Well again it
was another exciting weekend on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around
the world. First I will start with the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup and this week
it was in Texas again for the second and final event in the first leg of the
Texas swing and it was the Valero Texas Open and it was played on the JW
Marriott, TPC San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas. And it was the golfer
by the name of Martin Laird (Scotland) who scored rounds of 70-2, 71-1, 70-2
and a brilliant 63-9 in the final round which was a course record for a 72 hole
total of 274-14 and he won by two strokes for his third win of his USPGA Tour
Career. He earned US $1,116,000.00 for the win and moved to 15th position on
the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $ 1,185,200 earned
from the nine events he has played to date this year so far. Tiger Woods (USA)
still leads that list with US $3,787,600 earned from the five events he has
played to date this year so far. Martin Laird (Scotland) also earned 500 FedEx
Cup Points for the win and moved to 18th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup
points list standings with 563 points earned from the nine events he has played
to date this year so far, he is 1,042 points behind the current leader of the
2013 FedEx Cup points list who is Tiger Woods (USA) who has earned 1,605 FedEx
Cup points from the five events he has played to date this year so far. He has
a 323 points lead over Brandt Snedeker (USA) who is in second place and has
currently earned 1,282 points from the seven events he has played to date this
year so far.
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| Martin Laird (Scotland) in action during the final round |
From those nine
events he has played to date so far this year he has made five cuts and this
was his very first top ten finish of the season and it came with this win. Martin
Laird (Scotland) played an awesome final round of 63-9 which included a front
nine 31-5 with birdies on the par five, second hole, par three, third hole, par
four, fifth hole, par four, sixth hole, par four, eighth hole and he made the
turn at minus ten and was tied for the lead. Rory McILroy (NIR) had gone out in
33-3 and made the turn at minus nine and was only one stroke off the lead. Billy
Horschel (USA) had gone out in 36 even par and was at minus ten at the turn and
also tied for the lead. Jim Furyk (USA) had gone out in 36 even par and was
minus eight at the turn and two strokes behind the leaders. Charley Hoffman
(USA) had gone out in 38+2 and was at minus six now four strokes behind the
leaders.
Martin Laird
(Scotland) played holes 10-14 in one under par and moved to minus eleven with
four holes to play and lead by one stroke. Rory McILroy (NIR) played holes
10-14 in one under par and moved to minus ten still one stroke behind the leader.
Billy Horschel (USA) played holes 10-14 in one over par and fell back to minus
nine and now was two strokes behind the leader. Jim Furyk (USA) played holes
10-14 in one under par and moved to minus nine and was still two strokes behind
the leader. Charley Hoffman (USA) played holes 10-14 in two under par and moved
to minus eight now only three strokes behind the leader. Martin Laird
(Scotland) played holes 15-17 in two under par and moved to minus 13 with the
Par five, 72nd hole to play and now had a two stroke lead. Rory McILroy (NIR)
played holes 15-17 in one under par and moved to minus eleven with just the par
five, 72nd hole to play and was now two strokes behind the leader. Billy Horschel
(USA) played holes 15-17 in one under par and moved to minus ten and was now
three strokes behind the leader with just the par five, 72nd hole to play. Jim
Furyk (USA) played holes 15-17 in even par and remained at minus nine with just
the par five, 72nd hole to play and was now four strokes behind the leader. Charley
Hoffman (USA) played holes 15-17 in two under par and moved to minus ten and
now was three strokes behind the leader.
Martin Laird
(Scotland) who was playing about an hour ahead of the final group hit his drive
to the right on the par five, 72nd hole. He then laid up 100 yards short of the
green leaving himself a difficult wedge shot for his third. He now knew he had
to hit the perfect wedge shot to get his ball within 15 feet of the pin that
was tucked on the front right side of the green. If he spun it too much he
would more than likely see his ball roll back off the green into the water. But
he struck a brilliant wedge shot and it landed about twenty feet past the pin
and spun back to within 15 feet of the pin leaving a nice birdie putt. He
calmed his nerve and stuck a perfect putt that fell straight in the cup for his
birdie four and he finished the 72 holes at minus 14, he scored a brilliant
back nine of 32-4. He now had the long wait in the Club house to see if any of
the other players would catch him or even beat him.
Rory McILroy
(NIR) who was playing in the group ahead of the leaders now knew he had to make
a double eagle on the par five, 72nd hole to force a playoff with Martin Laird
(Scotland). He boomed his drive down the fairway with a huge draw and when it
finally came to rest it was measured at 350 yards. He now knew he had to hole
his second shot or settle for second place. He struck a good long iron and it
finished on the green about 45 feet from the pin. Even though he couldn’t win
he knew a birdie could lock up second position for him. He struck his 45 foot
eagle putt with excellent pace to it and it was very close to going in. It came
to rest four feet past the cup and he easily tapped the next putt in for a
birdie four and finished at minus 12 and was two strokes behind the winner. Charley
Hoffman (USA) who was playing in the group behind managed to birdie the same
hole. He finished up at minus eleven after 72 holes and was three strokes
behind the winner.
It was a touch
of anticlimax for the final group playing the 72nd hole with both Jim Furyk
(USA) at minus nine and Billy Horschel (USA) at minus ten knowing there was no
way they could win now. Jim Furyk (USA) who had laid up for his second shot
played an amazing shot for his third with a wedge that landed about five feet
past the pin and spun back in to the cup for an eagle three and he finished up
at minus eleven after 72 holes and three strokes behind the winner. Billy
Horschel (USA) also birdied the par five 72nd hole and he too finished up at
minus eleven after 72 holes also three strokes behind the winner.
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| Martin Laird (Scotland) poses with the Valero Texas Open Trophy he won |
Martin Laird
(Scotland) when interviewed by the NBC Sports/Golf Channel Commentator afterwards
said “Today he just played the best round of his career under the
circumstances, and was very pleased he had qualified to play in next week’s
first major championship of the year which is the Masters Tournament”. He keeps
his record alive of playing in every major championship since the 2010 Open
Championship. He just turned 30 at the end of December last year and I feel his
next few years on the USPGA Tour will be very good years for him as he is right
in the prime of his career. He first qualified for the USPGA Tour in 2007 by
finishing in 13th position on the final 2007 Web.com Tour Money list standings
with US $ 252,679 earned from the 27 events he played in and that gained him
his full USPGA Tour card for the 2008 season. He also became the first non
American player to win on the USPGA Tour this year; the first 14 tournaments
were won by American players. He has kept his card every year since with
earning over US $1million the previous four seasons. He has also won three
USPGA Tour events and that includes this one. The other two were: 2009 Justin
Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and the 2011 Arnold Palmer
Invitational presented by MasterCard. I feel with the confidence he has
gained from this win he could go on the have a very good Masters Tournament
next week. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.
Coming in solo
second position at 276-12 after 72 holes was the Number Two Golfer in the
world, Rory McILroy (NIR); he earned US $669,600.00 for his efforts and moved
to 27th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour money list standings with US $897,504
earned from the five events he has played in to date this year so far. He also
earned 300 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 30th position on the
current 2013 FedEx Cup point’s standings list with 427 points earned from the five
events he has played to date this year so far. From those five events he has
played in to date so far has made four cuts and withdrawn from one and two of
those finishes have been top ten finishes that includes this one. This finish
is his best to date so far on the USPGA Tour with his brand new Nike Golf Clubs
he started using at the end of last year. I feel this finish is just what he
needed heading in to the Masters Tournament where he is going for two straight
Major Championship wins having won the 2012 PGA Championship in such convincing
fashion. He has only been playing on the USPGA Tour Full time on and off since
the 2010 US Open Championship where he won in such convincing fashion and he chose
to take up full USPGA Tour membership for the rest of that year. But in 2011 he
chose to play only the European Tour fulltime and just played the Majors and
WGC Events and a couple of regular USPGA Tour events. In 2012 he again took up
full membership on the USPGA Tour and he won the money list with US $8,047,952 earned
from the 16 events he played in. I hope he has a good Masters Tournament as he
will be right under the microscope of the public eye. He has won six events on
the USPGA Tour to date so far and here they are from the first to the most
recent: 2010 Wells Fargo Championship, 2011 U.S. Open, 2012 The
Honda Classic, PGA Championship, Deutsche Bank Championship and the
BMW Championship. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.
Coming in tied
for third position at 277-11 after 72 holes was Billy Horschel (USA); he earned
US $322,400.00 for his efforts and moved to 14th position on the current 2013
USPGA Tour money list standings with US $1,254,224 earned from the ten events
he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 145 FedEx Cup points for
his efforts and moved to 12th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup point’s
standings list with 145 FedEx Cup points earned from the ten events he has
played to date this year so far. From those ten events he has played in so far
this year he has made every cut and has achieved three top ten finishes that
includes the one here. He also has the current USPGA Tour consecutive cuts-made
streak which he extended to 21 this week. He will be disappointed with not
winning this week as he was in such a good position to do so having held a two
stroke lead after 54 holes. I mentioned in last week’s blog that I feel he will
win his maiden event in the 2013 season on the USPGA Tour. I still feel he
will. He will also be disappointed he never got to play in his maiden Masters
Tournament. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season. Also tied
for third position was Jim Furyk (USA); he too earned US $322,400.00 for his
efforts and moved to 36th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour money list
standings with US $812,432 earned from seven events he has played to date this
year so far. He also earned 145 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to
36th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup points list standings with 400
points earned from the seven events he has played to date this year so far. From
those seven events he has played to date this year so far he has made every
single cut and achieved two top ten finishes. He could be a dark horse for the
Masters Tournament next week which he has performed well in the recent years. Last
year was a year of missed chances for him with his narrow misses at 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. But he
has won 16 tournaments in his USPGA Tour career to date. I feel his 17th win
will come very soon. I wish him all the best for rest of the 2013 season.
The final player
to tie for third position was Charley Hoffman (USA); he too earned US $322,400.00
for his efforts and moved to 51st position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour money
list standings with US $579,236 earned from the eight events he has played to
date this year so far. He also earned 145 FedEx cup points for his efforts and
moved to 60th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup points list standings with
297 points earned from the eight events he has played to date this year so far.
From those eight events he has played in he has made six cuts and achieved two
top ten finishes that includes this one. He has won at least US $1million the
last four seasons on the USPGA Tour. He has two USPGA Tour events to his name
and they are the 2007 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and the 2010 Deutsche Bank
Championship. Perhaps his third win will come this season?
Coming in solo sixth
position at 279-9 after 72 holes was K. J. Choi (South Korea); he earned US $223,200.00
for his efforts and moved to 54th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money
list standings with US $541,884 earned from the nine events he has played to
date this year so far. He also earned 145 FedEx cup points for his efforts and
moved to 55th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup points list standings with
314 points earned from the nine events he has played to date this year so far. From
those nine events he has played to date this year so far he has made eight cuts
and achieved two top ten finishes that includes this one. He hasn’t won on the
USPGA Tour since the 2011 THE PLAYERS Championship. But he is in good
form heading into the Masters Tournament where he has performed well in the
past with a solo third placing way back in 2004. I wish him all the best for
the rest of the 2013 season.
Coming in tied
for seventh position at 280-8 after 72 holes was Daniel Summerhays (USA); he
earned US $193,233.34 for his efforts
and moved to 95th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings
with US $301,019 earned from the ten events he has played to date this year so
far. He also earned 85 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 99th
position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup point’s standings list with 180 points
earned from the ten events he has played in so far this year. From those ten
events he has played in so far this year he has made six cuts and achieved one
top ten finish that came this week. Last year (2012) was his best year of his
short USPGA Tour career to date so far where he earned US $1,111,522 from the
26 events he played in and that included four top ten finishes with his best
being his tied for fourth at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide
Insurance which was his best finish on the USPGA Tour to date so far. He ended
up finishing in 92nd position on the final 2012 USPGA Tour money list
standings. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season. Also tied
for seventh position was Bob Estes (USA); he too earned US $193,233.34 for his efforts and moved to 68th
position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $463,468
earned from the eight events he has played to date this year so far. He also
earned 85 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 51st position on the
current 2013 FedEx Cup points list standings with 322 points earned from the
eight events he has played to date this year so far. From those eight events he
has played to date this year so far he has made seven cuts and this was his
first top ten finish of the year so far. Bob Estes (USA) now at 47 years of age
he has been playing the USPGA Tour for the last 25 years and in that time he
has achieved four wins that included this very tournament in 1994 which was 19
years ago. Here are his four wins on the USPGA Tour from the first to the most
recent: 1994 Texas Open, 2001 FedEx St. Jude Classic, Invensys Classic at
Las Vegas and the 2002 Kemper Insurance Open. He must be one of the most
consistent players on the USPGA Tour over the last 25 years? Now he is less
than three years off his 50 Birthday he will be starting to focus on getting
ready for the Champions Tour. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013
season.
The final player to tie for seventh position was Jeff Overton (USA); he
too earned US $193,233.34
for his efforts and moved to 57th position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money
list standings with US $517,190 earned from the eleven events he has played to
date this year so far. He also earned 85 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and
moved to 54th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup point’s standings list
with 317 points earned from the eleven events he has played to date this year
so far. From those eleven events he has played in so far this year he has made eight
cuts and withdrawn from one. He has also achieved two top ten finishes that
includes the finish here. He has been playing the USPGA Tour now full time
since the 2006 season and is still yet to achieve his maiden USPGA Tour win. He
has finished in second position four times though and three of those came in
his career year to date on the USPGA Tour which was 2010 where he earned US $3,456,356
from the 26 events he played in and finished up in 12th position on the final
2010 USPGA Tour Money list standings. He also made his Ryder Cup debut in 2010
for Team USA. I sure he will achieve his maiden USPGA Tour win very soon,
perhaps it will happen in the 2013 season?
Round out the top ten in tied for tenth position at 281-7 after 72 holes
was Martin Flores (USA); he earned US $155,000.00 for his efforts and moved to 111th
position on the current 2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $238,944
earned from the ten events he has played to date this year so far. He also
earned 70 FedEx Cup points for his efforts and moved to 109th position on the
current 2013 FedEx Cup points list standings with 164 points earned from the
ten events he has played to date this year so far. From those ten events he has
played in so far this year he has made six cuts and this was his first top ten
of the year. He first qualified for the USPGA Tour in 2010 by finishing in solo
fourth position at the 2009 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament. But failed to keep
his card in 2010 and found himself back on the Web.com Tour for the 2011
season. But he found himself back on the USPGA Tour for the 2012 season by
finishing in 24th position on the final 2011 Web.com Tour Money list with US $182,612
earned from the 25 events he played in. In 2012 he had his career year to date
on the USPGA Tour with earning US $1,035,569 earned from the 30 events he
played in and achieved two top ten finishes including his career finish on the
USPGA Tour to date which came at the Greenbrier Classic. Let’s hope he can
retain his full playing status for the 2013/14 USPGA Tour season.
Also tied for tenth position was Padraig Harrington (Ireland); he too
earned US $155,000.00 for his efforts and moved to 72nd position on the current
2013 USPGA Tour Money list standings with US $439,100 earned from the six event
he has played to date this year so far. He also earned 70 FedEx Cup points for
his efforts and moved to 94th position on the current 2013 FedEx Cup points
list standings with 201 points earned from the six events he has played to date
this year so far. From those six events he has played to date this year so far
he has made four cuts and he has achieved two top ten finishes this year to
date that includes this one. Padraig Harrington (Ireland) has already won three
Major Championships in his career to date and they are the 2007 British
Open Championship, 2008 British Open Championship and the 2008 PGA
Championship. Perhaps he could win his fourth Major Championship this week
at the Masters Tournament? The final player to tie for tenth position was Marcel
Siem (Germany); he too earned US $155,000.00 for his efforts but because he
isn’t a current member of the USPGA Tour he doesn’t get a current 2013 Money
list or FedEx Cup ranking. He was playing in this tournament on a sponsor’s
exemption because he won the Trophy Hassan II event last week on the European
Tour and just missed out on a Masters Tournament invitation by finishing in
51st position on the Official World Golf Rankings list when he needed to be in
50th position or better to earn an invite. If he could have won here he would have
got the final invitation to the Masters Tournament. At one stage during his
early stages of the back nine in the final round it was looking like a
possibility because he was within one stroke of the lead, but it just wasn’t to
be. If he keeps his form up over the next two months he should easily be inside
the top 50 in the world rankings that get automatically into the US Open
Championship in mid June. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013
season.
Next week the
European Tour and Race to Dubai and the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup heads to
Augusta for the first Major Championship of the year which is the Masters
Tournament. It is played on the Augusta National GC, Augusta, Georgia, USA. It
is co – sanctioned with all the other Major Professional Golf Tours around the
world. It carries a huge prize purse of US $8,000,000 for the taking. Only the
very best golfers in the world are invited to play in it. Bubba Watson (USA) is
the defending Champion and will be keen to put another green jacket around his
shoulders. It starts on Thursday 11th April. I will report back who won the
green jacket in two weeks time.
The second event
I am reporting on this week was on the Web.com Tour and was the Brasil Classic
Presented by HSBC and it was played on the Sao Paulo Golf Club and it was the
Golfer by the name of Benjamin Alvarado (Chile) who scored rounds of 67-4,
63-8, 66-5 and a final of 69-2 for a 72 hole total of 265-19 and he won by one
stroke for his maiden Web.com Tour win of his career. He won US $121,500.00 for
the win and moved to second position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour Money
list standings with US $ 150,100 earned from the three events he has played to
date this year so far. Edward Loar (USA) currently leads that list with US $ 164,684
earned from the three events he has played to date this year so far. From the
three events Benjamin Alvarado (Chile) has played to date this year so far he
has made two cuts and both of those cuts made have been top ten finishes that
includes this win here.
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| Benjamin Alvarado (Chile) drives off during the final round |
Benjamin
Alvarado (Chile) played a steady final round of 69-2 that included a front nine
34-1 with birdies of the par four, fourth hole and par five, eighth hole but he
made a bogey on the par four, sixth hole. He made the turn at minus eighteen
and had a two stroke lead. Dawie van der Walt (RSA) went out in 32-3 and was at
minus 16 at the turn and two strokes off the lead. Kevin Kim (USA) went out in 34-1
and was at minus 15 at the turn and three strokes off the lead. Benjamin
Alvarado (Chile) played holes 10-17 in one under par and moved to minus 19 with
just the 72nd hole to play and was now only leading by only one stroke. Dawie
van der Walt (RSA) played holes 10-17 in two under par and moved to minus 18
and now was only one stroke off the lead with only the 72nd hole to play. Kevin
Kim (USA) played holes 10-17 in two under par and moved to minus 17 and now was
only two strokes off the lead with just the par four, 72nd hole to play.
Kevin Kim (USA)
made a solid par at the par four, 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes at minus
17 and ended up two strokes behind the winner. Dawie van der Walt (RSA) also made
a solid par at the par four at the 72nd hole and finished the 72 holes at minus
18 and ended up only one stroke behind the winner. Benjamin Alvarado (Chile) made
a solid par four at the 72nd hole and remained at minus 19 after 72 holes to
win by one stroke for his maiden Web.com Tour victory. Benjamin Alvarado
(Chile) has just made a dream start to the 2013 Web.com Tour season and now has
full status on that tour. He is now almost guaranteed of gaining one of the 50
Full USPGA Tour cards that are on offer at the end of the season for the
2013/14 USPGA Tour season. He also became the first player from Chile to win a
Web.com Tour event. I feel he could go on and achieve great things in the rest
of the 2013 Web.com Tour season and I wish him every continuing success.
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| Benjamin Alvarado (Chile) poses with the Brasil Classic Trophy he won |
Coming in solo
second position at 266-18 after 72 holes was Dawie van der Walt (RSA); he
earned US $72,900.00 for his efforts and moved to eight position on the current
2013 Web.com Tour Money list standings with US $72,900 earned from the two
events he has played to date this year so far. He also has full status on the
European Tour for the next two years after winning the Tshwane Open in his
native country of South Africa last month for his maiden European Tour title. So
far this year on the Web.com Tour he has played in two events and made one cut
and achieved one top ten finish that came in this very tournament. He is in his
third full season playing the Web.com Tour full time. I wish him all the best
in his quest of achieving his 2013/14 USPGA Tour card.
Coming in solo
third position at 267-17 after 72 holes was Kevin Kim (USA); he earned US $45,900.00
for his efforts and moved to 15th position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour
Money list standings with US $48,029 earned from the three events he has played
in to date this year so far. From those three events he has played in he has
made two cuts and this is his first top ten of the season to date. He is in his
first full season playing the Web.com Tour and is well on his way to gaining
his 2013/14 USPGA Tour card if he can keep this early hot form up.
Coming in solo
fourth position at 268-16 after 72 holes was Kevin Tway (USA); he earned US $32,400.00
for his efforts and moved to 24th position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour
Money list with US $32,400 earned from the one event he has played to date this
year so far. That was also his first top ten finish of the season to date as
well. He is in his first full season on the Web.com Tour and has got his season
off to a very good start. If he keeps this form up he should easily gain one of
the 50 Full USPGA Tour cards that are on offer for the 2013/14 season. He is
following in the footsteps of his famous Dad, Bob Tway (USA) who played in more
than 680 USPGA TOUR events and recorded eight wins including the 1986 PGA
Championship.
Coming in solo
fifth position at 269-15 after 72 holes was Wes Roach (USA); he earned US $27,000.00
for his efforts and moved to 30th position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour
money list with US $29,758 earned from the two events he has played to date
this year so far. From those two events he has played in he has made both cuts
and achieved one top ten finish that came at this very tournament. He is in his
second full season playing the Web.com Tour and if he keeps up this fine early
form he could well find himself playing on the USPGA Tour in the 2013/14
season. I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.
Coming in tied
for sixth position at 271-13 after 72 holes was Scott Dunlap (USA); he earned
US $21,853.13 for his efforts and moved to 14th position on the current 2013
Web.com Tour Money list standings with US $49,411 earned from the four events
he has played to date this year so far. From those four events he has played in
he has made three cuts and achieved two top ten finishes including this one. He
is in the twilight of his career at 49 years of age and turns 50 on the 16th of
August this year and I feel he will have a great career on the Champions Tour. He
has had a real journeyman career on and off the USPGA Tour and then back on the
Web.com Tour. He has been a Member of the Web.com Tour in 1990, 1998 and
2003-11 and a Member of the PGA TOUR in 1996-97 and 1999-2002 and 2012. I wish
him every continuing success for the rest of the 2013 season. Also tied for
sixth position was Brett Stegmaier (USA); he too earned US $21,853.13 for his
efforts and moved to 19th position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour money list
standings with US $39,346 earned from the five events he has played to date
this year so far. From those five events he has played in so far this year he
has made four cuts and this was his first top ten finish of the season. This is
his very first season playing the Web.com Tour and if he can achieve more top
ten finishes in the coming weeks he may well find himself playing the USPGA
Tour in the 2013/14 season.
Also tied for
sixth position was Brice Garnett (USA); he too earned US $21,853.13 for his
efforts and moved to seventh position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour money
list standings with US $84,223 earned from the five events he has played to
date this year so far. From those five events he has played in he has made
three cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that includes the one here. This
is his fourth straight season playing on the Web.com Tour and with such a good
start to the 2013 season he is a good chance to make the USPGA Tour for the
2013/14 season. The final player to tie for sixth position was Richard S.
Johnson (Sweden); he too earned US $21,853.13 for his efforts and moved to 23rd
position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour money list standings with US $33,472
earned from the five events he has played to date this year so far. From those
five events he has played to date this year so far he has made three cuts and
this was his first top ten finish he has achieved this season to date. This is
his first full season on the Web.com Tour after playing the USPGA Tour full
time from 2003-2012. He won his maiden and only USPGA Tour event to date at the
2008 U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee. If he can maintain this form
throughout the 2013 season he may well find himself back on the USPGA Tour for
the 2013/14 season.
Rounding out the
top ten in tied for tenth position at 272-12 after 72 holes was Michael Putnam
(USA); he earned US $16,200.00 for his efforts and moved to 16th position on
the current 2013 Web.com Tour Money list standings with US $ 47,555 earned from
the five events he has played to date this year so far. From those five events
he has played in he has made four cuts and achieved two top ten finishes that
includes the one here. He has been playing the Web.com Tour Full time since
2006 with the exception of the 2007 and 2011 seasons where he played the USPGA
Tour full time. With such a good start to his 2013 season I am sure his goal is
to get back on the USPGA Tour for the 2013/14 season. Also tied for tenth
position was Oscar Fraustro (Mexico); he too earned US $16,200.00 for his
efforts and moved to 42nd position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour money list
standings with US $22,063 earned from the four events he has played to date
this year so far. From the four events he has played to date this year so far
he has made two cuts and this was his first top ten finish of the season to
date. He is in his first full season of playing the Web.com Tour full time and
I am sure he has his sights set on the USPGA Tour for the 2013/14 season. A few
more top ten finishes in the coming months and he may well just achieve that.
Also tied for
tenth position was Tim Wilkinson (NZL); he scored rounds of 67-4, 67-4, 69-2
and a final round of 69-2 for a 72 hole total of 272-12 after 72 holes. He too
earned US $16,200.00 for his efforts and moved to 22nd position on the current
2013 Web.com Tour money list standings with US $34,006 earned from the two
events he has played to date this year so far. From those two events he has
played to date so far this year he has made two cuts and both of them have been
top ten finishes. He has been playing on the Web.com Tour full time since 2005
with the exception of the 2008 to 2010 seasons where he was playing on the
USPGA Tour full time. His best season on the USPGA Tour was in 2008 where he
played in 29 events and earned US $1,167,607 and finished in 92nd position on
the final 2008 USPGA Tour money list standings. He will be keen to have more
top ten finishes in the 2013 season and if he does he will more than likely
find himself on the USPGA Tour for the 2013/14 season. I wish him all the best
for the remaining events in the 2013 season.
The final player
to tie for tenth position was Danny Lee (NZL); he scored rounds of 65-6, 65-6,
70-1 and a final round of 72+1 for a 72 hole of 272-12. He too earned US $16,200.00
for his efforts and moved to 18th position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour
Money list standings with US $41,048 earned from the five events he has played
to date this year so far. From those five events he has played in he has made
four cuts and this was his second top ten finish he has achieved this season to
date. He has played on the Web.com Tour full time since 2011 season although he
did played eleven events on the USPGA Tour in 2009 after playing in the 2009
Masters Tournament as an Amateur after he won the US Amateur Championship in
2008. Those eleven tournaments were all played on sponsor’s exemptions but he
failed to earn enough money to earn his full playing status for the 2010 USPGA
Tour season. In 2011 he had a brilliant season on the Web.com Tour with making
US $326,100 from the 18 events he played in and that included his maiden win on
the Web.com Tour that came at the WNB Golf Classic and he finished in sixth
position on the final 2011 Web.com Tour Money list standings and gain his 2012
USPGA Tour card for the very first time. But his maiden season on the USPGA
Tour wasn’t so great with only earning US $359,112 from the 26 events he played
in without a single top ten finish and he ended up in 166th position on the
final 2012 USPGA money list standings and that left him with no status at all
for the 2013 USPGA Tour season. He went back to the 2012 PGA TOUR Qualifying
Tournament where he missed getting his card back by one stroke finishing in
tied for 27th position. I feel he has got off to a good start to his 2013
Web.com Tour season and if he continues to have top ten finishes he will easily
finish inside the top 50 money earners and achieve his 2013/14 USPGA Tour card.
I wish him all the best for the rest of the 2013 season.
The other New
Zealander in the field was Steven Alker (NZL); he scored rounds of 67-4, 70-1,
72+1 and an awesome final round of 66-5 for a 72 holes total of 275-9 and he
tied for 17th position. He earned US $8,250.00 for his efforts and moved to
92nd position on the current 2013 Web.com Tour Money list standings with US
$8,250 earned from the one event he has played to date this year so far. He has
played on the Web.com Tour on and off since 2002 win two events that include
the 2002 Louisiana Open and the 2009 HSBC New Zealand PGA
Championship Pres'd by Christchurch. He did have one season full time on
the USPGA Tour in 2003 but failed to keep his card for the following season. In
recent years he has struggled with his game and in 2010 on the Web.com Tour he
played in 21 events and didn’t make a single cut. Let’s hope he can have some
more good finishes in the 2013 season.
Next week the
Web.com Tour heads to Texas for the WNB Golf Classic and it is played on the
Midland CC, Midland, Texas. It carries a good prize purse of US
$600,000 for the taking. Luke Guthrie (USA) is the defending Champion and
although he is on the USPGA Tour in his rookie season he will more than likely
defend his title because he is not got an invitation to play in the Masters
Tournament. It starts on Thursday 11th April 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 626th week of his career in total is the Tiger Woods (USA) who is fresh
off his eighth win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard two
week ago with 11.62 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two
is Rory McILroy (NIR) fresh off his solo second place at the Valero Texas Open with
10.99 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Justin
Rose (England) with 6.91 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at
Number Four is Luke Donald (England) with 6.53 Official Golf World Ranking
Points and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points
list this week is Brandt Snedeker (USA) with 6.20 Official Golf World Ranking
Points. Michael Hendry (NZL) fresh off
his tie for 58th finish at the WGC – Cadillac Championship over a month
ago and winning the NZ PGA Championship for the second straight year the week
prior is the highest ranked New Zealander Golfer in the world for the eighth
straight week of his career. This week he gains one place and moves to 149th
position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 1.14 Official
Golf World Ranking Points.
Remember when it
is breezy, swing easy!!
Source:
pgatour.com, europeantour.com
