Tour golfer update
Bob Hope Chrysler Classic
After the high-powered fields of the season's first three tournaments, it was a more disparate collection of pros who tackled the various courses on offer over 5 days of intense competition.
With the top 4 in the world rankings all missing, hopes were high that Phil Mickelson would step up to the plate and put a better gloss on his 2005 season. He finished tied for 12th, an improvement over last week, but he's not on fire yet.
It was Justin Leonard who topped the list come Sunday, coming from behind in the final round to pass long-time leader Joe Ogilvie and claim the $846,000 first prize.
After his worst season ever on tour, that win sets him up nicely for a much improved 2005.
The tournament was also a chance for several rookies to gain a few dollars towards their 2006 tour card. Q-school winner Brian Davis, for example, tied for 14th, which will give him a boost.
On the Champions Tour, Hale Irwin won the Turtle Bay Championship. Amazingly, that was his fifth win in a row in that tournament. Obviously he likes Hawaii. Incidentally, no other golfer has ever won the same professional tournament five times in a row.
Over in Europe, the Caltex Masters went to Nick Dougherty, his first tour win.
Monday, January 31, 2005
After the high-powered fields of the season's first three tournaments, it was a more disparate collection of pros who tackled the various courses on offer over 5 days of intense competition.
With the top 4 in the world rankings all missing, hopes were high that Phil Mickelson would step up to the plate and put a better gloss on his 2005 season. He finished tied for 12th, an improvement over last week, but he's not on fire yet.
It was Justin Leonard who topped the list come Sunday, coming from behind in the final round to pass long-time leader Joe Ogilvie and claim the $846,000 first prize.
After his worst season ever on tour, that win sets him up nicely for a much improved 2005.
The tournament was also a chance for several rookies to gain a few dollars towards their 2006 tour card. Q-school winner Brian Davis, for example, tied for 14th, which will give him a boost.
On the Champions Tour, Hale Irwin won the Turtle Bay Championship. Amazingly, that was his fifth win in a row in that tournament. Obviously he likes Hawaii. Incidentally, no other golfer has ever won the same professional tournament five times in a row.
Over in Europe, the Caltex Masters went to Nick Dougherty, his first tour win.
Monday, January 31, 2005
Buick Invitational
Last week, Vijay Singh threw down the (golf) glove to the Woods, Els, Mickelson triumvirate with his win in the Sony Open.
On Sunday, Tiger Woods picked up the glove and gave the rest of the field (including Singh) a gentle slapping, winning the event by three strokes from Charles Howell III, Luke Donald and Tom Lehman.
For the moment, the victory puts paid to the suggestion that Singh will walk this season like the last. But it does raise the possibility of a dominant Woods. It wasn't a weak field out there, and neither did he play his best. Yet he still won. The rest of the tour will be hoping this isn't the start of something big. The TV companies will hope for just the opposite.
Elsewhere in the world, Tim Clark won the South African Airways Open on the European Tour, and Dana Quigley won the Champions Tour season opener, the MasterCard Championship, beating Tom Watson in a playoff.
Monday, January 24, 2005
Last week, Vijay Singh threw down the (golf) glove to the Woods, Els, Mickelson triumvirate with his win in the Sony Open.
On Sunday, Tiger Woods picked up the glove and gave the rest of the field (including Singh) a gentle slapping, winning the event by three strokes from Charles Howell III, Luke Donald and Tom Lehman.
For the moment, the victory puts paid to the suggestion that Singh will walk this season like the last. But it does raise the possibility of a dominant Woods. It wasn't a weak field out there, and neither did he play his best. Yet he still won. The rest of the tour will be hoping this isn't the start of something big. The TV companies will hope for just the opposite.
Elsewhere in the world, Tim Clark won the South African Airways Open on the European Tour, and Dana Quigley won the Champions Tour season opener, the MasterCard Championship, beating Tom Watson in a playoff.
Monday, January 24, 2005
Sony Open
Well, after a brief intermission at the Mercedes Championships, normal service resumed at the Sony Open.
Despite keeping a low profile for the first three rounds, it was a 65 that took Vijay Singh back to his accustomed position atop the leaderboard when play finished on Sunday.
He didn't have it all his own way though. A 62 from Ernie Els, which included an eagle on the final hole, almost forced a playoff. And another four players were within just three shots of Singh's final total.
The "disappointment" of the tournament was Michelle Wie missing the cut by a wide margin. While it gave succour to those who wanted her to fail as part of their own gender agenda, many pros were quick to point out how extraordinary it was that she was even contesting out there.
With Singh and Els both in hot early-season form, the ball is firmly parked in the court of Messers Woods and Mickelson to live up to the pre-season billing of a four-way fight for the season's top honors.
Monday, January 17, 2005
Well, after a brief intermission at the Mercedes Championships, normal service resumed at the Sony Open.
Despite keeping a low profile for the first three rounds, it was a 65 that took Vijay Singh back to his accustomed position atop the leaderboard when play finished on Sunday.
He didn't have it all his own way though. A 62 from Ernie Els, which included an eagle on the final hole, almost forced a playoff. And another four players were within just three shots of Singh's final total.
The "disappointment" of the tournament was Michelle Wie missing the cut by a wide margin. While it gave succour to those who wanted her to fail as part of their own gender agenda, many pros were quick to point out how extraordinary it was that she was even contesting out there.
With Singh and Els both in hot early-season form, the ball is firmly parked in the court of Messers Woods and Mickelson to live up to the pre-season billing of a four-way fight for the season's top honors.
Monday, January 17, 2005
Mercedes Championships
Australian Stuart Appleby took home the Mercedes Championships trophy on Sunday, but the interesting news is what happened in the places behind him.
Vijay Singh went into the final round with a healthy lead, but a 74 saw him fall back to tie for fifth place. Had he won, that might have dealt a huge psychological blow to those looking to knock the Fijian off his well-earned pedastal. But he didn't win, something that will give much heart to the challengers.
Two of the people touted as such challengers finished above Singh. Ernie Els might have done better than a tie for third were it not for a wayward tee shot on the final hole. And Tiger Woods missed enough birdie putts to win, too, eventually scoring the same total as Els. But both will be encouraged by a solid start to 2005.
As will Adam Scott, whose final round 65 gave him parity with Singh, suggesting that he might be the emerging youngster a lot of people are waiting for. Time will tell.
All of which takes nothing away from Appleby's success - repeating his victory of 2004 and taking home a nice paycheck as he awaits the birth of his first child in the next few days. The US$1,060,000 should cover the cost of nappies and bottom wipes.
Monday, January 10, 2005
Australian Stuart Appleby took home the Mercedes Championships trophy on Sunday, but the interesting news is what happened in the places behind him.
Vijay Singh went into the final round with a healthy lead, but a 74 saw him fall back to tie for fifth place. Had he won, that might have dealt a huge psychological blow to those looking to knock the Fijian off his well-earned pedastal. But he didn't win, something that will give much heart to the challengers.
Two of the people touted as such challengers finished above Singh. Ernie Els might have done better than a tie for third were it not for a wayward tee shot on the final hole. And Tiger Woods missed enough birdie putts to win, too, eventually scoring the same total as Els. But both will be encouraged by a solid start to 2005.
As will Adam Scott, whose final round 65 gave him parity with Singh, suggesting that he might be the emerging youngster a lot of people are waiting for. Time will tell.
All of which takes nothing away from Appleby's success - repeating his victory of 2004 and taking home a nice paycheck as he awaits the birth of his first child in the next few days. The US$1,060,000 should cover the cost of nappies and bottom wipes.
Monday, January 10, 2005
