Five Canadians at AT&T Pebble Beach "signature" event *****new TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour : AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am...Tee Times

As stunning a spot there is on the PGA Tour, some players give the Pebble Beach Pro-am  a miss due to the slow play with the Am's and the chance of bad weather at this time of year on the Monterey Peninsula.

WEATHER : Last year severe weather forced a Monday finish and early predictions are pointing this year in a similar direction at least for Thursday, Friday.

This year Thursday will be cloudy, cool with 75% chance of rain, wind at 11mph, so the bad weather has arrived, but with it's new elevated status, this signature event requires the top 50 in the Fed Ex Cup points standings to play, with the $20,000,000 purse on offer. 

Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland, Rory etal are all playing as are five Canadians, all I might add because of their status in the top 50.

Corey Conners 1.09 1st (SH)  Nick Taylor 12.21 10th (PB), Adam Svensson 12.57 10th (PB), Adam Hadwin 12.09 1st (PB)  and Mac Hughes 12.45 10th (SH)

It's a strong international field including the cinderella story of Mattieu Pavon, along with Nicolai Hojgaard, Stephan Jaeger, Kevin Yu, Thomas Detry, Alex Noren (winner in Dubai last week), and American, Nick Dunlap in his first pro event.

They will play Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill.

Thursday Tee Times

Bryan Angus

DP World Tour in Bahrain.. Aaron Cockerill and full TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : Bahrain Championship Tee Times

The International Swing of the DP World tour moves from the UAE to the Kingdom of Bahrain for this week's full field event on the revamped Royal GC, for the first time in 13 years.

 The tournament has a prize fund of $2.5 million, with 500 Race to Dubai ranking points on offer for the winner. 

This week’s venue was also the scene of the Tour’s last visit to Bahrain when Paul Casey claimed a one-shot victory over Peter Hanson and Miguel Ángel Jiménez at the Volvo Golf Champions in 2011.

Originally named Riffa Golf Club, which was opened in 1999, Royal Golf Club was renovated by Colin Montgomerie and European Golf Design in 2007 and opened in 2009, before playing host to the 2011 Volvo Champions.

It is Bahrain’s only grass course, and there have been numerous changes made to the course since Paul Casey’s victory, offering a brand new challenge to the handful of players that competed here 13 years ago.

All bunkers have been renovated with new white sand added and edged. This is in stark contrast to 2011, where all bunkers had no edges and blended with the desert, and were played as waste areas.

Fresh from his runner-up finish at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship, Rasmus Højgaard currently lies in fifth place on the International Swing Rankings and will be trying to go one better as he hopes to continue an excellent run of form that includes three top tens and a worst finish of T26 in his last nine Tour starts.

edit** Aaron Cockerill continues his season, this time out early paired with two Scotsmen. He begins the week ranked #210 owgr and at #11 in the Race to Dubai.

720am (2320hrs, Est) 1st  Aaron Cockerill, Richie Ramsay, Calum Hill

For full tee times click on the link above.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

All you need to know about Matthieu Pavon...

Motivated by his family, Matthieu Pavon now hopes to inspire a nation to realize their dreams. The amazing acceleration his career has enjoyed in recent months proves good things do indeed come to those who wait.

Matthieu Pavon finished in a tie for seventh in his PGA TOUR season debut at the Sony Open in Hawaii earlier this month

Just a few months on from earning his maiden DP World Tour victory – in wire-to-wire fashion, no less – at the acciona Open de España presented by Madrid, the Frenchman is now a global champion following his first PGA TOUR title at the Farmers Insurance Open on Saturday.

The joyous moments he is now celebrating in are the result of many years of dedication, a value ingrained in him from a young age by his sporting family.

His mother, Beatrice, is a golf instructor while his father, Michel, won France’s top-tier division in football with Bordeaux during a 15-year playing career before moving into coaching. His grandfather too was a professional footballer.

Hard work is a non-negotiable for Pavon. You only need to look at a tattoo on his right hand for evidence of that: “The saliva that flows now will become the tears of joy tomorrow.”

The spirit he showed down the stretch in the final round at Torrey Pines, perhaps epitomized best by recovering from a three-putt at the 17th to card a brilliant closing birdie to win the title by one shot from Ryder Cup star and fellow PGA TOUR rookie Nicolai Højgaard, is a trait that will continue to serve him well as his career reaches new heights.

“All they (my parents) could really do with me is teach great values, the taste of the effort… just being as humble as you can and just do your best every time you show up,” said Pavon.

In the aftermath of his biggest achievement to date, Pavon, who as a child largely played football over golf, admitted such a momentous day seemed improbable when he was struggling to make an impression as an amateur.

He nearly quit the sport shortly before turning professional because of chipping yips but after switching to cross-handed, the technique has became a key part of his game.

After joining the paid ranks at the age of 20 in 2013, he won in his rookie season on the Alps Tour a year later and followed up with another in 2015, the same year he earned a European Challenge Tour card by reaching the final stage of the DP World Tour Qualifying School.

In his single season on the Challenge Tour, he finished sixth on the Road to Mallorca, before waiting seven seasons to claim his first DP World Tour win in the Spanish capital. From that moment, belief has grown.

After backing it up with a top ten at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters a week later, he was then in title contention at the Nedbank Golf Challenge before finishing in a tie for 15th after a closing 73 at Sun City.

However, he responded to that disappointment by showing the resolve that is a now a hallmark of his game by making four straight birdies to close out his final round of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship and claim one of the ten PGA TOUR cards on offer and dual membership status.

“Since then, I am on a cloud, I'm flying. It's incredible,” Pavon said with a beaming smile.

At the age of 31, Pavon is a shining example of the value pathways in the game can have.

“I had almost no pressure coming, playing in America,” he added. “It's like it's just an opportunity. If I fail, I could just go back to Europe and I start again.

"So it was just like trying to do your best every day, enjoy every moment because they are very special.”

His victory, in just the third start of his rookie PGA TOUR season, has opened doors to the biggest events in the world of golf, including a debut appearance at the Masters Tournament in April.

Projected to climb inside the top 40 on the Official World Golf Ranking, he has also strengthened his bid to represent France at a home Olympic Games this summer.

Pavon knows just how important it is for young aspiring athletes to have role models to look up to, highlighting the success of fellow French player Céline Boutier, who won her maiden Major title at the Evian Championship last summer. He now hopes his journey can play a part in inspiring the next generation.

“It is big for our country,” said Pavon. “Because [going] from an amateur player who was 800 in the world to PGA TOUR winner is pretty big.”

Now a champion on both the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, perhaps his attentions may turn to emulating Boutier as a Major winner. What appears safe to say is he is fast emerging as Continental Europe’s latest golfing star.

europeantour.com (Mathieu Wood)

Bryan Angus edit

Danish delight, Olesen, Hojgaard 1/2 at Ras Al Khaimah.. Cockerill T23.. final results

 DP World Tour : Ras Al Khaimah Results

Thorbjørn Olesen won his eighth DP World Tour title in convincing fashion with a closing 67 at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship.

The Dane entered the final day at Al Hamra Golf Club four shots clear of countryman Rasmus Højgaard but saw that lead wiped put within seven holes as his countryman made a blistering start.

A stunning eagle and three-shot swing on the next completely changed the complexion of the day, however, and Olesen eased to a six-shot win at 27 under.

Højgaard signed for a 69 to finish at 21 under, one shot clear of Frenchman Frederic Lacroix, who ended his week with a 68.

Olesen's total of 261 - which included a course-record equalling 62 on Friday - is the lowest of the season, with his score to par also the lowest of the season by seven strokes.

His six-shot winning margin is also the biggest of the season so far and Olesen has now won in three consecutive seasons and seven times out of eight when holding the 54-hole lead.

He moves up to sixth in the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex and could go as high as 57th on the Official World Golf Ranking, his highest position since June 2019 worth $572,968

"It's very special," said UAE-based Olesen, whose family were present to see his win. "Standing here with (son) Cooper makes it a little more special.

"It was still a battle out there, it got close and you've got one of the most solid players right behind you so I knew it was going to be tough and we were tied for the lead very quickly.

"I played some nice golf coming in and holed the right putts at the right time.

"To win was a goal and it was nice to get that here, especially being here at my new home. It's always a place I like to come to, not just for golf but for holidays. It's a great place and I'm really happy that I could get a win here."

Lacroix is back on the DP World Tour after a second graduation from the European Challenge Tour last season and secured his best result to date, carding six birdies and two bogeys in round four.

German duo Maximilian Kieffer and Yannik Paul, Japan's Keita Nakajima, Englishman Callum Shinkwin and South African Brandon Stone finished the week ten shots off the lead.

edit ** Canadian Aaron Cockerill had another successful week with a top 25 finish, T23, 67 70 72 67 -12 worth $32,018. now ranked 11th in the Race to Dubai.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Pavon leads DP World Tour stars to win at Torrey Pines.. final results

 PGA Tour : Farmers Insurance  Results

When Keith Pelley and Jay Monahan agreed under the new Strategic Alliance that the top 10 players from 2022/23 DP World Tour would be granted full status on the PGA Tour, many sponsors, stalwarts in Europe said why are we giving away our top players for nothing.

Well opinions vary, but having just watched this week's Farmers Insurance with DP World Tour stars like Matthieu Pavon, Rasmus Hojgaard, Thomas Detry, Stephan Jaeger all over the lead all week, all showing America including their media, how good they are was for me who has covered the European Tour for over 30 years, very gratifyingly.

Orlando Ramir

Mattieu Pavon came from being the #880th world ranked amateur, taught by his golf instructor mother, to the DP World Tour where he took 7 seasons to get his first win last year, to making 4 birdies in a row at the DP World Tour finale to qualify as one of those 10 to gain his PGA Tour card.

After the California state of emergency due to unprecedented rain and fog on Monday, he couldn't even see Torrey Pines. Welcome to California !!

He played beautifully all week 69 65 72 69 -13 worth $1,620,000 good enough to edge Danish star Nicolai Hojgaard 67 66 73 70 -12 ($ 981,000)  with German Stephan Jaeger T3 68 64 73 72 -11 ($477,000)

Prize Money comparison

Pavon won $1,620,000 at Farmers Insurance on PGA Tour. 

Thorbjorn Olesen won $572,968 at Ras Al Khaimah on DP World Tour 

Pavon says he came to the US with low expectations, just doing his best, enjoying all the weather, food, great tournaments and money, and if he didn't win, just to return home and the DP World Tour.

All that has changed, his life has changed with a 2 year exemption and all the trappings, new status, Masters, US Open, PGA Championship, $20,000,000 signature events and a nice little trip up the coast to Pebble Beach next week.

Canadian scores

Taylor Pendrith T9 73 66 69 71 -9 ($236,250)

Ben Silverman  T56  69 72 75 71 -3  ($20,340)

Mac Hughes  T64  70 67 78 73 -2  ($19,080)

Bryan Angus

Pendrith surges into contention Farmers Insurance, Danish golf in spotlight, TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour : Farmers Insurance Leaderboard  Tee Times

Looking back at Taylor Pendrith's 2022-23 season you can see it was fairly mediocre, making  cuts, middle of the pack finishes, until the Fall season. 

T3 at the Shriners with 4 solid rounds, T15 at World Wide Technologies, then T8 at the Butterfield in Bermuda, at 32 years of age he'd found his confidence and with it his game. 

He T10 at the Sony this year, missed the cut at the American Express shoot out before arriving early at Torrey Pines.

He opened with 73 on the south course, but rebounded on Friday with a bogey free, 6 birdie 66 on the North.

However he really caught fire after 2 early bogey's saw him out in 38, back on the south course. Something clicked at the turn with 6 birdies including 4 in a row, back in 31 strokes for -3 69

He enters play today T5 -8 just 3 shots off the lead held by German Stephan Jaeger who slipped to 68 64 73 -11 but still leads by a shot 

Today's tee time   1.59pm 1st Taylor Pendrith, Thomas Detry, Trace Crowe, penultimate pair

Other Canadians

Mac Hughes T60 70 67 78 -1 (a drop of 50 places)

Ben Silverman T65  66 72 75 E

DP World Tour as part of the Strategic Alliance offered their top ten players after the Race to Dubai to gain full PGA Tour status. Many European stalwarts disagreed with this decision, but the players involved sure didn't

Look at the final round leaderboard.

German Stephan Jaeger leads, Matthieu Pavon from France T2 69 65 72 -10 is one of the 10 as is Nicolai Hojgaard 67 66 73 -10 as is Belgian Thomas Detry 4th 66 68 73 -9. all with a top 5 finish will make twice as much as they would back home.

Danish Golf

Thorbjorn Olesen leads the Ras Al Khaimah by 4 shots. Rasmus Hojgaard is 2nd while twin brother Nicolai Hojgaard is 2nd here. They are all from soccer mad Denmark, leading the greatest era of pro golf for that little nation.

While Thomas Bjorn who captained European Ryder Cup may have blazed the way, others like Soren Kjeldsen,  Anders and Soren Hansen, Lucas Bjerregaard and Jeff Winther have had their days in the sun as well. 

Bryan Angus 

Denmark's Olesen in charge after 54 holes Ras Al Khaimah...full scoreboard /TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : Ras Al Khaimah Leaderboard  Tee Times

Thorbjørn Olesen surged into a commanding lead on Moving Day at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship

The Dane, a seven-time winner on the DP World Tour, carded a third-round 63 to advance to -22 at Al Hamra Golf Club.

That was four shots clear of compatriot Rasmus Højgaard, with France's Frederic Lacroix two further back in third.

Olesen began the day a shot off the lead but came storming out the blocks with birdies at the first, third, fifth and sixth.

A missed short putt on the seventh cost the 34-year-old a bogey but he tapped in for another gain at the par-five eighth to turn in 32.

Olesen had carded a brilliant 62 on Friday but said after his round: “I thought today I played a lot better (than yesterday). 

“I hit a lot more fairways today, and that gave me the chance to be aggressive with the second shots. It was nice to find so many fairways. It was a great round again.”

Asked what the plan was for Sunday, he added: “I’ll play roughly the same. You have a guy like Rasmus behind you and you know anything can happen with his firepower. 

“You have to keep focused, do your own thing. It’s never going to be easy but I’m going to try my hardest.”

Having won on six of the seven occasions he has led after 54 holes on the DP World Tour, Olesen is confident he can keep any nerves in check as he looks to re-enter the winner's circle almost a year after his last victory.

Højgaard mixed five birdies with a single bogey in his 68, while Lacroix made three birdies and an eagle in an outward 31 before signing for a 66.

South Africa's Brandon Stone, Dane Marcus Helligkilde and Spain's Angel Hidalgo share fourth on 15 under.

edit*** Canada's Aaron Cockerill was treading water on moving day,, 2 birdies, 2 bogeys par 72 on a day when the leaders were going low leaves him T42 -7 with a round to go.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Mac Hughes moves into T10 at Torrey Pines.. full scoreboard, TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour : Farmers Insurance Leaderboard  Tee Times

These are heady days for 2 young stars from the DP World Tour, the Hojgaard twins from Denmark have been big news in Europe for a few years and now with status on the PGA Tour are on a world stage.

While Rasmus is leading the Ras Al Khaimah Championship after 36 holes in Dubai, brother Nicolai 67 66 -11 is alone in 2nd at the Farmers Insurance at Torrey Pines in California. 

German Stephan Jaeger leads 68 64 -12.

Canadians

Mac Hughes has moved up 38 places T10 70 67 -7 buoyed by eagles at the 18th and 6th.

Taylor Pendrith jumped even further 72 places T36 73 66 -5,   bogey free, 6 birdies. 

Ben Silverman dropped 30 places, just making the cut on the number T64 69 72 -3

Roger Sloan 71 72 MC

Adam Svensson 75 74 MC

The International theme on the PGA Tour continues this week with players from Germany, Denmark, Belgium, France, England, Argentina, South Korea, Japan, Canada and Finland all in the top 10.

Bryan Angus

Cockerill in for the weekend in Dubai.. Hojgaard twins dominate leaderboards...TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : Ras Al Khaimah Championship Leaderboard  Tee Times

With round 2 wrapping up at this Ras Al Khaimah Championship, the low scoring continued with the leaders at -14. 

The Danish Hojgaard twins are on display this week. Rasmus 66 64 -14 leads in Dubai along with Spaniard Manual Elvira 68 62 -14, meanwhile the older Hojgaard, Nicolai is in 2nd on the PGA Tour at Torrey Pines.

AARON COCKERILL (PHOTO BY ROSS KINNAIRD/GETTY IMAGES)

The cut fell at -3 and Aaron Cockerill is in handily 67 70 -7 although he dropped 16 places. 5 birdies this morning, but 3 bogey's, a 3 putt at the 2nd, failed to get up and down from the greenside bunker at the 6th and drove it into the water at the 12th were his only 3 blemishes,

He's currently T27 heading into the weekend with it all to play for. The average score on the Al Hamra GC so far 69.31

He recently had this to say about his good form from his home in Dubai.

 “I think a lot of that has to do with my habits away from the golf course. When we’re over here at the start of the season I’m kind of secluded, in terms of what my normal day to day would be at home. 

Here it's golf course, practice, gym, work hard. I'm going pretty hard and not really doing a lot in between. Not that I want to be a drill sargeant all season but I know I need to stay pretty disciplined and keep up with my practice habits.

There’s still a long way to go but it’s obviously better to start in a good position than be behind the 8-ball, Last week I only lost to three other guys and a couple of them are really, really highly ranked golfers, I mean, those guys are all within the top 30 in the world, I think so, it’s exciting.

Bryan Angus

Solid start for Cockerill at Ras Al Khaimah Championship...full scoreboard.. TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : Ras Al Khaimah Championship Leaderboard  Tee Times

In ideal conditions it was a day of low scoring at the Al Hamra GC with the 59 watch in place on at least two occasions.

In the end England's Callum Shinkwin who made 8 birdies in a row is atop the leaderboard -10 62 for a two shot lead, and you need to look all the way down to T102 to find anyone over par.

Canada's Aaron Cockerill began as well as he played last week, with some fine driving and wedge play leading to 4 birdies in his first 6 holes out -4 32. Steady pars and birdies at 14 and 18 along with his only bogey when he drove into the fairway bunker on his way to a 5, back in -1 35.

He begins Friday's play T10 -5 off the 10th tee at 8.20am GMT

Bryan Angus

International leaderboard day 1at Farmers Insurance TEE TIMES, Leaderboard

 PGA Tour : Farmers Insurance Leaderboard Tee Times

Torrey Pines North and South are situated on the high bluffs bordering the Pacific near San Diego, a very popular sight for hang gliding, sea birds taking advantage of the wind currents.

Players from all over the world have also flown in for this week's Farmers Insurance, in fact after round 1 on Wednesday, 8 of the top 9 players are from Taiwan, Japan (2), Argentina, Belgium, Ireland, England and Denmark.

The best score of the day was from the NC, Kevin Yu born in Taiwan, won a scholarship to University of Arizona, now owgr 144 who shot -8 64

He's a shot ahead of Patrick Cantlay -7 65, Japanese players Ryo Hisatsune -7 65, Hideki Matsuyama -6 66, Ireland's Shane Lowry -6 66, Belgian Thomas Detry -6 66, England's Aaron Rai -6 66 , Argentina's Alejandro Tosti -6 66 all on the North Course (NC)

Danish star and a twin brother Nicolai Hojgaard on the tougher South Course (SC) still jet lagged from his 25 hour flight from Dubai posted -5 67.

Five Canadians :

Ben Silverman NC -3 69

Mac Hughes NC -2 70

Roger Sloan SC -1 71

Taylor Pendrith SC +1 73

Adam Svensson SC +3 75

Find all today's TEE times by clicking on my link above.

Bryan Angus

n Angus

3 Canadians in Bradenton for Drive On Championship...TEE TIME

 LPGA : Drive On Championship  SUMMARY

Drive two hours south of Orlando to Bradenton, Fla., for this week's Drive On Championship being held at this venue for the first time.

Celine Boutier defends her title.

It's the first full field event, and the last for a month as the LPGA moves into their Asian swing in late February with stops in Thailand, Singapore and China.

Three Canadians are entered.

12.49 10th  Brooke Henderson, Lexi Thomson, Amy Yang 

11,54 10th  Maude Aimee-Leblanc, Laura Coughlin, Morgane Metraux

8.53   1st   Savannah Grewal, Jin Hee Im, Yealimi Noh

Bryan Angus

Farmers Insurance TEE TIMES at Torrey Pines..5 Canadians

 PGA Tour : Farmers Insurance Tee Times

The tour moves down the California coast to Torrey Pines North and South for this week's Farmers Insurance, where Max Homa defends his title.

Monday’s rain prevented PGA Tour pros from getting on the course

Breaking : A state of emergency was issued for San Diego, Monday January 22/2024 due to unprecedented rainfall and resulting floods. 2" fell on Torrey Pines, softening the greens and thickening the rough. 

This event runs Wednesday- Saturday to avoid the NFL on Sunday. Overcast skies, no rain 60+*F Wed - Fri , sunny 72* Saturday, light winds

There are 5 Canadians entered,  Tee times are EST.

1.29 10 (SC)  Ben Silverman, Paul Barjon (FRA), Hayden Springer (USA)

12.34 1 (NC) Mac Hughes, Lee Hodges (USA), Keith Mitchell (USA)

12.33 10 (SC)  Adam Svensson, Brandt Snedeker USA, Taylor Moore USA

12.01 10 (SC)  Taylor Pendrith, Lanto Griffin USA, Austin Eckroat USA

11,50 1  (SC)  Roger Sloan, Charlie Hoffman USA, Greyson Sigg USA

Bryan Angus

Another week in UAE for Aaron Cockerill.. TEE TIMES Ras Al Khaimah Championship

 DP World Tour : Ras Al Khaimah Championship Tee Times

It's another week in the UAE for the DP World Tour rank and file this time at the Al Hamra GC. Rory, Tommy and other big names have moved on.

Fresh from his T4 finish at last week's Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Aaron Cockerill hopes to continue his fine play, now up 67owgr places to #219 and ranked a heady #9 in the Race to Dubai rankings.

1245 1st  Aaron Cockerill, Dale Whitnell (Eng), Ockie Strydom, (RSA)

Al Hamra Golf Club

Last week in the UAE but Middle East spell far from over

The third event of the International Swing sees the DP World Tour stay in the United Arab Emirates for a third consecutive week.

Located around an hour’s drive from Hero Dubai Desert Classic host venue, Emirates Golf Club, the Peter Harradine-designed Al Hamra Golf Club is once again welcoming top-level golf to the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.

Next on the schedule is a return to Bahrain for the first time in 13 years, before the Middle East action at the start of the year concludes with the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters from February 8-11.

Bryan Angus 

(europeantour.com )

Monday wrap.. Dunlap, Hadwin, Henderson, Ames ...final results

 PGA Tour : the American Express  Results

The story at this annual shootout at La Quinta was the new gunslinger in town, the amateur from the University of Alabama, Nick Dunlap who beat all the pros -29, the first amateur since Mickelson in 1991, 33 years ago.

Nick Dunlap of the United States reacts to winning The American Express on Sunday in La Quinta, Calif. (Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

He gets no prize money or Fed Ex points.

Tiger was the only player to won the US Amateur and the US Junior Amateur, that's what Dunlap has achieved in his time as an amateur, and he is going to take some time to think about what he does next..

There a lot of incentive, full status through 2025, entry into all signature events, the Masters and the PGA, although he is already in the Masters and the Open as an amateur,

The biggest recipient in all of this is DP World stalwart from RSA Christiaan Bezuidenhout who finished 2nd -28 but gets the winners cheque $1,512,000

Kevin Yu from Taiwan, Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele all T3 -27 but all got 2nd place money $635,000.

It was another great week for Adam Hadwin at this event, now with 5 top 10's, this time -25 T6 $310,800 and remember he shot 59 here in 2017.

All the other Canadians missed the cut.

PGA Tour Champions : Mitsubishi Electric Championship  Results

The Senior circuit kicked off 2024 as usual at Hualalai, 42 man field for 2023 winners, with familiar names in the winners circle.

Steven Alker is the winner at -25 worth $340,000 four shots ahead of Harrison Frazar -21, and Player of the Year Steve Stricker 3rd -20.

I'll be watching out for Stewart Cink T5 -14 in his rookie season, he'll play both tours, mostly the Champions where he'll give Stricker and Alker a new challenger at the top.

Stephen Ames T8 -12 $58,000

Mike Weir T8 -9  $28,250

LPGA Tour : Tournament of Champions: CelebrityLPGAAmateur

Hilton Grand Vacations sponsors the LPGA Tournament of Champions in this limited pro-am-celebrity party to kick off 2024 down in Orlando.

Lydia Ko 69 67 68 70 -14 won it this year worth $225,000 with American Alexa Pano 2nd 69 70 67 70 -12

Brooke Henderson the defending champion 3rd 69 70 71 68 -10 $120.174.

Next week the LPGA Drive On Championship at Bradenton is full field, then they take a month off before arriving for the Asian swing Honda PGA Thailand on February 22.

Bryan Angus

Hadwin T5 heading into Sunday at the American Express... Sunday scoreboard TEE TIMES..

 PGA Tour : American Express Leaderboard  Tee Times

My "go low or go home" theme continues at this version of the American Express rumbles into Sunday after the cut fell at a ridiculous -13, low enough to win many PGA Tour events on tougher courses. 

First the lead for amateur Nick Dunlap with scores 64 65 60 -27 tells you all you need to know about the severity of La Quinta, Nicklaus Tournament and Pete Dye Stadium courses in these stunningly calm sunny days in the California desert.

(PS. My first time playing in the desert around Phoenix, I was surprised how easy shotmaking was from just off the fairway sitting up in that dormant brown grass that would be thick rough on most courses)

Sam Burns 2nd -24, Justin Thomas (61) 3rd -23.

Meanwhile, after I posted his past scores at this event yesterday, Adam Hadwin is playing very well again, heading into today's final round T5 65 65 66 -20. He is the only Canadian to make the cut.

He might need a replica of his 2017 record 59 to get that first well deserved win here later tonight. 

1.38 1st  Adam Hadwin, JT Poston, Xander Schauffele

*****To get play in before TV takes over for the NFL playoffs, the field on the Stadium Course is paired in three's off split tees

Bryan Angus 

Rory wins 4th Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Cockerill T4....final results

 DP World Tour : Hero Dubai Desert Classic Results

Rory said in his post round interview on Saturday, getting through the front nine, the tougher nine was for him the key on the Emirates GC.

Earlier this morning he made 3 birdies all pars out in 32 -15 just what he wanted, then with the pressure turned up when Polish star Adrian Meronk posted a 71 to get to -13, after Rory had made his lone bogey with a wild hook into the bushes at the par 5 13th, he steadied himself, making pars the rest of the way in for 70 -14 and his record breaking 4th Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

He had this to say after his round : 

"It's a great start to the season, I started well last year with the win here. A couple of little things still to work on but these weeks are great. You learn a ton from them and obviously great to get the competition and come out on top as well.

"I thought on Friday night, I thought ten under for the weekend, I would have a really good chance to win. I shot 11 and ended up winning by one.

"I've played the game long enough to sort of know how these things are going to go. Thankfully I played the golf I needed to and it's just incredible to get my fourth win here at the Emirates.

"The pivotal point for me came on the eighth and ninth hole - making two threes there, that sort of set me up to try to control it on the way in.

"I made that one blunder on 13 and made bogey there but felt like I steadied the ship well over the last few holes and it was one of those days where there wasn't a ton of fireworks just because the course was so difficult. I held on as best as I could and thankfully no one around the top of the leaderboard made much of a run."

36 hole leader Cam Young slipped into 3rd with a closing 74 -12.

Meanwhile Canada's Aaron Cockerill had his best week of this 2024 season which began in South Africa in December, with a closing -4 68 (71 67 72 68 -10) to T4.

Only 1 bogey, 5 birdies all the rest pars, it was his cleanest round of the week, out in E35, then a terrific back nine all pars, 3 birdies in a row at 11,12,13 then finishing in style with a 245yd approach over the water to the top of the green, 2 putts down the hill for his 5th birdie of the day.

This is a Rolex series event, one of 5 premier tournaments on the DP World Tour worth $9,000,000. Aaron began the week 42nd in the Race to Dubai, this performance moves him up 33 spots to #9 and his biggest payday $514,000.

Bryan Angus

DP World Tour : Rory surges into final pairing with 63, Sunday scoreboard, TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : Hero Dubai Desert Classic Leaderboard Tee Times

Rory McIlroy took a huge step closer to an "amazing" fourth title at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic with a stunning round-three surge through the field at Emirates Golf Club.

The Northern Irishman arrived in Dubai level with Ernie Els for most wins at this event but entered the weekend ten shots back after starting his week 71-70.

With a stacked field to overcome in the first Rolex Series event of the season, McIlroy knew he needed to do something special to defend his title and he produced just that with a brilliant bogey-free 63.

A remarkable eagle putt from off the green on the par-five last moved him to -12 and the World Number Two was excited to have the chance to win a third Rolex Series title, sixth event in Dubai and fourth Dallah Trophy.

However Cameron Young will take a two-shot lead into the the final round after carding a gutsy 71 on day three at Emirates Golf Club.

The American entered the weekend with a three-shot advantage but found himself one back as he turned in 37, with three-time champion Rory McIlroy setting the target at -12.

The World Number 25 found another gear on the back nine, however, carding three birdies to get to -14 under in the first Rolex Series event of the season.

Adrian Meronk will join them in the final pairing on Sunday 68 66 70 -12.

Rory said "It would be amazing," he said. "First player to get my name on it four times, it would be awesome. 

"I've had so much success in Dubai, whether it be at this tournament or over at Jumeirah Golf Estates and Race to Dubai. It's been a really, really good place to me. 

"I love coming back here. I really enjoy my time here. It would be amazing if I was able to get another win."

McIlroy got going with a brilliant shot from the rough to two feet at the first and while he missed out at the gettable second, he got up and down for birdie at the par-five third. A golden patch then followed with his irons as he put a tee-shot to seven feet at the seventh, an approach to similar range at the eighth and a towering eight iron to five feet at the ninth to turn in 30.

"But you know, for the rest of the day, I played some very, very good golf. Definitely better than I played the last couple of days and nice to get myself right back in the tournament.

"I think for me, the key to this golf course is always the front nine because it is the tougher nine and if you can play that nine well, you give yourself a ton of momentum going into the more scorable back nine."

Canada's Aaron Cockerill remains in the top 10, splitting 4 birdies with 4 bogey's on a windier Saturday at the Emirates GC. T10  71,67,72 -6 with a chance to improve on his #42 place ranking in the Race to Dubai with a good finish tomorrow.

1136 1st  Aaron Cockerill, Nicolai Hojgaard

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Hadwin vying to win the American Express.. Full scoreboard, Saturday TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour : American Express Leaderboard  Tee Times

When you shoot 59 on any course, its safe to say it's a favourite. Adam Hadwin did that here at the American Express in 2017, in fact he had 4 consecutive top 10's: 2016 T6, 2017 T2, 2018 T3, 2019 T2 and was in the final pairing three consecutive years.

So no surprise he's back on the leaderboard again this week after a pair of 65's -14 just 3 shots off the lead held by Sam Burns who shot a career low -11 61 to get it to -17 after 36 holes.

Will he finally get the win he so richly deserves this year ! He's been T32, T25, T18 in his last 3 years here.

He has made 13 birdies, an eagle and just the one bogey in 36 holes, playing the Pete Dye Stadium and the Nicklaus Tournament courses, today he plays La Quinta.

10th LQ  1152  Adam Hadwin, Taylor Pendrith

Other Canadians

Nick Taylor T51 68 67 -9

Ben Silverman T51 68 67 -9

Taylor Pendrith T139 71 72 -1

Roger Sloan T144  76 68 E

The Saturday shootout will continue with 9 players within 3 shots. Like I say it's "go low or go home" at this tournament which Canada's Mike Weir won in his prime in 2003.

Weather

Saturday and Sunday flat calm, no rain, cool by desert standards 13*c - 20*c or low to mid 70's F.  

Bryan Angus

American Express : Hadwin leads Canadians.. Full scoreboard, Friday TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour : the American Express Leaderboard Tee Times

As usual ideal conditions, easier courses mean "go low or go home" at this famous, formerly Bob Hope, now sponsored by American Express'' in the Californian desert at La Quinta.

The lead -10 is shared by Zach Johnson 62 and Alex Noren 62 you have to go down to T98 for anyone not in the 60's.

Canadians

Adam Hadwin T14 65 -7

Ben Silverman T54  68 -4

Nick Taylor T54 68 -4

Taylor Pendrith T120 -1 71

Roger Sloan T153 +76

Bryan Angus