Tour golfer update
Barclays Classic
After a string of tournaments where the big boys failed to show up (physically or form-wise), the Barclays Classic saw a familiar name return to the top of the leaderboard for the first time this year.
Vijay Singh's flame burnt strong in 2004 and 2005, a period when he actually displaced Tiger from the top of the world rankings for a short while.
But 2006 hasn't been as kind and he finished no better than T36 in his last four events. He admitted Sunday that he was worried more by his shotmaking, rather than the lack of wins: "I wasn't playing to my ability and wasn't playing the way I wanted to play."
That worry is behind him now as he prepares to face the US Open next week. Singh's win came largely from an impressive 7-under round on the Friday and steady play on Sunday.
That last round saw him record 3 birdies and no bogeys. In contrast, his main challengers for the title were far more inconsistent. Particularly Adam Scott, who hit two eagles, four birdies, five bogeys, one double bogey and just six pars.
Scott is boiling nicely though, with his last four PGA Tour results reading 2, T4, T3, 3. Maybe there'll be a 1 to add to that list in a week's time?
Monday, June 12, 2006
Vijay Singh's flame burnt strong in 2004 and 2005, a period when he actually displaced Tiger from the top of the world rankings for a short while.
But 2006 hasn't been as kind and he finished no better than T36 in his last four events. He admitted Sunday that he was worried more by his shotmaking, rather than the lack of wins: "I wasn't playing to my ability and wasn't playing the way I wanted to play."
That worry is behind him now as he prepares to face the US Open next week. Singh's win came largely from an impressive 7-under round on the Friday and steady play on Sunday.
That last round saw him record 3 birdies and no bogeys. In contrast, his main challengers for the title were far more inconsistent. Particularly Adam Scott, who hit two eagles, four birdies, five bogeys, one double bogey and just six pars.
Scott is boiling nicely though, with his last four PGA Tour results reading 2, T4, T3, 3. Maybe there'll be a 1 to add to that list in a week's time?
Monday, June 12, 2006
The Memorial Tournament
Carl Pettersson has only missed one cut this year. But he hasn't set the golf world alight. A couple of top 10s sprinkled in among a lot of good, but not great, results.
That all changed at the Memorial Tournament, when the Swede took over the top position on the leaderboard Friday, and just kept going. His win means he's now just a couple of grand short of his entire 2005 earnings, with plenty of golf left to play.
It wasn't an easy ride for the players. Poor weather meant long interruptions, and many were none too thrilled with the new furrowed bunkers caused by gap-tooth rakes.
But it was Pettersson who mastered the challenges best. The Swede's victory was all the more sweet since it got him an exemption into the US Open. And he has his heart set on a Ryder Cup place in September.
Unlike recent weeks, the big boys were out playing this time around. But only Phil Mickelson did his reputation full justice, with a respectable T4 placing alongside Brandt Jobe and the ladies' favorite Adam Scott.
Ernie Els in particular is still searching for his pre-injury form. A final round 81 -- which included a triple bogey on the tenth -- saw him finish T68 (only David Duval shot a worse final round).
Monday, June 05, 2006
That all changed at the Memorial Tournament, when the Swede took over the top position on the leaderboard Friday, and just kept going. His win means he's now just a couple of grand short of his entire 2005 earnings, with plenty of golf left to play.
It wasn't an easy ride for the players. Poor weather meant long interruptions, and many were none too thrilled with the new furrowed bunkers caused by gap-tooth rakes.
But it was Pettersson who mastered the challenges best. The Swede's victory was all the more sweet since it got him an exemption into the US Open. And he has his heart set on a Ryder Cup place in September.
Unlike recent weeks, the big boys were out playing this time around. But only Phil Mickelson did his reputation full justice, with a respectable T4 placing alongside Brandt Jobe and the ladies' favorite Adam Scott.
Ernie Els in particular is still searching for his pre-injury form. A final round 81 -- which included a triple bogey on the tenth -- saw him finish T68 (only David Duval shot a worse final round).
Monday, June 05, 2006
