Well it was another amazing weekend on the Major
Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week the USPGA Tour and
FedEx Cup headed to the State of Virginia for the Quicken Loans National which
was hosted by Tiger Woods (USA) and he was playing as well and the tournament
raises money for injured U.S. Armed Forces Veterans and his Tiger Woods
Foundation for Children and it was played on the Robert Trent Jones
GC, Gainesville, Virginia. It carried a huge prize purse of US $6,700,000 for the taking. Justin Rose
(England) was the defending champion and was very 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 Troy Merritt (USA) who scored
rounds of 70-1, 68-3, 61-10 and a final round of 67-4 for a 72 hole total of
266-18 and he won by three shots for his maiden USPGA Tour win of his career!!
He earned US $1,206,000 for the win and moved to thirty fourth position on the
current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,958,848 earned from
the twenty four events he has played to date this season so far. Jordan Spieth
(USA) still leads that list with US $9,170,215 earned from the nineteen events
he has played to date this season so far. Troy Merritt (USA) also earned 500
FedEx Cup points for the win and moved to thirty eighth position on the current
2014/15 FedEx Cup points list standings with 915 points earned from the twenty
four events he has played to date this season so far and he is 2,848 points
behind the current leader of the list who is Jordan Spieth (USA) who has earned
3,763 points from the nineteen events he has played to date this season so far.
From the twenty four events Troy Merritt (USA) has played to date this season
so far he has made eleven cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which
includes the win this week. He will be happy with his four rounds this week
that were all under par especially his third round 61-10 which was the low
round of the day by three shots and the low round of the tournament as well and
it was the second time he has scored 61 this season having also done it in the
second round of the RBC Heritage in April!! He will be also happy with his 67-4
he scored in the final round and how he stood up to the intense pressure of
being in the final group and producing quality shots under the gun!! And to
make this performance even more remarkable was the fact that he had missed his
last five straight cuts!!
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| Troy Merritt (USA) plays a bunker shot during the final round |
Troy Merritt (USA)
played a great final round of 67-4 which included a front nine of 33-3 with
birdies on the par four, first hole, par five, fifth hole and par four, seventh
hole and he made the turn at minus seventeen and was leading by one shot. Rickie
Fowler (USA) went out in 37+1 and made the turn at minus twelve and was five
shots behind the leader. David Lingmerth (Sweden) went out in 34-2 and made the
turn at minus fourteen and was three shots behind the leader. Bill Haas (USA)
went out in 31-5 and made the turn at minus sixteen and was one shot behind the
leader.
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| Tory Merritt (USA) putts for birdie during the final round |
Troy Merritt (USA)
played holes ten to fourteen in one over par which included bogeying the par
four, twelfth hole and he fell back to minus sixteen and was now tied for the
lead. Rickie Fowler (USA) played holes ten to fourteen in one under par which
included birdies on the par three, eleventh hole, par four, twelfth hole and
par five, fourteenth hole where he hit the green in two shots and nearly made
an eagle but he had poor bogeys on the par four, tenth hole and par four,
fourteenth hole and he moved to minus thirteen and was now only three shots
behind the leader. David Lingmerth (Sweden) played holes ten to fourteen in
even par and remained at minus fourteen and now was only two shots behind the
leader. Bill Haas (USA) played holes ten to fourteen in even par and remained
at minus sixteen and was now tied for the lead.
Troy Merritt (USA)
played holes fifteen to seventeen in one under par and it included stiffing his
tee shot on the par three, sixteenth hole to within four feet of the pin and
holing the putt for his birdie two and he moved to minus seventeen and was now
leading by three shots heading to the par four, seventy second hole. Rickie
Fowler (USA) played holes fifteen to seventeen in one under par which included
stiffing his tee shot on the par three, sixteenth hole to four feet from the
pin and converting the putt for his birdie two and he moved to minus fourteen
and was still three shots behind the leader heading to the par four, seventy
second hole. David Lingmerth (Sweden) played holes fifteen to seventeen in even
par and remained at minus fourteen and was still three shots behind the leader
heading to the par four, seventy second hole. Bill Haas (USA) played holes fifteen
to seventeen in three over par which included a shocking double bogey five on
the par three, sixteenth hole where he pulled his tee shot left and took three
shots to get his ball on the green and failed to convert his bogey putt and he
fell back to minus thirteen and was now four shots behind the leader and his
chance of winning had disappeared heading to the par four, seventy second hole!!
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| Troy Merritt (USA) acknowledges the gallery surrounding the 72nd hole |
Bill Haas (USA) who
was playing a few groups ahead of the final group made a sloppy bogey on the
par four, seventy second hole and finished the seventy two holes at minus
twelve and finished six shots behind the winner. David Lingmerth (Sweden) who
was playing two groups ahead of the final group narrowly missed his birdie putt
on the par four, seventy second hole and tapped in for his par four and
finished the seventy holes at minus fourteen four shots behind the winner. Rickie
Fowler (USA) who was playing one group ahead of the final group made a
brilliant birdie on the par four, seventy second hole by holing a twenty foot
right to left breaking putt and finished the seventy two holes at minus fifteen
and was three shots behind the winner.
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| Troy Merritt (USA) smiles at his caddie, Scott Sajtinac after he holed the winning putt!! |
Troy Merritt (USA)
now stood on the par four, seventy second hole with a two shot lead at minus
seventeen. He stuck a very good drive but it faded out to the right and landed
in the right hand first cut of rough. Sir Nick Faldo (England) who is CBS Sports
Golf Analyst said “It is amazing how Troy Merritt (USA) has played in the heat
of the battle on this back nine considering he had just missed his five
straight cuts prior and had no positive experiences from recent times to fall
back on”. Troy Merritt (USA) now stood over his second shot from the right hand
first cut of rough and played a very good shot under the circumstances with his
mid iron that he brought in on a low right to left drawing ball flight and it
took a bounce to the right on landing and rolled up to twenty five feet short
of the pin on the green. He could now enjoy his walk up to the green knowing he
could three putt and still win. Then he calmed his nerve and putted his twenty
five foot left to right breaking putt for his birdie three. He put an awesome
stroke on it and it rolled on the line to perfection and dropped in the cup for
his birdie three!! He scored 34-1 on the back nine and finished at minus
eighteen after seventy two holes to win by three shots!! He got a huge hug and
high five from his caddie, Scott
Sajtinac!! Then he was congratulated by his playing partner and fellow
competitor, Kevin Chappell (USA). Then he was interviewed by CBS Sports on
course reporter, David Feherty and he asked him “A lot of young men might of
folded over that finishing stretch even with the lead like that you have got to
be incredibly proud of that” and Troy Merritt (USA) replied “Yeah, well when I
told you coming down the fourteenth hole, I won’t be thirty till October and
you know the nerves aren’t quite there but none the less I hit really good golf
shots coming in but I would of like to have easier first putts and some tap in
pars but none the less battled all the way to the end and you know hats off to
Rickie for finish strong, he is a great
player and I’m just happy I came out on top this time!!” Then David Feherty
said “Congratulations on your first, first of many and we will see you in Akron
(This win means he is now eligible for the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational in
Akron, Ohio next week)”. Troy Merritt (USA) replied “Thank you”. He also said later that it was an alignment
change he made in his set up in his swing and also his putting stroke that
really paid off because he played the final thirty six holes in fourteen under
par!! This win should give him a huge boost of confidence moving forward and he
now gets to play in the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational next week, PGA
Championship in two weeks time which will be his first Major Championship he
has ever played in and also he qualified for the 2016 Masters Tournament and is
exempt on the USPGA Tour till the end of the 2016/17 season!! He also could be
an outside chance to make the USA Team for the Presidents Cup in South Korea in
October.
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| Troy Merritt (USA) poses with the Quicken Loans National Trophy he won!! |
Troy Merritt (USA) (born
October 25, 1985) is an American professional golfer who has played on the USPGA
Tour and the Web.com Tour. Troy Merritt (USA) was born in Osage, Iowa. He
played college golf at Winona State University until after his sophomore year,
when he transferred to Boise State University. He was first team
All-WAC for Boise State and tied the school-record for a low round score when
he posted a 62 (-9) in the second round of the District VII Shootout. Troy Merritt
(USA) turned professional in 2008. Troy Merritt's (USA) first win on
the Nationwide Tour came on September 6, 2009 when he won a US $117,000 purse
at the Mexico Open, beating Australia's Adam Bland (Australia) with a 20-foot
birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff.
On December 7, 2009, Troy Merritt (USA) became only the third golfer to
medal at PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament by leading after every round. Despite
a double-bogey on the final (108th) hole of the six round tournament he won by
one stroke over veteran Jeff Maggert (USA) with a score of 22-under-par. In
2010, Troy Merritt (USA) finished 125th on the USPGA Tour, earning the final
spot to retain a tour card.
On April 17, 2015, Troy
Merritt (USA) tied the course record at the RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island
with a 10-under-par 61, matching David Frost’s (RSA) tournament mark set in
1994. Troy Merritt (USA) shot his just 61 after Jordan Spieth (USA), the 2015 Masters
champion, recovered from an opening-round 74 to shoot 62. Troy
Merritt (USA) finished the tournament behind Jim Furyk (USA) and Kevin Kisner
(USA), and earned US $401,200 for finishing alone in third. Troy Merritt (USA)
recorded his first USPGA Tour win at the 2015 Quicken Loans National (As I
mentioned above). Troy Merritt (USA) set a course record at Robert Trent Jones
Golf Club with a 61 in the third round and held off all challengers to win by
three shots at 18-under 266. Troy Merritt (USA) currently resides in Arizona
with his wife, Courtney. Let’s hope he can have more top ten’s in the weeks to
come and have a good FedEx Cup Playoff series. I wish him all the best for the
remaining events in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season.
Coming in solo
second position at 269-15 after 72 holes was Rickie Fowler (USA); he earned US $723,600
for his efforts and moved to ninth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour
Money list standings with US $3,545,523 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 1,384 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 twelve cuts and achieved four top ten finishes which
includes the one this week and his win at the PLAYERS Championship in May. He
will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s
especially his 65-6 in the second round and his hole in one on the par three,
ninth hole in the first round!! But he will be disappointed with his front nine
37+1 in his final round that ruined his chances of winning his third USPGA Tour
event. But he will be happy with his form leading into some big events coming
up and he must be an early favourite to win the final Major Championship of the
2015 season at the PGA Championship in two weeks time. Rick Yutaka Fowler (USA) (born December 13, 1988) is an American
professional golfer who plays on the USPGA Tour. He was the number one ranked
amateur golfer in the world for 37 weeks in 2007 and 2008. On July 13, 2015 he
reached a career high fifth in the Official World Golf Ranking following his
victory in the Scottish Open and is still in that position this week. He has
won two events so far in his USPGA Tour career with the first one being the
2012 Wells Fargo Championship and the second being the 2015 PLAYERS
Championship. He has also won once on the European Tour at the 2015 Aberdeen
Asset Management Scottish Open and once on the One Asia Tour at the 2011 Kolon
Korea Open. He has achieved six top ten finishes in Major Championships with
his best results to date so far being tied for second at the 2014 U.S. Open
Championship and 2014 Open Championship. He has also achieved seven top ten
finishes in WGC – Events with his best result to date so far being solo third
at the 2014 Cadillac Match Play Championship. He has also represented Team USA
in the 2010 and 2014 Ryder Cups. Let’s hope he can achieved more top ten finishes
in the weeks ahead and win his third USPGA Tour event and perhaps his maiden
Major Championship. I wish him all the best for the remaining 2015 part of the
2014/15 USPGA Tour season.
Coming in solo third
position at 270-14 after 72 holes was David Lingmerth (Sweden); he earned US $455,600
for his efforts and moved to twenty eighth position on the current 2014/15
USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,311,394 earned from the twenty three
events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 190 FedEx Cup
points for his efforts and moved to twenty second position on the current
2014/15 FedEx Cup points list standings with 1,147 points earned from the
twenty three events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty
three events he has played to date this season so far he has made fourteen cuts
and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the one this week and also
his maiden USPGA Tour win at the Memorial Tournament in June. He will be happy
with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his second
round 65-6!! And the last five events he has played on the USPGA Tour he has
made five cuts and achieved three top ten finishes that includes his maiden win
at the Memorial Tournament in June. David
Lingmerth (Sweden) (born 22 July 1987) is a Swedish professional golfer
who plays on the USPGA Tour. David Lingmerth (Sweden) played college golf at
the University of West Florida (one year) and the University of Arkansas (three
years) where he was a two-time All-American. He won one event at West Florida
and another at Arkansas. David Lingmerth (Sweden) played on the Web.com Tour
during the 2011 season. He had some success with two third place finishes and
five top-10s but missed out on earning his USPGA Tour card by two spots on the
season-ending money list, finishing 27th; the top 25 advanced to the USPGA
Tour. He also played the USPGA Tour Qualifying School in a move to try and earn
playing privileges, but finished way down the field outside the top 100. David
Lingmerth (Sweden) continued on the Web.com Tour in 2012 and after losing a
playoff earlier in the year, he won his first event on the tour at the Neediest
Kids Championship in October, finishing a stroke ahead of Casey Wittenberg
(USA). David Lingmerth (Sweden) ended the season ranked tenth on the money
list, which earned him his USPGA Tour card for the 2013 season. In only his
second career start on the USPGA Tour, David Lingmerth (Sweden) finished as a
joint runner-up at the Humana Challenge after losing in a three-man playoff. He
shot a 10-under-par round of 62 in the final round to get into the playoff
alongside Brian Gay (USA) and Charles Howell III (USA). He was eliminated at
the first extra hole after finding the water with his second shot to the par-5
eighteenth hole. David Lingmerth (Sweden) also led the 2013 Players
Championship in the third round, finishing tied for second, two strokes behind
Tiger Woods (USA). David Lingmerth (USA) earned his maiden USPGA Tour win at
the 2015 Memorial Tournament in June. His uncle, Goran Lingmerth, played for
the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. Let’s hope he can have
more top ten finishes in the weeks ahead and perhaps win his second USPGA Tour
event of his career? I wish him every continuing success for the remaining
events of the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season.
Rounding out the top
nine in tied for fourth position at 272-12 after 72 holes was Jason Bohn (USA);
he earned US $242,875 for his efforts and moved to thirty first position on the
current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,049,973 earned from
the twenty three events he has played to date so far. He also earned 100 FedEx
Cup points for his efforts and moved to thirty second position on the current
2014/15 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 1,005 points earned from the
twenty three events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty
three events he has played to date this season so far he has made eighteen cuts
and achieved five top ten finishes which includes the one this week. He will be
happy with his first, second and third rounds this week that were all 67-4s
especially his first round 67-4 which was blemish free!! But he will be
slightly disappointed with his final round 71 even par. But the second shot he
played on the par four, seventy second hole in the final round was very
impressive finishing inches from the pin and leaving a tap in birdie putt!! He
can take a lot of confidence out of this week moving forward. Jason Duehn Bohn (USA) (born April 24,
1973) is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the USPGA Tour.
Jason Bohn (USA) was born in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. In 1992, while a
sophomore on the Alabama golf team, Jason Bohn (USA) was playing in a charity
fund-raiser in Tuscaloosa when he made a hole-in-one worth US $1 million. Jason
Bohn (USA) dropped his amateur status and golf scholarship on the spot and
turned professional, as USGA rules did not carry an exemption for aces scored
in the middle of regular golf rounds at the time, which the USGA adopted in
2006. He graduated from Alabama in 1995. While playing the Canadian Tour, Jason
Bohn (USA) shot a 58 to win the 2001 Bayer Championship. He also
played the Nationwide Tour (Now Web.com) before earning promotion to the USPGA
Tour, where he has played since 2004. In 2005 he won the USPGA Tour's B.C.
Open. During the 2009 season Jason Bohn (USA) lost in a playoff at the Wyndham
Championship along with Kevin Stadler (USA) to Ryan Moore (USA). In April 2010,
Jason Bohn (USA) won the 2010 Zurich Classic of New Orleans wire to wire, when
he birdied three of the last four holes to win by two shots. At the Greenbrier
Classic in July 2015, Jason Bohn (USA) shot a nine under par 61 during the
third round that moved him from the cutline into the co-lead entering the final
round. The round of 61 was Jason Bohn's (USA) lowest ever career round on the USPGA
Tour. Let’s hope he can have more top ten finishes in the weeks to come and
perhaps his third win of his USPGA Tour career? I wish him all the best for the
2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season.
Also tied for fourth
position was Bill Haas (USA); he too earned US $242,875 for his efforts and
moved to twenty fourth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list
standings with US $2,516,767 earned from the eighteen events he has played to
date this season so far. He also earned 100 FedEx Cup points for his efforts
and moved to twenty third position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list
standings with 1,144 points earned from the twenty three events he has played
to date this season so far. From the twenty three events he has played to date
this season so far has made thirteen cuts and achieved four top ten finishes
which includes the one this past week and his win at the Humana Challenge in
January. He will be happy with his first and third rounds that were both in the
60s especially his 64-7 in the third round!! But he will be just content with
his second round 71 even par and his final round 70-1 and angry with his back
nine in the final round which was 39+4 after his brilliant front nine of 31-5!!
He will be very happy with this finish because prior to this top ten finishes
he had missed his last three straight cuts!! William Harlan Haas (USA) (born May 24, 1982) is an American
professional golfer who plays on the USPGA Tour and won the 2011 FedEx Cup. He
is the son of former USPGA Tour player Jay Haas (USA). Bill Haas
(USA) has won six events on the USPGA Tour to date so far in his career and
here they are from the first to the most recent: 2010 Bob Hope Classic, 2010
Viking Classic, 2011 Tour Championship, 2012 Northern Trust Open, 2013 AT&T
National and the 2015 Humana Challenge. Bill Haas (USA) to date so far in
his career has performed poorly in Major Championships without recording a
single top ten finish to date and his best finish is tied for twelfth at the
2011 PGA Championship and tied for twelfth at the 2015 Masters Tournament. He
has also achieved five top ten finishes in WGC – Events with his best finish to
date being tied for sixth at the 2010 and 2014 Cadillac Championship. He has
also played in the 2011 and 2013 USA Presidents Cup Team which won both times
against Team International. He also won the 2011 FedEx Cup in dramatic fashion
when he won the Tour Championship as well!! Let’s hope he can have more top ten
finishes in the weeks ahead and perhaps achieve his seventh USPGA Tour win. I
wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour
season.
Also tied for fourth
position and the best New Zealand golfer in the field was Danny Lee (NZL) who scored
rounds of 67-4 in the first round which was very good and it included a good
front nine of 34-2 where he birdied the par four, second hole, par four, third
hole and par three, ninth hole but had a poor bogey on the par five, fifth
hole. He scored an good back nine of 33-2 which included birdies on the par four,
seventeenth hole and par four, eighteenth hole. Then he scored a very good
second round of 67-4 and it included a excellent front nine of 32-4 which
included birdies on the par four, first hole, par four, second hole, par five,
fifth hole and par three, ninth hole and then he scored a average back nine of 35
even par with his lone birdie coming on the par four, seventeenth hole but he
made a poor bogey on the par four, twelfth hole and a good third round of 69-2
which included a front nine of 34-2 with birdies on the par four, third hole,
par three, fourth hole and par five, fifth hole but he had a poor bogey on the
par four, second hole then he scored an average back nine of 35 even par with his
lone birdie coming on the par three, sixteenth hole and his lone bogey coming
on the par three, eleventh hole and a good final round of 69-2 which included a
very good front nine of 34-2 which included birdies on the par four, second
hole and par five, eighth hole then he played an average back nine of 35 even
par which included birdies on the par four, twelfth hole and par four,
eighteenth hole but he had poor bogeys on the par four, fifteenth hole and par
three, sixteenth hole for a 72 hole total of 272-12 and he finished in tied for
fourth position which is his sixth top ten finish of the season to date so far and
his third in his last four starts which includes his maiden win at the
Greenbrier Classic in early July. Danny Lee (NZL) earned US $242,875 for his
efforts and moved to fifteenth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money
list standings with US $2,984,397 earned from the thirty 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 $2,000,000 mark in single season earnings!!). Danny Lee
(NZL) also earned 100 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to eleventh position
on the current FedEx Cup Points standings list with 1,442 points earned from
the thirty events he has played to date this season so far. From the thirty
events Danny Lee (NZL) has played to date this season so far he has made eighteen
cuts and withdrawn from one event and achieved six top ten finishes which
includes the one this week at the Quicken Loans National and three weeks ago at
the John Deere Classic and his maiden win four weeks ago at the Greenbrier
Classic and in May 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
four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his first and second
rounds that were both 67-4s!! But he will be disappointed that he was only able
to score even par on the back nine in rounds two, three and four and the two
bogeys he made in the final round on the par four, fifteenth hole and par
three, sixteenth hole because had he of played the back nine a few more under
par he could well of won his second USPGA Tour event!! But over the past five
weeks he has moved his golf career up a huge notch and I look for him to keep
on improving and I look for him to have more top ten finishes in the events he
plays on the USPGA Tour in the next few weeks and he has a very busy time in
the next few weeks with WGC – Bridgestone Invitational next week, the PGA
Championship (Final Major Championship of the year) in two weeks time then the
four FedEx Cup Playoff events and he must be a dark horse to win the FedEx Cup
now!! Danny Jin-Myung Lee (NZL)
(born 24 July 1990) is a professional golfer from Rotorua, New Zealand. Danny
Lee (NZL) was born in South Korea and emigrated to New Zealand at the age of
eight. His name in Hangul is 이진명. He became a naturalized New Zealander on 2
September 2008 at Rotorua, where he attended Rotorua Boys' High School. Danny
Lee (NZL) turned professional after the 2009 Masters Tournament, forfeiting his
guaranteed entry into the 2009 U.S. Open and the 2009 British Open as the 2008
U.S. Amateur champion. In April, Danny Lee (NZL) signed a two-year endorsement
contract with Callaway Golf, to use Callaway clubs, balls, and signage on his
clothes. The company has not released how much his contract is worth, but
sources say it is for US$1 million per year. Danny Lee (NZL) was
allowed to use seven sponsor exemptions during the USPGA Tour season, and
gained three other starts courtesy of his U.S. Amateur and Johnnie Walker
Classic titles. Danny Lee (NZL) entered the new season
in 2012 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, 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
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. introduced me to Steve.
Steve is a simple guy who is teaching me how to practice with better routine
and how to trust my own game and not think too much. In 2013 Danny Lee (NZL)
played on the Web.com Tour, finishing fifteenth on the regular season money
list to regain his USPGA Tour card for 2014. 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). And as I
mentioned before 2014/15 USPGA Tour season has been Danny Lee’s (NZL) career
best season to date and now he has got his maiden USPGA Tour victory I feel his
game is only going to go from strength to strength with the renewed confidence
it will bring to him. His Official World Golf Ranking has now moved to sixty six
(which is a career high) and he now gets guaranteed starts in the next two
Major Championships and is exempt on the USPGA Tour till the end of the 2016/17
USPGA Tour season. I look for his second USPGA Tour win to come in the next few
years and for him to achieve some top ten finishes in Major Championships
(Perhaps at the PGA Championship next month?). The future looks very bright for
Danny Lee (NZL) moving forward. I wish him all the best for the remaining part
of 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season.
Also tied for fourth position was Carl Pattersson
(Sweden); he too earned US $242,875 for his efforts and moved to ninety first
position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $972,144
earned from the twenty eight events he has played to date this season so far.
He also earned 100 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to seventy second
position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 634 points
earned from the twenty eight events he has played to date this season so far. From
the twenty eight events he has played to date this season so far he has made
eighteenth cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one this
past week. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the
60s especially his third round 64-7!! He should take a lot of confidence out of
this performance with the FedEx Cup playoffs less than a month away. 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.
Also tied for fourth
position was Justin Rose (England); he too earned US $242,875 for his efforts
and moved to eighth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list
standings with US$3,620,302 earned from the fourteen events he has played to
date this season so far. He also earned 100 FedEx Cup points for his efforts
and moved to twelfth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list
standings with 1,422 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 ten cuts and achieved five top ten finishes which
includes the one this week and his win at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in
April. He will be happy with his first and third rounds that were both in that
were both in the mid 60s especially his third round 65-6!! But he will be just
content with his second and final rounds that were both in the low 70s. But it
was a good defence of his title having won this event in 2014. And he will be
one of the favourites heading into the final Major Championship of the year at
the PGA Championship in two weeks time at Whistling Straits. Justin Peter Rose (England) (born 30
July 1980) is a South African-born English professional golfer who plays most
of his golf on the USPGA Tour, while keeping his membership on the European
Tour. He won his first major championship at the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf
Club, becoming the first English player to win a major since Sir Nick Faldo
(England) in 1996 and the first to win the U.S. Open since Tony Jacklin
(England) in 1970. Justin Rose (England) has won seven USPGA Tour
events to date so far in his career with the most recent one being the 2015
Zurich Classic of New Orleans in late April and here are his other six: 2010
Memorial Tournament; 2010 AT&T National; 2011 BMW Championship; 2012 WGC –
Cadillac Championship; 2013 U.S. Open Championship (Maiden Major Championship) and
the2014 Quicken Loans National (He has won every year since 2010). He has also
achieved seven wins to date on the European Tour which his most recent being
the 2014 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. He has also
achieved ten top ten finishes to date so far in Major Championships that
includes his win at the 2013 U.S. Open Championship. He has also achieved nine
top ten finishes in WGC – Events that includes his win at the 2010 WGC –
Cadillac Championship. He has also represented Team Europe on three Ryder Cups
Teams 2008, 2012 and 2014 which in the last two Team Europe won. Let’s hope he
can have more top ten finishes in the weeks ahead and win his eighth USPGA Tour
event. I wish him all the best for the remaining 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA
Tour season.
The final player to tie for fourth position was
Justin Thomas (USA); he too earned US $242,875 for his efforts and moved to
thirty ninth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings
with US $1,848,172 earned from the twenty five events he has played to date
this season so far. He also earned 100 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and
moved to thirty seventh position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list
standings with 940 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 eighteen cuts and achieved seven top ten finishes
which includes the one this week. He will be happy with his first, third and
final rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his first round
66-5!! But he will be just content with his second round 71 even par. This was
his second top ten finish in as many events and he must be due to win his
maiden USPGA Tour event very soon? Justin Thomas (USA) (born April 29, 1993) is an American professional golfer. Justin Thomas
(USA) was born in Louisville, Kentucky and graduated from St. Xavier High
School in 2011. He played college golf at the University of Alabama where he
won six times. He also played on the 2013 NCAA Division I
Championship team. He won the Haskins Award in 2012 as the most outstanding
collegiate golfer. As an amateur, Justin Thomas (USA) played in the 2009 Wyndham
Championship on the USPGA Tour where he became the third youngest golfer to
make the cut in a USPGA Tour event, aged 16 years, 3 months and 24 days. Justin
Thomas (USA) turned professional in 2013 and earned his tour card on the Web.com
Tour through qualifying school. He won his first professional event at the 2014
Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship. He has played several USPGA
Tour events with his best finish a tied for fourth at the 2015 Quicken Loans
National. Justin Thomas (USA) finished fifth in the 2014 Web.com Tour regular
season, and third after the Web.com Tour Finals, to earn his USPGA Tour card
for the 2014–15 season. Let’s hope he can have more top then finishes in the
weeks ahead on the USPGA Tour and even achieved his maiden USPGA Tour win. 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 Tim Wilkinson (NZL) and he scored a poor first
round of 73+2 with scoring a poor front nine of
37+1 with his birdies coming on the par four, third hole and par five, eighth
hole but he had poor bogeys on the par four, first hole, par four, second hole
and par three, four hole and then he scored a poor back nine of 36+1 with his
lone birdie coming on the par four, seventeenth hole but he made poor bogeys on
the par four, tenth hole and par three, eleventh hole. Then he scored a good
second round of 70-1 which included a very an average front nine of 36 even par
with a lone birdie on the par four, third hole and his lone bogey came on the
par four, sixth hole and then he scored a good back nine of 34-1 with his lone
birdie coming on the par four, tenth hole for a 36 hole total of 143+1 to miss
the 36 hole cut by three shots. He remained in 190th position on the current
2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $171,654 earned from the twenty
six events he has played to date this season so far. He moved to 177th position
on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 183 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 eight
cuts and achieved no top ten finishes. He will be pleased with his second round
70-1 but angry with his first round 73+2 that made it hard for him to make the
cut!! In the last twenty one events he has played on the USPGA Tour this season
he has only made five cuts. He now only has two more USPGA Tour events left
that he is likely to gain starts in for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and he
looks destined to head back to the Web.com Tour finals to try and regain his
exempt status for the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season. Let’s hope he can make some
more cuts in the remaining 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and have
some top ten finishes as well.
The next best New
Zealand golfer in the field was Steve Alker (NZL) and he scored rounds of 70-1
in the first round which was good and included a good front nine of 35-1 with birdies
coming on the par four, second hole and par four, sixth hole and his lone bogey
came on the par five, fifth hole then he scored a average back nine of 35 even par with his lone birdie on the par five, fourteenth hole
but he had a poor bogey on the par four, eighteenth hole and he scored a
shocking second round of 74+3 which included a poor front nine of 37+1 with his
lone bogey coming on the par five, eighth hole and he scored a poor back nine
of 37+2 with his lone birdie coming on the par four, thirteenth hole but he had
poor bogeys on the par four, twelfth hole, par four, fifteenth hole and par
three, sixteenth hole for a 36 hole total of 144+2 and missed the cut by four
shots. He moved to 178th position on the
current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $236,862 earned from
the twenty events he has played to date this season so far. He moved to 169th
position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 216 points
earned from the twenty events he has played to date this season so far. From
the twenty events he has played to date this season so far he has made nine
cuts and achieved no top ten finishes. He will be happy with his first round 70-1
which gave him a great chance to make the cut but will be disappointed with his
second round 74+3!! He now has only two more events he is likely to gain starts
in for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and unless he performs some miracles and
wins one them or has two top five finishes he will be heading to the 2015
Web.com Tour finals to try and regain status for the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season.
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.
Tiger Woods (USA)
who was playing in his ninth tournament of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season in his
first round scored a very good 68-3 after a poor start and it included a poor
front nine of 37+1 with birdies coming on the par fifth hole and par five,
eighth hole and he had poor bogeys on the par four, first hole, par four, third
hole and par three, fourth hole. Then he played a very good back nine of 31-4
which included a birdies on the par four, tenth hole, par three, eleventh hole,
par four, twelfth hole and par four, thirteenth hole and it was after his two
week layoff to work on his game since the 144th Open Championship in mid July.
Then he came out in the second round and scored very good 66-5 which included a
brilliant front nine of 32-4 with birdies coming on the par four, first hole,
par three, fourth hole, par five, fifth hole and par five, eighth hole and he
scored a good back nine of 34-1 which included birdies on the par four, fifteenth
hole and par four, eighteenth hole but he had a poor bogey on the par four, fourteenth
hole. Then a shocking third round of 74+3 which included a front nine of 37+1
with his lone bogey coming on the par five, eighth hole then he scored a poor
back nine of 37+2 with birdies on the par four, fifteenth hole and par three,
sixteenth hole and poor bogeys on the par four, thirteenth hole and par four,
eighteenth hole and a terrible double bogey on the par three, eleventh hole and
a very good final round of 68-3 which included an excellent front nine of 32-4
which included birdies on the par four, third hole, par three, fourth hole, par
five, fifth hole and par three, ninth hole then he scored a poor back nine of
36+1 which included birdies on the par four, tenth hole and par four,
seventeenth hole but he had poor bogeys on the par three, eleventh hole, par
four, twelfth hole and par five, fourteen hole for a 72 hole total of 276-8 and
he finished in tied for eighteenth position. He earned US $93,800 for his
efforts and moved to 170th position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money
list standings with US $318,998 earned from the nine events he has played in to
date this season so far. He also earned fifty two FedEx Cup Points for his
efforts and moved to 185th position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points
standings list with 147 points earned from the nine events he has played to date
this season so far. From the nine events he has played to date this season so
far he has made five cuts, withdrawn from one event and achieved no top ten
finishes. He will be happy with his first, second and final rounds that were
all in the 60s especially his second round 66-5!! But he will be disappointed
with his third round 74+3 that cost him a chance of getting his first top ten
of the season. At least he will be happy that his back held up to complete 72 holes
and the last seven events he has played on the USPGA Tour his back has felt
great!! and I feel more made cuts and top ten finishes are not too far way for
him if he can find away to hit his drives in the fairway and just play more
consistent golf on the whole!! His next start will likely be at the PGA
Championship (Final Major Championship of the year and “Glories Last Shot”) 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 there are
two events on the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup and the first one is in the State of
Ohio and is the third of four WGC – Events of the season and is World Golf
Championships – Bridgestone Invitational and is played on the Firestone CC
(South), Akron, Ohio. It is co – sanctioned with all the other major
professional golf tours from around the world which includes the European Tour,
Japan Tour, Asia Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia to name a few. It carries a
huge prize of US $9,250,000 for the taking and all the players that are
currently in the top fifty in the Official World Golf Rankings points list
standings the week prior are exempt as well as winners from other tours I
mentioned in selected events and players that competed on the 2014 European and
USA Ryder Cup teams plus all USPGA Tour winners after the 2014 WGC –
Bridgestone Invitational to the week prior to the 2015 WGC – Bridgestone
Invitational. There will be a new champion because Rory McIlroy (NIR) is still
recovery from a serious ankle injury he suffered while playing soccer with his
friends two weeks before the Open Championship. Danny Lee (NZL) is the only New
Zealand golfer in the field due to his win at the 2015 Greenbrier Classic in
early July. It starts on Thursday 6th August and I will report back who won the
trophy next week. The second event is for players that aren’t eligible for the
WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and it is in the State of Nevada and is the
Barracuda Championship and is played on the Montreux
G&CC, Reno, Nevada. It carries a smaller prize purse of US $3,100,000 for
the taking. It is played under the modified stableford format where players
gain 0 points for a par, 2 points for a birdie, 5 points for an eagle and 8
points for the rare double eagle but players lose one point for a bogey and 3
points for a double bogey or worse. So it awards the aggressive style of play.
Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) is the defending champion and will be keen for back to
back titles. Tim Wilkinson (NZL) and Steven Alker (NZL) will likely gain starts
as well and need to perform well to have any chance of keeping their exempt
status for the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season because there is only one regular
season event left after this one. It starts on Thursday 6th August 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 fiftieth second week of his
fifth spell of his career and for the 92nd week of his career in total is Rory
McILroy (NIR) fresh off his tied for ninth position at the 115th U.S. Open
Championship six weeks ago and his missed cut at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open
Hosted by the Rory Foundation nine weeks ago with 12.48 Official Golf World
Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Jordan Spieth (USA) who is fresh off
his tied for fourth position at the 144th Open Championship two week ago and
his win at the John Deere Classic three weeks ago with 11.41 Official World
Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Bubba Watson (USA) who is fresh
off his solo second position at the RBC Canadian Open one week ago and his
missed cut at the 144th Open Championship two weeks ago with 7.54 Official
World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Jason Day (Australia) who is
fresh off his win at the RBC Canadian Open one week ago and also his tied for
fourth position at the 144th Open Championship two weeks ago with 6.92 Official
World Ranking Points and rounding out the top five on the Official Golf World
Ranking Points list standings this week is Rickie Fowler (USA) who is fresh off
his solo second position at the Quicken Loans National this past week and his tied
for thirtieth position at the 144th Open Championship two weeks ago with 6.67
Official World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) this week is in his twentieth
week of another spell of being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the
world after his tied for fourth position at the Quicken Loans National this
past week. This week he rises three places and moves to 66th position on the
Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings with 2.13 Official Golf
World Ranking Points.
Remember when
playing in the rain the most important thing to do is keep yourself and your
grips dry!!
Source: Pgatour.com,
Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org, Google search engine,
europeantour.com, golfchannel.com
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