Leishman – file photo
Marc Leishman has fallen just short of winning his second tournament of 2020 but by finishing in outright second position at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando the 36 year old Victorian will improve to 15th place in the world ranking, his highest ranking since winning this same event two years ago.
Leishman fell one short of forcing Englishman, Tyrrell Hatton into a playoff where Hatton proved to be the last man standing on a week where only four players would finish the event under par.
In fact, so demanding was the Bay Hill Club and Lodge layout that only one player, Matthew Fitzpatrick, would break 70 on Sunday.
Hatton was chasing his first PGA Tour title in his 60th start and after a shaky start to his final round he appeared to have things under control until driving it in the water at the 11th and taking double bogey.
He steadied the ship over his closing seven holes with a series of pars and no dropped shots however and as his challengers dropped off he was able to hold on under the greatest of pressure from Leishman who was looking to not only win this event for the second occasion but to add even greater accolades to his role of tournament ambassador for the week.
For Hatton, the victory helped overcome the perception that his volatile personality would count against him over the closing stages and the quality of the shots he hit over the final few holes proved to many, including himself, he had what it takes to win at the highest level.
“Yeah, it was really tough out there and obviously I was getting frustrated at times, but nowhere near the blow-ups that I am capable of,” said Hatton.
“And it’s just one of those days where you just got to stick in there, and patience is one of the hardest things with me. To think that I’ve shot, what was it? 3-over for the weekend and ended up winning the tournament.
“If you told me that on Friday night I wouldn’t have believed you. But it just shows how tough it was. And obviously, like I said earlier, I’m very thankful to sit next to this trophy.”
For Leishman he gave it his best shot and came up just short, but not only does he improve to 15th in the world ranking but he jumps to 7th in the FedEx Cup table and picks up another US$1 million for his second place finish.
“No, I never give up,” said Leishman. “I said to Matty — we were walking down 16, I said, Of all the courses on the PGA TOUR, this is the last one you’d pick if you had a two-shot lead your three to go.
“So, Tyrell never gave up. He did what he needed to do there at the end. Great par on 18 particularly. That’s a brutal hole, tough pin placement, you have to really hold your shot. So yeah, made it interesting. Would have been nice if that putt would have dropped on 17. I felt pretty good when I hit it.
“Not to be. But happy with the week. With really tough conditions, I played probably as good as I played for quite a while. So, it was good to play well under pressure there too at the end. So, yeah, happy with the week and all credit to Tyrell.”
Matt Jones was the next best of the Australians when he finished in 47th place but New Zealander Danny Lee tied for 5th and earned one of the three starts from this event for the Open Championship in July.
Hideki Matsuyama’s Brilliance In Vain
Matsuyama in action today – photo Getty Images
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama has not won an event on the PGA Tour in early three years but after his opening round of 63 at Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida today, there was every reason to believe that the drought might end in the game’s richest event.
The joy of his brilliant effort on day one at the TPC Sawgrass was short lived, however, as, after much soul searching and consternation, the PGA Tour has now made the decision to cancel the event due to the issues surrounding the Corona Virus.
All events on the PGA Tour’s schedule including not only those of the PGA Tour but those of the Korn Ferry Tour, the PGA Tour Champions and the PGA Tour Latino America will be cancelled until the Masters in early April.
“It is with regret that we are announcing the cancellation of THE PLAYERS Championship,” read a statement issued by the PGA Tour late on Thursday evening Florida time.
“We have also decided to cancel all PGA TOUR events – across all of our Tours – in the coming weeks, through the Valero Texas Open.
“We have pledged from the start to be responsible, thoughtful and transparent with our decision process. We did everything possible to create a safe environment for our players in order to continue the event throughout the weekend, and we were endeavoring to give our fans a much-needed respite from the current climate.
“But at this point – and as the situation continues to rapidly change – the right thing to do for our players and our fans is to pause.”
A meeting early on Friday morning will reveal more on this decision but, clearly, after initially making the decision to play the final 54 holes without fans being allowed into the Stadium Course, the more impactful decision became necessary.
Matsuyama, who has been showing a return to some of his best form of late, began and finished his round in style. He opened with four consecutive birdies and then holed a lengthy eagle put at his last hole (the 9th) for his 9 under par round and finished the day two ahead of Harris English, Christian Bezuidenhout and former champion Si Woo Kim.
“I have a lot of confidence now in my swing, and last week was a tough week at Bay Hill, but today I made some putts and that seems to be the difference of late and that was really the catapult to me to have a good round,” said Matsuyama whose round equaled the course record.
Marc Leishman headed the Australians after his round of 67 had him in a share of 5th but all to no avail although given his mediocre record in the event to date it was an encouraging start.
“Golf’s a funny game,” said Leishman before the decision to cancel the event was made. “Always something new. I only had one top-10 here, I had an 8th. I don’t know, not sure what it is. Just hopefully I can keep doing what I’m doing and do better than the past.”
Adam Scott recovered from a slow start to be home in 32 for a round of 70 to be tied with Matt Jones as the next best of the Australians.
And so for players on the PGA Tour there will be no competitive golf ahead of the Masters beginning on March 9th and that, of course, providing the Masters is unaffected by the drama impacting the world at present.
Scores
The Players Championship – The Chances
This week’s Players Championship attracts the attention of the golfing world perhaps more than any other non major event and some might say more than a couple of the majors.
I assess the chances this week and provide evidence as to just why they might be considered as such.
Below: Last year’s champion and now world number one Rory McIlroy – Getty Images
Hatton Holds Off Leishman at Arnold Palmer Invitational
Leishman – file photo
Marc Leishman has fallen just short of winning his second tournament of 2020 but by finishing in outright second position at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando the 36 year old Victorian will improve to 15th place in the world ranking, his highest ranking since winning this same event two years ago.
Leishman fell one short of forcing Englishman, Tyrrell Hatton into a playoff where Hatton proved to be the last man standing on a week where only four players would finish the event under par.
In fact, so demanding was the Bay Hill Club and Lodge layout that only one player, Matthew Fitzpatrick, would break 70 on Sunday.
Hatton was chasing his first PGA Tour title in his 60th start and after a shaky start to his final round he appeared to have things under control until driving it in the water at the 11th and taking double bogey.
He steadied the ship over his closing seven holes with a series of pars and no dropped shots however and as his challengers dropped off he was able to hold on under the greatest of pressure from Leishman who was looking to not only win this event for the second occasion but to add even greater accolades to his role of tournament ambassador for the week.
For Hatton, the victory helped overcome the perception that his volatile personality would count against him over the closing stages and the quality of the shots he hit over the final few holes proved to many, including himself, he had what it takes to win at the highest level.
“Yeah, it was really tough out there and obviously I was getting frustrated at times, but nowhere near the blow-ups that I am capable of,” said Hatton.
“And it’s just one of those days where you just got to stick in there, and patience is one of the hardest things with me. To think that I’ve shot, what was it? 3-over for the weekend and ended up winning the tournament.
“If you told me that on Friday night I wouldn’t have believed you. But it just shows how tough it was. And obviously, like I said earlier, I’m very thankful to sit next to this trophy.”
For Leishman he gave it his best shot and came up just short, but not only does he improve to 15th in the world ranking but he jumps to 7th in the FedEx Cup table and picks up another US$1 million for his second place finish.
“No, I never give up,” said Leishman. “I said to Matty — we were walking down 16, I said, Of all the courses on the PGA TOUR, this is the last one you’d pick if you had a two-shot lead your three to go.
“So, Tyrell never gave up. He did what he needed to do there at the end. Great par on 18 particularly. That’s a brutal hole, tough pin placement, you have to really hold your shot. So yeah, made it interesting. Would have been nice if that putt would have dropped on 17. I felt pretty good when I hit it.
“Not to be. But happy with the week. With really tough conditions, I played probably as good as I played for quite a while. So, it was good to play well under pressure there too at the end. So, yeah, happy with the week and all credit to Tyrell.”
Matt Jones was the next best of the Australians when he finished in 47th place but New Zealander Danny Lee tied for 5th and earned one of the three starts from this event for the Open Championship in July.
Andrew Dodt’s Near Miss in Malaysia
The Malaysia Open Champion – Trevor Simsby
Queensland’s Andrew Dodt has lost a playoff for the Banda Malaysia Open in Kuala Lumpur today, the Queenslander eventually being knocked out of the race for the title at the second extra hole when beaten by 27 year old American, Trevor Simsby, who won his first event as a professional.
Dodt appeared in the driver’s seat for much of the 54 holes of the weather reduced event until a double bogey at the 15th hole saw him slip one off the lead of three others.
He bounced back with a birdie at the 16th but a missed six foot birdie chance at the 17th would ultimately prove costly as, unable to birdie the 18th, he, Simsby and American Jarin Todd headed back down the 18th to determine the champion.
Todd was eliminated at the first extra hole after Simsby and Dodt both birdied but Simsby birdied at the second extra hole to take the title and the US$180,000 first prize.
Dodt and Todd tied for second and earned US$86,500 each.
Simsby, a graduate from the University of Washington where he played alongside PGA TOUR champion C.T. Pan of Chinese Taipei, was thrilled to claim his career biggest win yet in only his 12th start on the Asian Tour and first this season at the Malaysian showpiece.
The lanky American, who hails from Carlsbad, California, is playing in only his second year in Asia. He came through the 2019 Qualifying School and plied his trade on both the Asian Tour and the ADT last season.
Wade Ormsby was the next best of the Australians when he tied for 10th but remains on top of the 2020 Asian Tour money list courtesy in the main of his win in Hong Kong in January.
Queensland’s left hand amateur, Lawry Flynn, was the next best Australian when he finished a very impressive 16th.
The Asian Tour now has a one week break before the Hero Indian Open in New Delhi.
Leishman Well Placed as Day Withdraws at Bay Hill
Marc Leishman- file photo
Former winner, Marc Leishman, is just three from the lead at the halfway mark of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, four birdies in his first seven holes of round two setting up a round of 69 and a share of 7th place in the event he won three years ago.
Leishman trails the leaders Tyrrell Hatton of England and Korea’s Sung Kang by three with New Zealander Danny Lee one off the lead.
Leishman, who was made a tournament host for the event, was delighted with his score and the honour bestowed on him to be the player host for what is essentially Arnold Palmer’s event.
“Yeah, really happy,” said the Victorian. It was tough out there again. Got off to a really good start the first 8 holes and then kind of hung on after that. So yeah, it’s tough. It’s good. I’m really enjoying it. It’s nice playing when par’s a good score.
While he was happy with his play, the honour of hosting the event was an even greater thrill.
“It’s a huge honour. To even be thought of for a role like that is pretty special. Then to get, for them to choose me to do that, it’s a massive honour.
“Of all the things you do, you think of, if you hadn’t had a great day, do you go sign or not go sign? He would have done it, so you do it. And that’s just, little things like that, that kind of, I guess, that’s why you pick certain role models and he was certainly one.
The ever present Sungjae Im, who last week won his first PGA Tour title, is tied for 4th and just two from the lead, a position he shares with Harris English.
Matt Jones was the only other Australian to make the weekend, the current Australian Open champion in 24th place and six shots from the lead.
The surprise of the week amongst the Australians was the performance of Adam Scott who was unable to recover from his opening round of 77 yesterday and finished two shots outside the cutline.
Jason Day was forced to withdraw from his second round after only four holes citing a back injury. It was the second straight year Day, a former winner of this event, has withdrawn from the event.
Andrew Dodt Chasing Further Queensland Success
Dodt in action this week – photo courtesy of Asian Tour
Australia’s Andrew Dodt is on target to continue the outstanding run of Queensland based professionals when he takes to the Kota Permai layout in Kuala Lumpur in round three of the Bandar Malaysia Open.
Although 77 players are yet to complete round two, Dodt was able to build on his opening round of 63 by adding a 68 on Friday to move one ahead of China’s Lu Yanwei through 36 holes. His lead appears safe irrespective of how the remainder of the field finish off their second rounds.
