Thorbjorn Olsen, a new dad, a new perspective and a flirt with 59 to lead Tenerife Open.. live scoreboard

 Tenerife Open 

Thorbjørn Olesen continued the blistering start to his 2021 Race to Dubai as a course record 62 handed him the first round lead at the Tenerife Open

The 31-year-old only played his first event of the season last week after suffering a wrist injury and then celebrating the birth of son Cooper earlier this month.

He showed few signs of rust as he carded a 61 en route to finishing fifth at the Gran Canaria Lopesan Open and brought that form with him to Golf Costa Adeje, carding ten birdies and a single dropped shot to get to nine under.

The in form duo of John Catlin and Garrick Higgo were a shot off the lead alongside Alexander Björk, with Dean Burmester also at eight under after arguably producing the round of the day in the more difficult afternoon conditions.

At nine under with four holes to play, Olesen had a chance at a 59 on a low scoring day, while Catlin was ten under after 13 holes but could not convert to join Oliver Fisher in the sub 60 club on the European Tour.

Olesen revealed last week that he had no expectations when he arrived in the Canary Islands last week and, despite firing two course records in seven days, he was still keeping the pressure off himself.

"To be honest my expectations for this week are low as well," he said. "I was very happy to finish top five (last week), that was amazing. I haven’t been that high on a leaderboard for a very long time; being in contention again was a great feeling and something I’ve missed very much for the last few years.

"I don’t set high expectations now, I found something last week and was making birdies. Today my putting was great and no wind to start made it a bit easier. I’m trying to take every day as it is and concentrate on the shot and see what’s happening."

He added: "I think the first nine holes was the best putting display I’ve shown for a very long time - I just had to look at it and it went in."

Starting on the back nine, Olesen took advantage of the par five 11th, 13th and 18th, adding further gains on the 15th, 16th and 17th to turn in 30.

A two putt birdie on the par five first made it five in a row and when he followed another on the fourth with a tee shot to tap in range at the par three fifth, history was beckoning.

A bogey on the eighth stalled his momentum but he picked the shot back up from 12 feet on the ninth to set the target.

Seven Canadians descend on Valspar this week's PGA Tour stop....Live TEE TIMES, scoreboard.

 Valspar Championship Thursday TEE TIMES/ LIVE SCORING here

The Innisbrook resort at Palm Harbour near Tampa has always been a hotspot for Canadian snowbirds looking to get some winter golf.

After a stellar career from 1953-65 as the star running back for the Toronto Argos, Dick Shatto eventually moved down to New Port Richey, Florida where he worked for the Westin Innisbrook Resort where Canadians were thrilled to meet their hero, despite his modesty.

The trend continues this week as 7 Canucks are in the field, including the 2017 champion Adam Hadwin. David Hearn who has his home in Florida, Mac Hughes and Nick Taylor who are paired together, Corey Connors, Michael Gligic and Roger Sloan round out the contingent, the largest ever.

Adam Hadwin

DJ and Justin Thomas have shown up as the headliners, it's a strong  field with a lot of guys near their homes in Florida like Justin Rose and Graeme McDowell. 

Round 1 is now underway on a warm sunny day with just a light breeze so follow the action on my live scoring link above.

Bryan Angus 

Taylor Pendrith qualifies for 2021/22 PGA Tour card

If you follow me here, thanks a lot, and you'll know while I cover all of pro golf, including the European Tour, but pay particular attention to our Canadian men and women on a daily basis.

Taylor Pendrith (29) from Richmond Hill, Ontario has been playing lights out on the Korn Ferry Tour this year, and this weekend by way of his 15th place finish at the Veritex Bank Championship in Arlington, Texas he has passed the 1700 point mark which ensures he will finish in the top 25 who graduate to the PGA Tour in 2021/22.

He is currently 3rd on that list, with 1748 points in 26 events in 2020 and 2021.

Adam Svensson (27) from Surrey BC is currently 13th on the Korn Ferry list, and playing well, I'll be  surprised if he doesn't join Taylor by the end of this season.

Bryan Angus

"Baby Face" Garrick Higgo wins Gran Canaria Lopesan Open

 Gran Canaria Lopesan Open final Results

Garrick Higgo held off the challenge of in form Maximilian Kieffer to win his second European Tour title at the 2021 Gran Canaria Lopesan Open.

The South African lefty with the baby face, had carded the lowest round of his European Tour career with a 63 on day three to put himself in the driving seat and he had extended his lead to four shots by the turn.

Kieffer - fresh off a play-off defeat last week in Austria - came home in 30 to sign for a 62 and pile on the pressure but Higgo kept his cool and registered another 63 to get 25 under and seal a three shot victory.

Dane Jeff Winther picked up four shots in his last three holes to sign for a 64 and get to 21 under, two shots clear of England's Sam Horsfield.

Higgo's maiden victory at last season's Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos came in just his seventh event and this triumph at Meloneras Golf arrives in his 24th.

That makes him the fastest South African to two wins in European Tour history not including Major Championships, and the victory could also move him up to a career best 65th on the Official World Golf Ranking.

Including Majors, the only South African to claim two wins in fewer events is the great Gary Player, and Higgo revealed he spoke to Player on Saturday night as he sat on his first 54 hole lead.

"I spoke to Gary last night actually and he just said there is no such thing as a lead and you should play like you're two behind," he said. "That was nice from him. He's said it to me so many times but I've never really had a lead so I've never had to worry about that."

The result also secures a South African double, with Brandon Stone having won the Limpopo Championship on the European Challenge Tour earlier in the day.

"It's unreal," Higgo added. "Jeez, I can't put it into words, it feels amazing. It's quite a relief finishing now.

"It wasn’t over until the last hole really, I knew anything could happen, especially with the wind coming up. It was a bit stressful.

"I am just going to keep going forward. I am playing next week, the week after and see where my game goes. It feels good, I have worked really hard with my coach and everyone back at home, so it feels amazing."

Canadian Aaron Cockerill finished at -13 T29.

The Tour remains in the Canary Islands for the next fortnight, next week is the Tenerife Open.

Great putting, talent, lady luck and a her Christian faith.. Brooke Henderson wins Hugel Air-Premia LA Open..

 Hugel -Air Premia LA Open final results here.

It was in  my opinion the best tournament of putting for Brooke Henderson this year, some would say longer than that.

Combine that with great ball striking numbers I've featured here in most every round, and a little of lady luck's help when a 70 foot chip in for birdie 2 at the 12th was racing by the hole until the flagstick got in the way, and a clutch pitch from below the green to within the leather to preserve a winning par at the last, and you have this devout Christian 23 year old Canadian star with her 10th LPGA Tour win.

" I truly believe when you are in the winners circle you are getting a lot of breaks and it's really meant to be. I was making a lot of birdies and I think the biggest break was that chip in at 12, You know those breaks can be small or really big."

Before the round began, looking at the leaderboard I thought Brooke was in the usual position at 4 behind Jessica Korda, and 3 behind Jin Young Ko, with which both of whom she was paired, she could use a 72 from both of them and a 67 from Brooke, and that was the other crucial part of her win, since that's exactly what happened.

69, 65 67 67 -16 averaging 28 putts and hitting 50/56 fairways, 4/6 sandies, 58/72 greens in regulation, $225,000 are the winning numbers.

She and Brittany are skipping the Asian trip to Singapore for the HSBC Women's World Championship April 29, and to Thailand for the Honda LPGA May 6th opting to stay home in Florida. Alena Sharp will be the lone Canadian.

Later last night she posted on twitter, "May all honour and Glory be to God" a reflection on her Christian faith.

Not much is made of this integral part of her life, but having been brought up by a staunch protestant Christian Scottish mother who still at 90 goes to the "kirk" on Edinburgh every Sunday, I can assure you their belief is to put themselves in the hands of God, and he will guide them along their way.

I'm not sure Brooke needs any help with her golf game, however her belief in God enables her to cope with whatever comes her way, and that must be of great comfort with her life and career all still to come.

Bryan Angus

Henderson admits 'finally feeling comfortable with putter" 3rd going into final round..TEE TIMES / scoreboard

 Hugel-Air Premia LA Open Saturday tee times, live scoreboard here

Remember this version of the LA Open on the Wilshire GC is a Wed-Sat event, the final round later today.

It was an obvious relief for Brooke Henderson who had a double at #6, to see her putter heat up again, bouncing back with 2 birdies to make the turn in E.

She then shot -4 32 on the back just missing a 7 footer on the par 3 18th to shoot 67 and at -12 3rd, will be in the final pairing with Jessica Korda (68) -16 and Jin Young Ko (66) -15.

Talking to the media afterward Brooke admitted what I've been saying here most of her season so far " I'm finally starting to feel comfortable with the putter, it's really nice to see a few long ones go in. I'm a few s hots behind, so we'll just go out and keep hitting good shots (14 fairways on Friday), hopefully make a lot of birdies and see what happens" 

She's been averaging 31/32 putts all year, despite stellar numbers from tee to green, so no surprise with only 26 on Thursday and 27 on Friday she is in the final pairing for the first time this year at 1.05pm PST.

Bryan Angus 

MacKenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada players get new tour to play south of the border

With wave 3 of COVID hitting many areas of Canada, especially Ontario very hard and the RBC Canadian Open being cancelled as a result, the writing was on the wall for a full blown season of the MacKenzie Tour-PGA Tour of Canada.

Executive Director Scott Pritchard announced yesterday that his tour is splitting in two because of restrictions imposed by the pandemic.

The new Forme Tour will play 8 events south of the border, mostly on the east coast from June - September for all players with MacKenzie Tour status. The top 5 will earn Korn Ferry Tour status, while others will get preferred status at the Korn Ferry qualifying tournament. The Auburn University has offered up their course, as has TPC River Bend in Ohio.

