Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Golf Events from the Weekend 28th June 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 Connecticut for the Travelers Championship and it was played on the TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut. It carried a large prize purse of US $6,400,000 for the taking. Kevin Streelman (USA) was the defending champion having won by making seven birdies in a row to finish his final round last year and will be keen to defend his title. Danny Lee (NZL), Tim Wilkinson (NZL) and Steven Alker (NZL) all gained starts as well. And it was the golfer by the name of Bubba Watson (USA) who scored rounds of 62-8, 67-3, 68-2 and a final round 67-3 for a 72 hole total of 264-16 but he was tied on that score by Paul Casey (England) who scored rounds of 67-3, 68-2, 64-6 and a final round of 65-5 for a 72 hole total of 264-16 also. So those two players head back to the eighteenth tee for the first playoff hole. 
 
Bubba Watson (USA) hits one of his long drives during the final round
So to the first playoff hole which was the par four, eighteenth hole. They both choose a number from the Travelers representatives’ hat that was the naming rights sponsor for the tournament. Paul Casey (England) choose number one and he teed off first and struck a very good drive and it landed right in the centre of the fairway. Bubba Watson (USA) choose two from the hat and teed off second and he struck a poor tee shot into the right hand rough that landed right up on the bank. Paul Casey (England) played his second shot first with his mid iron and struck a very poor shot that leaked to the right and landed in the right hand green side bunker which he got up and down from in regulation play. Bubba Watson (USA) played next from the right hand rough with the ball well below his feet. He struck a very good shot under the circumstances and it came to rest on the green twenty feet underneath the flag stick and he had put the pressure right back on Paul Casey (England). Paul Casey (England) played his third shot from the right green side bunker next and he played a very good shot that came to rest four feet from the flag stick. Bubba Watson (USA) now had a birdie putt from twenty feet straight up the hill for the win. He calmed his nerve and struck a very good putt but it never took the left to right break he was expecting it to and it came to rest two feet past the pin leaving a simple tap in for his par four. Paul Casey (England) now putted for his par to keep the playoff alive for a second hole. He had a right to left breaking putt. He struck a very good putt that took the right to left break perfectly and dropped right in the centre of the cup!! Bubba Watson (USA) rolled in his two foot putt for his par four and those two players headed back to the par four, eighteenth tee for the second playoff hole. 
 
Bubba Watson (USA) strikes his putt for birdie on the first playoff hole
So to the par four, eighteenth hole which was the second playoff hole. And Paul Casey (England) teed off first and struck a poor tee shot that leaked to the right and came to rest in the right hand fairway bunker. Bubba Watson (USA) teed off second and played a very good tee shot that faded off the right hand trees right back into the centre of the fairway so the advantage had swung right back his way. Paul Casey (England) played his second shot first with his mid iron from the right hand fairway bunker and he hit a poor shot that he hung to the right and landed in the right hand greenside bunker for the third time today. Bubba Watson (USA) played his second next with his short iron and he knew if he could stiff it he could really put the pressure back on Paul Casey (England). He stuck an excellent shot that he brought in from right to left and landed fifteen feet past the pin and spun back to eight feet above the cup!! Paul Casey (England) played his third shot next from the right green side bunker and caught it very thin and he air mailed the green!! Sir Nick Faldo (England) who is CBS Sports Golf Analyst said “That shot Paul Casey (England) just played was completely out of character!!” He had now virtually handed the title to Bubba Watson (USA) unless he could hole a miracle shot for his par. Paul Casey (England) played his fourth shot next from the rough after he got his drop off the cart path. He played the shot the best he could under the circumstances of needing to hole it. And it landed just on the green and rolled out to thirty feet past the pin and he was still away putting for his bogey five. Paul Casey (England) putted for his bogey five from thirty feet and rolled it five feet past the cup and he knew there was no need for putting again even though he marked it. Bubba Watson (USA) now stood over his birdie putt from eight feet knowing he could three putt and still win!! He put a very good stroke on the putt and it rolled right into the centre of the cup for his birdie three and he was the 2015 Travelers Championship Champion. 
 
Bubba Watson (USA) on the left is congratulated by his playing competitor on the right Paul Casey (England)
He got a huge high five and hug from his caddie, Ted Scott and he was also congratulated by Paul Casey (England) who he beat. Then he was interviewed by CBS Sports on course reporter, Peter Kostis and he asked him “After he made the brilliant eagle putt on the thirteenth hole did you think it was going to be a walk in the park coming in?” Bubba Watson (USA) replied “It never is in any win and especially holes sixteen and seventeen don’t really fit my eye. I looked over waiting to play my second shot to the par four, seventeen hole and saw Paul Casey (England) make birdie. But I hung on and did what I had to do in the playoff to win and it feels great!!” Then he rang his wife, Angie who couldn’t be on course this week and she congratulated him as well!!

Bubba Watson (USA) earned US $1,152,000 for the win and moved to fifth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $3,990,174 earned from the ten events he has played to date this season so far. Jordan Spieth (USA) still leads that list with US $7,863,838 earned from the seventeen events he has played to date this season so far. Bubba Watson (USA) also earned 500 FedEx Cup Points for the win and moved to third position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,688 points earned from the ten events he has played to date this season so far and he is 1,440 points behind the current leader of that list who is Jordan Spieth (USA) who has earned 3,128 points from the seventeen events he has played to date this season so far. From the ten events Bubba Watson (USA) has played to date this season so far he has made nine cuts and achieved five top ten finishes which includes the win this week and also his win at the WGC – HSBC Champions in November last year in China. He will be happy with his four rounds this week especially his first round 62-8 which was the low round of the day and the tournament and really set up this win and also how he played the two playoff holes in one under par to prevail over Paul Casey (England)!! This win will give him heaps of confidence heading over to the Open Championship in three weeks time and I bet he is eying up his third Major Championship win in one of the two remaining Major Championships of the 2015 season. This was also Bubba Watson (USA) eighth win to date so far in his USPGA Tour career!! 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), 2014 WGC – HSBC Champions and the 2015 Travelers Championship. Gerry Lester "Bubba" Watson, Jr. (USA) (born November 5, 1978) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. One of the few left-handed golfers on tour, he is a multiple major champion, having won the Masters Tournament in 2012 and 2014. In February 2015, Bubba Watson (USA) reached a career-high 2nd place in the Official World Golf Ranking. Bubba Watson (USA) is among the longest drivers on the USPGA Tour; in 2007 he had an average drive of 315.2 yards (288.2 m) and can hit a ball over 350 yards (320 m), capable of generating a ball speed up to 194 mph (312 km/h). Bubba Watson (USA) turned professional in 2003 and joined the Nationwide Tour where he played until 2005. He finished twenty first on the Nationwide Tour's money list in 2005, making him the last player to qualify for the following year's USPGA Tour. As a rookie in 2006, he earned US $1,019,264 (90th overall) and led the USPGA Tour in driving distance at 319.6 yards (292.2 m). His longest drive in professional competition was 442 yards (404 m) on the USPGA Tour at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Bubba Watson (USA) played well at the 2007 U.S. Open. He was in the final group on Saturday after shooting rounds of 70-71 (+1) at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh. Bubba Watson (USA) was one stroke off the lead after 36 holes but then slipped, shooting 74 (+4) in both the third and fourth rounds; he finished in a tie for fifth. Bubba Watson (USA) began the 2013 USPGA Tour season playing the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, where he finished tied for fourth place, and reached the quarterfinals in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. In the subsequent World Golf Championship event, the WGC-Cadillac Championship, he began very strong with rounds of 66 and 69, but finished with rounds of 71 and 75 and tied for 18th place. After finishing tied fourteenth place in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he returned to the Masters Tournament as the defending champion. Never in contention in the tournament, he finished 50th after a final round of 77. Watson tied for 37th at The Players Championship. On the second major of the year, the U.S. Open Championship, he finished with a solid 71 in the first round, just four shots off the lead, but a second round score of 76 left him out of contention, and he tied for 32nd. At the Travelers Championship he took the lead after a second round of 67, but in the final round, leading by one with three to play, he triple-bogeyed the par-3 16th and finished two shots back in fourth place. Tying for 30th at the Greenbrier Classic, he then played in the third major of the year, The Open Championship. After two solids rounds of 70 and 73, he shot 77 in the third round, and tied for 32nd.

Bubba Watson (USA) poses with the Travelers Championship Trophy he won!!
At the 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open, Bubba Watson (USA) held the lead for most of the tournament, but he finished runner-up to Kevin Stadler (USA). Bubba Watson earned his fifth career USPGA Tour victory—and his first since the 2012 Masters—at the 2014 Northern Trust Open. He shot back-to-back 64s over the weekend to defeat Dustin Johnson (USA) by two strokes. The victory raised him to fourteen in the Official World Golf Ranking. He followed that win with two more strong finishes—a ninth-place tie in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and a second-place tie in the WGC-Cadillac Championship. Those performances elevated him from fourteen to twelfth in the world ranking.  Bubba Watson (USA) 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 seventeenth 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 win this past week he has moved to number three in the Official World Golf Ranking. 

Bubba Watson (USA) was nicknamed by his father after the former professional football player Bubba Smith. Bubba Watson (USA) is married to Angela P. "Angie" Watson, née Ball, a 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Canadian whom he met at Georgia while he was on the golf team and she was on the women's basketball team. They were married in September 2004.  In 2009, Angie was diagnosed with an enlarged pituitary gland, which accounts for her height. On their first date, Angie told Bubba Watson (USA) that she would be unable to conceive a child. Various family issues, including the illness and death of Bubba Watson's (USA) father in 2010, kept them from attempting to adopt until the winter of 2011–12. In March 2012, one week after an adoption of an infant girl fell through at the last moment, Bubba Watson (USA) and his wife adopted a one-month-old baby boy named Caleb. In late 2014 the Watsons adopted a baby girl. Bubba Watson's (USA) father, Gerry Lester Watson, Sr., died on October 15, 2010 of throat cancer. Bubba Watson's (USA) mother is Molly Marie Watson and he has a sister, Melinda Watson Conner. Bubba Watson (USA) is also a member of the "Golf Boys", a boy band consisting of Bubba Watson (USA), Ben Crane (USA), Rickie Fowler (USA), and Hunter Mahan (USA). Their single "Oh Oh Oh" is currently on YouTube. The video was produced by Farmers Insurance Group. Farmers donate $1000 to charity for every 100,000 views the video gets. In 2011, Bubba Watson (USA) made a humorous appearance in the song "Michael Jackson" by Christian hip hop artist Andy Mineo on the album Formerly Known. Furthermore, he was featured in the song "Ima Just Do It" by KB, another Christian hip hop artist, on the album Tomorrow We Live. In addition to the "Golf Boys," viral success, Bubba Watson's (USA) prototype Golf Cart Hovercraft, the BW1, YouTube video has earned more than 8 million views. Bubba Watson (USA) is a committed Christian who speaks openly about Jesus and the importance of faith in his life and says that God is the most important thing in his life. Bubba Watson (USA) devotes much of his money and time to charity. Bubba Watson (USA) purchased the mansion in the Isleworth community of Windermere, Florida, that was previously owned by Tiger Woods (USA). In 2013, he was added to the list of Great Floridians by Governor Rick Scott.  I look for Bubba Watson (USA) to have really strong finish in the remaining 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and perhaps he will win his third Major Championship at the Open Championship in three weeks time or the PGA Championship (which is at Whistling Straits where he lost in a playoff to Martin Kaymer (Germany) in 2010) in August? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Coming in solo second position at 264-16 after 72 holes and losing on the second playoff hole was Paul Casey (England); he earned US $691,200 for his efforts and moved to fourteenth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,608,627 earned from the fifteen events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 300 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to sixteenth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,129 points earned from the fifteen events he has played to date this season so far. From the fifteen events he has played to date this season so far he has made eleven cuts and achieved six 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 65-5 in the final round which was the low round of the day and included a hole out for eagle two on the par four, third hole!! But he will be disappointed how he played the two playoff holes especially air mailing the green with his third shot from the right green side bunker on the second playoff hole and handing the tournament to Bubba Watson (USA)!! But he will be happy with how he has performed this season on the USPGA Tour after committing to the USPGA Tour fulltime in the 2014/15 season after trying to play both the USPGA and European Tours in previous years. Paul Casey (England) earned his first USPGA Tour win on 5 April 2009 by defeating J. B. Holmes (USA) in a one-hole playoff at the Shell Houston Open. This win took him to No. 6 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Paul Casey (England) won his milestone tenth event on the European Tour at the 2009 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey, where he won by one stroke over Wentworth resident and fellow Englishman Ross Fisher (England). This win vaulted Paul Casey (England) to a career high of third in the Official World Golf Ranking. He had been ranked at No. 41 at the beginning of 2009. Paul Casey (England) suffered a rib injury at the 2009 Open Championship, and it limited the amount of golf he could play in the second half of 2009.

In January 2011, Paul Casey (England) won the Volvo Golf Champions tournament in Bahrain, which was his first win for 20 months. Paul Casey (England) won the 2012 Telus World Skins Game in Canada, having defeated Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela) in a tiebreaker during the event in July. In June 2013, Paul Casey (England) won his 12th European Tour title at The Irish Open to end a two and half-year winless drought due to form and fitness problems. He captured the title with a final round 67 in changeable conditions, to win by three strokes over Joost Luiten (Netherlands) and Robert Rock (England). He had begun the day four shots behind the leader Joost Luiten (Netherlands), but a run of five birdies in six holes in the middle of the round opened up a three shot lead. It was reduced to one stroke, when Paul Casey (England) bogeyed the 15th and 16th, but a closing eagle on the par five 18th sealed the victory. In September 2014, Paul Casey (England) won his 13th European Tour title at the KLM Open in the Netherlands, his first victory of the 2014 season. He took victory after posting a final round 66, putting him one shot ahead of runner up, and fellow Englishman Simon Dyson (England). He started the final round four strokes off the lead of Romain Wattel (France). The victory was especially emotional and gratifying as Paul Casey's (England) wife Pollyanna had given birth to the couple's first child two week prior to the event. In 2014, Paul Casey (England) finished 95th in the FedEx Cup despite no top ten finishes in 16 starts playing out of the Past Champions category. For 2015, Paul Casey (England) chose to give up his European Tour exemption and focus solely on the USPGA Tour, citing a need to lessen his travel. Let’s hope he can keep this fine form up in the weeks to come and perhaps achieve his second USPGA Tour win in 2015. I wish him all the best for the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Coming in solo third position at 265-15 after 72 holes was Brian Harman (USA); he earned US $435,200 for his efforts and moved to fifty seventh position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,275,163 earned from the twenty one events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 190 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to sixty third position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup points list standings with 624 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 eleven cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one this past week. He will be happy with his first, second and third rounds that were all in the mid 60s especially his second round 65-5 and his third 65-5 which was blemish free!! And it saw him carry the 54 hole lead into the final round. But he will be just content with his final round 69-1 in which he played his first ten holes in two over par but he will be pleased with his back to back birdie finish that gained him a spot in the Open Championship at St Andrews next month because he was one of the four players inside the top twelve that weren’t already exempt. He is having a good season following up on his maiden win at the John Deere Classic last year that he will defend in two weeks time. Brian Harman (born January 19, 1987) is an American professional golfer. In college, Brian Harman (USA) was a three-time 2nd Team All-American on the University of Georgia golf team. He won the 2005 NCAA Preview and the 2006 Isleworth Invitational. He also won the yearly award for highest Grade Point Average three times. In 2003, Brian Harman (USA) won the U.S. Junior Amateur. He won the Players Amateur in 2005, and the Porter Cup in 2007, shooting a tournament record 22-under-par 258. Brian Harman (USA) played on the winning 2005 and 2009 Walker Cup and 2007 Palmer Cup teams. In 2010, Brian Harman (USA) played mostly on the EGolf Professional Tour finishing in the top-10 in 11 of his 14 starts. He gained his first pro victory at the Manor Classic where he won by three shots. He also played in three Nationwide Tour events in 2010. His best showing came at the Stadion Athens Classic at UGA where he placed T-18th on his former college course. Brian Harman (USA) was known for a unique situation at the 2012 Players Championship. He was the first alternate when D. A. Points (USA) withdrew just minutes before his tee time. Playing partners Carl Pettersson (Sweden) and Robert Garrigus (USA) had already teed off and after consulting with the USPGA, tournament officials allowed Brian Harman (USA) to tee off alone for the first round. Brian Harman (USA) eventually got partnered with Ryan Moore (USA) and Bud Cauley (USA) for round two after Paul Casey (England) withdrew. Brian Harman (USA) made the cut and finished tied for fifty first. Brian Harman (USA) later qualified for his first major, the 2012 U.S. Open. His maiden USPGA Tour win was the 2014 John Deere Classic. Brian Harman (USA) resides in Sea Island, Georgia with his wife Kelly Van Slyke. Let’s hope he can have more top ten finishes in the weeks ahead and perhaps even make the cut at the Open Championship which will be his sixth ever Major Championship appearance (He finished tied for twenty sixth last year which is his best finish in a Major Championship to date so far in his career). I wish him all the best for the remaining 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Coming in solo fourth position at 266-14 after 72 holes was Graham Delaet (Canada); he earned US $307,200 for his efforts and moved to seventy eighth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $942,167 earned from the eighteen events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 135 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to eighty third position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 518 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 eleven cuts and achieved three 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 to low 60s especially his 64-6 in the third round and also his second round 66-4 which was blemish free!! But he will only be content with his final round 69-1 and he needed to birdie the seventy second hole to make the playoff but made an untimely bogey!! But he will be happy that he gained a spot in the Open Championship at St Andrews next month because he was one of the four players inside the top twelve that weren’t already exempt!! Graham DeLaet (Canadian) (born 22 January 1982) is a Canadian professional golfer who plays on the USPGA Tour. 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 and a top ten finish at the Open Championship next month? I wish him all the best for the remaining 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour events. 

Coming in solo fifth position at 267-13 after 72 holes was Carl Pettersson (Sweden); he earned US $256,000 for his efforts and moved to 117th position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $625,869 earned from the twenty four events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 110 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to ninety third position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 471 points earned from the twenty four events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty four events he has played to date this season so far he has made sixteen cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came at this very event. He will be happy with his first, second and final rounds that were all in the mid 60s especially his first round 65-5!! But just content with his third round 70 even par cost him his chance of winning. But he will be happy that he gained a spot in the Open Championship at St Andrews next month because he was one of the four players inside the top twelve that weren’t already exempt!! And he said he plans to take his family over there to St. Andrews in Scotland to enjoy the experience with him. Carl Pettersson (Sweden) (born 29 August 1977) is a Swedish professional golfer who is a member of the USPGA Tour. He has won five times on the USPGA Tour, making him Sweden's joint most successful player alongside Jesper Parnevik (Sweden). Carl Pettersson (Sweden) carries dual citizenship after having become an American citizen in January 2012. He has won five USPGA Tour events in his career to date so far and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2005 Chrysler Championship; 2006 Memorial Tournament; 2008 Wyndham Championship; 2010 RBC Canadian Open and 2012 RBC Heritage. He has also won one European Tour event at the 2002 Algrave Open de Portugal. He has achieved three top ten finish in Major Championships to date so far with his best being a tied for third at the 2012 PGA Championship. He has also represented Sweden at the 2002 and 2006 World Cup of Golf. Let’s hope he can achieve more top ten finishes in the weeks ahead. I wish him all the best for the remaining of the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Rounding out the top six in solo sixth position at 268-12 after 72 holes was Zach Johnson (USA); he earned US $230,400 for his efforts and moved to twenty ninth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,816,397 earned from the seventeen events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 100 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to forty third position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup points list standings with 760 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 seven top ten finishes that includes the one this week. He will be happy with his first and third rounds that were in the mid to low 60s especially his 64-6 in the third round that was blemish free!! But he will be just content with his second and final rounds that were in the high 60s and low 70s. He is having another good season on the USPGA Tour and it wouldn’t surprise me if he contends in the Open Championship at St. Andrews next month. Zachary Harris Johnson (USA) (born February 24, 1976) is an American professional golfer who has eleven victories on the USPGA Tour, including one Major Championship, the 2007 Masters Tournament. Here are his eleven wins from the first to the most recent: 2004 BellSouth Classic; 2007 Masters Tournament (Maiden Major Championship); 2007 AT&T Classic; 2008 Valero Texas Open; 2009 Sony Open in Hawaii; 2009 Valero Texas Open; 2010 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial; 2012 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial; 2012 John Deere Classic; 2013 BMW Championship and 2014 Hyundai Tournament of Champions. He has also achieved seven top ten finishes to date so far in Major Championships which includes his maiden Major Championship win at the 2007 Masters Tournament. He has also achieved seven top ten finishes in WGC – Events with his best to date so far being solo third at the 2006 Cadillac Match Play. He has also represented Team USA at four Ryder Cup Matches against Team Europe that included the 2006, 2010, 2012 and 2014. And also played on the USA Presidents Cup Team in 2007, 2009 and 2013 against Team International which he was on the winning team every time!! I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and hope he can achieve his twelfth win. 

The best 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 good front nine of 33-2 where he birdied the par four, seventh and par four, nine hole. He scored a good back nine of 33-2 which included birdies on the par three, eleventh hole, par four, seventeenth hole and par four, eighteenth hole but he had a poor bogey on the par three, sixteenth hole. Then he scored an very good second round of 67-3 that included a good front nine of 35 even par with alone birdie on the par three, fifth hole but he had poor bogey on the par four, third hole and then he scored an excellent back nine of 32-3 with birdies on the par five, thirteenth hole, par four, fifteenth hole and par four, eighteenth hole. Then he scored a good third round of 69-1 which included a poor front nine of 36+1 with his lone bogey coming on the par four, second hole and scored a very good back nine of 33-2 which included birdies on the par five, thirteenth hole, par four, fourteenth hole and par three sixteenth hole and his lone bogey came on the par four, eighteenth hole and a poor final round of 71+1 which included a poor front nine of 36+1 with birdies on the par five, fifth hole and par four, ninth hole but he had poor bogeys on the par four, first hole, par three, fifth hole and par three, eighth hole and he scored an average back nine of 35 even par with birdies on the par four, twelfth hole and par four, fifteenth hole but had poor bogeys on the par five, thirteenth hole and par four, eighteenth hole for a 72 hole total of 273-7 and finished in tied for twenty fifth position. He earned US $41,234.29 for his efforts and moved to sixtieth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,262,922 earned from the twenty six 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 forty FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to fifty seventh position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 680 points earned from the twenty six events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty six events he has played to date this season so far he has made fifteen cuts and withdrawn from one event and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the one five weeks ago at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial 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 three rounds that were all in the 60s especially his first round 66-4!! But he will be disappointed with his final round 71+1 when another mid 60s round would have assured him of a top ten finish. This finish will give him some confidence after missing his two previous cuts. 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 off 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 70 even par in the first round which was average and included a shocking front nine of  38+3 with a lone birdie on the par four, seventh hole but had poor bogeys on the par three, fifth hole and par five, sixth hole and a shocking double bogey on the par four, second hole then he scored a excellent back nine of 32-3 with birdies on the par five, thirteenth hole, par four, fifteen hole and par four, eighteenth hole and he scored a second round of  68-2 which was very good and included a shocking front nine of 38+3 with a lone birdie coming on the par four, third hole and he had a poor bogeys on the par four, first hole, par four, fourth hole, par three, fifth hole and par three, eighth hole and he scored a excellent back nine of  30-5 with playing holes twelve to fifteen in five under par and it included an eagle on the par five, thirteenth hole and birdies on the par four, twelfth hole, par four, fourteenth hole and par four, fifteenth hole. Then he scored a very good third round of 68-2 which included a good front nine of  34-1 with his lone birdie coming on the par four, second hole then he played a good back nine of 34-1 which included a lone birdie on the par four, fifteenth hole and he scored a poor final round of  71+1 which included a poor front nine of 36+1 with birdies on the par five, sixth hole and par three, eighth hole but he made poor bogeys on the par four, first hole, par four, fourth hole and par three, fifth hole then he played an average back nine of 35 even par with his lone birdie coming on the par four, twelfth hole but he had a poor bogey on the par four, seventeenth hole for a 72 hole total of 277-3 and he finished in tied for sixtieth position. He earned US $13,888 for his efforts and moved to 185th  position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $166,532 earned from the fifteenth events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned ten FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 174th position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 151 points earned from the fifteen events he has played to date this season so far. From the fifteen events he has played to date this season so far he has made six cuts and achieved no top ten finishes. He will be happy with his second and third rounds that were both 68-2s especially his second round where he was three over on the par four twelfth tee but when he walked off the par four, fifteenth hole he was two under and pared the last three holes to make the cut on the number!! But disappointed with his first round and final rounds that were both low 70s and they ruined his chances of having a higher finish!! But he will gain some confidence out of this finish and he has now made his last two consecutive 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 an average first round of 71+1 with scoring a very poor front nine of 37+2 with his lone birdie coming on the par four, second hole but he had poor bogeys on the par four, fourth hole, par three, fifth hole and par four seventh hole and then he scored a good back nine of 34-1 with his lone bogey coming on the par four, twelve hole and he made good birdies on the par five, thirteenth hole and par four, fifteen hole. Then he scored an average second round of 70 even par which included a good front nine of 34-1 with his lone birdie coming on the par four, seventh hole and then he scored a poor back nine of 36+1 with his lone birdie coming on the par five, thirteenth hole and he bogeyed the par three, eleventh hole and par four, seventeenth hole for a 36 hole total of 141+1 to miss the cut by three shots. He moved to 197th position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $114,111 earned from the twenty one events he has played to date this season so far. He moved to 181st position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 120 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 six cuts and achieved no top ten finishes. He will be mad with his first and second rounds this week that were both in the low 70s and in a tournament like this one that is never going to make the cut!! In the last sixteen events he has played on the USPGA Tour he has only made three cuts. Let’s hope he can make some more cuts in the remaining part of 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 head to the State of West Virginia for the Greenbrier Classic and it is played on the Old White TPC, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. It carries a huge prize purse of US $6,700,000 for the taking. Angel Cabrera (Argentina) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. Tiger Woods (USA) is scheduled to play as well. Danny Lee (NZL), Tim Wilkinson (NZL) and Steven Alker (NZL) should all gain starts as well. It starts of Thursday 2nd July and I will report 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 seventh week of his fifth spell of his career and for the 87th week of his career in total is Rory McILroy (NIR) fresh off his tied for ninth position at the 115th U.S. Open Championship one week ago and his missed cut at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation four weeks ago with 12.87 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Jordan Spieth (USA) who is fresh off his win at the 115th U.S. Open Championship one week ago and his tied for third position at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance three weeks ago with 10.96 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Bubba Watson (USA) who is fresh off his win this past week at the Travelers Championship and his missed cut at the 115th U.S. Open Championship one week ago with 7.39 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Dustin Johnson (USA) who is fresh off his tied for second position at the 115th U.S. Open Championship one week ago and his withdrawal at the FedEx. St Jude Classic during the first round two weeks ago with 6.87 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 tied for forty second position at the 115th U.S. Open Championship one week ago and his tied for fifth position at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide three weeks ago with 6.65 Official World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) this week is in his fifteenth week of another spell of being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after he finished in tied for twenty fifth position this past week at the Travelers Championship on the USPGA Tour. This week he moves up three places and rises to 158th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings with 1.09 Official Golf World Ranking Points. 

Remember when the greens are fast you must stroke the ball to hole your putts!!
Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org, Google search engine, europeantour.com, golfchannel.com 

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Golf Events from the Weekend 21st June 2015



It was another awesome weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup and the European Tour and Race to Dubai and all the other Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world headed to the State of Washington in the Pacific Northwest for the second Major Championship of the 2015 season which was the 115th U.S. Open Championship and it was played on the Chambers Bay GC, University Place, Washington. It carried a huge prize purse of US $10,000,000 for the taking. Martin Kaymer (Germany) was the defending Champion and was keen for back to back titles. All the top players in the world were there including Rory McILroy (NIR), Jordan Spieth (USA), Jim Furyk (USA), Bubba Watson (USA), Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Tiger Woods (USA) and Dustin Johnson (USA) to name a few. Danny Lee (NZL) was the only New Zealand Golfer in the field having got through a sectional qualifying event in Ohio to qualify. 

The first round was played on Thursday 18th June in sunny conditions with some cloud with light winds blowing and Dustin Johnson (USA) and Henrik Stenson (Sweden) both scored first round 65-5s for the first round lead. One shot back with a score of 66-4 was Patrick Reed (USA). Two shots back with a score of 67-3 were Matt Kuchar (USA), Brain Campbell (USA) (Am) and Ben Martin (USA). Three shots back with a score of 68-2 were Jason Dufner (USA), Cody Gribble (USA), Francesco Molinari (Italy), Marc Warren (Scotland), Joost Luiten (Netherlands), Jason Day (Australia) and Jordan Spieth (USA). Notable players four shots back on 69-1 were Kevin Chappell (USA), Brian Harman (USA), Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain), Phil Mickelson (USA), Colin Montgomerie (Scotland), Brandt Snedeker (USA), Tony Finau (USA), Charlie Beljan (USA), Geoff Ogilvy (Australia), Branden Grace (RSA) and Shane Lowry (Ireland). Notable players five shots back on 70 even par were Angel Cabrera (Argentina), Sergio Garcia (Spain), Nick Hardy (USA) (Am), Chris Kirk (USA), Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), Kevin Na (USA), Adam Scott (Australia), Bubba Watson (USA) and Jamie Lovemark (USA). Notable players six shots back on 71+1 were Marcus Fraser (Australia), Jim Furyk (USA), Russell Henley (USA), Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand), Kevin Kisner (USA) and Andres Romero (Argentina). Notable players seven shots back on 72+2 were Martin Kaymer (Germany), Rory McILroy (NIR), Brooks Koepka (USA), John Senden (Australia), Webb Simpson (USA), Ernie Els (RSA), Paul Casey (England), J.B. Holmes (USA), Billy Horschel (USA), Zach Johnson (USA), Ian Poulter (England) Justin Rose (England) and Jimmy Walker (USA). Notable players eight shots back on 73+3 were Keegan Bradley (USA), Marcel Siem (Germany), Luke Donald (England), Lee Janzen (USA), Marc Leishman (Australia), Hunter Mahan (USA), Alexander Noren (Sweden), Charl Schwartzel (RSA) and Lee Westwood (England) . Notable players nine shots back on 74+4 were Jamie Donaldson (Wales), Victor Dubuisson (France), Graeme McDowell (NIR), Gary Woodland (USA), Ryo Ishikawa (Japan), Ryan Palmer (USA) and Robert Streb (USA). Other notable scores were Darren Clarke (NIR), Retief Goosen (RSA), and Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) who all scored 77+7 to be twelve shots back. Matt Every (USA), Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) and Danny Lee (NZL) who all scored 78+8 to be thirteen shots back. Tiger Woods (USA) scored 80+10 to be fifteen shots back (and it was his worst round in the U.S. Open Championship ever). And surprisingly Rickie Fowler (USA) scored 81+11 to be sixteen shots back!!

The second round was played on Friday 19th June in bright sunny conditions and hardly a cloud in the sky with light winds. Jordan Spieth (USA) scored 67-3 to go with his first round 68-2 for a 36 hole total of 135-5 and had a share of the 36 hole lead along with Patrick Reed (USA) who scored 69-1 to go with his first round 66-4 for a 36 hole total of 135-5 also. One shot back on 136-4 after 36 holes were Dustin Johnson (USA) and Brendan Grace (RSA). Two shots back on 137-3 after 36 holes were Tony Finau (USA), Ben Martin (USA) and Joost Luiten (Netherlands). Three shots back on 138-2 after 36 holes were Jason Day (Australia) who was lucky to finish the second round after collapsing with symptoms of vertigo on his final hole!! Other players that were also on that score were J. B. Holmes (USA) who scored the equal low second round of the day which was 66-4 and Jamie Lovemark (USA). Four shots back on 139-1 after 36 holes were Brian Campbell (USA) (Am) who was the low Amateur after 36 holes, Kevin Kisner (USA), Alexander Levy (France), Shane Lowry (Ireland) and Henrik Stenson (Sweden). Notable players that were five shots back on 140 even par after 36 holes were Matt Kuchar (USA), Andres Romero (Argentina), Cameron Smith (Australia) and Jason Dufner (USA). Notable players that were six shots back on 141+1 after 36 holes were Paul Casey (England), Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), Francesco Molinari (Italy), Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) and Brandt Snedeker (USA). Notable players that were seven shots back on 142+2 after 36 holes were Ernie Els (RSA), Marcus Fraser (Australia), Kevin Na (USA), Justin Rose (England), Marc Warren (Scotland) and Lee Westwood (England). Notable players that were eight shots back on 143+3 after 36 holes were Tommy Fleetwood (England), Chris Kirk (USA), Phil Mickelson (USA), Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) who scored 66-4 in the second round which was the equal low round of the day!! Also Charl Schwartzel (RSA) and Cameron Tringale (USA). Notable players that were nine shots back on 144+4 after 36 holes were Charlie Beljan (USA), Keegan Bradley (USA), Luke Donald (England), Jim Furyk (USA), Billy Horschel (USA), Zach Johnson (USA), Brooks Koepka (USA), Rory McILroy (NIR), Ryan Palmer (USA), John Senden (Australia) and Robert Streb (USA). Notable players that were ten shots off the lead on 145+5 and making the cut right on the number were Angel Cabrera (Argentina), Sergio Garcia (Spain), Colin Montgomerie (Scotland), D.A. Points (USA), Ian Poulter (England), Webb Simpson (USA), Camilo Villegas (Columbia) and Jimmy Walker (USA).  So there were seventy five players that made the cut. Notable players to miss the cut by one shot on 146+6 after 36 holes were Bill Haas (USA), Charley Hoffman (USA), Martin Kaymer (Germany), Marcel Siem (Germany) and Andy Sullivan (England). Notable players to miss the cut by two shots on 147+7 after 36 holes were Victor Dubuisson (France), David Hearn (Canada), Anirban Lahiri (India), Hunter Mahan (USA), Bubba Watson (USA) and Bernd Wiesberger (Austria). Notable players to miss the cut by three shots on 148+8 after 36 holes were Retief Goosen (RSA), Russell Henley (USA), Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand), Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain), Graeme McDowell (NIR) and Alexander Noren (Sweden). Notable players to miss the cut by four shots on 149+9 after 36 holes were Ryo Ishikawa (Japan), Lee Janzen (USA), Shiv Kapur (India), Ryan Moore (USA), Bo Van Pelt (USA) and Danny Willett (England). Notable players to miss the cut by five shots on 150+10 after 36 holes were Erik Compton (USA), Stephen Gallacher (Scotland), Marc Leishman (Australia), Steve Marino (USA) and Gunn Yang (South Korea) (Am) who is the current U.S. Amateur Champion. Notable players to miss the cut by six shots on 151+11 after 36 holes were Jamie Donaldson (Wales) and Gary Woodland (USA). Notable players to miss the cut by seven shots on 152+12 after 36 holes were Billy Hurley III (USA) and Danny Lee (NZL). Notable players to miss the cut by eight shots on 153+13 after 36 holes were Kurt Barnes (Australia) and Brendon Todd (USA). Notable players to miss the cut by nine shots on 154+14 after 36 holes were Rickie Fowler (USA) and Richard H Lee (USA). Notable players to miss the cut by eleven shots on 156+16 after 36 holes were Tiger Woods (USA) and Lucas Glover (USA). 

The third round was played on Saturday 20th June in bright sunny conditions with moderate winds and four players tied for the lead on 206-4 after 54 holes and they were Jordan Speith (USA) who scored a third round 71+1 to go with his first round 68-2 and his second round 67-3. Jason Day (Australia) was also tied for the lead after scoring a brilliant third round of 68-2 (which included a 31-4 on the back nine) after suffering vertigo on his final hole in his second round, to go along with his first round 68-2 and his second round 70 even par. Brendan Grace (RSA) was also tied for the lead after scoring a 70 even par in the third round to go along with his first round 69-1 and his second round 67-3. The final player that was tied for the lead was Dustin Johnson (USA) who scored a third round 70 even par to along with his first round 65-5 and his second round 71+1. Players that were three shots back after 54 holes on 209-1 were Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) who scored a third round of 66-4 which was the low round of the day by two shots. Also on that score were Cameron Smith (Australia), Shane Lowry (Ireland) and J.B. Holmes (USA). Players that were five shots back on 211+1 after 54 holes were Brandt Snedeker (USA), Andres Romero (Argentina), Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Tony Finau (USA), Joost Luiten (Netherlands) and Patrick Reed (USA). Players that were six shots back on 212+2 after 54 holes were Charl Schwartzel (RSA), Matt Kuchar (USA), Alexander Levy (France) and Kevin Kisner (USA). Players that were seven shots back on 213+3 after 54 holes were Charlie Beljan (USA), Francesco Molinari (Italy), Adam Scott (Australia), Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), Jason Dufner (USA) and Jame Lovemark (USA). Players that were eight shots back on 214+4 after 54 holes were Ian Poulter (England), Brooks Koepka (USA), Rory McILroy (NIR), John Senden (Australia), Marc Warren (Scotland), Kevin Na (USA), Justin Rose (England), Ollie Schniederjans (USA) (Am), Jack Maguire (USA) (Am) and Paul Casey (England). Players that were nine shots back on 215+5 after 54 holes were Sergio Garcia (Spain), Jimmy Gunn (Scotland), Denny McCarty (USA) (Am) and Daniel Summerhays (USA). Notable players ten shots back on 216+6 after 54 holes were Keegan Bradley (USA), Tommy Fleetwood (England), Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) and Webb Simpson (USA). Notable players eleven shots back on 217+7 after 54 holes were Luke Donald (England), Jim Furyk (USA), Billy Horschel (USA), Colin Montgomerie (Scotland), Ryan Palmer (USA) and Jimmy Walker (USA). Notable players twelve shots back on 218+8 after 54 holes were Thomas Aiken (RSA) and Ernie Els (RSA). Notable players thirteen shots back on 219+9 after 54 holes were Angel Cabrera (Argentina), Lee Westwood (England) and Marcus Fraser (Australia). Notable players fourteen shots back on 220+10 after 54 holes were Phil Mickelson (USA) and Sam Saunders (USA). Notable players sixteen shots back on 222+12 after 54 holes were Zach Johnson (USA) and D. A. Points (USA). Notable players seventeen shots back on 223+13 after 54 holes were Chris Kirk (USA) and Ben Martin (USA) (who scored a shocking 86+16 in the third round which was the worst round of the day by six shots and the equal worst round of the tournament). And nineteen shots back on 225+15 after 54 holes and propping up the rear of the field was Camilo Villegas (Columbia).  
 
Jordan Spieth (USA) tees off during the final round
The final round was played on Sunday 21st June in bright sunny conditions with light winds and the player by the name of Jordan Spieth (USA) who scored a brilliant 69-1 in the final round to go along with his first round 68-2, second round 67-3 and third 71+1 for a 72 hole total of 275-5 to win by a single shot for his maiden U.S. Open Championship (Second Major Championship of his career) and his third win of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour Season and the fourth win of his USPGA Tour career to date so far. It was also his second Major Championship win of his career having won the Masters Tournament in April. Jordan Spieth (USA) won US $1,800,000 for the win and remained at the top of the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $7,863,838 earned from the seventeen events he has played to date this season so far. Dustin Johnson (USA) is second on that list with US $4,326,104 earned from the fourteen events he has played to date this season so far. Jordan Spieth (USA) also earned 600 FedEx Cup points for his win and remained at the top of the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup points list standings with 3,128 points earned from the seventeen events he has played to date this season so far and is 1,213 points ahead of Jimmy Walker (USA) who has earned 1,915 points from the sixteen 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 fifteen cuts and achieved ten top ten finishes (which is the most of any player on the USPGA Tour this season to date) which includes his win at the Valspar Championship in March; his maiden Major Championship win at the Masters Tournament in April and his second Major Championship win this week at the 115th U.S. Open Championship (His three wins this season to date is the most of any player to date so far). He will be happy with his first, second and final rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his 67-3 in the second round and also the birdies he made in his final round 69-1 on the par four, sixteenth hole and par five, eighteenth hole to win!! But he will be just content with third round 71+1 but it didn’t stop him winning!! 

Jordan Spieth (USA) played a brilliant final round of 69-1 under the circumstances of carrying a share of the lead in the final round and it included a front nine of 35 even par with a solid birdie on the par five, eight hole where he hit the green in two shots and two putted for his birdie four but he had a poor bogey on the par four, first hole where he three putted and made the turn at minus four and was two shots behind the leader. Dustin Johnson (USA) went out in 33-2 and made the turn at minus six and was leading by two shots. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) went out in 38+3 and made the turn at +2 and was eight shots behind the leader. Brendan Grace (RSA) went out in 35 even par and made the turn at minus four and was two shots behind the leader.

Jordan Spieth (USA) made a solid par on the par four, tenth hole and remained at minus four but now was only one shot behind the leader. Dustin Johnson (USA) made a poor bogey on the par four, tenth hole and fell back to minus five and now was only leading by one shot. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) made a solid par on the par four, tenth hole and remained at +2 but was now only seven shots behind the leader. Brendan Grace (RSA) made a solid par at the par four, tenth hole and remained at minus four but now was only one shot behind the leader. 

Jordan Spieth (USA) made a solid par at the par four, eleventh hole and remained at minus four and was now tied for the lead. Dustin Johnson (USA) made a poor bogey at the par four, eleventh hole and fell back to minus four and was now tied for the lead. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) made a solid par at the par four, eleventh hole and remained at +2 but was now only six shots behind the leader. Brendan Grace (RSA) made a solid par at the par four, eleventh hole and remained at minus four and was now tied for the lead. 

Jordan Speith (USA) made a good birdie on the driveable par four, twelfth hole and moved to minus five and was still tied for the lead. Dustin Johnson (USA) made a poor par on the driveable par four, twelfth hole and remained at minus four but now was one shot behind the leaders. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) made a good birdie on the driveable par four, twelfth hole and moved to +1 and was still six shots behind the leader. Brendan Grace (RSA) made a good birdie on the driveable par four, twelfth hole and moved to minus five and was still tied for the lead. 

Jordan Spieth (USA) made a solid par on the par four, thirteenth hole and remained at minus five and was still tied for the lead. Dustin Johnson (USA) made a poor bogey on the par four, thirteenth hole and fell back to minus three and was now two shots behind the leaders. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) made a very good birdie on the par four, thirteenth hole which was his second straight and he moved to even par and was now only five shots behind the leader. Brendan Grace (RSA) made a solid par on the par thirteenth hole and remained at minus five and was still tied for lead. 

Jordan Spieth (USA) made a solid par on the par four, fourteenth hole and remained at minus five and was still tied for the lead. Dustin Johnson (USA) made a solid par on the par four, fourteenth hole and remained at minus three and was still two shots behind the leaders. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) made an awesome birdie on the par four, fourteenth hole where he holed out with his third shot for his third straight birdie in row!! And he moved to minus one and was now only four shots behind the leaders. Brendan Grace (RSA) made a solid par on the par four, fourteenth hole and remained at minus five and was still tied for the lead. 

Jordan Spieth (USA) made a very good par on the par three, fifteenth hole where he hit an almost perfect tee shot that landed just below the pin and then rolled right back down to the fringe and nearly into the bunker. He then struck a very good approach putt and that finished four feet left of the cup and he rolled that putt in for his par three and remained at minus five and was still tied for the lead. Dustin Johnson (USA) made a very good par on the par three, fifteenth hole where he hit his tee shot short in the green side bunker and hit a brilliant bunker shot out to six feet and holed the putt for his par three and remained at minus three and was still two shots behind the leaders. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) made an excellent birdie on the par three, fifteenth hole which was his fourth in a row!! And he moved to minus two and was now three shots behind the leaders. Brendan Grace (RSA) made a good par on the par three, fifteenth hole and remained at minus five and was still tied for the lead. 

Jordan Spieth (USA) hit a very good tee shot on the driveable par four, sixteenth hole that finished in the first cut of rough on the right ten metres short of the green. Then he played a good chip shot that unexpectedly checked up quick once it hit the green and came up short of the ridge which the pin was over. After displaying lots of frustration he was calmed down by his caddie, Michael Greller and he gave him the confidence and belief he needed to put him in the right frame of mind to made the twenty foot left to right breaking putt over the ridge and that is what he did exactly and he moved to minus six and was now leading by three shots!! Dustin Johnson (USA) made a poor par on the driveable par four, sixteenth hole where he put his tee shot in the bunker and failed to get up and down for his birdie and he remained at minus three and was now three shots behind the leader. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) made a very good birdie on the driveable par four, sixteenth hole where he drove the green and two putted and it was fifth straight birdie in a row which was one short of the U.S. Open Championship record!! And he moved to minus three and was still three shots behind the leader. Brendan Grace (RSA) made a terrible double bogey six on the driveable par four, sixteenth hole where he sliced his tee shot out of bounds and then failed to get up and down for his bogey five and he slip back to minus three and was now three shots behind the leader. 
 
Jordan Spieth (USA) pumps his fist after holing the birdie putt on the sixteenth hole!!
Jordan Spieth (USA) now stood on the par three, seventeenth tee with a three shot lead and knew that two pars would win him the 115th U.S. Open Championship. But he struck one of his worst shots of the whole tournament and saw his six iron leak to the right and finish in the thick rough!! He played his second shot chip from the rough the best he could and it finished forty feet below the cup on the green. He left his first putt three feet short and surprisingly missed the bogey putt and tapped in for double bogey five to fall back to minus four and was now tied for the lead. Dustin Johnson (USA) made an awesome birdie on the par three, seventeenth hole where his tee shot landed on the right of the green and rode the slope to the right and the ball came to rest six feet underneath the cup and he rolled the six foot putt in for his birdie two and moved to minus four and was now tied for the lead. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) hit a good tee shot into the par three, seventeenth hole and it caught the left side of the green and rolled down to about twenty feet from the pin but his attempt at his six straight birdie missed on the right hand side and he tapped in for his par three and remained at minus three and now was one shot behind the leader. Brendan Grace (RSA) played a good tee shot to the par three, seventeenth hole where it caught the left side of the green and rolled down to about thirty feet from the pin. He struck a very good putt for his birdie which came up inches short of the cup and he tapped in for par and remained at minus three now only was one shot behind the leader.  

Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) who was playing a few groups ahead of the final group hit a poor tee shot off the par five, seventy second tee which was drawn too much and rolled into the left hand fairway bunker. He laid up to within 100 yards of the green and hit his third shot with his wedge twenty feet below the pin on the green. He rolled the twenty foot putt in for his birdie four and scored an amazing 29-6 on his back nine to finish the 72 holes at minus four and was one shot behind the winner!! Brendan Grace (RSA) who was playing in the second to last group with Jordan Spieth (USA) hit a poor drive on the par five, seventy second hole that drew too much and landed in the left hand fairway bunker. He was back far enough that he was able to have a go at the green with his four iron and rolled his ball up just short of the green. Then he putted for his eagle three as a long shot to possibly force a playoff and it was indicative of the Chambers Bay Golf Course all week where his putt almost went in for eagle and then rolled up the slope at the back of the green rolled back down the slope and almost went in for eagle again and keep rolling to finally come to rest forty feet from the cup!! He two putted from there for his par five and finished the seventy two holes at minus three and was two shots behind the winner. Jordan Spieth (USA) who was playing in the second to last group now stood on the par five, seventy second tee tied for the lead with Dustin Johnson (USA) and hit a brilliant drive that started up the left side of the fairway and faded back to the right leaving him just over 280 yards to the green. His caddie, Michael Greller told him “'you've hit this shot before already” and that gave him the confidence to go ahead and execute the shot!! He made great contact with his fairway wood and it landed on the green pin high to the right and rolled to the left and came to rest twenty feet underneath the cup. He now had an eagle putt that if he holed it he would more than likely win the tournament. He stuck a good putt but as soon as he had struck it he knew it was missing on the left and it came to rest a foot from the cup and he tapped in for his birdie four and he scored 34-1 on his back nine and finished the 72 holes at minus five and at that point he must of thought it was a good chance he would be in a eighteen hole playoff on Monday. 

Dustin Johnson (USA) who was playing in the final group with Jason Day (Australia) stood on the par five, seventy second tee tied for the lead at minus four and hit a stunning drive right down the right hand side of the fairway leaving just a mid iron to the green. He then struck a perfect five iron for his second shot and it came to rest twelve feet above the cup and left him with a very makeable eagle putt to win the 115th U.S. Open Championship. He calmed his nerve and struck the twelve foot putt for eagle that was downhill but he allow for too much left to right break and it never took it and rolled four feet past the cup. He was now faced with a four foot birdie putt to force an eighteen hole Monday playoff with Jordan Spieth (USA). Dustin Johnson (USA) stuck a very poor putt from four feet for his birdie four and it just missed on the left hand side and he tapped in for his par five and walked off the 72nd green very disappointed!!  Having just blown a golden chance to win his maiden Major Championship and he finished the seventy two holes at minus four one shot behind the winner. 
 
Jordan Spieth (USA) acknowledges the gallery after it was confirmed he was the U.S. Open Champion!!
So Jordan Spieth (USA) now realised he had won his second Major Championship and maiden U.S. Open Championship!! He got a huge hug and high five from his caddie, Michael Greller!! Then he got hugs and high fives from his Mum, Chris, Dad, Shawn and Brother, Steve and many other Family friends!! Then in the trophy presentation he made special mention of his Dad and how he has supported him throughout the early years of his career because it was Fathers Day!! He then when to the press centre and was interviewed about his win and he said “It's hard right now. It's hard. I'm still amazed that I won, let alone that we weren't playing tomorrow. So for that turnaround right there, to watch that happen, I feel for Dustin, but I haven't been able to put anything in perspective yet." And was asked if he feels he can win the Calendar year Grand Slam and said "To go to the Home of Golf in the next tournament is the sole focus, I am not going to look beyond that. But I guess you can't win them all unless you win the first two.”  Then he was asked if he believes he can win the Open Championship next month and he said "We will go to St Andrews looking to win the Claret Jug. I believe we will be able to get the job done if we get the right prep in." When asked if he was happy the eighteenth hole played as a par five in the final round and he replied "I was happy 18 was a par five, first and foremost (a reference to calling it a "dumb" hole when played as a par four on Friday). And the final question was what was he feeling before he played the second shot to the seventy second hole and he replied “I hit a drive right where I wanted and Michael (Greller, his caddie) said 'you've hit this shot before already'. I got a nice little bounce and two putts later...I did not think it was enough."

It was Jordan Spieth’s (USA) second European Tour International Schedule victory in his 17th European Tour event. He moves closer to Rory McIlroy (NIR) in the Official World Golf Ranking and move to 10.8475 points. It was his second European Tour victory of the 2015 season, following the Masters Tournament. He has won his second consecutive European Tour stroke play event, following the Masters Tournament. (Was tied 17th in his last European Tour event, the WGC – Cadillac Match Play Championship). He becomes the sixth multiple winner of the 2015 European Tour season. They are: Branden Grace (RSA) (Alfred Dunhill Championship and Commercial Bank Qatar Masters), Anirban Lahiri (India) (Maybank Malaysian Open and Hero Indian Open), Andy Sullivan (England) (South African Open Championship hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni and Joburg Open), Rory McIlroy (NIR) (Omega Dubai Desert Classic and WGC – Cadillac Match Play), George Coetzee (RSA) (Tshwane Open and AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open) and Jordan Spieth (USA) (Masters Tournament and US Open Championship). It was second Major Championship victory in his tenth Major Championship appearance. It was his second consecutive Major Championship victory following the Masters Tournament. This victory comes in his fourth US Open Championship appearance. This victory beats his previous best US Open Championship performance of tied 17th in 2014. He becomes the first player since Tiger Woods (USA) in 2002 to win the Masters Tournament and the US Open Championship in the same season.
 
Jordan Spieth (USA) poses with the U.S. Open Championship Trophy and Medal he won for winning the 2015 U.S. Open Championship!!
He becomes only the sixth player to win the Masters Tournament and US Open Championship in the same season. They are: Craig Wood (USA) (1941), Ben Hogan (USA) (1951, 1953), Arnold Palmer (USA) (1960), Jack Nicklaus (USA) (1972), Tiger Woods (USA) (2002) and Jordan Spieth (USA) (2015). He becomes the 15th player in Major Championship history to have won both the Masters Tournament and US Open Championship. He becomes the first player since Rory McIlroy (NIR) (2014 Open Championship and 2014 US PGA Championship) to win consecutive Major Championships. He becomes the 22nd different golfer to win consecutive Major Championships. At aged 21 years and 329 days becomes the youngest winner of the US Open Championship since Bobby Jones (USA), in 1923, who was 21 years and 120 days and sixth youngest in history. At aged 21 years and 329 days becomes the youngest player to win their first two Major Championships since Gene Sarazen (USA), who was 20 years and 172 days when he won his second Major Championship at the 1922 US PGA Championship. He becomes the fourth youngest player in history to win their first two Major Championships. They are: Tom Morris Jnr (Scotland) (18 in 1869, won the Open Championship in 1868 and 1869), Gene Sarazen (USA) (20 in 1922, won the 1922 US Open Championship and the 1922 US PGA Championship), John McDermott (USA) (20 in 1912, won the US Open Championship in 1911 and 1912) and Jordan Spieth (USA) (21 in 2015, won the Masters Tournament and US Open Championship). He becomes the youngest player to win back-to-back Majors since Gene Sarazen (USA) in 1922, aged 20 years and 172 days. Gene Sarazen (USA) won the US Open Championship then the US PGA Championship. He becomes the youngest player to win both the Masters Tournament and US Open Championship, aged 21 years and 329 days. He becomes the youngest winner of the Masters Tournament and US Open Championship in the same season, aged 21 years and 329 days.

He became the 12th youngest Major Championship winner in history, aged 21 years and 259 days at the 2015 Masters Tournament. He is now the 13th youngest at 21 years and 329 days, here at the US Open Championship. He becomes the 80th different player to record multiple Major Championship victories. He becomes the 49th different player to win two or more different Major Championships. He has won the first two Major Championships in 2015.Led in seven of the eight rounds of Major Championship golf this season, having won the Masters Tournament, wire-to-wire and led the US Open Championship since round two. He becomes the 51st time that the 54 hole leader has go onto win the US Open Championship. He becomes just the sixth American victory in the US Open Championship in the last 15 years. They are: Tiger Woods (USA) (2002 and 2008), Jim Furyk (USA) (2003), Lucas Glover (USA) (2009), Webb Simpson (USA) (2012) and Jordan Spieth (USA) (2015). He becomes the 201st American victory in European Tour history. 

He becomes the third American victory on the 2015 European Tour. They are: Dustin Johnson (USA) (WGC – Cadillac Championship) and Jordan Spieth (USA) (Masters Tournament and US Open Championship). He becomes the first American to record multiple European Tour victories in the same European Tour season since Bubba Watson (USA) in 2014. He claimed the Masters Tournament and WGC – HSBC Champions. He jointly shared the lead going into the final round of the US Open Championship. It is the 15th time this season on The European Tour, the 54 hole leader has gone onto win. He gains a ten year exemption into the US Open Championship. At aged 21 years and 329 days becomes the youngest American to record multiple European Tour victories. At aged 21 years and 329 days becomes the youngest player to record multiple European Tour victories in the same season since Sergio Garcia (Spain), who was 19 years and 267 days, when he won the second of his titles at the Linde German Masters in 1999. 

Jordan Alexander Spieth (USA) (/ˈspiːθ/; SPEETH; 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 Tournament 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 also won the 2015 U.S. Open Championship with a final score of 5-under-par. 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 22, following Tiger Woods (USA), Sergio García (Spain), and Robert Gamez (USA). He is the youngest U.S. Open champion since Bobby Jones (USA) in 1923. Jordan Spieth (USA) was born in Dallas, Texas, to Shawn T. Spieth and Mary Christine (née Julius) Spieth. He attended St. Monica Catholic School and graduated from Jesuit College Preparatory School in 2011. Jordan Spieth (USA) has won four USPGA Tour events with the first one being the 2013 John Deere Classic and the second one being the 2015 Valspar Championship and both his first two have come in playoffs. And his third one in April and his equal biggest to date so far in his very young career at the 79th Masters Tournament (His Maiden Major Championship) and the second one this past week and the equal biggest to date so far at the 115th U.S. Open Championship (His Second Major Championship). He also won the 2014 Emirates Australian Open and 2014 Hero World Challenge (Tiger Woods Tournament) in back to back weeks at the end of last year. Jordan Spieth (USA) opened the 2013 season by missing the cut by two strokes at the Framers 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. 

Jordan Spieth (USA) admires the names that are already on the U.S. Open Championship Trophy he won and his name is going on there with them!!
On July 14, about two weeks before his twentieth 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, PGA 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 USPGA 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) in 2014 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 he shot a course-record 63 to win the title by six strokes. A week later Jordan Spieth (USA) completed back-to-back victories, winning the Hero World Challenge in Florida. He won the tournament wire-to-wire and in doing so set a new tournament scoring record of 26-under-par. On March 15, Jordan Spieth (USA) won the Valspar Championship in a three-way playoff with Patrick Reed (USA) and Sean O’Hair (USA). He secured his victory on the third extra hole by sinking a twenty eight foot birdie putt. And with this second Major Championship win at the 115th U.S. Open Championship this past week he now remains in a career high position of second in the latest Official World Golf Rankings. On June 21, 2015, Jordan Spieth (USA) won the 115th U.S. Open Championship. He shot a final round of 69 (1-under-par), to give him a total of 275 (5-under-par) to win the tournament by one shot. Dustin Johnson (USA), who three-putted from 12 feet on the 72nd hole, finished tied for 2nd (with Louis Oosthuizen (RSA)), one stroke behind. Jordan Spieth (USA) became the sixth player ever to win the Masters and the U.S. Open Championship back to back, and the first since Tiger Woods (USA) in 2002. The other four golfers to accomplish this feat are Hall of Fame members Ben Hogan (USA), Arnold Palmer (USA), Jack Nicklaus (USA) and Craig Wood (USA). After earning a spot on the 2013 Presidents Cup team, Jordan Spieth (USA) began to plan the Jordan Spieth Charitable Fund. The fund provides awareness and financial assistance to special needs children, military families and youth golf.   Jordan Speith (USA) is the son of Chris and Shawn Spieth, both natives of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Donald Spieth, is a renowned conductor. The Spieths are of German descent. Jordan's great-great-grandfather, Carl Spieth, immigrated from Württemberg in 1891. Jordan Spieth (USA) has two younger siblings, Steven and Ellie. Steven is a basketball player at Brown University. Ellie has grown up with disabilities and Jordan Spieth (USA) has credited her with keeping him grounded and focused as well as keeping the game of golf in perspective. He has been linked to Annie Verret, who works at the First Tee after graduating from Texas Tech. Still at the tender age of twenty one years old his future looks very bright and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he wins his third Major Championship in the next few years and perhaps it will happen at the Open Championship in July (Next Month). I wish him all the best for the remaining events for the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Rounding out the top three in tied for second position at 276-4 after 72 holes was Dustin Johnson (USA); he earned US $877,144 for his efforts and moved to second position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $4,326,104 earned from the fourteen events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 270 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to third position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,589 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 eleven cuts and achieved seven top ten finishes which includes the one this week and his win at the WGC – Cadillac Championship in March. He will be happy with his first, third and final rounds that were all at par and under par especially his first round 65-5 which saw him tied for the lead!! But he will be disappointed with his second round 71+1 and his 37+2 on his final round back nine especially the three shots he dropped in the holes around the turn from holes ten to thirteen and how he three putted the seventy second green for par when he had a great chance to win or at least make the eighteen hole playoff on the Monday!! But I am sure he will get his chance again to win his maiden Major Championship in the next few years? Dustin Hunter Johnson (USA) (born June 22, 1984) is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the USPGA Tour. He is one of the longest drivers on the USPGA Tour, having been third in the driving distance stats for three consecutive years (2009–11) and has ranked inside the top five in each of his five years on the USPGA Tour. He has been featured in the top five of the Official World Golf Ranking, reaching a high of third this past week. He finished second at the 2015 U.S. Open (as I mentioned above). Dustin Johnson (USA) has won nine USPGA Tour events to date so far in his career and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2008 Turning Stone Resort Championship; 2009 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro – Am; 2010 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro – Am; 2010 BMW Championship; 2011 The Barclays; 2012 FedEx St. Jude Classic; 2013 Hyundai Tournament of Champions; 2013 WGC – HSBC Champions and the 2015 WGC – Cadillac Championship. He has also recorded seven top ten finishes to date so far in Major Championships and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he won his maiden Major Championship in 2015. He also has achieved five top ten finishes to date so far in WGC – Events which includes winning the 2013 WGC – HSBC Championship and the 2015 WGC – Cadillac Championship. Dustin Johnson was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and played collegiate golf at Coastal Carolina University. As an amateur, he won the Monroe Invitational and the Northeast Amateur in 2007 and played on the winning 2007 Walker Cup and Palmer Cup teams. Dustin Johnson (USA) is the first player since Tiger Woods (USA) to win at least once in each of his eight seasons coming out of college. 

Dustin Johnson (USA) turned professional in late 2007 and earned his 2008 USPGA Tour card by finishing in a tie for fourteenth place at the 2007 qualifying school in December. Toward the end of his rookie season in October 2008, Dustin Johnson (USA) won his first USPGA Tour event, the Turning Stone Resort Championship in upstate New York. Four months later, he won his second event at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro – Am, which was shortened to 54 holes when the final round was cancelled due to strong winds and heavy rain. Dustin Johnson (USA) won by four strokes over Mike Weir (Canada) and five strokes over second round leader Retief Goosen (RSA), who shot a third round 74. Dustin Johnson (USA) finished the 2009 season ranked fifteen on the USPGA Tour money list. On July 31, 2014, Dustin Johnson (USA) announced he was taking the rest of the season off to seek professional help for personal challenges. In February 2010, Dustin Johnson (USA) birdied the final hole to defeat former world number one David Duval (USA) and two-time USPGA Tour winner J.B. Holmes (USA) to successfully defend his AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro – Am title. He continued his Pebble Beach success by shooting 71-70-66 to take a three-shot lead over Graeme McDowell (NIR) at the 2010 U.S. Open. In the last pairing on Sunday, Dustin Johnson (USA) had trouble early and never recovered; he shot a disappointing 82 and finished tied for eighth (Graeme McDowell (NIR) won the championship). In the final round of the 2010 PGA Championship, Dustin Johnson (USA) held a one-shot lead entering the final hole. He appeared to have bogeyed the hole, which would have tied him for first and entered him into a three-hole playoff with Bubba Watson (USA) and Martin Kaymer (Germany). However, he received a two-stroke penalty for grounding his club in a bunker, thereby dropping him to a tie for fifth place. Martin Kaymer (Germany) eventually won the playoff. Dustin Johnson (USA) broke his streak of bad luck at the third FedEx Cup playoff event of the season, the BMW Championship at Cog Hill in September. It was Dustin Johnson's (USA) fourth career USPGA Tour victory, and his first in any FedEx Cup playoff event. He finished the 2010 season ranked fourth on the USPGA Tour money list. 

Dustin Johnson (USA) took part in the Long Drive Contest for charity at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in January, alongside Bubba Watson (USA) and Robert Garrigus (USA). In March 2011, Dustin Johnson (USA) entered the final round of the WGC – Cadillac Championship with a two stroke lead over the rest of the field. However he could only manage a final round one-under-par 71 to finish as runner-up behind Nick Watney (USA). Dustin Johnson (USA) earned his best finish in a Major Championship in July at the 2011 Open Championship in England. He finished in a tie for second place at Royal St George’s, alongside fellow American Phil Mickelson (USA), three strokes behind champion Darren Clarke (NIR). Dustin Johnson's (USA) first three rounds of 70-68-68 left him one stroke behind Darren Clarke (NIR) and for most of Sunday's round Dustin Johnson (USA) managed to keep up with him, at one stage being just one back. His final round charge was derailed at the par five fourteenth hole, when his second shot went out of bounds and led to a double bogey. This took Dustin Johnson (USA) out of contention as he slipped to four strokes behind Darren Clarke (NIR) with only four holes to play. One highlight of Dustin Johnson's (USA) week at Royal St George's came in the first round when he recorded a hole in one on the par three 16th hole. This result marked the third time that Dustin Johnson (USA) had been part of the final group on Sunday at a Major Championship and also occurring in three out of the four majors, the 2010 U.S. Open, the 2010 PGA Championship and the 2011 Open Championship. As a result of this second place finish, Dustin Johnson (USA) moved to his highest spot in the Official World Golf Ranking at the time, seventh, and became the third-ranked American behind Steve Stricker (USA) and Phil Mickelson (USA).

Dustin Johnson (USA) won his fifth USPGA Tour title at The Barclays in 2011. He beat Matt Kuchar (USA) by two strokes. This was his second 54-hole tournament victory of his career, after the 2009 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. The tournament was shortened due to the threat of Hurricane Irene. Dustin Johnson (USA) shot rounds of 66-63-65 to win at -19. This was Dustin Johnson's (USA) first victory of 2011 and it moved him from nineteenth to first in the FedEx Cup standings. It was also the second FedEx Cup playoff event win of his career after he won the BMW Championship in 2010. The win also took him to a career high of fourth in the world rankings, the second highest American, (behind Steve Stricker (USA)). Although he started the playoffs well and held the number one position for the first week, he was unable to continue his form at the three remaining playoff events and did not record a single top twenty in any of them and finished fourth in the final FedEx Cup standings.

Dustin Johnson incurred a back injury at home in March and missed over two months of the 2012 season, including the first major at The Masters Tournament. He returned to competition in late May at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio, made the cut and finished tied for nineteenth. The following week he won his sixth tour event, the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tennessee at TPC Southwind. He missed the cut at the U.S. Open the week after, finishing at +9, one stroke outside the cut mark. Dustin Johnson (USA) began his 2013 season with a win at the season opening Hyundai Tournament of Championships, an event reserved for winners from the past season. Dustin Johnson (USA) won by four strokes over defending champion Steve Stricker (USA) in an event that was shortened to 54 holes due the bad weather, mainly due to a very strong wind that meant conditions were unplayable. The first three days of the tournament were wiped out, with the field having to complete 36 holes on the Monday and a final 18 on Tuesday. The event was Dustin Johnson's (USA) seventh PGA Tour win and his third in a 54-hole event; a 54-hole event is still considered an official win with full Official World Golf ranking points. The same week Dustin Johnson (USA) also was seen with Paulina Gretzky, daughter of Wayne Gretzky. The two announced their engagement on August 18.In November, Dustin Johnson (USA) won the WGC – HSBC Champions, part of the 2013–14 USPGA Tour season. On July 31, 2014, Dustin Johnson (USA) announced he was taking the rest of the season off to seek professional help for personal challenges. On August 1, conflicting reports surfaced regarding the circumstances of Dustin Johnson's (USA) announcement from the previous day. Golf Magazine reported that Dustin Johnson (USA) had been suspended from the USPGA Tour for six months after testing positive for cocaine. The magazine indicated that this was his third positive drug test, after a 2009 positive for marijuana and 2012 positive for cocaine.  However, USPGA Tour officials indicated that Dustin Johnson (USA) was taking a voluntary leave and was not under suspension. 

Dustin Johnson (USA) returned to the tour at the Farmers Insurance Open in February. He missed the cut by one stroke. In the next two events Dustin Johnson (USA) played, he recorded two top-five finishes: tied for fourth at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro – Am; and tied for second at the Northern Trust Open after losing at the third playoff hole to James Hahn (USA). Dustin Johnson (USA) missed a twelve footer for birdie on the third extra hole to extend the playoff. Those results led Dustin Johnson (USA) back inside the top-15 in the Official World Golf Rankings. As I mentioned earlier On March 8, Dustin Johnson (USA) beat J. B. Holmes (USA) by one stroke to win the WGC – Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida. His life and golfing career are back on track now because On September 23, 2014, his fiancée Paulina Gretzky announced that she was pregnant with the couple's first child, due in 2015 and on January 20, 2015, Dustin Johnson (USA) announced the birth of their first child, a son, Tatum. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season.

The final player to tied for second position was Louis Oosthuizen (RSA); he too earned US $877,144 for his efforts and moved to twentieth sixth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,043,652 earned from the twelve events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 270 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to forty third position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 751 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 eight cuts and achieved five top ten finishes which includes the one this past week. He will be extremely happy with his second, third and final rounds that were all in the mid 60s especially his second and third rounds that were both 66-4s and his final round 67-3 which included a back nine of 29-6 which included five birdies in a row from holes twelve to sixteen!! But he will be extremely disappointed with his first round 77+7 and his front nine 38+3 in the final round!! But he displayed some incredible intestinal fortitude when he was paired with Tiger Woods (USA) and Rickie Fowler (USA) who were both well out of form and going to miss the cut and after the first round he was headed in that direction as well and he started his second round with two bogeys and was nine over the card, but he played the next sixteen holes of his second round in six under the card and easily made the cut and scored seven under on his final two rounds!! And he displayed poor form leading in with missing his two previous cuts. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) born 19 October 1982) is a South African professional golfer who won the 2010 Open Championship and was runner-up in the 2012 Masters Tournament. His highest placing on the Official World Golf Ranking is fourth which he achieved in January 2013. He has won one USPGA Tour event to date so far in his career and it came at the 2010 Open Championship (Which was his maiden Major Championship win) at St Andrews, Scotland. He has also achieved three other top ten finishes in Major Championships with a second place in the 2012 Masters Tournament when he lost in a playoff to Bubba Watson (USA) on the second playoff hole, tied for ninth at the 2011 U.S. Open Championship and the tied for second this past week as I mentioned before. He also has achieved seven wins on the European Tour to date so far in his career which he is also a member of and his last win came at the 2014 Volvo Golf Champions. He has also achieved six top ten finishes in WGC Events with his best finish being solo fourth at the 2012 Bridgestone Invitational. Let’s hope he can have more top ten finishes in the weeks ahead on the USPGA Tour. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

The only New Zealand Golfer in the field was Danny Lee (NZL) and he was playing in his maiden U.S. Open Championship and he scored rounds of 78+8 in the first round which was shocking in light winds and it included a poor front nine of 40+5 where he bogeyed the par four, seventh hole and had shocking double bogeys at the par four, second hole and par four, sixth hole. He scored a poor back nine of 38+3 which included birdies on the par four, twelfth hole and par four, thirteenth hole but he had poor bogeys on the par four, tenth hole, par four, fourteenth hole and par five, eighteenth hole and a terrible double bogey on the par four, sixteenth hole. Then he scored an average second round of  74+4 that included a poor front nine of 37+1 with birdies on the par five, first hole and par four, fifth hole but he had poor bogeys on the par three, third hole and par four, fourth hole and par five, eighth hole and then he scored a poor back nine of 37+3 with a lone birdie on the par four, sixteenth hole but had poor bogeys on the par four, eleventh hole, par four, thirteen hole, par three, fifteen hole and par three, seventeenth hole for a 36 hole total of 152+12 to miss the cut by seven shots. He moved to sixtieth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,221,687 earned from the twenty five 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 moved to sixtieth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 640 points earned from the twenty five events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty five events he has played to date this season so far he has made fourteen cuts and withdrawn from one event and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the one four weeks ago at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial 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 disappointed with his first and second rounds that were both in the mid to high 70s and especially with his first round 78+8!! He has now missed his last two cuts and this will slightly dent his confidence after some good recent play prior to those missed cuts. 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. 

Tiger Woods (USA) who was playing in his sixth tournament of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season in his first round scored 80+10 which was extremely shocking and was his worst round ever in his U.S. Open Championship career to date and included a poor front nine of 39+4 with poor bogeys on the par four, first hole, par four, second hole, par four, fourth hole and par four, sixth hole. Then he played the back nine in 41+6 which was shocking and included a lone birdie on the par four, sixteenth hole but he had a poor bogeys on the par four, eleven hole, par four, twelfth hole, par four, thirteenth hole and a shocking double bogey on the par five, eighteenth hole where he topped his three wood second shot!! and was derailed with a disastrous triple bogey on the par four, fourteenth hole and it was after his two week layoff to work on his game since the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide  in early June. Then he came out in the second round and scored a shocking 76+6  which included a shocking 40+4 on the front nine with a lone birdie on the par five, first hole and he had poor bogeys on the par four, second hole, par three, third hole, par four, seventh hole, par five, eighth hole and par three, ninth hole and he scored a back nine of 36+2 which included a lone birdie on the par four, twelfth hole but he had poor bogeys on the par four, tenth hole, par four, fourteenth hole and par four, eighteenth hole for a 36 hole total of 156+16 and he missed the cut by eleven shots!! (It was also his worst ever result in a U.S. Open Championship as a professional!!) He moved to 180th position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $187,276 earned from the six events he has played in to date this season so far. He moved to 200th position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 58 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, withdrawn from one event and achieved no top ten finishes. He will be discussed with his first round 80+10 which was his worst round of his U.S. Open Championship career ever!! And he will be very disappointed with his second round 76+6 even though it was four shots better than his first round!! At least he will be happy that his back has held up to complete 36 holes and I feel a made cut and top ten finish is not to far way for him if he can find away to hit his drives in the fairway and cure his chip yips!! His next start will likely be at the Greenbrier Classic which is in two weeks time.  I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015 part of 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to the State of Connecticut for the Travelers Championship and it is played on the TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut. It carries a large prize purse of US $6,400,000 for the taking. Kevin Streelman (USA) is the defending champion having won by making seven birdies in a row to finish his final round last year and will be keen to defend his title. Danny Lee (NZL), Tim Wilkinson (NZL) and Steven Alker (NZL) are likely to gain starts as well. It starts on Thursday 25th June 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 sixth week of his fifth spell of his career and for the 86th week of his career in total is Rory McILroy (NIR) fresh off his tied for ninth position at the 115th U.S. Open Championship this past week and his missed cut at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation three weeks ago with 12.77 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Jordan Spieth (USA) who is fresh off his win at the 115th U.S. Open Championship this past week and his tied for third position at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance two weeks ago with 11.06 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Dustin Johnson (USA) who is fresh off his tied for second position at the 115th U.S. Open Championship this past week and his withdrawal at the FedEx. St Jude Classic during the first round one week ago with 6.97 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Justin Rose (England) who is fresh off his tied for twenty seventh position at the 115th U.S. Open Championship this past week and his solo second position at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance two weeks ago with 6.65 Official World Ranking Points and rounding out the top five on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list standings this week is Bubba Watson (USA) who is fresh off his missed cut at the 115th U.S. Open Championship this past week and his tied for forty second position at the Players Championship six weeks ago with 6.64 Official World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) this week is in his fourteenth week of another spell of being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after he missed the cut at the 115th U.S. Open Championship this past week on the USPGA Tour. This week he fell five places and drops to 161st position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings with 1.05 Official Golf World Ranking Points. 

Remember when playing in extremely cold conditions it is important to keep your hands warm!!
Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org, Google search engine, europeantour.com, golfchannel.com