The Irish Golf Club Gazette: Hyundai Tournament of Champions

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1/11/2016

Harrington Makes Moves in Hawaii

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Padraig Harrington closed with a final round 67 which consisted of six birdies and 12 pars in a tie for sixth in Hawaii at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on Sunday.

The Dubliner's performance at the Plantation Course saw him rise 22 places in the world rankings to 120th. However he will need to make his way back into the world's top 50 to gain a place at the US Masters in Augusta in April.

Jordan Spieth strolled to a seventh PGA Tour title with an eight-shot victory which saw him come close to a recording-breaking 72-hole score.

The world number one came into the final round five shots in front of Brooks Koepka, but there was never any danger of anyone catching him as he carded a six-under-par 67 to finish a staggering -30.

If his birdie attempt at 17 had not fell a foot short of the hole, he would have levelled the PGA record for 72 holes of 31 under which is held by Ernie Els.

Although the 22-year-old missed out on history, he was in glorious form in Hawaii and proved comparisons to Tiger Woods are not misplaced as he becomes the third youngest man to reach seven PGA titles, taking just a month longer than Woods.

Had Spieth matched his second-round score of 64 he would have broken Els' record, but he saved his highest score of the tournament for the final round.

It still contained seven birdies and one bogey and was enough to ensure a sixth tour win in the last 21 outings.

However, he is keen to play down any comparisons to Woods.

"I am nowhere near, I don't think there's any reason to compare, it is awfully early," he said. "I'm very excited with where I am at as a start to my career and what Tiger has done I can't imagine ever being done again, but it's very nice to be in that company.

"Any time that you can get into the company of him and other great players, it's a goal I've had since I was a little kid."

On his performance, he added: "I'm very satisfied. I felt comfortable all week, I felt it was just a short three-week break over the holidays and then just trying to continue what I was doing last year. It worked this week and all parts of the game were firing."

First-round leader Patrick Reed finished in second place after a four-under-par 69 ensured a -22 score while Koepka, who started the round in second place, slipped back to tied third with Brandt Snedeker.

Graeme McDowell finished on -4.

1/08/2016

Harrington Happy at Hyundai in Hawaii

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Padraig Harrington who bogeyed the last and carded four birdies a share of 12th place after day one of the Hyndai Tournament of Champions - courtesy of his win earlier this year at The Honda Classic.

Patrick Reed struck four birdies and an eagle in the final six holes to fire an eight-under 65 and take his place at the top of the first-round leaderboard at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

The four-time PGA Tour winner was well down the leaderboard after turning on two under, but was in scintillating form on the back nine, reeling off birdies at the 13th, 14th and 15th holes.

After hitting par at the 16th, he was back in the red with another birdie before bringing his round to a close with an eagle on the par 5 18th.

He came home in just 31 shots, six under par.

Reed's playing partner and world number one Jordan Spieth finished one shot behind on seven-under after another blemish-free round, registering seven birdies.

Brandt Snedeker, J.B Holmes and Danny Lee are all placed on six under while two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson is a further two behind after shooting 69.

World number two Jason Day did not enjoy as productive days as Reed and Spieth, but is still well-placed thanks to a bogey-free three under.

Scotland's Russell Knox is the best-placed Brit on two under.

Graeme McDowell struck two double bogeys in his two-over-par 75

Harrington told the Golf Channel after his round: “Last year was quite a disappointing year for me. I didn’t play as well as I would have liked.

“But I liked what I saw today and that’s good enough for me, because it’s all about the moment and what you’re doing.

“I made a few changes during the winter and first week out I’m liking what I see and I hope that it will go from strength to strength during the season.”

Harrington has featured at six Ryder Cups but now finds himself 141st in the world rankings.

While not giving up hope of an unlikely spot on the European team later this year, the 44-year-old has admitted that his focus for the time being is very much on his own individual performances.

“It’s a big ask from the position I’m in,” he added.

“I’m going to have to have a big year.

“I’m literally going to have to win at least twice or a major.

“It really is going to have to be a big year for any guy to get into the Ryder Cup team.

“Especially as I’m not in those World Series events - I wasn’t in the ones at the end of last year.

“So as much as I’d like to play - and it’s a goal of mine - it’s not necessarily on my radar. I’ve got to go out and get a win under my belt and then I’ll start thinking about it.”

6/11/2015

GMAC FedEx St Jude Ready

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Graeme McDowell hopes the FedEx St Jude Classic provides the "competitive sharpness" he feels he is lacking before he targets a second US Open title.

The Northern Irishman, who was victorious at Pebble Beach back in 2010, has endured a low-key season thus far, making six cuts at nine PGA Tour events.

He is therefore looking for a timely bounce at TPC Southwind, which holds a purse of €6m and acts as a warm-up for next week's US Open at Chambers Bay.

McDowell told pgatour.com: "When it comes to preparing for major championships there are a few ways you can do it, you can try and simulate the conditions you'll find the following week.

"The way that the US Open jumps around it's very difficult to have a solid warm-up venue the week before so you've got to take the rough with the smooth.

"Some years it's going to be a great preparation and some years maybe not.

"I think the comparison of the two golf courses is that they're at opposite ends of the spectrum but I love coming here and getting some competitive sharpness.

"I think, going into a major championship, preparing and playing the golf course and having your game plan together is key - but being competitively sharp and feeling confident that you are playing well, those are just important.

"For me it's been a slow year, I kind of feel that my game's turning a corner so I'll be teeing it up and trying to get some competitive sharpness."

Dustin Johnson - currently ranked seventh in the world - is looking to claim first prize at Southwind for the second time having done so in 2012.

The powerful driver arrives in Memphis on the back of consecutive top-15 finishes while his fellow American Webb Simpson tied for third here a year ago.

Englishman Luke Donald this week sealed qualification for the US Open and makes his first start in the St Jude Classic.

Billy Horschel, Ryan Palmer and Phil Mickelson are also keen to perfect their games ahead of the second major of the year.