Adam Svensson graduated from MacKenzie Tour

Meanwhile up here in Canada the MacKenzie Tour- PGA Tour Canada will announce a schedule in the near future for Canadian based players. Some of the regular stops are expected to sign up again and the players will compete for 2022 MacKenzie Tour status.

So players will be able to compete on both sides of the border, ensuring those who come back up to Canada meet all the existing quarantine protocols.

It's a one year compromise as it stands now, and gives MacKenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada a place to play after missing last season.

Forme is a wellness-technology company who have offered to be the umbrella sponsor for all 8 US based events.

Bryan Angus

Henderson's putter the answer T4 at Hugel-Air Premia .. Friday TEE TIMES/ live scoring

 Hugel Air Premia LA Open Friday TEE  TIMES, scoreboard here

After playing beautifully from tee to green this season but averaging 31 putts a round, it was a great feeling for Brooke Henderson to post a -6 65 with just 26 putts in round 2 of this Hugel- Air Premia LA Open on the soft Wilshire GC under the HOLLYWOOD sign in lala land.

She's T4 -8 but still 5 shots off the Jessica Korda 64 65 -13 lead.

Brooke got hot on the back nine with 4 birdies in her last 5 holes.

" If I can continue to ball strike the way I have this week, and continue to make those putts,  I think it could be a really exciting weekend. It's really nice to be, well not in contention because I'm a few shots back, but up near the top of the leaderboard"..

Korda and her sister Nelly have been in, on and around the lead in most LPGA events, this week Jessica has set the 36 hole tournament scoring record. She has scored par or better 19/22 rounds this year.

In America they are drawing unfair comparison the the legendary Williams tennis sisters, however from my point of view the Korda's who come from a strong athletic family would be just what the LPGA needs.

By that, before anyone jumps to any conclusions, I mean if the LPGA ever wants to garner enough attention in the US ratings game to get a national TV contract and the millions of dollars that come with it, they can't be hurt by having two American sisters as their stars.

It is truly an international tour, recently dominated by wonderfully talented South Korean players. That's all good and well earned, but isn't making it must see viewing to the American public.

Lydia Ko and Patty Tavatanakit proved once again what a fickle game golf is, both coming into the week on a tidal wave of publicity after Patty won the ANA, and Lydia lapped the LOTTE field at -28.

Lydia opened here with 78, Patty 75, and both missed the cut. So have Alena Sharp and Jaclyn Lee.

Bryan Angus 

European Tour plays the next 3 weeks on the beautiful Canary Islands..

Imagine spending 3 weeks, all expenses paid on Spain's version of paradise, the Canary Islands off the NW coast of Africa, Tenerife being the largest. That's where the European Tour is playing, and imagine this, getting paid for it !!

Ángel Víctor Torres Pérez, President of the Canary Islands, visited Meloneras Golf by Lopesan as the venue prepares to host the inaugural Gran Canaria Lopesan Open, the first event in the European Tour’s ‘Canary Islands Swing’.

Pictured (L to R) Manuel Lopez Santana (Government of the Canary Islands) Francisco Lopez Sánchez (Lopesan Hotel Group), Ángel Víctor Torres Pérez (President of the Canary Islands), Rafa Cabrera Bello, Teresa Berástegui (Government of the Canary Islands) and Florencio de la Rosa Camejo (DISA Group)

The President joined Gran Canaria Lopesan Open host - the Ryder Cup star and four-time European Tour winner Rafa Cabrera Bello – and Francisco López Sánchez, CEO Lopesan Hotel Group, to pledge his support for the events alongside Manuel Lopez Santana, Director General of Sport and Teresa Berástegui, Deputy Minister of Tourism for the Government of the Canary Islands and Florencio de la Rosa Camejo, Director of Corporate Strategy and Diversification at DISA, the energy products and services provider who are supporting the three upcoming events on the idyllic islands. 

Cabrera Bello, who was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and established the Circuito Juvenil Rafa Cabrera Bello for young golfers around the archipelago in 2019, said: “I’m passionate about growing golf in the Canary Islands and it’s a great honour for me to return home to play in and host the Gran Canaria Lopesan Open. I would like to thank the Government of the Canary Islands, and Cabildo de Gran Canaria for their support, in addition to the partners who have helped to make this swing of events happen.” 

Angel Victor Torres, President of the Canary Islands, said: "We are happy that the contribution made by the Government of the Canary Islands through the Ministry of Tourism and the General Directorate of Sports, and the contribution of companies such as Lopesan and Disa, is supporting an event that, without a doubt, is going to showcase the Canary Islands as an enormous tourist attraction.

"The Canary Islands have clear skies and temperatures of 20 degrees all year round. In addition, we have first-rate tourist and sports infrastructures to host competitions such as these European Tour events. We are lucky to have in Gran Canaria and Tenerife over 150 of the best golfers in the world."

The Gran Canaria Lopesan Open tees off today and will bring back good memories for local star Cabrera Bello, who made his European Tour debut on the island in the 2002 Canarias Open de España, finishing tied fourth as compatriot Sergio Garcia took the title.

The action then switches to Golf Costa Adeje for back-to-back events - the Tenerife Open on April 29-May 2, and the Tenerife Championship, which was added to the schedule earlier this month following the postponement of the Open de France, from May 6-9.

Canadians in team play starting today at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.. Thursday TEE TIMES /TEAMS/ live scoring

 Zurich Classic of New Orleans live scoring  here

There are 4 Canadians in play at this weeks Zurich Classic two man team play which gets under way this morning on TPC Louisiana. 

 Nick Taylor

Nick Taylor teams with Martin Laird at 7.39am, 1st tee, David Hearn/ Matt Zuchar 8.31am 10th tee, Roger Sloan/ Aaron Baddeley 1.36pm 10th tee, Michael Gligic/ Vincent Whaley 1st tee 1.49pm.

For all teams including the likes of Henrik Stenson/Justin Rose resurrecting their Ryder Cup team, click on my scoring link above.

Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer are the defending champions at this event where the Cajun barbeque food is legendary.

A cool, calm sunny day is the weather forecast. 

How it works:  88 teams play against each other, fourballs Thursday and Saturday, foursomes on Friday and Sunday.

33 teams will be left standing to play the weekend.

Bryan Angus

Brooke Henderson shoots 69, Ko struggles at Hugel-Air Premia LA Open... Thursday TEE TIMES. Live scoring..

 Hugel Air Premia LA Open leaderboard  here 

After an opening round of 69 Brooke Henderson is T30th, 5 shots off the lead held by Jessica Korda -7 64.

Playing the back nine first in -2 34, she had 2 bogey's and 2 birdies E 35 coming in for her 69. Once again, driving it well 12/14 fairways and 15/18 greens in regulation, but 31 putts.

Alena Sharp +1 72 and Jaclyn Lee who seems to be struggling at this level, +8 79.

The feature group had a surprising day. Jessica Korda as mentioned -7 64 while Lydia Ko struggled mightily with 2 doubles and 4 bogeys in her +7 78, and local gal and a pre tournament favourite Patty Tavatanakit +4 75.

Nelly Korda is in at -5 66 just behind her older sister.

Bryan Angus

Henderson, Ko, Tavatanakit begin play today Hugel-Air Premia LA Open... TEE TIME/leaderboard

Hugel-Air Premia LA Open Wednesday TEE TIMES /live scoring here

After the dust has settled from her phenomenal -28 week in Hawaii, Lydia Ko enjoyed an off day at the beach in LA on Monday before preparing for today's first round at the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open at the Wilshire GC.

The course is only a few miles from the UCLA campus where Thai star Patty Tavatanakit (pictured above) starred for the Bruins, she of course beat Lydia 2 weeks ago to win the ANA Inspiration, and she is in the feature pairing with Lydia and Jessica Korda today and tomorrow.

Canadians: Brooke Henderson plays at 1.21 local off #10, while Alena Sharp and Jaclyn Lee are paired together on course in the early wave this morning.

Hugel Inc is a biochemical company that makes health and beauty products, 

Air Premia is a Korean based low budget airlines recently expanding into LA.

Bryan Angus

Monday morning shag bag, another top 10 for Connors.. final scoreboards

 RBC Heritage final scoreboard here

His 64 on Friday stood Corey Connors in good stead, and with a 1 bogey 68 on Sunday he finished T4 -13, as I mentioned yesterday his 4th top 10 in 6 outings.

Corey Connors

A T8 at the Masters was worth $345,000 US, T4 this week was $298,792 some nice change for him and Malory to count as he takes this week off at his home in swanky Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Stewart Cink filed a steady 70 for his 3rd win at this event, but really it was all over after his opening 63 63. 

MGM Resorts Championship final leaderboard here

Adam Svensson was just a shot off the lead in the final pairing down in Las Vegas, but the cards didn't fall his way on Sunday, +6 78 T22 -6. He was in good shape out in E 36, but 4 bogey's and a double at the 72nd 42 was he worst of the year.

Rich kid Peter Uihlein won by 4 shots at -16.

Chubb Classic final leaderboard here.

Steve Stricker has been pre occupied as captain of this years US Ryder Cup team, under some pressure playing at home after the drubbing they've been taking in recent years, however it hasn't affected his own game.

Rounds of 66 67 67 -16 was enough to edge the lanky Swede Robert Karlsson and Monday qualifier Alex Cjeka by a shot.

Mike Weir T21  72 70 71 -3 while Stephen Ames T53 79 71 68 +2.

Bryan Angus

The Sunday Story in golf.. Live scoreboards.. Connors T6

 RBC Heritage Sunday leaderboard here

At Harbourtown GL in Hilton Head SC, it's Stewart Cink's to lose 63 63 69 -18, five clear of Collin Morikawa -13 then the pack.

Corey Connors had everything go his way on Friday's 64, but the putts weren't dropping yesterday +1 72, but he's T6 at -10, looking for his 4th top 10 in his last 6 starts.

Mac Hughes is T42 -4.

MGM Resorts Championship Sunday leaderboard here

Adam Svensson who has had 2 top 10's including a win in his last 3 starts on this Korn Ferry Tour is just a shot off the lead in Las Vegas at -12 after a 72 on Saturday.

Chubb Classic Sunday leaderboard here.

Naples, Florida is the site for this week's return to play on the Champions Tour where Mike Weir 72 70 02 is T29.  Stephen Ames T70 79 71 +6.

Robert Karlsson and Freddie Couples lead -12, with Langer, Cjeka, and Stricker all in pursuit at -11

Bryan Angus

Ko laps the field in her return to the winners circle.. Henderson T27 LOTTE Championship final scoreboard

 LOTTE Championship final scoreboard  here

It's been fun for the most part watching Lydia Ko grow up. We were all at the CP Women's Open when she beat a field of women as a 15 year old, still with her eye teeth, pig tails and John Lennon glasses.

Her game simply defied her school girl looks. No demons between her ears back then, just fun travelling with mommy, playing golf, doing school work in hotel rooms.

Lydia Ko, of New Zealand 

Now about to turn 24, contacts in place, teeth all fixed, fit, all decked out like a pro billboard, happy with her caddy, her coach and her very expensive PXG equipment, she's finally back in stunning form after nearly 3 years getting it all figured out.

One bogey in 100 holes, -28 over 4 rounds a converted touchdown ahead of Nelly Korda, Inbee Park, Sei Young Kim and Irish star Leona Maguire. Her $300,000 puts her over $11.5 million in winnings. She absolutely shredded the Kapolei GC, in fact the field average on the par 72 was 68.1. Without the heavy wind it's left defenseless. It's her 16 LPGA win.

Brooke Henderson did her best and played very well T27, 68 68 68 70 -14 from tee to green, but didn't capitalize enough on the greens to keep up in her title defense. I dare say she wouldn't mind if they went back to Ko Olina GC where she won by 4 shots twice.

Alena Sharp T72 71 66 72 74 -5 and Anne Catherine Tanguay T75 72 69 71 76 E for an enjoyable all expenses paid week on Oahu.

The next event is a short flight from Honolulu to LA for the Hugal-Air Premia LA Open.

Bryan Angus

Adam Svensson leads MGM Resorts Championship on Korn Ferry Tour ... Saturday leaderboard...

 MGM Resorts Championship Saturday leaderboard  here

pgatour.com  

 Adam Svensson matched the course record on Friday to reach 12-under and take a two-stroke lead at the halfway point of the MGM Resorts Championship at Paiute. Svensson leads Kevin Dougherty by two strokes and four players by three at Paiute Golf Resort’s Sun Mountain course.

With calmer conditions, the field averaged more than three strokes lower on Friday (scoring average of 69.455) compared to the first round (73.026) while the cut fell at 3-under 141 with 73 professionals advancing to the weekend.

Adam Svensson

“A completely different day than yesterday,” said Svensson. “Yesterday was cold and windy, but today was more of a relaxed day. I just had the putter rolling whereas yesterday was just a fight to make pars and make a couple of birdies here and there.”

Svensson, who broke through with his second Korn Ferry Tour win three weeks ago in Savannah, Georgia, enjoyed an adventurous day on Friday. The 27-year-old scattered 11 birdies, three bogeys and four pars across his 18 holes, including a stretch of eight birdies in 10 holes from Nos. 2-11. The 11 birdies in a single round were the most of Svensson’s Korn Ferry Tour career, besting 10 in a round at the 2018 Memorial Health Championship presented by LRS.

“I think I’ve done it one other time in my life, but it was a long time ago,” laughed Svensson. “You feel like the hole is big, you’re hitting your lines and you’re feeling confident. You just have to make good strokes and be feeling it out there.”

With his win in Savannah, Svensson leaped from 40th to 12th in the Korn Ferry Tour points standings. A win this week would guarantee him a return to the PGA TOUR this fall after competing there during the 2018-19 season.

“I learned that you don’t have to play perfect golf,” said Svensson of his win in Savannah. “I hit a lot of bad shots out there today and a lot of good shots. You just kind of have to make those par saves and those birdies when you can.”

 

Superb 64 has Connors in contention again, RBC Heritage Saturday TEE TIMES/scoreboard

 RBC Heritage Saturday TEE TIMES/leaderboard here

He has carried the form from 68 of the 72 holes last week at Augusta, Corey Connors got on a roll on his last nine holes on Friday, making 6 birdies in 9 holes for 30, on his way to -7 64, the only blemish a double bogey at the par 3 14th when his tee shot found water.

His -11 would normally be enough to lead, but he's 2nd after Stewart Cink, a past winner here, went out and set a 36 hole scoring record with 63 63 -16. Cink (47) as I mentioned yesterday was simply lost in golf's "waiting for the senior tour wilderness", hadn't won in 11 years until last September in the wrap around season when he triumphed at the Safeway, in California.

Corey has 3 top 10's in his last 5 events said " A lot of positives, I'm feeling good about my game, hit a lot of nice irons, and feel good about my putter as well. I'm giving myself a lot of chance and it's nice to see some go in, let's hope I can keep that up into the weekend."

He and Cink are the final pairing today at 2.10pm

Mac Hughes (71) T34 -4 is the other Canadian playing the weekend.

Weather: A cloudy cool day by Hilton Head, SC standards with very little wind to speak of, a little breeze for the leaders, 9mph S, so ideal for scoring again.

Bryan Angus

Henderson treading water at LOTTE Championship in Hawaii....Saturday TEE TIMES, leaderboard

 LOTTE Championship Saturday tee times/ leaderboard here 

Brooke Henderson playing to win her 3rd straight LOTTE Championship, gets certain perks, including a premier room at the 4Seasons overlooking the blue Pacific.

"It's nice to wake up to look out at the ocean, makes me feel peaceful and calm inside"

So far the move from Ko Olina GC to Kapolei GC hasn't provided much opposition to the field, the par 72 playing at 68.1 and the leader Lydia Ko who's -7 65 has her at -21, with Nelly Korda at -20.

Brooke won her two titles by 4 clear shots at Ko Olina GC. This week with 3 straight -4 68's she's at T16 -12 that's nine off the lead, just treading water if you'll pardon the pun..

Korda at -20 has needed only 25 putts each day for 75 over three rounds, Brooke has needed 32 each day for 96, a shocking 21 more putts.

However she's first in GIR with a stunning 52/54 and has hit 37/42 Fairways, simply superb from tee to green. She's made 14 birdies. only 2 bogey's in 3 rounds, but just a few too many pars.

Obviously the greens at Ko Olina were more suited to her and Brittany, however her flat stick has cost her a chance to win this championship for a 3rd time, considering the shape the rest of her game is in.

Alena Sharp T58 71 66 72 -7 and Anne Catherine Tanguay T72 72 69 71 -4.

Remember today is the final round. Lydia Ko, now 23, hasn't won since 2018 after dominating the game as a teen with 16 wins and 2 majors. However she is -31 over her last 4 rounds including a 62 at the ANA and a 63 here this week.

She far from being home and dry with today's final round to go, and 62's and 3's out there for however gets hot.. 

Bryan Angus 

Connors, Hughes T8 RBC Heritage. Friday TEE TIMES/ live scoreboard...

 RBC Heritage Friday tee times, leaderboard  here 

Both Canucks from the Masters, Corey Connors and Mac Hughes brought their fine form up the east coast from Augusta to Hilton Head for this week's RBC Heritage.

Mac Hughes

They shot -4 67's T8 while Nick Taylor hung on to a -2 69 T35th

Harbourtown GC is a much easier test than Augusta, with a premium on accuracy off the tee, and solid approach shots.

The opening par 4 is just a 3 wood at best and a wedge, Dustin Johnson almost drove it, for example.

Young Aussie Cameron Smith was unconscious with a career best -9 62, just pipping veteran Stewart Cink who has found the fountain of youth with his stellar -8 63. He won earlier this year for the first time in his past 11 seasons and has 6 top 20's.

Adam Hadwin and Michael Gligic had rounds they'd rather forget , T128th +5 76.

For tee times and live scoring click on my link above.

Bryan Angus

Sharp joins Henderson. LO goes low again.. LOTTE Championship Friday TEE TIMES, live scoring

 Lotte Championship Friday TEE TIMES, live scoreboard here.

Alena Sharp grabbed my Canadian headlines in round 2 of this LOTTE Championship by firing 6 birdies and an eagle 3, along with 2 bogey's, and used only 26 putts for a -6 66 T20 -7 for her lowest round of this season so far.

Alena Sharp

Meanwhile Brooke Henderson put up a clean sheet, no bogey's 4 birdies and 18\18 greens in regulation for her second straight -4 68, -8 T16. She hasn't missed a GIR in 2 rounds 36/36, however on the other side of the coin, another 32 putts which is keeping her from being amongst the leaders.

Little Yuka Saso from the Philipines has this Kapolei course figured out with rounds of 64 64 -16 and Lydia Ko  fired the low score of the day -9 63 to sit 2ns at -14. She posted a final round 62 recently at the ANA Inspiration.

Saso had an incredible 6 birdies on her front nine 31 and added 3 more coming in 33, She has only used 26 and 27 putts which is 53 over 2 days compared to Brooke's 64.

Jaclyn Lee has missed the cut, while Anne Catherine Tanguay with a rare LPGA start is T60 72 69 -3.

Lydia can't get much better. Yesterday 9 birdies all the rest pars 63 and another 6 birdies on Wednesday 67 for her -14 total, Again look at putts used 26 24 just 50 over 36 holes.

Bryan Angus

Connors leads 5 Canadians today at the RBC Heritage.... live scoreboard, tee times..

 RBC Heritage Thursday tee times, leaderboard here 

It's what Corey Connors calls a "quick turnaround", this week at the RBC Heritage, the Canadian bank sponsored stop on the PGA Tour at Hilton Head SC, just up the road from Augusta.

The hole in one from Corey Conners on the sixth hole in Saturday’s third round of the Masters was a treat and Tim Hortons named a donut after him. Make a hole-in-one at Augusta ➡️ get a @TimHortons donut named after you.  What a week for @CoreConn.  pic.twitter.com/zWrWqkG5IM — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April […]

Corey leads Nick Taylor, Michael Gligic, Adam Hadwin and Mac Hughes into play this morning in a strong field where quite a lot of the Masters field including #1 Dustin Johnson have made the short trip.

In fact some who missed the cut like Johnson and Lee Westwood have had the chance for a nice weekend off at on of America's premier holiday resorts right on the Atlantic coast.

Connors who will be off next week says he hasn't really had time to dissect his final round at Augusta as he prepares his game plan for this week, but he did stress his 3 top 10's in his last 6 starts has him "playing with confidence and high expectations every time he tees it up"

" I learned a lot from last week, I got a little tightened up there for a few holes, trying to be safe with my tee shots, instead of just playing freely like I did most of the week. I wasn't happy when I got to the 9th tee about the way things had been going out there from 5 thru 8."

Bryan Angus

Henderson T14 defending her title at the LOTTE Championship.....Thursday TEE TIMES, scoreboard

 LOTTE Championship TEE TIMES, leaderboard here.

As usual in Hawaii the wind was brisk during yesterday's opening round at the LOTTE Championship where Brooke Henderson is vying for her 3rd straight title.

It will be made more difficult since the LPGA and sponsors have moved it from Ko Olina GC which she owned, over to Kapolei GC, which she describes as looking a lot by Ko Olina until you play and discover more sloping greens and elevation changes.

Playing in the morning Brooke hit every fairway and every green in regulation, but in the story of her game so far in her career she needed 32 putts for a -4 68 T14.

The lead is shared at -8 by Philipino Yuku Saso and American Brittany Altomare both with 64's. Nelly Korda 65 and her older sister Jessica 67 were other scores on a tightly packed leaderboard.

Canadians: Alena Sharp -1 71, Anne Catherine Yanguay E 72, Jaclyn Lee +3 75 were the other Canadian scores.

Check my scoring link above for today's tee times.

This tournament runs from Wed-Sat..

Bryan Angus..

Brooke Henderson defends her title at the LOTTE Championship... tee times, leaderboard

 LOTTE Championship tee times/leaderboard here

Brooke Henderson is in Oahu, Hawaii this week, with a lovely ocean view room overlooking the Pacific ocean, such are the trappings for the 2 time defending champion of the LOTTE Championship.

She is joined by Alena Sharp, Jaclyn Lee and Anne Catherine Tanguay.

The tournament has been moved from Ko Olina where she won both her titles and never finished worse that 11th. This year it's at Kapolei GC not far away, but completely different.

Asked why she plays so well in Hawaii, Brooke who is a devout Christian said, " It's so nice to wake up every morning and look out over the ocean, it puts everything in perspective, it's so calm and peaceful which is what we need right now, it puts me at peace with myself, which is something I'd like to try with my game more often this year"

' It's really cool to be in this position, but you can only play one shot at a time, and it's a new course so a lot of learning to do"

Bryan Angus

Aaron Cockerill returns to play in snowy Austria.... TEE TIMES

 Austrian Golf Open Thursday  Tee Times

After the Masters break the European Tour regroups at the Diamond Country Club in Atzenbrugg near Vienna where it was snowing yesterday.

That should suit Aaron Cockerill who is from Winnipeg. He got off to a slow start this season missing his first cut in Qatar, but his play was steadily improving before everyone went their own way from Kenya where he T52, then T28.

He has full status, is currently ranked #405 in the world and #154 in the Race to Dubai.

Click on my link above for Thursday tee times and leaderboard to follow all the action.

Bryan Angus

Connors T8, Historic Masters win for Matsuyama.. final scoreboard

85th Masters final scoreboard here

Despite tepid reactions like "anti climatic" and " where were all the stars" from the American media, make no mistake this win by Hideki Matsuyama, who stumbled across the finish line late Sunday afternoon, while all else around him stumbled prior, is historic, and monumental to this world wide game, especially of course to anyone of Japanese heritage both the 126.3 million at home and millions more all around the world.

In 2003 Mike Weir became an instant legend to 32 million Canadians when he became the first Canadian man to win a major.

Hideki Matsuyama celebrates in the green jacket

Exactly the same has befallen Matsuyama. He made a bogey on the first with a wide right drive, and with others like Will Zalatoris charging his 4 shot lead was down to 1 in 15 minutes.

However he steadied with 3 birdies to go out in 34. His amazing -6 through his last 8 holes on Saturday's 65, was flipped on Sunday, with 4 bogey's in his last 8 including the 18th. 

However his biggest threat as we all know now, Xander Schauffele who made birdies at 12,13 14, and 15 to get to -10, made that triple bogey 6 at the par 3 16th, to give Hideki the cushion he needed.

