Golf Events from the Weekend 14th July 2013

Well it was another awesome weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world. This week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup headed to Silvis for the John Deere Classic and it was played on the TPC Deere Run, Silvis, IL. And it was the golfer by the name of Jordan Spieth (USA) who scored rounds of 70-1, 65-6, 65-6 and a final round of 65-6 which included an amazing holed bunker shot on the 18th hole for a birdie three and he had a 72 hole total of 265-19 after 72 holes but he was joined on that score by Zach Johnson (USA) who scored rounds of 64-7, 66-5, 67-4 and a final round of 68-3 for a 72 hole total of 265-19 after 72 holes also. The final player to tie on that same score was David Hearn (Canada) who scored rounds of 66-5, 66-5, 64-7 and a final round of 69-2 for a 72 hole total of 265-19 after 72 holes. So those three players headed back to the 18th tee for the first playoff hole.

All three players managed to make solid par four’s on the first playoff hole which was the par four, 18th hole. So all three players head back to the par four, 18th hole for the second playoff hole. This time Zach Johnson (USA) and David Hearn (Canada) hit the green in regulation and had good chances at birdie threes. Jordan Spieth (USA) missed his second shot to the right of the green but was able to get up and down for his par four. David Hearn (USA) then putted for his birdie three from 30 feet short of the hole. He struck a good putt but it came up short of the cup by about a foot. He easily tapped in for his par four. Zach Johnson (USA) now had a birdie putt from 20 feet to win his second consecutive John Deere Classic title. He struck a very good putt but it just missed on the right hand side and rolled a couple of feet past the cup and he easily tapped in for his par four. So those three players headed to the par three, 16th hole for the third playoff hole.

They all hit the par three, 16th hole in regulation. Jordan Spieth (USA) putted from about 30feet for his birdie two and just missed but he easily tapped in for his par three. Zach Johnson (USA) putted from 20 feet above the hole for his birdie but he also just missed and tapped in for his par three. That meant that David Hearn (Canada) now had a chance from 12 feet for his birdie putt to win the John Deere Classic for his maiden USPGA Tour win. He struck a good putt but it just missed on the right hand side and that meant that all three players were now headed to the Par five, 17th tee for the fourth playoff hole.

Zach Johnson (USA) and David Hearn (Canada) hit brilliant drives in the middle of the fairway down the par five, 17th hole. Jordan Spieth (USA) pulled his drive into the left rough. Jordan Spieth (USA) played his second shot first and laid up within 100yards of the green in the middle of the fairway. David Hearn (Canada) played next with his long iron and missed the green pin high to the left. Zach Johnson (USA) played his second shot last with his three wood. He hit a good shot but it just came up a little short in the front green side bunker. Jordan Spieth (USA) played his third shot with his 60 degree wedge and he hit it slight too far and it came to rest on the back fringe leaving a difficult up and down. David Hearn (Canada) played next and hit a brilliant chip and run shot that came to rest six feet from the pin. Zach Johnson (USA) played an average green side bunker shot out to 15 feet past the cup. Jordan Spieth (USA) now putted from the back fringe for his birdie four, in his mind he was properly thinking he needed to hole the putt to stay in the playoff. Hence he struck it a little too hard and it rolled seven feet past the cup. Zach Johnson (USA) putted for his birdie four from 15 feet, but it just broke left at the cup and he had to settle for his par five. Jordan Spieth (USA) now putted for his par five from seven feet and rolled it straight in the centre of the cup. So the stage was all set for David Hearn’s (Canada) second attempt at winning the John Deere Classic. He struck a solid putt from six feet but it just caught the right hand edge of the cup and spun out. He tapped in for his par five so all three players were heading back to the par four, 18th hole for the fifth playoff hole.

So to the fifth playoff hole which was the par four, 18th hole. All three players lost their drives to the right of the fairway in the trees. David Hearn (Canada) played his second shot first and he had to play a low hook around a big tree that he missed by inches and narrowly missed going in the water. His ball came to rest in the left hand rough about 80 yards from the green. Zach Johnson (USA) was almost completely blocked out with a tree in the way of his shot. He had two options; one was to chip out sideways back into the fairway and hope he could get up and down for his par four and the second option was to try and hook it round the trees and have a chance of it hitting the green. He chose the latter but it was a bad choice because it hit a tree solid and bounced off the tree sharp left into the water hazard. Jordan Spieth (USA) played his second shot last and chose to knock down a seven iron underneath the tree with a slight fade. He played a brilliant shot that was low enough to miss the tree branches and it landed in the fairway just short of the green and rolled just through the green into the back fringe and virtually securing his par four. David Hearn (Canada) played next and now knew if he was going to extend the playoff to a six hole he would need to get up and down. He struck a good short wedge shot in to within 15 feet of the cup. Zach Johnson (USA) took his penalty drop from the hazard and played a good wedge shot that landed 18 feet to the left of the pin. Jordan Spieth (USA) chose to putt his ball from the back fringe from about twenty feet and rolled to within two feet of the cup. Zach Johnson (USA) then sank his 18 foot bogey putt but deep down he knew is wasn’t enough. David Hearn (Canada) now stood over his 15 foot par putt knowing he would have to hole it to take the playoff to a sixth hole. He struck a solid putt but it just missed to the right hand side and he tapped in for his bogey five. Jordan Spieth (USA) now had his two foot par putt to win his maiden USPGA Tour event at age 19. He steadied himself and rolled it right in the centre of the cup. He celebrated by giving his caddie a huge high five and hug!!

 

Jordan Spieth (USA) on the left embraces with his caddie after holing the winning putt!!

With his win on Sunday at the John Deere Classic, 19-year-old Jordan Spieth (USA) became the youngest PGA TOUR winner in 82 years. He's also the first teenager to win on TOUR since Ralph Guldahl (USA) captured the Santa Monica Open in 1931. With the win Jordan Spieth (USA) became a full USPGA Tour Member. He won US $828,000.00 for the win and moved to 17th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,034,179 earned from the 16 events he has played to date this year so far. Tiger Woods (USA) still leads that list with US $ 5,909,742 earned from the nine events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 500 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to eleven position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 1,114 points earned from the 16 events he has played to date this year so far. He is 1,266 points behind the current leader of the 2013 FedEx Cup Points standings list and that is Tiger Woods (USA) who has earned 2,380 points from the nine events he has played to date this year so far. Tiger Woods (USA) has a 416 points lead over Matt Kuchar (USA) is in second place with 1,964 points earned from the 15 events he has played to date this year so far. From the 16 events Jordan Spieth (USA) has played to date this year so far he has made 12 cuts and achieved six top ten finishes including the win here.

Jordan Spieth (USA) made people really take notice of him in his first ever USPGA Tour event he played as a 16 year old Amateur at the 2010 HP Byron Nelson Championship where he scored rounds of 68-2, 69-1, 67-3 and a final round of 72+2 for a 72 hole total of 276-4 and he tied for 16th position while still attending the University of Texas. In the 2011 HP Byron Nelson Championship he played in it again as a 17 year old Amateur and this time he scored rounds of 69-1, 68-2, 72+2 and a 77+7 which was played in extremely windy conditions for a 72 hole total of 286+6 and he tied for 32nd position. In 2012 he played in five more USPGA Tour events as an Amateur and made the cut in three of them with his best finish being tied for 21st at the 112th US Open Championship and he also achieved low Amateur Honours. He decided to turn professional in December of 2012 in the midst of sophomore year at the University of Texas. This win also earned him the last invitation into The Open Championship in Muirfield, Scotland, this week. He joined 27 other players on the John Deere Classic's chartered jet from Moline, Ill., to Scotland. He also is now exempt on the USPGA Tour till the end of the 2015 season and he also gains starts in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at the beginning of the 2014 season and the Masters Tournament next April. He is just an Amazing talent and now he has got his maiden USPGA Tour win I feel he can only go from strength to strength. He is sure to be a Superstar in World Golf for many years to come. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.

Jordan Spieth (USA) poses with the John Deere Classic Trophy he won!!

Coming in tied for second position at 265-19 after 72 holes and losing on the five playoff hole as I mentioned earlier was Zach Johnson (USA); he earned US $404,800.00 for his efforts and moved to 48th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,316,515 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 34th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 734 points earned from the 17 events he has played to date this year so far. From the 17 events he has played to date this year so far he has made 13 cuts and this was his second top ten finish of the season so far. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2004 season after gaining his card by finishing at the top of the 2003 final Web.com Tour Money list with US $ 494,882 earned from the 20 events he played in. In his rookie season on the USPGA Tour he won his maiden USPGA Tour event which was the BellSouth Classic. He has easily kept his card every year since and has won at least US$ 1million in all of those seasons. He has won nine events on the USPGA Tour so far in his career and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2004 BellSouth Classic, 2007 Masters Tournament (Maiden Major Championship, AT&T Classic, 2008 Valero Texas Open, 2009 Sony Open in Hawaii, Valero Texas Open, 2010 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, 2012 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and the John Deere Classic. I feel his second Major Championship win isn’t too far away and perhaps it will happen in the 2013 season? This finish was also a great defence of his title after winning the John Deere Classic in 2012. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.

The final player to tie for second position and also losing on the fifth playoff hole as I mentioned earlier was David Hearn (Canada); he too earned US $404,800.00 for his efforts and moved to 63rd position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,026,715 earned from the 21 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 245 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 46th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 683 points earned from the 21 events he has played to date this year so far. From those 21 events he has played to date this year so far he has made 13 cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that includes the one here. David Hearn (Canada) has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime on and off since the 2004 season after gaining his card by finishing in tied for 21st position at the 2004 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament. In his rookie season in the 2005 season he played really poor with only making ten cuts from the twenty four events he played in and achieved no top ten finishes. He only earned US $197,453 and found himself back on the Web.com Tour for the 2006 – 2010 seasons. In 2010 he had a very good season on the Web.com Tour with earning US $230,440 from the 25 events he played in and that included making 16 cuts and achieving five top ten finishes. He finished in twenty first position on the final 2010 Web.com Tour Money list standings and gained back his full USPGA Tour card for the 2011 season. In 2011 in his second try at USPGA Tour fulltime he had a much better season with earning US $869,072 from the 26 events he played in and achieved three top ten finishes, he easily kept his card for the 2012 season. In 2012 he had an even better season with earning US $1,012,575 from the 28 events he played in and he achieved two top ten finishes, again easily keeping his card for the 2013 season. And this year he has got off to his best start ever in his first four seasons playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime. Perhaps his maiden win on the USPGA Tour will come in the 2013 season?

Coming in tied for fourth position at 266-18 after 72 holes was Martin Flores (USA); he earned US $190,133.34 for his efforts and moved to 100th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $684,710 earned from the twenty events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 115 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 82nd position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup points list standings with 476 FedEx Cup Points earned from the twenty events he has played to date this year so far. From the twenty events he has played to date this year so far he has made 13 cuts and achieved two top ten finishes including the one here. This was also his career best finish on the USPGA Tour to date so far in his career. He first qualified for the USPGA Tour in 2010 by finishing in solo fourth position at the 2009 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament. But failed to keep his card in 2010 and found himself back on the Web.com Tour for the 2011 season. But he found himself back on the USPGA Tour for the 2012 season by finishing in 24th position on the final 2011 Web.com Tour Money list with US $182,612 earned from the 25 events he played in. In 2012 he had his career year to date on the USPGA Tour with earning US $1,035,569 earned from the 30 events he played in and achieved two top ten finishes including his career best finish on the USPGA Tour to date which came at the Greenbrier Classic. Now his is virtually assured of retaining his card for the 2013/14 season. Perhaps he can win his maiden USPGA Tour event in the remaining events in the 2013 season?

Also tied for fourth position was Jerry Kelly (USA); he too earned US $190,133.34 for his efforts and moved to 90th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $799,455 earned from the 19 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 115 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 71st position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 557 points earned from the 19 events he has played to date this year so far. From the 19 events he has played to date this year so far he has made 13 cuts and this was his second top ten finish he has achieved to date so far this year. In 2012 he finished in 126th position on the final USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 645,701 earned from the 26 events he played in and that meant he missed out on gaining his full status on the USPGA Tour for the 2013 season by one place. But he has managed to get 19 starts so far on the limited status he has. In his USPGA Tour Career to date so far he has achieved three USPGA Tour wins and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2002 Sony Open in Hawaii, Advil Western Open and the 2009 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He turns 47 in November and no doubt will be eying the Champions Tour in just over three years time. The final player to tie for fourth position was the 54 hole Tournament Leader, Daniel Summerhays (USA); he too earned US $190,133.34 for his efforts and moved to 93rd position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings list with US $750,686 earned from the twenty events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 115 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 86th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 459 points earned from the twenty events he has played to date so far. From the twenty events he has played to date this year so far he has made eleven cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the one here. This finish was also his equal best finish of his career on the USPGA Tour to date so far. Last year (2012) was his best year of his short USPGA Tour career to date so far where he earned US $1,111,522 from the 26 events he played in and that included four top ten finishes with his best being his tied for fourth at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance which was his best equal finish on the USPGA Tour to date so far. He ended up finishing in 92nd position on the final 2012 USPGA Tour money list standings. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.

Coming in tied for seventh position at 267-17 after 72 holes was Patrick Reed (USA); he earned US $143,366.67 for his efforts and moved to 86th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $822,799 earned from the twenty one events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 85 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 80th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 487 points earned from the twenty one events he has played to date this year so far. From the twenty one events he has played to date this year so far he has made 12 cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which 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 now he has earned enough money to secure his full playing status for the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season. And it is nice that he has his wife Justine who is a registered nurse is Caddying for him in his rookie season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.

Justine Reed (USA) on left who is Patrick Reed's Wife and also his caddie

Also tied for seventh position was Matt Jones (Australia); he too earned US $143,366.67 for his efforts and moved to 55th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,227,057 earned from the 19 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 85 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 42nd position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 708 points earned from the 19 events he has played to date this year so far. From the 19 events he has played to date this year so far he has made 14 cuts and achieved three top ten finishes including the one here. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2008 season after gaining his full USPGA Tour card by finishing in seventh position on the final 2007 Web.com Tour Money list with US $302,227 earned from the 25 events he played in. In his rookie season on the USPGA Tour in 2008 he earned US $775,899 from the 31 events he played in and that included achieving two top ten finishes and he finished in 135th position on the final 2008 USPGA Tour money list standings only giving him conditional status on the USPGA Tour for the 2009 season. He went to the 2008 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament but failed to get his full playing status back and finished in tied for 107th position. In the 2009 season he choose to play in as many USPGA Tour events he could gain starts in which was 17 and he earned US $593,313 and that included making 12 cuts and achieving two top ten finishes. He finished in 134th position on the final 2009 USPGA Tour Money list standings and again only gave him conditional status on the USPGA Tour for the 2010 season. He went back to the 2009 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament and this time gained his full status back for the 2010 USPGA Tour season by finishing in solo third position.

In his 2010 season on the USPGA Tour he had a much better season with earning US $1,215,743 from the 27 events he played in and made 17 cuts that included achieving five top ten finishes and he finished in 72nd position on the final 2010 USPGA Tour Money list standings easily keeping his full playing status for the 2011 season. In his 2011 season on the USPGA Tour he earned US $602,392 from the 25 events he played in and he made 15 cuts and achieved only one top ten finish. He finished in 133rd position on the final 2011 USPGA Tour Money list standings and once again he found himself in the position of only having conditional status for the 2012 season. He went back to the 2011 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament and failed to gain his full status back for the 2012 USPGA Tour season by finishing in tied for 38th position. He choose to play in as many tournaments he could gain starts in the 2012 season and that was 19 with making eight cuts and only achieving one top ten finish and he earned US $300,254 and finished in 172nd position on the final 2012 USPGA Tour Money list standings and that left him with no status at all for the 2013 season. He went back to the 2012 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament and finished in tied for 14th position gaining his full USPGA Tour card back for the 2013 season. Now he has earned enough money keep his full playing status for the 2013/14 season, he can now focus on achieving his maiden win in 2013.

The final player to tie for seventh position was J. J. Henry (USA); he too earned US $143,366.67 for his efforts and moved to 99th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $688,579 earned from the twenty one events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 85 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 92nd position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 429 points earned from the twenty one events he has played to date this year so far. From the twenty one events he has played to date this year so far he has made 13 cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that includes the one here. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2001 season and has easily kept his card for the following season every season since. In that time has career earnings to date of US $ $13,480,494 earned from the 380 events he has played in so far. He has also won two events on the USPGA Tour with his maiden one coming at the 2006 Buick Championship and his second one coming at the 2012 Reno-Tahoe Open. I am sure his third win isn’t too far off and maybe it will come in the 2013 season?

