Home track ... Bogle expects Webb Simpson to fire at Quail Hollow. Source: Charlie Riedel / AP
The PGA Tour?s Zurich Classic of New Orleans continued its trend of first time winners on the weekend with Billy Horschel making it nine of the past 11 champions having claimed their maiden victory at the event.
It was particularly pleasing for Horschel who three weeks ago dueled with DA Points down the stretch at the Houston Open only to watch Points make a birdie at the final hole to pip him.
This time it was a complete role reversal with Horschel making a clutch 26 footer to beat Points and take the title.
Over on the European Tour it was a fantastic final round at the Ballantines Championship in Korea with Aussies Brett Rumford and Marcus Fraser plus Scotland’s Peter Whiteford all heading to extra time.
In the end it was Rumford who hit a magnificent long iron to the first hole of sudden death and then drained the putt for eagle to win. It was great to see "Rummy" back in the winner’s circle with the West Australian’s last win coming almost six years ago at the European Masters.
Both Rumford and Fraser will lead our Aussie contingent this week as they tee it up at the Volvo China Open.
Apart from those two all eyes will be on 12-year-old Ye Wocheng who qualified for the event a couple of months ago. He will become the youngest player to tee it up in a European Tour event.
Another local kid that has been making waves the past year or so is 15-year-old Chinese player Andy Zhang. Last year he became the youngest player to qualify for the US Open at the ripe old age of 14.
The PGA Tour heads to Charlotte in North Carolina this week for the Wells Fargo Championship. Just in its 10th year the tournament has built a reputation as an event not to be missed mainly due to the Quail Hollow course. The 7,442yd par 72 is a stern test and a stretch of holes you're sure to hear a lot about this weekend during the tournament, is the closing three which is dubbed "The Green Mile". They are mean with a watery par three wedged in between two long par 4’s.
My top 5 rankings:
I’ve got Webb Simpson on top of my picks this week. The U.S Open champion led going into the final round last year before closing with a one-over-par 73 to miss the playoff by a shot. Back in form with a playoff loss at Hilton Head a fortnight ago, this is also a home game for him as he lives just down the street from the golf club.
Phil Mickelson has the best record around Quail Hollow without posting a victory. In nine starts he has finished inside the top 10 six times with a runner up in 2010 his best. He has rested up since his last appearance which was Augusta where he finished a disappointing 54th.
Lucas Glover also has a great track record around Quail Hollow. He has played this tournament nine times, winning in 2011 while also finishing runner-up in 2009. He's coming off a good performance in New Orleans where he led for a long while before being overtaken on the final day.
You can’t leave out World No.2 Rory McIlroy, no matter how inconsistent he is travelling. The 2010 winner owns the course record of 62 which he shot on the final day in that victory while last year he lost out in the playoff to Fowler.
DA Points is one of the hottest players on the PGA Tour right now. He won Houston just on a month ago and on the weekend was pipped by Billy Horschel at the Zurich Classic. He finished runner up here a year ago.
My top Aussie is the only player to post a top ten at Quail Hollow in the last four years and that is Matt Jones. He played pretty solid last week in New Orleans where he opened with a 67 but wasn’t able to sustain that form over the four rounds eventually finishing in a share of 32nd. He was sill the top Aussie though.
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