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 

No comments:

Post a Comment