Well it was another exciting weekend of Golf on the Major Professional Golf Tours from throughout the world. First I will start with the European Tour and the Race to Dubai. This week it was in South Korea for the 3rd and final leg of the Asian Swing. It was the Ballantine’s Championship and it was played on the Blackstone GC, Icheon, Seoul, South Korea. And it was the Golfer by the name of Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) who scored rounds of 72 even, 65-7, 65-7 and a final round of 68-4 for a 72 hole total of 270-18 and won by 5 strokes for his maiden win on the European Tour. He won € 367,500.00 for the win and moves to 13th position on the Race to Dubai Money list with €438,464 earned from the 10 events he has played in to date this year so far. Rory McILroy (NIR) still leads that list with €1,348,517 earned from the 5 events he has played to date this year so far.
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| Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) in action during the final round |
It was Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) first European Tour International Schedule victory in his 71st European Tour event. He could move to around 95th in the Official World Golf Rankings from 170th. This victory beats his previous best European Tour finishes of second in the 2011 SA Open Championship (Nov 2011) and tied second in the 2011 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. He becomes the sixth first-time winner of the 2012 European Tour International Schedule. They are: Branden Grace (RSA) (Joburg Open), Jbe’ Kruger (RSA) (Avantha Masters), Julien Quesne (France) (Open de Andalucía Costa del Sol), Thorbjørn Olesen (Denmark) (Sicilian Open), Bubba Watson (USA) (Masters Tournament) and Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) (Ballantine’s Championship). He becomes the third player from Austria to win on The European Tour. He joins Markus Brier (Austria) and Martin Wiegele (Austria).
His win was the first Austrian victory on The European Tour since Martin Wiegele at the 2010 SAINT-OMER OPEN presented by Neuflize OBC. Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) victory comes after leading going into the final round. (His five shot 54 hole lead is the biggest of the 2012 season so far and also the biggest in the history of the Ballantine’s Championship).This is the first time he has led going into the final round of a European Tour event. His five shot winning margin is the largest on The European Tour in 2012. He beats the four shots of Paul Lawrie (Scotland) (Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy). His five shot winning margin is largest in the history of the Ballantine’s Championship, beating the four shots of Marcus Fraser in 2010. He played the last 59 holes without dropping a shot. He last went over par when he took a double-bogey at the par three 13th in round one. Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) at the age of 26 years and 204 days becomes the youngest winner of the Ballantine’s Championship. He becomes the first player to make the Ballantine’s Championship their first European Tour victory. This victory came in his debut in the Ballantine’s Championship.
It was the fourth Austrian victory in European Tour history. His win was the 403rd different player to win on The European Tour. He gains a European Tour exemption until the end of the 2014 season. He gains his largest European Tour prize of €367,500. He moves over €1 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings. He gains a place in the 2012 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational, WGC – HSBC Champions and 2013 Volvo Golf Champions. He gains his third win as a professional. He becomes the 12th European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player on the 2012 European Tour from 16 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) and Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) (Ballantine’s Championship). He becomes the 296th European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player and finally he becomes the 125th different former Challenge Tour player to win on The European Tour.
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| Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) holding the Ballantine's Championship Trophy he won |
Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) played flawless golf for the last 54 holes. Over the final 54 holes he scored 18 birdies without dropping a single stroke. He scored a final round of 68-4 which included a front nine of 35-1, where he had his lone birdie on the Par 5, 5th hole. And he came in with a back nine of 33-3 that included birdies on the Par 5, 15th hole, Par 3, 16th hole and Par 5, 18th hole. I hope this win gives him confidence to keep on improving and maybe win another tournament on the European Tour in 2012. I wish him all the best for the rest of the events in 2012.
Coming in solo 2nd position at 275-13 after 72 holes was Richie Ramsay (Scotland). Coming in tied for 3rd position at 277-11 after 72 holes were Victor Dubuisson (France) and Marcus Fraser (Australia). Coming in tied for 5th position at 278-10 after 72 holes was Anthony Wall (England) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) and rounding out the top 10 in tied for in tied for 7th position at 279-9 after 72 holes were Ross Fisher (England), George Coetzee (RSA), Alexander Noren (Sweden), Felipe Aguilar (Chile) and Paul McGinley (Ireland).
Next week the European Tour and the Race to Dubai head back to mainland Europe for the Reale Seguros Open de Espana and it is being played at the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla, Seville, Spain. It carries a prize purse of €2,000,000. Thomas Aiken (RSA) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 3rd May and I will report back who won the trophy next week.
The second event I am reporting on this week is on the USPGA Tour and part of the FedEx Cup. It was the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and was played on the TPC Louisiana, Avondale, Louisiana. And it was the Golfer by the name of Jason Dufner (USA) who scored rounds of 67-5, 65-7, 67-5 and a final round of 70-2 for a 72 hole total of 269-19 after 72 holes. But he was joined on that score by Ernie Els (RSA) who scored rounds of 66-6, 68-4, 68-4 and a final round of 67-5 for a 72 hole total of 269-19 also. So those two players head back to the Par 5, 18th hole for the first playoff hole.
They both struck good drives right down the centre of the fairway. Jason Dufner (USA) struck his fairway wood 2nd shot and it landed on the far right side of the green. Ernie Els (RSA) struck his mid iron 2nd shot well but it just caught the lip of the front green side bunker guarding the green and rolled back in. Ernie Els (RSA) then hit his 3rd shot from the bunker out to 10 feet from the cup. Jason Dufner (USA) putted for his eagle 3 and left his putt 10 feet short. Ernie Els (RSA) putted for his birdie 4 and just missed and tapped in for par. That left Jason Dufner (USA) with a birdie putt to win his Maiden USPGA Tour event, but he too missed and had to settle for a par 5.
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| Jason Dufner (USA) in action during the final round |
So they headed back to the Par 5, 18th hole again for the 2nd playoff hole. This time Jason Dufner (USA) hit another fine drive straight down the middle of the fairway. Ernie Els (RSA) pulled his drive into the left hand side fairway bunker. Ernie Els (RSA) was forced to lay up with his 2nd shot. Jason Dufner (USA) hit the same fairway wood as before and landed it on the right side of the green slightly closer than the previous time. Ernie Els (RSA) hit a poor short iron 3rd shot and it landed just on the fringe left of the green. Jason Dufner (USA) struck a brilliant putt for eagle that came to rest 2feet from the cup. Ernie Els (RSA) now had a must make birdie putt from the fringe to keep the playoff alive. He struck a brilliant putt that was very unlucky not to drop and had to settle for par. Jason Dufner (USA) calmed his nerve and rolled in the 2 footer for birdied and his Maiden win on the USPGA Tour by winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
He won $US 1,152,000.00 for the win and moves to 10th position on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 1,919,687 earned from the 11 events he has played in 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. Jason Dufner (USA) also earned 500 FedEx Cup points and now moves to tied for 9th position on the FedEx Cup points list with 932 points earned from the 11 events he has played to date so far this year. He is 446 points behind the current leader, 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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| Jason Dufner (USA) poses with the Zurich Classic of New Orleans Trophy he won |
It was great to see Jason Dufner (USA) finally win on the USPGA Tour after having so many near misses in recent times including being runner up in a playoff to Keegan Bradley (USA) in the PGA Championship in August last year, when he lost in the 3 hole playoff. And the win came a week before his wedding which is next Saturday. It shows that perseverance pays off in the end. I hope this is just the start of many more wins on the USPGA Tour for Jason Dufner (USA). Maybe he will even win a Major in the years to come? I wish him every success in the future on the USPGA Tour.
Ernie Els (RSA) will be disappointed with his Runner up finish, but at the same time he will be pleased with his fine play. I feel a win is not too far away for him and wouldn’t be surprised if it came in the next few weeks. Coming in solo 3rd on 271-17 after 72 holes was Luke Donald (England) who with this finish regained the Number One World Ranking. Coming in tied for 4th position at 272-16 after 72 holes were Ryan Palmer (USA) and Graham DeLaet (Canada). In solo 6th position at 273-15 after 72 holes was Steve Stricker (USA). In tied for 7th position at 274-14 after 72 holes were Ken Duke (USA), Cameron Tringale (USA) and John Rollins (USA). And rounding out the top 10 in tied for 10th position at 275-13 after 72 holes were Dave Mathis (USA), Justin Rose (England) and Rickie Fowler (USA).
Danny Lee (NZL) was the only New Zealander in the field. He scored rounds of 72 even, 68-4, 74+2 and a final round of 68-4 for a 72 hole total of 282-6 after 72 holes and tied for 52nd position. It was the 4th consecutive cut he has made in a row and the 6th he has made this year out of the 11 events he has entered to date this year so far. He earned $US 14,924.80 for his weeks work and moves to 156th position on the USPGA Tour Money List with $US 126,673 earned from the 11 events he has played so far to date this year so far. He also moved to 149th position on the FedEx Cup Points list with 112 points earned from the 11 events he has played in to date this year so far. He is 1,266 points behind the current leader, Hunter Mahan (USA). Danny Lee (NZL) is starting to make a lot of cuts in a row now and I feel a good finish like a top 10 is not so far away for him. Maybe it will come in the month of May? I wish him every continuing success on the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup in 2012.
Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup head to North Carolina for the Wells Fargo Championship and it is being played at the Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina. It has a large prize purse of $US 6,500,000 for the taking. Lucas Glover (USA) is the defending champion and will be keen to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 3rd May and I will report back who won the Trophy next week.
Now to the top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list and coming at Number One for the first week of his 3rd spell and the 45th week of his career is Luke Donald (England) with 9.55 Official World Golf Ranking Points; Coming in Number Two is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 9.33 Official World Ranking Points; Coming in Number Three is Lee Westwood (England) with 8.27 Official World Ranking Points; Coming in Number Four is Bubba Watson (USA) with 6.40 Official World Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 is Hunter Mahan (USA) with 5.70 Official World Ranking Points. Tiger Woods (USA) this week moves up one place to 7th Position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list. He now has 5.35 Official World Golf Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is still the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the World. This week he moves down one place to be at 170th position on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list with 1.04 Official World Golf Rankings Points on the list.
Remember when playing in extremely cold conditions it is important to keep your hands warm before playing your shots.
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