PGA Tour
FEDEX CUP PLAYOFFS DEUTSCHE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP
Site: Norton, Mass.
Schedule: Friday-Monday.
Course: TPC Boston (7,214 yards, par 71).
Purse: $8 million. Winner’s share: $1.44 million.
No Canadians in this field.
Tee times http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r505/tee-times.html
Fed Ex Points Standings http://www.pgatour.com/r/stats/info/?02395
Last year: Charley Hoffman closed with a 9-under 62 for a five-shot victory over Geoff Ogilvy, Jason Day and Luke Donald. Hoffman tied the tournament record at 22-under 262.
Last week: Dustin Johnson beat the rain and everyone else at The Barclays in the playoff opener, shortened to 54 holes because of Irena. He shot a 29 on the front nine in the Saturday finish and had a 6-under 65 to beat Matt Kuchar by two strokes.
Notes: The top 100 in the FedEx Cup points qualified for the event. The field will be cut to 70 for the BMW Championship on Sept. 15-18 at Cog Hill in Lemont, Ill. and to 30 for the Tour Championship on Sept. 22-25 at East Lake in Atlanta. ... Johnson jumped from 19th to first in the standings with his victory in New Jersey. Kuchar is second, followed by Nick Watney, Webb Simpson and Donald.Tour player Brad Faxon teamed with architect Gil Hanse to rework the Arnold Palmer-designed layout. ... Vijay Singh won in 2004 and 2008, setting the tournament record of 22 under in 2008.
European Tour
EUROPEAN MASTERS
Site: Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Course: Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club (6,822 yards, par 71).
Purse: $2.9 million. Winner’s share: $484,000.
Tee times click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011063/teetimes/index.html
Last year: Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez won the last of his three 2010 titles, beating Italy’s Edoardo Molinari by three strokes.
Last week: Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn won the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in Scotland, birdieing the fifth hole of a playoff with South Africa’s George Coetzee. In cold and windy conditions, Bjorn birdied the par-5 18th three straight time to hold off Coetzee. Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger dropped out on the first extra hole, Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal on the second and England’s Mark Foster on the fourth.
Notes: U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy and Open winner Darren Clarke are in the field along with Bjorn, Jimenez, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Edoardo and Francesco Molinari, Matteo Manassero and Louis Oosthuizen. ... Bjorn also won the Qatar Masters in February. ... The tournament opens the points race for the 2013 European Ryder Cup team. ... France’s Benjamin Hebert won the Rolex Trophy last week in Geneva for his third Challenge Tour victory of the year and an immediate European Tour promotion. ... The KLM Open is next week in the Netherlands, followed by the Seve Trophy in France.
Champions Tour
..is off for 2 weeks as they travel to Korea
LPGA Tour
..is off for a week
Nationwide Tour
Mylan Classic
Thursday Sep 1 – Sunday Sep 4, 2011
Southpointe Golf Club · Canonsburg, Penn.
Purse: $600,000Winning Share: $108,000
Canadians Ted Brown, Jon Mills, Richard T Lee, Bryan DeCorso
Tee times click http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/h103/tee-times.html
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Rory's got a new bird !!
Oh to be young, rich and famous, and possibly the best golfer on this planet.
If Rory McIlroy is dumping Holly Sweeney, the next one better be good, just google Holly and images if you are not already familiar...!!!
Well apparently the next one is world #1 tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, and here is the latest on a report just released by AP from Switzerland where Rory is playing this week, while CW is of course in New York playing the US Open.
Associated Press
CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland - U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy believes his relationship with top-ranked tennis player Caroline Wozniacki can help him become the No. 1 player in golf.
After spending two "great" weeks together in the U.S., McIlroy thinks he and the 21-year-old from Denmark can be good for each other's careers. "I think we definitely spur each other on," said McIlroy. "She's No. 1 in the world and I've got a major and we sort of both want what each other have. "It's a big goal of mine. I want to become the best player in the world."
The sixth-ranked McIlroy made the comments ahead of the European Masters, his first tournament since injuring his right arm at the PGA Championship three weeks ago.
While recuperating, the 22-year Northern Irishman was by Wozniacki's side at tournaments in Cincinnati and New Haven ahead of bidding for a first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open.
McIlroy said he was impressed with Wozniacki's dedication, and picked up pointers to improving his own game. "She's got a great work ethic and it's something I can probably learn a lot from," he said. "It's pretty impressive."
McIlroy said the couple were "taking a day at a time," knowing tournament schedules leave few chances to meet much more this year. He watched television on Tuesday night when his top-seeded girlfriend opened at Flushing Meadows with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Spain's Nuria Llagostera-Vives.
Wozniacki's next match is scheduled for Thursday after he completes his opening round at the European Masters. McIlroy's goal is chasing world No. 1 Luke Donald of England, who is playing the PGA Tour event this weekend.
"I don't think it's achievable in the short term, Luke is quite a long way ahead," McIlroy said.
He calculates he can rise to a career-high No. 3 with victory at the Crans-sur-Sierre club, and other results fall his way. Fifth-ranked Martin Kaymer of Germany is in the European field while the Americans occupying third and fourth spots, Steve Stricker and Dustin Johnson, play at the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston.
McIlroy will look for inspiration from "one of the most beautiful places in the world," where he almost got his first professional win as a 19-year-old. He took a four-stroke lead into the final round in the Swiss Alps but lost in extra holes to Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin. "I still think about that playoff in 2008," said McIlroy, who has yet to win in Europe as a pro. His sole European Tour victory came at Dubai in February 2009.
McIlroy played an 18-hole practice round Tuesday ahead of the European Masters in Switzerland, his first tournament since injuring his right arm at the PGA Championship.
"The wrist is fine and I'm good to play," he said. "I'm rid of the bandages on my wrist, and I'm off the pain-killers and anti-inflamatory's. "The only slight concern, and it's only slight and it's only when I am not swinging a golf club but the area around my shoulder feels like it's dead or numb. "I've been told there's a little bit of an impingement in the front part of my shoulder but with some continued treatment and massaging I will be fine. "But it's not worrying me and there's problem in playing any shots, and it's not holding me back in any way, and I'm not protecting or favouring it in any way."
I will be covering it here all weekend as usual along with the Deutchbank in Boston for the PGA tour
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
If Rory McIlroy is dumping Holly Sweeney, the next one better be good, just google Holly and images if you are not already familiar...!!!
Well apparently the next one is world #1 tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, and here is the latest on a report just released by AP from Switzerland where Rory is playing this week, while CW is of course in New York playing the US Open.
Associated Press
CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland - U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy believes his relationship with top-ranked tennis player Caroline Wozniacki can help him become the No. 1 player in golf.
After spending two "great" weeks together in the U.S., McIlroy thinks he and the 21-year-old from Denmark can be good for each other's careers. "I think we definitely spur each other on," said McIlroy. "She's No. 1 in the world and I've got a major and we sort of both want what each other have. "It's a big goal of mine. I want to become the best player in the world."
The sixth-ranked McIlroy made the comments ahead of the European Masters, his first tournament since injuring his right arm at the PGA Championship three weeks ago.
While recuperating, the 22-year Northern Irishman was by Wozniacki's side at tournaments in Cincinnati and New Haven ahead of bidding for a first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open.
McIlroy said he was impressed with Wozniacki's dedication, and picked up pointers to improving his own game. "She's got a great work ethic and it's something I can probably learn a lot from," he said. "It's pretty impressive."
McIlroy said the couple were "taking a day at a time," knowing tournament schedules leave few chances to meet much more this year. He watched television on Tuesday night when his top-seeded girlfriend opened at Flushing Meadows with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Spain's Nuria Llagostera-Vives.
Wozniacki's next match is scheduled for Thursday after he completes his opening round at the European Masters. McIlroy's goal is chasing world No. 1 Luke Donald of England, who is playing the PGA Tour event this weekend.
"I don't think it's achievable in the short term, Luke is quite a long way ahead," McIlroy said.
He calculates he can rise to a career-high No. 3 with victory at the Crans-sur-Sierre club, and other results fall his way. Fifth-ranked Martin Kaymer of Germany is in the European field while the Americans occupying third and fourth spots, Steve Stricker and Dustin Johnson, play at the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston.
McIlroy will look for inspiration from "one of the most beautiful places in the world," where he almost got his first professional win as a 19-year-old. He took a four-stroke lead into the final round in the Swiss Alps but lost in extra holes to Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin. "I still think about that playoff in 2008," said McIlroy, who has yet to win in Europe as a pro. His sole European Tour victory came at Dubai in February 2009.
McIlroy played an 18-hole practice round Tuesday ahead of the European Masters in Switzerland, his first tournament since injuring his right arm at the PGA Championship.
"The wrist is fine and I'm good to play," he said. "I'm rid of the bandages on my wrist, and I'm off the pain-killers and anti-inflamatory's. "The only slight concern, and it's only slight and it's only when I am not swinging a golf club but the area around my shoulder feels like it's dead or numb. "I've been told there's a little bit of an impingement in the front part of my shoulder but with some continued treatment and massaging I will be fine. "But it's not worrying me and there's problem in playing any shots, and it's not holding me back in any way, and I'm not protecting or favouring it in any way."
I will be covering it here all weekend as usual along with the Deutchbank in Boston for the PGA tour
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Monday, August 29, 2011
"Monday, Monday can't trust that day ".....
Well Hurricane (or tropical storm) Irene affected so many this weekend, in the big picture sporting events were hardly important, but as my broadcast partner Scott Metcalfe once said " they provide a diversion.."
Here are some random musings in no particular order.
* you can see how inflexible TV scheduling can be with both the Barclay's (Saturday at 2pm) and the CN Canadian Women's (2pm Sunday) being well over before NBC and CBC even got on the air.
* the 5 guys in the Johnny Walker playoff played some really sloppy golf and the choice to keep using the par 5 18th (5 times) which because of the wet wind could not be reached in 2 was a poor one because it simply became a 100 yard par 3 which Thomas Bjorn played better than the other 4 to win.. The Centenary Course will be the one they use for the 2014 Ryder Cup..
* we probably can't say this anymore so I will, but sex sells, and some of the gals on display at the CN Canadian this week were "well worth the drive to Acton"..
* I love double headers especially the old Marlie / Leaf Saturday combo at the Gardens in the 60's ( 15,500 at each), but on Saturday the Red Sox decided to take on Mother Nature with a double dip that started at noon and finished at 11pm !! The players were ok, the fans were ok but the poor grounds crew were knackered ! Why didn't they play the double on Friday before Irene moved in ??
* The World Cup of Rugby gets underway next week and it means 2 months away from home for all the teams except the All Blacks however there aren't many nicer places to stay than New Zealand, especially for a rugby nut.
* Kirk Triplett became the oldest winner on the Nationwide tour this weekend in Knoxville at 49 yrs and 5 months, to prove that you can keep playing this game for a long time if you take care of yourself. He beat all the kids and will join all the senior guys in April 2012 and make a whack of cash..He last won on the PGA tour in '06
* well done to CN Canadian Women's Open who raised $2.1 million for the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Ste-Justine UHC Foundation through the CN Miracle Match program.
* while Brittany Lincicome with Canuck AJ Eathorne on her bag won, it was great to see 6 of our gals make it to the weekend although Sunday proved to be a tough one especially for Maude-Aimee LeBlanc who didn't have a bogey in 52 holes but slumped to an 80, and Lisa Meldrum who was a horrible 85.
*Jessica Shepley ended up as low Canadian and kudos to 16-year-old Jisoo Keel who was low amateur for the tournament Shepley, finished with a 2-over-par 74 to post a 1-under total of 287 Keel was in her first LPGA tournament. She closed with a 74 to end it tied for 66th at 4-over 292.
*Lorie Kane finished with a 75 to finish tied for 63rd at 3 over and was never a factor.
*Samantha Richdale started with a 66 on Thursday, finished with a 77 at 9 over to end tied for 75th.
* the Jays have the same problem beating the Rays as they used to have when the Brewers were in the AL with Molitor and company. David Price is 9-1 against them and the Jays are 4-10 this year. 14k's for Price, 18 in total for the Rays while it took our nine over 200 pitches to get through the 12-0 shellacking.
* where has this summer gone ? Labour Day is already right on top of us, then all the little beggers return to school and start leaving their garbage and graffiti all over the neighbourhood !!
* Jack Layton fought for the average guy and we need many more like him. RIP Jack..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Here are some random musings in no particular order.
* you can see how inflexible TV scheduling can be with both the Barclay's (Saturday at 2pm) and the CN Canadian Women's (2pm Sunday) being well over before NBC and CBC even got on the air.
* the 5 guys in the Johnny Walker playoff played some really sloppy golf and the choice to keep using the par 5 18th (5 times) which because of the wet wind could not be reached in 2 was a poor one because it simply became a 100 yard par 3 which Thomas Bjorn played better than the other 4 to win.. The Centenary Course will be the one they use for the 2014 Ryder Cup..
* we probably can't say this anymore so I will, but sex sells, and some of the gals on display at the CN Canadian this week were "well worth the drive to Acton"..
* I love double headers especially the old Marlie / Leaf Saturday combo at the Gardens in the 60's ( 15,500 at each), but on Saturday the Red Sox decided to take on Mother Nature with a double dip that started at noon and finished at 11pm !! The players were ok, the fans were ok but the poor grounds crew were knackered ! Why didn't they play the double on Friday before Irene moved in ??
* The World Cup of Rugby gets underway next week and it means 2 months away from home for all the teams except the All Blacks however there aren't many nicer places to stay than New Zealand, especially for a rugby nut.
* Kirk Triplett became the oldest winner on the Nationwide tour this weekend in Knoxville at 49 yrs and 5 months, to prove that you can keep playing this game for a long time if you take care of yourself. He beat all the kids and will join all the senior guys in April 2012 and make a whack of cash..He last won on the PGA tour in '06
* well done to CN Canadian Women's Open who raised $2.1 million for the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Ste-Justine UHC Foundation through the CN Miracle Match program.
* while Brittany Lincicome with Canuck AJ Eathorne on her bag won, it was great to see 6 of our gals make it to the weekend although Sunday proved to be a tough one especially for Maude-Aimee LeBlanc who didn't have a bogey in 52 holes but slumped to an 80, and Lisa Meldrum who was a horrible 85.
*Jessica Shepley ended up as low Canadian and kudos to 16-year-old Jisoo Keel who was low amateur for the tournament Shepley, finished with a 2-over-par 74 to post a 1-under total of 287 Keel was in her first LPGA tournament. She closed with a 74 to end it tied for 66th at 4-over 292.
*Lorie Kane finished with a 75 to finish tied for 63rd at 3 over and was never a factor.
*Samantha Richdale started with a 66 on Thursday, finished with a 77 at 9 over to end tied for 75th.
* the Jays have the same problem beating the Rays as they used to have when the Brewers were in the AL with Molitor and company. David Price is 9-1 against them and the Jays are 4-10 this year. 14k's for Price, 18 in total for the Rays while it took our nine over 200 pitches to get through the 12-0 shellacking.
* where has this summer gone ? Labour Day is already right on top of us, then all the little beggers return to school and start leaving their garbage and graffiti all over the neighbourhood !!
* Jack Layton fought for the average guy and we need many more like him. RIP Jack..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Brittany Lincicome wins CN Canadian Women's Open
Michelle Wie gave it a run in defense of her title but came up a shot short at -12 to our new champion, pretty Brittany Lincicome who fired at final round -2 70 good enough for a -13 total
Here is the complete scoreboard including scores for our 6 Canucks
http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/leaderboard.aspx?TournamentID=27839
Stacy Lewis (67) was also on -12 and Cristie Kerr who made 2 late bogey's at 16 and 17 finished on -11 along with Angela Stanford
Our top Canadian Jessica Shepley T45 at -1..
For the first time in a long time, the top 5 girls are all American with the next 6 from South Korea.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Here is the complete scoreboard including scores for our 6 Canucks
http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/leaderboard.aspx?TournamentID=27839
Stacy Lewis (67) was also on -12 and Cristie Kerr who made 2 late bogey's at 16 and 17 finished on -11 along with Angela Stanford
Our top Canadian Jessica Shepley T45 at -1..
For the first time in a long time, the top 5 girls are all American with the next 6 from South Korea.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Thomas Bjorn wins Johnny Walker on 5th playoff hole
Mercifully Thomas Bjorn has just added the Johnny Walker Championship to the Qatar Masters he won earlier this year on the 5th playoff hole.
5 guys, Mark Foster, George Coetzee, Pablo Larrazabal and Bernd Weisberger joined Bjorn in the playoff, which was the par 5 18th.
None of them could get home in 2, which meant we had 5 100 yd par 3's in reality, and Bjorn played them better than the rest, in particular his 3 shots, which he kept stiffing.
This course at beautiful Gleneagles will host the 2014 Ryder Cup and if today is anything to go by they may have to re design the 18th to make it more exciting..
