Well it was another amazing weekend on the Major
Professional golf tours from around the world and this week on the USPGA Tour
and FedEx Cup it was the second event of two on the only Asian Swing on the
USPGA Tour for the 2015/16 season and it was a WGC Event and was played in
China and was the WGC – HSBC Champions and it was a co – sanctioned event with
the European Tour, Asian Tour and all the other Major Professional Tours from
around the world and was played on the Sheshan International
GC, Shanghai, China. It carried a huge prize – purse of US $9,500,000
for taking and all the big name players in the world were there including
Jordan Spieth (USA), Rory McIlroy (NIR), and defending champion, Bubba Watson
(USA) to name a few. Danny Lee (NZL) was the only New Zealander Golfer in field
and was hoping for a high finish. And it was the golfer by the name of Russell
Knox (Scotland) who scored rounds of 67-5, 65-7, 68-4 and a final round of 68-4
for a seventy two hole total of 268-20 and he won by two shots for his maiden
USPGA Tour win of his career!! He earned US $1,400,000 for his efforts and
moved to second position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings
with US $1,506,560 earned from the four events he has played to date this
season so far. Justin Thomas (USA) still leads that list with US $1,644,000
earned from the three events he has played to date this season so far. Russell
Knox (Scotland) also earned 550 FedEx Cup Points for the win and moved to third
position on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points list standings 631 points
earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far and he is
57 points behind the current leader of that list who is Justin Thomas (USA) who
has earned 688 points from the three events he has played to date this season
so far. From the four events Russell Knox (Scotland) has played to date this
season so far he has made three cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came
with the win this week!! He will be happy with his four rounds this week that
were all in the 60s especially his second round 65-7 which was blemish free and
the low round of the day!! And also his back nine 33-3 in the final round that
sealed the tournament for him!!
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| Russell Knox (Scotland) tees off during the final round |
Russell Knox (Scotland) played a very good final
round under the circumstances of carrying a share of the 54 hole lead into it
and he scored a front nine of 35-1 which included birdies on the par five,
second hole, par four, third hole and par three, sixth hole but he had poor bogeys
on the par three, fourth hole and par four, ninth hole and he made the turn at
minus seventeen and was tied for the lead. Kevin Kisner (USA) went out in 35-1
and made the turn at minus seventeen and was tied for the lead. Ross Fisher
(England) went out in 33-3 and made the turn at minus sixteen and was one shot
behind the leaders. Danny Willett (England) when out in 30-6 and made the turn at
minus thirteen and was four shots behind the leaders.
Russell Knox (Scotland) played holes ten to fourteen
in two under par which included birding the par four, tenth hole and par four,
eleventh hole and he moved to minus nineteen and was now leading by two shots.
Kevin Kisner (USA) played holes ten to fourteen in even par which included
making five straight pars and he remained at minus seventeen and was now two
shots behind the leader. Ross Fisher (England) played holes ten to fourteen in
one under par which included birding the par four, tenth hole and he moved to
minus seventeen and was now two shots behind the leader. Danny Willett
(England) played holes ten to fourteen in three under par which included
birding the par four, tenth hole, par four, thirteenth and par five, fourteenth
hole and he moved to minus sixteen and was now only three shots behind the
leader.
Russell Knox (Scotland) played holes fifteen to
seventeen in one under par and that included birding the par four, sixteenth
hole and he moved to minus twenty and was now leading by three shots heading to
the par five, seventy second hole. Kevin Kisner (USA) played holes fifteen to
seventeen in even par which included making three straight pars and he remained
at minus seventeen and was now three shots behind the leader heading to the par
five, seventy second hole. Ross Fisher (England) played holes fifteen to
seventeen in even par which included birding the par three, seventeenth hole
and making a poor bogey on the par four, fifteenth hole and he remained at
minus seventeen and was now three shots behind the leader heading to the par
five, seventy second hole. Danny Willett (England) played holes fifteen to
seventeen in one under par which included birding the par four, sixteenth hole and
he moved to minus seventeen and was still three shots behind the leader heading
to the par five, seventy second hole.
