGA Tour Status this year that he lost last year.
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| Mathew Goggin (Australia) Winner of the Panama Claro Championship |
Erik Compton (USA) the 2time heart replacement man was leading after 54 holes at -13, had a poor final round of 75+5, but I feel he will gain alot of confidence from this performance and could well win on the Nationwide Tour this year. Best of the New Zealanders was Josh Geary (New Zealand), +1 and that left in 37th place. Danny Lee (New Zealand) finished +2 after a shocking final round of 79+9 that left him in tied 38th place when he started the final round at tied for 8th. And the final New Zealander to make the cut was Brad Iles (New Zealand) at +4, and he tied for 49th. Other New Zealanders in the Field that didn’t make the cut were, Steve Alker (New Zealand) at 143+3 after 36 holes to miss the cut by 2shots. And Tim Wilkinson (New Zealand) at 144+4 to miss the cut by 3shots. He is looking to gain back his USPGA Tour Status this year that he lost last year.
Next week the Nationwide Tour heads to Columbia for the Pacific Rubiales Bogota Open Presented by Samsung and it is being played at the Country Club de Bogota, Bogota, COL and it is in its 2nd year. It owes alot to Camilo Villegas (Columbia) that is the founder of this tournament. He wanted to give something back to Columbia after all that Golf has given to him and his Family. It starts on Thursday (3rd March). Steve Pate (USA) is the defending Champion, and with $US 600,000 on offer it will attract all the leading players on that tour that are eager to get their seasons off to a fast start. I will report back who won next week. So until then, keep hitting fairways and greens, and of course making those putts.
Source: pgatour.org.au, europeantour.com, pgatour.com
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