Well it was another awesome weekend on the Major
Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week the USPGA Tour and
FedEx Cup stayed in the State of California for the fifth and final event of
the West Coast Swing and it was the Northern Trust Open and was played on the Riviera
CC, Pacific Palisades, California. It carried a huge prize purse of
US $6,800,000 for the taking. James Hahn (USA) was the defending champion and
was keen to defend his title. Danny Lee (NZL) was the only New Zealand Golfer
in the field. And it was the golfer by the name of Bubba Watson (USA) who
scored rounds of 66-5, 68-3, 67-4 and a final round of 68-3 for a seventy two
hole total of 269-15 to win by a single shot for his ninth USPGA Tour win of
his career to date so far. He won US $1,224,000 for his efforts and moved to eighth
position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US
$1,565,300 earned from the five events he has played to date this season so
far. Kevin Kisner (USA) still leads that list with US $2,350,032 earned from
the seven events he has played to date this season so far. Bubba Watson (USA)
also earned 500 FedEx Cup Points for the win and moved to eleventh position on
the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 656 points earned from
the five events he has played to date this season so far and he is 427 points
behind the current leader of that list who is Brandt Snedeker (USA) who has
earned 1,083 points from the eight events he has played to date this season so
far. From the five events Bubba Watson (USA) has played to date this season so
far he has made five cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the
win this past week. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were
all in the 60s especially his first round 66-5!! His second round 68-3 which
was blemish free!! His third round 67-4 which saw him take a one shot fifty
four hole lead into the final round!! And his final round 68-3 which saw him
play the back nine in 34-2 which included playing the last three holes in two
under par!! He made twenty birdies this week against five bogeys!!
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| Bubba Watson (USA) plays a fairway bunker shot during the final round |
Bubba Watson (USA) played a brilliant final round of
68-3 under the circumstances of carrying a one shot lead into the final round and
he scored a front nine of 34-1 with birdies on the par five, first hole and par
four, ninth hole and a poor lone bogey on the par four, seventh hole and he
made turn at minus thirteen and was one shot behind the leader. Jason Kokrak
(USA) went out in 32-3 and made the turn at minus fourteen and was leading by a
single shot. Adam Scott (Australia) went out in 32-3 and made the turn at minus
thirteen and was one shot behind the leader.
Bubba Watson (USA) played holes ten to fourteen in
even par which included a birdie on the par five, eleventh hole and a poor
bogey on the par four, thirteenth hole and remained at minus thirteen and now
was two shots behind the leader. Jason Kokrak (USA) played holes ten to
fourteen in one under par which included birding the par four, thirteenth hole
and he moved to minus fifteen and was now leading by two shots. Adam Scott
(Australia) played holes ten to fourteen in even par which included a birdie on
the par five, eleventh hole and a bogey on the par three, fourteenth hole and
he remained at minus thirteen and now was two shots behind the leader.
Bubba Watson (USA) played holes fifteen to seventeen
in two under par and that included a birdie on the par three, sixteenth hole
where he drew his short iron into six feet from the pin and holed the putt and
he birdied the par five, seventeenth hole by hitting the green in two shots and
two putting!! He moved to minus fifteen and was now leading by one shot heading
to the par four, seventy second hole. Jason Kokrak (USA) played holes fifteen
to seventeen in one over par which included a bogey on the par four, fifteenth
hole where he three putted and he fell back to minus fourteen and was now one
shot behind the leader heading to the par four, seventy second hole. Adam Scott
(Australia) played holes fifteen to seventeen in even par which included a
birdie on the par five, seventeenth hole and a bogey on the par four, fifteenth
hole and he remained at minus thirteen and was now two shots behind the leader
heading to the par four, seventy second hole.
Adam Scott (Australia) who was playing in the group
ahead of the leaders made an awesome birdie on the par four, seventy second
hole where he chipped in from the rough at the back of the green and he
finished the seventy two holes at minus fourteen to finish one shot behind the
winner. Jason Kokrak (USA) who was playing in the final group with Bubba Watson
(USA) hit a brilliant drive down the par four, seventy hole over 300 yards out
which left him just under 100 yards with his second shot. He struck a good
wedge shot that landed fifteen feet below the cup. He was now faced with his
fifteen foot birdie putt to put the pressure on Bubba Watson (USA) to hole his
birdie putt for the win. Jason Kokrak (USA) put a very good stroke on his
fifteen foot birdie putt but it just didn’t take the left to right break and
rolled two feet past the cup and he tapped in for his par and finished the
seventy two holes at minus fourteen to finish one shot behind the winner.
