Golf Events from the Weekend 14th February 2016

This week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup headed back to the State of California for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro – Am (which was the fourth of five events in the West Coast Swing) and it was played on the Pebble Beach GL, Pebble Beach, California. It carried a huge prize purse of US $7,000,000 for the taking. Brandt Snedeker (USA) was the defending champion and was keen for back to back titles and going for his third title in four years having won it in 2013 also. Danny Lee (NZL) fresh of his solo fourth position at the Waste Management Phoenix Open the week before gained a start as did Tim Wilkinson (NZL). It was a different tournament where every professional played with an amateur and some of the amateurs were famous sports stars from other sports, movie stars, big businessmen, etc. And it was the golfer by the name of Vaughn Taylor (USA) who scored rounds of 70-2, 68-4, 67-4 and a final round of 65-7 for a seventy two hole total of 270-17 and he won by a single shot for his third USPGA Tour title of his career and his first since the 2005 Reno – Tahoe Open and he wasn’t even a full USPGA Tour member only playing in this tournament on past champions status. He won US $1,260,000 for the win and moved to twelfth position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,301, 359 earned from the three 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. Vaughn Taylor (USA) also earned 500 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to fifteenth position on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 526 points earned from the three events he has played to date this season so far and he is 557 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 three events Vaughn Taylor (USA) has played to date this season so far he has made two cuts 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 final round 65-7 which was the equal low round of the day and produced the win for him and it included a back nine 31-5!! He scored one eagle and twenty five birdies against eight bogeys and one double bogey over the seventy two holes this week. 

 

Vaughn Taylor (USA) tees off on the par five, eighteenth hole at Pebble Beach

Vaughn Taylor (USA) played a brilliant final round of 65-7 which included a very good front nine of 34-2 which included birdies on the par four, first hole, par five, second hole, par four, fourth hole and par three, seventh hole but he had poor bogeys on the par four, third hole and par four, eighth hole and he made the turn at minus twelve and was four shots behind the leader. Phil Mickelson (USA) went out in 36 even par and made the turn at minus sixteen and was leading by one shot. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) went out in 33-3 and made the turn at minus fifteen and was one shot behind the leader. 

Vaughn Taylor (USA) played holes ten to fourteen in three under par and that included birding the par four, tenth hole, par four, thirteenth hole and par five, fourteenth hole and he moved to minus fifteenth and was tied for the lead. Phil Mickelson (USA) played holes ten to fourteen in one over par and it included birding the par four, thirteenth hole but he also had poor bogeys on the par four, eleventh hole and par five, fourteenth hole and he fell back to minus fifteenth and was now tied for the lead. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) played holes ten to fourteenth in even par which included birding the par four, tenth hole and a poor bogey on the par five, fourteenth hole and remained at minus fifteen and was now tied for the lead. 

Vaughn Taylor (USA) played holes fifteen to seventeen in two under par and that included birding the par four, fifteenth hole where he had the good fortune of striking his fellow competitors ball on the green and his ball rolled forward and came to rest two feet from the cup for a tap in birdie and he also birdied the par four, sixteenth hole and moved to minus seventeen and now was leading by one shot heading to the par five, seventy second tee. Phil Mickelson (USA) played holes fifteen to seventeen in one under par which included a birdie on the par three, seventeenth hole and he moved to minus sixteen and now only one shot behind the leader heading to the par five, seventy second tee. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) played holes fifteen to seventeen in even par which included making three straight pars and he remained at minus fifteen and two shots behind the leader heading to the par five, seventy second tee. 

Vaughn Taylor (USA) who was playing a few groups ahead of the final group just missed his birdie putt at the par five, seventy second hole and had to settle for his par five and he finished the seventy two holes at minus seventeen and would have to wait to see if it was good enough to hold up for the win or maybe he would have to play in a playoff? Jonas Blixt (Sweden) who was playing a couple of groups ahead of the leaders made a solid par at the par five, seventy second hole and finished the seventy two holes at minus fifteen and was two shots behind the winner. Phil Mickelson (USA) stood on the par five, seventy second tee one shot behind Vaughn Taylor (USA) who was already in the club house on minus seventeen and he knew a birdie was a must to force a playoff. He struck a good drive that landed just past the tree in the middle of the fairway. He went for the green in two shots with his rescue wood and hit a brilliant shot that landed in the fairway just short of the green on the left leaving a great angle for his chip shot for his third. He landed his chip shot just a little bit short of where he intended to and left himself an eight foot putt up the hill for his birdie and to force a playoff with Vaughn Taylor (USA). He hit a good putt from eight feet for his birdie but it just didn’t take the left to right break like he thought and it lipped out on the left side and he had to settle for his par five and finished the seventy two holes at minus sixteen to finish one shot behind the winner. 

 

Vaughn Taylor (USA) on the left kiss his young son Locklyn while his wife Leot on the right smiles holding her Valentines Flowers to celebrate her Husbands win!!

So it had now been confirm that Vaughn Taylor (USA) had won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am!! He got a huge hug and kiss from his wife, Leot who has been a huge supporter of his golf career through thick and thin and she was crying tears of joy because she knew her husband now had job security on the USPGA Tour for the next few years!! His young son Locklyn was there to celebrate the win with him as well!! Then he was interviewed by CBS Sports on course reporter, Dottie Pepper and she asked Vaughn Taylor (USA) “Vaughn, surrounded by family and friends, safe to say this a life changing victory?” and Vaughn Taylor (USA) replied “Yes it is, it has been a long time and ah I didn’t think it was going to happen, you know I’ve worked so hard and just kept getting knocked down and knocked down, and I just can’t believe it actually happened again, and um just amazing, so many people to thank and I am just at a loss for words right now.” Then CBS Sports on course reporter, Dottie Pepper said to Vaughn Taylor (USA) “Of all the things that come with this, the FedEx Cup Points, a place to play and a trip back home to Augusta (That is his home town and he is now in the first Major Championship of the year that is played at Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia) what seems to resonate the biggest right now, with not much time to think about obviously?” Then Vaughn Taylor (USA) replied “I know ah, I didn’t even have my tour card, and um you know got in this week off past champion’s status and ah you know I am playing in the Masters pretty soon, so are it is just a dream come true, and um you know so many people to thank, I just I can’t I don’t want to take the credit man, there is so many people that have helped me get here and um, I love every one of them and thank them so much” and then CBS Sports on course reporter, Dottie Pepper said to Vaughn Taylor (USA) “Well played, congratulations!!”. 

 

Leot Taylor, Vaughn Taylor's wife on the left and Vaughn Taylor (USA) on the right pose with the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro - Am Trophy he won!!

This is the feel good story of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season so far I feel and it proves that the players playing in a USPGA Tour event are all great players and anyone can win at anytime. Vaughn Joseph Taylor (USA) (born March 9, 1976) is an American professional golfer. Born in Roanoke, Virginia, Vaughn Taylor (USA) was raised in Augusta, Georgia, from infancy. After attending Hephzibah High School, he played golf for Augusta State University where he was an honorable mention All-American his senior season. He continues to reside in the Augusta area with his wife, Leot. Vaughn Taylor (USA) turned professional in 1999. He played his early years on the Hooters and Nationwide Tours (Now Web.com Tour), getting valuable experience before playing his first full year with a USPGA Tour card in 2004. He won four times on the NGA Hooters Tour, and once on the Nationwide Tour (Now Web.com Tour). Vaughn Taylor (USA) has won three times on the USPGA Tour; his first two victories came in consecutive years at the Reno-Tahoe Open, an alternate event, in 2004 and 2005. He played on the Ryder Cup team in 2006 and his highest world ranking was thirty seventh in 2007 and career high in the FedEx Cup placing was thirty fifth in 2010. In 2016, Vaughn Taylor (USA) won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on February 14, (As I mentioned above) his first USPGA Tour win since August 2005. He has started the week as first alternate and hadn't been fully exempt since 2012. The win was also Vaughn Taylor's (USA) first at a non-alternate event and moved him from 447th in the world to 100th. 

 

Vaughn Taylor's (USA) Son, Locklyn plays in the bunker to celebrate his fathers win!!

He has won three USPGA Tour events to date so far in his career and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2004 Reno – Tahoe Open; 2005 Reno – Tahoe Open and the 2016 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro – Am. He has also achieved one top ten finish to date so far in Major Championships which came in the 2007 Masters Tournament. He represented Team USA against Team Europe in the 2006 Ryder Cup which is his only appearance to date so far in that tournament. Let’s hope he can continue this form in the next few events he plays in and achieve more top ten finishes and maybe his fourth USPGA Tour win? 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 solo second position at 271-16 after seventy two holes was Phil Mickelson (USA); he earned US $756,000 for his efforts and moved to sixteenth position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,207,100 earned from the four events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 300 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to sixteenth position on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 510 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 two top ten finishes that includes the one this past week. He will be happy with his first, second and third rounds that were all in the 60s especially his 66-6 in the third round which was blemish free!! And his 65-6 in the second round which included a front nine 29-5!! But he will be mad with how he played in the final round scoring 72 even par and missing the birdie putt on the seventy second hole to force a playoff with Vaughn Taylor (USA)!! He will be especially disappointed with his final round front nine first five holes where he was two over par and his back nine first five holes where he was one over par!! But he will be happy with his par putt on the par four, sixteenth hole and his birdie putt from off the fringe on the par three, seventeenth hole that he holed!! But he will be gutted by missing his birdie putt on the seventy second hole to force a playoff!! But I feel he is on the right track now and will win this year. Philip Alfred Mickelson (USA) (born June 16, 1970) is an American professional golfer. He has won forty two events on the USPGA Tour, including five major championships: three Masters Tournament titles (2004, 2006, 2010), a USPGA Championship (2005), and an Open Championship (2013). Phil Mickelson (USA) is one of sixteen golfers in the history of the sport to win at least three of the four professional majors. The only major that has eluded him is the U.S. Open Championship. Phil Mickelson (USA) has finished runner-up in the U.S. Open Championship a record six times. Phil Mickelson (USA)  has spent over 700 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Ranking, has reached a career-high world ranking of second several times and has a lifetime exemption on the USPGA Tour. Phil Mickelson (USA) is nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in May 2012. He has won forty two USPGA Tour events to date so far with his most recent being the 2013 Open Championship which was also his fifth Major Championship. He has also won nine European Tour events with his most recent being the 2013 Open Championship. He has won five Major Championships as I mentioned above and also achieved thirty two other top ten finishes to date so far. He has also won two WGC – Events to date so far which are the 2009 WGC – Cadillac Championship and 2009 WGC – HSBC Champions as well as achieving thirteen other top ten finishes to date so far. He has also played in the Presidents Cup for Team USA verse Team International in 1994 (winners), 1996 (winners), 1998, 2000 (winners), 2003 (tie), 2005 (winners), 2007 (winners), 2009 (winners), 2011 (winners), 2013 (winners), 2015 (winners). And he has played in the Ryder Cup for Team USA verse Team Europe in 1995, 1997, 1999 (winners), 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 (winners), 2010, 2012, 2014. Let’s hope he can achieve his forty third win in the next few events he plays in and continue this form on for the rest of 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 third position at 272-15 after seventy two holes was Jonas Blixt (Sweden); he earned US $476,000 for his efforts and moved to twenty seventh position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $755,359 earned from the ten events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 190 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to thirty first position on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 346 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 made four cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one this past week. It has been a huge turn around for him in the last few weeks because earlier in the season he missed five straight cuts in a row!! He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s and he was the only player in the field to do so!! And he will be especially happy with his 67-4 in the first round which blemish free and his 67-5 in the third round which was also blemish free!! This finish this past week will give hit lots of confidence moving forward. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) (born 24 April 1984) is a Swedish professional golfer who currently plays on the USPGA Tour. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) was born in Nässjö, Sweden. He played golf at Florida State University during which time he was a second-team All-American selection in 2007 and a first-team All-American in 2008. He was All-ACC as a junior and a first team All-ACC in 2008. He was a Ping all southeast region in 2008. He won the 2007 Inverness intercollegiate event and had five top fives along with two sixth-place finishes at other collegiate events in 2008. He won four career collegiate events and was a 2008 all-Nicklaus honoree. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) competed in the Palmer Cup in 2007 and 2008. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) turned professional in 2008 and competed in one Nationwide Tour (Now Web.com Tour) event that season. In 2009, Jonas Blixt (Sweden) competed in more than twenty events, earning over US $120,000. Although primarily based in the United States, he also played on the European Challenge Tour. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) earned a place on the USPGA Tour in 2012 by finishing fifth on the Nationwide Tour (Now Web.com Tour) standings in the 2011 season. In May 2012, Jonas Blixt (Sweden) finished in a tie for third at the HP Byron Nelson Championship, having been tied for the lead until he bogeyed the seventy first hole. After the Memorial Tournament in June, Jonas Blixt (Sweden) missed two months of the season due to a rib injury. He started the USPGA Tour Fall Series well with another third-place finish at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. The following week at the 2012 Frys.com Open, Jonas Blixt (Sweden) beat rookie Jason Kokrak (USA) and veteran Tim Petrovic (USA) by one stroke for his maiden USPGA Tour win in his nineteenth USPGA Tour start. In 2013, Jonas Blixt (Sweden) won again, this time the Greenbrier Classic by two strokes over four players, including Johnson Wagner (USA), who was four ahead of Jonas Blixt (Sweden) after three rounds. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) finished in fourth place at the 2013 PGA Championship. Jonas Blixt (Sweden) played in the 2014 Masters Tournament, his first visit to Augusta, and finished in a tie for second place with Jordan Spieth (USA), three shots behind Bubba Watson USA). He played all four rounds under par, shooting 70-71-71-71 for a five-under-par total. The result elevated Jonas Blixt (Sweden) to a career high of thirty third in the Official World Golf Ranking. He also represented Sweden in the 2013 World Cup. 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 season and FedEx Cup. 

Rounding out the top five in tied for fourth position at 273-14 after seventy two holes was Hiroshi Iwata (Japan); he earned US $308,000 for his efforts and moved to fifty sixth position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $459,125 earned from the nine events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 123 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to seventy second position on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup points list standings with 203 points earned from the nine events he has played to date this season so far. From the nine events he has played to date this season so far he has made five cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came this past week. He will be happy with his first, second and third rounds that were all in the 60s especially his first and second rounds that were both 66s!! And his second round 66-6 at Pebble Beach included a front nine 30-6!! But will be just content with his final round seventy two even par and mad with his back nine 37+1 and the way he played his final three holes in two over par and passing up a chance to win his maiden USPGA Tour title. But at the same time he will gain a lot of confidence out of this finish moving forward. Hiroshi Iwata (Japan) (岩田 寛 Iwata Hiroshi, born 31 January 1981) is a Japanese professional golfer who plays on the Japan Golf Tour and the USPGA Tour. Hiroshi Iwata (Japan) was born in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. He started playing golf at the age of fourteen, by his father's influence, who runs a local golf range and currently a professional golfer at the Japan Senior Tour. He played college golf at Tohoku Fukushi University. Hiroshi Iwata (Japan) turned professional in 2004 and has played on the Japan Golf Tour since then. His first win came at the 2014 Fujisankei Classic. In the second round of the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, Hiroshi Iwata (Japan) shot a 63, which matched the lowest round in a major championship. Through the 2015 Web.com Tour Finals, he earned his USPGA Tour card for 2016 by finishing twenty fourth in the priority ranking. Let’s hope he can continue this form on in the weeks to come and perhaps achieve his maiden 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. 

The other player to tie for fourth position was Freddie Jacobson (Sweden); he also earned US $308,000 for his efforts and moved to twentieth position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $961,686 earned from the eight events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 123 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to twenty first position on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 443 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 seven cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the one this past week. He will be happy with his first, second and third rounds that were all in the 60s especially his 65-7 in the first round which was blemish free!! But he will be just content with his final round 71-1. He has displayed some very good form in the last few tournaments with achieving back to back top ten finishes in his last two starts!! Fredrik Ulf Yngve Jacobson (Sweden) (born 26 September 1974) is a Swedish professional golfer who plays on the USPGA Tour and formerly the European Tour. Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) was born in Kungsbacka. He turned professional in 1994 and was a member of the European Tour in 1995 and from 1997 to 2004. In 2003 he won his first European Tour title, and went on to claim two more victories that season. His fourth place finish on the Order of Merit that year equalled Anders Forsbrand's (Sweden) Swedish record set in 1992, and was the first Swede to win three official money events in one season on the European Tour. In 2004, he joined the USPGA Tour. In 2003 Fredrik Jacobson was the top scorer in the Seve Trophy, collecting four and a half points out of five. In 2004 he just missed out on a Ryder Cup place, finishing one place short in both the European Tour rankings and the world ranking points rankings, and not being selected as a captain's pick.

Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) won his first USPGA Tour title in 2011 at the Travelers Championship. He beat Ryan Moore (USA), who missed a short four footer at the seventy second hole which would have gotten him into a playoff with Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden), but instead settled for a tie with John Rollins (USA) one shot behind. During the week, Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) went sixty three holes bogey-free until the difficult par four tenth hole on Sunday where he made a bogey five. He hit 100% of the fairways during rounds three and four. In November 2011, Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) had his best finish ever in a World Golf Championship event when he finished solo second at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China. Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) had led the tournament after rounds two and three and entered the final round with a two stroke advantage over Louis Oosthuizen (RSA). However it was a final round surge from Martin Kaymer (Germany) that denied Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden), the German firing nine birdies on the day to post a 63. Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) could only record a 71 to fall short by three strokes. 

At the 2013 Northern Trust Open, Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) had a chance to win his second USPGA Tour title when he birdied the fifteenth and sixteenth holes in the final round to tie the lead. He then missed a short birdie putt at the seventeenth to take the outright lead. On the seventy second hole, Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) missed a five-foot par putt, which left him one shot outside of the playoff. Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) has been featured in the top twenty of the Official World Golf Rankings. Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) cut his 2014-15 season short after the Crowne Plaza Invitational to care for his son Max, who underwent open-heart surgery. The USPGA Tour granted Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) a medical extension under the family crisis provision. Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) fulfilled his medical extension with a fifth place finish at the RSM Classic. He has also won three European Tour events to date so far in his career with his most recent being the 2003 Volvo Masters Andalucia. He has achieved two top ten finishes in Major Championships to date so far with his best being tied for fifth at the 2003 U.S. Open Championship. He has also achieved three top ten finishes in WGC – Events with his best being solo second position at the 2011 WGC – HSBC Champions. He has represented Sweden at the WGC-World Cup (representing Sweden): 2003 and 2004. And he has represented Continental Europe at the Seve Trophy in 2003. Let’s hope he can keep this form up for the weeks to come 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. 

Danny Lee (NZL) who was best New Zealand Golfer in the field and he scored a good first round of 71-1 and included an average front nine of 36 even par which included birdies on the par three, fifth hole, par four, sixth hole and par four, eighth hole and a poor lone bogey on the par five, seventh hole and a shocking double seven on the par five, first hole and then he scored a good back nine of 35-1 with birdies coming on the par five, eleventh hole and par five, fourteenth hole and a poor lone bogey on the par four, sixteenth hole and then an excellent second round of 66-5 which included a good front nine of 34 even par with a lone birdie on the par four, second hole and a poor lone bogey on the par three, seventh hole and a brilliant back nine of 32-5 with a birdies on the par five, tenth hole, par three, eleventh hole, par four, thirteenth hole, par five,  sixteenth hole, par four, seventeenth hole and a poor third round of 74+2 which included a good front nine of 35-1 with a birdies on the par five, second hole, par five, sixth hole and par four, ninth hole and then a shocking back nine of 39+3 with poor bogeys on the par four, tenth hole, par four, thirteenth hole and par five, eighteenth hole and a good final round of 71-1 which he scored a good front nine of 35-1 which included birdies on the par five, second hole and par five, sixth hole and a lone poor bogey on the par four, eighth hole and then he scored a good back nine of 36 even par which included a lone birdie on the par five, fourteenth hole and a lone poor bogey on the par five, eighteenth hole for a seventy two hole total of 282-5 and he finished in tied for thirtieth position. He earned US $44,450 for his efforts and moved to forty second position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $553,016 earned from the seven events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned forty FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to forty second position on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 286 points earned from the seven events he has played to date this season so far. From the seven 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 last week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. He will be happy with his first, second and final rounds that were all under par especially his second round 66-5!! But he will be mad with his third round that was a poor 74+2 and also angry with his back nine in the final round which was 39+3!! His next event will likely be at the Northern Trust Open next week. 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. 

Tim Wilkinson (NZL) was the other New Zealand Golfer in the field and he scored a very good first round of 69-3 which included a very good front nine of 34-2 with birdies coming on the par four, first hole, par four, fourth hole, par five, sixth hole and par four, eighth hole and poor bogeys coming on the par three, fifth hole and par four, ninth hole and a good back nine of 35-1 with birdies coming on the par four, eleventh hole and par five, fourteenth hole but he had a poor lone bogey on the par three, seventeenth hole and a poor second round of 74+2 which included a shocking front nine of 39+3 which included poor bogeys on the par four, second hole, par four, fourth hole and par three, fifth hole and then he scored a good back nine of  35-1 with birdies on the par five, eleventh hole and par four, seventeenth hole but he had a poor lone bogey on the par four, tenth hole and par four, seventeenth hole then he scored a shocking third round of 76+5 which included a shocking front nine of 39+5 with bogeys on the par four, first hole, par four, second hole, par four, fifth hole and a terrible double bogey six on the par four, eighth hole and a good back nine of 37 even par which include birdies on the par five, tenth hole, par four, thirteenth hole and par five, sixteenth hole but he had poor bogeys on the par three, fourteenth hole, par four, fifteenth hole and par four, seventeenth hole for a fifty four hole hole total of 219+4 and he missed the cut by four shots and the second time this season having made his first five cuts. He moved to 149th position on the current 2015/16 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $97,127 earned from the seven events he has played to date this season so far. He moved to 132nd position on the current 2015/16 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 104 points earned from the seven events he has played in to date so far this season. From the seven events he has played to date this season so far he has made five cuts and achieved no top ten finishes. He will be happy with his first round 69-3!! But disappointed with his two over par rounds in the second and third rounds especially his third round 76+5!! After making his first five cuts he has missed his last two and is now trending in the wrong direction. Let’s hope he can continue to make more cuts in the early 2016 part of 2015/16 USPGA Tour season. His next event will likely be the Northern Trust Open next week if he is fortunate enough to gain a start. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2016 part of the 2015/16 USPGA Tour season. 

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup stays in the State of California for the fifth and final event of the West Coast Swing and it is the Northern Trust Open and is played on the Riviera CC, Pacific Palisades, California. It carries a huge prize purse of US $6,800,000 for the taking. James Hahn (USA) 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 hopeful for a start as well. It starts on Thursday 18th February. 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 first week of his career is Jordan Spieth (USA) who is fresh off tied for twenty first position at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro – Am this past week and also his solo second position two weeks ago at the SMBC Singapore Open with 11.83 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 this past week and his missed cut at the Farmers Insurance Open two weeks ago with 10.01 Official World Golf Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Rory McILroy (NIR) who is fresh off his tied for sixth finish at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic one week ago and his tied for third position three weeks ago at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship with 9.86 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Rickie Fowler (USA) who is fresh off his solo second position one week ago at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and his missed cut at the Farmers Insurance Open two weeks ago with 8.11 Official World Ranking Points and rounding out the top five on the Official World Golf Ranking Points list standings this week is Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who is fresh off his tied for sixth finish at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic one week ago and also his tied for third finish at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship three weeks ago with 7.20 Official World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) this week is in his fortieth eighth week of another spell of being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after finishing in tied for thirtieth position at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro - Am this past week. This week he gains two places and rises to thirty fourth position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings with 2.84 Official Golf World Ranking Points.

Remember in match play you must never give up until you are beaten!!

Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org, Google search engine, europeantour.com, golfchannel.com, ladieseuropeantour.com, asiantour.com, pgatourlive.co.nz