For the rest of the field, it was a case of coulda, shoulda, woulda.

Corey Connors had hit 29/31 fairways over 2 and a bit rounds in as fine a display of driving the golf ball as you'll ever see. He parred the par3 4th, but then missed the 5th fairway well to the right, didn't shout 'fore" just stared, then pointed. His lie in the pine straw had a big twig of it behind the ball, and his shot came out like it was topped.

From 112 yards his approach was above the hole resulting in a 2 putt bogey 5, and the momentum was gone. Par 3 6th was a hole in one on Saturday, he was long and over the green with too much club on Sunday, bogey 4. 

7th, drive wide right again, a duffed chip into the bunker, poor bunker shot, 2 putted double bogey, then another bogey at the par 5 8th, and he was out of contention suddenly from -7 to -2.

To his credit, he hit his customary great drive on his way to par at 9, settled down and after going out in 40, he came home bogey free -2 34 for a 74. He T8 -4.

In hindsight, this is his best result at Augusta, and he played beautiful, remarkable golf all week on a course he can clearly dominate, and that 4 hole blip will smart, but will make him better this week and every other to follow.

Mac Hughes, well it wasn't his day, I followed him, he put the ball in the wrong places on several greens, which is a killer at Augusta, his 76 T40 +4.

Will Zalatoris shot 70 -9 2nd, the young string bean American played with Corey, and is off to a great start in his career. Jordan Spieth couldn't make enough putts on the weekend, but his Sunday 70 was good enough for -7 T3 with Schauffele.

There were lots of other storylines, Augusta is a helluva punishing course, not off the tee, but as we saw time and time again, players have to know where not to hit it each day when the flag positions are changed.

As Lee Westwood said before he joined others like DJ and Rory flying out of Augusta on Friday night, "that's why you see the same guys in contention and winning every year"

This year it's all about Hideki Matsuyama, the first of many men from Japan like Jumbo and Jet Osaka, Isao Aoki, Tommy Nakajima, Ryo Ishikawa, Shingo Katayama and many others, to finally win that major, and take his place forever amongst the champions at Augusta, and in the hearts of all his fellow countrymen and women.

Bryan Angus

Connors in the pack chasing Matsuyama.. Sunday at Augusta... TEE TIMES, live scoreboard

 Masters Sunday TEE TIMES here. live scoreboard here

This 85th version of the Masters will be remembered by me so far by 2 exceptional runs, and the extraordinary driving of the golf ball by Corey Connors.

First on Thursday when Justin Rose inexplicably played his last 11 holes in -9 to open a 4 shot lead.

Then on Saturday, after a rain delay Hideki Matsuyama began Amen Corner by pushing his tee shot wide right, found a good lie amongst the trees and played one of the shots of the week from under the trees to 8 feet at 11 for a birdie, and played his last 8 holes in -6 for 65 to open up a 4 shot lead at -11 over a packed field going into play later this morning.

Neither Rose, nor Matsuyama really know why they suddenly got so hot.

Now he is the rabbit, unlikely to repeat a 65, and the eager pack behind him includes Rosey in a group of 4 at -7.

Then Corey Connors at -6. Over the year he is 9th in Driving Accuracy % 69.6.  This week he leads the field with 80%. On Friday he hit 14/14 fairways yesterday 12/14, Brandel Chamblee said it was as good a display of driving that you could expect to see.

He has shot 73, 69 68, including a hole in one at the 6th, he's hit 70% of greens in regulation.

Corey's achilles has always been his putter, and although through the first 3 days he has missed a couple of tiddlers, and missed a few birdie opportunities that say a Bill Casper would have converted, the truth is he has saved par on numerous occasions with 5-10 footers on Augusta's electric quick sloping greens.

TEE TIMES: So today he will play with young American Will Zalatoris at 2.20pm in the third to last pairing, followed by Justin Rose and Aussie Marc Leishman at 2.30pm then Matsuyama and Xander Schauffele at 2.40pm

Mac Hughes has had an excellent week after going to the final 16 in the Dell Match Play in his last outing, and he will play with Shane Lowry at 12.20pm.

He has 3 rounds of 72 E overall, and has shown off his vaunted short game and putting skills repeatedly.

Weather: partly sunny, warm, only 15% chance of showers, with the wind at 19kph SW this afternoon.

Summary: So it's the classic case of the fox and the hounds, or the rabbit in this case. I expect Matsuyama to come back to the pack, nobody else except Rosey shot 65 this week if memory serves me, and the pins will be in their usual Sunday spots, so no surprise there.

There are a dozen storylines, of course much of America is pulling for Jordan Spieth at -5 just to name one.

I do know Corey will drive the ball as well as anybody today, and remember there is no rough to speak of at Augusta. I also know his iron play will be among the best. So he'll need to make a few big putts and of course have Lady Luck offering a helping hand, and who knows, he could become a Canadian legend at 29, and join Mike Weir as the Masters Champion. 

Bryan Angus