Valero Texas Open full field tee times.. 6 Canucks !!!

 Valero Texas Open Thursday tee times..

Tee No. 1

8:25 a.m. – Denny McCarthy, Tom Lewis, Bernd Wiesberger
8:36 a.m. – Ryan Moore, Sean O’Hair, Bo Hoag
8:47 a.m. – Cameron Percy, Sam Ryder, Erik van Rooyen
8:58 a.m. – Charles Howell III, Troy Merritt, Jason Dufner
9:09 a.m. – Michael Kim, Brice Garnett, Luke Donald
9:20 a.m. – Ryan Armour, Wesley Bryan, Danny Lee
9:31 a.m. – Brandt Snedeker, Satoshi Kodaira, Danny Willett
9:42 a.m. – Tyler Duncan, Ted Potter, Jr., Patton Kizzire
9:53 a.m. – Bo Van Pelt, D.J. Trahan, David Hearn
10:04 a.m. – Tom Hoge, J.J. Spaun, Bronson Burgoon
10:15 a.m. – Roger Sloan, Rhein Gibson, Sam Bennett
10:26 a.m. – Michael Gligic, Sebastian Cappelen, Austin Eckroat
1:20 p.m. – John Huh, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Xinjun Zhang
1:31 p.m. – Harold Varner III, Robby Shelton, Scott Harrington
1:42 p.m. – Brian Stuard, Rory Sabbatini, Byeong Hun An
1:53 p.m. – Joel Dahmen, Cameron Champ, Tony Finau
2:04 p.m. – Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar, Hideki Matsuyama
2:15 p.m. – J.B. Holmes, Andrew Putnam, Davis Love III
2:26 p.m. – Si Woo Kim, Lanto Griffin, Adam Long
2:37 p.m. – Brian Gay, Nate Lashley, Keith Mitchell
2:48 p.m. – Kyle Stanley, Charley Hoffman, Charl Schwartzel
2:59 p.m. – Chesson Hadley, Cameron Tringale, Chase Seiffert
3:10 p.m. – Matt Wallace, Ryan Brehm, Akshay Bhatia
3:21 p.m. – Rob Oppenheim, Joseph Bramlett, Mac Meissner

Tee No. 10

8:25 a.m. – Anirban Lahiri, Sepp Straka, Kyoung-Hoon Lee
8:36 a.m. – Henrik Norlander, Doc Redman, Adam Schenk
8:47 a.m. – Ben Martin, Abraham Ancer, Cameron Davis
8:58 a.m. – Gary Woodland, Rickie Fowler, Scottie Scheffler

9:09 a.m. – Ryan Palmer, Corey Conners, Jordan Spieth
9:20 a.m. – Andrew Landry, Keegan Bradley, Jimmy Walker
9:31 a.m. – Branden Grace, Brendan Steele, Kevin Chappell
9:42 a.m. – Graeme McDowell, Aaron Wise, D.A. Points
9:53 a.m. – Chris Kirk, Scott Stallings, Patrick Rodgers
10:04 a.m. – Vaughn Taylor, Peter Malnati, Scott Brown
10:15 a.m. – Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Kramer Hickok, Greyson Sigg
10:26 a.m. – Rafael Campos, J.J. Killeen, Tain Lee
1:20 p.m. – Nick Watney, Luke List, Will Gordon
1:31 p.m. – Seung-Yul Noh, K.J. Choi, Sam Burns
1:42 p.m. – Padraig Harrington, Kelly Kraft, Harry Higgs
1:53 p.m. – Sung Kang, Martin Trainer, Henrik Stenson
2:04 p.m. – Nick Taylor, Austin Cook, Kevin Stadler
2:15 p.m. – Martin Laird, Russell Knox, Jim Furyk
2:26 p.m. – Sebastián Muñoz, Pat Perez, Zach Johnson
2:37 p.m. – Adam Hadwin, Hunter Mahan, Beau Hossler
2:48 p.m. – Jhonattan Vegas, Matthew NeSmith, Doug Ghim
2:59 p.m. – Camilo Villegas, Lucas Glover, Brandon Hagy
3:10 p.m. – Hank Lebioda, Kris Ventura, Sam Fidone
3:21 p.m. – Vincent Whaley, Carlos Sainz Jr., Patrick Grim

Golf this week. who and where the Canadians are...

 April is upon us already, with it comes the first major of the year on the LPGA Tour, it'd the ANA Inspiration in Rancho Mirage in California.

You might remember it was held in over 100*f of heat in September and Nelly Korda /Brooke Henderson were going neck and neck for the title, until Miram Lee chipped in 3 times including from 60 yards on her last hole, then won it on the first playoff hole.

So it's back in it's usual slot this week, Brooke, Alena Sharp are back in the field again.

Meanwhile on the PGA Tour  it's the week before the Masters, the Valero Texas Open which wasn't played last year due to COVID, so Corey Connors will return as the defending champion, along with Michael Gligic, Roger Sloan, David Hearn, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin. Gligic moves from 518 to 393 in world rankings. Mac Hughes round of 16 appearance at the Dell Match Play moves up from 53 to 50 in owgr.

Adam Svensson and Taylor Pendrith are back in action on the Korn Ferry tour in Florida at the Emerald Coast Classic. Svensson's win in Savannah moves him from 474 to 284 in the world and to #12 on their money list.

European Tour players are at the Valero this week and the Masters next, before play resumes at the Austrian Open.

Bryan Angus

My solution to stop Sunday at the WGC Dell Match Play from being a flop..

The twitter universe is no place to use as thoughtful insight, from educated and well respected experts, however it has been alive with condemnation of Sunday's finale of the Dell Technologies World Match Play from fans and players and media alike.

Sunday's, Tiger (3 wins) aside, at the Match Play have been undistinguished since it all began in 1999.

Billy Horschel holds his trophy 

Yet match play golf provides us with 3 of the best day's in all of sports at the bi-annual Ryder Cup. However it is a team event with the fuel of national pride driving each and every shot, every putt made and missed. There is love and dislike in abundance, there is a continuing history.

That will never happen at this WGC event, however can be compelling, for the first 3 days.... but so often a flop long before the final curtain comes down...

My Opinion: 

In every great story, whether it be a movie/play/book all the action builds to a climax as it goes on. The problem for the TV production of this WGC Dell Match Play is that all the action happens in the first 3 days when all 62 are in play in the 16 Groups. On Friday evening 8 of the 16 needed sudden death playoffs before we knew who was progressing, drama galore !, big names, rooting interests from around the world.

By Saturday morning there are 16 guys left, so some of the drama has gone. but the knockout round of 16 still gives the TV producers lots of action and storylines unfolding on course, Mac Hughes taking one of the world's great match players, Sergio Garcia to the 17th green, with Sergio at his artistic best is an example.

However by Sunday we already know the story, most of the stars are often gone and once again we have four good guys who all fully earned their way during the week, but unless you had a rooting interest (eg. Scheffler played at University in Texas) like a family member, or a fellow countryman (eg Perez from France), there is no interest. Nobody would stop what they were doing to watch any of them for 5 hours.

So unless it's Tiger, Phil, Bryson and DJ in the final four, it's a flop to most viewers. 

Here are some of the finals in this event. Tiger won it in 03, 04, 08 and was 2nd in 2000 to Darren Clarke. So Tiger aside, because whether he shoots 84 or 64 TV ratings will be good. Tell me how many of these finals were a must see for you. (edited)

1999 Jeff Maggert beat Andrew Magee

2001  Steve Stricker beat Pierre Fulke

2002 Kevin Sutherland beat Scott McCarron

2005 David Toms beat Chris DiMarco

2006 Geoff Ogilvy beat Davis Love

2007 Henrik Stenson beat Geoff Ogilvy

2013 Matt Kuchar beat Hunter Mahan

2014 Jason Day beat Victor Dubuisson

2019 Kevin Kisner beat Matt Kuchar 

In 1999 and 2000 the event was a straight knockout at La Costa in Southern California in February. After a sponsor change and a disastrous move to the Metropolitan GC in Melbourne in January 2001 when 40 top players refused to make the trip, it returned to La Costa until 2006.

In 2007 it moved to Arizona until 2014, still a straight knock out. Tiger won it 3 times, however Geoff Ogilvy  also won it twice and was runner up once. Also the weather was down right cold in the mornings, in fact was delayed by snow a couple of times. More importantly galleries were small, guys were quietly critical of the courses and as you can see Sunday's were a flop.

So the format we have today was instituted in 2015 at Harding Park San Francisco in April, then with Texas based Dell as the sponsor it moved to the Austin CC in 2016.

So I think the first part of the equation is right, Group play was exciting, there was drama, intrigue, David vs Goliath (eg Robert MacIntyre vs Dustin Johnson, a draw), sudden death playoffs and half of the field are either Europeans or Internationals, and that's what WGC's are supposed to be, not American Golf Championships.....

What do we do with the rest. 

The European Tour has been successful with innovations like Golf Sixes but it's based on 2 man teams so won't work here.

My solution: First about the broadcast. I would get one QB (Nantz etc) in studio to do the ins and outs and make the throws to on course staff. Nick Faldo, Paul Azinger put their golf shoes on and join Ken Brown, Wayne Riley, Roger Maltbie, Alison Whitaker and get out where they belong, following groups and giving us their expertise with LIVE insights. Golf commentary as it is in the USA has too many spoiled guys in suits watching telly like we are and it's worse than boring, it's annoying.

Second, the format: allow 2 players from each group advance to Saturday (32) then let them play 36 holes of stroke play for the title. That will keep some of the star power names in play instead of at home. and will have a new story to tell, with new opportunities for drama, lots of action to cover on TV to keep viewers interested.

