The Open. Collin Lifts The Claret Jug.

Collin Morikawa of the USA won The Open at Royal St. Georges Golf Club in England.

Collin carded a bogey free final round -4 under par 66 to win The 149th Open by two shots at -15 under par. making history in winning two Majors on debut after his triumph at the 2020 US PGA Championship;

“It’s amazing, I tell everyone I’m not the biggest history guy but I want to add myself into history and I want to make memories for myself and to be holding the Claret Jug is one of the best memories I’m going to have in my lifetime.”

“I’ve had belief in myself since day one that I turned professional that I can do it, not give myself time to prep but just really learn the ropes and be out here and make a statement for myself.”

“When it comes to these tournaments I’ve never played, a golf course and style that I’ve never played, I do my work. Last week at the Scottish Open was a huge week of learning experience for me. I put it all together and thankfully it all paid off this week.”

Collin moves to the top of the Race to Dubai competition, sponsored by Rolex.

Jordan Spieth, USA, was in second place at -13 under, he also had a -4 under 64 to finish his tournament.

Longtime leader Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa,+1 over par 71 today, finished in a tie for third place with World #1 Jon Rahm of Spain who signed for a last round -4 under par 66.

 

 

Evian Championship. Mi Hyang Lee Leads.

Mi Hyang Lee of South Korea leads the Evian Championship after two rounds at the Evian Resort Golf Club in France.

Mi Hyang / getty

Mi Hyang shot a second round -4 under par 67, despite carding a double bogey on the 9th, to take the Evian Championship lead after 36 holes at -10 under par, before play was suspended for  while because of the threat of lightning.

South Korean ladies dominate the leaderboard with  Sung Hyun Park,-5 under 66 today,  Inbee Park, -3 under 68 and Hyo Joo Kim with her bogey free second round of -7 under par 64, are all sharing second place at -9 under par.

Hyo Koo was obviously very happy with her score today;

“Overall I’m really happy with my score, I honestly did not know how low I shot until I was finished.”

“I didn’t know I went bogey-free until after the round.”

“There were a lot of situations where I could have bogeyed, but I kept thinking to do my best. It helped that what my putter was working really well.”

First round leader Paula Creamer, USA, let the rain delay upset her rhythm, dropping seven shots in five holes, including a triple bogey on the 16^th  to card a +5 over par 76 and slip down the leaderboard to be T24 with -2 under for the tournament;

“Yeah, sometimes rain delays get you, sometimes they don’t.”

“Unfortunately, this time it got me.  I’ve been playing really well. It’s unfortunate, obviously, but today is not Sunday. Today is Friday.”

 

 

ShopRite LPGA Classic. Two Ladies at the Top.

There are two ladies tied at the top of the  ShopRite LPGA Classic leaderboard after the 1st round at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, the Bay Course. Last weeks winner Jeongeun Lee6, South Korea is tied with Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand.

Jeongeun & Pornanong / getty

Both ladies shot first round ShopRite LPGA Classic totals of -8 under par 63, to lead the tournament by one stroke.

Jeongeun is playing in the same relaxed style as last week;

“I felt pretty relaxed on the course, I didn’t feel nervous. I think I did pretty good.”

“I played it just like how I played it last week.”

“This tournament is only three rounds and so I got a couple of days off for me.”

“Then I’ve been balancing myself to make my physical and mental condition be stable. So I’ve just been working on that.”

“And then also the weather was better than last week’s weather.”

Pornanong has gained some confidence from her performance last week;

“I feel like I got more confident after last week.”

“I tried to be playing my game and not put pressure on myself, so it makes me more relaxed on the course, with more good results.”

Lexi Thompson, USA, bogey free -7 under 64, shares third place with rookies Kristen Gillman, USA, and Muni He of China, both ladies also went round bogey free.

Lexi also took time out to recuperate from last weeks match;

“Last week was tough, it’s so intense and such a long week. It’s very draining.”

“Coming here I took two days off and then I just practiced Wednesday and played my 18-hole Pro-Am round.”

“It’s working out for me so far.”

Jin Young Ko Wins Founders Cup.

Jin Young Ko from South Korea wins the Founders Cup at Wildfire Golf Club in Arizona.

Jin and Trophy / getty

Jin fired a final round -7 under par 65 to lift the Founders Cup trophy with a -22 under tournament total.

Jin said she had learned from Jenny Song about how Dustin Johnson controlled his emotions;

“She told me Dustin hit so bad and he didn’t get angry, put clubs in the bag and just walk.”

“So, I tried like Dustin yesterday and today. I just tried no angry, no happy, just focus.”

“Lots of players thinks if there is a pin in the ball might hit the pin and come out.”

“I think it’s great to put the pin in because of it makes it easier for me to putt because it is a small target.”

 “I got lots of confidence for this year. Really good for third win in the States.”

Sharing second place at -21 under par are the Korda sisters from the USA, Jess, -8 under 64 today, Nelly with -6 under 66. They were joined on that score by Carlota Ciganda, Spain, -3 under 69 and Yu Liu from China, with a last round -2 under 70.

Yu loved the experience of the final round;

“It was amazing week for me, first time being able to play in the final round, first time being in contention.”

“Didn’t handle the way I wanted to, but feel like there is always room for improvements.”

Carlota wanted to win in Arizona;

“I would’ve loved to win, always special here in Phoenix, but I couldn’t today.”

Jess was coming back from injury;

“Obviously, playing pain-free. It shows.”

Sister Nelly was cheesed off;

“I’m bummed, but I’m not too bummed because I played well this week and I’m happy with the way my game is trending.”

Fiji International. Daniel Pearce Leads.

Daniel Pearce, from New Zealand , leads the Fiji International after the first round at a very windy  Natadola Bay Golf Club.

Daniel Pearce / getty

Daniel carded a first round -6 under par 66, to lead the Fiji International on the first day in Fiji, by one shot.

Daniel was happy with a good round of golf, and a red-hot putter

“I holed a really nice putt on the first hole for birdie, which got the momentum in the right direction.”

“I managed to birdie 11 as well. I made a couple of good up-and-downs through the back nine to save par a couple of times and then I birdied the 17th and had a bit of a run through the front nine; the first four holes.”

“There was a lot of good golf. I didn’t quite finish it off how I’d like to but I’m pretty happy.”

“The putter was pretty hot today so I rolled in a few putts from all over the place, which was nice.”

Ben Campbell, New Zealand, and Daniel Valente, Australia share second place at -5 under following their opening rounds of 67.

Ben had a solid round, saying -5 under was OK;

 “It was a solid round.” 

“I thought anything under par today would be a great score. It wasn’t easy out there, that’s for sure.”

“So I’m really happy to get off to that kind of start. I think at most tournaments you’d take a five under first round anyway.”

Get in the Hole

 

Ladies Scottish Open. Mi Hyang Lee Wins, from 9 Back.

Mi Hyang Lee, from South Korea, won the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open, starting the day 9 shots back from the leaders at Dundonald Links.

Mi Hyang Lee, Trophy and Piper. / getty

Mi Hyang shot a final round -6 under par 66, to post a club-house  -6 under total, which was good enough to win the Ladies Scottish Open, with good putting being the key to victory;

“It was a really surprise for me, and then just my front nine is amazing, and then I think I got a good start from my first hole.”

“Then just my back nine is a little up-and-down, but I made a lot of putts.”

“I made a lot of good putts and then a good chip shot, too. Just I think hole-by-hole, simple.”

Mi Jung Hur, -6 under 66, and also from South Korea, finished tied in second place, at -5 under par, with longtime tournament leader Karrie Webb, from Australia, a sad last round +1 over par 73.

Karrie looked a certainty for the win after an Eagle at the par five 14th, then disaster struck, dropping three shots in two holes, the 17th was a nightmare;

“Very gutted, I was on a high, making the eagle, and then I had a very nice up-and-down on the next.”

“I bent down, picked my tee up, thought I hit a perfect drive there.”

“When I stood up, I went to tell Johnny that I absolutely knotted my three wood, exactly how I wanted and he said it kicked into the bunker.”

“I have no idea how it did that.”

“Obviously there were nerves there, but there was a good calmness there.”

“Well, my bunker shot, I said to Johnny, I don’t know if I need to hole this or get it up-and-down.”

“Imagine if you went for it and over played it and you only had to get it up-and-down.”

“I was trying to make it but also not being overly aggressive.”

Get in the Hole

 

 

 

 

 

Porsche European Open. Jordan Smith Aiming for Maiden Tour Victory.

 

 

Jordan Smith, from England is aiming for his Maiden European Tour victory at the Porsche European Open as he leads going into the final round at  Green Eagle Golf Courses in Germany.

Jordan Smith / getty

Jordan carded a bogey free third round -5 under par 67 to take the overall lead in the Porsche European Open at -12 under par, a two shot advantage over the field.

Jordan was excited to play well, and have a good day with his putter;

“I’m very excited, it’s been a while since I’ve been in the final group, so I’m looking forward to it.”

“I’m over the moon, I played lovely from tee to green and putted really nicely today.” 

“Obviously its long and thankfully they’ve put the tees forward because it’s playing soft, so it’s just planning your route around the course and taking advantage of the par fives where you can.”

Sharing second place at -10 under are, Jens Fahrbring, Sweden, -2 under 70 today, and defending champion from France, Alex Levy with a -3 under par 69 third round.

