Saturday, September 29, 2012
US takes first-day Ryder Cup lead
The United States lead 5-3 after a pulsating first day's play in the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club - a lead that would have been greater but for an extraordinary afternoon round from European rookie Nicholas Colsaerts.
In a format that habitually favours the Europeans, Davis Love's team took the fourballs 3-1 after sharing the alternate ball foursomes 2-2 in the morning's play.
All 24 players were in action during a day which started so promisingly for Europe but which ended so positively for the United States who are out to regain the trophy lost in Wales two years ago.
The one downside for America was Tiger Woods' miserable Ryder Cup record (now 13-16-2) continuing losing the two games he was involved in with Steve Striker and both players have been rested for the foursomes on day two.
He cannot be blamed for the afternoon's reverse when Belgian Colsaerts carried partner Lee Westwood with one of the greatest rounds in the history of the competition.
Colsaerts hit an eagle and eight birdies, meaning Europe won the final match of the day by one stroke despite Woods' five birdies on the back nine.
"I didn't play very good this morning at all," Woods said. "I was hitting it awful and not doing anything well. But drove it great this afternoon and was in position.
"Nicolas probably had one of the greatest putting rounds I've ever seen ... we had a chance to all square on the last hole, and I missed it."
The American heroes were rookie Keegan Bradley, showing passion and talent in securing two points with Phil Mickelson, who was winning a record ninth US cap, and Bubba Watson who fired up the big Chicago crowd with his attacking game.
"This is one of the most emotional days playing in a Ryder Cup that we'll ever have," Mickelson said.
"It gets emotion out of every player, good or bad, and this has been one of the biggest highs that we've had.
"I just love playing with Keegan. He's just played so good all day and it's just kept me up the whole time. It's been awesome."
For Europe, eyebrows were raised over captain Jose Maria Olazabal's non-selection of Ryder Cup firebrand Ian Poulter for the fourballs after he and Justin Rose had beaten Woods and Stricker in the morning.
The two have been reunited for day two's foursomes.
World number one Rory McIlroy played both sessions with fellow Ulsterman Graeme McDowell and they met with mixed success, winning in the morning and losing in the afternoon.
"Obviously it was just a high to end this morning and then to try to get ourselves back for the afternoon, just didn't start as well as we would have liked," McIlroy said.
The US charge in the afternoon was spearheaded by crowd-pleaser Watson who teamed up with US Open champion Webb Simpson to crush Paul Lawrie and Peter Hanson 5 and 4.
Then, the on-fire pairing of Mickelson and Bradley led all the way to see off a tired-looking McIlroy and McDowell 2 and 1 in what was the pick of the later matchups.
Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar made it 3-0 with a 3 and 2 win over Rose and Martin Kaymer before Colsaerts was the inspiration for Europe as he and Lee Westwood held off Woods and Stricker to win by one hole.
Earlier in the day, the atmosphere at Medinah, at 7,658 yards the longest course in Ryder Cup history, was electric as McDowell got proceedings under way shortly after the crack of dawn in chilly conditions.
But it soon deflated as Europe took an early command, leaving US skipper Love complaining that it was all too quiet for his liking.
Europe were ahead in all four of the foursomes as the lead group stood on the eighth green, but it was Mickelson and Bradley that led the US fightback.
At one stage the advantage was briefly with the Americans, but a share of the spoils to get things going seemed a fair result for the morning's play.
It was the first time that had happened in the opening session of the Ryder Cup since 1997 at Valderrama in Spain.
All that was to change in the afternoon though as the United States took command and Europe will need to quickly redress the balance in Friday's second round of foursomes and fourballs.
In the last 15 Ryder Cups the team leading after the first day has eventually gone on to win the trophy 12 times.
Day two foursomes pairings:
10.20pm - Webb Simpson/Bubba Watson (USA) v Justin Rose/Ian Poulter (Europe)
10.35pm - Keegan Bradley/Phil Mickelson (USA) v Lee Westwood/Luke Donald (Europe)
10.50pm - Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson (USA) v Nicolas Colsaerts/Sergio Garcia (Europe)
11.05pm - Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker (USA) v Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (Europe)
AFP/ABC
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted September 29, 2012 09:57:11Friday, September 28, 2012
Ryder Cup foursomes pairings announced
Northern Irish duo Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will kick off Europe's defence of the Ryder Cup on Friday when they take on Americans Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker in the first of four foursomes.
Phil Mickelson will win a US record ninth cap when he goes out in the second tie with rookie Keegan Bradley, up against Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia who are unbeaten in four previous foursomes matches.
The third tie sees rookie Jason Dufner partner Zach Johnson against Europe's most experienced campaigner Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari of Italy.
In the morning anchor match Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker resume the winning partnership they formed two years ago against the English pair of Justin Rose and Ian Poulter.
US captain Davis Love said that Snedeker's fine recent form had been a key factor in his reckoning.
"This is the best four we felt like to start us off," he said.
"And order wise, there was not a whole lot of rhyme or reason to it, except that maybe pace of play. We wanted to get Brandt going - Brandt likes to get out there and get after it. Brandt was a good one to lead off.
"Obviously Phil and Keegan are a little bit excited to be playing, too, so get them going. And then we've got some pretty cool customers at the end that can handle whatever happens in the last two matches."
European counterpart Jose Maria Olazabal said that he had simply opted to send out what he felt were his four strongest foursomes pairings.
"When I look at foursomes, I want to have players who are consistent and are steady from tee to green. There were no surprises from Davis Love, they are all strong pairings and some of those have played before.
"The way my players are playing is the most important thing. They believe we can win here even though the US have the crowd advantage and the experience of playing here."
World number one McIlroy made his Ryder Cup debut with close friend McDowell at his side at Celtic Manor, Wales two years ago and they had one win, one loss and one halve.
But since then the 23-year-old from Holywood near Belfast has shot to superstardom with eight stroke triumphs at the 2011 US Open and 2012 US PGA Championship.
Up against them will be the veteran Furyk and Snedeker, who won over 11 million dollars last weekend by winning the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
The pairings for Friday morning's opening foursomes in the 39th Ryder Cup between the United States and Europe:
10.20pm - Jim Furyk/Brandt Snedeker (USA) v Rory McIlroy/Graeme McDowell (Europe)
10.35pm - Phil Mickelson/Keegan Bradley (USA) v Luke Donald/Sergio Garcia (Europe)
10.50pm - Jason Dufner/Zach Johnson (USA) v Lee Westwood/Francesco Molinari (Europe)
11.05pm - Steve Stricker/Tiger Woods (USA) v Ian Poulter/Justin Rose (Europe)
(All times in AEST)
Non-playing
United States: Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Webb Simpson, Bubba Watson
Europe: Nicolas Colsaerts, Paul Lawrie, Peter Hanson, Martin Kaymer
Fourballs to follow at 3.05am, 3.20am, 3.35am, 3.50am (pairings announced after foursomes finish)
AFP
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted September 28, 2012 09:47:38Thursday, September 27, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
Snedeker completes lucrative double
Brandt Snedeker held off a late charge by fellow American Ryan Moore to win the season-ending Tour Championship by three shots overnight, along with FedEx Cup honours and the eye-popping $US10 million ($9.6 million) bonus.
Australians Adam Scott and John Senden were well off the pace, finishing 19th and 26th respectively.
Tied for the lead overnight with Britain's Justin Rose in the PGA Tour's final play-off event, Snedeker birdied three of the last six holes to clinch his fourth title on the US circuit and his second of the year.
Snedeker, one of five players who came into this week knowing that victory would automatically secure him the play-off crown, signed off with a 2-under-par 68 on a sun-splashed day at East Lake Golf Club for a 10-under total of 270.
After chipping in from the front of the green at the 17th for his fifth birdie of the day, the 31-year-old could afford the luxury of a bogey at the tricky par-three 18th where his tee shot sailed long into a grandstand.
"This has been an unbelievable week," Snedeker smiled after being presented with the two trophies.
"The golf course is in great shape and obviously I liked it. At the end of the day, I had complete confidence of what I was doing out here."
Englishman Rose, playing with Snedeker in the final pairing on a difficult day for scoring in breezy conditions, finished alone in second after closing with a 71.
Moore, who had surged into a tie for the lead with three holes to play, bogeyed 16, 17 and the last for a 70 to tie for third at 6-under-par with Britain's Luke Donald (67).
World number one Rory McIlroy and second-ranked Tiger Woods, who like Snedeker had victory in their sights to complete the FedExCup 'double', both finished poorly.
Northern Irishman McIlroy, winner of the two previous play-off events, hit only two of 14 fairways on the way to a 74 and a share of 10th place.
