Golf Events from the Weekend 12th February 2012

Well it was another great Weekend of Golf on the Major Golf Tours from around the world. First I will start with the European Tour and Race to Dubai. This week it was the final leg of the Desert Swing and was the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and was played on the Emirates GC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. And it was the Golfer by the name of Rafael Cabrera – Bello (Spain) that score rounds of 63-9, 69-3, 70-2 and a final round of 68-4 for a 72 hole total of 270-18 and he won by 1 stroke. He won € 315,532 for the win and moves to 4th on the Race to Dubai Money list with €336,412 earned from the 3 events he has played to date this year so far. Branden Grace (RSA) leads the list with €584,795 earned from the 6 events he has played to date this year so far.

Rafael Cabrera - Bello (Spain) celebrates after winning the Omega Dubai Desert Classic

It was a great win for Rafael Cabrera – Bello (Spain), and he played a steady final round of 68-4 that included a front nine of 34-1 with alone birdie on the Par 4, 2nd hole. He played a flawless back nine of 34-3 with birdies at the Par 3, 11th hole, Par 4, 12th hole and Par 4, 17th hole.

It was Rafael Cabrera – Bello (Spain), second European Tour International Schedule victory in his 151st European Tour event. He could move to around 60th in the Official World Golf Ranking, from 119th. With results to be confirmed from the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, he could claim a place in the 2012 WGC - Accenture Match Play Championship. It was his first European Tour victory since the 2009 Austrian Golf Open.  Since Rafael Cabrera – Bello (Spain) won in Austria, he has played 72 European Tour events between victories. From those 72 events, his best finish was second in the 2011 Portugal Masters. It was his fourth appearance at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, beating his previous best of tied 20th in 2011. It was the third consecutive Spanish player to win the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, following Miguel Angel Jiménez (Spain) in 2010 and Alvaro Quiros (Spain) in 2011.



Rafael Cabrera - Bello (Spain) with the Omega Dubai Desert Trophy he won

His win represented the first time Spain have won the same European Tour event for three consecutive years since the Mallorca Classic, when Miguel Angel Jiménez (Spain) won in 2003, Sergio Garcia (Spain) in 2004 and José María Olazábal (Spain) in 2005. He became the fifth Spanish player to win the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, following Seve Ballesteros in 1992, José María Olazábal (Spain) in 1998, Miguel Angel Jiménez (Spain) in 2010 and Alvaro Quiros (Spain) in 2011. This means Spain have the most wins by a single country in the event. He became the 20th different winner in the history of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. He was the first winner in 2012 not to lead or share the lead going into the final round. He was the only winner in 2012 not to lead or share the lead going into the final round. It was the 164th Spanish victory on The European Tour. He gains a two year European Tour exemption until the end of 2014. He gains his biggest European Tour prize of €315,532. He gains a place in the 2012 Bridgestone Invitational and 2012 WGC - HSBC Champions as well as a possible place in the 2012 WGC - Accenture Match Play Championship. And finally it was his fifth win as a professional.

I hope Rafael Cabrera – Bello (Spain) can go onto big things from this win and maybe even contend in the Major Championships in 2012. Perhaps even he can make the European Ryder Cup team for the first time? His next big Challenge will be the WGC – Accenture Match play Championships in two weeks time in Arizona, USA. Only the Top 64 on the World rankings qualify. I wish him all the best and every success for the rest of the 2012 European Tour season.

Coming in tied for 2nd place at 271-17 after 72 holes were Lee Westwood (England) and Stephen Gallagher (Scotland).  In solo 4th position at 273-15 after 72 holes was Marcel Siem (Germany). In tied for 5th Position at 276-14 after 72 holes were Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark), George Coetzee (RSA), Rory McILroy (NIR), Scott Jamieson (Scotland). Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 9th position at 275-13 after 72 holes were Thomas Bjorn (Denmark), Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) and Joel Sjoholm (Sweden).

Next week the European Tour and Race to Dubai head to India for the Avantha Masters and it is being played at the DLF G&CC, New Delhi, India. It has a prize purse of €1,800,000 for the taking. S. S. P. Chowrasia (India) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 16th February. I will report back who won next week.

Now to the second event I am reporting on this week and it was on the USPGA Tour and was the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro – Am and was played on the Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, California; Monterey Peninsula CC, Pebble Beach and California,Spyglass Hill GC, Pebble Beach, California. And it was the Golfer by name of Phil Mickelson (USA) that scored rounds of 70-2, 65-5, 70-2 and a brilliant final round of 64-8 for a 72 hole total of -17 after 72 holes and he won by 2 strokes. It was a brilliant win for him and the 40th of his USPGA Tour Career. And the great thing about it is he was playing with Tiger Woods (USA) who is a former World Number One Golfer and he beat him by 11 strokes in the final round with scoring a 64-8 to Tigers 75+3. Phil Mickelson (USA) earned $US 1,152,000.00 for the win and moves to 4th position on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 1,209,131 earned from the 4 events he has played to date this year so far. Kyle Stanley (USA) leads that list with $US 1,793,575 earned from the 4 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earns 500 FedEx Cup Points and moves to 5th position on the FedEx Cup points list with 562 points earned from the 4 Events he has played to date this year so far. He is 284 points behind Kyle Stanley (USA) who leads with 846 points he has earned from the 4 events he has played to date this year so far.

Phil Mickelson (USA) tips his cap in Acknowledgement after winning the AT&T National Pebble Beach Pro - Am

It was just an awesome win for Phil Mickelson (USA) who now has won a total of 40 USPGA Tour events which is just amazing and includes 4 Major Championships. He could be in for another brilliant year including another Major Championship win. It was also great that he had his wife Amy was there as he walked off the 72nd Green to give him a Hug and Kiss. Because over the past two years she has been getting treatment for Breast Cancer. Phil Mickelson (USA) played a great front nine with scoring 31-5 which included an eagle on the Par 5, 6th hole and birdies on the Par 5, 2nd hole, Par 4, 4th hole and Par 3, 5th hole. He played an equally as good back nine with scoring 33-3 which included birdies at the Par 4, 13th hole, Par 5, 14th hole and Par 5, 18th hole. He took the advice of his caddie Jim Mckay (Bones) and hit a 4 iron off the 18th tee, laid up with another mid iron and hit his short iron wedge to 7feet from the pin and made his birdie putt. He also made two long par putts that kept his round going on the Par 3, 12th hole and the Par 4, 15th hole. I hope he can continue his great form on the USPGA Tour for the rest of the year and I wish him all the best.

Phil Mickelson (USA) and his wife Amy poses with the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro - Am Trophy he won

Coming in solo 2nd position was Charlie Wie (South Korea) who was the 54 hole leader. He got off to a poor start with a 4putt double bogey on the Par 4, first hole and found himself 4 over after 6 holes, but played the final 12 holes 4 under including birding the last 3 holes. He finished the 72 holes at 271-15. Coming in solo 3rd position at 273-13 after 72 holes was Ricky Barnes (USA). Coming in solo 4th position at 274-12 after 72 holes was Aaron Baddeley (Australia). In tied for 5th position at 275-11 after 72 holes were Kevin Na (USA) and Dustin Johnson (USA). In tied for 7th position at 276-10 after 72 holes were Padraig Harrington (Ireland) and Ken Duke (USA). Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 9th position at 277-9 after 72 holes were Spencer Levin (USA), Jimmy Walker (USA), Jason Kokrak (USA), Greg Owen (England), Kevin Streelman (USA) and Brendon Todd (USA).

Danny Lee (NZL) had his best finish on the USPGA Tour to date this year, he scored rounds of 63-9 which had him tied for the lead after the first round, 73+1, 74+4 and a final round of 70-2 for a 72 hole total of 280-6 and tied for 25th place. It was good to see him have his first decent finish of the season and he earned $US 51,040.00 for his efforts. He moves to 106th position on the USPGA Tour money list with $US 62, 408 earned from the 5 events he has played to date this year so far. He also moves to 116th position on the FedEx Cup points list with 47 points earned from the 5 events he has played in to date this year. He is 799 points behind the leader Kyle Stanley (USA). It was good to see him finally earn a decent Cheque and I hope he can continue this good form into the next few tournaments he enters. I wish him all the best and to keep on improving.

Next week the USPGA Tour heads up the Californian Coast to Pacific Palisades for the Northern Trust Open and it is being played on the Riviera CC, Pacific Palisades, California. It has the largest purse so far to date this year with $US 6,600,000 for the taking. Aaron Baddeley (Australia) is the defending Champion and is going for back to back titles. It starts on Thursday 16th February and I will report back who took home the trophy next week.

The final event I am reporting on this week was on the Champions Tour and was the Allianz Championship and was played on the Old Course at Broken Sound, Boca Raton, Florida. And it was Corey Pavin (USA) who scored rounds of 64-8, 70-2 and a final round 71-1 for a 54 hole total of 205-11 but he was joined on that score by Peter Senior (Australia) who scored rounds of 66-6, 68-4 and a final round of 71-1 for a 54 hole total of 205-11 also. So those two players headed back to the Par 5, 18th hole for the first playoff hole. Corey Pavin (USA) made a birdie and Peter Senior (Australia) was only able to manage a par 5. So Corey Pavin (USA) won the Allianz Championship. It was his maiden win on the Champions Tour having played the last 2 seasons full time on the Champions Tour.

Corey Pavin (USA) in Action in the final round of the Allianz Championship

We all knew it wasn’t going to be long before he won on the Champions Tour having won 15 events on the USPGA Tour including the 1995 US Open Championship. He won $US 270,000.00 for the win and moves to 2nd Position on the Champions Tour Money list with $US 295,250 earned from the 2 events he has played to date this year so far. Dan Forsman (USA) leads that list with $US 315,640 earned from the 2 events he has played to date this year so far. He also moves to 2nd on the Charles Schwab Cup Points list with 270 points earned from the 2 events he has played in to date this year so far. He is 37 points behind Dan Forsman (USA) who leads that list with 307 points earned from the 2 events he has played to date this year so far. I hope Corey Pavin (USA) continues on the great early form he has shown through the 2012 Season.

Corey Pavin (USA) holding the Allianz Championship Trophy he won

Coming in Solo 2nd was Peter Senior (Australia) and as I mentioned above he lost the playoff. He must be due to win on the Champions Tour this year at some stage because he has had so many second place finishes. I hope he can keep improving this year. Coming in tied for 3rd position at 206-10 after 54 holes were Bernhard Langer (Germany) and Michael Allen (USA). Coming in tied for 5th position at 207-9 after 54 holes were Jay Haas (USA) and John Cook (USA). Coming in tied for 7th position at 208-8 after 54 holes were Nick Price (Zimbabwe), Gary Hallberg (USA) and Mark Calcavecchia (USA). And rounding out the top 10 at 209-7 after 54 holes were Russ Cochran (USA), Brad Bryant (USA), Olin Browne (USA), John Huston (USA) and Fred Funk (USA).

Next week the Champions Tour and Charles Schwab Cup stay in Florida for the ACE Group Classic and it is played at the TwinEagles GC (Talon Course), Naples, Florida. It has a prize purse of $US 1,600,000 for the taking. Bernhard Langer (Germany) is the defending champion and will be looking for back to back titles. It starts on Friday 17th February and I will report back who won the trophy next week.     

Now to the Top 5 on the on the Official World Golf rankings this week, coming in at Number One for the 38th week running was Luke Donald (England) with 9.42 Official World Ranking Points, coming in Number two was Lee Westwood (England) with 7.93Official World Ranking Points. Coming in at Number Three is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 7.93 Official World Ranking Points, Coming in at Number Four is Martin Kaymer (Germany) with 6.08 Official World Ranking Points and rounding out the Top 5 is Steve Stricker (USA) with 5.77 Official World Ranking Points. Tiger Woods (USA) this week remains in 18th position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list with 3.83 Official World Golf Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is still the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the World. This week he gains one place to be at 158th position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list with 1.15 Official World Golf Rankings Points on the list.

Remember in these very hard dry Summer Conditions allow for extra rollout on your shots.

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com