Over night leader Ashley Chesters could only manage to card an even par third round of 72, dropping down the leaderboard to T4 in the group at -9 under par.

Get in the Hole

Porsche European Open. Ashley Chesters Leads Weather Delayed 2nd Round

Ashley Chesters, England,  leads the weather delayed 2nd Round at the Porsche European Open in Germany.

Ashley Chesters / getty

Ashley, with his completed second round of -5 under par 67 leads the Porsche European Open with -9 under par at  Green Eagle Golf Courses, following two rain delays on the day, with play eventually being suspended.

Ashley had some indifferent driving, but made up with his putter;

 “I definitely didn’t hit it as well off the tee today but the putting made up for a lot so that was nice.”

“I didn’t even realise I had gone bogey free today, it didn’t really come into my head on the way around so, it’s always nice to keep the bogeys off the card,  it’s the easiest way to get a good score.”

“It’s a completely new experience, tomorrow is going to be totally new to me but the whole year has been a learning experience for me.”

“I seem to have learnt a lot so far so I’m guessing tomorrow is going to be the same.”

Sharing second place are,Siddikur Rahman, Bangladesh, -6 under 66 today,  Defending Champion Alex Levy, France, -2 under after 15 holes,  Stuart Manley, Wales, -3 under, after 16, and Richard McEvoy, England, -2 under through 13 holes.

Jordan Smith, England, -5 under 67 today, and Jens Fahrbring, Sweden, -3 under through 15 holes, are tied in 6th position.

Play was suspended at 2052 local time because of fading light, and resume at 0800 tomorrow.

Get in the Hole

RBC Canadian Open. Five Way Tie at the Top

There is a five-way tie at the top of the Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club, Ollie Schniederjans, Hudson Swafford. Kevin Chappell, Matt Every and Brandon Hagy share the lead.

Ollie

All five players fired in matching -7 under par opening rounds of 65, in the RBC Canadian Open, as play was suspended for the day due to bad light. after a rain delay had halted play earlier.

Ollie carded two Eagles today;

“I took advantage of the par fives and just played real consistently well off the tee.”

“I was in good positions all day. Just a solid round.”

In the huge group at -6 under par, are Smiley Kaufman and Bubba Watson, who was bogey free today, and has said he is practically nearly Canadian;

“We’re back to playing American golf this week. I know we’re in Canada, but I’m part-Canadian since I married a Canadian.” 

“I had a couple, I would say, maybe two wayward shots, two mistakes that I can think of.”

“Other than that, though, it was a good day.”

Smiley has had good starts before;

“I’ve had starts like that in my career, so it’s kind of tough to keep it going as low as it felt like I was going. Definitely was on point with everything to start the round.”

“It was one of those days kind of got some good breaks and I also got some bad breaks, too.”

“I was able to kind of stay as levelheaded as possible and just try to bounce back and do as well as I can the next hole.”

Top placed player from Canada is McKenzie Hughes, he is in the next large group at -5 under par, and said he was happy with his start, and his putter;

“If you hit it in the fairway, you can be aggressive.”

“The few fairways I missed, I was just trying to make par and you have to be a little bit defensive. All in all it was a great day.”

“Probably could be a bit better, but I made a couple nice par putts, too. Overall, happy with my start.”

Get in the Hole

 

Ladies Scottish Open. Karrie Webb Leads.

Karrie Webb, Australia, leads the Ladies Scottish Open with a wonderful first round at  Dundonald Links in Scotland.

Karrie Webb / getty

Karrie defied the blustery conditions at Dundonald Links to post a Ladies Scottish Open first round score of -7 under par 65, to lead by one shot;

“I sort of really hung in there through the front nine and made a nice birdie on nine to turn at one-under, and then just really started swinging at it well and hitting it quite close and had some good birdie chances and made the most of them,” 

“I did start to hit some good shots, and I just kept telling myself to just keep going. “

“When you make a few birdies, not to just go into the mode of holding on.”

“I felt like I was swinging it pretty well and seeing the reads well and hitting solid putts. I was just tell myself just to keep going and make as many birdies as I could.”

Cristie Kerr, USA, holds second place, that one shot back at -6 under, after her opening  bogey free effort of 66 in the worst of the weather in the morning rounds;

“The score added up really well, but it was tough to stand over the shots and be able to execute.”

“It’s never easy here, so I’m very pleased with the score.”

“I hit the ball in the areas I was trying to hit it in and made some putts as well. It was a great day. It’s never easy here and you can never take anything for granted.”

Third place, at -3 under par is shared between, Stacy Lewis, USA, Inbee Park and Sei Young Kim, South Korea, with Pornanong Phatlum, Thailand, and Lina Boqvist, Sweden.

No problem with dress code here, everyone was dressed up warm, with long pants.

Completely covered Michelle / getty

Get in the Hole