Golf Events from the Weekend 15th December 2013

Well it was another brilliant weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world and the USPGA Tour has its final un – official event of the 2013 season and it was the 25th Edition of the Franklin Templeton Shootout and it was played on the Tiburon GC, Naples, Florida. It was a 54 hole tournament that was played over three days. It was played in pairs and day one was a modified Alternate shot where each player hits a drive on every hole and one drive is selected. The player whose drive is NOT selected hits the second shot, and they alternate shots until the ball is holed. Day Two was better ball where each player plays through every hole using his own ball. The player whose score is the lowest on each hole will be the team score for that hole. Day three was a Scramble where each player hits a drive on every hole and the best drive is selected. Each player then plays a second shot from the spot where the selected drive lays, and the best second shot is selected. This process is repeated until the hole is completed. Greg Norman (Australia) is the host of this fun tournament and he tries to create a fun, friendly, competitive environment with the 12 teams of two Golfers that he invites to play in it. And it was the team of Matt Kuchar (USA)/ Harris English (USA) who scored 64-8 in first round modified Alternate shot format, then in the second round better ball format scored 60-12 and in the final round Scramble format they scored an amazing 58-14 (which was the best round of the day) for a 54 hole total of 182-34 and they won by an amazing seven shots (Which equalled the Tournament record that was first scored by Fred Couples (USA) & Ray Floyd (USA) in 1990). Matt Kuchar (USA)/ Harris English (USA) both earned US $ 385,000 for winning. It was also there very first time as playing as a team in this tournament. Harris English (USA) was called in late to play with Matt Kuchar (USA) because Brandt Snedeker (USA) who was Matt Kuchar’s (USA) original partner had to pull-out due to injury.

Matt Kuchar (USA) on the left, Harris English (USA) on the right pose with the Franklin Templeton Shootout Trophy they won!! and tournament host Greg Norman (Australia) in the middle

They just played a brilliant final round of 58-14 in the Scramble Format and that included a front nine of 31-5. Then they scored an excellent 27-9 on the back nine which included making seven straight birdies from holes ten to sixteen. Then Matt Kuchar (USA) hit a brilliant rescue wood in for his second shot on the par five, 17th hole that came to rest ten feet from the hole and Harris English (USA) slotted the putt for their eagle three and they moved to minus 34 and took a seven shot lead to the par four, 54th hole over the team of Retief Goosen (RSA) & Freddie Jacobson (Sweden) who were back on minus 27. Matt Kuchar (USA)/ Harris English (USA) both just missed their birdie putts on the par four, 54th hole but it made no difference. They just gelled as a team awesome this week!! I am sure they will be back to defend their title in 2014!! They both have just had awesome seasons in 2013 on the USPGA Tour and this was just the icing on the cake for them both!! This team could also be known as team Georgia as both players grew and went to university in the state of Georgia.

Harris English (USA) in action during the final round

Coming in solo second position was the team of Retief Goosen (RSA) & Freddie Jacobson (Sweden) with rounds of 67-5 in the first round modified Alternate shot format, and then they scored 61-11 in the second round better ball format and in the final round scramble format they scored 61-11 as well for a 54 hole total of 189-27. They each won US $242,500 for their efforts. This result will give them both lots of confidence heading into the 2014 season.

Matt Kuchar (USA) in action during the final round

Coming in solo third position was the team of Ian Poulter (England) & Lee Westwood (England) with rounds of 70-2 in the first round modified Alternate shot format, and then they scored 61-11 in the second round better ball format and in the final round scramble format they scored 59-13 which included a disappointing bogey five on the par four, ninth hole and their 54 hole total was 190-26. They each won US $145,000 for their efforts. The all English Team really played some awesome golf but they would have like to have played a better first round and then they would have put a lot more pressure on the leaders. They will surely want to keep the same team for the 2014 event?

Coming in solo fourth position was the team of Chris DiMarco (USA) & Billy Horschel (USA) with rounds of 68-4 in the first round modified Alternate shot format, and then they scored 64-8 in the second round better ball format and in the final round scramble format they scored 60-12 and their 54 hole total was 192-24. They each won US $ 115,000 for their efforts. This team was the all Florida Team as both players grew up and went to universities in Florida before they turned professional. For Chris DiMarco (USA) it will do his confidence some good as he has lost form in recent years after going so close to winning a Major Championship in the mid 2000’s and for Billy Horschel (USA) he is just continuing on his form from his brilliant year on the USPGA Tour in 2013 where he won his maiden USPGA Tour event.

Coming in solo fifth position was the team of Sean O'Hair (USA) & Kenny Perry (USA) who were the defending champions, they scored 64-8 in the first round modified Alternate shot format, and then they scored 69-3 in the second round better ball format and in the final round scramble format they scored 60-12 and their 54 hole total was 193-23. They each won US $100,000 for their efforts. They were tied for the lead after the first round and looking good to defend their title, but their second round 69-3 was the equal worst score in the second round of the 12 teams competing and it really put an end to any chance they had of winning. But it was a good defence of their title.

Coming in solo sixth position was the team of Rory Sabbatini (RSA) & Scott Verplank (USA), they scored 69-3 in the first round modified Alternate shot format, and then they scored 64-8 in the second round better ball format and in the final round scramble format they scored 61-11 and their 54 hole total was 194-22. They each won US $90,000 for their efforts. This finish should give both of these players confidence heading into the 2014 season on the USPGA Tour.

