Golf Events from the Weekend 24th May 2015

Well it was another awesome weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup headed to the State of Texas for the first event of two in the second and final Texas Swing of the season and it was the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and it was 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 carried a huge prize purse of US $6,500,000 for the taking. Adam Scott (Australia) was the defending champion and was keen for back to back titles. Danny Lee (NZL) was the only New Zealander in the field. And it was the golfer by the name of Chris Kirk (USA) who scored rounds of 68-2, 69-1, 65-5 and a final round of 66-4 for a 72 hole total of 268-12 and he won by a single shot for his fourth win of his USPGA Tour career to date so far. He earned US $1,170,000 for the win and moved to sixteen position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,245,227 earned from the sixteen events he has played to date this season so far and Jordan Spieth (USA) still leads that list with US $5,659,153 earned from the fourteen events he has played to date this season so far. Chris Kirk (USA) also earned 500 FedEx Cup Points for the win and moved to fourteenth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,053 points earned from the sixteen events he has played to date this season so far and he is 1,273 points behind the current leader of that list who is Jordan Spieth (USA) who has earned 2,326 points from the fourteen events he has played to date this season so far. From the sixteen events Chris Kirk (USA) has played to date this season so far he has made thirteen cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the win this week. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his third round 65-5 which was the low round of the day and his final round of 66-4 where he holed a seven foot putt for par to win the tournament!!

 

Chris Kirk (USA) tees off during the final round

Chris Kirk (USA) played an excellent final round under the circumstances in which he scored 66-4 which included a front nine of 33-2 with a brilliant eagle on the par five, first hole and a birdie on the par four, ninth hole with his lone bogey coming on the par four, seventh hole and he made the turn at minus ten and was tied for lead. Jason Bohn (USA) went out in an amazing 29-6 which included six consecutive birdies in a row from holes two to seven and he made the turn at minus ten and was tied for the lead. Brandt Snedeker (USA) when out in 33-2 and made the turn at minus ten and was tied for the lead. Jordan Spieth (USA) went out in 31-4 and made the turn at minus ten and was tied for the lead.

Chris Kirk (USA) played holes ten to fourteen in one under par and that included birding the par four, twelve hole and he moved to minus eleven and was still tied for the lead. Jason Bohn (USA) played holes ten to fourteen in one under par and that included birding the par four, twelve hole and he moved to minus eleven and was still tied for the lead. Brandt Snedeker (USA) played holes ten to fourteen in one under par and moved to minus eleven and was still tied for the lead. Jordan Spieth (USA) played holes ten to fourteen in one under par and moved to minus eleven and was still tied for the lead. 

Chris Kirk (USA) played holes fifteen to seventeen in one under par and it included making a birdie on the par four, fifteenth hole and he moved to minus twelve and was leading by one shot heading to the par four, seventy second hole. Jason Bohn (USA) played holes fifteen to seventeen in even par and remained at minus eleven and was one shot behind the leader heading to the par four, seventy second hole. Brandt Snedeker (USA) played holes fifteen to seventeen in even par and remained at minus eleven one shot behind the leader heading to the par four, seventy second hole. Jordan Spieth (USA) played holes fifteen to seventeen in one over par and fell back to minus ten and was now two shots behind the leader heading to the par four, seventy second hole. 

Jason Bohn (USA) who teed off about an hour ahead of the final group lipped his putt out for birdie on the par four, seventy second hole and finished the seventy two holes at minus eleven one shot behind the winner. Jordan Spieth (USA) who was playing a few groups ahead of the leaders made a fine birdie three at the par four, seventy second hole where he holed a twenty foot birdie putt and he finished at minus eleven after seventy two holes and was one shot behind the winner. Brandt Snedeker (USA) who was playing in the second to last group along with Chris Kirk (USA) made a disappointing par on the par four, seventy second hole where he hit a very good approach shot from the left trees into twelve feet right of the flag stick. He struck a very good putt for his birdie three and it just missed on the left hand side and he tapped in for his par four and finished the 72 holes at minus eleven and was one shot behind the winner. 

