Hacker Golf News courtesy of the PGA of Australia

*UPDATED for week beginning August 31st, 2010

NEWS

Aussies in the Deutsche Bank Champs

ALL but one of the 13 Australians competing last week have qualified for the second event of the US PGA Tour’s $11 million Fedex Cup playoffs, the $7.5 million Deutsche Bank Championship. Only the top 100 Cup point scorers from the 125 players who teed it up in the Barclays at the weekend will play this week. Nathan Green, who missed the cut at the Barclays, was the only casualty.

And already six of the remaining 12 Australians probably are qualified for next week’s BMW Championship, which is limited to the top 70 on the points table. Jason Day in 14th place on Cup points, Adam Scott, 19, Robert Allenby, 24, Stuart Appleby, 36, Marc Leishman, 48, and Geoff Ogilvy, 52, seemingly could not be knocked out of the top 70 points scores. But Greg Chalmers, 61, John Senden, 64, Michael Sim, 66, Matt Jones, 70, Steve Elkington, 89, and Aaron Baddeley, 93, will have to play well this week to make it into the BMW Championship.

The ultimate prize is to make the top 30 point scorers after next week and so qualify for the US PGA Tour Championship on September 23.

Day big improver on rankings

QUEENSLANDER Jason Day is the big improver on the world rankings this week, gaining a coveted top-50 spot. Day, who finished seventh in the Barclays Fedex Cup playoff on the US PGA Tour on Sunday, improved four spots on last week.

He will automatically qualify for all of the world’s major events if he can maintain his top-50 ranking at the end of the year.

Another big Aussie improver this week was Brett Rumford who jumped 37 places after his one-shot loss in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Scotland on Sunday. And Rachel Hetherington has shot back into the Australian top-10 in the women’s world rankings after playing her last event on the US LPGA Tour.

World Long Drive decided

QUEENSLANDER Brendan Moylan won the Remax World Long Drive Australian Final at the weekend, beating Sydney’s Steve Kennedy in the final at the Palm Meadows Driving Range. Moylan won with a hit of almost 300m in testing windy conditions. Together with Kennedy and 2009 champion Mark Bylsma of Sydney, Moylan has qualified for the Remax World Long Drive in Mesquite, Nevada, next month.

Rachel Hetherington quits US LPGA Tour

AUSSIE Rachel Hetherington has quit the US LPGA Tour and is returning to Australia to live. Hetherington won eight US LPGA events in her 14-year US career and has earned about $6 million.

“I have been fortunate to win twice on the Ladies European Tour, and 8 times on the US LPGA,’’ Hetherington wrote on her website.

“My highest finish on the USLPGA has been 7th on the money list in 2003."

She told a Canadian newspaper, “I just don’t want to play anymore. That’s really the simple answer."

"If I’m really honest with myself, I don’t want to practice and work as hard as I need to.”

She plans to play some ALPG events in Australia and stay involved in the game.

La Ouenghi Bonus for PGA Players

The 2010 New Caledonia La Ouenghi Golf Club Pro-Am, part of the South Pacific Swing for the NSW/ACT pro am circuit as well as the lead in event for the New Caledonia Golf Championships, will tee off on 3rd October, offering a $15,000 prize purse. Tournament Director, Jacques Coulson was proud to announce the increase in prize money for the tournament’s second year saying, “I am delighted to host the Pro-Am again with the 50% increase in prize money due to the outstanding success and popularity of the inaugural event last year.”

The popularity of the one day Pro-Am, introduced in 2009 as the lead in to the New Caledonia Golf Championships, ensured its inclusion on this year’s PGA schedule.

Melville Proud, NSW / ACT PGA Executive Officer, said, “The presentation of the La Ouenghi golf course, incredible hospitality, and professional administration of last year’s event made it immensely popular amongst players.”

“It is this popularity that has secured the event’s future on the PGA tournament schedule in 2010,” he went on to say.

The event, won last year in a tie by WA Professional James Carr and New Caledonian Jean-Louis Guepy, provides the perfect lead up to the New Caledonia Golf Championship scheduled for the next week, teeing off on 6th October until 9th October.

The La Ouenghi Pro Am was introduced last year as the curtain raiser to the New Caledonian Golf Championship which is played for a prize purse of $110,000.

The Pro Am is an added bonus for Australian players giving them a chance to earn some extra winnings whilst also providing important practice leading into the main event, the New Caledonian Golf Championships.

The New Caledonia Championship held at Tina Golf Club has proven to be a test of brain power and skill in past years with only one player scoring under par last year.

“The prize money increase will no doubt attract more entries but so too will the chance to gain important knowledge of the playing conditions in New Caledonia,” said Proud.

Staged the week after the La Ouenghi Pro Am the New Caledonia Championships is the most lucrative event on the South Pacific Tour with $A110, 000 in prize money to be won.

The event is also unique in that is affords up and coming junior golfers both locally and internationally the chance to experience competition in these high profile events and assists with the promotion and development of the sport at grass roots level.

Patrick Koch, New Caledonia Golf Championship Tournament Director and President of Tina Golf Club, initiated the inaugural La Ouenghi Pro-Am as part of the long term development plan for golf in New Caledonia.

Michael Wright just falls short

AUSTRALIA’S Michael Wright, despite a four under par closing nine 32, failed by just a shot to catch China’s Liang Wenchong in the One Asia Tour’s $1.1 million Thailand Open at Burapha Golf club on Sunday. Liang fired a 17 under par total with a final three under 69 against Wright’s 68. It was Liang’s third OneAsia Tour win and he now leads the Order of Merit with earnings of about $550,000 from Korea’s Y E Yang on about $457,000. The next OneAsia Tour event is the Kolon Korea Open on October 7.

Jones hangs on to win title at Hawks Nest

Kurri Kurri Trainee Professional Matthew Jones held of a strong finishing Ryan O’Flaherty to claim the NSW/ACT PGA Trainee Professionals Championship at Hawks Nest Golf Club. Jones, who held the lead at the close of each of the first three days surrendered his lead through nine holes as he struggled to come to terms with the blustery conditions.

Jones and O’Flaherty headed into the final nine all square at three over par after going out in four and two over respectively. The pair both lifted on the back nine as it became a match in two as the remainder of the field lost ground.

Jones put his head in front thanks to a birdie at the par five fourteenth and from their played flawless golf, answering all of O’Flaherty’s challenges. The pair both birdied the par three sixteenth and then two regulation pars was enough to secure Matthew Jones a one stroke win and his first championship victory.

At the presentation ceremony Hawks Nest Golf Club President Lee Rankin announced an extension onto the existing agreement between the club and the PGA with Hawks Nest Golf Club to host the tournament for the next three years.

Robert Allenby to defend title

AUSTRALIA’S highest ranked golfer Robert Allenby is heading back to the venue where he claimed one of the most emotional victories of his career, confirming late last week that he will defend his Australian PGA Championship title at Coolum in December.

Allenby, the world-ranked number 20 player, will be competing in the 2010 Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola hoping to claim his fifth Joe Kirkwood Cup.

“I really enjoy getting back to the Hyatt Regency Coolum and this year has the added bonus of defending my Australian PGA title,” said Allenby.

He blitzed last year’s star studded field playing flawless golf to post a bogey-free five-under 66 on the Sunday and win Australia’s oldest professional championship by four shots. It was an emotional win for Allenby as he played the final day in a symbolic pink shirt, dedicating the win to his late mother Sylvia who lost her battle with cancer earlier in the year. The Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said Robert Allenby's return to defend his Australian PGA Championship, presented by Coca-Cola, coincided with a decade of support from Queensland Events for the championship.

“My government through Queensland Events recently secured the Championship to the Sunshine Coast for a further three years, with the option to continue our support through until 2014,” Ms Bligh said.

“It's a real thrill to have seen the growth and popularity of this award-winning event go from strength to strength each year since we began our support in 2000.”

The 2010 Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola will be played at the Hyatt Regency Coolum on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast from December 9-12, 2010.

The event will be the final event on both the PGA Tour of Australasia and OneAsia Order of Merit, with players competing for a total prize pool of $1.5 million.

New Chairman of the PGA Board

QUEENSLAND-based PGA Professional Mark Gibson has been named as the new Chairman of the Board of the PGA of Australia. Gibson is a dual winner of the PGA of Australia’s Teacher of the Year and a three time winner of the Queensland PGA Teacher of the Year and will lead a newly appointed Board of Directors.

A member of the PGA since 1980, Gibson, who will be Chairman for the next three years, says he is excited about the opportunity to lead the PGA and his fellow members.

“With the PGA now a unified body I am very excited to be working for the benefit of all PGA Members,’’ he said.

“I especially look forward to be working alongside the highly skilled and passionate members of the Board."

"Of particular interest to me is the area of member education, which is the cornerstone of Vocational PGA Member development."

"As a Board we are very focused on Member promotion and on clear communication with the membership."

"As a Board we also intend to develop better playing pathways for Australian tournament professionals on to the World tours."

Fellow Member Director and one of Australia’s most successful tournament professionals Craig Parry has been appointed into the role of Deputy Chairman.

Also on the Board are Philip Baird (Member Director), Peter O’Malley (Member Director), Richard Allely (Independent Director), James Erskine (Independent Director) and Richard Lazar (Independent Director).

European Ryder Cup Team

EUROPEAN Ryder Cup team captain Colin Montgomerie has named Padraig Harrington, Chris Donald and Edoardo Molinari as his Captain’s picks for next month’s clash with the US in Wales.

They join automatic qualifiers Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher, Molinari's younger brother Francesco, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Peter Hanson.

The Molinaris become the first brothers to play in the same Ryder Cup match since Bernhard and Geoff Hunt represented Britain in 1963.

Montgomerie’s choices caused controversy as a rejected Paul Casey is ranked number nine in the world against Donald’s 11, but Casey recently has not played in Europe.

The US Captain Corey Pavin will declare his four Captain’s choices next Tuesday.

The eight automatic US players are: Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Matt Kuchar.

The next 4 on the U.S. Ryder Cup points list are Anthony Kim, Lucas Glover, Zach Johnson and Tiger Woods.

Rickie Fowler’s $1 million windfall

RICKIE Fowler’s eagle on the par five 17th hole in the third round of the Barclays at the weekend probably has sealed a $1 million win for him in the Kodak Challenge.

The young American is at 14 under par and two shots clear in the event where players choose their best scores for 18 holes from 24 designated Kodak Holes at US Tour events through the year.

Fowler has played 17 events and needs just one more birdie from the four events left to play to set an unassailable lead of 15 under par.

Romero sinks 12m putt to make final field

ARGENTINA’S Andre Romero survived a spectacular final nine holes to clinch the final top-100 point score Fedex Cup Deutsche Bank Championship playing spot this week. Romero rallied from consecutive double bogeys at Nos. 12 and 13 with four birdies in his last five holes -- including a 12m putt at No. 18 to make the Deutsche Bank field.

Liang jumps up World Rankings

China’s Liang Wenchong has risen to world number 57 after his dramatic win in the US$1 million Thailand Open on OneAsia at the weekend. Liang jumped seven places after taking the title and is now the fourth ranked Asian on the world rankings behind Koreans Y. E. Yang (37th) and K. J. Choi (49th) and Japan young gun Ryo Ishikawa (56th).

“One of my targets this year is to get into the top 50 in the world rankings,” said Liang during the Thailand Open.

“That will assure me spots in all the Majors next year.”

The 32-year-old Liang lifted his third OneAsia title by one stroke after holding off challenges from Thai rising star Namchok Tantipokhakul and veteran Michael Wright from Australia at Burapha Golf Club.

He won last year’s Midea China Classic and the 2010 season-opening Luxehills Chengdu Open.

The former Asian number one is enjoying a rich vein of form.

He followed up a second place finish at the Indonesia Open in July with an outstanding display at the final Major of the year, the US PGA Championship, where he shot a course record 64 in the third round at Whistling Straits on his way to eighth spot in the elite field.

His winnings of US$180,000 at the Thailand Open saw him leapfrog Yang into top spot on the OneAsia Order of Merit with earnings of US$493,200.

What's on this week?

PGA of AUSTRALIA PRO-AMS
September 1: Qld: Riverlakes pro-am at Riverlakes Golf Club $10,000
September 2: NSW/ACT: Tahiti International Championship at Atimaona Golf Club $85,000
September 2: Vic: Numurkah Leader-Kevin Hicks real estate pro-am at Numurkah Golf Club $10,000
September 3: Vic: Mooroopna pro-am at Mooroopna Golf Club $10,000
September 4 Qld: Logan City pro-am at Logan City Golf Club $10,000
September 6: Vic: PGA professionals Championship at Sandhurst Golf Club $60,000
September 7: Wantima pro-am at Wantima Country Club $10,000
September 7: Murray Downs Golf and Country Club pro-am at Murray Downs Golf and Country Club $10,000
September

US PGA TOUR: Fedex Cup playoff Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston $8.25 million Last year’s winner: Steve Stricker

EUROPEAN PGA TOUR: Omega European Masters at Crans san Sierre Switzerland $2.8 million Last year’s winner: Alex Noren

US NATIONWIDE TOUR: Mylan Classic, South Point Golf Club, Pennsylvania $660,000 Last year’s winner: New event

US CHAMPIONS TOUR: First Tee Open at Pebble Beach Golf and Country Club, California $3 million Last year’s winner: Jeff Sluman

JAPAN PGA TOUR: Fujisankei Classic at Fujizakura Country Club, Yamanashi, $1.1 million Last year’s winner: Ryo Ishikawa

EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR: Travis Perkins Senior Masters at Woburn, England $500,000 Last year’s winner: Carl Mason

EUROPEAN LADIES TOUR: Uniqua Austrian Open at Golf Club Fuhrenwald $250,000

The latest World Rankings as at Tuesday, 31 August 2010

Top 20 Australians
1 Robert Allenby (ranked 20 in the world)
2 Geoff Ogilvy (39)
3 Adam Scott (41)
4 Jason Day (50)
5 Michael Sim (63)
6 Marc Leishman (96)
7 Stuart Appleby (97)
8 John Senden (102)
9 Brett Rumford (120)
10 Marcus Fraser (119)
11 Richard Green (122)
12 Brendan Jones (139)
13 Greg Chalmers (142)
14 Andrew Dodt (153)
15 Nick O’Hern (159)
16 Mathew Jones (165)
17 Steve Elkington (184)
18 Mathew Goggin (199)
19 Scott Strange (197)
20 Aaron Baddeley (201)

Top 5 World Rankings
1 Tiger Woods (averaged points 9.4)
2 Phil Mickelson (8.9)
3 Lee Westwood (8.8)
4 Steve Stricker (7.9)
5 Martin Kaymer (6.8)

Top 20 Rolex World Rankings in Australia
1 Karrie Webb (ranked 12 in world)
2 Katherine Hull (21
3 Lindsey Wright (41)
4 Nikki Campbell (46)
5 Tamie Durdin (98)
6 Sarah Jane Smith (120)
7 Kristie Smith (122)
8 Karen Lunn (148)
9 Sarah Kemp (158)
10 Rachel Hetherington (230)
11 Nikki Garrett (238)
12 Anna Rawson (246)
13 Wendy Doolan (250)
14 Frances Bondad (259)
15 Stephanie Na (296)
16 Rebecca Flood (315)
17 Rachel Bailey (362)
18 Joanne Mills (368)
19 Dana Lacey-Johnston (390)
20 Stacey Keating (446)

Top 5 Rolex Rankings
1 Ai Miyazato (11.2)
2 Cristie Kerr (10.8)
3 Suzann Pettersen (10.5)
4 Ji-Yai Shin (10.4)
5 Yani Tseng (9.4)

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Information for this news service has been gathered from industry sources and every effort is made to ensure its accuracy. The PGA of Australia accepts no responsibility for any inaccurate information reported. Other than for purposes stated under the Copyright Act and subject to the conditions of the Act, no part of any edition or special release of PGA Mail may be reproduced or stored by any means or transmitted without prior written approval of the publisher. Amounts listed are in Australian Dollars unless otherwise stated.