Friday, December 27, 2013
Who are the hottest golfers of 2013 ??
It's freezing here, it's the holidays and Hawaii and South Africa are still a coupla' weeks away so here to warm you up is a link to the annual Golf Digest hottest golfers of the year..and I don't mean the best golfers.... if you know what I mean !!
I thought it would be Adam Scott, and good old Natalie Gulbis but noo !
Then again, remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder !!!
Enjoy..
http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/players/hottest_golfers
Lydia Ko splits with her coach
Teenage golf star Lydia Ko has split with the only coach she has had since she took up the sport as a 5-year-old. Ko told Television New Zealand that she was sad to have ended her partnership with Guy Wilson, whom she called a great coach and friend. But she said she and her family had decided it would be impossible to continue the relationship because she will be based in the United States and he in New Zealand.
“It doesn’t really work, him being here and him coming on the weeks that I’m not playing a tournament means I’ll only see him like 10 times a year, and to me that kind of situation didn’t work out,” Ko said.
Wilson, who worked with the 16-year-old Ko for 11 years, issued a statement saying he was “incredibly disappointed” the partnership is over.
Michael Yim, her agent at IMG, said that Ko worked with various teachers at the Leadbetter Academy in Florida before going to Taiwan for the Swinging Skirts tournament, an event she won two weeks ago in her second start as a professional.
Kim said Ko plans to meet with other teachers before deciding on a full-time coach.
Ko has won five professional tournaments,four as an amateur, while coached by Wilson, who said it had “been an honour to help develop Lydia into the No. 4 golfer in the world.”
“When I first met her the golf clubs were taller than she was and she didn’t know the first thing about a driver or a putter, but now she has one of the most envied swings in the women’s golf world,” Wilson said.
Born in South Korea and raised in New Zealand, Ko won the Women’s Canadian Open at 15 last year to become the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history and successfully defended the title this year
“It doesn’t really work, him being here and him coming on the weeks that I’m not playing a tournament means I’ll only see him like 10 times a year, and to me that kind of situation didn’t work out,” Ko said.
Wilson, who worked with the 16-year-old Ko for 11 years, issued a statement saying he was “incredibly disappointed” the partnership is over.
Michael Yim, her agent at IMG, said that Ko worked with various teachers at the Leadbetter Academy in Florida before going to Taiwan for the Swinging Skirts tournament, an event she won two weeks ago in her second start as a professional.
Kim said Ko plans to meet with other teachers before deciding on a full-time coach.
Ko has won five professional tournaments,four as an amateur, while coached by Wilson, who said it had “been an honour to help develop Lydia into the No. 4 golfer in the world.”
“When I first met her the golf clubs were taller than she was and she didn’t know the first thing about a driver or a putter, but now she has one of the most envied swings in the women’s golf world,” Wilson said.
Born in South Korea and raised in New Zealand, Ko won the Women’s Canadian Open at 15 last year to become the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history and successfully defended the title this year
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Happy Holidays !! Golf to savour in 2014
It's Christmas Day, a cold one with flurries on the way after one of the worst ice storms this region has endured, ever ! With too many still without power, it's hard to imagine the warm shores of Hawaii, or South Africa or down under but that is where we will be watching and covering golf as it continues in 2014 very soon.
The Fed Ex Cup and the Race to Dubai are already underway, the US Open is at Pinehurst #2 this year, the Open Championship at Hoylake in Liverpool, the PGA Championship at Valhalla GC in Kentucky and the Ryder Cup at beautiful Gleneagles in the rolling hills of Perthshire, Scotland.
While you have a moment here are live links to all of the major tours for your holiday season perusal.
To all of you Merry Christmas, happy holidays, thanks for your support again this year, I can hardly wait for all the drama to begin in Hawaii after the New Year !
Don't forget to join my Morning Show daily M-F 8am-11am www.nextsportstar.com and of course my Fairways Golf Show every Thursday 9am-10
European Tour http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/tournament/index.html
European Senior Tour http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/tournament/index.html
European Challenge Tour http://www.europeantour.com/challengetour/tournament/index.html
PGA Tour http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/schedule.html
Champions Tour http://www.pgatour.com/champions/news/2013/12/13/2014-champions-tour-schedule.html
Web.com Tour http://www.pgatour.com/webcom/schedule.html
PGA Tour Canada http://www2.pgatourcanada.com/leagues/cantour_events.cfm?clientid=3776&seasonnum=2014
LPGA http://www.lpga.com/events/golf-tournaments.aspx
The Fed Ex Cup and the Race to Dubai are already underway, the US Open is at Pinehurst #2 this year, the Open Championship at Hoylake in Liverpool, the PGA Championship at Valhalla GC in Kentucky and the Ryder Cup at beautiful Gleneagles in the rolling hills of Perthshire, Scotland.
While you have a moment here are live links to all of the major tours for your holiday season perusal.
To all of you Merry Christmas, happy holidays, thanks for your support again this year, I can hardly wait for all the drama to begin in Hawaii after the New Year !
Don't forget to join my Morning Show daily M-F 8am-11am www.nextsportstar.com and of course my Fairways Golf Show every Thursday 9am-10
European Tour http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/tournament/index.html
European Senior Tour http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/tournament/index.html
European Challenge Tour http://www.europeantour.com/challengetour/tournament/index.html
PGA Tour http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/schedule.html
Champions Tour http://www.pgatour.com/champions/news/2013/12/13/2014-champions-tour-schedule.html
Web.com Tour http://www.pgatour.com/webcom/schedule.html
PGA Tour Canada http://www2.pgatourcanada.com/leagues/cantour_events.cfm?clientid=3776&seasonnum=2014
LPGA http://www.lpga.com/events/golf-tournaments.aspx
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Four Canadians clinch Web.com Tour cards
Four Canadians secured their place on the Web.com Tour for the 2014 season after 108 holes of play at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif., on Tuesday.
Nick Taylor of Abbottsford, B.C., Albin Choi of Toronto, Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., and Cam Burke of New Hamburg, Ont., all finished inside the top 45 to ensure full playing status through to the second periodic re-order of the Web.com Tour’s 2014 season.
Former world amateur No. 1, Nick Taylor, finished as low Canadian in a tie for 11th after a 5-under 67 final round Tuesday. Taylor finished the 108 marathon at 19-under par and will be a rookie on the Web.com Tour in 2014 after finishing in seventh place on PGA TOUR Canada’s Order of Merit in 2013.
Roger Sloan will make a return back to the Tour after matching the low round of qualifying school with a 9-under 63. Sloan finished in a tie for 15th at 17-under par and will look to improve on last year’s rookie season.
Albin Choi and Cam Burke – both former Team Canada members – also punched their tickets to the Tour. Choi who started 2013 with no playing status on any professional circuit finished in a tie for 15th alongside Sloan after 2-under 70, while Burke carded an even-par 72 to finish in a tie for 22nd.
All four players will earn playing status as Category 4a members for the 2014 season. Each player will be exempt until the second periodic re-order of the 2014 season.
Justin Shin of Maple Ridge, B.C., Devin Carrey of Surrey, B.C, Derek Gillespie of Oshawa, Ont., and Montreal’s Yohann Benson will each receive conditional status as Category 18 members for finishing inside the top 100. Riley Wheeldon will also play on the Web.com Tour in 2014 after finishing No. 2 on PGA TOUR Canada’s Order of Merit.
Zack Fisher of Texas claimed medalist honours after firing a 8-under 64 to finish at 31-under for the tournament. Fisher will be fully exempt for the entire 2014 season.
Full scores for the 11 Canadians in the field this week are below. For more information on the qualifying breakdown, click here.
Final Canadian Scores at Web.com Final Qualifying
Category 4a: Players finishing after the tenth and ties position through forty-fifth and ties position – exempt until the second periodic re-order of the 2014 season.
T11. Nick Taylor, Abbottsford, B.C. (-19) 69-70–72-67-68-67–413
T15. Albin Choi, Toronto, Ont. (-17) 69-71–67-69-69-70–415
T15. Roger Sloan, Merritt, B.C. (-17) 68-70–72-70-72-63–415
T22. Cam Burke, New Hamburg, Ont. (-16) 67-72–67-69-69-72–416
Category 18: Players after the forty-fifth and ties position – conditional status for the 2014 season, alternating with seventy-sixth through one hundredth (76-100) positions from the Web.com Tour Regular Season.
T56. Justin Shin, Maple Ridge, B.C. (-10) 64-74–73-69-72-70–422
T56. Devin Carrey, Surrey, B.C. (-10) 68-71–71-73-70-69–422
T67. Derek Gillespie, Oshawa, Ont. (-9) 71-67–72-67-75-71–423
T95. Yohann Benson, Montreal, Que. (-4) 73-74–70-71-69-71–428
Bryan Angus edit (release from Morgan Bell golfcanada.com)
Nick Taylor of Abbottsford, B.C., Albin Choi of Toronto, Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., and Cam Burke of New Hamburg, Ont., all finished inside the top 45 to ensure full playing status through to the second periodic re-order of the Web.com Tour’s 2014 season.
Former world amateur No. 1, Nick Taylor, finished as low Canadian in a tie for 11th after a 5-under 67 final round Tuesday. Taylor finished the 108 marathon at 19-under par and will be a rookie on the Web.com Tour in 2014 after finishing in seventh place on PGA TOUR Canada’s Order of Merit in 2013.
Roger Sloan will make a return back to the Tour after matching the low round of qualifying school with a 9-under 63. Sloan finished in a tie for 15th at 17-under par and will look to improve on last year’s rookie season.
Albin Choi and Cam Burke – both former Team Canada members – also punched their tickets to the Tour. Choi who started 2013 with no playing status on any professional circuit finished in a tie for 15th alongside Sloan after 2-under 70, while Burke carded an even-par 72 to finish in a tie for 22nd.
All four players will earn playing status as Category 4a members for the 2014 season. Each player will be exempt until the second periodic re-order of the 2014 season.
Justin Shin of Maple Ridge, B.C., Devin Carrey of Surrey, B.C, Derek Gillespie of Oshawa, Ont., and Montreal’s Yohann Benson will each receive conditional status as Category 18 members for finishing inside the top 100. Riley Wheeldon will also play on the Web.com Tour in 2014 after finishing No. 2 on PGA TOUR Canada’s Order of Merit.
Zack Fisher of Texas claimed medalist honours after firing a 8-under 64 to finish at 31-under for the tournament. Fisher will be fully exempt for the entire 2014 season.
Full scores for the 11 Canadians in the field this week are below. For more information on the qualifying breakdown, click here.
Final Canadian Scores at Web.com Final Qualifying
Category 4a: Players finishing after the tenth and ties position through forty-fifth and ties position – exempt until the second periodic re-order of the 2014 season.
T11. Nick Taylor, Abbottsford, B.C. (-19) 69-70–72-67-68-67–413
T15. Albin Choi, Toronto, Ont. (-17) 69-71–67-69-69-70–415
T15. Roger Sloan, Merritt, B.C. (-17) 68-70–72-70-72-63–415
T22. Cam Burke, New Hamburg, Ont. (-16) 67-72–67-69-69-72–416
Category 18: Players after the forty-fifth and ties position – conditional status for the 2014 season, alternating with seventy-sixth through one hundredth (76-100) positions from the Web.com Tour Regular Season.
T56. Justin Shin, Maple Ridge, B.C. (-10) 64-74–73-69-72-70–422
T56. Devin Carrey, Surrey, B.C. (-10) 68-71–71-73-70-69–422
T67. Derek Gillespie, Oshawa, Ont. (-9) 71-67–72-67-75-71–423
T95. Yohann Benson, Montreal, Que. (-4) 73-74–70-71-69-71–428
T117. Eugene Wong, North Vancouver, B.C. (E) 73-70-75-73-73-68–432
T136. Max Gilbert, St-Georges, Que. (+6) 73-74–74-72-70-75–438
140. Riley Wheeldon, Comox, B.C. (+7) 74-71–71-75-72-76–439
For complete scoring from Web.com Tour Final Qualifying, click here.T136. Max Gilbert, St-Georges, Que. (+6) 73-74–74-72-70-75–438
140. Riley Wheeldon, Comox, B.C. (+7) 74-71–71-75-72-76–439
Bryan Angus edit (release from Morgan Bell golfcanada.com)
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Henrik Stenson named Golfer of the Year
Henrik Stenson has been named The 2013 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year after an astonishing season.
The 37 year old from Gothenburg became the first player from Sweden to win the coveted award after creating history by completing an unprecedented transatlantic double by capturing the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and The Race to Dubai on The European Tour International Schedule following his success in the Tour Championship and FedExCup on the PGA TOUR.
Stenson’s commanding six-shot victory in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship offered a perfect microcosm of his season as he tamed the immaculate 7,675 yards Earth Course by missing only five fairways and four greens in compiling rounds of 68, 64, 67 and 64 for a tournament record 25 under par total of 263.
After winning the South African Open Championship at the end of last year, Stenson embarked on a “dream season” which saw him produce a remarkable level of consistency in golf’s biggest events.
A tie for second place in the Shell Houston Open earned Stenson a place in The Masters Tournament where he finished in a tie for 18th place. More consistent play – including being tied fifth in The Players Championship in Florida – took Stenson into the summer and a tie for third place in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open set the tone for an incredible run of results that would see him become the best player on the planet for the rest of the year.
Stenson finished second at The 142nd Open Championship, quickly followed that up with a tie for second at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational then a third place finish at the US PGA Championship with which he led The 2013 Race to Dubai.
Then came the start of that transatlantic double which would earn him a place in golf’s record books. Stenson charged to victory at the Deutsche Bank Championship then two weeks later claimed the Tour Championship by Coca-Cola to win the FedExCup.
Next on the agenda came The European Tour and The Race to Dubai’s inaugural Final Series. A tie for seventh at the Turkish Airlines Open was followed by one of the greatest performances in European Tour history in Dubai, where he claimed Number One honours and earned the Harry Vardon Trophy.
“Winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, where I had made my home for ten years, in the style I won it, in front of so many family and friends, was something I will never forget. I’m not sure how I top it to be honest. I am not sure many people will get the chance to do what I did this year but I just need to keep working hard and pushing forward.
“The Majors are the biggest goal for me now and if I can continue to play at the level I have been then I feel I can have a pretty good shot at them.”
The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year panel, which featured golf journalists from newspapers and magazines as well as commentators from radio and television, also reserved praise for several other worthy candidates, specifically Justin Rose, who became the first Englishman for 43 years to win the US Open Championship after his unforgettable performance at Merion in June
Bryan Angus (release from europeantour.com)
The 37 year old from Gothenburg became the first player from Sweden to win the coveted award after creating history by completing an unprecedented transatlantic double by capturing the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai and The Race to Dubai on The European Tour International Schedule following his success in the Tour Championship and FedExCup on the PGA TOUR.
Stenson’s commanding six-shot victory in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship offered a perfect microcosm of his season as he tamed the immaculate 7,675 yards Earth Course by missing only five fairways and four greens in compiling rounds of 68, 64, 67 and 64 for a tournament record 25 under par total of 263.
After winning the South African Open Championship at the end of last year, Stenson embarked on a “dream season” which saw him produce a remarkable level of consistency in golf’s biggest events.
A tie for second place in the Shell Houston Open earned Stenson a place in The Masters Tournament where he finished in a tie for 18th place. More consistent play – including being tied fifth in The Players Championship in Florida – took Stenson into the summer and a tie for third place in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open set the tone for an incredible run of results that would see him become the best player on the planet for the rest of the year.
Stenson finished second at The 142nd Open Championship, quickly followed that up with a tie for second at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational then a third place finish at the US PGA Championship with which he led The 2013 Race to Dubai.
Then came the start of that transatlantic double which would earn him a place in golf’s record books. Stenson charged to victory at the Deutsche Bank Championship then two weeks later claimed the Tour Championship by Coca-Cola to win the FedExCup.
Next on the agenda came The European Tour and The Race to Dubai’s inaugural Final Series. A tie for seventh at the Turkish Airlines Open was followed by one of the greatest performances in European Tour history in Dubai, where he claimed Number One honours and earned the Harry Vardon Trophy.
“Winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, where I had made my home for ten years, in the style I won it, in front of so many family and friends, was something I will never forget. I’m not sure how I top it to be honest. I am not sure many people will get the chance to do what I did this year but I just need to keep working hard and pushing forward.
“The Majors are the biggest goal for me now and if I can continue to play at the level I have been then I feel I can have a pretty good shot at them.”
The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year panel, which featured golf journalists from newspapers and magazines as well as commentators from radio and television, also reserved praise for several other worthy candidates, specifically Justin Rose, who became the first Englishman for 43 years to win the US Open Championship after his unforgettable performance at Merion in June
Bryan Angus (release from europeantour.com)
Sunday, December 15, 2013
June Rogers, Scarborough grandmother wins Greatest Leaf Fan contest
June Rogers has been a season seat holder for the Toronto Maple Leafs for over 65 years. In 1946 with the help of Red Horner she bought 2 seats in the Greens for .25 per seat!!
She now is in the final stages of Alzheimers and barely recognizes familiar faces and people within her family.
However, when the TML are playing and the family says "he scores" she sits up and focuses on the TV and begins to clap. She is fully awake and ready to go whenever puck drops, particularly when Don Cherry comes on Coaches Corner, and in order to show her dedication to being a fan, the family have decorated the whole house in blue and white and have Leafs memorabilia all over so that when she comes home from her program she recognizes her home or as its known in her Scarborough neighbourhood "The fan zone".
Granddaughter Jennifer and daughter Leslie are June's loving caregivers and decided to enter her in Sportnet's Greatest Leaf contest, and she made it down to the final seven
Yesterday, after an anxious day sitting by their phones, Jennifer got the call to say that June had won !!!
" I can't believe it, I can't stop crying I'm so happy for her !" said an emotional Jennifer in a phone interview .."Now all of Canada will know what we have for years "
The family's house is a landmark in Scarborough, strangers stop and ask Leslie or Jennifer to take their picture amongst all the Leaf displays.
For the win the family will receive $10,000 badly needed to help June with her daily care..
Bryan Angus
She now is in the final stages of Alzheimers and barely recognizes familiar faces and people within her family.
However, when the TML are playing and the family says "he scores" she sits up and focuses on the TV and begins to clap. She is fully awake and ready to go whenever puck drops, particularly when Don Cherry comes on Coaches Corner, and in order to show her dedication to being a fan, the family have decorated the whole house in blue and white and have Leafs memorabilia all over so that when she comes home from her program she recognizes her home or as its known in her Scarborough neighbourhood "The fan zone".
Granddaughter Jennifer and daughter Leslie are June's loving caregivers and decided to enter her in Sportnet's Greatest Leaf contest, and she made it down to the final seven
Yesterday, after an anxious day sitting by their phones, Jennifer got the call to say that June had won !!!
" I can't believe it, I can't stop crying I'm so happy for her !" said an emotional Jennifer in a phone interview .."Now all of Canada will know what we have for years "
The family's house is a landmark in Scarborough, strangers stop and ask Leslie or Jennifer to take their picture amongst all the Leaf displays.
For the win the family will receive $10,000 badly needed to help June with her daily care..
Bryan Angus
Friday, December 13, 2013
Garcia wins in Thailand.... Kuchar, English win Shark Shootout
WEB.Com Q School
PGA West’s Nicklaus Tournament Course
La Quinta, California
With only 36 holes remaining at the final stage of Web.com qualifying, six Canadians sit inside the top-45 at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif.
Cam Burke of New Hamburg, Ont., continues to lead the Canadian contingent after firing a 3-under 69 on Sunday. His 13-under total trails Utah’s Scott Pinckney by eight strokes and leaves him in a tie for 13th.
Toronto’s Albin Choi carded his fourth consecutive under-par round after a 3-under 69 and currently sits 16th at 12-under par. Choi sits one stroke ahead of Oshawa, Ont., native Derek Gillespie, who fired a 5-under 67 to vault up the leaderboard Sunday.
Nick Taylor of Abbottsford, B.C., made the biggest move of the day for the Canadians after a 5-under 67 moved him up 19 spots into a tie for 23rd. Justin Shin of Maple Ridge, B.C., and Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., also carded under-par rounds and both sit in a tie for 38th at 8-under par.
Full scores for the 11 Canadians in the field this week are below. The Canucks will look to finish inside the top-45 after 108 holes of play, which will give them exempt status until the Web.Com Tour’s second periodic re-order of the 2014 season.
To see more on the qualifying breakdown, click here.
Canadian Scores after Round 4 of Web.com Final Qualifying
T13. Cam Burke, New Hamburg, Ont. (-13) 67-72–67-69–275
T16. Albin Choi, Toronto, Ont. (-12) 69-71–67-69–276
T17. Derek Gillespie, Oshawa, Ont. (-11) 71-67–72-67–277
T23. Nick Taylor, Abbottsford, B.C. (-10) 69-70–72-67–278
T38. Justin Shin, Maple Ridge, B.C. (-8) 64-74–73-69–280
T38. Roger Sloan, Merritt, B.C. (-8) 68-70–72-70–280
T65. Devin Carrey, Surrey, B.C. (-5) 68-71–71-73–283
T107. Yohann Benson, Montreal, Que. (E) 73-74–70-71–288
T128. Riley Wheeldon, Comox, B.C. (+3) 74-71–71-75–291
T128. Eugene Wong, North Vancouver, B.C. (+3) 73-70-75-73–291
T135. Max Gilbert, St-Georges, Que. (+5) 73-74–74-72–293
For complete scoring from Web.com Tour Final Qualifying, click here.
PGA Tour
Franklin Templeton
Tiburon Golf Course at Ritz Carlton Resort
Matt Kuchar and Harris English set a tournament course record by finishing at 34 under at the Franklin Templeton Shootout on Sunday.
Kuchar and English beat the duo of Retief Goosen and Freddie Jacobson at the Tiburon Golf Resort’s Gold course. The winners shot 25 under in their last 28 holes.
Playing Sunday under a scramble format, they shot a 14-under 58. Goosen and Jacobson cut their deficit to three shots after three holes before Kuchar and English warmed up. They were 11-under 61 for the day and 27-under for the tournament.
Finishing third were Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, who had a 13-under 59 and went 26 under overall. Chris DiMarco and Billy Horschel were in fourth at 24 under.
Host Greg Norman and partner Jonas Blixt tied Steve Stricker/Jerry Kelly and Canada’s Graham DeLaet/Mike Weir at 19 under. They finished tied for 8th, earning (US) $80,000 each
Live scoring click here http://leaderboard.franklintempletonshootout.com/
EUROPEAN TOUR
The Nelson Mandela Championship
Mount Edgecombe GC
Durban
Round 3 final
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2013098/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Thailand Golf Championship
Amata Spring Country Club
Sergio Garcia shot a final-round 68 to beat Henrik Stenson by four strokes and win the Thailand Golf Championship at the Amata Spring Country Club
The 33-year-old Spaniard, who held the lead since the second round, turned in a solid final round that featured six birdies and two bogeys to finish on 22-under 266.
The victory is Garcia’s first this year with his last win coming at the Johor Open, an Asian Tour event in Malaysia last December.
Garcia raised some eyebrows by playing with his girlfriend, Katharina Boehm, as his caddie this week, but the partnership has proved to be effective.
Sweden’s Stenson, who recently made history when he became the first player to win the Race to Dubai and the FedEx Cup, matched Garcia’s 68 in his final round for an 18-under 270 total.
BryanAngus (notes from golfcanada.com europeantour.com )
PGA West’s Nicklaus Tournament Course
La Quinta, California
With only 36 holes remaining at the final stage of Web.com qualifying, six Canadians sit inside the top-45 at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif.
Cam Burke of New Hamburg, Ont., continues to lead the Canadian contingent after firing a 3-under 69 on Sunday. His 13-under total trails Utah’s Scott Pinckney by eight strokes and leaves him in a tie for 13th.
Toronto’s Albin Choi carded his fourth consecutive under-par round after a 3-under 69 and currently sits 16th at 12-under par. Choi sits one stroke ahead of Oshawa, Ont., native Derek Gillespie, who fired a 5-under 67 to vault up the leaderboard Sunday.
Nick Taylor of Abbottsford, B.C., made the biggest move of the day for the Canadians after a 5-under 67 moved him up 19 spots into a tie for 23rd. Justin Shin of Maple Ridge, B.C., and Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., also carded under-par rounds and both sit in a tie for 38th at 8-under par.
Full scores for the 11 Canadians in the field this week are below. The Canucks will look to finish inside the top-45 after 108 holes of play, which will give them exempt status until the Web.Com Tour’s second periodic re-order of the 2014 season.
To see more on the qualifying breakdown, click here.
Canadian Scores after Round 4 of Web.com Final Qualifying
T13. Cam Burke, New Hamburg, Ont. (-13) 67-72–67-69–275
T16. Albin Choi, Toronto, Ont. (-12) 69-71–67-69–276
T17. Derek Gillespie, Oshawa, Ont. (-11) 71-67–72-67–277
T23. Nick Taylor, Abbottsford, B.C. (-10) 69-70–72-67–278
T38. Justin Shin, Maple Ridge, B.C. (-8) 64-74–73-69–280
T38. Roger Sloan, Merritt, B.C. (-8) 68-70–72-70–280
T65. Devin Carrey, Surrey, B.C. (-5) 68-71–71-73–283
T107. Yohann Benson, Montreal, Que. (E) 73-74–70-71–288
T128. Riley Wheeldon, Comox, B.C. (+3) 74-71–71-75–291
T128. Eugene Wong, North Vancouver, B.C. (+3) 73-70-75-73–291
T135. Max Gilbert, St-Georges, Que. (+5) 73-74–74-72–293
For complete scoring from Web.com Tour Final Qualifying, click here.
PGA Tour
Franklin Templeton
Tiburon Golf Course at Ritz Carlton Resort
Matt Kuchar and Harris English set a tournament course record by finishing at 34 under at the Franklin Templeton Shootout on Sunday.
Kuchar and English beat the duo of Retief Goosen and Freddie Jacobson at the Tiburon Golf Resort’s Gold course. The winners shot 25 under in their last 28 holes.
Playing Sunday under a scramble format, they shot a 14-under 58. Goosen and Jacobson cut their deficit to three shots after three holes before Kuchar and English warmed up. They were 11-under 61 for the day and 27-under for the tournament.
Finishing third were Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, who had a 13-under 59 and went 26 under overall. Chris DiMarco and Billy Horschel were in fourth at 24 under.
Host Greg Norman and partner Jonas Blixt tied Steve Stricker/Jerry Kelly and Canada’s Graham DeLaet/Mike Weir at 19 under. They finished tied for 8th, earning (US) $80,000 each
Live scoring click here http://leaderboard.franklintempletonshootout.com/
EUROPEAN TOUR
The Nelson Mandela Championship
Mount Edgecombe GC
Durban
Round 3 final
Dawie van der Walt shot a 4-under 66 Saturday to win the Nelson Mandela Championship by two shots, giving the tournament a South African victory in a week when the country bids farewell to its former president.
Van der Walt finished with a three-round total of 15-under 195 as the sun eventually shone on the final day of the rain-shortened event. It was his second European Tour victory. England’s Matthew Baldwin (68) and Spain’s Jorge Campillo (68) were tied for second.
Even before the rain disrupted the first two days, organizers had changed the schedule ensure the tournament didn’t run over into Sunday out of respect for the state funeral of Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid leader who died last week.
Van der Walt finished with a three-round total of 15-under 195 as the sun eventually shone on the final day of the rain-shortened event. It was his second European Tour victory. England’s Matthew Baldwin (68) and Spain’s Jorge Campillo (68) were tied for second.
Even before the rain disrupted the first two days, organizers had changed the schedule ensure the tournament didn’t run over into Sunday out of respect for the state funeral of Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid leader who died last week.
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2013098/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Thailand Golf Championship
Amata Spring Country Club
Sergio Garcia shot a final-round 68 to beat Henrik Stenson by four strokes and win the Thailand Golf Championship at the Amata Spring Country Club
The 33-year-old Spaniard, who held the lead since the second round, turned in a solid final round that featured six birdies and two bogeys to finish on 22-under 266.
The victory is Garcia’s first this year with his last win coming at the Johor Open, an Asian Tour event in Malaysia last December.
Garcia raised some eyebrows by playing with his girlfriend, Katharina Boehm, as his caddie this week, but the partnership has proved to be effective.
Sweden’s Stenson, who recently made history when he became the first player to win the Race to Dubai and the FedEx Cup, matched Garcia’s 68 in his final round for an 18-under 270 total.
BryanAngus (notes from golfcanada.com europeantour.com )
Thursday, December 12, 2013
PGA Tour Canada 2014 schedule
PGA TOUR Canada’s second season will include 12 $150,000 events in 2014, with the race for Web.com Tour status for The Five going coast-to-coast from May to September.
The season will begin with the PC Financial Open, a new event May 26th to June 1st at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, British Columbia and conclude at the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial September 8th to 15th at Sunningdale Golf & Country Club in London, Ontario.
Route
After kicking off the season with PGA TOUR Canada’s first event in Vancouver, the Tour will head to Victoria, British Columbia for the 32nd playing of the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist, June 2nd to 8th at Uplands Golf Club. Following an off week, the Tour will resume at the Syncrude Boreal Open presented by AECON, June 16th through 22nd at Fort McMurray Golf Club in Fort McMurray, Alberta.
The SIGA Dakota Dunes Open presented by SaskTel will mark the first of three events in as many weeks, returning to Dakota Dunes Golf Links outside Saskatoon, Saskatchewan June 30th to July 6th, followed by The Players Cup, July 7th through 13th at Pine Ridge Golf Club in Winnipeg, Manitoba and the inaugural Thunder Bay Golf Classic July 14th to 20th at Whitewater Golf Club in Thunder Bay, Ontario, after which the top three players on the PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit will earn exemptions into the RBC Canadian Open on the PGA TOUR.
The season will resume when the ATB Financial Classic moves to a new date, taking place July 28th through August 3rd at Sirocco Golf Club in Calgary, Alberta. Players will then compete at the inaugural Forces and Families Open, a new event supporting the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families, August 4th through 10th at Hylands Golf Club in Ottawa, Ontario.
The 2014 season will make an exciting run to the finish with four events in four weeks, starting with The Great Waterway Classic at Loyalist Golf and Country Club just outside of Kingston, Ontario August 18th through 24th, followed by The Wildfire Invitational presented by PC Financial August 25th to 31st outside Peterborough, Ontario, where the top 128 players on the Order of Merit will compete in a unique pro-am format. The Tour will then head east for the Cape Breton Celtic Classic presented by PC Financial September 1st through 7th at The Lakes Golf Club outside Sydney, Nova Scotia.
The 2014 season will conclude by returning to Sunningdale Golf and Country Club in London, Ontario for the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial, taking place September 8th through 14th and concluding the race for The Five. Below is a full list of the events for the 2014 schedule.
Date Event Location
May 26-June 1 PC Financial Open Vancouver, BC
June 2-8 Bayview Place Island Savings Open pres. by Times Colonist Victoria, BC
June 16-22 Syncrude Boreal Open pres. by AECON Fort McMurray, AB
June 30-July 6 SIGA Dakota Dunes Open pres. by SaskTel Saskatoon, SK
July 7-13 The Players Cup Winnipeg, MB
July 14-20 Thunder Bay Golf Classic Thunder Bay, ON
July 28-Aug. 3 ATB Financial Classic Calgary, AB
Aug. 4-10 Forces and Families Open Ottawa, ON
Aug. 18-24 The Great Waterway Classic Kingston, ON
Aug. 25-31 The Wildfire Invitational pres. by PC Financial Peterborough, ON
Sept. 1-7 Cape Breton Celtic Classic pres. by PC Financial Syndey, NS
Sep. 8-14 TOUR Championship of Canada pres. by Freedom 55 Financial London, ON
Bryan Angus (edit)
Canucks at Web.com Q School this week
Eleven Canadians will begin their quest at securing or improving playing status for the Web.com Tour’s 2014 season this week at PGA West’s TPC Stadium and Nicklaus tournament courses in La Quinta, Calif., December 12-17.
This year marks the beginning of the PGA TOUR’s new qualifying format that will see players given status solely on the Web.com Tour for the 2014 season at the conclusion of 108 holes. In past years, the top-25 players were awarded a direct ticket to the PGA TOUR.
- Category 2a: Winner and ties of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament Medalist – exempt for the 2014 season and from periodic re-order.
- Category 4: Players finishing after the Winner and ties through tenth and ties position – exempt until the third periodic re-order of the 2014 season.
- Category 4a: Players finishing after the tenth and ties position through forty-fifth and ties position – exempt until the second periodic re-order of the 2014 season.
- Category 18: Players after the forty-fifth and ties position – conditional status for the 2014 season, alternating with seventy-sixth through one-hundredth (76-100) positions from the Web.com Tour Regular Season.
For scoring, pairings and information on Web.com Final Qualifying, click here.
Report by MorganBell Golf Canada
Info from MorganBell (Golf Canada)
This year marks the beginning of the PGA TOUR’s new qualifying format that will see players given status solely on the Web.com Tour for the 2014 season at the conclusion of 108 holes. In past years, the top-25 players were awarded a direct ticket to the PGA TOUR.
Canadians in the field at Final Qualifying:
- Yohann Benson, Montréal, Que.
- Cam Burke, New Hamburg, Ont.
- Devin Carrey, Surrey, B.C.
- Albin Choi, Toronto, Ont.
- Max Gilbert, St-Georges, Que.
- Derek Gillespie, Oshawa, Ont.
- Justin Shin, Maple Ridge, B.C.
- Roger Sloan, Merritt, B.C.
- Nick Taylor, Abbotsford, B.C.
- Riley Wheeldon, Comox, B.C.
- Eugene Wong, North Vancouver, B.C.
Web.com Tour membership
After the conclusion of play in the Final Qualifying Stage the contestants in the Final Qualifying Stage will be eligible for 2014 Web.com Tour membership, unless the PGA TOUR, in its sole discretion, elects not to award a membership based on other factors. Contestants who are; under the age of 18; an amateur; or do not become members will be included to determine the following categories as described in the Web.com Tour Tournament Regulations.- Category 2a: Winner and ties of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament Medalist – exempt for the 2014 season and from periodic re-order.
- Category 4: Players finishing after the Winner and ties through tenth and ties position – exempt until the third periodic re-order of the 2014 season.
- Category 4a: Players finishing after the tenth and ties position through forty-fifth and ties position – exempt until the second periodic re-order of the 2014 season.
- Category 18: Players after the forty-fifth and ties position – conditional status for the 2014 season, alternating with seventy-sixth through one-hundredth (76-100) positions from the Web.com Tour Regular Season.
For scoring, pairings and information on Web.com Final Qualifying, click here.
Report by MorganBell Golf Canada
Info from MorganBell (Golf Canada)
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Johnson beats Woods in a playoff..... final wrap all tours
EUROPEAN TOUR/SUNSHINE TOUR – RSA NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE
SITE: Sun City, South Africa SCHEDULE: Thursday-Sunday.
COURSE: Gary Player Country Club (7,831 yards, 7,161 metres, par 72).
PURSE: $6.5-million. Winner’s share: $1.25-million.
Round 4 Final
Thomas Bjorn shot a closing -7 65 and has won the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City over Sergio Garcia and overnight leader Jamie Donaldson
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2013096/leaderboard/index.html
EUROPEAN TOUR/ASIAN TOUR – HONG KONG OPEN
SITE: Hong Kong.
SCHEDULE: Thursday-Sunday.
COURSE: Hong Kong Golf Club (6,699 yards, 6,126 metres, par 70).
PURSE: $1.3-million. Winner’s share: $295,112.
Round 4 Final
Miguel Angel Jimenez rolled in an 18 foot putt at the 1st playoff hole to become the oldest winner in European Tour history, breaking his own record when he won in Hong Kong last year.
The Spaniard ripped a drive down the 18th hole to leave just a short iron in, and when he wedged left of the hole, he poured in a slick putt from right to left down the slope and into the hole. Prom Meesawat had looked like securing a par having missed the green short, while Stuart Manley pushed his approach behind the hospitality unit and after a free drop had looked like struggling for his four. It didn't matter for either though, as Jimenez secured the win with a birdie three.
Ernie Els playing with a heavy heart after the death of Nelson Mandela was at the bottom of the field. It appears he is in for an equipment change. On Wednesday morning, Golf Digest South Africa deputy editor Barry Havenga tweeted that the four-time major winner will depart Callaway at the end of the year his contact was set to expire for a new equipment company.
While it's unclear where he's headed, Havenga dropped interesting hint, noting that Els will "play equipment/wear apparel from 4 different brands – owned by 1 company."
Over the course of the last few months, Els has tested new equipment, including UST Mamiya's Recoil graphite shafts at the Asian Tour's Venetian Macau Open; Titleist's Pro V1x golf ball at the Presidents Cup and Venetian Macau Open; and TaylorMade's Lethal golf ball at the CIMB Classic.
Going off Havenga's tweet, there's reason to believe TaylorMade, which refused to comment on Els' future, could be a potential landing spot.
TMaG, the TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company, is comprised of four equipment and apparel companies -- TaylorMade, adidas, Ashworth and Adams Golf.
Els also spent a portion of his career as a TaylorMade staffer, winning the 1997 U.S. Open and 2002 British Open with the company. And then there's the fact that Els played the Lethal ball at the CIMB Classic in October
PGA TOUR – NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL WORLD CHALLENGE
SITE: Thousand Oaks, California.
SCHEDULE: Thursday-Sunday.
COURSE: Sherwood Country Club (7,052 yards, 6,448 metres, par 72).
PURSE: $3.5-million. Winner’s share: $1-million.
FIELD: Keegan Bradley, Jason Day, Jason Dufner, Jim Furyk, Bill Haas, Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Hunter Mahan, Ian Poulter, Webb Simpson, Jordan Spieth, Steve Stricker, Bubba Watson, Lee Westwood, Tiger Woods.
Round 4 Final
Zach Johnson put together the storybook finish at Sherwood on Sunday that for the longest time belonged to Tiger Woods.
Johnson rallied from four shots behind with eight holes to play, holed out from a drop area for par on the last hole to force a playoff, and beat the No. 1 player in golf at the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge when Woods missed a 5-foot par putt on the first extra hole
They were tied after Johnson hit his tee shot to 4 feet for birdie on the 17th hole. Playing from the left rough, Woods came up just short and watched his approach tumble down the elevated green and into the bunker. Johnson followed with his worst shot of the week, an 8-iron so weak that it came up well short and into the hazard.
Johnson knew Woods had a difficult bunker shot, and if he figured if he could stick his wedge close from 58 yards away in the drop zone, a bogey might be enough to get into a playoff. The ball bounced three times and then spun back a few inches into the cup for an unlikely par and a 4-under 68
http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/northwestern-mutual-world-challenge/leaderboard.html
PGA TOUR LATINOAMERICA – ARGENTINA OPEN
SITE: Buenos Aires, Argentina
SCHEDULE: Thursday-Sunday
COURSE: Nordelta Golf Club
PURSE: $150,000
CANADIANS: Matt Johnston +1 73, Adam Cornelson 78
Round 4
Columbia's Marcelo Rozo at -10 shot a final round 72 to win the Argentina Open
Live scoring http://www.pgatourla.com/leaderboard/m2013017/#.UqG-w-Yo50s
LPGA TOUR – QUALIFYING SCHOOL, FINAL STAGE
SITE: Daytona Beach, Florida
SCHEDULE: Wednesday-Sunday
COURSE: LPGA International
CANADIANS:
5. Jennifer Kirby (-12) 71-69-69-71-68 – 348
T32. Maude-Aim̩e LeBlanc (-2) 71-73-73-71-70 Р358
T44. Lorie Kane (E) 72-73-73-72-70 – 360
T65. Erica Rivard (+5) 77-72-69-70-77 – 365
T70. Jessica Shepley (+8) 73-76-750-67-77 – 368
— MISSED CUT —
T71. Natalie Gleadall (+4) 73-73-71-75 – 292
T71. Stephanie Sherlock (+4) 73-74-72-73 – 292
T79. Sara-Maude Juneau (+5) 77-70-74-72 – 293
T102. Ashely Sholer (+8) 73-78-71-74 – 296
T122. Nicole Vandermade (+11) 78-74-79-68 – 299
Paris, Ont. native and former Team Canada member, Jennifer Kirby, finished 5th at the LPGA‘s Final Qualifying Tournament Sunday to earn exempt status on the Tour for 2014 The 22-year University of Alabama alumnae tallied five solid sub-par rounds (71-69-69-71-68) to finish the five-day, 90-hole event at 12-under par.
Kirby joins fellow Canadians Sue Kim of Langley, B.C., Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Lorie Kane of Charlottetown and Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto as full-time LPGA Tour members in 2014.
Kim and Sharp earned their way back onto the LPGA Tour via their play on the Symetra Tour, while Lee-Bentham finished in the top 80 of the Tour’s money list just one year after she won medalist honours at Q-School.
Kirby was the only one of the 10 Canadians who started the week to gain full (Category 12) status.
Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que. tied for 32nd at 2-under par. She will have conditional status next year.
Kane, a four-time winner on the Tour, finished tied for 44th. She was looking to improve her priority standing in order to get into more tournaments in 2014.
Jaye Marie Green of Boca Raton, Fla. completed the wire-to-wire victory to earn medalist honors. The 19-year-old finished 29-under with a 10 shot victory over South Korean Mi Rim Lee
http://rts.symetrascoring.com/?__utma=105709790.918345640.1386175267.1386175267.1386175267.1&__utmb=105709790.0.10.1386175267&__utmc=105709790&__utmx=-&__utmz=105709790.1386175267.1.1.utmcsr=google|utmccn=%28organic%29|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=%28not%20provided%29&__utmv=-&__utmk=132717582
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
No longer the "Silly Season" : 48 of the world's best play for $10m
It's that week again, the Challenge weekend where 30 world stars are at the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City, South Africa playing for $6.5m and 18 more are at Tiger's, this year called the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge in One Thousand Oaks, California for another $3.5m, pretty good cash for what used to be " the silly season" !
Along with a European/Asian Tour tournament in Hong Kong this week there are still spots for the Masters up for grabs, as the world's top 50 will get an invite, and the prize money and points now available at Sun City and at the Northwestern make these events very important.
Sun City
US Open Champion Justin Rose is hoping to bring down the curtain on the most successful year of his career with a victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
Born in Johannesburg, the Englishman has strong ties with South Africa with some of his closest family still living in the country where he won his professional title at the 2002 Nashua Masters.
Rose is always a popular figure with South African fans and he will be given a hero’s reception at the Gary Player Country Club when he is announced on the first tee as the reigning US Open Champion.
“South Africa’s very close to my heart, not only because I was born here, but also because I have a lot of family here. My brother lives in Joburg and my mom lives down in George. I haven’t seen them all for quite a while and from that perspective it’s wonderful to catch up.
Rose will no doubt be joined in the mix by the likes of Henrik Stenson, Ernie Els, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Luke Donald as 30 of the world’s very best players do battle for the US$6.5 million prize fund on offer at Sun City.
Stenson, of course, is the world’s form player who is enjoying a run of form that saw him become the first man in history to win The European Tour’s Race to Dubai and the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup in the same season.
The Swede is also a former champion of the Nedbank Golf Challenge having lifted the title in 2008 and would love to add to that, especially as the tournament is featuring on The European Tour for the first time in its illustrious 33-year history.
“It’s an exciting time for the tournament with the changes in place and the field increasing to 30 players and now being a part of The Race to Dubai. The increase in the field brings more guys into it obviously and makes it more difficult to win given the quality of the field but I am sure all the guys are looking forward to the chance.
Of all the players in the field, no-one has won this event more than Els. The big South African has registered a hat-trick of victories here (1999, 2000 and 2002) and remains the biggest draw in town for the huge galleries that will flock to the Gary Player Country Club this week.
Oosthuizen is looking ominous having finally shaken off the niggling back injury that has plagued his season, while Schwartzel and Donald still have the taste of victory in their mouths having respectively triumphed at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa and the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan.
Tigers Charity
The 2013 Northwestern Mutual World Challenge returns to Sherwood Country Club welcoming an elite 18-player field that will include host Tiger Woods, defending champion Graeme McDowell, 2013 PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner, 10 of the top 20 players in the FedExCup standings and an impressive roster of players from the 2013 Presidents Cup.
The Northwestern Mutual World Challenge is a four-round, 72-hole stoke-play event with a $3.5 million purse and players competing for a $1 million winner's check. The unique showcase, which awards Official World Golf Ranking points, will be held at the challenging par-72, 7,052-yard Sherwood Country Club for its 15th year. The 2013 field includes: Tiger Woods has won the World Challenge five times throughout his career. This year he won the Farmers Insurance Open, the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational, THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass and the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, finishing the season with five TOUR wins. The event also showcases top European players on TOUR such as 2012 defending World Challenge champion Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter. A fan favorite, McDowell won last year's event in an intense final round, defeating Keegan Bradley by three strokes. McDowell had an impressive 2013 season, most notably winning his second PGA TOUR victory at the RBC Heritage by defeating Webb Simpson in a sudden-death playoff. Rory McIlroy is fresh off his win at the Australian Open. and despite a poor season he continues to make his mark with a total of six PGA TOUR Lee Westwood's best finish this season came at The Open Championship where he finished tied for third, opening with rounds of 72-68-70 to carry a two-stroke lead into the final round. He finished four strokes behind champion Phil Mickelson. Ian Poulter ended the PGA Tour season strong with four top-10 finishes and has as usual been right in contention in the Race to Dubai Jason Dufner's biggest moment this season came at the PGA Championship when he defeated Jim Furyk by two shots at Oak Hill Country Club, earning his third career TOUR victory. Finishing the season at No. 6 in the FedExCup standings, Matt Kuchar has had a successful 2013 season, winning the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship and the Memorial Tournament. Hunter Mahan has five career victories on the PGA TOUR, the last two coming during the 2012 season at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and the Shell Houston Open. Brandt Snedeker's biggest moment this season came when he claimed his sixth PGA TOUR title with his victory at the RBC Canadian Open, after trailing Hunter Mahan by eight strokes after the second round. . Zach Johnson has made his mark on the TOUR this season with eight top-10 finishes, including winning the 2013 BMW Championship at Conway Farms. Bubba Watson has four career victories on the PGA TOUR, the most notable being the 2012 Masters Tournament. This season Watson has had three top-10 finishes Rounding out this exceptional field are veterans Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker.In addition the World Challenge will feature two rising young stars, Keegan Bradley and Jason Day
Along with a European/Asian Tour tournament in Hong Kong this week there are still spots for the Masters up for grabs, as the world's top 50 will get an invite, and the prize money and points now available at Sun City and at the Northwestern make these events very important.
Sun City
US Open Champion Justin Rose is hoping to bring down the curtain on the most successful year of his career with a victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
Born in Johannesburg, the Englishman has strong ties with South Africa with some of his closest family still living in the country where he won his professional title at the 2002 Nashua Masters.
Rose is always a popular figure with South African fans and he will be given a hero’s reception at the Gary Player Country Club when he is announced on the first tee as the reigning US Open Champion.
“South Africa’s very close to my heart, not only because I was born here, but also because I have a lot of family here. My brother lives in Joburg and my mom lives down in George. I haven’t seen them all for quite a while and from that perspective it’s wonderful to catch up.
Rose will no doubt be joined in the mix by the likes of Henrik Stenson, Ernie Els, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Luke Donald as 30 of the world’s very best players do battle for the US$6.5 million prize fund on offer at Sun City.
Stenson, of course, is the world’s form player who is enjoying a run of form that saw him become the first man in history to win The European Tour’s Race to Dubai and the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup in the same season.
The Swede is also a former champion of the Nedbank Golf Challenge having lifted the title in 2008 and would love to add to that, especially as the tournament is featuring on The European Tour for the first time in its illustrious 33-year history.
“It’s an exciting time for the tournament with the changes in place and the field increasing to 30 players and now being a part of The Race to Dubai. The increase in the field brings more guys into it obviously and makes it more difficult to win given the quality of the field but I am sure all the guys are looking forward to the chance.
Of all the players in the field, no-one has won this event more than Els. The big South African has registered a hat-trick of victories here (1999, 2000 and 2002) and remains the biggest draw in town for the huge galleries that will flock to the Gary Player Country Club this week.
Oosthuizen is looking ominous having finally shaken off the niggling back injury that has plagued his season, while Schwartzel and Donald still have the taste of victory in their mouths having respectively triumphed at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa and the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan.
Tigers Charity
The 2013 Northwestern Mutual World Challenge returns to Sherwood Country Club welcoming an elite 18-player field that will include host Tiger Woods, defending champion Graeme McDowell, 2013 PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner, 10 of the top 20 players in the FedExCup standings and an impressive roster of players from the 2013 Presidents Cup.
The Northwestern Mutual World Challenge is a four-round, 72-hole stoke-play event with a $3.5 million purse and players competing for a $1 million winner's check. The unique showcase, which awards Official World Golf Ranking points, will be held at the challenging par-72, 7,052-yard Sherwood Country Club for its 15th year. The 2013 field includes: Tiger Woods has won the World Challenge five times throughout his career. This year he won the Farmers Insurance Open, the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational, THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass and the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, finishing the season with five TOUR wins. The event also showcases top European players on TOUR such as 2012 defending World Challenge champion Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter. A fan favorite, McDowell won last year's event in an intense final round, defeating Keegan Bradley by three strokes. McDowell had an impressive 2013 season, most notably winning his second PGA TOUR victory at the RBC Heritage by defeating Webb Simpson in a sudden-death playoff. Rory McIlroy is fresh off his win at the Australian Open. and despite a poor season he continues to make his mark with a total of six PGA TOUR Lee Westwood's best finish this season came at The Open Championship where he finished tied for third, opening with rounds of 72-68-70 to carry a two-stroke lead into the final round. He finished four strokes behind champion Phil Mickelson. Ian Poulter ended the PGA Tour season strong with four top-10 finishes and has as usual been right in contention in the Race to Dubai Jason Dufner's biggest moment this season came at the PGA Championship when he defeated Jim Furyk by two shots at Oak Hill Country Club, earning his third career TOUR victory. Finishing the season at No. 6 in the FedExCup standings, Matt Kuchar has had a successful 2013 season, winning the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship and the Memorial Tournament. Hunter Mahan has five career victories on the PGA TOUR, the last two coming during the 2012 season at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and the Shell Houston Open. Brandt Snedeker's biggest moment this season came when he claimed his sixth PGA TOUR title with his victory at the RBC Canadian Open, after trailing Hunter Mahan by eight strokes after the second round. . Zach Johnson has made his mark on the TOUR this season with eight top-10 finishes, including winning the 2013 BMW Championship at Conway Farms. Bubba Watson has four career victories on the PGA TOUR, the most notable being the 2012 Masters Tournament. This season Watson has had three top-10 finishes Rounding out this exceptional field are veterans Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker.In addition the World Challenge will feature two rising young stars, Keegan Bradley and Jason Day
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