Well it was a
brilliant weekend of golf on the Major Professional Golf Tours to start off
2013. First I will start with the PGA Tour of Australasia and the first Stage
Qualifying School that was played late last year (2012) on the week leading up
to Christmas at the Peninsula Country Golf Club (South Course),
Victoria, Australia. And it was the Golfer by the name of Dimi Papadatos (Am)
(Australia) who scored rounds of 70-2, 73+1 and a final round of 72 even par
for a 54 hole total of 215-1 but he was tied on that scored by Tom Bond (Am)
(Australia) who scored rounds of 70-2, 70-2 and a final round of 75+3 for a 54
hole total of 215-1 also. So those two players were joint winners of the first
stage of PGA Tour of Australasia
Qualifying School and advance to the final Stage Qualifying School in early
January.
Other players to get
through to the final stage were Ben Wharton (Australia) who finished solo third on 216 even par. In tied for
fourth position at 217+1 were Toby Wilcox (Australia), Gavin Fairfax
(Australia) and Grant Thomas (Australia). Coming in tied for seventh position
at 218+2 were Blake McGrory (Am) (Australia), Peter Woodward (Am) (Australia),
Sven Puymbroeck (NZL), who scored rounds of 69-3, 72 even par and 77+5 and Alex
Katholos (Australia). On 219+3 were Matt Jager (Australia), Simon Viitakangas
(Am) (Australia) and Kota Kagasaki (Australia). On 220+4 were Justin Smith
(Australia), Daniel McGraw (Am) (Australia), Rance De Grussa (Australia) and
Lincoln Tighe (Australia). On 221+5 were Willie Moore (NZL) who scored rounds
of 74+2, 74+2 and 73+1, Theodore Coroneo (Am) (Australia), Troy Cox
(Australia), Sam Burrell (Australia) and Tarquin MacManus (Australia). On 222+6
were Brenton Fowler (Australia), Kevin Conlong (Australia), Ian Esson
(Australia), Justin Roach (Australia), Michael Foster (Australia), Arthur
Gabella (Switzerland), Clinton Lourens (Australia), Mick Gerstenburg (Am)
(Australia) and Josh Carmichael (NZL) who scored rounds of 71-1, 74+3 and 77+5.
On 223+7 were Cameron Russell (Australia), Jonathan Holder (Am) (Australia),
James Betts (Am) (NZL) who scored rounds of 73+1, 75+3 and 75+3, Dean Van
Kampen (Am) (Australia), Alex Benjamin (Australia), Ryan O’Flaherty (Australia)
and Jordan Sherratt (Australia).
And the PGA Tour of
Australasia staged the final Stage Qualifying School that was played on the 3rd
to the 6th January and it was played at the Peninsula Country Golf Club
(North Course), Victoria, Australia. And it was the Golfer by the name of Troy
Cox (Australia) who scored rounds of 72 even, 67-5, 68-4 and a final round of
70-2 for a 72 hole total of 277-11 after 72 holes and he won by three shots. He
is now fully exempt on the PGA Tour of Australasia for the 2013 season and has
the number one ranking to get into the tournaments. The aim for players this
week was a top-10 finish; this will earn them starts into all tournaments on
the 2013 schedule including the Australian PGA Championship presented by
Coca-Cola, Emirates Australian Open, Australian Masters and the Perth
International. The rest of the players that finished inside the top ten were: Steven
Jefferies (Australia) 280-8 after 72 holes and finished in solo second
position. In tied for third position on 283-5 after 72 holes were John Wade
(Australia), Bradley Lamb (Australia), Brett Rankin (Australia), Leigh Deagan
(Australia), Grant Scott (Australia) and Neven Basic (Australia). Coming in
solo ninth position at 284-4 after 72 holes was the co - winner of the first
stage of PGA Tour of Australasia
Qualifying School just before Christmas and he was Dimi Papadatos (Am)
(Australia). I would imagine he will now turn professional? And rounding out
the top ten in solo tenth position at 285-3 after 72 holes was the other co -
winner of the first stage of PGA Tour
of Australasia Qualifying School just before Christmas and he was Tom
Bond (Am) (Australia). I would also imagine he will now turn professional as
well?
