Rory Sabbatini
Residence: Southlake, Texas
DOB: 04/02/1976
Rory Sabbatini was born in Durban and started playing golf at age 4 along with a number of other sports but decided to concentrate solely on golf at aged 12. Like many of his fellow international golfers he saw the university scene in America as his only option and as a result enrolled at the University of Arizona where he is now a member of the Hall of Fame. He was a member of the World University Team in 1998 and on graduation later in that year he turned professional and joined the PGA Tour as the youngest member that season aged 22.
His breakthrough victory came in 2000 when he won the Air Canada Championship. A final round 65 saw him hold off a challenge from Grant Waite to win by a single stroke. His next win did not come until 2003 when 4 rounds of 68 or under saw him stroll to a 4 stroke victory from the field at the FBR Capital Open. Sabbatini also became a world champion for the first time when he won the Golf World Cup with country man Trevor Immleman.
2007 started superbly for Sabbatini. He tied 3rd at the EDS Byron Nelson and also in the Wachovia Championships. He tied 2nd with fellow countryman Retief Goosen in the Masters at Augusta National - and in May he won the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in his home state of Texas in a thrilling three-way playoff with Jim Furyk and past Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer .
Sabbatini is among a growing list of PGA Tour Players (Davis Love III and John Daily also have RV’s) who have decided life on the road is better with the whole family there. "You don't find yourself getting stressed out," said Sabbatini. "Having my wife and kids come with me on tour has allowed me to relax and play more events without getting fatigued." Sabbatini’s home on wheels has everything a hotel room would have, plus a washing machine. "Travelling by RV is like being at home and is more relaxing than flying" Sabbatini said.
Like 2007, 2008 started brilliantly for Sabbatini. He had recorded a 2nd and a 3rd by the end of January and has amassed almost $1million after the first 3 events on tour. In April however the curse of the Par 3 contest at The Masters struck again. No player who has won the Par 3 contest on the Wednesday before the masters has gone on to win the event, and this was the case in 2008. After winning the Par 3 Contest, Sabatini went on to miss the cut at the main event.
Rory Sabbatini Club History
Below is a selection of clubs used by Rory Sabbatini throughout his career
Rory Sabbatini Tournament History
2009 World Golf Championship - CA Championship |
12-15 March 2009 - Doral Golf and Spa Resort - Phil Mickelson won his first World Golf Championships title on Sunday at the CA Championship, where he held off Nick Watney to take the title by one stroke and his 36th career victory. However this was perhaps not the most news worthy story of the week. During his opening round, Henrik Stenson thought it a good idea to play from out of the water! After stripping down to his boxer shorts the Swede preceded to do just this. And it was down to PGA Tour photographer Kyle Auclair to capture this magical moment. With the world’s best golf photographers trailing Tiger Woods, Kyle decided he was going to follow other players instead. Little did he know this particular sequence of images would be plastered on newspapers, websites and television shows all over the country the next day. |
In Rory Sabbatini's bag...An opening and closing round of 69 would have left Rory with a nice cheque at the end of the week if he had not put a pair of 74’s in the middle. The closing 69 pulled him from up 64th to 53rd but on the whole this was a disappointing week for the South African. Rory has recently joined the likes of Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose in the TaylorMade stable having previously been alongside Tiger at Nike. And there are no surprises in what he opens up his bag with - yes the new TaylorMade R9 driver. He also has a TaylorMade R9 3-wood. His other fairway wood is a TaylorMade Burner Tour Launch. His irons, again from TaylorMade, are their Tour Preferred model and Rory completes his TaylorMade contract with a set of Z TP wedges. His putter is an Odyssey Marxman Blade.
(CLICK ON IMAGES TO SEE FULL SIZE VERSION). |
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2007 The Players Championship |
10-13 May - The Players Championship - TPC at Sawgrass - Stadium Course. The Players Championship (TPC) has for a long time been considered golf’s ‘5th’ Major because of the traditionally very strong field – typically the top 50 players in the world congregate to battle it out for the huge prize money. The victor this time was Phil Mickelson who, helped by Tiger’s old coach, Butch Harmon, bagged the $1.62m first prize and the 31st PGA Tour victory of his career after finishing with a 3-under 69 and a two-stroke victory over Sergio Garcia. Stewart Cink and Jose Maria Olazabal a further stroke back tied 3rd. The Stadium course is famous for its tiny island green on the par 3 17th – which this time proved a watery grave for a record 94 golf balls (it’s not just us handicappers who end up in the drink). This was Mickelson’s first victory at the TPC after 14 attempts. |
In Rory Sabbatini's bag...Although some are obscured in our shot, we know from Rory's own website what was in his bag at the TPC Sawgrass - where he tied 44th with several others including Vijay Singh - a Nike Sasquatch Sumo driver, 15 degree Nike SQ 3 wood, Nike Ignite irons, Nike SV 55 degree wedge, and SV Tour 60 degree lob wedge.
(CLICK ON IMAGES TO SEE FULL SIZE VERSION). |
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