2014 Quicken Loans National Predictions - Results

Well the time has come for another Rose win after all. Sooner or later one of our picks was bound to win a tournament...

That's right. Justin Rose, one of our picks, has won the 2014 Quicken Loans National at Congressional after a playoff match between American Shawn Stefani. The playoff, which was played on the par 4 18th hole, ended with Rose shooting par and Stefani shooting a double-bogey. Their finals scores for the tournament were just 4-under (-4)

This is Justin Rose's first win of 2014, with his last being the US Open last year. He also won this tournament back in 2010, when it was known as the AT&T National. The win also puts him into the Top-15 in FedEx Cup points.

As for our other pick who made the cut Jordan Speith, he also did pretty well, finishing the tournament at even par at tied for 11th place.

Hopefully, this will give Justin Rose some good momentum going into the few weeks before the Open Championship,

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

Justin Rose Wins the 2014 Quicken Loans National (Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports)

2014 Quicken Loans National Predictions - Weekend Update

The weekend rounds of the 2014 Quicken Loans National at Congressional will begin shortly. As of now, there is a four way tie for the lead, with Australians Marc Leishman and Oliver Goss, and Americans Ricky Barnes and Patrick Reed, all who are at 6-under par (-6).

The cut, this week, has been set at 3-over (+3)

The player of note this week, Tiger Woods, was cut, as a result of shooting 74, 75 in his first two rounds.

As for our picks, here is how they are doing:

1) Justin Rose: T11 at 3-under (-3)
2) Jordan Spieth: T40 at 1-over (+1)
3) Keegan Bradley: CUT

Also, Canadian Mike Weir just missed the cut,having shot a combined score of +4.

Stay tuned Sunday evening for the results of the 2014 Quicken Loans National,

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

2014 Quicken Loans National Predictions

The 2014 Quicken Loans National (formerly the AT&T National) is set to start at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.This year, the tournament is drawing more buzz than normal for one main reason.

This week, Tiger Woods will be making his first appearance at a PGA Tour tournament since having back surgery earlier this year to fix a pinched nerve. In recent reports, Tiger has said that he no longer feels pain whilst golfing. Naturally, much attention will be payed towards him, but only time will show if he is well enough to win this tournament. Tiger will tee up the first two rounds with Australian Jason Day and American Jordan Spieth. But unfortunately we didn't choose Tiger as one of our picks...

1) Justin Rose: I think the time has come for another Rose win
2) Jordan Spieth: He's been doing very well
3) Keegan Bradley

Canadian Mike Weir is also playing as well, so we'll be keeping an eye on him too.

Also, one million dollars is up for grabs if an ace is scored on the 10th hole (218-yard par-3) this week.

Stay tuned for our weekend update of the 2014 Quicken Loans National,

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

Riverstone Golf & Country Club Review #1

Name: Riverstone Golf and Country Club
Location: Brampton, Ontario (~40 minutes northwest of Toronto)
Type: Public with membership options
Holes: 9
Length and Par: 1908-2530 yards / 35
Tees: (Shortest to Longest): Red, White, Blue
Website: http://www.riverstonegolf.com

"Riverstone Golf & Country Club is home to a challenging 9 Hole Semi-Private, par 35 golf course that winds through the picturesque West Humber River. It’s 2600 yards make for a perfect, relaxing round of golf. Afterward, join your friends or colleagues on our large patio for some great food and a refreshing cocktail while taking in the view." -http://www.riverstonegolf.com

Course Layout:
Pace of Play:
Staff:
Value:
Course Conditions:

Price:
Difficulty:

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Riverstone Golf and Country Club is a fun 9-hole course that will test golfers of all skill levels. Despite only being nine holes in length, you are offered the complete country club experience when you visit this course. It's large and elegant clubhouse offers very good restaurant-quality food and a large dining area, as well as a large lounge for players to relax. Aside from golf, the clubhouse also offers a fully-equipped gym, squash courts, and personal training services. There is even a shorter pitch and putt course offered as well.

