With another very successful RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey capped by Dustin Johnson's spectacular win in the books, it was an interesting weekend for me, especially with the Seniors at St Andrews, in some pretty nasty weather.
Here is my Monday morning shag bag with links to the final scoreboards.
PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open final leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2018/rbc-canadian-open/leaderboard.html
* With RBC's Dustin Johnson winning in style, the final week at Glen Abbey was another success, just ask Golf Canada's CEO, Laurence Applebaum.
* "Beer sales are up, food sales are up, merchandise sales are up and attendance will be up,” said CEO Laurence Applebaum, who predicted that total attendance for the week at the Abbey would be over 80,000. “For me, it’s a win across the board. Spectacular
* Canadian scores: Mac Hughes finished in T8 at the RBC Canadian Open and captured the Rivermead Cup as the top Canadian for the second consecutive year.
* Ryan Yip (70) finished at -12 T22 . Roger Sloan (68) -10 one shot ahead of amateur Chris Crisologo (69) -9. David Hearn (72) -7 T61. Nick Taylor and Ben Silverman both finished a -4 T71 which has not helped their chances of getting into the Fed Ex Cup 125 with 2 weeks to go.
Champions Tour Senior Open Championship final leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/staysuretour/season=2018/tournamentid=2018848/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard
* After 2 days of weather more prominent at Spain's Riviera, some good old rain and wind swept over Scotland's east coast and the world's best seniors were faced with a St. Andrew's Old Course fully armed.
* firstly a tip of my cap to Stephen Ames who was T1 after 36 holes and was in contention all week. He hung in there and posted a -3 69 and finished T3, his best finish and third top-10 in a senior major.
* I was at the 18th green at St.Andrews in 1984 when the great Seve Ballesteros was in his prime, sinking that final putt to win, with those trademark fist pumps, so it was fitting that Miguel Angel Jimenez became the first Spaniard to win The Senior Open with -3 69 -12 total edging defending champion Bernhard Langer by one shot, and on the same course his friend Seve won 34 years ago.
LPGA/LET Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open final leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/aberdeen-asset-management-ladies-scottish-open/results
* of note to me at this year's Ladies Scottish Open was the emergence of Thailand's Ariya Jutanagarn as the new world's #1.
* they played the weekend in the same wet,windy weather as the Seniors at St Andrew's and at the Gullane course the men played on 3 weeks ago. Ariya shot 67 65 73 66 -13 to win by a shot with the Women's British Open due up this week.
* she is regarded by all who follow this game to be head and shoulders above all the other women when she makes up her mind she is going to win. Like tennis star Serena Williams she is big built, physically stronger than all the others. She hits her driving iron past the LPGA's longest hitters and overpowers many of the courses they play on.
* she is only 20, just growing up right in front of us, and I believe if she stays committed to the grind of pro golf, she will be the one to beat every time she tees it up.
* Bruce Lietzke was only 67 and we lost him to brain cancer this weekend. He won RBC Canadian Open (1978, 1982). He loved Glen Abbey because he only hit the ball with a big left to right fade, which is what the Abbey requires. Bruce hardly ever practiced, only played courses that suited his game and loved being at home on his ranch in Athens, Texas.
* His family, fishing and a big car collection were his priorities, he won 13 times on tour. In 1984 after his final round he told his caddy he wouldn't touch his clubs until the next spring. His caddy put a banana in his driver cover, and sure enough when he got the clubs again in 1985 the banana, now rotten was still there. RIP Bruce.
Bryan Angus
Monday, July 30, 2018
DJ gives RBC a big bang for their buck
Years ago when I made my living organizing major sports events I was always working with sponsors whose main concern was whether they would get a great return for their investment.
RBC decided to invest a lot (not published) of money to secure the services of Dustin Johnson as the lead player in their golf team, and after his spectacular -23, 3 shot win at Glen Abbey this weekend, things could not be better in the sponsorship department at the bank this morning. He has certainly given them a real bang for their buck !
Getting a solid major sponsor for the Canadian Open hasn't always been easy. From 1904 - 1993 it was called the Canadian Open with various sponsors including cigarette and liquor giants before the government banned them from sponsoring sports. Bell took over from 1994 -2005, then RBC from 2008 - present. Trust me, from 2006 -2008 with no major sponsor, there were fears that the tournament would be lost. The staff at the RCGA managed to piece together a corporate group of 6 minority companies to keep things afloat before RBC came along.
Why then have RBC decided to invest so much money in the golf sponsorship (amongst others, tennis etc.) business. I don't want to turn this into a financial report but let me sum up the main reason in the words of their President and CEO, Dave McKay.
"We had a great year in 2017, with record earnings of $11.5 billion, driven by robust growth across our businesses and a disciplined approach to risk management. We also returned a record $8.2 billion of capital in dividends and share buybacks, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to shareholders while delivering on our growth strategies”
The purse this year was $6,200,000 with DJ taking home $1,116,000 (before taxes) of it. As world #1 he is always on TV featuring the RBC logo around the world. He of course married into the Gretzky family, part of the reason for his popularity up here this week with over 80,000 fans paying to get in. His life now, as arguably the world's best golfer, and a quiet family man make him the ideal investment for RBC as they expand their business internationally.
He is a threat to win every time he tees it up, and the fact he did win their RBC Canadian Open this weekend was just the icing on the cake for the bank, after what was a very successful week without him.
The tournament moves to Hamilton GC next year and 2023, with a new and in my opinion, better week in early June right before the US Open, and the consecutive run at Glen Abbey is over as the tournament will be hosted at various great courses, mainly across the GTA , a move that will be applauded by most of the top players.
All this is great news for RBC. Unless there is another world recession, their future looks bright, and with DJ healthy and in his prime at 35 with 19 championships and more to surely come, he is certainly giving them a real bang for their buck!
Bryan Angus
RBC decided to invest a lot (not published) of money to secure the services of Dustin Johnson as the lead player in their golf team, and after his spectacular -23, 3 shot win at Glen Abbey this weekend, things could not be better in the sponsorship department at the bank this morning. He has certainly given them a real bang for their buck !
Getting a solid major sponsor for the Canadian Open hasn't always been easy. From 1904 - 1993 it was called the Canadian Open with various sponsors including cigarette and liquor giants before the government banned them from sponsoring sports. Bell took over from 1994 -2005, then RBC from 2008 - present. Trust me, from 2006 -2008 with no major sponsor, there were fears that the tournament would be lost. The staff at the RCGA managed to piece together a corporate group of 6 minority companies to keep things afloat before RBC came along.
Why then have RBC decided to invest so much money in the golf sponsorship (amongst others, tennis etc.) business. I don't want to turn this into a financial report but let me sum up the main reason in the words of their President and CEO, Dave McKay.
"We had a great year in 2017, with record earnings of $11.5 billion, driven by robust growth across our businesses and a disciplined approach to risk management. We also returned a record $8.2 billion of capital in dividends and share buybacks, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to shareholders while delivering on our growth strategies”
The purse this year was $6,200,000 with DJ taking home $1,116,000 (before taxes) of it. As world #1 he is always on TV featuring the RBC logo around the world. He of course married into the Gretzky family, part of the reason for his popularity up here this week with over 80,000 fans paying to get in. His life now, as arguably the world's best golfer, and a quiet family man make him the ideal investment for RBC as they expand their business internationally.
He is a threat to win every time he tees it up, and the fact he did win their RBC Canadian Open this weekend was just the icing on the cake for the bank, after what was a very successful week without him.
The tournament moves to Hamilton GC next year and 2023, with a new and in my opinion, better week in early June right before the US Open, and the consecutive run at Glen Abbey is over as the tournament will be hosted at various great courses, mainly across the GTA , a move that will be applauded by most of the top players.
All this is great news for RBC. Unless there is another world recession, their future looks bright, and with DJ healthy and in his prime at 35 with 19 championships and more to surely come, he is certainly giving them a real bang for their buck!
Bryan Angus
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Stephen Ames leads Senior Open Championship
Senior Open Championship leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/staysuretour/season=2018/tournamentid=2018848/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard
Stephen Ames was sharing the lead on -9-under when darkness ended play early in the second round of the Senior British Open on Friday, and he returned early this morning to compete his round with a par -3 69.
He began play on a wild windy Saturday at St. Andrews in the lead and has been caught at -9 by Kirk Triplett early in their 3rd rounds.
On Friday, Spain's Miguel Jimenez fired a -5 67 -9 for a total of 135, one better than American pair Jeff Sluman (68) and Kirk Triplett (71), and defending champion Bernhard Langer (69), they are all on course as I write.
Watch for Tom Watson in this bad weather. He shot his age yesterday, -4 68 and he is at -7. Remember he has won 5 Open championships and 3 more Senior Open championships and has seen and done it all on these hallowed links. He is enormously patient amongst all his other talents, and that will stand him in good stead over this blustery Scottish weekend.
Incidently, knowing Stephen as we all do, he is not a big fan of cold wet conditions, so he will really have to buckle down, as the first two rounds have been played in the same balmy summer weather that has burnt out all the UK's links courses.
Bryan Angus
Stephen Ames was sharing the lead on -9-under when darkness ended play early in the second round of the Senior British Open on Friday, and he returned early this morning to compete his round with a par -3 69.
He began play on a wild windy Saturday at St. Andrews in the lead and has been caught at -9 by Kirk Triplett early in their 3rd rounds.
On Friday, Spain's Miguel Jimenez fired a -5 67 -9 for a total of 135, one better than American pair Jeff Sluman (68) and Kirk Triplett (71), and defending champion Bernhard Langer (69), they are all on course as I write.
Watch for Tom Watson in this bad weather. He shot his age yesterday, -4 68 and he is at -7. Remember he has won 5 Open championships and 3 more Senior Open championships and has seen and done it all on these hallowed links. He is enormously patient amongst all his other talents, and that will stand him in good stead over this blustery Scottish weekend.
Incidently, knowing Stephen as we all do, he is not a big fan of cold wet conditions, so he will really have to buckle down, as the first two rounds have been played in the same balmy summer weather that has burnt out all the UK's links courses.
Bryan Angus
RBC Canadian Open weekend..live scoring..7 Canucks to compete
RBC Canadian Open round 3 tee times https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/rbc-canadian-open/tee-times.html
RBC Canadian Open leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2018/rbc-canadian-open/leaderboard.html
As always Glen Abbey looks beautiful, however the hot relatively benign conditions are leading to low scores, with the lead in the hands of a former champions son, Kevin Tway 66 65 -13. I remember his father Bob winning in Hamilton in 2003. No father son duo has ever won in the 109 year history of the Canadian Open.
This year 7 Canadians have made the cut led by Nick Taylor who carded a -5 68 to sit -9,T10. Ben Silverman came within a shot of the course record, his 63 moves him to T15 at -8. Both of course are trying to win their national title, but are also trying to get into the PGA Tour top 125. Nick is 127th, Ben 135th and are trying to avoid going back to the Web.com Tour finals to maintain full-time status on the PGA Tour for next year.
Silverman had this to say post round. "I know exactly where I stand. I know pretty much what I have to shoot to secure my card for next year, so the focus with that is to go out and make birdies because I know I need them. I’m five shots back of the lead and I need to stay inside that top 10 to lock my card, so I’m still going to be pushing to catch the leaders as soon as I can and then, contend to win this tournament"
Playing his first RBC Canadian Open is 22 year old amateur Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C is playing very well at -7, 137 T23, as is Roger Sloan, 68 69 -7.
MacKenzie Hughes is at 69 69 -6 T37, David Hearn 68 72 and Ryan Yip 68 72 are T61 -4. The cut fell at -4.
Tway leads Whee Kim (65) and Keegan Bradley (63) by one shot. Bradley exemplified the days low scoring and the exciting last 4 holes at the Abbey with a birdie, eagle, birdie, eagle finish. He has 4 eagles in two rounds this week.
The weather looks well for the weekend, lot's of sunshine with the possibility of the odd shower or even thunder boomer, so I expect the low scores to continue on this tightly bunched leaderboard. RBC's #1 ambassador Dustin Johnson is lurking T6 68 66 -10, so watch for him this weekend. They are paying him a lot of bank money to represent their brand.
Bryan Angus
RBC Canadian Open leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2018/rbc-canadian-open/leaderboard.html
As always Glen Abbey looks beautiful, however the hot relatively benign conditions are leading to low scores, with the lead in the hands of a former champions son, Kevin Tway 66 65 -13. I remember his father Bob winning in Hamilton in 2003. No father son duo has ever won in the 109 year history of the Canadian Open.
This year 7 Canadians have made the cut led by Nick Taylor who carded a -5 68 to sit -9,T10. Ben Silverman came within a shot of the course record, his 63 moves him to T15 at -8. Both of course are trying to win their national title, but are also trying to get into the PGA Tour top 125. Nick is 127th, Ben 135th and are trying to avoid going back to the Web.com Tour finals to maintain full-time status on the PGA Tour for next year.
Silverman had this to say post round. "I know exactly where I stand. I know pretty much what I have to shoot to secure my card for next year, so the focus with that is to go out and make birdies because I know I need them. I’m five shots back of the lead and I need to stay inside that top 10 to lock my card, so I’m still going to be pushing to catch the leaders as soon as I can and then, contend to win this tournament"
Playing his first RBC Canadian Open is 22 year old amateur Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C is playing very well at -7, 137 T23, as is Roger Sloan, 68 69 -7.
MacKenzie Hughes is at 69 69 -6 T37, David Hearn 68 72 and Ryan Yip 68 72 are T61 -4. The cut fell at -4.
Tway leads Whee Kim (65) and Keegan Bradley (63) by one shot. Bradley exemplified the days low scoring and the exciting last 4 holes at the Abbey with a birdie, eagle, birdie, eagle finish. He has 4 eagles in two rounds this week.
The weather looks well for the weekend, lot's of sunshine with the possibility of the odd shower or even thunder boomer, so I expect the low scores to continue on this tightly bunched leaderboard. RBC's #1 ambassador Dustin Johnson is lurking T6 68 66 -10, so watch for him this weekend. They are paying him a lot of bank money to represent their brand.
Bryan Angus
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
RBC Canadian Open pairings/ tee times
The pairings for this years RBC Canadian Open have been announced and are available on my link provided below. They are paired in 3's off split tees #1 and #10.
PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open tee times https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/rbc-canadian-open/tee-times.html
The feature group in the morning 8.10am #10 Adam Hadwin, Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson
Afternoon: 1.15pm #1 Brooks Koepka, Jhonattan Vegas, Tommy Fleetwood
1.25pm #1 Sergio Garcia, Brandt Snedeker, Charlie Hoffman
There are 18 Canadians this year.
Bryan Angus
PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open tee times https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/rbc-canadian-open/tee-times.html
The feature group in the morning 8.10am #10 Adam Hadwin, Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson
Afternoon: 1.15pm #1 Brooks Koepka, Jhonattan Vegas, Tommy Fleetwood
1.25pm #1 Sergio Garcia, Brandt Snedeker, Charlie Hoffman
There are 18 Canadians this year.
Bryan Angus
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Graham DeLaet out 6-12 months after another back surgery
Graham DeLaet has tweeted he’ll miss another six to 12 months following back surgery.
He says he will undergo microdiscetomy surgery, the same procedure he had on a different disc in 2011. “I’ve exhausted every other option and I know from past experience that this will give me the chance to compete at my best again,”
Graham underwent stem-cell treatment on his back in January and hasn’t played in a PGA Tour event since last October.
“Recent imaging has shown that my stem-cell injection treatment from last year has not helped regenerate my L4-L5 disc and in fact has gotten worse since the procedure.”
Bryan Angus
He says he will undergo microdiscetomy surgery, the same procedure he had on a different disc in 2011. “I’ve exhausted every other option and I know from past experience that this will give me the chance to compete at my best again,”
Graham underwent stem-cell treatment on his back in January and hasn’t played in a PGA Tour event since last October.
“Recent imaging has shown that my stem-cell injection treatment from last year has not helped regenerate my L4-L5 disc and in fact has gotten worse since the procedure.”
Bryan Angus
2018 RBC Canadian Open full field..memories
PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open full field http://rbccanadianopen.com/field/
This is the final year for the RBC Canadian Open the week after the Open, next year it will be contested in Hamilton the week before the US Open in June.
While the week after the Open is usually a let down, it has always been a joy for me. I started as a volunteer with the Transportation team at the Canadian Open in 1985. I took a week off work every year and travelled back and forth to Glen Abbey. In 1993 I started to cover it as a broadcaster with our Fan590 golf show "Fairways" which I produced and co-hosted with Bob Weeks and Bob Durant at first, the Scott Metcalfe joined us when Durant got the sack at the Fan. There have been changes along the way, I'm semi retired now but have continued to broadcast and write golf to this day.
I have many fabulous memories at the Canadian Open and have met and interviewed many great golfers, from Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus on down. I was standing behind the 18th green waiting to go on air in 2000, when Tiger drove it into the fairway bunker and we all thought maybe unknown Kiwi Grant Waite was going to win.
That all changed when Tiger hit his famous 6 iron some 180 yards over the pond and right past the flag on that narrow little piece of green where it is perched every Sunday.
He of course went on to win and has never been back since.
It will be hot and humid this week until the humidity blows out on Friday, there are thunder storms scattered about, as there is so often at this time of year, the weather should be much cooler and less humid in June with their new date.
RBC is paying all their stars to play here this week including their newly minted Dustin Johnson, and Sergio Garcia, Tommy Fleetwood and Brooks Koepka are coming as well to join a good strong field. Jhonattan Vegas will try to win it for a third year in a row and I do not believe that has ever happened.
Here is their press release:
World no. 1 and Team RBC member Dustin Johnson will be challenged by a stellar field of PGA TOUR stars including former Masters champion and world no.19 Sergio Garcia, two-time defending US Open champion and world no. 4 Brooks Koepka, world no.10 Tommy Fleetwood and big-hitting world no.13 Bubba Watson, a 12-time PGA TOUR winner who has won three times in 2018.
Other notable additions to the field for the 109th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship include world no. 27 Matt Kuchar; rising star and world no.31 Tony Finau; world no. 33 Kevin Kisner; former FedEx Cup champions Billy Horschel and Bill Haas; 12-time PGA TOUR winner Steve Stricker; six-time PGA TOUR winners Jimmy Walker, Stewart Cink and Rory Sabbatini; fan-favourites Ian Poulter, J.B. Holmes, Charley Hoffman and Martin Kaymer; and two-time defending champion Jhonattan Vegas.
Johnson, an 18-time winner on the PGA TOUR and Kuchar, a seven-time PGA TOUR winner will lead a roster of Team RBC players to Glen Abbey that includes three-time PGA TOUR winners Ryan Palmer and Graeme McDowell, 2013 RBC Canadian Open champion and eight-time winner Brandt Snedeker; Jim Furyk, a 17-time winner and two-time RBC Canadian Open champion; along with Canadian Team RBC players Adam Hadwin, David Hearn and Nick Taylor.
Bryan Angus
This is the final year for the RBC Canadian Open the week after the Open, next year it will be contested in Hamilton the week before the US Open in June.
While the week after the Open is usually a let down, it has always been a joy for me. I started as a volunteer with the Transportation team at the Canadian Open in 1985. I took a week off work every year and travelled back and forth to Glen Abbey. In 1993 I started to cover it as a broadcaster with our Fan590 golf show "Fairways" which I produced and co-hosted with Bob Weeks and Bob Durant at first, the Scott Metcalfe joined us when Durant got the sack at the Fan. There have been changes along the way, I'm semi retired now but have continued to broadcast and write golf to this day.
I have many fabulous memories at the Canadian Open and have met and interviewed many great golfers, from Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus on down. I was standing behind the 18th green waiting to go on air in 2000, when Tiger drove it into the fairway bunker and we all thought maybe unknown Kiwi Grant Waite was going to win.
That all changed when Tiger hit his famous 6 iron some 180 yards over the pond and right past the flag on that narrow little piece of green where it is perched every Sunday.
He of course went on to win and has never been back since.
It will be hot and humid this week until the humidity blows out on Friday, there are thunder storms scattered about, as there is so often at this time of year, the weather should be much cooler and less humid in June with their new date.
RBC is paying all their stars to play here this week including their newly minted Dustin Johnson, and Sergio Garcia, Tommy Fleetwood and Brooks Koepka are coming as well to join a good strong field. Jhonattan Vegas will try to win it for a third year in a row and I do not believe that has ever happened.
Here is their press release:
World no. 1 and Team RBC member Dustin Johnson will be challenged by a stellar field of PGA TOUR stars including former Masters champion and world no.19 Sergio Garcia, two-time defending US Open champion and world no. 4 Brooks Koepka, world no.10 Tommy Fleetwood and big-hitting world no.13 Bubba Watson, a 12-time PGA TOUR winner who has won three times in 2018.
Other notable additions to the field for the 109th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship include world no. 27 Matt Kuchar; rising star and world no.31 Tony Finau; world no. 33 Kevin Kisner; former FedEx Cup champions Billy Horschel and Bill Haas; 12-time PGA TOUR winner Steve Stricker; six-time PGA TOUR winners Jimmy Walker, Stewart Cink and Rory Sabbatini; fan-favourites Ian Poulter, J.B. Holmes, Charley Hoffman and Martin Kaymer; and two-time defending champion Jhonattan Vegas.
Johnson, an 18-time winner on the PGA TOUR and Kuchar, a seven-time PGA TOUR winner will lead a roster of Team RBC players to Glen Abbey that includes three-time PGA TOUR winners Ryan Palmer and Graeme McDowell, 2013 RBC Canadian Open champion and eight-time winner Brandt Snedeker; Jim Furyk, a 17-time winner and two-time RBC Canadian Open champion; along with Canadian Team RBC players Adam Hadwin, David Hearn and Nick Taylor.
Bryan Angus
Monday, July 23, 2018
Ben Silverman heads home after a solid weekend at the Barbasol Championship
PGA Tour Barbasol Championship leaderbaord https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2018/barbasol-championship/leaderboard.
Ben Silverman, who will tee it up at this week’s RBC Canadian Open, was just one shot off the lead when play was called due to inclement weather at the Barbasol Championship in Kentucky last night
When play was called, Silverman was -7 on the day and bogey free through 10 holes, and this morning he put the finishing touches on a 69 65 weekend -17 total which is currently good for T12.
The leaders at -21 are Billy Horschel, and Troy Merrit who are still on course.
Bryan Angus
Ben Silverman, who will tee it up at this week’s RBC Canadian Open, was just one shot off the lead when play was called due to inclement weather at the Barbasol Championship in Kentucky last night
When play was called, Silverman was -7 on the day and bogey free through 10 holes, and this morning he put the finishing touches on a 69 65 weekend -17 total which is currently good for T12.
The leaders at -21 are Billy Horschel, and Troy Merrit who are still on course.
Bryan Angus
Sunday, July 22, 2018
Brilliant Molinari tames Carnoustie..wins 147th Open
147th Open final leaderboard https://www.theopen.com/Leaderboard#!/traditional
Francesco Molinari is having the year of his golfing life. While all others around him faltered the Italian star posted 16 pars and 2 birdies including one at the 18th for a 69 -8 total...2 ahead of Rory McIlroy (70), Justin Rose (69), Kevin Kisner (74) and Xander Schauffele (74)
Molinari is the first Italian to win a major and he has an incredible 3 wins and 2 seconds in his last 6 outings.
Tiger rolled back the clock for 10 holes before a double at 11 and a bogey at 12 set him back. He finished with a solid 71, T6 -5.
Carnoustie bared her teeth with a gusty wind that completely changed the low scoring onslaught that was Saturday and made for a breathtaking Sunday afternoon that had us all guessing right until the end.
Bryan Angus
Francesco Molinari is having the year of his golfing life. While all others around him faltered the Italian star posted 16 pars and 2 birdies including one at the 18th for a 69 -8 total...2 ahead of Rory McIlroy (70), Justin Rose (69), Kevin Kisner (74) and Xander Schauffele (74)
Molinari is the first Italian to win a major and he has an incredible 3 wins and 2 seconds in his last 6 outings.
Tiger rolled back the clock for 10 holes before a double at 11 and a bogey at 12 set him back. He finished with a solid 71, T6 -5.
Carnoustie bared her teeth with a gusty wind that completely changed the low scoring onslaught that was Saturday and made for a breathtaking Sunday afternoon that had us all guessing right until the end.
Earlier Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy both electrified the crowd with eagles at the 14th and went on to set the clubhouse lead at -6 a total which eventually proved to be enough to T2, along with Kisner who had dropped three shots in the first three holes and Schauffele who crucially made bogey at 17
Molinari who had birdied the 14th to get to -7, struck a perfect drive at the last, pitched to within five feet, and holed it for his winning 69 -8.
He spoke to the world as the champion golfer of the year afterwards.
"There are a lot of people I should thank, first of all my family for the support they give me when I travel around the world; my wife is a really big part of the team.
“Each of my coaches have been a massive part of the journey to get here so thanks for your work. The volunteers and fans here make it possible, it truly is the best atmosphere in golf.
“I think it will take a long time for this to sink in. To go bogey-free at the weekend around a track like this, it’s very good.
“I was as calm as you can be in the final round in the Open. I felt like I was ready for it.”
Molinari mentioned he made no bogeys over the weekend, an incredible feat he also achieved over the weekend in winning the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth earlier in the year, and he only made one in winning the Quicken Loans National.
“Each of my coaches have been a massive part of the journey to get here so thanks for your work. The volunteers and fans here make it possible, it truly is the best atmosphere in golf.
“I think it will take a long time for this to sink in. To go bogey-free at the weekend around a track like this, it’s very good.
“I was as calm as you can be in the final round in the Open. I felt like I was ready for it.”
Molinari mentioned he made no bogeys over the weekend, an incredible feat he also achieved over the weekend in winning the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth earlier in the year, and he only made one in winning the Quicken Loans National.
Life is about to change for the man they call "Frankie" Besides forever being the 2018 "Golfer of the Year" a title worth millions, to go along with the nearly $2m winners share of this weekends prize fund, he has a 2 year exemption on the PGA Tour and entry into every major and WGC events for the next 5 years.
Strangely enough when most professional golfers have deals that cover all of their equipment, Molinari has a deal only covering his putter, which means he’s free to choose the other clubs which he puts into play, depending on their suitability to his game. It will be interesting to see if he follows the path of so many before him, who can't resist the millions the big companies offer to play their clubs and balls.
Remember Rory was offered a reported $200,000,000 by Nike to be one of their golfing ambassadors, after they dropped Tiger during his fall from grace.
Many of this weekend's stars got on the RBC jet and flew into Toronto last night for this week's Canadian Open at the Abbey and I'll have full tee times after today's Monday qualifier.
Meantime I hope Francesco and his family are somewhere quiet and alone to let this incredible last 2 months sink in, 3 wins, a pair of 2nds in 6 outings, Champion Golfer of the Year..... and so much more to follow..wow!
Remember Rory was offered a reported $200,000,000 by Nike to be one of their golfing ambassadors, after they dropped Tiger during his fall from grace.
Many of this weekend's stars got on the RBC jet and flew into Toronto last night for this week's Canadian Open at the Abbey and I'll have full tee times after today's Monday qualifier.
Meantime I hope Francesco and his family are somewhere quiet and alone to let this incredible last 2 months sink in, 3 wins, a pair of 2nds in 6 outings, Champion Golfer of the Year..... and so much more to follow..wow!
Bryan Angus
Eddie Pepperell's 67 may be good enough to win 147th Open
147th Open leaderboard https://www.theopen.com/Leaderboard#!/traditional
If you are not watching, Carnoustie, aided and abetted by a wind gusting to 25kph is showing all her teeth and as a result scores are soaring and the leaderboard is changing by the minute.
One thing is for sure, Eddie Pepperall posted the low score of the day so far -4 67, and is in the clubhouse with a -5 279 total that is currently T4.
However when you check my scoreboard link, you'll see he is just a shot or two off the lead.
Tiger just made his first double bogey of the week at the par 4 11th to fall out of the lead, and there are 11 players within 2 shots of each other.
The lead is -6 held by 4 players, Spieth, Molinari, Chappell and Kisner.
Remember Spieth and Schauffele are last out so have the most holes to play, when it comes down to the final green. Birdies are rare, pars are great and Molinari has made 11 straight, with no bogey's !
Buckle up !
Bryan Angus
If you are not watching, Carnoustie, aided and abetted by a wind gusting to 25kph is showing all her teeth and as a result scores are soaring and the leaderboard is changing by the minute.
One thing is for sure, Eddie Pepperall posted the low score of the day so far -4 67, and is in the clubhouse with a -5 279 total that is currently T4.
However when you check my scoreboard link, you'll see he is just a shot or two off the lead.
Tiger just made his first double bogey of the week at the par 4 11th to fall out of the lead, and there are 11 players within 2 shots of each other.
The lead is -6 held by 4 players, Spieth, Molinari, Chappell and Kisner.
Remember Spieth and Schauffele are last out so have the most holes to play, when it comes down to the final green. Birdies are rare, pars are great and Molinari has made 11 straight, with no bogey's !
Buckle up !
Bryan Angus
The wind is rising, as are the scores on Sunday at Carnoustie
The 147th Open leaderboard https://www.theopen.com/Leaderboard#!/traditional
If you are just getting up, the sun is shining for this Sunday at the 147th Open, and as predicted the wind has finally arrived at Carnoustie just in time for the leaders, blowing at 25kph, after starting early this morning as a little breeze.
The best score of the day so far has been posted by Jason Day, -3 68 who ran off 3 in a row at 13,14 and 15 but made bogey at the very tough par 18th.
Setting the scene
At my count there are 16 players within five shots of leaders Jordan Spieth, Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele all at -9.
Spieth, the defending champion and Schauffele are off last with Kisner and long shot Kevin Chappell (-7) whose best finish here is T53 in the penultimate pairing.
At -6 there is in form Italian Francesco Molinari with 2 wins and 2 runner-ups in his last 5 outings but just 1 top 10 at the Open and he's got to contend with all the hoopla of playing with Tiger (-5).
Tommy Fleetwood is paired with Zach Johnson next, both at -5, then Webb Simpson and Alex Noren also -5. Rory McIlroy (-5) is with Matt Kuchar (-4) who was 2nd last year.
Justin Rose shot 64 on Saturday but he's at -4 along with Adam Scott, a little to far back.
My opinion
With the wind blowing and the R&A setting some diabolical pins any score under par is possible, but -9 or less will be the winning score. For example yesterday players were driving the first green, today it's a 4 iron second. There has never been a winning score in double digits at Carnoustie.
For all you Tiger fans, I think he's not just too far back at -5, there are also too many players in front of him, and one or more of them is going to play well enough to win it.
It looks like another playoff to me, and until someone takes the trophy from him, I'll pick Jordan Spieth to defend.
Bryan Angus
If you are just getting up, the sun is shining for this Sunday at the 147th Open, and as predicted the wind has finally arrived at Carnoustie just in time for the leaders, blowing at 25kph, after starting early this morning as a little breeze.
The best score of the day so far has been posted by Jason Day, -3 68 who ran off 3 in a row at 13,14 and 15 but made bogey at the very tough par 18th.
Setting the scene
At my count there are 16 players within five shots of leaders Jordan Spieth, Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele all at -9.
Spieth, the defending champion and Schauffele are off last with Kisner and long shot Kevin Chappell (-7) whose best finish here is T53 in the penultimate pairing.
At -6 there is in form Italian Francesco Molinari with 2 wins and 2 runner-ups in his last 5 outings but just 1 top 10 at the Open and he's got to contend with all the hoopla of playing with Tiger (-5).
Tommy Fleetwood is paired with Zach Johnson next, both at -5, then Webb Simpson and Alex Noren also -5. Rory McIlroy (-5) is with Matt Kuchar (-4) who was 2nd last year.
Justin Rose shot 64 on Saturday but he's at -4 along with Adam Scott, a little to far back.
My opinion
With the wind blowing and the R&A setting some diabolical pins any score under par is possible, but -9 or less will be the winning score. For example yesterday players were driving the first green, today it's a 4 iron second. There has never been a winning score in double digits at Carnoustie.
For all you Tiger fans, I think he's not just too far back at -5, there are also too many players in front of him, and one or more of them is going to play well enough to win it.
It looks like another playoff to me, and until someone takes the trophy from him, I'll pick Jordan Spieth to defend.
Bryan Angus
Saturday, July 21, 2018
It's a jam packed leaderboard on Saturday at Carnoustie.. live scoreboard
147th Open leaderboard https://www.theopen.com/Leaderboard#!/traditional
I must say I'm surprised considering the calm conditions the late wave played in from about 3pm onwards last night at Carnoustie, that the scores posted in the morning rain by leaders Zach Johnson (67 -6) and Kevin Kisner (70 -6), then Tommy Fleetwood (65 -5), Rory McIlroy (69 -4), held up going into this Saturday.. moving day.
Guys like Pat Perez (68 -5) Tony Finau (71 -4) Erik van Rooyan (71 -4), Zander Lombard (71 -4) all certainly moved into contention, but had a glorious chance to do much more. With relatively flat, slow greens to putt on ( easy greens in the words of Johnny Miller) I thought 65 or 64 was on the cards, the course record is 63, held by Fleetwood. It really is a tribute to the tough 4 closing holes including the famous par 4,18th with the Barrie burn.
All of that means the leaderboard is tightly bunched, there are nearly 50 golfers within 6 shots of the lead, the weather today is absolutely benign, and the scores in the early wave are reflecting that. England's Chris Wood is -6 through 11 holes, Justin Rose -5 through 15, Patrick Reed -4 through 15 for example.
Buoyed by an eagle 3 on the 14th and a birdie 3 on the tough 17th Adam Hadwin came back in 33 shots, and a -1 70 to make the cut which fell at +3.
Four former winners, all six shots back are right back in contention at E, T35, Louis Oosthuizen, Stewart Cink, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.
Jordan Spieth who won last year at Royal Birkdale is right in it at -3.
With the wind set to blow for the late wave tomorrow, you'd better keep pace today. It's a real horse race, with no clear cut favourite, yet...
Bryan Angus
I must say I'm surprised considering the calm conditions the late wave played in from about 3pm onwards last night at Carnoustie, that the scores posted in the morning rain by leaders Zach Johnson (67 -6) and Kevin Kisner (70 -6), then Tommy Fleetwood (65 -5), Rory McIlroy (69 -4), held up going into this Saturday.. moving day.
Guys like Pat Perez (68 -5) Tony Finau (71 -4) Erik van Rooyan (71 -4), Zander Lombard (71 -4) all certainly moved into contention, but had a glorious chance to do much more. With relatively flat, slow greens to putt on ( easy greens in the words of Johnny Miller) I thought 65 or 64 was on the cards, the course record is 63, held by Fleetwood. It really is a tribute to the tough 4 closing holes including the famous par 4,18th with the Barrie burn.
All of that means the leaderboard is tightly bunched, there are nearly 50 golfers within 6 shots of the lead, the weather today is absolutely benign, and the scores in the early wave are reflecting that. England's Chris Wood is -6 through 11 holes, Justin Rose -5 through 15, Patrick Reed -4 through 15 for example.
Buoyed by an eagle 3 on the 14th and a birdie 3 on the tough 17th Adam Hadwin came back in 33 shots, and a -1 70 to make the cut which fell at +3.
Four former winners, all six shots back are right back in contention at E, T35, Louis Oosthuizen, Stewart Cink, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.
Jordan Spieth who won last year at Royal Birkdale is right in it at -3.
With the wind set to blow for the late wave tomorrow, you'd better keep pace today. It's a real horse race, with no clear cut favourite, yet...
Bryan Angus
Friday, July 20, 2018
Kisner holding his lead in ideal Friday afternoon scoring conditions at 147th Open
147th Open leaderboard https://www.theopen.com/Leaderboard#!/traditional
The rain has passed through Carnoustie leaving the late wave ideal conditions for scoring on this Friday afternoon at the 147th Open. The greens are still firm but holding and slow, "easy to putt" according to Johnny Miller.
Speaking of easy to putt Kevin Kisner used just 22 putts on Thursday to take the overnight lead and as I write he is -3 today, -8 total with 2 to play and he leads Zach Johnson by 2 shots.
However as I mentioned this morning, they play late at the Open and guys like Rickie Fowler is now at -4 playing the 9th, Tony Finau -5 playing the 7th, Pat Perez -5 playing 12th, Zander Lombard -5 playing 6th.
So there is still a lot of play today that will affect the lead with the cut still projected at +3.
Tiger has gone 71 71 E, Phil Mickelson is at E playing his last 3 holes. Jon Rahm is going the other way +3 today now at +1 total.
Adam Hadwin is at +3 playing his back nine, so needs a birdie or two if he wants to play the weekend.
In my opinion there will be a tightly bunched leaderboard at the end of play today, with calm conditions projected for Saturday before the wind arrives on Sunday.
I'll be back with my next post Sunday morning..
Bryan Angus
The rain has passed through Carnoustie leaving the late wave ideal conditions for scoring on this Friday afternoon at the 147th Open. The greens are still firm but holding and slow, "easy to putt" according to Johnny Miller.
Speaking of easy to putt Kevin Kisner used just 22 putts on Thursday to take the overnight lead and as I write he is -3 today, -8 total with 2 to play and he leads Zach Johnson by 2 shots.
However as I mentioned this morning, they play late at the Open and guys like Rickie Fowler is now at -4 playing the 9th, Tony Finau -5 playing the 7th, Pat Perez -5 playing 12th, Zander Lombard -5 playing 6th.
So there is still a lot of play today that will affect the lead with the cut still projected at +3.
Tiger has gone 71 71 E, Phil Mickelson is at E playing his last 3 holes. Jon Rahm is going the other way +3 today now at +1 total.
Adam Hadwin is at +3 playing his back nine, so needs a birdie or two if he wants to play the weekend.
In my opinion there will be a tightly bunched leaderboard at the end of play today, with calm conditions projected for Saturday before the wind arrives on Sunday.
I'll be back with my next post Sunday morning..
Bryan Angus
McIlroy, Fleetwood singin' in the morning rain at Carnoustie
147th Open leaderboard https://www.theopen.com/
The rain has arrived for the Friday morning wave at Carnoustie taking some of the sting out of this burnt out championship course and presenting a completely different test for the world's best.
I spent considerable time in my post on Wednesday talking about the weather, because everything for the players, depends on what Mother Nature provides. The rain is expected to stop today around 3pm local time with very little wind so you'd think the late wave will get the best scoring conditions.
Kevin Kisner has just teed off in round 2, at 1pm, (8am EST) and he held the overnight lead after an opening -5 66, so he should be one to benefit, however the pins are tucked, the ball isn't running as far, many bunkers that were bypassed yesterday are in play today, the weather is cooler and the ball isn't carrying,so I don't expect a runaway by anybody.
This morning Tommy Fleetwood went out with the rest in a steady rain and hit fairway after fairway with his exceptional driving, posted a -6 65, and currently has a share of second with Kisner at -5, a shot behind two time major winner Zach Johnson whose -4 67 has him ahead at -6.
Rory is looking much more comfortable and right at home on these fabled links, he didn't have a chance to bomb it today like he did in the sunshine on Thursday, but his irons were superb, his putting much better on these slower greens (10 on the stimpmeter compared to 12 and up on a normal PGA Tour event). He posted his second straight -2 69 and is in the clubhouse drying off at -4.
Remember this Open championship is a marathon not a sprint. They start at 6.30am and finish around 7pm, so there is a lot to happen before the cut falls tonight.
Tiger is playing his back nine at +1 after an opening 71. Others I'm watching in this late wave, John Rahm at -2, Rickie Fowler at -1, Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose at +1, Phil Mickelson at +2 and Henrik Stenson at +3.
Also Adam Hadwin, the lone Canadian amongst the 28 countries that are represented here, opened with +2 73, so I'll watch to see if Adam can make the cut which is projected at +3.
Notables in danger or done, Dustin Johnson (76 72 +6) Bubba Watson +5, Russell Knox +5, Patrick Reed +4, Justin Thomas (69,77 +4), Sergio Garcia +3. See my scoreboard link for all your favourites.
For those who make the cut Saturday's forecast is for overcast skies, dry and cool with little wind, so ideal for scoring, then Sunday the sunshine will return but so will the wind blowing up to 25kph.
Bryan Angus
The rain has arrived for the Friday morning wave at Carnoustie taking some of the sting out of this burnt out championship course and presenting a completely different test for the world's best.
I spent considerable time in my post on Wednesday talking about the weather, because everything for the players, depends on what Mother Nature provides. The rain is expected to stop today around 3pm local time with very little wind so you'd think the late wave will get the best scoring conditions.
Kevin Kisner has just teed off in round 2, at 1pm, (8am EST) and he held the overnight lead after an opening -5 66, so he should be one to benefit, however the pins are tucked, the ball isn't running as far, many bunkers that were bypassed yesterday are in play today, the weather is cooler and the ball isn't carrying,so I don't expect a runaway by anybody.
This morning Tommy Fleetwood went out with the rest in a steady rain and hit fairway after fairway with his exceptional driving, posted a -6 65, and currently has a share of second with Kisner at -5, a shot behind two time major winner Zach Johnson whose -4 67 has him ahead at -6.
Rory is looking much more comfortable and right at home on these fabled links, he didn't have a chance to bomb it today like he did in the sunshine on Thursday, but his irons were superb, his putting much better on these slower greens (10 on the stimpmeter compared to 12 and up on a normal PGA Tour event). He posted his second straight -2 69 and is in the clubhouse drying off at -4.
Remember this Open championship is a marathon not a sprint. They start at 6.30am and finish around 7pm, so there is a lot to happen before the cut falls tonight.
Tiger is playing his back nine at +1 after an opening 71. Others I'm watching in this late wave, John Rahm at -2, Rickie Fowler at -1, Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose at +1, Phil Mickelson at +2 and Henrik Stenson at +3.
Also Adam Hadwin, the lone Canadian amongst the 28 countries that are represented here, opened with +2 73, so I'll watch to see if Adam can make the cut which is projected at +3.
Notables in danger or done, Dustin Johnson (76 72 +6) Bubba Watson +5, Russell Knox +5, Patrick Reed +4, Justin Thomas (69,77 +4), Sergio Garcia +3. See my scoreboard link for all your favourites.
For those who make the cut Saturday's forecast is for overcast skies, dry and cool with little wind, so ideal for scoring, then Sunday the sunshine will return but so will the wind blowing up to 25kph.
Bryan Angus
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
What I expect at Carnoustie this week, 147th Open Tee Times/ live scoring
147th Open tee times, leaderboard ://www.theopen.com/TeeTimes#!/R1
It all gets underway at 6.35am local, 1.30am here in Toronto on Thursday with Sandy Lyle, former Scottish #1 and winner of the 1985 Masters striking the first shot of this 147th Open.
Fittingly Lyle spent his entire pro career eschewing the driver for his famous 1 iron, and with Carnoustie's fairways burnt brown and running hard and fast, you will see players using as few as 1 driver per round, Tiger has said he'll use anywhere between 1 and 4, depending on the wind.
Speaking of the wind, it is scheduled to blow substantially particularly on Thursday and Sunday, from the west, south-west, calmer in the morning and strongest for the leaders around 5pm, up to 25kph.
Rain is in the forecast Friday, wind still west, south-west, rain heaviest in the morning.
Saturday the breeze eases off and switches completely in the morning, early tee times get what there is of it (10kph) from the NE, but by noon it will come from the SE and stay that way all day.
Finding the fairways: Most all of the UK is experiencing climate change as we all are, it's the hottest, driest summer in recent memory. Links courses are used to winds soaked in salt water, and of course rain which keeps the courses green and the rough lush and deep. As a result like Gullane last week, you'll see the fairways burnt out, and the rough thin at Carnoustie this year.
Therefore a key to scoring will be club selection off the tee. Tiger and most others will be hitting "stingers", long irons driven low and running, and hopefully avoiding the sod faced bunkers. How far the ball will run will be trial and error, but remember this evens the field out as all the short hitters will be able to roll the ball just as far as the big boys. Carnoustie under these conditions plays not at 7400 yards, more like 6500.
Others like Rory have decided to take drivers where they normally wouldn't, to smash it over all those bunkers and the Barry Burn which meanders through 10 of the holes. For example Brandt Snedeker hit his drive at the famous 18th in practice, over the burn into the greenside bunker, some 435 yards away. Imagine if John van de Velde had that luxury in 1999 !.
Carnoustie Memories:
1975, Bobby Cole led after 54 holes. Then the wind got up on Sunday and he slipped to 76 to miss the playoff between Australian playboy Jack Newton (74) and Tom Watson (72). Tom narrowly won his first of 5 Open's (1975, 77, 80, 82, 83) in an 18 hole playoff in the rain over Newton. Newton was hampered when he severely sprained his ankle on the practice range on Wednesday and had to have it heavily wrapped.
Sadly in 1983 he walked into a plane propeller in Sydney and lost his right eye and arm and was given a 50/50 chance of survival, which he did and went on to a long career in broadcasting.
As Sir Michael Bonallack put it, “When the wind is blowing, it is the toughest golf course in Britain. And when it’s not blowing, it’s probably still the toughest.” It isn't just long, it's long and narrow. Someone dubbed it " Carnastie"
1999 of course I remember the John van de Velde triple bogey fiasco at the 18th and the resulting 4 hole playoff between the Frenchman, Justin Leonard and Scotland's Paul Lawrie who started the day 10 shots behind van de Velde, but won the aggregate by 3 shots for the only major of his career
I remember the 2007 version for 2 main reasons. Sergio Garcia led after 54 holes and was looking great for his 1st major. Secondly when it came down to the final holes it was Sergio, Padraig Harrington and Anders Romero in contention, and none seemed to want it.
Romero had made 10 birdies on that Sunday but had a double bogey,bogey finish left him a single stroke out of the playoff. Harrington was playing great and stood on the18th tee with a one-shot lead but put it in the Barry burn twice for a double-bogey six to finish with a round of 67. Garcia meanwhile went to the final hole one ahead but found a greenside bunker with his approach shot. He left himself a ten footer for par and the title, but the putt lipped out and he had to settle for a 4 hole playoff which Harrington won, and Sergio did not ingratiate himself with his griping afterwards
So it will be a fascinating Open again for me this year, I think the uncertainty caused by the extremely fast fairways will cause great drama.
Join me here as always.
Bryan Angus.
It all gets underway at 6.35am local, 1.30am here in Toronto on Thursday with Sandy Lyle, former Scottish #1 and winner of the 1985 Masters striking the first shot of this 147th Open.
Fittingly Lyle spent his entire pro career eschewing the driver for his famous 1 iron, and with Carnoustie's fairways burnt brown and running hard and fast, you will see players using as few as 1 driver per round, Tiger has said he'll use anywhere between 1 and 4, depending on the wind.
Speaking of the wind, it is scheduled to blow substantially particularly on Thursday and Sunday, from the west, south-west, calmer in the morning and strongest for the leaders around 5pm, up to 25kph.
Rain is in the forecast Friday, wind still west, south-west, rain heaviest in the morning.
Saturday the breeze eases off and switches completely in the morning, early tee times get what there is of it (10kph) from the NE, but by noon it will come from the SE and stay that way all day.
Finding the fairways: Most all of the UK is experiencing climate change as we all are, it's the hottest, driest summer in recent memory. Links courses are used to winds soaked in salt water, and of course rain which keeps the courses green and the rough lush and deep. As a result like Gullane last week, you'll see the fairways burnt out, and the rough thin at Carnoustie this year.
Therefore a key to scoring will be club selection off the tee. Tiger and most others will be hitting "stingers", long irons driven low and running, and hopefully avoiding the sod faced bunkers. How far the ball will run will be trial and error, but remember this evens the field out as all the short hitters will be able to roll the ball just as far as the big boys. Carnoustie under these conditions plays not at 7400 yards, more like 6500.
Others like Rory have decided to take drivers where they normally wouldn't, to smash it over all those bunkers and the Barry Burn which meanders through 10 of the holes. For example Brandt Snedeker hit his drive at the famous 18th in practice, over the burn into the greenside bunker, some 435 yards away. Imagine if John van de Velde had that luxury in 1999 !.
Carnoustie Memories:
1975, Bobby Cole led after 54 holes. Then the wind got up on Sunday and he slipped to 76 to miss the playoff between Australian playboy Jack Newton (74) and Tom Watson (72). Tom narrowly won his first of 5 Open's (1975, 77, 80, 82, 83) in an 18 hole playoff in the rain over Newton. Newton was hampered when he severely sprained his ankle on the practice range on Wednesday and had to have it heavily wrapped.
Sadly in 1983 he walked into a plane propeller in Sydney and lost his right eye and arm and was given a 50/50 chance of survival, which he did and went on to a long career in broadcasting.
As Sir Michael Bonallack put it, “When the wind is blowing, it is the toughest golf course in Britain. And when it’s not blowing, it’s probably still the toughest.” It isn't just long, it's long and narrow. Someone dubbed it " Carnastie"
1999 of course I remember the John van de Velde triple bogey fiasco at the 18th and the resulting 4 hole playoff between the Frenchman, Justin Leonard and Scotland's Paul Lawrie who started the day 10 shots behind van de Velde, but won the aggregate by 3 shots for the only major of his career
I remember the 2007 version for 2 main reasons. Sergio Garcia led after 54 holes and was looking great for his 1st major. Secondly when it came down to the final holes it was Sergio, Padraig Harrington and Anders Romero in contention, and none seemed to want it.
Romero had made 10 birdies on that Sunday but had a double bogey,bogey finish left him a single stroke out of the playoff. Harrington was playing great and stood on the18th tee with a one-shot lead but put it in the Barry burn twice for a double-bogey six to finish with a round of 67. Garcia meanwhile went to the final hole one ahead but found a greenside bunker with his approach shot. He left himself a ten footer for par and the title, but the putt lipped out and he had to settle for a 4 hole playoff which Harrington won, and Sergio did not ingratiate himself with his griping afterwards
So it will be a fascinating Open again for me this year, I think the uncertainty caused by the extremely fast fairways will cause great drama.
Join me here as always.
Bryan Angus.
Monday, July 16, 2018
147th Open tee times, so close for Henderson, Monday morning shagbag
The world of golf is on it's way to, or is already at Carnoustie for the 147th Open where Jordan Spieth will defend his title, he handed back the Claret Jug in a ceremony this morning. The tee times have just been announced and here they are, with Adam Hadwin in the 14th group with Ernie Els and Chesson Hadley at 9.03am.
://www.theopen.com/TeeTimes#!/R1
* Carnoustie's fairways are baked brown, but the greens are well watered and holding. This will be a thinking man's Open, Drives are rolling over 400 yards, so yardage books will be of little use, this week will be played along the ground, the way it was intended.
Much more on the Open and my memories going back to 1966, but now to the Monday morning shag bag.
LPGA Marathon Classic final leaderboard
http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/marathon-classic-presented-by-owens-corning-and-o-i/results
*Brooke Henderson had a 1 shot lead heading into the final round and cruised through the first 14 holes of Sunday bogey free before running into trouble with bogey's on #15 and 16 dropping her to -13, and after she narrowly missed a birdie on 18 for -2 69 she missed the playoff in which Thidapa Suwannapura of Thailand beat American Brittany Lincicome to win the tournament after both finished 72 holes tied at 14-under 270.
*Brooke had this to say “It was sort of weird. I hated that tee shot on 15 the last couple days, but I tried my best. Sometimes, golf is weird. Sometimes, it just doesn’t go your way and that was kind of me the last four holes. The rest of the way I played really well, so I’m happy
*I was disappointed with my third. It really wasn’t what I was looking for, but I gave it a great putt, looked like it was going in the majority of the way, but it just kind of missed on the high side there. Like I said, I gave it a good effort and unfortunately, it just wasn’t my day today
*Brittany Marchand finished T32 -6 under. Alena Sharp T49 -3
US Senior Women's Open final leaderboard
http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/championships/2018/u-s--senior-women-s-open.html#!scoring
* There isn't much out there for senior women, so I thought it was a good idea to get them all together for the first ever US Senior Women's Open which Dame Laura Davies won at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Ill by 10 shots at -16.
*Lorie Kane finished with a +1 74 T23rd at +13.
PGA Tour John Deere Classic final leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
* Nobody was catching Micheal Kim who starred in college but could hardly make a cut as a pro until this weekend where shot a final-round 66 to win the John Deere Classic by a record-setting eight strokes at -27 257 to break Steve Stricker’s tournament record by one shot.
* David Hearn and Mackenzie Hughes had good week's,T16. Corey Connors T50 -9, Ben Silverman T65 -4
European Tour Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open final leaderboard
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2018/tournamentid=2018058/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard
://www.theopen.com/TeeTimes#!/R1
* Carnoustie's fairways are baked brown, but the greens are well watered and holding. This will be a thinking man's Open, Drives are rolling over 400 yards, so yardage books will be of little use, this week will be played along the ground, the way it was intended.
Much more on the Open and my memories going back to 1966, but now to the Monday morning shag bag.
LPGA Marathon Classic final leaderboard
http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/marathon-classic-presented-by-owens-corning-and-o-i/results
*Brooke Henderson had a 1 shot lead heading into the final round and cruised through the first 14 holes of Sunday bogey free before running into trouble with bogey's on #15 and 16 dropping her to -13, and after she narrowly missed a birdie on 18 for -2 69 she missed the playoff in which Thidapa Suwannapura of Thailand beat American Brittany Lincicome to win the tournament after both finished 72 holes tied at 14-under 270.
*Brooke had this to say “It was sort of weird. I hated that tee shot on 15 the last couple days, but I tried my best. Sometimes, golf is weird. Sometimes, it just doesn’t go your way and that was kind of me the last four holes. The rest of the way I played really well, so I’m happy
*I was disappointed with my third. It really wasn’t what I was looking for, but I gave it a great putt, looked like it was going in the majority of the way, but it just kind of missed on the high side there. Like I said, I gave it a good effort and unfortunately, it just wasn’t my day today
*Brittany Marchand finished T32 -6 under. Alena Sharp T49 -3
US Senior Women's Open final leaderboard
http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/championships/2018/u-s--senior-women-s-open.html#!scoring
* There isn't much out there for senior women, so I thought it was a good idea to get them all together for the first ever US Senior Women's Open which Dame Laura Davies won at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Ill by 10 shots at -16.
*Lorie Kane finished with a +1 74 T23rd at +13.
PGA Tour John Deere Classic final leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
* Nobody was catching Micheal Kim who starred in college but could hardly make a cut as a pro until this weekend where shot a final-round 66 to win the John Deere Classic by a record-setting eight strokes at -27 257 to break Steve Stricker’s tournament record by one shot.
* David Hearn and Mackenzie Hughes had good week's,T16. Corey Connors T50 -9, Ben Silverman T65 -4
European Tour Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open final leaderboard
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2018/tournamentid=2018058/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard
*Little known Brandon Stone from South Africa missed a short putt for 59 on Sunday as he equalled the lowest round in European Tour history, -10 60, -20 total, to win Scottish Open on a defenseless Gullane links. The wind only got up on Saturday afternoon and the guys just took a very good course apart.
*Stone is in the Open this week with the win, and his only concern? “Hopefully I can find accommodation (for the Open)!”
Champions Tour Senior Players Championship final leaderboard
* Good old Vijay Singh beat major specialist Jeff Maggert on the second playoff hole to win this Constellation Senior Players Championship.
* Stephen Ames T32 -7, Rod Spittle T50 -4.
Bryan Angus
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Brooke Henderson starts final round leading the Marathon Classic by a shot
It's a busy day with the World Cup Final, and the Wimbledon Final at the top of the list. In golf I'm keeping my eye on David Hearn T7 -13 at the John Deere Classic https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html, he is 9 shots behind runaway leader Micheal Kim.
The wind has dropped at the Scottish Open http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2018/tournamentid=2018058/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard
as they play the final round in Gullane with Englishman Eddie Pepperall leading a tightly bunched pack at -17 as he is at -7 on today's round but is running out of holes.
The big golf story here is Brooke Henderson once again as she vies for her 7th pro win, leading the Marathon Classic by a shot over a great field near Toledo, Ohio.
LPGA Marathon Classic leaderboard
http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/marathon-classic-presented-by-owens-corning-and-o-i/leaderboard
Brooke admits she didn't have her A game on Saturday but still ground out a -2 69 -11 total to go out in the final group at 1.05 with Angela Stanford.
"This week, things have been clicking for me a little bit better than normal and I’m just excited to see my name at the top of the leaderboard. I would have liked to play a little better (Saturday), but I’m happy to still be in the top spot and hopefully, make a lot of birdies (Sunday),”
"I looked at the scores just walking by the leaderboard there and there are a lot of really awesome scores (Saturday). I know I have to make a lot of birdies and shoot an awesome score. I’m excited to be in this position. I was a little disappointed how I played today, but overall, I’m in a good spot,”
“I made some birdies but I made some bogeys. I didn’t hit it how I normally hit it, so I kind of grinded it out as best I could and that’s good. That’s a good sign when you can still shoot under par and not hit it very well.”
There are 19 players within 4 shots of her lead, so Brooke will need a gutsy performance to win it today.
Bryan Angus
The wind has dropped at the Scottish Open http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2018/tournamentid=2018058/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard
as they play the final round in Gullane with Englishman Eddie Pepperall leading a tightly bunched pack at -17 as he is at -7 on today's round but is running out of holes.
The big golf story here is Brooke Henderson once again as she vies for her 7th pro win, leading the Marathon Classic by a shot over a great field near Toledo, Ohio.
LPGA Marathon Classic leaderboard
http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/marathon-classic-presented-by-owens-corning-and-o-i/leaderboard
Brooke admits she didn't have her A game on Saturday but still ground out a -2 69 -11 total to go out in the final group at 1.05 with Angela Stanford.
"This week, things have been clicking for me a little bit better than normal and I’m just excited to see my name at the top of the leaderboard. I would have liked to play a little better (Saturday), but I’m happy to still be in the top spot and hopefully, make a lot of birdies (Sunday),”
"I looked at the scores just walking by the leaderboard there and there are a lot of really awesome scores (Saturday). I know I have to make a lot of birdies and shoot an awesome score. I’m excited to be in this position. I was a little disappointed how I played today, but overall, I’m in a good spot,”
“I made some birdies but I made some bogeys. I didn’t hit it how I normally hit it, so I kind of grinded it out as best I could and that’s good. That’s a good sign when you can still shoot under par and not hit it very well.”
There are 19 players within 4 shots of her lead, so Brooke will need a gutsy performance to win it today.
Bryan Angus
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Robert Rock leads in windless conditions at the Scottish Open
European Tour Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2018/tournamentid=2018058/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard
After 2 record setting rounds in strangely calm, sunny warm conditions at this year's Scottish Open in Gullane, England's Robert Rock, one of the games few players who has eschewed many sponsor's offers to wear a hat and who spends as much time coaching as he does playing, is the leader with improbable rounds of 63 64 -13
His 63 set a course record until Scotland's Connor Syme shot -8 62, then Japan's Hideto Hanihara shot -9 61. Gullane is not this easy, but two windless days will leave any links course defenseless.
Rock sounds very realistic about his chances of winning this week.
We all would like to see it blow, the Scottish Open or the Open Championship are not meant to be played in conditions you'd find in Miami.
Bryan Angus
After 2 record setting rounds in strangely calm, sunny warm conditions at this year's Scottish Open in Gullane, England's Robert Rock, one of the games few players who has eschewed many sponsor's offers to wear a hat and who spends as much time coaching as he does playing, is the leader with improbable rounds of 63 64 -13
His 63 set a course record until Scotland's Connor Syme shot -8 62, then Japan's Hideto Hanihara shot -9 61. Gullane is not this easy, but two windless days will leave any links course defenseless.
Rock sounds very realistic about his chances of winning this week.
"I generally have three days of feeling great and one iffy one. I hope this was the iffy one; it might not be, but I'm used to that sort of scenario happening over four days.
I've looked at the weather forecast for the weekend and there is no rain and the wind is predicted at around 16kph. However the locals are telling all who'll listen that the sun and the heat baking this ancient course brown will lead to the wind getting up.
If I play another two good rounds, I shouldn't be too far away. But if some guys shoot, I don't know, same sort of scores, they will be tough to catch."
He is 2 clear of his fellow Englishman Tyrrell Hatton (64 65) and Sweden's Jens Dantorp (65 64) both -11, while Eddie Pepperell (67 63 -10) and Rickie Fowler (64 66 -10) are T4 with Matt Fitzpatrick (68 66) who is making a run this morning with 4 birdies in his opening 5 holes.We all would like to see it blow, the Scottish Open or the Open Championship are not meant to be played in conditions you'd find in Miami.
Bryan Angus
David Hearn returns to long putter, shoots 64, T2 at John Deere Classic
PGA Tour John Deere Classic leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
David Hearn rode a hot putter to a -7 64 in the morning and held a brief lead at -12, but finished the day sitting T2, four shots off the lead at the rain delayed John Deere Classic in the Quad Cities on Friday.
He returned to the long putter that made him one of the games best putter's before the ban on anchoring took effect. " I was for a long time one of the best putter's on tour using that long putter method, and I went back to this a couple of month's ago and I had been tinkering with it off and on. I had gone to an arm lock a couple of year's ago"
Hearn was questioned about his putting stroke by PGA Tour officials and had to demonstrate that he was not anchoring.
" Honestly it's to be expected because there is a lot of opinions out there about anchoring rules. They were asking me about the way Im doing it, and I can say with certainty I'm not anchoring the putter. I had done a lot of things to my putter, including taking 2 inches off it. It's definitely taking a little bit of an adjustment period but it's starting to feel good this week so we'll see how it holds up over the weekend"
He has missed 8 cuts this year playing a limited schedule, his best finish a T10 in New Orleans, but he plays well at this event, remember he lost to Jordan Spieth in a playoff here in 2013.
American Micheal Kim, who is winless in 84 career PGA Tour starts, is -16 through 35 holes, and returns this morning to finish his 2nd round.
Other Canadians: Nick Taylor T16 -7 (71), Mackenzie Hughes T34 -5 (65), Corey Conners T47 -4 (72) and Ben Silverman T66 -3 (67).
Bryan Angus
David Hearn rode a hot putter to a -7 64 in the morning and held a brief lead at -12, but finished the day sitting T2, four shots off the lead at the rain delayed John Deere Classic in the Quad Cities on Friday.
He returned to the long putter that made him one of the games best putter's before the ban on anchoring took effect. " I was for a long time one of the best putter's on tour using that long putter method, and I went back to this a couple of month's ago and I had been tinkering with it off and on. I had gone to an arm lock a couple of year's ago"
Hearn was questioned about his putting stroke by PGA Tour officials and had to demonstrate that he was not anchoring.
" Honestly it's to be expected because there is a lot of opinions out there about anchoring rules. They were asking me about the way Im doing it, and I can say with certainty I'm not anchoring the putter. I had done a lot of things to my putter, including taking 2 inches off it. It's definitely taking a little bit of an adjustment period but it's starting to feel good this week so we'll see how it holds up over the weekend"
He has missed 8 cuts this year playing a limited schedule, his best finish a T10 in New Orleans, but he plays well at this event, remember he lost to Jordan Spieth in a playoff here in 2013.
American Micheal Kim, who is winless in 84 career PGA Tour starts, is -16 through 35 holes, and returns this morning to finish his 2nd round.
Other Canadians: Nick Taylor T16 -7 (71), Mackenzie Hughes T34 -5 (65), Corey Conners T47 -4 (72) and Ben Silverman T66 -3 (67).
Bryan Angus
Brooke Henderson leads the Marathon Classic
LPGA Tour Marathon Classic leaderboard http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/marathon-classic-presented-by-owens-corning-and-o-i/leaderboard
"It’s just fun to be in contention again and to see your name at the top of the leaderboard, it’s exciting, and hopefully good things will happen.”
Those words from Brooke Henderson following a bogey-free -5 66 on Friday including a birdie, birdie finish that sees her T1 with Sweden's Caroline Hedwall at -9 133 going into this weekend at the Marathon Classic downin Sylvania, Ohio.
“To finish birdie-birdie was really important, and it’s fun to see your name at the top,” Henderson said. “I’m excited to be in the final group.”
Thailand's Thidapa Suwannapura is at -8 while last year's champion I.K. Kim is at -6.
Other Canadians: Brittany Marchand 70 68 -4 T16, Alena Sharp 71 71 E T55, Maude Aimee LeBlanc (M/C).
Bryan Angus
"It’s just fun to be in contention again and to see your name at the top of the leaderboard, it’s exciting, and hopefully good things will happen.”
Those words from Brooke Henderson following a bogey-free -5 66 on Friday including a birdie, birdie finish that sees her T1 with Sweden's Caroline Hedwall at -9 133 going into this weekend at the Marathon Classic downin Sylvania, Ohio.
“To finish birdie-birdie was really important, and it’s fun to see your name at the top,” Henderson said. “I’m excited to be in the final group.”
Thailand's Thidapa Suwannapura is at -8 while last year's champion I.K. Kim is at -6.
Other Canadians: Brittany Marchand 70 68 -4 T16, Alena Sharp 71 71 E T55, Maude Aimee LeBlanc (M/C).
Bryan Angus
Friday, July 13, 2018
Rickie Fowler in contention as calm conditions lead to low scoring at the Scottish Open
European Tour Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2018/tournamentid=2018058/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard
It has been an unusually warm dry summer thus far in Scotland, so expect to see a hard fast running Carnoustie, just north from Dundee along the north east coast for next weeks Open.
Further south, across the Forth Road Bridge you will arrive in the Kingdom of Fife and 40 minutes south east from Edinburgh you'll drive through a sleepy wee town called Gullane on your way to Muirfield and then North Berwick, Scotland's Golf Coast.
The world best have stopped at Gullane this week, which is dominated by Gullane Hill, the site for 3 courses, this Scottish Open consists of 16 holes from Course #1 and 2 from Course #2.
So far with the late wave out on the course in calm, sunny conditions, a grumpy little Englishman, Tyrrell Hatton is tied for the lead at -11, 65 64. However the man with the best hair in golf, Robert Rock is already at -11 approaching the turn.
Rickie Fowler opened with a 64, and is in the late wave today. For North American viewers, this is a truly International field reflecting the strength of this game around the world these days. Just look at the flags on my leaderboard link to see what I mean.
Although the weather forecast remains good for the weekend, the wind, which links courses rely on, is scheduled to appear on Saturday, which will separate the men from the boys..
If you ever get to Gullane, take a walk up to the 6th tee at the top of Gullane Hill for a spectacular view up the Firth of Forth to the north, and down the North Sea towards North Berwick to the south. You not only have to see it, but to smell the unmistakeable freshness of the salt see air, and the piercing cries of the gulls and albatrosses that command the air currents above.... magnificent...
Bryan Angus
It has been an unusually warm dry summer thus far in Scotland, so expect to see a hard fast running Carnoustie, just north from Dundee along the north east coast for next weeks Open.
Further south, across the Forth Road Bridge you will arrive in the Kingdom of Fife and 40 minutes south east from Edinburgh you'll drive through a sleepy wee town called Gullane on your way to Muirfield and then North Berwick, Scotland's Golf Coast.
The world best have stopped at Gullane this week, which is dominated by Gullane Hill, the site for 3 courses, this Scottish Open consists of 16 holes from Course #1 and 2 from Course #2.
So far with the late wave out on the course in calm, sunny conditions, a grumpy little Englishman, Tyrrell Hatton is tied for the lead at -11, 65 64. However the man with the best hair in golf, Robert Rock is already at -11 approaching the turn.
Rickie Fowler opened with a 64, and is in the late wave today. For North American viewers, this is a truly International field reflecting the strength of this game around the world these days. Just look at the flags on my leaderboard link to see what I mean.
Although the weather forecast remains good for the weekend, the wind, which links courses rely on, is scheduled to appear on Saturday, which will separate the men from the boys..
If you ever get to Gullane, take a walk up to the 6th tee at the top of Gullane Hill for a spectacular view up the Firth of Forth to the north, and down the North Sea towards North Berwick to the south. You not only have to see it, but to smell the unmistakeable freshness of the salt see air, and the piercing cries of the gulls and albatrosses that command the air currents above.... magnificent...
Bryan Angus
Henderson, Taylor, Connors, Hearn all in contention after opening rounds
While most of my attention this week is on Gullane, where the Scottish Open is well underway, I am watching the lesser events and our Canadian performances and am happy to report they are doing very well so far..
Here's a quick summary with live scoreboard links...
LPGA Tour Marathon Classic leaderboard
http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/marathon-classic-presented-by-owens-corning-and-o-i/leaderboard
The ladies are in Ohio this week in calm warm sunny conditions so far. Brooke Henderson opened with a -4 67 playing early, and is currently T8 just 2 off the lead of a very crowded leaderboard and had this to say about an event she has never excelled at.
"I’ve never really played that well here before, so this year, I just tried to keep things really simple. I tried to just look over the golf course with fresh eyes and try to forget everything that’s happened before and just try to play smart, try to give myself a lot of birdie opportunities, and fortunately today, I was able to do that"
Other Canucks: Maude Aimee Leblanc +1 72 T73, Brittany Marchand -1 70 T39, Alena Sharp E 71 T52.
The leader from Thailand is Thidapa Suwannapura at -6. There are several Thai girls in the event...all have impossibly long complex names !!
PGA Tour John Deere Classic leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
Nick Taylor leads the Canadian contingent down in Illinois at the annual John Deere Classic. He fired a -7 64 to sit T3, just 2 shots behind as play gets under way on this Friday the 13th!
Corey Conners and David Hearn each shot a -5 66 and are T11. Ben Silverman +1 72.
Steve Wheatcroft opened with a -9 62 to lead, watch for Francesco Molinari who is at -7.
There are all kinds of other tournaments going on including a major, the Constellation Senior Players Championship https://www.pgatour.com/champions/competition/2018/constellation-senior-players-championship/leaderboard.html where Kenny Perry and Mike Small lead at -7. Stephen Ames and Rod Spittle are T16 at -3.
Bryan Angus
Here's a quick summary with live scoreboard links...
LPGA Tour Marathon Classic leaderboard
http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/marathon-classic-presented-by-owens-corning-and-o-i/leaderboard
The ladies are in Ohio this week in calm warm sunny conditions so far. Brooke Henderson opened with a -4 67 playing early, and is currently T8 just 2 off the lead of a very crowded leaderboard and had this to say about an event she has never excelled at.
"I’ve never really played that well here before, so this year, I just tried to keep things really simple. I tried to just look over the golf course with fresh eyes and try to forget everything that’s happened before and just try to play smart, try to give myself a lot of birdie opportunities, and fortunately today, I was able to do that"
Other Canucks: Maude Aimee Leblanc +1 72 T73, Brittany Marchand -1 70 T39, Alena Sharp E 71 T52.
The leader from Thailand is Thidapa Suwannapura at -6. There are several Thai girls in the event...all have impossibly long complex names !!
PGA Tour John Deere Classic leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
Nick Taylor leads the Canadian contingent down in Illinois at the annual John Deere Classic. He fired a -7 64 to sit T3, just 2 shots behind as play gets under way on this Friday the 13th!
Corey Conners and David Hearn each shot a -5 66 and are T11. Ben Silverman +1 72.
Steve Wheatcroft opened with a -9 62 to lead, watch for Francesco Molinari who is at -7.
There are all kinds of other tournaments going on including a major, the Constellation Senior Players Championship https://www.pgatour.com/champions/competition/2018/constellation-senior-players-championship/leaderboard.html where Kenny Perry and Mike Small lead at -7. Stephen Ames and Rod Spittle are T16 at -3.
Bryan Angus
Monday, July 9, 2018
Monday morning shag bag..Kim shoots record -31, Knox steals the Irish Open
It's time for the Monday morning shag bag which includes my thoughts on Sei Young Kim shooting a ridiculous record breaking -31 at the Thornberry Creek Classic, the winner of this years Open will receive a record $2m give or take a few, Russell Knox just stole the Irish Open, and always a the bridesmaid, Kevin Na finally wins one at the Greenbrier Classic.
http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/thornberry-creek-lpga-classic/results
*Canada's Brittany Marchand shot 64 72 66 69 -17, good enough to win many events, she T7 but the story is she was 14 shots behind the winner Sei Young Kim who is very good, but 63 65 64 65 -31 is just an embarrassment for a pro event on the LPGA schedule. She shared the previous record at -30 with Annika Sorenstam
*The Thornberry Creek at Oneida course is played through one of Green Bay's most prestigious neighbourhoods and may be a good test for those who can afford to live there, but it is just to easy a test for the world's best women.
*Brooke Henderson T23 65 75 66 68 -14, Maude Aimee LeBlanc and Alena Sharp M/C.
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2018/tournamentid=2018056/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard
*I wrote on Saturday about what a big day Sunday was for unknown South African Erik Van Rooyen who had been completely in control with a 4 shot lead through 3 rounds in search of his first Euro Tour win. Sadly the putts stopped falling and he slipped to a 74.. Enter Russell Knox who shot 66 to steal this Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in a playoff.
*Why do I say steal.? He sunk a 40 footer on the 18th to force a playoff with Ryan Fox who was in contention all week and had missed an 8 footer for the win at his 72nd, but here's the kicker Fox missed another one even shorter on the playoff hole after Knox had unbelievably sunk another 40 footer ahead of him.
*Knox could stand on that green all night long and never sink two in a row from 40 feet, so he stole one didn't he !
https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
*Kevin Na has shot 69 63 65 before in his pro career to get in contention but somehow always manages to either slip up badly or finish in the T10, too often 2nd. So I was pleased to see him come out of the gate firing on all cylinders to win for the first time in 7 years with a final round 64, 5 shots clear of Kelly Kraft at -19 at the relatively easy Greenbrier course. Na is 34 now, his only other win was 2011 in Las Vegas.
*Corey Connors and David Hearn T30 -6, Ben Silverman and Nick Taylor T56 -2.
* Henrik Stenson has had to withdraw from this week's Scottish Open at Gullane with an elbow injury. Gullane by the way is a sleepy little town south of Edinburgh, just up the road from Muirfield. It has 3 great courses Gullane 1,2,3, and the Scottish will be played on #1.
* CP has extended its title sponsorship of the CP Women’s Open for five years, beginning in 2019 through 2023.
* Nice to see that one of my all time favourites Lee Trevino who won the Canadian Open 3 times, 1971, 76, 79 will be taking part in the RBC Hall of Fame Day celebration on Tuesday, July 24th, beginning at 11 a.m. ET, as part of the 2018 RBC Canadian Open
* quote of the weekend from the Irish Open " the greens are as hard as a dog's head"
*The R&A announced the winner of this year's 147th Open at Carnoustie will be paid a whopping $1,890,000 US, thank you very much Tiger!
Poor old Sam Snead must be turning in his grave. Remember when he was the world's best back in the 40's and early 50's and the prize for winning was 50 guineas. He refused to come over, it cost more for his trip and expenses.
http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/thornberry-creek-lpga-classic/results
*Canada's Brittany Marchand shot 64 72 66 69 -17, good enough to win many events, she T7 but the story is she was 14 shots behind the winner Sei Young Kim who is very good, but 63 65 64 65 -31 is just an embarrassment for a pro event on the LPGA schedule. She shared the previous record at -30 with Annika Sorenstam
*The Thornberry Creek at Oneida course is played through one of Green Bay's most prestigious neighbourhoods and may be a good test for those who can afford to live there, but it is just to easy a test for the world's best women.
*Brooke Henderson T23 65 75 66 68 -14, Maude Aimee LeBlanc and Alena Sharp M/C.
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2018/tournamentid=2018056/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard
*I wrote on Saturday about what a big day Sunday was for unknown South African Erik Van Rooyen who had been completely in control with a 4 shot lead through 3 rounds in search of his first Euro Tour win. Sadly the putts stopped falling and he slipped to a 74.. Enter Russell Knox who shot 66 to steal this Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in a playoff.
*Why do I say steal.? He sunk a 40 footer on the 18th to force a playoff with Ryan Fox who was in contention all week and had missed an 8 footer for the win at his 72nd, but here's the kicker Fox missed another one even shorter on the playoff hole after Knox had unbelievably sunk another 40 footer ahead of him.
*Knox could stand on that green all night long and never sink two in a row from 40 feet, so he stole one didn't he !
https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
*Kevin Na has shot 69 63 65 before in his pro career to get in contention but somehow always manages to either slip up badly or finish in the T10, too often 2nd. So I was pleased to see him come out of the gate firing on all cylinders to win for the first time in 7 years with a final round 64, 5 shots clear of Kelly Kraft at -19 at the relatively easy Greenbrier course. Na is 34 now, his only other win was 2011 in Las Vegas.
*Corey Connors and David Hearn T30 -6, Ben Silverman and Nick Taylor T56 -2.
* Henrik Stenson has had to withdraw from this week's Scottish Open at Gullane with an elbow injury. Gullane by the way is a sleepy little town south of Edinburgh, just up the road from Muirfield. It has 3 great courses Gullane 1,2,3, and the Scottish will be played on #1.
* CP has extended its title sponsorship of the CP Women’s Open for five years, beginning in 2019 through 2023.
* Nice to see that one of my all time favourites Lee Trevino who won the Canadian Open 3 times, 1971, 76, 79 will be taking part in the RBC Hall of Fame Day celebration on Tuesday, July 24th, beginning at 11 a.m. ET, as part of the 2018 RBC Canadian Open
* quote of the weekend from the Irish Open " the greens are as hard as a dog's head"
*The R&A announced the winner of this year's 147th Open at Carnoustie will be paid a whopping $1,890,000 US, thank you very much Tiger!
Poor old Sam Snead must be turning in his grave. Remember when he was the world's best back in the 40's and early 50's and the prize for winning was 50 guineas. He refused to come over, it cost more for his trip and expenses.
Prize money
Place
|
USD
|
Place
|
USD
| |
1
|
1,890,000
|
36
|
55,000
| |
2
|
1,093,000
|
37
|
52,500
| |
3
|
701,000
|
38
|
50,000
| |
4
|
545,000
|
39
|
48,000
| |
5
|
438,000
|
40
|
46,500
| |
6
|
380,000
|
41
|
44,500
| |
7
|
326,000
|
42
|
42,500
| |
8
|
275,000
|
43
|
40,500
| |
9
|
241,000
|
44
|
38,500
| |
10
|
218,000
|
45
|
36,250
| |
11
|
198,000
|
46
|
34,250
| |
12
|
176,000
|
47
|
32,750
| |
13
|
165,000
|
48
|
31,500
| |
14
|
155,000
|
49
|
30,250
| |
15
|
144,000
|
50
|
29,500
| |
16
|
132,500
|
51
|
28,900
| |
17
|
126,000
|
52
|
28,300
| |
18
|
120,000
|
53
|
27,900
| |
19
|
115,000
|
54
|
27,450
| |
20
|
109,500
|
55
|
27,000
| |
21
|
104,500
|
56
|
26,600
| |
22
|
99,000
|
57
|
26,200
| |
23
|
94,000
|
58
|
26,100
| |
24
|
89,000
|
59
|
26,000
| |
25
|
86,000
|
60
|
25,800
| |
26
|
82,000
|
61
|
25,600
| |
27
|
79,000
|
62
|
25,500
| |
28
|
76,000
|
63
|
25,400
| |
29
|
73,000
|
64
|
25,300
| |
30
|
69,500
|
65
|
25,100
| |
31
|
67,000
|
66
|
25,000
| |
32
|
63,500
|
67
|
24,800
| |
33
|
61,500
|
68
|
24,600
| |
34
|
59,500
|
69
|
24,400
| |
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