Travis Smyth chasing title defence in Chinese Taipei


Travis Smyth in action today – photo Paul Lakatos Asian Tour 

New South Wales golfer Travis Smyth, playing in just his 11th event of the 2023 season, has the halfway lead at the Yeangder TPC event in Chinese Taipei, the defending champion adding a second round of 67 to his opening 65 to lead by one over 2012 winner Gaganjeet Bhullar (67) from India and South Australian Jack Thompson (66).

Smyth, whose only victory on the Asian Tour came in this event twelve months ago, perhaps understandably expressed his delight for the golf course.

“This golf course loves me, and I love it!” he said referring to the Linkou International Golf and Country Club.

“I mean, it’s good that [last year’s win] is in the back of my mind. It’s in the memory bank, but that was last year, this is this year. A lot has changed, a lot can happen. A lot of golf to be played, so I just keep trying to hit good shots and good putts and add it up at the end.

“The wind was mainly across on like just about every hole, so it was hard to get pin high – had to be very patient. It wasn’t as clean as it was yesterday. But to shoot five under, it was a pretty good score. I would have been happy with anything under par to be honest, it was tough.”

One birdie on the front and four on the back, including on 18, saw him snatch the outright lead at the end, to set up a thrilling weekend.

Thompson, who earlier this year led the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School but has yet to record a top ten in tens starts in 2023, stormed home in 29 to be just one from his countryman.

SCORES

 

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Minjee Lee contending again in South Korea


Minjee Lee – in action this week – image courtesy of KLPGA

Australia’s Minjee Lee finds herself just three shots from the halfway lead at the Hana Financial Services Championship in Incheon near Seoul, a second round of 70 leaving the West Australian in a share of 15th place on what is a congested leaderboard.

Following on from her recent win in Ohio, Lee is continuing some excellent late-season form after recording her first win of 2023 two weeks ago.

“It’s been okay. Just up and down. I don’t think I’ve really done anything too well or too badly. So just kind of, hopefully, I can have a good weekend,” said Lee.

“The course conditions are not super, super amazing, but everybody has to play on it, so I think it’s fair,”

The Korean LPGA Tour event carries total prizemoney of A$1.8 million but Lee has a commercial arrangement with the tournament sponsors thus the involvement of both herself and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko in the event.

The news is not so good for Ko however as her woes continued with a round of 76 to be tied for 70th and without weekend work. Ko has not recorded a finish inside the top 30 in her last eleven starts worldwide.

The tournament is led by for Australian Amateur Champion Hye Jin Choi who has recorded consecutive rounds of 69 to lead by one over a six-way tie for second place.

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Can Europe continue recent Solheim Cup domination

Image – Solheim Cup

The Solheim Cup between the finest of Europe’s and America’s female golfers begins at Finca Cortesin in Andalucia in Spain this Friday with the European team looking to close the 10 -7 deficit record they have in the seventeen encounters between the two teams the event was first played in 1990.

The last few years however have seen a marked change in the outcome of the event, with Europe successful in four of the last six stagings, the last two in succession after the USA had won all but three of their first eleven battles.

In 2023 the teams are evenly matched in terms of world ranking with five of the European side inside the top 20 in the Rolex World ranking and four of the Americans in that category.

The leading ranked European is the recent Evian Championship winner,  Celine Boutier, while for the Americans the recent AIG Women’s Open Champion heads their list just ahead of Nelly Korda.

It’s at the other end of the scale however where the Americans have a mathematical edge with none of their team outside the top 50 in the world while the Europeans have one ( Gemma Dryburgh) in 55th place and two (Caroline Hedwall and Emily Kristine Pedersen) outside the top 100.

Not that world standing counts for a great deal in these battles as the sort of disparity in ranking above has been a regular factor in the event prior top it getting underway but, increasingly, making little difference as the heat of the battle and local advantage plays its roll.

The format consist of 8 Fourball and 8 Foursome matches on both Friday and Saturday followed by 12 singles on Sunday resulting in 28 points being up for grabs. The first team to 14.5 points wins the encounter although for Europe they need only 14 to force a tie and retain the Cup.

Coming just a week ahead of the Ryder Cup between the men’s equivalents in Italy, the event promises to be a spicy encounter to get the juices of, especially, European golf fans flowing.

TEAM USA 

TEAM EUROPE

 

 

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Cam Davis continues fine PGA Tour season in California

Cam Davis – file photo courtesy of PGA of America

Australian golfer Cam Davis’ year just keeps getting better following his 3rd place finish at the Fortinet Championship in Napa, California this morning.

Davis’ finish was his 6th top ten of the year and after a start to 2023 during which he missed five of his first six cuts, he has turned the season into something very special. This was his 4th top ten in his last five starts.

Today Davis added another US$590,000 to his season’s earnings which now total US$4.6 million.

Having already made the top fifty and therefore guaranteed access to the lucrative signature events next season, Davis played this week with the freedom that such status brings, his only real blemish coming at the 8th hole today when he drove it out of bounds and took double bogey.

“Yeah, if I was fighting for position for next year still, it would be a very different
mindset to what I’ve currently got. It’s nice playing with a little less stress on keeping your job
and a little more focus on improving your game and working on some things that you’ve
been working on behind the scenes.”

That he was able to play the final seven holes in five under and finish just two shots from the first-time winner, Sahith Theegala is an indication of his growing self-belief and status on the PGA Tour.

“It was an awesome week,” said Davis. “I really enjoyed everything about this week actually. It was relaxing, I love being here, the weather was just about the best all year we had for a full week straight, I loved how firm and fast the course got.

“So I had a really enjoyable time. Just didn’t quite get off to a really good start today which kind of threw me so far off that I wasn’t really a contender anymore. It was awesome to watch how well Sahith played today. He did everything he needed to do to get the job done today.

“I’m going to play a couple more events on the PGA TOUR and then I’m going to go back and play the events in Australia at the end of the year. I’m going to have a smattering throughout the rest of the year, which is nice that I can kind of take that approach and work in a few things now. But a lot of good stuff to take away from a week like this.”

Lucas Herbert, who began the event so well with an opening round of 63 eventually finished 3oth. While Herbert did not make the leading 50 and earn the right to play signature events next year he is guaranteed PGA Tour status courtesy of his Bermuda win a couple of years ago.

SCORES

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Crucial three weeks ahead of Australia’s Korn Ferry Tour players


Curtis Luck – did best of the Australians this week – file photo

With just two events remaining on the Korn Ferry Tour’s 2023 schedule things are tightening for several Australians looking to secure PGA Tour status for next season or just retain their full membership of the Korn Ferry Tour.

The leading 120 players on the Korn Ferry Tour points table make it into this coming week’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship in Columbus Ohio with the field for the Tour Championship, two weeks later, then narrowed down to the leading 75.

At the completion of the Tour Championship beginning on October 5th the leading 30 golfers earn PGA Tour cards for 2024 while those inside the top 75 have full Korn Ferry Tour status

This week’s Simmons Bank Open in Tennessee, won by American Grayson Murray, saw several Australians attempting to improve their chances of achieving various milestones over the next three weeks.

Former US Amateur Champion Curtis Luck from Perth did best of them this week when he finished tied for 26th and he is now in 61st position and looking good to make it to the Tour Championship in two weeks’ time.

Brett Drewitt finished 63rd this week and is now outside the top 30, although only just, in 32nd position.

Rhein Gibson and Dimi Papadatos both failed to make the weekend this week and are now in 29th and 64th  place respectively on the points table, although both should make the Tour Championship.

Points table 

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Ryan Fox claims biggest title with gutsy BMW PGA win


Ryan Fox – holds aloft his 4th DP World Tour trophy – image Getty Images 

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox emerged from an intriguing final day battle at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in Surrey to win his most significant title to date and, by some way, the biggest cheque in his career.

The event, essentially the flagship event of the DP World Tour, carried first prizemoney of €1.435 million, and, having finished runner-up to Rory McIlroy in last year’s Race to Dubai DP World Tour rankings, the 37-year-old now finds himself in third place behind McIlroy and Jon Rahm despite spending much of his schedule in the US in 2023.

A seven-foot putt at the 72nd hole from 100 metres or so after laying up with his second to the par 5, saw Fox defeat Aaron Rai and Tyrell Hatton by one shot, the victory made even more meritorious given he overcame near disaster at his 3rd hole of the day after a wild drive finished out of bounds and led to a triple bogey.

Fox’s year has been one of adapting to a schedule which includes a lot more golf in the US and a lot of travel due to family illness issues and the birth of his second child, but, while this was just his second top ten of the year, he has missed only two cuts in now 19 starts, continuing a great run of consistency

Fox who finished 3rd in last week’s Horizon Irish Open to record his first top ten of the year, was able to produce eight birdies following the early setback and even a two-hour weather delay in the middle of his round could not stop the momentum as he fought off several of the game’s hottest players.

Fox, who has now won four DP World Tour titles in addition to six runner-up finishes, was still in shock after his win as he faced a packed media room.

“I certainly didn’t think I would be talking to you after the third hole today,” said the champion. “I don’t really know what to think at the moment to be honest. I’ve always struggled a little bit around here. I’ve maybe snuck one top 20 and bearable struggled to make any cuts around here.

“To have a back nine like that, especially after how I started the day, yeah, it’s amazing. I played great. Pretty much didn’t miss a shot from the third hole onwards and saw a couple of putts go in and it was pretty cool feeling on the last to sort of know I had one to win and actually make it.”

Fox explained how he was able to overcome the early triple bogey which saw him drop back to 10 under and fall several shots off the lead.

“To be honest I’ve been working with Kyle Morris (mental coach) for a little while and it’s just trying to beat the golf course. That’s what we did all of last year and that’s what we tried to do this year. Pretty much go back to whatever shot is in front of me.”

As for the manner in which he played the last, knowing he needed a birdie to win Fox would say;

“I knew I needed to make birdie. I kind of made the decision from my lie that I could not go at the second shot. It was sitting down just a little bit and figured I’ve been wedging it really good the last few days and give myself a good number in there, a hundred meters.

“I had a similar shot a couple years ago and it’s actually a pin that you can get to. You can use the slope and that’s what I did. I hit the exact shot I wanted to and you know, just kind of the putt was just get it rolling and it was pretty straight and thankfully I managed to get it online.”

Fox is listed to play this coming week’s French Open at le Golf National.

Adam Scott also had a good week when he overcame an early double bogey and consecutive bogeys early in his back nine to finish five shots from Fox and in a share of 7th with amongst others Rory McIlroy whose last round of 65 was the best of the day, while Min Woo Lee was the next best of the Australians when he finished in a share of 14th two shots behind Scott.

SCORES

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Ryan Fox contends again – this time at Wentworth

Ryan Fox – file photo courtesy of Australian Golf Media 

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox again finds himself in the firing line of contention as the BMW PGA Championship enters the weekend at the Wentworth Golf Club in Virginia Water in Surrey.

Following on from his share of 3rd place at last week’s Horizon Irish Open at the K Club, Fox is just three shots from the halfway lead shared by Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg and Sebastian Soderberg following a second round of 68.

This is the 7th time Fox has played this iconic European Tour event but with only one top ten to his credit to date, Wentworth has not been a happy hunting ground until now.

“Yeah, I’m pretty chuffed,” said Fox referring to his improved showing over the famed West Course.

“This is probably not a golf course that’s treated me overly well in the past. I’ve had a couple good scores, but never managed to put four together. So it’s certainly nice to be there or thereabouts for the weekend.

“And today was a lot more solid than yesterday. I gave myself a lot of shots, as yesterday I kind of rode a little bit of a hot putter and the short game was good. But I felt like I hit it really well today, bar maybe a couple tee shots.

“But, yeah, it feels like a golf course you can get and play off the tee, you’ve got some chances. And for the most part, I did a really good job of that today.

“I mean, I love these events. Last week was great and all, and this week is almost a step up from there, you know. We’ve got a great field this week. It just — something about this, screams big event. The setup of the golf course, all the stands everywhere, it’s just a cool event to play, and certainly chuffed I’m around for the weekend.”

Fox began his second round slowly with a bogey at the demanding 3rd hole where he missed the fairway and the green and a 10 foot par saving putt but he would later add five birdies to put himself right in the mix.

Fox’s playing partner over the opening two days, Min Woo Lee is one shot behind Fox at 6 under par, four from the lead and tied for 16th.

Lee birdied his final three holes for a round of 67 and has played his last 24 holes in nine under par after being 3 over par through nine holes of round one.

Adam Scott added a round of 69 today to be tied for 31st and six from the lead, while Jason Scrivener, out late in the day, still has three holes to play of his darkness-disrupted round and is in a share of 39th place.

SCORES

 

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Minjee Lee wins 9th LPGA Tour title in Ohio


Minjee Lee – image Getty Images / LPGA

Australian Minjee Lee has somehow found the resolve to bounce back from a struggling final nine holes at the Kroger Queen City Championship in Ohio to win a playoff against England’s Charley Hull and secure her 9th LPGA Tour title.

Lee looked to have taken control of the event when she took a two-shot lead into the final round and raced to the turn in 3 under to open up a four-shot lead. It was increased to five when Hull bogeyed the 10th but the final nine would see things change dramatically.

The very much in form and improved Hull put together a final nine of 34 and when Lee double bogeyed the 12th after hitting her second shot out of bounds and was unable to recover over the closing six holes, she entered a playoff against Hull who was seeking a third LPGA Tour victory.

The first extra hole was shared but, at the second, Lee’s approach finished two feet from the hole and when she converted it was all over.

“I had a few moments where I felt I was losing, but I wasn’t,” Lee said. “I was like, ‘Let’s play ‘til the end and see where it ends up.’ I didn’t give up. I played every shot the best I could and won the playoff, so it feels nice.”

Lee was especially pleased to have won just ahead of a break during which she will spend time in Perth.

“Actually, I’m not playing Arkansas and Dallas, so it does feel nice that I finished on a high this kind of stretch of tournaments.

“I’m actually looking forward to a couple of weeks off and some downtime. Going to go back to Perth during Arkansas and Dallas, so hopefully I can enjoy this one back home with my friends and family.”

For Lee, it was her first win of the 2023 season and just her third top ten.

Lee earns US$300,000 and takes her season’s earnings on the LPGA Tour to just under US$900,000 and career earnings to just over US$13 million.

Gabi Ruffels began the tournament well but had a tough weekend to finish 36th but was the next best of the Australians, Stephanie Kyriacou and Lydia Ko were 41st and Sarah Kemp 55th.

SCORES

 

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Another great Irish Open week for Ryan Fox

Ryan Fox – file photo Getty Images / DP World Tour 

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox has continued his remarkable record at the Horizon Irish Open after finishing in a share of 3rd place at the K Club in County Kildare overnight.

In now seven starts in the event, Fox has finished runner-up on two occasions, once third and once fourth and today added another €266,000 to his already significant earnings in the historic event.

Fox finished only two shots from the winner, Vincent Norrman of Sweden, who won his first DP World Tour event and €951,000, although the 25-year-old is also now a PGA Tour winner, having won the Barbasol Championship in July.

Norrman came from six shots off the lead through 54 holes to win by one over Germany’s Hurly Long.

Interestingly, Norrman is not a member of the European Ryder Cup team despite having now won on the PGA and DP World Tours this season.

Fox, who is now playing much of his golf in the US after gaining special temporary membership there, added a final round of 70 and needed an eagle at the last to catch Norrman who had finished 90 minutes or so earlier. His second shot finished short of the green after finding the rough from the tee and a poor pitch led to a disappointing par.

Min Woo Lee, who now has similar status to Fox on the PGA Tour, also had a good week when he finished in a share of 7th and moved to 5th on the DP World Rankings.

RESULTS

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Anthony Quayle finishes 3rd in Korea

Anthony Quayle – photo JGTO

Anthony Quayle has finished in a share of 3rd place at a jointly sanctioned event between the Korean, Japan, and Asian Tours, the Shinhan Donghae Open in Incheon, Korea.

The 29-year-old Gold Coast-based golfer, completed the event just two shots behind the playoff between the eventual winner, Guntaek Koh of Korea  and Thailand’s Pachara Khongwatmai.

Quayle shared third place with Japanese star and former Australian Amateur Champion, Keita Nakajima, and American Richard Lee and added another US$53,000 to his Japan Tour earnings for 2023.

The finish will move Quayle to 14th on the Japan Tour money list with ¥26 million (A$270,000) and represents his second-best finish of 2023 following his runner-up finish at the Sega Sammy Cup in Hokkaido in early July.

Quayle will lament a double bogey finish to his round on Saturday but it was nonetheless an improvement on his most recent form which had seen two missed cuts in his last three starts.

The next best of the Australians was Travis Smyth who finished in 19th place.

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