TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

From the PGA tour: RSM Classic continues early PGA Tour season trend

Since the beginning of the 2016 PGA Tour season on Oct

Dale Dhillon (The Jakarta Post)
Sea Island, Georgia
Thu, November 26, 2015

Share This Article

Change Size

From the PGA tour: RSM Classic continues early PGA Tour season trend

S

ince the beginning of the 2016 PGA Tour season on Oct. 15, first time champions have made their fellow veterans seem rather ordinary by winning six out of seven events.

American Kevin Kisner was the latest to make this leap with a dominating performance that decimated the field with his 6 stroke win at the RSM Classic (Sea Island Resort, Seaside Course, par 71) Sea Island, Georgia. Kisner took a 3 stroke lead at 16 under par over fellow American Kevin Chappell after three rounds.

The 31-year-old Kisner made his mark earlier in 2015 finishing 2nd at the marquee Players Championship. He finished a bridesmaid once again on Nov. 5 at the WGC Shanghai. When asked after the 3rd round how he'€™d get over the hump and finally win, Kisner said: '€œWhat I'€™ve learned is you just can'€™t hold back on this tour. Any time you think you'€™re doing great, somebody else is too. I'€™m just going to try to keep making birdies. I'€™ll put a number of 20, 21 in my head and see if they can catch that one.'€

In Sunday'€™s final round it took the amazing Kisner only 9 holes to get to 21 under par with 5 birdies on the front 9. He posted a 1 under par on the back 9 comfortably leading him to glory at 22 under and leaving his pursuers scratching their heads. Since he'€™d finished 2nd on multiple occasions Kisner was asked after his win if he'€™d ever doubted he could win: '€œNo. Never crossed my mind, because in my previous four years on tour I never felt like I had the game to win. I wasn'€™t playing well enough to win,'€ said Kisner. Acutely mindful of the quality of players on the PGA Tour, Kisner would later say: '€œYou got to feel like you belong or you'€™ll get run over.'€

Kisner'€™s mother was accidently struck by the golf ball during the tee shot of his playing partner Northern Ireland'€™s Graeme McDowell on the seventh hole. She wasn'€™t hurt and kicked the ball into the fairway. When Kisner walked over to her he amusingly said: '€œNext time aim your foot toward those bushes over there.'€

The first winner this season was Argentina'€™s Emiliano Grillo who captured his maiden victory at the Frys.com event in Napa, California through a playoff win over American Kevin Na.

The 23-year-old rookie was so elated with his victory that he said: '€œThere is no word to put in to explain this. This is the greatest moment of my life golf-wise.

Another rookie, 23-year-old American Smylie Kaufman won the second event, the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas, California. Following this, the Tour practically moved halfway around the world to Malaysia where another American, Justin Thomas would capture his first PGA Tour win at the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur.

The 22-year-old Thomas who made US$2.2 million in the recently concluded 2015 season without a win would say: '€œI expected to win a lot sooner than this, honestly. I always had high expectations for myself, and I definitely played well enough last year in some events to win.'€

It took the PGA Tour'€™s return to American soil next in Jackson, Mississippi for 28-year-old American Peter Malnati to capture his first win on tour at the Sanderson Farms Championship.

The highest profile event of the young season was next in Shanghai, China with the 30-year-old Scotsman Russell Knox making his mark to capture the WGC Championships '€” HSBC Champions.

Russell edged out Kisner for his first triumph on the PGA Tour along with a $1.4 million winner'€™s bounty. It was finally a veteran Tour player'€™s turn to win when Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell captured his third career PGA Tour win at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. McDowell incidentally beat Russell Knox in a playoff.

It should be noted that Kevin Kisner is the most consistent player to have won this season. He posted 14 out of 16 rounds under par and almost won two out of the four events he'€™s entered.

With his win Kisner is now ranked 17th in the world and was asked if he considered himself a top 20 player: '€œIf I play the way I have I feel like a top 20 player, absolutely.'€
______________________________

The writer can be reached at dhillond@bellsouth.net

{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.