with Bryan Angus

Thanks for joining me today. I look forward to your comments . They are always welcome here on FairwaysPlus. Bryan Angus bryanangus4@gmail.com



Monday, February 27, 2017

.."and the winner is..Graham Delaet".... also qualifiers for WGC Mexico Championship

PGA Tour Honda Classic final leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/competition/2017/the-honda-classic/leaderboard.html

Forgive me for jumping on the day's leading story at the Academy Awards when poor old Bonnie and Clyde, aka Faye Dunaway and Warren Beattie were given the wrong card to announce the  'movie of the year' and ended up giving it to La La Land before all hell broke lose and the organizers took back all the Oscars and re gave them to the actual winners from Moonlight.

No it wasn't Graham DeLaet who won the Honda Classic, although he did post his 2nd top 10 in 3 outings with a closing E70 to grab 10th place at -6.it was Rickie Fowler of course who staggered a bit but made 2 crucial long putts to run away in the end with a 4 shot victory 66 66 65 71 -12 for his 4th career win.

The Bear Trap as it always does, took it's toll, with Gary Woodland, Jimmy Walker donating their Titliests to the PGA National pond gods as they came down the stretch, and Tyrell Hatton and Morgan Freeman missing little putts that meant a lot of money.

David Hearn T43 E 69 71 67 73, and MacKenzie Hughes T66 +7 69 71 72 75 both battled but just ended up filling out the numbers.

Defending champion Adam Scott ended up T14 at -4.

This week the top 50 in the world rankings have qualified to go to Mexico (along with 25 others), instead of Miami for the WGC Mexico Championship which has always been played on the Blue Monster at Doral, but has been moved since Cadillac withdrew their sponsorship there.

Here are the qualifiers and how they made it http://www.pgatour.com/inside-the-field/2017/02/24/wgc-mexico-championship.html

Bryan Angus





Sunday, February 26, 2017

It's Rickie by four, with DeLaet T8 at the Honda Classic

PGA Tour Honda Classic leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/competition/2017/the-honda-classic/leaderboard.html

So far this week, Rickie Fowler is the class of the field with rounds of 66 66 65 -13 197 he is 4 shots clear heading into today's final round of the Honda Classic in ideal conditions in south Florida.

Fowler hasn’t won since Abu Dhabi a year ago in January on the European Tour and his last PGA Tour victory was in September 2015 at the Deutsche Bank Championship. One of the keys to his success this week is that he is -5 over the final four holes at PGA National.

While Rickie is living at home and knows the course intimately England's Tyrrell Hatton, in his first PGA Tour event in Florida, came into the week with no expectations having seen PGA National for the 1st time on Monday. He has shot 68 67 66 -9 to make it into the final pairing today.

He and Fowler were paired together in the Open Championship at Royal Troon last year where Henrik Stenson edged Phil Mickelson in one of golf's all time great matches.

Canadian scores:  With 4 birdies, but 4 bogey's on the back nine, Graham DeLaet lost ground with E 70 leaving him T8 at -6, seven shots behind Fowler.

David Hearn is T28 -4 69 71 67. while Mackenzie Hughes is +3 through 12 holes this morning and well back T64 at +5

Bryan Angus

Darren Fichardt wins 54 hole Joburg Open

European Tour JoBurg Open final leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2017/tournamentid=2017014/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard

The rain that delayed the Honda LPGA Open in Thailand was also soaking the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington courses in Joburg South Africa, eventually reducing it to 54 holes and in the sprint to the finish this morning it was veteran Springbok Darren Fichardt with rounds of 66 66 68 200 who edged the pack by a shot to win his 5th European Tour title.

The South African fired a birdie at the 18th in his third and final round to post a -4 68 and finish one shot clear of nearest challengers Stuart Manley of Wales and Paul Waring from England.
 
Bryan Angus

All South Korean finale at the Honda LPGA Thailand

LPGA Tour Honda LPGA Thailand final leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/honda-lpga-thailand/results

Despite weather delays they have managed to get all 72 holes completed at this year's Honda LPGA Thailand, and it's an all South Korean affair in the winners circle.

1st: Amy Yang 66 67 65 68 -22
2nd: So Yeon Ryu 69 66 68 68 -17
3rd: Sei Young Kim 67 70 68 68 -15

Amy Yang held off So Yeon Ryu to win the event for the second time in the last three seasons and pick up her third career victory. With a birdie on the final hole, Yang carded a final round 68 and set a new Tournament scoring record at -22. She bested the previous mark by 1 stroke (Suzann Pettersen 2007 and Ai Miyazato 2010).

It has been a rainy, hot, sticky, humid week, the heaviest rain in round 2 backed everything up, for example Yang was forced to play 31 holes on Saturday and came back early to finish up her five remaining round three holes early this morning.

Canadians: Alena Sharp T45 74 71 74 69 E, Brooke Henderson T45  75 70 71 72 E

Bryan Angus
(notes from lpgatour.com)

Saturday, February 25, 2017

JoBurg Open reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather

European Tour JoBurg Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2017/tournamentid=2017014/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard

Rain, wind, thunder and lightning are not conducive to conducting a golf tournament, and this JoBurg Open has had all of the above all week, washing out round 3 and as a result officials have been forced to reduce the event to 54 holes.

