JB Holmes Wins the 2015 Shell Houston Open

It came down to another playoff finish this week at the 2015 Shell Houston Open. This time, it consisted of JB Holmes, Johnson Wagner, and Jordan Spieth, all who finished the tournament at 16-under, with a two shot lead over Russell Henley. The playoff consisted of two extra holes, where the par 4 18th was played twice. The first time, Holmes and Wagner settled for par whereas Spieth bogeyed. The second time, Wagner bogeyed and Holmes parred, for the win. This is JB's first win of the year and his first since the 2014 Wells Fargo Championship.

Holmes started his final round today six shots off the lead. Despite this, he fired off a spectacular round of 64, which consisted of 9 birdies and a bogey and a course record 29 on the front nine. He posted that good number early and watched the rest of the field chase him. Today was the second time JB's been in a playoff at the Shell Houston Open, his first was in 2009, where he lost to Paul Casey. This is also his second playoff of 2015. Earlier this year JB lost to Jason Day at the Farmers Insurance Open. He also stunned us all at the WGC Cadillac Championship by shooting a 10-under 62 on a day where a low 70's round was good. This time around, he sealed the deal, showing us again that he's found a new high-point in his career.

The Golf Club of Houston played a bit tougher on the weekend, where the scoring averages were slightly higher. This shook up the leaderboard throughout each of the rounds.  For example, top Canadian in the field Graham DeLaet was tied for 4th going into the weekend but finished T42 after a 75 and 73. Victor Dubuisson, one of our picks this week, shot a 78 on Saturday, but rallied back today with a 66. Even Scott Piercy, who shot a 63 in the opening round, dabbled in and out of the the top of the leaderboard each round.

As for our picks, here is how they finished:

1) Victor Dubuisson: T17 at 9-under (-9)
2) Patrick Reed: T17 at 9-under (-9)

I mentioned in the Weekend Update that Dubuisson had the best chance of winning out of my picks but not to count Reed out yet. In the end, they finished tied for 17th, partially due to Dubuisson's bad Saturday round (78), then excellent Sunday round (66), and due to Reed's good Saturday round (67) and okay Sunday round (73). It just goes to show you how funny this game of golf can be sometimes.

Next week is of course The Masters, but unfortunately we will not be able to cover it. We may be tweeting some news though so be sure to check our Twitter page (@TOGolfReviews) constantly next week.


-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

JB Holmes's excellent golf finally pays off this week

(Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports)

Dustin Johnson Wins the 2015 WGC Cadillac Championship

In just his fifth start on the PGA Tour after a 6 month haitus, Dustin Johnson has won the 2015 WGC Cadillac Championship at the Blue Monster course at Trump National Doral with a score of 9-under and a one shot lead over JB Holmes. This is Dustin's first win of the year and last win since the 2013 WGC HSBC Champions. 

With just several holes left in their final round, both Dustin Johnson and JB Holmes were tied at 8-under. You could say that this week, these two were some of the most identical players on tour. Both were in the final group today, both are some of the Tour's longest drives, and by some lucky feat both managed to make hole-in-ones yesterday on the same hole within twenty minutes of each other. (that's a story in itself) It's safe to say that one of these two had to win this week.

And that's just what happened. On the par 3 15th hole, Dustin made a birdie that would, at that time, put him two shots ahead of JB, who would then go on to birdie the next hole, closing Dustin's lead to put one shot. Two pars from either of them on the 17th and 18th were enough for Dustin to win with a final round of 69. Like I said before, many people speculated that it would take later than sooner for Johnson to win again after his absence, but he proved them all wrong this week. And it looks like that near-last place finish last week at the Honda Classic didn't affect him too badly.

Despite shocking the golfing world with a stunning 62 on Thursday, JB Holmes proved he was a little human throughout the rest of the week. He went on to shoot 73, 70, 75 the rest of the week, but going into today's round he did have a five shot lead. With four bogeys already carded, his only birdie today was his one on the 16th. He almost made a few more in the last couple of holes that would have forced a playoff.

Bubba Watson was in the mix towards the end of the final round as well. He started off the front nine with four birdies, but followed that up with three bogeys on the back nine. He finished solo 3rd after failing to convert some birdies on the final holes that could have forced a playoff as well.

The weekend was especially tough all around though. From the looks of it, more rounds were shot in the 70's on the weekend than during the week. Course owner Donald Trump stated that he wanted this tournament to play like a major, scoringwise, Gil Hanse's renovation of the Blue Monster course made that happen this week.

