Golf Events from the Weekend 2nd February 2014

It was another exciting weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup headed to Arizona for the Waste Management Phoenix Open and it was played on the TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona. And it was the golfer by the name of Kevin Stadler (USA) who scored rounds of 65-6, 68-3, 67-4 and a final round of 68-3 for a 72 hole total of 268-16 and he won by a single stroke for his maiden USPGA Tour win of his career. He earned US $1,116,000.00 for the win and moved to eighth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,492,698 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. Kevin Stadler (USA) also got 500 FedEx Cup Points for the win and moved to seventh position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 713 points earned from the six events he has played to date this season so far, he is 520 points behind the current leader of the FedEx Cup 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 Kevin Stadler (USA) has played to date this season so far he has made six cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that includes the win here.

Kevin Stadler (USA) played a good final round under the circumstances of playing in the final group and having a lot of pressure on him because he had never won on the USPGA Tour prior to today. He scored 68-3 that included a front nine of 31-4 that included birdies on the Par four, first hole, par four, second hole, par five, third hole and par four, ninth hole and he made the turn at minus 17 and was leading by one shot. Graham Delaet (Canada) scored 33-2 on his front nine and made the turn at minus 11 and was six shots behind the leader. Bubba Watson (USA) scored 34-1 on his front nine and made the turn at minus 16 and was one shot behind the leader. Hunter Mahan (USA) scored 34-1 on his front nine and made the turn at minus 12 and was five shots behind the leader.

Kevin Stadler (USA) played holes ten to 14 in two over par and fell back to minus 15 and was now one shot behind the leader. Graham Delaet (Canada) played holes ten to 14 in three under par and moved to minus 14 and was now only two shots behind the leader. Bubba Watson (USA) played holes ten to 14 in even par and remained at minus 16 but was now leading by two shots. Hunter Mahan (USA) played holes ten to 14 in one under par and moved to minus 13 and was now three shots behind the leader.

Kevin Stadler (USA) in action during the final round

Kevin Stadler (USA) played holes 15 to 17 in one under par and moved to minus 16 and was now tied for the lead heading to the Par four, 72nd hole. Graham Delaet (Canada) played holes 15 to 17 in even par and fell back to minus 14 but was still two shots behind the leader heading to the Par four, 72nd hole. Bubba Watson (USA) played holes 15 to 17 in even par and remained at minus 16 and was now tied for the lead heading to the Par four, 72nd hole. Hunter Mahan (USA) played holes 15 to 17 in one under par and moved to minus 14 and now was only two shots off the lead heading to the Par four, 72nd hole.

Hunter Mahan (USA) who was playing a couple of groups ahead of the final group made a solid par at the par four 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes on minus 14 and was two shots behind the winner. Graham Delaet (Canada) playing in the group ahead of the final pairing hit a brilliant second shot into the par four, 72nd hole with his short wedge and it came to rest five feet underneath the flag stick. He easily tapped that putt in for his birdie three and he finished the 72 holes on minus 15 and was one shot behind the winner. Bubba Watson (USA) who was playing in the final group hit his drive in the right rough at the par four, 72nd hole and was left with a difficult second shot with his short wedge from a lie that saw his ball buried in the deep rough. He immediately yelled out “Fore” as he struck it knowing it was going to fly the green and go into the rough and the gallery at the back of the green. He was now faced with a very difficult chip up a steep slope and didn’t have very much green to play with. He chose to play a bump and run shot and it hit the Television cables and skipped up the slope nicely. It rolled onto the green and came to rest five feet below the cup. Knowing he would have to hole the five footer to force a playoff with Kevin Stadler (USA) he calmed his nerve but put a very weak stroke on the ball and it just missed on the left hand side and he had to settle for his bogey five. He finished the 72 holes on minus 15 and was one shot behind the winner.

Kevin Stadler (USA) poses with the Waste Management Phoenix Open Trophy he won!!

Kevin Stadler (USA) also playing in the final group hit his best drive of the day on the par four, 72nd hole and it landed right in the centre of the fairway. He struck his short wedge shot very well and it landed 15 feet behind the flag stick. He now knew if he could sink the 15 foot putt for his birdie three he would win his maiden USPGA Tour event. He struck a good putt and it just missed on the right hand side of the cup and came to rest two feet from the cup. He easily tapped in for his par four and finished the 72 holes on minus 16 to win by a single shot. He got a huge high five from his caddie!! Kevin is the son of the famous Craig Stadler (USA) who won the 1982 Masters Tournament (Only Major Championship) along with 12 other USPGA Tour events. This maiden USPGA Tour win came in Kevin Stadler’s (USA) 239th PGA Tour start and would ensure him of his first Masters Tournament invitation in the second week of April later this year. Craig and Kevin Stadler (USA) will be the first father-son duo to play at Augusta in the same tournament. Kevin Stadler (USA) openly admits he has got a bad case of the yips with his putting and the long broom stick putter has saved his professional golf career. I wonder how he is going to get on when the new rules on banning that type of putter come in to effect on first of January 2016? Kevin Stadler (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime for the past six seasons and has now finally achieved his maiden USPGA Tour win. Last year in the 2013 USPGA Tour season he earned US $1,281,177 from the twenty five events he played in with making 17 cuts and achieving three top ten finishes with his best result being tied for third position at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and he finished in 68th position on the final 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season.

Coming in tied for second position at 269-15 after 72 holes was Graham Delaet (Canada); he earned US $545,600.00 for his efforts and moved to ninth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,361,267 earned from the five events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 245 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to eleventh position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 597 points earned from the five events he has played to date this season so far. From the five events he has played to date this season so far he has made four cuts and achieved four top ten finishes that have come in his last four starts. 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 it will happen in the 2013/14 season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

The other player to tie for second position was the 54 hole leader, Bubba Watson (USA); he too earned US $545,600.00 for his efforts and moved to twentieth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 806,007 earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 245 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 17th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 414 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 achieved two top ten finishes that includes the one here. He 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 four wins on the USPGA Tour and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2010 Travelers Championship, 2011 Farmers Insurance Open, Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the 2012 Masters Tournament (Maiden Major Championship). But he hasn’t won on the USPGA Tour in just under 22 months now. I feel his fifth win on the USPGA Tour will coming in the 2013/14 season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

Coming in tied for fourth position at 270-14 after 72 holes was Hunter Mahan (USA); he earned US $272,800 for his efforts and moved to 64th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $288,279 earned from the two events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 123 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 84th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 143 points earned from the two events he has played to date this season so far. From the two events he has played to date this season so far he has made two cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came at this event. Hunter Mahan (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour for the last nine seasons and has easily kept his card for the next season every season since except for the 2005 season where he had to go back the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in tied for ninth position and gained his full USPGA Tour status back for the 2006 season. He has current career earnings on the USPGA Tour of US $25,047,335 earned from the 283 events he has played in his career to date so far. He has also won five events on the USPGA Tour so far and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2007 Travelers Championship, 2010 Waste Management Phoenix Open, World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, 2012 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship and the Shell Houston Open. I feel his sixth win on the USPGA Tour isn’t too far off and perhaps it will happen in 2013/14 season? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

The final player to tie for fourth position was Hideki Matsuyama (Japan); he also earned US $272,800 for his efforts and moved to twenty fourth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $663,833 earned from the five events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 123 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to twenty fourth position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 354 points earned from the five events he has played to date this season so far. From the five events he has played to date this season so far he has made four cuts and withdrawn from one event. He has also achieved two top ten finishes that includes the one here. This is his first season he has played the USPGA Tour fulltime after playing the Japan Golf Tour for the past few seasons. He was one of the star players for the International Team the week before at the Tenth Presidents Cup in Ohio last October. Let’s hope he can continue this fine form throughout the 2013/14 season and I feel he is destined to be a Golfing Superstar with being so young at only twenty one years of age (he turns Twenty Two on the 25th February). I wish him all the best for his next few tournaments.

Coming in tied for sixth position at 271-13 after 72 holes was Charles Howell III (USA); he earned US $207,700.00 for his efforts and moved to 14th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,053,812 earned from the nine events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 92 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 12th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 542 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. He has played some great golf this year so far and must be due for his third USPGA Tour win very soon. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2001 season with easily keeping his card every season and has currently earned US $26,679,782 from the 399 USPGA Tour starts he has had to date so far in his career. His maiden USPGA Tour win came at the 2002 Michelob Championship at Kingsmill and his second win came at the 2007 Nissan Open in a playoff over Phil Mickelson (USA). I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

Also tied for sixth position was Brendan Steele (USA); he also earned US $207,700.00 for his efforts and moved to 48th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 396,648 earned from the seven events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 92 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 45th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 238 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 this is the first top ten finish he has achieved so far this season. 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.

The final player to tie for sixth position was Ryan Moore (USA); he also earned US $207,700.00 for his efforts and moved to third position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,898,050 earned from the six events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 92 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to sixth position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 805 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 six cuts and achieved four top ten finishes which includes the one here and also the win at the CIMB Classic in late October last year. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2006 season with easily keeping his card every season since and he has achieved three wins so far in his career with the first coming at the 2009 Wyndham Championship and the second coming at the 2012 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and his third came at the 2013 CIMB Classic. He gained his full USPGA Tour card by earning enough money from sponsor’s exemptions in the 2005 season after he played in the 2005 Masters Tournament and US Open Championship because he won the 2004 US Amateur Championship. I’m sure his fourth win isn’t too far off as well? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

Coming in solo ninth position at 272-12 after 72 holes was Harris English (USA); he earned US $179,800.00 for his efforts and moved to second position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 1,996,197 earned from the eight events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 80 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to second position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 976 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 four top ten finishes which includes the one here and also his win at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in mid November last year. 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.

Rounding out the top ten in solo tenth position at 273-11 after 72 holes was Webb Simpson (USA); he earned US $167,400.00 for his efforts and moved to fourth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 1,857,817 earned from the five events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 75 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to fourth position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 870 points earned from the five events he has played to date this season so far. From the five events he has played to date this season so far he has made five cuts and achieved four top ten finishes which includes the one here and also the win at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in late October last year. Webb Simpson (USA) has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2009 season after gaining his card at the 2008 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in tied for seventh position. He had a fine rookie season in 2009 on the USPGA Tour where he earned just over US one million dollars and easily keep his card for the 2010 season. In his second full season on the USPGA Tour in 2010 he earned just under US one million dollars and easily kept his card for the 2011 season. In his third full season on the USPGA Tour in 2011 he had a Awesome season with earning just over US 6.3 Million Dollars and finished second on the final 2011 USPGA Tour Money list with US $6,347,353 earned from the 26 events he played in. He also won two USPGA Tour events with his maiden win coming at the Wyndham Championship and his second one coming at the Deutsche Bank Championship which was the second FedEx Cup playoff event. In his fourth season on the USPGA Tour in 2012 he had another awesome season with earning just over US 3.4 million dollars and he won his third event on the USPGA Tour which was his Maiden Major Championship at the 112th US Open Championship. I’m sure his fifth win isn’t too far off either and maybe it will happen at the first Major Championship of the 2014 season which is the Masters Tournament in April 2014? I wish him all the best with the tournaments he plays in the coming weeks.

There was one New Zealand Golfer in the field and he was Danny Lee (NZL) who scored rounds of 73+2 and 71 even par for a 36 hole total of 144+2 to miss the cut by three shots. He has now missed six of his last seven cuts which will be disappointing for him. He current lies in 172nd position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $45,657 earned from the eight events he has played to date this season so far. He also currently lies in 143 equal position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup points list standings with 63 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 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.

  

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads back to California for AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro – Am and it is played on the famous Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, California. It carries a huge prize purse of US $6,600,000 for the taking. Brandt Snedeker (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen for back to back titles. Danny Lee (NZL) and Tim Wilkinson (NZL) are likely to get starts as well. It is a different tournament this week because Famous Sports stars from other sports and well known Celebrities including Movie Stars get to play with the USPGA Tour Professionals in a Pro – Am format. It starts on Thursday 6th February. 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 669th 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 this past week with 10.41 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 over five months ago and also won the Australian PGA Championship just over two months ago and he also won the Talisker Masters eleven weeks ago and ten weeks ago finished in solo third position in the individual competition at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf and nine weeks ago finished runner up in the Emirates Australian Open with 8.80 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 eleven weeks ago with 8.73 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 runner up at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship two weeks ago 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 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 6.64 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 ten weeks ago is the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world for the fifth second straight week of his career. This week he slips six places and falls to 221st position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.77 Official Golf World Ranking Points.

Remember when conditions are tough it is the same for everyone, so don’t panic!!

Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings