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Posts Tagged ‘British Open’

Tiger Wins BMW and 71st Championship

Monday, September 14th, 2009

The third leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs was a record setting event for Tiger Woods. He eased his way to his 71st PGA Championship win at the BMW Championship at Cog Hill. Tiger won with a 19 under for the tournament. After the first round he was tied for 5th with a 68 (-3). Round 2 he delivers a 67 to tie for first with Mark Wilson. Round 3 Tiger showed us why he’s number one as he makes every hole count with a course record of -9 for 62 and a 7 shot lead for the tournament. Imagine what he may have shot if he had not shot a bogey on the first hole!

In Round 4, Tiger maintained his lead for the win with a 67 (-4) regaining the number one position within the FedEx Cup point standings with 7,196 points. Steve Stricker remains number 2 in the standings with 5,692 points, followed by Jim Furyk with 3,108, Zack Johnson with 3,031 and Heath Slocum with 3,005. Despite the accumulated points, the FedEx Cup points are reset for the the top 30 players moving to the Tour Championship and fourth leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs. Here’s how the points tally up for the top five players…Woods – 2,500; Stricker – 2,250; Furyk – 2,000; Johnson – 1,800; and Slocum – 1,600.

The BMW Championship marks Tiger’s 71st PGA Championship over 14 years. Tiger’s focus is all about the win. Only two other golf legends have achieved more…. Jack Nicklaus had 73 wins over 25 years and Sam Snead 82 had wins over 30 years. Tiger continues to have his eye on his goal….to become the leader of all time in PGA victories!

To date Tiger’s championships include:

1. 1996 Las Vegas Invitational (-27)
2. 1996 Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic (-21)
3. 1997 Mercedes Championships (-14)
4. 1997 Masters (-18)
5. 1997 GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic (-17)
6. 1997 Motorola Western Open (-13)
7. 1998 BellSouth Classic (-17)
8. 1999 Buick Invitational (-22)
9. 1999 Memorial Tournament (-15)
10. 1999 Motorola Western Open (-15)
11. 1999 PGA Championship (-11)
12. 1999 World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational (-10)
13. 1999 National Car Rental Golf Classic/Disney (-17)
14. 1999 THE TOUR Championship (-15)
15. 1999 World Golf Championships-American Express Championship (-6)
16. 2000 Mercedes Championships (-16)
17. 2000 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (-15)
18. 2000 Bay Hill Invitational (-18)
19. 2000 Memorial Tournament (-19)
20. 2000 U.S. Open (-12)
21. 2000 British Open (-19)
22. 2000 PGA Championship (-18)
23. 2000 World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational (-21)
24. 2000 Bell Canadian Open (-22)
25. 2001 Bay Hill Invitational (-15)
26. 2001 THE PLAYERS Championship (-14)
27. 2001 Masters (-16)
28. 2001 Memorial Tournament (-17)
29. 2001 World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational (-12)
30. 2002 Bay Hill Invitational presented by Cooper Tires (-13)
31. 2002 Masters (-12)
32. 2002 U.S. Open (-3)
33. 2002 Buick Open (-17)
34. 2002 World Golf Championships-American Express Championship (-25)
35. 2003 Buick Invitational (-16)
36. 2003 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship (Match Play 2 and 1)
37. 2003 Bay Hill Invitational presented by Cooper Tires (-19)
38. 2003 100th Western Open presented by Golf Digest (-21)
39. 2003 World Golf Championships-American Express Championship (-6)
40. 2004 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship (Match Play 3 up)
41. 2005 Buick Invitational (-16)
42. 2005 Ford Championship at Doral (-24)
43. 2005 Masters (-12)
44. 2005 British Open (-14)
45. 2005 World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational (-6)
46. 2005 World Golf Championships-American Express Championship (-10)
47. 2006 Buick Invitational (-10)
48. 2006 Ford Championship at Doral (-20)
49. 2006 British Open (-18)
50. 2006 Buick Open (-24)
51. 2006 PGA Championship (-18)
52. 2006 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational (-10)
53. 2006 Deutsche Bank Championship (-16)
54. 2006 World Golf Championships-American Express Championship (-23)
55. 2007 Buick Invitational (-15)
56. 2007 World Golf Championships-CA Championship (-10)
57. 2007 Wachovia Championship (-13)
58. 2007 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational (-8)
59. 2007 PGA Championship (-8)
60. 2007 BMW Championship (-22)
61. 2007 THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola (-23)
62. 2008 Buick Invitational (-19)
63. 2008 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship (Match Play 1 up)
64. 2008 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard (-10)
65. 2008 U.S. Open (-1)
66. 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard (-5)
67. 2009 the Memorial Tournament (-12)
68. 2009 AT&T National (-13)
69. 2009 Buick Open (-20)
70. 2009 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational (-12)
71. 2009 BMW Championship (-19)

Be sure to watch the upcoming Tour Championship to see if Tiger can clinch his second FedEx Cup title, his 72nd PGA title, and his 3rd Tour Championship. Will Tiger be able to repeat his “make every hole count” run for the win?

Posted by Marilyn Harris

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Posted in General Golf, PGA | No Comments »

Tiger Woods and the Number 3

Friday, August 7th, 2009

As we reflect back on Tiger’s career, seems like the number 3 has turned out to be his “lucky” number. At age 33 (double 3′s), Tiger has accomplished amazing feats in his quest to be (and remain) the number one player in golfing history. Here’s a little “Tiger” history and how the number 3 has factored into the career of the greatest golfer ever:

  • At age 3 (1979), Tiger shoots a 48 for 9 holes at the Navy Golf Club in Cypress, CA.
  • In 1988, Tiger becomes the 3 time winner of the Junior World Golf Championship (he goes on to win two more in 1989 and 1990)
  • In 1993, Tiger becomes the 3 time winner of the US Junior Amateur Championship (1991, 1992, 1993) at age 17 (the only player to win more than once)
  • In 1996, Tiger becomes the first golfer in history to win 3 consecutive US Amateur Championships (1994, 1995, 1996)
  • In 1997, Tiger wins his first major, The Masters, by twelve strokes; he goes on to win 3 more PGA events that year
  • In 2000, Tiger is the second player all time to win 3 major championships in a calendar year winning the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship
  • In 2000, at age 25, Tiger received PGA Player of the Year honors for the 3rd consecutive year
  • In 2002, Tiger wins The Masters for the 3rd time with a 3 stroke victory over Retief Goosen
  • In 2006, Tiger becomes the 3 time winner of The British Open with 18 under par for his eleventh major win
  • In 2008, Tiger wins his 3rd US Open Championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, CA
  • In 2008, Tiger is the second player to have won the career grand slam 3 times along with Jack Nicklaus
  • August 2, 2009, Tiger wins his 3rd Buick Open by 3 strokes with a 3 under par 69 and wins his 69th PGA Tour Championship
  • In this decade, Tiger is the 3rd all time PGA Tour winner with 69 wins in 14 years to Sam Snead (82 over 30 years) and Jack Nicklaus (73 over 25 years)
  • In this decade, Tiger is the 3rd all time European Tour winner with 36 wins to Seve Ballesteros (50 times) and Bernhard Langer (42 times)
  • In November 2009, Tiger will play in the Australian Master in Melbourne and will be paid A$3 million for his appearance and if he wins, he takes home another $270,000….the magic of the number 3

Will we see more significant 3′s in Tiger’s career? With his Buick Open win, can he win 3 weeks in a row….. this week the WGC-Bridgestone and next week the PGA Championship? Perhaps Tiger will give us the chance to add more “3″ trivia to his already impressive career!

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Posted in PGA | 1 Comment »

In winning the British Open Stewart Cink becomes the foil to another feel good story….

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

Another Major, another feel good story blown. That’s what the prevailing theme is in men’s golf 2009. Let’s look at what has happened this year:

The Masters: Kenny Perry has a two shot lead which would make him the oldest major winner at the time and give him his first ever major win. What happens? He loses to Angel Cabrera after blowing his lead in the 16th.

The U.S. Open: Phil Mickelson almost wins one for his wife Amy who made it clear she would love a trophy for her hospital room. He loses to Lucas Glover after a rough 17th hole.

The British Open: In what I consider to be the biggest heartbreak of the year, 59 year old Tom Watson misses a putt on the last hole to lose to Stewart Cink. This makes Cink, by all accounts one of the nicest guys in golf, the villain in what should have been a feel good story.

What I find interesting in all of this is that in any other situation I would have been cheering for Cabrera or Glover and certainly for Cink but I found myself actively rooting against decent guys and great golfers because I, along with thousands of other fans, wanted that fairy tale ending.

It will be interesting to see what happens at the PGA Championship in August; will the heartbreak trend continue?

Post by Michele Minten

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Posted in PGA | 3 Comments »

Cink Wins British Open – Watson is Deflated!

Sunday, July 19th, 2009

After 4 days of amazing golf from the leading actor of the Briish Open, Tom Watson, the 72nd hole changed the entire story. Watson had the lead by one stroke going to the 18th hole in the final round. His second shot hit the center of the green, but rolled off to the fringe. Choosing to putt from the collar, Watson edged his ball 8 feet past the hole. The 8 foot putt was all that separated Watson and the Claret jug…but seems the nerves got the best of the steady hand of Watson as he missed his par putt and finished with a bogey and tied at 2 under with Stewart Cink for a 4-hole playoff.

Watson was not able to shake-off the shock of missing his putt and ended up failing to be a match to Stewart Cink in the playoff. Cink out played Watson by 6 strokes. What an upset for one of the most memorable British Opens in years. No one is sure if Watson saw Cink coming from behind. The clincher for Cink was his 12-foot birdie putt on his 72nd hole and playing 2 under during the playoff. Congratulations, Stewart, on the Claret jug and your first major!

And to Tom…your performance was remarkable…thanks for showing us how golf lives on over the years, thanks for helping us relive the memories of 32 years ago, thanks for the great golf, and thanks for your great sportsmanship and showing us the character of a true gentleman! You are a true champion in our eyes!

Posted by Marilyn Harris

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Tom Watson Leads the Way

Saturday, July 18th, 2009

After playing the last three holes of round three of the British Open at 5 under with birdie, birdie, par, Tom Watson has maintained his lead with 4 under. He’s the sole leader as the British Open moves to its final round on Sunday at Turnberry, Scotland. Tom finished strong with a long birdie putt on the 16th, a birdie on 17 with a slight miss on his 20-foot eagle attempt on the par 5 to move him to the lead by one stroke over Matthew Goggin and Ross Fisher. Tom finished with a par after another near miss long birdie putt.

Today’s round was steady but an “unusual day” according to Watson. When asked what he attributes his three day success to, Watson answers with “making putts when I have to.” Tom’s perspective about his day when asked how he managed his emotion…”very serene day out there….not as nervous as I thought I’d be. I felt different…this place is spiritual….there’s more to it than the humanity of the place (Turnberry) and the beauty…it’s pretty overwehlming!”

Tom Watson is not as nervy as he is wise. According to Watson, “maybe Jack (Nicklaus) was right about making a plan…I made a game plan and I’m on course with my game plan. I messed up a times….but this ol’ geezer might have a chance at winning this tournment!”

We’re cheering you on, Tom! The Duel in the Sun with Jack Nicklaus was 32 years ago, but you’re playing as if it was just yesterday…. keep the spirit karma alive!

Posted by Marilyn Harris

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Watson and Marino leading in British Open

Friday, July 17th, 2009

The spirits are looking over Tom Watson for this year’s British Open. His second round at the 2009 British Open turned out to be as impressive, if not more, as that of his first round of 65. Today, Watson finished with an even par 70. Although the number may not sound as impressive as yesterday’s, it’s the way he got to it that’s the buzz. On the front nine, Watson struggled with five bogeys (four in a row) on the first seven holes. Seemed like his stellar performance in round one at age 59 was slipping away. But then he experienced a revival of some sort with two birdies. His back nine was without errors. The putting gods were truly on his side….he rolled in a 75-foot birdie put on the 16th hole, followed with a par on 17 and ended with a spectacular 45-foot birdie putt to tie the tournament at 5 under with Steve Marino, an alternate player leading after the second round in his first British Open appearance.

If Watson can maintain the momentum of his game for two more rounds, he’ll become the oldest major champion to win the British Open. Age does not seem to be defying Watson. He’s in his glory demonstrating his delight with Tiger-like fist pumps and a big right-leg kick as he moved to the lead.

As Watson reflected on his second round, here’s what he had to say…”I make two no brainers…field goals as my dad called them… Something’s on my side… things are happening my way….as if the spirits are on my side.”

For all of you Tom Watson fans, let’s hope the spirits stay on his side for the next two rounds! Six British Open championships at age 59 would be oh so sweet!

Posted by Marilyn Harris

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Can Tom Watson Win His 6th British Open?

Friday, July 17th, 2009

Five-time British Open champion, Tom Watson, out played the field of youngsters during round one of the British Open at Turnberry, Scotland. Watson shot birdie after birdie wth a bogey-free round of 5 under for a 65, placing him tied for second with Ben Curtis and Kenichi Kuboya during the first round. But, can the 59 year old maintain the momentum against a host of 20-somethings who can hit the ball long and far? Golf is a sport that can be played competively at all ages. But age can be a major factor to withstanding the nerves and the muscles that seem to ache much longer. Watson just underwent hip surgery nine months ago. So his preformance in the 2009 Bristish Open is quite impressive. The oldest player to win of the British Open was Tom Morris at 46…..but that was 142 years ago.

Sporting a retro argyle sweater, Watson relived the final round of his 1977 British Open win over Jack Nicklaus, better known in golf lore as the “Duel in the Sun”, by one shot repeating his score of 65. Watson recalled, “there’s certain shots on the golf course that I remember how to play”…..and he certainly demonstrated his ability during this first round.

Watson already has 5 British Open wins (1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, and 1983). Is a sixth win in his future? Here’s Watson’s assessment… “I feel insprired playing here. It doesn’t feel a whole lot out of the ordinary from 32 years ago except that I don’t have the confidence in my putting as I had 32 years ago. But, again, a few of them might go in.”

Will age rule in this year’s British Open?

Posted by Marilyn Harris

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Posted in PGA | No Comments »