Turkish Airlines Open. Two Tied at the Top.

Two players are tied at the top of the Turkish Airlines Open leaderboard after 54 holes at Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort. Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Thailand and  Shane Lowry of Ireland share the honor.

Shane Lowry / getty

Kiradech, -5 under 66, and Shane, -6 under 65, are tied at the top of the Turkish Airlines Open leaderboard with -14 under par totals, and will take a two shot advantage into the final round tomorrow.

Shane can not remember the last time he won;

“It’s been a while since I’ve won and I can’t remember back that far.”

” But when I’m out there tomorrow hopefully something comes flooding back to me and I manage to get the job done.”

“I’m looking forward to getting out there and being in the hunt. I haven’t really been there for a while, so it will be good.”

“I’ve dropped down the rankings over the last while so it will be nice to earn a few world ranking points, a few Race to Dubai points as well and make sure I’m playing in Dubai in a couple of weeks.”

Kiradech had a simple message;

“I want to win.”

Sharing third place are last weeks winner at the WGC-HSBC Champions, Justin Rose, England, who shot a bogey free -7 under 64, Padraig Harrington, Ireland, also -7 under 64 today, and Nicolas Colsaerts, Belgium, who started the round with a four shot advantage, carded +2 over par 73.

Justin wants to improve his back nine putting;

“All week I seem to have putted really well on the front nine but not quite as well on the back nine.”

“I think the greens tend to get a tiny bit slower as the day goes on so I think I need to stay a little bit more positive with the putter.”

Padraig also had a good day with the putter;

“Today was the same as yesterday except today I holed a few putts and yesterday I missed them.”

Nicolas said the bad luck started with a mud ball;

“I could have been three under after three and then caught a mud ball on eleven.”

“I didn’t think I did a lot wrong until then.”

“I hit two balls in the water so I guess I paid the price for it. I wasn’t playing stupidly aggressive but still playing the shots and made sure that my decision making was on point, which I thought was pretty good until I took a couple of blows around 12 and 15.

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WGC-HSBC Champions. Brilliant Justin Rose Wins.

 

A brilliant final round from Justin Rose wins him the WGC-HSBC Champions title at  Sheshan International Golf Club in China.

Justin Rose / getty

Justin fired a final round -5 under 67 to win the  WGC-HSBC Champions title in China, by two shots at -14 under par;

“This is really, really satisfying, all players pride themselves on winning and I’ve won every year since 2010 .”

“I was very aware that that was slipping away from me this year.”

“To win a WGC is just amazing, they count for so much on both tours. It’s an incredible start to my 2018 PGA Tour campaign and gives me a real shot in the Race to Dubai as well.”

“I needed to regroup going into the back nine, I kind of told myself I was four down playing the golf course. I played match play against the golf course coming in.”

“I didn’t know if thirteen under was going to be good enough, I kind of figured I was playing for second and I thought thirteen was going to be an important number to get to for that.”

“I saw DJ get back to about 14 or 15 and the game was on so it was certainly exciting coming down the stretch.”

What a wonderful game golf is, yesterday I said DJ, the world #1 from the USA  had the trophy in his hands, taking a six shot lead into the final round. Today Dustin Johnson carded a last round +5 over par 77, to share second place with Brooks Koepka, USA, -1 under 71 today, and Henrik Stenson of Sweden, with his last round -2 under 70.

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WGC-HSBC Champions.DJ Definitely Has This Title

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DJ, Dustin Johnson USA, the world #1 definitely has this title, the WGC-HSBC Champions in his pocket, taking a six shot lead into the final round tomorrow.

Dustin Johnson / getty

Following a third round -4 under 68, in the  WGC-HSBC Champions Dustin has a six shot lead, and will definitely win here  at Sheshan International Golf Club in China;

“I’m not going to change anything, I feel like I’ve got a good game-plan for the golf course. I’m going to play it just like I did today.”

“I think the wind is going to be out of the same direction. Might be blowing a little bit harder.”

“But as far as tee-shots and approaches to the green, I’m going to try to do exactly what I did today.”

Brooks Koepka, USA,  is in second place, at -11 under par after his third round +1 over 73 today.

Holding third position on his own is Henrik Stenson from Sweden, a decent third round -3  under 69 lifting him up the leaderboard to -10 under par for the tournament.

Making up the also-rans at -9 under are Justin Rose, England, who scraped round in even par 72 today, and Brian Harman, USA  who carded -2 under 70.

This tournament is about the fight for the minor placings, Dustin has it in the bag.

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WGC-HSBC Champions. DJ Shoots 63 To Lead.

DJ. World #1 Dustin Johnson, USA, shoots 63 in the second round to lead the WGC-HSBC Champions after 54 holes at Sheshan International Golf Club in China.

Dustin Johnson / getty

Dustin carded -9 under par 63 to lead the  WGC-HSBC Champions by one shot at -13 under par at the half-way stage in China. He used a new putter which served him well;

“Obviously I played very well today but I actually got a putter like about 20 minutes before I teed off, it’s a Spider, so it’s one that I’ve used before.”

“I wasn’t really pleased with the one I played with yesterday so the guys here in China made me one.”

“I got it right before I walked to the tee. I hit a few putts on the practice green with it and I was like, ‘oh, this will work pretty well’. Went out and holed a lot of putts today, so I kind of like it.”

“It’s a golf course that I enjoy playing. It suits my eye very well.”

“You’ve got to drive it well. For me, if I drive it good out here, I feel like I can make a lot of birdies.”

“The par fives, I can reach all the par fives if I drive it in the fairway, the rest of the holes, I feel like if I’m in the fairway I can attack the golf course.”

First round leader Brooks Koepka, also from the USA, is in second place at -12 under, a second round -4 under 68 keeping him in touch of the lead;

“I felt like I played pretty well. I felt like I drove it really well.”

“Then, you know, a couple of the putts, we missed some short ones but to be honest with you, I felt like I hit them where I wanted to.”

Justin Rose, England, -4 under 68 today, and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Thailand, -2 under 70 share third place with -9 under par totals.

Justin was happy to be where his is at;

“Played well again, kept some momentum going.”

“So to back up a good start with another good round is good and now I feel like I’m into the weekend which is where you want to be.”

Kiradech had a disappointing day with the putter;

“It’s not a bad day, I still picked up two under today. I didn’t hit the ball well the same as yesterday.”

“My putter didn’t go as well as yesterday, especially to three-putt the last hole is quite disappointing.”

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WGC-HSBC Champions. Brooks Koepka Leads in China.

Brooks Koepka, USA, leads the WGC-HSBC Champions after the first round in China.

Brooks Koepka / getty

Brooks shot a first round -8 under par 64, which included one bogey and an Eagle, at Sheshan International Golf Club, to lead the WGC-HSBC Champions;

“I felt like I played really well, I drove it pretty well and putted extremely well except for one little hiccup.”

“You’ve got to get off to a good start. Doesn’t really mean much, three other days, but any time you can get off to a good start and be close to the lead or have the lead, that’s what you want.”

“Just roll into that the rest of the week.”

Gavin Green, Malaysia, bogey free today, and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Thailand, share second place at -7 under par after their opening rounds of 65.

Kiradech made seven birdies in a row, with good putting the key;

“It’s a good momentum.”

“Just keep playing well the last couple weeks in Europe and, to be honest,  shooting seven under, opening round in the World Golf Championships, there’s a lot of top players in the field.”

“It’s just a fantastic start and I want to keep the momentum.”

“It’s all about putting. I didn’t hit the ball well. I didn’t bring my A-game out today but my putting is fantastic. I holed almost every putt on the greens.”

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WGC HSBC Champions. Hideki Matsuyama Wins

 

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, wins the WGC HSBC Champions at  Sheshan International Golf Club in China.

Hideki Matsuyama / getty

Round four of the WGC HSBC Champions was just a stroll in the park for Hideki. A final round of -6 under 66 giving him a -23 under par winning total, and a massive seven shot winning margin over the field.

Hideki  is also the first Japanese player to win an individual World Golf Championships event, he is now seeking a Major title. The difference today was putting;

“Winning today, I feel has got me closer to being able to compete a lot better in the Major tournaments.”

“My next goal is, of course, to win a Major and I’m going to do all that I can to prepare well for that.”

“I was really nervous at the start of the day but I was able to birdie hole number one. I kind of got myself into the rhythm of the day and after that, it was smooth sailing.”

“I really don’t know why I played well this week. The last three years, I’ve had to withdraw twice and I didn’t play very well the other year.”

“But I got off to a good start. I really didn’t make any changes to my golf swing or anything.”

“But I have putted really well these last three weeks, and that’s probably the difference.”

“I did play well today. I hit the ball a lot better. But putting was the difference this week.”

Tied in a distant second place were Henrik Stenson, -7 under 65 today, and Daniel Berger, -3 under 69. Both players with -16 under par totals.

Sharing fourth spot at -15 under par were, World number three Rory McIlroy, -6 under 66 today, and Bill Haas, -3 under 69.

WGC HSBC Champions. Hideki Holds On To Top Spot.

Hideki Matsuyama, from Japan holds on to the top spot at the WGC HSBC Champions after round three at  Sheshan International Golf Club in China.

Hideki Matsuyama / getty

Hideki had a -4 under par 68 third round at the WGC HSBC Champions, giving him a 54 hole total of -17 under par, and a three shot advantage going into the final round tomorrow;

“The first two days, making lots of birdies, it’s a lot of fun.”

“But today, when you’re in a position to win, playing smart and making no bogeys was very satisfying to me today.”

“Everyone is so good. I know I’m going to have to make some birdies. But I think the key for tomorrow’s round will be not making any bogeys.”

Nearest challenger is defending champion Russell Knox, on -14 under par for the tournament, he also carded -4 under 68 today;

“I’m not going to give up my title without a big fight tomorrow.”

“I look forward to every minute tomorrow and see what happens.

Daniel Berger is in third place at -13 under, following his third round -5 under par 67.

It looks like Hideki should cruise to the title, considering the form he is in, a three shot lead is a massive advantage,

World number three Rory McIlroy is back at -9 under par, a -2 under 70 today not good enough to keep in touch with Hideki. Rory is now eight shots off the pace, but in the top ten. I expect him to improve on that position tomorrow.