Finally cancel Sunday all together, the week is long enough for the players as it is.

Let's face it. It can't get worse and with Tiger out of the picture it has to get better.

Bryan Angus

Adam Svensson wins Club Car Championship on Korn Ferry Tour... final results..

 Club Car Championship final scoreboard here.

Adam Svennson won the Club Car Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour after making birdies on his last 2 holes of regulation to tie Max McGreevy, then beat him with a birdie 4 on the 2nd playoff hole at the Landings in Savannah, Georgia. 

Adam Svensson, of Canada. (Wilfredo Lee/AP)

The last Canadian to win on this Tour was his friend Michael Gligic who won the Panama Championship in 2019.

"This is the biggest win of my career, I put in so much hard work in the off season, I've never put in so much hard work in my life."

Remember Svennson had 5 top 10's and a win on the Korn Ferry in 2018 to qualify for his PGA Tour card, but lost it when he finished outside the top 125, at 167th.

He's now at #12 on the Korn Ferry Tour on his quest to win back his card.

I made a commitment to myself about 5 months ago, I was tired of playing well, then not playing well, lost my PGA Tour card, and it's all because I'm not working hard enough. Now I'm fully committed and we'll see where it takes me. You have to grow up, and realize you have to do things correctly, I think this tour has done a great  job of building me as a player..

Bryan Angus

”

Michael Gligic T4 at Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship.... final scoreboard

 Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship..results here.

Michael Gligic put together his best week on the PGA Tour 73 66 68 71 -10 in a very windy Dominican Republic, and when all was said and done he T4 with Graeme McDowell, just 2 behind a very emotional Joel Dahman, 67 71 66 70 -12.

Gligic, from Burlington who graduated from the Korn Ferry Tour after winning in Panama City  has spent 10 years playing around the world to earn this spot.

David Hearn had his best week this year T13 72 72 72 66 -6, Roger Sloan T22 71 70 70 73 -4 and Taylor Pendrith T34 71 73 72 70 -2.

Bryan Angus

Park dominates LPGA Kia Classic, Henderson another T10... final results

 LPGA Kia Classic final scoreboard  here

Inbee Park has been at home being a regular mother, but she showed no signs of rust with a dominating 66 69 69 70 -14 wire to wire 5 shot win out in Carlsbad, California at the LPGA Kia Classic. It was worth $270,000. It is her Hall of Fame 21st LPGA win after finishing 2nd three times.

Inbee Park

Amy Olsen and Lexi Thompson T2 at -9.

Brooke Henderson 73 70 68 72 -5 won $35,240 finishing T10, while Alena Sharp had a tough 77,77 weekend finishing 77th, $3,349.

Next week is the first major, the ANA Inspiration at Dinah Shore's course in the desert at Rancho Mirage, where Brooke T2, losing in a playoff.

Bryan Angus

Horschel wins WGC Dell Technologies World Match Play... final results.

WGG Dell Technologies World Match Play final  Results

One of the many commentators said on Friday night, "Billy has his head down and his hat strapped on this week" and that proved to be the case after Horschel emerged from a long, enthralling match play week at the WGC Dell World Match Play in Austin, Texas, beating local favourite Scottie Scheffler 2&1.

The American had earlier ended the hopes of Frenchman Victor Perez but he faced an in-form man in Scheffler, with the crowd at Austin Country Club firmly behind the University of Texas alumnus.

Against that backdrop, Horschel kept his focus and claimed a first European Tour victory that moves him to the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex.

Perez lost the consolation match 2&1 to Matt Kuchar but achieved his second top five in just five WGC appearances.

Horschel came into this week as the 32nd seed and advanced from Group Four after a play-off with Max Homa.

He had beaten Homa and World Number Four Collin Morikawa in the group stage, while also losing to J.T. Poston, before taking down Kevin Streelman and Tommy Fleetwood on day four.

A 3&2 victory over Perez sent him into the showpiece match and while he only made one birdie in 17 holes against Scheffler, that was enough to hand him the Walter Hagen Cup.

He moves to #17 in the world, his highest was #14 in 2014 when he won the Tour Championship and the $10 1st prize that came with the Fed Ex Cup. His biggest year on the PGA Tour was capped off when he became a father 2 days later.

Horschel finished second at the WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession in February and after earning his two best European Tour finishes in back to back starts, he is now aiming to take on Europe in The Ryder Cup later this year.

"I feel like I should have been on Ryder Cup teams before but that's my fault because I haven't done what I needed to do to take care of that," he said.

"If I do happen to make a Ryder Cup team in my career, I'll be happy because I feel like that's one check I can check off of what I have wanted to accomplish in this game.

"I should have at least contended more in some of these WGC events and Majors."

On the final, he added: "It was one of those days where I didn't play very good. I didn't hit it very good, I didn't feel good with my swing so I was just grinding it out.

"I wish I would have hit it better so I would have had a closer chance of making birdie, obviously it was a tough day. I had two opponents that played really good today but just didn't make any putts and I did and that's the difference."

Bryan Angus (europeanntour.com)

 

Battling Mac Hughes bows out, final four set for Sunday, WGC Dell Technologies World Match Play.. live scoreboard

 Dell Technology World Match Play Sunday leaderboard  here

Thanks for joining me on twitter yesterday for Mac Hughes epic battle with Spanish match play legend Sergio Garcia, who eventually edged Mac on the 17th green 2&1 ending a fine week 2-1-1 for the Canadian.

As Sergio said in his post round interview Mac made it tough on him right to the end, but Mac committed the cardinal mistake of giving Sergio holes, three of them, including 1,10 with missed 3 footers. To his credit, Sergio displayed some of his trademark shot making like driving the green to 11 feet at the 310 yard 13th. 

Birdies are important of course in match play, but being steady, not giving anything away is a bigger key over a long week like this WGC Dell Match Play.

Mac battled very hard, he made some clutch putts for birdie and to save par, he also used driver off the deck to get onto the 550 yard par 5 16th in two when he was dormie 3, then played a beautiful shot right over the pin to 12 feet at the par 3 17th, but his well thought out putt just slid by. Had it gone in they would have played the 18th.

He is off next week then back in action at the Masters.

Today:  So after all the hectic action all week, as usual  for me Sunday becomes anti climatic, unless there is an edge or you have a player in contention. There is a call for more wind today.

In my opinion this is another Sunday flop, with rising French star and future European Tour Ryder Cup player, Victor Perez vs Billy Horschel, then veteran Matt Kuchar vs Scottie Scheffler

All of these 4 have earned their spot in this Sunday finale. For example Matt Kuchar, now 42,  hasn't had a top 30 finish in 6 months, but he beat Brian Harman 2&1, Jordan Spieth 1up, Justin Tomas 3&2, Louis Oosthuizen 1up and Kevin Kisner 2&1.

The others have similar stories, today one of them will top their excellent weeks with a huge check, a WGC title with all it's perks like a 5 year exemption and entry into all the majors.

I just wish they had some buzz, an issue, some drama, a villain..

Bryan Angus 

Brooke Henderson moves up into top 10 at the LPGA Kia Classic.... live scoreboard

 LPGA Kia Classic leaderboard here 

Brooke Henderson has improved every day out in Carlsbad, California at the LPGA Kia Classic, 73 70 68 -5 T8 but well back of South Korean Star, Inbee Park 66 66 69 -12 who is 5 shots clear of the field.

Brooke had 5 birdies and 3 bogey's on Friday, but then another 5 birdies on Saturday but just one bogey.

She plays with her friend and world #1 Jin Young Ko and American Amy Olsen at 12.21pm.

Alena Sharp T70 75 68 77 +4, Jaclyn Lee missed the cut.

Bryan Angus

Michael Gligic looks for his 1st PGA Tour win today... live scoreboard

Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship.. live scoreboard here. 

Michael Gligic has been playing golf since he was 7, in Burlington, Ontario, he's 32 this year, and after a pro career that has seen him win in China, South Africa, USA and here in Canada on a variety of tours, he is looking for his 1st win in the big show, on the PGA Tour, and he is in with a great chance.

Michael Gligic 

After rounds of 73 66 68 -9 he is T3 just a shot out of the lead, his 66 on Friday was the round of the day in a very heavy wind down in the Dominican Republic.

He has missed the cut in 7 of his last 8 starts, but as he has done since turning pro in 2008, and on the advice of his coach Sean Foley, he keeps digging deep, trying to improve his driving on long PGA Tour courses, and it has paid off this week.

He plays today with England's Danny Willett who also has struggled mightily with his game since he won the Masters in 2016. They are off at 1.10pm in the  2nd last pairing.

Canadians: Roger Sloan 71 70 70 -5 T15, Taylor Pendrith 71 73 72 E T46, David Hearn 72,72,72,E T46.

I always say these alternate PGA Tour events have a lot of guys in the field who for one reason or another don't have fulltime status, so a win here is a huge step with two years exemption, Michael is no different.

Bryan Angus

Mac Hughes advances WGC Dell Match Play, vs Sergio Garcia this morning....live scoreboard

 WGC Dell Technologies Match Play Knock out Round of 16 here 

Eight of the 16 Group's needed a playoff to decide the winner, and this morning the round of 16, or Knock-out round gets underway at 7am local time, with 8 matches.  Click  on "here" above for live scoring.

This afternoon, the four remaining matches will play the quarter finals.

On Sunday the 2 semi finals will be played, with the final in the afternoon.

For viewing, today is the best with more action available, Sunday has the least.

Mac Hughes got the 1/2 point he needed in a draw with Talor Gooch and he has drawn Sergio Garcia at 8.57 est in the 3rd match out. Garcia beat Lee Westwood in stunning fashion with a hole in one in their Group playoff.

Corey Connors got skunked on the week 0-3 after losing to Jordan Spieth 3&2, which enabled Spieth to advance against Matt Kuchar in the last match of the morning at 9.52 est.

With upsets galore the top seed left is #3 Jon Rahm who plays South African Erik van Rooyen.

Sharing headlines in Scotland with their men's rugby 27-23 win in Paris, quiet rookie Robert MacIntyre knocked out world #1 Dustin Johnson, Kevin Na and Adam Long and plays Frenchman Victor Perez today.

Nine of the 16 remaining players are Internationals, with seven from USA.

Bryan Angus

Van Tonder wins the Kenya Savannah Classic on European Tour.. Aaron Cockerill T28.. final results

 Kenya Savannah Classic final results Results

Daniel van Tonder secured his first European Tour title at the Kenya Savannah Classic supported by Absa after defeating Jazz Janewattananond with a birdie on the third play-off hole at Karen Country Club.

The 30-year-old South African posted a closing seven under par round of 64 to join Thailand’s Janewattananond on 21 under par and after both players parred the first two trips back down the 18th hole, it was third time lucky for van Tonder as he converted his short birdie putt following a sublime approach.

He was eight under par after 13 holes following five gains in a row from the ninth hole, but back-to-back bogeys at the 14th and 15th handed the advantage to Janewattananond. He needed to find something special and he holed a lengthy birdie putt on the final hole to force extra holes.

"I was struggling last week, but this week I found everything and was very happy," van Tonder said. "I knew if I gave myself some putting chances, I’d make one sooner or later.

"I’ve been working hard. Last year I had four wins on the Sunshine Tour, my stroke average was quite low – then Covid happened and it made everything a bit hard travel-wise and getting in to tournaments. It wasn’t easy. I had to work hard and keep myself motivated. It paid off, so I’m very happy.

"I’m a bit different. I love pressure, if there’s pressure I get more in the zone. For me, I tried to keep it as easy as possible – hit the fairway first, then the second, put the other player under pressure and see what happens from there. I took it shot-by-shot and it worked."

van Tonder also was quick to credit his wife and caddie, Abigail, for her part in helping him stay calm when he began to make mistakes. "It was very special. She’s been on the bag for seven years. She’s been with me through thick and thin. It was very special to see the highs coming together and sharing them.

"It’s very exciting. We’ve been working hard. It took a while, but it came and I’m very happy – my wife is over the moon. I’m very happy and grateful.

"Work hard. Keep your head down, be humble. I love my wife, she’s the rock. She keeps me calm, makes me positive in everything."

The victory is van Tonder’s fifth in his last 13 worldwide starts, while Janewattananond secured his best European Tour finish since his tied second place at the 2017 Fiji International. England’s Sam Horsfield and Scotland’s Calum Hill both carded seven under par final rounds of 64 to share third place on 20 under par, while David Drysdale, of Scotland, and South Africa’s Jacques Kruyswijk finished two shots further back in a tie for fifth place on 18 under par.

Canada's Aaron Cockerill showed some flashes of a return to form with a 3rd round 64, and he finished T28 -12 worth $13,365 Cdn.

Bryan Angus (europeantour.com)

Hughes undefeated, Connors out, WGC Dell Technologies Match Play....Friday Matches.. live scoreboard..

 WGC Dell Technologies World Match Play Friday matches  here 

There will be a lot of head scratching amongst the 16 Groups today at the WGC Dell Match Play, which is what the format change was designed for. Most of the groups are undecided, however guys with no wins are finished personally, but can still have an affect on the outcome. One player from each group will emerge after sudden death playoffs if needed, to play in the round of 16 on Saturday.

Corey Connors is one of them 0-2, as he plays Jordan Spieth who still has a chance at 2.50pm in Group 15.

On the other hand Mac Hughes is undefeated 2-0 in Group 9 as he plays Talor Gooch, but Webb Simpson vs Paul Casey each have 1 win and could catch Mac if he loses..

See what I mean, it's all very complicated as of this morning, so stay tuned with all the scoring by clicking on my live scoreboard above.

Bryan Angus

Brooke Henderson returns to play in California, Kia Classic.... leaderboard/TEE TIMES

 Kia Classic TEE TIMES, leaderboard here

The travelling band of players, officials and media that make up the LPGA Tour have resurfaced this week at the beginning of the west coast swing, with the Kia Classic in Carlsbad, California.

Jerry Foltz and his wife Karen Stupples decided to make the 2500 mile journey from Florida in their truck and chronicled their adventures including a Texas dust storm on twitter.

Brooke Henderson and Jin Young Ko 

Brooke Henderson plays today with #1 Jin Yong Ko and Lydia Ko early, at 7.44am local time. This threesome has won 5 CP Women's Opens.

Alena Sharp plays at 12.11pm and Jaclyn Lee at 1.39.

Michelle Wie (West) makes her return to play at 12.33 from maternity leave, apparently healthy again, now 31 and married to Johnny West. 

Bryan Angus

Four Canadians in play at Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship.....live scoreboard

Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship scoreboard here

Play is already underway down in the sunny Dominican Republic for the Corales sponsored Puntacana Resort and Club Championship, and 4 Canucks are in the field, made up of those not eligible for the WGC event in Austin, guys on the fringe outside the top 125, some Champions Tour competitors and a few oldies who have been given sponsors exemptions.

Taylor Pendrith

However remember, a win carries full PGA Tour privilege's. David Hearn, Roger Sloan, Michael Gligic and Taylor Pendrith all know that, and like all the rest would love to catch lightning in a bottle.

Follow all the scores by clicking on my link above. 

Bryan Angus

Hughes wins, remarkable Rozner, 1st round Dell Technologies World Match Play.. Thursday 2nd round matches

 Dell Technologies World Match Play Leaderboard

Some big names took a beating in the opening round of matches in Austin, non more surprising to Americans than red hot Frenchman Antoine Rozner, fresh off his recent win in Qatar, and virtually unknown on this side of the pond, who beat Bryson DeChambeau 2 up.  

Ian Poulter was at his match play best while Rory wasn't making birdies, the result a 6&5 thumping by Poults over his slumping Ryder Cup pal.

Mac Hughes had 3 birdies on his front nine and made the turn 2up, 2 more birdies and a bogey on the back nine, along with an ordinary scoring round by Paul Casey had Mac run out the winner 3up on the 16th. Today Mac plays Webb Simpson in round 2

Corey Connors made an eagle 3 on his openeing hole, added a birdie and made the turn with Matthew Wolfe 2up, however the young American star with the funky swing took advantage of bogey's at 12 and 14 by Corey then added 2 birdies of his own to win 3&1. 

Today Corey plays Matthew Fitzpatrick in round 2

Rozner had won twice in his last 6 outings, DeChambeau ranked world #5 was a shoe in in the minds of most in Austin after winning the AArnold Palmer, and 3rd at the Players.

However in match play anyone can be beaten and Rozner went ahead for good on the 4th and never looked back, winning 2up in Group 5.

."I think in match play everyone is on the same level, so no, I don't think it's an upset," he said. "Obviously he's a heck of a player. He hit the ball so far. I think it's just a round of golf. It doesn't matter who you are. In one round you can beat anyone.

"Being able to beat the World Number Five, it's not every day that I can play match play against the World Number Five in a tournament. I just enjoyed it.

"I was just trying to put a solid round of golf (together) and I think I did that pretty well, especially on the front. I didn't make any mistakes really on the front and being three up after 12 holes I think was a good enough lead. 

"I was actually feeling a little bit nervous at some point on the back nine but I think being three up was good enough and I'm just very happy I won that match."

You can follow all the scores by clicking on my link above.

A special tip of the cap to young Scotsman Robert McIntyre who chipped in and holed out from a bunker, both for eagles in his debut, beating veteran Kevin Na 2&1.

Bryan Angus

Aaron Cockerill makes the cut despite 3 late bogey's...Kenya Savannah Classic.. full scoreboard, Thursday tee times..

 Kenya Savannah Classic Leaderboard

There I go putting the announcers hex on a player ! Buoyed by his bogey free, 6 birdie first 12 holes, I ventured to tweet "Cockerill on his way to a great round, -6 thru 12 holes, now -8 in total"

Sure enough, bogey 5 at 13, bogey 4 at 14, and all the momentum was gone. He doubled the 18th yesterday, made a bogey today to end up with -3 68 and will start his 3rd round tomorrow a shot inside the cut line at -5 T49.

The leader is D Van Tonder of South Africa  65 64 -13

This is the European Tour's 2nd week in a row on the Karen CC in Nairobi, Africa, at an altitude of 6000 feet.

Play is Tuesday - Friday,  so Cockerill still has 2 days to improve his lot.

Bryan Angus

Brackets for WGC Dell Technology World Match Play...Hughes and Connors tee times..

WGC Dell Technology World Match Play 1st round matches here

This week the top 64 in the world are in Austin Texas for the Dell World Match Play. Remember in the old days it was a straight knock -out, now the field is in groups of 4 guaranteeing players at least 3 matches. There are 16 groups.

The player with the best record in his group advances to the round of 16 on Saturday ( ties decided by sudden death playoff), which will progress to the quarter finals. The semi finals and the final are on Sunday.

Dustin Johnson is the #1 seed, Group 1 with Kevin Na, Robert MacIntyre  and Adam Long. 

It gets underway on Wednesday, Corey Connors vs Matthew Wolff 11.53am local He is in Group 15 and will also play Jordan Spieth and Matt Fitzpatrick 

Mac Hughes vs Paul Casey 2.05pm local. He is in Group 9 and will also play Talor Gooch and Webb Simpson

If I were a conspiracy advocate, or just a European Tour fan, I would raise a Spockian eyebrow at Group 8 where the "organizers" have ensured that 3 of Tyrrell Hatton, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood or Matt Wallace will NOT progress.

