Week 37 Winner

Y.E. Yang (ranked 52nd by Golf Predictor) made history by becoming the first Asian major winner at the US PGA Championship (European/US PGA Tour). The 37 year old South Korean held his nerve admirably to hold off a misfiring Tiger Woods by 3 shots. Woods, who had never previously lost a major having lead at the 36 or 54 hole mark, simply could not buy a putt on Sunday and slumped to a crushingly disappointing 75. Yang, on the other hand, set up his victory with a chip in eagle at the 14th and sealed it with a fantastic birdie at the last after a majestic approach with a wood from the first cut.

In a cosmopolitan leaderboard, the top six plus ties featured an Asian, an African, two Americans and five Europeans. Cheief among the Europeans was another strong showing from Lee Westwood and a best ever performance from young Rory McIlroy, both of whom finished tied for third place. Padraig Harrington had yet another calamitous eight, this time on the par 3 8th hole to drop right out of contention. In total, we had seven of the top nineteen plus ties (7/23).

Updates to Google Maps on Golf Predictor

The Google Maps used on Golf Predictor to display course locations (and hence Tour events and player itineraries) have been slightly updated. As shown in the screenshot above, the maps now have the larger zoom control and you can now also choose the map type. Finally, you can now also use the mouse wheel (in addition to double clicking) to zoom in and out.

2009 - Week 37 Prediction

The prediction for week 37, the US PGA Championship (European/US PGA Tour), is now available. Tiger Woods will be going for three PGA Tour victories in a row and Padraig Harrington will be more optimistic of defending his title successfully, despite the calamity on 16 yesterday.

The list of pre-2004 champions in the US PGA Championship (Golf Predictor uses the results from the previous 5 years) is long, given that it is a major. It stretches all the way back to Bob Tway in 1986.

Predictions Availability Change Reversal

Due to feedback from some Golf Predictor members, we have decided to reverse the decision to move the prediction generation to Tuesdays. We hadn't picked a good week to change, with the final major of the year taking place!

The predictions will once again be available at around the usual time (Monday afternoon, GMT) from now on. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

2009 - Week 36 Winners

Tiger Woods (ranked 1st by Golf Predictor) followed up last week's victory in the Buick Open by winning the WGC -Bridgestone Invitational (European/US PGA Tour) for the seventh time. Tiger clenched his 70th PGA Tour title in style with a birdie on 18 for a 65 (-5). After wiping out his three shot overnight deficit early on, Woods and the steady long time leader Harrington were neck and neck until the fateful 16th hole. After the pair were put on the clock for falling out of position, Harrington proceeded to make a number of rushed shots as he hacked his way up the par 5 "monster". He ending up taking a disastrous triple bogey eight after blading a flop into the water. Woods, on the other hand, birdied the hole despite also having been in trouble off the tee. That was courtesy of a brilliant 180 yard 8-iron approach to one foot, which forced him to wait quite a while until he could tap it in! While Harrington graciously accepted his time warning afterwards, Woods was unusually critical of the official's decision. Woods becomes the first golfer to win seven times on the same course in PGA Tour history. That will take some beating, but I fancy him to do it next year! Including the winner, we had eight of the top fifteen plus ties (8/18).

In the second string event on the US PGA Tour, John Rollins (ranked 9th by Golf Predictor) won the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open after a topsy-turvy even par final round. Rollins, who had been well ahead of the field since his record equalling 62 on Friday, ended up winning by three shots as he fired enough birdies to cancel out his bogeys (and worse!). Our top ranked player, Kevin Na, finished in tied 5th place and we had three of the top nine plus ties (3/13).

Bridgestone Invitational - Memorable Moments

Here are the memorable moments for this week's WGC - Bridgestone Invitational (covered by Golf Predictor). These moments include a young Olazabal announcing his arrival in America in spectacular fashion, the memorable shot in the dark from Tiger Woods in 2000, an epic tussle between Tiger and Jim Furyk in 2001, and, err, Tiger again, this time 'slightly' overcooking a nine iron and ending up on a roof in 2006!

Predictions Availability Change

Further to this post some months ago, we have decided to move prediction generation from Mondays to Tuesdays. This decision is due to the recent spate of late withdrawals which has resulted in inaccurate prediction lists and/or more work for us here at Golf Predictor!

On the European PGA Tour, the tournament field is usually finalised on a Tuesday when the draw is made. I suspect that it is similar on the US PGA Tour. Almost all the late withdrawals happen on the Monday, so this should alleviate the problem. The terms and conditions for the site have been updated accordingly.

2009 - Week 36 Prediction Update (Reno -Tahoe Open)

Due to a spate of late withdrawals (including our number 2 ranked player Ben Crane) and some late additions, we have re-run the prediction engine for the Legends Reno Tahoe Open. Interestingly, for the first time in such circumstances, we have a new top ranked player. This is due to the late addition of the new number one to the field.

The new rankings are now available on Golf Predictor. Note that you may have to refresh/reload the prediction pages to see the change.

2009 - Week 36 Predictions

The predictions for week 36, the WGC - Bridgestone Invitational (European/US PGA Tour) and the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open (US PGA Tour), are now available. Tiger Woods will be going for PGA Tour win number 70 and WGC - Bridgestone Invitational win number 7 on the back of a confidence boosting victory in the Buick Open on Sunday. Like Warwick Hills, Woods obviously likes the Firestone layout, which is ominous for his opponents. The second string tournament in Reno unusually has a European on the top of our rankings*.

The list of pre-2004 champions in the WGC - Bridgestone Invitational (Golf Predictor uses the results from the previous 5 years) is Darren Clarke (2003) and Tiger Woods (2001, 2000 & 1999). There corresponding list for the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open is Kirk Triplett (2003), Chris Riley (2002) and Notah Begay III (1999).


*Not any longer, since we had to re-run the prediction engine due to late withdrawals/additions!

2009 - Week 35 Winners

Last year's Qualifying School winner Oskar Henningsson (ranked 86th by Golf Predictor) became the second rookie to win on European PGA Tour this season. Despite a closing bogey, the Swede won his maiden title at the Moravia Silesia Open by two shots from Sam Little and Steve Webster. Our top ranked player, course designer Miguel Angel Jimenez, finished in tied 17th position and we had eight of the top seventeen plus ties (8/21).

On the US PGA Tour, Tiger Woods (ranked 1st by Golf Predictor) got over his missed cut in the British Open by winning the Buick Open. Woods overcame an indifferent first round to blitz the field in the middle rounds and finish with a bogey free 69 (-3). It allowed Woods to improve his already formidable record at Warwick Hills and capture his third title at what is possibly the last staging of the event. Including the winner, we had five of the top fourteen plus ties (5/17).