Well it was another awesome weekend of Golf on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world. First I will start with the European Tour and the Race to Dubai. This week it was the BMW PGA Championship and was played at the Wentworth Club, Surrey, England. And it was the Golfer by the name of Luke Donald (England) who scored rounds of 68-4, 68-4, 69-3 and a final round of 68-4 for a 72 hole total of 273-15 and won by 4 strokes. He was the only player in the field to score four rounds in the 60’s. He won € 750,000.00 for his efforts and moves to 7th position on the Race to Dubai Money list with €1,021,669 earned from the 5 events he has played to date this year so far. Justin Rose (England) is the new leader of that list with €1,695,687 earned from the 5 events he has played to date this year so far.
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| Luke Donald (England) with his wife and two kids after he had just won |
It was Luke Donald’s (England) seventh European Tour International Schedule victory in his 109th European Tour event. He has now won more than €1 million in a single European Tour season for the sixth time in his career. Luke Donald (England) moves back to Number One in the Official World Golf Rankings. This is the start of his fourth stint at World Number One. He moves to Number One for the second consecutive year as a result of his performance at the BMW PGA Championship. He makes a successful defence of his BMW PGA Championship title, just the third player to win in back-to-back years following Sir Nick Faldo (England) (1980-1981) and Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) (1998-2000). This marks the first time in his professional career he has successfully defended a professional title. He becomes the second player on The European Tour in 2012 to successfully defend a European Tour title, following Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) (2011-2012 Africa Open).
He becomes the fourth different Englishman to win multiple titles in this event. He follows: Sir Nick Faldo (England) (1978, 1980, 1981 and 1989), Peter Alliss (England) (1957, 1962 and 1965) and Tony Jacklin (England) (1972 and 1982). He becomes the ninth different player to win multiple titles in the event. He follows: Sir Nick Faldo (England) (1978, 1980, 1981 and 1989), Peter Alliss (England) (1957, 1962 and 1965), Bernhard Langer (Germany)(1987, 1993 and 1995), Colin Montgomerie (Scotland)(1998, 1999 and 2000), Tony Jacklin (England) (1972 and 1982), Seve Ballesteros (Spain) (1983 and 1991), Ian Woosnam (Wales) (1988 and 1997) and Anders Hansen (Denmark)(2002 and 2007). It was the fourth consecutive English victory in the BMW PGA Championship. This follows Paul Casey (England) (2009), Simon Khan (England) (2010) and Luke Donald (2011).
It was his fourth European Tour International Schedule victory in his last 18 appearances on The European Tour, dating back to the start of 2011. He has now won for three consecutive seasons on The European Tour. It was his third European Tour International Schedule victory on European soil from his last five appearances, dating back to the 2011 BMW PGA Championship. He also won the Barclays Scottish Open in July 2011. Since the start of the 2011 European Tour season he has won €6,345,069 from 18 European Tour events, at an average of €352,503 per event. He becomes the 34th different player to successfully defend a European Tour title. It was the 29th English victory in the Championship, dating back to the first event in 1955. It was the 274th English victory in European Tour history. He moves to €1,459,696 in The European Ryder Cup Points Table. He becomes the third English winner on The European Tour in 2012. They are: Robert Rock (England) (Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship) and Justin Rose (England) (WGC – Cadillac Championship) and Luke Donald (England) (BMW PGA Championship). It was his 13th victory worldwide as a professional. And finally he moves over the €14 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings.
Luke Donald (England) played a great final round of 68-4, which included a front nine of 35-1. He birdied the Par 4, 6th hole and Par 4, 7th hole. But he made his only bogey of the round on the Par 5, 4th hole. And he played a flawless back nine of 33-3 which included birdies on the Par 3, 10th hole, Par 5, 12th hole and Par 4, 16th hole. It was great to see Luke Donald (England) defend the title he won here last year. His Wife Diane and his two Daughters, Elle and Sophia came onto the 18th green to congratulate him on his success. And it was his 2nd win in 2012 having won Transitions Championship in mid March on the USPGA Tour. And to think he is a full member of the USPGA Tour and only plays the European Tour part time with his main focus being USPGA Tour and he still keeps a high ranking in the Race to Dubai Money list. He has now made every single cut so far in the 13 events he has entered in 2012. The only thing that is missing now on his resume is a Major Championship and perhaps it will coming at the US Open Championship next month in June?
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| Luke Donald (England) poses with the BMW PGA Championship Trophy he won again |
I hope Luke Donald (England) does win his first Major of his Career this year. He is always a perfect gentleman and represents the game of Golf well. I wish him every continuing success in 2012 on both the USPGA Tour and European Tour as well. And his place on the Ryder Cup for September in the USA is now a certainty.
Coming in tied for 2nd position at 277-11 after 72 holes were Justin Rose (England) and Paul Lawrie (Scotland) who scored the equal lowest final round of 66-6. Coming in solo 4th position at 280-8 after 72 holes was Peter Lawrie (Ireland). Coming in solo 5th position at 281-7 after 72 holes was Branden Grace (RSA). Coming in solo 6th position at 282-6 after 72 holes was Richard Sterne (RSA). Coming in tied for 7th position at 283-5 after 72 holes were Marcel Siem (Germany), Francesco Molinari (Italy) and Ernie Els (RSA). And rounding out the top 10 in tied for 10th position at 284-4 after 72 holes were Alvaro Quiros (Spain), David Drysdale (Scotland), David Higgins (Ireland), James Morrison (England) who was the 36 hole leader and Ian Poulter (England).
The only New Zealander in the field was Michael Campbell (NZL); He scored a poor first round of 78+6 but came back in the second round with a great round of 71-1 for a 36 hole total of 149+5 and missed the cut by 4 strokes. He is now in 266th position on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 4,531.76 earned from the 8 events he has played to date this year so far. He is really struggling this season with only making one cut. And it seems to be his first round that is hurting him this year because he has had a lot of under par rounds in the second rounds he has played. I hope he can put four rounds together in the near future. And perhaps recapture the awesome form he showed in 2005 when he won his only Major which was the US Open Championship. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2012 European Tour season.
Next week the European Tour and Race to Dubai heads to Wales for the ISPS Handa Wales Open and it is being played at the Celtic Manor Resort, City of Newport, Wales. It has a good prize purse of £1,800,000 for the taking. Alexander Noren (Sweden) is the defending Champion and will be looking for back to back titles. It starts on Thursday 31st 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 was part of the FedEx Cup and was the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and was played on the Colonial CC, Ft. Worth, Texas. And it was the Zach Johnson (USA) who scored rounds of 64-6, 67-3, 65-5 and a final round 72+2 for a 72 hole total of 268-12 and he won by 1 stroke and got his second win at this tournament having won this same event in 2010. He won $US 1,152,000.00 for the win and moved to 5th position on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 3,033,525 earned from the 13 events he has played in to date this year so far and he has made 13 out 13 cuts that makes him the most consistent player on the USPGA Tour along with Matt Kuchar (USA) and Luke Donald (England). Jason Dufner (USA) leads that list with $US 3,800,172 earned from the 14 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 500 FedEx Cup points and moved to 3rd position on the FedEx Cup Points list with 1,386 points earned from the 13 events he has played to date this year. He is 349 points behind the Current Leader who is Jason Dufner (USA) who has earned 1,735 points from the 14 events he has played to date this year so far.
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| Zach Johnson (USA) in action during the final round |
It was Zach Johnson’s (USA) 8th win on the USPGA Tour having won previously the 2004 BellSouth Classic, 2007 Masters Tournament, AT&T Classic, 2008 Valero Texas Open, 2009 Sony Open in Hawaii, Valero Texas Open and the 2010 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. It was an interesting final round with Zach Johnson (USA) and Jason Dufner (USA) all tied at -14 after 10 holes of their final rounds. There was a two shot swing on the Par 5, 11th hole, where Zach Johnson (USA) birdied to a Jason Dufner (USA) bogey. But at the very next hole at the Par 4, 12th hole, Jason Dufner (USA) made a birdie to a Zach Johnson (USA) bogey where he took two shots to get out of the fairway bunker. So they were all tied up at -13 with 6 holes to play. They both pared the Par 3, 13th hole, but Zach Johnson (USA) birdied the Par 4, 14th hole and got to -15. Jason Dufner (USA) was only able to par that hole. So Zach Johnson (USA) had a 1 stroke lead with four holes to play. Disaster then struck Jason Dufner (USA) on the Par 4, 15th hole where he struck his 2nd shot that was in the fairway bunker and slightly pulled it left of the green and it rolled in to the hazard. Then he fluffed his chip shot, eventually got on the green for 5 strokes and two putted for a Triple Bogey 7. Perhaps all the pressure of the last month was finally catching up with him? Zach Johnson (USA) made an easy par and now had a 4 stroke lead with three holes to play.
