Golf Events from the Weekend 4th September 2011

Well it was another great weekend for Professional Golf Tournaments from around the world. First I will start with the European Tour and the Race to Dubai. This week it was the Omega European Masters and it was played at the Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans Montana, Switzerland and it was the Golfer by the name of Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) that scored rounds of 68-3, 68-3, 66-5 and a final round of 62-9 for a 72 hole total of 264-20 to win by 4 strokes. It was his 3rd win on the European Tour this year and his 2nd in as many weeks as he won The Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in Scotland last week. And he becomes the 1st Golfer on the European Tour in 2011 to win back to back Tournaments.

Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) kisses the Omega European Masters Trophy he won

Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) earned € 333,330 for the win and moves to 7th position on the Race to Dubai Money list with €1,381,444 earned from the 17 events he has played to date this year. Luke Donald (England) is still leading with €3,778,199 earned from the 10 events he has played to date this year. Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) played a dream final round. Starting the final round at -11, 3strokes back from the 54 hole leader which was Jamie Donaldson (Wales). Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) started his final round well with a birdie at the Par 5, 1st hole; he had a poor bogey at the par 4, 4th hole. But then he reeled off 4 consecutive birdies in a row at the Par 4, 5th hole, Par 4, 6th hole, Par 4, 7th hole and the Par 3, 8th hole to go out in 32-4 on the front nine. He started the back nine with a birdie on the Par 4, 10th hole, but made his 2nd bogey of the day at the Par 4, 12th hole. He birdied the Par 5, 14th hole and then eagled the Par 5, 15th hole. Then he made 2 birdies to finish off his round at the Par 4, 17th hole and the Par 4, 18th hole and he came in with a 30-5 on the back nine and returned a 62-9 that was the lowest final round winning score he has ever scored to win a European Tour event is his career.

This win is his 13th European Tour International Schedule victory in his 369th European Tour Event entered. It also moves him just outside the top 25 from the 59th in the Official World Golf Ranking. Becomes the 1st player to win back to back European Tour titles since Charl Schwartzel (RSA) (2010 Africa Open and 2010 Joburg Open). He claims his third European Tour title of the 2011 season following the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy and the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) in Action during the Final round of the Omega European Masters

It is the first time in his European Tour career he has won 3 European Tour titles in the same year. Becomes the second player on the 2011 season to win three times, following Luke Donald (WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship, BMW PGA Championship and Barclays Scottish Open). Second player aged 40 and over to win twice in 2011, following Darren Clarke (Iberdrola Open and the 140th Open Championship). His final round of 62 is the lowest final round by a winner in 2011. He was a total of 31 under par for his last eight rounds en route to winning the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles (11 under) and Omega European Masters (20 under). Has won €599,958 in his last two European Tour events from the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles and Omega European Masters.

 

He became the 28th different player to win back-to-back European Tour events. Is the oldest player to win back-to-back European Tour events, aged 40 years and 198 days. He beat the previous record of Nick Price who was 40 years and 26 days in 1997 when he won the Dimension Data Pro-Am and then the Alfred Dunhill SA PGA Championship. This victory is the seventh by a player aged 40 and over in the 2011 season to date. They are: Ernie Els (RSA) (South African Open Championship), Paul Lawrie (Scotland) (Open de Andalucía de Golf by Turkish Airlines), Darren Clarke (NIR) (Iberdrola Open and the 140th Open Championship), Thomas Levet (France) (Alstom Open de France) and Thomas Björn (Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles and Omega European Masters). He becomes the 25th Danish victory on The European Tour and also becomes the first Dane to win the Omega European Masters and finally he Gains his 19th professional win worldwide.

So this win will do Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) confidence the world of good and with Back to Back wins now he must be starting to feel he is invincible. I feel he could be a real threat to win the Race to Dubai title now. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2011 season. Coming in for 2nd place was Martin Kaymer (Germany) who had the early lead in the final round after a brilliant front nine of 30-6 that included 2 eagles and 4 birdies without a bogey. But then he reeled of a back nine of 9 straight pars in a row for 35 even and ended up scoring 65-6. He ended up finishing at -16 after 72 holes and won € 222,220 for his efforts and has earned € 1,873,115 from the 16 events he has played to date this year in the Race to Dubai and is in 4th position on the Money list so he is still having a great year. And he has won a tournament this year in January at Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

Coming in tied for 3rd at -16 after 72 holes were Jaco Van Zyl (RSA) who scored a great final round of 64-7 and it was his 3rd top 5 finish of the season. He has now earned € 222,220 from the 18 events he has played to date this year and is in 44th position on the Race to Dubai Money list. Also tied for 3rd was Rory McIlroy (NIR) who was playing in his 1st tournament since he injured his wrist in the 93rd USPGA Championship. He will be disappointed with not winning this tournament after being in such a good position after 54 holes. But he still is 2nd on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 2,038,794 earned from the 14 events he has played to date this year. And the last player tied for 3rd was Jamie Donaldson (England) who would be disappointed with his final round 70-1 when he had a great chance to win his maiden European Tour event.

Coming in tied for 6th position at -14 were David Lynn (England), Fredrik Andersson Hed (Sweden) and the world number 2, Lee Westwood (England). Rounding out the top 10 at tied for 9th position at -13 were Alejandro Canizares (Spain), Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) and Alexander Noren (Sweden). Both New Zealand Golfers in the field made the cut. Best of them was Michael Campbell (NZL), he scored rounds of 67-4, 71 even, 68-3 and a final round of 70-1 for a 72 hole total of 276-8 and finished in tied for 25th position. He earned € 19,000.00 for his weeks work and that moves him to 157th Position on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 77,804 earned from the 20 events he has played to date this year. It was his best finish on the European Tour in 2011. Perhaps he can have a big finish to the 2011 season on the European Tour? I wish him all the best anyway. Mark Brown (NZL) was the other New Zealand Golfer in the field and he scored rounds of 69-2, 71 even, 73+2 and a final round of 71 even for a 72 hole total of 284 even par. He earned € 5,100.00 for his weeks work and he moves to 147th Position on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 96,805 earned from the 24 events he has played to date this year. At least he made the cut this week after missing his last 2. But he still needs a huge finish to the 2011 European Tour Season if he is going to get inside the Top 115 players on the Money list that keeps their exempt status for the 2012 season. He has another 13 tournaments to play until he knows his fate as to whether he has to go back to Tour School. I wish Mark Brown (NZL) all the best for the rest of the 2011 season.

Next week the European Tour and Race to Dubai head to the Netherlands for the KLM Open and it is being played at the Hilversumsche GC,Hilversum, Netherlands. With €1,800,000 up for the taking it is going to attract another good field. Martin Kaymer (Germany) is the defending Champion and will be looking for back to back titles, especially after finishing 2nd last week. It starts on Thursday 8th September and I will report back who won the trophy next week.

 Now to the 2nd tournament I am reporting on this week and it was on the USPGA Tour and was the 2nd Event in the FedEx Cup Playoff Series. It was the Deutsche Bank Championship and was played at the TPC Boston, Norton, Massachusetts. And it was the Golfer in red hot form the last few weeks by the name of Webb Simpson (USA) that prevailed on the 2nd hole of Sudden Death to win his 1st Deutsche Bank Championship. He scored rounds of 69-2, 68-3, 67-4 and a final round of 65-6 for a 72 hole total of 269-15. But he was tied on that score with Chez Reavie (USA) who scored rounds of 67-4, 68-3, 68-3 and a final round of 66-5 for a 72 hole total of also 269-15.

Chez Reavie (USA) was looking like the player to beat when he holed a 25 foot birdie putt on the Par 3, 16th hole to get to -16. He made a solid par on the Par 4, 17th hole. That meant all he had to do was make a Par 5, on the Short Par 5, 18th hole and he would be the winner. He hit a solid drive that just stayed in the left hand 1st cut of rough. He chose to lay up because the lie wasn’t good enough to go for the green. He landed his layup 2nd shot with a short iron in the fairway 100 yards from the green. But he was really pumped up with his 3rd shot and hit his Wedge shot over the green and left himself a difficult chip. He got a drop from the Grandstand that was interfering with his swing. He hit a fine chip shot to within 15 feet of the hole. So he had that putt to win the Deutsche Bank Championship. He hit a good putt but it just rolled off to the right of the cup when it reached the hole. He tapped in for his bogey 6 and He and Webb Simpson (USA) were heading back to the Par 5, 18th hole to play it as the 1st playoff hole.

So to the 1st Playoff hole. Webb Simpson (USA) drew number 1 from the hat and teed off 1st. He put his drive right down the centre of the fairway, Chez Reavie (USA) then hit his drive right down the centre as well but just past Webb Simpson (USA). Webb Simpson (USA) hit his 2nd shot 1st and pulled it left of the green just as he had done in regulation play about 20 minutes earlier. Chez Reavie (USA) hit next with his mid iron 2nd shot and it landed on the green and rolled through in to the rough but left an easy chip. Webb Simpson (USA) hit a fine lob chip for his 3rd shot and just as he did in regulation play, he left himself a 20 foot putt up hill. Chez Reavie (USA) hit a fine chip for his 3rd shot and it came to rest 4feet from the cup. Webb Simpson (USA) hit an excellent putt from 20 feet and it when straight in the hole, for a birdie 4. Chez Reavie (USA) calmly rolled his 4 foot par putt in the cup for a birdie 4 as well. So both players headed to the 17th tee for the 2nd playoff hole.

Both players hit good drives down the Par 4, 17th fairway leaving short wedge shots to the green. Webb Simpson (USA) played first and took dead aim at the pin, and he landed his ball about 10 feet underneath the cup. Chez Reavie (USA) played 2nd and came out of his wedge shot slightly and the ball landed short to the right of the pin about 35 feet from the hole. Chez Reavie (USA) putted 1st for birdie from 35 feet and hit a good putt but it just rolled by on the right hand side and he tapped in for his par 4. That meant that if Webb Simpson (USA) holed his 10 foot birdie putt he was the Winner. Webb Simpson (USA) calmed himself and then rolled his putt into the centre of the Cup for a birdie 3 and won the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Webb Simpson (USA) holding the Deutsche Bank Championship Trophy he won

Webb Simpson (USA) won $US 1,440,000.00 for the win and that moves him to Number 1 position on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 5,301,043 earned from the 22 events he has played to date this year. He also got 2,500.00 FedEx Cup points for the win and moves to Number 1 Position on the FedEx Cup points list after the 2nd playoff event with 2 remaining. 

He has earned 4,711 FedEx Cup points with 2 playoff events to go. He is 897 FedEx Cup points ahead of Dustin Johnson (USA) who has 3,814 FedEx Cup Points. But anything can happen in the two remaining FedEx Cup Playoff Events. But if Webb Simpson (USA) can be no worse than in 5th Position heading into the Final Playoff event which is the Tour Championship by coca–cola when the seedings are done, and then goes on and wins the Tour Championship by coca-cola he will become the 2011 FedEx Cup Champion.

Webb Simpson (USA) is just having a dream year with winning 2 tournaments (he also won the Wyndham Championship) and also having 7 top 10 finishes as well. And he has only missed 3cuts. After getting his USPGA Tour card at the 2008 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he tied for 7th easily getting inside the Top 25 and ties that earned their cards. He had a fine rookie season in 2009 and won $US 1,249,674 to easily keep his card for the 2010 season. In 2010 he backed up his rookie season with another fine year earning $US 972,962. Everything is going well for the 26 year old at the moment, he is married to Dowd his lovely wife and they have just had their 1st child. I wish him all the best with the final two playoff events. And I hope he can go all the way and win the FedEx Cup for 2011.

Webb Simpson (USA) points to the Sky after winning the Duetsche Bank Championship

Chez Reavie (USA) would be disappointed with coming 2nd, but on the other hand he will be pleased he has moved into 9th Position on the FedEx Cup Points standings with 2,088 FedEx Cup points earned and he is only 2,623 FedEx Cup points behind Webb Simpson (USA). He came into the week in 87th Position on the FedEx Cup points list so he moved up 76 places this week which is great for him. He also is in 35th Position on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 1,904,267 earned from the 24 events he has played to date this year.

Coming in tied 3rd position at -13 for 72 holes were Jason Day (Australia) who is continuing on his great form this year, all he is lacking is a win. He is 6th in the FedEx Cup Points list with 2,357 Points and has earned $US 3,670,687 from 19 events he has played to date this year and is in 8th position on the USPGA Tour Money list. Luke Donald (England) the world number 1 golfer was also tied for 3rd. He is now 4th on the FedEx Cup Points list 2,875 FedEx Cup points heading into the 3rd playoff event. He is just having an amazing year and has had the number ranking for the last 3months and he is also leading the Race to Dubai Money list on European Tour. The last player to tie for 3rd at -13 after 72 holes was Brandt Snedeker (USA) who is now in 5th position on the FedEx Cup Points list with 2,869.

In solo 6th place at 272-12 after 72 holes was the defending FedEx Cup Champion, Jim Furyk (USA) who now has moved to 35th in the FedEx Cup standings with 1,243 points. In solo 7th place at 273-11 after 72 holes was Bo Van Pelt (USA). Tied for 8th position at 274-10 were Hunter Mahan (USA) and Adam Scott (Australia). Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 10th place with a 72 hole score of 275-9 were Kyle Stanley (USA), Phil Mickelson (USA), Ryan Moore (USA), Blake Adams (USA), Jerry Kelly (USA) and Brendan Steele (USA).

Two players who were past US Open Champions had to work really hard to just scrape inside the top 70 on the FedEx Cup Points list and earn the right to play in the 3rd Playoff event which is the BMW Championship, were Ernie Els (RSA) and Geoff Ogilvy (Australia). They both had to birdie the 72 hole to do it. Ernie Els (RSA) is in 68th Position on the FedEx Cup points list with 792 points and Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) is in 69th Position with 789 points. And the final player to qualify for the BMW Championship in 70th Position on the FedEx Cup Points list was Chris Stroud (USA) who had to eagle the last hole to do so. He has 788 FedEx Cup Points.

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup have a week off. The following week it is the 3 rd FedEx Cup playoff event that is the BMW Championship and is being played at the Cog Hill G&CC, Lemont, Illinois. With a huge prize purse of $US 8,000,000 up for the taking the 70 players that are playing will be looking for their share of it. Dustin Johnson (USA) is the defending Champion and will be looking to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 15th September. I will report back who took home the Trophy in 2weeks time.

So to the Top 5 on the Official Golf World Rankings points list this week, Coming in at number 1 for the 15th week running is Luke Donald (England) with 10.41 Official World Ranking Points, Coming in at Number 2 is Lee Westwood (England) with 8.16 Official World Ranking Points, Coming in at Number 3 is Martin Kaymer (Germany) with 7.03 Official World Ranking Points, Coming in at Number 4 is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 6.88 Official World Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 is Steve Stricker (USA) with 6.83 Official World Ranking Points. Tiger Woods (USA) this week slips a further 6 positions to 44th Position in the Official World Golf Rankings with 3.03 Official World Rankings Points. Best New Zealand Golfer is still Danny Lee (NZL) with 0.71 Official Golf World Ranking Points and that places him in 253th Position on the Official Golf World Rankings Points list; he is up 12 places from last week after his tied 8th at the Mylan Classic on the Nationwide Tour.

The 3rd and final event I am reporting on this week was on the Nationwide Tour and was the Mylan Classic and was played at the Southpointe Golf Club, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. And it was the Golfer by the name of Gary Christian (England) who scored rounds of 68-3, 63-8, 69-2 and a final of 67-4 for a 72 hole total of 267-17 and he won $108,000.00 for the win and moves to 4th on the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 230,040 earned from the 16 events he has played to date this year. J.J. Killeen (USA) regains the lead at the top of the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 372,907 earned from the 19 events he has played to date this year.

Gary Christian (England) in Action during the Final Round of the Mylan Classic he won

For Gary Christian (England) this was his 2nd win on the Nationwide Tour having won the 2009 Northeast Pennsylvania Classic. After 6 years of playing a full Nationwide Tour Schedule he is finally heading to the USPGA Tour for the 2012 Season. And the 40 year old Englishman will be over the moon with that. He played great golf all week with 3rounds in the mid to high 60’s and one in the low 60’s. He came to the 72nd hole with a 2stroke lead over John Mallinger (USA) and even though he bogied that hole it was enough to win. I feel he will do well on the USPGA Tour in 2012 because he is a mature golfer with a lot of experience. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2011 Nationwide Tour season.

In solo 2nd place at 268-16 after 72 holes was John Mallinger (USA), he was only playing on the Nationwide Tour because he had failed to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoff events. And in the 4 starts he has had on the Nationwide Tour this year he has earned $US 109,750. In tied for 3rd position were Craig Bowden (USA) and Scott Brown (USA) at 269-15 after 72 holes. In tied for 5th position was J.J. Killeen (USA) who is the money list leader, Billy Hurley III (USA) and Kevin Kisner (USA), they were all at 270-14 after 72 holes. In tied 8th position was Danny Lee (NZL) who scored rounds of 73+2, 66-5, 71 even par and a brilliant final round of 62-9 which was the best of the day for a 72 hole total of 272-12 and he won a cheque of $US 17,400.00 for his weeks work. He is still in 11th Position on the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 177,200 earned from the 13 events he has played to date this year. With 7events remaining in the 2011 Nationwide Tour Season I feel he is now relatively certain to gain a 2012 USPGA Tour card. I wish him all the best with this. Tim Wilkinson (NZL) was also tied for 8th Position on 272-12. He scored rounds of 70-1, 68-3, 68-3 and a final round of 66-5 for a 72 hole total of 272-12 and he too tied for 8th position. He too won $US 17,400.00 for his weeks work and it was his 1st top 10 finish of the season. He moved to 77th position on the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 48,957 earned from the 17 events he has played to date this year. It would seem a bit farfetched to say he could sneak into the top 25 on the final money list and achieve his 2012 USPGA Tour card, but if he could win one of the 7 remaining events on the 2011 Nationwide Tour Schedule, it could become a reality. I wish him all the best for the rest of the season.

The final player to tie for 8th position at 272-12 was Andrew Svoboda (USA). The other New Zealander in the field to make the cut was Josh Geary (USA); he scored rounds of 70-1, 65-6, 79+8 and a final round of 68-3 for a 72 hole total of 282-2 and tied for tied for 54th position. He earned $US 1,920.00 for his weeks work. He is now in 53rd Position on the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 78,061earned from the 19 events he has played to date this year. It was a shame he had that horrible 79+8 in the 3rd round. But he still has 7 tournaments left to secure his place in the Top 25 on the final money list. The other New Zealand Golfers in the field that missed the 36 hole cut were Steven Alker (NZL) who scored rounds of 75+4 and 70-1 for a 36 hole total 145+3 and he missed the cut by 5 strokes, and Phil Tataurangi (NZL) playing in his 1st tournament of the 2011 Nationwide Tour this season, but he only managed 14 holes and was +6 for them when he had to withdraw.

This week the Nationwide Tour has the week off. It resumes the following week when it heads to Idaho for the Albertsons Boise Open Pres’d by Kraft and it is being played at the Hillcrest CC, Boise, Idaho. And it has the 3rd equal highest Purse on the Nationwide Tour for the 2011 season of $US 725,000 and will attract the best players on the Nationwide Tour. Hunter Haas (USA) is the defending Champion and because he got knocked of the FedEx Cup Playoffs early he will more than likely play and defend his title. It starts on Thursday 15th September and I report back who won the trophy in 2 weeks time.  

So until then remember the courses are starting to dry out now that spring is here so remember to allow for rollout on your ball!!

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com