"I'm a little disappointed to be honest," said the 23-year-old Northern Irishman, who had been seeking a fifth PGA Tour victory this year and his fourth in just five starts.
"I didn't play the way I wanted to, especially today. I only hit two fairways, and you can't do that around this place."
Woods, who has twice landed FedEx Cup honours, closed with an erratic 72 to finish joint eighth at 2-under-par.
"I fought very hard just to shoot what I shot on the last couple of days," Woods said.
"I shot under par (overall), but, obviously, not enough.
"My short game was really dialled in this week. I chipped and putted really well. I need to hit the ball a little better than I hit it certainly this weekend."
Snedeker's double triumph capped a storming late season run that began with his tie for third at the British Open in July where he opened with scores of 66 and 64.
He finished second and sixth in the first two play-off events to earn himself a wildcard selection for next week's Ryder Cup, and underlined his likely value to the US team with a stunning display of putting at East Lake.
With a massive pay-day looming large in the final round, Snedeker moved into the outright lead at 9-under when he rolled in a nine-footer to birdie the par-four third.
Though he emulated Woods and McIlroy by double-bogeying the daunting par-three sixth, after hitting his tee shot into water, he remained a stroke in front at seven under.
Snedeker, widely regarded as one of the best putters in the game, drained a 40-foot birdie putt at the eighth before parring the ninth to reach the turn two shots clear.
He did well to save par at the 10th, coolly sinking an 11-footer, before Rose and Moore moved within a stroke of the lead with birdies at the par-three 11th.
However Snedeker sank another bomb, this time an 18-footer, to birdie the 13th and regain a two-shot cushion, prompting a vigorous fist pump in celebration.
Though Moore briefly caught him in a two-way tie at the top with birdies at 14 and 15, Snedeker pulled ahead for good with a two-putt birdie at the par-five 15th.
Reuters
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted September 24, 2012 10:09:42Sunday, September 23, 2012
Snedeker just ahead in Tour playoffs
American Brandt Snedeker edged ahead of world number one Rory McIlroy in the FedExCup playoff race by charging into a two-way tie for the lead in Sunday's (AEST) third round of the elite Tour Championship.
On a tricky day for scoring at a sunny but breezy East Lake Golf Club, Snedeker matched the best score of the week, firing a flawless 6-under-par 64 to join Britain's Justin Rose (68) at 8-under 202.
Overnight leader Jim Furyk had also been at 8-under with two holes to play but he triple-bogeyed the 17th, after hitting his tee shot into water, on the way to a 72 and a three-way tie for fourth at 5-under.
Level with Furyk were Masters champion Bubba Watson (70) and Northern Irishman McIlroy (68), who is seeking a fifth PGA Tour victory this year, and his fourth in just five starts.
American Ryan Moore was alone in third at six under after carding a third-round 65 in the PGA Tour's fourth and final playoff event.
"It was probably one of the best rounds I've played this year," a beaming Snedeker told reporters after covering the back nine in 3-under 32 on a firm, fast-running layout.
"I drove it fantastic, hit a lot of quality iron shots and putted actually okay for me, not great. I left a lot of putts out there.
"To hit 17 of 18 greens in this wind on this golf course, you're striking your ball pretty good. I'm very excited about the standings going into tomorrow."
Snedeker was one of five players coming into the 30-man event knowing that victory on Monday (AEST) would automatically secure him FedExCup playoff honours and the mind-boggling bonus of $10 million.
Most dominant player
Also in that quintet was FedExCup points leader McIlroy, who has been the game's most dominant player since cruising to a staggering eight-shot victory in last month's PGA Championship at Kiawah Island.
"It's going to be one of the most exciting Sundays of the year," McIlroy said of the final round at East Lake. "There are a few guys still in it with a chance to win the FedExCup and to win this tournament, so I'm looking forward to it.
"It's great to be in the mix. I'm only three back, so I'm excited about the prospect of a very exciting finish tomorrow."
Twice winner Tiger Woods, who had battled to a 73 in Friday's second round, carded a 67 to climb into a four-way tie for seventh at 4-under.
"I'm only four back ... it looks like I've got a shot at it tomorrow," the former world number one said after mixing four birdies with one bogey. "Just claw your way back into it.
"Usually I'll take a round in the 60s. I figured the guys aren't going to go out and run off and hide on this golf course. It's just playing too difficult."
Asked how tempting it was to be playing for a $10 million bonus in Sunday's final round, Woods replied: "That's not why we play.
"I'm playing for the 'W' (win), and tomorrow I get a great shot at it. All the money, awards and all of that stuff, that comes along with winning championships. If I win the golf tournament, everything's kind of taken care of."
Reuters
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted September 23, 2012 09:23:51Saturday, September 22, 2012
Furyk takes charge at Tour Championship
Veteran Jim Furyk, hunting his first PGA Tour victory in two years, took advantage of a sizzling start to grab a one-shot lead in Saturday's (AEST) second round of the elite Tour Championship.
While tournament favourite Rory McIlroy carded a 2-under-par 68 to stay on track for FedExCup play-off honours and the mind-boggling bonus of $10 million, Furyk birdied seven of the first 10 holes on the way to a best-of-the week 64.
Aussie Adam Scott fell from two off the lead after round one to a distant eight shots back by firing a 3-over 73, leaving him at 1-over 141 for the tournament.
Senden started the tournament with a poor 72 but was four shots better in round two, his 68 moving him into a tie for 16th but still seven away from Furyk.
On a steamy day at East Lake Golf Club, American Furyk scorched the front nine in 6-under 29 with a stunning display of pinpoint approach shots before finding the going much tougher after the turn.
He offset birdies at the 10th, 15th and 17th with bogeys at the 13th, 16th and par-three last to post a 7-under total of 133 in the PGA Tour's fourth and final playoff event.
"To be able to write 'three' on your card nine times in the first 11 holes was a lot of fun," a smiling Furyk, 42, said after his round.
"I struggled to kind of keep that momentum going the last six holes, but I feel like I played a real solid round of golf. My iron game was as good as it's been all year on the front nine.
"I've got myself in good position for the weekend, and I'm a lot closer to the top of the (FedExCup) leaderboard than I was starting on Thursday. I'm in good spirits."
Britain's Justin Rose, co-leader overnight with twice winner Tiger Woods in the elite 30-man field after opening with a 66, was alone in second place after sinking a five-foot birdie putt at the last for a 68.
Masters champion Bubba Watson birdied two of the last three holes for a 66 to finish at 5-under, level with fellow American Bo Van Pelt (68) and one ahead of Dustin Johnson (67) and Matt Kuchar (69), also of the United States.
Northern Irishman McIlroy, who is seeking a fifth PGA Tour victory this year, and his fourth in just five starts, was a further stroke back at 3-under while Woods battled to a 73 for a 1-under total.
"I didn't play very good today," Woods said after recording his worst score at East Lake since he opened 75-76 at the 1998 Tour Championship. "Didn't hit it very good, and definitely didn't putt well, so it was a struggle all day.
"But I'm still right there. This is a golf course that is playing tough but some of the pins are pretty accessible. You've got to get the ball on the fairway."
Furyk has not triumphed on the PGA Tour since he clinched the Tour Championship and FedExCup honours in 2010 and to complete the 'double' this week he needs a lot to go his way.
Among several requirements, FedExCup points leader McIlroy would have to finish 12th or worse and second-ranked Woods fifth or worse.
Any of the top five players in the standings would secure the playoff title by winning the Tour Championship on Sunday - and that quintet comprises McIlroy and Americans Woods, Nick Watney, Phil Mickelson and Brandt Snedeker.
However, McIlroy remained in overall control of FedExCup honours after eagling the par-five 15th on the way to a 68 that also included a birdie and a bogey.
"I'm only four shots back, so I've still got a good chance going into the weekend," the 23-year-old said. "First and foremost, I just have to try to think of my standing in this golf tournament, not really think about anything else.
"If it comes down to it on Sunday where I need to really know what I have to do for the last few holes, then if I have a decision to make between protecting my lead in the FedExCup or trying to win the golf tournament, I think I know what I'm going to choose.
"But we just have to play until we reach that point. At the minute, I'm just concentrating on trying to play as well as I can."
Reuters
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted September 22, 2012 11:08:43Woods and Rose share lead
Tiger Woods and Justin Rose share the lead of the US PGA Tour Championship after the first round at 4-under par, with Australia's Adam Scott in contention at two shots behind.
Woods, who can capture the US PGA season playoff championship with a victory, and Rose, who dropped in a 50-foot birdie effort at the 18th, each fired six birdies and took two bogeys over the par-70 layout at East Lake.
