Golf Events from the Weekend 7th October 2012

Well it was another exciting weekend on the Professional Golf Tours from around the World. First I will start with the European Tour and Race to Dubai. This week it was in Scotland for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and was played on three courses which were the Old Course St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, Scotland. And it was the Golfer by the name of Brendan Grace (RSA) who scored rounds of 60-12, 67-5, 69-3 and a final round of 70-2 for a 72 hole total of 266-22 and won by 2 strokes. He earned € 617,283.90 for the win and moved into third position on the Race to Dubai Money list with € 2,028,216 earned from the 22 events he has played 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 in this year to date so far.

Brendan Grace (RSA) pumps his fist in celebration after holing the winning putt!!

Brendan Grace (RSA) gains his fourth European Tour International Schedule victory in his 70th European Tour event. He moves into the top 40 in the Official World Golf Ranking, from 49th position. He finished the 2011 season in 271st place. It was his fourth victory of the 2012 European Tour season. He became the first player since Martin Kaymer (Germany) in 2010 (Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, US PGA Championship, KLM Open and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship) to win four times in the same season. Having graduated from the 2011 European Tour Qualifying School, becomes the first graduate to win four times the year after graduation. Brendan Grace (RSA) figure of €2,028,215 in The Race to Dubai is a record for a Qualifying School graduate the year after graduation, beating the previous best of €1,505,583 won by Johan Edfors (Sweden) in 2006. 

He becomes the first player in European Tour history to win his first four events in the same season. He joins Seve Ballesteros (Spain) (1978, 85, 86, 88), Ernie Els (RSA) (2003), Sir Nick Faldo (England) (1983, 92), Miguel Angel Jiménez (Spain) (2004), Martin Kaymer (Germany) (2010), Bernhard Langer (Germany) (1984, 97), Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) (1999), Lee Westwood (England) (1998, 2000), Tiger Woods (USA) (1999, 2000, 01, 02, 05, 06) and Ian Woosnam (Wales) (1987, 90, 96), as players to win four or more official events in the same European Tour season. He becomes the equal seventh quickest player to win his first four events. He is behind: Tiger Woods (USA) (15 events), Seve Ballesteros (Spain) (41), Sandy Lyle (Scotland) (47), Ernie Els (RSA) and Sergio Garcia (Sergio) (58), José María Olazábal (Spain) (66) and Martin Kaymer (Germany) (70). He becomes the second wire-to-wire winner of the event in succession, following Michael Hoey (NIR) last year.

He becomes the youngest South African to win four times in a single season, beating the mark of Ernie Els (RSA) in 2003, who was 32 years and 325 days. Brendan Grace (RSA) is 24 years and 140 days. Brendan Grace (RSA) becomes the sixth youngest player to win his first four victories in European Tour history. He would follow: Seve Ballesteros (Spain) (20 years and 161 days), Sergio Garcia (Spain) (22 years and 109 days), Sandy Lyle (Scotland) (22 years and 141 days), José María Olazábal (Spain) (22 years and 233 days) and Tiger Woods (USA) (23 years and 242 days). Brendan Grace (RSA) maintains his 100% record of winning when leading or sharing the lead going into the final round on The European Tour. First, he led by three shots at the Joburg Open after 54 holes. He shared a one shot the lead with Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) at the Volvo Golf Champions, and he took a three shot advantage going into the last day of the Volvo China Open. He led by four going into the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. He became the first South African to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. He became the youngest winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, aged 24 years and 140 days. He beats the previous record of Nick Dougherty (England) in 2007 of 25 years and 136 days. This victory is the ninth for South Africa on The European Tour in 2012. They are:  Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) (Africa Open and Maybank Malaysian Open), Branden Grace (RSA) (Joburg Open, Volvo Golf Champions , Volvo China Open and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship), Jbe’ Kruger (RSA) (Avantha Masters), Darren Fichardt (RSA) (SAINT-OMER OPEN presented by Neuflize OBC) and Ernie Els (RSA) (The 141th Open Championship).This is the most of any country so far this season.

It was the 110th South African victory in European Tour history. Brendan Grace (RSA) gains his largest European Tour prize of €617,283. He moves over the €2 million mark in European Tour Official Career Earnings. He gains his eighth win as a professional and second in consecutive weeks following the Vodacom Origins of Golf Tour Final on the Sunshine Tour. Brendan Grace’s (RSA) victory was the 20th European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player on the 2012 European Tour from 37 events so far. They are: Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) (Africa Open and Maybank Malaysian Open), Branden Grace (RSA) (Joburg Open, Volvo Golf Champions, Volvo China Open and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship), 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), Thorbjørn Olesen (Denmark) (Sicilian Open), Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) (Ballantine’s Championship and Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity), Ricardo Santos (Portugal) (Madeira Islands Open – Portugal), Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) (Volvo World Match Play Championship), Jamie Donaldson (Wales) (Irish Open), Marcel Siem (Germany) (Alstom Open de France), Richie Ramsay (Scotland)  (Omega European Masters) and Peter Hanson (Sweden) (KLM Open). It was the 304th European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player. And finally it was the 42nd European Tour victory by a player who graduated from The European Tour Qualifying School and went on to win the following season.

It was another awesome win from Brendan Grace (RSA) who only last year was playing on the Challenge Tour. He achieved his 2012 European Tour Card by finishing inside the qualifying mark at the 2011 European Tour Qualifying School finals. And he really got his season off to a fast start with wins at the Joburg Open in early January and the following week at the Volvo Golf Champions. He played a great final round under the circumstances with scoring 70-2 and that included a front nine of 36 even par which included a birdie on the Par 3, first hole and a bogey on the Par 4, 7th hole. He scored 34-2 on the back nine that included a hat trick of birdies on the Par 4, 12th hole, Par 4, 13th hole and the Par 5, 14th hole and he also birdied the Par 4, 18th hole. But he suffered poor bogeys on the Par 3, 11th hole and the Famous Par 4, 17th hole that is known as the road hole. 

Brendan Grace (RSA) poses with the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship he won

Apart from his four wins on the European Tour he has achieved this year to date he has also achieved one other top 10 finish at the BMW PGA Championship in late May where he finished in solo 5th position. And he has only missed four cuts. But surprisingly apart from those 4 wins and the other top 10 finish the rest of his play has been average. He seems to be the type of player that when he gets in to contention he doesn’t let it slip and seals the deal. He now is a real chance to win the Race to Dubai Money list title. And if he keeps this form up he will be a certainty to make the 2013 International Team for the Presidents Cup which is played in America next year. And now he has cemented his place inside the Top 50 on the Official World Golf Rankings he is almost guaranteed a start in the four Major Championships in 2013. I wish Brendan Grace (RSA) all the best for the remaining events on the European Tour in 2012.

Coming in solo second position at 268-20 after 72 holes was Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark). It just continues on his fine year on the European Tour where he achieved his maiden win at the Sicilian Open in early April. He has also had six other top 10 finishes. He has won € 1,084,589 from the 24 events he has played to date this year so far and he is now in 15th position on the Race to Dubai Money list. I wish him all the best for the remaining events on the European Tour in 2012. Coming in solo third position at 270-18 after 72 holes was Alexander Noren (Sweden). He is having another brilliant season with recording six top 10 finishes from the 21 events he has played in to date this year so far. He is in 21st position on the current Race to Dubai Money list with € 861,424 earned from the 21 events he has played to date so far. Coming in solo 4th position at 272-16 after 72 holes was Joel Sjoholm (Sweden); he is having another good season with recording four top 10 finishes and this result here is his best result of the season to date so far. He is currently in 55th position on the Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 407,394 earned from the 28 events he has played in. At the moment he his inside the top 60 on the Race to Dubai Money list but I suggest he needs one more top 10 finish to be safe to play in the season ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai in late November where only the Top 60 Money earners prior to that event get invited.

Rounding out the Top 10 in tied for 5th position at 273-15 after 72 holes was George Coetzee (RSA); he scored a brilliant final round of 62-10 which was blemish free and of course the lowest round of the day. He is having a very consistent season on the European Tour with recording 5 top 10 finishes and with current earnings of € 606,653 on the Race to Dubai Money list from the 19 events he has played to date so far this year and he is currently in 36th position on the list. Also tied for 5th position was Lee Slattery (England); it was his best finish on the European Tour to date this season and his second top 10 of the season. It lifted him up to 58th position on the current Race to Dubai Money list with € 400,966 earned from the 21 events he has played to date this year so far. He is in the same position as Joel Sjoholm (Sweden) where at the moment he is inside the top 60 on the Race to Dubai Money list but I suggest he needs one more top 10 finish to be safe to play in the season ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai in late November where only the Top 60 Money earners prior to that event get invited. Also tied for 5th position was Raphael Jacquelin (France); it was his 4th top 10 of the season and he has now earned € 581,380 from the 21 events he has played in to date this year so far and that places him in 37th position on the current Race to Dubai Money list standings. Also tied for 5th position was Victor Dubuisson (France); it was his 4th Top 10 finish of the season so far. He has earned € 528,883 from the 17 events he has played in so far this year and is currently in 43rd position on the Race to Dubai Money list standings. Also tied for 5th position was Danny Willett (England); it continues on his brilliant season he is having on the European Tour in 2012 with recording his maiden win at the BMW International Open in late June. He has also recorded four top 10 finishes and has earned € 871,785 from the 21 events he has played to date this year that places him in 19th position on the current Race to Dubai Money list standings. Also tied for 5th position was Stephen Gallacher (Scotland); it was his 4th top 10 of the season and he has now earned € 634,399 from the 21 events he has played to date this year so far which places him currently in 35th position on the Race to Dubai Money list standings. The final player to tie for 5th position was Fredrik Andersson Hed (Sweden); it was his third top 10 of the season and he has now earned € 480,025 from the 22 events he has played to date this season so far and that places him in 48th position on the current Race to Dubai Money list standings.

Michael Campbell (NZL) was the only New Zealander in the field to make the cut. He scored rounds of 67-5, 71-1, 73+1 and a final round of 69-3 for a 72 hole total of 280-8 to tied for 47th position. He earned € 16,296.30 for his efforts and moved to 137th position on the Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 110,109 earned from the 18 events he has played to date this year. He has now made 5 cuts this season to date and his best finish is tied for 11th at the Alstom Open de France in early July. He is now starting to show glimpses of the form he displayed in his glory year of 2005 when he won the 105th US Championship which was his maiden Major Championship. Let’s hope he can achieve a top 10 finish before the 2012 season is finished? I wish him all the best for the remaining events in 2012 on the European Tour. The other New Zealander Golfer in the field but missed the 54 hole cut was Josh Geary (NZL); he scored rounds of 70-2, 73+1 and 74+2 for a 54 hole total of 217+1 to miss the cut by 6 strokes. He doesn’t have a Race to Dubai Money list ranking because he is not a member on the European Tour.

Next week the European Tour and Race to Dubai head to Portugal for the Portugal Masters and it is played on the Oceânico Victoria Golf Course, Vilamoura, Portugal. It has a large prize purse of € 2,250.000 for the taking. Tom Lewis (England) is the defending Champion and will be keen for back to back titles. It starts on Thursday 11th October and I will report back who won the trophy next week.

The second event I am reporting on this week was on the USPGA Tour and was the first event of four in the Fall Series. It was Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and was played on the TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada. And it was Ryan Moore (USA) who scored rounds of 61-10, 68-3, 65-6 and a final round of 66-5 for a 72 hole total of 260-24 and he won by one stroke. It was his second win on the USPGA Tour having won the 2009 Wyndham Championship. He won $US 810,000.00 for the win and he moved to 25th position on the current USPGA Tour Money list with $US 2,858,944 earned from the 24 events he played in. Rory McILroy (NIR) leads that list with $US 8, 047, 952.00 earned from the 16 events he has played to date so far this year.

Ryan Moore (USA) acknowledges the gallery after winning holing the winning putt

Ryan Moore (USA) played a great final round of 66-5 which included a front nine of 33-2 with birdies on the Par 4, 3rd hole, Par 3, 5th hole, Par 4, 7th hole and Par 5, 9th hole. But he suffered poor bogeys at the Par 4, 6th hole and Par 3, 8th hole. He was tied with Brendon de Jonge (Zimbabwe) on -21 with the only the back nine holes to play. They both pared the Par 4, 10th hole and then both birdied the Par 4, 11th hole. So Brendon de Jonge (Zimbabwe) and Ryan Moore (USA) were now tied on -22 with seven holes to play. They both pared the Par 4, 12th hole and birdied the Par 5, 13th hole. So Brendon de Jonge (Zimbabwe) and Ryan Moore (USA) were now -23 with five holes to play. They both pared the Par 3, 14th hole and Par 4, 15th hole. So Ryan Moore (USA) and Brendon de Jonge (Zimbabwe) were still tied at -23 with three holes to play. On the Par 5, 16th hole, Brendon de Jonge (Zimbabwe) hit a poor drive out to the right and landed behind a tree meaning that he would have to lay up short of the water. But Ryan Moore (USA) hit a brilliant drive right down the centre of the fairway meaning he could easily reach the green in two shots with a mid iron which he did and it rolled through into the back fringe. Brendon de Jonge (Zimbabwe) hit his third shot to about 25 feet short of the pin on the green and just missed his birdie putt but easily secured his par 5. Ryan Moore (USA) rolled his putt for eagle from the back fringe from 30 feet to about 2 feet short of the cup and easily tapped in for his birdie 4. Ryan Moore (USA) was now -24 and had a one stroke lead over Brendon de Jonge (Zimbabwe) with two holes to play. They both pared the Par 3, 17th hole meaning Ryan Moore (USA) took a one stroke lead over Brendon de Jonge (Zimbabwe) to the 72nd hole.  They both hit good tee shots into the middle of the 18th fairway. Brendon de Jonge (Zimbabwe) hit his second shot into 20 feet and Ryan Moore (USA) hit his second shot into 15 feet. Brendon de Jonge’s (Zimbabwe) putted for his birdie 3 first and knew he had to make it to put the pressure on Ryan Moore (USA) to have to hole his for the win. He came up just short on the left hand side and had to settle for par and -23 after 72 holes. Ryan Moore (USA) now had his 15 foot birdie putt knowing he could two putt and still win. He rolled his birdie putt about two feet past the hole on the left hand side. He then steadied himself and rolled his two foot par putt in for the victory and finished at -24.

Ryan Moore (USA) poses with the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open Trophy he won

It was a really sweet victory for Ryan Moore (USA) as he went to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and knew this course off the back of his hand as he used to play on it regularly during his college golf days for UNLV. He had all his friends and family there to celebrate this win with him. And this was his last event on the USPGA Tour for 2012 as his Wife Nicole is due to give birth to their first child at the end of October. I feel he will be very satisfied with his play this season on the USPGA Tour. He finished in 11th position on the Final FedEx Cup points list with 1,105 points and he was very unlucky not to get a Captains pick for the Team USA for the 39th Ryder Cup. I feel he will get his chance to represent Team USA next year in the Presidents Cup. Also I feel he could win one of the four Majors next year, perhaps it will come at the Masters Tournament? I wish Ryan Moore (USA) all the best with his professional golf career in the future.

Coming in solo second position at 261-23 after 72 holes was Brendon de Jonge (Zimbabwe); he will be disappointed he was unable to secure his maiden USPGA Tour win but this was his best ever finish on the USPGA Tour and I am sure a win is not too far away for him. Perhaps it will happen in the remaining three fall series events? It was his third top 10 of the season and he has now earned $US 1,800,464 from the 29 events has played to date this year so far which places him currently in 40th position on the USPGA Tour Money list. Coming in solo third position at 264-20 after 72 holes was Jonas Blixt (Sweden); he is having a fine rookie season on the USPGA Tour after qualifying off the Web.com Tour in 2011 where he finished in 5th position on the final money list. He has already achieved four top 10 finishes this year with earnings to date of $US 1,299,401 from the 18 events he has played in so far and that places him in 60th position on the current USPGA Tour Money list. He was forced off the tour from early June to mid August due to a cracked Rib. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins on the USPGA Tour within the next year. Coming in solo fourth position at 266-18 after 72 holes was Jason Day (Australia); he set the course a light on his front nine in the final round with scoring 28-7 and that magical number 59 was on his mind, but it wasn’t to be on the back nine where he scored 37+1 for a final round of 65-6. He will be disappointed with his season on the golf course after having two brilliant seasons in 2010-11. But off the golf course everything is going well for him with his Wife giving birth to their first child three months ago. He has still had four top 10 finishes from the 16 events he has played in to date this year and has earnings on $US 1,134,313 which places him currently in 78th position on the USPGA Tour Money list.

Coming in solo 5th position at 269-15 after 72 holes was Bill Lunde (USA); it was his best finish on the USPGA Tour to date in 2012. He has current earnings on the USPGA Tour of $US 527,759 earned from the 22 events he has played to date this year so far and is in 128th position on the current USPGA Tour Money list. He will need another top 10 finish in one of the final three fall series events if he is going to finish inside the top 125 money earners that keep their full playing status for the 2013 USPGA Tour season. I wish him all the best in achieving that. Coming in tied for 6th position at 270-14 after 72 holes was Scott Piercy (USA); he scored the lowest final round of 64-7. He continued on his fine season he is having with already recording four top 10 finishes which includes his second win that came at the RBC Canadian Open in late July. But this was his first top 10 finish in his last seven tournaments. He has earned $US 2,699,205 from the 28 events he has played to date this year and he is currently in 27th position on the USPGA Tour Money list. Also tied for 6th position was Richard H. Lee (USA); he is in his rookie season on the USPGA Tour after getting his card at the 2011 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished tied for 24th position. It was his best ever finish on the USPGA Tour and he has now earned $US 523,133 from the 21 events he has played in so far and is currently in 130th position on the USPGA Tour Money list. He now is well placed in the three remaining fall series events to get inside that all important 125 money earners on the final USPGA Tour Money list for 2012 that keep their full exempt status for the 2013 season.

Coming in tied for 8th position at 271-13 after 72 holes was Blake Adams (USA); he has had another fine season on the USPGA Tour with recording three top 10 finishes from the 30 events he has played in to date this year and he is currently in 73rd position on the USPGA Tour Money list. Also tied for 8th position was Jason Bohn (USA); it was his third top 10 of the season in which he has been very inconsistent. He has earned $US 778,972 so far this year from the 25 events he has played in to date this year so far and that places him currently in 110th position on the USPGA Tour Money list. At this point his 2013 USPGA Tour card looks secure, but another top 10 finish in the remaining three events would confirm it. Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 10th position at 272-12 after 72 holes was Nick Watney (USA); it was his fifth top 10 finish of the season and that includes his win at The Barclays which was the first FedEx Cup Playoff event. He has current earnings of $US 3,044,224 from the 26 events he has played to date this year so far and that puts him in 21st position on the current USPGA Tour Money list. Also tied for 10th position was Jimmy Walker (USA); it was his fifth top 10 of the season and he now has earnings of $US 1,441,544 from the 27 events he has played in to date this year and that places him in 53rd position on the current USPGA Tour Money list. The last player to tie for 10th position was Tim Herron (USA); it was his best finish on the USPGA Tour in 2012 so far. He has really struggled the last few seasons on the USPGA Tour and his current earnings to date this year are $US 513,114 from the 24 events he has played in to date this year and that places him currently in 132nd position on the USPGA Tour Money list. He also is now well placed in the three remaining fall series events to get inside that all important 125 money earners on the final USPGA Tour Money list for 2012 that keep their full exempt status for the 2013 season.

The only New Zealander Golfer in the field was Danny Lee (NZL); he scored rounds of 69-2 and 70-1 for a 36 hole total of 139-3 and missed the cut by a single stroke. Since his last start on the USPGA Tour which was the Wyndham Championship in mid August he has played five straight events on the Web.com tour and earned $US 66,668 with a tied for second finish at the WNB Golf Classic where he was defending his title he won last year. But it looks like barring a miracle he is going to lose his USPGA Tour card for the 2013 season. He has current earnings on the USPGA Tour for the 2012 season of $US 264,062 from the 23 events he has played to date this year so far and he is currently in 169th position on the USPGA Tour Money list. His best finish on the USPGA Tour this year is tied for 19th position at the HP Byron Nelson Championship in late May. In the last three events he needs to earn about $US 400, 000 to finish inside the top 125 money earners and keep his full playing status for the 2013 USPGA Tour Season. But if he earns about $US 150, 000 in those last three events he would finish inside the top 150 money earners on the USPGA Tour Money list and have conditional status for the 2013 USPGA Tour season. But if he can’t finish inside the top 150 Money earners on the final USPGA Tour for the 2012 season he will be heading back to the second stage of USPGA Tour School in mid November. I wish Danny Lee (NZL) all the best for the remaining three USPGA Tour events.

Next week the USPGA Tour and Fall Series heads to California for the second event of four in the Fall Series and it is the Frys.com Open and it is being played on the CordeValle Golf Club, San Martin, California. It has a good prize purse of $US 5,000,000 for the taking. Bryce Molder (USA) is the defending champion and will be keen for back to back titles. It starts on Thursday 11th October. 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 9th week of a 4th spell of his career and the 16th week of his career in total is the 94th PGA Champion, Rory McILroy (NIR) with 12.40 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Tiger Woods (USA) with 9.47 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Luke Donald (England) with 9.09 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Lee Westwood (England) with 6.98 Official Golf World Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list is Justin Rose (England) with 6.35 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is still the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the World. This week he slips 3 places to be at 204th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.90 Official World Golf Ranking Points on the list.

Remember when it is breezy swing easy!!

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com