Well it was
another awesome weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the
world and this week the PGA Tour of Australasia along with the One Asia Tour staged
its final event of the 2013 season and it was the Emirates Australian Open and
was played on the Royal Sydney Golf Club, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
And it was the golfer by the name of Rory McILroy (NIR) who scored rounds of 69-3,
65-7, 70-2 and a brilliant final round of 66-6 for a 72 hole total of 270-18
and he won by one shot for his first win in the 2013 season. It was also his
first win with his Nike Golf Clubs that he switched to about a year ago. He won
AU $225,000 for the win but because he isn’t a member of the PGA Tour of
Australasia or the One Asia Tour he doesn’t get a current Order of Merit
ranking on the PGA Tour of Australasia or One Asia Tour Order of Merit.
Rory McILroy
(NIR) played an awesome bogey free final round of 66-6 which was the equal
lowest of the final round and included a front nine of 32-4 with an eagle on
the par five, seventh hole and birdies on the par four, fifth hole and par
four, eighth hole. He made the turn at minus 16 and was one shot behind the
leader. Adam Scott (Australia) went out in 35-1 and made the turn at minus 17
and was leading by one shot. Rory McILroy (NIR) played holes ten to 14 in one
under par and moved to minus 17 with four holes remaining to be played and was
still one shot behind the leader. Adam Scott (Australia) played holes ten to 14
in one under par and moved to minus 18 and was still leading by one shot with
four holes to play.
+tees+off+during+the+Australian+Open.jpg) |
| Rory McILroy (NIR) in action during the final round |
Rory McILroy
(NIR) and Adam Scott (Australia) both made solid pars of the par four, 15th
hole and Adam Scott (Australia) was stilling leading on minus 18 with Rory
McILroy (NIR) one stroke back on minus 17. Adam Scott (Australia) struck a
brilliant long iron second shot into the par five, 16th hole and left himself
with a 40 foot eagle putt. Rory McILroy (NIR) hit his long iron into the right
green side bunker short of the green. He then struck a very poor bunker shot
for his third and left himself with a twenty five footer for his birdie putt.
Adam Scott (Australia) now knew he had a great chance to extend his lead to two
shots with two holes to play if he could two putt from 40 feet for his birdie.
But he struck a very poor first putt and left himself with a 12 footer for his
birdie. Rory McILroy (NIR) struck a good putt from twenty five feet to a foot
from the cup and tapped in for his par and remained at minus 17 with two holes
left to play and was still one shot shy of the leader. Adam Scott’s (Australia)
putt for birdie from 12 feet cruelly lipped out and he had to settle for par
and remained at minus 18 to still lead by a single shot with two holes left to
play.
Adam Scott
(Australia) struck a brilliant tee shot to the long par three, 17th hole with his
mid iron and it rolled up to 12 feet left of the flag stick pin high. Rory
McILroy (NIR) put his tee shot on the par three, 17th hole in the left green
side bunker leaving a very difficult up and down. He struck a brilliant bunker
shot for his second shot but it still left him with a 15 foot putt for his par.
He was still outside Adam Scott’s (Australia) tee shot so he putted for his par
before Adam Scott (Australia) putted for his birdie. But he calmed his nerve
and sank the 15 footer for par and remained at minus 17 with just the 72nd hole
to play. Adam Scott (Australia) now new if he could hole his 12 footer for
birdie he could take a two shot lead to the 72nd hole. But he struck a poor
putt and it missed on the right hand side and he tapped in for par to remain at
minus 18 and he was still leading by one shot.
So to the par
four, 72nd hole. Adam Scott (Australia) teed off first with his long iron and
hit it straight down the middle of the fairway. Rory McIlroy (NIR) hit his tee shot
second with his long iron right down the centre of the fairway as well but a
little longer than Adam Scott’s (Australia). Adam Scott (Australia) played his
second shot first with his short iron and knew if he could put his second shot
close he would be able to put some real pressure on back on Rory McILroy (NIR).
