Golf Events from the Weekend 23rd February 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 headed to Arizona for the very first World Golf Championship event of the 2014 season and it was the World Golf Championship – Accenture Match play Championship and was played on the Golf Club at Dove Mountain, Marana, Arizona. It was co – sanctioned with all the other Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world. And the final was between Jason Day (Australia) verse Victor Dubuisson (France). To get to the final Jason Day (Australia) had to defeat Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark) in the first round two up; then in the second round in a very tight match he defeated Billy Horschel (USA) on the twenty second hole; in the third round he defeated George Coetzee (RSA) 3&1; in the quarter finals he defeated Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 2&1; and in the semi – finals he defeated Rickie Fowler (USA) 3&2. For Victor Dubuisson (France) to get to the final he defeated Kevin Streelman (USA) 5&4 in the first round; in the second round he defeated Peter Hanson (Sweden) 3&1; in the third round he defeated Bubba Watson (USA) one up; in the quarter finals he defeated Graeme McDowell (NIR) one up; and in the semi finals he defeated Ernie Els (RSA) one up.

So to the Championship Final Match between Jason Day (Australia) verse Victor Dubuisson (France). Jason Day (Australia) won the Par four, first hole with a birdie three to go one up. He went two up when he birdied the par five, second hole. Victor Dubuisson (France) made a fine birdie two on the par three, third hole to get back to one down. Then he made a solid par four on the fourth hole to bring the match back to all square. They halved the par four, fifth hole in bogey fives for the match to be still all square. Jason Day (USA) made a solid par three at the sixth hole to go to one up again. He then won the par four, seventh hole with a birdie to go to two up.

Jason Day (Australia) in action during the final round

They both birdied the par five, eighth hole so Jason Day (Australia) remained two up. Jason Day (Australia) got conceded the par four, ninth hole when Victor Dubuisson (France) pulled his second shot into the desert on the left and after he took his free drop from the grandstand which was a temporary immoveable obstruction his ball rolled in front of a rock leaving an impossible third shot and he then conceded the hole to Jason Day (Australia) so he was now three holes up after nine holes. So Jason Day (Australia) looked in total control of the match at the halfway stage.

They both made pars at the par four, tenth hole so Jason Day (Australia) remained three up. They both made fine birdies on the par five, eleventh hole so Jason Day (Australia) remained three up with seven holes to play. They both made pars on the par three, 12th hole so Jason Day (Australia) was still three up with six holes to play. Victor Dubuisson (France) made a great birdie on the par five, 13th hole and got back to two down with five holes to play. They halved the par four, 14th hole in pars so Jason Day (Australia) was still two up with four holes to play. They halved the short par four, 15th hole in birdie threes so Jason Day (Australia) was still two up with three holes to play. They halved the short par three, 16th hole in pars so Jason Day (Australia) was now two up with two holes to play and that meant that Victor Dubuisson (France) would now have to win the 17th and 18th holes if he was going to square the match and take it to the 19th hole.

Victor Dubuisson (France) hit his ball in the right hand fairway bunker on the par four, 17th hole leaving a difficult shot for his second. Jason Day (Australia) hit his ball into the right rough also leaving a difficult approach shot to the green. Victor Dubuisson (France) hit an amazing second shot from the right hand fairway bunker and his ball came to rest 15 feet past the pin. Jason Day (Australia) struck a good shot with his short wedge from a difficult lie in the right hand rough and it came to rest about twenty feet past the pin. Jason Day (Australia) putted for his birdie first and his putt just missed on the right hand side and he was conceded his par. That meant that Victor Dubuisson (France) would have to hole his 15 foot birdie putt to keep the match alive. He struck a brilliant putt that never looked like missing and dropped right into the centre of the cup!! He was now only one down with one hole to play.

