David Morland qualifies for the European Senior Tour (Staysure Tour) .. final scoreboard.

Staysure Tour Q School final scoreboard https://www.europeantour.com/staysure-tour/staysure-tour-qualifying-school-finals-2020/results?

Michael Long was the only player to card four consecutive sub-70 rounds as he won Staysure Tour Qualifying School Final Stage by two shots at Pestana Golf Resort.

The Kiwi was rock solid from the outset and saved his best for last, signing for rounds of 67-68-69-66 to finish on -14 in a pressure packed week where five players earned Staysure Tour cards for the 2020 season.

The 51-year old, who has competed in 99 European Tour events in his career, has eight professional victories to his name, his most recent in 2018 on the PGA Tour of Australasia, and he will now look to continue his winning ways in his rookie season against the best senior golfers in Europe.

“I can’t believe it really. This is completely out of the blue. It’s a lot of really good players out here, and if you can’t smile now, when can you? It’s just nice to come out on top of a top quality field."

Sharing second place on -12 were Scottish amateur Euan McIntosh and Canadian David Morland IV (66 70 67 69 -12) The two players spent the majority of Final Stage inside the all-important top five and like Long, will now compete in their rookie seasons on the Staysure Tour.

McIntosh will now turn professional, while Morland IV will bring the professional experience he has gained from the PGA Tour as the two players further strengthen the quality of golf in Europe’s senior ranks.

Andrew Raitt, who competed in 132 European Tour events between 1999 and 2010, finished alone in fourth place on -10 sealing his own rookie Staysure Tour season thanks to a final round of four under par 67, which kept him inside the qualification number.

The battle for the fifth and final card required extra holes as Spaniards Carl Suneson, Victor Casado and Englishman Gary Marks were deadlocked on eight under par after 72 holes.

Suneson birdied the first play-off hole, the par four 17th, to seal a return to the Staysure Tour for a third season and is the only Qualifying School graduate who will not be a rookie in 2020.

Mickelson posts 9 birdies at the Saudi International.. full scoreboard

European Tour Saudi International leaderboard https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/saudi-international-powered-by-softbank-investment-advisers-2020/leaderboard

There was a lot of controversy surrounding the pros supporting the inaugural Saudi International, mostly in regard to the despicable human rights under the regime of King Salman and his predecessors. Very few if any Saudi's play golf, so his show case Royal Greens course is for international visitors and corporations. Supporting the King's desire to increase tourism, and shine a kind light on this tournament seems to support his agenda when the cameras all leave.

However a strong field, all with their own opinions showed up last year led by world #1 Dustin Johnson who won, and he's back along with Phil Mickelson this year who has passed on the PGA Tour's Waste Management Open in Phoenix for reasons of his own including a huge unofficial appearance fee.

Gavin Green from Malaysia who won the Asian Tour's Order of Merit last year, got out early before the wind began to blow on the Royal Greens G&CC, posting -6 64. He was joined later in the day by Graham McDowell who hasn't won in Europe in 6 years and only has 8 top 10's since 2014 when he won the French Open.

Henrik Stenson leads a pack of five at -5 65, while Mickelson with a back nine of 29 on his card came in at -4 66.

Defending champ Dustin Johnson is at -3 67 alongside Aussie Lucas Herbert who has sobered up after an almighty party following his win in Dubai.

Bryan Angus

Canadians to watch for at Waste Management Phoenix Open ... live scoreboard

PGA Tour Waste Management Open tee times/leaderboard...https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/waste-management-phoenix-open/tee-times.html

So although this Waste Management Open is #1 in the #2 business it isn't a world class field..

Most of the big boys who were at Torrey Pines are not here...

Rory, Tiger, Beefcake Koepka are not here nor are many of the European Tour stars who are off or in Saudi Arabia..

Down to business there are 5 Canucks at this alcohol fuelled ASU student body Waste Management Open with the spectacular par 3 stadium 16th.. the PGA Tour's answer to " reality TV"

Canadians: Adam Hadwin's first as a Dad, Nick Taylor in reasonable form, Mac Hughes hot and cold, Corey Connors after Hawaii and Roger Sloan are worth watching.. likely wont win but how will they progress...

Follow them here because they are rarely on TV unless they get hot...

Bryan Angus

LPGA is travelling to Australia, Far East for the next five weeks.. schedule..

With the wrap of last weeks Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio, most of the LPGA players took advantage of this week off to pack and fly down under to Australia for a 5 week swing which also contains stops in Thailand, Singapore and China. 

We are awaiting word on what effect the fires ravaging Australia, and the worrying out break of coronavirus in central China will have on players making the trip.

Madelene Sagstrom from Sweden capped a career week with her first LPGA win after little Nasa Hataoka from Japan missed a 3 footer for a playoff on the final hole. Sagstrom won 3 times on the Symetra Tour last year to graduate. Brooke Henderson 72 68 68 73 -7 T15.

Inbee Park is playing in the ISPS Handa Vic Open for the first time. Alena Sharp is the lone Canadian. Brooke Henderson WD due to illness last year, and is not in the field this year.

Here is the schedule for the next 5 weeks.

ISPS Handa Vic Open, Victoria (Celine Boutier) February 6-9

ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open, Grange, South Australia (Nelly Korda) February 13-16

Honda LPGA  Thailand , Chonburi  (Amy Yang)  February 20-23

HSBC Women's World Championship, Singapore   (Sung Hyun Park)  February 27

Blue Bay LPGA, China  (Gabby Lopez)   March 5-8


Bryan Angus

Crazy ending sees Aussie Lucas Herbert win the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.. final scoreboard

European Tour Omega Dubai Desert Classic final scoreboard https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/omega-dubai-desert-classic-2020/results

If you weren't watching this in the early hours here on EST you missed a train wreck of a finish that ended up with young Aussie Lucas Herbert (68) prevailing against young South African, Christiaan Bezuidenhout (68) on the second play off hole at the par 5 18th on an Emirates GC that was playing as tough as ever with new thick rough, tighter fairways and a decent wind blowing. 

His winning score of -9 is the highest in tournament history, 15 shots higher than Bryson DeChambeau last year. It is his first European Tour win, on Australia Day in his 50th event.

Speaking of DeChambeau he was issued a slow play warning and went on to bogey his last 4 holes to fall out of it with a 76. He wasn't alone..

Ashun Wu was cruising along with a 3 shot lead but after a three putt double bogey at the 10th, his wheels fell off as he made bogey at 11,13 and 15 and that let the field back in.

Spain's Adri Arnaus (70), South African Dean Burmerster (72), England's Tom Lewis (74) all finished -7, while Kurt Kitayama (75) with Wu (77) finished -6, but the point is they all had their chances, with bogey's in abundance, and drama after drama on that famous 18th with the classic risk for reward, go for it or lay up decision, with the pond protecting the narrow green.

In the playoff Herbert hit a hackers slice 70 yards off line into the pond with his second while Bezuidenhout laid up and wedged in. He was in control until the young Aussie recovered with a stunning wedge within the leather from the drop zone. They halved the hole in par.

Herbert now with a second chance, bombed his drive on the second playoff hole, and hit a long iron into the heart of the 18th green while Bezuidenhout hit a long three wood up against the grandstand with his 2nd, advantage Herbert. The South African got a free drop but left his flop shot short and narrowly missed his 4th down the hill. Herbert then 2 putted to end all the drama.

Next week they do it all over again at the Saudi International.

Bryan Angus

Flawless Jon Rahm takes control at Farmers Insurance Open..live scoring

Farmers Insurance Open leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html

With the round of the day, a flawless bogey free 65 on the south course, European Tour player of the year Jon Rahm stamped his signature on the Farmers Insurance Open and he is the leader by a shot at -12 over his former team mate Ryan Palmer (71) -11. Rahm seeks his 2nd win of this title and they teamed up to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event last year.

Rory McIlroy shot -5 67 and he will join them in the final pairing today striving to regain the world #1 spot.

Further down the field at -7 is Tiger Woods (69) who once again made 4 birdies on the front nine but stalled on the tougher back.



Bryan Angus

Henderson moves into top 10 at Gainsbridge LPGA at Boca Rio...live scoring

Gainsbridge LPGA at Boca Rio leaderboard https://www.lpga.com/leaderboard

While Madelene Sagstrom 67 -15 continues to lead this Gainsbridge LPGA at Boca Rio by 2 shots, in search of her first LPGA win, Brooke Henderson is where she usually is, that means top 10.

After a second straight -4 68 she is T8 at -8 but 7 shots behind the flawless Swede going into today's final round. She had a week low 29 putts, 12/14 fairways hit and 15/18 greens in regulation. She tees off at 12.10pm today.

Nasa Hataoka (67) is at -13, then Danielle Kang with the low round of the day (65) is at -12 with Sei Young Kim (67). Kang hasn't made a bogey in 36 holes.

The bermuda greens are still soft and holding so expect low scoring to continue.



Bryan Angus

Palmer shoots 62 to lead Farmers Insurance...Tiger stalls with 71.. live scoreboard..

PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html

Some pretty big names bowed out of this Farmers Insurance Open on Friday. Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Gary Woodland, Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele have all gone home or elsewhere for the next few days.

Ryan Palmer is at the other end of the scale after his -10 62 on the North course for a 2 shot lead over resurgent Brandt Snedeker (67 -8) who won here in 2016 and loves poa annua greens. Palmer lost in a playoff 2 years ago.

Tiger played the south, took 4 putts  for a double on his opening hole, birdied 8,9,10 then stalled the rest of the way. His 71 dropped him 6 shots behind at -4. Rory McIlroy (73) is also at -4.

Canadian scoring: The cut fell at -1, Roger Sloan (76 69), Mac Hughes(73 72) and Michael Gligic (71 74) all missed it.

Bryan Angus

Happy Chinese New Year to Wu Ashun who leads Omega Desert Classic.. live scoreboard

European Tour Omega Desert Classic leaderboard https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/omega-dubai-desert-classic-2020/leaderboard?round=4

Wu Ashun eagled his opening hole and never looked back as he carded a 67 to take a one shot lead into the final round of 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

The Chinese added four birdies and a single bogey to his stunning start to get to -11 and lead the way from Frenchman Victor Perez (67)

Wu had led by four just after the turn but Perez stormed home in 31 to match his 67 and cut the gap to one, with defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, fellow American Kurt Kitayama (68) and Englishman Tom Lewis (65) a shot further back. DeChambeau is fighting a flu bug and made 4 bogey's mixed in with 6 birdies (70)

Overnight leader Eddie Pepperell (72) is at -8  a shot clear of fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood (69) South African Dean Burmester (72) and Spaniard Nacho Elvira (66)

Wu finished 137th on the Race to Dubai last season but was showing the form that has made him a three time European Tour winner at Emirates Golf Club.

And on the day his home country celebrates the start of the year of the rat, Wu put himself in an excellent position to be having more celebrations on Sunday.

"That's my 'Happy Chinese New Year Shot'," he said of his hole out eagle. Today my short game was great, just great. I got a feeling just good chips and good with the putter.

I'm very comfortable and very relaxed for the weekend and playing the final round. I'm always happy to play the final round in the final group."

