Golf Events from the Weekend 11th March 2012

Well it was another exciting weekend on the Professional Golf Tours from around the world. First I will start with the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup which was combined with the European Tour and Race to Dubai this week for the 2nd World Golf Championship Event of the 2012 season. It was the WGC – Cadillac Championship and was played at the TPC Blue Monster at Doral, Miami, Florida. And it was the Golfer by the name of Justin Rose (England) that scored rounds of 69-3, 64-8, 69-3 and a final round of 70-2 for a 72 hole total of 272-16 and won by 1 stroke.

Justin Rose (England) acknowlegdes the crowd after winning

He won $US 1,400,000.00 for the win and moves to 6th position on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 1,814,450 earned from the 5 events he has played in to date this year so far. Rory McILroy (NIR) leads that list with $US 2,392,000 earned from the 3 events he has played in to date this year so far. Justin Rose (England) also gained 550 FedEx Cup points and moves to 8th position on the FedEx Cup points list with 768 points earned from the 5 events he has played in to date this year. He is 247 points behind the current leader who is Rory McIlroy (NIR). He has 1,015 points from the 3 events he has played in to date this year so far.

Justin Rose (England) holding the WGC- Cadillac Championship Trophy he won

He is also moves into 2nd Position on the European Tour’s, Race to Dubai Money list with €1,082,236 earned from the 2 events he has played to date this year so far. Rory McILroy (NIR) leads that list as well with €1,324,366 earned from the 4 events he has played to date this year so far. He played a great final round in the difficult conditions with scoring a 70-2. He played a steady front nine of 35-1 which included birdies on the Par 5, first hole and Par 3, fourth hole. He made a poor bogey on the Par 4, sixth hole. He played a steady back nine as well scoring 35-1 which included birdies on the Par 5, tenth hole and Par 4, fourteen hole but made a poor bogey on the very difficult Par 4, eighteen hole. It was his fourth win on the USPGA Tour having previously won the 2010 the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance, 2010 AT&T National and the 2011 BMW Championship. 

It was his fifth European Tour International Schedule victory in his 210th European Tour event. It moved Justin Rose (England) to seventh in the Official World Golf Ranking. It was his first European Tour victory since the 2007 Volvo Masters. It was his first victory in a WGC event in his 21st WGC appearance. This victory beat his previous best WGC performance of tied second in the 2007 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational. This victory came in his sixth appearance in the WGC – Cadillac Championship. This victory beats his previous best performance in the WGC – Cadillac Championship of tied 15th in 2008. His three shot final round winning comeback is the largest in the history of the WGC – Cadillac Championship, beating the two shots of Tiger Woods (USA) in 2005 and Nick Watney (USA) in 2011.

He becomes the first European to win the WGC – Cadillac Championship. He becomes the third Englishman to win a WGC event, following Ian Poulter (England) (2010 WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship) and Luke Donald (England) (2011 WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship). It became the fifth win by a player from the United Kingdom in a WGC event. They are: Darren Clarke (NIR) (2000 WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship and 2003 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational), Ian Poulter (England) (2010 WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship), Luke Donald (England) (2011 WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship) and Justin Rose (England) (2012 WGC – Cadillac Championship). This victory continued European Tour Members wonderful run of recent form in WGC events. They would now have won six of the last ten, dating back to the 2010 WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship. He becomes the tenth different European Tour Member to win a WGC event. Justin Rose (England) becomes the 22nd different player to win a WGC event, since they began in 1999. It was the 273rd English victory in European Tour history. It was his tenth win as a professional worldwide.

He earned his largest European Tour prize of €1,048,139. He moves over €8 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings. He becomes the fifth former European Challenge Tour player to win on The European Tour in 2012. He follows: Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) (Africa Open), Branden Grace (RSA) (Joburg Open, Volvo Golf Champions), Robert Rock (England) (Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship) and Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spain) (Omega Dubai Desert Classic). He becomes the fourth former Challenge Tour player to win a WGC event. He follows, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) (2007 WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship), Ian Poulter (England) (2010 WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship) and Martin Kaymer (Germany) (2011 WGC – HSBC Champions). And finally becomes the 290th former Challenge Tour player to win on The European Tour.

I feel this win should do great things for the Confidence of Justin Rose (England) and he could well go on and win a Major Championship this year. Perhaps it will come at the Masters Tournament next Month? Hope he continues on his great form for the rest of 2012.

Coming in solo 2nd was the 54 hole leader, Bubba Watson (USA) but unfortunately he scored a final round of 74+2 and had a 72 hole total of 273-15. He won $US 845,000.00 for his efforts and now moves to10th position on the USPGA Tour Money list with $1,474,567 earned from the 6 events he has played to date this year. He also moves to 12th position on the FedEx Cup Points list with 625 points earned from the 6 events he has played in to date this year. He is 390 points behind the current leader who is Rory McIlroy (NIR). Bubba Watson (USA) had a chance to get into a playoff with a 12 foot birdie on the 72nd hole. He hit a good putt but he just missed on the left hand side. I hope he can continue the good form into the first Major of the year which is the Master Tournament.

Coming in tied for 3rd position at 274-14 after 72 holes was the World Number One Golfer, Rory McILroy (NIR). He is now Number on the Race to Dubai Money list with €1,324,366 earned from the 4 events he has played on the European Tour to date this year. He also leads the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 2,392,000 earned from the 3 events he has played in to date this year so far. And he also leads the FedEx Cup points list with 1,015 points earned from the 3 events he has played in to date this year so far. And he is the Number One Golf in the World for the 2nd week in a row. I suggest a second Major isn’t that far away for him?

In tied for 4th position at 275-13 after 72 holes were the Current Masters Tournament Champion, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) and Peter Hanson (Sweden). Tied for 6th Position at 272-12 after 72 holes was John Senden (Australia) and the Former World Number Golfer, Luke Donald (England). Rounding out the Top 10 in tied for 8th position on 277-11 after 72 holes were Bo Van Pelt (USA), Steve Stricker (USA), Matt Kuchar (USA) and Keegan Bradley (USA). Tiger Woods (USA) had to withdraw mid way through his final round due to injury.

The other event I am reporting on this week was for the USPGA Tour players that didn’t qualify for the WGC – Cadillac Championship. It was the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com and was played on the Trump International GC - Puerto Rico, Rio Grande, Puerto. And it was George McNeill (USA) who scored rounds of 66-6, 70-2, 67-5 and a final round of 69-3 for a 72 hole total of 272-16 after 72 holes and he won by 2 strokes. He won $US 630,000.00 for the win and moves to 18th position on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 761,068 earned from the 7 events he has played to date this year. He also gained 250 FedEx Cup Points and he now is in 19th position on the FedEx Cup points list with 377 points earned from the 7 events has played to date this year. He is 638 points behind the current leader who is Rory McILroy (NIR).

It was George McNeill (USA) second win on the USPGA Tour having won the 2007 Frys.com Open benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children. He played a steady final round under the circumstances scoring 69-3. He scored a front nine of 35-1 with birdies on the Par 4, 3rd hole, Par 4, 4th hole and Par 3, 8th hole. But he had poor bogies on the Par 5, 5th hole and Par 3, 6th hole. He played a very good back nine of 34-2 with birdies on the final 3 holes which were the Par 3, 16th hole, Par 4, 17th hole and Par 5, 18th hole. His lone bogey on the back nine came at the Par 3, 11th hole. With this win George McNeill (USA) is now exempt to the end of the 2014 USPGA Tour season. I feel it will give him the confidence he needs to have a great 2012 USPGA Tour season. I wish him all the best for the remaining events in the season.

George McNeill (USA) in action during the final round

Coming in solo 2nd at 274-14 after 72 holes was Ryo Ishikawa (Japan); it was his best ever finish in a USPGA Tour event. Coming in tied for 3rd position at 275-13 after 72 holes were Boo Weekley (USA) and Hendrik Stenson (Sweden). Coming in tied for 5th position at 276-12 after 72 holes were Scott Brown (USA) and Matt Jones (Australia). Coming in at tied for 7th position at 277-11 after 72 holes were Daniel Summerhays (USA) and Kevin Stadler (USA). And rounding out the top 10 in tied for 9th position at 278-10 after 72 holes were Brandt Jobe (USA), Blake Adams (USA) and Graham De laet (Canada).

Best New Zealand Golfer in the field was Danny Lee (NZL), he score rounds of 70-2, 70-2, 71-1 and a poor final round of 75+3 for a 72 hole total of 286-2 and finished in tied for 48th position. He won $US 8,484.00 for his efforts and moves to 163rd position on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 70,892 earned from the 8 events he has played to date this year so far. He also has earned 56 FedEx Cup Points that places him in 156th position on the current FedEx Cup points list from the 8 events he has played to date this year so far. I sure this isn’t the start he was hoping for in his rookie season on the USPGA Tour. I hope he has some better results soon. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2012 USPGA Tour season.

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup stay in Florida for the Transitions Championship and it is being played at the Innisbrook Resort - Copperhead, Palm Harbor, Florida. It has a large Prize Purse of $US 5,500,000 for the taking. Long hitting, Gary Woodland (USA) is the defending Champion and will be looking to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 15th March and I will report back who won the trophy next week.

Now to the top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings this week, coming in as the Number One Golfer in the World for the 2nd week running is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 9.78 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in 2nd position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list is Luke Donald (England) with 9.09 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in 3rd position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list is Lee Westwood (England) with 8.12 Official World Golf Rankings Points; coming in 4th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list is Martin Kaymer (Germany) with 5.88 Official World Golf Rankings Points and rounding on the top 5 Golfers in the world is Steve Stricker (USA) with 5.76 Official World Golf Rankings Points. Tiger Woods (USA) this week moves down two places to be at 18th position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list with 4.33 Official World Golf Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is still the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the World. This week he slips two places to be at 167th position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list with 1.09 Official World Golf Rankings Points on the list.

So until next week remember keep hitting Fairways and Greens and make all your Putts!!

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com