Dustin Johnson, who entered the last round leading, had a meltdown on the back-nine. Pan took the lead for good with a birdie on the par-4 16th.
Click here to read the full article…
| Do you like slots? Play some slot games at Desert Nights Casino! Click here to read all about Desert Nights Casino. |
Mark Hubbard … When a course like Detroit Golf Club rolls over for eagles and birdies, anything can happen, but no on statistically is more familiar with going low than the 31-year-old who is making his 100th start as a PGA TOUR member this week. He’s 37th in the FedExCup on the strength of a co-runner-up in Houston and another four top-13 finishes baked into his 13-for-17 record. Contributing to whole is a TOUR-high 37 rounds in the 60s. That leads Sungjae Im by two and a trio in third by six. Hubbard cashed in each of the first three events coming out of the break, but he’s yet to put four rounds together. At 33rd in Strokes Gained: Putting and T26 in par-5 scoring, he could be lighting his own fireworks this weekend. Maverick McNealy … Suffice it to say that the 24-year-old’s decision to choose professional golf over a career in business has been a good one. After two seasons of grooming on the Korn Ferry Tour, he makes his debut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic lurking in the Rookie of the Year race. Currently 58th in the FedExCup with a T5 among four top 20s and only three missed cuts in 16 starts, he’s fourth in his class in points. No question that his scoring club is the putter. Overall, he’s 22nd on TOUR in Strokes Gained: Putting, 31st in putting: birdies-or-better and 10th in scrambling. Peter Uihlein … With a T14 at Colonial to reopen the season, he proved that he was prepared to play again. It wasn’t the first time he’s enjoyed a solid week in Fort Worth, either, but last year’s T13 didn’t translate into success in the inaugural Rocket Mortgage Classic. He missed the cut on the number. This means that it’s time for second chance for the 30-year-old on conditional status. Nothing jumps off the page analytically over time, but he ranked T17 in greens hit at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Chesson Hadley … He missed the cut here last year during what largely was a long calendar-year 2019 inside the ropes with 14 MCs spanning 22 starts. He turned it around in the fall, but resumed the up-and-down form that must feel promising and demotivating all at once. That’s the life of a touring professional for ya, but his tee-to-green game is a place of encouragement. Sits 32rd in fairways hit, 28th in greens in regulation and T20 in proximity to the hole. He’s even 40th in converting GIR into par breakers, but when he’s missing his targets, there’s an elevated pressure on his putter that helps explain the inconsistency. Smaller greens like those at Detroit Golf Club benefit ball-strikers who don’t measure up on the greens, and he finished T23 on the similarly sized surfaces of Colonial just three weeks ago. Dominic Bozzelli … Saddled with conditional status this season, playing time is restricted, so he licks his chops at every opportunity. His form in 2020, albeit in only five starts, his last at the Korn Ferry Challenge at TPC Sawgrass, is uninspiring, but he was more than comfortable on the greens at Detroit Golf Club last year. He made the most of finishing second-to-last (of 71) in greens hit by ranking ninth in holing par breakers on those chances. This has been his calling card throughout his young career. He’s currently second on TOUR in putting: birdies-or-better. NOTE: Sleeper is a relative term, so Rob uses unofficial criteria to determine who qualifies. Each of the following usually is determined to be ineligible for this weekly staple: Winners of the tournament on the current host course; winners in the same season; recent major champions; top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking; recent participants of team competitions.
Kuala Lumpur – A battling Kim Leun Kwang claimed a playoff victory over Amir Nazrin Jailani at the CIMB National Championship at TPC Kuala Lumpur’s East course on Friday, securing a maiden professional title and a dream appearance at the US$7 million CIMB Classic in two weeks’ time. The 23-year-old Kim, who led by three shots after the second and third rounds, survived some anxious moments during the final round as he was caught by Amir who forced extra time with a four-under-par 67 as both golfers tied on 12-under-par 272. With the winner earning a prized spot in the PGA TOUR’s only tournament in Southeast Asia on the line, both golfers found trouble with their tee shots on the par four 18th hole and Kim, who shot a closing 70, emerged victorious with a bogey against Amir’s double bogey after the latter agonizingly three-putted from about 15 feet. “This means a lot to me,â€� said Kim, who bagged RM30,000 for his win. “I’ve been looking for my first win for a very long time and I finally did it. It was crazy … Amir played really well and gave me a good fight. I’m a bit brain-dead right now and I guess I was on the lucky side. it’s not easy to see a golfer three-putting from close range. I feel for him but I’m happy I’m going to be playing in the CIMB Classic. “In the playoff, I saw Amir hit it over the green and I was worse off in the trees and had to cut the ball by some 30 yards or otherwise I’d be out of bounds. I pulled it off and I’m really happy to be the last man standing. It has taken me a long time to get this win and there were some struggles over the years but I knew it would come someday. I’m really happy now. Having my first win and getting my reward to play in the CIMB Classic is amazing,â€� added Kim, who turned professional when he was 17. Kim said he walked outside the ropes as a spectator in the last two CIMB Classic tournaments, dreaming that he would one day have the opportunity to compete against the stars from the PGA TOUR. “When I was younger, I did dream about playing in a PGA TOUR event. I’ve taken it week by week. This feels amazing. I just want to learn from the PGA TOUR players. When Gavin (Green) played