Alex " Chubby" Cejka survives brutal Portcawl, beats Paddy to win the Senior Open... final results

 R&A : the Senior Open 

• Results

Alex Cejka defeated Padraig Harrington in a play-off to win The Senior Open Presented by Rolex as he landed his third Senior Major Championship on a dramatic day of punishing conditions at Royal Porthcawl.

The German got the job done at the second extra hole, making a two-putt birdie at the par-five 18th as Harrington could only manage a par after a fluffed chip shot.

Harrington, who has now finished runner-up in both his Senior Open appearances, had missed an eagle putt to win on the 72nd hole, before both players made birdies on the first play-off hole.

Extra holes were required after the pair finished the tournament on five over par, with nobody able to break par for the second day running as the field faced howling winds and rain in Wales

It is the highest winning score at Europe’s only Senior Major Championship since Bob Charles finished on seven over at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1993.

Cejka emulates four-time champion Bernhard Langer as just the second German to win the Senior Open as he adds the trophy to his wins at the Regions Tradition and KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in 2021.

"I can't believe I'm standing with the trophy here," Cejka said.

"Seeing all those great names on the trophy, coming in here with all the pictures and everything, all the guys who won it before me, now holding it myself, it's surreal."

Harrington was again close to sealing victory at the first play-off hole as his eagle putt from off the back of the green agonizingly missed to the left, before Cejka extended the contest.

After finding the fairway with his drive when the players returned for the second play-off hole, Cejka found the putting surface with his second shot while Harrington went through the green before his error with a wedge that ultimately proved decisive.

Vijay Singh finished in third place at seven under, a shot clear of Michael Jonzon.

The Fijian started the day one shot adrift of Cejka but signed for a 77 as he made a birdie at the last, while Sweden's Jonzon finished with a 75.

Phillip Archer, making his Senior Open debut, finished in a tie for fifth at nine over, alongside 2002 Ryder Cup winner Phillip Price.

Y.E. Yang, the 2009 US PGA champion, climbed 44 places to finish in a share of 11th after a level par 71, the joint best of the day.

John Kemp finished as the leading amateur in a tie for 14th on 12 over after an impressive closing 74. 

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Bryan Angus

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Alker leads after 36, but with heavy wind expected, the Senior Open is up for grabs...full leaderboard

 R&A:  The Senior Open ..Leaderboard

Steven Alker will take a one-shot lead into the weekend at The Senior Open Presented by Rolex as he goes in search of his second Senior Major Championship victory at Royal Porthcawl.

On his 52nd birthday, the New Zealander mixed four birdies with a bogey as he posted a three-under 68 that moved him to four under early on day two before overnight leader Miguel Ángel Jiménez struggled to a 76 that left him four back.

Alex Cejka recovered from a triple-bogey seven midway through his second round to card a 71 on another challenging day of links golf in Wales and he sits at three under in second place.

That was one shot better off than Greig Hutcheon, who is making his Senior Open debut, with 2016 champion Paul Broadhurst, Vijay Singh, Paul Lawrie and Anders Hansen at one under.

Alker is making his first appearance at Royal Porthcawl - a venue which has previously hosted Europe’s only Senior Major in 2014 and 2017 - but is “relishing” the challenge.

"Had two days plodding away, taking my chances when I could on the odd par 5 and odd par 4," he said.

"Different wind today. Switched around a little bit from a couple different directions.

"It was actually fun. It was enjoyable. I actually love playing links golf and kind of relishing it to be honest.

"I think I've hit everything in my bag this week, and that's a good sign. That's the sign of a good golf course when you hit every club in your bag."

Cejka made three birdies in his opening seven holes as briefly moved into the lead at six under, but his momentum was blunted by a seven at the par-four ninth.

The German, a two-time Senior Major winner, dropped another shot at the 16th but regained it with a two-putt birdie at the 18th which for the second day running played as the easiest hole on the course.

“I had a good start,” he reflected. “Made a couple birdies. Then I was uncomfortable on the 9th hole.

“The wind was left-to-right and I maybe should not have hit driver, but I blocked a little bit right and it found the bushes.

“So I had to take an unplayable, pitch out on the green, three-putt. That stung a little bit after making three birdies earlier.

“But I fought back on the back nine that's playing a little bit trickier with the wind. I had a couple good chances but I'm happy that I finished with a birdie or an eagle putt.”

