Golf Events from the Weekend 25th September 2011

Well what another exciting weekend it was 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 moved to Austria for the Austrian Golf Open presented by Lyoness and it was played at Diamond Country Club, Atzenbrugg, Austria. And it was the Golfer by the name of Kenneth Ferrie (England) who scored rounds of 72 even, 70-2, 67-5 and a final round of 67-5 for a 72 hole total of 276-12. But he was joined on that score by Simon Wakefield (England) who scored rounds of 73+1, 66-6, 70-2 and a final round of 67-5 for a 72 hole total of 276-12 also. So those two players headed back to the 18th hole for the 1st playoff hole.

Simon Wakefield (England) teed off 1st and split the fairway and Kenneth Ferrie (England) knocked his tee shot into the left rough, not far from where he had hit it in regulation. Hitting first into the green Kenneth Ferrie (England) hit his 2nd shot to six feet left of the hole, while Wakefield proceeded to airmail the green and into the rough at the back of the green. A loose chip followed and when Simon Wakefield’s (England) putt for par lipped out from eight feet Kenneth Ferrie (England) was left with the simple task of two putts from very close range. He rolled it in for the birdie and his third win on the European Tour. And his first since he won the 2005 Season.

Kenneth Ferrie (England) holding the Austrian Golf Open presented by lyoness Trophy he won

Kenneth Ferrie (England) won € 166,660 for the win and moves to 55th Position on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 389,400 earned from the 25 events he has played to date this year so far. Luke Donald (England) still leads that list with €3,778,199 earned from the 10 events he has played to date this year so far. This win will be a huge to boost to Kenneth Ferrie’s (England) confidence and he now looks like he will be inside the top 60 players that get into the final tournament on the Race to Dubai Schedule and that is the Finale to the Race to Dubai which is the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World and is being played in the 2nd week of December just before Christmas. Kenneth Ferrie (England) came down to New Zealand in February 2005 where he played in the Holden New Zealand Open at Gulf Harbour Country Club and finished in Tied 42nd position at 281-7 after 72 holes.

It is Kenneth Ferrie’s (England) third European Tour International Schedule victory in his 263rd European Tour event. He moves to just outside the top 200 of the Official World Golf Ranking from 355th previous week. It was his first European Tour victory since his 2005 win and he had played in 144 European Tour events between victories. His best performance in that was second at the 2005 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. This victory beats his previous best 2011 performance of tied eighth in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. He joined Mark Davis (1991 and 1994), Peter Mitchell (1992), Chris Gane (2001) and Robert Coles (2003), as English players to win the Austrian Golf Open presented by Lyoness. He becomes the 268th English victory on The European Tour. He becomes the 12th English player to be victorious of the 2011 season. They are: Paul Casey (Volvo Golf Champions), Luke Donald (WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship, BMW PGA Championship and Barclays Scottish Open), David Horsey (Trophée Hassan II), Lee Westwood (Ballantine’s Championship), Ian Poulter (Volvo World Match Play Championship), Robert Rock (BMW Italian Open presented by CartaSi), Simon Dyson (Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland and KLM Open), Oliver Fisher (Czech Open) and Kenneth Ferrie (Austrian Golf Open presented by Lyoness). He also gains a one year European Tour exemption until the end of 2012.He moves over the €4 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings.  And finally Claims his fifth win as a professional. I wish him all the best with the rest of his 2011 European Tour Campaign and hope he wins again soon.

Simon Wakefield (England) would be bitterly disappointed with coming 2nd. But will be happy with the € 111,110.00 he earned from coming 2nd. And it was his first top 10 of the season as well.  He moves to 102nd Position on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 217,480 earned from the 22 events he has played to date this year so far and his 2012 European Tour card seems secure for now. In solo 3rd place was Joost Luiten (Netherlands) who was at 277-11 after 72 holes. He is now in 43rd position on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 444,158 earned from the 20 events he has played to date this year. In solo 4th place was Thomas Norret (Denmark) who was 279-9 after 72 holes. It was his best finish on the European Tour to date this year and he moves to 144th Position on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 120,667 earned from the 20 events he has played to date this year. It was also his 1st top 10 of the season so far.

In tied for 5th place was Cesar Monasterio (Argentina), Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) who was the best placed Austrian Golfer in the tournament and Victor Dubuisson (France) they were all at 280-8. In tied for 8th position were Magnus A Carlsson (Sweden) and Christian Nilsson (Sweden) they were both at 281-7 after 72 holes. Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 10 place at 282-6 after 72 holes was 20 year, Tom Lewis (England) who was making his professional debut, also tied for 10th were fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood (England), Gary Orr (Scotland) and Robert Coles (England).

