The PGA Tour has released its 2015-16 schedule, which has included several changes because of golf's return to the Olympics next August in Rio de Janeiro and includes the Ryder Cup in Minnesota September 29- October 1.
The Travelers Championship, John Deere Classic and Wyndham Championship will be played during the three-weeks of the Rio Olympics, not good news for them, for example Jordan Spieth will likely be in Rio, not defending at the John Deere.
Our Canadian Open, always a tough slot right after the Open Championhip, at least has a couple of weeks afterwards before the PGA Championship which helps encourage players to take the charter to Glen Abbey, knowing they can get a break afterwards.
Next year the Open is at Troon, but the PGA Championship at Baltusrol is the week right after the RBC Canadian.
With the Olympics in the mix starting in the second week of August we all knew scheduling was going to be a challenge, so everyone in the busy summer will have to sacrifice.
The European Tour is no exception and it hasn't released it's schedule yet.
The FedEx Cup playoffs will start the week after the Olympics, and that will present challenges for guys who qualify for the Olympics but are struggling to stay in the top 125 in the FedEx Cup as they lose two weeks of point possibility.
On the bright side, it means a ton of exciting golf next summer, with Olympic gold now up for grabs along with major championships.
Remember, the defending Olympic champion is Canada !! Yes I remind you it was George Lyon in 1904 during the Summer Olympics in St Louis.
Bryan
Friday, July 31, 2015
Lawrie continues his fine play in Aberdeen...
European Tour Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015058/leaderboard/index.html#7BxCMeDss3QjzqtQ.97
Round 2 is now underway up in Aberdeen on Scotland's NE coast and the host of the event, and hometown lad Paul Lawrie advanced to the last 32 with a comprehensive 5-and-4 victory over Romain Wattel
Lawrie you will remember was made for life after he won the Open Championship, it was the Jean Van de Velde melt down, south on the coast at Carnoustie in 1999
Round 2 is now underway up in Aberdeen on Scotland's NE coast and the host of the event, and hometown lad Paul Lawrie advanced to the last 32 with a comprehensive 5-and-4 victory over Romain Wattel
Lawrie you will remember was made for life after he won the Open Championship, it was the Jean Van de Velde melt down, south on the coast at Carnoustie in 1999
James Morrison from England is the highest ranked player and he beat Pelle Edberg 2 and 1 and he is playing Johan Carlsson today.
Follow all the match results on the link above.
Bryan
Goosen, Ishikawa lead Quicken Loans Classic in hot, humid Virginia
PGA Tour Quicken Loans Classic leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
Playing in hot humid conditions on the Robert Trent GC down in Gainesville Virginia, Retief Goosen, had a bogey-free 63 along with Ryo Ishikawa for the first round lead. Ernie Els and Justin Leonard and Kevin Chappell a shot back at -7, 64.
The Goose is finally feeling healthy after major back surgery in 2012 and he is playing much more like his old self recently having qualified for the Open Championship and the US Open which as you know he won twice.
Once the pinup boy of Japanese golf, Ishikawa made six birdies in a row starting on the 14th hole and added a hole-in-one on the 180-yard fourth, he played the back nine first...
I watched Tiger get to +3 through 4 holes, including a pulled hook into the gallery on the first and a 3 putt on the fourth. However it is a good story from there as he got in a groove and strung together five birdies in six holes for a -3 68.
As usual, soft conditions and little wind combined with players being allowed to lift, clean and place their golf balls on the soft fairways, resulted in 81 of them coming in below par. Rickie Fowler also made an ace in his -4 67, and bought everyone in the media center a beer..
Canadian scores: Adam Hadwin who finished a fine T7 at the RBC Canadian Open also shot -4 67 T18 while Nick Taylor shot 68
Bryan
Kim, Pettersen lead Women's British Open in round 2
LPGA Tour Women's British Open leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=lpga
On a rare perfect day for scoring at Turnberry South Korean Hyo-Joo Kim shot -7 65, to lead by one stroke from Lydia Ko -6 66 of New Zealand and Cristie Kerr -6 66. World #1 Inbee Park shot -3 69.
On a rare perfect day for scoring at Turnberry South Korean Hyo-Joo Kim shot -7 65, to lead by one stroke from Lydia Ko -6 66 of New Zealand and Cristie Kerr -6 66. World #1 Inbee Park shot -3 69.
If she wins Ko will become the youngest winner of a major, seven months younger than Morgan Pressel was when she won the Kraft Nabisco back in 2007.
Round 2 is underway this morning in completely different conditions as the wind is up, the temperature has dropped and the rain is falling and most of the scores are soaring, except for Suzann Petersson who has moved into a tie for the lead -3 69 following her opening 68 -7 total. Cristie Kerr is about to finish with +4 76 to drop to -2.
I hate to talk about him, he is such a buffoon, but it is news I guess, as Donald Trump who now owns Turnberry and the famous hotel overlooking the course arrived in his helicopter and his press conference completely over shadowed what was happening on the course..
The hotel was originally owned by British Rail who built it as a resort stop on the Ayrshire coast to boost their customer numbers using their west coast rail lines, in the days when British travel was dominated by trains and buses..
Those days are long gone and I was there in the early 80's when a Japanese conglomerate shocked Scots when they bought the hotel and course and began flying plane loads of golf crazy Japanese into nearby Preswick, putting them up in the hotel and to the Scots it was sacrilegious.
Now Trump owns the whole shebang, the hotel was always expensive, more so now and worse he is planning as always to make changes to the Ailsa championship course...
Can you really imagine him as the President of the USA.. sadly he is so consumed with himself, he thinks he would be ideal....
Back to golf next....
Bryan
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Ko leads Ricoh Women's British Open.. live scoreboard all tours..
Good morning all as our heat wave continues here in southern Ontario, I haven't crawled under a rock to stay cool, just the opposite in fact, I could have picked better weather in install a deck and fencing and all the yard work that goes with it so my time here covering the game I love has taken a hit, so my apologies..
Here is my weekly look at where the action is and live scoring links for you.
By the way it's tough to knock a guy when he tries his best, David Hearn did all of that last weekend at Glen Abbey and I know he will take his 3rd place finish forward as he continues to build his self belief and confidence and eventually get that first win. Jason Day birdied the last three holes in a row to go out and be a worthy winner of our national championship.
LPGA Tour Ricoch Women's British Open scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=lpga
This is the main event this week by far, at my favourite of the Scottish links courses, Turnberry on the Ayrshire coast (southwest) and play is well underway in round one, as Lydia Ko is the clubhouse leader, in with -6 66. The forecast as always is crucial on the links and it is overcast and breezy today and there is rain and more of the same scheduled all weekend. https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+forecast+for+turnberry+Scotland
Alena Sharp and Brooke Henderson are in the field.
PGA Tour Quicken Loans National scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
This is Tiger's tournament, now being played at the Robert Trent Jones GC in Gainesville Virginia. Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor are in the field.
European Tour Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play scoreboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015058/leaderboard/index.html#kFGyLksX8dRGuvWF.97
This is Paul Lawrie's tournament on the Murcar Links in his hometown of Aberdeen, John Daly is in the event as are a bunch of Paul's pals from the European Tour.. Ah.. I can taste and smell the fish and chips, fresh out of the north sea, wrapped in yesterday's newspaper..
Champions Tour 3M Championship scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=champions
The old guys have flown from Sunningdale, England, where Marco Dawson was the feel good winner of the Senior British Open last week, to Minnesota and the TPC of the Twin Cities where Kenny Perry is the defending champion. Rod Spittle and Stephen Ames have made the trip. Play starts tomorrow.
Web.com Tour Utah Championship leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=web
The usual combination of aspiring young guys, old guys hoping to get back to the show, or pad their money numbers for the senior circuit, and others who can still make a living playing at this level have travelled to Mormon country, Utah and the aptly named GC at Thanksgiving Point...
Canadian Brad Fritsch continues his year on this tour, as does Ted Brown who they have listed as an American.
Bryan
Here is my weekly look at where the action is and live scoring links for you.
By the way it's tough to knock a guy when he tries his best, David Hearn did all of that last weekend at Glen Abbey and I know he will take his 3rd place finish forward as he continues to build his self belief and confidence and eventually get that first win. Jason Day birdied the last three holes in a row to go out and be a worthy winner of our national championship.
LPGA Tour Ricoch Women's British Open scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=lpga
This is the main event this week by far, at my favourite of the Scottish links courses, Turnberry on the Ayrshire coast (southwest) and play is well underway in round one, as Lydia Ko is the clubhouse leader, in with -6 66. The forecast as always is crucial on the links and it is overcast and breezy today and there is rain and more of the same scheduled all weekend. https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+forecast+for+turnberry+Scotland
Alena Sharp and Brooke Henderson are in the field.
PGA Tour Quicken Loans National scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
This is Tiger's tournament, now being played at the Robert Trent Jones GC in Gainesville Virginia. Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor are in the field.
European Tour Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play scoreboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015058/leaderboard/index.html#kFGyLksX8dRGuvWF.97
This is Paul Lawrie's tournament on the Murcar Links in his hometown of Aberdeen, John Daly is in the event as are a bunch of Paul's pals from the European Tour.. Ah.. I can taste and smell the fish and chips, fresh out of the north sea, wrapped in yesterday's newspaper..
Champions Tour 3M Championship scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=champions
The old guys have flown from Sunningdale, England, where Marco Dawson was the feel good winner of the Senior British Open last week, to Minnesota and the TPC of the Twin Cities where Kenny Perry is the defending champion. Rod Spittle and Stephen Ames have made the trip. Play starts tomorrow.
Web.com Tour Utah Championship leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=web
The usual combination of aspiring young guys, old guys hoping to get back to the show, or pad their money numbers for the senior circuit, and others who can still make a living playing at this level have travelled to Mormon country, Utah and the aptly named GC at Thanksgiving Point...
Canadian Brad Fritsch continues his year on this tour, as does Ted Brown who they have listed as an American.
Bryan
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Elsewhere in golf on Sunday...live scoring, results
While Canadian golf fans are rooting for David Hearn today at Glen Abbey, there is as usual lot's of golf going on around the world, including a major, the British Senior Open, so let's start there.
Champions Tour British Senior Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/seniortour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015862/leaderboard/index.html#SAaPaJXGyUJwSAGW.97
Round 4 is underway at Sunningdale, the leaders at -10 are Colin Montgomerie, who incidently is going through one of his weight gain phases, and Marco Dawson, one of golf's original gym rats. They have just teed off.
Right behind them, Bernhard Langer at -9, the defending champion who won by 13 shots last year !. In form Peter Fowler and world traveller Miguel Jimenez are at -8 and Freddie Couples at -7.
Stephen Ames 69 67 69 -5 is having a good week, unfortunately Rick Gibson isn't 72 79 misses the cut.
European Tour Omega European Masters leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015056/leaderboard/index.html#fJETWjbu8Hkjyhu8.97
It's all over in beautiful Crans Montana amongst the beautiful mountains of Switzerland. In form Danny Willett has won with a -17 total. He was -5 65 on today's round. His playing partner, 20 year old Matthew Fitzpatrick was second at -16, -4 66 today.
Another Englishman, Tyrrell Hatton made a charge but ran out of holes. He was -8 today 62, -15 total, having scored 29 on the front nine.
Ladies Scottish Open leaderboard http://www.ladieseuropeantour.com/leaderboard/
Round 4 is over in Troon, Scotland on the ancient Dundonald links, it was cold and windy and Suzann Pettersen started the day with a 2 shot lead, however Australian Rebecca Artis shot a -6 66 on her round today and caught Pettersen, then when Suzann slipped up late in her round and slumped to a +2 74 -4 total, the Aussie who was watching from the clubhouse became the winner.
Next week is the Women's Open Championship at Turnberry.
LPGA Tour Meijer LPGA Classic leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=lpga
Lizette Salas has a 4 shot lead at -16 over Lexi Thompson and Kris Tamulis playing the Blythefield CC in Belmont Michigan.
Champions Tour British Senior Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/seniortour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015862/leaderboard/index.html#SAaPaJXGyUJwSAGW.97
Round 4 is underway at Sunningdale, the leaders at -10 are Colin Montgomerie, who incidently is going through one of his weight gain phases, and Marco Dawson, one of golf's original gym rats. They have just teed off.
Right behind them, Bernhard Langer at -9, the defending champion who won by 13 shots last year !. In form Peter Fowler and world traveller Miguel Jimenez are at -8 and Freddie Couples at -7.
Stephen Ames 69 67 69 -5 is having a good week, unfortunately Rick Gibson isn't 72 79 misses the cut.
European Tour Omega European Masters leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015056/leaderboard/index.html#fJETWjbu8Hkjyhu8.97
It's all over in beautiful Crans Montana amongst the beautiful mountains of Switzerland. In form Danny Willett has won with a -17 total. He was -5 65 on today's round. His playing partner, 20 year old Matthew Fitzpatrick was second at -16, -4 66 today.
Another Englishman, Tyrrell Hatton made a charge but ran out of holes. He was -8 today 62, -15 total, having scored 29 on the front nine.
Ladies Scottish Open leaderboard http://www.ladieseuropeantour.com/leaderboard/
Round 4 is over in Troon, Scotland on the ancient Dundonald links, it was cold and windy and Suzann Pettersen started the day with a 2 shot lead, however Australian Rebecca Artis shot a -6 66 on her round today and caught Pettersen, then when Suzann slipped up late in her round and slumped to a +2 74 -4 total, the Aussie who was watching from the clubhouse became the winner.
Next week is the Women's Open Championship at Turnberry.
LPGA Tour Meijer LPGA Classic leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=lpga
Lizette Salas has a 4 shot lead at -16 over Lexi Thompson and Kris Tamulis playing the Blythefield CC in Belmont Michigan.
Can Hearn win the RBC Canadian Open
PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
There are many storylines going into today's final round at Glen Abbey, on what will be another stunning sunny day.. Will Bubba (68) add another trophy to his resume, this one for his Canadian wife, or will Jason Day (69) continue his great form and take our national championship down under.
Micheal Putnam (68) or Brooks Koepka (68) are both more than capable at -12, or how about Columbia's Camilo Villegas (67) after his country swept all the golf medals at the Pan Am Golf championship last week. Jim Furyk (68), twice a winner of our national title is also at -11 as is my dark horse pick, Emiliano Grillo (69)...
The story's go on and on.. but for me there is only one that really matters.. Can David Hearn win the RBC Canadian Open..
After another solid round, 68, he is at -15 with a 2 shot lead over Bubba and Jason as a beautiful red sunrise kicks off championship Sunday. Mike Weir was the last Canadian to lead going into Sunday in 2004 and he lost that heartbreaker to Vijay Singh in a playoff.
I don't have to tell you that it has been 61 years since Pat Fletcher etched his name in Canadian golf history.
Yesterday I wrote that on Friday, David's 64 got job one done as he got into contention, yesterday was job 2, to put himself in with a chance on Sunday and he got that done.. now for job 3, to get into the hunt come the back nine today..
I like his demeanour, despite all the others vying for the win he is staying within himself, concentrating on what he is doing, confident in his recent great form..
I go back to his press conference after narrowly losing at the Greenbrier, when he calmly assessed his place amongst his peers and talked about how his performance that week just confirmed in his mind that he could play and win with his peers in pro golf and how he would carry those thoughts forward..
