Well it was another Amazing 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
headed to the state of North Carolina for the second Major Championship of the
year which was the 114th U.S. Open Championship. It was played on the Pinehurst
No. 2, Pinehurst, North Carolina. When it was last played on this
course in 2005 Michael Campbell (NZL) won it!! But due to injury and a lack of
form he has decided to not play this year. But all the leading names in the
Golf were there with the likes of Adam Scott (Australia), Henrik Stenson
(Sweden), Bubba Watson (USA), Jordan Spieth (USA) and Rory McILroy (NIR) to
name a few as well as defending Champion Justin Rose (England).
The first round was played on Thursday 12th June in
warm sunny conditions with temperatures in the early 30s Celsius and there was
not much wind to speak of. Martin Kaymer (Germany) played a brilliant first
round of 65-5 which was the lowest ever score scored to date so far in a U.S.
Open Championship when played on the Pinehurst No. 2 course which included
birdies on the par four, first hole and par five, fifth hole with his lone
bogey coming at the par four, seventh hole for a front nine scored of 34-1. Then
he played a flawless back nine of 31-4 which included birdies at the par five,
tenth hole, par four, 14th hole, par four, 16th hole and par three, 17th hole. Three
shots back on 68-2 were Kevin Na (USA), Graeme McDowell (NIR), Brendon De Jonge
(Zimbabwe) and U.S. Open Championship sectional qualifier, Fran Quinn (USA). Four
shots back were on 69-1 were Brandt Snedeker (USA), Henrik Stenson (Sweden),
Matt Kuchar (USA), Brendon Todd (USA), Jordan Spieth (USA), Hideki Matsuyama
(Japan), Dustin Johnson (USA), Harris English (USA), Keegan Bradley (USA),
Francesco Molinari (Italy). Notable players that were five shots back on 70
even par were Ian Poulter (England), Phil Mickelson (USA), Russell Henley
(USA), Rickie Fowler (USA), Aaron Baddeley (USA), Jimmy Walker (USA), Victor
Dubuisson (France), Steve Stricker (USA), Charl Schwartzel (RSA), Paul Casey
(England), J. B. Holmes (USA), Jamie Donaldson (Wales) and Seung – Yul Noh
(South Korea). Notable players that were
six shots back on 71+1 were 2011 U.S. Open Champion, Rory McILroy (NIR), Patrick Reed
(USA), 2012 U.S. Open Championship, Webb Simpson (USA), John Senden (Australia)
and Louis Oosthuizen (RSA). Notable players that were seven shots back on 72+2
were defending Champion, Justin Rose (England), Bill Haas (USA), and Jason
Dufner (USA). Notable players that were eight shots back on 73+3 were Sergio
Garcia (Spain), Jason Day (Australia), Jim Furyk (USA), Adam Scott (Australia),
Retief Goosen (RSA) and Geoff Ogilvy (Australia). The two times and current
Masters Tournament Champion, Bubba Watson (USA) scored a poor round of 76+6 and
was eleven shots off the lead along with the only New Zealander in the
tournament who was Steven Alker (NZL).
The second round was played on Friday 13th June in similar
conditions to the first round which were warm and sunny with temperatures in
the early 30s Celsius and there was not much wind to speak of. Martin Kaymer
(Germany) scored another excellent round of 65-5 which was the lowest ever
score scored to date so far in a U.S. Open Championship when played on the Pinehurst
No. 2 course for the second consecutive day running and this time it was
blemish free which included birdies on the par five, tenth hole, par four, 13th
hole and par four, 16th hole to go out in 32-3 (He started on the back nine
today). Then he came in with 33-2 which included birdies on the par four, third
hole and par five, fifth hole. He had 36 hole total of 130-10 that was a U.S.
Open Championship record and he was leading by six shots. Six shots back on
136-4 after 36 holes was Brendon Todd (USA). Seven shots back on 137-3 after 36
holes were Kevin Na (USA) and Brandt Snedeker (USA). Eight shots back on 138-2
after 36 holes were Brooks Koepka (USA), Dustin Johnson (USA), Brendon De Jonge
(Zimbabwe), Keegan Bradley (USA) and Henrik Stenson (Sweden). Nine shots back
on 139-1 after 36 holes were Matt Kuchar (USA), 2011 U.S. Open Champion, Rory
McILroy (NIR), Chris Kirk (USA) and Jordan Spieth (USA). Ten shots back on 140
even par after 36 holes were Adam Scott (Australia), Ian Poulter (England),
Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) and Rickie Fowler (USA). Eleven shots back on 141+1
after 36 holes were defending Champion, Justin Rose (England) and Jason Day
(Australia). 13 shots back after 36 holes were Jim Furyk (USA) and Phil
Mickelson (USA). The cut fell at 145+5 with 67 players making it. Notable
players to miss the cut were Luke Donald (England), two time Masters Tournament
winner and current champion, Bubba Watson (USA), Charl Schwartzel (RSA), Jason
Dufner (USA) and Hunter Mahan (USA) who all missed it by a single stroke on
146+6. John Senden (Australia) and 2006 U.S. Open Champion, Geoff Ogilvy (Australia)
were on 147+7 to miss by two. Lee Westwood (England) and Matt Every (USA) were
on 148+8 to miss by three. Steven Alker (NZL) the only golfer from New Zealand
in the field scored his second consecutive round of 76+6 and he was on 152+12
to miss the 36 hole cut by seven shots.
The third round was played on Saturday 14th June in
conditions that were fine sunny with the temperatures in the early 30s Celsius
and there was a moderate wind blowing. Martin Kaymer (USA) scored 72+2 to go
along with his first and second rounds that were 65-5 and he was on 202-8 after
54 holes and had a five shot lead heading in to the final round. Five shots
back on 207-3 after 54 holes was Rickie Fowler (USA) who scored the equal
lowest score of the day as did Erik Compton (USA) who has amazingly had two heart
transplants in his life and was also on that score. Six shots back on 208-2
after 54 holes were Henrik Stenson (Sweden) and Dustin Johnson (USA). Seven
shots back on 209-1 after 54 holes was Brandt Snedeker (USA). Eight shots back
on 210 even par after 54 holes were Matt Kuchar (USA), Brooks Koepka (USA) and
Kevin Na (USA). Nine shots back on 211+1 after 54 holes were Defending
Champion, Justin Rose (England), Jordan Spieth (USA), Chris Kirk (USA) and
Brendon De Jonge (Zimbabwe). Eleven shots on 213+3 after 54 holes were Jimmy
Walker (USA), Jason Day (Australia), Adam Scott (Australia) and 2011 U.S Open
Champion winner, Rory McILroy (NIR). Phil Mickelson (USA) was on 215+5 after 54
holes and 13 shots behind the leader, so the Grand Slam will have to wait till
next year now.
The final round was played on Sunday 15th June in
conditions that were fine and sunny with the temperatures in the early 30s
Celsius and there was a moderate wind blowing. Martin Kaymer (Germany) scored a
very good final round of 69-1 to go along with his first round 65-5, second
round 65-5 and third round 72+2 for a 72 hole total of 271-9 to win by a huge margin
of eight shots. It was his third win of his USPGA Tour career and his second
Major Championship win and also his second win this year having won THE PLAYERS
Championship just last month. He won US $1,620,000 for the win and moved to fourth
position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $3,938,602
earned from the 12 events he has played to date this season so far. Bubba
Watson (USA) still leads that list with US $4,978,679 earned from the 12 events
he has played to date this season so far. Martin Kaymer (Germany) also earned
600 FedEx Cup Points for the win and moved to fifth position on the current
2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,509 points earned from the 12
events he has played to date this season so far. He is 813 points behind the
current leader of that list who is Jimmy Walker (USA) who has earned 2,322
points from the 19 events he has played to date this season so far. From the 12
events Martin Kaymer (Germany) has played to date this season so far he has
made ten cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the win here
and also his win at THE PLAYERS Championship last month.
+in+action+during+the+final+round.jpg) |
| Martin Kaymer (Germany) tees off in the final round |
Martin Kaymer (Germany) played a brilliant final
round under the circumstances of taking a five shot lead into the final round.
He scored 69-1 which included a front nine of 34-1 with birdies on the par
four, third hole and par three, ninth hole and he bogeyed the par four, seventh
hole to make the turn at minus nine and he was leading by five shots. Erik
Compton (USA) went out in 35 even par and made the turn at three under and was
five shots off the leader. Rickie Fowler (USA) went out in 37+2 and made the
turn at minus one and was eight shots behind the leader.
Martin Kaymer (Germany) played holes ten to 14 in one
under par and moved to minus ten and now was leading by eight shots. Erik
Compton (USA) played holes ten to 14 in one over par and fell to two under par
and was now eight shots behind the leader. Rickie Fowler (USA) played holes ten
to 14 in one under par and moved to two under par and was still eight shots
behind the leader.
Martin Kaymer (Germany) made a good par at the par
three, 15th hole where he made a fine up and down after missing the green to the
right and remained at minus ten and was still leading by eight shots. Erik
Compton (USA) made a bogey four at the par three, 15th hole and dropped back to
minus one and was now nine shots behind the leader. Rickie Fowler (USA) made a
solid par at the par three, 15th hole and remained at minus two and was still
eight shots behind the leader.
Martin Kaymer (Germany) hit a very good drive at the
difficult and long par four, 16th hole and hit a very good three iron for his
second shot that landed on the green and then rolled back off. He chose his
putter from just off the fringe and it came to rest 15 feet short of the cup.
He hit a good putt for his par but it just missed on the right hand side and he
tapped in for his bogey five but he fell back to minus nine and was now only
leading by seven shots. Erik Compton (USA) made a solid par at the par four,
16th hole and remained at minus one and was now only eight shots behind the
leader. Rickie Fowler (USA) made a solid par at the par four, 16th hole where
he made a great up and down from the left green side bunker and he remained at
minus two and now was only seven shots behind the leader.
Martin Kaymer (Germany) hit a very solid tee shot
into the par three, 17th hole that landed on the green and came to rest twenty
feet behind the flagstick. He struck a very good putt for his birdie that
stopped inches from the cup and he easily tapped in for his par three to remain
at minus nine and was now leading by eight shots. Erik Compton (USA) made a
solid par at the par three, 17th hole and remained at minus one and was still
eight shots behind the leader. Rickie Fowler (USA) made a bogey four at the par
three, 17th hole and fell back to minus one and was now eight shots behind the
leader.
Erik Compton (USA) who was playing in the group
ahead of the final group made a solid par on the par four, 72nd hole and
finished the 72 holes at minus one and was eight shots behind the winner.
Rickie Fowler (USA) who was playing in the final group with Martin Kaymer
(Germany) made a solid par at the par four, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes
at minus one and was eight shots behind the winner. Martin Kaymer (Germany)
stood on the par four, 72nd tee with an amazing eight shot lead. He chose his
driver and hit it a little right because he over faded it and it came to rest
in the coarse waste sand area that had replaced the rough from when the US Open
Championship was last staged here in 2005. His ball came to rest in one of the
worst lies he had got all week and he chose just to chip his ball back to the
fairway instead of trying to go for the green. He now was faced with a 100 yard
wedge shot for his third and he played it very well just as he had done the
whole tournament. It landed on the green pin high about ten feet to the left of
the flag stick. He calmed his nerve and rolled the ten foot putt for par right
into the centre of the cup for his par four and he scored 35 even par on his
back nine and finished the 72 holes on minus nine to win by an amazing eight
shots!! He embraced and hugged his caddie, Craig Connelly to celebrate, then
fellow German Ladies Professional Sandra Gal (Germany) who was present because
she is playing in the Women’s U.S. Open Championship on the same course next
week came onto the 72nd Green to pour water on him to celebrate with him as
well!! Then his brother Philip Kaymer (Germany) also came onto the 72nd green
to give him a huge hug to celebrate his win as well!!
+on+the+left+embraces+his+caddie+on+the+right+to+celebrate+after+holing+the+winning+putt!!.jpg) |
| Martin Kaymer (Germany) on the left and Craig Connelly his Caddie on the right embrace each other to celebrate winning!! |
It was Martin Kaymer (Germany) 11th European Tour
International Schedule victory in his 171st European Tour event. He could move
to just outside the top ten of the Official World Golf Ranking, from 28th
position. It was his first European Tour victory since the 2011 WGC – HSBC
Champions. This is a gap of two years and 221 days. This represents his biggest
gap between European Tour victories. He has played in 50 European Tour events
between European Tour victories. This victory represents his best European Tour
finish since his 2011 victory in the WGC – HSBC Champions. This victory beats
his previous best 2014 European Tour performance of tied 12th in the BMW PGA
Championship. It is his second Major Championship victory in his 26th Major
Championship appearance. (He won his first Major, the 2010 US PGA Championship
in his 12th Major appearance).
His first victory in the US Open Championship comes
in his seventh US Open Championship appearance and first at Pinehurst No.2. This
victory would beat his previous best US Open Championship performance of tied
eighth in 2010. It was his fifth top ten finish of his Major Championship
career from his 26th appearances. He becomes the first player from Continental
Europe to win the US Open Championship. This victory beats the best previous
finish by a Continental Europe in the US Open Championship of second by Grégory
Havret (France) in 2010 and tied second by Miguel Angel Jiménez (Spain) in
2000. He becomes the fourth European Tour Member to win the US Open
Championship in the past five seasons. He follows: Graeme McDowell (NIR) (2010),
Rory McIlroy (NIR) (2011) and Justin Rose (England) (2013). He is the first
wire-to-wire winner of the US Open Championship with no ties since Rory McIlroy
(NIR) in 2011. He becomes the eighth wire-to-wire victory in US Open
Championship history. They are: Walter Hagen (USA) (1914), Jim Barnes (England)
(1921), Ben Hogan (USA) (1953), Tony Jacklin (England) (1970), Tiger Woods
(USA) (2000 and 2002), Rory McIlroy (NIR) (2011) and Martin Kaymer (Germany) (2014).
Martin Kaymer (Germany) led by three shots after 18 holes, six after 36 holes
and five after 54 holes and won by eight.
It was the fourth wire-to-wire winner of the 2014
European Tour season and third with no ties. It was the second wire-to-wire
victory of his European Tour career. The first was the 2008 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf
Championship. He becomes the ninth player to win this season on The European
Tour when leading or sharing the lead going into the final round. It was the 50th
time in U.S. Open Championship that the 54 hole leader has go onto win the US
Open Championship. It was only the third time in the last ten US Open
Championships that the 54 hole leader has gone onto win. They are: Tiger Woods
(USA) (2008), Rory McIlroy (NIR) (2011) and Martin Kaymer (Germany) (2014). His
winning margin of eight shots is the biggest in the US Open Championship since
Rory McIlroy (NIR) won by eight in 2011. His eight shot winning margin is the
largest in a Major Championship since Rory McIlroy (NIR) at the 2012 US PGA
Championship. His winning margin of eight shots is the equal fourth biggest in
US Open Championship history. The biggest are: 15 (Tiger Woods (USA) in 2000),
11 (Willie Smith (Scotland) in 1899), nine (Jim Barnes (England) in 1921) and
eight (Rory McIlroy (NIR) in 2011 and Martin Kaymer (Germany) in 2014).
His eighth shot winning margin is the largest on The
European Tour in 2014, beating the seven by Lee Westwood (England) in the
Maybank Malaysian Open. His eight shot winning margin is the largest on The
European Tour since Charl Schwartzel (RSA) won the 2013 Alfred Dunhill
Championship by 12. He was the 29th different non-American to win the US Open
Championship. He was the 35th non-American victory in US Open Championship
history. He was the eighth different European Tour Member to win the US Open
Championship. They are: Ernie Els (RSA) (1994, 1997), Retief Goosen (RSA) (2001,
2004), Michael Campbell (NZL) (2005), Angel Cabrera (Argentina) (2007), Graeme
McDowell (NIR) (2010), Rory McIlroy (NIR) (2011), Justin Rose (England) (2013)
and Martin Kaymer (Germany) (2014). It was the tenth victory in the US
Open Championship by European Tour Members overall. He becomes the 47th Major
Championship victory by a European Tour Member since 1979. He becomes the
fourth Continental European Tour player to record multiple Major Championship
victories. They are: Seve Ballesteros (Spain) (five), Bernhard Langer (Germany),
José Maria Olazábal (Spain) and now Martin Kaymer (Germany) (all two). He becomes
the 13th different European Tour Member to record multiple Major Championships.
It was the 12th Major Championship won by a
Continental European. He becomes the 79th different player
to record multiple Major Championship victories. He becomes the 18th different player to win the US Open Championship and US PGA Championship. He becomes the first player since Rory McIlroy (NIR) (2011 US Open Championship and 2012 US PGA Championship), to make these two Majors their first two Major titles. It was the 65th German victory in European Tour history. He became the first German victory on The European Tour since Marcel Siem (Germany) at the 2013 Trophée Hassan II. It was his 20th professional win and second this season, following The Players’ Championship on the US PGA Tour.
to record multiple Major Championship victories. He becomes the 18th different player to win the US Open Championship and US PGA Championship. He becomes the first player since Rory McIlroy (NIR) (2011 US Open Championship and 2012 US PGA Championship), to make these two Majors their first two Major titles. It was the 65th German victory in European Tour history. He became the first German victory on The European Tour since Marcel Siem (Germany) at the 2013 Trophée Hassan II. It was his 20th professional win and second this season, following The Players’ Championship on the US PGA Tour.
He moves over €16 million in
European Tour Official Career Earnings. He extends his European Tour exemption
until the end of 2021. He gains a ten year exemption into the US Open
Championship and five years into the Masters Tournament and Open
Championship.(Already got a lifetime exemption into the US PGA Championship).
He gains a place into the 2014 PGA Grand Slam of Golf and 2015 Volvo Golf
Champions. (Already exempt into the 2014 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and
2014 WGC – HSBC Champions). He moves to 240.77 in The Ryder Cup World Points
List. He becomes the 12th European Tour win of the 2014 season by a former
Challenge Tour player. They are: Morten Ørum Madsen (Denmark) (South African
Open Championship hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni), Thomas Björn (Denmark) (Nedbank
Golf Challenge), Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) (Volvo Golf Champions), Pablo
Larrazábal (Spain) (Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship), Stephen Gallacher (Scotland)
(Omega Dubai Desert Classic), Ross Fisher (England) (Tshwane Open), Marco
Crespi (Italy) (NH Collection Open), Alexander Levy (France) (Volvo China Open)
and Felipe Aguilar (Chile) (The Championship at Laguna National), Daniel
Brooks (England) (Madeira Islands Open – Portugal – BPI), Mikael Lundberg (Sweden)
(Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity) and Martin Kaymer (Germany) (US Open
Championship). He becomes the 341st European Tour victory by a former Challenge
Tour player. He becomes the sixth Major Championship victory by a former
Challenge Tour player. They are: Michael Campbell (NZL) (2005 US Open
Championship), Trevor Immelman (RSA) (2008 Masters Tournament), Louis
Oosthuizen (RSA) (2010 Open Championship) and Martin Kaymer (Germany) (2010 US
PGA Championship, 2014 US Open Championship), and Justin Rose (England) (2013
US Open Championship).
Martin Kaymer (Germany) said he was so pleased to
win the U.S. Open Championship on Father’s Day because his Father has had a big
influence on his Golf Career. This is his second season playing on the USPGA
Tour fulltime. He gained his full 2013 USPGA Tour card by winning the 2010
USPGA Championship which was his maiden Major Championship. But he had a poor
2013 season on the USPGA Tour by his standards with only earning US $882,937
from the 17 events he played in and he finished in 94th position on the final
2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings. He also plays the European Tour fulltime
and has achieved ten wins already on that tour and here they are from the first
to the most recent: 2008 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, 2008 BMW International
Open, 2009 Open de France ALSTOM, 2009 The Barclays Scottish Open, 2010 Abu
Dhabi Golf Championship, 2010 US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, 2010 KLM Open, 2010 Alfred
Dunhill Links Championship, 2011 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and the 2011 WGC
- HSBC Champions. Now he has three wins on the USPGA Tour he will gain even
more confidence and I feel he will have a good chance to win the third Major
Championship of the year which is the Open Championship in July next month. I
wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.
+poses+with+the+U.S.+Open+Trophy+and+Medal+he+won!!.jpg) |
| Martin Kaymer (Germany) poses with the U.S. Open Championship Trophy he won!! |
Coming in tied for second position at 279-1 after 72
holes was Erik Compton (USA); he earned US $789,330 for his efforts and moved
to 37th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA
Tour Money list standings with US $1,652,563 earned from the twenty
events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 270 FedEx Cup
Points for his efforts and moved to 43rd position on the current 2013/14 FedEx
Cup Points list standings with 724 points earned from the twenty events he has
played to date this season so far. From the twenty events he has played to date
this season so far he has made 14 cuts and achieved three top ten finishes
which includes the one here. This was also his best finish in a Major
Championship and also his best finish on the USPGA Tour so far to date in his
career. He will be very happy with his second and third rounds that were in the
high 60s but disappointed with his first and final rounds that were in low 70s.
He will also be happy with this finish because prior to this event he had
missed has last two cuts. With this finish he has secured his USPGA Tour card
for the 2014/15 Season and he also gets an invitation to play in the 2015
Masters Tournament. Erik Compton (USA) has been playing the USPGA Tour Fulltime
since the 2012 season where he finished in 163rd position on the USPGA Tour
money list standings and failed to retain his tour card. He returned to
qualifying school and finished in tied for seventh position to regain his card
for 2013 season. He kept his card for the 2013/14 season. It is amazing to
think that he has had two Heart Transplants in his life already which is a
medical miracle. Let’s hope he can achieve his maiden USPGA Tour win soon? I wish him all the best for the rest of the
2013/14 season.
The final player to tied for second position was Rickie
Fowler (USA); he too earned US $789,330 for his efforts and moved to 15th
position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,406,407
earned from the 19 events he has played to date this season so far. He also
earned 270 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to twenty fifth position
on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 941 points earned
from the 19 events he has played to date this season so far. From the 19 events
he has played to date this season so far he has made 12 cuts and achieved four
top ten finishes which includes the one here. In the two Major Championships he
has played in so far this year he has achieved two top five finishes and this
was also his best ever finish in a Major Championship to date in his career so
far. He will be happy with his first three rounds that were all at even and
under par especially his third round of 67-3 which was the equal low round of
the day, but will be disappointed with his final round of 72+2. 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 and I would be surprised if it comes at
the third Major Championship of the year which is the Open Championship next
month. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.
Coming in tied for fourth
position at 281+1 after 72 holes was Keegan Bradley (USA); he earned US $326,310
for his efforts and moved to twenty fifth position on the current USPGA Tour
Money list standings with US $2,036,590 earned from the 17 events he has played
to date this season so far. He also earned 115 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts
and moved to twentieth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list
standings with 982 points earned from the 17 events he has played to date this
season so far. From the 17 events he has played to date this season so far he
has made 14 cuts and achieved four top ten finishes which includes the one
here. He will be happy with his first, second and final rounds that were all in
the 60s but extremely disappointed with his third round that was 76+6 that cost
him any chance he had of winning. Keegan Bradley (USA) has
been playing on the USPGA Tour since the 2011 season after gaining his 2011
full USPGA Tour card by finishing in 14th position on the final 2010 Web.com
Tour Money list standings with US $264,760 earned from the 28 events he played
in. He had an amazing rookie season on the USPGA Tour in 2011 with earning US $3,758,600
from the 28 events he played in and that included making 18 cuts and achieving
four top ten finishes and that included two wins and the first one was the HP
Byron Nelson Championship and the second one was his maiden Major Championship
which was the PGA Championship and he also won an unofficial event which was
the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. He finished in 13th position on the final 2011
USPGA Tour Money list standings which was a fine effort by a rookie. He backed
up his rookie season with another awesome season in 2012 where he earned US $ 3,910,658
from the 25 events he played in and finished in tenth position on the final
2012 USPGA Tour Money list standings. That included making 21 cuts and
achieving five top ten finishes which included his third win which came at the World
Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. He also played his first Ryder Cup
for the USA against Europe. He has just had an amazing last two seasons on the
USPGA Tour and it continued in 2013 with him earning US $3,636,813 from the
twenty five events he played in and he finished in eleventh position on the
final 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings. He also made his rookie appearance
in the Presidents Cup which he played excellently for the victorious Team USA.
I’m sure his fourth win isn’t too far off? He now has career USPGA Tour
earnings of US $13,153,661 from the 94 events he has played so far in his USPGA
Tour Career which is just amazing!! I wish him all the best for the rest of the
2013/14 season.
Also tied for fourth position was Jason Day
(Australia); he too earned US $326,310
for his efforts and moved to 17th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour
Money list standings with US $2,362,090 earned from the six events he has
played to date this season so far. He also earned 115 FedEx Cup Points for his
efforts and moved to twenty seventh position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup
Points list standings with 913 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 three top ten finishes which
includes the one here and also his win at the World Golf Championship –
Accenture Match play Championship in late February. He will be happy with his
second and final rounds that were both 68-2 but disappointed with his first and
third rounds that were in the early 70s. He has only played six events this
year due to a thumb injury that has caused him to have rehab time. He has won
twice on the USPGA Tour with his maiden win coming at the 2010 HP Byron Nelson
Championship. He had three top ten finishes in the four Major Championships
last year and here they are: Solo third at the Masters Tournament in April;
tied for second at the 113th US Open Championship in June; tied for 32nd at the
142nd Open Championship in July and tied for eighth at the 95th PGA
Championship. So far in his career his has amassed earnings of US $16,190,446
from the 142 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 Open Championship in July next month? I wish him all the
best for the rest of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season.
Also tied for fourth position was Brooks Koepka
(USA); he too earned US $326,310 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. He also earned 115 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 12
events he has played on the USPGA Tour to date so far this season he has made eight
cuts and this was his second top ten finish he has achieved so far on the USPGA
Tour in 2013/14 season with his first coming at the Frys.com Open in October
last year where he had a tied for third finish. He will be happy with his first
two rounds this week that were at even par and under par especially his second
round which was 68-2 but will be only content with his final two rounds that
were in the early 70s. This finish this week was also his first top ten finish in
a Major Championship. He has already earned US $857,293 from the 12 events he
has played so far this season on the USPGA Tour and with it is highly likely he
will gain more starts in the weeks to come and he has already secured his
2014/15 USPGA Tour card without even having to go through the Web.com Tour. Brooks
Koepka (USA) turned professional in mid 2012 and began playing on the Challenge
Tour in Europe. He won his first event in September 2012 at the Challenge de
Catalunya. In 2013 he had his second victory on the Challenge Tour, winning the
2013 Montecchia Golf Open. He followed this a month later with his third win,
the Fred Olsen Challenge de Espana, where he set the tournament record, 260
(−24), and won by a record 10 strokes. Three weeks later he had his third win
of the year at the Scottish Hydro Challenge. With those three wins, he earned
his European Tour card for the remainder of the 2013 season and for the full
2014 season. The day after his third Challenge Tour win of 2013, Brooks Koepka
(USA) qualified for the 2013 Open Championship. Brooks Koepka (USA) made his
debut as a member of the European Tour (he played in three events prior to
promotion to membership) at the Scottish Open, finishing Tied for 12th. I wish
him every continuing success for the rest of the 2014 season for whatever tour
he chooses to play on.
Also tied for fourth
position was Dustin Johnson (USA); he too earned US $326,310 for his efforts and remained in
third position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $4,072,230
earned from the 14 events he has played to date this season so far. He also
earned 115 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and remained in fourth position on
the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,666 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 12 cuts and achieved seven
top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his first
three rounds that were 69-1, 69-1 and 70 even par but disappointed with his
final round 73+3. 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 $23,980,114 in career earnings to date from the 155 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 Open Championship in July
next month. I wish him all the best for the rest of 2013/14 season.
The final player to tie for fourth position was Henrik
Stenson (Sweden); he too earned US $326,310 for his efforts and moved to 66th
position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,026,183
earned from the nine events he has played to date this season so far. He also
earned 115 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 85th position on the
current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 461 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 eight cuts and achieved two
top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his first
three rounds that were 69-1, 69-1 and 70 even par but disappointed with his
final round 73+3. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) has been playing the USPGA
Tour for the past three season’s fulltime after he gained his full USPGA Tour
card by winning the 2009 Players Championship. He had his career best season to
date in the 2013 USPGA Tour season. He has now won four USPGA Tour events in
his career so far to date and they all have been huge tournaments which include
the 2007 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship,
2009 THE PLAYERS Championship, 2013 Deutsche Bank Championship and the
Tour Championship by Coca - Cola. I feel he is a good enough player to win
a Major Championship and it will happen in the next few years and perhaps it
will happen at the Open Championship next month? Last year he won the 2013
FedEx Cup and he really sent a message to the rest of the professional golf
world that he had arrived and will be a real force in the years to come. I feel
the way the FedEx Cup is set up now it proves the best player in the four FedEx
Cup Playoff Series events will win the FedEx Cup and Henrik Stenson (Sweden)
proved that last year. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014/13
season.
Rounding out the top ten in tied for ninth position
at 282+2 after 72 holes was the current World Number One Golfer, Adam Scott
(Australia); he earned US $211,715 for his efforts and moved to tenth position
on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,733,165
earned from the ten events he has played to date this season so far. He also
earned 82 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 12th position on the
current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings 1,230 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 ten cuts and achieved six top ten
finishes which includes the one here and also his win at the Crowne Plaza
Invitational at Colonial last month. He will be happy with his second and
fourth rounds that were in the 60s but disappointed with his first and third
rounds which were both 73+3. Adam Scott (Australia) has been playing on
the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2003 season and has kept his card for the next
season every season since. In that time he has amassed career earnings of US
$35,932,230 earned from the 223 events he has played to date so far in his
career. He has also won eleven times on the USPGA Tour to date in his career so
far and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2003 Deutsche
Bank Championship, 2004 THE PLAYERS Championship, Booz Allen Classic, 2005
Nissan Open (The 2005 Nissan Open was
shortened to 36 holes due to rain. Adam Scott (Australia) defeated Chad
Campbell (USA) on the first hole of a
sudden-death playoff. Due to the event's length, this win is not officially
recognized), 2006 THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, 2007
Shell Houston Open, 2008 EDS Byron Nelson Championship, 2010 Valero Texas Open,
2011 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, 2013 Masters
Tournament (Maiden Major Championship), The Barclays and the 2014 Crowne Plaza
Invitational at Colonial. He had the best record of any player in the four
Major Championships in 2013 with winning the Masters Tournament in April; tying
for 45th position at the 113th US Open Championship in June; tying for third at
the 142nd Open Championship in July and tying for fifth at the 95th PGA
Championship in August. He has proved over the last few years that he has one of
the solid and most consistent Golf Swings on the USPGA Tour that can stand up
to the intense pressures that the USPGA Tour throws at the players week in and
week out. He will be one of the favourites for the Open Championship next
month. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season.
The final player to tie for ninth position was Brandt
Snedeker (USA); he too earned US $211,715 for his efforts and moved to 78th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA
Tour Money list standings with US $888,750 earned from the 16 events he has
played to date this season so far. He also earned 82 FedEx Cup Points for his
efforts and moved to 96th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list
standings with 417 points earned from the 16 events he has played to date this
season so far. From the 16 events he has played to date this season so far he
has made 13 cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one here.
He would be very happy with his first and second rounds that were 68-2 but
disappointed with his third and final rounds that were in the early 70s. He has had a rather
average 2013/14 season on the USPGA Tour by his high standards and this top ten
finish maybe just what he needs to boost his confidence. Brandt Snedeker (USA) has been playing
on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2007 season and he has easily kept his
card every year for the following season every year since and he has achieved
six wins in that time and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2007 Wyndham
Championship, 2011 The Heritage, 2012 Farmers Insurance Open, TOUR
Championship by Coca-Cola, 2013 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and the
RBC Canadian Open. In 2012 he won the FedEx Cup and the Ten Million Dollar
Bonus that goes with it. I feel he is destined to win a Major Championship
before his career is over, maybe it will happen in the 2013/14 season and
perhaps it could happen at the third Major Championship of the year at the Open
Championship next month? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14
season.
The low Amateur Golfer was Matthew Fitzpatrick
(England) (Amateur) who was the only amateur in the field to make the cut. He
scored rounds of 71+1, 73+3, 78+8 and a very good final round of 69-1 for a 72
hole total of 291+11 to tie for 48th position. He announced earlier in the week
that he was turning professional after this event and his first event as a
professional will be the Irish Open on the European Tour this week.
Steve Alker (NZL) was the only New Zealander in the
field and he scored rounds of 76+6 in the first round then followed it up with
another 76+6 in the second round for a 36 hole total of 152+12 to miss the 36
hole cut by seven shots. Because he isn’t a current member of the USPGA Tour he
doesn’t get a current 2013/14 Money list or FedEx Cup standings ranking. He
will be disappointed with this performance after his win on the Web.com Tour
last week. Let’s hope he can have more wins on the Web.com Tour in the weeks to
come? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014 season.
Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to Connecticut
for the Travelers Championship and it is played on the TPC River
Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut. It carries a huge prize purse of US
$6,200,000 for the taking. Ken Duke (USA) is the defending Champion and will be
keen to defend his title. Danny Lee (NZL) and Tim Wilkinson (NZL) are also
likely to get starts. It starts on Thursday 19th June. I will report back who
won the trophy next week.
So to the Top 5 on the Official
World Golf Rankings Points list this week and coming in at Number One Position
for the fifth week of his career and also becomes the 17th player to achieve
the Number One Official Golf Ranking is Adam Scott (Australia) who is fresh off
his tied for ninth finish this past week at the 114th U.S. Open Championship and
also winning
the Crowne
Plaza Invitational at Colonial three weeks ago with 9.24 Official Golf World
Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who won the
Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and also the 2013 FedEx Cup over eight months
ago and won DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and the 2013 Race to Dubai Title
29 weeks ago and this past week finished in tied for fourth position at the 114th
U.S. Open Championship with 8.01 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in
at Number Three is Bubba Watson (USA) who is fresh off his missed cut at the
114th U.S. Open Championship this past week
with 7.28 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Tiger
Woods (USA) who is fresh off his tied for twenty fifth position at the WGC –
Cadillac Championship 13 weeks ago with 7.07 Official Golf World Ranking
Points; and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points
list this week is Matt Kuchar (USA) who is fresh of his tied for 12th position
at the 114th U.S. Open Championship this past week with 7.06 Official Golf
World Ranking Points. Michael Hendry (NZL) is in his ninth week of his second
spell of being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after his
tied for twenty first finish at the PGA
Championship Nissin Cup noodles Cup 2014 one week ago which was the sixth
event on Japanese soil for the 2014 Japan Golf Tour season. This week he slips
five places and falls to 236th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points
list with 0.76 Official Golf World Ranking Points.
Remember golf is an 18 hole game so if you get off
to a poor start you can recover!!
Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org,
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