Finally, in his post round interview, Dustin Johnson said that his hiatus from golf has done him well and he's returned a new person, for the better. He walks away with a nice cheque, another PGA Tour win, a hole-in-one to his name, and maybe a little something more.

And just like that another week's gone on the PGA Tour. Stay tuned for our coverage of the Valspar Championship next week from Tampa Bay.


-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

Dustin Johnson proved to us this week he's a changed person (Photo:Wilfredo Lee / AP)

JB Holmes Goes Low at WGC Cadillac Championship

This week's PGA Tour event is the WGC Cadillac Championship which is being played at the Blue Monster course at Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida. Being a WGC event, it's hosts the top players in the world, specifically the Top 50 in the World Golf Rankings, as well as top players on respective tours. The tournament boasts a nearly $10-million purse with over $1.5 million going to the winner.

The Blue Monster course has historically been one of the tougher courses played on the PGA Tour. Just last year though, it was made even tougher by golf architect Gil Hanse, who brought water in play on a lot more holes and near some fairways. Just last year, the final (winning) score was a 4-under, albeit due to some poor weather conditions.

You can imagine then how shocked the golfing world was when none other than JB Holmes posted a 10-under (62) during the opening round of the tournament, good enough for a four shot lead. His rounded consisted of eight birdies and an eagle; he only came close to a bogey on the last hole, where he made an 8-foot putt to save par. In an interview afterwards, JB credited his low score to being able to hit the shots he had in mind as well as a hot putter, all of which result in a good round. Holmes is on record saying that he didn't like the old Blue Monster course because it was too easy.

To justify his 62, that's over 11 shots lower than the scoring average of the field, which was a 73.4. Combine that with the fact that he's up against the world's best golfers had said golfers stunned. Many of his fellow players, such as Luke Donald and Shane Lowry, jokingly wondered if they were even playing the same course. He also received much praise from fellow competitors

JB leads over Ryan Moore, who shot a 66; an excellent score in it's own right, but diminished by JB's round. He stated that the course was tough, but birdies were possible. Some notable rounds were Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell (+1, T27), Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler (-4, T3), Patrick Reed (-1, T13).

Unfortunately we weren't able to make any picks this week, but we'll still be providing updates of the tournament. Remember that there is no cut this week too since its a WGC event.


-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

How will JB Holmes play the rest of the WGC Cadillac Championship?

Jason Day Wins the 2015 Farmers Insurance Open

It really came down to the wire with this one, but Jason Day has won the 2015 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. Jason won a four man play off between J.B. Holmes, Harris English, and 2014 winner Scott Stallings. The playoff took two holes to decide a winner, the first was a replay of the 18th, where Day and Holmes advance with par. The 16th hole decided the winner, the iconic par 3, that's arguable one of the best par 3's in golf. Holmes stumbled with a bogey and Day won with a par.

This is only Day's third win on the PGA Tour, his last on being the WGC-Accenture Match Play last year. This may come as a shock to some since he's currently ranked 8th on the World Golf Rankings. We've said this before, but Jason Day has a habit of finishing in the top-10 or top-5 quite often, especially in majors. He's flown under the radar so many times that now, I'm not even surprised to see him in a top-10 spot. Nevertheless, it's good to see him win a tournament!

Day also becomes the first non-American winner of the Farmers Insurance since 2002 and only the second in over 50 years.


Even right up until the end, there were at least 15 players within a three shot lead. And with the changing weather conditions that we saw this week, the tournament really could have gone any way.
For J.B. Holmes, this is also a good finish. He's battled injury and surgeries over the past few years but seems to be in good form this year. On another note, the Farmers Insurance in particular holds a special place for him. After undergoing bran surgery in September of 2011, the 2012 Farmers Insurance Open marked the return of him to the PGA Tour post-surgery. His good finish this week just might put him into the top-50 of the World Golf Rankings.

Also, new PGA Tour member and Canadian golfer Adam Hadwin was on track to having a good week, but like to many other players this week, faltered during the last two rounds. Nevertheless, it's good a new Canadian golfer out on the PGA Tour!

Finally our remaining pick, Rickie Fowler, finished the tournament not too well at T61. He shot a 79 earlier today that included six straight birdies. Better luck to him in the future.

Next week, stay tuned for coverage of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am from Pebble Beach Golf Links in California,


-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

Jason Day Wins the 2015 Farmers Insurance Open