My Merry Christmas's and New years Day Golf !!

Mother Nature did her best to provide a white Christmas here in the GTA with an inch or two overnight but with temperatures rising to 4* today, Christmas Eve then 7* on Christmas Day with rain it will all be gone soon.

My parents Bill and Fay made sure our Christmas's over my early years were joyous occasions when they arrived after the war from Scotland in 1953 with 10 month old Bryan. They delayed their 1952 departure so I could be born in Scotland, the British passport at the time was the key to travel all over the world to the Commonwealth which stretched from New Zealand to the Arctic Circle in Canada.

The voyage was a gift from the British Govt to soldiers who fought, Dad was in the RAF so the 6 day journey on the HMS Sydney from Portsmouth to Quebec City only cost the family 10 Guineas, I don't remember much about it.

A chance meeting at Malton Airport between Dad and a group of Scots changed our lives, Dad was a casual mason and wore the masonic ring, Upon meeting the other Scots he mentioned he had no job but was travelling on to BC where his older brother had a business. After a couple of drams and masonic handshakes had passed around he was offered a job on the Avro aircraft at Downsview and further to that was set up for a brief stay in a basement apartment at Bathurst and Lawrence. Our lives in Canada were off to a flying start.

One Christmas that stands out, now 8, I awoke to see "Santa" left me a little hockey net with a CCM Jet stick, a Maple Leaf sweater, and gloves. Our life long love of the Leafs continued as I proudly donned them at the afternoon road hockey game, without the stick of course, it was only for real games.

I hope all your Christmas's are as happy as mine were during those years, family was never closer. I have also, as life went on, experienced the loneliness of Christmas, and would never wish that on anyone and prior to this day, before COVID, I visit unexpectedly with older neighbours to make sure they are all in good spirits.

Since this is a golf blog, I must mention a festive season tradition I brought from Scotland to Canada that has given us such happiness.

One year I was taken by a member to the Royal Burgess Golfing Society at their club in Edinburgh for their New Years Day golf outing.

It had snowed on New Year's Eve so the course was covered in a light blanket of white. Understand this, New Years Eve in Scotland is the biggest holiday of the year. "Hogmanay" is the Gaelic and it involves "first footing" your neighbour after "the bells" with a gift and a drink....and there is a lot of drinking.

So bleary eyed we arrived New Years Day to a full Scottish breakfast in the clubhouse, eggs, square sausage, black pudding, Ayrshire bacon, fried bread and for me mugs of tea.

With the foursomes set, out we went, warmly clad in a variety of imaginative outfits and with orange golf balls in play, alternative shots are great fun when there is nothing at stake, the ribbing and comradery have provided friendships and memories that have lasted me a lifetime.

The cold crisp fresh air, the walk (no carts) working off the night before and the breakfast were a perfect combination and for "medicinal purposes" there was a bottle of fine Scotch and 4 pewter shot cups on every other tee for a "wee something" to keep you warm..

A bunker at each green was designated a flagstick, the greens were covered in branches from evergreen trees for protection. All putts from shots making the bunker were conceded.

Wonderful days, and my late brother Rodney and I with friends like Bill Bruce continued the experience here, albeit with mixed results as we had to sneak on courses that are closed all winter. One year on a private course up near Stouffville I seem to recall the amazed course superintendent arriving from his holiday's on a snow mobile as we were sliding down a hill on our golf bags and he wasn't pleased. Even after offering him a libation and citing the spirit of the New Year,  he still threatened us with the police, not the ending we had in mind...

So as we head into Christmas Eve, with all the news about COVID and Omicron and uncertainty once again for the start of 2022, it is even more important, however you do it safely, to make sure your family comes first, tell them you love them and share some memories like mine with them.

Merry Christmas, a safe New Year and I'll be back here soon.

Bryan Angus

No Tiger news here this week...Merry Christmas !!!

I thought for those of you who were wondering why I haven't been writing page after page about Tiger playing this week in the Father/Son/Daughter PNC Scramble, unlike many of the media, headed by the Golf Channel or whatever NBC is calling them now that they've moved from Florida up to Connecticut, who are once again genuflecting as he and his son appear on TV screens around the world....

 I am not a slave to the ratings they are all about to feast on, and for goodness sake this is a Christmas made for TV exhibition that used to be scarcely watched between 20 players and their sons, and will this week simply be another slobbering Tigerfest.

And as if a whole weekend of it wasn't enough, the aforementioned Golf Channel has decided they need more, so have gained permission to cover today's Tiger/ Charlie action from the PRO-AM !!

I must admit in the past when we could watch Lee Trevino's son, or Gary Player's son or Jack Nicklaus's son play it was fun to see how far the apple had fallen from the tree when it came to their swings, however in pre Tiger days we got to watch them all..... That is not the case this weekend..

So there you have it, and trust me when Tiger returns, with live bullets, in a real championship you'll be able to join me here.

Until then with a week to go, and snow on the way here in Toronto on Saturday, in case I miss you..All the very best over the holiday's to you and yours, get together safely with Santa in this our 2nd COVID Christmas, and if you like have a wee dram on me !!!

Bryan Angus

Connors/ McDowell finish 5th at QBE Shootout... Final scoreboard

 QBE Shootout final scoreboard here.

This two person off season event is call the QBE Shootout for a reason, and this week's event was proof positive of that.

Corey Connors and Graeme McDowell posted at bogey free -8 64 -28 total yesterday to finish 5th, but they were still caught and passed by Kevin Na/ Jason Kokrak who shot -12 60 -33 to win and Billy Horschel/Sam Burns who came home in 28 for -11 61 -32 total good for 2nd.

Graeme McDowell by Golffile

With rounds of 57 67 64 I'd say Saturday's modified scramble 67, and their failure to birdie the 2 par 5's on the back nine on Sunday were the one's that cost Corey and Graeme any chance of keeping up with the birdie barrage !!

Bryan Angus

Maddie Szeryk from London, Ontario wins her LPGA Tour card... final scoreboard

LPGA Tour Q School series Final Stage leaderboard here.

After 2 weeks and 8 cruelling rounds 46 players in all have made it and secured LPGA Tour status.

If youve been following along with me here you'll know 4 Canadians started out two weeks ago in Mobile Alabama, Jaclyn Lee did not make the top 70 and ties, so went to the Symetra Tour

Veteran Alena Sharp, Selena Costabile and Maddie Szeryk all played the last 4 weeks at Dothan in Georgia.

The winner at -33 from South Korea Na Rin An has played mainly on the Korean Tour. French women and former World #1 amateur, Pauline Roussin Bouchard led most of the way and finished 2nd -32.

 

Keeping up the international theme, Thailand's Athaya Thitikul 3rd -26, China's Ruoning Yin T4 -21 with Chinese Taipei Peiyun Chien and then the only American in the top 10, Janie Jackson from Huntsville Alabama.

In all 10 different countries were represented in the top 10.

Canadians : Maddie Szeryk from London was the only Canuck to gain LPGA Tour status T35 -5. She has earned just over $75,000 plating on the Symetra Tour since she turned pro in 2018 after her collegiate career at Texas A&M.

Maddie Szeryk (Golf Canada)

Selena Costabile was cruising along at -2 but ran into 4 bogey's in a row, ending up with a +6 78 to finish 68th, while Alena Sharp left herself too much to do on Sunday with a 74 75 weekend to finish 69th.. Both players get Symetra Tour status.

So Maddie joins Brooke Henderson and Maude Aimee LeBlanc as the Canadians on the LPGA Tour in 2022.

I will be interested to see what Alena Sharp does next year. She will get some sponsor invites to LPGA events after her 15 years. She told us earlier this year that she  considers herself on the down side of her career, turning 41in 2022, and now happily married to her caddie Sarah Bowman.

Bryan Angus

Late eagle keeps Connors/McDowell in contention QBE Shootout... Sunday leaderboard

 PGA Tour QBE Shootout Sunday leaderboard here

You have to make lots of birdies and eagles in this 2 person QBE Shootout format and in Saturday's modified alternate shot format I could see Connors and McDowell had stalled with pars on the front nine and they were losing ground.

Marc Leishman has holed out for eagle twice this week leading his pairing with Jason Day to a Saturday -8 64 -24 total for a 3 shot lead. 

Connors and McDowell had just 1 birdie between them on the front nine, and just 2 more coming to the par 5 17th, where Corey made a huge putt right across the green for an eagle, after missing lots of chances earlier and that -5 67 kept them in contention at -20 going into today's 2 ball stroke play.

LIVE : With round 3 now under way they have 2 birdies in their first 6 holes to get to -22 T2 but still 4 shots behind Leishman/ Day.

LEADERBOARD

More to follow..

Bryan Angus

LPGA Q School final series, Canadians need top 45 to get their Tour cards.. Saturday scoreboard

LPGA Q School series: Final Stage leaderboard here

There are 2 rounds to go for these top 70 and ties who have made it to the final stage of the LPGA Q School Series, so just a reminder the top 45 and ties get their LPGA Tour cards for 2022 the rest go down to the Symetra Tour.

It's a rolling scoreboard with the women carrying over their scores from the previous 4 rounds last week.

There are 3 Canadians left, none are going to be the medalist, so they are all trying their best to get into that top 45.

Selina Costabile the multi linguist from Thornhill is T47 -2 after her Friday 74. 

Alena Sharp is T59 at E after her 69, and so is Maddie Szeryk after her 72.  

The leaderboard is truly international with 8 countries represented in the top 10. At -27 we find the leader from France Pauline Roussin Bouchard.

As play begins on this Saturday, 45th spot is at -3 so the Canucks know they will need 2 very good rounds to finish out this 8 week marathon with their cards.

As it stands now Brooke Henderson and Maude Aimee Leblanc will be playing next year.

Round 7 is now under way. Follow the live scoreboard by clicking on my link above.

Bryan Angus

Connors/ GMac incredible team at QBE Shootout.. Live scoreboard

 PGA Tour: QBE Shootout leaderboard here

Corey Connors with his precision driving and irons and a motivated short game guru Graeme McDowell were simply spectacular in today's opening Scramble where they shot -15, 57 T2 just a shot behind, and tied with the 3 time winner and defending champs Matt Kuchar and Harris English. They had 13 birdies and an eagle.

" I just think we ham and egged it well" said the Irish veteran, now ranked 308th in the world after taking 2 months off recovering from surgery to a muscle in his forearm, "my biggest problem was keeping in my rhythm following Corey up the fairways, he drove it so well and I made a few nice wedges,, then his putter got hot towards the end which was nice"

The leaders 28 out and 28 in are  at -16 56 Jason Day and Marc Leishman.

Saturday is a modified scramble where both players drive, pick the best of the two, then play that ball in alternate shots until they hole out.

Bryan Angus

McLean top Canadian at Champions Q School, final scoreboard, Connors plays the QBE Shootout.. Live scoreboard

 PGA Tour Champions: Q School Leaderboard 

*Final edit ..Final results Alan MacLean T27 E, Kevin Baker T51 +8, Danny King T59 +10, Denis Hendershott T65 +14

None of the four Canadians will make the top 5 who get full status for the 2022 Champions Tour season however with the top 30 getting the opportunity to Monday qualify, there is still something to shoot for heading in to today's final round at TPC Tampa Bay.

Alan MacLean I mentioned earlier this week, born in Glasgow, raised in South Africa and now playing out of London, Ontario is T25 69 74 70 E so he is in with a chance of that top 30.

Week best rounds will be required from Kevin Baker T49 69 77 73 +6, Denis Hendershott T60 79 68 75 +9 and Danny King T62 74 78 71 +10.

The top 5 going into today where play will be off split tees #1 and #10 are Tampa's David Branshaw -11 67 67 68, Thailand's best senior golfer Thongchai Jaidee T2 68 72 63 -10, Rob Labritz T2 -10 65 71 67, Tom Gillis 4th -9 65 69 70 and Alan Morin 5th -8 70 66 69.

 

PGA Tour: QBE Shootout LEADERBOARD

Corey Connors has dusted off his clubs to team up with Graeme McDowell in this Christmas season 2 person team shoot out over 3 rounds in Naples at the Tiburon GC Gold course where the CME Group Tour Championship was held recently. They are ranked #4.

Matt Kuchar and Harris English will look to defend their title

Format: 54 holes, Scramble today, Modified Scramble on Saturday and Two ball stroke play on Sunday there are 12 teams with Matt Kuchar and Harris English the 3 time winners returning as defending champions after a record -37 179. They shot 61 on Saturday and 60 on Sunday last year.

Ideal weather is forecast for Naples, where many snowbirds, a lot from Quebec gather every winter.

The purse is $3.6m.

Bryan Angus

 

Four Canadians playing in the PGA Tour Champions Q School... leaderboard, TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour Champions Q School Leaderboard | Second-Round Tee Times

Alan McLean, born in Scotland, raised in South Africa  now playing out of Echo Valley GC in London Ontario is one of four Canadians trying to win one of the 5 spots on offer for the PGA Tour Champions 2022 season. 

Alan McLean of London is tied for T16

He is joined at T16 after an opening -2 69 by Montreal born Kevin Baker who lives in Orlando Florida.

Veteran Danny King out of King City is T53 +3 74.  

Brantford's Dennis Hendershott

Brantford native Dennis Hendershott, who has been living in Florida with fellow pro David Morland will be disappointed with an opening T77 +8 79.

This is the final stage of Champions Tour Q School in Lutz Florida at TPC Tampa Bay.

The leaders at at -6 65 are Tom Gillis and Brad Labritz.

Bryan Angus 

Alena Sharp, Maddie Szeryk, Selena Costabile all advance to Final stage of LPGA Q School..FULL SCOREBOARD

LPGA Q School series leaderboard here 

Alena Sharp has kept her hopes of retaining her LPGA status alive with rounds of 72 73 69 72 E T52 as the cut fell at +1.... The winning score by a French woman Pauline Roussin- Bouchard was 69 67 66 65 -19.

The first 70 and ties from last week's 4 rounds all graduated to this week's final 4 rounds of the LPGA Q School series, so Alena just got in.

Come next Sunday afternoon the low 45 will get LPGA Tour status based on their accumulative scores. The rest head for the Symetra Tour.

Selena Costabile had a great week, T8 67 69 69 71 -10, and Maddie Szeryk T46 68 71 72 74 -1 so they both join Alena this week in Dothan, Georgia.

Jaclyn Lee struggled T93, 70 81 68 73 +6 so she goes straight back to the Symetra Tour.

Maude Aimee LeBlanc finished her season on the Symetra Tour in the top 10 so she won her LPGA Tour playing status without having to go through Q School.

Bryan Angus

Alena Sharp needs a good Q-school weekend to keep her card... Full scoreboard

 LPGA Q-school leaderboard here.

The LPGA is conducting their Q school qualifying series this week down in Mobile Alabama at Magnolia Grove's 2 courses, Crossings course and the Falls course.

After 4 rounds this week low 70 and ties will go on to the Q School finals next week, where the top 25 get LPGA status for 2022.

Those who don't qualify will play on the Symetra Tour next year.

With the cut set to fall at +1 going into play today, Canadian veteran Alena Sharp has posted 72 73 +2, so needs a good weekend to make sure she gets to the finals. The top 100 LPGA players on the money list for 2021 keep their cards, Alena finished 114th.

Alena from Hamilton is 40 and lives in Arizona with her wife/caddy Sarah Bowman. She went to New Mexico State University and turned pro in 2003, finally joining the LPGA Tour in 2005.

She owns 9 pro titles, but none on the LPGA. She has travelled the world playing with her LPGA status, for the last several years alongside her two time Olympic partner Brooke Henderson 2016, 2020.

She lost her playing card returning to the Symetra Tour in 2013-14. There is no Senior Tour to speak of for the ladies and I haven't spoken to Alena recently but I'm not sure at 40 if she'd want to go through the Symetra Tour grind again after 15 years on the LPGA.

Over 40 becomes a bit of "no man's land" in pro golf, many of the men who can't keep up with the kids hang on to qualify for the Champions Tour at 50, not so for the women.

Also Alena and Sarah may want to start a family.

Other Canadians: Selina Costabile (Thornhill) T5 -5 67 69, Maddie Szeryk (London, Ont) T17 68 71 -4, Jaclyn Lee (Calgary) T105 70,81 +8. The lead is at -9.

Bryan Angus

Hero World Challenge TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour: Hero World Challenge TEE TIMES here.

 I have always had my doubts about the merit of this exhibition event getting awarded full PGA Tour status with OWGR points and a $3.5m purse.

On one hand it's a tremendous charity fund raiser for one of golf's greatest in Tiger Woods, and the 14 of the world's top 20 who show up this week wouldn't be as handsomely rewarded without his presence.

This is the 25th year of the Tiger Woods Foundation and their theme #TogetherFor Youth preparing students to thrive in school,college and their careers.

He transcended the game, and being of black origins lifted the game out of the leafy white suburbs into homes of all ethnic backgrounds around the world. He attracted huge financial contracts for major TV networks to sell very expensive advertising, and therefore provide the millions of dollars on offer for today's professionals.

On the other hand it is was originally an 18 man invitational exhibition, this week it's up to 20 in Albany, Bahamas, with great weather in the forecast. The purse is $3.5m with the winner getting $1m, 20th place getting $100,000. The winner also gets 48 official world ranking points, but no Fed Ex Cup points, and their is no cut.

Colin Morikawa can take world #1 spot should he win, Jon Rahm is not in the field. You have to been in the top 50 to get invited.

Any other pro playing in any other pro event other than a WGC top 60 event has to beat a field of 156 with a cut after 36 holes to get any OWGR points.

So to many it was a chance to see Tiger during the off season with 17 of his colleagues, which was great for TV, great for the fans at home. 

I would just rather leave it that way without PGA Tour status, without OWGR points, just a nice working vacation all paid for the guys and their families to help raise donations for all the kids Tiger helps.

There are no Canadians in the field.

Bryan Angus

Nice to hear Tiger being realistic....health and family first..

 

It was great for us mere mortals seeing Tiger again, and for me it was more important at the mere age of 46, he has accepted what his health is telling him, at best he will be a part time player if at all, just the majors and a few others on the menu, but most importantly the old adage " you never appreciate your health until you lose it"

Tiger Woods 

Now it's health and family first and foremost, working on his golf game a serious hobby.

Many of my media colleagues have now had their say with the expected wide range of opinions.

For me the game of pro golf is in the best place it's ever been and much of it because of Tiger, especially for the players who are playing for stunning purses on the main tours, and more than ever on the lesser, especially with the Saudi's throwing their billions into the mix.

However to be honest I'm glad it's a part time role now for Tiger, because if he was going to be able to come back full time his shadow is cast so big, that nobody else matters, and that's not good for the game as it stands today, he hasn't played fulltime since 2013 really.

We have a whole new generation of stars with a future to write, legends to be crowned, they couldn't have done it without Tiger, and as nice as it is to see him getting better, they don't need him anymore.

Bryan Angus

Tournament host @TigerWoods meets with the media at the Hero World Challenge.

PGA TOUR

Tiger Woods Press Conference

9:03 AM · Nov 30, 2021

Joburg Open cancelled after 36 holes... final scoreboard

 DP  World Tour : Joburg Open final Leaderboard

Thriston Lawrence became the first winner of the DP World Tour era after the Joburg Open was reduced to a 36-hole event.

The opening event of the 2022 DP World Tour season had already been reduced to 54 holes to allow non-South African resident players, caddies and tournament support staff return to their home countries, with international travel restrictions imposed on the country after the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant.

Home favourite Lawrence had matched his lowest DP World Tour round on days one and two, with a pair of 65s sending him into the weekend at Randpark Golf Club at 12 under and with a four shot lead.

Weather delays over the first two days meant that the second round had to be completed on Saturday morning but when the rest of the field completed their own second rounds, Lawrence was still four ahead.

A bogey on the first trimmed his advantage but more dangerous weather swept in at 12.12pm and, with no prospect of getting play completed on day three, the result was declared based on 36-hole scores.

Lawrence's fellow South African Zander Lombard was second on eight under, a shot clear of another South African in Shaun Norris and England's Ashley Chesters.

The win also hands Lawrence, Lombard and Chesters a place in the field for The 150th Open Championship next month, with Norris already exempt.

Lawrence takes his first win in just his 22nd DP World Tour event, with six made cuts and a best finish of 17th in the previous 21.

He arrived in Johannesburg as an affiliate member but after adding to his Sunshine Tour victory at the 2019 Vodacom Origins Stellenbosch, he now has a DP World Tour exemption until 2023 and moves to the top of the fledgling DP World Tour Rankings in Partnership with Rolex - with 75% points awarded for a 36-hole win.

Canada's Aaron Cockerill finished T12 -3 worth approximately $18,000 cdn. For travel restrictions he and other Canadians are facing see my previous post

Bryan

Joburg Open reduced to 54 holes : Play in round 3 weather suspended ... live scoreboard... travel details explained.

 DP World Tour: Joburg Open Leaderboard

Mother Nature isn't co-operating after all the ballyhoo surrounding this week's launch of "a new era" in European Tour golf, the DP World Tour couldn't get off to a worse start.

First yesterday's announcement regarding the outbreak of a new COVID-19 variant in South Africa, leading to the Joburg Open being reduced to 54 holes to help  non South African players to get flights out before their home countries stop operations.

The the weather stopped play during round 2, with the field returning a dawn this morning to complete play and begin the final round 3.

Just moments ago round 3 was suspended due to dangerous weather in the Johannesburg area. It's possible it may be reduced to a 36 hole event.

As I noted yesterday next weeks SA Open is now just a Sunshine Tour event for South Africans only and the following week's Alfred Dunhill has been cancelled all together.

Canadian Aaron Cockerill, desperately trying to keep his playing privileges for 2022 made the cut and played 6 holes of round 3 in E this morning, and stands at -3. The lead is at -11.

Canada is among other countries cancelling flights out of the 7 countries infected in South Africa, and today will be announcing flight restrictions into the country.

Their are no direct flights from the area to Canada, so Canadian citizens and permanent residents are trying to get home via Europe, the Middle East and the USA.

It won't be easy with travellers being forced to get a molecular test in the airport they travel through, then must get another test in Canada and wait in an appointed hotel for 3 days for the results.

Further if the test is negative they are required to quarantine for 14 days at home and take another test after 8 days.

Also anyone who just got back from South Africa before these measures kicked in MUST go and be tested asap.

There are an estimated 50,000 South Africans living in Canada, the majority, around 20,000 in Ontario. So far, despite all the media attention there are less than 100 reported cases of the new variant.

Bryan Angus

New COVID-19 variant curtails DP World Tour South African swing.. full leaderboard Joburg Open reduced to 54 holes

 Here is a statement from the DP World Tour regarding the steps they have taken due to the discovery of a new highly contagious COVID-19 variant in South Africa:

The Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour today announced changes to the current Summer Swing of co-sanctioned tournaments in South Africa as a result of the country being placed on the travel red list of several countries following concerns around a new COVID-19 variant, and the effect this will have on the participation of professional golfers.

The Joburg Open, currently being played at Randpark Golf Club, will go ahead as planned and will finish on Sunday as scheduled as a full co-sanctioned tournament between the two tours.

The South African Open Championship, set to be played at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City from 2-5 December, will also still be played as scheduled. However, it will go ahead as a solely Sunshine Tour event with a prize fund of US$500 000.

The Alfred Dunhill Championship, which was scheduled to be played at Leopard Creek Country Club from 9-12 December, has after lengthy consultations with Alfred Dunhill, unfortunately been cancelled due to the adverse effect the travel restrictions will have on the field.

By my count 23 players, mainly Europeans have either retired or WD today from the Joburg Open, with travel from South Africa about to be restricted.

Aaron Cockerill sits at -3 thru 15 holes before play was stopped for the day due to darkness and will resume at 6.35am local time tomorrow. The cut is projected at +2. The event has been reduced to 54 holes.

Full Leaderboard

Aaron Cockerill back for this week's Joburg Open, TEE TIMES/scoreboard

 European Tour now the DP World Tour: Joburg Open' Tee Times

Aaron Cockerill is back from Winnipeg for this week's Joburg Open at Randpark GC one of 3 events in South Africa to wrap up the 2021 season.

Last year he set the clubhouse lead after 36 holes with scores of 64 68 eventually finishing T4. That week Denmark's Joachim Hansen was the winner securing his card for this season, where he recently won the Portugal Masters. That scenario would be just what Aaron is aiming for.

 The following week he MC at the Alfred Dunhill Championship then he went on to T18 at the SA Open, so he has had some good results on this swing.

Aaron has had a tough 2021 so far, ranked 524th OWGR, and still playing under European Tour Category 17, that means he placed in the top 28 in the 2019 Qualifying School, and all of those players were given another year of exemption in 2021 due to COVID restrictions.

So these 3 final events of the calendar year in South Africa will be his last chance to save his playing privileges before his next move for 2022, which I assume would be Qualifying School again. 

PS. The DP World Tour are heralding these 3 events as the beginning of the 2022 season under their new sponsorship, however it appears under the former European Tour banner, Aaron's exemption continues to the end of the calendar year 2021.

Bryan Angus

Jin Young Ko masterclass, Hughes makes top 50... final scoreboards

 LPGA : CME Group Tour Championship final leaderboard here

"It was the Jin Young Ko show out there today" the words from Nelly Korda who had the Player of the Year award taken right out of her hands on a Tiger Woods type performance from Jin Young Ko, the best of all the Koreans right now, and of the rest of the women around the world.

After missing the 9th green on Thursday she hit 63 straight greens in regulation, making only 1 bogey, emerging from a 4 way tie for the lead with 6 birdies on her front nine for -9 63 -23, successfully defending her POY, her 12th win, 5 this year in just 4 years over here on tour. Her stroke average 68.7

 

She wins $1.5m for her efforts and now just 26, she says she wants to "put her clubs away, eat potato chips and watch Netflix". That's good news for the rest of the women.

Brooke Henderson finished with 71 T38th -6. 

Watching Ko's complete mastery of all aspects of the game, complete control of her ball was amazing, All the women on this and the LET tour can post low scores, but few can expect to do it on a regular basis, as we know Tiger did for the 12 years in his prime.

We all know about Tiger's upbringing by his dad Earl, his singular focus on golf and his desire to win at all costs, nothing else, is legendary.

There is a similarity in all the Korean women who have been dominating the game for 10 years. They come from a different culture, their single minded progress at golf, dominated by their fathers, their willingness to stick to a strict daily routine as teenagers, their desire to come to America that has driven immigrants from poorer countries for hundreds of years, their athletic ability, all is a remarkable concoction, rarely duplicated by kids growing up in USA. 

Many would say it's no way to raise your child, that's a whole different story, but watching Jin Young Ko who has survived all of that upbringing, and now enjoys the fruits of her labours and all the trappings that go with being world #1, you can see why they think it's worth it.

PGA Tour: RSM Classic final leaderboard here.

" Talor played great all week and deserves this win" was the way Mac Hughes summed up the week at Sea Island after posting a spectacular final round -8 62 to finish 2nd at -19 right behind Gooch who won by 3 shots -22.

Mac played well enough to win but started Sunday spotting Gooch 5 shots and simply ran out of holes.

Still here's how he saw the week. "Looking at my own game I feel like I'm getting better each week and my game is trending in the right direction. 

I came into this week 50th in the world, so top 50 year end was a big goal of mine (#39), get in the majors and some of those WGC events was a mission accomplished.

I came up a bit short of winning, but being able to plan my schedule for the rest of the year will be a lot easier knowing I can bank on those big tournaments"

Bryan Angus