Wesselingh Lifts The John Jacobs Trophy

Paul Wesselingh’s stunning performance in the MCB Tour Championship rounded off a dream 2013 campaign for the former club professional, who joins an illustrious group of players to win the John Jacobs Trophy. 

The 51 year old became the second Englishman in a row to lift the John Jacobs Trophy at Constance Belle Mare Plage, succeeding 2012 winner Roger Chapman, after winning four times, including the season-ending event in Mauritius, and recording five other top ten finishes. 

It completes a remarkable rise for the six-time PGA Cup player, who came through both stages of the Qualifying School at the start of the 2012 season to join some of golf’s most celebrated names, such as Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam, on the Senior Tour, then emulating their achievements in winning the Order of Merit. 

He made a seamless start to his new career last season, finishing tied second on his debut in the Mallorca Open Senior and then winning ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship the following month in just his fourth appearance. 

Wesselingh finished the 2012 season in fifth place on the Order of Merit, earning him the Rookie of the Year Award, and he built on those foundations this term, successfully defending his title in the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship. 

He then won twice more, in the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open and last month’s Fubon Senior Open, before sealing the John Jacobs Trophy in style with a final title of the year in Mauritius, completing back-to-back victories at the end of the season and becoming the first player since Boonchu Ruangkit in 2010 to win four times in a campaign. 

Wesselingh becomes the 14th different player to win the Order of Merit since the Senior Tour’s inception in 1992, ending the season a commanding €105,558 clear of Denmark’s Steen Tinning on the 2013 Senior Tour Order of Merit, with earnings of €311,644. 

It was the biggest winning margin of victory on the Order of Merit since Carl Mason’s record breaking third win in 2007, emphasising Wesselingh’s dominance. 

“I’m so proud to be able to hold the John Jacobs Trophy,” said Wesselingh. “To be able to play with so many great players over the last two years, who have welcomed me on to the Tour, is very special.

“The last two years have just been incredible. My life has changed so much. It is unbelievable, to play alongside guys such as Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam, who I watched for so many years on TV as a club pro. I idolised these guys and they were my heroes. It is wonderful just to play with them and it certainly upped my game.

“The names on this trophy is amazing. Now my name is on it too and it makes me feel so very proud.” 

Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: “It has been wonderful to see the arrival of Paul on the European Senior Tour and his success this season is just reward for the incredible amount of work he has put in, both prior to joining us and over the two years he has been with us on the Tour. 

“It is an amazing achievement to follow the Rookie of the Year in 2012 with the Order of Merit title and John Jacobs Trophy in 2013, and not only is he a great champion, he is also extremely popular with the sponsors, promoters and Pro-Am partners that he plays with, as well as his fellow professionals.”

Wesselingh also took the plaudits from his fellow professionals following his clinical performance in Mauritius. 

Fellow Englishman Chapman, the winner of the John Jacobs Trophy in 2012 and a double-Senior Major Champion, said: “I’m really chuffed for Paul. He has played the best golf this year, week-in, week-out this year. 

“It has been an impressive display from him. When he first came out on Tour, I thought he was fit, eager and he wanted it. I’m delighted for him

“I know myself what a big honour it is to win the John Jacobs Trophy, and he should be very proud.”

Tinning, who finished runner up to Wesselingh on the 2013 Order of Merit, was also full of praise for the Englishman’s success. 

“What Paul has achieved this year is tremendous,” he said. “I played with him for the first time in the first round in Mauritius and he showed no weaknesses. His overall game is superb. 

“He’s one of the top senior pros in the world right now. He’s showed it in Taiwan and he showed in here in Mauritius. It really is great stuff and you have to congratulate him on how he has played this year and on his achievement in winning the Order of Merit.”

Tinning trailed Wesselingh by €47,936 going into the season finale in Mauritius, meaning that he needed to win the MCB Tour Championship and rely on Wesselingh finishing outside the top seven. 

