We have been talking about this event for a couple of months now and finally the official news has arrived from the LPGA..I have posted their release.
This is a win, win situation. The LPGA has 24 official events and is struggling to fill a full field in at least 8 of them, so following on the excellent example set by the CN Canadian Women's Open, one of the tours strongest sponsors, the LPGA is delighted to come to Canada again with a strong partner in Manulife Financial.
It is also great for the Kitchener -Waterloo area as outlined by Waterloo's mayor Brenda Halloran in the release below.
Finally it is great for our Canadian pros on the LPGA Tour. Although Alena Sharp has been showing steady improvement over the last 2 years in particular, and Lorie just had a solid Wegman's LPGA Championship, I think it's fair to say our 6 regulars, Alena, Lorie, Samantha Richdale, Stephanie Sherlock, Jennifer Shepley and Lisa Meldrum have been struggling to make the cut far too often, so playing at home with the encouragement of the fans should help them and all the other Canadians who will be invited via sponsor's exemption or pre qualifying.
The question from sponsor's is always 'what bang do I get for my buck' and the suits at Manulife have decided, despite the recent state of this planet's economy, that the money they will invest over 3 years (I estimate $15m) will be worth it, Brian Gooding one of their Senior VP's explains why in the release..
LPGA, Manulife Financial, Sports Properties International and Waterloo team up
to bring the world's best female golfers to the Waterloo Region
WATERLOO, Ontario, Canada, June 29, 2011 - The LPGA and Sports Properties International announced today that Manulife Financial (NYSE:MFC), a leading Canadian-based financial services company, has signed a three-year (3) agreement to title sponsor a new LPGA event beginning in 2012. The Manulife Financial LPGA Classic will take place June 18-24, 2012, at Grey Silo Golf Course in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The tournament will feature a standard eligibility field of 144 players and 72 holes of stroke play.
"Manulife Financial and the Waterloo region are a perfect fit with the LPGA," said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. "Manulife is a world wide leader in the financial services sector and like the LPGA it has a global presence that will help build connections to this tournament from around the world. We look forward to bringing the best female golfers on the planet to Grey Silo, and to broadcasting the Manulife Financial Classic to more than 170 countries."
"I can't tell you how thrilled we are to sponsor this exciting new tournament, and to have the opportunity to play an active role in bringing a world-class golf event to Waterloo Region's doorstep," said Brian Gooding, Senior Vice-President, Distribution. "Manulife has employees, customers and advisors in every country represented by the players in this tournament, so that's why this is a perfect fit for us. Waterloo Region has such a strong community spirit of volunteerism - and that's a great fit with Manulife's national signature cause of volunteerism. We're delighted to have this opportunity to bring local people together who will play such a critical role in the success of this event."
Organizers are looking for close to 1,200 volunteers to help make this tournament a success.
The announcement, made today by LPGA Chief Marketing Officer Jon Podany and pros (former and present) Alena Sharp, Samantha Richdale, Beth Bader, Stephanie Sherlock, Sandra Post and Gail Graham in Waterloo, Ontario, comes on the heels of the Wegmans LPGA Championship. The Manulife Financial LPGA Classic adds to a long tradition of the LPGA in Canada, most notably joining the CN Canadian Women's Open, which has been on the LPGA schedule since 1976.
"I am honored that Waterloo and Grey Silo Golf Club have been selected as the location for this event," said Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran. "Hosting the LPGA in our community provides a tremendous economic benefit to our city, and it will showcase some of the best female golfers in the world. We will be working closely with organizers and the neighboring community to ensure that this great event is successful and memorable for all concerned."
"We've been working for the better part of a year to bring this event together," said Sports Properties International CEO and Chairman, Hugh Morrow. "It's been a pleasure to work with the LPGA, Manulife and the region, and we are extremely happy and pleased to bring a tournament of this caliber to the Waterloo region. Canadians are passionate about golf, and we know there will be a lot of excitement around this event every year."
"The Manulife Financial LPGA Classic will work well in the flow of our season and I know the Canadian fans will be just as supportive as they have been at every other event we have played," said Alena Sharp, a native of Hamilton, Ontario. "It's awesome to have a permanent location for a Canadian event right in my backyard."
More than 20 percent of the population in Canada plays golf according to the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) compared to 9 percent of the population in the United States according to the National Golf Foundation (NGF). Females in Canada constitute 29 percent of total golfers, whereas females in the United States make up 21 percent of the golf population.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Yani Tseng wins her 4th major at 22 years of age
I'll be the first to say, I think INCREDIBLE little Yani Tseng, out of Taiwan, via Lake Nonas Orlando, Florida is about to win her 4th major at the tender age of 22..
She is at -18, 10 shots clear of some damn fine women golfers..Look at this list below to see what I mean...She is so far ahead, it's another Rory week..
1 1 TSENG, Yani -18 11 -5 66 70 67 203
2 T16 PETTERSEN, Suzann -8 16 -5 72 72 69 213
T3 T5 LEWIS, Stacy -7 13 -2 69 72 70 211
T3 T2 PRESSEL, Morgan -7 12 +1 69 69 70 208
T5 T9 MUNOZ, Azahara -6 16 -2 70 71 71 212
T5 T9 HURST, Pat -6 16 -2 70 67 75 212
T5 T5 KERR, Cristie -6 13 -1 72 72 67 211
T5 T5 CREAMER, Paula -6 13 -1 67 72 72 211
T9 T16 YANG, Amy -5 17 -2 70 69 74 213
T9 T9 HJORTH, Maria -5 15 -1 71 71 70 212
T9 T2 LACROSSE, Cindy -5 11 +3 70 69 69 208
It's not over, but it is... know what I mean..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
She is at -18, 10 shots clear of some damn fine women golfers..Look at this list below to see what I mean...She is so far ahead, it's another Rory week..
1 1 TSENG, Yani -18 11 -5 66 70 67 203
2 T16 PETTERSEN, Suzann -8 16 -5 72 72 69 213
T3 T5 LEWIS, Stacy -7 13 -2 69 72 70 211
T3 T2 PRESSEL, Morgan -7 12 +1 69 69 70 208
T5 T9 MUNOZ, Azahara -6 16 -2 70 71 71 212
T5 T9 HURST, Pat -6 16 -2 70 67 75 212
T5 T5 KERR, Cristie -6 13 -1 72 72 67 211
T5 T5 CREAMER, Paula -6 13 -1 67 72 72 211
T9 T16 YANG, Amy -5 17 -2 70 69 74 213
T9 T9 HJORTH, Maria -5 15 -1 71 71 70 212
T9 T2 LACROSSE, Cindy -5 11 +3 70 69 69 208
It's not over, but it is... know what I mean..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Garcia / Larrazabal playoff blog live.. Larrazabal wins on 5th playoff hole
europeantour.com : Sergio Garcia and fellow Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal have just birdied their 1st playoff hole the par 5 18th after great drives, towering 3 woods, closely missed eagle putts and tap in birdies..
They are back on the tee now at 18 again.. Garcia's drive carried the water hazard on the corner but finished in the left hand rough. Larrazabal straight down the middle. Larrazabal found the green and Garcia's second was fired out of the tricky lie with a wood, skipped over the bunker into some rough just off the green.Garcia chipped close as Larrazabal laid his putt stone dead so again both players make birdie 4s.
Now off to the par 3 12th
Garcia's tee shot at little long and left and finishes on the fringe. Larrazabal finds the green about 15 feet away. Garcia's putt looked in but lips out. Larrazabal misses 15 footer off to 4th playoff hole, the 17th par 3
Par 3 17th
Garcia hits a great tee shot pin high 15 feet left followed by Larrazabal who's straighter tee shot finishes about 12 behind the hole
Garcia pushes his putt and taps in for a 3. Larrazabal also misses right, hole halved in 3.
par 5 18th again..
Sergio just avoids going in the fairway bunker, Pablo down the middle..
Garcia hits a magnificent 3-Wood from the edge of the bunker and is followed by Larrazabal who leaks his approach a little right but still on the green. Larrazabal lays hit 22 yard putt close to the hole. Garcia's putt shaves the hole but runs a good 4 feet past. Garcia's putt lips out and Larrazabal holes out for victory.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
They are back on the tee now at 18 again.. Garcia's drive carried the water hazard on the corner but finished in the left hand rough. Larrazabal straight down the middle. Larrazabal found the green and Garcia's second was fired out of the tricky lie with a wood, skipped over the bunker into some rough just off the green.Garcia chipped close as Larrazabal laid his putt stone dead so again both players make birdie 4s.
Now off to the par 3 12th
Garcia's tee shot at little long and left and finishes on the fringe. Larrazabal finds the green about 15 feet away. Garcia's putt looked in but lips out. Larrazabal misses 15 footer off to 4th playoff hole, the 17th par 3
Par 3 17th
Garcia hits a great tee shot pin high 15 feet left followed by Larrazabal who's straighter tee shot finishes about 12 behind the hole
Garcia pushes his putt and taps in for a 3. Larrazabal also misses right, hole halved in 3.
par 5 18th again..
Sergio just avoids going in the fairway bunker, Pablo down the middle..
Garcia hits a magnificent 3-Wood from the edge of the bunker and is followed by Larrazabal who leaks his approach a little right but still on the green. Larrazabal lays hit 22 yard putt close to the hole. Garcia's putt shaves the hole but runs a good 4 feet past. Garcia's putt lips out and Larrazabal holes out for victory.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Sunday's stories...Tseng set to win 4th major..
LPGA Tour
Yani Tseng seems set to win her 4th major later today at the Wegmans LPGA in Rochester with her 5 shot lead at 203 over Cindy Lacrosse and Morgan Pressel. Last year Cristie Kerr who is T5, 8 shots back won this event by 12... Shades of Rory McIlroy !!..
Lorie Kane is T50, 218...73,72,73
For full scoreboard click on LPGA Tour
1 TSENG, Yani -13 2:40 PM 66 70 67 203
T2 T2 LACROSSE, Cindy -8 2:40 PM 70 69 69 208
T2 T2 PRESSEL, Morgan -8 2:32 PM 69 69 70 208
4 4 PARK, Hee Young -6 2:32 PM 69 69 72 210
T5 T5 KERR, Cristie -5 2:24 PM 72 72 67 211
T5 T5 LEWIS, Stacy -5 2:24 PM 69 72 70 211
T5 T5 CREAMER, Paula -5 2:16 PM 67 72 72 211
T5 T5 LEE, Meena -5 2:16 PM 68 73 70 211
T9 T9 FUTCHER, Katie -4 2:08 PM 75 68 69 212
T9 T9 MIYAZATO, Mika -4 2:08 PM 72 72 68 212
T9 T9 HJORTH, Maria -4 1:52 PM 71 71 70 212
T9 T9 KIM, I.K. -4 1:52 PM 73 70 69 212
T9 T9 MUNOZ, Azahara -4 1:44 PM 70 71 71 212
T9 T9 UEDA, Momoko -4 1:44 PM 72 69 71 212
T9 T9 HURST, Pat -4 1:36 PM 70 67 75 212
PGA Tour
Freddie Jacobson is trying to become the first player since Lee Trevino in the 1974 Greater New Orleans Open to play 72 holes without a bogey. But he'd be happy just to get the win at the Travelers Championship,TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. His 65,66,63 -16 is good for a slender 1 shot lead over Bryce Molder
Having followed Freddie for years on the European Tour where he has his 3 wins, I can tell you that he can really putt his ball, and so far this River Highlands course's greens aren't fooling him...
Yesterday's story, amateur Patrick Cantley followed his record setting 60, with 72 and is T10, 5 shots back.
David Hearn is T44 66 67 70..-7..
Full scoreboard click PGA Tour
1 4 18 Fredrik Jacobson -16 F -7 color info 65 66 63 194
2 3 51 Bryce Molder -15 F -6 color info 65 66 64 195
3 16 87 James Driscoll -13 F -6 color info 69 64 64 197
T4 26 48 Ryan Moore -12 F -6 color info 64 70 64 198
T4 15 83 John Rollins -12 F -5 color info 65 68 65 198
T4 9 74 Blake Adams -12 F -4 color info 66 66 66 198
T4 1 106 Andres Romero -12 F -3 color info 64 67 67 198
T4 1 11 Webb Simpson -12 F -3 color info 66 65 67 198
T4 1 3 Nick Watney -12 F -2 color info 65 65 68 198
T10 9 103 John Merrick -11 F -4 color info 67 66 66 199
T10 50 68 Kevin Streelman -11 F* -7 color info 66 70 63 199
T10 3 31 Brendan Steele -11 F -3 color info 68 64 67 199
T10 5 96 D.J. Trahan -11 F -2 color info 69 62 68 199
T10 9 -- Patrick Cantlay (a) -11 F 2 color info 67 60 72 199
T10 8 62 Johnson Wagner -11 F 1 color info 65 63 71 199
CHAMPIONS Tour
Mark Wiebe is obviously playing well right now. He won the last Champions Tour event 2 weeks ago in a playoff and today he starts the final round of the Dick's Sportng Goods Championship 65 68 -11 with a 2 shot over John Huston 65 70 -9
(full scoreboard click on PGA Tour)
1 Mark Wiebe SC P 12:30 pm -11 65 68 -- 133
2 John Huston SC P 12:30 pm -9 65 70 -- 135
3 Jay Don Blake SC P 12:30 pm -8 68 68 -- 136
T4 Joey Sindelar SC P 12:20 pm -7 68 69 -- 137
T4 Bobby Wadkins SC P 12:20 pm -7 68 69 -- 137
T4 Nick Price SC P 12:20 pm -7 66 71 -- 137
T4 Hal Sutton SC P 12:10 pm -7 67 70 -- 137
T8 Dick Mast SC P 12:10 pm -6 72 66 -- 138
T8 Ted Schulz SC P 12:10 pm -6 71 67 -- 138
T8 Tim Simpson SC P 12:00 pm -6 71 67 -- 138
T8 Lonnie Nielsen SC P 12:00 pm -6 70 68 -- 138
T8 Peter Jacobsen SC P 12:00 pm -6 67 71 -- 138
T8 John Cook SC P 11:50 am -6 67 71 -- 138
T8 Ronnie Black SC P 11:50 am -6 66 72 -- 138
Canucks...
T22 Jim Rutledge SC P 11:00 am -4 69 71 -- 140
T36 Rod Spittle SC P 10:30 am -2 72 70 -- 142
NATIONWIDE Tour
This Mexico Open has been plagued by rain and most of the field are out on the course this morning completing round 3.. Here is the current leaderboard..
As I mentioned yesterday none of our Canucks made the cut..
T1 T18 Matthew Giles SC -6 13 -11 67 72 -- -- 139
T1 T4 Nicholas Thompson SC -3 9 -11 68 68 -- -- 136
T1 T2 Oscar Fraustro SC -1 9 -11 69 65 -- -- 134
T4 T31 Chris Baker SC -7 17 * -10 69 72 -- -- 141
T4 T8 Richard H. Lee SC -3 10 -10 68 69 -- -- 137
T4 T4 Peter Lonard SC -2 9 -10 66 70 -- -- 136
T7 T13 Kyle Thompson SC -3 13 -9 69 69 -- -- 138
T7 T18 Will Wilcox SC -4 13 -9 69 70 -- -- 139
T7 T13 Erik Compton SC -3 11 -9 68 70 -- -- 138
T7 T8 Jose de Jesus Rodriguez SC -2 10 -9 71 66 -- -- 137
T7 1 Casey Wittenberg SC 4 9 -9 68 63 -- -- 131
I will post a seperate blog on the European Tour currently underway in Germany with Sergio, Retief and Matteo all chasing overnight leader England's Mark Foster..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Yani Tseng seems set to win her 4th major later today at the Wegmans LPGA in Rochester with her 5 shot lead at 203 over Cindy Lacrosse and Morgan Pressel. Last year Cristie Kerr who is T5, 8 shots back won this event by 12... Shades of Rory McIlroy !!..
Lorie Kane is T50, 218...73,72,73
For full scoreboard click on LPGA Tour
1 TSENG, Yani -13 2:40 PM 66 70 67 203
T2 T2 LACROSSE, Cindy -8 2:40 PM 70 69 69 208
T2 T2 PRESSEL, Morgan -8 2:32 PM 69 69 70 208
4 4 PARK, Hee Young -6 2:32 PM 69 69 72 210
T5 T5 KERR, Cristie -5 2:24 PM 72 72 67 211
T5 T5 LEWIS, Stacy -5 2:24 PM 69 72 70 211
T5 T5 CREAMER, Paula -5 2:16 PM 67 72 72 211
T5 T5 LEE, Meena -5 2:16 PM 68 73 70 211
T9 T9 FUTCHER, Katie -4 2:08 PM 75 68 69 212
T9 T9 MIYAZATO, Mika -4 2:08 PM 72 72 68 212
T9 T9 HJORTH, Maria -4 1:52 PM 71 71 70 212
T9 T9 KIM, I.K. -4 1:52 PM 73 70 69 212
T9 T9 MUNOZ, Azahara -4 1:44 PM 70 71 71 212
T9 T9 UEDA, Momoko -4 1:44 PM 72 69 71 212
T9 T9 HURST, Pat -4 1:36 PM 70 67 75 212
PGA Tour
Freddie Jacobson is trying to become the first player since Lee Trevino in the 1974 Greater New Orleans Open to play 72 holes without a bogey. But he'd be happy just to get the win at the Travelers Championship,TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. His 65,66,63 -16 is good for a slender 1 shot lead over Bryce Molder
Having followed Freddie for years on the European Tour where he has his 3 wins, I can tell you that he can really putt his ball, and so far this River Highlands course's greens aren't fooling him...
Yesterday's story, amateur Patrick Cantley followed his record setting 60, with 72 and is T10, 5 shots back.
David Hearn is T44 66 67 70..-7..
Full scoreboard click PGA Tour
1 4 18 Fredrik Jacobson -16 F -7 color info 65 66 63 194
2 3 51 Bryce Molder -15 F -6 color info 65 66 64 195
3 16 87 James Driscoll -13 F -6 color info 69 64 64 197
T4 26 48 Ryan Moore -12 F -6 color info 64 70 64 198
T4 15 83 John Rollins -12 F -5 color info 65 68 65 198
T4 9 74 Blake Adams -12 F -4 color info 66 66 66 198
T4 1 106 Andres Romero -12 F -3 color info 64 67 67 198
T4 1 11 Webb Simpson -12 F -3 color info 66 65 67 198
T4 1 3 Nick Watney -12 F -2 color info 65 65 68 198
T10 9 103 John Merrick -11 F -4 color info 67 66 66 199
T10 50 68 Kevin Streelman -11 F* -7 color info 66 70 63 199
T10 3 31 Brendan Steele -11 F -3 color info 68 64 67 199
T10 5 96 D.J. Trahan -11 F -2 color info 69 62 68 199
T10 9 -- Patrick Cantlay (a) -11 F 2 color info 67 60 72 199
T10 8 62 Johnson Wagner -11 F 1 color info 65 63 71 199
CHAMPIONS Tour
Mark Wiebe is obviously playing well right now. He won the last Champions Tour event 2 weeks ago in a playoff and today he starts the final round of the Dick's Sportng Goods Championship 65 68 -11 with a 2 shot over John Huston 65 70 -9
(full scoreboard click on PGA Tour)
1 Mark Wiebe SC P 12:30 pm -11 65 68 -- 133
2 John Huston SC P 12:30 pm -9 65 70 -- 135
3 Jay Don Blake SC P 12:30 pm -8 68 68 -- 136
T4 Joey Sindelar SC P 12:20 pm -7 68 69 -- 137
T4 Bobby Wadkins SC P 12:20 pm -7 68 69 -- 137
T4 Nick Price SC P 12:20 pm -7 66 71 -- 137
T4 Hal Sutton SC P 12:10 pm -7 67 70 -- 137
T8 Dick Mast SC P 12:10 pm -6 72 66 -- 138
T8 Ted Schulz SC P 12:10 pm -6 71 67 -- 138
T8 Tim Simpson SC P 12:00 pm -6 71 67 -- 138
T8 Lonnie Nielsen SC P 12:00 pm -6 70 68 -- 138
T8 Peter Jacobsen SC P 12:00 pm -6 67 71 -- 138
T8 John Cook SC P 11:50 am -6 67 71 -- 138
T8 Ronnie Black SC P 11:50 am -6 66 72 -- 138
Canucks...
T22 Jim Rutledge SC P 11:00 am -4 69 71 -- 140
T36 Rod Spittle SC P 10:30 am -2 72 70 -- 142
NATIONWIDE Tour
This Mexico Open has been plagued by rain and most of the field are out on the course this morning completing round 3.. Here is the current leaderboard..
As I mentioned yesterday none of our Canucks made the cut..
T1 T18 Matthew Giles SC -6 13 -11 67 72 -- -- 139
T1 T4 Nicholas Thompson SC -3 9 -11 68 68 -- -- 136
T1 T2 Oscar Fraustro SC -1 9 -11 69 65 -- -- 134
T4 T31 Chris Baker SC -7 17 * -10 69 72 -- -- 141
T4 T8 Richard H. Lee SC -3 10 -10 68 69 -- -- 137
T4 T4 Peter Lonard SC -2 9 -10 66 70 -- -- 136
T7 T13 Kyle Thompson SC -3 13 -9 69 69 -- -- 138
T7 T18 Will Wilcox SC -4 13 -9 69 70 -- -- 139
T7 T13 Erik Compton SC -3 11 -9 68 70 -- -- 138
T7 T8 Jose de Jesus Rodriguez SC -2 10 -9 71 66 -- -- 137
T7 1 Casey Wittenberg SC 4 9 -9 68 63 -- -- 131
I will post a seperate blog on the European Tour currently underway in Germany with Sergio, Retief and Matteo all chasing overnight leader England's Mark Foster..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Saturday wrap to come
While I am waiting here is my question....
Who is the world's best golfer ???
* Tiger Woods
* Rory McIlroy
* Yani Tseng
* Luke Donald
* Phil Mickelson
Bryan Angus also at mummmbles@twitter
Who is the world's best golfer ???
* Tiger Woods
* Rory McIlroy
* Yani Tseng
* Luke Donald
* Phil Mickelson
Bryan Angus also at mummmbles@twitter
Big names stalking Foster at BMW in Munich..
Ok what do Mark Foster, Maurice Bembridge and Lee Westwood have in common..?? Lot's of things now that I think of it, but mainly they are all pro golfers from a town called Worksop in the English midlands on the edge of Nottingham Forest, where funnily enough the local eleven are called Nottingham Forest...
Anyhow, Foster who unlike Westwood hasn't won in 8 years shot 66, -14 total today and takes a 2 shot lead into Sunday, with a chance to get into the Open Championship
Question is will that be enough. In a group at -14 are back in form Sergio Garcia with the best round of the day,64 and Retief Goosen, 67. Also Italian sensation Matteo Manessaro,66 is only 4 back.
A top-four finish could give Garcia one of two Open places up for grabs off a mini-money list that has been running on The European Tour for the past month.
As for Swede Henrik Stenson 73, who shared top spot overnight, he put two balls in the water on the long 11th and three-putted for a quadruple bogey 9 before finishing with 3 straight birdies to trail by 5..
Martin Kaymer 72, is 8 shots back.
By the way the 18th is a 568yd par 5. Having hacked my way around Coppinwood recently, and having had several swipes with my hybrid 3 something with very mixed results, none good, it is simply a joy to watch these guys hit driver, then stand up and just obliterate a nicely drawn hybrid 260 yards, to a back right pin, and have it land, check, and roll gently to within 20 feet... God I have to practice..
Back to Munich..it's wide open which should make for a Sunday shoot-out, with lot's at stake
Top 10 leaderboard (complete scoreboard click European Tour)
1 FOSTER, Mark -14 18 -6 68 68 66 - 202
T2 GARCIA, Sergio -12 18 -8 69 71 64 - 204
T2 COLES, Robert -12 18 -7 72 67 65 - 204
T2 GOOSEN, Retief -12 18 -5 68 69 67 - 204
T2 LARRAZÁBAL, Pablo -12 18 -3 68 67 69 - 204
T2 COETZEE, George -12 18 -2 67 67 70 - 204
T7 SLATTERY, Lee -11 18 -6 67 72 66 - 205
T7 STORM, Graeme -11 18 -4 70 67 68 - 205
9 MANASSERO, Matteo -10 18 -6 70 70 66 - 206
T10 KAPUR, Shiv -9 18 -6 70 71 66 - 207
T10 LUITEN, Joost -9 18 -4 70 69 68 - 207
T10 BOND, Liam -9 18 -2 69 68 70 - 207
T10 SALTMAN, Lloyd -9 18 -2 71 66 70 - 207
T10 SLUITER, Tim -9 18 -1 66 70 71 - 207
T10 STENSON, Henrik -9 18 +1 64 70 73 - 207
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummbles
Anyhow, Foster who unlike Westwood hasn't won in 8 years shot 66, -14 total today and takes a 2 shot lead into Sunday, with a chance to get into the Open Championship
Question is will that be enough. In a group at -14 are back in form Sergio Garcia with the best round of the day,64 and Retief Goosen, 67. Also Italian sensation Matteo Manessaro,66 is only 4 back.
A top-four finish could give Garcia one of two Open places up for grabs off a mini-money list that has been running on The European Tour for the past month.
As for Swede Henrik Stenson 73, who shared top spot overnight, he put two balls in the water on the long 11th and three-putted for a quadruple bogey 9 before finishing with 3 straight birdies to trail by 5..
Martin Kaymer 72, is 8 shots back.
By the way the 18th is a 568yd par 5. Having hacked my way around Coppinwood recently, and having had several swipes with my hybrid 3 something with very mixed results, none good, it is simply a joy to watch these guys hit driver, then stand up and just obliterate a nicely drawn hybrid 260 yards, to a back right pin, and have it land, check, and roll gently to within 20 feet... God I have to practice..
Back to Munich..it's wide open which should make for a Sunday shoot-out, with lot's at stake
Top 10 leaderboard (complete scoreboard click European Tour)
1 FOSTER, Mark -14 18 -6 68 68 66 - 202
T2 GARCIA, Sergio -12 18 -8 69 71 64 - 204
T2 COLES, Robert -12 18 -7 72 67 65 - 204
T2 GOOSEN, Retief -12 18 -5 68 69 67 - 204
T2 LARRAZÁBAL, Pablo -12 18 -3 68 67 69 - 204
T2 COETZEE, George -12 18 -2 67 67 70 - 204
T7 SLATTERY, Lee -11 18 -6 67 72 66 - 205
T7 STORM, Graeme -11 18 -4 70 67 68 - 205
9 MANASSERO, Matteo -10 18 -6 70 70 66 - 206
T10 KAPUR, Shiv -9 18 -6 70 71 66 - 207
T10 LUITEN, Joost -9 18 -4 70 69 68 - 207
T10 BOND, Liam -9 18 -2 69 68 70 - 207
T10 SALTMAN, Lloyd -9 18 -2 71 66 70 - 207
T10 SLUITER, Tim -9 18 -1 66 70 71 - 207
T10 STENSON, Henrik -9 18 +1 64 70 73 - 207
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummbles
Weekend story on the Champions and Nationwide Tours..
Champions Tour (click on PGA Tour for complete scoreboard)
At the Dick's Sporting Goods Championship in Endicott NY, John Huston and last week's winner Mark Wiebe both shot -7 65 to lead Nick Price and Ronnie Black (66) by a shot
Canadians...Jim Rutledge is T14 -3 69 and Rod Spittle T44 E 72..
Nationwide Tour (click on PGA Tour for complete scoreboard)
Playing the El Bosque CC at 6800 feet above sea level, bad weather has dogged this event on Thursday and Friday and as a result over half the field will be out at 7.45am this morning to complete round 2..
Aussie Adam Blend and Mexican Oscar Frausto both have completed 2 rounds and are tied at -10 for the lead
The cut is projected at -1 bad news for our 4 Canucks..
Jon Mills 74 73 +3
Bryan DeCorso 73 76 +5
Barrett Jarosch 73,77 +6
Richard T Lee 80, WD..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
At the Dick's Sporting Goods Championship in Endicott NY, John Huston and last week's winner Mark Wiebe both shot -7 65 to lead Nick Price and Ronnie Black (66) by a shot
Canadians...Jim Rutledge is T14 -3 69 and Rod Spittle T44 E 72..
Nationwide Tour (click on PGA Tour for complete scoreboard)
Playing the El Bosque CC at 6800 feet above sea level, bad weather has dogged this event on Thursday and Friday and as a result over half the field will be out at 7.45am this morning to complete round 2..
Aussie Adam Blend and Mexican Oscar Frausto both have completed 2 rounds and are tied at -10 for the lead
The cut is projected at -1 bad news for our 4 Canucks..
Jon Mills 74 73 +3
Bryan DeCorso 73 76 +5
Barrett Jarosch 73,77 +6
Richard T Lee 80, WD..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Amateur Patrick Cantley is the round 2 story in Hartford..
With play suspended due to darkness and round 2 set to resume at 7:00 am this morning with half the field still to finish, UCLA sophmore Patrick Cantlay, all 19 years of him is yet another young man who is taking the PGA Tour by storm.
This year he won the Jack Nicklaus award as the National Player of the Year and was the low amateur at the U.S. Open, where he T21st.
Although they were playing lift, clean and place after the TPC River Highlands course was drenched with heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday, Cantlay's 60 is a course record and the best score of the week by two shots at -13 67,60 127
In his post round interview he said that Rory McIlroy's record setting win at Congressional gave him confidence that someone so young can win on the PGA Tour. He is an extremely laid back young guy who says no matter what happens he will be completing his 4 years at UCLA..
David Hearn is having a fine tourney and is currently T13. I have posted all our Canuck scores below..
Top 10 leaderboard (complete scoreboard click on PGA Tour)
1 32 -- Patrick Cantlay (a) -13 F -10 color info 67 60 127
T2 16 8 Webb Simpson -9 F -5 color info 66 65 131
T2 2 67 Vaughn Taylor -9 F -4 color info 65 66 131
T2 67 77 D.J. Trahan -9 F -8 color info 69 62 131
T2 2 140 Alexandre Rocha -9 F -4 color info 65 66 131
T2 87 Andres Romero -9 5 -3 color info 64 64
T7 11 76 Blake Adams -8 F* -4 color info 66 66 132
T7 43 30 Brendan Steele -8 F -6 color info 68 64 132
T7 3 52 Brian Davis -8 F* -3 color info 65 67 132
T7 26 107 David Mathis -8 F* -5 color info 67 65 132
T7 26 155 Michael Thompson -8 F* -5 color info 67 65 132
T7 3 57 Johnson Wagner -8 8* -3 color info 65 65
Canucks..
T13 5 113 David Hearn -7 F* -3 info 66 67 133
T91 1 123 Stephen Ames -1 6 -1 info 70 70
T91 22 251 Chris Baryla -1 F E info 69 70 139
T104 14 249 Graham DeLaet E 11 E info 70 70
T128 12 233 Matt McQuillan 2 3 -1 info 73 73
By the way the last amateur to win on the PGA Tour was ???.... Phil Mickelson.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
This year he won the Jack Nicklaus award as the National Player of the Year and was the low amateur at the U.S. Open, where he T21st.
Although they were playing lift, clean and place after the TPC River Highlands course was drenched with heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday, Cantlay's 60 is a course record and the best score of the week by two shots at -13 67,60 127
In his post round interview he said that Rory McIlroy's record setting win at Congressional gave him confidence that someone so young can win on the PGA Tour. He is an extremely laid back young guy who says no matter what happens he will be completing his 4 years at UCLA..
David Hearn is having a fine tourney and is currently T13. I have posted all our Canuck scores below..
Top 10 leaderboard (complete scoreboard click on PGA Tour)
1 32 -- Patrick Cantlay (a) -13 F -10 color info 67 60 127
T2 16 8 Webb Simpson -9 F -5 color info 66 65 131
T2 2 67 Vaughn Taylor -9 F -4 color info 65 66 131
T2 67 77 D.J. Trahan -9 F -8 color info 69 62 131
T2 2 140 Alexandre Rocha -9 F -4 color info 65 66 131
T2 87 Andres Romero -9 5 -3 color info 64 64
T7 11 76 Blake Adams -8 F* -4 color info 66 66 132
T7 43 30 Brendan Steele -8 F -6 color info 68 64 132
T7 3 52 Brian Davis -8 F* -3 color info 65 67 132
T7 26 107 David Mathis -8 F* -5 color info 67 65 132
T7 26 155 Michael Thompson -8 F* -5 color info 67 65 132
T7 3 57 Johnson Wagner -8 8* -3 color info 65 65
Canucks..
T13 5 113 David Hearn -7 F* -3 info 66 67 133
T91 1 123 Stephen Ames -1 6 -1 info 70 70
T91 22 251 Chris Baryla -1 F E info 69 70 139
T104 14 249 Graham DeLaet E 11 E info 70 70
T128 12 233 Matt McQuillan 2 3 -1 info 73 73
By the way the last amateur to win on the PGA Tour was ???.... Phil Mickelson.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Tseng seeking 4th major, leads Wegmans LPGA after round 2..
The amazing Yani Tseng from Taiwan via Lake Nona in Orlando posted a -2 70 to hold on to her 1 shot lead at -8 over veteran Pat Hurst -5,67 -7, and a trio of women including Morgan Pressel -3 69 all at -6 at the Locust Hill CC in Rochester
Tseng is seeking her 4th major, and remember she s only 22 years old.
Defending champ Cristie Kerr is T38,72,72 E..
Lorie Kane is the only Canuck to make the cut which fell at +2 and she is T50 +1 73 72 145 and is off at 10.10am today..
CUT SHARP, Alena +3 74 73 147
CUT SHEPLEY, Jessica +4 76 72 148
CUT SHERLOCK, Stephanie +4 74 74 148
CUT MELDRUM, Lisa +7 74 77 151
CUT RICHDALE, Samantha +7 75 76 151
Top 10 leaderboard (complete scoreboard click on LPGA Tour)
1 1 TSENG, Yani -8 2:40 PM 66 70 136
2 2 HURST, Pat -7 2:40 PM 70 67 137
T3 T3 PARK, Hee Young -6 2:31 PM 69 69 138
T3 T3 PRESSEL, Morgan -6 2:31 PM 69 69 138
T3 T3 BLOMQVIST, Minea -6 2:22 PM 69 69 138
T6 T6 YANG, Amy -5 2:22 PM 70 69 139
T6 T6 CREAMER, Paula -5 2:13 PM 67 72 139
T6 T6 LACROSSE, Cindy -5 2:13 PM 70 69 139
9 9 STANFORD, Angela -4 1:55 PM 68 72 140
T10 T10 FENG, Shanshan -3 1:55 PM 75 66 141
T10 T10 RANKIN, Reilley -3 1:46 PM 73 68 141
T10 T10 UEDA, Momoko -3 1:46 PM 72 69 141
T10 T10 JOH, Tiffany -3 1:37 PM 71 70 141
T10 T10 KANG, Jimin -3 1:37 PM 71 70 141
T10 T10 LEWIS, Stacy -3 1:28 PM 69 72 141
T10 T10 MUNOZ, Azahara -3 1:28 PM 70 71 141
T10 T10 LEE, Meena -3 1:19 PM 68 73 141
T10 T10 PRAMMANASUDH, Stacy -3 1:19 PM 68 73 141
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Tseng is seeking her 4th major, and remember she s only 22 years old.
Defending champ Cristie Kerr is T38,72,72 E..
Lorie Kane is the only Canuck to make the cut which fell at +2 and she is T50 +1 73 72 145 and is off at 10.10am today..
CUT SHARP, Alena +3 74 73 147
CUT SHEPLEY, Jessica +4 76 72 148
CUT SHERLOCK, Stephanie +4 74 74 148
CUT MELDRUM, Lisa +7 74 77 151
CUT RICHDALE, Samantha +7 75 76 151
Top 10 leaderboard (complete scoreboard click on LPGA Tour)
1 1 TSENG, Yani -8 2:40 PM 66 70 136
2 2 HURST, Pat -7 2:40 PM 70 67 137
T3 T3 PARK, Hee Young -6 2:31 PM 69 69 138
T3 T3 PRESSEL, Morgan -6 2:31 PM 69 69 138
T3 T3 BLOMQVIST, Minea -6 2:22 PM 69 69 138
T6 T6 YANG, Amy -5 2:22 PM 70 69 139
T6 T6 CREAMER, Paula -5 2:13 PM 67 72 139
T6 T6 LACROSSE, Cindy -5 2:13 PM 70 69 139
9 9 STANFORD, Angela -4 1:55 PM 68 72 140
T10 T10 FENG, Shanshan -3 1:55 PM 75 66 141
T10 T10 RANKIN, Reilley -3 1:46 PM 73 68 141
T10 T10 UEDA, Momoko -3 1:46 PM 72 69 141
T10 T10 JOH, Tiffany -3 1:37 PM 71 70 141
T10 T10 KANG, Jimin -3 1:37 PM 71 70 141
T10 T10 LEWIS, Stacy -3 1:28 PM 69 72 141
T10 T10 MUNOZ, Azahara -3 1:28 PM 70 71 141
T10 T10 LEE, Meena -3 1:19 PM 68 73 141
T10 T10 PRAMMANASUDH, Stacy -3 1:19 PM 68 73 141
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Friday night golf wrap for the BMW in Munich
First of all I miss Jaspreet Mangat who is the glue that holds the Fan590 together and who, when I or anyone has a problem with our computer, solves the problem
Jas here's my problem.. I wrote what I thought was an excellent piece on Yani Tseng and also the rain delayed Travelers, and lost it all after 2 hours !!! piss me off...I can't find it anywhere.. help...!
European Tour
europeantour.com :..Sweden's Henrik Stenson and South African George Coetzee share the lead at the halfway stage of the BMW International Open in Munich.
But they arrived on ten under par by very different routes. Stenson bogeyed his last two holes for a 70, while Coetzee birdied two of his last three for a second successive 67.
"It's never fun to finish with two bogeys, but you gain some, you lose some - sometimes that's the way it is," said Stenson.
The former World Number 4, now 124th on the Official World Golf Ranking after more than two years without a win, had been three clear of the field ."I'm in a good position and I'm feeling very good," he added. "I had to fight a little bit early on, but I managed to stay patient."
T1 STENSON, Henrik* -10 18 -2 64 70 - - 134
T1 COETZEE, George* -10 18 -5 67 67 - - 134
3 LARRAZÁBAL, Pablo -9 18 -5 68 67 - - 135
T4 DREDGE, Bradley* -8 18 -6 70 66 - - 136
T4 SLUITER, Tim* -8 18 -2 66 70 - - 136
T4 KHAN, Simon -8 18 -5 69 67 - - 136
T4 FOSTER, Mark* -8 18 -4 68 68 - - 136
T4 BRIER, Markus -8 18 -3 67 69 - - 136
T9 SALTMAN, Lloyd -7 18 -6 71 66 - - 137
T9 LAWRIE, Peter* -7 18 -4 69 68 - - 137
T9 STORM, Graeme* -7 18 -5 70 67 - - 137
T9 SIEM, Marcel -7 18 -4 69 68 - - 137
T9 BOND, Liam* -7 18 -4 69 68 - - 137
T9 GOOSEN, Retief -7 18 -3 68 69 - - 137
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Jas here's my problem.. I wrote what I thought was an excellent piece on Yani Tseng and also the rain delayed Travelers, and lost it all after 2 hours !!! piss me off...I can't find it anywhere.. help...!
European Tour
europeantour.com :..Sweden's Henrik Stenson and South African George Coetzee share the lead at the halfway stage of the BMW International Open in Munich.
But they arrived on ten under par by very different routes. Stenson bogeyed his last two holes for a 70, while Coetzee birdied two of his last three for a second successive 67.
"It's never fun to finish with two bogeys, but you gain some, you lose some - sometimes that's the way it is," said Stenson.
The former World Number 4, now 124th on the Official World Golf Ranking after more than two years without a win, had been three clear of the field ."I'm in a good position and I'm feeling very good," he added. "I had to fight a little bit early on, but I managed to stay patient."
T1 STENSON, Henrik* -10 18 -2 64 70 - - 134
T1 COETZEE, George* -10 18 -5 67 67 - - 134
3 LARRAZÁBAL, Pablo -9 18 -5 68 67 - - 135
T4 DREDGE, Bradley* -8 18 -6 70 66 - - 136
T4 SLUITER, Tim* -8 18 -2 66 70 - - 136
T4 KHAN, Simon -8 18 -5 69 67 - - 136
T4 FOSTER, Mark* -8 18 -4 68 68 - - 136
T4 BRIER, Markus -8 18 -3 67 69 - - 136
T9 SALTMAN, Lloyd -7 18 -6 71 66 - - 137
T9 LAWRIE, Peter* -7 18 -4 69 68 - - 137
T9 STORM, Graeme* -7 18 -5 70 67 - - 137
T9 SIEM, Marcel -7 18 -4 69 68 - - 137
T9 BOND, Liam* -7 18 -4 69 68 - - 137
T9 GOOSEN, Retief -7 18 -3 68 69 - - 137
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Stenson leads BMW in Munich after round 1..
Earlier this morning Gary Boyd was the clubhouse leader at -7 65, now the afternoon flight has just finished and Henrik Stenson who was -4 through 6 holes, went out in 31 and back in with 33, -8 64 to take a 1 shot lead after round one at a soggy,BMW International in Munich..
You haven't heard from him in a couple of years because he has fallen from 4th in the world to outside the top 130, but he did have a solid week at Congressional and feels like he is getting his form back..
"I don't think you will find a player who's been out here ten to 15 years who has not had some rough times," he said."We all go through ups and downs. I've been struggling with my game a little bit, but it's hard to put my finger on what it's been.
"I played a lot better last week. My confidence is still not as high as it can be, but I'm working away trying to do the things that are going to lead me back"
Sergio is at -3 69, Kaymer and Dustin Johnson -2 70 and Bernhard Langer, still rusty after his lay off due to thumb surgery +4 76
Top 10 leaderboard (complete scoreboard click European Tour)
1 STENSON, Henrik -8 18 -8 64 - - - 64
2 BOYD, Gary* -7 18 -7 65 - - - 65
T3 SLUITER, Tim -6 18 -6 66 - - - 66
T3 WILLETT, Danny* -6 18 -6 66 - - - 66
T3 KRUGER, Jbe* -6 18 -6 66 - - - 66
T3 LAWRIE, Paul -6 18 -6 66 - - - 66
T7 SLATTERY, Lee* -5 18 -5 67 - - - 67
T7 BRIER, Markus* -5 18 -5 67 - - - 67
T9 LARRAZÁBAL, Pablo* -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T9 FOSTER, Mark -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T9 GOOSEN, Retief* -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T9 WATTEL, Romain -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T9 AGUILAR, Felipe* -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
You haven't heard from him in a couple of years because he has fallen from 4th in the world to outside the top 130, but he did have a solid week at Congressional and feels like he is getting his form back..
"I don't think you will find a player who's been out here ten to 15 years who has not had some rough times," he said."We all go through ups and downs. I've been struggling with my game a little bit, but it's hard to put my finger on what it's been.
"I played a lot better last week. My confidence is still not as high as it can be, but I'm working away trying to do the things that are going to lead me back"
Sergio is at -3 69, Kaymer and Dustin Johnson -2 70 and Bernhard Langer, still rusty after his lay off due to thumb surgery +4 76
Top 10 leaderboard (complete scoreboard click European Tour)
1 STENSON, Henrik -8 18 -8 64 - - - 64
2 BOYD, Gary* -7 18 -7 65 - - - 65
T3 SLUITER, Tim -6 18 -6 66 - - - 66
T3 WILLETT, Danny* -6 18 -6 66 - - - 66
T3 KRUGER, Jbe* -6 18 -6 66 - - - 66
T3 LAWRIE, Paul -6 18 -6 66 - - - 66
T7 SLATTERY, Lee* -5 18 -5 67 - - - 67
T7 BRIER, Markus* -5 18 -5 67 - - - 67
T9 LARRAZÁBAL, Pablo* -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T9 FOSTER, Mark -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T9 GOOSEN, Retief* -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T9 WATTEL, Romain -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T9 AGUILAR, Felipe* -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Rory finally brings his trophy home to Holywood..
europeantour.com : Rory McIlroy set his sights on more major glory as he made an emotional return to the golf club where his journey to sporting stardom began.
The 22-year-old record-breaking US Open winner said it was fantastic to be among old friends again as he arrived at Holywood Golf Club in County Down with his trophy tucked tightly under his arm.
McIlroy landed back in Northern Ireland after what he said had been a whirlwind few days following his triumph at Congressional in Maryland.Hailing the sacrifices made by his parents Gerry and Rosie when he was a young golfer trying to make a name for himself, he promised to do all he could to ensure they would enjoy more major victories in the future.
"It's fantastic to be back here to see all my friends, my family," he said."I can't thank my parents enough for what they've done for me and winning the US Open is only a tiny little bit of my appreciation for what they've done, so hopefully there's more trophies for them in the future and more things for us to share and celebrate."
The homecoming event in Holywood came a year after similar euphoric scenes in Portrush, 60 miles up the road, when McIlroy's compatriot and close friend Graeme McDowell won the same tournament.
"Graeme inspired me and gave me a lot of belief that I could do the same thing," McIlroy added."If Graeme hadn't won last year I don't know if I would be standing here talking to you as a major champion."
After spending two hours inside the clubhouse, where the walls are covered with pictures of his triumphs, McIlroy emerged onto the balcony to a rapturous welcome from fans waiting below.He thanked them all for their support over the 15 years he had been a member, even, he joked, when he was a seven-year-old annoying the club professional.
The crowd then broke into a spontaneous verse of Stand up for the Ulsterman - a take on the popular chant of Ulster Rugby, McIlroy's favourite team.At that point the champion's friends popped the champagne corks and drenched him in bubbly, leaving just a little for the club's most famous member to savour.He then walked outside to pose with the famous trophy on the greens he once trod from dawn to dusk as a boy.
McIlroy said he owed the fans one after failing in the last round of the US Masters at Augusta in April, despite going into the final round with a four-stroke lead."The support's been fantastic," he said. "Even before this tournament, at Augusta I knew how much everyone wanted me to win that.It felt like this win was not just for myself, it was for everyone who supported me and all I can say is thank you to everyone who believed in me after what happened at Augusta."
McIlroy, who was accompanied to the club by childhood sweetheart Holly Sweeney, conceded soaring expectations of what he can achieve in the game would be tough to handle."It's going to be difficult," he said. "The first couple of weeks will be a bit of a challenge, but it's a nice position to be in, to have that pressure, to have that expectation."As long I can stay focused on what I need to do, that is play good golf, and let everything else take care of itself, then I'll be okay."
He also said it was too early in his career to think about long-term goals, such as surpassing the 18 major titles won by Jack Nicklaus or the 14 of Tiger Woods.
"I've got my first one out of the way and now I'm looking for my second and that's all I can really do," he said."I can't really put a number on it. I've won one very early on in my career but at the same time I know how hard these things are to win and hopefully I will be able to win more in the future."But 18 majors is an incredible achievement and it would take some very special golf to be able to beat that."
The young pretender to Woods's throne - some dub him the Celtic Tiger - said he looked forward to the US star's return from injury.
"The game of golf is much better with him there," he said."It would be great to go down the stretch with him, it would be something that I would really enjoy. I would enjoy the challenge and it's something that I've dreamt about for a long time
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
The 22-year-old record-breaking US Open winner said it was fantastic to be among old friends again as he arrived at Holywood Golf Club in County Down with his trophy tucked tightly under his arm.
McIlroy landed back in Northern Ireland after what he said had been a whirlwind few days following his triumph at Congressional in Maryland.Hailing the sacrifices made by his parents Gerry and Rosie when he was a young golfer trying to make a name for himself, he promised to do all he could to ensure they would enjoy more major victories in the future.
"It's fantastic to be back here to see all my friends, my family," he said."I can't thank my parents enough for what they've done for me and winning the US Open is only a tiny little bit of my appreciation for what they've done, so hopefully there's more trophies for them in the future and more things for us to share and celebrate."
The homecoming event in Holywood came a year after similar euphoric scenes in Portrush, 60 miles up the road, when McIlroy's compatriot and close friend Graeme McDowell won the same tournament.
"Graeme inspired me and gave me a lot of belief that I could do the same thing," McIlroy added."If Graeme hadn't won last year I don't know if I would be standing here talking to you as a major champion."
After spending two hours inside the clubhouse, where the walls are covered with pictures of his triumphs, McIlroy emerged onto the balcony to a rapturous welcome from fans waiting below.He thanked them all for their support over the 15 years he had been a member, even, he joked, when he was a seven-year-old annoying the club professional.
The crowd then broke into a spontaneous verse of Stand up for the Ulsterman - a take on the popular chant of Ulster Rugby, McIlroy's favourite team.At that point the champion's friends popped the champagne corks and drenched him in bubbly, leaving just a little for the club's most famous member to savour.He then walked outside to pose with the famous trophy on the greens he once trod from dawn to dusk as a boy.
McIlroy said he owed the fans one after failing in the last round of the US Masters at Augusta in April, despite going into the final round with a four-stroke lead."The support's been fantastic," he said. "Even before this tournament, at Augusta I knew how much everyone wanted me to win that.It felt like this win was not just for myself, it was for everyone who supported me and all I can say is thank you to everyone who believed in me after what happened at Augusta."
McIlroy, who was accompanied to the club by childhood sweetheart Holly Sweeney, conceded soaring expectations of what he can achieve in the game would be tough to handle."It's going to be difficult," he said. "The first couple of weeks will be a bit of a challenge, but it's a nice position to be in, to have that pressure, to have that expectation."As long I can stay focused on what I need to do, that is play good golf, and let everything else take care of itself, then I'll be okay."
He also said it was too early in his career to think about long-term goals, such as surpassing the 18 major titles won by Jack Nicklaus or the 14 of Tiger Woods.
"I've got my first one out of the way and now I'm looking for my second and that's all I can really do," he said."I can't really put a number on it. I've won one very early on in my career but at the same time I know how hard these things are to win and hopefully I will be able to win more in the future."But 18 majors is an incredible achievement and it would take some very special golf to be able to beat that."
The young pretender to Woods's throne - some dub him the Celtic Tiger - said he looked forward to the US star's return from injury.
"The game of golf is much better with him there," he said."It would be great to go down the stretch with him, it would be something that I would really enjoy. I would enjoy the challenge and it's something that I've dreamt about for a long time
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Low US Open TV ratings highlight golf coverage dilemma in North America
The recent TV numbers released for Rory McIlroy's magnificent record setting win at Congressional underlines the problem professional golf in the US and those who cover it (CBS,NBC,GC ) continue to face in the absence of Tiger Woods.
For years in this space and on the air with our Fairways Golf Show I have argued the peril involved in putting all of golf's eggs in the Tiger basket, and here is another glaring example.
It is undoubtedly Woods who moves the needle, whether he shoots 64 or 84, he is the express elevator to the ratings penthouse, so all the American suits who make the decisions behind the scenes cannot resist their need to make him, not the event the main story.
Even though the world's best players have been International for 2 years at least, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy need I go on, still get little more than lip service from the mainstream North American media.. Yes they were drooling over Rory's near perfect swing for 4 days at Congressional, but Tiger was at home with the kids...
You really have to listen to Dougie Donnelly, JayA Townsend, Renton Laidlaw, Warren Humphries etal, veteran broadcasters covering the European Tour to get a balanced perspective
According to reports, McIlroy's win was viewed by 5.1 percent of households in the top U.S. television markets. That is more than 25% lower than last year's final-round rating of 6.9, when Tiger was 4th to GMac
When Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach the final-round rating was 8.8 and the highest final-round U.S. rating ever 9.3 was Tiger's win at Bethpage Black in 2002.
There is a very good chance the Tiger we knew and enjoyed will never return even when he gets healthy, even if he finds his game.. His focus in life has changed, he is growing up as a father first, a decent honest responsible man second, and a great golfer third..
To be as dominant as he once was, you cannot have your priorities in that order..
So where does that leave golf ratings, and that is the dilemma facing the major TV networks on this side of the pond, not to mention PGA Tour commish,Tim Finchem as he gets set to renew the PGA Tour's TV contract at the end of this year...
There are plenty of great young American players like Rickie Fowler coming up, and even more like Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Ryo Ishikawa, Matteo Manessero etal around the world who are the future of the game.
The problem golf coverage is facing, and has been even more so since he crashed his cadilllac, is nobody in the States cares when he is not playing, and remember that is for the majority of weeks in the golf season..Is that good for golf ?? I don't think so..
CBS News and Sports president Sean McManus said last year that network officials "must monitor it closely and factor it [ratings and the loss of advertising revenue] in," when they begin negotiating with the Tour for the next TV package. The value has been inflated in recent years because of Tiger."
"The future is murky and unless Tiger gets it back, we may be looking at an interregnum like the period between Jack Nicklaus and Tiger," said Brad Adgate, Senior VP of Research for Horizon Media in New York
SNL Kagan another industry analyst reported The Golf Channel might have lost 20% of its ad revenue last year.
Washington Post columnist Michael Wilbon wrote recently: " People are not interested ... in seeing Tiger fail. They want to see Tiger up there, dominant, at least in contention and when he's not, people don't care."
I disagree with Michael, I think Tiger's off course antics were the most colossal fall from grace of any sporting figure ever, far over shadowing mega stars like Micheal Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Diego Maradona,maybe even Preident Clinton and they obviously propelled him into the larger viewing segment of the general public who never watch golf, but do when he is playing whether in contention or not..
Tiger and the coverage of him has cast a huge shadow. It's time to give all these new young superstars like Rory,and Rickie and Matteo etal, their place in the sun for the sake of the game and those who cover it..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
(quotes from Garry Smits, Florida Times-Union)
For years in this space and on the air with our Fairways Golf Show I have argued the peril involved in putting all of golf's eggs in the Tiger basket, and here is another glaring example.
It is undoubtedly Woods who moves the needle, whether he shoots 64 or 84, he is the express elevator to the ratings penthouse, so all the American suits who make the decisions behind the scenes cannot resist their need to make him, not the event the main story.
Even though the world's best players have been International for 2 years at least, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy need I go on, still get little more than lip service from the mainstream North American media.. Yes they were drooling over Rory's near perfect swing for 4 days at Congressional, but Tiger was at home with the kids...
You really have to listen to Dougie Donnelly, JayA Townsend, Renton Laidlaw, Warren Humphries etal, veteran broadcasters covering the European Tour to get a balanced perspective
According to reports, McIlroy's win was viewed by 5.1 percent of households in the top U.S. television markets. That is more than 25% lower than last year's final-round rating of 6.9, when Tiger was 4th to GMac
When Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach the final-round rating was 8.8 and the highest final-round U.S. rating ever 9.3 was Tiger's win at Bethpage Black in 2002.
There is a very good chance the Tiger we knew and enjoyed will never return even when he gets healthy, even if he finds his game.. His focus in life has changed, he is growing up as a father first, a decent honest responsible man second, and a great golfer third..
To be as dominant as he once was, you cannot have your priorities in that order..
So where does that leave golf ratings, and that is the dilemma facing the major TV networks on this side of the pond, not to mention PGA Tour commish,Tim Finchem as he gets set to renew the PGA Tour's TV contract at the end of this year...
There are plenty of great young American players like Rickie Fowler coming up, and even more like Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Ryo Ishikawa, Matteo Manessero etal around the world who are the future of the game.
The problem golf coverage is facing, and has been even more so since he crashed his cadilllac, is nobody in the States cares when he is not playing, and remember that is for the majority of weeks in the golf season..Is that good for golf ?? I don't think so..
CBS News and Sports president Sean McManus said last year that network officials "must monitor it closely and factor it [ratings and the loss of advertising revenue] in," when they begin negotiating with the Tour for the next TV package. The value has been inflated in recent years because of Tiger."
"The future is murky and unless Tiger gets it back, we may be looking at an interregnum like the period between Jack Nicklaus and Tiger," said Brad Adgate, Senior VP of Research for Horizon Media in New York
SNL Kagan another industry analyst reported The Golf Channel might have lost 20% of its ad revenue last year.
Washington Post columnist Michael Wilbon wrote recently: " People are not interested ... in seeing Tiger fail. They want to see Tiger up there, dominant, at least in contention and when he's not, people don't care."
I disagree with Michael, I think Tiger's off course antics were the most colossal fall from grace of any sporting figure ever, far over shadowing mega stars like Micheal Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Diego Maradona,maybe even Preident Clinton and they obviously propelled him into the larger viewing segment of the general public who never watch golf, but do when he is playing whether in contention or not..
Tiger and the coverage of him has cast a huge shadow. It's time to give all these new young superstars like Rory,and Rickie and Matteo etal, their place in the sun for the sake of the game and those who cover it..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
(quotes from Garry Smits, Florida Times-Union)
Boyd leads the morning flight at BMW International in Munich
Players who drew the early flight at the BMW International Championship in Munich are now finished and it's England's Gary Boyd with an opening -7,65 for a one shot lead over Dutchman Tim Sluiter -6, 66, a European Tour rookie ranked 1,368th in the world.
Boyd had 8 birdies, but made bogey 6 on his final hole, the 540yd par 5 ninth...
Scot George Murray, Englishman Mark Foster and South African Jbe Kruger all shot -5 67 while two-time US Open Champion Retief Goosen is in the group at -4 68..
Sergio Garcia, Matteo Manassero, Henrik Stenson and Bernhard Langer are all in the late flight and will be featured on TV this morning...Stenson is -4 through 6 holes !!
Current leaderboard 9.20am
1 BOYD, Gary* -7 18 -7 65 - - - 65
T2 SLUITER, Tim -6 18 -6 66 - - - 66
T2 WILLETT, Danny* -6 18 -6 66 - - - 66
T2 KRUGER, Jbe* -6 18 -6 66 - - - 66
T5 SLATTERY, Lee* -5 18 -5 67 - - - 67
T5 BRIER, Markus* -5 18 -5 67 - - - 67
T7 LARRAZÁBAL, Pablo* -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T7 FOSTER, Mark -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T7 GOOSEN, Retief* -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T7 WATTEL, Romain -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T7 STENSON, Henrik -4 6 -4 -
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Boyd had 8 birdies, but made bogey 6 on his final hole, the 540yd par 5 ninth...
Scot George Murray, Englishman Mark Foster and South African Jbe Kruger all shot -5 67 while two-time US Open Champion Retief Goosen is in the group at -4 68..
Sergio Garcia, Matteo Manassero, Henrik Stenson and Bernhard Langer are all in the late flight and will be featured on TV this morning...Stenson is -4 through 6 holes !!
Current leaderboard 9.20am
1 BOYD, Gary* -7 18 -7 65 - - - 65
T2 SLUITER, Tim -6 18 -6 66 - - - 66
T2 WILLETT, Danny* -6 18 -6 66 - - - 66
T2 KRUGER, Jbe* -6 18 -6 66 - - - 66
T5 SLATTERY, Lee* -5 18 -5 67 - - - 67
T5 BRIER, Markus* -5 18 -5 67 - - - 67
T7 LARRAZÁBAL, Pablo* -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T7 FOSTER, Mark -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T7 GOOSEN, Retief* -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T7 WATTEL, Romain -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T7 STENSON, Henrik -4 6 -4 -
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Aussie Matthew Goggin dominates Nationwide Tour..
This week the Nationwide Tour moves down south to the Mexico Open Presented by Banamex,Thursday Jun 23 – Sunday Jun 26, 2011at the El Bosque Golf Club, and the field will be relieved to hear that Aussie Matthew Goggin will not make the trip but rather stay at home in Carolina with his wife and 2 kids..
Remember Goggin ?? He was the bearded Aussie, when beards were rare, who was in the final group with Tom Watson at Turnberry, when Tom with a stroke of bad luck, lost the Open Championship at the age of 60 when his perfect 8 iron approach to the final hole took a hard bounce and ran through the green,, resulting in bogey and eventually a playoff loss to Stewart Cink.. Goggin T5..
This year on the Nationwide tour he has won twice, including last week and with the $303,898 he's won so far he's assured of finishing inside the top 25 on the Tour's money list at the end of the season and automatic promotion. One more win and he goes up right away. He has never won on the PGA Tour in 253 career starts, but has four Nationwide Tour wins in his career
5 Canucks have made the trip Richard T Lee, Ted Brown, Jon Mills, Barrett Jarosch and Bryan DeCorso who has been DQ'ed the last 2 weeks, once for signing an incorrect scorecard, and last week for hitting a ball when it was out of bounds.
Mills is currently 20th on the money list, here are the Top 25...
1 1 Mathew Goggin 9 $303,898 2
2 6 Kyle Thompson 9 $188,178 1
3 2 Troy Kelly 7 $187,549
4 3 Steve Wheatcroft 10 $148,515 1
5 4 Ted Potter, Jr. 6 $129,980 1
6 5 Daniel Chopra 8 $126,289 1
7 7 Garth Mulroy 7 $123,065 1
8 8 Brenden Pappas 7 $116,578
9 16 Scott Brown 10 $112,125
10 9 Brett Wetterich 6 $111,997 1
11 10 Ryan Armour 10 $102,665
12 11 Bubba Dickerson 9 $102,131
13 12 Darron Stiles 10 $101,529
14 13 Matt Every 5 $91,392
15 15 Erik Compton 8 $89,709
16 24 Martin Flores 10 $84,837
17 14 Danny Lee 5 $84,336
18 17 Matt Davidson 9 $81,111
19 28 Rob Oppenheim 10 $80,000
20 18 Jon Mills 7 $75,093
21 30 Tommy Biershenk 10 $73,004
22 19 J.J. Killeen 10 $72,984
23 21 Luke List 10 $71,291
24 20 Will Wilcox 4 $69,220
25 25 Andrew Buckle 10 $69,068
The tour will be off for the following 2 weeks..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Remember Goggin ?? He was the bearded Aussie, when beards were rare, who was in the final group with Tom Watson at Turnberry, when Tom with a stroke of bad luck, lost the Open Championship at the age of 60 when his perfect 8 iron approach to the final hole took a hard bounce and ran through the green,, resulting in bogey and eventually a playoff loss to Stewart Cink.. Goggin T5..
This year on the Nationwide tour he has won twice, including last week and with the $303,898 he's won so far he's assured of finishing inside the top 25 on the Tour's money list at the end of the season and automatic promotion. One more win and he goes up right away. He has never won on the PGA Tour in 253 career starts, but has four Nationwide Tour wins in his career
5 Canucks have made the trip Richard T Lee, Ted Brown, Jon Mills, Barrett Jarosch and Bryan DeCorso who has been DQ'ed the last 2 weeks, once for signing an incorrect scorecard, and last week for hitting a ball when it was out of bounds.
Mills is currently 20th on the money list, here are the Top 25...
1 1 Mathew Goggin 9 $303,898 2
2 6 Kyle Thompson 9 $188,178 1
3 2 Troy Kelly 7 $187,549
4 3 Steve Wheatcroft 10 $148,515 1
5 4 Ted Potter, Jr. 6 $129,980 1
6 5 Daniel Chopra 8 $126,289 1
7 7 Garth Mulroy 7 $123,065 1
8 8 Brenden Pappas 7 $116,578
9 16 Scott Brown 10 $112,125
10 9 Brett Wetterich 6 $111,997 1
11 10 Ryan Armour 10 $102,665
12 11 Bubba Dickerson 9 $102,131
13 12 Darron Stiles 10 $101,529
14 13 Matt Every 5 $91,392
15 15 Erik Compton 8 $89,709
16 24 Martin Flores 10 $84,837
17 14 Danny Lee 5 $84,336
18 17 Matt Davidson 9 $81,111
19 28 Rob Oppenheim 10 $80,000
20 18 Jon Mills 7 $75,093
21 30 Tommy Biershenk 10 $73,004
22 19 J.J. Killeen 10 $72,984
23 21 Luke List 10 $71,291
24 20 Will Wilcox 4 $69,220
25 25 Andrew Buckle 10 $69,068
The tour will be off for the following 2 weeks..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
5 Canucks in the Hartford ... eh Travelers Championship
It started in 1952 as the Insurance City Open and since 2007 is on it's 8th title, The Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands, in Cromwell, CT.. It has been sponsored by Sammy Davis, and Canon, Buick and combinations therein...but to me it is simply the Hartford Open...
Now Rory took a tough but soft Congressional apart as we all know, so for those who were in that field the TPC River Highlands may seem like hitting against Nolan Ryan one night, then showing up for your local slo-pitch team the next..
Kenny Perry for example won here in 2009 with a nifty -22, 258, opening with 61 and closing with 63....It is ranked 38th of the tour's 55 courses at par 70, just over 6800 yards
5 Canucks are in the field and all but David Hearn start on the back nine
Stephen Ames 7:56am* info
David Hearn 2:01pm info
Chris Baryla 2:01pm* info
Matt McQuillan 9:02am* info
Graham DeLaet 6:50am*
World #13 Bubba Watson is the highest ranked player in the field..Of the world's top 10 the only one I can see playing in Kaymer, back home in Germany..
Latest World Rankings
1 Luke Donald, Eng 9.06 480.41 53 -116.71 286.56
2 Lee Westwood, Eng 8.80 422.59 48 -172.17 169.81
3 Martin Kaymer, Deu 7.22 353.89 49 -150.01 148.10
4 Rory McIlroy, Nir 7.19 380.93 53 -129.21 202.37
5 Steve Stricker, USA 6.50 266.51 41 -134.93 138.64
6 Phil Mickelson, USA 6.01 270.50 45 -141.70 124.02
7 Matt Kuchar, USA 5.67 295.08 52 -97.82 145.82
8 Graeme McDowell, Nir 5.53 304.12 55 -113.14 83.77
9 Jason Day, Aus 5.47 240.69 44 -49.15 162.30
10 Charl Schwartzel, Zaf 5.24 293.59 56 -76.06 187.89
11 Dustin Johnson, USA 5.11 250.37 49 -91.65 115.95
12 Paul Casey, Eng 4.99 219.57 44 -114.13 68.38
13 Bubba Watson, USA 4.87 228.66 47 -65.98 137.39
14 Ian Poulter, Eng 4.72 245.49 52 -113.67 86.36
15 Nick Watney, USA 4.64 236.54 51 -76.44 147.29
16 K.J. Choi, Kor 4.39 232.59 53 -54.77 147.80
17 Tiger Woods, USA 4.38 175.04 40 -183.02 42.80
18 Robert Karlsson, Swe 4.16 195.49 47 -60.93 69.59
19 Jim Furyk, USA 4.10 196.99 48 -128.64 39.60
20 Hunter Mahan, USA 4.07 215.66 53 -96.40 97.68
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Now Rory took a tough but soft Congressional apart as we all know, so for those who were in that field the TPC River Highlands may seem like hitting against Nolan Ryan one night, then showing up for your local slo-pitch team the next..
Kenny Perry for example won here in 2009 with a nifty -22, 258, opening with 61 and closing with 63....It is ranked 38th of the tour's 55 courses at par 70, just over 6800 yards
5 Canucks are in the field and all but David Hearn start on the back nine
Stephen Ames 7:56am* info
David Hearn 2:01pm info
Chris Baryla 2:01pm* info
Matt McQuillan 9:02am* info
Graham DeLaet 6:50am*
World #13 Bubba Watson is the highest ranked player in the field..Of the world's top 10 the only one I can see playing in Kaymer, back home in Germany..
Latest World Rankings
1 Luke Donald, Eng 9.06 480.41 53 -116.71 286.56
2 Lee Westwood, Eng 8.80 422.59 48 -172.17 169.81
3 Martin Kaymer, Deu 7.22 353.89 49 -150.01 148.10
4 Rory McIlroy, Nir 7.19 380.93 53 -129.21 202.37
5 Steve Stricker, USA 6.50 266.51 41 -134.93 138.64
6 Phil Mickelson, USA 6.01 270.50 45 -141.70 124.02
7 Matt Kuchar, USA 5.67 295.08 52 -97.82 145.82
8 Graeme McDowell, Nir 5.53 304.12 55 -113.14 83.77
9 Jason Day, Aus 5.47 240.69 44 -49.15 162.30
10 Charl Schwartzel, Zaf 5.24 293.59 56 -76.06 187.89
11 Dustin Johnson, USA 5.11 250.37 49 -91.65 115.95
12 Paul Casey, Eng 4.99 219.57 44 -114.13 68.38
13 Bubba Watson, USA 4.87 228.66 47 -65.98 137.39
14 Ian Poulter, Eng 4.72 245.49 52 -113.67 86.36
15 Nick Watney, USA 4.64 236.54 51 -76.44 147.29
16 K.J. Choi, Kor 4.39 232.59 53 -54.77 147.80
17 Tiger Woods, USA 4.38 175.04 40 -183.02 42.80
18 Robert Karlsson, Swe 4.16 195.49 47 -60.93 69.59
19 Jim Furyk, USA 4.10 196.99 48 -128.64 39.60
20 Hunter Mahan, USA 4.07 215.66 53 -96.40 97.68
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Spittle and Rutledge both play this week on Champions Tour..
Rod Spittle and Jim Rutledge who has to Monday qualify or rely on a sponsors exemption are in a strong field at the Dick's Sporting Goods Open,Friday Jun 24 – Sunday Jun 26, 2011,En-Joie GC,Endicott, New York
Rutledge is in the first group at 9.35 with veteran Dick Mast, and Jim Roy who was one of New York states best amateurs with 15 titles, who made it onto the Champions Tour last year via Q school..
Rod Spittle is playing with Masters champion Larry Mize and one of the classiest little South Africans of all time Mark McNulty..
9:35 am Mast, Dick Rutledge, Jim Roy, Jim
9:45 am Chapman, Roger Hatalsky, Morris Lowery, Steve
9:55 am Purtzer, Tom Armour III, Tommy Lu, Chien Soon
10:05 am Thorpe, Jim Allem, Fulton Sutton, Hal
10:15 am Simpson, Tim Blake, Jay Don Black, Ronnie
10:25 am Stadler, Craig Sindelar, Joey Minoza, Frankie
10:35 am Sigel, Jay Morse, John Clampett, Bobby
10:45 am Fernandez, Vicente Peoples, David Brooks, Mark
10:55 am Doyle, Allen Reid, Mike Bean, Andy
11:05 am Irwin, Hale Kite, Tom Simpson, Scott
11:15 am Eger, David Blackmar, Phil Fergus, Keith
11:25 am Hallberg, Gary Schulz, Ted Forsman, Dan
11:35 am Spittle, Rod Mize, Larry McNulty, Mark
11:45 am Frost, David Sluman, Jeff Wadkins, Bobby
11:55 am Browne, Olin Lewis, J.L. Rinker, Lee
12:05 pm Quigley, Dana Ozaki, Joe Pate, Steve
12:15 pm Fleisher, Bruce Senior, Peter Clearwater, Keith
12:25 pm Jenkins, Tom Levi, Wayne Gallagher, Jr., Jim
12:35 pm Jacobsen, Peter McCullough, Mike Beck, Chip
12:45 pm Zoeller, Fuzzy Glasson, Bill Huston, John
12:55 pm Morgan, Gil Mason, James Koch, Gary
1:05 pm Wargo, Tom Calcavecchia, Mark Green, Ken
1:15 pm Wiebe, Mark Roberts, Loren Nielsen, Lonnie
1:25 pm Weibring, D.A. Bryant, Brad Goodes, Mike
1:35 pm Lehman, Tom Cook, John Haas, Jay
1:45 pm Watson, Tom Funk, Fred Price, Nick
1:55 pm Gilder, Bob Thompson, Robert Pernice, Jr., Tom
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Rutledge is in the first group at 9.35 with veteran Dick Mast, and Jim Roy who was one of New York states best amateurs with 15 titles, who made it onto the Champions Tour last year via Q school..
Rod Spittle is playing with Masters champion Larry Mize and one of the classiest little South Africans of all time Mark McNulty..
9:35 am Mast, Dick Rutledge, Jim Roy, Jim
9:45 am Chapman, Roger Hatalsky, Morris Lowery, Steve
9:55 am Purtzer, Tom Armour III, Tommy Lu, Chien Soon
10:05 am Thorpe, Jim Allem, Fulton Sutton, Hal
10:15 am Simpson, Tim Blake, Jay Don Black, Ronnie
10:25 am Stadler, Craig Sindelar, Joey Minoza, Frankie
10:35 am Sigel, Jay Morse, John Clampett, Bobby
10:45 am Fernandez, Vicente Peoples, David Brooks, Mark
10:55 am Doyle, Allen Reid, Mike Bean, Andy
11:05 am Irwin, Hale Kite, Tom Simpson, Scott
11:15 am Eger, David Blackmar, Phil Fergus, Keith
11:25 am Hallberg, Gary Schulz, Ted Forsman, Dan
11:35 am Spittle, Rod Mize, Larry McNulty, Mark
11:45 am Frost, David Sluman, Jeff Wadkins, Bobby
11:55 am Browne, Olin Lewis, J.L. Rinker, Lee
12:05 pm Quigley, Dana Ozaki, Joe Pate, Steve
12:15 pm Fleisher, Bruce Senior, Peter Clearwater, Keith
12:25 pm Jenkins, Tom Levi, Wayne Gallagher, Jr., Jim
12:35 pm Jacobsen, Peter McCullough, Mike Beck, Chip
12:45 pm Zoeller, Fuzzy Glasson, Bill Huston, John
12:55 pm Morgan, Gil Mason, James Koch, Gary
1:05 pm Wargo, Tom Calcavecchia, Mark Green, Ken
1:15 pm Wiebe, Mark Roberts, Loren Nielsen, Lonnie
1:25 pm Weibring, D.A. Bryant, Brad Goodes, Mike
1:35 pm Lehman, Tom Cook, John Haas, Jay
1:45 pm Watson, Tom Funk, Fred Price, Nick
1:55 pm Gilder, Bob Thompson, Robert Pernice, Jr., Tom
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Kaymer and Langer pay tribute to Rory at BMW International
The European Tour stop this week is in Munich, the BMW International featuring Bernhard Langer who is returning after 3 months off due to thumb surgery, Martin Kaymer, who is in the midst of a swing change he insists was necessary ?? and is starting to show some positive signs (T39 last week) and Sergio Garcia whose T7 at Congressional was lost in Rory's glory..
They took a moment today to pay their tribute to Rory...
europeantour.com; Germany’s two Major Champions welcomed the newest member to their elite club today and insisted that European golf should savour Rory McIlroy’s towering achievement at Congressional last week.
Veteran Bernhard Langer and reigning US PGA Champion Martin Kaymer were both transfixed by McIlroy’s victory procession in one of the most demanding weeks of the season and both believe that they were watching something truly special.
Langer, who claimed two Masters green jackets, was one of a quartet occupying the top four places in the Official World Golf Ranking 25 years ago. Now Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Kaymer and McIlroy fill the same positions a quarter of a century later.
“We should savour this. It doesn’t come around too often” said Langer as he prepared for the BMW International Open in Munich. “There was a unique crop of players in the eighties who came along and won Majors and it’s unique again. It’s another generation and I think they benefit from playing each other and beating each other regularly. That’s human nature. They know they can beat them and they know they are just as good and they go out and prove it. For years, there was a drought. Now it’s the opposite.”
Kaymer, who became the first German to win the BMW International Open on home soil three years ago, concurred. He said: “We have the top four spots now and it’s nice. I think it’s something to do with the Europeans playing worldwide and becoming more complete players. We travel a lot and experience everything.
“Watching Rory made me want to practise more. It’s inspirational. If you see somebody playing as well as Rory you want to go out and become a better player.”
Langer admitted: “I was more than impressed watching Rory. It’s not often you see a player shoot these kind of scores in a Major. Rory is a phenomenal talent and has one of the best swings. I talked to Gary Player yesterday and he said: ‘that boy has a better swing that I’ve seen in a long time’. Mark O’Meara said in Dubai four years ago that he was the best 17 year old he’d ever seen.”
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
They took a moment today to pay their tribute to Rory...
europeantour.com; Germany’s two Major Champions welcomed the newest member to their elite club today and insisted that European golf should savour Rory McIlroy’s towering achievement at Congressional last week.
Veteran Bernhard Langer and reigning US PGA Champion Martin Kaymer were both transfixed by McIlroy’s victory procession in one of the most demanding weeks of the season and both believe that they were watching something truly special.
Langer, who claimed two Masters green jackets, was one of a quartet occupying the top four places in the Official World Golf Ranking 25 years ago. Now Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Kaymer and McIlroy fill the same positions a quarter of a century later.
“We should savour this. It doesn’t come around too often” said Langer as he prepared for the BMW International Open in Munich. “There was a unique crop of players in the eighties who came along and won Majors and it’s unique again. It’s another generation and I think they benefit from playing each other and beating each other regularly. That’s human nature. They know they can beat them and they know they are just as good and they go out and prove it. For years, there was a drought. Now it’s the opposite.”
Kaymer, who became the first German to win the BMW International Open on home soil three years ago, concurred. He said: “We have the top four spots now and it’s nice. I think it’s something to do with the Europeans playing worldwide and becoming more complete players. We travel a lot and experience everything.
“Watching Rory made me want to practise more. It’s inspirational. If you see somebody playing as well as Rory you want to go out and become a better player.”
Langer admitted: “I was more than impressed watching Rory. It’s not often you see a player shoot these kind of scores in a Major. Rory is a phenomenal talent and has one of the best swings. I talked to Gary Player yesterday and he said: ‘that boy has a better swing that I’ve seen in a long time’. Mark O’Meara said in Dubai four years ago that he was the best 17 year old he’d ever seen.”
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Monday, June 20, 2011
Rory's Glory..
I am going to blog Rory in for this historic last nine at the US Open, 40 years since Tony Jacklin was the last Brit to win this championship..
10th Rory stuffs it to 6" on the par 3 playing 175yds Makes birdie now -16
11th Great drive..right down the middle...this is the hardest hole on the course.. his approach to 30' just misses.. par 4... ho hum..
12th par 4 471yds... big drive into a fairway bunker....160 from the fairway bunker... fat.. short right... misses right to left putt, 30 footer. par 4
13th 171 yd par 3.. in at 15' missed putt.made par still -16
14th Par 4 453.. knockdown 3 wood center of the fairway.. mid iron..30' par
15th Par 4 490yds Great drive.. 8 iron to 20' Misses birdie par 4 -16
16th doesn't matter. Rory is going to win...!!
Graeme McDowell just finished at -2... the trophy with Rory goes back to NIreland for the 2nd year in a row...European Tour has the last 5 Majors and the Ryder Cup....wow..
So that's how it ended, hours ago, Rory in a romp, winner of the first of what we all hope will be many majors.
My first recollections of watching golf were in 1960 when there was such a fuss about Arnold Palmer coming over to St Andrews to play in the Open, he lost in appalling weather to Kal Nagle. I have watched and covered both as a writer and broadcaster an awful lot since then, and Rory's performance over the last 4 days was as dominating as Tiger was in 2000 at Pebble Beach..
I don't think he will dominate like Tiger did, but I am glad to have a kid with his tremendous talent coming into his prime while I am here to enjoy him.
1 - Rory McIlroy -16 F -2 65 66 68 69 268
2 1 Jason Day -8 F -3 71 72 65 68 276
T3 12 Kevin Chappell -6 F -5 76 67 69 66 278
T3 - Robert Garrigus -6 F -1 70 70 68 70 278
T3 - Lee Westwood -6 F -1 75 68 65 70 278
T3 1 Y.E. Yang -6 F E 68 69 70 71 278
T7 8 Peter Hanson -5 F -4 72 71 69 67 279
T7 1 Sergio Garcia -5 F -1 69 71 69 70 279
T9 18 Charl Schwartzel -4 F -5 68 74 72 66 280
T9 12 Louis Oosthuizen -4 F -4 69 73 71 67 280
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
10th Rory stuffs it to 6" on the par 3 playing 175yds Makes birdie now -16
11th Great drive..right down the middle...this is the hardest hole on the course.. his approach to 30' just misses.. par 4... ho hum..
12th par 4 471yds... big drive into a fairway bunker....160 from the fairway bunker... fat.. short right... misses right to left putt, 30 footer. par 4
13th 171 yd par 3.. in at 15' missed putt.made par still -16
14th Par 4 453.. knockdown 3 wood center of the fairway.. mid iron..30' par
15th Par 4 490yds Great drive.. 8 iron to 20' Misses birdie par 4 -16
16th doesn't matter. Rory is going to win...!!
Graeme McDowell just finished at -2... the trophy with Rory goes back to NIreland for the 2nd year in a row...European Tour has the last 5 Majors and the Ryder Cup....wow..
So that's how it ended, hours ago, Rory in a romp, winner of the first of what we all hope will be many majors.
My first recollections of watching golf were in 1960 when there was such a fuss about Arnold Palmer coming over to St Andrews to play in the Open, he lost in appalling weather to Kal Nagle. I have watched and covered both as a writer and broadcaster an awful lot since then, and Rory's performance over the last 4 days was as dominating as Tiger was in 2000 at Pebble Beach..
I don't think he will dominate like Tiger did, but I am glad to have a kid with his tremendous talent coming into his prime while I am here to enjoy him.
1 - Rory McIlroy -16 F -2 65 66 68 69 268
2 1 Jason Day -8 F -3 71 72 65 68 276
T3 12 Kevin Chappell -6 F -5 76 67 69 66 278
T3 - Robert Garrigus -6 F -1 70 70 68 70 278
T3 - Lee Westwood -6 F -1 75 68 65 70 278
T3 1 Y.E. Yang -6 F E 68 69 70 71 278
T7 8 Peter Hanson -5 F -4 72 71 69 67 279
T7 1 Sergio Garcia -5 F -1 69 71 69 70 279
T9 18 Charl Schwartzel -4 F -5 68 74 72 66 280
T9 12 Louis Oosthuizen -4 F -4 69 73 71 67 280
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Dad gave me my best golf lesson..
Happy Father's Day to all your dad's, imagine what a special one it is for Rory's as he walks the fairways of Congressional watching his son make history..
My dad, Bill is 91 now and touch wood still going strong, if a little more slowly.. Every Saturday morning after Fairways and a workout I started going over to my sister's where he lives to make him a big Scottish breakfast of sausages, bacon and eggs, with a little black pudding, tea and toast, and there is rarely a scrap left..
Back in 1968 my mother had gone back to Scotland for her bi-annual holiday, this time with my younger brother and 2 sisters in tow, so dad and I finally had some time to ourselves to do our favourite thing, play golf.
We could play Parkview, up off Markham road at Steeles for $2.00 after 5pm on Sunday evenings.. the old "twilight ticket".. We'd grab a rickety old pull cart and set off with 2 sets of assorted clubs we'd put together from the sports department at Woolco ( now Walmart) where we both worked part-time.. I use the term "put together" with poetic license if you get my drift..
The idea was to play as many holes as we could before we couldn't see where we'd hit it.
Dad always played in his Sunday clothes that he'd worn to church in the morning, but without the suit jacket and the tie. No golf shoes, his Sunday shiners. He comes from a blue collar golfing family, his brother Kenny was a Scottish amateur champion in his day, so dad has a natural swing and could really hit them, but had no short game because he hardly ever played since he was always working and raising 4 kids He was also the king of the reload.. If he duffed one off the tee, he had the pocket rocket teed up for a 2nd try in a heartbeat..
One Sunday I was playing terribly and we were out at the far end of the course, miles from the car park. I smothered a drive off the heel, almost straight left 30 feet into the bushes, and in a fit of temper I wheeled around a threw my driver off a tree behind the tee, snapping the shaft.
I immediately regretted it, as there was a stony silence from dad. Instead of teeing his ball up, he undid the zipper on his bag, placed his ball and tee in it, picked up my broken club, slowly straightened it, stuck it down where you put your umbrella, grabbed his pull cart and said "let's go"..
I protested, saying I could chip out and still make par etc...He put up his hand and said "you are ruining my day and my round so we are going home"
As we walked he told me that I was a good athlete and had a chance to be a good golfer, but if I ended up like him I would end up working most of my life with just the occasional chance to get out and play, so I might never fulfill my potential. Further if that was the case I'd better enjoy each outing and each good shot and more importantly the company I was with and their games if I was ever going to enjoy golf.....
That was the best lesson I have ever had in not only golf but life, and for those of you who know me helps explain my usually upbeat outlook on life..
I have hardly played in the last 10 years through work and family commitments. I badly injured my back when I was 32 doing squats and have lived with that ever since, and bad backs and good golf do not go together..
However every time I go out, I still feel that thrill when I see and smell the beautiful green grass, and trust me if I could I would spend a year on the practice tee to get my game back to where it once was.. but to be out with the guys, on a nice course, especially playing scramble is about as much fun as I can have..
All because of a lesson in golf and life my father gave me 42 years ago.....
Thanks dad, ...Happy fathers day
Bryan
My dad, Bill is 91 now and touch wood still going strong, if a little more slowly.. Every Saturday morning after Fairways and a workout I started going over to my sister's where he lives to make him a big Scottish breakfast of sausages, bacon and eggs, with a little black pudding, tea and toast, and there is rarely a scrap left..
Back in 1968 my mother had gone back to Scotland for her bi-annual holiday, this time with my younger brother and 2 sisters in tow, so dad and I finally had some time to ourselves to do our favourite thing, play golf.
We could play Parkview, up off Markham road at Steeles for $2.00 after 5pm on Sunday evenings.. the old "twilight ticket".. We'd grab a rickety old pull cart and set off with 2 sets of assorted clubs we'd put together from the sports department at Woolco ( now Walmart) where we both worked part-time.. I use the term "put together" with poetic license if you get my drift..
The idea was to play as many holes as we could before we couldn't see where we'd hit it.
Dad always played in his Sunday clothes that he'd worn to church in the morning, but without the suit jacket and the tie. No golf shoes, his Sunday shiners. He comes from a blue collar golfing family, his brother Kenny was a Scottish amateur champion in his day, so dad has a natural swing and could really hit them, but had no short game because he hardly ever played since he was always working and raising 4 kids He was also the king of the reload.. If he duffed one off the tee, he had the pocket rocket teed up for a 2nd try in a heartbeat..
One Sunday I was playing terribly and we were out at the far end of the course, miles from the car park. I smothered a drive off the heel, almost straight left 30 feet into the bushes, and in a fit of temper I wheeled around a threw my driver off a tree behind the tee, snapping the shaft.
I immediately regretted it, as there was a stony silence from dad. Instead of teeing his ball up, he undid the zipper on his bag, placed his ball and tee in it, picked up my broken club, slowly straightened it, stuck it down where you put your umbrella, grabbed his pull cart and said "let's go"..
I protested, saying I could chip out and still make par etc...He put up his hand and said "you are ruining my day and my round so we are going home"
As we walked he told me that I was a good athlete and had a chance to be a good golfer, but if I ended up like him I would end up working most of my life with just the occasional chance to get out and play, so I might never fulfill my potential. Further if that was the case I'd better enjoy each outing and each good shot and more importantly the company I was with and their games if I was ever going to enjoy golf.....
That was the best lesson I have ever had in not only golf but life, and for those of you who know me helps explain my usually upbeat outlook on life..
I have hardly played in the last 10 years through work and family commitments. I badly injured my back when I was 32 doing squats and have lived with that ever since, and bad backs and good golf do not go together..
However every time I go out, I still feel that thrill when I see and smell the beautiful green grass, and trust me if I could I would spend a year on the practice tee to get my game back to where it once was.. but to be out with the guys, on a nice course, especially playing scramble is about as much fun as I can have..
All because of a lesson in golf and life my father gave me 42 years ago.....
Thanks dad, ...Happy fathers day
Bryan
Round 4 tee times, weather forecast and pro tweets about Rory
As I said on Friday night this weekend is all about watching how Rory would handle his lead, and today is more of that. I thought the 10 foot putt he made for par on #3 yesterday was an early turning point in his round, he settled in nicely after that. As I've said before, Rory has always had a nasty habit of missing 3 and 4 footers when his play starts to slip, it's always a key I look for, although he'll have to miss a bunch today with an 8 stroke lead..
Here are what some of the pros are tweeting..
Graeme_McDowell One word - #wow The golf this guy is playing right now is incredible
PaulAzinger Got to believe last weeks trip to Haiti changed Rory's life and perspective forever. Playing with a purpose other than your own. Go Rory!
PaulAzinger I loved the responses to Rory Q. Thx. I'm back home now and going to watch on TV. let's see if Rory can make history. Rooting for Rory!
Y_E_Yang I made the cut!
henrikstenson Let's see if I can shake off Johan today or if we are going to play together all four days?
IanJamesPoulter So good to wake up with the kids bouncing on the bed. What US Open I'm over it already. I hope Rory finishes it off in find fashion
KennyPerryGolf Can anyone catch Rory?
ogilviej If Rory closes the deal, let the Tiger comparisons begin, if he doesn't, Greg Norman comparisons inevitable. Not terrible either way
There is a 65% chance of bad weather in Washington around 3pm today, although the rain forecast for this morning did not arrive..
Round 4 tee times
9:30 AM Brad Benjamin (a) Wes Heffernan
9:40 AM Alexandre Rocha Todd Hamilton
9:50 AM Justin Hicks J.J. Henry
10:00 AM Sang-Moon Bae Anthony Kim
10:10 AM Christo Greyling Phil Mickelson
10:20 AM Scott Piercy Charley Hoffman
10:30 AM Kevin Streelman Kenichi Kuboya
10:40 AM Luke Donald Bubba Watson
10:50 AM Matteo Manassero Marcel Siem
11:00 AM Adam Hadwin Edoardo Molinari
11:10 AM Ryo Ishikawa Brian Gay
11:20 AM Michael Putnam Jeff Overton
11:30 AM Robert Rock Lucas Glover
11:40 AM William Cauley Gary Woodland
11:50 AM Chez Reavie Retief Goosen
12:00 PM Gregory Havret Robert Karlsson
12:10 PM Johan Edfors Alexander Noren
12:20 PM Padraig Harrington Martin Kaymer
12:30 PM Seung-yul Noh Sunghoon Kang
12:40 PM Dustin Johnson Rory Sabbatini
12:50 PM Ryan Palmer John Senden
1:00 PM Marc Leishman Charl Schwartzel
1:10 PM Bill Haas Do-Hoon Kim
1:20 PM Russell Henley (a) Alvaro Quiros
1:30 PM Louis Oosthuizen Steve Stricker
1:40 PM Harrison Frazar Graeme McDowell
1:50 PM Zach Johnson Brandt Snedeker
2:00 PM Patrick Cantlay (a) Peter Hanson
2:10 PM Kevin Chappell Webb Simpson
2:20 PM Davis Love III Heath Slocum
2:30 PM Brandt Jobe Henrik Stenson
2:40 PM Kyung-tae Kim Bo Van Pelt
2:50 PM Sergio Garcia Matt Kuchar
3:00 PM Robert Garrigus Fredrik Jacobson
3:10 PM Jason Day Lee Westwood
3:20 PM Rory McIlroy Y.E. Yang
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Here are what some of the pros are tweeting..
Graeme_McDowell One word - #wow The golf this guy is playing right now is incredible
PaulAzinger Got to believe last weeks trip to Haiti changed Rory's life and perspective forever. Playing with a purpose other than your own. Go Rory!
PaulAzinger I loved the responses to Rory Q. Thx. I'm back home now and going to watch on TV. let's see if Rory can make history. Rooting for Rory!
Y_E_Yang I made the cut!
henrikstenson Let's see if I can shake off Johan today or if we are going to play together all four days?
IanJamesPoulter So good to wake up with the kids bouncing on the bed. What US Open I'm over it already. I hope Rory finishes it off in find fashion
KennyPerryGolf Can anyone catch Rory?
ogilviej If Rory closes the deal, let the Tiger comparisons begin, if he doesn't, Greg Norman comparisons inevitable. Not terrible either way
There is a 65% chance of bad weather in Washington around 3pm today, although the rain forecast for this morning did not arrive..
Round 4 tee times
9:30 AM Brad Benjamin (a) Wes Heffernan
9:40 AM Alexandre Rocha Todd Hamilton
9:50 AM Justin Hicks J.J. Henry
10:00 AM Sang-Moon Bae Anthony Kim
10:10 AM Christo Greyling Phil Mickelson
10:20 AM Scott Piercy Charley Hoffman
10:30 AM Kevin Streelman Kenichi Kuboya
10:40 AM Luke Donald Bubba Watson
10:50 AM Matteo Manassero Marcel Siem
11:00 AM Adam Hadwin Edoardo Molinari
11:10 AM Ryo Ishikawa Brian Gay
11:20 AM Michael Putnam Jeff Overton
11:30 AM Robert Rock Lucas Glover
11:40 AM William Cauley Gary Woodland
11:50 AM Chez Reavie Retief Goosen
12:00 PM Gregory Havret Robert Karlsson
12:10 PM Johan Edfors Alexander Noren
12:20 PM Padraig Harrington Martin Kaymer
12:30 PM Seung-yul Noh Sunghoon Kang
12:40 PM Dustin Johnson Rory Sabbatini
12:50 PM Ryan Palmer John Senden
1:00 PM Marc Leishman Charl Schwartzel
1:10 PM Bill Haas Do-Hoon Kim
1:20 PM Russell Henley (a) Alvaro Quiros
1:30 PM Louis Oosthuizen Steve Stricker
1:40 PM Harrison Frazar Graeme McDowell
1:50 PM Zach Johnson Brandt Snedeker
2:00 PM Patrick Cantlay (a) Peter Hanson
2:10 PM Kevin Chappell Webb Simpson
2:20 PM Davis Love III Heath Slocum
2:30 PM Brandt Jobe Henrik Stenson
2:40 PM Kyung-tae Kim Bo Van Pelt
2:50 PM Sergio Garcia Matt Kuchar
3:00 PM Robert Garrigus Fredrik Jacobson
3:10 PM Jason Day Lee Westwood
3:20 PM Rory McIlroy Y.E. Yang
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Round 3 underway at a soft, gettable Congressional..
It's hot and muggy at a soft and gettable Congressional. I have posted thhe top ten leaderboard with their tee times.
Of note Webb Simpson is -5 today through 10 holes and if this weather holds up I expect some low scoring, especially since the USGA has moved up some of the tees, like #10 which is only 175 yds today instead of 200+ on Thursday..
2 Canucks made the cut, Adam Hadwin and Wes Heffernan at +4 are in the midst of their 3rd round right now..
Top 10 Leaderboard ( for a complete leaderboard click on PGA Tour on the riight side of this post)
1 - Rory McIlroy -11 3:50 pm ET - 65 66 - - 131
2 - Y.E. Yang -5 3:50 pm ET - 68 69 - - 137
T3 - Matt Kuchar -2 3:20 pm ET - 72 68 - - 140
T3 - Zach Johnson -2 3:30 pm ET - 71 69 - - 140
T3 - Brandt Snedeker -2 3:30 pm ET - 70 70 - - 140
T3 - Sergio Garcia -2 3:40 pm ET - 69 71 - - 140
T3 - Robert Garrigus -2 3:40 pm ET - 70 70 - - 140
T8 48 Webb Simpson -1 10 -5 75 71 - - 146
T8 - Brandt Jobe -1 2:50 pm ET - 71 70 - - 141
T8 - Ryan Palmer -1 2:50 pm ET - 69 72 - - 141
T8 - Davis Love III -1 3:00 pm ET - 70 71 - - 141
T8 - Heath Slocum -1 3:00 pm ET - 71 70 - - 141
T8 - Alvaro Quiros -1 3:10 pm ET - 70 71 - - 141
T8 - Robert Rock -1 3:10 pm ET - 70 71 - - 141
T8 - Kyung-tae Kim -1 3:20 pm ET - 69 72 - - 141
I am going out now with a 'honey do' list so I can get back in time to see Rory around 4pm. Enjoy this beautiful day..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Of note Webb Simpson is -5 today through 10 holes and if this weather holds up I expect some low scoring, especially since the USGA has moved up some of the tees, like #10 which is only 175 yds today instead of 200+ on Thursday..
2 Canucks made the cut, Adam Hadwin and Wes Heffernan at +4 are in the midst of their 3rd round right now..
Top 10 Leaderboard ( for a complete leaderboard click on PGA Tour on the riight side of this post)
1 - Rory McIlroy -11 3:50 pm ET - 65 66 - - 131
2 - Y.E. Yang -5 3:50 pm ET - 68 69 - - 137
T3 - Matt Kuchar -2 3:20 pm ET - 72 68 - - 140
T3 - Zach Johnson -2 3:30 pm ET - 71 69 - - 140
T3 - Brandt Snedeker -2 3:30 pm ET - 70 70 - - 140
T3 - Sergio Garcia -2 3:40 pm ET - 69 71 - - 140
T3 - Robert Garrigus -2 3:40 pm ET - 70 70 - - 140
T8 48 Webb Simpson -1 10 -5 75 71 - - 146
T8 - Brandt Jobe -1 2:50 pm ET - 71 70 - - 141
T8 - Ryan Palmer -1 2:50 pm ET - 69 72 - - 141
T8 - Davis Love III -1 3:00 pm ET - 70 71 - - 141
T8 - Heath Slocum -1 3:00 pm ET - 71 70 - - 141
T8 - Alvaro Quiros -1 3:10 pm ET - 70 71 - - 141
T8 - Robert Rock -1 3:10 pm ET - 70 71 - - 141
T8 - Kyung-tae Kim -1 3:20 pm ET - 69 72 - - 141
I am going out now with a 'honey do' list so I can get back in time to see Rory around 4pm. Enjoy this beautiful day..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
" Let's see what Rory does "..Lee Westwood..
I originally got in on twitter as part of my job in this industry to stay up with everyone else on what pro athletes and insiders were saying, it has become such an instant and entertaining source of information. On the other hand it is just out of control busy, like the DVP with 6 accidents at 8am on a Tuesday morning...If you leave it open for 15 minutes you have 643 new tweets !!
However yesterday I tweeted that "only Rory can beat himself now" when he was up by 8, and immediately received a reply from the great Scottish announcer Dougie Donnelly who knows Rory better than most.." Absolutely not !! there is still far too much golf to be played" and as much as I want Rory to get through this weekend without another of his well documented Sunday blow ups, I think Dougie is right.
Rory can't play any better, but can he maintain this near flawless form. That is the delicious dilema that we are about to see unfold. " the toughest course in the world is the one between your ears " is the old adage, and boy is that ever the case again this weekend..
Here are what the others were saying after Rory's record setting 65,66 -11 131 total and a 6 shot lead..
"Rory is obviously running away with it, so we are pretty much playing for second unless something crazy happens tomorrow," PGA champion Martin Kaymer said. "I hope he wins, though. He's a nice person and he deserves it, especially after the Masters."
"It was Tiger Woods of 11 years ago," Ian Poulter said, referring to Tiger's 15 shot win at Pebble in 2000..
It's crazy, isn't it?" said Steve Stricker. "Pretty incredible what he's done so far."
"We'll see what Rory does."He's had leads before," Lee Westwood said, who's 68 left him 12 shots behind
"He's striking it flawlessly and putted great on the greens," said playing partner Phil Mickelson who shot a 69 to finish at +1 143. "His first two rounds were very impressive."
Just how good was he. Yesterday I posted all the records he has set with his -11, 131 total but think of this..Among those who had finished 36 holes, only seven other players had managed to break par, and no one was within nine shots.
"He's decimated this U.S. Open golf course, and this is no easy test," defending champion Graeme McDowell said. "It's an amazing display of golf."
As for Rory : It's very near the best I can play," he said. It's been two very, very good days of golf,"I put myself in a great position going into the weekend. But I know more than probably anyone else what can happen. So I've got to stay really focused and try and finish this thing off"
For those who asked me here are the all time 36 hole records for all the majors: 130 - Open Championship (Nick Faldo - 1992); 131 - U.S. Open (Rory McIlroy - 2011); 131 - Masters (Ray Floyd - 1976); 131 - PGA Championship (6 times - 2001 most recent
Looking ahead to the weekend
The second round was suspended by darkness, forcing 21 players to return this morning to complete their round. The seven groups still on the course when play was called will resume at 8:15 a.m. ET this morning. The third round is set to begin about 9:50 a.m
He has a six-shot lead over former PGA champion Y.E. Yang (69) -5, Sergio Garcia (71) and Brandt Snedeker (70) finished at -2,140. Also at 140 were Matt Kuchar (68), Robert Garrigus (70) and former Masters champion Zach Johnson (69)
The weather forecast for the weekend and Monday is hot, humid and covered in thunderstorms.. Today, overcast, high of 32*c with thunderstorms and the wind from the NW at 10km/h, so the course will remain much the same with the rain keeping the greens softer, therefore more receptive..
Canucks....Calgary's Wes Heffernan 71, is right on the cut line which was +4 before play was suspended..
Adam Hadwin has 1 hole to play this morning and is at +7 and Jon Mills,73 is also at +7 so they won't be around for the weekend but are in good company, also missing the cut, twice the U.S. Open winner Ernie Els (+6) who sadly 4 putted his first hole,#10 , Rickie Fowler (+5), Nick Watney (+6), and Ian Poulter (+6)
Matthew Richardson of Woodbridge, shot 81 +16..
Top 10 Leaderboard ( for a full scoreboard click on PGA Tour on the right side of this post)1 - Rory McIlroy -11 F -5 65 66 - - 131
2 - Y.E. Yang -5 F -2 68 69 - - 137
T3 7 Robert Garrigus -2 F -1 70 70 - - 140
T3 1 Sergio Garcia -2 F E 69 71 - - 140
T3 19 Zach Johnson -2 F -2 71 69 - - 140
T3 7 Brandt Snedeker -2 F -1 70 70 - - 140
T3 31 Matt Kuchar -2 F -3 72 68 - - 140
T8 4 Kyung-tae Kim -1 F +1 69 72 - - 141
T8 2 Alvaro Quiros -1 F E 70 71 - - 141
T8 2 Robert Rock -1 F E 70 71 - - 141
T8 14 Heath Slocum -1 F -1 71 70 - - 141
T8 2 Davis Love III -1 F E 70 71 - - 141
T8 4 Ryan Palmer -1 F +1 69 72 - - 141
T8 14 Brandt Jobe -1 17* -1 71 - - - 71
Tee times available after round 2 is complete although it will be Rory and YE Yang in the final pairing, the same YE Yang who started 6 shots behind Tiger at the 2009 PGA and beat him by 3 ..
My next post at around noon, off to the gym !!
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
However yesterday I tweeted that "only Rory can beat himself now" when he was up by 8, and immediately received a reply from the great Scottish announcer Dougie Donnelly who knows Rory better than most.." Absolutely not !! there is still far too much golf to be played" and as much as I want Rory to get through this weekend without another of his well documented Sunday blow ups, I think Dougie is right.
Rory can't play any better, but can he maintain this near flawless form. That is the delicious dilema that we are about to see unfold. " the toughest course in the world is the one between your ears " is the old adage, and boy is that ever the case again this weekend..
Here are what the others were saying after Rory's record setting 65,66 -11 131 total and a 6 shot lead..
"Rory is obviously running away with it, so we are pretty much playing for second unless something crazy happens tomorrow," PGA champion Martin Kaymer said. "I hope he wins, though. He's a nice person and he deserves it, especially after the Masters."
"It was Tiger Woods of 11 years ago," Ian Poulter said, referring to Tiger's 15 shot win at Pebble in 2000..
It's crazy, isn't it?" said Steve Stricker. "Pretty incredible what he's done so far."
"We'll see what Rory does."He's had leads before," Lee Westwood said, who's 68 left him 12 shots behind
"He's striking it flawlessly and putted great on the greens," said playing partner Phil Mickelson who shot a 69 to finish at +1 143. "His first two rounds were very impressive."
Just how good was he. Yesterday I posted all the records he has set with his -11, 131 total but think of this..Among those who had finished 36 holes, only seven other players had managed to break par, and no one was within nine shots.
"He's decimated this U.S. Open golf course, and this is no easy test," defending champion Graeme McDowell said. "It's an amazing display of golf."
As for Rory : It's very near the best I can play," he said. It's been two very, very good days of golf,"I put myself in a great position going into the weekend. But I know more than probably anyone else what can happen. So I've got to stay really focused and try and finish this thing off"
For those who asked me here are the all time 36 hole records for all the majors: 130 - Open Championship (Nick Faldo - 1992); 131 - U.S. Open (Rory McIlroy - 2011); 131 - Masters (Ray Floyd - 1976); 131 - PGA Championship (6 times - 2001 most recent
Looking ahead to the weekend
The second round was suspended by darkness, forcing 21 players to return this morning to complete their round. The seven groups still on the course when play was called will resume at 8:15 a.m. ET this morning. The third round is set to begin about 9:50 a.m
He has a six-shot lead over former PGA champion Y.E. Yang (69) -5, Sergio Garcia (71) and Brandt Snedeker (70) finished at -2,140. Also at 140 were Matt Kuchar (68), Robert Garrigus (70) and former Masters champion Zach Johnson (69)
The weather forecast for the weekend and Monday is hot, humid and covered in thunderstorms.. Today, overcast, high of 32*c with thunderstorms and the wind from the NW at 10km/h, so the course will remain much the same with the rain keeping the greens softer, therefore more receptive..
Canucks....Calgary's Wes Heffernan 71, is right on the cut line which was +4 before play was suspended..
Adam Hadwin has 1 hole to play this morning and is at +7 and Jon Mills,73 is also at +7 so they won't be around for the weekend but are in good company, also missing the cut, twice the U.S. Open winner Ernie Els (+6) who sadly 4 putted his first hole,#10 , Rickie Fowler (+5), Nick Watney (+6), and Ian Poulter (+6)
Matthew Richardson of Woodbridge, shot 81 +16..
Top 10 Leaderboard ( for a full scoreboard click on PGA Tour on the right side of this post)1 - Rory McIlroy -11 F -5 65 66 - - 131
2 - Y.E. Yang -5 F -2 68 69 - - 137
T3 7 Robert Garrigus -2 F -1 70 70 - - 140
T3 1 Sergio Garcia -2 F E 69 71 - - 140
T3 19 Zach Johnson -2 F -2 71 69 - - 140
T3 7 Brandt Snedeker -2 F -1 70 70 - - 140
T3 31 Matt Kuchar -2 F -3 72 68 - - 140
T8 4 Kyung-tae Kim -1 F +1 69 72 - - 141
T8 2 Alvaro Quiros -1 F E 70 71 - - 141
T8 2 Robert Rock -1 F E 70 71 - - 141
T8 14 Heath Slocum -1 F -1 71 70 - - 141
T8 2 Davis Love III -1 F E 70 71 - - 141
T8 4 Ryan Palmer -1 F +1 69 72 - - 141
T8 14 Brandt Jobe -1 17* -1 71 - - - 71
Tee times available after round 2 is complete although it will be Rory and YE Yang in the final pairing, the same YE Yang who started 6 shots behind Tiger at the 2009 PGA and beat him by 3 ..
My next post at around noon, off to the gym !!
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Friday, June 17, 2011
It's Rory then the rest at Congressional
Even though he finished with a double bogey 6 on his final hole minutes ago, Rory McIlroy is head and shoulders ahead of the best players in the world half way through round two at this 111th version of the US Open at a very difficult Congressional CC, just outside Washington DC..
His US Open record setting 36 hole score of -11, 131 is currently 8 better than anyone else in the field and 1 better than the former 36 hole record held by Ricky Barnes (132 ,2009 Bethpage Black) ( see list of records posted after leaderboard)
Former PGA Tour pro and veteran broadcaster Frank Nobilo echoed my sentiments after listening to Rory's post round interview yesterday when he was asked to describe his opening -6 65... " I hit 3 wood, 8 iron to about 6 feet on 12 ( 12 is a 471 yd brute), then 3 wood, sandwedge to 10 feet at 17 ( a mere 456yds )..
Unbelievable... He is toying with one of the toughest courses in US Open history, and while the afternoon flight is just going out, he can only beat himself now, and that is what will make the weekend must viewing for me, to see if he can hold his nerve this time, after his collapse from similar positions at the Open Championship at St Andrews last year and again at the Masters earlier this year when he shot 80 on Sunday to blow a 4 shot lead.
Top 10 leaderboard ( for a complete Scoreboard and to see Rory's scorecard click on PGA Tour on the right side of this post)
1 - Rory McIlroy -11 F -5 65 66 - - 131
2 - Y.E. Yang -3 1 E 68 - - - 68
T3 7 Robert Garrigus -2 F -1 70 70 - - 140
T3 1 Sergio Garcia -2 F E 69 71 - - 140
T3 19 Zach Johnson -2 F -2 71 69 - - 140
T3 7 Brandt Snedeker -2 F -1 70 70 - - 140
T3 1 Ryan Palmer -2 2:19 pm ET* - 69 - - - 69
T8 4 Kyung-tae Kim -1 F +1 69 72 - - 141
T8 2 Alvaro Quiros -1 F E 70 71 - - 141
T8 2 Robert Rock -1 F E 70 71 - - 141
T8 14 Heath Slocum -1 3 -1 71 - - - 71
T8 4 Louis Oosthuizen -1 1* +1 69 - - - 69
T8 2 Johan Edfors -1 1* E 70 - - - 70
T8 2 Henrik Stenson -1 1* E 70 - - - 70
T8 2 Davis Love III -1 1:57 pm ET* - 70 - - - 70
List of Rory records set thus far courtesy pgatour.com
>> His 11-under 131 sets the record for the best score after 36 holes in the 111-year history of the U.S. Open. The previous record was 132, set by Ricky Barnes in 2009 at Bethpage Black.
>> At 11 under, he’s also the lowest in relation to par after two rounds Barnes and Tiger Woods (2000) were 8 under through 36 holes.
>> After making birdie at the 17th hole, McIlroy moved to 13 under for the tournament. That breaks the record held by Woods and Gil Morgan for the lowest score ever at any point in U.S. Open history.
>> Became the fifth player to reach double-digits under par in U.S. Open history. Besides Woods, Morgan and Barnes, Jim Furyk did the trick in 2003.
>> Became the fastest player to reach double digits under par at the U.S. Open when he got to 10 under through his first 26 holes.
>> Became the fourth player since 1992 to suffer just one bogey-or-worse hole through the first 36 holes, and the first during that span to play his first 35 holes at the U.S. Open without a bogey (McIlroy suffered a double bogey on his final hole Friday). Ricky Barnes (2009), Phil Mickelson (2004) and Stephen Leaney (2003) also recorded just one bogey through their first 36 holes; each of the three posted their bogey in the first round.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
His US Open record setting 36 hole score of -11, 131 is currently 8 better than anyone else in the field and 1 better than the former 36 hole record held by Ricky Barnes (132 ,2009 Bethpage Black) ( see list of records posted after leaderboard)
Former PGA Tour pro and veteran broadcaster Frank Nobilo echoed my sentiments after listening to Rory's post round interview yesterday when he was asked to describe his opening -6 65... " I hit 3 wood, 8 iron to about 6 feet on 12 ( 12 is a 471 yd brute), then 3 wood, sandwedge to 10 feet at 17 ( a mere 456yds )..
Unbelievable... He is toying with one of the toughest courses in US Open history, and while the afternoon flight is just going out, he can only beat himself now, and that is what will make the weekend must viewing for me, to see if he can hold his nerve this time, after his collapse from similar positions at the Open Championship at St Andrews last year and again at the Masters earlier this year when he shot 80 on Sunday to blow a 4 shot lead.
Top 10 leaderboard ( for a complete Scoreboard and to see Rory's scorecard click on PGA Tour on the right side of this post)
1 - Rory McIlroy -11 F -5 65 66 - - 131
2 - Y.E. Yang -3 1 E 68 - - - 68
T3 7 Robert Garrigus -2 F -1 70 70 - - 140
T3 1 Sergio Garcia -2 F E 69 71 - - 140
T3 19 Zach Johnson -2 F -2 71 69 - - 140
T3 7 Brandt Snedeker -2 F -1 70 70 - - 140
T3 1 Ryan Palmer -2 2:19 pm ET* - 69 - - - 69
T8 4 Kyung-tae Kim -1 F +1 69 72 - - 141
T8 2 Alvaro Quiros -1 F E 70 71 - - 141
T8 2 Robert Rock -1 F E 70 71 - - 141
T8 14 Heath Slocum -1 3 -1 71 - - - 71
T8 4 Louis Oosthuizen -1 1* +1 69 - - - 69
T8 2 Johan Edfors -1 1* E 70 - - - 70
T8 2 Henrik Stenson -1 1* E 70 - - - 70
T8 2 Davis Love III -1 1:57 pm ET* - 70 - - - 70
List of Rory records set thus far courtesy pgatour.com
>> His 11-under 131 sets the record for the best score after 36 holes in the 111-year history of the U.S. Open. The previous record was 132, set by Ricky Barnes in 2009 at Bethpage Black.
>> At 11 under, he’s also the lowest in relation to par after two rounds Barnes and Tiger Woods (2000) were 8 under through 36 holes.
>> After making birdie at the 17th hole, McIlroy moved to 13 under for the tournament. That breaks the record held by Woods and Gil Morgan for the lowest score ever at any point in U.S. Open history.
>> Became the fifth player to reach double-digits under par in U.S. Open history. Besides Woods, Morgan and Barnes, Jim Furyk did the trick in 2003.
>> Became the fastest player to reach double digits under par at the U.S. Open when he got to 10 under through his first 26 holes.
>> Became the fourth player since 1992 to suffer just one bogey-or-worse hole through the first 36 holes, and the first during that span to play his first 35 holes at the U.S. Open without a bogey (McIlroy suffered a double bogey on his final hole Friday). Ricky Barnes (2009), Phil Mickelson (2004) and Stephen Leaney (2003) also recorded just one bogey through their first 36 holes; each of the three posted their bogey in the first round.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Thursday, June 16, 2011
European Tour Open ??? at Congressional
Is this the US Open ?? or the European Tour Open..
Rory McIlroy, Charl Schwartzel, Graeme McDowell, YE Yang, Alex Rocha, Scott Hend, Sergio Garcia, Lois Oosthuizen, Johan Edfors, Robert Rock, Alvaro Quiros, Henrik Stenson.....Ryan Palmer, oops there's a Yank..
Your 2 American favourites...Phil Mickelson +3 74, Steve Stricker +4, 75.... Still there is a lot more of this story to be told..
On a perfect day for scoring, Congressional was clearly the winner. Masters champ, Charl Schwartzel was at was at -3 68, joining a small group that included Sergio Garcia, YE Yang, Brazilian Alex Rocha and Ryan Palmer, the lone American among the nine players who broke 70 only 12 more broke 71, or par...
It is raining on and off this evening and tonight with a high of 31*c and t'storms in the forecast for Friday PM...
It was the brilliant Rory McIlroy who led the European Tour charge in Washington. He made this long tough course look easy without a single bogey, he missed only one green and was the only player in the 156-man field without a single bogey. His -6, 65 was good for a 3 shot lead, the biggest 18-hole lead at the U.S. Open in 35 years.
"It felt like quite a simple 65," McIlroy said. "I didn't do much wrong."
Of course he was inundated with questions about his final round collapse at the Masters where he also lead after the opening round.. "I took the experience from Augusta, and I learned a lot from it". said McIlroy..
For me this US Open, like the PGA Tour is wide open with Luke Donald being about the closest thing to dominant in the men's game..there is no clear cut leading favourite ala Tiger Woods in golf anymore...
The top three players in the world, Donald, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer are playing together for the first two days and they combined to go 10-over par. Donald started off birdie, birdie as they played the tougher back nine first but he struggled with his accuracy and couldn't cope with the thick rough to shoot 74. Kaymer also had a 74, while Westwood was still upbeat after his +4,75, his worst opening round at the U.S. Open in 10 years.
McIlroy who has dominated the leaderboard in the last 4 majors and must surely be a contender for the next world #1 dominant player, was invited to lunch with Jack Nicklaus in Florida last month... "He emphasized so much to me about not making mistakes. That was his big thing. He said people lost a lot more majors and gave them to him than he actually won. It was a good piece of advice to have"
Canadian scores, and by the way when you look up their scorecards on the leaderboard, they are so unknown the USGA has a shadow where their picture is supposed to be !!
T84 - Wes Heffernan +4 9:12 am ET* - 75 - - - 75
T84 - Adam Hadwin +4 2:41 pm ET* - 75 - - - 75
T111 - Jon Mills +5 8:50 am ET* - 76 - - - 76
Projected Cut - lowest 60 scores and ties, plus those within 10 strokes of leader
Robert Rock, the Englishman with the best hair in golf, who won in Wales last week, had serious visa issues, and had to get a special reporting time extension from the USGA just to play, barely made it to DC, had never seen Congressional yet went out and shot -1 70, incredible when you watched how tough this course is..
Speakng of the USGA, they really had tough pins today, tucked and around the edges, I don't think they can be much tougher tomorrow, however if Rory goes low tomorrow, with pars being at a premium around Congressional, he will really give the field a tough score to match..but then again we can't forget the Masters can we..
I'll be back with more from the European, eh... US Open in the morning.. Here's the top 10 leaderboard, for the full one just click on PGA Tour over there to the right..
1 - Rory McIlroy -6 7:55 am ET - 65 - - - 65
T2 - Charl Schwartzel -3 8:06 am ET - 68 - - - 68
T2 - Y.E. Yang -3 1:35 pm ET - 68 - - - 68
T4 - Alexandre Rocha -2 7:00 am ET - 69 - - - 69
T4 - Scott Hend -2 7:22 am ET - 69 - - - 69
T4 - Kyung-tae Kim -2 7:22 am ET* - 69 - - - 69
T4 - Sergio Garcia -2 7:44 am ET* - 69 - - - 69
T4 - Louis Oosthuizen -2 1:35 pm ET* - 69 - - - 69
T4 - Ryan Palmer -2 2:19 pm ET* - 69 - - - 69
T10 - Bubba Dickerson -1 7:00 am ET - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Robert Garrigus -1 7:22 am ET - 70 - - - 70
T10 - John Senden -1 7:22 am ET - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Alvaro Quiros -1 7:44 am ET* - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Brandt Snedeker -1 8:28 am ET* - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Robert Rock -1 8:39 am ET* - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Chez Reavie -1 12:40 pm ET* - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Stewart Cink -1 1:24 pm ET - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Graeme McDowell -1 1:35 pm ET* - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Johan Edfors -1 1:46 pm ET* - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Henrik Stenson -1 1:46 pm ET* - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Davis Love III -1 1:57 pm ET* - 70 - - - 70
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Rory McIlroy, Charl Schwartzel, Graeme McDowell, YE Yang, Alex Rocha, Scott Hend, Sergio Garcia, Lois Oosthuizen, Johan Edfors, Robert Rock, Alvaro Quiros, Henrik Stenson.....Ryan Palmer, oops there's a Yank..
Your 2 American favourites...Phil Mickelson +3 74, Steve Stricker +4, 75.... Still there is a lot more of this story to be told..
On a perfect day for scoring, Congressional was clearly the winner. Masters champ, Charl Schwartzel was at was at -3 68, joining a small group that included Sergio Garcia, YE Yang, Brazilian Alex Rocha and Ryan Palmer, the lone American among the nine players who broke 70 only 12 more broke 71, or par...
It is raining on and off this evening and tonight with a high of 31*c and t'storms in the forecast for Friday PM...
It was the brilliant Rory McIlroy who led the European Tour charge in Washington. He made this long tough course look easy without a single bogey, he missed only one green and was the only player in the 156-man field without a single bogey. His -6, 65 was good for a 3 shot lead, the biggest 18-hole lead at the U.S. Open in 35 years.
"It felt like quite a simple 65," McIlroy said. "I didn't do much wrong."
Of course he was inundated with questions about his final round collapse at the Masters where he also lead after the opening round.. "I took the experience from Augusta, and I learned a lot from it". said McIlroy..
For me this US Open, like the PGA Tour is wide open with Luke Donald being about the closest thing to dominant in the men's game..there is no clear cut leading favourite ala Tiger Woods in golf anymore...
The top three players in the world, Donald, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer are playing together for the first two days and they combined to go 10-over par. Donald started off birdie, birdie as they played the tougher back nine first but he struggled with his accuracy and couldn't cope with the thick rough to shoot 74. Kaymer also had a 74, while Westwood was still upbeat after his +4,75, his worst opening round at the U.S. Open in 10 years.
McIlroy who has dominated the leaderboard in the last 4 majors and must surely be a contender for the next world #1 dominant player, was invited to lunch with Jack Nicklaus in Florida last month... "He emphasized so much to me about not making mistakes. That was his big thing. He said people lost a lot more majors and gave them to him than he actually won. It was a good piece of advice to have"
Canadian scores, and by the way when you look up their scorecards on the leaderboard, they are so unknown the USGA has a shadow where their picture is supposed to be !!
T84 - Wes Heffernan +4 9:12 am ET* - 75 - - - 75
T84 - Adam Hadwin +4 2:41 pm ET* - 75 - - - 75
T111 - Jon Mills +5 8:50 am ET* - 76 - - - 76
Projected Cut - lowest 60 scores and ties, plus those within 10 strokes of leader
Robert Rock, the Englishman with the best hair in golf, who won in Wales last week, had serious visa issues, and had to get a special reporting time extension from the USGA just to play, barely made it to DC, had never seen Congressional yet went out and shot -1 70, incredible when you watched how tough this course is..
Speakng of the USGA, they really had tough pins today, tucked and around the edges, I don't think they can be much tougher tomorrow, however if Rory goes low tomorrow, with pars being at a premium around Congressional, he will really give the field a tough score to match..but then again we can't forget the Masters can we..
I'll be back with more from the European, eh... US Open in the morning.. Here's the top 10 leaderboard, for the full one just click on PGA Tour over there to the right..
1 - Rory McIlroy -6 7:55 am ET - 65 - - - 65
T2 - Charl Schwartzel -3 8:06 am ET - 68 - - - 68
T2 - Y.E. Yang -3 1:35 pm ET - 68 - - - 68
T4 - Alexandre Rocha -2 7:00 am ET - 69 - - - 69
T4 - Scott Hend -2 7:22 am ET - 69 - - - 69
T4 - Kyung-tae Kim -2 7:22 am ET* - 69 - - - 69
T4 - Sergio Garcia -2 7:44 am ET* - 69 - - - 69
T4 - Louis Oosthuizen -2 1:35 pm ET* - 69 - - - 69
T4 - Ryan Palmer -2 2:19 pm ET* - 69 - - - 69
T10 - Bubba Dickerson -1 7:00 am ET - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Robert Garrigus -1 7:22 am ET - 70 - - - 70
T10 - John Senden -1 7:22 am ET - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Alvaro Quiros -1 7:44 am ET* - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Brandt Snedeker -1 8:28 am ET* - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Robert Rock -1 8:39 am ET* - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Chez Reavie -1 12:40 pm ET* - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Stewart Cink -1 1:24 pm ET - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Graeme McDowell -1 1:35 pm ET* - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Johan Edfors -1 1:46 pm ET* - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Henrik Stenson -1 1:46 pm ET* - 70 - - - 70
T10 - Davis Love III -1 1:57 pm ET* - 70 - - - 70
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Only 11 players under par at tough Congressional CC
It's now 5 hours into the first round at Congressional at noon est..
There was some steady light rain this morning with lots more and t'storms in the forecast.
Remember par is good at this long hard course. Only 11 of 78 on course right now are under par and scoring conditions are ideal.. However as I tweeted this morning today's pins are tough and tucked by opening round standards..
As I said yesterday 7 par 4's are over 460 yds long, the 18th 525yd par 4 !!
Luke Donald is fighting back. He started on 10 with Westwood and Kaymer and birdied 10 and 11 but faltered playing his last 7 holes on the front 6 in +6. He has made a birdie already coming in and is at +3...the front nine is where you have to score here..
This is a tough track folks and the rain this morning has thickened the rough, but most noticeably guys were constantly left with 5 -10 footers that had big breaks and are extremely slick..
On the other hand the fairways are wider than any US Open I can remember, and the first cut is very manageable..
Bubba Watson has some army fatigues on today. Ryo Ishikawa has now got an oversized Rickie Fowler type hat on... Stevie Williams is on the bag for Adam Scott this week in case you hadn't heard..
1 - Ryan Palmer -3 11 -3 - - - - -
T2 - Johan Edfors -2 12 -2 - - - - -
T2 - Jeff Overton -2 10 -2 - - - - -
T4 - Chez Reavie -1 17 -1 - - - - -
T4 - Stewart Cink -1 14* -1 - - - - -
T4 - Graeme McDowell -1 14 -1 - - - - -
T4 - Y.E. Yang -1 13* -1 - - - - -
T4 - Davis Love III -1 12 -1 - - - - -
T4 - Jason Day -1 11 -1 - - - - -
T4 - J.J. Henry -1 11 -1 - - - - -
T4 - Brandt Jobe -1 10 -1 - - - - -
T4 - Christo Greyling -1 9 -1 - - - - -
T13 - Padraig Harrington E 14* E - - - - -
T13 - Louis Oosthuizen E 13 E - - - - -
T13 - Peter Uihlein (a) E 13 E - - - - -
T13 - Fredrik Jacobson E 12 E - - - - -
T13 - Jim Furyk E 12 E - - - - -
T13 - Bill Haas E 12* E - - - - -
T13 - Nick O'Hern E 10 E - - - - -
T13 - William Cauley E 9* E - - - -
Next post 5pm..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
There was some steady light rain this morning with lots more and t'storms in the forecast.
Remember par is good at this long hard course. Only 11 of 78 on course right now are under par and scoring conditions are ideal.. However as I tweeted this morning today's pins are tough and tucked by opening round standards..
As I said yesterday 7 par 4's are over 460 yds long, the 18th 525yd par 4 !!
Luke Donald is fighting back. He started on 10 with Westwood and Kaymer and birdied 10 and 11 but faltered playing his last 7 holes on the front 6 in +6. He has made a birdie already coming in and is at +3...the front nine is where you have to score here..
This is a tough track folks and the rain this morning has thickened the rough, but most noticeably guys were constantly left with 5 -10 footers that had big breaks and are extremely slick..
On the other hand the fairways are wider than any US Open I can remember, and the first cut is very manageable..
Bubba Watson has some army fatigues on today. Ryo Ishikawa has now got an oversized Rickie Fowler type hat on... Stevie Williams is on the bag for Adam Scott this week in case you hadn't heard..
1 - Ryan Palmer -3 11 -3 - - - - -
T2 - Johan Edfors -2 12 -2 - - - - -
T2 - Jeff Overton -2 10 -2 - - - - -
T4 - Chez Reavie -1 17 -1 - - - - -
T4 - Stewart Cink -1 14* -1 - - - - -
T4 - Graeme McDowell -1 14 -1 - - - - -
T4 - Y.E. Yang -1 13* -1 - - - - -
T4 - Davis Love III -1 12 -1 - - - - -
T4 - Jason Day -1 11 -1 - - - - -
T4 - J.J. Henry -1 11 -1 - - - - -
T4 - Brandt Jobe -1 10 -1 - - - - -
T4 - Christo Greyling -1 9 -1 - - - - -
T13 - Padraig Harrington E 14* E - - - - -
T13 - Louis Oosthuizen E 13 E - - - - -
T13 - Peter Uihlein (a) E 13 E - - - - -
T13 - Fredrik Jacobson E 12 E - - - - -
T13 - Jim Furyk E 12 E - - - - -
T13 - Bill Haas E 12* E - - - - -
T13 - Nick O'Hern E 10 E - - - - -
T13 - William Cauley E 9* E - - - -
Next post 5pm..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Today's tee times, quirky pairings and weather...
We are 15 minutes to the start of play at this 111th US Open at the Congressional CC just outside of Washington DC.
Weather... It's currently 21*c and overcast with a high forecast at 28* which will be the coolest of the four days.. Slight breeze from the S at 13kph but there are thunderstorms forecast for the afternoon and evening, and they are in the forecast every day. So we can expect several delays this week with lightning in the area..
The USGA always throws a few quirks at us for the pairings and this year is no different..
*World's 1,2,3 group..Donald Westwood and Kaymer off 10 at 8.06.. 10 incidently is a tough start, a 223yd par 3 over water..
* all Swedish group.. Stenson Edfors and Jacobson off 1 at 8.06
* all Spanish group . Jimenez, Garcia, Quiros off 1 at 1.26
* all majors group.. Harrington, Cabrera, Cink off 10 at 7.40
* all Asian group.. Ishikawa, Kim and Yang off 10 at 7.55
* all J's group ..J Rose, JJ Henry, J Day of 1 at 8.28
* all Italian group .. Molinari brothers and Manassaro off 1 at 1.35
* the blown leaders group .. McIlroy, Johnson and Mickelson off 10 at 1.35
1 1 7:00 D. Kim C. Reavie S. Lowry
2 10 7:00 C. Campbell H. Frazar M. Turnesa
3 1 7:11 G. Chalmers K. Triplett B. Adamonis
4 10 7:11 J. Hicks M. Siem S. Kang
5 1 7:22 M. Leishman A. Cejka K. Streelman
6 10 7:22 T. Levet B. Gay G. Havret
7 1 7:33 F. Funk (a) D. Chung M. Campbell
8 10 7:33 H. Slocum (a) R. Henley N. Colsaerts
9 1 7:44 M. Kuchar P. Casey K. Choi
10 10 7:44 P. Harrington A. Cabrera S. Cink
11 1 7:55 G. McDowell (a) P. Uihlein L. Oosthuizen
12 10 7:55 R. Ishikawa A. Kim Y. Yang
13 1 8:06 H. Stenson J. Edfors F. Jacobson
14 10 8:06 L. Donald L. Westwood M. Kaymer
15 1 8:17 E. Els D. Love III J. Furyk
16 10 8:17 J. Byrd B. Haas W. Simpson
17 1 8:28 J. Rose J. Henry J. Day
18 10 8:28 B. Watson A. Scott R. Karlsson
19 1 8:39 J. Overton R. Palmer G. Woodland
20 10 8:39 S. Saunders T. Petrovic S. Piercy
21 1 8:50 B. Jobe N. O'Hern D. Points
22 10 8:50 M. Edwards (a) B. Benjamin Z. Byrd
23 1 9:01 C. Greyling A. Hadwin J. Lamielle
24 10 9:01 B. Cauley A. Long (a) M. Barbosa
25 1 9:12 M. Tobiason Jr. J. Hutchins M. Smith
26 10 9:12 M. Whitehead W. Wilcox J. Ellis
27 1 12:40 T. Tryon M. Lafeber S. Barr
28 10 12:40 A. Rocha A. Gonzales B. Dickerson
29 1 12:51 G. Sisk (a) C. Pan M. Richardson
30 10 12:51 M. Putnam (a) P. Cantlay R. Dinwiddie
31 1 1:02 B. Van Pelt K. Kim B. Crane
32 10 1:02 J. Senden R. Garrigus S. Hend
33 1 1:13 M. Wilson M. Laird P. Hanson
34 10 1:13 J. Dufner S. Gallacher S. Noh
35 1 1:24 M. Jimenez S. Garcia A. Quiros
36 10 1:24 S. Stricker R. Goosen D. Toms
37 1 1:35 F. Molinari M. Manassero E. Molinari
38 10 1:35 R. McIlroy D. Johnson P. Mickelson
39 1 1:46 H. Fujita T. Hamilton K. Na
40 10 1:46 C. Schwartzel T. Immelman Z. Johnson
41 1 1:57 R. Fowler I. Poulter H. Mahan
42 10 1:57 N. Watney L. Glover G. Ogilvy
43 1 2:08 C. Villegas A. Baddeley B. Snedeker
44 10 2:08 R. Moore R. Allenby R. Sabbatini
45 1 2:19 K. Chappell D. Kim R. Rock
46 10 2:19 D. Howell K. Kuboya B. Baird
47 1 2:30 J. Mills A. Harto (a) S. Pinckney
48 10 2:30 C. Hoffman A. Noren S. Bae
49 1 2:41 (a) S. Irwin R. Nelson E. Gealy
50 10 2:41 (a) B. Patterson B. Blakeman B. Locke
51 1 2:52 C. Deforest (a) C. Williams W. Heffernan
52 10 2:52 C. Wilson D. May (a) B. Hossler
I will be following this on and off all day today so keep this post handy and why not join me via my comments section..
For a complete leaderboard just click on PGA Tour over to the right..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Weather... It's currently 21*c and overcast with a high forecast at 28* which will be the coolest of the four days.. Slight breeze from the S at 13kph but there are thunderstorms forecast for the afternoon and evening, and they are in the forecast every day. So we can expect several delays this week with lightning in the area..
The USGA always throws a few quirks at us for the pairings and this year is no different..
*World's 1,2,3 group..Donald Westwood and Kaymer off 10 at 8.06.. 10 incidently is a tough start, a 223yd par 3 over water..
* all Swedish group.. Stenson Edfors and Jacobson off 1 at 8.06
* all Spanish group . Jimenez, Garcia, Quiros off 1 at 1.26
* all majors group.. Harrington, Cabrera, Cink off 10 at 7.40
* all Asian group.. Ishikawa, Kim and Yang off 10 at 7.55
* all J's group ..J Rose, JJ Henry, J Day of 1 at 8.28
* all Italian group .. Molinari brothers and Manassaro off 1 at 1.35
* the blown leaders group .. McIlroy, Johnson and Mickelson off 10 at 1.35
1 1 7:00 D. Kim C. Reavie S. Lowry
2 10 7:00 C. Campbell H. Frazar M. Turnesa
3 1 7:11 G. Chalmers K. Triplett B. Adamonis
4 10 7:11 J. Hicks M. Siem S. Kang
5 1 7:22 M. Leishman A. Cejka K. Streelman
6 10 7:22 T. Levet B. Gay G. Havret
7 1 7:33 F. Funk (a) D. Chung M. Campbell
8 10 7:33 H. Slocum (a) R. Henley N. Colsaerts
9 1 7:44 M. Kuchar P. Casey K. Choi
10 10 7:44 P. Harrington A. Cabrera S. Cink
11 1 7:55 G. McDowell (a) P. Uihlein L. Oosthuizen
12 10 7:55 R. Ishikawa A. Kim Y. Yang
13 1 8:06 H. Stenson J. Edfors F. Jacobson
14 10 8:06 L. Donald L. Westwood M. Kaymer
15 1 8:17 E. Els D. Love III J. Furyk
16 10 8:17 J. Byrd B. Haas W. Simpson
17 1 8:28 J. Rose J. Henry J. Day
18 10 8:28 B. Watson A. Scott R. Karlsson
19 1 8:39 J. Overton R. Palmer G. Woodland
20 10 8:39 S. Saunders T. Petrovic S. Piercy
21 1 8:50 B. Jobe N. O'Hern D. Points
22 10 8:50 M. Edwards (a) B. Benjamin Z. Byrd
23 1 9:01 C. Greyling A. Hadwin J. Lamielle
24 10 9:01 B. Cauley A. Long (a) M. Barbosa
25 1 9:12 M. Tobiason Jr. J. Hutchins M. Smith
26 10 9:12 M. Whitehead W. Wilcox J. Ellis
27 1 12:40 T. Tryon M. Lafeber S. Barr
28 10 12:40 A. Rocha A. Gonzales B. Dickerson
29 1 12:51 G. Sisk (a) C. Pan M. Richardson
30 10 12:51 M. Putnam (a) P. Cantlay R. Dinwiddie
31 1 1:02 B. Van Pelt K. Kim B. Crane
32 10 1:02 J. Senden R. Garrigus S. Hend
33 1 1:13 M. Wilson M. Laird P. Hanson
34 10 1:13 J. Dufner S. Gallacher S. Noh
35 1 1:24 M. Jimenez S. Garcia A. Quiros
36 10 1:24 S. Stricker R. Goosen D. Toms
37 1 1:35 F. Molinari M. Manassero E. Molinari
38 10 1:35 R. McIlroy D. Johnson P. Mickelson
39 1 1:46 H. Fujita T. Hamilton K. Na
40 10 1:46 C. Schwartzel T. Immelman Z. Johnson
41 1 1:57 R. Fowler I. Poulter H. Mahan
42 10 1:57 N. Watney L. Glover G. Ogilvy
43 1 2:08 C. Villegas A. Baddeley B. Snedeker
44 10 2:08 R. Moore R. Allenby R. Sabbatini
45 1 2:19 K. Chappell D. Kim R. Rock
46 10 2:19 D. Howell K. Kuboya B. Baird
47 1 2:30 J. Mills A. Harto (a) S. Pinckney
48 10 2:30 C. Hoffman A. Noren S. Bae
49 1 2:41 (a) S. Irwin R. Nelson E. Gealy
50 10 2:41 (a) B. Patterson B. Blakeman B. Locke
51 1 2:52 C. Deforest (a) C. Williams W. Heffernan
52 10 2:52 C. Wilson D. May (a) B. Hossler
I will be following this on and off all day today so keep this post handy and why not join me via my comments section..
For a complete leaderboard just click on PGA Tour over to the right..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
My 2011 US Open preview..
This year's US Open is at the Congressional CC in Washington,DC. There have been 2 US Open's held there, 1964 when Ken Venturi survived heat exhaustion to win then 1997 when Ernie Els won his 2nd, when Monty missed a 5 footer for par on 17.
It is usually hot and humid in DC at this time of year and this week the weather is scheduled to be in the mid to high 80'sF on Friday and the weekend, with thunderstorms in the forecast every day but Saturday..
Next you need to know this is a long, long course, 7250yds and this time it is a par 71 instead of 70 as it was in '97. There are 8 par 4's over 460 yds long, in fact the 18th is a 523yd brute of a par 4. The 9th in 636 yd par 5 and there is plenty of water..
Last week's heat and humidity has curtailed the growth of the rough, and the greens were rebuilt 2 years ago are looking a bit thin and brown in some cases.
The book on Congressional is that it favours the long bombers who can draw the ball, although Monty who just lost here to Ernie played a fade for his entire career.
I always look for guys in form, guys with good US Open records, guys who play the particular course well when I am previewing an event, so with that in mind here are a few fun categories for guys who could win, or couldn't..
Defending Champ : GMac won last year at Pebble Beach but will not successfully defend here this week. He had a career year in 2010 as we all know, but apart from brief flashes he is not the same guy yet this year. Pebble Beach reminded him of playing in Portrush, Congressional is completely different. He has lost patience with himself repeatedly this year, and will need tons of that this week..
The Bombers : here are 5 guys that haven't met a course yet that is too long..Nicholas Colsaerts may be the longest of them all, and nobody in the States knows him. He is Belgium and won his first pro tourney earlier this year on the Euro tour in China. This is his 1st US Open..Angel Cabrera is playing his 12th, he won it all in 2007 at Oakmont. One of the fastest players in the game he is 7th in driving distance at over 302yds per, and always seems to play well at Augusta and US Opens... Alvaro Quiros playing his 3rd US Open is legendary long off the tee, but not always straight. He has now got a lot of game to go with his length, and although he has not made a cut yet here, but has to be considered.. Dustin Johnson looked the winner last year for 3 days, until his 82 blow up on Sunday. He is another to be considered playing his 4th US Open... Bubba Watson in his 5th US Open hits them Bubba Long !! as the adverts say and he was T5 at Oakmont in 2007 so has been in contention at this level before... On the bench, Robert Garrigus and Gary Woodland have no real US Open form, but are just monsters off the tee..
America's picks: Simply put, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker.. Phil has now been 2nd 5 times in 20 starts, but if it is his week, he has all the game obviously to win. Long, one of the world's best short games and a streaky putter..one of these years he is not going to shoot himself in the foot.. Steve Stricker won Jack's Memorial 2 weeks ago so is in form. A veteran of 15 US Opens, until all the pub over his recent win, he was quietly having a solid season, so his favourite's status is justified.. On the bench : Matt Kuchar is a top 10 machine with 8 so far this year and was T6 at Pebble Beach last year. This is his 6th US Open
Don't be surprised if .. any of these guys win.. Gregory Havrat was 2nd to GMac at Pebble last year and the big Frenchman was 5th a month ago in the Spanish Open. He had to WD from the Wales Open, so his fitness may be an issue...Johan Edfors has finished 4th, 7th and 9th in his last 3 starts. In his 4th US Open he is in the same Puma stable as Rickie Fowler..Francesco Molinari was T5 at his Italian Open last week, is playing this event for the 3rd time, is straight off the tee, one of the world's best long iron players and when in form a great putter. He is now a real world traveller, so this occasion won't intimidate him.. On the bench.. Robert Karlsson and Harrison Frazar were the last 2 standing last week at the St Jude so are in good form and confident and the big Swede was T4 in 2008 at Torrey Pines..
Smart picks.. Jason Day the 22 yr old Aussie in his 1st US Open was 2nd at the Masters, T6 at the Players and 5th recently at the Byron Nelson and he is 19th in driving distance... KJ Choi won the Players and the Tank is playing his 11th US Open. He is steady, straight and is a man of enormous faith. His best finish is T15..Matteo Manaserro is in form right in contention at the BMW PGA at Wentworth, then again at his Italian Open. It's his first US Open and wll be a blast to follow. Rory McIlroy.. why not, he has come out of his Masters meltdown a stronger player, and he is going to win his first major sooner or later, could be this week in his 3rd US Open.. Jim Furyk the ultimate US Open grinder, straight, solid short game, real good putter and the winner in 2003 at Olympic Fields.. always pick him in your pool.. Retief Goosen twice a US Open winner and both times he had a T10 the week before. He was 64,69 last weekend for T3 in Memphis.
My picks A repeat of the BMW PGA at Wentworth.. #1 Luke Donald and #2 Lee Westwood . Luke is 153rd in driving length but #1 in scoring, so he will need to rely on his wedge game, long iron play and of course clutch putting, just as he has on his ride to the world's #1 spot... Lee finished just outside the T10 last week, has already won twice this year and of course was very unlucky to lose that PGA playoff to Luke 3 weeks ago. He has had time to settle in over here now and I just have a feeling this will be his week. All he needs is a few more putts.
Good Luck to our 3 Canucks.. Wes Heffernan, Adam Hadwin and Jon Mills..
What ever happened to??.. Martin Kaymer !! why oh why are you tinkering with your swing young man.. Once the odds on favourite every time he played, he has been struggling of late. Quit thinking, start playing the way you did as you became the world's top player..
Best dressers with a chance : No surprise here.. Ian Poulter winner earlier of the World Matchplay and just for fun Rickie Fowler who as Nick Faldo says has a wardrobe that must be humming in his room at night..
If dream's came true.. big Ernie would have his hands and heart touched by the good putting fairy for just another 4 days, and he would vanquish all those times he was hammered by Tiger and walk off on Sunday afternoon with his 3rs US Open... oh, I just woke up !!..
Follow me here all week and of course your comments are welcome
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
It is usually hot and humid in DC at this time of year and this week the weather is scheduled to be in the mid to high 80'sF on Friday and the weekend, with thunderstorms in the forecast every day but Saturday..
Next you need to know this is a long, long course, 7250yds and this time it is a par 71 instead of 70 as it was in '97. There are 8 par 4's over 460 yds long, in fact the 18th is a 523yd brute of a par 4. The 9th in 636 yd par 5 and there is plenty of water..
Last week's heat and humidity has curtailed the growth of the rough, and the greens were rebuilt 2 years ago are looking a bit thin and brown in some cases.
The book on Congressional is that it favours the long bombers who can draw the ball, although Monty who just lost here to Ernie played a fade for his entire career.
I always look for guys in form, guys with good US Open records, guys who play the particular course well when I am previewing an event, so with that in mind here are a few fun categories for guys who could win, or couldn't..
Defending Champ : GMac won last year at Pebble Beach but will not successfully defend here this week. He had a career year in 2010 as we all know, but apart from brief flashes he is not the same guy yet this year. Pebble Beach reminded him of playing in Portrush, Congressional is completely different. He has lost patience with himself repeatedly this year, and will need tons of that this week..
The Bombers : here are 5 guys that haven't met a course yet that is too long..Nicholas Colsaerts may be the longest of them all, and nobody in the States knows him. He is Belgium and won his first pro tourney earlier this year on the Euro tour in China. This is his 1st US Open..Angel Cabrera is playing his 12th, he won it all in 2007 at Oakmont. One of the fastest players in the game he is 7th in driving distance at over 302yds per, and always seems to play well at Augusta and US Opens... Alvaro Quiros playing his 3rd US Open is legendary long off the tee, but not always straight. He has now got a lot of game to go with his length, and although he has not made a cut yet here, but has to be considered.. Dustin Johnson looked the winner last year for 3 days, until his 82 blow up on Sunday. He is another to be considered playing his 4th US Open... Bubba Watson in his 5th US Open hits them Bubba Long !! as the adverts say and he was T5 at Oakmont in 2007 so has been in contention at this level before... On the bench, Robert Garrigus and Gary Woodland have no real US Open form, but are just monsters off the tee..
America's picks: Simply put, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker.. Phil has now been 2nd 5 times in 20 starts, but if it is his week, he has all the game obviously to win. Long, one of the world's best short games and a streaky putter..one of these years he is not going to shoot himself in the foot.. Steve Stricker won Jack's Memorial 2 weeks ago so is in form. A veteran of 15 US Opens, until all the pub over his recent win, he was quietly having a solid season, so his favourite's status is justified.. On the bench : Matt Kuchar is a top 10 machine with 8 so far this year and was T6 at Pebble Beach last year. This is his 6th US Open
Don't be surprised if .. any of these guys win.. Gregory Havrat was 2nd to GMac at Pebble last year and the big Frenchman was 5th a month ago in the Spanish Open. He had to WD from the Wales Open, so his fitness may be an issue...Johan Edfors has finished 4th, 7th and 9th in his last 3 starts. In his 4th US Open he is in the same Puma stable as Rickie Fowler..Francesco Molinari was T5 at his Italian Open last week, is playing this event for the 3rd time, is straight off the tee, one of the world's best long iron players and when in form a great putter. He is now a real world traveller, so this occasion won't intimidate him.. On the bench.. Robert Karlsson and Harrison Frazar were the last 2 standing last week at the St Jude so are in good form and confident and the big Swede was T4 in 2008 at Torrey Pines..
Smart picks.. Jason Day the 22 yr old Aussie in his 1st US Open was 2nd at the Masters, T6 at the Players and 5th recently at the Byron Nelson and he is 19th in driving distance... KJ Choi won the Players and the Tank is playing his 11th US Open. He is steady, straight and is a man of enormous faith. His best finish is T15..Matteo Manaserro is in form right in contention at the BMW PGA at Wentworth, then again at his Italian Open. It's his first US Open and wll be a blast to follow. Rory McIlroy.. why not, he has come out of his Masters meltdown a stronger player, and he is going to win his first major sooner or later, could be this week in his 3rd US Open.. Jim Furyk the ultimate US Open grinder, straight, solid short game, real good putter and the winner in 2003 at Olympic Fields.. always pick him in your pool.. Retief Goosen twice a US Open winner and both times he had a T10 the week before. He was 64,69 last weekend for T3 in Memphis.
My picks A repeat of the BMW PGA at Wentworth.. #1 Luke Donald and #2 Lee Westwood . Luke is 153rd in driving length but #1 in scoring, so he will need to rely on his wedge game, long iron play and of course clutch putting, just as he has on his ride to the world's #1 spot... Lee finished just outside the T10 last week, has already won twice this year and of course was very unlucky to lose that PGA playoff to Luke 3 weeks ago. He has had time to settle in over here now and I just have a feeling this will be his week. All he needs is a few more putts.
Good Luck to our 3 Canucks.. Wes Heffernan, Adam Hadwin and Jon Mills..
What ever happened to??.. Martin Kaymer !! why oh why are you tinkering with your swing young man.. Once the odds on favourite every time he played, he has been struggling of late. Quit thinking, start playing the way you did as you became the world's top player..
Best dressers with a chance : No surprise here.. Ian Poulter winner earlier of the World Matchplay and just for fun Rickie Fowler who as Nick Faldo says has a wardrobe that must be humming in his room at night..
If dream's came true.. big Ernie would have his hands and heart touched by the good putting fairy for just another 4 days, and he would vanquish all those times he was hammered by Tiger and walk off on Sunday afternoon with his 3rs US Open... oh, I just woke up !!..
Follow me here all week and of course your comments are welcome
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Monday, June 13, 2011
Frazar wins St Jude in a playoff.. Ames T8
AP : Harrison Frazar won his first PGA Tour title in his 355th tournament, beating Robert Karlsson with a par on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff yesterday at the St. Jude Classic in Memphis.Frazar won a month before turning 40 when Karlsson pushed a par-saving putt 3 feet past the hole.
Now the man who was roommates at Texas with Justin Leonard has the biggest paycheck of his career, taking home $1,008,000 after missing a chance to win on the 72d hole when he made his first bogey of the day. He shot a 3-under-par 67 to match Karlsson (68) at 13 under.
Stephen Ames posted his 3rd consecutive 68 to finsh T8 -7..
1 1 40 Harrison Frazar -13 F -3 color info 71 65 64 67 267
2 1 41 Robert Karlsson -13 F -2 color info 66 65 68 68 267
T3 19 90 Camilo Villegas -8 F -6 color info 69 69 70 64 272
T3 13 76 Tim Herron -8 F -5 color info 73 65 69 65 272
T3 9 57 Ryuji Imada -8 F -4 color info 70 68 68 66 272
T3 9 33 Charles Howell III -8 F -4 color info 72 67 67 66 272
T3 1 98 Retief Goosen -8 F -1 color info 68 71 64 69 272
T8 1 116 Stephen Ames -7 F -2 color info 69 68 68 68 273
T8 1 62 Carl Pettersson -7 F -2 color info 69 69 67 68 273
T8 1 87 Cameron Tringale -7 F -2 color info 71 68 66 68 273
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Now the man who was roommates at Texas with Justin Leonard has the biggest paycheck of his career, taking home $1,008,000 after missing a chance to win on the 72d hole when he made his first bogey of the day. He shot a 3-under-par 67 to match Karlsson (68) at 13 under.
Stephen Ames posted his 3rd consecutive 68 to finsh T8 -7..
1 1 40 Harrison Frazar -13 F -3 color info 71 65 64 67 267
2 1 41 Robert Karlsson -13 F -2 color info 66 65 68 68 267
T3 19 90 Camilo Villegas -8 F -6 color info 69 69 70 64 272
T3 13 76 Tim Herron -8 F -5 color info 73 65 69 65 272
T3 9 57 Ryuji Imada -8 F -4 color info 70 68 68 66 272
T3 9 33 Charles Howell III -8 F -4 color info 72 67 67 66 272
T3 1 98 Retief Goosen -8 F -1 color info 68 71 64 69 272
T8 1 116 Stephen Ames -7 F -2 color info 69 68 68 68 273
T8 1 62 Carl Pettersson -7 F -2 color info 69 69 67 68 273
T8 1 87 Cameron Tringale -7 F -2 color info 71 68 66 68 273
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Finally after 209 starts.. Rocky gets his 1st win..
It wasn't pretty but he'll take it..
England's Robert Rock 67 -21, has finally won his first European Tour title after 9 years on his 209th attempt..
Fighting nerves, the man without a hat sponsor fought a quickening swing and escaped from the woods on 16 and 17, made several clutch putts to win by a shot over the young Dane Thorbjorn Olesen 62, -20 and England's Gary Boyd 66 -20. He now has a flight to catch to Washington for next week's US Open
Crowd favourites Matteo Manessero 68 -16, and Francesco Molinari 70 -16 fell short, at T8..
Top 10 leaderboard
1 ROCK, Robert -21 18 -5 64 68 68 67 267
T2 OLESEN, Thorbjorn -20 18 -10 65 71 70 62 268
T2 BOYD, Gary -20 18 -6 69 65 68 66 268
4 WHITEFORD, Peter -19 18 -6 68 67 68 66 269
5 LUITEN, Joost -18 18 -4 66 67 69 68 270
T6 JONZON, Michael -17 18 -7 69 68 69 65 271
T6 FASTH, Niclas -17 18 -3 69 69 64 69 271
T8 MANASSERO, Matteo -16 18 -4 66 68 70 68 272
T8 MOLINARI, Francesco -16 18 -2 66 68 68 70 272
T8 KRUGER, Jbe -16 18 -2 69 66 67 70 272
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
England's Robert Rock 67 -21, has finally won his first European Tour title after 9 years on his 209th attempt..
Fighting nerves, the man without a hat sponsor fought a quickening swing and escaped from the woods on 16 and 17, made several clutch putts to win by a shot over the young Dane Thorbjorn Olesen 62, -20 and England's Gary Boyd 66 -20. He now has a flight to catch to Washington for next week's US Open
Crowd favourites Matteo Manessero 68 -16, and Francesco Molinari 70 -16 fell short, at T8..
Top 10 leaderboard
1 ROCK, Robert -21 18 -5 64 68 68 67 267
T2 OLESEN, Thorbjorn -20 18 -10 65 71 70 62 268
T2 BOYD, Gary -20 18 -6 69 65 68 66 268
4 WHITEFORD, Peter -19 18 -6 68 67 68 66 269
5 LUITEN, Joost -18 18 -4 66 67 69 68 270
T6 JONZON, Michael -17 18 -7 69 68 69 65 271
T6 FASTH, Niclas -17 18 -3 69 69 64 69 271
T8 MANASSERO, Matteo -16 18 -4 66 68 70 68 272
T8 MOLINARI, Francesco -16 18 -2 66 68 68 70 272
T8 KRUGER, Jbe -16 18 -2 69 66 67 70 272
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Friday night wrap.. Ames in contention in Memphis
Here is my recap of play on Friday to set up the weekend. Stephen Ames T7 and David Hearn T23 are in contention at the St Jude Classic down in steamy Memphis..
and at the Italian Open there were 26 Italian players in the field, compared to 15 years ago when the only one was Constantina Rocca..magnifico !!!
European Tour
BMW Italian Open
Turin Italy
This is Francisco Molinari's home course and he is T4 and I expect him to be right there come Sunday afternoon
1 ROCK, Robert -12 18 -4 64 68 - - 132
T2 WOOD, Chris -11 18 -3 64 69 - - 133
T2 LUITEN, Joost -11 18 -5 66 67 - - 133
T4 BOURDY, Grégory* -10 18 -4 66 68 - - 134
T4 MOLINARI, Francesco* -10 18 -4 66 68 - - 134
T4 DAVIES, Rhys* -10 18 -4 66 68 - - 134
T4 GAGLI, Lorenzo -10 18 -6 68 66 - - 134
T4 BOYD, Gary* -10 18 -7 69 65 - - 134
T4 MANASSERO, Matteo -10 18 -4 66 68 - - 134
T10 SINGH, Jeev Milkha* -9 18 -6 69 66 - - 135
T10 DUBUISSON, Victor* -9 18 -10 73 62 - - 135
T10 WHITEFORD, Peter* -9 18 -5 68 67 - - 135
T10 DE VRIES, Floris* -9 18 -8 71 64 - - 135
T10 RUMFORD, Brett -9 18 -6 69 66 - - 135
T10 WALL, Anthony -9 18 -4 67 68 - - 135
T10 HARTØ, Andreas* -9 18 -6 69 66 - - 135
PGA Tour
FedEx St. Jude Classic
TPC Southwind
Memphis, Tenn.
pgatour.com...Clearly Robert Karlsson has some good mojo in Memphis, and a liking for the golf course. Last year, he was a runner-up there and through two rounds this year is in the clubhouse at -9 with just two bogeys.
Friday, Karlsson went out in 31, starting on the back nine, with four birdies and no bogeys on his way to a 65. Karlsson has now had six straight rounds under par there dating back to last year.
“I like this golf course and I played quite well over two days, and I scored well and I just like this place,” Karlsson said. “I don’t know what to say more.”
Three Canucks made the cut which fell at +2..Nice to see Stephen Ames in contention for the weekend..
T7 13 117 Stephen Ames -3 F* -2 info 69 68 137
T23 3 116 David Hearn -1 F E info 69 70 139
T70 33 247 Graham DeLaet 2 F -1 info 73 69 142
CUT 249 Chris Baryla 72 72 144
CUT 230 Matt McQuillan 70 73 143
Top 10 Leaderboard...
1 1 27 Robert Karlsson -9 F* -5 color info 66 65 131
T2 82 Colt Knost -6 F* -2 color info 66 68 134
T2 5 15 Keegan Bradley -6 F -3 color info 67 67 134
4 2 92 John Merrick -5 F -1 color info 66 69 135
T5 49 38 Fredrik Jacobson -4 F -5 color info 71 65 136
T5 49 140 Harrison Frazar -4 F -5 color info 71 65 136
T7 26 110 George McNeill -3 F* -3 color info 70 67 137
T7 47 14 Brandt Snedeker -3 F* -4 color info 71 66 137
T7 13 117 Stephen Ames -3 F* -2 color info 69 68 137
T7 13 79 Scott Stallings -3 F* -2 color info 69 68 137
T7 6 129 David Mathis -3 F 2 color info 65 72 137
T7 152 Fabian Gomez -3 F E color info 67 70 137
T7 47 77 Nick O'Hern -3 F -4 color info 71 66 137
T7 26 60 Troy Matteson -3 F -3 color info 70 67 137
T7 5 114 Kris Blanks -3 F* 1 color info 66 71 137
CHAMPIONS Tour
Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn
Rock Barn Golf & Spa
Conover, N.C.
There is of course no cut on the Champions Tour and there are only 3 shots between Bob Tway -9 63 in 1st and 10th place. Mike Goodes went out in 28 strokes but stalled on the back nine after we all were thinking of the magical 59, but still he is T2 with a -8 64...
Our lone Canuck, Rod Spittle shot a decent -1 71, but the scoring was so low on the Rock Barn course that he is T59..
T59 -- Rod Spittle SC P -1 F -1 71 -- -- 71
Top 10 Leaderboard
1 -- Bob Tway SC P -9 F -9 63 -- -- 63
T2 -- Tommy Armour III SC P -8 F -8 64 -- -- 64
T2 -- Joe Ozaki SC P -8 F -8 64 -- -- 64
T2 -- Mike Goodes SC P -8 F -8 64 -- -- 64
T2 -- Mark Wiebe SC P -8 F -8 64 -- -- 64
T6 -- Mark Calcavecchia SC P -7 F -7 65 -- -- 65
T6 -- Mark O'Meara SC P -7 F -7 65 -- -- 65
T6 -- David Eger SC P -7 F -7 65 -- -- 65
T9 -- Keith Clearwater SC P -6 F -6 66 -- -- 66
T9 -- Jerry Pate SC P -6 F -6 66 -- -- 66
T9 -- Jeff Sluman SC P -6 F -6 66 -- -- 66
T9 -- Kenny Perry SC P -6 F -6 66 -- -- 66
T9 -- Larry Nelson SC P -6 F -6 66 -- -- 66
T9 -- Vicente Fernandez SC P -6 F -6 66 -- -- 66
T9 -- David Peoples SC P -6 F -6 66 -- -- 66
NATIONWIDE Tour
The Rex Hospital Open
TPC Wakefield Plantation
Raleigh, NC
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Scott Brown figures he's overdue. The 28-year-old from South Carolina began The Rex Hospital Open last year with a course record-tying 9-under 62. He was tied for sixth place after 54 holes but never got the chance to try and catch the leader because rain wiped out the final round.
Friday he shot -8 63 to top Texan Martin Flores (67) by one shot. Kyle Thompson, winner of this event in 2007, shot a 66 and is tied for third at 8-under par along with Ryan Armour, who matched his career-best finish with a T2 at last week's Melwood Prince George's County Open.
Jon Mills made 71,70 -1 made the cut on the number while Richard Lee and Bryan DeCorso (dq) did not..
Top 10 Leaderboard
1 T25 Scott Brown SC P -8 F * -10 69 63 -- -- 132
2 T4 Martin Flores SC P -4 F -9 66 67 -- -- 133
T3 T11 Kyle Thompson SC P -5 F -8 68 66 -- -- 134
T3 T11 Ryan Armour SC P -5 F * -8 68 66 -- -- 134
T5 T9 Danny Wax SC P -3 F * -7 67 68 -- -- 135
T5 T1 Kyle Reifers SC P -1 F * -7 65 70 -- -- 135
T5 T1 Matthew Richardson SC P -1 F * -7 65 70 -- -- 135
T5 T11 Greg Owen SC P -4 F -7 68 67 -- -- 135
T5 T39 Brian Stuard SC P -6 F -7 70 65 -- -- 135
T10 T4 J.J. Killeen SC P -1 F * -6 66 70 -- -- 136
T10 T39 James Hahn SC P -5 F -6 70 66 -- -- 136
T10 T4 Michael Sims SC P -1 F * -6 66 70 -- -- 136
T10 T11 Erik Compton SC P -3 F -6 68 68 -- -- 136
T10 T39 Rahil Gangjee SC P -5 F -6 70 66 -- -- 136
LPGA Tour
State Farm Classic
Panther Creek Course
Springfield, Illinois
lpgatour.com: After shooting a 5-under 67 on Friday, Mindy Kim leads by two shots through two rounds of the LPGA State Farm Classic at Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Ill. Kim followed up her career-low round of 64 with yet another birdie-filled round to put herself 13-under-par heading into the third round of play. Kim had seven birdies and two bogeys in her round on Friday. The 21-year-old currently sits two strokes ahead of Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng (66) and Shanshan Feng (65).
Unfortunately all our Canucks have MC which fell at -1, Lisa Meldrum, Jessica Shepley, Stephanie Sherlock, Alena Sharp, Samantha Richdale
Top 10 Leaderboard
1 1 KIM, Mindy -13 12:55 PM 64 67 131
T2 T2 FENG, Shanshan -11 12:55 PM 68 65 133
T2 T2 TSENG, Yani -11 12:47 PM 67 66 133
4 4 SHIN, Jiyai -10 12:47 PM 66 68 134
5 5 BLUMENHERST, Amanda -9 12:39 PM 68 67 135
T6 T6 JOHNSON, Jennifer -8 12:39 PM 69 67 136
T6 T6 CREAMER, Paula -8 12:31 PM 68 68 136
T6 T6 LINCICOME, Brittany -8 12:31 PM 67 69 136
T9 T9 KERR, Cristie -7 12:23 PM 70 67 137
T9 T9 PETTERSEN, Suzann -7 12:23 PM 70 67 137
T9 T9 PAK, Se Ri -7 12:15 PM 69 68 137
T9 T9 STUPPLES, Karen -7 12:15 PM 69 68 137
T9 T9 MATTHEW, Catriona -7 12:07 PM 68 69 137
T9 T9 WARD, Wendy -7 12:07 PM 68 69 137
T9 T9 INKSTER, Juli -7 11:51 AM 67 70 137
T9 T9 PRESSEL, Morgan -7 11:51 AM 68 69 137
CANADIAN Tour
2011 Western Championship
Rivershore Golf Links, Kamloops, BC
cantour.com: The star of the show on Friday was Canadian Tour rookie Travis Woolf who carded a course record tying 9-under-par 63 at Riverside Golf Links just outside of Kamloops, BC.
First round leader Ramon Bescansa of Spain is one shot back of Woolf at -13 and Canadian Stuart Anderson playing out of Sooke, BC is tied with Bescansa at 13 under-par for the tournament after firing a 6-under-par round of 66. Anderson, a three-time Canadian Tour winner, made six birdies, one eagle and two bogeys.
Top 10 Leaderboard
Travis Woolf, Fort Worth, TX 67-63 (-14)
Stuart Anderson, Sooke, BC 65-66 (-13)
Ramon Bescansa, Santiago, Spain 63-68 (-13)
Jeff Rangel, Martinez, CA 67-66 (-13)
Dustin Risdon, Strathmore, AB 65-67 (-12)
Thomas Petersson, Sweden 67-56 (-12)
Mauricio Molina, Boulogne, Buenos Aires 65-68 (-11)
Roger Sloan, Merritt, BC 64-70 (-10)
Hugo Leon, Chile 69-65 (-10)
Byron Smith, Palm Dessert, CA 67-67 (-10)
Joe Panzeri, Meridian, ID 66-68 (-10)
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
and at the Italian Open there were 26 Italian players in the field, compared to 15 years ago when the only one was Constantina Rocca..magnifico !!!
European Tour
BMW Italian Open
Turin Italy
This is Francisco Molinari's home course and he is T4 and I expect him to be right there come Sunday afternoon
1 ROCK, Robert -12 18 -4 64 68 - - 132
T2 WOOD, Chris -11 18 -3 64 69 - - 133
T2 LUITEN, Joost -11 18 -5 66 67 - - 133
T4 BOURDY, Grégory* -10 18 -4 66 68 - - 134
T4 MOLINARI, Francesco* -10 18 -4 66 68 - - 134
T4 DAVIES, Rhys* -10 18 -4 66 68 - - 134
T4 GAGLI, Lorenzo -10 18 -6 68 66 - - 134
T4 BOYD, Gary* -10 18 -7 69 65 - - 134
T4 MANASSERO, Matteo -10 18 -4 66 68 - - 134
T10 SINGH, Jeev Milkha* -9 18 -6 69 66 - - 135
T10 DUBUISSON, Victor* -9 18 -10 73 62 - - 135
T10 WHITEFORD, Peter* -9 18 -5 68 67 - - 135
T10 DE VRIES, Floris* -9 18 -8 71 64 - - 135
T10 RUMFORD, Brett -9 18 -6 69 66 - - 135
T10 WALL, Anthony -9 18 -4 67 68 - - 135
T10 HARTØ, Andreas* -9 18 -6 69 66 - - 135
PGA Tour
FedEx St. Jude Classic
TPC Southwind
Memphis, Tenn.
pgatour.com...Clearly Robert Karlsson has some good mojo in Memphis, and a liking for the golf course. Last year, he was a runner-up there and through two rounds this year is in the clubhouse at -9 with just two bogeys.
Friday, Karlsson went out in 31, starting on the back nine, with four birdies and no bogeys on his way to a 65. Karlsson has now had six straight rounds under par there dating back to last year.
“I like this golf course and I played quite well over two days, and I scored well and I just like this place,” Karlsson said. “I don’t know what to say more.”
Three Canucks made the cut which fell at +2..Nice to see Stephen Ames in contention for the weekend..
T7 13 117 Stephen Ames -3 F* -2 info 69 68 137
T23 3 116 David Hearn -1 F E info 69 70 139
T70 33 247 Graham DeLaet 2 F -1 info 73 69 142
CUT 249 Chris Baryla 72 72 144
CUT 230 Matt McQuillan 70 73 143
Top 10 Leaderboard...
1 1 27 Robert Karlsson -9 F* -5 color info 66 65 131
T2 82 Colt Knost -6 F* -2 color info 66 68 134
T2 5 15 Keegan Bradley -6 F -3 color info 67 67 134
4 2 92 John Merrick -5 F -1 color info 66 69 135
T5 49 38 Fredrik Jacobson -4 F -5 color info 71 65 136
T5 49 140 Harrison Frazar -4 F -5 color info 71 65 136
T7 26 110 George McNeill -3 F* -3 color info 70 67 137
T7 47 14 Brandt Snedeker -3 F* -4 color info 71 66 137
T7 13 117 Stephen Ames -3 F* -2 color info 69 68 137
T7 13 79 Scott Stallings -3 F* -2 color info 69 68 137
T7 6 129 David Mathis -3 F 2 color info 65 72 137
T7 152 Fabian Gomez -3 F E color info 67 70 137
T7 47 77 Nick O'Hern -3 F -4 color info 71 66 137
T7 26 60 Troy Matteson -3 F -3 color info 70 67 137
T7 5 114 Kris Blanks -3 F* 1 color info 66 71 137
CHAMPIONS Tour
Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn
Rock Barn Golf & Spa
Conover, N.C.
There is of course no cut on the Champions Tour and there are only 3 shots between Bob Tway -9 63 in 1st and 10th place. Mike Goodes went out in 28 strokes but stalled on the back nine after we all were thinking of the magical 59, but still he is T2 with a -8 64...
Our lone Canuck, Rod Spittle shot a decent -1 71, but the scoring was so low on the Rock Barn course that he is T59..
T59 -- Rod Spittle SC P -1 F -1 71 -- -- 71
Top 10 Leaderboard
1 -- Bob Tway SC P -9 F -9 63 -- -- 63
T2 -- Tommy Armour III SC P -8 F -8 64 -- -- 64
T2 -- Joe Ozaki SC P -8 F -8 64 -- -- 64
T2 -- Mike Goodes SC P -8 F -8 64 -- -- 64
T2 -- Mark Wiebe SC P -8 F -8 64 -- -- 64
T6 -- Mark Calcavecchia SC P -7 F -7 65 -- -- 65
T6 -- Mark O'Meara SC P -7 F -7 65 -- -- 65
T6 -- David Eger SC P -7 F -7 65 -- -- 65
T9 -- Keith Clearwater SC P -6 F -6 66 -- -- 66
T9 -- Jerry Pate SC P -6 F -6 66 -- -- 66
T9 -- Jeff Sluman SC P -6 F -6 66 -- -- 66
T9 -- Kenny Perry SC P -6 F -6 66 -- -- 66
T9 -- Larry Nelson SC P -6 F -6 66 -- -- 66
T9 -- Vicente Fernandez SC P -6 F -6 66 -- -- 66
T9 -- David Peoples SC P -6 F -6 66 -- -- 66
NATIONWIDE Tour
The Rex Hospital Open
TPC Wakefield Plantation
Raleigh, NC
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Scott Brown figures he's overdue. The 28-year-old from South Carolina began The Rex Hospital Open last year with a course record-tying 9-under 62. He was tied for sixth place after 54 holes but never got the chance to try and catch the leader because rain wiped out the final round.
Friday he shot -8 63 to top Texan Martin Flores (67) by one shot. Kyle Thompson, winner of this event in 2007, shot a 66 and is tied for third at 8-under par along with Ryan Armour, who matched his career-best finish with a T2 at last week's Melwood Prince George's County Open.
Jon Mills made 71,70 -1 made the cut on the number while Richard Lee and Bryan DeCorso (dq) did not..
Top 10 Leaderboard
1 T25 Scott Brown SC P -8 F * -10 69 63 -- -- 132
2 T4 Martin Flores SC P -4 F -9 66 67 -- -- 133
T3 T11 Kyle Thompson SC P -5 F -8 68 66 -- -- 134
T3 T11 Ryan Armour SC P -5 F * -8 68 66 -- -- 134
T5 T9 Danny Wax SC P -3 F * -7 67 68 -- -- 135
T5 T1 Kyle Reifers SC P -1 F * -7 65 70 -- -- 135
T5 T1 Matthew Richardson SC P -1 F * -7 65 70 -- -- 135
T5 T11 Greg Owen SC P -4 F -7 68 67 -- -- 135
T5 T39 Brian Stuard SC P -6 F -7 70 65 -- -- 135
T10 T4 J.J. Killeen SC P -1 F * -6 66 70 -- -- 136
T10 T39 James Hahn SC P -5 F -6 70 66 -- -- 136
T10 T4 Michael Sims SC P -1 F * -6 66 70 -- -- 136
T10 T11 Erik Compton SC P -3 F -6 68 68 -- -- 136
T10 T39 Rahil Gangjee SC P -5 F -6 70 66 -- -- 136
LPGA Tour
State Farm Classic
Panther Creek Course
Springfield, Illinois
lpgatour.com: After shooting a 5-under 67 on Friday, Mindy Kim leads by two shots through two rounds of the LPGA State Farm Classic at Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Ill. Kim followed up her career-low round of 64 with yet another birdie-filled round to put herself 13-under-par heading into the third round of play. Kim had seven birdies and two bogeys in her round on Friday. The 21-year-old currently sits two strokes ahead of Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng (66) and Shanshan Feng (65).
Unfortunately all our Canucks have MC which fell at -1, Lisa Meldrum, Jessica Shepley, Stephanie Sherlock, Alena Sharp, Samantha Richdale
Top 10 Leaderboard
1 1 KIM, Mindy -13 12:55 PM 64 67 131
T2 T2 FENG, Shanshan -11 12:55 PM 68 65 133
T2 T2 TSENG, Yani -11 12:47 PM 67 66 133
4 4 SHIN, Jiyai -10 12:47 PM 66 68 134
5 5 BLUMENHERST, Amanda -9 12:39 PM 68 67 135
T6 T6 JOHNSON, Jennifer -8 12:39 PM 69 67 136
T6 T6 CREAMER, Paula -8 12:31 PM 68 68 136
T6 T6 LINCICOME, Brittany -8 12:31 PM 67 69 136
T9 T9 KERR, Cristie -7 12:23 PM 70 67 137
T9 T9 PETTERSEN, Suzann -7 12:23 PM 70 67 137
T9 T9 PAK, Se Ri -7 12:15 PM 69 68 137
T9 T9 STUPPLES, Karen -7 12:15 PM 69 68 137
T9 T9 MATTHEW, Catriona -7 12:07 PM 68 69 137
T9 T9 WARD, Wendy -7 12:07 PM 68 69 137
T9 T9 INKSTER, Juli -7 11:51 AM 67 70 137
T9 T9 PRESSEL, Morgan -7 11:51 AM 68 69 137
CANADIAN Tour
2011 Western Championship
Rivershore Golf Links, Kamloops, BC
cantour.com: The star of the show on Friday was Canadian Tour rookie Travis Woolf who carded a course record tying 9-under-par 63 at Riverside Golf Links just outside of Kamloops, BC.
First round leader Ramon Bescansa of Spain is one shot back of Woolf at -13 and Canadian Stuart Anderson playing out of Sooke, BC is tied with Bescansa at 13 under-par for the tournament after firing a 6-under-par round of 66. Anderson, a three-time Canadian Tour winner, made six birdies, one eagle and two bogeys.
Top 10 Leaderboard
Travis Woolf, Fort Worth, TX 67-63 (-14)
Stuart Anderson, Sooke, BC 65-66 (-13)
Ramon Bescansa, Santiago, Spain 63-68 (-13)
Jeff Rangel, Martinez, CA 67-66 (-13)
Dustin Risdon, Strathmore, AB 65-67 (-12)
Thomas Petersson, Sweden 67-56 (-12)
Mauricio Molina, Boulogne, Buenos Aires 65-68 (-11)
Roger Sloan, Merritt, BC 64-70 (-10)
Hugo Leon, Chile 69-65 (-10)
Byron Smith, Palm Dessert, CA 67-67 (-10)
Joe Panzeri, Meridian, ID 66-68 (-10)
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
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