Golf Events from the Weekend 24th July 2011

It was another exciting weekend on the Professional Golf Tours from around the world. 1st I will start with the European Tour and the Race to Dubai. And this week it was the Nordea Masters and it was played at Bro Hof Slott GC, Stockholm, Sweden. And it was Alexander Noren (Sweden) who played some awesome golf to become the 2nd consecutive Swedish player in as many years to win this tournament. And he is the 5th Swedish Golfer ever to win this event. He scored rounds of 67-5, 66-6, 63-9 and a final round in very tough conditions of 77+5 for a 72 hole total of 273-15 and he won by an amazing 7strokes. He won € 250,000.00 for the win and that now places him in 8th place on the Race to Dubai Money list with €912,564 earned from the 18 events he has played to date this year. Luke Donald (England) is still number 1 with €3,156,696 earned from the 8 events he has played to date this year.

Alexander Noren (Sweden) also had won the Saab Wales Open in early June. So it was the 2nd win of the year for him and this was the 4th European Tour win of his career. He is starting to show the promise that everyone knew he would eventually show. He had an Amazing 11 stroke lead after 54 holes after breaking the course record for the 3rd consecutive day running. That was the largest lead on the European Tour after 54 holes this season.  He played just a brilliant 3rd round when he scored 63-9 which included birdies at the Par 4, 5th and Par 4, 6th holes and when he hit a brilliant 4 iron for his 2nd shot on the Par 5, 9 hole and it landed 4feet for the hole leaving him an easy 4foot eagle putt which he made. He scored 32-4 going out. On the inward nine he scored 31-5 which included birdies on the Par 4, 10th hole, then another two birdies on the Par 5, 12th hole and the Par 5, 13th hole. Another birdie on the Par 5, 15th hole and finally the icing on the cake was a birdie on the Par 4,18th hole for his round of 63-9.

The final round was a different story though as the extremely strong winds caused havoc to the 65 players that made the cut. With Richard Finch (England) being the only player to break par, he scored 69-3 and that was enough to move him up to solo 2nd place at -7. And Victor Dubuisson (France) was the only other player to score par or better scoring 72 even par. There were 20 players that scored in the 80’s and two unlucky players had the unfortunate experience of scoring in the 90’s. So Alexander Noren’s (Sweden) round of 77+5 was not as bad as it sounded. On the 72nd hole he had a 7 stroke lead over Richard Finch (England) who had finished earlier. They both birdied the Par 4, 18th hole. So Alexander Noren (Sweden) was ecstatic with his win and happy that most of his family and friends were there to witness it. He is now exempt on the European Tour till the end of 2013 season. I feel this win should give him huge confidence and wouldn’t be surprised if he challenges for the Race to Dubai Trophy at the end of the season. I wish him all the best for the rest of 2011 season.

Alexander Noren (Sweden) holding the Nordea Masters Trophy he won

In solo 3rd place was Niklas Lemke (Sweden) he was -5 after 72 holes. He was only playing in this tournament because he had been given a sponsor’s exemption, and with this 3rd place finish he earns € 93,900 for his efforts and a place in the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland which is next week’s tournament. This may be his chance to make a mark on the European Tour, because before this week he was playing on the Challenge Tour which is equal to the Nationwide Tour in the America. In tied 4th position was Scott Hend (Australia) who had his best finish this year on the European Tour and earned € 69,300.00 for his weeks work. Also in tied for 4th position was Pablo Martin (Spain) who too was -4 after 72 holes. He is continuing on his fine season after winning the 1st event of the season back in December last year at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa. Tied for 6th at -3 were Dustin Johnson (USA), Seung-yul Noh (South Korea), Jeev Milkha Singh (India) and Bubba Watson (USA). Rounding out the top 10 at tied for 10th position were Tano Goya (Argentina), John Parry (England) and Jamie Donaldson (Wales) they were all -2 after 72 holes.

The only Amateur to make the cut was Robert Karlsson (Sweden) who has the same name as the Famous Swedish Golfer. He was tied for 24th position at +2 after 72 holes. The Famous Robert Karlsson (Sweden) finished at even par in tied 16th place. There were two New Zealand Golfers in the field; both of them missed the 36 hole cut. Best of them was Michael Campbell (NZL) he scored rounds of 75+3 and 71-1 for a 36 hole total of 146+2 and missed the cut by 1stroke. Mark Brown (NZL) continued on his bad run of form scoring rounds of 72 even and 75+3 for a 36 hole total of 147+3 and missed the 36 holes cut by 2strokes.

Next week the European Tour and Race to Dubai head to Ireland for the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland and is being played at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, Killarney, Co Kerry, Republic of Ireland. With €1,500,000 as a prize purse it is sure to attract another great field. And with 3 Northern Irishman winning Majors in the past 13 months, Rory McILroy (NIR), Graeme McDowell (NIR) and Darren Clarke (NIR) will be dead keen to add the Irish Open to their win lists. But there will be a lot of competition from the best players in Europe. It starts on Thursday 28th July and I will report back who took home the trophy next week.

Now to the 2nd event I am reporting on this week and it is the on the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup and was the RBC Canadian Open and was played at the Shaughnessy G&CC, Vancouver, B.C. Canada and two golfers tied for the lead after 72 holes of regulation play and they were Sean O’Hair (USA) who scored rounds of 69-1, 73+2, 66-4 and a final round of 68-2 for a 72 hole total of 276-4. But he was tied on that score by Kris Blanks (USA) who scored rounds of 67-3, 71+1, 69-1 and a final round of 69-1 for a 72 hole total of 276-4. So both players headed back to the 18th tee for the 1st playoff hole. Sean O’Hair (USA) drew 1 out of the hat and teed off 1st. He pulled his drive left and it landed in the left rough in a terrible lie. Kris Blanks (USA) hit 2nd and he too pulled his drive and in landed in the left rough as well just a little further than Sean O’Hair’s (USA) ball.

Sean O’Hair (USA) hit his 2nd shot 1st and just laid it up with a short iron in the fairway about 100yards from the green. Kris Blanks (USA) went for the green with a mid iron trying to draw it in from a bad lie as well. He got it pin high to the right, but it rolled into the same bunker he was in when he played the hole in regulation play about half an hour earlier. Sean O’Hair (USA) played his 3rd shot with a wedge to 20 feet short of the hole. Kris Blanks (USA) then hit is bunker shot out slightly too hard and it rolled off the green into the fringe. This may have been caused by leaving the same shot short of the hole when he played it in regulation. Sean O’Hair (USA) then struck his 20 foot par putt and it rolled just past the hole and came to rest 18 inches past the hole. He tapped in for an easy bogey. Kris Blanks (USA) now had a chip to win his 1st ever USPGA Tour event. But he rolled his par chip from just off the fringe 6feet past the cup, and he missed the return putt handing the RBC Canadian Open title to Sean O’Hair (USA). It was the 1st time he has ever won the RBC Canadian Open and his 4th win of his USPGA Tour Career. And it was his 1st win since he split from his coach who was Sean Foley.

For the win Sean O’Hair (USA) wins $US 936,000.00 and that moves him to 45th on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 1,263,731 earned from the 18 events he has played to date this year. Nick Watney (USA) is still leading with $US 4,189,233 earned from the 15 events he has played to date this year. He also earns 500 FedEx Cup points and moves to 43rd place on the FedEx Cup points list with 709 points earned from the 18 events he has played to date this year. He is 1,089 FedEx Cup points behind Nick Watney (USA) who has earned 1,798 FedEx Cup points from the 15 events he has played this year to date.

Sean O'Hair (USA) in action in the final round of the RBC Canadian Open

This win should really lift Sean O’Hair’s (USA) confidence, and now he has got the winning feeling I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins again soon. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2011 season. In 3rd place on his own was Andres Romero (Argentina) who was -3 after 72 holes. He had a share of the lead playing the 72nd hole but made a bogey. It was Andres Romero (Argentina) best finish of the 2011 season. In tied for 4th place at -2 after 72 holes was Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) and the Low Canadian Golfer at the RBC Canadian for the 2nd year running and was Adam Hadwin (Canada). After being +5 after 11 holes in his final round, he made 3 straight birdies from holes 12-14 and he got back to -2, but he made 4 consecutive pars to finish. It was a fine effort from the 23 year old who isn’t even exempt on the USPGA Tour and has only ever played in 3 events on the USPGA Tour in his career. He earned $US 228,800.00 for the tied for 4th place and gets a start next week at the Greenbrier Classic. He must be Canada’s next big thing in Golf? I wish him well for the future years.

In tied 6th place at -1 were Woody Austin (USA), Scott Piercy (USA) and Bo Van Pelt (USA) who was leading outright heading into the back nine at -5, but then ended up scoring 39+4 on the Back Nine to eventually ended up scoring a final round of 74+4. Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 9th place at even par was Charl Schwartzel (RSA) who is the current Master Champion, Spencer Levin (USA), Patrick Cantlay (USA) the Amateur who has now played in 4 USPGA Events and made the cut in all of them. He is going back to university soon to study. But some people in the know say he should turn professional soon. And the final player in tied for 9th place was John Daly (USA), It was his 1st top 10 finish on the USPGA Tour since he finished 2nd at the WGC-American Express Championship in September 2005. I hope he can continue on this fine form next week.

