Golf Events from the Weekend 17th August 2014

It was another exciting weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world and this week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup headed to North Carolina for the final regular season event of the 2013/14 FedEx Cup and it was the Wyndham Championship and it was played on the Sedgefield CC, Greensboro, North Carolina. And it was the golfer by the name of Camilo Villegas (Colombia) who scored rounds of 63-7, 69-1, 68-2 and a brilliant final round of 63-7 for a 72 hole total of 263-17 and he won by a single stroke for his fourth USPGA Tour win and his first since 2010. He earned US $954,000 for the win and moved to 58th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with earned US $1, 526,574 earned from the twenty six events he has played to date this season so far. Rory McILroy (NIR) still leads that list with US $6,965,896 earned from the 13 events he has played to date this season so far. Camilo Villegas (Colombia) also earned 500 FedEx Cup Points for the win and moved to 37th position on the final regular 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1002 points earned from the twenty six events he has played to date this season so far and he is 1,580 points behind the leader of final regular season 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings who is Rory McILroy (NIR) who has earned 2,582 points from the 13 events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty six events Camilo Villegas (Colombia) has played to date this season so far he has made 18 cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came this week when he won. He will be extremely happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s and especially his first round 63-7 which saw him take the first round lead by a shot and his final round 63-7 which was the lowest round of the day by a shot and he also scored the lowest round of the tournament twice. 

Camilo Villegas (Colombia) tees off during the final round

Camilo Villegas (Colombia) played an amazing final round of 63-7 which was blemish free and included an awesome front nine of 29-6 which included an eagle on the par five, fifth hole and birdies on the par four, second hole, par four, fourth hole, par four, sixth hole and par four, eighth hole. He made the turn at minus 16 and was leading by a two shots. Bill Haas (USA) went out in 31-4 and made the turn at minus 14 and was two shots behind the leader. Freddie Jacobson (Sweden) went out in 33-2 and made the turn at minus 12 and was four shots behind the leader.

Camilo Villegas (Colombia) played holes ten to 14 in even par and remained at minus 16 and was still leading by one shot. Bill Haas (USA) played holes ten to 14 in one under par and moved to minus 15 and now was only one shot behind the leader. Freddie Jacobson (Sweden) played holes ten to 14 in one under par and moved to minus 15 and now was one shot behind the leader.

Camilo Villegas (Colombia) played holes 15 to 17 in one under par and headed to the 72nd hole at minus 17 and was now tied for the lead. Bill Haas (USA) played holes 15 to 17 in one under par and moved to minus 16 and was still one shot behind the leader with just the 72nd hole to play. Freddie Jacobson (Sweden) played holes 15 to 17 in two under par and moved to minus 17 with just the par four, 72nd hole to play and was now tied for the lead.

Camilo Villegas (Colombia) who was playing about an hour ahead of the leaders hit a good drive down the par four, 72nd hole which found the left side of the fairway. He then struck a good mid iron which found the front of the green. He was able to two putt for his par and he scored 34-1 on the back nine and finished the 72 holes on minus 17 and he had set the pace as leader in the club house. Bill Haas (USA) who was playing a few groups ahead of the final group made a solid par at the par four, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes at minus 16 and was one shot behind the winner. Freddie Jacobson (Sweden) who was playing in the group in front of the final group hit the par four, 72nd hole in the regulation two shots but left himself with a putt over forty feet for his birdie three. He struck his birdie putt way too strong and left himself a very difficult ten foot putt for par which unfortunately missed as well and he had to settle for bogey and finished the 72 holes on minus 16 and finished one shot behind the winner.  

Camilo Villegas (Colombia) acknowledges the crowd after holing out on the 72nd green!!

Camilo Villegas (Colombia) now realised he had won the Wyndham Championship and he was very happy about it. When he was interviewed by the CBS Sports on course reporter, Peter Kostis (USA) he said “All golfers go through there ups and downs and I had suffered my share of the downs in the last few years” he also said “I have continued to work very hard at my game and all that hard work I have put in over the past few months has paid off”. He also gave his sponsors huge praise for sticking by him over the past few years when he wasn’t producing the results they expected of him. Camilo Villegas (Colombia) began playing on the USPGA Tour in 2004 and earned his USPGA Tour card just prior to the 2006 season. He had a blistering start to his 2006 rookie year on tour, with two second place finishes and a third place (at The Players Championship) in his first nine events. He missed making the 2006 Masters Tournament in his rookie year by a single position on the Official USPGA Tour Money List (11th). However, he made his first Masters' appearance in 2007 by finishing in the top 40 of the Official USPGA Tour Money List for 2006. He qualified for the 2008 Masters Tournament through his exceptional play during the inaugural FedEx Cup playoff system, that included an opening round 63 (8 under par) at the Deutsche Bank Championship and three straight top 10 finishes. He entered the FedEx Cup playoffs in 52nd place and improved to 28th place through his play in the first three events, thus qualifying for the 30-man field at The Tour Championship in Atlanta, Georgia, where he finished in the top 10 for the third straight week and finished 24th on the final FedEx Cup points list.

Camilo Villegas (Colombia) won his first USPGA Tour title in September 2008, winning the BMW Championship by two shots over Dudley Hart (USA). For the last 44 holes of the tournament, Camilo Villegas (Colombia) did not three putt, one-putting 27 of those last 44 holes. This victory took him to a career high of 18th in the Official World Golf Rankings. Camilo Villegas (Colombia) followed his BMW Championship win with a victory in The Tour Championship. He beat Sergio Garcia (Spain) in a playoff, having trailed by five shots going into the final round. The win took Camilo Villegas (Colombia) to number seven in the Official World Golf Rankings and established him as the highest ranked golfer from South America. He finished the season 7th on the PGA Tour money list. In late 2008 Camilo Villegas (Colombia) joined the European Tour, making his first European Tour appearance at the 2008 HSBC Champions, the first tournament of the 2009 season. However he continued to play predominately in the United States. He had no victories in 2009 but had five top-10 finishes and ended the season ranked 45th on the final USPGA Tour money list and in the top 30 of the European Tour's Race to Dubai. He has spent over 30 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings since 2008, with a career high rank of seventh. At the 2009 Chevron World Challenge, CamiloVillegas (Colombia) made a very rare albatross (double eagle) on a 568 yard par 5, firing a 262 yard second shot into the hole. In March 2010, Camilo Villegas (Colombia) earned his third victory on the USPGA Tour, winning The Honda Classic by five strokes over Anthony Kim (USA). Camilo Villegas (Colombia) chose not to maintain his status on the European Tour, and a slump in form in 2012 meant he had to enter the USPGA Tour's Qualifying School at the end of the season; he finished 144th on the final money list. Camilo Villegas (Colombia) did not regain a Tour Card but had conditional status on the PGA Tour for 2013, playing in the 126-150 category. His status gave him entry based on sponsor exemptions, past championships, and priority ranking. He regained full privileges for 2014 with a 110th place finish in the 2013 FedEx Cup. In 2014, Camilo Villegas (Colombia) won the Wyndham Championship (As I mentioned earlier), his first win on USPGA Tour in more than four years. The win moved him into the 37th position of the 2014 FedEx Cup prior to going into the FedEx Cup playoffs. With this victory, Camilo Villegas (Colombia) earns an invitation into the 2015 Masters Tournament and two years full-exempt status on the PGA Tour. The win this past week at the Wyndham Championship with give him lots of confidence heading into the FedEx Cup Playoffs in the next few weeks and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he wins his fifth USPGA Tour event in one of them. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season and the FedEx Cup Playoff events. 

Camilio Villegas (Colombia) poses with the Sam Snead Cup he won for winning the Wyndham Championship while taking a selfie!!

Coming in tied for second position at 264-16 after 72 holes was Freddie Jacobson (Sweden); he earned US $466,400 for his efforts and moved to 41st position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,868,882 earned from the twenty four events he has played today this season so far. He also earned 245 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and finish in 38th position on the final 2013/14 regular season FedEx Cup Points list standings with 987 points earned from the twenty four events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty four events he has played to date this season so far he has made 17 cuts and achieved four top ten finishes that includes the one here. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his final three rounds that were 64-6, 66-4 and 66-4. But he will be slightly disappointed he wasn’t able to achieve his second USPGA Tour title. Freddie Jacobson (Sweden) has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2004 Season and has easily kept his card for the next year every season since. In that time he has amassed career earnings to date of US $16,182,707 earned from the 255 events he has played into date so far in his career and his maiden win came at the 2011 Travelers Championship. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season and FedEx Cup Playoff events and hope he can have more top ten finishes and perhaps secure his second USPGA Tour win?

Also tied for second position was Bill Haas (USA); he too earned US $466,400 for his efforts and moved to twenty ninth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,225,378 earned from the twenty four events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 245 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and finished in twenty fourth position on the final 2013/14 regular season FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,268 points earned from the twenty four events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty four events he has played to date this season so far he has made twenty three cuts and withdrawn from one event and he has achieved four top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his final round 64-6 that was blemish free. Bill Haas (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour Fulltime since the 2006 season after gaining his 2006 USPGA Tour card at the 2005 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in tied for 26th position to earn his rookie USPGA TOUR card for 2006 season and to do that he had to make birdie on final hole to earn his card on the number (11-under). Since gaining his full USPGA Tour card in 2006 he has easily kept his card every season for the following season every season since. And in that time he has achieved five wins on the USPGA Tour and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2010 Bob Hope Classic, Viking Classic, 2011 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, 2012 Northern Trust Open and the 2013 AT&T Classic. And in 2011 he won the FedEx Cup in a winner-take-all playoff, he pared the third playoff hole (par-3 18th hole) to defeat Hunter Mahan (USA) to win the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola and the FedEx Cup, winning the latter by 15 points over Webb Simpson (USA) and becoming the first player in his 20s to win the season-long competition. He entered the final round three strokes behind Aaron Baddeley (Australia) and Hunter Mahan (USA) but carded a final-round 68-2 to finish regulation tied with Hunter Mahan (USA) at 8-under 272. In the playoff, he appeared to have shot himself out of winning both on the second playoff hole, the Par four, 17th hole at East Lake GC, when his approach to the par 4 landed in the water adjacent to the green. He made a great up and down for par to continue the playoff. As a result of his win, he pocketed the US $1,440,000 first-place cheque and the US $10-million prize for winning the 2011 FedEx Cup. He became just the third player to win the TOUR Championship in his first appearance, joining Chad Campbell (USA) (2003) and Bart Bryant (USA) (2005). He and his father, Jay, are the only father-son combination to tee it up in the TOUR Championship. I feel the next step for him will be to win his maiden Major Championship and I believe it could happen in the 2015 season, perhaps at the Masters Tournament next April? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014 part of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup Playoff Series.

Coming in solo fourth position at 265-15 after 72 holes was Heath Slocum (USA); He earned US $254,400 for his efforts and moved to 141st position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $566,167 earned from the twenty three events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 135 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and finished in 129th position on the final 2013/14 Regular Season FedEx Cup Points list standings with 419 points earned from the twenty three events he played in. From the twenty three events he played in this year he made 12 cuts and this was the very first top ten finish he achieved in the season. He will be happy with his four rounds this week because they were all in the 60s especially his first and second rounds that were consecutive 65-5s. But unfortunately it wasn’t enough for him to get inside the top 125 on the final 2013/14 regular season FedEx Cup Points standings list and he will now have to go back and play the Web.com Tour Finals to gain his 2014/15 USPGA Tour card back. Heath Slocum (USA) joined the USPGA Tour in 2001 and since then he has secured four wins. His first win was in 2004 at the Chrysler Classic of Tucson. His second win came at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic in 2005. His third win came at The Barclays in 2009. His best finish in a major is a tie for 9th at the 2008 U.S. Open and he has featured in the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings. Heath Slocum (USA) represented the United States at the 2007 Omega Mission Hills World Cup with Boo Weekley (USA) and finished in 2nd place. Heath Slocum (USA) barely qualified for the 2009 FedEx Cup Playoffs: he finished 124th on the regular season points list, with 125 qualifying. At the first playoff event, The Barclays at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey, he won the event by one stroke, holing a 21 foot putt for par on the last hole to deny Ernie Els (RSA), Padraig Harrington (Ireland), Steve Stricker (USA), and Tiger Woods (USA) the chance of victory. Heath Slocum's (USA) win, his third on the Tour, vaulted him 121 spots on the FedEx Cup points list, to third position; it also earned him US $1,350,000 more than double his prior winnings in 2009.  His fourth win came at the McGladrey Classic in October 2010. Let’s hope we will see him back on the USPGA Tour for the 2014/15 season?  

Coming in tied for fifth position at 266-14 after 72 holes was Webb Simpson (USA); he earned US $193,450 for his efforts and moved to 14th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $3,193,111 earned from the twenty one events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 100 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and finished in 13th position on the final 2013/14 Regular Season FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,536 points earned from the twenty one events he played in this season. From the twenty one events he has played to date this season so far he has made 16 cuts and achieved eight top ten finishes which includes the one here and also his win at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in October last year. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his first round 64-6. Webb Simpson (USA) has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2009 season after gaining his card at the 2008 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in tied for seventh position. He had a fine rookie season in 2009 on the USPGA Tour where he earned just over US one million dollars and easily kept his card for the 2010 season. In his second full season on the USPGA Tour in 2010 he earned just under US one million dollars and easily kept his card for the 2011 season. In his third full season on the USPGA Tour in 2011 he had an awesome season with earning just over US 6.3 Million Dollars and finished second on the final 2011 USPGA Tour Money list with US $6,347,353 earned from the 26 events he played in. He also won two USPGA Tour events with his maiden win coming at the Wyndham Championship and his second one coming at the Deutsche Bank Championship which was the second FedEx Cup playoff event. In his fourth season on the USPGA Tour in 2012 he had another awesome season with earning just over US 3.4 million dollars and he won his third event on the USPGA Tour which was his Maiden Major Championship at the 112th US Open Championship and he won his fourth event at the 2013 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in October last year. I’m sure his fifth win isn’t too far off either and maybe it will happen in one of the four FedEx Cup Playoff events? I wish him all the best with the tournaments he plays in the coming weeks in the FedEx Cup Playoffs and if he gets off to a good start in the first two tournaments maybe he could be the 2014 FedEx Cup Champion? 

Also tied for fifth position was Brandt Snedeker (USA); he too earned US $193,450 for his efforts and moved to 51st position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,652,380 earned from the twenty three events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 100 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and finished in 55th position on the final regular season 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 812 points earned from the twenty three events he played this season. From the twenty three events he has played to date this season so far he has made twenty cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his second round 65-5. He has had a rather average 2013/14 season on the USPGA Tour by his high standards and this top ten finish maybe just what he needs to boost his confidence. Brandt Snedeker (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2007 season and he has easily kept his card every year for the following season every year since and he has achieved six wins in that time and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2007 Wyndham Championship, 2011 The Heritage, 2012 Farmers Insurance Open, TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, 2013 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and the RBC Canadian Open. In 2012 he won the FedEx Cup and the Ten Million Dollar Bonus that goes with it and perhaps he could win it for a second time in 2014. I feel he is destined to win a Major Championship before his career is over, maybe it will happen in the 2015 and perhaps it could happen at the first Major Championship of the year next year at the Masters Tournament next April? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season and the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

The final player to tie for fifth position was Nick Watney (USA); he too earned US $193,450 for his efforts and moved to 101st position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $913,398 earned from the twenty four events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 100 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and finished in 94th position on the final 2013/14 regular season FedEx Cup Points list standings with 584 points earned from the twenty four events he played this season. From the twenty four events he has played to date this season so far he has made 16 cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his first three rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his second round of 64-6. But he will be disappointed with his final round of 70 even par when he held the 54 hole lead and especially his back nine of 37+2. Nick Watney (USA) in 2007, after two years of slow progress, won his first USPGA Tour title at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. This victory took Nick Watney (USA) into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time. He got his second tour win at the 2009 Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, with a one-stroke victory over John Rollins (USA), taking him to his highest position yet in the World Golf Rankings, number 76. 

In the 2010 USPGA Championship at Whistling Straits, Nick Watney (USA) had a three-shot lead going into the final round. However, he shot a final round of 81, which dropped him back to a tie for 18th place. Nick Watney (USA) won the biggest tournament of his career to date and his first World Golf Championship at the WGC – Cadillac Championship at Doral Golf Resort & Spa in March 2011. He entered the final round trailing by two strokes, but shot a final round 67, including a run of four birdies in five holes in the middle of the round, and finished with a birdie at the notoriously difficult 18th, to record a two-stroke victory over compatriot Dustin Johnson (USA).  Nick Watney (USA) admitted in an interview afterwards that he had dwelt on finishing 2nd at Doral, in the same tournament two years before, when his putt on the 18th finished a couple of inches short of the hole. After the victory, Nick Watney (USA) moved up to number 15 in the World Golf Rankings. In July, Nick Watney (USA) won for the second time in 2011 at the AT&T National by beating K. J. Choi (South Korea) by two strokes. The victory owed much to his third-round score when he set a course record 62 around Aronimink Golf Club, beating the previous record set coincidentally on the same day, which Chris Kirk (USA) and Steve Marino (USA) held briefly with joint 63s. Nick Watney (USA) shot a 27 on the back nine, which tied the second lowest nine-hole score ever recorded on the USPGA Tour. The record is held by Corey Pavin (USA) who shot 26 at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwakee in 2006.

During the final round Nick Watney (USA) did not record a single bogey, making a number of crucial par saving putts to hold off the challenge of K. J. Choi (South Korea) and capture his fourth PGA Tour title. This win took Nick Watney (USA) to the top of the FedEx Cup standings, ahead of K. J. Choi (South Korea), and into the top ten of the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time in his career. He finished the 2011 season ranked third on the USPGA Tour money list. During the 2011 President's Cup, he defeated K.J. Choi (South Korea) on the final day to give the United States team a distinct advantage over the International Team coached by Greg Norman (Australia). The four-day match play tournament was played in Melbourne, Australia. During the first round of the 2012 U.S. Open Championship at the Olympic Club, Nick Watney (USA) made a double eagle on the par-five 17th hole to become only the third man to record a double eagle in U.S. Open history. The others being T.C. Chen (Taiwan) in 1985 at Oakland Hills and Shaun Micheel (USA) in 2010 at Pebble Beach. In August 2012, Nick Watney (USA) won the first of the four FedEx Cup playoff events, The Barclays, at Bethpage Black in New York. He came from two behind in the final round to win by three strokes over Brandt Snedeker (USA) to take the outright lead in the FedEx Cup standings. This was the first playoff event victory of his career. After Rory McILroy (NIR) won the second playoff event, Nick Watney (USA) dropped to second in the standings. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup Playoffs. 

Rounding out the top ten in tied for eighth position at 267-13 after 72 holes was Brad Fritsch (Canada); he earned US $148,400 for his efforts and moved to 140th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $568,391 earned from the 18 events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 78 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and finished in 151st position on the final 2013/14 regular season FedEx Cup Points list standings with 322 points earned from the 18 events he played in this season. From the 18 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. He will be happy with his first three rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his second round 63-7. He will now head back to the Web.com Tour Finals in attempt to try and earn his USPGA Tour card back for the 2014/15 season. Brad Fritsch (Canada) played on the Canadian Tour from 2001 to 2006 and again from 2010 to 2011. His best finish was second at the 2004 Bay Mills Open Players Championship. He played on the Web.com Tour from 2007 to 2009 and 2012. His best finish was tied for second at the 2012 Mylan Classic. Brad Fritsch (Canada) gained his USPGA Tour card for 2013 by finishing in the top 25 of the Web.com Tour money list in 2012. He improved his position by finishing tied for seventh at the 2012 PGA Tour Qualifying School. He made 18 cuts in 24 events in 2013, finishing 142nd on the money list and missing the FedEx Cup playoffs by four places (ranked 129th). He played in the Web.com Tour Finals and finished 14th to regain his PGA Tour card for 2013/14 season. I wish him all the best for the Web.com Tour Finals in the coming weeks.

Also tied for eighth position was Kevin Kisner (USA); he too earned US $148,400 for his efforts and moved to 94th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $954,497 earned from the twenty five events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 78 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and finished in 93rd position on the final 2013/14 regular season FedEx Cup Points list standings with 587 points earned from the Twenty five events he played in. From the twenty five events he has played to date this season so far he has made 17 cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his second round 64-6. Kevin Kisner (USA) played the Web.com Tour full-time in 2010, winning once at the Mylan Classic. He finished the year in 11th position on the final 2010 Web.com Tour money list and earned his 2011 USPGA Tour card. Kevin Kisner (USA) failed to earn enough money on the USPGA Tour in 2011 to retain his card (and finished 181st on money list), but finished in tied for eleventh position at the 2011 final qualifying school to earn his card for 2012 USPGA Tour season. He again failed to retain his card, finishing 167th position on the final 2012 USPGA Tour money list, and missed earning a card in qualifying school by one stroke. He returned to Web.com Tour in 2013 and won the Chile Classic in March. He finished 13th on the final 2013 Web.com Tour regular season money list to earn his 2014 PGA Tour card. Let’s hope he can build on this top ten finish and have more in the coming weeks and also play well in the first FedEx Cup Playoff events? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup Playoffs.

 

Coming in tied for eighth position was William McGirt (USA); he too earned US $148,400 for his efforts and moved to 95th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $951,018 earned from the twenty six events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 78 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and finished in 81st position on the final 2013/14 regular season FedEx Cup Points list standings with 646 points earned from the twenty six events he played in. From the twenty six events he has played to date this season so far he has made 16 cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his first, second and final rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his first and final rounds that were both 64-6. But he will be disappointed with his third round which was 71+1. He gained his card on the USPGA Tour for the first time in his career when he finished in tied for second position at the 2010 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament and gained his 2011 USPGA Tour card. He had a poor rookie season with only earning US $532,933 from the 32 events he played in and that placed him in 141st position on the final 2011 USPGA Tour Money list standings. He went back to the 2011 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament and gained his card back for the 2012 season by finishing in tied for 13th position. He had a much better season in 2012 where he made over one million US dollars easily keeping his card for the 2013 season. Maybe he could achieve his maiden win on the USPGA Tour in the 2013/14 season and perhaps it could be one of the four FedEx Cup Playoff Events? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup Playoffs. 

The final player to tie for eighth position was Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela); he too earned US $148,400 for his efforts and moved to 120th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $735,203 earned from the twenty two events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 78 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and finished in 108th position on the final 2013/14 regular season FedEx Cup Points list standings with 505 Points earned from the twenty two events he played in this season. From the twenty two events he has played to date this season so far he has made 15 cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his second round which was 65-5. Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela) won his first Nationwide Tour event in 2010 at the Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open. He finished the season seventh on the money list and earned his 2011 USPGA Tour card, the first Venezuelan to do so. On 23rd January 2011, Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela) won his first USPGA Tour event, the Bob Hope Classic, after defeating tour veteran Bill Haas (USA) and Gary Woodland (USA) in a sudden death playoff. It was Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela) fifth overall start on the USPGA Tour and the second as a member of the tour. The victory was the first by a Venezuelan at a USPGA Tour event; Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela) earned entry into the Masters Tournament and a two-year exemption on the USPGA Tour. In his next start he finished in a tie for third at the Farmers Insurance Open, holding a share of the lead on the back nine and moved to a career Official World Golf Ranking high of 69th. Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela) was the first USPGA Tour rookie to lead the FedEx Cup Points standings. In July 2012, Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela) was the runner-up finisher at the annual Telus World Skins Game to Paul Casey (England) held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, after having won the 2011 event in Banff ,Alberta. Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela) started 2013 with three missed cuts in three tournaments. He sat out the remainder of the 2013 USPGA Tour season after shoulder surgery. Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela) attempted to regain his USPGA Tour status through the Web.com Tour Finals, but fell short and started the 2013-14 season on a Medical Extension. He satisfied his medical extension with a tied for third finish at the John Deere Classic this past week. Let’s hope he can have more top ten finishes in the weeks ahead. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup Playoffs.

The happiest player this week was Robert Allenby (Australia) who finished in 125th position on the final regular season 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 438 points earned from the twenty eight events he has played to date this season so far and he became the last player eligible for the Barclays which is the first FedEx Cup Playoff event next week. The least happy player this week was Nicholas Thompson (USA) who finished in 126th position on the final regular season 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 437 points earned from the 30 events he has played to date this season so far and he missed out on playing in the first FedEx Cup Playoff event at the Barclays next week by a single point!! He will now have to go back to the Web.com Tour Finals to regain his full playing status for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour Season. 

Danny Lee (NZL) was the only New Zealand Golfer in the field and he scored rounds of 73+3 in the first round which was poor. Then he scored a good second round of 70 even par for a 36 hole total of 143+3 and missed the cut by five shots. He currently lies in 125th   position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with  US $712,345  earned from the twenty six events he has played to date this season so far. He finished in 116th position on the final regular season 2013/14 FedEx Cup points list standings with 490 points earned from the twenty six events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty six events he has played to date this season so far he has made eleven cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came five months ago at the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com where he finished in solo second position in early March. He will be happy with his second round of 70 even par. But he will be disappointed with his first round 73+3 that really made it hard for him to make the cut. With this being the final event in the regular 2013/14 USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup season it means he has secured his place in the first FedEx Cup Series playoff event which is the Barclays which starts on Thursday 21st August. He will need a very good performance next week to get himself inside the top 100 players on the 2013/14 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points list after the conclusion of the Barclays on Sunday night to qualify for the second FedEx Cup Playoff event which is the Deutsche Bank Championship the following week. Let’s hope he can achieve a top ten finish next week? I wish all the best in his next few tournaments he plays in for the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup Playoff Series.

Tim Wilkinson (NZL) who chose to sit out the Wyndham Championship this week currently lies in 109th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $808,499 earned from the twenty four events he has played to date this season so far. He also finished in 114th position on the final regular season FedEx Cup Points list standings with 494 points earned from the twenty four events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty four events he has played to date this season so far he has made 17 cuts and achieved three top ten finishes with his first coming at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in mid November last year and the second coming at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in early February this year and the third coming at the Barracuda Championship earlier this month. With this being the final event in the regular 2013/14 USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup season it means he has secured his place in the first FedEx Cup Series playoff event which is the Barclays which starts on Thursday 21st August. He will need a very good performance next week to get himself inside the top 100 players on the 2013/14 FedEx Cup Playoffs Points list after the conclusion of the Barclays on Sunday night to qualify for the second FedEx Cup Playoff event which is the Deutsche Bank Championship the following week. Let’s hope he can achieve a top ten finish next week? I wish all the best in his next few tournaments he plays in for the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season and FedEx Cup Playoff Series.

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup head to New Jersey for the first FedEx Cup Playoff event and it is the Barclays and is played on the Ridgewood CC, Paramus, New Jersey. It carries a huge prize purse of US $8,000,000 for the taking. The top 124 players on the final regular season 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings will be eligible participate (It would of been the top 125 players but Dustin Johnson (USA) has taken a six months leave of absence from the tour). Adam Scott (Australia) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title. Danny Lee (NZL) and Tim Wilkinson (NZL) will also gain starts because there places in the top 125 have already been secured. It starts on Thursday 21st August 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 third week of his fifth spell of his career and for the 42nd week of his career is Rory McILroy (NIR) fresh off his win one week ago at the 96th PGA Championship and two week ago won WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and also four weeks ago winning the 143rd Open Championship with 11.15 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Adam Scott (Australia) fresh off his tied for 15th position finish one week ago at the 96th PGA Championship with 9.15 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who finished in tied for fourth position at the 114th U.S. Open Championship nine weeks ago and also finished tied for second at the BMW International Open and seven weeks ago and also finished in tied for 39th position at the 143rd Open Championship four weeks ago and one week ago finished in tied for third position at the 96th PGA Championship with 8.10 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Sergio Garcia (Spain) who is fresh off  his tied for 36th position at the 96th PGA Championship one week ago and also finished solo second position two weeks ago at the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and four weeks ago he tied for second position at the 143rd Open  Championship with 7.80 Official World Ranking Points; and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list this week is Justin Rose (England) who is fresh off his win five weeks ago at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and four weeks ago finished in tied for twenty third position at the 143rd Open Championship and two weeks ago he finished in tied for fourth position at the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and one week ago finished in tied for twenty fourth position in the 96th PGA Championship with 7.35 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Tim Wilkinson (NZL) is in his third week of his second spell being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after his tied for eighth finish at the Barracuda Championship two weeks ago on the USPGA Tour. This week he slips three places and falls to 246th position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.73 Official Golf World Ranking Points.

Remember the grip is a very important part of the golf swing!!

Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org, Google search engine, europeantour.com

Golf Events from the Weekend 10th August 2014

This week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup and all the other Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world headed to Louisville, Kentucky for the 96th PGA Championship (Also known as“Glories last Shot”) which was the fourth and final Major Championship of the 2014 season. This year it was played on the Valhalla GC, Louisville, Kentucky and all the big name players in the game were there including Adam Scott (Australia), Rory McILroy (NIR), Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Justin Rose (England) and Bubba Watson (USA), Martin Kaymer (Germany), Sergio Garcia (Spain) and the 14 time Major Championship winner, Tiger Woods (USA) to name a few. It had the equal largest prize purse on the USPGA Tour this season of US $10,000,000 for the taking. And the first round was played on Thursday 7th August in fine and sunny conditions with only a light wind blowing and temperatures were in the late 20s Celsius. And three players shared the first round lead with rounds of 65-6 and they included Lee Westwood (England), Kevin Chappell (USA) and Ryan Palmer (USA). One shot back on 66-5 were the three time Major Championship winner and 2012 PGA Champion, Rory McILroy (NIR), Jim Furyk (USA), Edoardo Molinari (Italy), Henrik Stenson (Sweden) and Chris Wood (England). Two shots back on 67-4 were Mikko Ilonen (Finland) and Jerry Kelly (USA). Three shots back on 68-3 were Joost Luiten (Netherlands), Ian Poulter (England), Bernd Wiesberger (Austria), Shane Lowry (Ireland), Danny Willett (England), Shawn Stefani (USA), Matt Jones (Australia), Seung – Yul Noh (South Korea) and J. B. Holmes (USA). Four shots back on 69-2 were Rickie Fowler (USA), Victor Dubuisson (France), Nick Watney (USA), Jimmy Walker (USA), Jason Day (Australia), Phil Mickelson (USA), Jamie Donaldson (Wales), Rafael Cabrera – Bello (Spain), Kevin Streelman (USA), Russell Henley (USA), Alexander Levy (France), Graham DeLaet (Canada), Steve Stricker (USA), Cameron Tringale (USA) and Geoff Ogilvy (Australia). Notable Player five shots back on 70-1 were Patrick Reed (USA), Current Senior PGA Champion, Colin Montgomerie (Scotland), Ernie Els (RSA), Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), Justin Rose (England), Sergio Garcia (Spain), Bubba Watson (USA), Martin Kaymer (Germany), Luke Donald (England) and Tim Clark (RSA). Other notable first round scores were Adam Scott (Australia), Marc Leishman (Australia), Eric Compton (USA), Bill Haas (USA) and Vijay Singh (Fiji) on 71 even par. 2003 PGA Champion, Shaun Micheel (USA), Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain), Charl Schwartzel (RSA),  64 Year Old, Tom Watson (USA), Davis Love III (USA) and Kenny Perry (USA) who all scored 72+1. Tiger Woods (USA), Rich Beem (USA) and Keegan Bradley (USA) all scored disappointing rounds of 74+3 and will need to go low on Friday to make the 36 hole cut. And the real shock of the first round was Angel Cabrera (Argentina) scoring a terrible first round of 82+11!!

The second round was played on Friday 8th August in rainy conditions with some fine periods and only light winds and the temperature was in the mid 20s Celsius and Rory McILroy (NIR) scored 67-4 to go along with his first round 66-5 and he had a 36 hole total of 133-9 and was leading by a single shot. One shot back on 134-8 after 36 holes were Jason Day (Australia) and Jim Furyk (USA). Two shots back on 135-7 after 36 holes were Ryan Palmer (USA), Rickie Fowler (USA) and Mikko Ilonen (Finland). Three shots back on 136-6 after 36 holes were Phil Mickelson (USA) and Bernd Wiesburger (Austria). Four shots back on 137-5 after 36 holes were Graham DeLaet (Canada), Steve Stricker (USA), Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Joost Luiten (Netherlands), Victor Dubuisson (France), Lee Westwood (England) and Louis Oosthuizen (RSA). Five shots back on 138-4 after 36 holes was Nick Watney (USA). Six shots back on 139-3 after 36 holes were Bill Haas (USA), Vijay Singh (Fiji), Matt Jones (Australia), Richard Sterne (RSA), Chris Wood (England), Billy Horschel (USA), Kevin Chappell (USA), Jamie Donaldson (Wales) and Edoardo Molinari (Italy). The 36 hole cut fell at 143+1 and 74 players made it. Notable players to miss the cut were Erik Compton (USA), Martin Kaymer (Germany), Tim Clark (RSA) and Padraig Harrington (Ireland) who all missed by a single shot on 144+2. 64 year old Tom Watson (USA), Davis Love III (USA) and Matt Every (USA) who missed by two shots on 145+3. Ryo Ishikawa (Japan), Keegan Bradley (USA) and Harris English (England) who all missed by three shots on 146+4. Webb Simpson (USA) and Chesson Hadley (USA) missed by four shots on 147+5. Jordan Spieth (USA), John Daly (USA) and Tiger Woods (USA) all missed by six shots on 148+6. 

The third round was played on Saturday 9th August in fine and sunny conditions with only light winds blowing and the temperature was in the mid 20s Celsius and Rory McILroy (NIR) scored 67-4 to go along with his first round 66-5 and second round 67-4 and had a 54 hole total of 200-13 and he lead by a single shot heading into the final round. One shot back on 201-12 after 54 holes was Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) after a third round 65-6. Two shots back on 202-11 after 54 holes was Rickie Fowler (USA). Three shots back on 203-10 after 54 holes were Phil Mickelson (USA) and Jason Day (Australia). Four shots back on 204-9 after 54 holes were Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Mikko Ilonen (Finland) and Ryan Palmer (USA). Five shots back on 205-8 after 54 holes were Jamie Donaldson (Wales), Graham DeLaet (Canada) and Steve Stricker (USA). Six shots back on 206-7 after 54 holes were Hunter Mahan (USA), Adam Scott (Australia), Kevin Chappell (USA), Lee Westwood (England), Joost Luiten (Netherlands) and Jim Furyk (USA). Seven shots back on 207-6 after 54 holes were Brandt Snedeker (USA), Danny Willett (England), Bill Haas (USA) and Victor Dubuisson (France). Eight shots back on 208-5 after 54 holes were Marc Warren (Scotland), Brooks Koepka (USA), Sergio Garcia (Spain), Ryan Moore (USA), Jimmy Walker (USA), Ernie Els (RSA), Alexander Levy (France), Billy Horschel (USA) and Nick Watney (USA).

The final round was played on Sunday 10th August in overcast conditions with some heavy thunder storms that caused play to be delayed for more than two hours and when the players resumed play after the rain delay the sun was out and the temperature was again in the mid 20s Celsius and Rory McILroy (NIR) scored a final round of 68-3 and to go with his first round 66-5, second round 67-4 and his third round 67-4 for a 72 hole total of 268-16 and he won by a single shot for his second PGA Championship title and his fourth Major Championship of his career to date so far and it was also his third consecutive win on the USPGA Tour and the ninth of his USPGA Tour career to date so far. He won US $1,800,000 for the win and moved to the top of the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $6,965,896 earned from the 13 events he has played to date this season so far. Jimmy Walker (USA) is in second position on that list with US $5,337,340 earned from the twenty three events he has played to date this season so far. Rory McILroy (NIR) also earned 600 FedEx Cup Points for the win and moved to the top of the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 2,582 points earned from the 13 events he has played to date this season so far and he is 89 points ahead of Jimmy Walker (USA) who is in second position and was Knocked off the number one position he has held all season with 2,493 points earned from the twenty three events he has played to date this season so far. From the 13 events Rory McILroy (NIR) has played to date this season so far he has made 13 cuts and achieved nine top ten finishes with includes the one here and also the wins the two previous weeks at the 143rd Open Championship and the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational. He will be extremely pleased with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his first three rounds of 66-5, 67-4 and 67-4 and his final round back nine of 32-4 after his front nine of 37+1. 

Rory McILroy (NIR) tees off during the final round

Rory McILroy (NIR) played a very good final round under the circumstances of holding the 54 hole lead by a single shot. He scored 68-3 which included a very poor front nine of 37+1 with a lone birdie on the par five, seventh hole and poor bogeys on the par three, third hole and par four, sixth hole and he made the turn at -12 and was two shots behind the leader. Phil Mickelson (USA) went out in an excellent 31-4 and made the turn at minus 14 and was now tied for the lead. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) went out in an amazing 30-5 and made the turn at minus 14 and was now tied for the lead. Rickie Fowler (USA) went out in a very good 32-3 and made the turn at minus 14 and was now tied for the lead.

Rory McILroy (NIR) made an awesome eagle on the par five, tenth hole where after he had hit his drive out over 300 yards in the fairway he then hit his three wood second shot that he struck slightly thin but it was hit with a slight fade on it and when it hit the fairway short of the green it rolled with the right to left slope and on to the green and came to rest about ten feet from the cup. He rolled the ten foot putt in for his eagle three and moved to minus 14 and was now one shot behind the leader. Phil Mickelson (USA) made a par at the par five, tenth hole and remained at minus 14 and was now one shot behind the leader. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) made a par at the par five, tenth hole and remained at minus 14 and was now one shot behind the leader. Rickie Fowler (USA) made a birdie on the par five, tenth hole and moved to minus 15 and was still tied for the lead.

Rory McILroy (NIR) made a solid par at the par three, eleventh hole and remained at minus 14 and was still one shot behind the leaders. Phil Mickelson (USA) made a birdie two at the par three, eleventh hole and moved to minus 15 and was now tied for the lead. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) made a solid par at the par three, eleventh hole and remained at minus 14 and was still one shot behind the leaders. Rickie Fowler (USA) made a solid par at the par three, eleventh hole and remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead.

Rory McILroy (NIR) made a solid par at the par four, 12th hole and remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead. Phil Mickelson (USA) made a solid par on the par four, 12th hole where he rolled in a twenty eight foot par putt and remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) made a solid par at the par four, 12th hole and remained at minus 14 and was still one shot behind the leaders. Rickie Fowler (USA) made a solid par at the par four, 12th hole and remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead.

Rory McILroy (NIR) made a fine birdie at the par four, 13th hole when he struck his short wedge shot into within ten feet and holed the putt and he moved to minus 15 and was now tied for the lead. Phil Mickelson (USA) made a solid par at the par four, 13th hole and remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) made a birdie three at the par four, 13th hole and moved to minus 15 and was now tied for the lead. Rickie Fowler (USA) made a solid par at the par four, 13th hole and remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead.

Rory McILroy (NIR) made a solid par at the par three, 14th hole and remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead.  Phil Mickelson (USA) made a solid par at the par three, 14th hole and remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) made a poor bogey at the par three, 14th hole and fell back to minus 14 and was now one shot behind the leaders. Rickie Fowler (USA) made a poor bogey at the par three, 14th hole and fell back to minus 14 and was now one shot behind the leaders.

Rory McILroy (NIR) made a solid par at the par four, 15th hole and remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead.  Phil Mickelson (USA) made a solid par at the par four, 15th hole and remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) made a solid par at the par four, 15th hole and remained at minus 14 and was still one shot behind the leaders. Rickie Fowler (USA) made a solid par at the par four, 15th hole and remained at minus 14 and was still one shot behind the leaders.

Rory McILroy (NIR) made a solid par at the par four, 16th hole and remained at minus 15 and was still tied for the lead.  Phil Mickelson (USA) made a poor bogey at the par four, 16th hole when he failed to get up and down after nearly holing his chip shot from behind the front bunker and he fell back to minus 14 and now was one shot behind the leader. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) made a solid par at the par four, 16th hole and remained at minus 14 and was still one shot behind the leader. Rickie Fowler (USA) made a solid par at the par four, 16th hole and remained at minus 14 and was still one shot behind the leader.

Rory McILroy (NIR) hit his tee shot on the par four, 17th hole into the right fairway bunker. He hit his second from out of the right fairway bunker in to 15 feet of the pin. Then he stroked the right to left ten foot birdie putt right into the centre of the cup for his birdie three and he moved to minus 16 and took a two shot lead to the par five, 72nd hole. Phil Mickelson (USA) made a solid par at the par four, 17th hole and remained at minus 14 and now was two shots behind the leader heading to the par five, 72nd hole. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) made a solid par at the par four, 17th hole and remained at minus 14 and now was two shots behind the leader heading to the par five, 72nd hole. Rickie Fowler (USA) made a solid par at the par four, 17th hole and remained at minus 14 and was still one shot behind the leader.

Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who was playing a few groups ahead of the leaders could only manage a par at the par five, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes at minus 14 and finished two shots behind the winner. Rickie Fowler (USA) was playing in the group ahead of the final group hit a good tee shot down the par five, 72nd hole which found the fairway. He then struck a good long iron for his second shot which landed on the front right hand side of the green about 45 feet from the flag stick. In fading light and darkness setting in he struck a good putt from 45 feet for his eagle but it rolled about 12 feet past the hole and he was unable to make the return putt for his birdie four. He tapped in for his par five and finished the 72 holes at minus 14 and was two shots behind the winner. Phil Mickelson (USA) hit a good drive down the par five, 72nd hole that found the right hand side of the fairway. He then caught his long iron for his second shot slightly heavy and it came up just short of the green landing in the fringe. He now was faced with an eagle chip with his wedge that he knew he would more than likely have to hole out for his eagle three if he was going to force a playoff with Rory McILroy (NIR). He struck a very good tee shot in the fading light that just missed on the left hand side of the cup and he easily tapped the two foot birdie putt in for his birdie four and finished the 72 holes at minus 15 one shot behind the winner. 

Rory McILroy (NIR) stood on the par five, 72nd hole in fading light and darkness was almost setting in and he asked the PGA Championship Officials if he and playing partner Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) could tee off before Phil Mickelson (USA) and Rickie Fowler (USA) in the group ahead hit their second shots. Both Phil and Rickie agreed to this and later when he received the Wanamaker Trophy at the prize giving he acknowledged this by saying “It was a very Classy and Sportsman like thing Phil and Rickie did in allowing me and Bernd to tee off so we could get the tournament finished on Sunday rather than Monday Morning”. So Rory McILroy (NIR) teed off and lost his tee shot slightly to the right and was very fortunate not to land in the right hand water hazard. He struck his second shot and pulled if left with his mid iron and it landed in the left hand green side bunker leaving a very difficult third to a pin placement that was in the middle of the green on top of a ridge. In almost darkness he hit his third shot from the left hand green side bunker a little heavy and came up on the bottom tier leaving a difficult uphill birdie putt from 35 feet. With the huge gallery around the green watching him and millions around the world watching on TV also in almost darkness he struck an awesome putt from 35 feet and it came to rest two feet short of the cup. He then claimed his nerve and sank the two foot par putt and he had won the 96th PGA Championship!! He pumped his fist in the air to celebrate!! Then he got a huge hug and high five from his caddie, J. P. Fitzgerald!! Then as he walked off the 72nd green his father, Gerry McILroy was there to share in some of his son’s success by giving him a huge as well!! He then received the Wanamaker Trophy from Ted Bishop who is the President of the PGA of America. Rory McILroy (NIR) said in his acceptance speech “That he was so grateful to win this Championship for a second time and pleased he was able to show some real resilience in his golf game today after being two over after six holes.” He also said “the birdie on the par five, seventh hole gave him the belief that he could get back into the tournament and still win”. And he also said “His second shot with his fairway wood on the par five, tenth hole was slightly fortunate because he didn’t make the contact with the ball he had planned and got an awesome result from the shot” and he also said “You need a bit of luck to win a Major Championship and that was my piece of it”. He scored 31-4 on his back nine. 

Rory McILroy (NIR) punches the air in Celebration after he holed the winning putt!!

It was Rory McILroy (NIR) ninth European Tour International Schedule victory in his 140th European Tour event. He extends his lead at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking. He goes to 11.2701 points. It was his fourth European Tour victory of the 2014 season, following the BMW PGA Championship, the 143rd Open Championship and WGC – Bridgestone Invitational. (Is the first time he has won four times in a European Tour season and is the first Irishman to achieve the feat). It was his second consecutive Major Championship victory, following The 143rd Open Championship. He became the first player to win back-to-back Major Championships since Padraig Harrington (Ireland) (2008 Open Championship and 2008 USPGA Championship). He becomes the 16th different player to win back-to-back Major Championships in two different Majors. (In all back-to-back Major wins in different Majors has been achieved 24 times before). He joins Nick Price (Zimbabwe) (1994), Tiger Woods (USA) (2000, 2006) and Padraig Harrington (Ireland) (2008) to win The Open Championship and US PGA Championship in the same year since 1958 when the US PGA Championship became stroke play. (Walter Hagen (USA) achieved the feat in 1924 when the US PGA Championship was match play).

Having won The 143rd Open Championship he becomes the 18th different player to win two of the four Major Championships in the same season. (In all this feat of winning two in one season would now have been done 31 times in Major Championship history). Has won four Major Championships. They are: 2011 US Open Championship, 2012 US PGA Championship, 2014 Open Championship and 2014 US PGA Championship. At aged 25 years and 98 days becomes the fourth youngest player in Major Championship history to win four Major Championships. He stands behind: Young Tom Morris (Scotland) (1872 Open Championship – 21 years old), Tiger Woods (2000 Open Championship – 24 years old) and Jack Nicklaus (1965 Masters Tournament – 25 years old). He becomes the 28th player to win four or more Major Championships. He becomes the 18th different player to record multiple US PGA Championship victories. Of those 18, his is the tenth when the event was stroke play. At aged 25 is the second youngest player to win the US PGA Championship twice since the event became stroke play in 1958. Tiger Woods is the youngest at 24. It was his fourth Major Championship and comes in his 25th career Major Championship start. His second US PGA Championship victory comes in his sixth appearance. 

He continues with his astonishing record in the US PGA Championship. He was tied third in 2009 and 2010, tied 64th in 2011, first in 2012, tied eighth in 2013 and first in 2014. He becomes the 11th different player to win an event the week before a Major Championship and then win the Major Championship in the next event. (Phil Mickelson (USA) is the only player to have done this twice). (Sandy Lyle (Scotland) is the only other player from the United Kingdom to achieve the feat. He won the 1988 Greater Greensboro Open then the 1988 Masters Tournament). He follows Tiger Woods (USA) in 2007 who won the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational then won the 2007 US PGA Championship the following week. He becomes the first player to win in three consecutive European Tour appearances since Martin Kaymer (Germany) in 2010. He won the US PGA Championship, KLM Open and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship). He becomes only the fourth European Tour Member to win four or more Major Championships, after Sir Nick Faldo (England) (six), Seve Ballesteros (Spain) (five) and Ernie Els (RSA) (four). This victory means European Tour Members have won three of the four Majors in 2014. They are: Martin Kaymer (Germany) (US Open Championship), Rory McIlroy (NIR) (The 143rd Open Championship and US PGA Championship). This is the first time since the 2011 season that European Tour Members have won three of the four Majors in the same season. It is the first time since The European Tour’s first season in 1972 that Europeans’ have won three consecutive Major Championships. Since Rory McIlroy (NIR) won the 2011 US Open Championship, European Tour Members have won eight of the last 15 Major Championships.

He has now won four of his last seven European Tour events. He has won all four of his Major titles when leading going into the final round. He becomes the fifth European Tour victory in the US PGA Championship since 2008. They are: Padraig Harrington (Ireland) (2008), Y E Yang (South Korea) (2009), Martin Kaymer (Germany) (2010), Rory McIlroy (NIR) (2012 and 2014). He becomes only the eighth European-born victory in the US PGA Championship. He joins Jim Barnes (England) (1916, 1919) as the only other European-born player to win two US PGA Championship titles. At aged 25 years and 98 days becomes the youngest European Tour Member to win four Majors. It was the 49th Major Championship victory by a European Tour Member since 1979. Northern Ireland have now won six of the last 19 Major Championships, dating back to Graeme McDowell (NIR) at the 2010 US Open Championship. Four to Rory McIlroy (NIR), and one each to Graeme McDowell (NIR) and Darren Clarke (NIR). It was the sixth of his nine European Tour titles where he has led or shared the lead going into the final round. It was the 14th time this season where the 54 hole leader has gone onto win. It was the 32nd time the 54 hole leader has gone onto win the US PGA Championship since it became stroke play in 1958. He became the 12th player in European Tour history to win four official events in a single season. It was the 54th Northern Irish win in European Tour history. It was the fifth Northern Irish victory of the season. They are: Rory McIlroy (NIR) (BMW PGA Championship, The 143rd Open Championship, WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and US PGA Championship) and Graeme McDowell (NIR) (Alstom Open de France). He moves over €21 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings. He moves to 534.26 in The Ryder Cup World Points List. And finally it was his 15th victory as a professional.

Rory McILroy (NIR) holds the Wanamaker Trophy aloft for winning the 96th PGA Championship!!

Rory McILroy (NIR) has been playing the USPGA Tour Fulltime for the last three season’s including this one and in 2012 he won the 2012 Final USPGA Tour Money list with US $8,047,952 earned from the 16 events he played in and that included four wins and one was his second Major Championship win which came at the 2012 USPGA Championship. His 2013 USPGA Tour Season wasn’t so good as he was trying to get used to his new Nike Golf Clubs, he finished in 41st position on the final 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 1,802,443 earned from the 16 events he played in which was poor by his high standards. Here are his nine wins to date on the USPGA Tour so far from the first to the most recent: 2010 Quail Hollow Championship, 2011 U.S. Open (Maiden Major Championship), 2012 The Honda Classic, PGA Championship (Second Major Championship), Deutsche Bank Championship, BMW Championship, 143rd Open Championship (Third Major Championship), WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and the 96th PGA Championship (Fourth Major Championship). So far in his USPGA Tour career he has amassed US $22,125,899 in the 83 events he has played so far in his career. I feel his tenth USPGA Tour win is not very far off and perhaps it will be at the Barclays in two weeks time where he is going for four consecutive wins in a row? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season and his quest to win his maiden FedEx Cup.

Coming in solo second position at 269-15 after 72 holes was Phil Mickelson (USA); he earned US $1,080,000 for his efforts and moved to 33rd position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,119,875 earned from the 18 events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 330 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 42nd position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 921 points earned from the 18 events he has played to date this season so far. From the 18 events he has played to date this season so far he has made 13 cuts and achieved one top ten finish that came at this event. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his final three rounds that were 67-4, 67-4 and 66-5. But he will be disappointed he wasn’t able to win his sixth Major Championship of his career. But he will be extremely happy he was able to lock up his place on the USA Ryder Cup team for the matches in Scotland in late September after finishing in fifth position in the final points standings with 5,510.338 points earned. He will be very pleased he was able to achieve his first top ten of the season and let’s hope be able to carry this amazing form of late into the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Prior to this finish he was having one of the poorest seasons of his USPGA Tour career in a long time. Phil Mickelson (USA) has had an amazing USPGA Tour career which started in 1992 when he first started playing the USPGA Tour fulltime and has easily kept his card every season since and has current career earnings on USPGA Tour of US $75,260,366 from the 504 events he has played so far in his career. And that includes having 42 USPGA Tour wins to date so far in his career which includes five Major Championship titles as well and here they are from the first to the most recent: 1991 Northern Telecom Open.  1993 Buick Invitational of California, The International. 1994 Mercedes Championships.  1995 Northern Telecom Open. 1996 Nortel Open, Phoenix Open, GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic, NEC World Series of Golf.  1997 Bay Hill Invitational, Sprint International.  1998 Mercedes Championships, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.  2000 Buick Invitational, BellSouth Classic, MasterCard Colonial, THE TOUR Championship. 2001 Buick Invitational, Canon Greater Hartford Open.  2002 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Canon Greater Hartford Open.  2004 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Masters Tournament (First Major Championship).  2005 FBR Open, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, BellSouth Classic, PGA Championship (Third Major Championship).  2006 BellSouth Classic, Masters Tournament (Second Major Championship).  2007 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, THE PLAYERS Championship, Deutsche Bank Championship.  2008 Northern Trust Open, Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.  2009 Northern Trust Open, World Golf Championships-CA Championship, THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola.  2010 Masters Tournament (Fourth Major Championship). 2011 Shell Houston Open.  2012 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. 2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open and the 142nd Open Championship (Fifth Major Championship). I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he won his sixth Major Championship in the next few years, and perhaps he will win the FedEx Cup this year as well? He has always been a favourite with the crowds and always Acknowledges all the praise he gets from them. He is known as the modern day Arnold Palmer (USA) in that respect and he also has the same go for broke attitude that Arnold Palmer (USA) had when he was in his prime. He also is very respectful to his opponents and this was shown in the 2012 Ryder Cup Matches which Team USA should have won easily. He was playing Justin Rose (England) in the final day singles matches. He had just narrowly missed chipping in for birdie on the Par three, 17th hole. Justin Rose (England) putted for birdie from just off the green and holed it for the win. He gave Justin Rose (England) great praise where other players wouldn’t have said anything. But if he can’t win one of the four FedEx Cup Playoff events it will be the first season since 2003 that he has failed to win a USPGA Tour Event. I wish Phil Mickelson (USA) all the best for the 2013/14 FedEx Cup Playoffs season. 

Coming in tied for third position at 270-14 after 72 holes was Rickie Fowler (USA); he earned US $580,000 for his efforts and moved to ninth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $3,942,317 earned from the twenty two events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 180 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 15th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,471 points earned from the twenty two events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty two events he has played to date this season so far he has made seven cuts and achieved seven top ten finishes which includes the one here and also his last four straight starts and all four Major Championships he achieved top five finishes with finishing tied for fifth at the Masters Tournament in April, tied for second at the 114th U.S. Open Championship in June, tied for second at the 143rd Open Championship in July and tied for third at the 96th PGA Championship in August. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his last three rounds that were 66-5, 67-4 and 68-3. He will also be very happy he has qualified for the 2014 US Ryder Cup Team where he finished second on the list with 6,733.253 points. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour as a full member since the 2010 season after gaining his card by finishing in tied for 15th position at the 2009 USPGA Tour Final Qualifying School. He has easily kept his card for the next season every season since. He won his maiden USPGA Tour event at the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship so he will be looking for his second win on the USPGA Tour this year but he will have to wait eight months for another chance to win his maiden Major Championship now because the next one is the Masters Tournament in April next year. And going on his form in the Major Championships this year he would be odds on to win his Maiden Major Championship at some stage in the next few years. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season. 

The final player to tie for third position was Henrik Stenson (Sweden); he too earned US $580,000 for his efforts and moved to 46th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings with US $1,731,435 earned from the 12 events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 180 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 67th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 720 points earned from the 12 events he has played to date this season so far. From the 12 events he has played to date this season so far he has made eleven cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his first, third and final rounds this week that were 66-5, 67-4 and 66-5. But he will be disappointed with his second round of 71 even par. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) has been playing the USPGA Tour for the past four season’s fulltime after he gained his full USPGA Tour card by winning the 2009 Players Championship. He had his career best season to date in the 2013 USPGA Tour season. He has now won four USPGA Tour events in his career so far to date and they all have been huge tournaments which include the 2007 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, 2009 THE PLAYERS Championship, 2013 Deutsche Bank Championship and the Tour Championship by Coca - Cola. I feel he is a good enough player to win a Major Championship and it will happen in the next few years and perhaps it will happen at the Masters Tournament next April? Last year he won the 2013 FedEx Cup and he really sent a message to the rest of the professional golf world that he had arrived and will be a real force in the years to come. I feel the way the FedEx Cup is set up now it proves the best player in the four FedEx Cup Playoff Series events will win the FedEx Cup and Henrik Stenson (Sweden) proved that last year. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014/13 season. 

Coming in tied for fifth position at 272-12 after 72 holes was Jim Furyk (USA); he earned US $367,500 for his efforts and moved to fourth position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $4,635,595 earned from the 17 events he has played to date this season  so far. He also earned 115 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to fifth position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 1,851 points earned from the 17 events he has played to date this season so far. From the 17 events he has played to date this season so far he has made 17 cuts and achieved eight top ten finishes which includes the one here. He has also currently made the most money of any player on the USPGA Tour this season without having a win. He will be happy with his first, second and final rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his first and final rounds that were both 66-5. But he will be disappointed with his third round of 72+1 that ruined his chances of winning. He also secured his place on the 2014 US Ryder Cup team by finishing in third position on the list with 6,707.694 points. Jim Furyk (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 1994 season. 2012 was a year of missed chances for him with his narrow misses at winning the US Open Championship and couple of other tournaments. But he hasn’t won on the USPGA Tour since the 2010 THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola and he also won the FedEx Cup that year as well. But he has won 16 tournaments in his USPGA Tour career to date so far and that includes his maiden Major Championship which came at the 2003 US Open Championship. I feel his 17th win will come very soon and maybe it could be in one of the four FedEx Cup Playoff Events that start in two weeks time? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season.

The final player to tied for fifth position was Ryan Palmer (USA); he also earned US $367,500 for his efforts and moved to 30th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $2,202,952 earned from the 19 events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 115 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to twenty eighth position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Money list standings with 1,068 points earned from the 19 events he has played to date this season so far. From the 19 events he has played to date this season so far he has made 16 cuts and achieved six top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his four rounds this week especially his first round 65-6 that had him tied for the lead. It was also his best finish in a Major Championship of his career to date so far. He has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 2004 season and has managed to keep his card or at least semi status on the USPGA Tour for the next season every season since. He has won three events on the USPGA Tour in that time and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2004 FUNAI Classic at the WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort, 2008 Ginn sur Mer Classic and the 2010 Sony Open in Hawaii. I feel his fourth win isn’t too far away and might just coming in the 2013/14 season? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

Rounding out the top ten in tied for seventh position at 273-11 after 72 holes was Victor Dubuisson (France); He earned US $263,000 for his efforts but because he isn’t a current member of the USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings ranking. He also earned 86 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts but because he isn’t a current member of the USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings ranking. From the ten events he has played to date this season so far he has made nine cuts and achieved three top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par especially his final round that was 66-5. He has had a very good last two Major Championships with achieving top ten finishes in both of them. He currently plays the European Tour fulltime and is currently in eighth position on the current 2014 Race to Dubai Money list standings with € 1,458,102 earned from the 14 events he has played to date this season so far. He achieved his maiden win on the 2013 European Tour with winning the Turkish Airlines Open by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. He looks to have a very promising career in front of him with only being 24 years old. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014 season.

Also tied for seventh position was Ernie Els (RSA); he also earned US $263,000 for his efforts and moved to 66th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,353,422 earned from the twenty events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 86 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 85th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 604 points earned from the twenty events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty events he has played to date this season so far he has made 14 cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all under par especially his final round that was 65-6 which was the equal lowest round of the day and the tournament. Ernie Els (RSA) has already won 19 USPGA Tour events in his career and that includes four Major Championships. He is now 44 years of age and turns 45 in mid October entering his twilight years on the USPGA Tour. Perhaps he could win his fifth Major Championship before his career is over? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014 season.  

Also tied for seventh position was Mikko Ilonen (Finland); he also earned US $263,000 for his efforts but because he isn’t a current member of the USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings ranking. He also earned 86 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts but because he isn’t a current member of the USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings ranking. From the five events he has played to date this season so far he has made four cuts and this was his very first top ten finish he has achieved to date this season so far. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s especially his first round of 67-4. He plays the European Tour Fulltime and he is currently in 15th position on the 2014 Race to Dubai Money list with € 1,067,143 earned from the 17 events he has played to date this season so far. He also has won four events on the European Tour with his last one being the Irish Open in June this year. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2014 season.

Also tied for seventh position was Hunter Mahan (USA); he also earned US $263,000 for his efforts and moved to 57th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Money list standings with US $1,480,503 earned from the twenty one events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 86 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 59th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 776 points earned from the twenty one events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty one events he has played to date this season so far he has made 15 cuts and achieved five top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all at par or under par especially his third round which was 65-6 and the equal low round of the Championship. It was also his seventh top ten finish in a Major Championship of his career to date. Hunter Mahan (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour for the last nine seasons and has easily kept his card for the next season every season since except for the 2005 season where he had to go back the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he finished in tied for ninth position and gained his full USPGA Tour status back for the 2006 season. He has current career earnings on the USPGA Tour of US $26,239,560 earned from the 302 events he has played in his career to date so far. He has also won five events on the USPGA Tour so far and here they are from the first to the most recent: 2007 Travelers Championship, 2010 Waste Management Phoenix Open, World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, 2012 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship and the Shell Houston Open. I feel his sixth win on the USPGA Tour isn’t too far off and perhaps it will happen in 2013/14 season? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

Also tied for seventh position was Steve Stricker (USA); he also earned US $263,000 for his efforts and moved to 78th position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $1,154,747 earned from the eleven events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 86 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and moved to 99th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list standings with 519 points earned from the eleven events he has played to date this season so far. From the eleventh events he has played to date this season so far he has made eleven cuts and achieved two top ten finishes which includes the one here. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all in the 60s. It was his 12th top ten finish in a Major Championship to date so far in his career. He has been playing the USPGA Tour fulltime since the 1994 season and in that time he has achieved 12 wins on the USPGA Tour with his last coming at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in 2012 and he also owned his home town championship the John Deere Classic when he won it three straight years in a row from 2009-2011. He has also performed well in the Major Championships over the years with his best finish being solo second in the 1998 PGA Championship. Now at age 47 he is in the twilight years on the USPGA Tour and has cut back on his playing schedule to spend more time with his family. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season.  

The final player to tie for seventh position was Jimmy Walker (USA); he also earned US $263,000 for his efforts and moved to second position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $5,337,340 earned from the twenty three events he has played to date this season so far. He also earned 86 FedEx Cup Points for his efforts and fell to second position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points standings list with 2,493 points earned from the twenty three events he has played to date this season so far. From the twenty three events he has played to date this season so far he has made twenty cuts and achieved nine top ten finishes which includes the one here and also his three wins with his maiden USPGA Tour win that came at the Frys.com Open in mid October last year and his second win at the Sony Open in Hawaii in early January and his third win in early February at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro – Am. He has now achieved three top ten finishes in Major Championships to date so far in his career and they have all come in 2014. He will be happy with his four rounds this week that were all at par and under par and especially his final round 65-6 that equalled the low round of the tournament. His play he has displayed so far this season on the USPGA Tour proves to me that he is now a real force on the USPGA Tour and also he has qualified for the 2014 Ryder Cup Team for Team USA in late September in Scotland this year with finishing in fourth position on the final standings with 6,111.405 points. Jimmy Walker (USA) is just having a dream 2013/14 USPGA Tour season with getting three wins already in his first twenty three starts. Jimmy Walker (USA) has been playing on the USPGA Tour fulltime for the last five seasons easily keeping his card each season. In his last two seasons on the USPGA Tour he has made at least one million US dollars in each. This good play will also give him heaps of confidence to know now he truly belongs out here and it shows that all the perseverance and hard work he has put in during his career to date has paid off. I hope he can have many more top five finishes before the season is over and perhaps even win a FedEx Cup Playoff Event? I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

Tiger Woods (USA) in only his fourth tournament back since major back surgery just under four months ago scored a poor first round of 74+3. Then he scored an another poor second round of 74+3 for a 36 hole total of 148+6 and missed the cut by five shots. But it was amazing he could even be in the tournament this week because last week in the final round of the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational he had to withdraw due to reoccurring back spasms that were unrelated from his recent major back surgery. He is currently in 201st position on the current 2013/14 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $108,275 earned from the seven events he played this season. He is also currently in 218th position on the current 2013/14 FedEx Cup points list standings with 45 points earned from the seven events he played this season. From the seven events he played this season he made three cuts and withdrew from one event and achieved no top ten finishes. He will be very disappointed with his two rounds this week that were 74+3. His 2013/14 USPGA Tour season is over now. And it remains to be seen if he is picked as a Captains Pick for Team USA in the Ryder Cup in Scotland in late September? I suspect USA Ryder Cup Captain, Tom Watson (USA) won’t pick him because he needs more time to rehab his back and he will want a player who can play five rounds of golf in three days if required.  I wish him all the best for the 2014/15 USPGA Tour season when he chooses to begin it and it will more than likely be in lately January 2015.

Next week the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to North Carolina for the final regular season event of the 2013/14 FedEx Cup and it is the Wyndham Championship and it is played on the Sedgefield CC, Greensboro, North Carolina. It carries a prize purse of US $5,300,000 for the taking and will be the last chance for USPGA Tour Members to get inside the top 125 players on the final regular season 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list and keep their USPGA Tour card for the 2014/15 season and gain a start the following week in the first FedEx Cup Playoff event which is the Barclays. Patrick Reed (USA) is the defending champion and will be keen to defend his title. Danny Lee (NZL) and Tim Wilkinson (NZL) will also gain starts and hopefully secure and improve their standings inside the top 125 players on the final regular season 2013/14 FedEx Cup Points list and keep their USPGA Tour card for the 2014/15 season and as it appears now they seem safe for the first FedEx Cup Playoff event. It starts on Thursday 14th August 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 second week of his fifth spell of his career and for the 41st week of his career is Rory McILroy (NIR) fresh off his win this past week at the 96th PGA Championship and a week ago won WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and also three weeks ago winning the 143rd Open Championship with 11.27 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Adam Scott (Australia) fresh off his tied for 15th position finish this past week at the 96th PGA Championship with 9.28 Official World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Henrik Stenson (Sweden) who finished in tied for fourth position at the 114th U.S. Open Championship eight weeks ago and also finished tied for second at the BMW International Open and six weeks ago  and also finished in tied for 39th position at the 143rd Open Championship three weeks ago and this past week finished in tied for third position at the 96th PGA Championship with 8.21 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Sergio Garcia (Spain) who is fresh off  his tied for 36th position at the 96th PGA Championship this past week and also finished solo second position one week ago at the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and three weeks ago he tied for second position at the 143rd Open  Championship with 7.75 Official World Ranking Points; and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list this week is Justin Rose (England) who is fresh off his win four weeks ago at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and three weeks ago finished in tied for twenty third position at the 143rd Open Championship and one week ago he finished in tied for fourth position at the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and this past week finished in tied for twenty fourth position in the 96th PGA Championship with 7.45 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Tim Wilkinson (NZL) is in his second week of his second spell being the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the world after his tied for eighth finish at the Barracuda Championship one week ago on the USPGA Tour. This week he gains one place and rises to 243rd position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.74 Official Golf World Ranking Points. 

Remember when it is breezy, swing easy!!

Source: Pgatour.com, Official World Golf Rankings, wikipedia.org, Google search engine, europeantour.com