Golf Events from the Weekend 15th July 2012

Well it was another exciting weekend 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 in Scotland for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and it was played at the Castle Stuart Golf Links, Inverness, Scotland. And it was the Golfer by the name of Jeev Milkha Singh (India) who scored rounds of 66-6, 70-2, 68-4 and a final round of 67-5 for a 72 hole total of 271-17 after 72 holes. He was joined on that score by Francesco Molinari (Italy) who scored rounds of 62-10, 70-2, 67-5 and a final round of 72 even par for a 72 hole total of 271-17 after 72 holes also. So those two players headed back to the 18th tee for the first playoff hole.

Both players found the fairway off the tee, and laid up with their second shots down the par five, 18th hole but the advantage swung in Jeev Milkha Singh’s (India) favour when he hit his short iron approach shot to 15 feet from the pin. Francesco Molinari (Italy) could only manage to land his short wedge third shot 25 feet from the cup. When Molinari’s 25 foot effort pulled up well short, Jeev Milkha Singh (India) now had a chance to win and he calmly stroked his birdie putt from 15 feet home to become the 2012 Aberdeen Asset Scottish Open Champion. Jeev Milkha Singh (India) won € 518,045.88 for winning the title and moves to 14th position on the Race to Dubai Money list with earning € 751,061 from the 18 events he has played in to date this year so far. Justin Rose (England) still leads that list with €1,831,912 earned from the 7 events he has played to date this year so far. 

Jeev Milkha Singh (India) shakes Francesco Molinari (Italy's) hand after winning the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open

It was Jeev Milkha Singh’s (Scotland) fourth European Tour International Schedule victory in his 273rd European Tour event entered; the other three wins came at the 2008 Bank Austria GolfOpen presented by Telekom Austria, 2006 Volvo Masters and the 2006 Volvo China Open. He could move to inside the top 90 in the Official World Golf Ranking from 192nd.  It was his first European Tour victory since the 2008 Bank Austria GolfOpen presented by Telekom Austria. It is a gap of four years and 37 days between victories. In that time he has played in 95 European Tour events between victories. This victory beats his previous best performance since his 2008 win of fourth in the 2009 WGC - CA Championship.

 This victory beats his previous best 2012 performance of tied seventh at the Nordea Masters. He becomes the first Indian to win the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. India becomes the 14th different nation to win the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.  This victory comes in his tenth appearance in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. This victory beats his previous best performance in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open of tied ninth in 2008. His five shot final round winning comeback is the largest winning comeback on The European Tour in 2012. He beat the four shot come back of Francesco Molinari (Italy) (Reale Seguros Open de España), Ricardo Santos (Portugal) (Madeira Islands Open - Portugal) and Webb Simpson (USA) (US Open Championship).

It was the ninth Indian win in European Tour history. He became the first Indian to win on The European Tour since S S P Chowrasia (India) at the 2011 Avantha Masters. He moves to the top of the list for most Indian victories on The European Tour with four, moving ahead of Arjun Atwal (India), who has three. At aged 40, is the third over 40 to win on The European Tour in 2012. He follows Paul Lawrie (Scotland) (43 -Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy) and Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) (42 - ISPS Handa Wales Open). He moves over €6 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings. He claims his 19th win as a professional. He gains a three year European Tour exemption until the end of 2015. And finally gains a place in the 2012 Open Championship, 2012 WGC - Bridgestone Invitational, 2012 WGC - HSBC Champions and 2013 Volvo Golf Champions.

Jeev Milkha Singh (India) poses with the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open Trophy he won

Jeev Milkha Singh (Scotland) played a flawless final round of 67-5 which included a front nine of 32-4 with birdies on the Par 4, 1st hole, Par 4, 3rd hole, Par 4, 5th hole and Par 5, 6th hole. He played a very steady back nine of 35-1 with his lone birdie on the Par 4, 10th hole. It was also the equal low final round. Since joining the European Tour in 1998 he has played on that tour every year since on and off. But 2006 was his breakout season where he won two tournaments that were the Volvo China Open and the Volvo Masters. And he finished in 16th position on the final European Tour Order of Merit. He backed it up with a solid 46th position on the final European Tour Order of Merit in 2007. He bettered his 2006 performance in 2008 with finishing in 12th position on the final European Tour Order of Merit which is his best to date so far in his career. In 2009 he finished in 34th position on the final European Tour Order of Merit. In 2010 he finished in 74th position on the final European Tour Order of Merit. In 2011 he finished in 94th position on the final European Tour Order of Merit. But this season I feel he is on his way to his best final finish position on the final European Tour Order of Merit of his career if he continues his fine form of late. And I feel he could achieve a top 10 finish in the third Major Championship of the year which is the 141st Open Championship which is the next event on the European Tour. I wish him all the best with the remaining events on the European Tour in 2012.