They will be his ally when all hell breaks loose on the back nine at the Abbey today, where he tries to cap off a great week, and take his spot in Canadian golf history.
Other Canucks Adam Hadwin 67 -8 Adam Svennson 67 -7, Nick Taylor 71 -3
There are many storylines going into today's final round at Glen Abbey, on what will be another stunning sunny day.. Will Bubba (68) add another trophy to his resume, this one for his Canadian wife, or will Jason Day (69) continue his great form and take our national championship down under.
Micheal Putnam (68) or Brooks Koepka (68) are both more than capable at -12, or how about Columbia's Camilo Villegas (67) after his country swept all the golf medals at the Pan Am Golf championship last week. Jim Furyk (68), twice a winner of our national title is also at -11 as is my dark horse pick, Emiliano Grillo (69)...
The story's go on and on.. but for me there is only one that really matters.. Can David Hearn win the RBC Canadian Open..
After another solid round, 68, he is at -15 with a 2 shot lead over Bubba and Jason as a beautiful red sunrise kicks off championship Sunday. Mike Weir was the last Canadian to lead going into Sunday in 2004 and he lost that heartbreaker to Vijay Singh in a playoff.
I don't have to tell you that it has been 61 years since Pat Fletcher etched his name in Canadian golf history.
Yesterday I wrote that on Friday, David's 64 got job one done as he got into contention, yesterday was job 2, to put himself in with a chance on Sunday and he got that done.. now for job 3, to get into the hunt come the back nine today..
I like his demeanour, despite all the others vying for the win he is staying within himself, concentrating on what he is doing, confident in his recent great form..
I go back to his press conference after narrowly losing at the Greenbrier, when he calmly assessed his place amongst his peers and talked about how his performance that week just confirmed in his mind that he could play and win with his peers in pro golf and how he would carry those thoughts forward..
They will be his ally when all hell breaks loose on the back nine at the Abbey today, where he tries to cap off a great week, and take his spot in Canadian golf history.
Other Canucks Adam Hadwin 67 -8 Adam Svennson 67 -7, Nick Taylor 71 -3
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Hearn's 64 gives Canuck hopes a boost at Glen Abbey
PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
At the start of play Thursday there were 16 Canadians carrying our flag, as play gets under way this morning there are 6 left, with David Hearn giving the hometown fans just what they wanted, a fine -8 64 on a day of low scoring, to get to -11 T3 and right in contention.
Players enjoy week's of good form in a row before they cool off, and David is in form right now, having come within a shot of winning the Greenbrier three weeks ago, then enjoying the trip to the Open at St.Andrews, he is full of confidence, but level headed as ever, he realizes there is a lot of golf to go this weekend. Job one is done, job two is to get into contention for Sunday afternoon, and that starts at 1.36pm today, paired with Johnson Wagner.
Chad Campbell has arrived here from nowhere, to add an impressive 63 to his opening 67 to lead at -14. He was 48th last week at the Barbasol, does have 3 top 10's this year but nothing spectacular, 120th in the Fed Ex standings. He's 41 now and we'll see if this is going to be his week..
Brian Harman is 2nd 65, 67 and like Hearn. the little lefty is in form right now. Jason Day (66 -10) and Bubba (67 -9) are right in it as well.
Graham DeLaet had to withdraw with a nagging thumb injury after he tried it for 4 holes. The cut fell at -2. Other Canadian scores, Austin Connelly bounced back nicely 73, 65 T22 -6, Adam Svennson 69 73 is -3 this morning, now up to -5, Blair Hamilton 71 68 -5 T33, Adam Hadwin 74 67 -3 T58, and Nick Taylor 70 72 -2 is -1 this morning currently -3 as well.
It's overcast and calm early at the Abbey this morning, ideal scoring conditions, and there is some rain in the forecast for the leaders this afternoon after 2 days of blazing sunshine.
So another big moving day at the Canadian Open, none more so than for David Hearn who wants to give the huge galleries and golf fans across his country another real boost today, to give him a chance tomorrow to join Pat Fletcher, the last Canuck back in 1954, to hoist the trophy. What a place to get his first PGA Tour win...
Now I'm getting ahead of myself.. way ahead..
Bryan
At the start of play Thursday there were 16 Canadians carrying our flag, as play gets under way this morning there are 6 left, with David Hearn giving the hometown fans just what they wanted, a fine -8 64 on a day of low scoring, to get to -11 T3 and right in contention.
Players enjoy week's of good form in a row before they cool off, and David is in form right now, having come within a shot of winning the Greenbrier three weeks ago, then enjoying the trip to the Open at St.Andrews, he is full of confidence, but level headed as ever, he realizes there is a lot of golf to go this weekend. Job one is done, job two is to get into contention for Sunday afternoon, and that starts at 1.36pm today, paired with Johnson Wagner.
Chad Campbell has arrived here from nowhere, to add an impressive 63 to his opening 67 to lead at -14. He was 48th last week at the Barbasol, does have 3 top 10's this year but nothing spectacular, 120th in the Fed Ex standings. He's 41 now and we'll see if this is going to be his week..
Brian Harman is 2nd 65, 67 and like Hearn. the little lefty is in form right now. Jason Day (66 -10) and Bubba (67 -9) are right in it as well.
Graham DeLaet had to withdraw with a nagging thumb injury after he tried it for 4 holes. The cut fell at -2. Other Canadian scores, Austin Connelly bounced back nicely 73, 65 T22 -6, Adam Svennson 69 73 is -3 this morning, now up to -5, Blair Hamilton 71 68 -5 T33, Adam Hadwin 74 67 -3 T58, and Nick Taylor 70 72 -2 is -1 this morning currently -3 as well.
It's overcast and calm early at the Abbey this morning, ideal scoring conditions, and there is some rain in the forecast for the leaders this afternoon after 2 days of blazing sunshine.
So another big moving day at the Canadian Open, none more so than for David Hearn who wants to give the huge galleries and golf fans across his country another real boost today, to give him a chance tomorrow to join Pat Fletcher, the last Canuck back in 1954, to hoist the trophy. What a place to get his first PGA Tour win...
Now I'm getting ahead of myself.. way ahead..
Bryan
Friday, July 24, 2015
Play suspended at Senior Open Championship
Champions Tour Senior Open Championship scoreboard http://www.europeantour.com/seniortour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015862/leaderboard/index.html#LBD#YLwrX9mZxXwQRhUX.97
While there are nothing but blue skies in southern Ontario it is absolutely pouring at venerable Sunningdale outside London, England site of this years Senior Open Championship
As a result play was suspended at 1300hrs or 8am est due to course flooding.
There is an eight way tie for the lead at -5 with Colin Montgomerie joining the group at -2 through 12 holes today before play was halted.
Bernhard Langer won this event by 13 shots last year, he is in the lead group as is Miguel Jimenez and a rare appearance from Jeff Sluman.
The forecast is grim for today, but Sunningdale does drain well and it is light until about 9pm at this time of year, so they might be asked to go out again.
Bryan
Grillo's lead at RBC Canadian Open no surprise to me..
PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
"I am picking out 2 dark horses for this week, American Tony Finau has it all and hits it a mile, and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo who has been knocking on that winner's door for a couple of year's now."
Just saying I told you so.. the above is a little excerpt from my Wednesday preview.
It's not often I'm right and of course it's only round one but the 23 year old rising star from Argentina leads the field after eight birdies en-route to an -8 64 after opening on the 10th with a birdie.
I have been watching him come close on the European Tour for a couple of years now, and he is just getting some starts (6) on the PGA Tour and he is here this week after getting a foreign sponsor exemption into last week’s Barbasol Championship where he finished in the T10 to qualify here. He almost won back in March, when he lost on the first playoff hole to Alex Cejka at the Puerto Rico Open.
A further twist, he was stopped at the border in Buffalo because as an Argentinian he needed a special visa to get into Canada and the matter was eventually resolved when they let him pay for one...
Vaughn Taylor, remember him, also qualified for this week at the Barbasol and in form lefty Brian Harman are T2 after -7 65's, while Steve Wheatcroft, Erik Compton and a South African, Tyrone Van Aswegen are all T4 along with a brilliant 17 year old Australian amateur Ryan Ruffels at -6 66. This kid is another one to watch, he won the Australian Boys’ Amateur championship last year and is here making his first start on the PGA TOUR on an invitation.
As for the 16 Canadians, David Hearn and Adam Svensson had the best starts opening with rounds of -3 69. Nick Taylor and Roger Sloan -2 70, Blair Hamilton -1 71, Graham DeLaet playing with a sore left thumb, Richard Jung and Albin Choi E 72, Bill Walsh and Austin Connelly +1 73, Adam Hadwin, Taylor Pendrith and Justin Shin +2 74, Brad Fritsch +3 75, Corey Connors +5 77, Garret Rank +9 81
Big names.. all the headliners seemed to shoot -4 68..Bubba (in front of 25 of his Canadian wife's friends and family), Jason Day, Jim Furyk, Hunter Mahan all well placed after a beautiful day on the Gen Abbey course that looks as good as we've ever seen it and with the drought we are in here in southern Ontario, is drying out and playing firmer and faster as the week goes on.
Robert Allenby got into an argument with his caddy on the 4th hole and subsequently fired him at the turn, then asked a fan to carry his bag for the last nine holes, shot 81 and promptly withdrew from the tournament.
Bryan
"I am picking out 2 dark horses for this week, American Tony Finau has it all and hits it a mile, and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo who has been knocking on that winner's door for a couple of year's now."
Just saying I told you so.. the above is a little excerpt from my Wednesday preview.
It's not often I'm right and of course it's only round one but the 23 year old rising star from Argentina leads the field after eight birdies en-route to an -8 64 after opening on the 10th with a birdie.
I have been watching him come close on the European Tour for a couple of years now, and he is just getting some starts (6) on the PGA Tour and he is here this week after getting a foreign sponsor exemption into last week’s Barbasol Championship where he finished in the T10 to qualify here. He almost won back in March, when he lost on the first playoff hole to Alex Cejka at the Puerto Rico Open.
A further twist, he was stopped at the border in Buffalo because as an Argentinian he needed a special visa to get into Canada and the matter was eventually resolved when they let him pay for one...
Vaughn Taylor, remember him, also qualified for this week at the Barbasol and in form lefty Brian Harman are T2 after -7 65's, while Steve Wheatcroft, Erik Compton and a South African, Tyrone Van Aswegen are all T4 along with a brilliant 17 year old Australian amateur Ryan Ruffels at -6 66. This kid is another one to watch, he won the Australian Boys’ Amateur championship last year and is here making his first start on the PGA TOUR on an invitation.
As for the 16 Canadians, David Hearn and Adam Svensson had the best starts opening with rounds of -3 69. Nick Taylor and Roger Sloan -2 70, Blair Hamilton -1 71, Graham DeLaet playing with a sore left thumb, Richard Jung and Albin Choi E 72, Bill Walsh and Austin Connelly +1 73, Adam Hadwin, Taylor Pendrith and Justin Shin +2 74, Brad Fritsch +3 75, Corey Connors +5 77, Garret Rank +9 81
Big names.. all the headliners seemed to shoot -4 68..Bubba (in front of 25 of his Canadian wife's friends and family), Jason Day, Jim Furyk, Hunter Mahan all well placed after a beautiful day on the Gen Abbey course that looks as good as we've ever seen it and with the drought we are in here in southern Ontario, is drying out and playing firmer and faster as the week goes on.
Robert Allenby got into an argument with his caddy on the 4th hole and subsequently fired him at the turn, then asked a fan to carry his bag for the last nine holes, shot 81 and promptly withdrew from the tournament.
Bryan
Thursday, July 23, 2015
RBC Canadian Open brings back fond memories...
PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
I have been a spectator, a volunteer, a member of the media but most important a fan of our national championship, called the RBC Canadian Open since 2008 when someone called Chez Reavie won it in a blistering humid week at the Abbey riddled with thunderstorms.
My first live look was in 1968 standing on a bridge on Islington Ave., waiting to see my heroes Arnie Palmer and Lee Trevino at St George's. Bob Charles, the great Kiwi lefty, then regarded as the best putter in golf, won by two shots over Jack Nicklaus, one of the seven times Jack finished second.
The first time I was a volunteer was in 1984. I took a week's vacation and worked as a dispatcher with the Transportation committee at the Abbey when Greg Norman won by two over Jack again. DuMaurier was the main sponsor, free smokes were everywhere and you could barely see the media room scoreboard for the smoke ! Norman thanked them for the cheque of $250,000 in his greenside acceptance speech.
My first broadcast as the producer of Fairways was scheduled for 1993 when David Frost beat Freddie Couples by a shot and that year a violent thunderstorm cell reeked havoc on the course early Saturday morning, knocking out the power lines, and we went outside the grounds to find a pay phone (no cell phones yet folks) to call back into the station on Holly Street..
I've been at every one in Ontario since 1984, still no Canadian winner but boy was it fun but sad calling Vijay Singh's playoff win over Weirsy in 2003. I'll never forget how utterly devastated Mike was after that one, and in fact Vijay was so gracious it was almost like he wished Weirsy had won it.
So many great memories, the eccentric Ken Green winning a Monday finish in front of next to nobody in 1988, the next year he took his courtesy car and drove it to Pittsburg to save a few dollars on a plane flight. I received his call at the transportation desk saying it was at the airport in Pittsburg to be collected. I'll never forget the look on tournament director Bill Paul's face.
Gentleman Nick Price winning in his incredible season of 1994 after he won the Open Championship at Turnberry and the PGA at Southern Hills. Remember his 2 iron hooked around the trees on the par 5 16th to within 6 feet?
We were in the booth calling Tiger's famous shot from the fairway bunker on 18, a 6 iron from nearly 200 yards to beat Grant Waite by a shot in 2000.
John Rollins beat Neal Lancaster and Justin Leonard in a playoff at Angus Glen south in 2002 and then Jim Furyk with his family in tow beat Vijay by a shot at Angus Glen north. I was so glad it was at Angus Glen, not just because it was my home course, with my close friend Kevin Thistle in charge, but because it is a 15 minute drive from home !! A big bonus for those 6am arrival times.
So will it be a relative unknown this year like Scott Piercy, Nathan Green, Chez Reavie, John Rollins, or will it be a star like Jason Day, Bubba, Ernie, Matt Kuchar or Hunter Mahan who was head and shoulders above the field 2 years ago when he got a call on the driving range on Saturday morning to say his wife Kandi was in labour and he had to withdraw. Daughter Zoey Olivia was born on Sunday, many in the press tent suggesting that Brandt Snedeker who won it should send Zoey a little present at this time every year !!
Or better still isn't it time one of our 16 Canadians joined Pat Fletcher 1954, with his name on what is now the RBC Canadian Open trophy!
Whatever happens the weather will be sensational this year, only chance of rain is Saturday night, and that hasn't been the case at many editions in the past.
Looking forward to being there, seeing all my colleagues in the media center and of course adding to the memories..
Bryan
I have been a spectator, a volunteer, a member of the media but most important a fan of our national championship, called the RBC Canadian Open since 2008 when someone called Chez Reavie won it in a blistering humid week at the Abbey riddled with thunderstorms.
My first live look was in 1968 standing on a bridge on Islington Ave., waiting to see my heroes Arnie Palmer and Lee Trevino at St George's. Bob Charles, the great Kiwi lefty, then regarded as the best putter in golf, won by two shots over Jack Nicklaus, one of the seven times Jack finished second.
The first time I was a volunteer was in 1984. I took a week's vacation and worked as a dispatcher with the Transportation committee at the Abbey when Greg Norman won by two over Jack again. DuMaurier was the main sponsor, free smokes were everywhere and you could barely see the media room scoreboard for the smoke ! Norman thanked them for the cheque of $250,000 in his greenside acceptance speech.
My first broadcast as the producer of Fairways was scheduled for 1993 when David Frost beat Freddie Couples by a shot and that year a violent thunderstorm cell reeked havoc on the course early Saturday morning, knocking out the power lines, and we went outside the grounds to find a pay phone (no cell phones yet folks) to call back into the station on Holly Street..
I've been at every one in Ontario since 1984, still no Canadian winner but boy was it fun but sad calling Vijay Singh's playoff win over Weirsy in 2003. I'll never forget how utterly devastated Mike was after that one, and in fact Vijay was so gracious it was almost like he wished Weirsy had won it.
So many great memories, the eccentric Ken Green winning a Monday finish in front of next to nobody in 1988, the next year he took his courtesy car and drove it to Pittsburg to save a few dollars on a plane flight. I received his call at the transportation desk saying it was at the airport in Pittsburg to be collected. I'll never forget the look on tournament director Bill Paul's face.
Gentleman Nick Price winning in his incredible season of 1994 after he won the Open Championship at Turnberry and the PGA at Southern Hills. Remember his 2 iron hooked around the trees on the par 5 16th to within 6 feet?
We were in the booth calling Tiger's famous shot from the fairway bunker on 18, a 6 iron from nearly 200 yards to beat Grant Waite by a shot in 2000.
John Rollins beat Neal Lancaster and Justin Leonard in a playoff at Angus Glen south in 2002 and then Jim Furyk with his family in tow beat Vijay by a shot at Angus Glen north. I was so glad it was at Angus Glen, not just because it was my home course, with my close friend Kevin Thistle in charge, but because it is a 15 minute drive from home !! A big bonus for those 6am arrival times.
So will it be a relative unknown this year like Scott Piercy, Nathan Green, Chez Reavie, John Rollins, or will it be a star like Jason Day, Bubba, Ernie, Matt Kuchar or Hunter Mahan who was head and shoulders above the field 2 years ago when he got a call on the driving range on Saturday morning to say his wife Kandi was in labour and he had to withdraw. Daughter Zoey Olivia was born on Sunday, many in the press tent suggesting that Brandt Snedeker who won it should send Zoey a little present at this time every year !!
Or better still isn't it time one of our 16 Canadians joined Pat Fletcher 1954, with his name on what is now the RBC Canadian Open trophy!
Whatever happens the weather will be sensational this year, only chance of rain is Saturday night, and that hasn't been the case at many editions in the past.
Looking forward to being there, seeing all my colleagues in the media center and of course adding to the memories..
Bryan
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
RBC Canadian Open tee times.
There are 16 Canadians in this year's version of Canada's national men's championship which kicks off in what is forecast to be brilliant sunshine at 7am tomorrow.
Here are the tee times http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/rbc-canadian-open/tee-times.html
Many of the RBC stable have made the trip on the private charter from St Andrews, Bubba, Furyk and defending champion Tim Clark are off #10 at 7.30am, with Hunter Mahan, Kooch and Ernie right behind them.
Nick Taylor is the first Canuck in action at 7.50am on #10, playing with Columbia's Camillo Villegas and veteran Ken Duke... Remember Columbia swept to gold medals at the Pan Ams on Monday.
David Hearn 12.35 and Graham DeLaet 12.45 are both also off #10.
I am picking out 2 dark horses for this week, American Tony Finau has it all and hits it a mile, and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo who has been knocking on that winner's door for a couple of year's now.
I'll miss the roars that go around the Abbey like no other when Weirsy gets on a role as he has stepped down from competitive golf for a while for personal reasons. Time for one of the other Canucks to step up...
Bryan
Here are the tee times http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/rbc-canadian-open/tee-times.html
Many of the RBC stable have made the trip on the private charter from St Andrews, Bubba, Furyk and defending champion Tim Clark are off #10 at 7.30am, with Hunter Mahan, Kooch and Ernie right behind them.
Nick Taylor is the first Canuck in action at 7.50am on #10, playing with Columbia's Camillo Villegas and veteran Ken Duke... Remember Columbia swept to gold medals at the Pan Ams on Monday.
David Hearn 12.35 and Graham DeLaet 12.45 are both also off #10.
I am picking out 2 dark horses for this week, American Tony Finau has it all and hits it a mile, and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo who has been knocking on that winner's door for a couple of year's now.
I'll miss the roars that go around the Abbey like no other when Weirsy gets on a role as he has stepped down from competitive golf for a while for personal reasons. Time for one of the other Canucks to step up...
Bryan
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Zach Johnson the unlikey Open Champion, Spieth falls a shot shy..
The Open Championship final scoreboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015054/leaderboard/index.html#zURmqPL2sFexg0Fv.97
Zach Johnson defeated Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman in a play-off for The Open Championship to claim his second Major title.
That's what the record books will say.
For me this year's Open Championship will always be the one that Jordan Spieth lost, much like 2009 at Turnberry when Tom Watson was all set to win at the age of 59, but made a bogey at the 72nd then lost to Stewart Cink in the playoff.
I thought it wasn't going to be Spieth's day early when he four putted the 8th, but then like the champion he already is, he made birdies at 9 then 10, then like Tiger of old he made that 50 foot bomb on the 16th and we all thought he's going to do it. Everyone was making bogey at 17, I put that in the equation, but I didn't expect him to nearly hit his drive out of bounds over on the first fairway at 18!
The R&A had placed the flag just on the 18th green, guarded by the Valley of Sin and many before Jordan had spun back into it, making the crucial mistake of not hitting it past. When he pulled the wrong wedge and spun his back, I thought of Constantino Rocca who flubbed his previous chip then famously made his putt from the same spot as Jordan to get into the 4 hole play-off with John Daly in 1995, and Spieth damn near made his to get to -15 and join the play-off, but he didn't and his shot at history was done...
Now I will say this, Zach Johnson went out and shot 66, going out in 31 strokes and made a long birdie of his own to get to -15 after starting the day 3 shots behind Oosthiuzen, Day and Paul Dunne who incidently fell away to 78 and like so many of the others saw his chance of winning slip away.
Others like Marc Leishman who also went out in 31 and had a 2 shot lead at the 16th, but made bogey from the greenside bunker, and little Louis who made a gutsy par saving putt on 17, the birdied the 18th to get to -15.
In the play-off Johnson and Oosthuizen both birdied the first as Leishman three-putted from long range and Johnson edged ahead with another birdie on the second.
All three players bogeyed the 17th, but then Oosthuizen missed from 12 feet for birdie on the 18th to force sudden death, leaving Johnson the winner to his amazement, he didn't celebrate, just stood there as the players took off their hats to shake his hand..
All three players bogeyed the 17th, but then Oosthuizen missed from 12 feet for birdie on the 18th to force sudden death, leaving Johnson the winner to his amazement, he didn't celebrate, just stood there as the players took off their hats to shake his hand..
Somebody had to win it, it turned out to be Zach Johnson, but for me it will always be the one others lost, none more so than Jordan Spieth. However let's remember just three weeks ago at Chambers Bay. Dustin Johnson 3 putted from 12 feet to allow Jordon Spieth to win the US Open.
Golf is a cruel game at times, but don't tell Zach Johnson that this morning. He is forever the 2015 champion golfer of the year.
Now it's on to the Abbey for the RBC Canadian Open, where Tim Clarke is the defending champion.
Bryan
Monday, July 20, 2015
It's a "Major Monday" at the Open Championship
The Open Championship leaderboard http://www.theopen.com/Leaderboard#!/traditional
Many of us have a full day of work ahead, as do many in St Andrews, none the less it's a Major Monday, and an intriguing one at that, full of storylines, triumph and of course failure.
The day has dawned sunny and calm and it rained again overnight so as I've been saying, the old course is very gettable right now for the early pairings. http://www.theopen.com/TeeTimes#!/R4
However there is wind and rain in the forecast for later in the afternoon, which should favour those going out early to post a number and sit back too see if it is enough..
One of those doing just that is American amateur Oliver Schniederjans #1 ranked from Georgia Tech, who went out in 31 and is currently -6 on his round, -10. He is one of three amateurs in the top 6, the others Irishman Paul Dunne who is tied for the lead and another American Jordan Niebrugge from Oklahoma State at -9
So who will hoist the Claret Jug..
Will it be Louis Oosthuizen the 2010 winner here who starts with Dunne at -12 in the final pair off at 9.30am est, or will the young Irishman become the first amateur since Bobby Jones in 1930 to win the Open. Remember Oosthuizen is one of golf's great wind players... keep that in mind when the weather rolls in..
Off in front of them at 9.20, Jordan Speith at -11 trying to make history by winning the first 3 majors of 2015, paired with Jason Day, so hungry for his first major and one of the best ball strikers in golf.
At 9.10, Paddy Harrington has come from nowhere to shoot 72 69 65 -10 and Aussie Marc Leishman who has the low round of the week so far, 64 to get to -9. Leishman almost lost his wife to illness earlier in the year, she was touch and go to live, is recovering now, but that has put everything in his life in priority.
Or how about Sergio, Rosey, the Goose, Zach Johnson, Adam Scott or Robert Streb all story's in their own right, and all at -9 along with Danny Willett
Graham DeLaet is at -5 having made 3 birdies an a double bogey.. He is on the back nine, bar far the tougher of the 2 nines, particularly today with the wind into the players when they turn for home out at the 12th.
It kind of looks like a playoff to me and if it is, they play a 4 hole aggregate.. That's how John Daly won here in 1995, remember he beat Constantino Rocca.
After 41 years Ivor Robson, the man who has been announcing the players on the first tee at the Open and indeed at most all European Tour events is calling his own number this week, due to illness. He doesn't leave the tee at all for 12 hours, no bathroom break, no food or drink. Hi is an icon.
A great day ahead...and I'll be watching to see how many late W/D's there will be from the RBC charter waiting ay Turnhouse to bring the players back here to Glen Abbey for the Canadian Open later in the week.
Later, Bryan
Many of us have a full day of work ahead, as do many in St Andrews, none the less it's a Major Monday, and an intriguing one at that, full of storylines, triumph and of course failure.
The day has dawned sunny and calm and it rained again overnight so as I've been saying, the old course is very gettable right now for the early pairings. http://www.theopen.com/TeeTimes#!/R4
However there is wind and rain in the forecast for later in the afternoon, which should favour those going out early to post a number and sit back too see if it is enough..
One of those doing just that is American amateur Oliver Schniederjans #1 ranked from Georgia Tech, who went out in 31 and is currently -6 on his round, -10. He is one of three amateurs in the top 6, the others Irishman Paul Dunne who is tied for the lead and another American Jordan Niebrugge from Oklahoma State at -9
So who will hoist the Claret Jug..
Will it be Louis Oosthuizen the 2010 winner here who starts with Dunne at -12 in the final pair off at 9.30am est, or will the young Irishman become the first amateur since Bobby Jones in 1930 to win the Open. Remember Oosthuizen is one of golf's great wind players... keep that in mind when the weather rolls in..
Off in front of them at 9.20, Jordan Speith at -11 trying to make history by winning the first 3 majors of 2015, paired with Jason Day, so hungry for his first major and one of the best ball strikers in golf.
At 9.10, Paddy Harrington has come from nowhere to shoot 72 69 65 -10 and Aussie Marc Leishman who has the low round of the week so far, 64 to get to -9. Leishman almost lost his wife to illness earlier in the year, she was touch and go to live, is recovering now, but that has put everything in his life in priority.
Or how about Sergio, Rosey, the Goose, Zach Johnson, Adam Scott or Robert Streb all story's in their own right, and all at -9 along with Danny Willett
Graham DeLaet is at -5 having made 3 birdies an a double bogey.. He is on the back nine, bar far the tougher of the 2 nines, particularly today with the wind into the players when they turn for home out at the 12th.
It kind of looks like a playoff to me and if it is, they play a 4 hole aggregate.. That's how John Daly won here in 1995, remember he beat Constantino Rocca.
After 41 years Ivor Robson, the man who has been announcing the players on the first tee at the Open and indeed at most all European Tour events is calling his own number this week, due to illness. He doesn't leave the tee at all for 12 hours, no bathroom break, no food or drink. Hi is an icon.
A great day ahead...and I'll be watching to see how many late W/D's there will be from the RBC charter waiting ay Turnhouse to bring the players back here to Glen Abbey for the Canadian Open later in the week.
Later, Bryan
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Dunne, Spieth the lead stories today at the Open Championship
The Open Championship leaderboard http://www.theopen.com/Leaderboard#!/traditional
Well you all know who Jordan Spieth is, and he just posted -6 66 to get to -11, as his quest to win his 3rd major of the year just got a big step closer, but hands up anyone who knows who Paul Dunne is ??!!
He is a 22 year old amateur from Greystones in Ireland a 1500-1 shot, whose college coach from UAB (Alabama-Birmingham) is also his caddie and he just shot 66 to go with a pair of 69's -12 total and a share of the lead with Louis Oosthuizen and Jason Day who booth shot 67.
The last amateur to win the Open Championship was Bobby Jones in 1930. Dunne is the 80th ranked amateur in the world, he qualified for the Open at Woburn GC. He played at Royal Liverpool last year and missed the cut.
Dunne was one of the top players on the junior circuit in Ireland and won the Irish Youths Amateur Championship in 2010, joining a list of champions that also includes Louis Oosthuizen and Padraig Harrington.
Big Dustin Johnson is struggling today at +3 shooting 75. The scoring conditions have been ideal all day, in fact of the first 28 to finish this morning only 4 failed to break par..
Dunne and Oosthuizen are the final pairing tomorrow, Spieth and Day the penultimate, and the third last pairing getting no talk at all are Paddy Harrington and Marc Leishman..
Story lines galore for a Monday finale, but today Spieth and the amateur Dunne were the lead stories..
Bryan
Bryan
Well you all know who Jordan Spieth is, and he just posted -6 66 to get to -11, as his quest to win his 3rd major of the year just got a big step closer, but hands up anyone who knows who Paul Dunne is ??!!
He is a 22 year old amateur from Greystones in Ireland a 1500-1 shot, whose college coach from UAB (Alabama-Birmingham) is also his caddie and he just shot 66 to go with a pair of 69's -12 total and a share of the lead with Louis Oosthuizen and Jason Day who booth shot 67.
The last amateur to win the Open Championship was Bobby Jones in 1930. Dunne is the 80th ranked amateur in the world, he qualified for the Open at Woburn GC. He played at Royal Liverpool last year and missed the cut.
Dunne was one of the top players on the junior circuit in Ireland and won the Irish Youths Amateur Championship in 2010, joining a list of champions that also includes Louis Oosthuizen and Padraig Harrington.
Big Dustin Johnson is struggling today at +3 shooting 75. The scoring conditions have been ideal all day, in fact of the first 28 to finish this morning only 4 failed to break par..
Dunne and Oosthuizen are the final pairing tomorrow, Spieth and Day the penultimate, and the third last pairing getting no talk at all are Paddy Harrington and Marc Leishman..
Story lines galore for a Monday finale, but today Spieth and the amateur Dunne were the lead stories..
Bryan
Bryan
Round 3 underway in calm conditions at St Andrews... Monday finish
The Open Championship leaderboard http://www.theopen.com/Leaderboard#!/traditional
This 144th Open Championship will have a Monday finish, play got underway this morning after overnight rain softened the old course, and the wind has dropped for now, significantly, and the early scores are well under par as a result.
The average score this morning is 68.8 led by Aussie Mark Leishman who made par on his last 3 holes for 64 and he is in at -9.
Leaders Dustin Johnson -10 and Danny Willett -9 are off at 1500 hours or 10am est.
Other scores so far today. Jim Furyk 66 -6 total, Eddie Pepperell is -7 on his round thru 15, Rickie Fowler who won the Scottish Open last week shot 66 this morning, -7 total, amateur Ashley Chesters shot -5 67, -6 total.
David Duval, Jason Dufner, Hunter Mahan all shot 67. Graham DeLaet shot -4 68 and is currently T44.
Bryan
This 144th Open Championship will have a Monday finish, play got underway this morning after overnight rain softened the old course, and the wind has dropped for now, significantly, and the early scores are well under par as a result.
The average score this morning is 68.8 led by Aussie Mark Leishman who made par on his last 3 holes for 64 and he is in at -9.
Leaders Dustin Johnson -10 and Danny Willett -9 are off at 1500 hours or 10am est.
Other scores so far today. Jim Furyk 66 -6 total, Eddie Pepperell is -7 on his round thru 15, Rickie Fowler who won the Scottish Open last week shot 66 this morning, -7 total, amateur Ashley Chesters shot -5 67, -6 total.
David Duval, Jason Dufner, Hunter Mahan all shot 67. Graham DeLaet shot -4 68 and is currently T44.
Bryan
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Play suspended at St Andrews due to high wind
Open Championship leaderboard http://www.theopen.com/Leaderboard#!/traditional
Round 2 has been suspended as the wind is howling at St Andrews this morning and here is the official statement from the R&A..
"We spent an hour at the far end of the course, before play started, assessing whether the course was playable. Balls were not moving on the greens and while the conditions were extremely difficult, we considered the golf course to be playable. Gusts of wind increased in speed by 10 - 15% after play resumed. This could not be foreseen at the time that play was restarted and made a material difference to the playability of the golf course.
We will make an announcement on when play is likely to restart in due course."
When play does resume Danny Willett 66,69 -9 will be able to sleep in as he has completed his 2nd round, however co-leader Dustin Johnson was up early as he has 3 holes left to play. 42 players did not finish, some including Tiger +5, have the entire back nine to play.
A couple of Scots are in contention Paul Lawrie -8 and Marc Warren -7..Adam Scott with a fine 67 shot into the mix at -7, Zach Johnson is -7 as are Robert Streb and Louis Oosthuizen.
Jordan Spieth is at -5. The cut is projected to fall at E. Graham DeLaet is right on that number 71,73, while David Hearn who shot 74 on Thursday is at +4 with the back nine to play.
The wind is listed at 43kph from the SW and there is more of it on Sunday with rain thrown in
https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+forecast+for+st+Andrews
Bryan
Round 2 has been suspended as the wind is howling at St Andrews this morning and here is the official statement from the R&A..
"We spent an hour at the far end of the course, before play started, assessing whether the course was playable. Balls were not moving on the greens and while the conditions were extremely difficult, we considered the golf course to be playable. Gusts of wind increased in speed by 10 - 15% after play resumed. This could not be foreseen at the time that play was restarted and made a material difference to the playability of the golf course.
We will make an announcement on when play is likely to restart in due course."
When play does resume Danny Willett 66,69 -9 will be able to sleep in as he has completed his 2nd round, however co-leader Dustin Johnson was up early as he has 3 holes left to play. 42 players did not finish, some including Tiger +5, have the entire back nine to play.
A couple of Scots are in contention Paul Lawrie -8 and Marc Warren -7..Adam Scott with a fine 67 shot into the mix at -7, Zach Johnson is -7 as are Robert Streb and Louis Oosthuizen.
Jordan Spieth is at -5. The cut is projected to fall at E. Graham DeLaet is right on that number 71,73, while David Hearn who shot 74 on Thursday is at +4 with the back nine to play.
The wind is listed at 43kph from the SW and there is more of it on Sunday with rain thrown in
https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+forecast+for+st+Andrews
Bryan
Friday, July 17, 2015
Rain soaks old course.. update..play ends at 9.55pm
The Open Championship leaderboard http://www.theopen.com/Leaderboard#!/traditional
Play was suspended at 6.45am local time and didn't resume until 10am (4am est). Right now the weather is calm and overcast, perfect scoring conditions.
The first and 18th were under water at one point and the grounds crew have done a remarkable job clearing the playing surfaces. There are still puddles on the 18th and of course the spectators will need their wellie boots
Danny Willett made a birdie at the second to join Dustin Johnson at -7 for the lead along with Zach Johnson who birdied the 5th to get to -7. Scotland's Marc Warren is -2 through 5 holes and he has moved to -6.
As I said this early wave has a real chance to score right now. Players will have to be at E or better to make the cut at the end of play tonight. There is more rain and wind in the forecast.
Weather forecast for St Andrews https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+forecast+for+st+Andrews
update..
Bryan
Play was suspended at 6.45am local time and didn't resume until 10am (4am est). Right now the weather is calm and overcast, perfect scoring conditions.
The first and 18th were under water at one point and the grounds crew have done a remarkable job clearing the playing surfaces. There are still puddles on the 18th and of course the spectators will need their wellie boots
Danny Willett made a birdie at the second to join Dustin Johnson at -7 for the lead along with Zach Johnson who birdied the 5th to get to -7. Scotland's Marc Warren is -2 through 5 holes and he has moved to -6.
As I said this early wave has a real chance to score right now. Players will have to be at E or better to make the cut at the end of play tonight. There is more rain and wind in the forecast.
Weather forecast for St Andrews https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+forecast+for+st+Andrews
update..
Play ended at 9:55pm with five-time champion Tom Watson bidding an emotional farewell.
europeantour.com As play stuttered to a halt around the course following a delay of more than three hours due to torrential early rain, Watson and playing partners Ernie Els and Brandt Snedeker opted to complete their second rounds in near-darkness.
The trio and their caddies - with Watson's son Michael on his bag - paused on the Swilcan Bridge on the 18th for the traditional photograph before Watson was left alone to take the applause of the spectators who had stayed on to salute the popular 65 year old.
A closing bogey, one of five in a row for a round of 80, barely mattered and was instead greeted with a loud cheer as officials and players applauded from the clubhouse steps.
europeantour.com As play stuttered to a halt around the course following a delay of more than three hours due to torrential early rain, Watson and playing partners Ernie Els and Brandt Snedeker opted to complete their second rounds in near-darkness.
The trio and their caddies - with Watson's son Michael on his bag - paused on the Swilcan Bridge on the 18th for the traditional photograph before Watson was left alone to take the applause of the spectators who had stayed on to salute the popular 65 year old.
A closing bogey, one of five in a row for a round of 80, barely mattered and was instead greeted with a loud cheer as officials and players applauded from the clubhouse steps.
England's Willett set the pace on a weather-affected day, shooting 69 -9 total to tie for the lead with Dustin Johnson who is at -9 with 3 holes to play in the morning.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Scoring soars on the afternoon wind at St Andrews
The Open Championship leaderboard http://www.theopen.com/Leaderboard#!/traditional
It's not like 1960 when the wind blew the tented village into the Firth of Forth but the breeze has stiffened and the temperature dropped this afternoon and as a result scoring average at 73.6 is 2 strokes higher than the morning wave.
Dustin Johnson and his fine -7 65 has stood up all day in the lead, Streb, Goosen, Lawrie and Day at -6 are still 2nd from the morning.
From the afternoon wave it's a different story with only Zach Johnson and Danny Willett in at -6, 66.
Justin Rose at -3 and Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuuchar and Henrik Stenson are at -2, but they all still have to deal with 16 which is averaging 4.3 and has only yielded 7 birdies all day, then of course the there is the road hole..
One of the joys of the Open is that coverage started at 145am this early morning and is still not over 12 hours later..
The weather for tomorrow is much the same as today with some rain mixed in, the most wind is expected late Friday then into Saturday...
Bryan
It's not like 1960 when the wind blew the tented village into the Firth of Forth but the breeze has stiffened and the temperature dropped this afternoon and as a result scoring average at 73.6 is 2 strokes higher than the morning wave.
Dustin Johnson and his fine -7 65 has stood up all day in the lead, Streb, Goosen, Lawrie and Day at -6 are still 2nd from the morning.
From the afternoon wave it's a different story with only Zach Johnson and Danny Willett in at -6, 66.
Justin Rose at -3 and Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuuchar and Henrik Stenson are at -2, but they all still have to deal with 16 which is averaging 4.3 and has only yielded 7 birdies all day, then of course the there is the road hole..
One of the joys of the Open is that coverage started at 145am this early morning and is still not over 12 hours later..
The weather for tomorrow is much the same as today with some rain mixed in, the most wind is expected late Friday then into Saturday...
Bryan
Tough finish to promising days for DeLaet and Hearn at St Andrews
The Open Championship leaderboard http://www.theopen.com/Leaderboard#!/traditional
Graham DeLaet was going great, 100% fairways hit, 94% greens in regulation, averaging 323 yards a drive -3 playing the road hole but it got him as it gets many and he made bogey 5 then followed with a bogey on 18 to finish at -1 71.
David Hearn opened with a par, made birdie at 3 then bogey at 4 and also was doing very well at -3 playing #14 but then made 3 bogey's and a double in his last 5 holes to drop to +2 74. So disappointing finishes for both Canucks.
Both also face the fact they are in the late wave tomorrow, which today has received the worst of the wind today..the scoring average at 73.6 is two shots higher than the morning wave
Bryan
Graham DeLaet was going great, 100% fairways hit, 94% greens in regulation, averaging 323 yards a drive -3 playing the road hole but it got him as it gets many and he made bogey 5 then followed with a bogey on 18 to finish at -1 71.
David Hearn opened with a par, made birdie at 3 then bogey at 4 and also was doing very well at -3 playing #14 but then made 3 bogey's and a double in his last 5 holes to drop to +2 74. So disappointing finishes for both Canucks.
Both also face the fact they are in the late wave tomorrow, which today has received the worst of the wind today..the scoring average at 73.6 is two shots higher than the morning wave
Bryan
St.Andrews vulnerable without the wind..Dustin Johnson leads at -7
The Open Championship leaderboard http://www.theopen.com/Leaderboard#!/traditional
All links courses depend first and foremost on the weather as their natural defence. Today so far as predicted there is very little wind, it rained a lot yesterday and recently in Scotland, the rough has been deliberately thinned out and as a result scoring is low.
I have to go down to T89 to find anyone over par and one of those someone's is Tiger who struggled in at +4 76.
Before I get to the scores, remember the front nine, in fact the first 12 which includes what is known as the loop, ( where you turn around and head back in out at the top end of the course) are where you score traditionally on the old course. The breeze is down and from the right helping as you go out today, then in and from the left as they come in.
As you can see from my leaderboard link, American Robert Streb was in the clubhouse -6 66 for the early lead, as the morning wave enjoys these benign conditions and he'd never played the course before Tuesday.
Retief Goosen is in with 66 -6, Greg Owen from England can say he led the Open as he was first in the clubhouse at -4 68. Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson are paired together Dustin Johnson is leading the field at -7 after an easy looking 65, Spieth shot 67 -5 after struggling over the last 6 holes. Paul Lawrie who won the 1999 Open at Carnoustie where Van de Velde melted down, is in at -6 66l
Graham DeLaet was going great, 100% fairways hit, 94% greens in regulation, averaging 323 yards a drive -3 playing the road hole but it got him as it gets many and he made bogey 5 then followed with a bogey on 18 to finish at -1 71. David Hearn opened with a par, made birdie at 3 then bogey at 4 and also was doing very well at -3 playing #14 but then made 3 bogey's and a double in his last 5 holes to drop to +2 74. So disappointing finishes for booth Canucks
Tom Watson shot 76 +4 and Bubba Watson -1 71.
Late wave... update
Justin Rose is at -3 through 5 holes, Jimmy Walker at -3 through 8, Marc Warren the Scot is at -4 through 13, Mickelson and Stenson are paired at -2 through 6..
Follow all the scores on my link and send me your comments as well..
I have work to go to and will return later to wrap up the day here..
Bryan
All links courses depend first and foremost on the weather as their natural defence. Today so far as predicted there is very little wind, it rained a lot yesterday and recently in Scotland, the rough has been deliberately thinned out and as a result scoring is low.
I have to go down to T89 to find anyone over par and one of those someone's is Tiger who struggled in at +4 76.
Before I get to the scores, remember the front nine, in fact the first 12 which includes what is known as the loop, ( where you turn around and head back in out at the top end of the course) are where you score traditionally on the old course. The breeze is down and from the right helping as you go out today, then in and from the left as they come in.
As you can see from my leaderboard link, American Robert Streb was in the clubhouse -6 66 for the early lead, as the morning wave enjoys these benign conditions and he'd never played the course before Tuesday.
Retief Goosen is in with 66 -6, Greg Owen from England can say he led the Open as he was first in the clubhouse at -4 68. Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson are paired together Dustin Johnson is leading the field at -7 after an easy looking 65, Spieth shot 67 -5 after struggling over the last 6 holes. Paul Lawrie who won the 1999 Open at Carnoustie where Van de Velde melted down, is in at -6 66l
Graham DeLaet was going great, 100% fairways hit, 94% greens in regulation, averaging 323 yards a drive -3 playing the road hole but it got him as it gets many and he made bogey 5 then followed with a bogey on 18 to finish at -1 71. David Hearn opened with a par, made birdie at 3 then bogey at 4 and also was doing very well at -3 playing #14 but then made 3 bogey's and a double in his last 5 holes to drop to +2 74. So disappointing finishes for booth Canucks
Tom Watson shot 76 +4 and Bubba Watson -1 71.
Late wave... update
Justin Rose is at -3 through 5 holes, Jimmy Walker at -3 through 8, Marc Warren the Scot is at -4 through 13, Mickelson and Stenson are paired at -2 through 6..
Follow all the scores on my link and send me your comments as well..
I have work to go to and will return later to wrap up the day here..
Bryan
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Seve's win in 1984 at St.Andrews and pairings to watch for..
Open Championship pairings http://www.theopen.com/TeeTimes#!/R1
Here are groups I'll be watching including our 2 Canadians
1.54am Graham Delaet will tee off with Russell Knox (Scotland) and Brian Farmer the little lefty from the States. DeLaet's clubs didn't arrive until Tuesday and when they did they were covered in a white protein powder !!
3.33am Tom Watson likely playing his last Open after winning 5 of them, Ernie Els and Brandt Snedeker
4.00am Bubba Watson, Ian Poulter and Charl Schwartzel
4.11am Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Patrick Reed
4.33am Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama and Dustin Johnson
4.55am Jason Day, Tiger Woods and Louis Oosthuizen
5.39am Jacquelin Raphael, Eddie Pepperell and David Hearn
7.50am Jason Dufner, Miguel Jimenez and John Daly
9.34am Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar
9.45am Justin Rose, Nick Faldo and Rickie Fowler
One of my favourite Open's of all time at St Andrews was 1984 when Seve Ballesteros won his 2nd, and started the era of the fist pump right in front of my seat at the 18th green.. If you never have never seen this here is the link.. enjoy http://www.theopen.com/Heritage/PreviousOpens#!/1984/St%20Andrews
Weather watch: I reported earlier on Monday that it would be a very cool week with rain in the forecast for Thursday, Friday... but not a lot of wind. Well it is pouring down this morning, which will make an already green Old Course even softer, which should result in low scoring. https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+for+st+Andrews
Bryan
Here are groups I'll be watching including our 2 Canadians
1.54am Graham Delaet will tee off with Russell Knox (Scotland) and Brian Farmer the little lefty from the States. DeLaet's clubs didn't arrive until Tuesday and when they did they were covered in a white protein powder !!
3.33am Tom Watson likely playing his last Open after winning 5 of them, Ernie Els and Brandt Snedeker
4.00am Bubba Watson, Ian Poulter and Charl Schwartzel
4.11am Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Patrick Reed
4.33am Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama and Dustin Johnson
4.55am Jason Day, Tiger Woods and Louis Oosthuizen
5.39am Jacquelin Raphael, Eddie Pepperell and David Hearn
7.50am Jason Dufner, Miguel Jimenez and John Daly
9.34am Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar
9.45am Justin Rose, Nick Faldo and Rickie Fowler
One of my favourite Open's of all time at St Andrews was 1984 when Seve Ballesteros won his 2nd, and started the era of the fist pump right in front of my seat at the 18th green.. If you never have never seen this here is the link.. enjoy http://www.theopen.com/Heritage/PreviousOpens#!/1984/St%20Andrews
Weather watch: I reported earlier on Monday that it would be a very cool week with rain in the forecast for Thursday, Friday... but not a lot of wind. Well it is pouring down this morning, which will make an already green Old Course even softer, which should result in low scoring. https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+for+st+Andrews
Bryan
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Rickie Fowler wins the Scottish Open
European Tour Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015052/leaderboardget their attenntion/index.html#ycOGdtTlw5YjOEWY.97
Weather forecast https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+for+gullane+golf+club
The wind is blowing again at Gullane, 25kph from the west, again not the worst by a long way but enough to get their attention. Still the early scores are in and most are very reasonable, -3 the lowest, +4 the highest from the back markers. It normally roils up in the afternoon as the tide comes in.
Daniel Brooks and Raphael Jacquelin are the last pairing, off at 1530 hours or 10.30 am est. Dutchman Joost Luiten is paired with Rickie Fowler in the penultimate pairing.
update update 2.17pm est
Rickie Fowler has just won the Scottish Open after making birdie 3 of the last 4 holes including a 360 yard drive on 18 followed by a wedge from 110 yards stiff to the flag.
His 68, -12 total was good enough to pip Matt Kuchar who shot 68 as well for -11 and Raphael Jacquelin 70 -11 and he almost holed out on 18 for the eagle that would have tied Rickie...
More later
Bryan
Weather forecast https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+for+gullane+golf+club
The wind is blowing again at Gullane, 25kph from the west, again not the worst by a long way but enough to get their attention. Still the early scores are in and most are very reasonable, -3 the lowest, +4 the highest from the back markers. It normally roils up in the afternoon as the tide comes in.
Daniel Brooks and Raphael Jacquelin are the last pairing, off at 1530 hours or 10.30 am est. Dutchman Joost Luiten is paired with Rickie Fowler in the penultimate pairing.
update update 2.17pm est
Rickie Fowler has just won the Scottish Open after making birdie 3 of the last 4 holes including a 360 yard drive on 18 followed by a wedge from 110 yards stiff to the flag.
His 68, -12 total was good enough to pip Matt Kuchar who shot 68 as well for -11 and Raphael Jacquelin 70 -11 and he almost holed out on 18 for the eagle that would have tied Rickie...
More later
Bryan
Yang still leads Lewis by 3 at US Women's Open
LPGA Tour US Women's Open leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=lpga
Today for the fourth time Amy Yang will be in the final group at a U.S. Open. This time after a 69 to go with 67, 66 she'll have a 3 shot lead at -8 over a very tough Stacy Lewis 69. 67 69 -5.
Yang’s three-day total of -8 202 is the second-lowest in championship history behind Julie Inkster’s 201 in 1999. She and Lewis were paired together, it was like match play, and Yang came out of it the same way she went in.. up by 3. Lewis, a two-time major winner is struggling with the greens, she is ranked 26th this week with 96 putts.
Today for the fourth time Amy Yang will be in the final group at a U.S. Open. This time after a 69 to go with 67, 66 she'll have a 3 shot lead at -8 over a very tough Stacy Lewis 69. 67 69 -5.
Yang’s three-day total of -8 202 is the second-lowest in championship history behind Julie Inkster’s 201 in 1999. She and Lewis were paired together, it was like match play, and Yang came out of it the same way she went in.. up by 3. Lewis, a two-time major winner is struggling with the greens, she is ranked 26th this week with 96 putts.
In Gee Chun, playing in her first U.S. Open, shot a second -2 68 to sit in third place at -4 while Japan’s Shiho Oyama is fourth at -3 after a 71.
Defending champion Michelle Wie 68 -2 is hampered play with hip and ankle pain. She is in a four-way tie for fifth at -2 along with two-time winner Inbee Park (70). Also in that group is Chella Choi who shot 64 including a record front nine of 29.
Brooke Henderson is T18 +1 after rebounding from Friday's 73 with a -2 68.
Bryan
Spieth is mowing them down at John Deere Classic
PGA Tour John Deere Classic leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
There were 2 rain delays making TPC Deere Run very soft and we all know what pros do with soft courses..Nobody did it better than Open Champion favourite Jordan Spieth... with a little luck thrown in..
Spieth torched the course with a career best -10 61 including a lucky eagle 3 at 17 after a drive into the trees which he found, then got out into the fairway, then a wedge he thought he mishit from 110 yards, which spun right back into the cup giving him a -17 total and a 2 shot lead.
He'll have to play well today to beat in form Kiwi Danny Lee who shot an equally good 62 to go with a pair of 68's -15 total.. Remember Lee beat David Hearn in a playoff to win the Greenbrier last week.
Speaking of Hearn he had his worst round in 2 weeks after going out in 33 he had a bogey, a double and a triple in a 42 back nine +4 75 dropping him to T66, while Roger Sloan is T26 -8 after a 67 and Adam Hadwin is T40 -6 after a 70.
Shawn Stefani, Justin Thomas and Johnson Wagner are at -14.
So all eyes on Spieth today as he tries to win this event for the second time. One way or another his confidence will be high going into St Andrews on Monday, but a soft TPC Deer Run is about the polar opposite to the Old Course so his choice to play here instead of on the links at Gullane may still come back to haunt him.
Personally I think the kid is so talented it won't be the deciding factor, remember how well he handled Chambers Bay. All the odds of winning 3 majors in a row are stacked against him, that is the deciding factor for me..
Still it's going to be fun to watch.. as will this afternoon..
Bryan
There were 2 rain delays making TPC Deere Run very soft and we all know what pros do with soft courses..Nobody did it better than Open Champion favourite Jordan Spieth... with a little luck thrown in..
Spieth torched the course with a career best -10 61 including a lucky eagle 3 at 17 after a drive into the trees which he found, then got out into the fairway, then a wedge he thought he mishit from 110 yards, which spun right back into the cup giving him a -17 total and a 2 shot lead.
He'll have to play well today to beat in form Kiwi Danny Lee who shot an equally good 62 to go with a pair of 68's -15 total.. Remember Lee beat David Hearn in a playoff to win the Greenbrier last week.
Speaking of Hearn he had his worst round in 2 weeks after going out in 33 he had a bogey, a double and a triple in a 42 back nine +4 75 dropping him to T66, while Roger Sloan is T26 -8 after a 67 and Adam Hadwin is T40 -6 after a 70.
Shawn Stefani, Justin Thomas and Johnson Wagner are at -14.
So all eyes on Spieth today as he tries to win this event for the second time. One way or another his confidence will be high going into St Andrews on Monday, but a soft TPC Deer Run is about the polar opposite to the Old Course so his choice to play here instead of on the links at Gullane may still come back to haunt him.
Personally I think the kid is so talented it won't be the deciding factor, remember how well he handled Chambers Bay. All the odds of winning 3 majors in a row are stacked against him, that is the deciding factor for me..
Still it's going to be fun to watch.. as will this afternoon..
Bryan
Saturday, July 11, 2015
"Nae wind, nae golf".scores rise on the wind at Scottish Open
European Tour Scottish Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015052/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y#XyVBBrvrVzHVPfPU.97
Well the breeze turned into a wind this afternoon at Gullane, with the morning flight getting the advantage, however sore wrist and all Daniel Brooks started with a double bogey but hung in there with some great iron shots to shoot 69 -12 total, and take a one shot lead into Sunday, with some big names right behind.
Rickie Fowler shot another fine 66 and is at -10 along with Juist Luiten 66, and Tommy Fleetwood 67 and just ahead of them in 2nd at -11 is Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin with an early 64. Matt Kucher shot 67 to get to -9 and Miguel Jimenez is at -8 after a crafty 68.
McDowell, Rose and Lowry though backed up a little in the worst of the wind with +2 72's and are in at -6
Nae wind, nae golf... ah some things never change
Bryan
Well the breeze turned into a wind this afternoon at Gullane, with the morning flight getting the advantage, however sore wrist and all Daniel Brooks started with a double bogey but hung in there with some great iron shots to shoot 69 -12 total, and take a one shot lead into Sunday, with some big names right behind.
Rickie Fowler shot another fine 66 and is at -10 along with Juist Luiten 66, and Tommy Fleetwood 67 and just ahead of them in 2nd at -11 is Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin with an early 64. Matt Kucher shot 67 to get to -9 and Miguel Jimenez is at -8 after a crafty 68.
McDowell, Rose and Lowry though backed up a little in the worst of the wind with +2 72's and are in at -6
Nae wind, nae golf... ah some things never change
Bryan
Another young gun leads John Deere Classic
PGA Tour John Deere Classic scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
No it's not Jordan Spieth, yet, who leads after 2 rounds down at TPC Deere Run in Illinois. He is T16 though 71 64 -7 and is getting all the ink. Spieth took two weeks off after winning the U.S. Open and says he was rusty during his first round
It's another young gun, a very impressive Justin Thomas at 63 67 -12 who leads the field by a shot over veterans Johnson Wagner 68 63 and Tom Gillis 66 65 at -11. Thomas, only 22, has had a rivalry with Spieth during college where they were the best amateurs in the States, Thomas was at Alabama and Spieth was at Texas.
Thomas started the week with a stunning record 63 and was nearly as good Friday with 67, giving him another shot at his first career win after losing the lead with a bad final round at last week’s Greenbrier Classic.
He has all the tools, and just needs a few breaks here and there to step up into that rare air that guys like Spieth, McIlroy, Fowler breath.
Roger Sloan, Adam Hadwin and David Hearn all made the cut at -4. Nick Taylor missed the cut and Mike Weir withdrew after shooting 73 on Thursday
Bryan
No it's not Jordan Spieth, yet, who leads after 2 rounds down at TPC Deere Run in Illinois. He is T16 though 71 64 -7 and is getting all the ink. Spieth took two weeks off after winning the U.S. Open and says he was rusty during his first round
It's another young gun, a very impressive Justin Thomas at 63 67 -12 who leads the field by a shot over veterans Johnson Wagner 68 63 and Tom Gillis 66 65 at -11. Thomas, only 22, has had a rivalry with Spieth during college where they were the best amateurs in the States, Thomas was at Alabama and Spieth was at Texas.
Thomas started the week with a stunning record 63 and was nearly as good Friday with 67, giving him another shot at his first career win after losing the lead with a bad final round at last week’s Greenbrier Classic.
He has all the tools, and just needs a few breaks here and there to step up into that rare air that guys like Spieth, McIlroy, Fowler breath.
Roger Sloan, Adam Hadwin and David Hearn all made the cut at -4. Nick Taylor missed the cut and Mike Weir withdrew after shooting 73 on Thursday
Bryan
Yang leads Women's US Open
LPGA Tour Women's US Open scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=lpga
Forgive me for my lack of coverage so far this week on what is arguably the top event on the LPGA Tour but in my defence I am double booked for last week and next as I am building a new fence and deck for a neighbour in the mornings and afternoon. then doing my part time gig at night, so it's been 7am - 10pm for me....
However I have been keeping in touch and watched a very impressive Amy Yang shoot 67 66 -7 on a very beautiful Lancaster CC the epitomy of a parkland course. Julie Inkster is in the Fox broadcast booth and she says Yang, who has been in contention at majors several times, is one of the nicest women on tour, and she needs to be a little more ruthless to break through.
Stacey Lewis 69 67 -4 is ruthless, and is lurking, as is Inbee Park at 68 70 -2.
The cut fell at +4, defending champion Michelle Wie is at E 72 68, while Brooke Henderson 70 73 is at +3.
Bryan
Forgive me for my lack of coverage so far this week on what is arguably the top event on the LPGA Tour but in my defence I am double booked for last week and next as I am building a new fence and deck for a neighbour in the mornings and afternoon. then doing my part time gig at night, so it's been 7am - 10pm for me....
However I have been keeping in touch and watched a very impressive Amy Yang shoot 67 66 -7 on a very beautiful Lancaster CC the epitomy of a parkland course. Julie Inkster is in the Fox broadcast booth and she says Yang, who has been in contention at majors several times, is one of the nicest women on tour, and she needs to be a little more ruthless to break through.
Stacey Lewis 69 67 -4 is ruthless, and is lurking, as is Inbee Park at 68 70 -2.
The cut fell at +4, defending champion Michelle Wie is at E 72 68, while Brooke Henderson 70 73 is at +3.
Bryan
Unusually calm weather in Gullane, Brooks leads Scottish Open
European Tour Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open scoreboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015052/leaderboard/index.html#vPLaLe1uauX50Zum.97
Well it had to happen, Swedish golfer Pelle Edberg who has been the butt of jokes through the week at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open after he called his Glaswegian caddie at 0430 on the eve of the championship - having been a late entrant - to ask how to get from Edinburgh to Aberdeen!
His travel agent in Sweden booked him into Aberdeen instead of Gullane with his flight from Gothanberg landing first in Edinburgh. Aberdeen is a 3 hour drive north, Gullane is just 45 minutes south. He shot 73 69 to miss the cut at +2. The cut fell at -2.
Speaking of missing the cut, England's Daniel Brooks ranked 528th, has only made 4 cuts all year and has missed the last 13 in a row, feels he has played better than that recently and like most of the field is taking advantage of the unusually warm, sunny calm weather to shoot 64 65 to get to -11, 129 for a 3 shot lead over some more well known names going into this weekend.
The wind is going to pick up a little over the next two days https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+for+gullane+golf+club, enough to get their attention, but nothing serious.
Well it had to happen, Swedish golfer Pelle Edberg who has been the butt of jokes through the week at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open after he called his Glaswegian caddie at 0430 on the eve of the championship - having been a late entrant - to ask how to get from Edinburgh to Aberdeen!
His travel agent in Sweden booked him into Aberdeen instead of Gullane with his flight from Gothanberg landing first in Edinburgh. Aberdeen is a 3 hour drive north, Gullane is just 45 minutes south. He shot 73 69 to miss the cut at +2. The cut fell at -2.
Speaking of missing the cut, England's Daniel Brooks ranked 528th, has only made 4 cuts all year and has missed the last 13 in a row, feels he has played better than that recently and like most of the field is taking advantage of the unusually warm, sunny calm weather to shoot 64 65 to get to -11, 129 for a 3 shot lead over some more well known names going into this weekend.
The wind is going to pick up a little over the next two days https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+for+gullane+golf+club, enough to get their attention, but nothing serious.
Defending champion Justin Rose and his Ryder Cup team-mate Graeme McDowell were among those sharing second on eight under, along with Swede Johan Carlsson, Ireland’s Shane Lowry, American Ryan Palmer and Englishman Matthew Nixon.
Phil Mickelson, who won the 2013 Open a mile away at Muirfield, was in danger of missing the halfway cut but closed with a hat-trick of birdies from the 14th to finish three under, 83 players have made the cut.
The lowest round of the day belonged to Dutchman Joost Luiten, an amazing 63 to match Thorbjørn Olesen’s opening effort, but bad news for Olesen who shot 77 yesterday to miss the cut !
Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar are both -6 66, 68.
I am watching this young Argentinian Emiliano Grillo who is a shot better 66 67 -7. He is brilliant and has had several chances to break through on the European Tour, it's only a matter of time until he wins.
Bryan (notes from europeantour.com)
Friday, July 10, 2015
Rose moves to the top at the Scottish Open
European Tour Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015052/leaderboard/index.html#0lVL8ZR4iEkK1mSx.97
Remember the guys who were out late yesterday are out early today and on another calm day in Gullane, this time with overcast skies, defending champion Justin Rose who was around in 4 under par 66 on Thursday is one of many taking advantage of ideal scoring conditions
He is -4 through 12 holes for -8 total along with Swede Johan Carlsson who is already in the clubhouse at -8 with a 67. England's Daniel Brooks is also at -8, as he is -2 through 3 holes.
The old adage in Scotland is the wind often comes in with the tide, well the tide is in as I write this and there is only a wee breeze with not much more expected, so I expect the leader to be around -11 at days end,
The cut is projected -1 so Phil Mickelson best get a move on as he is at +1 on his round through 13 holes, leaving him at E.
Bryan
Remember the guys who were out late yesterday are out early today and on another calm day in Gullane, this time with overcast skies, defending champion Justin Rose who was around in 4 under par 66 on Thursday is one of many taking advantage of ideal scoring conditions
He is -4 through 12 holes for -8 total along with Swede Johan Carlsson who is already in the clubhouse at -8 with a 67. England's Daniel Brooks is also at -8, as he is -2 through 3 holes.
The old adage in Scotland is the wind often comes in with the tide, well the tide is in as I write this and there is only a wee breeze with not much more expected, so I expect the leader to be around -11 at days end,
The cut is projected -1 so Phil Mickelson best get a move on as he is at +1 on his round through 13 holes, leaving him at E.
Bryan
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Thorjborn Oleson shoots 63 for first round lead at the Scottish Open
European Tour Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015052/leaderboard/index.html#5DIG5DIluGifgP7D.97
It's an unusally fine day in Gullane (pronounced both Gill-in and Gull-in depending on which side of town you are from!) with just a slight warm sea breeze leaving players and spectators in short sleeved shirts. Gullane is derived from the gaelic word meaning shoulder or ridge and it describes the land the courses Gullane 1,2 ,3 and the children's course are on and they have been golfing here since the 1800's !!
Having stood at the top of the hill on the champions tee at the 6th is one of the finest views I have ever seen. You can clearly see Edinburgh 20 miles to the east, all the majesty of the Firth of Forth and eight different courses that dot East Lothian on Scotland's Golf Coast including Muirfield just a mile away.
Play is well under way on the championship course, reputed to have the best set of greens of any of the links championship courses, and as always, with little wind and blue skies the pros will go low today unless the breeze picks up for the afternoon flight that features Phil Mickelson, and defending champion Justin Rose paired together along with Scottish favourite Marc Warren
With the morning wave coming in as I write this (remember Scotland is 5 hours ahead of EST) the Dane Thorbjorn Olesen one of the few playing in a toque went out in 32, has just birdied 3 in a row to finish at -7 (Gullane is a par 70), 2 shots clear with the lead.
In the clubhouse at -5 65 are England's Matthew Nixon ranked 525 in the world an Spain's Adrian Otaegui ranked 506 !!! Graham McDowell is at -4 66. Jimmy Walker is going well -5 65 and Rickie Fowler is in with -4 66 as well
There are no Canadians in the field but there are 123 bunkers !! and as I remember there are still a few anti tank cement blocks left from World War II stationed all along Scotland's east coast in case Hitler's troops made it as far as Scotland to invade.. We all know that result..
What we don't know is the result here... The weather forecast is pretty good, especially considering it often blows sideways on this exposed shoulder of land https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+forecast+for+gullane+golf+club...
Update 215 est
Bryan
It's an unusally fine day in Gullane (pronounced both Gill-in and Gull-in depending on which side of town you are from!) with just a slight warm sea breeze leaving players and spectators in short sleeved shirts. Gullane is derived from the gaelic word meaning shoulder or ridge and it describes the land the courses Gullane 1,2 ,3 and the children's course are on and they have been golfing here since the 1800's !!
Having stood at the top of the hill on the champions tee at the 6th is one of the finest views I have ever seen. You can clearly see Edinburgh 20 miles to the east, all the majesty of the Firth of Forth and eight different courses that dot East Lothian on Scotland's Golf Coast including Muirfield just a mile away.
Play is well under way on the championship course, reputed to have the best set of greens of any of the links championship courses, and as always, with little wind and blue skies the pros will go low today unless the breeze picks up for the afternoon flight that features Phil Mickelson, and defending champion Justin Rose paired together along with Scottish favourite Marc Warren
With the morning wave coming in as I write this (remember Scotland is 5 hours ahead of EST) the Dane Thorbjorn Olesen one of the few playing in a toque went out in 32, has just birdied 3 in a row to finish at -7 (Gullane is a par 70), 2 shots clear with the lead.
In the clubhouse at -5 65 are England's Matthew Nixon ranked 525 in the world an Spain's Adrian Otaegui ranked 506 !!! Graham McDowell is at -4 66. Jimmy Walker is going well -5 65 and Rickie Fowler is in with -4 66 as well
There are no Canadians in the field but there are 123 bunkers !! and as I remember there are still a few anti tank cement blocks left from World War II stationed all along Scotland's east coast in case Hitler's troops made it as far as Scotland to invade.. We all know that result..
What we don't know is the result here... The weather forecast is pretty good, especially considering it often blows sideways on this exposed shoulder of land https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=weather+forecast+for+gullane+golf+club...
Update 215 est
europeantour.com Thorbjørn Olesen carded a flawless seven under par 63 to set an electric pace during the opening round of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Gullane.
The Dane posted seven birdies, the last of them coming from 30 feet on the penultimate hole, to hold a two shot clubhouse advantage over England’s Matthew Nixon, Spain’s Adrian Otaegui and American Jimmy Walker.
"It's been a tough time but I keep working on the right things and hopefully it will come," said Olesen, who lost a play-off for the Mauritius Open in May after three months on the sidelines due to surgery on a hand injury. "I showed today I can still shoot low rounds.
"I hit almost every green - only missing the 18th - and hit a lot of fairways and greens today, which was the key."
This year's hand injury is not the only problem Olesen has suffered since finishing sixth in the Masters in 2013, the 25 year old famously injuring his groin falling off a camel in Dubai.
"When I had to get down I pulled a muscle in my groin and it took a few weeks before I could walk properly again," two-time European Tour winner Olesen added.
Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell enjoyed a welcome return to form before bogeying the last two holes to fall into a tie for fifth on four under, with Ryder Cup opponents Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar alongside him
The Dane posted seven birdies, the last of them coming from 30 feet on the penultimate hole, to hold a two shot clubhouse advantage over England’s Matthew Nixon, Spain’s Adrian Otaegui and American Jimmy Walker.
"It's been a tough time but I keep working on the right things and hopefully it will come," said Olesen, who lost a play-off for the Mauritius Open in May after three months on the sidelines due to surgery on a hand injury. "I showed today I can still shoot low rounds.
"I hit almost every green - only missing the 18th - and hit a lot of fairways and greens today, which was the key."
This year's hand injury is not the only problem Olesen has suffered since finishing sixth in the Masters in 2013, the 25 year old famously injuring his groin falling off a camel in Dubai.
"When I had to get down I pulled a muscle in my groin and it took a few weeks before I could walk properly again," two-time European Tour winner Olesen added.
Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell enjoyed a welcome return to form before bogeying the last two holes to fall into a tie for fifth on four under, with Ryder Cup opponents Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar alongside him
Phil Mickelson is just in at -1 69, Justin Rose the defending champion is at -4 66.
Bryan
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Wimbledon and the Open Championship.. what a fortnight !
Jordan Spieth is honouring a commitment as a former champion to play at the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour and I can't bring myself to criticise him for that, however if I were his agent he'd be on the links at Gullane playing in the wind in the golf heaven that is East Lothian trying to win the Scottish Open before easing just down the A1 to St. Andrews for another shot at history...he's already got the Masters and US Open as you all know.. This probably will never happen to him again...
This is the best fortnight or actually 3 weeks in sport in Scotland and indeed the UK. Wimbledon will wrap up this weekend and it is a time when the entire nation stands still, and then the Open follows at St Andrews, and if you have never been it is a magical time in the old grey toon
So much history surrounds you on the course and surrounds, the atmosphere makes your hair stand on end, you are right on top of the action, it's daylight forever at this time of year, and you are right on the Firth of Forth leading out to the North Sea with the smell of the salt sea air, and the gulls and gannets sharing the aerobatics with the boys from the Royal Air Force in nearby Leuchars
East Lothian describes the area around Edinburgh and south down to North Berwick on Scotland's south east coast and it is the home Muirfield not to mention scores of other gems like North Berwick and of course Gullane 1,2 and 3..
Here is a link http://www.golfeastlothian.com/home.asp
I have been lucky in my life having been a member of the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) to have attended Wimbledon for many championships including one of the greatest in 1980 when Borg beat McEnroe in 5 sets after an epic 18-16 in the fourth. I was 3 rows up from the net. My fortnight would be completed the following week attending every venue in Scotland including Tom Watson in the rain at Muirfield in 1980, then again at Troon in '82 and the king of them all Seve at St Andrews with the fist pump in 1984..
It doesn't get any better... or does it.. what a fortnight ahead !!
Bryan
This is the best fortnight or actually 3 weeks in sport in Scotland and indeed the UK. Wimbledon will wrap up this weekend and it is a time when the entire nation stands still, and then the Open follows at St Andrews, and if you have never been it is a magical time in the old grey toon
So much history surrounds you on the course and surrounds, the atmosphere makes your hair stand on end, you are right on top of the action, it's daylight forever at this time of year, and you are right on the Firth of Forth leading out to the North Sea with the smell of the salt sea air, and the gulls and gannets sharing the aerobatics with the boys from the Royal Air Force in nearby Leuchars
East Lothian describes the area around Edinburgh and south down to North Berwick on Scotland's south east coast and it is the home Muirfield not to mention scores of other gems like North Berwick and of course Gullane 1,2 and 3..
Here is a link http://www.golfeastlothian.com/home.asp
I have been lucky in my life having been a member of the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) to have attended Wimbledon for many championships including one of the greatest in 1980 when Borg beat McEnroe in 5 sets after an epic 18-16 in the fourth. I was 3 rows up from the net. My fortnight would be completed the following week attending every venue in Scotland including Tom Watson in the rain at Muirfield in 1980, then again at Troon in '82 and the king of them all Seve at St Andrews with the fist pump in 1984..
It doesn't get any better... or does it.. what a fortnight ahead !!
Bryan
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Rory McIlroy ruptures ankle ligament playing football..
Rory McIlroy was on crutches Monday with an ankle injury from playing soccer, leaving in doubt the prospects of golf’s No. 1 player defending his British Open title next week at St. Andrews.
Just as excitement was building toward a potential clash at the Old Course between McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, McIlroy posted a jarring photo on Instagram showing him on crutches with a walking boot on this left ankle. The 26-year-old from Northern Ireland said it was a “total rupture” of an ankle ligament and the joint capsule that happened while he was playing soccer with friends.
Sean O’Flaherty, his chief spokesman, said McIlroy has withdrawn from the Scottish Open this week at Gullane. O’Flaherty said they would not know until later in the week the extent of the injury and whether McIlroy would be able to tee it up July 16 at St. Andrews.
Ben Hogan in 1954 was the last British Open champion who did not play the following year.
McIlroy had been the joint favorite along with Spieth. They have won the last four majors – the first time in nearly a century that two players in their 20s have shared four successive majors – and Spieth is headed to St. Andrews as only the fourth player with a chance at the Grand Slam.
Players were shocked to hear the news.
“Unlucky, obviously,” Luke Donald said in a telephone interview. “I would never say, `Don’t play football or don’t do these thing.’ You don’t want to live in a bubble. It’s just unlucky timing, especially this time of the year. Golf is exciting with Rory and Jordan. It’s added a bit of spice to the game. It’s a shame if Rory were to miss the Open, which it looks like he might.”
Sergio Garcia, a runner-up to McIlroy at Royal Liverpool last year, tweeted, “So sad to hear about (at)Rory McIlroy injury on his ankle. We will all miss you (at)TheOpen next week my friend. Fast and healthy recovery.”
McIlroy referred to his ATFL, which is the anterior talofibular ligament and the one most commonly sprained. The left ankle is crucial in a golf swing as weight transfers to that side of the body (for right-handers) in generating power.
“That’s a big blow to the Open if he misses it,” former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance said from Wimbledon.
McIlroy won the Open last year at Royal Liverpool by going wire-to-wire and taking a six-shot lead into the final round. He also won the PGA Championship, joining Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Bobby Jones as the only players in the last century with four majors at age 25 or younger.
The injury brought to mind Woods winning the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines with a stress fracture and shredded knee ligaments in his left leg. Woods knew about the injury a month before the U.S. Open and was determined to play, mainly because he was a six-time PGA Tour at Torrey Pines.
No one saw this injury to McIlroy coming, however. Along with potentially missing the British Open, McIlroy faces a busy time of the year as defending champion of the World Golf Championship at Firestone and the PGA Championship, followed by the FedEx Cup in America and the Race to Dubai in Europe.
Shane Lowry of Ireland told the Irish Times that he heard about the injury on Saturday.
“It’s not ideal for him because he’s wearing that boot and he’s going to have everyone in the media on his back now,” Lowry said. “But should he be playing football? I don’t know. He likes playing football, and he likes playing football with his mates. What’s wrong with that? … People think because you’re good at something you should just do that and focus on that, but that’s not what life is about.”
McIlroy has an affinity with the Old Course. It’s where he secured his European Tour card in 2007 as an 18-year-old at the Dunhill Links with a third-place finish. He also tied the major championship record of 63 when the British Open was held at St. Andrews in 2010, though McIlroy followed with an 80 in the wind. He tied for third at St. Andrews five years ago.
Just as excitement was building toward a potential clash at the Old Course between McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, McIlroy posted a jarring photo on Instagram showing him on crutches with a walking boot on this left ankle. The 26-year-old from Northern Ireland said it was a “total rupture” of an ankle ligament and the joint capsule that happened while he was playing soccer with friends.
Sean O’Flaherty, his chief spokesman, said McIlroy has withdrawn from the Scottish Open this week at Gullane. O’Flaherty said they would not know until later in the week the extent of the injury and whether McIlroy would be able to tee it up July 16 at St. Andrews.
Ben Hogan in 1954 was the last British Open champion who did not play the following year.
McIlroy had been the joint favorite along with Spieth. They have won the last four majors – the first time in nearly a century that two players in their 20s have shared four successive majors – and Spieth is headed to St. Andrews as only the fourth player with a chance at the Grand Slam.
Players were shocked to hear the news.
“Unlucky, obviously,” Luke Donald said in a telephone interview. “I would never say, `Don’t play football or don’t do these thing.’ You don’t want to live in a bubble. It’s just unlucky timing, especially this time of the year. Golf is exciting with Rory and Jordan. It’s added a bit of spice to the game. It’s a shame if Rory were to miss the Open, which it looks like he might.”
Sergio Garcia, a runner-up to McIlroy at Royal Liverpool last year, tweeted, “So sad to hear about (at)Rory McIlroy injury on his ankle. We will all miss you (at)TheOpen next week my friend. Fast and healthy recovery.”
McIlroy referred to his ATFL, which is the anterior talofibular ligament and the one most commonly sprained. The left ankle is crucial in a golf swing as weight transfers to that side of the body (for right-handers) in generating power.
“That’s a big blow to the Open if he misses it,” former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance said from Wimbledon.
McIlroy won the Open last year at Royal Liverpool by going wire-to-wire and taking a six-shot lead into the final round. He also won the PGA Championship, joining Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Bobby Jones as the only players in the last century with four majors at age 25 or younger.
The injury brought to mind Woods winning the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines with a stress fracture and shredded knee ligaments in his left leg. Woods knew about the injury a month before the U.S. Open and was determined to play, mainly because he was a six-time PGA Tour at Torrey Pines.
No one saw this injury to McIlroy coming, however. Along with potentially missing the British Open, McIlroy faces a busy time of the year as defending champion of the World Golf Championship at Firestone and the PGA Championship, followed by the FedEx Cup in America and the Race to Dubai in Europe.
Shane Lowry of Ireland told the Irish Times that he heard about the injury on Saturday.
“It’s not ideal for him because he’s wearing that boot and he’s going to have everyone in the media on his back now,” Lowry said. “But should he be playing football? I don’t know. He likes playing football, and he likes playing football with his mates. What’s wrong with that? … People think because you’re good at something you should just do that and focus on that, but that’s not what life is about.”
McIlroy has an affinity with the Old Course. It’s where he secured his European Tour card in 2007 as an 18-year-old at the Dunhill Links with a third-place finish. He also tied the major championship record of 63 when the British Open was held at St. Andrews in 2010, though McIlroy followed with an 80 in the wind. He tied for third at St. Andrews five years ago.
Weir and Watson captain RBC Canada Cup today in Nova Scotia
RBC Cup scoreboard http://www.novascotiaopen.com/about-the-rbc-canada-cup
In what is really a nice little promotion for RBC and a windfall for golf in Nova Scotia following on last week's Web.com Tour Nova Scotia Open, Mike Weir, Graham DeLaet and Davis Hearn will make up Tea Canada while Tom Watson will lead Team World along with Colt Knost and Anders Gonzales.
Other players making up the numbers are Brad Fritsch, Corey Renfrew, Erik Barnes, Alexandre Rocha, Eugene Wong, Adam Svensson and Peter Campbell
Here is the event schedule http://www.novascotiaopen.com/event-schedule..
There is a pro-am going on this morning and the exhibition matches go off at Ashburn GC at 1.00pm and 1.10 in what is called a shambles (not scramble) format..
Here are the pairings and format http://www.novascotiaopen.com/round-1-2-groupings
Bryan
In what is really a nice little promotion for RBC and a windfall for golf in Nova Scotia following on last week's Web.com Tour Nova Scotia Open, Mike Weir, Graham DeLaet and Davis Hearn will make up Tea Canada while Tom Watson will lead Team World along with Colt Knost and Anders Gonzales.
Other players making up the numbers are Brad Fritsch, Corey Renfrew, Erik Barnes, Alexandre Rocha, Eugene Wong, Adam Svensson and Peter Campbell
Here is the event schedule http://www.novascotiaopen.com/event-schedule..
There is a pro-am going on this morning and the exhibition matches go off at Ashburn GC at 1.00pm and 1.10 in what is called a shambles (not scramble) format..
Here are the pairings and format http://www.novascotiaopen.com/round-1-2-groupings
Bryan
Monday, July 6, 2015
Ancer is the "answer" in Nova Scotia..
Web.com Tour Nova Scotia Open final scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=web
While the crowd was rooting for Canadians Ryan Yip (71 T16)) and Adam Svensson (71 T25) it was Mexican, Abraham Ancer who had the answer (forgive me ) in Nova Scotia, winning his first Web.com Tour title, beating Bronson Burgoon with a 15-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff.
Ancer earned $117,000 to move up the money list from 39th to 4th with $192,945.
As I mentioned Ryan Yip finished with a final round 71 to finish T16 while Adam Svensson also finished with a score of 71 to finish T25. Eugene Wong had a -3 68 T57.
While the crowd was rooting for Canadians Ryan Yip (71 T16)) and Adam Svensson (71 T25) it was Mexican, Abraham Ancer who had the answer (forgive me ) in Nova Scotia, winning his first Web.com Tour title, beating Bronson Burgoon with a 15-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff.
Ancer earned $117,000 to move up the money list from 39th to 4th with $192,945.
As I mentioned Ryan Yip finished with a final round 71 to finish T16 while Adam Svensson also finished with a score of 71 to finish T25. Eugene Wong had a -3 68 T57.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Hearn loses a heartbreaker at the Greenbrier, but goes to St. Andrews
PGA Tour Greenbrier Classic final scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
I really thought David was going to win it but in the end Kiwi Danny Lee earned his first PGA Tour victory when he parred the second hole of Sunday’s sudden-death playoff, eliminating Hearn after Kevin Kisner and Robert Streb faltered on the first playoff hole.
Lee, Hearn, Kisner and Streb were tied at -13 after four rounds on the Old White TPC course.
I really thought David was going to win it but in the end Kiwi Danny Lee earned his first PGA Tour victory when he parred the second hole of Sunday’s sudden-death playoff, eliminating Hearn after Kevin Kisner and Robert Streb faltered on the first playoff hole.
Lee, Hearn, Kisner and Streb were tied at -13 after four rounds on the Old White TPC course.
Kisner shot a -6 64, while Hearn (67) and Lee (67) birdied No. 17 to join the playoff. Both missed birdie putts for the lead on the final hole in regulation.
Streb shot a -5 65 by making five birdie putts on the back nine with a 56-degree wedge after unintentionally breaking his putter on the ninth hole. The putter broke when Streb tossed it at his bag.
Lee and Hearn made birdie putts on the first playoff hole, but on the second playoff hole, Hearn drove behind a tree on the par-5 17th and made bogey.
“That was probably the only bad tee shot I hit all day,” said Hearn, who is still looking for his first PGA Tour win in 164 events. “I’ve just got to keep giving myself chances like this, and it’s going to happen soon.”
The good news is he's off to St Andrews for the Open Championship joining Graham DeLaet (69 T37) as Lee, Hearn, James Hahn and Greg Owen all qualified.
Bryan ( notes from BBC Reuters AP)
Weisberger storms to French Open title
European Tour Alstom Open de France final scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=euro
Bernd Wiesberger of Austria came from three shots back to win the French Open, making five birdies on the front nine to take command as overnight leader Jaco Van Zyl faltered.
Bernd Wiesberger of Austria came from three shots back to win the French Open, making five birdies on the front nine to take command as overnight leader Jaco Van Zyl faltered.
Wiesberger finished with a -6 65 to win by three shots ahead of James Morrison of England, who shot a 67. Van Zyl only managed a 73 to finish five shots behind Wiesberger’s total of -13 271.
Wiesberger found himself in the lead after four straight birdies from the fourth hole, and picked up another shot on the ninth. After eight straight pars, he finished with another birdie on the 18th.
Martin Kaymer, the 2009 champion, finished fourth after a 70. It was Wiesberger’s third European Tour title.
AP
Yip and Svensson move into contention in Nova Scotia
Web.com Tour Nova Scotia Open leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=web
A 68 by Ryan Yip, and 66 by Adam Svensson have moved them right into contention at the Nova Scotia Open at -9 and -8 respectively, that's the good news. The bad news is there are a tour record six players tied for the lead at -10 !
Bronson Burgoon matched the Ashburn Golf Course record with an 8-under 63 -10, Jamie Lovemark posted a 1-under par 70 for a share of the lead, Abraham Ancer birdied seven of his final 14 holes and posted a bogey-free 64, Harold Varner III closed bogey-birdie-birdie-bogey for a 67, Andrew Landry rallied with three birdies on the back, including one to close his round on 18 and move into a tie for the lead after his 72, and Korea’s D.H. Lee rounded out the top 6 at -10 with a 71.
Eugene Wong shot 72. With little or no wind and greens rolling perfectly anyone can come out of the pack and win this today.
Let's see if it's Yip or Svensson..
Bryan
A 68 by Ryan Yip, and 66 by Adam Svensson have moved them right into contention at the Nova Scotia Open at -9 and -8 respectively, that's the good news. The bad news is there are a tour record six players tied for the lead at -10 !
Bronson Burgoon matched the Ashburn Golf Course record with an 8-under 63 -10, Jamie Lovemark posted a 1-under par 70 for a share of the lead, Abraham Ancer birdied seven of his final 14 holes and posted a bogey-free 64, Harold Varner III closed bogey-birdie-birdie-bogey for a 67, Andrew Landry rallied with three birdies on the back, including one to close his round on 18 and move into a tie for the lead after his 72, and Korea’s D.H. Lee rounded out the top 6 at -10 with a 71.
Eugene Wong shot 72. With little or no wind and greens rolling perfectly anyone can come out of the pack and win this today.
Let's see if it's Yip or Svensson..
Bryan
Jaco Van Zyl leads French Open by two shots as round 4 gets underway..
European Tour Alstom Open de France leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015050/leaderboard/index.html#eowgE3r75yYdLQEI.97
europeantour.com A best of the week round of 64 gave South African Jaco Van Zyl a two shot lead on day three of the Alstom Open de France.
The 36 year old has won 13 times on the Sunshine Tour, but despite 17 top-ten finishes has yet to breakthrough on The European Tour.
A knee injury meant Van Zyl missed much of last season, but playing on a medical exemption and with a brace on his leg, he has already finished second on home soil at the Joburg Open and third in Morocco in 2015.
That sort of form was prevalent once again on Saturday, as seven birdies in a flawless round took Van Zyl two clear of Max Kieffer on ten under par, a tap-in at Le Golf National's tricky 18th completing his scoring.
The 36 year old has won 13 times on the Sunshine Tour, but despite 17 top-ten finishes has yet to breakthrough on The European Tour.
A knee injury meant Van Zyl missed much of last season, but playing on a medical exemption and with a brace on his leg, he has already finished second on home soil at the Joburg Open and third in Morocco in 2015.
That sort of form was prevalent once again on Saturday, as seven birdies in a flawless round took Van Zyl two clear of Max Kieffer on ten under par, a tap-in at Le Golf National's tricky 18th completing his scoring.
Kieffer is also chasing a maiden European Tour title, and the 25 year old German carded six birdies in a bogey-free 65.
In-form Austrian Bernd Wiesberger lies third on seven under par after a round of 65, with home favourite Victor Dubuisson, two-time Major winner Martin Kaymer and Open de España champion James Morrison a shot further back..
Round 4 is currently underway..
Hearn poised for his first PGA Tour win at the Greenbrier Classic
PGA Tour Greenbrier Classic leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
The Old White TPC course gives up the most rounds of 62 or less on the PGA tour, and it took another one, this time a 61 by Jason Bohn to move him into a tie with Sean O’Hair, Sung Joon Park and Bryce Molder at -11 199. O’Hair and Park both shot 66. Molder had a 67.
Bohn’s round included 14 one-putt greens, remember he shot 58 in back in 2001 at what was the old Canadian Tour in an event called the Bayer Championship. O'Hair hasn't done much since his last win in 2011 although he did get into a playoff at the Valspar with Jordan Spieth earlier this season.
Don't ask me who's going to win at the day's end, there are 27 players within four shots of the lead and one of them is David Hearn who continues his fine play with another 68, to sit just a shot off the lead at -10, while Graham DeLaet made five consecutive birdies to end up with 67, -5.
The Old White TPC course gives up the most rounds of 62 or less on the PGA tour, and it took another one, this time a 61 by Jason Bohn to move him into a tie with Sean O’Hair, Sung Joon Park and Bryce Molder at -11 199. O’Hair and Park both shot 66. Molder had a 67.
Bohn’s round included 14 one-putt greens, remember he shot 58 in back in 2001 at what was the old Canadian Tour in an event called the Bayer Championship. O'Hair hasn't done much since his last win in 2011 although he did get into a playoff at the Valspar with Jordan Spieth earlier this season.
Don't ask me who's going to win at the day's end, there are 27 players within four shots of the lead and one of them is David Hearn who continues his fine play with another 68, to sit just a shot off the lead at -10, while Graham DeLaet made five consecutive birdies to end up with 67, -5.
Tiger Woods needed more than 30 putts again and sprayed the ball all over the course on his back nine and shot 71 -4.
It all sets up for an exciting finish, the course is soft and yielding and it looks like someone will need 65 or less to win it. I am calling for a playoff, there has already been 2 here since it started in 2010.
Bryan
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Mixed day for Canadians in Nova Scotia..
Web.com Tour Nova Scotia Open scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=web
While Andrew Landry shot a -4 67 Friday to maintain his lead at -11 going into the weekend at the Nova Scotia Open, one better than Korean/ Kiwi D.H. Lee (66), it was a mixed day for the Canadian contingent. all trying to match Roger Sloan's win here last year.
First the good news, Ryan Yip shot -6 65 -6 total, Adam Svensson had a -2 69 -3 total and Eugene Wong shot another -1 70 -2 and all three will play this weekend.
Tough luck though for Brad Fritsch who narrowly missed the cut of -1, by a shot after 72 70 E. Austin Connelly 68, 74 and Corey Renfrew 74 68 both also missed by a shot while Taylor Pendrith 71 72 +1 only missed by 2.
Bryan
Dubuisson,Kaymer and Bello share Open de France lead..
European Tour Open de France scoreboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015050/leaderboard/index.html#KBp2uxpHZPAK02A3.97
The unusually hot and stormy weather in Paris has the Le Golf National dried out and playing tough. As a result the leading score after two rounds is only -4, and three of the European Tour's best are on that number. The watering system is 35 years old and only is enough to water the fairways and greens, leaving the surrounds burnt out and brown. Officials stated they will be taking the old system out right after the tournament and replacing it in time for the 2018 Ryder Cup.
Home favorite Victor Dubuisson shot -1 70, and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello followed suit ending the day level with Martin Kaymer (69), all as I mentioned at -4 138. It was a long day as many of the players had to finish off their weather delayed first rounds before beginning round 2. Stormy weather is in the area for the weekend.
A record 13 French players have made the cut.
The unusually hot and stormy weather in Paris has the Le Golf National dried out and playing tough. As a result the leading score after two rounds is only -4, and three of the European Tour's best are on that number. The watering system is 35 years old and only is enough to water the fairways and greens, leaving the surrounds burnt out and brown. Officials stated they will be taking the old system out right after the tournament and replacing it in time for the 2018 Ryder Cup.
Home favorite Victor Dubuisson shot -1 70, and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello followed suit ending the day level with Martin Kaymer (69), all as I mentioned at -4 138. It was a long day as many of the players had to finish off their weather delayed first rounds before beginning round 2. Stormy weather is in the area for the weekend.
A record 13 French players have made the cut.
Graeme McDowell vying for his 3rd straight title missed the cut 72 78 +8 78, his worst score in 32 rounds at Le Golf National.
round 3 update... with round 3 well under way there are currently 8 players tied for the lead at -5 in calm conditions at sunny skies.
round 3 update... with round 3 well under way there are currently 8 players tied for the lead at -5 in calm conditions at sunny skies.
Bryan
Greenbrier owner Jim Justice gives fans cash....
In one of sports great promotions, Greenbrier's billionaire owner Jim Justice decided last year, if you’re sitting in the grandstand on the par 3 18th when someone makes a hole-in-one, you’re going to get paid.
The offer was a hit and Justice brought it back for this year’s event. Playing in the fifth group on Thursday George McNeill holed a pitching wedge from 137 yards, earning $100 apiece for each of the spectators in the grandstand.
Next Justin Thomas made an ace on the same hole and that shot paid out $500 to each fortunate spectator.
The promotion continues all weekend, and the next ace will pay $1,000 to every person in the grandstands. The total tab for McNeill’s ace was $18,900, plus $25,000 to the charity of McNeill’s choice, while Thomas’ hole-in-one meant $173,500 in cash and $50,000 to charity.
There were a few close calls on Friday, but none went in.
Bryan
Hearn just a shot behind at the Greenbrier
PGA Tour Greenbrier Classic scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
When you shoot even par, you expect to make the cut at any level of golf. That's what Nick Taylor and Roger Sloan and many others did, but they are all at home today since the cut fell at -2, with the field torching this Old White course at the Greenbrier Classic.
Jhonattan Vegas shot a -5 65 to tie Scott Langley (69) for the lead going into thhe weekend. They are at -9 131. 67 players made the cut, 23 are within 3 shots of the lead and one of them is David Hearn who is still looking for his first win.
Hearn birdied six of his first eight holes and shot 64 to go with his opening 68 -8 total, he seems full of confidence and says he's playing great right now. Remember the top four finishers not previously eligible for the Open Championship will earn spots next week at St. Andrews, provided they are among the top 12 and ties. Graham DeLaet did that last week, Hearn could follow his lead this week as could Vegas who won in only his second start as a pro back in 2011 and hasn't done much since.
Speaking of DeLaet, he shot 70 to make the cut on -2 however Nick Taylor and Roger Sloan just missed the cut as I mentioned Adam Hadwin at +1 missed as well.
Adding to the mix, Tiger shot 69 and is at -5 looking more like his old self.
There was a brief rain delay on Friday, and more thunderstorms are predicted throughout the weekend, so luck will play a role in the draw, but expect the winner to need something special to separate himself from the pack.
Bryan
When you shoot even par, you expect to make the cut at any level of golf. That's what Nick Taylor and Roger Sloan and many others did, but they are all at home today since the cut fell at -2, with the field torching this Old White course at the Greenbrier Classic.
Jhonattan Vegas shot a -5 65 to tie Scott Langley (69) for the lead going into thhe weekend. They are at -9 131. 67 players made the cut, 23 are within 3 shots of the lead and one of them is David Hearn who is still looking for his first win.
Hearn birdied six of his first eight holes and shot 64 to go with his opening 68 -8 total, he seems full of confidence and says he's playing great right now. Remember the top four finishers not previously eligible for the Open Championship will earn spots next week at St. Andrews, provided they are among the top 12 and ties. Graham DeLaet did that last week, Hearn could follow his lead this week as could Vegas who won in only his second start as a pro back in 2011 and hasn't done much since.
Speaking of DeLaet, he shot 70 to make the cut on -2 however Nick Taylor and Roger Sloan just missed the cut as I mentioned Adam Hadwin at +1 missed as well.
Adding to the mix, Tiger shot 69 and is at -5 looking more like his old self.
There was a brief rain delay on Friday, and more thunderstorms are predicted throughout the weekend, so luck will play a role in the draw, but expect the winner to need something special to separate himself from the pack.
Bryan
Friday, July 3, 2015
Tiger amongst the low scorers at the Greenbrier Classic..
PGA Tour Greenbrier Classic scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
The Old White TPC course was softened by morning rain and as a result the field took it apart led by 2 guys you haven't heard much from recently, Scott Langley (62) and on a sponsors exemption, his buddy Jonathan Byrd (63) along with Danny Lee also at 63.
Heck even the guy ranked 200 in the world...eh, Tiger Woods shot 66, his lowest round of the year, closing with 3 straight birdies.
You have to go down the leaderboard to 117th to find someone over par !
Roger Sloan joined Woods at 66, Graham Delaet and David Hearn are at 68, Nick Taylor 69 and Adam Hadwin 72 were the Canadian scores.
Langley and Byrd have been out of touch so far this year, neither in the top 10 this season and both need some solid results to be among the 125 qualifiers for the FedEx Cup playoffs so this Old White course has been a great tonic for their games.
To be fair it is reknown for low scoring as Tiger said after the round, " if you drive the ball well here, you’re going to probably have at least seven shots with 9-iron or below into the greens, and you’re going to have to capitalize on that,” so far I’m one of those guys who did.”
John Daly was in at 68, Bubba at 69 and defending champion Angel Cabrera at 71.
Bryan
The Old White TPC course was softened by morning rain and as a result the field took it apart led by 2 guys you haven't heard much from recently, Scott Langley (62) and on a sponsors exemption, his buddy Jonathan Byrd (63) along with Danny Lee also at 63.
Heck even the guy ranked 200 in the world...eh, Tiger Woods shot 66, his lowest round of the year, closing with 3 straight birdies.
You have to go down the leaderboard to 117th to find someone over par !
Roger Sloan joined Woods at 66, Graham Delaet and David Hearn are at 68, Nick Taylor 69 and Adam Hadwin 72 were the Canadian scores.
Langley and Byrd have been out of touch so far this year, neither in the top 10 this season and both need some solid results to be among the 125 qualifiers for the FedEx Cup playoffs so this Old White course has been a great tonic for their games.
To be fair it is reknown for low scoring as Tiger said after the round, " if you drive the ball well here, you’re going to probably have at least seven shots with 9-iron or below into the greens, and you’re going to have to capitalize on that,” so far I’m one of those guys who did.”
John Daly was in at 68, Bubba at 69 and defending champion Angel Cabrera at 71.
Bryan
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Connelly the top Canadian in Nova Scotia..
Web.com Tour Nova Scotia Open scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=web
Nova Scotians are reknown for their hospitality, but there are 8 Canadians in the field this week who would like to put off their hospitality until Sunday evening.
The Web.com tour is at the Ashburn GC, playing the Nova Scotia Open. Roger Sloan won it in 2014, he has moved on to the big tour, but Ryan Yip, Ryan Williams, Adam Svensson, Eugene Wong, Brad Fritsch, Cory Renfrew, Taylor Pendrith and Austin Connelly are all trying to emulate him.
updated... Andrew Landry fired a -7 64 and moved into the lead after the opening round of the Nova Scotia Open aided by seven birdies and an eagle at the Ashburn Golf Club and leads by one over Georgia’s Joss Broadaway and Tennessee’s Peter Malnati.
Edward Loar and Korea’s D.H. Lee share fourth place after posting -5 66’s, while Jorge Fernandez-Valdes and Tyler McCumber are tied for sixth place, three back.
Austin Connelly, who has dual citizenship with both the United States and Canada shot the lowest score among Canadians. The 18-year old amateur shot a -3 68 T8.
Eugene WWong and Adam Svensson shot -1 70, Ryan Yip and Taylor Pendrith E 71, while Brad Fritsch is at +1 72. Ryan Williams had a tough day +6 77.
Bryan (notes from pgatour.com)
Nova Scotians are reknown for their hospitality, but there are 8 Canadians in the field this week who would like to put off their hospitality until Sunday evening.
The Web.com tour is at the Ashburn GC, playing the Nova Scotia Open. Roger Sloan won it in 2014, he has moved on to the big tour, but Ryan Yip, Ryan Williams, Adam Svensson, Eugene Wong, Brad Fritsch, Cory Renfrew, Taylor Pendrith and Austin Connelly are all trying to emulate him.
updated... Andrew Landry fired a -7 64 and moved into the lead after the opening round of the Nova Scotia Open aided by seven birdies and an eagle at the Ashburn Golf Club and leads by one over Georgia’s Joss Broadaway and Tennessee’s Peter Malnati.
Edward Loar and Korea’s D.H. Lee share fourth place after posting -5 66’s, while Jorge Fernandez-Valdes and Tyler McCumber are tied for sixth place, three back.
Austin Connelly, who has dual citizenship with both the United States and Canada shot the lowest score among Canadians. The 18-year old amateur shot a -3 68 T8.
Eugene WWong and Adam Svensson shot -1 70, Ryan Yip and Taylor Pendrith E 71, while Brad Fritsch is at +1 72. Ryan Williams had a tough day +6 77.
Bryan (notes from pgatour.com)
Brooke Henderson joins Na Yeon Choi, Lydia Ko, Mika Miyazato, LPGA stars preparing for US Open..
The Lancaster CC in Lancaster Pennsylvania is the setting for Michelle Wie to defend her US Women's Open championship next week, so all the LPGA stars are off this week in preparation.
Wie won it at Pinehurst last year, remember they played the men's and women's there in back to back week's. Before the big Wiesy, it was 3 straight years of South Korean domination, Inbee Park in 2013,Na Yeon Choi in 2012 and So Yeon Ryu in 2011.
Last year Brooke Henderson as a 16 year old amateur finished in the top 10 and won the low amateur honours by 3 shots over Australian Minjee Lee. Henderson is in the field this year, this time as a pro !!
Bryan
Wie won it at Pinehurst last year, remember they played the men's and women's there in back to back week's. Before the big Wiesy, it was 3 straight years of South Korean domination, Inbee Park in 2013,Na Yeon Choi in 2012 and So Yeon Ryu in 2011.
Last year Brooke Henderson as a 16 year old amateur finished in the top 10 and won the low amateur honours by 3 shots over Australian Minjee Lee. Henderson is in the field this year, this time as a pro !!
Bryan
Kieffer leads rain plagued French Open..
European Tour Alstom Open de France leaderboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=euro
At my count 28 Frenchmen are in this week's field at the French Open at Le Golf National on the outskirts of Paris, the site of the 2018 Ryder Cup..
Led by Victor Dubuisson, Gregory Havrat, Raphael Jaquelin, and Alexander Levy they will all vying to unseat defending champion Graeme McDowell who is looking to become the first player for 77 years to win the title three years running this week.
Not since Marcel Dallemagne in 1938 has someone lifted Continental Europe’s oldest Open three times in succession, and only five players have ever landed a hat-trick of European Tour titles in the same event – with McDowell hoping to join an illustrious list which currently features Ian Woosnam, Sir Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els
updated Maximilian Kieffer of Germany was leading on -4 with four holes to play when the first round was suspended for the day because of thunderstorms.
Bryan (notes from BBC Reuters europeantour.com AP)
At my count 28 Frenchmen are in this week's field at the French Open at Le Golf National on the outskirts of Paris, the site of the 2018 Ryder Cup..
Led by Victor Dubuisson, Gregory Havrat, Raphael Jaquelin, and Alexander Levy they will all vying to unseat defending champion Graeme McDowell who is looking to become the first player for 77 years to win the title three years running this week.
Not since Marcel Dallemagne in 1938 has someone lifted Continental Europe’s oldest Open three times in succession, and only five players have ever landed a hat-trick of European Tour titles in the same event – with McDowell hoping to join an illustrious list which currently features Ian Woosnam, Sir Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els
updated Maximilian Kieffer of Germany was leading on -4 with four holes to play when the first round was suspended for the day because of thunderstorms.
Victor Dubuisson, Bernd Wiesberger, and Jaco van Zyl completed their rounds in -3 68, while Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Andrew Dodt were on the same score with one hole left.
Graeme McDowell, seeking a third straight French Open title, was 1 over after 17 holes.
Two thunderstorms disrupted play for a combined 2 1/2 hours at the start of the day.
Kieffer is the most consistent player on the European Tour this season after making 16 cuts, more than anyone else.
Bryan (notes from BBC Reuters europeantour.com AP)
Tiger, Bubba, John Daly all in this year's Greenbrier Classic..
PGA Tour Greenbrier Classic scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
There are 5 Canadians set this morning to tee it up down in West Virginia at Sam Snead's old stomping grounds, White Sulpher Springs for the Greenbrier Classic (Sam won it 8 times), this year long hitting Angel Cabrera defends his title and last year he put on a long driving display I will never forget.
Adam Hadwin, Roger Sloan, Graham Delaet, David Hearn and Nick Taylor are joined in a rare performance by Tiger and John Daly, heck even Bubba is in the field, so lot's of interest here this week.
I looked in my rolodex and sure enough I still have Sam Snead's number at his house, I remember the last time I called him, his wife answered and said he was outside cutting the lawn !.. His son came to the phone and I did the interview with him..
This is the course where Aussie Stuart became the 5th player in history to shoot 59. Appleby's 59 in 2010 was the first on the PGA Tour carded on a par-70 course, and he finished 22-under 258 for the tournament, one stroke clear of overnight leader Jeff Overton who shot a three under 67 to end at 21-under. It was Appleby's 9th PGA Tour win.
Play gets underway at 7am.
Bryan
There are 5 Canadians set this morning to tee it up down in West Virginia at Sam Snead's old stomping grounds, White Sulpher Springs for the Greenbrier Classic (Sam won it 8 times), this year long hitting Angel Cabrera defends his title and last year he put on a long driving display I will never forget.
Adam Hadwin, Roger Sloan, Graham Delaet, David Hearn and Nick Taylor are joined in a rare performance by Tiger and John Daly, heck even Bubba is in the field, so lot's of interest here this week.
I looked in my rolodex and sure enough I still have Sam Snead's number at his house, I remember the last time I called him, his wife answered and said he was outside cutting the lawn !.. His son came to the phone and I did the interview with him..
This is the course where Aussie Stuart became the 5th player in history to shoot 59. Appleby's 59 in 2010 was the first on the PGA Tour carded on a par-70 course, and he finished 22-under 258 for the tournament, one stroke clear of overnight leader Jeff Overton who shot a three under 67 to end at 21-under. It was Appleby's 9th PGA Tour win.
Play gets underway at 7am.
Bryan
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