Honda Classic. Play-Off Win for Paddy Harrington.

Paddy Harrington wins the weather-beaten Honda Classic in a play-off against the  21-year-old rookie Daniel Berger at PGA National in Florida.

Paddy Harrington/ Getty Images

Paddy and Daniel finished the Honda Classic tied at the top of the leaderboard on -6 under par. Paddy with a final round of even par while Daniel carded -6 under par 64.

In the end Paddy parred the second play-off hole, the 190 yard par three 17th hole , a bit of an anti-climax really, I think you can tell that by his reaction to winning in the picture above, seeing that this is his first victory in more than six years;

“Believe it or not, when I get in contention I can still hit the shots.”

Russell Knox, Paul Casey and Ian Poulter tied in second place at -5 under par. Ian probably should have won this tournament, apart from a major stuff up on the 14th hole, where he carded a 7 after hitting two balls into the water. He actually put five balls into the water during his final round of +5 over par 75;

Poults sadly reported;

“The good is good enough to win. I know that,”

“It’s just bitterly disappointing to put myself in the position I have, to play as well as I’ve played, and a couple of loose shots has cost me this tournament. It’s a shame to hand tournaments away. I’ve handed one away this week.”

 

Honda Classic. Two Brits Tied at the Top

The third round finally got completed and two Brits sit at the top on the Honda Classic leaderboard, Paul Casey and Ian Poulter as the final round gets suspended due to darkness.

Ian Poulter / Getty Images

Poults has played seven last round holes and Paul nine, both sit on top of the Honda Classic leaderboard at -7 under par for the title as the tournament heads into a Monday finish.

Poults had his problems in the final round today, he shanked his tee shot on the par 3 fifth and watched helplessly as it bounced off a cart path and plunged into the water, it ended in a double bogey. He followed that by pulling his next tee shot into the water before eventually settling for bogey, and would not report his words to the press. He followed that experience with a birdie on seven;

“It’s not for newspaper or Internet worthy, I was pissed. I was seriously pissed.”

“It was a lack of concentration, I tried to take too much off an 8‑iron and hit a beautiful shank.”

“I was internally very angry, shall we say. And when I do that, obviously my heart rate goes up slightly and obviously that sometimes is what it needs to kick in the adrenaline.”

“So the shot on 7 was fueled with adrenaline, because I was so pissed off.”

“It was a good swing, I guess it’s been a long day, a long few days and I was just saying to my son, Luke, right there, look what happens when you forget to concentrate. Silly things happen.”

“Tiring, and made a couple of really bad swings on 5 and 6. But that kind of angered me inside enough to spark a little bit of energy there to hit a good shot on 7.”

Paul wanted to keep going, he hates a break in momentum;

“I thought the wind was favorable, so I thought I would get on with it, the lie is not great. I might be against the collar in the rough.”

“It just breaks up momentum, some guys will carry it through to Monday. Others won’t and that’s very difficult to predict.”

“You just hope you wake up tomorrow and you feel like you’ve got the same kind of golf swing and the putts are going in the hole.”

“I never like to look back, but I feel like when I was playing some great golf in 2009, 2010, it feels like that kind of stuff.”

“Probably even more so than that time in my golf career because off the golf course, I’m so relaxed and happy with where I’m at with (wife) Pollyanna and (son) Lex.”

“It feels great. I think the combination of being extremely happy off the course and confidence on the course, I think I’m maybe playing as good golf, if not better than I’ve played in the past.”

Patrick Reed is in third position at -6 under par, so far in his final round he is at even par through seven holes, but it will be  long day tomorrow, with a lot at stake and the pressure will be on everybody.

There is a posse of five players at -4 under par, including Phil Mickelson, so anything could happen.

 

 

 

Jo’Burg Open. Andy Sullivan Wins Again in S.A.

Andy Sullivan won the Jo’Burg Open and claimed a second European Tour title on South African soil in as many months.

Andy Sullivan / Getty Images

Andy carded a brilliant last round -6 under par 66 at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club, on the East course, to post a winning total of -17 under par, a two shot victory.

Andy could not believe he would be in victory lane again so soon;

“It’s unbelievable, I never imagined it would happen again so quickly.”

“Coming down the stretch me and my caddie were loving life again and enjoying it. It seems to be a theme, enjoying my golf and getting the right results at the moment.”

“I want to say a big thank you to my coach Jamie Gough, who has really turned it around, and my psychologist Lee Crombleholme who has been exceptional this week, working hard on being patient out there.”

“I am just grateful it has all paid off and I get to hold another magnificent trophy in South Africa again.”

There was a five-way tie for second place at -15 under par, Kevin Phelan, Jaco Van Zyl, Tony Wall, David Howell and local favorite Wallie Coetsee.

David was happy to be back in form, if not too happy with his performance today, and this result will get him to St Andrews;

“I am absolutely delighted about that, that was one of the main reasons I came down here.”

“I have not played an Open at St Andrews and I’m not getting any younger so I knew my chances were running out. I am going to really enjoy it.”

“I played beautifully, probably made three really bad swings all week and they cost me shots each time, just hit one left on 14 that cost me a shot and then couldn’t find the putts coming in.”

“It’s not been the best start to the year and this is the first really good performance, which has been great. Frustrating not to finish it off because I gave myself a great chance, but it wasn’t to be.”

Tony was also happy to be in the St Andrews field, if not so good here;

“It’s very disappointing because I was really feeling good about today. A win is a win, but to play in The Open, especially at St Andrews, will be lovely.”

Kevin was not happy about missing out on St Andrews;

“I was just kind of plodding along the first three days, played some nice golf but didn’t really hole that many putts, but got the putts to drop on the front nine today and gave myself a chance.”

“It doesn’t look like I have done enough but I am delighted with the way I played.”

Honda LPGA Thailand. Amy Yang Wins.

Amy Yang wins the Honda LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club, Pattaya Old Course.

Amy Yang / Getty Imaages

 

Amy  shot a final round -3 under par 69 to win the Honda LPGA Classic with total of -15 under par. She reported that she could not believe it;

“I don’t know what just happened, I still can’t believe I did it today.”

Tied at the top of the leaderboard with Stacy going into 15, there was a three shot swing when Amy birdied and Stacy recorded a double bogey there;

“I still didn’t want to decide that because we had three more holes to go and they’re not easy, so I just kept focusing.”

“Oh, I was so nervous. But I saw the ball fall in and I thought feels like it’s dream. It’s a great feeling.”

There was three-way tie for second place, Stacy Lewis, who carded a sad final round of +1 over par 73, Mirim Lee, -3 under par 69 and Yani Tseng with a -5 under par 67.

Yani admitted to some putting nerves out there today;

“I played good, but I missed bunch of putts out there. I was just actually a little nervous out there when I putting.”

“I don’t know, just maybe thinking a little more on my putting than others.”

“But I got some lucky bounce and make birdie on the last hole so I was very happy. Just fricking nervous out there. I think just at least I back into the circle.  Hopefully take into next week.”

Low round of the day went to Beatriz Recari, a magnificent -9 under par 63, she finished T5 on -12 under par.

NZ Women’s Open. Lydia Lifts Trophy.

World number one Lydia Ko lifts the NZ Women’s Open trophy at Clearwater Golf Club.

Lydia & Trophy / Getty Images

Lydia carded a last round -1 under par 71, to lift the NZ Women’s Open with a -14 under par total, and a four shot victory over the field. She said she really wanted to win her home National tile, and was happy so many fans turned out to watch her;

“I really wanted to win in front of such great crowds, this is probably the biggest crowd I’ve seen.” 

“I hit a really good shot in, if I was chipping I would’ve been more nervous, but when you hit a good shot on the green it’s a nice feeling.”

“It’s always cool winning on home ground. We were walking up 16 and (playing partner Giulia Sergas) said ‘they like you’. I said ‘well, it’s home’.”

“It’s just great, the spectators have been amazing. It’s one of the best tournaments I play each year, the atmosphere and everything.”

“The more Ws the better, but it was just great, and I think I had a really good off-season break which got me fresh going into this year.”

“All I can do is hit good shots and concentrate on my game. That’s all I can do. If someone else plays well there isn’t anything you can do about it.”

Australian amateur Hannah Green claimed second place at -10 under par, a solid final round of -4 under par 68 saw this talented young lady earn her second place.

