Wednesday, September 24, 2014

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

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