The 2006 PGA Tour season is in the books, and it’s time to start looking forward to 2007. The Bunker’s Dozen takes no vacations, however, so the show must go on. The golf world didn’t see Tiger or Phil in October, but there were still a lot of things going on around the world. Golfers made their final charge towards the top 30 and top 125 on the PGA Tour money list. Some were successful, and some came up short.
The European Tour also wrapped up their season in October, and the Order of Merit wasn’t decided until the last few holes of the final event. The LPGA Tour hasn’t concluded for the season quite yet, but a certain golfer won again and moved one step closer to becoming player of the year.
Lastly, the Champions Tour concluded with the Race for the Charles Schwab Cup, and it came down to the very last putt. It was a relief for one gentleman and heartbreak for the other. All of these great races helped make October a fun month to be a golf fan, and the rankings show that. Also, The Sand Trap even gets into the act this time around with its own annual event.
I hope you enjoy this month’s Bunker’s Dozen! If you have anything to add, feel free to comment below or discuss it in the forum.
The 2006 Newport Cup easily deserves the top spot this month because of the great field that played in the event. My team lost again, but we all had a good time in North Carolina.
Lorena Ochoa nearly sealed the deal in the LPGA Tour Player of the Year race with her fourth and fifth wins of the season. Annika who?
Padraig Harrington won the European Tour Order of Merit title by the slimmest of margins over Paul Casey. Harrington needs to buy Sergio and Casey a beer for their respective choke jobs.
Tiger Woods didn’t play competitively in October, but his name was in the news just as much after deciding to skip The Tour Championship due to fatigue.
The PGA Tour Money List got plenty of attention in October as numerous golfers made moves in and out of the top 30, 40, 50, 70, 125, etc. You get the point.
Joe Durant won the Funai Classic and finished in the top six in the other three events he played last month.
Jay Haas won the Charles Schwab Cup (and the $1 million annuity that comes with it) in his first full season on the Champions Tour.
Davis Love III entered the winner’s circle for the first time in three years at the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro. Love also finished in a tie for fifth at Disney.
Troy Matteson picked up his first PGA Tour victory in Las Vegas and followed that up with a couple more top-10 finishes. In October, Matteson moved from 172nd to 36th on the PGA Tour money list.
The Netherlands outlasted Canada and the heavily-favored United States to win the Eisenhower Trophy at the 2006 World Amateur Team Championship.
Jack Nicklaus made headlines after bringing up a possible rules infraction from the 1974 British Open. Don’t be afraid to let it rest Golden Bear!
K.J. Choi won the Chrysler Championship for the second time in three years. In the process, Choi played his way into the season-ending Tour Championship.
Loren Roberts needed to sink a five-foot par putt on the 72nd hole to win the Charles Schwab Cup. Roberts is unlucky number 13 this month, so I’m assuming you know the result.
Dropped Out: European Ryder Cup Team, The 36th Ryder Cup, Karrie Webb, Paul Casey, Jim Furyk, Annika Sorenstam, Ian Woosnam, Byron Nelson, Ben Curtis, The Big Break VI, Cristie Kerr, and Tom Lehman.
Nice to see my little country in 10th spot.!!