Well it was
another brilliant weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the
world. First I will start with the European Tour and the Race to Dubai. This
week was the final week of the three leg desert swing. It was the Omega Dubai
Desert Classic and was played on the Emirates GC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
And it was the golfer by the name of Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) who scored
rounds of 63-9, 70-2, 62-10 and a final round of 71-1 for a 72 hole total of
266-22 and he won by three strokes. He won € 309,232.60 for the win and
moved to sixth position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings
with € 314,270 earned from the three events he has played to date this
year so far. Scott Jamieson (Scotland) still leads that list with €436,205
earned from the six events he has played to date this year so far.
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| Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) salutes the crowd after winning |
It was Stephen
Gallacher’s (Scotland) second European Tour International Schedule victory in
his 404th European Tour event. He moves into the top 60 on the Official World
Golf Ranking from 111th and is in a very good position to qualify for the WGC –
Accenture Match Play Championship for the first time. It was his first European
Tour victory since the 2004 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, a gap of eight
years and 116 days. He played in a total of 210 European Tour events between
victories. From those 210 events played he has been second on three occasions.
The events were the 2006 British Masters, 2012 Maybank Malaysian Open and tied
second in the 2012 Omega Dubai Desert Classic. This victory comes in his 13th
appearance in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. This victory beats his previous
best finish in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic of tied second in 2012. (Was also
tied fourth on his debut in 2000 and tied tenth in 2011).
He becomes only the
second Scot to win the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and first since Colin
Montgomerie (Scotland) in 1996. He becomes the second Scot to win on the 2013
European Tour International Schedule, following Scott Jamieson (Scotland), who
won the Nelson Mandela Championship presented by ISPS Handa. It was his first
European Tour victory where he has led going into the final round. (He made up
three shots in the final round to win the 2004 Alfred Dunhill Links
Championship). His winning total of 266 (-22) matches the tournament record in
the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, set by Thomas Björn (Denmark) in 2001. It was the
second week in a row that the 54 hole leader had a three shot lead and went
onto to win, following Chris Wood (England) at the Commercial Bank Qatar
Masters. He becomes the 132nd Scottish victory in European Tour history. He
becomes the 16th different Scot to record multiple European Tour victories.
He gains a European
Tour exemption until the end of 2015 season. He gains an exemption into the
2013 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational, 2013 WGC – HSBC Champions and 2014 Volvo
Golf Champions. It was his third victory as a professional. He becomes the fourth
former Challenge Tour Member to win on the 2013 European Tour. He would follow:
Scott Jamieson (Scotland) (Nelson Mandela Championship presented by ISPS
Handa), Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) (Volvo Golf Champions) and Jamie Donaldson
(Wales) (Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship). And finally he becomes the 311th
European Tour victory by a former European Challenge Tour player.
Stephen Gallacher
(Scotland) played a solid final round in the windy conditions in which he
scored 71-1. He scored a front nine 36+1 which included birdies on the Par
five, third hole and Par four, ninth hole. But he bogeyed the Par Four, first
hole, Par four, second hole and Par four, eighth hole. He made the turn at
minus 20 and was tied for the lead with Richard Sterne (RSA) who was also minus
20 after going out in 33-2. The tournament had turned into a two horse race
between these two players. Stephen Gallachar (Scotland) pared the par five,
tenth hole to remain at minus 20 but Richard Sterne (RSA) made a birdie four on
that same hole to move to minus 21 and take a one stroke lead with eight holes
to play. Stephen Gallachar (Scotland) played holes 11-15 in even par to remain
at minus 20. Richard Sterne (RSA) played holes 11-15 in two over par and had
fallen back to minus 19 now one stroke behind Stephen Gallachar (Scotland). Stephen
Gallachar (Scotland) hit his drive on the Par four, 16th hole just into the
left hand rough. He had a short iron left to the green and played the shot
perfectly landing it about 15 feet short of the pin and getting it to roll
forward like a putt and it amazing fell in for an eagle two and he moved to
minus 22 and now had a four stroke lead with two holes to play over Richard
Sterne (RSA) who made a bogey five at that same hole to fall back to minus 18.
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| Stephen Gallachar (Scotland) poses with the Omega Dubai Desert Classic Trophy he won |
Stephen Gallachar (Scotland)
pared the par four, 17th hole to remain at minus 22 heading to the 72nd tee. But
his lead had been reduced to three strokes because Richard Sterne (RSA) had
made a birdie three on that same hole. Stephen Gallachar (Scotland) made a
solid par up the Par five, 72nd hole and scored a back nine of 35-2 and had won
his second European Tour event by three strokes. He finished minus 22. Richard
Sterne (RSA) made a solid par five on the 18th hole and finished on minus 19. It
was a very good win for Stephen Gallachar (Scotland) and will give him a lot of
confidence to take into the bigger tournaments this win here will get him
starts in. It also was his first top ten of the season from the three events he
has played in so far. I wish him all the best for the rest of the season.
In solo second
position at 269-19 after 72 holes was Richard Sterne (RSA) who I mentioned
earlier. He has had a fine start to his 2013 European Tour season with this
being his second consecutive top ten in as many starts. He has already won five
times on the European tour with his last win coming at the 2009 South African
Open Championship. He then missed most of the 2010 and 2011 seasons on The
European Tour because of a back injury. But he finished in 49th position in the
final 2012 Race to Dubai Money list standings in his comeback season. He won € 206,152.59
for his efforts and moved to eighth position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai
Money list standings with € 244,003 earned from the three events he has
played this year so far.
Coming in tied for third position
at 271-17 after 72 holes was Felipe Aguilar (Chile); it was his second
consecutive top ten of the season in the three events he has played in to date
so far. He was one of two players in this tournament to score all fours rounds
in the 60’s. He earned € 104,460.44 for his weeks work and moved to 18th
position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 137,534
earned from the three events he has played in so far this year. Also tied for
third position was Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark); he is coming off a brilliant
season in 2012 on the European Tour where he won his maiden European Tour event
which was the Sicilian Open and he finished in 15th position on the Final 2012
Race to Dubai Money list standings with €1,309,271 earned from the 29 events he
played in. It was his second top five of the season in his four starts he has
had to date so far this year. He too earned € 104,460.44 for his weeks
work and move to fifth position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings
with € 324,142 earned from the four events he has played to date this year
so far.
Coming in tied for fifth position
at 272-16 after 72 holes was the other player to score all four rounds in the
60’s and he was Marcus Fraser (Australia); he is coming off a very good season
on the European Tour where he finished in 25th position on the Final 2012 Race
to Dubai Money list standings with €1,016,337 earned from the 26 events he
played in. It was his highest ever finish on the Race to Dubai Money list
standings since he has been playing the European tour full time. This week he
earned € 71,804.96 for his efforts and it was his first top ten of the
season as well. He is currently in 25th position on the current 2013 Race to
Dubai Money list standings with € 112,940 earned from the three events he
has played in to date this year so far. Also tied for fifth position was the
Twenty Two time European Tour winner, Lee Westwood (England); it was his first
top ten of the season in the very first event he has played in 2013 on the
European tour. He has won at least one million Euros in his previous six
seasons on the European tour. He earned € 71,804.96 for his weeks work and
moved to 40th position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with
€ 71,805 earned from the one event he has played to date this year so far.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he won his Maiden Major Championship this year.
Coming in tied for seventh
position at 273-15 after 72 holes was Ricardo Santos (Portugal); he is coming
off a good rookie season on the European Tour in 2012 where he won his maiden
European Tour event at the Madeira Islands Open – Portugal. He finished in 90th
position on the final 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with €264,174
earned from the 28 events he played in. This week he won € 47,869.97 for
his efforts and it was his second top ten finish of the season from the four
events he has played in so far in 2013. He is currently in 14th position on the
current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 195,190 earned from
the four events he has played to date this year so far. Also in tied for
seventh position was Robert Rock (England); he is coming off his career season
to date on the European Tour in 2012 where he won his second European tour
event at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. He finished in 33rd position on
the final 2012 Race to Dubai Money list standings with €867,227 earned from the
24 events he played in. This week he earned € 47,869.97 for his efforts
and it was also his first top ten of the season. He moved to 31st position on
the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 89,020 earned
from the four events he has played to date so far. The final player to tie for
seventh position was Steve Webster (England); he has got his 2013 season off to
an awesome start with recording four top ten finishes in his first five events
he has played in. He too won € 47,869.97 for his efforts and moved to
seventh position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 256,222
earned from the five events he has played to date this year so far.
Rounding out the top ten in tied
for tenth position at 274-14 after 72 holes was Jeev Milkha Singh (India); it
was his first top ten finish of the 2013 season from the four events he has
played to date so far. He won € 35,624.17 for his efforts and moved to 39th
position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 72,774
earned from the four events he has played to date this year so far. Also tied
for tenth position was the young english professional, Tommy Fleetwood
(England); he is coming off a solid rookie season on the European Tour in 2012
where he finished in 109th position on the final 2012 Race to Dubai Money list
standings with € 203,699 earned from the 31 events he played in. He too
won € 35,624.17 for his efforts and moved to 51st position on the current
2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 54,946 earned from the four
events he has played to date so far this year.
Michael Campbell
(NZL) was the only New Zealand Golfer in the field had a disappointing
tournament with scoring rounds of 73+1 and 73+1 for a 36 hole total of 146+2 and
he missed the 36 hole cut by five strokes. It was his first missed cut of the
season from the three events he has played to date so far. It will be a minor setback
to his confidence having had two top twenty finishes in his first two events.
He is now in 55th position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list
standings with € 49,444 earned from the three events he has played to date
so far this year. Let’s hope a few top ten finishes aren’t too far away for him
in the coming weeks?
Next week the
European Tour and Race to Dubai head back to South Africa for the first of
three tournament’s there in the three weeks to come. The first is the Joburg
Open and it is played on the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington GC, Johannesburg,
South Africa. It carries a prize purse of €1,300,000. Branden Grace (RSA) is
the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. It starts on
Thursday 7th February. I will report back who won the trophy next week.
The second event
I am report on this week was part of the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup and was the
Waste Management Phoenix Open and it was played on TPC
Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona and it was Phil Mickelson (USA) who
scored a course record 60-11 in the first round that was very nearly a 59, he
backed it up with 65-6 in the second round and then scored 64-7 in the third
round which included birding the final four holes. He scored a final round of 67-4
for a 72 hole total of 256-28 and won by four strokes for his 41st win of his
career on the USPGA Tour and he also tied the second lowest 72 hole score on
the USPGA Tour ever. He earned US $1,116,000.00 for the win and moved to third
position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list with US $1,152,525 earned
from the three events he has played to date this year so far. Brandt Snedeker
(USA) currently leads that list with US $ 1,689,920 earned from the four events
he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 500 FedEx Cup points for
the win and moved to third position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup points list
standings with 546 points earned from the three events he has played to date
this year so far. He is 236 points behind the current leader of that list who
is Brandt Snedeker (USA) who has earned 782 points from the four events he has
played to date this year so far. He leads by 200 points over Brian Gay (USA)
who has earned 582 points from the three events he has played to date so far.
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| Phil Mickelson (USA) in action during the final round |
Phil Mickelson
(USA) played a steady final round under the circumstances. He scored 67-4 which
included a front nine of 34-1 where he birdied the Par three, Fourth hole and
Par three, seventh hole but had his lone bogey on the Par four, second hole. He
made the turn at minus 25 and had a three stroke lead over Brandt Snedeker
(USA) who had scored a brilliant front nine of 32-4 to be at minus 22. They had
developed separation from the rest of the field and had made the tournament a
two horse race with nine holes to play. Phil Mickelson (USA) pared holes 10-12
to remain at minus 25 with six holes to play and he had a three stroke lead
over Brandt Snedeker (USA) who also pared those holes.
Phil Mickelson
(USA) birdied the Par Four, 13th hole where he hit the green in two shots and
easily two putted for his birdie four and was now at minus 26 and had a four
stroke lead. Brandt Snedeker (USA) scrambled a par five after having to take a
penalty drop for an unplayable lie and remained at minus 22. They both pared
the Par four, 14th hole so the lead remained at four shots in Phil Mickelson’s
(USA) favour with four holes remaining to be played. Phil Mickelson (USA) and
Brandt Snedeker (USA) both birdied the Par five, 15th hole and the margin of
Phil Mickelson’s (USA) lead was still four shots with Phil Mickelson (USA) now
minus 27 and Brandt Snedeker (USA) now minus 23.
Phil Mickelson
(USA) pared the famous Par three, 16th hole which is surrounded in like a
football stadium and has a party atmosphere all tournament. They were having
caddie races from the tee to the green and the professional Golfer; James Hahn
(USA) who is originally from South Korea performed his version of the world
famous “Gangnam Style" dance after making a birdie two on that hole in the
final round. Brandt Snedeker (USA) made a fine birdie two on this same hole and
moved to minus 24 and was now only three shots behind Phil Mickelson (USA) who
was still minus 27 with two holes remaining to be played. Phil Mickelson (USA)
tried to drive the short Par four, 17th hole and was lucky not to go in the
hazard on the left hand side next to the green. Brandt Snedeker (USA) missed
his drive to the right of the green pin high. Brandt Snedeker (USA) chipped his
ball to within five feet of the pin. Phil Mickelson (USA) chipped his ball to
within eight feet of the pin. Phil Mickelson (USA) holed his putt for birdie to
move to minus 28 with just the 72nd hole to play and he still had a three shot
lead over Brandt Snedeker (USA) who had also birdied the Par four, 17th hole.
Phil Mickelson
(USA) drove well to the left of the fairway off the Par four, 18th tee but he
was clear of the lake and had an easy second shot to the green. He hit a conservative
wedge shot in to about 25 feet short of the pin. He easily rolled his 25 foot
par putt up to within three feet of the hole and tapped in for minus 28 and a
four shot win. He scored 33-3 on his back nine. He celebrated with his caddie Jim
Mackay after holing the winning putt. Brandt Snedeker (USA) made a bogey on
that same hole and fell back to minus 24.
It was a great
win for Phil Mickelson (USA) so early in his season after two average finishes
in his previous two starts in the 2013 USPGA Tour Season. This was his 41st
USPGA Tour win and here they are from his first to his most recent: 1991 Northern
Telecom Open. 1993 Buick Invitational of California, The
International. 1994 Mercedes Championships. 1995 Northern
Telecom Open. 1996 Nortel Open, Phoenix Open, GTE Byron Nelson
Golf Classic, NEC World Series of Golf. 1997 Bay Hill
Invitational, Sprint International. 1998 Mercedes
Championships, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
2000 Buick Invitational, BellSouth Classic, MasterCard
Colonial, THE TOUR Championship. 2001 Buick Invitational, Canon
Greater Hartford Open. 2002 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Canon Greater
Hartford Open. 2004 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Masters
Tournament. 2005 FBR Open, AT&T Pebble Beach National
Pro-Am, BellSouth Classic, PGA Championship.
2006 BellSouth Classic, Masters Tournament. 2007 AT&T
Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, THE PLAYERS Championship, Deutsche Bank
Championship. 2008 Northern Trust Open, Crowne Plaza
Invitational at Colonial. 2009 Northern Trust Open, World Golf
Championships-CA Championship, THE TOUR Championship presented by
Coca-Cola. 2010 Masters Tournament. 2011 Shell Houston
Open. 2012 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. 2013 Waste
Management Phoenix Open.
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| Phil Mickelson (USA) poses with the Waste Management Phoenix Open Trophy he won |
Phil Mickelson
(USA) has set the platform for another very good season on the USPGA Tour. Since
1996 he has earned at least US $1million every season on the USPGA Tour. I
wouldn’t be surprised at all if he won his fifth Major Championship this year.
He has always been a favourite with the crowds and always Acknowledges all the
praise he gets from them. He is known as the modern day Arnold Palmer (USA) in
that respect and he also has the same go for broke attitude that Arnold Palmer
(USA) had when he was in his prime. He also is very respectful to his opponents
and this was shown last year in the Ryder Cup Matches which Team USA should
have won easily. He was playing Justin Rose (England) on the final day singles
matches. He had just narrowly missed chipping in for birdie on the Par three,
17th hole. Justin Rose (England) putted for birdie from just off the green and
holed it for the win. He gave Justin Rose (England) great praise where other
players wouldn’t have said anything. I wish Phil Mickelson (USA) all the best
with the rest of his 2013 season.
Coming in solo
second position at 260-24 after 72 holes was the player I mentioned earlier,
Brandt Snedeker (USA) who won the 2012 FedEx Cup; even though he hasn’t won
this year on the USPGA Tour he has played some of the most consistent golf with
recording three top five finishes from his four starts. He is well on the way
to becoming the first player to defend the FedEx Cup in its history. He earned US
$669,600.00 for his weeks work and moved to the top of the current 2013 USPGA
Tour Money list standings with US $1,689,920 earned from the three events he
has played in so far this year. He is also at the top of the current 2013 FedEx
Cup point’s standings with 782 points earned from the four events he has played
to date this year so far.
Coming in solo
third position at 261-23 after 72 holes was Scott Piercy (USA); he scored a
brilliant bogey free final round of 61-10. It was his first top ten of the
season from the four events he has played so far this year. He earned US $421,600.00
for his weeks work and moved to ninth position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour
Money list standings with US $631,600 earned from the four events he has played
to date this year so far. He is also in ninth position on the current 2013
FedEx Cup point’s standings with 300 points earned from four events he has
played to date this year so far.
Coming in solo
fourth position at 262-22 after 72 holes was Ryan Moore (USA); it was his first
top ten of the season from the three events he has played so far. He is coming
off a very good season in 2012 where he achieved his second win on the USPGA
Tour which came at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
He won US $297,600.00 for his weeks work and moved to 23rd position on the
current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list with US $360,600 earned from the three
events he has played to date this year so far. He is also in 25th position on
the current 2013 FedEx Cup points standings with 178 points earned from the
three events he has played to date so far this year. He has also just become a
Father with his wife giving birth to their first child late last year.
Coming in solo
fifth position at 265-19 after 72 holes was Ryan Palmer (USA); it was his
second top ten of the season in consecutive starts. He earned US $248,000.00
for his weeks work and moved to 14th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour
Money list with US $454,248 earned from
the three events he has played to date this year so far. He is also in 15th
position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup points list standings with 210 points
earned from the three events he has played to date so far.
Coming in tied
for sixth position at 266-18 after 72 holes was the 2011 FedEx Cup Champion,
Bill Haas (USA); it too was his second top ten finish of the season in
consecutive starts from the four events he has played to date this year so far.
He won US $207,700.00 for his weeks work and moved to 15th position on the
current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list with US $427,100 earned from the four events
he has played to date this year so far. He is also in 17th position on the
current 2013 FedEx Cup points standings with 207 points earned from the four
events he has played this year so far. Also tied for sixth position was Brendon
De Jonge (Zimbabwe); It was his first top ten of the season from the four
events he has played so far. He too earned US $207,700.00 for his weeks work
and moved to 26th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list with US $329,136
earned from the four events he has played to date so far this year. He is also
in 22nd position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup points standings with 181 points
earned from the four events he has played to date so far this year. I wouldn’t
be surprised if he won his maiden USPGA Tour event this year. The last player
to tie for sixth position was Brendan Steele (USA); it was his first top ten of
the season from the three events he has played to date this year so far. He too
earned US $207,700.00 for his weeks work and moved to 30th position on the
current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list with US $261,612 earned from the three
events he has played so far this year. He is also in 32nd position on the
current 2013 FedEx Cup Points standings with 145 points earned from the three
events he has played to date this year so far.
Rounding out the
top ten in tied for ninth position at 267-17 after 72 holes was Matt Every
(USA); it was his first top ten finish of the season from the four events he
has played to date this year so far. He had a bad start to his season with
missing his first two cuts but this finish should give him a lot of confidence
to keep moving forward. He won US $173,600.00 for his weeks work and moved to
42nd position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list with US $186,593 earned
from the four events he has played to date this year so far. He is also in 70th
position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup points standings with 85 points earned
from the four events he has played to date this year so far. Also in tied for ninth
position was Padraig Harrington (Ireland); he was making his 2013 USPGA Tour
debut. He too earned US $173,600.00 for his weeks work and moved to 48th
position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list with US $173,600 earned from
the one event he has played in so far this year. He is also in 76th position on
the current 2013 FedEx Cup point’s standings with 78 points earned from the one
event he has played to date this year so far. Let’s hope he can get back to
that 2008 form he displayed when he won both the British Open Championship,
PGA Championship in the same year.
Next week the
USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup head back north to California for the AT&T Pebble
Beach National Pro – Am and it is played on the Pebble Beach Golf
Links, Pebble Beach, California. It carries a huge prize purse of US
$ 6,500,000. Phil Mickelson (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen to
defend his title. It starts on Thursday 7th February. 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 26th week of a 4th spell of his career and the 33rd 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 12.23 Official Golf World Ranking
Points; coming in at Number Two is Tiger Woods (USA) who is fresh off his win
at the Farmers Insurance Open two weeks ago with 9.16 Official Golf World
Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Luke Donald (England) with 7.76
Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Justin Rose
(England) with 6.53 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 6.52 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Michael Campbell (NZL) is
in his second week as highest ranked New Zealander Golfer in the world. This
week he gains three places and moves to 236th position on the Official World
Golf Rankings Points list with 0.74 Official Golf World Ranking Points.
Remember when
playing in hot dry conditions always drink lots of fluids!!
Source:
pgatour.com, europeantour.com
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