My Christmas top 10 list for Golf 2011

First to one and all a very loving, warm and fun filled Christmas and all the good luck you can stand for 2012, I'll take any you can't use.

My top 10 Christmas list for Golf 2011 is just a compilation of what grabbed me this year, it is not case of this shot was better than that one.

In general 2011 had a tough act to follow, after the European Tour took most all the honours in 2010 with the Ryder Cup, and McDowell, Oosthuizen and Kaymer winning 3 of the 4 Majors, and Westwood, Kaymer and McDowell at the top of the World Golf Rankings, but damn it they have pulled it off again this year.

Charl Schwartzel (Masters Tournament), Rory McIlroy (US Open) and Darren Clarke (The Open Championship) completing six successive victories by European Tour Members in the Major Championships

Apart from the play of Webb Simpson who won twice in his magical August, and Keegan Bradley's win at the PGA, the story for me on the PGA Tour was parity, 38 different winners including 14 first-timers, and 16 titles for guys in their 20's.

Also on the women's side,Yani Tseng is simply amazing, arguably the best golfer pound for pound in golf, the European Team win in Ireland in the Solheim Cup was thrilling.

In a poor year for Canadian men and women,the play of Adam Hadwin at our Canadian Open at Shaughnessy was the highlight for me..

So here is my top 10.

10. One of my heroes Seve Ballesteros left us all far too soon. He died after losing his battle to overcome a brain tumour and passed away overnight on May 7th at his home in Pedrana with his three children, sons Baldomero and Miguel and daughter Carmen at his bedside along with his ex-wife Carmen. He was only 54.

He was the inspiration behind the European Tour and the revival of the Ryder Cup  Lee Westwood, whose  tribute to Ballesteros included the words; “We have lost an inspiration, a genius, a role model, a hero and a friend"
 
9. In a year of parity on the PGA tour as I mentioned earlier, Webb Simpson emerged from the pack and made the race for the money title a thriller when he won the $936,000 at the Wyndham Championship (formerly Greater Greensboro) and then $1.4m at the Deutsche Bank all in a space of 3 weeks.
 
8. The US win or the International Team loss, however you view it, was great in the middle of the night Presidents Cup viewing with so many story lines, eg Jim Furyk salvaging something from a dismal year with a 5-0 record, Yang and KT Kim beating Woods and Johnson, Allenby a captains pick going 0-4, Woods getting the clinching point beating Baddeley 4and 3. The final 19-15 score was anti-climatic especially after the International team, hammered all week in the foursomes raced out and won the first 5 matches of the singles..
 
7. When I watched Team Europe defeat Team USA, 15 to 13, to win the 2011 Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle in Ireland I thought this is just the result women's golf needs. It was huge for the LET to win in such dramatic fashion. The teams entered the final day tied, 8-8, and Europe won it with late heroics from Suzann Pettersen and Caroline Hedwall.


Pettersen who was rock solid all week birdied the final three holes of her match against Michelle Wie to win, 1-up. And Hedwall was 2-down to Ryann O'Toole with two holes to play, but won those last two holes to gain the halve. It was Hedwall's half-point that was the clincher, and the emotion on display underlines that this event and the Ryder Cup are not only the best in golf, but perhaps in sports.

6. Yani Tseng has had a year in golf that was even better record wise than Luke Donald. She was #1 in scoring average, driving distance, birdies and rounds under par and won her second consecutive player-of-the-year award.


She won 7 LPGA victories, had 14 top-10 finishes in 22 events and for good measure won 4 titles worldwide. She won 2 majors, and now has 5 and she is only 22 years old.
She is set to eclipse most all LPGA records if she stays healthy, and decides not to have a family. She would be getting a lot more main stream press if she were American, but she is from Taiwan. There is nobody in women's golf from the States that can match Yani right now... nobody in the world either.

5. Charl Schwartzel made history when he won the Masters. Never before had European Tour Members held all 4 Major Championships at the same time, but Schwartzel changed all that with an electrifying four-birdie finish to his final round at Augusta National. He is one of those guys that moved his game up a notch in 2011. Rory was getting all the ink with his final 9 hole meltdown, but it is Charl who has taken the green jacket to every tourney he has played in this year.


4. Darren Clarke at Royal St George’s in July, moved me and everyone else as he fought off Phil Mickelson's hot front nine, and Dustin Johnson's determined bid in at times atrocious weather as we cheered him to the highlight of his career, Open Championship immortality. He hasn't played worth a damn since, may never again, but rounded out a sensational 2 years for Northern Ireland. He will forever be the Open Champion and the official spokesman for Guiness..

3. Rory McIlroy at 22 won not only his first Major, but he shattered records at a very tough Congressional GC in doing so. In winning the 2011 US Open championship with a record low score of 268, 16 under par, he demolished a great field by a margin of 8 shots and this on the heels of his disappointment at Augusta 2 months earlier fresh in everyone's mind.  It was a display that matched that of Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach in 2000, a performance acknowledged by many as the greatest in the US Open history.


2. This year Luke Donald, Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood solidified their reputations even further by dominating the  world #1 position. Westwood started the year  at #1, Kaymer succeeded him; Westwood then repossessed it before Donald claimed control at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. He has stayed there for 30 weeks. Many in the US don't like it, but along with McIlroy, now #3, these guys are "the man" in golf..

1. This is easy this year, after Luke Donald made golfing history, lost his Dad and with wife Diane welcomed Sophia Ann to the world at 2.11am on November 11 so 11-11-11..

He launched his incredible year when he won the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship, beating Kaymer in the final. I mentioned his win at the BMW PGA Championship 3 months later in an epic battle with Westwood, then he won the Barclays Scottish Open at Castle Stuart Golf Links in July the week before the Open Championship.


He was also leading The Race to Dubai which he won by finishing 3rd at the season-ending Dubai World Championship to become the first player in history to officially finish the leading money winner on both The European Tour and the US PGA Tour in the same season. He earned a record €5,323,400 for finishing first on The Race to Dubai and $6,683,214 for being top of the USPGA Tour money list and remember he did that by beating Webb Simpson out by winning the season finale at Disney in dramatic style with a closing 64.

He has set the standard has this quiet little Englishman, a standard that will take some beating, and a standard that is acknowledged by all his peers world wide, if not by the media on this side of the pond, who are all hanging their ratings hats on Tiger's return in Dubai this coming February.

So once again Merry Christmas to all and to all a Goodnight !!

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Liverpool star gets fined and suspended for a racial slur

This is what happens in the EPL when you call a guy the n word.. Liverpool forward Luis Suárez has been fined £40,000 and banned for eight matches for racially abusing Patrice Evra, the Manchester United left-back

Here's the whole story  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/8967560/Luis-Suarez-fined-40000-and-banned-for-eight-matches-for-racially-abusing-Patrice-Evra.html

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Ernie Els may never play Augusta again..

I always wanted to see Ernie Els win at Augusta, he has followed his hero Gary Player who won the Masters 3 times all over the world, came 2nd twice, in 2000 and 2004, has 7 top 10's but now he may never play at Augusta again after 18 straight trips.

Here are the new season ending world rankings and Ernie has slipped down to #56. All those in the top 50 will be at Augusta.
http://www.officialworldgolfranking.com/rankings/default.sps?region=world

Ernie still believes he can get back into the top 50 at least, despite the fact he has become the worst putter on the PGA tour. He did win his Ernie Els Invitational with 64,66 last week, but only had 1 top 10 all year.

Here is part of his 2011 farewell from his website..

"I can't tell you how frustrating it has been especially as the 2010 calendar year featured 13 top-10s including four tournament wins. As a result of a poor run of results, I've since fallen out of the official world top-50 for the first time since May 1993. To be honest, that's simply not acceptable to me.


That's history, though. All that's on my mind now and for the next however many weeks is finding a way to figure things out. The fact that I had such a strong year as recently as 2010 tells me that I can do this."

Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa has also fallen out of the top 50 to number 51 and Retief Goosen (ranked 52nd), Ben Crane (54th), and Matteo Manassero (58th) along with Ernie are also among the notables who will have two other chances to play their way into Augusta, a victory in a PGA Tour event in 2012 prior to the tournament or be among the top 50 in the world following the Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 25th.

Mike Weir will be the lone Canuck if he is healthy in time. He has the lifetime invitation for that magical weekend in 2003.

Can you believe Jim Furyk who 2 years ago won the Fed Ex Cup has dropped from 5th in the world to 50th !! Good news is that he still gets to play Augusta..

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

I applaud Uihlein's decision

One of the first reasons I have always admired Gary Player is that he left home in South Africa every year to travel the world to play golf. One of his claims to fame is that he travelled more miles in a plane, over 11 million, than any other golfer, and this was in the day where nobody had private jets.

Gary set the standard for guys, especially from the southern hemisphere who wanted to become the best they could be. Remember when he won the Masters in 1961 he was considered a 'foreigner", in fact he was the first non American to win.

Since Gary, I came to admire Ernie Els, Reteif Goosen, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, for becoming truly world golfers.

Now of course with China and the Far and Middle east opening up guys like Rory, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Adam Scott, Ian Poulter just to name a few are jetting all over the world as part of their yearly schedule

Luke Donald has carried the title world golfer to the extreme this year with all of his success, champion of both tours.

The PGA tour is fabulously wealthy and the average PGA tour pro doesn't need to carry his passport to be very comfortable.

However the stunning rise in success of the European Tour, with all 4 majors and the Ryder Cup and a bevy of stars to rival any, and WGC events in China, strong fields in Australia, and the Race to Dubai starting and ending in that country, now one of the sporting and holiday hubs of the world, the action for the big boys is now all over the globe.

Therefore when a guy like Peter Uihlein, at 22 already rich through his family beyond  our wildest dreams, decides to get out and travel the world and compete on the European Tour to cut his teeth professionally is commendable in my opinion.

It's not often you see a spoiled American kid do this, I hope it's a sign of the times..

Here is the AP report

Peter Uihlein has decided to leave school early and turn professional in 2012, signing on with Chubby Chandler's International Sports Management group.

The former world number one ranked amateur will make his professional debut in Abu Dhabi at the end of January with the goal of playing primarily on the European Tour next year.

"It is a pioneering move by him - the obvious step would have been to try to establish his career in the United States," said Chandler. "Having seen players like Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen and Darren Clarke build careers by playing all over the world, including America, Peter has been encouraged by that. I'm sure that he will benefit enormously from the experience."

Uihlein, who failed to get past the second stage at both PGA Tour Q-School and European Tour Q-School this year, says he wanted a full year of play as a pro rather than join the professional ranks mid-season following college.

The 22-year-old also shot down suggestions that his father, Acushnet CEO Wally Uihlein, played a big role in his decision to turn pro.

“The decisions that I make are always my decisions. My dad is one of my sounding boards. For years, players have been asking my dad for advice, so logically I am going to take advantage of that same opportunity.”

Uihlein is eligible for seven sponsor's exemptions on the European and PGA Tours. Chandler has already "guaranteed" he'll play in seven tournaments by April. If he manages to equal or better the money earned by the player who finished 115th on the European Tour Order of Merit, 258,939 Euros, Uihlein will earn his Tour card for the remainder of the year.

He'll be hoping to chart the same path that fellow pros Adam Scott, Graeme McDowell and most recently Rory McIlroy carved out for themselves by winning on the European circuit before taking their game to the PGA Tour.

McIlroy made the decision earlier this year to leave Chandler's ISM stable in order to sign with Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management.

"The PGA European Tour plays all over the world from the United Kingdom to China, from Korea to South Africa and from the Middle East to Southeast Asia," he said. "Those players who have played on the Tour, and who are still members, make for a pretty impressive list. I just feel the ISM team is well-positioned to help me achieve my goals."

The top four players in the world will be in the field in Abu Dhabi, along with Tiger Woods who will also be making his 2012 season debut.

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Monday Mournings....

Up at 4.30am as usual and off to open up the gym at Rogers Campus, the highway traffic which has become increasingly busy at 5.30am, was light today as Christmas holiday's kick in.

Speaking of driving, 4 things to get off my chest.
1> As I drive further north the drivers become more polite, I'd say the cut off line on the 400 would be King City. Guys actually move over a lane to let you join the highway off the ramp as opposed to trying to run you into the guard rail on the DVP every morning.

2> We have become a city of horn honkers and it's every race creed and colour. I saw an oriental women just losing it in her SUV because she was waiting to turn right onto Lawrence and the women in front of her wasn't turning fast enough for her liking, honk, honk honk... everywhere and for anything..

3> The no talking, texting law is a farce, no matter how often some police spokesman is dragged onto CP24 to give the latest stats. Everyone is on the phone while driving.

4> Apparently a vast majority of drivers don't have signal indicators in their cars anymore. I am constantly supposed to guess which way they are turning...

Check these out today, you'll agree..

*I just knew Ian Poulter would wear something that would match the gold jacket the JBWere Aussie Masters winner gets and sure enough he showed up in black. He shot 69 -15 to beat Markus Fraser 64 -12 by 3 shots and Geoff Ogilvy 73 -11 by four to finish up his 2011 campaign..

*Lee Westwood who won the Thailand Golf Championship by 7 shots over Charl Schwartzel says " I've amazed myself this week actually, I'd say it's the best I've ever played"

60 64 -20 after 2 rounds is pretty sensational on a very tricky course and he admitted his 73 on Saturday was the result of not knowing how to play with an 11 shot lead. He shot 69 on Sunday -22 total.

It won't be long in the year end reviews that you will hear he and Luke getting the  "yeah but they haven't won a major "

Westwood's response..I’m in a tricky position because I’ve been so successful but not won a major. Anytime I’ve gone a year without a major, people are always going to say it’s been a disappointing year for Lee Westwood,”

* It's that time of year again when Canadian hockey fans who don't give a rats ass about junior hockey follow the TSN bandwagon for the World Junior Hockey Championships this year from Calgary and Edmonton. Gets great ratings and gets the full broadcast treatment from the new co-owner of the Leafs.

It is a byline in the paper for the rest of the teams, and by the way the World championship has only 10 teams and 9 of them put together don't have half the Canadian budget for junior hockey, and 5 of them are just fodder.

Still if we don't win it, we are in the final, so it is a chance while laying on the couch, off work, tired already of the in laws, to prop yourself up enough so's not to spill your beer and wave your Canadian flag... until it's over then you won't see another junior game til Christmas 2012..

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummbles

Lewis named European Tour Rookie of the Year

When Brian Lewis found out he was having a son, there was no doubt in his mind about the name. Tom Watson was his golfing hero, so his son would be named Tom. So talk about coming full circle, in July he gets paired with Tom Watson for the first 2 rounds of the Open Championship at Sandwich, and shoots an opening 65 to lead the tourney before going on to finish low amateur..

Minutes ago he was named Rookie of the Year..

AP LONDON - Briton Tom Lewis has been named the European Tour’s rookie of the year after the 20-year-old won on his third professional start at the Portugal Masters in October to secure a two-year tour exemption.


“I appreciate this honour very much. It certainly tops off what has been an amazing year,” Lewis said in a statement 

Lewis shot a scintillating seven-under-par final-round 65 in Portugal to win by two shots from Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello, having burst onto the scene in July at the British Open where he became the first amateur to lead the Open since 1968.

The Englishman hit a first-round 65 at Sandwich on his way to finishing as the leading amateur, then helped Britain and Ireland beat the United States in September’s Walker Cup before turning pro and recording a top-10 finish in his first start at the Austrian Open.

Lewis paid tribute to his father and coach, Brian, a former Tour professional, who has been an influential presence during his son’s rise through the amateur game into the professional ranks. “I might not even have been a golfer if it wasn’t for dad, but he has definitely made me into the golfer I’ve become. He is really the person who made this possible.”

When Lewis beat a high quality field to the title in Portugal he also eclipsed former world number one and 14-times major champion Tiger Woods, who needed five tournaments to land his first professional title.

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Lexi Thompson wins in Dubai

Lexi Thompson has a 5 shot lead at -15 with 2 holes to play in the Dubai Ladies Masters so the 16 year old is about to win her 2nd pro title.

Lee Anne Pace of RSA is 2nd at -10.

live scoring click here..http://www.ladieseuropeantour.info/tic/tmlsmon.cgi?tourn=TM92~season=2011~

Full report to follow

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Ogilvy ties course record at Australian Masters

Portal report..By his own estimation, Geoff Ogilvy has played 'thousands' of rounds at Victoria Golf Club, but none anywhere near as good as Saturday's course record-equalling -8 63 -13 at the JBWere Australian Masters.


The 34-year-old, who grew up around the corner and played all of his junior and amateur golf at the classic sandbelt layout, takes a two shot lead into the Masters final round after starting the day four shots behind overnight leader Ian Poulter. He started eagle, birdie, birdie and was out in -6 29.

"Obviously I'm very comfortable out here at this golf course. I've probably played here more than I've played any other course in the world," Ogilvy said

Ian Poulter fighting off the flu had 5 birdies but 3 bogies on his way to -2 69 -11.

live scoring click here http://www.pga.org.au/scores
 
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Westwood struggles as Schwartzel cuts the lead to 4.

Play has just wrapped up at the Thailand Golf Championship, and what a difference a day makes.

First the weather turned overcast and windy and Lee Westwood who was unconscious with opening rounds of 60,64 had to battle all day long to post a +1,73, -19 meanwhile his playing partner Charl Schwartzel birdied his first 4 holes, and despite his lone bogey at the last finished with a -6 66 -15, a 7 shot swing to cut the seemingly insurmountable 11 shot overnight lead to 4, setting up what will now be a fascinating final round.

Lee made bogey at the 2nd hole, his first of the tournament, he ended up with 4 on the day but in reality he made a whack of par savers to get round in +1. Proof again if we need it how difficult playing with a huge lead always seems to be. Time and time again no matter what they say about playing the same game, or taking it a hole at a time, golfers can't help but letting their psychological guard down with a big lead, then it becomes a struggle, like today.

Charl meanwhile was out in 32 to Lee's 37 and he ended up with 7 birdies on his day.

live scoring click here http://www.asiantour.com/livescoring.aspx?event_sid=20101211776913241781&event_round=3

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Peter Alliss became the voice of golf..

Peter Alliss burst upon the scene from the moment he was born - he weighed in at a then European record of 14lbs 11oz…

He has been the voice of golf for me since Henry Longhurst stopped broadcasting with his trademark understated style, and since the gutless CBS decided not to back up Ben Wright over what now seems to be an innocuous comment about women's chests getting in the way of their golf swing

Since then Peter has set the standard that all golf commentators should learn from

He doesn't commentate as much as he paints the picture, tells a story, makes you comfy..not all caught up with exact yardages, and all the minutia.

Alliss.. "Campbell has a mid iron into a hard green surrounded by deep bunkers and deep rough over the back. He needs the touch of SEVE here to get it close...he'll just feather one up there, land it a little short and let it trundle up to the pin.."

 Just look at the list of commentators who have been influenced by Peter..

Jim Nantz
Johnny Miller
Nick Faldo
•David Feherty
•Gary Koch
•Peter Kostis
•Roger Maltbie
•Gary McCord
•Peter Oosterhuis
•Dottie Pepper
•Mark Rolfing
Tony Adamson : BBC Radio 1988–2003
Greg Allen : RTÉ Radio 1 1991–
Paul Azinger : ABC (US) 2006–
Ian Baker-Finch : ABC (US) 1998–2006, CBS 2006–
Billy Ray Brown : ABC (US) 1999–
Ken Brown : Sky Sports 1992–2000, BBC 2000–, Setanta Sports 2007–2009
Harry Carpenter : BBC 1965–1994
Iain Carter : BBC Radio 5 Live 1995–
Andrew Castle : Sky Sports 1992–2000
Howard Clark : Sky Sports 1999–
Bobby Clampett : CBS 1991–
Andrew Cotter : BBC 2004–, BBC Radio 2000-2004
Bruce Critchley : BBC 1980–1994, Sky Sports 1994–
Dougie Donnelly : BBC 1990–2008
Dick Enberg : NBC 1995–2000, CBS 2000–
Terry Gannon : ABC (US) 1991–
Wayne Grady : BBC 2000–
Butch Harmon : Sky Sports 1996–
Alex Hay : BBC 1978–2004
Dan Hicks : NBC 1992–
Dominik Hoyler: Sky Sports 1999–2007, Setanta Sports 2007–
John Inverdale : BBC Radio 1988–
Peter Kostis : CBS 1992–
Renton Laidlaw : BBC Radio 1975–1990, Sky Sports 1990–1995, The Golf Channel 1995–
Gary Lineker : BBC 2001–2009
Verne Lundquist : CBS 1983–1995, 1998– TNT 1995–1998
Bill Macatee : CBS 1990–
Gary McCord : CBS 1986–
Ross McFarlane : Sky Sports 2001–
Andrew Murray : BBC Radio 5 Live 1994–
Ewen Murray : Sky Sports 1991–
Peter Oosterhuis : Sky Sports 1994–, BBC 1994–1995, The Golf Channel 1995–1997, CBS 1997–
Mark Pougatch : BBC Radio 5 Live 1999–, BBC 2011
Ronan Rafferty : Sky Sports 1997–2007, Setanta Sports 2007–
Steve Rider : ITV 1981–1985, Channel 4 1983–1985, BBC 1985–2005
Sandy Roberts : Seven Network 1980–
Curtis Strange : ABC (US) 1995–2004
Mike Tirico : ABC (US) 1996–
Sam Torrance : BBC 2002–2010
Jay Townsend : BBC Radio 5 Live 1999–
Ken Venturi : CBS 1969–2002
Lanny Wadkins
JayA Townsend

All these guys should pay homage to Peter, he is without doubt old school, pay your dues, sometimes arrogant, upper class, stuffy, opinionated, but at the same time charming, humorous, a golf encyclopedia and a master story teller. He also learned from Longhurst to let the pictures tell the story.. less is better on TV.
Now 80 he says his induction to the Hall is a great surprise but truth be known he probably wonders like I do why this took so long.....

Here is his Hall of Fame presser.

Between 1954 and 1969, he won 21 professional tournaments - including three British PGA championships - and was twice winner of the Vardon Trophy. In September 1958, he won the national championships of Italy, Spain, and Portugal in three consecutive weeks.

His first appearance in the Ryder Cup was in 1953, and with the single exception of 1955, he represented Great Britain and Ireland in the event until 1969. He is one of only two father-and-son duos to have represented their country at this level.

He spent just six weeks on the American tour, in 1954, and therefore is known primarily as a commentator in the USA. Peter retired from the professional golf circuit in 1969.

"When it comes to painting a picture with words, he's nothing short of Rembrandt…"

"Alliss [is] one of the finest strikers of the golf ball in the land…"

Daily TelegraphBroadcasting

Peter made his broadcasting debut way back in 1961, as part of the BBC team covering the Open Championship at Birkdale which was won by Arnold Palmer. His retirement from international golf at the – relatively early – age of 38 led to a full-time career "on the other side of the ropes." By 1978 he was the BBC's chief golf commentator following the death of his co-host and great friend Henry Longhurst.

Peter once claimed he's a golf commentator only because he's "there as an old player, a lover of the game and a good weaver of stories". Modesty would prevent him saying that Golf Digest described him as "the greatest golf commentator ever" – but to many that's what he is.

But it's not only as a commentator that Peter is revered: he became a part of tv history, fronting 140 episodes of the popular BBC series Pro-Celebrity Golf, between 1974 and 1988, and progressed to an informal chat show on the fairways, Around with Alliss. His most recent television series, A Golfer's Travels, is still being shown across the world – and is available on DVD…

He has written 20 books, the latest being Golf – The Cure for a Grumpy Old Man, and he also writes regularly for Golf International and Fairway to Green magazines.


Peter has been married to Jackie since 1969. He has three sons - Gary, Simon and Henry - two daughters - Carol and Sara - and five grandchildren, Craig, Tara, Rebecca, Samuel and Esme.


Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles











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Lexi leads in Dubai

Just watching this 16 year old kid hit balls with so much talent is hard to comprehend, she is beating an elite field on a tough course in Dubai. Her father Scott who is also her caddy, chaperone, body guard and teacher must be having the time of his life as he takes his daughter around the world and watches her grow and develop into an LPGA superstar.

Here is part of the LPGA Europeantour.com report
Lexi Thompson of the United States says that she will just ‘have fun and relax’ as she goes in pursuit of her second professional title at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters on Saturday.


The 16-year-old from Coral Springs in Florida birdied the 18th hole at Emirates Golf Club on Friday to move a stroke ahead of the field going into the final round.

A round of 70, containing four birdies and two bogeys, saw her end on -10, which was just enough to edge ahead of Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson.

Whereas Gustafson played her second shot short of the lake at the last hole, Thompson was able to strike a three wood just over the back of the green from 212 yards, setting up an eagle opportunity.

The teen judged the pace of her first putt perfectly and then holed from around four feet to move one stroke clear of the field.

Thompson had dropped a shot at the first hole, narrowing her two stroke overnight lead to one, but recovered with a birdie at the third for a level par front nine of 35. She then picked up shots at the 10th and 14th and three-putted the par-three 15th, before finishing in style.

Thompson revealed that she will be wearing her lucky final-round colour of blue on Saturday, having won in the same outfit at the Navistar Classic in September, when she was the youngest ever winner on the LPGA. Should she win in Dubai, she would be the second youngest winner on the Ladies European Tour, Amy Yang won as an amateur, but she would be the youngest professional winner and allowed to collect the €75,000 first prize.

live scoring click here http://www.ladieseuropeantour.info/tic/tmlsmon.cgi?tourn=TM92~season=2011~

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Amazing Westwood laps the field in Thailand

I just know Lee Westwood wishes it was the Masters or the Open Championship next week the way he is playing. He won the Sun City 12 man Challenge 2 weeks ago with a 62, this week he is simply in a class of his own as he has just added a 64 to his opening 60 and that 124 total -20 leads this field at the Thailand Golf Championship by 11 shots. That matches the Asian Tour’s 36-hole record, held by Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat.

The Amata Spring Country Club in case you haven't seen it is a highly rated par 72, 7,493 yds with an island green (need a boat ride) 17th, and the wind was blowing today.

His rivals can only hope to play for second place now, John Daly who shot +1 73 summed it up best, " If you said -20 after 4 rounds I would say that was great, but after 2 rounds, that's incredible, nobody will catch Lee the way he is playing, he is in another zone from the rest of us"

There are some decent players in the field including the best of Asia and the likes of Sergio, Charl Schwartzel  T2-9, Charlie Hoffman, Micheal Thompson T2 at -9, Daly, Simon Dyson and although Rory had to WD even he would have struggled to match his Ryder Cup colleague.

Westwood, chasing his 3rd victory of the season, (4th, but I count Sun City as unofficial like the Chevron that Tiger won)  looks poised to shatter the largest winning margin on the Asian Tour at the 2005 Asian Open in China. That was 13 shots by Ernie Els.

“It’s 11 now, outrageous isn’t it? It’s still a long way to go. But at the same time, I’m looking forward to the weekend. I’m playing great and I’m feeling in total control. Every aspect of my game feels good.”

“Strange really. Today almost felt better than yesterday. It was quite tough out there. The scoring is pretty tricky. 64 is a really good score. Not that 60 wasn’t a good score yesterday! I hit a lot of good shots again and hit it close. Delighted with two days’ work,”
“It’ll be great. I won two weeks ago at the Nedbank (South Africa). I’ve got myself into a great position. It would be nice to win four times in a year.”

click here for live scoring http://www.asiantour.com/livescoring.html


Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Poulter hangs on to lead as the pack closes in Australia

Poulter shot a scrambling 68,-3 -9 total to continue to lead by 2 shots at the JBWere Australian Masters at Victoria Golf Club, but the field is bunching up behind him, including Geoff Ogilvy and Luke Donald.


Poulter's round included birdies at all three par-fives and just one bogey.
Aussies Matthew Giles (68) is in second place at -7, and Ashley Hall is third at -6 after a 70

Some big names have moved into contention for the weekend, including local Geoff Ogilvy -5 66 T4, and world No.1 Luke Donald.

Donald's day that could have been better, but he ended up signing for a -1 70 to T14 at -3. He got to -4 early in his round when he made back-to-back birdies at 6 and 7, but he gave them right back with a double on 8.
Donald still thinks he remains a threat."I hit a lot of good shots today but I've been struggling on the greens, I'm finding it hard to see the line and missing my fair share of chances for birdie." Hopefully I'm saving them all for the weekend. I'm still in a decent position, I just need to get that putter going and get on a roll."

Like he has been doing all year !!

Nice to see young (18) Italian Matteo Manassero again. His -4 67 was in stark  contrast to his opening +5 76, while playing partner Robert Allenby who has continued his poor play since the Presidents Cup in the same city, settled down with 17 pars and a birdie for 70 both are T47 at +1, the cut fell at +2

live scoring click http://www.pga.org.au/scores

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Donald wins European Golfer of the Year

Luke Donald has been named The 2011 European Tour Race to Dubai Golfer of the Year after a truly remarkable and record-breaking year on both sides of the Atlantic.

The 34 year old Englishman not only ended 2011 as the undisputed Number One on the Official World Golf Ranking, he also became the first player to officially top both The Race to Dubai and the US PGA Tour Money List in the same year. The judging panel, which featured golf journalists from newspapers and magazines as well as commentators from radio and television, were fulsome in their praise of several other worthy candidates, specifically Major Champions Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy and Charl Schwartzel.

 But it was Donald’s historic achievement, allied to the consistently high standard of his golf throughout 2011, that saw him voted the unanimous winner. “To have the accolade of European Tour Golfer of the Year means an awful lot to me and I will certainly look back on this year with a lot of fond memories,” said Donald. “It is always nice to be appreciated, especially from the people in the sport who know the game inside out. They have recognised what I have done this year and it is very gratifying to have that validation.

No surprise

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Young Lexi Thompson leads after 2 rounds in Dubai

Last week it was the men and the finale of the Race to Dubai with Alvaro Quiros winning the tournament and Luke Donald making history, now the women are in Dubai, playing in the same beautiful weather.

They are playing on the Ladies European Tour, and 16 year old Lexi Thompson fired a flawless second round of six under par 66 earlier today to take a two stroke lead at the halfway stage of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters.


Thompson from Coral Springs, Florida, fired six birdies on the Majlis Golf Course at Emirates Golf Club to finish at 136, eight under par ahead of Italian Margherita Rigon and Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson.

click for live scoreboard http://www.ladieseuropeantour.info/tic/tmscores.cgi?tourn=TM92~season=2011~params=P*2ESC02~

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Westwood fires a career best 60 to lead Daly by 5 in Thailand

The Asian tour is wrapping up it's season with the Thailand Golf Championship and Lee Westwood has just shredded the Amata Spring course with a -12 60, and had a very good chance at 58 or 9


Now 38 and in his prime he was in simply sensational form in Chonburi, shooting 10 birdies and an eagle for his 60 and was on -11 under after 15 holes, but consecutive pars on 16 and 17 followed by a birdie on the last meant he finished the day with a 60.

It was the lowest-equal score of the Asian Tour, and the lowest score of Westwood's career.

A nice surprise for the sponsors as John Daly is in second place five shots back after an excellent 65 left him at -7

for live scoring click
http://www.asiantour.com/livescoring.aspx?event_sid=20101211776913241781&event_round=1


Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Poulter leads Aussie Masters by a shot..

Ian Poulter in purple tartan trousers, now down to the world #28 closed with a birdie to take outright lead at -6,65 at the JBWere Masters on the Victoria GC in Melbourne, where Greg Chalmers is trying to add the Masters title to his recent Aussie Open and PGA titles.


It was Poulter's first competitive round at one of Melbourne's trickiest sandbelt courses, and he made it look easy with six birdies in calm early conditions on a course perfectly suited to his game.

"It's very refreshing. It's so nice to come to a good golf course with lots of irons off tees," Poulter said."I enjoy playing that type of golf. I like the way this golf course sets up for me."

You might remember Tiger won the Gold Jacket here in 2009 while he had Mum stashed in one hotel and one of his mistress's in another. It was the last official win for Tiger.

Chalmers is at -2 69 as is Luke Donald.

live scoreboard click here http://www.pga.org.au/scores/717

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Parr misses out on EuroTour card by 2 shots... Cantour gets help from the PGA tour

Play has just wrapped up after 6 rounds at PGA Catalunya near Girona in Spain and Andrew Parr has finished with a +1 73 for a -5 total T41, 16 shots behind the winner David Dixon of England's -21

Dixon 69, Sam Hutsby 68 -20, Andy Sullivan 68 -19 and Richard Bland 69 -18 all from England took the top 4 spots, the top 30 and ties get their cards.

Andrew had a solid 6 days but he just couldn't break par 72,73,73 on the last 3 days playing the Stadium course. His total of -5 is 2 shots shy of the cut off at -7. He gets conditional status on the EuroTour and full time on the Challenge Tour should he decide to stay over in Europe for 2012.

He lives in Scottsdale and keep in mind the Canadian Tour has just been propped up financially by the PGA tour for next season at least and will be featuring a limited schedule of 8-10 events on Canadian soil only. There were no events this year in Ontario, Quebec or Eastern Canada and Commissioner Rick Janes who admits to almost losing his tour this year has his work cut out to find some new sponsors in the East.

In all my years covering our pro tour for our Fairways Golf Show, including 2001when Richard Zokol won, it combined the CPGA Championship with the Samsung Nationwide tour event at Diamondhead GC (Samsung Canadian PGA Championship) nobody shows up to watch, and when it is not part of the Nationwide tour it does not get on TV, therefore it is very hard to give a sponsor who is being asked to cough up $2-3m to finance a tournament a decent bang for their buck..

There are plenty of players from around the world, not just Canadians willing to play the Canadian Tour and the list of top pros like Steve Stricker for example, who cut their teeth on it is amazing and as such the PGA tour recognizes it's importance as a developmental feeder tour, and have stepped in much as the NFL did with the CFL when it was in trouble.

Unofficial reports have the Cantour $750,000 in debt.

for the complete Q school leaderboard click here
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/qualifying/season=2011/tournamentid=2011995/leaderboard/index.html


Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

No surprise.. Luke Donald named PGA Tour Player of the Year

Surprise, surprise...Luke Donald has added the US PGA Tour player of the year award to his string of titles won in 2011.


The World Number One, who on Sunday completed his double of money list titles on both sides of the Atlantic by winning The Race to Dubai, finished ahead of Keegan Bradley, Bill Haas, Webb Simpson and Nick Watney in the player poll.

Bradley, who took the US PGA Championship in his first Major appearance, was named US PGA Tour Rookie of the Year ahead of Masters Tournament champion Charl Schwartzel, Chris Kirk, Scott Stallings, Brendan Steele and Jhonattan Vegas


Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Parr still in contention for European tour card after 4 rounds

London's Adam Parr is now T34 at European Tour Q school after an E 72 today on the Stadium course at PGA Catalunya, Spain.

He is at -7 277, 9 shots behind England's Sam Hutsby (71) -16 who has led from the start over his compatriot Andy Sullivan (72) -14

There are 2 rounds to go and remember the top 30 get their cards.

Click for live scoring
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/qualifying/season=2011/tournamentid=2011995/leaderboard/index.html

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

New Q school format is bad news for Canadian golfers.

I've had a few days to digest the proposed changes that the PGA Tour is planning to go ahead with which will eliminate Q school and replace it with a 3 tournament series for the top 75 on the Nationwide Tour and the top 75 who don't qualify for the Fed Ex Cup series, with cards being issued to the top 50 finishers.

I like the fact that guys get a year to get into position to qualify for the 3 tournaments, it is a more fair system however I don't like the loss of all the drama that goes into the 6 days of Q school. Each guy has a story of his own, and the building tension as we come down to Monday makes it exciting.

Also from a Canadian point of view it eliminates all our guys who are not on the Nationwide but from the Canadian Tour and other mini tours, who decide to pay their money and start their trek through the various stages on November.

We had 9 Canucks at final stage of Q school including guys like Ryan Yip, Brad Fritsche and Stuart Anderson, and as I see it 7 would not have been there under the new proposal, as they played on the Canadian Tour or other mini tours.

Here is an article by the fine golf writer Doug Ferguson outlining the changes.

What do you think??

DOUG FERGUSON, Associated Press

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Big dreams and a little luck can go a long way in golf, though this much should be clear about the 160 players who finished Q-school, and the 27 players who walked away with a full-time job on the PGA Tour:

They all believed they were good enough to compete at the highest level. That part shouldn't change, even as the tour moves closer to revamping Q-school as we've come to know it for nearly 50 years.

If everything goes according to schedule, next December will be the last time that Q-school won't earn anyone a ticket straight to the PGA Tour.

The final pieces are starting to come together in a plan that would merge the top 75 players from the Nationwide Tour with the 75 players from the PGA Tour who failed to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs. They would play a three-tournament series, and the top 50 would earn PGA Tour cards. The rest could go back to Q-school to try to earn status on the Nationwide Tour.

It's a revolutionary plan, and not very popular among traditionalists.

While it strengthens the Nationwide Tour, and tries to ensure that only the best players reach the big leagues, the PGA Tour is eliminating the dreamers who have provided so much charm to the most gruelling week in golf at Q-school.

Last week alone, the 27 winners at Q-school included a guy who played his last five holes in 5-under par to earn his PGA Tour card, and a 38-year-old who, only a few years ago, was working on a farm in North Carolina to pay the bills. There's always someone who endured a family tragedy or a health scare, who was driving a delivery truck or working in a pizza restaurant to pay for a chance to play golf for a living. Only the names change. Those stories are as cool now as they were when Q-school began in 1965.

And that's what makes Steve Stricker, who is on the PGA Tour policy board, pause when considering the change.

“I would like to see them keep a few more spots — maybe 10 spots or something like that,” Stricker said. “I still think it would be nice if somebody had the opportunity to get a quick turn on tour. I believe, though, it's going to be better for a better player. It's going to bring out talent over a longer period of time. If I was a good player, I would love to have the whole year to prove myself for 50 spots.”

While the details are still being discussed, the plan is starting to take shape. Tour officials believe they have a solution for the amateurs (mostly college players) who no longer have a chance to earn their card at Q-school, like Rickie Fowler last year and Dustin Johnson in 2007. And it would keep these rising stars from having to skip the U.S. Amateur or Walker Cup.

One idea is to apply whatever money they earn as amateurs to the money list, even though they still don't get paid. Call it fake money. UCLA sophomore Patrick Cantlay, for example, would have earned US$343,088 in four PGA Tour events he played this summer. That money would have put him around No. 155 on the money list, meaning he would qualify for the three-tournament series that awards 50 tour cards. That would allow amateurs to accept exemptions at any time of the year, such as Bay Hill, which offers a spot to the U.S. Amateur champion.

If not, the tour fears college players would turn pro after the NCAA championship in late spring.

As for the three-tournament series, the last thing the tour wants is another points system like the FedEx Cup. The idea getting most of the attention is to base it off Nationwide Tour earnings.

The top 25 from the Nationwide Tour money list — players who previously would have automatically earned PGA Tour cards — would be seeded No. 1 through No. 25. The next seed would be shared by No. 26 on the Nationwide money list and No. 126 on the PGA Tour money list. The PGA Tour player would be assigned the same money as his counterpart from the Nationwide Tour.

Some of the early calculations have shown that top 25 would be virtually assured of finishing among the top 50 to earn their cards; and that anyone winning one of those three tournaments also would be a lock to earn a card.

The tour wants to start this in the fall of 2013. After that three-tournament series ends, the new season would start with what used to be the Fall Series.

Jim Furyk goes on the policy board next year. What concerns him is that the players who earn cards out of Q-school in 2012 will only have eight months to try to get into the FedEx Cup playoffs and keep their cards; they no longer would have the Fall Series to help them.

“I'm torn with the proposals out there,” Furyk said. “Because there are going to be situations — injuries, different things — that happen that don't give you an opportunity to get back on tour. I'm worried about blending the Nationwide and the regular Tour together. The first year we do this, the rookies and first-timers get an extremely short season. I know the tour has an idea what they want to accomplish, but I don't think they have all the details yet,” he said. “And I'm a details guy.”

The overhaul seems to be inevitable, though. Next year is likely to be the last that players with big dreams can have a great week or a great finish, and the reward will be a job on the PGA Tour.

What won't change is that the best players will find a way.

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Andrew Parr T25 after 3 rounds at EuroTour Q school

Andrew Parr our lone Canuck at PGA Catalunya, Spain in the EuroTour Q school, has just finished up his 3rd round with a -3 67  (72,66,67 -7 205) to stand T25.

He opened with 72E on the tougher Stadium course, and then added 66 -4, 138 on the Tour course, and his 66 today was on the Tour course.

Remember the top 30 get their European Tour cards.

23 year old Englishman Sam Hutsby maintained his lead as he followed up his stunning opening round of 60 with 69, then 68 today -15 197 on the Tour Course leaving him 1 shot clear of Walker Cup colleague Andy Sullivan also of England.

If you didn't know Andrew is from London, Ontario, is 28, lives in Scottsdale now, went to Texas A&M, veteran of the Canadian Tour, 2 time Ontario Amateur champion.

Live scoring
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/qualifying/season=2011/tournamentid=2011995/leaderboard/index.html


Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Luke Donald... what the pros are saying.

Luke Donald’s fellow professionals have been quick to praise the World Number One’s achievement after he won The Race to Dubai to become the first player top the Money Lists on both sides of the Atlantic. I thought you might like to read their quotes.

RORY MCILROY: “He’s had an incredible year and I hope he now gets the recognition he deserves. I’ve said it throughout this year that I don’t think Luke has been given enough credit for how well he's played. He's been incredible and he's been up there every week.

“People outside of golf just look at wins and they think that wins are the be all and end all. But the amount of top 5s and Top 10s that he’s posted are just as impressive as some of the wins, because to do it week in and week out, you need incredible mental strength to keep going and you have to be unbelievably consistent and not have many bad rounds.
“I think from within the golfing family he’ll receive a lot of applause for what he’s done this year, but unfortunately maybe people outside the golfing world think that even though he’s won four times, there will always be that question of ‘is he the real No. 1 because he's not got a Major?’ He deserves it all. He played great all year and he deserves to be No. 1 in the world and deserved to win both Money Lists.”

ALVARO QUIROS: “He’s unbelievable. You can never leave this guy behind. He’s always coming back, always coming back and trying to spoil the party for the rest of us! I heard a statistic about his third round stroke average this year is 67.5. That’s unbelievable. Obviously he plays very well under pressure.

“To win the two money lists in America and then Europe is an amazing achievement and he is without doubt the best player in the world right now. No-one can argue with that – he is incredible.”

CHARL SHWARZTEL: “What he has done this year is amazing. I’m a guy that strives for consistency, and he’s taken consistency to another level. He deserves it. He’s played unbelievable golf, and you know, if you play golf like that you're going to get the rewards. We all have to congratulate him.”

MARTIN KAYMER: “It has been a great year for Luke. He has won four times around the world and just played better than anyone in the world for a long period of time. I know how much it meant for me to get to World Number One for a few weeks this year so for him to get there and then move ahead of everyone is a really great achievement. I would love to win the money list on both Tours because it means that you have won many times all over the world and you have been the most consistent player in the world.”

SERGIO GARCIA: “Winning on both continents is simply amazing. No-one has ever done it and you can’t say any more than that. He already had an impressive resume but it just got a little bit better! He has just been so consistent – the week’s that he hasn’t won he has been in the top three, top five, top eight all of the time. To achieve that level of consistency is very, very impressive.”

ROBERT KARLSSON: “It’s been a pretty good year for Luke! To do what he has is obviously possible because the WGC events and Majors count on both Tours but you have to play well in them all to do it and he has done exactly that this year. He is the outstanding World Number One at the moment - it would have felt wrong if he hadn’t won both to be honest.

“Just look at the World Ranking points that he has accumulated. He has won 500 points or something and the next closest challenger has won about 350 this year, so for me it is a fantastic achievement from a guy that is the undisputed World Number One.”

SAM TORRANCE: “It’s just out of this world. To do it on both sides of the Atlantic is an unbelievable achievement and he deserves all the credit he gets for it. What a performance. Luke’s played magnificently throughout the year and to win both money lists is some feat.”

TOM LEHMAN, winner of the US PGA Tour Money List in 1996 after winning The Open, said: “I’m not even sure there is a word to describe Luke’s feat. He’s been so good, week after week after week. To win both money lists in the same year is hall of fame stuff right there. There’s tournaments that count on both lists obviously but you have to play on both tours and travel so much. It is an incredible accomplishment and he ought to be so proud of himself. He’s always been really steady as a player and this is him finally believing in himself, as crazy as that may sound. To get to the next level is all between the ears. It really is a remarkable accomplishment

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Tom Lehman wins in Mauritius

So you ask where is Mauritius and why is Tom Lehman there??

Mauritius is a paradise of an island in the south Pacific, southeast from Africa and the big island if Madagascar and someone in the European tour office said " where is the most beautiful spot on earth we can hold our season finale on our Senior Tour" ???

Ah yes, Mauritius !!

So Tom Lehman and family packed their bags, sunscreen and passports and with all the rest of the travelling Euro Senior Tour greats headed for paradise and the season-ending MCB Tour Championship.

Lehman led from the start and carded a final round 71 for a -12, 204 to hold off South African David Frost by a single stroke, and in addition Australian Peter Fowler sealed the Senior Tour Order of Merit.

It was Lehman's debut in a regular Euro Senior Tour event, his 4th win of the year, remember he won 3 times early in the season on the Champions tour, and eventually won that money title, so a nice finish all round for the Lehman's.

“This is a special win for me,” said Lehman. When you come somewhere like Mauritius and they make you feel so welcome you feel a sense of urgency to play well to say thank you. I had a great desire to play the best I could to say thank you to everyone. But on top of that, to play in the Senior Tour’s Tour Championship against so many great players, so many friends, and to win really does mean a lot to me.”

They were playing at Constance Belle Mare Plage and Frost was the defending champion.

“This was my 29th tournament of the year – the most I’ve ever played since I was on the mini-Tours – so to come here and finish off this year with a victory is great for me.”

In the battle for the Order of Merit, Fowler ended his year with a round of 73 and record his 13th top ten finish of the season in seventh place, ten shots behind Lehman.
and his cheque of €14, 814 was enough to hold to give him the John Jacobs Trophy ahead of Englishman Barry Lane

Leading scores
204 T Lehman (USA)65 68 71
205 D Frost (RSA) 68 67 70,
211 N Job (Eng) 70 70 71,
212 G Brand (Eng) 74 72 66, S Torrance (Sco) 73 73 66,
213 G Wolstenholme (Eng) 70 69 74,
214 P Fowler (Aus) 73 68 73,
215 J Quiros (Esp) 75 70 70,
216 M Cunning (USA) 77 67 72, D Russell (Eng) 74 70 72, B Cameron (Eng) 70 74 72, M Mouland (Wal) 70 74 72, B Lane (Eng) 75 68 73, B Longmuir (Sco) 73 70 73, A Oldcorn (Sco) 76 67 73

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Quiros wins Dubai World Championship with a flourish..Donald makes golfing history

Having lost his lead after a brilliant -5 31 by Paul Lawrie, Alvaro Quiros capped off a steady back nine where he made 7 pars and a birdie, with a monster putt for eagle at the 72nd, a -5 67 -19 total, for his 7th pro title and his second win in Dubai this year.

Paul Lawrie was second with a gallant 67 -17 of his own, making birdie at the last and for much of the afternoon looking like the winner.

In the end it was the finest of margins, and apart from the biggest payday of his career,  €922,645,  he gains a 5 year European tour exemption, entry into the 2012 Masters, US Open and Open championship, and he moves from 52 in the world to #20.

final results click here http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011091/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y

What is there left for me to say about Luke Donald, who finished with 3 straight birdies for another -6 66 and third place alone to win the Race to Dubai an add it to the money title and yes the Player of the Year awards that will follow on both sides of the Atlantic, a first in the history of this game..

First if this were Tiger, Obama would declare a national holiday, the media frenzy would be unmatched, the Golf Channel would explode, I get that and understand, so I thought I'd just get that out of the way.

Luke started this year coming off that historic Ryder Cup win at Celtic manner in September 2010, he was #9 in the world, with Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Paul Casey and Graeme McDowell who had his year of year's in the top 6 spots.

Luke missed the cut at Riviera (Northern Trust ) but then went to Tuscon and leaning up on his stellar matchplay record at the Ryder and Walker Cups, he won all 6 matches convincingly beating Martin Kaymer in the final.

Remember he then beat Lee Westwood in a playoff to win the BMW PGA at Wentworth which gets lip service over here, but is the equivalent of the Players Championship. He becomes world #1... He goes on to win the Scottish Open (63 final round) up at Castle Stuart then comes to the final event of the PGA tour schedule and beats a red hot Webb Simpson at the Children's Miracle Classic at Disney, with a 30 on that back nine to win the PGA money title, a first for a European.

In November as he waits for the arrival of their second child, Sophie Ann he is dealt a personal tragedy with the sudden passing of his beloved father Colin, he is off for 5 weeks in all and arrives this week, needing to finish in the top nine to win the Race to Dubai despite Rory's efforts with his win last week in Hong Kong.

What does Luke do after a so so opening round of 72. He birdies the last 3 holes on Friday to get to -4 then posts back to back 66's on the weekend, while a spent and ailing Rory McIlroy fades to T11 after back to back 71's.

This quiet Englishman has the heart of a lion and has displayed the tenacity that sets the standard for anyone to follow that is trying to duplicate this historic feat. Coping with your golf game is one thing, managing the travel, time changes, diet, fatigue, illness not to mention loneliness travelling the world as both tours demand you do, makes this a remarkable feat despite the fact they travel and live in first class fashion.

Still, even this morning on the much lauded Morning Drive GC show I hear co- host Erik Kuselias going right down the "but he hasn't won a major" road, all to familiar over here, to which Luke replies. "The critics will always be there and they make me stronger to be honest. Every time someone says I can't do a thing it just makes me work harder"

Harder ??!!  1st in stroke average, driving accuracy, GIR, putts per GIR, 3rd in sand saves, 4th in 1 putts,  10 top 10's in 13 events including 3 wins on the Euro tour schedule including the majors ( 4th at Masters, 8th at PGA ) and WGC events and the Money title..

1st in stroke average on the PGA tour (majors included) 14 top 10's in 19 starts, 2 wins and the Money title..

Lord only knows what he will do when he tries harder in 2012..

Thanks for a gutsy, great great season Luke Donald, you are a joy to watch with that classic beautifully balanced swing, radar like irons, superb touch and oh yes you are the best putter in golf right now. I doubt what you have accomplished will be matched in my lifetime, I glad I was around to cover you every week.

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Lawrie's red hot -5 31 leads by 1 at the turn

Paul Lawrie just shot -5 31 on his front nine, Alvaro Quiros -2 34, as a result Lawrie who has made 100 feet of putts on this nine, leads by a shot (-17) heading into the back nine at the Earth course in Dubai..

Luke Donald is plodding along at -3 thru 11 holes on his way to the winners circle in the Race to Dubai and all the baubles on both sides of the Atlantic.

Graham McDowell has moved up 12 spots to T10 with a -6 66.

More to follow

live scoring click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011091/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y


Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Parr opens with par at European tour Q school

The only Canadian who qualified for European tour Q school at is Andrew Parr and he opened with a 72 E to sit T84 after the first round at PGA Catalunya near Girona Spain where they are playing 2 courses, the par 72 Stadium and the par 70 Tour

Sam Hutsby playing the Tour course the course had an unbelievable -10 60 to lead by 2 shots. Top 30 get their tour cards for 2012.

for live scoring click
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/qualifying/season=2011/tournamentid=2011995/leaderboard/index.html


Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Donald's 66 all but wraps up Race to Dubai, Quiros leads by 2

If you haven't been following along, Luke Donald needs to finish outside the top 9 and Rory has to win for McIlroy to catch Donald and win the Race To Dubai..

That is not going to happen after today's play which has just wrapped up with Paul Lawrie sinking a monster of a putt for eagle 3 at 18, then leader Alvaro Quiros following with a bogey 6 on the same hole to cut the Spaniard's lead down to 2 shots (71) -14

Luke has finished with a 66 to stand 4th at -10, Oosthuizen 66 -11 is 3rd and Lawrie with that putt 66 -12 to start the final round.

Rory without his A game and looking out of sorts shot 71, but the good news is after going out in 39, he came back in 32 with 4 birdies to stand at -8, 6 shots back.

5 major champions are in the top 10, McIlroy, Schwartzel, Oosthuizen, Kaymer and Lawrie.

Peter Hanson has dropped to T5 (71) -9 but is steaming after someone left the rake for a fairway bunker lying right in the fairway beside the bunker and it trapped his drive leaving him with a very awkward stance, too close to the ball and he yanked it deep into the crowd surrounding the green, took a double bogey 6 and raised the old argument " where do you lead the rakes, in or out of the bunker"

In my opinion rakes should not be left in the bunker, but placed in the rough away from the fairway. This one was on the fairway side of the bunker, right in the fairway !!

The wind is forecast to blow hard tomorrow, so the race is still on.. for the tournament.. the Race to Dubai is over..

live scoring click..http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011091/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y


Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Quiros leads by 4, sour Saturday so far for Rory..Donald back in contention

Alvaro Quiros is having a rollercoaster round 3, with 3 bogey's, 3 birdies and an eagle to stand at -2 thru 12 -14 total and a 4 shot lead over Luke Donald -6 thru 16, -10 total along with Robert Rock -3 thru 13 and Peter Hanson -2 thru 13.

Quiros for all his prodigious length has displayed a silky touch all week on these large sloping greens on the Earth course, and today he has holed putt after putt.

Luke Donald, who else, has moved right up the board after spending some time in the TV studio after round 2, examining his swing and deducing he had a little too much leg action and was getting ahead of himself. He has been much more accurate off the tee and has displayed the ironplay and short game that have made him famous.

His pursuer for the money title Rory McIlroy really looked like he wasn't well on the front nine, going out in 39 with a bogey and a double, however he has made birdie now at 11 and 12 to get back to -6, but unless he does something special on the last 4 holes he may have blown his chances.

Robert Rock in lime green, has been solid as has big Peter Hanson who is striking the ball beautifully, but hasn't made many putts to move closer to Quiros.

Martin Kaymer had the round of the morning -8 64 to move up to a T9 at -8 and Louis Oosthuizen is now at -5 thru 16, -10 T2.

England's Simon Dyson has played the last 2 rounds by himself because of YE Yang's withdrawal was around in -3 69, and was catching up with the groundscrew who were working the holes ahead of him ! He was around in 2 hours and 25 minutes.

Click here for live scoring
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011091/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y


Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Weir targets Pebble Beach in February for return

pgatour.com  Mike Weir hopes to return to the PGA TOUR at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am next year.

"I’m not sure if I’ll make that deadline, but I’m going to shoot for that right now," Weir, who had elbow surgery in August, wrote in the blog on his website.

Weir said he’s targeting Pebble Beach because he has a comfort zone there after posting seven top-10s, including two seconds and a pair of thirds, in 14 starts. He also said that the turf there would likely be soft at that time of year.

Weir has recently begun hitting wedge and pitch shots all off a tee. "At first, I was swinging at about 50 percent of normal, but I have gradually moved that up to 75 percent," Weir wrote. "And in the last few sessions, I even hit four or five drivers. They all felt really good."

Due to doctor’s orders, though, Weir said he will wait until the four-month mark before hitting any full shots. "It can be a bit frustrating but I know patience now will pay off down the road," the former Masters champ wrote.

Weir said he has noticed he has more grip strength than he did before the surgery.
"I can really feel my fingers on the club these days and that’s something that was missing the last few years," Weir wrote. "It’s one of those gradual thing that’s so subtle I guess I never really noticed it, but since the surgery, it’s evident how much I’d lost over time and how much I have back."

Weir, who has battled the injury to his right elbow for two years, finished outside the all-exempt top 125 on the money list in 2011. He does have some status as a past champion due to his eight TOUR victories, and he would be eligible for sponsor’s exemptions, as well.

Weir also wrote that he recently discovered the European Tour offers a 12-year exemption to major champions. So Weir, who won the 2003 Masters, paid his dues and while he said he wants to play most of his golf in North America "I’ll likely use that to fill in when I’m unable to play over here," he wrote.

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Big hitting Alvaro Quiros leads by 4 shots in Dubai.. leaderboard, 3rd round pairings

Alvaro Quiros,with one win in Dubai already this year, emerged from the pack earlier this morning with a sparkling -8 64 which included a 20 footer for an eagle 3 on 18 to take a 4 shot lead at -12 after 2 rounds at this immaculate Earth course at the Dubai World Championship.

Peter Hanson who made everything on the greens with his opening 64, struggled in the same area today, E,72 good for 2nd at -8

Rory McIlroy was with him score wise for most of the day but finished bogey, bogey -1 71, T3 at -7, along with the hatless, bearded Robert Rock, -3 69. Rock has turned down a lot of money to go without a chapeau, but says he just doesn't like wearing one.

As I mentioned earlier this morning Luke Donald salvaged his day and possibly his shot at the money title with 3 late birdies to finish with -4 68 T12 along with Sergio who made bogey at the last to slip to +1 73, -4 total.

Rory who came from behind Quiros to win the UBS Hong Kong Open last Sunday, has to win again this week to have a chance of denying Luke Donald The Race to Dubai crown and even if he does Luke would complete his double if he finishes in the top nine.

Another story is that McIlroy was tied after 3 rounds with Quiros at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February, but ended up 10th when Alvaro took the title. He has been suffering from a virus for the past few weeks and has now been told he might have been battling with dengue fever, transmitted by a mosquito bite.

"It could have been a number of things and I'm going to see a doctor again tomorrow before deciding whether to go to Thailand next week," he said. To be honest, I'm ready for the season to be done and looking forward to putting the clubs away."

Paul Casey remember had the round of the day going as he was at -7 through 14 holes before making a bogey at the par3 17th and finished -6 66 good for T5.

Paul Lawrie I reported this morning was -3 thru 4 holes but he squandered that start with 4 bogey's and a double to finish with a 73, also T5 at -6

Donald was down in 31st place when he three-putted the eighth, but after pars on the next seven holes he made 15 foot putts on the 16th and long 18th and in between holed from ten feet at 17 to keep him in the hunt. His smile coming off the 18th said it all.

"Just personally in terms of my mental approach, that was huge," said Donald. It would be foolish of me to rely on him (McIlroy) not winning. I know what's at stake and it's a big deal to me."


Click here for a complete leaderboard.
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011091/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y

Click here for 3rd round pairings http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011091/teetimes/index.html


Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

The early story from Dubai... Donald fighting back, Casey on fire.

It's 4.30 am, 0 degrees with snow flurries in our morning forecast here in Toronto, however it's sunny and hot in the desert of Dubai and round 2 is well underway with the leader Paul Lawrie making 3 birdies in 4 holes to move to -10.

Paul Casey, 3rd at Tiger's Chevron Challenge last week has the best round going, he is -7 today playing the 15, 5 birdies and an eagle -7 total

Luke Donald has 3 birdies and 2 bogey's on his front 9 of 35 and has just birdied 16 and 17 to stand -3 T17

Rory is -1 thru 4, -7,  and he is paired with Sergio who is -1 thru 4 -6.

I am off to the gym in a few minutes and will update this completely at 915am when I get home, in the meantime just click on the live scoreboard below and feel free to add your comments.

http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011091/leaderboard/index.html

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Shark Shootout is always good fun..

While the serious business of this weekend is happening in Dubai, Greg Norman's annual shoot-out now known as the Franklin Templeton Shootout gets underway tomorrow and with it's 2 man team format it is usually fun to watch even though this year's field is not particularly strong

Here are the teams, tee times and an explanation of the format from pgatour.com

The always popular Franklin Templeton Shootout, which will feature 24 of the game’s best players, gets under way on Friday at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples.


The first round will be played with a modified alternate-shot format while the second round is contested as best ball and the final round is a scramble.

Scott Stallings, who won The Greenbrier Classic earlier this year, was the last man in the field after J.B. Holmes had to withdraw earlier this week. The Shootout was to be Holmes’ competitive debut after he had surgery in September to correct a Chiari malformation of his brain.

"While I continue to make great strides in my recovery … I am not 100 percent and I think it would be a disservice to my partner, Kenny Perry, and the entire Franklin Templeton Shootout organization for me to play at less than full capacity," Holmes said.

Stallings, who is making his Shootout debut, will now play with Perry. Here are the first-round pairings.

Tee time Pairings

9:55 a.m. ET Jason Dufner/Sean O’Hair and Chad Campbell/Chris DiMarco
10:07 a.m. ET Mark Calcavecchia/Nick Price and Rory Sabbatini/Jhonattan Vegas
10:19 a.m. ET Charles Howell III/Justin Leonard and Stewart Cink/Bo Van Pelt
10:31 a.m. ET Jerry Kelly/Steve Stricker and Kenny Perry/Scott Stallings
10:43 a.m. ET Keegan Bradley/Brendan Steele and Webb Simpson/Anthony Kim
10:55 a.m. ET Greg Norman/Scott McCarron and Rickie Fowler/Camilo Villegas

Back in the day some pretty big names won this. It started in 1989 as the BMCC Invitational and Curtis Strange and Mark O'Meara won, Ray Floyd and Freddie Couples beat Arnie and Peter Jacobsen in 1990, Norman at his peak played with Jack in 1991 and lost to Tom Purtzer and Lanny Wadkins, Calc won it in 1995 with Steve Elkington then again in 2007 with Woody Austin.

Jerry Kelly always plays well in this event winning it twice, including 2009 with Steve Stricker, his partner again this year.

Dustin Johnson and Ian Poulter won last year with scores of 63 64 59  186, neither are in the field this year, Poulter is in Dubai.

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Hanson just misses course record in Dubai. McIlroy's back nine in 30..

Big Swede Peter Hanson just missed an 8' birdie putt on 18, which would have set a new course record of -9 63. He has had to settle for -8 64 and a one shot lead over Scotland's Paul Lawrie -7 65.

Watching this on TV, started at 3am, you would never know they were in the desert of Dubai, it is so lush and green. Greg Norman designed this Earth course and in almost perfect weather it is still playing very long.

Fascinating to watch Rory and Luke paired together, Rory is bombs away with a double, a bogey and 6 birdies for his -3 now at 15, and Luke, shorter but so precise, balanced and effortless, out in 33 despite a bogey at the first (rusty?), displaying that delightful short game that is the great equalizer.

Now I have jinxed him as he drove into an unplayable at the par 5 14th, and just missed a par saver to drop to -2, and is unplayable again on 15 !!

Sergio is -5 on the back 9, at -6 playing 17. Just hit into the water, par 3, looking at a 5.
Makes his 5, then a birdie at 18 to finish -5 67.

update.. 715am
Luke Donald has made 3 bogey's in a row 14,15,16 and a par at 17 to stand T26 at E, while his partner Rory McIlroy has birdied 4 of the last 5 to stand T3 at -5 playing the par 5 18th.

Luke Donald has never missed a regular season cut on the European Tour ! Another astonishing stat for this quiet world #1.

Both have driven into the rough, Luke lays up, so does Rory, Luke's approach to 30', Rory's wedge settles 25 feet above the hole and he makes it !! for a back 9 of 30, -6 66, and alone in 3rd while Luke 2 putts for par 72, E T26.

for tee times click here  http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011091/teetimes/index.html

for leaderboard click here http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011091/leaderboard/index.html

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

McIlroy.."more pure talent than Woods".. Donald

Starting in the wee small hours of tomorrow morning the culmination of a sensational year will begin on the Earth course in Dubai, and amongst the many story lines, we will see if Luke Donald can make history and become the first man to win the money titles on both the PGA and European tours, something he says will be "my greatest achievement"

In the 5 weeks he has been away from the game, Donald has lost and buried his dearly beloved father Colin, unexpectedly, and with his wife Diane welcomed a new daughter, Sophie Ann to their family, events which make winning or losing a game of golf insignificant.

However, the game must be played as life marches on, and Luke leads Rory by just over 1m euros in the Race to Dubai when play begins.

When you consider the amount of travel playing both tours, time changes and standard of golf he has endured and displayed this year, it will only be fitting if he pulls it off.

Rory and Martin and Lee and GMac and the top 60 golfers on the Euro tour are about to do their best to make him earn it.

Here is a report from Dubai, where Luke says he thinks Rory has more talent than Tiger.

TONY JIMENEZ, Reuters

Published on Wednesday, Dec. 07, 2011 11:22AM EST

DUBAI - Rory McIlroy is a more talented golfer than 14-times major winner Tiger Woods, said world number one Luke Donald on the eve of his Dubai World Championship showdown with the young Northern Irishman.

“Tiger’s work ethic has always been tremendous, and his mindset as well,” Donald told reporters on Wednesday. “But I think Rory has more pure talent.I have always said that, of the guys I’ve played with, Rory has the most talent. I see him winning lots of tournaments and lots of majors.”

Donald, bidding to become the first player to win the orders of merit on both sides of the Atlantic, leads second-placed McIlroy by more than $1 million going into the final European Tour event of the season in Dubai. The Englishman needs to finish in the top eight this week to guarantee ending the campaign as European number one for the first time in his career but he seemed almost as keen to laud McIlroy’s skills as he was to celebrate his own achievements.

“Rory showed the world how great he can be when he won the U.S. Open,” said Donald, who clinched the U.S. PGA Tour’s money-list crown in October. That was an unbelievable way to play in a major event and finish it off like he did,” he added, referring to the 22-year-old Northern Irishman’s runaway eight-shot victory in Maryland in June. “He’s young and has a great future ahead of him.”

As he makes a run at history this weekend, Donald believes his late father will be looking down upon him. “I lost a good friend in my dad and someone that introduced me to the game," he said of his father, who died last month days before the birth of Donald's second daughter, Sophia Ann. "Losing him was very sad and something you can’t ever prepare for.” When someone leaves you, you are always reminded of them in certain ways,” he added. “I'm sure he'll be there with me. I'm not sure if I'll specifically try to think about my father, but, yeah, it would be nice to win one for him.”

Donald returned to the tour only last week from a five-week break, during which he buried his father. He said the time “was tough, very tough” but his daughter's arrival “spread a little grace on the situation” and allowed him to “concentrate my efforts on a new life.”

Reflecting on his father, Donald admitted Colin was more concerned about “bringing him up as a decent person” than passing on golf tips. But Donald still said he remembers many times walking the course with his father when he was a youngster.

“We didn't play a lot but he would take me out sometimes, even mornings before school and we would go and play a quick nine holes,” he added. “I have fond memories of that.”

Donald has won three other titles this season, including Disney's Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic where he snatched the U.S. money title from Webb Simpson. That put him on course for unprecedented success on both money lists.

“As time went on and I played and won the right tournaments, then certainly it became a goal,” he said. “You know, it's something I've heard other players talk about in the past few years. I remember Ernie (Els) talking about it once and how hard it would be to do but how satisfying it would be to be able to do that.”

For Donald, winning both titles would be a chance “to make history.”

“No one's officially done it before. I think that's pretty amazing,” he said. “It's not easy to travel as much as you do playing both tours and to be able to adjust to the time changes and all that. ... If it all works out Sunday, that will be my biggest accomplishment.”

Donald comes in as the favourite to win the European money title and even McIlroy said he thought his chance of winning was slim because he was up against one of the tour's most consistent golfers. Donald has finished outside the top 10 only three times this year on the European Tour.

“He's won four times in a year and all big events — the World Match Play, Wentworth, Scottish Open and obviously Disney when he needed to,” McIlroy said. “And he's hardly finished outside the top 10. He's deservedly the No. 1 player at the moment.”

But Robert Karlsson, who won the tournament last year, said McIlroy will have an edge because the Greg Norman-designed Earth course is playing longer than it has in the past. He said at least three of the par 5s will favour the big-hitting McIlroy over Donald.

“Luke has another weapon that has taken him to the top of the world and that is his short game,” Karlsson said. “But Rory has a huge advantage getting up to the greens. That is just the way it is.”

If Donald does take the European money title, it is unlikely to silence the detractors who have questioned whether he deserves to be No. 1 because he hasn't won a major. He tied for fourth at this year's Masters, eighth at the U.S. PGA Championship and 45th at the U.S. Open. He missed the cut at the British Open.

The composed and low-key Donald said he wasn't concerned about his critics, insisting that earning the No. 1 spot without winning a major in some ways was more impressive.

“The critics will always be there and they make me stronger to be honest,” Donald said. “Every time someone says I can't do anything, it just makes me work harder. So you know, fine. I don't really mind that there's critics out there. I've had a tremendous year and I'm excited about next year. I think I'm a different player this year because of all the victories. I feel more confident. Hopefully, I can bring the game to the majors.”

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Final results for Canucks at Q schools

None of our 9 men got their PGA tour cards but congratulations to Ryan Yip, Brad Fritsch and Stuart Anderson who have qualified for full Nationwide Tour status, a first for Anderson and Yip and they join Matt McQuillan who will also have conditional PGA Tour status.

James Love, Richard T. Lee, Mitch Gillis, Richard Scott and Adam Hadwin qualified for varying levels of conditional status on the Nationwide Tour, but will be back mainly on our Canadian Tour, a bitter pill for Hadwin in particular who was in good shape through the first 3 rounds but fell away back in the wind over the last 3.

There are four Canadians with full LPGA status next year. Alena Sharp and Lorie Kane are back due to their top-90 money list position this year and are joined as I said yesterday by Maude-Aimee LeBlanc and Rebecca Lee-Bentham from Q school. Stephanie Sherlock and Jessica Shepley have lower status but we should see them in around a dozen LPGA events.

The rest will spend most of their year on the Futures Tour.

Of the 6 Canadians who were trying for the final stage of the European Tour Q school which starts at PGA Catalunya, near Girona, Spain on Dec 10, only Andrew Parr is listed in the final field which is being tabulated as I write today. He finished T18 at 2nd stage so should be in.

Matt Hill T42, Mike Mezei T31, Lindsey Reynolds 68th, Nick Taylor 59th, Matt Johnston T27th.

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

2 Canucks get LPGA cards, Westwood and Woods win Challenges

Well there is good news and bad news as always for our Canucks at Q school.

On the LPGA tour Maude-Aimee Leblanc and Rebecca Lee-Bentham earned full exempt status for 2012.

Now the so, so news. Stephanie Sherlock just lost out on full status in a playoff after she T20th. That means she gets Priority List Category 16, which is less than full status and Kirby Dreher and Izzy Beiseigel have won Priority List Category 20.

Now the bad news, Lisa Meldrum, Sue Kim and Samantha Richdale missed out on any LPGA status and will play on the Futures Tour.

Today is the final round of PGA tour Q school and with the T25 getting cards and the next 25 getting full Nationwide status I don't have a lot of good news.

Ryan Yip is T42, Stuart Anderson is T53 as is Brad Fritsche, and Adam Hadwin has dropped away back T92

For complete scoring using the Scoregolf tracker click http://scoregolf.com/articles/news/2011/october/pga-tour-q-school-tracker

As I mentioned yesterday Lee Westood made bogey at the last 2 holes but still won the Nedbank Challenge over a field of 12 players and the $1.25m US that goes with it, as importantly gave himself great momentum going into this week's big finale in Dubai. He said his 62 on Saturday was "my best round of golf"

Meanwhile at his Chevron Challenge, Tiger continued his slow recovery sinking a birdie putt on the 18th to win by a shot over Zack Johnson in an unofficial 18 man invitational field. It has made headlines around the world, a reflection of how his marital turmoil has taken him from the sports pages to the front page, I even heard a guy on the Jazz station doing a minute on it this morning and he doesn't know a nine iron from his zipper.

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Canadian women poised to get their LPGA cards, all Canuck scoring

LPGA Qschool through 4 of 5 rounds
With one round remaining at LPGA International in Daytona Beach at the LPGA Q school Christine Song has a 4 shot lead at -10 but we have 4 women in the top 40.

Maude-Aimee LeBlanc is T5 at E, Stephanie Sherlock is T11 at +3, Kirby Dreher is T34 at +7 as is Izzy Beiseigel is T38 at +8.
The top 40 get LPGA tour conditional status, the top 20 get their full card.

PGA tour school through 4 of 6 rounds at PGA West La Quinta, California
Will Claxton continues to lead at -15 at a very windy and cool PGA West where they are playing on two courses, Nicklaus West and the Stadium Course. The top 25 get their tour cards and those from 26-50 get full status on the Nationwide Tour.

Canucks ..Ryan Yip is T21 at -5 and Stuart Anderson is T28 at -4.

For complete field scoring at European Tour second stage 3rd round click here
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/qualifying/tournament/index.html


For all Canadian results at Q schools using the Scoregolf tracker click here http://scoregolf.com/articles/news/2011/october/pga-tour-q-school-tracker


Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles

Westwood leads the Nedbank, Zack Johnson leads the Chevron

Lee Westwood has a 4 shot lead with 3 to play over Robert Karlsson at the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City and Mark Calcavecchia won the Senior Challenge by a shot over Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam.

Westwood shot a -10 62 yesterday to set up his big lead and is at -17 right now.

live scoring from the Nedbank Challenge http://www.nedbankgolfchallenge.com/leaderboard.aspx

final scores from the Senior Challenge http://www.nedbankgolfchallenge.com/leaderboardseniors.aspx


Chevron World Challenge
Zach Johnson eagled the 18th to take a 1 shot lead over Tiger Woods who slipped to a +1 73 at a Thousand Oaks in California as they head into today's final round.

Woods made bogey at 3 of the 5 par 5's
for live scoring click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r478/

Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles