Golf Events from the Weekend 17th April 2011

Matteo Manassero (Italy) with the Maybank Malaysian Open trophy
that he won

Well the Golfing tours moved on from the exciting events from the Masters Tournament in Augusta last week. First I will start with the European Tour and the Race to Dubai and this week it was the Maybank Malaysian Open that was played at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. And it was the young Italian Golfer Matteo Manassero (Italy) that took home the trophy. He scored rounds of 66-6, 71-1, 67-5 and 68-4 for a 72 hole total of 272-16 and won by 1shot over Gregory Bourdy (France).

It was like a repeat of the Masters last week with how he finished his first round. Matteo Manassero (Italy) birdied the last 4holes to score 66-6. But how he finished his final round was completely the opposite. He finished his final round with 4 straight pars to post -16, and then he had to wait for the rest of the challengers to see if they could catch or pass him. Gregory Bourdy (France) had posted -15 just before him.

So it was left up to Alexander Noren (Sweden) or Rory McILroy (Northern Ireland) to try and beat him or tie him. Alexander Noren (Sweden) was unable to making a single birdie on the final 4holes and finished with 71-1 in his final round. He had a 72 hole total of 275-13 and tied 4th with the young Spanish Professional Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spain) who shot a 67-5 in his final round to also tie for 4th place. Rory McILroy (NIR) had a great chance to forget about what happened at the Masters last week with winning this week. And after 11holes in his final round it looked like he was going to win. He had just birdied the 11th hole to get to -15, but when he hit his 2nd shot just short of the green on the 12th hole from a tricky lie and then hit a poor chip, and a poor par putt and missed his bogey putt he had made an untimely Double Bogey.

But Rory McILroy (NIR) then came back strong with birdies on 14th, 16th and 17th holes and was now only one shot off the lead playing the 72nd hole. So he knew what he had to do and that was to birdie the last hole to force a playoff, but instead he made a poor bogey and for the 2nd week running he was unable to convert his 54hole lead into a victory. He finished up with a 72 hole score of 274-14 for a sole 3rd place. But I am sure he will find a way to deal with his final round demons soon and will be back in the winner’s circle soon. But he has moved to 5th on the Race to Dubai Money list with €614,527 from the 6events he has played this year.

Gregory Bourdy (France) finished in sole 2nd place with a score of 275-15 for 72 holes; it was a fine effort from him and should give him a lot of confidence to keep on improving. But Matteo Manassero (Italy) had won his 2nd tournament on the European Tour before his 18th Birthday that is on Tuesday. He won € 288,466 for winning and that moved him to 11th on the Race to Dubai Standings with €428,744 from the 5events he has played this year. 1st on the list is The Masters Tournament Champion Charl Schwartzel (RSA) with €1,587,333 earned from the 9events he has played this year. The last event Matteo Manassero (Italy) won was the CASTELLÓ MASTERS Costa Azahar that was his 1st win last October.  I feel he is destined for greatness in the game. I feel it is only a matter of time before he breaks through and wins a Major. And now he is ranked 33rd in the Official World Rankings with 3.25 world ranking points he will be in the Majors for the rest of the year. Maybe it will be at the US Open or the Open Championship that he wins his 1st Major? But well done to Matteo Manassero (Italy) for his great play so young in his career. Rounding out the top 10 was Felipe Aguilar (Chile) was 6th on -12; Simon Dyson (England) was 7th on -10. MD Siddikur Rahman (Bangladesh) was 8th on -9 and it was a fine effort from him playing his 1st European Tour event of his career. Martin Kaymer (Germany) the current world number 1 and Alejandro Canizares (Spain) were tied 9th on -8. A Special mention should goto Charl Schwartzel (RSA) for finishing tied 11th on -7 after backing up from winning the Masters the week before. Now he is heading home to South Africa to celebrate.

Best of the New Zealanders was Mark Brown (NZL), he scored rounds of 73+1, 71-1, 70-2 and a final round of 69-3 for a 72 hole total of 283-5 and he tied for 19th. He won € 19,225 for his efforts and he is now placed in 121st on the Race to Dubai Money list with €50,683 from 9events he has played. But he will need to improve a lot to get into the top 60 by the end of the season to play in the Dubai World Championship that starts in early December. Danny Lee (NZL) was also Tied for 19th with rounds of 71-1, 67-5, 70-2 and a poor final round of 75+3 left him 283-5 after 72 holes. He also earned € 19,225 and he is now placed 162nd on the Race to Dubai points list with €23,778 from 5 events he has played this year to date and he too will need a big improvement in the coming weeks to keep his card at the end of the season. But he has the nationwide tour to fall back on where he is placed 29th on the Money list with $US 21,880 from 3events he has played this year. So maybe he will focus his attention more on the Nationwide Tour and gaining a USPGA Tour Card for 2012?

And finally the last New Zealander to make the cut was Michael Campbell (NZL), he scored rounds of 73+1, 67-5, 70-2 but like Danny Lee (NZL) a poor final round of 76+4 pushed him down the field and he had a 72 hole total of 286-2 in tied 36th place. He won € 11,770 for his efforts and is now 152nd on the Race to Dubai Money list with €31,336 from the 8events he has played this year. He still has a lot of improving to do but I feel he is not far away from achieving a top 10 finish and it just may happen in China next week. Next week the European Tour Schedule heads to China for the Volvo China Open and it is being played at the Luxehills International Country Club, Chengdu, China. Y. E. Yang (South Korea) will be looking to defend his title he won last year. But there will be lots of competition from the best players in Asia and Europe. I will report back who took home the trophy next week.

Now to the USPGA Tour and the FedEx Cup. And this week it was the Valero Texas Open that was played at TPC San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas. The event had a change of date this year being played the week after the Masters. It had a real funny thing happen in the 1st round with Kevin Na (USA) who was the Golf Channels Spotlight player for the day. He was playing a steady 1st round in trying conditions and was -1 after 8holes, but on the long par 4, 9th hole he did the unthinkable and had a 16+12 which was the highest score in relation to par ever record on the USPGA tour. It gave him a front nine of 47+11, he then went and played the back nine in 33-3 and scored 80+8 in the 1st round. He scored 77+5 in the 2nd round to be +13 after 36holes and miss the cut by 9. Had he scored a par on the 9th hole in the 1st round he would have made the cut by 3shots. But the way how he handled himself after the 16 was just pure class and it showed what type of Character he is made of. But hey that is golf and just the way it happens sometimes. Well getting back to who won the tournament, and it was USPGA Tour Rookie Brendan Steele (USA) who scored rounds of 69-3, 72even, 68-4 and a final round of 71-1 for a 72 hole total of 280-8 and won by 1shot. But it wasn’t as easy as it sounded. Heading into the final round Brendan Steele (USA) had a 2shot lead over Kevin Chappell (USA) who was -7. But by the time the two players had started the back nine they were both tied for the lead at -8.

Kevin Chappell (USA) birdied the Par 4, 10th hole to join Brendan Steele (USA) in the lead at -8; Cameron Tringale (USA) was -7, 1shot back after 10holes as well. But he made bogeys on holes 11th, 13th & 14th to drop back to -4; he birdied the par 4, 15th hole to get back to -5 where he finished. And the tie for 5th will certainly improve his position on the money list. It was his best finish on the USPGA Tour in only his 2nd year on tour. And to get out on the USPGA Tour the last two years he has had to survive Q-school finals twice. The $US 226,300.00 he made for coming tied 5th means he now has earned $US 374,119 from the 11events he has played this year, and is 91st on the money list. I hope he can keep his card this year and avoid Q-School for a 3rd Straight year. But if he does have to go back I feel he will regain his card.

Well back to the action. Brendan Steele (USA) and Kevin Chappell (USA) made all pars on holes 11 to 16 holes, and coming to the Par 4, 17th hole they were still tied for the lead at -8. But Kevin Chappell (USA) had a bogey 5, to Brendan Steele’s (USA) Par 4. So Brendan Steele (USA) had a 1shot lead playing the Par 5, 72nd Hole. Brendan Steele (USA) and Kevin Chappell (USA) both hit poor tee shots and had to lay up with their 2nd shots. They both had wedges for their 3rd shots. Kevin Chappell (USA) played 1st and missed the green long to the right, just over the green. Brendan Steele (USA) now knew all he had to do was hit the green with his wedge and 2putt and the title was his. He hit what he thought was a perfect wedge but he was slightly pumped up and it landed just over the green in a poor lie. Just what he didn’t need when he was trying to win his 1st USPGA Tour event of his career.

Brendan Steele (USA) celebrating his Valero Texas Open win

He was the 1st to play his 4th shot, and hit a nice chip that almost went in the hole, but the over spin on the ball caused it to roll 8feet past the pin and left him with a tough par putt. Kevin Chappell (USA) then had his 4th shot, and his ball was lying much worse. Afraid his ball was going to come out too fast he slightly duffed his chip shot and his ball landed 5feet short of the pin. Brendan Steele (USA) now had the 8foot par putt for his 1st USPGA win in his rookie season on tour. He calmly rolled it in and he had won the Valero Texas Open. He gained 500 FedEx Cup Points for his win which now places him in 19th position on the FedEx Cup points list with 623 points from the 12events he has played this year. He is 538 points behind Mark Wilson (USA) who has now been at the top for over 2 and half months. He has 1,161 points from 10events.

He also earned $US 1,116,000.00 for his win which places him 19th  on the money list with  $US1,266,504 from the 12events he has entered this year. Mark Wilson (USA) also leads that list with $US 2,430,825 he has won from the 10events he has played this year so far. The win also means Brendan Steele (USA) is exempt on the USPGA Tour till the end of 2013 season and he gets an invite to the 2012 Masters Tournament and many more spoils that come with the win. Last year at this time Brendan Steele (USA) couldn’t even imagine being in the position he is in now. He was playing on the Nationwide Tour and I bet he was not even thinking of the USPGA Tour. But a win at the Tour Championship the final event on the 2010 Nationwide Tour Season meant he finished 6th on the Final Money list and gained his USPGA Tour Status for 2011 season. And as we can see he has made the most of it. And I hope he goes on to bigger and better things and builds on this win.

Also the tied for 2nd for Kevin Chappell (USA) will be a huge boost to his confidence after gaining his 2011 USPGA Tour card by finishing 9th on the Nationwide Tour last year, and with the $US 597,819 he has won this year that puts him 63rd on the Money list in his Rookie season he is well on his way to keeping his card for 2012 USPGA Tour season. Charley Hoffman (USA) who was also -7 after 72 holes with a great 68-4 in the final round also tied for 2nd.  It was his best finish of the season to date. But after his great season last year where he won $US 2,559,646, and finished 4th on the money list with winning the 2nd FedEx Cup event which was the Deutsche Bank Championship. He will be looking to build on this performance in the coming weeks and maybe even winning again.

In 4th place was Brandt Snedeker (USA) on 282-6, there were 3 players tied for 5th on 283-5, they were Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden), Pat Perez (USA) and Cameron Tringale (USA) who I have already mentioned. In 8th place at 284-4 was Charles Howell III (USA), rounding out the top 10 were Keegan Bradley (USA) and Martin Laird (Scotland) who is continuing on his fine season, they both were tied for 9th at 285-3. Adam Scott (Australia) and Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) who were both coming off fine form from the Masters Tournament last week both had okay tournaments but poor last rounds. They both finished up tied 23rd at 288 even par, fellow Australians John Senden (Australia) and Nathan Green (Australia) were also tied 23rd.

Next week the USPGA Tour and the FedEx Cup head to South Carolina for The Heritage and it is played at the Jack Nicklaus/Pete Dye design course Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, South Carolina. With a purse of $US 5,700,000 it is sure to attract a great field. It usually is played the week after the Masters Tournament, but this year it is 2weeks after it. I have always loved this tournament as the back nine has some great viewing holes, especially with the 18th hole that has the Calibogue Sound next to it on the left-hand side and the light house right behind the 18th Green. Last year Jim Furyk (USA) defeated Brian Davis (England) on the 1st playoff hole to win. Look for another exciting finish this year. I will report back who won the Plaid Jacket next week.

The Top 5 World Golf Rankings this week are Martin Kaymer (Germany) at Number 1 on 7.64 World Ranking Points, Lee Westwood (England) at Number 2 on 7.38 World Ranking Points, Luke Donald (England) at Number 3 on 7.04 World Rankings Points, Phil Mickelson (USA) at Number 4 on 6.63 World Ranking Points, and Graeme McDowell (NIR) at Number 5 on 5.93 World Ranking Points. Tiger Woods (USA) is pushed to Number 6 on 5.89 World Ranking Points.

John Cook (USA) with the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am Trophy

So to the Champions Tour, And this week it was the Out Back Steakhouse Pro – Am that was played at TPC Tampa Bay, Lutz, Florida and it was John Cook (USA) that came away with the Trophy. He scored rounds of 66-5, 65-6 and a final round of 73+2 for a 54 hole total of 204-9, but Jay Don Blake (USA) also scored rounds of 66-5, 68-3 and 70-1 in the final round for the same 54hole total of 204-9. So it was back to the 18th hole for the 1st playoff hole. John Cook (USA) should have won in 54holes; it was only his double bogey at the last that caused the playoff. John Cook (USA) then birdied the 18th which was the 1st playoff hole to Jay Don Blake‘s (USA) par. It was John Cook’s (USA) 2nd win this year having won the 1st tournament of the Champions Tour season in Hawaii which was the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai in Mid January. For the win he earns $US 255,000.00 and he now has $US 612,087 from the 5events he has played this year. That places him 2nd on the money list. The only player ahead of him is Tom Lehman (USA) with $US 743,595 from 5events that he has played. John Cook (USA) is also 2nd on the Charles Schwab Cup Points list with 560 points from 5events he has played. He is 134 points behind the leader Tom Lehman (USA) who has 694 points also from 5events he has played to date this year. So John Cook (USA) and Tom Lehman (USA) are the two form players on the Champions Tour this year so far.

In  tied 3rd  place was Joe Ozaki (Japan) and Russ Cochran (USA) at -7, Michael Allen (USA) and Tom Pernice Jr. (USA) were tied 5th at -5, Nick Price and Olin Browne (USA) were tied 7th at -4, rounding out the top 10 were Mark Calcavecchia (USA), Larry Mize (USA), Peter Senior (Australia), Hale Irwin (USA) and Joey Sindelar (USA), they were all on -3. Next week the Champions Tour heads back to where it all began at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf and it is played at Savannah Harbor Golf Resort, Savannah, Georgia. It is a team’s tournament in pairs with last year’s winners Mark O’Meara (USA) and Nick Price (Zimbabwe) will be looking to defend their title they won. I will report back which team won next week.

 

Daniel Chopra (Sweden) with the Fresh Express Classic
at TPC Stonebrae trophy

My last tournament I am reporting on this week is from the Nationwide Tour and is the Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebae that was played at TPC Stonebrae, Hayward, California and it was Daniel Chopra (Sweden) who took home the title. He scored rounds of 68-2, 69-1 and 61-9 in the 3rd round that ended up being the final round because Fog forced the Final round to be cancelled. So Daniel Chopra’s (Sweden) 54 hole score of 198-12 meant he was the Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebae Champion for 2011. The win earned him $US 108,000.00 and places him 3rd on the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 108,000 from the 2 events he has played this year. 1st is Mathew Goggin (Australia) with $US 124,975 from the 4 events he has played this year.

Daniel Chopra (Sweden) after finishing 185th on the 2010 USPGA Tour Money list and lost all his playing Status, he will be keen to get his USPGA Tour card back for 2012 Season. And if he keeps up the fine form he will surely be there by the end of the season if he finishes in the top 25 on the Nationwide Tour Money List. I’m sure he will with this great start to the season he has made and maybe he will even get a Battle field promotion if he can win 2more events. Because players who win 3events on the Nationwide Tour in a single season automatically have USPGA Tour Status for the remainder of the current USPGA Tour Season and the following year. I wish him luck and all the best with his success on the Nationwide Tour in 2011.

Russell Knox (USA) and Luke List (USA) were tied for 2nd on -11, Tied for 4th were Erik Compton (USA), Marco Dawson (USA), Mathew Goggin (Australia) and Doug LaBelle II (USA) they were all on -8, Jason Enloe (USA) was in 8th place on -7, and rounding out the top 10 were Matt Davidson (USA), Jeff Grove (USA), Cliff Kresge (USA), Garrett Sapp (USA) and Brian Smock (USA) they were all on -6. Best of the New Zealand Golfers was Steven Alker (NZL) who scored rounds of 69-1, 71+1 and 69-1 for a 54 hole total of 209-1. He finished tied 39th and won $ US 2,648.58. That was the 1st cut he has made since the 2009 Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island. So that should give him some confidence to keep on improving in 2011on the Nationwide Tour. He is now placed tied for 109th on the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 2,649 from 3events he has played this year. Tim Wilkinson (NZL) was also tied for 39th. He scored rounds of 67-3, 70even and 72+2 for a 54 hole total of 209-1. He earned $US 2,648.57 for his efforts and is now placed 73rd on the money list with $US 6,586 from the 4events he has played this year.

Brad Iles (NZL) shot +2 for 36holes to miss the cut by 2shots and Josh Geary (USA) shot +4 for 36 holes to miss the cut by 4shots. Next event on the Nationwide Tour is the South Georgia Classic Pres’d by First State bank and Trust Company and it is played at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club, Valdosta, Georgia. Ewan Porter (Australia) will be looking to defend his title and with the highest purse of the year so far $US 625,000 for the taking it is sure to Attract a great field. It starts Thursday week (28th April). I will report back who won in two weeks time.

So until then have a great Easter and keep hitting the ball long and straight.

Source: europeantour.com, pgatour.com