Dawie van der Walt (ranked 96th by Golf Predictor) won the inaugural Tshwane Open on the European PGA Tour. The 30 year old South African won his first tour title on home soil with a solid final day performance, closing with a 67 (-5) to beat in-form compatriot Darren Fichardt by two shots. Our top ranked player, Jaco van Zyl, withdrew after round one and most of the bigger names in the field didn't perform. Overall, we had only seven of the top twenty one plus ties (7/26)*.
Michael Thompson (ranked 100th by Golf Predictor) won the Honda Classic on the US PGA Tour. On a weekend of difficult scoring conditions due to the wind, the 27 year old American finished two shots clear of Geoff Ogilvy to land his first tour title. However, events in Florida were dominated by the sudden withdrawal midway through a disastrous second round by world number one and our top ranked player, Rory McIlroy. After being +7 after 8 holes, McIlroy walked off the course after again finding water on his ninth hole. A subsequent statement blamed a hitherto unknown wisdom tooth problem for the withdrawal. His explanation seemed to have several holes in it and the mainstream and social media channels were only too happy to discuss it at length! World number two Tiger Woods failed to capitalise on this somewhat bizarre situation, finishing in tield 37th. Overall, we had seven of the top thirteen plus ties (7/17)**.
It is unusual for one top ranked player to withdraw for a tournament, but for it to happen in both events in the same week was unprecedented. At least van Zyl didn't have to put up with much media scrutiny! In a further co-incidence, the players who did end up winning had very similar rankings in their respective events.
*Due to several withdrawals and non-starts, Soren Kjeldsen gets promoted to the top 26 in our rankings.
**Due to a couple of withdrawals and non-starts, Rickie Fowler gets promoted to the top 17 in our rankings.
Michael Thompson (ranked 100th by Golf Predictor) won the Honda Classic on the US PGA Tour. On a weekend of difficult scoring conditions due to the wind, the 27 year old American finished two shots clear of Geoff Ogilvy to land his first tour title. However, events in Florida were dominated by the sudden withdrawal midway through a disastrous second round by world number one and our top ranked player, Rory McIlroy. After being +7 after 8 holes, McIlroy walked off the course after again finding water on his ninth hole. A subsequent statement blamed a hitherto unknown wisdom tooth problem for the withdrawal. His explanation seemed to have several holes in it and the mainstream and social media channels were only too happy to discuss it at length! World number two Tiger Woods failed to capitalise on this somewhat bizarre situation, finishing in tield 37th. Overall, we had seven of the top thirteen plus ties (7/17)**.
It is unusual for one top ranked player to withdraw for a tournament, but for it to happen in both events in the same week was unprecedented. At least van Zyl didn't have to put up with much media scrutiny! In a further co-incidence, the players who did end up winning had very similar rankings in their respective events.
*Due to several withdrawals and non-starts, Soren Kjeldsen gets promoted to the top 26 in our rankings.
**Due to a couple of withdrawals and non-starts, Rickie Fowler gets promoted to the top 17 in our rankings.
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