As for the course itself, since it is situated on the shores of the West Humber River, water plays an important role in the course, with most holes featuring water hazards. The hole layout is okay, however on a few holes, a mis-hit tee shot could easily end up in another hole's fairway, especially the last three holes, which seem to be crammed in a small area. It's also worth mentioning that the course is situated within a sub-division, however due to well-places trees and shrubbery, houses are rarely visible and "in play". The course is also very scenic, especially on a few holes such as the 6th. Course conditions are also good, however after a good rainfall, the edges of the holes tend to get soggy, but nothing too serious. (The West Humer River itself also floods a bit, but doesn't affect any of the holes, although it is a cool sight to see).

What's common amongst many of the holes, especially the par 4's and 5's is that they wind with the river itself and therefore most of the holes feature doglegs to match those of the river. This adds a little bit of difficulty to the course. Some holes, such as the par 5 360-490 yard 3rd hole, also feature large and deep bunkers which are very tough to get out of. And despite being a nine-hole course, there are some very nice holes, my favourite being the 6th hole, a 450 yard par 5. The hole runs downhill, through a valley, with the tee box located at the top of this valley. The hole follows one large curve (almost 180 degrees by the end), with the West Humber River acting as a water hazard to the left, and forests to the right. Well placed bunker deter hitting your tee shot over the rushing river or going for the green on your second shot.

Pricewise, 9-holes with a power cart will cost you around $43 on a weekend and 18-holes will cost about $68 on a weekend. There are various specials offered such as student, senior, weekday, and twilight pricing. The "All you can play Mondays" special is very reasonable, costing $50 (power cart included) and allowing you to play the course as many times as you want on Monday. Memberships are around $1200, excluding power cart rentals. However, the course itself is often busy (I'm guessing due to the good prices and being located within a subdivision) especially on weekends. This is amplified due to the fact that it is a nine-hole course and some holes, such as the last few, are spaced closely together.

Also, according to the course website, a second nine is planning on being developed, although no dates have been confirmed yet.

Overall, Riverstone Golf and Country Club is a great course for anyone who wants a taste of what "country-club golf" is like, while getting to play a good golf course that will test all aspects of your game. I recommend you play it at least once.

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

2014 Irish Open Predictions - Results

The final round of the 2014 Irish Open at Fota Island Resort has concluded and the winner is Finland golfer Mikko Ilonen, who finished the tournament at 13-under (-13), and with just a one shot lead over Italian Eduardo Molinari (The older brother of Francesco Molinari). 

As mentioned before Ilonen played his 300th European Tour event this week. This is also Ilonen's first win of 2014, his last win being the 2013 Nordea Masters. His win this week also secures him a spot in the 2014 Open Championship (British Open) at Royal Liverpool.

As for our picks, here is how they finished the tournament:

1) Graeme McDowell: T6 at 10-under (-10)
2) Robert Rock: T29 at 5-under (-5)
3) Marcel Siem: T14 at 8-under (-8)

Good to see GMac picking up another top-10, hopefully a win will come soon for him.

Stay tuned for our coverage next week at the 2014 Quicken Loans National (formerly AT&T National),

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

Mikko Ilonen Wins the 2014 Irish Open (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

2014 Irish Open Predictions - Weekend Update

The weekday rounds of the 2014 Irish Open are now finished, and the leader going into the weekend is Finland golfer Mikko Ilonen who is at 10-under (-10) and has a two-shot lead over Englishman Robert Rock, Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell, and Frenchman Romain Wattel, who are all at 8-under.

Incidentally, Ilonen, who is playing in his 300th European Tour event, shot a 7-under 64 (which is a course record at Fota Island) on Thursday to put him above his fellow players.

By the looks of it, Fota Island is looking promising for even lower scores come this week, given that 10-under is the score going into the weekend. We'll have to wait and see just how low they will be come Sunday evening.

As for our picks, here is how they stand:

1) Graeme McDowell: T2 at 8-under (-8)
2) Robert Rock: T2 at 8-under (-8)
3) Marcel Siem: T34 at 2-under (-2)

Pretty good! Graeme McDowell and Robert Rock are both doing really well and hopefully one of them will win it. 

Stay tuned Sunday evening for the results of the Irish Open,

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

Mikko Ilonen during the 2014 Irish Open (Photo source unknown)

Lightning Strikes Golfers at Rolling Hills Golf Club

Yesterday, just before a major storm rolled over much of the Greater Toronto Area, four golfers were struck by lightning at Rolling Hills Golf Club, a public course located in Stouffville, Ontario, north of Toronto. The strike left three of the golfers in serious condition and one in critical condition.

The strike happened shortly after course marshals sounded a horn, signaling that bad weather was approaching, and while the foursome was finishing up their round on the 18th hole. For those who don't know, in the golfing world, from your local course to PGA tournaments, the sound of a horn/siren is the universal signal that bad weather (usually lightning) is approaching and almost always involves the stopping of play.

Unfortunately stories like this occur much more often than we'd all like.

There are ways we can stay safe from lightning strikes on the golf course though, and as a blog dealing with golf-related issues, we feel it makes sense to share some ways we think you can stay safe on the course. (Note the disclaimer below):

1) Plan Ahead: It seems like common sense, but always check the weather before you plan on golfing or booking a tee time. Mainly check for things like thunderstorm possibilities or storm activity in general. Simply put, don't go if there's a good chance for bad weather.

2) Use Your Judgement: If you're on the course and you notice dark clouds/bad weather in the distance (even if no horn/before the horn sounds), decide whether or not its a good idea to be out on the course. Consider heading in to the clubhouse early. Take into account factors such as if you're walking or riding, how far roughly you are from the clubhouse, etc.. Make sure you are prepared just in case the horn/siren does sound.

3) Respect The Horn/Siren: If you hear the horn/siren, go back to the clubhouse or safe place, again use your common sense. The horn/siren is there for the safety of the golfers and if it rings, it implies that the conditions for golfing are no longer safe. Don't think that the horn/siren is just a "warning" or "reminder" (although it might be on some courses. We can't be certain that all courses follow the same rules) but take it seriously and act accordingly. Why risk it?

To sum it all up, when it comes to lightning, it's best not to take any chances. I hope golfers find this information useful and feel free to comment on other lightning safety tips you've come across over the years.

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews 

**On a final note and disclaimer, remember that what is mentioned above are just suggestions and that we here at Toronto Golf Reviews are not responsible for your safety on the golf course. Take what you want from the information above. We are not saying that you have to follow these suggestions and we are not responsible for the results of having followed these suggestions. Use your own discretion. I am also not a lightning expert, I am just offering some suggestions that I've picked up on and used as a golfer over the years. Use your own common sense and own judgement!**

 When it comes to lightning, it's best not to take any chances

2014 Irish Open Predictions

One of our favourite tournaments, the Irish Open, is set to start tomorrow at Fota Island Resort in County Cork, Ireland, the golf course famous for being situated entirely on an island. The course itself stretches to just over 7000 yards and is a par 71.

Just some thoughts on the possible winners now, I have a strong feeling that the winner this week will be a player who played the US Open last week. Players who have done so are describing the course as having flatter greens, more open fairways, and generally easier than what they faced at Pinehurst No. 2 last week. Since Pinehurst demanded so much from its players last week, its more than likely that these players are still in "Pinehurst" mode and thus at the top of their game (assuming they did well last week).

Given my thoughts on this potential winners, here are our picks for this week:

1) Graeme McDowell - he's Irish, he's a favourite, he's one of our picks whenever he plays
2) Robert Rock - not at the US Open last week, but we're betting he'll go under the radar and win it
3) Marcel Siem - great finish at the US Open last week

Stay tuned to see how these picks fare out,

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

Martin Kaymer Wins the 2014 US Open

It may have been clear from a few days ago, but Martin Kaymer has won the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst No. 2, by an astonishing 8 shots over Rickie Fowler and Erik Compton. This is Kaymer's second win of the year, the first being his win at the high-profile Players Championship in May. He closed the tournament with a respectable 1-under 69. It was really his tournament to win and his performance this week was reminiscent to that of Rory McIlroy's US Open win at Congressional in 2011.

What's even more amazing is that these three players were the only players to finish under par at the tournament, as conditions at Pinehurst No. 2 toughened as the week progressed.

With his win, Martin Kaymer becomes the second Major Champion from Germany, after Bernhard Langer. In his interview at the closing ceremony for the tournament, Kaymer happily noted that with their Major wins, he and Langer have almost completed the "German Gran Slam" (Lagner winning the Masters twice, and Kaymer winning the PGA Championship).

With Kaymer's play so far this year, it wouldn't be surprising if he came close to or even regained his place atop the World Golf Rankings. We'll just have to wait and see.

Finally, here's how our picks finished the tournament:

1) Jason Day: T4 at 1-over (+1) < Once again with a great major performance
2) Phil Mickelson: T28 at 7-over (+7)

1) Graeme McDowell: T42 at 7-over (+7)


Stay tuned next week for our coverage of the Irish Open,

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

 Martin Kaymer Wins the 2014 US Open (Eric Gay/AP Photo)

Day 3 at The 2014 US Open

The Saturday, or "Moving Day" rounds, at the 2014 US Open have now concluded and once again, the leader is Martin Kaymer. However, Kaymer shot a 2-over 72 today, so his lead has dropped to 5 shots (still remarkable) over Americans Rickie Fowler and Erik Compton, who both shot 3-under 67's.

Today, Pinehurst was a little tougher, as reflected by some of the scores. Players such as Keegen Bradley and Toronto Golf Reviews favourite Graeme McDowell both shot 5+ over rounds, plumeting them down the leaderboard.

Perhaps the bigger story of the day was Erik Compton and his personal story. Compton, who is a double heart transplant recipient, has defied the odds over the years and has managed to become a professional golfer despite his adversities, playing at the top level with some of the best in the game. It goes without saying that a win for him this week would be truly remarkable. But we'll have to wait until tomorrow afternoon for that.

As for our picks, here is an update on them:

1) Jason Day: T16 at 3-over (+3)
2) Phil Mickelson: T30 at 5-over (+5)

1) Graeme McDowell: T42 at 7-over (+7)


Stay tuned tomorrow for the winner of the 2014 US Open,

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

Erik Compton

Day 2 at The 2014 US Open

The second round of the 2014 US Open is in the books and the cut has been made at 5-over (+5), with the leader German Martin Kaymer at a surprising 10-under (-10), a 6 shot lead over American Brenden Todd.

The talk of the day was still about Martin Kaymer, who once again shot a a 5-under 65, and how Pinehurst is remaining vulnerable to some, making this year's US Open one of the lower scoring ones, so far.

I'm glad that Kaymer is making a comeback this year. I think that Kaymer's game thus far is somewhat reminiscent of Rory McIlroy's dominance at the 2011 US Open at Congressional (we all remember how that turned our for Rory). Most people forget too that just a few years ago, Kaymer held the top spot on the World Golf Rankings and it also a Major Championship (2011 PGA Championship). It goes without saying that he is a top-class player, who has been somewhat under the radar for the last couple of years, nevertheless though deserving of more recognition.

It may be to early to say, but Kaymer just may win it come Sunday afternoon.

On the other hand, here is how our picks placed during their first two rounds:

1) Jason Day: T20 at 1-over (+1)
2) Phil Mickelson: T33 at even par (+3)
3) Luke Donald: CUT

1) Graeme McDowell: T27 at 2-over (+2)
2) Miguel Angel Jimenez: CUT

Not too bad so far, but stay tuned for our weekend updates to see how our picks finish the tournament,

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

Martin Kaymer during the second round of the 2014 US Open (Jason Getz/USA TODAY Sports)

Day 1 at The 2014 US Open

The first round of the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 is now over and the overnight leader going into the second round is German Martin Kaymer. Kaymer shot a 5-under 65, and holds a three shot lead over Americans Kevin Na and Fran Quinn, Zimbabwean Brenden De Jonge and Northern Irishman (and favourite around here) Graeme McDowell, who all shot 2-under 68's.

The main storyline of the first round was the vulnerability of Pinehurst and how it was more open to scoring than most players thought it would be. Players noted that it was a different course than what they played during their practice rounds earlier in the week. Despite this vulnerability, only 15 players managed to shoot sub par rounds. That number is high however, by US Open standards, which have a tendency to finish around or just under par in most cases.

As for our picks, here are their opening round scores and positions on the leaderboard:

1) Jason Day: T68 at 3-over (+3)
2) Phil Mickelson: T16 at even par (E)
3) Luke Donald: T134 at 7-over (+7)

1) Graeme McDowell: T2 at 2-under (-2)
2) Miguel Angel Jimenez: T50 at 2-over (+2)

Will Pinehurst No. 2 stay vulnerable throughout the next three rounds of the US Open? Who knows, but stay tuned for the second round of the US Open tomorrow and our coverage of it afterwards,

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

Martin Kaymer during the opening round of the 2014 US Open (Andrew Gombert/EPA)

2014 US Open Predictions

The first tee times of golf's second major of the year are just less than 12 hours away and Pinehurst No.2 in North Carolina. As with most majors, the US Open is filled with many of golf's top ranked players, as well as amateurs alike. Given that variety of players, here's who we think is going to win it this year:

1) Jason Day > his performance in majors is always excellent
2) Phil Mickelson > sooner or later he's bound to win this one
3) Luke Donald

Our two favourite players will also be competing this year, so naturally we are rooting for them also:

1) Graeme McDowell
2) Miguel Angel Jimenez

Remember, we'll be having daily coverage of the US Open, so stay tuned for those posts,

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

Also feel free to leave a comment on who you think is going to win this year

The 2014 US Open Preview

The 2014 US Open, one of the PGA Tour's most coveted tournaments, is set to begin at Pinehurst No.2 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. But this year, things are a little bit different at the course that is known as the "St. Andrews of American Golf".

To start, Pinehurst No. 2 is tough, even by PGA Tour standards and even by US Open standards, with primarily tough and fast greens. Par seem like a good score this week to most players such as Canadian Graham DeLaet, who will be the sole representer of Canada this week in the tournament.

What's also unique about this course is that it features "natural" growth areas instead of rough on some holes, similar to what is found on links style courses or courses like TPC Scottsdale and Whistling Straits. These areas will make the consequences of bad shots even worse and put even more pressure on the players to perform at their best.

The weather will also be a factor this week, with the temperatures being in the high 80's to low 90's and a 40-50% chance of scattered thunderstorms for all four rounds. But to some, like American Phil Mickelson, this weathered is welcomed. Mickelson said in his press conference today that rain would be very helpful this week, primarily slowing down the greens and making them softer and more vulnerable.

And of course this isn't just your average PGA tour tournament, it's a major, so expect some nervousness and/or excitement from players. And like most majors, it's a tournament rooted in history, pride, and top level golf.

It looks like the US Open this year is bound to be full of excitement, drama, storylines, and good golf. Stay tuned for our picks on who we think is going to win it this year.

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

2014 FedEx St. Jude Classic Predictions - Results

After being plagued by bad weather conditions for most of the weekend, the 2014 FedEx St. Jude Classic has concluded, with the weekend leader, Ben Crane, being able to hold off the rest of the field for the win. Despite shooting a 3-over 73 in the final round with a bogey on the final hole and having to finish his third round earlier, Ben Crane won with a one shot lead over fellow American Troy Merritt. The final round wasn't affected too much by weather and led to some lower scores, Englishman Ian Poulter's 6-under 64. Here is how our picks finished the tournament:

1) Phil Mickelson: T11 at 6-under (-6)
2) Webb Simpson: T3 at 8-under (-8)
3) Graeme McDowell: T24 at 3-under (-3)

Not too bad and it's worth noting that Webb Simpson shot a 4-under 66 to put him in that place. Let's hope Phil has some good momentum now going into the elusive US Open. And we're always hoping for a GMac win too whenever he's playing.

Speaking of the US Open, we'll be having daily coverage of it starting early next week with our predictions so be sure to check in often for that.

