Graham DeLaet and Richard Scott are right in contention for their first wins as we head into this Sunday.
DeLaet who sat out the majority of the 2011 campaign due to a back injury, is playing the 2012 season out of the Major Medical Extension category and has 26 events to earn $657,694. He already has over $204,000 in 11 events this year.
Rounds of 68 67 66 -15 have him in the last pairing at this Zurich Classic with Jason Dufner 67 65 67 -17, who is also looking for his first win after 3 runner up finishes.
DeLaet, currently ranked 501 in the world says he is happy with his game this week, particularly his iron play, can go low as he proved in his first event of the year in Hawaii when he opened with a 63. His career low is 62, and his best finish on tour was T3 last year at the Shell Houston Open.
The field is tightly bunched, so someone will have to go low to catch Dufner and emerge from the pack. 10 players are within 6 shots in perfect conditions in New Orleans including Luke Donald at -12 and Ernie Els at -14.
David Hearn, our top ranked Canadian at #242 is 10 shots back at -7.
live scoring click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r018/
Meanwhile in Valdosta, Georgia at the South Georgia Classic on the Nationwide Tour, Richard Scott of Kingsville, Ontario ranked #842 is T5 69 70 69 -8 just 4 shots behind the leader Woodie Austin 74 66 64 -12 and Luke List 67 68 69 -12.
Scott, the former #1 amateur in the world, won our Canadian Amateur 3 times in his glorious amateur career which included captaining the University of Georgia golf team to the 2005 NCAA Championship. He is playing his 4th Nationwide event of the year.
Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C. is 9 shots back after 71 and former winner Bryan DeCorso of Guelph, Ont., had a tough 78 to sit last in the field.
live scoring click here http://www.pgatour.com/h/leaderboard/
all Canadian world golf rankings click
http://globeandmail.golfcanada.ca/professional-tours/golf-news/?articleId=1864443
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Wiesberger wins in Seoul..
" He hits it a mile, and has a first class short game, including a solid putter, he has a great career ahead "
No, they are not talking about Rory or Martin or Ryo, but this morning's winner of the Ballantines' Championship in Seoul, South Korea, Bernd Wiesberger from Austria, who backed up 2 65's with 68 -18 to win by 5 shots over Scotland's Richie Ramsay. Twice a runner-up on The European Tour last season, there was never any danger of Wiesberger missing out this time as he played his final 59 holes without dropping a shot at Blackstone Golf Club.
Macus Fraser who was paired with Bernd told him: ‘get used to that because you're going to do that quite a bit’. He's as impressive a golfer as I've ever seen. If he keeps working on the right things and doing what he's doing, he's obviously got a great support team around him and he can go onto do whatever he wants. “A guy that size and hits it that far and still putts unbelievably, you don't see that too often. He's got massive things ahead of him and I wish him all the best. He's an absolute gentleman on the course, it was great fun being out there and watching it.”
So here is yet another guy to watch for, as I was saying to Lins and Pete on the radio this morning (International Sports Report, TSN1050radio ) parity is the word in the world of pro golf right now. 26 different winners on the PGA tour last year, golf has arrived all over the world, including this week in South Korea where for so long KJ Choi has been the flag bearer, but is quickly being joined by a host of young Asian guns. Remember 25 years ago in China there was 1 course under the old Communist regime, there are now over 600 !!
final scoreboard click here http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012024/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
No, they are not talking about Rory or Martin or Ryo, but this morning's winner of the Ballantines' Championship in Seoul, South Korea, Bernd Wiesberger from Austria, who backed up 2 65's with 68 -18 to win by 5 shots over Scotland's Richie Ramsay. Twice a runner-up on The European Tour last season, there was never any danger of Wiesberger missing out this time as he played his final 59 holes without dropping a shot at Blackstone Golf Club.
Macus Fraser who was paired with Bernd told him: ‘get used to that because you're going to do that quite a bit’. He's as impressive a golfer as I've ever seen. If he keeps working on the right things and doing what he's doing, he's obviously got a great support team around him and he can go onto do whatever he wants. “A guy that size and hits it that far and still putts unbelievably, you don't see that too often. He's got massive things ahead of him and I wish him all the best. He's an absolute gentleman on the course, it was great fun being out there and watching it.”
So here is yet another guy to watch for, as I was saying to Lins and Pete on the radio this morning (International Sports Report, TSN1050radio ) parity is the word in the world of pro golf right now. 26 different winners on the PGA tour last year, golf has arrived all over the world, including this week in South Korea where for so long KJ Choi has been the flag bearer, but is quickly being joined by a host of young Asian guns. Remember 25 years ago in China there was 1 course under the old Communist regime, there are now over 600 !!
final scoreboard click here http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012024/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Weekend scoreboards, stories, Canadian scores
European Tour
Ballantines Championship
Seoul, S Korea
Round 3 has just wrapped up in Seoul with Austria's Bernd Weisberger in complete control after he matched his own course record of 65, which he set yesterday. He is at -14 with a 5 shot lead over Marcus Fraser who shot 69 to get to -9.
Australian Fraser who won this event in 2010 played some fine golf in his 69, despite a balky putter.Chile’s Felipe Aguilar (68) and England’s Oliver Fisher (67) share third on eight under, with Ryder Cup veterans Miguel Angel Jiménez and Paul McGinley a shot further back.
live scoreboard click here
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012024/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
PGA Tour
Dufner who is still looking for his first win, has been playing well this year in fact has had a share of the 36-hole lead in two of his last four tournaments, including the Masters, but he hasn't kept it going for the weekend. According to pgatour.com, he's second on the tour in pre-cut scoring, but 98th in third rounds and 108th in final rounds.
Defending champion Bubba Watson had his second consecutive 71 to make the cut on the number at 2 under in his first tournament since his playoff victory in the Masters.
LPGA
Mobile Bay LPGA Classic
Cossing Coures
Mobile Alabama
Canadians Lorie Kane T56 72 71 -1, Jessica ShepleyT65 74 70 E, Stephanie Sherlock T65 75 69 E, Samantha Richdale 75 70 MC Alena Sharp 75 70 MC, Maude Aimee-LeBlanc 75 72 MC, Rebecca Lee- Bentham 75 76 MC
Stacy Lewis 68 67 -9 leads another tight leaderboard by a shot, but there are 33 players within 5 shots as the women visit the Robert Trent Jones golf trail in Alabama.
Sweden's Karin Sjodin tied her career-low round and the tournament record by shooting an 8-under 64 on Friday. Sjodin jumped from a T50 into a T2.
live scoreboard click here
http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Ballantines Championship
Seoul, S Korea
Round 3 has just wrapped up in Seoul with Austria's Bernd Weisberger in complete control after he matched his own course record of 65, which he set yesterday. He is at -14 with a 5 shot lead over Marcus Fraser who shot 69 to get to -9.
Australian Fraser who won this event in 2010 played some fine golf in his 69, despite a balky putter.Chile’s Felipe Aguilar (68) and England’s Oliver Fisher (67) share third on eight under, with Ryder Cup veterans Miguel Angel Jiménez and Paul McGinley a shot further back.
live scoreboard click here
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012024/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
PGA Tour
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
TPC Louisiana
Avondale, Louisiana
Canadians : Graham Delaet T8 68 67 -9, David Hearn T51 68 73 -3, Stephen Ames 70 75 MC
Jason Dufner 67,65 -12 has the lead, but there are 20 golfers within 5 shots of him including Graham DeLaet who goes into the weekend T8 at -9. Ernie Els continues his fine play, he shot 66 68, -10 and is T5. Luke Donald recovered from an opening 73 with 65 yesterday to sit at -6.
Dufner who is still looking for his first win, has been playing well this year in fact has had a share of the 36-hole lead in two of his last four tournaments, including the Masters, but he hasn't kept it going for the weekend. According to pgatour.com, he's second on the tour in pre-cut scoring, but 98th in third rounds and 108th in final rounds.
Defending champion Bubba Watson had his second consecutive 71 to make the cut on the number at 2 under in his first tournament since his playoff victory in the Masters.
live scoreboard click here
LPGA
Mobile Bay LPGA Classic
Cossing Coures
Mobile Alabama
Canadians Lorie Kane T56 72 71 -1, Jessica ShepleyT65 74 70 E, Stephanie Sherlock T65 75 69 E, Samantha Richdale 75 70 MC Alena Sharp 75 70 MC, Maude Aimee-LeBlanc 75 72 MC, Rebecca Lee- Bentham 75 76 MC
Stacy Lewis 68 67 -9 leads another tight leaderboard by a shot, but there are 33 players within 5 shots as the women visit the Robert Trent Jones golf trail in Alabama.
Sweden's Karin Sjodin tied her career-low round and the tournament record by shooting an 8-under 64 on Friday. Sjodin jumped from a T50 into a T2.
live scoreboard click here
http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Monday, April 23, 2012
Sunday's win a big deal for the Curtis family..
So don't get me wrong, by in large PGA tour pros are a spoiled and pampered bunch, sponsors from tournaments, equipment brands, clothing lines, shoe company's, investment firms, food chains just for starters, are lined up four deep every Tuesday on the practice range, once they make the show.
So for us mere mortals, boo hoo if they have to get on another jet, nowaday's their own or their agent's and fly off to another warm welcome with a feathery bed !!
However they are human, and no family man worth the name likes to be away from home matter how much money he's making, or not making..
Ben Curtis caught lightning in a bottle for one week at Royal St George's in 2003, when as a tour rookie, in his first major he sat in the clubhouse after making 4 bogey's on his back 9 leaving him 3 shots behind Thomas Bjorn. Bjorn of course played the last 4 holes in 4 over, leaving the relatively unknown American the winner. He went on to win the Rookie of the Year award and all the baubles that go with a major championship.
He won twice more in 2006 at the Booz Allen and the 84 Lumber Classic, and shortly thereafter wife Candace and he had a new addition, Liam born in September 2006 then Addison came along in December of 2007.
Since those heady days, Ben's game has slid, plagued by a balky putter and some would say a lack of desire, he had slipped to #285 in the world (now up to #156 after his win)
http://www.officialworldgolfranking.com/rankings/default.sps
His win this weekend at TPC San Antonio, was only his 4th start on the PGA tour this year. He was still able to play in Europe and did playing in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai early this year, his best finish T13 in Dubai.
However now he, Candace and the kids get to choose.
He can set his schedule for 2 years to suit them, gets back in the majors and probably the Fed Ex Cup playoffs, not to mention the $1m and change Valero has just dropped into his bank account today !!
That's why these guys keep showing up every week, trying to hit the jackpot...This week it was the turn of the Curtis family.
final leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r041/
Congrats to David Hearn who closed with a -6 66, best round of Sunday to finish T11.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
So for us mere mortals, boo hoo if they have to get on another jet, nowaday's their own or their agent's and fly off to another warm welcome with a feathery bed !!
However they are human, and no family man worth the name likes to be away from home matter how much money he's making, or not making..
Ben Curtis caught lightning in a bottle for one week at Royal St George's in 2003, when as a tour rookie, in his first major he sat in the clubhouse after making 4 bogey's on his back 9 leaving him 3 shots behind Thomas Bjorn. Bjorn of course played the last 4 holes in 4 over, leaving the relatively unknown American the winner. He went on to win the Rookie of the Year award and all the baubles that go with a major championship.
He won twice more in 2006 at the Booz Allen and the 84 Lumber Classic, and shortly thereafter wife Candace and he had a new addition, Liam born in September 2006 then Addison came along in December of 2007.
Since those heady days, Ben's game has slid, plagued by a balky putter and some would say a lack of desire, he had slipped to #285 in the world (now up to #156 after his win)
http://www.officialworldgolfranking.com/rankings/default.sps
His win this weekend at TPC San Antonio, was only his 4th start on the PGA tour this year. He was still able to play in Europe and did playing in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai early this year, his best finish T13 in Dubai.
However now he, Candace and the kids get to choose.
He can set his schedule for 2 years to suit them, gets back in the majors and probably the Fed Ex Cup playoffs, not to mention the $1m and change Valero has just dropped into his bank account today !!
That's why these guys keep showing up every week, trying to hit the jackpot...This week it was the turn of the Curtis family.
final leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r041/
Congrats to David Hearn who closed with a -6 66, best round of Sunday to finish T11.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
European Tour gets stronger with a new event in Shanghai
I have debated the relative strength's of the PGA and European Tours on the air and in this space for nearly 20 years, at first the European tour was the fledgling in comparison, and of course today with the world's top 3 players and the unprecedented run in the Ryder Cup (6 of the last 8), and at majors (6 of the last 8), the European tour with it's $10m Race to Dubai is every bit as strong, if not stronger than the PGA tour.
It will be interesting to see how the new plan of qualifying for the PGA Tour, due to start next year, will play out with the Fall Series now included with full Fed Ex points in the regular season, right up against the NFL on Sunday's and with most of their top players abroad, I have my doubts..
The world's top 60 are invited to go off to China for the WGC-HSBC Champions in late October, and today the European Tour further strengthened their hand by teaming up with BMW yet again for a new tournament worth $7m US, in China the week before the WGC event.
It is incredible to think, just 30 years ago there was only one course in China, and today, with a new attitude towards the game and life in general, there are over 600.
This is only the beginning...
Here is my edited version of the official the announcement
The European Tour, CGA and BMW unveil BMW Masters
The European Tour, the China Golf Association and BMW today unveiled a new tournament on The European Tour International Schedule, the US$7 million BMW Masters at the Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai from October 25-28, 2012.
The BMW Masters will bring the total number of tournaments on The 2012 Race to Dubai now to 47 and represents the third on mainland China this year. It will also be the first of two consecutive weeks of European Tour action on mainland China with the BMW Masters preceding the WGC-HSBC Champions at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen.
.George O’Grady said: “We are proud of many partnerships we enjoy across the world of golf, but one of the most enduring is with BMW for whom this tournament represents the third title sponsorship on The European Tour in 2012, and the 45th in total over the past 23 years since the first BMW International Open in Munich in 1989. BMW is renowned for its commitment to innovation and exceptional standards of excellence in promoting professional golf tournaments, and the visit to Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai in October will once again underline that fact. .”
The BMW Masters will take its place on The European Tour calendar and, after the Majors, World Golf Championships and the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, will be the most lucrative event on the Tour. The exclusive field will consist of 78 players, led by current World Number One Rory McIlroy, with the majority featuring in the top 100 from the Official World Golf Ranking. The remaining start places will be four players invited directly by the organisers and a 14-man contingent from the Chinese Golf Association (CGA).
“I am already looking forward to teeing off at the new tournament,” said McIlroy, who won last year’s Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters, which is now being replaced by the BMW Masters. “Thanks to the involvement of BMW, the tournament will now be one of the very best events in the world. That obviously makes it all the more exciting to defend my title there.”
Darren Clarke said “I cannot praise BMW's commitment to golf highly enough. For years BMW has demonstrated around the world just how close the game is to the brand's heart. Golf would be in a far worse state without the involvement of BMW. We professionals all really appreciate what the company is doing for the game.”
As well as the BMW Masters, BMW’s long-term commitment to The European Tour also includes the Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in England and the BMW International Open in Germany.
The Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai, home to the BMW Masters in October, was designed by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus and received rave reviews when it was used for tournament play for the first time last year.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
It will be interesting to see how the new plan of qualifying for the PGA Tour, due to start next year, will play out with the Fall Series now included with full Fed Ex points in the regular season, right up against the NFL on Sunday's and with most of their top players abroad, I have my doubts..
The world's top 60 are invited to go off to China for the WGC-HSBC Champions in late October, and today the European Tour further strengthened their hand by teaming up with BMW yet again for a new tournament worth $7m US, in China the week before the WGC event.
It is incredible to think, just 30 years ago there was only one course in China, and today, with a new attitude towards the game and life in general, there are over 600.
This is only the beginning...
Here is my edited version of the official the announcement
The European Tour, CGA and BMW unveil BMW Masters
The European Tour, the China Golf Association and BMW today unveiled a new tournament on The European Tour International Schedule, the US$7 million BMW Masters at the Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai from October 25-28, 2012.
The BMW Masters will bring the total number of tournaments on The 2012 Race to Dubai now to 47 and represents the third on mainland China this year. It will also be the first of two consecutive weeks of European Tour action on mainland China with the BMW Masters preceding the WGC-HSBC Champions at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen.
.George O’Grady said: “We are proud of many partnerships we enjoy across the world of golf, but one of the most enduring is with BMW for whom this tournament represents the third title sponsorship on The European Tour in 2012, and the 45th in total over the past 23 years since the first BMW International Open in Munich in 1989. BMW is renowned for its commitment to innovation and exceptional standards of excellence in promoting professional golf tournaments, and the visit to Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai in October will once again underline that fact. .”
The BMW Masters will take its place on The European Tour calendar and, after the Majors, World Golf Championships and the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, will be the most lucrative event on the Tour. The exclusive field will consist of 78 players, led by current World Number One Rory McIlroy, with the majority featuring in the top 100 from the Official World Golf Ranking. The remaining start places will be four players invited directly by the organisers and a 14-man contingent from the Chinese Golf Association (CGA).
“I am already looking forward to teeing off at the new tournament,” said McIlroy, who won last year’s Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters, which is now being replaced by the BMW Masters. “Thanks to the involvement of BMW, the tournament will now be one of the very best events in the world. That obviously makes it all the more exciting to defend my title there.”
Darren Clarke said “I cannot praise BMW's commitment to golf highly enough. For years BMW has demonstrated around the world just how close the game is to the brand's heart. Golf would be in a far worse state without the involvement of BMW. We professionals all really appreciate what the company is doing for the game.”
As well as the BMW Masters, BMW’s long-term commitment to The European Tour also includes the Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in England and the BMW International Open in Germany.
The Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai, home to the BMW Masters in October, was designed by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus and received rave reviews when it was used for tournament play for the first time last year.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio, the toughest on tour so far
With play in round 4 now under way at the Valero Texas Open, the course, the Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio is the story so far.
Heck, it is playing so tough that Ben Curtis had 2 doubles in his first 9 yesterday, shot +1 73 -9 and extended his lead to 3 shots !! Just 19 of the 81 players that made the cut broke par.
The par 72 played to an average score of 74+, the toughest so far on tour this year, with Augusta National a distant second.
Matt Every +1 73 -6, is alone in second. John Huh's -5 67 ( low score of the day with Matt Kuchar) was good for a share of third place -4, 212, along with Charlie Wi (71) and Seung-yul Noh (68).
The problems begin with the par4 first, 454 yards, which has been the toughest against par of any opening hole the past two years. In 2011, it played at 4.462 strokes on average during the final round, yielding only three birdies and 34 bogeys or worse. "Unapologetically Texan" is the event's slogan.
The Greg Norman designed course has had accusations that several greens are too severely sloped and penal, and the fairways are lined with trees and bushes that provide many unplayables and worse. We saw that repeatedly yesterday, at one point Freddie Jacobsen was so stymied he had to play a shot 125 yards back towards the tee. on his way to a double bogey.
Richard Oliver of the San Antonio Express reports that last year, Brendan Steele won with a 280 total which was the highest winning score in the events history. A survey of 81 players earlier this year ranked it 50th among the 52 courses that host PGA Tour competitions.
Kyle Stanley who is not playing this week was quoted saying "To be honest, I didn't think it was fair, Hitting a 5-iron into the wind at those green complexes?” he said. “It's just silly.”
Silly or not, Curtis, who hasn't won since 2006, and has been playing on the European tour on the strength of his 2003 Open Championship, will happily shoot 73 again if it's good enough to win, and it may well be..
live scoring click here http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r041/
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Heck, it is playing so tough that Ben Curtis had 2 doubles in his first 9 yesterday, shot +1 73 -9 and extended his lead to 3 shots !! Just 19 of the 81 players that made the cut broke par.
The par 72 played to an average score of 74+, the toughest so far on tour this year, with Augusta National a distant second.
Matt Every +1 73 -6, is alone in second. John Huh's -5 67 ( low score of the day with Matt Kuchar) was good for a share of third place -4, 212, along with Charlie Wi (71) and Seung-yul Noh (68).
The problems begin with the par4 first, 454 yards, which has been the toughest against par of any opening hole the past two years. In 2011, it played at 4.462 strokes on average during the final round, yielding only three birdies and 34 bogeys or worse. "Unapologetically Texan" is the event's slogan.
The Greg Norman designed course has had accusations that several greens are too severely sloped and penal, and the fairways are lined with trees and bushes that provide many unplayables and worse. We saw that repeatedly yesterday, at one point Freddie Jacobsen was so stymied he had to play a shot 125 yards back towards the tee. on his way to a double bogey.
Richard Oliver of the San Antonio Express reports that last year, Brendan Steele won with a 280 total which was the highest winning score in the events history. A survey of 81 players earlier this year ranked it 50th among the 52 courses that host PGA Tour competitions.
Kyle Stanley who is not playing this week was quoted saying "To be honest, I didn't think it was fair, Hitting a 5-iron into the wind at those green complexes?” he said. “It's just silly.”
Silly or not, Curtis, who hasn't won since 2006, and has been playing on the European tour on the strength of his 2003 Open Championship, will happily shoot 73 again if it's good enough to win, and it may well be..
live scoring click here http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r041/
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Lee Westwood wins again in Indonesia
Earlier this morning Lee Westwood retained his Indonesian Masters title with a 2 shot victory in hot muggy Jakarta.
After thunder and lightning delayed the finish of the 3rd round, he came out this morning to post -7 65 to take an 8 shot lead, before going back out to start the final round.
He struggled in with a closing +2 74 at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club for a -16 total of 272. Former #1 ranked Asian Tour player Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand fired a -5 67 to finish second on -14 274
"Today was hard. It is never easy playing in these conditions and I had to play 32 holes," Westwood said of the grueling final day. "I was really feeling it on the back nine. When you are in contention and under pressure, it seems to zap your energy faster.Hopefully I can go on and win other tournaments. It is tough when you are the favorite because if you don't win then it will be disappointing,"
Canadian Ron Harvey finished T38 76 69 69 74 E
final scoreboard click http://www.asiantour.com/livescoring.html
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
After thunder and lightning delayed the finish of the 3rd round, he came out this morning to post -7 65 to take an 8 shot lead, before going back out to start the final round.
He struggled in with a closing +2 74 at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club for a -16 total of 272. Former #1 ranked Asian Tour player Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand fired a -5 67 to finish second on -14 274
"Today was hard. It is never easy playing in these conditions and I had to play 32 holes," Westwood said of the grueling final day. "I was really feeling it on the back nine. When you are in contention and under pressure, it seems to zap your energy faster.Hopefully I can go on and win other tournaments. It is tough when you are the favorite because if you don't win then it will be disappointing,"
Canadian Ron Harvey finished T38 76 69 69 74 E
final scoreboard click http://www.asiantour.com/livescoring.html
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Grace wins for the 3rd time this year.
Branden Grace began 2012 as a relatively obscure South African golfer, that has all changed..
Moments ago he added the Volvo China Open to previous wins at The Joburg Open and Volvo Golf Champions to become only the second player in European Tour history to win three times in the season after graduating through Qualifying School, Johan Edfors' did it in 2006.
Only two players have won three European Tour titles in a single season at a younger age, Seve Ballesteros did it three times between 1977 and 1980, and Sandy Lyle did it in 1979.
Grace also becomes only the third South African to win three times in a single season, and again he is in the company of Major winners – Ernie Els and Retief Goosen are the others to do so.
Today he shot -3 69 -21 to win by 3 shots from the big hitting Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts -3 69 -18..
"If I think back now to last year and playing on the Challenge Tour and just trying to get back to the main Tour and really just trying to make a living it was tough at points. So to be here with three wins is amazing. Everything is going great. I wouldn’t have thought I would have been top 70 in the world and it is nice to know that I don’t have to worry about a lot of stuff and I will just be able to play the game with a smile on my face and try to push on from here"
Final scoreboard and earnings click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012022/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Note **
As I watched this morning I was reminded that 30 years ago there was 1 course, designed by Arnie Palmer, in China, now there are more than 600 !! How long before China produces their own Rory McIlroy ?? Not very, I say..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Moments ago he added the Volvo China Open to previous wins at The Joburg Open and Volvo Golf Champions to become only the second player in European Tour history to win three times in the season after graduating through Qualifying School, Johan Edfors' did it in 2006.
Only two players have won three European Tour titles in a single season at a younger age, Seve Ballesteros did it three times between 1977 and 1980, and Sandy Lyle did it in 1979.
Grace also becomes only the third South African to win three times in a single season, and again he is in the company of Major winners – Ernie Els and Retief Goosen are the others to do so.
Today he shot -3 69 -21 to win by 3 shots from the big hitting Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts -3 69 -18..
"If I think back now to last year and playing on the Challenge Tour and just trying to get back to the main Tour and really just trying to make a living it was tough at points. So to be here with three wins is amazing. Everything is going great. I wouldn’t have thought I would have been top 70 in the world and it is nice to know that I don’t have to worry about a lot of stuff and I will just be able to play the game with a smile on my face and try to push on from here"
Final scoreboard and earnings click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012022/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Note **
As I watched this morning I was reminded that 30 years ago there was 1 course, designed by Arnie Palmer, in China, now there are more than 600 !! How long before China produces their own Rory McIlroy ?? Not very, I say..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Saturday scoreboards, round 2 and 3 wraps.
I have posted this report at 6am Saturday April 21 as the rain pours down here in Toronto. I have used notes from pgatour.com, europeantour.com and lpga.com in compiling some of the information. I have listed all Canadian scores
European Tour
Volvo China Open
Binhai Lake GC
Tianjin
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012022/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Round 3 complete (Tianjin is +12hrs EST)
Branden Grace’s dream season continued as he moved into a three shot lead at the Volvo China Open with a third round 64. Since coming through The European Tour Qualifying School at the end of 2011, the 23 year old has won back-to-back titles on home soil and risen to sixth in The Race to Dubai.
Defending champion Nicolas Colsaerts, looking to become the first player to win the event twice, is second after a 66, with Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti third on 14 under after matching Grace’s round of 64
Champions Tour
http://www.pgatour.com/s/leaderboard/
Brad Bryant and his partner Tom Purtzer challenged the tournament-course record with a blistering back nine on Friday but fell one short in their quest to match the 13-under-par 59 by Andy North and Tom Watson in 2008. However, their 12-under-par 60 in the better-ball format gave the pair a two-stroke margin after the opening round in the Legends Division of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf. Bryant and Purtzer birdied seven of nine holes on the back nine while posting a back-nine score of 7-under-par 29. Four teams opened with 10-under par 62s including David Frost/Michael Allen, Kenny Perry/Russ Cochran, Jeff Sluman/Brad Faxon and Tom Jenkins/Bruce Fleisher.
In the Raphael Division competition, defending champions Des Smyth and partner Mark James are currently tied for the lead at 8-under-par 64 with Gary Koch and Roger Maltbie.
Rod Spittle paired with Mark Calcavecchia is T21 after -6 66...
PGA Tour
Ben Curtis wrapped up his second round at the Valero Texas Open just before a two-hour storm delay left behind a stiff wind that protected the early leaders, Curtis shot another bogey-free 5-under 67 on Friday to finish at 10 under. He was two strokes ahead of David Mathis and three in front of Cameron Tringale and Matt Every
Mathis matched Curtis with a 67, Tringale had a 65, and Every was poised to inch even closer before darkness suspended play. He'll line up for an 11-foot birdie chance on the par-4 17th when second-round play resumes this morning.
Blake Adams (69), Ryan Palmer (69) and Hunter Haas (74) were tied for fifth at 4 under.
A dozen players shot in the 60s before play was suspended. After play resumed, no one cracked 70.
Twenty-five players will finish the second round Saturday. Among those near the top is Frank Lickliter II, who was 3 under and tied for eighth with one hole left to play.
The cut is projected to fall at +4. Play was suspended due to darkness and will resume at 7:30am local time. The approx start times for round 3 will be between 9:45-11:45 am
Canadian scores.. Graham Delaet T58 73 74 +3, Stephen Ames T66 74 74 +4, David Hearn T66 74 74 +4, Matt McQuillan T111 74 78 +8 MC
Asian Tour
CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters
Jakarta Golf Club
http://www.asiantour.com/livescoring.html
Defending champion Lee Westwood holed four birdies Friday for a 4-under 68 in the second round of the Indonesian Masters.The third-ranked Englishman followed eight straight pars with a birdie at the last hole to take a five-shot clubhouse lead at 11-under 133.
"You want to be leading tournaments and I obviously got the hang of playing on this golf course. More importantly, I was patient and I didn't force things to happen," Westwood said. "I'm glad I finished. I can relax this afternoon and prepare for the weekend."
UPDATE Saturday April 21 5.30amest Round 3 in progress *****
Veteran golfer Zaw Moe of Myanmar birdied the last hole to cut Lee Westwood’s lead by two after returning this morning to complete the second round of the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters. Moe completed six holes this morning, posting a bogey on the fifth hole before fighting back with birdies on seven and nine for a second round five-under-par 67.
Canadian score Ron Harvey T42 76 69 -1
LPGA
LPGA LOTTE Championship Presented by J Golf
Ko Olina Golf Club
Kapolei, Hawaii
Wednesday - Saturday
http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx
Seven-time LPGA winner Ai Miyazato holds a three-shot lead over Cristie Kerr and Azahara Munoz entering the final round of play at the LPGA LOTTE Championship Presented by J Golf. Miyazato shot 2-under-par 70 on Friday during the third round at Ko Olina Golf Club on Oahu. The Japanese star recorded four birdies – including a four-foot putt at No. 18 – and two bogies to move to 10-under-par 206. “It was really tough out there. Still windy, and basically same direction, but it's still tough to play out there,” she said. “I really handled (it) well, so I'm very happy with my round today
Canadian scores.. Lorie Kane T20 73 69 73, Alena Sharp T32 73 70 74, Jessica Shepley T39 75 68 75, Rebecca Lee-Bentham T50 73 73 74, Maude-Aimee LeBlanc 74 75 MC, Samantha Richhdale 74 80 MC, Stephanie Sherlock 80 74 MC
eGolf Professional Tour
Forest Oaks Classic
http://tarheel.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/tarheel12/event/tarheel1212/contest/1/leaderboard.htm
Clint Jensen of Jupiter, FL chipped in for birdie on the par-5 18th at Forest Oaks Country Club on Friday afternoon to play his way into a playoff alongside Lanto Griffin of Blacksburg, VA at the eGolf Tour’s Forest Oaks Classic. On that very same 18th hole, this time serving as the second playoff hole, Jensen drained a 15-foot birdie putt from the back fringe to win his third career eGolf Tour title and the event’s $15,000 first-place prize.
Canadian scores.. Cam Burke T4 -10 68 74 64, Matt Hill T7 -9 71 68 68, Christopher Ross T18 -7 68 71 70,
The cut fell at -2 Brad Revell -1 MC David Markle E MC, Brett Cairns +8 MC, Greg Doherty +9 MC, Zack Schnurr +12 MC,
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and www.isr1050.com
European Tour
Volvo China Open
Binhai Lake GC
Tianjin
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012022/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Round 3 complete (Tianjin is +12hrs EST)
Branden Grace’s dream season continued as he moved into a three shot lead at the Volvo China Open with a third round 64. Since coming through The European Tour Qualifying School at the end of 2011, the 23 year old has won back-to-back titles on home soil and risen to sixth in The Race to Dubai.
Defending champion Nicolas Colsaerts, looking to become the first player to win the event twice, is second after a 66, with Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti third on 14 under after matching Grace’s round of 64
Champions Tour
Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf
Savannah Harbor Golf Resort · Savannah, Georgiahttp://www.pgatour.com/s/leaderboard/
Brad Bryant and his partner Tom Purtzer challenged the tournament-course record with a blistering back nine on Friday but fell one short in their quest to match the 13-under-par 59 by Andy North and Tom Watson in 2008. However, their 12-under-par 60 in the better-ball format gave the pair a two-stroke margin after the opening round in the Legends Division of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf. Bryant and Purtzer birdied seven of nine holes on the back nine while posting a back-nine score of 7-under-par 29. Four teams opened with 10-under par 62s including David Frost/Michael Allen, Kenny Perry/Russ Cochran, Jeff Sluman/Brad Faxon and Tom Jenkins/Bruce Fleisher.
In the Raphael Division competition, defending champions Des Smyth and partner Mark James are currently tied for the lead at 8-under-par 64 with Gary Koch and Roger Maltbie.
Rod Spittle paired with Mark Calcavecchia is T21 after -6 66...
PGA Tour
Valero Texas Open
TPC San Antonio · San Antonio, Texas
http://www.pgatour.com/r/leaderboard/Ben Curtis wrapped up his second round at the Valero Texas Open just before a two-hour storm delay left behind a stiff wind that protected the early leaders, Curtis shot another bogey-free 5-under 67 on Friday to finish at 10 under. He was two strokes ahead of David Mathis and three in front of Cameron Tringale and Matt Every
Mathis matched Curtis with a 67, Tringale had a 65, and Every was poised to inch even closer before darkness suspended play. He'll line up for an 11-foot birdie chance on the par-4 17th when second-round play resumes this morning.
Blake Adams (69), Ryan Palmer (69) and Hunter Haas (74) were tied for fifth at 4 under.
A dozen players shot in the 60s before play was suspended. After play resumed, no one cracked 70.
Twenty-five players will finish the second round Saturday. Among those near the top is Frank Lickliter II, who was 3 under and tied for eighth with one hole left to play.
The cut is projected to fall at +4. Play was suspended due to darkness and will resume at 7:30am local time. The approx start times for round 3 will be between 9:45-11:45 am
Canadian scores.. Graham Delaet T58 73 74 +3, Stephen Ames T66 74 74 +4, David Hearn T66 74 74 +4, Matt McQuillan T111 74 78 +8 MC
Asian Tour
CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters
Jakarta Golf Club
http://www.asiantour.com/livescoring.html
Defending champion Lee Westwood holed four birdies Friday for a 4-under 68 in the second round of the Indonesian Masters.The third-ranked Englishman followed eight straight pars with a birdie at the last hole to take a five-shot clubhouse lead at 11-under 133.
"You want to be leading tournaments and I obviously got the hang of playing on this golf course. More importantly, I was patient and I didn't force things to happen," Westwood said. "I'm glad I finished. I can relax this afternoon and prepare for the weekend."
UPDATE Saturday April 21 5.30amest Round 3 in progress *****
Veteran golfer Zaw Moe of Myanmar birdied the last hole to cut Lee Westwood’s lead by two after returning this morning to complete the second round of the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters. Moe completed six holes this morning, posting a bogey on the fifth hole before fighting back with birdies on seven and nine for a second round five-under-par 67.
Canadian score Ron Harvey T42 76 69 -1
LPGA
LPGA LOTTE Championship Presented by J Golf
Ko Olina Golf Club
Kapolei, Hawaii
Wednesday - Saturday
http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx
Seven-time LPGA winner Ai Miyazato holds a three-shot lead over Cristie Kerr and Azahara Munoz entering the final round of play at the LPGA LOTTE Championship Presented by J Golf. Miyazato shot 2-under-par 70 on Friday during the third round at Ko Olina Golf Club on Oahu. The Japanese star recorded four birdies – including a four-foot putt at No. 18 – and two bogies to move to 10-under-par 206. “It was really tough out there. Still windy, and basically same direction, but it's still tough to play out there,” she said. “I really handled (it) well, so I'm very happy with my round today
Canadian scores.. Lorie Kane T20 73 69 73, Alena Sharp T32 73 70 74, Jessica Shepley T39 75 68 75, Rebecca Lee-Bentham T50 73 73 74, Maude-Aimee LeBlanc 74 75 MC, Samantha Richhdale 74 80 MC, Stephanie Sherlock 80 74 MC
eGolf Professional Tour
Forest Oaks Classic
http://tarheel.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/tarheel12/event/tarheel1212/contest/1/leaderboard.htm
Clint Jensen of Jupiter, FL chipped in for birdie on the par-5 18th at Forest Oaks Country Club on Friday afternoon to play his way into a playoff alongside Lanto Griffin of Blacksburg, VA at the eGolf Tour’s Forest Oaks Classic. On that very same 18th hole, this time serving as the second playoff hole, Jensen drained a 15-foot birdie putt from the back fringe to win his third career eGolf Tour title and the event’s $15,000 first-place prize.
Canadian scores.. Cam Burke T4 -10 68 74 64, Matt Hill T7 -9 71 68 68, Christopher Ross T18 -7 68 71 70,
The cut fell at -2 Brad Revell -1 MC David Markle E MC, Brett Cairns +8 MC, Greg Doherty +9 MC, Zack Schnurr +12 MC,
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and www.isr1050.com
Monday, April 16, 2012
Canadian scores from the weekend.. Latest World Rankings..
Here is a compilation of Canadian scores I've been following all weekend.
Also click here for the latest official world rankings where Rory McIlroy is back at #1 http://www.officialworldgolfranking.com/rankings/default.sps?region=world
PGA Tour
RBC Heritage.. winner Carl Pettersson
Stephen Ames T29 after a 74 +1 total and Graham Delaet was T44 72, +3 total.
Champions Tour
Encompass Insurance Pro-Am
Lutz, Florida
winner.. Michael Allen
Jim Rutledge T32, 75 73 69 and Rod Spittle T43, 77 72 70
Nationwide Tour
TPC at Stonebrae
Hayward, California
winner.. Alex Aragon
Stuart Anderson T61 71 68 77 69, Richard Scott T23 69 71 68 69, Brad Fritsch T67 71 71 72 74, Adam Hadwin T26 75 67 66 70, Matt McQuillan 74 77 MC, Ryan Yip 75 78 MC, Bryan DeCorso 72,81 MC
eGolf Professional Tour
The Championship at St James Plantation, NC
winner.. Josh Brock
Matt Hill T16 70 70 74 73 -1, Derek Gillespie T21 71 72 74 71 E, Christopher Ross T40 75 71 75 72 +5, David Markle T54 69 76 80 76 +13....The following MC..Brett Cairns +5, Ryan Kennedy +9, Gavin Smith +12, Cam Burke +13, Zack Schnurr +22
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Also click here for the latest official world rankings where Rory McIlroy is back at #1 http://www.officialworldgolfranking.com/rankings/default.sps?region=world
PGA Tour
RBC Heritage.. winner Carl Pettersson
Stephen Ames T29 after a 74 +1 total and Graham Delaet was T44 72, +3 total.
Champions Tour
Encompass Insurance Pro-Am
Lutz, Florida
winner.. Michael Allen
Jim Rutledge T32, 75 73 69 and Rod Spittle T43, 77 72 70
Nationwide Tour
TPC at Stonebrae
Hayward, California
winner.. Alex Aragon
Stuart Anderson T61 71 68 77 69, Richard Scott T23 69 71 68 69, Brad Fritsch T67 71 71 72 74, Adam Hadwin T26 75 67 66 70, Matt McQuillan 74 77 MC, Ryan Yip 75 78 MC, Bryan DeCorso 72,81 MC
eGolf Professional Tour
The Championship at St James Plantation, NC
winner.. Josh Brock
Matt Hill T16 70 70 74 73 -1, Derek Gillespie T21 71 72 74 71 E, Christopher Ross T40 75 71 75 72 +5, David Markle T54 69 76 80 76 +13....The following MC..Brett Cairns +5, Ryan Kennedy +9, Gavin Smith +12, Cam Burke +13, Zack Schnurr +22
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Another Sunday for the "good old boys" at the RBC Heritage.
After last Sunday's drama, and all the subsequent publicity for good old boy Bubba Watson, today may make 2 in a row for the good old boys..
Carl Pettersson who is from Sweden, lives in Raleigh, North Carolina is a shot ahead -12 of Colt Knost -11 who is from Garretsville Ohio and lives in Dallas, so hardly redneck country but just look at them.
Pettersson who won our Canadian Open 2 years ago at St George's, after shooting 60 in round 2 after 7 or so beers with his caddy the night before loosened him up has a beer belly that belies his deadly accurate game ( he leads this week in GIR) and Colt is generously listed at 5'9" 215 pounds, more a physique seen on any public track across the golf universe, than the cookie cutter flat bellies that populate the PGA Tour these days. Doesn't "Colt Knost" just sound like an ice cold pilsner ??
Of course if you want a genuine good old boy, sitting in 4th place just 5 shots back at -7 is Boo Weekley, the winner here in 2007, 2008. Here's a guy who likes nothing better than getting into a bottle of Jack Daniels with his buddies, then going out to find an alligator to wrestle !!
Carl Pettersson who is from Sweden, lives in Raleigh, North Carolina is a shot ahead -12 of Colt Knost -11 who is from Garretsville Ohio and lives in Dallas, so hardly redneck country but just look at them.
Pettersson who won our Canadian Open 2 years ago at St George's, after shooting 60 in round 2 after 7 or so beers with his caddy the night before loosened him up has a beer belly that belies his deadly accurate game ( he leads this week in GIR) and Colt is generously listed at 5'9" 215 pounds, more a physique seen on any public track across the golf universe, than the cookie cutter flat bellies that populate the PGA Tour these days. Doesn't "Colt Knost" just sound like an ice cold pilsner ??
Of course if you want a genuine good old boy, sitting in 4th place just 5 shots back at -7 is Boo Weekley, the winner here in 2007, 2008. Here's a guy who likes nothing better than getting into a bottle of Jack Daniels with his buddies, then going out to find an alligator to wrestle !!
| Canadians Stephen Ames had a nifty little 66 yesterday and is T24, and Graham Delaet is T53 after 73. FINAL SUNDAY WRAP**** Carl Pettersson, who puts the belly in belly putter has just won the RBC Heritage Open, to continue his Canadian connection, after winning the RBC Canadian Open at St George's in 2010. His final round of 69 -14 was 5 shots clear of Zack Johnson (70) and 6 better than Colt Knost who slipped up with a 74 -8 total. After Pettersson made birdie at the first, added another at 4 then another at 5 he was suddenly 4 shots clear after Knost's chances all but ended with a horrible drive out of bounds left on No. 3 that led to a triple-bogey seven and out of contention. Pettersson has been 2nd twice this year at the Sony and 2 weeks ago at the Shell so has been in form but he remembered 2009, when he felt like he needed to trim down to play better. He worked out more, ate right, dropped 30 pounds, and couldn't swing the club. He vowed to beef up and rediscover his game. The regimen? "Well, you drink 10 beers and (eat) a tub of ice cream before bed," Pettersson said. "That puts it on quickly." He is now tied with Jesper Parnevik for the most PGA Tour wins by a Swede with 5. So it was a weekend for the good old boys, guys who never see the fitness trailer, Pettersson 1st , Knost 3rd, Kevin Stadler T4, with Billy Mayfair, throw in Boo Weekley T6.... maybe they are on to something, or as Pettersson said " maybe all those other guys are overdoing it !!" Canadians....Stephen Ames T29 after a 74 +1 total and Graham Delaet was T44 72, +3 total. FINAL scoreboard click http://www.pgatour.com/r/leaderboard/ Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com |  | |||||||||||||
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Friday wraps, Saturday stories, live scoreboards, Canadian scores..
PGA Tour
RBC Heritage
Harbour Town Links
Hilton Head NC
Colt Knost shot a 6-under 66 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead over Carl Pettersson after the second round. Knost, tied for the first-round lead with Chad Campbell and Vaughn Taylor after a 67, had three birdies in a four-hole stretch midway through the round and finished at -9,133.
Pettersson had a 65,to stand at -7, his best showing in 32 career rounds at Harbour Town Golf Links. Two-time RBC Heritage winner Boo Weekley (66) and Harris English (68) were another shot off the lead at -6 in a week when most of the world's best took a break following the year's first major.
World No. 1 Luke Donald, though, was among the few stars at Harbour Town. He needs a top-eight finish to retain the top spot over idle No. 2, Rory McIlroy, and bounced back from an opening 75 with a 69 to slide inside the cut line
Graham Delaet 74 68 T35, and Stephen Ames 71 74 T65 made the cut, Mike Weir 76 81 MC and David Hearn 68 78 MC
click here for live scoring http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r012/
Champions Tour
Encompass Insurance Pro-Am
Lutz, Florida
Semi retired 63-year-old Bruce Fleisher shot a -6 65 yesterday to take a one-stroke lead over Michael Allen 66 and Chien Soon Lu 66, after the first round of the Champions Tour's Encompass Insurance Pro-Am. Fleisher won this event in 2000 and 2003 now only plays 11 or 12 events a year.
Jim Rutledge T63, 75 and Rod Spittle T70, 77 were the Canadian scores..
click here for live scoring http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/s551/
Nationwide Tour
TPC at Stonebrae
Hayward, California
click here for live scoring http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/h099/
Cold winds, fog and rain have combined to make the schedule a mess as only 64 players in the original field of 156 have managed to complete both rounds. A total of 24 players have yet to tee off in round two. Ten others have withdrawn at various times during the first two days, including Tournament Host and NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice
"We're doing everything we can," said Nationwide Tour Tournament Director Orlando Pope. "Mother Nature is just not cooperating."
Steve Friesen, finished five holes of his opening round 69 Friday and then turned around and added a 2-under 68 in the freezing afternoon wind for a 3-under 137 total and temporary possession of the clubhouse lead
Canadian scores, some are partial as round 2 has yet to be completed..Stuart Anderson 71, Richard Scott 69, Brad Fritsch 71 71, Adam Hadwin 75, Matt McQuillan 74 77, Ryan Yip 75 78, Bryan DeCorso 72,81,
eGolf Professional Tour
The Championship at St James Plantation, NC
FINAL RESULTS **
Josh Brock of nearby Wilmington, NC entered the final round of the eGolf Tour’s Championship at St. James Plantation trailing 54-hole leader Peter Malnati of Dandridge, TN by one shot following rounds of 71-71-68—210. After trading shots for much of the day, a late eagle on a perfect Southport afternoon gave the former UNC Wilmington star his first career eGolf Tour title, and the $25,000 first-place prize.
click here for live scoring http://tarheel.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/tarheel12/event/tarheel122/contest/1/leaderboard.htm
Final Canadian scores Matt Hill T16 70 70 74 73 -1, Derek Gillespie T21 71 72 74 71 E, Christopher Ross T40 75 71 75 72 +5, David Markle T54 69 76 80 76 +13....The following MC..Brett Cairns +5, Ryan Kennedy +9, Gavin Smith +12, Cam Burke +13, Zack Schnurr +22
Lpga Tour is off
European Tour report in previous post
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
RBC Heritage
Harbour Town Links
Hilton Head NC
Colt Knost shot a 6-under 66 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead over Carl Pettersson after the second round. Knost, tied for the first-round lead with Chad Campbell and Vaughn Taylor after a 67, had three birdies in a four-hole stretch midway through the round and finished at -9,133.
Pettersson had a 65,to stand at -7, his best showing in 32 career rounds at Harbour Town Golf Links. Two-time RBC Heritage winner Boo Weekley (66) and Harris English (68) were another shot off the lead at -6 in a week when most of the world's best took a break following the year's first major.
World No. 1 Luke Donald, though, was among the few stars at Harbour Town. He needs a top-eight finish to retain the top spot over idle No. 2, Rory McIlroy, and bounced back from an opening 75 with a 69 to slide inside the cut line
Graham Delaet 74 68 T35, and Stephen Ames 71 74 T65 made the cut, Mike Weir 76 81 MC and David Hearn 68 78 MC
click here for live scoring http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r012/
Champions Tour
Encompass Insurance Pro-Am
Lutz, Florida
Semi retired 63-year-old Bruce Fleisher shot a -6 65 yesterday to take a one-stroke lead over Michael Allen 66 and Chien Soon Lu 66, after the first round of the Champions Tour's Encompass Insurance Pro-Am. Fleisher won this event in 2000 and 2003 now only plays 11 or 12 events a year.
Jim Rutledge T63, 75 and Rod Spittle T70, 77 were the Canadian scores..
click here for live scoring http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/s551/
Nationwide Tour
TPC at Stonebrae
Hayward, California
click here for live scoring http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/h099/
Cold winds, fog and rain have combined to make the schedule a mess as only 64 players in the original field of 156 have managed to complete both rounds. A total of 24 players have yet to tee off in round two. Ten others have withdrawn at various times during the first two days, including Tournament Host and NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice
"We're doing everything we can," said Nationwide Tour Tournament Director Orlando Pope. "Mother Nature is just not cooperating."
Steve Friesen, finished five holes of his opening round 69 Friday and then turned around and added a 2-under 68 in the freezing afternoon wind for a 3-under 137 total and temporary possession of the clubhouse lead
Canadian scores, some are partial as round 2 has yet to be completed..Stuart Anderson 71, Richard Scott 69, Brad Fritsch 71 71, Adam Hadwin 75, Matt McQuillan 74 77, Ryan Yip 75 78, Bryan DeCorso 72,81,
eGolf Professional Tour
The Championship at St James Plantation, NC
FINAL RESULTS **
Josh Brock of nearby Wilmington, NC entered the final round of the eGolf Tour’s Championship at St. James Plantation trailing 54-hole leader Peter Malnati of Dandridge, TN by one shot following rounds of 71-71-68—210. After trading shots for much of the day, a late eagle on a perfect Southport afternoon gave the former UNC Wilmington star his first career eGolf Tour title, and the $25,000 first-place prize.
click here for live scoring http://tarheel.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/tarheel12/event/tarheel122/contest/1/leaderboard.htm
Final Canadian scores Matt Hill T16 70 70 74 73 -1, Derek Gillespie T21 71 72 74 71 E, Christopher Ross T40 75 71 75 72 +5, David Markle T54 69 76 80 76 +13....The following MC..Brett Cairns +5, Ryan Kennedy +9, Gavin Smith +12, Cam Burke +13, Zack Schnurr +22
Lpga Tour is off
European Tour report in previous post
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Friday, April 13, 2012
Louis Oosthuizen caps off a marvellous fortnight win a win in Malaysia
UPDATE !!! 8.00am est Sunday
Louis Oosthuizen has just won the Maybank Malaysia Open 2012 by 3 shots from Scotland's Steven Gallagher and it couldn't be more deserving, he is playing as well as anyone in the world right now..
Remember he was leading going into the final round two weeks ago in Texas only to be overhauled by Hunter Mahan and finished 3rd, then Watson’s moment of magic at the tenth denied him a Masters win in a play-off only seven days ago.
Add in the fact that he travelled through 12 time zones, over 30 hours to get to Kuala Lumpur, where it was hot, humid and thundery all weekend, with delays that meant he had to play 26 holes today to win his 5th European Tour title.
66 68 69 68 -17, all four rounds under 70, he finished his 3rd round with 8 pars early this morning, before posting his -4 68 minutes ago.
Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello continued his good form with a closing 71 for a 12 under total to share third with England’s Danny Willett (71) and American David Lipsky (70), with Oosthuizen’s friend and compatriot Charl Schwartzel sixth on 11 under. World Number Seven Martin Kaymer and defending champion Matteo Manassero also recorded top-ten finishes after rounds of 71 and 69 respectively
final results click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012020/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
UPDATE.. Friday 6am est
Play has been suspended for the day due to storms and will resume at 07.45 (local) Saturday morning. There was thunder and lightning in the area on a very hot and humid day in Kuala Lumpur.
Louis Oosthuizen has just won the Maybank Malaysia Open 2012 by 3 shots from Scotland's Steven Gallagher and it couldn't be more deserving, he is playing as well as anyone in the world right now..
Remember he was leading going into the final round two weeks ago in Texas only to be overhauled by Hunter Mahan and finished 3rd, then Watson’s moment of magic at the tenth denied him a Masters win in a play-off only seven days ago.
Add in the fact that he travelled through 12 time zones, over 30 hours to get to Kuala Lumpur, where it was hot, humid and thundery all weekend, with delays that meant he had to play 26 holes today to win his 5th European Tour title.
66 68 69 68 -17, all four rounds under 70, he finished his 3rd round with 8 pars early this morning, before posting his -4 68 minutes ago.
Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello continued his good form with a closing 71 for a 12 under total to share third with England’s Danny Willett (71) and American David Lipsky (70), with Oosthuizen’s friend and compatriot Charl Schwartzel sixth on 11 under. World Number Seven Martin Kaymer and defending champion Matteo Manassero also recorded top-ten finishes after rounds of 71 and 69 respectively
final results click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012020/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
UPDATE.. Friday 6am est
Play has been suspended for the day due to storms and will resume at 07.45 (local) Saturday morning. There was thunder and lightning in the area on a very hot and humid day in Kuala Lumpur.
Hennie Otto reeled off eight birdies to match Schwartzel’s opening 64 and set the clubhouse target at -9, and a short while later another South African Jbe Kruger joined him at the top of the leaderboard following a -7 65, -9 total.
Louis Ooshuizen is -2 through 12 -8 total, and Martin Kaymer's -5 67 gets him safely in at -7. Charl Schwartzel is +3 today through 12, -5 total.
UPDATE..Round 2 completed, round 3 underway.. Saturday 6am est
Louis Oosthuizen continued his remarkable form to lead the Maybank Malaysian Open as the second round was completed.
Remember he led the Shell Houston Open after three rounds two weeks ago before finishing third, then did everything but win the Masters.
.“It is nice to play in the morning,” said Oosthuizen, after returning early this morning to add birdies at the 14th and 15th for a second round 68, to get to -10. He held a one shot lead over compatriots Jbe Kruger 65, and Hennie Otto 64,as well as Stephen Gallacher after the Scot completed a 68.
Round 3 immediately got underway but was delayed again for an hour due to more storm activity in the area, before resuming at 1.45pm local time.
As it stands at 5.20am (est) this morning Oosthuizen and Gallagher share the lead at -12. More to follow..
UPDATE..Round 2 completed, round 3 underway.. Saturday 6am est
Louis Oosthuizen continued his remarkable form to lead the Maybank Malaysian Open as the second round was completed.
Remember he led the Shell Houston Open after three rounds two weeks ago before finishing third, then did everything but win the Masters.
.“It is nice to play in the morning,” said Oosthuizen, after returning early this morning to add birdies at the 14th and 15th for a second round 68, to get to -10. He held a one shot lead over compatriots Jbe Kruger 65, and Hennie Otto 64,as well as Stephen Gallacher after the Scot completed a 68.
Round 3 immediately got underway but was delayed again for an hour due to more storm activity in the area, before resuming at 1.45pm local time.
As it stands at 5.20am (est) this morning Oosthuizen and Gallagher share the lead at -12. More to follow..
Canadians Andrew Parr 74 71, and Rick Gibson 76 72 missed the cut
Click here for live scoring..
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012020/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Golf Canada's weekly Top 10 Canadian Rankings..
Albin Choi has surrendered the number one ranking in Canada to Eugene Wong despite earning his second top-5 finish of the season. The NC State sophomore finished fifth at the ECU/UNCW River Landing Intercollegiate, helping the Wolfpack to a second place tie in the event. Wong, whose Oregon Ducks had the week off, has strung together back-to-back top-10 performances. Justin Shin, with a pair of top-10 results in New Mexico States last two tournaments, has climbed into the top five, picking up 86 places in the rankings while a recent string of top-10 results has helped Taylor Pendrith gain 36 places in the world rankings. Also an honourable mention to Brad Boyle of Kingston, Ont., for earning the PSAC Golfer of the Week award for taking medallist honours at the Atlantic Region Invitational in Ohio. He posted the second lowest total in the first round, 68, and a tournament best 67 in the second round to help the Indiana University of Pennsylvania to the team title.
click here for Top 10 Canuck Men, Women, Amateurs http://www.golfcanada.ca/professional-tours/golf-news/?articleId=1864443
On the women's side, Natalie Gleadall vaulted 53 places in the world rankings and into sixth place in the Canadian amateur rankings after finishing third - her second top-5 result of the year - in helping to lead the Lady Rebels to a third place finish at the BancorpSouth Rebel Intercollegiate.
On the professional tours, Adam Hadwin's best career finish on the Nationwide Tour has moved him closer to reclaiming the number one ranking in Canada. Buoyed by his tie for fifth at the Soboba Classic, the Abbotsford, B.C. golfer has moved to within six points of David Hearn in the world rankings.
On the professional tours, Adam Hadwin's best career finish on the Nationwide Tour has moved him closer to reclaiming the number one ranking in Canada. Buoyed by his tie for fifth at the Soboba Classic, the Abbotsford, B.C. golfer has moved to within six points of David Hearn in the world rankings.
click here for Top 10 Canuck Men, Women, Amateurs http://www.golfcanada.ca/professional-tours/golf-news/?articleId=1864443
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Augusta to Kuala Lumpur..
This conversation with Alvaro Quiros and Martin Kaymer on travelling from the Masters to Malaysia..
Can you describe your journey from the Masters?
Can you describe your journey from the Masters?
Kaymer: Well I had my friend with me (points to Quiros). We had plenty of time to talk. We flew to New York first then to Dubai. Then we waited seven hours before flying to Kuala Lumpur. Obviously it was one hell of a trip. But we watched some movies on the plane. Ate a little bit. It was fun.
How long was the journey?
About 28 or 30 hours but you can sleep a little bit....
It was a 30 hour flight for Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen as well from Atlanta to Kuala Lumpur, but both guys showed little sign of jet lag, Schwartzel opened today with -8 64 to take the lead, and Oosthuizen -6 66 is T3
As for Kaymer and Quiros..Martin opened with -2 70 and Alvaro E 72..
It was a 30 hour flight for Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen as well from Atlanta to Kuala Lumpur, but both guys showed little sign of jet lag, Schwartzel opened today with -8 64 to take the lead, and Oosthuizen -6 66 is T3
As for Kaymer and Quiros..Martin opened with -2 70 and Alvaro E 72..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Back to business with a huge Canadian influence at Harbour Town Links.. Round 1 wraps.
With Bubba off on a media bllitz today, including the Letterman Show, players have scattered from Georgia all over the world. Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer and Charl Schwartzel are off to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, while many of the guys have taken a shorter route up to Hilton Head to play the RBC Heritage including Jose Maria Olazabal who spent a night in jail after he got caught speeding, doing 97 in a 65mph zone in Georgia... Cost him nearly $700 to get out.
PGA Tour
PGA Tour
RBC Heritage
Thursday Apr 12 – Sunday Apr 15, 2012
Harbour Town Golf Links
Hilton Head, South Carolina
Late last year RBC announced they were going to expand their already prodigious expenditure in the golf business when they stepped up to the plate to take over sponsorship of the Heritage Classic at the venerable Harbour Town GL in Hilton Head.
The inaugural event in 1969 was won by Arnold Palmer when it was just the Heritage Classic. Two years later it became the Sea Pines Heritage Classic, before MCI took over in 1987. Last year Verizon decided to drop out due to the world wide recession after hosting the event since 2008, leaving Commissioner Finchem in a real jam, before Jim Little convinced the suits at RBC who gave him millions to sponsor the Canadian Open and sign a stable of stars including world #1 Luke Donald, to spread their brand south of the border and sign a 5 year deal thus saving one of the PGA tour's more popular events..
Canadians Mike Weir, Stephen Ames, Graham DeLaet, David Hearn
Defending Champion.. Brandt Snedeker beat Luke Donald in a playoff.. Donald was also T2 in 2009.
Tee times click here http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r012/tee-times.html
Round 1 Wrap
It's a tightly packed leaderboard, 42 players are at E or better, but the 3 way tie for the lead at -4 67 is between Chad Campbell, Vaughn Taylor and Colston Knost. Campbell who has only had one T10 siince 2009, birdied four of his first seven holes, Knost birdied three of his last five, and Taylor holed out from the fairway for a closing eagle on the par 4.
Jim Furyk, Charlie Wi, Matt Every and Harris English are all in at -3 68.
full leaderboard click here..http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r012/
Stephen Ames was the best of the Canadians T24 E 71.. Luke Donald who lost here in a playoff last year struggled to a +4 75.
Round 1 Wrap
It's a tightly packed leaderboard, 42 players are at E or better, but the 3 way tie for the lead at -4 67 is between Chad Campbell, Vaughn Taylor and Colston Knost. Campbell who has only had one T10 siince 2009, birdied four of his first seven holes, Knost birdied three of his last five, and Taylor holed out from the fairway for a closing eagle on the par 4.
Jim Furyk, Charlie Wi, Matt Every and Harris English are all in at -3 68.
full leaderboard click here..http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/r012/
Stephen Ames was the best of the Canadians T24 E 71.. Luke Donald who lost here in a playoff last year struggled to a +4 75.
| T24 | 126 | | Stephen Ames | E | F | E | 71 |
 | T80 | 137 | | Graham DeLaet | 3 | F | 3 | info | 74 |
| T123 | 142 | | David Hearn | 7 | F | 7 | info | 78 |
Champions Tour
Encompass Insurance Pro-Am of Tampa Bay
Friday Apr 13 – Sunday Apr 15, 2012
TPC Tampa Bay
Lutz, Florida
Canadians.. Rod Spittle,Jim Rutledge
Defending champion.. John Cook..
Formerly called the Outback Steakhouse this tournament, held in the Tampa area since 1988, also has a new sponsor and a new name, the Encompass Insurance Pro-Am of Tampa Bay and will be played at the TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz. The tournament will continue the pro-am format, fan interaction programs, and offer first-class hospitality to the spectators in the Tampa Bay community.The multi-year agreement gives Encompass the opportunity to sponsor not only this year's event, but also bring the Champions Tour to the Chicago area in 2013 and beyond.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the tournament, which was won by John Cook in a playoff over Jay Don Blake last year. Five of the last seven winners of the Champions Tour event in Tampa Bay are World Golf Hall of Fame members. The celebrities scheduled to participate in 2012 include Ronde Barber, Joe Theismann, Derrick Brooks, Phil Esposito, John O'Hurley, Stone Phillips and Craig T. Nelson
Nationwide Tour
TPC Stonebrae Championship
eGolf ProfessionalTour
The Championship at St James Plantation
Reserve Club and Founders Club,
Southport, NC
Richard Scott won the inaugural event here in 2010..
Canadians.. Matt Hill T8 70 70 -4, Cam Burke +13MC, Zack Schnurr +22MC, David Markle T28 69 76 +1, Derek Gillespie T16 71 72 -1, Christopher Ross T35 75 71 +2, Brett Cairns +5MC, Ryan Kennedy +9MC
tee times Reserve Club click http://tarheel.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/tarheel12/event/tarheel122/pairings.htm?r=00fc18b3-0175-48c8-b13c-29ffc076ff60
tee times Founders Club click http://tarheel.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/tarheel12/event/tarheel122/pairings.htm?r=64e6f19d-2f18-40b3-bdb5-55b08b93f1d7
Full leaderboard click http://tarheel.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/tarheel12/event/tarheel122/contest/1/leaderboard.htm
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the tournament, which was won by John Cook in a playoff over Jay Don Blake last year. Five of the last seven winners of the Champions Tour event in Tampa Bay are World Golf Hall of Fame members. The celebrities scheduled to participate in 2012 include Ronde Barber, Joe Theismann, Derrick Brooks, Phil Esposito, John O'Hurley, Stone Phillips and Craig T. Nelson
Nationwide Tour
TPC Stonebrae Championship
Thursday Apr 12 – Sunday Apr 15, 2012
TPC Stonebrae
Hayward, California
Canadians : Adam Hadwin +5 75, Richard Scott -1 69, Stuart Anderson +1 71, Brad Fritsch +1 thru 16, Matt McQuillan -1 thru 9, Bryan DeCorso -3 thru 9, Ryan Yip +6 thru 14
Defending Champion : Daniel Chopra
Tee times click http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/h099/tee-times.html
Round 1 Wrap
Morning fog delayed the start of play by two hours and ultimately kept 78 players in the field of 156 from completing their rounds. That group will return to the TPC Stonebrae course and resume play at 8:00 (PST) Friday morning.
On a cold, windy day in California, 2nd year pro Ben Martin holds the clubhouse lead at -5 65. Josh Broadway, Micheal Putnam and Brian Stuart are all a shot back at 66
full leaderboard click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/h099/
Round 1 Wrap
Morning fog delayed the start of play by two hours and ultimately kept 78 players in the field of 156 from completing their rounds. That group will return to the TPC Stonebrae course and resume play at 8:00 (PST) Friday morning.
On a cold, windy day in California, 2nd year pro Ben Martin holds the clubhouse lead at -5 65. Josh Broadway, Micheal Putnam and Brian Stuart are all a shot back at 66
full leaderboard click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/h099/
European Tour
Maybank Malaysian Open 2012
Kuala Lumpur G&CC
Malaysia
Canadian.. Andrew Parr +2 74
Canadian.. Andrew Parr +2 74
Defending champion. Matteo Manessero
tee times click here
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012020/teetimes/index.html
Round 1 Wrap..
It was a 30 hour flight for Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen from Atlanta to Kuala Lumpur, but both guys showed little sign of jet lag, Schwartzel opened today with -8 64 to take the lead, and Oosthuizen -6 66 is T3. Indian champion Jeev Milka Singh is 2nd -7 65 and little known American Jason Knutzon is also at T3 -6 66.
full leaderboard click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012020/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Round 1 Wrap..
It was a 30 hour flight for Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen from Atlanta to Kuala Lumpur, but both guys showed little sign of jet lag, Schwartzel opened today with -8 64 to take the lead, and Oosthuizen -6 66 is T3. Indian champion Jeev Milka Singh is 2nd -7 65 and little known American Jason Knutzon is also at T3 -6 66.
full leaderboard click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012020/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
LPGA Tour off this week
eGolf ProfessionalTour
The Championship at St James Plantation
Reserve Club and Founders Club,
Southport, NC
Richard Scott won the inaugural event here in 2010..
Canadians.. Matt Hill T8 70 70 -4, Cam Burke +13MC, Zack Schnurr +22MC, David Markle T28 69 76 +1, Derek Gillespie T16 71 72 -1, Christopher Ross T35 75 71 +2, Brett Cairns +5MC, Ryan Kennedy +9MC
tee times Reserve Club click http://tarheel.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/tarheel12/event/tarheel122/pairings.htm?r=00fc18b3-0175-48c8-b13c-29ffc076ff60
tee times Founders Club click http://tarheel.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/tarheel12/event/tarheel122/pairings.htm?r=64e6f19d-2f18-40b3-bdb5-55b08b93f1d7
Full leaderboard click http://tarheel.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/tarheel12/event/tarheel122/contest/1/leaderboard.htm
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Monday, April 9, 2012
Bubba trumps Oosthuizen's albatross with "the shot" to win the Masters..
The old saying is the Masters doesn't start til the final 9 on Sunday
Here is the leaderboard http://www.majorschampionships.com/masters/2012/scoring/
Phil Mickelson took a 6 on the par 3 4th. He drove it left off the grandstand, found it in the bamboo, chose to make a hack instead of going back to the tee, barely moved it, played right handed next with a turned over wedge, almost missed it, flopped into the bunker from a trampled lie, made the up and down for 6...He went from -8 to -5
Meanwhile Louis Oosthuizen made an albatross 2 at the par 5 2nd , holing a 4 iron for 2. He is at -9 and leads..
FINAL WRAP
First let's talk about the contenders. Peter Hanson opened with 3 5's in a row to drop 2 shots, back to -7 and he didn't make a birdie until the 15th, missed all the putts he was making on Saturday, ended up with a 73, T3 -8. Mickelson as I said, recovered from that triple bogey and managed to stay in contention, but he could only make birdies on the two par 5s on the back and shot 72, T3 -8
Lee Westwood made three straight birdies, but he had an 8-foot eagle putt to tie for the lead on the 15th and missed it, and a final birdie on the 18th gave him a 68, finished T3, -8, his seventh top-3 finish in a major since the 2008 U.S. Open.
Matt Kuchar tied for the lead with a short eagle putt on the 15th, then bogeyed the 16th for a 69 T3 -8
Now to Bubba and Louis who finished tied at -10.
Louis had the lead at -10 after the albatross at #2 and stayed in the lead with a slippery par putt from 10 feet on the 14th and an 8-foot birdie putt on the 15th, but Bubba caught him by making his fourth straight birdie on the back nine, a shot into 4 feet on the par 3 16th. Both made pars at 17 and 18. Louis did nothing wrong on the day, he made one putt after putt on the back nine, especially a 5 footer on the 18th for a 69 to force the playoff.
PLAYOFF
They played 18, both had a shot at birdie and missed.
Then it ended in spectacular fashion at the par 4 10th. Louis drove in the fairway, Bubba hooked his wildly deep into the woods, but found it and had a shot off the pine needles..
It turned out to be the shot. It will be remembered every bit as much as Mickelson's 6 iron from the trees in 2010. He was so deep in the trees right of the fairway that he couldn't see the green. He hooked a wedge from 155 yards to about 10 feet from the hole.
"Hooked it about 40 yards, hit about 15 feet off the ground until it got under the tree and then started rising," Watson said. "Pretty easy."
"I had no idea where he was," Oosthuizen said. "Where I stood from, when the ball came out, it looked like a curve ball. Unbelievable shot. That shot he hit definitely won him the tournament."
Louis had a 12 footer of his own for par that broke a foot from left to right, and it looked in all the way, but somehow slid right across the hole as he sank to his knees.
Bubba lagged up close then tapped in for the par that won him the 76th Masters. He immediately broke down, sobbing in his caddy's then his mother's arms.
As for the much vaunted Tiger/ Rory showdown ??
Woods, an over hyped favourite coming in, based on his win at Arnie's was never close to being a factor on the weekend. He closed with a birdie on the 18th for a 74 and had his highest score ever at the Masters, finishing at +5 293, just 15 shots out of the lead, T40 with Rory, who was one shot out of the lead after two rounds, then had a 77-76 weekend.
For the emotional wreck that Watson undoubtedly is, he is as entertaining a golfer as there is to watch anywhere. If he were to retire to spend the next 20 years raising his new son Caleb, he could make a handsome living as a trick shot artist.
Kind of like the one he used to win this year's Masters..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Here is the leaderboard http://www.majorschampionships.com/masters/2012/scoring/
Phil Mickelson took a 6 on the par 3 4th. He drove it left off the grandstand, found it in the bamboo, chose to make a hack instead of going back to the tee, barely moved it, played right handed next with a turned over wedge, almost missed it, flopped into the bunker from a trampled lie, made the up and down for 6...He went from -8 to -5
Meanwhile Louis Oosthuizen made an albatross 2 at the par 5 2nd , holing a 4 iron for 2. He is at -9 and leads..
FINAL WRAP
First let's talk about the contenders. Peter Hanson opened with 3 5's in a row to drop 2 shots, back to -7 and he didn't make a birdie until the 15th, missed all the putts he was making on Saturday, ended up with a 73, T3 -8. Mickelson as I said, recovered from that triple bogey and managed to stay in contention, but he could only make birdies on the two par 5s on the back and shot 72, T3 -8
Lee Westwood made three straight birdies, but he had an 8-foot eagle putt to tie for the lead on the 15th and missed it, and a final birdie on the 18th gave him a 68, finished T3, -8, his seventh top-3 finish in a major since the 2008 U.S. Open.
Matt Kuchar tied for the lead with a short eagle putt on the 15th, then bogeyed the 16th for a 69 T3 -8
Now to Bubba and Louis who finished tied at -10.
Louis had the lead at -10 after the albatross at #2 and stayed in the lead with a slippery par putt from 10 feet on the 14th and an 8-foot birdie putt on the 15th, but Bubba caught him by making his fourth straight birdie on the back nine, a shot into 4 feet on the par 3 16th. Both made pars at 17 and 18. Louis did nothing wrong on the day, he made one putt after putt on the back nine, especially a 5 footer on the 18th for a 69 to force the playoff.
PLAYOFF
They played 18, both had a shot at birdie and missed.
Then it ended in spectacular fashion at the par 4 10th. Louis drove in the fairway, Bubba hooked his wildly deep into the woods, but found it and had a shot off the pine needles..
It turned out to be the shot. It will be remembered every bit as much as Mickelson's 6 iron from the trees in 2010. He was so deep in the trees right of the fairway that he couldn't see the green. He hooked a wedge from 155 yards to about 10 feet from the hole.
"Hooked it about 40 yards, hit about 15 feet off the ground until it got under the tree and then started rising," Watson said. "Pretty easy."
"I had no idea where he was," Oosthuizen said. "Where I stood from, when the ball came out, it looked like a curve ball. Unbelievable shot. That shot he hit definitely won him the tournament."
Louis had a 12 footer of his own for par that broke a foot from left to right, and it looked in all the way, but somehow slid right across the hole as he sank to his knees.
Bubba lagged up close then tapped in for the par that won him the 76th Masters. He immediately broke down, sobbing in his caddy's then his mother's arms.
As for the much vaunted Tiger/ Rory showdown ??
Woods, an over hyped favourite coming in, based on his win at Arnie's was never close to being a factor on the weekend. He closed with a birdie on the 18th for a 74 and had his highest score ever at the Masters, finishing at +5 293, just 15 shots out of the lead, T40 with Rory, who was one shot out of the lead after two rounds, then had a 77-76 weekend.
For the emotional wreck that Watson undoubtedly is, he is as entertaining a golfer as there is to watch anywhere. If he were to retire to spend the next 20 years raising his new son Caleb, he could make a handsome living as a trick shot artist.
Kind of like the one he used to win this year's Masters..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Sunday at Augusta.. and the winner is ...?? My analysis of the contenders..
live scoring click...http://www.majorschampionships.com/masters/2012/scoring/index.cfm
Sunday tee times click http://www.majorschampionships.com/masters/2012/scoring/tee_times.cfm
Sunday pins click http://ow.ly/i/yq4T
The weather for Augusta today calls for hot and sunny with a light breeze... Question is which of these leaders will have their hot,sunny games with them.
Peter Hanson leads at -9 and he reminds me of Mike Weir's situation in 2003 when Weirsy became the first Canadian to win a major and you know the effect that had on his lore in this country. Similarly Big Peter is trying to become the first Swede. He has been playing well this year, 2nd at Qatar, 5th at World MatchPlay and 4th at Doral, he is as aggressive as I have ever seen and played with Phil for the first 2 rounds and enjoyed it... It is tough to follow up a round like yesterday's 65, can he do enough to keep his nose in front ??
Mickelson with his back nine of 30, 4 birdies and an eagle at 13 will be the favourite at -8, he has followed up that opening 74 with 68, 66 and most importantly for me is putting like the Phil who has won here 3 times on greens as fast as they are going to be today.
Louis Oosthuizen -7, has shown a lot of moxie this week, especially Friday when he was +3 through 5 holes, steadied his ship with a string of pars, added 3 birdies on the back nine to get in at E 72. He is swinging effortlessly, driving it great just as he did when he put on a clinic at the Open Championship in 2010. He is at -7 and could easily make this back to back wins for South Africa. Remember he won the Africa Open early in the year and was T3 last week at the Shell...
Bubba is next at -6 and if he can just stay from getting too excited, he could well be the man. He has played the back nine with 6 birdies including 13 and 15 both Friday and Saturday, and even if he doesn't have the bottle to win this, he along with Phil are the most fun to watch out of the contenders...
Smiling Matt Kuchar, the Smiling Assassin I call him is at -5. He really set himself up to take the lead with an outward 33 yesterday, but a bad bogey 6 at 13 slowed him, then another at 16, back in 37 spoiled the great start. He has a great disposition, is patient, and totally capable, but will need to take advantage of those par 5's today.
Then my final group that I think have a chance at -4. Lee Westwood has been rock solid, apart from that pulled approach at 18 Friday and the 3 putt that followed, and a missed 1 footer yesterday. Par golf won't be enough today, and if he isn't going to be the bridesmaid again he will have to capitalize on his stellar approach play with some timely putts today.
Paddy Harrington hasn't had a bogey on his card after the 11th all week, and his run of 4 birdies in a row from 13, plus another at 18, 32 stokes on the back nine got him right in contention with a 68. He is a grinder, I don't see him shooting 65 or 66 and that is what he'll need to do to win. He was T71 last week in Houston.
Henrik Stenson, the other Swede, has 7 birdies and 7 bogey's on the back nine this week, oh but yes he had that 8, a snowman at 18 on Thursday, which really he has fought back from to his credit, but he should be at -8 not -4 and that will ultimately cost him this year.
Finally Sean Foley's star pupil Hunter Mahan, twice a winner already including last week, PING is getting their money's worth from this guy. He started quietly, a pair of 72's with 8 bogey's, but yesterday he cut out his mistakes, only 1 bogey at the tough 7th, back in 33 for a -4 68. He is red hot right now obviously and of the pack at -4 has the best chance in my opinion.
920am is the opening tee time, with the final pair, Mickelson and Hanson off at 2.40pm
Rory and GMac as would have it are paired and off at noon and since they will feel the pressure is off, will probably score well. All kinds of big names are dotted throughout the morning and early afternoon because of their high scores yesterday, click on the tee times I have posted above.
I will be back here at 12pm for an update of the morning's play.
1200 (noon)
It is a beautiful Easter Sunday here in Toronto, 70*f in Augusta with very light wind and the early tee times are well underway.
* the best of the bunch so far are Luke Donald -3 at the turn then amateur champion Patrick Cantley at -2 through 8 and Martin Kaymer -2 through 9, along with Stewart Cink, Rickie Fowler and Bo Van Pelt. Tiger is -1 through 2.
*The leading amateur is Hideki Matsuyama at +1, who beat Cantley in the US Amateur final, he is yet to tee off
* Rory and GMac paired together both made bogey at the first, an improvement for Rory who has made double twice !!
I will be back at 4pm live until conclusion.. Should be a blast..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummbles and at www.isr1050.com
Sunday tee times click http://www.majorschampionships.com/masters/2012/scoring/tee_times.cfm
Sunday pins click http://ow.ly/i/yq4T
The weather for Augusta today calls for hot and sunny with a light breeze... Question is which of these leaders will have their hot,sunny games with them.
Peter Hanson leads at -9 and he reminds me of Mike Weir's situation in 2003 when Weirsy became the first Canadian to win a major and you know the effect that had on his lore in this country. Similarly Big Peter is trying to become the first Swede. He has been playing well this year, 2nd at Qatar, 5th at World MatchPlay and 4th at Doral, he is as aggressive as I have ever seen and played with Phil for the first 2 rounds and enjoyed it... It is tough to follow up a round like yesterday's 65, can he do enough to keep his nose in front ??
Mickelson with his back nine of 30, 4 birdies and an eagle at 13 will be the favourite at -8, he has followed up that opening 74 with 68, 66 and most importantly for me is putting like the Phil who has won here 3 times on greens as fast as they are going to be today.
Louis Oosthuizen -7, has shown a lot of moxie this week, especially Friday when he was +3 through 5 holes, steadied his ship with a string of pars, added 3 birdies on the back nine to get in at E 72. He is swinging effortlessly, driving it great just as he did when he put on a clinic at the Open Championship in 2010. He is at -7 and could easily make this back to back wins for South Africa. Remember he won the Africa Open early in the year and was T3 last week at the Shell...
Bubba is next at -6 and if he can just stay from getting too excited, he could well be the man. He has played the back nine with 6 birdies including 13 and 15 both Friday and Saturday, and even if he doesn't have the bottle to win this, he along with Phil are the most fun to watch out of the contenders...
Smiling Matt Kuchar, the Smiling Assassin I call him is at -5. He really set himself up to take the lead with an outward 33 yesterday, but a bad bogey 6 at 13 slowed him, then another at 16, back in 37 spoiled the great start. He has a great disposition, is patient, and totally capable, but will need to take advantage of those par 5's today.
Then my final group that I think have a chance at -4. Lee Westwood has been rock solid, apart from that pulled approach at 18 Friday and the 3 putt that followed, and a missed 1 footer yesterday. Par golf won't be enough today, and if he isn't going to be the bridesmaid again he will have to capitalize on his stellar approach play with some timely putts today.
Paddy Harrington hasn't had a bogey on his card after the 11th all week, and his run of 4 birdies in a row from 13, plus another at 18, 32 stokes on the back nine got him right in contention with a 68. He is a grinder, I don't see him shooting 65 or 66 and that is what he'll need to do to win. He was T71 last week in Houston.
Henrik Stenson, the other Swede, has 7 birdies and 7 bogey's on the back nine this week, oh but yes he had that 8, a snowman at 18 on Thursday, which really he has fought back from to his credit, but he should be at -8 not -4 and that will ultimately cost him this year.
Finally Sean Foley's star pupil Hunter Mahan, twice a winner already including last week, PING is getting their money's worth from this guy. He started quietly, a pair of 72's with 8 bogey's, but yesterday he cut out his mistakes, only 1 bogey at the tough 7th, back in 33 for a -4 68. He is red hot right now obviously and of the pack at -4 has the best chance in my opinion.
920am is the opening tee time, with the final pair, Mickelson and Hanson off at 2.40pm
Rory and GMac as would have it are paired and off at noon and since they will feel the pressure is off, will probably score well. All kinds of big names are dotted throughout the morning and early afternoon because of their high scores yesterday, click on the tee times I have posted above.
I will be back here at 12pm for an update of the morning's play.
1200 (noon)
It is a beautiful Easter Sunday here in Toronto, 70*f in Augusta with very light wind and the early tee times are well underway.
* the best of the bunch so far are Luke Donald -3 at the turn then amateur champion Patrick Cantley at -2 through 8 and Martin Kaymer -2 through 9, along with Stewart Cink, Rickie Fowler and Bo Van Pelt. Tiger is -1 through 2.
*The leading amateur is Hideki Matsuyama at +1, who beat Cantley in the US Amateur final, he is yet to tee off
* Rory and GMac paired together both made bogey at the first, an improvement for Rory who has made double twice !!
I will be back at 4pm live until conclusion.. Should be a blast..
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummbles and at www.isr1050.com
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Super Saturday at Augusta.. tee times, live scoring, Hanson leads Mickelson by one as big names stumble
live scoring click http://www.majorschampionships.com/masters/2012/scoring/index.cfm
Saturday tee times http://www.majorschampionships.com/masters/2012/scoring/tee_times.cfm
Weather forecast; Partly sunny and calm today high 74* (23c) Sunday sunny and calm, high 81* (27c)
There are 28 players at E or better of the -5 lead held by Couples and Dufner as we start Super Saturday, including Rory, Phil, Lee, Bubba, Sergio, Louis, Paddy just to name a few. The course will dry out now and the greens will speed up which should thin the field out the further into the weekend we get.
Tiger and Martin are 8 shots back at +3 and Luke is 9 back at +4, and with a 65 or 66 today even they could be right back in the mix.
It all gets started at 9.15am this morning, I'll be back here at noon.
12.40pm UPDATE
* As you can see from the tee times the leaders do not go out until 2.45. Of note Tiger has made 2 birdies and a bogey playing #8, the par 5. Still at +2
*Even though Graeme McDowell tweeted the pin placements and said the course looks set up for scoring, there are 33 players on the course now and only eight are under par. Brandt Snedeker and Sang-moon Bae are both 2 under, through seven and five holes, respectively. Bae, a PGA TOUR rookie, gets his second set of crystal goblets for the week after eagle at No. 2.
Click here to see Saturday pins http://www.mobypicture.com/user/Graeme_McDowell/view/12462892
I will be live blogging at 5pm
5pm UPDATE
Now that my Jays have just beat the Indians 7-4 in 12 with late heroics by Lawrie, Johnson and Davis we can turn my full attention to Augusta..
* Rory for goodness sake out in +6 42 through 9 now +2, Tiger another 72,still+3, what do all the pundits know eh ?? Tiger Rory Masters ?? Not even close
* Mickelson has just eagled the 13th to surge into a tie for the lead at -6 with Matt Kuchar -3 through 11 and Louis Oosthuizen -2 at the turn..
* 5 guys are at -4 including Mahan and Paddy both with 68, Bubba Dufner and now O'Hair..
* Rory has 9 holes to get back in this, let's see if he has learned to re group after last year's meltdown..
*5.28pm... It's all in play on moving Saturday as Lee, Jason, Phil. Rory etal begin to make their play on the back nine
* Freddie is still at -3
* Many scores are piling in late, but it is clear we will have a shootout on Sunday, and Tiger and Luke will be spectators..
* Couples and Dufner have both made 2 at 12 to get to -4
*540pm
FINAL WRAP
Well I called it Super Saturday and it was, but for many of the big names, it should have been Sloppy Saturday..
Freddie 75, Dufner 75, Sergio 75, Jimenez 76, Schwartzel 75, Rory 77, Kaymer 75, Luke Donald 75, Tiger 72...At one point Sergio and Rory birdied the 12th and gave each other a big hug, they were 11 over par between them !! It was a carnage.
On the other side of the coin, Peter Hanson carded a beautiful -7 65 -9 total to lead a hard charging Phil Mickelson who has gone 68 66 since his opening 74 to stand 2nd at -8. Louis Oosthuizen 69 -7 then Bubba 70 -6 followed by Matt Kuchar 70 at -5
-4 has a group of Harrington 68 ,Mahan 68 Stenson 70 and Westwood 72 and I think that is as far back as you can go to find the winner come tomorrow afternoon.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Saturday tee times http://www.majorschampionships.com/masters/2012/scoring/tee_times.cfm
Weather forecast; Partly sunny and calm today high 74* (23c) Sunday sunny and calm, high 81* (27c)
There are 28 players at E or better of the -5 lead held by Couples and Dufner as we start Super Saturday, including Rory, Phil, Lee, Bubba, Sergio, Louis, Paddy just to name a few. The course will dry out now and the greens will speed up which should thin the field out the further into the weekend we get.
Tiger and Martin are 8 shots back at +3 and Luke is 9 back at +4, and with a 65 or 66 today even they could be right back in the mix.
It all gets started at 9.15am this morning, I'll be back here at noon.
12.40pm UPDATE
* As you can see from the tee times the leaders do not go out until 2.45. Of note Tiger has made 2 birdies and a bogey playing #8, the par 5. Still at +2
*Even though Graeme McDowell tweeted the pin placements and said the course looks set up for scoring, there are 33 players on the course now and only eight are under par. Brandt Snedeker and Sang-moon Bae are both 2 under, through seven and five holes, respectively. Bae, a PGA TOUR rookie, gets his second set of crystal goblets for the week after eagle at No. 2.
Click here to see Saturday pins http://www.mobypicture.com/user/Graeme_McDowell/view/12462892
I will be live blogging at 5pm
5pm UPDATE
Now that my Jays have just beat the Indians 7-4 in 12 with late heroics by Lawrie, Johnson and Davis we can turn my full attention to Augusta..
* Rory for goodness sake out in +6 42 through 9 now +2, Tiger another 72,still+3, what do all the pundits know eh ?? Tiger Rory Masters ?? Not even close
* Mickelson has just eagled the 13th to surge into a tie for the lead at -6 with Matt Kuchar -3 through 11 and Louis Oosthuizen -2 at the turn..
* 5 guys are at -4 including Mahan and Paddy both with 68, Bubba Dufner and now O'Hair..
* Rory has 9 holes to get back in this, let's see if he has learned to re group after last year's meltdown..
*5.28pm... It's all in play on moving Saturday as Lee, Jason, Phil. Rory etal begin to make their play on the back nine
* Freddie is still at -3
* Many scores are piling in late, but it is clear we will have a shootout on Sunday, and Tiger and Luke will be spectators..
* Couples and Dufner have both made 2 at 12 to get to -4
*540pm
| T1 | 10 |   Peter Hanson | -7 | 15 | -5 | 68 | 74 | - | - | 142 |
| T1 | 2 |  Louis Oosthuizen | -7 | 12 | -3 | 68 | 72 | - | - | 140 |
| 3 | 8 |   Phil Mickelson | -6 | 14 | -4 | 74 | 68 | - | - | 142 |
| T4 | 7 | Henrik Stenson | -5 | 16 | -3 | 71 | 71 | - | - | 142 |
| T4 | 4 | Matt Kuchar | -5 | 13 | -2 | 71 | 70 | - | - | 141 |
| T6 | 18 |  Padraig Harrington | -4 | F | -4 | 71 | 73 | 68 | - | 212 |
FINAL WRAP
Well I called it Super Saturday and it was, but for many of the big names, it should have been Sloppy Saturday..
Freddie 75, Dufner 75, Sergio 75, Jimenez 76, Schwartzel 75, Rory 77, Kaymer 75, Luke Donald 75, Tiger 72...At one point Sergio and Rory birdied the 12th and gave each other a big hug, they were 11 over par between them !! It was a carnage.
On the other side of the coin, Peter Hanson carded a beautiful -7 65 -9 total to lead a hard charging Phil Mickelson who has gone 68 66 since his opening 74 to stand 2nd at -8. Louis Oosthuizen 69 -7 then Bubba 70 -6 followed by Matt Kuchar 70 at -5
-4 has a group of Harrington 68 ,Mahan 68 Stenson 70 and Westwood 72 and I think that is as far back as you can go to find the winner come tomorrow afternoon.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
Friday, April 6, 2012
Easter Friday at the Masters..Couples and Dufner lead a packed field
UPDATING...Friday 11.30am
As I said early this morning, it's cool, 14*c, the wind is swirling, a more difficult scoring day perhaps.
* PIN Placements for today https://twitter.com/#!/ESPN_Golf/status/56342959502786560 The committee have eased off in the pin placements today, here is a pic of the chart the players use.
*Lee Westwood has opened with 5 straight pars, this is where he made 4 straight birdies yesterday. He still leads at -5
*at -4, Jason Dufner is -1 today through 6 and Ben Crane also -4 is at -1 today through 8
* at -3 there are 7 golfers, and Rory is up to -2 with a birdie at 3 after 2 opening pars.
* #1 is still playing very tough as I outlined earlier, Weirsy like so many doubled it moments ago, but came back with a birdie on the par 5 2nd, so is at +1.
* the field is reversed today, so Tiger 1.42pm Luke 1.53pm etal are the late flight. I have to say a day like today is the norm in the UK, so while the commentators are all talking about the cold blustery weather, the European Tour players, especially the guys from the UK will be right at home.
* Ian Poulter who hasn't MC in 7 previous Masters, with 4 T25's has gone out in -2 34...
* Sergio is -2 tody through 4 after an opening E72.
* Louis Oosthuizen is +3 through 10 holes this morning..-1 total..
* Rory has another birdie, this one at the par 3 4th, now -3 T5..
* Weirsy has just made bogey at the par 3 6th so is at +2
* Peter Hanson opened with a double and has just gone birdie,birdie,birdie to join his Ryder Cup colleague Lee Westwood in the lead at -5. Lee is tied with Colin Montgomerie and Doug Sanders for most top-three finishes in a major without a victory. Westwood’s six have all come in his last 14 starts.
* Mickelson has just birdied the par 3 4th to go -2 today E overall.
* Weirsy is now +4 through 8, the talented amateur Patrick Cantley is now +4 on today's round
* Paul Lawrie had made birdie at #2 to get to -4 T3
12.42pm Rory has just made birdie at #7 to get to -4, and Sergio is now at -4 today with another birdie on 8.. The leaders are still Lee Westwood with nothing but pars through 9 -5 total and Peter Hanson with a double and 3 birdies also at -5..
* very strong looking European Tour top 10 leaderboard right now at 12.54pm
FINAL UPDATE
In the end,Rory McIlroy charged up the leaderboard. Lee Westwood is right there. So is Sergio Garcia and even Phil Mickelson but none of them are the leader..
That honour falls to 52 year old Fred Couples who putted and played beautifully for a -5 67, along with the guy who just won't go away, Jason Dufner -2 70 -5 total. Dufner came to our attention when he led the Keegan Bradley PGA Championship by 5 shots with 4 holes to go, and he has been all over PGA tour leaderboards without winning so far this year.
Freddie made three straight birdies to close out the front nine. He knocked down a pitching wedge from 105 yards to tap-in range, then rolled in a 35-foot putt up the hill on the ninth. His loudest cheer of the day came on the par-3 16th, when his 18-foot birdie putt slid across the green before turning right and tracking right into the hole.
Lee Westwood was making par upon par as I wrote earlier, finally made bogey at 11, but bounced back with birdies at 12 and 15 and would be leading if not for a double on 18 after three-putting from short range for 73 -4.
I didn't think Sergio would be a factor after he picked up an infection in the nail of his middle finger on the right hand. However he made six birdies in his round of -4 68.
Also at -4, 140 are Bubba Watson, who had a 71, and Louis Oosthuizen, who rallied from a miserable start with three birdies late in his round to salvage a 72. The group two shots behind at -3 are Paul Lawrie (72), Matt Kuchar (70) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (72)
Mickelson came back from 74 with -4 68, including a fist pumping 20 footer at 18 to get to -2, and I thought he said it best when referring to the tightly bunched field," the course will need to dry out and start running fast if we are not going to have 20 guys with a chance come Sunday afternoon."
Tiger had another bad day, shooting +3 75, made only 1 birdie, at the 3rd, all day, he only hit 2 greens on the back nine, didn't birdie one of the par 5's, dropped clubs, cussed, yanked a 4 iron into the gallery, he is at +3
75's as well for Kaymer and Schwartzel who are +3, Luke looks out of it 75,73 +4 and Mike Weir had a miserable 79 and MC at +7 as did everyone at +6 and worse
63 players will start play at 9.15am Saturday.
Friday at 5.15am ...Dawn is still over an hour away in Augusta and it is a cool, rainy morning, currently 57*F or 14*c. Here is the actual forecast.
Today: Scattered thunderstorms during the morning. Partly cloudy skies this afternoon. High 68F (20*c) Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Tonight: Mainly clear. Low 43F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Mainly sunny. High 74F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow night: Clear skies. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
Sunday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the low 50s.
T'Storms of course can mean weather delays, however yesterday gloom and doom was forecast and it all moved through with play being uninterrupted.
Here are today's tee times, the first scheduled for 7.50am est..
http://www.majorschampionships.com/masters/2012/scoring/tee_times.cfm
live scoring click here http://www.majorschampionships.com/masters/2012/scoring/index.cfm
Looking back
While Westwood with his -5 67 leads, Ryder Cup partner Peter Hanson and Louis Oosthuizen are a shot back at -4 68 Six players, 3 from Europe, FMolinari, Jimenz and Lawrie and 3 from the States, Crane, Dufner and Bubba are at -3 69
Rory McIlroy birdied his last two holes to shoot 71, while Tiger Woods shot even-par 72 with 2 bogey's to finish and Phil Mickelson shot +2 74. Luke Donald, ranked No. 1 in the world, shot 75 and said mud balls cost him at least 2 shots. He had a scare with a possible incorrect scorecard until this..The official announcement has just been made in the media center: “Luke Donald signed for a correct score of 3-over 75, including a bogey 5 on the fifth hole. Due to an administrative error an incorrect score on the fifth hole was entered into our scoring system. That error has has been corrected.”
Westwood, who finished second two years ago,is looking for his first major win, produced a solid ball-striking round, hitting 12 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens. The 67 ties for his low round at Augusta National. In the last 25 years, only one first-round leader at the Masters has gone on to win the tournament: Trevor Immelman in 2008.
* Henrik Stenson proved why you have to play all 18. At -5 standing on 18 tee, he was enjoying the round of the day, his best by far at Augusta. Then disaster..A drive in the trees, a couple of whacks in the pine straw, over the green in 5, then 3 putts for an 8, the highest score ever at the final hole, and went from the lead at -5 to sign for -1,71
*lift clean and place would have been in effect at any other tour event, however not at Augusta and mud balls were a big problem, albeit for everyone.. Zach Johnson, who shot a -2 70, said he had a mud ball on every fairway, with four of his approach shots affected.
Louis Oosthuizen said his approach shot at No. 1 was affected by the mud.“We knew beforehand that you are going to have to deal with this,” Oosthuizen said. “It’s just one of those things.”
* I believe the committee was worried about Phil's birdiefest interview because the players said after their rounds that pins were in more difficult positions than usual for a first round.“There definitely were some Sunday pin positions out there,” said Rory after his -1 71. “They set the pin positions up pretty tough probably thinking guys were going to go low because it was so soft.”
* speaking of Phil, did you see him on 18. He called for the referee because one of those screw in weights on his driver that Calloway spends millions advertising, came loose. He was allowed to use an Allen key to tighten it up and proceeded to rip one of his best of the day. (You are allowed to return your club to it's original state of play without penalty )
He had 4 bogey's and a triple on 10 where he lost his ball with a huge slice, but he birdies 2 of his last 4 for +2 74 and said after "I am putting great, if I can get hot Friday I'll be right back in it "
* Hole number 1 was the toughest.
* 6 Double Bogeys,
26 Bogeys
3 Birdies
0 Eagles
* the par 5's (2,8 13,15) were the easiest giving up 151 birdies and 8 eagles..
* Mike Weir is tied with Tiger in 29th after E72. He made 1 bogey on the front at 7 out in 37, and after bogey's at 10 and 11 I thought here we go, but a beauty of a birdie on 12, then 2 more on 13 and 15 got him in on 35, a solid day in his recovery. He told my partner Bob Weeks that he " can't practice like I did when I was 22, but am trying to get back to that, it's a process.."
* Nice to see Vijay Singh get a big cheer on 18 when he rolled in a birdie putt from just off the green to finish at -2 70. When Vijay turns 50 next February 22, he is going to take a ton of money out of the old guys pockets. He was taught to play by his Dad, modelled his swing after Tom WeiskopfVijay hitting endless buckets of balls..
* For those who thought Tiger was back, rid of all his swing problems, think again. Two weeks removed from winning at Bay Hill, Woods, who is ranked first in total driving on the PGA TOUR, hit just six fairways. "Warmed up bad, and it continued on the golf course,” Woods said. Same old motor patterns with all the clubs, The Hank [Haney] backswing with a new downswing.”
He yanked his opening tee shot left and into the trees before scrambling to make par. Then on #2 he went left again, this time had an unplayable but since it is a par 5, he took a drop and again scrambled to save par.
He was the erratic Tiger of old off the tee, missing left, including on the 18th, where he had to take another unplayable lie when he was stymied against a tree.
Still E72, he has had a lot of poor first rounds. In fact only once has he broke 70 in 17 visits to Augusta National. Ten times he’s shot 72 or worse.
So it's now 7.50am Friday, O'Hair, Verplank and Gonzo are about to start what will be another long, maybe real long with the weather forecast, cool, damp day at Augusta, I will try and find the pin sheets for you to see if the committee has eased up on their placements, if not expect the field to stay bunched.
I will be here most all day with live scoring, my opinions, story's as they happen, so join me with your comments, and remember I am on www.isr1050.com and you can here my golf report Sunday mornings at 845am on tsn1050radio on the International Sports Report.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
As I said early this morning, it's cool, 14*c, the wind is swirling, a more difficult scoring day perhaps.
* PIN Placements for today https://twitter.com/#!/ESPN_Golf/status/56342959502786560 The committee have eased off in the pin placements today, here is a pic of the chart the players use.
*Lee Westwood has opened with 5 straight pars, this is where he made 4 straight birdies yesterday. He still leads at -5
*at -4, Jason Dufner is -1 today through 6 and Ben Crane also -4 is at -1 today through 8
* at -3 there are 7 golfers, and Rory is up to -2 with a birdie at 3 after 2 opening pars.
* #1 is still playing very tough as I outlined earlier, Weirsy like so many doubled it moments ago, but came back with a birdie on the par 5 2nd, so is at +1.
* the field is reversed today, so Tiger 1.42pm Luke 1.53pm etal are the late flight. I have to say a day like today is the norm in the UK, so while the commentators are all talking about the cold blustery weather, the European Tour players, especially the guys from the UK will be right at home.
* Ian Poulter who hasn't MC in 7 previous Masters, with 4 T25's has gone out in -2 34...
* Sergio is -2 tody through 4 after an opening E72.
* Louis Oosthuizen is +3 through 10 holes this morning..-1 total..
* Rory has another birdie, this one at the par 3 4th, now -3 T5..
* Weirsy has just made bogey at the par 3 6th so is at +2
* Peter Hanson opened with a double and has just gone birdie,birdie,birdie to join his Ryder Cup colleague Lee Westwood in the lead at -5. Lee is tied with Colin Montgomerie and Doug Sanders for most top-three finishes in a major without a victory. Westwood’s six have all come in his last 14 starts.
* Mickelson has just birdied the par 3 4th to go -2 today E overall.
* Weirsy is now +4 through 8, the talented amateur Patrick Cantley is now +4 on today's round
* Paul Lawrie had made birdie at #2 to get to -4 T3
12.42pm Rory has just made birdie at #7 to get to -4, and Sergio is now at -4 today with another birdie on 8.. The leaders are still Lee Westwood with nothing but pars through 9 -5 total and Peter Hanson with a double and 3 birdies also at -5..
* very strong looking European Tour top 10 leaderboard right now at 12.54pm
FINAL UPDATE
In the end,Rory McIlroy charged up the leaderboard. Lee Westwood is right there. So is Sergio Garcia and even Phil Mickelson but none of them are the leader..
That honour falls to 52 year old Fred Couples who putted and played beautifully for a -5 67, along with the guy who just won't go away, Jason Dufner -2 70 -5 total. Dufner came to our attention when he led the Keegan Bradley PGA Championship by 5 shots with 4 holes to go, and he has been all over PGA tour leaderboards without winning so far this year.
Freddie made three straight birdies to close out the front nine. He knocked down a pitching wedge from 105 yards to tap-in range, then rolled in a 35-foot putt up the hill on the ninth. His loudest cheer of the day came on the par-3 16th, when his 18-foot birdie putt slid across the green before turning right and tracking right into the hole.
Lee Westwood was making par upon par as I wrote earlier, finally made bogey at 11, but bounced back with birdies at 12 and 15 and would be leading if not for a double on 18 after three-putting from short range for 73 -4.
I didn't think Sergio would be a factor after he picked up an infection in the nail of his middle finger on the right hand. However he made six birdies in his round of -4 68.
Also at -4, 140 are Bubba Watson, who had a 71, and Louis Oosthuizen, who rallied from a miserable start with three birdies late in his round to salvage a 72. The group two shots behind at -3 are Paul Lawrie (72), Matt Kuchar (70) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (72)
Mickelson came back from 74 with -4 68, including a fist pumping 20 footer at 18 to get to -2, and I thought he said it best when referring to the tightly bunched field," the course will need to dry out and start running fast if we are not going to have 20 guys with a chance come Sunday afternoon."
Tiger had another bad day, shooting +3 75, made only 1 birdie, at the 3rd, all day, he only hit 2 greens on the back nine, didn't birdie one of the par 5's, dropped clubs, cussed, yanked a 4 iron into the gallery, he is at +3
75's as well for Kaymer and Schwartzel who are +3, Luke looks out of it 75,73 +4 and Mike Weir had a miserable 79 and MC at +7 as did everyone at +6 and worse
63 players will start play at 9.15am Saturday.
Friday at 5.15am ...Dawn is still over an hour away in Augusta and it is a cool, rainy morning, currently 57*F or 14*c. Here is the actual forecast.
Today: Scattered thunderstorms during the morning. Partly cloudy skies this afternoon. High 68F (20*c) Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Tonight: Mainly clear. Low 43F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Mainly sunny. High 74F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow night: Clear skies. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
Sunday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the low 50s.
T'Storms of course can mean weather delays, however yesterday gloom and doom was forecast and it all moved through with play being uninterrupted.
Here are today's tee times, the first scheduled for 7.50am est..
http://www.majorschampionships.com/masters/2012/scoring/tee_times.cfm
live scoring click here http://www.majorschampionships.com/masters/2012/scoring/index.cfm
Looking back
While Westwood with his -5 67 leads, Ryder Cup partner Peter Hanson and Louis Oosthuizen are a shot back at -4 68 Six players, 3 from Europe, FMolinari, Jimenz and Lawrie and 3 from the States, Crane, Dufner and Bubba are at -3 69
Rory McIlroy birdied his last two holes to shoot 71, while Tiger Woods shot even-par 72 with 2 bogey's to finish and Phil Mickelson shot +2 74. Luke Donald, ranked No. 1 in the world, shot 75 and said mud balls cost him at least 2 shots. He had a scare with a possible incorrect scorecard until this..The official announcement has just been made in the media center: “Luke Donald signed for a correct score of 3-over 75, including a bogey 5 on the fifth hole. Due to an administrative error an incorrect score on the fifth hole was entered into our scoring system. That error has has been corrected.”
Westwood, who finished second two years ago,is looking for his first major win, produced a solid ball-striking round, hitting 12 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens. The 67 ties for his low round at Augusta National. In the last 25 years, only one first-round leader at the Masters has gone on to win the tournament: Trevor Immelman in 2008.
* Henrik Stenson proved why you have to play all 18. At -5 standing on 18 tee, he was enjoying the round of the day, his best by far at Augusta. Then disaster..A drive in the trees, a couple of whacks in the pine straw, over the green in 5, then 3 putts for an 8, the highest score ever at the final hole, and went from the lead at -5 to sign for -1,71
*lift clean and place would have been in effect at any other tour event, however not at Augusta and mud balls were a big problem, albeit for everyone.. Zach Johnson, who shot a -2 70, said he had a mud ball on every fairway, with four of his approach shots affected.
Louis Oosthuizen said his approach shot at No. 1 was affected by the mud.“We knew beforehand that you are going to have to deal with this,” Oosthuizen said. “It’s just one of those things.”
* I believe the committee was worried about Phil's birdiefest interview because the players said after their rounds that pins were in more difficult positions than usual for a first round.“There definitely were some Sunday pin positions out there,” said Rory after his -1 71. “They set the pin positions up pretty tough probably thinking guys were going to go low because it was so soft.”
* speaking of Phil, did you see him on 18. He called for the referee because one of those screw in weights on his driver that Calloway spends millions advertising, came loose. He was allowed to use an Allen key to tighten it up and proceeded to rip one of his best of the day. (You are allowed to return your club to it's original state of play without penalty )
He had 4 bogey's and a triple on 10 where he lost his ball with a huge slice, but he birdies 2 of his last 4 for +2 74 and said after "I am putting great, if I can get hot Friday I'll be right back in it "
* Hole number 1 was the toughest.
* 6 Double Bogeys,
26 Bogeys
3 Birdies
0 Eagles
* the par 5's (2,8 13,15) were the easiest giving up 151 birdies and 8 eagles..
* Mike Weir is tied with Tiger in 29th after E72. He made 1 bogey on the front at 7 out in 37, and after bogey's at 10 and 11 I thought here we go, but a beauty of a birdie on 12, then 2 more on 13 and 15 got him in on 35, a solid day in his recovery. He told my partner Bob Weeks that he " can't practice like I did when I was 22, but am trying to get back to that, it's a process.."
* Nice to see Vijay Singh get a big cheer on 18 when he rolled in a birdie putt from just off the green to finish at -2 70. When Vijay turns 50 next February 22, he is going to take a ton of money out of the old guys pockets. He was taught to play by his Dad, modelled his swing after Tom WeiskopfVijay hitting endless buckets of balls..
* For those who thought Tiger was back, rid of all his swing problems, think again. Two weeks removed from winning at Bay Hill, Woods, who is ranked first in total driving on the PGA TOUR, hit just six fairways. "Warmed up bad, and it continued on the golf course,” Woods said. Same old motor patterns with all the clubs, The Hank [Haney] backswing with a new downswing.”
He yanked his opening tee shot left and into the trees before scrambling to make par. Then on #2 he went left again, this time had an unplayable but since it is a par 5, he took a drop and again scrambled to save par.
He was the erratic Tiger of old off the tee, missing left, including on the 18th, where he had to take another unplayable lie when he was stymied against a tree.
Still E72, he has had a lot of poor first rounds. In fact only once has he broke 70 in 17 visits to Augusta National. Ten times he’s shot 72 or worse.
So it's now 7.50am Friday, O'Hair, Verplank and Gonzo are about to start what will be another long, maybe real long with the weather forecast, cool, damp day at Augusta, I will try and find the pin sheets for you to see if the committee has eased up on their placements, if not expect the field to stay bunched.
I will be here most all day with live scoring, my opinions, story's as they happen, so join me with your comments, and remember I am on www.isr1050.com and you can here my golf report Sunday mornings at 845am on tsn1050radio on the International Sports Report.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
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