Golf Events from the Weekend 12th June 2011



Robert Rock (England) with the BMW Italian Open Trophy he won



 

Well it was another exciting weekend on the Professional Golf Tours from around the world.

First I will start with the European Tour and the Race to Dubai. This week it was the BMW Italian Open presented by Carta Si and it was played at Royal Park I Roveri, Turin, Italy. And it was the English Professional Golfer by the name of Robert Rock (England) that claimed his 1st European Tour Title. He scored rounds of 64-8, 68-4, 68-4 and a final round of 67-5 for a 72hole total of 267-21 and won by 1shot.

Robert Rock (England) played a very steady final round after dropping a shot at the short par 4, 3rd hole; he recovered to make 4 birdies in a row from holes 5 to 8 to go out in 33-3. Then he birdied the 10th and 11th holes to move to -21 with 7 holes to play. He made a poor bogey on the par 3, 12th hole. But came straight back with a birdie on the Par 4, 13th hole. And 5 straight pars to finish were enough for him to win by 1shot and take his 1st ever European Tour title of his European Tour Career. It was bitter sweet for the 34 year old as he had come so close to winning over the past few years.

He won € 250,000 for the win and that places him in 21st place on the Race to Dubai Money List standings with €446,701 earned from the 17 events he has played this year to date. Luke Donald (England) still leads with the €2,581,495 he has earned from the 5 events he has played this year to date. After spending the last 5years playing the European Tour, it was a great reward for Robert Rock (England) to finally get a win. I hope this win gives him confidence to win again this year. I wish him all the best in the coming months.

In tied for 2nd place at -20 after 72 holes were Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark) who scored the equal best round of the Tournament which was an Amazing 62-10 in the final round and he was tied with Gary Boyd (England) who was also -20 after 72 holes. In 4th position on his own was Peter Whiteford (Scotland) on -19, in solo 5th place was Joost Luiten (Netherlands) on -18, Tied for 6th were the 2 Swedish players Michael Jonzon (Sweden) and Niclas Fasth (Sweden) who was the 2005 NZ Open Winner, they were both on -17, and rounding out the Top 10 on -16 were two of the big Italian Stars, Matteo Manassero (Italy) and Francesco Molinari (Italy) and Jbe Kruger (RSA), they were all on -16.

The only New Zealander in the field was Mark Brown, and he scored rounds of 76+4 and 73+1 for a 36 hole total of 149+5 and he missed the cut by 8shots. He now falls to 147th on the Race to Dubai Money list with €66,580 earned from the 16 events he has played this year to date. He needs to start showing the form he produced in 2008 when he won his maiden European Tour event in India which was the Johnnie Walker Classic. Or he may not keep his card for the 2012 season. I hope he can turn it around soon and start playing good golf.

Next week there are two tournaments, the 1st one is the 2nd Major of the year and is the 111th US Open Championship. It is being played at Congressional CC, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. The defending Champion is European Tour player Graeme McDowell (NIR). And with a purse of $7,500,000 to play for the best in the world will be there to compete. It starts Thursday 16th June. I will report back who won next week. And the 2nd tournament is also part of the Challenge Tour and is the Saint-Omer Open presented by Neuflize OBC and is played at the Aa Saint Omer GC, Lumbres, France. It is a good chance for the lesser know players on the European Tour to shine and also a chance for a player on the Challenge tour if he wins he will gain European Tour membership for the next two years. And also it carries the 2nd largest purse on the Challenge Tour of €600,000. Martin Wiegele (Austria) is the defending champion and will be looking for another good performance. It starts on Thursday 16th June. I will report back who won next week.

Harrison Frazer (USA) with the FedEX St. Jude Classic Trophy
and Jacket he won

The next tournament I am reporting on this week is the FedEx St. Jude Classic and was played at TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tennessee. And after 72 holes were completed there were two players tied for the lead and they were Harrison Frazer (USA) who scored rounds of 71+1, 65-5, 64-6 and a final round of 67-3 for a 72 hole total of 267-13, also tied on the same score was Robert Karlsson (Sweden) who was also in a playoff in this same tournament last year. He scored rounds of 66-4, 65-5, 68-2 and a final round of 68-2 for a 72 hole total of 267-13. So both players headed back to the 18th tee for the 1st playoff hole. This must be the year of the playoff on the USPGA Tour as so far this year there have been 11 playoffs on the USPGA Tour including this one.

Harrison Frazar (USA) drew 1 from the hat and teed off 1st landing his drive to the right of the fairway, Robert Karlsson (Sweden) hit 2nd and hit his drive straight down the middle of the fairway. Harrison Frazar (USA) then hit a great 2nd shot into 15feet from the hole. Robert Karlsson (Sweden) then made sure his ball wasn’t going into the water on the left of the green and hit his ball on the right front of the green about 35feet from the pin. Robert Karlsson (Sweden) putted 1st and rolled his putt 2feet from the hole and tapped in for par. Harrison Frazar (USA) just missed his birdie, but tapped in for his par. So it was onto the 2nd playoff hole which was the par 3, 11th hole. Harrison Frazar (USA) teed off 1st and put his tee shot right over the flag but 40 feet past the pin. Robert Karlsson (Sweden) teed off 2nd and hit his tee shot with his wedge to about 15 feet right of the flag, pin high. 

 Harrison Frazar (USA) putted 1st and rolled his putt within a foot of the cup and tapped in for his par. Robert Karlsson (Sweden) then had a birdie putt to win but just missed to the right and also tapped in for his par. So it was onto the 3rd playoff hole which was the Par 4, 12th hole. Harrison Frazar (USA) teed off 1st and hit a brilliant drive to within 90 Yards of the green. Robert Karlsson (Sweden) then hit his drive slightly fat with his 5wood but landed in the fairway. Robert Karlsson (USA) hit 1st and landed his ball just to the right of the green in the rough, but got over the water that was in front of the green. Harrison Frazar (USA) then seized the opportunity that had eventuated and put his short wedge shot to 15feet past the pin. Robert Karlsson (Sweden) then hit his chip shot a little too hard and it landed 12feet past the pin. Harrison Frazar (USA) then putted for his birdie and rolled it down to the hole with perfect speed and it stopped 2feet past the hole. He then tapped in for an easy par. So it was down to Robert Karlsson (Sweden) to hole his 12 foot par putt to keep the playoff going, but it missed the hole 6 inches to the left.



Harrison Frazer (USA) shakes hands with Robert Karlsson (Sweden)
after winning the FedEx St. Jude Classic on the 3rd playoff hole



So in his 355th start on the USPGA Tour, Harrison Frazar (USA) finally won his first USPGA Tour Tournament. And must be said it is a big surprise to him. Prior to his tied 14th place in the HP Byron Nelson Championship last month he had missed 5 straight cuts and with the injuries he was playing with and the time he was spending on the road away from his family, he was thinking of giving up his professional golf career and finding another Job. But I praise him for staying tough and sticking with it. He won $US 1,008,000.00 for the win and moves to 41st on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 1,142,053 earned to date this year from the 10 events he has played. Luke Donald (England) still leads with $US 3,518,984 earned from the 9events he has played this year to date. Harrison Frazar (USA) also earned 500 FedEx Cup Points and is now placed 40th on the FedEx Cup points list with 587 points earned from the 10 events he has played this year to date. He is 845 points behind the current leader Luke Donald (England) who has earned 1,432 points from the 9 events he has played this year to date.

The win should give Harrison Frazar (USA) a lot of confidence to keep on improving and maybe even win another tournament this year. I wish all the best for the rest of the year. And he is now fully exempt on the USPGA Tour till the end of 2013 Season. Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 2nd place would be a huge disappointment to him as for the 1st 3rounds of the tournament he was in full control. And to lose the same tournament in a playoff in consecutive years, I not sure that has happened before? Maybe he will win the 2012 FedEx St. Jude Classic? But the $US 604,800.00 he earns for coming 2nd is a nice reward. And he moves to 40th on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 1,153,491 earned from the 11 events he has played this year to date. He also gains 300 FedEx Cup Points and is now in 41st position on the FedEx Cup Points list with 585 points earned from the 11 events he has played to date. He is 847 points behind Luke Donald (England). And this is his 1st full year playing the USPGA Tour, so I look for this minor setback to make him much stronger mentally, and I feel a win isn’t too far away for him.

