Golf Events from the Weekend 26th January 2014

Well it was another brilliant weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup remained in the state of California for the Farmers Insurance Open and it was played on the Torrey Pines (South), La Jolla, California. And it was the golfer by the name of Scott Stallings (USA) who scored rounds of 72 even par, 67-5, 72 even par and a final round of 68-4 for a 72 hole total of 279-9 and he won by a single stroke for his third win on the USPGA Tour of his career. He earned US $1,098,000 for the win and moved to tenth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,128,421 earned from the six events he has played to date this season so far. Jimmy Walker (USA) still leads that list with US $2,417,833 earned from the seven events he has played to date this season so far. Scott Stallings (USA) also earned 500 FedEx Cup Points for his win and moved to tenth position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 530 points earned from the six events he has played to date this season so far. He is 703 points behind the current leader of that list who is Jimmy Walker (USA) who has earned 1,233 points from the seven events he has played to date this season so far. From the six events Scott Stallings (USA) has played to date this season so far he has made three cuts and this win here was his first top ten finish he has achieved to date so far this season.

Scott Stallings (USA) played a great final round of 68-4 that included a front nine of 34-2 that included birdies on the par three, third hole, par three, eighth hole and par five, ninth hole but he made poor bogey on the par four, fourth hole and he made the turn at minus seven and was one shot behind the leader. K. J. Choi (South Korea) scored 33-3 on the front nine and made the turn at minus five and was three shots behind the leader. Graham Delaet (Canada) scored 33-3 on the front nine and made the turn at minus seven and was one shot behind the leader. Jason Day (Australia) scored 34-2 on the front nine and made the turn at minus six and was two shots behind the leader. Pat Perez (USA) scored 34-2 on the front nine and made the turn at minus eight and was tied for the lead. Marc Leishman (Australia) scored 35-1 on the front nine and made the turn at minus eight and was tied for the lead.

Scott Stallings (USA) played holes ten to 14 in two under par and moved to minus nine and was now leading by one shot. K. J. Choi (South Korea) played holes ten to 14 in three under par and moved to minus eight and was one shot behind the leader. Graham Delaet (Canada) played holes ten to 14 in even par and remained at minus seven and was now two shots behind the leader. Jason Day (Australia) played holes ten to 14 in two under par and moved to minus eight and was now only one shot behind the leader. Pat Perez (USA) played holes ten to 14 in even par and remained at minus eight but was now one shot behind the leader. Marc Leishman (Australia) played holes ten to 14 in one over par and fell back to minus seven and was now two shots behind the leader.

Scott Stallings (USA) played holes 15 to 17 in one over par and fell back to minus eight and was still leading by one shot with just the Par five, 72nd hole to play. K. J. Choi (South Korea) played holes 15 to 17 in one over par and fell back to minus seven but was still one shot behind the leader with just the Par five, 72nd hole to play. Graham Delaet (Canada) played holes 15 to 17 in even par and remained at minus seven but now was only one shot off the lead with just the Par five, 72nd hole to play. Jason Day (Australia) played holes 15 to 17 in one over par and fell back to minus seven and was now one shot behind the lead with just the par five, 72nd hole to play. Pat Perez (USA) played holes 15 to 17 in one over par and fell back to minus seven and was still one shot behind the leader with just the par five, 72nd hole to play. Marc Leishman (Australia) played holes 15 to 17 in even par and remained at minus seven with just the Par five, 72nd hole to play but now was only one shot behind the leader.

 

Scott Stallings (USA) looking very happy after walking off the 72nd Green!!

K. J. Choi (South Korea) who was playing about an hour ahead of the leaders made a birdie four up the par five, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes on minus eight and was one shot behind the winner. Graham Delaet (Canada) who was playing a couple of groups ahead of the final group birdied the par five, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes on minus eight and was one shot behind the winner. Jason Day (Australia) who was also playing in a couple of groups ahead of the final group also birdied the par five, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes on minus eight and was one shot behind the winner. He had a putt for an eagle on par five, 72nd hole which nearly went in the hole and had it he would of forced a playoff. But he had to settle for his birdie instead. Pat Perez (USA) who was playing in the group ahead of the final group made a birdie four at the par five, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes on minus eight and was one shot behind the winner. Scott Stallings (USA) who was also playing in the group ahead of the final group went for the par five, 72nd hole in two shots and his ball just carried the water hazard and was very fortunate not to roll back into the water hazard down the steep slope because it only just barely stopped in the fringe. He choose to use his putter from the fringe and put a very good roll on the ball and it came to rest five feet from the cup. He rolled the five foot putt right in the centre of the cup and finished the 72 holes on minus nine to win by one shot. He got a huge high five by his caddie and then his wife, Jennifer and his young son Finn were at his side by the 72nd green to celebrate the win with him!! Marc Leishman (Australia) who was playing in the final group laid up his second shot at the par five, 72nd hole because he had hit his drive in the right rough. He was now faced with a 100 yards wedge shot that he would have to hole out if he was going to force a playoff with Scott Stallings (USA) who was already in on minus nine in the club house and he was the last player on the course that had any chance of forcing a playoff. He hit a very good wedge shot that landed ten feet past the pin and spun and rolled down the slope towards the hole but then rolled to right and came to rest two feet from the pin. He jokingly dropped his club in despair that his ball didn’t go in the hole. He easily tapped in his putt for his birdie four and finished the 72 holes on minus eight and was one shot behind the winner.

Scott Stallings (USA) just took his chance at the right time where many other players who had the same chance as him to win didn’t. It is amazing to think that his best finish before this win here this season was a tied for 47th position at the CIMB Classic in October last year. It just goes to prove that any player who is a member of the USPGA Tour could win at any time. Scott Stallings (USA) has been playing the on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2011 season after finishing in tied for eleventh position at the 2010 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament which gave him full status on the USPGA Tour for the 2011 season. In his rookie season on the USPGA Tour in 2011 he played in 28 events and earned US $1,957,162 which included making 13 cuts and achieving two top ten finishes and one of them was his maiden win at the Greenbrier Classic in late July. He finished in 41st position on the final 2011 USPGA Tour Money list standings which was an amazing rookie season for him. And with his maiden win it gave him exempt status on the USPGA Tour till the end of the 2013 season. He had a slightly worse season in 2012 on the USPGA Tour with earning US $1,293,739 from the 27 events he played in and that included making 12 cuts and achieving three top ten finishes which included his second win on the USPGA Tour that came at the True South Classic in July. He finished in 66th position on the final 2012 USPGA Tour Money list standings and because of his win at the True South Classic he is exempt on the USPGA Tour till the end of the 2013/14 season. In the 2013 season he again had a very successful season with earning US $1,622,627 from the twenty seven events he played in and that included four top ten finishes and he finished in 54th position on the final 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings. I feel the form he is in at the moment his fourth USPGA Tour win isn’t too far off and maybe it will come in the 2013/14 season and perhaps it could be a WGC – Event or even his first Major Championship win? With this win he is now exempt on the USPGA tour until the end of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season. 

Scott Stallings (USA) poses with the Farmers Insurance Open Trophy he won!!

                                       

Coming in tied for second position at 280-8 after 72 holes was K. J. Choi (South Korea); he earned US $366,000.00 for his efforts and moved to 30th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 550,318 earned from the three events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 167 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 35th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 271 points earned from the three events he has played to date this season so far. From the three 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 this season so far. He scored the lowest final round which was a 66-6. He hasn’t won on the USPGA Tour since the 2011 THE PLAYERS Championship. But he is in good form heading into the rest 2014 part of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season. He has won career earnings of US $28,929,380 from the 355 events he has played in his career to date so far and that includes eight wins and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2002 Compaq Classic of New Orleans, Tampa Bay Classic presented by Buick, 2005 Chrysler Classic of Greensboro, 2006 Chrysler Championship, 2007 the Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley, AT&T National, 2008 Sony Open in Hawaii, 2011 THE PLAYERS Championship. He turns 44 on the 19th May this year and I feel his chance of winning a Major Championship may have passed him by but he could prove me wrong? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

Also tied for second position was Graham Delaet (Canada); he too earned US $366,000.00 for his efforts and moved to 17th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 815,667 earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. He too also earned 167 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 20th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 352 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 achieved three top ten finishes that have come in his last three starts. He will be disappointed with his first two rounds but very pleased with his two rounds on the weekend in very trying and difficult course conditions. 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 US $ 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. In the 2013 season on the USPGA Tour he earned US $2,834,900 from the 26 events he played in and finished in twenty first position on the final 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings which was his best of his career to date. He also made his rookie appearance in the Presidents Cup for Team International and played brilliantly. I feel his maiden win on the USPGA Tour isn’t too far away and maybe it will happen in the 2013/14 season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

Also tied for second position was Jason Day (Australia); he too earned US $366,000.00 for his efforts and moved to 49th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with $US 366,000 earned from the one event he has played to date so far this season. He too also earned 167 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 62nd position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings with 167 points earned from the one event he has played to date this season so far. From the one event he has played to date this season so far he has made one cut and achieved one top ten finish that came in this event. He will be pleased with his first and final rounds but disappointed with his second and third rounds that really cost him a chance of winning. He is long due his second win on the USPGA Tour and maybe it will happen in the coming weeks? 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 last 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 $14,194,356 from the 137 events he has played in so far in his career. I feel his second win on the USPGA Tour could well be a Major Championship and perhaps it will come at the Masters Tournament in April? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.

Also tied for second position was Pat Perez (USA); he too earned US $366,000.00 for his efforts and moved to twenty sixth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 606,091 earned from the seven events he has played to date this season so far. He too also earned 167 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to twenty seventh position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 322 points earned from the seven events he has played to date so far this season. From the seven events he has played to date this season so far he has made six cuts and achieved two top ten finishes to date so far that includes the one here. He came so close here to achieving his second win on the USPGA Tour and had his birdie putt gone in the hole on the 71st hole he would have at least forced a playoff. Pat Perez (USA) since qualifying for the USPGA Tour in 2002 after winning the 2001 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament he has kept his card every season since and had his maiden USPGA Tour win in 2009 at the 50th Bob Hope Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he won his second USPGA Tour event in the 2013/14 season.

The final player to tie for second position was Marc Leishman (USA); he too earned US $366,000.00 for his efforts and moved to twenty fourth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 613,100 earned from the four events he has played to date this year so far. He too also earned 167 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 31st position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 303 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 achieved two top ten finishes that have come in his last two starts. He will be cursing his back nine because if he had of played it two under par instead of even par he would be the one holding the winner’s trophy. He has played the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2009 season and has easily kept his card for the next season every year since. And in the 2012 season he achieved his maiden win on the USPGA Tour at the 2012 Travelers Championship. I sure his second win isn’t too far off and maybe it will happen in the 2013/14 season?

Rounding out the top seven in tied for seventh position at 281-7 after 72 holes was Charley Hoffman (USA); He earned US $190,116.67 for his efforts and moved to 20th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $730,604 earned from the six events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 85 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 16th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 392 points earned from the six events he has played to date so far this season. From the six events he has played to date this season so far he has made six cuts and achieved three top ten finishes including the one here. He got off to a brilliant start in his final round with scoring 31-5 on his front nine that included a Hole in One on the par three, third hole. Charley Hoffman (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2006 season after gaining his full 2006 USPGA Tour card by finishing in 19th position on the final 2005 Web.com Tour Money list standings with US $212,322 earned from the 26 events he played in. He has easily kept his card for the next season every season since. He has earned over US$1million every season so far as well except in 2008 where he only earned US $945,702. He has won two USPGA Tour events as well so far in his career with the first one coming in 2007 at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and the second one coming in 2010 at the Deutsche Bank Championship. I feel he is ready to win for a third time very soon and it could happen in the 2013/14 season.

