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It was only a few years ago that frisbee golf held more appeal to Nick Flanagan than the real thing but the expectant father has roared into contention with a course record-equalling 9-under 63 in the early stages of Round 3 of the Australian PGA Championship.
The 35-year-old only squeezed into the weekend field by virtue of a birdie at his penultimate hole on Friday and adopted a more relaxed mindset, an approach that proved extremely effective in benign morning conditions.
Out in the second group of the day, Flanagan put the foot down from the outset, making a birdie from 10 feet at the first hole and adding three more on the trot to be 4-under through four, building momentum with putts of 10, five and 12 feet.
A fifth birdie followed at the par-4 seventh where he hit 9-iron to kick-in distance and then with no 3-wood in his bag the Novocastrian chose to lay up with 7-iron off the tee at the 252-metre par-4 eighth, a lob wedge to 10 feet moving him to 6-under through eight holes.
Yet while there were three more birdies on the back nine to equal Ross McGowan’s RACV Royal Pines Resort it was par saves at nine and a 35-foot bomb at 11 that Flanagan credited with an excellent round into one with potentially life-changing ramifications.
“That’s kind of what happened the last two events, those momentum changes I just wasn’t making those 10 or 15-footers,” said Flanagan, who shot 62 in the opening round of the ISPS HANDA Vic Open in February and was tied for sixth at Royal Pines 12 months ago.
“Then I’d make a bogey at the next hole and instead of going one direction it would go the other way quick.
“I hit a good drive down nine and flared a 5-iron into pretty much the only spot you can’t get up-and-down from, in between the bunkers. Just dead.
“It’s tricky to hit those high lob wedges off this kind of grass and flubbed it into the bunker but then got that up and down, holed an eight-footer for par.
“That was the thing that kept me going and then I hit two good shots into 10.
“That’s the difference. I could have gone back to 5 (under) but I make that putt at nine, make birdie at 10 and all of a sudden I’m 7-under.
“Then to make that 40-footer (at 11) was what kept the round going.”
Incredibly, Spaniard Alejandro Canizares was playing in the group in front and going almost as low, an eagle at the eighth and birdies at 10 and 13 getting him to 7-under on his round, bogeys at 14 and 15 followed by birdies at 16 and 17 for an 8-under 64 and a tie for sixth.
Having missed out on a European Tour card by failing to qualify for the final two rounds at Final Stage of Qualifying School, a win would secure Flanagan status on a main tour for the first tim since 2015 and provide a career kick-start for the 2003 US Amateur champion.
“I’d love to play in Europe. That’s kind of why I decided to go to Q School this year,” said Flanagan, who would secure Category 16 status with a win on Sunday.
“I really wanted to play over there next year, so obviously if things went great tomorrow, then that would definitely be something that I’d be excited to do. Hopefully, that happens.
“Obviously today being out second group, there’s not a lot of people around, it just felt like another round. The adrenaline started pumping there the last three or four holes when I was trying to get to 10 or 11 coming in so I could really be up there.
“It will be different tomorrow. I’ll have to get back to kind of being intense again, but obviously staying relaxed enough that it’s not a big deal.
“If things don’t work out, I’ve got a baby due in five weeks and that’s really what I’ll be thinking about.
“But obviously I would love to go out there and win, it’s just finding that balance again.”
Chinese No.5 Yuan Yechun flirted with the course record and showed impressive resolve late to assume sole ownership of the lead through two rounds of the Australian PGA Championship at RACV Royal Pines Resort.
As close friends Adam Scott and Wade Ormsby reached 7-under at the completion of their second rounds in the morning, the primary Friday charge came from two-time defending champion Cameron Smith until word of Yuan’s round started to filter throughout the course.
Birdies at the first, third, fifth and seventh holes elevated Yuan to 6-under but his rise took on further significance when he eagled the par-5 ninth hole to play the front nine in 30.
A dropped shot at 10 stunted any talk of a possible sub-60 round and after rattling off three successive birdies from the 11th hole to be 8-under for the day – including a monster putt at the par-4 13th – Ross McGowan’s course record of 63 drifted from reach when he bogeyed both 15 and 16, his tee shot at the par-5 15th hole finding the water hazard left of the fairway.
A spectacular approach at the 17th hole to four feet was an impressive response, a regulation par at 18 rounding out a 7-under 65, tied with Smith as the best of the week thus far.
A graduate of the University of Washington and now playing on the secondary Korn Ferry Tour in the US, Yuan played alongside Phil Mickelson at the WGC-HSBC Champions in China in November where he came away with a renewed sense of confidence in his ability.
“It was my second time playing actually, so I knew the course a little better,” Yuan said of his HSBC Champions experience.
“I got to play with Phil Mickelson on Saturday. That was awesome. He has an unbelievable short game.
“That was great. I learnt a lot from that and got a lot of confidence from playing with the big boys.”
First drawn to golf at nine years of age and inspired by Tiger Woods, Yuan won on the PGA TOUR Series-China tour shortly after turning professional and was tied for 17th at the WGC event last month, beating home major champions Henrik Stenson, Francesco Molinari and Mickelson himself.
A strong weekend at Royal Pines will aid Yuan’s hopes of representing China at the Tokyo Olympics next year but he knows that every great round comes with some good fortune.
“It was going good at first and I got some fortunate breaks, I have to say that,” admitted Yuan, who missed the cut in this event last year.
“It was a great day, honestly. I played great, played smart, stick to the plan.
“I was fortunate enough that I got a couple of really long putts that dropped through the round. Yeah, I made two little mistakes, but really pulled myself together and kept it going.”
Quayle’s rise up the leaderboard coincides with his pseudo-honeymoon after he and his partner Sophia were married on the Gold Coast last Sunday.
The 25-year-old showed no signs of the struggles that plagued him during the middle part of the Japan Golf Tour season as he used an eagle putt from 35 feet at the 15th as the backbone of a 6-under 66.
“I don’t want to ever shy away from how I struggled earlier this year. I think that is part of why I am who I am,” Quayle admitted, missing five cuts and withdrawing from another in an eight-event stretch where his best finish was a tie for 60th.
“Going through that has made me a lot tougher at the moment mentally, and any opportunity like this, you just enjoy it and have a little bit of fun.
“Obviously getting married on Sunday, to be honest, this week is a little bit of a holiday for me. I plan to keep it that way, just keep having a little bit of fun with it.”
Lying in wait behind Yuan and Quayle are Ormsby and Scott at 7-under with Gippsland Super 6 winner Tom Power Horan and Kiwi Michael Hendry locked together a further shot back in a tie for fifth following rounds of 66 and 68 respectively.
Smith (65) and South African Bryce Easton (68) are tied for seventh at 5-under par with a group of eight players locked together at 4-under.
American drawcards Cameron Champ and Stewart Cink both remain in contention for the Joe Kirkwood Cup at 3-under and 2-under respectively.
First groups will tee off the third round from 7.02am with Yuan and Quayle to tee off at 11.25am AEST.
One was scared to hit a full shot two weeks ago at the Australian Open, the other was forced back to Q School 12 months ago yet Lucas Herbert and Brett Rankin are the unlikely first round leaders at the Australian PGA Championship at RACV Royal Pines Resort.
Greeted by idyllic conditions, the morning groups fared best on day one but it was a struggle for two-time defending champion Cameron Smith who fought back to end his opening round at 2-over.
Conversely, a chip in birdie at the 11th hole – his second of the day – and an eagle at the par-5 12th saw Herbert race to 4-under through three holes and set a cracking early pace.
He stumbled with bogeys at the 13th, 14th and 18th holes to turn in 1-under but got one back at the first and birdied three of his final four holes to end the day at 5-under and level with Rankin to share the lead on day one.
Battling a ligament injury in his right hand, Herbert played hesitantly as he missed the cut at the Australian Open a fortnight ago but was troubled on any a couple of occasions in his round of 67.
“It’s probably seven weeks today since I did it, so it’s kind of at the point now with a ligament injury that it should start calming down and not hurting as much,” Herbert said.
“I can still just feel it a little bit at times. There was one shot into the eighth today that I felt it a bit and it was bit sore,
“At the Open I was kind of flinching and trying to not hurt my hand whereas I’m not really doing that now. Whether it’s a wedge that you’ve got to take a pretty steep divot with, I’m actually OK with doing that, whereas I wasn’t two weeks ago.
“Hand’s really good, can’t complain there. It’s good to be healthy again and able to play.”
Where Herbert struggled through his second year on the European Tour, Rankin is enjoying a career resurgence in 2019 courtesy of seven pro-am wins throughout Australia and overseas and a breakthrough win at the Northern Territory PGA Championship.
Wins at such diverse places as Lae in Papua New Guinea, Reynella in South Australia, Dysart in North Queensland, Coolangatta and Casino saw Rankin finish second on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series, form he has carried into one of Australia’s major tournaments.
“I’m really happy with the year,” Rankin said.
“It’s been a year of firsts and I’m definitely happy with where the game is at the moment.
“Winning the NT PGA gives you that confidence you know you can do it, that your best golf can win on this tour.
“It’s a tough tour, there’s so many good players out here. You gain that confidence from winning multiple pro-ams and you take that to the next level.
“You win a tour event, and the next you’re like, OK, I belong here. You gain confidence just from doing that.”
Five players are in a share of third one shot adrift of Herbert and Rankin with a quartet of Kiwis – Ryan Fox, Nick Voke, David Smail and Harry Bateman – in a group of seven players to return a score of 3-under 69 on Thursday.
In the group of 17 players at 2-under par are 2013 champion Adam Scott and 2009 Open champion Stewart Cink, Scott making up for a double bogey at the 13th hole with an eagle at 15 while Cink gave up shots at each of his final two holes to sign for a 70.
Scott, Cink and Min Woo Lee (68) will be the first group off the 10th tee at 6am on Friday morning with Jason Norris (69), Rhein Gibson (71) and Dimi Papadatos (72) to commence proceedings from the first.
The group of Cameron Smith, Ryan Fox and Cameron Champ will begin their second rounds from the first tee at 11am AEST.
There were scrambles, sluggishness and the hint of a shank, yet two-time defending champion Cameron Smith remained within reach of the top of the leaderboard following his opening round at the Australian PGA Championship at RACV Royal Pines Resort.
In the opening group of the tournament along with American drawcard Cameron Champ and Kiwi Ryan Fox, Smith relied on his short game to register six pars and a birdie in his opening seven holes to be 1-under.
But a bogey at the par-4 17th was a precursor to a difficult period to come after the turn.
A double bogey at the par-3 second and subsequent birdies at three and four saw the crowd favourite fall to 4-over and in danger of having the chance of a threepeat evaporate after just 18 holes.
A birdie at the short par-4 sixth and two-putt birdie at the par-5 ninth gave Smith some momentum heading into Friday and with time to replenish the energy stocks prior to Friday’s second round.
Coach Grant Field sensed no sign of fatigue in Smith despite the 3am wake-up call but the 26-year-old conceded the early grind eventually took its toll.
“Once I got going, that’s when I started to kind of struggle,” Smith said.
“Usually it’s the other way around, usually I kind of start slow on the range and then once I get into it, it’s fine.
“Just used up maybe a little bit too much energy trying to make those putts early in the round and trying to get something going and then just a couple poor swings on the back nine.
“I didn’t really know where it was going. It was just one of those kind of days where a par was a good score.
“I was 4-over at one point and had a couple birdies to get it back, so I got something to look forward to at least for tomorrow.”
Smith’s round really began to unravel when he hit 6-iron long and left at the par-3 second and failed to get the ball up the steep bank and onto the green and then a tree branch disrupting his backswing led to a further dropped shot at the third hole.
“I didn’t think I was going to hit the branches there on my backswing,” Smith said.
“Kind of got me by surprise and threw me off a little bit, but I hit the tree and actually got quite lucky that it went that way and not the other way.”
Lucas Herbert and Brett Rankin had the best of the morning rounds with 5-under 67s with Nick Cullen, Travis Smyth and Kiwi Chisnall a further shot back at 4-under par.
Australia’s latest major champion Hannah Green has capped an extraordinary 2019 season by receiving the most prestigious award in Australian golf, the Greg Norman Medal.
The West Australian was recognised for her two-win season on the LPGA Tour in the United States at a gathering of the who’s who of Australian golf at RACV Royal Pines Resort on Tuesday evening, host venue for this week’s Australian PGA Championship.
Following in the footsteps of fellow West Australian Minjee Lee, Green becomes the second consecutive female recipient of the award, recognition of her major championship triumph at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship which she followed up with victory at the Cambia Portland Classic.
“It probably wasn’t expected from myself or my peers that I would win a major as my first event and to go back two months after and win another one it just shows that you never know what can happen with golf,” said Green.
As she did at Hazeltine National, Australian legend Karrie Webb was present to help celebrate Green’s latest honour which she hopes to use to further inspire juniors at her home club at Mount Lawley and throughout Australia.
“Karrie’s done a great job to give the scholarship to us so I’d love to do as much as I possibly can, especially to juniors in WA,” said Green, who was a recipient of the Karrie Webb Scholarship in 2015.
“It’s hard for us to go to Aussie Opens, even mens events. I never had that luxury until Karrie took me to the US Open so that’s why I’m so grateful for her showing me as much as possible in one week.
“I’d love to open other little girls’ or boys’ eyes to see what it is actually like on tour.
“When I was young I didn’t really look up to too many people. Probably my dad at the start because he’s the person that plays in my family. He was my first real idol.
“Karrie became my idol when I went to the 2015 US Open. That was the first time I’d ever met her and seen her play in person. I got to know her not as Karrie Webb the golfer but as Karrie Webb the person.
“Since then she’s been an idol and a big sister.”
Gavin Kirkman, the CEO of the PGA of Australia, said Green’s career-defining year has elevated the young star to hero status and will encourage more juniors to take up golf.
“Hannah has had an extraordinary year. To win her maiden major then back it up with another win on the LPGA Tour demonstrates Hannah is a proven champion,” Kirkman said.
“It’s such a thrill to award this prestigious honour to another talented woman. Hannah’s rapid rise has encouraged more people to take up golf. She has paved the way for the next generation of golfers.
CEO of the ALPG Karen Lunn said Hannah was a shining example of how hard work and dedication can pay off.
“Hannah truly deserves this award for all her hard work. She is an inspiration to a new wave of young girls eager to take up golf,” Lunn said.
“Women’s golf, thanks to Karrie Webb, Minjee Lee and Hannah, has never been stronger.”
Since her success, Green’s popularity has soared to new heights, the demands on her time one of the trappings of such fame.
Due to celebrate her 23rd birthday on Friday, Green has recently joined the IMG management stable to coordinate her various commitments, her dedication to the promotion of golf in Australia to continue to be a high priority.
“I’ll definitely say yes to as many things as I can do,” said Green.
“Playing Vic Open and Aussie Open I’ve already got requests to do lots of clinics and media things during both of those weeks.
“I want to make sure that I can do as much as I can those weeks because I love playing at home and that’s the only time I really get to play in front of a home crowd.
“Everyone’s really great in supporting me out on the golf course so I want to give back as much as possible.”
Her commitment to Australian golf will likely include representing her country at the Tokyo Olympics in July next year alongside Minjee Lee, the blazer she tried on during the men’s Australian Open a fortnight ago further motivation to carry her 2019 form into the new year.
“I won’t start my season until February at the Vic Open but I’m more motivated than ever because I now know what it tastes like and I want to have it again,” said Green.
“I’ve been trying on some stuff and filing out some forms so it’s been really exciting. I can’t imagine what it’s like for other athletes competing just for the Olympics.
“I don’t really know that I believe golf should be in the Olympics but if I have the opportunity to represent my country and possibly win a gold medal I’ll definitely want to be there.”
Greg Norman Medal Honour Roll
2019 Hannah Green
2018 Minjee Lee
2017 Marc Leishman
2016 Jason Day
2015 Jason Day
OTHER AWARD WINNERS:
2019 MyGolf Deliverer of the Year
Gary Booby, The Ridge Golf Club
2019 National Trainee Professional of the Year
Joint winners – Ben Pisani, Royal Melbourne Golf Club, and Cooper Eccleston, Victoria Park Golf Complex
2019 PGA National Club Professional of the Year
Jason Roach, Cairns Golf Club
2019 PGA National Management Professional of the Year
Darren Richards, Nudgee Golf Club
2019 PGA National Game Development Professional of the Year
Lachlan Foulsham, Empower Golf
2019 PGA National Coach of the Year
Ritchie Smith, Royal Fremantle Golf Club
2019 ALPG Player of the Year
Sarah Kemp
2019 Ladbrokes Legends Tour Player of the Year
Mike Harwood, VIC
2019 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Player of the Year
Ryan Fox, NZ
The US PGA TOUR’s newly crowned long drive king and the 2018 European Tour’s biggest hitter have been drawn alongside two-time defending champion Cameron Smith in a power-packed group for the opening two rounds of the Australian PGA Championship at RACV Royal Pines Resort.
The US PGA TOUR’s newly crowned long drive king and the 2018 European Tour’s biggest hitter have been drawn alongside two-time defending champion Cameron Smith in a power-packed group for the opening two rounds of the Australian PGA Championship at RACV Royal Pines Resort.
Two-time PGA TOUR winner Cameron Champ and ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit leader Ryan Fox will partner Smith for the first 36 holes with Fox in the unfamiliar position of playing with someone who regularly hits it further than he does.
In 2018 Fox averaged a touch under 322 yards in driving distance on the European Tour, falling one spot from his mantle this year behind West Australian sensation Min Woo Lee.
At the conclusion of the Tour Championship Champ was feted as the PGA TOUR’s new purveyor of poundage with an average driving distance of 317.9 yards, adding a further 10 yards to that number in the early stages of the 2019/2020 season.
Not since his early days playing on the Australasian Tour alongside Newcastle’s Lincoln Tighe has Fox come up against a player with superior power and admits he will have to fight his own competitive instincts to stop from getting into a long drive competition with the California native.
“I’m looking forward to seeing it first-hand,” Fox said.
“It might be a bit of a novel thing for me to be honest. Hopefully I’ll try not to get caught up in the long drive comp.
“The first time I saw him was on the range at the US PGA Championship this year.
“It was freezing cold, it was windy, it was wet and they had the Toptracer set up on the range. He had me by 10 miles an hour in ball speed; he was almost 190 (m/h) ball speed and that with four layers on.
“Me, my coach and my caddie were standing there just laughing.
“I’m not short and I don’t think I’ve got that in 30 degrees with just a shirt on and feeling really good about myself.”
Where the burly Fox leaves no doubt as to the impression he makes on the back of the golf ball, Champ’s power is generated by a more effortless-looking speed, a power Fox compared to South African legend Ernie Els.
“Ernie was renowned as the ‘Big Easy’ but he hit it as hard as anyone,” said Fox, who will begin his Australian PGA tilt alongside Champ and Smith from the 10th tee at 6am on Thursday morning.
“He just generated the speed at the right time and his rhythm was really good and Cameron looks like he has that.
“It’s obviously quick, it looks quick but I’m sure if you put my swing and his swing side by side I look like I try to hit it harder. I think he’s just one of those really gifted athletes.
“I’ve talked to his coach Sean Foley about it a little bit at a couple of the majors and he’s pretty excited about where Cameron can go.
“Sean’s an excitable guy and a numbers guy but when you see how excited he is about Cameron Champ you know there’s something special there.
“I’m looking forward to seeing it first-hand.”
Winner of the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth tournament in February, Fox’s record at Royal Pines is only average but the 33-year-old has no doubt power is a plus around the Graham Marsh layout.
“There’s a lot of bunkers you can take out of play if you really bang it,” said Fox, who was tied for 52nd last year.
“There’s still enough trouble around here where you can get caught out but it certainly makes some of the par 5s a bit easier.
“I know for most of the field the third hole is almost out of reach and for me it’s touch and go if I hit a really good one. You add 30 or 40 yards on to that which I think Cameron’s got it all of a sudden becomes a fairly reachable par 5. The same with 12. That can be a pretty nasty hole at times and when you’re going in there with a 7-iron instead of a 4-iron the shot should theoretically be a little bit easier.
