Well it was a great 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 was in Malaysia for the Maybank Malaysian Open and it was played at the Kuala Lumpur G&CC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. And it was the Golfer by the name of Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) that scored rounds of 66-6, 68-4, 69-3 and a final round of 68-4 for a 72 hole total of 271-17. He won by 3 strokes and earned € 314,700 for the win and moved to 2nd position on the Race to Dubai Money list with €1,293,705 earned from the 6 events he has played to date this year so far. Rory McILroy (NIR) leads that list with €1,348,517 earned from the 5 events he has played in to date this year so far.
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| Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) in action during the final round |
It was Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) fifth European Tour International Schedule victory in his 197th European Tour event. This is his third consecutive season he has won more than €1 million in a single season. He could move to as high as 12th in the Official World Golf Ranking from 19th. It was his second European Tour International Schedule victory of the season, following the Africa Open. He becomes the second multiple victor of the 2012 European Tour season, following his countryman Branden Grace (RSA) (Joburg Open and Volvo Golf Champions). It is the second European Tour season he has recorded multiple victories, following the 2010 season, when he won the Open de Andalucía and the 139th Open Championship. He maintains his record of leading or sharing the lead going into the final round in each of his five European Tour victories.
Since the event became part of The European Tour in 1999, is the first South African to win the Maybank Malaysian Open. It was his second consecutive top two finish, after finishing runner-up in the Masters Tournament, seven days ago. It was his third top two finish from his six European Tour events in 2012. It was his first victory in Asia. He has now won on three Continents: Africa, Asia and Europe. This victory comes in his third appearance in the Maybank Malaysian Open. His best previous performance was seventh in 2009. It was the 106th South African victory in European Tour history. It was the fifth South African victory of the 2012 season. They are: Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) (Africa Open and Maybank Malaysian Open), Branden Grace (RSA) (Joburg Open and Volvo Golf Champions) and Jbe’ Kruger (RSA) (Avantha Masters). He becomes the fourth South African to record multiple victories in two or more seasons on The European Tour. He follows: Ernie Els (RSA) (1994, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007); Retief Goosen (RSA) (2001 and 2004) and Charl Schwartzel (RSA) (2010 and 2011). It is his tenth win as a professional worldwide. He moves over the €7 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings.
Since the event became part of The European Tour in 1999, is the first South African to win the Maybank Malaysian Open. It was his second consecutive top two finish, after finishing runner-up in the Masters Tournament, seven days ago. It was his third top two finish from his six European Tour events in 2012. It was his first victory in Asia. He has now won on three Continents: Africa, Asia and Europe. This victory comes in his third appearance in the Maybank Malaysian Open. His best previous performance was seventh in 2009. It was the 106th South African victory in European Tour history. It was the fifth South African victory of the 2012 season. They are: Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) (Africa Open and Maybank Malaysian Open), Branden Grace (RSA) (Joburg Open and Volvo Golf Champions) and Jbe’ Kruger (RSA) (Avantha Masters). He becomes the fourth South African to record multiple victories in two or more seasons on The European Tour. He follows: Ernie Els (RSA) (1994, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007); Retief Goosen (RSA) (2001 and 2004) and Charl Schwartzel (RSA) (2010 and 2011). It is his tenth win as a professional worldwide. He moves over the €7 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings.
He becomes the tenth European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player on the 2012 European Tour. They are: Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) (Africa Open and Maybank Malaysian Open), Branden Grace (RSA) (Joburg Open and Volvo Golf Champions), Robert Rock (England) (Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship), Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spain) (Omega Dubai Desert Classic), Justin Rose (England) (WGC – Cadillac Championship), Julien Quesne (France) (Open de Andalucía Costa del Sol), Michael Hoey (NIR) (Trophée Hassan II) and Thørbjorn Olesen (Denmark) (Sicilian Open). And finally becomes the 294th European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player.
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| Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) poses with the Maybank Malaysian Open trophy he won |
It was great to see Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) come straight back and win the next week after he lost the playoff on the 2nd hole to Bubba Watson (USA) last week in the first Major of the year which was the Masters Tournament. And to do it after a 30 hour flight and all the jet leg he must have had is just amazing. He played just a great final round in scoring 68-4 which included a 34-2 on the front nine in which he birdied Par 5, 3rd hole, Par 5, 5th hole, and Par 4, 7th hole. His lone bogey came on the Par 4, 6th hole. He played just as good on the back nine scoring 34-2 which included birdies on the Par 4, 13th hole and Par 4, 16th hole.
I feel if he stays in this form he should win another Major Championship very soon and perhaps it will be at this year’s US Open Championship or the Open Championship which he won two years ago at St Andrews? I wish him all the best with continued success in 2012.
Coming in solo 2nd position at 274-14 after 72 holes was Stephen Gallacher (Scotland). Coming in tied for 3rd position at 276-12 after 72 holes were Rafael Cabrera – Bello (Spain), Danny Willett (England) and David Lipsky (USA). Coming in solo for 6th position at 277-11 after 72 holes was Charl Schwartzel (RSA) and he too would have been suffering Jet Leg from being at the Masters Tournament last week. And rounding out the top 10 in tied for 7th position at 279-9 after 72 holes were Matteo Manassero (Italy), Martin Kaymer (Germany), Romain Wattel (France) and Hennie Otto (RSA).
The only New Zealand Golfer in the field was Michael Campbell (NZL), he scored rounds of 72 even, 71-1, 71-1 and a disappointing final round of 78+6 for a 72 hole total of 292+4 and tied for 63rd position. It was his first cut he has made in the 2012 European Tour season after playing in 6 events. He now moves to 239th position on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 4,532 earned from the 6 events he has entered to date this year so far. At least it is something positive, and maybe he can build on this in the weeks to come and have some higher finishes? Perhaps even a Top 10? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2012 European Tour season.
Next week the European Tour and Race to Dubai stay in Asia for the Volvo China Open and it is being played at the Binhia Lake GC, Tianjin, China. There is a large prize purse of RMB20, 000,000 for the taking. Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 19th April and I will report back who took home the trophy next week.
Now to the second event I am reporting on this week and it was on the USPGA Tour and is part of the FedEx Cup and was the RBC Heritage and it was played at the Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, South Carolina. And it was the Golfer by the name of Carl Pettersson (Sweden) that scored rounds of 70-1, 65-6, 66-5 and a final round of 69-2 for a 72 hole total of 270-14 and won by 5 strokes. He won $US 1,026,000.00 for the win and moves to 6th position on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 2,145,253 earned from the 9 events he has played in to date this year so far. Bubba Watson (USA) leads that list with $US 3,124,138 earned from the 8 events he has played in to date this year so far. Carl Pettersson (Sweden) also earned 500 FedEx Cup points for the win and moved to 4th position on the FedEx Cup point’s standings with 1,111 points earned from the 9 events he has played in to date this year so far. He is 267 points behind the current leader who is Hunter Mahan (USA) who has earned 1,378 points from the 8 events he has played in to date this year so far.
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| Carl Pettersson (Sweden) in action during the final round |
He also earns a two-year exemption through 2014 on the USPGA Tour. He is the sixth player to win the RBC Heritage without having competed in the Masters the week before, since the tournament moved into its slot after the Masters in 1983 (2011 the exception when it was played two weeks after the Masters). The others are Brian Gay (2009), Boo Weekley (2007), Aaron Baddeley (2006), Bob Tway (1995) and Davis Love III (1987).
He becomes the first player from Sweden to win in the 44 year history of the RBC Heritage. He is the ninth international winner of the event and first since Aaron Baddeley (Australia) in 2006. He has won four of six times when holding the third-round lead/co-lead on TOUR, including his last two (2008 Wyndham Championship). This victory is Carl Pettersson’s (Sweden) fifth in 273 career starts on the PGA TOUR. Here’s a list of Carl Pettersson’s (Sweden) TOUR wins: 2012: RBC Heritage, 2010: RBC Canadian Open, 2008: Wyndham Championship, 2006: Memorial Tournament, 2005: Chrysler Championship. And he now has the equal most USPGA Tournament wins by a Swedish Golfer tied on 5 wins with the Famous Swedish Golfer, Jesper Parnevik (Sweden).
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| Carl Pettersson (Sweden) holding the RBC Heritage Trophy he won |
Carl Pettersson (Sweden) played a steady final round when his main challengers were falling apart around him. He scored a final round of 69-2, which included a flawless front nine of 33-3 which included birdies on the Par 4, 1st hole, Par 3, 4th hole and Par 5, 5th hole. He scored 36+1 on the back nine with his lone bogey coming on the Par 5, 15th hole which was his bogey hole for the week having played it +3 for the Tournament. I feel he could be a player to contend in the Major Championships in the future. He has admitted he has a homemade swing but it works for him and I am glad he just plays with it and trusts it. I wish all the best for continued success on the USPGA Tour in 2012.
Coming in solo 2nd at 275-9 after 72 holes was the 2007 Masters Tournament winner, Zach Johnson (USA). In solo 3rd position at 276-8 after 72 holes was Colt Knost (USA) and it was his best ever finish on the USPGA Tour. But will be disappointed with his final round 75+3 when he was in position for his maiden tour win. Coming in tied for 4th position at 278-6 after 72 holes were Kevin Stadler (USA) and Billy Mayfair (USA) who holed his green side bunker shot on the 17th hole for a birdie 2. Coming in tied for 6th position at 279-5 after 72 holes were Matt Bettencourt (USA) and Boo Weekley (USA) who will be disappointed with his final round of 73+2. And rounding out the top 10 in tied for 8th position at 280-4 after 72 holes were Matt Every (USA), Charley Hoffman (USA), Jim Furyk (USA), Harris English (USA) who is having a great rookie season after graduating from the Nationwide Tour last year. And the final player to tie for 8th position was Kevin Na (USA).
Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup head to Texas for the Valero Texas Open and it is being played at the TPC San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas. Brendan Steele (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen for back to back titles. It has a large prize purse of $US 6,200,000 for the taking. It starts on Thursday 19th April and I report back who won the Trophy next week.
Now to the top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings and coming in at Number One for the first week of his 2nd spell and the 3 week in total of his career is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 9.59 Official World Ranking Points; Coming in 2nd position with 9.48 Official World Ranking Points is Luke Donald (England); Coming in 3rd position with 8.27 Official World Ranking Points is Lee Westwood (England); Coming in 4th position with 6.47 Official World Ranking Points is Bubba Watson (USA) and rounding out top 5 in 5th position is Hunter Mahan (USA) with 5.82 Official World Ranking Points. Tiger Woods (USA) this week remains in 8th position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list. He now has 5.48 Official World Golf Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is still the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the World. This week he moves down 2 places to be at 165th position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list with 1.05 Official World Golf Rankings Points on the list.
Remember the most important thing in the Golf Swing is to keep the head still.
Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com
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