However, he could only manage a share of 20th position to end the year with earnings of €206,086, taking second place on the Order of Merit. 

Tinning has the consolation of succeeding Wesselingh as the Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Dane to earn the honour and only the third recipient from continental Europe, following José Rivero of Spain in 2006 and Italian Costantino Rocca in 2007. 

Simon P Brown, like Tinning a two-time winner in 2013, finished the season in third position on the Order of Merit with earnings of €181,492, followed by Spaniard Miguel Angel Martin in fourth with €181,349 and Australian Peter Fowler, the 2011 John Jacobs Trophy winner, in fifth with €174,993. 

Englishman Philip Golding overtook Scotland’s Andrew Oldcorn in the battle for sixth position, with Spaniard Santiago Luna, Paraguay’s Angel Franco and Englishman David J Russell completing the top ten. 

Colin Montgomerie, the 2010 European Ryder Cup Captain, ended his debut season on the Senior Tour in 11th position.

With This Win - Paul Wesslingh

His fifth European Senior Tour victory in just his 30th Senior Tour event. 

His fourth European Senior Tour victory of the season. They are: the ISPS HANDA PGA Seniors Championship, Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open, Fubon Senior Open and MCB Tour Championship. 

Is the first player to win four times in a single season since Boonchu Ruangkit in 2010. 

Won the Fubon Senior Open in his last Senior Tour appearance. Is the first player since Tim Thelen to win back-to-back Senior Tour events when the American won the 2012 Berenberg Masters and 2012 Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open. 

Wins the 2013 Senior Tour Order of Merit with €311,644. 

Becomes only the third Englishman to win four times in a single European Tour season. He follows: Tommy Horton (four in 1996 and six in 1997) and Carl Mason (four in 2003, five in 2004 and 2007). 

Becomes only the fifth player in European Senior Tour history to win four times in a single European Tour season. He follows: Tommy Horton (four in 1996 and six in 1997), Carl Mason (four in 2003 and five in 2004 and 2007). Sam Torrance (four in 2006) and Boonchu Ruangkit (four in 2010). 

Becomes the 14th different player to win the European Senior Tour Order of Merit since the first season in 1992. 

Becomes the fifth Englishman to win the European Seniors Tour Order of Merit, following Tommy Horton (1993, 1996-1999), John Morgan (1994), Carl Mason (2003-2004, 2007) and Roger Chapman (2012). 

Was Rookie of the Year in 2012. Becomes only the fourth player to win the Senior Tour Rookie of the Year award and John Jacobs Trophy. They are: Carl Mason (both in 2003), Ian Woosnam (both in 2008), Boonchu Ruangkit (both in 2010) and Paul Wesselingh (2012 then 2013). 

Is only the second player to win the Senior Tour Championship and Senior Tour Order of Merit in the same season, following Carl Mason in 2003. 

In his two seasons on the Senior Tour, was fifth in 2012 and first in 2013. From his 30 Senior Tour events he has won €503,307. 

Gains a place in the 2014 US Senior PGA Championship and 2014 US Senior Open.

Controversy shrouds Garcia's strong play in 2013

On the heels of Sergio Garcia’s victory at the Thailand Championship, let’s take this time to review what will forever be remembered as a controversial, tumultuous year for the man considered Public Enemy No. 1 in some golf circles.

On the course, it started with some strong play in a runner-up finish at the Qatar Masters, continued with results of 17th or better in his next eight starts, saw him contend at The Players Championship before losing that tournament in dramatic fashion, then spending the remainder of the year toiling in relative obscurity before claiming his first worldwide win in 364 days.

Garcia’s turbulent year, though, will be remembered for more than just the results. It will be remembered as the year he picked a fight with long-time adversary Tiger Woods, complaining about his playing partner’s perceived ill-timed club selection (even though video evidence showed otherwise), followed a few days later by a now-infamous racially insensitive comment during a European Tour banquet.

Garcia apologized and took his medicine, but his year was hardly a presentation on how to win friends and influence people.

Weeks later, he was serenaded with catcalls at the U.S. Open in reference to that “fried chicken” comment. For a player who can be overly sensitive at times, the backlash certainly didn’t help his performance.

Next year will mark the 15th anniversary of Garcia’s pursuit of Woods as a 19-year-old wunderkind at the 1999 PGA Championship, where he scissor-kicked and smiled his way into the hearts and minds of golf fans. We wouldn’t have guessed then that a 34-year-old version of this player would be sullen and still major-less, but that’s exactly where his journey has taken him.

Major victories by friends (and peers) Adam Scott and Justin Rose should have Garcia still optimistic that his time will come. The talent has always been there, but as 2013 proved once again his story has always been less about talent and more about missed opportunities and a failure to deal with them in the most professional manner.

No. 16 player to watch: Jim Furyk

With the PGA TOUR set to resume its 2013-14 season the first week of January, PGATOUR.COM is previewing the top 30 players to watch heading into the new year. We'll count down one a day in December until we unveil our No. 1 player to watch on Dec. 30, the Monday of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Check out this preview of No. 16 Jim Furyk and join the discussion below on how you think he'll perform in 2014.

NO. 16 PLAYER TO WATCH: JIM FURYK

2014 OUTLOOK: From 1998 through 2007, Jim Furyk won at least once every season except one. As he enters his 21st season on the PGA TOUR, the 43-year-old has had just one season of wins in his last five -- in 2010, he had three victories. Not that he hasn’t had his chances. Furyk finished second at the PGA Championship and had a half-dozen other top 10s last season. The year before, he had a pair of painful runner-up finishes at the U.S. Open and the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance. He also played well at the end of 2013 with three finishes in the top six in his last five starts. -- Brian Wacker

Michael Harradine wins Sharjah Open

Dubai: Michael Harradine shot a course record 68 to win the sixth Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club Men’s Open Championship on Saturday six shots clear of his nearest rival.

Harradine opened with a 71 on Friday but was under pressure from a number of players who were all within five strokes of the lead. However, five birdies and a bogey helped Harradine destroy the field on day two.

His second round 68 bettered the previous amateur course record held by Nathan Fisher by just one stroke, and in addition improved the men’s open championship 36-hole record by one stroke to 139, which was previously held by Andrew Marshall.

Second-placed Rayhan Thomas hit 73 and 72 to total 145, and Trevor Marshall finished third with two 73s.

Meanwhile, Jenny Ayres, Rosemary Turlik, Catherine Clark and Gillian Black recorded a net score of 60.9 with seven birdies to win the Ladies Christmas Scramble at Emirates Golf Club.

Jane Jones, Movana Sadek, Judi Ashcroft and Mimi Hosking finished second with 61.7 and four birdies. Lynne Dickinson, Martha Wong, Maema Maya and Najla Bertette came third with 61.9 after six birdies.

Elsewhere, Bilal Belaid won the men’s ‘MOvember’ Cancer Charity Championsip at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club with 37 points, while Michelle Larter’s score of 38 points was enough for her to take the women’s crown. The event raised Dh1,865 for the MOvember.com charity.

Garcia gets first win of 2013

Spaniard Sergio Garcia claimed a sensational four-shot victory at the Thailand Golf Championship on Sunday, thanks to a final round of four-under-par 68 which gave him a first victory of 2013.

The Ryder Cup star, who held an overnight four-shot advantage, held off world number three Henrik Stenson of Sweden, who also signed for a 68 in the US$1 million Asian Tour event at Amata Spring Country Club.

Frenchman Alexander Levy carded a 69 to finish third while India's Anirban Lahiri emerged as the joint best Asian performer by sharing fourth place with Japan's Yuki Kono (69), last year's winner Charl Schwartzel of South Africa (67) and world number four Justin Rose of England (72). Chapchai Nirat was the highest placed Thai golfer in tied eighth after a 69.

In a year which has seen him post 10 top-10s around the world, world number 19 Garcia, who is expected to rise to 10th in the world after picking up 38 world ranking points, produced some of his best golf to break his duck in front of massive galleries at the magnificent Amata Spring.

Stenson, winner of the European Tour's Race to Dubai and PGA Tour's FedExCup this season, trimmed the overnight lead by half at the turn but Garcia shifted into fifth gear with three successive birdies from the 10th hole to eventually cruise home comfortably and pick up his 21st Tour victory and fourth on the Asian Tour with his 22-under-par 266 winning aggregate.

"It was great, an amazing week .... obviously being the last week of the year and for having Katharina (Boehm) caddie for me," said the 33-year-old, who had his girlfriend on caddying duty here.

"I knew Henrik was going to make it difficult for me. He's been playing so amazingly great, and he did. He kept hitting good shot after good shot. And then when I bogeyed seven, I had to make a good par save on nine after getting a bit unlucky with the approach shot. And then I made three very important birdies on the first three on the back nine and gave myself a little bit of a cushion," added Garcia, who finished fourth here last year.

After safely hitting the floating island green on the par three signature 17th hole and finding the fairway on 18, it was only then that Garcia could enjoy the victory march up the final green.

"I pretty much knew that finishing par, par, the tournament was pretty much mine, and then just making sure I kept the tee shot dry on 18 and I hit a great second shot with a six iron, and once the ball came out of the clubface, I knew that I was pretty much done," said Garcia, who pocketed US$180,000.

Stenson, who has been enjoying dinners with Garcia throughout the week in Bangkok, lamented missed opportunities on eight and nine which would have drawn him level with the Spaniard.

"I've had a great year but coming here really on the fumes left in the tank, not too much going for me to perform in that sense. But I played really nicely yesterday and I was hanging in there today and I was just coming up a couple short," said the Swede, who has won three times since August.

"I needed something really, really good to happen on eight and nine but I didn't make those two birdie putts and Sergio was hanging in there, made one or two good saves and then he made three birdies in a row, and pulled away. Congratulations to Sergio on a great week. He played really well."

Playing in the last group with Garcia and Stenson, Lahiri got off to a bright start with a birdie on two but failed to build on any momentum with bogeys on eight and 14 leaving him in a share of fourth place.

"It was a disappointing round. I don't think I was as focused as I needed to be on the greens. I missed a lot of putts, especially on the back nine. I couldn't get any momentum. Any time I hit a good shot, I would miss the putt. It was probably my worst round of golf in three tournaments, so not a great time but still happy with the way I played this week," said Lahiri.

Rose failed to mount a title charge, missing some early opportunities to eventually settle for a share of fourth position to conclude a season which saw him winning a first Major trophy at the U.S. Open.

"It was like yesterday, hit it to four foot on the first hole and missed it, and then drove it in the bunker at the second. So, momentum was difficult, and the weather was very tough. But, I've enjoyed my week and I'm happy to put the clubs down for a few weeks but I thought it was a really fun tournament. It's been an amazing year," said the Englishman.

Stewart and Connor Cink lead Father/Son Challenge

ORLANDO, Fla. — Stewart Cink and son Connor birdied three of the last five holes Saturday for an 11-under 61 and a one-stroke lead in the Father/Son Challenge.

Stewart Cink made an 8-foot birdie putt on the final at Grande Lakes in the scramble event.

"We were a really good team out there," Stewart Cink said. "We had fun and fed off each other. This was a good time for us to spend together and it turned out today was a really good day of chemistry."

Steve and Sam Elkington were second.

Jack and Gary Nicklaus shot 63. The 73-year-old Jack Nickaus made a 10-foot birdie putt at No. 18.

"I helped (on) a hole!" Nicklaus said.

Defending champions Davis Love III and son Dru were another shot after a 64, tied with Vijay and Qass Singh, Hale and Steve Irwin and David Duval and stepson Dean Karavites.

Garcia Cruises To First Title Of Year In Thailand

Sergio Garcia carded a final round 68 to take victory in the Thailand Golf Championship and secure his first title of 2013.

The 33-year-old Spaniard, who fired a second straight seven-under-par 65 on Saturday, turned in a solid final round that featured six birdies and two bogeys to finish on 22-under - four strokes ahead of world No 3 Henrik Stenson.

The victory at the Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi is Garcia's first in a year with his last win coming at the Johor Open, an Asian Tour event in Malaysia last December.

"It's feels amazing," he said. "Obviously, I've been fortunate to play here three times, counting this one, and I've been getting better every year, but it was a great week from the beginning.

"They have taken such great care of us here and Henrik was pushing, he was pushing hard on that front nine.

"I made a couple of pars and he missed a couple of birdie putts. I'm just really happy to come through.

"I want to dedicate this win to my mum who had minor surgery early last week and is now recovering nicely and to my girlfriend who was with me throughout."

Sweden's Stenson, who recently made history when he became the first player to win the Race to Dubai and the FedEx Cup, matched Garcia's 68 in his final round for a closing total of 18-under.

Frenchman Alexander Levy shot a 69 to finish another four shots back in third place.

Last year's winner, Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, with a second straight 67, was joint fourth along with Yuki Kono of Japan, US Open champion Justin Rose,

Anirban Lahiri finishes tied fourth in Thailand

BANGKOK: Anirban Lahiri missed a fistful of make able putts to turn in his first over-par round and finish tied-fourth at the $1 million Thailand Golf Championships at the Amata Spring Country Club on Sunday. 

Spaniard Sergio Garcia (68), who had his girlfriend, Katharina Boehm as the caddie this week, held off World No. 3 Henrik Stenson (68) to win his first title of 2013. 

Garcia finished at 22-under 266 and stayed four clear of Stenson, winner of the FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai on either side of the Atlantic this year. Stenson was 18-under 270. 

Lahiri finished at 13-under 275, nine behind Garcia, but he was the top Asian Tour player. 

Tied fourth with Lahiri were US Open winner Justin Rose (72), the 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (67) and Japan Tour's young star Yuki Kono at 13-under 275. 

Gaganjeet Bhullar (70) was steady with four birdies and two bogeys to tie for 10th with Thongchai Jaidee (68) and Marcus Fraser (69) at 10-under 278. 

Sujjan Singh (75), tied seventh overnight, had a sharp fall to tied 30th, where he was in 2012 Masters winner, Bubba Watson's company. Sujjan roller-coaster ride had two doubles, four bogeys and five birdies. 

Jeev Milkha Singh (69) with six birdies and three bogeys, shot his best round of the week and moved up to tied 36th at four-under 284. 

"I had six birdies one each of the last two days, but only three on first two days and that tells the full story," said Jeev. 

Lahiri playing with Garcia and Stenson for the first time, was visibly disappointed at not being able to make a charge on the final day. 

"It was a disappointing round today. I don't think I was as focused as I needed to be on the greens. I missed a lot of putts, especially on the back nine. I made two bogeys today, and just one birdie. There are lots of birdies on this golf course to be made. So, not a great time but I am still happy with the way I played this week," said Lahiri. 

Lahiri, who has had one win and five other top-10 finishes this year, added, "It was a great experience playing with Rickie (yesterday) and Henrik and Sergio (today), to see how all the best in the world go about their business. Personally (today), I think the putter ran hot and cold. I'm looking forward to some time off, feeling a bit tired as well." 

Garcia was elated at closing the year with a win. "It was an amazing week, for everything, for obviously being the last week of the year, for having (girlfriend Katharina Boehm) caddie for me, for everything about it," said Garcia, who interestingly had won his last event for 2012, too. 

Stenson, who has had a sensational year, said, "It was a good week. I've had a great year but coming here really on the fumes left in the tank, (there was) not too much going for me to perform this week in that sense. But I made (up) really nicely yesterday and I was hanging in there and I was just coming up a couple short."