A month ago, Gold Coast based, Michael Sim, won the Queensland PGA Championship, followed a week later by the maiden win of another Gold Coast based golfer, Anthony Quayle, at the Queensland Open and just last week yet another Gold Coaster, Brad Kennedy, outlasted Lucas Herbert to win the New Zealand Open.
Dodt, who hails from Gatton west of Brisbane, missed the cut in New Zealand last week but bounced back immediately with his brilliant opening round on Thursday as he chases his 4th Asian Tour title, two of those events jointly sanctioned with the European Tour.
“It’s hard to back up a 63 but I did with a 68 today, pretty solid,” said Dodt. “I hit a lot of greens but didn’t hole as many putts as I did yesterday. But all in all, it’s a solid day’s work.
“I didn’t think I played cautious today. I just didn’t hit it as close. I didn’t have as many chances as I did yesterday. The pin positions were pretty difficult.
“I’m just playing a little bit technical with my swing. I thought about it a lot on the plane coming here. I haven’t been playing well before this week so I just wanted to throw it up a bit and just play the game.
“I’ve done that so far and happy to be in a good position with two more days to go. I’m just going to have fun, keep things simple and stay relaxed which is what I have done.”
South Australian, Wade Ormsby, who currently leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2019 courtesy of his win at the Hong Kong Open in January, is also well place in a share of 6th place currently after a second round of 65.
Five Australians Earn Asian Tour Cards
Scott Strange – one of five Aussies to gain Asian Tour status
Five Australians have earned Asian Tour Status for 2020 following the completion of the Qualifying Tour’s Qualifying School in Cha Am in Thailand.
Victorian Will Heffernan has finished runner-up, West Australian and former two time European Tour winner, Scott Strange 9th, Victorian Ben Eccles and Queensland’s Cory Crawford 17th and Sydney’s Kevin Yuan 23rd, all finishing within the leading 35 players who earned the right to play the Asian Tour this year.
“I am from Melbourne and I turned professional last year,” said Heffernan. “I have been to a fair few of Qualifying Schools over the last couple of years and I have gained some good experiences which helped this week. To get my Asian Tour card for this season just means a lot to me.
Will Heffernan – photo Asian Tour
Victorian Andrew Martin, a former Australian Amateur Champion missed by one, West Australian Rick Kulacz, NSW’s Dale Brandt Richards and yet another former Australian Amateur Champion, New Zealander, Tae Koh, by two.
The next Asian Tour event is this coming week’s New Zealand Open
Anthony Quayle Rewarded For Consistency At Queensland Open
Anthony Quayle – photo Golf Australia
It might be well short of his biggest previous cheque in professional golf, but Queensland based Anthony Quayle’s playoff victory at the Queensland Open at Pelican Waters on the Sunshine Coast today provides perhaps more than money can buy, namely a victory in a professional event.
Quayle, who has plied his trade with commercial success in Japan for the past two years, had yet to taste success in the paid ranks until today but by holding off a spirited and impressive challenge from South Australian amateur Jack Thompson he has broken through for what is likely to be the first of many wins.
Quayle has been rewarded for a very consistent few months where he has finished inside the top twenty in his last seven starts in both Japan and Australasia, one of those when finishing 3rd at the Casio World Open late in the 2019 Japan Tour season.
The cheque for the finish at the Casio was the equivalent of $A190,000 and while the monetary rewards today paled in comparison (A$20,600) the value of the breakthrough victory alone is hard to put a figure on.
Quayle had his nose in front for much of the final round in a battle with West Australian Kim Felton and Thompson but it was Thompson who refused to go away. Quayle blundered early in his back nine and actually lost the lead to Thompson at one stage but he recovered to force the playoff.
Quayle won by saving par at the first extra hole.
The winner, Quayle, and runner-up, Jack Thompson, (left) – Golf Australia
“It feels incredible,” said Quayle. “I’ve given myself a few chances recently and haven’t been able to pull it off and the feeling of frustration or regret walking off the 18th green is definitely not present at the moment,” Quayle said.
“I felt for a while that my first win would be a pretty difficult one to get done and maybe it was difficult because I thought it into reality.
“I showed myself today what it takes to win and it doesn’t have to go perfect. You can make quite a few mistakes and still have a chance to win. I think it’s a pretty good lesson for me today.”
“KB (Ken Berndt) my coach helped me out a lot,” Quayle said while also thanking his parents and wife Sofia for their support.
“We got to a few ahead and then went bogey, double and Jack went par, birdie and all of a sudden he was one ahead and was playing really nicely.
“To catch him I was going to have to play really good golf. KB had a chat to me; got me to compose myself and I barely missed a shot coming in the last five holes.
“He was saying to me as we went to the first playoff hole I didn’t sign up for this extra work, but I wouldn’t be here without him. He’s coached me since I was 14, constantly helping, incredibly selfless, just always there to help you out.”
Brad Kennedy tied for 3rd with New South Wales’ Jake Higginbottom.
The PGA Tour of Australasia now heads to Queenstown in New Zealand’s South Island for the 101st New Zealand Open at the host course Millbrook Resort.
Stephanie Kyriacou Blows Bonville Field Apart
Kyriacou with her father Nick
19-year-old Sydney amateur, Stephanie Kyriacou, has not only won a Ladies European Tour event she has done so in the most emphatic fashion with an eight-shot victory at the Geoff King Motors Australian Ladies Classic Bonville in Coffs Harbour today.
Kyriacou may be Australia’s third highest world ranked amateur behind US Amateur Champion, Gabi Ruffels, and Grace Kim, but she has stolen a march on those above her with an emphatic win which provides her immediate access to the Ladies European Tour and a career in professional golf should she wish to take advantage.
She indicated after the win that she would discuss it with her father Nick, who was caddying for her, before making a decision.
“I’m lost for words and still on cloud nine,” said Kyriacou. “I think everything was going my way today. I was pretty confident going into the last round.
“I did get off to a good start. The first hole wasn’t great again, but after that I bounced back and had five birdies in a row. After that, I played a bit more defensive, because I assumed I had a bit of a lead by then.
“On the last hole, I was thinking about what would happen, but I told myself to get a par and then worry about it.”
After taking a two-shot lead into day four, birdies at six of the first eight holes for Kyriacou blew the field apart and through nine holes she led the field by ten after an outward nine of 29. When she birdied the par 5 10th it had been seven birdies in ten holes.
She would eventually win by eight over Korean Ayean Cho who claimed the first prize cheque of $A59,000 when she finished in outright second place, one ahead of Sweden’s Linnea Storm.
Breanna Gill was the next best of the Australians when she finished in a share of 10th place.
Scores
Fox and Murray Lead Australasians in Mexico
Zach Murray – photo Asian Tour
Ryan Fox and Zach Murray, who finished one and two on the 2019 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, and earned starts at the WGC Championship Mexico as a result, have made solid starts to the event at the Club De Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City.
Both players lead the Australasian contingent and are tie for 19th at 2 under and although nine shots from the tournament leader, Bryson De Chambeau, they currently have many of the game’s leading players trailing in their wake.
Both players have shown improvement in recent starts, Murray having struggled since his win at the New Zealand Open last year before good tournaments in Abu Dhabi and at the Vic Open. Given his still relative lack of experience at this level it is an impressive start for the 22-year-old Victorian.
Fox was runner-up in his last start at the Vic Open and today put together seven birdies in round two before a bogey at the last. He had also dropped three shots in two holes late in his front nine.
Fox and Murray will rush back to Queenstown in New Zealand at the completion of the event to play next week’s New Zealand Open.
Adam Scott recovered from his slow start to the event on Thursday with a second round 68 today to be at even par and tied for 28th while Marc Leishman is the next best in 42nd place.
There is no cut in the event so Lucas Herbert, Cameron Smith and Scott Hend will also get their chance to improve their standing from further back in the field over the final 36 holes.
Scores