Minjee Lee during her opening round today – photo Jeff Haynes USGA
Minjee Lee finds herself in a share of third place and three shots behind American Mina Harigae at the completion of the opening round of the US Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines in North Carolina.
Separating Harigae from Lee is the Swedish amateur Ingrid lindblad whose round of 65 was the best ever by an amateur at the US Women’s Open.
Lee, who is playing her 9th US Women’s Open but without a top ten to date in any of those starts, was out in 2 under 33 and added four more birdies on her closing nine, but bogeys at the 13th and 17th saw her finish with a round of 4 under 67.
“Yeah, I mean, I was pretty solid all day,” said Lee. “I made quite a few birdies out there. I also made a few bogeys, as well, but overall I think I putted really well. I had really good speed on the greens today.
“I was striking it pretty good; just had a few loose shots here and there. Hopefully I can clean it up for tomorrow.
“I feel pretty good. Today I actually putted really well, and usually I hit it better than my putting. But I’ve been working really hard on all aspects of my game, so I feel like I’m pretty confident just in my ability right now.”
Hannah Green is the next best of the seven strong Australasian contingent following her round of 1 under 70, late birdie from 12 feet at the 16th getting her under par for the day.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko began with a bogey and was unable to build any real momentum from there and finished with a round of 72 to be eight shots from the lead.
Rookie, Grace Kim, playing in her first US Women’s Open finished with a round of 2 over 73.
Victorian Gabi Ruffels made a solid enough start to the event but dropped four shots in three holes in a mid-back-nine stretch and finished with 74 as did New Zealand’s Julianne Alvarez and Sarah Kemp was round in 76.
The cut at this early stage appears as is if might be around 3 or 4 over, dependent on conditions remaining similar tomorrow, so there is work to be done by several of the ‘down under’ brigade
But in many respects the honours on day one went to the 22 year old Lindblad, a college student at Louisiana State University, who not only had the thrill of playing with one of the female game’s greatest ever players and a fellow countrywoman, Annika Sorenstam, in her group today, she also another one of Sweden’s finest female golfer, Sophie Gustafson, on the bag.
Gustafson was a five time winner on the LPGA Tour including the Women’s British Open before it became a major but this week is the first time Gustafson and Lindblad and she had met.
Sorenstam, who won last year’s US Women’s Senior Open and is nearly 30 years, Lindblad’s senior, recorded a round of 73 which, given she has essentially been retired from regular tournament play for nearly 14 years, was an impressive effort.
After her round Sorenstam, who won a massive 72 LPGA Tour events, summed up where golf fits in her life now.
“I mean, I’m a lot more content in my life. My playing days are over; I’m not here to create a new career or start something new and make a mark for myself. I’m more here to enjoy what I’ve done and enjoy being invited to come here and play and kind of share it with my loved ones. I think that’s more the attitude I have.
I have worked hard to try to get ready, and I’ve told myself this morning, there’s nothing else I can do. Another day, another week, another month is not going to change. I’m happy the way I’m playing.
And score-wise it could have been better, but also it’s not, and I think in ’96 might have been able to put another gear in or maybe two gears. But I’m at my highest gear or lowest gear, whatever you want to call it, there’s just nowhere to go other than what I have. I just have to accept it and kind of deal with it.
I don’t get as mad as I used to. I kind of bounce it off. By the end of the day the kids want to do something, I probably have to cook dinner, just all those things that I enjoy doing off the golf course. I can’t get upset anymore.
It’s just great to be here, enjoy. The fans have been super supportive, a lot of cheering coming up to the greens, so it warms my heart. Especially on 18 there was a little tear or two from my husband and myself because it warms to be here.”
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Ingrid Lindblad with her caddie and former 5 time LPGA Tour winner, Sophie Gustafson – photo USGA Darren Carroll
The leader Mina Harigae- photo USGA – Jeff Haynes
Minjee Lee three back at US Women’s Open
Minjee Lee during her opening round today – photo Jeff Haynes USGA
Minjee Lee finds herself in a share of third place and three shots behind American Mina Harigae at the completion of the opening round of the US Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines in North Carolina.
Separating Harigae from Lee is the Swedish amateur Ingrid lindblad whose round of 65 was the best ever by an amateur at the US Women’s Open.
Lee, who is playing her 9th US Women’s Open but without a top ten to date in any of those starts, was out in 2 under 33 and added four more birdies on her closing nine, but bogeys at the 13th and 17th saw her finish with a round of 4 under 67.
“Yeah, I mean, I was pretty solid all day,” said Lee. “I made quite a few birdies out there. I also made a few bogeys, as well, but overall I think I putted really well. I had really good speed on the greens today.
“I was striking it pretty good; just had a few loose shots here and there. Hopefully I can clean it up for tomorrow.
“I feel pretty good. Today I actually putted really well, and usually I hit it better than my putting. But I’ve been working really hard on all aspects of my game, so I feel like I’m pretty confident just in my ability right now.”
Hannah Green is the next best of the seven strong Australasian contingent following her round of 1 under 70, late birdie from 12 feet at the 16th getting her under par for the day.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko began with a bogey and was unable to build any real momentum from there and finished with a round of 72 to be eight shots from the lead.
Rookie, Grace Kim, playing in her first US Women’s Open finished with a round of 2 over 73.
Victorian Gabi Ruffels made a solid enough start to the event but dropped four shots in three holes in a mid-back-nine stretch and finished with 74 as did New Zealand’s Julianne Alvarez and Sarah Kemp was round in 76.
The cut at this early stage appears as is if might be around 3 or 4 over, dependent on conditions remaining similar tomorrow, so there is work to be done by several of the ‘down under’ brigade
But in many respects the honours on day one went to the 22 year old Lindblad, a college student at Louisiana State University, who not only had the thrill of playing with one of the female game’s greatest ever players and a fellow countrywoman, Annika Sorenstam, in her group today, she also another one of Sweden’s finest female golfer, Sophie Gustafson, on the bag.
Gustafson was a five time winner on the LPGA Tour including the Women’s British Open before it became a major but this week is the first time Gustafson and Lindblad and she had met.
Sorenstam, who won last year’s US Women’s Senior Open and is nearly 30 years, Lindblad’s senior, recorded a round of 73 which, given she has essentially been retired from regular tournament play for nearly 14 years, was an impressive effort.
After her round Sorenstam, who won a massive 72 LPGA Tour events, summed up where golf fits in her life now.
“I mean, I’m a lot more content in my life. My playing days are over; I’m not here to create a new career or start something new and make a mark for myself. I’m more here to enjoy what I’ve done and enjoy being invited to come here and play and kind of share it with my loved ones. I think that’s more the attitude I have.
I have worked hard to try to get ready, and I’ve told myself this morning, there’s nothing else I can do. Another day, another week, another month is not going to change. I’m happy the way I’m playing.
And score-wise it could have been better, but also it’s not, and I think in ’96 might have been able to put another gear in or maybe two gears. But I’m at my highest gear or lowest gear, whatever you want to call it, there’s just nowhere to go other than what I have. I just have to accept it and kind of deal with it.
I don’t get as mad as I used to. I kind of bounce it off. By the end of the day the kids want to do something, I probably have to cook dinner, just all those things that I enjoy doing off the golf course. I can’t get upset anymore.
It’s just great to be here, enjoy. The fans have been super supportive, a lot of cheering coming up to the greens, so it warms my heart. Especially on 18 there was a little tear or two from my husband and myself because it warms to be here.”
SCORES
Ingrid Lindblad with her caddie and former 5 time LPGA Tour winner, Sophie Gustafson – photo USGA Darren Carroll
Can Minjee Lee’s impressive season get even better at US Women’s Open
Can Minjee Lee add a second major title to that she won at last year’s Evian Championship? – photo LET
Australian Minjee Lee already has a major title to her name having won in France last year, but this week’s US Women’s Open might just provide the chance for her to add the most significant title in women’s golf to her already impressive CV and further enhance an already superb 2022 season.
Lee is one of five Australians in the field, joining Hannah Green, Sarah Kemp, Gabi Ruffels and Grace Kim in the female game’s most significant event.
Lee is currently the third highest ranked women in the game and, sitting on top of the LPGA Tour standings in 2022, she arrives at Pines Needles Lodge and Golf Club with perhaps greater expectations than ever before.
Lee was one of the players invited to speak to the media today and she enthused about what she has seen thus far of Pine Needles.
“I played ten yesterday and I played eight holes just then. Got to see all the golf course now. I’ve just been doing the same prep as I would any other tournament but so far I’ve seen a lot of great things.
“A lot of short and long holes, so a mixture of everything. I think it’s going to be really exciting. Come the weekend, I think it’s going to be really tough, depending on how hard they make the firmness of the greens. I’m really excited for the week.
“I think just seeing the whole course now, there’s a lot — there’s really big greens, so a lot of the lag putting will be important for me, and just chipping around the greens.
“There’s a little bit of grain, so just got to be careful of that, and obviously ball-striking is going to be huge around here. Try and get everything dialed in.”
Lee is having her best year in the game with a win, one runner-up and one 3rd place finish in eight starts to head the money list over Nanna Koerstz Masden and world number one, Jin Young Ko, so on paper at least there is a real expectation that she can have a very good week.
With a total purse of US10 million on the line this week Lee was aware but trying to keep that aspect in perspective.
“I mean, I think we’re always talking about prize increases and anything to elevate the women’s game even higher. I think that is what we try to keep doing. Just for the prize money to go up each year, I think it’s just a huge step in the right direction, and I think it’s only going to get better and better.”
Lee will play at 8.28 on Thursday with Nasa Hataoka and Brooke Henderson.
Can Lydia Ko add to a great week for New Zealand golf?
Lydia Ko -during practice this week – photo Darren Carroll USGA
For a nation of its relatively small population New Zealand has boxed well above its weight in terms of its success in international golf.
Four players throughout its history have won major titles, namely Sir Bob Charles, Michael Campbell, Lydia Ko (2) and in this past week Steve Alker has done so in his age group when successful at the Senior PGA Championship.
It may well be that having won a total of five throughout its history, New Zealand golf could add a second in a week when Lydia Ko takes to the fairways of the Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines in North Carolina in this week’s US Women’s Open.
Ko is currently ranked the 3rd highest ranked woman golfer in the world, a remarkable rebound after slipping outside the top 50 two years ago having her back close to the level of golf she was producing when winning the second of her two majors six years ago.
She went winless for nearly three years between April of 2018 and April of 2021 but not only have there been two wins since but it has been the consistency she was known for previously that has returned and her climb back up the rankings has been impressive and gutsy to say the least.
In her pre-event press conference today, however, Ko talked about needing to search for even greater consistency.
“Obviously I started off my season well winning the second tournament of the year, and I think that was the earliest win I’d had in a season,” said the still only 25 year old. “But I feel like there’s been ups and downs, and I still feel like there’s a lot of things to work on just to be a little bit more consistent throughout my game.
“I don’t think anyone ever feels like they’re perfect. There’s always something that could improve, and even when things are going well.
“It’s nice to kind of have my attention focused on the things that I want to work on, and hopefully the things that I was able to will work this week.
“Sometimes the ball-striking is great and the putting is not as good and vice versa. Just trying to get that more polished, and I think that way it gives less pressure on the other things, so it’s more like driving consistency would be probably my biggest thing.
“We’ve been trying to work on that, and I think the more times I keep putting those repetitions in, they’re all things that add up. And it might not show right away, but I know that all those reps count.”
Ko likes what she sees of the Pine Needles layout thus far further enhancing her prospects of a good week.
“I’ve already played a couple times out there. It’s nice. It’s so close to Pinehurst, but I feel like it’s different to Pinehurst.”
“It’s just a good mix. I knew that it was going to be a great golf course, obviously hosted so many big championships here, but I didn’t really know what it was going to be like and how my game would have to play around here.
“But it’s fun; I don’t think it suits one type of player and not someone that’s super long or super short. At the end of the day, especially at the U.S. Open, I think you do have to drive it really well, and with these greens having a lot of falloffs, having good ball-striking and giving yourself even 30- to 40-footers for birdies is not the end of the world.”
There has been a lot of talk about the fact that this week women’s golf plays for its richest ever purse (US$10 million) and Ko was asked her thoughts on being able to play for such a huge purse.
“At the end of the day it comes with results, right? Like, one of that matters if your results don’t follow.
“Those are like the extra bonuses and perks for us, I think. As an athlete and as a female athlete, to be able to play for this kind of money, I think it’s — not even just for my generation, but for the future generations.
“And when you see like what our founders played for, yes, the cost of living might have been cheaper than now, but still, I think we’re very — we should be very grateful, but at the same time I think there’s still a ways to go, and I’m excited where women’s golf and golf is trending.
“I think we’re all players and we’re here at one of the most prestigious events of the year at one of the biggest major championships, and I think that in itself is a win. Sometimes I think purse can really get in the way of what the actual meaning of this event is.
“I think for all of us that are in the field, we’re just excited to play the Women’s Open, and obviously for us to play for that amount of money, it’s an extra bonus.”
Ko has a morning tee time (9.05) on Thursday where she will play with Jessica Korda and Hannah Green
Huge Aussie line-up as Asian Tour break new ground
Scott Hend – much improved last week at the Dutch Open and one of Australia’s most successful Asian Tour players
The Asian Tour will break new ground this week when it plays an event near Newcastle in England, the first event played in Britain by the Asian Tour and the response from its members has been phenomenal.
It is perhaps not hard to understand given the US$2 million purse exceeds by some margin the average purse on the Asian Tour, but the costs involved in getting to Newcastle are not insignificant and that players from 29 countries have entered the event at Slaley Hall about 25 kilometres west of Newcastle tells the story of players hoping to take advantage of a unique opportunity.
It is also very much a one off event, with the previous Asian Tour event played in Japan two weeks ago and the next in Korea in three weeks time.
This week’s event is backed by Saudi money and is the second such event this season, the first having been played in Thailand in March for US$1.5 million.
In addition to the regular Australasian members of the Asian Tour currently entered, several more have a start courtesy of an invitation, those players including Louis Dobbelaar, Dimi Papdatos, West Australian Open winning amateur Hayden Hopewell, Tim Stewart, Andrew Martin and David Gleeson and New Zealand’s Denzel Ieremia
That group will be joined by Asian Tour members Wade Ormsby, Blake Windred, Scott Hend, Andrew Dodt, Todd Sinnott, Travis Smyth, New Zealander Ben Campbell, Jake Higginbottom, Josh Younger, Daniel Fox, Will Heffernan, Scott Strange, Ben Eccles, Cory Crawford, Kevin Yuan and Sam Brazel.
Steve Alker adds major title to his impressive record
Steve Alker with the trophy for his biggest win in the game – photo PGA of America
New Zealand’s Steve Alker today won his 4th PGA Tour Champions event in his last eleven starts, the difference this week being that this win was a major and the cheque for US$630,000 takes his earnings in just nine months on the PGA Tour Champions to a massive US$2,615,000.
Alker’s earnings in 2022 alone total US$1,820,000, more than US$700,000 ahead of the next best, Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Alker’s final round of 63 at the Senior PGA Championship at the Harbor Shores Golf Club in Benton Harbor in Michigan was set up with seven birdies in his first eleven holes and, despite a bogey at the 7th, when he added further birdies at the 15th and 16th he had a comfortable cushion to carry him to a three shot victory.
Alker began the final round four shots off the lead of Canadian Stephen Ames but just as he has in nearly every event he has played since joining the PGA Tour Champions as a Monday qualifier in August of 2021 he was relentless as he chased down not only Ames but also Bernhard Langer and Mike Weir.
After his round Alker was asked as so many have asked in recent months just were he had been all of his career.
“How long you got?” responded Alker, jokingly. “Basically, you know, I played a lot of different sports growing up and I love soccer and I wanted to play soccer about you golf just took over time-wise. Dad played. That’s going to be my career, that was it. I decided when I was young that was it.
“But started in the islands and Australasian Tour and did my heart yards down there and then I decided to do go Canada and try my luck there and went to America, as well, tried some qualifiers and things like that. Then got some BUY.COM status and nearly got my card in 2002, I think it was. BUY.COM and straight on the PGA Tour.
“It happened really quick, those two or three years, like wham. I had some pretty good form and feeling good. And then, you know, I just didn’t get it done out there. So just perseverance. That’s all I can say. Just perseverance with a capital P.”
“I can’t put my finger on one thing exactly,” he added when asked the reason for the success. “You know, I look back and I go, geez, did I really have the game or did I have the attitude? You know, certain courses suited me out there. But I couldn’t really put my finger on it exactly.
“I think right now, I’ve matured and it’s a second wind. That’s the biggest thing, I’ve had these 18 months, two years, 50s coming up, so let’s stay in shape. Let’s keep playing. We have a second career. Let’s go for it. Let’s go.”
The question of the money was raised and how nice it is to be picking up such big cheques now.
“It helps. You just think of — I’ve got a couple teenagers, college coming up, just take a deep breath and relax a little bit. There are so many people that have helped along the way and the support I’ve had has been amazing.
“But yeah, it’s nice to have a few dollars. For me, ultimately, to be out here and just challenge for golf tournaments, there’s no better feeling than winning.
“It’s a full field this week. Got a mix of PGA players and four rounds, players from all over the world, and just very honored. It’s an amazing trophy, you see the names and you choke up a little bit. It’s pretty cool.”
Australian Mark Hensby recorded his best finish on the PGA Tour Champions when he stormed home over the weekend with consecutive rounds of 67 to finish in a share of 8th. Hensby, a former PGA Tour winner and Presidents Cup team member, actually recorded three rounds of 67 but a second round 75 cost him dearly although he still earns a cheque for US$85,000
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Mark Hensby – impressive 8th place – photo PGA of America
Ryan Fox runner-up after dramatic Dutch Open finish
Ryan Fox – file photo PGA of America Montana Pritchard
Three ahead and with just two holes to play at the Dutch Open, at New Zealand’s Ryan Fox might have been forgiven for feeling that a third European Tour title and his second of 2022 was just twenty minutes away.
That was, until, he almost inexplicably found a way to double bogey his final hole to be just one ahead as he walked to the scorers hut. He still had that one shot cushion but it would not be for long as Victor Perez, playing twenty minutes behind him, birdied from 25 feet at the 17th and although Perez missed a very makeable birdie putt at the 72nd hole, he and Fox were headed for extra time.
Fox again had the inside running in all four of the playoff holes but Perez putted beautifully, both players producing birdies at the par 5 18th on two of the three occasions before the playoff switched to the 17th.
There, with Fox again inside Perez at the par 3, the 29-year-old Frenchman holed from across two levels and when Fox was unable to match his brilliance, Perez had won his second European Tour title.
It was a gut wrenching loss for Fox who, after beginning the final round one behind and in a share of 3rd place, appeared to take control of the tournament with a holed chip shot at the 10th and then an outrageous eagle putt from 80 feet or so at the 11th.
He extended his lead with a birdie at the 14th but four holes later he would open the door for Perez when he drove it into a penalty area at the last, missed the green with his 3rd and found an awkward lie before pitching it into a bunker and then failing to get up and down.
Fox, though, earns one of the three Open Championship berths available from this event and with his 3rd place at the recent Soudal Open and with this finish he is all but assured of a start at the US open courtesy of a cumulative points series over four events finishing at next week’s Porsche European Open.
Reason to smile despite the playoff loss
“It was one of my big goals to tick off this year,” said Fox referring to his ticket to St Andrews where in many ways his elevation in the game began. “I qualified there in 2015 and absolutely loved it, and to get back for The 150th this year is a dream come true and I’m looking forward to it.
“I’ve played St Andrews a lot since that first year and it’s one of my favourite places in the world. I think the atmosphere this year for it being The 150th is just going to be immense.
“Ben Campbell is in, another Kiwi, so I’m looking forward to joining him in the field and hopefully I can keep enjoying playing links golf.”
Fox is in the form of his life having won earlier in the year in the UAE, finished 3rd at the Soudal Open, made the cut after earning a late call-up to the PGA Championship and now this runner-up finish.
Fox will move close to the top 60 in the world, his highest ever ranking and is now in 6th place in the DP World Tour rankings, his earnings today adding another €192,000 to those of this season.
Australian Scott Hend was also well placed through 54 holes for a big finish but fell away with a final round of 76 to finish in a share of 14th but after twelve consecutive missed cuts for the Queenslander, the week represented quite a turnaround.
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Anthony Quayle and Brad Kennedy earn Open Championship berths
Close but no cigar for Quayle but an Open Championship start all the same – photo Japan Golf Tour
Gold Coast based Anthony Quayle and Brad Kennedy have earned starts at the Open Championship at St Andrews in July after both finished as one of the leading four players inside the top twelve at the completion of this week’s Mizuno Open in Japan.
Quayle so nearly added his first Japan Tour title having lost the chance to do so when losing a playoff to Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, a bogey at the second extra hole securing him his equal best Japan Tour finish but not the win he was hoping for.
Vincent birdied the final hole of regulation play in his round of 65 to set the mark for Quayle who had led by four heading into day four.
Quayle appeared still appeared the likely winner when he birdied the 12th to remain ahead of Vincent and Kennedy but two bogeys and a birdie over his closing holes and the strong finish by Vincent saw the pair head for a playoff before both parred the 18th the first time round and Quayle bogeyed at the second attempt.
“The 150th Open at St Andrews is probably about as exciting and historic as it gets and as good as it gets for your first major,” said Quayle. “I am pretty excited.
“To experience the atmosphere and vibe around the Championship, to see some of the players I have idolised my whole life will be really exciting.”
30-year-old Vincent won his third Japan Tour title and given he began the final round seven shots off the lead then it was a well-earned victory.
Kennedy was also still very much in the mix with a few holes to play but a bogey at the 16th and not able to birdie the last cost him in the final analysis.
Still, for Kennedy, the 3rd place follows a 4th place last week and now, with an Open Championship start it offers the 47 year old a chance to play in his 5th major championship and his 4th Open Championship.
“This is two years in a row that I have qualified now and The 150th Open will be my fourth time playing in the Championship,” said Kennedy.
“Playing The Open on the Old Course at St Andrews is one of those golfing moments you always dream about. It’s going to be exciting, the crowd is going to be unbelievable.”
Quayle now moves to 10th on this year’s Japan Tour money list with A$140,000 (equiv) with Kennedy 11th with A$125,000.
New Zealand’s Michael Hendry finish in a share of 6th place, David Bransdon 32nd and Brendan Jones 36th.
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Australians fail to advance at Bank of Hope Match Play
Minjee Lee in action this week – photo Sean Haffey Getty /LPGA
None of the three Australians in this week’s Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play Championship at the Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas have advanced to the knockout phase and for two of them, Minjee Lee and Hannah Green they will set their sights on next week’s US Women’s Open in Southern Pines in North Carolina.
Lee, Green and Oh all finished runner-up in their respective groups in the round robin stage but only one player from each group would advance to the round of 16.
Oh does not have a start at next week’s US Women’s Open but Lee and Green are considered chances to do well in the lucrative (US$10 million) event.
Group results
Steve Alker contends again in Champions Tour major
Steve Alker in action today – photo PGA of America Montana Pritchard
New Zealander Steve Alker continues his amazing run on the PGA Tour Champions and at the halfway stage of the Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor in Michigan and at 6 under he finds himself just two shots off the lead held by Scott McCarron and Stephen Ames.
Alker, who stands atop the money PGA Tour Champions money list in 2022 with earnings of nearly US$1.2 million including two victories and two runner-up finishes, added a second round of 72 in trying conditions today to be nicely poised as the event heads into the weekend although he did enjoy a slightly better side of the draw.
“I didn’t do too much damage,” said Alker referring to his over par round. “I bogeyed my last hole. Just missed a couple of fairways today and got myself out of position a little bit on the greens, so it just seemed like I was putting over slopes and across mounds and all sorts of things today, so it was just — it was kind of a grinding day, yeah.
“It just seemed like I was playing a lot of defensive golf today, especially on the greens. Obviously I didn’t hit it as close as yesterday. The wind was a little different, and the rain, just holes played totally different. Couldn’t reach the par-5s. Yeah, it was just a different golf course.”
Alker was asked earlier in the week if he anticipated the level of success he might have at this level and he responded; “Yeah, was always kind of quietly confident, I guess. You know, you kind of look at the players that have come up, and I’ve played with some guys off the Korn Ferry Tour and played a lot of golf with and they were doing well and winning out here. So not so much I went off what they had done.
“I’m just happy to be out here playing, have a chance to play this competitive golf at 50, and it’s another — it’s a second career for me. It’s a second opportunity, and you know, make most of it. I’ve probably got 18 years of decent golf left, so I’m just having a lot of fun.
“I’ve never been a really aggressive player. I just think as well as I’m hitting the ball now, I’ve got a lot of good confidence in my golf swing. So that makes it so much easier, too, when you are striking your irons nicely, you’re hitting your targets, you can just — you can always be more conservative. I mean, Nick Price always said that. I talked to him about this and he said, “I’m hitting the ball so good that I don’t have to fire at flags.”
“Now I’m putting so well, I don’t have to fire at flags. I know exactly where it’s going and what’s going on.”
Alker might well add a first major on the PGA Tour Champions to his already amazing list of performances since turning 50 after finishing 3rd in the first major of the season in Alabama two weeks ago.
In cool, windy and at times damp conditions, Alker has again headed the Australasian challenge and is tied with his playing partner over the opening two rounds, Bernhard Langer, Brian Gay and Mike Weir in a share of third place.
Australian Rod Pampling added a second round of 68 to be just one behind Alker in a share of 7th place, Michael Campbell is at 1 under and tied for 31st, Peter Fowler and Mark Hensby are 39th, Stephen Leaney and David McKenzie 62nd while John Senden, Stuart Appleby and Robert Allenby will miss the weekend.
Andre Stolz withdrew after an opening nine of 41 on Thursday.
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Disappointing 7th for Australians at Queen Sirikit Cup
The Australian team – far right earlier in the week
The Australian women’s team has finished a disappointing 7th amongst the 13 teams competing at the Queen Sirikit Cup event at the Laguna National Golf Resort in Singapore, the three player team of Kirsten Rudgeley, Caitlin Peirce and Kelsey Bennett finishing a massive 21 shots behind the winners, Japan, in the 72 hole event.
Japan won by seven shots over New Zealand with Korea another three shots back in 3rd place.
Australia saved their best to last with a best of the day performance by its team but it was a case of being a little too late after a slow start to the event.
Rudgeley did, however, perform well as an individual when she recorded a best of the day final round of 67 to finish 6th in the individual standings.