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 Race to Dubai and this
week it head to Malaysia for the Maybank Malaysian Open and it was played on
the Kuala Lumpur G&CC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The tournament was reduced
to 54 holes due to thunderstorms that caused played to be delayed on all four
days of the tournament. When all was said and done it was the Golfer by the
name of Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand) who scored rounds of 65-7, 68-4 and a
final round of 70-2 for a 54 total of 203-13 and he won by one stroke. He won €350,410
for the win and moved to eighth position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai
Money list standings with €440,411 earned from the two events he has played in
to date this year so far. Richard Sterne (RSA) still leads that list with €607,803
earned from the six events he has played to date this year so far. In the two
events Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand) has played on the European Tour this
year to date he has made two cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that
includes the win here.
 |
| Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand) chips during the final round |
It was his first
European Tour International Schedule victory in his 26th European Tour event.
He moves into the top 90 of the Official World Golf Ranking from 170th. This
victory beats his previous best European Tour performance of tied third in the
2010 Maybank Malaysian Open. He becomes the fifth first-time winner of the 2013
season. They are: Scott Jamieson (Scotland) (Nelson Mandela Championship
presented ISPS Handa), Chris Wood (England) (Commercial Bank Qatar Masters),
Matt Kuchar (USA) (World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play
Championship), Dawie Van Der Walt (RSA) (Tshwane Open) and Kiradech Aphibarnrat
(Thailand) (Maybank Malaysian Open).
It was his
second consecutive top four finish on The European Tour following his fourth
place finish in the Avantha Masters last week. This victory comes in his fourth
appearance in the Maybank Malaysian Open. He was the third wire-to-wire winner
of the 2013 season. He follows Richard Sterne (RSA) (Joburg Open) and Tiger
Woods (USA) (World Golf Championships – Cadillac Championship). It was the
first wire-to-wire winner with no ties after any round since Branden Grace
(RSA) (2012 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship). Since the Maybank Malaysian
Open became part of The European Tour in 1999, he became the fourth
wire-to-winner. He follows Alastair Forsyth (Scotland) (2002), Arjun Atwal (India)
(2003) and Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) (2005). He becomes the first player from
Thailand since Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) (2012 ISPS Handa Wales Open) to win
on The European Tour. He becomes the third Thai victory in the Maybank
Malaysian Open since the event became part of The European Tour in 1999,
following Thongchai Jaidee (2004-2005). He becomes the youngest winner on the
2013 European Tour to date, aged 23 years and 244 days.
He Joins Gerry
Norquist (USA) (1999), Yeh Wei-tze (China) (2000), Alastair Forsyth (Scotland)
(2002), Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) (2004), Charlie Wi (South Korea)(2006),
Anthony Kang (USA) (2009) and Noh Seung-yul (South Korea)(2010), as players to
make the Maybank Malaysian Open their first European Tour victory. He becomes
the eighth Thai victory in European Tour history. He becomes the fourth
different Thai to win on The European Tour. He follows Thongchai Jaidee
(Thailand), Chapchai Nirat (Thailand) and Thaworn Wiratchant (Thailand). He gains
a European Tour exemption until the end of the 2015 season. He gains a place in
the 2013 WGC – HSBC Champions and 2014 Volvo Golf Champions. He gains his
largest European Tour prize of €350,410. And finally it was his third victory
as a professional.
Kiradech
Aphibarnrat (Thailand) played a steady final round in trying conditions. He
scored 70-2 that included a front 34-2 with an eagle on the Par five, fifth
hole and birdies on the Par four, first hole and Par five, third hole. But he
had poor bogeys on the Par four, second hole and Par four, seventh hole and
made turn at minus 13 and he had three stroke lead. Edoardo Molinari (Italy)
played a brilliant front nine of 33-3 and made the turn at minus ten and was
three strokes back of the leader. Anders Hansen (Denmark) had an amazing front
nine of 32-4 and made the turn at minus nine, four strokes off the lead. Charl
Schwartzel (RSA) played a good front nine of 35-1 and was at minus ten at the
turn and three shots off the lead also.
Kiradech
Aphibarnrat (Thailand) played holes 10-13 in one over par and fell back to
minus 12 and now only had a shot two stroke lead. Edoardo Molinari (Italy)
played holes 10-13 in even par and remained at minus ten only two strokes back
of the lead now. Anders Hansen (Denmark) played holes 10-13 in even par and
remained at minus nine now three strokes back. Charl Schwartzel (RSA) played
holes 10-13 in even par as well and remained at minus ten now only two strokes
off the lead. Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand) played holes 14-17 in two under
par and moved to minus 14 with just the Par five, 72nd hole to play and was now
leading by two strokes. Edoardo Molinari (Italy) played holes 14-17 in two
under par and moved to minus 12 with just the Par five, 72nd hole to play and
now was just two strokes off the lead. Anders Hansen (Denmark) played holes
14-17 in two under par and moved to minus eleven and now was only three strokes
of the lead with the Par five, 72nd hole to play. Charl Schwartzel (RSA) played
holes 14-17 in one over par and fell back to minus nine and five strokes off
the lead with the 72nd hole to play.
Charl
Schwartzel (RSA) made a fine birdie four up the Par five, 72nd hole and
finished the 54 holes on minus ten three strokes behind the winner. Edoardo
Molinari (Italy) made a solid par up the Par five, 72nd hole and finished up on
minus 12, only one stroke behind the winner. Anders Hansen (Denmark) also made
a solid par up the par five, 72nd hole and finished up at minus eleven and two
strokes behind the winner. Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand) played the Par five,
72nd hole in a bogey six. He played a rather poor 18th hole with laying up with
an iron off the tee and putting it in the thick right hand rough. He was lucky
it landed near a sprinkler head and he got a free drop. But he hit a poor
second shot with a mid iron and it landed in the fairway bunker. He hit a good
fairway bunker shot for his third shot with his short iron but it came up just
short of the green. He now was faced with a difficult chip shot to get up and
down for his par five. He calmed his nerve and struck a fine chip shot that
came to rest about ten feet from the pin. He now knew he could two putt and
still win. He must have been nervous because he left his par putt two feet
short, but tapped the next one in for his maiden European Tour win. He scored
36 even par on the back nine and finished at minus 13 after 72 holes. He
celebrated with his caddie on the final green.
|
| Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand) poses with the Maybank Malaysian Open Trophy he won |
It
was a great win for Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand) and he is now exempt on the
European Tour till the end of the 2015 season. He plays the Asian Tour Full
time and has moved to the top of that money list as well with US $594,230.00
earned from the three events he has played in to date this year so far. I feel
now he has full status on the European Tour he will play a full schedule on
that tour and also play the co – sanctioned events with the Asian Tour like the
one he won here. This win will be a huge boost of confidence to the young 23
year olds Golf Career. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season
on both the European and Asian Tours.
Coming in solo
second position at 204-12 after 54 holes was Edoardo Molinari (Italy); he
earned € 233,604.50 for his efforts and moved to 29th position on the
current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 233,604 earned from
the six events he has played in to date this season. This was his first cut he
has made of the season and it was also his first top ten of the season. He has
been making major swing changes recently and it looks like they have finally
started to kick in. He has already achieved two wins on the European Tour which
each came in 2010 when he won the Barclays Scottish Open and the Johnnie
Walker Championship at Gleneagles. 2010 was his best year of his European Tour
Career to date where he earned € 2,009,337
from the 28 events he played in and finished in 11th position on the final 2010
Race to Dubai Money list standings. He also made his maiden Ryder Cup
appearance for the European Team at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales where
Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) picked him as one of his wild card picks, which
the European Team beat Team USA. I wish
him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.
Coming
in solo third position at 205-11 after 54 holes was Anders Hansen (Denmark); he
earned € 131,615.17 for his efforts and moved to 40th position on the
current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 176,777 earned from
the five events he has played to date this year so far. In the five events he
has played to date this year so far he has made three cuts and this was his
second top ten finish of the season. Since 1999 he has kept his full playing
status on the European Tour every year since and since the Race to Dubai
started in 2009 he has made the top 60 money earners that play in the DP World
Tour Championship, Dubai every year. He has won three tournaments on the
European Tour that were 2002 Volvo PGA Championship, 2007 BMW PGA Championship
and 2009 Joburg Open. And his best year to date on the European Tour was in 2011
where he earned € 2,074,366 from the 22 events he played in and he finished
seventh on the final 2011 Race to Dubai Money list standings.
Coming
in tied for fourth position at 206-10 after 54 holes was Victor Dubuisson
(France); he won € 97,134.52 for his efforts and moved to 43rd position on
the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 165,308 earned
from the five events he has played to date this year so far. In the five events
he has played to date this year so far he has made three cuts and all of them
have been top ten finishes. He is still very young at 22 years of age and has
many years of playing professional Golf ahead of him. He has been playing the
European Tour fulltime since 2011 and has easily kept his card both years. His
best year was last year in 2012 where he earned € 573,249 from the 20
events he played in and he finished in 52nd position on the 2012 final Race to
Dubai Money list standings and he played in his very first DP World Tour
Championship, Dubai. Also tied for fourth position was Charl Schwartzel (RSA); he
too won € 97,134.52 for his efforts and moved to second position on the current
2013 Race to Dubai Money list rankings with € 593,016 earned from the five
events he has played to date this year so far. From the five events he has
played to date this year so far he has made every cut and achieved three top
ten finishes that includes the one here. He also won his first event he played
in this season which was the Alfred Dunhill Championship. Since he first
qualified for the European Tour in 2003 and he has easily kept his card every
season. His best year to date was in 2011 where he earned € 2,929,829 from
the 18 events he played in and finished in fourth position on the final 2011
Race to Dubai Money list rankings. Also that year he won his maiden Major
Championship which was the 2011 Masters Tournament. The form he is in at the
moment I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he won his second Major Championship
at the Masters Tournament in just under three weeks time. I wish him all the
best for the rest of the 2013 season.
Rounding
out the top ten in tied for sixth position at 207-9 after 54 holes was Pablo
Larrazabal (Spain); he won € 55,673.64 for his weeks work and moved to
65th position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list rankings with € 102,253
earned from the eight events he has played to date so far this season. In the
eight events he has played to date this season he has made five cuts and this
was his first top ten of the season. He has being playing on the European Tour
fulltime since 2008 and has kept his card every year so far. His best season to
date so far was in 2011 where he earned € 1,183,040 from the 33 events he
played in and finished in 17th position on the final 2011 Race to Dubai Money
list standings. He also has won twice on the European Tour and the wins were
the 2008 Open de France ALSTOM and the 2011 BMW International Open. He will be
looking for some more top ten finishes in the coming weeks. Also tied for sixth
position was Mark Foster (England); he too earned € 55,673.64 for his
weeks work and moved to 72nd position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money
list standings with € 90,274 earned from the six events he has played to
date this year so far. In the six events he has played in so far this year he
has made four cuts and this was his first top ten finish of the season. His
best year to date on the European Tour so far in his career was in 2011 where
he earned € 853,840 from the 27 events he played in and he finished in
32nd position on the final 2011 Race to Dubai Money list standings. In 2011 he
also played in his very first DP World Tour Championship, Dubai. His maiden and
only win to date came in the Dunhill Championship in 2003. Let’s hope he has
more top ten finishes in the weeks to come.
Also
tied for sixth position was Alexander Noren (Sweden); he too earned € 55,673.64
for his weeks work and moved to 18th position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai
Money list standings with € 310,212 earned from the six events he has
played to date this year so far. From the six events he has played to date this
year so far he has made every single cut and achieved two top ten finishes
which includes the one here. His career year to date on the European Tour came
in 2011 where he earned € 1,427,643 from the 28 events he played in and he
finished in 14th position on the final 2011 Race to Dubai Money list. He has
also played in the final event of the season which is the DP World Tour
Championship, Dubai in 2009, 2011 and 2012. And he has achieved three wins on
the European Tour to date so far in his career which came at the 2009 Omega
European Masters, 2011 Saab Wales Open and 2011 Nordea Masters which is his
National Open. I wouldn’t be surprised if win number four comes this season. I
wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season. Also tied for sixth
position was David Howell (England); he too earned € 55,673.64 for his
weeks work and moved to 33rd position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money
list standings with € 221,829 earned from the eight events he has played
in to date this year so far. From the eight events he has played in to date
this year he has made every single cut and this was his second top ten finish
of the season so far. He is a four time winner to date on the European Tour
with his last win coming just under seven years ago at the 2006 BMW
Championship. He best year to date on the European Tour was in 2006 where he
earned € 2,321,166 from the 21 events he played in and finished in third
position on the then 2006 European Order of Merit. Let’s hope he can get back
to that winning form soon and win his fifth European Tour event. The final
player to tie for sixth position was Padraig Harrington (Ireland); he too
earned € 55,673.64 for his weeks work and moved to 21st position on the
current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 269,955 earned from
the five events he has played to date this year so far. From the five events he
has played to date this year so far he has made every cut and achieved two top
ten finishes that includes the one here. He has slipped in form in recent years
from his very high standards. 2008 would have to be the best year of his career
to date when he won two of his three Major Championships back to back that were
the 2008 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP and 2008 PGA Championship. He earned € 2,459,109
from 15 events he played in and finished in second position on the final 2008
then European Order of Merit list standings. From years 2006 – 2008 on the
European Tour he earned at least two million Euros in each season as he did in
the 2001 – 2002. He also won the Open Championship in 2007 and that was his
maiden Major Championship. He has also won 14 times on the European Tour
including the three Major Championships I mentioned. I would expect number 15
to come very soon. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.
Michael Campbell
(NZL) was the only New Zealand Golfer in the field. He scored back to back
rounds of 73+1 for a 36 hole total of 146+2 and missed the 36 hole cut by two
strokes. He now has missed his last three cuts on the European Tour after
making his first two cuts of the season and recording top twenty finishes. He
has current earnings on the Race to Dubai Money list standings of € 49,444
earned from the five events he has played to date so far this year and that
places him in 103rd position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list
standings. Let’s hope he can make the cut in the next few events he plays in.
Next week the European
Tour and Race to Dubai heads to Morocco for the Trophee Hassan II and it is
played on the Golf du Palais Royal, Agadir, Morocco. It has a prize purse of €1,500,000
for the taking. Michael Hoey (NIR) is the defending Champion and will be keen
for back to back titles. It starts on Thursday 28th March 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 part of the FedEx
Cup. It was the fourth and final event of the Florida Swing and it was the
Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard and it was played on the Bay
Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida. Tiger Woods (USA) was going
for his eighth win of his career in this tournament. And it was the Golfer by
the name of Tiger Woods (USA) who scored rounds of 69-3, 70-2, 66-6 and a final
round of 70-2 for a 72 hole total of 275-13 and he won by two strokes for his
77th win of his career on the USPGA Tour. It was the eighth time he has won the
Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and he equals Sam Sneads
(USA) record of winning the same tournament on the USPGA Tour which is eight
times. Although Arnold Palmer (USA) suggested that Tiger Woods (USA) eight wins
were better because he achieved them on the same course. Tiger Woods (USA) won
US $1,098,000.00 for the win and moved to number one position on the current
2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $3,787,600 earned from the five
events he has played to date this year so far. Brandt Snedeker (USA) is coming
second with US $ 2,859,920 earned from the six events he has played to date
this year so far. Tiger Woods (USA) also earned 500 FedEx Cup Points for the win
and moved to the top of the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 1,605
points earned from the five events he has played to date this year so far. He
is 323 points ahead of Brandt Snedeker (USA) who has earned 1,282 points from
the six events he has played to date this year so far.
 |
| Tiger Woods (USA) in action during the final round |
Tiger Woods
(USA) played a steady final round of 70-2 that included a front nine of 34-2
with birdies on the Par three, second hole, Par five, fourth hole and Par five,
sixth hole but he made a poor bogey on the Par four, eighth hole and made the
turn at minus 13 and had a three stroke lead. Justin Rose (England) scored a
front nine of 36 even par and made the turn at minus nine and was four strokes
off the lead. Rickie Fowler (USA) scored a front nine of 35-1 and made the turn
at minus ten and was three strokes out of the lead. Tiger Woods (USA) played
holes 10-14 in one under par and moved to minus 14 with four holes to play and
now was leading by only two strokes. Justin Rose (England) played holes 10 – 14
in one under par and moved to minus ten still four shots off the lead. Rickie
Fowler (USA) played holes 10 – 14 in two under par and now moved to minus 12
only two strokes off the lead.
Tiger Woods
(USA) played holes 15-17 in even par and was still minus 14 heading to the Par
four, 72nd hole and now had a three stroke lead. Justin Rose (England) played
holes 15 – 17 in one under par and moved to minus eleven and was now three
strokes back of the leader. Rickie Fowler (USA) played holes 15-17 in four over
par and dropped way back to minus eight and now was six shots off the lead
heading to the Par four, 72nd hole. Rickie Fowler (USA) made a solid par four,
on the Par four, 72nd hole and finished 72 holes on minus eight five strokes
behind the winner. Justin Rose (England) also made a solid par four on the Par
four, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes on minus eleven two strokes behind
the winner. Tiger Woods (USA) chose to hit three wood off the Par four, 72nd
hole and it landed in the right rough. He knew a bogey five was good enough to
win by two shots so he chose a short iron and laid up to the left in the
fairway just short of the green leaving a short wedge shot for his third to the
green. He chose to lay up because if he went for the green for his second shot
he risked if he didn’t hit it solid landing it in the water. He hit his third
shot with to within 45 feet of the pin short on the green. He now knew he had
basically won the tournament. He steadied himself and hit a brilliant putt from
45 feet that almost went in and came to rest two inches to the right of the
cup. He tapped that putt in for his bogey five and celebrated the win with his
caddie, Joe Lacava (USA). He scored 36 even par for the back nine. And when he
walked off the 18th green on his way to sign his card he was congratulated by
the tournament host, Arnold Palmer (USA) who he is also good friends with.
It was Tiger
Woods (USA) third win of the year having won the Farmers Insurance Open in late
January and the World Golf Championship - Cadillac Championship in mid March.
In the five events he has played to date this year so far he has made every cut
and achieved three wins. He has now won 77 times on the USPGA Tour and is just five
wins behind the all time USPGA Tour winner who was the legendary Sam Snead
(USA) who has the record for the most wins on the USPGA Tour all time with 82.
Here is a list of all the tournaments on the USPGA Tour that Tiger Woods has
won since he turned Professional in 1996: 1996 Las Vegas
Invitational, Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic. 1997 Mercedes
Championships, Masters Tournament, GTE Byron Nelson Golf
Classic, Motorola Western Open.1998 BellSouth Classic.1999 Buick
Invitational, Memorial Tournament, Motorola Western Open, PGA
Championship, World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational, National Car
Rental Golf Classic/Disney, THE TOUR Championship, World Golf
Championships-American Express Championship. 2000 Mercedes Championships,
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Bay Hill
Invitational, Memorial Tournament, U.S. Open
Championship, British Open Championship, PGA Championship, World
Golf Championships-NEC Invitational, Bell Canadian Open. 2001 Bay
Hill Invitational, THE PLAYERS Championship, Masters
Tournament, Memorial Tournament, World Golf Championships-NEC
Invitational. 2002 Bay Hill Invitational presented by Cooper
Tires, Masters Tournament, U.S. Open Championship, Buick
Open, World Golf Championships-American Express Championship. 2003 Buick
Invitational, World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play
Championship, Bay Hill Invitational presented by Cooper Tires, 100th
Western Open presented by Golf Digest, World Golf Championships-American
Express Championship. 2004 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match
Play Championship. 2005 Buick Invitational, Ford Championship at
Doral, Masters Tournament, British Open Championship, World Golf
Championships-NEC Invitational, World Golf Championships-American Express
Championship. 2006 Buick Invitational, Ford Championship at
Doral, British Open Championship, Buick Open, PGA
Championship, World Golf Championships-Bridgestone
Invitational, Deutsche Bank Championship, World Golf
Championships-American Express Championship. 2007 Buick Invitational, World
Golf Championships-CA Championship, Wachovia Championship, World Golf
Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, PGA Championship, BMW
Championship, THE TOUR Championship presented by
Coca-Cola. 2008 Buick Invitational, World Golf Championships-Accenture
Match Play Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by
MasterCard, U.S. Open Championship. 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational
presented by MasterCard, the Memorial Tournament, AT&T
National, Buick Open, World Golf Championships-Bridgestone
Invitational, BMW Championship. 2012 Arnold Palmer Invitational
presented by MasterCard, the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide
Insurance and the AT&T National. 2013 Farmers Insurance Open, World Golf
Championship - Cadillac Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented
by MasterCard.
 |
| Tiger Woods (USA) on the left poses with the Arnold Palmer Invitational trophy he won and Arnold Palmer the tournament host is on the right sharing a joke with Tiger Woods (USA) |
Tiger Woods
(USA) will now be looking for his 15th Major Championship win at the Masters
Tournament in April next month. It looks like he has got his game back in good
shape now and by beating a field of this class in such convincing fashion
demonstrates to me that the weeks he gets himself in contention to win he is
more than likely going to do so. Having not put the green jacket around his
shoulders now for eight years being that the last time he won the Masters
Tournament was back in 2005 where he won it for the fourth time in his career. He
will also be keen to win a Major Championship again because the last time he
did was five years ago in 2008 at the US Open Championship at Torrey Pines. I
wish him all the best in his quest to win his 15th Major Championship.
Coming in solo
second position at 277-11 after 72 holes was Justin Rose (England); he earned
US $669,600.00 for his efforts and moved to 15th position on the current 2013
USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,155,550 earned from the from the
four events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 300 FedEx
Cup points for his efforts and moved to 17th position on the current 2013 FedEx
Cup points standings with 531 points earned from the four events he has played
to date this year so far. From those four events he has played to date this
year so far he has made every cut and achieved three top ten finishes including
this one. He has already had four wins on the USPGA Tour which were the 2010 the
Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance, AT&T National, 2011 BMW
Championship and the 2012 World Golf Championships-Cadillac
Championship. He must be due to win his fifth one soon? Perhaps it will
happen at the Masters Tournament for his maiden Major Championship win? I wish
him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.
Coming in tied
for third position at 280-8 after 72 holes was Mark Wilson (USA); he earned US $297,600.00
for his efforts and moved to 49th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money
list standings with US $494,192 earned from the eight events he has played to
date this year so far. He also earned 134 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and
moved to 58th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup points standings with 241
points earned from the eight events he has played to date this year so far. From
the eight events he has played to date this year so far he has made four cuts
and this was his first top ten finish of the season. He was having a rather
poor start to his season before this top ten finish. He has won five events on
USPGA Tour to date that included 2007 The Honda Classic, 2009 Mayakoba
Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun, 2011 Sony Open in Hawaii, Waste Management
Phoenix Open, and 2012 Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton
Foundation. Maybe his sixth win will happen this year. Also tied for third
position was Keegan Bradley (USA); he too earned US $297,600.00 for his efforts
and moved to eleventh position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list
standings with US $1,274,593 earned from the nine events he has played to date
this year so far. He also earned 134 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved
to 12th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup points list standings with 594
points earned from the nine events he has played to date this year so far. From
the nine events he has played to date this year so far he has made eight cuts
and achieved four top ten finishes and that includes this one. He has had two
amazing seasons on the USPGA Tour where he has earned just fewer than four
million US Dollars each season. He gained his 2011 USPGA Tour card by finishing
inside the top 25 money earners on the final 2010 Web.com Tour Money list. He
has already won three USPGA Tour events in his very young career and they are: 2011 HP
Byron Nelson Championship, PGA Championship (Maiden Major Championship)
and 2012 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. I wouldn’t be
surprised at all if he won his fourth before the 2013 USPGA Tour season is
finished.
Also tied for
fourth position was Gonzalo Fdez – Castano (Spain); he too earned US $297,600.00
for his efforts but because he plays the European Tour full time and is not a
current member of the USPGA Tour he doesn’t have a current 2013 USPGA Tour
Money list and FedEx Cup Points ranking. He is playing in a few events on the
USPGA Tour leading in to the first Major Championship of the year which is in
three weeks time. In the three events he has played in he has made every cut
and achieved two top ten finishes. With six European Tour wins to his name he
will be looking to use that experience to have a good finish at the Masters. The
final player to tie for fourth position was Rickie Fowler (USA); he too earned
US $297,600.00 for his efforts and moved to 21st position on the current 2013
USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $938,150 earned from the seven events
he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 134 FedEx Cup Points for
his efforts and moved to 24th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup points
standings list with 434 points earned from the seven events he has played to
date this year so far. From the seven events he has played to date this year so
far he has made six cuts and achieved three top ten finishes and that includes
this one and this was his best result of the season to date. Since gaining his
2010 USPGA Tour card at the 2009 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament by finishing in
tied for 15th position he has really made a name for himself on the USPGA Tour.
In the three full seasons he has had to date on the USPGA Tour he has won at
least two million US dollars in each of those seasons and last year he achieved
his maiden USPGA Tour win at the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship. He will be
disappointed with how he played the Par five, 16th hole in the final round
where he made a triple bogey eight after putting two balls in the water to end
his chances of winning. I would expect him to win his second event on the USPGA
Tour sometime in the 2013 season. Maybe he could even win a Major Championship
this year?
Coming in solo
seventh position at 281-7 after 72 holes was Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark); he earned
US $207,700.00 for his efforts but because he plays the European Tour full time
and is not a current member of the USPGA Tour he doesn’t have a current 2013
USPGA Tour Money list and FedEx Cup Points ranking. He is playing in a few
events on the USPGA Tour leading in to the first Major Championship of the year
which is in three weeks time. In the three events he has played in this year he
has made three cuts and achieved one top ten finish the came this week. I wish
him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.
Rounding out the
top ten in tied for eighth position at 282-6 after 72 holes was William McGirt
(USA); he earned US $167,400.00 for his efforts and moved to 77th position on
the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $309,965 earned from
the seven events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 75
FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 89th position on the current 2013
FedEx Cup standings points list with 177 points earned from the seven events he
has played to date this year so far. From the seven events he has played in so
far this year he has made four cuts and this was his first top ten of the
season. He gained his card on the USPGA Tour for the first time in his career
when he finished in tied for second position at the 2010 PGA TOUR Qualifying
Tournament and gained his 2011 USPGA Tour card. He had a poor rookie season
with only earning US $532,933 from the 32events he played in and that placed
him in 141st position on the final 2011 USPGA Tour Money list standings. He went
back to the 2011 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament and gained his card back for
the 2012 season by finishing in tied for 13th position. He had a much better
season in 2012 where he made over one million US dollars easily keeping his
card for the 2013 season. Maybe he could achieve his maiden win on the USPGA
Tour in the 2013 season? Also tied for eight position was Henrik Stenson
(Sweden); he too earned US $167,400.00 for his efforts and moved to 102nd
position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $225,695
earned from the four events he has played in to date so far this year. He also
earned 75 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 120th position on the
current 2013 FedEx Cup points standings list with 114 points earned from the
four events he has played in to date this year so far. From the four events he
has played in to date this year so far he has made three cuts and this was his
first top ten finish of the season to date. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) plays both
the European Tour and USPGA Tour fulltime and he has won sixth times on the
European Tour and two times on the USPGA Tour that includes the 2007 World
Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship and the 2009 THE
PLAYERS Championship. The only thing that is lacking in his career now is
a Major Championship. Perhaps it will happen this year?
Also tied for
eighth position was Bill Haas (USA); he too earned US $167,400.00 for his
efforts and moved to 18th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour money list
with US $1,044,200 earned from the eight events he has played to date this year
so far. He also earned 75 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 18th
position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup points standings list with 476 points
earned from the eight events he has played to date this year so far. From the
eight events he has played in this year so far he has made seven cuts and this
was his fourth top ten finish of the season. Since gaining his full USPGA Tour
card in 2006 he has achieved four wins on the USPGA Tour to date and they are: 2010
Bob Hope Classic, Viking Classic, 2011 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and
the 2012 Northern Trust Open. And he also won the 2011 FedEx Cup in
dramatic style when he got up and down from the lake at the Eastlake course on
the second playoff hole. The only thing that is lacking on his resume now is a
Major Championship. I feel it may happen in the next few years. Also tied for
eighth position was Jimmy Walker (USA); he too earned US $167,400.00 for his
efforts and moved to 19th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list
standings with US $1,011,989 earned from the eight events he has played to date
this year so far. He also earned 75 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved
to 16th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup points list with 539 points
earned from eight events he has played to date this year so far. From the eight
events he has played to date this year so far he has made every cut and also
achieved three top ten finishes. In his last two seasons on the USPGA Tour he
has made at least one million US dollars in each. I feel his maiden win on the
USPGA Tour isn’t too far off. The final player to tie for eighth position was Ken
Duke (USA); he too earned US $167,400.00 for his efforts and moved to 111th
position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $202,465 earned
from the eight events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 75
FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 116th position on the current
2013 FedEx Cup points list standings with 117 points earned from the eight
events he has played in to date this year so far. From the eight events he has
played in so far this year he has made three cuts and this was his first top ten
finish he has achieved this season to date. He is a real journey man of the
USPGA Tour at age 44 he has been on and off the USPGA Tour over the last 18 odd
years. He has still had a good USPGA Tour career to date with current career
earnings of US $6,955,285 earned so far from the 176 events he has played in.
It would be good to see him win his maiden USPGA Tour event before his career
is over.
Next week the
USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup head to Texas for the first of two events in that
state and it is the Shell Houston Open and it is played on the Redstone GC
Tournament Course, Humble, Texas. It has a huge prize purse of US $6,200,000
for the taking. Hunter Mahan (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen
to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 28th March. 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 624th week of his career in total and back at Number one again is the Tiger
Woods (USA) who is fresh off his eighth win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
presented by MasterCard with 11.87 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming
in at Number Two is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 11.29 Official Golf World Ranking
Points; coming in at Number Three is Justin Rose (England) with 7.11 Official
Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Luke Donald (England)
with 6.86 Official Golf World Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 on the
Official Golf World Ranking Points list this week is Brandt Snedeker (USA) with
6.39 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Michael Hendry (NZL) fresh off his tie for 58th finish at the WGC – Cadillac
Championship three weeks ago and winning the NZ PGA Championship for the second
straight year the week prior is the highest ranked New Zealander Golfer in the
world for the sixth week of his career. This week he slips two places and moves
to 148th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 1.16
Official Golf World Ranking Points.
Remember good
players always visualise every shot they are going to play before they execute!!
Source:
pgatour.com, europeantour.com
