Golf Events from the Weekend 25th March 2012

Well it was another great weekend on the Professional Golf Tours from around the world. First I will start with the Tavistock Cup that was played on Monday (19th March) and Tuesday (20th March). It was played on the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, Orlando, Florida. It is the only World Golf and Country Club Championship of its kind in the world. And has generated more than $7 million for charity in its nine-year history. The format was Twosomes on the Monday and Tuesday they played that everyone’s score counted.  When all was said and done it was Team Lake Nona that returned a two day total of 41 under par and won by 2 strokes over Team Isleworth. Team Lake Nona was represent by Ben Curtis (USA), Ross Fisher (England), Retief Goosen (RSA), Peter Hanson (Sweden), Graeme McDowell (NIR) and Gary Woodland (USA). Best individual score on the 2nd day was returned by 5 golfers who were Ross Fisher (England) Team Lake Nona 67-5, Robert Allenby (Australia) Team Isleworth 67-5, Retief Goosen (RSA) Team Lake Nona 67-5, Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) Team Queenwood 67-5 and Ernie Els (RSA) Team Albany 67-5. It was another great tournament and the next year will be the 10th Anniversary which will be an even bigger tournament.

Tiger Woods (USA) in action at the Tavistock Cup

So to the second Tournament I am reporting on this week and it was on the European Tour and part of the Race to Dubai. It was the Trophée Hassan II and was played on the Golf du Palais Royal, Agadir, Morocco. And it was the Golfer by the name of Michael Hoey (NIR) that scored rounds of 74+2, 67-5, 65-7 and a final round of 65-7 for a 72 hole total of 271-17 and won by 3 strokes. He won € 250,000.00 for the win and that moves him to 14 position on the Race to Dubai Money list with €316,798 earned from the 6 events he has played in to date this year so far. Rory McILroy (NIR) still leads that list with €1,324,366 earned from the 4 events he has played in to date this year so far.

It was Michael Hoey (NIR) fourth European Tour International Schedule victory in his 151st European Tour event. He moved to around 70th from 98th in the Official World Golf Ranking. It was his second consecutive season with a European Tour victory, following the 2011 Madeira Islands Open and 2011 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. This victory beats his previous best 2012 performance of tied 12th in the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy. It was his third European Tour win in his last 25 European Tour events, dating back to the 2011 Madeira Islands Open. He began the final round two shots behind the leaders. This equals the largest 54 hole comeback by a winner since the event became part of The European Tour. He would match the figure of Rhys Davies in 2010.

It is the first Northern Irish victory of the 2012 European Tour season. He becomes the first player from Northern Ireland to win the Trophée Hassan II. This victory comes in his third appearance in the event and beats his previous best performance of tied 19th in 2011. It was the 44th Northern Irish win in European Tour history. It was his 7th win as a professional. He extends his European Tour exemption until the end of 2014. He gains a place in the 2013 Volvo Golf Champions. He moves over €2 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings. He becomes the seventh former Challenge Tour player to win on the 2012 European Tour. They are: Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) (Africa 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) and Michael Hoey (NIR)  (Trophée Hassan II). And finally becomes the 292nd European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player.

Michael Hoey (NIR) holing the winning putt to win the Open de Andalucia Costa del Sol

It was just a great final round that Michael Hoey (NIR) played. He scored 65-7 that included a front nine of 31-5 with birdies on the Par 3, 2nd hole, then he scored 4 consecutive birdies in a row from holes 5 -8 with birding the Par 5, 5th hole, Par 4, 6th hole, Par 4, 7th hole and Par 3, 8th hole. He scored a back nine of 33-3 that included birdies on the Par 3, 14th hole, Par 5, 15th hole and Par 5, 17th hole. He had his lone bogey of the round on the Par 5, 10th hole. He is continuing on the great play of Northern Ireland Golfers of late with Graeme McDowell (NIR) and Rory McILroy (NIR) having huge success over that past few years. I hope he continues this form in the months to come and maybe even contends in the Majors if he qualifies?

Coming in solo 2nd position on 274-14 after 72 holes was Damien McGrane (Ireland). Coming in tied for 3rd position on 275-13 after 72 holes were Jamie Donaldson (Wales), Robert Coles (England) and Philip Price (Wales). Coming in tied for 6th position at 276-12 after 72 holes were Edoardo Molinari (Italy), Keith Horne (RSA), Matteo Manassero (Italy). And rounding out the Top 10 in tied for 9th position at 277-11 after 72 holes were Ignaico Garrido (Spain), Hennie Otto (RSA), Pablo Larrazabal (Spain), James Kingston (RSA) and Jose Manuel Lara (Spain).

Michael Campbell (NZL) was the only New Zealander in the field. He scored rounds of 81+9 and 71-1 for a 36 hole total of 152+8 and missed the cut by 8 strokes. It was another disappointing performance by him. But he can gain some confidence from his one under par second round. He has now missed five cuts from the five events he has played this year so far. I hope he can rediscover the form he displayed in the 2005 season soon? I wish him all the best for his future in Golf.

Next week the European Tour and Race to Dubai head to Italy for the Sicilian Open and it is being played at the Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Sicily, Italy. It has a prize purse of €1,000,000 for the taking. Raphael Jacquelin (France) is the defending Champion and will be looking for back to back titles. It starts on Thursday 29th March. I will report back who took the trophy home next week.

The final event I am reporting on this week was on the USPGA Tour and was part of the FedEx Cup and was the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and it was played on the Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida. And it was the Golfer called Tiger Woods (USA) that finally won his first tournament on the USPGA Tour in nearly two years and a half years. He scored rounds of 69-3, 65-7, 71-1 and a final round of 70-2 for a 72 hole total of 275-13. He won in very convincing fashion by 5 strokes. It was his 72nd win on the USPGA Tour and now he is only one win behind who some say was the Greatest Player that ever lived, Jack Nicklaus (USA). And he is 10 wins behind the All Time USPGA Tour winner, Sam Snead (USA). Both of those players I mentioned have long retired. I feel he has a good chance of overtaking Sam Snead’s (USA) all time record of 82 wins in the next few years. He won $US 1,080,000.00 for the win and that moved him to 8th position on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 1,779,000 earned from the 5 events he has played to date so far this year. Rory McILroy (NIR) still leads that list with $US 2,392,000 earned from the 3 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earns 500 FedEx Cup points for the win and that moves Tiger Woods (USA) to 7th position on the FedEx Cup points list with 846 points earned from the from the 5 events he has played to date this year so far. He is 171 points behind the current FedEx Cup points leader, Johnson Wagner (USA) who has earned 1,017 FedEx Cup points from the 9 events he has played to date this year so far.

Tiger Woods (USA) Acknowledges the crowd after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard

It was a great win by Tiger Woods (USA) who played a steady final round of 70-2 that included a front nine of 33-3 with birdies on the Par 4, 3rd hole, Par 5, 4th hole, Par 5, 6th hole and Par 4, 8th hole with his lone bogey coming at the Par 3, 2nd hole. He played an average back nine in very challenging conditions; he scored 37+1 with his only bogey coming at the Par 3, 14th hole. It was great to see Tiger Woods (USA) a winner on the USPGA Tour again after all he has been through in the last few years. Listed below are all the tournaments he has won in his USPGA Tour Career to date: 1996 Las Vegas Invitational, Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic.1997 Mercedes Championships, Masters Tournament, GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic, Motorola Western Open.1998 BellSouth Classic.1999 Buick Invitational, Memorial Tournament, Motorola Western Open, PGA Championship, World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational, National Car Rental Golf Classic/Disney, THE TOUR Championship, World Golf Championships-American Express Championship. 2000 Mercedes Championships, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Bay Hill Invitational, Memorial Tournament, U.S. Open Championship, British Open Championship, PGA Championship, World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational, Bell Canadian Open. 2001 Bay Hill Invitational, THE PLAYERS Championship, Masters Tournament, Memorial Tournament,World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational. 2002 Bay Hill Invitational presented by Cooper Tires, Masters Tournament,U.S. Open Championship,  Buick Open, World Golf Championships-American Express Championship. 2003 Buick Invitational, World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, Bay Hill Invitational presented by Cooper Tires, 100th Western Open presented by Golf Digest, World Golf Championships-American Express Championship.2004 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.2005 Buick Invitational, Ford Championship at Doral,  Masters Tournament, British Open Championship,World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational,World Golf Championships-American Express Championship. 2006 Buick Invitational, Ford Championship at Doral, British Open Championship, Buick Open, PGA Championship, World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, Deutsche Bank Championship, World Golf Championships-American Express Championship.2007 Buick Invitational, World Golf Championships-CA Championship, Wachovia Championship,  World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, PGA Championship, BMW Championship, THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. 2008 Buick Invitational,  World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, U.S. Open Championship. 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard,  the Memorial Tournament, AT&T National, Buick Open, World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational,  BMW Championship. 2012 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. 

Tiger Woods (USA) holding the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard Trophy he won

I feel everything he has been practising in recent months is starting to come together for him now and he will be a threat at the Master Tournament which is the first Major of the year in two weeks time. Let’s hope he can win his 15th Major Championship their as he has won the Master Tournament on 4 Occasions previously. I wish Tiger Woods (USA) every success in the future Tournaments he plays.

Coming in solo 2nd position with a 72 hole total of 280-8 was the US Open Champion of 2010, Graeme McDowell (NIR). Coming in solo 3rd Position with a 72 hole total of 282-6 was the English Professional, Ian Poulter (England). Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 4th Position at 283-5 after 72 holes were Ryan Moore (USA), Brian Davis (England), the long hitting, Bubba Watson (USA), the young up and coming Professional, Bud Cauley (USA), Kevin Na (USA), 2012 Sony Open in Hawaii Winner, Johnson Wagner (USA) and the 3 time Major Winner, Ernie Els (RSA).

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup head to Houston for the Shell Houston Open and it is being played at the Redstone GC Tournament Course, Humble, Texas. It has a large prize purse of $US 6,000,000 for the taking and Phil Mickelson (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 29th March and I will report back who won the trophy next week.

Now to the top 5 on the Official World Rankings this week. Coming in at Number One for the second straight week and the 42nd time in his career is Luke Donald (England) with 9.87 Official World Ranking Points; Coming in Number Two is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 9.72 Official World Ranking Points; Coming in Number Three is Lee Westwood (England) with 8.02 Official World Ranking Points; Coming in Number Four is Martin Kaymer (Germany) with 5.76 Official World Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 is Steve Stricker (USA) with 5.71 Official World Ranking Points. Tiger Woods (USA) this week moves up 12 places to be at 6th position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list after his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. He now has 5.59 Official World Golf Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is still the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the World. This week he remains in 165th position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list with 1.06 Official World Golf Rankings Points on the list.

Remember when playing on freshly cored greens they will take less break and be slightly slower.

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com