Golf Events from the Weekend 30th June 2013

Well it was another awesome weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup headed to the Nation’s Capital for the AT&T National and it was played on the Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, MD. And it was the golfer by the name of Bill Haas (USA) who scored rounds of 70-1, 68-3, 68-3 and a final round of 66-5 for a 72 hole total of 272-12 and he won by three shots for his fifth win on the USPGA Tour of his career to date. He won US $1,170,000.00 for the win and moved to seven position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,761,333 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 the win and move to seventh position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,225 points earned from the 16 events he has played to date this year so far. He is 1,125 points behind the current leader of the FedEx Cup who 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) who has earned 1,964 points from the 15 events he has played to date this year so far. From the 16 events Bill Haas (USA) has played to date this year so far he has made 12 cuts and achieved seven top ten finishes that includes the win here.

Bill Haas (USA) acknowledges the crowd after holing the winning putt!!

Bill Haas (USA) played a great final round of 66-5 which included a front nine of 34-2 with birdies on the par three, second hole, par four, eighth hole and par five, ninth hole. His lone bogey came on the par four; fifth hole and he made the turn at minus nine and had a one shot lead. Roberto Castro (USA) went out in 35-1 and made the turn at minus eight and was one stroke behind the leader. Bill Haas (USA) birdied the par three, tenth hole and moved to minus ten and now was leading by two shots. Roberto Castro (USA) made a solid par on the par three, tenth hole and remained at minus eight and was now two shots off the lead.

Bill Haas (USA) pared holes 11 to 13 and remained at minus ten with five holes remaining to be played still leading by two shots. Roberto Castro (USA) also pared holes 11 to 13 and remained at minus eight with five holes remaining to be played still two shots of the lead. Bill Haas (USA) and Roberto Castro (USA) both made birdie threes on the par four, 14th hole and Bill Haas (USA) moved to minus eleven and was still leading by two shots and Roberto Castro (USA) moved to minus nine still two shots off the lead with four holes to play. Both players pared the par four, 15th hole.

Bill Haas (USA) made a fine birdie on the par five, 16th hole and moved to minus 12 with two holes remaining to be played and now was leading by three shots. Roberto Castro (USA) made par on the par five, 16th hole and remained minus nine and now found himself three shots behind the leader with two holes to play. Both Bill Haas (USA) and Roberto Castro (USA) made solid par fours on the par four, 17th hole. Bill Haas (USA) now had a three shot lead as he stood on the 18th tee. He struck a very good drive down the par four, 72nd hole and it landed in the right hand side of the fairway. He then struck a fine short iron for his second shot that landed on the right of the green and left himself with a twenty foot putt for his birdie. He now knew he was certain to win the tournament and could enjoy the walk down the hill to the 72nd green. He rolled his first putt up from 20 feet to within a few feet of the cup and easily tapped in for his par four. He gave his caddie a high five to celebrate the win. He scored 32-3 on the back nine and finished the 72 holes on minus 12 to win by three shots. Roberto Castro (USA) made a par four at the par four, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes at minus nine and was three shots behind the winner.

Bill Haas (USA) poses with the AT&T National Trophy he won!!

Bill Haas (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour Fulltime since the 2006 season after gaining his 2006 USPGA Tour card at the 2005 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in tied for 26th position to earn his rookie USPGA TOUR card for 2006 season and to do that he had to make birdie on final hole to earn his card on the number (11-under). Since gaining his full USPGA Tour card in 2006 he has easily kept his card every season for the following season every season since. And in that time he has achieved five wins on the USPGA Tour and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2010 Bob Hope Classic, Viking Classic, 2011 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, 2012 Northern Trust Open and the 2013 AT&T Classic. And in 2011 he won the FedEx Cup in a winner-take-all playoff, he pared the third playoff hole (par-3 18th hole) to defeat Hunter Mahan (USA) to win the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and the FedEx Cup, winning the latter by 15 points over Webb Simpson (USA) and becoming the first player in his 20s to win the season-long competition. He entered the final round three strokes behind Aaron Baddeley (Australia) and Hunter Mahan (USA) but carded a final-round 68-2 to finish regulation tied with Hunter Mahan (USA) at 8-under 272. In the playoff, he appeared to have shot himself out of winning both on the second playoff hole, the Par four, 17th hole at East Lake GC, when his approach to the par 4 landed in the water adjacent to the green. He made a great up and down for par to continue the playoff. As a result of his win, he pocketed the US $1,440,000 first-place cheque and the US $10-million prize for winning the 2011 FedEx Cup. He became just the third player to win the TOUR Championship in his first appearance, joining Chad Campbell (USA) (2003) and Bart Bryant (USA) (2005). He and his father, Jay, are the only father-son combination to tee it up in the TOUR Championship. Now he has achieved his fifth win on the USPGA Tour I feel the next step for him will be to win his maiden Major Championship and I believe it could happen in the 2013 season, perhaps at the Open Championship latter this month? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.

Coming in solo second position at 275-9 after 72 holes was Roberto Castro (USA); he earned US $702,000.00 for his efforts and moved to 52nd position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,186,895 earned from the twenty events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 300 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 41st position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 667 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 12 cuts and this was his first top ten finish he has achieved so far this year and it also was his career best of his USPGA Tour Career to date. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2012 season after gaining his card by finishing in tied for 13th position at the 2011 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament. His rookie year on the USPGA Tour in 2012 was good with making him 19 cuts from the 27 events he entered and he also achieved his first top ten finish at the Greenbrier Classic in early July. He earned US $755,095 and finished in 118th position on the final 2012 USPGA Tour Money list standings and easily kept his card for the 2013 season. Now he has secured his card for the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season, he can now focus on winning his maiden USPGA Tour event. Maybe it will happen in the 2013 season? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.

Coming in tied for third position at 276-8 after 72 holes was D. H. Lee (South Korea); he earned US $377,000.00 for his efforts and moved to 83rd position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $741,830 earned from the 17 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 163 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 99th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 368 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 eleven cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that includes the one here. He also scored the lowest final round of 64-6 by two shots. He is in his rookie season on the USPGA Tour having gained his 2013 USPGA Tour card by winning the 2012 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he birdied his last three holes, and four of his last five, to earn a one-shot victory over Ross Fisher (England) at PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament (25-under 407). The last international player to win Q School was England's Brian Davis (England) in 2004. He is the first player from South Korea to win the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament which was the final one ever. With now his full playing status for the 2013/14 season virtually secured he can now focus on achieving his maiden USPGA Tour win. Perhaps it will happen in the 2013 season?

Also tied for third position was Jason Kokrak (USA); he too earned US $377,000.00 for his efforts and moved to 63rd position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $968,673 earned from the 18 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 163 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 74th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 461 points earned from the 18 events he has played to date this year so far. From the 18 events he has played to date this year so far he has made ten cuts and achieved three top ten finishes including the one here. He has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2012 season after gaining his full USPGA Tour card by finishing in fourth position on the final 2011 Web.com Tour Money list standings with US $ 338,092 earned from the 16 events he played in. In his rookie season on the USPGA Tour in 2012 he played in 27 events and made 13 cuts and achieved two top ten finishes. He finished in 119th position on the final 2012 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $750,221 earned and he easily kept his full playing status for the 2013 season. I feel his maiden win on the USPGA Tour isn’t too far away and maybe it will happen this season?

Coming in solo fifth position at 277-7 after 72 holes was Stewart Cink (USA); he earned US $260,000.00 for his efforts and moved to 66th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $926,348 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 63rd position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 525 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 this year he has made eleven cuts and achieved three top ten finishes that includes the one here. After winning the Open Championship in 2009 his form has slipped and last year he had his worst year on the USPGA Tour in a long time with only making US $477,173 from the 22 events he played in without any top ten finishes. He finished in 149th position on the final 2012 USPGA Tour Money list standings and only keeps his full status for this season from winning the 2009 Open Championship which was his last win on the USPGA Tour. He has achieved six wins on the USPGA Tour to date so far and here they are: 1997 Canon Greater Hartford Open, 2000 MCI Classic, 2004 MCI Heritage, World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational, 2008 Travelers Championship and the 2009 British Open Championship. Perhaps his seventh win will come in the 2013 USPGA Tour season?

Coming in solo sixth position at 278-6 after 72 holes was Jordan Spieth (USA); he earned US $234,000.00 for his efforts but because he isn’t a current member of the USPGA Tour he does get a current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list ranking even though he has earned US $1,153,079 from the 14 events he has played to date this year so far. He is also not able to earn any FedEx Cup Points because he isn’t a current member of the 2013 USPGA Tour. From the 14 events he has played to date this year so far he has made ten cuts and achieved five top ten finishes that includes the one here. He already has secure his full playing status for the 2013/14 season on the USPGA Tour and has unlimited sponsor’s exemptions for the rest of the year. If he can win an event on the USPGA Tour before the FedEx Cup Playoffs start he will become a full USPGA Tour Member and be eligible to play in them. Being only 19 years of age he is a real up and coming talent on the USPGA Tour and I wish him well for the rest of the 2013 season.

Coming in solo seventh position at 279-5 after 72 holes was Charlie Wi (South Korea); he earned US $217,750.00 for his efforts and moved to 105th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $558,709 earned from the 17 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 90 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 108th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 341 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 12 cuts and this was his very first top ten finish he has achieved to date so far this season. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2007 season after gaining his card by finishing in tied for 16th position at the 2006 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament. And since 2007 he has made over US$1million every season since easily keeping his card for the next year every season since. Before this top ten finish he was having a rather poor year. I feel his maiden win on the USPGA Tour isn’t too far off and perhaps it will happen in the 2013 season?

