Three players disqualified at Ladies Masters

Updated February 03, 2012 18:14:32

Promising teenage amateur Annie Choi says she is devastated after being disqualified from the Australian Ladies Masters along with her two playing partners for a rules blunder.

Gold Coast-based 16-year-old Choi was disqualified along with Sydney's Corie Hou and Melbourne's Inhong Lim on Friday when it was discovered they had taken preferred lies in the rough during Thursday's first round.

Choi said they had misunderstood what the starter said before they teed off about the local rule allowing preferred lies on the fairways because of wet conditions at the Royal Pines course.

"I'm devastated but I accept it," said Choi, who was equal-leading amateur along with 14-year-old Lydia Ko after her opening two-under-par 70 and hoping to earn entry to next week's Women's Australian Open.

Lim and Hou had been long odds to make the weekend cut after opening scores of 80 and 81 respectively.

Choi said the trio had been told the preferred lies were in place "everywhere" and took that to include rough.

The trio had played only one hole of their second round when the rule breach was reported to Ladies European Tour Operations director Cyprien Comoy.

All three admitted to taking taking preferred lies off the fairways in the first round and were disqualified because it meant they had signed incorrect scorecards.

If it had been spotted before they had signed, they could have played on with penalty strokes.

"It was a surprise to them, certainly," Comoy said.

"The girls accepted the decision. It is not a pleasant thing but a harsh lesson learned.

"Absolutely, we accept it was a genuine mistake.

"When they've missed the fairway and in the rough, they've thought they could pick up their balls, clean them and take a preferred lie.

"They thought it was through the green, which means the entire course without the hazards.

"It's a player's responsibility to read the rule sheet and know the rules."

The tournament's Rule 4 reads: "a ball lying on a closely-mown area through the green may be lifted and cleaned without penalty".

Highly-respected Queensland coach Charlie Earp, who's seen many talented youngsters, believes Korean-born Choi has the potential to reach similar heights to Karrie Webb.

The Queensland based player won the Australian Junior Championship last year and the 2009 Greg Norman Junior Masters aged 14, the same age as Webb when she won it.

She had been hoping to qualify for next week's Australian Women's Open at Royal Melbourne by finishing leading amateur in the Masters but will have to try to pre-qualify at Kingswood Golf Club next week.

The tournament leader is South Korean So Yeon Ryu who shot an 11-under-ar 61 to storm to 17-under after two rounds.

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, australia, qld, benowa-4217

First posted February 03, 2012 16:08:17

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Triumphant Lawrie keeps Day at bay

Updated February 06, 2012 10:13:38

Scotland's Paul Lawrie stroked a fluent 65 to win the Qatar Masters for the second time with a four-shot buffer over Australian Jason Day and Swede Peter Hanson at the Doha Golf Club.

Lawrie produced a bogey-free third round in the truncated tournament as the chasing pack made crucial errors to win his seventh European Tour title with an aggregate of 15-under 201 for 54 holes.

His first win in Qatar came in 1999, the same year he claimed the British Open at Carnoustie.

Holding a one-shot lead after the second round, Lawrie struck a brilliant eagle on the 639-yard par-five ninth hole, giving him a two-shot cushion over Day, who began with four consecutive birdies but dropped two shots by the time he finished his first nine holes.

Lawrie calmly went along picking shots and by the time he birdied the 16th and 17th holes he had the Mother of Pearl trophy firmly in his grip.

The 43-year-old Scot then parred the 18th to complete the formalities.

"I don't think I can play much better than that," Lawrie said.

"I've been playing well for a long, long time, but it's just nice to come out one ahead and shoot seven under."

Day was on fire on the back nine too, picking up four straight birdies from the 10th to 13, but could only par the next four to lose steam.

The Queenslander had an eagle chance on the 18th but missed by a whisker, the birdie giving him a round of 65 for an aggregate of 11-under.

Day was all praise for Lawrie.

"It's been a very successful week and I did everything I could to try and catch him," he said.

"The wind wasn't up as much as the last few days but I'm excited to be heading back to the US to try and take this momentum into the PGA Tour."

Hanson (67) needed an eagle on the final hole to overtake Day, but finished with a birdie for a second-place tie with the Australian.

American John Daly (67) finished two shots down for fourth.

The victory ensures Lawrie a place in the 64-man World Golf Match Play in Arizona later in February and the 24-man World Match Play in Spain in May.

He is also on course to win a second Ryder Cup cap 13 years after his first, and if manages stay in the top 50 for another seven weeks he will make a return to The Masters in April after an eight-year gap.

Lawrie was reminded that his 1999 victory in Qatar was followed five months later by lifting The Claret Jug at Carnoustie: "Now wouldn't that be nice to get that again?" he said.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, qatar

First posted February 06, 2012 09:56:05

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South Koreans on top at Ladies Masters

Updated February 02, 2012 20:55:05

They are unfamiliar names to Australian golf fans but young South Koreans So-Yeon Ryu and Hee-Kyung Seo already have a history of fighting out golf tournaments - and big ones at that.

The 'Seoul Sisters' could be at it again on Sunday afternoon at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast in the finale to the Australian Ladies Masters after both shot flawless rounds of 6-under 66 in the opening round on Thursday.

The pair, who battled over the closing stages of last year's US Open before Ryu triumphed, ended the day tied for second with Dutch professional Christel Boeljon to sit one shot behind compatriot Bo-Mee Lee (65).

Seo, the US LPGA's rookie of the year in 2011 after making 10 cuts from 11 starts, also lost a play-off to Ryu in a Korean LPGA event played in China in 2010.

During her rookie of the year presentation Seo told countrywoman Yani Tseng, who is dominating women's golf, she intended taking her number ranking.

She has a sticker on the rear window of her car just for Tseng which says: "The objects in the mirror are closer than they appear".

"I wanted her (Tseng) to know I am chasing her," smiled Seo when asked about the car sticker.

Known in her homeland as the "supermodel of the fairways", Seo is a close friend of South Korea's former world number one Ji Yai Shin.

She came out to Australia a month early to prepare her game with coach Steve McRae on the Sunshine Coast to have a real crack at this week's Masters and the Australian Open next week at Royal Melbourne.

South Koreans have been invading the US LPGA Tour for more than a decade through the early deeds of Se Ri Pak, Grace Park, Mi Hyun Kim and Hee-Won Han.

Lee, who toughed out her last four holes to hang onto the lead, was a six-shot runner-up to Karrie Webb in the 2010 Masters.

"Driving good, irons good, putting good. Easy, easy day," she said through an interpreter.

Teenage American star Lexi Thompson, a two-time winner last year, England's Felicity Thomson and Australians Nikki Campbell and Stephanie Na did their best to gatecrash the Korean party, finishing on 5-under 67.

Thompson, 16, played with 14-year-old New Zealander Lydia Ko, who bogeyed two of her last four holes to finish on 2-under 70.

Destined for a huge career, Thompson was impressed by her younger playing partner who last weekend made golfing history as the youngest player - male or female - to win a professional golf tournament.

"She's an amazing player. She's so consistent, she barely misses shots," said Thompson, who was on target herself hitting 17 fairways.

"She's not scared of anything, you can tell."

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, benowa-4217, qld, australia

First posted February 02, 2012 20:23:38

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Webb misses Masters to focus on majors

Updated February 01, 2012 11:41:42

Australian tour boss Warren Sevil has defended Karrie Webb's decision to miss this week's Australian Ladies Masters, a tournament she has dominated with seven victories.

Webb has been a regular and supportive presence at the high profile Gold Coast-based tournament over two decades.

So the Australian great's absence from its 21st staging at the Royal Pines course in her home state from Thursday has piqued curiosity.

"I've had a lot of media asking why she is not here but I don't think Karrie has to explain anything," said Sevil.

"If you look at the Australian Open and the Ladies Masters since 1995, Karrie has played 33 out of 33.

"People are trying to make something out of her not playing but I've spoken to her and it's all her focus on the first major of the season.

"It's all about preparing herself for the Kraft Nabisco Championship."

The Kraft Nabisco at Mission Hills Country Club in California from March 29-April 1, is the first major of 2012 and Sevil said the timing of the Ladies Masters didn't fit the schedule Webb has worked out in her bid to claim an eighth major title - her first in six years.

Webb, who recently suffered a family loss, will begin her season at next week's Australian Women's Open in Melbourne, an event which has been strengthened by co-sanctioning with the US LPGA Tour this year.

Webb then returns to LPGA Tour events in Thailand, where she placed third, and then Singapore which she won last year before triumphing again at the Founders Cup in the US.

Webb's last major victory was the 2006 Kraft Nabisco Championship.

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, benowa-4217, qld, australia

First posted February 01, 2012 11:27:36

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Best Golf Swing Improvement Tips

Ko creates history at women's NSW Open

Updated January 29, 2012 20:49:38

Golfing prodigy Lydia Ko created history on Sunday by becoming the youngest winner of a professional tournament when she claimed the NSW Open by four strokes at the Oatlands club in Sydney.

Showing steely nerves which belied her age of 14, the Korean-born, New Zealand-raised phenomenon not only fended off strong finishes from tour veterans Becky Morgan and Lindsey Wright to shoot 14-under for the victory, but also outdid Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa.

Ishikawa won the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup in 2007 aged 15 years and eight months, while the previous best effort by a female was the Gold Coast's Amy Yang, who won the Australian Ladies Masters aged 16 and 192 days.

The brilliant Ko easily bettered both marks on Sunday.

"It's pretty amazing," Ko, who turns 15 on April 24, told reporters after her victory.

"I don't really know what to say... I'm really happy and to be part of history is like a miracle.

"It's not something you can have by clicking your fingers."

Last year, Ko was in a similar position, taking a one-stroke lead onto the final hole before a three-putt saw her lose by a single stroke to Caroline Hedwall.

This time, with proud mum Tina watching on, Ko walked to the 18th green with a four-stroke lead before calmly holing a one-foot putt for par and her place in the record books.

"It was really nerve wracking," Ko added.

"I had a few deep breaths out there (on the 18th hole).

"I was nervous until the last second. (I was) thinking of last year and I looked back and there were so many people watching (in the crowd)."

Ko had to withstand an impressive display from 32-year-old Wright, who applied the blowtorch early by picking up five birdies on the front nine.

But rather than crack under pressure, Ko - who dropped just two shots all weekend - responded with birdies of her own on eight and 16.

Instead, it was Wright who faltered - posting back-to-back bogeys on 16 and 17 which allowed Morgan, who shot six-under to slip in and claim second place.

Wright hailed Ko as a future superstar of the sport, saying nothing could have stopped her this weekend.

"The only thing I could've done is get my putter out and smack her in the legs," Wright joked.

"She just played wonderful golf and did not make a mistake. It's amazing to see her and think she's only 14.

"This is a historic moment for women's golf. It was no different from playing with a seasoned pro on the LPGA. I put a lot of pressure on, and she did not fall apart at all.

"She's going to be an exceptional player if she keeps doing what she's doing."

Wright, who finished in a tie for third with Kristie Smith, had reason to be content with her own performance after two miserable years on the circuit.

With Ko being an amateur, Morgan took home the major prizemoney of $18,750 from Wright when she snatched second place while Wright and Smith both take home $10,500.

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, nsw, australia, new-zealand

First posted January 29, 2012 16:56:26

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Tiger eyeing Abu Dhabi victory

Updated January 29, 2012 13:03:35

A host of pinpoint golf shots and a deadly touch with the putter helped Tiger Woods to move within sight of his first victory in a full-field event for more than two years at the Abu Dhabi Championship.

The former world number one was kitted out in grey shirt and trousers but there was nothing grey about his game as he fired a sizzling 6-under-par 66 to join Britain's Robert Rock (66) in a tie for the lead on 11-under 205.

Swede Peter Hanson returned the best round of the week, a 64, giving him a share of third place on 207 with world number three Rory McIlroy (68), fellow Briton Paul Lawrie (68) and Italian Francesco Molinari (66).

Woods, who ended a two-year title drought by winning last month's Chevron World Challenge limited-field event in California, refused to get carried away with his six-birdie display at the European Tour event.

"I was just kind of consistent today," the American said in understated fashion.

"I didn't do a whole lot wrong and didn't do a whole lot right.

"I played methodically, just plotted my way round the golf course and the birdies just piled up."

With hardly any wind on another hot day at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, scoring improved and at one point there were eight players tied for the lead.

Woods went to the top of the leaderboard on his own by rolling in a 15-foot birdie putt at the 14th.

He kept his errors to a minimum throughout, a feature of his performances this week, and has now carded just two bogeys in 54 holes.

With a plethora of players waiting to pounce on any slip, Woods knows he will have to be aggressive in the final round.

"There are so many guys up there I'm going to have to post a good number," he said.

"It's not like I can just go round and shoot par."

Playing partner McIlroy, who incurred a two-shot penalty for using his hand to brush away sand on the fringe of the ninth green on Friday, was involved in a lengthy rules discussion for the second day running.

The US Open champion hit a wayward drive way right into the desert scrub at the 18th and had to ask the referee if he was allowed to aim further right for his next shot without going out of bounds.

McIlroy took an eventful route up the last hole but a par five kept him in touch with the leaders.

World number two Lee Westwood will look to make a last-day charge after shooting a 68 for 212 but top-ranked Luke Donald is out of title contention after sliding to a 73 for 216.

Reuters

Tags: sport, golf, united-arab-emirates

First posted January 29, 2012 08:23:07

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Levin stretches Phoenix Open lead

Updated February 05, 2012 12:05:26

Spencer Levin stretched his lead in the Phoenix Open to six strokes, carding a three-under 68 in the third round before the biggest crowd in the tournament's history.

A crowd of 173,210 turned out in ideal weather at the par-71 TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course, breaking the record of 170,802 who attended the 2008 third round.

Levin was five shots ahead after completion of the second round on Saturday morning, after darkness halted play in Friday's fog-delayed round.

In the third he notched four birdies and one bogey for a 17-under total of 196. His bogey on the par-five 15th was his first since the opening hole of the $6.1 million event.

Fellow American Webb Simpson had six birdies and three bogeys in his 68 for an 11-under total of 206.

Korean-American rookie John Huh had another solid round, posting a 69 for 207, tied for third with American Bubba Watson, who carded a 67.

Levin was in the clubhouse with the lead on Friday night, with Harrison Frazar three shots back with three to play when darkness halted play.

Frazar finished his second round with two bogeys to give Levin an even more comfortable cushion heading into the afternoon's third round.

Leading scores after the third round of the US PGA Tour $6.1 million Phoenix Open (USA unless noted, par-71):

17-under: Spencer Levin 65-63-68

11-under - Webb Simpson 65-69-68

10-under: Bubba Watson 66-70-67, John Huh 68-66-69

9-under: Chris Stroud 68-70-66, Jason Dufner 64-72-68, Greg Chalmers (AUS) 68-69-67, Ben Crane 69-67-68, Kyle Stanley 69-66-69

8-under: John Rollins 70-70-65, Phil Mickelson 68-70-67

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted February 05, 2012 12:05:26

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Snedeker wins Torrey Pines play-off

Updated January 30, 2012 12:49:25

Brandt Snedeker parred the second play-off hole for an improbable victory in the US PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines after Kyle Stanley surrendered a three-shot lead on the 72nd hole.

Stanley, who led by as many as seven shots, arrived at the last hole of regulation with a three-shot cushion.

But his approach at the par-five rolled into the water and he ended up with a triple-bogey eight for a 2-over-par 74 for a 16-under total.

Snedeker was already off the course after capping his 67 on the Torrey Pines South course with a birdie at the last, where he landed a wedge to about a foot and tapped in.

Even after that final flourish Snedeker did not imagine that he would have a chance to win.

But after Stanley's disaster, the two returned to the 18th for the first hole of the sudden-death play-off.

Both birdied the par-five and they moved on to the par-three 16th.

Snedeker was over the green but his ball settled at the base of a television tower. He chipped on and made his five-footer for par, while Stanley's putt of similar length burned the edge but did not drop.

"It's just crazy," Snedeker said. "To get my mind around what happened the last 30 minutes is pretty hard to do right now.

"My heart is out to Kyle. I feel bad for him to have to go through this."

The devastating defeat left Stanley still in search of his first US PGA Tour win, while Snedeker captured his third title.

The 24-year-old could barely control his emotions after a week of superb play ended in bitter disappointment.

"It's not a hard golf hole," he said. "I could probably play it a thousand times and never make an eight."

Stanley had birdied his first two holes of the day and led by six through nine.

After back-to-back bogeys at 11 and 12, he appeared to be back on track with five straight pars.

It was not the first time Stanley lost to a come-from-behind rival. He led by two at the John Deere Classic last season but bogeyed the final hole and saw Steve Stricker seize the title with back-to-back birdies.

"I know I'll be back," Stanley said. "It's tough to swallow right now."

Meanwhile, Rod Pampling was the best-placed Australian in a tie for eighth, six shots behind Snedeker and Stanley on 10-under.

AFP

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First posted January 30, 2012 11:41:02

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Tseng backing improved swing

Updated February 07, 2012 19:29:03

If Yani Tseng wanted to strike fear into the field for this week's Women's Australian Open, she succeeded.

The number one player in the world won 12 times last season, including seven times on the LPGA Tour, but has decided she needs to improve.

For the past two years, wins in the Australian Open at Commonwealth have propelled her to unrivalled form.

"I always have a good start here in Australia, hopefully it will be a good start for the year," the 23-year-old Taiwanese said.

"Last year is over. This is a new year for me. I have been working real hard in the off-season to change my swing a bit, to make it more consistent. I think I am ready for this year."

Tseng, who won two majors last year to bring her tally to five, is working to keep herself well distanced from her rivals and it is the swing in particular, which has come under scrutiny.

"When I take it back I always lean back a little bit so I have tried to change my back swing," she said.

"I have tried to get physically stronger, so my swing can match my physique. I have been working out very good. My trainer was in Orlando with me last month, and my coach. We work really hard."

Tseng says the result of the work is effortless power.

"I have more power. I don't swing as hard as before. I feel I am swinging easier and striking the ball better," he said.

"Now I feel that if I swing 70-80 per cent, the ball is still flying better than before. I always tried to swing really hard. Now I don't swing so hard but the ball still goes that far.

"I am very happy about that ... I can still rip it."

Tseng, who has a strong affinity for sand belt and links courses, played nine holes at Royal Melbourne on Monday and described the famed lay-out as "unbelievable."

"It was pretty tough. The greens were fast. I am very excited and I can't wait to go out and have fun," she said.

"I think you will have to play very well to win this tournament. We have a good field this week and a great golf course.

"The course is not long but you need to be very focused. Every shot. If you just miss-focus on one shot, you can get in big trouble. This week will be like a major course. You need to be smart, patient and focus on every shot."

Tseng says she learnt a lot about Royal Melbourne from watching the Presidents Cup there late last year.

"I watched many holes and ... I learnt a lot from the TV," she said.

"I know which places you better not go and the strategy to play. It worked out pretty well.

"You are going to use a lot of imagination to play on this course."

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, melbourne-3000

First posted February 07, 2012 19:29:03

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Golf wunderkind Ko eyes US debut

Updated January 31, 2012 14:13:24

New Zealand teenager Lydia Ko, who at the weekend became the youngest player to win a pro golf tournament, hopes to compete at a US major this year, her coach said on Tuesday.

The South Korean-born amateur created history when she won the New South Wales Open in Australia on Sunday at the age of 14 years and nine months, eclipsing Ryo Ishikawa of Japan's mark of 15 years, 8 months set in 2007.

Ko's coach Guy Wilson said the prodigy, already ranked the world's top female amateur, planned to wait "three or four" years before turning professional.

But he said the Auckland-based golfer, who moved to New Zealand with her family when she was five, hoped to experience playing in the United States this year if she was granted an age exemption and finances permitted.

Wilson said he had approached organisers of the Kraft-Nabisco tournament at Palm Springs in April, the first major on the women's pro circuit, about waiving the rule prohibiting players aged under 18.

"I asked for an exemption to play a couple of months ago, but haven't heard," Wilson said. "At this stage we couldn't afford to go but things can change."

As an amateur, Ko had to forfeit the $18,750 winner's cheque from the NSW Open, which went to runner-up Becky Morgan.

Wilson said Ko, who still attends high school when not playing in tournaments, was already shouldering the training schedule of a professional, clocking up 30-50 hours a week on the golf course.

He believed Ko's Korean background helped her cope with the demanding workload.

"It's why you don't find too many successful Kiwi kids, because the work ethic isn't there," he said.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, nsw, australia, new-zealand

First posted January 31, 2012 12:55:23

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Woods fails to win in Abu Dhabi

Updated January 30, 2012 07:39:53

Unheralded Englishman Robert Rock won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship here on Sunday to deny Tiger Woods the win he was seeking to end a two-year winless drought in full tournaments.

The world's 117th ranked player fired a closing two-under par 70 for a total of 13-under par total of 275.

That gave him a one stroke win over Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy who fired a final 69.

Woods, with a par 72, finished tied for third a further stroke back level with Thomas Bjorn of Denmark (68), and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland (68).

It was a stunning, against the odds win for the Englishman who had admitted to feeling starry-eyed after learning on Saturday that he would be playing with the American in the final grouping.

The pair shared the lead on 11 under at the start of the day and battled it out over the final 18 holes with Rock edging ahead at the fourth hole and standing firm after that in the line of fire from Woods and late on from McIlroy.

It was just his second tournament win in 228 attempts, following his win in the Italian Open last year but more than that it will be the scalp of the 14-times major winner that will count most for Rock.

For Woods it was a bitter blow as he had looked set to win a full tournament for the first time since November 2009.

It was at last year's Masters that Woods sustained the leg injury that sidelined him for most of the year before he finally returned to the winners' circle at the Chevron World Challenge in California in early December.

That, however, was only an 18-man invitation event that Woods himself organised for the benefit of his charitable foundation.

In Abu Dhabi at the fourth tournament of the European Tour season, it was the real deal with the top four players in the world starting their seasons and six out of the current top 10 taking part.

In three, improving rounds of 70, 69 and 66 for 11 under par for the tournament, Woods had so far given the surest signs yet that the swing he has painstakingly remodelled under new coach Sean Foley is finally in place.

But despite failing to finish the job on Sunday, Woods will still feel he has laid down an important stepping stone on a path he hopes will lead to a 15th major title at The Masters in early April.

The $2.7 million dollars Abu Dhabi event was the fourth leg of the European Tour season and the opening leg of the tour's Desert Swing that also takes in Doha and Dubai.

AFP

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First posted January 29, 2012 23:52:33

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Boeljon wins Ladies Masters

Updated February 06, 2012 12:22:09

Dutchwoman Christel Boeljon had not made the cut in three previous three attempts but she held her nerve in a gripping four-way finish to claim the Australian Ladies Masters title.

It took Boeljon 72 holes to hit the lead and when she did, she raised her fists in a show of emotion after sinking a birdie to take the $75,000 winner's prize at Royal Pines.

"I never guessed I'd be holding this trophy, it's very special," said the 24-year-old, who made her Solheim Cup debut for Europe last September.

"Starting the season off with this win, it's amazing."

Boeljon finished with a 21-under-par total, to be one clear of overnight leader So-Yeong Ryu, who led by four shots after the second round.

The 21-year-old South Korean had a disappointing final round, struggling into a tie for second with aggressive Italian Diana Luna and gallant South Korean Ha-Neul Kim.

The ever-smiling Ryu was a shattered figure after holding the lead until the last hole, a hole she had conquered with two birdies and an eagle the previous three rounds.

"I think I need to trust myself more," said the disappointed US Open champion.

"My mind is too busy I need to think simple."

It was the ice cool Boeljon who emerged victorious from a tense finish, which at one stage near the end had four players at 20-under.

She produced a crucial birdie at the 15th hole to stay within one shot of the lead and then pulled off an even better up-and-down par save at the 16th after missing the green to re-join Ryu in the lead on 20-under.

Boeljon says the experience of helping underdog Europe to an upset over the United States last September had helped her grow as a player.

"I think I can (compete with the best), I didn't play in the Solheim Cup for no reason," Boeljon said.

"I'm getting there. I may not be there yet, but I think I am getting there.

"We will just have to see how the year goes."

Boeljon and the three runners-up will play next week's Australian Ladies Open at Royal Melbourne, which will feature six of the world's top 10 ranked players, including Tseng.

Lindsey Wright and Nikki Campbell were the leading Australians, eight shots behind the winner at 13-under.

New Zealand teenager Lydia Ko, who won last week's New South Wales Open to make history as the youngest winner of a professional golf tournament, finished the leading amateur on 6-under.

She will also head to Melbourne next week to defend her Australian Women's Open amateur crown.

AAP

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First posted February 05, 2012 18:14:01

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Korean Ryu early leader in Ladies Masters

Updated February 02, 2012 11:05:09

Korean So Yeon Ryu has surged to the lead on 3-under early on the opening day of the Australian Ladies Masters at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast.

The reigning US Open champion has a one-shot lead over American Stacy Lewis through six holes with 15 players a shot further back at 1-under-par.

Britain's former world number one Laura Davies birdied her first two holes to be the early leader before slipping back.

The course has been softened by more rain overnight rain, setting the scene for a day of low scoring.

Plenty of attention will also be on teenagers Lexie Thompson from the US and 14 year-old New Zealander Lydia Ko who have been paired together along with Australian hope Kristie Smith.

Thompson is the early favourite to take the honours from Ko who made history last weekend as the youngest player to win a professional golf tournament.

Saturday, February 4 - 2.00pm*

Sunday, February 5 - 1.00pm*

* LIVE in the eastern daylight saving states of NSW, ACT, Victoria & Tasmania.

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, benowa-4217, qld, australia

First posted February 02, 2012 10:06:08

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Smiling Ryu still on top at Royal Pines

Updated February 04, 2012 19:21:01

The birdies dried up for So-Yeon Ryu on Saturday, but the South Korean still holds a three-shot lead heading into the final round at the Australian Ladies Masters after shooting a 3-under 69.

Ryu (66-61-69) will take plenty of confidence going into Sunday at 20-under knowing she has plenty of experience of dominating the big days - just as she did last year in winning the US Open.

The 21-year-old, who posted a scorching 11-under 61 on Friday, admitted fatigue played a part as she was unable to replicate her magical round.

"My shot was not great today," Ryu said.

"My body was tired, (shooting 61 on Friday) took a lot of energy."

Gritty Dutchwoman Christel Boeljon (66-65-68) matched Ryu's last hole birdie to finish on 17-under, losing no admirers as she chipped away at Ryu's lead all day to finish three shots back.

Ryu looked to have the Masters at her mercy on Friday after posting a career low 11-under 61 to jump four shots clear of her rivals.

Her 12-birdie round was hailed one of the best seen at Royal Pines, putting her in a perfect position to attack seven-time winner Karrie Webb's 2010 tournament record total of 262.

Webb's 26-under record is still possible if Ryu goes low on Sunday and wins.

Saturday was moving day and while Ryu did not stall, several players made good ground on her.

What was significant, however, was the way Ryu finished - birdie, birdie - a reminder to those chasing her she is not going to give the tournament up.

The landscape however has certainly changed heading into the final round.

On Saturday she started 17-under and four clear of Boeljon with a gap of seven shots to Australia's Nikki Campbell and Korean Bo-Me Lee in third place.

Sunday she sets out three ahead of Boeljon with Korean Ha-Heul Kim, who eagled her final hole in her 8-under 64, and dangerous Italian Diana Luna (71-64-66) only four back.

Luna stormed home through her back nine with five birdies and an eagle.

Australia's best hope, Frances Bondad (68-72-63), also sounded a warning sizzling home with five straight birdies in a career-low 63.

"That was my best score to date, I'm very happy," said Bondad, who was ready to take a long break from professional golf last year when he finances and confidence were at an all-time low.

"I sort of lost track of how low I was shooting midway through the back nine. It was a pretty good round and it sets me up well for Sunday."

England's Laura Davies shot 70, leaving her 17 shots adrift of Ryu.

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, benowa-4217, qld, australia

First posted February 04, 2012 19:21:01

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14yo Ko dominates NSW Open

Updated January 28, 2012 18:20:26

New Zealand teenage sensation Lydia Ko produced some of the best golf of her young career on Saturday, posting an eight-under-par 64 to head the field at the women's NSW Open.

Ko, runner up at this event last year, is 11-under for the tournament having posted nine birdies and an eagle to claim a four-stroke lead from Lindsey Wright, who shot six-under in the second round at Oatlands on Saturday.

It means the 14-year-old remains on course to become the youngest winner of a women's professional tournament.

Ko, who turns 15 on April 24, would comfortably take the title from Amy Yang, who won the Australian Ladies Masters aged 16 and 192 days.

"If I play like I have today and yesterday, I'm pretty confident (I can become the youngest winner)," Ko, who was seven-under after the front nine but never entertained the thought of breaking 60, told reporters.

"Golf... you don't know what's going to happen. You can make bogeys the next nine holes. You don't really know and I was pretty lucky. I played nearly perfect golf on the front nine.

"I think I was 99.9 per cent today."

On this course last year, the then 13-year-old Ko was within sight of victory before she three-putted the 18th, resulting in a double bogey causing her to lose to Caroline Hedwall by one stroke.

That day, she finished the tournament at 10-under - a score which she has already bettered with a day to play this year.

Now 14, slightly taller and considerably wiser, Ko is showing maturity and composure beyond her years to show up a field that includes former world number one Laura Davies, Australian Open hopeful Melissa Davies and Australian leading lights Katherine Hull, Rachel Bailey and Nikki Garrett.

Earlier, Wright had claimed the clubhouse lead with a bogey-free round, before watching it melt away under Ko's hot streak.

Wright, who reached a high of 12th in the world in 2009 before two disappointing seasons, hopes to turn over a new leaf in 2012, and has already posted a top-20 finish at the Victorian Open and a top 10 at the Canberra Ladies Classic last week.

She said aggression was the key to her best round in more than two years.

"I played at the flag, aggressive," she told reporters after her round.

"My shots didn't leave the flag. Everything was for birdie today.

"I wasn't trying to scrape around to save par which I've been doing for so long."

Overnight co-leaders Rachel Bailey and Karen Lunn failed to capitalise on their strong opening days, with Lunn dropping five shots while Bailey stayed even at four-under-par to remain in contention on Sunday.

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, australia, nsw

First posted January 28, 2012 17:43:13

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Lucky Lyle in form at Phoenix Open

Updated February 03, 2012 20:04:43

Jarrod Lyle did not repeat his hole-in-one party hole heroics of 2011 but did the next best thing in an opening round of 66 in a frost-hit Phoenix Open.

Lucky just to get a start on Thursday after going into the week as second alternate, Lyle is looking to capitalise after finishing the day two shots behind leader Ryan Palmer in a tie for third position.

A year ago, Lyle was the talk of the popular US PGA Tour event after he aced the intimidating stadium par-three 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale before stands of noisy fans during the second round.

And the good feelings were still there as he made a two on the hole with a 10-foot putt, one of four birdies in his round to go with an eagle at the par-five 13th.

"It kind of sends shivers down your spine a little bit," Lyle said.

Having battled through the tour qualifying school last December, Lyle is playing for the fourth straight week and plans to contest at least three more tournaments before returning to Australia for the birth of his first child due in mid-March.

Lyle married his partner Briony after Q-school and told PGATour.com he hated not being with her at doctors' appointments and pre-natal classes.

"She understands," he said.

"She's probably one of the most understanding women. She knows I had to come back over here.

"I've got a job to do and all that sort of stuff. But she also knows if she goes into labour, I'll be getting the next flight.

"Obviously, it's not going to be easy because I've still got 15 hours from LA back to Australia."

The couple plan to head to their Orlando, Florida home once their baby is a couple of months old and to travel together in future.

"There are a lot of changes, but it's going to be nice," Lyle said.

"I'm really looking forward to everything."

Countryman Rod Pampling was one shot further back after a 67, while Greg Chalmers was the next best Australian with a 68.

Palmer finished his round in fading light, shooting a 7-under-par 64 to take the clubhouse lead.

Palmer parred the final hole just minutes before play was halted, leaving 46 players to complete their rounds on Friday after frost delayed the start of play by an hour on Thursday (local time).

Webb Simpson, the top-ranked golfer in the field at number six, was a stroke back after firing a 65.

AFP

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted February 03, 2012 20:04:43

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Buying Golf Shoes - Put Your Best Foot Forward

Ryu riding high at Ladies Masters

Updated February 03, 2012 20:21:14

Karrie Webb is not playing this week but Korean sensation So-Yeon Ryu gave a great impersonation of the queen of Royal Pines with her blistering second round 61 to take control of the Australian Ladies Masters.

Ryu (66-61) will carry a four-shot lead into the weekend over Dutch professional Christel Boeljon (66-65) with another Korean Bo-Me Lee (65-69) in outright third on 10-under.

The 2011 US Women's Open winner turned the tournament into a golf clinic dropping birdie after birdie as she surged to a commanding lead.

Her amazing round included 12 birdies and a bogey at her second hole before she reeled off five birdies in a row.

Before narrowly missing birdie at the 17th hole there was "talk" a 59 was possible after Boeljon had earlier eagled her last hole on the way to a 7-under 65.

Unfortunately, Ryu's stunning display cannot be recognised as a course record with players allowed to lift and clean their golf balls due to the wet state of the the golf course.

It is a pity Webb, who owns both the course record of 61 and tournament record of 262, is not playing because she is probably the only golfer capable of taking the 5,954-metre Royal Pines lay-out apart the way Ryu did.

Ryu's short game was simply mesmerising.

When she did not knock it close, which she did most of the day, she merely chipped in like she did at the 137m par-three 11th hole.

Ryu's previous best round was a 62.

She says she can now sign her autographs "Ryu 61" following her new low round, while also revealing she "loved" Vegemite and her nickname was "Piggy" because of her love of food.

"My coach (Ian Triggs) says because I eat Vegemite I am 50 per cent Australian," Ryu said.

Boeljon, who has missed the cut in three previous visits to the Gold Coast could have expected to be the halfway leader after her barnstorming birdie-birdie-eagle finish bolted her to 13-under.

Italy's Diana Luna and American Amelia Lewis both shot rounds of 64 to get to 9-under.

The best-placed Australian was Canberra's Nikki Campbell (67-67), who was third on 10-under with Lee.

Among the big name casualties to miss the weekend cut were England's Melissa Reid, despite finishing with an eagle and Katherine Hull who endured an incredibly frustrating day on the course.

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, benowa-4217

First posted February 03, 2012 20:15:11

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Levin leads Phoenix Open

Updated February 04, 2012 15:11:27

Little-known American Spencer Levin eagled the par-four 17th on his way to a commanding six-shot lead in the unfinished second round of the frost-delayed Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona on Friday.

In pursuit of his first victory on the PGA Tour, Levin fired a flawless eight-under-par 63 at the TPC Scottsdale to post a 14-under total of 128.

The 27-year-old holed out from a greenside bunker to eagle the driveable 17th and then parred the last to finish six ahead of compatriots John Huh (66) and world number six Webb Simpson (69).

American Kyle Stanley, agonisingly beaten in a playoff for the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego on Sunday, was a further stroke back at seven-under after also carding a 66.

However, 34 players were yet to complete the second round when play was halted in fading light, among them American Harrison Frazar who was at 11-under overall with three holes remaining.

It was an extra long day for Levin, who had to complete three holes from the opening round on Friday morning before setting off for round two.

He was delighted with his form, especially after struggling on the practice range before the start of the tournament.

"It's kind of weird," Levin told reporters after covering his back nine in five-under 31. "Yesterday on the range before I teed off, I didn't feel good about my swing at all. I was hitting it all over the range, and I bogeyed my first hole.

"And I told my caddie going to the next tee: 'This might be a nine-hole week here.' Shows you how crazy this game is, I guess. After that I just started playing good, simple as that."

Asked what had been the key to his 65-63 start, Levin replied: "I've been putting really well, and if you're going to shoot a low round you've got to putt good.

"I'm just going to try and stay as aggressive as I can the next two days. If you're playing well, chances are someone else is, too," added Levin, whose best PGA Tour finish was second place at last year's Mayakoba Golf Classic.

First-round leaders Ryan Palmer and Jason Dufner carded 72s to finish at six-under, alongside fellow Americans Bubba Watson, Ben Crane, Bo Van Pelt and Derek Lamely.

Phil Mickelson, winner of the Phoenix Open in 1996 and 2005, was at four-under, a four-birdie 70 putting him level with playing partners Dustin Johnson (70) and Rickie Fowler (69).

The cut was projected to fall at even-par 142 with former major winners Davis Love III, Yang Yong-eun and Angel Cabrera among those likely to miss out.

Following two consecutive mornings of one-hour frost delays, there is a chance the tournament could spill over into a Monday finish, just like last year's edition which was won by American Mark Wilson in a playoff with Dufner.

Reuters

Tags: golf, sport

First posted February 04, 2012 14:17:18

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Day in the mix after facing brutal Doha wind

Updated February 03, 2012 07:58:51

A late flurry of birdies helped Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano leapfrog John Daly at the top of the first-round leaderboard on a windswept day in the desert at the Qatar Masters, with Australian Jason Day also in contention.

Fernandez-Castano, who won the Singapore Open in November, returned a 6-under-par 66 late in the day to move one stroke ahead of Daly, an early starter at the European Tour event.

South Korean KJ Choi joined Day in third spot on 68 while world number three Lee Westwood and fourth-ranked Martin Kaymer were back on 71.

"That was one of the best rounds I've ever played in a wind like that," Daly told the tour's website.

"You feel like you are eating sand - it was brutal."

The former British Open and US PGA champion has plunged to 543rd in the world rankings and was surprised at his display at the Doha Golf Club.

"I'm pretty shocked," said the 45-year-old Daly after producing a flawless round containing five birdies.

"I have had five and a half weeks off and really didn't touch a club much."

Daly has gone eight years without a victory and no longer has a US PGA Tour card.

Pars were in short supply for Fernandez-Castano as the 31-year-old mixed nine birdies with three bogeys.

The Spaniard, who has won five times on the European Tour and is known as 'Gonzo' on the circuit, defied the elements late in the round by squeezing four birdies in the last five holes.

"I would have taken level-par today," said Fernandez-Castano.

"We couldn't see the ball landing on the fairways and I just tried to keep it as low as possible.

"I think I just got lucky and holed some important putts. Putting is the most difficult thing on a windy day."

Only nine players in the 132-strong field broke 70 while Swede Henrik Stenson and Briton Ross Fisher, Ryder Cup players past and present, struggled to an 82 and 81 respectively.

Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, australia, qatar

First posted February 03, 2012 07:41:32

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Stanley turns agony into ecstasy in Phoenix

Updated February 06, 2012 12:31:00

American Kyle Stanley took advantage of a final-round collapse by overnight leader Spencer Levin to win his first PGA Tour title by one shot at the Phoenix Open in Arizona.

A week after agonisingly squandering a seven-stroke advantage to lose the Farmers Insurance Open in a play-off, Stanley delivered the best possible reply as he closed with a flawless 6-under-par 65 at the TPC Scottsdale.

The big-hitting Stanley birdied three of the last eight holes in dazzling afternoon sunshine to post a 15-under total of 269, finishing one ahead of compatriot Ben Crane (66).

American Levin, who briefly led by seven shots early in the final round in pursuit of a maiden PGA Tour victory, had to settle for third place at 13-under after closing with a 75.

"This feels great," Stanley told reporters as he struggled to hold back the tears.

"I'd just like to thank my Mum and Dad. They've done a lot for me."

Stanley said his family had comforted him at Torrey Pines last week after he had triple-bogeyed the final hole to take that tournament into a play-off which he lost on the second extra hole.

"I don't know what I would have done if I'd been by myself," the 24-year-old added.

"I am just fortunate to have such a great team of people around me. It really meant everything."

Asked how it felt to rebound from the agony of Torrey Pines to the ecstasy of victory, Stanley replied: "That's golf. You need to accept the fact that there are going to be ups and downs. You just can't get too high, you can't get too low.

"I am just thankful. I have had so much support from so many people, people I don't even know. It's really helped me kind of put it behind me and move on. It's been great."

Stanley went into the final round a distant eight shots off the lead and overnight pacesetter Levin briefly found himself seven ahead after his playing partner Webb Simpson bogeyed the opening hole.

However, Crane was fast closing the gap, a birdie at the second, a 33-foot eagle putt at the third and another birdie at the fourth putting him just four off the pace.

Though Levin birdied the par-five third to regain a five-shot cushion, he slipped back with a bogey at the par-three fourth after finding a greenside bunker off the tee.

The cigarette-puffing American also faltered at the par-four sixth, finding bunkers off the tee and with his approach, for his lead to be cut to three.

Crane then missed a nine-footer to bogey the ninth and Levin, who coolly saved par there with a 10-foot putt, reached the turn four ahead of the chasing pack.

Stanley rolled in an eight-foot birdie putt at the 11th to trim Levin's advantage to three and moments later the tournament leader did well to par the 10th by draining a 12-footer.

However Levin bogeyed the 11th, after ending up in a greenside bunker with his approach, and also the par-three 12th, after finding sand off the tee, for his lead to shrink to one.

Soon after, he was joined at the top by Stanley who birdied the par-five 13th after reaching the green in two and two-putting.

Stanley then snatched the outright lead at 15-under when he rammed home a 12-footer to birdie the par-four 14th.

Levin steadied his nerves with a much-needed birdie at the 14th where he rolled in a 14-footer to regain a share of the lead.

However, he then tumbled back when he double-bogeyed the par-five 15th after ending up under a cactus with his drive and finding water with his third shot.

There was no way back for Levin from there and Stanley tightened his grip on the title with pars on his final four holes.

Reuters

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted February 06, 2012 12:15:57

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