Victor Dubuisson (France) and Jason Day (Australia) both hit their tee shots right down the centre of the fairway on the par four, 18th hole. Jason Day (Australia) played his second shot first with his short iron and he struck it too well and it rolled to the back of the green leaving over forty feet for his birdie putt. Victor Dubuisson (France) hit a poor second shot into the left hand green side bunker. Victor Dubuisson (France) hit a very good bunker shot for his third and it came to rest eight feet below the pin. Jason Day (Australia) putted for his birdie from over forty five feet and it rolled down the fast slope and came to rest 15 feet past the cup. Jason Day (Australia) was still away and now knew if he could hole his 15 foot birdie putt he would win the Championship match. He struck the putt a little weak and it came to rest inches short of dropping and his next putt was conceded for bogey. That meant that Victor Dubuisson (France) would have to hole his eight foot par putt to extend the match to the 19th hole. He put a very good roll on it and it rolled right in the centre of the cup for his par four!! The match was now all square after 18 holes so both Victor Dubuisson (France) and Jason Day (Australia) headed to the 19th hole which was the par four, first hole again.

Both Victor Dubuisson (France) and Jason Day (Australia) hit good tee shots down the par four, 19th hole. Jason Day (Australia) hit his second shot with his short iron slightly too big and it rolled in to the fringe at the back of the green leaving about twenty five feet for his birdie putt. Victor Dubuisson (France) then struck his second shot with his short iron and it flew over the back of the green into the desert leaving an extremely difficult chip shot to get up and down!! It now looked like Jason Day (Australia) would win for sure on this hole. Victor Dubuisson (France) had other ideas though and he hacked his ball out of the very difficult position it was in and it rolled through the rough and came to rest eight feet below the flagstick. Jason Day (Australia) now had to compose himself as he was faced with his twenty five foot birdie putt knowing he would more than likely have to two putt to keep the match alive. He struck a very good putt that came to rest a foot from the cup and was conceded his par putt. That meant that Victor Dubuisson (France) now had to hole an eight foot par putt to extend the match to the twentieth hole. He knocked it straight in the centre of the cup!! So both Victor Dubuisson (France) and Jason Day (Australia) headed to the twentieth hole which was the par four, tenth hole. 

Both Victor Dubuisson (France) and Jason Day (Australia) hit good tee shots down the par four, twentieth hole. Jason Day (Australia) hit his short iron second shot into 30 feet from the pin. Victor Dubuisson (France) pulled his second shot into the desert on the left just as he did in regulation play. He was now faced with an equally difficult shot as he had on the 19th hole. Again he chipped it out through the rough and it rolled and came to rest about 15 feet underneath the cup. Jason Day (Australia) rolled his 30 foot birdie putt up to within a foot of the cup and was conceded his par. Victor Dubuisson (France) now had to hole his 15 foot putt for par to extend the match to the twenty first hole. He struck a great putt and it fell right in to the centre of the cup!!  Sir Nick Faldo (England) who was commentating for CBS Sports said “In all his years watching and playing golf those two up and downs by Victor Dubuisson (France) were the two best up and downs he had ever witnessed!!”. So Victor Dubuisson (France) and Jason Day (Australia) headed to the twenty first hole which they both made bogey fives on. So both Victor Dubuisson (France) and Jason Day (Australia) headed to the twenty second hole which was the par four, 14th hole.  

Both Victor Dubuisson (France) and Jason Day (Australia) found the fairway with their tee shots on the par four, twenty second hole. Jason Day (Australia) played first with his short iron and he struck what he thought was a decent shot but it spun off the front of the green leaving a tricky chip shot from the rough. Victor Dubuisson (France) played his second shot next and he struck his short iron well to land on the green about twenty feet above the cup. Jason Day (Australia) struck a fine chip shot that came to rest about a foot from the cup and the par putt was conceded. Victor Dubuisson (France) now knew if he could hole his right to left breaking twenty footer he would win the Championship final match. He struck a good putt but it broke to the left just at the hole and came to rest inches from going in. His next put was conceded for his par. So both Victor Dubuisson (France) and Jason Day (Australia) were headed to the twenty third hole which was the short par four 15th hole.

 

Jason Day (Australia) pumps his fist in the air after holing the winning putt!!

Victor Dubuisson (France) teed off first on the par four, twenty third hole and lost his drive to the right in the thick rough but it was pin high. Jason Day (Australia) tee off next and struck a very good drive that came to rest in the first cut of rough pin high. Victor Dubuisson (France) played his second shot first and knew he had to at least get it to the green from his buried lie in the rough. It came out with too much over spin and rolled in to the fringe on the other side of the green. It left him with a 30 foot putt for his birdie. Jason Day (Australia) now knew he had a great chance to win the match here if he could put his chip close. He made great contact with the ball with his wedge and came to rest five feet from the cup. Victor Dubuisson (France) putted for birdie from 30 feet but it came up three feet short and he was conceded the par putt. Jason Day (Australia) now knew he could win the WGC – Accenture match play Championship if he could hole the five foot birdie putt. He calmed his nerve and rolled it straight in the middle of the cup!! He pumped his fist in the air to celebrate!! He also got a huge hug and high five from his caddie and coach, Col Swatton. Then his Wife, Ellie and their young son Dash came on to the green to give him a hug and kiss!! When interviewed by CBS Sports commentator, Peter Kostis he told him “He wanted to win this title so badly this week and was so pleased he was able to achieve it!!”.

 

Jason Day (Australia) on the right and his wife, Ellie on the left with their young son Dash pose with the WGC - Accenture Match play Championship Trophy he won!!

Jason Day (Australia) earned US $1,530,000 for the win and moved to seventh position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US$1,909,200 earned from the three events he has played to date this season so far. Jimmy Walker (USA) still leads that list with US $ 3,785,680 earned from the ten events he has played to date this season so far. Jason Day (Australia) also earned 550 FedEx Cup Points for his win and moved to eleventh position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 720 Points earned from the three events he has played to date this season so far. He is 1,110 points behind the current leader of the FedEx Cup who is Jimmy Walker (USA) who has earned 1,830 points from the ten events he has played to date this season so far. From the three events Jason Day (Australia) has played to date this season so far he has made all three cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that includes the win here. This was also his second win on the USPGA Tour of his career to date having won the HP Byron Nelson Championship just under four years ago in 2010.

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 $15,737,556 from the 139 events he has played in so far in his USPGA Tour career. I feel his third win on the USPGA Tour could well be a Major Championship and perhaps it will come at the Masters Tournament in April where he has come so close to winning in the past? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.

Victor Dubuisson (France) for coming runner up earned € 660,590.59 for his efforts and moved to third position on the current 2014 Race to Dubai Money list standings € 833,661 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 achieved two top ten finishes that includes the win here. Victor Dubuisson (France) has been playing on the European Tour full time since the 2011 season. He has kept his card for the following year every season since and his best season to date so far came in 2013 where he earned € 2,031,675 from the twenty one events he played in and that included his maiden win at the Turkish Airlines Open by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism last November. He looks to have a very promising career in front of him with only being 23 years old and he turns 24 in April. He showed this week that he has a never give up attitude with the two amazing up and downs he achieved!! I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014 season.

The consolidation match for third and fourth positions was played between Rickie Fowler (USA) verse Ernie Els (RSA). They both made pars on the par four, first hole. Rickie Fowler (USA) birdied the par five, second hole to go to one up. Ernie Els (RSA) birdied the par three, third hole to get the match back to all square. Rickie Fowler (USA) birdied the par four, fourth hole to go back to one up. Rickie Fowler (USA) birdied the par four, fifth hole to go to two up. Ernie Els (RSA) birdied the par three, sixth hole to get back to one down. They halved holes seven, eight and nine in pars so Rickie Fowler (USA) was one up at the turn.

Ernie Els (RSA) won the par four, tenth hole with a par so the match was back to all square. Ernie Els (RSA) birdied the par five, eleventh hole and for the first time in the match he was one up. Ernie Els (RSA) then won the par three, 12th hole with a par so he was now two up with six holes to play. Rickie Fowler (USA) won the par five, 13th hole with a brilliant eagle three so Ernie Els (RSA) was back to one up. Rickie Fowler (USA) won the par four, 14th hole with a par and the match was all square again. They halved the short par four, 15th hole in birdie threes and the par three, 16th hole in pars so the match was all square with two holes to play. Rickie Fowler (USA) made a fine birdie on the par four, 17th hole and he went to one up with one hole to play. Ernie Els (RSA) came straight back with a birdie of his own on the par four, 18th hole so the match was all square after 18 holes. Rickie Fowler (USA) made a fine birdie on the par four, 19th hole and won the consolidation match!! It was a bitter sweet win because I am sure he wished he had won in the morning semi finals and had a chance to play for the winner’s trophy, but at the same time he can be well pleased with how he played in this match and that he beat a four time Major Championship winner.

Rickie Fowler (USA) won US $630,000 for his efforts and moved to twenty seventh position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $788,930 earned from the seven events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 200 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 49th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 299 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 four cuts and this was his first top ten finish of the season to date so far. This result will give him some real confidence with some more really big money tournaments coming up leading into the first Major Championship of the year which is the Masters Tournament in the second week of April. He won his maiden USPGA Tour event at the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship so he will be looking for his second win on the USPGA Tour this year. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014 season.

Ernie Els (RSA) will be disappointed with his fourth place finish losing both matches on the final day. But at the same time he can be satisfied that he gave his opponents a run for their money in both matches. And in the 37 holes he played on the final day he was six under the card. He won US $460,000 for his efforts and moved to 35th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 677,921 earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 140 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 59th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 265 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 every cut and this was his first top ten finish he has achieved to date so far this season. This result should give Ernie Els (RSA) a good platform to launch his 2013/14 USPGA Tour campaign. He has already won 19 USPGA Tour events in his career and that includes four Major Championships. He is now 44 years of age and entering his twilight years on the USPGA Tour. Perhaps he could win his fifth Major Championship before his career is over? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014 season. 

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to the East Coast of America for the first time in 2014 and it is the first event of four straight on the Florida Swing. It is the Honda Classic and it is played on the PGA National (Champion), Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. It carries a huge prize purse of US $6,000,000 for the taking. Michael Thompson (USA) is the defending champion and will be keen for back to back titles. Tim Wilkinson (NZL) and Danny Lee (NZL) are also likely to get starts. It starts on Thursday 27th February and I will report back who won the trophy next week.  

So to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings Points this week and coming in at Number One Position for the 672nd week of his career in total is Tiger Woods (USA) who is fresh off his  tied for 41st  finish at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic three weeks ago with 10.27 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 ten months ago and also won The Barclays over five months ago and also won the Australian PGA Championship just over three months ago and he also won the Talisker Masters 14 weeks ago and 13 weeks ago finished in solo third position in the individual competition at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf and 12 weeks ago finished runner up in the Emirates Australian Open with 8.79 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 14 weeks ago and also losing in the second round at the WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship this past week with 8.47 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Jason Day (Australia) who is fresh off his WGC – Accenture Match Championship win this past week with 6.94 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 seven months ago and also finished in tied for 19th position at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro – Am two weeks ago with 6.76 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Michael Hendry (NZL) fresh off  his tied for 14th finish at the Oates Victorian Open one week ago is the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world for the fifty fifth straight week of his career. This week he gains three places and rises to 214th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.79 Official Golf World Ranking Points.

Remember when playing in hot conditions you must keep you fluids up to avoid dehydration!!

Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings

Golf Events from the Weekend 16th February 2014

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 stayed in the state of California for the Northern Trust Open and it was played on the Riviera CC, Pacific Palisades, California. And it was the golfer by the name of Bubba Watson (USA) who scored rounds of 70-1, 71 even par, 64-7 that was bogey free and a final round bogey free 64-7 for a 72 hole total of 269-15 to win by two shots for his fifth win on the USPGA Tour and his first since the 2012 Masters Tournament which was also his first Major Championship. He won US $1,206,000 for the win and moved to fourth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,012,007 earned from the five events he has played to date this season so far. Jimmy Walker (USA) still leads that list with US $3,686,680 earned from the nine events he has played to date this season so far. Bubba Watson (USA) also earned 500 FedEx Cup points for the win and moved to fifth position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 914 points earned from the five events he has played to date this season so far. He is 869 points behind the current leader of the FedEx Cup who is Jimmy Walker (USA) who has earned 1,783 points from the nine events he has played to date this season so far. From the five events Bubba Watson (USA) has played to date this season so far he has made five cuts and achieved three top ten finishes that includes the win here. 

Bubba Watson (USA) in action during the final round

Bubba Watson (USA) played a flawless final round of 64-7 that included a front nine of 30-5 with birdies on the par five, first hole, par four, third hole, par three, fourth hole, par three, sixth hole and par four, eighth hole and he made the turn at minus 13 and was leading by one shot. Dustin Johnson (USA) went out in 32-3 and made the turn at minus eleven and was two shots behind the leader. Jason Allred (USA) who Monday qualified for this event went out in 33-2 and made the turn at minus eleven and was two shots behind the leader. Brian Harman (USA) went out in 32-3 and made the turn at minus 12 and was one shot behind the leader.

Bubba Watson (USA) played holes ten to 14 in one under par and moved to minus 14 and he was now leading by two shots. Dustin Johnson (USA) played holes ten to 14 in one under par and moved to minus 12 and was now only two shots behind the leader. Jason Allred (USA) played holes ten to 14 in even par and remained at minus eleven but now was three shots behind the leader. Brian Harman (USA) played holes ten to 14 in even par and remained at minus 12 but now was two shots behind the leader.

Bubba Watson (USA) played holes 15 to 17 in even par and remained at minus 14 with just the par four, 72nd hole to play but now was only leading by a single stroke. Dustin Johnson (USA) played holes 15 to 17 in one under par and moved to minus 13 with just the par four, 72nd hole to play and now was only one shot off the leader. Jason Allred (USA) played holes 15 to 17 in one under par and moved to minus 12 and now only two shots off the leader with just the par four, 72nd hole to play. Brian Harman (USA) played holes 15 to 17 in even par and remained at minus 12 and still was two shots off the leader with just the par four, 72nd hole to play.

 

Bubba Watson (USA) pumps his fist in the air after holing his putt on the 72nd green!!

Jason Allred (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 12 and was three shots behind the winner. Dustin Johnson (USA) also playing in the group ahead of the final group also had a solid par at the par four, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes on minus 13 and finished two shots behind the winner. Brian Harman (USA) who was playing in the final group made a very solid par at the par four, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes at minus 12 which was three shots behind the winner. Bubba Watson (USA) hit an excellent drive off the par four, 72nd hole which landed right in the centre of the fairway. He then hit his short iron into 12 feet below the flagstick. Walking up to the 72nd green he knew the win was virtually secured so he could saviour the moment. He stood over the 12 foot birdie putt knowing two putts would be good enough for the win but he went even better and holed the 12 footer for his birdie three and he scored 34-2 on his back nine and finished the 72 holes on minus 15 to win by two shots. He got a huge high five from his caddie, Ted Scott and then his wife Angie greeted him with a kiss as he was walking to the scorers hut to celebrate and when he was doing an interview for CBS Sports he got to hold his young son, Caleb. This win was sweet redemption for him as two weeks prior he took the 54 hole lead into the final round at the Waste Management Phoenix Open but was unable to get the win.

 

Bubba Watson (USA) on the left poses with the Northern Trust Open Trophy he won and on the right is his wife, Angie and their Son, Caleb

Bubba Watson (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2006 season and has easily kept his card for the following year every year since. And he has made US One Million Dollars in all of those seasons as well. He has already achieved five wins on the USPGA Tour which includes the win this past week and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2010 Travelers Championship, 2011 Farmers Insurance Open, Zurich Classic of New Orleans, 2012 Masters Tournament (Maiden Major Championship) and the 2014 Northern Trust Open. I feel his sixth win on the USPGA Tour will coming in the 2013/14 season and perhaps it could be his second Major Championship win? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

Coming in solo second position at 271-13 after 72 holes was Dustin Johnson (USA); he earned US $ 723,600 for his efforts and moved to second position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 2,903,150 earned from the four events he has played to date so far this season. He also earned 300 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to second position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings list with 1,184 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 four cuts and all of them have been top ten finishes which includes his last two tournaments where he has had second place finishes and also his win at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in China in early November last year. He also scored a flawless final round of 66-5.Dustin Johnson (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since he qualified for the USPGA Tour by finishing in tied for 14th position at the 2007 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament and he has retained his full playing status on the USPGA Tour every season since and earned at least US $1.7million every season since. He has also won eight events on the USPGA Tour to date so far in his career and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2008 Turning Stone Resort Championship, 2009 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, 2010 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, BMW Championship, 2011 The Barclays, 2012 FedEx St. Jude Classic, 2013 Hyundai Tournament of Champions and the 2013/14 WGC – HSBC Champions. He has also amassed US $22,811,063 in career earnings to date from the 145 events he has played so far in his career and he made the cut in all four Major Championships last season and here were his results: tied for 13th position at the Masters Tournament in April; solo 55th position at the 113th US Open Championship in June; tied for 32nd at the 142nd Open Championship in July and tied for eighth position at the 95th PGA Championship in August. I feel now he is ready to win a Major Championship and it may well happen at the Masters Tournament in the second week of April 2014? I wish him all the best for the rest of 2013/14 season.

Coming in tied for third position at 272-12 after 72 holes was Jason Allred (USA); he earned US $388,600 for his efforts but because he isn’t a current member of the USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list ranking on the standings. And because he isn’t a current member of the USPGA Tour doesn’t qualify to earn any FedEx Cup Points or get a ranking on the standings list. 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 at this event. The reason why he was playing in this tournament was because he Monday qualified by scoring 66 and hence got the one of the four qualifying positions for this tournament. It was an amazing performance by Jason in the last three rounds after scoring a disappointing 73+2 in the first round he came back with three straight rounds in the 60’s in the final three rounds and playing in the final group in the final round for the first time he looked like a seasoned veteran on the USPGA Tour rather than some who had to Monday qualify to just make it into the field. With this top ten finish he will get a start in the next regular USPGA Tour event and that is the Honda Classic which starts on the Thursday 27th February. And with this performance this past week many tournament directors may well give him sponsor’s exemptions to play in their tournaments in the weeks ahead on the USPGA Tour? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season.

The final player to tie for third position was Brian Harman (USA); he too earned US $388,600 for his efforts and moved to twenty sixth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $727,992 earned from the nine events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 163 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to twenty ninth position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 372 points earned from the nine events he has played to date this season so far. From the nine events he has played to date this season so far he has made six cuts and achieved three top ten finishes that includes the one here, this was also his best finish on the USPGA Tour this season to date. He has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2012 season in which he earned US $1,146,448 from the 30 events he played in and he finished in 87th position on the final 2012 USPGA Tour Money list standings which meant he easily kept his card for the 2013 USPGA Tour season. In 2013 on the USPGA Tour he earned US $909,759 from the twenty nine events he played in and he finished in 92nd position on the final 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings meaning he easily kept his full USPGA Tour card for the 2013/14 season. I am sure his maiden USPGA Tour win isn’t too far away? I wish him all the best for the events he plays in the weeks to come.

Coming in solo 5th position at 273-11 after 72 holes was Charl Schwartzel (RSA); he earned US$268,000 for his efforts and moved to 83rd  position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US$268,000 earned from the one event he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 110 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 122nd position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 110 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 this was also the first top ten finish he has achieved to date this season so far. It was great to see him make such a good start to the season and I feel his second Major Championship win could be just around the corner. Perhaps it could even happen this year? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

Coming in tied for sixth position at 274-10 after 72 holes was Bryce Molder (USA); he earned US $216,912.50 for his efforts and moved to 35th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $608,373 earned from the eight events he has played to date so far this season. He also earned 88 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 45th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 294 points earned from the eight events he has played to date this season so far. From the eight events he has played to date this season so far he has made eight cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that includes the one here. Bryce Molder (USA) joined the USPGA Tour in 2002 but his best finish was tied for 9th at the Compaq Classic of New Orleans and he only made $US 348,028 from the 22 events he had entered and failed to keep his card for the 2003 USPGA Tour Season. He spent from 2003-2006 on the Nationwide Tour. In 2006 he earned $US 205,413 from the 24 events he entered and earned his 2007 USPGA Tour card. In 2007 he earned $US 257,593 from 21 events he entered so he was back to the Nationwide Tour in 2008. In 2008 he earned $US 234,651 for the 27 events he played on the Nationwide Tour and gained back his USPGA Tour card for 2009. He had his best year on the USPGA Tour in 2009 earning $US 1,381,211 from the 21 events he entered easily keeping his card for the 2010 season. In 2010 he had an even better season than the last earning $US 1,428,438 from the 26 events he entered. In 2011 he earned his maiden USPGA Tour victory at the Frys.com Open in his 132nd start on the PGA TOUR at the age of 32 years, 8 months and 13 days. In 2012 he earned US $1,166,115 from the twenty five events he played in but was already exempt for the 2013 USPGA Tour season because of his win in 2011. In 2013 on the USPGA Tour he earned US $816,922 from the twenty four events he played in and retained his card for the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season. I wish Bryce Molder (USA) all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season.

Also tied for sixth position was Matt Every (USA); he too earned US $216,912.50 for his efforts and moved to 30th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US$683,026 earned from the eight events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 88 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to twenty eight position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 378 points earned from the eight events he has played to date this season so far. From the eight events he has played to date this season so far he has made seven cuts and achieved three top ten finishes that includes the one here. He has been playing the USPGA Tour on and off since the 2010 season and in the 2012 season he had his best season so far with earning US $1,972,166 from the 25 events he played in and that included making 15 cuts and achieving six top ten finishes. He finished up in 40th position on the final 2012 USPGA Tour Money list standings. I feel his maiden USPGA Tour win isn’t too far off and could well happen in the 2013/14 season? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

Also tied for sixth position was William McGirt (USA); he too earned US $216,912.50 for his efforts and moved to 64th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US$367,957 earned from the nine events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 88 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 63rd position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 227 points earned from the nine events he has played to date this season so far. From the nine events he has played to date this season so far he has made six cuts and this was his very first top ten finish he has achieved so far this season to date. He gained his card on the USPGA Tour for the first time in his career when he finished in tied for second position at the 2010 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament and gained his 2011 USPGA Tour card. He had a poor rookie season with only earning US $532,933 from the 32 events he played in and that placed him in 141st position on the final 2011 USPGA Tour Money list standings. He went back to the 2011 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament and gained his card back for the 2012 season by finishing in tied for 13th position. He had a much better season in 2012 where he made over one million US dollars easily keeping his card for the 2013 season. Maybe he could achieve his maiden win on the USPGA Tour in the 2013/14 season?

The final player to tie for sixth position was George McNeill (USA); he too earned US $216,912.50 for his efforts and moved to 52nd position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $459,280 earned from the seven events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 88 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 55th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 249 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 five cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that includes the one here. He has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2007 season after gaining his full USPGA Tour card by winning the 2006 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament. He has kept his card every year since except for the 2013 season where he earned US $500,798 from the twenty one events he played in and finished in 138th position on the final 2013 USPGA Tour Money list and gained semi exempt status for 2013/14 USPGA Tour season. He has also won two events on the USPGA Tour so far in his career with the first being the 2007 Frys.com Open benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children and the second being the 2012 Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com. Let’s hope he can win his third event in the 2013/14 season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the season.

Rounding out the top ten in tied for tenth position at 275-9 after 72 holes was Harris English (USA); he earned US$174,200 for his efforts and remained in third position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US$2,170,397 earned from the nine events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 72 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and fell to third position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,048 points earned from the nine events he has played to date this season so far. From the nine events he has played to date this season so far he has made nine cuts and achieved five top ten finishes that includes the one here and also his win at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba last November. Harris English (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour for the past three 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 which came at the 2013/14 OHL Classic at Mayakoba in mid November last year, 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 it is played in his home state of Georgia. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

The final player to tie for tenth position was Brendan Steele (USA); he too earned US$174,200 for his efforts and moved to 40th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $570,848 earned from the nine events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 72 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 40th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup list points standings with 311 points earned from the nine events he has played to date this season so far. From the nine events he has played to date this season so far he has made six cuts and achieved two top ten finishes. He has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2011 season and has kept his card for the next year every season since. His best year so far came in his rookie season in 2011 where he earned US $1,976,310 from the twenty seven events he played in with making 16 cuts and achieving three top ten finishes that included his maiden win which came at the Valero Texas Open and he finished in 38th position on the final 2011 USPGA Tour Money list standings. Maybe he win get his second USPGA Tour win this season? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

There was one New Zealand golfer in the field and he was Tim Wilkinson (NZL) who scored rounds of 71 even par, 72+1 a poor third round of 73+2 and a final round of 70-1 for a 72 hole total of 286+2 and he tied for 65th position. He earned US$13,869 for his efforts and moved to 60th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 391,092 earned from the eight events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned  4 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 81st position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup points list standings with  185 points earned from the eight events he has played to date this season so far. From the eight events he has played to date this season so far he has made four cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which came at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in mid November last year and last week at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. It was good to see him make the cut after his brilliant play the previous week and I hope he can make more cuts and achieve more top ten finishes in the weeks ahead.

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to Arizona for the very first World Golf Championship event of the 2014 season and it is the World Golf Championship – Accenture Match play Championship and is played on the Golf Club at Dove Mountain, Marana, Arizona. It is co – sanctioned with all the other Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world. It carries a huge prize purse of US $9,000,000 for the taking. It is a different form of the game this week being a match play tournament. Only the top 64 Golfers on the Official World Golf Rankings two weeks prior are eligible to play in it. So the big name golfers of the likes of Rory McILroy (NIR), Jason Day (Australia), Henrik Stenson (Sweden) and Zach Johnson (USA) will all be playing. Matt Kuchar (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen for back to back titles. It starts a day earlier on Wednesday 19th February because there six rounds of match play to be played. I will report back who won the trophy next week.

So to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings Points this week and coming in at Number One Position for the 671st week of his career in total is Tiger Woods (USA) who is fresh off his  tied for 41st  finish at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic two weeks ago with 10.23 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 ten months ago and also won The Barclays over five months ago and also won the Australian PGA Championship just over three months ago and he also won the Talisker Masters 13 weeks ago and 12 weeks ago finished in solo third position in the individual competition at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf and eleven weeks ago finished runner up in the Emirates Australian Open with 8.73 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 13 weeks ago with 8.52 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Phil Mickelson (USA) who won the  Open Championship over six months ago and also finished in tied for 19th position at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro – Am a week ago with 6.88 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 seven months ago and also finished in tied for third position at the Turkish Airlines Open over two months ago with 6.39 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Michael Hendry (NZL) fresh off  his tied for 14th finish at the Oates Victorian Open this past week is the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world for the fifth fourth straight week of his career. This week he slips six places and falls too tied for 217th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.79 Official Golf World Ranking Points.

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

Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings