After today’s match, you would not believe John Senden hasn’t won on the PGA tour event since 2006. That’s the truth! Senden is showing some of his best form of his career, thrashing fellow Australian and two-time major runner up in 2011 Jason Day 6 and 5, closing him out on the 13th with an 8ft birdie putt
“I had the pressure on him early,” Senden said. ” Then basically from there I wanted to keep focused and keep the quality of shots going on. And then I did that. And he sort of made the mistakes to force the match to go further and further my way.”
The quiet achiever over the past two days, Senden now has to be a solid chance to go all the way. Tomorrow he will tee off against little-known Thai Sang moon-Bae who was a superstar on the Japanese tour last year. moon-Bae himself has been in outstanding form, beating Ian Poulter in round one and today he had a 1 up victory against the reigning 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel. The winner of Senden v Bae will go on to play the winner of Rory McIlroy v “The Mechanic” Miguel Angel Jimenez.
In other matches, Tiger Woods was eliminated by Nick Watney. Again, the putter was the issue for Woods who had a regulation 6 footer at the 18th to force the match to extra holes but pushed it to the right. Rory McIlroy is showing form that will possibly take him to World number 1, ditching Dane Anders Hansen 3 and 2. Lee Westwood also keeps his number 1 hopes alive beating Robert Karlsson 3 and 2.
16 Players are left in the Arizona desert, battling it out for $1.4 million first prize. Australian hopes now ride with John Senden. Don’t be surprised, based on what we have seen over the last two days, if the Queenslander has a healthy addition to his bank balance by week’s end.
As an Expat Aussie based in Ohio USA, Adam covers USA PGA Tour events for Inside Golf Australia focusing on Australians on the PGA Tour. 