Rounding out the top ten in tied for eighth position on 280-4 after 72 holes was Brian Davis (England); he earned US $175,500.00 for his efforts and moved to 69th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $871,764 earned from the twenty events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 75 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 60th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 551 points earned from the twenty events he has played to date this year so far. From the twenty events he has played in to date this year so far he has made 13 cuts and achieved three top ten finishes that includes the one here. He has made over one million US dollars the previous six season he has played on the USPGA Tour. He will always be remembered for calling a penalty on himself on the first playoff hole in the 2010 Verizon Heritage against Jim Furyk (USA). His second shot landed in the hazard to the left of the par four, 18th green. He choose to play his third shot from there and on his back swing he touched a reed and called a one stroke penalty on himself. It shows the honesty of USPGA Tour players. He went on to lose the playoff. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he won his maiden USPGA Event during the 2013 season. 

Also tied for eighth position was Graham Delaet (Canada); he too earned US $175,500.00 for his efforts and moved to 28th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,523,887 earned from the 18 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 75 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 23rd position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 818 points 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 15 cuts and achieved five top ten finishes that includes this one. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour full time since the 2010 season after gaining his card at the 2009 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in tied for eighth position. In his rookie season on the USPGA Tour in 2010 he had a very good season and earned just under one million US dollars and easily kept his card for the 2011 season. In his second full season on the USPGA Tour in 2011 season he sat out the majority of the campaign due to a back injury and played the 2012 season out of the Major Medical Extension category, where he had 26 events to earn $657,694 in 2012 season. In the 2012 season which was his third full season on the USPGA Tour he earned just over a million US Dollars and easily made the US $657,694 he required to keep his card for the 2013 season. He has already won more money this year than he had his previous three seasons at the same stage. I feel his maiden win on the USPGA Tour isn’t too far away and maybe it will happen in the 2013 season? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.

Also tied for eighth position was Morgan Hoffmann (USA); he too earned US $175,500.00 for his efforts and moved to 85th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $722,880 earned from the 15 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 75 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 113th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 327 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 three top ten finishes which includes his last two events. He gained his full 2013 USPGA Tour card by finishing in 19th position on the final 2012 Web.com Tour Money list standings with US $207,540 earned from the 13 events he played in and that included making 12 cuts and achieving seven top ten finishes. He is still very young being only 23 years old and will gain a lot of confidence out of his past two weeks results. Let’s hope he can have more top ten finishes in the weeks to come.

Also tied for eighth position was Brandt Snedeker (USA); he too earned US $175,500.00 for his efforts and moved to third position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $3,679,155 earned from the 14 events he has played to date so far this year so far. He also earned 75 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to third position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,603 points earned from the 14 events he has played in to date so far this year. From the 14 events he has played to date this year so far he has made ten cuts and did not start in one. He has also achieved seven top ten finishes that includes the one here and also his win at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in early February. He is well on his way to defending the FedEx Cup title he won in 2012. He has won five events on the USPGA Tour to date so far in his career and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2007 Wyndham Championship. 2011 The Heritage. 2012 Farmers Insurance Open, TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and the 2013 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He now has career earnings to date on the USPGA Tour of US $19,777,378 earned from the 180 events he has played in his career to date so far. I feel his sixth win on the USPGA Tour isn’t too far off and perhaps it will be in one of the final two Major Championships this year? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.

The final player to tie for eighth position was James Driscoll (USA); he too earned US $175,500.00 for his efforts and moved to 84th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $740,726 earned from the 18 events he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 75 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 76th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 445 points 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 12 cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that includes the one here. He is coming off a couple of poor season on the USPGA Tour where he has only just managed to earn enough money to earn his full playing status. You would have to think his maiden USPGA Tour victory can’t be too far away? Maybe it will happen in the 2013 season?

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to West Virginia for the Greenbrier Classic and it is played on the Old White TPC, White Sulphur Springs, WV. It carries a huge prize purse of US $6,300,000. Ted Potter, Jr. (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen for back to back titles. It starts on Thursday 4th 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 638th week of his career in total is the Tiger Woods (USA) who is fresh off his win at the Players Championship over a month ago with 12.72 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 9.15 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 two weeks ago with 8.05 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 7.14 Official Golf World Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list this week is Matt Kuchar (USA) who is fresh off his win at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance four weeks ago with 6.64 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 this past week is the highest ranked New Zealander Golfer in the world for the twentieth straight week of his career. This week he gains seven places and moves to166th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 1.06 Official Golf World Ranking Points.

Remember the most important fundamental in the golf swing is to keep your head still!!

Source: pgatour.com