Well it was another exciting weekend on the Professional Golfer Tours from around the world. First I will start with the European Tour and the Race to Dubai. This week it travelled back to Spain for the Volvo World Match Play Championship and it was played on the Finca Cortesin, Casares, Andalucía, Spain. And it was the Golfer by the name of Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) who beat Graeme McDowell (NIR) 1up in the final. It is the only Match play tournament on the European Tour excluding the WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship which is co – sanctioned with the USPGA Tour. 22 of the European Tours elite players got a chance to compete with a couple of invited guests from the USPGA Tour that included John Senden (Australia) and Brandt Snedeker (USA).
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| Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) holding the Volvo World Match Play Championship Trophy he won |
The final was a very close fought match with Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) getting several times to 1up and then losing the next hole to fall to all square. On the 17th hole, Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) had a short par putt to win the Match and the Championship but he surprisingly missed it. So he took a 1up lead to the final hole. Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) hit a long drive on the par 5, 18th hole straight down the middle of the fairway and struck his 2nd shot just to the right of the green pin high. Graeme McDowell (NIR) laid up with his 2nd shot and then hit his 3rd shot over the green. Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) chipped his 3rd shot to within 15feet of the cup. That meant that Graeme McDowell (NIR) would most likely have to hole his chip shot for his birdie to take the final down the 19th hole. He was unable to do so and left it 8 feet short of the cup. Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) now had two putts to win the match and rolled his birdie putt down inches short of the cup and Graeme McDowell (NIR) conceded his par putt and that meant Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) had won his first Volvo World Match Play Championship 1up. It was great to see Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) win because last year he came so close losing in the Semi – Finals. He won € 458,333 for the win and moved to 4th position on the Race to Dubai Money list with €1,130,111 earned from the 11 events he has played in to date this year so far. Rory McILroy (USA) still leads that list with €1,348,517 earned from the 5 events he has played in to date this year so far.
It was his second European Tour International Schedule victory in his 207th European Tour event. This is the second consecutive season and second time in his career he has won more than €1 million in a single season. It is also his highest single-season earnings, beating the €1,091,504 he amassed in 2011. He could move to just outside the top 30 of the Official World Golf Ranking from 51st. Both of his European Tour victories have come in Volvo-sponsored events, following the 2011 Volvo China Open. This victory beats his previous best 2012 performance of second in the 2012 Volvo China Open. This victory comes in his second appearance in the Volvo World Match Play Championship. This victory beats his previous best finish in the Volvo World Match Play Championship of losing in the semi-finals in 2011. He becomes the first Belgian to win twice on The European Tour.
He becomes the second player in European Tour history to win his first two events in Volvo-sponsored tournaments. The first was Ignacio Garrido (Spain). He won the 1997 Volvo German Open and 2003 Volvo PGA Championship. He continues his wonderful record in Volvo-sponsored events since 2011. He was first in 2011 Volvo China Open and tied third in the 2011 Volvo World Match Play Championship. In 2012 he was fourth in the Volvo Golf Champions, second in the Volvo China Open and first in the Volvo World Match Play Championship. It was his seventh win as a professional. It was the third Belgian victory in European Tour history. This victory continues his wonderful form in 2012.This is his seventh top ten finish from his 11 events he has played so far this year and the most of any player so far this season. He gains a place in the 2012 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational, 2012 WGC – HSBC Champions and 2013 Volvo Golf Champions.
He moves to €1,382,544 in The European Ryder Cup Points Table. He gained his largest European Tour prize of €458,333. He extended his European Tour exemption until the end of 2014. He becomes the 14th European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player on the 2012 European Tour from 19 events so far. They are: Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) (Africa Open and Maybank Malaysian Open), Branden Grace (RSA) (Joburg Open, Volvo Golf Champions and Volvo China Open), 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), Thorbjørn Olesen (Denmark) (Sicilian Open), Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) (Ballantine’s Championship), Ricardo Santos (Portugal) (Madeira Islands Open – Portugal) and Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) (Volvo World Match Play Championship). And finally he becomes the 298th European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player.
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| Another picture of Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) with the Volvo World Match Play Championship trophy he won |
It will give Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) a huge boost of confidence and will guarantee him a start in the second Major of the year which is the U. S. Open Championship which is a month away. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2012 European Tour season. Graeme McDowell (NIR) will be disappointed with losing the final but will be pleased with having his best finish of the year on the European Tour. He will also be pleased with the runners up cheque of € 305,555 he won. The two losing Semi Finalist were Rafael Cabrera – Bello (Spain) and Paul Lawrie (Scotland). And the four losing quarter finalist were Sergio Garcia (Spain), Retief Goosen (RSA), Alvaro Quiros (Spain) and Brandt Snedeker (USA).
Next week the European Tour and Race to Dubai heads to England for the flagship event that is the BMW PGA Championship and it is being played at the European Tour Head Quarters which is Wentworth Club, Surrey, England. Outside the Majors and World Golf Championships it carries the largest prize purse on the European Tour of €4,500,000. Luke Donald (England) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 24th May and I will report back who won the trophy next week.