Wu's opening tee shot found the rough but his second was perfect, hitting the front of the green and rolling into the cup for an eagle and a share of the lead.

Bryan Angus

(europeantour.com)

Henderson moving up leaderboard at Gainsbridge LPGA Boca Rio.. live scoring

Gainsbridge LPGA at Boca Rio leaderboard https://www.lpga.com/

After a heavy rain the Boca Rio GC at the Gainsbridge LPGA at Boca Rio was soft and yielding and as always the scoring went lower.

The leader is European Solheim cup star Madelene Sagstrom from  Sweden who only used 23 putts on her way to -10 62 a shot ahead of her Cup team mate from Spain Carlota Ciganda who shot 66 -9 total.

Diminutive Japanese star Nasa Hataoka (64) is back in contention again in a group at -8.

With little run in the fairways and approach shots sticking where they landed Brooke Henderson improved from an opening 72 with -4 68 with 5 birdies and a lone bogey. She hit 16/18 fairways and used 3 less putts at 31. She will begin play today T13, six shots behind.

Alena Sharp missed the cut 75 71 +2.

Warm mostly sunny weather is in store for Boca Raton this weekend with a little breeze.

Bryan Angus

Pepperell leads Omega Dubai Desert Classic into the weekend.. live scoreboard

Omega Dubai Desert Classic leaderboard https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/omega-dubai-desert-classic-2020/leaderboard

Dubai is 9 hours ahead of EST so as the sun sets on Friday evening the stage is set for the weekend at this Omega Desert Classic.

Eddie Pepperell has shot -5 67 to lead a group of 3 by a shot at -8. He had missed his last two cuts, but inspired by fellow Englishman Lee Westwood's change to a claw grip in winning in Abu Dhabi last week, Pepperell followed suit with great effect. Incidently Westwood opened yesterday with 78 sunk a crucial 4 footer on the 18th for 68 +2 which made the cut on the number.

A shot behind are defending champion Bryson DeChambeau (67), 50 year old Robert Karlsson (68) who just qualified for the Champions Tour at -7 along with South African Dean Burmester (68). He was involved in a 4 car pile up on Wednesday with his family when his Uber driver drove into the back of a Porsche and he admits he was reminded how precious life is, and how he was taking golf way too seriously.

Tommy Fleetwood had the comeback of the day after a first round 75, he found his putting stroke and bounced back with 65 -4 total, right in contention after possibly missing the cut.

The cut fell at +2 as I mentioned, and as the wind died down today scores improved leaving 74 players within 10 shots for the weekend. 



Bryan Angus

Home cooking suits Jessica Korda at windy Gainsbridge LPGA... Brooke Henderson at even par.

Gainsbridge LPGA at Boca Rio leaderboard https://www.lpga.com/

With 14 pars, 2 birdies and 2 bogey's Brooke Henderson has opened her week at the brand new Gainsbridge LPGA at Boca Rio with a par 72 T27. She drove well with 12/14 fairways hit in high winds, and hit 15/18 greens in regulation but 34 putts will need improving.

The Korda family live just down the road at Bradenton, and Jessica is enjoying being able to sleep in her own bed this week. She had glittering -6 66 to grab the lead heading into today's 2nd round. 

Play was suspended because of darkness due to a 40 minute rain delay with 12 players still on course, 2 rookies, Yui Kawamoto from Japan and Patty Tavatanakit from Thailand who won 3 times last year on the Symetra Tour are 2 back along with Korean Sei Youg Kim with -4 68.  Alena Sharp shot +1 73 T68.

"It's beautiful to be able to drive to a tournament," Korda said. "Doesn't happen that often, at least in my own car. So yeah, it's been really nice. And I'm staying at home this week, which is even nicer.

"It's kind of weird actually staying at home because I don't really know what to do. It's not like a hotel room where everything is like everything is in its space and you only bring a certain amount of things. All of a sudden I have all these options. I don't really know what to do with that right now, but I'm still trying to prepare the way that I would in the hotel."

Bryan Angus

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Jam packed leaderboard going into Friday at the Farmers Insurance Open...DeLaet withdraws

PGA Tour Farmers Insurance leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/farmers-insurance-open/leaderboard.html

After a spectacular opening day by the calm blue Pacific ocean with the Navy Jets roaring overhead this years Farmers Insurance Open on the north and south courses at Torrey Pines near San Diego is off and running with a jam packed leaderboard, which doesn't include Tiger Woods, yet.

You may remember the south course here is the championship course playing 4 shots tougher than the north. The US Open will be there again next year.

There are 2 players leading at -6, Korn Ferry graduate from Denmark, Sebastien Cappalen a remarkable 66 (SC) and the always nervous Keegan Bradley 66 (NC).

8 players are next at -5 including Rory McIlroy 67 (NC) and stranger to the headlines Bubba Watson 67 (SC).

10 more are at -4 including recently married, champion of the European Tour John Rahm 68 (NC).

Then there are 13 more at -3 which includes Tiger with a 69 (NC) and he has declared himself happy with that. As you know in his hey day the California kid won here a staggering 8 times, and of course every time he tees it up he might break Sam Snead's record 82 wins.

As for the 4 Canadians the best so far is Michael Gligic T50 with a -1 71 (NC). Mac Hughes +1 73 (NC) T87 and Roger Sloan +4 76 (NC) T131. 

Sadly Graham Delaet has been forced to WD with a resurgence of back issues just 5 tournaments into his return from surgery and rehab   

Bryan Angus

Brooke Henderson, Alena Sharp begin play at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio .. live scoreboard

Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio leaderboard https://www.lpga.com/leaderboard

After her stunning T4 last week at the season opening Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Brooke Henderson is featured at the first full field event in Boca Raton at the inaugural Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio, one of two new events on tour this year.

Gainbridge is an online provider of simple, steady, high yield products that empower consumers to grow and protect their savings.

Six of the top 10 players are here, Brooke starts the week at #8 and she is joined by Alena Sharp beginning her 15th year on tour and most likely to be Brooke's partner in Japan at the Summer Olympics.

Follow live scoring by clicking on the link above. Brooke is off at 12.03pm EST.

Bryan Angus

Belgian Thomas Pieters leads windy Omega Dubai Desert Classic.. live scoreboard

European Tour Omega Dubai Desert Classic leaderboard https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/omega-dubai-desert-classic

Opening day dawned with a stiff breeze blowing across the Emirates GC at this year's Omega Desert Classic at the ever growing, magnificent city of Dubai, and the morning wave certainly got the worst of it and the new thick rough surrounding nearly every hole.

Only 29 players broke par, many of them later in the day. Big hitting Belgian Star Thomas Pieters was the best of the bunch at -5 67 despite starting his round double bogey, bogey, for a one shot lead over Asian based American David Lipsky -4 68.

There are a dozen players next at -3. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau was very optimistic with an opening -2 70 after missing the cut last week, saying "once I get my driver going I'll be dangerous." Louis Oosthuizen and Sergio Garcia are in at -1 71.

Last week's winner in Abu Dhabi, Lee Westwood struggled mightily in the wind to a +6 78.

Bryan Angus

Tiger, Rory return to Torrey Pines at the Farmers Insurance.. Tee times.. 4 Canucks...

PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open leaderboard...https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/farmers-insurance-open/tee-times.html 

Here are the tee times for Thursday at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines North and South outside San Diego..

First all the hype will be about Tiger returning and his 8 wins here.. He has been holidaying since the Presidents Cup, so despite his prep I expect he will be a bit rusty amongst all these guys who are in full west coast swing mode.

Rory has been on holiday over Christmas and New Year in Northern Ireland so lets see if his time off turns into birdies,,

Canadians: Graham DeLaet, Roger Sloan, Mac Hughes and Michael Gligic..

Follow your favs on my link above..

Bryan Angus

Brooke Henderson misses playoff by a shot at Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions.. Gabby Lopez wins.

Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions final scoreboard..https://www.lpga.com/leaderboard

For me,the best part of Sunday's battle for the title at this year's LPGA opener, the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions was the fight Brooke Henderson put up.

Trailing by 5 strokes at the beginning of play with some of the games best ahead of her, Inbee Park, Nasa Hataoka, Gabby Lopez and MJ Hur were among the field of 26 winners from the llast two seasons.

Hur made 10 birdies for the low round of the day 63, and Brooke who had 2 birdies and 2 bogey's on the front nine, made 4 of her own on the back for 67 and both got to -12, just a shot out of the playoff between Park (71), Lopez (66) and Hataoka (68), all at -13.

The diminutive 21 year old Hataoka and Gabby Lopez dressed in the red and green of Mexico matched scores 5 times on the difficult par 3 18th after Park dropped out, before darkness stopped play with classic rock music favourites blaring in the stands surrounding the green.

Update: This morning Lopez made a long birdie putt on the 7th playoff hole for the win and $180,000. It is her 2nd LPGA win.

Brooke T4, worth $74,933 and it was the third straight year she opened with a top 10. Her amateur playing partner, John Smoltz former Atlanta Braves star pitcher and Hall of Famer, repeated as winner of the celebrity division with 150 points in the modified stableford event. 

Bryan Angus

Lee Westwood wins the Abu Dhabi Championship at 46

European Tour Abu Dhabi Championship final scoreboard https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/abu-dhabi-hsbc-championship-presented-by-ega-

Lee Westwood produced a brilliant display of front running to win his second Rolex Series title at the 2020 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA.

The Englishman entered the final day in the desert with a one shot lead and, while he was briefly caught, he was never passed, carding a 67 to get to 19 under and finish two shots ahead of countrymen Matthew Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood, and Frenchman Victor Perez.

Fleetwood - a two time winner at this event - carded a 63 for his lowest round at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on his 29th birthday, while Perez matched him for the lowest round of his European Tour career.

Fitzpatrick was bogey free in a 67 but the day belonged to 46-year-old Westwood, who took his tally of European Tour wins to 25 - 23 years, five months and 16 days after his first - and became a winner in a fourth decade.

Westwood also becomes the eighth man to win multiple Rolex Series events, joining countrymen Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Justin Rose and Danny Willett, Swede Alex Noren, Austrian Bernd Wiesberger and four time winner Jon Rahm.

"I can't believe I'm that old," he said, showing emotion again as it dawned on him that he had won in the 90s, 00s, 10s and 20s. "It's getting harder. It's just nice to come out and keep proving that you've still got it. I won my first tournament in 1996 in Sweden. I won that tournament in three different decades and now won here this week. The 20s could be the ones for me."

Brooke Henderson needs a great Sunday at the Diamond Resorts Championship.. live scoreboard..

Diamond Resorts Chamionship leaderboard..https://www.lpga.com/leaderboard

When Brooke Henderson lost 3 shots in two holes early in her round on Saturday she had a battle on her hands. As is her mantra, she did just that, got her head down and ground out at +1 72 to begin play today T5 at -8, five shots behind a re-vitalized Inbee Park who was her playing partner and shot a -4 67 to get to -13 for a 2 shot lead over fellow South Korean Sei Young Kim (67 -11).

Park made her only bogey of the week at the 18th, she doesn't make many mistakes and couples that with the reputation as the best putter on any tour.

So Brooke has nothing to lose in this invitational season opener, but it will need a special day to catch and beat the stars ahead of her.

