Graham DeLaet tied for sixth at the World Golf Championships - HSBC Champions, held in Shanghai, China last week. This was the third official PGA event for the 2014 season for DeLaet, and to date it is his best showing.
Graham DeLaet tied for sixth at the World Golf Championships - HSBC Champions, held in Shanghai, China last week.
This was the third official PGA event for the 2014 season for DeLaet, and to date it is his best showing. He earned $231,500 at the tournament, and is already ranked 13th in the FedExCup standings.
After missing the cut to start his 2014 season at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas, DeLaet is already closing in on the half-million mark in season earnings.
So far, DeLaet had compiled $449,667 in just two events. This was also his second top-10 of the season. DeLaet is ranked 32nd on the official World Golf Rankings, and he is the best ranked Canadian golfer.
While DeLaet has not won an PGA Tour event yet, he is still aiming to do that. "Well, I think my goals going forward are going to be similar to what they were this year, and that's going to be to try to put myself in contention winning golf tournaments. I felt like I did that well last year," said DeLaet, during a media interview in Nevada before heading into the Shriners Open tournament.
"The biggest improvement for me was 2012 to 2013 was my short game, specifically my putting. And I've been working really hard with Gabriel Hjertstedt over the past year and a half, two years, and I feel like it's really been a process," said DeLaet. "I'm really starting to trust it now."
"I mean I holed a lot more putts last year, but that being said, I was like 70th on strokes gained putting, which is a huge improvement from, what, 150th that I was my first couple of years out here," said DeLaet.
"But I think to really make the next step in my career, if I can move into the Top 30, 40 guys in putting, I feel like I hit it good enough. You're going to have a few good weeks where you really make some putts, and hopefully that will be enough to get a win or two."
During round one of the HSBC Champions, DeLaet stayed on par for the first four holes of the back nine, then shot a birdie on hole 14, a bogey on hole 15 and then another birdie on hole 18. He was on par for the entire front nine, finishing the round at 71, one-under-par.
DeLaet jumped 17 spots after the second round. He shot six birdies and two bogeys in the round to bring his total to five-under 139. DeLaet started on the front nine for round one, shooting a bogey on hole two, then back-to-back birdies on holes three and four, and two more back-to-back birdies on holes seven and eight.
During the back nine, he had a birdie on hole 10, a bogey on hole 15 and then a birdie on hole 16. DeLaet finished round two with a 68, four-under-par.
The best showing by DeLaet during the tournament was round three, when he finished 65, seven-under-par, and never shot a bogey during the round.
During the front nine, he had a birdie on hole two, and then back-to-back birdies on holes even and eight. Then during the back nine, DeLaet shot birdies on holes 10, 14, 16 and 18.
Finishing up with the fourth round, DeLaet shot a bogey right on hole one of the front nine, then balanced with a birdie on hole two.
But then he hit a double bogey on hole five, following by another birdie on hole eight. Then during the back nine, he shot back-to-back birdies on holes 13 and 14, and then shot birdies on holes 16 and 18.
He finished round four with a 69, three-under-par. DeLaet had a four-day total of 15-under-par 273. Dustin Johnson of the United States won the event at 24-under.
It is likely that DeLaet won't play in any more PGA Tour events until the new year.
DeLaet will be growing out his beard again in November, as he annually participates in Movember. He recently tweeted, "I'll be giving away some signed gear to the top three donations to my Movember event this month. Let's raise some dough!"
Residents wishing to donate to DeLaet's effort can visit his fundraising page at mobro.co/grahamdelaet.
