Golf Events from the Weekend 9th October 2011

Well it was another exciting weekend of golf with 4 big tournaments on the main Professional Golf Tours from around the world. First I will start with the European Tour and Race to Dubai. This week the tour headed to Madrid, Spain for the playing of the Bankia Madrid Masters and it was played at the El Encín Golf Hotel, Alcalá de Henares, Spain. And it was the Golfer by the name of Lee Slattery (England) who scored rounds of 67-5, 66-6, 69-3 and a final round of 71-1 for a 72 hole total of 273-15 and won by 1 stroke for his maiden European Tour title. He won € 166,660.00 for his efforts and moves to 77th Position on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 316,692 earned from the 26 events he has played to date this year so far. Luke Donald (England) still leads that list with €3,856,394 earned from the 12 events he has played to date this year.

Lee Slattery (England) holding the Bankia Madrid Master Trophy he won

Lee Slattery (England) got off to a slow start in his final round with a bogey 4 on the Par 3, 3rd hole and a bogey 4 on the Par 3, 5th hole, but he redeemed himself with birdie 3 on the Par 4, 7th hole. He went out in 37+1 which had let a lot of golfers in with a chance to win. But he continued on the red hot form he had showed in the first 3 rounds on the back nine when he birdied the Par 5, 11th hole and then made 3 birdies in a row from the 13th to 15th holes. He came to the Par 5, 72 hole with a 3 stroke lead over his nearest competitor at -17 and looked certain to win. But as golf often does it threw him a curve ball. His layup 2nd shot landed in the fairway bunker on the left hand side. And he miss hit his 3rd shot fairway bunker shot and it rolled into the hazard on the right hand side. He chipped on for his 5th stroke after taking the penalty stroke drop and left himself 20 feet for his bogey 6. He now had 2putts left to win his Maiden Title on the European Tour. He rolled his 20 foot bogey putt 2feet past the cup. And then calmly rolled his double bogey putt in for the win.

It was a great to see Lee Slattery (England) finally win because he has been playing on the European Tour since 2005 but has had little success and in 2009 lost his European Tour Playing Status. He went back on the Challenge Tour in 2010 and easily got his European Tour Status back for 2011 where he finished 13th Position on the final money list. He even worked in a clothes Shop and did some modelling to get some extra cash to support himself. He was just having an average season before this win with recording one top 5 finish at the SAINT-OMER OPEN presented by Neuflize OBC. I feel this win should give him the confidence to win again in the near future and he may even go on and make it in to the Top 60 players that make it into the final event of the Race to Dubai schedule which is the Dubai World Championship is presented by DP World.

Lee Slattery (England) celebrates after holing the winning putt

This win was Lee Slattery (England) first European Tour International Schedule victory in his 183rd European Tour event. He moves into the top 160 of the Official World Golf Ranking from 328th. This victory beats his previous best European Tour performances of second in the 2006 Madeira Islands Open and tied second in 2008 Alfred Dunhill Championship. Lee Slattery (England) becomes the eighth first-time winner of the 2011 season. The first-time winners are: Nick Watney (WGC – Cadillac Championship), Nicolas Colsaerts (Volvo China Open), Thomas Aiken (Open de España), Robert Rock (BMW Italian Open presented by CartaSi), Matthew Zions (SAINT OMER OPEN presented by Neuflize OBC), Keegan Bradley (US PGA Championship), Oliver Fisher (Czech Open) and Lee Slattery (Bankia Madrid Masters). He graduated from the 2010 Challenge Tour Rankings. Is the second 2010 graduate to win on The European Tour in the 2011 season, following Matthew Zions (SAINT-OMER OPEN presented by Neuflize OBC). This victory came after he led going into the final round of a European Tour event for the first time.

Lee Slattery’s (England) win at the Bankia Madrid Masters was the 269th English victory on The European Tour. He becomes 84th different Englishman to win on The European Tour. He is the 395th different player to win on The European Tour. He is the 13th English victory 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), Kenneth Ferrie (Austrian GolfOpen presented by Lyoness) and Lee Slattery (Bankia Madrid Masters).

He becomes the 23rd different Challenge Tour graduate to win the year after graduation. He became the third consecutive English winner of the Bankia Madrid Masters, following Ross McGowan (2009) and Luke Donald (2010). He joined Ross McGowan (2009) as players making the Bankia Madrid Masters their first European Tour victory. He gained his largest European Tour prize of €166,660. He gained a European Tour exemption until the end of 2012. He gained an exemption into the 2011 WGC – HSBC Champions and finally gained his sixth win as a professional. I wish him all the best on the European Tour and Race to Dubai for the remainder on the 2011 season.

In solo 2nd place was Lorenzo Gagli (Italy) who was on 274-14 after 72 holes. It was his best finish of the 2011 season to date so far this year. He now has earned € 546,822 from the 22 events he has played to date this year and that places him in 39th Position on the Race to Dubai Money list. In tied for 3rd place at 276-12 after 72 holes were Eduardo De La Riva (Spain) and Cesar Monasterio (Argentina). In solo 5th place was Thomas Aiken (RSA) who was 278-10 after 72 holes. Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 6th place at 279-9 after 72 holes were Peter Hanson (Sweden), Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spain), Benjamin Hebert (France), Francesco Molinari (Italy) and Oscar Floren (Sweden).

There were two New Zealand Golfers in the field and unfortunately they both missed the 36 hole cut. Mark Brown (NZL) scored rounds of 71-1 and 73+1 for a 36 hole total of 144 even par and missed the 36 hole cut by a disappointing 1 stroke. He slips to 154th Position on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 110,905 earned from the 28 events he has played to date this year so far. Now he only has only 8 events left that he will more than like get a start in to get inside the top 115 players on the Final Race to Dubai Money list that keep their card for the 2012 European Tour season. I wish him luck in the quest to keep his card. The other New Zealander in the field to miss the 36 halfway cut was Michael Campbell (NZL) who scored rounds of 73+1 and 74+2 for a 36 hole total of 147+3 and missed the cut by 4 strokes. He is now in 169th position on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 77,804 earned from the 23 events he has played to date this year. He doesn’t have to worry about his card for next year because when he won the 2005 US Open Championship he was granted Life Membership to the European Tour.

Next week the European Tour and Race to Dubai heads to Portugal for the Portugal Masters and it is being played on the Oceânico Victoria Golf Course, Vilamoura, Portugal. With €2,500,000 prize purse up for the taking it is going to attract a great field of European Tour players. Richard Green (Australia) is the defending Champion and will be looking to go back to back. It starts on Thursday 13th October and I will report back who won the trophy next week.

The 2nd event I am reporting on this week is on the USPGA Tour and is the 2nd event of 4 in the Fall Series. And this week it was the Frys.com Open and was played on the CordeValle Golf Club, San Martin, California. Bryce Molder (USA) scored rounds of 71 even, 67-4, 65-6 and a final round of 64-7 for a 72 hole total 267-17, but he was tied on that score by Briny Baird (USA) who scored 67-4, 69-2, 64-7 and a final round of 67-4 for a 72 hole total of 267-17 also. So those 2 players headed back to the 17th tee for the 1st playoff hole. Bryce Molder (USA) was given the chance to choose out of the hat because he finished 1st. He chose Number 2. So that meant Briny Baird (USA) teed off first on the Short par 4, 17th hole. Briny Baird (USA) hit his drive through the back of the green and it landed in the rough. Bryce Molder (USA) then hit his drive on the green and it landed 20feet past the pin. Briny Baird (USA) then hit an excellent chip shot that rolled to 5 feet past the hole. Bryce Molder’s (USA) eagle putt from 20 feet just missed on the left hand side and he tapped in for his easy birdie. Briny Baird (USA) then holed his 5 foot birdie putt. So they headed to the 18th hole for the 2nd playoff hole.

So to the 2nd playoff hole. Both players hit on the green in regulation and narrowly missed their birdie putts but made easy par 4’s. So they headed back to the Par 4, 17th hole for the 3rd playoff hole. This time both players hit the green with their tee shots and both had attempts at eagle. Briny Baird (USA) was from over 40 feet away and he rolled it 5 feet past. Bryce Molder’s (USA) was from 20 feet and just missed on the left again. He tapped in for his easy birdie. Then Briny Baird (USA) rolled in his 5 footer for birdie. So the two players headed to the 18th tee for the 3rd time today to play it as the 4th playoff hole. Briny Baird (USA) tee off first and hit his drive right down the centre of the fairway. Bryce Molder (USA) pulled his drive into the left hand hazard. Bryce Molder (USA) had what looked to be an impossible 2nd shot with the ball well above his feet. But he hit a miracle shot with his 9 iron and it landed and rolled on to the front of the green. Briny Baird (USA) then hit his wedge shot right at the pin and struck it on the full and landed 8feet away from the cup. Bryce Molder (USA) putted from 40 feet for his birdie 3 and hit a very good putt that came to rest 3feet from the cup. Briny Baird (USA) then just missed his birdie putt and tapped in for his par 4. Bryce Molder (USA) then calmly rolled in his 3 footer for his par 4. So it was back to the Par 4, 17th hole for the 4th time today for the 5th playoff hole.

Briny Baird (USA) hit first and landed his ball 25 feet past the pin giving himself another eagle putt. Bryce Molder (USA) then hit his tee shot and it landed past the pin on the fool and rolled up to the back of the green, then rolled back down towards the cup off the slope at the back of the green and came to rest 12feet from the hole. Briny Baird (USA) putted for his eagle 2 and missed it just to the right and tapped in for his birdie 3. Bryce Molder (USA) now had his 12 foot eagle putt to win the tournament, but it rolled right over the left edge of the cup and stay out. He too tapped in for his birdie 3. So it was back to the 18th hole for the 4th time today and the 6th playoff hole.

Briny Baird (USA) tee off first and hit his drive in the right rough. Bryce Molder (USA) then hit his drive right down the middle of the fairway. Briny Baird (USA) hit his 2nd shot to about 40 feet short on the pin on the green. Bryce Molder (USA) hit an excellent 2nd Shot in to 8 feet short of the cup. Briny Baird (USA) putted for birdie from 40 feet and it came up 8 feet short. Mark Russell the USPGA Rules Official had to measure whose putt it was and decided Briny Baird (USA) was away. Briny Baird (USA) rolled his par putt from 8feet into the centre of the cup for his par. That meant that Bryce Molder (USA) had his 8 foot birdie putt to win the Frys.com Open and he calmly rolled it in for his birdie 3 and his Maiden USPGA Tour title. He let go of his putter and punched the air to celebrate. It was the longest playoff of the year so far. Bryce Molder (USA) won $US 900,000.00 for the win and moves to 45th position on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 1,869,944 earned from the 26 events he has played to date this year. Luke Donald (England) still leads that list with $US 5,837,214 earned from the 18 events he has played to date this year.

Bryce Molder (USA) kisses the Frys.com Open Trophy he won

It was a long overdue win for Bryce Molder (USA), he joined the USPGA Tour in 2002 but his best finish was tied for 9th at the Compaq Classic of New Orleans and he only made $US 348,028 from the 22 events he had entered and failed to keep his card for the 2003 USPGA Tour Season. He spent from 2003-2006 on the Nationwide Tour. In 2006 he earned $US 205,413 from the 24 events he entered and earned his 2007 USPGA Tour card. In 2007 he earned $US 257,593 from 21 events he entered so he was back to the Nationwide Tour in 2008. In 2008 he earned $US 234,651 for the 27 events he played on the Nationwide Tour and gained back his USPGA Tour card for 2009. He had his best year on the USPGA Tour in 2009 earning $US 1,381,211 from the 21 events he entered easily keeping his card for the 2010 season. In 2010 he had an even better season than the last earning $US 1,428,438 from the 26 events he entered. And finally this week he earned his first PGA Tour victory in his 132nd start on the PGA TOUR at the age of 32 years, 8 months and 13 days. He becomes the 14th first time winner on the PGA TOUR in 2011 and the fifth to do so in a playoff. I wish Bryce Molder (USA) all the best for the rest of the 2011 season on the USPGA Tour and hope he has a fast start to the 2012 Season.

Briny Baird (USA) will be disappointed with finishing 2nd and he still hasn’t won on the USPGA Tour after 12 years of playing the USPGA Tour and 148 starts, but he will be pleased with the $US 540,000.00 he won and now moves to 93rd on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 922,076 earned from the 18 events he has played to date this year and his card is secure for 2012. I hope he can win one of the 2 remaining USPGA Tour events in 2011.

In solo 3rd position at 269-15 was Bud Cauley (USA) the recently turned Professional that is playing on Sponsor’s exemptions to try and get his 2012 USPGA Tour card without going to Q-School. He has earned $US 671,150 from the 7 events he has played to date this year so far. The 21 year old only needs to earn enough money to finish inside the top 125 on the final 2011 USPGA Tour Money list to be fully exempt for next year. Last year Troy Merritt (USA) was 125th on the Final USPGA Tour Money list with $US 786,977. So Bud Cauley (USA) needs about another $US 120,000 to be safe. I wish him luck with the remaining two events.

Tied for 4th at 270-14 after 72 holes were Shane Bertsch (USA) and Ernie Els (RSA). In solo 6th position was John Rollins (USA) at 271-13. And rounding out the Top 10 in tied for 7th position at 273-11 after 72 holes were David Hearn (Canada), Billy Horschel (USA), Spencer Levin (USA), Matt McQuillan (Canada), Brendan Steele (USA), Josh Teater (USA), Adam Hadwin (USA) and Paul Casey (England). Tiger Woods (USA) was playing in the Fall Series for the very first time and making his first appearance since the PGA Championship nearly 2 months ago. He scored rounds of 73+2, 68-3, 68-3 and a final round 68-3 and returned a 72 hole score of 277-7 and tied for 30th. His earnings for 2011 are $US 660,238 from 9 events he has played in which places him in 117th position on the USPGA Tour Money list. I wish him all the best for the Presidents Cup in Australia next month.

Next week the USPGA Tour heads to Georgia for the 3rd of 4 Fall Series events and it is the McGladrey Classic and it is being played on the Seaside Course, Sea Island, Georgia. With a prize purse of $US 4,000,000 for the taking it will attract another fine field of USPGA Tour players. Heath Slocum (USA) is the defending champion and will be keen to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 13th October. I will report back who won next week.

So to the top 5 on the Official Golf World Rankings this week and coming in at Number 1 for the 20th week in a row is Luke Donald (England) with 10.63 Official Golf World Ranking Points, he now has a full 3point lead over his fellow countryman Lee Westwood (England) who comes in at Number 2 this week with 7.63 Official Golf World Ranking Points, Coming at Number 3 is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 7.40 Official Golf World Ranking Points, Coming in at Number 4 is Steve Stricker (USA) with 6.46 Official Golf World Ranking Points and rounding out the Top 5 is Dustin Johnson (USA) with 6.42 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Tiger Woods (USA) slips another place this week and comes in at 52nd in the Official World Golf Rankings with 2.68 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Best New Zealand Golfer is still Danny Lee (NZL) with 0.91 Official Golf World Ranking Points that places him in 201st Position on the Official Golf World Rankings Points list; He is down 11 places from last week.

The 3rd event I am reporting on this week is on the Champions Tour and was the Insperity Championship and it was played at the Woodlands CC, The Woodlands, Texas. And it was the Golfer by the name of Brad Faxon (USA) who won the rain shortened 36 hole event. He scored rounds of 69-3 and 65-7 for a 36 hole total of 134-10 and won by 1 stroke. Tournament Officials were left with no option but to reduce the tournament to 36 holes and declare Brad Faxon (USA) the winner as heavy rains that fell all Saturday night and continued into Sunday Morning made the course unplayable. Brad Faxon (USA) won $US 255,000.00 for the win which was his maiden win on the Champions Tour since he joined in August this year after turning 50. He moved to 47th Position on the Champions Tour Money list with $US 328,381earned from the 6 events he has played to date this year. Tom Lehman (USA) still leads that list with $US 1,920,976 earned from the 19 events he has played to date this year so far. Brad Faxon (USA) also has earned 255 Charles Schwab Cup Points from the 6 events he has played to date this year which places him in 39th Position on the Charles Schwab Cup Points list. He is 1,964 points behind Tom Lehman (USA) who leads that list on 2,219 points earned from 19 events he has played to date this year so far.

Brad Faxon (USA) in action during the Insperity Championship

The win was set up for Brad Faxon (USA) by a birdie 3 on the Par 4, 17th hole in the 2nd round. He hit a great 2nd shot over the water that surrounded the green and left it 6feet underneath the cup and converted the birdie putt to move to -10. Then he got himself out of a tricky situation on the 18th hole where he had hit his drive in the right hand rough and had one lone tree in his line. He was able to fade his mid iron 2nd shot over the water to the back fringe where he was able to get up and down in 2 shots and post -10 which was good enough for the win. I feel the win is just one of many he is going to have on the Champions Tour in the years to come. And of course he had a brilliant USPGA Tour career winning 8 events. I wish him well in the remaining two Champions Tour events of 2011.

Coming in solo 2nd at 135-9 after 36 holes was Tommy Armour III (USA). In solo 3rd position was Eduardo Romero (Argentina) who scored 136-8 after 36 holes. Tied for 4th at 137-7 after 36 holes were Jay Haas (USA), Olin Browne (USA) and Tom Lehman (USA). In solo 7th position was Mark Calcavecchia (USA) who scored 138-6 after 36 holes. Tied for 8th at 139-5 after 36 holes was Chien Soon Lu (Taiwan) and Peter Senior (Australia) who record another top 10 finish. Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 10th Position at 140-4 after 36 holes were Brad Bryant (USA), Curtis Strange (USA), Joey Sindelar (USA), Corey Pavin (USA), Fred Couples (USA) and John Cook (USA).

Next week the Champions Tour stays in Texas for the AT&T Championship and it is being played at the TPC San Antonio - ATT Canyons, San Antonio, Texas. With a huge prize purse of $US 1,800,000 for the taking it is sure to attract the very best players on the Champions Tour. Rod Spittle (Canada) is the defending Champion and will be looking for back to back titles. It starts on Friday 14th October and I will report back who won the Trophy next week.

The last event I am reporting on this week was on the Nationwide Tour and was the Children’s Hospital Classic and it was played on the Black Creek Club, Chattanooga, Tennessee. And it was the Golfer by the name of Miguel Angel Carballo (Argentina) who scored rounds of 69-3, 66-6, 65-7 and a final round of 64-8 for a 72 hole total of 264-24 and won his 2nd Nationwide Tour event having won the 2007 Movistar Panama Championship. He won $US 90,000.00 for the win and moves to 5th position on the Nationwide Tour Money list with earning $US 248,971 from the 22 events he has played to date this year. J. J. Killeen (USA) still is Number 1 on the list with $US 409,473 earned from the 22 events he has played to date this year.

Miguel Angel Carballo (Argentina) in action during the final round of Children's Hospital Classic

He played just a brilliant Final round with birdies on the Par 5, 4th hole, Par 4, 9th hole and an eagle 3 on the Par 5, 6th hole, he went out in 32-4. He made a poor bogey on the Par 3, 11th hole, but came back strong with back to back eagles on the Par 5, 14th hole and Par 4, 15th hole. He birdied the Par 4, 16th hole, but made a poor bogey on the Par 3, 17th hole. He birdied the Par 5, 18th hole to score 32-4 on the back nine and he scored 64-8 for the final round and won the tournament. The last four seasons Miguel Angel Carballo (Argentina) has struggled on the Nationwide Tour after winning in his very first start in 2007 at the 2007 Movistar Panama Championship. But with this win he has moved to 5th position on the Money list and is guaranteed a 2012 USPGA Tour card. I wish him well for the remaining 3 Nationwide Tour events of the 2011 season. I hope he has a fast start to his USPGA Tour career next year.

In solo 2nd position at 266-22 after 72 holes was Brice Garnett (USA), In solo 3rd position at 267-21 after 72 holes was Aaron Goldberg (USA), In solo 4th Position at 269-19 after 72 holes was Matt Every (USA), In solo 5th Position at 270-18 after 72 holes was B.J. Staten (USA). Tied for 6th position at 271-17 after 72 holes were Doug Labelle II (USA), Justin Bolli (USA) John Mallinger (USA) and Billy Hurley III (USA). Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 10th position at 272-16 after 72 holes were Brett Wetterich (USA), Skip Kendall (USA) and Peter Lonard (Australia).

There were 3 New Zealand Golfers in the field and they all made the cut. The best of them was Bradley Iles (NZL) he scored rounds of 67-5, 73+1, 71-1 and a final round of 67-5 for a 72 hole total of 278-10 and was in tied 33rd position. He won $US 2,600.00 for his weeks work. Bradley Iles (NZL) is now in 105th Position on the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 38,769 earned from the 22 events he has played this year to date so far. But I would have to say his season has been disappointing on the whole and unless he wins 2 of the last 3 events that remain he is destined to still be on the Nationwide Tour in 2012.

Next best New Zealand Golfer was Tim Wilkinson (NZL) who scored rounds of 68-4, 70-2, 70-2 and a final round of 70-2 for a 72 hole total of also 278-10 and tied for 33rd position as well. He earned $US 2,600.00 for the week and moved to 66th Position on the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 78,988 earned from the 21 events he has played to date this year so far. He will need to win one of the last 3 events on the 2011 Nationwide Tour if he has any hope of securing a 2012 USPGA Tour card. But he has a good chance of getting inside the Top 60 players who get to play in the Nationwide Tour Championship. I wish him luck with that. And the final New Zealand Golfer to in the field to make the 36 hole cut was Josh Geary (NZL) who scored rounds of 71-1, 68-4, 69-3 and a final round of 75+3 that really cost him for a 72 hole total of 283-5 to finish in solo 59th place. He earned $US 1,525.00 for his weeks work and moves to 65th Position on the Nationwide Tour Money list with $US 79,586 earned from the 23 events he has played to date this year. He too should have a good chance of getting inside the top 60 players that make in to the Nationwide Tour Championship which is the finale to the Nationwide Tour in 2 weeks time. I wish him luck with that.

Next week the Nationwide Tour heads to Florida for the Miccosukee Championship and it is being played at the Miccosukee G&CC, Miami, Florida. It has a good prize purse of $US 600,000 on offer that will attract another fine field. Jason Gore (USA) is the defending Champion and will be looking for back to back titles. It starts on Thursday 13th October and I will report back who won the trophy next week.

So until then remember hitting fairways plus greens in regulation and making your share of putts is the recipe for a very good score.

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com