Codswallop

Aussies are off to a pretty good start to 2008. Karrie Webb won her fourth Australian Open in one of the most exciting finishes to tournament you're likely to see. After commentators all but declared world number 7 Ji-Yai SHIN the winner, Karrie Webb birdied 16 and 17, which ranked amongst the hardest on the Kingston Heath layout to force a playoff. Karrie played the 18th almost identical 3 times in a row, finally sinking a birdie put for victory.

World number 5 Adam Scott won the Qatar Masters after an awesome 11 under 61. And of course Jarrod Lyle won the Mexico Open.

There's been plenty of other good finishes as well. In fact 13 top 20 placings by Aussies on the PGA Tour. Steve Elkington is having some what of a resurgence with 4th, 5th and 13th placings. PGA tour newbies Brett Rumford, Matt Jones and Jason Day have already managed to rank up top 20 finishes. And finally Stuart Appleby is currently sitting at number 2 for the scoring average with an average of 69.10

A new year and the opening tournament on the PGA Tour, the Mercedes-Benz Championship has already been run and won. Swede Daniel Chopra continued his good form taking out the Mercedes-Benz Championship. I had a chance to see Daniel this summer in the Australian Masters, where of course he lost the playoff to Aussie Aaron Baddeley. This time however Daniel Chopra came out on top in a playoff, defeating one of the hot players from last season, Steve Stricker.

The season opener looked rather different this year with a distinct lack of Aussies, including of course three time champion Stuart Appelby. Only the winners from the previous season are invited to play and although 2007 was a good year for the Aussies it only resulted in two winners, Adam Scott and Aaron Baddeley. We had a lot of round three leaders last year. Hopefully 2008 will see a a few more fall over the line.

I'm looking forward to 2008, I think the Aussies will continue to punch above their weight. After his win in the Australian PGA at Coolum I'm hoping Peter Lonard will be spurred on to have a great year. It will also be interesting to see how the two Aussie young guns Nick Flanagan and Jason Day go in their first season in the big time.

Aussie Nick Flanagan won his third tournament on the Nationwide Tour this year, the Xerox Classic at Irondequoit Country Club, Rochester, New York. By winning the Xero Classic, Nick Flanagan earned an automatic promotion to PGA Tour. Way to go Nick! However Nick will have to wait until later in the year, after the Fedex Cup playoffs, before he will be able to tee off on the PGA Tour.

As it stands at writing this, and I'm sneaking this post in a bit late, there are three Australian's in the top twenty five, thus in line for PGA Tour qualification for next year. Nick of course at number two, although it doesn't matter as he's already qualified is one ahead of Jason Day. The surprise packet is Matthew Jones at number seventeen. Also there are a few Aussies sitting just outside the top twenty five - Scott Gardiner, Greg Chalmers and David McKenzie.

Aussie Jason Day has broken through for his first win as a professional, the Legend Financial Group Classic at Stone Water Golf Club. In doing so Jason Day has become the youngest winner on the Nationwide tour. Jason did it in style too with a birdie on the last hole to edge out fellow Aussie Scott Gardiner by a shot, finishing at -16, a tournament record.

Both Jason Day and Scott Gardiner have moved into the top 25 on the money list, which if they stay their will give them their card for the main tour next year. Jason has moved from 33 to 8 and Scott from 43 to 18. They join two other Aussies Nathan Green and Greg Chalmers in the top 25.

Aussie Stuart Appleby has a share of the lead with K.J. Choi after the second at the AT&T National being played at the Congressional Country Club. Both players have shot rounds of 66 & 67 to be at -7, three shots ahead of the next best. Stuart Appleby was a multiple winner on the tour last year, taking out the opening event the Mercedes Championship for the third straight year and the Shell Houston Open. Stuart has yet to win this year, his best finish was his defence of the Shell Houston Open where he finished second to fellow Australian Adam Scott.

Meanwhile over on the Nationwide Tour, another Aussie Scott Gardiner has the half way lead. Jason Day is also doing well at two stokes behind on -8. I wouldn't be surprised to see both of these players on the main tour next year. They currently sit at 43 and 33 respectively on the money list, the top 25 qualify for the main tour.