Monday 26 October 2009

2009 - Week 48 Predictions Online

The predictions for week 48, the Viking Classic (US PGA Tour), the Barclays Singapore Open (European PGA Tour) and the Volvo World Match Play (European PGA Tour), are now available. Even though Golf Predictor is designed for stroke play events, we put the resurrected Volvo World Match Play through our wringer too!

The list of pre-2004 champions (Golf Predictor uses the results from the previous 5 years) in the Viking Classic includes Cameron Beckman (2001) and Steve Lowery (2000). Lee Westwood (2000) is the only pre-2004 champion playing in the Volvo World Match Play and although the Barclays Singapore Open is debuting on the European PGA Tour this year, it has been on the Asian Tour for some years. Adam Scott (2006 & 2005) and Thaworn Wiratchant are the past champions playing there this week.

2009 - Week 47 Winners

Michael Jonzon (ranked 82nd by Golf Predictor) won for the first time in twelve years on the European PGA Tour at the Castello Masters Costa Azahar. The Swede, who needed to finish in the top two to secure his card for next year, survived a nervy closing stretch to hold off defending champion Sergio Garcia and the returning Martin Kaymer. Garcia was our top ranked player and finished in fourth place. In total, we had five of the top eight plus ties (5/11).

It was a similar story on the US PGA Tour, where Troy Matteson (ranked 65th by Golf Predictor) tried his best not to secure his second US PGA Tour victory at the Frys.com Open. Matteson bogeyed the final two holes to fall into a three way play-off with Jamie Lovemark and Richie Fowler. However, he managed to prevail with a splendid approach to the second extra hole to two feet for birdie. Our top ranked player, Mike Weir, finished in tied sixth and we had eight of the top thirteen plus ties (8/22) in total.

Wednesday 21 October 2009

2009 - Week 47 Prediction - Slight Update

Jeev Milkha Singh has been removed from the predictions for the Frys.com Open (US PGA Tour) as he is no longer in the field. The updated prediction list for that event is now available on Golf Predictor.

Monday 19 October 2009

2009 - Week 47 Predictions Online

The predictions for week 47, the Frys.com Open (US PGA Tour) and the Castello Masters Costa Azahar (European PGA Tour), are now available. Martin Kaymer makes a welcome return to action in Spain after his karting accident. He'll have a job dethroning local boy Sergio Garcia though!

As both tournaments are relatively new, there are no pre-2004 champions playing this week (Golf Predictor uses the results from the previous 5 years).

2009 - Week 46 Winners

Lee Westwood (ranked 1st by Golf Predictor) made a welcome return to the winner's circle at the Portugal Masters on the European PGA Tour. The English man finished with an impressive 66 to win by two from Francesco Molinari and assume the lead in The Race to Dubai standings. Including the winner, we had six of the top twelve plus ties (6/15).

On the US PGA Tour, Martin Laird (ranked 60th by Golf Predictor) secured his maiden US PGA Tour victory at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals Open. It took three extra holes for the Scot to triumph over Chad Campbell and George McNeill in a play-off after the trio finished on nineteen under par. Our top ranked player, Jim Furyk, finished a shot back in tied fourth. In an event where a lot of the bigger names failed to perform, we had four of the top fourteen plus ties (4/18) in total.

Friday 16 October 2009

Justin Timberlake Shriners for Children Open - Memorable Moments

Here are the memorable moments for this week's US PGA Tour event, the Justin Timberlake Shriners for Children Open (covered by Golf Predictor). These moments include maiden tour victories for Tiger Woods and Jum Furyk and an incredible 59 by Chip Beck. The video also features some footage of the tournament host, so be warned if you don't like him!

Monday 12 October 2009

2009 - Week 46 Predictions Online

Apologies for the delay in publishing this post. The predictions for week 46, the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (US PGA Tour) and the Portugal Masters (European PGA Tour), are now available.

The list of pre-2004 champions playing in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (Golf Predictor uses the results from the previous 5 years) includes Stuart Appleby (2003), Jim Furyk (1999, 1998 & 1995) and Davis Love III (1993). The Portugal Masters is only in its third year.

2009 - Week 45 Winner

Ross McGowan (ranked 20th by Golf Predictor) built on a brilliant third round of 60 to win the Madrid Masters. The English man was seven clear starting the final day, but he had to survive a strong challenge from Mikko Ilonen (ranked 93rd) to record his maiden victory on the European PGA Tour. Our top ranked player, Sergio Garcia, finished in tied 17th position after a lacklustre weekend. In total, we had nine of the top seventeen plus ties (9/20).

Due to the Presidents Cup, there was no event the US PGA Tour last week.

Tuesday 6 October 2009

2009 - Week 45 Prediction Available

The prediction for week 45, the Madrid Masters (European PGA Tour), is now available. There is no event on the US PGA Tour this week. However, Fred Couples and the newly single Greg "Narcissist" Norman lead strong teams in the President's Cup between the USA and the rest of the world (less Europe).

The list of pre-2004 champions playing in the Madrid Masters* (Golf Predictor uses the results from the previous 5 years) consists of Ricardo Gonzales (2003).


*The Madrid Masters took over from the Open de Madrid last year. Since they share the calendar slot, city and occasionally the same course, we count this as the same tournament for statistical analysis purposes.

Monday 5 October 2009

2009 - Week 44 Winners

Simon Dyson (ranked 13th by Golf Predictor) built on a brilliant start on the final day to win the weather delayed Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. The English man was six under after his first seven holes on Monday and easily held on for his fourth victory on the European PGA Tour. Our top ranked player, Padraig Harrington, rallied in the final round, but could only finish in tied 26th position. In total, we had five of the top nine plus ties (5/15)*.

On the US PGA Tour, Matt Kuchar (ranked 16th by Golf Predictor) ended his seven year dry spell by winning the Turning Stone Resort Championship in a play-off. Kuchar overcome the dogged challenge of Vaughn Taylor (ranked 57th) at the sixth extra hole. Our top ranked player, Robert Allenby bombed and missed the cut, finishing in a tie for 100th place. In total, we had six of the top fifteen plus ties (6/17).


*Gonzalo Fdez-Castano withdrew, so we don't count him in the performance analysis.

2009 - Week 45 Prediction Delay

Due to the weather delay in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and to a lesser extent, the unfinished play-off in the Turning Stone Resort Championship, the prediction for this week's event (Madrid Masters) will be late.

We will have our prediction on Golf Predictor as soon as all the necessary data is available to us, probably early tomorrow (Tuesday).