Ormsby in action today – Getty Images
Australia’s, Wade Ormsby, has the opening-round lead at the Scandinavian Invitation in Gothenburg in Sweden, but was joined in what was an enjoyable day for South Australians by Adam Bland, who holed a seven iron from 154 metres on the tenth hole to win a Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI 4 Motion.
Ormsby, who other than a runner-up finish at the Vic Open in February has struggled for much of the 2019 season, played his opening nine in 6 under 28 suggesting a score even lower than his eventual 62 was possible.
He continued to play well over the closing nine but just two further birdies resulted in a round of 8 under and a one-shot lead over Joakim Largergren and Alexander Levy.
Pre-tournament favourite, Matthew Fitzpatrick, is another shot back at 6 under.
Ormsby made an early birdie at his 3rd hole (the 12th of the layout) but it would be a stunning eagle at the 14th that gave his round a huge boost and the momentum to finish his opening nine powerfully with birdies at his 7th, 8th and 9th holes.
“I made a pretty straight birdie on 12,” said Ormsby. “Then on 14, I was in between a five and a four iron, picked the right one and boxed it, so then I just got a bit of momentum through the final holes. I felt quite comfortable out there, I was holing my return putts and that kept the round going, which added up to 62.
“I felt like I had been hitting the ball quite well, I just wasn’t quite free enough in my putting, so I was working hard on that to get back to a point where I feel more comfortable and less into my technique. Putted well today, didn’t putt amazing, but holed what I needed too.”
Fitzpatrick has won this event previously although not at this venue but, as the highest world ranked player in the field, he started the week as a likely contender and thus far it has worked out that way despite a break of three weeks since his last event.
“Very pleased,” said Fitzpatrick. “I was a little apprehensive coming into the week as I just had three weeks off, and you don’t know what you are going to be dealing with when you have had a bit of time off, but it was a great start to the week.
“It is one round out of four for this week, so still a long way to go, but another three of them would be very nice. I’ll just keep doing what I am doing and keep putting myself into good positions, and that is all you can do really.
“Really scrambled well today. I missed a handful of greens and really got up-and-down when I needed too and that kept the momentum going in the round.”
Min Woo Lee opened with a round of 67 to be the next best of the Australians, Dimi Papadatos and Jason Scrivener 69 and Adam Bland and Brett Rumford 70.
PGA Tour Door Opens for Australians on Korn Ferry Tour
Curtis Luck – one of the Australians still with hope
The door remains open for several Australians to claim a PGA Tour card for next season following the completion of the second event of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, the Boise Open, this morning and one has walked through to reclaim his card.
With just next week’s Korn Ferry Tour Championship in Newburgh in Indiana remaining, the leading 25 on the Finals money list and not having gained a card via the regular season will earn the right to play on the big stage beginning September and, amongst those at present, are three Australians.
Cameron Percy finished 11th at this week’s event in Boise in Idaho and slipped from 10th to 12th but it would seem he is now all but assured of a return to the PGA Tour.
Given Percy spent some time off the tour earlier this season, having broken a wrist, it is a welcome boost to the 45 year old’s career.
By missing the cut this week, Curtis Luck dropped from 6th to 15th and would appear to need a made cut in Newburgh next week if he is to return to the PGA Tour which he played for the first time in 2019.
Jamie Arnold, who agonisingly missed locking up his card last week when faltering over the closing stages in the opening event of the Finals, missed the cut this week and dropped to 18th in the standings and he too appears to need to make the cut this week and perhaps finish midfield or better.
By finishing 25th this week Cameron Davis improved to 34th in the standings and if he can finish perhaps inside the top fifteen next week or better then he has a chance of regaining his PGA Tour card following a rookie season there this year.
Brett Coletta missed the cut this week for the second week in a row and now faces the task of finishing perhaps 5th or better this week.
There are many variables and permutations to play out this coming week but there is still the opportunity for two or three more Australians to be playing the PGA Tour next season.
Big payday for Adam Scott but McIlroy the FedEx star
Scott continues a great run of form
Adam Scott has recorded his most lucrative week ever in tournament golf with a 6th place finish at the Tour Championship, earning US$1.9 million for his final standing (6th) in the FedEx Cup.
Scott’s final round of 66 at the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta included two bogeys but it was enough for him to improve four places from his overnight 10th and continue what has been a very consistent season for the 39-year old.
Scott will complete the 2018/2019 PGA Tour season with almost US$6 million in on-course earnings.
Scott might not have won an event anywhere in nearly three years, but his consistency has become a real feature of his play of late and his next victory is surely not too far away.
Scott will likely move to 14th in the World Ranking, improving from 42nd at the start of 2019 and further reflecting his impressive consistency. Also on display in Atlanta was a continuation in an improvement on the greens for Scott, producing one of the better putting performances of the field this week.
Scott finished ten shots behind the winner, Rory McIlroy, who was, in turn, four shots ahead of the second-placed, Xander Schauffele, McIlroy pocketing US$15 million for his victory in the event and in the FedEx Cup.
McIlroy has won the two flagship events of the PGA Tour in 2019, the Players Championship and the Tour Championship and sealed the FedEx Cup in the process, completing a magnificent season.
McIlroy jets to Switzerland overnight to play the Omega European Masters in the mountain resort of Crans Montana where the tournament organisers will be licking the lips at the prospect of having such an in form and charismatic figure and the new world number two teeing it up.
Marc Leishman was the other Australian in the field aside from Scott and he saved his best to last with a final round of 67 but he finished 24th in the 30 man field.
The next PGA Tour event, the Military Tribute at Greenbrier, gets the 2019 / 2020 season underway on September 12th.
Good week for Wade Ormsby in Sweden
Ormsby quietly going about his business in Europe – file photo
South Australian, Wade Ormsby, has finished in a share of 5th place at the Scandinavian Invitation in Gothenberg, Sweden, his first top ten on the European Tour since a runner-up finish at the Vic Open earlier this year.
Ormsby began the day tied for second place and just one shot off the lead but an early double bogey threatened to derail any chance of a good finish.
The 39-year old recovered well, however, and birdies at two of his last three holes saw him finish in a five-way share of 5th although six shots from the winner, Erik van Rooyen.
Ormsby moves to 77th in the Race to Dubai rankings and has opened the door at least to qualify for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in which the leading 50 players in the Race to Dubai rankings play for the riches of that event and the bonuses available from the season-long race.
South African, Van Rooyen, won his first European Tour title after a run of outstanding form and near misses in 2019 but was forced to hold off a strong challenge from England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick who had won the equivalent of this event in 2016.
Jason Scrivener finished as the next best Australian when he tied for 20th, Deyen Lawson saved his best for last when he recorded a final round of 66 to finish 53rd and Brett Rumford was 73rd.
Scrivener is now 56th in the Race to Dubai rankings in which the leading Australian is Scott Hend in 39th place. Hend missed the cut this week.
The European Tour now moves to Crans-Sur-Sierre in Switzerland for the Omega European Masters.
Quayle 6th behind Ishikawa in Japan
Anthony Quayle file photo courtesy of NZPGA
Gold Coast based Northern Territorian, Anthony Quayle, has finished in a share of 6th at the Japan Golf Tour’s Shigeo Nagashima Invitational SEGASAMMY Cup in Hokkaido, the second season Japan Tour player continuing to impress in the early stages of his professional career.
Quayle’s finish moves him to 22nd on the 2019 Japan Tour money list and sets him up well for the run of lucrative events between now and the end of the season.
Quayle recorded nine birdies in his final round of 6 under par 66 allowing him to move from 20th overnight to his 6th place seven shots behind the winner and defending champion, Ryo Ishikawa, who finished four shots clear of Juvic Pagusan of the Philippines.
For Ishikawa it was his second win in succession having won the Japan PGA Championship seven weeks ago prior to the Japan Tour taking a break and he now takes the lead over Jazz Janewattananond in the 2019 money list.
Matthew Griffin finished as the next best of the Australians when he shared 26th place in his first event since the arrival of his first child a few weeks ago.
The Japan Tour now heads south to Fukuoka for the KBC event in the north of Kyushu.
Scott Treads Water in Atlanta
Scott needs a big finish over final 36 holes
Brooks Koepka has moved into a one-shot lead through 36 holes at the Tour Championship in Atlanta in Georgia, a second consecutive round of 67 taking him clear of Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy as the race for the riches of the FedEx Cup heats up.
A birdie at his final hole allowed Koepka to establish an important break heading into the weekend after struggling through much of his closing nine holes.
An approach from 240 yards set up a two-putt birdie from 10 feet and the world number one is on track to win not only his first Tour Championship but the huge $15 million bonus for taking out the FedEx Cup.
Koepka was always one to keep in perspective the new format of the event and was again asked about his thoughts after his round.
“Yeah, everybody makes a big deal about it,” said Koepka. “But most of the time when we tee off on Thursday, we’re already six, seven behind because the morning wave is done. It’s not a big deal. You just go out there and try to close that gap, and I’ve done a good job with that.”
Xander Schaffele is in 5th place on his own at 11 under and two from the lead with Paul Casey at 9 under in 5th place alone.
Adam Scott trod water on day two, a round of even par 70 having him in 10th place and eight shots from Koepka.
Marc Leishman continued his recent indifferent form and is in 28th place in the 30 player field.
Jason Scrivener close to lead at Scandinavian Invitation
Jason Scrivener click to expand
Yesterday it was Wade Ormsby who flew the Australian flag high when leading the Scandinavian Invitation after an opening round of 62 in Gothenburg in Sweden and today Jason Scrivener produced another low round (63) to move into a share of 4th place and three shots off the lead of Matthew Fitzpatrick at the halfway mark.
The eight-birdie effort moved Scrivener up 31 positions on the leaderboard and after a season which has seen not one top twenty in 12 starts since a 5th place at the Vic Open in February it was a welcome return to contention for the 30-year old West Australian who has yet to win on the European Tour.
Ormsby was unable to repeat yesterday’s heroics but managed a round of 71 to be tied for 6th place just one shot behind Scrivener, ensuring a lot of Australian interest during the weekend.
Nick Cullen and Brett Rumford are the next best of the Australians in 32nd place, while Adam Bland, Min Woo Lee and Deyen Lawson share 48th place.
Dimi Papadatos and Sam Brazel missed the cut by one shot.
The leader, Fitzpatrick, is back playing after a three-week break and is delighted where things are at with his game.
“It’s been a great the past two days. Everything going to plan so not sure what else to say.
“This summer has been really big for me in a lot of things. I have struggled the past three or four summers, and not had the results I have wanted or what I was working for, and this year we have been a little bit different.
“I think a lot of it has just been the way I have been feeling with my swing. I was only talking to Mike Walker the other day, we have done probably three things all year in working on my swing in terms of maintaining it for where it is. In previous years I can think of range sessions where I’ll go and I can’t feel that, I can’t feel that, and you just go round in circles.
“This year has been different, I wanted to prepare mentally, and I wanted to make sure we stuck to one process, along with the other stiff that we do on the range and it has definitely been better.”
Mixed Fortunes for Adam Scott at Tour Championship
Adam Scott makes solid start despite two double bogeys – file
While there was a concern by many that one of the PGA Tour’s flagship events, the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, might have appeared a little gimmicky in its new format, by the completion of day one of the season-ending event it is already shaping as one of the tighter contests of the year.
With players’ standing entering the event handicapped to reflect their position on the FedEx Cup points list, there was a feeling that the event might have been seen as a backward step in trying to retain the credibility of a contest which is essentially designed to establish the champion of the season.
With a leader-board now stacked with the game’s best, three players in the lead and ten players within four shots in the 30 man field, however, the remaining 54 holes should see one of the great shootouts of the season with not only this title at stake but the huge FedEx Cup bonuses available to all those who have made it into the elite field.
Justin Thomas, who started the day with a two-shot advantage courtesy of his lead in the FedEx Cup series, Xander Schauffele and Brook Koepka shared the lead at 10 under, Rory McIlroy one shot back and Matt Kuchar and Patrick Cantlay at 8 under and tied for 5th.
There is, though, a host of high-quality players stacked up behind them and if today is any reflection on just where this even might go in the next few days then the elite field if sure to provide plenty of excitement.
Adam Scott is the best of the two Australians in the field, an opening round of 68 having him at 5 under although two double bogeys today proved very costly.
Scott made a nice start with two early birdies before the first of the doubles came at the 8th when pulling his tee shot into the water. He appeared to be recovering nicely with an excellent birdie at the 10th but then made a mess of the 11th when taking four to get down from alongside the green at the par 3.
He would bounce back with three birdies in his last six holes and is well enough placed despite the hiccups.
Marc Leishman is at 1 over and in 23rd place in the 30 player field although an eagle at the last was at least a good way to finish.