“I know what it’s like a little bit. Length is good when it’s going where you want it to go, it’s a curse when it’s not.
“Obviously Cam’s been playing some pretty good golf of late having a win a couple of months ago so I’m sure he’s in a good space and I’m sure the golf course will set up well for him.”
It’s golf’s first and to this day ultimate party trick; who can hit it the furthest?
When Cameron Champ first visited the Ping Testing Centre in Phoenix, the lure of the back net was impossible to resist.
Although he doesn’t possess the same soaring ball flight of many of golf’s longest hitters, Champ teed it up, aimed high and let it fly.
“They have a high fence and I don’t really hit it high but I tried to a few times and I hit it over,” Champ said ahead of his maiden appearance in Australia, this week’s Australian PGA Championship at RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast.
“They kind of told me not to do that anymore, which was funny.”
On Monday he was taken to one of the most picturesque settings on the Gold Coast and asked to launch balls 310 yards across Currumbin Alley onto Palm Beach, a feat he was able to achieve comfortably despite an unsure, sandy footing.
With athletic gifts that allow him to propel a golf ball extraordinary distances through timing rather than simply brute force, Champ averaged 317.9 yards off the tee to lead the PGA TOUR in Driving Distance in 2018-19, four yards clear of the next best, Irishman Rory McIlroy.
Since his days as a teenager the now 24-year-old has left seasoned golf coaches gobsmacked with the way he can deliver immense power so efficiently into the back of the ball and it has already delivered two wins on the PGA TOUR in little more than 12 months.
Spectators will come to Royal Pines to see and hear how differently Champ hits a golf ball but he hopes that they leave with a far broader understanding of what he believes in.
“I want to be known as a good guy. I could care less about distance or any of that stuff,” Champ added.
“The game is drawn to that no matter what. If you look at ‘DJ’ (Dustin Johnson), DJ now has the accolades of winning so that’s pushed it aside but it’s still there.
“To me it’s never going to go away, it’s just all based on results really. That’s how our world operates.
“When I’m playing good everyone’s for it; when I’m playing bad everyone’s saying that his this, that and that.
“For me I just want to be known as a good son, a good husband, a good grandson and everything else after that is what it is.”
Headlining the Australian PGA Championship alongside Queensland favourites Adam Scott and two-time defending champion Cameron Smith, Champ is joined in the field by fellow Americans Stewart Cink and Smylie Kaufman.
Comfortable with his standing as a tournament drawcard, Champ is also ready for any potential anti-American sentiment that may carry over from Sunday’s pulsating Presidents Cup finale.
“I’m all for the fun and games,” said Champ, who planned to familiarise himself with nine holes of the Royal Pines layout Monday afternoon.
“That was an incredible match on both sides.
“It came down to one match. After all that it came down to Kuchar’s match and he was able to pull it out.
“I’m not going to try and put any extra pressure on myself from being one of only a few guys from the States. I’m just going to enjoy my week and have fun.
“When I played Dunlop in Japan a few weeks ago I played really well, got washed out the last day which was unfortunate. Then my coach Sean Foley came in for a few days last week and I’m hitting it well.
“I’ve been playing as much as I can, fitting it in with the weather and the cold fronts (in Houston). “My game feels good, I feel confident so we’ll see what happens.”
Josh Younger’s upward trajectory has continued with a tie for third at the BNI Indonesian Masters in Jakarta, all but securing the Victorian full status on the Asian Tour for 2020.
Ten years into his professional career, Younger broke through for his maiden win at the AV Jennings NSW Open at Twin Creeks a fortnight ago and recaptured that form at Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
Tournament leader after playing the first 36 holes bogey free, Younger stumbled with a third round of 2-over 74 but bounced back in admirable style on Sunday, a 6-under 66 moving him back within the top five and six shots back of runaway winner and 2019 Asian Tour No.1 Jazz Janewattananond.
Continuing to find the Royale Jakarta layout to his liking, Younger was blemish-free on his front nine in the final round, making the turn in 4-under 32 to move up the leaderboard.
After a successful up-and-down at the par-4 10th he continued his charge with birdies at 12 and 13 before dropping a shot at the 399-metre par-4 14th.
A birdie at the 16th hole got Younger back to 6-under on his round and an all-important spot inside the top five.
By virtue of his top-five finish Younger is now exempt into the field for this week’s Thailand Masters in Pattaya where he can solidify his place inside the top 60 on the Habitat for Humanity Standings.
With barely $US10,000 in prize money prior to the Indonesian Masters, Younger was sitting outside the top 100 on the Order of Merit and in need of something special to move within the cut-off for those who automatically keep their card for the following year.
The 35-year-old now enters the final event of the year 56th on the moneylist and in position to control his own destiny.
Veteran Marcus Fraser moved up into a tie for 26 courtesy of a final round of 5-under 67 while Travis Smyth’s 4-under 68 was highlighted by an ace at the par-3 15th.
Younger, Scott Hend, Terry Pilkadaris and Daniel Fox are currently the only Aussies in the field for the Thailand Masters, Fox riding the Order of Merit bubble in 60th position on the Habitat for Humanity Standings.
Asian Tour
BNI Indonesian Masters
Royale Jakarta Golf Club, Jakarta
T3 Josh Younger 66-65-74-66—271 $US42,375
T26 Marcus Fraser 71-72-71-67—281 $6,417
T33 Travis Smyth 69-71-74-68—282 $5,325
T33 Steven Jeffress 65-71-72-74—282 $5,325
T39 David Gleeson 70-71-73-69—283 $4,450
T45 Terry Pilkadaris 72-69-71-72—284 $3,937
T50 Adam Blyth 70-72-72-72—286 $3,300
59 Scott Hend 70-73-71-76—290 $2,475
MC Sam Brazel 70-74—144
MC Andrew Martin 76-69—145
MC Daniel Fox 73-72—145
A resurgent Team USA has secured the 2019 Presidents in a dominant final day at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
A rampant US outfit gained an almighty eight points in a breath-taking last stand that secured the Americans’ 11th Presidents Cup in the competition’s 13th campaign.
The US won six of the 12 final day matches to close two points clear – 16 to 14 – at the Black Rock course.
“We did it together. We came here as a team. My teammates, my boys all played well and the captains did an amazing job,” an emotional Team USA captain Tiger Woods said.
“I couldn’t have done it without their help. All my boys. They did it.
“It’s been one of the more amazing experiences. We relied on one another as a team and they did it, together.
“I trust my guys .. I told them so. This Cup wasn’t going to be given to us, we had to go and earn it, and we did.”
The final stages provided some of the most enthralling duels in the tournament’s rich history.
The Internationals’ two-point overnight lead was squandered on the greens, with the team failing to capture key opportunities with the putter.
The US leapt to a three-point lead before Cameron Smith rallied in a never-say-die takedown to inspire a late fightback for the Internationals.
He steamrolled Justin Thomas to close 2&1 as Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman were locked in tense battles with Matt Kuchar and Rickie Fowler respectively.
Oosthuizen, who led after the first hole to the 15th, relinquished his 3 UP advantage as a spirited Kuchar dug deep to tie their match.
Leishman was unable to hold onto his back nine lead, having to settle to a draw at the 18th, as jubilant US team celebrated another successful tour.
The Internationals mustered just two victories – Smith and Sungjae Im – and settled for four ties.
Team USA, led by Tiger Woods and major winners Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed, got off to a flying start in the drama-filled day before the Internationals recovered to quell their rivals’ momentum.
But the US, thanks to captain Tiger, struck the first blow, with the 15-time major winner defeating Abraham Ancer 3&2, securing the first points of the day.
Woods, a nine-time Presidents Cup player, has won the most matches (27-15-1) in the history of the time-honoured tournament.
Dustin Johnson defeated Hatong Li 4&3 while his teammate Patrick Reed was too good for CT Pan, winning 4&2.
Hideki Matsuyama relinquished a 4 UP advantage to tie with a rampant Tony Finau.
21-year-old Im struck back for the Internationals, overcoming US Open winner Gary Woodland 4&3 to square the total scores in the seesaw affair late in play.
Adam Hadwin had the opportunity to put away Bryson DeChambeau, but the Canadian two-putted for par on the 18th to tie.
But the resolute USA outfit rebounded strongly, with Patrick Cantlay registering a comfortable 3&2 win over Jaquin Niemann to go one clear of the Internationals.
Xander Schauffele secured a vital 2&1 victory over Adam Scott to extend the away team’s lead.
Scott forged to reduce a four-match deficit to give himself a fighting chance thru 16.
But the former world no.1 bold bid was dashed on the 17th, as Schauffele got the match-winning upper hand with par.
Webb Simpson’s 2&1 win over Byeong Hun An has pushed the US team to a three-point advantage with three matches in play.
Former PGA TOUR Commissioner and the Vice Chairman of First Tee Tim Finchem and CEO of PGA of Australia Gavin Kirkman announced the launch of the First Tee of Australia.
Presidents Cup and its Global Partner, Citi, helped launch the efforts through the Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge, an interactive global experience for fans to drive a golf ball around the world while driving toward the opportunity to bring the First Tee chapter to Australia.
The chapter will be managed by PGA of Australia and will engage with local community groups to reach underserved teenagers.
Initially, the program will be offered at three program locations in Melbourne with plans to expand throughout the country in the next several years.
Coaches are being provided with formal training to introduce the teens to the First Tee’s curriculum with an emphasis on personal development and understanding of core values and life skills, using golf as the platform.
“The chapter will utilise the sport of golf to teach the First Tee’s core values of honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, judgement and courtesy,” CEO of PGA of Australia Gavin Kirkman said.
“We are proud that our PGA Members have been selected to be the program deliverers of the First Tee in Australia and I look forward to witnessing youth develop under the mentorship of PGA of Australia Professionals.”
This will be the sixth international location for First Tee, a youth development organisation that seamlessly integrates the game of golf with a life skills curriculum.
“Already such an exciting week for golf in Australia with the Presidents Cup’s return to Melbourne, we are thrilled about this formation of a First Tee chapter in Australia and the opportunity to teach the game of golf and its core values to countless youth in the future,” said the First Tee Vice Chairman Tim Finchem.
“We are extremely grateful for Presidents Cup Global Partner Citi, the First Tee and the PGA of Australia for their support in bringing this initiative to life throughout Melbourne and all of Australia.”
Leading up to the announcement and this week’s Presidents Cup, fans participated in the Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge to collectively drive a golf ball 44 million yards – the length it takes to circle the globe – for the 2019 Presidents Cup, while driving towards the launch of the First Tee of Australia.
The Challenge included an interactive web-based game, a mobile game and a simulator that was placed throughout Australia and New York.
“Citi is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the First Tee chapter in Australia,” said Guy Matthews, Head of Corporate Affairs for Citi Australia and New Zealand.
“We see this is as a legacy of our partnership with the Presidents Cup here in Melbourne. The values of the First Tee are well-aligned with our philanthropic commitments to support young people as they gain the skills to succeed in their transition from education to employment.”
The launch featured a variety of First Tee golf activities at Victoria Golf Club being demonstrated by 2019 Women’s PGA Champion Hannah Green, two-time Presidents Cup member Nick O’Hern and former AFL footballer and avid golfer Brendon Goddard.
Brendon Goddard said that
“The First Tee program is great and allows the game of golf to be the vehicle to instil morals into young people like respect and sportsmanship that are so valuable in day-to-day life,” Goddard said.
“The greatest coaches that I have had in football are the ones that not only made me a better footballer, but a better person.”
Hannah Green said participating in golf helped shape the person she is today.
“When I grew up playing I learnt a lot about myself being at the golf club learning values from those around me and I think that First Tee is a great program aimed at highlighting these life values. I think it’s great that First Tee is coming to Australia,” Green said.
First Tee has been in existence for 22 years, primarily in the United States, and has grown to approximately 150 chapters and over 1200 program locations including Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, Mexico and Morocco.
Since its inception in 1997, First Tee has impacted more than 15 million young people through its character-building programs on golf courses, in schools and at youth-serving locations.
For more information on First Tee, visit thefirsttee.org.