Follow them all on my scoring link above.

Bryan Angus

Miguel Jimenez beats Ernie and Freddie to win Mitsubishi Electric Championship

Champions Tour Mitsubishi Electric Championship final leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/champions/competition/2020/mitsubishi-electric-championship-at-hualalai/leaderboard.html

After a thoroughly enjoyable Saturday at Hualalai it took 2 extra holes to decide the winner of this year's Mitsubishi Electric Championship.

Miguel Jimenez, Ernie Els in his Champions debut and loveable Freddie Couples all had their chances to win in regulation, but ended up on the 18th together in a playoff.

Miguel left his winning putt right on the lip, Ernie just missed his and Freddie stubbed a little 4 footer to bow out.

The second time around Miguel didn't miss his birdie 3 to edge Ernie and the two old pals walked off arm in arm.

It was a great week, at a great resort in paradise, what more could the Champions Tour ask... or us for that matter.

Bryan Angus

Els,Couples, Jimenez,Langer lead a Saturday shootout at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship

Champions Tour Mitsubishi Electric Championship leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/champions/leaderboard.html

Yesterday I wrote about how timely I thought the arrival of Ernie Els was to the PGA Tour Champions this weekend at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in windy Hualalai. His second round 65 has him right in contention at -7, along with a few of the tour's most popular players.

Woody Austin is hardly a legend but his on course antics, usually at his own expense make him interesting to watch and he leads at -11. 

Bernhard Langer shot 64 70 in an unusual SW wind which had all the par 5's into it. It was the opposite of Friday. He is at -10 and has won here 3 times.

Fred Couples (68) is T3 with Miguel Jimenez (71) at -9. Ernie as I mentioned had the low round of the day (65) and said afterwards he felt like a rookie on Friday, kind of out of place when he shot 72.

John Daly (68) is also at -7.

So there you have it. Six of the most popular guys on the Champions Tour, all very entertaining in a Sunday shootout on a stunning and very expensive Hawaiian resort surrounded by lava and the deep blue Pacific, in a stiff breeze..wish it were like that every week..

Hell I wish it were like that here !!

Bryan Angus

Lee Westwood turns back the clock to lead the Abu Dhabi Championship

European Tour Abu Dhabi Championship leaderboard https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/abu-dhabi-hsbc-championship-presented-by-ega-2020/leaderboard

Lee Westwood produced the shot of the week so far to set up an eagle on the par five eighth for a 65 that moved him to -14, a shot clear of Italian Francesco Laporta and Austria's Bernd Wiesberger. He hit his 3 wood 270 yards to the fringe where it took a soft bounce and rolled up to 3 feet.

Wiesberger finished with three birdies in a 65 of his own as he looks to become the first player to win three different Rolex Series events and hold three Rolex Series trophies at the same time, while 2019 Road to Mallorca winner Laporta carded a 69.

England's Matthew Fitzpatrick was -12, a shot clear of Major Champion Sergio Garcia and American Kurt Kitayama.

Westwood ended a four year European Tour drought with an emotional victory at the 2018 Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player, and would take his tally to a remarkable 25 wins with a triumph in the desert.

He would also become the eighth man to win multiple Rolex Series events, joining countrymen Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Justin Rose and Danny Willett, Wiesberger, Swede Alex Noren and four time winner Jon Rahm.

"It's always a bonus to be in contention and that's basically why we come out here," said Westwood.

"I'm not going to lie, I didn't play a lot of golf coming into it, didn't know what to expect. To be in the lead with one round to go, it's a real positive. I'm just going to go out there and play as well as I can and if it's good enough, then great. I know I'm talented enough to win the tournament, it's just a case of applying myself."

Michael Gligic 4 shots off the lead at the American Express in La Quinta.. live scoring

PGA Tour American Express leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html

Rickie Fowler shot an -8 64 on Friday at PGA West's Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course for a share of the second-round lead with Scottie Scheffler. (65 64) who won the Korn Ferry Tour last year.

Canadians:  Michael Gligic in his rookie season is T12 just 4 shots off the lead 69 65 -10. Nick Taylor is T18 67 68 -9. Roger Sloan 66 71 -7 T39, David Hearn 71 68 -5 T68 and Mac Hughes 71,6,9 -4 T84 

Canadians have played well at this, the old Bob Hope with Mike Weir winning in 2003 and Adam Hadwin with a runner up and that 59.

Fowler hasn't  played here in 6 years but wanted to get acclimated to the desert conditions. 

"It was nice to get a little work in, get some good practice and play out here in the desert to get used to being back in the desert," said Fowler, who grew up about an hour away in Murrieta. "It's been very beneficial. I looked at that as something that was going to be the best opportunity for me to go into this West Coast swing to get the game where I want to and to play well."

He opened with a 65 on Thursday at La Quinta Country Club and his -15 is the lowest 36 hole of his career.

The cut comes after today's 3rd round as each player has to play all three courses, before the final round at PGA West. 

Bryan Angus

Brooke Henderson shares the lead at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions.. live scoring

Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions leaderboard https://www.lpga.com/leaderboard

As is so often the case in Florida the wind got up yesterday on this Lake Buena Vista course outside of Orlando, and that as usual was good news for Brooke Henderson (67), who started play early in the morning 4 shots behind the leader Danielle Kang (63).

Brooke shot a brilliant windswept -5 66, after a shot of the year candidate at 17th, a 230 yard 3 wood that nearly went in, leaving her a tap in for eagle 3 -10 total and the lead until she made a 3 putt bogey, her only one of the day, on the par 3,18th.

It was the low round of the day, and she leads at -9 along with sure hall of famer Inbee Park who has won 19 times including 7 majors, and is bogey free here so far after 36 holes (65 68). They are in the last pairing at 11.30am.

It is a crowded leaderboard and there is more wind in the forecast.

With regard to coming within an inch of making an albatross on the 17th:

" It was pretty downwind so I was kinda contemplating between a 7 and 3 wood said Brooke who was 3rd in eagles in 2019 with 16. At the last second it sort of switch to maybe a little bit more crosswinds, so we pulled the 3 wood and I'm really glad I did. I hit it pretty well. Brit was telling it to sit down, so Im not sure where it hit the green there but it was nice to walk up and have that tap in for eagle."


Bryan Angus

Koepka shoots 75, DeChambeau misses the cut at Abu Dhabi Championship.. live scoreboard

European Tour Abu Dhabi Championship leaderboard https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/

As a former Director of Phys. Ed and life long gym rat my spidey senses were tingling  when I saw Bryson DeChambeau return to play this year with an additional 30 pounds of muscle, which is an awful lot in just 4 months by just taking your vitamins and working out hard, if you know what I mean...

In his first outing of 2020 he has gone 72 77 to miss the cut by 5 shots at the Abu Dhabi Championship, so we'll see how good his decision was as this year progresses, he defends his title next week in Oman..

Brooks Koepka was as poor today as he was good yesterday, 66,75 -3 T35, saying he was feeling a little stiff  which is understandable having been off since October.

The leader by 1 shot won the Challenge Tour last year, 29 year old Italian, Francesco LaPorta  71 63 -10 who closed with 5 straight birdies. Matthew Fitzpatrick is at -9, with Rafa Cabrera Bello.

"I just want to enjoy the weekend, I played solid all 18 holes, my putting was solid, my driver, my irons. I gave myself a lot of opportunities for birdies and so when I had the opportunities, I took them. Every time I was putting for birdie, I made it. It was a great day.

There is a strong contingent of 10 within 3 shots of him including Sergio Garcia 66 69 -8, Louis Oosthuizen 69 68 -7, and Patrick Cantley 71,66 -7.

Bryan Angus

Ernie Els makes his debut with the seniors at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship... tee times

PGA Tour Champions Mitsubishi Electric Championship tee times https://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/mitsubishi-electric-championship-at-hualalai/tee-times.html

I can only speak for myself, but I'm sure I'm not alone in saying Ernie Els arrival on the Champions Tour this weekend in Hawaii couldn't come soon enough.

Back in 1989 when Lee Trevino turned 50 and joined Gary Player, Arnie and sometimes Jack on the senior tour, long before the Tiger era, it was the most entertaining tour to watch and it really gave the Champions Tour the credibility it enjoys today.

Now all the stars are on the PGA and European Tours and the Champions needs some fresh star power. Scott McCarron won last year's player of the year and Retief Goosen the rookie, and while both are great players and guys they just don't move the needle. 

Bernhard Langer has been their star for 10 years, and father time is finally catching the ever fit German as it has with Tom Watson. Freddie Couples doesn't play that much anymore, the tour is full of guys like Jay Haas, Doug Barron, Joe Durant, Steve Flesch who really just fill the numbers. 

Miguel Jimenez is still one of the tours great entertainers, and he's still going strong.

Enter Ernie Els, now 50, beloved around the world and whether he wins or not he will be a draw. This weekend he's paired with Freddie Couples in the feature group and I'll be watching, like you to see how he does.

Bryan Angus

Full field tee times including Canadians at The American Express ( Bob Hope)

PGA Tour American Express leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-american-express/tee-times.html

Follow the 5 Canucks at what for years was known as the Bob Hope at PGA West Nicklaus, Stadium Course and La Quinta, ( now sponsored by American Express), where USA Presidents used to embarrass themselves to Bob's delight.. He's gone sadly...but there is still a very big corporate Pro-am which keeps raising millions of dollars for charity. 

So here are the tee times for today including Nick Taylor, Michael Gligic, Roger Sloan, David Hearn and Mac Hughes.

Adam Hadwin who always plays great here, including his 59 in 2017 is at home with his wife Jessica and their new born daughter Maddox.



Bryan Angus

Brooke Henderson tees off 2020 at Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions.. live scoreboard

LPGA Tournament of Champions leaderboard https://www.lpga.com/leaderboard

This may be the 70th anniversary of the LPGA,  but 2020 looks familiar for Brooke Henderson, trademark 3/4 length tights, visor (new Sketchers logo), driver that looks way too long until she smashes it nearly 300 yards right down the middle to kick off her season this morning at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions near Orlando.

After a lengthy Christmas break, most of it at her winter home in Naples, Florida, the world #8 returned to action this morning looking trim and fit and ready to add to her Canadian best 9 professional wins in her 5th full year on the LPGA Tour.

Remember this is an Olympic year and Brooke, now 22, will be paired for the 2nd time, likely with Alena Sharp to represent Canada in Japan.



Bryan Angus

Pairings and Tee Times for Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship tee times/pairings https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/abu-dhabi-hsbc-championship-presented-by-ega

This is the first of the European Tour's 8 Rolex Series tournaments, all with a prize fund of a minimum $7,000,000.

World #1 Brooks Koepka returns to begin his 2020 season and is joined by Americans Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Cantley.

This is a very strong field including last week's winner Branden Grace and runner up Louis Oosthuizen, Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood, Sergio Garcia and 3 time winner of this event, Martin Kaymer.

Bryan Angus...

European Tour toughens plans to curb slow play

The European Tour’s new tougher regulations aimed at tackling slow play come into effect at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA, including a key revision to the four-point plan previously announced in August.

KEY CHANGES TO PACE OF PLAY POLICY COMING INTO EFFECT IN ABU DHABI

• An immediate one stroke penalty (which was announced in August as being applicable to a second “bad time” in a round), will now be applied on the second “bad time” in a tournament.

• Players who exceed time limits (see below) whilst being “monitored” will now incur a “bad time” and it will count towards the one stroke penalty.

• A player can call a “time extension” for any stroke ONCE in a round. This will add 40 seconds to the allowance for the stroke in question. If players wish to use this, they must make this clear to the timing referee BEFORE they exceed the allowance they have for the stroke in front of them. Referee’s advice is for this to be a verbal call or a clear signal which they will acknowledge.

• Referees have also been mandated by the Tournament Committee to focus on the players who are regularly taking too much time, even if they are ‘in-position’. The “in position” time limits have been reduced (see below). A breach of these “in position” limits will incur a “monitoring penalty” but they will NOT count towards the one stroke penalty in a tournament, recognising the significance of being “in position”. A single “monitoring penalty” or single “bad time” in a season will not result in any sanction, but each one after that will incur ever increasing fines starting at €3,500.

• The fines for the number of times players have been timed during the season have also been increased

OVERVIEW OF TIMING ALLOWANCES

Out of position

When players are out of position their time allowance is 50 seconds* for the first to play, 40 seconds* for second or third to play. A one-shot penalty will be applied after two bad times (exceeding the time allowance) in the tournament.

In Position

The time allowed to play a shot when being monitored in position (previously double the out of position times above), will be reduced by 15%, from 100 and 80 seconds down to 85 and 70 seconds respectively for first and second/ third to play. Referees are now mandated to be proactive in targeting regular slow players for in position timing.

*NB The existing principle of allowing an extra 10 per cent on the 40 and 50 second limits will be maintained by referees, recognising human differences can occur in starting timing. A player will be assessed a ‘bad time’ if he has a third time in this 10 per cent allowance.

John Paramor, European Tour Chief Referee, said: “The tougher measures which come into effect in Abu Dhabi empower our referees to more effectively target slower players.

“Changing the regulation for an immediate one shot penalty to now be triggered by two bad times in a tournament instead of a round will force slower players to consistently ensure they play within timing regulations.

“This is part of our wider, robust policy to tackle slow play but our fundamental advice to all players remains consistent – they should be ready to play when it is their turn.

Cameron Smith beats Brendan Steele in a playoff to win the Sony Open

PGA Tour Sony Open final leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/sony-open-in-hawaii/leaderboard.html

Brendan Steele started play on Sunday with a 3 shot lead and was playing well enough all day until a bogey at the 17th and a hooked 2 iron approach shot at the par 5 18th hole over the grandstand left Cameron Smith with a 10 foot birdie which he made to force a playoff.

On the playoff at the 18th, Smith hit a great approach to birdie range while Steele went long and made a bogey, leaving Smith with an easy 2 putt for the win.

He moves to 5th on the Fed Ex Cup and 31st in the world. He also gets a two year exemption and a berth at Augusta and the PGA Championship.

Meanwhile Steele who hadn't had a top 10 in 38 starts let this one slip away, however his play will help with his confidence as he goes on to La Quinta / PGA West next week for the old Bob Hope which is his home course.

Corey Connors had a 69 66 weekend to finish T12 while Nick Taylor was 67 71 T32 -3.


Bryan Angus

Revitalized Steele leads by 3 at the windy Sony Open in Hawaii

PGA Tour Sony Open leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2020/sony-open-in-hawaii/leaderboard.html

Yesterday I noted that the leaderboard was so tight there were only 7 shots between first and last, and the story going into today would be the same, except American Brendan Steele playing the best golf since 2017, has separated himself from the pack with a -6 64 to get to -12.

Nick Taylor mad a move with a -3 67 T16 -4, while Corey Connors remains T30 after 69 -2 total.

One of the games best putters Cameron Smith 66 -9 is alone in 2nd, Kevin Kisner 64 -8 is 3rd and they will be in the final pairing with Steele.

After Steele's last win in October 2017, daughter Victoria came along, and Steele admits he fell in love with being a dad and out of love with golf. His confidence dropped, as did his rankings. He's had 38 starts without a top 10.

"I was dragging my wife Anastassia and Victoria everywhere around the world with me, and it was hard on them. It's a really tough balance we don't talk about a lot out here. I've been out here a long time, 15 years as a pro and sometimes it just gets old."

It has been a wet windy week in Honolulu and more of the same is expected today, which will help the front runners, since scoring is at a premium and par is only 70.

Bryan Angus

Wade Ormsby wins Hong Kong Open

European/Asian Tour Hong Kong Open final scoreboard https://thehongkongopen.com/on-course/leaderboard/

Veteran Aussie Wade Ormsby with scores of 65,66,66,66 -17 led from wire to wire to win the delayed Hong Kong Open by 4 shots over Open champion Shane Lowry (64 -13) Tony Finau was (67, -10) who was 5th.

It was Ormsby's 2nd title having won in 2017, and he was the model of consistency all week.

Four players from Hong Kong thrilled local fans by making the cut, especially 17 year old school boy Alexander Yang who finished with a 68 -7 total and T13, to win the Sir David Trench Cup for low amateur and also the Hong Kong Golf Club Trophy for the best score for any player from Hong Kong


Bryan Angus

Branden Grace shoots 62 to win South African Open

European/Sunshine Tour South Africa Open final scoreboard https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/south-african-open-hosted-by-the-city-of-johannesburg

Branden Grace has just posted a -10 62 -21 to catch and pass defending champion Louis Oosthuizen (68) -18 to win the South African Open and win a spot at the 2020 Open .

The best of friends, they put on quite a show on the front nine highlighted by Louis's hole in one at the par 3 8th. However it was Grace whose putter got red hot, he only used 21 all day while Oosthuizen 2 putted 17 greens.

" That was amazing, I played flawless golf and I can't remember when my putter was that hot"

Grace had dropped to 113 on the Race to Dubai rankings after a dismal 2019, however the birth of his son soon got life back in perspective, and his new priorities have led to a return to the form that once had him in the world top 10.

He now has the South African grand slam, and holds the trophy that Gary Player won a record 13 times.

Bryan Angus

Oosthuizen leads South African Open as he bids for consecutive titles.. live scoring

European Tour South African Open leaderboard https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/south-african-open-hosted-by-the-city-of-johannesburg

Louis Oosthuizen claimed an emotional victory last season as he won this South African Open, his home open, for the first time and today a third round 64 at Randpark Golf Club put him on track to make it two in a row.

The 2010 Champion Golfer of the Year will head into day four at -15, one shot clear of England's Marcus Armitage, as he looks to become the first player to successfully defend this title since countryman and fellow Major Champion Trevor Immelman 16 years ago.

South African Jaco Ahlers was at -13, a shot clear of countrymen Jacques Blaauw, Branden Grace, Martin Rohwer, amateur Jayden Trey Schaper and 2015 champion Andy Sullivan.

Armitage had held a four shot lead at one point as he set the clubhouse target but Oosthuizen produced some brilliant par saves and seven birdies in a wonderful bogey free display.

The 37-year-old could claim a tenth European Tour victory on Sunday as he celebrates being one of just ten players to have spent the entirety of the 2010s in the top 100 on the Official World Golf Ranking.

"Getting my name on the trophy again would really mean the world to me," he said. "Defending it and being the host for the week would make it extra special.

"It was good, it was solid. I gave myself lots of opportunities for birdies and the putter was a lot better."

Aussie Wade Ormsby leads Hong Kong Open going into Sunday.. live scoreboard

European/Asian Tour Hong Kong Open leaderboard https://thehongkongopen.com/results/

Australia’s Wade Ormsby remained the player to catch after he posted a -4 66 to head into the final round of the Hong Kong Open with a two-shot cushion on Saturday.

Ormsby has held the lead since the opening day and never looked likely to relinquish his place atop the leaderboard after soaring ahead with an eagle, three birdies and a long bogey for a three-day total of -13, 197.

Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul displayed his consistency again at the Hong Kong Golf Club with a 65 to trail the 2017 Hong Kong Open champion in outright second place at the Asian Tour’s season-opening event.

While Gunn has yet to make his breakthrough on the Asian Tour, he has racked up 19 top-10s across all Tours in 2019 and the father-to-be showed he could be on the verge of breaking into the winner’s circle this week.

A fit-again Rashid Khan of India returned to full fitness as he made his move with a splendid 63 to share third place with Australia’s Terry Pilkadaris, Korea’s Taewoo Kim and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, who is the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion.

Hong Kong’s Alexander Yang continues to turn heads, carding his best score of the tournament in round 3. The 17-year-old high school student shot three-under-par 67 to leave him at -5 heading into the final round

Connors,Taylor in contention at wide open, windy Sony Open.. live scoring

PGA Tour Sony Open leaderboard https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html

There's an old saying in Scotland, nae wind, nae golf  in reference to the links courses needing the wind to protect par. The adage applies to this week's venerable Waialae GC where the wind was scheduled to blow all week and it certainly has at the half way point where the lead is only at -6, by Brendan Steele (66)and Aussie Cameron Davis (66).

The cut fell at +1 so there are only 7 shots between first and last. There are nine players at -5 so you can expect a shoot out over this weekend.

Canadians Corey Connors (68 71) and Nick Taylor (70 69) are T30 -1, and right in contention, like everyone else !! The other 5 Canucks missed the cut as did defending champion Matt Kuchar as well as Justin Thomas and Patrick Reed who were in the playoff last week on Maui.

The course is being pounded by rain overnight so the greens are soft but the wind is blowing at 35kph, an unusual combination many of these pros haven't faced on Waialae before.

Remember, Connors finished in a T3 here last year.

Bryan Angus

Hong Kong Open gets underway after 6 week delay due to riots.. live scoreboard

European Tour Hong Kong Open leaderboard  https://thehongkongopen.com/results/

After a 6 week delay due to the turmoil in Hong Kong resulting in the Chinese takeover after the British 99 year rule expired, the Hong Kong Open is underway today.

Wade Ormsby leads with Japan's Tomoharu Otsuki with -5 65.

Tony Finau and Shane Lowry have opened with -1 69's.

Bryan Angus

Louis Oosthuizen defends South African Open with a record 288 man field.. live scoreboard

European Tour South African Open leaderboard https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/south-african-open-hosted-by-the-city-of-johannesburg

A record 288 entrants have teed it up today at the South African Open on two courses in Johannesburg as Louis Oosthuizen defends the title he won so emotionally last year.

Louis admittedly isn't the most motivated golf pro, he has just come off a month at home on his farm doing "as little as possible". Blessed what many consider the best swing in golf, you can't really blame a man who puts his family, his home well before playing golf, however when he is "on" as he was last year when he broke down and cried after winning his national championship, he is hard to beat.

Playing on the par 71 Firethorn and Bushwillow courses, a young American who qualified through Q school, Johannes Veerman shot -9 62 under preferred lies after heavy rain on Bushwillow to take a one shot lead in ideal scoring conditions.

Oosthuizen had a -6 65. Brandon Grace who is coming off a terrible 2019 had a -7 64 on Firethorn and says he is motivated to win the only event he hasn't won in South Africa.

Bryan Angus