Day scrapes through match play opener

Updated February 23, 2012 12:21:57

Australian star Jason Day produced a stunning fight-back to defeat Spain's Raphael Cabrera-Bello in extra holes in the first round of the WGC Match Play Championship in Tucson, Arizona.

World number seven Day looked dead and buried at three down with three to play but, with some help from the nervous Spaniard, he rallied to win on the 19th hole.

Cabrera-Bello bogeyed the final three holes to almost gift Day a ticket to the second round where he will meet fellow Australian John Senden.

Cabrera-Bello only needed to two putt from six feet on the 16th hole but blasted his first putt six-feet past the hole and missed the comeback attempt.

Clearly rattled, he missed the 17th green on approach and failed to get up and down and then dumped his approach on the 18th into a near impossible lie in a bunker.

When he failed to make par he conceded Day a birdie, sending the match to extra holes.

On the first extra hole Day watched the Spaniard find some focus and stick an approach shot to 13-feet but the Australian refused to blink.

He almost holed out from 150 yards, then watched Cabrera-Bello lip out his birdie roll before tapping his in for a clutch victory.

"I felt like I just won the tournament," Day admitted.

"I did kind of just scrape through, but I'm glad I stuck in there and didn't give up."

Senden, the 39th seed, hammered English 26th seed Simon Dyson 4 and 3.

While Senden was impressive in the rout, Dyson is expecting a child on Tuesday in England and played as if he had the impending birth and the flight back home on his mind.

Otherwise it was a tough day out for the six-man Australian contingent.

Eighth seed Adam Scott lost to 57th seeded Englishman Robert Rock 1-up and Aaron Baddeley fell 2 and 1 to former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen.

Two-time tournament champion Geoff Ogilvy was hammered 4 and 3 by Keegan Bradley and Greg Chalmers fell 4 and 2 to world number four Martin Kaymer.

Former world number one Tiger Woods scraped to a 1-up victory over Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.

Woods lost his opening two holes and was 1-down with four to play before rallying to win.

AAP

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First posted February 23, 2012 12:06:32

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Tiger vows to be ready for the Masters

Updated March 16, 2012 12:45:33

Tiger Woods, nursing a strained left Achilles tendon, vowed he will be ready to play in next month's Masters, saying, "I'll be there. Don't worry about it."

Woods, who appeared on Good Morning America, also said that he has not yet hit a golf ball since walking off the course last Sunday at the World Golf Championships event at Doral after wincing following his 12th hole tee shot.

"I took a few days off," Woods said.

"I will start hitting balls tomorrow. The stiffness is gone."

Woods said he is still hopeful of playing in next week's US PGA Tour event, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, his traditional final tune-up for the year's first major championship.

Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the all-time record 18 major titles won by Jack Nicklaus, has not won a tour-sanctioned event since November of 2009 in Australia.

Woods was nagged by injuries, notably to his left knee and Achilles tendon last year, and the fallout from the infamous sex scandal that delayed his return to golf in 2010 until the Masters.

The Masters, which Woods has won four times, will be played April 5-8 at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.

AFP

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First posted March 16, 2012 12:45:33

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McIlroy to meet Westwood in Match Play semi

Updated February 26, 2012 12:30:01

Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood, each seeking a title to become world number one, advanced to a semi-final showdown at the World Golf Championships Match Play Championship.

World number two McIlroy of Northern Ireland defeated South Korea's Bae Sang-Moon 3 and 2 while Englishman Westwood, ranked third, defeated Scotland's Martin Laird 4 and 2 to set up a high-stakes semi-final at the $7.9 million event.

"It will be a great match," Westwood said. "I hope we both play well and make lots of birdies."

Either Westwood, a former world number on, or McIlroy, trying to achieve the mark for the first time, would replace England's Luke Donald as the world number one if he wins Sunday's 18-hole final.

But before one of them gets the chance to face either Hunter Mahan or Mark Wilson in Sunday's afternoon final, he must conquer the other in a morning semi-final.

"It's the match I wanted and the match everyone else wanted," said McIlroy, who at 22 would become the youngest WGC Match Play champion.

Not since 2004 have two of the four top seeds reached the semi-finals of the event and not since Tiger Woods and Davis Love met in 2000 have two top seeds met in a semi-final.

Mahan beat US compatriot Matt Kuchar 6 and 5 without losing a hole and Wilson ousted Sweden's Peter Hanson 4 and 3 in other quarter-finals to set up an all-American semi-final and ensure the event's first US finalist since Tiger Woods won in 2008.

"Hunter has made a ton of birdies this week," Wilson said. "I've got to focus on hitting the green and making that par. I'm not going to change anything about the way I'm playing."

Bae, 25, beat McIlroy in a head-to-head showdown in the final round of the South Korean Open three years ago, but the 44th-ranked Bae had never played in a WGC or match play event until this week.

McIlroy seized the lead with a birdie at the first hole but found water off the tee at the par-3 third and took a bogey that sqaured the match.

Bae sank a long birdie putt at the fourth, the longest par-4 hole in PGA history at 536 yards, but McIlroy kept the match level with a round-the-cup effort.

McIlroy sank a five-foot birdie putt at the eighth to regain a 1-up edge but went well right off the 10th tee and landed under a desert bush, forcing him to take an unplayable lie on the way to a bogey that squared the match.

McIlroy responded with a birdie to win the par-5 11th, then Bae found a bunker off the 13th tee while McIlroy blasted inches from the cup out of a greenside bunker to seize a 2-up advantage.

A tap-in birdie at the 15th put McIlroy 3-up with three holes to play and he halved the last to secure the triumph.

"I felt like I hit some really good shots," McIlroy said. "I felt like everything was pretty solid. I played really well out there."

Westwood, who had been number one until being overtaken by Donald last year, had not trailed in a match this week until Laird opened with a five-foot birdie putt.

"He started how I wanted to start, fast and strong," Westwood said of Laird. "I could have been 3-down after three.

But Westwood sank a 13-foot par putt at the sixth to square the match, then birdied to win the seventh and moved 2-up at the turn when Laird bogeyed the ninth.

Westwood moved 3-up when Laird bogeyed 10, but the Englishman missed a five-foot par putt and Laird tapped in to win the 11th.

Sinking a tense birdie putt from six feet allowed Westwood to halve the 13th and Laird found a greenside bunker to prompt a concession at the 14th that put Westwood 3-up. After they halved 15, Laird fell at the 16th.

Hanson had not trailed in any match this week, but promptly fell behind Wilson with a bogey at the opening hole.

A bogey by Wilson at the sixth squared the match. Wilson birdied the eighth to briefly reclaim the lead, only to have Hanson sink a five-foot birdie at the ninth.

Hanson began the back nine with back-to-back bogeys to fall 2-down and Wilson sank a three-foot birdie at 13 to move 3-up. After another bogey by Hanson put Wilson 4-up Wilson birdied 15 to halve the hole and seal the victory.

AAP

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First posted February 26, 2012 11:04:22

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McIlroy rejects talk of Tiger rivalry

Updated March 07, 2012 13:37:36

New world number one Rory McIlroy does not see Tiger Woods as a rival and said his toughest opponent is simply the golf course he faces each week.

McIlroy ascended to the top of golf's world rankings with victory in the US PGA event in Palm Beach Gardens in Florida, keeping his cool after Woods charged up the leaderboard with a final round 62.

His triumph left his phone buzzing with messages of congratulations from Manchester United's manager Sir Alex Ferguson and striker Wayne Rooney and also plenty of talk about the sport having a new rivalry at the top.

Woods's best ever final round score indicated he could yet get back to something like the form that took him to 14 majors and be a regular Sunday challenger alongside 22-year-old McIlroy.

"To be honest in golf, you can have a rival if you want, but at the end of the day, your biggest rival is a golf course. You have to be able to beat the golf course more often than not and that's all you are trying to do," said the Northern Irishman, who features in this week's WGC event at Doral.

"Ultimately you're going to have to beat people coming down the stretch on Sundays and whether it is Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson or Lee Westwood, Luke Donald or Martin Kaymer, or whoever, I would never really want to say that I am in a rivalry with someone.

"I just want to go out there and play good golf and solid golf and if I can do that then people can make up the rivalries themselves.

"But I don't see myself as anyone's rival out here -- I just see myself as Rory McIlroy trying to play good golf and winning tournaments."

The US Open champion acknowledged that his victory at the PGA National on Sunday had been all the more special with Woods waiting in the clubhouse knowing he could grab the title if McIlroy slipped up.

"To be honest, I was probably thinking to myself, could it not just have been anyone else?" McIlroy said. "It definitely made Sunday a little more difficult, or more interesting.

"I can sit here and lie and say that it didn't feel better to have Tiger post a score and to be able to play solid -- it maybe made it feel a little sweeter than if it had been someone else."

McIlroy will play the first two rounds this week on the Blue Monster course with world number two Luke Donald and number three Lee Westwood.

Reuters

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First posted March 07, 2012 13:35:01

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Harrington fires career-low 61

Updated March 16, 2012 14:21:16

Irishman Padraig Harrington fired a 10-under par 61, the lowest score of his career, to seize a three-shot lead on Friday (AEDT) in the first round of the US PGA Tour event in Florida.

Harrington's bogey-free round set a course record on the Copperhead layout at Innisbrook and included a 75-foot putt for birdie at the par-3 17th hole, the longest putt he has made in a US PGA event.

"I would like to tell you it was funneling right up the green and couldn't go anywhere else, but certainly the last 15 feet it was right in the middle of the hole," Harrington said.

"That's a bonus, obviously."

Australian Geoff Ogilvy had a ringside seat to Harrington's record-setting round, playing in the same group.

"The only really, completely unreasonable birdie was on the 17th," he said.

"There was never any stress."

Harrington was in the clubhouse early, and no one got closer the rest of the day apart from Will Claxton, who was second after a 7-under 64 that included five birdies and an eagle at the par-five 14th.

Australian John Senden was among a group of seven players sharing third place on 66.

Senden, whose round included seven birdies with two bogeys, was joined on 5-under by Kenny Perry, Jim Furyk, Jason Dufner, William McGirt and Jason Bohn.

Both Dufner and McGirt played without a bogey.

Ten players were tied on 4-under 67, a group that included England's Justin Rose and Luke Donald, as well as former British Open champion Stewart Cink and George McNeill - winner in Puerto Rico last week.

Harrington's previous low round had been a 62, fired three times, most recently at the 2009 Portugal Masters.

The previous course record was also a 62, fired by Jeff Sluman in 2004 and matched by fellow American Mark Calcavecchia in 2007.

"I'm very comfortable where my game is at," Harrington said.

"I've made a lot of good improvements and I feel like things are ready to happen. Obviously today it showed the potential. Today is a peak.

"We will wait and see what happens over the next number of weeks. I'm trying to stay patient. I know my game is good. One of the hardest things is to wait with confidence."

He opened with back-to-back birdies, birdied the par-3 fourth and the par-4 seventh, then had back-to-back birdies to close the front nine and begin the back side, adding yet another at the par-4 12th.

Harrington, who has not won any event since the 2010 Johor Open on the Asian Tour, closed his round with three birdies, the last a 15-footer at the par-4 18th.

Harrington's last US tour triumph came at the 2008 PGA Championship.

His other major triumphs came at the 2007 and 2008 British Opens.

AFP

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First posted March 16, 2012 14:04:45

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Woods looking good for Masters

Updated March 13, 2012 15:30:22

Tiger Woods has eased concerns that his latest injury scare could harm his chances at next month's Masters.

Having limped off the course halfway through the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami on Sunday, the 14-times major champion is now hopeful of playing next week's Arnold Palmer Invitational.

"Got good news from doc tonight. Only mild strain of left Achilles," Woods posted on Twitter on Monday. "Can resume hitting balls late in week and hopeful for next week."

There was plenty of concern when Woods withdrew after hitting his tee shot on the 12th hole on Sunday, complaining of a tightness in his left Achilles tendon, as it was the same one he injured at last year's Masters and subsequently missed the US Open and British Open.

Woods had scheduled the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill as his final tuneup for the Masters at Augusta National starting on April 5 where he resumes his quest to pass Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major titles.

AFP

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First posted March 13, 2012 14:28:24

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Dufner grabs lead from Harrington

Updated March 17, 2012 12:24:56

American journeyman Jason Dufner held a two-shot lead following the second round of the PGA Tour event in Florida on Saturday (AEDT) after equalling the low round of the day with a flawless five-under-par 66.

Dufner, who lost last year's PGA Championship in a playoff to rookie Keegan Bradley, birdied three of his first five holes en route to a 10-under total of 132 at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Florida.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington (73), who was the overnight leader after setting the course record with a 61 on Thursday, was two shots back after mixing three bogeys with a birdie.

The Dubliner was tied in second place with American William McGirt (68), while England's Luke Donald, the world number two, is one of five players sitting three shots off the pace.

Donald can reclaim his spot at the top of the world rankings from Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy with a win this week.

Spain's Sergio Garcia (68) is also well-placed for a weekend push sitting just four shots back of Dufner along with Australian John Senden (70) and Americans Jim Furyk (70) and Kenny Perry (70).

For Dufner, who finally broke through on the PGA Tour last year, his second consecutive round of 66 indicates he could be hitting peak form just in time for the first major of the year at Augusta National next month.

But the 34-year-old Clevelander, who has just two wins on the Nationwide Tour to his name, will be aiming on Sunday for his first victory on the PGA Tour.

"It's definitely a goal, I definitely felt like last year after some close calls I was ready to make that jump and start winning some tournaments," said Dufner, who has gone bogey-free in his opening two rounds.

"It could be a great stepping stone and give me some more confidence going forward."

Three-times major winner Harrington, searching for his top form after 18 difficult months sent him plummeting to 90th in the world rankings, said he paid the price for a conservative approach after a wonderful opening round.

"I'm happy with my game but when you shot a good score, it's hard to match the next day," said Harrington.

"When you're leading the tournament, it's hard not to be a little bit cautious and I think at times I was on the greens. I struggled to get the ball up to the hole a lot today."

Among those missing the cut, which was set at one-under 141, were Japan's Ryo Ishikawa, Colombian Camilo Villegas and Masters champion South African Charl Schwartzel, who followed up a five-over 76 on Thursday with a two-over 73 on Friday.

Reuters

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First posted March 17, 2012 12:24:56

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Woods to get ball rolling again at Pebble Beach

Updated February 09, 2012 18:20:12

Tiger Woods returns to the site of two of his most stirring victories when he makes his PGA Tour season debut at the $5.9 million Pebble Beach Pro-Am which begins early Friday morning (AEDT).

"I am excited to be back," Woods said. "Everything is kind of headed in the right direction."

Woods, who is playing in this event for the first time in a decade, had a magical season at Pebble Beach in 2000.

He won the 2000 US Open by a monstrous 15 strokes and earlier that year, Woods rallied from a seven-shot deficit in the final round to capture the Pebble Beach tournament.

It marked his only Pebble Beach Pro-Am win in a half dozen years from 1997-2002.

"Things were kind of going my way," Woods said of the comeback in 2000. "I figured I had to shoot 66 or lower to give myself a chance. All of a sudden, boom, three shots, two holes and I am back in the ballgame."

Those triumphs seem like a distant memory now for the 14-time major winner Woods who is looking for his first official PGA Tour win in over two years.

The former world number one has seen his ranking and personal life take a tailspin since a 2009 car crash and subsequent sex scandal that also led the breakup of his marriage.

Lately, however, things have been looking up.

In his only other appearance this season, Woods finished third two weeks ago in Abu Dhabi. This week Woods will be partnered with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.

Woods, who is ranked 18th in the world, is one of just four of the top 20 players in the Pebble Beach field. The others comprise Dustin Johnson (number 10), Nick Watney (13) and Phil Mickelson (17).

American D.A. Points could also make some noise this week. Points will be hoping for a repeat performance starting Thursday when he tees off with playing partner actor Bill Murray of Caddyshack fame.

Points is off to a fast start this season with a pair of top 10 finishes.

"It is a nice feeling to be the defending champ," Points said Wednesday. "Hopefully this week I can try to make it feel as much like a normal Tour event as possible."

His hole-out from the fairway on the par-five 14th in the fourth round last year was considered one of the greatest shots of the 2011 season.

Since winning here last year, Points' game has headed south. But the 35-year-old American feels he has a better handle now on what went wrong.

"After I won I just really wanted to climb the ladder," Points said. "I had all these great expectations.

"I just wanted to excel in those events to really boost my world rankings and give myself all these opportunities that I've always wanted to have.

"I was pushing so hard that I just never let myself enjoy it or play well.

"What I need to do is to have myself as prepared as possible and then go play. Whatever happens, happens. Don't try to force it."

The Pro-Am features three golf courses -- Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill Golf Club and Monterey Peninsula Country Club -- which everyone plays at least once.

There is a 54-hole cut which advances the low 60 players and ties to the final round at the Pebble Beach course.

Fiji's Vijay Singh and Trevor Immelman of South Africa could also contend this week.

Former champion Singh has posted seven top ten finishes in 17 appearances at Pebble Beach. He won in 2004 and lost in a play-off four years ago.

Immelman tied for 12th in his latest outing at the Phoenix Open and has shot nine consecutive rounds of under par.

Singh is partnered with Adobe Systems chief executive Shantanu Narayen while Immelman is paired with comic George Lopez.

AFP

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First posted February 09, 2012 18:14:20

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World's Top Golf Resorts: Train and Play for Your Vacation!

Woods looks good at Pebble Beach

Updated February 10, 2012 13:04:22

Tiger Woods got his 2012 PGA Tour season off to a solid start by firing a 4-under 68 at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am to sit five strokes back of a trio of leaders.

Woods took advantage of some perfect weather in Thursday's first round at the Spyglass Hill golf course - considered the tougher of the trio of courses the field will tackle this week.

The 14-time major winner was five strokes back of a threesome at the top of the leaderboard, New Zealand's Danny Lee, Charlie Wi of South Korea and American Dustin Johnson who all reached nine-under.

Wi posted a 61 on the par-70 Monterey Peninsula Country Club course while Johnson and Lee carded 63s on the par-72 Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Ken Duke and Brian Harman were tied for fourth just one stroke back of the leaders.

Aaron Baddeley and Nathan Green were the leading Australians, tied 15th and 4-under alongside Woods.

Woods, who was paired with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, started from the 10th tee and began his round with back-to-back birdies.

He also birdied the first hole of his back nine and had another chance to close with a birdie on his par-four final hole but missed his 18-foot putt to settle for a par.

"Boy the guys are tearing the golf course apart," Woods said.

"With the course like this you can't get too far behind the leaders. You've got to take advantage of it (weather) because this (Spyglass) is the harder of the three courses."

Former world number one Woods hit 11 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens in regulation in a round that included six birdies and two bogeys. He needed just 29 putts.

Woods, who is now ranked 18th in the world, made the turn at 2-under on a bright sunny day on the Monterey Peninsula.

Woods rolled in a birdie on his first hole, the par-four 10th, after his approach shot hit the flagstick and settled three feet from the hole for a short birdie putt.

Woods hit a solid drive on the par-five 11, landing about 180 yards from the pin. His approach stopped 14 feet from the hole, giving him a shot at an eagle but his next putt just brushed the cup, leaving him with a tap-in and back-to-back birdies to start the day.

Woods missed his bid to open with three-consecutive birdies and had to settle for a tap-in par on the par-three 12th.

He made bogey on the par-four 13th but got back to 2-under with a birdie on the 17th hole.

Woods, who rallied from far back to win this event in 2000, chose the Pebble Beach National to make his PGA Tour season debut after not playing in this event for the past decade. Woods' last win on the PGA Tour was 27 months ago.

In his only other appearance this season, Woods finished third two weeks ago in Abu Dhabi.

Woods is one of just four of the top 20 in the world in the Pebble Beach field. The others comprise Johnson (number 10), Nick Watney (number 13) and Phil Mickelson (number 17).

AFP

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First posted February 10, 2012 13:04:22

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Allenby beaten in US PGA Tour play-off

Updated February 27, 2012 13:19:33

American rookie John Huh won his first PGA Tour title in only his fifth start by beating Australian Robert Allenby in a marathon play-off at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico on Monday (AEDT).

Huh, who had never competed on the US circuit until this year, sealed victory at the eighth extra hole to deny the 40-year-old Allenby a first PGA Tour win since the 2001 Pennsylvania Classic.

The two players had finished the regulation 72 holes level at 13-under 271, Huh closing with a flawless eight-under 63 and Allenby double-bogeying the last for a 65 on the El Camaleon course.

"It's amazing, I can't believe it happened right now," Huh, 21, told reporters. "It was my dream to play on the PGA Tour and now, finally winning a tournament. It's awesome.

"Playing an eight-hole play-off is long, and I was definitely nervous out there, trying to calm myself down. It was hard," added Huh, who came from seven shots off the lead going into the final round.

Monday's play-off matched the second longest on the PGA Tour. The 1949 Motor City Open in Michigan ended deadlocked after 11 play-off holes when Cary Middlecoff and Lloyd Mangrum opted to split the purse by mutual agreement.

Allenby was bitterly disappointed to miss out on a fifth PGA Tour title after dropping two shots in the final hole in regulation.

"I had this tournament in the bag, a two-shot lead with one hole to play and just played it like a rookie, pretty much," he said. "I had played so awesome all day.

"I putted great, I hit the ball great, and I did everything that I needed to do coming down the stretch and then to give it away at 18 is very, very disappointing."

Allenby, whose haul of eight birdies in the final round included five in a row from the par-four second, applauded the winning effort by Huh, who describes himself as a Korean-American.

"John's a great player," he said. "I played with him yesterday, and he's got a great future. He's a young guy, and all the best to him. It's great to see him win."

Americans Matt Every and Colt Knost signed off with matching rounds of 66 to share third place at 11 under.

Reuters

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First posted February 27, 2012 11:21:42

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Jones equal fifth in Puerto Rico

Updated March 12, 2012 10:57:32

Two late bogeys proved costly as Australia's Matt Jones tied for fifth place behind winner George McNeill in the US PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open.

It was easily Jones's best finish of the year as he posted a 1-under-par 71 in Rio Grande to finish at 12-under.

It could have been a tie for second with Japanese star Ryo Isihikawa but for dropped shots at the 15th and 16th.

American McNeill birdied his last three holes to claim the title and deny Ishikawa a first US PGA Tour title.

Ishikawa had closed with a 68 that gave him a one-shot clubhouse lead.

McNeill, who started the day with a one-stroke lead, matched him with a birdie at 16, regained the lead with a birdie at 17 and added another birdie on the par-five finishing hole to complete a 69 for 16-under and claim his second career win.

Sweden's Henrik Stenson (71) and Boo Weekley (66) tied for third.

AAP

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First posted March 12, 2012 10:57:32

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Jones falls to fourth in Puerto Rico

Updated March 11, 2012 10:54:20

Australia's Matt Jones slipped to fourth place following the third round of the Puerto Rico Open in Rio Grande.

Jones, the overnight leader, shot a even-par 72 at the US PGA Tour event to be 11-under and two shots behind leader George McNeill.

American McNeill birdied the final two holes to fire a 5-under 67 and seize a one-stroke lead.

Henrik Stenson and American Kevin Stadler share second position.

Jones birdied the front nine par-fives but closed the front nine with back-to-back bogeys and parred his way to the clubhouse from that point.

AFP

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First posted March 11, 2012 10:54:20

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Injury setback for Woods as Masters looms

Updated March 12, 2012 10:51:36

Tiger Woods pulled out of the fourth round of the World Golf Championships event at Doral with tightness in his left Achilles tendon, a worrying setback less than a month before the Masters.

Former world number one Woods, who could be seen limping during the round, left the course after 11 holes, was taken by a golf cart straight to the players' parking lot and drove himself away long before England's Justin Rose collected the title.

"I felt tightness in my left Achilles warming up this morning, and it continued to get progressively worse," Woods said in a statement.

"After hitting my tee shot at 12, I decided it was necessary to withdraw.

"In the past, I may have tried to continue to play, but this time, I decided to do what I thought was necessary."

Woods says he will seek medical advice early next week.

Webb Simpson, who played alongside Woods, says he did not see anything amiss until Woods teed off on 12.

"I didn't really notice anything," Simpson said.

"I wasn't paying much attention, but it looked like he made a swing on 12 that really hurt. But [he] didn't say a whole lot. Class act. Shook my hand. Off he went."

Simpson says Woods did not say what the problem was, but that he "got upset" after his last tee shot of the day.

"He just said he's got to be done," Simpson said. "It looked like he was in some pain."

Woods, a 14-time major champion, has not won an official event on any tour since the Australian Masters on November 15, 2009.

Shortly after that he was embroiled in a sex scandal that eventually ended his marriage.

His return to top form since then has been hindered by injury, including left knee and Achilles tendon injuries that he suffered en route to a fourth-placed finish at last year's Masters.

They kept him out of last year's US and British Opens, but he seemed to be on the upswing with a victory in the unofficial Chevron World Challenge in December, and he carded an impressive 62 in the final round of the Honda Classic last week.

Woods is scheduled to play in a fortnight at Bay Hill, which was to be his final tune-up for the Masters, the first major of the year at Augusta National from April 5-8.

The elite WGC event at Doral was Woods's third straight tournament, although he had a relatively short week at the WGC Match Play Championships with a second-round exit.

AFP

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First posted March 12, 2012 09:33:45

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Scott off the pace in Florida

Updated March 11, 2012 14:30:51

Adam Scott slammed his performance as unacceptable after throwing away a promising tilt at the lucrative WGC Championship in Miami with a horror third round finish.

Inside the top five, Scott came to the Blue Monster course's 16th hole reasonably happy despite letting several good scoring chances slip.

But 45 minutes later the Australian world number 11's title chances were effectively gone when he finished bogey, bogey, then hit into water for double bogey.

The collapse left him with an ugly 2-over 74, tied 14th and nine shots adrift of leader Bubba Watson.

Watson followed his second round 10-under 62 with a 67 to reach 17-under-par, three shots clear of Englishman Justin Rose (69) and fellow American Keegan Bradley (66).

New world number one Rory McIlroy (65), and former number ones Tiger Woods (68), Luke Donald (69) and Martin Kaymer (70), were in a bunch tied eighth, but eight shots from Watson.

Greg Chalmers was the next best Australian, shooting a 68 to move to 7-under and a tie for 18th.

Jason Day (-6), John Senden (-5), Aaron Baddeley (-5), Marcus Fraser (-3) and Geoff Ogilvy (even) all improved their positions from overnight but remain too far back to mount a serious challenge.

Scott was making no excuses for his poor display.

"I finished terribly," said Scott. "It's just not acceptable.

"I was loose, tired and it was a weak finish."

"It's just not on."

Scott's performance was the more surprising given 29 players shot in the 60s and only 15 were over par.

While Watson, Bradley and McIlroy were tearing the course apart, Scott was just holding on at 2-under on the day through 15 holes.

"I wasn't worried about the others," he said.