The second event I am reporting on this week was on the USPGA Tour and part of the FedEx Cup and it was the HP Bryon Nelson Championship and it was played on the TPC Four Seasons Resort, Irving, Texas. And it was Jason Dufner (USA) who scored rounds of 67-3, 66-4, 69-1 and a final round of 67-3 for a 72 hole total of 269-11 and he won by 1 stroke. He won $US 1,170,000.00 for the win and moved to 3rd position on the USPGA Tour money list with $US 3,108,972 earned from the 13 events he has played to date this year so far. Bubba Watson (USA) still leads that list with $US 3,204,778 earned from the 9 events he has played to date this year so far. He also gains 500 FedEx Cup points for the win and moves to the top of the FedEx Cup points list with 1,435 points earned from the 13 events he has played to date this year so far. He has a 40 point lead over Hunter Mahan (USA) who has earned 1,395 points from the 10 events he has played to date this year so far.
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| Jason Dufner (USA) tees off on the Par 3, 17th hole in the final round |
It has been a dream month for Jason Dufner (USA) after winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in the last week of April in a Playoff over Ernie Els (RSA) for his maiden USPGA Tour win. Then marrying his Fiancée, Amanda Boyd on Saturday May 5th and then getting the win here two weeks later. He played flawless golf the whole week and was always near the lead from round one to the final round. But it took a 25 foot birdie putt on the 72nd green to secure the 2nd Victory of his career on the USPGA Tour. He scored a final round of 67-3 which included a front nine of 34-1. He got off to a poor start in his final round on the front nine with recording bogeys on the Par 3, 2nd hole and Par 4, 3rd hole. But he redeemed himself with birdies on the Par 4, 4th hole, Par 3, 5th hole and Par 5, 7th hole. He came home in 33-2 that included birdies on the Par 4, 10th hole, Par 5, 16th hole and Par 4, 18th hole with the lone bogey coming on the Par 4, 11th hole. Every Golfer growing up dreams of sinking a winning birdie putt on the final green to win the tournament and Jason Dufner (USA) has final realised that Dream.
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| Jason Dufner (USA) poses with the HP Byron Nelson Championship Trophy he won |
And this win moves Jason Dufner (USA) to an all time high ranking of 14th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list. He must be the second most consistent Golfer on the USPGA Tour having made 12 out of the 13 cuts in the tournaments he has entered to date this year. Last week’s winner, Matt Kuchar (USA) is still the most consistent making 11 out 11 cuts in the 11 events he has played in to date this year. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Jason Dufner (USA) won one of the last 3 Major Championships in 2012 having already been in a playoff at last year’s PGA Championship. I wish him every success for the rest of the 2012 USPGA Tour season.
Coming in solo 2nd position at 270-10 after 72 holes was Dicky Pride (USA) and it was his best finished on the USPGA Tour since winning the Federal Express St. Jude Classic 18 years ago in 1994. And he has secured his USPGA Tour card for the 2013 season, so it was a great week for him. Coming in tied for 3rd position at 271-9 after 72 holes were Joe Durant (USA), Marc Leishman (Australia), Jonas Blixt (Sweden) and J. J. Henry (USA) who had a hole in one on the Par 3, 5th hole and was actually the leader at -11 with 2 holes to play only to double bogey the short par 3, 17th hole. Coming in tied for 7th position at 274-6 after 72 holes were Ken Duke (USA) and Phil Mickelson (USA) who both had final rounds of 66-4. And rounding out the top 10 in tied for 9th position at 275-5 after 72 holes were Robert Garrigus (USA), Ryan Palmer (USA), Jason Bohn (USA), Pat Perez (USA), Vijay Singh (Fiji) and Jason Day (Australia).
Danny Lee (NZL) was the only New Zealander in the field. He scored rounds of 71+1 and 71+1 to make the cut right on the number at 142+2, then he scored 68-2 and a final round of 67-3 for a 72 hole total of 277-3 and tied for 18th position which is his best finish on the USPGA Tour all season so far. He earned $US 78,780.00 for his efforts and has now made 7 cuts from the 13 events he has entered to date this year. He is now in 141st position on the current USPGA Tour Money list with $US 205,453 earned from the 13 events he has played to date this year so far. He also moved to139th position on the FedEx Cup points list with 162 points earned from the 13 events he has played to date this year so far. He is 1,273 points behind the current leader, Jason Dufner (USA). I feel a top 10 finishes isn’t too far away for him and may come in the next month? This finish and the way he played on the weekend after just making it through the cut should give him a big boost of confidence to keep on improving. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2012 USPGA Tour season.
Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to the other side of Texas for the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and it is being played at the Colonial CC, Ft. Worth, Texas. It has a large prize purse of $US 6,400,000 for the taking. David Toms (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen for back to back titles. It starts on Thursday 24th May and I will report back who won the trophy next week.
So to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings this week and coming in at Number One for the 2nd week of his 3rd spell and the 7th week total of his career is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 9.53 Official World Golf Ranking Points; Coming in at Number Two is Luke Donald (England) with 9.36 Official World Golf Ranking Points; Coming in at Number Three is Lee Westwood (England) with 8.13 Official World Golf Ranking Points; Coming in at Number Four is Bubba Watson (USA) with 6.45 Official World Golf Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 is Matt Kuchar (USA) with 6.08 Official World Golf Ranking Points. Tiger Woods (USA) this week remains in 7th Position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list. He now has 5.22 Official World Golf Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is still the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the World. This week he gains 4 places to be at 168th position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list with 1.04 Official World Golf Rankings Points on the list.
Remember the most important thing to do when you play a golf shot is to make solid contact with the ball!!
Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com
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