Golf Events from the Weekend 24th March 2013

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