This week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup and all the other
Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world headed to Louisville, Kentucky
for the 96th PGA Championship (Also known as“Glories last Shot”) which was the fourth and final Major
Championship of the 2014 season. This year it was played on the Valhalla GC,
Louisville, Kentucky and all the big name players in the game were there
including Adam Scott
(Australia), Rory McILroy (NIR), Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Justin Rose (England)
and Bubba Watson (USA), Martin Kaymer (Germany), Sergio Garcia (Spain) and the
14 time Major Championship winner, Tiger Woods (USA) to name a few. It had the
equal largest prize purse on the USPGA Tour this season of US $10,000,000 for
the taking. And the first round was played on Thursday 7th August in fine and
sunny conditions with only a light wind blowing and temperatures were in the
late 20s Celsius. And three players shared the first round lead with rounds of
65-6 and they included Lee Westwood (England), Kevin Chappell (USA) and Ryan
Palmer (USA). One shot back on 66-5 were the three time Major Championship
winner and 2012 PGA Champion, Rory McILroy (NIR), Jim Furyk (USA), Edoardo
Molinari (Italy), Henrik Stenson (Sweden) and Chris Wood (England). Two shots
back on 67-4 were Mikko Ilonen (Finland) and Jerry Kelly (USA). Three shots
back on 68-3 were Joost Luiten (Netherlands), Ian Poulter (England), Bernd
Wiesberger (Austria), Shane Lowry (Ireland), Danny Willett (England), Shawn
Stefani (USA), Matt Jones (Australia), Seung – Yul Noh (South Korea) and J. B.
Holmes (USA). Four shots back on 69-2 were Rickie Fowler (USA), Victor
Dubuisson (France), Nick Watney (USA), Jimmy Walker (USA), Jason Day
(Australia), Phil Mickelson (USA), Jamie Donaldson (Wales), Rafael Cabrera –
Bello (Spain), Kevin Streelman (USA), Russell Henley (USA), Alexander Levy
(France), Graham DeLaet (Canada), Steve Stricker (USA), Cameron Tringale (USA)
and Geoff Ogilvy (Australia). Notable Player five shots back on 70-1 were
Patrick Reed (USA), Current Senior PGA Champion, Colin Montgomerie (Scotland),
Ernie Els (RSA), Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), Justin Rose (England), Sergio Garcia
(Spain), Bubba Watson (USA), Martin Kaymer (Germany), Luke Donald (England) and
Tim Clark (RSA). Other notable first round scores were Adam Scott (Australia),
Marc Leishman (Australia), Eric Compton (USA), Bill Haas (USA) and Vijay Singh
(Fiji) on 71 even par. 2003 PGA Champion, Shaun Micheel (USA), Miguel Angel
Jimenez (Spain), Charl Schwartzel (RSA),
64 Year Old, Tom Watson (USA), Davis Love III (USA) and Kenny Perry
(USA) who all scored 72+1. Tiger Woods (USA), Rich Beem (USA) and Keegan
Bradley (USA) all scored disappointing rounds of 74+3 and will need to go low
on Friday to make the 36 hole cut. And the real shock of the first round was
Angel Cabrera (Argentina) scoring a terrible first round of 82+11!!
The second round was played on Friday 8th August in rainy conditions with
some fine periods and only light winds and the temperature was in the mid 20s
Celsius and Rory McILroy (NIR) scored 67-4 to go along with his first round
66-5 and he had a 36 hole total of 133-9 and was leading by a single shot. One
shot back on 134-8 after 36 holes were Jason Day (Australia) and Jim Furyk
(USA). Two shots back on 135-7 after 36 holes were Ryan Palmer (USA), Rickie
Fowler (USA) and Mikko Ilonen (Finland). Three shots back on 136-6 after 36
holes were Phil Mickelson (USA) and Bernd Wiesburger (Austria). Four shots back
on 137-5 after 36 holes were Graham DeLaet (Canada), Steve Stricker (USA),
Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Joost Luiten (Netherlands), Victor Dubuisson (France),
Lee Westwood (England) and Louis Oosthuizen (RSA). Five shots back on 138-4 after
36 holes was Nick Watney (USA). Six shots back on 139-3 after 36 holes were Bill
Haas (USA), Vijay Singh (Fiji), Matt Jones (Australia), Richard Sterne (RSA),
Chris Wood (England), Billy Horschel (USA), Kevin Chappell (USA), Jamie
Donaldson (Wales) and Edoardo Molinari (Italy). The 36 hole cut fell at 143+1
and 74 players made it. Notable players to miss the cut were Erik Compton
(USA), Martin Kaymer (Germany), Tim Clark (RSA) and Padraig Harrington
(Ireland) who all missed by a single shot on 144+2. 64 year old Tom Watson
(USA), Davis Love III (USA) and Matt Every (USA) who missed by two shots on
145+3. Ryo Ishikawa (Japan), Keegan Bradley (USA) and Harris English (England)
who all missed by three shots on 146+4. Webb Simpson (USA) and Chesson Hadley
(USA) missed by four shots on 147+5. Jordan Spieth (USA), John Daly (USA) and
Tiger Woods (USA) all missed by six shots on 148+6.
The third round was played on Saturday 9th August in fine and sunny
conditions with only light winds blowing and the temperature was in the mid 20s
Celsius and Rory McILroy (NIR) scored 67-4 to go along with his first round
66-5 and second round 67-4 and had a 54 hole total of 200-13 and he lead by a
single shot heading into the final round. One shot back on 201-12 after 54
holes was Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) after a third round 65-6. Two shots back
on 202-11 after 54 holes was Rickie Fowler (USA). Three shots back on 203-10
after 54 holes were Phil Mickelson (USA) and Jason Day (Australia). Four shots
back on 204-9 after 54 holes were Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), Henrik Stenson
(Sweden), Mikko Ilonen (Finland) and Ryan Palmer (USA). Five shots back on
205-8 after 54 holes were Jamie Donaldson (Wales), Graham DeLaet (Canada) and
Steve Stricker (USA). Six shots back on 206-7 after 54 holes were Hunter Mahan
(USA), Adam Scott (Australia), Kevin Chappell (USA), Lee Westwood (England),
Joost Luiten (Netherlands) and Jim Furyk (USA). Seven shots back on 207-6 after
54 holes were Brandt Snedeker (USA), Danny Willett (England), Bill Haas (USA)
and Victor Dubuisson (France). Eight shots back on 208-5 after 54 holes were Marc
Warren (Scotland), Brooks Koepka (USA), Sergio Garcia (Spain), Ryan Moore
(USA), Jimmy Walker (USA), Ernie Els (RSA), Alexander Levy (France), Billy Horschel
(USA) and Nick Watney (USA).
The final round was played on Sunday 10th August in overcast conditions
with some heavy thunder storms that caused play to be delayed for more than two
hours and when the players resumed play after the rain delay the sun was out and
the temperature was again in the mid 20s Celsius and Rory McILroy (NIR) scored
a final round of 68-3 and to go with his first round 66-5, second round 67-4
and his third round 67-4 for a 72 hole total of 268-16 and he won by a single
shot for his second PGA Championship title and his fourth Major Championship of
his career to date so far and it was also his third consecutive win on the
USPGA Tour and the ninth of his USPGA Tour career to date so far. He won US
$1,800,000 for the win and moved to the top of the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour
Money list standings with US $6,965,896 earned from the 13 events he has played
to date this season so far. Jimmy Walker (USA) is in second position on that
list with US $5,337,340 earned from the twenty three events he has played to
date this season so far. Rory McILroy (NIR) also earned 600 FedEx Cup Points
for the win and moved to the top of the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list
standings with 2,582 points earned from the 13 events he has played to date
this season so far and he is 89 points ahead of Jimmy Walker (USA) who is in
second position and was Knocked off the number one position he has held all
season with 2,493 points earned from the twenty three events he has played to
date this season so far. From the 13 events Rory McILroy (NIR) has played to
date this season so far he has made 13 cuts and achieved nine top ten finishes
with includes the one here and also the wins the two previous weeks at the 143rd
Open Championship and the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational. He will be extremely
pleased with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his
first three rounds of 66-5, 67-4 and 67-4 and his final round back nine of 32-4
after his front nine of 37+1.
%2Btees%2Boff%2Bduring%2Bthe%2Bfinal%2Bround!!.jpg) |
| Rory McILroy (NIR) tees off during the final round |
Rory McILroy (NIR) played a very good final round under the circumstances
of holding the 54 hole lead by a single shot. He scored 68-3 which included a
very poor front nine of 37+1 with a lone birdie on the par five, seventh hole
and poor bogeys on the par three, third hole and par four, sixth hole and he
made the turn at -12 and was two shots behind the leader. Phil Mickelson (USA)
went out in an excellent 31-4 and made the turn at minus 14 and was now tied
for the lead. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) went out in an amazing 30-5 and made the
turn at minus 14 and was now tied for the lead. Rickie Fowler (USA) went out in
a very good 32-3 and made the turn at minus 14 and was now tied for the lead.
Rory McILroy (NIR) made an awesome eagle on the par five, tenth hole
where after he had hit his drive out over 300 yards in the fairway he then hit
his three wood second shot that he struck slightly thin but it was hit with a
slight fade on it and when it hit the fairway short of the green it rolled with
the right to left slope and on to the green and came to rest about ten feet
from the cup. He rolled the ten foot putt in for his eagle three and moved to minus
14 and was now one shot behind the leader. Phil Mickelson (USA) made a par at
the par five, tenth hole and remained at minus 14 and was now one shot behind
the leader. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) made a par at the par five, tenth hole and
remained at minus 14 and was now one shot behind the leader. Rickie Fowler
(USA) made a birdie on the par five, tenth hole and moved to minus 15 and was
still tied for the lead.
Rory McILroy (NIR) made a solid par at the par three, eleventh hole and
remained at minus 14 and was still one shot behind the leaders. Phil Mickelson
(USA) made a birdie two at the par three, eleventh hole and moved to minus 15
and was now tied for the lead. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) made a solid par at the
par three, eleventh hole and remained at minus 14 and was still one shot behind
the leaders. Rickie Fowler (USA) made a solid par at the par three, eleventh
hole and remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead.
Rory McILroy (NIR) made a solid par at the par four, 12th hole and
remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead. Phil Mickelson (USA) made
a solid par on the par four, 12th hole where he rolled in a twenty eight foot
par putt and remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead. Henrik
Stenson (Sweden) made a solid par at the par four, 12th hole and remained at minus
14 and was still one shot behind the leaders. Rickie Fowler (USA) made a solid
par at the par four, 12th hole and remained at minus 15 and was still tied for
the lead.
Rory McILroy (NIR) made a fine birdie at the par four, 13th hole when he
struck his short wedge shot into within ten feet and holed the putt and he
moved to minus 15 and was now tied for the lead. Phil Mickelson (USA) made a
solid par at the par four, 13th hole and remained at minus 15 and was still
tied for the lead. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) made a birdie three at the par four,
13th hole and moved to minus 15 and was now tied for the lead. Rickie Fowler
(USA) made a solid par at the par four, 13th hole and remained at minus 15 and
was still tied for the lead.
Rory McILroy (NIR) made a solid par at the par three, 14th hole and
remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead. Phil Mickelson (USA) made a solid par at the
par three, 14th hole and remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead.
Henrik Stenson (Sweden) made a poor bogey at the par three, 14th hole and fell
back to minus 14 and was now one shot behind the leaders. Rickie Fowler (USA)
made a poor bogey at the par three, 14th hole and fell back to minus 14 and was
now one shot behind the leaders.
Rory McILroy (NIR) made a solid par at the par four, 15th hole and
remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead. Phil Mickelson (USA) made a solid par at the
par four, 15th hole and remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead.
Henrik Stenson (Sweden) made a solid par at the par four, 15th hole and
remained at minus 14 and was still one shot behind the leaders. Rickie Fowler
(USA) made a solid par at the par four, 15th hole and remained at minus 14 and
was still one shot behind the leaders.
Rory McILroy (NIR) made a solid par at the par four, 16th hole and
remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead. Phil Mickelson (USA) made a poor bogey at the
par four, 16th hole when he failed to get up and down after nearly holing his
chip shot from behind the front bunker and he fell back to minus 14 and now was
one shot behind the leader. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) made a solid par at the par
four, 16th hole and remained at minus 14 and was still one shot behind the
leader. Rickie Fowler (USA) made a solid par at the par four, 16th hole and
remained at minus 14 and was still one shot behind the leader.
Rory McILroy (NIR) hit his tee shot on the par four, 17th hole into the
right fairway bunker. He hit his second from out of the right fairway bunker in
to 15 feet of the pin. Then he stroked the right to left ten foot birdie putt
right into the centre of the cup for his birdie three and he moved to minus 16
and took a two shot lead to the par five, 72nd hole. Phil Mickelson (USA) made
a solid par at the par four, 17th hole and remained at minus 14 and now was two
shots behind the leader heading to the par five, 72nd hole. Henrik Stenson
(Sweden) made a solid par at the par four, 17th hole and remained at minus 14
and now was two shots behind the leader heading to the par five, 72nd hole. Rickie
Fowler (USA) made a solid par at the par four, 17th hole and remained at minus
14 and was still one shot behind the leader.
Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who was playing a few groups ahead of the leaders
could only manage a par at the par five, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes at
minus 14 and finished two shots behind the winner. Rickie Fowler (USA) was
playing in the group ahead of the final group hit a good tee shot down the par
five, 72nd hole which found the fairway. He then struck a good long iron for
his second shot which landed on the front right hand side of the green about 45
feet from the flag stick. In fading light and darkness setting in he struck a
good putt from 45 feet for his eagle but it rolled about 12 feet past the hole
and he was unable to make the return putt for his birdie four. He tapped in for
his par five and finished the 72 holes at minus 14 and was two shots behind the
winner. Phil Mickelson (USA) hit a good drive down the par five, 72nd hole that
found the right hand side of the fairway. He then caught his long iron for his
second shot slightly heavy and it came up just short of the green landing in
the fringe. He now was faced with an eagle chip with his wedge that he knew he
would more than likely have to hole out for his eagle three if he was going to
force a playoff with Rory McILroy (NIR). He struck a very good tee shot in the
fading light that just missed on the left hand side of the cup and he easily
tapped the two foot birdie putt in for his birdie four and finished the 72
holes at minus 15 one shot behind the winner.
Rory McILroy (NIR) stood on the par five, 72nd hole in fading light and
darkness was almost setting in and he asked the PGA Championship Officials if
he and playing partner Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) could tee off before Phil
Mickelson (USA) and Rickie Fowler (USA) in the group ahead hit their second
shots. Both Phil and Rickie agreed to this and later when he received the
Wanamaker Trophy at the prize giving he acknowledged this by saying “It was a
very Classy and Sportsman like thing Phil and Rickie did in allowing me and Bernd
to tee off so we could get the tournament finished on Sunday rather than Monday
Morning”. So Rory McILroy (NIR) teed off and lost his tee shot slightly to the
right and was very fortunate not to land in the right hand water hazard. He
struck his second shot and pulled if left with his mid iron and it landed in
the left hand green side bunker leaving a very difficult third to a pin
placement that was in the middle of the green on top of a ridge. In almost
darkness he hit his third shot from the left hand green side bunker a little
heavy and came up on the bottom tier leaving a difficult uphill birdie putt
from 35 feet. With the huge gallery around the green watching him and millions
around the world watching on TV also in almost darkness he struck an awesome
putt from 35 feet and it came to rest two feet short of the cup. He then
claimed his nerve and sank the two foot par putt and he had won the 96th PGA
Championship!! He pumped his fist in the air to celebrate!! Then he got a huge
hug and high five from his caddie, J. P. Fitzgerald!! Then as he walked off the
72nd green his father, Gerry McILroy was there to share in some of his son’s
success by giving him a huge as well!! He then received the Wanamaker Trophy
from Ted Bishop who is the President of the PGA of America. Rory McILroy (NIR)
said in his acceptance speech “That he was so grateful to win this Championship
for a second time and pleased he was able to show some real resilience in his
golf game today after being two over after six holes.” He also said “the birdie
on the par five, seventh hole gave him the belief that he could get back into
the tournament and still win”. And he also said “His second shot with his
fairway wood on the par five, tenth hole was slightly fortunate because he
didn’t make the contact with the ball he had planned and got an awesome result
from the shot” and he also said “You need a bit of luck to win a Major
Championship and that was my piece of it”. He scored 31-4 on his back nine.
%2Bpunches%2Bthe%2Bair%2Bin%2Bcelebration%2Bafter%2Bhe%2Bholed%2Bthe%2Bwinning%2Bputt!!.jpg) |
| Rory McILroy (NIR) punches the air in Celebration after he holed the winning putt!! |
It was Rory McILroy (NIR) ninth European Tour International Schedule
victory in his 140th European Tour event. He extends his lead at the top of the
Official World Golf Ranking. He goes to 11.2701 points. It was his fourth
European Tour victory of the 2014 season, following the BMW PGA Championship, the
143rd Open Championship and WGC – Bridgestone Invitational. (Is the first time
he has won four times in a European Tour season and is the first Irishman to
achieve the feat). It was his second consecutive Major Championship victory,
following The 143rd Open Championship. He became the first player to win
back-to-back Major Championships since Padraig Harrington (Ireland) (2008 Open
Championship and 2008 USPGA Championship). He becomes the 16th different player
to win back-to-back Major Championships in two different Majors. (In all
back-to-back Major wins in different Majors has been achieved 24 times before).
He joins Nick Price (Zimbabwe) (1994), Tiger Woods (USA) (2000, 2006) and
Padraig Harrington (Ireland) (2008) to win The Open Championship and US PGA
Championship in the same year since 1958 when the US PGA Championship became
stroke play. (Walter Hagen (USA) achieved the feat in 1924 when the US PGA
Championship was match play).
Having won The 143rd Open Championship he becomes the 18th different
player to win two of the four Major Championships in the same season. (In all
this feat of winning two in one season would now have been done 31 times in
Major Championship history). Has won four Major Championships. They are: 2011
US Open Championship, 2012 US PGA Championship, 2014 Open Championship and 2014
US PGA Championship. At aged 25 years and 98 days becomes the fourth youngest
player in Major Championship history to win four Major Championships. He stands
behind: Young Tom Morris (Scotland) (1872 Open Championship – 21 years old),
Tiger Woods (2000 Open Championship – 24 years old) and Jack Nicklaus (1965
Masters Tournament – 25 years old). He becomes the 28th player to win four or
more Major Championships. He becomes the 18th different player to record
multiple US PGA Championship victories. Of those 18, his is the tenth when the
event was stroke play. At aged 25 is the second youngest player to win the US
PGA Championship twice since the event became stroke play in 1958. Tiger Woods
is the youngest at 24. It was his fourth Major Championship and comes in his
25th career Major Championship start. His second US PGA Championship victory
comes in his sixth appearance.
He continues with his astonishing record in the US PGA Championship. He
was tied third in 2009 and 2010, tied 64th in 2011, first in 2012, tied eighth
in 2013 and first in 2014. He becomes the 11th different player to win an event
the week before a Major Championship and then win the Major Championship in the
next event. (Phil Mickelson (USA) is the only player to have done this twice).
(Sandy Lyle (Scotland) is the only other player from the United Kingdom to
achieve the feat. He won the 1988 Greater Greensboro Open then the 1988 Masters
Tournament). He follows Tiger Woods (USA) in 2007 who won the WGC – Bridgestone
Invitational then won the 2007 US PGA Championship the following week. He becomes
the first player to win in three consecutive European Tour appearances since
Martin Kaymer (Germany) in 2010. He won the US PGA Championship, KLM Open and
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship). He becomes only the fourth European Tour
Member to win four or more Major Championships, after Sir Nick Faldo (England) (six),
Seve Ballesteros (Spain) (five) and Ernie Els (RSA) (four). This victory means
European Tour Members have won three of the four Majors in 2014. They are:
Martin Kaymer (Germany) (US Open Championship), Rory McIlroy (NIR) (The 143rd
Open Championship and US PGA Championship). This is the first time since the
2011 season that European Tour Members have won three of the four Majors in the
same season. It is the first time since The European Tour’s first season in
1972 that Europeans’ have won three consecutive Major Championships. Since Rory
McIlroy (NIR) won the 2011 US Open Championship, European Tour Members have won
eight of the last 15 Major Championships.
He has now won four of his last seven European Tour events. He has won
all four of his Major titles when leading going into the final round. He
becomes the fifth European Tour victory in the US PGA Championship since 2008.
They are: Padraig Harrington (Ireland) (2008), Y E Yang (South Korea) (2009),
Martin Kaymer (Germany) (2010), Rory McIlroy (NIR) (2012 and 2014). He becomes only
the eighth European-born victory in the US PGA Championship. He joins Jim
Barnes (England) (1916, 1919) as the only other European-born player to win two
US PGA Championship titles. At aged 25 years and 98 days becomes the youngest
European Tour Member to win four Majors. It was the 49th Major Championship
victory by a European Tour Member since 1979. Northern Ireland have now won six
of the last 19 Major Championships, dating back to Graeme McDowell (NIR) at the
2010 US Open Championship. Four to Rory McIlroy (NIR), and one each to Graeme
McDowell (NIR) and Darren Clarke (NIR). It was the sixth of his nine European
Tour titles where he has led or shared the lead going into the final round. It
was the 14th time this season where the 54 hole leader has gone onto win. It
was the 32nd time the 54 hole leader has gone onto win the US PGA Championship
since it became stroke play in 1958. He became the 12th player in European Tour
history to win four official events in a single season. It was the 54th
Northern Irish win in European Tour history. It was the fifth Northern Irish
victory of the season. They are: Rory McIlroy (NIR) (BMW PGA Championship, The
143rd Open Championship, WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and US PGA
Championship) and Graeme McDowell (NIR) (Alstom Open de France). He moves over
€21 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings. He moves to 534.26 in
The Ryder Cup World Points List. And finally it was his 15th victory as a
professional.
%2Bposes%2Bwith%2Bthe%2BWanamaker%2BTrophy%2Bhe%2Bwon!!.jpg) |
| Rory McILroy (NIR) holds the Wanamaker Trophy aloft for winning the 96th PGA Championship!! |
Rory McILroy (NIR) 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 nine 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, BMW Championship, 143rd Open
Championship (Third Major Championship), WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and the
96th PGA Championship (Fourth Major Championship). So far in his USPGA Tour
career he has amassed US $22,125,899 in the 83 events he has played so far in
his career. I feel his tenth USPGA Tour win is not very far off and perhaps it
will be at the Barclays in two weeks time where he is going for four
consecutive wins in a row? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14
season and his quest to win his maiden FedEx Cup.
Coming in solo second position at 269-15 after 72 holes was Phil
Mickelson (USA); he earned US $1,080,000 for his efforts and moved to 33rd
position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,119,875
earned from the 18 events he has played to date this season so far. He also
earned 330 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 42nd position on the
current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 921 points earned from the
18 events he has played to date this season so far. From the 18 events he has
played to date this season so far he has made 13 cuts and achieved one top ten
finish that came at this event. He will be happy with his four rounds this week
that were all in the 60s especially his final three rounds that were 67-4, 67-4
and 66-5. But he will be disappointed he wasn’t able to win his sixth Major
Championship of his career. But he will be extremely happy he was able to lock
up his place on the USA Ryder Cup team for the matches in Scotland in late
September after finishing in fifth position in the final points standings with 5,510.338
points earned. He will be very pleased he was able to achieve his first top ten
of the season and let’s hope be able to carry this amazing form of late into
the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Prior to this finish he was having one of the poorest
seasons of his USPGA Tour career in a long time. Phil Mickelson (USA) has had an amazing USPGA Tour career which started
in 1992 when he first started playing the USPGA Tour fulltime and
has easily kept his card every season since and has current career earnings on
USPGA Tour of US $75,260,366 from the 504 events he has played so far in his
career. And that includes having 42 USPGA Tour wins to date so far in his
career which includes five Major Championship titles as well and here they are
from the first to the most recent: 1991 Northern Telecom Open.
1993 Buick Invitational of California, The International.
1994 Mercedes Championships. 1995 Northern Telecom Open.
1996 Nortel Open, Phoenix Open, GTE Byron Nelson Golf
Classic, NEC World Series of Golf. 1997 Bay Hill
Invitational, Sprint International. 1998 Mercedes Championships,
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. 2000 Buick Invitational, BellSouth
Classic, MasterCard Colonial, THE TOUR
Championship. 2001 Buick Invitational, Canon Greater Hartford
Open. 2002 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Canon Greater Hartford
Open. 2004 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Masters Tournament (First
Major Championship). 2005 FBR Open, AT&T Pebble Beach
National Pro-Am, BellSouth Classic, PGA Championship (Third Major
Championship). 2006 BellSouth Classic, Masters Tournament
(Second Major Championship). 2007 AT&T Pebble Beach National
Pro-Am, THE PLAYERS Championship, Deutsche Bank Championship.
2008 Northern Trust Open, Crowne Plaza Invitational at
Colonial. 2009 Northern Trust Open, World Golf Championships-CA
Championship, THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola.
2010 Masters Tournament (Fourth Major Championship). 2011 Shell
Houston Open. 2012 AT&T Pebble Beach National
Pro-Am. 2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open and the 142nd Open
Championship (Fifth Major Championship). I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he
won his sixth Major Championship in the next few years, and perhaps he will win
the FedEx Cup this year as well? He has always been a favourite with the crowds
and always Acknowledges all the praise he gets from them. He is known as the
modern day Arnold Palmer (USA) in that respect and he also has the same go for
broke attitude that Arnold Palmer (USA) had when he was in his prime. He also
is very respectful to his opponents and this was shown in the 2012 Ryder Cup
Matches which Team USA should have won easily. He was playing Justin Rose
(England) in the final day singles matches. He had just narrowly missed
chipping in for birdie on the Par three, 17th hole. Justin Rose (England)
putted for birdie from just off the green and holed it for the win. He gave
Justin Rose (England) great praise where other players wouldn’t have said
anything. But if he can’t win one of the four FedEx Cup Playoff events it will
be the first season since 2003 that he has failed to win a USPGA Tour Event. I
wish Phil Mickelson (USA) all the best for the 2013/14 FedEx Cup Playoffs
season.
The final player to tie
for third position was Henrik Stenson (Sweden); he too earned US
$580,000 for his efforts and moved to 46th position on the current 2013/14
FedEx Cup Points standings with US $1,731,435 earned from the 12 events he has
played to date this season so far. He also earned 180 FedEx Cup Points for his
efforts and moved to 67th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list
standings with 720 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 which includes the one
here. He will be happy with his first, third and final rounds this week that
were 66-5, 67-4 and 66-5. But he will be disappointed with his second round of
71 even par. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) has been playing the USPGA
Tour for the past four 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 Masters Tournament next April? 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.
The final player to tied for fifth position was Ryan Palmer (USA); he also earned US $367,500 for his efforts and moved to 30th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,202,952 earned from the 19 events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 115 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to twenty eighth position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Money list standings with 1,068 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 16 cuts and achieved six top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his four rounds this week especially his first round 65-6 that had him tied for the lead. It was also his best finish in a Major Championship of his career to date so far. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2004 season and has managed to keep his card or at least semi status on the USPGA Tour for the next season every season since. He has won three events on the USPGA Tour in that time and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2004 FUNAI Classic at the WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort, 2008 Ginn sur Mer Classic and the 2010 Sony Open in Hawaii. I feel his fourth win isn’t too far away and might just coming in the 2013/14 season? 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 273-11 after 72 holes was Victor Dubuisson (France); He earned US $263,000 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 86 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 standings ranking. From the ten events he has played to date this season so far he has made nine cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par especially his final round that was 66-5. He has had a very good last two Major Championships with achieving top ten finishes in both of them. He currently plays the European Tour fulltime and is currently in eighth position on the current 2014 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 1,458,102 earned from the 14 events he has played to date this season so far. He achieved his maiden win on the 2013 European Tour with winning the Turkish Airlines Open by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. He looks to have a very promising career in front of him with only being 24 years old. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014 season.
Also tied for seventh position was Ernie Els (RSA); he also earned US $263,000 for his efforts and moved to 66th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,353,422 earned from the twenty events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 86 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 85th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 604 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 two top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par especially his final round that was 65-6 which was the equal lowest round of the day and the tournament. Ernie Els (RSA) has already won 19 USPGA Tour events in his career and that includes four Major Championships. He is now 44 years of age and turns 45 in mid October entering his twilight years on the USPGA Tour. Perhaps he could win his fifth Major Championship before his career is over? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014 season.
Also tied for seventh position was Mikko Ilonen (Finland); he also earned US $263,000 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 86 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 standings ranking. From the five events he has played to date this season so far he has made four cuts and this was his very first top ten finish he has achieved to date this season so far. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his first round of 67-4. He plays the European Tour Fulltime and he is currently in 15th position on the 2014 Race to Dubai Money list with € 1,067,143 earned from the 17 events he has played to date this season so far. He also has won four events on the European Tour with his last one being the Irish Open in June this year. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014 season.
Also tied for seventh position was Hunter Mahan (USA); he also earned US $263,000 for his efforts and moved to 57th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Money list standings with US $1,480,503 earned from the twenty one events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 86 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 59th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 776 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 15 cuts and achieved five top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all at par or under par especially his third round which was 65-6 and the equal low round of the Championship. It was also his seventh top ten finish in a Major Championship of his career to date. Hunter Mahan (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour for the last nine seasons and has easily kept his card for the next season every season since except for the 2005 season where he had to go back the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in tied for ninth position and gained his full USPGA Tour status back for the 2006 season. He has current career earnings on the USPGA Tour of US $26,239,560 earned from the 302 events he has played in his career to date so far. He has also won five events on the USPGA Tour so far and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2007 Travelers Championship, 2010 Waste Management Phoenix Open, World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, 2012 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship and the Shell Houston Open. I feel his sixth win on the USPGA Tour isn’t too far off and perhaps it will happen in 2013/14 season? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.
Also tied for seventh position was Steve Stricker (USA); he also earned US $263,000 for his efforts and moved to 78th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,154,747 earned from the eleven events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 86 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 99th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 519 points earned from the eleven events he has played to date this season so far. From the eleventh events he has played to date this season so far he has made eleven 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. It was his 12th top ten finish in a Major Championship to date so far in his career. He has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 1994 season and in that time he has achieved 12 wins on the USPGA Tour with his last coming at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in 2012 and he also owned his home town championship the John Deere Classic when he won it three straight years in a row from 2009-2011. He has also performed well in the Major Championships over the years with his best finish being solo second in the 1998 PGA Championship. Now at age 47 he is in the twilight years on the USPGA Tour and has cut back on his playing schedule to spend more time with his family. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season.
The final player to tie for seventh position was Jimmy Walker (USA); he also earned US $263,000 for his efforts and moved to second position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $5,337,340 earned from the twenty three events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 86 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and fell to second position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 2,493 points earned from the twenty three events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty three events he has played to date this season so far he has made twenty cuts and achieved nine top ten finishes which includes the one here and also his three wins with 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. He has now achieved three top ten finishes in Major Championships to date so far in his career and they have all come in 2014. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all at par and under par and especially his final round 65-6 that equalled the low round of the tournament. His play he has displayed so far this season on the USPGA Tour proves to me that he is now a real force on the USPGA Tour and also he has qualified for the 2014 Ryder Cup Team for Team USA in late September in Scotland this year with finishing in fourth position on the final standings with 6,111.405 points. Jimmy Walker (USA) is just having a dream 2013/14 USPGA Tour season with getting three wins already in his first twenty three 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. This good play 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 FedEx Cup Playoff Event? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.
Tiger Woods (USA) in only his fourth tournament back
since major back surgery just under four months ago scored a poor first round
of 74+3. Then he scored an another poor second round of 74+3 for a 36 hole
total of 148+6 and missed the cut by five shots. But it was amazing he could
even be in the tournament this week because last week in the final round of the
WGC – Bridgestone Invitational he had to withdraw due to reoccurring back
spasms that were unrelated from his recent major back surgery. He is currently
in 201st position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US
$108,275 earned from the seven events he played this season. He is also currently
in 218th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup points list standings with
45 points earned from the seven events he played this season. From the seven
events he played this season he made three cuts and withdrew from one event and
achieved no top ten finishes. He will be very disappointed with his two rounds
this week that were 74+3. His 2013/14 USPGA Tour season is over now. And it
remains to be seen if he is picked as a Captains Pick for Team USA in the Ryder
Cup in Scotland in late September? I suspect USA Ryder Cup Captain, Tom Watson
(USA) won’t pick him because he needs more time to rehab his back and he will
want a player who can play five rounds of golf in three days if required. I wish him all the best for the 2014/15 USPGA
Tour season when he chooses to begin it and it will more than likely be in
lately January 2015.
Next week the USPGA Tour and
FedEx Cup heads to North Carolina for the final regular season event of the
2013/14 FedEx Cup and it is the Wyndham Championship and it is played on the Sedgefield
CC, Greensboro, North Carolina. It carries a prize purse of US $5,300,000
for the taking and will be the last chance for USPGA Tour Members to get inside
the top 125 players on the final regular season 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list
and keep their USPGA Tour card for the 2014/15 season and gain a start the
following week in the first FedEx Cup Playoff event which is the Barclays. Patrick
Reed (USA) is the defending champion and will be keen to defend his title. Danny
Lee (NZL) and Tim Wilkinson (NZL) will also gain starts and hopefully secure
and improve their standings inside the top 125 players on the final regular
season 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list and keep their USPGA Tour card for the
2014/15 season and as it appears now they seem safe for the first FedEx Cup
Playoff event. It starts on Thursday 14th August and 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 second week of his fifth spell of his career and for the 41st week of
his career is Rory McILroy (NIR) fresh off his win this past week at the 96th
PGA Championship and a week ago won WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and also
three weeks ago winning the 143rd Open Championship with 11.27 Official Golf
World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Adam Scott (Australia) fresh
off his tied for 15th position finish this past week at the 96th PGA
Championship with 9.28 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three
is Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who finished in tied for fourth position at the
114th U.S. Open Championship eight weeks ago and also finished tied for second
at the BMW International Open and six weeks ago
and also finished in tied for 39th position at the 143rd Open
Championship three weeks ago and this past week finished in tied for third
position at the 96th PGA Championship with 8.21 Official Golf World Ranking
Points; coming in at Number Four is Sergio Garcia (Spain) who is fresh off his tied for 36th position at the 96th PGA
Championship this past week and also finished solo second position one week ago
at the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and three weeks ago he tied for second
position at the 143rd Open Championship
with 7.75 Official World Ranking Points; and rounding out the top 5 on the
Official Golf World Ranking Points list this week is Justin Rose (England) who
is fresh off his win four weeks ago at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and three weeks ago finished in
tied for twenty third position at the 143rd Open Championship and one week ago he
finished in tied for fourth position at the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and
this past week finished in tied for twenty fourth position in the 96th PGA
Championship with 7.45 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Tim Wilkinson
(NZL) is in his second week of his second spell being the highest ranked New
Zealand Golfer in the world after his tied for eighth finish at the Barracuda
Championship one week ago on the USPGA Tour. This week he gains one place and
rises to 243rd position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with
0.74 Official Golf World Ranking Points.
Remember when it is breezy, swing easy!!
Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org,
Google search engine, europeantour.com
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