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| Troy Cox (Australia) in action in the final round |
The New Zealand Golfers who got there PGA Tour of Australasia
Tour cards for 2013 were: David Klein (NZL) who scored rounds of 71-1, 72 even,
73+1 and a final round of 70-2 for a 72 hole total of 286-2 and he got the 11th
ranking. Next best New Zealander was Josh Geary (NZL) who scored rounds of
76+4, 77+5, 65-7 and a final round of 69-3 for a 72 hole total of 287-1 and he
got the 14th ranking. The next best New Zealander was Troy Ropiha (NZL) who
scored rounds of 72 even, 78+6, 71-1 and a final round of 71-1 for a 72 hole
total of 292+4 and he got the 28th ranking. Next best New Zealander was Sven
Puymbroeck (NZL) who scored rounds of 74+2, 75+3, 71-1 and a final round of 72
even for a 72 hole total of 292+4 and he got the 30th ranking. Next best New
Zealander was Pieter Zwart (NZL) who scored rounds of 73+1, 80+8, 72 even and a
final round of 71-1 for a 72 hole total of 296+8 and he got the 45th ranking. Next
best New Zealander was Phil Tataurangi (NZL) who is a past USPGA Tour Winner.
He scored rounds of 68-4, 79+7, 70-2 and a final round of 79+7 for a 72 hole total
of 296+8 and he got the 49th ranking.
Next best New Zealander was Douglas Holloway (NZL) who
scored rounds of 76+4, 75+3, 72 even and a final round of 74+2 for a 72 hole
total of 297+9 and he got the 52nd ranking. Next best New Zealander was Joshua
Carmichael (NZL) who scored rounds of 73+1, 77+5, 73+1 and a final round of
74+2 for a 72 hole total of 297+9 and he got the 53rd ranking and was the final
New Zealander to gain his 2013 PGA Tour of Australasia Tour card. Other New
Zealand Golfers in the field that missed the 54 hole cut and failed to gain
there card were Fraser Wilkin (NZL) who scored rounds of 76+4, 77+5 and 73+1
for a 54 hole total of 226+10 and missed the cut by a single stroke. Daniel
Pearce (NZL) scored rounds of 79+7, 73+1 and 77+5 for a 54 hole total of 229+13
and missed the 54 hole cut by four strokes. Kieran Muir (NZL) scored rounds of
71-1, 80+8 and 78+6 for a 54 hole total of 229+13 and he too missed the 54 Hole
cut by four strokes. Peter Spearman – Burn (NZL) scored rounds of 71-1, 82+10
and 78+6 for a 72 hole total of 231+15 and he missed the 54 hole cut by six
strokes. The New Zealand Golfers who missed the 36 hole cut were Mathew Perry
(NZL) who scored rounds of 76+4 and 79+7 for a 36 hole total of 155+11 and
missed the 36 hole cut by two strokes. James Betts (NZL) (Am) scored rounds of
78+6 and 78+6 for a 36 hole total of 156+12 and missed the 36 hole cut by three
strokes.
The first official event on the PGA Tour of Australasia for
the 2013 season commences in two weeks time and it is the Turner Plumbing
Victorian PGA Championship and it is being played on the Forest Resort,
Creswick, Victoria, Australia. It has a prize purse of $AU 130,000 for the
taking. Gareth Paddison (NZL) is the defending and will be keen to defend his
title. It starts on Thursday 17th January. I will report back who won the
trophy once the result is known.
The final event I am reporting on this week was on the USPGA
Tour and was the first event on the 2013 FedEx Cup Schedule. It
was the Hyundai Tournament of Champions which was played on the Kapalua
Resort (Plantation), Kapalua, Hawaii and only the tournament winners from the
official 2012 season were eligible to play. The first three days it was
scheduled to be played on play could not get under way because of extremely
high winds that made the proper playing of Golf shots impossible. The USPGA
Tour Officials had to reduce the tournament to 54 holes and played 36 holes on
the Scheduled final day which was Monday 7th January and extend the tournament
a further day to Tuesday 8th January which would be the final round. When all
was said and done it was Dustin Johnson (USA) who scored rounds of 69-4, 66-7
and a final round of 68-5 for a 54 hole total of 203-16 and he won by four
strokes. He won $US 1,140,000 for his efforts and is on top of the 2013 USPGA
Tour Money list after the first event. Steve Stricker (USA) is in second
position with $US 665,000. Dustin Johnson (USA) also leads the 2013 FedEx Cup
Points list after the first event with 500 points; he has a 200 point lead over
Steve Stricker (USA) who is in second position with 300 points.
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| Dustin Johnson (USA) in action during the final round |
It was Dustin Johnson (USA)
seventh win on the USPGA Tour and here they are from first to the latest: 2008
Turning Stone Resort Championship, 2009 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am,
2010 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, BMW Championship, 2011 The
Barclays, 2012 FedEx St. Jude Classic and the 2013 Hyundai
Tournament of Champions. He is the youngest player that is under thirty at
the moment with the most wins. He earned his seventh career PGA TOUR victory at
the age of 28 years, 6 months and 17 days in his 120th career start on
TOUR. He becomes the first player since Tiger Woods (USA) (1996-2001) to
win in six consecutive years straight out of college (2008-13). He has won at
least one PGA TOUR event in each of the last six seasons, the second-longest
active streak on TOUR behind only Phil Mickelson’s nine (2004-12). He wins for
the third time in as many tries in 54-hole events on the PGA TOUR (2013 Hyundai
Tournament of Champions, 2011 Barclays, 2009 AT&T Pebble Beach National
Pro-Am).
He has won the last three 54-hole
events on the PGA TOUR. He extends his exempt PGA TOUR status through 2016. He
takes the early lead in the FedExCup standings with 500 points. His victory was
set up after playing six practice rounds at The Plantation Course before the
start of the event. He wins in his fourth start at the tournament after missing
last year's event with an injury (11th-2009, T16-2010, T9-2011, 1-2013). He becomes
the third-consecutive American winner of the event (Jonathan Byrd (USA)/2011,
Steve Stricker (USA)/2012). Prior to 2011, the Hyundai produced nine
consecutive international winners. He wins for the second time in four attempts
when carrying the lead into the final round on TOUR (2010 AT&T Pebble Beach
National Pro-Am). He wins in the first Tuesday finish on the PGA TOUR since Ben
Curtis (USA) won the 2006 Booz Allen Classic. He records the 31st top-10 and
50th top-25 finish of his career. And finally 2013 starts-made
cuts-top-10s-wins: 1-1-1-1.
Dustin Johnson (USA) played a
great final round of 68-5 and it included a front nine of 34-2 with birdies on
the Par four, third hole, Par four, sixth hole and Par four, seventh hole but
had his lone bogey on the Par five, ninth hole. So he made the turn at minus 13
and had a two stroke lead over Steve Stricker (USA) who was minus 11. Both
players made Par’s on holes 10 & 11. Dustin Johnson (USA) birdied the short
par four, 12th hole and moved to minus 14 and Steve Stricker (USA) could only
manage a par four to remain at minus 11 and was now three strokes behind Dustin
Johnson (USA). Dustin Johnson (USA) pulled his tee shot left on the Par four,
13th hole and landed in the hazard on the left hand side. He took two strokes
to get out and ended up making a double bogey six to fall back to minus 12.
Steve Stricker (USA) made a solid par four on the same hole and remained at
minus 11 and was now only one stroke off the lead. Dustin Johnson (USA) struck
a very long drive on the short par four 14th hole and it came to rest just
short of the green. He then struck a brilliant chip and run shot which rolled
in the hole perfectly for an eagle two and he moved back to minus 14. Steve
Stricker (USA) made a solid par four to remain at minus 11 but now found
himself three strokes behind at minus 11.
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| Dustin Johnson (USA) poses with the Hyundai Tournament of Champions trophy he won |
Both players made birdie fours
at the Par five, 15th hole. They both made solid pars on the 16th and 17th
holes as well. So Dustin Johnson (USA) was minus 15 with just the 54th hole to
play and he had a three stroke lead over Steve Stricker (USA) who was at minus
12. Dustin Johnson (USA) struck a good drive down the Par five, 18th hole that
was an amazing 345 yards when it came to rest. Steve Stricker (USA) put some
draw on his drive and it caught the severe right to left slope in the fairway
and came to rest in the left hand first cut of rough about 350 yards. He
amazing had out driven the extremely long Dustin Johnson (USA) by a few yards. Dustin
Johnson (USA) played his second shot first and hit his mid iron into about 30
feet short of the hole on the green. Steve Stricker (USA) played next and hit
his mid iron just on the front part of the green. Steve Stricker (USA) putted
for his eagle first and rolled it 7 feet past the cup. Dustin Johnson (USA)
then putted for his eagle and left it 8 feet short. Steve Stricker (USA) then
putted for his birdie four and just missed but easily made his Par five to post
minus 12. Dustin Johnson (USA) then calmly rolled in his birdied put for his
birdied four and he scored 34-3 on the back nine. He celebrated the win with
his caddie. I will look for Dustin Johnson (USA) to have a big year in 2013 and
win one of the four Major Championships. I wish him all the best for the 2013
USPGA Tour season.
Coming in solo second position
at 207-12 after 54 holes was Steve Stricker (USA). It was a great defence of
his title and considering he had a very sore right leg it was a fine effort. He
is planning to cut back his playing schedule this year with only playing about
ten events because he wants to spend more time with his family. Coming in solo
third position at 209-10 after 54 holes was the 2012 FedEx Cup Champion, Brandt
Snedeker (USA). He is looking like having another big year on the USPGA Tour. Coming
in tied for fourth position at 210-9 after 54 holes was the long hitting Bubba
Watson (USA) who was fighting the flu this week as well. Also tied for fourth
position the 2011 PGA Champion, Keegan Bradley (USA) who I am sure is going to
have another big season on the USPGA Tour. Coming in tied for sixth position at
211-8 after 54 holes was the young and enthusiastic Rickie Fowler (USA). Also
tied for sixth position was Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey (USA) who was playing in
his maiden Hyundai Tournament of Champions event. Coming in solo eighth
position at 212-7 after 54 holes was the ever consistent Carl Petterson
(Sweden). And rounding out the top ten in tied for ninth position on 214-5
after 54 holes was the hero from the European Ryder Cup team in 2012 and he was
Ian Poulter (England). Also tied for
ninth position was the 2012 Players Championship winner, Matt Kuchar (USA).
Next week the USPGA Tour and
FedEx Cup stays in Hawaii for the Sony Open in Hawaii and it is being played on
the Waialae CC, Honolulu, Hawaii. It carries a prize purse of $US
5,600,000. Johnson Wagner (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen to
defend his title. It starts on Thursday 10th January 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 for the first time in 2013 and coming in at Number One Position for the 22nd week of a 4th
spell of his career and the 29th week of his career in total is the DP
World Tour Championship, Dubai Winner and 2012 Race to Dubai Money list Winner, Rory McILroy (NIR) with 13.02 Official Golf
World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Luke Donald (England) with 8.45
Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Tiger Woods
(USA) with 8.41 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is
Justin Rose (England) with 6.33 Official Golf World Ranking Points and rounding
out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list is Adam Scott (Australia)
with 6.10 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is still the highest ranked New Zealand
Golfer in the World. This week he remains in 253th position on the Official
World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.71 Official World Golf Ranking Points on
the list.
Remember when playing in extreme heat drink lots of fluids
and apply the sunscreen to your skin.
Source: pgatour.com.au,
pgatour.com
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