Well it was another brilliant weekend of golf on the
Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week the USPGA
Tour and FedEx Cup headed to Connecticut for the Travelers Championship and it
was played on the TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut. And it
was the golfer by the name of Kevin Streelman (USA) who scored rounds of 69-1,
68-2, 64-6 and an amazing final round of 64-6 that included seven consecutive
birdies to finish his final round for a 72 hole total of 265-15 and he won by a
single shot for his second win of his USPGA Tour career to date so far. He won US
$1,116,000 for the win and moved to twenty ninth position on the current
2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,941,439 earned from the 17
events he has played to date this season so far. Bubba Watson (USA) still leads
that list with US $5,010,976 earned from the 13 events he has played to date
this season so far. Kevin Streelman (USA) also earned 500 FedEx Cup Points for
the win and moved to twenty seventh position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup
Points list standings with 956 points earned from the 17 events he has played
to date this season so far and he is 1,366 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 17 events Kevin
Streelman (USA) has played to date this season so far he has made 12 cuts and achieved
two top ten finishes which includes the win here.
+tees+off+during+the+final+round!!.jpg) |
| Kevin Streelman (USA) tees off during the final round |
Kevin Streelman (USA) played a brilliant final round
of 64-6 that included a front nine of 36+1 where he birdied the par four, ninth
hole but made poor bogeys on the par four, second hole and par four, seventh
hole and he made the turn at minus eight and was five shots behind the leader. Sergio
Garcia (Spain) went out in 33-2 and made the turn at minus 13 and was one shot
behind the leader. K.J. Choi (South Korea) went out in 34-1 and made the turn
at minus 12 and was two shots behind the leader. Aaron Baddeley (Australia)
went out in 33-2 and made the turn at minus 14 and was leading by one shot.
Kevin Streelman (USA) played holes ten to 14 in
three under par which included making three birdies in a row from holes 12 -14
and he moved to minus eleven and was now only three shots behind the leader. Sergio
Garcia (Spain) played holes ten to 14 in even par and remained at minus 13 and
was still one shot behind the leader. K. J. Choi (South Korea) played holes ten
to14 in two under par and moved to minus 14 and now was leading by one shot.
Aaron Baddeley (Australia) played holes ten to 14 in one over par and fell back
to minus 13 and now was one shot behind the leader.
Kevin Streelman (USA) played holes 15 to 17 in three
under par and this included making another three straight birdies in a row and
he moved to minus 14 and was now tied for the lead with just the 72nd hole to
play. Sergio Garcia (Spain) played holes 15 to 17 in one under par and moved to
minus 14 and was now tied for the lead with just the 72nd hole to play. K.J.
Choi (South Korea) played holes 15 to 17 in even par and remained at minus 14
and was now tied for the lead with just the 72nd hole to play. Aaron Baddeley
(Australia) played holes 15 to 17 in one under par and moved to minus 14 and
was now tied for the lead with just the 72nd hole to play.
 |
| Kevin Streelman (USA) high fives the gallery walking off the 72nd green!! |
Kevin Streelman (USA) who was playing about an hour
ahead of the final group hit a very good drive down the par four, 72nd hole. He
then hit a fine second shot with his short wedge and it came to rest about ten
feet underneath the cup. He then sunk that ten foot birdie putt for his seventh
consecutive birdie in a row (Which is the record on the USPGA Tour during a final
round to win) and he scored an amazing back nine of 28-7. He finished the 72
holes at minus 15 and now lead by a single stroke but would have to wait to see
if that score was good enough for the win? His wife, Courtney and his young
daughter, Sophie were there to greet him as he walked off the 72nd green as
well. Sergio Garcia (Spain) who was playing in the group behind the final group
had a 30 foot birdie putt to move to minus 15 and would more than likely force
a playoff with Kevin Streelman (USA). He struck a good putt but it missed on
the left hand side and he tapped in for his par four to finish on minus 14
after 72 holes and was one shot behind the winner. K.J. Choi (South Korea) who
was also playing in the group behind the final group had a 35 foot birdie putt
on the 72nd green to force a playoff, he struck a good putt but it missed on
the right hand side and rolled about eight feet past. He managed to hole the
eight foot putt for his par four and he finished the 72 holes on minus 14 and
was one shot behind the winner. Aaron Baddeley (Australia) who was playing in
the final group was the only player left on the course that could force a
playoff with Kevin Streelman (USA). But he hit a shocking drive off the par
four, 72nd tee and it leaked to the right and he had terrible lie in the rough.
He was forced to lay up in the fairway and leave himself a short wedge shot for
his third that he would have to hole out to force a playoff with Kevin
Streelman (USA). He struck a good short wedge shot for his third and it landed
on the green pin high about twenty feet from the flag stick. He was unable to
convert the putt for his par and had to settle for his bogey five and finished
the 72 holes on minus 13 and was two shots behind the winner.
 |
| Courtney, his Wife on the left and Kevin Streelman (USA) on the right holding his Daughter, Sophie very happy after knowing he had won!! |
Kevin Streelman (USA) now knew it was confirmed that
he had won the Travelers Championship by a single shot!! He gave his wife,
Courtney a kiss to celebrate while holding his young Daughter, Sophie!! Then he
was interviewed by CBS Sports on course reporter, Matt Gogel (USA) and told him
“That when he walked off the ninth green after birding it he told his caddie
that if he scored 29 on the back nine he might have a chance to win” but he
went one shot better than that. He also said “He was very humble to win his
second USPGA Tour event in this style”. It was also a great honour to win the
Travelers Championship because he represents that company on the USPGA Tour. Kevin
Streelman (USA) will be happy with his four rounds this week because they were
all in the 60s and especially happy with his last two rounds that were back to
back 64-6’s. And the seven consecutive birdies he had to finish off his final
round created USPGA Tour history!! What makes this result even more amazing is
that prior to this event he had missed his previous four cuts. Kevin Streelman
(USA) has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2008 season after
gaining his card at the 2007 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished
in tied for 14th position. He had many struggles in his career before he gained
his full USPGA Tour card for the 2008 season, and now he can really saviour his
successes he has had in the past two years because he certainly worked
extremely hard to get where he has in golf today. I feel his third USPGA Tour
win isn’t too far away and could very well happen in the 2013/14 season as well?
I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season.
 |
| Kevin Streelman (USA) kisses the Travelers Championship Trophy he won!! |
Coming in tied for second position at 266-14 after
72 holes was Sergio Garcia (Spain); he earned US $545,600 for his efforts and
moved to 12th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings
with US $2,640,270 earned from the ten events he has played to date this season
so far. He also earned 245 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 19th
position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,081
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 nine cuts
and achieved six top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy
with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his first
and third rounds that were 65-5. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime
since the 2000 season and in the time he has easily kept his card for the next
year every season since and he has achieved eight wins on the USPGA Tour in his
career so far and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2001
MasterCard Colonial, Buick Classic 2002 Mercedes Championships, 2004
EDS Byron Nelson Championship, Buick Classic, 2005 Booz Allen
Classic. 2008 THE PLAYERS Championship and the 2012 Wyndham
Championship. He has current career earnings on the USPGA Tour of US
$35,473,983 earned from the 270 events he has played to date in his career so
far. I feel his ninth win isn’t too far off and maybe it could be his maiden
Major Championship win at the Open Championship which is next month? I wish him
all the best for the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season.
The final player to tie for second position was K.J.
Choi (South Korea); He too earned US $545,600 for his efforts and moved to 40th
position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,582,859
earned from the 15 events he has played to date this season so far. He also
earned 245 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 38th position on the
current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 806 points earned from the
15 events he has played to date this season so far. From the 15 events he has
played to date this season so far he has made 12 cuts and achieved two top ten
finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his four rounds
this week that were all in the 60s especially his first two rounds that were
65-5. But at the same time a little disappointed he was unable to win. He
hasn’t won on the USPGA Tour since the 2011 THE PLAYERS
Championship. But he is in good form heading into the final part of the
2013/14 USPGA Tour season. He has won career earnings of US $29,961,922 from
the 367 events he has played in his career to date so far and that includes
eight wins and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2002 Compaq
Classic of New Orleans, Tampa Bay Classic presented by Buick, 2005 Chrysler
Classic of Greensboro, 2006 Chrysler Championship, 2007 the Memorial Tournament
presented by Morgan Stanley, AT&T National, 2008 Sony Open in Hawaii, 2011
THE PLAYERS Championship. He turned 44 on the 19th May this year and I feel his
chances of winning a Major Championship may have passed him by but he could
prove me wrong? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.
Coming in solo fourth position at 267-13 after 72
holes was Aaron Baddeley (Australia); he earned US $297,600 for his efforts and
moved to 81st position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings
with US $942,559 earned from the 19 events he has played to date this season so
far. He also earned 135 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 78th
position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 528 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 13 cuts and
achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy
with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his third
round that was 65-5. But he will be slightly disappointed with his final round
of 69-1 and his back nine that was 36+1 and cost him any chance he had of
winning. Aaron Baddeley (Australia) has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime
since the 2003 season and in that time he has career earnings of US $16,697,493
earned from the 300 events he has played to date so far in his career so far
and that includes achieving three wins to date on the USPGA Tour and here they
are from the first to the most recent: 2006 Verizon Heritage, 2007 FBR
Open and the 2011 Northern Trust Open. I’m sure win number four isn’t
too far off and maybe it could happen this season? I wish him all the best for
the rest of the 2013/14 season.
Coming in tied for fifth position at 268-12 after 72
holes was Brendan Steele (USA); he earned US $235,600 for his efforts and moved
to 67th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US
$1,029,073 earned from the 19 events he has played to date this season so far.
He also earned 105 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 65th position
on the current 2013/13 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 592 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 three
top ten finishes that includes the one here. He will be happy with his first,
second and final rounds that were all in the 60s especially his first round
that was 62-8 and gave him the first round lead. But he will be disappointed
with his third round 71+1 that cost him any chance of he had of winning. 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 fifth position was Ryan
Moore (USA); he too earned US $235,600 for his efforts and moved to 14th
position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,573,322
earned from the 17 events he has played to date this season so far. He also
earned 105 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 17th position on the
current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,169 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 five top
ten finishes which includes the one here and also his win at the CIMB Classic
in late October last year. He will be happy with his first three rounds that
were all in the 60s especially his first round that was 63-7. But will be
disappointed with his final round of 71+1 that included a front nine of 38+3 that
ruined any chance he had of winning. 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 as an
Amateur 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.
Rounding out the top ten in tied for seventh
position at 269-11 after 72 holes was Harris English (USA); he earned US $186,775
for his efforts and moved to tenth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour
Money list with US $2,820,251 earned from the twenty one events he has played
to date this season so far. He also earned 83 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts
and moved to eighth position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list
standings with 1,431 points earned from the twenty one events he has played to
date this season so far. From the twenty one events he has played to date this
season so far he has made 17 cuts and achieved seven top ten finishes which
includes the one here and also his win at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba last
November. He will be happy with his first, second and final rounds that were in
the 60s especially his second round 64-6. But will be disappointed with his
third round of 72+2. 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 USPGA 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 third Major Championship in 2014 which is the Open Championship
played in England next month. I wish him all the best for the rest of the
2013/14 season.
Also tied for seventh position was Jeff Maggert
(USA); he too earned US $186,775 for his efforts and moved to 149th position on
the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $348,457 earned
from the 16 events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 83
FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 159th position on the current
2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 194 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 seven cuts and this was the first
top ten finish he has achieved to date this season so far. He will be happy
with his first, third and final rounds that were all in the 60s especially his
first round which was 64-6. But he will only be content with his second round
70 even par. Jeff Maggert (USA) has been playing the USPGA Tour full time since
the 1991 season and in that time he has achieved three wins with his last win
coming at the 2006 FedEx St. Jude Classic. He has represented the United States
in the Ryder Cup three times and in the Presidents Cup once. He turned 50 on
the 20th February this year and won on his Champions Tour debut in March 2014
at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic, becoming the 17th player to do so. He
also became the seventh player to win on all the USPGA Tour sponsored major
tours (PGA Tour, Web.com Tour, and Champions Tour). He finished the three
rounds at 11-under-par, two strokes ahead of Billy Andrade (USA). I wish him
all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season whatever tour he chooses to
play on.
The final player to tied for seventh position was Carl Pettersson (Sweden); he too earned US $186,775 for his efforts and moved to 74th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,004,843 earned from the twenty one events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 83 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 70th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 556 points earned from the twenty one events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty one events he has played to date this season so far he has made 12 cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the one here. This was also his second consecutive top ten finish in as many weeks. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his third round 66-4. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour since the 2003 season and in 2005 he won his maiden USPGA Tour event at the Chrysler Championship where he became the third Swede to win on the USPGA Tour after Jesper Parnevik (Sweden) and Gabriel Hjertstedt (Sweden). He won his second event at the 2006 Memorial Tournament. He won his third event at the Wyndham Championship in his adopted hometown of Greensboro in 2008. He won his fourth event at the 2010 RBC Canadian Open. And his fifth win came at the 2012 RBC Heritage in April 2012. He entered the final round with a one stroke lead after rounds of 65 and 66 on days two and three and cruised to a five stroke victory, holding off Zach Johnson (USA). The win tied Carl Pettersson (Sweden) with Jesper Parnevik (Sweden) for most wins on the USPGA Tour by a Swedish player. He re-entered the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings. He also achieved his career high finish in a Major Championship at the 2012 PGA Championship where he tied for third position. I sure his sixth win isn’t that far off either? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season.
Tim Wilkinson (NZL) was one of two New Zealand
Golfers in the field and he scored rounds of 66-4 in the first round which was
very good, then another very good second round of 68-2, then very good third
round of 67-3 and an average final round of 70 even par for a 72 hole total of
271-9 and he finished in tied for 18th position. He earned US $78,120 for his
efforts and moved to 108th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money
list standings with US $644,515 earned from the 19 events he has played to date
this season so far. He also earned 51 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and
moved to 108th position on the current
2013/14 FedEx Cup points list standings with 381 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 13 cuts and achieved two top ten
finishes which came at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in mid November last year
and at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in early February this year.
He will be happy with his first, second and third rounds this week that were
all in the 60s but disappointed with his final round that was 70 even par and
his worst of the week. At one stage early in the back nine of his third round
he was tied for the lead but he couldn’t hold on to it. With only six events
left in the regular 2013/14 USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup season that he is likely
to gain starts in he will need to have more good finishes in the weeks ahead to
secure his place in the first FedEx Cup Series playoff event which is the
Barclays which starts on Thursday 21st August and to do that he will need to be
inside the top 125 players on the final 2013/14 regular season FedEx Cup Points
list. Let’s hope he can have some top ten finishes in the weeks to come? I wish
him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.
Danny Lee (NZL) was the other New Zealand Golfer in
the field and he scored rounds of 72+2 in the first round. Then he scored a
good second round of 69-1 for a 36 hole total of 141+1 and missed the cut by
two shots. He currently lies in 115th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $587,199
earned from the 20 events he has played to date this season so far. He
currently lies in 105th position on the 2013/14 FedEx Cup points list standings
with 394 points earned from the 20 events he has played to date this season so
far. From the 20 events he has played to date this season so far he has made
eight cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came just under four months ago
at the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com where he finished in
solo second position in early March. This week he started off slow with a first
round 72+2 and improved by three shots in the second round for a 69-1 but it
was nowhere near enough to make the cut. With only six events left in the
regular 2013/14 USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup season that he is likely to gain
starts in he will need to have more good finishes in the weeks ahead to secure
his place in the first FedEx Cup Series playoff event which is the Barclays
which starts on Thursday 21st August and to do that he will need to be inside
the top 125 players on the final 2013/14 final regular season FedEx Cup Points
list. Let’s hope he can achieve some more top ten finishes in the events he
plays in the coming weeks? I wish all the best in his next few tournaments he
plays in for the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season.
Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to Washington
D.C. area for the Quick Loans National which is hosted by Tiger Woods (USA) and
he is also making his come back from major back surgery. It is played on Congressional
CC, Bethesda, Maryland. It carries a large prize purse of US
$6,500,000 for the taking. Bill Haas (USA) is the defending Champion and with
be keen for back to back titles. Danny Lee (NZL) and Tim Wilkinson (NZL) will
also be hopeful to get starts. It starts on Thursday 26th June and I will
report back who 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 sixth 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 one week ago at the 114th U.S. Open Championship with
9.09 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 nine months ago and won DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and the
2013 Race to Dubai Title 30 weeks ago and one week ago finished in tied for
fourth position at the 114th U.S. Open Championship with 7.89 Official Golf
World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Bubba Watson (USA) who is
fresh off his tied for 31st position this past week at
the Travelers Championship with 7.24 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming
in at Number Four is Matt Kuchar (USA) who is fresh off his tie for 31st position this
past week at
the Travelers Championship with 7.01 Official Golf World Ranking Points and rounding
out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list this week is Tiger
Woods (USA) who is fresh off his tied for twenty fifth position at the WGC –
Cadillac Championship 14 weeks ago with 6.89 Official Golf World Ranking
Points; Michael Hendry (NZL) is in his tenth week of his second spell of being
the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after his tied for 51st
finish at the Japan Tour Golf Championship this past week which was the seventh
event on Japanese soil for the 2014 Japan Golf Tour season. This week he slips eleven
places and falls to 247th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points
list with 0.73 Official Golf World Ranking Points.
Remember the most important thing to do in the Golf Swing is to keep the
head still!!
Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org,
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