Jason Day – image Getty Images
Jason Day returns to the venue for his 2018 victory at the Wells Fargo Championship, the scene of his last PGA Tour win, hoping that a return to a golf course he enjoys so much might prompt a return to the winner’s circle.
The winner of 12 PGA Tour titles and US$54 million in prizemoney which has him in 9th place in over career earnings, spoke at a pre-event media conference in Charlotte today and discussed the event and his current form.
“Yeah, obviously this is a premier golf course to be a part of and obviously the tournament is huge. Obviously, this year even more so, but in the past they’ve always had a pretty big field, which has been great.
“I thoroughly enjoy the way that the course layout is. Not only on top of that, but the way that the grass is and the sand and everything as well, it’s just I feel like it sets up well for my game.”
Despite what has been an outstanding return from the golfing wilderness in the last eight or nine months, 35 year old Day is still struggling with one of the issues that has plagued him at various stages of his recent career, namely vertigo.
“So last round of the Masters I had vertigo, so that was obviously not fun to play in that final round. We had to finish our third round Sunday morning and then I was sitting in the caddie hut and that’s when I got vertigo.
“I mean, I was supposed to play RBC, that was on the schedule to play and then pulled out because of that and had to go back and run some tests. I think it’s just hard because when you feel like you’re running on all cylinders, you’re making a lot of birdies, you’re doing a lot of good things, it’s difficult when sometimes the health plays a factor.
“If it’s a back, I understand, but I feel like I’m kind of beyond that now, which has been great because I worked really hard on it. So it’s just one thing after another where I just kind of have to peel it back a little bit, kind of understand a little bit more, get a little bit better.
“And then I am under a lot more stress this year than what I was in previous years just because of where I am week in and week out. I’ve been playing a lot better so there’s obviously more stress and when you have more stress, your immune system can get compromised and for me it was just unfortunate that happened in the last round.
“But I’ve had three weeks off and I feel like I’m getting a handle on it, which is good, so it will just take some time.”
Day was asked what had happened at the Dell Technologies Match Play Championship where he let a 3 up lead against Scottie Scheffler slip from his grasp to lose 2 up and then a weekend demise at Augusta National.
“I’m going to say it was vertigo, but I just I didn’t want to talk about it too much, especially the Match Play because it was just like a small bout of it, but it really kicked my butt at Augusta. That was like kind of the time where I had to take a step back.”
Day began the Masters well with an opening round 67 but eventually finished 39th after a final round of 80.
“I think for me personally, I’ve always put myself in a position where I’ve just like worked really, really hard, I made a lot of changes in my swing so I’m always constantly going and pushing it.
“It’s never really the mental side or the actual me going out there and trying to work harder that stops me from golf, it’s typically my body saying no, you can’t do that anymore. But overall I know exactly what happened.
“It is obviously the stress of playing the game, and I understand there’s obviously competitive stress and there’s stress outside the game that is totally separate that everyone goes through as well.
“When you put yourself under stressful conditions all the time, sooner or later your immune system gets compromised. I wasn’t eating as healthy as I should have, so I made some changes to my diet.
“Then, yeah, it’s a virus that attacks my inner ear, which is the vestibular nerve in the ear, so when that happens you can’t get rid of a virus obviously, the only way you can do it is suppress it. I just needed to take some time off, that was pretty much plain and simple. And then obviously on top of it just rework how I come to the golf course and work as well.”
Day is very much aware that it has been five years since his last PGA Tour title and knows more than anyone else how much he wants to return to that level.
“I mean, I need to get back into the winner’s circle, I know that. I feel that my game is starting to round into some really good form where I know that I can win more consistently, it’s just a matter of putting myself into contention a little bit more. Not too worried about it too much.
“To be honest, I’ve got past the point of like thinking about winning and more of the point of just trying to go through the correct process every single day and then at some point it’s going to yield more confidence and better play. When that happens, it’s going to happen a lot, which would be nice.”
Day had some interesting comments on the designated events such as this week which provide significantly increased prizemoney and a week where everyone gets to play the weekend.
“I like having the cut. I’m like on the other side of what most people think. I don’t know all the facts about it, but I look at it and I say if the best players are supposed to stick around for the weekend, we should play better, and I understand that. If we don’t play better, then we have to re-evaluate why we didn’t play better and get ourselves in contention.
“To keep guys around for four days, I totally understand that side as well, but if I was looking at it, I’d rather have a cut and then — granted, I know that like West Coast to right now, there’s daylight issues so there’s certain types of fields that we can only handle. Yeah, I prefer a cut, I think that would be much better.”
When it was suggested to Day that it such events are designed to provide guaranteed money Day responded; “Why do we need guaranteed pay?”
“I think a lot of the decisions we’ve made, the Tour and the policy board has made over the last year, there obviously has been a reaction to what LIV has brought to the table. To be honest, I think everyone’s better for it. I mean, we’re playing for more money on both sides. What’s more sustainable, I’m not sure, but I’m looking at the picture right now and it feels pretty good. I’m just trying to get back to winning at the end of the day and leave the decision making to Rory and those guys.”
Day was also asked his thoughts on how the LIV event in Australia went?
“I think Australia is kind of starved for an event with big players. We have the Presidents Cup that goes down there every so often and typically that has a good large field, but we’re talking a total different type of golf, total different type of scene.
“I mean, if you watch it, there’s music playing in the background and if you understand Australians, we tend to typically like to have a good time. Yeah, I think it was nice to be able to see that.
“Obviously I wanted to see how it would — what would it be like down there with the Australian crowds and how it would be received. I feel like it was well received down there.
“If we went down there as the PGA TOUR, it would be a total different vibe, so I don’t think there would be music playing and all that stuff. It would be a lot more professional in that sense.”
Jason Day returns to scene of last PGA Tour victory
Jason Day – image Getty Images
Jason Day returns to the venue for his 2018 victory at the Wells Fargo Championship, the scene of his last PGA Tour win, hoping that a return to a golf course he enjoys so much might prompt a return to the winner’s circle.
The winner of 12 PGA Tour titles and US$54 million in prizemoney which has him in 9th place in over career earnings, spoke at a pre-event media conference in Charlotte today and discussed the event and his current form.
“Yeah, obviously this is a premier golf course to be a part of and obviously the tournament is huge. Obviously, this year even more so, but in the past they’ve always had a pretty big field, which has been great.
“I thoroughly enjoy the way that the course layout is. Not only on top of that, but the way that the grass is and the sand and everything as well, it’s just I feel like it sets up well for my game.”
Despite what has been an outstanding return from the golfing wilderness in the last eight or nine months, 35 year old Day is still struggling with one of the issues that has plagued him at various stages of his recent career, namely vertigo.
“So last round of the Masters I had vertigo, so that was obviously not fun to play in that final round. We had to finish our third round Sunday morning and then I was sitting in the caddie hut and that’s when I got vertigo.
“I mean, I was supposed to play RBC, that was on the schedule to play and then pulled out because of that and had to go back and run some tests. I think it’s just hard because when you feel like you’re running on all cylinders, you’re making a lot of birdies, you’re doing a lot of good things, it’s difficult when sometimes the health plays a factor.
“If it’s a back, I understand, but I feel like I’m kind of beyond that now, which has been great because I worked really hard on it. So it’s just one thing after another where I just kind of have to peel it back a little bit, kind of understand a little bit more, get a little bit better.
“And then I am under a lot more stress this year than what I was in previous years just because of where I am week in and week out. I’ve been playing a lot better so there’s obviously more stress and when you have more stress, your immune system can get compromised and for me it was just unfortunate that happened in the last round.
“But I’ve had three weeks off and I feel like I’m getting a handle on it, which is good, so it will just take some time.”
Day was asked what had happened at the Dell Technologies Match Play Championship where he let a 3 up lead against Scottie Scheffler slip from his grasp to lose 2 up and then a weekend demise at Augusta National.
“I’m going to say it was vertigo, but I just I didn’t want to talk about it too much, especially the Match Play because it was just like a small bout of it, but it really kicked my butt at Augusta. That was like kind of the time where I had to take a step back.”
Day began the Masters well with an opening round 67 but eventually finished 39th after a final round of 80.
“I think for me personally, I’ve always put myself in a position where I’ve just like worked really, really hard, I made a lot of changes in my swing so I’m always constantly going and pushing it.
“It’s never really the mental side or the actual me going out there and trying to work harder that stops me from golf, it’s typically my body saying no, you can’t do that anymore. But overall I know exactly what happened.
“It is obviously the stress of playing the game, and I understand there’s obviously competitive stress and there’s stress outside the game that is totally separate that everyone goes through as well.
“When you put yourself under stressful conditions all the time, sooner or later your immune system gets compromised. I wasn’t eating as healthy as I should have, so I made some changes to my diet.
“Then, yeah, it’s a virus that attacks my inner ear, which is the vestibular nerve in the ear, so when that happens you can’t get rid of a virus obviously, the only way you can do it is suppress it. I just needed to take some time off, that was pretty much plain and simple. And then obviously on top of it just rework how I come to the golf course and work as well.”
Day is very much aware that it has been five years since his last PGA Tour title and knows more than anyone else how much he wants to return to that level.
“I mean, I need to get back into the winner’s circle, I know that. I feel that my game is starting to round into some really good form where I know that I can win more consistently, it’s just a matter of putting myself into contention a little bit more. Not too worried about it too much.
“To be honest, I’ve got past the point of like thinking about winning and more of the point of just trying to go through the correct process every single day and then at some point it’s going to yield more confidence and better play. When that happens, it’s going to happen a lot, which would be nice.”
Day had some interesting comments on the designated events such as this week which provide significantly increased prizemoney and a week where everyone gets to play the weekend.
“I like having the cut. I’m like on the other side of what most people think. I don’t know all the facts about it, but I look at it and I say if the best players are supposed to stick around for the weekend, we should play better, and I understand that. If we don’t play better, then we have to re-evaluate why we didn’t play better and get ourselves in contention.
“To keep guys around for four days, I totally understand that side as well, but if I was looking at it, I’d rather have a cut and then — granted, I know that like West Coast to right now, there’s daylight issues so there’s certain types of fields that we can only handle. Yeah, I prefer a cut, I think that would be much better.”
When it was suggested to Day that it such events are designed to provide guaranteed money Day responded; “Why do we need guaranteed pay?”
“I think a lot of the decisions we’ve made, the Tour and the policy board has made over the last year, there obviously has been a reaction to what LIV has brought to the table. To be honest, I think everyone’s better for it. I mean, we’re playing for more money on both sides. What’s more sustainable, I’m not sure, but I’m looking at the picture right now and it feels pretty good. I’m just trying to get back to winning at the end of the day and leave the decision making to Rory and those guys.”
Day was also asked his thoughts on how the LIV event in Australia went?
“I think Australia is kind of starved for an event with big players. We have the Presidents Cup that goes down there every so often and typically that has a good large field, but we’re talking a total different type of golf, total different type of scene.
“I mean, if you watch it, there’s music playing in the background and if you understand Australians, we tend to typically like to have a good time. Yeah, I think it was nice to be able to see that.
“Obviously I wanted to see how it would — what would it be like down there with the Australian crowds and how it would be received. I feel like it was well received down there.
“If we went down there as the PGA TOUR, it would be a total different vibe, so I don’t think there would be music playing and all that stuff. It would be a lot more professional in that sense.”
Australasian Tour recommences in Papua New Guinea
Peter Cooke – file photo – defending champion but his win was four years ago
Just over a month since the PGA Tour of Australasia completed its 2022/2023 season it is about to begin again with the staging of the PNG Open in Port Moresby, the first time the event has been held since 2019 due to the impact of Covid 19.
While carrying prizemoney of only A$180,000, the event allows an opportunity for many of the young Australasians so deprived of tournament golf during much of the Covid era to get their new season of to a flying start.
The defending champion is South Australian Peter Cooke who despite his win back in 2019 was required to return to Tour School recently where he regained his playing privileges by finishing 13th of the 30 who gained full status cards.
