Tag → european tour

Fisher looks to maintain momentum

06 May, 10:34, by admin Tags: , ,
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(UKPA) – Apr 28, 2010

Five successive top-10 finishes have brought Oliver Fisher back from the wilderness, but to stay a European Tour regular this season the 21-year-old needs to keep the run going at the Spanish Open this week.

After a nightmare 2009 in which he missed 21 halfway cuts, lost his Tour card and then failed to survive the qualifying school, the Essex youngster has at last begun to head in the right direction again. Coach Pete Cowen, the man who helped Lee Westwood climb from outside the world’s top 250 to his current fourth spot, believes Fisher has the talent to go a lot higher than his current 189th.

But the big problem this year is how many chances he will get on the main circuit. “Because he didn’t make it through the school Ollie stays down the rankings this season and so isn’t guaranteed a start every week,” said Cowen.

It was only when he tied for fourth in Korea on Sunday that Fisher knew he had a spot in Seville under the rule that sees the top-10 finishers qualify for the following week’s tournament.

But he is not yet in the field for next week’s Italian Open and so it goes on.

Eighth in India, third in Kenya, second in Madeira and seventh in China in his four previous events show two things – Fisher has been clocking up the air miles, but he has also made it very worthwhile.

With over £230,000 banked he has probably done enough already to be sure of a full return to the circuit next year.

“At the start of the year I would have taken that,” said the player who in 2005 aged just 16 became the youngest Walker Cup cap. “Hopefully I can set some different goals now. I know the standard that I can play.

“It was a frustrating year for me last year, but it was just a matter of keep grinding it out and not giving up.”

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Popularity: 48% [?]

Maybank Malaysian Open

12 February, 08:54, by admin Tags: , , ,
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Anthony Kim

Anthony Kim

Day one of Maybank Malaysian Open and the the worldwide appeal brought to The European Tour International Schedule by The Race to Dubai is proved with a truly international field gathering at the Saujana Golf and Country Club.

After a week’s break following the three week ‘Gulf Swing’, players from all five continents have travelled to Kuala Lumpur to compete not only for the US$2 million prize fund, but also for further advancement in both The Race to Dubai standings and the Official World Golf Ranking.

Current world number 11 American Anthony Kim is headling the event, in the aftermath of his successful debut in the Ryder Cup in Kentucky last September. His presence in Malaysia will make a real difference because every golfer wants to compete against the best

Another good opening day for Oliver Fisher in Kuala Lumpar, managing a three under par first round. Ollie carded two-under from the front nine holes with birdies on both the 3rd and 4th, then three further birdies on the back nine leaving his score slightly reduced by bogeys on the 14th and 18th.

As we write, Ollie is T14 on day one, with Korean Noh Seung-Yul leading on an impressive ten-under-par having achieved nine birdies, an eagle and a single bogey.

Popularity: 90% [?]

Casey rediscovers winning touch in Abu Dhabi Championship

18 January, 20:10, by admin Tags: , , , ,
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Paul Casey took his first victory in two years with a final round of 70 making a stunning 21-under-par total at the Abu Dhabi Championship.

Starting the final day with a four-stroke advantage over Martin Kaymer, Casey, whose last win came in the same event back in 2007, survived a wobble on the back nine to gain a one-shot success over Kaymer and Louis Oosthuizen.

Englishman Casey began with consecutive birdies and looked in command after picking up further shots at the sixth and eighth to end the front nine in 34.

Yet another birdie followed at the 10th hole to open a six-shot lead but then looked worried as three bogeys in the next four meant he arrived on the 15th tee just one ahead of South African Oosthuizen, who had set the clubhouse target at 20-under-par after achieving a bogey-free round of 64.

Casey, however, parred the final four holes to hold off Oosthuizen and defending champion Kaymer, who eagled the last for a round of 67.

Oliver Fisher fell away from the leaders on the final day, having started T8 he managed to finish the last round with three-over-par. Four bogeys and a birdie meant that Fisher’s start of eleven-under-par on day four was reduced to eight, leaving him T37 overall.

Speaking about Thursday’s desert hailstorm in Dubai, Fisher said:“It was weird, weren’t it? We were all hiding behind the TV stand on hole No 4. It was pretty freaky.”
In the same interview with the Daily Telegraph, Ollie went on to say: “I need to get myself in that world top 50 as soon as I can. But the win’s the main thing. It’s the goal every week for me. I just wanna win.”
Fisher shrugged and said: “You learn from your mistakes. You have to learn to lose before you can learn to win, almost.”

Oliver Fisher Results

Round Scores = 67 – 69 – 79 – 75
Position = T37
Par = -8
Prize Money = €10148

Popularity: 61% [?]

Robert Karlsson takes Merit title

03 November, 14:10, by admin Tags: , , , , ,
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Robert Karlsson made history by becoming the first Swede to win the European Tour Order of Merit having seen his rivals fall away in the final round at Valderrama.

Lee Westwood still had hopes of claiming the Harry Vardon Trophy for the 2nd time, but Padraig Harrington and Miguel Angel Jimenez had already seen their chance of catching Karlsson slip away even before Sunday’s play at the Volvo Masters.

In the last three-and-a-half years I have taken myself to a new level. But this has been the hardest week I’ve ever experienced in golf.

Robert Karlsson

Westwood, back in the world’s top 10 for the first time in over five years was left to reflect on a season of near misses, as once again he faced disappointment on the final day of a tournament.
Westwood found himself in 2nd spot after three rounds, when only a win was good enough to deny Karlsson of the top spot – unfortunately for Westwood he didn’t even come close in the end.

Kjeldsen never stopped from the moment the Dane started with a blitzing round of 65, meaning he collected the first prize. While Westwood’s T4 with Garcia, 4 shots behind Kjeldsen, and Harringtons 13th place left Karlsson with the top money spot no matter what he achieved.

Order of Merit 2008

1 R Karlsson (Swe) £2,171,087
2 P Harrington (Ire) £1,953,689
3 L Westwood (Eng) £1,926,306
4 MA Jimenez (Spa) £1,641,849
5 G McDowell (N Ire) £1,477,195
6 R Fisher (Eng) £1,459,068
7 H Stenson (Swe) £1,428,947
8 M Kaymer (Ger) £1,425,677
9 S Garcia (Spa) £1,264,731
10 S Kjeldsen (Den) £1,144,815

Oliver Fisher finished a very respectable T25 in Valderrama tied alongside Thomas Levet who he had battled with back in March in Andalucia. With tough weather conditions, on the already tough course, Fisher managed to complete the 2nd round on par 71, and looked in good shape only to fall away in the final two rounds.

Ending his 2nd season on the European tour, he regained some of the quality form that bought him 3 top ten finishes and ended the 2008 European Tour Order of Merit at 51 – earning €594,587.

Having missed the cut at four out of the last seven tournaments, it looks like Fisher has regained that magical touch ready for the new campaign, after another hectic season of professional golf.
His achievements of course including posting the winning score in Andalucia back in March, where he was pipped at the play-off by Thomas Levet, just missing the chance to record his maiden tour win.

Finishing Valderrama, which was only open to the top 60 Order of Merit, ahead of the likes of Robert Karlsson, Ian Poulter & Oliver Wilson should give Fisher plenty of encouragement for 2009.

Oliver Fisher Results

Round Scores = 73 – 71 – 73 – 74
Position = T25
Par = +7
Prize Money = €44,500

Popularity: 65% [?]

Garcia secures a home win

26 October, 21:24, by admin Tags: , , , , ,
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Sergio Garcia claimed his first European Tour title since 2005 at the Castello Masters, securing his victory by three shots, and dedicating his victory to Seve Ballasteros.
Ballesteros, 51, is seriously ill in hospital following three operations on a brain tumour.
“I couldn’t help but think about Seve,” said Garcia. “I’m sending all my love to him and his family and hope he recovers soon.
“I hope this victory helps him to get a little better.”

Garcia, the host of the tournament on the course where he learnt his trade – commenced the final day with a four-shot lead and was rarely troubled even after an early scare.
Despite starting with a birdie, the Spaniard saw his advantage cut to just one when his playing partner Peter Hedblom picked up shots at the first four holes.
Garcia, beginning to look a little nervous and being watched by relations, friends and neighbours, hit a bogey on the short sixth, he was briefly caught by Hedblom.
He responded with back-to-back birdies and immediately re-established his lead.
The cushion over Hedblom was still two standing on the 17th tee, but Hedblom missed a five-foot par putt which ended the Swede’s challenge.

With both men ending the 18th with a par, although his worst round of the week, Garcia’s 67 was good enough to earn him the third of a €1,000,000 first prize.
“It feels absolutely awesome,” said Garcia. “I didn’t play amazing and when Peter had such a great start I thought these guys were not making it easy for me.

Oliver Fisher failed to make the cut, having started Friday at one under par, he looked in good shape on the front nine but hit back to back bogeys leaving him just missing out on the weekend’s play.

Oliver Fisher Results

Round Scores = 70 – 73
Position = T67
Par = +1
Prize Money = €0

Popularity: 61% [?]

Portugal Masters, Oceânico Victoria Golf Course Vilamoura

15 October, 12:46, by admin Tags: , , , ,
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This week the European Tour visits Portugal for the third time in 2008 for the Portugal Masters.

Robert Karlsson will attempt to extend his lead at the top of the Order of Merit, and match a record set by Tiger Woods, as he chases his third consecutive European Tour victory this week having won the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.

Also playing on the Algarve is Lee Westwood who still believes he can win the race to finish the season as Europe’s No1 – nothing less than a top-three finish will do.

This week it is the turn of Oceânico Victoria Golf Course, one of Oceânico’s famous five championship golf courses in Vilamoura, to welcome some of the top names in world golf all competing for the €3,000,000 prize fund at the Portugal Masters.

Having made its debut as a European Tour venue last year, and the 2005 World Cup host,  the Arnold Palmer design is flat and exposed, with fast and tricky greens.

Popularity: 50% [?]