TOUR WRAP
Rahm & Henderson Win In The U.S. Australia’s Min Woo Lee Second In Dubai
PGA TOUR:
The American Express
Rahm Scores Back-To-Back PGA Tour Wins
Jon Rahm won The American Express by two shots at Pete Dye’s Stadium Course, La Quinta, California. It was the 28-year-old Spaniard’s second win in as many starts after claiming the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii two weeks ago. Rahm produced rounds of 64, 64, 65 and 68 to reach 27-under. The 2021 US Open champion edged Davis Thompson by one shot. Rahm was near flawless for the four rounds scoring just three bogeys for the week. He moved one shot clear of Thompson at the 16th hole when he drained a clutch birdie putt from eight feet and then closed out with solid pars at the finishing two holes to maintain his margin. Rahm now boasts nine PGA Tour wins.
Thompson carded a final round 3-under 69 to finish in solo second place at 26-under. It was the 23-year-old’s best result on the PGA Tour eclipsing his previous best performance, a T9 at the Fortinet Championship last September.
Xander Schauffele produced the shot of the week when he scored an albatross at the par 5, 5th hole on Sunday. The 29-year-old American holed out his second shot with his 4-iron approach from 226 yards. It was the 132nd albatross on the PGA Tour since 1983. Schauffele the peeled off seven birdies in 11 eleven holes to sign for a stunning 10-under 62 that got him to 25-under and in a share of third place with compatriot Chris Kirk (64).
World No. 2 Scottie Scheffler was within an inch of overtaking Rory McIlroy in golf’s top position. The 26-year-old American would have returned to world No. 1 with a T9 or better finish at La Quinta. Scheffler narrowly missed a birdie putt from 21 feet at the final hole to achieve the feat. Scheffler closed with a final round 5-under 67 to get to 22-under and finish in a tie for 11th place.
South Africa’s Garrick Higgo produced his career best birdie streak with seven birdies in a row starting at the 10th hole during his superb 9-under 63 final round to finish in a tie for 11th place at 22-under.
The PGA Tour remains in California for next week’s Farmers Insurance Open to be staged at Torrey Pines Golf Course. America’s Luke List is the defending champion.
Final Scores
The American Express
1. Jon Rahm -27
2. Davis Thompson -26
T3. Xander Schauffele -25
T3. Chris Kirk -25
5. Taylor Montgomery -24
Australians
T18. Jason Day -20
T21. Harrison Endycott -19
T50. Aaron Baddeley -14
MC. Cam Davis
(Photo credit:Meg Oliphant /Getty Images)
LPGA TOUR
Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions
Henderson Stunning Wire-To-Wire Victory At Season Opener
Canada’s Brooke Henderson opened the New Year in style winning the LPGA Tour’s season opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. The 25-year-old was always in control at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, Florida, claiming a four-shot victory after holding a three-shot lead into Sunday. The world No. 7 posted a 2-under final round to reach 16-under. Sunday marked her 16th consecutive round under par in the Tournament of Champions event. Henderson owns 13 LPGA titles.
Sweden’s Maja Stark and England’s Charley Hull finished in a tie for second place at 12-under. Both players signed for a 3-under 69 on Sunday. World No. 2 Nelly Korda finished one shot further back in solo fourth place after her even par round left her on 11-under. There were no Australians in the field.
The LPGA Tour resumes on February 23 for the Honda LPGA Thailand to be staged at Siam Country Club. Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen is the defending champion.
Final Scores
Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions
1. Brooke Henderon -16
T2. Maja Stark -12
T2. Charley Hull -12
4. Nelly Korda -11
5. Nasa Hataoka -9
No Australians
DP WORLD TOUR
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Perez Claims Rolex Series Title in Dubai
Victor Perez endured a dramatic final hole at Yas Links to narrowly secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship by one shot. The 30-year-old Frenchman took a two-shot lead into the final hole after holing out a bunker shot at the 17th hole for an unlikely birdie. Perez then made meal of the par 5, final hole, finding the native area along the journey to close with a bogey. It was the third DP World title for Perez and his maiden Rolex Series victory. Perez fired a final-round 66 to get to 18-under.
Australia’s Min Woo Lee and Sweden’s Sebastian Soderberg took a share of second place at 17-under. Lee, who was searching for his third DP World title, closed with a 4-under 68. The 24-year-old nearly forced a playoff with his eagle attempt at the final hole pulling up two feet short of the cup. Lee was the only player in the field to post all four rounds in the 60s.
Tour veteran Padraig Harrington finished at 16-under and in solo fourth place. The 51-year-old from Ireland produced a 5-under 67 final round.
The DP World Tour remains in Dubai for next week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic to be staged at Emirates Golf Club. Norway’s Viktor Hovland is the defending champion.
Final Scores
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
1. Victor Perez -18
T2. Min Woo Lee -17
T2. Sebastian Soderberg -17
4. Padraig Harrington -16
T5. Alex Noren -14
T5. Francesco Molinari -14
Other Australians
T7. Jason Scrivener -13
