Popovic eyes strong Invitational showing

By Paul Kennedy and James Maasdorp

Updated December 21, 2012 10:36:12

Australian PGA Championship winner Daniel Popovic has set his sights on making a splash at next year's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio.

Popovic's historic win at the PGA Championship earned him a spot at the prestigious event, though just like his 400-1 odds of winning at Coolum, he will be far from favouritism amongst the world's elite.

"I never really look at my odds. I always think that I am a good chance at winning the golf tournament, but being 400-1 and eventually winning, it was pretty special," he said.

"A lot of people doubted me throughout my career and Im not upset at them for doubting me again, but to prove everyone wrong ... is pretty special.

"The WGC at Bridgestone - that's going to be my prize next year. I'm going to work my whole year around playing that golf tournament and playing with those guys, its going to be great.

"I'm still going to give it my best shot of winning the golf tournament. I'm still going go out there and be confident and not doubt myself and I think I am a good chance at finishing at a high rank at that tournament."

Read the story: Popovic snares PGA Championship

He says spending years watching other golfers around him kick on with their careers was tough, but has spurred him on to ride his newfound momentum.

"It's been very difficult, Im not going to lie, but no more difficult than what this year has been," he said.

"Growing up seeing my fellow competitors succeed and moving forward with their careers and getting to their goals was tough watching, but you never have your eye off the prize.

"You're always searching and finding a way, overcoming injuries and tough obstacles.

"It was tough, but coming out on top now, it's been the best feeling and I'm on top of the world."

Having spent years working in a Melbourne pizza shop, as well as a stint in traffic control to pay for European tour school, Popovic praised his father Radi - diagnosed with terminal cancer - for being the driving force in his life.

"I'm not going to say I eventually got there, there's still a long way to go, and I'm always going to keep that goal of winning a major championship," he said.

"[My father] was the one who got me back playing golf again. The words, we got back to the airport and the TV cameras were there and they saw the hug, but that ride home was very emotional.

"Back from the airport to the house, it was something that I'll never forget and the waterworks happened in the car.

"[Winning for Radi] was everything. This year it's been a very rough ride at home and not too many smiles.

"But a week before the Australian Open we stayed with some good friends and family up in Sydney.

"I started feeling very happy inside and going on to win the PGA the following week, and the way that week panned out and coming home to see the family and especially my dad, it was very special."

Tags: golf, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted December 21, 2012 10:36:12

View the original article here

Webb back for tilt at eighth Masters title

Updated December 19, 2012 11:17:55

Australia's greatest female golfer Karrie Webb will return for a tilt at an eighth Ladies Masters title in 2013.

As recently as last month, Webb lamented the tournament she has won a record seven times, which will run from February 1-3 at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast, was battling tough financial times.

Webb was disappointed at government funding cuts which have reduced the Masters to a three-round event, admitting the shortened format would force participants to take a different mindset into the tournament.

"We have played three-round tournaments at the Ladies Masters before when torrential rain caused cancellation of the first round," Webb said in a statement.

"However this is a little different, we are going in knowing it is three rounds.

"It means you have to be on your game from the start, a quick start is important."

But it has not stopped the world golf hall-of-famer signing on to chase an eighth Masters title.

"I am very pleased that I am returning to Royal Pines where I have so many great memories in the past," Webb said.

"My nieces and nephews will be joining me so I look forward to some good golf and time on the beach on the beautiful Gold Coast and all that it has to offer."

Tournament chairman Bob Tuohy said Webb's decision made a huge statement of her commitment to the tournament and women's golf in Australia.

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, surfers-paradise-4217, qld, australia

First posted December 19, 2012 11:16:45

View the original article here

Popovic holds two-shot lead

Updated December 13, 2012 23:17:35

Daniel Popovic began his Australian PGA Championship charge with four straight birdies, ending the day with a 64 and a two-shot lead.

The Victorian, whose previous best finish this year is 26th in the South Pacific Open, went on to hit nine birdies in his first 12 holes with a six on the par-five 15th his only blemish.

Finishing on the front nine, his finish was as steady as his start had been spectacular, as he parred the last six holes to end the day on 8-under.

Two shots behind is Scott Strange who played a flawless round of 66 to take the early clubhouse lead.

Next came Zhang Xin Jun of China, Singapore's young star Choo Tze Huang and Geoff Ogilvy on 5-under.

Ogilivy's round was the proverbial mixed bag with two eagles and two bogeys.

Drawcard Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland is back in tied 19th at 2-under-par.

The galleries only got a fleeting glimpse of Greg Norman as he left the tournament due to illness after just two holes.

A lot has happened to the West Australian Strange over the past four years which has not only changed his outlook on life but also his priorities, and the connection is strong with the Queensland Sunshine Coast resort which hosting the PGA for the final time.

Strange felt on top of the world after capturing the Welsh Open title in November of 2008.

The breakthrough European Tour victory lifted him into the world's top 100.

Eleven days later, his world came crashing down after his sister, Natalie, died of cancer aged just 32.

A month later he played the PGA Championship at Coolum and attended a dinner by the resort's pool where Jimmy Barnes performed one of his classics.

"My sister's favourite song was Flame Trees," said Strange, barely holding back the tears after Thursday's round.

"As soon as he started singing it I had to get up and leave the table because I couldn't stop the tears."

Strange finished that tournament in third place behind Geoff Ogilvy.

Memories of his sister came flooding back again the next year when he returned to Coolum and chased home Robert Allenby in the 2009 PGA Championship.

Allenby played his final round that year wearing a pink shirt and dedicated his victory to his mother Sylvia who died from cancer earlier that year.

The loss of his sister and becoming a father for the first time to daughter Meghan have had a profound effect on 35-year-old Strange who admits he battled anger issues and gave his caddie a hard time during a difficult period in his life.

"I lost my sister to cancer a few years ago and I've had a few other problems with my mum and dad," said Strange.

"It took a while to process all that and it's even harder to deal with with that stuff when you are a long way from home."

It put a lot of things into perspective for Strange.

"I had a really good caddie and I took it out on him and did stuff you don't normally do and it just all becomes a blur."

Strange said his wife Lucinda is expecting their second child in January.

Winning the PGA Championship at Coolum this weekend would be very emotional.

But it is a win he would cherish for life.

AAP/ABC

Tags: sport, golf, coolum-beach-4573, qld, australia

First posted December 13, 2012 16:48:43

View the original article here

Popovic snares PGA triumph

Luke Pentony

Updated December 16, 2012 18:25:59

Daniel Popovic completed a fairytale victory at the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum, coming from behind to win by four strokes.

Popovic had trailed Rod Pampling by a shot with three holes to play in Sunday's final round but his birdie on the 17th and a flush of bogeys from his more seasoned rival saw the unheralded Victorian snare the Kirkwood Cup with a total of 16-under-par.

The emergence of the 26-year-old Popovic over the past four days was always going to be the story of the tournament, regardless of the result on Sunday.

He had spoken of the inspiration provided by his father Radi, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer earlier this year, and how he had considered stalling his career so he could help care for the man who introduced him to golf.

Popovic also admitted that his meagre earnings as a professional meant he had stints working in traffic control and at a Melbourne pizza restaurant and he further endeared himself to the Coolum galleries with his laidback and friendly demeanour on the fairways.

The confidence Popovic carried to the first tee each day, having at least shared the lead after every round, was impressive and it helped him manage the growing expectations surrounding his campaign.

"I knew if I had that same mentality that I had every single day leading into every round this week I was going to be fine," Popovic said.

"I turned up today and I was more confident than any of the other days."

Aside from the shiny silverware and the biggest pay cheque of his career, the win means Popovic has earned a start in next year's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

He had trouble containing his excitement when informed about the invitation, while also hoping the positive news will lift his father's spirits.

"Two weeks ago I entered Q-(qualifying) school for next year for Australia and was thinking I would play one tour because of my father's illness," Popovic said.

"But now next year is going to be bigger and better and hopefully he (his father) keeps pushing on as well."

Popovic led the tournament by two shots going into Sunday but he dropped back to second place when Pampling tore up the front nine with six straight birdies.

Pampling held a one-stroke advantage heading into his back nine and he maintained the buffer until he posted back-to-back bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes.

Popovic, playing in the group behind Pampling, leapt into a two-shot lead ahead of the final hole courtesy of his birdie on the 17th to set up a thrilling finish.

The pressure told on the more experienced Pampling when he found the water with his second shot on the 18th en route to registering a double bogey, allowing Popovic the luxury of knowing his lead had increased.

Popovic then reached the green with his second shot and just missed a birdie putt to finish with a round of 69.

Pampling, who made the turn on Sunday with a score of 30, finished with a 3-under 69 to be 12-under overall.

He finished equal second with Anthony Brown, who shot a 71 for his final round.

Geoff Ogilvy, a winner at Coolum in 2008, shot a score of 69 to finish fourth on 11-under alongside Brad Kennedy.

Pampling conceded that his shot into the water on the 18th hole was simply due to his attempt to reapply the pressure on Popovic.

"I was trying to be aggressive," he said.

"It certainly wasn't a great shot to hit. I knew I had to try and make birdie to put pressure on him (Popovic)."

Pampling started the day on 9-under before reeling off his run of birdies to charge up the leaderboard to be 15-under through nine holes.

His score of 30 saw him lead Popovic by a shot at the turn.

Popovic, who entered the final round on 13-under, produced birdies on the second, fourth and fifth to be 16-under after five holes.

But the pressure of leading the championship seemingly began to take a hold on the par-three eighth hole.

He found the trees from his tee shot and duffed his efforts to get on the green to eventually double bogey the hole.

"I told myself 'you're not out of this tournament, if you can stay calm, stay focussed you can do this'," Popovic said.

"I just kept backing myself. I never doubted myself after it."

Popovic did regain his composure and he stayed a stroke behind Pampling when both collected birdies on the par-five 12th hole.

The first cracks in Pampling's game appeared on the 16th hole when he found the trees from his tee shot, only for the ball to encounter some luck and bounce onto the rough just to the right of the fairway.

But Pampling's good fortune deserted him with his next shot landing in a fairway bunker before he dropped his first stroke of the round on the par-four hole and fall back to share the lead with Popovic on 15-under.

Pampling seemed shaken and when he missed a par putt on the 17th hole his title hopes were effectively dashed, as only moments later Popovic moved ahead by two shots via his birdie.

Tags: sport, golf, coolum-beach-4573, qld, australia

First posted December 16, 2012 17:07:53

View the original article here

Popovic looking forward to a big 2013

Updated December 17, 2012 17:01:17

If Daniel Popovic's head was spinning after his amazing win in Sunday's Australian PGA Championship it was surely thumping on Monday following a night of celebrating with friends and anyone else who wanted to congratulate him.

There has not been a more popular win in the tournament's 11 year history at the Coolum resort and young Popovic was more than happy to pass around the silver Joe Kirkwood Cup to anyone wanting to toast his success.

Popovic's first words after completing his wire-to-wire win with a 3-under 69 were: "2013 is going to be completely different to what I had planned two weeks ago".

No kidding.

Instead of going through stages of the PGA Tour of Australasia's qualifying school in the hope of gaining a few starts in 2013, Popovic has already scored an invite to tee it up in the $6 million World Golf Championship invitational tournament in Ohio in August next year.

Two of his rivals will be world number one Rory McIlroy and number three Tiger Woods who are certain to play.

There were plenty of skeptics when Popovic declared to assembled media he would win the PGA Championship after shooting a 64 on Thursday.

When he told them after his win on Sunday his next goal was to "win a golf major" nobody was going to argue.

Popovic, who financed his golfing dream making pizzas and working as a traffic sign controller, has found a powerful belief since learning earlier this year his father Radi was suffering from an incurable form of a bone cancer.

"I get those traits from my dad because he's so bloody stubborn," said Popovic, who thought about his father's courage all week.

"I can't wait to get home to give him a big bear hug and have a party."

Popovic impressed some seasoned professionals in the past fortnight.

PGA runner-up Rod Pampling partnered him in the final round of the Australian Open at The Lakes when play was stopped because of wild winds.

"I played with him on Sunday (Australian Open) and while he didn't have the best day, he drove it phenomenal," said Pampling.

US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy played a practice round with him on Tuesday and liked what he saw.

And Peter Senior, who uncharacteristically failed to apply the blow torch in the last group on Sunday, was impressed by his mental toughness.

"He got through a tough stretch around 8-9-10 and 11," said Senior who faded to a 5-over 77 after striking trouble early in his final round.

"The last seven holes he played great, he did a marvellous job."

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted December 17, 2012 17:01:17

View the original article here

Senior eyes historic double

Updated December 10, 2012 12:18:23

Golf marvel Peter Senior has switched his attention to this week's Australian PGA Championship as he eyes an historic double.

Having mastered savage winds at The Lakes to become the oldest Australian Open champion, 53-year-old Senior will return to a favourite stomping ground at Coolum believing he can defy the odds once more.

Read the story: Senior masters weather to win Australian Open

No player in more than a century of trying has completed the Australian Open-Australian PGA double on two occasions.

Some of the legends of Australian golf - including Norman Von Nida (1950), Kel Nagle (1959), Peter Thomson (1967) and Greg Norman (1985) - have achieved the rare double act.

Greg Chalmers also pulled it off last year, while Robert Allenby during his triple crown season in 2005 and Peter Lonard in 2004 are others to have gone back-to-back at the Open and PGA in modern times.

But no one has ever done it twice, something Senior has the opportunity to do after first winning the Australian Open and Australia PGA titles back in 1989.

The Queenslander candidly admits he probably would not have raised the Australian Open's Stonehaven Cup for a second time had weather conditions not deteriorated badly on Sunday.

But Senior says his accurate game and percentage plays are ideally suited to Coolum, where he has already won the PGA twice - in 2003 and 2010.

"It is a course that suits me," he said.

"It is fairly tight and the longer hitters don't have a huge advantage at Coolum because you have to lay up short of the water.

"I have more chance of winning around a course like that than any other."

Apart from overcoming wind gusts of more than 80 kilometres per hour on Sunday, Senior conquered world number four Justin Rose down the stretch after seventh-ranked Adam Scott's challenge faltered on the front nine.

"Winning golf tournaments, you need to have a good week at the right time," Senior said modestly.

"Justin Rose and the other guys are great players. Not for one moment do I think I am as good as those guys.

"I've had a good week where I got it done ... if the conditions were good, the really good players would have shone.

"These are the conditions I thrive in, where I just battle it out."

Senior estimated he only missed three fairways in four rounds at The Lakes, while he putted like a demon.

Such consistency will have him in the mix for a fourth PGA Championship when the final event of the year gets underway on Thursday.

Chalmers, though, vowed to mount a stubborn title defence after finishing tied 23rd at the Open, eight shots behind Senior.

"My game is actually in decent shape," Chalmers said after closing with a 77.

"It's hard to tell when the breeze blows this strong but, in all honesty, I saw some really good signs.

"It didn't really come to fruition with this weather, but I'm looking forward to seeing a little less breeze.

"I had a couple of good things that I liked in my golf swing I saw over the last couple of days, when I got to hit some normal shots, so I'm really looking forward to it."

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, coolum-beach-4573, qld, australia

First posted December 10, 2012 12:18:23

View the original article here

McIlroy can surpass Nicklaus: Norman

Updated December 13, 2012 09:44:47

Former world number one Greg Norman believes Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy than Tiger Woods of surpassing Jack Nicklaus as golf's greatest major winner.

It was a statement as big as "Jeff" - the 20 metre long, 8.5 metre tall dinosaur casting a shadow between the Coolum resort's ninth green and 10th tee.

Speaking ahead of a rare appearance in the Australian PGA Championship this week, Norman said McIlroy could be "as big as he wanted to be".

"I think if anybody can break Nicklaus's record (18 majors), I think he could, because he is young, he is ahead of the game, he is ahead of the curve on a lot of things," said Norman.

Tiger Woods with his 14 major victories appears the logical player to surpass Nicklaus, if anyone does.

But Norman was clearly on the McIlroy bandwagon declaring the 23 year-old, who has won 12 less majors than Woods, a better prospect to catch Nicklaus.

"I don't think so," was his blunt reply when asked if the 36 year-old Woods would overtake Nicklaus for the most majors won.

"Every year that passes by that he (Woods) hasn't won a major it just gets that much harder to win a major," said Norman.

"I don't care how many you have won, it just becomes a little bit more difficult, so he might have a shot at winning; he might win one or two more but I don't think he will win the four or five more that he needs to win to break the record."

Norman, 57, rarely plays these days with his many global business affairs taking up most of his time.

Asked what would be a good week at Coolum he said: "To do a Peter Senior".

Senior, 53, will be trying to complete the double this weekend after winning the Australian Open at The Lakes in brutally tough conditions last weekend.

The last time Senior won the Australian Open he also won the PGA and, despite his age, he sees no reason he shouldn't be among the frontrunners again.

"I probably chipped as well as I ever have (last week)," Senior told Grandstand

Hopefully the way I'm playing and the I way I've been putting the last few weeks I'll have a chance this week.

AAP/ABC

Tags: sport, golf, coolum-beach-4573, qld, australia

First posted December 13, 2012 00:24:47

View the original article here

Australian PGA on the move in 2013

Updated December 12, 2012 07:43:30

The Australian PGA Championship will have to find a new home next year after negotiations with billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer broke down this week.

PGA chief executive Brian Thorburn confirmed on Tuesday the tournament, which has been played at the Palmer-owned Coolum resort on the Sunshine Coast since 2002, would be moving.

The Gold Coast has emerged as an odds-on favourite to host the tournament next year but Thorburn would not speculate on a likely new venue.

The Pines course at Sanctuary Cove and Royal Pines have both been mentioned as options.

Thorburn, however, debunked talk of the event being moved interstate.

"It will definitely be played in Queensland - it just won't be here (Coolum)," he told journalists before the 2012 PGA Championship which starts on Thursday.

Thorburn said the location for 2013 onwards would still be "most likely South-East Queensland. (There's) a lot of speculation about the Gold Coast and that's well and truly a serious possibility and Brisbane is there as well."

The resort, formerly owned by the Hyatt Regency group, was recently bought by Palmer who has refused to sign a new major sponsorship deal with the PGA of Australia.

Palmer, who created a giant stir when he erected an enormous dinosaur replica between the ninth and 10th holes, is believed to have threatened to prevent the tournament going ahead over a dispute relating to on-course advertising promoting his pet project "Titanic II".

There were reports yesterday that Palmer locked the gates to the course in response to complaints over on-course signage, but the controversial businessman later said he knew nothing about it.

But Thorburn said certain "issues" had been resolved and he was not expecting any surprises from the unpredictable Palmer this week.

Thorburn said players would be able to take relief with a free drop under a ground under repair (GUR) local rule if their ball landed on any of the 61 advertising signs painted on the grass.

"Only about six to 10 of them are in landing zones and come into play," said Thorburn.

Last week's Australian Open champion Peter Senior said he didn't see a problem with the painted signs or the position of the dinosaur, nicknamed "Jeff".

"It (dinosaur) doesn't worry me as long as it doesn't crap everywhere," joked Senior.

ABC / AAP

Tags: sport, golf, brisbane-4000, coolum-beach-4573, qld, australia

First posted December 11, 2012 16:03:13

View the original article here

Watson to lead US in Ryder Cup

Updated December 14, 2012 06:55:56

Eight-time major champion Tom Watson has been named as captain of the 2014 US Ryder Cup squad.

Watson, a five-time British Open champion, was selected in hopes of ending an American slump in the biennial golf showdown. The Europeans have won five of the past six Ryder Cup matches, including at Medinah near Chicago last September.

The 63-year-old Watson, who contested the Australian Open in Sydney last week, is the oldest captain in US Ryder Cup history.

The prior US Ryder Cup captain age mark belonged to Sam Snead, who was 57 when he guided the Americans in 1969.

"It's going to be a great journey. I hope that we will change the tide," Watson said.

Watson will be 65 when the next Ryder Cup is contested in 2014 at Gleneagles in Scotland.

He first served as the US captain in 1993, the last time a US squad won a Ryder Cup on European soil.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted December 14, 2012 06:55:56

View the original article here

Duo share lead at Australian PGA

Updated December 14, 2012 23:04:12

The surprises kept coming at Coolum as two relative unknowns - including first round leader Daniel Popovic - held a two-shot lead at the halfway mark of the Australian PGA Championship.

Popovic - who had taken apart the Coolum course with his opening 8-under round of 64 - held his nerve to keep his place at the top of the leaderboard with a 2-under round of 70.

He was joined on 10-under by Chinese golfer Zhang Xin Jun, who fired his second successive 5-under 67 to show he was well in form to challenge on the weekend.

Zhang had birdies on the opening two holes on the way to a first nine of 2-under 34, before coming home with five birdies in six holes from the 12th.

He could have had the outright lead, only to lose ground with bogeys at the par-4 16th and 18th holes.

Day two saw plenty of low scoring, with Zhang far from the only player to make a move.

Geoff Ogilvy shot a 3-under 69 to sit two off the lead at 8-under, along with Matthew Griffin who had a 5-under 67.

A further shot back on 7-under are three players - Brad Kennedy (68), Steven Bowditch, who had five birdies and an eagle in his round of 67 and Matthew Goggin, who birdied four of the last six holes for a 6-under 66.

Rod Pampling and Peter Senior are both on 6-under, while round of the day was a 7-under 65 by Kurt Barnes.

Barnes lies joint 10th at the halfway mark on 5-under with a group of 11 players including former British Open winner Darren Clarke.

Earlier, Popovic delivered on his promise to keep playing aggressively on day two at Coolum.

He was heading for another impressive round on Friday until a double bogey at the relatively-easy 529-metre par-5 15th hole - which he also messed up on Thursday.

"The 15th, I just can't get my head around it," said Popovic, whose response to the double bogey was to tell his caddie "let's make birdie on the next".

Although he failed to make up the shot, the comment showed the mental side of his game that will be needed on the weekend when the pressure goes up a few notches.

"I'm stoked. I can't get the smile off my face," Popovic said, adding he was still playing well and had a lot of confidence.

Popovic, an unknown coming into the tournament, opened up to the media after Thursday's great round about his father's battle with incurable cancer and how his parents were highly-emotional people.

"Mum told me she couldn't watch - she was in tears," he said.

"Dad was in hospital today having some more blood tests done."

Popovic said being able to watch and learn from Ogilvy during a practice round at Coolum on Tuesday had been a real eye-opener.

"Just seeing how he goes about things. He has won a major - there isn't really that much of a step," he said, again showing his confidence.

Ogilvy expects experience will play a part in determining who will take out this year's PGA championship on the weekend.

The 2008 winner is just two shots behind leader Popovic after shooting a 3-under-par round 69 following on from 67 on day one.

"I like coming to Coolum it's somewhere I have had some success in the past and it's just nice to go into the weekend with a chance," Ogilvy told Grandstand.

Ogilvy is confident of overhauling 26-year-old Popovic who he shared a practice round with on Tuesday.

"Experience really counts in golf," Ogilvy said.

"You just have to look at Peter Senior last weekend. Older guys may lose their strength but the game keeps growing in your brain."

AAP/ABC

Tags: sport, golf, coolum-beach-4573, qld, australia

First posted December 14, 2012 15:49:39

View the original article here

Jamieson wins inaugural Mandela Championship

Updated December 10, 2012 09:31:28

Scott Jamieson of Scotland won his first European Tour title at the inaugural Nelson Mandela Championship at the Royal Durban Golf Club on Monday morning (AEDT) as the world peace icon underwent medical tests.

The 29-year-old beat England's Steve Webster and Spaniard Eduardo de la Riva on the second hole of a play-off. They were tied for the lead at 7-under-par 123 after the tournament was reduced to 36-holes with heavy rain washing out the first two days.

"To get your name on any European trophy is a fantastic achievement, but it's a little more special when it's for someone like Nelson [Mandela]," the 29-year-old said while holding an unusual trophy sporting colourful miniatures of Mandela seated with an open book and surrounded by small children.

The proceeds of the tournament will go to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.

Meanwhile in the South African capital of Pretoria, the 94-year-old Nobel Peace Laureate, after whom the tournament was named, spent the night in hospital for medical tests.

South African president Jacob Zuma found him "comfortable, and in good care" during a hospital visit.

Jamieson, having finished the first round outside the top 40 with 1-over 66, fought back on Monday morning to card an 8-under 57 on the way to his maiden European Tour title.

Play was much swifter in the reduced tournament co-sanctioned by the European Tour and South Africa's Sunshine Tour - the first time in 10 years that two days were cut.

"I knew I had to get off to a fast start after a really mediocre round yesterday," Jamieson said.

"I really had to get up and down to save par at 10 and then I chipped in on 11, which really got me going."

"I built up some momentum from there, made three birdies in a row on the par-3s, which doesnt happen often," he added.

Having finished tied in the lead with Webster and De la Riva, he had to wait five hours before the play-off to see if any of the late-starting players caught up.

"I was pretty nervous for the playoff. But that's why we play, we want to get in that situation and that's what I kept telling myself. The other guys would have been nervous too, so it's just a case of who plays the best golf," Jamieson said afterwards.

De la Riva bogeyed the first play-off on the 18th hole, while Webster lost a stroke on the second to hand the on-par Scotsman the title.

He hoped the victory would help him to more successes this season.

"The goal is to try to break into the top-100 in the world rankings and get into the US PGA in August ... there is also the US Open and British Open qualifier as well," he said.

Overnight leaders Tim Clark from South Africa and Dane Morten Orum both shot a 1-under 64 on the last day to finish third. Their total of 6-under 124 was tied with those of Germany's Maximilian Kieffer and Englishman Matthew Nixon.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, south-africa

First posted December 10, 2012 08:44:50

View the original article here

Senior masters weather to win Australian Open

Updated December 10, 2012 10:10:17

Peter Senior has held his nerve in "near impossible" conditions to become the oldest Australian Open golf champion.

The 53-year-old overcame gale force winds and a three-hour delay at the windswept Lakes course in Sydney to post a dogged final-round even-par 72 to win the Stonehaven Cup by a shot from a valiant Brendan Jones (71).

Cameron Percy (73) finished third a further shot back.

Senior tallied four-under for the tournament after rounds of 75-68-69-72.

The Queenslander's second Open victory on a drama-charged afternoon comes after his first as a 30-year-old back in 1989.

The previous oldest Open winner was the legendary Peter Thomson at 43 at Kooyonga in 1972.

"I can't believe how many people stuck it out. I would have been at home in bed by now," a beaming Senior said after the tournament finished in near darkness.

As virtually the entire field went backwards in winds gusting up to 80kph, Senior dropped just two shots all day - at the fifth and seventh holes - but birdies on the par-4 10th and 12th holes proved priceless.

While Senior took the spoils, Jones was heroic in almost snatching victory with a spectacular finish.

Contesting his first national championship in four years, the Japan-based Jones nearly overcame a 12-shot deficit early in his round after going 5-under through his last 13 holes.

Featuring a brilliant eagle on the par-5 17th, Jones eventually closed with a 71 to finish with a 72-hole hole total of 3-under 275.

While some players argued about the suspension, Open boss Trevor Herden said officials had no alternative but to halt proceedings just before noon when fierce winds knocked down a television tower near the 18th green.

The southerly change also caused scoreboards to topple over, balls to move on the fairways and greens and sand to be blown from bunkers and into the galleries.

Herden said player and spectator safety was paramount.

"Obviously there's nothing we can do to protect anybody other than to get them out of danger," he said.

"We have an obligation to the public and the players and then there's the golf course, which at that point became unplayable.

"We were managing very, very well through the 60km (wind) zone but once we got to 80, we all know that no golf course can defend 80-kilometre winds.

"We had to suspend play."

Herden agreed conditions were "brutal", but defending champion Greg Chalmers claimed they were even tougher than that.

"Borderline impossible at certain points," Chalmers said after closing with a 77 to tie 23rd.

"It was just one of the most difficult days that I've played in a long time."

Third-round leader John Senden, who also led into Sunday last year only to come up short, had a shocker, capitulating with a final-round 83 to be joint 18th.

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted December 09, 2012 20:12:48

View the original article here

Peerless Schwartzel cruises to Thailand victory

Updated December 10, 2012 09:32:57

Charl Schwartzel decimated a star field at the Thailand Golf Championship on Monday morning (AEDT), cruising to an 11-shot victory and ending a miserable 20-month spell without a title.

Five-shots ahead overnight, the South African more than doubled his winning margin with a blistering final round 65, leaving him 7-under-par for the day and 25-under overall. He dropped only a single shot all week.

In a display of precision putting, he hit eight final round birdies as he avenged last year's defeat to Lee Westwood and smashed the Englishman's tournament record score by three shots with a total of 263.

US Masters champion Bubba Watson finished strongly with 14-under overall, putting him tied for second with 20-year-old Thai sensation Thitiphun Chuayprakong, while Ryder Cup star Sergio Garcia was two shots back in fourth.

It was Schwartzel's first win since claiming the 2011 US Masters, with the South African enduring a frustrating time since then due to injuries and poor form.

"It's been a good week. I've come close a few times but winning is not as easy as everyone makes it out to be," a beaming Schwartzel said of his ninth professional title.

"It's been a difficult year especially in the middle, it's nice to put things in place and get the win I've been looking for for a while.

"Making one bogey all week pretty much sums up how I played. I played pretty flawless golf. That's my personal best."

Schwartzel made a high-class field look ordinary as he breezed to the title, his 11-under the third-biggest winning margin ever recorded on the Asian Tour.

A birdie at the first banished any thoughts of a final day wobble. It was his nearest rival, Sweden's Daniel Chopra, who quickly felt the nerves, bogeying the first as he wilted in the Chonburi heat.

After seven dropped shots in a horror front nine, Chopra finished at 10-under, joining a clutch of players including Simon Dyson of England who finished a shot ahead of compatriot and world number six Lee Westwood.

Home favourite Thitiphun led the chasing pack for much of the day hitting three birdies and delighting the crowd with a stunning eagle out off the bunker on the eleventh.

"I'm so proud of how I played because I played with one of the best players in the world," the affable Thitiphun said, after claiming his $US85,000 prize for coming joint second.

"The way he (Schwartzel) handled himself was fantastic. This is something I'm working on... we are getting there."

Watson posted a flawless 7-under 65 for the last round, but he conceded his late charge was doomed to failure after a patchy first three days against the red-hot South African.

"Schwartzel played pretty good and my best stuff probably wouldn't have been as good," he said, adding error-strewn Friday and Saturday rounds stymied a genuine title challenge.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, thailand

First posted December 10, 2012 08:36:20

View the original article here

Sick Norman pulls out of Championship

Updated December 13, 2012 10:21:32

Greg Norman was confined to bed under medical supervision and "as sick as a dog" after pulling out of the Australian PGA Championship on the Sunshine Coast after just two holes.

Making a rare tournament start, 57-year-old former world number one Norman made bogeys at his first two holes at the Palmer Coolum resort course on Thursday before departing for his room with what tournament officials said was suspected food poisoning.

"He is quite ill, we understand," PGA of Australia chief executive Brian Thorburn said.

"He is getting medical attention. We wish him a very speedy recovery this morning.

"It's a great shame it happened at this moment.

"I haven't spoken to him. I have spoken to his manager and I have spoken to the guys who saw him this morning.

"They're all facilitating medical treatment.

"One person described him as being as sick as a dog.

"I think Greg was trying to soldier through and clearly it wasn't possible."

Norman was one of the tournament's main drawcards along with British Open winner Darren Clarke and South African Rory Sabatini.

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, coolum-beach-4573, qld, australia

First posted December 13, 2012 09:27:43

View the original article here

Palmer confident PGA will stay at Coolum

Updated December 15, 2012 13:51:50

Flamboyant billionaire Clive Palmer is prepared to underwrite bets the Coolum-based Australian PGA Championship is not going anywhere.

The board of the Australian PGA will decide next week if the 107-year-old tournament is back on the open market.

But Mr Palmer, who named one of his resort's watery graves the John F Kennedy Lake for World Peace on Saturday in the presence of the former US president's nephew, Stephen Smith, was confident the PGA would remain at Coolum.

"I'll take your bets. I will underwrite any of your bets against Brian (PGA of Australia chief executive Brian Thorburn)," he said.

"Bet him 100 bucks and see what type of odds he'll give you."

The PGA's board will decide next week if the tournament remains at Mr Palmer's Sunshine Coast resort after the colourful mining magnate came good with a revamped proposal late on Friday.

Thorburn told the media on Tuesday the tournament's days at the Palmer Coolum resort - formerly known as the Hyatt Regency Resort - were over with several Gold Coast clubs lining up to secure one of the country's oldest golf tournaments.

Asked on Saturday, after unveiling a plaque in memory of John F Kennedy on the ninth tee, if the PGA Championship would stay, the outspoken entrepreneur said: "absolutely".

"I'm very confident the PGA will be here for the next five years ... I'm sure that will be the case.

"I'm sure the PGA board knows this is a great place for the players and it's a great place for the tournament."

Thorburn, who has been careful not to tangle with Mr Palmer publicly for fear of how he may react after reportedly threatening to dump the tournament last Sunday, maintained his cautious approach.

"I've obviously heard Clive's comments and it's great that he is so passionate about golf and the Australian PGA Championship," said Thorburn after listening to audio of Mr Palmer's impromptu golf course interview.

Thorburn confirmed the PGA of Australia had received a revised offer from the Palmer Coolum Resort late of Friday.

The new deal would be through to 2017.

"It goes without saying that we are committed to achieving the best outcome for the tournament and our players, and the resort's offer will be considered by our board next Wednesday," he said.

Mr Palmer, who has deep enough pockets to stage a rebel tournament with the likes of superstars Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy if he wanted, is placing a lot of faith in the players who have enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of coming to Coolum with their families since 2002.

"It's the golfers who will play today, they're make up the PGA, they're more important than the chief executive, more important than the board or anyone," he said.

"They know Coolum is the best course to play on. They know this is the best place to take their families and recharge before they start the difficult tours next year.

"I think they are the ones who will make the final decision."

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, coolum-beach-4573, qld, australia

First posted December 15, 2012 13:45:34

View the original article here

Chalmers shooting for top-50 berth

Updated October 17, 2012 21:54:50

After his "crazy good" summer last season, Australian golfer Greg Chalmers has set his sights on cracking into the world's top 50 by the end of the year.

Chalmers was languishing at 203 in the world before winning the Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship in a dream fortnight last November.

The 39-year-old has since improved his ranking to 58, and is desperate to break into the world's top 50 by year's end to guarantee himself a berth at all four majors in 2013.

His mission to climb further up the rankings will start this week when he competes at the $US2 million ($A1.96 million) Perth International at Lake Karrinyup, which is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and the European Tour.

Chalmers has missed just five cuts on the US Tour this year, but says he needs to become a regular participant in the major tournaments to improve his game further.

"I think to cement yourself in the top 50 in the world would be an attainable goal between now and the end of year," Chalmers said on Wednesday.

"I have five more events, and that's another reason why I'm here this week - it's another opportunity to improve my world ranking.

"I'd love to be just a regular at the majors, and I think it's much easier to be competitive when you're in that environment all the time.

"I think the next step would be to maintain top-50 status and then go from there trying to get to 40 or 30 or what-not.

"So it's always evolving.

