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).
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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) 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
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