Here is tournament Director David Williams.
"The forecast for tomorrow is pretty good. I think we'll just have to wait and see how much damage is done today because at the moment it's coming down very hard and obviously it's coming down onto an already saturated course.

"So we'll just keep our fingers crossed that we have a reasonably good evening, that we can restart tomorrow and get finished over three rounds"

England's Paul Waring and South African Darren Fichardt are tied at the top after 36 holes at -11 but the leaderboard is jam packed so if they can get play in tomorrow it will be a shoot out on a very soft course.

Bryan Angus


Rain suspends round 3 at Honda LPGA Thailand

LPGA Tour Honda LPGA Thailand leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/honda-lpga-thailand/leaderboard

Thailand has over the last 20 years become a leading tourist attraction for world travellers, wonderful food, friendly people, relaxed sexual mores, beautiful beaches and 5 star resorts, however this week for the Honda LPGA Thailand, mother nature isn't co-operating with heavy rain making the course unplayable at times, with several delays and overnight here in EST, round 3 was suspended at 6.20pm local time, with 10 groups still on the course.

Amy Yang, who still has five holes left in her third round, will take a four-shot lead into Sunday. She is at -17.  So Yeon Ryu shot a -4 68 and is second at -13.

Thai stars Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn are 7 shots back T5 -10 but have not finished their 3rd rounds.

Canadian scores: Alena Sharp has completed 3 rounds T55 74 71 74 +3, while Brooke Henderson 75 70 was -1 through 15 holes.

Bryan Angus

Coping with the Bear Trap has DeLaet in contention at the Honda Classic

PGA Tour Honda Classic leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/competition/2017/the-honda-classic/leaderboard.html

With round 3 well under way today at the Honda Classic down in swanky Palm Beach Gardens, Graham DeLaet finds himself right in contention again for his first PGA Tour win and his formula so far on this tough par 70 PGA National course featuring the vaunted Bear Trap finish has been very effective.

In rounds of 66 68 -6 he has made 8 birdies on the front nine and has only dropped 1 shot to par on the Bear Trap on the back.

The Bear Trap consists of the 15th par 3 180 yards all over water to a small green, then the 16th par 4 435yds with an uphill approach again all over water and sand, and finally the 17th another par 3 190 yards all over water from an elevated tee.

The holes aren't long but require precise shot making with little room for error, and of course with the title on the line they check out each and every contenders bottle.

This month DeLaet T9 at the Phoenix Open and with rounds of 67 69 65 he was right in the mix but his closing 71 just wasn't good enough, then last week at Riviera he T17 in tough weather, his final 3 rounds of 68 were only undone by an opening 73.

So he is in good form and it is only a matter of time before he breaks into the winners circle. He is off today at 1.30 EST with south Korean star CT Pan in the 3rd last group. The leaders right now are trick shot artist Wesley Bryan 64 67 -9 who won 3 times on the Web.com tour last year, and veteran Ryan Palmer 66 65 -9.

Playing at home, Rickie Fowler is next at 66 66 -8 and he always plays well here, runner up last year.

Other Canadians: David Hearn 69 71 is -2 through 11 holes and MacKenzie Hughes 69 71 started the morning at E, but is +3 today through 13.

Bryan Angus

Thursday, February 23, 2017

DeLaet off to a great start at Honda Classic

PGA Tour Honda Classic leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html

Graham DeLaet has opened his bid to win the Honda Classic down at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens with a solid -4 66, and is in a large group 2 shots off the lead held by rookies Cody Gribble and Wesley Bryan who both posted -6 66.

MacKenzie Hughes and David Hearn are T41 -1 69. DeLaet went out in -4 31, and had 9 pars in a row, back in 35.

The Kaiser, Martin Kaymer looked very solid in his -5 65 T3, as did Indian star Anirban Lahiri.

Adam Scott is trying to defend his title as he opened with -2 68. He leads the tour in putting stats, which puts to rest all the media speculation that he would struggle when switching from the long handle.

This is the start of the Florida swing, except next week they move to a new venue for the WGC Mexico Championship after Cadillac withdrew their sponsorship at Doral.

Bryan Angus

Jutanugarn trying to win in her home Thailand

LPGA Tour Honda LPGA Thailand leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/leaderboard

Ariya Jutanugarn and Amy Yang both shot 6-under 66 in the first round Thursday to take a share of the lead at the Honda LPGA Thailand. Jutanugarn is ranked world #2 and she was bogey free today. Remember in 2013 she had this event won until she took a triple bogey on the 72nd hole. She was only 17.

Ryann O’Toole, Sei Young Kim, Minjee Lee and Shanshan Feng all shot 65 to sit a stroke behind the leaders.

Lydia Ko (70) had five birdies and three bogeys, while former No. 1 Inbee Park shot a 72 in her first action since winning the Olympic gold medal last year.

Ko has new equipment, a new coach and a new caddie.... how did she ever become the best golfer on the planet with the other guys ?

Canadian scores :  Not a great start for Brooke Henderson +3 75 T58 or Alena Sharp +2 74 T51

Bryan Angus

Monday, February 20, 2017

Rod Spittle takes his opportunity at Chubb Classic

Champions Tour Chubb Classic leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/chubb-classic/leaderboard.html

Rod Spittle was on the driving range on Friday morning at 9am as the first alternative of the Chubb Classic in Naples, at 9.45 he was in the tournament when John Harris WD.

Come Sunday evening after rounds of 68 68 69 -11 he finished T3, behind winner Freddie Couples 68 65 67 -16. It was Couples first win since the Shaw Classic in Calgary in 2014. In 3 starts at this event he has two firsts and a second.

Spittle won $96,000, and automatically gains entry into next week's tournament in Tuscon.

Bryan Angus

Johnson romps to world #1 at Riviera...soon to be a father again..

PGA Tour Genesis Open final leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/competition/2017/genesis-open/leaderboard.html

Dustin Johnson seems to have life all figured out and as a result he is playing the best golf of his career.

Unconcerned about stats, spin rates, launch angles, happy to stay out of the limelight, secure at home, a doting father and about to be again, and blessed like his father-in-law with obscene skills, he makes the game seem ridiculously easy.

Only a couple of years ago he took time away from the game to get a grip on himself. A combination of falling for a certain Ms. Gretzky and coming under the influence of her famous Dad, becoming a father and re-dedicating himself to the game, led to his big breakthrough winning the US Open last summer when he'd been the bridesmaid at majors so often. He doesn't need money, and is only interested in winning...

He took all the drama out of Sunday's 36 hole finale of the Genesis Open at Riviera, shooting a 64 in his third round, winning by 5 shots, going to #1 in the world, and announcing that his fiancé is pregnant with their second child. It was his 4th win in 8 months.

Graham DeLaet (68) finished in 17th at -7, Adam Hadwin (69) was 34th at -4 and Nick Taylor (73) was 55th at -1.

Bryan Angus

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Dustin Johnson leads with 36 holes to play on Sunday at Riviera

PGA Tour  Genesis Open leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/competition/2017/genesis-open/leaderboard.html

The rain finally blew through the Los Angeles area on Saturday around noon, giving officials enough time to get round 2 completed, leaving the field with 36 holes to play today, and round 3 began at 7am PT.

Dustin Johnson has posted a pair of 66's, -10 and is in one of those DJ grooves where he just makes it look so easy, this time Riviera is his stage. We'll see if he keeps it up.

Pat Perez 67 66, and Cameron Tringale 69 64, are right behind him at -9. Jordan Spieth is T18 and Jason Day is 70th.

Canadian scores with round 3 underway:  Nick Taylor T60 74 68, Graham DeLaet 73 68, T60, Adam Hadwin 68 73 71st

The weather is good for today, and darkness falls around 545pm, but there is a small cut of 71 which will help them get all 36 in, and nothing speeds up play for pro's than making sure they finish on Sunday night if at all possible.

Bryan Angus

Brett Rumford, Ha Na Jang winners in Australia..

If you missed it overnight, Brett Rumford won the ISPS Handa Super6 in Perth, while happy little Ha Na Jang overcame a struggling Lisette Salas to win the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open.

European Tour ISPS Handa Super6 final leaderboard. http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2017/tournamentid=2017012/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard

Brett Rumford led by 5 shots after 3 rounds of stroke play, so it was poetic justice that  he made it through 4 rounds of stroke play, beating a young 19 year old from Thailand called Phachara Khongwatmai in the final 2&1, and regaining his European Tour privileges for another 2 years at 39 years young.

Canada's Austin Connelly had a great week in his debut finishing 9th after a tough 2&1 loss to Aussie Matthew Millar in the 2nd round of the matchplay. Austin puts € 25,567 in his jeans for the week.

This new format provided a lot of excitement and drama that wouldn't otherwise have been present. 8 players had to playoff for 5 spots late on Saturday to fill out the 24 man matchplay finale to start with, then the matches were only 6 holes each which made the players go for it from the start.


LPGA Tour ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open final leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/isps-handa-womens-australian-open/results

On another difficult day for scoring in the wind at Royal Adelaide, it was the diminutive, smiling South Korean Ha Na Jang who was the only one in the top 25 to break 70, as she charged up the leaderboard, culminating with a 50 footer for eagle on the 71st hole to win the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open by 3 shots at -10 for her 4th win.

Lisette Salas chunked a wedge on her first hole and never recovered with 7 bogey's, ending up with +5 78 to finish 7th.

Maude Aimee LeBlanc had a superb week, posting her best ever finish at -5 (71-68-73-75) T7. Alena Sharp also had a strong week, finishing T16 at -3. Brooke Henderson had five birdies on her front nine of 32, then came the tough back nine in +3 to finish T21 -2.

Bryan Angus


Saturday, February 18, 2017

Round 2 set to resume at 12pm (EST) at rainy Riviera

Yesterday at around 12:20 p.m. PT, play was suspended for the day at the Genesis Open as rain poured down with winds gusting to 20 mph. Just 24 players completed the second round at Riviera Country Club and nearly half the field (60 players) hadn’t teed off when the horn sounded.

They were scheduled to restart at 7am PT (10AM EST) but it is still raining in the LA area. The rain is scheduled to stop at around 11am PT, but officials have just announced they will restart at 12pm EST (9am PT)

PGA Tour Genesis Open leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/competition/2017/genesis-open/leaderboard.html


Bryan Angus

Matches announced for final 24 at ISPS Handa Super 6

Here are the matches for Sunday's match play finale at the ISPS Handa Super 6 in Perth Australia, and Canada's Austin Connelly after a terrific -6 66 today ended the stroke play part of the tournament T2 at -12.

The top 24 players move into Sunday's match play, with the top 8 getting a bye into round 2. Connelly is seeded #3 and has a bye into round 2 as such.

The players who finished #9 -24 play the eight 6 hole matches in round 1.

Here are the pairings : http://www.pga.org.au/news/pga-tour-aus/world-super-6-perth/isps-handa-world-super-6-perth-round-4-draw-announced

Bryan Angus

Connelly, LeBlanc, Sharp all making round 3 news in Australia...

Here are the overnight stories and scores for the two ISPS Handa tournaments being contested in both Perth and Adelaide Australia.

LPGA/LET ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open leaderboard  http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/isps-handa-womens-australian-open/leaderboard

First to Adelaide in South Australia where after Saturday's third round of the Women's Australian Open it's the American, Lizette Salas with rounds of 68 70 71 who is the leader by 2 shots at -10, however the locals are cheering on a pair of their own, Su Oh, 70 73 68 -8 and Sarah Jane Smith 70 67 74 -8 both T2 and both looking for their first LPGA win, and their national championship to boot.

From a Canadian perspective it's Maude Aimee LeBlanc who is T5 71 68 73 -7 and Alena Sharp T10 71 69 74 -5 who are in contention going into Sunday .

Brooke Henderson shot E 73 and is T35 at E, 10 shots out of the lead. Because she made the cut right on the number, she played on her own for the first time in her career in just over three hours. Now she and sister Brittany have Saturday off and are off for " some shopping and lunch down at the beach."

Remember par is 73 for the women at Royal Adelaide and as usual the wind is making scoring very difficult. -5 68 was today's lowest score.


European Tour ISPS Handa World Super 6 leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2017/tournamentid=2017012/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard

Now over to Australia's west coast in Perth, where round 3 of this ISPS Handa World Super 6 is in the books, and under this new format, the stroke play part of the event is complete, and the top 24 have been decided and they will go into the first round of match play tomorrow.

The top 8 get a bye into the 2nd round, while #'s 9-24 play in eight 6 hole knockout matches in round 1.

Amongst the top 8 is Canada's Austin Connelly who ended up T2 after a 66 -12 total and he will be seeded #3 in tomorrow's match play.

Here are the matches http://www.pga.org.au/news/pga-tour-aus/world-super-6-perth/isps-handa-world-super-6-perth-round-4-draw-announced

Consider Aussie, Brett Rumford who continued his stellar play, and at -17 he would be taking a 5 shot lead into Sunday's final round. Now he is merely the #1 seed going into the 24 man match play.

Bryan Angus





Friday, February 17, 2017

Sharp and LeBlanc in the top 10 at Women's Australian Open

LPGA/LET ISPS Handa  Women's Australian Open leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/isps-handa-womens-australian-open/leaderboard

While round 2 was a disappointment for Brooke Henderson who fell out of contention with a +4 77 to sit at E, 9 shots behind, two of her Canadian pals picked her up.

Maude Aimee LeBlanc has gone 71 68 -7 and is T6 just 2 shots off the lead held by Aussie Sarah Jane Smith 70 67 -9. There is a 4 way tie for 2nd place.

Alena Sharp is at -6 71 69 good for T9 while Jennifer Ha has missed the cut 75 78 in tough windy conditions at Royal Adelaide

Bryan Angus

When Weirsy owned Riviera...Canadian scores at Genesis Open

PGA Tour Genesis Open leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/competition/2017/genesis-open/leaderboard.html

So what is the Genesis Open you are all asking me... It's the old Los Angeles Open  1926-1970, then Glen Campbell sponsored it from 1971-1983 before he ran out of extra money..'84-'86 no sponsor.. then Nissan took over from '87 -2007 before Northern Trust got involved until last year..

Now another South Korean car company has stepped in.

Genesis Motors is the luxury vehicle division of the South Korean automobile manufacturer Hyundai Motor Company. Initially envisioned along with the plan for Hyundai's new luxury sedan Hyundai Genesis in 2004, the Genesis brand was officially announced as a standalone marque on 4 November 2015.

So its still at Riviera and Friday is well under way and unless you've forgotten when Mike Weir was on top of the world back in the early 2000's he owned this event ..

He won it outright in 2003 beating Charles Howell III in a playoff then Shigeki Maruyama by a shot in 2004... Oh yes he won a little event in Augusta in 2003,,,,

This year there are 5 Canadians...Adam Hadwin -3 68 (135pm), David Hearn -1 70 (135pm), Graham DeLaet  +2 73, Nick Taylor +3 74, MacKenzie Hughes +5 76

The leader early in round 2 is Sam Saunders after an opening -7 64, and he is in the late wave today. It was 50 years ago this week, in 1967 that his grandpa, Arnold Palmer won his second straight LA Open !!

There is 100% chance of rain this afternoon and evening, as well as Saturday in Los Angeles https://www.bing.com/search?q=weather%20for%20los%20angeles&pc=cosp&ptag=C87A9C7EDF55B3&form=CONMHP&conlogo=CT3210127



Bryan Angus

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Austin Connelly 3 off the lead at ISPS Handa Super6 in Perth Australia

European Tour ISPS Handa Super6 leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2017/tournamentid=2017012/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard

The European Tour has moved from Malaysia down a bit to the west coast of Australia for an interesting new format called the ISPS Handa Super6.

Local lad, Brett Rumford and England's Mark Foster lead after the first round at -6 66.

It is not a really strong field, lot's of Aussies and players from India and Asia, and in amongst them all at -3 69 is Canada's Austin Connelly, 20 years young who qualified out of European Q School this year

Connelly has dual citizenship, his Dad and caddy, Bill, was born in Toronto and his family's roots are in the Maritimes. He was born in Irving Texas and at 5'8" and 160 pounds he has been a member of team Canada, playing in last year's Pan Am Games and after a stellar amateur career where he rose to Canada's #1 he decided to turn pro when he was 18. He played the Canadian Tour last year and finished 7th in the order of merit and has several starts on the PGA Tour.

He now has conditional status on the European Tour which will get him in 10-12 events and he also has full status on the Challenge Tour.

As for the new format, players are jostling to make it into Sunday's innovative new six-hole match play knockout. A regular cut will take place on Friday before the field is cut to 24 players for Sunday's match play finale in what is a first for the European Tour.

Here are the details from europeantour.com

- 156 players start for three rounds of strokeplay
- A standard cut to the leading 65 pros (and ties) will be made after 36 holes
- A further cut after 54 will reduce the field to 24 players for a final day of match play action
- If there are any ties for 24th position, a sudden-death play-off will determine the qualifiers
- Sunday will bring five rounds of six-hole match play battles – Super 6
- The top eight players after 54 holes will receive a bye into the second match play round
- Any ties for the top eight will be decided by a score count back based on the last 18, 9, 6, 3 and 1 holes
- In Super 6, any results not determined after six holes of match play will be decided by playing a 'Knockout Hole'
- This will be a purpose-built 93-yard par three using the 18th green at Lake Karrinyup
- Only one man will be left standing
Bryan Angus

Brooke Henderson T9 ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open

LPGA/LET ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open  http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/isps-handa-womens-australian-open/leaderboard

After a week in the Bahamas, the women of the LPGA have flown down to Adelaide in south Australia for their women's national championship, meanwhile the men of the European Tour are in Perth playing the ISPS Handa Super6.

Veteran Aussie Katherine Kirk who won the CN Women's Canadian Open in 2008 leads the field after a sparkling -8 65 opening round. She missed the cut last week.

In a very strong field there are 4 Canadians.

Brooke Henderson is in a pack T9 at -4 69. Bogey free she was out in 36 but roared back in 33. Maude Aimee LeBlanc and Alena Sharp both shot -2 71 T25 while Jennifer Na slipped to a +2 75.

I was asked what ISPS Handa is. Well, it's a Japanese non-profit organization known for sponsorship of the PGA Seniors Championship and LPGA Women's Australian Open tournaments and is dedicated to promoting the involvement of the visually disabled in golf. ISPS Handa supports blind golf worldwide. ISPS Handa is a member of Tokyo Sports Association, a public interest incorporated foundation.

Bryan Angus




.

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Tuesday tidbits,...Canadian scores..

Thanks for all your support regarding my missus, who had her cancer operation on Thursday. She is home now from hospital, very weak, sore and tired, sleeping a lot, but I remain confident we will beat this horrible disease. I have already wished her a happy Valentine's.

Despite all the snow shovelling and looking after her this weekend I kept my eye on what was happening in warmer climes and have just posted my thoughts on Jordan Spieth's impressive win at Pebble Beach.

European Tour Maybank Championship http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2017/tournamentid=2017010/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard

In Malaysia where I doubt if they've ever seen snow, it was the Paraguayan,
Fabrizio Zanotti who roared up the leaderboard with a -9 63 including an eagle on the final hole to win his second European Tour title at the Maybank Championship.

He began the day six shots off the lead but he took the lead on the 17th then on the par five 18th as he was on in 2 mighty blows then made a 15 footer to get to -19'

American David Lipsky was in front most of the day and was tied for the lead standing on the 18th tee, but couldn't match Zanotti's eagle at the last.


Champions Tour Allianz Championship http://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/allianz-championship/leaderboard.html

This event usually means great showing by Bernhard Langer in his American home Boca Raton, but this year it was Scott McCarron who like Fabrizio Zanotti, eagled the par 5 18th on the Old Course at Broken Sound with a drive and a 7 iron to within 6 feet, to shoot 67 -17 to edge Kenny Perry and Carlos Franco by a shot.

Stephen Ames was right in contention after his 63 on Saturday, and with a -5 67 on Suday he finished T6 at -14


Tyler Costigan from Golf Canada reports that Amateur Squad member Maddie Szeryk posted a final-round 70 (-2) on Sunday to share a three-way tie of second place at the Florida State Match-Up.

Her performance was underlined by an opening-round, seven-birdie effort en route to carding a tournament-low 66 (-6). The Texas A&M junior went on to finish the event at -8 to lead the Aggies to a third place team result. Individually, the reigning Canadian Order of Merit winner came up three strokes short in her bid to defend the Seminole Invitational title; she took home the honours in 2016.

Meanwhile on the Web.com in Columbia, Canadian Corey Conners shot -4 67 to finish T17. Ben Silverman shot E 71, T62 at +4. The winner in a playoff was former Canadian Tour player Ethan Tracy.

Bryan Angus


Spieth back where he belongs, Canadians in fine form at Pebble Beach

PGA Tour AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am final leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/competition/2017/at-t-pebble-beach-pro-am/leaderboard.html

It's very, very early in this year of 2017, but of the so called big3, Jordan Spieth who is officially ranked at #6, is playing most like the #1.

Rory is out indefinitely with that stress fracture in his rib, Jason Day, still shaking off the rust from a 3 month break is showing signs of returning to form, he was tied for the 36 hole lead but blew his chances with a 75 on Saturday before rebounding with 67 to T5.

But it is the young Texan, who spent the week on the spectacular Monterey Peninsula amongst the rich and famous, and in a particularly strong field, who looked like the worlds best, completely relaxed and confident, strong and at times spectacular iron play and of course the trademark putter back in form particularly during a pair of 65's on Friday and Saturday when he put this event AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am away. He led by 6 shots starting Sunday and putted pretty defensively, considering he was in position for birdie on nearly every hole, and finished up with -2 70 -19 total, four shots ahead of his Dallas buddy Kelly Kraft (67) then Pebble Beach specialist Dustin Johnson (68)

He has been under par in everyone of his four top 10s this year and will be the favourite going into Riviera this week.

It was a good weekend for 4 of our Canadians. Nick Taylor and Mackenzie Hughes were T10, both shot a final round 71 to finish the tournament at -8. Brad Fritsch (71) good for 33rd at -5 while Adam Hadwin (73) was 39th, a shot back at -4.

David Hearn and Mike Weir missed the cut.

As for the celebrity pairings, the winners were Ken Duke and Carson Daly.

Bryan Angus

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Willett returns to form to lead Maybank Championship

European Tour Maybank Championship leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2017/tournamentid=2017010/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard

europeantour.com

Danny Willett will go in search of a first European Tour title since his victory at the Masters Tournament when he takes a three-shot lead into the final round of the Maybank Championship.

The Englishman had the most successful year of his career so far in 2016, winning twice including that triumph at Augusta National as he finished second in the Race To Dubai.

That does not tell the whole story, however, and Willett admitted he struggled to find that early season form as he recorded just one top ten in his final 13 events of the season.

A sixth-placed finish at the UBS Hong Kong Open and some hard work over the Christmas break has helped to restore confidence and, after rounds of 66-67-67 -16, he is in pole position to move back into the winner's circle at Saujana Golf and Country Club.

He is three shots clear of American David Lipsky and four ahead of Frenchman Alexander Levy, the first time he has led by more than one shot after 54 holes.
 
Overnight leader Bernd Wiesberger was 10 shots worse than his brilliant 63 on Friday, and his 73 has slipped him down into the chasing pack.

Friday, February 10, 2017

Round 2 suspended. frost expected early Saturday with Spieth leading at AT&T Pebble Beach

PGA Tour AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/competition/2017/at-t-pebble-beach-pro-am/leaderboard.html

It was driving rain on Thursday, today round 2 was suspended due to fog with Jordan Spieth in the lead at -10 (68 65). A widespread frost is expected early on Saturday...

The majority of the field have not completed round 2, Spieth is one of the few who will sleep in on Saturday.

Canadian scores: MacKenzie Hughes ( -3 7070), Nick Taylor (-3 70), Mike Weir (+3 74 73 ), Brad Fritsch ( E 74), Adam Hadwin (-1 73) David Hearn (4 77)

Play will resume at 730 PST on Saturday weather permitting..


Forecast;  wide spread frost warning so expect a delay for start times...

Saturday:Saturday will be fairly cloudy with occasional showers. These will be a mix of rain, sleet and snow, especially over hills. A brisk easterly wind will exacerbate the cold feel. Maximum Temperature 6 °C.


Bryan Angus

Wiesberger leads Maybank Challenge with 9 birdies in a row..

European Tour Maybank Championship leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2017/tournamentid=2017010/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard

europeantour.com 

Bernd Wiesberger produced a remarkable run of nine birdies in a row as he fired a 63 to take the second-round lead at the Maybank Championship.
 
The 31 year old entered day two at Saujana Golf and Country Club six shots off the lead but that incredible sequence of gains from the seventh to the 15th got him to 12 under and handed him a one-shot lead over Masters Tournament champion Danny Willett.
 
No other player in European Tour history had ever made nine consecutive birdies in the same round but, with preferred lies in place this week, Wiesberger will not take his place in the history books.
 
That is unlikely to take the gloss off a brilliant performance, however, as he goes in search of a fourth European Tour victory

Willett followed up his opening 66 with a 67 to sit at 11 under, two shots clear of Frenchman Mike Lorenzo-Vera and American David Lipsky.
 

 


Canucks at the AT&T at Pebble Beach

PGA Tour AT&T at Pebble Beach leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/competition/2017/at-t-pebble-beach-pro-am/leaderboard.html

On opening day it poured of rain on the very wealthy Monterey Peninsula so play never did get finished..

The PGA Tour moved up tee times by an hour to try to beat the storms but the greens on all three courses began holding enough water that play had to be suspended.

Seung-Yul Noh, Joel Dahmen and Rick Lamb each shot a -4 68 at Spyglass Hill to share the lead, and more importantly, they were among the 75 players who finished. The rest had to return at 7:30 a.m. today to finish the round before moving on to another course.

Among the Canadians, Nick Taylor finished his round at -2(70) for a share of eighth, tied with Mackenzie Hughes who was -2 after 17 holes (T8) when play was suspended.

Adam Hadwin is +1 through 15 holes (T58) followed by Mike Weir at +2 74 (T82), Brad Fritsch at +2 through 16 (T82), and David Hearn at +5 77 (T138)

Bryan Angus

"You never appreciate your health til you lose it.."

This saying originated long before I was born but it became one of the tenets of my life soon after I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as an 18 year old, it was a game changer as we say in sports.

I have been reminded of the saying several times since, including surviving a brain aneurism early on a morning in 2008.

You either learn to cope with personal issues or you don't survive. Someone else once said, " we are all faced with adversity in our life, it is the mark of a man how he deals with it"

In my case I used them as motivation to become the fittest 20 year old, then 30, then 40 and quickly 50 and now 60 year old. It has helped shape my personality, always finding something to smile about each and everyday.

These issues were mine to deal with, however recently cancer has hit my family, this time it isn't me, it's my long time partner who was diagnosed over Christmas with this awful disease.

This I find much more difficult to deal with, because it's not me who is fighting it. Today I have just returned from the hospital, after she had three incisions to remove tumours in her thyroid gland, and lymph nodes and we are lucky because our wonderful Dr.Anand says if you have a malignant tumour, the thyroid is the place to have it, the lymph nodes are a different story.

I have taken the positive approach road to all of this, not even considering the horrible alternative that most all of you have had to deal with in one way or another.

I write this to explain why I have been neglecting my blog of late.

The operation to remove the cancerous thyroid has been a success, we have to wait for test results to see the status of the other two nodes he removed...

Viv is returning home soon, they don't keep you in hospital a moment longer than necessary, there is such a shortage of beds, and nursing staff by the way, who at Scarborough General and all the others I am sure are putting in 12 hours shifts and dealing with health issues beyond our comprehension, daily.

So I will be returning to my blog as soon as she is home in recovery, thanks for your support, and try to step back from your daily stress makers and remember without your health none of them matter.

" You never appreciate your health 'til you lose it "... trust me

Bryan Angus

Sunday, February 5, 2017

DeLaet in Sunday contention at Waste Management Phoenix Open

PGA Tour Waste Management Phoenix Open leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/competition/2017/waste-management-phoenix-open/leaderboard.html

In round 2 on Friday I wrote here about Graham DeLaet charging up the leaderboard, T2 through 12 holes, unfortunately he then made 4 bogey's in 6 holes, but he still came in with a 69 to stay in the mix.

Yesterday, in front of 204,906 fans, he corrected that finish, with 7 birdies along with a lone bogey, out in 32, back in 33 for a brilliant -6 65 and a -12 total, 4 shots behind the stunning South Korean, known to all but his mother as Ben An who will be tough to beat after a flawless 66 66 65 -16.

If you are wondering where you have heard his name, An won the 2009 U.S. Amateur at 17 to become the youngest winner in event history.

Martin Laird also shot 65 and is just behind at -15 while defending champion Hideki Matsuyama (68), John Peterson (63) and Michael Kim (66) all join DeLaet on -12.

Adam Hadwin (70) continues his fine form, and he was at -6 T35th and is already under way as they have teed off early with the SuperBowl on tap around 6pm EST.

So far 596,880 have clicked through the turnstiles in six days, setting records each day and with today's attendance expected to be around 80,000 this edition of the Phoenix Open will top the record of 618,365 set last year.

There are a lot of college kids who have downed a lot of beer at this most rowdy of PGA Tour events, and some 20,000 of them have jammed into the bleachers around the 16th this morning and are already hard at it, and I'm sure they will carry their celebrations right on into the Super Bowl tailgate later on this big Sunday in sports.

 Let's see if Graham and Ruby DeLaet can join them !!!

Bryan Angus

Sergio Garcia wins Omega Dubai Desert Classic

European Tour Omega Dubai Desert Classic leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2017/tournamentid=2017008/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard

Sergio Garcia is in a good place in his life these days. Newly engaged to Angela Akins, a former Golf Channel reporter http://golfweek.com/2017/01/06/sergio-garcia-engaged-to-former-college-golfer-angela-akins-golf-channel/, Sergio is getting married later this year.

Today in his first outing of the year he rounded off a superb week of ball striking and putting with a 3 shot win over big Henrik Stenson (69) with rounds of 65 67 68 69 -19 at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Sporting a full beard, dressed in daffodil yellow and white, it is his 12th Euro Tour win in his 250th start, his 30th world wide, he'll move into the world top 10 from #15, and this was long overdue, being his first win on this tour since January 2014, and it was on an Emirates GC he hasn't played that well, with a T11 his best finish.

Englishman Tyrrell Hatton and Dane Lasse Jensen were next at -14 under, two shots clear of Matthew Fitzpatrick and Peter Uihlein. This completes the desert swing.
 
Next week the European tour moves to steamy Kuala Lumpar in Malaysia, before heading down to Perth Australia, then Johannesberg in South Africa, but you won't see a lot of the big names until the first week of March at a brand new WGC Mexico Championship which of  course was the Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral last year, where Adam Scott will defend his title.
 
Bryan Angus

Friday, February 3, 2017

DeLaet, Hadwin charging in front of huge galleries at Waste Management Phoenix Open

PGA Tour Waste Management Phoenix Open leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/competition/2017/waste-management-phoenix-open/leaderboard.html

With round 2 well under way Graham DeLaet has followed up on his opening -5 67, with 4 birdies and an eagle, along with 1 bogey to sit a -9 T2 through 12 holes today. He played the back nine first in 32 shots with the eagle coming at the par 5 15th.

Adam Hadwin is also having a great day playing the back 9 first, he made an eagle 2 on the 335 yard 17th nearly driving the green, and chipped in from 35 yards making the turn in 34, and has just played the front nine in 32 for -5 66, T11.

Other Canadians. David Hearn +1 72, Nick Taylor +3 74, MacKenzie Hughes +3 74 are all in the late wave.

Currently the leader is South Korean star Byeong Hun An 66 66 -10.

Yesterday, in perfect afternoon conditions the crowd was estimated at 103,420. Remember this is the course with the huge rowdy, beer fuelled gallery at the famous par 3 16th.

Follow all your favourites on the link I have provided.

Bryan Angus

Tiger withdraws, Coetzee leads in windy Dubai

European Tour Omega Dubai Desert Classic leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2017/tournamentid=2017008/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard

If you suffer from a bad back this won't surprise you. Last evening Tiger Wood's back started to spasm and after several hours of treatment he couldn't walk properly, never mind play golf, so he has had to WD from this Omega Dubai Desert Classic before play began today in round 2.

He is next scheduled to play in two weeks in Los Angeles (Genesis Open) and Florida (Honda Classic). Those are the facts, the rest you are hearing and reading about is just speculation. I made my thoughts clear here yesterday after he opened up with a +5 77.

As for the event itself, this edited report from europeantour.com. George Coetzee has opened up a one-shot lead in the second round before play was suspended due to high winds at Emirates Golf Club.

Strong winds had been predicted and they duly arrived, preventing any of the early starters from getting any closer than within three shots of Sergio Garcia's overnight lead of -7 65.

Coetzee managed to edge ahead of the Spaniard as he picked up three shots in his first eight holes to get to nine under but with the wind taking down some trees on the course and rain arriving, play was suspended at 2.26pm local time

Play is scheduled to restart at 7.30am on Saturday morning with all of the second wave still on course having completed between two and nine holes.

"We've had a fairly challenging day today with the wind," said Tournament Director Mike Stewart. "Winds increased during the course of lunchtime into the early afternoon to the point where we had gusts approaching 36 miles an hour and beyond.

"The result was the last hour of play, effectively, before we suspended, it was such that we had a lot of things going on on the golf course.

"We had TV towers that the roofs were blown off. We had balls moving on the greens - blew into a bunker at one stage - five trees came down, it was very unsafe and it was unplayable. So we brought the players off the golf course in the interests of play and safety to the spectators, as well.

"Hopefully we can get most of the third round completed tomorrow. We'll still have a bit to conclude on Sunday and, all going well, we'll still have a good chance of finishing on time on Sunday afternoon.
 
 
Bryan Angus





Thursday, February 2, 2017

At #666 and dropping, Tiger's sideshow still a big draw in Dubai

European Tour Omega Dubai Desert Classic leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2017/tournamentid=2017008/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard

Do you remember when "The Greatest", Mohammed Ali came back to the world's biggest stage, a stage he didn't create, but popularized beyond any other, to lose embarrassingly to Leon Spinks when he was 36, a guy who couldn't tie his bootlaces 10 years earlier, and although he managed to beat Spinks 6 months later, he came back all fat and flabby 2 years later to be humiliated by his sparring partner Larry Holmes, then again a year later at 39 to Canadian Trevor Burbick in the Bahamas..

Tiger Woods is the closest guy worldwide to Ali  in my opinion, and  at #666 in the world and slipping, he continues to make the headlines, move the needle as he attempts a comeback amongst guys who used to shrink mentally whenever Tiger showed up.

Unlike Ali he is still in great shape physically, doesn't need the money, and doesn't get his face punched in for 15 rounds, but at this stage in his career in a golfing context, he is getting pummeled by the Leon Spink's of golf.

Today at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic he shot +5 77, T121, there are only 7 players in the full field with worse scores. He is 12 shots behind one of the guys whose major careers were put on hold while Tiger led the orchestra, Sergio Garcia, now the leader at -7 65.

He popularized this event with his wins in 2006 and 2008 and hasn't been back for a couple of years, his international travel curtailed by his ailing back. However with Rory out injured, and despite his inept play, his return was heralded with enormous ballyhoo, as he continues to play week in and week out to get in his much needed competitive reps in his lead up to Augusta in early April...

However it's clear the horse has left the barn, the Rory's, Jason's Jordan's Henrik's and many others, no longer have any reason to fear him while enjoying his company inside the ropes.

He is a mere sideshow right now, and in my opinion will continue to be just that, with all of us just hoping for the week it all comes together for him somewhere one more time..

To think he will ever return to become a contender again, everytime he shows up is simply wishful thinking, but for now, sideshow or not, this chapter of his storied career won't be over until he either plays well or fizzles out at Augusta.

and we're all staying tuned..

Bryan Angus