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| Russell Knox (Scotland) plays his third shot into the seventy second green |
Danny Willet (England) who was playing about an hour
ahead of the field made a solid par at the par five, seventy second hole and
finished the seventy two holes at minus seventeen and finished three shots
behind the winner. Ross Fisher (England) who was playing in the group ahead of
the final group made a solid par at the par five, seventy second hole and
finished the seventy two holes at minus seventeen and finished three shots
behind the winner. Kevin Kisner (USA) who was playing in the final group with
Russell Knox (Scotland) made a fine birdie on the par five, seventy second hole
and finished the seventy two holes at minus eighteen and was two shots behind
the winner. Russell Knox (Scotland) hit a brilliant drive off the par five,
seventy second tee that landed right in the centre of the fairway. He then
choose to lay up with a short iron for his second shot because it was too risky
to go for the green over the water. He laid up to within ninety yards of the
green. Then he hit a brilliant third shot with his short wedge into pin high
twenty feet right of the pin. As he walked up to the green he got a standing
ovation from the surrounding gallery as they knew his win had been secured. He
putted for his birdie and left it two feet short and then tapped in for his par
five and finished the seventy two holes at minus twenty to win by two shots for
his maiden USPGA Tour win!! He threw his arms in the air to celebrate!! Then he
got a huge high five from his caddie, Bradley!! Then he got a huge hug and kiss
from his wife, Andrea!! And when interviewed afterwards he said “I always
thought my Maiden USPGA Tour win would come in a huge tournament like this one
and I am honoured to win it!!”
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| Russell Knox (Scotland) raises his arms in the air to celebrate his win!! |
It was his first European Tour International
Schedule victory in his eighth European Tour event. He could move into the top
30 of the Official World Golf Ranking, from 85th. This victory beats his
previous best European Tour performance of tied tenth in the 2015 Aberdeen
Asset Management Scottish Open. He becomes the thirteenth first-time winner of
the 2015 European Tour season. They are: Andy Sullivan (England) (South African
Open Championship Hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni), Gary Stal (France) (Abu
Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship), Anirban Lahiri (India) (Maybank Malaysian Open),
Trevor Fisher Jnr (RSA) (Africa Open), Jordan Spieth (USA) (Masters
Tournament), Wu Ashun (China) (Volvo China Open), Byeong Hun An (South Korea)
(BMW PGA Championship), Rickie Fowler (USA) (Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish
Open), Roope Kakko (Finland) (Madeira Islands Open – Portugal – BPI), Thomas
Pieters (Belgium) (D+D REAL Czech Masters), Rikard Karlberg (Sweden) (72º OPEN
D’ITALIA presented by DAMIANI), Matthew Fitzpatrick (England) (British Masters
supported by Sky Sports) and Russell Knox (Scotland) (WGC – HSBC Champions).
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| Andrea Knox (Who is Russell's wife) on the left and Russell Knox (Scotland) on the right poses and bites the Old Tom Morris Cup he won!! |
The victory comes in his first appearance in the WGC
– HSBC Champions. The victory also comes in his first career appearance in a
WGC event. He becomes the first player to win a WGC event on their debut
appearance since Jeff Maggert (USA) at the 1999 WGC Cadillac Match Play, which
was the very first WGC event. He becomes the fourth European to win the WGC –
HSBC Champions since the event became part of the WGC series in November 2009.
He follows: Francesco Molinari (Italy) (2010), Martin Kaymer (Germany) (2011)
and Ian Poulter (England) (2012). He becomes the first Scot to win a WGC event.
He becomes the second consecutive WGC first-time winner, following Shane Lowry
(Ireland) at the 2015 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational. He becomes the 32nd
different player overall to win an individual WGC event. He becomes the sixth
different player from the United Kingdom to win a WGC event, following: Darren
Clarke (NIR) (2000 WGC – Cadillac Match Play and 2003 WGC – Bridgestone
Invitational), Luke Donald (England) (2011 WGC – Cadillac Match Play), Rory
McIlroy (NIR) (2014 WGC- Bridgestone Invitational and 2015 WGC – Match Play),
Ian Poulter (England) (2010 WGC – Cadillac Match Play and 2012 WGC – HSBC
Champions) and Justin Rose (England) (2012 WGC – Cadillac Championship). He becomes
the second British player to win the WGC – HSBC Champions since the event
became a WGC event in November 2009. They are: Ian Poulter (England) (2012) and
Russell Knox (Scotland) (2015). (David Howell (England) won the event in the
2006 season prior to the event being part of the WGC series).
