Golf Events from the Weekend 9th June 2013

Well it was another excellent weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world and first I will start with the European Tour and Race to Dubai and this week it headed to Austria for the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity and it was played on the Diamond CC, Atzenbrugg, Austria. And it was the golfer by the name of Joost Luiten (Netherlands) who scored rounds of 65-7, 68-4, 67-5 and a final round of 71-1 for a 72 hole total of 271-17 and won he by two strokes for his second European Tour win of his career. He earned € 166,660.00 for the win and moved to 35th position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 380,329 earned from the 12 events he has played to date this year so far. Matteo Manassero (Italy) still leads that list with €1,114,516 earned from the eleven events he has played to date this year so far. In the 12 events Joost Luiten (Netherlands) has played to date this year so far he has made nine cuts and achieved three top ten finishes including the win here.

 

Joost Luiten (Netherlands) in action during the final round

It was Joost Luiten (Netherlands) second European Tour International Schedule victory in his 119th European Tour event. He moves to €380,329 on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings. He moves to just inside the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking from 137th. It was his first victory since the 2011 Iskandar Johor Open. This represents a gap of one year and 201 days. In that time he has played in 33 European Tour events between victories. This victory beats his previous best performance of tied second in the 2012 ISPS Handa Wales Open since his 2011 triumph. This victory beats his previous best 2013 performance of tied sixth in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. It was his third top ten finish of the season. Besides this victory and his tied sixth he was tied eighth in the Volvo China Open. (To highlight his recent consistency, he has now been placed in the top 25 in six of his last seven European Tour events).

He becomes the first player from The Netherlands to win the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity. The Netherlands becomes the eleventh different country to win the Lyonees Open powered by Greenfinity. He becomes the 20th different player to win the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity. He joins Robert-Jan Derksen (Netherlands) (two victories) as players from The Netherlands to record multiple wins on The European Tour. This victory comes in his third appearance in the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity. This victory beats his previous best performance in the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity of third in 2011, also at the Diamond Country Club. He became the first Dutch player to win on The European Tour since he won the 2011 Iskandar Johor Open. It was the first of his European Tour victories where he has led going into the final round. (He made up four shots in the final round to win the 2011 Iskandar Johor Open).

He was the 13th player this season to win when leading or sharing the lead going into the final round. It was the sixth Dutch victory in European Tour history. He gains a European Tour exemption until the end of 2014. He gains his fifth win as a professional. He gains a place in the 2014 Volvo Golf Champions. He becomes the tenth European Tour victory by former Challenge Tour players on the 2013 European Tour. They are: Scott Jamieson (Scotland) (Nelson Mandela Championship presented by ISPS Handa), Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) (Volvo Golf Champions), Jamie Donaldson (Wales) (Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship), Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) (Omega Dubai Desert Classic), Richard Sterne (RSA) (Joburg Open), Marcel Siem (Germany) (Trophée Hassan II), Raphaël Jacquelin (France) (Open de España), Brett Rumford (Australia) (Ballantine’s Championship and Volvo China Open) and Joost Luiten (Netherlands) (Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity). And finally it was the 317th European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player.

Joost Luiten (Netherlands) played a great final round of 71-1 under the circumstances which included a front nine of 35-1 with birdies on the par four, second hole and par five, seventh hole but his lone bogey came at the par four, first hole. He made the turn at minus 17 and had a five shot lead. Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) had gone out in 35-1 and made the turn at minus 12 and was five strokes behind the leader. Joost Luiten (Netherlands) played holes 10-14 in one over par and fell back to minus 16 and now only had a two shot lead. Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) played holes 10-14 in two under par and moved to minus 14 and now was only two shots behind the leader.

Joost Luiten (Netherlands) played holes 15-17 in one under par and moved back to minus 17 and was now leading by three shots with just the 72nd hole to play. Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) played holes 15-17 in even par and was still on minus 14 and now three strokes off the leader with just the final hole to play. Joost Luiten (Netherlands) made a solid par four up the par four, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes on minus 17 to win by two shots. Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) made a fine birdie on the 72nd hole to finish the 72 holes at minus 15 and was two shots behind the winner.

 

Joost Luiten (Netherlands) poses with the Lyoness Open powered by greenfinity Trophy he won!!