The only New Zealander in the field this week was Mark Brown (NZL), he scored rounds of 71-1, 70-2, 69-3 and a final round of 73+1 for a 72 hole total of 283-5 and he finished in a creditable tied for 14th place. He was tied for 6th position heading into the final round but the 73+1 in the final round dropped him down a few places. He earned a cheque of € 14,100.00 for his weeks work and it was his 2nd best finish of the 2011 season for him. He now moves to 148th position on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 110,905 earned from the 26 events he has played to date this year. With a likely 10 more events for him to enter in for the remainder of 2011 European Tour Season he will need a few more finishes like this if he hopes to keep his card for the 2012 European Tour Season and that requires him to finish inside the top 115 on the final Race to Dubai Money list. I wish him luck in the quest to keep his card.

Next week the European Tour and Race to Dubai head to Scotland for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship with is being played at the Old Course St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, Fife, Scotland. With a huge prize purse of $US 5,000,000 to play for it is sure to attract a fine field in the Pro – Am format. Martin Kaymer (Germany) is the defending Champion and will be looking for Back to Back titles. It starts on Thursday 29th September and I will report back who won the Trophy next week.

The second event I am reporting on this week was on the USPGA Tour and Part of the FedEx Cup and it was the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola which was the finale to the 2011 FedEx Cup and it was played at East Lake GC, Atlanta, Georgia. And it was Bill Haas (USA) who had the best golfing week of his life. He scored rounds of 68-2, 67-3, 69-1 and a final round of 68-2 for a 72 hole total of 272-8. But Hunter Mahan (USA) scored rounds of 67-3, 68-2, 66-4 and a final round of 71+1 for a 72 hole total of 272-8 and was also tied on that score. So the two players headed back to the Par 3, 18th tee not just too decide who would win the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola, but also to decide who would win the FedEx Cup for 2011.

 Bill Haas (USA) drew the Number 1 from the hat and teed off 1st. He faded his long iron tee shot way right of the right green side bunker leaving an extremely difficult chip shot. Hunter Mahan (USA) then hit his tee shot in the right hand green side bunker. Bill Haas (USA) then played an awesome chip shot over the bunker leaving him a 15 foot putt for par. Hunter Mahan (USA) hit a good bunker shot out under the hole to within 6 feet of the cup. Bill Haas (USA) putted for his par from 15 feet, it was a downhill left to right breaking putt and he rolled it right in the centre of the hole for his par 3. Hunter Mahan (USA) now had to hole his 6 foot par putt to keep the playoff alive. But he calmly rolled it right in the centre of the cup.

So the two players headed to the 17th tee for the 2nd playoff hole. Bill Haas (USA) teed off 1st on the very difficult par 4. He faded his drive too much and it landed in the right hand fairway bunker. Hunter Mahan (USA) then hit his drive right down the centre of the fairway in perfect position. Bill Haas (USA) had a tricky short iron fairway bunker shot from the right hand fairway bunker which he made perfect contact with but it flew over the green and the pin which was situated on the left front of the green. It rolled into the Hazard and was partly submerged. Hunter Mahan (USA) then hit his 2nd shot with a short iron on the green about 25 feet past the cup. It looked like if he 2putted he would win the FedEx Cup and the Tour Championship. But Bill Haas (USA) had other ideas. He played his 3rd shot out of the hazard just like a bunker shot and it came out perfect landing 10 feet short of the hole and spinning to a stop about 3feet from the cup. It was just an amazing shot that I truly didn’t feel he had a hope of pulling off. And he did it under the pressure of the FedEx Cup being on the line. Hunter Mahan (USA) putted for his birdie, and he went close to holing the fast left to right breaking downhill putt, but it just missed to the left leaving him 3feet for his tap in par. Bill Haas (USA) putted 1st and tapped in from 3feet for his amazing par 4. Then Hunter Mahan (USA) tapped in for his par 4 as well. So they both headed back to the par 3, 18th hole for the 3rd playoff hole.

Bill Haas (USA) holding the FedEx Cup trophy he won

Bill Haas (USA) this time hit a straight long iron tee shot that hit the green and rolled through into the back fringe. Hunter Mahan (USA) hit a similar shot to the 1st playoff hole and it again faded to the right and landed in the right green side bunker. Hunter Mahan (USA) played out 1st and attacked his bunker shot too hard and it settled about 12 feet past the hole leaving a very difficult left to right putt for his par. Bill Haas (USA) hit his 2nd shot from the back fringe with his putter. He put a really nice roll on the ball and it just missed going in on the left hand side of the cup, and came to rest 5 feet below the hole. Hunter Mahan (USA) then attempted to hole his 12 foot par putt that was a sharp breaking left to right putt. He stuck it good but unfortunately broke too soon and just missed on the right hand side. He tapped in for his par 3. That left the stage for Bill Haas (USA) to putt for the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup for 2011. He calmly rolled the right to left breaking par putt right in the centre of the hole. And he pumped his fist in the air in Celebration!! And his Brother was caddying for him, his Wife and Father was also watching in the Gallery.

Bill Haas (USA) won $US 1,440,000.00 for winning the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and moved to 7th on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 4,088,637earned from the 26 events he has played to date this year. Luke Donald (England) is still leading with $US 5,837,214 earned from the 18 events he has played to date this year. And of Course Bill Haas (USA) took out the 2011 FedEx Cup with earning 2,760 FedEx Cup points from the 26 events he played in. He won the FedEx Cup by 15 points over Webb Simpson (USA) and took the US$10million bonus that went with it. And he was in 25th position on the FedEx Cup points list coming into the Tour Championship, so it proves that if you just qualify you can still win it all. It was also his 3rd win on the USPGA Tour having won the 2010 Bob Hope Classic and Viking Classic in the same year.

Bill Haas (USA) holding both the Tour Championship by Coca - Cola and FedEx Cup Trophies he won

Since gaining his USPGA Tour card in 2005 he has kept his card every year since which is an amazing effort. And this was his 1st time ever to be playing in a Tour Championship and he won at his 1st attempt being the 1st player under 30 years of age to win it as well which is truly amazing. His Dad, Jay Haas (USA) has had an Awesome Career as well on the USPGA Tour and the Champions Tour. And it looks like he is going to follow in his footsteps. Also he was chosen as the 2nd Captains pick for the Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Australia in mid November. I hope he goes from strength to strength with this large Victory he has just had and wins a major in the next few years. I wish Bill Haas (USA) all the best with his Golf Career in the future.

Hunter Mahan (USA) will be mad with himself for losing the playoff, but on the other hand he will be content with his solo 2nd place that earned him $US 864,000.00 and moved him to 15th on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 3,503,540 earned from the 25 events he has played to date this year. In tied for 3rd place were Luke Donald (England), K. J. Choi (South Korea) and Aaron Baddeley (Australia) on 273-7 after 72 holes. Tied for 6th were Charles Howell III (USA), Adam Scott (Australia) and Jason Day (Australia) who were all 274-6 after 72 holes. In solo 9th place was Bo Van Pelt (USA) on 275-5 after 72 holes. And rounding out the top 10 in solo 10th place was Phil Mickelson (USA) on 276-4 after 72 holes.

So the top 10 on the Final FedEx Cup points list was Bill Haas (USA) 1st with 2760 points, 2nd with 2745 points was Webb Simpson (USA), 3rd with 2567 points was Luke Donald (England), 4th was Dustin Johnson (USA) with 2488 points, 5th was Justin Rose with 2253 points, 6th was Matt Kuchar (USA) 1853 points, 7th was Hunter Mahan with 1800 points, 8th was Brandt Snedeker (USA) with 1668 points, 9th was Nick Watney (USA) with 1420 points and rounding out the top 10 on the list was Chez Reavie (USA) with 1220 points.

Next week the USPGA Tour has its first event of 4 in the Fall Series and it is in Las Vegas for the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and it is being played at the TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada. It has a purse of $US 4,400,000 for the taking which will attract a good field. Jonathan Byrd (USA) is the defending Champion, and will be looking for Back to Back titles. It starts on Thursday 29th September and I will report back who won the Trophy next week.

So to the top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings this week, coming in at Number one for the 18th Straight week is Luke Donald (England) with 10.71 Official World Golf Ranking Points, at Number 2 is Lee Westwood (England) with 7.90 Official World Golf Ranking Points, at Number 3 is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 6.85 Official World Golf Ranking Points, at Number 4 is Steve Stricker (USA) with 6.66 Official World Golf Ranking Points and rounding out the Top 5 is Dustin Johnson (USA) with 6.57 Official World Golf Ranking Points. Tiger Woods (USA) this week comes in at 50th position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list with 2.80 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is still the highest ranked New Zealander on the list with 0.67 Official Golf World Ranking Points placing him at 266th Position on the list, but he slipped 7 places from last week.

The 3rd and final event I am reporting on this week was on the Nationwide Tour and was the Soboba Golf Classic and it was played at the CC at Soboba Springs, San Jacinto, California. And it was the Golfer by the name of Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) who scored rounds of 70-1, 68-3, 66-5 and a final round of 66-5 for a 72 hole total of 270-14, but he was tied on that score by Andres Gonzales (USA) who scored rounds of 70-1, 68-3, 68-3 and a final round of 64-7 for a 72 hole total of 270-14 and the final player to have that same score was Miguel Angel Carballo (Argentina) who scored rounds of 65-6, 68-3, 72+1 and a final round of 65-6 for a 72 hole total of 270-14 also. So those 3 players headed back to the Par 5, 18 hole for the 1st playoff hole.

Ted Potter Jr. (USA) in Action during the final round of the Soboda Golf Classic

Andres Gonzales (USA) and Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) birdied the par 5 and Miguel Angel Carballo (Argentina) could only manage par so he was eliminated. So Andres Gonzales (USA) and Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) headed back to the Par 5, 18th hole for the 3rd time that day to play it as the 2nd playoff hole. This time Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) made a birdie 4 and Andres Gonzales (USA) could only manage a par 5. So Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) had won his 2nd Nationwide Tour event of 2011, because he had also won the 2011 South Georgia Classic Pres'd by First State Bank and Trust Company earlier in the year. He earned $US 135,000.00 for the win and moves to 3rd position on the Nationwide Tour Money list $US 362,934 earned from the 14 events he has played to date this year. J. J. Killeen (USA) leads the money list with $US 407,554 earned from the 21 events he has played to date this year.

Ted Potter Jr. (USA) holding the Soboda Golf Classic Trophy he won

This result for Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) assures him of his 2012 USPGA Tour card and will really give him some confidence heading into the final 5 Nationwide Tour events of the 2011 season. I wish him all the best in them and maybe he can even finish Number one on the Money list? For Miguel Angel Carballo (Argentina) and Andres Gonzales (USA) it will be disappointing finishing tied for 2nd, but the $US 66,000.00 they both earned for finishing tied for 2nd will come in handy. In tied for 4th Position was Jarrod Lyle (Australia) and Jonas Blixt (Sweden), they were 272-12 after 72 holes. In tied for 6th position on 273-11 after 72 holes were John Mallinger (USA), Luke List (USA), Tim Wilkinson (NZL) scored rounds of 69-2, 65-6, 70-1 and a final round of 69-2 for a 72 hole total of 273-11 and had his best finish of the season for him. It was his 2nd top 10 finish of the year and he earned $US 24,281.25 for his efforts. He moves to 66th on the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 73,238 earned from the 19 events he has played to date this year so far. I feel he has a fighting chance to get inside the top 25 on the final Money list standings on the Nationwide Tour that earn their cards for the 2012 USPGA Tour season. But he is going to need some more high finishes in the 5 remaining events. I wish him luck with this. The final player to tie for 6th place was Matt Every (USA). Rounding out the top 10 in solo 10th place was J.J. Killeen (USA) who is the current leader of the Nationwide Tour Money list; he was at 274-10 after 72 holes.

Brad Iles (NZL) was the next best New Zealander in the field, 65-6, 69-2, 73+2 and a final round of 74+3 for a 72 hole total of 281-3 and finished in tied 31st place. He earned $US 4,275.00 for his weeks work and moves to 104th position on the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 36,169 earned from the 20 events he has played to date this year. His chances of making the top 25 money earners on the final 2011 Nationwide Tour Money list and earning a 2012 USPGA Tour card are disappearing quickly. But you never know Miracles could happen? The other New Zealanders in the field that missed the 36 hole halfway cut were Josh Geary (NZL) who scored rounds of 74+3 and 75+4 for a 36 hole total of 149+7 and missed the cut by 9 strokes. And Danny Lee (NZL) scored 69-2 in the 1st round, but his wrist injury returned in the 2nd round and he scored 45+9 on his back nine holes and withdrew injured, but failed to tell the tournament officials and was disqualified. He still remains in 14th position on the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 177,200 earned from the 15 events he has played to date this year. His position in the Top 25 on the Final Nationwide Tour money list looks secure at the moment, but in my opinion he will need 2 more top 10 finishes for it to be a dead set certainty. I wish him luck with the 5 remaining events.

Next week the Nationwide Tour heads to Texas for the WNB Golf Classic and it is played at the Midland CC, Midland, Texas. With a purse of $US 525,000 up for the taking it is going to attract another good field of Nationwide Tour players. Nate Smith (USA) is the defending Champion and will be doing his best to win again. It starts on Thursday 29th September and I will report back who won the trophy next week.

So until then keep hitting it straight and remember you are only as good as your worse shot!!

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com