Golf Events from the Weekend 17th November 2013

Well it was another exciting weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup headed to Mexico for the sixth and final event of the 2013 part of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season regular tour events. It was the OHL Classic at Mayakoba and it was played on the El Camaleon, Riviera Maya, Mexico. And it was the golfer by the name of Harris English (USA) who scored rounds of 68-3, 62-9, 68-3 and final round of 65-6 for a 72 hole total of 263-21 and he won by four shots for his second win of his career on the USPGA Tour to date so far. He earned US $1,080,000 for the win and moved to third position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,361,817 earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. Ryan Moore (USA) still leads that list with US $1,520,350 earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. Harris English (USA) also earned 500 FedEx Cup points for the win and moved to second position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 657 points earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far and he is 27 points behind the current leader of the FedEx Cup points standings list who is Jimmy Walker (USA) with 684 FedEx Cup points earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. From the four events Harris English (USA) has played to date this season so far he has made four cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the win here.

Harris English (USA) played an awesome final round of 65-6 which included a front nine of 33-3 where he made birdies on the par four, third hole, par five, fifth hole, par five, seventh hole and par three, eighth hole. His lone bogey came on the par four, second hole and he made the turn at minus 18 and was one shot behind the leader. Brian Stuard (USA) went out in 33-3 and made the turn at minus 16 and was two shots behind the leader. Rory Sabbatini (RSA) went out in 36 even par and made the turn at minus 15 and was four shots behind the leader. Justin Hicks (USA) went out in 30-6 and made the turn at minus 17 and was two shots behind the leader. Robert Karlsson (Sweden) went out in 33-3 and made the turn at minus 19 and was leading by one shot.

 

Harris English (USA) in Action during the final round

Harris English (USA) played holes ten to 14 in three under par and moved to minus twenty one and was now leading by three shots. Brian Stuard (USA) played holes ten to 14 in one under par and moved to minus 17 and was now four shots behind the leader. Rory Sabbatini (RSA) played holes ten to 14 in three under par and moved to minus 18 and was now only three shots behind the leader. Justin Hicks (USA) played holes ten to 14 in one over par and fell back to minus 16 and now was five shots behind the leader. Robert Karlsson (Sweden) played holes ten to 14 in four over par and fell back to minus 15 and any chance he had of victory had all but gone because he was now six strokes behind the leader.

Harris English (USA) played holes 15 to 17 in even par and remained at minus twenty one with just the final hole to play and was leading by four shots. Brian Stuard (USA) played holes 15 to 17 in even par and remained at minus 17 with just the 72nd hole to play and was four shots behind the leader. Rory Sabbatini (RSA) played holes 15 to 17 in one over par and fell back to minus 17 with just the 72nd hole to play and was now four shots behind the leader. Justin Hicks (USA) played holes 15 to 17 in even par and remained at minus 16 with just the 72nd hole to play and was five shots behind the leader. Robert Karlsson (Sweden) played holes 15 to 17 in even par and remained at minus 15 with just the final hole to play and was still six shots behind the leader.

Justin Hicks (USA) playing a few groups ahead of the leaders made a poor bogey up the par four, 72nd hole and finished on minus 15 after 72 holes and was six shots behind the winner. Rory Sabbatini (RSA) also playing a few groups ahead of the leaders made a bogey five on the par four, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes on minus 16 and was five shots behind the winner. Brian Stuard (USA) playing in the group ahead of the final group made a solid par up the par four, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes on minus 17 and was four shots behind the winner. Robert Karlsson (Sweden) who was playing in the same group as Harris English (USA) made a solid par up the par four, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes on minus 15 and was six shots behind the winner. Harris English (USA) stood on the par four, 72nd tee with a four shot lead. He stuck a good drive that landed in the first cut of rough on the left hand side of the fairway. He then hit his second shot with his mid iron right into the centre of the green and he could enjoy the long walk up to the green knowing he had won the tournament. He rolled his first putt up to within two feet of the hole and then he calmed his nerve and sank the two foot par putt for his par four and he scored 32-3 on his back nine. He got a huge high five from his caddie to celebrate!! He finished the 72 holes on minus twenty one to win by four shots!!

Harris English (USA) poses with the OHL Classic at Mayakoba trophy he won!!

Harris English (USA) has been playing on 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 he 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. In the 2013 season he had his career best season to date so far in his career with finishing in 27th position on the final 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 2,201,167 earned from the 26 events he played in and achieved his maiden USPGA Tour win at the FedEx St. Jude Classic in early June. I feel now he has got his second win he will now aim higher and try to win a WGC Event and perhaps even contend for the first Major Championship in 2014 which is the Masters Tournament and is played in his home state of Georgia. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

Coming in solo second position at 267-17 after 72 holes was Brian Stuard (USA); he earned US $648,000.00 for his efforts and moved to tenth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $746,200 earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 300 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to eighth position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 364 points earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. From the four events he has played to date this season so far he has made three cuts and has achieved one top ten finish that came at this very tournament. He is in his second time at playing the USPGA Tour full time having had his rookie season in 2010 where he earned US $536,497 from the 28 events he played in and finished in 154th position on the final 2010 USPGA Tour Money list. He earned his 2013 USPGA Tour card by finishing in 20th position on the final 2012 Web.com Tour Money list with US $ 205,711 earned from the 26 events he played in. In the 2013 season he earned US $1,032,028 from the twenty five events he played in and finished in 79th position on the final 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings. He has made a very solid start to the 2013 part of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season and I feel his maiden win on the USPGA Tour could well happen in 2014? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

Coming in tied for third position at 268-16 after 72 holes was Jason Bohn (USA); he earned US $312,000.00 for his efforts and moved to seventh position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $859,000 earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 145 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to seventh position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 419 points earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. From the four events he has played to date this year so far he has made three cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one here. Jason Bohn (USA) has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2004 season after finishing in ninth position on the final 2003 Web.com Tour Money list standings with US $255,191 earned from the 18 events he played in. He has easily kept his card for the next season every season since on the USPGA Tour and in that time he has won two events on the USPGA Tour with the first being the 2005 B.C. Open and the second one being the 2010 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He has current career earnings on the USPGA Tour to date of US $11,397,909 earned from the 247 events he has played to date so far in his career. It is great to see he has made such a fast start to the 2013/14 season and I wish him all the best in the weeks to come and hope he can achieve his third win in the 2014 part of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season?

   

Also tied for third position was Chris Stroud (USA); he too earned US $312,000.00 for his efforts and moved to eleventh position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $718,000 earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 145 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 14th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 308 points earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. From the four events he has played to date this season so far he has made two cuts and also achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one here. Chris Stroud (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2007 season after he gained his card for the first time at the 2006 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in tied for 16th position. His maiden season on the USPGA Tour in 2007 wasn’t very successful and he was forced to go back to the 2007 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in solo third position to regain his full USPGA Tour card for the 2008 season. Again in his second full season on the USPGA Tour in 2008 he had another poor season and was forced back to the 2008 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in tied for fourth position and gained his 2009 USPGA Tour card back. In 2009 in his third full season on the USPGA Tour he earned enough money to keep his card for the 2010 season by the skin of his teeth. In his fourth full season on the USPGA Tour in 2010 he had a much better season and easily kept his card for the 2011 season. In his fifth full season in 2011 on the USPGA Tour he made just over one million US dollars for the first time in his career and easily kept his card for the 2012 season. In his sixth full season in 2012 on the USPGA Tour he earned just under one million US dollars and easily kept his card for the 2013 season. In his seventh full season he earned the more money than any other of his previous six seasons and he is destined to win his maiden USPGA Tour event very soon I am sure it will happen during the 2013/14 season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

The final player to tied for third position was Rory Sabbatini (USA); he too earned US $312,000.00 for his efforts and moved to twenty fifth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 338,853 earned from the five events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 145 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 32nd position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 160 points earned from the five events he has played to date this season so far. From the five events he has played to date this season so far he has made three cuts and this was his first top ten he has achieved so far to date this season. He has been playing on the USPGA fulltime since the 1999 season and has easily kept his card for the next year every season since. In that time he has amassed career earnings to date of US $26,819,512 from the 383 events he has played in so far in his career to date. 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 wish him all the best for rest of the 2013/14 season.

Coming tied for sixth position at 269-15 after 72 holes was Justin Leonard (USA); he earned US $194,250.00 for his efforts and moved to 47th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 214,735 earned from the three events he has played to date so far this season. He also earned 89 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 66th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 94 points earned from the three events he has played to date this year so far. From the three 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 to date this season so far. He has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 1995 season and has kept his card for the next year every season since. He has current career earnings of US $32,576,023 in his career to date so far from the 532 events he has played to date this season so far. He has also achieved twelve wins on the USPGA Tour which includes the 1997 Open Championship which is his only Major Championship. But in recent years he has slipped in his form and his last win came over five years ago in the 2008 Stanford St. Jude Championship. And in 2012 he lost his full playing status on the USPGA Tour by finishing in 140th position on the final 2012 USPGA Tour Money list standings. In 2013 he had a better season and finished in 119th position on the final 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $694,139 earned from the twenty four events he played in and gained back his fully exempt status for the 2013/14 season. I feel win number 13 can’t be too far off but it will have to wait till at least January now. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season. 

Also tied for sixth position was Justin Hicks (USA); he too earned US $194,250.00 for his efforts and moved to 32nd position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 289,050 earned from the  four events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 89 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 30th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 168 points earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. From the four events he has played to date this season so far he has made three cuts and this was his first top ten finish he has achieved to date so far this season. It was also his best ever USPGA Tour finish of his career to date. He gained back his full 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. In 2013 on the USPGA Tour he had his best season to date with earning US $732,742 from the twenty five events he played in and he finished in 111th position on the final 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings. Let’s hope he can carry on this fine form he has displayed in the 2013 part of the 2013/14 in the early part of 2014 of the 2013/14 season? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

Also tied for sixth position was Charles Howell III (USA); he too earned US $194,250.00 for his efforts and moved to 12th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $688,074 earned from the five events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 89 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to ninth position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 347 points 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 five cuts and achieved three top ten finishes that includes the one here. He has played some great golf this year so far and must be due for his third USPGA Tour win very soon. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2001 season with easily keeping his card every season and has currently earned US $26,314,044 from the 395 USPGA Tour starts he has had to date so far in his career. His maiden USPGA Tour win came at the 2002 Michelob Championship at Kingsmill and his second win came at the 2007 Nissan Open in a playoff over Phil Mickelson (USA). I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

The final player to tie for sixth position was Robert Karlsson (Sweden); he too earned US $194,250.00 for his efforts but because he isn’t a current member of the USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list or FedEx Cup ranking. From the two events he has played to date this year so far he has made two cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one here. He has played the USPGA Tour fulltime for the previous three seasons but in 2012 he failed to earn enough money to keep his full playing status for the 2013 season so he head back to the 2012 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament and finished in tied for 14th position and regained his card for the 2013 season. He had a rather poor 2013 season on the USPGA Tour where he earned US $444,238 from the 18 events he played in and finished in 145th position on the final 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with meant he had no status for the 2013/14 season. He is just starting to regain the confidence in his game after going through a horror run of form. He has played the European Tour fulltime for the past twenty odd years and has easily kept his card every season and achieved eleven wins to date on that tour so far in his career. He has played in the his first two events of the 2013/14 season by gaining sponsor exemption to the first one and achieving a top ten finish which earned him the right to play in this event. By this top ten finish here he gets another start in the first Regular Tour event of the 2014 part of the 2013/14 season which in the Sony Open in Hawaii in early January.  Let’s hope he can have some more top ten finishes in the weeks to come and get back his USPGA Tour card for the 2013/14 season?

Rounding out the top ten in tied for tenth position at 271-13 after 72 holes was Tim Wilkinson (NZL) who scored rounds of 70-1, 63-8, 71 even par and a final round of 67-4 for a 72 hole total of 271-13. He earned US $156,000.00 for his efforts and moved to 59th equal position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $156,000.00 earned from the three events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 73 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 83rd equal position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 73 points earned from the three events he has played to date this season so far and he is currently 611 points behind Jimmy Walker (USA) who is the current leader. From the three events he has played to date this season so far he has made one cut and this was the first top ten finish he has achieved so far this season. Tim Wilkinson (NZL) has been playing the USPGA Tour on and off since the 2008 season after gaining his 2008 USPGA Tour card by finishing in tied for 14th position at the 2007 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament. He had a fine rookie season in 2008 on the USPGA Tour with earning US $1,167,607 from the twenty nine events he played in and achieved three top ten finishes which included a career best to date of tied for second at the Valero Texas Open. He finished in 92nd position on the final 2008 USPGA Tour Money list standings and easily retained his full playing status for the 2009 USPGA Tour season. The 2009 season wasn’t as good for him as he suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb and it required surgery. He only managed to play in 14 events where he earned US $297,008 and achieved another top ten finish at the Verizon Heritage where he tied for sixth position. He finished in 173rd position on the final 2009 USPGA Tour Money list standings but because he missed the second half of the season due to injury he played the 2010 USPGA Tour season on a Major Medical Extension, he had 12 events to earn US $365,675 (coupled with US $297,008 he earned in 2009). But he was only able to earn $160,706 in 15 events and he had to earn the US $365,675 he was required to keep his full playing status and hence he lost his card and was forced back to play on the Web.com Tour.

