In a new regular column on Rotoworld, we reflect on the tournaments just gone and also take an early peek at the action ahead on the PGA and European Tours.
PGA TOUR
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Final Leaderboard
1. (-26, 262) Jon Rahm/Ryan Palmer (Odds: 18/1)
2. (-23, 265) Sergio Garcia/Tommy Fleetwood (Odds: 8/1)
3. (-21, 267) Kyoung-Hoon Lee/Matt Every (Odds: 150/1)
3. (-21, 267) Brian Gay/Rory Sabbatini (Odds: 66/1)
5. (-20, 268) Seamus Power/David Hearn (Odds: 100/1)
5. (-20, 268) Roberto Castro/Cameron Tringale (Odds: 175/1)
5. (-20, 268) Kevin Kisner/Scott Brown (Odds: 28/1)
5. (-20, 268) Hank Lebioda/Curtis Luck (Odds: 175/1)
Notes: The top two teams were short in the betting but four of the other combos listed were 100/1 or higher.
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Fate of the favorites
MC (-7,137 ) Adam Scott/Jason Day (Odds: 7/1)
2. (-23, 265) Sergio Garcia/Tommy Fleetwood (Odds: 8/1)
MC (-7, 137) Patrick Cantlay/Patrick Reed (Odds: 12/1)
1. (-26, 262) Jon Rahm/Ryan Palmer (Odds: 18/1)
Notes: Two of the first three in the betting missing the cut was a stark reminder of the volatility of this event.
Coming up this week…
Wells Fargo Championship
Location: Quail Hollow. 7,554 yards, par 71.
Notes: Quail Hollow ranked as the fifth-toughest course on TOUR last season. Harman’s victory two years ago came at Eagle Point due to Quail Hollow hosting the PGA Championship later that season. Justin Thomas took that event with 8-under, finishing two in front of Francesco Molinari, Louis Oosthuizen and Patrick Reed.
Who’s playing? Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Paul Casey, Jason Day, Tony Finau, Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Phil Mickelson, Gary Woodland, Hideki Matsuyama, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson.
Last 5 winners
2018 (-12, 272) Jason Day – 12th PGA TOUR win
2017 (-10, 278) Brian Harman – 2nd PGA TOUR win
2016 (-9, 279) James Hahn – 2nd PGA TOUR win
2015 (-21, 267) Rory McIlroy – 11th PGA TOUR win
2014 (-14, 274) J.B. Holmes– 3rd PGA TOUR win
Notes: The last five were either multiple winners or had at least one victory. However, Rickie Fowler and Derek Ernst were without a PGA TOUR success before winning in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
EUROPEAN TOUR
Trophee Hassan II
Final Leaderboard
1. (-9, 283) Jorge Campillo (Odds: 22/1)
2. (-7, 285) Sean Crocker (Odds: 75/1)
3. (-7, 285) Julian Suri (Odds: 25/1)
3. (-7, 285) Erik van Rooyen (Odds: 28/1)
5. (-5, 287) David Lipsky (Odds: 55/1)
Notes: Three well-fancied players in the top five as single digits under par at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam was the winning score for the fourth year running. Campillo finally won his first European Tour event at the 229th time of asking after a string of recent near misses.
Coming up this week…
Volvo China Open
Location: Genzon GC, Shenzhen, China. 7,145 yards, par 72.
Notes: A return to Genzon for the first time since the event was played for the only time there in 2014. Top 5 from then? 1. Alexander Levy, 2. Tommy Fleetwood, 3. Alvaro Quiros, 4. Francesco Molinari, T5 Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter, Anders Hansen. Pretty classy! Also note that Genzon was used for the Shenzhen International in 2015, 2016 and 2017 so we have four years of course form to peruse. The winners of those Shenzhen events were Bernd Wiesberger, Soomin Lee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
Who’s playing? HaoTong Li, Jorge Campillo, Julian Suri, Alexander Levy, Erik van Rooyen, Jordan Smith, Paul Dunne, Alexander Bjork, Thomas Detry, Ross Fisher, Scott Hend.
Last 5 winners
2018 (-18, 270 – Topwin G&CC) Alexander Bjork – 1st European Tour win
2017 (-17, 271 – Topwin G&CC) Alexander Levy – 4th European Tour win
2016 (-22, 266 – Topwin G&CC) HaoTong Li – 1st European Tour win
2015 (-9, 279 – Tomson GC) Ashun Wu – 1st European Tour win
2014 (-19, 269 – Genzon GC) Alexander Levy – 1st European Tour win
Notes: The last five winners have either been Chinese or called Alexander! It’s also a good tournament for first-timers, with four of the last five making it the scene of their breakthrough win.
