Golf Events from the Weekend 24th February 2013

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 the European Tour and Race to Dubai and this week it was a co – sanctioned event between both tours and many more. It was the first World Golf Championship event of the year and was the WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship and it was played on the Ritz-Carlton GC, Dove Mountain, Marana, Arizona, USA. Only the top 64 Golfers on the current Official World Golf Rankings were eligible to play. And it was the Golfer by the name of Matt Kuchar (USA) who ended up the winner after the very long week. He played Hiroyuki Fujita (Japan) in the first round that had to be completed on the Thursday instead of the scheduled day of Wednesday because of heavy snowfall that made the course unplayable on the Wednesday. He defeated Hiroyuki Fujita (Japan) 3 & 2 to advance to round two. Some big surprises happened in round one with the World Number One Golfer, Rory McILroy (NIR) and World Number Two Golfer, Tiger Woods (USA) both making early exits.

In the second round that was played on Friday instead of Thursday because of the weather delay on Wednesday, Matt Kuchar (USA) played Sergio Garcia (Spain) and defeated him 2 & 1 to advance to the third round. In the third round on Saturday morning, Matt Kuchar (USA) played the extremely long hitting Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) and easily defeated him 4 & 3 to advance to the quarter finals. In the quarter finals on Saturday Afternoon, Matt Kuchar (USA) played another extremely long hitter who was Robert Garrigus (USA), he defeated him 3 & 2 to advance to the Semi – Finals. In the Semi – Finals on Sunday morning Matt Kuchar (USA) played Jason Day (Australia) who was in fine form leading up to this match. But Matt Kuchar (USA) won the game easily 4 & 3 to advance to the Final. So Matt Kuchar (USA) had made his first Final in this event.

Hunter Mahan (USA) who was the other player in the final defeated Matteo Manassero (Italy) easily in the first round that was completed on Thursday; he won the match 5 & 4 to advance to the second round. In the second round that was played on Friday, Hunter Mahan (USA) defeated the inform Richard Sterne (RSA) 4 & 3. In the third round that was played on Saturday morning, Hunter Mahan (USA) defeated the former World Number One Golfer, Martin Kaymer (Germany) 5 & 4. Then in the quarter finals on Saturday afternoon, Hunter Mahan (USA) defeated the current US Open Champion, Webb Simpson (USA) 1up in a very close fought match. In the Semi – Final on Sunday morning, Hunter Mahan (USA) defeated the very tough Englishman, Ian Poulter (England) 4 & 3.

Matt Kuchar (USA) plays a bunker shot during the final round

So to the Championship Match to decide the Accenture Match play Champion for 2013 on Sunday afternoon. It was contested between the reigning WGC – Accenture Match play Champion, Hunter Mahan (USA) and the reigning Players Championship Champion, Matt Kuchar (USA). The match was played in very trying conditions with a very strong 30mph winding blowing across the course and the wind chill factor was only about six degrees Celsius. The match started very even with the first hole being halved in Par four’s, the second hole being halved in Par five’s and the third hole being halved in bogey fours on the par three. Matt Kuchar (USA) made a solid par four on the par four, fourth hole and the best Hunter Mahan (USA) could manage was a bogey five so Matt Kuchar (USA) was one up after four holes. Matt Kuchar (USA) made a Par four on the Par four, fifth hole and Hunter Mahan (USA) could only manage a bogey five so Matt Kuchar (USA) went to two up after five holes.

Matt Kuchar (USA) made a fine birdie two at the Par three, sixth hole and Hunter Mahan (USA) could only manage a bogey four so Matt Kuchar (USA) was now three up and in firm control of the match after six holes. Both players made par fours at the Par four, seventh hole so Matt Kuchar (USA) remained three up after seven holes. Matt Kuchar (USA) made a solid birdie four at the Par five, eight hole and Hunter Mahan (USA) could only manage a Par five so Matt Kuchar (USA) moved to four up. Both players missed the green at the Par four, ninth hole to the right leaving extremely difficult chip shots for their thirds. They both hit fine chip shots and got their par fours. So Matt Kuchar (USA) made the turn four up over Hunter Mahan (USA).

Hunter Mahan (USA) pared the Par four, tenth hole to a Matt Kuchar (USA) bogey five and was now only three down with eight holes to play. Hunter Mahan (USA) made a birdie four at the Par five, eleventh hole and Matt Kuchar (USA) could only manage a Par five so Hunter Mahan (USA) was now only two down with eleven holes to play. Hunter Mahan (USA) hit a fine tee shot into the difficult par three, 12th hole and it came to rest about eight feet from the pin. Matt Kuchar (USA) now with the pressure firmly on him calmed himself and came up with an excellent reply. He struck his mid iron into about 15 feet from the pin. Matt Kuchar (USA) putted for his birdie first rolled it in the cup for his birdie two and it put the pressure right back on Hunter Mahan (USA) but he was up to the task and rolled his eight foot birdie putt in to remain two down with seven holes to play.

Matt Kuchar (USA) birdied the Par five, 13th hole and Hunter Mahan (USA) could only manage a Par five so Matt Kuchar (USA) went to three up with five holes to play and still had control of the match. Hunter Mahan (USA) hit a stunning second shot into the Par four, 14th hole that came to rest three feet from the cup and Matt Kuchar (USA) having put his second shot in the green side bunker and blasted his third shot out to four feet from the pin conceded Hunter Mahan (USA) his birdie putt. Matt Kuchar (USA) was now only two up with four holes to play. Both players birdied the short Par four, 15th hole so Matt Kuchar (USA) remained two up with three holes to play. Hunter Mahan (USA) teed off first at the Par three, 16th hole that was right in to the teeth of the wind. He struck a fine tee shot that flew right over the flag stick and came to rest on the green 30 feet past the pin. Matt Kuchar (USA) missed judged his tee shot and it flew right over the green into the grandstand at the back. It bounced into the rough at the right of the grandstand leaving a slim chance to get up and down for his par three. He hit a good chip shot but it rolled just past the pin and rolled into the front fringe. Hunter Mahan (USA) putted for his birdie two and rolled it up to within a couple of feet from the cup and was conceded his par three. Matt Kuchar (USA) putted for his par three from just off the fringe and missed on the right hand side. Hunter Mahan (USA) was now only one down with two holes to play. 

Both players hit poor drives at the Par four, 17th hole and rolled into the right hand fairway bunker. Hunter Mahan (USA) played his second shot first with his ball sitting down in the sand and he played a poor shot that leaked to the right and found one of the desert plants leaving an impossible third shot. Matt Kuchar (USA) now knowing if he could just put his second shot somewhere on or around the green that he would more than likely win the match. He did better than that he struck a brilliant fairway bunker shot with his short iron that came to rest five feet from the pin. The pressure was now firmly on Hunter Mahan (USA) and he had to try and get his ball from the desert plant somewhere on the green. But all he could manage to do was advance it about a foot in front of him. He chipped his fourth shot to about 10 feet from the hole then took his cap off and conceded the hole and shock Matt Kuchar’s (USA) hand in acknowledgement for winning the match. Matt Kuchar (USA) had won his first ever WGC – Accenture Match play Championship title. He hugged his caddie to celebrate and then his wife Sybi and their two children came on to the green to celebrate the moment with him.

Hunter Mahan (USA) runner up on left and Matt Kuchar (USA) on right pose with the WGC - Accenture Match play Championship Trophy he won

It was his first European Tour International Schedule victory in his 46th European Tour event. He moves back into the top ten of the Official World Golf Ranking from 23rd. It was his first WGC title in his 12th WGC appearance. This victory in the WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship comes in his fourth appearance. This victory beats his previous best performance in this event of third in 2011. This victory beats his previous best WGC finish of third in the 2011 WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship. It continues with his excellent record in the WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship. He lost in round two in 2010, third in 2011, quarter-finalist in 2012, and winner in 2013.

This victory beats his previous best European Tour finishes of third at the 2011 WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship and tied third at the 2012 Masters Tournament. He becomes the third first-time winner of the 2013 season, following Scott Jamieson (Scotland) (Nelson Mandela Championship presented ISPS Handa) and Chris Wood (England) (Commercial Bank Qatar Masters). This victory sees him join Jeff Maggert (USA) (1999), Steve Stricker (USA) (2001), Kevin Sutherland (USA) (2002) and Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) (2006) as players making the WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship their first European Tour victory. Has now won 15 career matches in the WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship. He becomes the seventh different American to win the WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship. He follows: Jeff Maggert (USA) (1999), Steve Stricker (USA) (2001), Kevin Sutherland (USA) (2002), Tiger Woods (USA) (2003-2004 and 2008), David Toms (USA) (2005) and Hunter Mahan (USA) (2012).

