Rumford to the four!

Weekly Wrap :: May 23 - 29

Two Australians finished in the top ten this week on the US and European tours respectively with strong performances coming on the European Tours BMW Championship and the US tours Fedex St Jude Classic.

American Jeff Maggert may have been the hero this week, taking out the Fedex St Jude Classic from Memphis, Tennessee, but it was Aussie John Senden who completed his best finish on the tour since January. Senden finished with rounds of 73-65-70-70 to claim outright ninth position on two under the card. Maggert finished seven strokes in front of Senden, finishing on nine under and taking home US $936,000, with Senden receiving US $150,800 for his efforts.

Senden’s result does little to change the US Order of Merit. With US Masters winner Phil Mickelson holding onto first place with US $3,237,992, whilst Aussies Stuart Appleby and Geoff Ogilvy are in third and fourth place, with earnings of US $2,685,675 and $2,588,759 respectively. Adam Scott sits in 18th place, well behind the top four with US $1,556,373.

In England last week, Australian Brett Rumford enjoyed his best finish on the European tour at the BMW Championship in Virginia Water. Rumford’s final day was something to behold, where six birdies catapulted him into fourth place, with rounds of 72-73-69-65 putting him ahead of more fancied rivals including Ireland’s Padraig Harrington who finished a further stroke back on seven under the card.

Winner David Howell finished on 17 under, completing a dominant performance for the European tour order of merit leader. Rumford's compatriot Richard Green finished on five under leaving him tied in 14th spot, alongside Jose Maria Olazabal. Rumford’s finish sees him take home a healthy pay packet of € 212500, whilst Green receives € 59925 for his final position. On the European tour order of merit, Aussie Nick O’Hern who spends more time on the US circuit slips to seventh place, whilst Howell retains top spot with earnings of €1,789,098.

A strong field of Aussies will contest the Celtic Manor Open at the Celtic Manor resort this week, including Veteran Aussie Peter Senior, Brett Rumford, Peter O’Malley and Wade Ormsby. On the US tour and at the Memorial Tournament, the who’s who of Aussie golf will be on show, with the likes of Adam Scott, Stuart Appleby, Geoff Ogilvy, Rod Pampling and Aaron Baddeley in action. All have won on the tour this season, but will need to compete well alongside European tour order of merit leader David Howell, Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Masters Champion Phil Mickelson.

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