Golf Events from the Weekend 8th 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 Race to Dubai and this week it was in France for the Alstom Open de France and was played on the Le Golf National, Paris, France. And it was Marcel Siem (Germany) who scored rounds of 68-3, 68-3, 73+2 and a final round of 67-4 for a 72 hole total of 276-8. He won € 525,000.00 for the win and moves to 11th position on the current Race to Dubai Money list with €1,089,420 earned from the 14 events he has played 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 in to date this year so far.

Marcel Siem (Germany) raises his arms in triumph after winning the Alstom Open de France

It was his second European Tour International Schedule victory in his 281st European Tour event. He becomes the third German to win more than €1 million during a single European Tour season, following Bernhard Langer (Germany) (2001) and Martin Kaymer (Germany) (2008-2011). It was his first European Tour victory since the 2004 Dunhill championship – a gap of eight years and 165 days. He has played in 226 European Tour events between victories. Since his 2004 victory, this performance beats his previous best of second in the 2006 Omega European Masters and tied second in the 2012 Avantha Masters. It is his third top four finish and his fifth top ten overall of the 2012 season.

He becomes the third German to win the Alstom Open de France, following Bernhard Langer (Germany) (1984) and Martin Kaymer (Germany) (2009). His victory comes in his tenth appearance in the Alstom Open de France. His victory beats his previous best finish in the Alstom Open de France of tied eighth in 2004. He becomes the first German victory on The European Tour since Martin Kaymer (Germany) at the 2011 WGC – HSBC Champions. It was the tenth victory on The European Tour in 2012 by a player in their 30s, from the 27 events so far. It was his largest European Tour prize of €525,000. He gains a three year European Tour exemption until the end of 2015. He moves over €4 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings. He registers the 63rd German victory in European Tour history.

He gains a place in the 2012 Open Championship, 2012 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational, 2012 WGC – HSBC Champions and 2013 Volvo Golf Champions. It was his second victory as a professional. He registers the 16th European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player on the 2012 European Tour from 25 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), Thørbjorn 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 Jamie Donaldson (Wales) (Irish Open). And finally he becomes the 300th European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player.

Marcel Siem (Germany) kisses the Alstom Open de France trophy he won

He played a great final round with scoring 67-4 that included a front nine of 33-3 with birdies on the Par 5, 3rd hole, Par 4, 6th hole and Par 5, 9th hole. He played a good back nine as well scoring 34-1 which included back to back birdies on the Par 5, 14th hole and Par 4, 15th hole. His lone bogey came at the difficult par 4, 18th hole but he had the tournament already won by then. He has just had a real consistent season so far with only missing one cut from the 14 events he has played so far this year. And prior to this win he had already recorded four top 10 finishes. After gaining his European Tour card for the first time at the 2001 qualifying school finals he played on the European Tour till 2006 where he lost his full playing status. In 2004 he won the Dunhill championship in South Africa which was his maiden European Tour win. But the next year (2007) he gained his card back to the European Tour. And that is where he has been ever since. I hope now he has his second win he can get some more wins in the near future. With his 32nd Birthday coming this Sunday he is right in the prime of his career. Perhaps he might even get a top 10 finish at the Open Championship in two weeks time? I wish him all the best for the rest of season in 2012 on the European Tour.

Coming in solo 2nd position at 277-7 after 72 holes was Francesco Molinari (Italy) and he scored the low final round of 64-7. Coming in solo 3rd position at 278-6 after 72 holes was the low Frenchman in the tournament, Raphael Jacquelin (France). Coming in tied for 4th position at 279-5 after 72 holes were three Englishmen who were, David Lynn (England), Ian Poulter (England), David Howell (England). Coming in tied for 7th position at 280-4 after 72 holes was the visiting golfer from the United States, Brendan Steele (USA) and Henrik Stenson (Sweden). Round out the top 10 in tied for 9th position at 281-3 after 72 holes was Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark) and the current Race to Dubai Money list leader, Justin Rose (England).

Michael Campbell (NZL) was the only New Zealander in the field and he recorded rounds of 71 even par, 74+3 to make the 36 hole cut right on the number. Then he returned a good 3rd round of 70-1 and a very impressive final round of 67-4 which included a front nine of 36 even par with a lone birdie on the Par 4, 4th hole and but had his lone bogey on the Par 4, 1st hole. He played an awesome back nine of 31-4 which included a birdie on the Par 3, 11th hole, and then he had a hat trick of birdies on the Par 4, 13th hole, Par 5, 15th hole and Par 4, 16th hole. He scored a 72 hole total of 282-2 and tied for 11th position which was his best finish on the European Tour since his solo 3rd placing at the 2008 Quinn Insurance British Masters. He earned € 52,762.50 for his weeks work and that moved him to 151st position on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 64,203 earned from the 13 events he has played in to date this year so far. He has still only made 3 out of 13 cuts this year to date. But this finish should give him a huge confidence boost with some of the bigger tournaments coming up. Let’s hope he can start to rediscover the form he displayed seven years ago to win the 105th US Open Championship? I wish him all the best for the remaining events on the 2012 European Tour.

Next week the European Tour and Race to Dubai heads to Scotland for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and it is being played at the Castle Stuart Golf Links, Inverness, Scotland. It has a huge prize purse of £2,500,000 for the taking. The current World Number One Golfer, Luke Donald (England) is the defending Champion and will be keen for back to back titles. It starts on Thursday 12th July and I will report back who won the trophy next week.

The final event I am reporting on this week was on the USPGA Tour and part of the FedEx Cup and was the Greenbrier Classic and it was played on the Old White TPC, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. And it was Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) who scored rounds of 69-1, 67-3, 64-6 and a final round of 64-6 for a 72 hole total of 264-16 after 72 holes but he was tied on that score by Troy Kelly (USA) who scored rounds of 69-1, 67-3, 62-8 and 66-4 for a 72 hole total of 264-16 after 72 holes also. So those two players head back to the short par 3, 18th hole for the first playoff hole. Troy Kelly (USA) drew number one out of the USPGA Tour Officials hat and teed off first. He struck a similar shot to what he did in regulation play and landed his ball pin high 20 feet to the left of the hole. Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) then struck his 9 iron tee shot and was a bit pumped up and landed it on the back of the green and it rolled just into the back rough. Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) played his 2nd shot first and chipped it down to within 4 feet of the cup. Troy Kelly (USA) then putted for his birdie 2, to win the tournament. He struck a good putt but it just missed on the right side of the hole and he tapped in for par. Then Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) rolled his 4 footer in for par. So they both headed to the Par 5, 17th hole for the second playoff hole.

Troy Kelly (USA) teed off first and struck his tee shot right down the centre of the fairway. Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) teed off next and he too struck his drive right down the centre of the fairway but not as far as Troy Kelly’s (USA). Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) struck a good fairway wood for his second shot and faded it just short of the left hand green side bunker. Troy Kelly (USA) then played his second shot and it land in the left hand green side bunker that Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) had avoided. Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) then played his third shot chip and he hit a brilliant shot that landed halfway on the green and rolled up to within 6 feet of the cup. Troy Kelly (USA) then played his difficult green side bunker shot and he made the mistake of taking too much sand and it got caught in the rough in front of the bunker. He hadn’t lost his turn and played his 4th shot chip from the rough just short of the green; he struck a poor chip and left it 25 feet short of the hole for his par. Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) must have been thinking he now would have 2putts to win the Championship. But Troy Kelly (USA) had other ideas. He struck a brilliant putt from 25 feet that took the left to right break perfectly and it rolled in the centre of the cup for his par. Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) now had his 6 foot birdie putt for the Championship. Unfortunately he hit it through the break and it lipped out on the left hand side. And it left him with a nervy 3 footer for par to keep the playoff alive. He was able to negotiate it and send the playoff to a third hole.

 So to the third playoff hole, which was the Par 3, 18th hole. Troy Kelly (USA) teed off first and his tee shot landed on the green short of the ridge which left him a very difficult 30 foot putt for birdie. Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) played next and struck his short iron tee shot to near perfection and it landed 5 feet short of the cup. Troy Kelly (USA) then putted for his birdie from 30 feet which had a huge left to right break in it. He struck a good putt and it rolled to within a couple of feet of the cup and he easily tapped in for his par 3. So Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) knew what he had to do and that was to hole his 5 footer for birdie and he was the Greenbrier Classic Champion. He struck a brilliant putt that rolled right into the centre of the cup and he had won his maiden USPGA Tour Tournament. He won $US 1,098,000.00 for the tournament win and moved to 42nd position on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 1,274,904 earned from the 16 events he has played in to date this year so far. Tiger Woods (USA) still leads that list with $US 4,220,398 earned from the 12 events he has played to date this year so far. Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) also earned 500 FedEx Cup points and moved to 51st position on the FedEx Cup Points list with 619 points earned from the 16 events he has played in to date this year so far. He is 1,333 points behind the current leader who is Tiger Woods (USA) who has earned 1,952 points from the 12 events he has played in to date this year so far.

Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) in action during the final round

It was just an amazing week for the 28 year old, USPGA Tour Rookie. He returned back to back rounds of 64-6 on the weekend which was just awesome play. He scored a great final round of 64-6 that included a front nine of 31-3 with birdies on the Par 4, 1st hole, Par 4, 2nd hole and Par 4, 7th hole. He scored an equally impressive back nine of 33-3 which included a birdie on the Par 3, 15th hole, then he eagled the Par 5, 17th hole and birdied the Par 3, 18th hole to make the playoff, he had his lone bogey of the round on the Par 4, 11th hole.

It was also nice he had his Girl Friend alongside him to share in his win. In 2003 he achieved his Web.Com Tour card by finishing in tied for 74th position at the 2003 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament. But his first year experience on the Web.com tour couldn’t off been any worse when he missed 24 out of 24 cuts from the 24 events he played in. But he said after he won the Greenbrier Classic that he saw it as a learning experience and he was still young at age 20 and would have many years to prove himself. In 2005-06 seasons he played the Hooters Tour to gain some valuable confidence and won a few events on that tour as well. He tried for the USPGA Tour again at the end of 2006 and finished in tied for 64th position at the 2006 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament which gave him his Web.com tour card for the 2007 season. He struggled again in his second full season on the Web.com tour in 2007 with only making 3 cuts from the 20 events he entered and earned $US 16,014 on the final money list. Then he spent the 2008-09 seasons back playing on the Hooters Tour. Went back to the 2009 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament and finished tied for 104th position gaining some status on the Web.com tour in 2010, but again struggled and only made 3 cuts from 11 events with final money list earnings of $US 18,882. But 2011 was his breakout season on the Web.com tour with winning both the South Georgia Classic Pres'd by First State Bank and Trust Company and the Soboba Golf Classic and he also had 4 other top 10 finishes. He earned $US 402,470 which placed him in 2nd position on the final Web.com tour money list for 2011 and in turn earned a 2012 USPGA Tour card.

Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) poses with the Greenbrier Classic Trophy he won

He got off to a slow start to his rookie season on the USPGA Tour in 2012 and prior to this tournament he had missed his last 5 cuts. But this week everything just fell into place. And after everything he has been through in professional golf in the last eight years I feel it was very much deserved. He is the feel good story of the USPGA Tour so far this year. I hope he can continue on this form into the coming tournaments he plays in. And I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2012 USPGA Tour season.

Coming in solo second, Troy Kelly (USA) will be disappointed but happy at the same time. Because he was in the same position as Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) coming into this event and has earned now $US 740,444 from the 15 events he has played in to date this year and considering that $US 668,166 was the amount you needed to keep your exempt status for the next season in 2011, I would say he is already guaranteed his 2013 USPGA Tour card. In tied for 3rd position at 266-14 after 72 holes was Charlie Wi (South Korea) who continued on the fine season he is having in 2012. Also tied for third position was Charlie Beljan (USA) who is in his rookie season on the USPGA Tour and prior to this finish he had only made 4 cuts from the 12 events he had entered. He has now made $US 416,738 and is well on his way to keeping his playing status for next year. Coming in solo 5th position at 267-13 after 72 holes was Daniel Summerhays (USA) who is in his second year on the USPGA Tour and now has made just over US$1million this season so far.

Coming in solo 6th position at 268-12 after 72 holes was Martin Flores (USA) and he now has earned $US 808,811 and his full playing status for the 2013 USPGA Tour Season. Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 7th position at were 269-11 after 72 holes was Roberto Castro (USA) who is in his rookie season on the USPGA Tour after gaining his full playing status at the 2011 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished tied for 13th. This latest result is his best finish on the USPGA Tour to date in his career and he has now won $US 581,968 and is well on his way to keeping his full playing status for next year. Also tied for 7th was Kevin Na (USA) who has fixed up his pulling the trigger in his swing problems that he suffered earlier in the season. Sean O’Hair (USA) was also tied for 7th and now has earned over US$1million this season so far as well. Ken Duke (USA) was also tied for 7th which continues on his excellent season to date. The last player to tie for 7th position was the third round leader Webb Simpson (USA), it was surprising how he played in the final round especially on the back nine where he scored 40+4. Perhaps he was tired from all the pressures that coming with winning the US Open Championship? But he has now won just short of US$3million to date this year. 

Surprisingly John Daly (USA) had his best finish on the USPGA Tour to date this year so far which was tied for 12th position at 270-10 after 72 holes and he has now won $US 236,956 from the 6 events he has played in. The only way he gets a start these days is by sponsor’s exemptions. Tiger Woods (USA) scored rounds of 71+1 and 69-1 for a 36 hole total of 140 even par and missed the cut by one shot. It would be disappointing for him after winning last week. And Phil Mickelson (USA) scored consecutive rounds of 71+1 for a 36 hole total of 142+2 and missed the cut by 3strokes. It was the first time in Phil Mickelson (USA) and Tiger Woods (USA) professional careers that they both have missed the cut in the same tournament.

Danny Lee (NZL) was the only New Zealand Golfer in the tournament. He scored rounds of 72+2 and 71+1 for a 36 hole total of 143+3 and missed the 36 hole cut by 4 strokes. He is now in 159th position on the current USPGA Tour Money list with $US 229,307 earned from the 17 events he has played to date this year so far. He is also in 153rd position on the current FedEx Cup Points list with 181 points earned from the 17 events he has played in to date this year so far. He is 1,771 points behind the current leader who is Tiger Woods (USA). He has now made 9 cuts from the 17 events he has played in to date this year so far, withdrawn from one and been disqualified from 2 events for not signing his scorecard. In my opinion he has not yet showed his true potential. He will need to pull finger soon if he is going to keep his full playing status for next season. He will have a good chance to get top 10’s in the next two events as the top players on the USPGA Tour will be heading to the UK to prepare and play the Open Championship over the next two weeks. I wish him all the best for the rest of the USPGA Tour season in 2012.

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup head to Illinois for the John Deere Classic and it is being played on the TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois. It has a smaller prize purse of $US 4,600,000 to play for which will mean it won’t attract the best players on the USPGA Tour but will give the lesser players a chance to shine. Steve Stricker (USA) is the 3 time defending Champion and will be looking for his 4th Straight win in his home State. It starts on Thursday 12th July 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 in at Number One Position for the 4th spell of his career and the 52nd week of his career is Luke Donald (England) with 9.83 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 8.68 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Lee Westwood (England) with 8.11 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Tiger Woods (USA) with 7.73 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 6.61 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is still the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the World. This week he slips 10 places to be at 196th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.94 Official World Golf Rankings Points on the list.

Remember if you are playing in the fog you will have to feel how you hit your ball to find it.

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com