Coming in solo seventh position was the team of Charles Howell III (USA) & Justin Leonard (USA), they scored 64-8 in the first round modified Alternate shot format, and then they scored 67-5 in the second round better ball format and in the final round scramble format they scored 64-8 and their 54 hole total was 195-21. They each won US $85,000 for their efforts. They would be happy with their first round effort to be tied for the lead but disappointed with their second and final rounds efforts. For Charles Howell (USA) he has had another very consistent season on the USPGA Tour and will be keen on getting a win in the 2014 season and for Justin Leonard (USA) this should give him some confidence heading into the 2014 season having gone off the boil the last couple of years.

Rounding out the top ten in tied for eighth position was the team of Jonas Blixt (Sweden) & Greg Norman (Australia), they scored 72 even par in the first round modified Alternate shot format, and then they scored 63-9 in the second round better ball format and in the final round scramble format they scored 62-10 and their 54 hole total was 197-19. They each won US $80,000 for their efforts. They would be very disappointed with their first round effort but very pleased with how they played in the second and final rounds. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) has had another very successful season on the USPGA Tour and will be looking forward to more success in the 2014 season. Greg Norman (Australia) who is the tournament host seldom plays competitive golf now as he is more focused on his business interests. But he proved this week that once you have learnt to play the game of golf you never really lose it.

Also tied for eighth position was the team of Jerry Kelly (USA) & Steve Stricker (USA), they scored 71-1 in the first round modified Alternate shot format, and then they scored 65-7 in the second round better ball format and in the final round scramble format they scored 61-11 and their 54 hole total was also 197-19. They too each won US $80,000 for their efforts. They too would be very disappointed with their first round effort but very pleased with how they played in the second and final rounds. This team was known as Team Wisconsin because both Jerry Kelly (USA) and Steve Stricker (USA) grew up and went to University in Wisconsin. Jerry Kelly (USA) has had a struggle on the USPGA Tour the last few years and will be looking for a huge season in 2014. And Steve Stricker (USA) has just had another brilliant year playing the USPGA Tour on a limited schedule and I expect him to have another very good season in 2014.

The final team to tie for eighth position was Graham DeLaet (Canada) & Mike Weir (Canada), they scored 73+1 in the first round modified Alternate shot format, and then they scored 64-8 in the second round better ball format and in the final round scramble format they scored 60-12 and their 54 hole total was also 197-19. They too each won US $80,000 for their efforts. They too would be extremely disappointed with their first round effort because it was the highest score of all the twelve teams in the field, but they would be very pleased with how they played in the second and final rounds. This was team was known as team Canadian because both players are native Canadians. Graham DeLaet (Canada) has just come of his best year on the USPGA Tour in the 2013 season and he will be looking for his maiden win in the 2014 season. Mike Weir (Canada) golf career has really taken a dive south the last few years, but he will always be remembered as the first Canadian Golfer to win the Masters Tournament in 2003!!

The team that came eleventh was Jason Dufner (USA) & Dustin Johnson (USA), they scored 67-4 in the first round modified Alternate shot format, and then they scored 69-3 in the second round better ball format and in the final round scramble format they scored 61-11 and their 54 hole total was 198-18. They each won $75,000 for their efforts. They will be disappointed with their second round but very happy with their first and final rounds. Jason Dufner (USA) is coming off his career year on the USPGA Tour in 2013 where he won his maiden major championship at the PGA Championship in August and will be looking to continue on his form into the 2014 season. Dustin Johnson (USA) also has had another good year on the USPGA Tour in the 2013 season with winning two events. He will be keen to win his maiden Major Championship in the 2014 season.

The team that came twelfth was Mark Calcavecchia (USA) & Chad Campbell (USA), they scored 72 even par in the first round modified Alternate shot format, and then they scored 66-6 in the second round better ball format and in the final round scramble format they scored 63-9 and their 54 hole total was 201-15. They each won US $72,500 efforts. They will be disappointed with their first round effort but satisfied with their second and final rounds efforts. Mark Calcavecchia (USA) now plays on the Champions Tour and is best remember for his 1989 Open Championship win which was his maiden Major Championship win. Chad Campbell (USA) is another player who has gone off the boil after winning the Tour Championship back in 2003. Let’s hope 2014 is a great season for him.

The USPGA Tour now takes a three week break for the festive season and it recommences for the 2014 part of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season in the first week of January for 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 $5,700,000 for the taking. 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 three weeks time.

So to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list for the last time in 2013 and coming in at Number One Position for the 662nd week of his career in total is Tiger Woods (USA) who is fresh off his solo second position at the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge a tournament he hosted a week ago with 11.69 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 eight months ago and also won The Barclays over three months ago and also won the Australian PGA Championship just over a month ago and he also won the Talisker Masters four weeks ago and three weeks ago finished in solo third position in the individual competition at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf and two weeks ago finished runner up in the Emirates Australian Open with 9.60 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 two months ago and won DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and the 2013 Race to Dubai Title four weeks ago with 9.16 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is and Justin Rose (England) who won his maiden Major Championship at the 113th US Open Championship six months ago and also finished in tied for third position at the Turkish Airlines Open over a month ago with 7.16 Official Golf World Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list this week is Phil Mickelson (USA) who won the Open Championship five months ago with 7.06 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Michael Hendry (NZL) fresh off  his tie for 38th position in the individual competition at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf three weeks ago is the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world for the Fortieth fifth straight week of his career. This week he gains five places and moves to 213th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.82 Official Golf World Ranking Points.

This will be my last Golf blog for 2013 and I would like to thank everyone who has read it this year. I will be back in 2014 reporting the events to you that happen on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world on a week to week basis. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2014!!

Remember golf is an 18 hole game so you must maintain full concentration for the whole 18 holes!!

 

Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings