This week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup headed to
Mexico for the OHL Classic at Mayakoba and it was played on the El Camaleon
GC, Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It carried a large prize purse of US
$6,200,000 for the taking. Charley Hoffman (USA) was the defending champion and
was keen to defend his title. Tim Wilkinson (NZL) who recently regained his
2015/16 USPGA Tour card at the Web.com Tour Finals was the only New Zealand
Golfer in the field and was keen to have a good tournament to get his season
going after his first start of the season last week where at the Sanderson Farm
Championship he tied for thirty third position. And it was the golfer by the
name of Graeme McDowell (NIR) who scored rounds of 67-4, 63-8, 70-1 and a final
round of 66-5 for a seventy two hole total of 266-18 but he was tied on that
score by Jason Bohn (USA) who scored rounds of 70-1, 63-8, 65-6 and a final
round of 68-3 for a seventy two hole total of 266-18 also and the final player
to tie on that score was Russell Knox (Scotland) who scored rounds of 70-1,
65-6, 65-6 and a final round of 66-5 for a seventy two hole total of 266-18 as
well. So those three players headed back to the par four, eighteenth hole for
the first playoff hole.
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| Graeme McDowell (NIR) tees off during the final round |
Graeme McDowell (NIR) choose a three wood off the
par four, eighteenth tee which was the first playoff hole and he put it right
in the centre of the fairway. Jason Bohn (USA) hit a good drive right down the
centre of the fairway as well. Russell Knox (Scotland) hit a good drive down
the centre of the fairway too. Graeme McDowell (NIR) played his second shot
first and he was certain it was a hard six iron from just over 200 yards but
his caddie, Ken Comboy talked him into hitting an easy five iron. Graeme
McDowell (NIR) put a perfect swing on it and it rolled up to within three feet
of the flag stick almost guaranteeing a certain birdie three and putting the
pressure right back on the other two players. Russell Knox (Scotland) played
his second shot next and it missed the green to the left. Jason Bohn (USA)
played his second shot last and landed it twenty five feet from the flag stick
with his mid iron. Russell Knox (Scotland) chipped on the green to two feet and
tapped in for his par four and he knew his chance of winning had disappeared.
Jason Bohn (USA) putted for his birdie from twenty feet and he knew that his
putt was a must make to extend the playoff to the second hole. He stuck a good
putt but it two just missed and he tapped in for his par and he knew his chance
of winning has also disappeared. Graeme McDowell (NIR) now knew the three foot
putt was to win and he stepped up and calmly rolled it in for his third USPGA
Tour win of his career and the his first in nearly three years!!
He got a
huge hug and high five from his caddie, Ken Comboy!! Then he was interviewed by
the golf channel reporter and he told him “There were multiple times during the
year where I was losing belief in myself, where you’re asking yourself
questions like, ‘Am I good enough anymore? Am I finished with this game? Do I
have long left?’ Questions like that,” And he also said “When you’re out there
for five and a half hours on the golf course and not playing well, these are
the types of questions you ask yourself. I think that is why golf is the
ultimate mental sport, because you have all the time in the world to ask
yourself all crazy questions in the world”. He also said “I thought if I had
any threat of a chance, I had to make that putt,” referring to the eight foot
putt he holed on the seventy second hole for par to get into the playoff. He
also praised Greg Norman (Australia) who texted him some swing tips after his
third round and Graeme McDowell (NIR) said “He reminded me of some stuff,” “Obviously
he’s one of my big heroes, both on and off the golf course, and that was nice
to get a little positive reinforcement from the Shark.” He also said “I
basically lost my card this year. Thankfully, I had another year of exemption,
but I couldn’t be in this position this time next year regardless,” “Being at Mayakoba was a part of
re-prioritizing and a re-focus.” “There’s no doubt I doubted myself many times
this year, but the last few months has been much more where I want to be,” he said.
“This is big for me. I dreamed of this day coming again sometime, maybe I
thought it would not be quite as soon as this. And I said to myself that I was
really going to appreciate it, and I do appreciate it. This feels really nice.”
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| Graeme McDowell (USA) acknowledges the gallery after holing the winning putt!! |
Graeme McDowell (NIR) earned US $1,116,000 for the
win and moved to seventh position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list
standings with US $1,116,000 earned from the one event he has played to date
this season so far. Russell Knox (Scotland) is the current leader of that list
with US $2,052,160 earned from the five events he has played to date this
season so far. Graeme McDowell (NIR) also earned 500 FedEx Cup Points for his
efforts and moved to seventh position on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points
list standings with 500 points earned from the one event he has played to date
this season so far and he is 376 points behind the current leader of that list
who is Russell Knox (Scotland) who has earned 876 points from the five events
he has played to date this season so far. From the one event Graeme McDowell
(NIR) has played to date this season so far he has made one cut and achieved
one top ten finish which was the win this past week. He will be happy with his
four rounds this week that were all under par especially his 63-8 in the second
round that included nine birdies and his 66-5 in the final round which was the
equal low round of the day!! And also how he made birdie on the first playoff
hole hitting his five iron to within three feet of the pin and holing the putt
for his birdie and the win!!
Graeme McDowell
(NIR) MBE (born 30 July 1979) is a professional golfer from Northern Ireland
who plays on both the USPGA Tour and European Tour. He is well known for
winning the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, where he ended a 40-year drought
for Europeans at the tournament. Graeme McDowell (NIR) has won ten events on
the European Tour, and three on the USPGA Tour. He has also represented Ireland
at the World Cup and been a member of the European Ryder Cup team on three
occasions. He has appeared in the top-10 in the Official World Golf Ranking and
his best ranking position is fourth (January to March 2011). Before turning
professional, Graeme McDowell (NIR) had a successful amateur career both in
Ireland and in the United States. Graeme McDowell (NIR) was born in Portrush,
Northern Ireland, and played with Rathmore Golf Club since he was eight or nine
years old. His uncle, Uel Loughery, coached him there when he was younger. At
the age of 14, Graeme McDowell (NIR) played senior cup for Rathmore. In
his teens he attended Coleraine Academical Institution. He then studied
engineering at Queen's University in Belfast, and then transferred to the
University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he played college golf through the
spring of 2002. As a senior with the Blazers in 2002, Graeme McDowell
(NIR) won six of twelve college events and the Haskins Award, given to the
outstanding collegiate golfer in the United States. He was a member
of the Great Britain and Ireland team which retained the Walker Cup in 2001 at
Sea Island, Georgia.
Graeme McDowell (NIR) turned professional in 2002
and won that season's Volvo Scandinavian Masters, which was only his fourth
start on the European Tour. That win led to Graeme McDowell (NIR) being given
honorary life membership at the Royal Portrush Golf Club. He did not win in his
second season, but in 2004 he claimed the Telecom Italia Open and finished
sixth on the European Tour's Order of Merit. In 2005, he divided his time
between the European and USPGA Tours. He was not yet a full member of the USPGA
Tour, but his top-50 placing in the Official World Golf Ranking insured that he
received invitations to play in many events in the United States. Graeme McDowell
(NIR) managed two top-10 finishes on the USPGA Tour, including a tie for second
place at the Bay Hill Invitational, which enabled him to earn enough money to
become fully exempt on the USPGA Tour in 2006. He failed, however, to finish in
the top-150 in the 2006 USPGA Tour money list, and decided to return to the
European Tour for 2007. In 2008 he returned to the winner's enclosure by
winning first the Ballantine's Championship in South Korea, and then the Barclays
Scottish Open. He played in the 2008 Ryder Cup, earning 2.5 points for the
European team and finished the season ranked fifth on the Order of Merit.
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| Graeme McDowell (NIR) poses with the OHL Classic at Mayakoba trophy he won!! |
On Monday, 4 October 2010, Graeme McDowell (NIR) was charged with putting to win on the seventeenth green of the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor. His was the last match of the twelve player singles, with his opponent being Hunter Mahan (USA), to win the tournament 14.5/13.5 for Europe, and it was his 5-foot putt that was conceded to give victory to Europe. He finished the 2010 season with another win at the Andalucía Valderrama Masters and was second behind Martin Kaymer (Germany) in the 2010 Race to Dubai standings. On December 5, 2010, Graeme McDowell (NIR) beat Tiger Woods (USA) in a playoff to win the 2010 Chevron World Challenge. Graeme McDowell (NIR) and Martin Kaymer (Germany) shared the European Tour Golfer of the Year award. Graeme McDowell (NIR) had a solid but unspectacular season in 2011 where he did not record a win on either of the main tours. He finished third on four occasions, three on the European Tour and once on the USPGA Tour. Graeme McDowell (NIR) finished the year sixteenth on the European Tour's Race to Dubai, his year consisting of 17 out of 18 cuts made and five top-10 finishes. In May 2011, Graeme McDowell (NIR) was in contention to win the USPGA Tour's flagship event, The Players Championship, but shot a final round 79 to end his chances. He earned over a million dollars on the USPGA Tour but could only finish the year 73rd in the FedEx Cup standings.
Graeme McDowell (NIR) opened up the year with a third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship on the European Tour in January. He finished two strokes behind winner Robert Rock (England). In March 2012, Graeme McDowell (NIR) recorded his joint best finish on the USPGA Tour outside of his U.S. Open win, when he finished as runner-up, five strokes behind Tiger Woods (USA) at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. This was the second time Graeme McDowell (NIR) had been a runner-up on the USPGA Tour. Two weeks later, Graeme McDowell (NIR) had his best performance at The Masters Tournament, when he finished in a tie for twelfth. He shot a final round of 68 to jump up inside the top 15. Graeme McDowell (NIR) was runner up in May 2012 at the Volvo World Match Play Championship at the Finca Cortesin Golf Club, losing the final 1 down to Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium). In a tight match, Graeme McDowell (NIR) was never more than two down but was never in front in the match either. After the match he admitted that the better player won and that he played poorly, shooting five over for the round. Previously in the knockout stages, Graeme McDowell (NIR) had beaten Richard Finch (England) 3&2, Sergio García (Spain) on the nineteenth hole and Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spain) two up. In June 2012, the U.S. Open returned to California, when it was held at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, less than 100 miles from Pebble Beach, the site of Graeme McDowell's (NIR) 2010 U.S. Open victory. Again he was in contention after rounds of 69-72-68 on the first three days had positioned him at one under for the championship. He was tied for the lead going into the final day with Jim Furyk (USA), both playing in the final group on Sunday. The second time in three years that Graeme McDowell (NIR) had featured in the final group of the U.S. Open. Despite a disappointing front nine, where he found himself four over, he made several birdies on the back nine, including one on the seventeenth hole to trail by one shot with one hole to play. After a good drive and approach to the green, he was faced with a 25-foot putt to tie the lead and force a playoff, but narrowly missed it to the left and had to settle for a par. This led to Graeme McDowell (NIR) finishing in a tie for second place with Michael Thompson (USA), one stroke behind the champion, Webb Simpson (USA). The following month, at the 2012 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Graeme McDowell (NIR) was in contention on Sunday for the second consecutive major. He had shot rounds of 67-69-67 during the first three days to be at seven under par and trail leader Adam Scott (Australia) by four strokes in second place with Brandt Snedeker (USA). Graeme McDowell (NIR) played in the final group on Sunday for the second consecutive major championship and third time overall, alongside Adam Scott (Australia). He had a disappointing round of 75 (+5) and was never in contention for the championship all afternoon. His challenge was ended at the par five eleventh hole, when he snap hooked his second shot into the trees left and had to take a penalty drop, costing him a bogey. He finished the championship in a tie for fifth position with fellow European Luke Donald (England). It was however his best ever placing at The Open Championship. In December, he won the World Challenge, beating Keegan Bradley (USA) by three shots.
Graeme McDowell (NIR) started the season on the USPGA Tour at the Northern Trust Open, where he shot 73-72 to miss the cut. He played the following week at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and reached the quarter-finals. It was his best ever showing at the tournament, beating Pádraig Harrington (Ireland) 2-up, Alexander Norén (Sweden) in 20 holes and Shane Lowry (Ireland) 3&2, before losing 1-down to Jason Day (Australia) in the quarter-finals. Graeme McDowell (NIR) played in The Honda Classic the week after and recorded his second consecutive top-10 with a tied for ninth finish. The next week he played in the final group with Tiger Woods (USA) in the WGC-Cadillac Championship and finished in a tied for third position. He missed the cut in the Masters Tournament by one stroke, bogeying the last hole. The next week he played the RBC Heritage. In the final round in stormy weather, he posted a two-under-par 69. He entered a playoff with fellow U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson (USA). Webb Simpson (USA) bogeyed the first hole and Graeme McDowell (NIR) parred to win his first regular USPGA Tour event and his first tour win since 2010. The win moved him into eighth in the world rankings. In the 2013 Volvo World Match Play Championship, he defeated Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand), 2 & 1, to win. The win moved him to the top of the Race to Dubai and seventh in the world. He missed the cut in the European Tour's flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship. In the 2013 U.S. Open he missed the cut; the event he had won in 2010. This was the first time that he had ever missed the cut in that event. In July 2013, he won the Alstom Open de France, shooting a final round of 67 to finish four shots ahead of Richard Sterne (RSA). In 2014 Graeme McDowell (NIR) continued to play on both the European Tour and USPGA Tour. In the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship he made comebacks including winning the eighteenth in each of his first three matches before losing to eventual runner up Victor Dubuisson (France) in the quarter finals. Graeme McDowell (NIR) followed this up with a top-10 finish at the second World Golf Championship of the season at the Cadillac Championship, before missing the cut at the first major of the year at the Masters Tournament. Graeme McDowell (NIR) made the cut at the U.S. Open and came close to a maiden national open win at the Irish Open where he finished in a tie for sixth. In his next event, Alstom Open de France, he recorded his only win of the season, defending the title he won in 2013 despite going into the final round 8 shots behind Kevin Stadler (USA). Following this Graeme McDowell (NIR) continued his good form at the Open Championship with a top-10 finish, and further top-10 finishes in his next two events at the RBC Canadian Open and the Bridgestone Invitational. At the PGA Championship, Graeme McDowell (NIR) made the cut finishing in a tie of 46th, subsequently competing in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, however he failed to progress to the yearend Tour Championship finishing outside the top-30 in 56th place. Graeme McDowell (NIR) qualified to represent Europe at the 2014 Ryder Cup narrowly edging Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) for the final place based on Official World Golf Ranking points. At the Ryder Cup, he formed a successful partnership with Victor Dubuisson (France) with comfortable wins the afternoon foursomes on Friday and Saturday. In the lead match of the Sunday singles, Graeme McDowell (NIR) recovered from being 3 down to Jordan Spieth (USA) to win 2&1. With these wins Europe won the Ryder Cup. Graeme McDowell (NIR) subsequently competed in the Race to Dubai Final Series events on the European Tour including a tie for third in the HSBC Champions. Graeme McDowell (NIR) finished fourteenth in the Race to Dubai rankings on the European Tour in 2014.
Graeme McDowell (NIR) comes from a mixed Catholic/Protestant family background, but was himself raised a Protestant. As he won the U.S. Open in 2010 he was living in a "bachelor pad" penthouse apartment in Portrush and was building a home in Lake Nona, Florida, United States. When quizzed on whether he'd represent Britain or Ireland at future Olympic events, Graeme McDowell (NIR) stated: “I’m not bothered who I play for. I’ll be honoured to represent Britain or Ireland or both. I’m proud to play golf for Europe." On the subject of his nationality, he added: “Yes, I sit on the fence but why not? There’s no right or wrong answer. I’m always going to upset someone, so why not sit on the fence?” He often travels and practices with Rory McIlroy (NIR) and Pádraig Harrington (Ireland). He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to golf. In January 2011, Graeme McDowell (NIR) was photographed by Kevin Abosch for "The Face of Ireland" project. Graeme McDowell (NIR) is a devoted Manchester United fan. In the buildup to the 2011 Masters Tournament he skipped the annual par-3 contest in order to watch a UEFA Champions League clash between United and Chelsea. In June 2011, Graeme McDowell (NIR) received an honorary doctorate (D.Sc) from the University of Ulster for his services to golf. He received his honorary degree from the University's Chancellor, the actor James Nesbitt on its Coleraine campus and in his speech to graduates, urged them to set their goals high in their careers and trust their intuition. Graeme McDowell (NIR) is also partner in owning a restaurant, Nona Blue, that he opened outside of his neighbourhood Lake Nona Golf & Country Club. Nona Blue is considered a "Modern Tavern." He has also achieved ten wins on the European Tour with his most recent being the 2014 Alstom Open de France. Three wins on the USPGA Tour with his most recent one coming this week (As I mentioned above). He has achieved five top ten finishes in Major Championships to date so far with his best winning the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. He has achieved eleven top ten finishes in WGC – Events with his best being solo third twice in the 2011 and 2013 HSBC Champions. He has played in four Ryder Cups to date so far represented Team Europe in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014 winning the last three and he has a record of playing fifteen matches winning nine, losing five and halving two which is nine points won in his Ryder Cup career to date so far. He has also represented Ireland in the 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013 World Cups. Let’s hope he can gain some real confidence out of this win and have a great 2016 part of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season and perhaps win his second Major Championship. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup.
Coming in tied for second at 266-18 after seventy two holes and losing on the first playoff hole was Jason Bohn (USA); he earned US $545,600 for his efforts and moved to fifth position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,227,736 earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 245 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to fifth position on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 560 points earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. From the four events he has played to date this season so far he has made four cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the one this week. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par especially his second round 63-8 which was blemish free!! But he will be disappointed he wasn’t able to birdie the first playoff hole to extend the playoff to a second hole. And it is also his third top three finish in four starts this season which says he is in amazing form this season to date so far!! 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 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. He also had his best FedEx Cup finish of fortieth. Let’s hope he can achieve his third win on the USPGA Tour in the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup.
The final player to tied for second was Russell Knox (Scotland) who also had a seventy two hole total of 266-18 and losing on the first playoff hole; he also earned US $545,600 for his efforts and moved to the top of the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,052,160 earned from the five events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 245 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to the top of the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 876 points earned from the five events he has played to date this season so far. From the five events he has played to date this season so far he has made four cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one this week and his win the previous week at the WGC – HSBC Champions!! He will be happy with his second, third and final rounds that were all in the mid 60s especially his final round 66-5 which was the equal low round of the day and also his second and third rounds that were consecutive 65-6s and his second round was blemish free!! But he will be just content with his first round 70-1 and angry with how he played the par four, seventy second hole when he had a one shot lead and made a bogey!! And also how he could only manage par on the first playoff hole!! But at the same time he will be very happy with the way he backed up his maiden USPGA Tour win last week in China with a runner up finish here!! And he must have been getting really tied after playing five straight weeks in a row. Russell Knox (Scotland) was born in Inverness, Scotland. His father was born in San Diego. Russell Knox (Scotland) attended and played for Jacksonville University. Russell Knox (Scotland) turned professional in 2007. He played on the NGA Hooters Tour from 2008 to 2010, picking up two victories in the process. He joined the Nationwide Tour in 2011 and picked up his first victory on tour in July at the Chiquita Classic. He eventually finished twelfth on the Nationwide Tour money list and gained his full USPGA Tour card. His first USPGA Tour event was the 2011 Transitions Championship but he failed to make the cut. His first USPGA Tour event as a full member was the 2012 Sony Open in Hawaii where he missed the cut by a single stroke. He made only 12 cuts in 23 events in 2012 and finished 143rd on the money list to remain conditionally exempt on the USPGA Tour for 2013. He split time between the USPGA Tour and Web.com Tours in 2013. He played in the Web.com Tour Finals and finished twentieth to earn his USPGA Tour card for 2014. On July 26, 2013, Russell Knox (Scotland) shot a 59 in the second round of the Albertsons Boise Open on the Web.com Tour. After an impressive start to his 2014 season, Russell Knox (Scotland) came close to winning his maiden USPGA Tour title at the Honda Classic, eventually losing to Russell Henley (USA) in a four-man playoff that also included Rory McIlroy (NIR) and Ryan Palmer (USA). Russell Knox (Scotland) finished 48th in the regular season FedEx Cup points list, qualifying for the 2014 FedEx Cup Playoffs, eventually finishing in 40th place. He had a good start to the 2014-2015 USPGA Tour season with a third place in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. He finished tied for third in The Honda Classic and made the cut in 20 USPGA Tour events. Finishing 44th in the regular season FedEx Cup points list, he qualified for the 2015 FedEx Cup Playoffs. Good performances in The Barclays and Deutsche Bank Championship lifted him to 29th place in the FedEx Cup standing but he only finished tied for 45th in BMW Championship to drop out of the top 30 in the standings and so missed out on the Tour Championship. Russell Knox (Scotland) also made a rare appear in Europe at the 2015 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, finishing in a tie for tenth place. In November 2015 Russell Knox (Scotland) won the 2015 WGC-HSBC Champions by two strokes from Kevin Kisner (USA). Russell Knox (Scotland) was playing in his first WGC event and became the first Scot to win a World Golf Championship. Russell Knox (Scotland) only qualified as seventh reserve and third alternate. The win lifted him to 31st in the World Rankings, his first time in the world top fifty. Russell Knox (Scotland) is not a European Tour member and so is not currently eligible to play for Europe in the Ryder Cup. Russell Knox (Scotland) currently has endorsements with Cleveland Golf, Mutual of Omaha, Srixon, and Sligo. Let’s hope he can carry this amazing form into the 2016 part of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup.
Coming in solo fourth position at 268-16 after seventy two holes was Derek Fathauer (USA); he earned US $297,600 for his efforts and moved to twenty eighth position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $307,584 earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 135 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to thirtieth position on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 147 points earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. From the four events he has played to date this season so far he has made two cuts and achieved one top ten finish which came this past week. He will be happy with his first, second and third rounds that were all in the 60s especially his first round 65-6 which saw him tied for the lead and was blemish free!! And also his third round 66-5 which was blemish free also!! But he will be just content with his final round even par 71-1. But he will be pleased he had a top five finish after starting his season with two straight missed cuts. Derek Fathauer (USA) (born January 20, 1986) is an American professional golfer who has played on the USPGA Tour and the Web.com Tour. Derek Fathauer (USA) was born in Stuart, Florida. He attended Martin County High School in Stuart, Florida. He and his twin brother Daryl played in the Ginn sur Mer Classic in October 2007, the first twins to do so in a USPGA Tour event. Derek Fathauer (USA) qualified for the 2008 U.S. Open. He qualified by coming in a tie for third, shooting 67-68, in a sectional qualifying event at the OSU golf club, Scarlet Course. In the qualifying stage, he finished ahead of veterans such as Davis Love III (USA) and Jesper Parnevik (Sweden). In the U.S. Open played at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California, he shot 73-73 to make the cut by 4 strokes. He was, through two rounds, the lowest amateur score in the field, edging Michael Thompson (USA) by one stroke and Rickie Fowler (USA) by three strokes. However, he struggled on the weekend, shooting 78-75 to finish in a tie for 69th at +15 and in third for the amateurs. Derek Fathauer (USA) had much success at the U.S. Amateur throughout the years. In 2006, he made the first round of match play at Hazeltine National Golf Club, located in Chaska, Minnesota. In 2007, he made the quarterfinals. In 2008, he also made the quarterfinals, beating Kevin Tway (USA). However his road to the quarterfinals was not easy. He required 20 holes to win in the round of 32 and 22 holes in the round of 16 before losing to runner-up Drew Kittleson (USA) in the quarters. Derek Fathauer (USA) was also a member of the United States Palmer Cup team. During the cup, he won a team high three points. However, team USA lost the event 14-10 to the European squad. Derek Fathauer (USA) turned professional on September 17, 2008. He advanced to the final stage of the 2008 PGA Tour Q-School in La Quinta, California at the PGA West Golf Community. He earned his USPGA Tour card for 2009 after finishing in a tie for second. Derek Fathauer (USA) finished eight shots behind Harrison Frazar after shooting 70-69-65-67-67-70 for a total score of 408. Derek Fathauer (USA) made his professional USPGA Tour debut at the Sony Open in Hawaii on January 15, 2009, where he missed the cut by one stroke after shooting a 73-69=142 (+2). He made his first cut on Tour at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He shot 71-71-69=211 to make the cut. During the tournament, he also recorded his first ace of his professional career at the fifteenth hole of Spyglass Hill Golf Course, in Pebble Beach, California. Derek Fathauer (USA) earned his first professional win at the 2014 Web.com Tour Championship. The win made Derek Fathauer (USA) fully exempt on the USPGA Tour for the 2014–15 season for leading the Web.com Tour Finals money list. He also earned an invitation to the 2015 Players Championship. Let’s hope he can continue this form in the next few events he plays in. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup.
Rounding out the top six in tied for fifth position at 270-14 after seventy two holes was Scott Brown (USA); he earned US $235,600 for his efforts and moved to thirty eighth position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $263,428 earned from the four events he has played in to date this season so far. He also earned 105 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to forty second position on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 118 points earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. From the four events he has played to date this season so far he has made two cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came this week. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his 67-4 in the first round that was blemish free!! Scott Brown (USA) (born May 22, 1983) is an American professional golfer who plays on the USPGA Tour. Scott Brown (USA) attended the University of South Carolina Aiken, playing at Division II level collegiate golf. He turned professional in 2006, and begun playing mini-tours. He played on the NGA Hooters Tour from 2007 to 2009 and finished on top of the eGolf Professional Tour money list in 2009, with three wins. In 2010 and 2011 he played on the Nationwide Tour, recording five top-three finishes in 2011 to finish eighth on the money list and earn a USPGA Tour card for 2012. Scott Brown (USA) missed his first six USPGA Tour cuts before he finished tied for fifth at the 2012 Puerto Rico Open. Scott Brown (USA) had two fifth-place finishes in 2012, but could only manage to place 148th on the USPGA Tour money list, barely maintaining conditional status by US $4,468. He started the 2013 season dividing his time between the USPGA Tour and Web.com Tour. Scott Brown (USA) regained his USPGA Tour card through 2015 with a win at the 2013 Puerto Rico Open. He qualified for the 2013 Open Championship and as a Tour winner, the 2013 PGA Championship. Let’s hope he can keep this form up in the next few events he plays in and I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup.
The final player to tie for fifth position was Harold Varner III (USA); he too earned US $235,600 for his efforts and moved to thirty fifth position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $264,916 earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 105 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to thirty first position on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 141 points earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. From the four events he has played to date this season so far he has made three cuts and achieved one top ten finish which was the very first of his USPGA Tour career this past week. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par especially his second round 62-9 that was the low round of the day and the tournament!! He will be very happy in his rookie season on the USPGA Tour getting a top ten finish in his fourth event of his USPGA Tour career as a full member. Harold Varner III (USA) became the first African-American player to earn his USPGA Tour card through the Web.com Tour. To earn promotion, the top 25 players on the Web.com's regular-season money list are granted full-time status to the next USPGA Tour season. After opening the campaign with a second-place showing in January, Harry Varner's III (USA) game struggled with consistency. Worse, heading into the regular-season finale at Pumpkin Ridge outside Portland, Varner had missed the cut in three of the prior six events. Luckily for the 25-year-old who played college golf at East Carolina, his game held up, finishing tied for forty seventh at the WinCo Foods Portland Open, which was just good enough to hold on to the twenty fifth spot on the money list. Harry Varner III (USA) now has full USPGA Tour privileges for the 2015/16 season which started at the Frys.com Open. Let’s hope he can keep this form up for the rest of the season and make it to the FedEx Cup Playoffs in late August next year? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup.
Tim Wilkinson (NZL) who recently regained his
2015/16 USPGA Tour card at the Web.com Tour Finals was the only New Zealand
Golfer in the field and was keen to have a good tournament to back up his good
performance at the Sanderson Farms Championship the week before. He scored a good
first round 69-2 which included a good front nine of 33-3 with birdies coming on
the par three, fourth hole, par five, fifth hole and par four, sixth hole but
he had a poor lone bogey on the par four, second hole and a good back nine of
35 even par which included a brilliant eagle on the par five, thirteenth hole
and a lone birdie on the par four, fourteenth hole and a terrible triple bogey seven
on the par four, eighteenth hole and a second round of 70-1 which included a
front nine of 37+1 which included a lone birdie on the par four, sixth hole and
bogeys on the par four, first hole and par five, fifth hole and then he scored
a very good back nine of 33-2 with birdies on the par four, twelfth hole and
par five thirteenth hole and a good third round of 69-2 which included a good
front nine of 35-1 with his lone birdie coming on the par three, fourth hole
and then a good back nine of 34-1 with birdies coming on the par four, eleventh
hole, par five, fifteenth hole and par four, seventeenth hole but he had poor
bogeys on the par four, twelfth hole and par four, eighteenth hole and a good
final round of 69-2 which included a
good front nine of which included a lone birdie on the par four, second hole and
then a good back nine of 34-1 with birdies on the par five, thirteenth hole and
par four, seventeenth hole but he had a poor lone bogey on the par four,
sixteenth hole for a seventy two hole total of 277-7 and finished in tied for
thirty fourth position and earned US $32,757 for efforts. He moved to 122nd position
on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $54,418 earned
from the two events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned thirty
five FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to tied for 105th position on
the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points list standings with fifty five points
earned from the two events he has played in to date so far. From the two events
he has played to date this season so far he has made two cuts and achieved no
top ten finishes. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all
under par especially his first, third and final rounds that were all 69-2s. And
it is good to see him make two cuts in his first two events of the 2015/16
USPGA Tour season. Let’s hope he can continue this form on next week in the RSM
Classic which is the final event of the 2015 part of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour
season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season.
Next week is the final event of the 2015 part of the
2015/16 USPGA Tour season and it is in the State of Georgia and it is the RSM
Classic and is played on the Sea Island Resort (Seaside), Sea
Island, Georgia. It carries a huge prize purse of US $5,700,000 for the
taking. Robert Streb (USA) is the defending champion and will be keen to defend
his title. Danny Lee (NZL) will sit out this tournament and Tim Wilkinson (NZL)
will likely gain a start for his third of the season. It starts on Thursday
19th November and I will report back who won the trophy next week.
So to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list
standings this week and coming in at Number One Position for the eighth week of
his career is Jordan Spieth (USA) who is fresh off his tied for seventh position at the WGC –
HSBC Champions one week ago and also being part of the 2015 Team USA Presidents
Cup win five weeks ago over Team International in South Korea with 11.97
Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Jason Day (Australia)
who is fresh off being part of the 2015 Team Internationals Presidents Cup
narrow loss to Team USA five weeks ago in South Korea and also his tied for
tenth position at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola seven weeks ago with
11.91 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Rory McILroy
(NIR) who is fresh off his tied for eleventh position at the WGC – HSBC
Champions one week ago and his tied for sixth position two weeks ago at the Turkish
Airlines Open with 10.63 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at
Number Four is Bubba Watson (USA) who is fresh off his solo third position at
the Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters this past week and also his tied for
thirty fifth position at the WGC – HSBC Champions one week ago with 7.79
Official World Ranking Points and rounding out the top five on the Official
World Ranking Points list standings this week is Justin Rose (England) who is
fresh off his tied for seventh position at the BMW Masters this past week and
also his win at the UBS Hong Kong Open three weeks ago with 7.53 Official World
Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) this week is in his thirty fifth week of
another spell of being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after
finishing in tied for thirty first position at the BMW Masters this past week.
This week he slips one place and falls to fortieth fourth position on the
Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings with 2.72 Official Golf
World Ranking Points.
Remember in the bad weather conditions to still go through
your pre shot routine!!
Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org,
Google search engine, europeantour.com, golfchannel.com
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