Both Alker and Cejka had formed part of the morning wave, while Hutcheon was a late starter on day two.

Beginning the round at one under, the Scot made a blistering start with four birdies in his opening six holes as conditions calmed before two further gains in his final four holes when the winds had picked up again helped him to a 68.

The three-time European Challenge Tour winner, who played at The Open in 1998, said: “I kind of noticed my name on the leaderboard out of the corner of my eye, and I think I might have got a little bit of leaderboard altitude sickness and had a really nervy three-putt on 7.

“But I steadied myself and I played quite well. You can only do your best, and some holes are just so difficult, you can hit good shots and you just get into trouble in the fairway bunkers and so on.

“So, I think you've just got to be prepared to make bogeys, especially when the wind gets like this.

Both Broadhurst and Lawrie mixed two birdies with two birdies in their 71s on Friday, Singh carded a 72 while Hansen, a three-time DP World Tour winner, climbed 15 places on the leaderboard with a two-under 69.

Jiménez held a two-shot lead when he hit the turn but dropped seven shots in eight holes from the tenth before birdieing the 18th to end the day in an eight-strong group on level par which also includes Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie.

Defending champion Darren Clarke made the cut on the number at five over after a 74, while Rich Beem is at four over after he ensured his progress with a crowd-pleasing birdie at the 18th.

Past winner Stephen Dodd, Legends Tour Order of Merit leader Adilson Da Silva, Ian Woosnam and José María Olazábal were among those to miss out on the weekend's action.

europeantour.com

Royal Porthcawl in the wind proving a stern test for the Senior Open ..Weir out.. live scoring

 R&A : Senior Open.. Leaderboard

With 36 holes in the books, the best the senior circuit can do in Wales on Royal Porthcawl is 70 68-4 by the Kiwi Steve Alker. Only 7 players are under par. He turned 52 today.

The weather is a big factor, as it always is on links courses, cloudy and breezy with rain in the forecast (10-20mph). The weekend is far worse with wind gusts 30-40 mph with occasional showers.

Mike Weir did his best but was no match 74 79 +11 with 13 bogey's and a double over two rounds, just 4 birdies. The cut fell at +5.

First round leader Miguel  Jimenez was 10 shots worse today, 66 76 T8 E.

The best Welshman is Bradley Dredge 71 72 +1 T15, and that could well be the winning score come Sunday night. Wee Woozy (Ian Woosnam) 75, 78 +12.

Bernard Langer 73 69 E T8, Monty 72 70 E T8, Paddy Harrington 75 68 +1 T15, Jerry Kelly 73 71 +2 T25.

Defending champion Darren Clarke 73 74 made the cut on +5.

With Mother Nature in charge over the weekend, anyone making the cut could well win. Par will be great, bogey is good, staying away from a big number, controlling your ball flight and making a few putts will decide the winner. 

Bryan Angus.

Weirsy well back, 12 break par at the Senior Open...full scoreboard..

 R&A : The Senior Open...Leaderboard

Miguel Ángel Jiménez produced a superb display of links golf to hold a two-shot lead after the opening round of The Senior Open Presented by Rolex at Royal Porthcawl 2023.

The Spaniard, who won Europe’s only Senior Major Championship at St Andrews in 2018, mixed six birdies with one bogey in wet and windy morning weather to card a six-under 65 and set the early pace at five under.

Despite more favourable conditions for the afternoon starters, nobody could catch Jiménez with fellow two-time Senior Major champion Alex Cejka and American Mario Tiziani - brother-in-law to Steve Stricker - his nearest challengers after they recorded 68s.

Jeev Milka Singh sits in third place alongside Vijay Singh at two under, with 2016 champion Paul Broadhurst and Paul Lawrie in a group of seven players one shot further back after they opened with a 70 in Wales.

Jiménez – a 21-time DP World Tour winner – recorded six top-20 finishes at The Open earlier in his career and is still relishing links golf at the age of 59.

“It's my favourite major and playing in these conditions on this golf course, Royal Porthcawl is a great links,” he said.  

“I really enjoy playing links, love it.

He added: “I played very solid, all parts of the game. I finished with a birdie on the last hole, hit a beautiful drive and seven iron second shot.

“The only bad shot I hit was on hole 14, my second shot with a four iron.

“I was rushing myself probably there, and I just pulled it left and didn't make the up-and-down there. That's really the only bad thing. I am happy.”

Cejka finished in a tie for ninth at the US Senior Open earlier this month and he brought that form with him as he registered one of only two bogey-free rounds all day alongside Lawrie.

Tiziani, playing in the third from last group of the day, made his fifth birdie of the round on the final hole to join Cejka two shots off the pace as he bounced back from bogeying his opening two holes to make an impressive start on his Senior Open debut.

Milka Singh later revealed how his first ever experience of links golf was at Royal Porthcawl as a 15-year-old.

“We were playing the Indo French Championship in Paris,” he recalled. “Didn't have a visa for the U.K. Last minute, decided that we wanted to play the British Amateur qualifier.

Get to the British embassy, they said, no, you've got to go back to your home country to get the visa. So it was three of us, and we called up Sir (Michael) Bonnalack. He was kind enough to call the embassy up. Got us the visa, but for those three days, we barely had money to survive.

“So we lived on the street, basically. One night we slept under the Eiffel Tower. The next night, we were in a train but cops came and they said, you need to be out. The train station closes at 1.00am and it opens at 5.00am.

“So for four hours we are just roaming around. We used to sit on the train at 5.00, go from one corner to the other corner till we got - to the embassy opened at 10.00, got there, got a visa, got here, and that was the first time I played a links course. That was Royal Porthcawl. I was 15 years old, got to this golf course, the first day. I said, oh, this is easy golf, there's no wind.

“Next day, the wind blew, I said, how do they play golf in this? That was it. I didn't qualify. And here I am, after so many years, I think 38 years afterwards, I'm playing the Senior Open at Royal Porthcawl

Broadhurst made a blistering start with four birdies in his opening seven holes, before dropping three shots in a six-hole stretch from the ninth.

In contrast, 1999 Open Champion Lawrie was a consistent force all day as he made one lone birdie at the par-five sixth in addition to 17 pars.

The British duo sat alongside Kiwi Steven Alker, American Tom Gillis, Italy’s Michele Reale, Sweden’s Jarmo Sandelin and South Africa's Keith Horne in a share of sixth place at the end of the day.

Home hope Bradley Dredge was in an six-strong group at level par on his Legends Tour debut, having turned 50 earlier this month.

Defending champion Darren Clarke opened with a two-over 73, which was matched by Bernhard Langer who has won on the Senior Open’s previous two visits to Royal Porthcawl.

edit ** Canadians +3  74

Bryan Angus

Six Canadians at 3M Open in Minnesota.. live scoreboard

 PGA Tour : 3M Open..

Leaderboard

After 2 weeks in North Berwick and Liverpool, trans Atlantic flights were in great demand for many, and for those who weren't there, it was a two week break with family and friends.

Many on the PGA Tour have made their way to Blaine, Minnesota for the 3M Open on TPC Twin Cities and that includes six Canadians with round one just under way this morning in the extreme heat 93*f.

Adam Svensson  -3 thru 9

Adam Hadwin  -2 thru 11

Michael Gligic  -1 thru 4

Mac Hughes  E thru 9

Taylor Pendrith  +1 thru 6

David Hearn  2.27pm

Tony Finau is off to a hot start -6 thru 9 holes.

Bryan Angus

Mike Weir the lone Canadian at The Senior Open.. Thursday TEE TIMES

 R&A : The Senior Open 

• Tee Times

I can't remember the last time Weirsy played in Britain, but during his glory years surrounding the 2003 Masters when he was ranked #3 in the world, he was qualified on an annual basis.

He was a playing member of the President's Cup 2000, through 2009 in Montreal when he cemented his legacy in Canadian golf, beating Tiger in singles. 2017-2022 he went on to be the Assistant Captain and in yet another honour, he will return to Montreal as International Team Captain in 2024.

After his elbow injuries' Mike's record from around 2014 until he qualified for the PGA Tours Champions in May 2020 indicate the struggles he went through, and I do remember he re joined the European Tour as well as the Web.com Tour in 2018 for a time to get in more tournament play.

The Senior circuit has been a great chapter in his career and life. Getting divorced from Bricia in 2014 and subsequently settling his personal life with the blessing of his grown up daughters Elle Marisa and Lili, Mike arrived on the scene in May 2020, looking and feeling fit with a new beau Michelle Money and won his first tournament  the Insperity Invitational on May 2, 2021. He is currently ranked 36th on the Champions Tour money list.

This week he will play the Senior Open at Royal Porthcawl in Bridgend, Wales where Darren Clarke is the defending champion

9.20 GMT Group 14 1st tee Mike Weir, Paul Broadhurst, Ian Woosnam

Bryan Angus

It's the Senior Open this week at Royal Porthcawl...details

 R&A : Senior Open 

Legends of the game descend on Wales this week for the Senior Open presented by Rolex as Royal Porthcawl plays host.

Darren Clarke makes the first defense of a Senior Major Championship this week as he looks to become the first player to successfully retain his title since Christy O’Connor Jnr in 2000.

A birdie on a weather-affected final day at Gleneagles’ King’s Course last year helped the Northern Irishman to a one-shot victory over Pádraig Harrington.

Following a near two-hour delay in Scotland midway through the back nine, Clarke withstood a late charge by fellow Open winner Harrington as a two-putt birdie at the 18th sealed a dramatic victory in the fading light.

In claiming his victory, Clarke became just the fourth player to win both The Open Championship and The Senior Open, emulating Bob Charles, Gary Player and Tom Watson.

It was the 14-time DP World Tour winner’s fourth and most recent title since turning 50 and has stated that Royal Porthcawl will be a course “that will test every facet of your game”.

The Senior Open is returning to Royal Porthcawl for the first time in six years this week as the venue stages the event for the third time.

A year after Gleneagles hosted Europe’s only Senior Major Championship, the 36th edition visits South Wales again for what promises to be another intriguing week of outstanding golf.

Many tournaments, both amateur and professional, graced the venue which was founded in 1891 as a nine-hole course before a further nine holes were added four years later.

In 1909, the club was bestowed the honour of using the prefix Royal – only the second club in Wales to be granted the privilege after Royal St David’s.

It first hosted a Senior Major in 2014, when Bernhard Langer won by a remarkable 13 shots before the event returned to Royal Porthcawl for a second time in 2017 when the German won once again.

Joining defending champion Clarke are a host of iconic figures from the game, including fellow stars from European golf such as José María Olazábal, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Woosnam, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Langer and Harrington.

There are also a host of leading global figures who are in pursuit of a Senior Major title, including Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, John Daly and Michael Campbell among others.

As a past Masters Champion Canada's Mike Weir is listed in the field..

Two-time Tour winner Adilson Da Silva is the leading player on the 2023 Order of Merit, with fellow champions for this season’s schedule Peter Baker and Richard Green among those also seeking further success.

Stephen Dodd and Paul Broadhurst – both past champions in the past decade – also take their place in the field.

Steve Stricker, who has won three of the four Senior Majors so far this year, is not playing this week but Langer is in action as he looks to claim his 13th Major Championship in the over-50 ranks having claimed the U.S. Senior Open at the start of the month.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Rookie Akshay Bhatia hits the jackpot in Truckee.. final results

 DP World Tour/PGA Tour : Barracuda Championship Leaderboard

Akshay Bhatia beat fellow American Patrick Rodgers on the first play-off hole to win his first PGA TOUR and DP World Tour title at the Barracuda Championship

A birdie at the 18th in regulation from around 15 feet at the Tahoe Mountain Club saw Bhatia finish with 40 points as he matched third-round leader Rodgers’ haul over the four days under the Modified Stableford Scoring format.

In sudden death, Rodgers, who missed a birdie putt for victory on the closing green, was unfortunate as his tee shot settled in a divot on the fairway and he ended up making a bogey as a two-putt par proved enough for Bhatia.

DP World Tour members Julien Guerrier and Jens Dantorp finished in a tie for third with 37 points after both players enjoyed excellent final rounds.

Victory earns Bhatia, who skipped college and turned professional at 17, full-time member status on the PGA TOUR and he is also exempt on the DP World Tour through to 2025.

"It's obviously been a really tough road," said Bhatia, who has played on the PGA TOUR as a special temporary member since a runner-up finish at the Puerto Rico Open earlier this year.

"In my few short years, I've had a lot of up, a lot of down. A lot of good, a lot of bad. But I knew I was going to get here. It was just matter of time.

"For it to happen this year with special temporary membership and now to get to play all these events and to get it done today was, I can't even describe it."

Reflecting on the opportunities that lie ahead, including playing on the DP World Tour, Bhatia added: “I would love to go to Europe,” he said.

“Obviously Dubai would be one of my favourite spots that I've never been to. Just going over there in general would be amazing. Hopefully I can make that happen.

“I'm excited that I get that opportunity as well. It kind of opens some flood gates over there.

“Hopefully, I can make it over to India one day, because that's a dream of mine. I was supposed to go a few years ago during COVID and then kind of shut down. We couldn't go. But I'm hoping I can make that jump over there.”

edit*** Canadians 

Michael Gligic T50  +21

Aaron Cockerill T64  +12

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

For once the 'rabbit" wins.. Brian Harman, Championship Golfer of the Year

 R&A.. The Open  Leaderboard

In track and field the 'rabbit' is a runner who is not as talented as the big stars coming on late to win the race,  who takes an enormous lead and hopes to hold on.

The rabbit runs so fast in the mile, he/she is 30 yards ahead after the 3rd, and 20 yards ahead at the final bell. It is usually humanly impossible for him//her to have enough oxygen to stay ahead by the finish line.

Brian Harman 67 65 -10 was the rabbit this week...5 shots ahead after 2 sunny days, with 2 days of rain ahead

edit***Tonight in rain soaked Liverpool, in fact Hoylake, fans annointed the 5'7 American lefty journeyman to the glorious ranks of the Champion Golfer of the Year.. such is the story of the Open.   67 65 69 70 -13.... 6 shots clear..

edit ***He may well be the least popular American winner since  Stewart Cink snatched the championship at Turnberry from nearly 60 year old Tom Watson in 2009, but that wouldn't be fair to Harman because Scottie, Rory, Big Jon, Justin's, Rosey etal could not catch him.

“Yeah, I'm over the moon,” he said. “It was a tough last three days, really was. Being able to get some sleep was big last night. Sleeping on a lead like that is really difficult, so glad of the way I hung in there the last couple days.

“Got off to a bad start both days and turned it around,” he added, “so really happy with that.”

The Open was his third TOUR triumph and first since the 2017 Wells Fargo Championship. Harman’s first win came in the 2014 John Deere Classic, which earned him a last-minute invite to his first Open Championship, at Royal Liverpool of all places. That year he teed off late Friday, finished after 10 p.m., made the cut and fell in love with links golf.

Harman, who came into the week 39th in Strokes Gained: Putting, added a big third by putting lights-out at Royal Liverpool. Through 54 holes he was 44-for-44 from inside 10 feet.

He had made 55 straight by the time he finally missed from inside 10 feet to bogey the par-3 13th hole. Hardly panicked, he birdied 14 and 15 to go up by five again and all but end it. Ho, hum.

Not surprisingly, he was first in SG: Putting (+11.57) for the week.

With the victory, Harman moved to sixth in the FedEx Cup and 10th in the world ranking.

worth  $3,000,000 ..600 Fed Ex Points...lifetime at the Open..

edit** Canadian.. Corey Conners T52  73 71 68 76 +4 ($43,433.00)   What a great week for Harman and his family.. perhaps a dull thud for the rest of us,,

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Harman and Mother Nature combine for 54 hole lead... leaderboard Sunday tee times

 R&A : the OPEN  Leaderboard

I opined about Brian Harman's 67 65 -10 5 shot lead before the weekend weather set in..

So Saturday the little lefty didn't hurt himself and the pack can't catch him..

Harman who was T6 last year at St Andrews, his best finish, is no more than a journey man pro on the PGA Tour, the guy who picks his courses. plays his averages and make a very comfortable living.

He is about to secure his future as an Open Champion, unless he falters..

Brian Harman remained the man to catch at the 151st Open Championship as a third round of 69 maintained his five-stroke lead.

Harman began the round five clear of playing partner Tommy Fleetwood and ended it ahead of last year’s runner-up Cameron Young by the same margin as he reached 12 under par.

Masters Tournament champion Jon Rahm surged into contention with a record-breaking 63 to hold third place outright on six under after Moving Day at Royal Liverpool.

Canadians   Corey Conners T24 73 71 68 -1

Harman hit his approach to just over five feet at the 12th and holed a 20-foot putt at the next for back-to-back birdies to stretch his lead.

He said afterwards: “The start was tough. Hit a couple of loose shots. It was nice to turn around and have a nice back nine.

“It would have been really easy to let the wheels start spinning and really kind of let it get out of control, but I just kind of doubled down on my routine and knew I was hitting it well, even though I hadn't hit any good shots yet.”

Looking ahead to Sunday, he said: “I've thought about winning majors for my whole entire life. Tomorrow if that's going to come to fruition for me, it has to be all about the execution and just staying in the moment. Just going to try to get a good night's sleep and get out and play a really nice 18 holes.

Viktor Hovland shot 66 to share fourth place, giving his opening birdie back immediately but adding five more including with a 24-foot putt at the last.

He was alongside Fleetwood, Antoine Rozner, Jason Day and Sepp Straka at five under. Alex Fitzpatrick and Shubhankar Sharma completed the top ten a further shot back.

Rory McIlroy birdied three of the first five after a series of accurate approach shots but that was as good as it got for the leader on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, as a bogey at the 12th left him in a share of 11th after signing for a 69.

Hoylake member Matthew Jordan was also in that group alongside Thomas Detry, Tom Kim, Nicolai Hojgaard and Emiliano Grillo.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Brian Harman 67 65 -10 with huge clubhouse lead.. Open Championship rd2.

 R&A : the Open Tee Times / Scoring

In 7 previous starts at the Open, little lefty Brian Harman has M/C 4 times, T26, T19 but T6 at St Andrew's last year. 

With rounds of 67, 65 -10 he has the clubhouse lead by 5 shots after his bogey free round today which included 4 birdies (2,3,4,5) in a row and an eagle 3 at the 18th. 

Of considerable importance, the weather I've been talking about is for steady at times heavy rain, more wind over this weekend (85%)

Talk about money in the bank, all these Harman birdies are just that, as you can expect scoring to soar

The cut is wavering between +2 and +3

Corey Conners 73 71 +2 T50

Nick Taylor  73, 75 +6 T105 (M/C)

Bryan Angus

Tommy Fleetwood leads at home : Open Championship

 R&A : Open Championship Friday TEE Times..

• SCORES

• SCORES

• Tee Times

Tommy Fleetwood was reveling in having some vociferous home support as he carded a brilliant 66 on day one of The 151st Open Championship. 

The Englishman - who was born just up the road from Royal Liverpool in Southport - had huge crowds following him and he repaid them with his lowest opening round in the oldest Major Championship.

He carded six birdies and a single bogey to continue the form that has brought him three top tens in four starts and he was delighted to rise to the occasion with the pressure on.

“It really was a great day,” Fleetwood said. “It’s always very nerve-wracking playing in front of your home crowd in such a big event, but I got off to a decent start.

“I was actually happy to have to get up and down on the first, holing a putt really settled me down and to get that going on the back nine was really, really cool. To get that support all day was amazing.

“If you’re not going to enjoy this atmosphere and these experiences then what’s the point? Make sure you have the time of your life out there.

“Being this close to home is the coolest thing and I’m so grateful to everyone that cheers me on.

"I am one of them, one of the guys that's out there. I'm a fan of the game. I'm from this area. Yes I feel at home and to feel that support, it means a lot.

"Of course throughout the day, you can easily put too much pressure on yourself. You can easily try too hard. But just having that support and people egging you on, whether you've hit a good shot or a bad shot, good hole, bad hole. It just pushes you on and (I'm) very, very lucky, as I said at the start of the week, to be able to play an Open so close to home when we get to do it two, three, four times.

As first rounds go, that's absolutely the one you wanted, and to get off to a good start feels good."

edit **** Canadians

Corey Conners T66  +2 73

Nick Taylor  T66 +2 73

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Pendrith, Cockerill, Gligic play Barracuda Championship this week.. TEE TIMES /Live scoring

 PGA /DP World Tour : Barracuda Championship Tee Times Leaderboard

Truckee, California is just 30 minutes west of Reno, Nevada, an area reknown for it's logging industry and outdoor activity and its where the second "alternative" event on the PGA/DP World Tour is being played this week.

There isn't a top 50 player in the field, but again, a lot at stake for all the rest who aren't qualified for the big show 11,000 miles away in rainy Liverpool.

Three Canadians will be playing.

Times EDT

9.56 10th  Taylor Pendrith (T62 +6) Beau Hossler, Adrien Saddier

11.46 1st   Aaron Cockerill T50 +7) Scott Harrington, Brandon Matthews

4.50 10th  Michael Gligic,(T143 -2) Tano Goya, Martin Simonsen 

Bryan Angus 

Thursday TEE TIMES 151st Open...Wet, windy weekend in store for Liverpool.

R&A : Open Championship Tee Times

There are just 2 Canadians who have qualified for this 151st Open at Royal Liverpool. It is a spectacular field, almost every "Game" has an interesting storyline, all your favourites both rookies and seasoned veterans alike will begin play at 6.35am with the last pairing off at 4.16pm the northern latitude of Liverpool in the summer provides long hours of daylight a feature at the Open every year.

This week Mother Nature will be front and center. Rain and wind in play everyday except Thursday will make this another classic test of endurance.

McIlroy waves during the presentation of his silver medal at The 136th Open

Coming off his spectacular finish in North Berwick to snatch the Scottish from Scot Bob McIntyre, Rory will be the bookies favourite (winner here in 2014), McIntyre will get a huge boost, Scheffler was ho hum 3rd yet again last week, his consistent play this year is unmatched.

There are many others who will write this chapter in Open history over the coming 4 days, I hope you will join me, add your comments at the bottom of my blog if you enjoy it as much as the rest of us do. 

Canadians

Game 34 12.53  Corey Conners, Billy Horschel, Alex Noren

Game 47  3.10  Nick Taylor, Phil Mickelson, Adam Schenk

My Notables

Game 3 6.57  Ryan Fox, Lucas Herbert, Ben An (Kiwi, Aussie, Korean any of whom can win on their day)

Game 14  9.03  Jordan Spieth, Matt Fitzpatrick, Jason Day (all 3 of these guys can show little form but seem to find a way to compete at the Open)

Game 17  9.36  Patrick Cantlay, Brooks Koepka, Hideki Matsuyama ( 3 giants of this generation of players all in their own way)

Game 18  9.47  Scottie Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood, Adam Scott ( no surprise if the winner is in this pairing)

Game 19  9.58  Cam Smith, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark  (not my favourite guys, but the Aussie and Xander are so damn good)

Game 20 10.09  Shane Lowry, Rickie Fowler, Bob McIntyre ( fan favourites all, the Scot gets a huge following this week)

Game 44  2.48  Viktor Hovland, Tony Finau, Justin Thomas ( The Norwegian is special and will win an Open, maybe this week...)

Game 45  2.59  Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Justin Rose  ( the feature late wave pairing for good reason, big Jon has been lying in the weeds recently..)

Others like John Daly who will never win another event and just looks like a carnival clown these days. keep showing up as past winners, and just because they still love to be part of the Open week with their peers, and all the atmosphere that goes with it.

WEATHER

All of the above will be topped by Mother Nature. It's raining today and rain showers are forecast every day except Thursday particularly heavier on the weekend and the wind at 25kph Saturday and Sunday will separate the men from the boys.

Bryan Angus

• TEE TIMES

• 
  

Pendrith's best finish of the year, 6th at Barbasol Championship... final results

PGA/DP World Tour : Barbasol Championship Results

Call it an 'alternative" event opposite all the hoopla at the Genesis Scottish Open and it's historic ending with Rory sealing the trophy over the last two holes from home hero Bob McIntyre, but for the guys 8,000 miles away in Kentucky, this was a big week for many, all with their own stories at the Barbasol Championship.

None more that rookie Swede Vincent Norrman in just his 26th event 66 67 67 66 -22 who beat English veteran Nathan Kimsey 68 66 67 64 -22 on the first playoff hole, worth a 2 year exemption on both tours, $685,000 in cash and a weekly spot with the big boys.

For Canadian Taylor Pendrith he also put together his best week of the year 6th 69 66 68 66 -19 worth around $125,000 

Aaron Cockerill snapped a 4 straight missed cut run to finish 58th 72 68 72 69 7 worth approx. $9,000

Michael Gligic also got off the MC schnide T62  68 70 70 74 -6  ($9000 approx.)

Next week all eyes are on the Open at Royal Liverpool, where Corey Conners and Nick Taylor will play

The alternative is the Barracuda Championship in Truckee Calif., where Aaron Cockerill, Michael Gligic, and Taylor Pendrith will tee it up again.

Bryan Angus 

"I'm sorry" from Rory as he spoils the McIntyre place in Scottish golf history...final results Genesis Scottish Open

 DP World/PGA Tour: Genesis Scottish Open Results

Canadian fans can only imagine Mike Weir hitting a 215 yard 3 wood from the rough to within 10' at the 72nd hole for a birdie to win the RBC Canadian Open for the first time since 1954.

That's what Scotland's Bob McIntyre did on the 72nd at this Genesis Scottish Open, a remarkable shot, to grab a one shot lead in the clubhouse, with a highlight reel blast that should have won him his National Championship.

Rory McIlroy produced a brilliant birdie-birdie finish to break home hearts and seal his second consecutive Rolex Series title at the Genesis Scottish Open

The now World Number Two entered the final round with a one-shot lead but on a dramatic day in high winds at The Renaissance Club, it was home hero Robert MacIntyre who threatened to seal a fairytale win by a Scot, the last to do so was Collin Montgomerie in 1999.

After a poorly sliced drive, he played a stunning approach, a choked down 3 wood from a good lie in the rough to within 5 feet for a birdie at the last to card a 64 in wild conditions and lead by one at 14 under. He called it "a career shot" afterwards in the clubhouse as he awaited Rory's finish.

However the  four-time Major Championship winner McIlroy never knows when he is beaten and he had a career finish of his own about to unfold, as he put a tee-shot to five feet on the par 3 17th to share the lead.

The Northern Irishman then produced some closing magic of his own, one for the record books, a stunning 2 iron from the rough hammered into the wind, his approach stopping just 11 feet from the hole where made the putt to sign for a 68 and seal a remarkable victory.

McIlroy's first victory on Scottish soil now goes alongside the Hero Dubai Desert Classic title he claimed in January in his Rolex Series collection and takes his tally of DP World Tour victories to 16.

He also becomes the first player to win the Scottish Open, Irish Open and Open Championship the week before he goes in search of a fifth Major at Royal Liverpool, the scene of his Claret Jug win in 2014.

edit Note ****Unseen by the TV camera's during the interviewing area afterwards, Rory went over to the Scot with a hug and the simple words " I'm sorry". This pair will likely match up again as Ryder Cup team mates in Italy, this September.

"It's amazing," he said. "For the Race to Dubai, for the FedEx Cup, for my confidence in general, but for all those things that I talked about at the start of the week and trying to win the title on both sides of the Atlantic again this year, this, will go a long way.

"This is right up there with the best of (my performances), especially after missing the short birdie putt on 16. I thought if I can birdie one of the last two and get into a play-off, that would be a bonus.

"To finish two-three in these conditions, the two iron shots that I hit, the five iron into 17 and the two iron into the last are probably two of the best shots I've hit all year, and then to finish them off with the putts as well. To play the last 9 holes in these conditions, in a national championship makes me very proud.

"It feels absolutely amazing. I've had a few close calls recently so to get over the line and get this bit of confidence going into next week and the rest of the season is huge."

World Number One Scottie Scheffler, South Korean Byeong-hun An and Swede David Lingmerth finished in a tie for third at ten under, with An, Lingmerth and Dane Nicolai Højgaard - who finished a shot further back - all earning spots in the field at next week's Open Championship.

Lingmerth closed with a 66 and Scheffler and An both carded 70s to finish a shot ahead of Hatton - who double-bogeyed the last - Højgaard, Tommy Fleetwood, Tom Kim and JT Poston.

edit***

FYI, the "Scottish Open" has had a proud but rather disjointed past. Operating under the shadow cast by the Open, it has had several sponsors, sometimes no sponsors, interrupted by WWII, played on parkland as well as links, has had coverage on several TV networks, and had none, and has been attended by huge crowds like this year, and by next to nobody in years gone by.

In 1936 with WWII looming, a Scott called Jimmy Adams won the Penfold Scottish Open on Belleisle GC in Ayr. The prize money 750 pounds, Adams and England's Tommy Collinge played a 36 hole playoff after tying at 287. The Scot won in a rout, by 11 shots after shooting 68 69.

The only other Scot to win it was Monty (Colin Montgomerie) in 1999 when the event was having its run on the private, American owned parkland course at Loch Lomond. He shot -16 268 to win by 3 shots from Sergio Garcia and 2 Swedes, Michael Jonzon and Mats Lanner.

Canadians

Nick Taylor T19 68 70 65 71 -6 

Corey Conners T19 72 65 71 66 -6

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)