Golf Events from the Weekend 12th August 2012

Well it was another exciting weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world. This week on the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup and the European Tour and Race to Dubai they were combined for the final Major Championship of 2012 known as “Glories last Shot” and it was the 94th PGA Championship and it was played on the Kiawah Island Resort (Ocean), Kiawah Island, South Carolina which hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup Matches.

The first round was played on Thursday 10th August in perfect conditions with just a light breeze blowing and in bright sun shine. Carl Pettersson (Sweden) scored a first round of 66-6 and held the first round lead over 2011 US Open Champion, Rory McILroy (NIR), Gonzalo Fernandez – Castano (Spain), Alex Noren (Sweden) and Gary Woodland (USA) all scored 67-5 to be one stroke back. Adam Scott (Australia) in his first Major Championship back since his Open Championship meltdown in July scored 68-4 along with 2010 US Open Champion, Graeme McDowell (NIR), Joost Luiten (Netherlands), Aaron Baddeley (Australia), Geoff Ogilvy (Australia), defending PGA Champion, Keegan Bradley (USA), 1991 PGA Champion, John Daly (USA) and the 2012 RBC Canadian Open Champion, Scott Piercy (USA). Tiger Woods (USA) got off to a good start scoring 69-3 and Phil Mickelson (USA) scored 73+1 in an up and down round.

The second round was played on Friday 10th August in extremely strong gusty winds which made scoring extremely difficult. The scoring average was extremely high with the average score being 78 which was 6 strokes over par. At the end of the day there were three Golfers leading on minus four and they were Tiger Woods (USA) who backed up his 69-3 in the first round with a fine 71-1 in the second round for a 36 hole total of 140-4 but he was joined on that score by Carl Pettersson (Sweden) who scored 74+2 to go with his 66-6 in the first round. The last player tied for the lead was Vijay Singh (Fiji) who is just one year short of 50 years old and he scored a second round of 69-3 which was the lowest second round to go with his first round 71-1. Notable golfers to miss the 36 hole halfway cut that fell at +6 were the 112th US Open Champion, Webb Simpson (USA) who was +7, Sergio Garcia (Spain) +7, Hunter Mahan (USA) +8, Lee Westwood (England) +8, Rickie Fowler (USA) +10, Matt Kuchar (USA) +10 and the 2010 PGA Champion, Martin Kaymer (Germany) +14.

The third round was played on Saturday 11th August and conditions were much better with a moderate wind blowing but nowhere near the strength of the previous day. But a Weather system moved through the course midway through the leading group’s rounds and play had to be suspended till Sunday Morning for the players that hadn’t completed their third rounds. Bo Van Pelt (USA), Steve Stricker (USA) and Jimmy Walker (USA) all posted fine third rounds of 67-5 to be well placed heading into the final round. When play was suspended Vijay Singh (Fiji) and Rory McILroy (NIR) who scored 32-4 on his front nine were both tied for the lead at -6. But when play resumed early Sunday Morning it was Rory McILroy (NIR) who finished off his third round well to score 67-5 and saw him going into the final round with the lead at -7 by 3 strokes over Carl Pettersson (Sweden) who was at -4 and by 4 strokes over Adam Scott (Australia) who was -3.

Rory McILroy (NIR) lines up a putt during his final round

So to the final round that was played on Sunday 12th August and the conditions were good with just a moderate breeze blowing in off the Atlantic Ocean.  Ian Poulter (England) got off to a flying start with birding the first five holes of his round and found himself at -6 for the tournament and putting real pressure on Rory McILroy (NIR). He birdied the Par 5, 7th hole to get to -6 for his round and -7 for the tournament. He made a poor bogey on the Par 3, 8th hole and went out in 31-5 for the front nine. He got off to a great start to his back nine birding the Par 5, 11th hole and Par 4, 12th hole. Now he had got to -8 for the tournament and was only two strokes behind Rory McILroy (NIR). But Ian Poulter (England) played the last 6 holes very poorly in 4 strokes over par and scored 38+2 on the back nine and 69-3 for the round and eventually finished on 284-4 after 72 holes and finished in tied for 3rd position. 

But early on his final round Rory McILroy (NIR) started to stamp his mark on this Golf Tournament. He played the front nine in 33-3 that included birdies on the Par 5, 2nd hole and Par 4, 3rd hole to move to -9 for the tournament. He then birdied the Par 5, 7th hole to get to -10 for the Tournament; he was the first player to get to double digits in the Tournament.  He birdied the Par 4, 12th hole to get to -11 for the tournament, then he birdied the Par 5, 16th hole where he got up and down from a tricky position in the left hand green side bunker and he was now -12 and had a 7 stroke lead with 2 holes to play over his nearest competitor who was David Lynn (England) who had scored a fine final round of 68-4 and record his best ever finish in a Major Championship. He came to the 72nd hole still with a 7 stroke lead and knew the tournament was his now. He hit a booming drive to finish just as he had been doing all day and it landed right in the centre of the fairway 350 yards down. He then struck his 9 iron second shot and it landed on the front fringe about 20 feet from the cup. Sir Nick Faldo (England) who was commentating for CBS Sports said “He should soak in and saviour the moment because there are not too many times when you win a Major Championship by this margin”. He putted from just off the fringe for his birdie and it when straight in the hole and he had won the 94th PGA Championship for the first time in his career. And it was his second Major Championship. He ended up scoring 33-3 on the back nine and 66-6 for the round. And it was great that he had his Dad right there by his side to Celebrate with him after he walked off the 18th green.

Rory McILroy (NIR) holds his arms up in the air the celebrate his win

So Rory McILroy (NIR) scored rounds of 67-5, 75+3, 67-5 and 66-6 for a 72 hole total of 275-13 and won by 8 strokes. He won $US 1,445,000.00 for the win and that moved him to 2nd position on the current USPGA Tour Money list with $US 4,905,492 earned from the 12 events he has played to date this year so far. Tiger Woods (USA) still leads that list with $US 4,957,158 earned from the 15 events he has played in to date this year so far. Rory McILroy (NIR) also earned 600 FedEx Cup points for the win and moved to 2nd position on the current FedEx Cup points list with 2,092 points earned from the 12 events he has played in to date this year so far. He is 177 points behind the current leader who is Tiger Woods (USA) with 2,269 points earned from the 12 events he has played to date this year so far. He also moves to the Number One Position on the Race to Dubai Money list with €2,813,962 earned from the 11 events he has played in to date this year so far.

It was Rory McILroy’s (NIR) fourth European Tour International Schedule victory in his 111th European Tour event. He will move back to the top of the Official World Golf Ranking from third position. He gains his second Major Championship, following his triumph at the 2011 US Open Championship. His second Major Championship win comes in his 17th Major Championship appearance. This victory comes in his fourth appearance in the US PGA Championship. This is his third top three finish from his four starts in the event. He was tied third in 2009 and 2010, tied 64th in 2011 and first in 2012. He becomes the first player from Northern Ireland to win the US PGA Championship. He becomes the first player from the United Kingdom to win the US PGA Championship since Tommy Armour in 1930. He becomes just the sixth European to win the US PGA Championship, following Jim Barnes (England) (1916 and 1919), Jock Hutchinson (Scotland) (1920), Tommy Armour (Scotland) (1930), Padraig Harrington (Ireland) (2008) and Martin Kaymer (Germany) (2010).

 Dating back to Graeme McDowell (NIR) at the US Open Championship, Northern Ireland has won four of the last 11 Major Championships. They are: Graeme McDowell (NIR) (2010 US Open Championship), Rory McIlroy (NIR) (2011 US Open Championship and 2012 US PGA Championship) and Darren Clarke (NIR) (2011 Open Championship). Rory McILroy’s (NIR) victory means that European Tour Members would have won eight of the last 11 Major Championships, dating back to Graeme McDowell (NIR) at the 2010 US Open Championship. It was the fourth victory in the US PGA Championship by a European Tour Member in the last five seasons, dating back to Padraig Harrington (NIR) (2008), Y E Yang (South Korea) (2009), Martin Kaymer (Germany) (2010) and Rory McIlroy (NIR) (2012). At the tender age of 23 years and 100 days becomes the youngest player to win the event since it became stroke play in 1958.

It was his sixth top ten finish in a Major Championship from his 17 appearances. It was the 45th Major Championship victory by a European Tour Member since Seve Ballesteros (Spain) won The Open Championship in 1979. He becomes the 12th different European Tour Member to win two or more Major Championships. Since The European Tour’s first season in 1972, becomes the third player from the United Kingdom to win multiple Major Championships, following Sir Nick Faldo (England) and Sandy Lyle (Scotland). His eight shot victory is the largest in a Major Championship since Rory McIlroy (NIR) won the 2011 US Open Championship by eight. His eighth shot victory in the US PGA Championship is the largest since the event became stroke play in 1958, beating the seven of Jack Nicklaus (USA) in 1980. His eighth shot victory is the largest on The European Tour in 2012, beating the five shots of Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) (Ballantine’s Championship) and Lee Westwood (England) (Nordea Masters). Rory McILroy (NIR) stops the run of 16 consecutive different Major winners dating back to Padraig Harrington (Ireland) at the 2008 US PGA Championship.

At the tender age of 23 years and 100 days becomes the youngest player to win his first two Major Championships since Seve Ballesteros (Spain), who was 23 years and four days when he won his second Major at the 1980 Masters Tournament. Since 1950 would become the 13th player to win Major Championship in consecutive seasons and the first since Padraig Harrington (Ireland) (2007 Open Championship and 2008 Open Championship and 2008 US PGA Championship). It was the 45th Northern Irish win in European Tour history. It was the second Northern Irish win of the 2012 season, following Michael Hoey (NIR) at the Trophée Hassan II. He moves over €13 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings from just 111 events. He gains a place in the 2012 PGA Grand Slam of Golf, 2012 WGC – HSBC Champions and 2013 Volvo Golf Champions. He gains a lifetime exemption into the US PGA Championship. He extends his European Tour exemption until the end of 2019. And finally it was his sixth win as a professional and first since the 2011 UBS Hong Kong Open.

Rory McILroy (NIR) poses with the Wanamaker Trophy

Rory McILroy (NIR) will gain lots of confidence from this second Major Championship win in as many years because a lot of his critics were starting to question him and ask him why he wasn’t perform well in the Major Championships since his famous winning of the 111th US Open Championship. He has now won four times on the USPGA Tour and here they are in order from the first to the most recent: 2010 Wells Fargo Championship, 2011 U.S. Open Championship,  2012 The Honda Classic, 94th PGA Championship. He has also won four times on the European Tour and here they are in order from the first to the most recent: 2009 Dubai Desert Classic, 2011 U.S. Open Championship, UBS Hong Kong Open and the 94th PGA Championship. His results this year on the USPGA Tour are very good with recording 6 top 5 finishes from the 12 events he has played in to date this year so far. Two of those top 5 finishes are wins and two of them are second place finishes in including him losing the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship final to Hunter Mahan (USA) and also losing the Wells Fargo Championship on the first playoff hole to Rickie Fowler (USA).

He went through a rough patch of form earlier in the year where he missed the cut at THE PLAYERS Championship in Mid May, then his missed his second straight cut at the BMW PGA Championship in late May and he missed his third straight cut at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance in early June. And to top it all off he missed the cut in his defence of the US Open Championship which was the second Major Championship of the year in Mid June. People were starting to question him on his commitment to the game and if he was letting other things distract him for example spending too much time with his Girl Friend who is also the Famous Tennis player, Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark). But this result puts that theory to rest. I would look for him to keep on improving and he would be my pick to take out the FedEx Cup as the playoffs are only two weeks away. I would also look for Rory McILroy (NIR) to be a key player in the European Teams defence of the Ryder Cup against Team USA at Medinah Country Club, Medinah, Illinois, USA in late September. I wish Rory McILroy (NIR) every success for the rest of the 2012 season on both the European Tour and USPGA Tour.

Coming in solo 2nd position was David Lynn (England) on 283-5 after 72 holes and he played just awesome over the weekend scoring a pair of 68’s -4. It was his best ever finish in a Major Championship having being granted a special exemption by the PGA of America because of his great play on the European Tour this season. With this fine result he will get to play in his first ever Masters Tournament in 2013. Coming in tied for 3rd position at 284-4 after 72 holes was Justin Rose (England) and he scored an awesome final round of 66-6. If it wasn’t for the shocking 79+7 he scored in the second round in the extremely windy conditions he may well have been challenging Rory McILroy (NIR) for the title. He just continued on the fine season he is having on both the USPGA Tour and European Tour. Also tied for 3rd was the defending PGA Champion, Keegan Bradley (USA) and he is having another great season on the USPGA Tour with backing up his win at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational last week with this result. He too could be a real threat in the up and coming FedEx Cup Playoff events. Also tied for 3rd position was Ian Poulter (England) who I mentioned earlier on and he has recorded 3 top 10 finishes in the four Major Championships this year, here are his finishes in the 2012 Major Championships: Solo 7th position at the Masters Tournament; Tied for 41st position at the 112th US Open Championship; Tied for 9th position at the 141st Open Championship and Tied for 3rd position at the 94th PGA Championship. He must be due to win his Maiden Major Championship title in the next few years? The final player to tie for 3rd position was the first and second round leader, Carl Pettersson (Sweden). It continued on his fine season he is having in 2012 on the USPGA Tour with now earning just over $US 3,000, 000 and he has already won once at the RBC Heritage in mid April.

Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 7th position at 285-3 after 72 holes was Blake Adams (USA), now in his third straight year on the USPGA Tour after graduating from the then Nationwide Tour in 2009 and he has easily kept his card each year. This also was his best ever finish in a Major Championship to date in his career. Also in tied for 7th position was Jamie Donaldson (Wales), it continued on his fine form on the European Tour he has displayed this year where he won The Irish Open in early July and he is now inside the top 20 players on the current Race to Dubai Money list. Also tied for 7th position was Peter Hanson (Sweden), and he too is having a fine season on the European Tour with recording 5 top 10 finishes from the 15 events he has played this season and he has earned € 1,375,898 with the highlight coming 3rd in the first Major Championship of the year at the Masters Tournament where he held the 54 Hole Tournament lead. The final player to tie for 7th position was Steve Stricker (USA); he is having another awesome season on the USPGA Tour and must be a serious contender to take out the FedEx Cup after coming so close the previous 3 years. He has won $US 3,046,421 to date this year so far with the highlight being the win at the first tournament of the year which was the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

There were several great players to finish in tied for 11th Position at 286-2 after 72 holes and they were 2003 Open Champion, Ben Curtis (USA), 2012 Masters Tournament Winner, Bubba Watson (USA), 2010 THE PLAYERS Championship Winner, Tim Clark (RSA), 2006 US Open Champion, Geoff Ogilvy (Australia), 2010 US Open Champion, Graeme McDowell (NIR) and also Tiger Woods (USA) who had another disappointing weekend at a Major Championship, After scoring 69-3 and 71-1 to be at 140-4 and tied for the lead after 36 holes, he had a poor weekend scoring 74+2 in the third round and 72 even par in the final round. Although he has had three wins this year that include: Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard in late March, the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance in early June and the AT&T National which he is the host of in early July. I feel he will be disappointed with how he has finished off in the Major Championships this year after getting himself in great positions to win in the early rounds. And now he hasn’t won a Major Championship since he won the 2008 US Open Championship at Torrey Pines GC, California. I feel that 15th Major Championship win is not too far away and may well happen in 2013? And I feel he can still equal or better Jack Nicklaus (USA) all time Major Championship Wins record of 18. And Tiger Woods (USA) is the current leader of the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 4,957,158 and also the current leader of the FedEx Cup Points list with 2,269 points. Adam Scott (Australia) was the last player to tie for 11th position. It was a good showing after his 141st Open Championship meltdown. And after 9 holes of the third round he was only one shot off the lead. But he played a poor final round of 73+1. But this performance in the next Major Championship straight after his 141st Open Championship meltdown proves that he is not going to run away and hide. Here are his results in the Four Major Championships this year: Tied for 8th position at the Masters Tournament; tied for 15th position at the 112thUS Open Championship; Solo 2nd Position at the 141st Open Championship and tied for 11th position at the 94th PGA Championship. May be 2013 will be the year that Adam Scott (Australia) finally wins his Maiden Major Championship?

The lowest round of the week was recorded by Seung – Yul Noh (South Korea) in the final round which was 65-7, but his previous 3 rounds of 74+2, 75+3 and 74+2 left him too far back to challenge Rory McIlroy (NIR). He finished in tied for 21st position at 288 even par after 72 holes. It continued on his fine Rookie Season for the 21 year old on the USPGA Tour where he has now won $1,359,311 from the 25 events he has played in to date this year so far. Luke Donald (England) the Number One Golfer in the World heading in to this tournament had a rather poor tournament except for his final round of 66-6. He scored rounds of 74+2, 76+4, 74+2 and a final round of 66-6 for a 72 hole total of 290+2 and finished in tied for 32nd position. He surrendered his Number One World Ranking to Rory McILroy (NIR) and is still yet to win a Major Championship.

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup head to North Carolina for the final regular season event in the FedEx Cup before the playoffs start the following week. It is being play on the Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, North Carolina. It has a prize purse of $US 5,200,000 for the taking. Webb Simpson (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. It also is the last chance for players to get inside the top 125 players on the FedEx Cup points list and gain a place in the first playoff event the following week. It starts on Thursday 16th August and I will report back who won the trophy next week. There is no event on the European Tour and Race to Dubai this week but the following week it heads to Scotland for the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles and it is being played on the Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, Scotland. It will be the last chance for European Players to qualify for the Ryder Cup Matches that are played at the end of September in USA. It carries a prize purse of £1,400,000. Thomas Björn (Denmark) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 23rd August and I will report back who won the Trophy in two weeks time.

The final event I am reporting on this week was on the Web.com Tour and was Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper and was played on the Highland Springs CC, Springfield, Missouri. And it was the golfer by the name of Chris Wilson (USA) who scored rounds of 68-4, 67-5, 65-7 and a final round of 67-5 for a 72 hole total of 267-21 but he was tied on that score by Scott Harrington (USA) who scored rounds of 65-7, 68-4, 66-6 and a final round of 68-4 for a 72 hole total of 267-21 as well. So those two players head back to the Par 5, 18th hole for the first playoff hole. Chris Wilson (USA) made a birdie 4 to Scott Harrington’s (USA) bogey 6. So Chris Wilson (USA) had won his Maiden Tournament on the Web.com Tour. He won $US 112,500.00 for the win and moved to 23rd position on the Web.com Tour Money list with $US 118,986 earned from the 14 events he has played to date this year so far. Casey Wittenberg (USA) leads that list with $US 292,128 earned from the 16 events he has played in to date this year so far. 

Chris Wilson (USA) in action during the final round

The win was totally out of the blue for Chris Wilson (USA) as prior to this event he had only made 2 cuts in the 13 events he had play in this year. Now he is a realistic chance to make the final 25 money earners at the conclusion of the Web.com Tour in 2012 that earned their 2013 USPGA Tour cards. If he does it will be his second try at the USPGA Tour having played on it in the 2010 season after finishing tied for 12th position at the 2009 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament. He didn’t fear too well in 2010 though with only making 7 cuts out of the 26 events he entered and only made $US 76,481 which placed him in 213th position on the final money list that year. I wish him all the best in his quest for that USPGA Tour card for the 2013 season.

For Scott Harrington (USA) the solo second place finish will be very pleasing for him as it is only his second start on the Web.com Tour this season. And the $US 67,500.00 cheque will do the world of good for his confidence. Coming in solo 3rd position at 268-20 after 72 holes was Andy Winings (USA), and it was his best finish on the Web.com Tour this year. It was also his best finish to date on the Web.com Tour in his rookie season. In tied for 4th position at 269-19 after 72 holes was Matt Hendrix (USA) and it was also his best finish to date on the Web.com Tour in 2012. Also tied for 4th position was Camilo Benedetti (Colombia) and it was also his best result on the Web.com Tour in 2012. Coming in tied for 6th position at 270-18 after 72 holes was Robert Streb (USA), and with this result he moves inside the top 25 Money earners on the current Web.com Tour with $US 127,498 earned from the 15 events he has played in to date this year so far, and that places him in 21st position on the current Web.com Tour money list. Also tied for 6th position was Stuart Anderson (Canada), and this was also his best finish he has recorded so far on the Web.com Tour in the 2012 Season. Also tied for 6th position was Michael Letzig (USA), and just two years ago in 2010 he was playing on the USPGA Tour with full playing status. The final player to tie for 6th position was David Lingmerth (Sweden) who continued on his up and down season.

Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 10th position at 271-17 after 72 holes was Luke Guthrie (USA), and he is having an awesome season on the Web.com Tour from the 3 events he has played in this year he has won $US 133,850 and that places him in 20th Position on the current Web.com Tour Money list. He is well placed to gain his USPGA Tour card for the 2013 season. He has also played in three USPGA Tour events this year and made the cut in all of them with a Tied for 5th position at the John Deere Classic in mid July being his best result. His earnings on the USPGA Tour in 2012 so far are $US 284,672. Also tied for 10th position was James Nitties (Australia), it was his best finish on the Web.com Tour to date this year so far. But he has had a poor season with only making 4 cuts out of 13 events he has entered. He has spent the last 2 seasons on the Web.com Tour after losing his USPGA Tour card at the end of the 2010 season.

There were two New Zealand Golfers in the field and they both missed the 36 hole cut that fell at 139-5. The best of them was Tim Wilkinson (NZL) who scored rounds of 71-1 and 71-1 for a 36 hole total of 142-2 and missed the 36 hole halfway cut by 3 strokes. He has now missed his last 3 cuts and is in 66th position on the current Web.com Tour Money list with $US 58,530 earned from the 17 events he has played to date this year. His best finish came in early March at the Panama Claro Championship where he finished tied for 9th position which was his only top 10 of the season. He still needs to have a few more top 10 finishes if he is to regain his USPGA Tour Status for the 2013 season. He last played on the USPGA Tour full time in 2010. I wish him all the best for the remaining events on the Web.com Tour for 2012 season. The other New Zealand Golfer to miss the cut was Steve Alker (NZL) he scored rounds of 68-4 and 77+5 for a 36 hole total of 145+1 and missed the cut by 6 strokes. He has now made $US 41,771 from the 13 events he has played in to date this year so far and is in 82nd position on the current Web.com Tour Money list. His best finish was tied for 4th at the Chile Classic Presented by Pacific Rubiales in early March. And of course he had that good finish in the third major of the year which was the 141st Open Championship where he tied for 19th after having to pre – qualify. I wish him all the best for the remaining events on the Web.com Tour for 2012 season.

Next week the Web.com Tour heads to Kansas for the Midwest Classic Presented by Cadillac and it is being played on the Nicklaus GC at LionsGate, Overland Park, Kansas. It has a good prize purse of $US 550,000 for the taking. James Nitties (Australia) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 16th August 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 8th week of his career fresh off his 94th PGA Championship victory is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 10.35 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Luke Donald (England) with 9.59 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Tiger Woods (USA) with 8.71 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Lee Westwood (England) with 7.35 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 6.23 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is still the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the World. This week he slips 1 place to be at 206th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.88 Official World Golf Rankings Points on the list.

Remember in Winter Conditions it is more important to make Solid Contact with the ball!!

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com