Category Archives: GOLF

PGA WGC HSBC Championship Leaderboard: Keegan Bradley on top

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Keegan Bradley pulled off another first round performance as he leads two strokes in the WGC HSBC Champions Leaderboard at the Sheshan International GC course, Shanghai China.

Bradley is considered to have his best year as he had a bogeyless performance with five birdies and an eagle to complete the first round. Bradley took every opportunities on the par 5 with three birdies and and eagle to make sure the he started it right at the Sheshan International. He shot 7-under 65 to be the lone leader of the first round.

It is controversial in nature that Bradley wasn’t picked as one of the players in the Ryder Cup team, however, he is happy to be here in China to show to the world that he can play in any course as he intends not only to compete but to win. He had three birdies in the front nine and he drilled in two birdies and an eagle in the back nine.

Bo Van Pelt finished 5-under par 67 for the first round to tie for second spot. Pelt drilled in seven birdies but he had also two bogies as he maneuvered to stay two shots away on from Bradley. Pelt birdied the second, fourth, fifth, and seventh holes but he managed to make a mistake on the third hole that ended up a bogey in the front nine. He also bogeyed the par 3 12th hole then he finished strong by having birdies on 14th, 15th, and 16th hole. Pelt has a chance to keep up with Bradley in the second round of the WGC-HSBC Champions.

Another player who is within reach of Bradley is Fredrik Jacobson who shot 5-under par 67. Jacobson may have started the first day tumultuously after making a bogey in the first whole but he managed to come back with three straight birdies. However, after making birdies on 3rd, fourth, and fifth holes, he bogeyed the seventh hole. Jacobson stayed tough as he ended it strongly with an eagle in the 16th and birdied the next two holes.

Alexander Noren may not have the right approach on the first hole as he bogeyed it but he eventually ended up 5-under par 67 for the first round. He had a strong performance the rest of the holes as he shot for six birdies starting in the second, fourth, fifth, and eight holes for the front nine. He also birdied 11th and 14th holes to make himself stay with the top players in the PGA WGC HSBC Champions leaderboard

Justin Rose is not for behind as he shot for 4-under par 68 in the first round, three shots away from Bradley. He had a rare scoring day with two eagles, three birdies, and three bogeys. Rose may has a chance to pull away but he made mistakes along the way especially in the 17th hole which he posted a bogey.

David Toms is another player who filled up his scorecard with eagle, birdies, pars, and bogeys. He started the front nine with a bogey in the first whole then followed it with two birdies, the rest are pars. In the back nine, Toms started with two bogeys then eventually recovered by drilling in three birdies and and eagle. Toms will have a chance to be back in the second round as he is just three shots behind.

One of the notables, Adam Scott is just lurking behind the PGA leaderboard as he shot 3-under par for the day. He had four birdies and a bogey to finish first round. Scott is expected to make the move in the second round as he is trying to feel the course.

The young sensation in golf Rory McIlroy struggled the whole day as he shot 2 -under par 70. In the front nine he had a score of 2-under par but he didn’t make the damage in the back nine drilling in a birdie and a bogey. McIlroy is not out of the contention yet and he can play aggressively today to be back in the chase for the WGC HSBC Champions leaderboard.

PGA BMW Championship 2011: Justin Rose atop the leaderboard

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Justin Rose pulled off a solid performance in the BMW Championship first round by shooting 8-under par 63 at the Cog Hill G&CC, Lemont, IL. With his precision and flawless calculation except for one hole, he almost made his day complete.

Rose went on to make his move in the front nine when he drilled in five birdies. He added four birdies in the back nine but he made a bogey to make him 3-under par. Rose was so aggressive on his tee shots as well as on his second shots that he currently has two strokes advantage.

Coming off in the second place is the winner of Deutsche Bank championship and currently in the first place of the FEDEX Cup points standings Webb Simpson who shot for 6-under par 65. Simpson has a lot of money for him on the line as he maneuvered to maintain his position in the Fedex Cup standings which matters most. He had a bogeyless performance making six birdies and 12 pars to finish the day. Simpson makes sure that he has the buffer after this BMW Championship 2011.

Mark Wilson is currently at 5-under par with one hole left for the round. He has three birdies, and eagle and a bogey as he still playing. Wilson was so aggressive on the 15th hole that he drilled in for an eagle. He has still a chance to make this BMW Championship worthwhile to compete with. Wilson is just three strokes behind the PGA leaderboard.

K.J. Choi is the next player in the PGA leaderboard at 4-under par 67 for the first round. He had four birdies in the front nine but eventually struggled in the back nine making only a birdie, a bogey, and all pars. Choi at one time on top of the PGA BMW Championship leaderboard but he was overtaken by Rose. Choi has a magnificent first round that can be the stepping stone for him to make the chase in the next rounds.

Camilo Villegas held his ground in the first round by shooting 3-under par for. Villegas had five birdies, two bogeys, and 11 pars to complete his day. He bogeyed the par 5 fifth whole and the par 3 15th hole that marred his performance.

Fedex Cup Playoffs champion in 2010 Jim Fury had also a 3-under par first round that keeps him floating in the PGA leaderboard. He shot at even par in the first nine holes by drilling in two birdies and two bogeys with five pars. However in the back nine, Fury was determined to be back by making three birdies and five pars. Furyk’s chances rely on his game this BMW Championship and on the next leg of the Fedex Cup 2011.

The young golfer Rickie Fowler finished the round with two under par 69 drilling in four birdies and two bogeys and the rest are all pars. Fowler can make his name in this tournament if he can still climb in the PGA leaderboard tomorrow. Without a doubt he desires to be in contention but still he doesn’t have the experience to do it. He has the skills and he is near of making it happen someday.

Meanwhile, Dustin Johnson went on wild today as he posted a score of 5+over par. He was not connecting his shots and he was not able to make the right calculations. Johnson who is second in the Fedex Cup points standings drilled in seven bogeys and an eagle. He was out of his rhythm on his swings and putts. Though he still has a chance to make up in the next rounds.

Another player who struggled in this round is Matt Kuchar who shot for 1-over par for the day. He drilled in one birdie, two bogeys, and the rest pars. Kuchar is expected to deliver and make it to the top of the PGA leaderboard but it seems that his first round was kind of struggle. He still has a chance to make things different in the next round.

Luke Donald also faded away in the first round at 4-over par. He drilled in two bogeys, and a double bogey, and all pars. He struggled to make birdies and what he did was to save his putts for par most of the day.

PGA Deutsche Bank Championship: Troy Matteson surges

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Troy Matteson pulled off a solid performance shooting for 6-under par 65 to place him atop the PGA leaderboard of the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second leg of the Fedex Cup, at the TPC Boston course, Norton MA.

Matteson’s day was filled with precision as he putted seven birdies, 11 pars, and a bogey that marred his day though it was enough for him to lead. In the front nine alone, he already was at 4-under par and he eventually ended his day with birdies in the 17th and 18th holes.

With the first round lead, Matteson put his name in the spotlight as one of the contenders in this years Deutsche Bank Championship 2011. He can keep his lead if he can duplicate his first round performance.

Not far from Matteson is the No 1 ranked player in the world Luke Donald who shot 5-under par 66. He may not have shown much run in the Barclays but Donald understands the importance of keeping his target of playing in the next leg of the Fedex Cup. Donald needs to win this tournament just for validation of being the top golfer in the world though he missed it in the past majors.

Donald had four birdies in the front nine, though he drilled in a bogey that negate a shot of his score. He went on to make a bogeyless back nine with two birdies to substantiate his standings. Donald is expected to be contending in this Deutsche Bank Championship because he needs to prepare himself with the best shot of winning the Fedex Cup.

Surprisingly, South Korean Y.E. Yang also was on top of his game posting 5-under par 66 first round to tie at second place in the PGA leaderboard. Yang immediately made an impact when he was 3-under par in the first three holes but he failed to advance more as he made a bogey in the fifth whole. He followed through in the back nine with three birdies. Given the opportunities, don’t expect Yang to fade away in the second round.

Jerry Kelly obviously is the player that is expected to make the run in the first round. He wanted to keep it close and he played aggressively for him as he shot 5-under par 66 for the first round. Kelly had four birdies, a bogey, and an eagle, the rest pars, for him to raise his game in the next round not only aiming for the cut but to win the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Another player with the score of 5-under par was Charl Schwartzel who undoubtedly placed himself in the chase for the PGA leaderboard. He was so aggressive on his second shots in the front nine hitting three birdies but a bogey dismantled his chance of scoring better. However, he recovered with that bogey and went on to shoot for 3-under par in the back nine. One stroke behind the leader is not tough to catch up for Schwartzel.

George McNeill, Steve Marino, Jonathan Byrd, Rory Sabbatini, Jason Day, Nick Watney, and Chez Reavie all shot for 4-under par. All of them are in contention, just 2 shots behind the leader.

The Barclays winner Dustin Johnson struggled the whole day at 3-under par. He was even par in the front nine but eventually he made the run making a birdie in the 15th hole and an eagle in the 17th hole.

After a 2-under par start in the first four holes, Jim Furyk never made that move trying just to save for pars the rest of the course. Certainly, he is not out of the race for the PGA leaderboard but he needs to act quickly in the second round to have a chance.