Rounding out the top ten in tied for tenth position at 268-16 after 72 holes was Steve Stricker (USA); he earned US $119,600.00 for his efforts and moved to 12th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $119,600.00 earned from the eight events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 73 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to twentieth position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 990 points earned from the eight events he has played to date this year so far. From those eight events he has played to date this year so far he has made all eight cuts and achieved five top ten finishes including the one here. He has said this year he is going to play in fewer tournaments because he wants to spend more time with his family. Since first joining the USPGA Tour fulltime in the 1994 season by finishing in tied for 18th position at the 1993 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament he has earned US $37,386,307 from the 424 events he has played so far in his career to date. He has also won 12 USPGA Tour events and here they are from the first to the most recent: 1996 Kemper Open, Motorola Western Open, 2001 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, 2007 The Barclays, 2009 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, John Deere Classic, Deutsche Bank Championship, 2010 Northern Trust Open, John Deere Classic, 2011 the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance, John Deere Classic, 2012 Hyundai Tournament of Champions. I feel his thirteenth win on the USPGA Tour can’t be too far away? Also I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins a Major Championship in the near future. I wish him all the best for the rest 2013 season.

The final player to tie for tenth position was Jim Herman (USA); he too earned US $119,600.00 for his efforts and moved to 156th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $292,796 earned from the 15 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 73 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 149th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 218 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 this was his first top ten finish of the season he has achieved to date so far and also it was his career best USPGA Tour finish to date so far in his career. He first gained his USPGA Tour card in the 2011 season after finishing in 19th position on the final 2010 Web.com Tour Money list standings with US $ 238,847 earned from the 25 events he played in. His rookie year in 2011 on the USPGA Tour was not good at all and he only earned US $196,845 from the 22 events he played in with only making 13 cuts and achieving no top ten finishes. He finished in 189th position on the final 2011 USPGA Tour Money list standings and lost all his status on the USPGA Tour for the 2012 season. He went back to the 2011 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament and finished in 30th position just missing out on a full playing card for the 2012 USPGA Tour season. He played the Web.com Tour fulltime in the 2012 season and earned US $182,001 from the 26 events he played in and that included making 17 cuts and achieving three top ten finishes. He finished in 25th position on the final 2012 Web.com Tour Money list and got the last USPGA Tour card on offer for the 2013 season. Let’s hope he can have some more top ten finishes in the weeks to come?

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup and all the other Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world head to Muirfield, East Lothian, Scotland for the third Major Championship of the year which is the 142nd Open Championship. All the big names in the game will be there including Tiger Woods (USA), Rory McILroy (NIR) and the US Open Champion, Justin Rose (England). It carries a huge prize purse of US $8,000,000. Ernie Els (RSA) is the defending Champion and will be keen for back to back titles. It starts on Thursday 18th July and I will report back who won the Claret Jug next week. And for the players that haven’t got a start in the Open Championship there is the Sanderson Farms Championship and it is played on the Annandale GC, Madison, MS. It carries a good prize purse of US $3,000,000 for the taking. Scott Stallings (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen for back to back titles. It starts on Thursday 18th July 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 640th week of his career in total is the Tiger Woods (USA) who is fresh off his win at the Players Championship over two months ago with 12.37 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 8.79 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Justin Rose (England) fresh off his maiden Major Championship win at the 113th US Open Championship four weeks ago with 7.82 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Adam Scott (Australia) who won his maiden Major Championship at the Masters Tournament over two months ago with 7.07 Official Golf World Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list this week is Phil Mickelson who is fresh off his victory this past week at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open with 6.68 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Michael Hendry (NZL) fresh off  his tie for 6th position at the Gate Way To The Open Mizuno Open 2013 on the Japan Golf Tour two weeks ago is the highest ranked New Zealander Golfer in the world for the twenty third straight week of his career. This week he slips seven places and moves to176th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 1.03 Official Golf World Ranking Points.

Remember the old saying “Trees are ninety percent air!!”

Source: pgatour.com