Coming solo 2nd position was Francesco Molinari (Italy) and with his finish moves to 2nd position in the current Race to Dubai Money list standings. Coming in tied for 3rd position at 272-16 after 72 holes were Alexander Noren (Sweden) and Marc Warren (Scotland) who was the low Scottish player of the tournament. Coming in tied for 5th position at 273-15 after 72 holes was Matthew Baldwin (England) who also returned the equal low final round of 67-5. Also tied for 5th position were Thomas Levet (France) and Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark). Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 8th position on 274-14 after 72 holes were Philip Price (Wales), Henrik Stenson (Sweden) and Peter Whiteford (Scotland). Some notable players that were tied for 16th position on 276-12 after 72 holes were three time Major Champion, Padraig Harrington (Ireland), World Number One, Luke Donald (England) and four times Major Champion, Phil Mickelson (USA).

Next week the European Tour and Race to Dubai head to England for the third Major of the year and it is the 141st Open Championship. It is being played at the Royal Lytham & St Annes GC, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England. It has a large prize purse of £5million for the taking as well as the covered Claret Jug. Darren Clarke (NIR) is the defending Champion and will be hoping for back to back titles. But with the likes of Tiger Woods (USA), Luke Donald (England) and Rory McILroy (NIR) all playing it will be tough. It starts on Thursday 19th July and I will report back who won the Claret Jug next week.

The second event I am reporting on this week was on the USPGA Tour and part of the FedEx Cup and was the John Deere Classic and it was played on the TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois. And it was Zach Johnson (USA) who scored rounds of 68-3, 65-6, 66-5 and a final round of 65-6 for a 72 hole total of 264-20 but he was joined on that score by Troy Matteson (USA) who scored a brilliant first round of 61-10, 68-3, 66-5 and a final round of 69-2 that included an amazing eagle on the Par 5, 17th hole where he holed a 64 foot putt. And he had a 72 hole total of 264-20 also. So those two players head back to the 18th tee for the first playoff hole. Zach Johnson (USA) was the first to draw a number from the Tournament Directors hat and he drew number one. So Zach Johnson (USA) teed off first and hit his drive down the left hand side of the fairway but it rolled through the fairway into the left hand fairway bunker. Troy Matteson (USA) teed off second and his drive and it landed well to the right of the fairway in the left trees and he was lucky he got a kick off the tree to the left leaving him at least a chance of playing his 2nd shot towards the green. When Troy Matteson (USA) reached his ball he discussed with his caddie whether going up over the trees in front of him and hitting towards the green was an option. But they decided chipping out to the left into the fairway was the much more sensible option. This was because the ball was sitting down in the rough. He chipped his ball out with a mid iron but because the fairways were so dry from the drought that the Mid West American States are suffering from at the moment, it rolled right across the fairway and into the water hazard on the left.

Meanwhile Zach Johnson (USA) now knew that if he could keep his second shot from the left hand fairway bunker dry and hit it somewhere on the green he would more than likely make par and win the title. But he was too aggressive and slightly pulled his second shot and it kicked off the bank left of the green and went in the same hazard that Troy Matteson (USA) had gone in, but he was much closer to the green. Troy Matteson (USA) took his 2 club length drop no nearer the hole and played his fourth shot with his wedge to about 15 feet past the pin that was situated at the back of the green. He still had a difficult fast putt for his bogey and Zach Johnson (USA) still looked as though he was guy in control of the playoff. Zach Johnson (USA) took his drop under the watchful eye of the USPGA Tour Official. In trying to land his ball on the fairway cut he dropped his ball on the tees that were marking the end of his 2 club lengths he was permitted to drop his ball in and had to drop it again. He eventually dropped it in the first cut of rough leaving a chip that was hard to control the spin. Zach Johnson (USA) played a poor 4th shot and it rolled right into the back fringe. He was still away and putted from the back fringe for his bogey but missed at least 6 inches to the right of the cup and left himself a difficult putt for Double Bogey. Troy Matteson (USA) now had his 15 foot bogey putt to win the John Deere Classic. He struck a good putt and it just missed on the right hand side and rolled 7 feet past the cup. Troy Matteson (USA) calmly rolled in his 7 foot double bogey putt for his 6. Zach Johnson (USA) now had to hole his 6 foot putt for Double Bogey 6 to keep the playoff alive and that is exactly what he did. So those two players headed back to the Par 4, 18th hole for the second playoff hole. 

Zach Johnson (USA) in action during the final round

Zach Johnson (USA) teed off first again and hit his drive down the left hand side of the fairway and didn’t fade and landed in the same fairway bunker on the left hand side, the same one he was in on the first playoff hole. But this time he had a much flatter lie. Troy Matteson (USA) played second and hit 3 wood this time and landed it in the middle of the fairway just in front of Zach Johnson’s (USA) ball that was in the left hand fairway bunker. Ian Baker – Finch (Australia) who is CBS Sports Golf Analyst commented saying “He should of being hitting 3wood in the first place”. Zach Johnson (USA) played his second shot first and struck what will be one of the memorable shots in his Golf Career to date so far. He stuck a mid iron that drew in and landed on the front of the green. It rolled up to rest within 1 foot of the cup leaving a tap in for birdie. And the huge crowd cheered because this tournament is played near Zach Johnson (USA) home state of Iowa and is the USPGA Tour event closest to his home. It is like a fifth Major to him. Now Troy Matteson (USA) stood in the fairway stunned knowing that he now had to make birdie to keep the playoff going. He struck his 7 iron second shot which under normal circumstances would have been a good shot. It landed on the front of the green leaving a 25 foot putt for birdie. Troy Matteson (USA) lined up his 25 foot birdie putt knowing he had to hole it to keep the playoff alive. He struck a good putt but just left it short and easily tapped in for his par 4. Now Zach Johnson (USA) had his moment of Glory and tapped in for his birdie 3 and he had won the John Deere Classic for the first time in his career. His two Children came running on to the 18th green to give him a hug and then he got kiss from his Wife to celebrate. And Zach Johnson (USA) had his long time Golf Teacher on the bag this week as his regular caddie, Damon Green had the week off to play in the US Senior Open Championship.

Zach Johnson (USA) won $US 828,000.00 for the win and moved to 3rd position on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 3,912,941 earned from the 17 events he has played to date this year so far. Tiger Woods (USA) leads that list with $US 4,220,398 earned from the 12 events he has played to date so far this year. Zach Johnson (USA) also earned 500 FedEx Cup points and moved to 2nd position on the FedEx Cup Points list with 1,920 points earned from the 17 events he has played to date this year so far. He is 32 points behind Tiger Woods (USA) who leads that list with 1,952 points earned from the 12 events he has played to date this year so far. It was also his second win this year on the USPGA Tour having won the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in late May. It was also his 9th win on the USPGA Tour. Here are all his 9 wins on the USPGA Tour in the order he won them: 2004 BellSouth Classic, 2007 Masters Tournament, AT&T Classic, 2008 Valero Texas Open, 2009 Sony Open in Hawaii, Valero Texas Open, 2010 Crown Plaza Invitational at Colonial, 2012 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, John Deere Classic. In 2007 he really came into the public eye with winning the first Major Championship which was the Masters Tournament.

Zach Johnson (USA) poses with the John Deere Classic Trophy he won

I feel this win will give Zach Johnson (USA) some real confidence heading into the third Major Championship of the year next week which is the 141st Open Championship played in England. His results prove he is one of the most consistent players on the USPGA Tour in 2012 with making 16 cuts out of the17 events he has entered to date this year so far and as well as his two wins he has secured two second place finishes. I wish him every continuing success on the USPGA Tour in 2012.

Troy Matteson (USA) will be disappointed with his second placing when he seemed in control of this tournament for so long. But it was his best finish on the USPGA Tour this year by a mile and the cheque of $US 496,800.00 he earned for the solo second place moves him to 97th position on the current USPGA Tour Money list with $US 710,543 earned from the 22 events he has entered to date so far this year and his playing Status for the 2013 season is now virtually secure. He also moved to 73rd position on the current FedEx Cup Points list with 500 points earned from the 22 events he has entered to date this year so far. He is 1,452 points behind Tiger Woods (USA). And he also gained a place in next week’s 141st Open Championship.

Coming in solo 3rd position at 266-18 after 72 holes was Scott Piercy (USA), and it was also his best finish of the season so far this year and he has now made just over $1million from the 20 events he has played in to date this year so far. Coming in solo 4th position at 267-17 after 72 holes was John Senden (Australia), it was his best finish of the season as well and he too has now earned just over $1million from 15 events he has played to date this year. He must like this tournament because this was the tournament that he had his maiden and only win to date on the USPGA Tour in 2006 season. He is still considered one of the best ball strikers on the USPGA Tour and it is only his putting that is holding him back from winning more tournaments. Coming in tied for 5th position at 268-16 after 72 holes was Luke Guthrie (USA), and it was his best finish on the USPGA Tour ever in his short career. And to think he had to Monday qualify to make the field. He has earned $US 242,672 from the 2 events he has played this year which is just amazing. He will get another start this week at the True South Classic because players who finish in the top 10 are exempt for the following week’s regular USPGA Tour event.

