Golf Events from the Weekend 16th September 2012

Well it was another exciting weekend of golf 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 head to Italy for the BMW Italian Open presented by CartaSi and it was played on the Royal Park I Roveri, Turin, Italy. It was the final event before the Ryder Cup Matches in two weeks time. And it was the Golfer by the name of Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño (Spain) who scored rounds of 68-4, 65-7, 67-5 and a brilliant final round of 64-8 for a 72 hole total of 264-24 to win by 2 strokes. He won € 250,000.00 for his efforts and he moves to 19th position on the current Race to Dubai Money list with €831,591 earned from the 19 events he has played in to date this year so far. Rory McILroy (NIR) still leads that list with €2,813,962 earned from the 11 events he has played to date this year so far.

Gonzalo Fernandez - Castano (Spain) acknowledges the crowd after holing the winning putt

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño (Spain) played a great final round scoring 64-8 which was blemish free and included a front nine of 33-3 with birdies on the Par 4, 1st hole, Par 5, 8th hole and Par 4, 9th hole to make the turn at minus 19. At this point he was tied for the lead with the 54 hole leader, Garth Mulroy (RSA). They both birdied the Par 4, 10th hole and both moved to minus 20 with 8 holes to play. Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño (Spain) then birdied the Par 5, 11th hole to move to minus 21 and took a one stroke lead over Garth Mulroy (RSA) who could only manage par. They both made birdies on the Par 4, 13th and Par 4, 14th holes, but Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño (Spain) still had a 1 stroke lead over Garth Mulroy (RSA) with the final four holes to play. Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño (Spain) was at minus 23 and Garth Mulroy (RSA) was at minus 22. Garth Mulroy (RSA) made a timely birdie on the Par 3, 15th hole and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño (Spain) could only manage a par 3. So both players were now tied on minus 23 with just three holes to play. They both pared the par 4, 16th hole, so they were still all tied up at minus 23 with two holes to play.

They both hit great drives down the Par 4, 17th hole. Garth Mulroy (RSA) hit his second shot first and hit the worst shot he could possibly hit under the circumstance with pulling it way left into the left green side bunker and leaving an impossible up and down for his par 4. Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño (Spain) having seen his second shot hit a conservative second shot into the middle of the green.  Garth Mulroy (RSA) managed to get his ball out of the bunker for his third shot but it rolled through the green. He was able to get up and down for his bogey 5 and fell back to minus 22. Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño (Spain) easily two putted for his par 4 and now had a one stroke lead over Garth Mulroy (RSA) at minus 23 playing the 72nd hole. Garth Mulroy (RSA) could only manage a Par 5, on the 72nd hole and finished 72 holes on minus 22. Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño (Spain) finished in style birding the Par 5, 72nd hole and finishing up at minus 24 for the tournament. He scored an amazing back nine of 31-5.

It was Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño (Spain) sixth win on the European Tour and here they are from his first to the most recent: 2005 The KLM Open; 2006 BMW Asian Open; 2007 Telecom Italia Open; 2008 Quinn Insurance British Masters; 2011 Barclays Singapore Open

 and the 2012 BMW Italian Open presented by CartaSi. He is having a good season after a slow start to the year and he has now had four top 10 finishes including this win. He has now got his sights set on Race to Dubai finale which is the DP World Tour Championship which only the top 60 on the European Tour Race to Dubai Money list get a start in at the conclusion of the SA Open Championship get into. His aim is to finish at least in the top 10 on the final Race to Dubai Money list so he can claim his share of the US$3.75million Bonus Pool at the end of the season for those players that have finished inside the top 10 on the list I just mentioned.

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño (Spain) and his wife poses with the BMW Italian Open presented by CartaSi trophy he won

He is having another very consistent season with 17 cuts made from the 19 events he has played to date this year so far. He would be disappointed with not making the European Ryder Cup Team that play in the USA in two weeks time. I wish Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño (Spain) every continuing success for the rest of the 2012 European Tour season.

Coming in solo second position at 266-22 after 72 holes was Garth Mulroy (RSA); it was his best finish on the European Tour to date in the 2012 season and also his first top 10 of the season. He has only played in 12 events on the European Tour so far this season and has now earned € 327,582 and that places him in 68th position on the current Race to Dubai Money list. He has also played in 17 events on the USPGA Tour without much success with earnings of only $US 233, 014  after gaining his USPGA Tour card by finishing in 21st position on the 2011 Web.com Tour Final Money list. Perhaps now he will finish out the year on the European Tour as he is now in a realistic position of making the Top 60 on the Race to Dubai Money list and playing in the season ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Coming in tied for third position at 268-20 after 72 holes was Gregory Bourdy (France); he scored a bogey free final round of 65-7. It was his best finish on the European Tour to date this season and his second top 10 finish in as many weeks. He will now be setting his sights on the top 60 on the Race to Dubai Money list that make it into the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in late November. He is currently in 74th position on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 306,414 earned from the 20 events he has played in to date this year so far. Also tied for third position was the young 19 year old Italian Superstar, Matteo Manassero (Italy); he too scored 65-7 in the final round which included a back nine of 30-6. And it was on the course he learnt to play golf on. It was his 6th top 10 finish of the season so far and his first since the Reale Seguros Open de Espana in early May. He has now earned € 663,330 from the 21 events he has played in to date this year so far and that now places him in 30th position on the current Race to Dubai Money list. His spot in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai is almost guaranteed. 

Coming in tied for fifth position at 270-18 after 72 holes was Gary Boyd (England); he recorded the equal lowest final round that was 63-9 along with the defending champion, Robert Rock (England). It included an amazing Albatross on the Par 5, 8th hole in which he holed his second shot. It was his first top 10 in the 2012 European Tour season after really struggling for most of the year prior to this event. He has only made 10 cuts from the 21 events he has played to date this year so far. He has now earned € 171,802 from the 21 events he has played to date this year and is currently in 110th position on the Race to Dubai Money list. He now is looking in good shape to keep his card for the 2013 European Tour season. Also tied for 5th position was Martin Kaymer (Germany); It was his best finish on the European Tour to date this year so far. He has been struggling by his standards in 2012 with only recording 3 top 10 finishes prior to this event. It was timely that he showed some form in the final European Tour event before the Ryder Cup in USA in two weeks time. Because he made the 2012 European Ryder Cup Team more on his 2011 results. The European Team Captain, Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain) will be happy. And he has now earned € 656,697 from the 18 events he has played to date this year that puts him in 32nd position on the current Race to Dubai Money list. Also tied for 5th position was Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium); it continued on the brilliant season he is having so far with prior to this event he had recorded nine top 10 finishes with a win at the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain in mid May. He has now earned € 1,591,204 from the 22 events he has played to date this year so far and he is in 9th position on the current Race to Dubai Money list. He will now be looking forward to making his debut at the Ryder Cup Matches for Team Europe in the USA in two weeks time. The final player to tie for 5th position was Pablo Larrazabal (Spain); it was his 5th top 10 finish of the year and his second in consecutive weeks. And he has made 21 out of 24 cuts so far this year. He is now in 28th position on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 677,540 earned from the 24 events he has played in to date this year.

In solo 9th position at 271-17 after 72 holes was Rafa Cabrera – Bello (Spain); it just continues on the awesome season he is having. This was his six top 10 finishes and that includes a win at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in early February. He has now earned € 1,077,028 from the 21 events he has played to date this year and he is in 16th position on the current Race to Dubai Money list. Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 10th position at 272-16 after 72 holes was Jaco Van Zyl (RSA); it was his fourth top 10 of the 2012 season. He has now earned € 291,736 from the 19 events he has played to date this year so far and he is currently in 77th position on the Race to Dubai Money list. Also tied for 10th position was Marc Warren (Scotland); it was his third top 10 of the season and he has earned € 459,580 from the 23 events he has played to date this year and is currently in 46th position on the Race to Dubai Money list and looks like he has already cemented his place in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in late November. The final player who was tied for 10th position was Anders Hansen (Denmark); it was his third top 10 finish of the season and his third consecutive. He has now earned € 506,849 from the 18 events he has played in to date this year and is in 42nd position on the current Race to Dubai Money list and he too appears to have cemented his place in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in late November.