He becomes the 27th American victory in European Tour history. He becomes the 58th different American to win in European Tour history. He becomes the first American to win a European Tour event since Bo Van Pelt (USA) at the 2012 ISPS HANDA Perth International. He becomes the ninth American victory in the WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship. He becomes the 28th American victory in a WGC event overall. He becomes the 11th different American to win a WGC event overall. He becomes the 25th different player to win a WGC event overall. He becomes the 12th different player to win the WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship. It was his seventh victory as a professional. And finally he gains a place in the 2013 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational, 2013 WGC – HSBC Champions and 2014 Volvo Golf Champions.

Matt Kuchar (USA) won US $1,500,000.00 for the win and moved to second position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,987,000 earned from the five events he has played to date this year so far. Brandt Snedeker (USA) still leads that list with US $ 2,859,920 earned from the five events he has played to date this year to date so far. Matt Kuchar (USA) also earned 550 FedEx Cup points for the win and moved to second position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 811 points earned from the five events he has played to date this year so far. He is 471 points behind the current leader who is Brandt Snedeker (USA) who has earned 1,282 points from the five events he has played to date this year so far.

Matt Kuchar (USA) poses with the WGC - Accenture match play Championship Trophy he won

It was Matt Kuchar (USA) third top ten finish of the season from the five events he has played to date so far and he has made all five of those cuts as well. He now has five wins on the USPGA Tour and here are his other four from the first to the most recent: 2002 The Honda Classic, 2009 Turning Stone Resort Championship, 2010 The Barclays and 2012 THE PLAYERS Championship. The next step for him would be to win a Major Championship and maybe it will happen at the 2013 Masters Tournament? I wish him all the best with for the rest of the 2013 season.

For Hunter Mahan (USA) he will feel disappointed that he played so poorly on the front nine but he will be proud he put up such a great defence of his title that he won in 2012. He won US $875,000.00 for coming runner up and moved to third position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,412,965 earned from the six events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 315 FedEx Cup points for his weeks work and moved to fourth position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points standing list with 600 points earned from the six events he has played to date this year so far. It was Hunter Mahan (USA) second top ten finish of the season from the six events he has played in to date so far. His next goal in my opinion would be to win a Major Championship. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.

In the third place match Jason Day (Australia) won a very close match against Ian Poulter (England) one up. It will do Jason Day (Australia) confidence the world of good. He won US $615,000.00 for coming third and moved to eleventh position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,009,164 earned from the four events he has played to date so far this year. He also earned 200 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 16th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup points standings list with 380 points earned from the four events he has played to date this year so far. In the four events he has played to date this year so far he has already achieved three top ten finishes and made every cut. I feel his second USPGA Tour win isn’t too far away.

Ian Poulter (England) will be disappointed with how he played in both matches on the Sunday because he is known as one of the best Match players in the game if you look at his Ryder Cup record. It would be a slight dent to his confidence but I am sure he will bounce back strong. He earned US $500,000.00 for coming fourth and moved to 24th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list with US $675,000 earned from the two events he has played to date so far. He also earned 140 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 32nd position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup points list standings with 218 points earned from the two events he has played to date this year so far. He has also achieved two top ten finishes from the two events he has played to date this year so far. I feel he will win at some stage this year on the USPGA Tour.

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup head to Florida for the first event of four in the Florida Swing. It is the Honda Classic and is played on the PGA National Champion Course, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. It has a huge prize purse of US $6,000,000 for the taking. The current World Number One Golfer, Rory McILroy (NIR) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 28th February. I will report back who won the trophy next week. And the European Tour and Race to Dubai heads back to South Africa for the third and final event of the South African Swing and it is the Tshwane Open and it is played at the Copperleaf Golf & Country Estate, Centurion, South Africa. It carries a prize purse of €1,500,000 for the taking. It is a brand new tournament so there will be a new Champion. It starts on Thursday 28th February and I will report back who won the trophy next week.

The second event I am reporting on this week was on the Web.com Tour and was the Opening event of the season and was the first event of three in the South American Swing. It was the Panama Claro Championship and was played on the Panama GC, Panama City. And it was the Golfer by the name of Kevin Foley (USA) who scored rounds of 66-4, 69-1, 70 even par and a final round of 67-3 for a 72 hole total of 272-8 to win by one stroke for his maiden win on the Web.com Tour. He won US $ 108,000 for the win and moved to the top of the current 2013 Web.com Tour Money list with US $ 108,000 earned from the one event he has played to date this year so far. Second on the list is Mathew Goggin (Australia) who has earned US $ 64,800 from the one event he has played to date this year so far.

Kevin Foley (USA) played a great final round of 67-3 which included a front nine 33-2 that included birdies on the Par five, fourth hole and Par four, seventh hole. He made the turn at minus seven and was trailing the 54 hole leader, Mathew Goggin (Australia) by one stroke. Mathew Goggin (Australia) had gone out in 34-1 and was minus eight. Scott Brown (USA) had gone out in 33-2 and was minus four and four shots behind with nine holes to play. Kevin Foley (USA) played holes 10 -14 in even par and was still minus seven with four holes to play and had a one stroke lead. Mathew Goggin (Australia) played those same holes in two over par and was minus six with four holes to play now trailing by one shot. Scott Brown (USA) played those same holes in one under par and was now minus five with just four holes to play and only two shots back.

Kevin Foley (USA) played holes 15 -17 in even par and was still minus seven with just the 72nd hole to play and was tied for the lead. Mathew Goggin (Australia) played those same holes in one under par to move to minus seven and was also tied for the lead with just the final hole to play. Scott Brown (USA) played those same holes in one under par and moved to minus six and just one stroke off the lead with just the last hole to play. Kevin Foley (USA) made a fine birdie three on the Par four, 72nd hole and moved to minus eight. He scored 34-1 on the back nine and won by one stroke. Mathew Goggin (Australia) could only manage a Par four, up the 72nd hole and remained at minus seven to fall one shot shy. Scott Brown (USA) made a par four, at the 72nd hole and remained at minus six to fall two shots shy of the winner.

Kevin Foley (USA) in action during the final round

It was a fine win by Kevin Foley (USA) and will give him a lot of confidence with a full season in 2013 ahead of him on the Web.com Tour. He now has got a good chance of making the USPGA Tour for the 2013/14 season with the top 50 Money earners on the final money list gaining USPGA Tour cards. I wish all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.

Coming in solo second position at 273-7 after 72 holes was Mathew Goggin (Australia); he won US $64,800 for his efforts and moved into second position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour Money list with US $64,800 earned from the one event he has played to date this year so far. He has been on and off the USPGA Tour for most of his career with two second place finishes on the USPGA Tour in his career to date so far. With such a good start to his 2013 Web.com Tour season he is well on his way to regaining his card for the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season. I would have to think before his career is over he would win a USPGA Tour event.

Coming in solo third position at 274-6 after 72 holes was Scott Brown (USA); he earned US $40,800 for his efforts and moved to third position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour Money list with US $40,800 earned from the one event he has played to date this year so far. After his rookie year on the USPGA Tour in 2012 where he failed to keep his full playing status he finds himself back on the Web.com Tour. But after a great start like this he is well on his way to heading back to the USPGA Tour for the 2013/14 season. And he has already achieved three top ten finishes on the USPGA Tour in his rookie season last year. I wish him all the best with the rest of his 2013 season.

Coming in tied for fourth position at 276-4 after 72 holes was Scott Dunlap (USA); he earned US $24,800 for his weeks work and moved to fourth equal position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour Money list with US $24,800 earned from the one event he has played to date this year so far. He will be 50 years old on the 16th August this year and will be keen to get his Champions Tour Career off to a fast start in mid August. The Web.com Tour should harden him up for that. He has been on and off the USPGA Tour for a lot of his career. I feel as though a USPGA Tour maiden win has passed him by now, but he has still had a great career winning all over the world. I wish him all the best for the rest of the season on the Web.com Tour and later on the Champions Tour. Also tied for fourth position was Len Mattiace (USA); he too earned $24,800 for his weeks work and moved to fourth equal position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour Money list with US $24,800 earned from the one event he has played to date this year so far. He has suffered a poor run of form over the last few years on both the USPGA Tour and Web.com Tour and this great result so early on the Web.com Tour will give him a lot of confidence with a whole 2013 season in front of him. He is a two time winner on the USPGA Tour with having won the 2002 Nissan Open and 2002 FedEx St. Jude Classic. And in 2003 came runner in the Masters Tournament to Mike Weir (Canada) where he lost in a playoff, it was his best career finish in a Major Championship. And in 1998 he lead the Players Championship heading to the 71st hole only to make a terrible eight on the Par three Island green hole that is notorious for ruining players rounds on the TPC Sawgrass Course and he handed the Championship to Justin Leonard (USA). He is turning 46 in October this year so his eyes with be on the Champions Tour in a few years time. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season. The final player to tie for fourth position was Roland Thatcher (USA); he too earned $24,800 for his weeks work and moved to fourth equal position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour Money list with US $24,800 earned from the one event he has played to date this year so far. He too is a player that has been on and off the USPGA Tour and Web.com Tour over the last ten years. Last year he missed 13 cuts out of the 21 events he played in on the USPGA Tour and lost his full playing status hence why he is back on the Web.com Tour in 2013. I feel this tied for fourth placing with give him a lot of confidence to keep on going forward in his career and wouldn’t be surprised if he is inside the top 50 Web.com Tour Money earners on the Final 2013 Web.com Tour Money list that gain their 2013/14 USPGA Tour cards.

Coming in tied for seventh position at 277-3 after 72 holes was Jordan Spieth (USA); he won US $19,350.00 for his efforts and moved to seventh equal position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour Money list with US $19,350.00 earned from the one event he has played to date this year so far. He is a young emerging talent that has now turned professional after having had an amazing collage career at University of Texas and last December (2012) he decided to turn professional after having some good results in some USPGA Tour events as an Amateur. His best result on the USPGA Tour as an Amateur was in the 2010 HP Byron Nelson Championship where he tied for 16th position at the tender age of 16, where he became the sixth-youngest player to make the cut in a USPGA Tour event and was tied for seventh heading into the final round. And just last year at the US Open Championship he achieved the low Amateur honours where he tied for 21st position at the Olympic Club. I feel he is heading for a very good year on the Web.com Tour in 2013 and have no doubt he will finish inside the top 50 Web.com Tour Money earners on the Final 2013 Web.com Tour Money list that gain their 2013/14 USPGA Tour cards. The other player to tie for seventh position was Bobby Gates (USA); he too won US $19,350.00 for his efforts and moved to seventh equal position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour Money list with US $19,350.00 earned from the one event he has played to date this year so far. After playing the last two seasons on the USPGA Tour he again has full playing status on the USPGA Tour for the 2013 season having finished in tied for 22 nd position at the 2012 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament to regain his USPGA Tour card for 2013.  He was only playing in this Web.com Tour event because he was unable to get a start in the WGC – Accenture World Match play Championship event which was played on the same week. Prior to this first Web.com Tour event he has played in four USPGA Tour events in 2013 with missing the cut in all of them. This finish will give him confidence to keep on improving when he returns to the USPGA Tour. But he is going to stay on the Web.com Tour next week to play Colombia Championship because his position in the USPGA Tour re – rank of 2012 Web.com Tour Graduates and 2012 Qualifying School Graduates was too low to get a start in the next USPGA Tour event which is the Honda Classic. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season on both tours.

Rounding out the top ten in tied for ninth position at 278-2 after 72 holes was Aaron Goldberg (USA); he won US $15,600 for his efforts and moved to ninth equal position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour Money list with US $15,600 earned from the one event he has played to date this year so far. He is in his third full season on the Web.com Tour with earning at least US $100,000 the previous two seasons. Maybe this year will be the year he finishes inside the top 50 money earners on the final 2013 Web.com Tour Money list and makes it to the USPGA Tour for the first time for the 2013/14 season? Also tied for ninth position was Nick Flanagan (Australia); he too won US $15,600 for his efforts and moved to ninth equal position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour Money list with US $15,600 earned from the one event he has played to date this year so far. After winning the US Amateur Championship in 2003, he turned professional in 2004 after the Open Championship and got to play in five USPGA Tour events which he only made the cut in one of them. In 2005 he went to the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in tied for 79th position and got his Full Web.com Tour card for the 2006 season. He finished in 32nd position on the final 2006 Web.com Tour Money list standings and failed to get one of the 25 USPGA Tour cards for the 2007 season. He went back to the 2006 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament but failed to get one of the 25 USPGA Tour cards for the 2007 season on offer. But he still had fully exempt status on the Web.com Tour for the 2007 season. He had an awesome season in 2007 where he won three tournaments on the Web.com Tour and they were the: 2007 Heroic County Open, BMW Charity Pro-Am at the Cliffs and the Xerox Classic. That earned him a Battlefield promotion straight onto the 2007 USPGA Tour for the remaining events, which he made the cut in two out of four of them. He eventually finished up in third position on the final 2007 Web.com tour Money list which gave him full playing status on the USPGA Tour in 2008. But he had a poor season in his rookie season on the USPGA Tour in 2008 where he played 29 events and only made 16 cuts with only recording one top ten finish which came at the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun where he tied for ninth position. He eventually finished in 169th position on the final 2008 USPGA Tour Money list. He was back on the Web.com Tour in 2009 where he had a poor season with only making four cuts from 13 events and finished in 147th position on the final 2009 Web.com Tour Money list. In 2010 he played in 24 events on the Web.com Tour and made eleven cuts including two top ten finishes. He finished in 74th position on the final 2010 Web.com Tour Money list. In 2011 he had another poor year on the Web.com Tour and with only making nine cuts in the twenty events he played in but had one top ten finish where he finished in tied for second position. He finished in 81st position on the final 2011 Web.com Tour Money list. In 2012 he had a much better season on the Web.com Tour Money list with gaining his fourth victory on that tour at the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation. But he still had a rather poor season except for the win with only making nine cuts from the 19 events he played in. He finished outside the top 25 money earners that gained their 2013 USPGA Tour cards hence why he is on the Web.com Tour again this year. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.

Also tied for ninth position was Vaughn Taylor (USA); he too won US $15,600 for his efforts and moved to ninth equal position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour Money list with US $15,600 earned from the one event he has played to date this year so far. He has been playing the USPGA Tour full time since 2004 and still has some partially exempt status on the 2013 USPGA Tour after finishing in 139th position on the final 2012 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 547,129 earned from the 26 events he played in. He has won twice on the USPGA Tour and both wins have been at the same tournament which was the 2004 Reno-Tahoe Open and 2005 Reno-Tahoe Open. This latest finish on the Web.com Tour will give him some good confidence to keep on improving. The final player to tie for ninth position was Chris Wilson (USA); he too won US $15,600 for his efforts and moved to ninth equal position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour Money list with US $15,600 earned from the one event he has played to date this year so far. He qualified for the 2010 USPGA Tour by earning his card at the 2009 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in tied for ninth position. But he had a horror rookie season in 2010 where he only made seven cuts from the 26 events he entered and earned a miserable US $76,481 for his efforts that left him in 213th position on the final 2010 USPGA Tour money list standings. In 2011 he didn’t even have a Web.com Tour card but did qualify for the US Open Championship where he missed the cut. He went back to the 2011 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in tied for 51st position and got his Web.com Tour card back for the 2012 season. In 2012 on the Web.com Tour he played in 24 events with only making the cut in eight of them. But he did have two top ten finishes and one of them was a win at the Price Cutter Charity Championship Presented by Dr Pepper which was his maiden win on the Web.com Tour. His final earnings for 2012 were US $157,856 but he was outside the top 25 Money earners that earned USPGA Tour cards for the 2013 season. He went to the 2012 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in tied for 114th position and earned some status on the 2013 Web.com Tour. This latest finish on the Web.com Tour should give him some confidence and with a few more top ten finishes he may well find himself inside the top 50 money earners on the final 2013 Web.com Tour Money list standings that gain their 2013/14 USPGA Tours cards? 

Danny Lee (NZL) was the only New Zealand Golfer in the field. He scored rounds of 74+4 and 71+1 for a 36 hole total of 145+5 and he missed the cut by three strokes. It was a disappointing start to his 2013 Web.com Tour season. It is very important for him to do very well on that tour this year because the Top 50 Money earners on the final 2013 Web.com Tour Money list gain their full status on the USPGA Tour for the 2013/14 season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 Web.com Tour season.  

Next week the Web.com Tour heads to Colombia for the second event of three in the South American Swing and it is the Colombia Championship and it is played on the Country Club de Bogota, Bogota. It carries a prize purse of US $650,000 for the taking. Skip Kendall (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 28th February 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 29th week of a 4th spell of his career and the 36th 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 11.66 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Tiger Woods (USA) with 8.83 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Luke Donald (England) with 7.25 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Brandt Snedeker (USA) fresh off his win at the AT&T National Pebble Beach Pro – Am three weeks ago with 6.74 Official Golf World Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list this week is Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) with 6.35 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Michael Hendry (NZL) fresh off his second place finish at the Coca – Cola QLD PGA Championship two weeks ago is the highest ranked New Zealander Golfer in the world for the second week of his career. This week he remains at 225th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.76 Official Golf World Ranking Points.

Remember you “Drive for show and Putt for dough” but if you can’t get off the tee it will be very frustrating!!

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com