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| Bubba Watson (USA) plays his second shot to the 72nd hole |
Bubba Watson (USA) now stood on the par four,
seventy second tee with a one shot lead and he hit a brilliant tee shot that
caught the left to right slope of the fairway and rolled to the middle. He
played a great second with his short iron that landed pin high to the left hand
side on the green leaving him a twelve foot putt for his birdie three. He
calmed his nerves and knowing he had two putts for the win because Jason Kokrak
(USA) had made his par already. He hit a very good putt that just missed on the
left hand side and stopped one foot from the cup and he easily tapped in for
his par four and finished the seventy two holes at minus fifteen to win by a
single shot and it was his second Northern Trust Open win having won it two
years ago in 2014!! He scored 34-2 on his back nine!! He got a huge high five
and hug from his caddie, Ted Scott!! Then his wife, Angie and his two children
Caleb and Dakota meet him as he walked off the seventy second green to
celebrate the win with him and Angie gave him a kiss and hug as well!!
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| Bubba Watson (USA) putts for birdie on the seventy second green!! |
Then Bubba Watson (USA) was interviewed by CBS
Sports on course golf reporter, Peter Kostis
and he said to him “I am down here with our champion, Bubba Watson
(USA), there has been a little bit of a curse against the fifty four hole
leader the last few years, you busted that up today, your second win in three
years (Bubba Watson (USA) won here in 2014 as well) how much did this win mean
to you?” and Bubba Watson (USA) replied “It means a lot, you um know you never
know when your last one is going to be and so um, you know the last win I had,
is that the last one? And so for me to come back and ah and you know to win and
to pull one out in a tough way, um it means a lot and it is very special to me
and my Family Obviously” And CBS Sports on course golf reporter, Peter Kostis
then asked Bubba Watson (USA) “Well I was really impressed with the way you
held it together today, I thought there was a couple of times in the round,
where things happened and you could of lost it, but no the new Bubba Watson
(USA) now you really kept your focus you really kept your imagination working,
and you pulled though!!” And Bubba Watson (USA) replied “Yeah for sure we have
been working on it hard, Ah slow process, you know instead of swing thoughts
and swing it is all about the mind, and so for me you know it is staying patient,
and Teddy (Ted Scott his caddie) in my ear, and Teddy (Ted Scott his caddie) has
been a blessing with that, you know it has been a struggle over the five years,
but it is working in the right direction!!” And CBS Sports on course golf
reporter, Peter Kostis then said to Bubba Watson “Congratulations, I will let
you go and sign you card and make it official” and Bubba Watson (USA) replied
“Thanks, Peter”.
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| Bubba Watson (USA) celebrates after holing his par putt for the win!! |
This win is just what Bubba Watson (USA) needed to
give him confidence moving forward. Gerry
Lester "Bubba" Watson, Jr. (USA) (born November 5,
1978) is an American professional golfer who plays on the USPGA Tour. One of
the few left-handed golfers on tour, he is a multiple major champion, having
won the Masters Tournament in 2012 and 2014. In February 2015, Bubba Watson
(USA) reached a career-high second place in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Bubba Watson (USA) is among the longest drivers on the USPGA Tour; in 2007 he
had an average drive of 315.2 yards (288.2 m) and can hit a ball over 350
yards (320 m), capable of generating a ball speed up to 194 mph
(312 km/h). Bubba Watson (USA) was born and raised in Bagdad, Florida,
near Pensacola. He played on the golf team at Milton High School, which had
featured future USPGA Tour members Heath Slocum (USA) and Boo Weekley (USA)
just before he attended. Bubba Watson (USA) played golf for Faulkner State
Community College in nearby Baldwin County, Alabama, where he was a junior
college All-American. He transferred to the University of Georgia, the
defending NCAA champions, and played for the Bulldogs in 2000 and 2001. As a
junior, Bubba Watson (USA) helped lead the Bulldogs to the SEC title in 2000.
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| Angie, Bubba Watson's wife on the left holding their daughter, Dakota and Bubba Watson (USA) on the right holding their son, Caleb all pose with the Northern Trust Open trophy he won!! |
Bubba Watson (USA) turned professional in 2003 and
joined the Nationwide Tour (Now Web.com Tour) where he played until 2005. He
finished twenty first on the Nationwide Tour's (Now Web.com Tour) money list in
2005, making him the last player to qualify for the following year's USPGA
Tour. As a rookie in 2006, he earned US $1,019,264 (90th overall) and led the USPGA
Tour in driving distance at 319.6 yards (292.2 m). His longest drive in
professional competition was 442 yards (404 m) on the USPGA Tour at the
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Bubba Watson (USA) played well at the 2007 U.S.
Open Championship. He was in the final group on Saturday after shooting rounds
of 70-71 (+1) at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh. Bubba Watson (USA) was
one stroke off the lead after thirty six holes but then slipped, shooting 74
(+4) in both the third and fourth rounds; he finished in a tie for fifth. Bubba
Watson (USA) claimed his first USPGA Tour win on June 27, 2010, in Cromwell,
Connecticut, at the Travelers Championship on the second hole of a sudden-death
playoff with Corey Pavin (USA) and Scott Verplank (USA). Bubba Watson (USA) tearfully
dedicated the win to his parents, specifically his father who was battling
cancer. Bubba Watson (USA) was runner-up to Martin Kaymer (Germany) at the USPGA
Championship at Whistling Straits, falling in the three-hole aggregate playoff
that initially included Dustin Johnson (USA), before he incurred a two-stroke
penalty on the seventy second hole. Bubba Watson (USA) led the playoff after a
birdie on the first hole, but Martin Kaymer (Germany) birdied the par three
second hole to tie, effectively turning the playoff into sudden-death. Bubba Watson's
(USA) second shot found the water hazard and Martin Kaymer (Germany) bested him
by a stroke to win the major championship. Bubba Watson (USA) had his own
clothing line called "Bubba Golf" at the former Steve & Barry's.
He was invited on The Ellen DeGeneres Show after he sent her a video of
a golf trick shot he completed for her birthday.
On January 30, 2011, Bubba Watson (USA) won his
second USPGA Tour event, the Farmers Insurance Open, finishing one stroke ahead
of runner-up Phil Mickelson (USA). Bubba Watson (USA) picked up his second win
of the 2011 season and third career USPGA Tour title on May 1 when he defeated
Webb Simpson (USA) at the second playoff hole at the Zurich Classic of New
Orleans. Both players birdied the first playoff hole, with Bubba Watson (USA)
holing a twelve footer; he birdied the next hole to win the tournament. In July
2011, Bubba Watson (USA) provoked controversy by criticizing the Alstom Open de
France on the European Tour, in which he was playing under a sponsor's
exemption. He indicated after his first round that he would not be playing any
further events on the European Tour, and complained after his second round
about security and organization at the tournament. Bubba Watson (USA) took part
in the Long Drive Contest for charity at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions
alongside Dustin Johnson (USA) and Robert Garrigus (USA). He finished in second
place, with a longest drive of 370 yards (338 m) behind a drive of over
400 yards (366 m) by Jamie Sadlowski (Canada). Bubba Watson (USA) began
2012 with three top five finishes in seven events, including finishing second
at the WGC-Cadillac Championship.
Bubba Watson's (USA) first major championship win
came at the 2012 Masters Tournament. He began the final round at six-under-par,
three strokes off the lead, held by Peter Hanson (Sweden). On the back nine, Bubba
Watson (USA) bogeyed the par three, twelfth hole to return to even par for the
round. He then recorded four consecutive birdies for a round of 68 (-4) and
tied for the seventy two hole lead with fourth-round playing partner Louis
Oosthuizen (RSA) at ten-under-par. In the sudden-death playoff, Louis Oosthuizen
(RSA) and Bubba Watson (RSA) both made par on the uphill eighteenth hole. On
the next hole, the downhill tenth, both drove their tee shots towards the woods
to the right of the hole. Louis Oosthuizen's (RSA) landed in the rough 220
yards (200 m) away, while Bubba Watson's (RSA) ball landed deep in the
woods on pine straw, 164 yards (150 m) from the pin without a clear shot
to the green. Bubba Watson (USA) executed a miraculous recovery shot with forty
yards of hook on his 52-degree gap wedge and stopped the ball within fifteen
feet of the hole. Louis Oosthuizen's (RSA) approach shot landed short of the
green, but he chipped past the hole and narrowly missed his lengthy putt for
par. Bubba Watson (USA) trickled his birdie putt a foot past the hole, took his
time on the very short par putt, then made it for the emotional victory. The
win took him to a world ranking of four, a career-high at the time.
Following his Masters win, Bubba Watson (USA) began
to struggle. He missed the cut at the Memorial Tournament and the U.S. Open
Championship. A week after the U.S. Open Championship, he finished tied for
second at the Travelers Championship. A month later, he played The Open
Championship, the third major of the year. While shooting a first round of
three under to tie him at third place, he never advanced much after that,
finishing tied for twenty third place. In the final major of the year, the PGA
Championship, Bubba Watson (USA) finished tied for eleventh. He finished the
year with one win, six top five finishes, seven top ten finishes and three
missed cuts.
Bubba Watson (USA) began the 2013 season playing the
Hyundai Tournament of Champions, where he finished tied for fourth place, and
reached the quarterfinals in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. In the
subsequent World Golf Championship event, the WGC-Cadillac Championship, he began
very strong with rounds of 66 and 69, but finished with rounds of 71 and 75 and
tied for eighteenth place. After finishing tied fouteenth place in the Arnold
Palmer Invitational, he returned to the Masters Tournament as the defending
champion. Never in contention in the tournament, he finished fiftieth after a
final round of 77. Bubba Watson (USA) tied for thirty seventh at The Players
Championship. On the second major of the year, the U.S. Open Championship, he
finished with a solid 71 in the first round, just four shots off the lead, but
a second round score of 76 left him out of contention, and he tied for thirty
second. At the Travelers Championship he took the lead after a second round of
67, but in the final round, leading by one with three to play, he
triple-bogeyed the par three sixteenth hole and finished two shots back in fourth
place. Tying for thirtieth at the Greenbrier Classic, he then played in the
third major of the year, The Open Championship. After two solids rounds of 70
and 73, he shot 77 in the third round, and tied for thirty second.
At the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Bubba Watson
(USA) held the lead for most of the tournament, but he finished runner-up to
Kevin Stadler (USA). Bubba Watson (USA) earned his fifth career USPGA Tour victory—and
his first since the 2012 Masters Tournament at the 2014 Northern Trust Open. He shot back-to-back 64s over the weekend to
defeat Dustin Johnson (USA) by two strokes. The victory raised him to fourteenth
in the Official World Golf Ranking. He followed that win with two more strong
finishes—a ninth-place tie in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and a
second-place tie in the WGC-Cadillac Championship. Those
performances elevated him from fourteen to twelve in the world ranking. Bubba
Watson (USA) won the 2014 Masters Tournament by three shots, with a score of
−8. He entered the final round tied for the lead with twenty-year-old Masters
Tournament rookie Jordan Spieth (USA). Playing together in the final pairing,
Jordan Spieth (USA) birdied the seventh hole for a two-stroke lead over Bubba Watson
(USA). However, the momentum turned on the par five, eighth hole. Jordan Spieth
(USA) had a birdie putt, but ended up three-putting for bogey while Bubba Watson
(USA) birdied to pull into a first-place tie. Then, on the ninth hole, Bubba Watson
(USA) birdied again while Jordan Spieth (USA) bogeyed, and the four-shot swing
over two holes gave Bubba Watson (USA) a lead that he never relinquished in a
win over Jordan Spieth (USA) and Jonas Blixt (Sweden). With the win, Bubba Watson
(USA) became the seventeenth player to win the Masters Tournament two or more
times. The win moved him again to number four in the Official World Golf
Ranking. Bubba Watson (USA) in the 2015 season won the Travelers Championship
to move him to third in the Official World Golf Ranking. He garnered his second
victory in 2015 by winning the unofficial Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas,
besting fellow American Patrick Reed (USA) by three strokes. Prior to the 2016
Waste Management Phoenix Open in early February, Bubba Watson (USA) caused a
bit of controversy after publicly admitting his dislike for the course, TPC
Scottsdale. As a result, he was jeered
by fans for the majority of the tournament, later criticizing the media for
"turning his words around".
And as I mentioned above on February 21st 2016 he won his ninth USPGA Tour
event at the Northern Trust Open by one shot.
Bubba Watson (USA) was nicknamed by his father after
the former professional football player Bubba Smith. Bubba Watson (USA) is married to Angela "Angie" Watson
(née Ball), a 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Canadian whom he met at Georgia
while he was on the golf team and she was on the women's basketball team. They
were married in September 2004. In 2009, she was diagnosed with an enlarged pituitary
gland, which accounts for her height. Unable to have a child naturally, various
family issues, including the illness and death of Bubba Watson's (USA) father in
2010, kept them from attempting to adopt until 2011–12. In March 2012, one week
after a potential adoption fell through at the last moment, Bubba Watson (USA)
and his wife adopted a one-month-old baby boy named Caleb. In late 2014 the
Watsons adopted a baby girl. Bubba Watson's father, Gerry Sr., died on October
15, 2010 of throat cancer. His mother is Molly Marie Watson and he has a
sister, Melinda Watson Conner. Bubba Watson (USA) is also a member of the
"Golf Boys", a boy band consisting of Bubba Watson (USA), Ben Crane
(USA), Rickie Fowler (USA), and Hunter Mahan (USA). Their single "Oh Oh
Oh" is currently on YouTube. The video was produced by Farmers Insurance
Group. Farmers donate US $1000 to charity for every 100,000 views the video
gets. In 2011, he made a humorous appearance in the song "Michael
Jackson" by Christian hip hop artist Andy Mineo on the album Formerly
Known. He was featured in the song
"Ima Just Do It" by KB, another Christian hip hop artist, on the
album Tomorrow We Live. His
prototype Golf Cart Hovercraft, the BW1, YouTube video has earned more than 8
million views.
Bubba Watson (USA) is a committed Christian who
speaks openly the importance of faith in his life. Bubba Watson (USA) devotes
much of his money and time to charity. Bubba Watson (USA) purchased the mansion
in the Isleworth community of Windermere, Florida, that was previously owned by
Tiger Woods (USA). In 2013, he was added to the list of Great Floridians by
Governor Rick Scott. Bubba Watson (USA) purchased a General Lee car from the
television series The Dukes of Hazzard at auction for $110,000 in 2012.
Following the Charleston church shooting in June 2015, display of the
Confederate flag - which is featured on the car's roof - became the subject of
renewed controversy. Bubba Watson (USA) responded by saying he would paint over
the flag with the American flag. Bubba Watson (USA) has won nine USPGA Tour
events to date so far in his career and here they are from the first to the
most recent: 2010 Travelers Championship; 2011 Farmers Insurance Open; 2011
Zurich Classic of New Orleans; 2012 Masters Tournament (First Major
Championship); 2014 Northern Trust Open; 2014 Masters Tournament (Second Major
Championship); 2014 WGC – HSBC Champions (First WGC – Event); 2015 Travelers
Championship and 2016 Northern Trust Open. From the thirty two Major
Championships has played in to date so far he has won two which are the 2012
and 2014 Masters Tournament and has also achieved two other top ten finishes
which came at the 2007 U.S. Open Championship where he tied for fifth and solo
second at the 2010 PGA Championship. He has also achieved nine top ten finishes
in WGC – Events which includes his maiden win at the 2014 WGC – HSBC Champions.
He has also represented Team USA against Team Europe in the 2010, 2012 and 2014
Ryder Cups. And he also has represented Team USA against Team International in
the 2011 (Winners) and 2015 (Winners) President’s Cup. Let’s hope he can keep
this form up in the weeks to come and win his tenth event during the 2016 part
of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the
2016 part of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup.
Coming in tied for second position at 270-14 after
seventy two holes was Jason Kokrak (USA); he earned US $598,400 for his efforts
and moved to twenty fourth position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money
list standings with US $890,892 earned from the ten events he has played to
date this season so far. He also earned 245 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts
and moved to twenty fifth position on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points
standings list with 443 points earned from the ten events he has played to date
this season so far. From the ten events he has played to date this season so
far he has been disqualified from one event and made six cuts and achieved one
top ten finish that came this past week. He will be happy with his first,
second and final rounds that were all in the 60s especially his second round
64-7 which was the low round of the day!! But he will be just content with his
third round 70-1 and mad with how he could only play his final round back nine
holes in 36 even par. But he will be happy with his week on the whole where he
made one eagle and eighteenth birdies against six bogeys over the seventy two
holes. And this should give him some real confidence moving forward. Jason Kokrak (USA) (born May 22, 1985)
is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the USPGA Tour. Jason
Kokrak (USA) was born in North Bay, Ontario, and played high school golf at JFK
High School in Warren, Ohio, where he twice led the Eagles to the Ohio state
championship as Division III medalist. He went on to play college golf at
Xavier University in Cincinnati and graduated in 2007. During his college
career, he won both the 2006 and 2007 Ohio Amateur titles. Jason Kokrak (USA) turned
professional after graduation. During the 2007 U.S. Amateur, Jason Kokrak (USA)
led all players with a score of 137 during the 36 hole match play qualifier at
the Olympic Club in San Francisco. That same year, he made an appearance in the
U.S. Open Championship at Oakmont Country Club, when he successfully came
through sectional and regional qualifying. Jason Kokrak (USA) has six career
professional victories, including four on the eGolf Professional Tour. In 2010,
Jason Kokrak (USA) won twice and was the leading money winner on the tour.
During that same season, he made it to the final round of qualifying School,
earning conditional status on the Nationwide Tour (Now Web.com). In 2011, he
won the Championship at St. James Plantation and the Donald Ross Championship.
Jason Kokrak (USA) finished second on the eGolf Tour's money list despite
playing in only three events.
In September 2011, Jason Kokrak (USA) won his first
Nationwide Tour (Now Web.com Tour) event, the Albertsons Boise Open in Boise,
Idaho. His seventy two hole score of 266 (-18) at Hillcrest Country Club
included rounds of 68, 68, 63, and 67. Jason Kokrak's (USA) third round 63
included consecutive birdies on holes one through six to open the round - one
short of the Nationwide Tour (Now Web.com Tour) record of seven. He won by two
strokes and earned US $130,500, which vaulted him from seventieth to thirteenth
place on the season's money list. Jason Kokrak (USA) was an alternate and the
last player to earn entry into the field. On October 16, 2011, Jason Kokrak (USA)
notched his second Nationwide Tour (Now web.com tour) victory within a month
with a seven shot victory at the Miccosukee Championship with rounds of
63-66-69 and a final round 66. Jason Kokrak (USA) was in the top ten in the
field in driving distance and putts per greens in regulation, and led the field
in greens hit in regulation. The US $108,000 first prize vaulted Jason Kokrak (USA)
to the fourth position on the Nationwide Tour (Now Web.com Tour) money list and
virtually assured 2012 status on the USPGA Tour. On October 30, Jason Kokrak (USA)
finished the season with a tied for fifth at the Nationwide Tour Championship
with rounds of 67, 67, 75 and 75. His winnings of US $36,500 solidified him as
the fourth leading money winner on the Nationwide Tour (Now Web.com Tour) with
total earnings of US $338,092 in only sixteen events. Jason Kokrak (USA) competed
on the USPGA Tour in 2012 as a result of his play in 2011. Jason Kokrak (USA)
was honored as the first golfer to enter the USPGA Tour in 30 years from his
hometown and surrounding area at an event held at Trumbull Country Club in
Warren, Ohio on December 21, 2011. Jaosn Kokrak (USA) was introduced to the
game of golf at Trumbull Country Club as a nine-year-old by his father. The
event was attended by more than 200 people, and included well wishes from Jerry
McGee (USA) and Bob Lewis (USA), both former USPGA Tour professionals.
Jason Kokrak (USA) made his first appearance as a
member of the USPGA Tour on January 12 at the Sony Open in Hawaii, where he
finished seventy fifth. On February 12, 2012, Jason Kokrak (USA) notched his
first top ten finish in his USPGA Tour career at the AT&T Pebble Beach
National Pro-Am with rounds of 68, 67, 72, and 70 for a 277 total which gave
him a ninth place finish. He led the field in greens in regulation (GIR) with a
77% success rate and also led his Pro-Am team to an eleventh place finish. At
the 2012 Frys.com Open, Jason Kokrak (USA) finished in a tie for second, one
stroke behind Jonas Blixt (Sweden). For the week, he led the field in Greens in
Regulation and was ninth in driving distance, averaging 309 yards on measured
drives. His US $440,000 in earnings for the week moved Jason Kokrak (USA) up
fifty positions to 117th on the USPGA Tour money list with two tournaments left
in the 2012 season; moving his from no status for 2013 to a chance at keeping
his Tour privileges. He would finish the season 119th on the final USPGA Tour money
list standings for 2012. Jason Kokrak (USA) was featured in a four page
article, "The Making of a Bomber" in the March 5, 2012 issue of Golf
World. The article cited Jason Kokrak's (USA) development as a junior
golfer, his teaching influences, and insights into his equipment
specifications. On November 6, 2013, Jason Kokrak (USA) scored a hole-in-one on
the 409 yard par four, fifth hole at the McGladrey Classic Pro-Am held at the
Seaside Course in Sea Island, Georgia. This is only the second time in USPGA
tour history that a player has scored a hole-in-one on a par four, the first
being by Andrew Magee on the par four, seventeenth hole at TPC Scottsdale in
2001. In February 2016, Jason Kokrak (USA) opened with rounds of 68-64 for a
ten under-par total to hold the thirty six hole lead at the Northern Trust Open
by one stroke. This was the first time in his USPGA Tour career he had held a thirty
six hole lead. He finished the tournament tied for second, one stroke behind Bubba
Watson (USA). This equalled his career best USPGA Tour finish of a tie for
second, which he also achieved back in 2012 at the Frys.com Open. Let’s hope he
can carry on this form in the weeks ahead and perhaps achieve his maiden USPGA
Tour win in the 2016 part of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season? I wish him all the
best for the rest of the 2016 part of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season and FedEx
Cup.
Also tied for second position was Adam Scott
(Australia); he too earned US $598,400 for his efforts and moved to thirteenth
position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,409,218
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 sixteenth
position on the current 2015/16 FedEx
Cup points list standings with 558 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 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 67-4 in the third round that was
blemish free!! And his 67-4 in the final round which saw him play his first six
holes in five under par!! But he will be disappointed he let his final round
slip in the middle with playing holes eight to fifteen in three over par!! But
will be extremely happy with his finish birding the last two holes especially
his chip in birdie on the par four, seventy second hole!! He made one eagle,
twenty one birdies against seven bogeys and one double bogey in the seventy two
holes this week!! So if he could have had less bogeys he may well have been the
champion!! But he should gain a lot of confidence out of this finish moving
forward and he now seems to have worked out a method to use the short putter. Adam Derek Scott (Australia) (born 16
July 1980) is an Australian professional golfer who plays mainly on the USPGA
Tour. He was the World No. 1 ranked golfer, from mid-May to August 2014. He has
won twenty seven professional tournaments around the world (three being
unofficial money events), on many of golf's major tours. His biggest win to
date was the 2013 Masters Tournament, his first major championship and the
first Masters Tournament won by an Australian in its seventy seven year
history. Other significant wins include the 2004 Players Championship and the
2011 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. He was the runner-up in the 2012 Open
Championship, leading by four strokes with four holes to play before bogeying
all of them to lose the title by a stroke to Ernie Els (RSA). Adam Scott (Australia)
was born in Adelaide, South Australia and moved with his family at the age of
nine to the Sunshine Coast, Queensland where he attended Matthew Flinders
Anglican College. They then settled on the Gold Coast, Queensland in 1993.
Initially at The Southport School, an Anglican boys' school on the Gold Coast,
he completed his high school education at The Kooralbyn International School,
also on the Gold Coast, where he undertook extra subjects in golf. He was a
member of the Golf Australia National Squad. He later attended the University
of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where he was initiated into the Sigma Chi
fraternity.
In April 2014, Adam Scott (Australia) married Marie
Kojzar, a Swedish architect, in a small ceremony in the Bahamas. Adam Scott
(Australia) and Kojzar had previously been in a long-term relationship in the
early to mid 2000s, before splitting up and then reuniting in 2013. In February
2015 the couple announced the arrival of their daughter, Bo Vera Scott, who was
born at Pindara Private Hospital in Queensland, Australia. He had previously
been in a relationship with former tennis World No. 1 Ana Ivanovic in 2010.
They separated in September of that year. The pair reunited in 2011, before
splitting up one year later. Adam Scott (Australia) is the touring professional
at The Palms Golf Course Sanctuary Cove, where he resides while in Australia,
located on the Gold Coast, Queensland. For tax purposes, Adam Scott (Australia)
is resident in Switzerland. Adam Scott (Australia) is also an avid surfer. Adam
Scott (Australia) supports the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League.
Adam Scott (Australia) has won eleven USPGA Tour events to date so far in his
career and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2003 Deutsche Bank
Championship; 2004 The PLAYERS Championship; 2004 Booz Allen Classic; 2006 The
Tour Championship; 2007 Shell Houston Open; 2008 EDS Byron Nelson Championship;
2010 Valero Texas Open; 2011 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational; 2013 Master
Tournament (Maiden Major Championship); 2013 The Barclays and 2014 Crowne Plaza
Invitational at Colonial. He also won the 2005 Nissan Open but because it was
reduced to thirty six holes the event was not recognised as an official USPGA
Tour win. He has also won nine European Tour events with his most recent being
the 2013 Masters Tournament. Apart from winning the 2013 Masters Tournament he
has also achieved fourteen top ten finishes to date so far. He has also
achieved thirteen top ten finishes in WGC – Events including his maiden win at
the 2011 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational. He has also represented Team
International against Team USA in the 2003 (tie), 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013
and 2015. Let’s hope he can win his twelfth USPGA Tour event in the 2016 part
of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the
2016 part of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup.
Rounding out the top four in solo fourth position at
271-13 after seventy two holes was Dustin Johnson (USA); he earned US $326,400
for his efforts and moved to twenty fifth position on the current 2015/16 USPGA
Tour Money list standings with US $852,666 earned from the five events he has
played to date this season so far. He also earned 135 FedEx Cup points for his
efforts and moved to thirty second position on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup
Points list standings with 386 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 five cuts and achieved three 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 66-5 in the second round!! This
week he made twenty two birdies against nine bogeys for the seventy two holes.
A few less bogeys and he could have been the champion. 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. 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. Dustin Johnson (USA) has won nine USPGA
Tour events to date so far and here they are from the first to the most recent:
2008 Turning Stone Resort Championship; 2009 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro
– Am; 2010 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro – Am; 2010 BMW Championship; 2011
The Barclays; 2012 FedEx St. Jude Classic; 2013 Hyundai Tournament of
Champions; 2013 WGC – HSBC Champions and the 2015 WGC – Cadillac Championship.
He has also achieved ten top ten finishes in Major Championships with his best
being tied for second in the 2011 Open Championship and tied for second in the
2015 U.S. Open Championship. He has also achieved six top ten finishes to date
so far in WGC – Events with his best finishes being wins at the 2013 WGC – HSBC
Champions and the 2015 WGC – Cadillac Championship. He has also represented Team
USA in the 2010 and 2012 Ryder Cups against Team Europe. He has also
represented Team USA in the Presidents Cup in 2011 (Winners) and 2015
(Winners). Let’s hope he can achieve his tenth USPGA Tour win and perhaps his
maiden Major Championship win in the 2016 part of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour
season. I wish him all the best for the 2016 part of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour
season and FedEx Cup.
Danny Lee (NZL) who was the only New Zealand Golfer
in the field and he scored a poor first round of 72+1 which included a very good
front nine of 33-2 which included birdies on the par five, first hole, par three,
fourth hole, par three, sixth hole and par four, seventh hole and a shocking
double bogey on the par four, ninth hole and then he scored a poor back nine of
39+3 with poor bogeys on the par four, thirteenth hole, par three, fourteenth
hole and par three, sixteenth hole and then an good second round of 71 even par
which included a good front nine of 35 even par with a lone birdie on the par five,
first hole and a poor lone bogey on the par four, eighth hole and a good back
nine of 36 even par with a lone birdie on the par five, seventeenth hole and a
lone bogey on the par four, eighteenth hole for a thirty six hole total of 143+1
and he missed the cut by a single shot for the first time this season. He moved
to forty seventh position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list
standings with US $553,016 earned from the eight events he has played to date
this season so far. He moved to forty ninth position on the current 2015/16
FedEx Cup Points list standings with 286 points earned from the eight events he
has played to date this season so far. From the eight events he has played to
date this season so far he has made six cuts and withdrawn from one event and
achieved one top ten finish that came two weeks ago at the Waste Management
Phoenix Open. He will be mad with his first and second rounds this week that
were all in the low 70s especially his bogey on the par four, eighteenth hole
in the second round that caused him to miss the cut!! He made six birdies but
also had five birdies and one double bogey in the 36 holes he played this week.
So he was too inconsistent this week to make the cut!! His next event will likely be at the WGC –
Cadillac Championship in two weeks. I wish him all the best for the rest of the
2016 part of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup. Danny Jin-Myung Lee (NZL) (이진명)
(born 24 July 1990) is a New Zealand professional golfer. Danny Lee (NZL) was
born in Incheon, South Korea, and immigrated to New Zealand at the age of
eight. He became a naturalized New Zealander on 2 September 2008 at Rotorua, where
he attended Rotorua Boys' High School. In the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season, Danny Lee
(NZL) finished third at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. In the spring, he finished
seventh at the Valspar Championship and tenth at the Crowne Plaza Invitational
at Colonial. He won his first USPGA Tour event in July at the Greenbrier
Classic. The next week he finished fourth at the John Deere Classic. In August
he finished fourth at the Quicken Loans National and sixth at the
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. With a runner-up finish at the Tour Championship,
he finished ninth in the FedEx Cup standings. He has also won one event on the
European Tour which came when he was still an Amateur at the 2009 Johnnie
Walker Classic. His only win on the Web.com Tour came at the 2011 WNB Golf
Classic. His best result in the four Major Championships he has played in to
date so far is tied for forty third at the 2015 PGA Championship. He best
result to date in a WGC – Event is tied for sixth at the 2015 WGC – Bridgestone
Invitational. And last year he represented Team International in the 2015
Presidents Cup against Team USA. Let’s hope he can achieve more top ten
finishes in the coming weeks and perhaps win his second USPGA Tour event in the
2016 part of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season. I wish him all the best for the
rest of the 2016 part of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup.
Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to the
east coast of America for the first time in the 2016 part of the 2015/16 USPGA
Tour season and FedEx Cup and it is in the State of Florida for the first of
four events in what is known as the Florida Swing. The first event is the Honda
Classic and it is played on the Jack Nicklaus designed PGA National (Champion), Palm
Beach Gardens, Florida. It carries a huge prize purse of US $6,100,000 for
the taking and will attract a high quality field with Rickie Fowler (USA) and
Rory McILroy (NIR) confirmed starters. Padraig Harrington (Ireland) is the
defending champion and will be keen to defend his title. Danny Lee (NZL) will
gain a start if he chooses to play and Tim Wilkinson (NZL) will be fortunate to
gain a start. It has a famous stretch of holes know as the “Bear Trap” which
starts at the par three, fifteenth hole and includes the par four, sixteenth
hole and finishes with the par three, seventeenth hole. All these three holes
have water hazards on them and these stretch of holes can destroy a players
round!! It starts on Thursday 25th February 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 coming in at Number One Position for the twentieth second
week of his career is Jordan Spieth (USA) who is fresh off his missed cut at
the Northern Trust Open this past week and his tied for twenty first position
at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro – Am one week ago with 11.65 Official World
Golf Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Jason Day (Australia) who is
fresh off his tied for eleventh position at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro – Am one
week ago and his missed cut at the Farmers Insurance Open three weeks ago with
9.84 Official World Golf Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Rory
McILroy (NIR) who is fresh off his tied for twentieth position at the Northern
Trust Open this past week and his tied for sixth finish at the Omega Dubai
Desert Classic two weeks ago with 9.71 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming
in at Number Four is Bubba Watson (USA) who is fresh off his win this past week
at the Northern Trust Open and his tied for seventieth position at the AT&T
Pebble Beach Pro – Am one week ago with 8.30 Official World Ranking Points and rounding
out the top five on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list standings this
week is Rickie Fowler (USA) who is fresh off his solo second position two weeks
ago at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and his missed cut at the Farmers
Insurance Open three weeks ago with 7.99 Official World Ranking Points. Danny
Lee (NZL) this week is in his fortieth ninth week of another spell of being the
highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after missing the cut at the
Northern Trust Open this past week. This week he drops one place and falls to
thirty fifth position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings
with 2.79 Official Golf World Ranking Points.
Remember the old saying “You drive for show and putt
for dough”!!
Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org,
Google search engine, europeantour.com, golfchannel.com,
ladieseuropeantour.com, asiantour.com, pgatourlive.co.nz