"I wasn't quite as sharp today and I wasn't charging at all but I was content just plodding because I was getting it around fine and I felt like if I could get it in at 12 or 13 under I'd be in great shape for tomorrow.

"But the last three holes were so costly which is a shame because it has put me out of the tournament completely."

The 31-year-old Queenslander was still aiming to finish strongly in his final competitive round before next month's Masters.

Greg Norman shot a final round 62 on the same course in 1990 to force his way into a play-off and then won the title on the first extra hole with an eagle but Scott was not entertaining thoughts of such miracles.

"I have to just go and have the best score I can and hopefully play like I have been for all but three holes to feel good going forward," he said.

"Then whatever happens results-wise I'll be fine."

Despite holding an impressive lead Watson said he would be far from comfortable on the final day.

Already this season on the tour winners have come back from six (Phil Mickelson), seven twice (John Huh and Brandt Snedeker) and eight (Kyle Stanley) shots starting the final round.

"If anybody says they are not nervous going into Sunday that's around the lead or close to the lead or has a chance to win, they are just lying to you," Watson said.

"Their psychologist is telling them to lie to themselves."

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted March 11, 2012 11:16:21

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McIlroy crowned world number one

Updated March 05, 2012 14:30:48

Britain's Rory McIlroy held off a spectacular final round charge from Tiger Woods to win the Honda Classic and take over as golf's new world number one.

McIlroy, 22, replaced Luke Donald at the top of the world rankings after a thrilling victory at the PGA National course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Only Woods, who finished tied for second with Tom Gillis, reached number one at an earlier age.

The winner of last year's US Open, McIlroy started the last day with a two-shot lead and finished up winning by the same margin after shooting a final round 1-under-par 69 for a total of 12-under.

The Northern Irishman looked to be cruising to victory until Woods charged up the leaderboard with a 62, his lowest final-round score of his career, making an eagle at the last hole to briefly cut the margin to one stroke.

But McIlroy, who had bogeyed the 12th, birdied the 13th to restore his two-shot advantage then kept his composure through the tricky 'Bear Trap' trio of holes to win his third PGA title.

It was the perfect test of McIlroy's credentials, playing three of the toughest holes on the tour, designed by the watching Jack Nicklaus, with Woods waiting for the youngster to slip up.

"It was tough today, especially seeing Tiger make a charge, seeing him post 10-under," McIlroy said.

"To shoot 1-under in these conditions when you go in with the lead... I was just able to get the job done."

Woods, despite just missing out on his first win on the PGA Tour since September 2009, was nonetheless delighted with a performance which suggested he can recapture the form which took him to 14 major wins.

"I really didn't miss many shots today," he said.

"It was a good day and I hit a lot of good putts that went in and some that just skirted the edge.

"It could have really been something special today if a few putts would have gone in.

"It feels good because I felt like I've been close to shooting this score or scores like this.

"It was just a matter of time before things all fell into place."

Gillis, playing in the final group with McIlroy, birdied the final hole for a 69 and a tie for second place at 10-under.

Britain's Lee Westwood, who held the number one ranking for 22 weeks in 2010 and 2011, finished outright fourth, two shots back at 8-under, after closing with a 63.

South Africa's Charl Schwartzel, last year's Masters champion, tied with Britain's Justin Rose at 7-under.

Reuters

Tags: sport, golf

First posted March 05, 2012 09:40:39

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Mickelson outduels Tiger at Pebble Beach

Updated February 13, 2012 12:48:58

Phil Mickelson totally upstaged playing partner Tiger Woods while charging past overnight leader Charlie Wi to win the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in spectacular fashion by two shots on Sunday.

Six strokes behind South Korean Wi going into the final round at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Mickelson fired a flawless eight-under-par 64 to clinch his 40th victory on the PGA Tour.

The American left-hander took control of the tournament with a stunning outward nine of five-under 31 and holed two monster par putts after the turn on the way to a 17-under total of 269.

"It feels awesome," a beaming Mickelson told the Golf Channel. "Hopefully it's just one of a few this year because I am starting to feel pretty good."

While Mickelson won the pro-am celebrity event for a fourth time, Woods had to settle for joint 15th place after closing with a five-bogey 75 in his bid for a first PGA Tour win in more than two years.

Wi, hunting a maiden title on the U.S. circuit, dropped four shots in the first six holes but recovered well, a birdie-birdie-birdie finish giving him a 72 and outright second place at 15 under.

Woods had been poised for a last-day charge after shooting a 67 on Saturday but missed several putts from inside six feet to tumble out of contention at the same venue where he won the 2000 U.S. Open by a record 15 shots.

"I didn't hit it as bad as the score indicated but I putted awful," the former world number one said. "As good as I felt on the greens yesterday was as bad as I felt bad today.

"I just could not see my lines, I couldn't get comfortable, I couldn't get the blade to swing. Anything that I tried to do wasn't working and consequently I made a ton of mistakes on the greens."

Took advantage

Mickelson, who had previously won the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in 1998, 2005 and 2007, took full advantage of a poor front nine by the pacesetting Wi.

Three strokes ahead of the chasing pack overnight, the Korean made the worst possible start with a four-putt double-bogey on the opening hole.

He also stumbled with a bogey at the tricky par-three fifth after missing the green to the left off the tee, to drop back into a tie for the lead at 12 under.

Mickelson had charged to the top with birdies at the second, fourth and fifth, where he struck a superb mid-iron to just one foot.

He then rammed in a 21-footer to eagle the par-five sixth and vault two strokes clear with Woods, Kevin Streelman and Kevin Na tied for second place.

Out in 31, Mickelson did well to save par at the short 12th, where he rolled in a 30-footer and Woods holed out from a greenside bunker for birdie.

With huge galleries following the two biggest names in U.S. golf, Mickelson conjured an exquisite bouncing approach to just two feet at the par-four 13th, knocking in the birdie putt to regain a two-shot cushion.

Another birdie followed at the par-five 14th and he finished with yet another at the final hole to seal the win.

Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted February 13, 2012 11:15:06

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Korda takes Open lead into final round

Updated February 11, 2012 19:35:22

Jessica Korda is aiming to follow in her father's footsteps on Sunday and snare another Australian national title.

The 18-year-old American held a one-shot lead on Saturday after the third round of the Women's Australian Open at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

And she is already on her way to topping her tennis-playing father Petr Korda, who won the Australian Open tennis crown in 1998.

"My dad was world number two and I told him I want to beat that," Korda said.

Just as they did for Petr 14 years ago, the stars stumbled and the doors opened for Jessica.

She fired an even-par 73 in tough, windy conditions to enter the last day four under the card.

One shot back are Canberra's Nikki Campbell plus Koreans So Yeon Ryu and Hee Kyung Seo.

While Campbell also found herself in a race for the title following a sparkling 70, Ryu and Seo struggled, shooting 76 and 75 respectively.

World number one Yani Tseng shot 71 to be two off the pace.

Korda's composure was helped by her early arrival in Melbourne, picked up at the airport by Victorian former international pro and course designer Mike Clayton, who caddied for her in a practice round the next day.

Searching for a caddy for his daughter, Petr Korda had phoned friend and fellow Australian Open tennis winner Ivan Lendl, who was in Melbourne last month as coach of Scottish star Andy Murray.

"Ivan goes out and plays golf with Michael all the time so he told me Michael would get me a caddy," Jessica said.

"I came out here on Sunday with a buggy ready to walk by myself and he caddied for me.

"He was a really good help and it was a lot of fun," she said. "He knows the course and the greens probably as well as anyone."

Korda said it would be "an awesome thing" were she to emulate her father's achievement.

She said he played golf but "he caddied for me (on the LPGA Tour) last year and was so sick of golf at the end of it that the only time we got him out was in December once or twice."

Korda said she was unfazed by leading the tournament at the age of 18.

"It feels like any other day, honestly. Don't get me wrong, it feels really good but I have one more day left," she said.

She said she would be nervous on the first tee on Sunday but not afraid.

"It's something to embrace and it's a good feeling to be out there and on top of the leaderboard."

AAP

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

First posted February 11, 2012 19:35:22

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Senden out of Match Play Championship

Updated February 25, 2012 14:32:52

John Senden has been bounced out of the WGC Match Play Championship in the third round by South Korean Sang-Moon Bae, ending Australia's tilt at victory in Arizona.

Bae beat Senden 1-up when the Queenslander could not get birdie putts on the final two holes to fall into the cup.

Left with an eight-foot try on the 17th and a 20-footer on the last, Senden could not coax either in and was eliminated from the tournament in Tucson.

It is still his highest ever finish in a WGC event and will catapult him to a career high world ranking on Monday.

Senden missed a golden opportunity to get off to a flying start when he missed a seven-foot birdie putt on the first hole and ended up halving with par.

Perhaps rattled by the miss the Queenslander pulled his next tee shot left into the rough and when he could not get a 12-foot putt from off the fringe to drop, Bae took a 1-up lead with a simple three-foot birdie.

Senden fell further into the mire when a missed green and flubbed chip led to a bogey on the third, allowing Bae an easy two-putt par and 2-up lead.

Australia's final hope bounced back to win the next hole after Bae found bunker trouble but was back to two down when he made a mess of the fifth hole.

Senden found trouble off the tee and eventually also three-putted from 10-feet to gift Bae another hole.

After halving the sixth the 40-year-old started his fightback.

He found some putting mojo with a great 20-foot effort on the seventh to pull within one hole and then squared the match on the eighth with another birdie.

The match remained square until the par five 13th when Bae hit a lovely third to about three-feet and converted the birdie while Senden could not get up and down from the sand leaving him one back once more.

Senden then made another move when he almost holed a lengthy eagle putt after driving the par four 15th green.

The tap in birdie was enough to square the match once more, but his next tee shot on the par three 16th was way right.

His chip could not get closer than 30 feet allowing the South Korean to take a one-hole lead with two to play.

Bae will meet Rory McIlroy in the quarter-finals after the Northern Irishman accounted for Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez 3 and 1.

McIlroy can become world number one if he hoists the trophy on Sunday.

England's Lee Westwood, another with a chance of becoming world number one, continued his roll with a 3 and 2 win over American Nick Watney.

He will play Martin Laird after Laird won the all-Scottish battle with Paul Lawrie 3 and 1.

Americans Matt Kuchar and Hunter Mahan crushed Germany's Martin Kaymer and fellow American Steve Stricker respectively.

Both matches ended on the 15th hole with 4 and 3 victories setting up a quarter-final showdown between the pair.

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted February 25, 2012 11:42:17

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McIlroy to play Mahan in Match Play final

Updated February 27, 2012 07:49:20

Rory McIlroy has stormed back from a heavy early deficit to take down Lee Westwood in the semi-finals of the WGC Match Play Championship in Arizona.

McIlroy was three down through four holes but went on an absolute tear to beat Westwood 3 and 1 and set up a final match with American Hunter Mahan.

Mahan took care of countryman Mark Wilson 2 and 1 to be the only man standing in the way of McIlroy's attempt to not only win but also take the world number one ranking.

Should the 22-year-old beat Mahan today he will usurp Luke Donald as the world's premier player, becoming the second youngest player in history to do so behind Tiger Woods.

Westwood won three of the first four holes to take a sizable early advantage.

The Englishman rolled in a four-foot birdie on two, two putted comfortably from distance on three while McIlroy failed to get up and down from a bunker and coaxed another four-foot birdie putt in on four to be 3-up and in control.

But a bogey on the fifth for Westwood allowed McIlroy to finally win a hole and arrest some of the momentum.

McIlroy then nailed a great 29-foot birdie on the par three sixth and when Westwood could not respond from 27-feet, the Northern Irishman was just 1-down - and he had tied it all up by the eighth hole.

Despite watching Westwood hit an approach to 12-feet on the ninth McIlroy already had a whiff of the blood in the water and stuck his approach inside his opponent at eight feet.

Westwood missed his putt while McIlroy had no such troubles and as such turned with a somewhat unlikely 1-up lead.

After a fortuitous bounce out of the desert on the 11th hole McIlroy scrambled for a half and landed a serious blow when he slammed a 24-foot birdie putt on the par three 12th to go 2-up.

Westwood then found a woman's shirt with a wayward drive on the 13th and after receiving relief hacked forward into the rough. He found the green with his third shot but could not get a long birdie putt to drop.

Meanwhile, McIlroy continued his march forward by reaching the par five green in two, eventually winning the hole and setting up a decisive 3-up lead.

Westwood tried to rally with an eagle on the drivable par four 15th but it was too little too late and McIlroy closed it out on the 17th hole.

"I was just trying to stay patient and I knew if I just kept chipping away I could get him," McIlroy said.

"He started well, I didn't, but I sort of found my rhythm and made some birdies."

Mahan jumped out to an early advantage and never trailed.

He won the opening hole when Wilson drove the ball into the waste area and ended up with a bogey and then extended the lead to 2-up through as many holes when he nailed a five-foot birdie putt.

Sensing the match getting away early Wilson responded by taking the third hole but Mahan and his red-hot putter returned on the fourth.

He drained a 16-foot birdie putt to once again jump out to a 2-up lead.

Wilson won the fifth, Mahan the sixth and Wilson the 12th to have the lead at just one hole but Mahan pulled away once more when Wilson found bunker trouble on the drivable par four 15th, setting up a 2-up cushion.

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted February 27, 2012 07:42:24

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Watson grabs Doral lead

Updated March 10, 2012 12:05:02

American Bubba Watson charged into a one-shot lead following the second round of the WGC event in Doral, Florida with a spectacular 10-under-par 62.

Tiger Woods started the day six shots back of overnight leaders Adam Scott and Jason Dufner and, despite a bogey-free 67, was seven strokes off the lead.

Scott (68), who had wobbled with a double-bogey on the eighth and a bogey on 11, was two shots back of the lead after closing with four birdies on his last six holes.

Dufner (72) was six shots off the pace, having mixed five birdies with three bogeys and a double-bogey.

World number one Rory McIlroy was 10 strokes behind Watson after a 3-under 69, failing to make the most of a solid eagle-birdie start.

Watson, who started on the 10th hole, quickly tamed the Blue Monster course with birdies on five of his opening seven holes before grabbing the outright lead with an eagle on the par-five eighth.

Despite carding nine birdies, one eagle and a bogey to equal the lowest round of his career, the big-hitting left-hander says he did not feel comfortable on the Doral course.

"This golf course doesn't really suit me," Watson said.

"My eye lines, it's tough for me ... but I've been hitting the ball really well and that carried over and I made some putts today."

Woods was left disappointed despite his 67.

"This is the highest score I could have shot today for sure," Woods said.

"It could have been pretty low."

Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted March 10, 2012 12:03:50

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Korean pair lead the way in Open

Updated February 10, 2012 21:19:54

Young Korean golfer So Yeon Ryu followed her coach's instructions - take a deep breath - and wound up leading the Women's Australian Open.

The 21-year-old, who won the US Open last year, fired a 4-under-par 69 at Royal Melbourne to be 6-under ahead of Saturday's third round.

She holds a one-shot edge over compatriot Hee Kyung Seo (66).

Four players are in a tie for third at 4-under including Jessica Korda, the 19-year-old US-born daughter of 1998 Australian Open tennis champion Petr Korda.

Paraguayan Julieta Granada (72). Stacy Lewis (73) and Briton Melissa Reid (71) shared third spot.

Nikki Campbell (74) is best of the Australians, even with the card in a tie for 10th, while four-time champion Karrie Webb sits 4-over after a 75.

Defending champion and world number one Yani Tseng (76) toppled from second overnight, self-destructing with a quadruple bogey eight at the seventh hole.

Ryu admitted she was prone to rushing her pre-game practice and agreed to settle down after talking to Australian coach Ian Triggs.

"Sometimes I lose concentration and he wanted me to feel the putts on the putting green," Ryu said.

"I practised just feeling putts. Sometimes, if I am really nervous, my routine is so fast. I just slowed down and really focused on my ball."

She tied for second at last week's Australian Ladies Masters at Royal Pines and, despite the vast differences in the courses, felt she was adjusting well.

"(Triggs) is travelling with me last week and this week," she said.

"He is a coach but feels like a father, so maybe I feel more comfortable here."

She said she was too nervous in the final round last weekend and feels the advice to take a breath will serve her well in the Open.

"I think the reason was that I really wanted to win the tournament. I think it was really high expectations of myself. I was thinking about winning and the trophy and maybe I lost concentration."

Seo sparkles

Seo also was tentative coming into the week, wary of Royal Melbourne's reputation for punishing wayward shots and treating visitors to glassy greens.

"It is very hard to play this great course," Seo said. "I know it is not an easy course so I was nervous."

Seo fired a brilliant 7-under-par 66 in a round which included nine glittering birdies and two bogeys.

Again, there was a helpful Australian connection, with Dean Herden from NSW carrying her bag.

"He is not just a caddie for me," she said. "He is like a brother, a dad sometimes, a friend. He makes me really comfortable all the time.

"Sometimes he pushes me hard - not on the course but in training. I am very happy and very thankful for him."

Tseng was in second place after the first round but ruined her chances on Friday when she flew her tee shot into trees at the par-four seventh hole.

The Taiwanese tried twice to hack her way out, took a penalty drop and eventually reached the green and two-putted for an ugly eight.

Two successive bogeys followed although she fought back to some extent with two birdies on the homeward nine to be level with the card and six off the lead.

American 16-year-old Lexi Thompson is 2-over after her second 74 while 14-year-old New Zealand amateur Lydia Ko, the winner of the recent NSW Open, is 4-over after a 76.

Second-ranked Suzann Pettersen followed her opening 80 - the second-highest score of her LPGA Tour career - with a 71 to make the cut but fourth-ranked Cristie Kerr missed the cut with rounds of 75 and 78.

AAP

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Tags: sport, golf, melbourne-3000

First posted February 10, 2012 19:45:45

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Baddeley makes his move in LA

Updated February 19, 2012 12:47:58

Defending champion Aaron Baddeley made a big move to close on joint leaders Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley in the third round of the US PGA Tour event at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.

Following up from last week's win at Pebble Beach, four-time major champion Mickelson is in a great position to triumph again after a 1-under-par 70 left him sharing a one-stroke lead with reigning US PGA champion Bradley who fired a 66.

Fellow Americans Bryce Molder (66), Jonathan Byrd (69) and Pat Perez (70) are tied third just a shot behind.

But Australian Baddeley is refusing to give up his title without a fight, firing a 66 to move to 5-under, just two shots back in a tie for sixth with Dustin Johnson (67) and Bill Haas (68).

Baddeley had his game firing on all cylinders on moving day, making seven birdies against two bogeys as he chased down the leaders, moving up 22 places.

The Victorian opened by rolling in a 14-foot birdie on the first hole and stumbled a little with a bogey on the fourth before really hitting his groove.

Baddeley jammed a 19-foot birdie in on the eighth, made a nice two-putt birdie on the par five 11th from 50 feet and then moved up the leaderboard with a 10-footer on the 12th.

Sand trouble led to a dropped shot on the 15th hole but the 30-year-old responded in terrific fashion, closing out with birdies on each of his final three holes.

He drained a brilliant 34-foot putt on the 16th, was able to tap in on the 17th after a clever pitch and then hit a stunning approach into 18 to just two feet to take momentum into the final round.

"Starting today I knew I had to have a good day," Baddeley said.

"I had to shoot four, five or six under today to give myself a realistic chance.

"So it was pleasing to play really nicely all day, especially finishing off like I did."

Countrymen Jarrod Lyle (71) and Marc Leishman (71) remain in contention at 4 and 3-under par respectively.

Lyle is in a tie for ninth and Leishman is tied 11th as both search for a maiden US Tour win.

Adam Scott shot a 69, but at even par for the week he'll need a stunning final round to be a factor. John Senden (+2) and Jason Day (+6) will need miracles to contend.

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, united-states, australia

First posted February 19, 2012 12:16:01

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Top-ranked Tseng wins in Thailand

Updated February 20, 2012 10:00:16

Taiwan's Yani Tseng clinched victory the LPGA Thailand tournament on Sunday in a thrilling performance that showed why she is the world's number one women's golfer.

Tseng, who was the defending champion in the $1.39 million event, fired a six-under-par 66 to edge Japan's Ai Miyazato by one stroke at the Siam Country Club Old Course after birdies on the final two holes.

The Japanese star performed bravely throughout the round, battling back time and again to keep the pressure on Tseng.

But the Taiwanese seized the win in dramatic fashion with a stunning iron to the green at the 18th from 104 yards, leaving her a two-foot birdie putt to defeat Miyazato, who also birdied the hole for a 68.

Korea's Shin Ji-Yai shot 67 for third place while compatriot Amy Yang was a further three shots behind.

Australia's former number one Karrie Webb, who enjoyed a three-stroke lead after the second round, finished ten off the pace after a final round 75.

Tseng said her victory was "very emotional" and she had to work hard for it, especially on the back nine.

"That was my shot of the week at the 18th," she said. "I knew I had to get it close because Ai had a birdie lined up. I didn't want it to go to a play-off."

Miyazato said she was quite happy with her performance despite just missing out.

"Overall I played really well, although I let slip a couple of birdie chances," she said. "But next time I want to win."

She praised Tseng's performance.

"Yani is number one, so I knew it wouldn't be easy. After five holes she was five-under and I kind of expected that."

The spectators were treated to golf of the highest calibre as the two stars battled it out.

Tseng showed her intentions right from the start with an eagle at the first hole, immediately wiping out Miyazato's overnight lead despite the Japanese player sinking a birdie at the same hole.

Looking supremely confident, Tseng moved into the lead with a birdie at the third and by the seventh was four shots ahead.

But Miyazato kept fighting back and on the back nine it was virtually toe-to-toe, especially the last four holes.

Shin, playing in the pairing in front with Karrie Webb, was also doing well and at the 17th was briefly level with Tseng, but was unable to deliver at the last. Webb's own challenge collapsed with a quadruple-bogey nine at the seventh and she finished in ninth place.

Tseng said she tried to stay relaxed on the back nine, with many Japanese in the huge gallery supporting Miyazato.

"My caddy kept me calm and I tried to smile a lot. It was an incredible crowd."

Then came the drama at the par-five 18th. Despite a poor drive, Miyazato gave herself the chance of a birdie but Tseng rose to the occasion with her third shot.

Sunday also included the third hole-in-one of the tournament when Morgan Pressel of the US aced the eighth.

AFP

Tags: sport, golf, thailand

First posted February 20, 2012 10:00:16

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Senden smashes Day in match play showdown

Updated February 24, 2012 11:30:33

John Senden is the only Australian left in the WGC Match Play Championship after he trounced countryman Jason Day 6 and 5 in the second round.

Senden, seeded 39th in the event, spanked the seventh ranked Day by the 13th hole.

While Senden played consistently impressive golf, Day was clearly out of sorts, getting into a fight with the desert which he duly lost.

Senden, not known as one of the best putters in golf, was steely on the greens and choked Day out of the match.

He made just the one bogey all day but did not lose a single hole.

"I had the pressure on him early. I had good putts on one, three and four and then I was two up through four," Senden said.

"Then basically from there I wanted to keep focused and keep the quality of shots going on and I did that.

"He sort of made the mistakes to force the match to go further and further my way."

The pair halved the opening two holes before Senden nailed a 19-foot birdie putt on the third to take the lead. It was an advantage he would never relinquish.

The 40-year-old made a clutch six-foot birdie putt on the very next hole before watching Day botch a five-footer on the same line.

Day failed to make any ground over the next three holes, although he did manage to salvage an impressive half on the seventh after taking an unplayable lie from the desert.

While Senden missed the opportunity on seven, he nailed one on eight, pitching to three feet and making the putt after Day missed from nine feet.

The score remained at 3-up until further disaster struck for Day on the par five 11th.

He pumped another wild drive left into the desert and ended up embedded in a dangerous jumping cholla cactus.

After considering trying to hack at the ball Day wisely decided to take an unplayable but he hit his third into another cactus near the green.

He attempted a crazy backwards left handed shot but when it ricocheted behind him further into the mire he conceded the hole to fall four holes behind.

A hole later he was five down when Senden made a routine par and Day could not get up and down from a greenside bunker.

Senden then closed out the 24-year-old with an eight-foot birdie on the 13th, his fourth of the day, to record an impressive rout.

Meanwhile, Nick Watney took care of former world number one Tiger Woods 1-up in a relatively tight all-American tussle, while Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy never trailed on the way to a 3 and 2 win over Denmark's Anders Hansen.

Lee Westwood destroyed Swede Robert Karlsson over their first 10 holes to lead 5-up and despite a few hiccups coming in, the Englishman held on for a 3 and 2 win.

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted February 24, 2012 09:33:55

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Korean Wi sets Pebble Beach pace

Updated February 11, 2012 14:17:14

Charlie Wi evaded the worst of the weather and birdied three of his last six holes to surge three shots clear in Friday's second round of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am as Tiger Woods finished six strokes adrift.

South Korean Wi, among three players tied for the lead overnight, fired a 3-under-par 69 at Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of three venues being used this week, to post a 12-under total of 130.

American world number 10 Dustin Johnson, tournament champion in 2009 and 2010, was alone in second after carding a 72 on the tricky Spyglass Hill layout.

Fijian Vijay Singh, who returned a 68 at Spyglass, was a further shot back at 8-under with New Zealander Danny Lee (73), Irishman Padraig Harrington (66) and Americans Brian Gay (65) and Brendon Todd (69).

In pursuit of his first PGA Tour victory, Wi eagled the par-four 13th, his fourth hole of the day, before ending his round in topsy-turvy fashion - birdie-bogey-birdie-par-birdie-bogey - as mist and then rain swept across the course.

"I have some experience playing with the lead," a smiling Wi, who opened with a sizzling 9-under 61 at Monterey Peninsula on Thursday, told reporters.

"I took the approach today by telling myself that this is just a new day and whatever happened yesterday that I was going to put it behind me and just start fresh."

The big-hitting Johnson, who has always relished competing on the picturesque Monterey Peninsula, had to negotiate his final holes in the worst weather of the day.

"It played really, really hard coming in," he said.

"It seemed like every hole we played was into the wind, too. It got cold, it was wet and the ball was going nowhere.

"But still my score was a lot worse than how I played. I really gave away some shots. I three-putted twice from really close and didn't get up and down a couple of times from right next to the flag."

Woods was also left frustrated after shooting a 2-under 68 at Monterey Peninsula, the easiest of the three layouts.

"It was decent," the former world number one said after finishing his round in steady drizzle and plunging temperatures.

"I drove it good again today, unfortunately I just didn't make enough birdies.

"The hard part was just getting the ball in there (on the greens) where you could give it a free run. I was hitting the ball in wrong spots.

"I am six back so I need to make something happen a little bit over there," Woods added, referring to his third round on Saturday at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Three-times winner Phil Mickelson carded a 65 at Monterey Peninsula to finish five strokes off the lead, level in a large group with fellow US Ryder Cup player Hunter Mahan (70).

"It was an interesting day," said left-hander Mickelson.

"We had perfect weather and then on the back nine when the (bad) weather came in, I don't know what happened but I started to play a lot better and make some birdies.

"In the perfect conditions, I struggled. But to play these golf courses in such great conditions either way has been a lot of fun."

Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted February 11, 2012 14:17:14

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Korda wins women's Australian Open

Updated February 13, 2012 08:17:44

American teenage golfer Jessica Korda won the women's Australian Open at Royal Melbourne after a six-way play-off.

Korda, 18, rolled in a six-metre birdie putt on the second extra hole to clinch the title.

Korda, whose father Petr won the 1998 Australian Open tennis crown, bounced back after slipping from the outright lead midway through the final round.

Six players finished the tournament at three under the card - Korda, Koreans Hee Kyung Seo and So Yeon Ryu, Americans Brittany Lincicome and Stacy Lewis, plus Paraguay's Julieta Granada.

All six parred the 18th the first time around and returned to the tee.

Ryu, the US Open champion, dropped out with a bogey at the second play-off hole and only Korda could manage to birdie, taking her first USLPGA crown.

Korda began the day with a one-shot lead and increased it to two with three early birdies.

But a double-bogey six at the ninth and four more dropped shots after the turn halted her run until a birdie at the 17th brought her back into contention at 3-under.

As the two Koreans both dropped shots with bogeys on the final hole, the four players a shot behind them were brought into the play-off.

The last US Tour event with six players in a shoot-out was the 1999 Jamie Farr Classic, won by Korean star Se Ri Pak.

Petr Korda was famous on the tour for his on-court scissor kicks and his daughter produced one during the ceremony to remind the crowd.

"Dad and I spoke on Monday and he was saying Melbourne's been good to him," she said.

"As I was walking around here - and you have the Melbourne sign on pretty much every green - it always made me smile because it just reminded me of the good times.

"I love watching Melbourne tennis, it's just a really special place for my family and so for my first win, I honestly couldn't have thought of a better place."

World number one and defending champion Yani Tseng produced a brave fight-back after being treated by a doctor for abdominal pain before teeing off.

The Taiwanese had dropped four shots by the seventh but regained them all with birdies, including four in six holes on the back nine, ending her tournament defence with a 74 to be 1-under for the event.

Canberra's Nikki Campbell, who was second overnight, started steadily with three straight pars before stumbling with a double bogey at the sixth where she hit her approach shot into a trap.

Campbell and fellow Australian Sarah Kemp were tied for 12th at 1-over, while four-time champion Karrie Webb battled through another disastrous day as she tried to fine-tune swing changes.

Webb was 6-over-par at the start and dropped seven shots as she closed out an ugly final round 80 to finish 13-over and in joint 56th place.

Lydia Ko, the 14-year-old New Zealand schoolgirl who won the recent New South Wales Open, was in a share of 18th place among the high-class international field and collected the medal for leading amateur.

Playing with American Angela Stanford, Ko finished 3-over for the tournament.

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, melbourne-3000

First posted February 12, 2012 18:59:38

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Mahan shocks McIlroy in Match Play final

Updated February 27, 2012 12:07:19

American Hunter Mahan ended Rory McIlroy's bid to become world number one for the first time with a 2 and 1 victory over the Northern Irishman in Monday's (AEDT) final of the WGC Match Play Championship in Arizona.

With McIlroy initially failing to replicate the stunning form he produced earlier in the day on the way to a 3 and 1 semi-final win over third-ranked Briton Lee Westwood, Mahan took advantage with a seven-birdie display.

The 29-year-old never trailed after going ahead at the par-three sixth, and he fended off a McIlroy fightback after the turn, ending the match with a comfortable two-putt par on the 17th green.

"Boy, it feels good," a smiling Mahan told reporters after clinching his fourth PGA Tour title and a second World Golf Championships (WGC) crown, having previously won the 2010 Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone.

"I didn't realise how difficult it is to win this week because it's six matches and you're playing against the best players in the world," said Mahan, who defeated fellow American Mark Wilson 2 and 1 in their semi-final.

"I played well from tee to green, putting to chipping to driving, irons, everything was there. And I needed everything to win. I'm very proud of how I played," added Mahan who totalled 35 birdies during the week from 96 holes.

World number two McIlroy, like Mahan appearing in his first Match Play final, would have replaced Britain's Luke Donald as the game's leading player when the rankings are issued on Monday had he claimed his first WGC crown.

"Deep down I wanted to postpone that crowning of the number one player in the world for Rory," Mahan said with a grin. "But he'll be number one eventually. I'm not worried about it, I'm sure he's not."

US Open champion McIlroy applauded Mahan's performance, but conceded that his hugely anticipated morning semi-final against Westwood had sapped some of his energy.

"Maybe mentally and emotionally it did take a little bit out of me but it still doesn't take away from the fact that Hunter played very, very solid golf," the 22-year-old said.

"Even though I threw a few birdies and an eagle at him on the back nine, he still responded well and held on. During the course of the week, he played the best golf and deserved to win."

In dazzling afternoon sunshine at Dove Mountain, both players bogeyed the opening hole, Mahan after duffing a chip from behind the green and McIlroy when he lipped out from four feet.

Matching birdies

The next two holes were halved with matching birdies and McIlroy was fortunate not to go one down at the par-four fourth where he had to take a penalty drop after his tee shot ended up in desert scrub.

He bogeyed the hole, as did Mahan who struck his approach into the front left greenside bunker after being perfectly placed off the tee.

Mahan finally broke the deadlock to go one up with a conceded birdie at the sixth where he struck an exquisite tee shot that settled within two feet of the cup.

The American then benefited from a poor match play decision by McIlroy at the par-four seventh.

After watching Mahan's approach from 135 yards pitch on and then spin back down the hill below the green, McIlroy followed suit and then failed to reach the green with his chip.

While Mahan bogeyed the hole, he went two up after the Northern Irishman missed a 10-footer to double-bogey.

McIlroy was again in trouble at the par-five eighth, finding a bunker off the tee, failing to reach the green in three and then lipping out with an eight-foot par putt to go three down.

Mahan went four up after nearly holing out from the fairway with a 180-yard approach at the par-four 10th, his ball finishing two feet past the cup for a conceded birdie.

Though McIlroy chipped in to eagle the par-five 11th and also birdied the par-four 14th to trim Mahan's lead to two-up, the American held him off over the next three holes.

In the consolation match, American Mark Wilson beat Westwood 1-up to secure third place.

Reuters

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted February 27, 2012 10:26:08

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Woods on the prowl at Pebble Beach

Updated February 12, 2012 11:33:54

Tiger Woods evoked memories of his glory days with a blistering run of six birdies in eight holes as he charged into contention for the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on Saturday.

Six strokes off the pace overnight, the former world number one fired a 5-under-par 67 to end a day of intermittent rain, sunshine and tugging sea breezes four behind pacesetting South Korean Charlie Wi in third place.

On the picturesque Pebble Beach Golf Links where he won the 2000 US Open by a record 15 shots, Woods mixed six birdies with a lone bogey to post an 11-under total of 203.

His only disappointment was not to take greater advantage of the easier outward nine, his back nine on Saturday, in his pursuit of a first victory in a full-field event since the 2009 Australian Masters.

"I didn't hit it as well as I did the last two days but I made some more putts and really managed my game well," Woods told reporters after totalling only 25 putts in the third round.

"Even though my game was slightly off today, it's not as off as it used to be," added the American, who has battled form over the past two years while working on a swing change and being plagued with injury problems and the breakdown of his marriage.

"I don't hit the ball as far off line as I used to and my ball doesn't curve as much, so consequently my off-days are not as far off."

Woods, who two months ago won the limited-field Chevron World Challenge which he hosts in California, was especially pleased with his outward nine

"If you make a few putts like I did today, you can get it rolling," the 36-year-old said.

"I had a nice little stretch there where I probably could have birdied six holes in a row."

Woods made an unpromising start to the third round after teeing off at the 10th in overcast conditions, parring his first two holes before bogeying the short 12th after missing the green to the left off the tee.

He then jumped into overdrive. He birdied the 13th, after hitting an exquisite shot from the left fairway bunker to just two feet, and also the 14th, where he sank an 11-footer.

Woods rolled in 22-foot birdie putts at the 15th and 17th before laying up in two at the par-five 18th and knocking in an eight-footer to reach the turn in 4-under 32.

That put him at 10 under overall in a four-way tie for second place with the easier nine to come.

Woods picked up another shot at the par-five second, where he was just short of the green in two, but failed to make up any further ground as he closed with seven consecutive pars.

Seeking his first victory on the PGA Tour since the BMW Championship in September 2009, he will go into Sunday's final round at Pebble Beach Golf Links with only Wi and fellow American Ken Duke ahead of him.

"That's why we play, is to be there, and that's why I train as hard as I do and practise as hard as I do is to put myself in those positions," Woods said.

"A win is a win.

"I've won my share of events, and it feels good. That's the ultimate goal and that's what we set out to do at the beginning of every event is to win it. That's the goal tomorrow, as well."

Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted February 12, 2012 11:33:54

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Scott leads in Florida

Updated March 09, 2012 12:10:27

Australian golfer Adam Scott weathered blustery conditions to be tied for the lead after the opening round of the WGC event at the Blue Monster in Florida.

Scott fired an impressive 6-under-par 66 to share the first round lead with American Jason Dufner (66).

The pair were two clear of Dane Thomas Bjorn and South African Charl Schwartzel who both fired 4-under-par 68s.

Despite heavy winds throughout the round Scott posted five birdies and an eagle with just the one bogey on his way to the lead.

After pars on his opening two holes he began his assault with four birdies in his next six.

Playing the back nine first, Scott knocked birdies into the cup on the 12th, 14th, 16th and 17th holes and made the turn at 4-under the card with an impressive 32.

His broomstick putter working a treat in the difficult conditions.

The 31-year-old's first birdie was from nine feet but he then holed efforts from 29, 12 and 19 feet to create an early gap on the field.

When he attacked the pin on the first, his 10th, with a brilliant eight iron to just four feet the charge was well and truly on.

Scott jammed in the eagle putt and backed it up with an eight-foot birdie roll on the next hole to create a hefty buffer.

His first blemish came on his 15th hole of the day where he missed a five-foot par putt and dropped a shot, allowing the chasing pack to get within range.

But Dufner was the only serious challenger, grabbing a last hole birdie to join Scott at the top.

"Obviously I'm very satisfied with the round today especially in these conditions," Scott said.

"I took advantage of my good play the first 11 or 12 holes and then managed to kind of get it up and down here and there coming in.

"I'm very pleased to put myself in the tournament so far. It's a good way to start.

"The last few years I've really got my head around this golf course and how to play it.

"I feel comfortable here. I look forward to coming here because it feels like you want to get playing good now. There's a lot to play for here and in the upcoming weeks."

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, making his first start since ascending to the world number one spot, opened with a 1-over-par 73.

Tiger Woods tapped in for eagle at his opening hole but found the going tougher the rest of the way en route to an even-par 72.

Aaron Baddeley was the next best Australian with a 3-under 69 leaving him tied fifth.

Greg Chalmers had an impressive round clicking before posting a bogey and double bogey on his final two holes to fall to a 1-under 71 and a tie for 21st.

Geoff Ogilvy (73), Jason Day (73), John Senden (76) and Marcus Fraser (76) had their struggles and will all need to improve to contend.

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted March 09, 2012 12:02:03

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Aussie golfer Lyle reportedly has leukaemia

Updated March 09, 2012 13:02:14

Jarrod Lyle has been struck down by leukaemia for a second time.

The 30-year-old was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia as a 17-year-old but overcame nine months of bed rest and chemotherapy treatments to become a professional golfer on the US PGA Tour.

Lyle flew back to Australia last week for the birth of his first child, now due to be induced on Friday after the health revelations.

Despite the tough situation he was in positive spirits and wished to thank everyone for their messages of support.

Lyle was bitten by a bug on a recent tour stop in Mexico and contracted an infection.

After returning home to Shepparton in country Victoria he noticed a rash, the by-product of an antibiotic given in Mexico, and had it treated by his local doctor.

As a precaution blood work was done and the shocking discovery was made.

Lyle will now attempt to meet his new child prior to undertaking treatment.

Close friend and fellow Australian golfer Robert Allenby, who befriended Lyle during his first stint with cancer, was shocked.

"It's a complete tragedy," Allenby said.

"But I told him he has beaten it before and he can beat it again.

"He has a big fight on his hands but he has the motivation of being the father and husband he wants to be which will give him strength.

"My heart goes out to him and his family and we all need to get behind him and support him."

As the news filtered through the golfing fraternity Australia's golfers all offered unconditional support.

"All Jarrod needs to know is everyone over here on this side of the world are thinking about him and wishing him well," Greg Chalmers said.

Adam Scott also took time out to wish his mate health.

"My thoughts go out to Jarrod and his family. He is a tough bloke and I wish him all the best in his fight. We all do."

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, australia

First posted March 09, 2012 07:17:07

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McIlroy seizes lead with number one in sight

Updated March 05, 2012 09:33:21

Rory McIlroy moved within one round of seizing golf's number one world ranking on Sunday (AEDT) as he claimed a two-shot lead at the US PGA event in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland, who can supplant England's Luke Donald atop the rankings with a victory, capped a four-under 66 on the par-70 PGA National course with a birdie from a bunker at the par-five 18th and had a 54-hole total of 11-under 199.

He was two strokes in front of Americans Harris English and Tom Gillis, with reigning PGA Champion Keegan Bradley, England's Justin Rose and Brian Harman a further shot back.

McIlroy joined Gillis atop the leaderboard on 10-under with a birdie at the par-three 15th, where he landed his approach five feet from the pin.

Gillis then bogeyed 15 leaving McIlroy alone at the top.

US Open champion McIlroy then extended his lead with his closing birdie.

Gillis posted a 69 and English, a 22-year-old rookie, posted a 66 to join him on 201.

Bradley carded a 68 and Rose a 71 for 203, while Harman followed up his second-round 61 with a 69.

Greg Chalmers was the best placed Australian, six shots off the pace after his third round 68.

Former world number Tiger Woods carded a one-under 69 and was nine off the pace.

It's the second straight week McIlroy has had a chance to reach the top of the rankings. He could have done it last week at the World Golf Championships Match Play Championship but fell in the final to Hunter Mahan.

AFP

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted March 04, 2012 10:24:21

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Kemp and Lewis share the lead at Royal Melbourne

Updated February 10, 2012 06:12:53

Golf at the highest level suddenly became a lot easier for American Stacy Lewis last year.

And even the famous Royal Melbourne layout held no fears as she skipped to a share of the lead after the first round of the Women's Australian Open.

Lewis shot a four-under-par 69 at Royal Melbourne to share the lead with Sydney's Sarah Kemp on day one of the Australian Open.

The pair are one shot ahead of a group of players on three-under that includes defending champion Yani Tseng.

Since last year's breakthrough LPGA win at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, Lewis has grown comfortable at the top.

Playing for the first time at the composite layout, she fired six birdies - and two bogeys for her 69.

Lewis said she "fell in love with the course" the first time she saw it, awed by its demand for creative golf.

But she is far from over-awed, either by the course or the company.

Following her win in March, Lewis collected 10 top-10 finishes, including runner-up at the Evian Masters.

"I'm much more confident, just with the year I've had," Lewis said.

"I had such a consistent year. I was in contention quite a bit and you just get comfortable there.
"You don't worry when you're a couple under and you see your name on the leaderboard and it's not that big of a deal."

She pinpointed one particular hole which she said would give her a boost as she attempts to retain the lead on Friday.

"I made a bad swing on eight," she said.

"I hit my drive way down there on the par five and only had about 165 metres to the front of the green.

"I hit it into the bunker then made about a 30 footer for birdie, so I think that really gives me some momentum, going into tomorrow.

"I hit a bad iron shot and a bad bunker shot and still made birdie," Lewis said.

Meanwhile four-time winner Karrie Webb has had a forgettable day, finishing two-over.

AAP

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

First posted February 09, 2012 11:44:48

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Rose, Gillis share PGA lead as Rory lurks

Updated March 03, 2012 13:16:33

Justin Rose fired a second-straight 66 to claim a share of the halfway lead alongside Tom Gillis at the US PGA event in Florida.

Gillis carded a 64 to join Rose on eight-under-par 132, one shot in front of red-hot Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland.

McIlroy, who could claim the world number one ranking with a victory this week, had four birdies in a three-under 67 at PGA National.

"I had a few chances early on and didn't take them," McIlroy said. "Kept making pars and making pars, and broke that run with a bogey on 13 which was frustrating.

"But to bounce back from that and birdie three of the last five holes was nice, and puts me in great position going into the weekend."

McIlroy said he would not change his approach on the weekend, even with the prospect of supplanting Luke Donald atop the rankings hovering.

"I just need to keep doing the same things, try to drive the ball in the fairway and give myself loads of opportunities, and try and take a few," he said.

"Because you don't need to make tons of birdies out here."

Plenty of birdies were being made, however, including eight for unheralded Brian Harman, who also had an eagle as he flirted with the golf grail of 59 before settling for a course-record 61 with a par on 18.

Tiger Woods capped a scrambling round with back-to-back birdies that gave him a two-under 68.

That put him at one-under 139 for the tournament, still seven off the pace - and one behind the best-placed Australian, Greg Chalmers, who trails by five after second-round 69.

Rose, who teed off on 10, had five birdies in a nine-hole span in the middle of his round, moving as low as 10-under until bogeys at the sixth and seventh slowed him down.

"You can't play 36 holes around here and expect to come away without any bruises at all," Rose said.

McIlroy was joined on seven-under 133 by Dicky Pride, who birdied his final hole to complete a 67.

Harman headed a group on 134 that also included Jimmy Walker (67) and Monday qualifier Vaughn Taylor (66).

Harman, a US tour rookie, was in the fairway at the par-five 18th needing an eagle to post a 59.

He fired into the front bunker, then missed a five-foot birdie putt. His 61, however, lowered the course record by three strokes.

"Just one of those crazy days where everything comes together," Harman said. "Got off to a really hot start and just kept the pedal down all day. It was awesome."

AFP

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted March 03, 2012 13:16:33

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