Tied in 3rd place were Camilo Villegas (Columbia) who had a fine final round of 64-6, Tim Herron (USA), Ryuji Imada (Japan), Charles Howell III (USA) and Retief Goosen (RSA) they were all on -7, rounding out the Top 10 in tied 8th position were Stephen Ames (Canada), Carl Pettersson (Sweden) and Cameron Tringale (USA) all on -7. Lee Westwood (England) had a fine defence of his title scoring a final round 66-4 and finishing tied 11th at -6. He will be a player to watch at this coming weeks 2nd major, the111th US Open Championship.

Next week on the USPGA Tour it is the 2nd Major of the year, the 111th US Open Championship. It is being played at Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland and with a purse of $US 7,500,000 up for grabs it is going to have the best players in the world playing with the exception of Tiger Woods (USA) who is injured. Graeme McDowell (NIR) is the defending champion and will be looking for back to back titles that is seldom achieved in this tournament with the last player doing that being Curtis Strange (USA) in 1988-89. It starts on Thursday 16th June and I will report back who won next week.

So to the Top 5 in the Official World Golf Rankings this week and coming in at Number 1 is Luke Donald (England) with 9.11 Official World Golf Ranking Points, in 2nd place is Lee Westwood (England) with 8.36 Official World Ranking Points, in 3rd place is Martin Kaymer (Germany) with 7.29 Official World Ranking Points, in 4th place is Steve Stricker (USA) with 6.44 Official World Ranking Points, and in 5th place is Phil Mickelson (USA) with 6.08 Official World Ranking Points. Tiger Woods (USA) remains in 15th Position with 4.53 Official World Ranking Points. The best New Zealand Golfer is still Danny Lee (NZL) with .60 Official World Ranking Points and is 282nd in the Official Golf World Rankings.



Kyle Thompson (USA) in action during the final round of the
Rex Hospital Open



The 3rd event I am reporting on this week is on the Nationwide Tour and is the Rex Hospital Open and was played at the TPC Wakefield Plantation, Raleigh, North Carolina. And it was Kyle Thompson (USA) that won by 1shot, he scored rounds of 68-3, 66-5, 68-3 and a final round of 68-3 for a 72 hole total of 270-14. It was his birdie on the 72nd hole that secured the win for him. The win won him $US 99,000.00 and he is now placed in 6th position on the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 123,378 earned from the 8 events he has played this year to date. Still leading the Nationwide Tour Money list is Mathew Goggin (Australia) with $US 195,898 earned from the 8 events he has played this year to date. This win is Kyle Thompson (USA) 3rd win on the Nationwide Tour having won this tournament back in 2007 and the Oregon Classic Pres'd by Kendall Automotive Group also back in 2007. I would say with a few more top 10 finishes and he is almost guaranteed to get his 2012 USPGA Tour card by finishing inside the top 25th on the Nationwide Tour Money list. I wish him all the best with achieving this.

In tied 2nd place was Scott Brown (USA) who would be disappointed with his bogey on the 72nd hole that cost him a chance of winning. Troy Kelly (USA) also finished tied 2nd as well along with Martin Flores (USA), they were all on -13. Tied 5th on -12 were J. J. Killeen (USA), Kyle Reifers (USA) and Ryan Armour (USA). Tied 8th at -11 were Brian Vranish (USA), Josh Geary (NZL) who had his best ever finish on the Nationwide Tour with rounds of 71 even, 67-4, 67-4 and 68-3 for 72 hole total of 273-11. He won $US 15,950.00 for his efforts and is now placed 72nd on the Nationwide Tour money list with $US 22,920 earned from the 9 events he has played this year to date. This could be the start for some really good form for him. Also tied 8th was Danny Wax (USA).

Tim Wilkinson (NZL) the other New Zealand player in the field to make the cut had his best finish on the Nationwide Tour this year so far, he scored rounds of 69-2, 68-3, 70-1 and a final round of 67-5 that included a final 9 holes of 30-5 for a 72 hole total of 274-10. He won $US 12,100.00 for his efforts and was tied 11th. He is now in 77th position on the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 20,786 earned from the 9 events he has played to date this year. But will need to have some top 10’s in the weeks to come if he is going to get his 2012 USPGA Tour card by finishing inside the top 25 on the Nationwide Tour Money list. But he can do it I feel.

