Tuesday, September 07, 2010

RYDER CUP TEAMS COMPLETED

Corey Pavin picks Woods, Cink, Zach

Johnson and Fowler

NEWS RELEASE
Sir Terry Matthews, the owner of host venue The Celtic Manor Resort, has welcomed the inclusion of Tiger Woods in the United States team for The Ryder Cup.
Sir Terry attended the press conference in New York today when US Captain Corey Pavin finalised his team by adding four wild-card picks to the eight automatic qualifiers decided upon completion of the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.
Pavin selected:
Stewart Cink
Zach Johnson
Tiger Woods
Rickie Fowler

to join qualifiers

Phil Mickelson
Hunter Mahan
Bubba Watson
Jim Furyk
Steve Stricker
Dustin Johnson
Jeff Overton
Matt Kuchar

for the match against Europe from October 1-3.


Sir Terry said: “I congratulate every member of the United States team on winning their place in the team. It is a considerable achievement both for those who qualified automatically and for those who were awarded wildcard selections by Corey Pavin.
“Personally, I am delighted that Tiger Woods, the world’s No 1 golfer, has been selected to play. It was always our hope that the world’s very best golfers would come to Celtic Manor and there is no doubt that Tiger Woods has been the world’s standout player for the 10 years we have been planning for this Ryder Cup.”
The inclusion of Woods means 13 of the world’s current top 15 players will tee it up as members of either side at The Celtic Manor Resort. The American team also includes the present world No 2 Phil Mickelson and world No 4 Steve Stricker, both of whom could dislodge Woods at the top of the rankings in the two tournament weeks remaining before The Ryder Cup.
Colin Montgomerie finalised his European team last week when he added wildcard picks Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari to automatic qualifiers Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher, Francesco Molinari, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Peter Hanson.
“I think both sides look very strong,” said Celtic Manor Director of Golf Courses Jim McKenzie. “There has been a lot of talk about Europe being strong favourites for this Ryder Cup but I think, now that both teams have been confirmed, it has the makings of a very close match-up.
“We can’t wait to welcome both teams to The Celtic Manor Resort in three weeks’ time. The golf course is in great shape and I think we can look forward to some fantastic golf.”

Labels:

Quiet man Olazabal ready to make a

comeback after rheumatism


FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
José María Olazábal is set to make his comeback to the European Tour after sufficiently recovering from rheumatism
The contrast between Omega Masters winner Miguel Ángel Jiménez and José María Olazábal, admiring the Swiss Alps from a corporate balcony during a rare public appearance, is so pronounced as to be comic.

If you perceive Jiménez’s weakness for Rioja, Havana cigars and late-night espressos as typically Spanish eccentricities, half an hour in the company of Olazábal would put you straight. Here is a man who, both by choice and as a consequence of the rheumatism that has ruined the past decade of his career, has retreated into himself.



Olazábal, who confirms that his chronic back pain is easing, has had plenty of time to savour Spain’s bountiful sporting summer — of which Jiménez’s victory is only the latest chapter. But he does not deny that he has little in common with his compatriot, a celebrated bon vivant.
“Miguel has a very interesting attitude to life,” he says. “I’ve known him for many years and I think it is a great asset for him, because he is 46 and still competitive.

“If things don’t go his way, he doesn’t mess around a lot. He wouldn’t waste even 10 or 15 minutes thinking about it. I wish I could have an approach to life like the one he has, enjoying his cigars and his coffee. But I am just the opposite. I try to have dinner early, to fit in my full amount of rest. I will be trying to go to bed while he is telling me to relax and have a Scotch on the rocks.”

Olazábal loathes interviews to the point where he once left an American journalist stranded outside his front gate, paying no heed to the pleading that ensued.
Here in the serene tranquillity of Crans, the two-time US Masters champion seems more at ease, most likely because he is announcing a comeback. After three years of popping painkillers in industrial quantities, he discloses that he is medication-free and targeting a return in next month’s end-of-season events, at Castellón and Valderrama.
Do not bet against a star turn on the fringes of Europe’s team room at Celtic Manor, either. Olazábal stands as a totem in Ryder Cup folklore, having won 11 of 15 matches in partnership with Seve Ballesteros, and he is still remembered as the innocent bystander in the ‘Battle of Brookline’ in 1999, when a jubilant American team cavorted wildly across his putting line.
“My health condition is much better,” he explains. “It’s true that I feel a little ache in my shoulders still, but the lower back is clear. There has been some serious improvement in the last two to three months, and I’m starting to practise with more intensity. But I’m thinking more towards next year. I’m confident, if the progress continues at the same rate, that I will be fit enough to play properly by then.

“I’m only in physiotherapy now. I’m hitting balls almost every day, up to a maximum of 200, and the discomfort is nothing compared to what it was. Before I was playing in pain, under very strong medication, and I don’t want to do that any longer.”

The work of recuperation has proved an effective escape for Olazábal, after his disappointment at not being chosen as one of Colin Montgomerie’s four Ryder Cup vice-captains.
Recalling his deputising for Nick Faldo in the loss at Valhalla two years ago, he claims, firstly, that he “does not miss it” and, secondly, that any incumbent of the job next month needs a “proximity” to life on tour that he so conspicuously lacks.
Olazabal is content, instead, to draw upon the rich experience he gained alongside Ballesteros, in readiness for his probable Ryder Cup captaincy in two years’ time.
“I learned a lot from Seve,” admits Olazábal, who last saw his compatriot, ailing after four bouts of brain surgery, in March. “He always saw the positive side. To be able to share that with a countryman, with a star of the stature of Seve, was fantastic.”
Such memories remain valid: a rampant Jiménez, watched at every turn by a recovering Olazábal, could yet ensure this Ryder Cup is another one defined by Spanish pride.

Labels:

COUNTY NEWS

LANARKSHIRE ORDER OF MERIT'S

FINAL EVENT ON SUNDAY

The Lanarkshire men's final counting event for the County Order of Merit Shield takes place at Crow Wood on Sunday in the Garnkirk Trophy.
Stewart Henderson of Hamilton leads the way on 56 points but could be caught by a number of players including Crow Wood's Robert Jenkins and Alan MacDonald.
Fifteen points are available for a score level with the CSS of the day plus extra points for every point below the day's CSS and fourteen for one above the CSS etc. So technically there are about 20 points available for two outstanding rounds.
Standings after Cadzow Cup


1 Stewart Henderson (Hamilton) 56 pts
2 Andy Fairbairn (Kirkhill) 46 pts
3 Scott Douglas (Drumpellier) 41 pts
4 Wilson Bryson (Drumpellier) 40 pts
5 Robert Jenkins (Crow Wood) 40 pts
6 Derek Loudon (Hamilton) 38 pts
7 Alan MacDonald (Crow Wood) 36 pts


Willie Sharpe, President, Lanarkshire GA

Labels:

COUNTY NEWS



GLEDDOCH GC WIN RENFREWSHIRE CUP

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION
Don Bremner: e-mail- donbremner@ranfurly9.freeserve.co.uk
Kilmacolm Golf Club was the venue for the 2010 final of the County Cup which is a knock out event, involving all four handicap categories, played throughout the season and involving all the clubs in the Renfrewshire Golf Union.
The clubs which had fought their way through to the final were Cochrane Castle which had not won the trophy since 1985 and Gleddoch whose name appears on the cup four times and were favourites to add a fifth.
It was a one sided affair with Gleddoch’s Alan Moffat shaking hands out in the country after a comfortable win over Kenny McAlpine, then Michael O’Neill recording a 3 and 2 victory over Peter Dillon. Cochrane Castle’s Andy Thomson tried hard to inspire the fight back with a 5 and 4 victory over Frank Rocks but the cup went back to Gleddoch when Tony McCorkell beat Paul Muir 3 and 2.


Picture shows from left to right, John Greer, Steven Higgins, Ross Campbell and Elderslie Golf Club Captain Bill Dugan

GOUROCK GOLF CLUB TAKE THE

FIRST STEP TO EUROPE

Each year the 23 clubs in the Renfrewshire Golf Union enter the Club Team Championship, a three man team event with the aggregate scratch score determining which club will represent RGU in the Scottish finals. This year, the final will be at Fortrose and Rosemarkie with the winning team going to Portugal in October to represent Scotland in the European final.
The venue for this fiercely fought event was Elderslie Golf Club which was in excellent condition and first to show was the Old Ranfurly team which recorded an aggregate score of 220. One of the favourites was Renfrew but young Michael Campbell’s day started badly when he drove out of bounds at the first. Remarkably, he recovered from that and gave his side a great chance for a trip to the north by handing in a great score of 68. Brothers Darren and Jordan Grant did not quite reach that standard with scores of 74 and 76 but the total of 218 looked promising.

It was the Gourock team which was able to show the overall consistency which is needed to win. John Greer struggled on the way out but a great inward half of 33 meant that his 71 provided a solid base. Ross Campbell was out in 32 and held it together for a commendable 70. Anything better than a 77 was needed from Steven Higgins, the 2004 County Youth Champion, and he more than met that target with a solid 73 and an aggregate of 214. One more good performance and Portugal beckons!




























Labels:

SCOTTISH YOUNG PROFESSIONALS'

CHAMPIONSHIP AT WEST LOTHIAN

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE PGA SCOTTISH REGION
The West Lothian Golf Club will be hosting the Scottish Young Professionals Championships next week, from Tuesday 14th to Thursday 16th September.
This will be the first time 72 hole event has been held at West Lothian, and the par-71 course will set a testing challenge for the field of 90 Trainee Professionals, which features some of the best young players in the country.
Defending champion and former Walker Cup star David Patrick, now attached to Elie, will be one of the favourites, but despite the event clashing with the first stage of the European Tour School qualifying round at Dundonald, he will not be without strong competition.
Iain Colquhoun (Dundonald Links) and Chris Currie (Caldwell) have recent victories to their names, while Gareth Wright (West Linton) finished as runner-up in a 36-hole event at Dumfries last weekend.
Dunbar’s Neil Fenwick has been in good form all season and can’t be discounted, and nor should Royal Dornoch’s Greg McBain, Young Professionals Champion and Order of Merit winner in 2008.
There is no shortage of local interest with Ross Neill now at Drumpellier Golf Club but a former assistant at West Lothian in the field, along with Ian Stoddart (Uphall) and Pumpherston’s Alan Mackay.
Heather MacRae (Downfield) is the only female in the field.
Play will get underway at 8am each day with the last matches teeing off at 12.30 for the first two rounds, before a 36 hole cut which will see the leading players play two rounds on the final day.
Entry for spectators is free.


Notable tee-off times for round 1 (Tuesday 14 September)


8.00 Ross Neill (Drumpellier)
9.12 David Patrick (Elie) Neil Fenwick (Dunbar)
9.48 Stephen Lamb (Broomieknowe) Iain Colquhoun (Dundonald Links)
10.15 Heather MacRae (Downfield)
10.42 Chris Currie (Caldwell)
11.09 Greg McBain (Royal Dornoch) Gareth Wright (West Linton)



Labels:

Woosnam says leaving Casey out is a

big mistake by skipper Montgomerie

FROM TODAY'S WESTERN MAIL, CARDIFF
By RICHARD CLIFFORD
Wales' victorious 2006 Ryder Cup skipper Ian Woosnam says he would definitely have picked Paul Casey in his side to face the United States at the Celtic Manor next month.
European captain Colin Montgomerie controversially overlooked world No 8 Casey and the in-form Justin Rose when handing out his three wild cards nine days ago.
Monty opted for Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Edoardo Molinari, leaving Casey as the biggest casualty.
"Casey's one of the longest hiiters in the world and would definitely have been in my team," said Woosnam who will be part of Sky Sports commentary team at Celtic Manor.
"You can't say it's the strongest team because the world No 8, Casey, is not there. You need to get the strongest team possible out on the golf course.
"Someone had to be left out and it was a difficult job. As the captain, Colin's the one who had to make the decision and ultimately stand by it.
"I'm not saying who should be picked but I did find it a little bit strange not having Casey, who's such a long-hitter, in the side. I would have seen that as an advantage at Celtic Manor and against an American team that includes some of the longer hitters in the world at the moment. Paul Casey would have been in my fantasy team, let's put it that way."
Montgomerie was faced with what he called "impossible" decisions over selection as Harrington, Donald, Casey and Rose all needed wild cards as their decdision to play much of their golf in America hampered their chances of automatic qualification.
And then, Molinari threw another spanner in the works with a stunning run of form that culminated in his victory in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles - the final qualifying event.
Given the fact that Molinari missed automatic qualification only by a whisker, Montgomerie had little choice but to pick the Italian.
Few argued with that decision but plenty of eyebrows were raised when the Scot opted for Harrington and Donald ahead of Casey and Rose.
Despite his three Majors, Harrington has been struggling to find form and his Ryder Cup record is pretty woeful.
Donald's Ryder Cup resume is altogether more impressive but as one of the shorter hitters on the scene, he was expected to lose out in the race to win a captain's pick. Woosnam accepts what a difficult choice Monty had to make.
"when I made my choices I went for people who were going to be strong in the team environment," said Woosie.
"I picked Darren Clarke, paired him with Lee Westwood, and it turned out perfect. I might have looked at it differently to Colin but he's made his choice. He was in a difficult situation.
"Padraig does it the way he wants to do it. He's had two bad Ryder Cups, maybe this is the one where he'll shine. I'd maybe look at putting him with a different partner.
"You have to look at how Harrington's playing, how many times you are going to play him. It's very difficult to say how he'll play. Some players shine in the Ryder Cup and others don't.
"Maybe, when Padraig gets into a match-play situation next month - he's a bit wild at the moment - perhaps it will relax him and he'll end up winning four or five points out of five."

Labels:

The long and costly road through

Qualifying School

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Away from the fuss over Colin Montgomerie's Ryder Cup wild card selections and the glitz and glamour of the money-spinning FedEx Cup Play-offs, the battle for spots on next season's European Tour got underway last week. Two Stage 1 events were held, one in England and the other in Portugal, with six more to come, including one at Dundonald Links, in the next couple of weeks.
Keir McNicoll, one of three Scots in the field, passed the test at The London Club and deserves credit for that. But he's still got a long way to go before reaching the promised land.
Stage 2 takes place at four venues in Spain at the end of November, with the final, a six-round marathon, being held just after that in Girona, at PGA Golf Catalunya.
In the region of 1,000 competitors enter the Qualifying School each year, all dreaming of making it on to the European Tour. Yet cards are only awarded to the top 30 and ties following the final stage. A player progressing through all three stages will not only have to play 252 holes but will have done so under the most intense pressure they've ever encountered.

It can be a life-changing experience. It can also be costly. The entry fee is a four-figure sum (£1,360) and players taking part in all of the phases are likely to run up some hefty expenses, particularly with a two-week stay in Spain included in the process. Even for the lucky 30 at the end of it all, the champagne can go flat very quickly.

The routes to venues on the European Tour may look as though they are paved with gold but not for everyone. Countless players have seen their dream quickly become a nightmare. Take Colin Brooks, for example. The former Scottish champion stepped on to the circuit with high hopes and rightly so.
Yet the experience proved a disaster, prompting Brooks to re-focus and embark on a career that, thankfully, has since seen him become one of Scotland's leading coaches.
For McNicoll, the dream is still alive and that will be a huge relief. This, after all, is what he's been building up for throughout the season. The same goes for those in next week's three-round event in Ayrshire, where the Scottish contingent is the usual hybrid affair.
Scott Henderson, a former European Tour rookie of the year, and his fellow Tartan Tour regulars, Chris Kelly, Jason McCreadie and Stephen Gray, have all been there and bought the t-shirt.
So, too, have the likes of Barry Hume, Mark Loftus, Graham Fox and Jack Doherty. For all of them, a crack at the European Tour could re-ignite careers that, so far at least, have failed to live up to potential.
Then you've got a group that includes Wallace Booth, Paul O'Hara, Scott Henry and Shaun McAllister, all relatively recent recruits to the professional ranks. For Booth, in particular, this year's Qualifying School is crucial.
A member of Scotland's Eisenhower Trophy-winning team two years ago, he was preparing for a Dunhill Links appearance this time last year but has become something of a forgotten man after failing to secure a card of any nature this season.
O'Hara, bidding to join his big brother, Steven, on the European Tour, has been keeping his competitive teeth sharp on the EPD Tour, while Henry, who beat Ross McGowan to win the Scottish Stroke Play a few years ago, has certainly showed signs of finding his feet with some encouraging performances on the EuroPro Tour, where McAllister has also been playing for the past two seasons.

For the likes of them, an acceptable outcome, should they fail to get on to the main circuit this time, would be a Challenge Tour card. Richie Ramsay, the South African Open champion, benefitted enormously from his spell on the second-tier Tour.
So, too, did Peter Whiteford and now George Murray is set to make the step up to the big time after learning how to become a Tour professional on the Challenge circuit.
Many of the aforementioned players got their first taste of the Qualifying School process as amateurs and, this time around, the field includes a handful of Scots who have entered while still retaining their amateur status.
Former British Boys champion Jordan Findlay has the class to get a run for his money, but for the others it's probably a case of guaging where their careers are at.
Having said that, two years ago Callum Macaulay was in the same boat and he secured his card at the first attempt, so you never know who might be in dreamland in 13 weeks' time, when the battle for those 30 cards will be nearing a conclusion.
For many, though, a place on the Challenge Tour should also be cause for celebration. The more players we get moving up the ladder, albeit slowly, the better chance we have of moulding players who have a chance of enjoying a long-term career on the European Tour.



Labels:

NEWS FROM CRAW'S NEST TASSIE AT CARNOUSTIE

The Craw's Nest Tassie and Maulebank Trophy open tournaments for amateurs are being played over the Carnoustie championship links and Burnside this week.


CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST SCORES, RESULTS

Labels:

Canter, Lewis, Nixon England's trio for
Argentina

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Three members of England’s victorious Home Internationals team, who also represented GB and I in the recent St Andrews Trophy, will attempt to win the World Amateur Team Championships for the Eisenhower Trophy in Argentina next month.
Laurie Canter (Saltford, Somerset), Tom Lewis (Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire) and Matt Nixon (Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire) will carry England’s hopes at Buenos Aires and Olivos Golf Clubs on 28th – 31st October.

Canter, 20, hit the headlines when he won the South African Amateur last winter. Since then he has also scored victories in the Hampshire Hog and West of England Stroke Play and finished tied fourth in the Duncan Putter. He made his England debut in the victorious European Men’s Team Championships squad where he won all his three singles and then went on to take home 5.5 out of 6 points in the successful Home Internationals.

Last year he won the Midland Youth Championship and was runner-up in the West of England Match Play Championship.

Lewis, 19, was capped at Under-16 and boys level before making his full England debut in this year’s match with France. He became British and English Boys Champion last year and this year he has won the Berkhamsted Trophy, finished runner-up in the Welsh Open Stroke Play and reached the semi-finals of the English Amateur. He was also a member of England’s winning European Nations Cup and European Team Championships squads and reached the last 16 of the Amateur Championship.

Nixon, 21, British Boys Champion in 2006, was also capped at boys level. A quarter finalist in the English Amateur in 2008, the following year he finished tied fourth in the Brabazon Trophy and was a joint winner of the Henriques Salver. He made his full England debut in last year’s Home Internationals and played in this year’s international with France as well as the Home Internationals. He also reached the semi-finals of the Amateur Championship, tied third in the Lytham Trophy and was equal fourth in the Scottish Open Stroke Play. Nixon is currently fourth on the EGU Titleist FootJoy Order of Merit leaderboard.

England will be seeking their first victory in the Eisenhower Trophy since the four Home Counties decided to field separate teams in 2002. The best England finish to date was sixth in 2006 in South Africa.

The best two scores each day count while Scotland will defend the trophy they won in Australia two years ago.

Lynne Fraser
EGU Marketing and PR Manager
Email: lfraser@englishgolfunion.org
Tel: 01526 354500

Labels:

Kellett leads Eisenhower Invitational at Blairgowrie

Colville Park's Ross Kellett returned to form to be the halfway leader in the Eisenhower Invitational, a 72-hole stroke-play invitational tournament arranged at short notice by the Scottish Golf Union to give Scotland's team to defend the Eisenhower Trophy some top-level competition in the build-up to the world championship in Argentina.
Kellett had first-day rounds of 72 and 70 at Blairgowrie for a two-under-par tally of 142, one shot ahead of Stirling University student James White (Lundin) who had rounds of 73 and 70.
Former Scottish match-play champion Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) (74-70) and Scott Gibson (Southerness), named yesterday in the Scotland schools team to play England schools, are on 144. Gibson had two par rounds of 72.
LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
142 Ross Kellett 72 70.
143 James White 73 70.
144 Glenn Campbell 74 70, Scott Gibson 72 72.
145 Jordan Findlay 75 70, Michael Stewart 72 73, Kris Nicol 73 72, Ross Bell 73 72.

FOR ALL THE SECOND-ROUND TOTALS, CLICK HERE

Labels:

Alexander Wiseman wins again at Turriff

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE PAUL LAWRIE FOUNDATION
Turriff was in fantastic condition for the Club Challenge finals but the strong winds made for tricky scoring conditions.
Last year's winner Alexander Wiseman (Fraserburgh) had the best scratch with a 78, two shots ahead of AJ Buchan (Inverallochy) with Sean Hasssard a further three shots back in third place.

The net scores were dominated by the local boys with Euan Grey taking first place with a net 70, a single shot ahead of Steven Singer with Daniel Baxter (Caledonian) a further two shots behind in third place.

CSS - 73

Labels:

Winner Hoffman hoping for Ryder

Cup place

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
NORTON, Massachusetts (AP) — Charley Hoffman couldn't count all the perks that came with winning the Deutsche Bank Championship, just like he lost track of the 11 birdies he made in a Labor Day masterpiece.
He moved up 57 spots to No. 2 in the FedEx Cup standings, giving him a shot at the $10 million bonus.

He gets to play all four majors, after not getting into any of them this year. That includes a trip down Magnolia Lane at Augusta National to compete in his first Masters.

And that might not be all.

"The best perk, hopefully, will be a Ryder Cup berth," Hoffman said after closing with a 9-under 62, the best finish by a winner at the TPC Boston since the tournament began in 2003. "Obviously, I wasn't in contention, but I hope I am now. It would be an honor to play, and I think I can play well."

Tiger Woods shot a 69 and keeps his No. 1 ranking for the 274th week in a row, with an assist from Phil Mickelson, who imploded on the back nine with a triple bogey and double bogey to shoot 76.

Woods is expected to be a Ryder Cup pick, along with Zach Johnson and Stewart Cink. No one stands out for the fourth selection.

Hoffman wasn't on U.S. captain Corey Pavin's list of players to call Monday night, and that might not change. Even if his name is not called when Pavin announces his four selections Tuesday morning in New York, the Hoff isn't about to lose any sleep.

"You're not going to take this one away from me," he said.

Hoffman stole it from everyone else.

Starting the final round four shots behind Jason Day, he erased the deficit with four straight birdies early in his round. Then came a mixture of good breaks and great shots, and a midas touch with the putter for the California kid with blond locks flowing under his cap.

He thought his 4-iron was short and headed for the bunker on No. 11 when it barely cleared, tumbled through the rough and settled 3 feet away. From the front bunker on the 13th, trying to get it close on the firm greens, he holed it for an unlikely birdie.

Once he realised he was in the lead, he poured it on with three more birdies over the final four holes for a five-shot victory over Day (71), Geoff Ogilvy (66) and Luke Donald (69).

Not bad for a guy who was just hoping to stay in the top 70 and advance to the third round of the FedEx Cup play-offs.

"The playoffs, that's what you try to do," Hoffman said. "I wasn't even close to anything for the most part starting the playoffs. Played decent last week, and just got it going this week."

Did he ever. Hoffman finished at 22-under 262 to tie the tournament record first set by Vijay Singh in 2008.

"I had the best seat in the house to watch that," Ogilvy said. "He hit great shots all day. He putted really well and as soon as he got himself in trouble he'd go and hole a bunker shot or something like that. So it was a pretty class act and he never looked like doing anything but winning after about three holes."

It was the second victory of Hoffman's career, and will put him just outside the top 50 in the world.

Day was wild off the tee early, then struggled with his putter coming in. Donald, who also had a share of the lead early, remained winless on the PGA Tour since 2006.

The disappointment was Mickelson, with his best chance at replacing Woods atop the world ranking. He started five shots out of the lead, needing only a fourth-place finish to be No. 1. Mickelson was in range until twice hitting into the hazard on the 10th hole for a triple bogey, sending him to a 41 on the back nine.

A month ago, Mickelson was four shots out of the lead at Firestone and closed with a 78.

"It was a frustrating back nine for me," Mickelson said. "I got off to a poor start. I enjoyed the tournament, I enjoyed the chance I had heading into today, and it was fun to go out there."

It wasn't much fun for a few players who failed to finish among the top 70 to advance to the BMW Championship, which starts Wedneseday at Cog Hill. Steve Marino shot a 76 and John Rollins had a 79 to fall out of the top 70.

The heartbreak beloned to Kris Blanks, who closed with a 70 and appeared to narrowly make the field in Chicago until Charlie Wi birdied the last hole to bump him down to No. 71. The final spot went to Scott Verplank, who withdrew Saturday with a wrist injury.

Upon learning he was No. 70, Verplank planned a cortisone shot Monday night with hopes of playing.
Andres Romero, who started these playoffs at No. 115 and only got to the TPC Boston with a 40-foot birdie putt on the final hole last week, shot a 72 and narrowly made it at No. 68. The surprise was Tom Gillis, who was at No. 92 until a 65-65 weekend gave him a tie for fifth and moved him to No. 48.
Hoffman not only is headed to Chicago, he's starting to set some pretty big goals - about 10 million of them.
"That wasn't anything I was thinking about until this afternoon," Hoffman said of the big bonus for winning the FedEx Cup. "I wasn't really in the race. I guess that's why this format is pretty unique. You can come out of nowhere."
That's exactly what Hoffman did Monday.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
262 Charley Hoffman 64 67 69 62

267 Luke Donald (Eng) 65 67 66 69, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 64 72 65 66, Jason Day (Aus) 63 67 66 71

268 Adam Scott (Aus) 67 69 65 67, Tom Gillis 67 71 65 65, Brandt Snedeker 66 64 67 71

270 John Senden (Aus) 66 68 69 67

271 Steve Stricker 65 68 67 71

272 D.J. Trahan 64 69 69 70

274 Vijay Singh (Fij) 66 68 69 71, J.B. Holmes 66 71 69 68, Tiger Woods 72 65 69 68, Michael Sim (Aus) 68 66 72 68, Andres Romero (Arg) 68 66 68 72, Ryan Palmer 64 72 69 69, Matt Kuchar 66 65 72 71

275 Charlie Wi (S Korea) 68 66 67 74, Jason Dufner 66 73 68 68, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 69 68 69 69, Stewart Cink 68 66 72 69

276 Brian Davis (Eng) 64 73 69 70, Kris Blanks 66 68 72 70, Bill Haas 66 73 69 68

277 Phil Mickelson 69 65 67 76, Retief Goosen (S Africa) 67 69 71 70, Bo Van Pelt 70 70 68 69, Martin Laird (Sco) 66 69 74 68, Paul Casey (Eng) 66 72 71 68

278 Justin Leonard 69 66 67 76, Zach Johnson 63 71 71 73, Ernie Els (Rsa) 70 67 70 71

279 Hunter Mahan 64 70 71 74, Kevin Na 69 67 70 73, Nick Watney 69 72 70 68, Matthew Jones (Aus) 65 70 73 71

280 Rory McIlroy (NIrl) 64 76 69 71, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 65 76 69 70, Jim Furyk 66 73 71 70, Bubba Watson 67 71 73 69

281 Steve Marino 65 69 71 76, Greg Chalmers (Aus) 68 72 72 69, Rickie Fowler 67 70 74 70, Jason Bohn 67 74 72 68

282 Brendon De Jonge 67 72 73 70, David Toms 67 71 75 69, Kevin Streelman 69 70 73 70, John Rollins 66 70 67 79, Robert Allenby (Aus) 69 70 75 68, Tim Petrovic 68 71 71 72, K J Choi (Kor) 69 71 72 70, Ian Poulter (Eng) 67 73 73 69, Tim Clark (S Africa) 69 72 71 70, Y.E. Yang (S Korea) 67 70 68 77, Josh Teater 68 70 75 69, Stephen Ames (Can) 67 68 75 72

283 Dustin Johnson 73 68 69 73, Ricky Barnes 68 71 74 70, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 67 71 73 72, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 70 71 72 70

284 Davis Love III 71 69 71 73, Marc Leishman (Aus) 71 68 77 68, Camilo Villegas (Col) 67 72 71 74, Blake Adams 70 68 70 76

285 Lucas Glover 70 68 72 75, Heath Slocum 68 72 74 71

286 Ryan Moore 64 76 70 76, Charles Howell III 68 70 77 71

287 Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 71 70 75 71

290 Paul Goydos 68 73 75 74

291 Shaun Micheel 68 71 75 77

WD: 219 Garrett Willis 70 71 78

Labels: ,

Copyright © Colin Farquharson

If you can't find what you are looking for.... please check the Archive List or search this site with Google