"I played well," Woods said. "It was a very consistent round. I hit the ball well, made a few putts, got around well."
Woods sank a long birdie putt at the par-3 second and a six-footer for birdie at the par-4 third. After a bogey at the fourth, Woods finished the front nine with a birdie and made another with a long putt at the 12th.
Woods, in the final group, took a bogey at the 14th but answered with birdies at the par-5 15th and par-4 16th to claim a share of the lead.
Rose answered a bogey at the second with a birdie at the next hole and a bogey at the seventh with back-to-back birdies to conclude the front nine and again at the 14th and 15th before closing with his impressive birdie.
Scott had a disastrous start with three bogeys in the first six holes, but recovered well and his three birdies on the back nine keep him in contention.
"I played really lovely apart from a couple of swings on the front," Scott said.
"I was playing fine, but obviously five and six are tough, and I made a couple bad swings and made bogies.
"But I figured I'm playing fine and I'd get my opportunities, so I got back to hitting fairways and greens and had a few chances which was nice."
John Senden, the only other Australian in the field, was not at his ball-striking best and struggled to a two-over-par 72 to be tied 26th in the 30-man field.
Senden was one-under-par through seven holes but bogeyed three of his next five to fall off the pace.
"I just didn't play well today. I was a bit scattered on the back nine and made some crap bogeys around the turn," Senden said.
"I wasn't feeling as good as I wanted so I need to come back fresh tomorrow and go after it."
Sharing third place after a round of 67 are Americans Steve Stricker, Matt Kuchar, Bo Van Pelt and Scott Piercy.
Hunter Mahan, Brandt Snedeker, Zach Johnson, Robert Garrigus are along with Scott on 68.
World number one Rory McIlroy who has won three of his past four starts, fired a 69 playing alongside Woods.
The Ulsterman laughed off comments by retired Aussie star Greg Norman that he intimidates Woods, who once boasted such an aura on his way to winning 14 major titles, the most recent of them in 2008.
"He's definitely not intimidated by me and I don't think I'm intimidated by him," McIlroy said.
"Hopefully we can just play out there and we have a lot of great battles to come."
Thursday's pairing was the fifth time in four tournaments that Woods and McIlroy have played together and the eighth time this year.
"I've gotten more comfortable playing with him. You get more comfortable being around somebody. We've been around each other a lot in these playoffs."
McIlroy goes into the PGA Tour's final tournament leading the FedEx Cup standings with 2,500 points, 250 ahead of Woods, with Nick Watney and Phil Mickelson another 200 and 400 behind respectively.
However with 2,500 up for grabs for the winner of the event, at least half the field has a genuine chance of winning the event.
AFP/AAP
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted September 21, 2012 08:17:01Monday, September 17, 2012
Shin Jiyai wins Women's British Open
South Korea's Shin Jiyai overcame atrocious weather and survived a marathon 36-hole final day to claim a second Women's British Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club by nine shots overnight.
With rounds of 71 and 73, the 2008 champion finished on 9-under-par and won the final major of the season by an outstanding margin from compatriot Park Inbee.
It was the largest winning margin since the Championship became a major in 2001.
Park, the 2008 US Women's Open Champion, birdied the last for a closing 76 and second place, with American Paula Creamer, who closed birdie, eagle, par birdie, taking third on 1-over-par after a 72.
Finishing in near darkness, the victory and the 266,000 pound ($409,000) cheque completed a remarkably impressive week for 24-year-old Shin, who has now won 10 times on the LPGA Tour.
Last Monday, she had needed nine extra holes to beat Creamer in a play-off for the Kingsmill Championship on the LPGA Tour.
"That was a long, long day and very tough," Shin said.
"I have never played in such bad weather, but I managed to stay focused and now I'm just so excited.
"Winning at Sunningdale four years ago was my first big win and changed my life. Now I have even more great British Open memories."
Friday's play had been wiped out due to severe winds and the weather again caused havoc on a day of catch-up.
There was even an eight minute break in the second round when the gusting wind and torrential rain made it impossible to hit shots.
Shin, who shot a course record 64 in Saturday's second round, added a 71 in the third round and her lead was reduced to three by Karrie Webb, the three-time former champion charging into contention with a 68.
But as conditions deteriorated so did the golf and Webb's hopes of an eighth major title began to slip out of her grasp with a double-bogey, bogey, bogey start.
Shin also hit trouble at the start of the final round with a three-putt, triple-bogey seven.
But the 24-year-old bounced back with a 25-foot birdie at the short sixth and another from 18 feet at the seventh.
Seven ahead at that stage, she was never troubled by anything other than the weather.
While Webb stumbled to an 82 and fell back into a share of fifth on three over, Creamer finished birdie, eagle, par birdie for a 72.
Lydia Ko, the 15-year-old New Zealander who became the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour at last month's Canadian Open, took the amateur prize, the Smyth Salver.
The teenager shot 72 and 78 to finish in the top 20 on 9-over-par, two ahead of English amateur, Holly Clyburn.
Shin's victory completed an Asian clean-sweep of this year's four women majors.
Koreans Yoo Sun-Young and Choi Na-Yeon won at Mission Hills and the US Women's Open respectively, while Feng Shanshan became the first Chinese player to win one of the big four at the LPGA Championship.
AFP
Tags: sport, golf, england, united-kingdom First posted September 17, 2012 07:14:02Sunday, September 16, 2012
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Storms wipe out British Open second round
Severe winds wiped out the second round of the Women's British Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
Play started at 7am local time in the final major of the season but was stopped at 8.18am as winds reached gusts of 60mph (96kph) and balls moved on several greens.
At 11am it was decided, in accordance with Rule 33-2d, that the early day's play should be declared null and void. Three hours later it was decided to suspend play for the day.
South Korea's Ryu So-Yeon, joint overnight leader on 2-under, was one of the early starters and she had played one hole, taking a bogey six at the long 10th, her first hole.
But the rule decision means she is now back tied at the top with another South Korean, Haeji Kang.
Michelle Wie of the United States was out in the second group at 7.10am and managed to play three holes before the suspension.
"It's been a long day," said the American Solheim Cup player, who finished third in the Women's British Open as a 15-year-old in 2005.
"When I arrived at the course at 5am it was raining sideways. I've never seen anything like it."
"It was fairly sheltered by the tents when we set off but by the time we got to the 12th it was clearly unplayable," added Wie, who started her round at the 10th.
"The ball would barely stay on the tee and they were moving all over the greens. When you have to call a rules official six times on a green then you know it's bad.
"I'm so tall I felt like a flagpole. I thought I might fall over when I tried to hit the ball and it was definitely the right call."
For Susan Simpson, the Ladies' Golf Union's Head of Operations, the goal is still to complete 72 holes by Sunday evening. And she defended the decision to start play in the morning.
"The course was playable when we started but then the wind rose and play was not possible on the holes close to the sea," she said.
"Extending play until Monday is an option but we would obviously far prefer to finish on Sunday."
AFP
Tags: sport, golf, united-kingdom First posted September 15, 2012 09:10:19Friday, September 14, 2012
Webb in contention at British Open
Australian seven-time major winner Karrie Webb has posted a strong opening round at the Women's British Open to sit one shot off the lead at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
Webb, vying for her fourth British Open title, fired a 1-under 71 to trail South Korean duo Ryu So-Yeon and Haeji Kang who share the lead.
The winner of last season's US Women's Open before she even became an LPGA Tour member, 22-year-old Ryu surprised herself with a five-birdie round in the testing, breezy conditions to mark her links course debut with a 2-under 70.
Only 11 players broke par, with Taiwan's Yani Tseng, winner for the past two years, and New Zealand's Lydia Ko, the 15-year-old amateur, in the next group on level 72.
Webb, who last won a British Open title a decade ago, shot three birdies to finish the round in a tie for third among a group including South Korea's 2008 champion Shin Jiyai.
"My ball striking was pretty good today, especially early on, which really set the tone for my round," 37-year-old Webb said.
"I hit a lot of greens early on which made me a lot more comfortable on the course.
"I did a good job of it today, and I have three more days to do it."
Kang has never finished higher than fourth on the LPGA Tour but she managed seven birdies, including a great three in a row run from the 14th.
"My iron shots were great and that was the key," she said. "I've played quite a lot of links golf in Australia so that also made it a little easier for me."
Tseng, who won with a 16-under total at Carnoustie in Scotland last year, says she relishes tough conditions and the world number one remains a massive threat and the championship favourite.
She had four birdies and her only big mistake was a double-bogey at the par four 11th.
"The weather wasn't too bad and I hit a lot of good shots. But I left a lot of birdies out there," she warned.
Ko, who became the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour at last month's Canadian Open, again showed remarkable maturity.
Out first, she opened with a birdie and had four more to confirm that she is ready to challenge for the biggest titles in the women's game. But her feet remain firmly planted.
"Everyone is expecting big things from me," said the teenager.
"But I don't take much interest in what other people say. I'm not going to play well because other people think I should.
"I just play my own game. Today, shooting par was a pretty good start. I could have had a few more birdies but, hopefully, I'm saving them up for tomorrow."
Not that Ko was the top amateur, or the top teenager -- England's 16-year-old Charley Hull snatched the honour with a 1-under round of 71.
AFP
Tags: sport, golf, united-kingdom First posted September 14, 2012 07:59:00Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Red-hot McIlroy wins at Crooked Stick
World number one Rory McIlroy continued his red-hot form when he cruised to his third win in four starts with a two-shot victory at Crooked Stick that locked in the 30-man Tour Championship field.
Adam Scott was the best of the Australians finishing in a tie for sixth at 16-under-par, while Greg Chalmers and Geoff Ogilvy finished 10-under and 7-under respectively.
John Senden finished at even par to qualify for the Tour Championship alongside Scott, while Marc Leishman ended with 4-over-par for the tournament.
With a glittering leaderboard featuring six major winners and four players who have held the number one ranking packed into the top 10, McIlroy carded a 5-under 67 to collect his fourth PGA Tour win of the season and second in seven days.
The mop-topped Northern Irishman finished 20-under-par and will head to the September 20-23 Tour Championship in Atlanta as the favourite to walk away with the $US10 million ($9.8 million) bonus that will go to the FedEx Cup points leader.
Former world number one Lee Westwood of Britain and four-times major champion Phil Mickelson of the United States tied for second place at 18-under-par.
"I just wanted to go out and play as best as I could," said McIlroy, adding he plans to go to New York next week and train with the NBA's New York Knicks.
"I knew if I played to my ability that I would win events.
"I didn't think that everything would happen so quickly, but I'm just on a great run at the minute and trying to keep that going for as long as possible."
If there was any doubt, the victory over the all-star lineup confirmed McIlroy's status as golf's dominant player.
He becomes the first golfer since Tiger Woods in 2009 to win PGA Tour events on back-to-back weeks and joins Woods and Jack Nicklaus as the only players since 1960 to win six PGA Tour titles before the age of 24.
With four PGA Tour wins, including a second major at the PGA Championship, McIlroy also moves into pole position to claim player of the year honours.
"Rory was putting on a show out there," praised Woods, who was partnered with McIlroy through the opening two rounds.
"He's doing the things he needs to do and as he said, he's feeling very confident about his game.
"Right now, he's just really playing well and makes a ton of putts. That's a great combo."
McIlroy began the day a shot back of overnight leaders Mickelson and Vijay Singh, but was on the move quickly with birdies at the second and fifth before topping the leaderboard to stay with back-to-back birdies at nine and 10.
The 23-year-old then pulled away from the field with two more birdies at 15 and 16 to open up a three-shot cushion with two to play.
Mickelson, who has discovered a rich vein of form in recent weeks himself, tried to keep pace by trimming McIlroy's advantage to two with birdies on 15 and 16.
But a bogey on 17 removed any suspense, allowing McIlroy a leisurely stroll up the 18th where he signed off with his only bogey of the day, a small fist pump and a winning total of 268.
Mickelson returned a 2-under 70 to finish joint second with Westwood who clinched his first ticket to the Tour championship with a 3-under 69.
"I was a little bit off today, my timing was just a fraction off," Mickelson said.
"But I'm really pleased with the way my game has come around the last two weeks.
"I had a fourth last week, tied for second this week.
"It puts me in a position where if I can improve just a little bit more for the Tour Championship and win, I'll be able to win the FedExCup."
Woods, who failed to qualify for the Tour Championship last year, is headed back to Atlanta's East Lake Golf Club with an eye on the collecting the prizemoney for a third time after returning a 3-under 68 to finish in a tie for fourth with American compatriot Robert Garrigus (69) at 17-under.
"It's getting better," Woods said.
"I just need to (not) have that one little stretch of holes.
"That little stretch sometimes takes you out of a tournament, especially in a shootout like this."
Reuters/ABC
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted September 10, 2012 08:43:34Scott charging at Crooked Stick
Australian golfer Adam Scott is tied fifth and just two shots off the lead after the third round of the US PGA tours penultimate playoff event in Indiana, where a star-studded leaderboard sets up for a final day shootout.
Former world number one Vijay Singh continued to defy his age against younger opponents, shooting a three-under 69 to move to 16-under-par and into a share of the lead with Phil Mickelson.
The 49-year-old three-time major winning Singh and four-time major champion Mickelson, who equalled the course record with a 64, will start Sunday one clear of a quality chasing pack.
Current world number one Rory McIlroy (69) and former incumbent Lee Westwood (68) share third a shot back at 15-under.
Scott pushed himself into contention for his first win of the year with a six-under-par 66 moving him to 14-under for the tournament.
He carded seven birdies to just the lone bogey and finally produced an impressive day with the putter, the bugbear of his recent performances.
"I played well again today, and obviously to have any chance to contend tomorrow I had to make some sort of a move, and it all kind of came together around the turn, and I played fairly solid," Scott said.
"I putted nicely today for the first time in a couple weeks."
Tiger Woods is just a shot behind Scott and big hitters Dustin Johnson and Robert Garrigus at 13-under par.
Scott birdied the second hole with a nice nine-foot putt after firing a wedge in close but then had to settle for a run of five pars before making a move towards the leaders.
The Queenslander birdied the eighth after munching his drive down the middle and sticking his wedge to eight feet and then belted his tee shot on the par-five ninth to help set up a 23-foot eagle chance.
The downhill putt didn't drop but the tap in birdie allowed him to turn in 33 with the leaders in striking distance.
A clutch par putt from 12 feet on the 10th ensured the momentum of the round wasn't thwarted before Scott pulled within just two of the lead with a two-putt birdie on the par-five 11th.
When his 16-foot birdie putt hit the centre of the cup on the very next hole he was just one off top spot and cruising.
A difficult chance on the 13th and easier one on 14 slipped out of his grasp but he made another birdie on the par-five 15th to continue his charge.
His only blemish of the day came late when he missed the par-three 17th green short and right into the rough, pitched out to about six feet but lipped out the downhill par save.
"It was disappointing to drop one coming in because I'm making a habit of that, but I picked one up on the last, and that was important," Scott said.
Greg Chalmers was the next best Australian, well down the leaderboard at four-under par in a tie for 43rd.
His season is effectively over given he needs a top-six finish to advance to the Tour Championship.
Geoff Ogilvy is also headed for elimination at three-under-par while it was a horror day for John Senden.
Needing roughly a top-38 finish to make it to Atlanta, Senden fired a four-over 76 to drop down to one-under for the tournament into a tie for 55th.
He'll start the final round three shots off the pace needed to qualify to the final event of the year, forcing him to go low on Sunday.
"I didn't play well today," Senden said honestly.
"It's still gettable."
Marc Leishman, at 2-over-par, rounds out the Australian tilt.
AAP
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted September 09, 2012 10:58:49Saturday, September 8, 2012
McIlroy in four-way share of lead
World number one Rory McIlroy birdied his final two holes to earn a four-way share of the lead in the first round at Crooked Stick while playing partner Tiger Woods was a shot back.
McIlroy, fresh off his win at the TPC Boston on Monday, mixed an eagle, seven birdies and a lone bogey for an 8-under 64 in the penultimate event of the FedEx Cup that put him in a tie for the lead with Americans Webb Simpson and Bo Van Pelt and Canadian Graham DeLaet.
Van Pelt, who failed to make the U.S. Ryder Cup team this week, may have had captain Davis Love III rethinking his picks after a bogey-free round while Simpson, an automatic selection, was equally impressive, particularly on the back nine stringing together four consecutive birdies from the 14th.
DeLaet, still seeking a PGA Tour win, was the unknown on a leaderboard packed with former and current world number ones, multiple major winners and Ryder Cup members.
But the unheralded Canadian certainly looked like he belonged, mixing seven birdies and an eagle against one bogey for his 64.
With the suspense of Ryder Cup selections over, the focus is back on the FedEx playoffs this week and there is plenty at stake with the elite field of 70 players vying for one of 30 spots in the Sept. 20-23 Tour Championship finale in Atlanta where the overall points winner gets a $10 million bonus.
The only players with three PGA Tour wins this season, Woods and McIlroy were paired together for the second time in three weeks.
Joined by American Nick Watney, the trio garnered most of the attention from spectators on a sweltering hot day in the American Midwest as Woods and McIlroy went toe-to-toe producing a scintillating display of quality shot-making.
After the two rivals birdied their opening hole it was clear the massive gallery was in for a special treat.
No one enjoyed the round more than Woods and McIlroy, who spent much of the afternoon laughing and chatting before leaving the course singing each other's praises.
"This is the next generation of guys coming out," gushed Woods to reporters. "He (McIlroy) hits it great, putts it great and on top of that he just a really nice kid.
"The game of golf is in great hands with him and he's here to stay."
For McIlroy the feeling was mutual.
"I've always enjoyed playing with Tiger, every time we are paired together we seem to have a good time," said the Northern Irishman.
"You're watching a guy your whole life, you're growing up watching him do all those unbelievable things on TV and then you are stuck in there with him."
As the PGA Tour season reaches a climax both McIlroy and Woods appear to be hitting on all cylinders.
McIlroy, who has won two of his last three starts, arrived at the PGA Tour's penultimate FedExCup playoff event leading the points standings.
Woods' play in the opening round offered more proof that the world number three is close to recapturing his best form.
A year ago, Woods, struggling with injuries, fallout from his divorce and a swing overhaul failed to even qualify for the lucrative season-ending series.
But the former-world number one, who passed $100 million in career earnings last week, is in the hunt for another big payday sitting third in the standings and a shot at the big bonus.
"I was scoring, I wasn't playing particularly well," said Woods, summing up his round. "Rory on the other hand played beautiful today.
"Every single part of his game was working.
"I was very fortunate to post the number I shot."
Woods was joined on 7-under by Fijian Vijay Singh while Briton Luke Donald and Americans Ryan Palmer and Ryan Moore shot 6-under 66s.
Briton Justin Rose got the defence of his title - won last year at Cog Hill near Chicago - off to a strong start, closing with three birdies for a 5-under 67 to sit three off the pace.
Reuters
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted September 07, 2012 10:23:04Singh seizes lead at Crooked Stick
Vijay Singh rolled in four-straight birdies en route to a six-under 66 as he vaulted into the top spot of a star-studded leaderboard after the second round of the penultimate PGA event of the season.
"I've got to keep it going," the three-time major champion Singh said. "I've been playing well for two days for a while now, but I need four days of good playing. Sooner or later I think four days is going to happen, and hopefully it starts this week.
The Fijian reached 13-under 131 and is one shot ahead of 14-time major winner Tiger Woods and world number one Rory McIlroy who shot 67 and 68. Ryan Moore shot a six-under 66 and is tied with Woods and McIlroy at the Crooked Stick golf course.
Woods, who is chasing his fourth win of the season, birdied three of his last four holes, while first-round co-leader McIlroy overcame four bogeys for a 68.
The top 30 on the FedEx Cup points standings after this event move onto the Tour Championship in two weeks. Singh is currently 49th.
After starting his round on the back nine, Singh got to 10-under par with the help of a four-foot birdie at the 18th.
That started a superb stretch for Singh as he drained a pair of three-foot putts for birdie at one and two, then rolled in a 15-footer for his fourth straight birdie.
"That kind of got me going," Singh said of his birdie streak.
Rory McIlroy, who is coming off a victory at last week's PGA event, birdied the last hole.
"It wasn't as good a day as yesterday," said McIlroy. "I didn't hit the ball quite as well, but scored well and did enough to go out there and shoot another good number and set myself up in a good position going into the weekend."
Woods, who played in the same group with McIlroy in the first two rounds, also made birdie on 18.
"Today was a struggle," said Woods. "I fought hard to shoot a number today, and the way I was hitting it, I figured if I could get to double digits under par it would be a good accomplishment. I got a couple more out of it."
Lee Westwood had a seven-under 65 and is tied for fifth with American Bo Van Pelt, who had a three-under 69 in round two. They are tied at 11-under par.
Canadian Graham DeLaet had a two-under 70 and is tied for seventh at minus-10 with South Korea's Seung-Yul Noh, who shot a six-under 66.
Reigning FedEx Cup champion Bill Haas fired an eight-under 64 Friday and moved into a share of ninth with Graeme McDowell (67), Dustin Johnson (67) and Padraig Harrington (65). The group is at nine-under 135.
US Open champion Webb Simpson struggled to a three-over 75.
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted September 08, 2012 09:37:35Scott starts well at PGA play-offs
Adam Scott was left to rue a lack of course knowledge but remains in contention after the opening round of the third US PGA play-off event.
Scott fired a 4-under-par 68 to sit in a tie for 16th, four shots behind world number one Rory McIlroy, Canadian Graham DeLaet and Americans Webb Simpson and Bo Van Pelt who all shot equal course-record 8-under par 64s.
McIlroy is chasing what would be his third win in four starts after winning the PGA Championship last month and the PGA playoff event last week.
Former world number ones' Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh sit just a shot behind the leaders in a tie for fifth, leaving a tantalising leaderboard in the early stages of the 70-man elite event.
Crooked Stick Golf Club was hit with storms and rain in the lead-up to the event, limiting practice time on the course at a place virtually the entire field has never played before.
Hosting the play-off event for the first time, the benign conditions provided low-scoring opportunities and only 10 players were over par for the opening round.
But for Scott, not seeing the back nine holes prior to the round proved costly.
The Queenslander was steaming along nicely at 6-under par through 15 holes before a couple of bogeys dropped him down the leaderboard.
He three-putted the 16th green for his first dropped shot after misjudging a slope on the green with his approach shot, then drove the ball into a horror spot on the last into deep rough.
His approach squeezed out well short of the green and barely stayed dry and then his pitch shot went 16-feet long, leaving a slick downhill par putt he promptly missed.
"I only played 10 holes in practice so it was a bit of a lottery for me after that," Scott said.
"Now I am familiar with those holes hopefully I'll come home a little better tomorrow."
Scott expects the birdie blitz to continue over the final three rounds and is hopeful he can get his poor putting of recent weeks to improve.
"I played good and I am somewhat in touch. It is just going to be a birdie-fest all week so hopefully the putter can get really hot for the next three days," he said.
"I rolled it pretty good today on the front nine. Made a few good ones.
"But I just didn't take advantage of the par fives today.
"It's going to be a low score again for the winner so I am going to have to at least have mid 60s twice, which is a bit of a daunting task, but I'm paying well so I'm confident I can get amongst it.
"The greens are pretty pure and there are only 70 guys so they should stay in good shape."
Geoff Ogilvy proved he is not ready to give up on the Tour Championship just yet, joining Scott with a 4-under 68.
He faces the tough task of needing a top-four finish to progress but it's a position not foreign to the Victorian as he finished third in the corresponding event last year when a top three position was needed.
John Senden is flirting with Tour Championship qualification after a 2-under 70 to open his campaign left him tied for 41st but precariously positioned on the projection bubble for the trip to Atlanta in 29th.
Greg Chalmers (74) and Marc Leishman (75), who are chasing top six finishes to advance, will need a huge turnaround in the last three days.
AAP
Tags: sport, golf, united-states, australia First posted September 07, 2012 12:22:27Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Aussie five face year-end shoot-out
Australia's five remaining golfers in the lucrative US PGA Tour play-offs have run out of mulligans and must perform or perish at Crooked Stick Golf Club this week.
The final 70 golfers in the FedEx Cup play-offs tee it up in Indiana with dreams of qualifying for the prestigious Tour Championship in Atlanta on September 20-23, where someone will claim the season long points race and its $US10 million ($A9.80 million) bonus.
But with 19 of the 30 spots already mathematically taken by some heavy hitters including points leader and world number one Rory McIlroy, fellow 2012 major winners Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson and Ernie Els plus the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, it leaves just 11 spots up for grabs.
Adam Scott, John Senden, Greg Chalmers, Marc Leishman and Geoff Ogilvy are left flying the Australian flag, part of the scrum of 51 players fighting for 11 spots.
Scott and Senden are the best placed to move on thanks to their strong finishes in last week's PGA Tour event in Massachusetts.
The Queenslanders will roughly need to finish inside the top 39 players at Crooked Stick to book their ticket to Atlanta.
Despite a change in venue Senden will come in with confidence having gone within a few strokes of claiming his second win on the US Tour 12 months ago, falling just shy of winner Justin Rose in second alone.
For Leishman and Chalmers it is a tougher prospect. They must find a way to finish inside the top six to have a chance at the biggest payday of their careers.
Chalmers' only top 10 this season was a ninth place finish in the opening play-off event two weeks ago.
Leishman is the only Australian to win on tour this season while he also has a third place finish on the resume in 2012.
Ogilvy will need to repeat his heroics from last year if he is to survive.
The 2006 US Open champion needed a top three finish in the corresponding event last season and promptly came third behind Rose and Senden.
This year he has been given the only slightly better scenario of needing to finish in the top four, but unlike last year, Ogilvy has just one top 10 finish this season, a tied-ninth finish in the British Open.
"Whatever the scenario turns out to be it comes down to one thing, I have to play well," Ogilvy said.
"I have been playing well but now I need to score better.
"I'm just not getting the scores out of my good play which is a little frustrating and something I'll have to look at in the offseason but I remain positive because the game is in good shape.
"I am playing well enough to get it done."
Ogilvy, one of the best match play golfers in the world, will try to bring some of the 'backs against the wall' competitive match play psyche into his game this week.
"When you play 15-20 years of regular golf tournaments there is that feeling of, there's always next week and you can get mentally lazy if you're not careful.
"But this is the last chance so I'm sure I'll be up and in a good state mentally throughout.
"It's like match play - if you are one down through three holes you aren't worried yet but when you're two down with two to play you have to press.
"I am one down with one to play and I have to make a move."
AAP
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted September 05, 2012 09:03:16Love names star-studded Ryder Cup team
US Ryder Cup captain Davis Love has named Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson and Brandt Snedeker as his captain's wildcard picks for the American Ryder Cup team.
Snedeker was chosen for his first Ryder Cup because of his stellar putting touch in the past month.
"We need hot putters," Love said. "There really hasn't been a better putter since the British Open."
The Americans will face holders Europe in the 39th edition of the biennial team golf matches on September 28-30 at Medinah near Chicago.
"I look forward to getting to Medinah and trying to make Davis look like he is a genius," Snedeker said.
Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Matt Kuchar qualified for the American side based upon points accumulated in tournaments through last month's PGA Championship.
"I think we have a great team," Love said. "We're extremely deep this time, deeper than we have ever been.
"There were a lot of guys who played a lot of good golf. It was tough to leave anybody off. It was a tough call for me."
Hunter Mahan, a two-time US PGA winner this year who has struggled in recent months, was not selected for the squad.
Furyk, making his eighth Ryder Cup start, and Stricker, another US veteran of team events, were joined by Dustin Johnson, who made his second Ryder Cup squad.
"I'm really looking forward to playing one on US soil," Dustin Johnson said.
"I can't be more excited," Furyk said.
Love said he was counting on veteran leadership from Stricker on and off the course.
"We all know how much fun it is and how much pride it takes to be part of this team," Stricker said.
"It will be exciting to play for Davis. It will be tremendous to get together for that one common goal and get that Cup back."
USA Ryder Cup team: Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson, Brandt Snedeker
European Ryder Cup team: Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), Justin Rose (England), Paul Lawrie (Scotland), Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland), Francesco Molinari (Italy), Luke Donald (England), Lee Westwood (England), Sergio Garcia (Spain), Peter Hanson (Sweden), Martin Kaymer (Germany), Ian Poulter (England), Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium)
AFP
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted September 05, 2012 13:32:45Tuesday, September 4, 2012
McIlroy claims victory in Massachusetts
World number one Rory McIlroy clinched his fifth PGA Tour title, and second in three starts, with a one-shot victory over South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen at the PGA Tour event in Norton, Massachusetts.
McIlroy, who began the round three shots back of Oosthuizen, fired a 4-under-par 67 in the final round for a 20-under 264 that handed the 23-year-old Northern Irishman the second of the PGA Tour's four FedExCup play-off events.
Adam Scott was the best-placed Australian, carding a 66 to tie for seventh some eight shots behind McIlroy.
John Senden missed a top-10 finish after four-putting on the final green to ultimately place 12th, while Greg Chalmers (-3), Aaron Baddeley (-2), Marc Leishman (-2), Jason Day (even) and Geoff Ogilvy (even) were never in contention.
Oosthuizen (71), who trailed McIlroy by three shots with six holes to play at the TPC Boston, finished alone in second while former world number on Tiger Woods (66) was third a further shot back.
The win was McIlroy's third of the season, the first since last month's PGA Championship, and puts him level with Woods for the most wins on the PGA Tour this season.
"Today was great," McIlroy told reporters.
"I am delighted to get this win, delighted to go to number one in the FedExCup, because it sets me up for a great next couple of weeks.
"Going out with a three-shot deficit. I just wanted to get off to a good solid start and maybe put Louis under a little bit of pressure."
The win guarantees that McIlroy will go into the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta knowing that a victory there would earn him the overall FedExCup title and the bonus of $10 million.
However, Monday's final round at the TPC Boston was by no means a cakewalk for McIlroy.
Oosthuizen fightback
Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, fought back after the turn and faced a 12-foot birdie putt on the last hole to force a play-off but his attempt slid past the right edge of the cup.
"You could hear all the commentators in the crowd saying what the putt is doing, so after putting that aside and just reading the putt properly, standing over it, I wanted to hit more than I read," the South African said.
"But even if I had putted where I read it, it doesn't do that much, which is amazing. If I go and hit that putt again, I'd probably miss it on exactly the same side."
Woods started the day six strokes off the lead but, despite carding a bogey-free round, he never really threatened the leaders.
The 14-times major champion was four under on the front nine and then carded eight successive pars before signing off with a birdie at the last.
By clinching a third-place cheque for $544,000, Woods became the first player to surpass $100 million in career earnings on the PGA Tour.
South Korea's KJ Choi and Australians Day and Baddeley were among several leading players who failed to finish in the top 70 in the FedExCup standings and will therefore not advance to next week's BMW Championship in Carmel, Indiana.
Reuters/ABC
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted September 04, 2012 09:18:37Aussie Fraser books Open berth
Australian golfer Marcus Fraser will take part in next month's British Open after earning a place via the qualifying tournament at Sunningdale, England.
Fraser finished in a six-way share of of third position in the two-round event, posting rounds of 66 and 68.
He was one of 10 to qualify for the British Open, which begins on July 19 at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
Tags: golf, sport, england, united-kingdom First posted June 26, 2012 11:00:14Scott takes four-shot Open lead
Australia's Adam Scott is agonisingly close to a long overdue breakthrough in the majors after a 2-under-par 68 handed him a bumper four-stroke lead heading in to the final round of the British Open at Royal Lytham.
The 32-year-old Australian firstly overhauled faltering third-round leader and playing partner Brandt Snedeker to move ahead, and then resisted a charge by a fired-up Tiger Woods.
When the dust had settled, Scott had a handy cushion out in front at 11-under par 199, four strokes clear of Ulsterman Graeme McDowell, who finished strongly for a 67, and Snedeker, who had a 73.
Woods was alone a further stroke back at 6-under after a 70.
Tied on 5-under and still in with a chance were 2002 champion Ernie Els from South Africa, who signed for a 68, and 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson of the United States with a day's best 66.
A win for Scott on Sunday would make him the first Australian to win The Open since Greg Norman did so at Royal St George's in 1993, and would finally remove any lingering doubts over Scott's big occasion temperament.
For the moment though, he said that he had no intention of getting ahead of himself.
"A four-shot lead doesn't seem to be very much this year on any golf tournament that I've watched," he said.
"That doesn't mean a lot.
"The good part is if I play a solid round of golf tomorrow, it will be very hard for the others to beat me, and that's all I'm thinking about."
Widely regarded as one of the best current players yet to win a major, Scott started the day one shot behind Snedeker after firing rounds of 64 and 67 and while he parred the first six holes with his "stress-free" golf, Snedeker finally proved fallible with his putter.
After 40 bogey-less holes, the American missed a five-footer at the fifth and then had to hit out sideways from a deep pot-bunker at the next, the first trap he had found in the tournament.
The net result of that was that Scott had sole possession of the lead and when he birdied the seventh and eighth and Snedeker bogeyed eight and nine, the Australian suddenly was four strokes clear of the field.
Playing in the group ahead of them, Woods, seeking a 14th major title four years after his memorable win in the US Open at Torrey Pines, was intent on closing the gap on the leaders to give himself a fighting chance on Sunday.
He got off to a miserable start by missing makeable par putts at the first and third, but a monster putt at the sixth and further birdies at the seventh and ninth saw him reach the turn in 33 level with Snedeker at 7-under.
He parred his way down the back nine until a bogey at the 15th set him back and dashed the prospect of him joining Scott and Woods' former caddie, Stevie Williams, in Sunday's final pairing.
Woods said that considering the way his round had started, a score of par-70 was a reasonable outcome.
"I turned it around. I got off to an awful start and battled back and got myself right back in the mix again going into tomorrow, and I'm right there," he said.
"I'm five back. So Adam is in a great spot right now, he's got a four-shot lead and he's playing really well.
"He's going for his first major title.
"So he's in a very good spot."
McDowell, who tied for second at last month's US Open in San Francisco behind Webb Simpson, had an up-and-down round but he had three birdies down the back nine to skip up the leaderboard.
Much would depend he said on what the weather did and whether the gusting winds that were being forecast materialised.
"Conditions like today, perhaps four shots is insurmountable, because I guess in a way it will be in Adam's hands tomorrow if the conditions are as straightforward as they have been the last few days," he said.
"Throw a bit of wind across this course like perhaps they are forecasting, he will have to go and work a lot harder and he will have to go win it.
"He's going to have to go win it anyway, for sure."
Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald were among the big names to finish their third rounds early and all failed to produce the kind of low scoring that could have put them back in the mix.
World number three Westwood fired a 1-over-par 71 to stand on 4-over 214, number two and 2011 US Open champion McIlroy had a 73 to stand at 5-over and world number one Donald had a 71 to fall back to 1-under.
The struggles of Westwood and Donald mean that the once-high hopes that an Englishman would win the Open on home soil for the first time in 43 years have vanished.
In contrast, Royal Lytham is once again proving to be a happy-hunting ground for US golfers, with 10 grouped in the first 17.
Whether any of them can reel in Scott on Sunday to make it three wins in a row for Americans at the course after Tom Lehman in 1996 and David Duval in 2001 remains to be seen.
ABC/AFP
Tags: golf, sport, england, united-kingdom First posted July 22, 2012 05:46:14Once discouraged Els finds more Open glory
Just a year ago, Ernie Els figured his days of winning major golf titles were over. He had not won a major since 2002 and his results even in lesser events were sending discouraging signals.
All of that only made his shocking overnight victory at the British Open ever sweeter, four birdies on the back nine pushing him to a one-stroke victory over Adam Scott, who cost himself a major with bogeys on the last four holes.
"Last year, no, I thought I had no chance," Els said. "Last year was really a pretty big hole.
"But since the start of the year and especially the last month or two, I started seeing some better signs and started believing in that.
"I was in a good frame of mind. So for once it all came together.
"To come through all of that and sit here with the Claret Jug is crazy. It comes from a good attitude, being a bit more relaxed and believing in yourself."
The 42-year-old South African won his fourth major title at Royal Lytham, firing a last-day 2-under par 68 to finish on 7-under 273.
Els won his fourth major title after the 1994 and 1997 US Opens and the 2002 British Open, doing so on the same links layout where he had near misses sharing second in 1996 and third in 2001, delighting a crowd of 37,500.
"They were really rooting for me and really inspired me," Els said.
"I think they were behind me just as a past champion, maybe just happy to see me around.
"I felt a little bit different. I felt I had a chance this week. As I progressed over the back nine they got louder and louder and the crowd grew.
"On that back nine, I don't think I missed a shot, to be honest. I really hit the shots that I needed to hit."
Els was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame last year, typically an honour for those at the end of their careers. And Els failed to qualify for the Masters by throwing away a US PGA Tour win last March with a bogey-bogey finish.
"Obviously in March I looked like an absolute fool," Els said.
"People were laughing at me and making jokes about me and really hitting me low, saying I'm done and I should hang it up."
That only enhanced the 15-foot birdie putt Els made at the 18th hole that proved his margin of victory.
"To come through and make a putt like that and make pressure putts on the back nine, that was the whole goal. That was the whole thing," Els said.
"So to sit here with (the Claret Jug) now is quite satisfying."
Els now has a place booked at the Masters next year by virtue of his Open triumph. And he will defend the crown next year at Muirfield, the site of his 2002 British Open victory.
"Can't wait to get there. Muirfield has always been my favourite," Els said. "So everything is groovy at the moment again."
It was a bogey at the par-3 ninth that helped prod Els into going for broke even in tricky winds off the Irish Sea.
"I was really angry with myself. That almost set me in a different mindset. It really got me aggressive," Els said.
"I hit a lot of drivers on the back nine and I was just trying to make birdies.
"I wasn't ahead. I wasn't behind. I was right in the moment for once."
"I just felt that the golf course is such if you just doubt it a little bit, it was going to bite you. So I still felt I had a chance."
The well-bunkered links layout bit Scott and gave Els a six-shot comeback victory, the biggest in a major in five years, but at the expense of a collapse by a dear friend in Scott.
"I really feel for my buddy, Scottie," Els said.
"I've blown majors before and I just hope he doesn't take it as hard as I did.
"I said to him, 'I'm sorry how things turned out.' I told him, 'I've been there many times and you've just got to bounce back quickly. Don't let this thing linger.'
"But thankfully he's young enough. He's 32 years old. He has got the next 10 years that he can win more than I've won.
"I've won four. I think he can win more than that."
AFP
Tags: sport, golf, england, united-kingdom First posted July 23, 2012 11:01:58Vijay rolls back years with superb 63
Vijay Singh, seeking his first PGA title in nearly four years, fired a 7-under par 63 to grab the West Virginia Classic lead while Tiger Woods struggled.
Three-time major champion Singh, who has not won since the 2008 Deutsche Bank Championship, birdied his final four holes to stand atop the leaderboard, one stroke ahead of Americans Jeff Maggert, Jonathan Byrd and Martin Flores.
Singh, who turns 50 next February, shocked even himself with his round.
"I don't know where that came from," Singh said. "I have been playing pretty good golf for a while but just never got any scoring going."
South Africa's Garth Mulroy, Argentina's Andres Romero and Americans Webb Simpson and J.B. Holmes shared fifth on 65 after the opening round of the $6.1 million event.
A week after becoming the first player to win three tour events this season, Woods stumbled to a 71 to stand eight strokes off the pace, complaining that he could not find his touch on the greens.
"I was a little bit off my game," Woods said. "I missed every single putt high. I never hit one. I missed on the high side. I was giving too much break."
Woods, who began on the back nine, birdied the par-4 11th and par-5 12th but took a bogey at 13, missing a five-foot par putt, and a double bogey at the par-5 17th, sending his tee shot into water to the right and botching a two-foot bogey putt. The 14-time major champion made 31 putts on the day.
"I didn't have the speed of these greens at all," Woods said. "My last three tournaments, the greens were awfully quick and they have a lot of swing at the end because of how fast they are."
Woods was 16-for-16 on putts inside 10 feet last week in winning the National. He won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March and the Memorial last month but has struggled in the majors this season.
Woods hopes to fine-tune his game this week ahead of the British Open in two weeks at Royal Lytham.
Singh opened with a birdie, took a bogey three holes later and birdied the par-4 seventh to make the turn one-under, then caught fire with birdies at 11 and 12 and four more to finish his round, including the par-3 15th and 18th, and the 17th that unwound Woods.
Singh sank a 36-foot birdie putt at the 15th and closed the round by connecting from six feet on the unusual par-3 18th, the last of his 25 putts.
"The greens are receptive to good shots, so if you hit good shots to the pin, they're going to stop," Singh said.
Singh had fired an 81 in the final round at the National last Sunday.
"It's my first good round of the year," Singh said. "It's a good way to start a tournament. I'm looking forward to the rest of the week."
AFP
Tags: sport, golf, united-states, fiji First posted July 06, 2012 10:27:26Sizzling Pettersson takes PGA lead
Swede Carl Pettersson put himself in position to improve a mediocre record in the majors as he spearheaded a glut of low scoring to surge into a one-shot lead after the first round of the PGA Championship in South Carolina.
The 34-year-old, who became a United States citizen in January, fired a sizzling 6-under-par 66 in ideal conditions at the rain-softened Kiawah Island Golf Resort to take the early lead in the season's final major.
Former US Open winner Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland charged into contention with a 67, alongside long-hitting American Gary Woodland, Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Petterson's countryman Alexander Noren.
Australians Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Aaron Baddeley all carded 68s, along with defending champion Keegan Bradley and 1991 winner John Daly.
Four-times champion Tiger Woods was overall happy with his 69, on a day of dazzling sunshine at Kiawah where the ocean breezes began to strengthen.
"I played really good," Pettersson said after a flawless six-birdie display in hot and humid conditions on the ultra-long, 7,676-yard Ocean Course.
"Getting off to a good start was the key to the round. I birdied one, two and four so I was 3-under early.