Cooke’s best finish since his one and only win in PNG was when 3rd at the Gippsland 6 event in 2021 but he has struggled through much of his recent events, missing five of his last six cuts on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
Amongst the players who might be considered amongst the favourites are 2o21 WA PGA Champion Jay MacKenzie, the in form Lincoln Tighe who has finished 2nd and 3rd in his most recent starts on the Australasian Tour and Queensland’s Chris Wood who featured for much of the NZ Open before finishing 6th in a considerably stronger field than he faces this week.
Hannah Green takes third LPGA Tour title in a playoff
Hannah Green – image Harry How Getty / LPGA
A two putt par on the second hole of a playoff at the JM Eagle LA Championship in Los Angeles has earned Perth’s Hannah Green a third LPGA Tour victory, the 26-year-old holing a 22 foot putt at the 72nd hole in regulation play to force her way into the playoff against India’s Aditi Ashok and China’s Xiyu Lin.
Both Green and Lin then birdied the first extra hole, the par 3 18th, before Lin found the bunker at the second and then failed to get up and down. Green’s tee shot finished 25 feet from the hole and when she two putted for par the title was hers.
Green was emotional after the win suggesting the struggle she had had in winning over the almost four years since her breakthrough wins at the KPMG PGA Championship and the Cambia Portland Classic in 2019.
Green graduated to the 2018 LPGA Tour following three victories on the then Epson Tour and although winning only twice since, she has on two occasions won more then US$1 million in a season and has career earnings close to US$4 million. The victory today was worth US$450,000.
“It’s been a long few years, I know I played well last year but getting across the line has been really difficult,” said and emotional Green immediately after her win. “I am really proud of myself for hanging in there because I really didn’t think I would be in it. I am seriously happy but other emotions are also coming out right now.”
“I knew you didn’t need a low score today to win as this weekend played a lot different to the first two days so my caddie said to just stay patient but that is always a lot easier said than done.”
When asked if she would respond to the fans calling for an increasingly popular shoey (player drinking out of a shoe) Green responded. “I guess I have to given the fans what they want eh but I just wish I had new shoes (laughing)”
Lin and Ashok tied for the runner-up position.
Sarah Kemp was the next best of the Australians when she finished 13th, her best LPGA Tour Championship since the Kroger event in September of last year.
Minjee Lee was 44th and Stephanie Kyriacou 53rd.
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Alker wins 6th PGA Tour Champions title
New Zealand’s Steve Alker today converted his three-shot 36 hole lead into a 6th PGA Tour Champions victory with a final round of 66 and a four shot victory over Steve Stricker at the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands north of Houston in Texas.
It was Alker’s third finish inside the top 2 in five starts this season and adds another US$405,000 to his 2023 earnings, taking them to US$827,000 for the year and into 3rd place in the Schwab Cup behind Stricker and David Toms who tied for 3rd this week.
Alker’s bogey free round included a final nine of 31 but he was never in any real threat of being caught although Stricker did close within one through nine holes before Alker’s five birdies in his final seven holes well and truly sealed the deal.
Understandably, Alker was delighted with the way the day worked out. “You couldn’t write it up any better,” said the 51-year-old. “Really pleased the way I played, and just coming down the stretch, I know Strick — Matt Gogel was chasing, as well, so I had to be careful of what he was doing. I just kind of had to keep the pedal down. To shoot what I did last year, kind of finish the way I did last year, that was really pleasing.
“I think the conditions today, slightly different wind and still soft greens, you knew someone was going to come out pretty strong. I knew I had to keep the pedal down and keep trying to make birdies.”
With his son Ben on the bag, Alker would win for the first time without his long time caddy Sam Workman who passed away from cancer earlier this year.
“Yeah, well, I got pretty emotional about it. I had to work really hard to stay focused and not get too emotional. I didn’t actually know how much lead I had coming down 18. I thought, well, Steve can’t be probably more than 12, so I had three up my sleeve maybe, and I wasn’t going in that water. That was my plan all along, just to hit it out here and hopefully get up-and-down.
“It’s huge. Obviously you see the emotion at 18 there. But I just saw a sea of orange today, and just reminded me of Sam. I had my son on the bag. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
Mark Hensby finished 52nd this week and drops a place to 4th on the Charl Schwab Cup list.
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Charles Schwab Cup
Steve Alker atop the leaderboard again in Texas
Steve Alker – file photo PGA of America
New Zealand’s Steve Alker might not have won on the PGA Tour Champions in his four starts to date this season but with a three-shot lead heading into the final round of an event he won twelve months ago, he has a great chance to add a 6th PGA Tour Champions title to his name.
51 year old Alker won the Insperity Invitational by four shots last year and despite finding the water and taking bogey at the last in today’s second round of the event in Woodlands near Houston In Texas, he enjoys a three shot break over Ernie Els, Mat Gogel and David Toms.
Alker took time out of his schedule to play the New Zealand Open in his homeland in early March, missing two PGA Tour Champions events in the process but since his return he has been runner-up and 11th in his two starts and appears on track to win this event for the second occasion.
Today, with his son Ben on the bag, Alker handled the difficult windy conditions well, his round of 69 the only one in the 60’s.
“He’s doing great,” said Alker referring to his son’s work on the bag. “He was even better today. He was on the
ball — we talked about clubs. We actually joked a little bit more today because I tried to loosen him up. He was a little bit nervous yesterday, and I got him to loosen up and we were having a good laugh out there at times, especially on the front nine we were having fun.”
“Actually, it was fun,” added Alker referring to the breezy conditions.. “I’m from New Zealand, so we get the wind, and it was a little softer out there today. You just kind of had to work your golf ball. Just had to play it and hit the spots, and I feel like I did that pretty well most of the day.”
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Hannah Green one from lead in Los Angeles
Hannah Green – image Michael Owens Getty / LPGA
Perth’s Hannah Green has bounced back from a missed cut at last week’s opening major of the year, recording a second round of 69 to move within one of the halfway lead held by India’s Aditi Ashok at the JM Eagle LA Championship at the Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles.
In her five starts to date this season Green has finished no better than 20th and missed the cut by some margin last week in Houston but this week she began well on Thursday before two late bogeys and today added four birdies and two bogeys for her round of 69 to be very much in the picture heading into the weekend.
Now into her 6th LPGA Tour season, Green still has only two victories to her name but she has proven herself at the highest level and now she has found form she might well go on with it this weekend.
Sarah Kemp added a strong second round of 68 to improve 27 positions from her opening round of 70 to be in a share of 6th place and just two from the lead.
Minjee Lee was unable to reproduce anywhere near her opening round of 65 and her 5 over 76 now has her in a share of 22nd place while Stephanie Kyriacou just made the cut in 44th position.
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David Micheluzzi well placed in Korea
David Micheluzzi – file photo Australian Golf Media
In just a few months, David Micheluzzi will begin his career as a DP World Tour player but this week the Melbourne professional is taking advantage of an invitation to play the DP World / Korean Tour event at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Clb in Incheon near Seoul and has made an encouraging start.
26 year old Micheluzzi is three shots out of the lead and in a share of 11th place at the halfway mark, adding a second round of 70 to his opening 69 in the US $2 million event.
Micheluzzi who finished on top of the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit thus claiming a DP World Tour card for next season and a start at the Open Championship as a result, produced eight birdies in his round of 70, five of those coming on a closing nine of 32.
New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier, now a DP World Tour member, missed the cut by one while Australians Won Joon Lee and Jun Seok Lee missed the cut by six.
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Cam Smith starts well in Singapore
Cam Smith – photo LIV Golf
Cam Smith’s form improvement from Adelaide has flowed over to the opening round of the Liv Golf event in Singapore and at the end of a rain delayed opening round at the Sentosa Golf Club he trails last week’s winner, Talor Gooch, by just one shot heading into day two after his round of 65.
“Yeah, it was really solid today,” said Smith who played with Gooch today. “I think Sam (caddy) mentioned to me on the 18th green there that he can’t remember and I definitely can’t remember the last time I hit 14 fairways.
Talor said everyone played well in the group, and I felt like we kept ourselves going there after the rain delay. Everyone was getting a little bit tired, I think. Yeah, it was a good day all in all.”
Smith was asked what had caused the form to improve so sharply in Adelaide and now here and he responded; “I think just playing more golf, to be honest. We’ve played a lot of golf recently, and I think it’s a good thing for the golf game but probably a bad thing for the body and the mind sometimes, as well.