Day Out for Ormsby and Bland in Gothenberg
Ormsby in action today – Getty Images
Australia’s, Wade Ormsby, has the opening-round lead at the Scandinavian Invitation in Gothenburg in Sweden, but was joined in what was an enjoyable day for South Australians by Adam Bland, who holed a seven iron from 154 metres on the tenth hole to win a Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI 4 Motion.
Ormsby, who other than a runner-up finish at the Vic Open in February has struggled for much of the 2019 season, played his opening nine in 6 under 28 suggesting a score even lower than his eventual 62 was possible.
He continued to play well over the closing nine but just two further birdies resulted in a round of 8 under and a one-shot lead over Joakim Largergren and Alexander Levy.
Pre-tournament favourite, Matthew Fitzpatrick, is another shot back at 6 under.
Ormsby made an early birdie at his 3rd hole (the 12th of the layout) but it would be a stunning eagle at the 14th that gave his round a huge boost and the momentum to finish his opening nine powerfully with birdies at his 7th, 8th and 9th holes.
“I made a pretty straight birdie on 12,” said Ormsby. “Then on 14, I was in between a five and a four iron, picked the right one and boxed it, so then I just got a bit of momentum through the final holes. I felt quite comfortable out there, I was holing my return putts and that kept the round going, which added up to 62.
“I felt like I had been hitting the ball quite well, I just wasn’t quite free enough in my putting, so I was working hard on that to get back to a point where I feel more comfortable and less into my technique. Putted well today, didn’t putt amazing, but holed what I needed too.”
Fitzpatrick has won this event previously although not at this venue but, as the highest world ranked player in the field, he started the week as a likely contender and thus far it has worked out that way despite a break of three weeks since his last event.
“Very pleased,” said Fitzpatrick. “I was a little apprehensive coming into the week as I just had three weeks off, and you don’t know what you are going to be dealing with when you have had a bit of time off, but it was a great start to the week.
“It is one round out of four for this week, so still a long way to go, but another three of them would be very nice. I’ll just keep doing what I am doing and keep putting myself into good positions, and that is all you can do really.
“Really scrambled well today. I missed a handful of greens and really got up-and-down when I needed too and that kept the momentum going in the round.”
Min Woo Lee opened with a round of 67 to be the next best of the Australians, Dimi Papadatos and Jason Scrivener 69 and Adam Bland and Brett Rumford 70.
Day, Leishman, Smith to Play Australian Open
The announcement today that Jason Day will be in Sydney later this year for the Australian Open is welcome news for both the event itself and Australian golf.
Day will join Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith as three of Australia’s leading four golfers in the field, the notable absentee being Adam Scott who has not played Australia’s flagship event since 2016 but will play the Australian PGA Championship the following week.
While not yet confirmed in the International side for the Presidents Cup, Day is expected to join Scott, Leishman and Smith in that team once final captain’s picks are announced and Australian golf fans are likely, therefore, to get to see Day play in Australia for the first time since 2017 when he finished 5th behind the surprise winner Cameron Davis.
Day first played the Australian Open as a 17-year old amateur in 2004 when he finished a very credible 22nd at the Australian Golf Club.
His best finish in the years since, when he has played, was when 4th in another Presidents Cup year in 2011.
Day missed out on making it to the final of the FedEx Cup Playoffs having been eliminated at last week’s BMW Championship and while only recording five top tens with a best of 5th in 18 starts on the PGA Tour season his presence in Sydney will be much anticipated.
“It’s the tournament we all grew up watching and I’ve said before that I want to win a few of them, so there’s no better time to start than December,” Day said.
“I nearly got one at The Australian a couple of years ago and it’s a course that really sets up well for me.”
Leishman has seldom played his national open in recent years but the incentive of being able to combine this trip with his role as one of the leading players in the International Presidents Cup side has no doubt been a great attraction.
Smith, on the other hand, has been a regular at the Australian Open and has often performed well including when runner-up to Jordan Spieth At Royal Sydney in 2016.
Given the success of all three golfers in international golf in recent years their involvement is expected to bring a significant dynamic to the event to be played from December 5th -8th at the Australian Golf Club.
Golf Betting Analysis for August 22nd
There are many events on which golf betting is being played out this week but we focus on the Tour Championship in Atlanta, the LPGA Tour’s CP Women’s Championship in Ontario in Canada, the Scandinavian Invitation in Sweden and the Korn Ferry Tour’s Boise Open in Idaho.
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