Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Golf Events from the Weekend 3rd May 2015



Well it was another exciting weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup and the European Tour and Race to Dubai and all the other Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world headed to the State of California for second WGC Event of the 2015 season and it was the WGC – Cadillac Match Play and it was played on the TPC Harding Park, San Francisco, California and only the players ranked inside the top sixty four on the current Official World Golf rankings qualified for it. Also it is the only tournament on the USPGA Tour that is played in a Match Play Format. This year there was a new format with the top sixteen ranked golfers in the world being split into the sixteen groups and they all got the number seeding in their group. On Monday 27th April the reaming forty eight players had their names drawn randomly and placed in one of the sixteen groups with the number one seeds. Every player in each group played round robin eighteen hole matches with the other three players. Each four-man group played round-robin matches on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The player with the best record in each group advanced to the Round of 16 for single-elimination match play (in the event of a two-way tie in a group, head-to-head results was used as the tiebreaker; a three-way tie required a sudden-death playoff).  After the three days of group play were completed, the Round of 16 matches were played Saturday morning, followed by the Quarterfinals Saturday afternoon. The Semi-finals were played be Sunday morning, followed by the Championship Match and Consolation Match on Sunday afternoon. This meant that fans were guaranteed to see the field in its entirety during the first three days of competition before players began being eliminated. It carried a huge prize purse of US $9,250,000 for the taking. All the top players in the world were there including Rory McILroy (NIR); Jordan Spieth (USA); Henrik Stenson (Sweden); Bubba Watson (USA) and Jim Furyk (USA) along with many others. Jason Day (Australia) was the defending champion and was keen to defend his title. It started on Wednesday 29th April. 

Day one of pool play on Wednesday 29th April was played in sunny conditions with a cold wind blowing and the first match in group one Rory McIlroy (NIR) verse Jason Dufner (USA) and Rory McILroy (NIR) won convincingly 5&4. The second match in group one saw Billy Horschel (USA) verse Brandt Snedeker (USA) and Billy Horschel (USA) won convincingly 5&4. 

The first match in group sixteen saw Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) verse Alexander Levy (France) and Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) won convincingly 5&4. The second match in group sixteen saw Kevin Na (USA) verse Joost Luiten (Netherlands) and this match went extra holes and Joost Luiten (Netherlands) prevailed on the nineteenth hole. 

The first match in group eight saw Dustin Johnson (USA) verse Matt Jones (Australia) and Dustin Johnson (USA) prevailed 3&1. The second match in group eight saw Victor Dubuisson (France) verse Charl Schwartzel (RSA) and Charl Schwartzel (RSA) won convincingly 5&4. 

The first match in group nine saw Adam Scott (Australia) verse Francesco Molinari (Italy) and Francesco Molinari (Italy) won convincingly 5&4. The second match of group nine saw Chris Kirk (USA) verse Paul Casey (England) and this match was the longest of the day and went extra holes with Paul Casey (England) prevailing on the twenty second hole. 

The first match in group two saw Jordan Spieth (USA) verse Mikko Ilonen (Finland) and Jordan Spieth (USA) won convincingly 4&2. The second match in group two saw Lee Westwood (England) verse Matt Every (USA) and Lee Westwood (England) won a very close match one up. 

The first match in group fifteen saw Patrick Reed (USA) verse Andy Sullivan (England) and Patrick Reed (USA) prevailed 2&1. The second match in group fifteen saw Ryan Moore (USA) verse Danny Willett (England) and Danny Willett (England) won convincingly 3&2.

The first match of group seven saw Jason Day (Australia) verse Charley Hoffman (USA) and Charley Hoffman (USA) won convincingly 4&3. The second match of group seven saw Zach Johnson (USA) verse Branden Grace (RSA) and Zach Johnson (USA) prevailed two up. 

The first match of group ten saw Sergio Garcia (Spain) verse Tommy Fleetwood (England) and Sergio Garcia (Spain) prevailed two up. The second match of group ten saw Jamie Donaldson (Wales) verse Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) and Jamie Donaldson (Wales) prevailed one up. 

The first match of group three saw Henrik Stenson (Sweden) verse John Senden (Australia) and the match went extra holes and John Senden (Australia) prevailed on the nineteenth hole. The second match of group three saw Bill Haas (USA) verse Brendon Todd (USA) and Bill Haas (USA) won convincingly 3&2.

The first match of group fourteen saw Matt Kuchar (USA) verse Ben Martin (USA) and Ben Martin (USA) prevailed one up. The second match of group fourteen was between Hunter Mahan (USA) verse Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) and Hunter Mahan (USA) had the biggest win of the day with winning 7&6. 

The first match of group six saw Justin Rose (England) verse Mark Leishman (Australia) and Mark Leishman (Australia) won convincingly 3&2. The second match of group six saw Ryan Palmer (USA) verse Anirban Lahiri (India) and Anirban Lahiri (India) won convincingly 4&2. 

The first match of group eleven saw Jimmy Walker (USA) verse Gary Woodland (USA) and the match went extra holes with Gary Woodland (USA) prevailing on the nineteenth hole. The second match of group eleven saw Ian Poulter (England) verse Webb Simpson (USA) and Webb Simpson (USA) won convincingly 3&2. 

The first match of group four saw Bubba Watson (USA) verse Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) and Bubba Watson (USA) won convincingly 5&4. The second match of group four saw Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) verse Keegan Bradley (USA) and Louis Oosthuizen (USA) won very convincingly 6&5. 

The first match of group thirteen saw Rickie Fowler (USA) verse Harris English (USA) and Rickie Fowler (USA) prevailed one up. The second match of group thirteen saw Graeme McDowell (NIR) verse Shane Lowry (Ireland) and Shane Lowry (Ireland) prevailed one up. 

The first match of group five saw Jim Furyk (USA) verse George Coetzee (RSA) and Jim Furyk (USA) won convincingly 3&2. The second match of group five saw Martin Kaymer (Germany) verse Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) and Martin Kaymer (Germany) prevailed 3&1. 

The first match of group twelve saw J. B. Holmes (USA) verse Marc Warren (Scotland) and Marc Warren (Scotland) prevailed 2&1. The second match of group twelve saw Brooks Koepka (USA) verse Russell Henley (USA) and Brooks Koepka (USA) prevailed one up. 

Day two pool play matches were played on Thursday 30th April in sunny conditions with little wind to speak of and the first match of group one saw Rory McILroy (NIR) verse Brandt Snedeker (USA) and Rory McILroy (NIR) prevailed two up. The second match of group one saw Billy Horschel (USA) verse Jason Dufner (USA) and Billy Horschel (USA) won convincingly 3&2. 

The first match of group sixteen saw Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) verse Joost Luiten (Netherlands) and Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) prevailed two up. The second match of group sixteen saw Kevin Na (USA) verse Alexander Levy (France) and Kevin Na (USA) prevailed 3&1. 

The first match of group eight saw Dustin Johnson (USA) verse Charl Schwartzel (RSA) and this match went extra holes with Charl Schwartzel (RSA) prevailing on the twentieth hole. The second match of group eight saw Victor Dubuisson (France) verse Matt Jones (Australia) and Matt Jones (Australia) prevailed two up. 

The first match of group nine saw Adam Scott (Australia) verse Paul Casey (England) and Paul Casey (England) prevailed one up. The second match of group nine saw Chris Kirk (USA) verse Francesco Molinari (Italy) and Chris Kirk (USA) prevailed 2&1. 

The first match of group two saw Jordan Spieth (USA) verse Matt Every (USA) and Jordan Spieth (USA) won convincingly 4&3. The second match of group two saw Lee Westwood (England) verse Mikko Ilonen (Finland) and Lee Westwood (England) prevailed one up. 

The first match of group fifteen saw Patrick Reed (USA) verse Danny Willett (England) and Danny Willett (England) prevailed 2&1. The second match of group fifteen saw Ryan Moore (USA) verse Andy Sullivan (England) and Andy Sullivan (England) won convincingly 3&2.

The first match of group seven saw Jason Day (Australia) verse Branden Grace (RSA) and Branden Grace (RSA) won convincingly 4&3. The second match of group seven saw Zach Johnson (USA) verse Charley Hoffman (USA) and Charley Hoffman (USA) prevailed 2&1. 

The first match of group ten saw Sergio Garcia (Spain) verse Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) and Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) prevailed 2&1. The second match of group ten saw Jamie Donaldson (Wales) verse Tommy Fleetwood (England) and in the longest match of the day in extra holes Tommy Fleetwood (England) prevailed on the twenty first hole. 

The first match of group three saw Henrik Stenson (Sweden) verse Brendon Todd (USA) and Henrik Stenson (Sweden) won convincingly 3&2. The second match of group three saw Bill Haas (USA) verse John Senden (Australia) and John Senden (Australia) won convincingly 4&3. 

The first match of group fourteen saw Matt Kuchar (USA) verse Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) and Matt Kuchar (USA) won convincingly 3&2. The second match of group fourteen saw Hunter Mahan (USA) verse Ben Martin (USA) and Hunter Mahan (USA) for the second straight day had the widest margin of victory convincingly winning 5&3. 

The first match of group six saw Justin Rose (England) verse Anirban Lahiri (India) and the match went extra holes with Justin Rose (England) prevailing on the nineteenth. The second match of group six saw Ryan Palmer (USA) verse Marc Leishman (Australia) and Marc Leishman (Australia) won convincingly 4&3. 

The first match of group eleven saw Jimmy Walker (USA) verse Webb Simpson (USA) and this match went extra holes with Webb Simpson (USA) prevailing on the nineteenth. The second match of group eleven saw Ian Poulter (England) verse Gary Woodland (USA) and Gary Woodland (USA) won convincingly 3&2. 

The first match of group four saw Bubba Watson (USA) verse Keegan Bradley (USA) and Bubba Watson (USA) won convincingly 4&2. The second match of group four saw Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) verse Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) and Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) prevailed two up. 

The first match of group thirteen saw Rickie Fowler (USA) verse Shane Lowry (Ireland) and Rickie Fowler (USA) prevailed one up. The second match of group thirteen saw Graeme McDowell (NIR) verse Harris English (USA) and Harris English (USA) prevailed 2&1. 

The first match of group five saw Jim Furyk (USA) verse Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) and Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) prevailed 3&1. The second match of group five saw Martin Kaymer (Germany) verse George Coetzee (RSA) and this match went extra holes with George Coetzee (RSA) prevailing on the nineteenth hole. 

The first match of group twelve saw J.B. Holmes (USA) verse Russell Henley (USA) and this match went extra holes with J.B. Holmes (USA) prevailing on the nineteenth hole. The second match of group twelve saw Brooks Koepka (USA) verse Marc Warren (Scotland) and this match went extra holes with Brooks Koepka (USA) prevailing on the twentieth hole. 

Day three of pool play were played on Friday 1st May in foggy conditions with light winds and the first match in group one was between Rory McILroy (NIR) verse Billy Horschel (USA) and it went extra holes with Rory McIlroy (NIR) winning at the twentieth hole. The second match in group one saw Brandt Snedeker (USA) verse Jason Dufner (USA) and Jason Dufner (USA) prevailed in a very close match one up. 

The first match in group sixteen saw Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) verse Kevin Na (USA) and Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) won convincingly 5&4. The second match in group sixteen saw Joost Luiten (Netherlands) verse Alexander Levy (France) and in a very close match Joost Luiten (Netherlands) prevailed one up.  

The first match in group eight saw Dustin Johnson (USA) verse Victor Dubuisson (France) and Dustin Johnson (USA) prevailed 2&1. The second match in group eight saw Charl Schwartzel (RSA) verse Matt Jones (Australia) and this match went extra holes and with Schwartzel (RSA) prevailing on the twentieth hole. 

The first match in group nine saw Adam Scott (Australia) verse Chris Kirk (USA) and in a very close match Chris Kirk (USA) prevailed one up. The second match in group nine saw Paul Casey (England) verse Francesco Molinari (Italy) and in a very close match Paul Casey (England) prevailed one up. 

The first match in group two saw Jordan Spieth (USA) verse Lee Westwood (England) and in a very close match Lee Westwood (England) prevailed two up. The second match in group two saw Mikko Ilonen (Finland) verse Matt Every (USA) and Mikko Ilonen (Finland) had the biggest win of the three days of pool play winning 8&6. 

The first match in group fifteen saw Patrick Reed (USA) verse Ryan Moore (USA) and Patrick Reed (USA) prevailed one up. The second match in group fifteen saw Danny Willett (England) verse Andy Sullivan (England) and in a very close match Danny Willett (England) prevailed one up. 

The first match of group seven saw Jason Day (Australia) verse Zach Johnson (USA) and Zach Johnson (USA) won convincingly 3&2. The second match of group seven saw Branden Grace (RSA) verse Charley Hoffman (USA) and Branden Grace (RSA) prevailed in a close match 2&1. 

The first match of group ten saw Sergio Garcia (Spain) verse Jamie Donaldson (Wales) and Jamie Donaldson (Wales) prevailed in a very close match 2&1. The second match of group ten saw Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) verse Tommy Fleetwood (England) and in a close match that went extra holes Tommy Fleetwood (England) prevailed on the nineteenth hole. 

The first match of group three saw John Senden (Australia) verse Brendon Todd (USA) and in a very close match John Senden (Australia) prevailed one up. The second match of group three saw Bill Haas (USA) verse Henrik Stenson (Sweden) and Bill Haas (USA) prevailed 3&1.

The first match of group fourteen saw Matt Kuchar (USA) verse Hunter Mahan (USA) and Hunter Mahan (USA) won convincingly 5&4. The second match of group fourteen saw Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) verse Ben Martin (USA) and this match went extra holes with Ben Martin (USA) prevailing on the twentieth hole. 

The first match of group six saw Justin Rose (England) verse Ryan Palmer (USA) and Justin Rose (England) in a very close match prevailed 2&1. The second match of group six saw Anirban Lahiri (India) verse Marc Leishman (Australia) and in a close match Marc Leishman (Australia) prevailed one up. 

The first match of group eleven saw Jimmy Walker (USA) verse Ian Poulter (England) and Ian Poulter (England) won convincingly 4&2. The second match of group eleven saw Webb Simpson (USA) verse Gary Woodland (USA) and in a close match Gary Woodland (USA) prevailed one up. 

The first match of group four saw Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) verse Bubba Watson (USA) and the match went extra holes and Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) prevailed on the nineteenth hole. The second match of group four saw Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) verse Keegan Bradley (USA) and in a close and heated match Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) prevailed two up. 

The first match of group thirteen saw Rickie Fowler (USA) verse Graeme McDowell (NIR) and Rickie Fowler (USA) won convincingly 5&4. The second match of group thirteen saw Shane Lowry (Ireland) verse Harris English (USA) and in a very close match Harris English (USA) prevailed one up. 

The first match of group five saw Jim Furyk (USA) verse Martin Kaymer (Germany) and the match went extra holes with Jim Furyk (USA) prevailing on the twentieth hole. The second match of group five saw George Coetzee (RSA) verse Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) and the match went extra holes with George Coetzee (RSA) prevailing on the twenty first hole. 

The first match of group twelve saw J.B. Holmes (USA) verse Brooks Koepka (USA) and in a close match J.B. Holmes (USA) prevailed 2&1. The second match of group twelve saw Russell Henley (USA) verse Marc Warren (Scotland) and in a very close match Russell Henley (USA) prevailed one up. 

Day four and the morning round of sixteen knockout matches were played on Saturday 2nd May in Sunny warm conditions with light winds and the first match was Rory McIlroy (NIR) who won Group One verse Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) who won Group Sixteen and Rory McILroy (NIR) had the most convincing win of the morning winning 6&5 to advance to the afternoon Quarter Finals and would play Paul Casey (England). 

The second match was Charl Schwartzel (RSA) who won Group Eight verse Paul Casey (England) who won Group Nine and Paul Casey (England) in a very close match prevailed 3&1 and advanced to the afternoon Quarter Finals and would play Rory McIlroy (NIR). 

The third match was Lee Westwood (England) who won Group Two verse Danny Willett (England) who won group fifteen and Danny Willett (England) won convincingly 3&2 and advanced to the afternoon Quarter Finals and would play Tommy Fleetwood (England).

The fourth match was Branden Grace (RSA) who won Group Seven (and it was the only group that needed a sudden death playoff to decided the winner) verse Tommy Fleetwood (England) who won group ten and Tommy Fleetwood (England) prevailed in a close match 2&1 and advanced to the afternoon Quarter Finals and would play Danny Willett (England). 

The fifth match was John Senden (Australia) who won Group Three verse Hunter Mahan (USA) who won Group Fourteen and in a very close match John Senden (Australia) prevailed 2&1 and advanced to the afternoon Quarter Finals and would play Gary Woodland (USA).

The sixth match was Marc Leishman (Australia) who won Group Six verse Gary Woodland (USA) who won Group Eleven and in a very close match Gary Woodland (USA) prevailed 2&1 and advanced to the afternoon Quarter Finals and would play John Senden (Australia).

The seventh match was Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) who won Group Four verse Rickie Fowler (USA) who won Group Thirteen and in a very close match Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) prevailed one up and advanced to the afternoon Quarter Finals and would play Jim Furyk (USA). 

The eighth match was Jim Furyk (USA) who won Group Five verse J.B. Holmes (USA) who won Group Twelve and Jim Furyk (USA) won convincingly 5&3 and advanced to the afternoon Quarter Finals and would play Louis Oosthuizen (RSA).

So to the afternoon Quarter Final Matches that were played on Saturday 2nd May in very cold conditions and a moderate wind blowing and in the first Quarter Final match was Rory McIlroy (NIR) verse Paul Casey (England) and Rory McIlroy (NIR) prevailed in the longest match of the afternoon that went extra holes and had to be completed on Sunday Morning on the twenty second hole to advance to the Sunday Morning Semi – Finals and would play Jim Furyk (USA). 

The second Quarter Finals match was Danny Willett (England) verse Tommy Fleetwood (England) and Danny Willett (England) won convincingly 4&3 to advance to the Sunday Morning Semi – Finals and would play Gary Woodland (USA). 

The third Quarter Finals match was John Senden (Australia) verse Gary Woodland (USA) and Gary Woodland (USA) had the biggest win of the afternoon which was a convincing 5&3 win to advance to the Sunday Morning Semi Finals and would play Danny Willett (England). 

The fourth Quarter Finals match was Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) verse Jim Furyk (USA) and Jim Furyk (USA) won convincingly 4&2 to advance to the Sunday Morning Semi Finals and would play

So to the Semi Finals on Sunday 3rd May in the Morning played in very cold and windy conditions and the first Semi Final was Rory McILroy (NIR) verse Jim Furyk (USA) and Rory McILroy (NIR) prevailed in a very close match one up to advance to the afternoon Championship Match against Gary Woodland (USA) .

And the Second Semi Final Match was Gary Woodland (USA) verse Danny Willett (England) and Gary Woodland (USA) won convincingly 3&2 to advance to the afternoon Championship Match against Rory McILroy (NIR). 

So to the Championship Match on Sunday 3rd May in the afternoon and it was played in overcast conditions with some sun shining through with moderate winds blowing and was Rory McILroy (NIR) verse Gary Woodland (USA) and they both halved the Par five, first hole in birdies with Gary Woodland (USA) hitting the green in two shots and two putting and Rory McILroy (NIR) getting up and down from sixty yards short of the green. Both players halved the par three, second hole with bogey fours with Rory McILroy (NIR) three putting and Gary Woodland (USA) missing a short par putt after a brilliantly played bunker shot and they were still all square heading to the par four, third hole. 
 
Rory McILroy (NIR) tees off during the Championship Match

So to the par four, third hole and it was halved as well with Rory McILroy (NIR) hitting the green in two shots but three putted for his bogey. Gary Woodland (USA) found the trees on the left hand side and played a risky second shot that hit a tree fifty yards ahead of him and the ball came back to his feet, then he hooked it through the trees and it landed in the rough to the right short of the green. Then he played a good chip shot to ten feet and holed the bogey putt so the match was still all square heading to the fourth hole. 

So to the par four, fourth hole and Rory McILroy (NIR) struck a very good tee shot in the fairway, then he hit a good second shot twenty feet short of the pin on the green and two putted for his par which was good enough for the win to go one up in the match because Gary Woodland (USA) missed the fairway to the left and just chipped out to the fairway for his second shot and hit his wedge shot into ten feet of the pin but could not convert his par putt. 
 
Rory McILroy (NIR) hits another tee shot in the Championship Match
So to the par five, fifth hole and Rory McILroy (NIR) hit a brilliant tee shot right down the centre of the fairway, he played a poor second shot with his long iron which found the right green side bunker. But he hit a brilliant green bunker shot out to within three feet and holed the putt to win the hole and go to two up because Gary Woodland (USA) lost his tee shot well to the right and again had tree trouble but he played a very courageous second shot with his long iron that narrowly missed the trees and ended up in the right green side bunker that Rory McILroy (NIR) was in, he hit his bunker shot out to ten feet but missed his birdie putt.

So to the par four, sixth hole and both players hit the fairway and Gary Woodland (USA) played his second shot first and landed his ball on the green with his short iron and it came to rest thirty feet from the pin. Rory McILroy (NIR) played next and landed his ball with his short iron thirty five feet from the pin. Rory McILroy (NIR) putted for his birdie first and rolled it right in the centre of the cup for his birdie three!! Gary Woodland (USA) now knew he had to hole his thirty footer for his three to match Rory McILroy (NIR) but he was unable to and Rory McILroy (NIR) was now three up heading to the par four, seventh hole. Johnnie Miller who is NBC Sports/ Golf Channel Golf Analyst said “This match could now get out of hand and could be over soon!!” 

So to the par four, seventh hole and both players hit their tee shots in the fairway, Rory McILroy (NIR) hit his second shot in to within seventeen feet from the pin, Gary Woodland (USA) hit an even better second shot with his short iron to within sixteen feet of the pin. Rory McILroy (NIR) putted for his birdie first and rolled it right in the centre of the cup!! Gary Woodland (USA) now had to convert his sixteen foot putt for his birdie three to halve the hole but was unable to do so and Rory McILroy (NIR) won the hole and moved to four up after seven holes. 

So to the par four, eighth hole and both players hit poor tee shots into the fairway bunker. They both hit good second shots on the green about forty feet from the pin and they both two putted for their pars and Rory McILroy (NIR) remained four up after eight holes.

So to the par three, ninth hole and Rory McILroy (NIR) landed his tee shot with his mid iron to within ten feet of the pin. Gary Woodland (USA) hit his tee shot to within twenty seven feet of the pin. They both missed their birdie putts and conceded each other their par putts so Rory McILroy (NIR) remained four up after nine holes. 

So to the par four, tenth hole and both players hit their tee shots in the centre of the fairway. Both players hit their mid iron second shots into four feet of the pin and they both converted their birdie putts and Rory McILroy (USA) remained four up after ten holes. 

So to the par four, eleventh hole and Rory McILroy (NIR) missed the fairway in the left hand rough and Gary Woodland (USA) hit his tee shot into the right hand rough. Gary Woodland (USA) hit his second shot with his short iron into twenty four feet from the pin. Rory McILroy (NIR) hit his second shot in the right hand green side bunker. Rory McILroy (NIR) played his green side bunker shot out to fifteen feet from the pin. Gary Woodland (USA) rolled his birdie putt to within two feet of the cup and it was conceded for his par. Rory McILroy (NIR) missed his fifteen foot par putt and Gary Woodland (USA) won the hole and was now only three down. 

So to the par four, twelfth hole and Rory McILroy (NIR) hit his tee shot in the right rough. Gary Woodland (USA) hit his tee shot on the green on the driveable hole to thirty feet from the pin. Gary Woodland (USA) putted for his eagle from thirty eight feet and rolled it to within inches of the cup and was conceded his birdie putt. Rory McILroy (NIR) hit his second shot chip and it came to rest twelve feet of the cup but he was unable to convert his putt for birdie and Gary Woodland (USA) won the hole and now was only two down. 

So to the par three, thirteenth hole and Gary Woodland (USA) hit his tee shot in the right front green side bunker with his short iron. Rory McILroy (NIR) hit his tee shot over the back of the green in the rough. Gary Woodland (USA) played his bunker shot out to within four feet of the cup. Rory McILroy (NIR) chilly dipped his second shot and didn’t get on the green but almost holed his third shot when he chipped to within a foot of the cup and was conceded it for his bogey four. Gary Woodland (USA) now had an excellent chance if he holed his par putt to get the match back to one down with five holes to play but he was unable to convert and remained two down. 

So to the par four, fourteenth hole and Rory McILroy (NIR) hit his tee shot in the fairway. Gary Woodland (USA) hit his tee shot in the left hand rough. Gary Woodland (USA) hit his second shot with his short iron into sixty feet from the pin. Rory McILroy (NIR) hit his second shot with his short iron into within fourteen feet of the cup. Gary Woodland (USA) left his birdie putt eighteen feet short and missed the par putt and was conceded the bogey putt and that meant that Rory McILroy (NIR) now had two putts from fourteen to win the hole and rolled it to within two inches of the cup and was conceded the next putt and won the hole to move back to three up with four holes to play. 

So to the par four, fifteenth hole and Rory McILroy (NIR) hit his tee shot in the fairway. Gary Woodland (USA) hit his tee shot in the right hand rough. Rory McILroy (NIR) hit his short iron second shot into within twenty five feet of the pin. Gary Woodland (USA) hit his short iron into within forty five feet of the pin. Gary Woodland (USA) putted for his birdie first and left his putt four feet from the cup. Rory McILroy (NIR) putted for his birdie and it came to rest two feet from the cup and was conceded. That meant that Gary Woodland (USA) would have to hole his four foot par putt to keep the match going another hole and he holed it and they halved the hole and Gary Woodland (USA) was now three down with three holes to play. 
 
Rory McILroy (NIR) pumps his fist after holing the winning putt in the Championship Match!!
So to the par four, sixteenth hole and Rory McILroy (NIR) hit his drive in the right hand green side bunker on the driveable par four. Gary Woodland (USA) hit his drive in the same green side bunker. Rory McILroy (NIR) played his green side bunker shot first and hit it to within six feet from the pin and he must of thought the match was almost his as Gary Woodland (USA) would more than likely have to hole out for eagle two to extend the match to the par three, seventeenth hole. Gary Woodland (USA) must have been feeling the pressure as he thinned his green side bunker shot over the green and into the rough on the other side. He was still away for his third shot and he chipped the ball out of the terrible lie in the rough and it rolled seven feet past the hole. He then conceded the hole and the match to Rory McILroy (NIR). So Rory McILroy (NIR) won the match 4&2 and was declared the 2015 WGC – Cadillac Match Play Champion!! He gave his caddie J. P. Fitzgerald a huge hug and high five to celebrate!! Then he was interviewed by NBC Sports/Golf Channel on course reporter, Steve Sands and he told him “He was pleased he displayed his fighting match play qualities throughout the week and was so pleased he was able to prevail and hold the Walter Hagen Trophy, and when he was down in a few of his matches this week that went to the eighteen hole and extra holes his confidence and self belief grew as the week went on and he won those close matches”. And he also said “He was happy with his form leading into the Players Championship next week and the U.S. Open Championship (Second Major Championship) in mid June”. This win should give him the confidence to have a huge second half of the season especially in the last three Major Championships. 
 
Gary Woodland (USA) on the left and Rory McILroy (NIR) on the right shake hands after Rory McILroy (NIR) won the Championship Match!!
Rory McILroy (NIR) earned US $ 1,570,000.00 for the win and moved to eighth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 2,364,533 earned from the five events he has played to date this season so far. Jordan Spieth (USA) still leads that list with US $5,173,819 earned from the twelve events he has played to date this season so far. Rory McILroy (USA) also earned 550 FedEx Cup Points for the win and moved to nineteenth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 846 points earned from the five events he has played to date this season so far and he is 1,272 points behind the current leader of that list who is Jordan Spieth (USA) with 2,118 points earned from the twelve events he has played to date this season so far. From the five events Rory McIlroy (NIR) has played to date this season so far he has made four cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the win this week. He will be happy he was able to win seven straight matches this week and two of them went extra holes. And he will be especially happy with how he finished his Semi – Final match against Jim Furyk (USA) when he was one down with two to play and finished birdie, eagle to win one up!!

It was his eleventh European Tour International Schedule victory in his 148th European Tour event. He extends his lead at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking. He goes to 12.6246 points. It was his second European Tour victory of the 2015 season, following the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. He becomes the fourth multiple winner of the 2015 European Tour season. They are: Branden Grace (RSA) (Alfred Dunhill Championship and Commercial Bank Qatar Masters), Anirban Lahiri (India) (Maybank Malaysian Open and Hero Indian Open), Andy Sullivan (England) (South African Open Championship hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni and Joburg Open) and Rory McIlroy (NIR) (Omega Dubai Desert Classic and WGC – Cadillac Match Play). It is the fourth time during his European Tour career he has recorded multiple victories in the same season. The seasons are: 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015.

It was his second World Golf Championship victory in his twenty fourth WGC career appearance. He has now won the 2014 WGC- Bridgestone Invitational and 2015 WGC – Cadillac Match Play. He went twenty one WGC appearances without a victory. He has now won in two of his last three WGC appearances. His victory comes in his seventh appearance in the WGC – Cadillac Match Play. This victory beats his previous best finish in the WGC – Cadillac Match Play of second in 2012, losing to Hunter Mahan (USA) in the final. He follows Darren Clarke (NIR) (2000 WGC – Cadillac Match Play and 2003 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational) and Ian Poulter (2010 WGC – Cadillac Match Play and 2012 WGC – HSBC Champions), as European players to record multiple WGC victories. He follows Darren Clarke (NIR) (2000 WGC – Cadillac Match Play and 2003 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational), Ernie Els (RSA) (2004 and 2010 WGC – Cadillac Championship) and Ian Poulter (England) (2010 WGC – Cadillac Match Play and 2012 WGC – HSBC Champions), as European Tour Members to record multiple WGC victories.


He becomes the ninth player to record multiple WGC victories. He follows: Tiger Woods (USA), Geoff Ogilvy (Australia), Darren Clarke (NIR), Ernie Els (RSA), Hunter Mahan (USA), Phil Mickelson (USA), Ian Poulter (England) and Dustin Johnson (USA). He becomes the eighth player to win two or more different WGC events. He follows: Tiger Woods (USA), Geoff Ogilvy (Australia), Darren Clarke (NIR), Hunter Mahan (USA), Phil Mickelson (USA), Ian Poulter (England) and Dustin Johnson (USA). He becomes the second player, following Tiger Woods (USA) (2003, 2004 and 2008) to win the WGC – Cadillac Match Play as the number one seed. He becomes the sixth different European Tour Member to win the WGC – Cadillac Match Play. He follows: Darren Clarke (NIR) (2000), Henrik Stenson (Sweden) (2007), Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) (2009), Ian Poulter (England) (2010) and Luke Donald (England) (2011). (This is the WGC event that European Tour Members have won the most times). He is the only one of the 64 players to win all his matches. He becomes the 14th different player to win the WGC – Cadillac Match Play. He becomes the fifteenth WGC victory overall by a European Tour Member. He joins Tiger Woods (USA), Ernie Els (RSA) and Phil Mickelson (USA) as the players to have now won multiple Major and WGC Championships. He will celebrate his 26th birthday on Monday May 4. Aged 25 years and 364 days becomes the youngest player to win the WGC – Cadillac Match Play, beating the previous record of Jason Day (Australia), who was 26 years and 103 days when he won in 2014.

He brings his streak of consecutive top ten European Tour finishes to ten. Of these ten, he has won five, second three times, one fourth and one tied ninth. (Has not been out of the top ten in a European Tour event, since the 2014 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, when he finished tied 14th). It was fifty sixth Northern Irish win in European Tour history. It was the second Northern Irish victory of the 2015 season. They are: Rory McIlroy (NIR) (Omega Dubai Desert Classic and WGC – Cadillac Match Play). He moves into second place in the list of most European Tour victories by a Northern Irishman, with eleven. He is just three behind Darren Clarke (NIR), with 14. He has now won five of his eleven European Tour titles on American soil. And finally it was his 17th victory as a professional. 
 
Rory McILroy (NIR) poses with the Walter Hagen Cup he won!!
Rory McILroy (NIR) has won ten events on the USPGA Tour to date so far that include four Major Championships and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2010 Quail Hallow Championship; 2011 U.S Open Championship (Maiden Major Championship); 2012 The Honda Classic; 2012 PGA Championship (Second Major Championship); 2012 Deutsche Bank Championship; 2012 BMW Championship; 2014 Open Championship (Third Major Championship); 2014 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational, 2014 PGA Championship (Fourth Major Championship) and 2015 WGC – Cadillac Match Play. He has also won ten events on the European Tour with his most recent being the 2015 Omega Dubai Desert Classic in early February. And he has also achieved seven top ten finishes in Major Championships to date so far and that doesn’t include his four Major Championship wins. He has also achieved fifteen top ten finishes in WGC – Events which includes his wins at the 2014 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and this past week at the 2015 WGC – Cadillac Match Play. He is the current world number one golfer and rightly deserves to be!! He has also played on the European Ryder Cup team against Team USA in 2010, 2012 and 2014 where he was on the winning team in all of them. Let’s hope he can achieve his eleventh win on the USPGA Tour in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and perhaps it will be his fifth Major Championship at the U.S. Open Championship in mid June? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour Season.

Gary Woodland (USA) earned US $ 930,000.00 for finishing runner up and moved to fifteen position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,997,031 earned from the twelve events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 315 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to twentieth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 841 points earned from the twelve events he has played to date this season so far. From the twelve 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 here this past week. He will be happy how he played this past week to reach the final winning six straight matches but disappointed he wasn’t able to be more competitive in the Championship Match against Rory McILroy (NIR). But he will take a lot of confidence at how he performed the week on a whole going forward with some big events to come in the next few weeks. Gary Woodland (USA) has achieved two wins on the USPGA Tour to date so far in his career and the first one came at the 2011 Transitions Championship and the second one was the 2014 Reno – Tahoe Open. In March 2011, Gary Woodland (USA) won his first USPGA Tour title at the Transitions Championships by one stroke when fellow American Webb Simpson (USA) missed a par putt on the final hole. Just a few moments earlier Gary Woodland (USA) had scrambled a fantastic par from the same position as Webb Simpson (USA) on the last, after hitting his second shot over the back of the green. This win secured Gary Woodland (USA) a place at the 2011 Masters Tournament and also elevated him to a career high 53rd in the Official World Golf Rankings. He later earned an invitation into the U.S. Open Championship after moving into the Top 50. He left the tournament with an Official World Golf ranking of 39th. In November 2011, he won the Omega Mission Hills World Cup of Golf with Matt Kuchar (USA). He finished 2011 ranked 17th on the USPGA Tour money list and 51st in the Official World Golf ranking. He had ended 2009 ranked 959th and 2010, 588th. Gary Woodland's (USA) career-best Official World Golf ranking is 36th after the 2011 Greenbrier Classic until this past week where he moved up to thirty second. Let’s hope he can continue having top ten finishes in the weeks ahead and perhaps win his third event on the USPGA Tour in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. I wish all the best for the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season.

And the Consolation Match for third position was also played on Sunday afternoon in the same conditions and was Jim Furyk (USA) verse Danny Willett (England) and they halved the first four holes. Then Jim Furyk (USA) won the par five, fifth hole with a par to move to one up. They halved holes six to eight. Danny Willett (England) won the par three, ninth hole with a birdie and the match was all square again. Danny Willett (England) won the par four, tenth hole with a par to go to one up. Jim Furyk (USA) won the par four, eleventh hole with a par and the match was all square again. Danny Willet (England) birdied the par four, twelfth hole to go one up. Danny Willett (England) birdied the par three, thirteenth hole to go two up. They halved holes fourteen and fifteen. Jim Furyk (USA) conceded the par four, sixteen hole and the Match to Danny Willett (England) when he lost his ball. So Danny Willett (England) won the Consolation Match for third position 4&2!!

Danny Willett (England) earned US $ 646,000.00 for finishing third but because he isn’t a current member of the USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a current 2014/15 USPGA Tour Money list ranking and he also earned 200 FedEx Cup points for his efforts but because he isn’t a current member of the USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list ranking. From the five events he has played to date on the USPGA Tour this season so far he has made four cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came this past week. He will be happy with winning his first five matches and the Consolation Match over Jim Furyk (USA) to finish third in the tournament but disappointed he lost the Semi – Final Match to Gary Woodland (USA). But on the whole he had a very good week and has earned enough money now to gain special temporary USPGA Tour Membership if he wants to take it up? 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 8 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 Rankings for the first time. He finished the 2010 season ranked twenty third 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 as I mentioned before. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2015 season whatever tour he chooses to play on.  

Jim Furyk (USA) earned US $520,000.00 for his efforts and moved to fourteenth position on the current 2014/15 USPGA Money list standings with US $2,064,661 earned from the eight events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 140 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to sixteenth position on the current 2014/15 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 882 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 here and also his win at the RBC Heritage two weeks ago. He will be happy with winning four matches this week but disappointed he lost the semi final match to Rory McILroy (NIR) when he had a great chance to win but was blown away by his awesome finish and also disappointed he lost the consolation match to Danny Willett (England). But it was good to see him play so well after his win in his last start at the RBC Heritage two weeks ago and I am sure he has a few more wins in him before his career is over. Jim Furyk (USA) turned professional in 1992. He won the Nike Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic on the then Nike Tour in 1993. He joined the USPGA Tour in 1994 and won at least one tournament each year between 1998 and 2003. At the time, this was the second-best streak of winning seasons behind Tiger Woods (USA) and he made the top ten in the Official World Golf Ranking. Jim Furyk's (USA) biggest win to date came on June 16, 2003, when he tied the record for the lowest 72-hole score in U.S. Open history to win his first Major Championship. In 2004, he only played in fourteen events after missing three months due to surgery to repair cartilage damage in his wrist; he missed six cuts and his highest finish was tied for sixth, which caused him to fall out of the top hundred on the money list. He returned to good form in 2005 and regained his top ten ranking, winning a USPGA Tour event in that year and two in 2006. In the 2006 season, he finished a career-high second on the Money list and won the Vardon Trophy for the first time. He also had thirteen top-ten finishes, including nine top-3s, four second-place finishes, and two victories. The 2010 USPGA Tour season was a banner one for Jim Furyk (USA). After going more than two seasons winless, he won a career-best three tournaments on Tour in 2010: The Transitions Championship, the Verizon Heritage, and the season-ending Tour Championship. His victory in the Tour Championship also earned him the 2010 FedEx Cup after winning by one stroke. His accomplishments in 2010 won him both the PGA Player of the Year and PGA Tour Player of the Year for the first time. 

Since 2012, Jim Furyk (USA) has come close on several occasions to winning more titles, but to date has not done so (Until the 2015 RBC Heritage two weeks ago). At the 2012 U.S. Open, Jim Furyk (USA) led after 54 holes and was still the leader deep into the final day, before snap hooking his drive into the trees at the 16th which led to a bogey and was followed by another at the 18th. He finished in a tie for fourth, two strokes behind Webb Simpson (USA). At the 2012 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational, Jim Furyk (USA) led after the first three rounds and looked set to win the championship as he held a one-stroke lead going into the final hole, but a double-bogey cost him the title to Keegan Bradley (USA). At the 2013 PGA Championship, Jim Furyk (USA) led by one stroke going into the final day over Jason Dufner (USA), but this time his lead was overturned on the front nine and he was unable to reduce the deficit as Jason  Dufner (USA) won by two strokes. Jim Furyk's (USA) caddy since 1999 has been Mike “Fluff” Cowan, who was Tiger Woods (USA) caddy for his first two years as a professional. On September 13, 2013, Jim Furyk (USA) shot a 12-under-par 59 in the second round of the BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Illinois, becoming just the sixth player to shoot 59 in a USPGA Tour event. In July 2014, Jim Furyk (USA) held the 54-hole lead at the RBC Canadian Open, with a three stroke advantage over his nearest competitor Tim Clark (RSA). However Tim Clark (RSA) produced five birdies in his last eight holes to claim the title, after Jim Furyk (USA) missed a 12 footer on the 18th green to force a playoff. The three shot margin was the largest 54-hole lead Jim Furyk (USA) has ever lost in his tour career. In February 2015, Jim Furyk (USA) held a one shot lead at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am going into the final round, but shot a two over round of 74 to finish six strokes behind Brandt Snedeker (USA). Jim Furyk's (USA) round was the worst of any player to finish within the top 50 on the final day. Since Jim Furyk's (USA) last victory at The Tour Championship in 2010, he is 0-for-9 with a lead/co-lead after 54 holes. On April 19, 2015, Jim Furyk (USA) ended the long slump when he defeated Kevin Kisner (USA) with birdie on the second playoff hole at the RBC Heritage. The victory was his second at the event (having won here in 2010 also) and his seventeenth victory on the USPGA Tour. He are his seventeen wins from the first to the most recent: 1995 Las Vegas Invitational; 1996 United Airlines Hawaiian Open; 1998 Las Vegas Invitational; 1999 Las Vegas Invitational; 2000 Doral – Ryder Open; 2001 Mercedes Championship; 2002 Memorial Tournament; 2003 U.S. Open Championship (Maiden Major Championship); 2003 Buick Open; 2005 Cialis Western Open; 2006 Wachovia Championship; 2006 Canadian Open; 2007 Canadian Open; 2010 Transitions Championship; 2010 Verizon Heritage; 2010 The Tour Championship and the 2015 RBC Heritage. He has also achieved twenty two top ten finishes in Major Championships (Which includes his maiden US Open Championship win in 2003). And he has also achieved seventeen top ten finishes in WGC Events but it is amazing to think he has not won one yet. Let’s hope he can achieve more top ten finishes in the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season and perhaps win his eighteenth event? I wish him all the best for the 2015 part of the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season. 

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to the State of Florida for the equal richest event of the season which is The Players Championship and it is played on the Famous TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida with the signature Island Green par three, seventeenth hole. It is also knowing as the fifth Major Championship. It carries a huge prize purse of US $10,000,000 for the taking. All the best players on the USPGA Tour will be there including Rory McILroy (NIR); Jordan Spieth (USA); Henrik Stenson (Sweden); Bubba Watson (USA) and Adam Scott (Australia) to name a few. Danny Lee (NZL) and Tim Wilkinson (NZL) are likely to gain starts as well and Steven Alker (NZL) will be hopeful as well. The defending champion is Martin Kaymer (Germany) and he will be keen for back to back titles. It starts on Thursday 7th May and I will report back who won the trophy next week.
So to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list this week and coming in at Number One Position for the thirtieth ninth week of his fifth spell of his career and for the 79th week of his career in total is Rory McILroy (NIR) fresh off his win this past week at the WGC – Cadillac Match Play and also his solo fourth position at the 79th Masters Tournament three weeks ago with 12.62 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Jordan Spieth (USA) who is fresh off his tied for seventeenth position at the WGC – Cadillac Match Play this past week and also his tied for eleventh position at the RBC Heritage two weeks ago with 9.05 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who is fresh off his tied for thirty fourth position at the WGC – Cadillac Match Play this past week and also his tied for nineteenth position at the 79th Masters Tournament three weeks ago with 7.25 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Bubba Watson (USA) who is fresh off his tied for seventeenth position at the WGC – Cadillac Match Play and his tied for twenty ninth position at the Shenzhen International two weeks ago with 7.15 Official World Ranking Points and rounding out the top five on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list standings this week is Jim Furyk (USA) who is fresh off his fourth place position at the WGC – Cadillac Match Play this past week and also his win at the RBC Heritage two weeks ago with 6.98 Official World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) this week is in his seventh week of another spell of being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after he finished in tied for twenty second position one week ago at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on the USPGA Tour. This week he remains in 194th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list standings with 0.91 Official Golf World Ranking Points. 

Remember when you are playing match play never give up because it is never over till you shake hands!!
Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org, Google search engine, europeantour.com, golfchannel.com 

No comments:

Post a Comment