“Yeah, I think just playing a little bit more competitive golf, hitting some proper golf shots, and yeah, just being back out here and trying to win.
“I think there’s definitely been a few less media requirements this week, so that was kind of nice. We obviously travelled on Monday and had a really easy day on Tuesday, and I think not only myself but the rest of the boys on the team, as well, were pretty tired.
“We needed those couple of days, I think, just to kind of chill out and make up on some sleep. Seems like all the other boys played really well again today.”
Smith is in a four way share of second place with Cameron Tringale, Brooks Koepka and Sergio Garcia.
Marc Leishman is tied for 16th at 2 under and five off the lead. While Matt Jones and Jed Morgan are tied for 22nd at 1 under 70.
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Minjee Lee bounces back in Los Angeles
Minjee Lee – photo Getty Images / LPGA
Minjee Lee has bounced back from the disappointment of an ordinary week at last week’s Chevron Championship to be just one off the pace after day one of the JM Eagle LA Championship at the Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles.
Lee, who began last week’s event as one of the favourites in the opening major of the year, eventually finished tied for 41st but it was a different story today as she reeled of a round of 65 to be one behind Sweden’s Linea Johansson.
Lee has made a slow start to her L:PGA Tour season with a best of 41st in three events to date but with 13 out of 14 fairways in regulation today and 16 of 18 greens she appears back on track.
Hannah Green also improved sharply on her missed cut last week to move within two of the lead through 15 holes but two late bogeys have her four from the lead and in a share of 12th place.
Sarah Kemp is 33rd and Grace Kim and Stephanie Kyriacou 52nd as the event enters its second day.
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Mark Hensby’s breakthrough victory on PGA Tour Champions
Mark Hensby has today won his first title on the PGA Tour Champions with a playoff victory over the Korean Charlie Wi at the Invited Celebrity Classic in Dallas, the pair locked in battle over four extra holes with both finding water at various stages before Hensby’s par to seal victory at the 4th playoff hole.
For the Melbourne born, Tamworth raised but now US domiciled, Hensby, it was his first win anywhere since victory at the Scandinavian Masters in 2005, a season which also saw him as a member of the Presidents Cup side.
“I didn’t look at the board until 16 and then I saw I was tired for the lead, and to be honest I didn’t think I was anywhere near it.
“Then when I got on 18 and I probably hit the best shot of the day when I had to because I saw Charlie made birdie, it was an up-and-down day, and obviously six hours to play today, so it was pretty slow out there. But just tried to stay patient, and then once I knew I still had a chance, obviously the grind went back into place.”
Hensby earns US$300,000 for his win and moves to 3rd on the Charles Schwab money list behind David Toms and Steve Stricker.
“You know, obviously after last year I wasn’t going to play anymore, and then coming out and having a good start this year, it’s nice to obviously win on this Tour,” added the 51 year old. “I think when you win anywhere these days, it’s an accomplishment. Yeah, I’m happy. I mean, I’m tired today but happy. I didn’t have my best today, but overall it was exciting.
“Obviously now I can set a schedule. I know what I’m going to get in now. That’s obviously the best part of it.
“I think the harsh reality of this Tour in general is it’s hard for guys like me to get out here. You write to tournament directors and it’s pretty much an instant no or a no response, which is kind of a little sad, so to speak. Now at least I don’t have to worry about that and I can just go on with my business and make my schedule how I want and play where I want.”
Hensby was playing his 15th PGA Tour Champions but it has only been this season where he has enjoyed sufficient status to gain regular starts. This season he has been runner-up and third in two of his four previous starts so the win while not totally unexpected was reward for some very good play.
Hensby’s career and life story was beautifully captured in this recent article by PGA Tour contributor Doug Milne
A 3rd place at the US Senior Open last year was the catalyst for the status he now enjoys.
Richard Green finished in a share of 4th place and will pocket a cheque for US$106,000 and move him inside the top 20 on the Schwab points table. Green has made an encouraging start to his PGA Tour Champions career after leading the field at the Tour School last year. The Lefthander finished 3rd in his very first start as a cardholder in Morocco in January.
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