The New Zealanders in the field that missed the 36 hole halfway cut were, Steve Alker (NZL) who scored 70-1 and 72+1 for a 36 hole total of 142 even to miss the cut by 1shot. Bradley Iles (NZL) was the other New Zealander to miss the cut scoring two poor rounds of 74+3 for a 36 hole total of 148+6 and miss the cut by 7shots. He will be looking for a much better performance next week. Next week the Nationwide Tour heads to Kansas for the Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open and it is being played at Crestview CC, Wichita, Kansas. With a purse of $US 600,000 to play for it is sure to attract a fine field and maybe even some USPGA Tour players who are looking for a tournament to playing because they haven’t qualified for the 111th US Open Championship. It will have a new champion because Jhonattan Vegas (Columbia) the defending champion is now on the USPGA Tour. It starts on Thursday 16th June and I will report back who won next week.

Mark Wiebe (USA) in Action during the final round of
the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn

The final tournament I am reporting on this week is on the Champions Tour and is Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn and was played at Rock Barn G&S, Conover, North Carolina. And it was Mark Wiebe (USA) who scored rounds of 64-8, 68-4, 65-7 for a 54 hole total of 197-19, but he was tied on that score by James Mason (USA) who scored rounds of 67-5, 65-7, and a final round of 65-7 for a 54 hole total of 197-19 also. So it was back to the 18th Tee for the 1st playoff hole. They both made birdie 4’s on the Par 5, so it was back to the 18th hole again for the 2nd playoff hole. And again they halved it, but this time in par 5’s. So they went over to the Par 3, 17th for the 3rd playoff hole. But this time Mark Wiebe (USA) made a solid par 3, and James Mason (USA) had a 4foot par putt to keep the playoff going, but he missed. So Mark Wiebe (USA) got the win. It was his 3rd win on the Champions Tour having won the 2007 SAS Championship and 2008 The Cap Cana Championship. He won $US 262,500.00 for the win and is now in 7th position on the Champions Tour Money list with $US 580,808 earned from the 9events he has played this year to date. Tom Lehman (USA) still leads the money list with $US 1,230,695 earned from the 9events he has played this year to date. Mark Wiebe (USA) also moves to 8th on the Charles Schwab Cup Points list with 536 points earned from the 9 events he has played this year to date. He is 958 points behind Tom Lehman (USA) who also leads that list with 1,494 points earned from the 9 events he has played this year to date.

I must say it comes with no real surprise this win by Mark Wiebe (USA) because prior to this event he had made every cut in the 8 events he had played including a 2nd place at the Toshiba Classic in mid March. And since his Champions Tour debut when he become the 12th player in Champions Tour history to win his 1st start at the 2007 SAS Championship, he has never looked back. I wish him all the best for the rest of the season. It was a great showing for James Mason (USA) in his 1st event of the season to finish 2nd. Tied 3rd were Fred Funk (USA) who scored a final round of 62-10 which was the equal best of the tournament, also tied 3rd was Chip Beck (USA) they were -18.

Tied 5th were Loren Roberts (USA) and Nick Price (Zimbabwe) on -17. Jeff Sluman (USA) was solo 7th on -16, Tied 8th were Kenny Perry (USA) who scored 62-10 in the final round as well; Corey Pavin (USA) was also tied 8th with David Eger (USA), Jim Gallagher, Jr. (USA), Mark O’Meara (USA), Bob Tway (USA) and Tommy Armour III (USA) they were all on -15.

Next week the Champions Tour takes a break, but it is back the following week for the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open and it is being played at the En-Joie GC, Endicott, New York. It carries a purse of $US 1,750,000 and will attract another great field of Champions Tour players. Loren Roberts (USA) is the defending Champion and will be looking to win again. It starts on Thursday 24th June, and I will report back who won in two weeks time.

So until next week’s report, remember keep hitting the ball long and straight and make all your putts inside ten feet and your scores will be lower!!

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com