Bryan Angus 

 

Monday morning mailbag... FINAL SCOREBOARDS...

I have just wiped out my post for today, not once but twice !!!  I am trying to retrieve the masterpiece !!

Matt Jones pocketed  $1.64million..

Bryan

Wind and water play havoc with round 3 at the Honda Classic... Sunday leaderboard

 Honda Classic Sunday leaderboard here.

I was out and about on our first glorious day of spring yesterday and came back in to see that the Champion course at PGA National was not playing at all like it was on Thursday and Friday.

Scores were soaring. I tweeted to some of my pals about why !? and Richard Zokol sent me, "The course is as tricky as ever, the question is why wasn't it on Thursday and Friday "

The wind on Saturday as I posted in my morning weather forecast was supposed to be 10mph (16kph) at best, as the leader Matt Jones said after wards, it was no where near that !

Jones who opened with that improbable 61, handled the wind better than all the leaders around him with a -1 69 and after being 6 shots behind, he is now 3 shots clear heading into today's final round. He has won 2 major Australian events since his lone PGA Tour win in 2014.

" I've had 36 years of experience playing in the wind, I've got a lot more grey hairs, a lot more experience, hopefully I can draw on that"

An example of the carnage around him, the leader with 64 64 Aaron Wise had to fight for a 75, Brandon Hagy shot 62 on Friday, 76 on Saturday.. The final six pairings were +39 over par.

This course has the Bear Trap holes 15-17 that are so tough they usually decide the out come. Nobody made a birdie on 16 yesterday, into the wind, and there was only one at the par 3 17th

So today Jones is -10 200, Wise and JB Holmes (67) are -7 203, three at at -6 204 and defending champion Sungjae Im (69) is -5 205.. 

Canadians: Roger Sloan had a great day, just 1 bogey, -4 66 he is T13 -4, Adam Hadwin 70 T18 -3, and Mac Hughes, last year's runner up, is T53, 68 72 71 +1.

Weather: Mostly cloudy with wind WNW swing around to WSW as the day goes on with less of it forecast than any of the prior 3 days, 9mph (14kph)...That's what was forecast yesterday, so we'll see.

For some reason or another, I like JB Holmes today... #justsayin 

Bryan Angus 

Harding hangs on to win Magical Kenya Open.. final scoreboard

 Magical Kenya Open final scoreboard Leaderboard

With a  closing round of 66 South African Justin Harding is back in the winners circle, his 2nd win on the European Tour, on a course where he was 2nd last year. American Kurt Kitayama 66 was 2nd and young Scot Conor Syme had a closing 64 to finish 3rd.

Harding, now 35 was ranked #195 after being inside the top 50 after the 2018-19 season when he re dedicated himself to be a better pro with 4 wins in 10 months on the Sunshine Tour for a spot in the Masters where he finished inside the top 15.

He made birdies at 6 and 7 then drove the green on the par 4 9th and made the eagle 2 putt, which was the turning point of the day. A birdie at 17 for a 2 shot advantage which he topped off with a par at the 72nd with a -21 total. 

This field will play this same Karen CC next week for the Kenya Savanah Classic beginning on Tuesday- Friday as the European Tour continues their bubble policy to cope with COVID.

 Watching this tournament feed for the first time this morning was a treat, the players and caddies were completely alone apart from the 1st, 9th and 18th, in a beautiful lush tight parkland course, with all types of African birds and their amazing sounds as companions, truly a no spectator event, no fake sound mixed in.

Canada's Aaron Cockerill is back on track after missing the cut last week he has finished  T52 71 69 69 69 -6.

Bryan Angus

 

South African Justin Harding leads Magical Kenya Open heading into Sunday.. live scoreboard

 Magical Kenya Open Saturday Leaderboard

Justin Harding will take a two shot lead into the final round of the 2021 Magical Kenya Open presented by Johnnie Walker after carding an impressive 64 on day three in Nairobi.

The South African has fond memories of Karen Country Club after a closing 66 two years ago handed him a tie for second and moved him into the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking, sealing him a debut appearance at the Masters Tournament.

That performance came a week after his win at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and Harding will now go in search of a second European Tour victory at 16 under, two shots clear of Australian Scott Hend and American duo Kurt Kitayama and Johannes Veerman.

Veerman carded a course record 62 to put himself right in contention, while Kitayama registered a 66 and joint overnight leader Hend signed for a 68.

Scot Calum Hill was then at 13 under, two shots ahead of Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet.

Canadian Aaron Cockerill is T54 -4 with rounds of 71 69 69.

Bryan Angus (europeantour.com)

Hughes, Hadwin, Sloan will play the weekend at Honda Classic.. live Saturday scoreboard

 Honda Classic Saturday leaderboard here.

