Golf Events from the Weekend 21st December 2014

Well it was another awesome weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours around the world for the final event on the 2014 season and it was on the Asian Tour as it headed to Dubai, United Arab Emirates for the inaugural Dubai Open which was the finale event for the 2014 Asian Tour season. It was played on the Els Club Dubai that is designed by the Famous South African Golfer, Ernie Els (RSA). There was a brand new champion because it was a new event. And with the Order of Merit winner for the 2014 Asian Tour already decided with David Lipsky (USA) winning. And it was the golfer by the name of Arjun Atwal (India) who scored rounds of 73+1, 65-7, 68-4 and a final round of 66-6 for a 72 hole total of 272-16 and he won by a single shot for his eight win to date on the Asian Tour and his first since 2008. He won US $90,000 for the win and finished in twenty fifth position on the final 2014 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $124,682 earned from the ten events he played in. David Lipsky (USA) won the Order of Merit with US $713,901 earned from the thirteen events he played in. From the ten events Arjun Atwal (India) played in this season he made eight cuts and achieved one top ten finish which was the win this week. He will be happy with his second, third and final rounds that were all in the 60s especially his second round 65-7 which was blemish free and the low round of the day. But he would be just content with his first round 73+1.

 

Ajrun Atwal (India) waits to tee off during the final round

Ajrun Atwal (India) played a very good final round under the circumstances of being in contention to win. He scored 66-6 which included a front nine of 32-4 with birdies on the par four, first hole, par four, third hole, par three, fourth hole and par five, eighth hole and he made the turn at minus 14 and was one shot behind the leader. Wang Jeung – hun (South Korea) went out in a brilliant 31-5 and made the turn at minus 15 and was leading by a single shot. 

Ajrun Atwal (India) played holes ten to fourteen in one under par which included making consecutive birdies on holes thirteen and fourteen and he moved to minus fifteen and was still one shot behind the leader. Wang Jeung – hun (South Korea) played holes ten to fourteen in one under par and moved to minus sixteen and was still leading by a single shot. Ajrun Atwal (India) played holes fifteen to seventeen in even par and remained at minus fifteen with just the par five, 72nd hole to play and was still one shot behind the leader. Wang Jeung – hun (South Korea) played holes fifteen to seventeen in even par and remained at minus sixteen with just the par five, 72nd hole to play and was still leading by a single shot.  

Wang Jeung hun (South Korea) who was playing in the group ahead of the final group made an untimely bogey up the par five, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes at minus fifteen and finished one shot behind the winner. Ajrun Atwal (India) who was playing in the final group now knew he was tied for the lead and knew if he could birdie the 72nd hole he would win the title. And that is exactly what he did!! He got a huge hug from his caddie to celebrate!! Then Ajrun Atwal (India) said to the surrounding reporters “This one feels really special” because of his struggles over the last few years due to injury and a lack of form. And having lost his full USPGA Tour status two years ago he was serious considering giving up playing professional golf but after talking in over with his family and friends he was encouraged to continue and now I am bet he is pleased he did. He scored 34-2 for his back nine holes.  

After turning professional in 1995 Ajrun Atwal (India) became one of the leading players on the Asian Tour, topping the order of merit in 2003 and becoming the first man to win a million U.S. dollars on the tour by winning the Hero Honda Masters on home soil in the same year. Ajrun Atwal (India) was the second Indian golfer to earn membership of the European Tour after Jeev Milkha Singh (India) and the first to win on a European Tour event when he notched up a five stroke victory in the 2002 Caltex Singapore Masters, which was co-sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours. A second European Tour win followed at the Carlsberg Malaysian Open in 2003. Late in the same year Ajrun Atwal (India) finished seventh at the PGA Tour's qualifying school in the U.S., earning a USPGA Tour card for 2004, making him the first native East Indian golfer to do so. (The most famous golfer of Indian origin, longtime USPGA Tour mainstay and multiple major winner Vijay Singh (Fiji) is a native of Fiji.) In his 2004 rookie season on the USPGA Tour, he finished 142nd on the money list. In 2005, Ajrun Atwal (India) came close to winning on the USPGA Tour numerous times, most notably at the BellSouth Classic in April. After posting a 64 (the low round for any golfer in the tournament) in the final round of the rain-shortened event, he wound up in a five-man sudden death playoff along with Rich Beem (USA), Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain), Brandt Jobe (USA) and Phil Mickelson (USA). On the first hole of the playoff, the par-5 18th, Ajrun Atwal's (India) second shot went into the water, yet he almost holed his fourth shot. If he had done so, he would have made birdie and won (Phil Mickelson (USA), Rich Beem (USA) and Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain) made pars, while Brandt Jobe (USA) bogeyed.) After two-putting the green, Ajrun Atwal (India) made bogey, and he and Brandt Jobe (USA) were eliminated. Phil Mickelson (USA) went on to win the tournament. Ajrun Atwal (India) finished 82nd on the money list in 2005 to secure his spot on Tour for 2006. Ajrun Atwal (India) was involved in a crash possibly associated with street racing on SR 535, in Windermere, Florida, on 10 March 2007, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Ajrun Atwal (India) was not injured, and after a year of investigation, the case was closed with no charges filed. A second driver, John Noah Park, 48, was killed in the incident. After the 2010 RBC Canadian, Ajrun Atwal (India) lost his USPGA Tour card after his medical exemption, received due to a shoulder injury, ran out and he had failed to earn enough money. He later regained his playing privileges on the USPGA Tour through 2012 and obtained an invitation into the 2011 Masters Tournament by Monday qualifying for and later recording his maiden victory on the USPGA Tour at the Wyndham Championship, the final tournament of the regular season. He became the first Indian-born player to ever win on the USPGA Tour, and was the first Monday qualifier to win a USPGA Tour event since Fred Wadsworth (USA) won the 1986 Southern Open. Because he had lost his tour card, he received no FedEx Cup points for his victory and had not earned enough points previously to make the playoffs. He has been a neighbour and practice partner of Tiger Woods (USA) for five years at home in Florida. After failing to qualify for the FedEx Cup in 2010, Ajrun Atwal (India) entered the 2011 playoff series 123rd. Ajrun Atwal (India) had only two top-10 finishes in the two years after his win and lost his USPGA Tour card after the 2012 season. He has now won twelve professional events in his career to date. Let’s hope he can continue this form into the 2015 season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015. 

 

Ajrun Atwal (India) poses with the Dubai Open Trophy he won!!

Coming in solo second position at 274-14 after 72 holes was Wang Jeung – hun (South Korea); he earned US $55,000 for his efforts and finished in twenty first position on the final 2014 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $158,727 earned from the sixteen events he played in this season. From the sixteen events he played in this season he made sixteen cuts and achieved four top ten finishes which included the one here this week. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par especially his second and final rounds that were both 67-5s. But he will be disappointed he finished off with two bogeys when two pars would have won him his maiden Asian Tour title. Wang Jeung – hun (South Korea) seems to have a bright future ahead of him having just finished his second full season on the Asian Tour and he is only 19 years of age. Let’s hope he can continue this fine form into the 2015 season. I wish him all the best for the 2015 season. 

Coming in solo third position at 275-13 after 72 holes was Simon Yates (Scotland); he earned US $31,500 for his efforts and finished in six sixth position on the final 2014 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $51,961 earned from the nine events he played in this season. From the nine events he played in this season he made four cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came at this event. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par especially his second round 67-5. Simon Yates (Scotland) has won twice on the Asian Tour, the 1998 Sabah Masters in Malaysia and 2004 SK Telecom Open in Korea. In 2009, he had a chance to win the King’s Cup in Thailand but lost in a three-way play-off to Chinese Taipei’s Chan Yih-shin (Chinese Taipei). In 2007, he finished sixth on the Order of Merit for the fourth time in his career following eight top-10s, including two runner-up finishes. He lost in a play-off at the Midea China Classic and was second again at the Iskandar Johor Open, which saw his record number of second place outings on Tour rise to 13. He has won the Greens in Regulations category in 2004, 2006 and 2007, indicating his superb ball-striking abilities. He also shot the most number of birdies on Tour in 1999 and 2003, with 232 and 239 respectively. Let’s hope he can continue this fine form into the 2015 season. I wish him all the best for the 2015 season. 

Coming in tied for fourth position at 276-12 after 72 holes was Jake Higginbottom (Australia); he earned US $ 22,750.00 for his efforts and finished in fifty third position on the final 2014 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $68,626 earned from the nine events he played in this season. From the nine events he played in this season he made six cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which included the one here. He will be happy with his second, third and final rounds this week that were all under par especially his final round 64-8 which was the low final round by two shots and it was also blemish free. But he will be just content with his first round 72 even par. This finish also secured his card for the 2015 season. Jake Higginbottom (Australia) created some golf history in 2012 when he became the first amateur in more than half a century to win the BMW New Zealand Open. He turned professional two days later. In the 2013 season he played just three tournaments on the PGA Tour of Australasia choosing to focus his time competing on the Asian Tour where he retained his card. In the 2014 PGA Tour of Australasia season he has played more events and very well in the big money tournaments. His future looks bright at the tender age of twenty one years old. I wish him success for the 2015 season. 

The final player to tie for fourth position was Thaworn Wiratchant (Thailand); he also earned US $ 22,750.00 for his efforts and finished in seventh position on the final 2014 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $296,852 earned from the twenty events he played in this season. From the twenty events he played in this season he made eighteen cuts and achieved six top ten finishes which included the one this week and also his two wins with his first one coming at the Queen's Cup and his second coming at the King's Cup two weeks ago. He will be happy with his second, third and final rounds that were all in the 60s especially his third round 65-7. But he will be disappointed with his first round 74+2 which cost him his chance of winning. Thaworn Wiratchant (Thailand) turned professional in 1987 and he holds the record for most victories on the Asian Tour with eighteen. In March 2005, he won the Enjoy Jakarta Standard Chartered Indonesia Open, which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the European Tour, becoming the second Thai after Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) to win a European Tour event. He topped the Asian Tour money list in 2005, becoming the first player to win more than half a million U.S. dollars on that tour in a season. He would top the Asian Tour money list again in 2012. Let’s hope he can carry this fine form into the 2015 season. I wish him all the best for the 2015 season. 

Rounding out the top ten in tied for sixth position at 277-11 after 72 holes was Carlos Pigem (Spain); he earned US $12,680 for his efforts and finished in 39th position on the final 2014 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $91,316 earned from the seventeen events he played in. From the seventeen events he played in this season he made ten cuts and achieved four top ten finishes that included the one here this week. He will be happy with his first, third and final rounds that were all under par especially his final round 66-6 which included a back nine of 31-5. But he will be disappointed with his second round 73+1. Carlos Pigem (Spain) enjoyed a highly successful rookie season on the Asian Tour in 2013. Finished tied eleventh at Qualifying School and then enjoyed a third-placed finish at the inaugural Resorts World Manila Masters which sealed his card for 2014. He posted four other top-25 finishes. Much is expected from the Spaniard in the coming seasons. Let’s hope he can carry this form into the 2015 season. I wish him all the best for the 2015 season. 

Also tied for sixth position was Daisuke Kataoka (Japan); he too earned US $12,680 for his efforts and moved to 64th position on the final 2014 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $54,787 earned from the nine events he played in this season. From the nine events he played in this season he made six cuts and withdrew from one and achieved three top ten finishes which included the one this week. He will be happy with his second, third and final rounds that were all under par especially his second round that was 66-6 which was blemish free. But he will be disappointed with his first round 73+1. Daisuke Kataoka (Japan) challenged for his first Asian Tour title in 2013 before finishing third at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters and Queen’s Cup in Thailand. He also finished top-10 at the Venetian Macau Open and King’s Cup Golf Hua Hin. He earned his tour card at the 2011 Qualifying School. In the same year, he made seven cuts in seven attempts highlighted by four top-10s including a third place finish at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters. The ever-smiling Japanese posted two top-20s at the ICTSI Philippine Open and ISPS Handa Singapore Classic. He earned full playing rights in 2013 with several other top-30s. He is tipped to win on Tour very soon. I wish him all the 2015 season. 

Also tied for sixth position was Pariya Junhasavasdikul (Thailand); he too earned US $12,680 for his efforts and finished in 33rd position on the final 2014 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $97,184 earned from the eighteen events he played in. From the eighteen events he played in he made fifteen cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which included the one this week. He will be happy with his first, third and final rounds that were all in the 60s especially his third round 67-5 which was blemish free. But he will be just content with his second round 72 even par. Pariya Junhasavasdikul (Thailand) claimed his second Asian Tour title at the 2013 Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters, beating close friend and roommate Baek Seuk-hyun (South Korea) on the last day. He broke through in a big way in 2010 by winning his maiden title at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, beating Bangladeshi Siddikur in a play-off, and registering four other top-10s including third at the Handa Singapore Classic and tied second at the King’s Cup in Thailand. He finished a high 12th place on the Order of Merit to signal his coming of age after a solid amateur record where he went through the college system in the United States. In 2011, he posted top-19s at the UBS Hong Kong Open, ICTSI Philippine Open and Indonesian Masters. He finished fourth at the Volvik Hildesheim Open in Korea in 2012 and carded three other top-20s at the Venetian Macau Open, Hero Indian Open and King’s Cup in Thailand which was enough to secure full playing rights in the 2013 Asian Tour season. In 2009, Pariya Junhasavasdikul (Thailand) finished tied fifth in the Qualifying School in Bangkok to earn his playing card. He tied for 18th place at the Iskandar Johor Open and claimed his first top 10 at the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open where he finished tied sixth. Let’s hope he can carry this form into the 2015 season. I wish him all the best for the 2015 season. 

Also tied for sixth position was Chapchai Nirat (Thailand); he too earned US $12,680 for his efforts and finished in eighteenth position on the final 2014 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $183,131 earned from the nineteen events he played in this season. From the nineteen events he played in this season he made fifteen cuts and achieved six top ten finishes which included the one this week and also his win at the Worldwide Selangor Masters earlier in the year. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par especially his third round 67-5.  Chapchai Nirat (Thailand) turned professional in 1998 as a fifteen-year-old. He won for the first time as a pro at the 2004 Genting Masters in Malaysia. He joined the Asian Tour in 2005, and had a second place finish in his rookie season. In 2007 he won the TCL Classic, which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the European Tour and the Hana Bank Vietnam Masters. He was the third Thai to win a European Tour event. In March 2009, Chapchai Nirat (Thailand) shot 32-under-par over 72 holes to claim the SAIL Open, setting a new Asian Tour record for the best 72-hole score. I’m sure he will have another big season in 2015. I wish him all the best for the 2015 season. 

The final player to tie for sixth position was Jbe Kruger (RSA); he too earned US $12,680 for his efforts and finished in 32nd position on the final 2014 Asian Tour Order of Merit with US $104,580 earned from the ten events he played in this year. From the ten events he played in this season he made six cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which all came in his last three starts including his one this week. He will be happy with his first, third and final rounds this week that were all under par especially his third round 64-8 which he scored a hole in one on the par three, second hole and the round was the equal low of the day and the tournament. But he will only be content with his second round 72 even par. Jbe Kruger (RSA) shed his bridesmaid tag with a maiden Asian Tour victory at the Avantha Masters in India in 2012. It ended several seasons of frustration as he had finished runner-up on three previous occasions. In 2013, he finished tied fifth in the inaugural Chiangmai Golf Classic presented by PTT. He enjoyed six top-10s in 2011 and another superb year in 2010 but was unlucky to not win a maiden victory. After a fourth place finish at the season-opening Asian Tour International in Bangkok, he registered second place outings in the Brunei Open, losing to Siddikur in a play-off, Handa Singapore Classic and King’s Cup in Thailand. Also finished tied 10th at the Hero Honda Indian Open to finish the season in a commendable 19th place on the Order of Merit. He also won the Greens in Regulation category. In his rookie season in 2009, Jbe  Kruger (RSA) got off to a flying start, making eight consecutive cuts that were highlighted with three top-20 finishes in the Maekyung Open in Korea, Brunei Open and Queen’s Cup in Thailand. Also finished tied 12th at the Hero Honda Indian Open and a tied ninth at the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open.  I’m sure his second win isn’t too far off and perhaps it will happen in the 2015 season. I wish him all the best for the 2015 season. 

The USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup recommence for the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season on Friday 9th January for the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and it is played on the Plantation Course at Kapalua, Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. It carries a huge prize purse of US $5,700,000 for the taking. Zach Johnson (USA) is the defending champion and will be keen to defend his title. Only players that have won since the 2014 Hyundai Tournament of Champions including the 2014 Hyundai Tournament of Champions in official FedEx Cup events are eligible to compete in it. It is also unique in that it has a scheduled Friday start and Monday finish. I will report back who won the trophy as soon as the result is know.

So to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list this week and the last time for 2014 and coming in at Number One Position for the twenty first week of his fifth spell of his career and for the 60th week of his career in total is Rory McILroy (NIR) fresh off his tied for 15th position at the Emirates Australian Open three weeks ago and four weeks ago tied for second position at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and nine weeks ago finished in third place at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf and he also tied for second position at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship eleven weeks ago and was part of the winning European Ryder Cup Team twelve weeks ago and thirteen weeks ago tied for second position at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and fifteen weeks ago he finished in tied for eighth position at the BMW Championship and sixteen weeks ago tied for fifth position at the Deutsche Bank Championship and seventeen weeks ago finished in twenty second position at The Barclays and nineteen weeks ago winning at the 96th PGA Championship and twenty weeks ago won WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and also twenty two weeks ago winning the 143rd Open Championship with 11.04 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who is fresh off his solo second finish two weeks ago at the Hero World Challenge and four weeks ago won at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and five weeks ago finished in solo third finish at the Turkish Airlines Open on the European Tour and was part of the winning European Ryder Cup Team twelve weeks ago with 8.13 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Adam Scott (Australia) fresh off his tied for second position at the Australian PGA Championship one week ago and finished in solo fifth position at the Emirates Australian Open three weeks ago and four weeks ago tied for second position at the Bet Easy Masters and six weeks ago tied for 12th position at the WGC – HSBC Champions and nine weeks ago tied for 38th position in the Japan Open and he tied for ninth position fourteen weeks ago at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola and fifteen weeks ago tied for eight position at the BMW Championship and sixteen weeks ago finished in 16th position at Deutsche Bank Championship and seventeen weeks ago he tied for 15th position at The Barclays and eighteen weeks ago tied for 15th position at the 96th PGA Championship with 7.71 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Bubba Watson (USA) who is fresh off his tied for twenty fifth position at the Thailand Golf Championship one week ago and tied for eleventh position at the Hero World Challenge two weeks ago and tied for twenty fourth finish at the Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters on the Japan Golf Tour five weeks ago and winning the WGC - HSBC Champions six weeks ago with 7.27 Official World Ranking Points; and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list standings this week is Sergio Garcia (Spain) who is fresh off his tie for ninth finish at the Thailand Golf Championship one week ago and four weeks ago finished in tied for twelfth position at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and was part of the winning European Ryder Cup Team twelve weeks ago with 6.70 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is in his eighth week of a new spell being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after his tied for third position at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba five weeks ago on the USPGA Tour. This week he gains one place and rises to 220th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings with 0.81 Official Golf World Ranking Points.

Remember when playing in the heat and humidity of summer you must drink lots!!

This being my final Golf Blog from Golf Events from the weekend for 2014 I want to thank you all for supporting it throughout the year and to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2015!! My golf blog will recommence early in January 2015.

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