The next event on the European Tour and Race to Dubai is the 39th playing of the Ryder Cup Matches between Team Europe and Team USA. This year they are being played at the Medinah Country Club, Medinah, Illinois, USA. There is no prize money on offer at all just the Honour of winning the Ryder Cup for your Team and Nation for the next two years as the Ryder Cup is a bi – annual event. Team Europe is the defending champions and will be keen to defend the cup and win it again. It starts on Thursday 27th September with the Opening Ceremony. Then the actual matches start on Friday 28th September with the Morning  Foursomes. I will report back who won the Trophy for the next two years once the result comes in.

The second event I am reporting on this week was on the Champions Tour and was the Pacific Links Hawai’i Championship and it was played on the Kapolei Golf Course, Kapolei, Hawaii. And it was the Golfer by the name of Willie Wood (USA) who scored rounds of 68-4, 68-4 and a final round of 66-6 for a 54 hole total of 202-14 and he won by 1 stroke. He won $US 270,000 for the win and he moved to 14th position on the current Champions Tour money list with $US 854,817 earned from the 10 events he has played in to date this year so far. Michael Allen (USA) still leads that list with $US 1,552,503 earned from the 18 events he has played in to date this year so far. Willie Wood (USA) has also earned 684 Charles Schwab Cup Points and is currently in 18th position on the Charles Schwab Cup Points list from the 10 events he has played to date this year so far. He is 1,455 points behind the current leader who is Tom Lehman (USA) who has earned 2,139 points from the 16 events he has played to date this year so far.

Willie Wood (USA) in action during the final round

Willie Wood (USA) played a great final round of 66-6 which included a front nine of 33-3 with birdies on the Par 4, 3rd hole, Par 4, 6th hole and Par 4, 9th hole. Heading into the back nine he was minus 11 and still trailed the 36 hole leader, Bill Glasson (USA) by 4 strokes, who was minus 15 after going out in 34-2. Willie Wood (USA) pared the holes 10 to 13 and was still at minus 11. However, Bill Glasson (USA) played those same holes in one over par and was now only minus 14 with the final 5 holes remaining. They both birdied the Par 5, 14th hole and the margin was still 3 strokes in Bill Glasson’s (USA) favour with 4 holes to play. Willie Wood (USA) pared the 15th and 16th holes and was at minus 12, however Bill Glasson (USA) bogeyed both those holes and now was minus 13 with 2 holes to play and he now only had a one stroke lead over Willie Wood (USA). They both birdied the Par 5, 17th hole. So heading to the Par 4, 54th hole with Bill Glasson (USA) now at minus 14 still holding that one stroke lead over Willie Wood (USA) who was minus 13. Willie Wood (USA) made a brilliant birdie 3 on the Par 4, 18th hole and finished at minus 14 after 54 holes. Bill Glasson (USA) suffered an untimely bogey 5 and after being in control of the tournament for so long and finished on minus 13, he had to settle for second place. Willie Wood (USA) scored 33-3 on the back nine and Bill Glasson (USA) scored 37+2 which was disappointing for him.

Willie Wood (USA) poses with the Pacific Links Hawai’i Championship trophy he won

The 52 year old Willie Wood (USA) has really come into his own on the Champions Tour over the last two months with having his maiden Champions Tour win at the Dick's Sporting Goods Open in mid August, a week later he finished third at the Boeing Classic and this win at the Pacific Links Hawai’i Championship. Before his maiden win on the Champions Tour he was having to Monday qualify each week to get start on the Champions Tour. Now I feel he has established himself on the Champions Tour and you never know with a few more wins in the coming weeks he could take out the Charles Schwab Cup in early November? I wish him all the best for the rest of 2012 on the Champions Tour.  

Coming in solo second position at 203-13 after 72 holes was Bill Glasson (USA); as I mentioned above he will be disappointed with this result because he will feel he should have won after being in such a good position to do so. This finish however was his best ever on the Champions Tour in his third season on it. And it was his 7th top 10 finish of the 2012 season. I win can’t be too far away for him? Coming in solo third position at 204-12 after 72 holes was Peter Senior (Australia); he is having another great season on the Champions Tour with recording 9 top 10 finishes from the 19 events he has played to date this year so far and he has earned $945,336 to date so far this year. In the 3 seasons he has played on the Champions Tour he has gone so close to winning but never got there. He has already had 5 second place finishes. This year he is having another good season. I feel he should achieve his maiden win very soon on the Champions Tour? And when it finally happens it will be well deserved.

Coming in tied for 4th position at 205–11 after 54 holes was Tom Lehman (USA); he is having another fine season on the Champions Tour with recording 10 top 10 finishes from the 16 events he has played in to date this year so far and that includes a win at the Regions Tradition in early May. He has earned $US 1,465,375 from the 16 events he has played to date this year so far and that places him in third position on the current Champions Tour Money list. He is also leading the current Charles Schwab Cup Points list with 2,139 points earned from the 16 events he has played to date this year so far. Also tied for 4th position was David Frost (RSA); he has recorded six top 10 finishes to date this season and that includes a win at the Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf in mid April. He is starting to show the same form he produced on the USPGA Tour for so many years where he achieved 10 wins.

In tied for 6th position at 206-10 after 54 holes was the 1987 Masters Tournament winner, Larry Mize (USA); he scored the equal lowest final round of 65-7. It was his third top 10 of the season from the 18 events he has played to date this year so far. The other player to tie for 6th position was Dick Mast (USA); it was his second top 10 of the season from the 12 events he has played to date in 2012. He is still doing very well at age 61 years with earnings of $US 353,886 from the 12 events he has played in to date so far this year.

Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 8th position at 207-9 after 54 holes was Eduardo Romero (Argentina); it was his second top 10 of the season from the 13 events he has played in. So far this season he has really struggled after playing so well in previous years with winning 5 times on the Champions Tour. Also tied for 8th position was Duffy Waldorf (USA); it was only his second ever start on the Champions Tour after turning 50 on the 20th August. He has had two top 10 finishes in his first two starts and already earned $US 102,933 for his efforts. Look for him to be a real force on the Champions Tour in the years to come. Also tied for 8th position was Gene Sauers (USA); for him as well it was only his second ever start on the Champions Tour after turning 50 on the 22nd of August. It was his first top 10 finish on the Champions Tour and he now has earned $US 66,743. He could be a player to look out for in the next few years on the Champions Tour. Also tied for 8th position was the 1998 Masters Tournament and Open Championship winner, Mark O’Meara (USA); it was his 4th top 10 of the season and his fourth consecutive one in his last four starts from the 8 events he has played to date this year so far. Also tied for 8th position was Andrew Magee (USA); he is in his rookie season on the Champions Tour after turning 50 on the 22nd of May. He has already had two top 10 finishes from the 12 events he has played to date this year so far and has earned $US 190,147. I feel it won’t be long before he gets his maiden win on the Champions Tour. The last player to tie for 8th position was the 1995 US Open Championship Winner, Corey Pavin (USA); he is just having an awesome season with recording seven top 10 finishes from the 17 events he has played in to date this year so far and that includes his maiden Champions Tour win at the Allianz Championship in early February. Look for him to have many more wins on the Champions tour in the coming years.

The Champions Tour now takes a three week break before it resumes in North Carolina for the SAS Championship which is being played at the Prestonwood CC, Cary, North Carolina. It has a prize purse of $US 2,100,00 for the taking and Kenny Perry (USA) is the defending Champion and will be looking for back to back titles. It starts on Friday 4th October. I will report who won the trophy one the results is known.

So to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list this week and coming in at Number One Position for the 6th week of a 4th spell of his career and the 13th week of his career in total is the 94th PGA Champion, Rory McILroy (NIR) who was fresh off his BMW Championship win with 12.93 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Tiger Woods (USA) with 9.54 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Luke Donald (England) with 9.18 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Lee Westwood (England) with 7.44 Official Golf World Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list is Adam Scott (Australia) with 6.43 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 221st position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.82 Official World Golf Ranking Points on the list.

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

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com