Three of the six Canadians who began this week at the Honda Classic will continue their play this weekend albeit well back of the lead of 64 64 -12 held by young American, Aaron Wise who leads the field by 3 shots on a breezy, water everywhere PGA National.

Adam Hadwin had his best round by far in the last 2 weeks, a -5 65 and he is T25 -3. Roger Sloan 71 69 and Mac Hughes 68 72 are both T53 at E.

With the cut falling at +1 Nick Taylor 72 70 Michael Gligic 72 76 and David Hearn 73 70 all missed out on the weekend. 

Saturday tee times: Mac Hughes and Roger Sloan are paired together at 9.15 off #1, while Adam Hadwin plays with Steve Stricker at 11.40am off #1.  The leaders 2 young Americans Aaron Wise -12 and Brandon Hagy -9 are off at 1.55pm

Weather; mostly cloudy, warm (76*f, 24*c)  today with the wind about the same as Friday starting NNW and swinging a little to NNE in the afternoon at 10mph, (16kph)

Bryan Angus

Magical Kenya Open not available on Tv for round 3.. Live scoreboard

Magical European Tour Saturday Leaderboard

 Unfortunately, due to ongoing logistical difficulties beyond our control we will be unable to deliver live world feed coverage of the third day of the Magical Kenya Open presented by Johnnie Walker on Saturday 20th March 2021.

In cooperation with the local and national authorities we are continually working to resolve the situation as soon as possible, and hope to be in a position to provide live coverage for the final day of the tournament.

Thank you for your continued patience. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused.

Statement from European Tour

Tale of two nines for Hughes as Matt Jones exceptional 61 leads Honda Classic.... Friday tee times/ leaderboard

 Honda Classic Friday leaderboard here.

On a typical warm windy sunny day in Palm Beach Gardens, the kind of day Canadian snowbirds pine for as we flock from frozen homes, south, only 2 hours by plane, veteran Aussie Matt Jones had one of those rounds that comes by far to little, a bogey free 9 birdie 61 to head into today's second round 3 shots ahead of the field. 

Jared C. Tilton

Jones, to be fair a journeyman, has one PGA Tour win in 2014, hasn't made a single cut at a major since 2016 and has a best finish here T4 in 2008. Canada's Adam Hadwin (72, 12.31pm 10th tee today) playing with Jones says he said 'good shot' so often he lost count. Lee Westwood (70) said " that could be the round of the year"

As for Jones he said afterwards " Yes I'm pleased with it, I play golf for a living and these rounds don't nearly happen often enough. I have a different goal this year, to stay calmer, to walk slower and it worked for me today"

Meanwhile Mac Hughes who says PGA National meets his eye, and who was 2nd here last year. was off and running with a 4 birdie bogey free front nine 31, however on this very tricky water logged course he came back with 3 bogey's, just the one birdie 37 for -2 68 and a T15th as he tees off the 10th tee at 1.37pm today.

Roger Sloan 71 T60,  9.15am today 1st tee, Nick Taylor +2 72 is playing early today, Michael Gligic +2 72, 2.21pm 1st tee today, David Hearn +3 73 also off early today

The cut is projected at +1 early on this Friday morning, it's overcast, warm and the wind is down a little from Thursday around 11mph WNW  (17kph).

Henrik Stenson shot 81 79 last week at the Players, opened with 78, there is a story in there somewhere for the sensational Swede...

Bryan Angus

Cockerill looks set to make cut at Magical Kenya Open.. live Friday scoreboard

 Magical Kenya Open Friday Leaderboard

Aaron Cockerill missed the cut in his first start of 2021 last week in Qatar, and after an opening E 71 this week at altitude in Africa at this Magical Kenya Open needed a good round today.

Playing the back nine first, it didn't look good with 2 bogey's and a double mixed in with 3 birdies, out in +1 37, however a solid bogey free, 3 birdie final nine 32, 69  finds him right on the cut line -2 with the 2nd round winding up as I post this.

Due to technical difficulties out with the European Tour's control there has been no TV coverage, however the news is that it will resume at 5.30am EST Saturday morning.

The clubhouse leader is from Finland, Kalle Samooja 65 66 -11, with good news for Scottish golf fans, Connor Syme 65 67 -10 and Calum Hill 65 68 -9 right behind along with Asian American Kurt Kitayama 67 66 -9.

I watched an interview with first round leader, Florida based Englishman Sam Horsfield who is in the late wave today starting at -7, and he said he only used his driver twice on this Karen CC at 6000 feet of altitude near Nairobi. The ball is carrying so far, and as I mentioned yesterday, the course is so tight, using 3 metals and long driving irons is the play this week to get the ball on the fairway.

Cockerill has had a very colourful scorecard for his first 27 holes this week with 2 doubles, 4 bogey's and 10 birdies,  but that bogey free last nine today shows me he might have figured out the altitude.

Follow the late wave scores on my link at the top of the page.

Bryan Angus