 

Chris Kirk (USA) plays a chip shot to the final green

Chris Kirk (USA) stood on the par four, seventy second tee at minus twelve and knew that a par would more than likely be good enough for the win. But he hooked his tee shot well to the left in the left trees. But when he got to his ball he had a gap in the trees and a clear shot to the green. He struck a very good second shot but it rolled just over the back of the green. His chip shot for his third checked up seven feet short of the cup. After Brandt Snedeker (USA) missed his birdie putt he knew that if he holed his seven foot par putt he would be the champion. He calmed his nerve and put a good stroke on it and it caught the right edge of the cup and fell in!! He scored 33-2 on the back nine. He pumped his fist in the air to celebrate!! Then he got a huge hug and high five from his caddie, then as he walked of the seventy second green and got a huge hug and kiss from his wife, Tahnee and their two sons Sawyer and Foster were by his side as well!! Then CBS Sports on course reporter David Feherty interviewed him and Chris Kirk (USA) said “He was very honoured to win this event because he was awarded the Hogan Award back in 2007 which is presented annually to the nation's top collegiate golfer when he was back in collage at as a former Georgia Bulldog at this very course”. He also said “He was very nervous coming down the last few holes but to pull of those shots to win the tournament under the heaviest of pressure makes the win even sweeter”.  And finally he said “To get his name on the champions wall that you see before you walk to the first tee is just a great honour for him and it will be there along with the golfing greats of the past including Jack Nicklaus (USA) and Nick Price (Zimbabwe) to name a few”. 

 

Chris Kirk (USA) pumps his fist after holing the winning putt!!

Chris Kirk (USA) moved to fourth position on the current U.S. Presidents Cup Points list standings and is certain to earn a place on the U.S. Team at the Presidents Cup in South Korea in early October now which will be a great experience for him. Chris Kirk (USA) has won four events in his USPGA Tour career to date so far and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2011 Viking Classic; 2013 McGladrey Classic; 2014 Deutsche Bank Championship and the 2015 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Chris Kirk (USA) (born May 8, 1985) is an American professional golfer who plays on the USPGA Tour. Chris Kirk (USA) was born in Knoxville, Tennessee but reared in Woodstock, Georgia. He played college golf at the University of Georgia and was a member of their 2005 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship team along with Kevin Kisner (USA), Richard Scott (USA) and Brendon Todd (USA). 

Chris Kirk (USA) turned professional in 2007. He played on the Nationwide Tour from 2008 to 2010. He won the Fort Smith Classic and the Knoxville News Sentinel Open in 2010. Chris Kirk (USA) finished second on the 2010 Nationwide Tour money list to earn his 2011 USPGA Tour card, despite sitting out the last event of the season. Early in the season, he finished second to Phil Mickelson (USA) at the Shell Houston Open. Chris Kirk (USA) won his first USPGA Tour event in 2011, the Viking Classic, which was played the same weekend as The Open Championship. The victory automatically qualified him for the 2011 USPGA Championship, where he finished tied for 34th position. He earned his second win at the 2013 McGladrey Classic. The win qualified Chris Kirk (USA) for his first Masters Tournament; the Viking Classic was an alternate event and not eligible for a Masters invitation. On September 1, 2014, Chris Kirk (USA) won the second event of the FedEx Cup playoffs at the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston to jump from 17 in FedEx Cup rankings to first. He will gain lots of confidence from this win this past week which was his fourth win of his career to date so far. He has proved that he is no one time wonder and it wouldn’t surprise me if he wins a WGC – Event or even a Major Championship in the next few years? I’m sure his fifth USPGA Tour win will come very soon and perhaps it will be in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season?  I wish him all the best for the rest of the2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup. 

 

Tahnee who is Chris Kirk (USA) wife on the left with their youngest Son, Foster and Chris Kirk (USA) on right holding their oldest Son, Sawyer as they pose with the Crowne Plaza Invitational Trophy he won!!

Coming in tied for second position at 279-9 after 72 holes was Jason Bohn (USA); he earned US $485,333.34 for his efforts and moved to thirtieth first position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,544,770 earned from the seventeen events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 208 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to thirty sixth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 733 points earned from the seventeen events he has played to date this season so far. From the seventeen events he has played to date this season so far he has made thirteen cuts and achieved four top ten finishes that includes the one this week. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his final round 63-7 which saw him go out in 29-6 where he made six birdies in a row from holes two to seven. And it was the low round of the day!! But he will be disappointed he wasn’t able to get one more birdie on the par four, seventy second hole which would have got him into a playoff with Chris Kirk (USA). But he will have gained a lot of confidence these last two weeks with these top ten finishes. Jason Bohn (USA) was born in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. In 1992, while a sophomore on the Alabama Golf Team, Jason Bohn (USA) was playing in a charity fund-raiser in Tuscaloosa, when he made a hole-in-one worth $1 million. Jason Bohn (USA) dropped his amateur status and golf scholarship on the spot and turned professional, as USGA rules did not carry an exemption for aces scored in the middle of regular golf rounds at the time, which the USGA adopted in 2006. He graduated from Alabama in 1995. While playing the Canadian Tour, Jason Bohn (USA) shot a 58 to win the 2001 Bayer Championship. He also played the Nationwide Tour before earning promotion to the USPGA Tour, where he has played since 2004. In 2005 he won the USPGA Tour's B.C. Open for his maiden USPGA Tour win. During the 2009 season Jason Bohn (USA) lost in a playoff at the Wyndham Championship along with Kevin Stadler (USA) to Ryan Moore (USA). In April 2010, Jason Bohn (USA) won the 2010 Zurich Classic of New Orleans wire to wire, when he birdied three of the last four holes to win by two shots. Let’s hope he can continue his fine form he has displayed in recent weeks in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. I wish him every continuing success for the rest of the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and perhaps he can win his third USPGA Tour event. 

Also tied for second position was Brandt Snedeker (USA); he too earned US $485,333.34 for his efforts and moved to eighth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,564,385 earned from the sixteen events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 208 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to ninth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,155 points earned from the sixteen events he has played to date this season so far. From the sixteen events he has played to date this season so far he has made thirteen cuts and achieved five top ten finishes which includes the one this week and also his win at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro – Am in February. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his third round 66-4. But he will be disappointed he wasn’t able to hole his twelve foot birdie putt on the par four, seventy second hole and force a playoff with Chris Kirk (USA). But it was great to see Brandt Snedeker (USA) have a top ten finish because after his win at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro – Am in February he hadn’t had one in eight events and missed two cuts. Brandt Newell Snedeker (USA) (born December 8, 1980) is an American professional golfer who plays on the USPGA Tour. He won the 2012 FedEx Cup with a victory in the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. After this victory, he moved into the top ten of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in his career. In February 2013, after winning the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, he moved to a career high of number four in the world. Brandt Snedeker (USA) has won seven events on the USPGA Tour to date so far is his career and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2007 Wyndham Championship; 2011 The Heritage; 2012 Farmers Insurance Open; 2012 Tour Championship; 2013 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro – Am; 2013 RBC Canadian Open and the 2015 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro – Am. He also has achieved six top ten finishes in Major Championships that includes his equal best finishes being tied for third at the 2008 Masters Tournament and 2012 Open Championship. He has also represented Team USA in the 2012 Ryder Cup Team and 2013 winning Presidents Cup Team. Let’s hope he can win his eighth event on the USPGA tour in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and perhaps it could be one of the three remaining Major Championships? 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 second position was Jordan Speith (USA); he too earned US $485,333.34 for his efforts and remained at the top of the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $5,659,153 earned from the fourteen events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 208 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and remained at the top of the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 2,326 points earned from the fourteen events he has played to date this season so far. From the fourteen events he has played to date this season so far he has made twelve cuts and achieved eight top ten finishes that includes the one this week and also his wins at the Valspar Championship in mid March and his maiden Major Championship at the Master Tournament in April. He will be happy with his first, third and final rounds that were all in the 60s especially his first round 64-6 which saw him tied for the lead. But he will be disappointed with his second round 73+3 which ruined his chance of winning with playing the front nine in 39+4 and that included playing holes three to five which are known as the “Horrible Horse Shoe” in four over par. And he will also be disappointed he three putted the par three, sixteenth hole in the final round. Jordan Alexander Spieth (USA); born July 27, 1993) is an American professional golfer on the USPGA Tour, currently ranked second in the world rankings. Jordan Spieth (USA) won his first major at the Masters in 2015 with a score of 270 (−18), earning him US $1.8 million. Jordan Spieth (USA) tied the 72-hole record set by Tiger Woods (USA) in 1997 and became the second youngest to win the Masters Tournament, behind Tiger Woods (USA). He is the third-youngest player in USPGA Tour history to win multiple events, behind Tiger Woods (USA) and Sergio García (Spain). Jordan Spieth (USA) is the fourth player to win multiple events before turning Twenty Two, following Tiger Woods (USA), Sergio García (Spain), and Robert Gamez (USA). Jordan Spieth (USA) was born in Dallas, Texas, to Shawn T. Spieth and Mary Christine (née Julius) Spieth, both natives of Pennsylvania. He has two siblings, Steven and Ellen. The Spieth brothers both attended St. Monica Catholic School and graduated from Jesuit College Preparatory School. Jordan Spieth (USA) graduated JCPS in 2011. Jordan Spieth's (USA) paternal grandfather, Donald Spieth, is a retired orchestra conductor. Jordan Spieth (USA) has won three USPGA Tour events in his career to date so far and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2013 John Deere Classic; 2015 Valspar Championship and the 2015 Masters Tournament (Maiden Major Championship). He also has achieved two top ten finishes in Major Championships which include his win at the Master Tournament in 2015 and tied for second in the 2014 Masters Tournament. And has represented Team USA in the winning 2013 Presidents Cup and also the 2014 Ryder Cup all under the age of twenty two years old. He also won the 2014 Australian Open and 2014 Hero World Challenge (Tiger Woods Tournament) in back to back weeks at the end of 2014. Let’s hope he can win his fourth event on the USPGA Tour in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and perhaps it will come at the U.S. Open Championship next month? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Rounding out the top nine in tied for fifth position at 270-10 after 72 holes was Adam Hadwin (Canada); he earned US $220,350 for his efforts and moved to 102nd position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $601,872 earned from the twenty events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 93 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to ninety second position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 374 points earned from the twenty events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty events he has played to date this season so far he has made twelve cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one this past week. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his 66-4 in the second round and also his 66-4 in the final round which was blemish free!! And it was great to see him have a top five finish after missing his last four cuts in a row. Adam Hadwin (Canada) (born 2 November 1987) is a Canadian professional golfer who plays on the USPGA Tour. He has won twice on the Web.com Tour, and twice on the Canadian Tour. On 9 March 2014, Adam Hadwin (Canada) won his first career Web.com Tour event at the Chile Classic. The win earned him US $117,000 and moved him to first place on the money list. He became the thirteenth Canadian to win on the Web.com Tour. On 7 September 2014, Adam Hadwin (Canada) won for a second time on the Web.com Tour, when he took home a playoff win at the Chiquita Classic. Adam Hadwin (Canada) earned his USPGA Tour card for the 2014–15 season by topping the combined regular season and Web.com Tour Finals money list. Let’s hope he can have more top ten finishes in the weeks to coming and keep his card for the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season. I wish him all the best for the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Also tied for fifth position was Kevin Kisner (USA); he too earned US $220,350 for his efforts and moved to nineteenth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,207,907 earned from the nineteen events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 93 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to seventeenth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup points list standings with 992 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 thirteen 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 in the 60s especially his first, third and final rounds that were all 67-3s and his final round was blemish free as well. In his last five tournaments he has made five cuts and achieved three top five finishes and has earned US $1,812,160 which is just amazing and he must be due to win his maiden USPGA Tour event every soon? Kevin Kisner (USA) (born February 15, 1984) is an American professional golfer. Kevin Kisner (USA) was born in Aiken, South Carolina. He played college golf at the University of Georgia and was a member of their 2005 NCAA Division I Championship team along with Chris Kirk (USA), Richard Scott (USA) and Brendon Todd (USA). After graduating in 2006, he turned professional. Kevin Kisner (USA) played on the mini-tours (NGA Hooters Tour and Tarheel Tour) and from 2007 to 2009, winning three times. He also played in six Nationwide Tour events in 2009. He played the Nationwide Tour full-time in 2010, winning once at the Mylan Classic. He finished the year eleventh on the money list and earned his 2011 USPGA Tour card. Kevin Kisner (USA) failed to earn enough money on the USPGA Tour in 2011 to retain his card (181st on money list), but finished tied for eleventh at qualifying school to earn his card for 2012. He again failed to retain his card, finishing 167th on the money list, and missed earning a card in qualifying school by one stroke. He returned to (the now renamed) Web.com Tour in 2013 and won the Chile Classic in March. He finished thirteen on the 2013 Web.com Tour regular season money list to earn his 2014 USPGA Tour card. His best finish on the USPGA Tour is a second place at the 2015 RBC Heritage and tied for second at the 2015 Players Championship after losing on the fourth hole of a playoff to Rickie Fowler (USA). Let’s hope he can have more top ten finishes in the weeks ahead and perhaps win his maiden 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. 

Also tied for fifth position was George McNeill (USA); he too earned US $220,350 for his efforts and moved to seventy fourth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $857,173 earned from the sixteen events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 93 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to sixty ninth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 500 points earned from the sixteen events he has played to date this season so far. From the sixteen events he has played to date this season so far he has made thirteen 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 in the 60s especially his first round 65-5 which was blemish free. George William McNeill, Jr. (USA) (born October 2, 1975) is an American professional golfer. He is a two-time winner on the USPGA Tour with victories at the 2007 Frys.com Open and the 2012 Puerto Rico Open. George McNeill (USA) was born and raised in Naples, Florida. He attended North Fort Myers High School and graduated in 1993. He then attended Florida State University, where he was a member of the golf team. He was an All-ACC and All-America selection in 1997 and 1998. George McNeill (USA) is currently a member of the USPGA Tour. He was a member of the Nationwide Tour in 2003 but did not retain his card. In 2004 he played on the Golden Bear Tour and he only played in one Nationwide Tour event. In 2005 he played several mini-tour events and tried to Monday qualify for several Nationwide and PGA Tour events, but was unsuccessful. In late 2005, he took a break from professional golf and worked as an assistant professional at the Shadow Wood and Forest Country Clubs in Fort Myers, Florida for six months. In January 2006, George McNeill (USA) married Ryan Lynn Turner. In June 2006, he returned to professional golf by qualifying for the 2006 U.S. Open. He followed the U.S. Open with two Nationwide event starts, making one cut. Later in December 2006, he was medalist at the USPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. By doing so, he won US $50,000 and received his USPGA Tour card for 2007. As a rookie on the USPGA Tour in 2007, he qualified for the FedEx Cup. He played in two FedEx Cup events before missing the points cut for the third event. He won his first USPGA Tour event during the Fall Series at the Frys.com Open in October. George McNeill (USA) won the 2012 Puerto Rico Open for his second USPGA Tour victory. Tied for the lead with Ryo Ishikawa (Japan) with three holes to play, George McNeill (USA) finished with three birdies for a two-shot win. He finished runner-up to Ángel Cabrera (Argentina) in the 2014 Greenbrier Classic after shooting a 9-under-par 61 in the final round. He finished the tournament with a score of 14-under to Angel Cabrera's (Argentina) 16-under. He found out after the tournament that his older sister had died of cancer earlier that day. Let’s hope that he can have more top ten finishes in the weeks to come. I wish him all the best from the remaining events in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Also tied for fifth position was Pat Perez (USA); he too earned US $220,350 for his efforts and moved to fifty first position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,186,952 earned from the seventeen events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 93 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to forty sixth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 655 points earned from the seventeen events he has played to date this season so far. From the seventeen events he has played to date this season so far he has made fourteen cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one here this week. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his 64-6 in the final round which was blemish free!! Pat Perez (USA) was born in Phoenix, Arizona and is of Mexican American descent. He experienced his first USPGA Tour victory in 2009 at the Bob Hope Classic. He has finished second twice. His career high in the Official World Golf Ranking was 49th in 2009. On January 22, 2009, Pat Perez (USA) finished the first 36 holes of the Bob Hope Classic with a 124 (-20), the lowest score in USPGA Tour history through two rounds, relative to par. The start set or tied several records, including tying the record for low score (124) in consecutive rounds. But on January 24, Steve Stricker (USA) broke the latter record of 124 with a 61-62 for 123 combined two rounds (third and fourth rounds). Pat Perez (USA) went on to win the tournament by three strokes over John Merrick (USA), a win secured when Pat Perez (USA) hit his second shot on the par 5 18th hole from 200 yards to three feet to win with a closing eagle for his first tour win. Let’s hope he can achieved more top ten finishes in the weeks ahead and perhaps even win his second USPGA Tour event in 2015? 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 fifth position was Ian Poulter (England); he too earned US $220,350 for his efforts and moved to thirty third position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,512,307 earned from the twelve events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 93 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to fortieth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with 711 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 60s especially his first round 65-5. But he will be disappointed with his final round 70 even par when he had such a great chance to win heading into the final round. But he is still having a very good season and I feel a win is not too far away for him. Ian Poulter (England) has achieved two wins on the USPGA Tour to date so far and they both have come at WGC Events with the first one coming at the 2010 WCG- Accenture Match Play Championship and the second coming at the 2012 WGC – HSBC Champions in China. He has also achieved eight top ten finishes in Major Championships to date so far with his best being a solo second at the 2008 Open Championship and I feel he is destined to win one someday!! Let’s hope he can achieve more top ten finishes in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and perhaps his third win? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014/15 season. 

The only New Zealand Golfer in the field was Danny Lee (NZL) and he scored rounds of 66-4 in the first round which was excellent in light winds and it included a very good front nine of 33-2 where he bogeyed the par five, first hole, par four, fifth hole and par four, seventh hole but he had great birdies on the par four, second hole, par four, third hole, par four, sixth hole, par three, eighth hole and par four, ninth hole. He scored a very good back nine of 33-2 which included birdies on the par four, twelve hole and par three, sixteenth hole, then he scored a good  in the second round of 69-1 which included an average front nine of 36+1 with his lone birdie coming on the par four, ninth hole and he bogeyed the par five, first hole and par four, third hole and he played a very good back nine of 33-2 which included birdies on the par four, tenth hole, par five, eleventh hole and par four, thirteenth hole but had a poor bogey on the par four, sixteenth hole. Then he scored an average third round of 70 even par that included a poor front nine of 36+1 with his lone birdie on the par four, seventh hole and poor bogeys on the par four, third hole and par four, sixth hole and then he scored a good back nine of 34-1 with birdies on the par four, tenth hole, par five, eleventh hole and par three, thirteenth hole but had a shocking double bogey on the par four, twelfth  hole and a excellent final round of 66-4 which was blemish free which included a excellent front nine of  32-3 which included birdies on the par four, second hole,  par four, third hole and par four, sixth hole and he played a solid back nine of 34-1 which included a lone birdie on the par four, seventeenth hole for a 72 hole total of 271-9  to finish in tied for tenth position. He earned US $134,875 for his efforts and moved to fifty second position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,185,051 earned from the twenty two 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 62 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to fifty second position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 605 points earned from the twenty two events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty two events he has played to date this season so far he has made thirteen cuts and withdrawn from one event and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the one this week and 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 first, second and final rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his 66-4s in the first and final rounds (and his 66-4 in the final round was blemish free). But he will be just content with his third round 70 even par that robbed him his chance of winning. This is proving to be his career season to date so far in his young USPGA Tour career and his maiden USPGA Tour win can’t be too far away? 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. 

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to Irving, Texas for the second event in the second and final Texas Swing for the season and it is the AT&T Bryon Nelson which is named after the late Legendary Byron Nelson who grew up in this area and this was his home course. It is played on the TPC Four Seasons Resort, Irving, Texas. It carries a large prize purse of US $7,100,000 for the taking. Brendon Todd (USA) is the defending champion and will be keen to defend his title. Danny Lee (NZL), Tim Wilkinson (NZL) and Steven Alker (NZL) will all gain starts as well. It starts on Thursday 28th May. 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 second week of his fifth spell of his career and for the 82nd week of his career in total is Rory McILroy (NIR) fresh off his missed cut at the BMW PGA Championship this past week and one week ago he won at the Wells Fargo Championship with 13.16 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Jordan Spieth (USA) who is fresh off his tied for second position at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial this past week and two weeks ago he missed cut at the Players Championship with 9.12 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who is fresh off his tie for fifty eighth position one week ago at the Wells Fargo Championship and two weeks ago tied for seventeenth position at the Players Championship with 6.92 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 two weeks ago and also his tied for seventeenth position at the WGC – Cadillac Match Play three weeks ago with 6.85 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 one week ago and his tie for fifty sixth position at the Players Championship two weeks ago with 6.69 Official World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) this week is in his tenth week of another spell of being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after he finished in tied for tenth position at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial this past week on the USPGA Tour. This week he gains fifteen places and rose to 161st position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings with 1.08 Official Golf World Ranking Points. 

Remember you “Drive for show and putt for dough”!!

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