But Adam Scott (Australia) got too aggressive with his second shot and it
landed just past the pin and rolled down the slope at the back of the green
leaving a very difficult third shot chip to get up and down for his par. Rory
McILroy (NIR) now knew if he could put his short wedge close for his second
shot then he could now put some real pressure on Adam Scott (Australia). He
struck a brilliant wedge shot that pitched twenty feet short of the flag stick
on the green and came to rest 12 feet from the flag stick leaving an uphill
putt for his birdie three. Adam Scott (Australia) chose to land his third shot
chip on the green and try to spin it, but he was too aggressive again and it
pitched just short of the pin and rolled and came to rest about 45 feet away
from the cup. Adam Scott (Australia) now knew he would have to two putt at
worst if he was going to force a playoff. He struck an excellent putt that just
missed on the left hand side and he easily tapped in the one footer for his
bogey five and he finished on minus 17 after 72 holes one shot behind the
winner. Rory McILroy (NIR) now knew if he could hole his 12 footer for birdie
he would win the 2013 Emirates Australian Open. He calmed himself then he
struck a perfect putt at perfect holing speed and it fell right into the centre
of the cup!! He scored 34-2 on his back nine and finished on minus 18 to win by
one shot. It must have felt a bit surreal to him that he had won after Adam
Scott (Australia) had been looking like winning his National Title since he
scored 62-10 in round one on Thursday Morning. Rory McIlroy (NIR) hugged his
caddie to celebrate!! Then he told the media he was going to ring his girl friend,
Caroline Wozniacki and then his Parents!! Adam Scott (Australia) took the
defeat in a very sportsman like manner by shaking Rory McILroy’s (NIR) hand and
congratulating him on his success of winning.
 |
| Adam Scott (Australia) shakes Rory McILroy (NIR) hand just after he holed the winning putt!! |
For Rory McIlroy
(NIR) it capped off a disappointing year by his standards to date after his
amazing year in 2012 where he gained the number one Official Golf Ranking and
also won the Race to Dubai Title and USPGA Tour Money list title and also won
his second Major Championship which was the USPGA Championship. He ended up
winning five tournaments last year which was just awesome. His 2013 USPGA Tour
Season wasn’t so good and he ended up finishing in 41st position on the final
2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 1,802,443 earned from the 16
events he played in which was poor by his high standards. But he has already
achieved a top ten finish in the 2013/14 USPGA Tour Season with tying for sixth
position at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in early November. Let’s
hope he can use this win to gain the confidence to regain the Number One World
Ranking in the 2014 season. He now heads up to California, USA for his final
tournament of the year which is Tiger Woods Tournament and is the Northwestern
Mutual World Challenge. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season
and the 2014 season next year.
 |
| Rory McILroy (NIR) holds the Stone Haven Cup aloft for winning the Emirates Australian Open!! |
Coming in solo
third position at 277-11 after 72 holes was John Senden (Australia); he earned AU
$81,026.64 for his efforts but because he only played in one event on the PGA
Tour of Australasia in 2013 he isn’t eligible for a final 2013 PGA Tour of
Australasia Order of Merit ranking. He scored a brilliant final round of 66-6
which was the equal lowest final round. He must take a liking to this course
because he won the 2006 Australian Open on this very course. He also claimed
one of the three positions available to play in the 2014 Open Championship Royal
Liverpool in July next year by finishing in the top three players that weren’t
already exempt for it. He is coming off his worst year on the USPGA Tour in a
long time with only earning US $667,027 from the twenty five events he played in
and he finished in 120th position on the final 2013 USPGA Tour Money list
standings just keeping his card for the 2013/14 season. He has already made a
good start to the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season with earning US $253,643 earned
from the four events he has played in so far to date and currently lies in 36th
position on the 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings heading in to the 2014
part of the season. Let’s hope this finish can give him the confidence to go on
and have a great 2014 season? I wish him all the best for the 2014 season.
Coming in tied
for fourth position on 279-9 after 72 holes was Bryden Macpherson (Australia);
he earned AU $52, 817, 37 for his efforts and finished in 19th position on the
final 2013 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit rankings list with AU $ 65,921.68 earned from the three events
he played in. He is only in his second year as a Professional and he also
secured a return to The Open Championship, the Victorian last competed for the
Claret Jug in 2011 as an Amateur. He qualified for the 2014 Open Championship
at Royal Liverpool in July next year by this finish just past week. At just 23
years old he looks to have a very promising career ahead of him. I wish him
well for the 2014 season for whatever tour he ends up playing on? The other
player to tie for fourth position was Rhein Gibson (Australia); he too earned
AU $52, 817, 37 for his efforts and finished in twenty third position on the
final 2013 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit rankings list with AU $ 55,000.00
earned from the one event he played in. He also moved to tenth position on the
current 2013 One Asia Tour Order of Merit list with US $ 97,870.29 earned from the five events he
has played to date this year so far. Rhein Gibson (Australia) will also make
the trip to Royal Liverpool in July 2014 for his Open Championship (and Major)
debut. He too qualified by the finish this past week. He too looks to have a
very bright future in the game and I wish every continuing success in the 2014
season.
