Golf Events from the Weekend 17th May 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 Charlotte, North Carolina for the Wells Fargo Championship and it was played on the Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina. It carried a large prize purse of US $7,100,000 for the taking. J.B. Holmes (USA) was the defending champion and was keen to defend his title. Tim Wilkinson (NZL), Danny Lee (NZL) and Steven Alker (NZL) all gained starts as well. And it was the golfer by the name of Rory McIlroy (NIR) who scored rounds of 70-2, 67-5, 61-11 (Course Record) and a final round of 69-3 for a 72 hole total of 267-21 and he won by seven shots for his eleventh USPGA Tour win of his career and his second Wells Fargo Championship title in five years!! Rory McIlroy (NIR) earned US $1,278,000 for the win and moved to second position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $3,912,533 earned from the seven events he has played to date this season so far. Jordan Spieth (USA) still leads that list with US $5,173,819 earned from the thirteen events he has played to date this season so far. Rory McIlroy (NIR) also earned 500 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to third position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,428 points earned from the seven events he has played to date this season so far and he is 690 points behind the current leader of that list who is Jordan Spieth (USA) who has earned 2,118 points from the thirteen events he has played to date this season so far. From the seven events Rory McIlroy (NIR) has played to date this season so far he has made six cuts and achieved five top ten finishes which includes the win this week and his win at the WGC – Cadillac Match Play two weeks ago. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par especially his last three rounds that were all in the 60s and his third round 61-11 was a course record and included eleven birdies and no blemishes beating his 62-10 he scored in the final round in 2010 when he won his maiden USPGA Tour event at the Wells Fargo Championship!! 

 

Rory McILroy (NIR) tees off during the final round

Rory McIlroy (NIR) played a great final round under the circumstances of carrying a four shot lead after 54 holes. He scored 69-3 which included a front nine of 35-1 and included birdies on the par five, fifth hole and par five, seventh hole and his lone bogey came on the par three, second hole and he made the turn at minus nineteen and was leading by six shots. Patrick Rodgers (USA) went out in 34-2 and made the turn at minus twelve and was seven shots behind the leader. Webb Simpson (USA) went out in 37+1 and made the turn at minus thirteen and was six shots behind the leader the leader. 

Rory McIlroy (NIR) played holes ten to fourteen in two under par and it included stiffing a second shot in to tap in distance on the par four, twelfth hole and getting up and down for a birdie three on the par four, fourteenth hole after landing his drive pin high and he moved to minus twenty one and was now leading only by five shots. Patrick Rodgers (USA) played holes ten to fourteen in four under par which included eagling the par five, tenth hole and also making birdies on the par four, eleventh and par four, fourteenth holes and he moved to minus sixteen and was now only five shots off the leader. Webb Simpson (USA) played holes ten to fourteen in two under par and that included making birdies on the par four, eleventh and par three, thirteenth holes and he moved to minus fifteen and was still six shots behind the leader. 

 

Rory McILroy (NIR) on the right hands his caddie, J. P. Fitzgerald on left his club after playing a second shot in the final round

Rory McIlroy (NIR) played holes fifteen to seventeenth in even par and that included making birdie on the par four, sixteen hole where he stiffed his short wedge shot into less than three feet from the cup!! But he made a poor bogey on the par three, seventeenth hole where he understandingly lost his tee shot to the right of the green because of the water on the left with such a huge lead and he failed to get up and down but now took a six shot lead to the par four, seventy second hole. Patrick Rodgers (USA) played holes fifteen to seventeen in one over par and that included birding the par five, fifteenth hole and also making a terrible double bogey five on the par three, seventeenth hole where hit his tee shot in the water and he moved to minus fifteen and was now six shots behind the leader heading to the par four, seventy second hole. Webb Simpson (USA) played holes fifteen to seventeen in one over par which included bogeying the par five, fifteenth hole and he fell back to minus fourteen and was now seven shots behind the leader heading to the par four, seventy second hole. 

 

Rory McILroy (NIR) in action during the final round as his caddie, J.P. Fitzgerald looks on

Patrick Rodgers (USA) who is only twenty two years old was playing in the group ahead of the final group and knew that if he was able to par the par four, seventy second hole he would more than likely earn enough money to gain special temporary membership on the USPGA Tour for the rest of the 2014/15 season (because currently he is a non member of the USPGA Tour and is only playing on sponsor’s exemptions). He struck a poor drive that hooked well left and rolled in to the left hand hazard. He took his drop and played a good second shot with his short iron which landed just on the green and two putted from over forty feet for his bogey five and finished the seventy two holes at minus fourteen and finished seven shots behind the winner. Webb Simpson (USA) who was playing in the final group with Rory McIlroy (NIR) hit a very good tee shot on the par four, seventy second hole which split the centre of the fairway. Then he hit a good second shot into within twenty feet below the pin and two putted for his par four and he finished the seventy two holes at minus fourteen and finished seven shots behind the winner. 

Rory McIlroy (NIR) stood on the par four, seventy second tee with a six shot lead and knew the tournament was his. He struck another 300 yard plus drive but it faded too much and land in the trees to the right and came to rest on the pine needles. For his second shot he had no option but to punch a shot low under the tree branches. But he displayed all his golf skill and punch and ran the shot up on the green and it came to rest in the left fringe about twenty five feet from the flag stick. As he walked up to the green he got a standing ovation from the huge gallery that had surrounded the whole green!! And it was much deserved to acknowledge the awesome display of golf he had showed this week. He then rolled his twenty five foot putt from the fringe to within six feet of the cup. And just as he had done all week he put a good stroke on the six footer for par and it rolled right in the centre of the cup!! He scored 34-2 on his back nine and finished the 72 holes at minus twenty one to win by seven shots. He got a huge fist pump and hug from his caddie, J.P. Fitzgerald. Then he was interviewed by CBS Sports on course reporter, David Feherty and he told him “He played very good golf this week and it makes him very happy because he heads back to the European Tour the next two weeks for two big tournaments in the UK” he also told him “It was great to win in this style in his last tournament in the USA before the second Major Championship of the 2015 season which is the 115th U.S. Open Championship and he feels he has sent a message to his pairs as to why he is the World Number One Golfer” and he also said “this really improves his FedEx Cup ranking heading into the second part of the USPGA Tour season”. 

 

Rory McILroy (NIR) poses with the Wells Fargo Championship trophy he won!!

Rory McIlroy (NIR), MBE (born 4 May 1989) is a Northern Irish Professional Golfer from Holywood in County Down who is a member of both the European and USPGA Tours. He is the current World Number One and a four-time Major Champion, winning the 2011 U.S. Open with a tournament record lowest score under par (−16), 2012 PGA Championship with a tournament record eight strokes victory margin, 2014 Open Championship, and 2014 PGA Championship. He is the first European to win three different majors, and with Jack Nicklaus (USA) and Tiger Woods (USA) is one of three to win three majors by the age of 25.

He had a successful amateur career, topping the World Amateur Golf Ranking for one week as a 17-year-old in 2007. Later that year he turned professional and soon established himself on the European Tour. He had his first win on the European Tour in 2009, and on the USPGA Tour in 2010. In 2011 at the age of twenty two, he became the youngest player ever to reach €10 million in career earnings on the European Tour. In 2012, he became the youngest player to reach $10 million in career earnings on the PGA Tour. Rory McIlroy (NIR) has represented Europe, Great Britain & Ireland, and Ireland as both an amateur and a professional. At the Ryder Cup, he played for Europe against the United States in 2010, 2012 and 2014, with Europe winning all three matches. For his individual and team achievements he has twice been named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year, in 2011 and 2014. 

After a week off following his Open victory, Rory McIlroy (NIR) won his first World Golf Championship event at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone and returned to world number one. Starting the final day three shots behind Sergio García (Spain), Rory McIlroy (NIR) shot a 66 to finish on 15 under par and two strokes clear. The following week, he won the PGA Championship at Valhalla for his fourth major, one shot ahead of runner-up Phil Mickelson. After his victory Jack Nicklaus said: "Rory is an unbelievable talent. I think Rory has an opportunity to win 15 or 20 majors or whatever he wants to do if he wants to keep playing. I love his swing, I love his rhythm, and I love his moxie. He's got a little swagger there, it’s a little bit cocky but not offensive." Rory McIlroy's (NIR) second tournament of the year in 2015 yielded victory as he won the European Tour's Omega Dubai Desert Classic for a second time. With a score of 22-under-par, matching the record set by Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) and Thomas Bjørn (Denmark). He missed the cut in his first start of the USPGA Tour season at the Honda Classic. It was his first missed cut on the USPGA Tour since the 2013 Open Championship, a streak of twenty two consecutive events. He finished fourth at the 2015 Masters Tournament, his best career Masters Tournament finish to date so far. On 3 May, he won the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship event held at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. This is his second World Golf Championship. In the process becoming only the third player behind Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus to win ten USPGA tour events and four majors by the age of 25. On 16 May, while playing in the Wells Fargo Championship (As I mentioned above), Rory McIlroy (NIR) shot a course-record 61 at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. He went on to win the championship for a second time, by seven strokes with a tournament record score. This was his second win in three straight events.

In 2012, besides leading the USPGA Tour money list, Rory McIlroy (NIR) won the PGA Player of the Year, PGA Tour Player of the Year, Vardon Trophy, and Byron Nelson Award. In addition to winning the Race to Dubai, he was voted the European Tour Golfer of the Year. He also won the Mark H. McCormack Award for leading the Official World Golf Ranking for the most weeks in the year (28 of 52 weeks). Also in 2012, he won a Laureus World Sports Award in the category Breakthrough of the Year. In 2014, Rory McIlroy (NIR) again swept the PGA Tour awards: Arnold Palmer Award (leading money winner), PGA Player of the Year, PGA Tour Player of the Year, Vardon Trophy, and Byron Nelson Award. He also won the Race to Dubai and was voted the European Tour Golfer of the Year. He again won the Mark H. McCormack Award for leading the Official World Golf Ranking for the most weeks in the year (22 of 52 weeks). He was awarded the RTE Sports Person of the year for the second time, previously winning in 2011, and the BBC Northern Ireland Sport Personality of the Year for the third time after victories in 2011 and 2012. He also came second in the National BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, behind Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton.

Rory McILroy (NIR) has won eleven events on the USPGA Tour to date so far that include four Major Championships and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2010 Quail Hallow Championship; 2011 U.S Open Championship (Maiden Major Championship); 2012 The Honda Classic; 2012 PGA Championship (Second Major Championship); 2012 Deutsche Bank Championship; 2012 BMW Championship; 2014 Open Championship (Third Major Championship); 2014 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational, 2014 PGA Championship (Fourth Major Championship), 2015 WGC – Cadillac Match Play and the 2015 Wells Fargo Championship. He has also won ten events on the European Tour with his most recent being the 2015 Omega Dubai Desert Classic in early February. And he has also achieved seven top ten finishes in Major Championships to date so far and that doesn’t include his four Major Championship wins. He has also achieved fifteen top ten finishes in WGC – Events which includes his wins at the 2014 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and this past week at the 2015 WGC – Cadillac Match Play. He is the current world number one golfer and rightly deserves to be!! He has also played on the European Ryder Cup team against Team USA in 2010, 2012 and 2014 where he was on the winning team in all of them. Let’s hope he can achieve his twelfth win on the USPGA Tour in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and perhaps it will be his fifth Major Championship at the U.S. Open Championship in mid June? Right now he is in awesome form and his confidence is sky high!! I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour Season.

Coming in tied for second position at 274-14 after 72 holes was Patrick Rodgers (USA); he earned US $624,800 for his efforts but because he is yet to gain full membership on the USPGA Tour for the 2014/15 season he doesn’t get a current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings ranking. He also earned 245 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and but because he is yet to gain full membership on the USPGA Tour for the 2014/15 season he doesn’t get a current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings ranking. From the six events he has played to date this season so far he has made four cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came this very week. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par especially his first, second and final rounds that were all 68-4s. But he will be disappointed with how he finished his final round with dropping three shots in the final two holes. Patrick Rodgers (USA) (born June 30, 1992) is an American Professional Golfer. Patrick Rodgers (USA) was born in Avon, Indiana. He played college golf at Stanford University, for three years, where he won eleven times, tying the record set by Tiger Woods (USA). Patrick Rodgers (USA) was the number one ranked golfer in the World Amateur Golf Ranking for sixteen weeks in early 2014 before turning professional. After turning professional in June 2014, Patrick Rodgers (USA) played on the USPGA Tour via sponsor's exemptions. He earned enough non-members FedEx Cup points to qualify for the Web.com Tour Finals. He finished tied for eighth at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship, earning enough to get his 2015 Web.com Tour card. He won the second event of the season at the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship. In May he finished tied for second at the Wells Fargo Championship (as I mentioned above) on the USPGA Tour playing on a sponsor's exemption. And he nearly earned enough money to gain a special temporary exemption on the USPGA Tour for the rest of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season then he can have unlimited sponsor’s exemptions for the rest of the season. He has a few more sponsor’s exemptions in the weeks ahead coming up and I wish him all the best with earning the rest of the money he needs for to gain the special temporary exemption on the USPGA Tour for the rest of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season.

The other player to tie for second position was Webb Simpson (USA); he too earned US $624,800 for his efforts and moved to twenty eighth position on the current USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,607,014 earned from the twelve events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 245 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to thirty first position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 756 points earned from the twelve events he has played to date this season so far. From the twelve events he has played to date this season so far he has made eleven cuts and achieved four 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 mid 60s especially his first and second rounds that were consecutive 67-5s. But he will be disappointed with his final round 72 even par playing with the champion Rory McIlroy (NIR) when he needed another mid 60s round to put up a serious challenge for the title. Webb Simpson (USA) has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2009 season after gaining his card at the 2008 USPGA Tour Qualifying School where he finished in tied for seventh position. He has kept his card for the next year every season since. His best season to date so far came in the 2011 where he finished in second position on the Money List with US $6,347,353 earned from the twenty six events he played in and that included two wins. He has recorded four wins in his career so far and they are the 2011 Wyndham Championship, 2011 Deutsche Bank Championship, 2012 U.S. Open Championship (Maiden Major Championship) and 2013 Shriners Hospital for Children Open. I feel his fifth win will come in the 2014/15 season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season.

Coming in tied for fourth position at 276-12 after 72 holes was Phil Mickelson (USA); he earned US $293,466.67 for his efforts and moved to thirtieth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,499,029 earned from the ten events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 115 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to forty seventh position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 608 FedEx Cup points earned from the ten events he has played to date this season so far. From the ten events he has played to date this season so far he has made seven cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one this week. He will be happy with his second and final rounds that were both in the 60s especially his second round 66-6 which was the equal low round of the day!! But just content with his first and third rounds which were both 71-1s and included a double bogey (first round) and triple bogey (third round) on the par four, eighteenth hole which he admitted he doesn’t like. But it was good to see him achieve another top ten finish!! Phil Mickelson (USA) has won forty two USPGA tour events with his last win coming at the 2013 Open Championship. He has also won five Major Championships to date so far in his career and here they are from the first to the most recent; 2004 Masters Tournament; 2005 PGA Championship, 2006 Masters Tournament; 2010 Masters Tournament and 2013 Open Championship. He also has achieved thirty seven top ten finishes in Major Championships as well including six runner up finishes in U.S. Open Championships. The U.S. Open Championship is the only Major Championship he needs to win to win the career Grand Slam and he will have his best ever chance in June at Chambers Bay in the Pacific Northwest because he is nearing forty five years old he won’t get many more chances. He has also won two WGC Events that were the 2009 Cadillac Championship and 2009 HSBC Champions and also achieved thirteen more top ten finishes. He has also represented Team USA in the 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014 Ryder Cups against Team Europe in which he played in two winning Teams in 1999 and 2008. And he has represented Team USA in the 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013 Presidents Cup in which he has played in eight winnings teams and drew one against Team International. Let’s hope he can win his forty third USPGA Tour event 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.

Also tied for fourth position was Robert Streb (USA); he too earned US $293,466.67 for his efforts and moved to seventeenth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,160,272 earned from the eighteen events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 115 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to tenth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,079 points earned from the eighteen events he has played to date this season so far. From the eighteen events he has played to date this season so far he has made thirteen cuts and achieved six top ten finishes which includes the one this week and also his maiden USPGA Tour win at the McGladrey Classic last October. He will be happy with his first two rounds that were both in the 60s especially his first round 65-7 which was blemish free and saw him hold the first round lead!! But he will be just content with his third and final rounds that were both 71-1s. It was good to see him have another top ten finish because since his top ten finish at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in early February he had missed five cuts in his last nine events with his best finish in that stretch being tied for thirtieth at the Players Championship last week. Robert Streb (USA) was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma. He played college golf at Kansas State University. He graduated in 2009 and turned professional. Robert Streb (USA) played on the NGA Pro Golf Tour in 2010 and 2011 and the Web.com Tour in 2012. He won his first event on the Web.com Tour at the Mylan Classic in September. He finished 7th on the 2012 money list to earn his PGA Tour card for 2013. In his first USPGA Tour season, Streb (USA) finished 126th in the FedEx Cup standings, one spot short of the playoffs and fully exempt status for 2014. He recovered the next season to finish 71st in the FedEx Cup. And as I mentioned earlier Robert Streb (USA) earned his maiden USPGA Tour win at the 2014 McGladrey Classic. Let’s hope this finish gives him the confidence to keep on improving and perhaps win his second event in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season as well? I wish him all the best for the rest of 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup.   

The final player to tie for fourth position was Gary Woodland (USA); he too earned US $293,466.67 for his efforts and moved to thirteenth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,290,498 earned from the fourteen events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 115 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to seventeenth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 956 points earned from the fourteen events he has played to date so far this season. From the fourteen events he has played to date this season so far he has made nine cuts and achieved four top ten finishes which includes the one this week. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par especially his final round 67-5 which was the equal low round of the day and his 68-4 in the third round which was blemish free. But he will be just content with his first and second rounds that were in the low 70s. Gary Woodland (USA) has achieved two wins on the USPGA Tour to date so far in his career and the first one came at the 2011 Transitions Championship and the second one was the 2014 Reno – Tahoe Open. In March 2011, Gary Woodland (USA) won his first USPGA Tour title at the Transitions Championships by one stroke when fellow American Webb Simpson (USA) missed a par putt on the final hole. Just a few moments earlier Gary Woodland (USA) had scrambled a fantastic par from the same position as Webb Simpson (USA) on the last, after hitting his second shot over the back of the green. This win secured Gary Woodland (USA) a place at the 2011 Masters Tournament and also elevated him to a career high 53rd in the Official World Golf Rankings. He later earned an invitation into the U.S. Open Championship after moving into the Top 50. He left the tournament with an Official World Golf ranking of 39th. In November 2011, he won the Omega Mission Hills World Cup of Golf with Matt Kuchar (USA). He finished 2011 ranked 17th on the USPGA Tour money list and 51st in the Official World Golf ranking. He had ended 2009 ranked 959th and 2010, 588th. Gary Woodland's (USA) career-best Official World Golf ranking is 36th after the 2011 Greenbrier Classic until this past week where he moved up to twenty fourth. Let’s hope he can continue having top ten finishes in the weeks ahead and perhaps win his third event on the USPGA Tour in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. I wish all the best for the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season.

Rounding out the top eight in tied for seventh position at 277-11 after 72 holes was Geoff Ogilvy (Australia); he earned US $228,975 for his efforts and moved to 110th position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $477,766 earned from nine events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 88 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 136th position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup points list standings with 250 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 seven cuts and this was the first top ten finish he has achieved to date so far this season. He will be happy with his four rounds this week especially his final round 68-4. And it was great to see him have his first top ten finish of the season. Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) has won eight events on the USPGA Tour to date so far and they include the 2006 U.S. Open Championship (Maiden Major Championship) and his last win came at the Barracuda Championship in early August last year. He has also achieved seven other top ten finishes in Major Championships apart from his win at the 2006 U.S. Open Championship. He has also won three WGC – Events with the first coming at the 2006 WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship where he defeated Davis Love III (USA) 3&2 and the second came at the 2008 WGC – CA Championship and the third one being the 2009 WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship where he defeated Paul Casey (England) 4&3. He has also achieved four other top ten finishes in WGC – Events. And he has represented Team International on three Presidents Cup Teams (2007, 2009 and 2011). And he has also won two of the big PGA Tour of Australasia events with the first being the 2008 Australian PGA Championship and the second being the 2010 Australian Open. Let’s hope he can achieve more top ten finishes in the weeks ahead and perhaps win his ninth USPGA Tour event in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season.

The other player to tie for seventh position was Justin Thomas (USA); he too earned US $228,975 for his efforts and moved to thirty fourth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,402,492 earned from the nineteen events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 88 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to thirty six position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 711 points earned from the nineteen events he has played to date this season so far. From the nineteen events he has played to date this season so far he has made fourteen cuts and achieved five top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his first, third and final rounds that were all under par especially his third round 65-7. But he will be disappointed in his second round 73+1. Justin Thomas (USA) was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He played college golf at the University of Alabama where he won six times. He also played on the 2013 NCAA Division I Championship team. He won the Haskins Award in 2012 as the most outstanding collegiate golfer. As an amateur, Justin Thomas (USA) played in the 2009 Wyndham Championship on the USPGA Tour where he became the third youngest golfer to make the cut in a USPGA Tour event, aged 16 years, 3 months and 24 days. Justin Thomas (USA) turned professional in 2013 and earned his tour card on the Web.com Tour through qualifying school. He won his first professional event at the 2014 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship. He has played several USPGA Tour events with his best finish a tied for fourth position at the 2014 Sanderson Farms Championship. Justin Thomas (USA) finished fifth in the Web.com Tour Finals Priority Rankings to earn his USPGA Tour card for the 2014–15 season which he is already making the most of. Let’s hope he can have more top ten finishes in the coming weeks and perhaps achieve his maiden USPGA Tour win in 2015? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014/15 season.

The best New Zealand Golfer in the field was Danny Lee (NZL) and he scored rounds of 71-1 in the first round which was good in light winds and it included a front nine of 35-1 where he bogeyed the par four, ninth hole but he had great birdies on the par five, fifth hole, par four, eighth hole. He scored an average back nine of  36 even par which included birdies on the par four, fourteenth hole, par five, fifteenth hole but he had disappointing bogeys on the par four, twelfth hole and par four, sixteenth hole, then he scored an very good 69-3 in the second round which included an average front nine of 37+1 with his lone birdie coming on the par five, seventh hole and he bogeyed the par four, fourth hole and par four, eighth hole and he played an awesome back nine in 32-4 which included an eagle on the par five, fifteenth hole and birdies on the par four, eleventh hole and par four, fourteenth hole. Then he scored a very good third round of 69-3 that included a good front nine of 34-2 with birdies on the par four, third hole and par four, eighth hole and then he scored a good back nine of 35-1 with birdies on the par four, twelfth hole, par four, fourteenth hole and par four, sixteenth hole but had poor bogeys on the par four, eleventh hole and par three, seventeenth hole and a good final round of 70-2 which included a poor front nine of 38+2 which included a lone birdie on the par four, third hole and bogeys on the par four, first hole, par five, seventh hole and par four, ninth hole and he played an awesome back nine of 32-4 which included birdies on the par five, tenth hole, par three, thirteenth hole, par four, fourteenth hole, par five, fifteenth hole and par four, sixteenth hole (Which was four straight birdies in a row!!) and his lone bogey came on the par four, eighteenth hole for a 72 hole total of 279-9 to finish in tied for thirteenth position. He earned US $137,267 for his efforts and moved to fifty seventh position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,050,176 earned from the twenty one events he has played to date this season so far (And it is the first time in his USPGA Tour career he has surpassed the US $1,000,000 mark in single season earnings!!). He also earned 58 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to fifty sixth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 544 points earned from the twenty one events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty one events he has played to date this season so far he has made twelve cuts and withdrawn from one event and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one in mid March at the Valspar Championship and also his tied for third finish at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in mid November last year. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par especially his second and third rounds that were both 69-3s but he will be just content with his first and final rounds that were low 70s. Danny Lee (NZL) just needs to be more consistent and keep the big numbers of his card and once he has learnt to do that I feel he will achieve more top twenty or better finishes. Let’s hope he can have some more top ten finishes in the coming weeks and perhaps achieve his maiden USPGA Tour win in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. Danny Lee (NZL) 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 (NZL) 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). I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

The next best New Zealand golfer in the field was Steve Alker (NZL) and he scored rounds of 69-3 in the first round which was very good and included a front nine of 34-2 with birdies on the par four, first hole, par four, third hole, par five, seventh hole and par four eighth hole but had poor bogeys on the par five, fifth hole and par four ninth hole and a good back nine of 35-1 with birdies on the par four, eleventh hole, par four, fourteenth hole and par four, sixteenth hole but had poor bogeys on the par three, thirteenth hole and par four, eighteenth hole and an average second round of 72 even par which included an awesome front nine of 33-3 with birdies on the par five, fifth hole, par five, seventh hole and par four, ninth hole then he scored a shocking back nine of 39+3 with his lone birdie coming on the par four, eighteenth hole and poor bogeys coming on the par four, eleventh hole, par four, twelfth hole, par four, sixteenth hole and par three, seventeenth hole. And he scored an average third round of 72 even par with scoring 36 even on the front nine with a birdie on the par five, seventh hole and a bogey on the par four, ninth hole and he scored 36 even par on the back nine with making nine straight pars!! Then a good final round of 70-2 which included a very good front nine of 34-2 which included birdies on the par three, second hole, par five, seventh hole and par four, eighth hole and his lone bogey came on the par five, fifth hole then he scored an average back nine of 36 even par which included birdies on the par four, twelfth hole and par three, seventeenth hole but he had poor bogeys on the par four, sixteenth hole and par four, eighteenth hole for a 72 hole total of 283-5 and he finished in tied for twenty eighth position. He earned US $43,310 for his efforts and moved to 187th position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $98,558 earned from the twelve events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 39 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 180th position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 96 points earned from the twelve events he has played to date this season so far. From the twelve events he has played to date this season so far he has made four cuts and achieved no top ten finishes. He will be happy with his four with his four rounds this week that all at par and under par especially his 69-3 in the first round!! And it was great to see him have his best finish of the season to date so far after missing his last four straight cuts!! Let’s hope he can make some cuts in the next few events he plays in, in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and even achieve some top ten finishes.

The next best New Zealand golfer in the field was Tim Wilkinson (NZL) and he scored a poor first round of 74+2 with scoring a front nine of 38+2 with his bogeys coming on the par four, eighth hole and par four, ninth hole and a back nine of 36 even par where he scored nine straight pars!! Then he scored a shocking second round of 76+4 which included a front nine of 39+3 with a lone birdie on the par five, seventh hole and bogeys on the par four, first hole and par four, fourth hole and a double bogey on the par four, third hole then he scored a back nine 37+1 with birdies on the par four, eleventh hole and par four, fourteenth hole and he bogeyed the par four, eighteenth hole and double bogeyed the par five, tenth hole for a 36 hole total of 150+6 to miss the 36 hole cut by six shots. He moved to  188th position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $97,294 earned from the eighteen events he has played to date this season so far. He moved to 177th position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 98 points earned from the eighteen events he has played to date this season so far. From the eighteen events he has played to date this season so far he has made five cuts and achieved no top ten finishes. He will be disappointed with his two rounds this week that were both over par especially his second round 76+4!! In the last thirteen events he has played on the USPGA Tour he has only made two cuts. 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. 

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to the State of Texas for the first event of two in the second and final Texas Swing of the season and it is the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and it is played on the Colonial CC, Ft. Worth, Texas which was the late legendary Ben Hogan’s home club and there is a bronze statue of him by the club house to remember him by. It carries a huge prize purse of US $6,500,000 for the taking. Adam Scott (Australia) is the defending champion and will be keen for back to back titles. Danny Lee (NZL), Tim Wilkinson (NZL) and Steven Alker (NZL) will likely gain starts as well. It starts on Thursday 21st May and 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 fortieth first week of his fifth spell of his career and for the 81st week of his career in total is Rory McILroy (NIR) fresh off his win this past week at the Wells Fargo Championship and one week ago he tied for eighth position at the Players Championship with 13.32 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Jordan Spieth (USA) who is fresh off his missed cut at the Players Championship one week ago and also two weeks ago tied for seventeenth position at the WGC – Cadillac Match Play with 8.86 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who is fresh off his tie for fifty eighth position this past week at the Wells Fargo Championship and one week ago tied for seventeenth position at the Players Championship with 7.07 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Bubba Watson (USA) who is fresh off his tied for forty second position at the Players Championship one week ago and also his tied for seventeenth position at the WGC – Cadillac Match Play two weeks ago with 6.97 Official World Ranking Points and rounding out the top five on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list standings this week is Jim Furyk (USA) who is fresh off his missed cut at the Wells Fargo Championship this past week and his tied for fifty sixth position at the Players Championship one week ago with 6.64 Official World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) this week is in his ninth week of another spell of being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after he finished in tied for thirteenth position at the Wells Fargo Championship this past week on the USPGA Tour. This week he gains nineteen places and rises to 176th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings with 0.99 Official Golf World Ranking Points. 

Remember focus and concentration is the key to executing good golf shots!!

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