Ames T5 at Regions Tradition.... Saturday TEE TIMES, Scoreboard

 Champions Tour: Regions Tradition TEE TIMES, leaderboard here

We haven't heard much from Stephen Ames this year, but as he has a habit of doing in big championships he rises to the occasion, and this week at the Regions Tradition at the Greystone GC in Birmingham, Alabama, the first major of the year on the Champions Tour he has posted 67, 71 -6, in a group of 4 including Ernie Els, just a shot off the lead going into play today.

Ames was leading after beginning play on #10, but caught a bad break on #8 when he ball landed on top of an acorn, his next shot ricocheted on  him leading to a double bogey, after he'd only made one bogey in his first 34 holes. "Scoring was really tough today with the wind blowing, then I got that bad break on 8" 

In the lead at -7 Steve Stricker 69, the defending champion, Alex Cejka 69, Jerry Kelly 70, and an enormous Darren Clarke 71.

Mike Weir T26, 68,77 +1. After a good start on Thursday he had 5 bogey's and a double at the last on Friday.

Bryan Angus

Mike Weir/ Stephen Ames TEE TIMES at Champions Tour major : Regions Tradition

 Champions Tour Major : Regions Tradition TEE TIMES here

Fresh off his 1st Champions Tour win last week at the Insperity Invitational, Mike Weir begins his attempt at his first major of the season, The Regions Tradition down in Birmingham, Alabama. 

He's paired with Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker and former Open Champion Darren Clarke at 10.12 local. Stephen Ames is off at 9.56.

The Birmingham, Alabama based Regions Financial Corporation took over sponsorship of this 5th major in 2011, played for 5 years at Shoal Creek GC, then moved to Greystone Golf and CC, "Founders Course" in 2016.

It is not recognized as a major by the European Tour, and the winner does not gain an exemption into a PGA or European Tour event.

Bryan Angus 

 

Connors, Taylor paired together. Thursday TEE TIMES Wells Fargo Championship..

 PGA Tour: Wells Fargo Championship here

There are seven Canadians playing one of the tour's favourite courses, Quail Hollow in South Carolina for the Wells Fargo Championship where Rory McIlroy emerges after fleeing Augusta after missing the cut a month ago.

Last week only 2 of 7 Canucks made the cut, this week I see Nick Taylor and Corey Connors will play together Thursday (1.05pm 1st tee) and Friday.

Mac Hughes

Others, Mac Hughes 10th 8.18, Michael Gligic 10th tee, 8.51am, David Hearn, 1st tee 2.15, Adam Hadwin 10th tee, 1.38pm, Roger Sloan 10th tee, 2.11pm.

Rory 1st tee 12,54 with Cink and Reed. Top rankings, Jon Rahm 10th tee 7.23 and Justin Thomas 10th 10 7.34am.

Bryan Angus

European Tour: Canary Islands Championship TEE TIMES

 European Tour: Canary Islands Championship Tee Times

COVID doesn't have much upside but because of it and the bubble players must adhere to, for the 3rd straight week the European Tour remains on the Canary Islands, and this week on the same Golf Costa Adeje course in Tenerife that South African Dean Burmester won on last weekend.

Canadian Aaron Cockerill will play at 9.16 local time, Thursday.

Bryan Angus

Top 25 finish for Connors at Valspar Championship.. final results

 PGA Tour: Valspar Championship final results here 

He didn't have his A game, but with rounds of 70 68 70 71 -5 Corey Connors ended up in a T21 with 8 guys who all took home $65,291 for their efforts.

Michael Gligic 69 68 74 69 -4 was a shot back T29 worth $40,572.

They were the only 2 of the seven Canadians who made the cut, and they all are entered this week at the Wells Fargo Championship, Charlotte NC. 

They are, Connors, Gligic, Nick Taylor, Roger Sloan, Mac Hughes, Adam Hearn, David Hearn.

The winner was 24 year old American, Sam Burns 67 63 69 68 -17, by 3 shots over Keegan Bradley. It was his 1st win worth 500 points and $1,242,000 US.

Bryan Angus

Weirsy wins first Champions Tour title...final results

 Champions Tour: Insperity Invitational final results here

Shooters shoot.  @mweirsy 

As Mike Weir and John Daly were coming down the last few holes yesterday, I hate to say it, but I thought if anyone is going to mess this up it will be big John, who looks a little like a golfing Moses these days. 

Daly was in the group ahead mulling over his 9 iron, Mike behind, they were tied after both had eagled the par 5 13th and stick handled their way to the final hole.

JD as he has so many times in his checkered career, felt the pressure, dumped his short iron into the pond and ended up with a double bogey 6 for 69 -8 total and a 2nd place finish.

Weirsy drove the ball very well all day, split the fairway again on 18, and did what he had to, hit his approach into the middle of the green, pumped his fist knowing he had 2 to win from 15' which he used to post -4 68 -10 total.

For Canadians who have followed him faithfully through all his trials and tribulations since the 2003 Masters and his last win in over 13 years at the 2007 Fry's Electronic Open, this was a sweet moment well earned by the determined lefty, and his coach Mark Blackburn amongst others.

It took 14 starts to break through on the Champions Tour where he has been in the top 3 in the last 3 outings and is clearly comfortable with his 51st birthday a couple of weeks away. The event was shortened to 36 holes because of torrential rain in Houston earlier in the week.

I said yesterday he hasn't gained a pound in 20 years, looks as fit as ever as has the first of 5 majors on this tour, the Regions Tradition later this week.

Bryan Angus

The Sunday Story in Golf.... Weir 2nd... includes Canadian scores, summaries.. leaderboards

 Here's what's happening this Sunday including Canadian scores, storylines and live leaderboards.....

Champions Tour: Insperity Invitational, Woodlands, Texas leaderboard here

Torrential rain in Houston wiped out Friday and most of Saturday. With play getting under way at 4pm Mike Weir rattled off 5 birdies in 13 holes before dark. No rain in today's forecast, stiff breeze 25kph S, very warm 29*c.

He starts play today 2nd -5, the lead by Tim Petrovic is -6, First round resumes at 715am local, the final round at 10am, now a 36 hole event.

PGA Tour: Valspar Championship, Palm Harbour, Florida leaderboard here

Of the seven Canadians who entered only 2 made the cut which fell at -1. Corey Connors is T23, 70 68 70 -5, and Michael Gligic T40, 69 68 74 -3 heading into today on this tight Copperhead course at the Innisbrook Resort.

The leaders at -14, Keegan Bradley and Sam Burns

LPGA Tour: HSBC Women's World Championship, Singapore leaderboard here.

Alena Sharp carried the Canadian flag this week, Brooke Henderson continues to shy away from international travel with the COVID virus raging.

Alena ended up T49 +2 73 72 72 74 worth $5,659, while another South Korean,  Hoo Joo Kim 67 68 72 64 -17 was the winner by a shot worth $240,000.

 

Korn Ferry Tour: Huntsville Championship, Alabama leaderboard  here.

Four Canadians are in action today, none in contention. Stuart MacDonald (69) and Adam Svensson (69) are T41 -2, while Taylor Pendrith (71) and Ben Silverman (71) T50 -1.

The leader by 3 shots is a Frenchman, Paul Barjon 67 68 64 -14

European Tour : Tenerife Open, Canary Islands leaderboard Leaderboard

South African Dean Burmester posted a final round 62 -25 to win the Tenerife Open by 5 shots, his first win since 2017. It is the 4th win in the last seven European Tour events by a South African.

Aaron Cockerill 69 68 71 67 finished at -9.

This tour wraps up 3 delightful weeks in the Canary Islands next week with the Canary Island Championship on the same Golf Costa Adeje course they are playing this week.

Bryan Angus