×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

De Jonge tees off at Phoenix Open

Sport
BRENDON de Jonge, still reeling from missing the halfway cut at the Farmers’ Insurance Open, will be hoping to rediscover his form when he tees off at the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona, United States, today.

BRENDON de Jonge, still reeling from missing the halfway cut at the Farmers’ Insurance Open, will be hoping to rediscover his form when he tees off at the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona, United States, today.

The Zimbabwean golfer missed his first cut of the season in San Diego at the weekend after shooting 76 and 70 to finish in a tie for position 98.

With some of the biggest names in the world of golf having chosen to play in Dubai this week, the Phoenix Open presents de Jonge with a good opportunity to get his PGA Tour campaign back on track.

Last season, de Jonge recorded his best finish on the PGA Tour when he finished tied in sixth place at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

The burly Harare-born golfer managed scores of 66, 67, 67 and 66 for an impressive 18-under-par total to earn a cool $207 700. He will be hoping for a similar display this year.

The Waste Management Phoenix Open will see a field of 132 players vie for the $6,2 million purse, the $1,1 million first-place winners’ cheque and 500 FedEx Cup points.

Meanwhile, de Jonge, still seeking an elusive PGA Tour first place win, will consider cutting down the number of tournaments he takes part in per year to place more of an importance on tournaments he has a high chance of winning.

Last season, de Jonge competed 30 times, 13 more events than Tiger Woods, who went on to win five times on the PGA Tour.

“It’s a very, very good point. I’ve never thought of it,” he explained in an interview with Golf Channel.

De Jonge added that the Greenbrier Classic, where he finished top-20 in three of the last four years, could be a good place to try it.

“You know what? I would consider that. It’s that time of year where if you’re playing well, you might have gotten your card locked up, so you don’t have that to worry about. It might be something to think about.”