Golf Events from the Weekend 13th April 2014

Well it was another excellent weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup and all the other Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world head to Augusta, Georgia, USA for the first Major Championship of the 2014 season and it was the 78th Masters Tournament and it was played on the famous Augusta National GC, Augusta, Georgia. It carried a huge prize purse of US $ 8,000,000 for the taking and of course the famous green jacket went to the winner as well. It only had a small elite field of just around 100 golfers which includes the top 50th off the Official World Golf Rankings two weeks prior to the event; every winner of an event on the USPGA Tour that carried full FedEx Cup points for the past year from the event after the 2013 Masters Tournament to the event prior to the 2014 Masters Tournament, and also the top players from the European Tour and the current US and British Amateur Champions and Runners up also got invitations to play as well as was every past champion since the tournament began in 1934 was exempt to play in it as well. This year it was missing one of its main attractions who was Tiger Woods (USA) the current World Number One Golfer and also four time Master Tournament winner due to recent back surgery. Adam Scott (Australia) was the defending champion and was keen wear back to back Green Jackets!!

It started on Wednesday 9th April with the Par three contest which was a relaxed family event that was optional to play in and the players had their Wives, Girl Friends, Children and Grand Children caddie for them. And it was the player by the name of Ryan Moore (USA) who went round the par 27 course in six under 21 to win by two shots from Kevin Stadler (USA) and 1979 Masters Tournament winner, Fuzzy Zoeller (USA). But the main attraction was the featured pairing of Jack Nicklaus (USA) (Six Time Masters Tournament Winner), Arnold Palmer (USA) (Four times Masters Tournament Winner) and Gary Player (RSA) (Three Time Masters Tournament Winner) and in recent years they have always played in that pairing and had their sons, daughters and grand children caddie for them. It was great to see the players of yester year still being able to enjoy the game with their pairs in a competitive environment. 

 

Jason Day (Australia) on the left carries the bag while Ellie on the right his wife carries their Son, Dash

But on Thursday 10th April the first round commenced in sunny conditions with clear skies and just a light breeze blowing but the tricky pin placements made scoring very difficult. Just after 8am the honorary first tee shots were struck by Jack Nicklaus (USA) (Six Time Masters Tournament Winner), Arnold Palmer (USA) (Four times Masters Tournament Winner) and Gary Player (RSA) (Three Time Masters Tournament Winner). They played a few holes before the Tournament got under way properly. The first round leader was Bill Haas (USA) who scored a fine round of 68-4 and he had a one stroke lead over the defending champion, Adam Scott (Australia), 2012 champion, Bubba Watson (USA) and 2012 runner up Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) who all scored 69-3. Two shots back with first rounds of 70-2 were Jimmy Walker (USA), Marc Leishman (Australia), Kevin Stadler (USA), Jonas Blixt (Sweden), Gary Woodland (USA), K. J. Choi (South Korea), Brandt Snedeker (USA). Three shots back with first rounds 71-1 were 1992 Champion, Fred Couples (USA), Rickie Fowler (USA), Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain), young Matteo Manassero (Italy), young American golfing sensation Jordan Spieth (USA), two time Major Winner, Rory McILroy (NIR), Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) and Francesco Molinari (Italy). Steve Stricker (USA), John Senden (Australia) and two time champion Bernhard Langer (Germany) were all four shots back on 72 even par. Pre – Tournament favourite Jason Day (Australia) scored 75+3 and three time champion along with 2011 USPGA Champion Keegan Bradley (USA). Phil Mickelson (USA) scored a surprising poor first round of 76+4 along with 2013 U.S. Open Champion, Justin Rose (England). Ryan Moore (USA) who won the par three contest the day before scored 77+5. 2007 champion Zach Johnson (USA) and 2009 champion Angel Cabrera (Argentina) scored 78+6. 2008 champion Trevor Immelman (RSA) scored 79+7 and 2013 USPGA Champion Jason Dufner (USA) scored 80+8.

The second round was played on Friday 11th April in similar conditions to the first round with sunny conditions, clear skies and just a light breeze blowing and the pin placements again were tucked in the corners on the greens. Bubba Watson (USA) scored the equal low second round which was 68-4 that included making five consecutive birdies on the back nine from holes 12 to 16. It went with his first round 69-3 for a 36 hole total of 137-7 and he took a three stroke lead into the weekend. Three shots back were John Senden (Australia) on 140-4. Four shots back on 141-3 were Thomas Bjorn (Denmark), Jonas Blixt (Sweden), defending champion, Adam Scott (Australia) and young American golfing sensation Jordan Spieth (USA). Five shots back on 142-2 were 1992 Masters Champion, Fred Couples (USA), Jimmy Walker (USA) and Jim Furyk (USA). Six shots back on 141-1 were Kevin Streelman (USA), Stephen Gallacher (Scotland), Russell Henley (USA), Kevin Stadler (USA) and Jamie Donaldson (Wales). Oliver Goss (Australia) (Amateur) was the only Amateur to make the cut on 147+3. The cut fell at 148+4 and 51 players made it. Notable players to miss the cut were Ryan Moore (USA) who won the par three contest on Wednesday, Luke Donald (England), Sergio Garcia (Spain), Marc Leishman (Australia), Ernie Els (RSA), Three time champion, Phil Mickelson (USA), 2011 Champion, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) and the reigning U.S. Amateur Champion, Matthew Fitzpatrick (England), they all missed the cut by a single shot on 149+5. Harris English (England), 2007 Masters Tournament Champion, Zach Johnson (USA) and Graeme McDowell (NIR) were on 150+6 to miss by two shots. Dustin Johnson (USA) on 151+7 to miss by three. 2009 Masters Tournament Winner, Angel Cabrera (Argentina) and Patrick Reed (USA) were on 152+8 to miss by four shots. Keegan Bradley (USA) on 153+9 to miss by five shots. Jason Dufner (USA) on 154+10 to miss by six shots.  

The third round was played on Saturday 12th April in similar conditions to the first two rounds with sunny conditions, clear skies and just a light breeze blowing and the pin placements again were tucked in the corners on the greens which made getting the ball close very difficult. 2012 Masters Tournament winner, Bubba Watson (USA) scored a poor third round of 74+2 to go along with his first round 69-3 and his second round 68-4 and was on 211-5 after 54 holes and was tied for the lead with the young American golfing sensation Jordan Spieth (USA) who scored a fine third round of 70-2 to go along with his first round 71-1 and his second round 70-2 and he was also on 211-5. One shot back on 212-4 was Matt Kuchar (USA) who scored an excellent third round of 68-4 and Jonas Blixt (Sweden) was also on that score. Two shots back on 213-3 was Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) who scored the low round of the day which was 66-6 and also the tournament low so far and Rickie Fowler (USA) was also on that same score which included his third round 67-5. Three shots back on 214-2 were Lee Westwood (England), Jim Furyk (USA), Thomas Bjorn (Denmark). Four shots back on 215-1 were Justin Rose (England), Kevin Stadler (USA), 1992 Masters Tournament winner, Fred Couples (USA) and John Senden (Australia). The defending champion, Adam Scott (Australia) scored a disappointing third round of 76+4 and is now on 217+1 and his chances of winning back to back green jackets looked slim. 

The final round was played on Sunday 13th April in overcast conditions with only a very light breeze blowing but the course and pin placements were set up just as hard as the previous three rounds. Bubba Watson (USA) scored a brilliant final round of 69-3 to go with his first round 69-3, second round 68-4 and his third round 74+2 for a 72 hole total of 280-8 and he won by three shots for his second Masters Tournament win having won it already two years ago in 2012. Bubba Watson (USA) won US $1,620,000 for the win and moved to first position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour money list standings with US $4,533,007  earned from the nine events he has played to date this season so far. Jimmy Walker (USA) now lies in second position on that list with US $4,225,071 earned from the 14 events he has played to date this season so far. Bubba Watson (USA) also earned 600 FedEx Cup Points for the win and moved to second position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,840 points earned from the nine events he has played to date this season so far and he is 206 points behind the current leader of that list who is Jimmy Walker (USA) with 2,046 points earned from the 14 events he has played to date this season so far. From the nine events Bubba Watson (USA) has played to date this season so far he has made eight cuts and achieved six top ten finishes that includes the win at the Masters Tournament this past week and also his win at the Northern Trust Open in mid February. 

Bubba Watson (USA) scored an excellent final round of 69-3 under the circumstances of the Masters Tournament final round pressure. It included a front nine of 33-3 that included birdies on the par three, fourth hole where he hit his tee shot to within four feet of the flag stick, he also birdied the par three sixth hole, par five, eighth hole and par four, ninth hole. He made the turn at minus eight and was leading by two shots. Jordan Spieth (USA) scored 35-1 on his front nine which included birdies at the par five, second hole, par three, fourth hole where he holed his bunker shot in dramatic style!! He also birdied the par three, sixth hole and par four, seventh hole. But he made poor bogeys at the par four, fifth hole, par five, eight hole and par four, ninth hole. He made the turn at minus six and was two shots behind the leader. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) scored 36 even par on his front nine that included birding the par five, eighth hole and his lone bogey came at the par four, seventh hole. He made the turn at minus four and was four shots behind the leader. 

Bubba Watson (USA) bogeyed the par four, tenth hole and fell back to minus seven and was now only leading by one shot. Jordan Spieth (USA) made a solid par at the par four, tenth hole and was still at minus seven but now he was only one shot off the lead. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) pared the par four, tenth hole and remained at minus four but was now only three shots off the leader. 

Bubba Watson (USA) made a solid par at the par four, eleventh hole which is the first hole to start Amen Corner and he remained at minus seven and was still leading by a single shot. Jordan Spieth (USA) hit a brilliant second shot in to the par four, eleventh hole and only had a ten foot putt for his birdie. But the birdie putt slid by without going in and he remained at minus six and was still one shot behind the leader. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) made a solid par on the par four, eleventh hole and remained at minus four and was still three shots behind the leader. 

 

Bubba Watson (USA) tees off during the final round

Bubba Watson (USA) made a solid par on second hole of Amen Corner which is the par three, 12th hole. He over shot the green with his tee shot but hit a brilliant chip to within a couple of feet of the pin and sank the putt for his par. He remained at minus seven and now was leading by two shots. Jordan Spieth (USA) missed clubbed his tee shot on the par three, 12th hole and he came up a yard short off the green and saw his ball roll back into Rae’s Creek. He dropped his ball in the drop zone and hit a fine wedge shot for his third that came to rest 12 feet to the left of the flag stick and he rolled the putt in for his bogey four. He fell back to minus five and was now two shots behind the leader. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) made a solid par at the par three, 12th hole and remained at minus four and was still three shots behind the leader. 

Bubba Watson (USA) hit a drive with amazing length on the third and final hole of Amen Corner which was the par five, 13th hole where he took the line over the left hand trees and drew his ball back into the middle of the fairway about 350 yards from the tee leaving only a short wedge for his second shot. He struck his wedge to about 30 feet below the pin on the green and easily two putted for his birdie four and moved to minus eight and now was leading by three shots. Jordan Spieth (USA) hit a poor drive off the par five, 13th tee that landed in the pine needles in the trees on the right hand side and he was forced to lay up for his second shot. He hit a fine wedge shot in for his third leaving him with a 15 foot putt for his birdie. He struck a good putt for his birdie but it just missed on the right hand side and he tapped in for his par five and remained at minus five and was now three shots behind the leader. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) hit the par five, 13th hole in two shots and easily two putted for his birdie four and moved to minus five and was still three shots behind the leader. 

Bubba Watson (USA) hit another brilliant drive off the par four, 14th hole right down the centre of the fairway. He hit his second shot on the green and easily two putted for his par and remained at minus eight and was still leading by three shots. Jordan Speith (USA) also made a solid par four at the par four, 14th hole and remained at minus five and was still three shots behind the leader. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) also made a solid par on the par four, 14th hole and remained at minus five and was still three shots behind the leader.

Bubba Watson (USA) lost his drive to the left on the par five, 15th hole meaning his second shot was blocked out by the trees on the left. The commentators from CBS Sports thought he was going to lay up his second shot short of the water, but to their surprise he went straight through the trees and landed his ball just over the back of green. He was faced with a very difficult chip shot up the steep slope and the pin was cut in the back middle of the green. He struck a good chip shot under the circumstances that landed just on the green leaving 12 feet for his birdie. He left his birdie putt short and easily tapped in for his par five to remain at minus eight and he was still leading by three shots. Jordan Spieth (USA) hit a good drive down the par five, 15th hole that landed in the middle of the fairway. His second shot he lost to the right and it landed pin high on the fringe. He wasn’t able to get up and down for his birdie four and had to settle for his par five and he remained at minus five and was three shots behind the leader. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) made a disappointing par on the par five, 15th hole and remained at minus five still three shots behind the leader. 

Bubba Watson (USA) hit a nine iron on the par three, 16th hole to twenty feet to the right of the pin on the green and easily two putted for his par three to remain at minus eight and still had a three shot lead with two holes to play. Jordan Spieth (USA) hit his tee shot to 15 feet right of the flag stick on the green at the par three, 16th hole and was not happy with it by the way he expressed himself. He struck a good putt for his birdie two that just slipped past the hole and he easily tapped in for his par three and remained at minus five and was still three shots behind the leader. Jonas Blixt (USA) made a solid par on the par three, 16th hole and remained at minus five and he too was still three shots behind the leader. 

Bubba Watson (USA) lost his tee shot well to the left on the par four, 17th hole and was blocked out by the trees on the left hand side for his second shot. He played a fine recovery shot for his second shot that faded and landed just in front of the green leaving him a good angle for his third shot. He struck a fine chip for his third shot that landed just over the slope at the front of the green and rolled past the pin by four feet. He rolled his four foot putt in for his par and gave a huge fist pump knowing that he would take a three shot lead to the par four, 72nd hole!! He remained at minus eight and still lead by three shots. Jordan Speith (USA) pulled his tee shot off the par four, 17th hole and his ball landed in a similar place to where Bubba Watson (USA) was. He tried to hook his ball around the trees but it didn’t hook enough and he missed the green pin high about twenty yards to the right. He hit a fine chip shot for his third to about two feet from the flag stick and easily tapped in for his par four and remained at minus five and still three shots behind the leader. Jonas Blixt (USA) made a solid par on the par four, 17th hole and remained at minus five and was still three shots behind the leader. 

Jonas Blixt (Sweden) playing in the group ahead of the leaders had a birdie putt on the par four, 72nd green to get to six under par but he was unable to make it and he tapped in for his par four and finished the 72 holes at minus five and was three shots behind the winner. Jordan Spieth (USA) hit a good drive up the par four, 72nd hole and hit his second shot in with his short iron to about 15 feet past the pin. He struck a good putt for birdie from 15 feet but it just missed and he had to settle for his par four and he finished the 72 holes on minus five and finished three shots behind the winner. Bubba Watson (USA) now stood on the par four, 72nd tee with a three shot lead and he knew he didn’t need to hit his driver. He chose his four wood and hit a brilliant shot right down the centre of the fairway. He then hit his short iron right over the flag stick and it came to rest 15 feet from the pin. He now walked up to the 72nd green and could saviour the moment knowing he had virtually secured his second Masters Tournament win having won the tournament two years ago in 2012. Just before he putted for his birdie, his caddie, Ted Scott said to him “Don’t hit the first putt hard because you have four putts to win”. He took his caddies advice and rolled his putt with little speed on it down to within sixth inches of the cup and easily tapped in for his par four. He scored 36 even par on his back nine. 

 

Bubba Watson (USA) gets a hug from his wife, Angie while she is holding their son Caleb!!

Bubba Watson (USA) then got a huge hug and high five from his caddie, Ted Scott. Then his wife Angie came onto the 18th green and his son Caleb also came running on to the 18th green and they both game him a hug and kiss and he openly sobbed tears of joy as he always does when he wins a golf tournament. Then Bubba Watson (USA) made his way down to Butler Cabin where he was asked a few questions by CBS Sports Anchor Man, Jim Nantz. Bubba Watson (USA) said to him “As him and Adam Scott (Australia) were walking into Butler Cabin they said they should make this a regular occurrence because Bubba Watson (USA) put the green jacket on Adam Scott (USA) in 2013 and now Adam Scott (Australia) was now going to put the green jacket on Bubba Watson (USA) in 2014”. Bubba Watson (USA) then explained why he openly sobs every time he wins a golf tournament, it is because he believes he is in a dream and he only considers himself an average golf tour professional living the golfing dream and he knows there are hundreds of professional golfers just like him that will never even get a chance to even play the USPGA Tour fulltime. After Jim Nantz’s questions the chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, Bill Payne asked the defending Champion, Adam Scott (Australia) to do the honours of putting the green jacket on Bubba Watson (USA) who had become the 2014 Masters Tournament winner!!

 

Adam Scott (Australia) 2013 Masters Tournament winner on the left puts the Green Jacket on 2014 Masters Tournament winner, Bubba Watson (USA) on the right!!

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 six wins on the USPGA Tour which includes the win in mid February this year 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), 2014 Northern Trust Open and the 2014 Masters Tournament (Second Major Championship). I feel his seven win on the USPGA Tour will coming in the 2013/14 season as well and perhaps it could be his third Major Championship win? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season. 

Coming in tied for second position at 283-5 after 72 holes was Jonas Blixt (Sweden); he earned US $792,000 for his efforts and moved to 31st position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,203,180 earned from the 12 events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 270 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 42nd position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 521 points earned from the 12 events he has played to date this season so far. From the 12 events he has played to date this season so far he has made eight cuts and this was his first top ten finished he has achieved to date this season so far. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2012 season after gaining his card by finishing in fifth position on the final 2011 Web.com Tour Money list standings. In May 2012, Jonas Blixt (Sweden) finished in a tie for third at the HP Byron Nelson Championship, having been tied for the lead until he bogeyed the 71st hole. After the Memorial Tournament in June, Jonas Blixt (Sweden) missed two months of the season due to a rib injury. He started the PGA Tour Fall Series well with another third-place finish at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. The following week at the 2012 Frys.com Open, Jonas Blixt (Sweden) beat rookie Jason Kokrak (USA) and veteran Tim Petrovic (USA) by one stroke for his maiden USPGA Tour win in his 19th PGA Tour start. In 2013, Jonas Blixt (USA) won again, this time the Greenbrier Classic by two strokes over four players, including Johnson Wagner (USA), who was four ahead of Jonas Blixt (Sweden) after three rounds. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) also finished in fourth place at the 2013 PGA Championship. He proved how consistent of a golfer he can be this past week with playing all four rounds under par, shooting 70-2, 71-1, 71-1, and 71-1 for a five-under-par total. The result elevated Jonas Blixt (Sweden) to a career high of 33rd in the Official World Golf Ranking Points list. I’m sure his third win on the USPGA Tour isn’t too far off either? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season.

The final player to tie for second position was Jordan Spieth (USA); he too earned US $792,000 for his efforts and moved to fifth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,621,223 earned from the 12 events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 270 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to sixth position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,115 points earned from the 12 events he has played to date this season so far. From the 12 events he has played to date this season so far he has made ten cuts and achieved five top ten finishes which includes the one here. Jordan Spieth (USA) made people really take notice of him in his first ever USPGA Tour event he played as a 16 year old Amateur at the 2010 HP Byron Nelson Championship where he scored rounds of 68-2, 69-1, 67-3 and a final round of 72+2 for a 72 hole total of 276-4 and he tied for 16th position while still attending the University of Texas. In the 2011 HP Byron Nelson Championship he played in it again as a 17 year old Amateur and this time he scored rounds of 69-1, 68-2, 72+2 and a 77+7 which was played in extremely windy conditions for a 72 hole total of 286+6 and he tied for 32nd position. In 2012 he played in five more USPGA Tour events as an Amateur and made the cut in three of them with his best finish being tied for 21st at the 112th US Open Championship and he also achieved low Amateur Honours. He decided to turn professional in December of 2012 in the midst of his sophomore year at the University of Texas. He Monday qualified and got a few sponsor’s exemptions to play on the USPGA Tour in the early part of the 2013 season. And he managed to win the John Deere Classic in a five hole playoff in mid July which gave him full membership on the USPGA Tour till the end of 2015. That win he achieved at the John Deere Classic also earned him the last invitation into The Open Championship in Muirfield, Scotland, that week. He joined 27 other players on the John Deere Classic's chartered jet from Moline, Ill., to Scotland. He also is now exempt on the USPGA Tour till the end of the 2014/15 season. He won the 2013 USPGA Tour rookie of the year award. And last year he played on the winning US Presidents Cup Team after getting selected as a Captains pick for the US Presidents Cup Team. He is just an Amazing talent and now he has got his maiden USPGA Tour win I feel he can only go from strength to strength. It is amazing to think that before the start of the 2013 USPGA Tour Season he had no status on the USPGA Tour at all. Let’s hope he can continue this fine form throughout the 2014 part of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season? I am sure with this performance this past week at the Masters Tournament will only make him a stronger player and he became the youngest player in history to date to finish runner in the Masters Tournament. He is sure to be a Superstar in World Golf for many years to come. I wish him all the best for the rest of 2013/14 season.

Coming in solo fourth position at 284-4 after 72 holes was Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain); he earned US $432,000 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 standings ranking. He also earned 150 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts but because he isn’t a current member of the USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list ranking. From the four events he has played to date this season so far he has made four cuts and this was his first top ten finish he has achieved to date this season so far. It is amazing to think the 66-6 he scored in the third round was the low round of the tournament. This was also his career best finish at the Masters Tournament!! He turned 50 in January this year and that is what makes this performance even more amazing. He has been playing on the European Tour fulltime since 1988 and in that time he has achieved twenty wins to date so far which includes winning the Hong Kong Open four times and they were his last two wins on the European Tour in 2012 and 2013. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014 season for which ever tour he plays on. 
 
Coming in tied for fifth position at 286-2 after 72 holes was Rickie Fowler (USA); he earned US $342,000 for his efforts and moved to twenty second position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,467,230 earned from the 12 events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 115 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 34th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list standings with 584 points earned from the 12 events he has played to date this season so far. From the 12 events he has played to date this season so far he has made eight cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the one here. The highlight of Rickie Fowler’s (USA) tournament was scoring 67-5 in the third round but an average 73+1 in the final round end any hopes he had of winning his maiden Major Championship. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour as a full member since the 2010 season after gaining his card by finishing in tied for 15th position at the 2009 USPGA Tour Final Qualifying School. He has easily kept his card for the next season every season since. 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 2013/14 season. 

The final player to tied for fifth position was Matt Kuchar (USA); he too earned US $342,000 for his efforts and moved to eleventh position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,077,107 earned from the ten events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 115 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to eleventh position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 936 points earned from the ten events he has played to date so far this season. From the ten events he has played to date so far this season he has made nine cuts and achieved seven top ten finishes which includes the one here. He was in great position after he scored 68-4 in his third round to win his first Major Championship and first Masters Tournament but a four putt on the par three, four hole in the final round after he had just birdie the two previous holes really derailed his chances and he eventually went on to score a very disappointing final round of 74+2. But he can take a lot of heart from this performance as well. Matt Kuchar (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour full time on and off since the 2002 season and has easily kept his card for the next season every season since except for the 2005 season. He spent the 2006 season on the Web.com Tour and earned his 2007 USPGA Tour card back by earning US $300,867 from the 21 events he played in and finished in tenth position on the final 2006 Web.com Tour Money list standings. Since 2007 he has had huge success on the USPGA Tour and his current all time USPGA Tour earnings are US $ 28,493,134 earned from 311 events he has played to date so far in his career. The next step for him would be to win a Major Championship and maybe it will happen in the second Major Championship of the year which is the U.S. Open in June? He has won six times on the USPGA Tour to date in his career so far and here they are from his first to the most recent: 2002 The Honda Classic, 2009 Turning Stone Resort Championship, 2010 The Barclays, 2012 THE PLAYERS Championship, 2013 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship and the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance. I wish him all the best with for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

Coming in solo seventh position 287-1 after 72 holes was Lee Westwood (England); he earned US $301,500 for his efforts and moved to 64th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $675,375 earned from the ten events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 100 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 78th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 316 points earned from the ten events he has played to date this season so far. From the ten events he has played to date this season so far he has made eight cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came at this very event. He has a very good record in the Masters Tournament with recording five top ten finishes in the 15 appearance he has had to date so far. He has had a very good USPGA Tour career to date so far that started back in the mid 1990’s and he has won two USPGA Tour events with the first coming in the 1998 Freeport – McDermott Classic and the second came at the 2010 St. Jude Classic. He has also won twenty two events on the European Tour to date so far with his last coming at the 2012 Nordea Masters. He has also come so close to winning his maiden Major Championship over the years and you would have to think before his career is over he would at least win one Major Championship? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season. 

Rounding out the top ten in tied for eight position at 288 even par after 72 holes was two time Masters Tournament winner, Bernhard Langer (Germany); he earned US $234,000 for his efforts and moved to 138th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $234,000 earned from the one event he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 80 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 178th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 80 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 at this event. It was an excellent result for a past champion that is now 56 years old. He won his first Masters Tournament in 1985 and his second came in 1993. He has had an amazing professional Golf Career which he mainly played on the European Tour fulltime and has amassed 90 Professional Tournament wins with 42 of them coming on the European Tour and in recent years he has really shown his skill on the Champions Tour in the USA where he has achieved 19 wins so far. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014 season on the Champions Tour.

Also tied for eighth position was Rory McILroy (NIR); he too earned US $234,000 for his efforts and moved to twenty ninth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,274,740 earned from the six events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 80 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 38th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 557 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. He will be happy with his first, third and fourth rounds but will be extremely disappointed with his second round that cost him any chance he had of putting on his maiden Green Jacket. He now still hasn’t won on the USPGA Tour since he changed his golf equipment to Nike in late 2012. He has been playing the USPGA Tour Fulltime for the last three season’s including this one and in 2012 he won the 2012 Final USPGA Tour Money list with US $8,047,952 earned from the 16 events he played in and that included four wins and one was his second Major Championship win which came at the 2012 USPGA Championship. His 2013 USPGA Tour Season wasn’t so good as he was trying to get used to his new Nike Golf Clubs, he finished in 41st position on the final 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 1,802,443 earned from the 16 events he played in which was poor by his high standards. Here are his six wins to date on the USPGA Tour so far from the first to the most recent: 2010 Quail Hollow Championship, 2011 U.S. Open (Maiden Major Championship), 2012 The Honda Classic, PGA Championship (Second Major Championship), Deutsche Bank Championship and the BMW Championship. So far in his USPGA Tour career he has amassed US $16,434,743 in the 76 events he has played so far in his career. I feel his seventh USPGA Tour win is not very far off and perhaps it will be his third Major Championship win at the U.S. Open in June? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

Also tied for eighth position was Jimmy Walker (USA); he too earned US $234,000 for his efforts and fell to second position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $4,225,071 earned from the 14 events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 80 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and remained in first position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 2,046 points earned from the 14 events he has played to date this season so far. From the 14 events he has played to date this season so far he has made 13 cuts and achieved five top ten finishes that includes the one here and also his maiden USPGA Tour win that came at the Frys.com Open in mid October last year and his second win at the Sony Open in Hawaii in early January and his third win in early February at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro – Am. It was great to see him get his first top ten finish in a Major Championship in only the sixth Major Championship he has played in his career to date so far. It proves to me that he is now a real force on the USPGA Tour and will more than likely play himself onto the Ryder Cup Team for Team USA in late September in Scotland this year. Jimmy Walker (USA) is just having a dream start to the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season with getting three wins already in his first 14 starts. Jimmy Walker (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime for the last five seasons easily keeping his card each season. In his last two seasons on the USPGA Tour he has made at least one million US dollars in each. He now gets to play in the Players Championship in early May and PGA Championship in mid August. This win will also give him heaps of confidence to know now he truly belongs out here and it shows that all the perseverance and hard work he has put in during his career to date has paid off. I hope he can have many more top five finishes before the season is over and perhaps even win a WGC – Event or even a Major Championship? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

Also tied for eight position was John Senden (Australia); he too earned US $234,000 for his efforts and moved to 17th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,686,464 earned from the 13 events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 80 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 15th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 844 points earned from the 13 events he has played to date this season so far. From the 13 events he has played to date this season so far he has made eleventh cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the one here and also his win Valspar Championship in mid March. He will be happy with his first two rounds but disappointed with the way he played on the weekend. This was his best ever finish in the Masters Tournament. John Senden (Australia) has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2002 season and has kept his card for the next year every season since. In that time he has amassed career earnings of US $17,672,789 earned from the 348 events he has played to date so far in his career. His maiden win came at the 2006 John Deere Classic and of course his second win came in mid March this year at the Valsper Championship. So he had to wait just under eight years between wins. He is considered by some golf experts to have one of the best swings in the game but sometimes his putting lets him down. I sure his third win on the USPGA Tour is just around the corner and it could well happen in the 2013/14 season? Perhaps it could even be a WGC – Event or even a Major Championship? Now at age 42 years old he is really settled in his life being happily married to his wife Jackie since 1999, and has one child, Jacob. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season. 

Also tied for eighth position was Kevin Stadler (USA); he too earned US $234,000 for his efforts and moved to 14th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,908,152 earned from the 12 events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 80 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 12th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 907 points earned from the 12 events he has played to date this season so far. From the 12 events he has played to date this season so far he has made eleven cuts and achieved three top ten finishes that includes the one here and also his maiden win on the USPGA Tour that was the Waste Management Phoenix Open in early February. This was also his career best finish in a Major Championship to date so far. 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. 

The final player to tie for eight position was Thomas Bjorn (Denmark); he too earned US $234,000 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 standings ranking. He also earned 80 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts but because he isn’t a current member of the USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list ranking. From the four events he has played to date this season so far he has made four cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came at this very tournament. He will be disappointed with his first, third and final rounds but very pleased with his excellent second round which was 68-4. This was also his career best finish at the Masters Tournament. He plays the European Tour fulltime and has achieved 15 wins on that tour to date so far with his last win coming at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in early December 2013. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014 season. 

The low Amateur was Oliver Goss (Australia) (Amateur) who scored rounds of 76+4, 71-1, 76+4 and a final round of 75+3 for a 72 hole total of 298+10 and he finished in solo 49th position.

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to South Carolina for the RBC Heritage and it is played on the Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, South Carolina. It carries a large prize purse of US $5,800,000 for the taking and is played in a nice relaxing atmosphere after the high stress of the previous week at the Masters Tournament. Graeme McDowell (NIR) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. Danny Lee (NZL) and Tim Wilkinson (NZL) will be hopeful to get starts as well. It starts on Thursday 17th April 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 679th week of his career in total is Tiger Woods (USA) who is fresh off his tie for twenty fifth position at the WGC – Cadillac Championship five weeks ago with 8.87 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Adam Scott (Australia) who is fresh off his tied for 14th position at the Masters Tournament this past week with 8.28 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 six months ago and won DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and the 2013 Race to Dubai Title 21 weeks ago and this past week finished in tied for 14th position at the Masters Tournament with 8.12 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Bubba Watson (USA) who is fresh off his Masters Tournament win this past week with 7.30 Official Golf World Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list this week is Jason Day (Australia) who is fresh off his WGC – Accenture Match Championship win seven weeks ago and this past week finished in tied for twenty first position at the Masters Tournament with 6.86 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Mark Brown (NZL) fresh off  his solo second finish at the New Zealand Open six weeks ago is the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world for the seventh straight week of his career. This week he slips four places and falls to 236th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.73 Official Golf World Ranking Points. 

Remember there is no better feeling than walking off the 18th green knowing you have scored a great round!!

Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings