Golf Events from the Weekend 22nd January 2012

Well it was another exciting weekend on the Major 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 Volvo Golf Champions which had only the winners of Tournaments on the European Tour in 2011 eligible to enter. It was played on the Links at Fancourt, George, South Africa where the 2003 Presidents Cup was held and it was the Golfer by the name of Branden Grace (RSA) who scored rounds of 68-5, 66-7, 75+2 and a final round of 71-2 for a 72 hole total of 280-12 and was tied for the lead with Ernie Els (RSA) who scored rounds of 71-2, 71-2, 71-2 and a final round of 67-6 for a 72 hole total of also 280-12 and the final player to tie for the lead after 72 holes was Retief Goosen (RSA) who scored rounds of 72-1, 68-5, 70-3 and a final round of 70-3 for a 72 hole total also of 280-12.

Branden Grace (RSA) holding the Volvo Golf Champions Trophy he won with his Fan Club in the back ground

So those three players head back to the Par 5,18th tee for the first playoff of the 2012 European Tour Season. Branden Grace (RSA) and Retief Goosen (RSA) both found the fairway, but Ernie Els (RSA) found the left hand rough and was forced to lay up with his second shot. Retief Goosen (RSA) hit his 2nd shot and it landed just short to the right of the green and he was unable to get up and down for his birdie 4 and had to settle for a par 5. Branden Grace (RSA) hit a great 2nd shot on to the front of the green but left himself with a difficult 2 putt. Ernie Els (RSA) after having been forced to lay up with his 2nd shot hit a nice 3rd shot into 12 feet just past the hole. Branden Grace (RSA) putted for his eagle from 45 feet and rolled it down to within 4 feet of the cup. Ernie Els (RSA) putted for his birdie 4 but just missed on the left hand side and tapped in for his Par 5. So that left Branden Grace (RSA) with his 4 footer to win the Volvo Golf Champions. It was the same length of putt he missed on the 72nd hole to win in regulation play. But this time there was no mistake and he rolled in right in the centre of the cup. He won his second title in two weeks and has a healthy lead a top the Race to Dubai Money list after the 3 tournaments that have been completed in 2012 so far.

He won € 350,000.00 and increases his lead in the 2012 Race to Dubai with €570,000 earned from the 3 events he has played to date this year so far. He also gains his second European Tour International Schedule victory in his 51st European Tour event. He moves inside the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking, from 164th. Prior to winning the Joburg Open seven days ago, Branden Grace (RSA) was 258th. Branden Grace (RSA) becomes the first player to win back-to-back European Tour events since Sergio Garcia (Spain) in 2011 at the Castelló Masters and Andalucia Masters. He graduated from the 2011 European Tour Qualifying School. He becomes the first Qualifying School graduate to win twice the year after graduation since Johan Edfors (Sweden) in 2006 who won three times at the TCL Classic, British Masters and Scottish Open. He becomes just the fourth Qualifying School graduate to record multiple victories they year after graduation. He follows Gordon Brand Jnr  (Scotland) (1982 - Coral Classic and Bob Hope British Classic), José María Olazábal (Spain) (1986 - European Masters and Sanyo Open) and Johan Edfors (Sweden) in 2006.

Branden Grace (RSA) holding the Volvo Golf Champions Trophy he won

Branden Grace (RSA) becomes just the sixth player to win their first two European Tour events in back-to-back tournaments. He follows: Graham Marsh (Australia) (1972 - Swiss Open and German Open), Jack Newton (Australia) (1972 - Dutch Open and Benson and Hedges Festival), Charles Coody (USA) (1973 - W.D and H.O Wills and John Player Classic), Baldovino Dassu (Italy) (1976 - Dunlop Masters and Italian Open) and Fred Couples (USA) (1995 - Dubai Desert Classic and Johnnie Walker Classic). He becomes the second youngest player in European Tour history to win their first two European Tour events in back-to-back events, aged 23 years and 247 days. The youngest was Jack Newton (Australia), who was 22 years and 202 days in 1972. He becomes the fifth South African golfer to win back-to-back European Tour events. He would follow: Dale Hayes (RSA) (1978 Italian Open and French Open), Ernie Els (RSA) (2005 Dubai Desert Classic and Qatar Masters), Richard Sterne (RSA) (2009 Alfred Dunhill Championship and South African Open Championship) and Charl Schwartzel (RSA) (2010 Africa Open and Joburg Open). This victory continued with South Africa's recent run of wins on The European Tour. They have now won five of the last seven European Tour events. They are: Garth Mulroy (RSA) (2011 Alfred Dunhill Championship - Nov 11), Hennie Otto (RSA) (2011 South African Open Championship - Nov 11), Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) (2012 Africa Open) and Branden Grace (2012 Joburg Open and 2012 Volvo Golf Champions).

Branden Grace (RSA) becomes the 30th different player in European Tour history to win back-to-back European Tour events. He is the 104th South African victory in European Tour history. He gains his largest European Tour prize of €350,000. He gains a place in the 2012 WGC - Bridgestone Invitational, WGC - HSBC Champions and 2013 Volvo Golf Champions. He gains a European Tour exemption until the end of 2014. And finally gains his third win as a professional. It was a steady final round for Branden Grace (RSA) after his poor 3rd round of 75+2. He scored 37+1 on the front nine that included birdies at the Par 4, 6th hole and the Par 5, 9th hole. But he made a poor Bogey on the Par 4, 4th hole and that followed a stupid Double Bogey on the Par 4, 3rd hole. But he played a Tournament winning back nine of 34-3 that included birdies on the Par 4, 12th hole, Par 5, 13th hole and Par 5, 16th hole. It all added up to a 71-2.

The win will do big things for Branden Graces (RSA) confidence having won last week as well at the Joburg Open. And this was a much higher calibre field than last week. He will now be looking to move inside the Top 50 Golfers on the Official World Golf Rankings by the end of March that get to play in the first Major of the year which is the Master Tournament. I wish him luck with the rest of his 2012 season on the European Tour and hope he has more wins.

Coming in tied for 2nd at 280-12 after 72 holes and both lost out in the Playoff were Ernie Els (RSA) and Retief Goosen (RSA). Coming in at solo 4th position at 281-11 after 72 holes was Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium); he was very unlucky not to be in the playoff with missing a short par putt on the 72nd hole to get in the playoff. Coming in solo 5th position at 282-10 after 72 holes was the current Masters Tournament Champion, Charl Schwartzel (RSA). Coming in solo 6th place at 284-8 after 72 holes was the real surprise of the Tournament, Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain). Coming in tied for 7th position at 286-6 after 72 holes was Raphael Jacquelin (France) and Louis Oosthuizen (RSA).  In solo 9th position at 287-5 after 72 holes was Thomas Aiken (RSA). Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 10th position at 288-4 after 72 holes were Paul Lawrie (Scotland) and Padraig Harrington (Ireland).

Next week the European Tour and the Race to Dubai heads to Abu Dhabi for the first tournament of 3 in the Gulf Swing. It is the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and it is being played at the Abu Dhabi GC, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It has a large prize purse of $US 2,700,000 up for grabs. Martin Kaymer (Germany) is the defending Champion and will be gunning for back to back titles. It starts on Thursday 26th January and I will report back who won the Trophy next week.

The 2nd event I am reporting on this week was on the USPGA Tour and was part of 2012 FedEx Cup. This week was the first tournament on Mainland, USA for 2012. It was the Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation and this year it had been reduced to 72 holes rather than 90 holes from the previous years. It was played on the PGA West (Palmer Course), La Quinta, California, PGA West (Nicklaus Course), La Quinta, California, La Quinta CC, La Quinta, California. And it was the Golfer by the name of Mark Wilson (USA) who scored rounds of 66-6, 62-10, 67-5 and a final round of 69-3 for a 72 hole total of 264-24 after 72 holes. He won $US 1,008,000.00 for the win and that moved him to 3rd position on the 2012 USPGA Tour Money list with $US 1,099,500 earned from the 3 events he has played in so far this year. Johnson Wagner (USA) is leading the money list with $US 1,573,133 earned from the 3 events he has played to date this year so far.

Mark Wilson (USA) in action in the final round

Mark Wilson (USA) is in 2nd position on the 2012 FedEx Cup points list with 553 points earned from the 3 events he has played this year to date. He earned 500 of those with this win. He is 230 points behind Johnson Wagner (USA) who has the early lead after 3 events with 783 FedEx Cup points. It was Mark Wilson (USA) 5th win on the USPGA Tour having won previously the 2007 The Honda Classic, 2009 Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun.  2011 Sony Open in Hawaii and the 2011 Waste Management Phoenix Open. He has started the 2012 USPGA Tour season the same way he started in 2011 with getting an early win. He played a steady final round that was enough to carry him to victory. He scored an average front nine of 37+1 that included a bogey 4 on the Par 3, 3rd hole. But he played a Tournament winning Back Nine when it counted with scoring 32-4 that included birdies at the Par 5, 11th hole, Par 3, 12th hole, Par 4, 16th hole and Par 5, 18th hole. His final round 69-3 was a great round under pressure. I hope he continues on the good form for the rest of the 2012 USPGA Tour season and gets his 2nd win of the season in the next few tournaments like he did last year. I wish him all the best.

Mark Wilson (USA) holding the Hope Trophy he won for winning the Humana Challenge

Coming in tied for 2nd position at 266-22 after 72 holes were last week’s winner Johnson Wagner (USA), John Mallinger (USA) and the long hitting Robert Garrigus (USA). Coming in solo 5th position on 267-21 after 72 holes was the ever green Jeff Maggert (USA). Coming in tied for 6th position at 268-20 after 72 holes were John Senden (Australia) and David Toms (USA). Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 9th position at 269-19 after 72 holes were the 2010 NZ Open Champion, Bobby Gates (USA), Ben Crane (USA), Brandt Snedeker (USA) and the 2007 Masters Tournament winner, Zach Johnson.

Danny Lee (NZL) in his 2nd tournament as a full USPGA Tour member scored rounds of 69-3, 69-3, 69-3 and a poor 74+2 in the final round that included a Hole in One on Par 3, 17th hole. He finished with a 72 hole total of 281-7 and finished in tied for 66th position. He earned $US 11,368.00 for the week and moves to tied for 110th position on the 2012 USPGA Tour money list with $US 11,368.00 earned from the 2 events he has played to date this year so far. He also moves to 110th position on the 2012 FedEx Cup points list with 3 points earned from the 2 events he has played to date this year so far. He earned those 3 points in this tournament. He is 780 points behind Johnson Wagner (USA). Danny Lee (NZL) has not got off to the fast start I hoped he would so far in the first two events. But he has many more chances in 2012 to prove himself and maybe next week he will fear better? I wish him all the best for great success in 2012.

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup head up the west coast to California for the Farmers Insurance Open and it is being played at the Torrey Pines (South Course), La Jolla, California and Torrey Pines (North Course), La Jolla, California. It has a huge prize purse of $US 6,000,000 up for grabs and Bubba Watson (USA) is the defending champion and will be looking for back to back titles. It starts on Thursday 26th January and I will report back who took home the trophy next week.

Now to the Top 5 Players on the Official Golf World Rankings Points list for this week. Still coming in at Number One for the 34th week running is Luke Donald (England) with 9.89 Official World Golf Ranking Points, Coming in at Number Two is Lee Westwood (England) with 7.63 Official World Golf Rankings Points, Coming in at Number Three is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 7.41 Official World Ranking Points, Coming in at Number Four is Martin Kaymer (Germany) with 6.20 Official World Ranking Points and rounding out the top Five is Steve Stricker (USA) with 5.95 Official World Ranking Points. Tiger Woods (USA) this week remains in 25th position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list with 3.44 Official World Golf Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is still the highest ranked New Zealander in the World. This week he slips down one place to be at 154th position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list with 1.15 Official World Golf Rankings Points on the list.

The Final event I am reporting on this week was on the Champions Tour and was the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai and the only players eligible to play in it were the winners on the Champions Tour in 2011. It was played on the Hualalai Golf Course, Ka'upulehu-Kona, Hawaii. And it was the Golfer by the name of Dan Forsman (USA) who scored rounds of 67-5, 65-7 and a final round of 69-3 for a 54 hole total of 201-15 and he won by 2 strokes. He won $US 307,000.00 for the win and is Number One on the Champions Tour Money list after the first event of 2012. He also got 307 Charles Schwab Cup Points and is at the top of that list as well. He has a 127 point lead over Jay Don Blake (USA) after the first event. It was Dan Forsman’s (USA) 3rd win on the Champions Tour having won also the 2009 AT&T Champions Classic and the 2010 Regions Charity Classic. 

Dan Forsman (USA) holding the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai Trophy he won

He played a steady final round of 69-3 which included a front nine of 34-2, with birdies on the Par 4, 1st hole and Par 5, 7th hole. He scored a back nine of 35-1 which included birdies on the Par 5, 10th hole and Par 5, 14th hole. He made a poor bogey on the Par 3, 12th hole. The first time I saw Dan Forsman (USA) play golf was on TV in the Final Round of the 1993 Masters Tournament. He had just taken the lead after completing the 11th hole in the final round. He came to the second hole of Amen Corner which was the short Par 3, 12th hole and put 2 balls in the Water and made a Quadruple Bogey 7 and didn’t win but had a good finish. But he has had a great career on the USPGA Tour with winning on 5 Occasions. Now he is starting to make his presence felt on the Champions Tour. I wish Dan Forsman (USA) all the best and to have many more wins in 2012 on the Champions Tour.

Coming in solo 2nd place at 203-13 after 54 holes was Jay Don Blake (USA). In tied for 3rd position at 204-12 after 54 holes were John Cook (USA) and Michael Allen (USA). In tied for 5th position at 205-11 after 54 holes were Gary Hallberg (USA) and Jeff Sluman (USA). Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 7th position at 206-10 after 54 holes were Mark Calcavecchia (USA), Jay Haas (USA), Tom Watson (USA) and Brad Bryant (USA).

Next event on the Champions Tour is in two weeks time and is the Allianz Championship and is being played at the Old Course at Broken Sound, Boca Raton, Florida. It has a huge prize purse of $US 1,800,000 for the taking which will attract the best players on the Champions Tour. Tom Lehman (USA) is the defending Champion and will be looking for back to back titles. It starts on Friday 10th February. I will report back who won the Trophy in two weeks time.

So until next week’s report remember to keep hitting the ball long and straight and put a smooth stroke on all your putts!!

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com