Tag: Golf

Golf: Hyundai Tournament of Champions Preview

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It’s great to see tournament golf in Hawaii. It’s even better when the tournament is sanctioned by the PGA Tour and features only those players that have had a win in the previous season. Marking its 13th consecutive PGA Tour stop the Hyundai Tournament of Champions (TOC) is a nice way for golf to begin in 2015. Part of the wraparound 14/15 season the Hawaii stop still gifts 500 FedEx Cup points to the winner, but for most of the players it’s a chance to blow out the cobwebs after a holiday break.

Although some notable players are missing out – Rory, Rose, Scott, and Kaymer – to name but a few, the field still features a strong list of (obviously winners) but also seven of the top twenty ranked players.

The Course

The Plantation Course at Kapalua measures 7,452 yards, with just three Par 3’s. The course has views of sea and mountain in West Maui. The wind can get up on the exposed course but more often than not it’s hot for all four days. The course is one of the first Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw collaborations.

The Sound Bites

“I know you can count on the weather being perfect out there,” he said. “Plus, coming from the East Coast, it gets me a little more acclimated to West Coast time and closer to Hawaii time.” – Matt Kuchar explaining why he’s making the trip

“I feel like the only thing I did was work out. I was really focused on trying to get in good shape and get this year off to a good start.” – Jason Day leaving out his anniversary when outlining his holiday period.

The Defending Champion

Zach Johnson was the defending champion when we last previewed a PGA Tour event, and he’s also the defending champion of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

The Contenders*

Matt Kuchar – $8.00

Russell Henley – $9.00

Jimmy Walker – $9.00

Zach Johnson – $13

Sang-Moon Bae – $15.00

Geoff Ogilvy – $126.00

*Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds courtesy of Sportsbet Australia.

The Winner

It’s likely to be a very low score that wins this week so look for guys that are consistent in all facets of their game. Games that can’t gather too much rust. That’s why we’re picking Zach Johnson to go back to back. We’ll also throw some money at two time winner and Aussie favourite Geoff Ogilvy.

 

 

Golf: Spieth wins by ten, Woods last

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Jordan Spieth capped off a remarkable fortnight by winning his second consecutive golf tournament at the Hero World Challenge.  Against an elite field featuring 18 of the World’s top ranked golfers, Spieth pulled away on day 3 and strolled home to win by a massive ten shots.

Both of Spieth’s wins (the other came at the Australian open) featured a display of control around the greens that had to be seen to be believed, especially around such tight lies and slippery putting surfaces.  The Hero World Challenge win featured rounds of 66, 67, 63 and 66, and reinforces Spieth position as a star of the future.  At just 21, Spieth has already chalked up three professional wins to go with his celebrated amateur career.  His future looks set to include a plethora of further wins, probably in golf tournaments he has had to go toe-to-toe with Rory McIlroy in.

Spieth was ten shots better than Henrik Stenson (69), with Keegan Bradley (70) and Patrick Red (68) a shot further back.

The win was record breaking for a number of reasons:

– Spieth’s 26-under broke the tournament record of 266 set by Woods in 2007 and Davis Love III in 2000, both at Sherwood Country Club in California;

– The victory margin of ten shots broke Tiger Woods’ tournament record of seven shots that Woods had in 2007; and

– His victory is the biggest margin in golf in 2014.

At the other end of the tournament leaderboard was Tiger Woods, returning to golf for the first time since the PGA Championship at Valhalla in August.  Tiger battled an opening 77, a fever, and a horrific short game to record two sub-par scores on his former home course.  He mixed some decent golf with some expected rustiness in a tournament where he only briefly left last position.  The silver lining for him was the ability to make aggressive swings pain free.

Spieth though got his 2014 wish of two wins.  What look improbable only a few weeks ago became a reality; a familiar one too as he strode down the 18th hole at Isleworth with a big lead, just as he had done in his amateur career.

Golf: Woods’ return the Hero of World Challenge

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The obvious talking point of the Hero World Challenge is the return of Tiger Woods.  The highest profile player in the history of golf marks his return to professional golf with a new swing coach and a remodelled golf swing.  Woods has been absent from all golf since August, so it’s fitting he returns at the tournament that supports his charitable foundation and that he has won five times.

The event features a field of only 18, hand-picked by Woods himself.  However, the field is still full of high quality players including Jordan Spieth who won in Australia last week, Bubba Watson, and Jason Day, who is also returning from a back injury and paired with Woods for the first two rounds.

The quality of the field is evidenced by the spreading on offer at Ladbrokes Australia.  Only $34 separates the best and worst odds offered for the tournament winner, and while the competitiveness will be interesting to watch, most eyes will be on Tiger as they always are when he plays in golf tournaments.

Can he find a swing that fits his ageing body?  Can he return to a more fluid and comfortable swing?  Can he go low?

All will be answered at the Hero World Challenge Golf tournament starting today.

The Course

Moving away from the famous Sherwood Country Club, the Hero World Challenge is now being hosted at the Isleworth Golf & Country Club.  Isleworth’s signature 18-hole championship course, was originally designed by Arnold Palmer before being enhanced by Steve Smyers in 2003.  The course is built on rolling terrain and features greens that are generous, undulating and fast, earning its title as the toughest and longest course in the state by the Florida State Golf Association.

The Sound Bites

“We looked at a lot of video from when I was a junior – even when I came out there and had some really nice years where I hit the ball really well. We went back to some of those old videos and really looked at it.” – Tiger Woods on his new swing under coach Chris Como.

“It looked a lot freer, didn’t look like he was getting in his way. It looked like it was on a better path.” – Steve Stricker on Woods’ new swing.

“It looked great to me, I’m glad he’s playing.” – Zach Johnson on Woods.

The Defending Champion

Zach Johnson won last year in a bizarre playoff finish. Johnson holed out for an unlikely par to get there and then Tiger Woods missed a clutch putt (you don’t say that often) to hand him the title.

The Field*

Henrik Stenson – $7.00

Justin Rose – $7.50

Bubba Watson – $8.50

Rickie Fowler – $10.00

Jordan Spieth – $10.00

Tiger Woods – $13.00

Jason Day – $15.00

Matt Kuchar – $15.00

Hideki Matsuyama – $15.00

Graeme McDowell – $15.00

Chris Kirk – $23.00

Jimmy Walker – $23.00

Billy Horschel – $26.00

Hunter Mahan – $26.00

Keegan Bradley – $29.00

Zach Johnson – $34.00

Patrick Reed – $34.00

Steve Stricker – $41.00

*Hero World Challenge Golf odds courtesy of Tom Waterhouse

The Winner

Hard to go past Speith, Watson or Stenson.  But don’t discount McDowell – he’s won the event twice.

Golf: Spieth conquers The Australian, wins Open

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How good is Jordan Spieth going to be?

Well, if Sunday’s final round of golf in the Australian Open is anything to go by, then damn good.  The 21-year-old American shot a course record 63 to completely dominate the local challengers and seal victory by a mammoth 6 shots.  His bogey-free final round at the otherwise difficult course separated him from a host of well known local players including Rod Pampling, Brett Rumford, Adam Scott, Robert Allenby and Greg Chalmers.

The Australian course proved too much for most of the field, bar Spieth who made it look tremendously easy with three consecutive birdies between 5 and 7, and back to back birdies twice on the back nine.  Spieth’s impeccable putting within ten feet and his unflappable scrambling were the standout features of his golf.  Inevitably the unflappable nature of the Titleist player’s closing issued a seriously strong statement to other top ranked golfers.

Golf’s best player issued a remarkable complement on Twitter saying, “you could give me another 100 rounds today at The Australian and I wouldn’t sniff 63…. Well done @JordanSpieth very impressive!”  Illustrating the difficulty that he and others faced on the wind swept course.  His weekend scores of 76 and 72 further highlighted his struggles, yet he still finished in a tie for 15 with other notables Boo Weekley and Steven Bowditch.

Pre-tournament favourite Adam Scott couldn’t quite build the momentum that is necessary to win golf tournaments.  His 4-under total was never going to be enough, and he will understandably rue his horror opening nine of 40 for curtailing his chances.

Spieth though; moves to 11th in the World Rankings; records his second win of his career; proves that he can go really low under pressure and in difficult conditions; and emphatically answers the writer’s first question – he’s as good as anyone and along with Lydia Ko and Rory McIlroy one of the most exciting youngsters in the game.

Australian Open Preview

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The duel between the World’s best golfers is the obvious talking point of the Emirates Australian Open starting Thursday.  The pair meet again at the Australian Open after an enthralling final round in the same tournament a year ago, and despite not being paired together for the first two rounds are destined to be the focal points of much of the tournament coverage.  Competing for attention are a host of local journeymen (Allenby, Appleby, Ogilvy), some younger starlets (Oliver Goss, Cameron Smith), and overseas visitors (Jordan Speith).  The result of which should be an epic Australian Open.

The Course

The patriotically named host of the Australian Open is one of Australia’s most exclusive golf clubs.  The Australian is old too; potentially the oldest in Australia, just beating out Royal Melbourne and Royal Sydney.  The private members course, that is only available to join by invitation only, has hosted countless Australian Open’s, including the first tournament in 1904.  In doing so, the course has seen the best players in the World vie for the Stonehaven Cup, in what many pros think should be the fifth major.  The likes of Nick Faldo, Raymond Floyd and Jack Nicklaus have all visited and rated the course highly; Niklaus even etching his name on the silverware in the process.  The most recent Australian Open winner at the 6610m, Par 72 course was current joint course record holder, Craig Parry.

The Sound Bites

“I just remember it as a long, tough, demanding golf course and that suits me” – Adam Scott

“I’ve spent more than a year of my career at number one, so if I’m not used to it by now, then there’s something wrong. I enjoy it. It’s where I want to be. I want to be the best in the world and I want to keep it for as long as I can” – Rory McIlroy

The Defending Champion

Rory McIlroy – Last year Rory McIlroy made a birdie at the final hole to stop Australia’s Adam Scott from completing a rare triple crown of Australian wins.  McIlroy put a torrid year of management and equipment issues behind him to record his only win of the year at the Royal Sydney Golf Club.  Rory is paying just $3.50 at Luxbet to repeat his Australian Open win.

The Field

Notable Australians*

Adam Scott – $5

John Senden – $23

Geoff Ogilvy – $26

*Australian Open odds for local picks courtesy of Tom Waterhouse.

 

Notable Internationals*

Jordan Speith $12

Brendon de Jonge $34

Kyle Stanley $61

*Australian Open odds for International picks courtesy of Centrebet.

The Outsider

Rhein Gibson (Aus) – $51 – BetEasy

Nick Cullen Surprises Scott to Win BetEasy Masters

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Adam Scott’s stranglehold on the BetEasy Masters trophy was wrestled away by Adelaide’s unheralded Nick Cullen on Sunday.  The 30 year-old leftie was sitting just inside the World’s top 600 in the Official World Golf Rankings prior to the final round; a stark contrast to closest rival Adam Scott (T2) who as the second best player in the World was a $3.25 favourite to take the title last week. However, as the final round progressed, Cullen was looking the more composed,and the more likely of the many Australians on the first page of the leaderboard to win the BetEasy Masters title.

His 69, including a fine bunker shot on the 18th, which he later described as the best shot of his life, was enough for a one shot victory over Scott, James Nitties, and Josh Younger, with four others a further shot back at -7.   Scott needed a strong final round to contend and his 68 was just shy of being the perfect tonic.  He was slightly unfortunate to kiss the edge of the cup with a birdie try on the last that may have sent it to a playoff hole, but even the staunchest Scott fans couldn’t deny the former One-Asia Tour player a deserving title, even though he was denying Scott a BetEasy Masters three peat.

Interesting, Nick Cullen’s twin brother Dan Cullen played one test and five one day internationals for the Australian cricket team.  Now the family will be arguing which is the more prestigious achievement and finding room in the pool room for the BetEasy Masters trophy and the coveted gold jacket.

We imagine Cullen will put his BetEasy Masters $180,000 winners cheque to good use by having the gold jacket better tailored.  The diminutive Cullen looked like Paddington Bear playing dress up in an old mans wardrobe as he collected his oversized prize.

Of our predictions, Scott was quite predictably the best finishing.  Although, in our preview post we pretty much covered the entire field, so we don’t deserve too much credit there.

Adam Scott moves on to an Australian Open showdown against Rory McIlroy starting on Thursday.  We’ll preview the odds for that event later in the week.