The third playoff event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs is set to start in just a few hours, The BMW Championship, which is being played at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver, Colerado (7,348 yards/par72). This is the last Playoff event before the final event; the Tour Championship. This tournament features the top-70 of the FedEx Cup points ranking and due to this has no cut. Tee times also start a little later. The top-30 after this week then move on the the Tour Championship next week.
Due to there only being 70-players, the field is dense with talent and packed with skill. We will see some very good golf being played this week and next week. On that note, here are our picks for the winner this year:
1) Justin Rose: Going on a lucky guess here
2) Webb Simpson: Maybe that Ryder Cup pick might give him some confidence?
3) Rickie Fowler: It's only a matter of time with him.
And new father Graeme McDowell is also in the field, we'll be watching him of course. Stay tuned for our weekend update!
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Thursday, September 04, 2014
Tuesday, September 02, 2014
2014 US Ryder Cup Team Confirmed
Just a few minutes ago, 2014 US Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson confirmed his twelve man squad for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, Scotland, which is being played from September 26th to 28th.
Here is the full squad on the US side:
2014 US Ryder Cup Team
Captain:
Tom Watson
Vice-Captains:
Raymond Floyd, Steve Stricker, Andy North
Team (qualified):
Rickie Fowler
Jim Furyk
Zach Johnson
Matt Kutchar
Phil Mickelson
Patrick Reed
Jordan Speith
Jimmie Walker
Bubba Watson
Captain Picks:
Keegan Bradley
Hunter Mahan
Webb Simpson
The US side also has a great team and will definitely not let the Europeans win without a fight. Let's start with Rickie Fowler, who is making his second appearance (2010 - captain's pick). As we've said many times on this site, Rickie is almost as hot as McIlroy at the moment, or it certainly shows that way. He's an asset to the team for sure. Jim Furyk brings experience to the team, making his ninth appearance this year, as does Phil Mickelson, who is making his eleventh appearance, and Matt Kuchar, making his second appearance. The US team this year also has a few rookies who have played their way onto the team this year in spectacular fashion; Patrick Reed, Jordan Speith, and Jimmie Walker (Speith is the second youngest team member in American history). Zach Johnson and Bubba Watson round out the nine who qualified, and are also assets to the team as well.
As for the picks, Keegan Bradley's game is consistent and very good at the moment, as he makes his second appearance. Hunter Mahan, is the most experienced of the picks and has experienced the highs and lows of the Ryder Cup, having lost the winning point to Graeme McDowell back in the 2010 Ryder Cup. Despite this, his match play record is outstanding and he'll be a valuable player to the team if he can put his bad memories behind him. Webb Simpson rounds out the picks as another consistent player and one with a very good record in his last inaugural Ryder Cup (2012).
It may be played only once every two years, but the Ryder Cup is without a doubt one of the most anticipated events in golf. As always it is sure to make for some great entertainment and feature a type of golf that we might not see on the regular tours.
We know the full teams now, but it's still hard for me to make a pick on who will win the 2014 Ryder Cup. As of now, I'm giving the edge to Europe, but just barely. It's hard to beat the spirit they bring to each Ryder Cup (as Poulter would probably agree). Don't count the US out though, they'll be looking for redemption after the 2012 Ryder Cup AKA the "Miracle at Medinah".
What do you think of the picks? Who do you think will win come the end of September? Leave a comment and let us know,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Here is the full squad on the US side:
2014 US Ryder Cup Team
Captain:
Tom Watson
Vice-Captains:
Raymond Floyd, Steve Stricker, Andy North
Team (qualified):
Rickie Fowler
Jim Furyk
Zach Johnson
Matt Kutchar
Phil Mickelson
Patrick Reed
Jordan Speith
Jimmie Walker
Bubba Watson
Captain Picks:
Keegan Bradley
Hunter Mahan
Webb Simpson
The US side also has a great team and will definitely not let the Europeans win without a fight. Let's start with Rickie Fowler, who is making his second appearance (2010 - captain's pick). As we've said many times on this site, Rickie is almost as hot as McIlroy at the moment, or it certainly shows that way. He's an asset to the team for sure. Jim Furyk brings experience to the team, making his ninth appearance this year, as does Phil Mickelson, who is making his eleventh appearance, and Matt Kuchar, making his second appearance. The US team this year also has a few rookies who have played their way onto the team this year in spectacular fashion; Patrick Reed, Jordan Speith, and Jimmie Walker (Speith is the second youngest team member in American history). Zach Johnson and Bubba Watson round out the nine who qualified, and are also assets to the team as well.
As for the picks, Keegan Bradley's game is consistent and very good at the moment, as he makes his second appearance. Hunter Mahan, is the most experienced of the picks and has experienced the highs and lows of the Ryder Cup, having lost the winning point to Graeme McDowell back in the 2010 Ryder Cup. Despite this, his match play record is outstanding and he'll be a valuable player to the team if he can put his bad memories behind him. Webb Simpson rounds out the picks as another consistent player and one with a very good record in his last inaugural Ryder Cup (2012).
It may be played only once every two years, but the Ryder Cup is without a doubt one of the most anticipated events in golf. As always it is sure to make for some great entertainment and feature a type of golf that we might not see on the regular tours.
We know the full teams now, but it's still hard for me to make a pick on who will win the 2014 Ryder Cup. As of now, I'm giving the edge to Europe, but just barely. It's hard to beat the spirit they bring to each Ryder Cup (as Poulter would probably agree). Don't count the US out though, they'll be looking for redemption after the 2012 Ryder Cup AKA the "Miracle at Medinah".
What do you think of the picks? Who do you think will win come the end of September? Leave a comment and let us know,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
2014 European Ryder Cup Team Confirmed
At 7:30AM EST this morning, the twelve players of the 2014 European Ryder Cup Team were confirmed by European Captain Paul McGinley. The 2014 Ryder Cup this year is being played at Gleneagles, Scotland (the second time the Ryder Cup has been played in Scotland)
Here is the full team as it stands:
2014 European Ryder Cup Team
Captain:
Paul McGinley
Vice-Captains:
Sam Torrance, Des Smyth, Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jose Maria Olazabal
Team (qualified):
Rory McIlroy (NIR)
Henrik Stenson (SWE)
Sergio Garcia (ESP)
Justin Rose (ENG)
Martin Kaymer (GER)
Victor Dubuisson (FRA)
Thomas Bjørn (DEN)
Jamie Donaldson (WAL)
Graeme McDowell (NIR)
Captain Picks:
Ian Poulter (ENG)
Stephen Gallacher (SCO)
Lee Westwood (ENG)
Wow, this is a very good team with lots of depth and character from it. You have Rory McIlroy, who's just white-hot on fire as of now with his two major wins and WGC win, making his third Ryder Cup appearance (2010, 2012). Henrik Stenson also had an amazing season last year, with both the PGA and European tour money lists, as well as having good major finishes his year. This is Stenson's third Ryder Cup appearance (2006, 2008). Then there's Sergio Garcia, who seems to always be a shot behind Rory and is a Ryder Cup star in his own right. This is Garcia's seventh Ryder Cup appearance (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012).
Justin Rose also played a major part in the 2012 European Ryder Cup team's comeback two years ago and is a top-level golfer as well as Martin Kaymer, who has won twice this year, including the US Open. Victor Dubuisson will be making his first appearance, but played will in the WGC match-play this year. Jamie Donaldson is also making his first appearance this year, well deserved without doubt. Thomas Bjørn also brings much experience to the team. Finally, Graeme McDowell is also a Ryder Cup hero and sealed the European team's with back in 2010, with a key putt.
As for the three Captain Picks, it was expected that Ian Poulter and Stephen Gallacher would be picked, Poulter simply because he is the embodiment of the Ryder Cup and brings so much energy to it, and Gallacher who literally played his way on the team with impressive golf this year, and especially last week at the Italian Open (this will be his 1st appearance and 1st on home soil). The name Gallacher is also famous in Ryder Cup history. Stephen's uncle Bernard Gallacher was a Ryder Cup non-playing captain back in 1991, 1993, and 1995, and played in eight Ryder Cups before. It was really between Lee Westwood and Luke Donald, who are both great Ryder Cup players. Captain McGinly said in his press conference that it ultimately came down to the form of the two players. This is Lee's ninth Ryder Cup appearance.
Within the next 48 hours, the last two vice-captains will also be picked by Paul McGinley. Stay tuned for that and for the American Ryder Cup team Captain Picks, later on this evening.
This should make for a very exciting Ryder Cup this year, come the end of September,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
UPDATE (09/03/14): Captain McGinly announces his last three assistant captains: Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and 2012 captain Jose Maria Olazabal.
Here is the full team as it stands:
2014 European Ryder Cup Team
Captain:
Paul McGinley
Vice-Captains:
Sam Torrance, Des Smyth, Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jose Maria Olazabal
Team (qualified):
Rory McIlroy (NIR)
Henrik Stenson (SWE)
Sergio Garcia (ESP)
Justin Rose (ENG)
Martin Kaymer (GER)
Victor Dubuisson (FRA)
Thomas Bjørn (DEN)
Jamie Donaldson (WAL)
Graeme McDowell (NIR)
Captain Picks:
Ian Poulter (ENG)
Stephen Gallacher (SCO)
Lee Westwood (ENG)
Wow, this is a very good team with lots of depth and character from it. You have Rory McIlroy, who's just white-hot on fire as of now with his two major wins and WGC win, making his third Ryder Cup appearance (2010, 2012). Henrik Stenson also had an amazing season last year, with both the PGA and European tour money lists, as well as having good major finishes his year. This is Stenson's third Ryder Cup appearance (2006, 2008). Then there's Sergio Garcia, who seems to always be a shot behind Rory and is a Ryder Cup star in his own right. This is Garcia's seventh Ryder Cup appearance (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012).
Justin Rose also played a major part in the 2012 European Ryder Cup team's comeback two years ago and is a top-level golfer as well as Martin Kaymer, who has won twice this year, including the US Open. Victor Dubuisson will be making his first appearance, but played will in the WGC match-play this year. Jamie Donaldson is also making his first appearance this year, well deserved without doubt. Thomas Bjørn also brings much experience to the team. Finally, Graeme McDowell is also a Ryder Cup hero and sealed the European team's with back in 2010, with a key putt.
As for the three Captain Picks, it was expected that Ian Poulter and Stephen Gallacher would be picked, Poulter simply because he is the embodiment of the Ryder Cup and brings so much energy to it, and Gallacher who literally played his way on the team with impressive golf this year, and especially last week at the Italian Open (this will be his 1st appearance and 1st on home soil). The name Gallacher is also famous in Ryder Cup history. Stephen's uncle Bernard Gallacher was a Ryder Cup non-playing captain back in 1991, 1993, and 1995, and played in eight Ryder Cups before. It was really between Lee Westwood and Luke Donald, who are both great Ryder Cup players. Captain McGinly said in his press conference that it ultimately came down to the form of the two players. This is Lee's ninth Ryder Cup appearance.
Within the next 48 hours, the last two vice-captains will also be picked by Paul McGinley. Stay tuned for that and for the American Ryder Cup team Captain Picks, later on this evening.
This should make for a very exciting Ryder Cup this year, come the end of September,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
UPDATE (09/03/14): Captain McGinly announces his last three assistant captains: Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and 2012 captain Jose Maria Olazabal.
Monday, September 01, 2014
2014 Deutsche Bank Championship Picks - Results
The final round of the 2014 Deutsche Bank Championship at the Tournament Players Club of Boston in Norton, Massachusetts has just finished and the winner this year is Chris Kirk, who won the tournament by two shots over Geoff Ogilvy, Russel Henley, and Billy Horschel. His final two rounds consisted of a 64 and a 66, which were good enough to make him win the tournament at 15-under (-15). This is Kirk's third PGA tour win and his first since 2013 (The McGladrey Classic).
With this playoff win, Kirk now leads the FedEx Cup Rankings (ousting Hunter Mahan from the top spot), having started ranked 17th earlier this week. Geoff Ogilvy and Billy Horschel have also played themselves into the BMW Championship next week, which features the top-70 in the FedEx Cup rankings as of the end of this tournament. Ogilvy moved from 100th (just making it into this week's event) to 24th, and Horschel from 82nd to 20th.
I think the FedEx Cup playoffs is a true test of a golfers skill and ability to work under pressure and its cases like those of Geoff Ogilvy and Billy Horschel that prove it. Both of these players had to have a good week in order to make it to the next level of the playoffs and the way they played this week showed that they were able to handle this pressure. These situations also and excitement and sometimes nervousness to spectators of the sport, given the fact that just a few extra shots here and there could determine so much. The stakes are very high during the playoffs.
Finally here is how our picks finished this week:
1) Rickie Fowler: T23 at 7-under (-7)
2) Keegen Bradley: T16 at 8-under (-8)
3) Phil Mickelson: T45 at 2-under (-2)
Good play from all the picks this week. All of them will also be playing in next weeks BMW Championship too,
Stay tuned for our coverage of the BMW Championship later on this week,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
With this playoff win, Kirk now leads the FedEx Cup Rankings (ousting Hunter Mahan from the top spot), having started ranked 17th earlier this week. Geoff Ogilvy and Billy Horschel have also played themselves into the BMW Championship next week, which features the top-70 in the FedEx Cup rankings as of the end of this tournament. Ogilvy moved from 100th (just making it into this week's event) to 24th, and Horschel from 82nd to 20th.
I think the FedEx Cup playoffs is a true test of a golfers skill and ability to work under pressure and its cases like those of Geoff Ogilvy and Billy Horschel that prove it. Both of these players had to have a good week in order to make it to the next level of the playoffs and the way they played this week showed that they were able to handle this pressure. These situations also and excitement and sometimes nervousness to spectators of the sport, given the fact that just a few extra shots here and there could determine so much. The stakes are very high during the playoffs.
Finally here is how our picks finished this week:
1) Rickie Fowler: T23 at 7-under (-7)
2) Keegen Bradley: T16 at 8-under (-8)
3) Phil Mickelson: T45 at 2-under (-2)
Good play from all the picks this week. All of them will also be playing in next weeks BMW Championship too,
Stay tuned for our coverage of the BMW Championship later on this week,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
Chris Kirk Wins the 2014 Deutsche Bank Championship (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Nobleton Lakes Golf Club Renovates Green on Woods #1
Here's a little local golf course news that's currently in the works. Nobleton Lakes, a golf course that we reviewed last year (and one I personally play often) is renovating the green on one of it's holes.
The hole is the 1st on their "Woods" nine, a 519-459 yard par 5 downhill slight dogleg right (see satellite image below). The renovation primarily includes resurfacing the entire green and fixing the greenside bunkers, among other things.
The green is expected to be completed for the start of the 2015 season, but the hole is still playable. A temporary green has been set up about 100 yards closer and is cut into the fairway. I last played the Woods nine just a few days ago and from what I saw, the new green so far looks very nice and looks like it might make for a nice challenge (as are most Nobleton Lakes greens) come next year.
We will definitely be playing the new green next year, so stay tuned for a review or update on it. We'll also be posting about any updates about the renovation too.
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
**UPDATES**
09/20/14: The green is pretty much finished as of now, but will not be playable until the start of the 2015 season, according to a marshal during my last outing there. It's also rumoured that the staff are really happy with the way the green turned out and that more greens might be renovates in the upcoming years.
06/22/15: For some reason, the green is still not playable. Work still appears to be going on in and around the bunkers. The hole still uses the temporary green set up on the fairway.
08/26/15: There is no more construction on the hole and it is playable.
08/13/20: The hole has been completed for a few years now. Recently had the chance to play it and was very impressed. Although there was a lack of fringe on the green, not sure if this is intentional or not.
Ariel View of Nobleton Lakes Golf Club - Woods #1 (photo via Bing Maps)
Also, be sure to check out our review of Nobleton Lakes Golf Club too by clicking HERE
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