Golf Events from the Weekend 21st September 2014

Well it was another brilliant weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week the Web.com Tour has its season finale event and it was the Web.com Tour Championship and it was played on TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and carried a prize purse of US $1,000,000 for the taking. And it was the golfer by the name of Derek Fathauer (USA) who scored rounds of 65-5, 66-4, 67-3 and a final round of 68-2 for a 72 hole total of 266-14 and he won by one shot for his maiden Web.com Tour win of his career. He earned US $180,000 for the win and finished in second position on the final 2014 Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings with US $468,185.62 earned from the twenty three events he played in this season. Adam Hadwin (Canada) was number one on the list with US $529,792.17 earned from the twenty one events he played in.

 

Derek Fathauer (USA) tees off during the final round

Derek Fathauer (USA) played a steady final round of 68-2 which included a front nine of 34-1 which included birdies on the par three, second hole and par four, third hole and his lone bogey came on the par three, fifth hole. He made the turn at minus 13 and was leading by four shots. Zac Blair (USA) went out in 37+2 and made the turn at minus nine and was four shots behind the leader. 

Derek Fathauer (USA) played holes ten to 14 in two under par and moved to minus 15 and now was only leading by three shots. Zac Blair (USA) played holes ten to 14 in three under par which included making three birdies in a row from holes 10-12 and he moved to minus 12 and was now only three shots behind the leader. 

Derek Fathauer (USA) played holes 15 to 17 in one over par and fell back to minus 14 and was now only leading by one shot with just the par four, 72nd hole to play. Zac Blair (USA) played holes 15 to 17 in one under par and moved to minus 13 and was now only one shot behind the leader heading to the par four, 72nd hole. 

 

Derek Fathauer (USA) on the right embraces his caddie on the left after holing the winning putt!!

Zac Blair (USA) who was playing in the final group with Derek Fathauer (USA) made a solid par at the par four, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes at minus 13 and was one shot behind the winner. Derek Fathauer (USA) hit a solid drive down the par four, 72nd hole and it landed in the centre of the fairway. He then was faced with a very difficult second shot to a back right pin placement that if he wasn’t careful he could put his ball in the hazard to the right of the green. He played his second shot very conservatively with his short iron and landed it in the middle of the green about 40 feet from the cup. He was now faced with what they say is one of the hardest things to do in golf and that is to two putt when you have to. But he struck his putt from 40 feet to near perfection and it came to rest a couple of feet from the cup. He easily tapped in for his par four and scored 34-1 on his back nine and finished the 72 holes on minus 14 to win by one shot. He then got a huge hug and high five from his caddie to celebrate the win!! He then was interviewed by the Golf Channel reporter and told him “He was so pleased he now has secured his 2014/15 USPGA Tour card and he looks to get his season off to a fast start in a few weeks time”. 

Derek Fathauer (USA) turned professional on September 17, 2008. He advanced to the final stage of the 2008 USPGA Tour Q-School in La Quinta, California at the PGA West Golf Community. He earned his USPGA Tour card for 2009 after finishing in a tie for second. Derek Fathauer (USA) finished eight shots behind Harrison Frazar (USA) after shooting 70-69-65-67-67-70 for a total score of 408. Derek Fathauer (USA) made his professional USPGA Tour debut at the Sony Open in Hawaii on January 15, 2009, where he missed the cut by one stroke after shooting a 73-69=142 (+2). He made his first cut on the USPGA Tour at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro - Am. He shot 71-71-69=211 to make the cut. During the tournament, he also recorded his first ace of his professional career at the 15th hole of Spyglass Hill Golf Course, in Pebble Beach, California. But in recent years he was forced back to play the Web.com Tour. Let’s hope he can make the most of his second go at the USPGA Tour and keep his card for the 2015/16 season? I wish him all the best on the USPGA Tour for the season ahead. 

 

Derek Fathauer (USA) poses with the Web.com Tour Championship trophy he won!!

Coming in solo second position with a 72 hole total of 267-13 was Zac Blair (USA); he earned US $108,000 for his efforts and finished in eleventh position on the final 2014 Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings with US $108,000 earned from the four events he played in. He also played in eight events in the regular 2014 Web.com Tour Season and finished in 41st position on the final 2014 Web.com Tour Regular Season Money list standings with US $97,799 earned from the eight events he played in. But because he wasn’t a full member of the 2014 Web.com Tour that money didn’t count to his final 2014 Web.com Tour Finals Priority Ranking. He will be really excited now that he has a full USPGA Tour card for the 2014/15 season and will be keen to play his first event in few weeks time. I wish him all the best for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Coming in solo third position at 269-11 after 72 holes was Jason Gore (USA); he earned US $68,000 for his efforts and finished in tenth position on the final 2014 Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings with US $340,346.05 earned from the 17 events he played in this season. Jason Gore (USA) was born in Van Nuys, California. He first attended the University of Arizona before transferring to Pepperdine University. While at Pepperdine, he was part of their NCAA Division I Championship team in 1997. He also played on the victorious Walker Cup team that year. Jason Gore (USA) turned professional in 1997. He played on the USPGA Tour after moving from the Nationwide Tour midseason in 2005 after receiving a battlefield promotion, which is given when a player wins three Nationwide Tour events in one season. He has one USPGA Tour win, the 84 Lumber Classic in 2005, and is the all-time leader in career wins on what is now the Web.com Tour, with seven. Jason Gore (USA) played in the final group of the 2005 U.S. Open with Retief Goosen (RSA). He shot a 14-over-par 84 to drop all the way to a tie for 48th, and Michael Campbell (NZL) went on to win the trophy. Jason Gore (USA) was not fully exempt on the USPGA Tour from 2009 to 2014. Jason Gore (USA) currently resides in Valencia, California with his wife, Megan, his son, Jaxon, and his daughter, Olivia. Let’s hope can have a really good 2014/15 season on the USPGA Tour and perhaps win his second USPGA Tour event? 

Coming in tied for fourth position at 272-8 after 72 holes was Jim Herman (USA); he earned US $44,000 for his efforts and finished in 15th position on the final 2014 Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings with US $101,725.00 earned from the four events he played in this season. Jim Herman (USA) played on the mini-tour, Golden Bear Tour from 2001 to 2004. He was then an assistant golf pro at several golf clubs before qualifying for the Nationwide Tour after finishing Tied for 74th at the 2007 USPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. He has played the Nationwide Tour since 2008, winning once at the 2010 Moonah Classic in Australia. Jim Herman (USA) was a USPGA Tour rookie in 2011, after finishing 19th on the 2010 Nationwide Tour money list. He played in the 2010 U.S. Open, finishing 47th. He was still exempt on the USPGA Tour this year but only made US $187,337 from the twenty one events he played in and lost his exempt status. But now he is fully exempt for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. I wish him all the best for the coming season. 

Also tied for fourth position was Heath Slocum (USA); he too earned US $44,000 for his efforts and finished in 33rd position on the final 2014 Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings with US $57,133.33 earned from the four events he played in. Heath Slocum (USA) joined the USPGA Tour in 2001 and since then he has secured four wins. His first win was in 2004 at the Chrysler Classic of Tucson. His second win came at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic in 2005. His third win came at The Barclays in 2009. His best finish in a major is a tie for 9th at the 2008 U.S. Open and he has featured in the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings. Heath Slocum (USA) represented the United States at the 2007 Omega Mission Hills World Cup with Boo Weekley (USA) and finished in 2nd place. Heath Slocum (USA) barely qualified for the 2009 FedEx Cup Playoffs: he finished 124th on the regular season points list, with 125 qualifying. At the first playoff event, The Barclays at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey, he won the event by one stroke, holing a 21 foot putt for par on the last hole to deny Ernie Els (RSA), Padraig Harrington (Ireland), Steve Stricker (USA), and Tiger Woods (USA) the chance of victory. Heath Slocum's (USA) win, his third on the Tour, vaulted him 121 spots on the FedEx Cup points list, to third position; it also earned him US $1,350,000 more than double his prior winnings in 2009.  His fourth win came at the McGladrey Classic in October 2010. It is great to see for the second straight year he has regained his USPGA Tour card at the Web.com Tour Finals. I wish him all the best for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and perhaps he can achieve his fifth win? 

Coming in solo sixth position at 273-7 after 72 holes was David Lingmerth (Sweden); he earned US $36,000 for his efforts and finished in 17th position on the final 2014 Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings with US $99,368.33 earned from the four events he played in. David Lingmerth (Sweden) has just finished his second year playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime after gaining his 2013 USPGA Tour card by finishing in tenth position on the final 2012 Web.com Tour Money list standings with US $ 287,148 earned from the 26 events he played in. In his rookie year on the USPGA Tour in 2013 he earned US $ 1,748,109 from the twenty three events he played in and finished in 46th position on the final 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings which was a fine showing by a rookie. In his 2013/14 USPGA Tour season he earned US $676,661 from the twenty six events he played in and narrowly missed gaining fully exempt status. But it was great he was able to regain his fully 2014/15 USPGA Tour card back at the Web.com Tour Finals. I feel his maiden win on the USPGA Tour isn’t too far away and maybe it will happen in the 2014/15 season? 

Rounding out the top ten in tied for seventh position at 274-6 after 72 holes was Travis Bertoni (USA); he earned US $30,125 for his efforts and moved to 52nd position on the final 2014 Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings with US $35,615.00 earned from the four events he played in. He unfortunately missed out on his 2014/15 USPGA Tour card by US $696.66. If he had made his four foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole he would of gained his USPGA Tour card. He will now have to have another season on the Web.com Tour and hope he can make the USPGA Tour in the 2015/16 season. 

Also tied for seventh position was Chad Collins (USA); he too earned US $30,125 for his efforts and moved to 47th position on the final 2014 Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings with US $37,995.00 earned from the four events he played in. Chad Collins (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour on and off since the 2008 season. He gained his 2013/14 USPGA Tour card by finishing inside the top 50 money earners on the final 2013 Web.com Tour Money list standings. And again he gained his USPGA Tour card back at the Web.com Tour finals for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. I wish him all the best for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Also tied for seventh position was Adam Hadwin (Canada); he too earned US $30,125 for his efforts and moved to first position on the final 2014 Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings with US $529,729.17 earned from the twenty one events he played in. And with finishing first on the final 2014 Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings he gets a start in the Players Championship in May 2015 and he doesn’t  have to worry about the re-rank that comes after so many tournaments once the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season begins. Adam Hadwin (Canada) earned conditional Nationwide Tour status for 2012 based on his Qualifying school finish. After a slow start to the year, he had a Tied for fifth finish at the Soboba Golf Classic in April. After only making four of his next eight cuts, he finished with 63-66 over the weekend of the Cox Classic in August to secure a Tied for third. Overall, for the year, he made 13 of 25 cuts, with four top-10 finishes with two third place finishes, but only finished 30th on the money list, not earning a USPGA Tour card. Adam Hadwin (Canada) played a full season on the Web.com Tour based on his 2012 season. On 9 March 2014, Adam Hadwin (Canada) won his first career Web.com Tour event at the Chile Classic. The win earned him US$117,000 and moved him to first place on the money list. He became the 13th Canadian to win on the Web.com Tour. On 7 September 2014, Adam Hadwin (USA) won for a second time on the Web.com Tour, when he took home a playoff win at the Chiquita Classic. I wish him all the best for his rookie year on the USPGA Tour in the 2014/15 season. 

The final player to tie for seventh position was Sam Saunders (USA); he too earned US $30,125 for his efforts and moved to 13th position on the final 2014 Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings with US $106,591.66 earned from the twenty two events he played in. Sam Saunders (USA) (born July 30, 1987 in Orlando, Florida) is an American professional golfer and the grandson of Arnold Palmer (USA). Sam Saunders (USA) attended Clemson University, but skipped his senior season to turn pro. In 2011, he played a total of 13 events – eight on the USPGA Tour, with a best finish of 15th at Pebble Beach – and the Nationwide Tour, where he finished 10th in Panama. That same year, Sam Saunders (USA) made it to the final stage of the tour's qualifying school, but finished tied for 109th and did not earn a USPGA Tour card. Saunders finished 50th on the 2012 Web.com Tour season in his first full professional season. Sam Saunders (USA) played on the Web.com Tour in 2014 (As I mentioned above) after earning his tour card through qualifying school. Sam Saunders (USA) and his wife, Kelly, whom he married in 2012, reside in Fort Collins, Colorado with their infant son, Ace, and Kelly's son Cohen, age 6. I wish him all the best in rookie year on the USPGA Tour in the 2014/15 season. 
 

Some of the 50 players holding their 2014/15 USPGA Tour cards they just earned!!

The happiest golfer this week was Eric Axley (USA) who finished in tied for twenty fifth position at the Web.com Tour Championship with a score of 278-2 and he earned US $7,772 for his efforts and he finished in 50th position on the final 2014 Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings with US $36,311.66 earned from the four events he played in and earned his USPGA Tour card back for the 2014/15 season. He was US $31.66 ahead of Roberto Castro (USA) who was the unhappiest golfer this week who finished in the 51st position on the final 2014 Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings with US $36,280.66 earned from the four events he played in. His tied for 40th finish at the Web.com Tour Championship this week with a score of 281+1 where he earned US $3,900 for his efforts was just not quite enough for him to get the last available card and he will now have to play the 2015 season on the Web.com Tour.

Steve Alker (NZL) was the only New Zealand Golfer in the field and he scored a poor first round of 72+2 and a second round of 71+1 for a 36 hole total of 143+3 and he missed the 36 hole cut by two shots. But he had already secured his 2014/15 USPGA Tour Card by finishing in tenth position on the final 2014 Web.com Tour Regular Season Money list standings with US $249,536 earned from the 15 events he played in. And with the US $12,365 he earned from the three Web.com Finals events he played in his total earnings at all the Web.com Tour events this season came to US $261,901 and that gave him a final ranking of 20th on the 2014 Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings. His first tournament on the 2014/15 USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup is likely to be at the Frys.com Open in Silverado Resort and Spa, Napa, California in the second week of October. It will be the second time for him playing the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup fulltime having had a season on it in 2003. I wish him all the best for his 2014/15 USPGA Tour Season and FedEx Cup.

The next event on the 2013/14 USPGA Tour Schedule is the 40th Ryder Cup Matches that are played between Team USA and Team Europe and they are played next week in Scotland on the Gleneagles GC, Perthshire, Scotland. The USA Team is captained by Tom Watson (USA) and his Vice Captains are: Andy North (USA), Raymond Floyd (USA) and Steve Stricker (USA) and the team is made up of nine players who qualified by their play over the last two years and they are Bubba Watson (USA), Jim Furyk (USA), Phil Mickelson (USA), Jordan Spieth (USA), Zach Johnson (USA), Rickie Fowler (USA), Jimmy Walker (USA), Matt Kuchar (USA) and Patrick Reed (USA) and the USA Ryder Cup Captain, Tom Watson (USA) chose three Captains Picks and they are Keegan Bradley (USA), Hunter Mahan (USA) and Webb Simpson (USA). The European Team is Captained by Paul McGinley (Ireland) and his Vice Captains are: Des Smith (Ireland) and Sam Torrance (Scotland) and the team is made up of nine players who qualified by their play over the last two years and they are Rory McILroy (NIR), Victor Dubuisson (France), Sergio Garcia (Spain), Martin Kaymer (Germany), Graeme McDowell (NIR), Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Jamie Donaldson (Wales), Justin Rose (England) and Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) and the Europe Ryder Cup Captain, Paul McGinley (Ireland) chose three Captains Picks and they are Stephen Gallacher (Scotland), Ian Poulter (England) and Lee Westwood (England). There is no prize money on offer just the honour of holding aloft the Ryder Cup at the end of the week!! The Match commences with the Opening Ceremony on Thursday 25th September and the matches start on Friday 26th September with the morning foursomes. The European Team is the current holder of the Ryder Cup and will be keen to win it again!! I report back who won the Ryder Cup in next week time. And the 2014/15 USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup season commences on Thursday 9th October and is the Frys.com Open and it is played on the Silverado Resort and Spa, Napa, California. It carries a prize purse of US $5,000,000 for the taking. Jimmy Walker (USA) is the defending champion and will be keen for back to back titles. Danny Lee (NZL), Tim Wilkinson (NZL) and Steve Alker (NZL) are likely to gain starts as well. I will report back who won the trophy once the result is known.

So to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list this week and coming in at Number One Position for the eighth week of his fifth spell of his career and for the 47th week of his career in total is Rory McILroy (NIR) fresh off his tied for second position one week ago at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and two weeks ago he finished in tied for eighth position at the BMW Championship and three weeks ago tied for fifth position at the Deutsche Bank Championship and four weeks ago finishing in twenty second position at The Barclays and six weeks ago winning at the 96th PGA Championship and seven weeks ago won WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and also nine weeks ago winning the 143rd Open Championship with 11.75 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Adam Scott (Australia) fresh off his tied for ninth position one week ago at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and two weeks ago tied for eight position at the BMW Championship and three weeks ago finished in 16th position at Deutsche Bank Championship and four weeks ago he tied for 15th position at The Barclays and six weeks ago tied for 15th position finish at the 96th PGA Championship with 9.14 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Sergio Garcia (Spain) who is fresh off  his tied for ninth position at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola one week ago and two weeks ago he tied for fourth position at the BMW Championship and four weeks ago tied for 57th position at The Barclays and six weeks ago tied for 36th position at the 96th PGA Championship and he also finished solo second position seven weeks ago at the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and nine weeks ago he tied for second position at the 143rd Open  Championship with 7.86 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Jim Furyk (USA) who is fresh off his tied for second position at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola one week ago with 7.68 Official Golf World Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list standings this week is Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who was fresh off his tied for tied for twenty third position at the BMW Championship two weeks ago and three weeks ago finished in tied for 26th position at the Deutsche Bank Championship and four weeks ago he finished in 38th position at The Barclays and he finished in tied for fourth position at the 114th U.S. Open Championship 14 weeks ago and also finished tied for second at the BMW International Open and 12 weeks ago and also finished in tied for 39th position at the 143rd Open Championship nine weeks ago and six weeks ago finished in tied for third position at the 96th PGA Championship with 7.58 Official Golf World Ranking Points; Danny Lee (NZL) is in his fourth week of his fourth spell being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after his tied for 35th position at the Deutsche Bank Championship three weeks ago on the USPGA Tour. This week he slips four places and falls to 249th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.74 Official Golf World Ranking Points. 

Remember you “Drive for show and putt for Dough”!!

Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org, Google search engine, europeantour.com

Golf Events from the Weekend 14th September 2014

It was another amazing weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup Playoff Series headed to Atlanta, Georgia for the fourth and final FedEx Cup Playoff Series Event which was the Tour Championship by Coca - Cola and only the top 30 players on the FedEx Cup Playoff Series Points list standings after the BMW Championship were be eligible to compete but because Dustin Johnson (USA) who finished in 30th position on the 2013/14 FedEx Cup playoffs points list standings after the BMW Championship with 1,769 points earned from 17 events he played in decided not to compete because since the 31st July he has been on a leave of absence from the USPGA Tour to address “personal challenges.” And he has not indicated a return date as of yet so this meant he did not play the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and because of this it became only a 29 player field instead of 30. Also this week the player that was at the top of the final 2013/14 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points list standings after the conclusion of the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola on Sunday evening was crowned the 2014 FedEx CUP CHAMPION!! It was played on the East Lake GC, Atlanta, Georgia. It carried a huge prize purse of US $8,000,000 for the taking. There was a new FedEx Cup Champion and Tour Championship by Coca – Cola Champion decided because Henrik Stenson (Sweden) was unable to make the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola because he finish in 52nd position on the Final 2013/14 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points list standings with 1,315 playoffs points earned from the 15 events he played in. First I will start with who won the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and it was Billy Horschel (USA) who scored rounds of 66-4, 66-4, 69-1 and 68-2 for a 72 hole total of 269-11 and he won by three shots for his second win of the season and the third of his USPGA Tour Career. Billy Horschel (USA) won US $1,440,000 for the win and moved to seventh position on the final 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings list with US $4,814,787 earned from the twenty seven events he played in this season. Rory McILroy (NIR) won that list with US $8,280,096 earned from the 17 events he played in this season. And also this week the 2014 FedEx Cup and the US $10,000,000 Bonus Money that goes with it was decided and it was the player by the name of Billy Horschel (USA) who earned 2,500 FedEx Cup Points for winning the Tour Championship by Coca – Coca and because he had the number two seed heading into the Tour Championship by Coca – Coca in the points reset with 2,250 points and that meant if he won this week he would win the 2014 FedEx Cup and as I mentioned before he did win so with 4,750 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points earned from the twenty seven events he played in and he finished at the top of final 2013/14 FedEx Cup Playoff Points list standings and he won the 2014 FedEx Cup and the US $10,000,000 Bonus FedEx Cup Money that goes with it!! Billy Horschel (USA) won it by 1,650 points over Chris Kirk (USA) who was second with 3,100 FedEx Cup Points earned from the twenty eight events he played in this season. From the twenty seven events Billy Horschel (USA) played in this season he made twenty cuts and achieved five top ten finishes which includes the win here and his win last week at the BMW Championship. Billy Horschel (USA) will be extremely pleased with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his first and second rounds that were both 66-4 and in fact his last 12 rounds in the Deutsche Bank Championship where his finished tied for second two weeks ago, BMW Championship where he won last week and this week at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola where he won also were all in the 60s which is just amazing play and he now has the record in the FedEx Cup since it started in 2007 with having the most consecutive rounds in the 60s (12). Also in his last three tournaments in the FedEx Cup Playoff Series he earned US $13,477,334 which includes the US $10,000,000 FedEx Cup Bonus Money for winning the 2014 FedEx Cup. 

Billy Horschel (USA) tees off during the final round

Billy Horschel (USA) played a awesome final round under the circumstances of having a share of the 54 hole lead going into the final round. He scored 68-2 which included a front nine of 33-2 with birdies on the par four, fourth hole and par five, fifth hole and he made the turn at minus eleven and was leading by one shot. Jim Furyk (USA) went out in 32-3 and made the turn at minus ten and was one shot behind the leader. Rory McILroy (NIR) went out in a very disappointing 37+2 which included a double bogey on the par three, sixth hole where his tee shot found the water and a bogey on the par five, ninth hole where he hit his drive in the right trees against the fence and he made the turn at minus seven and was four shots behind the leader.

Billy Horschel (USA) made a poor bogey on the par four, tenth hole and fell back to minus ten and was still leading by one shot. Jim Furyk (USA) made a bogey on the par four, tenth hole and fell back to minus nine and was still one shot behind the leader. Rory McILroy (NIR) made a poor bogey on the par four, ten hole and fell back to minus six and was still four shots behind the leader.

Billy Horschel (USA) made a solid par on the par three, eleventh hole and remained at minus ten and was still leading by one shot. Jim Furyk (USA) made a solid par on the par three, eleventh hole and remained minus nine and was still one shot behind the leader. Rory McILroy (NIR) made a poor bogey on the par three, eleventh hole and fell back to minus five and was now five shots behind the leader.

Billy Horschel (USA) made a solid par on the par four, 12th hole and remained at minus ten and was still leading by one shot. Jim Furyk (USA) made a solid par on the par four, 12th hole and remained at minus nine and was still one shot behind the leader. Rory McILroy (NIR) made a solid par on the par four, 12th hole and remained at minus five and was still five shots behind the leader.

Billy Horschel (USA) made a solid par on the par four, 13th hole and remained at minus ten and was still leading by one shot. Jim Furyk (USA) made a solid par on the par four, 13th hole and remained at minus nine and was still one shot behind the leader. Rory McILroy (NIR) made a solid par on the par four, 13th hole and remained at minus five and was still five shots behind the leader.

Billy Horschel (USA) made a solid par on the par four, 14th hole and remained at minus ten and was still leading by one shot. Jim Furyk (USA) made a solid par on the par four, 14th hole and remained at minus nine and was still one shot behind the leader. Rory McILroy (NIR) made a solid par on the par four, 14th hole and remained at minus five and was still five shots behind the leader.

Billy Horschel (USA) made a fine birdie at the par five, 15th hole where he got up and down from the front right green side bunker and he moved to minus eleven and was still leading by one shot. Jim Furyk (USA) made a fine birdie at the par five, 15th hole where he got up and down from the front green side rough and he moved to minus ten and was still one shot behind the leader. Rory McILroy (NIR) made a solid birdie on the par five, 15th hole and moved to minus six and was still five shots behind the leader.

Billy Horschel (USA) made a fighting par on the par four, 16th hole where he faded his dive into the right hand trees. He just chipped his second shot out to the fairway and was left with a short wedge shot for his third from around 100 yards. He played an average third shot that landed on the green 30 feet from the cup. But he struck the 30 foot putt very firmly and it struck the back of the hole and dropped for his par four!! And he remained at minus eleven and was still leading by one shot. Jim Furyk (USA) made a solid par on the par four, 16th hole and remained at minus ten and was still one shot behind the leader. Rory McILroy (NIR) made a fine birdie on the par four, 16th hole and moved to minus seven and was now only four shots behind the leader.

Billy Horschel (USA) made a solid par on the par four 17th hole and remained at minus eleven and was now leading by two shots heading to the par three, 72nd tee. Jim Furyk (USA) made a disappointing bogey on the par four, 17th hole and fell back to minus nine and was now two shots behind the leader. Rory McILroy (NIR) made a very good birdie on the par four, 17th hole and moved to minus eight and was now only three shots behind the leader.

Jim Furyk (USA) who was playing in the group ahead of the final group hit a good tee shot on the par three, 72nd hole with his rescue wood which landed on the green to the left about 35 feet from the flagstick. He was now faced with a very quick left to right breaking putt for his birdie two and to move to minus ten and put at least some pressure on Billy Horschel (USA) who was back on the tee watching. He struck a very aggressive putt that just missed on the left hand side of the cup but it rolled ten feet past the cup. Unfortunately he was unable to make the ten foot par putt as it slipped past on the right hand side. But he tapped in for his bogey four and finished the 72 holes at minus eight and was three shots behind the winner.

Rory McILroy (NIR) who was playing in the final group with Billy Horschel (USA) stuck a very good drawing five iron off the par three, 72nd tee and it landed 30 feet below the flag stick on the green. He stuck a very good putt from 30 feet for his birdie that came to rest a couple of feet from the cup and he easy tapped in for his par three and finished the 72 holes at minus eight and was three shots behind the winner. Billy Horschel (USA) now stood on the par three, 72nd tee knowing just getting the ball on the green would almost guarantee him the victory. He struck a very good four iron that started slightly to the left of the pin and faded back and rolled up to twenty five feet below the flag stick. He now could enjoy the short walk up to the green knowing he had secured both the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and 2014 FedEx Cup. Golf Channel/NBC Sports Golf Analyst, Johnny Miller (USA) made the comment “You don’t often get this chance to walk up to the green on the 72nd hole and know you have already won the Championship, so he should saviour the moment”.  After the standing ovation from the surrounding gallery had died down he calmed his nerve and stood over the twenty five foot birdie putt and he struck it with perfect pace and it came to rest a foot from the cup. He then tapped that putt in for his par three and it was confirmed he was the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola winner on minus eleven after 72 holes and he won by three shots!! And he also claimed the 2014 FedEx Cup!! He scored 35 even par on his back nine. 

Billy Horschel (USA) on the left and Rory McILroy (NIR) on the right shake hands after Billy Horschel (USA) holed the winning putt!!

Billy Horschel (USA) gave his caddie, Micah a huge hug and high five to celebrate. Then he paraded round 72nd green performing the Gator chomp with his arms which he learnt when attended the University of Florida on an athletic scholarship in his amateur days. As Billy Horschel (USA) was walking off the par three, 72nd green he was greeted by his Dad, Billy Horschel Sr. and his Mum who were there to give him a huge hug as well and that was nice because it was the first time his parents had been at a tournament he had won on the USPGA Tour. He also gave special mention to his wife’s Brittany who has giving him amazing support throughout his golf career and giving him lots of confidence and belief throughout his career as well. She was unable to make it to the course because she was heavily pregnant with their first child and is due in two weeks time. Billy Horschel (USA) was then interviewed by Golf Channel/NBC Sports Anchor Man, Dan Hick’s and he told him “He is very honoured to win these two big titles and he was just rapped at how he played in his last three tournaments in the FedEx Cup Playoff Series after missing the cut at the Barclays three weeks ago”. He was then asked if he was disappointed he never received one of the three Captains Picks for the US Ryder Team by Captain, Tom Watson (USA) and he replied “I was not playing well enough at the time but had he of chosen the Captain’s Picks after the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola, I believe I would have been chosen”. 

Billy Horschel (USA) performing the Gator Chomp!!

Billy Horschel (USA) then was presented with both the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and 2014 FedEx Cup Trophies on the 72nd green by the USPGA Tour Commissioner, Tim Finchem. Billy Horschel (USA) has said in past that to get where he has in professional golf has in no way been easy for him coming from parents that are known as the “Blue Collar Workers” and learning to play his golf in his early days on a nine hole public course in Florida. So now he has achieved some amazing things on the USPGA Tour in recent weeks it can make him very proud!! Billy Horschel (USA) first gained his USPGA Tour card in 2010 by finishing in solo seventh position at the 2009 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament. In his rookie season on the USPGA Tour in 2010 he only managed to play in four events and missed every cut because of a tendon injury to his left wrist that required surgery. The wrist started bothering him in late 2009. He was granted a major Medical Extension for 2011 USPGA Tour season, with 19 events to equal the Number 125 from the 2010 PGA TOUR money list (US $786,977) he improved his status with a Tied 27th finish at the 2010 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament. In the 2011 USPGA Tour season he only made US $533,024 from the 25 events he played in and finished in 140th position on the final 2011 USPGA Tour Money list giving him some status on the USPGA Tour for the 2012 season. He went back to the 2011 PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament but finished in tied 103rd position and got his Web.com Tour Card and that meant he had two tours to play on in the 2012 season. In the 2012 USPGA Tour season he played in 17 events and made 15 cuts and achieved one top ten finish. He earned US $486,177 from those 17 events he played in and finished up in 147th position on the final 2012 USPGA Tour Money list standings meaning he again had some status on the USPGA Tour for the 2013 season. He chose to go back to the 2012 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament to improve his status and he did better than that by finishing tied for fourth position and gained his full USPGA Tour card for the 2013 USPGA Tour season. He had his career best season to date in 2013 with earning US $3,501,703 from the twenty six events he played in and that included winning his maiden USPGA Tour event at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in late April. But this season is his career season to date so far with his win at the BMW Championship last week and now he has achieved his third win at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and won the 2014 FedEx Cup as well I feel he has really elevated his status up and I look for him to challenge in the WGC – Championships and Major Championships in 2015. I feel his fourth win can’t be too far off either. I wish him all the best for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season when he chooses to begin it and also his defence of the FedEx Cup. 

Billy Horschel (USA) poses with the Tour Championship by Coca - Cola trophy on the left and the 2014 FedEx Cup trophy on the right that he won!!

Coming in tied for second position at 272-8 after 72 holes was Jim Furyk (USA); he earned US $708,000 for his efforts and finished in third position on the final 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $5,987,395 earned from the twenty one events he played in and he won the most money of any player on the USPGA Tour this year without achieving a single victory. He also earned 1,250 FedEx Cup Playoff Points for his efforts and finished in fourth position on the final 2013/14 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points list standings with 2,450 points earned from the twenty one events he played in and he received US $1,500,000 of the FedEx Cup Bonus Money Distribution. From the twenty one events he played in this season he made twenty one cuts and achieved eleven top ten finishes which included the one here. It proves he is one of the most consistent players on the USPGA Tour in the 2013/14 season. He will be happy with his fourth rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his rounds of 67-3 in the first and third rounds. And he was one of three players this week to score all his rounds in the 60s. Jim Furyk (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 1994 season. 2012 was a year of missed chances for him with his narrow misses at winning the US Open Championship and couple of other tournaments. But he hasn’t won on the USPGA Tour since the 2010 THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola and he also won the FedEx Cup that year as well. But he has won 16 tournaments in his USPGA Tour career to date so far and that includes his maiden Major Championship which came at the 2003 US Open Championship. I feel his 17th win will come very soon and maybe it could be in the 2014/15 USPGA Tour Season as he has come so close to winning in the last few years? But he will be playing in the 40th Ryder Cup for Team USA in Two weeks time in Scotland. I wish him all the best for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup when he chooses to start it.

The final player to tied for second position was Rory McILroy (NIR); he too earned US $708,000 for his efforts and finished in first position on the final 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $8,280,096 earned from the 17 events he played in this season. He also earned 1,250 FedEx Cup Playoff Points for his efforts and finished in third position on the final 2013/14 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points list standings with 3,050 points earned from the 17 events he played in and he received US $2,000,000 of the FedEx Cup Bonus Money Distribution. From the 17 events he played in this season he made 17 cuts and achieved 12 top ten finishes which was the most of any player on the USPGA Tour this season and it included the one here and also the wins at the 143rd Open Championship (Third Major Championship win) in July, WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and 96th PGA Championship (Fourth Major Championship win) in August. It too proves he was one of the most consistent players on the USPGA Tour in the 2013/14 season.  He will be happy with his first three rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his second round of 65-5. But he will be disappointed with his final round which was 71+1 and cost him his chance of winning the 2014 FedEx Cup, but he admitted afterwards that he was very tired after playing six of the last seven weeks. 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, 94th 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 $23,440,098 in the 87 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 one of the early USPGA Tour Events in the 2014/15 season? His next start on the USPGA Tour is likely to be in early February 2015. I feel he must be one of the hot favourites to win the 2015 Masters Tournament in April next year which is the first Major Championship of 2015 and if he does win he will of achieved the career Grand Slam before he turns 26 years old. But he will be playing in the 40th Ryder Cup for Team Europe in Scotland in two weeks time. I wish him all the best for the 2014/15 USPGA season and FedEx Cup when he chooses to begin it. 

Coming in tied for fourth position at 273-7 after 72 holes was Jason Day (Australia); he earned US $343,333.33 for his efforts and finished in 16th position on the final 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $3,789,574 earned from the 15 events he played in this season. He also earned 600 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points for his efforts and finished in tenth position on the final 2013/14 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points list standings with 1,200 points earned from the 15 events he played in and he received US $500,000 of the FedEx Cup Bonus Money Distribution. From the 15 events he has played in this season he made 12 cuts and withdrawn from one event and he achieved six top ten finishes which included the one here and also his win at the WGC – Accenture Match Play Championships in February. He will be happy with his first, second and final rounds that were all in the 60s especially his first and second rounds that were both 67-3. But he will only be content with his third round 70 even par. Jason Day (Australia) has only played 15 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 and his second win coming in the 2014 WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship in mid February. 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 $17,617,930 from the 151 events he has played in so far in his USPGA Tour career. I feel his third win on the USPGA Tour could well come in the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and perhaps it will be at the first Major Championship at the 2015 Master Tournament in April next year? I wish him all the best for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup whenever he chooses to start it. 

Also tied for fourth position was Chris Kirk (USA); he too earned US $343,333.33 for his efforts and finished in sixth position on the final 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $4,854,777 earned from the twenty eight events he played in this season. He also earned 600 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points for his efforts and finished in second position on the final 2013/14 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points list standings with 3,100 points earned from the twenty eight events he played in and he received US $3,000,000 of the FedEx Cup Bonus Money Distribution. From the twenty eight events he played in this season he made twenty six cuts and achieved five top ten finishes which included the one here and also his win at the Deutsche Bank Championship in early September and his win at the McGladrey Classic in November last year. He will be happy with his first, second and final rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his first round 66-4 which saw him tied for the lead. But he will be disappointed with his third round which was 71+1 which properly cost him his chance of winning the 2014 FedEx Cup. Chris Kirk (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2011 season. In his three previous seasons on the USPGA Tour he has won at least US $1million and in his rookie season in 2011 he won his maiden USPGA Tour title at the Viking Classic. It was great to see him achieve his second USPGA Tour win back in November last year and his third two weeks ago at the Deutsche Bank Championship and now he will get a chance to play in a few of the bigger Tournaments in 2014 and 2015. Those tournaments will be the 2014/15 World Golf Championship Events, 2015 Masters Tournament in April next year, the Open Championship in mid July next year and the PGA Championship in August next year. Let’s hope he can get his fourth win very soon and perhaps it will happen in the early events of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour Season and FedEx Cup? He can be very pleased with how he has played this season and I feel he exceeded his own expectations!! I wish him all the best for the 2014/15 season and FedEx Cup when he chooses to start it.

The final player to tie for fourth position was Justin Rose (England); he too earned US $343,333.33 for his efforts and finished in 15th position on the final 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $3,926,768 earned from the 19 events he played in this season. He also earned 600 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points for his efforts and finished in eleventh position on the final 2013/14 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points list standings with 850 points earned from the 19 events he played in this season and he received US $300,000 of the FedEx Cup Bonus Money Distribution. From the 19 events he played in this season he made 17 cuts and achieved eight top ten finishes which included the one here and also his win at the Quicken Loans National in late June. He will be happy with his second, third and final rounds that were all in the 60s especially his second and third rounds that were both 66-4. But he will be disappointed with his first round which was 72+2. Justin Rose (England) has been playing the USPGA Tour Fulltime since the 2004 season with easily keeping his card for the next year every year since. In that time he has career earnings to date of US $29,204,533 earned from the 249 events he has played in his USPGA Tour career to date so far. He already has six wins on the USPGA Tour which are the 2010 the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance, AT&T National, 2011 BMW Championship, 2012 World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, the 2013,113th US Open Championship (Maiden Major Championship) and the 2014 Quicken Loans Classic that he won in late June. The win at the Quicken Loans Classic in late June kept his streak alive of winning at least once on the USPGA Tour for five consecutive years. I feel now he has won his maiden Major Championship he will have taken a lot of pressure off himself and I wouldn’t be surprised if he won his second Major Championship in the next few years and it could well happen in the first Major Championship of the 2015 season which is the Master Tournament in April. But he will be playing in the 40th Ryder Cup for Team Europe in Scotland in two weeks time. I wish him all the best for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup when he chooses to begin it.

Coming in solo seventh position at 274-6 after 72 holes was Ryan Palmer (USA); he earned US $275,000 for his efforts and finished in twenty fourth position on the final 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,924,300 earned from the twenty three events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 450 FedEx Cup Playoff Points for his efforts and finished in 14th position on the final 2013/14 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points list standings with 730 points earned from the twenty three events he played in this season and he received US $270,000 of the FedEx Cup Bonus Money Distribution. From the twenty three events he played in this season he made twenty cuts and achieved eight top ten finishes which included the one here. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his second round 67-3. 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 come in the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and perhaps it could be in one of the early events in October in the 2014 part of the 2014/15 season? I wish him all the best for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup. 

Coming in solo eighth position at 275-5 after 72 holes was Rickie Fowler (USA); he earned US $260,000 for his efforts and finished in eighth position on the final 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $4,806,117 earned from the twenty six events he played in. He also earned 425 FedEx Cup Playoff Points for his efforts and finished in ninth position on the final 2013/14 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points list standings with 1,225 points earned from the twenty six events he played in this season and he received US $550,000 of the FedEx Cup Bonus Money Distribution. From the twenty six events he played in this season he made 19 cuts and achieved ten top ten finishes which included the one here and also he has achieved seven top ten finishes in his last eight starts and all four Major Championships this season he achieved top five finishes with finishing tied for fifth at the Masters Tournament in April, tied for second at the 114th U.S. Open Championship in June, tied for second at the 143rd Open Championship in July and tied for third at the 96th PGA Championship in August. He will be happy with his first three rounds that were all in the 60s especially his third round 67-3. But he will be disappointed with his final round which was 71+1. 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 in the 2014/15 season? But he will have to wait just under seven months for another chance to win his maiden Major Championship now because the next one is the Masters Tournament in April next year. And going on his form in the Major Championships this year he would be odds on to win his Maiden Major Championship at some stage in the next few years.  But he will be playing in the 40th Ryder Cup for Team USA in Scotland in two weeks time. I wish him all the best for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup. 

Rounding out the top ten in tied for ninth position at 276-4 after 72 holes was Sergio Garcia (Spain); he earned US $231,666.67 for his efforts and finished in fifth position on the final 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $4,939,606 earned from the 16 events he played in this season. He also earned 375 FedEx Cup Playoff Points for his efforts and finished in 13th position on the final 2013/14 FedEx Cup Playoff Points list standings with 815 points earned from the 16 events he played in this season and he received US $280,000 of the FedEx Cup Bonus Money Distribution. From the 16 events he played in this season he made 15 cuts and achieved ten top ten finishes which included the one here. He will be happy with his first and final rounds that were both in the 60s especially his final round 66-4 which was blemish free and also the equal low round of the day. But he will be disappointed with his second and third rounds that were 71+1 and 70 even par. 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 $37,773,319 earned from the 276 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 at the first Major Championship of the 2015 season at the Masters Tournament next April? But he will be playing in the 40th Ryder Cup for Team Europe in Scotland in two weeks time. I wish him all the best for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup when he chooses to start it.

Also tied for ninth position was Adam Scott (Australia); he also earned US $231,666.67 for his efforts and finished in 13th position on the final 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $4,098,588 earned from the 17 events he played in this season. He also earned 375 FedEx Cup Playoff Points for his efforts and finished in 12th position on the final 2013/14 FedEx Cup Playoff Points list standings with 835 points earned from the 17 events he played in this season and he received US $290,000 of the FedEx Cup Bonus Money Distribution. From the 17 events he played in this season he made 17 cuts and achieved ten top ten finishes which included the one here and also his win at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in late May. It proves he too is one of the most consistent players on the USPGA Tour in the 2013/14 season. He will be happy with his first and third rounds that were both in the 60s especially his third round 65-5. But he will be disappointed with his second round 72+2 and final round 70 even par. 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 $37,297,653 earned from the 230 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. I am sure his 12th win on the USPGA Tour can’t be too far off and it may well happen in the 2014/15 season? I wish him all the best for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup whenever he chooses to begin it. 

The final player to tie for ninth position was Gary Woodland (USA); he also earned US $231,666.67 for his efforts and finished in twenty ninth position on the final 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,734,153 earned from the twenty five events he played in. He also earned 375 FedEx Cup Playoff Points for his efforts and finished in twenty second position on the final 2013/14 FedEx Cup Playoff Points list standings with 595 points earned from the twenty five events he played in this season and he received US $215,000 of the FedEx Cup Bonus Money Distribution. From the twenty five events he played in this season he made twenty three cuts and achieved five top ten finishes which included the one here. He will be happy with his third and fourth rounds that were in the 60s especially his third round 63-7 which was blemish free and the low round of the day and the whole tournament. But he will be disappointed with his first two rounds that were both in the 70s. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2009 season after he qualified by finishing in tied for eleventh position at the 2008 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament. He had a poor rookie season on the USPGA Tour in 2009 with only making US $121,031 from the 18 events he played in and he finished in 204th position on the final 2009 USPGA Tour Money list standings and he lost all his status for the 2010 season. He spent the 2010 season playing in only a few USPGA Tour and Web.com Tour events and at the end of 2010 went back to the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in tied for eleventh position and he regained his USPGA Tour card back for the 2011 season. In his second go at playing the USPGA Tour fulltime he had an amazing season with earning US $3,448,591 from the 25 events he played in and achieved his maiden win at the Transitions Championship and achieved another five top ten finishes. He finished in 17th position on the final 2011 USPGA Tour Money list standings. 2012 on the USPGA Tour he had an average season with earning US $592,879 from the twenty two events he played in and finished in 134th position on the final 2012 USPGA Tour Money list standings but because of his win in the 2011 season he was fully exempt for the 2013 season. In his 2013 season on the USPGA Tour he earned US $1,915,732 from the twenty six events he played in and finished in 37th position on the final 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings which included his second win of his USPGA Tour career at the Reno-Tahoe Open. With now two USPGA Tour wins behind him I’m sure his third win isn’t too far off and perhaps it will happen in the 2014/15 season? He is one of the longest hitters on the USPGA Tour with averaging well over 300 yards every drive. I wish him all the best for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup when he chooses to start it.

The next event on the 2013/14 USPGA Tour Schedule is the 40th Ryder Cup Matches that are played between Team USA and Team Europe and they are played in two weeks time in Scotland on the Gleneagles GC, Perthshire, Scotland. The USA Team is captained by Tom Watson (USA) and his Vice Captains are: Andy North (USA), Raymond Floyd (USA) and Steve Stricker (USA) and the team is made up of nine players who qualified by their play over the last two years and they are Bubba Watson (USA), Jim Furyk (USA), Phil Mickelson (USA), Jordan Spieth (USA), Zach Johnson (USA), Rickie Fowler (USA), Jimmy Walker (USA), Matt Kuchar (USA) and Patrick Reed (USA) and the USA Ryder Cup Captain, Tom Watson (USA) chose three Captains Picks and they are Keegan Bradley (USA), Hunter Mahan (USA) and Webb Simpson (USA). The European Team is Captained by Paul McGinley (Ireland) and his Vice Captains are: Des Smith (Ireland) and Sam Torrance (Scotland) and the team is made up of nine players who qualified by their play over the last two years and they are Rory McILroy (NIR), Victor Dubuisson (France), Sergio Garcia (Spain), Martin Kaymer (Germany), Graeme McDowell (NIR), Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Jamie Donaldson (Wales), Justin Rose (England) and Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) and the Europe Ryder Cup Captain, Paul McGinley (Ireland) chose three Captains Picks and they are Stephen Gallacher (Scotland), Ian Poulter (England) and Lee Westwood (England). There is no prize money on offer just the honour of holding aloft the Ryder Cup at the end of the week!! The Match commences with the Opening Ceremony on Thursday 25th September and the matches start on Friday 26th September with the morning foursomes. The European Team is the current holder of the Ryder Cup and will be keen to win it again!! I report back who won the Ryder Cup in two weeks time. And the 2014/15 USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup season commences on Thursday 9th October and is the Frys.com Open and it is played on the Silverado Resort and Spa, Napa, California. It carries a prize purse of US $5,000,000 for the taking. Jimmy Walker (USA) is the defending champion and will be keen for back to back titles. Danny Lee (NZL), Tim Wilkinson (NZL) and Steve Alker (NZL) are likely to gain starts as well. I will report back who won the trophy once the result is known.

So to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list this week and coming in at Number One Position for the seventh week of his fifth spell of his career and for the 46th week of his career in total is Rory McILroy (NIR) fresh off his tied for second position this past week at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and one week ago he finished in tied for eighth position at the BMW Championship and two weeks ago tied for fifth position at the Deutsche Bank Championship and three weeks ago finishing in twenty second position at The Barclays and five weeks ago winning at the 96th PGA Championship and six weeks ago won WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and also eight weeks ago winning the 143rd Open Championship with 11.62 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Adam Scott (Australia) fresh off his tied for ninth position this past week at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and one week ago tied for eight position at the BMW Championship and two weeks ago finished in 16th position at Deutsche Bank Championship and three weeks ago he tied for 15th position at The Barclays and five weeks ago tied for 15th position finish at the 96th PGA Championship with 9.07 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Sergio Garcia (Spain) who is fresh off  his tied for ninth position at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola this past week and one week ago he tied for fourth position at the BMW Championship and three weeks ago tied for 57th position at The Barclays and five weeks ago tied for 36th position at the 96th PGA Championship and he also finished solo second position six weeks ago at the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and eight weeks ago he tied for second position at the 143rd Open  Championship with 7.79 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who was fresh off his tied for tied for twenty third position at the BMW Championship one week ago and two weeks ago finished in tied for 26th position at the Deutsche Bank Championship and three weeks ago he finished in 38th position at The Barclays and he finished in tied for fourth position at the 114th U.S. Open Championship 13 weeks ago and also finished tied for second at the BMW International Open and eleven weeks ago and also finished in tied for 39th position at the 143rd Open Championship eight weeks ago and five weeks ago finished in tied for third position at the 96th PGA Championship with 7.70 Official Golf World Ranking Points; and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list standings this week is Jim Furyk (USA) who is fresh off his tied for second position at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola this past week with 7.60 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is in his third week of his fourth spell being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after his tied for 35th position at the Deutsche Bank Championship two weeks ago on the USPGA Tour. This week he slips six places and falls to 245th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.75 Official Golf World Ranking Points. 

Remember the most important shot in a game of golf is the one you are about to play!!

Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org, Google search engine, europeantour.com