Golf Events from the Weekend 29th January 2012

Well what an exciting weekend 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 headed to United Arab Emirates for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and it was played at the Abu Dhabi GC, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. And the Golfer by the name of Robert Rock (England) who scored 69-3, 70-2, 66-6 and a final round of 70-2 for a 72 hole total of 275-13 and he won by 1 stroke. Robert Rock (England) won € 347,024.06 for the win and moved to 2nd position on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 411,734 earned from the 3 events he has played to date this year so far. Branden Grace (RSA) leads that list with €570,000 earned from the 4 events he has played to date this year. It was Robert Rock’s (England) 2nd win on the European Tour having won the 2011 BMW Italian Open presented by CartaSi.

Robert Rock (England) is congratulated by Tiger Woods (USA) after his win

He came to the 72nd hole with a 2 stroke lead over Rory McILroy (NIR) who was already in the Club House at -12. But Robert Rock (England) hit a poor drive and landed it in the right hand hazard. He took a penalty drop and landed his 3rd shot within 100 metres of the green in the fairway. He then struck his 4th shot and landed it on the green about 35 feet from the cup. Now he knew what he had to do and that was to 2putt and the title was his. He calmed his nerve and put a smooth stroke on the putt which landed within inches on the Cup. He easily tapped in for his bogey 6 and won by 1 stroke. His steady final round of 70 was enough to carry him to victory. He played a good front nine with scoring 34-2 that included birdies on the Par 5, 2nd hole, Par 4, 3rd hole and Par 4, 6th hole. But he scored a silly bogey on the Par 5, 8th hole. He played a good back nine of 36 even par which include birdies at the Par 4, 14th hole and Par 4, 16th hole. But made a bogey at the Par 4, 13th hole and as I mentioned above he also bogeyed the Par 5, 18th hole.

It was Robert Rock’s (England) second European Tour International Schedule victory in his 227th European Tour event. He moves into the top 60 in the Official World Golf Rankings from 117th. It was his first victory since the 2011 BMW Italian Open presented by CartaSi. It was his second consecutive European Tour season with a victory, following his triumph in Italy last season. This victory beats his previous best finish in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship of tied 47th in 2009. Robert Rock (England) shared the 54 hole lead with Tiger Woods. This means both of his victories have occurred after him leading or sharing the lead going into the final round. He led by two in the 2011 BMW Italian Open presented by CartaSi. It was his second consecutive top eight finish in a European Tour event staged in the Desert. He was eighth in the 2011 Dubai World Championship presented by DP World. It was the first English victory of the 2012 season. This win continues England’s record of winning at least once in every European Tour season since 1972. It was the 272nd English victory in European Tour history. He joins Paul Casey (England) (2007 and 2009) as English winners of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. He extends his European Tour exemption until the end of 2014. He gains a place in the 2012 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and 2012 WGC – HSBC Champions and finally he gains his second victory as a professional.

Robert Rock (England) holding the Falcon Trophy he won for winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

This win should do great things for Robert Rock’s (England) confidence as a Golfer and if he can have a few more top 10 finishes before the end of March he may well get a start in the first Major of the year which is the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia, USA. I wish Robert Rock (England) all the best and every success for the rest of the 2012 Season on the European Tour.

In solo 2nd place at 276-12 after 72 holes was the current US Open Champion, Rory McILroy (NIR). It was his first event on the European Tour for the 2012 Season and he won € 231,349 for his efforts. And he is 4th on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 231,349 earned from the 1 event he has played to date this year. It is looking like Rory McILroy (NIR) is heading for another big year with maybe his 2nd Major Championship win? I wish him all the best for 2012 season. Coming in tied for 3rd Position at 277-11 after 72 holes was Graeme McDowell (NIR) who had a hole in one on the Par 3, 12th hole in his final round. Also tied for 3rd position was Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) who scored a bogey free 68-4 in his final round. And the final player to tie for 3rd position was the 54 hole co – leader Tiger Woods (USA) who had a disappointing final round of 72 even par, but it was good to see him in the running for another title so soon after winning his own tournament in December.

 In tied for 6th position at 278-10 after 72 holes was the young Italian Golfer, Matteo Manassero (Italy) and George Coetzee (RSA). Rounding out the Top 10 in tied for 8th position at 279-9 after 72 holes were Keith Horne (RSA), Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark), Francesco Molinari (Italy) and the 1999 Open Champion, Paul Lawrie (Scotland).

Next week the European Tour and Race to Dubai play the second leg of the desert swing and it is Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy. It is being played on the Doha GC, Doha, Qatar. It has the largest prize purse of the 2012 season so far with $US 2,500,000 for the taking. Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) is the defending champion and will be keen to win again. It starts on Thursday 2nd February and I will report back who won the Trophy next week.

The final event I am reporting on this week is on the USPGA Tour and was part of the FedEx Cup and was the Farmers Insurance Open and was played on the Torrey Pines (South Course), La Jolla, California and Torrey Pines (North Course), La Jolla, California. And it was the Golfer by the name of Brandt Snedeker (USA) that scored rounds of 67-5, 64-8, 74+2 and a final round of 67-5 for a 72 hole total 272-16 after 72 holes, but he was tied on that score by Kyle Stanley (USA) who scored rounds of 62-10, 68-4, 68-4 and a final round of 74+2 for a 72 hole total of 272-16 also. It was a real shame that Kyle Stanley (USA) didn’t win the tournament in regulation play because at one point on the front nine of the final round he had a 6 stroke lead over the eventual winner, Brandt Snedeker (USA) and John Rollins (USA). Kyle Stanley (USA) after going out in 33-3 on the front nine that included birdies on the Par 4, 1st hole and Par 4, 2nd hole and the Par 5, 6th hole and Par 5, 9th hole. He had a poor bogey on the Par 3, 8th hole. He started the back nine poorly with Bogey’s on the Par 3, 11th hole and Par 4, 12th hole. He was now back on -19 with 6 holes to play.

Brandt Snedeker (USA) in action during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open

 He pared the next 5 holes and came to the 72nd hole with a 3 shot lead over Brandt Snedeker (USA) who was already in the Club House at -16. He hit a good drive down the Par 5, 18th hole but he chose to lay up with his 2nd shot short of the pond in front of the green which is known as “Devlin’s Billabong”. He left himself with a simple Wedge Shot of 100 yards to the green. He hit a good shot what he thought was perfect and landed it just past the pin but to his surprise it spun back off the green down the slope and into “Devlin’s Billabong” which is a Water Hazard. He dropped a ball under the hazard rule and took the 1 stroke penalty and played his 5th shot, but this time he was too cautious and hit it 40 feet past the pin which left a very difficult putt that he had to 2 putt to win by 1 stroke.

He hit his first putt but again he was too cautious and left it 6 feet short of the hole. He now had that 6footer to win the Tournament but he miss read it and it missed on the left hand side and he tapped in for a Triple Bogey 8 and finished at -16. So the two players head back to the 18th tee for the first playoff hole. This time Kyle Stanley (USA) went for the green in two and hit a great shot that just rolled through the back of the green. Brandt Snedeker (USA) layup with his 2nd shot then hit his 3rd shot with a wedge to about 4feet from the hole and easily made his birdie 4.  Kyle Stanley (USA) got up and down from the back of the green for his birdie as well. So they then went to the Par 3, 16th hole for the 2nd playoff hole.

Kyle Stanley (USA) landed his tee shot on the green but 40 feet from the hole. Brandt Snedeker (USA) hit his tee shot over the back of the green. Brandt Snedeker (USA) then got relief from the TV Tower and hit a fine chip shot to within 8 feet of the hole. Kyle Stanley (USA) left his 40 foot par putt, 7 feet short. Brandt Snedeker (USA) calmly rolled in his par putt and put all the pressure on Kyle Stanley (USA) to keep the playoff going. Kyle Stanley (USA) stood up to his 7foot par putt but he just missed it on the right hand side of the cup. So that meant that Brandt Snedeker (USA) had won in most unlikely circumstances.

Brandt Snedeker (USA) poses with the Farmer's Insurance Open Trophy he won

Brandt Snedeker (USA) won $US 1,080,000.00 for the win and that moved him to 2nd on the 2012 USPGA Tour Money list with $US 1,236,800 earned from the 2 events he has played in. Johnson Wagner (USA) still leads that list with $US 1,573,133 earned from the 3 events he has played in to date this year. Brandt Snedeker (USA) also gained 500 FedEx Cup points for the win and that moved him to 2nd on the 2012 FedEx Cup points list with 578 points earned from the 2 events he has played to date this year. He is 205 points behind Johnson Wagner (USA) who leads that list with 783 points earned from the 3 events he has played to date this year. It was his 3rd win on the USPGA Tour with the 2 previous ones coming at the 2007 Wyndham Championship and the 2011 The Heritage.

Brandt Snedeker (USA) played a brilliant final round of 67-5 which included a front nine of 33-3 with birdies on the Par 3, 2nd hole, Par 5, 6th hole, and Par 4, 7th hole. He scored 34-2 on the back nine with birdies on the Par 4, 10th, Par 5, 13th hole and an awesome birdie on the Par 5, 18th hole which got him into the Playoff. Brandt Snedeker (USA) had his lone bogey on the par 4, 17th hole. And it was the equal lowest score in the final round. This win should be a big boost to Brandt Snedeker’s (USA) 2012 USPGA Tour season and now he is in 15th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list and should be guaranteed a start in all four Major Championships. I think maybe he could even win a Major Championship this year.

Coming in solo 2nd was Kyle Stanley (USA), he will be very upset that he lost this tournament because it was his to win. And it must be the biggest final collapse since Robert Garrigus (USA) took a 3 stroke lead to the 72nd hole at the 2010 St. Jude Classic only to score a triple bogey 7 on the Par 4, 72nd hole like Kyle Stanley (USA) did and he too lost in a playoff. But Robert Garrigus (USA) was able to lift himself back up and win the final event of 2010 USPGA Tour season which was the Children's Miracle Network Classic. So I hope Kyle Stanley (USA) doesn’t let this huge disappointment get to him too much. And the fact that he won $US 648,000.00 for coming 2nd will go a long way to keeping his card for the 2013 USPGA Tour Season. And I hope he can secure his maiden USPGA Tour Title very soon and put the memory of this bad experience behind him. I wish all the best for the rest of the 2012 USPGA Tour season.

In solo 3rd position at 274-14 after 72 holes was John Rollins (USA). Coming in at tied for 4th position at 276-12 after 72 holes was the 2011 FedEx Cup Champion, Bill Haas (USA) and Cameron Tringale (USA). Coming in at tied for 6th position at 277-11 after 72 holes were Hunter Mahan (USA) and USPGA Tour Rookie, John Huh (USA). Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 8th position at 278-10 after 72 holes were Jimmy Walker (USA), Martin Flores (USA), 1997 Open Champion, Justin Leonard (USA), Rod Pampling (Australia) and D. A. Points (USA).

Danny Lee (NZL) after a very good first round of 67-5 on the easier north course had a shocking 2nd round on the more difficult south course and scored 78+6. He returned a 36 hole total of 145+1 and missed the cut by 3 strokes. It has been a rather disappointing start to his USPGA Tour rookie year with only making one cut in the three starts he has had. He is in tied for 133 rd position on the 2012 USPGA Tour Money list with $US 11,368 earned from the 3 events he has entered so far to date this year. And he is in tied for 133rd position on the 2012 FedEx Cup points list with 3 points earned from the 3 events he has played to date this year. He is 780 points behind the FedEx Cup points leader, Johnson Wagner (USA). I hope he can put in a better performance next week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup  head to Phoenix for the Waste Management Phoenix Open and it is being played on the TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona which has the Par 3, 16th hole that is a Stadium Theatre hole with Grandstands and Corporate Boxes surrounding it. It has a large prize purse of $US 6,100,000 for the taking. Mark Wilson (USA) is the defending champion and will be keen to defend his title having won earlier this year already. It starts on Thursday 2nd February and I will report back who won the trophy next week.

Now to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings. Coming in at Number One for the 35th consecutive week is Luke Donald (England) with 9.75 Official World Golf Ranking Points, Coming in at Number Two is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 7.98 Official World Golf Ranking Points, Coming in at Number Three is Lee Westwood (England) with 7.58 Official World Golf Ranking Points, Coming in at Number Four is Martin Kaymer (Germany) with 6.08 Official World Golf Ranking Points and rounding out the Top 5 is Steve Stricker (USA) with 5.84 Official World Golf Ranking Points. Tiger Woods (USA) this week moves up 8 places to move into 17th position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list with 3.84 Official World Golf Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is still the highest ranked New Zealander in the World. This week he slips down 3 places to be at 157th position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list with 1.14 Official World Golf Rankings Points on the list.

So until my next report remember to practise your short game because that is where you can save lots of shots with more care and concentration.

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com