Also tied for seventh position was Ryo Ishikawa (Japan); He too earned US $190,116.67 for his efforts and moved to 14th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 854,673 earned from the six events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 85 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 14th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 425 points earned from the six events he has played to date this season so far. From the six events he has played to date this season so far he has made five cuts and achieved two top ten finishes to date so far. He is in his second full season of playing the USPGA Tour fulltime. He had an average rookie season in 2012 on the USPGA Tour by his high standards with earning US $727,051 from the 18 events he played in and that included making ten cuts and achieving two top ten finishes and one of them was his career best finish to date on the USPGA Tour where he finished in second position at the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com. He is still very young being only 22 years of age and turns 23 in September this year. He is Japan’s young Golfing Superstar and has Rock Star Status whenever he plays on the Japan Golf Tour having already won 12 events on that tour and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2007 Munsingwear Open KSB Cup [Jpn], 2008 Kansai Open, Mynavi ABC Championship [Jpn], 2009 The Royal Trophy [Jpn, team], Mizuno Open [Jpn], Sun Chlorella Open [Jpn], Fujisankei Classic [Jpn], Tokai Classic [Jpn], 2010 The Crowns [Jpn], Fujisankei Classic [Jpn], Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters [Jpn] and the 2012 Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters [Jpn]. He finished in 13th position on the final 2013 Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings and gained his full 2013/14 USPGA Tour card. He seems to be taking a little bit longer to getting used to playing on the USPGA Tour but I’m sure he isn’t too far away from his maiden win on the USPGA Tour, and perhaps it will come in the 2013/14 season? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

The final player to tie for seventh position was Will MacKenzie (USA); He too earned US $190,116.67 for his efforts and moved to twenty second position on the current USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 642,007 earned from the seven events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 85 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to twenty sixth position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 330 points earned from the seven events he has played to date this year so far. From the seven events he has played to date this season so far he has made five cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that includes the one here. He has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2005 season and has easily kept his card every year since except for the 2011 – 2013 seasons. He regained his 2013/14 USPGA Tour card by finishing in seventh position on the final 2013 Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings list and he gained his full USPGA Tour card for the 2013/14 season. He has also won two USPGA Tour events in his career to date with the first being the 2006 Reno-Tahoe Open and the second being the 2008 Viking Classic. It is great to see him get off to such a good start for the 2014 part of the 2013/14. I hope this finish can give him the confidence to keep on improving and have more top ten finishes in the weeks to come. I wish him every continuing success for the 2013/14 season.

There were two New Zealand Golfers in the field and the best of them was Danny Lee (NZL) who scored rounds of 76+4 in the first round and a second round of 69-3 for a 36 hole total of 145+1 and he missed the 36 hole cut by a single shot. He has now missed five of his last six cuts which will be disappointing for him. He current lies in 168th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $45,657 earned from the seven events he has played to date this season so far. He also currently lies in 140th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup points list standings with 63 points earned from the seven events he has played to date this season so far. From the seven events he has played to date this season so far he has made two cuts and achieved no top ten finishes. Let’s hope he can make the cut in the next event he plays? I wish all the best in his next few tournaments he plays in.

Tim Wilkinson (NZL) was the other New Zealand Golfer in the field and he scored rounds of 70-2 in the first round and a disappointing second round of 77+5 for a 36 hole total of 147+3 and missed the cut by three shots. He current lies in 89th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 171,523 earned from the six events he has played to date this season so far. He also currently lies in 110th equal position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup points list standings with 96 points earned from the six events he has played to date this season so far. From the six events he has played to date this season so far he has made two cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in mid November last year. It was the second straight cut he had missed after making the cut in his previous three starts. I wish him all the best in the weeks ahead on the USPGA Tour.

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to Arizona for the Waste Management Phoenix Open and it is played on the TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona. It carries a huge prize purse of US $6,200,000 for the taking. Phil Mickelson (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. Danny Lee (NZL) and Tim Wilkinson (NZL) are also likely to get starts as well. It starts on Thursday 30th January. I will report back who won the trophy next week.

So to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings Points and coming in at Number One Position for the 668th week of his career in total is Tiger Woods (USA) who is fresh off his  MDF finish at the Farmers Insurance Open this past week with 10.83 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 nine months ago and also won The Barclays four months ago and also won the Australian PGA Championship just over two months ago and he also won the Talisker Masters ten weeks ago and nine weeks ago finished in solo third position in the individual competition at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf and eight weeks ago finished runner up in the Emirates Australian Open with 8.93 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 four months ago and won DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and the 2013 Race to Dubai Title ten weeks ago with 8.79 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Phil Mickelson (USA) who won the Open Championship six months ago and also finished runner up at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship last week with 7.03 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 seven months ago and also finished in tied for third position at the Turkish Airlines Open over two months ago with 6.78 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 nine weeks ago is the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world for the fifth first straight week of his career. This week he gains one place and rises to 215th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.78 Official Golf World Ranking Points.

Remember the most important shot in golf is the one you are about to play!!

Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings