All the very best for 2019 my friends !! My best golfing New Year ?

It's 3.30pm on a very rainy mild (4*c) soaking wet New Year's Eve here in Toronto.

The people, mainly kids that will congregate at various New Year's gigs like City Hall and Mel Lastman's Square will be absolutely soaked, and they can have it, having been there and done that.

Many of my New Year's activities can't be published here, but I might give you a hint to say they usually involved my love interest at the time, some selected lingerie and a bottle of champagne....along with.. well, you get it..

One of the best however was in Scotland where Hogmanay is the biggest night of the year. I was in a rural community and followed the Scottish tradition of " first footing" your neighbours, it was considered good luck to receive a dark haired stranger with a lump of coal and a dram of whiskey right after midnight.

The 'first footing" went on all night from house to house, with many a dram shared, along with shortbread cookies, hot chocolate, mugs of tea and great comradeship. The local farmer, arrived with his tractor and trailer when the sun came up on the New Year and we all piled on and were dropped off along the way to our homes.

After a quick shower it was off to Royal Burgess GC for the annual New Years Day breakfast and round of golf !!!

Full Scottish breakfast, square sausage, Ayrshire bacon, black pudding, potato scones, fried eggs, toast and tea. Off to the first tee to play foursomes (alternate shot) all wrapped up, and warmed by a pewter dram of Royal Burgess whiskey, which was available on every other hole by the way.

The walk, fresh air and the odd good shot was a fantastic way to walk off the night before and kick off the New Year.

I'm happy to say my late brother Rodney and I continued that tradition back home here in Canada at golf courses we snuck onto with a handful of pals until the police arrived one year after an over exuberant club member called us out !

It will be a quiet night for me, a nice meal, a dram or two, team Canada at the juniors and a good movie. I'll leave the hootin' and hollerin' to the amateurs and will hit the gym to start the new year tomorrow.

All the very best my friends for 2019, and remember, "you never appreciate your health until you lose it," so take care and thanks for joining me all year..

The PGA pros are all in Hawaii already getting ready to start the season on January 3.

Bryan Angus

Brooke Henderson wins Canadian Press Female Athlete of the Year...again

After winning the CP Women's Open, the first time for a Canadian since Jocelyne Bourassa in 1973 to bring her 2018 tally to 2 wins and 11 top 10's, Brooke Henderson has been awarded the Canadian Press Female Athlete of the Year for a third time in four years...repeating last year's Bobbie Rosenfeld award.

She garnered 30 of 54 votes. " This is a dream come true especially being a winter Olympic year with all those great athlete's. It's a really big honour and I'm just proud to bring home this trophy again"

Bryan Angus

Women's Golf 2018 Trophy winners..

20 year old Ariya Jutanugarn from Thailand is, in the opinion of most pundits and players head and shoulders the best female player in the world and this year she did nothing to change those opinions. She goes into 2019 as the world #1.

From a Canadian point of view Brooke Henderson had another strong year, was narrowly beaten in the Lou Marsh awards, and of course arguably produced this country's sporting moment when she won the CP Women's Open in Regina.

While they take a well earned Christmas break here's a look back at who won what in 2018.

Official World Rankings https://www.rolexrankings.com/rankings

The Majors
ANA Inspiration, Mission Hills CC :  Pernilla Lindberg
US Women's Open, Shoal Creek Alabama :  Ariya Jutanugarn
KPMG Women's PGA Championship Kemper Lakes GC, Illinois :  Sung Hyun Park
Ricoh Women's British Open, Royal Lytham St Annes :  Georgia Hall
Evian Championship, Evian Resort GC, France :  Angela Stanford


Notables
CP Women's Open, Regina : Brooke Henderson
UL International Crown, Jack Nicklaus GC, South Korea : South Korea
CME Group Tour Championship, Tiburon GC Naples Florida : Lexi Thompson

Race to CME Globe winner : Ariya Jutanugarn

Money list winner :  Ariya Jutanugarn $2,743,949
Scoring Average leader:  Ariya Jutanugarn 69.415
Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year : Jin Young Ko


Bryan Angus

Francesco Molinari wins SPOTY World Sports Star of the year award

After his sensational 2018 season which included becoming the first Italian to win the Open Championship, a perfect 5-0 record at the Ryder Cup rout of the USA and was capped by his win of the Race to Dubai, Francesco Molinari has been awarded the prestigious 2018 SPOTY World Sports Star of the year award in Birmingham, England.

He edged out Simone Biles,  Ester Ledecka, Oleksandr Usyk. Roger Federer won it four years in a row.

Thomas Bjorn summed it up best " Frankie has won a lifetime of awards in one year !!"

Bryan Angus

Men's Golf, 2018 trophy winners

There are just a few days to go until Christmas believe it or not, it's been quite mild in the GTA and the mild spells will continue into next week. These are truly the few weeks there is no pro golf on the schedules, Q schools are done, the trophies have been decided, so here's a review of who won what on the men's side. (Women to follow tomorrow)

The Majors.
Masters, Augusta National : Patrick Reed (273 -15)
US Open, Shinnecock Hills : Brooks Koepka (281 -1)
Open Championship, Carnoustie GC : Francesco Molinari (276 -8)
PGA Championship, Bellerive CC : Brooks Koepka (264 -16)

WGC Events.
Mexico Championship, Club de Golf Chapultepec : Phil Mickelson
Dell Technologies Match Play, Austin CC : Bubba Watson
Bridgestone Invitational, Firestone CC South:  Justin Thomas
HSBC Champions : Sheshan International, Shanghai : Xander Schauffele

Notables:
The Players Championship, TPC Sawgrass Ponte Verde:  Webb Simpson
BMW PGA Championship, Wentworth GC, England : Francesco Molinari
RBC Canadian Open, Glen Abbey : Dustin Johnson

Playoffs:
Northern Trust, New Jersey: Bryson DeChambeau
Dell Technologies, Massachusetts:  Bryson DeChambeau
BMW Championship, Pennsylvania : Keegan Bradley
Tour Championship, Atlanta, Georgia : Tiger Woods
Turkish Airlines Open, Antalya, Turkey : Justin Rose
Nedbank Golf Challenge, Sun City, RSA : Lee Westwood
DP World Tour Championship, Dubai : Danny Willett

Ryder Cup Le Golf National, Paris
Europe 17 1/2  USA 10 1/2

Fed Ex Cup winner : Justin Rose
Race to Dubai winner : Francesco Molinari

PGA Tour Player of the Year ( Jack Nicklaus Trophy) : Brooks Koepka
European Tour Player of the Year : Francesco Molinari
PGA Tour Rookie of the Year : Aaron Wise
European Tour Rookie of the Year : Shubhankar Sharma
Money winner (Arnold Palmer Trophy) : Justin Thomas
Scoring winner ( Vardon Trophy ) : Dustin Johnson


Official World Ranking : http://www.owgr.com/


Bryan Angus

David Lipsky wins Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek GC

European Tour Alfred Dunhill Championship http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2019/tournamentid=2019006/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y#/results

After missing his last two cuts in Mauritius, then Johannesburg, Asian American David Lipsky had lots of time to practice, and this week it paid off as he won his second European Tour title at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa, after a dramatic final round of 2018 at Leopard Creek Country Club, which is separated by the Crocodile River from the Kruger National Park with all of it's magnificent African wildlife.

The American was making his first visit to Leopard Creek but he was also making himself right at home as he opened up a six-shot lead at one point and led by four stood on the 16th tee.

That advantage was cut to one after a late wobble but Lipsky signed for a -4 68, -14 two shots ahead of Scotland's David Drysdale, with Scott Jamieson and Zander Lombard who had 2 late bogey's a further shot back.

Lipsky won the European Masters in 2014 in his first season as an Affiliate Member and had been a picture of consistency before securing just a single top ten last season.

That saw him finish outside the top 100 in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex for the first time but he will not be fighting for his card in 2019 after handing himself the perfect Christmas present in Malelane.

“It's been five years since the last one and to come off this year where I haven't played that well and to finish it off like this, this win couldn't be any better,” he said.

Lipsky is 30 now, born in LA and lists his home as Las Vegas, although his passport shows that he is a true world traveller. He began to golf as a 10 year old and despite his small stature (5'9") he had great success as a junior which got him into Northwestern University in Chicago, where he was an All-American.

His first win came on the Asian Tour, at the 2012 HANDA FALDO Cambodian Classic, before finishing 11th on the Order of Merit as a rookie. He qualified for the Web.com Tour in 2013.

As I mentioned his breakthrough came back on the European tour in Switzerland by winning the 2014 Omega European Masters, where he beat Graeme Storm in a play-off which earned him a 2 year full status. He was ranked 340th in the world before his win today.

That brings to a conclusion the five event wrap around start to the 2019 season and the players will take their Christmas holidays and next appear in the middle east on January 16 2019 in Abu Dhabi.

Bryan Angus

(europeantour.com)

Brad Fritsch shoots a clutch 62 at Web.com Q school

Web.com Q School final scoreboard https://www.pgatour.com/webcom/tournaments/web-com-tour-qualifying-tournament/leaderboard.html

Congratulations to the 3 Canucks who have earned partial status at Web.com Q school led by good guy Brad Fritsch who was T37 going into Sunday's play at the Whirlwind GC in Chandler Arizona, but fired a bogey free -10 62 to get to -24 T8. That means he will have full status for the first 12 starts before the first reshuffle in 2019. His scores 72 66 64 62.

Micheal Gligic shot 70, T13 and Albin Choi 67, T34 will both have exempt status for the first 8 events before reshuffles.  Seann Harlingten ended up T74 at -14 which means he’ll maintain his conditional status just because he made it through to the final stage.

All will be looking for good starts early in the season to solidify their respective positions.

The winner or medallist was an American, Danny Walker who will be fully exempt on the Web.com Tour  after finishing at -27.


Bryan Angus

Oosthuizen laps the field to win South African Open

European Tour South Africa Open final leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2019/tournamentid=2019004/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y#/results

He took a three shot lead into today's final round but after a sluggish start with his lead down to one after three holes, he steadied the ship then drained a long birdie at the 7th and never looked back.

Louis Oosthuizen shot -4 67 to win his national championship by 6 clear shots for his first win in 3 years in front of his President's Cup captain Ernie Els who ended up T15 himself.

An emotional Oosthuizen was sprayed with champagne by his fellow South Africans and embraced by Branden Grace. Those two had a 5-0 record as one of the International Team's bright spots the last time out.

Frenchman Romain Langasque shot a closing 66 -12, 2nd that  earned him one of three spots available for The Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club next summer, with 2011 Masters Tournament winner Charl Schwartzel and England's Oliver Wilson claiming the other two.

Oosthuizen joined Bobby Locke, Gary Player, Bob Charles, Ernie Els and Henrik Stenson as the only players to win The Open and South African Open as he claimed a first victory since the 2016 ISPS HANDA Perth International.

 

"I knew today was either going to be very special or heartbreaking. I know there's only a few that have won The Open and the SA Open so I'm very chuffed to have my name on this. We had a tough start today and my caddie just told me, 'you're swinging it well, just go for it'. I just got back to basics, to try and hit fairways and greens. I know I'm putting well, I just needed to give myself putting opportunities for birdie."

 

“This feels very special. This is perfect.”

Bryan Angus

(europeantour.com)

Oosthuizen excels in the wind at South African Open

European Tour South African Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2019/tournamentid=2019004/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard

When Louis Oosthuizen was asked how he managed his game to win the 2010 Open at St Andrews in blustery conditions he said " I grew up playing in the wind. The more it blows the more of an advantage I feel it gives me"

Well it was blowing again at the South African Open in Johannesburg today and he tied for the low round of the day with -4 67 to take a 3 shot lead at -14 over three golfers including his team mate Charl Schwartzel ,England's Matt Wallace and Zambian Madalitso Muthiya all at -11, with a group of eight players then six shots off the lead.

Oosthuisen is looking for his first win in 3 years, he has never won his country's Open Championship.

Four-time Major Champion Ernie Els has won this event 5 times and he was in the group at -8, alongside fellow South Africans Branden Grace and Jbe Kruger, Scot Robert McIntyre, German Bernd Ritthammer, Dane Jeff Winther, Brazilian Adilson da Silva and Zimbabwe's Mark Williams.

 

Bryan Angus

Bryan Angus

Globe trotting Els amongst the leaders at South African Open

European Tour South African Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2019/tournamentid=2019004/leaderboard/index.html#/leaderboard

Gary Player is quick to tell one and all that he is the most travelled golfer of all time, logging some 15 million miles since he started travelling the world to play golf back in 1953. Pro golf was all about the USA back then, with the Open as the only significant championship in Europe, so great players like Gary and others from South Africa and Australia had to travel a long way and stay for a long time. Player would be away from home and his wife Vivienne for 9 months at a time.

Things have changed, golf is global now and travel is much more comfortable. Still, this new season International Team's globe trotting captain Ernie Els has flown from Melbourne, Australia up to Brisbane, across the Indonesian Sea and on for 12 1/2 hours to the island of Mauritius and this week the 4 1/2 hour flight to Johannesburg for the South African Open as the European Tour continues it's 2019 season.

He'll be hosting the Cup at this time next year at the Royal Melbourne GC under a new flag and hopefully some new players that can make this an event instead of a cake walk by the Americans.

Back on home soil this week where he is simply revered, he has opened his challenge with a -5 66 on the easier, shorter Bushwillow course. The other course being used this week is the Firethorn. His fellow countryman Louis Oosthuizen is the leader  with a -9 62 on the Bushwillow.

Last week's winner in Mauritius, playing full of confidence, American Kurt Kitayama  is going well at -8 64 on Firethorn.

There are 3 spots available from this week's play for players who haven't qualified at the Open in July, which is another great incentive to have a great week.

Bryan Angus

American rookie Kurt Kitayama wins Afrasian Bank Mauritis Open

European tri sanctioned tours Afrasian Bank Mauritius Open leaderboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2019/tournamentid=2019003/leaderboard/index.html#/results

Kurt Kitayama has had an incredible year going from the Web.com Tour to the Asian Tour to European Tour Q School and now to the winners circle and a 2 year exemption after shooting 65 65 70 68 -20 to win the Afrasian Bank Open on this paradise island resort at the Four Seasons Mauritius.

The muscular young American of Korean descent is following in the footsteps of Brooks Koepka and Peter Uihlinen who went from university overseas to hone their pro games with great success.

Bryan Angus

Cameron Smith defends Australian PGA title, Nick Taylor T9

Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman finished T2 at last week's World Cup and they brought that form with them to South Queensland at this Australian PGA Championship where they ended up 1,2 again.

Smith began the final round with a three shot lead but Leishman went out in 32 to lead by two shots at the turn. However he stumbled coming in while Smith came back in a 32 of his own to shoot 70 -16 total to defend his title, winning by 2 shots from Leishman 69 -14.

Meanwhile Nick Taylor fashioned a 70 71 weekend to finish T9 -5 while Aaron Cockerill had a solid start to his European Tour T19 71 73 weekend -3. Austin Connelly  T34 -1.

More to follow

Bryan Angus

Tough luck for Jim Rutledge at Champions Tour Q school

PGA Champions Tour Q school final leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/champions/leaderboard.html

After leading going into the final round, Victoria's Jim Rutledge has lost out on full status in a four man playoff at Champions Tour Q school.

Rutledge played well all week in cool windy conditions in Lutz, Florida after a solid previous week of practice. He shot 70 71 68 73 -2

He opened his final round with 2 straight bogey's and battled all day making a birdie at the 18th to get into a playoff with Stephen Leaney, Craig Bowden and Greg Kraft for the final 4th and 5th spots. He lost out on the 4th playoff hole to Leaney, when he hit his approach into the water and will now have to go back to Monday qualifying.

Gibby Gilbert III shot 65 including a lucky 70 footer at the last to win medalist honours at -4. Skip Kendall shot an amazing 70 78 64 69 to qualify along with Cliff Kresge. Leaney and Kraft rounded out the top 5 in what is the toughest Tour to qualify for via Q school.


Bryan Angus

Taylor, Cockerill, Connelly make the cut at Australian PGA

Australian PGA Championship leaderboard https://www.pga.org.au/tourns/pga-tour/event/leaderboard?season=2018&tour=pga&id=1077

Defending champion Cameron Smith fired a third round -5 67 to take a commanding 3 shot lead into the final round of the Australian PGA at -14. His Aussie teammate at the World Cup last week, Marc Leishman is 2nd at -11 after a -3 69 at the RACV Royal Pines Resort Gold  Coast.

The Canadian trio have all made the cut. After opening with 74 Nick Taylor has climbed up into T13 at -4 after 68, 70 along with Aaron Cockerill who shot  72 69 71 -4.  Austin Connelly shot 75 but made the cut on +2 T60.


Bryan Angus