Third place went to Nanna Koerstz Madsen, she also had a final round -1 under par 71 and finished with a -9 under par total.

Honda Classic. Play Suspended Due To Lightning.

At the conclusion of play of the suspended 2nd Round Padraig Harrington sits on top of the Honda Classic leaderboard at -7 under par. Play was then suspended at the start of the third round due to the threat of lightning.

Padraig Harrington / Getty Images

Padraig has completed two rounds of the Honda Classic and is at the top of the leaderboard going into round three at -7 under par, following his 66.

He said golf is fun, and fascinating;

“I’m fascinated with the game, I love it. It’s a different sort of fun, yeah.”

“I think I’m in a good place that I can deliver more performances like this.”

“I feel like there’s good days ahead, so, you know, I’m not thinking, Oh, I’ve got to do it and it will be a long time before it comes around again.”

“I feel I’m in a good place with my game and I feel I give myself plenty of opportunities like this going forward.”

Patrick Reed is in second place at -6 under par, the same score he finished round two with yesterday.

Ian Poulter and Brendan Steele are tied in third position at -5 under par. Ian has been using a fang-dangled putting machine in practice, and he said it seems to be working;

“Right now it’s working pretty good.”

“The way I feel about my game, I’m hitting good shots, I’m holing a few putts and obviously if you’re going to do that, then you’ve got half a chance.”

“My mental side, I feel confident, provided I keep doing the right things, I keep working on straightening those areas that are weaker than my strengths and if I do that, then obviously I’m hoping I can improve.”

 Phil Mickelson is in contention, a second round of -3 under par 67 giving him a -2 under par total, he commented on the stop – start play, and extra holes on the day;

“I think that if you get into a good rhythm for the day, you get extra holes to play, and I think that guys that have a hot hand, instead of playing 18, they have a chance to play 27, 31 or 32.”

“I think it could be a real benefit if you’re playing well.”

“You get greens like this that are just perfect condition and very soft movement around the holes and you’re going to make a lot of putts, it just builds confidence.”

The Honda Classic / Getty Images

“That’s as bad as I’ve ever seen it rain.” Russell Knox.

Jo’Burg Open. Wallie Coetsee Cruising

Wallie Coetsee is cruising along at the top of the Jo’Burg Open leaderboard as he chases his maiden European Tour title at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club.

Wallie & Caddie/ Getty Images

Wallie carded a third round -2 under par 70 on the West course to post a tournament total of -14 under par at the Jo’Burg Open, and will take a two shot lead into the final round on Sunday. He admitted he had a few putting problems;

“The first tee shot there were no nerves, the six iron into the middle of the green there were no nerves, but once I grabbed that putter there was no feel.”

 “I three-putted but after that there were no nerves.”

“You need to keep a positive mind, me and my caddie are enjoying it out there and hopefully we can tomorrow.

“There is a lot at stake, more than you can think of, but it’s just a game at the end of the day.”

“Last night I only slept for about four hours but tonight I think I’m going to have a lot of sleep.”

There are four players those two shots behind at -12 under par, and will be trying to chase him down,  Jacques Blaauw, Tjaart van der Walt, David Howell and Steve Webster will keep the pressure on the leader.

Steve shot the low round of the day, a bogey free -7 under par 65 and said he had given himself a lot of opportunities today;

“I made a good birdie at the first and a good save at the second and just got on a bit of a roll,” Webster said. “I missed three or four 12-footers which was frustrating but there was a lot of really good golf today.

“I gave myself a lot of chances and that’s what my game is all about.”

David has made only one cut so far this season and is delighted that all his hard work with a new coach is now paying off;

“The season’s got off to a slow start so I came down here for three weeks and so far so good.”

“I’ve had a couple of bad swings each day but apart from that it’s been pretty good. You have to keep your foot down and keep making the birdies and obviously stay away from the mistakes.”

“I’ve had one big score with a seven yesterday but played some good golf between that.”

“I started with a new coach, Justin Parsons, a few weeks ago, just working on my rhythm. I am trying to swing the club as slowly as I have in my whole life and that’s a real challenge to bring that to the course.”

“I am delighted with how I’ve done that so far this week, it’s getting better by the day and hopefully that bodes well for tomorrow and future weeks coming up.”