Golf Events at the Weekend 9th November 2014

Well it was another brilliant weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup stayed in Asia for the second and final week of the Asian Swing and it was the final WGC event for 2014 and was co – sanctioned with the USPGA Tour, European Tour and many other tours from around the world and was the World Golf Championships - HSBC Champions and it was played on the Sheshan International GC, Shanghai, China. It had a small elite field of Golfers that included the top 50 Golfers on the Official World Golf Rankings points list prior to this week and many of the top golfers from the smaller Professional Golf Tours from around the world. It carried a huge prize – purse of US $8,500,000 for the taking. Dustin Johnson (USA) was the defending champion but decided not to defend his title because he is on an extended leave of absence from the USPGA Tour. Michael Hendry (NZL) was the only New Zealand golfer that gained a start. And it was the golfer by the name of Bubba Watson (USA) who scored rounds of 71-1, 67-5, 69-3 and a final round of 70-2 which included an amazing eagle three on the par five, 72nd hole where he holed out from the left hand green side bunker in dramatic fashion!! His 72 hole total was 277-11 but he was tied on that scored by Tim Clark (RSA) who scored rounds of 69-3, 70-2, 69-3 and a final round of 69-3 for a 72 hole total of 277-11 also. So those two players headed back to the par five, 18th tee for the first playoff hole.

 

Bubba Watson (USA) in action during the final round

So to the first playoff hole. Bubba Watson (USA) picked the number one out of the USPGA Tour Officials hat and he had the honour of teeing off first. He struck one of his booming drives that landed right in the centre of the fairway leaving him only a mid iron for his second shot to the green. Tim Clark (RSA) teed off next and also found the middle of the fairway but he was much short than Bubba Watson (USA) and would have to lay up for his second. Tim Clark (RSA) played his second shot next and laid up and had a similar third to the one he fired close in regulation. Bubba Watson (USA) then played his mid iron for his second shot and landed it in that same bunker that he was in, in regulation play, surely lightning couldn’t strike twice? Tim Clark (RSA) played his third shot first and it almost took the route to the water Martin Kaymer's (Germany) took in regulation play, but it stayed dry and left him a twenty foot putt for his birdie four. Advantage now shifted towards Bubba Watson (USA). He played his third shot next from the same bunker but there was no kick off the first bounce like he had in regulation play, and he came up fifteen feet short. The question was now did either of these two have a big putt left in them?  Tim Clark (RSA) putted from twenty feet for his birdie four and he struck a good putt but it pulled up six inches short of the cup and he had to settle for his par five. Bubba Watson (USA) now knew if he could hole his fifteen foot birdie putt he would win the WGC – HSBC Champions. He calmed his nerve and struck a brilliant putt that was bang on line and fell straight in the middle of the cup for his birdie four and he was the Champion!! He gave his caddie, Ted Scott a huge high five!! Then he got a phone call from his wife, Angie to congratulate him on the win. Then he was interviewed by the television on course reporter and he said “He was so pleased to win this tournament after what happened to him on the 17th hole in the bunker where he made double bogey and then redeemed himself by holing his bunker shot for eagle on the 72nd hole.” He also said “He was very pleased to win his maiden WGC – Event of his career this week”. 

 

Bubba Watson (USA) displays delight after holing the winning birdie putt on the first playoff hole!!

Bubba Watson (USA) earned US $1,400,000 for the win and moved to the top of the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,400,000 earned from the one event he has played to date this season so far. Sang-Moon Bae (South Korea) is currently second on that list with US $1,346,000 earned from the three events he has played to date this season so far. Bubba Watson (USA) also earned 550 FedEx Cup Points for the win and moved to fourth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 550 points earned from the one event he has played to date this season so far and he is 100 points behind the current leader of that list who is Robert Streb (USA) who has earned 650 points from the four events he has played to date this season so far. From the one event Bubba Watson (USA) has played to date this season so far he has made one cut and achieved one top ten finish which was the win this week. Bubba Watson (USA) will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par on a very difficult golf course especially his 67-5 in the second round which include five birdies in a row to finish his round!!

 

Ted Scott who is Bubba Watson's (USA) caddie on the left gives Bubba Watson (USA) on the right a high five to celebrate the win!!

Bubba Watson (USA) displayed some incredible intestinal fortitude to overcome the disappointment of making double bogey five on the par three, 17th hole where he took two shots to get out of the bunker and then was faced with a very difficult bunker shot on the par five, 72nd hole and played it to perfection by holing it out for an eagle three to get into the playoff.  Once in the playoff he was able to hole the fifteen foot birdie putt to claim the title!! His faith and trust in Jesus Christ would of given him the strength he need to believe he could still win after he double bogeyed the 17th hole!! Bubba Watson (USA) has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2006 season after getting his card by finishing in twenty first position on the then Nationwide Tour final money list for the 2005 season. Only the top twenty money earners on the final 2005 Nationwide Tour Money list got their 2006 USPGA Tour card but because Jason Gore (USA) had won three tournaments on the Nationwide Tour that season to gain a battlefield promotion and then gone on to win the 84th Lumber Classic in the same season on the USPGA Tour in 2005 and gain a two year exemption on the USPGA Tour for it. So it was decided that Bubba Watson (USA) would be granted the twentieth card for the 2006 USPGA Tour season. He has kept his card every year since and has achieved seven wins in that time to date which include the win this week and also his two Major Championship wins that came at the 2012 and 2014 Masters Tournament. Bubba Watson (USA) was nicknamed by his father after the former professional football player Bubba Smith. Bubba Watson (USA) is married to Angela P. "Angie" Watson, née Ball, a 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Canadian whom he met at Georgia while he was on the golf team and she was on the women’s basketball team. They were married in September 2004. In 2009, Angie was diagnosed with an enlarged pituitary gland, which accounts for her height. On their first date, Angie told Bubba that she would be unable to conceive a child. Various family issues, including the illness and death of Bubba Watson's (USA) father in 2010, kept them from attempting to adopt until the winter of 2011–12. In March 2012, one week after an adoption of an infant girl fell through at the last moment, Bubba Watson (USA) and his wife adopted a one-month old baby boy named Caleb. Bubba Watson's father, Gerry Lester Watson, Sr., died on October 15, 2010 of throat cancer. Bubba Watson's (USA) mother is Molly Marie Watson and he has a sister, Melinda Watson Conner. Bubba Watson (USA) is also a member of the "Golf Boys", a boy band consisting of Bubba Watson (USA), Ben Crane (USA), Rickie Fowler (USA), and Hunter Mahan (USA). Their hit song "Oh Oh Oh" is currently on YouTube. The video was produced by Farmers Insurance Group. Farmers donates $1000 to charity for every 100,000 views the video gets. In 2011, Bubba Watson (USA) made a humorous appearance in the song "Michael Jackson" by Christian hip hop artist Andy Mineo on the album Formerly Known. In addition to the "Golf Boys," viral success, Bubba Watson's (USA) prototype Golf Cart Hovercraft, the BW1, YouTube video has earned more than 8 million views. Bubba Watson (USA) is a committed Christian who speaks openly about Jesus and the importance of faith in his life and says that God is the most important thing in his life. Bubba Watson (USA) devotes much of his money and time to charity. Bubba Watson (USA) purchased the mansion in the Isleworth community of Windermere, Florida, that was previously owned by Tiger Woods (USA). In 2013, he was added to the list of Great Floridians by Governor Rick Scott. This win is a great way for him to start the season and I am sure he will have more wins this season as well and perhaps his third Major Championship?

 

Bubba Watson (USA) poses with the Old Tom Morris Trophy he won for winning the WGC - HSBC Champions!!

Coming in solo second position on 277-11 after 72 holes and losing on the first playoff hole was Tim Clark (RSA); he earned US $850,000 for his efforts and moved to sixth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $899,435 earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 315 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to sixth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 366 points earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. From the four events he has played to date this season so far he has made four cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came this week. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par especially his first, third and final rounds that were all 69-3s. Tim Clark (RSA) turned professional later in 1998, and initially played on the second tier U.S. Professional Tour, which was then known as the Nike Tour, where he won two tournaments in 2000 to gain membership of the main USPGA Tour for 2001. His 2001 campaign was cut short by a wrist injury after just three events. He made a comeback in 2002, and had the benefit of a major medical exemption which enabled him to enter enough events to comfortably regain full exemption for 2003. He captured his first USPGA Tour victory at the 2010 Players Championship, becoming only the second golfer to make the Players Championship his first Tour victory. He has had three European Tour victories. He finished sole second at the 2006 Masters Tournament and sole or tied third at the 2003 PGA Championship and the 2005 U.S. Open Championship. Tim Clark (RSA) was a member of the International Team, captained by fellow South African Gary Player (RSA) in two of three appearances, in the 2003, 2005 and 2009 Presidents Cup. Gary Player (RSA) dubbed him the team's "bull dog" in reference to his dogged determination and refusal to give in or let go. In 2005 he reached the top 20 of the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time. He won the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit in the 2001/02 season. He has played Gary Player's annual charity event in South Africa to help raise funds for needy children and personally paid for a little girl's cochlear ear implant so that she could hear after winning the event in 2005. In Australia for a three-tournament swing, he won the 2008 Australian Open in a playoff with Mathew Goggin (Australia) when they were both tied at 9-under-par. Neither player seemed to have a chance with four holes to play when David Smail (NZL) led at 12-under only to double-bogey the next two holes. In May 2009, Tim Clark (RSA) nearly had his first USPGA Tour victory in hand at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, but he bogeyed the 18th hole to force a playoff. On the first hole of that playoff, he missed a 7-footer which would have given him the victory. Then, on the second playoff hole, he and Steve Marino (USA) lost to Steve Stricker (USA). In May 2010, Tim Clark (USA) picked up his first USPGA Tour title in his 206th start, after eight runner-up finishes, at the 2010 Players Championship. Tim Clark (RSA) came from three behind with a final round 67 to win by a stroke over Robert Allenby (Australia). On 11 August 2013, in the final round of the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club, Tim Clark (RSA) made a hole-in-one on the 220 yard, par-3 11th hole. On 27 July 2014, Tim Clark (RSA) won the RBC Canadian Open, finishing one stroke ahead of Jim Furyk (USA). This was his second USPGA Tour title and first victory in more than four years. He birdied five out of the last eight holes to come from three strokes back in the final round. The win moved Tim Clark (RSA) back inside the world's top 100. Let’s hope he can have more top ten finishes during the 2014/15 USPGA Tour Season and perhaps even achieve his third win? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014/15 season. 

Coming in tied for third position at 278-10 after 72 holes was Rickie Fowler (USA); he earned US $381,666.67 for his efforts and moved to tied for twentieth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $381,667 earned from the one event he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 152 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to tied for twenty ninth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 152 points earned from the one event he has played to date this season so far. From the one event he has played to date this season so far he has made one cut and achieved one top ten finish that came this week. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par especially his first and third rounds which were both 69-3s. Rickie Fowler (USA) has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2009 season and has kept his card for the next year every season since and his maiden win came in 2012 where Rickie Fowler won the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 6, 2012, on the first extra hole of a sudden-death playoff. Replaying the 18th hole, he defeated Rory McILroy (NIR) and D.A. Points (USA) with a birdie to gain his first USPGA Tour win. Rickie Fowler (USA) shot a 69 (−3) in the final round to finish in a three-way tie after 72 holes at Quail Hollow. This win enabled Rickie Fowler (USA) to break the top-25 in the world, placing him at number 24. The following week at The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Rickie Fowler (USA) played the final hole at −11 under par and had a birdie opportunity to bring him within one of leader and eventual winner Matt Kuchar (USA). Rickie Fowler (USA), however, pushed his putt to the right and finished in a tie for second, his fifth second-place finish of his career. Rickie Fowler (USA) had his best finish of 2014 at the U.S. Open championship at Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Rickie Fowler (USA) finished T2 with Erik Compton (USA) at −1, Rickie Fowler's (USA) best finish at a major. Martin Kaymer (Germany) was the winner, shooting −9 for the tournament. Rickie Fowler (USA) received US $789,330 for his finish. Rickie Fowler (USA) followed that up with another runner-up finish at the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England. He began the final round six strokes behind Rory McILroy (NIR) and finished the day tied for second with Sergio Garcia (Spain) at −15, losing to Rory McIlroy (NIR) by two strokes. Rickie Fowler (USA) had another very close call at a major, this time at the 2014 PGA Championship where he, Phil Mickelson (USA), Henrik Stenson (Sweden), and Rory McILroy (NIR) duelled on a rain soaked Valhalla Golf Club for the title. Rickie Fowler (USA) eventually finished in a tie for 3rd, despite holding the lead for a good portion of the day. Fowler is only the third player behind Jack Nicklaus (USA) and Tiger Woods (USA) to have finished in the top 5 in all four majors in one calendar year, but the first not to win. Fowler had 10 top-10 finishes during the 2013-14 PGA Tour season. His 8th place finish at The Tour Championship moved him to 10th place in the world golf rankings. Let’s hope he can achieve his second USPGA Tour win this season and perhaps it will be his maiden Major Championship? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Also tied for third position was Hiroshi Iwata (Japan); he too earned US $381,666.67 for his efforts but because he isn’t a current member of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list ranking. He also earned 152 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts but because he isn’t a current member of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings ranking. From the one event he has played to date this season so far he has made one cut and achieved one top ten finish that came at this event. He will be happy with his middle two rounds this week that were 65-7 in the second round which was the low round of the day by two shots and his third round 68-4. But he will only be content with his first round 73+1 and his final round 72 even par. But on the whole he will be extremely pleased with this performance against a world class field. Hiroshi Iwata (Japan) has played on the Japan Golf Tour since 2004. His first win came at the 2014 Fujisankei Classic. He currently lies in fourth position on the Japan Golf Tour Money list with ￥74,822,599 earned from the 19 events he has played to date this season so far. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014 season.

The final player to tie for third position was Graeme McDowell (NIR); he too earned US $381,666.67 for his efforts and moved to tied for twentieth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $381,667 earned from the one event he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 152 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to tied for twenty ninth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 152 points earned from the one event he has played to date this season so far. From the one event he has played to date this season so far he has made one cut and achieved one top ten finish that came this week. He will be happy with his first two rounds that were consecutive 67-5s and saw him have the 36 hole lead, but he will be disappointed with his third and fourth rounds that were 71-1 and 73+1. He surrendered an excellent chance at win his first World Golf Championship Event. He has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2010 season and has kept his card for the next year every season since. In that time he has achieved two wins with the first one coming at the 2010 U.S. Open Championship (Which was his maiden Major Championship win) at Pebble Beach Golf Links and his second one coming at the 2013 RBC Heritage. I sure his third win can’t be too far away and suspect it will happen in the 2014/15 season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Rounding out the top eight in tied for sixth position at 280-8 after 72 holes was Ian Poulter (England); he earned US $213,666.67 for his efforts and moved to tied for 46th position on the current USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $213,667 earned from the one event he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 96 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved tied for 59th position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 96 points earned from the one event he has played to date this season so far. From the one event he has played to date this season so far he has made one cut and achieved one top ten finish which came this week. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par especially his second round 67-5. Ian Poulter (England) has achieved two wins on the USPGA Tour to date so far and they both have come at WGC Events with the first one coming at the 2010 WCG- Accenture Match Play Championship and the second coming at the 2012 WGC – HSBC Champions. Let’s hope he can achieve more top ten finishes in the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and perhaps his third win? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014/15 season. 

Also tied for sixth position was Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark); he too earned US $213,666.67 for his efforts but because he isn’t a current member of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings ranking. He also earned 96 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts but because he isn’t a current member of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings ranking. From the one event he has played to date this season so far he has made one cut and achieved one top ten finish that came at this event. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all at par and under par especially his 68-4 in the second round. Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark) plays the European Tour fulltime and has already won twice on that tour with his most recent win coming last month at the ISPS Handa Perth International. He is a rising star being only twenty four years old and has a very bright future in the game. I wish him all the best for the remaining events he plays in the 2014 season. 

The final player to tie for sixth position was Martin Kaymer (Germany); he too earned US $213,666.67 for his efforts and tied for 46th position on the current USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $213,667 earned from the one event he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 96 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved tied for 59th position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 96 points earned from the one event he has played to date this season so far. From the one event he has played to date this season so far he has made one cut and achieved one top ten finish which came this week. He will be happy with his first and third rounds that were 69-3 and his 66-6 in the third round was the lowest score of the day by two shots. But he will be disappointed with his second round that was 72 even par and his final round that was 73+1. Martin Kaymer (Germany) has been exempt on the USPGA Tour since his win at the PGA Championship in 2010 which was his maiden USPGA win of his career and his second win came at the 2014 Players Championship in May and his third win came at the 2014 U.S. Open Championship in June. He mainly plays the European Tour fulltime and he has achieved eleven wins on that tour to date with his most recent being the 2014 U.S. Open Championship. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Michael Hendry (NZL) was the only New Zealander in the field and he scored rounds of 76+4 in the first round which was terrible. Then a  poor second round of 75+3, and a good third round of 73+1 and a terrible final round of 76+4 for a 72 hole total of 300+12 and he finished in tied for 64th position. He earned US $42,500 for his efforts but because he isn’t a current member of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list or FedEx Cup Points list standings ranking. From the one event he has played to date this season so far he has made one cut and achieved no top ten finishes. He will be disappointed with his four rounds this week on the whole because they were all over par. But he will gain a lot of experience having rubbed shoulders with some of the best players in the world and will be a better player for it in the long run. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014 season in the remaining events he plays on the Japan and Australasian Tours.  

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup is in Mexico for the OHL Classic at Mayakoba which is the final event in the 2014 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and it is played on the El Camaleon, Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It carries a large prize purse of US $6,100,000 for the taking. Harris English (USA) is the defending champion and will be keen to defend his title. Danny Lee (NZL), Tim Wilkinson (NZL) and Steve Alker (NZL) are likely to gain starts as well. It starts on Thursday 13th November. 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 fifteenth  week of his fifth spell of his career and for the 54th week of his career in total is Rory McILroy (NIR) fresh off his third place finish at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf three weeks ago and he also tied for second position at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship five weeks ago and was part of the winning European Ryder Cup Team six weeks ago and eight weeks ago tied for second position at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and nine weeks ago he finished in tied for eighth position at the BMW Championship and ten weeks ago tied for fifth position at the Deutsche Bank Championship and eleven weeks ago finished in twenty second position at The Barclays and 13 weeks ago winning at the 96th PGA Championship and 14 weeks ago won WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and also 16 weeks ago winning the 143rd Open Championship with 11.54 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Adam Scott (Australia) fresh off his tied for 12th position at the WGC – HSBC Champions this past week and three weeks ago tied for 38th position in the Japan Open and he tied for ninth position eight weeks ago at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and nine weeks ago tied for eight position at the BMW Championship and ten weeks ago finished in 16th position at Deutsche Bank Championship and eleven weeks ago he tied for 15th position at The Barclays and 13 weeks ago tied for 15th position at the 96th PGA Championship with 8.26 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Bubba Watson (USA) who is fresh off winning the WGC - HSBC Champions this past week with 7.94 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Sergio Garcia (Spain) who is fresh off his tied for twenty eighth position at the WGC – HSBC Champions this past week and one week ago he tied for second position at the CIMB Classic and six weeks ago he was part of the winning European Ryder Cup Team and eight weeks ago tied for ninth position at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and nine weeks ago he tied for fourth position at the BMW Championship and eleven weeks ago tied for 57th position at The Barclays and 13 weeks ago tied for 36th position at the 96th PGA Championship and he also finished solo second position 14 weeks ago at the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and 16 weeks ago he tied for second position at the 143rd Open  Championship with 7.24 Official 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 fourth place finish at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf three weeks ago and six weeks ago being a part of the losing USA Ryder Cup Team and eight weeks ago he tied for second position at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola with 7.22 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is in his second week of a new spell being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after his tied for 51st position at the Sanderson Farm Championship this past week on the USPGA Tour. This week he slips four places and falls to 256th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings with 0.73 Official Golf World Ranking Points. 

Remember to have a good round of golf it is important to concentrate from the first tee shot to the final putt!!

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