For a complete leaderboard click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011061/leaderboard/index.html
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
5 guys, Mark Foster, George Coetzee, Pablo Larrazabal and Bernd Weisberger joined Bjorn in the playoff, which was the par 5 18th.
None of them could get home in 2, which meant we had 5 100 yd par 3's in reality, and Bjorn played them better than the rest, in particular his 3 shots, which he kept stiffing.
This course at beautiful Gleneagles will host the 2014 Ryder Cup and if today is anything to go by they may have to re design the 18th to make it more exciting..
For a complete leaderboard click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011061/leaderboard/index.html
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Dustin Johnson wins the Barclay's
Final leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r027/
Dustin Johnson has just won this 54 hole Barclay's championship, and he fired 5 birdies and an eagle for a -6 65, -19 total to do it..
Playing partner Matt Kuchar was 2nd after his -3 68, -17. Brandt Snedeker had the round of the day -10 61 to share T3 at -16 with Vijay Singh (68)
The top 100 now move on to play next week at the Deutchbank at the TPC in Boston and David Hearn who slipped to 73, -4 total ended up T67 and to 121 in Fed Ex points so he will not be moving on..
Players are beating a hasty retreat out of New Jersey in advance of Hurricane Irene who is pounding the eastern seaboard as I write..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Dustin Johnson has just won this 54 hole Barclay's championship, and he fired 5 birdies and an eagle for a -6 65, -19 total to do it..
Playing partner Matt Kuchar was 2nd after his -3 68, -17. Brandt Snedeker had the round of the day -10 61 to share T3 at -16 with Vijay Singh (68)
The top 100 now move on to play next week at the Deutchbank at the TPC in Boston and David Hearn who slipped to 73, -4 total ended up T67 and to 121 in Fed Ex points so he will not be moving on..
Players are beating a hasty retreat out of New Jersey in advance of Hurricane Irene who is pounding the eastern seaboard as I write..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Foster, Garrido share lead after 3 rounds at the Johnny Walker
Complete scoreboard click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011061/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Spaniard Ignacio Garrido and England's Mark Foster share the lead heading into tomorrow’s final round of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. They are at -11. Thomas Bjorn leads a group of 4 players T2 at -8.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Spaniard Ignacio Garrido and England's Mark Foster share the lead heading into tomorrow’s final round of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. They are at -11. Thomas Bjorn leads a group of 4 players T2 at -8.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Nationwide Tour..PGA stars playing in Knoxville
For an up to date leaderboard click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/h011/
For today's tee times click http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/h011/tee-times.html
Our 3 Canucks MC... Jon Mills, Chris Baryla and Richard T Lee
There are a bunch of PGA stars in this field, part of the fall out for guys who missed the playoffs.. Boo Weekly, John Daly, Matt Goggin, Kirk Triplett amongst others.
Here is the pgatour.com report
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The leaderboard is painted with veterans heading into the weekend of the 22nd News Sentinel Open presented by Pilot. Californian John Mallinger, who has seven years of experience between the PGA TOUR and Nationwide Tour, backed up his opening 9-under 63 with a 7-under 65 on Friday to move to 16-under 128 and grab sole possession of the lead at the half-way point.
Knoxville native Garrett Willis, who has eight years of experience between both tours, fired 6-under 66 in the second round to be two strokes back at 14-under 130. Twenty-two year PGA TOUR veteran Kirk Triplett is three back after carding eight birdies en route to posting 8-under 64 to climb to 13-under 131.
Also in the hunt are Louisiana native Brian Bateman, Georgian Paul Claxton, South Korean Sungoon Kang, former University of Georgia Bulldog Kevin Kisner and Washington native Jeff Gove who are four off the pace at 12-under 132. Bateman and Claxton have a combined 32 years of experience between the PGA TOUR and Nationwide Tour.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
For today's tee times click http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/h011/tee-times.html
Our 3 Canucks MC... Jon Mills, Chris Baryla and Richard T Lee
There are a bunch of PGA stars in this field, part of the fall out for guys who missed the playoffs.. Boo Weekly, John Daly, Matt Goggin, Kirk Triplett amongst others.
Here is the pgatour.com report
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The leaderboard is painted with veterans heading into the weekend of the 22nd News Sentinel Open presented by Pilot. Californian John Mallinger, who has seven years of experience between the PGA TOUR and Nationwide Tour, backed up his opening 9-under 63 with a 7-under 65 on Friday to move to 16-under 128 and grab sole possession of the lead at the half-way point.
Knoxville native Garrett Willis, who has eight years of experience between both tours, fired 6-under 66 in the second round to be two strokes back at 14-under 130. Twenty-two year PGA TOUR veteran Kirk Triplett is three back after carding eight birdies en route to posting 8-under 64 to climb to 13-under 131.
Also in the hunt are Louisiana native Brian Bateman, Georgian Paul Claxton, South Korean Sungoon Kang, former University of Georgia Bulldog Kevin Kisner and Washington native Jeff Gove who are four off the pace at 12-under 132. Bateman and Claxton have a combined 32 years of experience between the PGA TOUR and Nationwide Tour.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Champions Tour.. Cochrane leads in Washington
Far from the mayhem caused by Hurricane Irene on her east coast, the old guys are bathed in brilliant sunshine and warm weather on the west coast of America, in Washington. I saw little of this save the highlights so here in the story from pgatour.com
For an up to date leaderboard click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/s619/
For today's tee times click http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/s619/tee-times.html
Rod Spittle opened with E 72 and Jim Rutledge +4 76
SNOQUALMIE, Wash. -- Russ Cochran shot a 6-under 66 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Jeff Sluman after the first round of the Champions Tour's Boeing Classic.
Cochran, the Senior British Open winner last month, had an eagle, five birdies and a bogey at sun-baked TPC Snoqualmie Ridge. The scoring average of 73.506 was the highest single-round total in the seven-year history of the tournament and nearly a half-stroke higher than the previous record set in the second round a year ago.
"The fairways firmed up and you would think immediately that it's a great thing when the fairways get firm for instance but a lot of times we were running out through the fairway into the rough so you had to be very careful out there," Cochran said.
Cochran missed more than two months this year because of a right wrist injury. He returned for the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, then won the Senior British Open for his third Champions Tour victory and first major title.
"To be honest with you, my round just consisted of probably the best scoring that I've done since I've been out here on tour," Cochran said.
Defending champion Bernhard Langer was two strokes back at 68 along with Hale Irwin and Ted Schulz. The 66-year-old Irwin had a hole-in-one on the par-3 ninth. Fred Couples, the hometown star coming off a victory Sunday in New York in the Constellation Energy Seniors Players Championship, shot a 73
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
For an up to date leaderboard click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/s619/
For today's tee times click http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/s619/tee-times.html
Rod Spittle opened with E 72 and Jim Rutledge +4 76
SNOQUALMIE, Wash. -- Russ Cochran shot a 6-under 66 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Jeff Sluman after the first round of the Champions Tour's Boeing Classic.
Cochran, the Senior British Open winner last month, had an eagle, five birdies and a bogey at sun-baked TPC Snoqualmie Ridge. The scoring average of 73.506 was the highest single-round total in the seven-year history of the tournament and nearly a half-stroke higher than the previous record set in the second round a year ago.
"The fairways firmed up and you would think immediately that it's a great thing when the fairways get firm for instance but a lot of times we were running out through the fairway into the rough so you had to be very careful out there," Cochran said.
Cochran missed more than two months this year because of a right wrist injury. He returned for the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, then won the Senior British Open for his third Champions Tour victory and first major title.
"To be honest with you, my round just consisted of probably the best scoring that I've done since I've been out here on tour," Cochran said.
Defending champion Bernhard Langer was two strokes back at 68 along with Hale Irwin and Ted Schulz. The 66-year-old Irwin had a hole-in-one on the par-3 ninth. Fred Couples, the hometown star coming off a victory Sunday in New York in the Constellation Energy Seniors Players Championship, shot a 73
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Miyazato and Stanford lead the Canadian after 36 holes.. 6 Canucks to play this weekend
For today's tee times click http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Pairings.aspx?TournamentID=27839
For an up to date scoreboard click http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/leaderboard.aspx?TournamentID=27839
Mirabel, Que. (Golf Canada) – Ai Miyazato of Japan and American Angela Stanford sit tied atop the leader board at 11-under-par 133 through 36 holes at the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.
After posting an opening-round score of 7-under-par 65, Miyazato, a seven-time winner on the LPGA Tour, carded a round of 4-under-par 68 on Friday, converting five birdies and only a single bogey heading into weekend play. “You know, I had a really good day today,” said Miyazato, who captured her second-career Evian Masters title earlier this season. “My confidence is back, and I’m really comfortable with my game right now. So I’m playing very good. I’m really satisfied with my game today.”
Stanford, a four-time LPGA Tour event winner, posted a score of 6-under-par 66 in round two, converting seven birdies on the afternoon, five of which came on the back-nine. “I guess I just had some better chances on the back,” said Stanford, who was recently named to her fourth U.S. Solheim Cup Team. “A couple par-5s that you have good chances, but I was just trying to hit good shots and give myself opportunities and the putter’s rolling so that’s good.”
Defending CN Canadian Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie sits T4 alongside seven other players at 8-under-par 136, three shots off the lead. A total of 78 players made the cut, which was set at 1-under-par 143, matching the lowest 36-hole cut score set at the 1998 du Maurier Classic at Essex Golf and Country Club in Windsor, Ont.
Six Canadians advanced to weekend action, including current low Canadian Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C.(-5), Lisa Meldrum of Montreal (-4); Maude-Aimée LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que.(-3); Lorie Kane of Charlottetown, P.E.I.(-2); and Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont. (-1), the two-time reigning Jocelyne Bourassa Player of the Year Award winner on the CN Canadian Women’s Tour. Also making the cut was 15-year old Team Canada Development Squad member Jisoo Keel of Coquitlam, B.C. (-1).
LPGA veteran Sherri Steinhauer, an 8-time LPGA Tour winner, officially retired from competitive play following Friday’s round. Canada is a special place for Steinhauer, who chose this week’s CN Canadian Women’s Open as her final event because her first LPGA victory came on Canadian soil at the 1992 former du Maurier Classic in Winnipeg.
Complete list of all 18 Canadian scores
Samantha Richdale – 66-73-139, -5 Lisa Meldrum – 71-69-140, -4 Maude-Aimée Leblanc – 70-71-141, -3 Lorie Kane – 71-71-142, -2 Jessica Shepley – 73-70-143, -1(a) Jisoo Keel – 72-71-143, -1
MISSED CUT -Adrienne White – 69-75-144, E Stephanie Sherlock – 72-73-145, +1 Sara Maude Juneau – 72-73-145, +1 (a) Augusta James – 74-72-146, +2 Danielle Mills – 73-74-147, +3 Kirby Dreher – 73-74-147, +3 Alena Sharp – 77-71-148, +4 (a) Jessica Wallace – 72-76-148, +4 (a) Anna Kim – 77-72-149, +5 (a) Nicole Vandermade – 77-73-150, +6 (a) Rebecca Lee-Bentham – 74-76-150, +6 Isabelle Beisiegel – 75-76-151, +7
Bryan Angus also mailto:ontwitter@mummmbles
For an up to date scoreboard click http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/leaderboard.aspx?TournamentID=27839
Mirabel, Que. (Golf Canada) – Ai Miyazato of Japan and American Angela Stanford sit tied atop the leader board at 11-under-par 133 through 36 holes at the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.
After posting an opening-round score of 7-under-par 65, Miyazato, a seven-time winner on the LPGA Tour, carded a round of 4-under-par 68 on Friday, converting five birdies and only a single bogey heading into weekend play. “You know, I had a really good day today,” said Miyazato, who captured her second-career Evian Masters title earlier this season. “My confidence is back, and I’m really comfortable with my game right now. So I’m playing very good. I’m really satisfied with my game today.”
Stanford, a four-time LPGA Tour event winner, posted a score of 6-under-par 66 in round two, converting seven birdies on the afternoon, five of which came on the back-nine. “I guess I just had some better chances on the back,” said Stanford, who was recently named to her fourth U.S. Solheim Cup Team. “A couple par-5s that you have good chances, but I was just trying to hit good shots and give myself opportunities and the putter’s rolling so that’s good.”
Defending CN Canadian Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie sits T4 alongside seven other players at 8-under-par 136, three shots off the lead. A total of 78 players made the cut, which was set at 1-under-par 143, matching the lowest 36-hole cut score set at the 1998 du Maurier Classic at Essex Golf and Country Club in Windsor, Ont.
Six Canadians advanced to weekend action, including current low Canadian Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C.(-5), Lisa Meldrum of Montreal (-4); Maude-Aimée LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que.(-3); Lorie Kane of Charlottetown, P.E.I.(-2); and Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont. (-1), the two-time reigning Jocelyne Bourassa Player of the Year Award winner on the CN Canadian Women’s Tour. Also making the cut was 15-year old Team Canada Development Squad member Jisoo Keel of Coquitlam, B.C. (-1).
LPGA veteran Sherri Steinhauer, an 8-time LPGA Tour winner, officially retired from competitive play following Friday’s round. Canada is a special place for Steinhauer, who chose this week’s CN Canadian Women’s Open as her final event because her first LPGA victory came on Canadian soil at the 1992 former du Maurier Classic in Winnipeg.
Complete list of all 18 Canadian scores
Samantha Richdale – 66-73-139, -5 Lisa Meldrum – 71-69-140, -4 Maude-Aimée Leblanc – 70-71-141, -3 Lorie Kane – 71-71-142, -2 Jessica Shepley – 73-70-143, -1(a) Jisoo Keel – 72-71-143, -1
MISSED CUT -Adrienne White – 69-75-144, E Stephanie Sherlock – 72-73-145, +1 Sara Maude Juneau – 72-73-145, +1 (a) Augusta James – 74-72-146, +2 Danielle Mills – 73-74-147, +3 Kirby Dreher – 73-74-147, +3 Alena Sharp – 77-71-148, +4 (a) Jessica Wallace – 72-76-148, +4 (a) Anna Kim – 77-72-149, +5 (a) Nicole Vandermade – 77-73-150, +6 (a) Rebecca Lee-Bentham – 74-76-150, +6 Isabelle Beisiegel – 75-76-151, +7
Bryan Angus also mailto:ontwitter@mummmbles
This is the latest weather forecast for the Barclay's, tee times and up to date leaderboard
With the field at the Barclay's set to tee off this morning at 7am, going off #1 and #10 paired in three's to try and get 18 holes in before Irene becomes a reality, here is the latest forecast. Remember over 2 million Americans along the eastern coast from North Carolina to Connecticut have been advised to evacuate, and 6 states have declared a state of emergency..
(For tee times just click http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r027/tee-times.html)
Today: A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. High near 81. East wind between 6 and 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tonight: Tropical storm conditions expected, with hurricane conditions possible. Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 70. East wind 36 to 41 mph increasing to between 38 and 48 mph. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts in excess of 4 inches possible.
Sunday: Tropical storm conditions expected, with hurricane conditions possible. Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 76. North wind 45 to 65 mph decreasing to between 40 and 50 mph. Winds could gust as high as 80 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts in excess of 4 inches possible
For an up to date leaderboard click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r027/
Matt Kuchar -14 leads Vijay Singh and Dustin Johnson -13 by a shot and they are paired together off #1 at 8.50am but since this will be a dart throwing competition again today on this very soft course I expect anyone within 6 shots to have a chance.
David Hearn is T29 at -6
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
(For tee times just click http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r027/tee-times.html)
Today: A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. High near 81. East wind between 6 and 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tonight: Tropical storm conditions expected, with hurricane conditions possible. Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 70. East wind 36 to 41 mph increasing to between 38 and 48 mph. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts in excess of 4 inches possible.
Sunday: Tropical storm conditions expected, with hurricane conditions possible. Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 76. North wind 45 to 65 mph decreasing to between 40 and 50 mph. Winds could gust as high as 80 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts in excess of 4 inches possible
For an up to date leaderboard click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r027/
Matt Kuchar -14 leads Vijay Singh and Dustin Johnson -13 by a shot and they are paired together off #1 at 8.50am but since this will be a dart throwing competition again today on this very soft course I expect anyone within 6 shots to have a chance.
David Hearn is T29 at -6
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Couples picking Tiger is great news.. for Greg Norman..
Freddie Couples did his opposite number Greg Norman a big favour today.. he named Tiger to his Presidents Cup team..
When Couples was asked for the 9 millionth time at the Boeing Championship about picking Tiger for his Presidents Cup squad, he finally relented to the constant pecking by an insatiable media and said "Tiger is in, he is the best player forever"
Jason Sobel of the Golf Channel wrote a fine article today and I concur with his premise that this is all about ratings for the Presidents Cup, not about Tigers stellar play and his mediocre Presidents Cup record.
For me the game of golf comes first, and an informative and entertaining portrayal of each tournament is our journalistic challenge, but as long as Tiger is breathing and swinging a golf club, he will be vaunted by all aspects of the media in North America who are ALL DRIVEN BY RATINGS and that means his 84's being as important as his 64's, and that means whether he wins or loses it is what is happening with Tiger that matters,.. the result of the golf tournament is secondary.
The danger here is that his reign of dominance is over, but TV will never let go, they are paying too much, have to much at stake and will do until Tiger decides to follow Budda into a monastery.....then they will follow his progress on the first annual Tiger Tibetan Pro Am....
Here are the key reasons for Freddie's decision.
*Freddie is tired of the constant media pecking and speculation.. that is now done
*Tiger guarantees top TV ratings to a USA dominated Presidents Cup
*Tiger couldn't be in Australia playing their Open the week before without being part of this team, could you imagine him sitting watching from his hotel room .
*To hell with all the others like Rickie Fowler who are more qualified than Tiger to play for his country, they will wait without complaint.
* Tigers Presidents Cup record (1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007) 13-11-1 3-7-0 7-2-1 3-2-0 that means 13-11-1 overall for the worlds best at those times.. Hardly dominating but enough for Freddie to point to if challenged.
* It's a long shot, but Tiger could have a spectacular weekend, regain the form of old, get back his confidence, lead the USA fist pumping to victory in far away Australia... well I said it's a long shot.. but it's the one the PGA tour and those who cover it are praying for..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
When Couples was asked for the 9 millionth time at the Boeing Championship about picking Tiger for his Presidents Cup squad, he finally relented to the constant pecking by an insatiable media and said "Tiger is in, he is the best player forever"
Jason Sobel of the Golf Channel wrote a fine article today and I concur with his premise that this is all about ratings for the Presidents Cup, not about Tigers stellar play and his mediocre Presidents Cup record.
For me the game of golf comes first, and an informative and entertaining portrayal of each tournament is our journalistic challenge, but as long as Tiger is breathing and swinging a golf club, he will be vaunted by all aspects of the media in North America who are ALL DRIVEN BY RATINGS and that means his 84's being as important as his 64's, and that means whether he wins or loses it is what is happening with Tiger that matters,.. the result of the golf tournament is secondary.
The danger here is that his reign of dominance is over, but TV will never let go, they are paying too much, have to much at stake and will do until Tiger decides to follow Budda into a monastery.....then they will follow his progress on the first annual Tiger Tibetan Pro Am....
Here are the key reasons for Freddie's decision.
*Freddie is tired of the constant media pecking and speculation.. that is now done
*Tiger guarantees top TV ratings to a USA dominated Presidents Cup
*Tiger couldn't be in Australia playing their Open the week before without being part of this team, could you imagine him sitting watching from his hotel room .
*To hell with all the others like Rickie Fowler who are more qualified than Tiger to play for his country, they will wait without complaint.
* Tigers Presidents Cup record (1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007) 13-11-1 3-7-0 7-2-1 3-2-0 that means 13-11-1 overall for the worlds best at those times.. Hardly dominating but enough for Freddie to point to if challenged.
* It's a long shot, but Tiger could have a spectacular weekend, regain the form of old, get back his confidence, lead the USA fist pumping to victory in far away Australia... well I said it's a long shot.. but it's the one the PGA tour and those who cover it are praying for..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Friday, August 26, 2011
Japan's Miyazato leads as Canucks battle to stay in contention at Canadian Women's Open
It's halfway through round 2 in Mirabel, Quebec and Japanese star Ai Miyazato is at -11 (65,68) to lead by 2 shots from a pair of South Koreans.
Currently our top Canuck is Samantha Richdale who is T15 at -5 (66,73) then Lisa Meldrum T23 AT -4 (71,69)
With the top 70 and ties making the cut, several of our women including Lorie Kane are on course right now battling to make the weekend..
For an up to date leader board click..
http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/leaderboard.aspx?TournamentID=27839
I will wrap up this exciting day with all the Canadian scores as well later this afternoon
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Currently our top Canuck is Samantha Richdale who is T15 at -5 (66,73) then Lisa Meldrum T23 AT -4 (71,69)
With the top 70 and ties making the cut, several of our women including Lorie Kane are on course right now battling to make the weekend..
For an up to date leader board click..
http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/leaderboard.aspx?TournamentID=27839
I will wrap up this exciting day with all the Canadian scores as well later this afternoon
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Barclay's reduced to 54 holes due to Hurricane Irene
With the Governor declaring a 'State of Emergency" due to the impending beating New Jersey is about to receive from Hurricane Irene, a golf tournament becomes the least of priorities in the scheme of things, however it must be dealt with as best as possible given the circumstances so here, minutes ago is the PGA tour's decision.
EDISON, N.J. – The PGA TOUR announced Friday that The Barclays, the first of four events in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, will be shortened from a 72-hole event to 54 holes, due to the impending threat of Hurricane Irene, which is forecast to move up the East Coast and into the Tri-State area on Sunday.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a state of emergency on Thursday in advance of Hurricane Irene’s arrival, which threatens to cause severe flooding and damage this weekend, and forecasters issued a hurricane warning for much of New Jersey early Friday morning.
The Barclays, being held for the first time at Plainfield Country Club, is now scheduled to end on Saturday prior to the onset of bad weather.
“We weighed all the options available to us, and under normal circumstances, we would obviously prefer to complete 72 holes,” PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said. “That’s even more true here at The Barclays, considering that this is such an important event to our players as they look to advance through the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. But these aren’t normal circumstances.
“We realize that ‘waiting it out’ until Hurricane Irene passes and trying to play golf on Monday or Tuesday would only add unnecessary strain to those who will be trying to help the community recover from whatever potential damage this storm causes. The safety of the community, our fans, players, sponsor guests, television partners and staff is of the utmost importance.”
Slugger White, the TOUR’s vice presidents of rules and competition, said that tee times for Saturday’s third round will be moved up, with players starting their rounds between 7 a.m.-9 a.m. ET, going off two tees in threesomes.
“With the extreme weather conditions that we have got staring us in the face right now, Sunday obviously is not going to be here,” White said. “We are looking upwards to maybe 10 to 12 inches of rain between Saturday night and Sunday evening, and … in no way we can get out of here Monday and it puts Tuesday out, as well.”
In fact, with 30-50 mph winds forecast for Saturday afternoon and a steady rain expected to start at 2 p.m. ET, the possibility exists that not all 18 holes will be completed on Saturday. If that’s the case, then the tournament will revert back to the 36-hole leaderboard.
With tee times moved up, though, officials expect to get all 18 holes of the third round in on Saturday. Should there be a tie after 54 holes, a playoff will be held to determine the winner. FedExCup points will be awarded in the same amount no matter if the tournament ends after 36 or 54 holes.
So the course is very soft and as a result scores are low, -14 leads currently with round 2 well under way.
David Hearn is at -6, T17 through 16 after an opening 67, he is our lone Canuck
The Red Sox have already cancelled Sunday's home game and will try to play a double header on Saturday.
Here is the current leaderboard with happy Matt Kuchar in the lead at -14 (63,65)..
http://www.pgatour.com/r/leaderboard/
I will update this with a wrap later this evening
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
EDISON, N.J. – The PGA TOUR announced Friday that The Barclays, the first of four events in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, will be shortened from a 72-hole event to 54 holes, due to the impending threat of Hurricane Irene, which is forecast to move up the East Coast and into the Tri-State area on Sunday.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a state of emergency on Thursday in advance of Hurricane Irene’s arrival, which threatens to cause severe flooding and damage this weekend, and forecasters issued a hurricane warning for much of New Jersey early Friday morning.
The Barclays, being held for the first time at Plainfield Country Club, is now scheduled to end on Saturday prior to the onset of bad weather.
“We weighed all the options available to us, and under normal circumstances, we would obviously prefer to complete 72 holes,” PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said. “That’s even more true here at The Barclays, considering that this is such an important event to our players as they look to advance through the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. But these aren’t normal circumstances.
“We realize that ‘waiting it out’ until Hurricane Irene passes and trying to play golf on Monday or Tuesday would only add unnecessary strain to those who will be trying to help the community recover from whatever potential damage this storm causes. The safety of the community, our fans, players, sponsor guests, television partners and staff is of the utmost importance.”
Slugger White, the TOUR’s vice presidents of rules and competition, said that tee times for Saturday’s third round will be moved up, with players starting their rounds between 7 a.m.-9 a.m. ET, going off two tees in threesomes.
“With the extreme weather conditions that we have got staring us in the face right now, Sunday obviously is not going to be here,” White said. “We are looking upwards to maybe 10 to 12 inches of rain between Saturday night and Sunday evening, and … in no way we can get out of here Monday and it puts Tuesday out, as well.”
In fact, with 30-50 mph winds forecast for Saturday afternoon and a steady rain expected to start at 2 p.m. ET, the possibility exists that not all 18 holes will be completed on Saturday. If that’s the case, then the tournament will revert back to the 36-hole leaderboard.
With tee times moved up, though, officials expect to get all 18 holes of the third round in on Saturday. Should there be a tie after 54 holes, a playoff will be held to determine the winner. FedExCup points will be awarded in the same amount no matter if the tournament ends after 36 or 54 holes.
So the course is very soft and as a result scores are low, -14 leads currently with round 2 well under way.
David Hearn is at -6, T17 through 16 after an opening 67, he is our lone Canuck
The Red Sox have already cancelled Sunday's home game and will try to play a double header on Saturday.
Here is the current leaderboard with happy Matt Kuchar in the lead at -14 (63,65)..
http://www.pgatour.com/r/leaderboard/
I will update this with a wrap later this evening
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Round one finished this morning, round two underway at Johnny Walker Championship
Sixteen years after his unbeaten part in sending Tiger Woods to Walker Cup defeat, England's Mark Foster is hoping to seal a return to team golf in real style this weekend.
The 36-year-old from Worksop - a town best known in the sport as Lee Westwood's home - took the first day lead in the fog-delayed Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles with a six under par 66.
Although his only European Tour victory remains eight years ago, Foster's season is shaping up to be easily his best yet.He is on course to earn a place in Britain and Ireland's Seve Trophy side for the first time and says of next month's match against Continental Europe in Paris: "I've been trying hard all year to make it and if it comes around it will be a massive thing for me."
He has a one-stroke advantage over Spaniard Ignacio Garrido and Argentina's Tano Goya, who were joined by Magnus A Carlsson of Sweden, who was up early this morning to complete a fine 67..
For the up to date scoreboard click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011061/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
The 36-year-old from Worksop - a town best known in the sport as Lee Westwood's home - took the first day lead in the fog-delayed Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles with a six under par 66.
Although his only European Tour victory remains eight years ago, Foster's season is shaping up to be easily his best yet.He is on course to earn a place in Britain and Ireland's Seve Trophy side for the first time and says of next month's match against Continental Europe in Paris: "I've been trying hard all year to make it and if it comes around it will be a massive thing for me."
He has a one-stroke advantage over Spaniard Ignacio Garrido and Argentina's Tano Goya, who were joined by Magnus A Carlsson of Sweden, who was up early this morning to complete a fine 67..
For the up to date scoreboard click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011061/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Japan, Sweden share top spot at CN Canadian Women's Open
Mirabel, Que. (Golf Canada) – Ai Miyazato of Japan and Pernilla Lindberg of Sweden carded opening-round scores of 7-under-par 65 Thursday to sit tied atop the leaderboard after round one of the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club in Mirabel, Que.
Miyazato, a former world No. 1 and an eight-time winner on the LPGA Tour, shot a bogey-free round that included seven birdies, four of which came on the back-nine. “I had a really good feeling with my swing tempo today. That’s why I really had so many birdie opportunities out there,” said Miyazato, who placed T15 at last year’s CN Canadian Women’s Open in Winnipeg. “My iron distance control was really good and I had a really good feeling with my putting as well. So that’s why I think I shot 7-under today.” Lindberg, winner of the 2008 World Amateur Championship, converted eight birdies on the day, including consecutive birdies on No. 10, No. 11, and No. 12. Kelowna, B.C., native Samantha Richdale is the low Canadian through 18 holes of play and sits in sole possession of third place after an impressive opening round 6-under par 66. Defending CN Canadian Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie carded a round of 5-under-par 67 to sit T4 alongside Americans Jenny Shin and Angela Stanford and Koreans Song-Hee Kim and Mi Hyun Kim. Nine of the 18 Canucks competing this week shot even-par or better Thursday including Richdale (-6); Adrienne White (-3); Lorie Kane (-1); Lisa Meldrum (-1); Team Canada graduates Maude-Aimée LeBlanc (-2), Stephanie Sherlock (E) and Sara Maude Juneau (E); and current Team Canada members Jessica Wallace (E) and Jisoo Keel (E
THE FOLLOWING ARE OPENING-ROUND CANADIAN SCORES FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 25TH, 2011:
Samantha Richdale – 66, -6Adrienne White – 69, -3Maude-Aimée Leblanc – 70, -2Lorie Kane – 71, -1Lisa Meldrum – 71, -1Stephanie Sherlock – 72, E(a) Jisoo Keel – 72, ESara Maude Juneau – 72, E(a) Jessica Wallace – 72, EDanielle Mills – 73, +1Kirby Dreher – 73, +1Jessica Shepley – 73, +1(a) Augusta James – 74, +2(a) Rebecca Lee-Bentham – 74, +2Isabelle Beisiegel – 75, +3(a) Nicole Vandermade – 77, +5(a) Anna Kim – 77, +5Alena Sharp – 77, +5
SECOND-ROUND TEE TIMES Play begins today 7:10 am off the 1st and 10th tees, just click..... http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Pairings.aspx?TournamentID=27839 .
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Miyazato, a former world No. 1 and an eight-time winner on the LPGA Tour, shot a bogey-free round that included seven birdies, four of which came on the back-nine. “I had a really good feeling with my swing tempo today. That’s why I really had so many birdie opportunities out there,” said Miyazato, who placed T15 at last year’s CN Canadian Women’s Open in Winnipeg. “My iron distance control was really good and I had a really good feeling with my putting as well. So that’s why I think I shot 7-under today.” Lindberg, winner of the 2008 World Amateur Championship, converted eight birdies on the day, including consecutive birdies on No. 10, No. 11, and No. 12. Kelowna, B.C., native Samantha Richdale is the low Canadian through 18 holes of play and sits in sole possession of third place after an impressive opening round 6-under par 66. Defending CN Canadian Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie carded a round of 5-under-par 67 to sit T4 alongside Americans Jenny Shin and Angela Stanford and Koreans Song-Hee Kim and Mi Hyun Kim. Nine of the 18 Canucks competing this week shot even-par or better Thursday including Richdale (-6); Adrienne White (-3); Lorie Kane (-1); Lisa Meldrum (-1); Team Canada graduates Maude-Aimée LeBlanc (-2), Stephanie Sherlock (E) and Sara Maude Juneau (E); and current Team Canada members Jessica Wallace (E) and Jisoo Keel (E
THE FOLLOWING ARE OPENING-ROUND CANADIAN SCORES FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 25TH, 2011:
Samantha Richdale – 66, -6Adrienne White – 69, -3Maude-Aimée Leblanc – 70, -2Lorie Kane – 71, -1Lisa Meldrum – 71, -1Stephanie Sherlock – 72, E(a) Jisoo Keel – 72, ESara Maude Juneau – 72, E(a) Jessica Wallace – 72, EDanielle Mills – 73, +1Kirby Dreher – 73, +1Jessica Shepley – 73, +1(a) Augusta James – 74, +2(a) Rebecca Lee-Bentham – 74, +2Isabelle Beisiegel – 75, +3(a) Nicole Vandermade – 77, +5(a) Anna Kim – 77, +5Alena Sharp – 77, +5
SECOND-ROUND TEE TIMES Play begins today 7:10 am off the 1st and 10th tees, just click..... http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Pairings.aspx?TournamentID=27839 .
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Play has resumed at Barclay's
1:03 pm.. Play to resume at 1:45 p.m.
EDISON, N.J. — There’s a break in the weather now so officials have decided to resume the first round of The Barclays at 1:45 p.m. ET.
The afternoon wave will now begin play at 2:45 ET with scattered showers in the forecast. If you want to know when your favorite player will tee off in the afternoon, you can add two hours and 45 minutes to his original start time.
The total delay will be 3 hours and 16 minutes.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
EDISON, N.J. — There’s a break in the weather now so officials have decided to resume the first round of The Barclays at 1:45 p.m. ET.
The afternoon wave will now begin play at 2:45 ET with scattered showers in the forecast. If you want to know when your favorite player will tee off in the afternoon, you can add two hours and 45 minutes to his original start time.
The total delay will be 3 hours and 16 minutes.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Good day for Canucks at CN Canadian Womens Open
While Michelle Wie has waved her magic long putting wand to a -5, 67 bogey free round to tie for the clubhouse lead with Angela Stanford, it has been a good start for several of our Canadian women as play continues at Hillsdale G&CC in Mirabel, Quebec
Click below for the current scoreboard:
http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/leaderboard.aspx?TournamentID=27839
Adrienne White who has only 2 rounds under her belt on the LPGA tour this year is currently T7 with a -3 69, while Maude-Aimee LeBlanc is T15 at -2 70.
Lorie Kane is T25 , -1 71 and Stephanie Sherlock is T47 at E 72..
I will have all 18 Canucks scores when play is done today. There are t'showers in the forecast for later this afternoon with this Hurricane Irene storm affecting all of eastern North America from Florida through the Maritmes..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Click below for the current scoreboard:
http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/leaderboard.aspx?TournamentID=27839
Adrienne White who has only 2 rounds under her belt on the LPGA tour this year is currently T7 with a -3 69, while Maude-Aimee LeBlanc is T15 at -2 70.
Lorie Kane is T25 , -1 71 and Stephanie Sherlock is T47 at E 72..
I will have all 18 Canucks scores when play is done today. There are t'showers in the forecast for later this afternoon with this Hurricane Irene storm affecting all of eastern North America from Florida through the Maritmes..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Round one to be completed Friday at the Johnny Walker Championship
England's Mark Foster went out in -6 30, got it to -7 then stalled but his -6 66 is still good enough for a 1 shot lead, with nearly half the field getting in as much play as the light will allow, before they have to come out tomorrow to complete round one.
It is 640pm in Scotland right now, they can play until 8pm at this time of year so I expect the stragglers to have 5 or 6 holes to complete. A two and a half hour fog delay this morning has caused the problem.
For the latest scoreboard
click..http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011061/leaderboard/index.html
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
It is 640pm in Scotland right now, they can play until 8pm at this time of year so I expect the stragglers to have 5 or 6 holes to complete. A two and a half hour fog delay this morning has caused the problem.
For the latest scoreboard
click..http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011061/leaderboard/index.html
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Play suspended at the Barclay's
With the heavy fore winds and rain of Hurricane Irene moving up the east coast of the States, play has been suspended in New Jersey at the Barclay's with half the field still in the clubhouse and none of the morning flight past the 14th hole.
Normally wind doesn't warrant a suspension of play unless players cannot mark their balls on the green without them blowing away however the PGA Tour has a comprehensive weather forecast system, and in their opinion the saftey of all concerned could not be guaranteed so play was suspended around noon.
PGA tour officials have told reporters they will not allow play to resume until player and fan safety is not at risk, which could mean quite a while when you look at the weather map and see the havoc being caused from Florida right up the coast as Irene pounds the Bahamas. It is scheduled to hit New York state/city late on Saturday.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
For the current leaderboard click on PGA tour.
Normally wind doesn't warrant a suspension of play unless players cannot mark their balls on the green without them blowing away however the PGA Tour has a comprehensive weather forecast system, and in their opinion the saftey of all concerned could not be guaranteed so play was suspended around noon.
PGA tour officials have told reporters they will not allow play to resume until player and fan safety is not at risk, which could mean quite a while when you look at the weather map and see the havoc being caused from Florida right up the coast as Irene pounds the Bahamas. It is scheduled to hit New York state/city late on Saturday.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
For the current leaderboard click on PGA tour.
Nine Canadians already in action at CN Canadian Womens Open
Round one got underway at the Hillsdale G&CC this morning at 7.30 and we already have 9 of the 18 Canucks in the field early in their rounds.
For the current scoreboard click http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx
Of note Lorie Kane is off #10 at 8.30, Yani Tseng off #1 at 8.40 and defending champion Michelle Wie off #10 at 8.50am
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
For the current scoreboard click http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx
Of note Lorie Kane is off #10 at 8.30, Yani Tseng off #1 at 8.40 and defending champion Michelle Wie off #10 at 8.50am
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Fog in the Perthshire hills delays play at Johnny Walker Championship
Round one of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles was delayed by two hours and 40 minutes due to fog the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles.
The first matches eventually ted off from tees one and ten at 10:10, (5.10am est) over two and a half hours late.
Peter Lawrie of Ireland who looks remarkably like Mr Bean, leads at -4 through 10 holes..He started on the back nine with 4 birdies, out in 32..
For the current scoreboard click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011061/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Eduardo Molinaro is the defending champion.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
The first matches eventually ted off from tees one and ten at 10:10, (5.10am est) over two and a half hours late.
Peter Lawrie of Ireland who looks remarkably like Mr Bean, leads at -4 through 10 holes..He started on the back nine with 4 birdies, out in 32..
For the current scoreboard click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011061/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Eduardo Molinaro is the defending champion.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
This week's tee times.. notes..
My focus this weekend is on our CN Canadian Womens Open out in Mirabel, Quebec where we now have 18 Canucks in the field (for my report read yesterday's "Don't expect much from Canucks") the top 50 women led by Yani Tseng. The Hillsdale course has received a lot of rain and is soft and playing long.
Next the PGA Tour playoffs begin at the Barclay's on a new venue in New Jersey, The Plainfield GC, and while most of you still either don't care or understand the Fed Ex points system, and are just turned off by fabulously rich guys being offered $10m to win this thing, as if they need it, I suggest you just forget all that, and enjoy the fact that the best 125 that the PGA Tour has to offer will be playing off over the next 4 weeks.
If you stopped caring when Tiger stopped playing I suspect you will next see him in a month or so playing one of the Fall Series at captain Freddie Couples request before heading off to Australia for their Open and the Presidents Cup.
The European Tour's Johnny Walker Championship has sentimental value to me as it is just 20 minutes down the road from Perth where my family is from and is at the beautiful but extravagant Gleneagles resort in the scenic hills of Perthshire, well worth a boo just for the scenery !!
Here are the tee times for all but the Canadian Tour which I will post later. They are in Windsor.
European Tour .. Johnny Walker Championship, Gleneagles GC, Perthshire, Scotland
http://www.golfchannel.com/tours/european-tour/2011/johnnie-walker-championship-gleneagles/
LPGA Tour.. CN Canadian Womens Open, Hillsdale G&CC, Mirabel Quebec
http://www.golfchannel.com/tours/lpga/2011/cn-canadian-womens-open/
Champions Tour..Boeing Classic, TPC Snoqualmie Ridge - Snoqualmie , Washington
http://www.golfchannel.com/tours/champions-tour/2011/boeing-classic/
Nationwide Tour . Knoxville News Sentinel Open Fox Den Country Club - Knoxville
http://www.golfchannel.com/tours/nationwide-tour/2011/knoxville-news-sentinel-open/
PGA Tour..The Barclays Plainfield Country Club - Edison , New Jersey
http://www.golfchannel.com/tours/pga-tour/2011/the-barclays/
Canadian Tour.. Tour Championship, Ambassador GC, Windsor
http://www.cantour.com/leagues/cantour_teetimes_groupings.cfm?clientid=3776&leagueid=11764&seasonnum=2011
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Next the PGA Tour playoffs begin at the Barclay's on a new venue in New Jersey, The Plainfield GC, and while most of you still either don't care or understand the Fed Ex points system, and are just turned off by fabulously rich guys being offered $10m to win this thing, as if they need it, I suggest you just forget all that, and enjoy the fact that the best 125 that the PGA Tour has to offer will be playing off over the next 4 weeks.
If you stopped caring when Tiger stopped playing I suspect you will next see him in a month or so playing one of the Fall Series at captain Freddie Couples request before heading off to Australia for their Open and the Presidents Cup.
The European Tour's Johnny Walker Championship has sentimental value to me as it is just 20 minutes down the road from Perth where my family is from and is at the beautiful but extravagant Gleneagles resort in the scenic hills of Perthshire, well worth a boo just for the scenery !!
Here are the tee times for all but the Canadian Tour which I will post later. They are in Windsor.
European Tour .. Johnny Walker Championship, Gleneagles GC, Perthshire, Scotland
http://www.golfchannel.com/tours/european-tour/2011/johnnie-walker-championship-gleneagles/
LPGA Tour.. CN Canadian Womens Open, Hillsdale G&CC, Mirabel Quebec
http://www.golfchannel.com/tours/lpga/2011/cn-canadian-womens-open/
Champions Tour..Boeing Classic, TPC Snoqualmie Ridge - Snoqualmie , Washington
http://www.golfchannel.com/tours/champions-tour/2011/boeing-classic/
Nationwide Tour . Knoxville News Sentinel Open Fox Den Country Club - Knoxville
http://www.golfchannel.com/tours/nationwide-tour/2011/knoxville-news-sentinel-open/
PGA Tour..The Barclays Plainfield Country Club - Edison , New Jersey
http://www.golfchannel.com/tours/pga-tour/2011/the-barclays/
Canadian Tour.. Tour Championship, Ambassador GC, Windsor
http://www.cantour.com/leagues/cantour_teetimes_groupings.cfm?clientid=3776&leagueid=11764&seasonnum=2011
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Latest news.. JB Holmes minor brain surgery
EDISON, N.J. - J.B. Holmes has withdrawn from The Barclays as he prepares to have brain surgery.
Holmes has been diagnosed with structural defects in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance. He has been dealing with vertigo-like symptoms since May and has gone to several specialists. Doctors discovered last week he has Chiari malformations.
“I was really looking forward to the Playoffs this year and improving on my 34th-place finish from 2010,” said Holmes, who will undergo the procedure on September 1 at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. “But with a three-month recovery before I can get back to form, we decided that the sooner I can get this procedure done, the better.
“I know when people hear ‘brain surgery’ it conjures up all kinds of images, but this a relatively low-risk surgery and only takes about an hour and a half. Best of all, there’s a very high success rate in fixing the condition. It’s just such a relief to know that there’s a name for what I’ve been going through these past few months and that I have a good chance of getting back to golf and to my regular life.
Holmes is a two-time PGA Tour winner who played in the 2008 Ryder Cup and will not be replaced in the field at The Barclays, meaning there will be just 123 players entered in the first event; Charl Schwartzel has elected to sit out the first week of the playoffs.
Huge week for #1 Luke Donald
EDISON, New Jersey - World number one Luke Donald is gearing up for a final 2011 push as the FedExCup playoffs begin Thursday at The Barclays with the Briton aiming to reign over both the U.S. and European tours.
Donald, who leads both tours in earnings as he masterfully juggles memberships on the two circuits, begins his campaign at Plainfield Country Club for the season-ending playoffs title and its $10 million bonus.
Should the 33-year-old Englishman maintain his brilliant consistency, he could achieve a unique double by becoming the first to be the top winner on both tours in the same season. Donald also leads the standings for the season-ending Race To Dubai on the European PGA.
"I feel like I have a lot to play for," Donald told reporters on Tuesday. "I've had a great year so far, very consistent."
Donald has three wins this season, including two on the European Tour along with the WGC-Accenture Match Play title, and has posted 10 top-10 finishes from 13 U.S. events This week's opener of the four-event FedExCup series, was open to the top 125 players in the playoffs standings.
"I feel like I like to play against the best players. I think it elevates my game," said Donald, who will tee off in the first round with Phil Mickelson and U.S. PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley.
Donald said he was not driven by riches, but rather by the hardware that symbolizes success at the highest level.
"I'm more concerned with winning The Race to Dubai and the FedExCup," said Donald, who ranks fourth in the FedExCup standings.
"Winning trophies rather than the title of being leading money winner is much more important to me. I'm obviously in a position where I have a great chance."
The top 100 players in the points list qualify for the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston, with the leading 70 players there moving on to the BMW Championship. The top 30 qualify for the Tour Championship finale.
Donald said he was determined to finish strong.
"Certainly it's a motivating factor," he said. "I've been working very hard the past week, and you know, it's nice to have certain things to chase after and focus (on) and it makes everything a little bit more meaningful."
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Holmes has been diagnosed with structural defects in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance. He has been dealing with vertigo-like symptoms since May and has gone to several specialists. Doctors discovered last week he has Chiari malformations.
“I was really looking forward to the Playoffs this year and improving on my 34th-place finish from 2010,” said Holmes, who will undergo the procedure on September 1 at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. “But with a three-month recovery before I can get back to form, we decided that the sooner I can get this procedure done, the better.
“I know when people hear ‘brain surgery’ it conjures up all kinds of images, but this a relatively low-risk surgery and only takes about an hour and a half. Best of all, there’s a very high success rate in fixing the condition. It’s just such a relief to know that there’s a name for what I’ve been going through these past few months and that I have a good chance of getting back to golf and to my regular life.
Holmes is a two-time PGA Tour winner who played in the 2008 Ryder Cup and will not be replaced in the field at The Barclays, meaning there will be just 123 players entered in the first event; Charl Schwartzel has elected to sit out the first week of the playoffs.
Huge week for #1 Luke Donald
EDISON, New Jersey - World number one Luke Donald is gearing up for a final 2011 push as the FedExCup playoffs begin Thursday at The Barclays with the Briton aiming to reign over both the U.S. and European tours.
Donald, who leads both tours in earnings as he masterfully juggles memberships on the two circuits, begins his campaign at Plainfield Country Club for the season-ending playoffs title and its $10 million bonus.
Should the 33-year-old Englishman maintain his brilliant consistency, he could achieve a unique double by becoming the first to be the top winner on both tours in the same season. Donald also leads the standings for the season-ending Race To Dubai on the European PGA.
"I feel like I have a lot to play for," Donald told reporters on Tuesday. "I've had a great year so far, very consistent."
Donald has three wins this season, including two on the European Tour along with the WGC-Accenture Match Play title, and has posted 10 top-10 finishes from 13 U.S. events This week's opener of the four-event FedExCup series, was open to the top 125 players in the playoffs standings.
"I feel like I like to play against the best players. I think it elevates my game," said Donald, who will tee off in the first round with Phil Mickelson and U.S. PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley.
Donald said he was not driven by riches, but rather by the hardware that symbolizes success at the highest level.
"I'm more concerned with winning The Race to Dubai and the FedExCup," said Donald, who ranks fourth in the FedExCup standings.
"Winning trophies rather than the title of being leading money winner is much more important to me. I'm obviously in a position where I have a great chance."
The top 100 players in the points list qualify for the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston, with the leading 70 players there moving on to the BMW Championship. The top 30 qualify for the Tour Championship finale.
Donald said he was determined to finish strong.
"Certainly it's a motivating factor," he said. "I've been working very hard the past week, and you know, it's nice to have certain things to chase after and focus (on) and it makes everything a little bit more meaningful."
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Don't expect much from our Canucks at this week's CN Canadian Womens Open
Were you wondering what chance we have of watching our first Canadian winner since Jocelyne Bourassa in 1973 at our women's national championship, the CN Canadian Women's Open at the Hillsdale Golf & Country Club ,Mirabel, Quebec, Par 72,Yardage - 6604.. ??
I wish I had good news for you..
There are 17 Canucks in the field by my count, the world's top 50 are here and Michelle Wie won last year in Winnipeg. We have 6 women playing on the LPGA tour regularly, and folks the best finish I can report is Alena Sharp's T9...
While the LPGA tour is certainly dominated by International players, Canada is not among them.. click here for this week's Rolex Rankings http://www.lpga.com/content/RolexRankings-8-22-2011.pdf
Our highest ranked player, Alena Sharp is 138th
Of the top 20... Yani Tseng is from Taipei at #1, Suzann Pettersen of Norway is #2, there are 6 Koreans, 3 Japanese, 1 Aussie, 1 Swede and 7 from the USA
Gory details..
Lorie Kane has 0 T10's in 8 starts, her best finish T23, ranked 227
Lisa Meldrum has 0 T10's in 7 starts, has MC in 5 of them, ranked 400
Alena Sharp 1 T10 in 13 starts (T9 at Sybase Match Play)has MC 5 times, ranked 138
Jessica Shepley 0 T10's in 6 starts, her best finish T53...ranked 335
Samantha Richdale 0 T10's in 7 starts, has MC 5/7 ranked 341
Stephanie Sherlock 0 T10's in 9 starts, has MC 5/9, ranked 344
Adrienne White has only 1 start last week where she MC..ranked 569
It was not my intention here to critique each player and to be honest while I follow them every week, until we get some of these women turning their glittering amateur careers at home into success on the pro circuit, there is not much to say although Lorie won a Legends Tour event by shooting 65 at the Wendy’s Charity Challenge in Michigan, two weeks ago..
Over the years on our Fairways golf show I have talked with our resident coach Sean Foley who has developed so many of our fine amateur women at his Core Golf Academy and the fact of the matter is we don't have a huge pool of girls playing golf to choose from.
So, best to cheer them on, and enjoy what is always one of the best events on the LPGA schedule, it all starts on Thursday and I will be covering it and all the rest with you right here..
The list of Canadians... Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont.; Lorie Kane of Charlottetown, P.E.I.; Stephanie Sherlock of Barrie, Ont.; Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C.; Lisa Meldrum of Montreal; Isabelle Beisiegel of Sainte Hilaire, Que.; Adrienne White of Red Deer, Alta., Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont., Kirby Dreher of Fort St. John, B.C., Danielle Mills of Pointe-Claire, Que.; Sara Maude Juneau of Fossambault, Que; and Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que.; as well as Team Canada members Jessica Wallace of Langley, B.C.; Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto; Nicole Vandermade of Brantford, Ont.; Augusta James of Bath, Ont.; and Jisoo Keel of Coquitlam, B.C
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
I wish I had good news for you..
There are 17 Canucks in the field by my count, the world's top 50 are here and Michelle Wie won last year in Winnipeg. We have 6 women playing on the LPGA tour regularly, and folks the best finish I can report is Alena Sharp's T9...
While the LPGA tour is certainly dominated by International players, Canada is not among them.. click here for this week's Rolex Rankings http://www.lpga.com/content/RolexRankings-8-22-2011.pdf
Our highest ranked player, Alena Sharp is 138th
Of the top 20... Yani Tseng is from Taipei at #1, Suzann Pettersen of Norway is #2, there are 6 Koreans, 3 Japanese, 1 Aussie, 1 Swede and 7 from the USA
Gory details..
Lorie Kane has 0 T10's in 8 starts, her best finish T23, ranked 227
Lisa Meldrum has 0 T10's in 7 starts, has MC in 5 of them, ranked 400
Alena Sharp 1 T10 in 13 starts (T9 at Sybase Match Play)has MC 5 times, ranked 138
Jessica Shepley 0 T10's in 6 starts, her best finish T53...ranked 335
Samantha Richdale 0 T10's in 7 starts, has MC 5/7 ranked 341
Stephanie Sherlock 0 T10's in 9 starts, has MC 5/9, ranked 344
Adrienne White has only 1 start last week where she MC..ranked 569
It was not my intention here to critique each player and to be honest while I follow them every week, until we get some of these women turning their glittering amateur careers at home into success on the pro circuit, there is not much to say although Lorie won a Legends Tour event by shooting 65 at the Wendy’s Charity Challenge in Michigan, two weeks ago..
Over the years on our Fairways golf show I have talked with our resident coach Sean Foley who has developed so many of our fine amateur women at his Core Golf Academy and the fact of the matter is we don't have a huge pool of girls playing golf to choose from.
So, best to cheer them on, and enjoy what is always one of the best events on the LPGA schedule, it all starts on Thursday and I will be covering it and all the rest with you right here..
The list of Canadians... Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont.; Lorie Kane of Charlottetown, P.E.I.; Stephanie Sherlock of Barrie, Ont.; Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C.; Lisa Meldrum of Montreal; Isabelle Beisiegel of Sainte Hilaire, Que.; Adrienne White of Red Deer, Alta., Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont., Kirby Dreher of Fort St. John, B.C., Danielle Mills of Pointe-Claire, Que.; Sara Maude Juneau of Fossambault, Que; and Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que.; as well as Team Canada members Jessica Wallace of Langley, B.C.; Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto; Nicole Vandermade of Brantford, Ont.; Augusta James of Bath, Ont.; and Jisoo Keel of Coquitlam, B.C
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Final round underway at Czech Open as Fisher and O'Hara lead
England’s Oliver Fisher and Scotland’s Steven O’Hara moved two clear of the field after three rounds of the Czech Open at Prosper Golf Resort.
O’Hara charged from outside the top ten at the start of the day with a sparkling 65 to -10, where he was joined late in the day by Fisher, who signed for a 68.
The pair were two clear of halfway leader Mikael Lundberg, last year’s runner-up Gary Boyd and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, who signed for a best-of-the-day 64.
For a current leaderboard click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011059/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
O’Hara charged from outside the top ten at the start of the day with a sparkling 65 to -10, where he was joined late in the day by Fisher, who signed for a 68.
The pair were two clear of halfway leader Mikael Lundberg, last year’s runner-up Gary Boyd and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, who signed for a best-of-the-day 64.
For a current leaderboard click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011059/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Saturday, August 20, 2011
The stage is set for the weekend
John Daly chipping in on his final hole to make the cut on the number was just one of many dramatic stories at the Wyndham Championship on Friday as players hopes of making the playoffs for the FedEx Cup came true or were shattered.
Meanwhile there is a packed leaderboard at the Czech Open where the players had to complete round 2 this morning,with round 3 just getting underway, I have news of our Canadians at the LPGA's Safeway Classic in Oregon and on the Nationwide Tour in Kansas City and of course on the Champions Tour where Freddie Couples leads the Senior Players Championship.
European Tour
Mikeal Lundberg birdied his closing hole this morning to establish a one-shot lead at the midway stage of the Czech Open. Having bogeyed the sixth hole – his 14th – in fast-fading light on Friday evening to drop back to -7, the Swede returned to Prosper Golf Resort in Čeladná, the Czech Republic, earlier today.
Lundberg who has been relegated to the Challenge tour, made a birdie putt from 15 feet on his last hole (9th) to finish on -8 to carry a one stroke lead over Spaniard José-Manuel Lara into the third round, which is just underway at 4.30am EST.
Lundberg said: “My season so far has been really poor, so I’m very happy to find some form here this week. I changed coaches last week, we made a few changes, and the swing already feels a lot better. Sometimes when you make changes it takes a while to get used to them, but the changes we made felt good straight away. It’s still not 100 per cent, but we’re getting a lot closer now. My putting has also improved, so hopefully I can keep it going over the weekend.”
Lara (68) is 2nd at -7 , and two Englishmen, Gary Boyd (67) and Oliver Wilson (67) are 3rd at -6 alongside Ireland’s Damien McGrane (71).
Current scoreboard click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011059/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
PGA Tour
While a very unorthodox but talented Tommy Gainey has stretched his lead to 3 shots at -12 after his 66 yesterday, it is the story of who made the cut and who didn't that is most compelling to me..
Camilo Villegas started the week at 125 but moved up 8 spots with his 64 yesterday to make the cut. Ernie Els was the big mover and a late entry with his 66 which has him T2 at -9 and a jump of 38 spots from 126th in the Fed Ex race. Remember Ernie was ranked #1 heading into these playoffs last year, and this year he doesn't even have a top 10..
Then there are those heading the other way like Matt Jones from Australia who has fallen to 129th at -2, and defending champion Arjn Atwal who has MC (73,72) to continue his poor season (MC 5 of his last 7 outings) and now has to sit nervously all weekend to see if he squeaks in.
There are story lines with nearly every golfer, for example Paul Casey 65,67 is T6 at -8 and projected to now finish at 123rd with it all to play for this weekend.
All our guys MC and only David Hearn is poised to make the playoffs
CUT 118 David Hearn 69 72 141
CUT 218 Chris Baryla 69 71 140
CUT 146 Matt McQuillan 69 70
For a full scoreboard and projections click http://www.pgatour.com/r/leaderboard/
Champions Tour
Freddie Couples (66) has a 1 shot lead after 2 rounds of the Senior Players Championship, the Champions Tour's final major of the season at this hilly Westchester GC in New York state.
He's at -8 playing in his first event since undergoing non-traditional back treatment six weeks ago in Germany and for the life of me I can't find much info on it except it involves some blood work, massage and manipulation.
Peter Senior (69) is 2nd at -7 and Corey Pavin (69) is 3rd at -6. John Cook (68) is 4th at -5 one stroke ahead of defending champion Mark O'Meara (70) is at -4 along with first-round leader Jeff Sluman (73) and Morris Hatalsky (67).
Canucks Jim Rutledge T43 74,71 and Rod Spittle T57 74,73..
For the full scoreboard click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/s507/
Nationwide Tour
This is not being televised so here is part of the Joe Chemycz report from Kansas City
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- The Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate is not putting up much of a defense in this week's Midwest Classic and the Nationwide Tour pros are taking full advantage of the wide fairways and soft greens. The scoreboard is awash in red ink and personal bests are being set at a torrid pace.
Australia's James Nitties and two-time winner J.J. Killeen share the 36-hole lead with 14-under 128 totals. Nitties carded a career-best 63 in Friday's second round to take the morning lead. Killeen, looking for his third win in four weeks, added an afternoon 6-under 65 to his opening 63 to grab a piece of first place.
Brian Vranesh, who set a career-best with his 63 on Thursday, shot a 67 and holds down third place at 12-under, two back of the co-leader. Veteran Scott Dunlap was on "59 watch" during his back nine but settled for an 11-under 60 when he rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt on his final hole. Dunlap's career-low score came in his 239th start and his 712th round on Tour. He is at 11-under 131 and tied for fourth with Nick Flanagan (63), Troy Kelly (64), Jason Kokrak (66) and Monday qualifier Chris Thompson (67).
Canucks Richard T Lee 65,68 -9 T15 and Bryan DeCorso 66,69 -7 T32
Full scoreboard click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/h100/
LPGA tour
2010 Vare Trophy winner and Rolex Rankings No. 5 Na Yeon Choi fired a 6-under 65 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Safeway Classic.
Choi got off to a hot start in her round. After making a birdie on the second hole, she recorded seven consecutive birdies from No. 5-11 on the Ghost Creek Course at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club to get to eight-under par to drop to 6-under. Choi remained there until the 18th hole when she three-putted for a double bogey. Despite the blip at the end of her round, Choi leads Grace Park by two shots heading into today
Canucks T26 at +1 72, Alena Sharp, Lori Kane and Lisa Meldrum, T46 +2 Jessica Shepley and Stephanie Sherlock, T62 +3 Adrienne White.
Full scoreboard click http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Meanwhile there is a packed leaderboard at the Czech Open where the players had to complete round 2 this morning,with round 3 just getting underway, I have news of our Canadians at the LPGA's Safeway Classic in Oregon and on the Nationwide Tour in Kansas City and of course on the Champions Tour where Freddie Couples leads the Senior Players Championship.
European Tour
Mikeal Lundberg birdied his closing hole this morning to establish a one-shot lead at the midway stage of the Czech Open. Having bogeyed the sixth hole – his 14th – in fast-fading light on Friday evening to drop back to -7, the Swede returned to Prosper Golf Resort in Čeladná, the Czech Republic, earlier today.
Lundberg who has been relegated to the Challenge tour, made a birdie putt from 15 feet on his last hole (9th) to finish on -8 to carry a one stroke lead over Spaniard José-Manuel Lara into the third round, which is just underway at 4.30am EST.
Lundberg said: “My season so far has been really poor, so I’m very happy to find some form here this week. I changed coaches last week, we made a few changes, and the swing already feels a lot better. Sometimes when you make changes it takes a while to get used to them, but the changes we made felt good straight away. It’s still not 100 per cent, but we’re getting a lot closer now. My putting has also improved, so hopefully I can keep it going over the weekend.”
Lara (68) is 2nd at -7 , and two Englishmen, Gary Boyd (67) and Oliver Wilson (67) are 3rd at -6 alongside Ireland’s Damien McGrane (71).
Current scoreboard click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011059/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
PGA Tour
While a very unorthodox but talented Tommy Gainey has stretched his lead to 3 shots at -12 after his 66 yesterday, it is the story of who made the cut and who didn't that is most compelling to me..
Camilo Villegas started the week at 125 but moved up 8 spots with his 64 yesterday to make the cut. Ernie Els was the big mover and a late entry with his 66 which has him T2 at -9 and a jump of 38 spots from 126th in the Fed Ex race. Remember Ernie was ranked #1 heading into these playoffs last year, and this year he doesn't even have a top 10..
Then there are those heading the other way like Matt Jones from Australia who has fallen to 129th at -2, and defending champion Arjn Atwal who has MC (73,72) to continue his poor season (MC 5 of his last 7 outings) and now has to sit nervously all weekend to see if he squeaks in.
There are story lines with nearly every golfer, for example Paul Casey 65,67 is T6 at -8 and projected to now finish at 123rd with it all to play for this weekend.
All our guys MC and only David Hearn is poised to make the playoffs
CUT 118 David Hearn 69 72 141
CUT 218 Chris Baryla 69 71 140
CUT 146 Matt McQuillan 69 70
For a full scoreboard and projections click http://www.pgatour.com/r/leaderboard/
Champions Tour
Freddie Couples (66) has a 1 shot lead after 2 rounds of the Senior Players Championship, the Champions Tour's final major of the season at this hilly Westchester GC in New York state.
He's at -8 playing in his first event since undergoing non-traditional back treatment six weeks ago in Germany and for the life of me I can't find much info on it except it involves some blood work, massage and manipulation.
Peter Senior (69) is 2nd at -7 and Corey Pavin (69) is 3rd at -6. John Cook (68) is 4th at -5 one stroke ahead of defending champion Mark O'Meara (70) is at -4 along with first-round leader Jeff Sluman (73) and Morris Hatalsky (67).
Canucks Jim Rutledge T43 74,71 and Rod Spittle T57 74,73..
For the full scoreboard click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/s507/
Nationwide Tour
This is not being televised so here is part of the Joe Chemycz report from Kansas City
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- The Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate is not putting up much of a defense in this week's Midwest Classic and the Nationwide Tour pros are taking full advantage of the wide fairways and soft greens. The scoreboard is awash in red ink and personal bests are being set at a torrid pace.
Australia's James Nitties and two-time winner J.J. Killeen share the 36-hole lead with 14-under 128 totals. Nitties carded a career-best 63 in Friday's second round to take the morning lead. Killeen, looking for his third win in four weeks, added an afternoon 6-under 65 to his opening 63 to grab a piece of first place.
Brian Vranesh, who set a career-best with his 63 on Thursday, shot a 67 and holds down third place at 12-under, two back of the co-leader. Veteran Scott Dunlap was on "59 watch" during his back nine but settled for an 11-under 60 when he rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt on his final hole. Dunlap's career-low score came in his 239th start and his 712th round on Tour. He is at 11-under 131 and tied for fourth with Nick Flanagan (63), Troy Kelly (64), Jason Kokrak (66) and Monday qualifier Chris Thompson (67).
Canucks Richard T Lee 65,68 -9 T15 and Bryan DeCorso 66,69 -7 T32
Full scoreboard click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/h100/
LPGA tour
2010 Vare Trophy winner and Rolex Rankings No. 5 Na Yeon Choi fired a 6-under 65 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Safeway Classic.
Choi got off to a hot start in her round. After making a birdie on the second hole, she recorded seven consecutive birdies from No. 5-11 on the Ghost Creek Course at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club to get to eight-under par to drop to 6-under. Choi remained there until the 18th hole when she three-putted for a double bogey. Despite the blip at the end of her round, Choi leads Grace Park by two shots heading into today
Canucks T26 at +1 72, Alena Sharp, Lori Kane and Lisa Meldrum, T46 +2 Jessica Shepley and Stephanie Sherlock, T62 +3 Adrienne White.
Full scoreboard click http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Friday, August 19, 2011
Round 2's well underway... update..
Here is an update on the Canadian, Nationwide and European Tours.. The LPGA Safeway Classic gets underway today.
Canadian Tour First Round Leaderboard
James Allenby, Burnaby, BC 63 (-7)
Joel Dahmen, Clarkston, WA 63 (-7)
Darren Griff, Nanaimo, BC 64 (-6)
Brad Fritsch, Ottawa, ON 64 (-6)
Hugo Leon, Chile 64 (-6)
Dustin Risdon, Strathmore, AB 64 (-6) 7 Players tied at 65 (-5)
Canadian James Allenby matched American Joel Dahmen with a -7 63 to share the first round lead at the Seaforth Country Classic
Adam Hadwin had the lead for a while, but ended up at -3 67 and will have some work to do in the second round in order to catch the leaders which happens to be a who's who of Canadian Tour members. Brad Fritsch, Hugo Leon, Dustin Risdon and Darren Griff all sit one shot off the lead at 6-under-par while seven players are two shots back at 5-under-par. Amongst the group at 5-under includes Canadian Tour stalwart Wes Heffernan as well as Liam Kendregan and Garrett Frank who have both been lingering near the top of leaderboards in recent weeks on the Canadian Tour.
Nationwide Tour
Good news here with Canuck Richard T Lee (65) just 2 shots off the lead and Bryan DeCorso (66) just 3 back Here is a brief report from the course..
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. --J.J. Killeen , Nicholas Thompson, Travis Hampshire and Brian Vranesh all posted 8-under 63s and share the first-round lead at the Midwest Classic in suburban Kansas City.
Monday qualifiers Will Dodson and Chris Thompson shot 7-under 64s at the Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate and are tied for fifh place after the opening day.
Jin Park, James Sacheck, Richard T. Lee, Won Joon Lee, Scott Weatherly, Jason Kokrak, Aaron Goldberg, James Nitties and Brock Mackenzie are piled together at 6-under 65 and only two off the pace.
Play in underway in round 2..
European Tour
Play is well underway despite a 90 minute rain delay at the Czech Open where the beer is very good, but the field is, well, mediocre with Euro tour members scattered all over the globe following the PGA Championship last week.
Ryder Cup Vice Captain Paul McGinley returned to form in spectacular style to set the clubhouse target midway through the second round of the Czech Open at Prosper Golf Resort at -4
On a leaderboard overwhelmed by Irish green – they occupied four of the top five positions – it was McGinley who held the clubhouse lead following a one under par 71.
The 44 year old – whose last win came six years ago – registered three birdies in windy conditions but two bogeys in his last three holes prevented a more significant lead.
For an up to date scoreboard click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011059/leaderboard/index.html
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Canadian Tour First Round Leaderboard
James Allenby, Burnaby, BC 63 (-7)
Joel Dahmen, Clarkston, WA 63 (-7)
Darren Griff, Nanaimo, BC 64 (-6)
Brad Fritsch, Ottawa, ON 64 (-6)
Hugo Leon, Chile 64 (-6)
Dustin Risdon, Strathmore, AB 64 (-6) 7 Players tied at 65 (-5)
Canadian James Allenby matched American Joel Dahmen with a -7 63 to share the first round lead at the Seaforth Country Classic
Adam Hadwin had the lead for a while, but ended up at -3 67 and will have some work to do in the second round in order to catch the leaders which happens to be a who's who of Canadian Tour members. Brad Fritsch, Hugo Leon, Dustin Risdon and Darren Griff all sit one shot off the lead at 6-under-par while seven players are two shots back at 5-under-par. Amongst the group at 5-under includes Canadian Tour stalwart Wes Heffernan as well as Liam Kendregan and Garrett Frank who have both been lingering near the top of leaderboards in recent weeks on the Canadian Tour.
Nationwide Tour
Good news here with Canuck Richard T Lee (65) just 2 shots off the lead and Bryan DeCorso (66) just 3 back Here is a brief report from the course..
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. --J.J. Killeen , Nicholas Thompson, Travis Hampshire and Brian Vranesh all posted 8-under 63s and share the first-round lead at the Midwest Classic in suburban Kansas City.
Monday qualifiers Will Dodson and Chris Thompson shot 7-under 64s at the Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate and are tied for fifh place after the opening day.
Jin Park, James Sacheck, Richard T. Lee, Won Joon Lee, Scott Weatherly, Jason Kokrak, Aaron Goldberg, James Nitties and Brock Mackenzie are piled together at 6-under 65 and only two off the pace.
Play in underway in round 2..
European Tour
Play is well underway despite a 90 minute rain delay at the Czech Open where the beer is very good, but the field is, well, mediocre with Euro tour members scattered all over the globe following the PGA Championship last week.
Ryder Cup Vice Captain Paul McGinley returned to form in spectacular style to set the clubhouse target midway through the second round of the Czech Open at Prosper Golf Resort at -4
On a leaderboard overwhelmed by Irish green – they occupied four of the top five positions – it was McGinley who held the clubhouse lead following a one under par 71.
The 44 year old – whose last win came six years ago – registered three birdies in windy conditions but two bogeys in his last three holes prevented a more significant lead.
For an up to date scoreboard click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011059/leaderboard/index.html
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Sluman leads the Seniors, Quinney and Tommy "2 gloves" at the Wyndham
Champions Tour
I was reminded how hilly and tree lined this Westchester CC course is watching the old guys play this last major and remember, they all played here for years when it was the Westchester Classic on the PGA tour.
At the end of the day, Jeff Sluman shot -6 65 to take a one-stroke lead .He had seven birdies and a bogey, including a 45 foot birdie followed by a 25 foot chip in at 12 and 13, so you know it was his day. Gary Hallberg and Peter Senior are a shot back with 66s.
Jay Haas, the 2009 winner, and Corey Pavin and Michael Allen shot 67, and Fred Couples, defending champion Mark O'Meara and Tommy Armour III had 68s
Rod Spittle and Jim Rutledge are both T57 at +3 74
Full leaderboard click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/s507/
Today's tee times click http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/s507/tee-times.html
PGA Tour
This Wyndham Championship used to be called the Greater Greensboro when Sam Snead won it 8 times. Now it is the scene of guys who are outside the top 125 trying to get into the PGA playoffs which start next week
Jeff Quinney and Tommy Gainey shot -7 63s to share the lead. Quinney arrived in 215th place in the FedExCup standings. A win -- and the 500 points that accompany it -- would put him in The Barclays
Stuart Appleby had a 64. Ten players -- Paul Casey, Carl Pettersson, Ernie Els, Jason Bohn, Jimmy Walker, Tim Herron, Lee Janzen, Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh and George McNeill -- shot 65s during another low-scoring day at Sedgefield Country Club.
Els is at 126 in the standings.
Canadian scores
T67 116 David Hearn -1 F* -1 info 69 69
T67 218 Chris Baryla -1 F* -1 info 69 69
T67 146 Matt McQuillan -1 F -1 info 69 69
full leaderboard click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r013/
today's tee times click http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r013/tee-times.html
A round up of the European, Nationwide, LPGA and Canadian tours to follow, but I have to go to Ajax right now for a sponsored walk along the Lake Ontario pathway. It's perfect for it right now before this heat and humidity arrive.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
.
I was reminded how hilly and tree lined this Westchester CC course is watching the old guys play this last major and remember, they all played here for years when it was the Westchester Classic on the PGA tour.
At the end of the day, Jeff Sluman shot -6 65 to take a one-stroke lead .He had seven birdies and a bogey, including a 45 foot birdie followed by a 25 foot chip in at 12 and 13, so you know it was his day. Gary Hallberg and Peter Senior are a shot back with 66s.
Jay Haas, the 2009 winner, and Corey Pavin and Michael Allen shot 67, and Fred Couples, defending champion Mark O'Meara and Tommy Armour III had 68s
Rod Spittle and Jim Rutledge are both T57 at +3 74
Full leaderboard click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/s507/
Today's tee times click http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/s507/tee-times.html
PGA Tour
This Wyndham Championship used to be called the Greater Greensboro when Sam Snead won it 8 times. Now it is the scene of guys who are outside the top 125 trying to get into the PGA playoffs which start next week
Jeff Quinney and Tommy Gainey shot -7 63s to share the lead. Quinney arrived in 215th place in the FedExCup standings. A win -- and the 500 points that accompany it -- would put him in The Barclays
Stuart Appleby had a 64. Ten players -- Paul Casey, Carl Pettersson, Ernie Els, Jason Bohn, Jimmy Walker, Tim Herron, Lee Janzen, Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh and George McNeill -- shot 65s during another low-scoring day at Sedgefield Country Club.
Els is at 126 in the standings.
Canadian scores
T67 116 David Hearn -1 F* -1 info 69 69
T67 218 Chris Baryla -1 F* -1 info 69 69
T67 146 Matt McQuillan -1 F -1 info 69 69
full leaderboard click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r013/
today's tee times click http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r013/tee-times.html
A round up of the European, Nationwide, LPGA and Canadian tours to follow, but I have to go to Ajax right now for a sponsored walk along the Lake Ontario pathway. It's perfect for it right now before this heat and humidity arrive.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Lot's at stake this week in golf.. (all tee times listed)
For many casual fans the golf season ended with last week's Keegan Bradley win at the PGA, no let me rephrase.. it ended when Tiger missed the cut.
In fact there is a lot at stake this week, including the final major of the year on the Champions Tour and a place in the Fed Ex Cup for guys outside the top 125 on the PGA tour. Also it's the final week to earn a spot in the Solheim Cup for the gals on the LPGA tour.
By the way I heard a young man on the Score this week, who usually is limited to voicing over the highlight packages, and he does an entertaining job of those. However for whatever reason he decided to write and voice 2 minutes on the future of pro golf without Tiger, which was so far off base that I took this minute to mention it. He ended up saying and I paraphrase.. " without Tiger we can all get used to year's of boring golf ahead"
Rory, Ryo, Rickie, Matteo, 26 winners under the age of 30, Yani Tseng, the Ryder Cup....
C'mon kid, whoever you are... stick to your highlight packages..
PGA Tour
Wyndham Championship (used to be the Greensboro Open)
Site: Greensboro, N.C.
Course: Sedgefield Country Club (7,117 yards, par 70).
Purse: $5.2 million. Winner's share: $926,000.
Canucks.. Hearn, Baryla, McQuillan
Tee times http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r013/tee-times.html
Last year:Arjun Atwal became the first Monday qualifier to win on the PGA Tour in 24 years and the first Indian-born champion. David Toms was second.
Notes: The tournament ends the points race for spots in the FedEx Cup playoffs, the four-event series that starts next week with The Barclays at Plainfield in Edison, N.J. The top 125 players will be eligible for the opener. Camilo Villegas is No. 125. Ernie Els (126th), Padraig Harrington (130th), Paul Casey (147th) and Angel Cabrera (150th) are trying to move into playoff spots. … Dufner is in the field. … Sweden's Carl Pettersson won the 2008 tournament in his adopted hometown. … The event returned to Sedgefield in 2008 after 31 years at Forest Oaks. …Sam Snead won the tournament a tour-record eight times from 1938-65. His 1965 victory made him the tour's oldest winner at 52 years, 10 months, 8 days.
LPGA
Safeway Classic
Site: North Plains, Ore.
Course: Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Ghost Creek Golf Course (6,512 yards, par 71).
Purse: $1.5 million. Winner's share: $225,000.
Canucks : Kane, Shepley, Meldrum, Sharp, Richdale, White, Sherlock
Tee times: TBA
Last year: Ai Miyazato won the last of her five 2010 titles, beating Cristie Kerr and Na Yeon Choi by two strokes.
Notes: The tournament ends the points race for the 10 automatic spots on the U.S. Solheim Cup team for the Sept. 23-25 matches against Europe at Killeen Castle in Ireland. The top nine players in the standings — Kerr, Morgan Pressel, Stacy Lewis, Angela Stanford, Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie, Brittany Lincicome, Lang and Juli Inkster— have locked up spots. Christina Kim is No. 10, followed by Katie Futcher, Kristy McPherson and Vicky Hurst. Rosie Jones will add two captain's picks. … The tournament is in its third year at Pumpkin Ridge after 18 at Columbia Egdewater in Portland. The Canadian Women's Open is next week at Hillsdale in Mirabel, Quebec.
Champions Tour
Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship
Site: Harrison, N.Y.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Course:Westchester Country Club, West Course (6,980 yards, par 70).
Purse: $2.7 million. Winner's share: $405,000.
Canucks ; Rod Spittle, Jim Rutledge
Tee times: http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/s507/tee-times.html
Last year: Mark O'Meara won at TPC Potomac in Maryland for his first individual victory on the Champions Tour, beating Michael Allen on the first hole of a playoff.
Notes: The tournament is the final senior major of the year. Lehman won the Regions Tradition, Tom Watson the Senior PGA Championship, Russ Cochran the Senior British Open and Olin Browne the U.S. Senior Open. … Westchester Country Club was the site of a PGA Tour event from 1963-2007.
Nationwide Tour
Midwest Classic
Site: Overland Park, Kan.
Course: Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate (7,237 yards, par 71)
Purse: $550,000. Winner's share: $99,000.
Canucks: Lee, DeCorso
Tee times : http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/h100/tee-times.html
Last year: No event. In 2009, Australia's Michael Sim earned a PGA Tour promotion with his third victory of the year, winning at Lionsgate.
Notes: Two-time heart transplant recipient Erik Compton is in the field. The Mexico Open winner in June, Compton was diagnosed at age 9 with cardiomyopathy, an enlarging of the heart that hinders its ability to pump blood. Three years later in 1992, he received a new heart. That one failed in 2008, and he had another transplant. He's fifth on the money list with $218,464, more than enough to earn a 2012 PGA Tour card as a top-25 finisher.
http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/h100/tee-times.html
European Tour
Czech Open
Site: Celadna, Czech Republic.
Course: Prosper Golf Resort (7,452 yards, par 72).
Purse: $2.16 million. Winner's share: $360,000.
Tee times : http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011059/teetimes/index.html
Last year: Sweden's Peter Hanson won with an 18-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a playoff with England's Gary Boyd and Ireland's Peter Lawrie.
Notes: Spanish star Miguel Angel Jimenez co-designed the course. He's coming off a 64th-place tie last week in the PGA Championship. All the top European guys were in Atlanta last week finishing off their few weeks in the States, and apart from the US based guys like Poulter and Casey and a few others like Els who need Fed Ex points, most have gone home. Shame because the beer is really good here !!
Canadian Tour
Seaforth Country Classic
Seaforth Golf Club, Seaforth, Ontario
Purse : $100,000
Adam Hadwin is back from his stint on the Pga tour and is in this field.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
(notes from AP)
In fact there is a lot at stake this week, including the final major of the year on the Champions Tour and a place in the Fed Ex Cup for guys outside the top 125 on the PGA tour. Also it's the final week to earn a spot in the Solheim Cup for the gals on the LPGA tour.
By the way I heard a young man on the Score this week, who usually is limited to voicing over the highlight packages, and he does an entertaining job of those. However for whatever reason he decided to write and voice 2 minutes on the future of pro golf without Tiger, which was so far off base that I took this minute to mention it. He ended up saying and I paraphrase.. " without Tiger we can all get used to year's of boring golf ahead"
Rory, Ryo, Rickie, Matteo, 26 winners under the age of 30, Yani Tseng, the Ryder Cup....
C'mon kid, whoever you are... stick to your highlight packages..
PGA Tour
Wyndham Championship (used to be the Greensboro Open)
Site: Greensboro, N.C.
Course: Sedgefield Country Club (7,117 yards, par 70).
Purse: $5.2 million. Winner's share: $926,000.
Canucks.. Hearn, Baryla, McQuillan
Tee times http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r013/tee-times.html
Last year:Arjun Atwal became the first Monday qualifier to win on the PGA Tour in 24 years and the first Indian-born champion. David Toms was second.
Notes: The tournament ends the points race for spots in the FedEx Cup playoffs, the four-event series that starts next week with The Barclays at Plainfield in Edison, N.J. The top 125 players will be eligible for the opener. Camilo Villegas is No. 125. Ernie Els (126th), Padraig Harrington (130th), Paul Casey (147th) and Angel Cabrera (150th) are trying to move into playoff spots. … Dufner is in the field. … Sweden's Carl Pettersson won the 2008 tournament in his adopted hometown. … The event returned to Sedgefield in 2008 after 31 years at Forest Oaks. …Sam Snead won the tournament a tour-record eight times from 1938-65. His 1965 victory made him the tour's oldest winner at 52 years, 10 months, 8 days.
LPGA
Safeway Classic
Site: North Plains, Ore.
Course: Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Ghost Creek Golf Course (6,512 yards, par 71).
Purse: $1.5 million. Winner's share: $225,000.
Canucks : Kane, Shepley, Meldrum, Sharp, Richdale, White, Sherlock
Tee times: TBA
Last year: Ai Miyazato won the last of her five 2010 titles, beating Cristie Kerr and Na Yeon Choi by two strokes.
Notes: The tournament ends the points race for the 10 automatic spots on the U.S. Solheim Cup team for the Sept. 23-25 matches against Europe at Killeen Castle in Ireland. The top nine players in the standings — Kerr, Morgan Pressel, Stacy Lewis, Angela Stanford, Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie, Brittany Lincicome, Lang and Juli Inkster— have locked up spots. Christina Kim is No. 10, followed by Katie Futcher, Kristy McPherson and Vicky Hurst. Rosie Jones will add two captain's picks. … The tournament is in its third year at Pumpkin Ridge after 18 at Columbia Egdewater in Portland. The Canadian Women's Open is next week at Hillsdale in Mirabel, Quebec.
Champions Tour
Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship
Site: Harrison, N.Y.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Course:Westchester Country Club, West Course (6,980 yards, par 70).
Purse: $2.7 million. Winner's share: $405,000.
Canucks ; Rod Spittle, Jim Rutledge
Tee times: http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/s507/tee-times.html
Last year: Mark O'Meara won at TPC Potomac in Maryland for his first individual victory on the Champions Tour, beating Michael Allen on the first hole of a playoff.
Notes: The tournament is the final senior major of the year. Lehman won the Regions Tradition, Tom Watson the Senior PGA Championship, Russ Cochran the Senior British Open and Olin Browne the U.S. Senior Open. … Westchester Country Club was the site of a PGA Tour event from 1963-2007.
Nationwide Tour
Midwest Classic
Site: Overland Park, Kan.
Course: Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate (7,237 yards, par 71)
Purse: $550,000. Winner's share: $99,000.
Canucks: Lee, DeCorso
Tee times : http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/h100/tee-times.html
Last year: No event. In 2009, Australia's Michael Sim earned a PGA Tour promotion with his third victory of the year, winning at Lionsgate.
Notes: Two-time heart transplant recipient Erik Compton is in the field. The Mexico Open winner in June, Compton was diagnosed at age 9 with cardiomyopathy, an enlarging of the heart that hinders its ability to pump blood. Three years later in 1992, he received a new heart. That one failed in 2008, and he had another transplant. He's fifth on the money list with $218,464, more than enough to earn a 2012 PGA Tour card as a top-25 finisher.
http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/h100/tee-times.html
European Tour
Czech Open
Site: Celadna, Czech Republic.
Course: Prosper Golf Resort (7,452 yards, par 72).
Purse: $2.16 million. Winner's share: $360,000.
Tee times : http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011059/teetimes/index.html
Last year: Sweden's Peter Hanson won with an 18-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a playoff with England's Gary Boyd and Ireland's Peter Lawrie.
Notes: Spanish star Miguel Angel Jimenez co-designed the course. He's coming off a 64th-place tie last week in the PGA Championship. All the top European guys were in Atlanta last week finishing off their few weeks in the States, and apart from the US based guys like Poulter and Casey and a few others like Els who need Fed Ex points, most have gone home. Shame because the beer is really good here !!
Canadian Tour
Seaforth Country Classic
Seaforth Golf Club, Seaforth, Ontario
Purse : $100,000
Adam Hadwin is back from his stint on the Pga tour and is in this field.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
(notes from AP)
Monday, August 15, 2011
Monday morning thoughts..
In no particular order, these thoughts on the weekend that just was, and remember I call this Fairwaysplus with the emphasis on the "plus" because in my life I have worked in and covered the whole gamut of sorts on both sides of the Atlantic..
* Keegan Bradley says the 2 shots he will remember from yesterday's playoff win were his drive 'the best of my life" on 16 after he had just tripled the par 3 15th, and of course the 40 foot birdie putt he made on 17..
* He also reports this morning that after he won his sister, little niece and mother just sat around the house he was staying in, staring at the Wannamaker trophy and taking pictures of it until he went to bed at 2am and just stared at it some more... How boring, and how badly does he have to meet Darren Clarke to learn how to celebrate the biggest win of your life..
* Without the collapse by Jason Dufner (up 5 shots with 4 to play) Keegan Bradley could not have won. Dufner led this field in GIR as he did at the Players and last year's US Open.. he should get another shot at a major...
* Of the 4 majors I enjoyed Darren's win at Sandwich in that wild weather the most, then Rory's perfect week at Congressional, then this exciting finish between Dufner and Bradley , then Charl's 4 hole charge to win the Masters after Rory's Final nine collapse
* Atlanta Athletic Club was in magnificent condition, a testament to the complete overhaul it has under gone to hybrid Bermuda grass. It looked perfect and green despite 100*F temperatures and humidity..
* Brett Lawrie has been a joy to watch since his arrival to spark the Blue Jays and their walk off win in the 10th yesterday after his double tied it in the 9th was great company as usual for me, as I was out for my 10k walk yesterday, and although he has been a colleague for the last 16 years, once again I will say, how lucky we are to have Jerry Howarth and now Alan Ashby to listen to on a daily basis.
* Several years ago when the WTA came up with the Big 9 or whatever they called it, 9 events that the players basically have to play, unless they have medical proof they are injured, we all here working the Rogers Cup said great, now all the big names will be here in Canada (Montreal or Toronto) as the Rogers Cup is one of the events on that list.
Well I have been the GM of the national tennis center in Edinburgh with full responsibility for organizing tennis at all levels including the Scottish Open the week before Wimbledon on my 6 grass courts and as a member of the LTA I got great insight into behind the scenes at Wimbledon... I can't prove this but it is obvious that there seems to be some unspoken agreement between the top players that they will show up so the organizers can get full value and sell out, but then 2 of them, this year it was Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic, will hang around for the full week.
To see Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray all bow out to opponents they will eat in 2 weeks at the US Open early this week was embarrassing, even if Novak is 53-1 this year, the other guys can't just save themselves for the big push at Flushing meadow, not to mention that with Maria Sharapova out along with Kim Clijsters (a genuine abdominal tear) and 3rd seed Vera Zvonareva, 4 of the top 10 seeds were gone in 1 day, the lack of any opposition to the powerhouse that is Serena Williams was ridiculous for a National championship.
Can't prove it as I say but it happens every week when there is a major just around the corner.. Let's watch and see who departs the scene early at Cincinnati this week...
* With the World Cup of Rugby coming up in New Zealand in 3 weeks Canada is in tough with the All Blacks and France in their group.
* Jays skipper John Farrell has received very little criticism so far in his tenure, in part to his genuine and willing acceptance of his responsibilities with the media, and he looked like a genius again this weekend sitting Bautista, Hill, and Colby Rasmos on Saturday before they went out and shellacked the best pitcher in baseball Jered Weaver 11-2, and how about the play under his watch of Edwin Encarnacion who has a 14 gamer going and has been a revelation at both 1st and 3rd..
*the job the city has done in rebuilding the huge Sunnyside swimming pool down on the Lakeshore is remarkable although I have not forgotten how late they were in re-opening last summer (end of August). I spent last week down in their neighbourhood running the boardwalk, and it is packed everyday, although I still don't know why the posse of lifeguards are instructed to kick everyone out at 3.45pm
* David Feherty has always been amusing, especially when he was playing, but I just know he is killing himself laughing, privately, when he thinks that finally at the age of 53, the suits that run the Golf Channel have given him his own show and all the perpetual re runs it is in already, just to talk and carry on the way he always has, as if he is some kind of newly discovered gem...
Bryan Angus also on twiiter@mummmbles
* Keegan Bradley says the 2 shots he will remember from yesterday's playoff win were his drive 'the best of my life" on 16 after he had just tripled the par 3 15th, and of course the 40 foot birdie putt he made on 17..
* He also reports this morning that after he won his sister, little niece and mother just sat around the house he was staying in, staring at the Wannamaker trophy and taking pictures of it until he went to bed at 2am and just stared at it some more... How boring, and how badly does he have to meet Darren Clarke to learn how to celebrate the biggest win of your life..
* Without the collapse by Jason Dufner (up 5 shots with 4 to play) Keegan Bradley could not have won. Dufner led this field in GIR as he did at the Players and last year's US Open.. he should get another shot at a major...
* Of the 4 majors I enjoyed Darren's win at Sandwich in that wild weather the most, then Rory's perfect week at Congressional, then this exciting finish between Dufner and Bradley , then Charl's 4 hole charge to win the Masters after Rory's Final nine collapse
* Atlanta Athletic Club was in magnificent condition, a testament to the complete overhaul it has under gone to hybrid Bermuda grass. It looked perfect and green despite 100*F temperatures and humidity..
* Brett Lawrie has been a joy to watch since his arrival to spark the Blue Jays and their walk off win in the 10th yesterday after his double tied it in the 9th was great company as usual for me, as I was out for my 10k walk yesterday, and although he has been a colleague for the last 16 years, once again I will say, how lucky we are to have Jerry Howarth and now Alan Ashby to listen to on a daily basis.
* Several years ago when the WTA came up with the Big 9 or whatever they called it, 9 events that the players basically have to play, unless they have medical proof they are injured, we all here working the Rogers Cup said great, now all the big names will be here in Canada (Montreal or Toronto) as the Rogers Cup is one of the events on that list.
Well I have been the GM of the national tennis center in Edinburgh with full responsibility for organizing tennis at all levels including the Scottish Open the week before Wimbledon on my 6 grass courts and as a member of the LTA I got great insight into behind the scenes at Wimbledon... I can't prove this but it is obvious that there seems to be some unspoken agreement between the top players that they will show up so the organizers can get full value and sell out, but then 2 of them, this year it was Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic, will hang around for the full week.
To see Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray all bow out to opponents they will eat in 2 weeks at the US Open early this week was embarrassing, even if Novak is 53-1 this year, the other guys can't just save themselves for the big push at Flushing meadow, not to mention that with Maria Sharapova out along with Kim Clijsters (a genuine abdominal tear) and 3rd seed Vera Zvonareva, 4 of the top 10 seeds were gone in 1 day, the lack of any opposition to the powerhouse that is Serena Williams was ridiculous for a National championship.
Can't prove it as I say but it happens every week when there is a major just around the corner.. Let's watch and see who departs the scene early at Cincinnati this week...
* With the World Cup of Rugby coming up in New Zealand in 3 weeks Canada is in tough with the All Blacks and France in their group.
* Jays skipper John Farrell has received very little criticism so far in his tenure, in part to his genuine and willing acceptance of his responsibilities with the media, and he looked like a genius again this weekend sitting Bautista, Hill, and Colby Rasmos on Saturday before they went out and shellacked the best pitcher in baseball Jered Weaver 11-2, and how about the play under his watch of Edwin Encarnacion who has a 14 gamer going and has been a revelation at both 1st and 3rd..
*the job the city has done in rebuilding the huge Sunnyside swimming pool down on the Lakeshore is remarkable although I have not forgotten how late they were in re-opening last summer (end of August). I spent last week down in their neighbourhood running the boardwalk, and it is packed everyday, although I still don't know why the posse of lifeguards are instructed to kick everyone out at 3.45pm
* David Feherty has always been amusing, especially when he was playing, but I just know he is killing himself laughing, privately, when he thinks that finally at the age of 53, the suits that run the Golf Channel have given him his own show and all the perpetual re runs it is in already, just to talk and carry on the way he always has, as if he is some kind of newly discovered gem...
Bryan Angus also on twiiter@mummmbles
Dufner stumbles on final 4 holes as Bradley takes the 93rd PGA Championship
Going into Sunday's play Jason Dufner (69) has played the brutal final 4 holes at the Atlanta Athletic Club better than anyone else in the field at -3.
As we all knew those holes would be the ultimate decider, and they were. Dufner made bogey on 15, 16 and 17 while Keegan Bradley (68) having tripled 15, birdied 16 then made a monster 50 footer for birdie on 17 to draw even and after pars at 18 forced the 3 hole playoff.
Bradley birdied 16 and when Dufner made bogey again on 17 the end was anti climatic, despite Dufner's brilliant birdie, Bradley 2 putted for par and the Wannamaker trophy will be a career maker for the young son of a golf pro and nephew of LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley.
My pick #1 Luke Donald (68), fell short of the win but had yet another top 10 at -3 as did #2 Lee Westwood (68).
Bradley becomes the first American, albeit an unlikely one, to win a major since Mickelson in 2010
Here is the final top 10 board
1 2 Keegan Bradley -8 F -2 71 64 69 68 272
2 1 Jason Dufner -8 F -1 70 65 68 69 272
3 3 Anders Hansen -7 F -4 68 69 70 66 273
T4 4 Robert Karlsson -5 F -3 70 71 67 67 275
T4 4 David Toms -5 F -3 72 71 65 67 275
T4 - Scott Verplank -5 F E 67 69 69 70 275
7 1 Adam Scott -4 F -2 69 69 70 68 276
T8 5 Lee Westwood -3 F -2 71 68 70 68 277
T8 5 Luke Donald -3 F -2 70 71 68 68 277
T10 20 Kevin Na -2 F -3 72 69 70 67 278
T10 4 D.A. Points -2 F +1 69 67 71 71 278
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
As we all knew those holes would be the ultimate decider, and they were. Dufner made bogey on 15, 16 and 17 while Keegan Bradley (68) having tripled 15, birdied 16 then made a monster 50 footer for birdie on 17 to draw even and after pars at 18 forced the 3 hole playoff.
Bradley birdied 16 and when Dufner made bogey again on 17 the end was anti climatic, despite Dufner's brilliant birdie, Bradley 2 putted for par and the Wannamaker trophy will be a career maker for the young son of a golf pro and nephew of LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley.
My pick #1 Luke Donald (68), fell short of the win but had yet another top 10 at -3 as did #2 Lee Westwood (68).
Bradley becomes the first American, albeit an unlikely one, to win a major since Mickelson in 2010
Here is the final top 10 board
1 2 Keegan Bradley -8 F -2 71 64 69 68 272
2 1 Jason Dufner -8 F -1 70 65 68 69 272
3 3 Anders Hansen -7 F -4 68 69 70 66 273
T4 4 Robert Karlsson -5 F -3 70 71 67 67 275
T4 4 David Toms -5 F -3 72 71 65 67 275
T4 - Scott Verplank -5 F E 67 69 69 70 275
7 1 Adam Scott -4 F -2 69 69 70 68 276
T8 5 Lee Westwood -3 F -2 71 68 70 68 277
T8 5 Luke Donald -3 F -2 70 71 68 68 277
T10 20 Kevin Na -2 F -3 72 69 70 67 278
T10 4 D.A. Points -2 F +1 69 67 71 71 278
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Who will survive the Atlanta Athletic Club on Sunday..
I can't remember when there was so much inexperience in contention in a major on Sunday as there is today, but there are 12 players within 5 shots of the lead, and another 7 including Luke Donald and Lee Westwood are 6 back. 31 of the top 35 have not won a major.
Adam Scott in the group T8 at -2 says " you can make up 6 shots in the final 4 holes"
and I think whoever handles this Atlanta Athletic Club's brutal final 4 holes will emerge from the tight pack with that huge Wannamaker trophy. For what it's worth Jason Dufner has played them the best so far at 3 under..
Remember the final 4 holes start with that 260 yard par 3 15th and end with the 510 yard par 4 18th with the long approach, all over water.
Remember as well, this is a par 70 which is crucial when you are trying to make up shots to catch the leader, simply because there aren't that many available.
So the leaders Brenden Steele (-7) is playing his 1st major alongside Jason Dufner who at 34 hasn't even won on tour yet, and they are followed by Keegan Bradley who won earlier in the year and along with Steele is being advised / coached by Phil Mickelson.
47 year old diabetic Scott Verplank (-5) has never really contended for a major and the highest ranked player at #5 in the world Steve Stricker (-4) is probably the favourite of this leading pack.
David Toms shot 65 yesterday and is at -2 and would be a fairytale for sure as he won here 10 years ago with that famous hole in one at 15..
There are a ton of story lines with Tiger out and Rory blowing up to a 74 yesterday, and while this leaderboard will not inspire many casual golf fans, and certainly not many ratings driven TV executives, it should be an exciting finish with a playoff very possible.
The weather forecast is hot and humid with isolated thunderstorms expected.
Here is the T10 leaderboard (click on PGA tour for a full leaderboard)
T1 6 Brendan Steele -7 F -4 69 68 66 - 203
T1 - Jason Dufner -7 F -2 70 65 68 - 203
3 2 Keegan Bradley -6 F -1 71 64 69 - 204
4 1 Scott Verplank -5 F -1 67 69 69 - 205
5 2 Steve Stricker -4 F -1 63 74 69 - 206
T6 1 Anders Hansen -3 F E 68 69 70 - 207
T6 3 D.A. Points -3 F +1 69 67 71 - 207
T8 45 David Toms -2 F -5 72 71 65 - 208
T8 31 Charl Schwartzel -2 F -4 71 71 66 - 208
T8 18 Robert Karlsson -2 F -3 70 71 67 - 208
T8 3 Adam Scott -2 F E 69 69 70 - 208
T8 5 John Senden -2 F +2 68 68 72 - 208
For todays tee times click here http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/2011/scoring/tee_times.cfm
The leaders Steele and Dufner don't tee off until 2.40pm..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Adam Scott in the group T8 at -2 says " you can make up 6 shots in the final 4 holes"
and I think whoever handles this Atlanta Athletic Club's brutal final 4 holes will emerge from the tight pack with that huge Wannamaker trophy. For what it's worth Jason Dufner has played them the best so far at 3 under..
Remember the final 4 holes start with that 260 yard par 3 15th and end with the 510 yard par 4 18th with the long approach, all over water.
Remember as well, this is a par 70 which is crucial when you are trying to make up shots to catch the leader, simply because there aren't that many available.
So the leaders Brenden Steele (-7) is playing his 1st major alongside Jason Dufner who at 34 hasn't even won on tour yet, and they are followed by Keegan Bradley who won earlier in the year and along with Steele is being advised / coached by Phil Mickelson.
47 year old diabetic Scott Verplank (-5) has never really contended for a major and the highest ranked player at #5 in the world Steve Stricker (-4) is probably the favourite of this leading pack.
David Toms shot 65 yesterday and is at -2 and would be a fairytale for sure as he won here 10 years ago with that famous hole in one at 15..
There are a ton of story lines with Tiger out and Rory blowing up to a 74 yesterday, and while this leaderboard will not inspire many casual golf fans, and certainly not many ratings driven TV executives, it should be an exciting finish with a playoff very possible.
The weather forecast is hot and humid with isolated thunderstorms expected.
Here is the T10 leaderboard (click on PGA tour for a full leaderboard)
T1 6 Brendan Steele -7 F -4 69 68 66 - 203
T1 - Jason Dufner -7 F -2 70 65 68 - 203
3 2 Keegan Bradley -6 F -1 71 64 69 - 204
4 1 Scott Verplank -5 F -1 67 69 69 - 205
5 2 Steve Stricker -4 F -1 63 74 69 - 206
T6 1 Anders Hansen -3 F E 68 69 70 - 207
T6 3 D.A. Points -3 F +1 69 67 71 - 207
T8 45 David Toms -2 F -5 72 71 65 - 208
T8 31 Charl Schwartzel -2 F -4 71 71 66 - 208
T8 18 Robert Karlsson -2 F -3 70 71 67 - 208
T8 3 Adam Scott -2 F E 69 69 70 - 208
T8 5 John Senden -2 F +2 68 68 72 - 208
For todays tee times click here http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/2011/scoring/tee_times.cfm
The leaders Steele and Dufner don't tee off until 2.40pm..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Saturday, August 13, 2011
93rd PGA Championship...It's wide open going into the weekend
When you tune in this weekend to this very tough Atlanta Athletic Club hosting the PGA Championship, remember par is good ! birdie is a bonus and bogey is often as good as par..
All of that makes Steve Stricker's 63 on Friday when the stroke average on this par 70 was 73.6, even more remarkable..
Sure the story lines on Thursday and Friday were Tiger as always, by the way he is where he belongs, home with the kids after 77, 73 more on him in a moment, and Rory with his sore wrist after his ill advised tree root shot on Thursday at #3, has made the cut which fell at +4 with his 70,73 +3..
I listened to Tiger afterward talking about his increased length, reduced shape to his draws and fades etc etc.. Simply put, he can't trust his driver at all anymore, and has gone from being #1 in scrambling to 156th, his short game is shoddy and he is putting poorly.
His season is done until he goes down to Australia in November for their Open then the Presidents Cup, and he clearly needs to do a lot of work at home with Sean Foley, who by the way as you would expect, is now under the gun from the likes of Brandel Chamblee for example, who says is giving Tiger the wrong advice and should be fired..
But the real story is the course, long, narrow, tight, tree lined and covered in water, it is a real test for the field in this final major of 2011..
Tiger is not the only one missing the cut on it.. Els, Kaymer, McDowell, Kim, Ogilvy, Johnson, Day, Rose, Cink, Clarke, all stars in their own right are gone..
By the way I was thinking this yesterday.. This is the type of event that Weirsy in his prime starred in... fairways, lay ups, great wedges and make a few putts. grind it out, make pars, steal a few birdies, avoid a big number. That is what wins here..
Now look who's in and you are not alone if you say "who".. Only 16 players of the top 70 and ties who made the cut at +4 are under par.. Here they are.
T1 22 Jason Dufner -5 F -5 70 65 - - 135
T1 35 Keegan Bradley -5 F -6 71 64 - - 135
T3 10 D.A. Points -4 F -3 69 67 - - 136
T3 2 John Senden -4 F -2 68 68 - - 136
T3 33 Jim Furyk -4 F -5 71 65 - - 136
T3 1 Scott Verplank -4 F -1 67 69 - - 136
T7 2 Anders Hansen -3 F -1 68 69 - - 137
T7 6 Brendan Steele -3 F -2 69 68 - - 137
T7 6 Steve Stricker -3 F +4 63 74 - - 137
T7 2 Brandt Jobe -3 F -1 68 69 - - 137
T11 12 Jhonattan Vegas -2 F -2 70 68 - - 138
T11 2 Adam Scott -2 F -1 69 69 - - 138
T11 9 Jerry Kelly -2 F +3 65 73 - - 138
T14 22 Lee Westwood -1 F -2 71 68 - - 139
T14 22 Scott Piercy -1 F -2 71 68 - - 139
T14 9 Davis Love III -1 F +1 68 71 - - 139
Jason Dufner (65) -5 T1, and Keegan Bradley are in your final pairing ! I could have won a lot of money picking this pair.. However, Dufner who plays lot in Asia, leads the PGA tour in total driving, has only made 3 mistakes in 2 rounds and like DA Points (67) -4 T3 is hitting all the fairways then all the greens..
Keegan Bradley (64)-5 T1 we talked about last week, continues his fine play with that belly putter which by the way Jim Furyk (65)-4 T3 has switched to this week, and speaking of the long putter Adam Scott (69) -2, T11 doubled 18 like so many others, but is still right in it and looking very solid.. Furyk incidently, thanked Bradley after the round for giving him a putting tip with his new long putter..
As a matter of fact imagine if Scott and Furyk are in the final pairing tomorrow we would have a Tiger connection... Stevie Williams and Fluff Cowan would be the caddies, both of course had Woods as their boss..
My pick, Luke Donald is T26 at +1 along with Phil Mickelson and they are far from out of it..
Like I said off the top 'It is wide open going into this weekend'
For today's tee times click... http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/2011/scoring/tee_times.cfm
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
All of that makes Steve Stricker's 63 on Friday when the stroke average on this par 70 was 73.6, even more remarkable..
Sure the story lines on Thursday and Friday were Tiger as always, by the way he is where he belongs, home with the kids after 77, 73 more on him in a moment, and Rory with his sore wrist after his ill advised tree root shot on Thursday at #3, has made the cut which fell at +4 with his 70,73 +3..
I listened to Tiger afterward talking about his increased length, reduced shape to his draws and fades etc etc.. Simply put, he can't trust his driver at all anymore, and has gone from being #1 in scrambling to 156th, his short game is shoddy and he is putting poorly.
His season is done until he goes down to Australia in November for their Open then the Presidents Cup, and he clearly needs to do a lot of work at home with Sean Foley, who by the way as you would expect, is now under the gun from the likes of Brandel Chamblee for example, who says is giving Tiger the wrong advice and should be fired..
But the real story is the course, long, narrow, tight, tree lined and covered in water, it is a real test for the field in this final major of 2011..
Tiger is not the only one missing the cut on it.. Els, Kaymer, McDowell, Kim, Ogilvy, Johnson, Day, Rose, Cink, Clarke, all stars in their own right are gone..
By the way I was thinking this yesterday.. This is the type of event that Weirsy in his prime starred in... fairways, lay ups, great wedges and make a few putts. grind it out, make pars, steal a few birdies, avoid a big number. That is what wins here..
Now look who's in and you are not alone if you say "who".. Only 16 players of the top 70 and ties who made the cut at +4 are under par.. Here they are.
T1 22 Jason Dufner -5 F -5 70 65 - - 135
T1 35 Keegan Bradley -5 F -6 71 64 - - 135
T3 10 D.A. Points -4 F -3 69 67 - - 136
T3 2 John Senden -4 F -2 68 68 - - 136
T3 33 Jim Furyk -4 F -5 71 65 - - 136
T3 1 Scott Verplank -4 F -1 67 69 - - 136
T7 2 Anders Hansen -3 F -1 68 69 - - 137
T7 6 Brendan Steele -3 F -2 69 68 - - 137
T7 6 Steve Stricker -3 F +4 63 74 - - 137
T7 2 Brandt Jobe -3 F -1 68 69 - - 137
T11 12 Jhonattan Vegas -2 F -2 70 68 - - 138
T11 2 Adam Scott -2 F -1 69 69 - - 138
T11 9 Jerry Kelly -2 F +3 65 73 - - 138
T14 22 Lee Westwood -1 F -2 71 68 - - 139
T14 22 Scott Piercy -1 F -2 71 68 - - 139
T14 9 Davis Love III -1 F +1 68 71 - - 139
Jason Dufner (65) -5 T1, and Keegan Bradley are in your final pairing ! I could have won a lot of money picking this pair.. However, Dufner who plays lot in Asia, leads the PGA tour in total driving, has only made 3 mistakes in 2 rounds and like DA Points (67) -4 T3 is hitting all the fairways then all the greens..
Keegan Bradley (64)-5 T1 we talked about last week, continues his fine play with that belly putter which by the way Jim Furyk (65)-4 T3 has switched to this week, and speaking of the long putter Adam Scott (69) -2, T11 doubled 18 like so many others, but is still right in it and looking very solid.. Furyk incidently, thanked Bradley after the round for giving him a putting tip with his new long putter..
As a matter of fact imagine if Scott and Furyk are in the final pairing tomorrow we would have a Tiger connection... Stevie Williams and Fluff Cowan would be the caddies, both of course had Woods as their boss..
My pick, Luke Donald is T26 at +1 along with Phil Mickelson and they are far from out of it..
Like I said off the top 'It is wide open going into this weekend'
For today's tee times click... http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/2011/scoring/tee_times.cfm
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
It must be the Guinness..
Now I have all the time in the world for "big Dar", "the Prince" Darren Clarke..
Nobody cheered him on (albeit from the home office high above Vic Park here in Don Mills) than I when he rolled back the clock at Sandwich last month but he must have had a few Guinness when he said this regarding Tiger's chances this week at the PGA
"I thought his game last week in the first two rounds was pretty good, I thought he hit an awful lot of really, really good golf shots. To come back after a long layoff, you can practise as much as you want, but until you get into competition and actually put yourself back into a competitive arena, it’s totally different. "
“He got last week under his belt ... great to see him back competing again ... and I’m sure this week, if Tiger plays the golf he can play, I have no doubt he can be in contention this week,”
if Tiger plays the golf he can play ... Darren, Tiger hasn't played nor will he ever in my opinion played the way he can play in over a year. Darren he can't hit the fairway with his driver (2 out of 15 last Sunday) and he can't putt.
One thing is certain he is nowhere near ready this week..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Nobody cheered him on (albeit from the home office high above Vic Park here in Don Mills) than I when he rolled back the clock at Sandwich last month but he must have had a few Guinness when he said this regarding Tiger's chances this week at the PGA
"I thought his game last week in the first two rounds was pretty good, I thought he hit an awful lot of really, really good golf shots. To come back after a long layoff, you can practise as much as you want, but until you get into competition and actually put yourself back into a competitive arena, it’s totally different. "
“He got last week under his belt ... great to see him back competing again ... and I’m sure this week, if Tiger plays the golf he can play, I have no doubt he can be in contention this week,”
if Tiger plays the golf he can play ... Darren, Tiger hasn't played nor will he ever in my opinion played the way he can play in over a year. Darren he can't hit the fairway with his driver (2 out of 15 last Sunday) and he can't putt.
One thing is certain he is nowhere near ready this week..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
The amazing Luke Donald, the most under rated world # 1
This is the day for picking the winner of the 93rd PGA Championship that starts tomorrow in steamy (90*F) Atlanta.
The guys everyone fancies this year are Jason Day who has been in contention in every major this year and was in the T5 last week, Adam Scott of course, in form Ryo Ishikawa, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Steve Stricker, Rickie Fowler T2 last week, Lee Westwood with his new lighter attitude, Zach Johnson T6 last week and has 2 wins plus the Masters in Georgia, and Nick Watney..
My pick though is the most under rated #1 player this PGA Tour has ever had, Luke Donald, who's game is eerily like David Toms' who was the last winner on this Atlanta Athletic Club course 10 years ago.
Donald, who tweeted last week "just in case you were wondering I shot 64 today, apparently wasn't on TV much" admitted yesterday in his press conference that he gets tremendous respect and support when he travels the world on the European Tour, but as an Englishman he doesn't get the same when he comes to America.
Recently I tweeted that he gets no respect over here and the likes of Jason Sobel at the Tiger first and foremost Golf Channel responded that I was completely wrong.
Really, well if you didn't believe me, then just listen to the world's best player..
Let's remind you of his stats..
He leads the Race to Dubai, and is 3rd in the Fed Ex standings..
In 13 starts on the PGA Tour, he has a win, (World MatchPlay) and eight other top-10s, including T2 at last week’s World Golf Championships, T4 at both the Masters and the Players Championship, and T7 at Jack's Memorial tournament.
In between all that he beat Lee Westwood to win the prestigious BMW PGA championship, won the Scottish Open and was second at the Volvo World MatchPlay in Spain.. What more does he need to do to get your attention ??
He was completely lost in all the Tiger hysteria last week then of course the Tiger related Stevie Williams hysteria, and with Tiger in the field again this week, it's likely Luke will get no where near the respect or coverage the world #1 should get, especially with the amazing record he has established this year..
As he said yesterday " Some personalities attract more attention and media,I'm not one of those. And that's just the way it's going to be"
It wasn't until CBS came on at 2pm last Sunday that they finally let Tiger go and concentrated on what was actually happening in the tournament, having said that the Golf Channel had been on since noon watching him hack it around a course he used to own, no where near contention, but hey, to hell with the rest of the field, let's keep riding that Tiger express elevator to the ratings penthouse..
Mind you I shouldn't be surprised, we have always known Yanks barely know what is going on outside their own state, never mind in the rest of the world, I suppose it will take Luke winning this week to get their attention..
Not that he should have to as the best player in the world...
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
The guys everyone fancies this year are Jason Day who has been in contention in every major this year and was in the T5 last week, Adam Scott of course, in form Ryo Ishikawa, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Steve Stricker, Rickie Fowler T2 last week, Lee Westwood with his new lighter attitude, Zach Johnson T6 last week and has 2 wins plus the Masters in Georgia, and Nick Watney..
My pick though is the most under rated #1 player this PGA Tour has ever had, Luke Donald, who's game is eerily like David Toms' who was the last winner on this Atlanta Athletic Club course 10 years ago.
Donald, who tweeted last week "just in case you were wondering I shot 64 today, apparently wasn't on TV much" admitted yesterday in his press conference that he gets tremendous respect and support when he travels the world on the European Tour, but as an Englishman he doesn't get the same when he comes to America.
Recently I tweeted that he gets no respect over here and the likes of Jason Sobel at the Tiger first and foremost Golf Channel responded that I was completely wrong.
Really, well if you didn't believe me, then just listen to the world's best player..
Let's remind you of his stats..
He leads the Race to Dubai, and is 3rd in the Fed Ex standings..
In 13 starts on the PGA Tour, he has a win, (World MatchPlay) and eight other top-10s, including T2 at last week’s World Golf Championships, T4 at both the Masters and the Players Championship, and T7 at Jack's Memorial tournament.
In between all that he beat Lee Westwood to win the prestigious BMW PGA championship, won the Scottish Open and was second at the Volvo World MatchPlay in Spain.. What more does he need to do to get your attention ??
He was completely lost in all the Tiger hysteria last week then of course the Tiger related Stevie Williams hysteria, and with Tiger in the field again this week, it's likely Luke will get no where near the respect or coverage the world #1 should get, especially with the amazing record he has established this year..
As he said yesterday " Some personalities attract more attention and media,I'm not one of those. And that's just the way it's going to be"
It wasn't until CBS came on at 2pm last Sunday that they finally let Tiger go and concentrated on what was actually happening in the tournament, having said that the Golf Channel had been on since noon watching him hack it around a course he used to own, no where near contention, but hey, to hell with the rest of the field, let's keep riding that Tiger express elevator to the ratings penthouse..
Mind you I shouldn't be surprised, we have always known Yanks barely know what is going on outside their own state, never mind in the rest of the world, I suppose it will take Luke winning this week to get their attention..
Not that he should have to as the best player in the world...
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
My 2 cents worth on Stevie Williams..
I watched many of the daily PGA scheduled interviews today and in general the assembled media asked questions suited to the articles they were working on but every player was asked what they thought of Stevie Williams post WGC win on the bag of Adam Scott...
Here is what I see, and trust me as a guy who has spent the last 16 years as the Sr producer/Host at the Fan590, constantly chasing down every story 24/7 7 days a week I understand how this works..
Tiger fired Stevie, Stevie didn't fire Stevie, after the most lucrative and successful player / caddy relationship in history.. 63 wins world wide, 14 majors etc etc... Personal confidante, friend, valet, driver, office manager, body guard etc etc..Getting dumped after all that is galling.. You initially are stunned, hurt, puzzled, incredulous....
Then you get angry, vindictive, then eventually able to look ahead..
The media rushed to Stevie after Adam won the Bridgestone.. 20-30 microphones please Stevie give us something we can please our bosses with..CBS, etal stuck mike's under his nose.. He didn't ask them to
Next he is getting ripped by the same agencies who begged him for a quote !!
If he had blown the press off and said speak to Adam, they would have been pissed because they had no video or audio....
This is the high point of a lifetime caddy, an excitable, opinionated Kiwi, who was dumped by the world's best golfer in his day, unfairly in his mind who has the dogged world's media begging him for a quote, an interview, something they can benefit from..
How dare you criticise him when he complies...
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
Here is what I see, and trust me as a guy who has spent the last 16 years as the Sr producer/Host at the Fan590, constantly chasing down every story 24/7 7 days a week I understand how this works..
Tiger fired Stevie, Stevie didn't fire Stevie, after the most lucrative and successful player / caddy relationship in history.. 63 wins world wide, 14 majors etc etc... Personal confidante, friend, valet, driver, office manager, body guard etc etc..Getting dumped after all that is galling.. You initially are stunned, hurt, puzzled, incredulous....
Then you get angry, vindictive, then eventually able to look ahead..
The media rushed to Stevie after Adam won the Bridgestone.. 20-30 microphones please Stevie give us something we can please our bosses with..CBS, etal stuck mike's under his nose.. He didn't ask them to
Next he is getting ripped by the same agencies who begged him for a quote !!
If he had blown the press off and said speak to Adam, they would have been pissed because they had no video or audio....
This is the high point of a lifetime caddy, an excitable, opinionated Kiwi, who was dumped by the world's best golfer in his day, unfairly in his mind who has the dogged world's media begging him for a quote, an interview, something they can benefit from..
How dare you criticise him when he complies...
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
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