Rather Late Weekend Wrap - Golf Week 09.11.2015

First up, a swift apology on the lack of updates from last week, management (me) has been notified of the lack of effort and punishment in the form of immense amounts of practice has been implemented (how else are we to get a tour card right?).

Euro Front:

First in line for the catch up is the Turkish Airlines Open, that really important first event of the final series and the one with probably the coolest tee markers on the tour. Early tournament leader relaxed swinging South African Jaco Van Zyl was, by the smallest of margins, unable to keep his three rounds lead till the last. The cause of him coming up short was due to a resurgent and rather emotional Frenchman by the name of Victor Dubuisson, who birdied the last two holes to claim his second tour title. His win propelled him up both the world rankings and the R2D points table, positioning him nicely in the top ten with the last three events of the season to be played.

Last week was an all star cast episode of the greatest game invented by the whiskey swirling scots. The WGC – HSBC Champions saw a return of many of the games big guns. Headliners Mcilroy actually playing a European event and Spieth out for a stroll on the lovely Sheshan International Golf Course layout. Both did themselves credit, however neither were unable to influence the upper echelon of the scoreboard too much, Spieth t-7 and McIlroy t-11. Season leader, at least from the outlook of the rookies’ race, saw young Fitzpatrick notch another top 10, making it nine for the season, a healthy bank account and currently 12th on the R2D list. However it was not the youth who took the winners check, but rather the relatively unknown Scotsman, Russel Knox. The 30-year-old fired back to back 68’s to clean up the event, winning with an almost comfortable margin of two shots. Congrats and pretty sure the win is going to cast this man in our highlights again in the near future.

State Side:

Some pretty low scoring was the order of two weeks back CIMB Classic, held at the beautiful Kuala Lampur Country Club Complex. The score needed turned out to be a total of 262, worked out to 26 under on the par 72 layout. The man, well 22-year-old American youth, Justin Thomas. Who took the tournament by the horns on the second day, by putting the commentators and the world on a 59 watch, he was looking good, but just fell short with 11 under for that round. Not bad. Australian Adam Scott seems to have handled the transition from his broom stick to a shorter version putter rather well, 25 under for the tournament would suggest it’s working well.

Last week’s event, the Sanderson Farms Championships was only concluded on Monday. However the drawn out tournament did not dampen first time tour winner (and actually the 5th out of 5 for the 2016 season) American Peter Malnati. 18 under was good enough, putting him one shot out of reach of tied second placers, Toms and McGirt. His last time out on tour was in 2014, but the years interlude since then seems to have done him all the good in the world and 1st victory should lend him towards a healthy season.

Other events of note included -

• Sei Young Kim (KOR) battled tough conditions at the Blue Bay LPGA to finish as one of only four ladies under par. Her total of 2 under enough to claim the 300 K winners cheque. This was her 3rd victory of the year and sees her to 4th on the CME Globe points list.

• Last week’s LPGA Toto Japan Classic was won by Sun-Ju Ahn on a rather respectable total of 16 under, especially respectable as it took place over three rounds.

• Ruan de Smidt (RSA) was in fine spirits last week, shooting a fighting 3rd round 67 to make it into three-way playoff for the Nedbank Affinity Cup, played out at the adventurous Lost City GC. He overcame Fellow tour stalwarts, Curlewis and Hugo to lift his 2nd tour trophy.

• Ricardo Gouveia (POR) pulled off a miraculous victory, overcoming his 3rd round 76 by firing a superb 65 final round at the Challenge Tours final stop at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final. The win cemented his position as number one on the rankings and ensures a European Tour experience for him in 2016.

Highlights –

• The second stage of tour school is daunting enough if you have been there before or if you manage to get an exemption straight there, but for a first time effort in your first year as a pro, it is pretty out there to feel comfortable. But that is exactly how South African Michael Palmer looked (yes I’m being biased, but hey its my blog). Coming through first stage in Portugal, he looked even stronger over the four rounds at the Campo de Golf El Saler in Spain last week, finishing 10 under and 3rd behind young gun Walker Cup Champ Jimmy Mullen and Swede Nielsen.

• Other south Africans to make the cut from 2nd stage to the finals are:

• Dean Burmester

• Darryn LLoyd

To look forward to this week -

• BMW Masters (European Tour)

• OHL Classic at Mayakoba (PGA Tour)

• Completed (Challenge Tour)

• VOG Samsung Finals @ Zebula CC (Sunshine Tour)

• European Tour Q-School Finals @ PGA Catalunya (European Tour)