Michael Hendry well placed in crucial Japan Tour event.

 

Michael Hendry – photo Australian Golf Media

Rookie Yusaku Hosono rewrote the course record books at the Token Tado Country Club by firing a sparking 10-under-par 61 to spearhead the local charge at the Token Homemate Cup with New Zealand’s Michael Hendry enjoying another flawless 66 to head into the weekend in joint third place.

But Hendry, who’s chasing a second victory in the tournament, has work cut out for him as he currently lies six shots off the lead at the halfway stage.

The 2015 champion and recent winner of the Vic Open, birdied five times to reach 10-under-par 132, with Hosino, a Q-School graduate, sprung a surprise to be the match to catch on 16-under-par after trading a whopping 11 birdies with a lone bogey.

“I didn’t drive as well as yesterday, but my short game’s really good. All in all, it was really solid just like yesterday,” said Hendry, who finished runner-up at the Asian Tour’s World City Championship in Hong Kong last week.

Hendry needs to take advantage of the early season events where he gets start in order to consolidate his standing on the Japan Golf Tour where he is currently without full status. Hendry finished 73rd on last year’s money list and as such was unable regain his full playing rights but good weeks in early season events will greatly assist his cause.

Two-time JGTO winner Ryu Hyun-woo fired an eagle on the par-five eighth en route to turning in 32 before mixing three more shots with two bogeys on the back nine as a 66 left him seven shots off the pace in the fifth spot alongside Ryo Ishikawa on 133.

American Han Lee and South Korean pair Song Young-han and Park Sung-joon were a further shot back after returning 68, 65 and 67 respectively.

Hosono’s name may not ring a bell, but definitely not after today resuming his dream start with a record-breaking display.

The 20-year-old bettered the previous record held by Kamii Kunihiro (2013) and Brendan Jones (2012) by one shot.

With a four-shot cushion over two-time prize money king Shugo Imahira with 36 holes to go, Hosono dares to dream big.

“Actually I didn’t aim for this score. I just played golf. When the round finished I realised the score!” said Hosono, who’s making his only fourth JGTO start.

“I’m very happy with that (course record). I never thought about competing in the final round, but now I do, I’m going to try to aim for a win.

“I know that it’s not easy so I will do my best.”

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Rejuvenated Brendan Jones looking for 3rd Token Homemate Cup

Brendan Jones – photo and article courtesy of Japan Tour

Australian veteran Brendan Jones will be seeking to extend his fine run of form as he returns to Japan to tee off at the season-opening Token Homemate Cup in Mie prefecture on Thursday.

Fresh from winning the New Zealand Open last month, the 48-year-old will bid for his third victory in the ¥130,000,000 event following his successes at the Token Tado Country Club Nagoya in 2012 and 2019.

Jones is part of the stellar 132-man field that includes 14 out of the top 20 finishers of last year’s Money Rankings and he believes he will enter the week as a genuine contender, provided he can complement his good track record in the tournament with the momentum built from the PGA Tour of Australasia.

Besides winning in New Zealand, Jones also notched two top 10s by finishing tied-fifth and tied-eighth respectively at the TPS Sydney and NSW Open.

“I’ve played well here in the past and won a couple of times. I’ve got a lot of good memories here,” said Jones, who’s one of the most successful international players on Tour with 15 wins to his name.

“I’ve played a bit more golf coming in here which I normally don’t do and my form has been pretty good.

“Hopefully the form that I’ve had over the last six to eight weeks can continue. It gives me a great foundation to build on.”

Jones added that being able to end his four-year title drought last month has made him believe in himself again.

But at the same time, he also prefers to remain modest when it comes to setting expectations.

“It’s been a while since I won. Getting back into the winners’ circle makes you feel good about things,” he said.

“Winning the New Zealand Open was amazing, that was a bonus whether or not I felt that I was too old to be winning again.

“But I don’t have any goals. The younger guys on this Tour are getting better and better while I’m approaching 50 now.

“I understand that it’s going to get harder and harder for me.

“But I’m in good form right now and I’d just like to ride it out and see far I can go.”

Jones will be joined by 15 other international players with compatriot Anthony Quayle, Justin De Los Santos of the Philippines, American Todd Baek and South Korean duo Sang-hyun Park and Sang-hee Lee among those to look out for.

Jinichiro Kozuma is the tournament’s defending champion while prize-money king Kazuki Higa and last year’s runner-up Yuto Katsuragawa are among the notable absentees.

Higa is scheduled to play on the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open as part of his preparations for the Masters next week while Katsuragawa is taking part in the Korn Ferry Tour’s Chile Classic.

Michael Hendry of New Zealand, who won in 2015, is among the other former winners in action this week alongside  Takumi Kanaya (2021), Atomu Shgenaga (2018), Yusaku Miyazato (2014), Tadahiro Takayama (2005, 2011), Koumei Oda (2009, 2010), Katsumasa Miyamoto (2008), Hiroyuki Fujita (2004), Toru Taniguchi (2002) and Shingo Katayama (2001).

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Drewitt and Gibson trucking along nicely on Korn Ferry Tour


Rhein Gibson – file photo

Four top tens in five starts on the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour have New South Welshman, Brett Drewitt in 8th position on the season long points table, his goal in order to return to the PGA Tour in 2024 to be inside the top 30 when the season ends at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship in early October.

32 year old, Drewitt, finished in 4th place at the most recent event in Savannah in Georgia, just two shots from the winner, David Skinns, and finds himself in a strong position and in great form to allow a third visit to the PGA Tour having played there previously In 2017 and 2022.

Drewitt’s fellow NSW’s golfer, Rhein Gibson is currently in 5th place in the standings, his win six weeks ago in Bogota the catalyst for the strong position he finds himself as he chases a return to the PGA Tour for the first time since the 2020/2021 season..

Gibson took time out of his schedule recently to play the TPS Hunter Valley and New Zealand Open events where he finished 5th and 6th respectively.

Points List

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Three Australians gain 2024 DP World Tour status

Micheluzzi with one of his three trophies for the season – photo and article Australian Golf Media

David Micheluzzi, Andrew Martin and Tom Power Horan will take their games to the world stage after being confirmed as the three recipients of DP World Tour cards for season 2024.

The 2022/2023 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia season concludes this week with The National Tournament at The National Golf Club with the top three on the Order of Merit already determined.

Micheluzzi’s victory at the Play Today NSW Open guaranteed him No.1 on the final Order of Merit standings with one event left to play, a start at The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool also safely in his back pocket.

While their finishing positions can still switch, Martin and Power Horan are also guaranteed a top-three finish and direct pathway to the DP World Tour following the withdrawal of both Brendan Jones and Michael Hendry from this week’s field, Hendry gaining access to the Open Championship last at a qualifying event in Hong Kong.

The playing rights for the 2023-24 season on the DP World Tour are just reward for three of the most consistent performers across the entire season and vindication for Micheluzzi in particular.

As other tour members sought status at Qualifying Schools throughout the world in the second half of 2022, Micheluzzi dedicated himself to the path he saw in front of him on his home tour.

“There’s a message I sent to my manager that I’m going to put on social media that says I wouldn’t be doing any Q Schools this year and that I’m going to try and win the Order of Merit,” Micheluzzi said after his third victory of the season at Rich River Golf Club.

“That was in July last year. It was a long time ago; I was probably dreaming at that point.

“I probably didn’t think it was actually possible but three wins in the space of 14 events, I’m just stoked.”

Courtesy of his Order of Merit exploits, Micheluzzi will also make his major championship debut in July, joining the likes of defending champion Cameron Smith, Asia-Pacific Amateur champ Harrison Crowe and West Australian Haydn Barron, who will also make his major championship debut thanks to his tie for fourth at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open which forms part of The Open Qualifying Series.

“To play the first major at The Open – best major in my opinion – and to play it at Hoylake too, that will be so cool,” said Micheluzzi.

“I’m so excited. ‘Crowey’ (Crowe) is going, ‘Baz’ (Barron) is going as well, it’s going to be a fun week.”

Although the major rewards have been decided, there are exemptions and opportunities available through Order of Merit finishing positions.

The top five on the Order of Merit are exempt into Final Stage of Korn Ferry Tour Q School and the top three not otherwise eligible (to a limit of 15th place) are exempt into Final Stage of DP World Tour Q School.

Players ranked sixth to 15th are exempt into Second Stage of Korn Ferry Tour Q School and those ranked fourth to 10th not otherwise eligible (and to a limit of 30th place) are exempt into Second Stage of DP World Tour Q School.

The top 50 who play a minimum of four events retain their full playing rights for the subsequent season on the PGA Tour of Australasia and amateurs who have taken out Future Tour membership can secure a playing category if they turn professional by finishing better than the equivalent of 50th position.

“A high finish on our OOM provides great opportunities and pathways via exemptions through early stages of the likes of the DPWT and KFT Qualifying schools,” said Nick Dastey, Tournaments Director Australasia for the PGA of Australia. “We know many of our players have aspirations to play in America or in Europe and can greatly enhance their opportunities depending on how high they finish on the Order of Merit.

“Any time you can skip a stage of Q School you’re enhancing your chances of earning a card so there will be a lot at stake on the back nine on Sunday.”

The Final Order of Merit after adjustment for players not completing the minimum four events

1. David Micheluzzi        1,411.67 (14)
2. Tom Power Horan        685.23 (13)
3. Andrew Martin             661.31 (14)
4. Michael Hendry            582.83 (8)
5. Deyen Lawson              468.62 (14)
6. John Lyras                      435.82 (6)
7. Brett Coletta                  423.38 (13)
8. Lincoln Tighe                 406.34 (13)
9. Justin Warren                375.46 (13)
10. Elvis Smylie                  351.48 (10)
11. Aaron Wilkin               340.48 (13)
12. Haydn Barron              315.42 (15)
13. Christopher Wood      307.37 (14)
14. Nathan Barbieri           296.33 (12)
15. Kade McBride              261.69 (13)

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Limited preparation concern for LIV Golfers ahead of Augusta National


Cam Smith’s lack of suitable tournament play ahead of the Masters a concern – photo LIV Golf

This week’s LIV Golf event at Orange Country National in Orlando provides a much-needed opportunity for ‘time in the middle’ for those golfers scheduled to play next week’s Masters but without comparative lack of tournament play in 2023 to those not LIV golfers.

In all, 17 players who are signed to LIV Golf are eligible for the Masters and all are expected to tee it up at this week’s event hoping to get some last minute preparation for the first major of 2023.

Heading into last year’s Masters tournament where he finished 3rd, Cameron Smith had played five tournaments I preparation but in 2023 Smith has played just three the first of those coming in late February in Saudi Arabia, the second in a LIV Golf event in Mexico where he finished 6th and now this week’s event in Orlando.

Dustin Johnson is another whose preparation for the Masters, which he won in 2020, has been restricted due to his involvement with Liv Golf and the former US Open and Masters Champion will play in just his fourth event of 2023 when he tees it up at Augusta National.

In 2020 Johnson had played seven PGA Tour events in the two months leading up to his historic win at The Masters.

Johnson finished 37th of 48 at the event in Mexico and 13th in Tuscon and will be keen for sharp improvement this week in Orlando ahead of a return to Augusta National.

So many others are in the same boat as far as preparation is concerned and if any of the LIV Golfers can find a away to win the Masters it will be some sort of effort given the very different preparation to that they have had for previous Masters on golf courses which are not necessarily akin to the test they will face at Augusta National.

PLAYERS

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Five Australians and one New Zealander make Masters field


Sydney’s Harrison Crowe’s win at the Asia Pacific Amateur earns him a dream start

Five Australians and one New Zealander are confirmed in next week’s Masters following the completion of final qualifying criteria on Sunday.

The only way another could join the list is for that player to win this week’s Texas Open in San Antonio where the likes of Cameron Davis and Harrison Endycott’s chances remain alive.

Cameron Smith, Jason Day, Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee, debutante and amateur Harrison Crowe and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox have found their way into the field courtesy of the various qualifying criteria, Day and Lee the last into the field as a result of being inside the top 50 in the world when the cut off was determined.

The perhaps unlucky one is Lucas Herbert who just failed to make the top 50 (51st) following his courageous effort when going down to Rory McIlroy in last Saturday’s Round of 16 at the WGC Dell Technologies event in Austin.

Crowe and Fox will make their Augusta National debuts while for Smith, Day and Scott, all three have experienced success in the event. Scott was of course the champion in 2013, while Smith and Day have both recorded runner-up and 3rd place finishes in the event previously.

FIELD

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Mike Hendry and Travis Smyth Open Championship bound


L-R Bio Kim Korea, Taichi Ko, Travis Smyth and Mike Hendry – photo Paul Lakatos

New Zealand’s Mike Hendry and NSW golfer Travis Smyth have played their way into the 2023 Open Championship courtesy of their finishes inside the top four at the Asian Tour’s weather reduced (54 holes) World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club this weekend.

The leading four players not otherwise exempt into the Open Championship earn their right to a start at Royal Liverpool in July, Hendry finishing runner-up in the event behind Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho while Smyth continued his financially rewarding ways on the Asian Tour by finishing alone in 3rd place.

For Kho the victory in his rookie season on the Asian Tour saw him become the first player from Hong Kong to win an Asian Tour event.

Kho will also become the first Hong Kong Chinese player to compete in the game’s oldest and most prestigious Major.

Bio Kim who tied for 4th in this week’s event earns the Open Championship final spot from this event as a result of his superior world ranking to the man he shared 4th place with, Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines.

Hendry earned US$110,000 for his finish while Smyth picked up a cheque for US$63,000.

Hendry was a tournament invitation to the event and his great week continues a run of form which has seen him win the Vic Open, finish 6th at the New Zealand Open and 4th at the NZPGA Championship in recent weeks.

Smyth has also been on a good run of late, finishing inside the top ten in now three of five Asian Tour starts this season.

SCORES

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Day and Herbert eliminated but not without brave fights


Jason Day – file photo USGA

Jason Day and Lucas Herbert have bowed out of the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play Championship in Austin Texas but not before both had given their Round of 16 and Quarter Final opponents (respectively) a run for their money.

Herbert was up against Rory McIlroy in the opening round of knockout match play on Saturday morning and it took a birdie at the final hole by the world number three to finally eliminate Herbert’s brave challenge.

Herbert reeled off seven birdies to McIlroy’s eight in their epic encounter, the Australian keeping the contest tight until McIlroy all but drove the green at the last, pitched to 3 feet and won the hole and the match with a birdie to finish 2 up.

“I got to beaten by the best player in the world probably playing the best golf of anyone in the where would today,” said Herbert when describing the quality of play both produced.

“You know, I’ve got nothing but just pride for the way I played. Pushed him all the way to the end. I just didn’t feel like there was a hell of a lot more I could have done. I played really, really nicely.

“Played nicely for four days in a row, so it’s frustrating to finish the tournament here. Just really proud of myself.

“If I can keep playing like that we’re going to have a lot of good weeks in the future. A lot to take way from a it. Big turnaround from Sawgrass, so really proud of myself for that.

“It’s just a lot of good positives to take into the future. Yeah, just sucks that I came up against the best player in the world today.”

Day survived a tight encounter against Matt Kuchar in his morning Round of 16 match, winning 1 up after a birdie from 15 feet at the 16th edged him ahead. The shot of the round however was likely Day’s second from 260 yards to the 6th which finished 10 feet from the hole and led to an eagle and a win against Kuchar’s birdie on the same hole.

Day was then up against current world number one, Scottie Scheffler and he was quickly out of the blocks to lead by 3 holes through the opening six holes, the 6th hole once again producing a highlight shot when from 280 yards Day’s 5 wood second shot finished 5 feet from the hole which he converted for eagle.

The momentum began to swing back the other way when Day pulled his second to the 8th hole and found the greenside bunker and took bogey and when Scheffler birdied the 9th they made the turn with Day only one ahead.

It was then that Scheffler turned on the magic he has become known for over the past 15 months or so. He would birdied the 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes, the last with an almost hole out at the par 3 17th  to close out the match 2&1 but for Day it continues a dramatic return to the sort of form we became accustomed to several years ago.

The great run he has had this week will lift Day even in the world ranking to around 36 and ensure he will take his place in the field for the Masters in two week’s time.

“I am excited to be back. The game is looking nice. There’s still some stuff swing-wise that pops in every now and then, like the wedge shot on 14 that — it’s just in between patterns. I’ve just got to kind of work out those kinks. I feel happy with where I’m at. I’ve got a week off coming up now, and then get in probably Friday and prepare then.”

Herbert’s week is expected to lift him to world number 51, agonisingly, just outside the required mark to play the Masters.

In tomorrow’s semi finals Scheffler will meet Sam Burns and McIlroy takes on Cameron Young.

SCORES

 

 

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Herbert and Day into knockout phase at WGC Dell Match Play


Lucas Herbert – file photo Australian Golf Media

It might well be the final staging of the event for the foreseeable future, but Australia will have two representatives amongst the knockout phases of the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play Championship in Austin in Texas this weekend.

Former two timer winner, Jason Day, and Lucas Herbert emerged as winners of their respective round robin groups today, Day winning all three matches including his 4&3 victory over Collin Morikawa today while Herbert also completed a clean sweep of his three rivals by today defeating Ben Griffin 2&1 after defeating Tyrell Hatton and Russell Henley in earlier matches.

For Herbert the performance comes just two weeks after missing the cut by a huge margin at the Players Championship and tomorrow he takes on the task of meeting Rory McIlroy in the Round of 16.

“Yeah, obviously a pretty tough week and a pretty embarrassing week really,” said Herbert referring to his week at the TPC Sawgrass.  “Didn’t really want to be there much on Friday because I felt like I was looking pretty silly.

“Obviously you go away for a few days and take stock in what happened. Look, I had a lot going on that week. I kind of had a neck injury that I was playing with and just a lot going on in life that just didn’t make it any easier.

“Kind of got a lot of those things in order off the golf course. Obviously took a few days off and just kind of felt like I tried to bounce back. But I still turned up here feeling like I needed to get some confidence back in my game.

“I wouldn’t have been surprised at the start of the week if you’d told me I lost all three matches. Didn’t have a lot of confidence obviously with that result.

“To go and play the way I did and I feel like I’m the person I was two months ago again with the confidence in my game again, and just kind of ready to tackle these bigger events and step into the spotlight rather than stepping away from it.”

On his match-up with McIlroy tomorrow Herbert added, “I’m sure that won’t be an easy match. I’m sure. Look, it’s going to be a lot of fun. I’ve only played with Rory once. I played with him on Saturday in Phoenix. Probably the biggest crowd you’ll ever play with Rory in the same group with, I would imagine so.

“It’s going to be fun. He’s a great player. If he turns up with his A game I think I’m in a lot of trouble. But if he doesn’t, I’m looking for the fight.

“I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a fun challenge all the way.”

Day won his earlier matches against Adam Svensson and Victor Perez and will face Matt Kuchar tomorrow, Kuchar equalling Tiger Woods’ impressive 36 career wins in the event after defeating Si Woo Kim today

Day stormed out of the blocks today against the world number one with three birdies in his first four holes to move 2 up against Morikawa and was never behind in his match, eventually winning 4&3.

Day won the Match Play in 2014 and 2016, but this is his first time advancing through his group since then. He has improved his record to 26-16-0 overall.

The Queenslander’s remarkable comeback from outside the top 150 twelve months ago continues and with the Masters now just two weeks away, his timing is perfect for a good showing at Augusta National where he has recorded top 3 finishes on two occasions including when runner-up on debut in 2011.

“Yeah, it’s hard to explain. You’ve just got to kind of grind it out, said Day referring to his match against Morikawa. “I knew Collin was going to be tough. He wasn’t going to give me much. He’s a terrific iron player.

“I rolled in a couple bombs early. The one on 2 was important, and then the one on 9 was very important just because I was out of position.

“It’s been really pleasing to see that the game is showing all the good signs. I know I can’t get ahead of myself too much because every day is different, especially at a match play event. The guys that have won coming off some confidence, so you can’t underestimate anyone.”

Yeah, 36 wins, said Day when discussing his next opponent (Kuchar). “That pretty much says it all. The guy is very straight down the middle, on the green. When he gets hot with a putter, then he’s very difficult to beat.

“So I kind of have to stay in my own little world tomorrow and just not pay too much attention to him, but really just kind of try my best to finish it early. But if not, I’m going to grind it out.”

Adam Scott, Cameron Davis, Min Woo Lee and New Zealander Ryan Fox all failed to advance through their group stage.

SCORES

 

 

 

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Danny Lee wins at second LIV Golf appearance

Danny Lee – in action this week – photo Sam Greeenwood

Danny Lee, in just his second appearance in a LIV Golf event, has holed a 25 foot putt from off the green at the third extra playoff hole in Tuscon to defeat Brendan Steele, Louis Oosthuizen and Carlos Ortiz to win his first event anywhere in nearly eight years.

32 year old Lee was born in Korea but was schooled in Rotorua in New Zealand and spent his formative years there before winning the 2008 US Amateur Championship, then the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic and moving to the US and eventually joining the PGA Tour in 2012 via the Korn Ferry Tour where he had won in 2011.

“I mean, it feels pretty amazing, said Lee soon after his victory. “Last win I had was 2015 at Greenbrier. That was also a four-man playoff. Maybe it was a coincidence, I don’t know. But it feels pretty amazing right now.

“I was falling apart a little bit the last couple years because of my injury, and outside of my golf situation, but starting this year, I was just hitting it well, and I just had to get my putter working somehow. That’s why I switched to the long putter. I’m just happy to see I’m making great progress.

Lee made special mention of the talks he had with Kevin Na about the switch he as making to LIV Golf

“I mean, it was a life-changing decision. To be honest, I wasn’t getting what everybody’s like thing, like everybody is getting like $100 million, $50 million, $30 million. I wasn’t in that situation. Kevin just called me, hey, do you want to come over and play for my team.

“I thought about it, and I looked at the schedule. There’s three events I really like. Tucson wasn’t in my head, but Mayakoba, I always played well there, Greenbrier, I won there, and then Singapore, Sentosa, which we’re going to come back to, I have played well there before.

“Then Kevin just told me that I know you’re working hard, you’re so — he could see that my game is so close to being great, but he told me that this environment of LIV Golf is probably better for me than staying out on the PGA TOUR.

“The reason he told me that was probably I tend to play too many weeks in a row, and then — I mean, you can’t play great every single round. You’re going to have one bad round. On a fourth or fifth week in a row and when you have a really, really bad first round, sometimes it’s really mentally hard to grind it out for that second round to make the cut.

“That kind of stuff was a little different, but here, you only have 14 events. You’ve got to make most of it, and I don’t want to let anybody down on my team.

“I’ve been working so hard the last couple weeks. I never practiced that much in my life. Between me, Sihwan and Kevin, we were playing so many rounds together, range balls together, just talk about what would be the best way to get better, and showing signs already.

Lee has experienced injury issues of late but last month made the decision after recording just one top ten on the PGA Tour in his previous 27 starts, to join LIV Golf.

In his ten years on the PGA Tour, he has accumulated earnings of close to US$15 million but today’s victory is worth US$ 4 million plus another US$125,000 for assisting his team to 3rd place in the teams event.

Matt Jones finished as the leading Australian when he shared 6th place with three others while Marc Leishman, who led for much of the event, faltered with a final round of 6 over to finish in a share of 13th.

Cameron Smith finished 24th in the 48 man field while Jed Morgan finished 47th.

SCORES

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