Golf Events from the Weekend 5th August 2012

Well it was another exciting weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world. First I will start with the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup and European Tour and Race to Dubai which were co – sanctioned this week for the third World Golf Championship event of the year which was the World Golf Championship – Bridgestone Invitational and it was played at the Firestone CC (South Course), Akron, Ohio. And it was the Golfer by the name of Keegan Bradley (USA) who scored rounds of 67-3, 69-1, 67-3 and a brilliant final round of 64-6 for a 72 hole total of 267-13 after 72 holes and won by one stroke in dramatic fashion. He won $US 1,400,000.00 for the win and moved to 8th position on the current USPGA Tour Money list with $US 3,222,158 earned from the 20 events he has played to date so far this year. Tiger Woods (USA) leads that list $US 4,813,873 earned from the 14 events he has played to date so far this year. Keegan Bradley (USA) also earned 550 FedEx Cup Points for the win and that moved him to 7th position on the current FedEx Cup Points list with 1,522 points earned from the 20 events he has played to date this year so far. He is 682 points behind the current leader who is Tiger Woods (USA) who has earned 2,204 points from the 14 events he has played to date so far this year.

Keegan Bradley (USA) in action during the final round

It was Keegan Bradley’s (USA) second European Tour International Schedule victory in his tenth European Tour event. He can move into the top 15 in the Official World Golf Ranking from 28th position. It was his first European Tour victory since the 2011 US PGA Championship. This victory comes in his fifth WGC appearance. This victory beat his previous best WGC performance of tied eighth in the 2012 WGC - Cadillac Championship. This victory comes in his second WGC - Bridgestone Invitational appearance. This victory beats his previous best finish in the WGC - Bridgestone Invitational of tied 15th in 2011. His four shot final round winning comeback beats the previous best of three by Tiger Woods (USA) in 2009 and Hunter Mahan (USA) in 2010.

He becomes the 23rd different player to win a WGC event. He becomes the tenth different American to win a WGC event. He becomes the fourth American to win the WGC - Bridgestone Invitational. He follows: Tiger Woods (USA) (1999-2001, 2005-07 and 2009), Stewart Cink (USA) (2004) and Hunter Mahan (USA) (2010). He becomes the fourth American to win on The European Tour in 2012, following Hunter Mahan (USA) (WGC - Accenture Match Play Championship), Bubba Watson (USA) (Masters Tournament) and Webb Simpson (USA) (US Open Championship). And finally is the 126th American victory in European Tour history.

Keegan Bradley (USA) played an awesome final round of 64-6 which included a front nine of 33-2 with birdies on the Par 4, 3rd hole and Par 3, 7th hole. He made the turn at -9 and was still four shots behind Jim Furyk (USA) who was -13 after a front nine of 33-2 as well in which he got off to the perfect start birding the first three holes. Keegan Bradley (USA) then scored an amazing 31-4 on the back nine which included consecutive birdies on the Par 4, 10th hole and Par 4, 11th hole to move to minus 11 and get within 2 strokes of Jim Furyk (USA) who was still -13 after 11 holes. Keegan Bradley (USA) then birdied the Par 4, 14th hole to get to minus 12 with four holes to play and now only 1 stroke behind Jim Furyk (USA) who was still minus 13 after 14 holes. Keegan Bradley (USA) then birdied the extremely long Par 5, 16th hole to get to minus 13 with two holes to play, but Jim Furyk (USA) birdied it as well and he still had his 1 stroke lead over Keegan Bradley (USA) at minus 14 with two holes to play. Jim Furyk minus 14 (USA) came to the Par 4, 72nd hole with a one stroke lead over Keegan Bradley who was minus 13 (USA). They both managed to find the fairway. Jim Furyk (USA) was a little lucky having hit a bad pull off the tee but got a great bounce off the trees on the left hand side of the rough and his ball landed in the middle of the fairway. He still had a 7 iron distance to the green for his second shot. Keegan Bradley (USA) had struck his drive much further down the fairway and was only left with a short iron to the green. Jim Furyk (USA) struck his 7 iron second shot and it missed the green to the right, pin high in the rough leaving him a very difficult up and down to save his par. Keegan Bradley (USA) now had a chance to really apply the pressure to Jim Furyk (USA), but he too missed his 9 iron second shot to the right of the green in the right green side bunker and it plugged!!

Jim Furyk (USA) now knew if he could chip his ball somewhere on the green within 20 feet of the hole he would more than likely be the Champion. But he tried to hit the perfect shot and it landed a foot short of where he wanted to land it and his ball stopped in the rough just short of the green. Keegan Bradley (USA) played his third shot next from his plugged lie in the green side bunker and he hit a brilliant bunker shot under the circumstance using the slope on the other side of the green to roll his ball back towards the cup and left himself a 10 foot putt to for his par. Jim Furyk (USA) played his 4th shot from the thick green side rough and slightly miss hit it and left himself a 6 foot bogey putt. Keegan Bradley (USA) now had his 10 foot par putt and he struck it very boldly and fell right in the centre of the cup for his par 4. Now he knew he was in the playoff at worst and if Jim Furyk (USA) missed his bogey putt he would be the Champion. Philip Tataurangi (NZL) who was the on course commentator said “Jim Furyk’s (USA) putt had a slight break in it from right to left but he must not aim outside the cup if he is going to hole it”. He hit a very poor putt and it didn’t take the break and missed on the right-hand side of the cup and he dropped his putter in frustration knowing he had let a great chance to win slip.

Keegan Bradley (USA) pumps his fist to celebrate after holing his long par putt at the 72nd hole

So Keegan Bradley (USA) had won his very first World Golf Championship Event of his career. He stood there stunned because it was totally unexpected the way Jim Furyk (USA) played the first 71 holes of the Tournament. It was Keegan Bradley’s (USA) third USPGA Tour Tournament win having won previously the 2011 HP Byron Nelson Championship and the 93rd PGA Championship. Prior to this event he had just had an average season compared to last year with his best finish being the tied for 2nd place at the Northern Trust Open in February. But this result will give him lots of confidence and belief to keep on improving. And this coming week he defends the PGA Championship title he won last year as his first Major win in his very first Major Championship he ever played in. The commentators mentioned after he won that when he gets into position to win he has the killer instinct to make the putts that count that some other big name players don’t. He may get that from his Aunty who is Pat Bradley (USA) who is a LPGA great and World Golf Hall of Fame member. 

Keegan Bradley (USA) poses with the Gary Player Trophy he won

The last two years have been amazing for Keegan Bradley (USA) after he qualified for the 2011 USPGA Tour after finishing inside the top 25 Money earners on the 2010 then Nationwide Tour which gained him his USPGA Tour Status. Last year (2011) in his rookie year on the USPGA Tour he made $US 3,758,600 and finished 5th on the final FedEx Cup Points Standings. And this year after this most recent win he is heading for an even better year than last year. I think another Major Championship win isn’t too far off either. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2012 USPGA Tour season.

Coming in tied for second position at 268-12 after 72 holes was Jim Furyk (USA) as I mentioned above. He was in such control of this tournament until the 72nd hole. It was a shame to see him lose another tournament after being in control of it for so long. He did the same thing at the 112th US Open Championship in June. And you would have to wonder how many more chances he is going to get as good as these last two he has had to win Tournaments as big as these last two on the USPGA Tour? But he can still hold his head high with how he has played this season on the USPGA Tour having recorded 5 top 10 finishes and won $US 2,676,455  to date and is placed in 16th position on the current FedEx Cup points standing with  1,257 points. And he hasn’t won since he won the 2010 THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. Also tied for 2nd position was Steve Stricker (USA), he scored the equal low final round along with Keegan Bradley (USA) which was 64-6. It continued on his fine year of form which has included a win at the very first tournament of the year which was the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and he has also recorded 6 top 10 finishes from the 14 events he has played and earned $US 2,820,421 with making 13 out 14 cuts. And he is also in 12th position on the FedEx Cup points list with 1,365 points earned to date. He must be due to win the FedEx Cup this year after finishing in 2nd position the last 3 years.

Coming in solo 4th position on 269-11 after 72 holes was Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), and he also recorded his third top 10 finish of the year. Coming in tied for 5th position at 272-8 after 72 holes were the current Race to Dubai leader, Justin Rose (England) and Rory McILroy (NIR) who recorded his 6th top 10 finish of the year on the USPGA Tour. In solo 7th position at 274-6 after 72 holes was Jason Dufner (USA) who just continued on his great season and it was his 7th top 10 of the season and he has now earned $US 4,334,137 and is also in 3rd position on the current FedEx Cup points list.  

Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 8th position at 276-4 after 72 holes were Aaron Baddeley (Australia) who is having another great season on the USPGA Tour. Tiger Woods (USA) also finished tied for 8th position and he still leads the current USPGA Tour Money list and FedEx Cup points list and is number 2 on the Official World Golf Rankings points list. The 2012 Players Champion, Matt Kuchar (USA) was also in tied for 8th position. K. J. Choi (South Korea) was also tied for 8th position along with David Toms (USA), Lee Slattery (England), The World Number One Golfer, Luke Donald (England) and the ever consistent American Golfer, Bo Van Pelt (USA).

Adam Scott (Australia) had a disappointing tournament in his first tournament back after his Open Championship meltdown. He scored rounds of 71+1, 70 even, 71+1 and a final round of 73+3 for a 72 hole total of 285+5 and tied for 45th position. The 141st Open Champion, Ernie Els (RSA) also had a poor tournament scoring rounds of 73+3, 73+3, 68-2 and a final round of 71+1 for a 72 hole total of 285+5 and also tied for 45th position.

                                                 

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup and the European Tour and Race to Dubai are co – sanctioned again for the final Major of the year which is the 94th PGA Championship (Known as Glories last shot) and it is being played at the Kiawah Island Resort (Ocean), Kiawah Island, South Carolina. It has a large prize purse of $US 8,000,000 for the taking. Keegan Bradley (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title and win back to back tournaments. It starts on Thursday 9th August and I will report back who won the Wanamaker Trophy next week.

The final event I am reporting on this week was the second event on the USPGA Tour this week and was also part of the FedEx Cup and was the Reno – Tahoe Open and it was played on the Montreux G&CC, Reno, Nevada. It was for the players who hadn’t qualified for the World Golf Championship – Bridgestone Invitational. For the very first year it was trying the new scoring format of Modified Stableford. Where instead of a birdie being one under par it now became plus 2 points, eagle = plus five points, double eagle = plus eight points, Par = Zero Points, Bogey = Minus One Point, and Double Bogey or Worse = Minus three points. And it was the Golfer by the name of J.J. Henry (USA) who record rounds of Plus 10 points, Plus 12 points, Plus 14 points and a final round of plus 7 points for a 72 hole total of plus 43 points and he won by a single point. J.J. Henry (USA) won $US 540,000.00 for the win and moved to 49th position on the current USPGA Tour money list with $US 1,254,692 earned from the 25 events he has played to date this year. He also earned 250 FedEx Cup points for the win and he moved to 50th Position on the current FedEx Cup points list with 686 points earned from the 25 events he has played in to date this year so far. He is 1,518 points behind the current leader who is Tiger Woods (USA).

J. J. Henry (USA) in action during the final round

J.J. Henry (USA) played a steady final round with scoring plus 6 points on the front nine that included birdies on the Par 4, 5th hole, Par 4, 6th hole and Par 5, 8th hole. So with nine holes to play he had plus 42 points and a 6 point lead over his nearest competitor who was Alexandre Rocha (Brazil) who had plus 36 points after 9 holes of his final round. J.J. Henry (USA) played a steady back nine with gaining another 2 points on the Par 4, 15 hole when he birdied it to move to plus 44 points. He made his lone bogey on the Par 3, 16th hole and he lost 1 point to move back to plus 43 points. He pared the last two holes to post plus 43 points for the tournament. Alexandre Rocha (Brazil) played a strong back nine with birding the Par 5, 13th hole to get to plus 38 points, then he birdied the Par 4, 17th hole to get to plus 40 points. So Alexandre Rocha (Brazil) came to the 72 hole needing an eagle to win the tournament. He could only manage a birdie 4 and finished up the tournament on plus 42 points, one point short of a playoff.

For J.J. Henry (USA) it was his second win on the USPGA Tour having previously won the 2006 Buick Championship as his maiden win. And with this win he gains his place in next week’s 94th PGA Championship which is the final Major Championship of the year. And also with this win he goes over the one million US dollars on the USPGA Tour Money list for the 6th time in his career. I hope he can continue on this form heading in to the FedEx Cup in the coming weeks. I wish him all the best for the rest of the events 2012 USPGA Tour season. 

J. J. Henry (USA) poses with the Reno - Tahoe Open Trophy he won

Coming in solo second was Alexandre Rocha (Brazil) with plus 42 points after 72 holes as I mentioned above. It was best career finish on the USPGA Tour to date. And he has now won $US 387,060 on the USPGA Tour Money list. With a few more top 10 finishes he may well keep his card for the 2013 USPGA Tour season. Coming in solo 3rd position on plus 37 points after 72 holes was Andres Romero (Argentina), it was his 2nd top 10 of the season and he has now retained his playing status for the 2013 USPGA Tour season with $US 951,996 earned from the 18 events he has played to date this year so far. Coming in solo 4th position on plus 34 points after 72 holes was John Mallinger (USA), it was his 2nd top 10 finish of the season and he must be due for his maiden USPGA Tour win soon?

Coming in tied for 5th position at plus 33 points after 72 holes was the two time Major Winner, John Daly (USA), and it was his first top 10 finish of the 2012 USPGA Tour season from the 10 events he has entered to date this year. Also tied for 5th position was the 1997 Open Champion, Justin Leonard (USA), it was his best finish on the USPGA Tour to date this year and he has now won $US 427,802 from the 21 events he has entered this year so far. A couple more top 10 finishes and he should keep his playing status for the 2013 USPGA Tour Season. In solo 7th position at plus 31 points after 72 holes was Josh Teater (USA), and this being his 3rd top 10 finish in a row he has now more than likely secured his USPGA Tour card for the 2013 season with $US 671,215 earned from the 24 events he has played to date this year so far. Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 8th position at plus 30 points after 72 holes was the 2004 Open Champion, Todd Hamilton (USA), and it was his first top 10 finish on the USPGA Tour this year from the limited starts he has had. Also tied for 8th position was Brendan Steele (USA), he is having another good season after he had his maiden win in 2011 at the Valero Texas Open. This was his third top 10 finish of the season and he has now won $US 700,045 from the 19 events he has played to date this year. The last player to tie for 8th position was the Champions Tour Player, Tom Pernice Jr. (USA), it was his first top 10 of the season and not too bad for a 52 year old.

Danny Lee (NZL) scored rounds of Plus 10 points, plus 6 points, plus 5 points and a poor final round of minus 5 points for a 72 hole total of plus 16 points and tied for 54th position. He won $US 6,810.00 for his weeks work and moved to 168th position on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 264,062 earned from the 21 events he has played in to date this year so far. He is also in 156th position on the current FedEx Cup Points list with 226 points earned from the 21 events he has played in to date this year so far. He is 1,978 points behind the current leader who is Tiger Woods (USA). Danny Lee (NZL) will be disappointed with his result here as he played so well in the first round only to fade so poorly on the weekend. He now only has one tournament left to get inside the top 125 on the FedEx Cup points list and make the playoffs. I feel a win at the Wyndham Championship is the only way he will make the FedEx Cup playoffs and that is very unlikely going on his current form. So realistically he now has five tournaments left on the USPGA Tour in 2012 to finish inside the Top 125 Money Earners on the final USPGA Tour Money list to retain his exempt status for the 2013 season. He needs to earn at least another $US 400, 000 from those 5 events because $US 668,166 was the amount that was needed to keep your playing status on the 2011 Final USPGA Tour Money list. A more realistic goal would be to get inside the top 150 money earners on the USPGA Tour Money list and gain semi exempt status. To do that he would need to earn another $US 150, 000 because to keep you semi exempt status on the 2011 USPGA Tour season you needed $US 411,943. Danny Lee (NZL) has now made 11 cuts from the 21 events he has entered with his best finish still being tied for 19th position at the HP Byron Nelson Championship in mid May. I feel he will be disappointed with his rookie season on the USPGA Tour but will be gaining valuable knowledge and experience. I wish Danny Lee (NZL) all the best in his remaining events on the USPGA Tour in 2012.   

The other Golfer from New Zealand in the field was Grant Waite (NZL) he scored a first round of -12 points and then withdrew from the tournament. Because he doesn’t have full play Status on the USPGA Tour he doesn’t have a money list ranking. He has only played in 2 events to date on the 2012 USPGA Tour Season, the other one being the True South Classic where he missed the cut too.

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 56th week of his career is Luke Donald (England) with 9.67 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Tiger Woods (USA) with 8.53 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 8.46 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Lee Westwood (England) with 7.48 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 6.31 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is still the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the World. This week he slips 4 places to be at 205th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.90 Official World Golf Rankings Points on the list.

Remember when putting up hill play for less break and strike your putt firmer.

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com