Florida Golf Break

Our recent golf holiday in Florida was superb and thus I thought I would write to express my thanks for all of the hard work that went in to organising the trip. Read more

Rose blooming in Florida as Justin takes Transitions lead

Justin Rose shot a second successive round of 65 to take a one shot lead into the final round of The Transitions Championship at Inisbrook, Florida.

Rose’s bogey-free third round saw the US-based Englishman finish on 13-under par 200, one ahead of Brendon de Jonge, who shot a third round 66 – also his second in succession. De Jonge tied with Webb Simpson on 12-under par, after Simpson had shot a third successive 67, and the duo are one shot ahead of Scott Stallings and Gary Woodland.

It should be advantage Rose in the final round, as he is the only previous Tour winner in the top five placings following two wins in 2010, but a host of challengers are hot on his heels.

Among a four-way tie for sixth are last week’s WGC-Cadillac Championship winner Nick Watney, alongside Brandt Snedeker, Garrett Willis and Chris Couch; while Jonathan Byrd shares tenth spot on 9-under par with Scot Martin Laird and Roland Thatcher.

Rose needed a spate of birdies late on his second round to survive the half-way cut, and he got them with five gains on the back nine. Now he has now roared into the lead, courtesy of a third round that saw five birdies on the front nine, and another on the 18th.

Meanwhile Sergio Garcia – in contention throughout the first two rounds shot 72 to slip six off the lead, alongside tipster pick Zach Johnson on 7-under; a score also shared by defending champion Jim Furyk.

Germany’s world number one, Martin Kaymer, carded a third round 71 to take a share of 37th place, and out of contention on 4-under par.

Transitions Championship Betting Preview

The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Country Club, Tampa Bay, Florida is the scene of this week’s PGA Tour event – The Transitions Championship, won last year by Jim Furyk.

The course plays as a relatively long par-71 at a shade under 7,400 yards and is one of the toughest on the PGA Tour. Course form is a big plus here, with past winners all performing well in Florida events previously.

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Furyk finally wins again

Only one week after Ernie Els brought his long losing streak to an end, it was the turn of another PGA Tour veteran to wander back onto the winner’s trail. This time it was Jim Furyk’s turn to come home in front at the PGA Tour’s Transitions Championship in Florida and bring to an end a title drought lasting almost three years.

Furyk finished one shot ahead of South Korea’s KJ Choi after seemingly in command throughout the day’s rain-delayed final round and the American Ryder Cup star stood on the final tee with a two-shot lead. But an attack of nerves threatened to undo Furyk’s title hopes and the player drove into the trees off the tee. Furyk’s second shot almost brained NBC reporter and former PGA professional Roger Maltbie and the player eventually settled for a bogey to close out the round.

Furyk had made life tough for himself before the last hole however, after he failed to find the green in regulation on any of the closing three holes but managed to save par on both the 16th and 17th holes. Indeed, Furyk’s putter kept him ahead of Choi as he threatened to throw the title away during the nervy run-in.

Furyk’s win lifts him back to sixth spot in the world rankings, while two-time Transitions champion Choi also has reason to celebrate despite missing out. After starting the tournament in 75th position in the world, Choi’s runners-up spot lifts the South Korean to 47th in the world rankings and puts him in the running for a spot at the US Masters.

Bubba Watson finished in third position, a further two shots behind Choi while Nick Watney finished fourth and Retief Goosen in fifth place. Watson, who has never won on either the PGA Tour or Nationwide Tour gave Furyk a tough challenge and was within two shots throughout the back nine during the final round before a bogey at the par-3 15th hole knocked him back. Watson couldn’t claw back the dropped shot and parred in for a round of 68 to finish alone in third place.

Furyk’s last win had come in the 2007 Canadian Open, and the player had made 58 starts since without success before Sunday’s final round.

Tiger Woods Hurt in Car Accident

World number one Tiger Woods has been treated in hospital in Florida after being injured in a car crash outside his home.

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