Golf Events from the Weekend 1st February 2015

Well it was another amazing weekend on the Major Professional Golf tours from around the world and this week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup headed to Scottsdale, Arizona for the Waste Management Phoenix Open and it was played on the TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona. It carried a huge prize purse of US $6,300,000 for the taking. Kevin Stadler (USA) was the defending champion and was keen for back to back titles. Tiger Woods (USA) was also making his 2014/15 USPGA Tour season debut which was sure to increase crowd numbers in the already near capacity crowd tournament which featured the famous enclosed Stadium par three, 16th hole which was sure to intimidate the most experienced PGA Tour professionals. Danny Lee (NZL) and Tim Wilkinson (NZL) gained starts as well. And it was the golfer by the name of Brooks Koepka (USA), who scored rounds of 71 even par, 68-3, 64-7 which was blemish free and 66-5 which was also blemish free for a 72 hole total of 269-15 and he won by a single shot for his maiden USPGA Tour win of his career. He earned US $1,134,000 for the win and moved to sixth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,558,267 earned from the three events he has played to date this season so far. Bubba Watson (USA) currently leads that list with US $2,030,400 earned from the three events he has played to date this season so far. Brooks Koepka (USA) also earned 500 FedEx Cup Points for the win and moved to sixth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 693 points earned from the three events he has played to date this season so far and he is 264 points behind the current leader of that list who is Jimmy Walker (USA) who has earned 957 FedEx Cup points from the five events he has played in to date so far this season. From the three events Brooks Koepka (USA) has played to date this season so far he has made three cuts and achieved three top ten finishes that includes the win this week. He will be happy with his second, third and final rounds that were all in the 60s especially his third round 64-7 and final round 66-5 that were blemish free. But he will only be content with his first round 71 even par. 

 

Brooks Koepka (USA) tees off during the final round

Brooks Koepka (USA) played a brilliant final round of 66-5 that included a front nine of 33-2 which included birdies on the par four, sixth hole and par three, seventh hole and made the turn at minus twelve and was two shots behind the leaders. Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) went out in 31-4 which included an eagle two on the first hole and he made the turn at minus fourteen and was tied for the lead. Ryan Palmer (USA) went out in 31-4 and made the turn at minus thirteen and was one shot behind the leaders. Bubba Watson (USA) went out in 31-4 and made the turn at minus twelve and was two shots behind the leaders. Martin Laird (Scotland) went out in 34-1 and made the turn at minus fourteen and was tied for the lead.

Brooks Koepka (USA) played holes ten to fourteen in one under par and moved to minus thirteen and now was only one shot behind the leaders. Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) played holes ten to fourteen in even par and remained at minus fourteen and was still tied for the lead. Ryan Palmer (USA) played holes ten to fourteen in even par and remained at minus thirteen and was still one shot behind the leaders. Bubba Watson (USA) played holes ten to fourteen in two under par which included back to back birdies on holes twelve and thirteen and moved to minus fourteen and was now tied for the lead. Martin Laird (Scotland) played holes ten to fourteen in even par and remained at minus fourteen and was still tied for the lead. 

Brooks Koepka (USA) played holes fifteen to seventeen in two under par and that included making an eagle three on the par five, fifteenth hole when he holed his putt from just off the green and he got a par on the short par four, seventeenth hole after his tee shot rolled over the green and was very lucky to stay short of the water hazard and he moved to minus fifteen and was now leading by a single shot heading to the par four, 72nd hole. Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) played holes fifteen to seventeen in even par and remained at minus fourteen and now was one shot behind the leader heading to the par four, 72nd hole. Ryan Palmer (USA) played holes fifteen to seventeen in one under par and moved to minus fourteen and was still one shot behind the leader heading to the par four, 72nd hole. Bubba Watson (USA) played holes fifteen to seventeen in even par and remained at minus fourteen and was still one shot behind the leader heading to the par four, 72nd hole. Martin Laird (Scotland) played holes fifteen to seventeen in even par which included birding the par five, fifteenth hole and making a poor bogey on the short par four, seventeenth hole and he remained at minus fourteen and was still one shot behind the leader heading to the par four, 72nd hole. 

Bubba Watson (USA) who was playing about half an hour ahead of the leaders could only manage a par at the par four, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes at minus fourteen and was one shot behind the winner. Ryan Palmer (USA) who was playing in the group ahead of the final group made a par at the par four, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes at minus fourteen and was one shot behind the winner. Martin Laird (Scotland) stood on the par four, 72nd tee only one shot behind the leader. But three putting the seventeenth green must have got to him because he hit properly his poorest shot all week by hooking his tee shot into the water hazard that he had to carry to reach the fairway. He would go on to double bogey the hole and he finished at minus twelve which was three shots behind the winner. Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) knew he had to birdie the par four, 72nd hole if he was going to force a playoff with Brooks Koepka (USA). He slightly pulled his drive and it landed in the left hand fairway bunker. He struck a very good fairway bunker shot and it came to rest eighteen feet short on the cup. But he struck a very weak putt for his birdie and it missed short on the right hand side and he tapped in for his par four and finished the 72 holes at minus fourteen which was one shot behind the winner. 

 

Brooks Koepka (USA) tees off on the par four, 72nd tee

Brooks Koepka (USA) now stood on the par four, 72nd tee with a one shot lead and knew that par may well be good enough for his maiden USPGA Tour win. He showed no fear by booming a drive straight down the centre 330 yards!! Then he hit a very good second shot with his short wedge and it landed on the green twenty feet from the flag stick. Walking up to the green he knew that two putts could be good enough for the win. He calmed his nerve and struck the twenty foot putt to near perfection and it just broke away to the left hand side of the cup. He waited for his fellow competitors to hole out then he sunk the one foot putt in the hole for his par and he scored 33-3 on the back nine. He finished the 72 holes on minus fifteen to win by a single stroke!! He got a huge hug and high five from his caddie, Ricky Elliott to celebrate the win then he was interviewed by CBS Sports on Course Golf Reporter, David Feherty and he told him “He was so happy to win his maiden USPGA Tour event after the road he took to get here by playing the European Challenge Tour and then the European Tour the past few years before joining the USPGA Tour and the wins he had on those tours helped him to improve his game and stay calm and win the tournament today”. 

 

Brooks Koepka (USA) embraces his caddie, Ricky Elliott after he holed the winning putt!!

Brooks Koepka (USA) was born in Wellington, Florida. He played college golf at Florida State University where he won three events and was a three-time All - American. He qualified for the 2012 U.S. Open while still an amateur. After missing the cut in the U.S. Open, Brooks Koepka (USA) turned professional and began playing on the Challenge Tour in Europe. He won his first event in September at the Challenge de Catalunya. In 2013 he had his second victory on the Challenge Tour, winning the 2013 Montecchia Golf Open for his second win. He followed this a month later with his third win, the Fred Olsen Challenge de Espana, where he set the tournament record, 260 (−24), and won by a record 10 strokes.  Three weeks later he had his third win of the year at the Scottish Hydro Challenge. With those three wins, he earned his European Tour card for the remainder of the 2013 season and for the full 2014 season. The day after his third Challenge Tour win of 2013, Brooks Koepka (USA) qualified for the 2013 Open Championship. Brooks Koepka (USA) made his debut as a member of the European Tour (he played in three events prior to promotion to membership) at the Scottish Open, finishing tied for twelfth. 

 

Brooks Koepka (USA) poses with the Waste Management Phoenix Open Trophy he won!!

In his first event of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour, Brooks Koepka (USA) led after the second and third rounds of the Frys.com Open. He finished tied for third. At the U.S. Open, he collected a fourth-place finish, which earned him his USPGA Tour card for the 2014–15 season and his first Masters Tournament invitation. Later he ended 15th at the PGA Championship. He was nominated for the USPGA Tour Rookie of the Year award. On the 2014 European Tour, Brooks Koepka (USA) won the Turkish Airlines Open and finished third at the Dubai Desert Classic and Omega European Masters, and ninth at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. He ranked eighth in the 2014 Race to Dubai rankings and was named the European Tour's Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year. Brooks Koepka (USA) looks to have a very bright future on the USPGA Tour for many years to come and I would look for him to win again before the season is over and perhaps it will be a WGC – Event or even a Major Championship? I wish him all the best for the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Coming in tied for second position at 270-14 after 72 holes was Hideki Matsuyama (Japan); he earned US $470,400 for his efforts and moved to ninth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US$1,350,092 earned from the seven events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 208 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to tenth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 619 points earned from the seven events he has played to date this season so far. From the seven events he has played to date this season so far he has made seven cuts and achieved four top ten finishes which includes the one here this week. He will be happy with his first, third and final rounds that were all in the 60s especially his third round 63-8 which was blemish free and the low round of the day and the whole tournament. But he will only be content with his second round 71 even par which included a shocking 40+4 on the back nine that ruined his chance of winning. Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) was born in Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan. He has studied, since 2010, at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai. He won the 2010 Asian Amateur Championship with a score of 68-69-65-67=269. This gave him the chance to compete as an amateur in the 2011 Masters Tournament, becoming the first Japanese amateur to do so. At the Masters, Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) was the leading amateur and won the Silver Cup, which is presented to the lowest scoring amateur. He was the only amateur to make the cut. A week after his victory, he finished in a tie for third at the Japan Open Golf Championship which is an event on the Japan Golf Tour. In 2011, Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) won the gold medal at the 2011 World University Games. He also led the Japan team to the gold medal in the team event. In October 2011, he successfully defended his title at the Asian Amateur Championship. In November, Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) won the Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters on the Japan Golf Tour while still an amateur. 

In August 2012, Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) reached number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) turned professional in April 2013 and won his second professional tournament, the 2013 Tsuruya Open on the Japan Golf Tour. Five weeks later, Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) won his third title on the Japan Golf Tour at the Diamond Cup Golf tournament. Following a top 10 finish at the 2013 U.S. Open, Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) entered the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking. He won his fourth Japan Golf Tour event in September at the Fujisankei Classic. Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) would win his fifth Japan Golf Tour event in December at the Casio World Open. The win also made Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) the first rookie to lead the Japan Tour's money list. For 2014, Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) qualified for the USPGA Tour through non-member earnings. In just seven USPGA Tour-sanctioned events, Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) had six top-25 finishes, including a tied for sixth at the 2013 Open Championship. Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) earned his first USPGA Tour win at the 2014 Memorial Tournament, beating Kevin Na (USA) in a playoff and moving to a career-high Official World Golf ranking of thirteenth. Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) would win his sixth Japan Golf Tour event late in the 2014 season. In November, the victory came at the Dunlop Phoenix in a playoff over Hiroshi Iwata (Japan). Let’s hope he can continue this fine form into the coming weeks and perhaps win his second USPGA Tour event this season? I wish him all the best for the rest 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Also tied for second position was Ryan Palmer (USA); he too earned US $470,400 for his efforts and moved to twentieth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $752,644 earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 208 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to twentieth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup points list standings with 374 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 two top ten finishes which includes the one this week. He will be happy with his first, third and final rounds that were all in the 60s especially his first round 64-7 that was blemish free and saw him have sole possession of the lead. But he will be disappointed with his second round 72+1. Ryan Palmer’s (USA) first career USPGA win came at the 2004 FUNAI Classic at the Walt Disney World Resort, with a three stroke victory over Briny Baird (USA) and Vijay Singh (Fiji). Four years later, he earned his second career win during the USPGA Tour Fall Series, at the 2008 Ginn sur Mer Classic where wet, rainy conditions made the course play tough all week. He won by making a ten foot putt for birdie on the final hole on Sunday to finish seven under par and win by one stroke over five players. He was 143rd on the money list entering the week, but this win secured his playing status on Tour for 2009 and 2010. In January 2010, Ryan Palmer (USA) won his third career USPGA Tour title at the Sony Open in Hawaii. A final round 66 secured his victory by one stroke over Robert Allenby (Australia). Ryan Palmer (USA) came close to winning a fourth career title at his hometown event the HP Byron Nelson Championship in Texas in May 2011. Ryan Palmer (USA) entered the final round leading by one stroke, but as the final round progressed in windy conditions he had to hole a birdie putt on the last to enter a playoff with Keegan Bradley (USA). On the first playoff hole, the 18th, both players hit their tee shots out to the right amongst the trees. Keegan Bradley (USA) played his approach to just short of the green whereas Ryan Palmer (USA) hooked his approach shot into the water. Ryan Palmer (USA) pitched up close to the hole and made bogey but Keegan Bradley USA) was able to win with a pitch and putt par. In March 2014, Ryan Palmer (USA) lost another sudden-death playoff at the Honda Classic, after missing a five footer for what would have been the win on the 18th green in regulation play. He entered the four-man playoff, having been the only one to shoot an under-par final round. However, in the playoff, after missing the green in two, he could not get up and down, leaving Russell Henley (USA) to hole from three feet for victory. This was Ryan Palmer's (USA) second runner-up finish of the year, after finishing two shots behind Patrick Reed (USA) at the Humana Challenge in January 2014. I am sure his fourth win is not too far off and perhaps it will come in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season? I wish him all the best for the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

The final player to tie for second position was Bubba Watson (USA); he too earned US $470,400 for his efforts and moved to the top of the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,030,400 earned from the three events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 208 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to third position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup points list standings with 833 points earned from the three events he has played to date this season so far. From the three events he has played to date this season so far he has made three cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the one this week and his win at the WGC – HSBC Champions in China last November. He will be happy with his first, third and final rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his 65-6 in the first round and his 65-6 in the final round which was blemish free. But he will only be content with his second round 71 even par. Bubba Watson (USA) has won seven events to date on the USPGA Tour and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2010 Travelers Championship; 2011 Farmers Insurance Open; 2011 Zurich Classic of New Orleans; 2012 Masters Tournament (Maiden Major Championship); 2014 Northern Trust Open; 2014 Masters Tournament (Second Major Championship) and the 2014 WGC – HSBC Champions. Bubba Watson won the 2014 Masters Tournament by three shots, with a score of −8. He entered the final round tied for the lead with 20-year-old Masters rookie Jordan Spieth (USA). Playing together in the final pairing, Jordan Spieth (USA) birdied the seventh hole for a two-stroke lead over Bubba Watson (USA). However, the momentum turned on the par-5 eighth hole. Jordan Spieth (USA) had a birdie putt, but ended up three-putting for bogey while Bubba Watson (USA) birdied to pull into a first-place tie. Then, on the ninth hole, Bubba Watson (USA) birdied again while Jordan Spieth (USA) bogeyed, and the four-shot swing over two holes gave Bubba Watson (USA) a lead that he never relinquished in a win over Jordan Spieth (USA) and Jonas Blixt (Sweden). With the win, Bubba Watson (USA) became the 17th player to win the Masters Tournament two or more times. The win moved him again to number four in the Official World Golf Ranking and with the finish this past week he has moved to number three in the Official World Golf Ranking. I look for Bubba Watson (USA) to have a really strong 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and perhaps he will win his third Major Championship? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Coming in tied for fifth position at 272-12 after 72 holes was Martin Laird (Scotland); he earned US $252,000 for his efforts and moved to twenty fourth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $692,790 earned from the six events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 105 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to twenty fifth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 333 points earned from the six events he has played to date this season so far. From the six events he has played to date this season so far he has made five cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one this week. He will be happy with his first, second and third rounds that were all in the 60s and saw him take a three shot lead into the final round especially his first two rounds that were consecutive 66-5s. But he will be extremely disappointed with his final round 72+1 especially his back nine 38+2 that included finishing bogey, double bogey when he was tied for the lead after sixteen holes!! Martin Laird (Scotland) has won three times on the USPGA Tour to date so far and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2009 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open; 2011 Arnold Palmer Invitational and the 2013 Valero Texas Open. On seventh April 2013, Martin Laird (Scotland) won his third career USPGA Tour event, the Valero Texas Open, by two strokes from Rory McILroy (NIR). Starting the final round five shots behind overnight leader Billy Horschel (USA), Martin Laird (Scotland) fired a nine-under-par 63, including birdies at his last three holes, to take the title. The win meant that Martin Laird (Scotland) was the last person to gain entry into the 2013 Masters Tournament, ending the streak of 16 consecutive American wins on the USPGA Tour, 14 of them in the 2013 season. Let’s hope he can have more top ten’s in the coming weeks and perhaps win his fourth USPGA Tour event in 2015? I wish him all the best for the rest of 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

The final player tied for fifth position was Jon Rahm (Spain) (Amateur); he earned US $252,000 for his efforts because he was an Amateur he wasn’t able to collect any prize – money. He also earned 105 FedEx Cup points for his efforts but because he was an Amateur he doesn’t get a current 2014/15 FedEx Cup points list standings ranking. From the two events he has played to date this season so far he has made two 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 third round 66-5. He is currently a member of the Arizona State University Sun Devil Golf Team and he has surely got a bright future ahead of him once he completes his studies if that is the career path he wants to choose? I wish him all the best with his studies and collage golf for the rest of the 2015 season. 

Rounding out the top nine in tied for seventh position at 273-11 after 72 holes was Graham DeLaet (Canada); he earned US $211,050 for his efforts and moved to 73rd position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $265,541 earned from the six events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 85 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 81st position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 150 FedEx Cup points earned from the six events he has played to date this season so far. From the six events he has played to date this season so far he has made three cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came this past week. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par especially his 66-5 in the first round and he scored the same score in the final round. A fully recovered Graham DeLaet (Canada) started his 2013 season with a missed cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii before making eight of his next nine through March, including two top-10s. He had a third place finish at the Travelers Championship in June. He gained entry to the 2013 Open Championship (his first major tournament) as an alternate, by virtue of his world ranking and finished 83rd. At The Barclays, Graham DeLaet (Canada) had a career best USPGA Tour finish of tied for second with three other players, one stroke behind Adam Scott (Australia). Graham DeLaet (Canada) climbed to 32nd in the world rankings at the end of the season. Graham DeLaet's (Canada) play during the 2013 season earned him a spot on the International Team for the 2013 Presidents Cup. Graham DeLaet (Canada) impressed Captain Nick Price (Zimbabwe) posting a 3–1–1 record, paired with Australian Jason Day (Australia) for the first four sessions. Graham DeLaet (Canada) became just the second Canadian to play in the team competition, after Mike Weir (Canada). Graham DeLaet (Canada) began the 2013–14 season with a missed cut at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, but then finished tied for seventh position at the CIMB Classic, tied for sixth at the WGC – HSBC Champions and tied for second at both the Farmers Insurance Open and the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Let’s hope he can have more top ten finishes in the weeks ahead and perhaps even win his maiden USPGA Tour event? I wish him all the best for the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour events. 

Also tied for seventh position was Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden); he too earned US $211,050 for his efforts and moved to 87th position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $224,104 earned from the three events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 85 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 127th position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup points list standings with 93 points earned from the three events he has played to date this season so far. From the three events he has played to date this season so far he has made two cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came this very week. He will be happy with his first, third and final rounds that were all in the 60s especially his final round 64-7 which was blemish free. But he will be disappointed with his second round 73+2. Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) won his first USPGA Tour title in 2011 at the Travelers Championship. He beat Ryan Moore (USA), who missed a short four footer at the 72nd hole which would have gotten him into a playoff with Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden), but instead settled for a tie with John Rollins (USA) one shot behind. During the week, Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) went 63 holes bogey-free until the difficult par four 10th on Sunday where he made a bogey five. He hit 100% of the fairways during rounds three and four. In November 2011, Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) had his best finish ever in a World Golf Championship event when he finished solo second at the WGC – HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China. Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) had led the tournament after rounds two and three and entered the final round with a two stroke advantage over Louis Oosthuizen (RSA). However it was a final round surge from Martin Kaymer (Germany) that denied Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden), the German firing nine birdies on the day to post a 63. Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) could only record a 71 to fall short by three strokes. At the 2013 Northern Trust Open, Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) had a chance to win his second USPGA Tour title when he birdied the 15th and 16th holes in the final round to tie the lead. He then missed a short birdie putt at the 17th to take the outright lead. On the 72nd hole, Jacobson missed a five-foot par putt, which left him one shot outside of the playoff. Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) has been featured in the top twenty of the Official World Golf Rankings. Let’s hope he can have more top ten finishes in the weeks to come and perhaps win his second USPGA Tour title? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

The final player to tie for ninth position was Jordan Spieth (USA); he too earned US $211,050 for his efforts and moved to 68th position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $272,550 earned from the two events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 85 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 103rd position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 119 points earned from the two events he has played to date this season so far. From the two events he has played to date this season so far he has made two cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came this past week. He will be happy with his second and final rounds that were both in the 60s especially his final round 65-6. But disappointed with his first and third rounds that were both 70-1s. Jordan Spieth opened the 2013 season by missing the cut by two strokes at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January. In March, Jordan Spieth (USA) made three cuts, finishing tied for second at the Puerto Rico Open and tied for seventh at the Tampa Bay Championship. He notched another top-10 finish in April at the RBC Heritage, a tie for ninth. He earned Special Temporary Member status in March, allowing him unlimited sponsor exemptions. On July 14, about two weeks before his 20th birthday, Jordan Spieth (USA) won the John Deere Classic in a three-way, sudden-death playoff on the fifth playoff hole against defending champion Zach Johnson (USA) and David Hearn (Canada). He became the fourth youngest USPGA Tour winner and the first teenager in 82 years; last accomplished by Ralph Guldahl (USA) at the Santa Monica Open in 1931. Jordan Spieth (USA) holed out from a greenside bunker on the 72nd hole to make the playoff. With the victory, Jordan Spieth (USA) was granted full status as a USPGA Tour member and became eligible for the FedEx Cup, entering in eleventh place in the standings. It also earned him entry into the next three majors: the 2013 Open Championship, USPGA Championship, and 2014 Masters Tournament. He moved to 59th in the Official World Golf Ranking. Only five weeks after his first victory, Jordan Spieth (USA) played the Wyndham Championship, where he lost in a playoff to Patrick Reed (USA). The runner-up finish moved him up to 36th in the Official World Golf Ranking. Jordan Spieth (USA) shot a final round 62 in the Deutsche Bank Championship, vaulting him into a tie for fourth and 28th in the Official World Golf ranking. Just two days later, captain Fred Couples (USA) selected Jordan Spieth (USA) for the United States squad in the 2013 Presidents Cup. On September 27, 2013, Jordan Spieth (USA) was named PGA Tour Rookie of the year. He ended the 2013 season tenth on the USPGA Tour money list, and ranked twenty second in the world, after beginning the year 810th with no status. Jordan Spieth (USA) made his debut at the Masters Tournament and shared the 54 hole lead with Bubba Watson (USA). During the final round, Jordan Spieth (USA) at one point was the standalone leader by two strokes and, had he held on, would have become the youngest Masters Tournament champion in history (Tiger Woods (USA) holds the record at 21 years of age), but Bubba Watson (USA) retook the lead heading into the back nine and never relinquished it. Jordan Spieth (USA) finished in a tie for second with Jonas Blixt (Sweden). Jordan Spieth (USA) thus became the youngest runner-up in Masters Tournament history and subsequently moved into the world's top ten. Jordan Spieth (USA) also ended the tournament having shot no worse than an even-par (72) in any of his rounds. In November, Jordan Spieth (USA) won his second tournament as a professional at the Emirates Australian Open on the PGA Tour of Australasia, in the final round Jordan Spieth (USA) shot a course-record 63 to win the title by 6 strokes. A week later Jordan Spieth (USA) completed back-to-back victories, winning the Hero World Challenge in Florida, Jordan Spieth (USA) won the tournament, hosted by Tiger Woods (USA), wire-to-wire and in doing so set a new tournament scoring record of 26-under-par. Let’s hope he can win his second USPGA Tour event soon and perhaps it will be a WGC – Event or even his maiden Major Championship. I wish him all the best for the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season.

Tiger Woods (USA) who was playing in his first tournament of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season scored a poor first round of 73+2 which included a front nine of 39+4 but he came back with a 34-2 on the back nine which included an amazing eagle three on the par five, thirteenth hole where he rolled his five iron to within a foot from the pin!!, then he scored his worst ever round on the USPGA Tour of his career to date of 82+11 in the second round for a 36 hole total of 155+13 and missed the cut by twelve shots. So far this season he has earned no money on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings from the one event he has played in to date this season so far and hence he doesn’t have a current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list ranking. He also earned no FedEx Cup points and doesn’t currently have a 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points standings list ranking with no points earned as yet 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 no cuts and achieved no top ten finishes. He will be disappointed with his first round 73+2 although happy with his back nine of 34-2 in the first round but he will be disgusted with his 82+11 in the second round!! Let’s hope he can get his game sorted out for his next tournament which will be the Farmers Insurance Open next week and at least make the cut? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015 part of 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

The best New Zealand golfer in the field was Tim Wilkinson (NZL) and he scored a poor first round of 72+1, then a shocking second round of 74+3 for a 36 hole total of 146+4 to miss the cut by three shots. He currently lies in 161st position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $66,029 earned from the eight events he has played to date this season so far. He currently is positioned in 149th position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 61 points earned from the eight events he has played to date this season so far. From the eight events he has played to date this season so far he has made three cuts and achieved no top ten finishes. He will be content with his first round 72+1, but disappointed with his second round 74+3. Let’s hope he can make some more cuts in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and have some top ten finishes as well. 

The next best New Zealand Golfer in the field was Danny Lee (NZL) and he scored rounds of 77+6 in the first round which was disastrous, then he scored a very good second round of 70-1 for a 36 hole total of 147+5 and missed the cut by four shots. He currently lies in 35th position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $514,728 earned from the nine events he has played to date this season so far. He currently lies in 36th position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 256 points earned from the nine events he has played to date this season so far. From the nine events he has played to date this season so far he has made five cuts and achieved one top ten finish. He will be happy with his second round 70-1 which was played in windy and rainy conditions, but he will be extremely disappointed with his 77+6 in the first round that ruined his chance of making the cut!! Let’s hope he can make some more cuts in the coming weeks and perhaps achieve his maiden USPGA Tour win in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. Danny has been playing the USPGA Tour on and off fulltime since the 2012 season. Danny Lee (NZL) entered the 2012 USPGA Tour season with USPGA Tour and European Tour cards. He said he was still keen to play a two-tour schedule, however his main focus would be on America. He made only 13 cuts in 26 events on the USPGA Tour and lost his tour card. He did not play on the European Tour. After striking up a successful partnership late in the Nationwide Tour season, Danny Lee (NZL) said he would have Australian, Graeme Courts, a former long-time caddy of Loren Roberts (USA), working for him on the USPGA Tour. K.J. Choi (South Korea) introduced Danny Lee (NZL) to another Australian, Steve Bann, as a potential coach. "I am close with K.J. Choi (South Korea) and he said I was thinking too much about my swing," Danny Lee (NZL) said. "I was always working on something and I am too technical sometimes so K.J. Choi (South Korea) introduced me to Steve. Steve is a simple guy who is teaching me how to practise with better routine and how to trust my own game and not think too much. Danny Lee (NZL) played on the Web.com Tour in 2013, finishing 15th on the regular season money list to regain his USPGA Tour card for 2014/15 Season. His best finish was second at the Rex Hospital Open. In 2014 on the back of six straight missed cuts, Danny Lee (USA) adopted a claw putting grip for the Puerto Rico Open in March. He credited the change of putting style for yielding him an instant result; a runner-up finish, two shots behind winner Chesson Hadley (USA). Let’s hope he can build on this fine form he displayed this week and maybe achieve his maiden USPGA Tour win in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season.  

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads north to San Diego for the Farmers Insurance Open and it is played on the Torrey Pines GC (South), San Diego, California. It carries a huge prize purse of US $6,300,000 for the taking. Scott Stallings (USA) is the defending champion and will be keen to defend his title. Tiger Woods (USA) will play for the second time on the 2014/15 USPGA Tour this season. Danny Lee (NZL), Steve Alker (NZL) and Tim Wilkinson (NZL) will likely gain starts as well. It starts on Thursday 5th February and I 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 twenty sixth week of his fifth spell of his career and for the 66th week of his career in total is Rory McILroy (NIR) fresh off his tenth win this past week on the European Tour at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and two weeks ago he finished in solo second position at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and he tied for 15th position at the Emirates Australian Open nine weeks ago and ten weeks ago tied for second position at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai with 11.66 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who is fresh off his tied for thirteenth position at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic this past week and also he  tied for 13th position at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters one week ago and missing cut at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship two weeks ago and he finished in solo second position eight weeks ago at the Hero World Challenge and ten weeks ago won at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai with 7.62 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Bubba Watson (USA) who is fresh off his tied for second position at the Waste Management Phoenix Open this past week and three weeks ago he had a solo tenth position at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and he tied for twenty fifth position at the Thailand Golf Championship six weeks ago and tied for eleventh position at the Hero World Challenge eight weeks ago with 7.41 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Adam Scott (Australia) fresh off his tied for second position at the Australian PGA Championship seven weeks ago and he finished in solo fifth position at the Emirates Australian Open nine weeks ago with 6.95 Official World Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list standings this week is Justin Rose (England) who is fresh off his tie for thirteenth position at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters one week ago and two weeks ago he tied for twelfth position at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship with 6.25 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is in his fourteenth week of a new spell being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after his missed cut this past week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open on the USPGA Tour. This week he slips three places and falls to 233rd position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings with 0.75 Official Golf World Ranking Points.

Remember when playing in the wind the saying is “When it is breezy, swing easy”!!

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