Joost Luiten (Netherlands) celebrated the win with his caddie by high fiving him on the 72nd green. Joost Luiten (Netherlands) has been playing the European Tour fulltime since the 2008 season after gaining his full European Tour card by finishing in sixth position on the final 2007 Challenge Tour Rankings with € 99,406 earned from the 16 events he played in. His career year to date on the European Tour so far came in the 2011 season where he earned € 976,540 from the 27 events he played in and finished in 24th position on the final 2011 Race to Dubai Money list. This win should give him confidence to keep on improving in the 2013 season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the year.

Coming in solo second position at 273-15 after 72 holes was Thomas Bjorn (Denmark); he earned € 111,110 for his efforts and moved to 38th position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 361,736 earned from the eleven events he has played to date this year so far. From those eleven events he has played to date this year so far he has made nine cuts and achieved four top ten finishes that includes the one here. He has been playing the European Tour fulltime since the 1996 season and has had some amazing success with easily keeping his card for the following season every year since. He has won 13 events so far to date in his European Tour Career and here they are from the first to the most recent: 1996 Loch Lomond World Invitational, 1998 Heineken Classic, 1998 Peugeot Open de Espana, 1999 The Sarazen World Open, 2000 BMW International Open, 2001 Dubai Desert Classic, 2002 BMW International Open, 2005 The Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters, 2006 Nissan Irish Open, 2010 Estoril Open de Portugal, 2011 Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy, 2011 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles and the 2011 Omega European Masters. His career year to date on the European Tour came in 2000 where he earned € 1,929,657 from the 27 events he played in and finished fifth in the then 2000 final European Tour Order of Merit List Standings. I suggest his 14th win on the European Tour isn’t too far off.

Coming in tied for third position at 274-14 after 72 holes was Wen- Chong Liang (China); he earned € 56,300 for his efforts and moved to 62nd position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 239,477 earned from the eight events he has played to date so far this year. From the eight events he has played to date this year so far he has made seven cuts and achieved two top ten finishes including the one here. In 2007 he became just the second Chinese Golfer to win on the European Tour when he won the Singapore Masters at Laguna National Golf Club. His victory was then the seventh by an Affiliate Member in European Tour history, and immediately elevated him to full European Tour status. He then kicked on from there to win the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit in 2007, the first time it had been won by a Chinese golfer, which in turn qualified him for The 2008 Open Championship, another first for a Chinese golfer. 2009 was his best year on the European Tour where he earned € 622,348 from the 17 events he played in and finished in 54th position on the final 2009 Race to Dubai Money list standings and he made his first ever DP World Tour Championship, Dubai. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season. Also tied for third position was Romain Wattel (France); he too earned € 56,300 for his efforts and moved to 71st position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 215,954 earned from the 12 events he has played in to date this year so far. From those 12 events he has played in he has made seven cuts and achieved three top ten finishes that includes the one here. He is in his third full season on the European Tour after gaining his card after finishing in a share of ninth place at the 2010 Qualifying School. His career year to date on the European Tour came in 2012 where he earned € 586,465 from the 25 events he played in and he finished in 51st position on the final 2012 Race to Dubai Money list standings. He is still very young at only 22 years of age and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he won his maiden event on the European Tour in the 2013 season.

Coming in tied for fifth position at 275-13 after 72 holes was Paul Waring (England); he earned € 38,700.00 for his efforts and moved to 78th position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 176,733 earned from the 12 events he has played to date this year so far. From those 12 events he has played to date this year so far he has made eight cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that includes the one here. He has never won on the European Tour yet and his best season to date so far was in 2010 where he finished in 95th position on the final Race to Dubai Money list that season with earnings of € 289,758 from the 25 events he played in. Perhaps his maiden win will come this season? Also tied for fifth position was Jorge Campillo (Spain); he too earned € 38,700.00 for his efforts and moved to 96th position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 129,460 earned from the 18 events he has played to date this year so far. From those 18 events he has played to date this year so far he has made eight cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that includes the one here. He has been playing the European Tour fulltime since the 2012 season after gaining his full European Tour card by finishing in ninth position on the final 2011 Challenge Tour rankings with € 80,041 earned from the 22 events he played in. His career year to date on the European Tour so far came in the 2012 season where he earned € 319,348 from the 26 events he played in and finished in 81st on the final 2012 Race to Dubai Money list standings. I feel his maiden win on the European Tour isn’t too far off.

Coming in solo seventh position at 276-12 after 72 holes was Eduardo De La Riva (Spain); he earned € 30,000 for his efforts and moved to 97th position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 126,460 earned from the 12 events he has played to date this year so far. From those 12 events he has played to date this year so far he has made five cuts and this was his second top ten finish he has achieved so far to date this season. He regained his European Card back at the 2012 final stage of European Tour School after playing the previous year on the Challenge Tour. Look for him to have some more top ten finishes in remaining of the 2013.

Coming in solo eighth position at 277-11 after 72 holes was Gregory Bourdy (France); he earned € 25,000.00 for his efforts and moved to 41st position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 329,456 earned from the 14 events he has played to date this year so far. From those 14 events he has played to date this year so far he has made nine cuts and achieved three top ten finishes that includes this one. He will be keen to improve on the season he had in 2012 on the European Tour where he played in 24 events and earned €355,331 to finish in 75th position on the final 2012 Race to Dubai Money list standings.

Coming in solo ninth position at 278-10 after 72 holes was Lee Slattery (England); he earned € 22,400.00 for his efforts and moved to 72nd position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 214,812 earned from the 14 events he has played to date this year so far. From the 14 events he has played to date this year so far he has made 13 cuts and achieved one top ten finishes that came this very week. He has been playing on the European Tour fulltime since the 2005 season after gain his card by winning the 2004 Challenge Tour Rankings with € 95,980 earned from the 13 events he played in. He achieved his maiden win on the European Tour in the 2011 season by winning the Bankia Madrid Masters. His career year to date on the European Tour came in the 2012 season where he earned € 494,398 from the 25 events he played in and he finished in 59th position on the final 2012 Race to Dubai Money list standings. I feel win number two can’t be too far off.

Rounding out the top ten in tied for tenth position at 279-9 after 72 holes was Graeme Storm (England); he earned € 17,925.00 for his efforts and moved to 104th position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 108,993 earned from the 16 events he has played to date this year so far. From the 16 events he has played to date this year so far he has made nine cuts and this was the first top ten finish he had achieved this year. He has been playing the European Tour full time for the past eight consecutive seasons with easily keeping his card for the next season every year. His career year on the European Tour to date so far was in the 2007 season where he earned € 1,209,673 from the 33 events he played in and he finished in 16th position on the then final 2007 European Tour Order of Merit list standings. He also achieved his maiden European Tour win that same season at the Open de France ALSTOM. Let’s hope he can have some more top ten finishes in the weeks to come? Also tied for tenth position was Shiv Kapur (India); he also earned € 17,925.00 for his efforts and moved to 144th position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 57,106 earned from the six events he has played to date this year so far. From those five events he has played to date this year so far he has made three cuts and this was his first top ten finish he has achieved so far this season. He has been playing the European Tour fulltime since the 2006 season and his career year to date so far came in 2010 where he earned € 277,161 from the 32 events he played in and finished in 97th position on the final 2010 Race to Dubai Money list standings.

Also tied for tenth position was Alexander Levy (France); he also earned € 17,925.00 for his efforts and moved to 187th position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 30,372 earned from the ten events he has played to date this year so far. From those ten events he has played to date this year so far he has made five cuts and this was his first top ten finish he has achieved this season so far and also was his very first one in his European Tour career being in his rookie season. He gained his 2013 European Tour card by finishing in 24th equal position at the 2012 Qualifying School Final Stage. He is still very young being only 22 years of age and has a very bright future in the game. Let’s hope he can have some more top ten finishes in the weeks to come. The final player to tie for tenth position was Lorenzo Gagli (Italy); he also earned € 17,925.00 for his efforts and moved to 90th position on the current 2013 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 151,679 earned from the 17 events he has played to date this year so far. From those 17 events he has played in so far this year he has made nine cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that includes the one here. He has been playing the European Tour fulltime since the 2011 season after gaining his full European Card by finishing in 17th position on the final 2010 Challenge Tour Rankings with € 62,545 earned from the 14 events he played in. His career year to date on the European Tour came in his rookie season in 2011 where he earned € 622,846 from the 25 events he played in and finished in 49th position on the final 2011 Race to Dubai Money list standings. His maiden win on the European Tour can’t be too far away and maybe it will happen in the 2013 season?

Next week the European Tour and Race to Dubai and the rest of the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world head to USA for 113th US Open Championship which is the second Major Championship of the year and it is played on Merion GC, Ardmore, Pennsylvania. It carries a prize purse of US $8,000,000 for the taking. All the big names in golf will be there with the likes of Tiger Woods (USA) and Rory McILroy (USA) who are the World Number One and Two ranked players. Webb Simpson (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 13th June and I will report back who won the Trophy next week. The other event on the European Tour is for the players that are not involved in the 113th US Open Championship. It is the Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open presented by Neuflize OBC and is played on the Aa St Omer GC, St Omer, France. It is co – sanctioned with the Challenge Tour which is the secondary tour to the European Tour. It carries a small prize purse of €500,000 but gives the lesser players on the European Tour and Challenge Tour players a chance to win on the European Tour. Darren Fichardt (RSA) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 13th June 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 and this week it headed to Memphis for the FedEx St. Jude Classic and it was played on the TPC Southwind, Memphis, TN. And it was the golfer by the name of Harris English (USA) who scored rounds of 66-4, 64-6, 69-1 and a final round of 69-1 for a 72 hole total of 268-12 and he won by two strokes for his maiden USPGA Tour win of his career. He earned US $1,026,000.00 for the win and moved to 17th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 1,793,325 earned from the 17 events he has played to date this year so far. Tiger Woods (USA) still leads that list with US $ 5,862,496 earned from the eight events he has played to date this year so far. Harris English (USA) also earned 500 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 13th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 901 points earned from the 17 events he has played to date this year so far. He is 1,444 points behind the current leader of the FedEx Cup who is Tiger Woods who has earned 2,345 points from the eight events he has played to date this year so far. He has a 423 points lead over Matt Kuchar (USA) who is in second place with 1,922 points earned from the 14 events he has played to date this year so far. From the 17 events Harris English (USA) has played to date this year so far he has made 13 cuts and has achieved four top ten finishes which includes the win here.

Harris English (USA) in action during the final round

Harris English (USA) played a steady final round of 69-1 which included a front nine of 37+2 with birdies on the par five, third hole and par three, fourth hole. But he suffered bogeys on the par four, second hole, par four, fifth hole, par three, eight hole and par four, ninth hole. He made the turn and minus nine and was three shots off the lead. Scott Stallings (USA) when out in 31-4 and made the turn at minus 12 and was leading by three shots. Phil Mickelson (USA) went out in 34-1 and made the turn at eight under and was four shots behind the leader.

Harris English (USA) played holes ten to 15 in one under par and moved to minus ten and was now tied for the lead with three holes to play. Scott Stallings (USA) played holes ten to 15 in two over par and fell back to minus ten and was now tied for the lead with three holes to play. Phil Mickelson (USA) played holes ten to 15 in even par to remain at minus eight and was now only two shots behind the leaders with three holes to play. Harris English (USA) birdied both the par five, 16th hole and par four, 17th hole to move to minus 12 and now was in the lead by one shot with just the 72nd hole to play. Scott Stallings (USA) birdied the par five, 16th hole and pared the par four, 17th hole and was minus eleven with just the par four, 72nd hole to play and now was one shot behind the leader. Phil Mickelson (USA) birdied the par five, 16th hole and pared the par four, 17th hole to move to minus nine with just the par four, 72nd hole to play and was three strokes behind the leader.

Phil Mickelson (USA) playing in a couple of groups ahead of the leaders made a fine birdie up the par four, 72nd hole where he struck his short iron to within a foot of the cup and that gave him a tap in putt for his birdie three and he finished at minus ten for the 72 holes and was two shots behind the winner. Scott Stallings (USA) made an untimely bogey up the par four, 72nd hole and fell back to minus ten after 72 holes and finished two strokes behind the winner. Harris English (USA) hit a fine tee shot down the par four, 72nd hole. It is a very scary tee shot with water on the left and if you bail out to the right there are trees to get in the way of your second shot. He chose driver and stuck it confidently down the right centre part of the fairway. He then was faced with a short iron for his second shot and of course there was water waiting on the left if he pulled it slightly. But he struck a very sensible shot into the heart of the green to within twenty feet of the pin. He easily two putted for his par four and finished the 72 holes at minus 12 to win by two strokes for his maiden USPGA Tour Victory. He gave his caddie a huge high five to celebrate!!

Harris English (USA) poses with the FedEx St. Jude Classic Trophy he won!!

Harris English (USA) has been playing the USPGA Tour for the past two seasons and that includes this one. He gained his USPGA Tour card by finishing in tied for 13th position at the 2011 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament and gained his full USPGA Tour Card for the 2012 season. He had a brilliant rookie season in 2012 with playing in 27 events and making 22 cuts that included three top ten finishes with his best being a tied for fifth position at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. He finished in 79th position on the final 2012 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,186,003 earned and he easily kept his card for the 2013 season. I feel now he has got a taste of winning his second win can’t be too far off and maybe it will happen this season as well? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.

Coming in tied for second position at 270-10 after 72 holes was Scott Stallings (USA); he earned US $501,600.00 for his efforts and moved to 27th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,474,501 earned from the 17 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 245 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 24th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 738 Points earned from the 17 events he has played to date this year so far. From those 17 events he has played to date this year so far he has made eight cuts and achieved four top ten finishes that includes the one here and his last three starts have been top ten finishes. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2011 season after finishing in tied for eleventh position at the 2010 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament which gave him full status on the USPGA Tour for the 2011 season. In his rookie season on the USPGA Tour in 2011 he played in 28 events and earned US $1,957,162 which included making 13 cuts and achieving two top ten finishes and one of them was his maiden win at the Greenbrier Classic in late July. He finished in 41st position on the final 2011 USPGA Tour Money list standings which was an amazing rookie season for him. And with his maiden win it gave him exempt status on the USPGA Tour till the end of the 2013 season. He had a slightly worse season in 2012 on the USPGA Tour with earning US $1,293,739 earned from the 27 events he played in and that included making 12 cuts and achieving three top ten finishes which included his second win on the USPGA Tour that came at the True South Classic in July. He finished in 66th position on the final 2012 USPGA Tour Money list standings and because of his win at the True South Classic he is exempt on the USPGA Tour till the end of the 2013/14 season. I feel the form he is in at the moment his third USPGA Tour win isn’t too far off and maybe it will come in the 2013 season.

Also tied for second position was Phil Mickelson (USA); he too earned US $501,600.00 for his efforts and moved to fourth position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,721,880 earned from the 12 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 245 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to fifth position on the current FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,248 points earned from the 12 events he has played to date this year so far. From the 12 events he has played to date this year so far he has made ten cuts and achieved four top ten finishes that includes this one and also he won the Waste Management Phoenix Open in early February. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour Fulltime since the 1992 season and has easily kept his card every season since and has current career earnings on USPGA Tour of US $70,366,578. And that includes having 41 USPGA Tour wins to date so far in his career which includes four Major Championship titles as well and here they are from the first to the 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. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he won his fifth Major Championship this year and maybe it will happen next week at the 113th US Open Championship? 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 fourth position at 271-9 after 72 holes was Ryan Palmer (USA); he earned US $273,600.00 for his efforts and moved to 28th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,412,028 earned from the 15 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 135 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 28th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 704 points earned from the 15 events he has played to date this year so far. From those 15 events he has played to date this year so far he has made 12 cuts and achieved four top ten finishes that includes the one here. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2004 season and has managed to keep his card or at least semi status on the USPGA Tour for the next season every season since. He has won three events on the USPGA Tour in that time and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2004 FUNAI Classic at the WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort, 2008 Ginn sur Mer Classic and the 2010 Sony Open in Hawaii. I feel his fourth win isn’t too far away and might just coming in the 2013 season.

Coming in solo fifth position at 272-8 after 72 holes was Patrick Reed (USA); he earned US $228,000.00 for his efforts and moved to 87th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $572,477 earned from the 17 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 110 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 99th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 319 points earned from the 17 events he has played to date this year so far. From those 17 events he has played to date this year so far he has made nine cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that includes the one here. And this was also his best USPGA Tour finish of his career to date. He is in his Rookie Season on the USPGA Tour after gaining his 2013 USPGA Tour card by finishing in tied for 22nd position at the 2012 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament. He is still very young with only being 22 years of age and turns 23 in early August. I feel a couple more top ten finishes will secure his full playing status for the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season.

Coming in solo sixth position at 273-7 after 72 holes was John Rollins (USA); he won US $205,200.00 for his efforts and moved to 48th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,086,591 earned from the 16 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 100 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 34th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 635 points earned from the 16 events he has played to date so far this year. From the 16 events he has played to date this year so far he has made 12 cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that have come in his last two events that he has played in which includes this one. He has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2002 season and has easily kept his card for the next season every season since. In that time he has achieved three wins on the USPGA Tour and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2002 Bell Canadian Open, 2006 B.C. Open presented by Turning Stone Resort and the 2009 Legends Reno-Tahoe Open. I feel his fourth win on the USPGA Tour is just around the corner.

Coming in tied for seventh position at 274-6 after 72 holes was Rory Sabbatini (USA); he earned US $177,650.00 for his efforts and moved to 111th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list rankings with US $432,245 earned from the 15 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 85 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 115th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 269 points earned from the 15 events he has played to date this year so far. From the 15 events he has played in to date this year so far he has made eight cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that includes the one here. He has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 1999 season in that time he has kept his card for the next year ever season since. He has also achieved six wins on the USPGA Tour and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2000 Air Canada Championship, 2003 FBR Capital Open, 2006 Nissan Open, 2007 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, 2009 HP Byron Nelson Championship and the 2011 The Honda Classic. I feel his seventh win isn’t too far off and may well happen in the 2013 season. Also tied for seventh position was Justin Hicks (USA); he too earned US $177,650.00 for his efforts and moved to 77th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $676,525 earned from the 17 events he has played in to date so far this year. He also earned 85 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 79th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 390 points earned from the 17 events he has played to date this year so far. From those 17 events he has played to date this year so far he has made 13 cuts and this was his very first top ten finish he has achieved this season to date so far. It was also his best every career USPGA Tour finish of his career to date. He gained back his USPGA Tour card by finishing in eleventh position on the final 2012 Web.com Tour Money list standings with US $ 277,159 earned from the 25 events he played in. I feel another top ten finish in the coming weeks and he will secure his playing rights for the 2013/14 season.

The final player to tie for seventh position was Shawn Stefani (USA); he too earned US $177,650.00 for his efforts and moved to 110th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $432,351 earned from the 15 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 85 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 120th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 255 points earned from the 15 events he has played to date this year so far. From the 15 events he has played to date this year so far he has made seven cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that includes the one here. He is in his rookie year on the USPGA Tour after qualifying by finishing in six position on the final 2012 Web.com Tour Money list standings with US $ 307,371 earned from 24 events he played in. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup and the rest of the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world head to Pennsylvania for 113th US Open Championship which is the second Major Championship of the year and it is played on Merion GC, Ardmore, Pennsylvania. It carries a prize purse of US $8,000,000 for the taking. All the big names in golf will be there with the likes of Tiger Woods (USA) and Rory McILroy (USA) who are the World Number One and Two ranked players. Webb Simpson (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. It starts on Thursday 13th June and I will report back who won the Trophy next week.

So to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list this week and coming in at Number One Position for the 635th week of his career in total is the Tiger Woods (USA) who is fresh off his win at the Players Championship a month ago with 13.11 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 9.86 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Adam Scott (Australia) fresh off his maiden Major Championship win at the Masters Tournament two months ago with 7.58 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Matt Kuchar (USA) who is fresh off his win at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance a week ago with 6.81 Official Golf World Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list this week is Justin Rose (England) with 6.37 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Michael Hendry (NZL) fresh off  his tie for 55th position at the at the Volvo China Open five weeks ago is the highest ranked New Zealander Golfer in the world for the seventeenth straight week of his career. This week he slips five places and moves to 170th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 1.04 Official Golf World Ranking Points.

Remember there are four ways to miss a putt but if you get the ball to the hole you eliminate one of them!!

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com