 In 2011 he played a full schedule on the Web.com Tour and earned US $92,747 from the twenty three events he played in which included two top ten finishes but he finished outside the top twenty five money earners and failed to achieve his 2012 USPGA Tour card. He went to the 2011 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in tied for 72nd position and gained his 2012 Web.com Tour card. In 2012 he had an average season on the Web.com Tour with earning US $100,862 from the twenty seven events he played in which included two top ten finishes. But again he finished outside the top twenty five money earners and missed out on his 2013 USPGA Tour card. He went to the 2012 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in tied for 49th position and gained his 2013 Web.com Tour card. In 2013 he had a very good season on the Web.com Tour with earning US $246,540 from the 19 events he played in and that included achieving six top ten finishes. He finished in 38th position on the final 2013 Web.Com Tour Finals Priority Rankings list and gained his 2013/14 Full USPGA Tour card under the new qualifying format. He will be very pleased he was able to achieve a top ten finish at this tournament because it guarantees him a start in the next tour event in the regular tour season which is the Sony Open in Hawaii in early January. And this finish will also give him confidence heading into his very first ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf next week in Australia where he will partner fellow New Zealand Professional, Michael Hendry (NZL). I wish him every continuing success for the rest of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season.

The final player to tie for tenth position was Bob Estes (USA); he too earned US $156,000.00 for his efforts and moved to 59th equal position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $156,000.00 earned from the two events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 73 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 83rd equal position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 73 points earned from the two events he has played to date this season so far. From the two events he has played to date this season so far he has made one cut and achieved one top ten finish that came at this very tournament. Bob Estes (USA) now at 47 years of age he has been playing on the USPGA Tour for the last 25 years and in that time he has achieved four wins. Here are his four wins on the USPGA Tour from the first to the most recent: 1994 Texas Open, 2001 FedEx St. Jude Classic, Invensys Classic at Las Vegas and the 2002 Kemper Insurance Open. He must be one of the most consistent players on the USPGA Tour over the last 25 years? He has career earnings to date of US $21,536,179 earned from the 632 events he has played to date in his career so far. Now he is less than three years off his 50 Birthday he will be starting to focus on getting ready for the Champions Tour. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

The other New Zealand Golfer in the field was Danny Lee (NZL) and he scored rounds of 72+1 and 71 even for a 36 hole total of 143+1 and missed the cut by two shots. He will be very disappointed with this result as it was the last event of the 2013 part of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season. So far this season he has played in four events and made two cuts with no top ten finishes. He currently lies in 136th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $45,657 earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. He also currently lies in 99th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 63 points earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. From the four events he has played to date this year so far he has made two cuts and achieved no to ten finishes. Danny Lee (NZL) will be looking to get a fast start in the 2014 part of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season. His next event will more than likely be the Sony Open in Hawaii which is the first regular tour event in 2014 in early January. Let’s hope he can have a top ten finish there? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

The USPGA Tour now takes a six week break till the first week in January where it recommences for the 2014 part of the 2013/14 season and the first tournament of 2014 will be the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and it is played on the Plantation Course at Kapalua, Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. It carries a huge prize purse of US $6,000,000. Only the winners from the 2013 USPGA Tour season and the 2013 part of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season are eligible to play in it. Dustin Johnson (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. It starts on Friday 3rd January 2014 and I will report back who won the trophy in six weeks time. But the big event next week is the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf and it is played on the Royal Melbourne GC, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It carries a huge prize purse of US $7,000,000 for the taking. The field consists of a field of 60 players with a maximum of two players from each country and there is also an individual stroke play competition as well. There will be 34 countries represented. Matt Kuchar (USA) and Gary Woodland (USA) are the defending Champions for USA and will be keen for back to back titles but this time Kevin Streelman (USA) replaces Gary Woodland (USA). It starts on Thursday 21st November 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 657th week of his career in total is Tiger Woods (USA) who is fresh off his tied for third position at the Turkish Airlines Open a week ago with 12.34 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Adam Scott (Australia) who won his maiden Major Championship at the Masters Tournament over seven months ago and also won The Barclays over two months ago and also won the Australian PGA Championship a week ago and he also won the Talisker Masters this past week with 9.78 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who won the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and also the 2013 FedEx Cup over a month ago and won DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and the 2013 Race to Dubai Title this past week with 9.01 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Phil Mickelson (USA) who won the Open Championship just under four months ago with 7.82 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) who won his maiden Major Championship at the 113th US Open Championship five months ago and also finished in tied for third position at the Turkish Airlines Open a week ago with 7.76 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Michael Hendry (NZL) fresh off  his tie for 16th position at the Talisker Masters this past week is the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world for the Fortieth first straight week of his career. This week he gains four places and rises to 214th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.87 Official Golf World Ranking Points.

Remember the most important shot to focus on when playing golf is the shot you are about to play!!

Source: pgatour.com