"I thought I was close to something good at the end of last year and it turned out it was crazy good and it was two wins (in Australia)."

Up until recently, Chalmers was unsure whether he would be able to compete in Perth after undergoing a hernia operation four weeks ago.

Even his wife underwent the operation four days ago, leading Chalmers to joke: "We are a herniated family at the moment."

Chalmers is among the favourites at the Perth International, but faces tough competition in the form of 2011 US Masters winner Charl Schwartzel, world number 10 Jason Dufner, former world number three Paul Casey and world number 24 Bo Van Pelt.

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted October 17, 2012 21:54:50

View the original article here

McIlroy named PGA Player of the Year

Updated December 05, 2012 07:19:58

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy has been named PGA Tour Player of the Year, capping an outstanding season for the world number one.

As expected, the 23-year-old was the popular choice for the annual Jack Nicklaus Award, decided by a vote from eligible tour players, becoming the youngest recipient since Tiger Woods in 1998.

McIlroy won four PGA Tour titles this year, including the PGA Championship by a record eight strokes. Nicklaus held the previous record margin for the last major on the golfing calendar, winning the 1980 PGA Championship by seven shots.

"It's always nice to get recognition from your peers, the guys that you're trying to beat week in, week out," McIlroy said.

"I guess it's just a great way to end what has been a great year and my best season so far."

McIlroy also won the Honda Classic, Deutsche Bank Championship and BMW Championship and the Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average.

He also won the money lists for the PGA and European Tours, making his selection a virtual formality on a final ballot that included Jason Dufner, Brandt Snedeker, Bubba Watson and Woods.

"It's no surprise that Rory McIlroy was voted by the players and his peers as the best Player of the Year," PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said.

John Huh won the rookie of the year award after becoming the youngest player in more than a decade to qualify for the Tour Championship.

Huh, 22, broke through for his first win at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in February, enduring an eight-hole playoff with Robert Allenby.

The youngest player before him to reach the end-of-season championship was Spain's Sergio Garcia, who was 21 in 2001.

Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, northern-ireland

First posted December 05, 2012 07:19:58

View the original article here

Appleby facing PGA wildcard for 2013

Updated October 22, 2012 17:27:52

Nine-times US PGA Tour winner Stuart Appleby will have one last chance to secure his playing rights for 2013 before being forced to use his get-out-of-jail-free card to return.

Appleby is languishing in 162nd on the US tour money list after finishing at 7-under and tied 27th with fellow Australian Matt Goggin behind winner Tommy Gainey at the penultimate regular-season event, The McGladrey Classic on Monday.

Only the top 125 earners receive full playing rights for the main tour next year, leaving Appleby probably needing a top-three finish at the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic at Lake Buena Vista, Florida, from November 8-11.

Otherwise Appleby, a mainstay on the tour since 1996, could use a one-time exemption for being inside the top 50 in career money earners on tour. He is 19th going into the tournament.

If not, the 41-year-old Victorian could play on next year with a partial exemption should he finish between 125th and 150th on the final money list next month.

Fellow veteran Nick O'Hern (147th) also needs a big cheque in Florida or face settling for partial playing rights, while Nathan Green (165th), Goggin (176th), Matt Jones (177th) and Gavin Coles (179th) are headed for the secondary Tour next year unless they pull off something special in Florida.

Cameron Percy, sitting comfortably in 10th spot on the secondary Tour money list, and 14th-placed Scott Gardiner have clinched promotion to the lucrative PGA Tour for 2013.

But 19th-placed Alistair Presnell, while tantalisingly close, still needs a decent finish at this week's season-ending secondary Tour Championship at TPC Craig Ranch in Texas to ensure he joins them.

The top 60 season earners have made the field for the final event, with only the top 25 to qualify for the 2013 PGA Tour.

Nick Flanagan, a four-times winner on the secondary tour, including once this season, probably needs to win the secondary Tour Championship to book his ticket to the PGA Tour for a second time.

Flanagan, who played on the main tour in 2008, is 40th on the money list heading into the season finale.

World number six Adam Scott along with Jason Day, John Senden, Geoff Ogilvy, Greg Chalmers, Marc Leishman, Aaron Baddeley, Robert Allenby and Rod Pampling have already secured their playing rights for the 2013 PGA Tour.

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, australia, united-states

First posted October 22, 2012 17:27:52

View the original article here

Scott shares WGC lead in China

Updated November 01, 2012 22:01:56

Australia's Adam Scott and former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen both shot 7-under-par 65 to share a one-stroke lead at the star-studded WGC-HSBC Champions in China on Thursday.

Scott finished birdie, birdie, eagle and Oosthuizen stayed bogey-free to come out on top after a low-scoring first round at southern China's Mission Hills, in which the lead swapped hands several times.

"I had a really good start," Scott, who has been relaxing at home in Australia since the end of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs, told reporters.

"And a fast finish. I hit a lot of good shots and over the last couple of holes made the most of them.

"There are five par-fives on this set-up which are good for my game. The plan is to take advantage of them and hopefully hang on to the leaders this week."

Using a two-iron twice late in the round bucked the modern trend among touring professionals of using hybrid irons for long-range approach shots but Scott denied he had turned the golf equipment clock back 20 years.

"I have used hybrids before but my two-iron is not like the blades they used in the 1980s," he added.

"It has a little bit more meat in the head and is a little more user friendly."

Four-time Major-winner Phil Mickelson also eagled his last hole, the par-five ninth, to lie tied for second place with US Masters champion Bubba Watson, Shane Lowry and Peter Hanson, who won last week's BMW Masters in Shanghai.

"It was a great way to finish with an eagle. I was hoping just to make birdie on the last hole," Mickelson said.

"I think the reason I was so calm today was I drove the ball extremely well and hit (nearly) every fairway. I missed one fairway by two yards, the par-five three, and I still made birdie."

Dustin Johnson and Thailand's Prom Meesawat were two shots off the lead on 5-under-par 67, while England's Luke Donald and defending champion Martin Kaymer were three off the pace in the $US7 million ($A6.78 million) event.

AFP/Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, china

First posted November 01, 2012 21:08:05

View the original article here

Norman supports broomhandle ban

Updated November 29, 2012 12:35:27

Greg Norman has backed the planned ban on anchored putting despite its effect on fellow Australian Adam Scott.

The Royal and Ancient (R&A) and United States Golf Association (USGA) have proposed a new law prohibiting strokes made with the club held against the player's body, or with a forearm held against the body to establish an anchor point.

World number five Scott has anchored a broomhandle putter to his chest for the last two seasons and has finished inside the top 15 of six of eight majors in that time, including runner-up finishes at the 2011 Masters and 2012 British Open.

But Norman, who admits he endorsed Scott's decision to change to the long putter two years ago, says the rule change is the right move.

"I have spoken out about the long putter since the mid-1980s," he said.

"I am a big believer that the biggest parts of the game especially under the gun is your nerves and how your mind, your brain, your synapses connect electrically with your muscles.

"Sometime people have a tendency for a little bit of a twitch or their muscles tighten up.

"I think the situation of anchoring a putter takes away that element of the game.

"How you control the body controls the golf swing, anchoring the putter halts that process and makes it easier."

Scott has been vocal against changes to the rules but it appears his pleas will fall on deaf ears with the proposal set to take effect in 2016.

Norman says that gives Scott plenty of time to adjust and although he endorsed Scott's decision to switch to the style in the first place, he believes it is an easy way out.

"Sometimes your mind has the ability of saying I have a way of escaping something and I am going to give myself that ease of moving out without having to focus and be determined on how to improve an element of my game," he said.

"[For Adam] that is going back to the short putter or a variation of what the rule is now to learn to adapt.

"That's what golf is all about, learning to adapt to conditions week in and week out.

"Everyone now has a three-year look in to make adjustments and the guys are good enough to do that.

"We can adjust from hickory shafts to steel shafts to where we are today with graphite so the transition through the years has been there and players have just learned to get around it.

"Adam is no different."

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, australia

First posted November 29, 2012 12:35:27

View the original article here

Harrington wins Grand Slam title by one shot

Updated October 25, 2012 09:21:05

Triple major winner Padraig Harrington held off a last-day charge by US Open champion Webb Simpson to win the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda by one shot.

Irishman Harrington, a late addition to the elite four-man field, fired a 4-under-par 67 at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton for a 9-under total of 133 in the 36-hole event.

Two strokes ahead of Masters champion Bubba Watson overnight, Harrington mixed five birdies with a lone bogey at the par-four last to fend off American Simpson, who closed with a best-of-the-week 65.

It was the 41-year-old Irishman's first victory since the 2010 Iskandar Johor Open on the Asian Tour, and a case of third time lucky for him at the Grand Slam of Golf.

Harrington had twice been beaten in play-offs at the event - which brings together the winners of the year's four majors - losing to Argentina's Angel Cabrera in 2007 and being edged out by American Jim Furyk in 2008.

"It was unfinished business for me, having lost in two play-offs, so it was nice to come back and win it now," Harrington said after becoming only the second European to win the title, emulating 1991 champion Ian Woosnam of Wales.

"It feels good. I haven't won in a while. Winning is a habit and it's nice to do it.

"I believe I'm playing really good golf. I believe that there's good stuff in my game already, and I believe that there's other stuff that I need to tidy up. I see a lot of good things happening."

Harrington swiftly accepted an invitation to compete at Port Royal after British Open champion Ernie Els withdrew on Saturday because of an ankle injury.

"You've got to come here," he said. "You've got to give yourself the chance. It's a fantastic tournament. Even if I finish fourth here, I'd be quite confident that I made the right decision. It is a bonus to come and win, no doubt about it."

Sealed the title

A stroke in front of the charging Simpson at the turn, Harrington effectively sealed the title with successive four-foot birdie putts at the 11th, 12th and 13th which gave him a commanding four-shot cushion.

"From there on, it was very much trying to batten down the hatches and get to the clubhouse," said the Irishman, who won the British Open in 2007 and 2008 and the PGA Championship, also in 2008.

"Once I holed my (par) putt on 16, I felt it was all over at that stage. It was just a question of getting the last two holes played without too much harm, too much damage being done."

Simpson applauded Harrington's decisive birdie run shortly after the turn.

"He was playing well and he made the putts you've got to make," said the American who won his first major title at the US Open in June.

Left-hander Watson carded a roller-coaster 71 to finish a distant third at 3-under 139, level with fellow American and defending champion Keegan Bradley (67).

Bradley, winner of last year's PGA Championship, gained his spot in the field as the first alternate after Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy pulled out due to a scheduling conflict.

McIlroy, who clinched his second major title by a staggering eight shots at this year's PGA Championship, had already committed to the European Tour event being played this week in China.

Reuters

Tags: sport, golf, bermuda

First posted October 25, 2012 09:21:05

View the original article here

Beljan wins at Disney, Pampling misses money cut

Updated November 12, 2012 10:16:30

Charlie Beljan capped a wild week with an emotional first US PGA Tour victory Monday morning (AEDT), posting a two-stroke triumph at Disney just two days after he was hospitalized with a panic attack.

Beljan carded a 3-under-par 69 final round, countering a double-bogey and three bogeys with eight birdies for a 16-under total of 272.

But there was disappointment for some who started the week on the edge.

Australian Rod Pampling and Billy Mayfair, who both missed the cut, fell to 127 and 128 on the money list respectively.

Their status in the top 150 will give them partial status for next year, allowing them into some events but not all.

Matt Every and Robert Garrigus both shot 4-under 68 in the final round to share second place on 14-under 274, and Brian Gay was a stroke further back after a 70 for 275.

Beljan, who came into the final tournament of the season at 139th on the money list, needed a good week to move into the top 125 and secure full playing privileges for next season.

With the victory he is guaranteed his tour card for the next two seasons and a berth in the PGA Championship, but for a time it looked as if he would not even be able to finish the tournament.

Beljan was in hospital on Friday night after an apparent panic attack had him battling shortness of breath, an elevated heart rate and light-headedness during the round.

He even told his caddie he thought his life was in jeopardy, but he opted to return to the course on Sunday and had emerged from the third round with a two-shot lead.

On Monday he briefly fell into a tie for the lead, but a run of five birdies in a six-hole span starting at the seventh saw him pull away.

Despite a double-bogey six at the par-4 13th, he managed to hang on for the win.

Tim Herron closed with a 69 to finish tied for ninth, just squeaking into the top 125.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted November 12, 2012 10:16:30

View the original article here

Gardiner to take it easy in USPGA debut

Updated November 27, 2012 15:11:37

Scott Gardiner won't make the mistake of trying to smash a golf ball like Tiger Woods or Bubba Watson when he debuts on the US PGA Tour in Hawaii in January.

"I think that's a common rookie mistake," said 36-year-old Gardiner ahead of his first trip back to Australia since the Moonah Classic in February, 2010.

"I won't be going out there thinking I can hit it as long as Tiger or some of the other guys do.

"I'm going to be the guy putting it on the fairway and trying to find a way to get it on the green."

It's a philosophy Gardiner believes helped him to finally secure a US PGA Tour card after eight years toiling on the secondary tour.

"I didn't really try too hard this year and, to be honest, I think that helped me," he said.

"You don't have to shoot 65 every time you go out. If you go out and hit some good shots and shoot a couple under they're still going to pay you pretty well at the end of the week."

Sydney-born Gardiner will create history at Hawaii's Kapalua Resort course on January 7 as the first indigenous Australian player to compete full-time on the US tour.

"It's something I feel pretty proud to achieve for all those family and people who have supported me," he said.

Instead of teeing up for $480,000 tournament prize money on the secondary Tour, Gardiner will be taking on the big boys for $4.8 million or more a week.

"I've always wanted to play golf professionally whether that was on the (Australian) Sunshine circuit or over here (America). As long as I was paying the bills, I was always going to be happy," he said.

Gardiner will head home to contest next month's Australian Open at The Lakes in Sydney and also the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum.

Those two events will lead up to the biggest moment of his golfing life in Hawaii.

He has linked with his former Caloundra sports psychologist Sean Lynch to make sure he is not just physically ready but also mentally prepared to cope with the big step up in competition and company.

"I used to work with Sean before I came out here (USA)," said Gardiner.

"He's more a mental coach. Sometimes after a bad round it's nice to have a sounding board like him to help me approach the next round or tournament feeling fresh," he said.

"I'm going to come down and play a few events in Australia which will be much of my preparation for Hawaii and I'm really looking forward to playing those tournaments and those courses again."

"After that, it gets very exciting."

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, united-states

First posted November 27, 2012 15:07:41

View the original article here

Guyatt maintains Masters lead

Updated November 16, 2012 13:20:02

Queenslander Matthew Guyatt is hanging on to his Australian Masters lead ahead of New Zealand's Michael Hendry during the second round.

Guyatt followed his first-round 7-under-par 65 with a second round of 69 to sit at the top of the leaderboard at 10-under-par.

After shooting four birdies on the front nine at Kingston Heath this morning Guyatt had a hiccup with a double-bogey on the 12th and a bogey on the 14th.

Those two holes were split by a birdie on the 13th with Guyatt shooting another birdie on the 17th for a 3-under-par-round for the day.

Hendry also shot a three-under-par round to stay two shots adrift of Guyatt at 8-under.

England's Ian Poulter did not make up any ground on the pair and remained on his overnight score of 5-under-par after 18 holes.

Adam Scott has begun his second round five shots adrift of Guyatt.

Full leaderboard

Tags: golf, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, brisbane-4000, qld

First posted November 16, 2012 11:14:03

View the original article here

Gainey's sparkling 60 wins McGladrey Classic

Updated October 22, 2012 10:29:32

Tommy Gainey could not quite reach golf's magic number of 59, but a sparkling 60 was good enough to give him a first US PGA Tour victory at the McGladrey Classic on Monday morning (AEDT).

Gainey nabbed eight birdies and holed out from a greenside bunker for eagle on the par-5 15th en route to a 10-under-par 60 that gave him a 16-under total of 264 and a one-shot victory over David Toms.

A birdie at the last would have made Gainey the sixth player in PGA Tour history to record a 59. He hit his approach inside 20 feet but his birdie attempt came up short.

Nevertheless Gainey trailed by seven shots entering the final round and his comeback matched the second-biggest for a victory on the tour this season.

Gainey's round included seven successive threes from the 11th - four of them birdies and one of them his eagle.

He had to wait more than two hours to see if his lead would stand up.

"Got a long way to go," Gainey said as he walked off the 18th green, with the overnight leaders yet to make the turn.

When it was all over, Gainey was a little emotional.

"It's been a hard year for me and finally, we got it right," said the 37-year-old with an unconventional swing and the nickname "Two Gloves" for his habit of wearing gloves on both hands.

"I get bashed all the time about my swing," Gainey acknowledged, but added: "The only thing that matters is right before impact on the downswing."

Toms and Jim Furyk both made late runs, Toms finishing with a 63 for 265.

Furyk, still trying to erase the taste of America's Ryder Cup defeat to a storming European team at Medinah last month, birdied the 15th and made a great par save at 17.

He could have forced a playoff with a birdie at the last but instead hit his approach right and ended up with a three-putt bogey for a 69 that left him third on 266.

Furyk made just two bogeys all week, but he still could not break through for a first win of a season that has included seven top-10 finishes, a near-miss at the US Open and a tough loss to Sergio Garcia at the Ryder Cup.

"I think what I'm most disappointed about is when it came down the stretch, hitting the ball pretty much as good as I can, I made really, really poor swings at 17 and 18 with a seven-iron and eight-iron," Furyk said.

"So to play those two holes and not get one good look at it for birdie was disappointing."

Toms also needed a birdie at 18 to match Gainey but drove into a bunker.

"I was thinking about what kind of putt I was going to have before I ever hit the fairway," Toms said.

"You get ahead of yourself and that's what happens."

Davis Love, who captained the losing US Ryder Cup team, had found a measure of solace in a strong performance this week in the tournament he hosts, but his dwindling hopes ended for good when he drove into the water on 16 en route to a double-bogey.

His 1-over 71 left him tied for fourth on 268 with Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge (65) and DJ Trahan (69).

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted October 22, 2012 09:05:22

View the original article here

Fraser seizes Australian Open lead

Updated December 07, 2012 20:25:29

Marcus Fraser claimed the halfway lead of the Australian Open at The Lakes in Sydney.

Fraser, who has bounced back from career-saving neck surgery, posted a second successive 69 to advance to 6-under-par for the championship and a one-stroke lead.

Fellow Australians John Senden (73) and Brendan Jones (71) trail by one stroke and Nic Cullen (70) is two shots off the pace.

Fraser, after playing on three continents in the past three weeks, rode the momentum of his magical first-day hole-in-one all the way to the halfway lead on Friday.

While he was unable to repeat his first-round ace on the 184-metre par-three 15th hole, Fraser's five birdies were enough as his heavyweight rivals stumbled.

Fraser suffered from significant neck pain two years ago prior to undergoing an operation that he jokingly referred to as being "pretty basic".

"The amount of pain I was in leading up to that operation is something that I never want to experience again," he said.

"I nearly blacked out from the pain every time I stood up.

"If I had not had the operation, there is no way I would have played again - no chance at all."

The major setback also proved a wake-up call for Fraser, who has recovered to be on the cusp of the world's top 50 after enjoying a career-best year in Europe.

"I realised how much I loved the game and how much I enjoyed being out here," he said.

"Sometimes you take it for granted. You need something like that to give you a kick in the butt."

Apart from getting his hands on the Stonehaven Cup, Fraser is all too aware of the bonuses involved in winning the Open and edging closer to the top 50.

For one, a coveted first-time ticket to next year's Masters at Augusta is at stake.

"That top-50 world ranking by the end of this year is pretty important," Fraser said.

"I am already in the British Open for next year after finishing top 30 in Europe this year.

"Hopefully I can sneak a few more WGC events and the US Open. If I play well this week and next week (at the Australian PGA), the Masters is a chance."

Senden had a rollercoaster round, while English world number four Justin Rose is three shots off the pace with a bunch of players at 3-under after leaking four shots on the back nine.

Their pedestrian performances left a host of players in the mix.

Marc Leishman, Australia's only winner on the 2012 US PGA Tour, is 2-under after a 72, while pre-tournament favourite Adam Scott is 1-under after a scratchy round of 71.

After feeling embarrassed by his first-day 78, American drawcard Tom Watson thrilled fans with a brilliant bounce-back 68, the day's equal best, to survive the halfway chop.

Defending champion Greg Chalmers (75) is also at 2-over with Watson.

But fellow two-times champion Robert Allenby missed the cut after racking up a 77.

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, sydney-2000

First posted December 07, 2012 20:06:34

View the original article here

First 2012 title for Kaymer in Sun City

Updated December 03, 2012 09:45:05

Germany's Martin Kaymer won his first title this year after a final round 3-under-par 69 at the Nedbank Golf Challenge on Monday morning (AEDT), beating South African Charl Schwartzel by two strokes.

The 27-year-old sunk four birdies at the Gary Player Country Club and came out ahead of Schwartzel despite a double-bogey on the third immediately after his eagle on the par-5 second.

"The eagle at the second hole was a bonus - two great shots and a nice putt. The third obviously wasn't so good as I hit a bad tee shot and got into trouble," said the relieved former world number one.

"But for me the biggest luck today was definitely on 14 with my tee shot, and then making a birdie.

"I could very easily have made a six or a seven, so that was very lucky that I found that ball in the perfect position and could chip it down the fairway and make four from there," he said.

At one point he was tied with South Africans Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen as well as Bill Haas from the United States at 5-under, but his consistent play at the rainy north-western Sun City resort saw him through.

The German's first victory this year crowns a difficult return after a bad season. World number one early in 2011, Kaymer's performance slumped toward the end of the year.

His putt clinching the European victory in the Ryder Cup in September heralded the old form he was used to.

"I'm just very happy to finally win this year. That was the important thing for me, because I've practised very hard and played very well the last few weeks and months but it just hasn't happened for me on the golf course," he said.

"I said to my caddie that we have to win one tournament every year and this was our last chance," he said.

Schwartzel hit the same round of 69 as Kaymer, but though his four birdies closed the gap, a bogey on the 17th saw him end two strokes behind the winner.

Defending champion Lee Westwood from England carded a one-over-par 73 to end with 287 - seven behind Kaymer. His tepid performance saw him miss the record to be the first player to win the "African Major" three consecutive times.

Kaymer takes home $US1.25 million in prize money.

In what turned out to be a German affair, his countryman Bernhard Langer won the senior section of the tournament with a 7-under 209 on Saturday, two strokes ahead of runner up Jay Haas, father of American Bill Haas.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, south-africa

First posted December 03, 2012 09:41:27

View the original article here

Teenage golfer turns pro after NZ win

Updated November 27, 2012 22:22:58

When rising Australian golf star Jake Higginbottom ripped his final drive down Clearwater's difficult 18th hole for a one-shot victory in the New Zealand Open, he knew there was no point waiting to turn professional.

The first amateur since Harry Berwick in 1956 to win the New Zealand Open, the NSW teenager made the decision 24 hours after his last hole heroics to make the switch.

He initially told reporters after his win he would wait until next year.

But the 19-year-old will now make his pro debut in this week's NSW PGA Championship at Mt Broughton before taking on some world class opposition in the Australian Open and PGA Championship next month.

"I made the decision straight after I won," Higginbottom said during a practice round for the NSW PGA at the Mt Broughton course on Tuesday afternoon.

"I always felt I was ready but I didn't really have anywhere to play."

His victory on Sunday solved that problem.

While he missed out a $72,000 winner's cheque because of his amateur status, he did score a two-year exemption on the OneAsia Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia as well as automatic entry into the both the second round of 2013 US PGA and European Tour qualification schools.

The win helped him make his decision, but it was his final drive which convinced him he was ready.

"I knew it was a crucial drive," he said.

"That drive reinforced to me I can trust my swing under pressure, which is good.

"Shots like that one helped my decision. All the shots I hit through that back nine (on Sunday) showed me I could handle it (pressure)."

Had Higginbottom turned professional after he tied for 10th in the Australian Masters a fortnight ago, he would have been able to keep the $72,000 which was split between joint runners-up, Australian pros Jason Norris and Peter Wilson.

"After a win like that I just thought it was time to `give it a crack'," he said.

"Hopefully I'll make that ($72,000) up in other wins."

Higginbottom won't be changing much about his golf game when he enters the pro ranks following a distinguished amateur career.

"I'll have the same philosophy of going out on the course and hitting as many good shots as I can," he said.

"If you do that the results take care of themselves."

He wasn't expecting the pros would be too worried about him moving into the play-for-pay ranks next month.

"Probably not, but it's all part of the learning curve for me," he said.

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, nsw, australia

First posted November 27, 2012 22:22:58

View the original article here

Schwartzel bombs out in Perth

Updated October 19, 2012 22:24:53

Argentinean Emiliano Grillo became the man to catch at the Perth International as 2011 US Masters winner Charl Schwartzel crashed out in an intriguing second round at Lake Karrinyup on Friday.

Schwartzel shot five bogeys in a disastrous front nine and pushed a crunch five-foot putt on the final hole wide to miss the two-over cut by one stroke.

Former world number three Paul Casey also had a shocker, but his first-day heroics ensured he would be there for the weekend.

Casey started Friday in a tie for fourth at 5-under, and took a share of the lead early after a solid start to his round.

But after dropping five strokes in a horror six-hole stretch, Casey finished at 3-over for the round to lose touch with the leading pack.

There were no such problems for world number 516 Grillo, who is outright leader at 11-under after recording a 5-under 67 in his afternoon grouping.

The 20-year-old's highlight was on the 344 metre par-four ninth, when he holed a 96m sand wedge to post his second eagle of the day.

"I didn't see it because you cannot see the green from down there," Grillo said of the magical shot.

"But as soon as I heard the crowd, I was very happy with my caddie."

American Bo van Pelt and West Australian Jason Scrivener sit four shots off the pace at 7-under, with world number 10 Jason Dufner lurking dangerously at 6-under.

Van Pelt's last visit to Australia was a forgettable one, with the 37-year-old missing the cut when he played in Adelaide nine years ago.

"I was just kind of chuckling inside hoping that I didn't come over here and lay an egg like I did last time," van Pelt said.

Overnight leader Michael Hendry joins Max McCardle, Dufner and Spain's Alejandro Canizares in equal fourth, but the Kiwi was left ruing three bogeys on the back nine.

Schwartzel said he was disappointed to miss the cut.

"It was a pretty much straightforward putt and it bounced out of line," Schwartzel said.

"Nothing I can do about it.

"I figured if I could have just made the cut, you can still win the tournament.

"I don't think with the greens getting so firm the winning score is going to be that low.

"I'm disappointed the way I've played, but I've had a great time.

"It's a great city, and I would like to come back to redeem myself."

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted October 19, 2012 22:24:53

View the original article here

Guyatt a surprise Masters leader

Updated November 15, 2012 20:37:30

Queensland journeyman Matthew Guyatt upstaged favourites Adam Scott and Ian Poulter to lead both by two shots after a blistering finish to his opening round in the Australian Masters at Melbourne's Kingston Heath.

The 37-year-old's putter ran hot as he nabbed three birdies in his closing four holes and eight overall, along with one bogey, to card a 7-under-par 65 on Thursday afternoon.

Australia's top-ranked player Scott shot a 5-under 67 in the morning and in-form English defending champion Poulter matched that in the afternoon to be tied for second with New Zealander Michael Hendry.

Guyatt, who spent 1999 and 2000 on the professional circuit before dropping out, said it was only a chance meeting at a pro-am in 2010 with a man who has become his benefactor that he was able to return to the tour.

In the intervening time he married and had three children, now aged eight to three, and became a teaching professional at Brisbane's Indooroopilly Golf Club.

He said with a mortgage and three kids, he could not have given up the financial security of that job without the support of the benefactor, a fellow Christian who wished to remain anonymous.

With a win in last year's New South Wales PGA Championship his biggest tour victory to date, he admitted he was unsure how he would handle leading the likes of Scott and Poulter.

"I've never been in this position before so I'll tell you tomorrow," he told reporters.

"It's what you do all your hard work and your practice for.

"We all know it takes four good days to win the tournament, especially against the calibre of those guys."

Earlier, initial frustrations with the putter kept Scott to even par on his opening nine holes, before a run of four straight birdies, including one from a huge putt on the par-four second (Scott's 11th) energised his round.

While Scott felt nine or 10-under might have been possible in the benign conditions, he was happy enough.

"I'm on my way," he said.

Poulter, surprised to find such conducive scoring conditions in the afternoon, knew nothing of Guyatt but refused to look ahead to a potential weekend showdown with Scott.

"It's Thursday. There's 120 players, not two," he said.

Of other big names, 2010 champion Stuart Appleby dropped three shots in his last two holes to finish 1-under-par, a score shared by Irish 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell, while two-time champion Robert Allenby shot even par.

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, melbourne-3000

First posted November 15, 2012 12:46:53

View the original article here

Day ready to dawn again

Updated October 18, 2012 09:58:13

Jason Day says his form lull is over and he is ready to push back up golf's world rankings.

The 24-year-old Australian returned to the US PGA Tour limelight two weeks ago with a fourth place finish in Las Vegas, his best finish of the season and just his fourth top 10 of the year, his first since early July.

It was the first time all year Day posted four rounds in the 60s, a far cry from 2011 when he was notching up 10 top-10s on the US tour including runner-up finishes in two major championships.

But now, having made strides in adjusting to parenthood, Day feels ready to push back towards the world top 10, having dropped from a career-high number seven to number 27.

He lines up at the McGladrey Classic at Sea Island in Georgia this week as one of the favourites.

And while he acknowledges the field quality in the tour's 'fall series' is weaker than during the regular season, it still consists of numerous top 100 golfers and others fiercely motivated players by desperation to retain their tour cards for 2013.

"I just want to finish off the year strong and then hopefully piggyback that form into next year to get back up amongst the top golfers in the world," Day said.

"I played great in Vegas and hit the ball really well but just couldn't hole any putts on the back nine on Sunday to give it a real shake.

"I am looking to push forward with the positive signs."

The best sign in Vegas for Day was the return of his trademark birdie blitz style. The Queenslander is at his best when he gets hot and rides the momentum.

In round three he rammed home 10 birdies in a 13-hole stretch and he opened the final round with seven birdies on the front nine.

"It was great to have it back in my game and just to compete again," Day said.

"It really lifts you when you have a chance to win a golf tournament and I just want to get that more often."

Day says the reason for his return to form is a mixture of hard work and mental focus but more importantly he is more settled in fatherhood.

Having been distracted earlier in the season by the impending birth of his first child, Day then struggled to juggle dad duties and golf in the first three months of son Dash's life.

"The first three months with Dash were tough trying to juggle being a new parent and the change in lifestyle while playing competitive golf, there is no doubt," Day said.

"Having him is such a positive and I am so thankful but anyone will tell you being a new parent isn't easy."

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, australia

First posted October 18, 2012 09:58:13

View the original article here

McIlroy ends season in winning style

Updated November 26, 2012 07:59:09

Rory McIlroy won the DP World Tour Championship in magnificent fashion in Dubai on Monday morning (AEDT) when he birdied the last five holes to beat Justin Rose by two shots.

In the season-ending championship of the European Tour at the Earth course of Jumeirah Golf Estates, world number one McIlroy had fallen two shots behind the fast-charging Rose after a bogey on the 13th hole.

World number seven Rose, who set a new course record with a bogey-free round of 10-under par 62, had set the clubhouse target of 21-under 267.

But McIlroy easily moved ahead with a brilliant display of golf down the stretch, and after playing the final par-5 hole conservatively - he laid up with his second shot - he made his birdie putt from 12 feet to close with a round of 6-under 66.

McIlroy's 23-under 265 total matched the lowest four-round aggregate in the four-year history of the tournament - set by Lee Westwood in 2009 - and he also matched the Englishman's effort that year of winning both the Race to Dubai European Money List and the DP World Tour Championship in the same season.

It was the fifth win of the season for the reigning USPGA champion.

McIlroy had come into the tournament with an unassailable lead on top of the Race to Dubai. His earnings of 5,519,117 euros also beat the single year earnings record on the European Tour (5,323,400 euros by Luke Donald last year).

"I just wanted to finish the season the way I thought it deserved to be finished," an elated McIlroy said.

"I've played so well throughout the year, and I didn't want to just let it tail off sort of timidly. I wanted to come here and finish in style. I was able to do it.

"Obviously going out today, myself and Luke were tied for the lead, and we both didn't get off to the greatest of starts. And then Justin had that incredible back nine, shot 62, and I knew midway through the back nine I needed to do something special.

"Somehow summoned up the energy from somewhere to make five birdies in the last five holes. Just a great way to end this tournament, a great way to end the season, and I am already excited about 2013.

"It means a lot to me to win in this fashion, as well. I guess in a way, Justin gave me the opportunity to do what I did. I guess seeing a target there and shooting at something, it definitely makes you more focused."

Rose, who went ahead with a birdie-eagle-birdie stretch from the 13th hole onwards, almost made a magical eagle putt from 70 feet, only to miss it by inches.

In hindsight, it would not have mattered, but it would have certainly put more pressure on McIlroy.

On his round of 62, Rose said: "That was a lot of fun. The front nine was just as good as the back nine, and the back nine putts started going in, which is a nice feeling. Just started to get refocussed, but obviously I knew I was playing my way into the lead.

"It was just important for me to keep positive, as well, to keep aggressive.

"But you know what Rory is capable of. Fair play to him for making all those birdies down the stretch."

Donald, who had not made a bogey for 100 holes at the Earth course till the end of third round, made two on Sunday - the streak ended on the third hole - and could not get going.

He finished with a one-under par 71 to be tied third with 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, united-arab-emirates

First posted November 26, 2012 07:41:22

View the original article here

Hancock leading NZ Open

Updated November 22, 2012 18:53:28

Australian Craig Hancock won his battle with the wind to post a 4-under 68 and claim the lead after the opening day of the New Zealand Open in Christchurch.

The Tasmanian has a two-shot margin over Victorian Kristopher Mueck and Aucklander Ryan Fox at the Clearwater Golf Club.

On a day when the winds reached gusts of 50km/h, a group of nine others ended with a share of fourth, one shot further back.

"I struggled a little bit early on but fought the wind towards the end," Hancock said.

"We're sort of used to it in Tassie. It wasn't all bad for me."

The 28-year-old Hancock came into the tournament with a good result in the Australian Masters last weekend, when he finished in a tie for 14th.

He continued his form on Thursday with a round that contained five birdies and a bogey.

At the start of the day, he would have been happy to sign a card for even par or one under, he said.

"That's a pretty tough golf course," he said.

No New Zealander has won the title since Mahal Pearce in 2003 and Fox's bid to be one to end that drought began in superb fashion.

Starting on the 10th tee, the rookie professional had birdies on each of his first three holes and was 5-under through 11.

But his attempt to drive to the green on the short par-four third led to a lost ball and a double bogey.

There was a further dropped shot, but he did well to par the last three holes.

"I'm very happy with my start to be honest," Fox said.

Two-time champion Greg Turner, making his return to the event after 10 years, was in line for a sub-par round, but a bogey, double bogey finish left him with a 2-over 74 and tied for 33rd.

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, new-zealand

First posted November 22, 2012 18:53:28

View the original article here