Coming in tied
for sixth position at 280-8 after 72 holes was Jason Day (Australia); he earned
US $38,812.76 for his efforts but because he didn’t played the required number
of events he doesn’t get a final 2013 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit
ranking. It was a good showing after his win in the individual competition at
the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf in Melbourne last week. Jason Day (USA) has
been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2008 season. He is over long due
his second win on the USPGA Tour and maybe it will happen next year in 2014?
Perhaps it could even be at first Major Championship which is the Master
Tournament in early April? He has won one event on the USPGA Tour in his career
to date so far and that came at the 2010 HP Byron Nelson Championship. He had
three top ten finishes in the four Major Championships this year and here they
are: Solo third at the Masters Tournament in April; tied for second at the
113th US Open Championship in June; tied for 32nd at the 142nd Open Championship
in July and tied for eighth at the 95th PGA Championship. So far in his career
his has amassed earnings of US $13,828,356 from the 136 events he has played in
so far in his career. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14
season.
Also tied for
sixth position was Matthew Jones (Australia); he also earned US $38,812.76 for
his efforts but because he didn’t played the required number of events he
doesn’t get a final 2013 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit ranking. 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. He
kept his card again for 2013/14 season by finishing in 48th position on the
final 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 1,724,707
earned from the Twenty Four events he played in. Next year he will be keen to
achieve his maiden win on the USPGA Tour. I wish him all the best for the
2013/14 season on the USPGA Tour.
The final player
to tie for sixth position was Mark Brown (NZL) who scored rounds of 75+3, 70-2,
66-6 and a final round 69-3 for a 72 hole total of 280-8; he also earned US
$38,812.76 for his efforts and moved to 12th position on the current One Asia
Tour Order of Merit with US $ 91,462.06
earned from the eighth events he has played in to date this year so far. He
also finished in 18th position on the final 2013 PGA Tour of Australasia Order
of Merit rankings list with AU $ 68,645.66
earned from the nine events he played in. It was a great showing by him to be
the number one finishing New Zealand Golfer in the field and also to achieve
the top ten finish after a very disappointing first round of 75+3. He is now
heading up to the USA for the 2013 Web.com Tour Qualifying School in hope of
gaining a Web.com Tour card for the 2014 season. I wish him all the best for whatever
tour he plays on for the 2014 season.
Coming in solo
ninth position at 281-7 after 72 holes was Nathan Holman (Australia); he won US
$32,410.66 for his effort but because he isn’t a member of the One Asia Tour he
doesn’t have a current One Asia Tour Order of Merit ranking. But he did finish
in 13th position on the final 2013 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit
rankings list with AU $ 76,677.38 earned from the seven events he played in. He
is a very promising talent having just turned professional in October at age
22. I wish all the best for the 2014 season for which ever tour he will be
playing on.
Rounding out the
top ten in tied for tenth position at 282-6 after 72 holes was Adam Bland
(Australia); he earned US $ 25,508.39
for his efforts but because he isn’t a member of the One Asia Tour he doesn’t
have a current One Asia Tour Order of Merit ranking. But he did finish in
eleventh position on the final 2013 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit
rankings list with AU $ 78,800.10 earned from the 13 events he played in. I
wish him all the best for 2014 season ahead. Also tied for tenth position was
Ashley Hall (Australia); he too earned US $ 25,508.39
for his efforts but because he isn’t a member of the One Asia Tour he doesn’t
have a current One Asia Tour Order of Merit ranking. But he did finish in 14th
position on the final 2013 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit rankings list
with AU $ 76,524.85 earned from the eight events
he played in. I wish him all the best for the 2014 season.
Also tied for
tenth position was Leigh McKechnie (Australia); he too earned US $ 25,508.39 for his efforts but because he
isn’t a member of the One Asia Tour he doesn’t have a current One Asia Tour
Order of Merit ranking. But he did finish in twenty eighth position on the
final 2013 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit rankings list with AU $ 49,711.39
earned from the 13 events he played in. He has had a real Journeyman
professional golf career mainly playing on the PGA Tour of Australasia where he
achieved his maiden win at the NSW Open in 2009. I wish him all the best for
the 2014 season. The final player to tie for tenth position was Maxwell McCardle
(Australia); he too earned US $ 25,508.39
for his efforts but because he isn’t a member of the One Asia Tour he doesn’t
have a current One Asia Tour Order of Merit ranking. But he did finish in
twenty ninth position on the final 2013 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit
rankings list with AU $ 49,541.85 earned
from the 12 events he played in. I wish all the best for the 2014 season.
The player that
took the low Amateur Honours was Brady Watt (Australia) (Amateur) who scored
rounds of 68-4, 70-2, 73+1 and a final round of 72 even par for a 72 hole total
of 283-5 and he tied for 14th position. He appears to have a very bright future
in the game?
Other New
Zealand Golfers to make the cut were Mahal Pearce (NZL); he scored rounds of 72
even par, 71-1, 71-1 and a final round of 70-2 for a 72 hole total of 284-4 and
he tied for twentieth position. He earned US $12,799.21 for his efforts but
because he isn’t a member of the One Asia Tour he doesn’t have a current One
Asia Tour Order of Merit ranking. But he did finish in sixty second position on
the final 2013 PGA Tour of Australasia
Order of Merit rankings list with AU $ 20,380.70
earned from the eight events he played in. His biggest tournament win came ten
years ago when he won the 2003 NZ Open Championship at Royal Auckland Golf Club
in Auckland. I wish him all the best for the 2014 season.
Michael Long
(NZL) was another New Zealand Golfer to make the cut, he scored rounds of 72
even par, 71-1, 72 even par and a final round of 71-1 for a 72 hole total of
286-2 and he tied for twenty seventh position. He earned US $8,709.53 for his
efforts and moved to 32nd position on the current 2013 One Asia Tour Order of
Merit list with US $37,196.39 earned from the eight events he has played to
date this year so far. He also finished in 45th position on the final 2013 PGA Tour
of Australasia Order of Merit rankings list with AU $ 30,627.43 earned from the
eight events he played in. Probably the biggest win of his long professional
golf career came at the 1996 New Zealand Open Championship. I wish him all the
best for the 2014 season.
The final New
Zealand Golfer to make the cut was Tim Wilkinson (NZL); he scored rounds of
73+1, 71-1, 71-1 and a final round of 71-1 for a 72 hole total of 286-2 and he
also tied for twenty seventh position. He earned US $8,709.53 for his efforts
but because he isn’t a member of the One Asia Tour he doesn’t have a current
One Asia Tour Order of Merit ranking. He also never got a final 2013 PGA Tour
of Australasia Order of Merit ranking because he never played the required
number of events. Tim Wilkinson (NZL) has had a very good 2013 season in
America 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. And he
is in 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. I wish all the best of the USPGA in 2014 season.
The 36 hole
halfway cut fell at 145+1 and the New Zealand Golfers in the field that missed
the halfway cut were Brad Shilton (NZL) who scored 74+2 and 72 even par for a
36 hole total of 146+2 to miss the cut a single shot. Gareth Paddison (NZL) who
scored 72 even par and 74+2 for a 36 hole total of 146+2 to also miss the cut
by one shot. Ryan Fox (NZL) scored 73+1 and 74+2 for a 36 hole total of 147+3
to miss the cut by a two shots. Josh Geary (NZL) scored rounds of 73+1 and 74+2
for a 36 hole total of 147+3 to also miss the cut by two shots. David Klein
(NZL) scored rounds of 74+2 and 73+1 for a 36 hole total of 147+3 also and he
too missed the cut by two shots. Richard Lee (NZL) scored rounds of 76+4 and
78+6 total of 154+10 and he missed the 36 hole cut by nine shots.
Next week there
is un – official event on the USPGA Tour and it is the Northwestern Mutual
World Challenge which is hosted by world number one golfer, Tiger Woods (USA),
and is played on the Sherwood CC, Thousand Oaks, California. Tiger
Woods (USA) donates all the prize money he wins from this event to his Tiger
Woods Foundation. It carries a huge prize purse of US $3,500,000 for the
taking. Graeme McDowell (NIR) is the defending champion and will be keen to
defend his title. It starts on Thursday 5th December
So to the Top 5 on the Official
World Golf Rankings Points list this week and coming in at Number One Position
for the 659th week of his career in total is Tiger Woods (USA) who is fresh off
his tied for third position at the Turkish Airlines Open three weeks ago with 11.89
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 three months ago and also
won the Australian PGA Championship three weeks ago and he also won the
Talisker Masters two weeks ago and last week finished in solo third position in the
individual competition at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf and this
past week finished runner up in the Emirates Australian Open
with 10.13
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 two weeks ago with 8.85 Official Golf World Ranking Points;
coming in at Number Four is Phil Mickelson (USA) who won the Open Championship over
four months ago with 7.57 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 over five months ago and also finished in tied for third position
at the Turkish Airlines Open three weeks ago with 7.50 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 a week ago is the highest ranked New Zealand
Golfer in the world for the Fortieth third straight week of his career. This
week he remains in 215th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points
list with 0.86 Official Golf World Ranking Points.
Remember there
are four ways to miss a putt but if you get the ball to the hole you eliminate
one of them!!
Source: PGA Tour
of Australasia, Official World Golf Rankings, One Asia Tour
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