Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – PGA TOUR – HUMANA CHALLENGE, La Quinta
Country Club/PGA West (Palmer/Nicklaus Private Courses), La Quinta, California
– After a two-week stint in Hawaii, the PGA Tour is back on the mainland as it
gets set for the Humana Challenge in California.
Patrick Reed, a winner at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii two
weeks ago, is back to defend his title as he looks for his fifth victory on
tour.
Last year, Reed carded a final-round, 1-under 71 and he was able to hold off a
surging Ryan Palmer (63) and win by two shots at 28-under-par 260. The victory
was one of two wins for Reed last year. He also hoisted the trophy at the WGC
– Cadillac Championship in March.
Phil Mickelson is back and ready to make his 2014-15 season debut. A two-time
champion at this event, Mickelson is making his first start since withdrawing
from the BMW Championship in September, which ultimately ended his 2013-14
season.
Also in action this week will be reigning FedEx Cup champion Billy Horschel,
who is making his fifth start of the season, with his best finish so far
coming at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, where he ended tied for 22nd.
Matt Kuchar will serve as the highest ranked player in the field at No. 11 in
the world rankings. Kuchar is coming off a tie for third at last week’s Sony
Open in Hawaii.
Golf Channel will have coverage of all four rounds of this event.
The PGA Tour will remain out west for the always exciting Waste Management
Phoenix Open in Arizona, where Tiger Woods is set to make his season debut.
Last year, Kevin Stadler held off Bubba Watson and Graham DeLaet to win by
one.
EUROPEAN TOUR
COMMERCIAL BANK QATAR MASTERS, Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar – The European Tour
heads to Qatar this week for the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, where Sergio
Garcia earned a playoff victory last year.
Garcia, an 11-time winner on tour, has not won since defeating Mikko Ilonen in
a playoff at this event last season. Garcia carded a 7-under 65, while Ilonen
fired a 6-under 66 in the final round and the duo finished regulation tied at
16-under 272.
It took three playoff holes to determine a champion, but a birdie by Garcia
earned him the victory. Prior to that win, Garcia had not come out on top
since the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship in 2012.
Garcia will be back this week along with world No. 2 Henrik Stenson, who will
be one of Garcia’s playing partners the first two days. Former champions
Garcia and Stenson (2006) will be joined by 2005 winner Ernie Els.
Justin Rose is also in the field and will be playing alongside Charl
Schwartzel and Stephen Gallacher.
Golf Channel will have early morning coverage of all four rounds of this
event, which begins on Wednesday and concludes on Saturday.
The European Tour finishes up its desert swing at the Omega Dubai Desert
Classic next week, where Stephen Gallacher emerged victorious last year.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CHAMPIONSHIP, Hualalai Golf Club, Ka’upulehu-Kona, Hawaii
– The Champions Tour is in Hawaii this week as it gets set to kick off the
2015 season.
Bernhard Langer began his incredible season here last year when he took home a
3-shot victory over Fred Couples and Jeff Sluman. Langer left little doubt in
the final round a year ago when he carded an 8-under 64 and finished at 22-
under 194.
That was just the beginning for the 23-time Champions Tour winner as he went
on to win four more times in 2014, including two major victories at the
Constellation Senior Players Championship and the Senior British Open
Championship.
Langer is back this week as he attempts to successfully defend his title. He
will be joined by Colin Montgomerie, Kenny Perry, Tom Watson and Miguel Angel
Jimenez among others.
Golf Channel will have coverage of all three rounds of this event, which
begins on Friday.
The Champions Tour will be back in action in two weeks at the Allianz
Championship, where Michael Allen defeated Duffy Waldorf in a playoff last
season.
