Stephen Ames wins Mitsubishi Electric Classic for 3rd time..

 PGA Tour Champions : Mitsubishi Electric Classic Leaderboard

To say Stephen Ames loves playing TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth Georgia is an obvious under statement. 

DULUTH, GEORGIA - APRIL 28: STEPHEN AMES OF CANADA CELEBRATES WITH THE TROPHY AFTER WINNING THE MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CLASSIC AT TPC SUGARLOAF GOLF COURSE ON APRIL 28, 2024 IN DULUTH, GEORGIA. (PHOTO BY ALEX SLITZ/GETTY IMAGES)

With scores 71 64 67 -14 he was 4 shots clear of his nearest competitors Paul Broadhurst 67 67 72 -10 and Doug Barron 65 72 69 -10.

With 2 eagles in his final round he successfully defended his title in an event he won for the first time in 2017 and all on his 60th birthday this time around. !!

It is his second win of the season, the eighth of his Champions Tour career (6th in last 29 starts) and moves him atop the Charles Schwab Cup standings. 

Always a great ball striker Stephen has become a very good putter over the last 2 years, and he credits Canadian coach Shauheen Nakhjavani for working with him on the same key things. He says "refining it, getting it better to where I feel very comfortable now playing golf. It's nice, its just letting go, its much easier for me to let it go now."

Bryan Angus

It's a McIlroy/ Lowry all Ireland final for Zurich Insurance in New Orleans.

 PGA Tour : Zurich Classic of New Orleans ..Results

When the bean counters at Zurich Insurance took over the sponsorship of this event in 2004 it was a standard 72 hole stroke play tournament, slotted in spring after all the hoopla of the Players and then the Masters, many of the big boys had time off on their schedules,

Worthy winners were guys like Chris Couch, Andres Romero, Noh Seung-yul, and Brian Stuard to name a few.

Shane Lowry, of Ireland, right, embraces his teammate Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, after winning the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Gerald Herbert/AP)

Every sponsor wants the biggest bang for their buck, so when the change was made in 2017 to the two man team Ryder Cup type format, what happened this weekend with Rory and Shane Lowry deciding over a boozy brunch after their sensational win in Rome at the Ryder Cup to have some fun and play together in New Orleans, as they had done since they were boys, Zurich Insurance really did get that great return on their investment.

Great crowds all week, often chanting Rory Rory, some spectacular team golf all round, a terrific storyline for TV with underdogs Chad Ramey and Frenchman Martin Trainer filing a record alternate shot -9 63 only to miss an 8 footer on the playoff hole to leave the Irish lads with the title, made headlines across America and around the world.

They were given a standing ovation after dinner when leaving an expensive New Orleans restaurant Arnaud's on Saturday night, and ended up on stage with Journey singing "Don't stop believin ".... on Sunday night to ensure Irish eyes were smiling, once again.

Canadians

Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor were 2nd here in 2023. This year they T10 at -21

Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith had a good week T11 at -20.

Bryan Angus

Japanese star wins ISPS Handa Championship...Final results

 DP World Tour : ISPS Handa Championship : Results

Yuto Katsuragawa continued a history-making season for players from Japan on the DP World Tour with a three-shot victory on home soil at the ISPS HANDA - CHAMPIONSHIP.

The local favourite entered the final day at Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course three shots off the lead but was right in the mix at the turn as many of the leading players stumbled.

Sebastian Söderberg was the only one keeping pace with him but the 25-year-old started the back nine with five birdies in seven holes to leave the Swede in his wake and finish at 17 under after a course-record equalling 63.

Söderberg carded a 67 to be the nearest challenger but all the headlines belonged to Katsuragawa, who made it back-to-back Japanese wins in regular DP World Tour events for the first time after Keita Nakajima's victory at the Hero Indian Open.

Isao Aoki was the first Japanese winner in DP World Tour history at the 1983 European Open but we had to wait 33 years for another when Hideki Matsuyama lifted the trophy at the 2016 WGC-HSBC Champions.

Matsuyama would lift another World Golf Championships title the following year before his monumental Masters Tournament victory in 2021 made it four all-time Japanese wins on the DP World Tour.

Katsuragawa admits that he drew inspiration from the recent success of his compatriots. "Looking at them winning in Europe definitely motivated me," he said. "This tournament was held in Japan on a familiar course but I have not experienced winning abroad yet. I aim to win on a bigger stage internationally."

He is now set to take up DP World Tour membership and will enter the top 25 on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, with a long-term goal of achieving dual membership with the PGA TOUR.

"I have been practising a lot to stand on the big stage," he said. "I can now go on the DP World Tour which is really great and I'm really happy with it. I'm aiming to become a member of the PGA TOUR in the future.

A runner-up finish for Söderberg moved him to the top of Asian Swing Rankings and should he stay there after next week's Volvo China Open, he will win $200,000 and gain entry to the Back Nine events, while also guaranteeing his place at the Genesis Scottish Open. Those who finish in positions one to three will also be exempt into the U.S. PGA Championship.

South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Spaniard Ivan Cantero, Japan's Ryosuke Kinoshita and German Marcel Schneider finished at 12 under, a shot clear of home duo Masahiro Kawamura and Yuta Sugiura, Northern Ireland's Tom McKibbin and Frenchman Tom Vaillant.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Hadwin / Taylor right behind Rory and Lowry at New Orleans Classic... full scoreboard

 PGA Tour : Zurich Classic of New Orleans Leaderboard

First the Weather : It was a windy 26mph day for four somes at TPC Louisiana, scores reflect  that..

Rory and friend Shane Lowry are in a tie T1 after a Friday foursomes 70 to match their opening four ball 61 -13,, just what the sponsors at Zurich wanted.

Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin high five after their second round at the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

 Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

For all scores click on my link above..

Canadians

Conners/ Pendrith T5 63  69 -12

Hadwin / Taylor T5  63 69 -12

Silverman/ Dougherty MC 64 74

Sloan/ Teater MC 70 73

Bryan Angus

ISPS Championship in Japan... full leaderboard

 DP World Tour : ISPS Handa Championship  Leaderboard

 The recent emergence of young Japanese winners on the DP World Tour has the makings of a new legacy after a record-breaking six months.

Keita Nakajima became the latest name to break through on the DP World Tour at the Hero Indian Open at the end of March, just 49 days after compatriot Rikuya Hoshino earned his own maiden title at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

It marks the first time in history that two Japanese players have earned victories in a single season on the DP World Tour, signifying just a small part of a seismic shift in Japanese successes on this stage - aided by the pathway from the Japan Golf Tour.

From a combination of raw talent trying to emulate Hideki Matsuyama and the success of other compatriots on Tour to a drive from inside Japan's coaching team to foster ambition and confidence to play overseas, the latest success stories have set about the foundations for a new wave of talent.

Until Matsuyama claimed his first of two World Golf Championships (2016 WGC-HSBC Champions, 2017 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and made history as the first Japanese male Major champion at the 2021 Masters, Isao Aoki had held court as the only player to have won a DP World Tour title for over 30 years.Until Matsuyama claimed his first of two World Golf Championships (2016 WGC-HSBC Champions, 2017 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and made history as the first Japanese male Major champion at the 2021 Masters, Isao Aoki had held court as the only player to have won a DP World Tour title for over 30 years.

"Hideki Matsuyama is a superstar, so every Japanese player wants to catch up to Hideki," Nakajima told the DP World Tour.

"That’s why Japanese players are playing well now."

This week :   After 36 holes this week there is a four way tie at -10... Japan Sato Taihei 68 62 -10, Belgian Paul Yannik 65 65 -10, Sweden Seb Söderberg 66 64 -10 and Sam Bairstow from England 66 64 -10... 

For all scoring click on my link above

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Four Canadians team up at Zurich Classic New Orleans... full leaderboard

 PGA Tour : Zurich Classic at New Orleans...Tee Times

It's time for a break from the grind of 72 holes of singles stroke play as players team up in pairs to contest this version of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Teams play alternating rounds of fourball and foursomes

(Image credit: Getty Images)

160 players make up 80 teams of 2. 

Thursday fourball, Friday foursomes..Cut made top 33 teams advance to the weekend

Saturday fourball, Sunday foursomes... winner team with the highest score under par (example -26)

Rory and his pal Shane Lowry are lending their support to the event after a drunken lunch after their Ryder Cup victory in Rome, Shane asked Rory "hey wanna play the Zurich ?" answer " sure why not !!"

Canadians

9.18 10th  Conners/Pendrith  vs  Kuchar/Stricker

1.05 10th  Sloan / Teater  vs  Merritt / Streb

1.57 1st    Hadwin/ Taylor vs Horschel / Alexander

3.02 1st   Silverman / Dougherty  vs  Coody / Coody

For live scoring click on my link above...

Bryan Angus

DP World Tour at ISPS Handa Championship in Japan..TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : ISPS Handa Championship Tee Times

The DP World Tour visits a new course this week in Japan as the ISPS HANDA - CHAMPIONSHIP marks the penultimate regular event of the Asian Swing.

With views of Mount Fuji offering a spectacular backdrop to this year's tournament, Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course will play host on the DP World Tour for the first time this week, following on from last year's event at PGM Ishioka GC.

The par 70 layout, which plays at 7262 yards and is described by the club as a 'true hillside course', was designed in 1977 by Shunsuke Kato and is the flagship layout of Taineiyo Club's 18 courses. Situated 100km southwest of Tokyo, the course underwent a renovation in 2018 overseen by Rees Jones with consultation from Major Champion Hideki Matsuyama.

No stranger to elite competitions, the course has staged the Taiheiyo Masters on the Japan Golf Tour every year since its opening in 1977. It has also played host to the 2001 World Cup of Golf, won by South African duo Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, and will also stage this year's Asia Pacific Amateur Championship in October.

Matthieu Pavon is the top-ranked player in the field this week, having reached a career-high in the Official World Golf Ranking with a tie for 12th on his Masters debut earlier this month.

The French star, who won his first PGA TOUR title earlier this year, is joined in action by fellow ISPS HANDA ambassadors Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who are also fellow winners on the DP World Tour.

A host of players will be hoping to become the latest Japanese stars to make their mark after a record-breaking six months that has seen three champions crowned on the DP World Tour.

Keita Nakajima became the latest name to break through at the Hero Indian Open at the end of March, just 49 days after compatriot Rikuya Hoshino earned his own maiden title at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. Last season, Ryo Hisatsune became just the third player in history - following Hideki Matsuyama (2021 Masters) and Isao Aoki (1983 Panasonic European Open) to lift a DP World Tour title at the 2023 Cazoo Open de France.

With the event co-sanctioned with the Japan Golf Tour, Nakajima is joined in the field this week by 45 other players hoping to impress the home fans at a venue that is very well-known to them.

ISPS HANDA was founded by the Japanese philanthropist, Dr Haruhisa Handa, in 2006 in the belief that sport has the power to inspire, transform, and unite people and communities across social, racial and socio-economic barriers.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Scheffler continues PGA Tour domination, RBC Heritage Monday finish..

 PGA Tour : RBC Heritage Leaderboard

I think we all had the same opening line in mind..."Only Mother Nature can stop Scottie Scheffler from winning."

He and Nelly Korda should have a playoff ! 

Korda just won her 5th straight for goodness sake, at The Chevron and Scheffler has won 4 of his last 5 including the Masters with the other being a 2nd place finish. 

I am giving him credit for this win at the RBC Heritage although for the record, the 3 hour rain delay that postponed play on Sunday leaving him 3 holes to play this morning with a 5 shot lead 69 65 63 and he's -4 through 15 holes on his final round. They begin at 8am.

I'll just say this about this soon to be father and devout Christian from Texas He is relentlessly good from tee to green. Almost boringly good. He made a double bogey 6 at the 2nd on Thursday just to confirm he is human and that's it !! After he chipped in for eagle on Sunday at that same 2nd hole he was off to the races once again.

The sooner he gets on with being a dad the better !

Canadians.

Mac Hughes T39 66 66 75 71 -6  (great start but 75 Saturday was his undoing )

 Adam Hadwin T42  67 70 70 72 -5 (another steady week )

Corey Conners T44  69 71 66 74  ( Sunday finish cost him some money )

Adam Svensson T44  72 66 70 72 -4  (playing in these Signature events amongst the best)

Nick Taylor T49  71 70 69 71 -3 (not his week, but still the Canadian Open champ !)

For those of you who are asking me. Byron Nelson won 11 straight during the war in 1945. Vijay Singh won 9 all together in 2004. Tiger won 32 times between 1999 and 2003, then another 31 times from 2005-2009.

Bryan Angus

Henderson T3, Korda wins 5th straight, Chevron Championship final results..

 LPGA : The Chevron Championship PAIRINGS

The Nelly Korda, Scottie Scheffler era continues to dominate pro golf. Scheffler in his last 5 outings has won 4 and finished 2nd once.

Nelly Korda kisses the trophy after winning the Chevron Championship LPGA golf tournament Sunday, April 21, 2024, at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas. (AP Photo Eric )

Korda has played 6 times in 2024 and won the last 5 including the LPGAs first major The Chevron with a very steady 68 69 69 69 -13 worth $1,200,000.

Swede, Maja Stark 70 69 69 69 -11 2nd $666,834 then Brooke Henderson 71 71 64 72 -10 along with Lauren Coughlin 66 73 71 68 -10.

Brooke had her round of the year on Saturday when everything went in, just 23 putts, 7 birdies and an eagle for -8 64, but as is golf, Sunday was a different story. She opened par, bogey, birdie, double, birdie, birdie for an unlikely E36 front nine. She  finished with E72 and $428,976 in her jeans pocket.

Rookie Savannah Grewal missed the cut. The Canadian rookie made a big splash T4 in her 2nd event, the Blue Bay in China, but reality has set in missing 3 cuts in 5 outings so far.

This week it's the LA Championship at the Wilshire CC.

Bryan Angus

LPGA Major Chevron Championship..Henderson needs big weekend, weekend pairings..

 LPGA: The Chevron Championship PAIRINGS

Remember this is the first of 5 majors for the women, the Chevron Championship at the opulent Woodlands Community outside Houston in Texas.

Another Korean, Jin Hee Im 69 67 -8 and a Thai Atthaya Thitikul 69 67 -8 share the lead.

You really have to be up on your international golf to follow this LPGA Tour so long dominated by South Koreans now joined by many others.

Amongst them all is American super star Nelly Korda the Scottie Scheffler of the LPGA, a shot behind at 68 69 -7.

Brooke M. Henderson (Ashley Landis/AP)

Trying to keep up is Canada's sweetheart Brooke Henderson 71 71 -2 with rookie Savannah Grewal missing the cut 76 73 +5.

Follow all the Saturday pairings and scores by clicking on my link above 

Bryan Angus

Crowded leaderboard at $20m RBC Heritage.. Hughes T5

 PGA Tour : RBC Heritage Leaderboard Tee Times

There is $20,000,000 at stake and the leaderboard is crowded at this version of the RBC Heritage on the Harbourtown Links in Hilton Head SC.

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Full view

Ball striking expert Tom Hoge 67 64 -11 is joined by DP World Tour Austrian Sepp Straka 66 65, and in form Collin Morikawa 65 66 along with JP Boston 63 68.

Canadian Mac Hughes T5 66 66 -10 is right there in contention for his biggest ever pay day along with Ludvig Aberg 66 66 and Patrick Rodgers 66 66 and oh yes Scheffler 69 65 once again is at -8 heading into the weekend..

There are only 9 players over par including Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose, such is the scoring on this well known course.

Other Canadians

Adam Hadwin T23 67 70 -5

Adam Svensson T30 72 66 -4

Corey Conners T47 69 70 -2

Nick Taylor T50 71 70 -1

Rory is T12 67 68 -7

For all scores and Saturday TEE Times click on my links above.

Bryan Angus

Henderson 5 off the lead Chevron Championship... full leaderboard / Friday TEE TIMES

 LPGA : Chevron Championship PAIRINGS

American Lauren Coughlin had it all going her way at this LPGA major, with a bogey free 6 birdie 66 on the Club at Carlton Woods down at the Woodlands in Texas to lead by 2 shots. 

The Woodlands is what Americans call a "special-purpose district" basically a wealthy urban area separate from the urban area of Houston, with their own elected officials and a small population of 115,000.

The Scottie Scheffler of the LPGA Tour, Nelly Korda is in a group T2 -4 68.

Canadians

Brooke Henderson had 3 birdies and 2 bogey's including a 6 at the par5 18th T18 -1 71 while rookie Savannah Grewal who has found out how good and deep the LPGA Tour is struggled T105 +4 76.

For all the scores and Friday tee times click on my link above.

Bryan Angus

Hughes in contention at RBC Heritage..full leaderboard/ Friday TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour : RBC Heritage Leaderboard Tee Times

Apart from a double after driving it into the water at the par4 10th Mac Hughes had one of his better days with 7 birdies for a -5 66 T4 on the Harbour Town Links at Hilton Head.

His compatriot Adam Hadwin 6 birdies with 2 bogey's for -4 67 to T1O alongside Rory McIlroy.

Farther down the leaderboard T26 we find Corey Conners T26 -2 with birdies offset by 3 bogey's.

On a day of low scoring Nick Taylor is T51 E 71 and Adam Svensson T57 +1 72

New dad JP Poston has the lead with an easy -8 63 with his good luck charm, 2 month old daughter Scottie dominating the household.

Only 13 players are over par.

For all the scores and Friday tee times click on my links above

Brooke Henderson at LPGA major The Chevron Championship...TEE TIMES

 LPGA Tour : The Chevron Championship PAIRINGS

This week the LPGA stars have gathered at The Club at Carlton Woods in the Woodlands,Texas for their first major of the year. You will remember this was formerly the ANA at Rancho Mirage on the Dinah Shore course.

ANA discontinued their sponsorship, Chevron took it over and moved the event to their HQ in Houston.

There are two Canadians

8.21 10th  Brooke Henderson

12.26 1st  Savannah Grewal (rookie)

For all tee times and a live leaderboard click on my link above.

Bryan Angus

Corales Puntacana Championship.. TEE TIMES including 3 Canadians

 PGA Tour : Corales Puntacana Championship Leaderboard

Now called an Additional Event, for those not playing the signature event RBC Heritage.

They are in the Dominican Republic for the annual Corales Puntacana Championship where last year Danish star Nicolai Hojgaard led for 54 holes, but was pipped by a shot from England's Matt Wallace.

Regular 300 points are on offer and a $4,000,000 purse on the Corales GC, one of the longest on the PGA Tour, with six holes right along the Caribbean. 

There are 3 Canadians

7.57   Roger Sloan

12.33 Taylor Pendrith

1.09   Ben Silverman

For all tee times and the live leaderboard click on my link above..

Bryan Angus

RBC Heritage worth $20,000,000 this week...TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour : RBC Heritage Tee Times

They've been playing the RBC Heritage for 55 years, since 1969 when AP won it, down in the toney climes of Hilton Head, SC., on the Harbour Town Links which Davis Love loved so much he won it 5 times, but it was never a signature event worth $20,000,000.

It's kind of difficult to conjure up much enthusiasm the week after the Masters, but here we go again, a 69 man, no cut field led by you know who Scottie Scheffler.

Now keep in mind, wife Meredith may be the only person with the best chance of beating Scheffler as she is due any day, and he will be by her side for the birth. The rest of the field hopes he'll stay there for a long time !!!

Rory and many of the Masters field are in play along with 5 Canadians.

8.45    Adam Svensson, Lee Hodges

9.15    Mac Hughes, Chris Kirk

12.05  Corey Conners, Tom Hoge

12.35  Adam Hadwin, Patrick Rodgers

1.30    Nick Taylor, Matt Fitzpatrick (defending champion)

Notables

10.30  Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth

10.50  Tommy Fleetwood, Max Homa

1.40   Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg

1.50  Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele

Last week before Mother Nature blew angrily into Augusta National, Corey Conners was swinging it as well as ever, his tempo right on time. I mention this because at Harbour Town you simply have to drive it in play and Corey does that as well as any of the guys here this week, so keep an eye on him.

Weather

Typical Hilton Head weather Thursday - Saturday, sunny, hot mid 80'sf, light NE wind. A  front moves into the area Sunday with wind now SW 12mph, 45% chance of rain, temp 75*f

Bryan Angus

Men who made news this year at Augusta..

Here are a few pictures of the some of the players who made news at the 88th Masters

With a first, first and second in his last three starts on the PGA TOUR coming into the Masters, for many it was hard to look beyond Scheffler – and so proved the case. 

Now a two-time Green Jacket holder, the American is proving to be a class above the rest. While he was by no means the best player across several of the key statistical barometers, he did produce at times when it counted most.

 But for the time being his attention appears set to switch to the impending birth of his first child. “I’ll be home as quick as I can. It’s a very special time for both of us. I can’t put into words what it means to win this tournament. I really can’t put into words what it’s going to be like to become a father for the first time.”

Not since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 as a rookie won the Masters. Only two others – Horton Smith and Gene Sarazen – won at the first attempt. This time last year Ludvig Åberg wasn’t even a professional. Yet, in less than 12 months he has gone on to win on both sides of the Atlantic and play an influential role in Team Europe regaining the Ryder Cup.

Prior to that appearance in Rome last September, Luke Donald described Åberg as a “generational talent”. Amid his undoubted talent, it is perhaps his composure that continues to stand out the most.In the second round on Friday, a day in which conditions were at their toughest with swirling winds and greens starting to firm up, Åberg was the only player in the field to break 70.

"Just to be in this situation and feel the nerves and feel the pressure walking down the last couple of holes is what you dream of," he said.

After his best performance on record at Augusta National, the reflections were deservedly positive from the English fan favourite Tommy Fleetwood. 

In his eighth appearance, the 33-year-old finished in a tie for third alongside American pair Homa and Morikawa. A flawless 69 in the final round helped him to his best Major result since he was solo second behind Shane Lowry at The Open in 2019.

His record at golf’s biggest events was already impressive but he has now finished in the top five at all four, and with three to come over the space of the next three months, his hopes will only have been strengthened that he can get a win.

Tiger Woods means a lot to the Masters and the Masters means a lot to Tiger Woods.

Since his debut as an amateur in 1995, the American great has made 26 appearances and won the Green Jacket on five occasions, most recently defying the odds to do so in 2019 after a series of injury problems.

While the weekend didn’t play out as he would have hoped, recording scores of 82 and 77, the 48-year-old continues to receive adoration from the Augusta patrons unlike any other current player.

It remains to be seen how many more occasions we do get to see Woods at the Masters, but his intention in the very near future is to target appearing at the remaining three Majors of the year.

Others like Matthieu Pavon carded a level-par 72 in the final round to finish at two over in a tie for 12th ensuring his return to Augusta next year, with Nicolai Højgaard, who momentarily held solo possession of the lead during the third round, a shot further back.

Ryo Hisatsune, the fourth and final DP World Tour member making their Masters debut, missed the cut in what was also his first Major start, like Åberg.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Other notable results from the Masters, and there will be no new norm for golf..

 The Masters Leader Board

With the planes, boats and trains all gone from Augusta leaving the lucky few Media hackers who won the Friday lottery to play the course set up just like the pros, I was scrolling through the final leaderboard and had these thoughts.

Scottie Scheffler :  great news for the rest of the tour, "golf will now become my 4th priority" with wife Meredith expecting any day.

Ludvig Aberg : buoyed by his dream week 2nd place debut, the sky is the limit for this Swedish phenom

Bryson DeChambeau : T6 will now return to obscurity on the LIV, looked like he's grown up a little.

Tyrrell Hatton : T9 despite himself

Adam Schenk : T12 great week for this good guy and his emotional wife fulfilling their dream

Patrick Reed T12: never saw him, never want to..

Matthieu Pavon : T12 as his fairytale rags to riches story on PGA Tour continues

Rory McIlroy : T22  Rory was not the Story, as his Grand Slam quest continues..

Corey Conners:  T38 had his moments early, but nowhere near his last 3 top 10's

Adam Hadwin : T53 at +12 just got blown off the course like many on Friday...

Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka : both T45, non factors, adios back to LIV...

Dustin Johnson : +13 over 36 holes MC, what ever happened to this world #1

Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sport

Tiger Woods : Nice to see the legend, made the cut, but 82 Saturday, finishes dead last 60th

State of the game : In January we thought the talks between PGA Tour/ LIV might resolve the new normal for the state of the pro game by this week at Augusta. Rahm signing for $35,000,000 with the Saudi's did not sit well here, and the investment of $1,5 billion by the ultra wealthy men led by the Fenway Sports Group has silenced the need for any new world order.

The LIV will continue with their product in relative obscurity, former household names, stalwarts of this game happily playing their funky 54 hole team game amongst themselves for the endless generosity of their Saudi masters.

Meanwhile the beat goes onward and arguably upward for the PGA Tour even without Tiger, with more than enough stars, money, guaranteed TV contracts and sponsorship, to make moving to LIV just seem like it was and is, an easy format and pure greed.

Bryan Angus

Tommy Fleetwood on his "best Masters"...DP World Tour scheduling...

 Tommy Fleetwood was hopeful he had cracked the code of Augusta National Golf Club after securing his first top five at the Masters Tournament.

The Englishman has an impressive record in the Major Championships, having been runner-up at The Open Championship and U.S. Open and finished in the top five at the US PGA Championship but up until this week his best finish at the Masters was a tie for 14th.

An opening 72 suggested he was on for more of the same but fantastic rounds of 71 and 72 in the tougher conditions on Friday and Saturday laid the foundations for a closing bogey-free 69 that sent him up the leaderboard to four under.

The result means Fleetwood now has top tens in three consecutive Majors and while the 2017 Race to Dubai winner was not willing to make any predictions, he was glad to be consistently be in contention.

"You just keep playing," he said. "You never know what's around the corner. But yeah, I loved it this week. It was great being out late on the Sunday and playing a good round of golf and just another Major Championship where you're at the right end of the leaderboard at the end of the week.

"Who knows if my time will ever come but all I can do is keep trying to put myself there and keep having performances like this and then we'll see."

He added: "I've been close before. I think I've had some good rounds and there's two or three years where I've been close to a good performance and it hasn't quite happened.

"I think a few times, back nine on Sunday, I haven't played as well as I would have liked to and very aware of that today. I played it really, really well."

With long-time caddie and friend Ian Finnis missing through illness, Fleetwood had Gray Moore on the bag this week and he has enjoyed his time with the former Augusta National caddie master.

"We had a great week," he said. "I've known Gray since I first came to Augusta and I asked him to caddie this week.

"It was always going to be a fantastic weekend when we made it through to the weekend together. It's been absolutely amazing and I've loved spending time with him on the golf course this week.

"I always enjoy seeing him and spending time with him at Augusta every time the Masters comes around but actually being out with him was a real treat. I just hope he's had as good a time with me as I have with him this week. It's been great."

edit note *** The DP World Tour Asian Tour swing, re surfaces April 25th with stops in Japan (ISPS Handa) and May 2nd in China (Volvo China Open) before the US PGA Championship May 16 in Louisville, Kentucky.

The first event back in the UK for the European Swing is May 23rd Soudal Open in Belgium. 

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)