Ageless Langer controls US Senior Open as Pampling stumbles


Contrasting days for Rod Pampling (left) and Bernhard Langer – image USGA James Gilbert

65 year old and 45 time PGA Tour Champions titleholder, Bernhard Langer, has opened up a two shot lead over Jerry Kelly and three over Steve Stricker at the US Senior Open in Wisconsin and, despite Langer having won this title only once previously, the German is clearly the man to beat in tomorrow’s final round at Sentry World in Stevens Point.

Langer began today’s third round one shot ahead of Australia’s Rod Pampling but birdies at his opening two holes set the tone for a day where he would complete a 3 under par round of 68 and with Pampling dropping six shots in his first five holes it would be Kelly and 2109 champion, Stricker, who would take up the challenge.

When play was completed only five players were under par for the 54 holes and realistically it appears only they Langer, Kelly, Stricker, Y.E Yang and Retief Goosen remain as chances to win the title.

Like every other player in the field, Langer has found the Sentry World layout an extremely demanding examination, especially given he is giving up quite a bit of yardage to the rest of the field but his immaculate course strategy and skill saw him take control with four birdies and one bogey.

One of the fittest players on the 50-and-over tour, Langer, who turns 66 in 56 days, put himself in position to become the oldest champion – by eight years – in U.S. Senior Open history. Allen Doyle was 57 years, 11 months, 14 days when he successfully defended his title in 2006. Langer, who won this title in 2010, would also surpass five-time USGA champion Hale Irwin (3 U.S. Opens, 2 U.S. Senior Opens) as the winningest golfer on the PGA Tour Champions with 46 titles.

Langer will play tomorrow’s final round with local Jerry Kelly and he is aware that he won’t be the popular favourite to win the title.

“Yeah, it’s going to be difficult. I remember playing against Fred Couples in Seattle, actually in this championship, and if there were 30,000 people, there were every one of them cheering for Fred, and the only one for me was my caddie, who was my son at the time.

“It was like a Ryder Cup match in America. It’s going to be similar tomorrow I take it. Hopefully the crowd will be somewhat fair and still appreciate good golf shots. I understand. They want their hometown boy to win. I’ve been there myself.

“It’s going to be an interesting day.

“I’d rather be in the lead than behind because if I’m in front I can make a mistake or two and still be in the lead. If you’re three behind and you make a mistake or two, you’re five behind, something like that.”

Pampling’s round and confidence were brought undone early when he dropped five shots in two holes at the 4th and the 5th and he was never able to get things back on track although that he was able to play the final 13 holes in just two over par while playing with Langer and after the early shock was quite and achievement in itself.

“You know, I just got super unlucky on that 4th hole hole,” said Pampling. “Just the shot came out really hot. Just trying to play safe and then it was just a gnarly next lie, and it just came out left, unfortunately, and just added up quick.

“As I say, it happened quickly, but it’s not that we weren’t thinking about what we were doing. The ball come out high, which out of this rough it normally doesn’t come out high, and it clipped that tree, and then it was just — I got a terrible break after that.

“But I hit a poor shot, and then just hit a bad second shot to the par-5, as well.

“Other than that — hey, you never want to have days like today, but unfortunately you have them, and you still have them. Just let it go and get ready for tomorrow.”

Pampling’s position as the leading Australasian was taken by Steve Alker whose round of 70 included birdies at his final two holes. Alker is now in 17th position at 5 over, while Pampling and Richard Green are 20th at 6 over and Mark Hensby 42nd at 10 over.

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Rod Pampling one behind Bernhard Langer at US Senior Open


Rod Pampling – during today’s second round – image USGA

Rod Pampling has followed up his opening round of 68, which saw him leading after day one of the US Senior Open, with a second round of 72 and at the halfway mark of senior golf’s most significant tile he trails only Bernhard Langer by one shot as the event enters the weekend at Sentry World at Stevens Point in Wisconsin.

On a golf course where only five players would finish the opening 36 holes under par and only three rounds in the 60’s were recorded by the whole field over the opening two days, Pampling is one shot behind Langer and one ahead of Retief Goosen, Dicky Pride and Jerry Kelly.

53 year old Pampling played amongst the afternoon field on day two and recorded one birdie and two bogeys in his solid round on one of the most demanding layouts in recent memory in this event, so much so that a score of 9 over par would make the cut in the field of 156.

“Yeah, it was nice,” said Pampling. “I hadn’t been sort of in a situation like this in a major for a while. I’ve had a lot of good events, but not the lead. To handle the situation, I think I played pretty solid out there.

“Just, had a few breaks here and there. The putter didn’t cooperate as well as it did yesterday. Nothing to stress about. Just go home and little cool down session now. Yeah, just address the speed of the greens, and it will be fine.

“The greens are a little bit tricky this afternoon. I never had the nice putts yesterday, so was always a lot more break today. My speed was just a bit off. I’d played mostly in the morning, so, yeah, I was just coming up a bit short. I’ll address that now and be ready to go tomorrow.”

Pampling is chasing his second PGA Tour Champions title after winning the Boeing Classic in 2020 but the man he is chasing, Langer, is in pursuit of his 46th title on the Champions Tour.

New Zealand’s Steve Alker began with a round of 76 yesterday but through ten holes today had worked himself into the top ten with three birdies but he would drop five shots in his last five holes for a round of 73 and is now 29th and nine shots from the lead.

Mark Hensby and Richard Green were the only other Australasians to make the weekend and they did so right on the number with second rounds of 76 and 80 respectively.

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Rod Pampling takes early US Senior Open lead


Rod Pampling during today’s first round – photo USGA

Australian Rod Pampling has the lead after the opening day of the US Senior Open at Sentry World in Stevens Point in Wisconsin, his opening round of 3 under 68 opening up a two-shot lead on a field which includes some of the game’s greatest players of the modern era.

Pampling leads over Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, South African Retief Goosen and American Mike Small.

Pampling, who is currently in 27th place on the PGA Tour Champions Charles Schwab table made the turn in 2 under 34 and was heading for a sizable early lead until a double  bogey at his 16th hole but he bounced back with a birdie at the 17th to claim the early lead which he would hold on to all day.

Pampling, who has recorded two top tens in 12 starts this season on the PGA Tour Champions, indicated after his round how happy he had been with his game leading into the event.

“It was obviously a fun day. I’d been playing well for the last month or so. To get here and see the course, it felt good.

“I drove it really well and made a lot of birdies out there. Just the one hole made a little mistake on, tried to get a little too aggressive.

“On the whole, I putted it really well, which was nice to see the balls going in. It’s nice to get a good view of the greens and can pick the breaks early on.”

Other Australasians in the field included Richard Green who opened with a  solid round of even par to be tied for 5th, US based teaching professional, Mick Smith, at 3 over, Steve Alker and Mark Hensby 4 over, Stuart Appleby 5 over, Michael Campbell 6 over, German based teaching pro, Paul Archbold, 9 over and Peter Fowler 13 over.

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US Senior Open completes trio of US titles


Sentry World’s picturesque 16th hole – photo USGA Fred Vuich

Two weeks ago, it was the elite of men’s golf who tackled American golf’s most significant title, last week the women got their turn and this week at Sentry World in Steven’s Point in Wisconsin, the elite of over fifty males chase the greatest title in Senior golf, the US Senior Open.

The event was first played in 1980 when won by Roberto De Vicenzo and many of the games greats in the appropriate demographic have their name on the trophy since including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Hale Irwin, Bernhard Langer Padraig Harrington to name a few.

As is the case with all USGA events, the US Senior Open is a classy event and having caddied in a couple, one of which resulted in a near miss at Pinehurst in 1994, the event holds great memories for me and typifies the quality of USGA run championships.

This year six Australians and two New Zealanders are included in the field, headed by one of the PGA Tour Champion’s stars over the past two years, Steve Alker.

The only Australasian to have won the event was when Graham Marsh triumphed in 1997, three years after our near miss in 1994 (see video below) when, after making up six shots over the final round, he bogeyed the last to lose by a shot to Simon Hobday.

Alker is joined in the field by fellow New Zealander and 2005 US Open Champion Michael Campbell, Stuart Appleby, Mark Hensby, Richard Green, Rod Pampling and qualifiers from Australia Mick Smith and Paul Archbold.

Footnote – Peter Fowler has joined the field as an alternate via Final Qualifying

Stevens Point is located in the middle of Wisconsin about 100 kilometres north and west from Milwaukee.

Tee Times

1994 US Senior Open – oh the agony

 

 

 

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Grace Kim (14th) best of Australians at KPMG PGA

Grace Kim – photo courtesy PGA of America Darren Carroll

Grace Kim has finished in 14th place in her first appearance in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, further confirming what appears to be a great future on the LPGA Tour.

Kim’s weekend rounds of 69 and 69 moved her through the field after being 21st at the halfway stage and she will add US$147,000 to her rookie season earnings in the US$10 million event.

Kim finished five shots behind the winner, Ruoning Yin of China, who became just the second player from her country to win a major title following Shan Shan Feng’s victory in this same event 11 years ago.

Minjee Lee (20th) and Gabi Ruffels (24th) were the next best of the Australians.

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Another PGA Tour top ten for Min Woo Lee


Min Woo Lee – file photo Bruce Young

A four-way share of 9th place at the Travelers Championship near Hartford in Connecticut has given new PGA Tour Special member, Min Woo Lee, a massive boost in earnings towards confirming his status on the Tour for next season.

Such was the scoring at the TPC River Highlands that a final round of 3 under 67 actually saw Lee slip back two places from his 54 hole standing but the finish will ensure a cheque for US$525,000.

The finish may also provide a start in next week’s Rocket Mortgage event in Chicago should he so choose but Lee has already accumulated a lot of money this season, cheques for US$763,000 at both the Players Championship already having secured his immediate future in the US.

Now one of the recently introduced designated events on the PGA Tour to counter the impact of LIV Golf, the Travelers Championship carried a total purse of US$20 million of which the winner, Keegan Bradley earned US$3.6 million.

Bradley won by three over Brian Harman and Zac Blair with the ever-present Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay and Chez Reavie tied for 4th.

Lucas Herbert (15th) and Adam Scott 19th were the next best of the Australians.

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Daniel Hillier’s biggest career payday in Germany


Daniel Hillier – file photo courtesy of USGA

New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier has earned his biggest payday in professional golf with a share of 3rd place at the BMW International Open in Munich, Germany, the 24 year old recovering from a slow start to his final round to finish with a 1 under par 71 and a four way share of third place.

Hillier’s cheque for €87,000, surpasses his previous biggest of €54,000 when 3rd at the ISPS Handa World Invitational when playing on invite in 2021.

Now in his rookie season on the DP World Tour following a successful season on the Challenge Tour in 2022, Hillier has recorded two top 5 finishes in his last three starts, further highlighting the considerable future predicted for the powerful Wellingtonian.

Hillier led through 36 holes of this week’s event, dropped off the pace after a third round 71 and with two bogeys in his opening three holes today it appeared as if he might slip outside the top ten before recovering with five birdies and two further bogeys to finish just two behind the winner, Thurston Lawrence of South Africa.

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Brendan Jones 4th in Korea Open


Brendan Jones -file photo – courtesy of Japan Tour
Australian golfer, Brendan Jones, has finished in a share of 4th place at the Asian Tour’s Kolon Korea Open, the 48-year-old taking advantage of his new found status on the Asian Tour to play an event which also offered the chance of a start at the Open Championship.

The leading two players not otherwise exempt to this year’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool earned the right to play the event and while Jones just missed out (finishing two shots from the required number) it was nonetheless a good week from the Canberra golfer.

Jones gained Asian Tour status courtesy of his win at the New Zealand Open in March, an event jointly sanctioned by both the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour, and after playing a stand-alone Korean Tour event at last week’s Hana Bank Open where he missed the cut, he has turned his fortunes around this week.

The tournament was won by American Seungsu Han who won by a massive six shots over the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.

Jones’ fellow Australian Junseok Lee struggled to a final round of 77 to finish in a share of 13th, Kevin Yuan was 40th and Won Joon Lee 45th and Scott Hend 61st.

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Minjee Lee within two of KPMG PGA lead


Minjee Lee during today’s round two action – image PGA of America Scott Taetsch

Minjee Lee produced the equal best round of the day (67) to improve 28 positions on day two of the KPMG PGA Championship at the Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey and at the halfway mark of the second major of the year from women’s golf, she is in a share of 5th place and just two behind Ireland’s Leona Maguire.

Lee raced to the turn in 32 after starting at the 10th hole today and played her closing nine in even par to be 3 under for the event.

NSW’s, Grace Kim, is the next best of the Australians in a share of 21st after being unable to keep pace with her opening 70.

Victorian, Gabi Ruffels, currently starring on the secondary Epson Tour after failing to enter final LPGA Tour qualifying last year is tied for 29th after fighting back from four consecutive dropped shots in the middle of her round.

Hannah Green and Stephanie Kyriacou are tied for 49th while Lydia Ko, seemingly battling swing changes, only just made the cut on the number.

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Australians stay in touch in lucrative Travelers Championship


Adam Scott – file photo courtesy of PGA of America

Australian golfers are well placed at the halfway mark of the Travelers Championship in Hartford Connecticut, Adam Scott tied for 5th while Min Woo Lee and Lucas Herbert are another shot back and in a share of 7th place.

Admittedly, the leaders Denny McCarthy and Keegan Bradley are some five shots ahead of Scott but all three Australians are well enough place to make their presence felt over the final 36 holes in this US$20 million designated event on the PGA Tour.

Scott was unable to replicate the brilliance of his opening round 62 but a 2 under 68 kept him in touch.

“Yeah, I mean, bit of a slow day compared to yesterday,” said Scott. “Still was 68. You know, wasn’t quite firing on all cylinders. Missed a few fairways, missed a few greens, and missed a few putts that looked pretty good. Just didn’t really get the momentum going. But, you know, hopefully that’s my slow day for the week.

“I think there is something where obviously it’s not as penal as a U.S. Open and it gives you a little freedom. I don’t know, you give yourself a break and after a week of not aiming at a pin you can aim at a pin, and that can sometimes spark good things. There is no doubt U.S. Opens are demanding. Nice to come back and make birdies.

“I mean, if I can just erase a little missed cut at the U.S. Open out, I had three top 10s in my last four events; everything was looking pretty good. Through two days here still feels pretty good. I would like to keep this going and keep notching up the results and try and make a big run the next few weeks into the Playoffs and get amongst it.”

Lee is taking advantage of the new status he has on the PGA Tour and after thinking he might not make this field, his top ten at last week’s US Open was the catalyst for him gaining a start here.

Lee had his thoughts on the efforts of the Australians to date.

“I think I guess we thrive off each other. Scotty is obviously one of the best ball strikers so it’s going to suit him — any course is going to suit him — but it really highlights iron play, and he’s obviously really good at that. Not sure what Cam finished up on, but, yeah, he’s played well, too. It’s good to see. I think he’s had a rough couple weeks, so nice to see him on the leaderboard.”

Herbert’s round of 64 was highlighted by an outward nine of 30 on a day where one of his original playing partners was forced to withdraw leaving him playing in a two ball with Nick Hardy.

“I mean, I found a little something with my putter yesterday morning before the round,” said Herbert.

“That’s really helped. I’ve putted great the last two days. To be honest, I didn’t have a lot of confidence in my game. Literally out here trying to enjoy myself a bit. Yeah, feel like it’s been a bit of a rough stretch the last few weeks. Just feeling a bit defeated on the course. So I know I’ve been doing the right things and just trying to enjoy myself out there and probably not take it too seriously.”

Herbert has not played well in the US this season but there was one highlight when winning in Japan.

“Yeah, it’s kind of a tale of like two different tours. I’m playing great in Europe and had a garbage season on the PGA TOUR. Just didn’t got the results that I wanted. Haven’t been able to capitalize on results when I got myself into a decent position to do that.

“Yeah, just I’m 150 odd on the FedExCup and not even close to where I want to be. It’s, yeah, been tough to sort of deal with that and just managing my emotions and expectations. But it’s just a new challenge of the PGA TOUR.

“This is my second full season on the PGA TOUR, so it’s just a new challenge of figuring out how to play out here, how to beat these guys, play these golf courses better than them. And, yeah, I think when I do get better results it’s going to feel even better because I have gone through this struggle.”

Given the money available this week where even a top 10 is worth more then US$500,000 a good weekend for Herbert could change his season completely.

Jason Day and Cameron Davis also made the cut but are back in 41st position at 5 under and tens hots from the lead.

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