Finally, who do you think will win the US Open this year? Leave us a comment and let us know,

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

 Ben Crane Wins the 2014 FedEx St. Jude Classic (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

2014 FedEx St. Jude Classic Predictions - Weekend Update

Well Saturday's rounds are currently underway at the 2014 FedEx St. Jude Classic. The cut this year was set at even par (E) with the leader going into the weekend being American Ben Crane, who was at 12-under (-12) with a 4 shot lead over Colombian Camilo Villegas and South African Retief Goosen. Here is how are picks for this tournament fared out:

1) Phil Mickelson: T8 at 5-under (-5)
2) Webb Simpson: T21 at 3-under (-3)
3) Graeme McDowell: T21 at 3-under (-3)


Stay tuned Monday to see how are picks fared out overall,

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

Driving Range Mats Vs Grass Tees

If you've been to any decent driving range, you'll notice that most offer two options when it comes to playing surfaces: real grass, which is basically golf-course-maintained grass that you can hit off of, and plastic mats, which are made up of artificial grass for non-driver shots with a rubber tee for driving. Naturally if the option is available, it always makes sense to choose the grass tees, in order to simulate hitting/ground conditions as much as you can and make practicing more realistic.

However, if you have no choice but to play off plastic mats, here are a few things that I've noticed over the years about how playing off of mats compares to playing off of real grass and how your golf game changes from playing on one to another.

Let's start with driving, which is probably the most common thing you'll do at the driving range. Since you tee up your ball when you hit a drive, the surface under the ball doesn't affect the shot all that much. However, the rubber tees on plastic mats will. These tees are usually made out of tough rubber and are at a preset height, and can only be placed in a couple positions on either side of the mat. Aside from the tee position, what I've noticed is that if you hit under the ball, even slightly, with your driver, the rubber tee slows down your club a lot and you feel the impact you make with the tee. On grass tees, you tee up with your own wooden/plastic tees which if this were to happen, you wouldn't feel the tee impact as much (or not at all) since these tees have freedom to move about and out of the ground. This isn't the case for the rubber tees, which are firmly set in the mat and only movable by lifting the actual mat.

Now for the rest of the clubs, that is, the clubs that make contact with the ground surface (woods, hybrid, irons, and wedges). The main thing I've noticed is that hitting irons off of plastic mats gives you a false impression of your iron game, making you think that you're making good clean contact, when you might not actually be. This is probably because you can't take divots on plastic mats. Plus, if you hit a bad iron shot, you'll feel the impact you make with the ground a lot more compared to hitting off of fairway grass, again maybe because you can't take a divot. As for the plastic mat surface itself, this will probably vary from one driving range to the next, but most usually have a rougher strip of grass and a harder fairway-like area beside it (see image below). What's common among most, if not all, plastic mat surfaces is that they leave a thin green film on your irons, which is a nuisance to clean off after.

To sum up, it's in your best interest to always choose to practice off of real grass compared to plastic driving range mats. But if you're left with no choice, just remember that playing off of the mats could have an affect on your game, to some degree.

 

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

Toronto Golf Reviews©

2014 FedEx St. Jude Classic Predictions

Tomorrow is the start of the 2014 FedEx St. Jude Classic, being held at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. This tournament is just a week before the U.S. Open and is usually played by pros to get some momentum going into the second major of the year. Here are our picks for the winner this year:

1) Phil Mickelson
2) Webb Simpson
3) Graeme McDowell

Let's see how these guys do throughout the rounds,

-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews

2014 Memorial Tournament Predictions - Results

The final rounds have now concluded and the winner of the 2014 Memorial Tournament is upcoming Japan golf star Hideki Matsuyama, who battled against American Kevin Na in one hole of sudden death. On this playoff hole which was the 18th hole, Matsuyama parred to win. To much surprise, Kevin Na shot an 8-under (64) on the day and had finished his round before being called to the playoff hole. The last time this tournament went to sudden death was over 20 years ago in 1992.

As for our picks, here's how they did:

1) Keegen Bradley - T37 at 3-under (-3)
2) Jason Day - T37 at 3-under (-3)

Well, they do say consistency is never a bad thing in golf!

Stay tuned next week for our picks on the 2014 FedEx St. Jude Classic,

-Nick
 Toronto Golf Reviews

Hideki Matsuyama Wins the 2014 Memorial Tournament (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)