Weather report for Baltusrol http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/pga-championship/weather.html
PGA Championship leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
So far play is continuing at this soaking wet PGA Championship, they are playing in the rain but they have managed to dodge the worst of the weather which is all around them. The cells contain thunder and lightning, so it's all hour by hour, minute by minute, the horn to suspend play could come at any time... or not at all.
Round 3 resumed at 7 a.m. ET with Round 4 beginning at 8:40 a.m. for those players who were finished with Round 3 and Jimmy Walker (68) was still on top of the leaderboard at (-11) with Jason Day (67) one shot back. Brooks Koepka (66) and Henrik Stenson (67) are on -9.
Because they are not being re-paired the leaders will not be in the final pairing, they will stay the same as round 3, and officials have decide to let the players use preferred lies for their final rounds.
Paddy Harrington has finished his 4th round with a 68 and is the clubhouse leader at -6.
Walker is due to tee off at 3.15, Day at 3.07, Koepka at 2.49 and Stenson at 2,58 all off the first tee.
Bryan Angus
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Jutanugarn wins Ricoh Women's British Open
Ricoh Women's British Open final leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/ricohwomensbritishopen/leaderboard
It wasn't as easy as the final scoreboard reads : Ariya Jutanugarn 72 -16 total. Mirim Lee 73 -13 total. Jutanugarn wins her first major, her 4th title of the year, the Ricoh Women's British Open. She becomes the first player of either sex from Thailand to win a major golf title.
At the turn she had a 6 shot lead, but after 3 birdies by Lee, then a double bogey at the 13th, the lead was down to 1, but Jutanugarn steadied herself, and made a clutch, curling 16 footer for birdie 2 at the 17th for a little breathing room, and when Lee made a bogey at the last, the Thai star was home and dry.
Mo Martin battled all day, shot 70 to also finish at -13 T2 with Lee.
Canadian final scores : Alena Sharp 68 72 74 71 -3 T31, Brooke Henderson 71 72 72 75 +2 T50, Maude Aimee LeBlanc 71 71 73 79 +6 69th.
Bryan Angus
It wasn't as easy as the final scoreboard reads : Ariya Jutanugarn 72 -16 total. Mirim Lee 73 -13 total. Jutanugarn wins her first major, her 4th title of the year, the Ricoh Women's British Open. She becomes the first player of either sex from Thailand to win a major golf title.
At the turn she had a 6 shot lead, but after 3 birdies by Lee, then a double bogey at the 13th, the lead was down to 1, but Jutanugarn steadied herself, and made a clutch, curling 16 footer for birdie 2 at the 17th for a little breathing room, and when Lee made a bogey at the last, the Thai star was home and dry.
Mo Martin battled all day, shot 70 to also finish at -13 T2 with Lee.
Canadian final scores : Alena Sharp 68 72 74 71 -3 T31, Brooke Henderson 71 72 72 75 +2 T50, Maude Aimee LeBlanc 71 71 73 79 +6 69th.
Bryan Angus
Ariya Jutanugarn leads in the final round at Ricoh Women's British Open
Ricoh Women's British Open leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/ricohwomensbritishopen/leaderboard
The 20 year old Thai star Ariya Jutanugarn shot a bogey-free -6 66 -16 to lead this Ricoh Women's British Open by two strokes ahead of South Korea's Mirim Lee. who shot -3 69.
Mo Martin is third at -11 as she also shot 69. This little American won the 2014 British Open, and she leads the LPGA hitting 87% of fairways.
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew played with Jutanugarn, 26 years her junior and at 46 is trying to become the oldest major champion, had a -1 71 -10.
Jutanugarn is so long she doesn't carry a driver, rather hits a 2 iron. She is a different player than the one you may remember lost the ANA Inspiration at Rancho Mirage when she bogeyed the final three holes allowing Lydia Ko to steal the trophy.
She seems much calmer, says she just wants to have fun, and she may well be laughing later on today. She is certainly the one to catch as she has broken the 54-hole record of 201 set by Caroline Masson in 2011 at Carnoustie. The 72-hole mark is 269 by Karen Stupples in 2004 at Sunningdale.
Canadians: Alena Sharp shot a -2 70 T40, while Brooke Henderson and Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., both shot -1 71. They are all on course as I write.
Local favourite and Woburn member, Charley Hull played well on Saturday, but she opened with a triple bogey then the putts just didn't fall for her on her way to 75, -2 T40 but is out early today trying to post a low score for the huge galleries following her.
Listen for my report at 745 this morning on TSN1050..
Bryan Angus
The 20 year old Thai star Ariya Jutanugarn shot a bogey-free -6 66 -16 to lead this Ricoh Women's British Open by two strokes ahead of South Korea's Mirim Lee. who shot -3 69.
Mo Martin is third at -11 as she also shot 69. This little American won the 2014 British Open, and she leads the LPGA hitting 87% of fairways.
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew played with Jutanugarn, 26 years her junior and at 46 is trying to become the oldest major champion, had a -1 71 -10.
Jutanugarn is so long she doesn't carry a driver, rather hits a 2 iron. She is a different player than the one you may remember lost the ANA Inspiration at Rancho Mirage when she bogeyed the final three holes allowing Lydia Ko to steal the trophy.
She seems much calmer, says she just wants to have fun, and she may well be laughing later on today. She is certainly the one to catch as she has broken the 54-hole record of 201 set by Caroline Masson in 2011 at Carnoustie. The 72-hole mark is 269 by Karen Stupples in 2004 at Sunningdale.
Canadians: Alena Sharp shot a -2 70 T40, while Brooke Henderson and Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., both shot -1 71. They are all on course as I write.
Local favourite and Woburn member, Charley Hull played well on Saturday, but she opened with a triple bogey then the putts just didn't fall for her on her way to 75, -2 T40 but is out early today trying to post a low score for the huge galleries following her.
Listen for my report at 745 this morning on TSN1050..
Bryan Angus
PGA Championship set to resume at 7am this morning
PGA Championship leaderboard, tee times http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/pga-championship/leaderboard.html
At 215pm on Saturday play was suspended, then eventually abandoned. Here's what you need to know about play today.
*Jimmy Walker and Robert Streb, are in the lead at -9 but never did tee off as did 8 others. Only 37 of the 86 players who made the cut completed the third round
*The third round is scheduled to resume at 7 a.m., weather permitting. More rain is in the forecast today and tomorrow so this championship may end on Tuesday. The PGA said players would stay in the same pairings and go off in the same order for the final round, starting as early as 8:40 a.m which means some will be playing their 4th rounds while others are playing their 3rd.
*The players are warming up on the practice range right now. Here is the weather forecast https://www.google.ca/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=EcrMVb3XM4WN8QeTx63wAQ&gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+forecast+for+springfield+nj
* Players will return to where they finished to complete their 3rd rounds, and the leaders (5 pairings) will begin their rounds on the first tee.
* Players will not be allowed to lift clean and place
* Kevin Kisner had a -5 65 205 and Padraig Harrington also had a 65 -4 206 as they made the biggest moves up the leaderboard.
*Phil Mickelson who won here on a Monday finish in 2005 shot a 68 on Saturday to sit at -1 209 then had this to say. “There is a low 60s round,” I think somebody is going to break that 63 record in these next two days. The greens are pristine. You can make a lot of putts. They are soft, so you can get the ball very close. I think that there’s that 61 or 62 out there that I was probably trying to chase a little too hard.”
So plans are in place, but as always Mother Nature may not have received the memo. What I do know is this will now be a shootout with the course being so soft and greens receiving 4 irons like they were wedges.
Today will be a test of patience as much as golfing ability, also luck comes into play with the possibility of mud balls affecting ball flight.
Listen for my report on TSN1050 this morning at 745am.
Bryan Angus
At 215pm on Saturday play was suspended, then eventually abandoned. Here's what you need to know about play today.
*Jimmy Walker and Robert Streb, are in the lead at -9 but never did tee off as did 8 others. Only 37 of the 86 players who made the cut completed the third round
*The third round is scheduled to resume at 7 a.m., weather permitting. More rain is in the forecast today and tomorrow so this championship may end on Tuesday. The PGA said players would stay in the same pairings and go off in the same order for the final round, starting as early as 8:40 a.m which means some will be playing their 4th rounds while others are playing their 3rd.
*The players are warming up on the practice range right now. Here is the weather forecast https://www.google.ca/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=EcrMVb3XM4WN8QeTx63wAQ&gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+forecast+for+springfield+nj
* Players will return to where they finished to complete their 3rd rounds, and the leaders (5 pairings) will begin their rounds on the first tee.
* Players will not be allowed to lift clean and place
* Kevin Kisner had a -5 65 205 and Padraig Harrington also had a 65 -4 206 as they made the biggest moves up the leaderboard.
*Phil Mickelson who won here on a Monday finish in 2005 shot a 68 on Saturday to sit at -1 209 then had this to say. “There is a low 60s round,” I think somebody is going to break that 63 record in these next two days. The greens are pristine. You can make a lot of putts. They are soft, so you can get the ball very close. I think that there’s that 61 or 62 out there that I was probably trying to chase a little too hard.”
So plans are in place, but as always Mother Nature may not have received the memo. What I do know is this will now be a shootout with the course being so soft and greens receiving 4 irons like they were wedges.
Today will be a test of patience as much as golfing ability, also luck comes into play with the possibility of mud balls affecting ball flight.
Listen for my report on TSN1050 this morning at 745am.
Bryan Angus
Saturday, July 30, 2016
International field set to contend for Ricoh Women's British Open title
Ricoh Women's British Open leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/ricohwomensbritishopen/leaderboard
Fittingly with the sporting world heading to Rio for the summer Olympics, there are players from 10 different countries in the top 10 with round 3 well under way at the Ricoh Women's British Open.
I have to report that none are from Canada. Brooke Henderson has just completed her third round with E 72 for -1 215 total the same score as Maude Aimee LeBlanc who shot 73. Alena Sharp is on her back nine and is at -2.
Scotland's Catriona Matthew with her hubby on the bag is currently tied for the lead at -12 with Ariya Jutanagarn from Thailand who drives her 2 iron well past the Scots best driver.
Next at -10 come a pair of South Koreans, Ha Na Jang and Mirim Lee, then the Americans led by Mo Martin at -9 along with Chinese star Shanshan Feng.
Lexi Thompson and soon to be married Stacy Lewis are on -8.
Karrie Webb from Australia, Nicole Larsen from Denmark, Camilla Lennarth from Sweden and Azahara Munoz from Spain are also all in the mix.
For my money the powerful young 20 year old Thai star Ariya Jutanagarn is the favourite, and I think if she really wants it, she has all the tools to be the next great player to join Lydia Ko and Brooke Henderson on the LPGA tour.
Bryan Angus
Fittingly with the sporting world heading to Rio for the summer Olympics, there are players from 10 different countries in the top 10 with round 3 well under way at the Ricoh Women's British Open.
I have to report that none are from Canada. Brooke Henderson has just completed her third round with E 72 for -1 215 total the same score as Maude Aimee LeBlanc who shot 73. Alena Sharp is on her back nine and is at -2.
Scotland's Catriona Matthew with her hubby on the bag is currently tied for the lead at -12 with Ariya Jutanagarn from Thailand who drives her 2 iron well past the Scots best driver.
Next at -10 come a pair of South Koreans, Ha Na Jang and Mirim Lee, then the Americans led by Mo Martin at -9 along with Chinese star Shanshan Feng.
Lexi Thompson and soon to be married Stacy Lewis are on -8.
Karrie Webb from Australia, Nicole Larsen from Denmark, Camilla Lennarth from Sweden and Azahara Munoz from Spain are also all in the mix.
For my money the powerful young 20 year old Thai star Ariya Jutanagarn is the favourite, and I think if she really wants it, she has all the tools to be the next great player to join Lydia Ko and Brooke Henderson on the LPGA tour.
Bryan Angus
Stars move into contention at PGA Championship
PGA Championship leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/pga-championship/leaderboard.html
With all due respect to leaders Jimmy Walker (66) and Robert Streb (63) for the average golf fan, Friday was a day the star players moved into contention at this years PGA Championship at Baltusrol.
Twelve players are within five shots of the their lead at -9 when round 3 begins today and they include Jason Day 65 -7, Henrik Stenson 67 -6, Martin Kaymer 69 -5, Patrick Reed 65 -5, Rickie Fowler 68 -4 and Jordan Spieth is 6 back at -3 after his 67.
Adding to the mix, Phil Mickelson as I mentioned yesterday hit his opening tee shot so far off line it left Baltusrol and bounded down an adjoining street, then had a spectator pick up his provisional leading to a triple bogey, but in typical fashion he recovered to make the cut on +1 after a 70. For you Bubba fans he is on E after his 69, which included a drive, albeit downwind of 386 yards !..
Rory McIlroy will not be around as he failed to birdie the 18th to miss the cut as he was great from tee to green but didn't make a putt over two days.
The all important weather forecast for Springfield NJ is for scattered thunderstorms today and tomorrow so it will be a long day if the weathermen are right.
Streb hasn't been in contention since this tournament last year, but he joined Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf , and Thomas Bjorn in the club that have shot 63 at Baltusrol, while Walker has been working hard behind the scenes with Butch Harmon to improve his forgettable 2016 season.
Day made seven birdies in eight holes starting on #8 for his 65 and as defending champion he can match his pal Tiger Woods back-to-back PGA champions.
He is on the same -7 score as I guy I have been touting for the last few years, Emiliano Grillo, who is from the Argentine but lives and went to school in Florida. He has a simple, effective swing and has the putter working on these Baltusrol greens so far.
So I expect a long day ahead, with several weather delays, remember they get everybody off the course when lightning moves within 20 miles for safety.
As we say in broadcasting, stay tuned...
Bryan Angus
With all due respect to leaders Jimmy Walker (66) and Robert Streb (63) for the average golf fan, Friday was a day the star players moved into contention at this years PGA Championship at Baltusrol.
Twelve players are within five shots of the their lead at -9 when round 3 begins today and they include Jason Day 65 -7, Henrik Stenson 67 -6, Martin Kaymer 69 -5, Patrick Reed 65 -5, Rickie Fowler 68 -4 and Jordan Spieth is 6 back at -3 after his 67.
Adding to the mix, Phil Mickelson as I mentioned yesterday hit his opening tee shot so far off line it left Baltusrol and bounded down an adjoining street, then had a spectator pick up his provisional leading to a triple bogey, but in typical fashion he recovered to make the cut on +1 after a 70. For you Bubba fans he is on E after his 69, which included a drive, albeit downwind of 386 yards !..
Rory McIlroy will not be around as he failed to birdie the 18th to miss the cut as he was great from tee to green but didn't make a putt over two days.
The all important weather forecast for Springfield NJ is for scattered thunderstorms today and tomorrow so it will be a long day if the weathermen are right.
Streb hasn't been in contention since this tournament last year, but he joined Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf , and Thomas Bjorn in the club that have shot 63 at Baltusrol, while Walker has been working hard behind the scenes with Butch Harmon to improve his forgettable 2016 season.
Day made seven birdies in eight holes starting on #8 for his 65 and as defending champion he can match his pal Tiger Woods back-to-back PGA champions.
He is on the same -7 score as I guy I have been touting for the last few years, Emiliano Grillo, who is from the Argentine but lives and went to school in Florida. He has a simple, effective swing and has the putter working on these Baltusrol greens so far.
So I expect a long day ahead, with several weather delays, remember they get everybody off the course when lightning moves within 20 miles for safety.
As we say in broadcasting, stay tuned...
Bryan Angus
Friday, July 29, 2016
Mirim Lee's lead slashed after round 2 at Ricoh Women's British Open
Ricoh Women's British Open leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/ricohwomensbritishopen/leaderboard
They have finished play for round two at Woburn at this Women's British Open and Mirim Lee has followed her opening round 62 with a 71 and she ended up at -11, just a shot ahead of Chinese star Shanshan Feng 66 68 -10. Ariya Jutanugarn shot 69 to join Feng at -10.
Scotland's best female golfer Catriona Matthew has shot a 65 to get into a T4 at -9.
Diminutive American Mo Martin has shot 68 68 -8 and she is alone in 6th.
It was a wet morning, but the sun came out and it was a very pleasant afternoon just 25 miles north of London.
Ian Poulter plays out of Woburn and he was critical this morning of how short the officials made the course for round one which along with a soft course is why the scoring was so low.
Charley Hull also has Woburn as her home course and she was out early with a round of 70 to finish at -5.
Maude Aimee LeBlanc shot -1 71 T33, Brooke Henderson E 72 T47-1 and Alena Sharp who began the day T6 shot E 72 and is now T15 at -4
Bryan Angus
They have finished play for round two at Woburn at this Women's British Open and Mirim Lee has followed her opening round 62 with a 71 and she ended up at -11, just a shot ahead of Chinese star Shanshan Feng 66 68 -10. Ariya Jutanugarn shot 69 to join Feng at -10.
Scotland's best female golfer Catriona Matthew has shot a 65 to get into a T4 at -9.
Diminutive American Mo Martin has shot 68 68 -8 and she is alone in 6th.
It was a wet morning, but the sun came out and it was a very pleasant afternoon just 25 miles north of London.
Ian Poulter plays out of Woburn and he was critical this morning of how short the officials made the course for round one which along with a soft course is why the scoring was so low.
Charley Hull also has Woburn as her home course and she was out early with a round of 70 to finish at -5.
Maude Aimee LeBlanc shot -1 71 T33, Brooke Henderson E 72 T47-1 and Alena Sharp who began the day T6 shot E 72 and is now T15 at -4
Bryan Angus
Henrik Stenson takes the clubhouse lead at PGA Championship
PGA Championship new tee times http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/scoring/leaderboard
Baltusrol located just 25 miles west of New York City in Springfield NJ is built on the side of a hill in a farming area which will help the water run off and that is the good news, the bad news is that water in the form of rain fell on Monday and has moved into the area overnight and the system is now forecast to stay over the weekend.
Holes 13 and 18 in particular are in the lowest part of the course and they were posing the biggest threat to the greenskeeping staff
As a result play was suspended early this morning and players were being held in position on the course. The cut is projected at +1
Here is the official forecast https://www.google.ca/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=EcrMVb3XM4WN8QeTx63wAQ&gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+forecast+springfield+new+jersey
The sun finally came out at 11am and Henrik Stenson has continued his fine form with a second straight 67 and he is the clubhouse leader at -6.
Martin Kaymer with a 69 and Patrick Reed 65 are T2 -5. Jordan Spieth is 70 67 -3.
Phil Mickelson hit his first drive OB and had a spectator pick up his provisional. What a start !!
Bryan Angus
Baltusrol located just 25 miles west of New York City in Springfield NJ is built on the side of a hill in a farming area which will help the water run off and that is the good news, the bad news is that water in the form of rain fell on Monday and has moved into the area overnight and the system is now forecast to stay over the weekend.
Holes 13 and 18 in particular are in the lowest part of the course and they were posing the biggest threat to the greenskeeping staff
As a result play was suspended early this morning and players were being held in position on the course. The cut is projected at +1
Here is the official forecast https://www.google.ca/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=EcrMVb3XM4WN8QeTx63wAQ&gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+forecast+springfield+new+jersey
The sun finally came out at 11am and Henrik Stenson has continued his fine form with a second straight 67 and he is the clubhouse leader at -6.
Martin Kaymer with a 69 and Patrick Reed 65 are T2 -5. Jordan Spieth is 70 67 -3.
Phil Mickelson hit his first drive OB and had a spectator pick up his provisional. What a start !!
Bryan Angus
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Walker leads PGA Championship, DJ, Rory, struggle
PGA Championship leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/pga-championship/leaderboard.html
Golf Digest ..
Jimmy Walker's early lead on Thursday stood up and he's the sole leader after the first round of the PGA Championship following a round of five-under par 65 at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield Township, N.J.
It was his best score in a major championship and in pursuit of his first major championship gave the 37-year-old a one-stroke lead over Martin Kaymer, Emiliano Grillo and Ross Fisher.
Golf Digest ..
Jimmy Walker's early lead on Thursday stood up and he's the sole leader after the first round of the PGA Championship following a round of five-under par 65 at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield Township, N.J.
It was his best score in a major championship and in pursuit of his first major championship gave the 37-year-old a one-stroke lead over Martin Kaymer, Emiliano Grillo and Ross Fisher.
Baltusrol, meanwhile, also victimized some of golf's best. Dustin Johnson, the winner of the U.S. Open, had one of the worst days, shooting a seven-over par 77. He is tied for 143rd, and only five players shot worse rounds.
Likewise, two-time PGA Championship winner Rory McIlroy shot a four-over 74. He is tied with Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk and John Daly, all whom will need strong second-round scores to play the weekend.
Phil Mickelson, following his second place finish at the British Open, shot a one-over 71. He is tied with Sergio Garcia and Bubba Watson for 54th, six strokes off the lead.
Henrik Stenson, the British Open winner two weeks ago, shot a three-under 67 to jump out into a tie for fifth, with Harris English, Andy Sullivan and James Hahn. They are two strokes off the lead.
Jason Day, the reigning PGA Championship winner, had one of the better rounds with a two-under 68. He is tied for ninth with Rickie Fowler and Brooks Koepka, and three strokes off the lead.
Jordan Spieth birdied two of his final three holes to shoot an even-par 70, tying for 36th with Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Branden Grace and Andrew Johnston.
Mirim Lee sets record, Alena Sharp T6 Ricoh Women's British Open
Ricoh Women's British Open leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/ricohwomensbritishopen/leaderboard
AP ...
Canadian Olympian, Alena Sharp collected four birdies and an eagle on the par-4 12th hole en route to a -4 68 to complete her first round at this Ricoh Women's British Open 6 shots off the lead T6. Her teammate and World No. 2 Brooke Henderson opened with a -1 71 to sit T31 alongside Maude-Aimée Leblanc.
The leader is South Korean Mirim Lee who equaled the lowest-ever round at the Women’s British Open by shooting a -10 62.
She had 10 birdies for a three-stroke advantage over Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, who carded a bogey-free round of 65 on the Marquess Course at Woburn Golf Club.
Lee matched Minea Blomqvist’s -10 62 in the third round of the 2004 British Open at Sunningdale.
China’sShanshan Feng completed an all-Asian top three with a -6 66.
English star Charley Hull, playing on her home course, birdied two of the last three holes for a share of 11th place after a -3 69.
Top-ranked Lydia Ko and four-time major winner Laura Davies have work to do in order to make the cut after both carded 74. Ko played late and got the worst of the weather as rain and wind came in the afternoon.
AP ...
Canadian Olympian, Alena Sharp collected four birdies and an eagle on the par-4 12th hole en route to a -4 68 to complete her first round at this Ricoh Women's British Open 6 shots off the lead T6. Her teammate and World No. 2 Brooke Henderson opened with a -1 71 to sit T31 alongside Maude-Aimée Leblanc.
The leader is South Korean Mirim Lee who equaled the lowest-ever round at the Women’s British Open by shooting a -10 62.
She had 10 birdies for a three-stroke advantage over Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, who carded a bogey-free round of 65 on the Marquess Course at Woburn Golf Club.
Lee matched Minea Blomqvist’s -10 62 in the third round of the 2004 British Open at Sunningdale.
China’sShanshan Feng completed an all-Asian top three with a -6 66.
English star Charley Hull, playing on her home course, birdied two of the last three holes for a share of 11th place after a -3 69.
Top-ranked Lydia Ko and four-time major winner Laura Davies have work to do in order to make the cut after both carded 74. Ko played late and got the worst of the weather as rain and wind came in the afternoon.
PGA Championship, Ricoh Women's British Open leaderboards..
We are right in the thick of this hectic summer of golf. This week there are two majors to savour.
Ladies first, and the world's best women including Brooke Henderson, Alena Sharp and Maude Aimee LeBlanc are at Charlie Hull and Ian Poulter's home course, historic Woburn in Milton Keynes, 45 miles NW of London for the Ricoh Women's British Open. Unlike Turnberry where Inbee Park completed her Grand Slam last year, Woburn is a parkland, tree lined course with what many consider the toughest 5 hole finish on the European Tour circuit.
Ricoh Women's British Open leaderboard
http://www.lpga.com/leaderboard
Round 1 is well underway under partially sunny skies and a freshening breeze, Brooke Henderson has opened with -1 71. The clubhouse leader is the stocky young Thai sensation Ariya Jutanurgan with a powerful -7 65.
Stacy Lewis is two shots back -5 67. Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson and unofficial host Charlie Hull are in the afternoon wave as is Maude Aimee LeBlanc.
Alena Sharp is E through 10 holes thus far..
PGA Tour PGA Championship leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Phil Mickelson are the featured group at 830am off the 10th tee this morning, as the men begin their fourth and final major of the year at Baltusrol, in Springfield NJ just 20 miles west of New York City.
Mickelson won the 2005 PGA Championship the last time it was played here, Jack Nicklaus won the US Open on this AW Tillinghast classic in 1967 and 1980. Rory won the PGA in 2012 and 2014 and Jason is the defending champion.
Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson and Sergio Garcia are the top pairing at 1.25 in the afternoon wave.
The weather is warm and muggy with little wind, so ideal weather for scoring. There are no Canadians in the field.
Bryan Angus
Ladies first, and the world's best women including Brooke Henderson, Alena Sharp and Maude Aimee LeBlanc are at Charlie Hull and Ian Poulter's home course, historic Woburn in Milton Keynes, 45 miles NW of London for the Ricoh Women's British Open. Unlike Turnberry where Inbee Park completed her Grand Slam last year, Woburn is a parkland, tree lined course with what many consider the toughest 5 hole finish on the European Tour circuit.
Ricoh Women's British Open leaderboard
http://www.lpga.com/leaderboard
Round 1 is well underway under partially sunny skies and a freshening breeze, Brooke Henderson has opened with -1 71. The clubhouse leader is the stocky young Thai sensation Ariya Jutanurgan with a powerful -7 65.
Stacy Lewis is two shots back -5 67. Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson and unofficial host Charlie Hull are in the afternoon wave as is Maude Aimee LeBlanc.
Alena Sharp is E through 10 holes thus far..
PGA Tour PGA Championship leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Phil Mickelson are the featured group at 830am off the 10th tee this morning, as the men begin their fourth and final major of the year at Baltusrol, in Springfield NJ just 20 miles west of New York City.
Mickelson won the 2005 PGA Championship the last time it was played here, Jack Nicklaus won the US Open on this AW Tillinghast classic in 1967 and 1980. Rory won the PGA in 2012 and 2014 and Jason is the defending champion.
Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson and Sergio Garcia are the top pairing at 1.25 in the afternoon wave.
The weather is warm and muggy with little wind, so ideal weather for scoring. There are no Canadians in the field.
Bryan Angus
Monday, July 25, 2016
Broadhurst wins Senior Open, USA the UL International Crown
Here is a wrap of the other significant golf news this weekend.
European Tour Senior Open Championship final leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/senior-open-championship-pres-by-rolex.html
Under rather benign conditions at Carnoustie the record books will show that English journeyman Paul Broadhurst won the Senior Open Championship for his first senior major title, closing with a -4 68 for a two-stroke victory over Scott McCarron.
It's a "massive deal" as he said, for a guy who just turned 50, who's son told people in his local supermarket " my Dad used to be a good golfer", and in a nice moment after his round he was hugged by his wife, and that son, to whom he said " I guess I'm a good golfer again !" I will say that between Broadhurst and Jesper Parnevik they need to get Valium as a sponsor. Man, they are both wound up tighter than a bull's backside in fly season.
Sadly for me the other side of the story was the collapse of Miguel Jimenez who was so in control in round 3, but after he missed a little 4 footer on the 4th green he was not the same guy and he slipped to a 75 to drop into a T3 with Magnus Atlevi (67) at -8. He was vying for his first major win as well.
Kerr and her team mates were shut out in the first session of the LPGA Tour event, but they got progressively better each day. Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller each closed out wins before Reid missed a birdie putt on 16, handing the decisive victory to Kerr.
“I think I play better when there is more pressure,” said Kerr, who was the last player to tee off for the U.S.
Lewis and Piller ran to the green for a group hug with Kerr when it was over. Kerr’s caddie, Brady Stockton, grabbed the flag at 16 to save it for his player.
Lexi Thompson lost 2 and 1 to South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu, and then joined the celebration at a muggy Merit Club about 40 miles northwest of Chicago.
The Americans won a silver trophy, and each of the players took home a crown and $100,000 apiece.
Bryan Angus
European Tour Senior Open Championship final leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/senior-open-championship-pres-by-rolex.html
Under rather benign conditions at Carnoustie the record books will show that English journeyman Paul Broadhurst won the Senior Open Championship for his first senior major title, closing with a -4 68 for a two-stroke victory over Scott McCarron.
It's a "massive deal" as he said, for a guy who just turned 50, who's son told people in his local supermarket " my Dad used to be a good golfer", and in a nice moment after his round he was hugged by his wife, and that son, to whom he said " I guess I'm a good golfer again !" I will say that between Broadhurst and Jesper Parnevik they need to get Valium as a sponsor. Man, they are both wound up tighter than a bull's backside in fly season.
Sadly for me the other side of the story was the collapse of Miguel Jimenez who was so in control in round 3, but after he missed a little 4 footer on the 4th green he was not the same guy and he slipped to a 75 to drop into a T3 with Magnus Atlevi (67) at -8. He was vying for his first major win as well.
“The 75 was the other side of the coin from Saturday,” Jimenez said. “I was a little bit tense, not loose in the beginning of the round, and then didn’t play as well as yesterday.”
LPGA Tour UL International Crown http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/international-crown/leaderboard
Format for the International Crown http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/international-crown/format
I have included an explanation of the format for this confusing event, now in it's second year. It is sponsored by Rolex, one of the tour's official sponsors so I believe this is to reward them and also give players from Asia who can't play in the Solheim Cup, a team event to compete in.
AP....Cristie Kerr held on for a 3-and-2 victory over Melissa Reid of England to give the United States the UL International Crown.
“I think I play better when there is more pressure,” said Kerr, who was the last player to tee off for the U.S.
Lewis and Piller ran to the green for a group hug with Kerr when it was over. Kerr’s caddie, Brady Stockton, grabbed the flag at 16 to save it for his player.
Lexi Thompson lost 2 and 1 to South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu, and then joined the celebration at a muggy Merit Club about 40 miles northwest of Chicago.
The Americans won a silver trophy, and each of the players took home a crown and $100,000 apiece.
Bryan Angus
Vegas the champion, duToit the winner at RBC Canadian Open
PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/rbc-canadian-open/leaderboard.html
Monday's are always so anti climatic when you are at a course that has just hosted a championship, I know as I have played on them many times as that is when they hold the volunteer or media rounds.
The stands are empty and being dismantled, there is garbage blowing around, of course the players, and fans are all gone, the storylines have all been told, it's kind of haunting..
In the end the young Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas emerged from the pack with 5 birdies on the front nine and three in a row to finish for a -8 64 -12 total to become this year's champion. He earned US$1,062,000 and a spot in the PGA Championship next week at Baltusrol in New Jersey and also received a two-year tour exemption and a spot in the Masters next year. Jon Rahm 67, Martin Laird 67 and Dustin Johnson 69 all finished T2 at -11.
However this year's winner was the kid, Jarad du Toit who didn't have his A game, battled to a 71 -9 total, good enough to T9, just 3 shots from history.
The weather change didn't help him. It dawned cloudy with a cooler easterly wind which made the Abbey more receptive, more gettable and early 63's by George Coetzee and Brian Harmon told us that all the guys in the pack around du Toit were going to be able to go flag hunting.
Also a note here that the pros don't play the early holes on the front nine in the same order we do. Our #1 is #10 for them. Our #4 is #1 for them and so on.
du Toit caught a bad break when his 3 wood at the first went into the fairway bunker. He saved par with a neat little chip, stiff. Then he caught his second bad break when his bombed drive on the par 5 2nd drew into the semi rough and he was partial blocked by an overhanging tree. He smacked a low draw down the fairway but it ran right up under the lip of a greenside bunker and he had to come out sideways, but again managed to 2 putt to save par when birdie was more likely.
So not the smoothest of starts and so he battled all day, out in 1 over, back in 2 under for his 71. What you might not know is he was suffering from bronchitis, and his coach Coach Derek Ingram had to take him to Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital where he spent much of his Saturday evening getting only five hours of sleep.
He left the Abbey "on cloud nine" as he put it, full of confidence, better for the experience to return to Arizona State to complete his final year, where I'm sure the tournaments he plays in will come much easier after this week in Toronto.
It was awesome,” said du Toit . “I probably could have shot a hundred out here and they would have been behind my back all day. Honestly unbelievable"
The fans who packed the 18th green gave him, all decked out in his Team Canada red and black, a standing ovation when he birdied the last, and as he was given the Gary Cowan medal as the lowest scoring amateur player he got the loudest cheer of the ceremonies.
For the record Adam Hadwin (71) T49th at -1, amateur Garrett Rank (76) was in a group T77th +8 and Corey Conners (78) finished at +12, 80th.
Nobody knew the kid on Thursday, only 15 friends followed him, but that's not the case now, this championship will always be remembered as the one he didn't quite win, but still emerged as the winner !
Bryan Angus
Monday's are always so anti climatic when you are at a course that has just hosted a championship, I know as I have played on them many times as that is when they hold the volunteer or media rounds.
The stands are empty and being dismantled, there is garbage blowing around, of course the players, and fans are all gone, the storylines have all been told, it's kind of haunting..
In the end the young Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas emerged from the pack with 5 birdies on the front nine and three in a row to finish for a -8 64 -12 total to become this year's champion. He earned US$1,062,000 and a spot in the PGA Championship next week at Baltusrol in New Jersey and also received a two-year tour exemption and a spot in the Masters next year. Jon Rahm 67, Martin Laird 67 and Dustin Johnson 69 all finished T2 at -11.
However this year's winner was the kid, Jarad du Toit who didn't have his A game, battled to a 71 -9 total, good enough to T9, just 3 shots from history.
The weather change didn't help him. It dawned cloudy with a cooler easterly wind which made the Abbey more receptive, more gettable and early 63's by George Coetzee and Brian Harmon told us that all the guys in the pack around du Toit were going to be able to go flag hunting.
Also a note here that the pros don't play the early holes on the front nine in the same order we do. Our #1 is #10 for them. Our #4 is #1 for them and so on.
du Toit caught a bad break when his 3 wood at the first went into the fairway bunker. He saved par with a neat little chip, stiff. Then he caught his second bad break when his bombed drive on the par 5 2nd drew into the semi rough and he was partial blocked by an overhanging tree. He smacked a low draw down the fairway but it ran right up under the lip of a greenside bunker and he had to come out sideways, but again managed to 2 putt to save par when birdie was more likely.
So not the smoothest of starts and so he battled all day, out in 1 over, back in 2 under for his 71. What you might not know is he was suffering from bronchitis, and his coach Coach Derek Ingram had to take him to Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital where he spent much of his Saturday evening getting only five hours of sleep.
He left the Abbey "on cloud nine" as he put it, full of confidence, better for the experience to return to Arizona State to complete his final year, where I'm sure the tournaments he plays in will come much easier after this week in Toronto.
It was awesome,” said du Toit . “I probably could have shot a hundred out here and they would have been behind my back all day. Honestly unbelievable"
The fans who packed the 18th green gave him, all decked out in his Team Canada red and black, a standing ovation when he birdied the last, and as he was given the Gary Cowan medal as the lowest scoring amateur player he got the loudest cheer of the ceremonies.
For the record Adam Hadwin (71) T49th at -1, amateur Garrett Rank (76) was in a group T77th +8 and Corey Conners (78) finished at +12, 80th.
Nobody knew the kid on Thursday, only 15 friends followed him, but that's not the case now, this championship will always be remembered as the one he didn't quite win, but still emerged as the winner !
Bryan Angus
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Nothing to lose, everything to gain for Jared du Toit at RBC Canadian Open
PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/rbc-canadian-open/leaderboard.html
Nobody in this country, nor anywhere else expects young Jared du Toit to go out today and win our national championship, the RBC Canadian Open.... but he just might which makes today absolutely intriguing.
If I were advising this 21 year old, the top ranked amateur in Canada, I would tell him he has nothing to lose, everything to gain, so just try and put all the impossibles out of his mind and go out and enjoy another hot sunny day at the Abbey.
If you had forgotten let me remind you a Canadian hasn’t won the national golf championship since 1954, when Pat Fletcher accomplished the feat at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf Club.
Further, an amateur hasn’t won the Canadian Open since American Doug Sanders at Montreal’s Beaconsfield Golf Club in 1956. The last amateur to win a pro event was Phil Mickelson in 1991.
Not one of his Canadian golfing heroes, Mike Weir, Graham DeLaet, David Hearn, nor legends like George Knudson, Moe Norman, Al Balding have won it before him. Almost all had their chances but couldn't get it done.
He made a curling 40 footer on the 18th hole for eagle and -2 70 -8 total which means he'll be in the final pairing with Brandt Snedeker at 1.35 today. Snedeker made a much shorter version of the same putt to shoot a -6 66 to take the lead at -9. Pretty heady company for the kid, eh!
Then right behind du Toit on the same -8 score lurks Dustin Johnson (71) who started the day as the co-leader with Luke List who slipped to a 77. Then there is American Steve Wheatcroft (64) and Germany’s Alex Cejka (69) T4 at -7
Then there is his roommate from college Jon Rahm, who was T3 with du Toit at the start of Saturday’s third round, and shot 72 to remain at -6 in a group that includes Matt Kuchar, Ricky Barnes, Martin Laird, all world class pros, household names..
It would seem impossible for du Toit, but it is still possible. When asked if he thought he could win he had this to say "I have no idea. I’ve been surprising myself all week,” he said. “If I play good, solid golf, get a good night’s sleep, do all the little things right, yeah, I like my chances"
All of Canada is in his corner, he is already a winner just getting this far, so like I said, nothing to lose, everything to gain... go get 'em kid.
The other Canucks who are cheering du Toit on today are Adam Hadwin (74) T44 E, while amateur Garret Rank (76) T71st at +4 and Corey Conners (76) 78th, at +6
Bryan Angus
Nobody in this country, nor anywhere else expects young Jared du Toit to go out today and win our national championship, the RBC Canadian Open.... but he just might which makes today absolutely intriguing.
If I were advising this 21 year old, the top ranked amateur in Canada, I would tell him he has nothing to lose, everything to gain, so just try and put all the impossibles out of his mind and go out and enjoy another hot sunny day at the Abbey.
If you had forgotten let me remind you a Canadian hasn’t won the national golf championship since 1954, when Pat Fletcher accomplished the feat at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf Club.
Further, an amateur hasn’t won the Canadian Open since American Doug Sanders at Montreal’s Beaconsfield Golf Club in 1956. The last amateur to win a pro event was Phil Mickelson in 1991.
Not one of his Canadian golfing heroes, Mike Weir, Graham DeLaet, David Hearn, nor legends like George Knudson, Moe Norman, Al Balding have won it before him. Almost all had their chances but couldn't get it done.
He made a curling 40 footer on the 18th hole for eagle and -2 70 -8 total which means he'll be in the final pairing with Brandt Snedeker at 1.35 today. Snedeker made a much shorter version of the same putt to shoot a -6 66 to take the lead at -9. Pretty heady company for the kid, eh!
Then right behind du Toit on the same -8 score lurks Dustin Johnson (71) who started the day as the co-leader with Luke List who slipped to a 77. Then there is American Steve Wheatcroft (64) and Germany’s Alex Cejka (69) T4 at -7
Then there is his roommate from college Jon Rahm, who was T3 with du Toit at the start of Saturday’s third round, and shot 72 to remain at -6 in a group that includes Matt Kuchar, Ricky Barnes, Martin Laird, all world class pros, household names..
It would seem impossible for du Toit, but it is still possible. When asked if he thought he could win he had this to say "I have no idea. I’ve been surprising myself all week,” he said. “If I play good, solid golf, get a good night’s sleep, do all the little things right, yeah, I like my chances"
All of Canada is in his corner, he is already a winner just getting this far, so like I said, nothing to lose, everything to gain... go get 'em kid.
The other Canucks who are cheering du Toit on today are Adam Hadwin (74) T44 E, while amateur Garret Rank (76) T71st at +4 and Corey Conners (76) 78th, at +6
Bryan Angus
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Jared du Toit in unchartered waters at RBC Canadian Open
PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/rbc-canadian-open/leaderboard.html
All our lawns in the GTA are baked brown as we endure this summer long heat wave and drought and despite a world class irrigation system, Glen Abbey is getting browner, harder and faster as Saturday dawns under another rain free day of blue skies, record temperatures and blustery winds.
Young Canadian amateur Jared du Toit from BC is as hot as the weather, playing what he describes as "out of his mind" and with rounds of 67 71 he is T3 at -6 just a shot off the lead, along with rising Spanish star and his Arizona State roommate Jon Rahm, and an American called Kelly Kraft.
Going into the weekend he is the low Canadian and low amateur. On Friday he was tied for first with the leaders, Dustin Johnson and 309th ranked Luke List at -7 until he made a triple bogey on the par-5 2nd hole, but to his credit he recovered with 3 straight birdies. He praised his caddy, local golfer Sean Burke.
“He kind of, you know, theoretically cracked me in the head and said ‘hey, get your head back in the game and stick to the game plan and keep doing what you’re doing,”’ said du Toit of his caddy’s advice.
Sadly du Toit isn't paired with Rahm today, rather he will play with Ricky Barnes in the 3rd last pairing at 1.15pm.
Only 4 of the 14 Canadians made the cut at +2. Along with du Toit who remember is an amateur, Adam Hadwin recovered with -2 70 T21 at -2. Amateur Garrett Rank (75) is T36 E, while Corey Conners 75 71 +2 just made the cut on the number.
Other Canadian scores: Adam Cornelson (73) +4, Nick Taylor (74), Graham De Laet (72) and David Hearn (75) are all finished at +5.
Ottawa’s Brad Fritsch (74) +7, Branson Ferrier (74) +8, Mike Weir (75) +9 while our other amateurs Blair Hamilton (79) was +12 and Hugo Bernard (76) +13. Montreal’s Dave Levesque (75) finished +16.
As for the leaders Luke List birdied the par 5 18th hole to draw even with tournament favourite Dustin Johnson to remain co-leaders as both shot -1 71 -7 total.
As I mentioned yesterday Johnson struggled early in his round playing off the 10th, dropping 4 shots in 3 holes down in the valley including a double bogey on the par 3 12th, before recovering with four birdies in his back nine.
List had this to say after his round. "Two more days of this golf course, it’s a challenge out there, those valley holes, 11 through 13, 14, really play tough"
Jason Day did make the cut at +1 after slipping to 76, and he is on course early this morning. With the weather and course conditions as they are, scoring is at a premium. The lowest score on Friday was 67 and with the lead only at -7 the field is really bunched.
That's why they call Saturday moving day, so it will be fascinating to watch this unfold.
Whatever happens Jared du Toit has had the two days of his golfing life, let's hope he can navigate these unchartered waters again today to stay in contention.
Bryan Angus
All our lawns in the GTA are baked brown as we endure this summer long heat wave and drought and despite a world class irrigation system, Glen Abbey is getting browner, harder and faster as Saturday dawns under another rain free day of blue skies, record temperatures and blustery winds.
Young Canadian amateur Jared du Toit from BC is as hot as the weather, playing what he describes as "out of his mind" and with rounds of 67 71 he is T3 at -6 just a shot off the lead, along with rising Spanish star and his Arizona State roommate Jon Rahm, and an American called Kelly Kraft.
Going into the weekend he is the low Canadian and low amateur. On Friday he was tied for first with the leaders, Dustin Johnson and 309th ranked Luke List at -7 until he made a triple bogey on the par-5 2nd hole, but to his credit he recovered with 3 straight birdies. He praised his caddy, local golfer Sean Burke.
“He kind of, you know, theoretically cracked me in the head and said ‘hey, get your head back in the game and stick to the game plan and keep doing what you’re doing,”’ said du Toit of his caddy’s advice.
Sadly du Toit isn't paired with Rahm today, rather he will play with Ricky Barnes in the 3rd last pairing at 1.15pm.
Only 4 of the 14 Canadians made the cut at +2. Along with du Toit who remember is an amateur, Adam Hadwin recovered with -2 70 T21 at -2. Amateur Garrett Rank (75) is T36 E, while Corey Conners 75 71 +2 just made the cut on the number.
Other Canadian scores: Adam Cornelson (73) +4, Nick Taylor (74), Graham De Laet (72) and David Hearn (75) are all finished at +5.
Ottawa’s Brad Fritsch (74) +7, Branson Ferrier (74) +8, Mike Weir (75) +9 while our other amateurs Blair Hamilton (79) was +12 and Hugo Bernard (76) +13. Montreal’s Dave Levesque (75) finished +16.
As for the leaders Luke List birdied the par 5 18th hole to draw even with tournament favourite Dustin Johnson to remain co-leaders as both shot -1 71 -7 total.
As I mentioned yesterday Johnson struggled early in his round playing off the 10th, dropping 4 shots in 3 holes down in the valley including a double bogey on the par 3 12th, before recovering with four birdies in his back nine.
List had this to say after his round. "Two more days of this golf course, it’s a challenge out there, those valley holes, 11 through 13, 14, really play tough"
Jason Day did make the cut at +1 after slipping to 76, and he is on course early this morning. With the weather and course conditions as they are, scoring is at a premium. The lowest score on Friday was 67 and with the lead only at -7 the field is really bunched.
That's why they call Saturday moving day, so it will be fascinating to watch this unfold.
Whatever happens Jared du Toit has had the two days of his golfing life, let's hope he can navigate these unchartered waters again today to stay in contention.
Bryan Angus
Friday, July 22, 2016
Day 2 of RBC Canadian Open underway in the heat at Glen Abbey
PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/rbc-canadian-open/leaderboard.html
The RBC Canadian Open used to be played in September and I must admit over all these years I have seen all kinds of weather, often torrential rain and lightning when the thunderstorms would roll through, huge winds that one year knocked out all the power, this year it is in the midst of the longest drought I can remember.
Temperature will reach the high 90's F down in the valley holes today so if you are going, be prepared.
Day 2 is well underway, Dustin Johnson who shared the first round lead has dropped 4 shots down in that valley with a bogey at 11, a double at the par 3 12th then another bogey at the 13th. He has just made a birdie at the easy par 5 16th so is currently at -3.
Luke List continues to lead at -6 and he is in the late wave today.
It was a mixed bag for the Canadian contingent, the lowlight for me was to see Graham DeLaet suffer from another attack of the chipping yips on his way to +5 77.
The highlight for me was the play of amateur Jared du Toit from BC who had an eagle, birdie finish for what he called one of the best 3 rounds of his career, a -5 67 T3 ! and apparently he had never even played the Abbey before this week.
Then how about pro referee and amateur golfer, Garret Rank, his playing partner who got on the edge of the 18th in two, then promptly rolled in an eagle putt for a nice -3 69.
Here are the other 11 Canadian scores:
Adam Hadwin shot E 72, David Hearn will be disappointed with +2 74. Adam Cornelson, Corey Conners and Nick Taylor all shot +3 75. Blair Hamilton lives in nearby Burlington shot +5 77 as did Brad Fritsch. Mike Weir and another lefty, Branson Ferrier shot +6 78.
Another amateur Hugo Bernard had a tough day, +9 81 and his friend from Quebec, Dave Levesque was far from his best +13 85.
More to follow
Bryan Angus
The RBC Canadian Open used to be played in September and I must admit over all these years I have seen all kinds of weather, often torrential rain and lightning when the thunderstorms would roll through, huge winds that one year knocked out all the power, this year it is in the midst of the longest drought I can remember.
Temperature will reach the high 90's F down in the valley holes today so if you are going, be prepared.
Day 2 is well underway, Dustin Johnson who shared the first round lead has dropped 4 shots down in that valley with a bogey at 11, a double at the par 3 12th then another bogey at the 13th. He has just made a birdie at the easy par 5 16th so is currently at -3.
Luke List continues to lead at -6 and he is in the late wave today.
It was a mixed bag for the Canadian contingent, the lowlight for me was to see Graham DeLaet suffer from another attack of the chipping yips on his way to +5 77.
The highlight for me was the play of amateur Jared du Toit from BC who had an eagle, birdie finish for what he called one of the best 3 rounds of his career, a -5 67 T3 ! and apparently he had never even played the Abbey before this week.
Then how about pro referee and amateur golfer, Garret Rank, his playing partner who got on the edge of the 18th in two, then promptly rolled in an eagle putt for a nice -3 69.
Here are the other 11 Canadian scores:
Adam Hadwin shot E 72, David Hearn will be disappointed with +2 74. Adam Cornelson, Corey Conners and Nick Taylor all shot +3 75. Blair Hamilton lives in nearby Burlington shot +5 77 as did Brad Fritsch. Mike Weir and another lefty, Branson Ferrier shot +6 78.
Another amateur Hugo Bernard had a tough day, +9 81 and his friend from Quebec, Dave Levesque was far from his best +13 85.
More to follow
Bryan Angus
RBC Canadian Open and Weeksie
Good morning all !
This is the first Canadian Open since 1985 that I am unable to attend so I must admit I am saddened not to be with all my friends and colleagues in the media center at the Abbey.
Grumpy Curtis Strange won it by 2 shots over Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman that year, his first of two Canadian championships, yes those were the calibre of guys who showed up every year when it was considered by many as the 5th major.
I think it was sponsored by du Maurier then, I remember free cigarettes being available for the media, who were allowed to smoke while they worked, heck they even opened the bar at lunch time and after 6pm !!
I would take a week's holiday from work and volunteered as a dispatcher with the transportation committee back then, so got to meet all the players and their wives. The late Dick Grimm was the tournament director in his powder blue blazer and a big beefy guy called Bill Paul was his young assistant, and that started our life long friendship that is still going strong to this day.
It was during those 31 years as a volunteer and broadcaster with the Fan590 and our Fairways golf show I met Bob Weeks, Weeksie to his friends, and we went on to do 18 years of memorable shows together, along with Bob Durant originally then Scott Metcalfe.
In 2006 at Hamilton G&CC where Jim Furyk beat Bart Bryant, the media tent was down at the foot of a hill and when we showed up to do the broadcast at 7am it was raining hard, and a torrent of water was flowing down the hill and right through the tent under all our electrical equipment. Metcalfe mentioned we all may just get electrocuted ! as we did the show while standing up on chairs with a river running below us !
Well congratulations to my pal Weeksie who was officially inducted to the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame at his beloved Weston GC on Wednesday. As I told him he is now amongst all his peers where he belongs. I was always in the studio for our show, while Weeksie was often off on behalf of Scoregolf, then later for TSN to cover the Masters, or the other majors and of course I would wake him at some ridiculous hours of the morning to give us a live report.
In his time at Scoregolf, starting as an assistant editor, I'm sure he had a little moustache back then, and maybe even tugged on the odd smoke, he took that magazine to the very top of Canadian golf publications, and the annual Scoregolf awards were the academy awards of our golf industry.
Bob is a proud Canadian, a quiet, private caring guy, and a great dad to his son Christopher who used to sit on my knee when he was a toddler, with a set of headsets on during our early radio shows. He has had a long friendship with Mike Weir who was with him at Weston on Wednesday, that's typical of the esteem with which Weeksie is held amongst his peers.
I am proud to say he is my friend. Well done pal.
Bryan Angus
This is the first Canadian Open since 1985 that I am unable to attend so I must admit I am saddened not to be with all my friends and colleagues in the media center at the Abbey.
Grumpy Curtis Strange won it by 2 shots over Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman that year, his first of two Canadian championships, yes those were the calibre of guys who showed up every year when it was considered by many as the 5th major.
I think it was sponsored by du Maurier then, I remember free cigarettes being available for the media, who were allowed to smoke while they worked, heck they even opened the bar at lunch time and after 6pm !!
I would take a week's holiday from work and volunteered as a dispatcher with the transportation committee back then, so got to meet all the players and their wives. The late Dick Grimm was the tournament director in his powder blue blazer and a big beefy guy called Bill Paul was his young assistant, and that started our life long friendship that is still going strong to this day.
It was during those 31 years as a volunteer and broadcaster with the Fan590 and our Fairways golf show I met Bob Weeks, Weeksie to his friends, and we went on to do 18 years of memorable shows together, along with Bob Durant originally then Scott Metcalfe.
In 2006 at Hamilton G&CC where Jim Furyk beat Bart Bryant, the media tent was down at the foot of a hill and when we showed up to do the broadcast at 7am it was raining hard, and a torrent of water was flowing down the hill and right through the tent under all our electrical equipment. Metcalfe mentioned we all may just get electrocuted ! as we did the show while standing up on chairs with a river running below us !
Well congratulations to my pal Weeksie who was officially inducted to the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame at his beloved Weston GC on Wednesday. As I told him he is now amongst all his peers where he belongs. I was always in the studio for our show, while Weeksie was often off on behalf of Scoregolf, then later for TSN to cover the Masters, or the other majors and of course I would wake him at some ridiculous hours of the morning to give us a live report.
In his time at Scoregolf, starting as an assistant editor, I'm sure he had a little moustache back then, and maybe even tugged on the odd smoke, he took that magazine to the very top of Canadian golf publications, and the annual Scoregolf awards were the academy awards of our golf industry.
Bob is a proud Canadian, a quiet, private caring guy, and a great dad to his son Christopher who used to sit on my knee when he was a toddler, with a set of headsets on during our early radio shows. He has had a long friendship with Mike Weir who was with him at Weston on Wednesday, that's typical of the esteem with which Weeksie is held amongst his peers.
I am proud to say he is my friend. Well done pal.
Bryan Angus
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
RBC Canadian Open needs a Canadian..
PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/rbc-canadian-open/leaderboard.html
After the stunning finale to the Open, with Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson putting on a display of golf seldom seen, especially by two guys in their forties, it will be a hard act to follow this week, but it would certainly help if one of the Canadian contingent were in contention come Sunday afternoon at the Abbey.
Neither Stenson or Mickelson are here, but the headliners are the world's top two, defending champion Jason Day and Dustin Johnson. Johnson has of course got the best of Canadian connections, his wife Pauline being the daughter of Wayne Gretzky, so that will be a popular storyline should the big fella bring his A game this week.
Stenson along with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott, Justin Rose and more world-class players were in attendance at the ‘Sergio and Friends’ event in Switzerland on Monday where they flew from Preswick right after the Open on Sunday night.
(official world golf ranking http://www.owgr.com/
Canada’s Graham DeLaet tied T8th at -14 last week but he closed with a brilliant 63 to climb 28 spots the leaderboard and was at the Abbey to receive his Olympic jacket as he will join the Canadian team which includes Brooke Henderson, David Hearn and Alena Sharp, so he should be full of confidence when he tees it up at 1.35pm on Thursday.
There are 14 Canucks in the field including 4 amateurs, Hugo Bernard and Blair Hamilton, Garrett Rank and Jared du Toit.
Along with DeLaet our other hopefuls are David Hearn (8.20am*) who played so well here last year only to be pipped by Day, and he has a T12, T20 in his last two events, Adam Hadwin (7.30am*) Mike Weir (7.50am*), Branson Ferrier (9.10am*), Nick Taylor (1.05pm*), Brad Fritsch (2.15pm), Corey Connors (2.25pm) and Adam Cornelson (2.25pm*) also Dave Levesque (2.05)
Ferrier is a 22 year old lefty from Barrie playing only his 5th pro event, his first RBC Canadian. He went to Alabama State University.
Fritsch is on the Web.com Tour, where had a win and a T2 there earlier this year before he had to stop playing due to sesamoiditis, a form of tendinitis in the ball of the foot. He has played in 2 events since his return.
Cornelson is on the PGA Tour Canada, where he is 3rd in the order of merit after his win in Victoria earlier this summer
Connors from Listowel is also on the PGA Tour Canada, and he won the final qualifier at Diamondback to get into the field for the fourth straight year.
Hearn came close last year, Mike Weir was at his peak in 2004 when he lost that gut wrenching playoff to Vijay Singh at Glen Abbey so it can be done.
Play gets under way at 7.10am Thursday, there is another strong field for our national championship so it will be a tall task for one of the 13 Canadians to win as it has been since Pat Fletcher in 1954, but it will certainly put the icing on what should be a great week should one of them get into contention come Sunday.
Bryan Angus
After the stunning finale to the Open, with Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson putting on a display of golf seldom seen, especially by two guys in their forties, it will be a hard act to follow this week, but it would certainly help if one of the Canadian contingent were in contention come Sunday afternoon at the Abbey.
Neither Stenson or Mickelson are here, but the headliners are the world's top two, defending champion Jason Day and Dustin Johnson. Johnson has of course got the best of Canadian connections, his wife Pauline being the daughter of Wayne Gretzky, so that will be a popular storyline should the big fella bring his A game this week.
Stenson along with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott, Justin Rose and more world-class players were in attendance at the ‘Sergio and Friends’ event in Switzerland on Monday where they flew from Preswick right after the Open on Sunday night.
(official world golf ranking http://www.owgr.com/
Canada’s Graham DeLaet tied T8th at -14 last week but he closed with a brilliant 63 to climb 28 spots the leaderboard and was at the Abbey to receive his Olympic jacket as he will join the Canadian team which includes Brooke Henderson, David Hearn and Alena Sharp, so he should be full of confidence when he tees it up at 1.35pm on Thursday.
There are 14 Canucks in the field including 4 amateurs, Hugo Bernard and Blair Hamilton, Garrett Rank and Jared du Toit.
Along with DeLaet our other hopefuls are David Hearn (8.20am*) who played so well here last year only to be pipped by Day, and he has a T12, T20 in his last two events, Adam Hadwin (7.30am*) Mike Weir (7.50am*), Branson Ferrier (9.10am*), Nick Taylor (1.05pm*), Brad Fritsch (2.15pm), Corey Connors (2.25pm) and Adam Cornelson (2.25pm*) also Dave Levesque (2.05)
Ferrier is a 22 year old lefty from Barrie playing only his 5th pro event, his first RBC Canadian. He went to Alabama State University.
Fritsch is on the Web.com Tour, where had a win and a T2 there earlier this year before he had to stop playing due to sesamoiditis, a form of tendinitis in the ball of the foot. He has played in 2 events since his return.
Cornelson is on the PGA Tour Canada, where he is 3rd in the order of merit after his win in Victoria earlier this summer
Connors from Listowel is also on the PGA Tour Canada, and he won the final qualifier at Diamondback to get into the field for the fourth straight year.
Hearn came close last year, Mike Weir was at his peak in 2004 when he lost that gut wrenching playoff to Vijay Singh at Glen Abbey so it can be done.
Play gets under way at 7.10am Thursday, there is another strong field for our national championship so it will be a tall task for one of the 13 Canadians to win as it has been since Pat Fletcher in 1954, but it will certainly put the icing on what should be a great week should one of them get into contention come Sunday.
Bryan Angus
Sunday, July 17, 2016
Stenson and Mickelson duel for the Open at Royal Troon
The Open leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-open-championship/leaderboard.html
If you are just waking up on a Sunday morning wondering what is happening at The Open, you are in for a treat.
The wind is blowing and it is raining on and off at this town of Troon on the Ayrshire coast, perfect weather for the Open, right !
Henrik Stenson at 40 has shot 68 65 68 -12 and he leads Phil Mickelson who is 46, and has shot 63 69 70 -11. The closest competitor to them is Bill Haas at -6, so it is not match play but it is shaping up to be just that as they tee off at 9.35am (est) this morning.
The all important weather today in Troon has the wind blowing from the WSW, 10-15mph gusting to 20 and it's 13*c right now. The normal or prevailing wind is from the NE which as you know by now has most off the front nine playing downwind and the back nine into it. Today is almost the opposite, there are a lot of cross winds.
https://www.google.ca/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=EcrMVb3XM4WN8QeTx63wAQ&gws_rd=ssl#q=the+weather+for+troon+scotland
Yesterday was a preview of what I expect to see today as the lead changed back and forth between these two playing in similar conditions.
A point that may be crucial today is that Stenson is -6 on the more difficult back through 27 holes and he hasn't had a bogey there in the last 23. That's the best of any others in the field. His 54-hole total of 201 beats the record for an Open at Troon, previously set by countryman Jesper Parnevik in 1997.
This is his first lead in a major albeit by one and remember another telling point is that Phil already has five majors including the Open in 2013 at Muirfield where he beat Henrik by 3 shots.
“There’s only one thing that matters, Stenson said. “I know he’s not going to back down, and I’m certainly going to try to not back down, either. So it should be an exciting afternoon. … I’ve worked hard these first three days to put myself in this situation and I’m going to try my hardest tomorrow to finish the job.”
On the other hand Mickelson had a scrambling 70, his swing not as reliable as it was in Thursday's 63, but his short game saved him.
If you are just waking up on a Sunday morning wondering what is happening at The Open, you are in for a treat.
The wind is blowing and it is raining on and off at this town of Troon on the Ayrshire coast, perfect weather for the Open, right !
Henrik Stenson at 40 has shot 68 65 68 -12 and he leads Phil Mickelson who is 46, and has shot 63 69 70 -11. The closest competitor to them is Bill Haas at -6, so it is not match play but it is shaping up to be just that as they tee off at 9.35am (est) this morning.
The all important weather today in Troon has the wind blowing from the WSW, 10-15mph gusting to 20 and it's 13*c right now. The normal or prevailing wind is from the NE which as you know by now has most off the front nine playing downwind and the back nine into it. Today is almost the opposite, there are a lot of cross winds.
https://www.google.ca/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=EcrMVb3XM4WN8QeTx63wAQ&gws_rd=ssl#q=the+weather+for+troon+scotland
Yesterday was a preview of what I expect to see today as the lead changed back and forth between these two playing in similar conditions.
A point that may be crucial today is that Stenson is -6 on the more difficult back through 27 holes and he hasn't had a bogey there in the last 23. That's the best of any others in the field. His 54-hole total of 201 beats the record for an Open at Troon, previously set by countryman Jesper Parnevik in 1997.
This is his first lead in a major albeit by one and remember another telling point is that Phil already has five majors including the Open in 2013 at Muirfield where he beat Henrik by 3 shots.
“There’s only one thing that matters, Stenson said. “I know he’s not going to back down, and I’m certainly going to try to not back down, either. So it should be an exciting afternoon. … I’ve worked hard these first three days to put myself in this situation and I’m going to try my hardest tomorrow to finish the job.”
On the other hand Mickelson had a scrambling 70, his swing not as reliable as it was in Thursday's 63, but his short game saved him.
So it sets up an intriguing final, Phil has been here done that while Henrik wants that first major to go with a Race to Dubai, a FedEx Cup and Ryder Cup on his CV
I picked him at the start of the week and see no reason to change. He is driving so well and is the better long iron player..
I picked him at the start of the week and see no reason to change. He is driving so well and is the better long iron player..
Like I said, we are in for a treat
Bryan Angus
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Saturday underway at 145th Open with Mickelson in the lead
The Open leaderboard http://www.theopen.com/Leaderboard#!/traditional
Grey skies and a blustery wind greeted the players at Royal Troon this morning with Phil Mickelson at -10 in the lead followed by Henrik Stenson at -9.
They are still in bed..not playing until 320pm local time, that's 1020am EST
Nobody in yesterday's late wave including big 3 made up much ground on these two. Rory is 69 71 -2, Jordan Spieth is nowhere near his dominating form of 2014, 71 75 +4, Jason Day 73 70 +1.
Dustin Johnson is 71 69 -2 but really Keegan Bradley and Soren Kjeldsen 67 68 -7 are the one's closest albeit with 2 full days to go, and a Royal Troon lurking in the wind to play for.
The way I see it it is up to one of these guys to make a move today, or Phil or Henrik and his Friday best 65, to move back toward the field with a poor round to make a real game of it.
Defending champion Zach Johnson is at -5 67 70 and 5 guys including Sergio Garcia are in a group at -4.
The weather is always crucial at The Open. The 14 players at the head of the scoreboard all played Friday morning in calmer conditions and further there are just 26 players under par as play begins today and only four of them played in the afternoon.
It is windy this morning, gusting to 20mph from the WSW not the normal wind from the NE..http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/gcuevyzxs
The rain is listed at 50% starting around 4pm local time, just when Phil and Henrik are on the 2nd tee so they may get the worst of it today.
At the Open getting the good side of the tee times is crucial. For example Spieth battled through the worst of the elements to play the final six holes in even par for a 75 to finish at +4 146 just where the cut fell.
"It’s tough when we all realize before we go out that you’re kind of what would be the bad end of the draw before you even play your second round,”
McIlroy played well enough but like everyone trailing, the weather and a few loose shots cost him as he dropped four shots in five holes and his even par finds him 8 shots back.
So it will be fascinating to see what happens today, the traditional moving day. Mickelson came over to Scotland to play the Scottish Open last week and closed the week with a 65 and is playing well and relishing the moment and remember in 2013 he won the Scottish before winning the Open at Muirfield, so he has that under his belt, but then again he is Phil, likely to do something daft and take a triple bogey to let the field back in..
Of the early starts this morning including Spieth and Bubba there are more blue numbers (par or worse) than red (under par)
More to follow..
Bryan Angus
Grey skies and a blustery wind greeted the players at Royal Troon this morning with Phil Mickelson at -10 in the lead followed by Henrik Stenson at -9.
They are still in bed..not playing until 320pm local time, that's 1020am EST
Nobody in yesterday's late wave including big 3 made up much ground on these two. Rory is 69 71 -2, Jordan Spieth is nowhere near his dominating form of 2014, 71 75 +4, Jason Day 73 70 +1.
Dustin Johnson is 71 69 -2 but really Keegan Bradley and Soren Kjeldsen 67 68 -7 are the one's closest albeit with 2 full days to go, and a Royal Troon lurking in the wind to play for.
The way I see it it is up to one of these guys to make a move today, or Phil or Henrik and his Friday best 65, to move back toward the field with a poor round to make a real game of it.
Defending champion Zach Johnson is at -5 67 70 and 5 guys including Sergio Garcia are in a group at -4.
The weather is always crucial at The Open. The 14 players at the head of the scoreboard all played Friday morning in calmer conditions and further there are just 26 players under par as play begins today and only four of them played in the afternoon.
It is windy this morning, gusting to 20mph from the WSW not the normal wind from the NE..http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/gcuevyzxs
The rain is listed at 50% starting around 4pm local time, just when Phil and Henrik are on the 2nd tee so they may get the worst of it today.
At the Open getting the good side of the tee times is crucial. For example Spieth battled through the worst of the elements to play the final six holes in even par for a 75 to finish at +4 146 just where the cut fell.
"It’s tough when we all realize before we go out that you’re kind of what would be the bad end of the draw before you even play your second round,”
McIlroy played well enough but like everyone trailing, the weather and a few loose shots cost him as he dropped four shots in five holes and his even par finds him 8 shots back.
So it will be fascinating to see what happens today, the traditional moving day. Mickelson came over to Scotland to play the Scottish Open last week and closed the week with a 65 and is playing well and relishing the moment and remember in 2013 he won the Scottish before winning the Open at Muirfield, so he has that under his belt, but then again he is Phil, likely to do something daft and take a triple bogey to let the field back in..
Of the early starts this morning including Spieth and Bubba there are more blue numbers (par or worse) than red (under par)
More to follow..
Bryan Angus
Friday, July 15, 2016
Mickelson leads Stenson in the rain and wind at Royal Troon
The Open leaderboard http://www.theopen.com/Leaderboard#!/traditional
The weathermen got it right, for a change, and the wind and rain arrived on Scotland's west coast early this morning which just happens to be where Royal Troon is located.
The wind switched from Thursday's NE to from the south so after getting used to playing the first six holes directly downwind the players were suddenly playing the opening stretch into and at times across the wind which as predicted is having an adverse effect on the scoring
However the overnight (EST) story is that Phil Mickelson maintained his lead and set the clubhouse target at -10 after a gutsy 69, then I enjoyed the fact he held his post game interview by the clubhouse, telling the media "I just wanted you guys to have some idea what the weather is like outside " !!
The rain will ease off with an increased wind for the big boys, Rory, Jason, Jordan and Rickie are all in the afternoon wave, and don't forget Bubba.
So Mickelson's 63 69 -10 is the target, nearly matched by my pick for the week, Henrik Stenson who shot a brilliant -6 65 to trail by just a shot at -9. Søren Kjeldsen who won the Irish Open in similar conditions last season had a bogey-free 68 to get to -7.
Stenson has had the round of the day so far making three straight birdies from the third and adding another on the seventh. He dropped a shot on the ninth to get out in 33 but further birdies on the tenth and 13th and 16th brought him home in 32 for the 65 which will be tough to beat in the afternoon conditions, although they are now predicting a dry spell later in their evening.
Bryan Angus
The wind switched from Thursday's NE to from the south so after getting used to playing the first six holes directly downwind the players were suddenly playing the opening stretch into and at times across the wind which as predicted is having an adverse effect on the scoring
However the overnight (EST) story is that Phil Mickelson maintained his lead and set the clubhouse target at -10 after a gutsy 69, then I enjoyed the fact he held his post game interview by the clubhouse, telling the media "I just wanted you guys to have some idea what the weather is like outside " !!
The rain will ease off with an increased wind for the big boys, Rory, Jason, Jordan and Rickie are all in the afternoon wave, and don't forget Bubba.
So Mickelson's 63 69 -10 is the target, nearly matched by my pick for the week, Henrik Stenson who shot a brilliant -6 65 to trail by just a shot at -9. Søren Kjeldsen who won the Irish Open in similar conditions last season had a bogey-free 68 to get to -7.
Stenson has had the round of the day so far making three straight birdies from the third and adding another on the seventh. He dropped a shot on the ninth to get out in 33 but further birdies on the tenth and 13th and 16th brought him home in 32 for the 65 which will be tough to beat in the afternoon conditions, although they are now predicting a dry spell later in their evening.
Bryan Angus
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Mickelson's bid for a record 62 lips out at The Open.
The Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2016/tournamentid=2016054/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Well I mentioned earlier today I was surprised nobody had gone lower than Patrick Reed's -5 66 which held up pretty well all day.
With the tide out and any breeze there was down to a breath, the late wave caught a nice break and Phil Mickelson took full advantage with a new course record 63 for the first round lead, however he wasn't entirely happy as his chance to add another footnote to the history books lipped out on the 18th green.
Nobody has ever shot 62 in the 145 years of The Open or in any major.
Well I mentioned earlier today I was surprised nobody had gone lower than Patrick Reed's -5 66 which held up pretty well all day.
With the tide out and any breeze there was down to a breath, the late wave caught a nice break and Phil Mickelson took full advantage with a new course record 63 for the first round lead, however he wasn't entirely happy as his chance to add another footnote to the history books lipped out on the 18th green.
Nobody has ever shot 62 in the 145 years of The Open or in any major.
Phil Mickelson was millimetres from doing just that with birdies on the 14th, 16th and 17th giving him the opportunity to become the first if he could make another birdie on 18.
He narrowly missed a fairway bunker with his tee shot and his approach was good, just inside 20 feet away. The putt was good as well heading right on line before it broke right and lipped round the back of the hole.
He narrowly missed a fairway bunker with his tee shot and his approach was good, just inside 20 feet away. The putt was good as well heading right on line before it broke right and lipped round the back of the hole.
"That putt on 18 was an opportunity to do something historical," he said. "I knew it and with a foot to go I thought I had done it. I saw that ball rolling right in the centre.
His brilliant effort see him 3 shots clear of Patrick Reed and Germany's Martin Kaymer .
Reed's 66 had equalled the record for the lowest opening round in an Open Championship at Troon before Mickelson blew that away on a day of perfect scoring conditions in Scotland
His brilliant effort see him 3 shots clear of Patrick Reed and Germany's Martin Kaymer .
Reed's 66 had equalled the record for the lowest opening round in an Open Championship at Troon before Mickelson blew that away on a day of perfect scoring conditions in Scotland
Dane Søren Kjeldsen and England's Andy Sullivan are in the group at -4 alongside defending champion Zach Johnson, with Justin Rose, Soomin Lee, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Richard Sterne and Thomas Pieters among those at -3
As for the big boys, Jason Day shot a disappointing +2 73, Rory had an up and down day ending up with -2 69, Jordan Spieth had 33 putts on his way to E71. Rickie Fowler is in with -2 69.
As for the big boys, Jason Day shot a disappointing +2 73, Rory had an up and down day ending up with -2 69, Jordan Spieth had 33 putts on his way to E71. Rickie Fowler is in with -2 69.
Sandy Lyle had the worst score at +14 85... Davis Duval +11 82
The weather forecast for Friday http://www.bbc.com/weather/2635442 Rain arriving in the morning on the west coast with freshening winds from the south, the opposite from this morning which was sunny with a wee breeze from the NE.
Expect scoring to rise accordingly.
Patrick Reed holds the clubhouse lead at the Open.
The Open leaderboard
Patrick Reed set the clubhouse target on day one of The 145th Open Championship, with his opening -5 66 equalling the record for the lowest opening round in an Open Championship at Royal Troon on a day of perfect scoring conditions on the Ayrshire coast.
Currently he has a one shot lead lead over countrymen Justin Thomas -4 67, Billy Horschel -4 67 and Steve Stricker -4 67.
The tide has gone out and with it the little breeze has dropped, so this afternoon wave may produce someone else at -5. There are a host of guys in at -3 including Justin Rose.
As for the big boys, Jason Day shot a disappointing +2 73, Rory had an up and down day ending up with -2 69, Jordan Spieth had 33 putts on his way to E71. Rickie Fowler is in with -2 69.
Dustin Johnson shanked his iron off the first into the deepest rough, almost out of bounds, eventually aided by a small army he found it and salvaged a bogey. He is still +1 on his front nine.
Phil Mickelson is going the best of the late wave, he is -4 through 7 holes..
Today is the day for scoring, the weather will not get better for the next 3 days, wind and rain in the forecast. With the ideal conditions and greens running at only 10 on the stimpmeter I am surprised there wasn't a 62 or 63 out there and certainly not just one 66.
We'll see what the late wave brings...
More to follow
Bryan Angus
Currently he has a one shot lead lead over countrymen Justin Thomas -4 67, Billy Horschel -4 67 and Steve Stricker -4 67.
The tide has gone out and with it the little breeze has dropped, so this afternoon wave may produce someone else at -5. There are a host of guys in at -3 including Justin Rose.
As for the big boys, Jason Day shot a disappointing +2 73, Rory had an up and down day ending up with -2 69, Jordan Spieth had 33 putts on his way to E71. Rickie Fowler is in with -2 69.
Dustin Johnson shanked his iron off the first into the deepest rough, almost out of bounds, eventually aided by a small army he found it and salvaged a bogey. He is still +1 on his front nine.
Phil Mickelson is going the best of the late wave, he is -4 through 7 holes..
Today is the day for scoring, the weather will not get better for the next 3 days, wind and rain in the forecast. With the ideal conditions and greens running at only 10 on the stimpmeter I am surprised there wasn't a 62 or 63 out there and certainly not just one 66.
We'll see what the late wave brings...
More to follow
Bryan Angus
Royal Troon bathed in warm sunshine, little wind for play at The Open
The Open leaderboard http://www.theopen.com/Leaderboard#!/traditional
For all the Americans, especially the likes of Steven Sands who is part of the broadcast team this early morning (est) on the Golf Channel, every day in Scotland does not dawn in a howling gale and a driving rain !
It is a gorgeous morning on the Ayrshire course, sunny, warm, little breeze but nothing significant and as I look at the leaderboard only 12 players from the morning wave are over par, that is how easy the course is playing.
The early players were all taking long irons off the tee, an unless they found a bunker like Monty did on his way to a 6 on the first, they were all putting for birdies.
Remember as I said yesterday, the front nine is for scoring, downwind with 2 par 5's and so far Patrick Reed played them the best at -5 31.
Later in the morning when the big boys came out, they started trying to drive the greens on the short par 4's, in fact Bubba, playing with Rory and Hideki Matsuyama nearly holed his tee shot on the par 4 third, in fact the caddie on the group ahead actually tended the pin for him. Alas Bubba missed the 5 footer for eagle.
However even without the wind the back nine is much tougher, for example Monty went out in 33 -3 and is finished with E 71 with bogey's at 11, 14 and the par 5 16th. By the way Monty and his group were around in 4 hours.
The tide is in, the beach is full of locals walking their dogs, many of the dogs cavorting in the Firth of Clyde... the field like the dogs are taking full advantage of these benign conditions..
Bryan Angus
For all the Americans, especially the likes of Steven Sands who is part of the broadcast team this early morning (est) on the Golf Channel, every day in Scotland does not dawn in a howling gale and a driving rain !
It is a gorgeous morning on the Ayrshire course, sunny, warm, little breeze but nothing significant and as I look at the leaderboard only 12 players from the morning wave are over par, that is how easy the course is playing.
The early players were all taking long irons off the tee, an unless they found a bunker like Monty did on his way to a 6 on the first, they were all putting for birdies.
Remember as I said yesterday, the front nine is for scoring, downwind with 2 par 5's and so far Patrick Reed played them the best at -5 31.
Later in the morning when the big boys came out, they started trying to drive the greens on the short par 4's, in fact Bubba, playing with Rory and Hideki Matsuyama nearly holed his tee shot on the par 4 third, in fact the caddie on the group ahead actually tended the pin for him. Alas Bubba missed the 5 footer for eagle.
However even without the wind the back nine is much tougher, for example Monty went out in 33 -3 and is finished with E 71 with bogey's at 11, 14 and the par 5 16th. By the way Monty and his group were around in 4 hours.
The tide is in, the beach is full of locals walking their dogs, many of the dogs cavorting in the Firth of Clyde... the field like the dogs are taking full advantage of these benign conditions..
Bryan Angus
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Royal Troon: how to play the legendary links..
Royal Troon is routed like many links courses in Scotland, 8 holes out laid end to end, play one or two or three across, then come back to the clubhouse with the rest laid end to end for the finish.
The reason is simple. Links courses were built on narrow bits of land linking the sea to the mainland, on sandy soil often accompanied by the seaside grasses and large dunes formed by the wind. Royal Dornach up by Inverness for example is the same.
Throw in deep rough, gorse and broom and the wind and you have a test worthy of the champion golfer of the year
The prevailing wind often blows in the same direction from the northwest, so at Royal Troon the wind will be at your back on the way out, then right in your face, quartering from the left on the way in. Scoring will be much easier on the front nine, par will be your friend on the back.
It has been a wet spring on the west coast of Scotland, there is rain and wind and sunshine all in the forecast to add to the drama, the course is looking very green.
Here is a great look at each hole with a playing description of each.
http://www.theopen.com/TheCourse#!/
Bryan Angus
The reason is simple. Links courses were built on narrow bits of land linking the sea to the mainland, on sandy soil often accompanied by the seaside grasses and large dunes formed by the wind. Royal Dornach up by Inverness for example is the same.
Throw in deep rough, gorse and broom and the wind and you have a test worthy of the champion golfer of the year
The prevailing wind often blows in the same direction from the northwest, so at Royal Troon the wind will be at your back on the way out, then right in your face, quartering from the left on the way in. Scoring will be much easier on the front nine, par will be your friend on the back.
It has been a wet spring on the west coast of Scotland, there is rain and wind and sunshine all in the forecast to add to the drama, the course is looking very green.
Here is a great look at each hole with a playing description of each.
http://www.theopen.com/TheCourse#!/
Bryan Angus
Monday, July 11, 2016
The Open Championship at Royal Troon tee times..
The tee times for this weeks Open Championship have just been released.
Complete entry list in alphabetical order http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2016/tournamentid=2016054/teetimes/index.html#
145 Open Championship tee times and pairings
http://www.theopen.com/TeeTimes#!/R1
Fittingly Colin Montgomerie will hit the first tee shot at 635am on Thursday to kick off this 145th edition of the Open Championship. Monty's grew up playing the course as his father, now 86, was the long time secretary, which in those days would be the equivalent of a GM today.
Jordan Speith is off at 9.03 with Justin Rose and Shane Lowry, Jason Day 925 with Rickie Fowler and Danny Willett, Rory McIlroy at 936 with Hideki Matsuyama and Bubba Watson
Bryan Angus
Complete entry list in alphabetical order http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2016/tournamentid=2016054/teetimes/index.html#
145 Open Championship tee times and pairings
http://www.theopen.com/TeeTimes#!/R1
Fittingly Colin Montgomerie will hit the first tee shot at 635am on Thursday to kick off this 145th edition of the Open Championship. Monty's grew up playing the course as his father, now 86, was the long time secretary, which in those days would be the equivalent of a GM today.
Jordan Speith is off at 9.03 with Justin Rose and Shane Lowry, Jason Day 925 with Rickie Fowler and Danny Willett, Rory McIlroy at 936 with Hideki Matsuyama and Bubba Watson
Bryan Angus
Winners and losers from the weekend..
What a Sunday.. just beautiful, sunny and warm in this part of the world and indeed in the hearts of everyone from Portugal who will cherish forever their historic 1-0 win over France in Paris for the Euro2016 championship.
I was happy to be the host for the International Sports Report on TSN1050 at the Bollocks Bar and Kitchen in Pickering, great crowd of football fans and a good time for everyone.
There was much more, so here are my winners and losers from the weekend.
Winners
* Milos Raonic had a great fortnight at Wimbledon, made history as first Canadian man to reach the gentlemen's singles final. Even though he was beaten by an in form Andy Murray in 3 sets he fought hard and will be better for the experience
* Canada Post for withdrawing their 72 hour notice which would have locked all postal workers out as of midnight last night. Now the unions concerned need to find someone they both trust to arbitrate if in fact as it appears,they are so far apart they can't manage it themselves. How about someone like Paul Beeston...
* Alex Noren put a new shaft in his driver this week, drove the ball beautifully hitting fairway after fairway to win the Scottish Open with a score of -14 274, move into the top 50 and head off to Troon this week, full of confidence. Also Tyrrell Hatton, Nicholas Colsaerts, Matteo Manassero and Richie Ramsay took the final four qualification places for next week’s Open Championship
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2016/tournamentid=2016052/leaderboard/index.html
* Dan McCarthy took his record-breaking season to new heights capturing the Players Cup to become the first player in the PGA TOUR-era on the Mackenzie Tour to win three times in a season with a final-round -7 64 at Niakwa Country Club to win by seven shots and guaranteeing himself a spot in The Five and Web.com Tour status for 2016.
http://www.pgatour.com/canada/en_us/tournaments/the-players-cup/leaderboard.html
* Paul Goydos shot a bogey-free 69 on Sunday to beat Wes Short Jr. (69) by two shots on a tricky day at En-Joie buffeted by gusting winds, finishing at 14-under 202 for his third career victory on the Champions Tour, the Dick's Sporting Goods Open. Stephen Ames finished T23rd at -4. Jim Rutledge posted a -3 T39th, Rod Spittle finished T66.
http://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/dick-s-sporting-goods-open/leaderboard.html
* Monday qualifier Rick Lamb chipped in for birdie on the second hole of a four-man playoff Sunday to win the LECOM Health Challenge for his first Web.com Tour title.
http://www.pgatour.com/webcom/tournaments/lecom-health-challenge/leaderboard.html
* Brittany Lang shot a -1 71 to finish with a -6 282 for the US Women's Open at CordeValle for her second win in 287 tournaments on the LPGA Tour. She survived a bogey on the 17th hole that led to the playoff before recovering in the playoff for a breakthrough win at age 30.
Canadians: Alena Sharp shot E72 to finish T21 for her best career result at a major championship. Maude-Aimée Leblanc T26th with a +2 290 score. Brooke Henderson finished 64th, while Sue Kim T65th
Losers
* The USGA. Anna Nordqvist was given a two-stroke penalty for touching the sand with her club in a fairway bunker on the second playoff hole helping deliver Lang the title but here is the problem.
The players were not told of the penalty until they were in the middle of playing the final hole after officials reviewed replays. Anna however was told after she played here 3rd shot safely to the centre of the green. Brittany was told before she played her 3rd shot, changing the way she played her approach.
Both players had to be told at the same time to ensure a level playing field. Also their was absolutely no intent or carelessness on Anna's part, the USGA had to go to super super slow motion to see one grain of sand move.
Also not every player has a TV camera on them on every shot. If this had of been on the 4th hole of the second round, there would be no controversy because nobody including the player could know there was an infraction.
The rule is fine, it was the way it was applied that make the USGA a loser this weekend.
Bryan Angus
I was happy to be the host for the International Sports Report on TSN1050 at the Bollocks Bar and Kitchen in Pickering, great crowd of football fans and a good time for everyone.
There was much more, so here are my winners and losers from the weekend.
Winners
* Milos Raonic had a great fortnight at Wimbledon, made history as first Canadian man to reach the gentlemen's singles final. Even though he was beaten by an in form Andy Murray in 3 sets he fought hard and will be better for the experience
* Canada Post for withdrawing their 72 hour notice which would have locked all postal workers out as of midnight last night. Now the unions concerned need to find someone they both trust to arbitrate if in fact as it appears,they are so far apart they can't manage it themselves. How about someone like Paul Beeston...
* Alex Noren put a new shaft in his driver this week, drove the ball beautifully hitting fairway after fairway to win the Scottish Open with a score of -14 274, move into the top 50 and head off to Troon this week, full of confidence. Also Tyrrell Hatton, Nicholas Colsaerts, Matteo Manassero and Richie Ramsay took the final four qualification places for next week’s Open Championship
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2016/tournamentid=2016052/leaderboard/index.html
* Dan McCarthy took his record-breaking season to new heights capturing the Players Cup to become the first player in the PGA TOUR-era on the Mackenzie Tour to win three times in a season with a final-round -7 64 at Niakwa Country Club to win by seven shots and guaranteeing himself a spot in The Five and Web.com Tour status for 2016.
http://www.pgatour.com/canada/en_us/tournaments/the-players-cup/leaderboard.html
* Paul Goydos shot a bogey-free 69 on Sunday to beat Wes Short Jr. (69) by two shots on a tricky day at En-Joie buffeted by gusting winds, finishing at 14-under 202 for his third career victory on the Champions Tour, the Dick's Sporting Goods Open. Stephen Ames finished T23rd at -4. Jim Rutledge posted a -3 T39th, Rod Spittle finished T66.
http://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/dick-s-sporting-goods-open/leaderboard.html
* Monday qualifier Rick Lamb chipped in for birdie on the second hole of a four-man playoff Sunday to win the LECOM Health Challenge for his first Web.com Tour title.
http://www.pgatour.com/webcom/tournaments/lecom-health-challenge/leaderboard.html
* Brittany Lang shot a -1 71 to finish with a -6 282 for the US Women's Open at CordeValle for her second win in 287 tournaments on the LPGA Tour. She survived a bogey on the 17th hole that led to the playoff before recovering in the playoff for a breakthrough win at age 30.
Canadians: Alena Sharp shot E72 to finish T21 for her best career result at a major championship. Maude-Aimée Leblanc T26th with a +2 290 score. Brooke Henderson finished 64th, while Sue Kim T65th
Losers
* The USGA. Anna Nordqvist was given a two-stroke penalty for touching the sand with her club in a fairway bunker on the second playoff hole helping deliver Lang the title but here is the problem.
The players were not told of the penalty until they were in the middle of playing the final hole after officials reviewed replays. Anna however was told after she played here 3rd shot safely to the centre of the green. Brittany was told before she played her 3rd shot, changing the way she played her approach.
Both players had to be told at the same time to ensure a level playing field. Also their was absolutely no intent or carelessness on Anna's part, the USGA had to go to super super slow motion to see one grain of sand move.
Also not every player has a TV camera on them on every shot. If this had of been on the 4th hole of the second round, there would be no controversy because nobody including the player could know there was an infraction.
The rule is fine, it was the way it was applied that make the USGA a loser this weekend.
Bryan Angus
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Alex Noren takes a two shot lead into final round of the Scottish Open
European Tour Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2016/tournamentid=2016052/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Alex Noren will take a two-shot lead into this mornings final round of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open after a dramatic Saturday at Castle Stuart Golf Links.
Conditions had been at their most helpful in the early stages with birdies and eagles the order of the day and at one point five players shared the lead as the leaderboard closed up.
Heavy rain arrived in the afternoon, however, and it was Noren who came out on top at 12 under after a 68 which put him two shots clear of England's Tyrrell Hatton and Italian Matteo Manassero.
Noren arrives off the back of a top ten at the 100th Open de France while for Manassero, it is a remarkable return to form for a player without a top ten since this event two years ago
Conditions had been at their most helpful in the early stages with birdies and eagles the order of the day and at one point five players shared the lead as the leaderboard closed up.
Heavy rain arrived in the afternoon, however, and it was Noren who came out on top at 12 under after a 68 which put him two shots clear of England's Tyrrell Hatton and Italian Matteo Manassero.
Noren arrives off the back of a top ten at the 100th Open de France while for Manassero, it is a remarkable return to form for a player without a top ten since this event two years ago
Stephen Ames T6 with John Daly at Dick's Sporting Goods Open
Champions Tour Dick's Sporting Goods Open leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/dick-s-sporting-goods-open/leaderboard.html
John Riegger wasn’t sure he’d be able to play the second round of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open because of a lingering case of shingles. The pain subsided long enough for him to show his first round wasn’t a fluke.
Riegger followed his opening 66 with a -5 67 Saturday and is tied with Paul Goydos (66) for the lead at -11 133.
First-round leader Scott Dunlap (70) was third at -10. Wes Short Jr. and Monday qualifier Neal Lancaster also shot 66 and shared fourth, another shot back at En-Joie Golf Club.
John Daly and Calgary’s Stephen Ames shot 68 and are T6 at -8 with Bart Bryant (70), who is trying to become the first repeat winner of this Champions Tour event since its inception in 2007. Daly, who turned 50 in April, is making his seventh Champions Tour start. It’s his first appearance at En-Joie since the 1995 B.C. Open on the PGA Tour. He won there in 1992 and the gallery hasn’t forgotten.
Jim Rutledge shot even-par to move into a tie for 62nd, and Rod Spittle follows three strokes behind with a share of 72nd.
Lydia Ko set to win 3rd major in a year at US Women's Open
LPGA Tour US Women's Open leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/uswomensopenconductedbytheusga/leaderboard
Lydia Ko birdied the 18th hole to cap a -2 70 -7 total in the third round Saturday that put her in the lead of the U.S. Women’s Open, bolstering her chance for her third major title in less than a year.
Alena Sharp shot 75 T26 with Maude-Aimée Leblanc (76) at +1 217.
Brooke Henderson and Sue Kim are at T58 after rounds of 76.
Lydia Ko birdied the 18th hole to cap a -2 70 -7 total in the third round Saturday that put her in the lead of the U.S. Women’s Open, bolstering her chance for her third major title in less than a year.
The 19-year-old Ko became the youngest woman to win a major last year at the Evian Championship and followed that up by winning the ANA Inspiration this spring. Now she’s in contention for her first U.S. Open title after failing to make the top 10 in her first four appearances. She has made 78 out of 79 cuts in her amazing young career.
Ko has a one-shot lead over 2009 winner Eun Hee Ji and Sung Hyun Park. Brittany Lang and Amy Yang are two shots back at -5 and Angela Stanford at -4.
Ko’s was tied for 52nd after an opening round of 73, nine shots off the lead but she got into contention with a 66 in the second round.
Brooke Henderson and Sue Kim are at T58 after rounds of 76.
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Dustin Johnson will skip the Olympics in Rio
U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson will be playing the RBC Canadian Open along with defending champion Jason Day however he is the latest to join Day in withdrawing from the Olympics because he is concerned about the Zika virus.
Johnson becomes the 13th player to pull out of the field for the Rio Games, where golf makes its return after a 112-year absence. Patrick Reed is expected to replace him.
Johnson released a statement through one of his representatives on Friday.
Johnson and his wife, Paulina, plan to have more children “in the near future,” according to the golfer, and he feels it would be irresponsible to put his family at risk. The Zika virus can cause severe birth defects and babies being born with abnormally small heads.
Seven other players who have pulled out specifically cited Zika, including Day and world No. 4 Rory McIlroy.
Johnson becomes the 13th player to pull out of the field for the Rio Games, where golf makes its return after a 112-year absence. Patrick Reed is expected to replace him.
Johnson released a statement through one of his representatives on Friday.
Johnson and his wife, Paulina, plan to have more children “in the near future,” according to the golfer, and he feels it would be irresponsible to put his family at risk. The Zika virus can cause severe birth defects and babies being born with abnormally small heads.
Seven other players who have pulled out specifically cited Zika, including Day and world No. 4 Rory McIlroy.
Calm conditions for round 3 at Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open
European Tour Scottish Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2016/tournamentid=2016052/leaderboard/index.html
With the Open Championship next week at Royal Troon, the Golf Channel has sent all of their American broadcast team to cover this Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, near Inverness, so as a Scot it is interesting to hear their amazement at how beautiful the Scottish highlands are. Where have ya been fella's !!
The wind that has dominated the weather for the first two rounds has died down, the Moray Firth is flat calm and scoring is low as a result.
Henrik Stenson was -6 66 in the morning wave, as was Nicolas Colsaerts. The overnight leader Alex Noren from Sweden has just begun his 3rd round and he is tied for the lead at -9 along with a young Englishman Eddie Pepperell. Other leaders now on course at -8 include Branden Grace, Danny Lee and Matteo Manassero, but all that will change as play goes on..
Bryan Angus
With the Open Championship next week at Royal Troon, the Golf Channel has sent all of their American broadcast team to cover this Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, near Inverness, so as a Scot it is interesting to hear their amazement at how beautiful the Scottish highlands are. Where have ya been fella's !!
The wind that has dominated the weather for the first two rounds has died down, the Moray Firth is flat calm and scoring is low as a result.
Henrik Stenson was -6 66 in the morning wave, as was Nicolas Colsaerts. The overnight leader Alex Noren from Sweden has just begun his 3rd round and he is tied for the lead at -9 along with a young Englishman Eddie Pepperell. Other leaders now on course at -8 include Branden Grace, Danny Lee and Matteo Manassero, but all that will change as play goes on..
Bryan Angus
Maude Aimee LeBlanc leads Canadians at US Womens Open
LPGA Tour US Women's Open leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/uswomensopenconductedbytheusga/leaderboard
Several of the Canadian women at the US Women's Open out in San Martin, California, improved their position on the leaderboard, none more so than Maude-Aimée Leblanc who begins play today T10 after her -3 69. Alena Sharp played in the more difficult afternoon conditions and shot E72 to sit T15.
Brooke Henderson improved to T48 after her -1 71 +3 total. Sue Kim (71)is also at +3 Taylor Kim and amateur Naomi Ko both missed the cut.
The leader at -8 is a 22 year old South Korean, Sung Hyun Park who shot a fine -6 66. Amy Yang shot a 71 T2 at -6 with first-round leader Mirim Lee. Lydia Ko shot -66 T4 with Japan's Haru Nomura
Bryan Angus
Several of the Canadian women at the US Women's Open out in San Martin, California, improved their position on the leaderboard, none more so than Maude-Aimée Leblanc who begins play today T10 after her -3 69. Alena Sharp played in the more difficult afternoon conditions and shot E72 to sit T15.
Brooke Henderson improved to T48 after her -1 71 +3 total. Sue Kim (71)is also at +3 Taylor Kim and amateur Naomi Ko both missed the cut.
The leader at -8 is a 22 year old South Korean, Sung Hyun Park who shot a fine -6 66. Amy Yang shot a 71 T2 at -6 with first-round leader Mirim Lee. Lydia Ko shot -66 T4 with Japan's Haru Nomura
Bryan Angus
Friday, July 8, 2016
Danny Lee holds the clubhouse lead at Castle Stuart
European Tour Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2016/tournamentid=2016052/leaderboard/index.html
The wind is still blowing as hard for the late wave in today's second round at Castle Stuart at the Scottish Open but it has changed direction and is less across and more either at the players back or in their face. It was calmer in the morning, leading to better scoring.
With the early wave now back in the safety of the clubhouse it is Kiwi Danny Lee with rounds of 71 66 who holds a narrow 1 shot lead at -7 over a resurgent Matteo Manassero and South African star Branden Grace both with 71 67,-6.
The wind is still blowing as hard for the late wave in today's second round at Castle Stuart at the Scottish Open but it has changed direction and is less across and more either at the players back or in their face. It was calmer in the morning, leading to better scoring.
With the early wave now back in the safety of the clubhouse it is Kiwi Danny Lee with rounds of 71 66 who holds a narrow 1 shot lead at -7 over a resurgent Matteo Manassero and South African star Branden Grace both with 71 67,-6.
Lee was supposed to be defending his title at the Greenbrier Classic, but when it had to be cancelled due to the devasting floods in the area, he decided to play in Scotland but donate money for every birdie (500 US dollars) and eagle (1,000 US dollars) he makes to the on going relief efforts in West Virginia.
Manassero became the youngest winner in European Tour history when he won the Castello Masters in 2010 aged 17 years and 188 days and after he won the BMW PGA Championship in 2013 he was ranked #25. Now, still just 23 he has slipped to 596th with just two top-ten finishes since the start of 2014.
Paddy Harrington, always at home in the wind on the links is in at -5 (70 67).
More to follow..
Alena Sharp best of Canadians at US Women's Open
LPGA Tour US Women's Open leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/uswomensopenconductedbytheusga/leaderboard
South Korean Mirim Lee became the fifth golfer to shoot a round of -8 at the U.S. Women’s Open, taking advantage of good scoring conditions to make 10 birdies for her 64 and the first round lead on this CordeValle GC.
Brooke Henderson just struggled in the featured pairing with Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson, shooting +4 76 as did Sue Kim.
Brooke started on the back nine and her driver let her down with 4 bogey's and 2 birdies before the turn, but she'll be disappointed to bogey her last two holes to fall 12 shots off the lead.
Bryan Angus
South Korean Mirim Lee became the fifth golfer to shoot a round of -8 at the U.S. Women’s Open, taking advantage of good scoring conditions to make 10 birdies for her 64 and the first round lead on this CordeValle GC.
With holding but fast greens and little wind for the early wave there was low scoring and Lee was the best of the bunch. She has a three-shot lead over fellow South Korean Minjee Lee and Christie Kerr, both in with 67's
Kelly Tan, Brittany Lang and Anna Nordqvist all shot 68 while six other golfers finished the morning round at -2 70 including Alena Sharp who was the best of the Canadians, She is T11.
Maude-Aimée Leblanc shot E 72, National Team member, amateur Naomi Ko who is from Victoria shot 74 and another youngster, Taylor Kim had a 75.
Brooke started on the back nine and her driver let her down with 4 bogey's and 2 birdies before the turn, but she'll be disappointed to bogey her last two holes to fall 12 shots off the lead.
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Scott Hend, Felipe Aguliar lead Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open
European Tour Scottish Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2016/tournamentid=2016052/leaderboard/index.html
On a blustery day on Scotland's NE coast, hard by the Moray Firth on this relatively new Castle Stuart golf links only 20 players managed to break par and as I mentioned early this morning the morning wave had the best of conditions and it was Scott Hend of Australia and Felipe Aguilar of Chile who emerged at the top of the leaderboard after they shot -3 69 to share the lead after the first round of this Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
It's been quite a last few days for the Aussie who found out in Paris that he is in the Open Championship next week at Royal Troon and then was told that Jason Day had withdrawn from the Olympics, meaning he was in the team for Australia in Rio.
Two Irishmen who grew up on links golf, Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington were among those at 70, while Branden Grace of South Africa and Andy Sullivan were in the group at 71.
Phil Mickelson who won here in 2013 then went on to win the Open at Muirfield had a bad day in the afternoon wind as he took three bogeys on the par 5s and couldn't make a putt on his way to +4 76.
Two other Americans struggled as well. J.B. Holmes arrived with no clubs, finally tracked them down, he might as well have rented a set as he made three double bogeys on his way to an 80 while Patrick Reed tumbled down a hill as his score tumbled to +3 75.
The 18th played at 600 yards dead into a 35mph wind, a real 3 shotter which contributed to a scoring average close to 75.
Bryan Angus
On a blustery day on Scotland's NE coast, hard by the Moray Firth on this relatively new Castle Stuart golf links only 20 players managed to break par and as I mentioned early this morning the morning wave had the best of conditions and it was Scott Hend of Australia and Felipe Aguilar of Chile who emerged at the top of the leaderboard after they shot -3 69 to share the lead after the first round of this Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
It's been quite a last few days for the Aussie who found out in Paris that he is in the Open Championship next week at Royal Troon and then was told that Jason Day had withdrawn from the Olympics, meaning he was in the team for Australia in Rio.
Two Irishmen who grew up on links golf, Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington were among those at 70, while Branden Grace of South Africa and Andy Sullivan were in the group at 71.
Phil Mickelson who won here in 2013 then went on to win the Open at Muirfield had a bad day in the afternoon wind as he took three bogeys on the par 5s and couldn't make a putt on his way to +4 76.
Two other Americans struggled as well. J.B. Holmes arrived with no clubs, finally tracked them down, he might as well have rented a set as he made three double bogeys on his way to an 80 while Patrick Reed tumbled down a hill as his score tumbled to +3 75.
The 18th played at 600 yards dead into a 35mph wind, a real 3 shotter which contributed to a scoring average close to 75.
Bryan Angus
Scottish Open, US Women's Open highlight this weekend in golf.
For many of the world's best male players it's a fortnight of great excitement in Scotland, this week's Scottish Open at the Castle Stuart links on the Moray Firth on the NE coast, next week the Open Championship at Royal Troon on the SW coast.
For the women it's off to California for the US Women's Open in San Martin where Brooke Henderson is considered by many as the favourite coming off two consecutive wins, and she is paired with Lexi Thompson and Lydia Ko for the first two days.
Maude Aimee LeBlanc, Alena Sharp and amateur Naomi Young Ko are the other Canucks in the field.
The lights are out on the PGA Tour this week as the Greensboro Classic has been cancelled due to the devastation caused by flooding in West Virginia.
European Tour Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2016/tournamentid=2016052/leaderboard/index.html
It's a breezy day on the beautiful Castle Stuart links and the breeze will be the strongest for the afternoon wave. The yellow gorse is in full bloom and the clubhouse leaders from the morning wave are Chilean veteran Felipe Aguilar with -3 69 and Aussie Scott Hend -3 69. Their scores may well hold up at the end of play tonight.
Only 26 players are under par at present and the scoring average is 74.43.
None of the so called big 3 have chosen to play here, choosing instead to prepare for Troon by playing on various courses in Ireland and Scotland as well as at Royal Troon itself.
More to follow
LPGA Tour US Women's Open leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/uswomensopenconductedbytheusga/leaderboard
For the first time ever a Canadian is one of the favourites to win the US Women's Open as Brooke Henderson gets set to tee it up at 2.03 PST this afternoon at the CordeValle Resort.
This is her 4th US Open, she T5 last year and was the best amateur in 2014. She has already won the Women's PGA Championship.
She says she loves the course, it suits her eye, and she can reach most of the par 5's in two which gives her an advantage, she also says the back nine is the more difficult of the two, and patience as is always the case in major championships is of prime importance.
I'll be following it all so join me here, and listen for my reports on TSN1050 on Sunday morning starting at 745am.
Bryan Angus
For the women it's off to California for the US Women's Open in San Martin where Brooke Henderson is considered by many as the favourite coming off two consecutive wins, and she is paired with Lexi Thompson and Lydia Ko for the first two days.
Maude Aimee LeBlanc, Alena Sharp and amateur Naomi Young Ko are the other Canucks in the field.
The lights are out on the PGA Tour this week as the Greensboro Classic has been cancelled due to the devastation caused by flooding in West Virginia.
European Tour Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2016/tournamentid=2016052/leaderboard/index.html
It's a breezy day on the beautiful Castle Stuart links and the breeze will be the strongest for the afternoon wave. The yellow gorse is in full bloom and the clubhouse leaders from the morning wave are Chilean veteran Felipe Aguilar with -3 69 and Aussie Scott Hend -3 69. Their scores may well hold up at the end of play tonight.
Only 26 players are under par at present and the scoring average is 74.43.
None of the so called big 3 have chosen to play here, choosing instead to prepare for Troon by playing on various courses in Ireland and Scotland as well as at Royal Troon itself.
More to follow
LPGA Tour US Women's Open leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/uswomensopenconductedbytheusga/leaderboard
For the first time ever a Canadian is one of the favourites to win the US Women's Open as Brooke Henderson gets set to tee it up at 2.03 PST this afternoon at the CordeValle Resort.
This is her 4th US Open, she T5 last year and was the best amateur in 2014. She has already won the Women's PGA Championship.
She says she loves the course, it suits her eye, and she can reach most of the par 5's in two which gives her an advantage, she also says the back nine is the more difficult of the two, and patience as is always the case in major championships is of prime importance.
I'll be following it all so join me here, and listen for my reports on TSN1050 on Sunday morning starting at 745am.
Bryan Angus
Monday, July 4, 2016
Dustin Johnson is on a roll, wins WGC Bridgestone
WGC Bridgestone Invitational final scoreboard http://www.worldgolfchampionships.com/bridgestone-invitational/leaderboard.html
I said two weeks ago once big hitting Dustin Johnson broke through and won the US Open, I expected too see him in the winners circle on a regular basis. I didn't know it would be his next event !!
Here's a report from Doug Ferguson of AP..
Dustin Johnson returned from celebrating his U.S. Open victory by taking down the world’s No. 1 player to win another World Golf Championship.
Johnson didn’t miss a beat from Oakmont to Firestone, powering and putting his way to a -4 66 to win the Bridgestone Invitational for his second straight victory, making him the player to beat heading into the British Open in two weeks.
“This golf course is playing so tough, it’s not like I need to go out and shoot 63,” Johnson said. “You just try to hit it in the fairway and get to get it on the green and try to make some putts. I knew if I shot 4 or 5 under I’d have a chance.”
Jason Day, poised for his first victory in his adopted home state of Ohio, helped make it easy for Johnson. Day had a one-shot lead when he missed a 4-foot par putt on the 15th hole, and then collapsed with a series of bad shots and bad choices.
He tried to play it safe off the tee on the 655-yard 16th hole and hooked a 3-wood into the trees. He blasted through the branches and through the fairway, getting a good break when a young fan picked up his ball, allowing Day to drop it from behind a tree.
Then, he tried to squeeze a shot from 200 yards around the pond. It came up short and rode the collar of the bank into the water, leading to double bogey. Day didn’t hit a green in regulation over the final six holes, closed with a bogey and shot 72 to tie for third.
“Disappointed, but I’ve got to try and focus on what I did great this week, move on, and try and get better for the next one,” Day said.
Scott Piercy was a runner-up to Johnson for the second straight time. He narrowly missed birdie chances, and the birdie putt he made on the 18th gave him a 70 and allowed him to finish alone in second.
Johnson, who finished at 6-under 274, moved to a career-best No. 2 in the world by a fraction over Jordan Spieth.
Spieth closed with a 67 and tied for third with Matt Kuchar (66), Kevin Chappell (67) and Day.
Bryan Angus
I said two weeks ago once big hitting Dustin Johnson broke through and won the US Open, I expected too see him in the winners circle on a regular basis. I didn't know it would be his next event !!
Here's a report from Doug Ferguson of AP..
Dustin Johnson returned from celebrating his U.S. Open victory by taking down the world’s No. 1 player to win another World Golf Championship.
Johnson didn’t miss a beat from Oakmont to Firestone, powering and putting his way to a -4 66 to win the Bridgestone Invitational for his second straight victory, making him the player to beat heading into the British Open in two weeks.
“This golf course is playing so tough, it’s not like I need to go out and shoot 63,” Johnson said. “You just try to hit it in the fairway and get to get it on the green and try to make some putts. I knew if I shot 4 or 5 under I’d have a chance.”
Jason Day, poised for his first victory in his adopted home state of Ohio, helped make it easy for Johnson. Day had a one-shot lead when he missed a 4-foot par putt on the 15th hole, and then collapsed with a series of bad shots and bad choices.
He tried to play it safe off the tee on the 655-yard 16th hole and hooked a 3-wood into the trees. He blasted through the branches and through the fairway, getting a good break when a young fan picked up his ball, allowing Day to drop it from behind a tree.
Then, he tried to squeeze a shot from 200 yards around the pond. It came up short and rode the collar of the bank into the water, leading to double bogey. Day didn’t hit a green in regulation over the final six holes, closed with a bogey and shot 72 to tie for third.
“Disappointed, but I’ve got to try and focus on what I did great this week, move on, and try and get better for the next one,” Day said.
Scott Piercy was a runner-up to Johnson for the second straight time. He narrowly missed birdie chances, and the birdie putt he made on the 18th gave him a 70 and allowed him to finish alone in second.
Johnson, who finished at 6-under 274, moved to a career-best No. 2 in the world by a fraction over Jordan Spieth.
Spieth closed with a 67 and tied for third with Matt Kuchar (66), Kevin Chappell (67) and Day.
Bryan Angus
Henderson wins Portland Classic again
LPGA Tour Cambia Portland Classic final scoreboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/cambia-portland-classic/results
AP...Defending champion Brooke Henderson survived some tense moments on the back nine on the way to a four-stroke victory at the LPGA Cambia Portland Classic.
AP...Defending champion Brooke Henderson survived some tense moments on the back nine on the way to a four-stroke victory at the LPGA Cambia Portland Classic.
She shot a -14 274 after a final round 71 at Columbia Edgewater Country Club, pulling away from American Stacy Lewis, who was -10 after a 69.
Henderson became the first back-to-back winner at Portland since Annika Sorenstam won consecutive tournaments in 2002 and 2003. The 18-year-old is the first wire-to-wire winner at Portland since the tournament went to a 72-hole event in 2013.
It was her third career win, all coming in the Northwest. Aside from her two Portland victories, Henderson won the Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee in Sammamish, Washington, three weeks ago.
This Portland performance was much different than her runaway victory in 2015, when Henderson rolled to a tournament-record eight-stroke win with a -21 267.
She was forced to grind the final two rounds, often having to save pars following wayward drives.
The par-4, 397-yard 17th became the tournament’s decisive hole. Henderson and Uribe both drove into a bunker, then blasted their approach shots over the green. But Uribe hit her third shot 50 feet past the hole and made double bogey, while Henderson was able to get up and down to save par, making an eight-foot putt.
Alena Sharp ended up +2 T54 while amateur Naomi Young Ko was 71st +8
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Rory McIlroy shoots 30 on back nine to get into contention at French Open
European Tour French Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2016/tournamentid=2016050/leaderboard/index.html
His scorecard reads 70, but what a 70 it was for Rory McIlroy who went out in 40 strokes but shot himself right back into contention with a back nine of 30 !
On a big Sunday for sports in France with their national team playing Iceland for a place in the Euro2016 semi finals he trails Thongchai Jaidee who will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the 100th Open de France at Le Golf National after he carded the only bogey-free round of the day with a 68 that moved him to -8 ahead of Rory and sensational young Korean Jeunghun Wang both at -6.
His scorecard reads 70, but what a 70 it was for Rory McIlroy who went out in 40 strokes but shot himself right back into contention with a back nine of 30 !
On a big Sunday for sports in France with their national team playing Iceland for a place in the Euro2016 semi finals he trails Thongchai Jaidee who will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the 100th Open de France at Le Golf National after he carded the only bogey-free round of the day with a 68 that moved him to -8 ahead of Rory and sensational young Korean Jeunghun Wang both at -6.
Defending champion Bernd Wiesberger is at -5 five, two shots clear of 2009 champion Martin Kaymer, Joost Luiten, Alex Noren, Brandon Stone and Andy Sullivan all at -3.
Round 4 is well under way under grey skies and light winds in Paris, and Rory has just teed off smashing a huge drive down the right side of the fairway into the first cut of rough.
More to follow
Bryan Angus
Jason Day tied for the lead at WGC Bridgestone Invitational
WGC Bridgestone Invitational leaderboard http://www.worldgolfchampionships.com/bridgestone-invitational/leaderboard.html
With only nine players under par at a very firm and fast Firestone GC it is Jason Day and Scott Piercy who cling to a one shot lead heading into today's final round.
With only nine players under par at a very firm and fast Firestone GC it is Jason Day and Scott Piercy who cling to a one shot lead heading into today's final round.
The world's #1 did not bring a hot driver to the course, wild at times off the tee and it was his ability to scramble for par and hole clutch putts that kept him in contention. He made a 40 footer on the 15th and had several par saving putts from 10 feet on his way to a 70 -5 total.
Piercy a former RBC Canadian Open winner is in good form after his 2nd place finish at the U.S. Open at Oakmont, and he was totally in control of his game, leading by a shot until the final hole where he yanked his tee shot into the left rough, making a good bogey to finish with 67 -5
David Lingmerth of Sweden had a 69 to sit a -4 and US Open champion Dustin Johnson shot 66 to get to -2, along with Charl Schwartzel (67) and William McGirt (70).
Bryan Angus
Bryan Angus
Brooke Henderson leads Cambia Portland Classic in final round
LPGA Tour Cambia Portland Classic leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/cambia-portland-classic/leaderboard
With rounds of 65 68 70 -13 Brooke Henderson has led this Portland Classic from the start and she has a two shot lead this morning heading into the final round in defence of the title she won here last year.
She leads Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe, who is -11 with her 71.
Alena Sharp T61 72 73 73 +2 Naomi Young Ko T71 76 69 78 +7...The rest of the Canadians missed the cut.
Bryan Angus
With rounds of 65 68 70 -13 Brooke Henderson has led this Portland Classic from the start and she has a two shot lead this morning heading into the final round in defence of the title she won here last year.
She leads Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe, who is -11 with her 71.
All Canadian golf fans remember after weeks of Monday qualifying Brooke won her card officially after winning this tournament last year and has continued her fine play after she won the Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee in Sammamish, Washington three weeks ago.
Although she shot 70 with four birdies, she didn't have her A game as she mentioned in her post game interview.
“I played pretty awful today. Definitely want to play better tomorrow. I mean, I hit a lot of good shots. I just didn’t capitalize on my chances. That was the first 12 holes for me
She is trying to become the first back-to-back Portland winner since Annika Sorenstam in 2002-03 and with her "bad" round out of the way I think she has a great chance.
Alena Sharp T61 72 73 73 +2 Naomi Young Ko T71 76 69 78 +7...The rest of the Canadians missed the cut.
Bryan Angus
Friday, July 1, 2016
Vancouver's Justin Shin is T2 in China
PGA Tour China Ping An Private Bank Wanda Open leaderboard http://pgatourchina.com/en/golf/gamestation_results.do?id=44
After two rounds Canadian Justin Shin is T2, 70 68 -6, just 2 shots off the lead at the Ping An Private Bank Wanda Open.. Shin was born in Seoul, South Korea, grew up in Vancouver, went to the University of Oregon with Eugene Wong and calls Maple Ridge home these days. He has one win on this PGA Tour China
Eugene Wong is T29 70 73 +1 while Rafael Lee is T70 73 76 +5
Bryan Angus
After two rounds Canadian Justin Shin is T2, 70 68 -6, just 2 shots off the lead at the Ping An Private Bank Wanda Open.. Shin was born in Seoul, South Korea, grew up in Vancouver, went to the University of Oregon with Eugene Wong and calls Maple Ridge home these days. He has one win on this PGA Tour China
Eugene Wong is T29 70 73 +1 while Rafael Lee is T70 73 76 +5
Bryan Angus
McGirt shoots 64 to lead WGC Bridgestone
WGC Bridgestone Invitational leaderboard http://www.worldgolfchampionships.com/bridgestone-invitational/leaderboard.html
Bill McGirt is playing in his first WGC event because he won the Memorial a month ago and he made the most of his debut with six birdies for a -6 64 three-shot better than some pretty impressive company on a day when only 17 players of the 61-man field broke par
"I fell in love with the place because length is not everything out here,” McGirt said. “You have to drive it in the fairway. You have to drive it in the correct spots in the fairways to be able to attack pins. I love it because you can’t stand up there and just hit it as hard as you want, go find it and hack it on the green. It’s an old, traditional style golf course, which I absolutely love
Jason Day was among three players at 67, while Jordan Spieth somehow managed to post a 68 saving par after par with his putter to offset some wayward drives and sloppy approaches.
U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson shot 69 after taking a week off celebrating his first major with the family in the Bahamas.
Only 17 players of the 61-man field broke par. Daniel Berger, Brooks Koepka and Davis Love all withdrew due to injuries.
Bryan Angus
Bill McGirt is playing in his first WGC event because he won the Memorial a month ago and he made the most of his debut with six birdies for a -6 64 three-shot better than some pretty impressive company on a day when only 17 players of the 61-man field broke par
"I fell in love with the place because length is not everything out here,” McGirt said. “You have to drive it in the fairway. You have to drive it in the correct spots in the fairways to be able to attack pins. I love it because you can’t stand up there and just hit it as hard as you want, go find it and hack it on the green. It’s an old, traditional style golf course, which I absolutely love
Jason Day was among three players at 67, while Jordan Spieth somehow managed to post a 68 saving par after par with his putter to offset some wayward drives and sloppy approaches.
U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson shot 69 after taking a week off celebrating his first major with the family in the Bahamas.
Only 17 players of the 61-man field broke par. Daniel Berger, Brooks Koepka and Davis Love all withdrew due to injuries.
Bryan Angus
Martin Laird at home in altitude of Reno Nevada..
PGA Tour Barracuda Championship leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/barracuda-championship/leaderboard.html
Scotland's Martin Laird made eight birdies to lead the Barracuda Championship in the altitude of the Montreux GC in Reno Nevada and if he can keep this up he will return home to play in the Open Championship in two weeks at Royal Troon.
Because the Greenbrier Classic has been canceled next week, a spot in the Open is now on offer to the leading player this week not already eligible.
Laird left Scotland to play golf at the altitude of Colorado State and has lived in Florida his entire professional career. He finished with 15 points in the modified Stableford scoring.
“I played five years at 5,000 feet, so I’m pretty comfortable with the yardages,” Laird said. “It’s hard to make yourself trust it sometimes. I almost know how far I hit my clubs anyway without having to do the adjustments. So that’s a little easier for me. … You’ve got to go with what you think it is and hit your shot.”
Big hitting Gary Woodland who won here in 2013 is on 14 points along with Camilo Villegas and Greg Chalmers.
T15th at 9 points are Graham DeLaet who is playing for the first time in a month dealing with a bad case if the yips, and Nick Taylor.
Scotland's Martin Laird made eight birdies to lead the Barracuda Championship in the altitude of the Montreux GC in Reno Nevada and if he can keep this up he will return home to play in the Open Championship in two weeks at Royal Troon.
Because the Greenbrier Classic has been canceled next week, a spot in the Open is now on offer to the leading player this week not already eligible.
Laird left Scotland to play golf at the altitude of Colorado State and has lived in Florida his entire professional career. He finished with 15 points in the modified Stableford scoring.
“I played five years at 5,000 feet, so I’m pretty comfortable with the yardages,” Laird said. “It’s hard to make yourself trust it sometimes. I almost know how far I hit my clubs anyway without having to do the adjustments. So that’s a little easier for me. … You’ve got to go with what you think it is and hit your shot.”
Big hitting Gary Woodland who won here in 2013 is on 14 points along with Camilo Villegas and Greg Chalmers.
T15th at 9 points are Graham DeLaet who is playing for the first time in a month dealing with a bad case if the yips, and Nick Taylor.
Brooke Henderson shoots 65, leads in Portland
LPGA Tour Cambia Portland Classic leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/cambia-portland-classic/leaderboard
Defending champion Brooke Henderson shot a -7 65 to take a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the LPGA Cambia Portland Classic.
She obviously is very comfortable on this course, called Columbia Edgewater as she hit 16 greens and made nine birdies on an ideal calm day for scoring.
“I love tree-lined courses, and that’s very much what this course is. With the bent grass, which is kind of what I grew up on, I really like it. It suits my eye,” Henderson said. “Then winning here, that gives me those extra vibes and adrenaline, which I think will help as the week goes on. This golf course, being out here in the Northwest, in the beautiful temperature, I like wearing long sleeves and pants.”
Angela Stanford, Demi Runas and Mariajo Uribe each shot 67 while Carlota Ciganda, Jaye Marie Green, Ayako Uehara and Daniela Iacobelli shot 68.
In at 69 are Suzann Pettersen who won here in 2011 and 2013, Sarah Jane Smith, Lee-Anne Pace, Briana Mao and Jiayi Zhou.
Other Canadian scores: Alena Sharp E 72, Anne Catherine Tanguay +4 76, Lorie Kane +4 76 Naomi Young Ko +4 76 AJ Eathorne +4 76 Samantha Richdale +5 77
Defending champion Brooke Henderson shot a -7 65 to take a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the LPGA Cambia Portland Classic.
She obviously is very comfortable on this course, called Columbia Edgewater as she hit 16 greens and made nine birdies on an ideal calm day for scoring.
“I love tree-lined courses, and that’s very much what this course is. With the bent grass, which is kind of what I grew up on, I really like it. It suits my eye,” Henderson said. “Then winning here, that gives me those extra vibes and adrenaline, which I think will help as the week goes on. This golf course, being out here in the Northwest, in the beautiful temperature, I like wearing long sleeves and pants.”
Angela Stanford, Demi Runas and Mariajo Uribe each shot 67 while Carlota Ciganda, Jaye Marie Green, Ayako Uehara and Daniela Iacobelli shot 68.
In at 69 are Suzann Pettersen who won here in 2011 and 2013, Sarah Jane Smith, Lee-Anne Pace, Briana Mao and Jiayi Zhou.
Other Canadian scores: Alena Sharp E 72, Anne Catherine Tanguay +4 76, Lorie Kane +4 76 Naomi Young Ko +4 76 AJ Eathorne +4 76 Samantha Richdale +5 77
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