Codswallop

The 2008 US Open at kicks off later this week at Torrey Pines. I really enjoyed watching the big hitting Angel Cabrera taking out the US Open last year. I hope this years Open is half as exciting. This year there are nine Australian starters, down from twelve from last year.

Leading the charge is the number one Australian golfer and number three in the world Adam Scott. Adam has been in pretty good form this year notching up two wins. The Qatar Masters at the beginning of the year and the Bryon Nelson Championship in April. Could this be the year Adam Scott finally lives up to his potential.

Then there is of course the 2006 US Open and world number five Geoff Ogilvy. Geoff's been going along ok this season, currently sitting 7th in the FedExCup race. He's also won on tour this year taking out CA Championship where of course he broke Tiger's run.

Robert Allenby is in good form, coming off a play off last week. Robert Allenby has been consistent as usual this season, currently tied for second in top ten finishes. He also leads the tour in greens in regulation and is always near the top in total driving. I'm surprised Robert hasn't performed much better in the majors. Perhaps he'll continue his good form and have a good week with the putter.

Finally it's nice to see Jarrod Lyle get an exemption. I assume it's because of his good performances on the Nationwide Tour this year.

3. Adam Scott
5. Geoff Ogilvy
18. Aaron Baddeley
30. Robert Allenby
31. Stuart Appleby
48. Rod Pampling
117. Mathew Goggin
165. Craig Parry
281. Jarrod Lyle

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.

Congratulations to Aussie Aaron Baddeley for taking out the 2007 Australian Masters!

Badds claimed his first golf jacket in a four hole play off against the swede Daniel Chopra. Badds clearly played the better golf in the playoff, ironically winning on the hole where he was behind the eight ball after driving into the trees. (not that channel seven viewers got to witness this)

Stuart Appleby must be the most disappointed player after needing only a par on the final hole to get into the playoff. Unfortunately he had his worse hole of the day finishing with a double bogey. However it was still a good tournament for Stuart. Perhaps he can get his revenge at the Australian Open starting in a few weeks time.

Robert Allenby still leads the 2007 Australian Masters after the second round 68, however the big mover of the day was Badds. Aaron Baddeley shot a second round 66 to be only one shot off the lead at eight under. Round of the day belonged to little known Englishman Dave Horsey who shot a seven under round of 65.

Leaderboard after round 2
-9 ALLENBY, Robert
-8 BADDELEY, Aaron
-5 McILROY, Rory
-5 PILKADARIS, Terry
-5 KULACZ, Rick
-5 CHOPRA, Daniel
-5 STRANGE, Scott
-4 PAMPLING, Rod
-4 BARNES, Kurt
-4 BAKER, Peter
-4 APPLEBY, Stuart
-4 ZIONS, Matthew