Jason Dufner (USA) reduced the margin to 3 strokes on the Par 3, 16th hole when he made a solid par 3, to Zach Johnson’s (USA) 3putt bogey. So Zach Johnson (USA) was -14 with two holes to play to Jason Dufner (USA) who was -11. They both pared the short par 4, 17th hole so Zach Johnson (USA) took a three stroke lead up the Par 4, 72nd hole. Zach Johnson (USA) was so excited that he stole Jason Dufner’s (USA) honour and teed off first. He hit an awesome tee shot right down the middle of the fairway. Jason Dufner (USA) hit his tee shot into the right rough. Jason Dufner (USA) hit his second shot first and landed it 20 feet to the right of the flag stick pin high. Zach Johnson (USA) hit a surprisingly poor second shot that landed in the right hand green side bunker. He played a good third shot out to 7 feet short of the hole. He spanned his marker for Jason Dufner’s (USA) birdie putt. Jason Dufner (USA) just missed his birdie putt and tapped in for his par to finish at -11 after 72 holes. Zach Johnson (USA) putted for what he thought would be a par and a 3 stroke win. He holed the putt and then hugged his caddie, Damon Green. It was a special victory for Zach Johnson (USA) and Damon Green because Damon’s Dad had just passed on a week ago. Zach Johnson’s (USA) two boys and Wife came on to the 18th green to congratulate him. Before he signed his card he was inform by the USPGA Tour Official that he did not replaced his marker on the 18th green to the position it was and would suffer a two stroke penalty. It meant he made a double bogey 6 and would only win by 1 stroke. He didn’t know it at the time, but that par putt from 7 feet on the 18th green was to win the Tournament. It shows how careful and not to take thinks for granted you have to be in the game of golf.
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| Zach Johnson (USA) poses with the Jacket and Trophy he won |
Zach Johnson’s (USA) had been playing good golf leading in to this win and it was very much deserved. I wouldn’t be surprised if Zach Johnson (USA) wins his 2nd Major of his career this year in one of the remaining three Major Championship’s. I wish him all the best for the remaining events on the USPGA Tour in 2012.
Coming in solo second position at 269-11 after 72 holes was Jason Dufner (USA). He will be disappointed with his final round 74+4. But as I mentioned earlier everything that happened in the last month finally got to him. With getting his first win at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in the last week of April, Marrying his fiancée, Amanda Boyd the following Saturday and then winning his second tournament last week which was the HP Bryon Nelson Championship. Now he leads the USPGA Tour Money list and FedEx Cup points list. He is taking a break now till the US Open Championship (Second Major) which starts in mid June and I feel it is well earned. Coming in solo 3rd position at 273-7 after 72 holes was Tommy (Two Gloves) Gainey (USA) who had his best finish of the season by miles. Coming in solo 4th position at 274-6 after 72 holes was the ever consistent Jim Furyk (USA). Coming in tied for 5th position at 275-5 after 72 holes were Chris Kirk (USA) who scored 65-5 which was the low score of the final round. Harris English (USA) was also tied for 5th continuing his fine rookie season on the USPGA Tour and it was also his best finish this year. Rickie Fowler (USA) was also tied for 5th position and had another top 10 finish. John Huh (USA) was also tied for 5th position and he must now be heading for the rookie of the year award on the USPGA Tour at the end of the season? The last player to tie for 5th position was Ryan Palmer (USA). Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 10th position at 277-3 after 72 holes were Ben Crane (USA), Jonathan Byrd (USA) and Jonas Blixt (Sweden) who is having a fine rookie season.
Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to Ohio for the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance and it is being played at the Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, Ohio and the Tournament is hosted by Jack Nicklaus (USA). It has a large prize purse of $US 6,200,000 for the taking. Steve Stricker (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 31st May and I will report who took home 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 4th spell of his career and the 46th week of his career is Luke Donald (England) who is fresh off his BMW PGA Championship win with 10.43 Official World Golf Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 9.39 Official World Golf Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Lee Westwood (England) with 8.05 Official World Golf Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Bubba Watson (USA) with 6.37 Official World Golf Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 is Matt Kuchar (USA) with 6.04 Official World Golf Ranking Points. Tiger Woods (USA) this week slips down 2 places to be in 9th Position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list. He now has 5.16 Official World Golf Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is still the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the World. This week he slips 3 places to be at 171st position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list with 1.03 Official World Golf Rankings Points on the list.
Remember a good pre shot routine and visualization of all golf shots is the best way to get a low score!!!
Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com
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