So it proved a very difficult to score low at the RBC Canadian Open with the cut falling at 144+4. And only 12 players finishing at even par or better. Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup head to West Virginia for the Greenbrier Classic and it is being played at the Old White TPC, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. It has a huge purse of $US 6,000,000 on offer which will attract the best players on the USPGA Tour. Stuart Appleby (Australia) last year scored 59-11 in the final round and won by 1stroke, and he is back to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 28th July and I will report back who won next week.

Now to the top 5 on the Official World Rankings Points list this week. Still coming in at Number 1 on the list is Luke Donald (England) with 9.60 Official World Ranking Points, coming at number 2 is Lee Westwood (England) with 8.33 Official World Ranking Points, coming at Number 3 is Martin Kaymer (Germany) with 7.26 Official World Ranking Points, coming in at Number 4 is Rory McILroy (Northern Ireland) with 7.06 Official World Ranking Points and rounding out the Top 5 is Steve Stricker (USA) with 6.94 Official World Ranking Points. Tiger Woods (USA) this week slips another place to Number 21 on the Official World Ranking Points list with 3.64 Official World Ranking Points. Best New Zealand Golfer on the list is still Danny Lee (NZL); he is in 307th Position with 0.57 Official World Ranking Points.

Now to the 3rd event I am reporting on this week and it was on the Champions Tour and this week it was played in conjunction with the European Senior Tour and was The Senior Open Championship and was played at Walton Heath G.C., Surrey, Surrey, England. And it was the American Golfer by the name of Russ Cochran (USA) who came away with the Trophy. He scored rounds of 72 even par, 70-2, 67-5 and a final round of 67-5 for a 72 hole total of 276-12 and won by 2 strokes. He won € 220,962 for the win and moves to 4th position on the Champions Tour Money list $US 918,367 earned from the 9 events he has played to date this year. Tom Lehman (USA) still is number 1 on the list with $US 1,320,270 earned from the 12 events he has played this year to date.

Russ Cochran (USA) holding the Senior Open Championship Trophy

Russ Cochran (USA) is also 2nd on the Charles Schwab Cup Points list with 1,163 points earned from the 9 events he has played to date this year. He is 370 points behind Tom Lehman (USA) who leads with 1,533 points earned from the 12 events he has played this year to date. Russ Cochran (USA) played a brilliant front nine in his final round scoring 31-5 which included birdies at the Par 4, 1st hole and Par 5, 2nd hole. And 3 more straight birdies at the Par 5, 6th hole, Par 4, 7th hole and Par 5, 8th hole. He birdied the Par 4, 10th hole to get to -6 for the round. He made his lone bogey for the round on the Par 4, 14th hole. But he then pared the next 3 holes and came to the 72nd hole with a 2 stroke lead over Mark Calcavecchia (USA). He made a solid par on the Par 4, 18th hole and finished -12. He became the 2nd left hander to win the Senior Open Championship. The 1st was Bob Charles (NZL) who won this Championship Twice. Once in 1989 and for the 2nd time in 1993. It was Russ Cochran’s (USA) 1st Champions Tour Major Championship win and his 3rd win on the Champions Tour for his Career. I hope he goes on and wins more tournaments this year and I wish him all the best for the rest of 2011 season.

Mark Calcavecchia (USA) was solo 2nd on -10; he will be ruing the 4 putt he suffered on the Par 3, 9th hole. But it is still a fine showing for him. Tied for 3rd on -9 were two Famous American Golfers by the name of Tom Watson (USA) who is 61 years old and Corey Pavin (USA). In Solo 5th position was Barry Lane (England) at -8, in solo 6th position was David Frost (RSA) at -7. Rounding out the top 10 in tied 7th position were Fred Funk (USA), Peter Fowler (Australia), Lee Rinker (USA) and Mike Goodies (USA) they were all they were all -6.

Next week it is the 3rd Major of the Champions Tour season which is the US Senior Open Championship and it is being played at the Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio, USA. Bernhard Langer (Germany) is the defending Champion and will be looking to defend his title. With a purse of $US 2,600,000 to play for it is going to attract the very best players on the Champions Tour. It starts on Thursday 28th July and I will report back who won next week.

The final event I am reporting on this week is on the Nationwide Tour and was the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational and it was played on the OSU Golf Club - Scarlet, Columbus, Ohio. And it was the Amateur Golfer by the name of Harris English (USA) that scored rounds of 66-5, 66-5, 68-3 and a final round of 70-1 for a 72 hole total of 270-14 and won by 1 stoke. Harris English (USA) of University of Georgia became the 2nd Amateur golfer to win on the Nationwide Tour this year with Russell Henley (USA) who is also from the University of Georgia won the Stadion Classic at UGA in early May this year. So whatever they are doing in the Golf programme at the University of Georgia it is certainly working.

Harris English (USA) came to the 72nd hole 1 stroke behind another Amateur from the University of Louisiana, John Peterson (USA) who was -14 and 1 stroke ahead of Kyle Reifers (USA) who was -12. Harris English (USA) made an awesome birdie 3 on the 72nd hole to finish -14 and win the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational. So did Kyle Reifers (USA) to get to -13. But John Peterson (USA) could only manage a bogey 5 and he fell back into a tie for 2nd with Kyle Reifers (USA) at -13. It was unfortunate for John Peterson (USA) from the University of Louisiana and the bogey he made on the 72nd hole because he had been the player to beat all tournament. But it was great to see two Amateur Golfers perform so brilliantly on the professional stage.

Harris English (USA) in action during the final round of the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational

So the 22 year old Harris English (USA) got a late birthday present because it was his Birthday a day before on the Saturday. Harris English (USA) has decided not to turn pro right away, and stay at University with his studies and play some more tournaments on Amateur Circuit in the USA. He has the option to turn professional in 2012 and will be fully exempt on the Nationwide Tour with this win. He also becomes the 3rd Amateur ever to win on the Nationwide Tour. Daniel Summerhays (USA) was the 1st in 2007 when he won this same event Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational. The only thing was that Harris English (USA) being an Amateur couldn’t claim the $US 144,000 first prize reward. I wish him well with the rest of his season on the Amateur Circuit in the USA. And hope he has a great professional Career once he turns professional.

So tied for 2nd were John Peterson (USA) the Amateur from the University of Louisiana. He will be disappointed with 2nd but when he reflects on the week he will be very pleased with how he played. He too is going to remain Amateur till at least next year anyway. Also tied for 2nd at -13 was Kyle Reifers (USA) and because Amateurs Harris English (USA) and John Peterson (USA) could earn any prize money the 1st prize cheque of $US 144,000.00 when to him. It was his best finish on the Nationwide Tour this year to date and it moved him to 5th on the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 187,205 earned from the from the 12 events he has played to date this year. Mathew Goggin (Australia) still leads that list having won $US 336,964 from the 11 events he has played in. Kyle Reifers (USA) now has a great chance to get back on the USPGA Tour for the 2012 season; he last played there in 2007.

Tied for 4th were Josh Broadaway (USA) and Brian Smock (USA) at -12. Tied for 6th at -12 was Ted Potter, Jr. (USA), Brett Wetterich (USA) and Mathew Goggin (Australia) they were -11. Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 9th place were Matt Hendrix (USA), Peter Uihlein (USA) who is the current US Amateur Champion, Aaron Watkins (USA) and James Sacheck (USA) they were all -10. Best of the New Zealanders was Danny Lee (New Zealand), he scored rounds of 72+1, 69-2, 68-3 and a final round of 70-1 for a 72 hole total of 279-5 and he finished in tied for 26th place. He won $US 7,440.00 for his weeks work and that places him in 24th position on the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 97,100 earned from the 7events he has played to date this year. He has also made all 7 cuts in the 7 events he has played this year. He will need to keep playing well to stay inside the top 25 players on the Nationwide Tour Money list that get their 2012 USPGA Tour cards at the end of the season.

Next best New Zealand Golfer was Tim Wilkinson (NZL), he scored rounds of 71 even, 71 even, 74+3 and a final round of 69-2 for a 72 hole total of 285+1 and he finished in tied for 54th position. He earned $US 2,640.00 for the week and is now in 84th Position on the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 27,617 earned from the 12 events he has played to date this year. The last New Zealander to make the cut was Josh Geary (NZL) he scored rounds of 71 even, 70-1, 77+6 and a final round of 73+2 for 72 hole total of 291+7 and was in solo 68th place. He earned $US2, 200.00 for the week and is now in 50th position on the Nationwide Tour money list with $US 51,308 earned from the 13 events he has played to date this year. There were two other New Zealand Golfers in the field; they were Bradley Iles (NZL) who scored rounds of 70-1 and 73+2 for a 36 hole total of 143+1 and missed the halfway cut by 1 stroke. Also Steve Alker (NZL) scored rounds of 72+1 and 72+1 for a 36 hole total of 144+2 and miss the halfway cut by 2 strokes.

Next week the Nationwide Tour heads to Utah for the Utah Championship presented by Utah Sports Commission and it is being played at the Willow Creek CC, Sandy, Utah. It has a smaller purse on offer of $US 550,000. Michael Putnam (USA) is the defending Champion but because he is now playing the USPGA Tour, there will be a new Champion this week. It starts on Thursday 28th July. I will report back who took home the trophy next week.

So until then remember to Hit all your Fairways and Greens and make all your putts!!

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com