He becomes the first player to make a WGC event their first European Tour victory since Patrick Reed (USA) at the 2014 WGC – Cadillac Championship. He becomes the seventh different winner of the WGC – HSBC Champions since the event became a WGC event in November 2009. He joins Francesco Molinari (Italy) (2010), Martin Kaymer (Germany) (2011), Dustin Johnson (USA) (2013) and Bubba Watson (USA) (2014), to make the WGC – HSBC Champions their first WGC victory. He becomes the 136th Scottish victory in European Tour history. He becomes the 23rd different Scot to win in European Tour history. He becomes the second Scottish victory on the 2015 European Tour. They are: Richie Ramsay (Scotland) (Trophée Hassan II) and Russell Knox (Scotland) (WGC – HSBC Champions). And finally Russell Knox (Scotland) gains a European Tour exemption until the end of the 2018 season, should he take up European Tour membership.
He becomes the first player to make a WGC event their first European Tour victory since Patrick Reed (USA) at the 2014 WGC – Cadillac Championship. He becomes the seventh different winner of the WGC – HSBC Champions since the event became a WGC event in November 2009. He joins Francesco Molinari (Italy) (2010), Martin Kaymer (Germany) (2011), Dustin Johnson (USA) (2013) and Bubba Watson (USA) (2014), to make the WGC – HSBC Champions their first WGC victory. He becomes the 136th Scottish victory in European Tour history. He becomes the 23rd different Scot to win in European Tour history. He becomes the second Scottish victory on the 2015 European Tour. They are: Richie Ramsay (Scotland) (Trophée Hassan II) and Russell Knox (Scotland) (WGC – HSBC Champions). And finally Russell Knox (Scotland) gains a European Tour exemption until the end of the 2018 season, should he take up European Tour membership.
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| Another Photo of Russell Knox (Scotland) posing with the Old Tom Morris Cup he won!! |
Russell Knox
(Scotland) (born 21 June 1985) is a Scottish professional golfer who plays on
the USPGA Tour. In November 2015 he won the 2015 WGC-HSBC Champions by 2
strokes from Kevin Kisner (USA). 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 fortieth
place.
He had a good start to the 2014-2015 PGA 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 twenty 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 2 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 (As I mentioned above). 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 50. 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 that now he has got his maiden USPGA Tour win he can take his career to
the next level and perhaps win another event in the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season.
I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season.
Coming in solo second position at 270-18 after
seventy two holes was Kevin Kisner (USA); he earned US $850,000 for his efforts
and moved to sixth position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list
standings with US $925,632 earned from the three events he has played to date
this season so far. He also earned 315 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and
moved to sixth position on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points list standings
with 388 points earned from the three events he has played to date this season
so far. From the three events he has played to date this season so far he has
made three cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came this very week. He
will be happy with his first and second rounds that were 64-8 which was blemish
free and 66-6 which was also blemish free!! But he will be just content with
his third and fourth rounds that were both consecutive 70-2s but he will be
extremely happy with his birdie four on the par five, seventy second hole which
saw him move to minus eighteen and finish in solo second place!! This is
another close call for him as he lost three playoffs in the recent 2014/15
USPGA Tour season at the RBC Heritage in April, The PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP in May
and the Greenbrier Classic in July. He is still yet to achieve his maiden USPGA
Tour win but I feel he will this season because he is a too good a player not
too!! Kevin Kisner (USA) (born
February 15, 1984) is an American professional golfer. Kevin Kisner (USA) was
born in Aiken, South Carolina. He played college golf at the University of
Georgia and was a member of their 2005 NCAA Division I Championship team along
with Chris Kirk (USA), Richard Scott (Canada) and Brendon Todd (USA). After
graduating in 2006, he turned professional. Kevin Kisner (USA) played on the
mini-tours (NGA Hooters Tour and Tarheel Tour) and from 2007 to 2009, winning
three times. He also played in six Nationwide Tour events in 2009. He played
the Nationwide Tour full-time in 2010, winning once at the Mylan Classic. He
finished the year eleventh on the money list and earned his 2011 USPGA Tour
card. Kevin Kisner (USA) failed to earn enough money on the USPGA Tour in 2011
to retain his card (181st on money list), but finished tied for eleventh at
qualifying school to earn his card for 2012. He again failed to retain his
card, finishing 167th on the money list, and missed earning a card in
qualifying school by one stroke. He returned to (the now renamed) Web.com Tour
in 2013 and won the Chile Classic in March. He finished thirteenth on the 2013
Web.com Tour regular season money list to earn his 2014/15 USPGA Tour card. In
2014, Kevin Kisner (USA) finished sixth at the Wells Fargo Championship, eighth
at the Wyndham Championship and ninth at the RBC Canadian Open. In the 2015 USPGA
Tour, Kevin Kisner (USA) finished runner-up three times, losing all three in
sudden-death playoffs. He was defeated at the 2015 RBC Heritage after losing on
the second hole of the playoff to Jim Furyk (USA). Kevin Kisner (USA) would go
on to finish tied with Sergio García (Spain) and Rickie Fowler (USA) at The
Players Championship event in May after 72 holes, losing to Rickie Fowler (USA)
on the first hole of sudden-death after the two remained tied following a
three-hole aggregate playoff. At the Greenbrier Classic he again tied for
second in a sudden-death playoff. Also, he finished fourth at the McGladrey
Classic, fifth at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, and eighth at the
Memorial Tournament. Let’s hope he can continue this form in the final two events
of the 2015 part of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season and perhaps achieve his
maiden USPGA Tour win. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015/16
USPGA Tour season.
Coming in tied for third position at 271-17 after
seventy two holes was Ross Fisher (England); he earned US $422,500 for his
efforts but because he isn’t a current member of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour he
doesn’t get a money list standings ranking. He also earned 170 FedEx Cup Points
for his efforts but because he isn’t a current member of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour
he doesn’t get a 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points list standings ranking. From the one
event he has played to date this season so far on the USPGA Tour has made one
cut 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 third round
65-7 and his second round 69-3 that was blemish free!! And it was great to see
him have such a high finish in a WGC – Event playing against a world class
field!! Ross Daniel Fisher
(England) (born 22 November 1980) is an English professional golfer who plays
on the European Tour, where he has won five times, including the 2009 Volvo
World Match Play Championship at Wentworth. Ross Fisher (England) was born in
Ascot, Berkshire. His home course is the famous Wentworth Golf Club, Surrey,
England, location of the European Tour administrative headquarters. As a child,
he attended Charters School, a state comprehensive close to Wentworth. Ross
Fisher (England) joined the European Tour in 2006. He earned his card by
finishing eighteenth on the Challenge Tour's money list in 2005. During Ross
Fisher's (England) first season on the European Tour he won a Jaguar for a
nearest to the pin contest in the 2006 Quinn Direct British Masters. In 2007,
Ross Fisher (England) won the KLM Open by one stroke over Joost Luiten
(Netherlands), and subsequently finished the year ranked 43rd on the Order of
Merit. Ross Fisher (England) started the 2008 season with a joint-second place
in the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai, beaten by Phil Mickelson (USA) in
a three-way play-off that also featured Lee Westwood (England).
In July 2008, Ross Fisher (England) won the European
Open on the Heritage Course at The London Golf Club; the first staging of the
event at the venue in Kent, England. Despite never having played the course
either in competition or in practice, Ross Fisher (England) shot a first round
63—the lowest round thus far in his professional career—which featured a
wind-assisted 413-yard drive on the ninth hole, his last of the day. Having
established a first round lead, he was never subsequently headed at the top of
the leaderboard, going on to win the tournament by a comfortable seven shots
from Sergio García (Spain). Ross Fisher (England) played steadily for the rest
of the season and finished sixth on the Tour's Order of Merit. Ross Fisher's (England)
progress continued in 2009 when he reached the semi-final of the WGC-Accenture
Match Play Championship in Arizona, losing to fellow Englishman Paul Casey
(England) 4 & 3. Ross Fisher (England) also finished second at the BMW PGA
Championship at Wentworth Club, after shooting a 64 in his final round, which
included 6 birdies in the first 12 holes. Ross Fisher's (England) 64 was just a
shot outside the Wentworth course record and he finished a stroke behind the
winner Paul Casey (England). Ross Fisher (England) was in contention during the
final round of the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, New York up until a
three-putt bogey at the par three 17th hole. Ross Fisher (England) finished in fifth
place, three shots behind the champion Lucas Glover (USA). The
following month, at the 138th Open Championship at Turnberry, Ross Fisher
(England) held a two-stroke lead in the early stages of the final round, before
taking a quadruple-bogey eight on the par four fifth hole after driving into
long rough on the right side of the hole. He eventually finished in a tie for thirteenth
place. In 2009, Ross Fisher (England) had the lowest cumulative score for the
four major championships for players who made the cut in all four events. Ross Fisher's
(England) cumulative score of +2 was one stroke better than Henrik Stenson
(Sweden) of Sweden. At the end of 2009, Ross Fisher (England) won the first Volvo
World Match Play Championship that was held away from Wentworth, defeating
American Anthony Kim (USA) 4 & 3 in the final at Finca Cortesín Golf Club
in Spain. He finished the season in fourth place in the Race to
Dubai. Ross Fisher (England) had an excellent chance to shoot a round of 59 and
thus make European Tour golf history at the 3 Irish Open in Killarney on 30
July 2010, when he was 10-under-par with four holes to play, only needing to
birdie two of the remaining four holes, but he parred the last four holes for a
round of 61. He won the tournament with an 18-under-par score of 266. Ross Fisher
(England) qualified for the 2010 European Ryder Cup team, which regained the
trophy from the United States at Celtic Manor, Wales, on 4 October. He
contributed two points towards the European team total and finished with a
record of 2–2–0. In March 2014, Ross Fisher (England) won his fifth European
Tour title and first in over three years at the Tshwane Open in South Africa. Ross
Fisher (England) won by three strokes over Michael Hoey (NIR) and Danie van
Tonder (RSA), having entered the day five ahead of the field. Ross Fisher (England)
is married to Joanne with whom he has a daughter, Eve. Joanne gave birth to the
couple's second child in 2011 named Harry. Ross Fisher (England) plays the
European Tour fulltime and has won five events to date on that tour with his
most recent being the 2014 Tshwane Open. He has also achieved one top ten
finish in Major Championships which was solo fifth at the 2009 U.S. Open
Championship. He also represented England at the 2008 and 2009 World Cups and
he represented Team Europe at the 2010 Ryder Cup which Team Europe won. I wish
him all the best for the rest of the 2015 season on the European Tour.
Also tied for third was Danny Willett (England); he
also earned US $422,500 for his efforts but because he isn’t a current member
of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a money list standings ranking. He
also earned 170 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts but because he isn’t a current
member of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points list
standings ranking. From the one event he has played to date this season so far
on the USPGA Tour has made one cut and achieved one top ten finish that came
this week. He will be happy with his first and final rounds that were both in
the 60s especially his final round 62-10 which was the low round of the day and
the tournament and it was also blemish free!! He will be content with his third
round 70-2 but angry with his second round 74+2. But he will be pleased with
another high finish in a WGC – Event after finishing third in the 2015 WGC –
Cadillac Match Play Championship in early May. Daniel John Willett (England) (born 3 October 1987) is an English
professional golfer who plays on the European Tour. Danny Willett (England) was
born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England and is the son of Maths teacher
Elisabet Willett. As an amateur, he won the English Amateur Championship in
2007 and competed in the 2007 Walker Cup at Royal County Down. In March 2008 he
became the number one ranked amateur in the world. Danny Willett (England) also
played two seasons for Jacksonville State University in the U.S. During his
time with at JSU, he was the 2006 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year
and won medalist honors at the 2007 OVC Championship. He was a first-team
All-OVC performer and a member of the OVC's All-Tournament Team in both
seasons. Danny Willett (England) turned professional in May 2008, and earned
his European Tour card for the 2009 season coming through qualifying school.
Following a successful 2009, finishing 58th in the inaugural Race to Dubai with
eight top-10s, Danny Willett (England) challenged at the 2010 BMW PGA
Championship, taking the first round lead before falling off the pace and
finishing outright fifth, winning 190,800 euro. Following this performance, Danny
Willett (England) moved into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking for
the first time. He finished the 2010 season ranked 23rd on the Order of Merit.
Danny Willett (England) won for the first time on
the European Tour in June 2012 at the BMW International Open in Cologne. He
defeated Marcus Fraser (Australia) on the fourth extra hole of a sudden death
playoff. Danny Willett (England) played a fantastic chip shot from
the rough at the back of green, after going long with his approach, to set up a
two-foot par putt and when Marcus Fraser (Australia) missed a short four foot
putt to bogey the hole, that left Danny Willett (England) with the task of
tapping in for his maiden victory. Danny Willett (England) finished third at
the 2015 WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship, earning special temporary
membership on the USPGA Tour for the remainder of the 2015 season. Through
36 holes at the 2015 Open Championship, Danny Willett (England) was one stroke
off the lead of Dustin Johnson (USA) and was paired with him in the final group
for the third round of the Championship. He only could muster an even-par 72 in
the third round, however, and dropped down the leaderboard. A final round 70,
moved him into a tied for sixth at the Old Course at St Andrews, his best finish
in a Major Championship. In July 2015, Danny Willett (England) won his third
European Tour title with a one-stroke victory over Matthew Fitzpatrick (England)
at the Omega European Masters. Though he earned enough to qualify for a USPGA
Tour card, Danny Willett (USA) declined to take USPGA Tour membership for the
2015–16 season. He has had one top ten finish in a Major Championship to date
so far which came at the 2015 Open Championship at St. Andrews in Scotland
where he tied for sixth position. He has now moved into second position on the
Race to Dubai rankings with just two events remaining and is a genuine chance
of winning the title!! Let’s hope he can keep this form up for the final two
events of the 2015 European Tour season.
On 22 April, Branden Grace (RSA) won his third tournament on the European Tour when he won the Volvo China Open. Only two players have won three European Tour titles in a single season at a younger age, Seve Ballesteros (Spain) did it three times between 1977 and 1980, and Sandy Lyle (Scotland) did it in 1979. Branden Grace (RSA) also became only the third South African to win three times in a single season, joining Ernie Els (RSA) and Retief Goosen (RSA). He also became only the second player in European Tour history to win three times in the season after graduating from qualifying school. In September, Branden Grace (RSA) captured his third Sunshine Tour title at the Vodacom Origins of Golf Final. On 7 October, Branden Grace (RSA) won his fourth European Tour title and fifth worldwide title of 2012 at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. He broke the scoring record at the tournament to win at twenty two under par, two strokes clear of Thorbjørn Olesen (Denmark). His record total included a European Tour record equalling 60 at Kingsbarns during the first round. Branden Grace (RSA) moved to third in the Race to Dubai and also to a career high 37th in the Official World Golf Ranking. Branden Grace (RSA) capped off a highly successful 2012 season by winning the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit. Branden Grace (RSA) had a less successful season in 2013, finishing eighteenth on the European Tour's Race to Dubai, his best finish being second in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open where he lost in a sudden-death playoff to Phil Mickelson (USA). During 2014, Branden Grace (RSA) continued his high showings on the European Tour Race to Dubai. Despite a second winless season, Branden Grace (RSA) finished 31st in the year end standings, with a best performance of second in the Volvo Golf Champions.
In December 2014, as part of the 2015 European Tour season,
Branden Grace (RSA) won his fifth European Tour event, and first since 2012, at
the Alfred Dunhill Championship. Branden Grace (RSA) won the event by seven
strokes from fellow South African Louis Oosthuizen (RSA). Branden
Grace (RSA) soon followed this up with his second win of the 2015 season with a
win at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in January 2015. The
following month, he won again on home soil at the Dimension Data Pro-Am on the Sunshine
Tour, with a two stroke victory over Keith Horne (RSA). At the 2015 U.S. Open
at Chambers Bay, Branden Grace (RSA) held a share of the lead through 54 holes.
On Sunday, he was in the penultimate group with eventual champion, Jordan
Spieth (USA), and was still tied for the lead heading to the 16th hole, until
he blocked his drive to the right and out of bounds, forcing him to re-tee and
eventually leading to a double bogey to spiral him out of contention to win. He
finished with a final round 71, and a tied for fourth position. At the 2015 PGA
Championship at Whistling Straits, Branden Grace (RSA) placed in the top-five
for the second time in his career at the major championships, when he placed
third. At the 2015 Presidents Cup, Branden Grace (RSA) would have a perfect
week. On the opening day (Thursday foursomes), Branden Grace (RSA) teamed with
fellow South African golfer Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) to defeat Matt Kuchar (USA)
and Patrick Reed (USA) in comfortable fashion 3 and 2. On Day 2 (Friday fourball),
Branden Grace (RSA) would again team with Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) in a dominant
performance against world number one Jordan Spieth (USA) and Dustin Johnson
(USA) winning 4 and 3. On Day 3 (Saturday morning foursomes), Branden Grace (RSA)
for a third time teaming with Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), won in another
comfortable match 3 and 2, defeating the team of Patrick Reed (USA) and Rickie
Fowler (USA). Later in the day during Saturday afternoon fourball, teaming with
Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) a fourth and final time, the team won its fourth match
against the undefeated duo of Bubba Watson (USA) and J. B. Holmes (USA). The
fourball match being the only time Branden Grace (RSA) would see the eighteen
hole all week, his team winning 1 up at the last. On the final day of the event
(Sunday singles), Branden Grace (RSA) played against Matt Kuchar (USA) and
started out red hot, dominating Matt Kuchar (USA) on the front nine. Matt Kuchar
(USA) fought back from several holes down before losing 2 and 1. Grace's
perfect record of 5–0–0 was the fifth such occasion in Presidents Cup history
and just the second time for the International side. He has had also played in
the 2013 Presidents Cup representing Team International. He has also achieved
two top ten finishes in Major Championships to date so far with the first
coming at the 2015 U.S. Open Championship where he tied for fourth and the
second coming at the 2015 PGA Championship where he finished in solo third
position. He has also achieved two top ten finishes in WGC – Events with his
best being this past week. Let’s hope he can keep this form up for the rest of
the season and win his maiden USPGA Tour event. I wish him all the best for the
rest of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season.
The final player to tied for fifth position was
Dustin Johnson (USA); he also earned US $276,500 for his efforts and moved to twenty
seventh position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US
$276,500 earned from the one event he has played in to date so far. He also
earned 110 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to thirty fifth position
on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 110 points earned
from the one event he has played to date this season so far. From the one event
he has played to date this season so far he has made one cut and achieved one
top ten finish that came this past week. He will be happy with his first and
third rounds that were both 65-7s especially his third round 65-7 which was blemish
free!! But he will be just content with his second and final rounds that were
both 71-1s and livid with his third shot to the par five, eighth hole which was
a short wedge shot of just over 100 yards that was looking like landing a few
feet from the pin and guaranteeing a certain birdie but he got a cruel
unfortunate break where his ball stuck the pin on the fool and rolled back off
the green into the hazard and he walked off the eight green with a double bogey
seven!! But at the same time he will be pleased he played so well to get a top
five finish to start his season off. Dustin
Hunter Johnson (USA) (born June 22, 1984) is an American professional
golfer who currently plays on the USPGA Tour. He is one of the longest drivers
on the USPGA Tour, having been third in the driving distance stats for three
consecutive years (2009–11) and has ranked inside the top five in each of his
five years on the USPGA Tour. He has been featured in the top five of the
Official World Golf Ranking, reaching a high of third in 2015. He finished in a
tie for second at both the 2011 Open Championship and the 2015 U.S. Open. His
best finish at Augusta National Golf Club was in 2015, with a tied for sixth at
the 2015 Masters Tournament. Dustin Johnson (USA) was born in Columbia, South
Carolina, and played collegiate golf at Coastal Carolina University. As an
amateur, he won the Monroe Invitational and the Northeast Amateur in 2007 and
played on the winning 2007 Walker Cup and Palmer Cup teams. Dustin Johnson (USA)
is the first player since Tiger Woods (USA) to win at least once in each of his
first seven seasons coming out of college. Dustin Johnson (USA) turned
professional in late 2007 and earned his 2008 USPGA Tour card by finishing in a
tie for fourteenth place at the 2007 qualifying school in December. Toward the
end of his rookie season in October 2008, Dustin Johnson (USA) won his first USPGA
Tour event, the Turning Stone Resort Championship in upstate New York. Four
months later, he won his second event at the AT&T Pebble Beach National
Pro-Am, which was shortened to 54 holes when the final round was cancelled due
to strong winds and heavy rain. Dustin Johnson (USA) won by four strokes over
Mike Weir (Canada) and five strokes over second round leader Retief Goosen
(RSA), who shot a third round 74. Dustin Johnson (USA) finished the 2009 season
ranked fifteenth on the USPGA Tour money list. On July 31, 2014, Dustin Johnson
(USA) announced he was taking the rest of the season off to seek professional
help for "personal challenges". In August 2013, Dustin Johnson
(USA) became engaged to model, singer, and celebutante Paulina Gretzky,
daughter of Wayne Gretzky, after seven months of dating. She gave birth to
their son, Tatum Gretzky Johnson, on January 19, 2015. He has achieved nine
wins to date on the USPGA Tour with his most recent being the 2015 WGC –
Cadillac Championship. He has achieved ten top ten finishes in Major
Championships to date so far with his best being tied for second at the 2011
Open Championship and tied for second at the 2015 U.S. Open Championship. He
has also achieved six top ten finishes in WGC – Events which includes his wins
at the at the 2013 WGC – HSBC Champions and 2015 WGC – Cadillac Championship.
He has also represented Team USA in the 2010 and 2012 Ryder Cups against Team
Europe and the also represented Team USA in the 2011 and 2015 Presidents Cup
against Team International which Team USA won both. Let’s hope he can win his
Maiden Major Championship in the 2016. I wish him every continuing success for
the rest for the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season.
Danny Lee (NZL) scored a good first round of 71-1 which
included a good front nine of 36 even par which included a lone birdie on the
par four, seventh hole and a lone bogey on the par three, sixth hole and then
he played a good back nine of 35-1 with birdies coming on the par four, eleventh
hole and par three, seventeenth hole but he had a poor bogey on the par four, thirteenth
hole and then a poor second round of 73+1 which included a poor front nine of
38+2 with bogeys on the par three, sixth hole and par five, eighth hole and a
good back nine of 35-1 which included birdies on the par four, eleventh hole,
par three, twelfth hole and par five, eighteenth hole but he had a shocking
double bogey seven on the par five, fourteenth hole and a good third round of
71-1 where he scored a very good front nine of 34-2 with birdies on the par
five, second hole and par three, sixth hole and then a poor back nine of 37+1
with birdies on the par four, tenth hole and par four, sixteenth hole but he
had poor bogeys on the par four, eleventh hole, par four, thirteenth hole and
par three, seventeenth hole and a poor final round of 73+1 which included a very
good front nine of 34-2 which included birdies on the par five, second hole,
par four, third hole and par five, eighth hole but he had lone poor bogey on
the par three, fourth hole and then he scored a shocking back nine of 39+3
which included a lone birdie on the par four, tenth hole and poor bogeys on the
par three, twelfth hole and par four, sixteenth hole and a terrible double
bogey on the par five, eighteenth hole and he finished in tied for fifty eighth
position He earned US $44,792 for his efforts and moved to tied for 113th
position on the on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $44,792 earned from the two events he has played to
date this season so far. He also earned eleven FedEx Cup Points for his efforts
and moved to tied for 160th position on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points
list standings with eleven points earned from the two events he has played to
date this season so far. From the two events he has played to date this season
so far he has made one cut and withdrawn from one event and achieved no top ten
finishes. He will be happy with his first and third rounds that were both
71-1s!! But he will be mad with his second and final rounds that were both 73+1s
and also angry with his back nine 39+3 in the final round!! But he will be
pleased his infected finger that caused him to withdraw from the CIMB Classic
tournament has healed up!! It was an average start to the second event of his
2015/16 USPGA Tour season but he did make a decent pay cheque and he will be
looking to have some top ten finishes in the next few events he plays in. I
wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season.
Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to
Mexico for the OHL Classic at Mayakoba and it is played on the El Camaleon
GC, Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It carries a large prize purse of US
$6,200,000 for the taking. Charley Hoffman (USA) is the defending champion and
will be keen to defend his title. Tim Wilkinson (NZL) who recently regained his
2015/16 USPGA Tour card at the Web.com Tour Finals is the only New Zealand
Golfer in the field and will be 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. It starts on
Thursday 12th 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 seventh week
of his career is Jordan Spieth (USA) who is fresh off his tied for seventh position at the WGC –
HSBC Champions this past week and also being part of the 2015 Team USA
Presidents Cup win four weeks ago over Team International in South Korea with
12.13 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 four weeks ago in South Korea and also
his tied for tenth position at the Tour Championship by Coca – Cola six weeks
ago with 12.06 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 this past week and his tied for sixth position one week ago at the
Turkish Airlines Open with 10.62 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in
at Number Four is Bubba Watson (USA) who is fresh off his tied for thirty fifth
position at the WGC – HSBC Champions this past week and also being part of the
2015 Team USA Presidents Cup win four weeks ago over Team International in
South Korea with 7.92 Official World Ranking Points and rounding out the top five
on the Official World Ranking Points list standings this week is Rickie Fowler
(USA) who is fresh off his tied for seventeenth position at the WGC – HSBC
Champions this past week and also his tied for twenty fifth position at the
Shriners Hospitals for Children Open two weeks ago with 7.58 Official World
Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) this week is in his thirty fourth week of
another spell of being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after
finishing in tied for fifty eighth position at the WGC – HSBC Champions this
past week. This week he slips three places and falls to fortieth third position
on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings with 2.72 Official
Golf World Ranking Points.
Remember a good short game will save you lots of
shots!!
Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org,
Google search engine, europeantour.com, golfchannel.com
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