here a few times, I’d come out to watch him as he’s my best friend. It’s going to be different this time, I’ll be the one holding the club and I’m going to enjoy it for sure,â€� he said. It was heartbreak for the second straight year for Amir, who finished third in the CIMB National Championship last year. He turned in 33 to reduce Kim’s lead to one and then caught his rival on the 16th hole with his sixth birdie of the day. However, he missed his opportunity with mistakes in the playoff. “It’s about luck once you get into a playoff. I would have done the same thing over again. I made a silly mistake on the green … can’t say anything about that now. There was also a stone under my ball in the bunker and the first putt was just too firm. It didn’t quite work out for me and I have to accept it,â€� said Amir. Effendy Shahul Hamid, CEO, Group Commercial Banking and Group Asset Management & Investments, CIMB Group, extended his congratulations to Kim. “We are delighted to have sponsored this competition as Malaysia’s top golfers compete for the coveted spot at the upcoming CIMB Classic 2018. Our heartiest congratulations to Kim Leun Kwang who played a solid game and showed tremendous skill to clinch the championship title. We look forward to having him represent Malaysia at the CIMB Classic 2018, where many of the world’s top golfers will compete for a total prize purse of US$7million. “The CIMB Classic has grown the game in Malaysia by inspiring and providing opportunities for top Malaysian golfers to be part of the PGA TOUR. Our commitment is to make the CIMB Classic an enjoyable experience for both golfers and non-golfers alike, and we look forward to welcoming all of them at TPC Kuala Lumpur again from October 11 to 14,â€� said Effendy. Kim will now have the opportunity to face PGA TOUR stars including 2017 FedExCup champion Justin Thomas, CIMB Classic defending champion Pat Perez, Keegan Bradley, Ryder Cup star Paul Casey, Japanese ace Hideki Matsuyama, 2017 Rookie of the Year Xander Schauffele and World Golf Hall of Fame members, Ernie Els and Davis Love III. Apart from this week’s winner earning a spot, the highest ranked Malaysian on the Official World Golf Ranking as of October 1 will also earn the right to play in the CIMB Classic which features an elite field of 78 players comprising of the top 60 available players from the 2017-18 PGA TOUR FedExCup points list, eight sponsor exemptions and the top-10 available players from the Asian Tour. Tickets for the CIMB Classic is also now on sale. For more details on ticketing prices and to purchase online, click here.
Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama and 2013 champion Dustin Johnson have confirmed their participation in the 2017 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions taking place 26 to 29 October at Sheshan International Golf Club, Shanghai. Since Matsuyama’s triumph at ‘Asia’s Major’ last October when he became the first Japanese player to win a World Golf Championship, he has gone from strength to strength, winning four times, including the PGA TOUR’s Waste Management Phoenix Open and, earlier this month, the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. He reached a career high ranking of number two in June and is currently lying in third place on the Official World Golf Rankings. Matsuyama won last year by a cool seven shots from Henrik Stenson and Daniel Berger. His rounds of 66, 65, 68 and 66 took in as many as 29 birdies, and he is relishing a return to Sheshan. Matsuyama said: “Sheshan has some very special memories for me. It was a great honor to become the first Japanese winner of a World Golf Championships and to do it against such a world-class field was very special. I believe the confidence I gained with such a big victory there has really helped me with my performances this year.â€� At the top of the world rankings, Johnson became the only man to have completed the WGC-Slam when he won both the WGC-Mexico Championship and the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play earlier this year.   Johnson, who suffered a back injury following a fall on the eve of this year’s Masters, returned to the winning circle last week at the PGA TOUR’s NORTHERN TRUST. He commented: “It is great that Hideki and I hold all the 2017 WGC titles between us, so we will both be gunning to win the final WGC of the year. I really look forward to returning to Shanghai and it always helps to be returning to a course where you have won before. The Chinese fans are awesome and bring a real energy and enthusiasm that always makes it really fun to play there.â€� Giles Morgan, HSBC Global Head of Sponsorship and Events, added: “WGC-HSBC Champions is our flagship event in global golf and an early announcement of two of the world’s best players is hugely exciting. Quality of field is the calling card for this tournament which has earned the reputation of ‘Asia’s Major’ and for the past three years we have attracted forty of the world’s top fifty golfers. Following recent heroics China’s leading players are truly coming of age at just the right time. This event means so much to them. It is their major. It first inspired them into the game then nurtured their skills. Now it gives this new generation a chance to unleash their talents against the world’s best. All in front their home fans. It’s a mouth-watering prospect.â€�  Ticket sales launch on www.HSBCgolf.com/buy-tickets-online. From daily passes to weekend family packages, and complimentary entry to juniors 18 and under, there is something for everyone. The popular Pinnacle Club will also return this year, a premium spectator experience for fans looking for an extra special way to enjoy world-class golf. Pinnacle Club guests will be able to enjoy the golf from a high-spec bespoke social and party platform on the golf course, offering excellent views of the action as well as top class hospitality and a unique atmosphere. For more details on the WGC-HSBC Champions and all ticket information, please visit www.HSBCgolf.com/mens or follow official WeChat account: HSBCChampions