Also tied for 5th position was Steve Stricker (USA) who will be disappointed he never got the four peat here after winning John Deere Classic the last three years. After 11 holes of his final round he was -18 and only 1 stroke off the lead and looking like the four peat was possible, but 3 bogeys in the last five holes put pay to his chances. He has now won $US 2,095,377 from the 12 events he has entered so far this year and that includes a win in the very first tournament of the year which was Hyundai Tournament of Champions. I feel he is a long shot to win the 141st Open Championship next week. In solo 7th position at 269-15 after 72 holes was Scott Brown (USA), this is his second best finish on the USPGA Tour in 2012 and he graduated from the Web.com Tour in 2011. He has only made 4 out of 16 cuts from the 16 events he has entered and 2 of those cuts he has made he ended up with top 10 finishes. Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 8th position at 270-14 after 72 holes was Kevin Steelman (USA) and since gaining his card at the 2007 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament he has made $1million every year since. But this year he was struggling and he needed this result to gain some valuable confidence. He has now made $US 718,201 to date this year so far and has secured his playing status for next year. Also tied for 8th position was the two time US Open Champion, Lee Janzen (USA). It was his first top 10 in two years. Also in tied for 8th position was Ryan Moore (USA) who recorded his first top 10 finish since early May after some mediocre performance. Also tied for 8th position was Chris DiMarco (USA) and it was his first top 10 of the season, and his first since the 2010 Reno-Tahoe Open. He has had a lean spell the last few years after playing so well in the mid 2000s. The last played to tie for 8th position was Billy Hurley III (USA) who had his 2nd top 10 finish in the last 3 weeks. He has now earned $US 465,210 from the 20 events he has played to date this year so far. A Couple more top 10 finishes and he will secure his playing status for the 2013 season. He is current sitting in 122nd position of the USPGA Tour Money list.

Danny Lee (NZL) the only New Zealander in the field scored rounds of 70-1, 68-3, 70-1 and a brilliant final round of 66-5 for a 72 hole total of 274-10 after 72 holes. He finished in tied for 30th position which was his third best result of the 2012 USPGA Tour season to date so far this year. He earned $US 27,945.00 for his efforts and remained in 159th position on the current USPGA Tour Money list with $US 257,252 earned from 18 events he has played to date this year so far. He is also in 148th position on the current FedEx Cup Points list with 219 points earned from the 18 events he has played to date this year so far. He is 1,733 points behind Tiger Woods (USA) who leads that list. Danny Lee (NZL) has now made 10 cuts from the 18 events he has entered to date this year so far. Although he may be happy with his rookie season I personally think he could have done a little better and achieved some top 10 finishes. Two out of the next three regular tour events will have much weaker fields as the better players will be playing in the 141st Open Championship and the World Golf Championships – Bridgestone Invitational. So I hope he can achieve top 10 finishes in the this coming weeks True South Classic and in 3 weeks time in the Reno – Tahoe Open that is played opposite the World Golf Championships – Bridgestone Invitational. He needs to earn at least $US 670,000.00 by the end of the 2012 USPGA Tour Season because that is what it took to keep your full exempt playing status in 2011 by finishing inside the top 125 money earners. But if he can at least earn about $US 410,000.00 he will more than like earn semi – exempt status for the 2013 season by finishing inside the top 150 money earners and get to play 10-15 tournaments. The only thing is he won’t be able to choose which ones he is going to play in. And he now has about 8 tournaments that he will more than like get a start in for the remaining events on the USPGA Tour in 2012 unless he can get inside the top 125 points earners on the FedEx Cup before the playoffs start and then he may get to play a couple more? I wish Danny Lee (NZL) all the best in the coming weeks on the USPGA Tour.

Next week there are two tournaments on the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup. The first is the third Major of the year and it is the 141st Open Championship. It is being played at the Royal Lytham & St Annes GC, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England. It has a large prize purse of $US 8, 000,000 for the taking as well as the covered Claret Jug. Darren Clarke (NIR) is the defending Champion and will be hoping for back to back titles. But with the likes of Tiger Woods (USA), Luke Donald (England) and Rory McILroy (NIR) all playing it will be tough. It starts on Thursday 19th July and I will report back who won the Claret Jug next week. The second event is for players that aren’t eligible for 141st Open Championship. It is the True South Classic and is being played on the Annandale GC, Madison, Mississippi. It has a smaller prize purse of $US 3,000,000 for the taking and will give lesser players on the USPGA Tour a chance to shine. Chris Kirk (USA) is the defending Champion and will be hoping for back to back titles. It starts on Thursday 12th July and I will report back who won the trophy next week.

So to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list this week and coming in at Number One Position for the 4th spell of his career and the 53rd week of his career is Luke Donald (England) with 9.55 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 8.53 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Lee Westwood (England) with 7.97 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Tiger Woods (USA) with 7.65 Official Golf World Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list is the 112th US Open Champion, Webb Simpson (USA) with 6.54 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is still the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the World. This week he gains 8 places to be at 188th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.95 Official World Golf Rankings Points on the list.

Remember the most important fundamental in the Golf Swing is to keep the head still!!

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com