"There really wasn't much wind on the front nine, so I knew I had to keep going low because I figured the wind would get up.
"The wind started blowing a little bit on the back nine, and I carried on solid play, hitting a lot of fairways, hitting a lot of greens and making a few putts.
"It was a great day for me."
Pettersson, who won his fifth PGA Tour title at the Heritage Classic in April, has missed 10 cuts in the majors while recording only two top-10 finishes.
"I haven't contended that much in majors ... but I'd love to have a chance and see what happens," said the Swede, who is bidding to become the 17th different player in a row to claim one of golf's grand slam titles.
McIlroy, who won last year's US Open by a staggering eight shots, sank a 12-footer to birdie his opening hole, the 10th, and picked up further shots at the 14th, 16th, second and sixth to rocket into contention.
"It's a great way to start the tournament," the 23-year-old Northern Irishman said.
"Hitting balls on the range this morning, there was completely no wind. It was flat calm and I really thought that I had to take advantage of the conditions."
Most eyes, though, were on Woods who teed off at the 10th in pursuit of his 15th major title but his first since the 2008 US Open.
Following an early birdie at the 12th, he bogeyed the 13th, after finding bunkers off the tee and also with his third shot, and the tricky par-three 14th, where he missed the elevated green to the left off the tee.
However, Woods immediately recovered by sinking a 15-foot birdie putt at the 15th, sparking a cry of "beautiful" from a fan, before rolling in a 25-footer on the 18th green to prompt huge roars from the crowd crammed into the grandstands.
Woods also birdied the first and second, stumbled with a bogey at the fourth, then picked up one more shot at the par-three eighth to finish three strokes off the early lead.
"I'm pleased," Woods said.
"I played well today and anything in the 60s is going to be a good start in a major championship. I'm right there."
Many of the game's leading players did not fare as well in the opening round, four-times major winner Phil Mickelson and Masters champion Bubba Watson grinding out 73s in the tougher conditions of the afternoon.
British world number one Luke Donald carded a 74, fourth-ranked Lee Westwood a 75 and US Open champion Webb Simpson of the US battled to a 79, together with Germany's former world number one Martin Kaymer.
ABC/Reuters
Tags: golf, sport, united-states First posted August 10, 2012 10:54:36Aussie Scott grabs Open lead
Australia's Adam Scott has flirted with golfing history at the British Open at Royal Lytham before settling for a 6-under-par 64 and the first-round lead.
The 31-year-old, seen as one of the best players currently not to have won a major title, came to the last needing a birdie to become the first player in the long history of the majors to record a 62.
Instead, a wayward drive into thick Lancashire rough resulted in a closing bogey and meant that Scott was even deprived the satisfaction of joining the 25 golfers who have recorded 63s in major golf.
It was enough, however, to place him atop the leaderboard with the lowest first round ever fired in 11 Opens at Lytham.
It matched the course record in Open play, the third-round 64 by Tom Lehman on his way to victory in 1996.
"The calm conditions today were surprising," Scott said.
"It was very pleasing to start off with a solid round because that's what I haven't done at the other majors this year."
Scott said he pulled a 2-iron slightly off the tee on the 18th.
"It's quite an awkward tee shot with no wind, even," he said.
"And I just got myself in a bit of trouble and tried to be smart and chip out and chip on, but didn't quite hit a good third shot and left myself too much work.
"But you know, making a bogey here or there is fine. Making doubles and triples is what really hurts. So just getting out of trouble was good."
Scott finished the day alone in the lead, but he had a slew of major winners nipping at his heels.
One back on 65 were Scotland's 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie and American 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson, with rising Belgian star Nicolas Colsaerts joining them late in the day.
Brandt Snedeker of the United States was alone on 66, while locked in a four-way tie on 67 for most of the day were 14-times major winner Tiger Woods, 2002 Open champion Ernie Els, 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell and reigning Masters champion Bubba Watson.
They were joined late on by 2010 US Open champion Rory McIlroy, Japan's Toshinori Muto, Steve Stricker of the US and Peter Hanson of Sweden.
World number two Rory McIlroy birdied the par-four 16th, where he drove the green, and 18th, after taking a double-bogey six at the 15th where his drive smacked a spectator on the head and bounced out of bounds.
Scott was not alone early on in mauling the revered Royal Lytham links course, which first staged the world's oldest golf tournament in 1926 when the legendary Bobby Jones won.
With the fairways and greens unusually soft and receptive after weeks of record rainfall in northwest England, and no breeze to speak of wafting in off the Irish Sea, the layout was largely defenceless.
Until Scott went on his charge down the back nine, Woods had been leading the way at 4-under after just seven holes.
It could have been even better for the 36-year-old American if not for a depressing run of birdie putts from the eighth hole that went agonisingly close.
He dropped a shot at the 15th but still came in with a fine 67, which leaves him handily placed in his quest for a 15th major title, having waited over four years since he won the US Open at Torrey Pines.
Woods agreed that Lytham had been at the players' mercy due to the gentle conditions.
"It was pretty soft. The wind wasn't blowing and we're backing golf balls up. That's something we just don't see," he said.
"So we knew that we needed at least to get off to a quick start on that front nine, and I figured a couple under would have been good.
"But I look up on the board and Scotty is going pretty low and so is everyone else. I felt I had to make a few more and I was able to."
McIlroy said that he had not realised there was out of bounds down the right-hand side of the 15th.
"If he could have headed it the other way, it would have been in the fairway," he joked of his ball's collision with the young spectator's head.
It was a deeply disappointing day for highly-fancied Lee Westwood, who was out to become the first Englishman to win The Open on home soil since Tony Jacklin did so at the same course 43 years ago.
Seeking his first major title after a long litany of near misses, Westwood birdied the first two holes, but then his normally solid iron play let him down as a skewed approach to the third ended in a double bogey.
The world number three had four bogeys down the back nine which left him bemoaning his lack of touch as he carded a 73.
Compatriot Justin Rose was another one who failed to take advantage of the benign conditions as he had a 74, while playing partner Sergio Garcia carded a 72.
World number one Luke Donald, like countryman Westwood desperate to finally bag a major, had a quiet day, with one birdie and a single bogey at the last giving him a round of 70 and his best Open start in five years.
ABC/AFP
Tags: golf, sport, england, australia, united-kingdom First posted July 19, 2012 22:33:43Choi wins women's US Open
South Korea's Choi Na-yeon survived a tumultuous four-hole stretch after the turn to win her first major title by four shots at the U.S. Women's Open in Kohler, Wisconsin.
A commanding six strokes ahead of the chasing pack overnight, Choi triple-bogeyed the 10th and did well to salvage pars at the 11th and 13th before regaining momentum to close with a one-over-par 73 at Blackwolf Run.
The 24-year-old birdied the 15th and 16th in dazzling sunshine and shrugged off a bogey at the last for a seven-under total of 281, finishing four ahead of her compatriot and playing partner Amy Yang (71).
Choi embraced her caddie in delight before being showered in champagne by her friends after becoming the sixth Korean to win the U.S. Women's Open, and the fifth in the last eight years.
After being presented with the champion's medal and the glittering U.S. Women's Open trophy, Choi was asked greenside how she had recovered from her triple-bogey at the 10th.
"I tried to forget it from there," she replied with a smile. "And then I had a really good (birdie) bounce back on 11.
"I also had a really good save for par on 12 so I got some momentum from 11 and 12 and that's how I kept it going until the 18th hole."
With her U.S. Women's Open triumph, Choi emulated her compatriots Pak Se-ri (1998), Birdie Kim (2005), Park In-bee (2008), Ji Eun-hee (2009) and Ryu So-yeon (2011).
"Actually before Se-ri won in 1998, my dream was just being a professional golfer," said Choi, who is projected to climb to second in the world rankings on Monday.
"But after I watched her (win), she really inspired me to be a LPGA player. So I really appreciate what Seri did before and she is a legend in Korea."
Germany's Sandra Gal signed off with a 74 to end up alone in third place at one over, her first top-10 in a major championship.
Shanshan Feng, the first player from mainland China to win a major title with victory at last month's LPGA Championship, closed with a 71 to share fourth place at two over with South Korea's Lee Il-hee (70) and Italy's Giulia Sergas (72).
In pursuit of her sixth victory on the LPGA Tour, Choi made a stumbling start to the final round by bogeying the opening hole but she maintained her advantage after playing partner Yang also faltered there.
Both players birdied the par-four fourth before Yang picked up another shot at the ninth to trim Choi's lead to five.
Choi, who reached the turn in even-par 36, made a complete hash of the par-five 10th where she lost her ball after a wayward drive and went on to record a nervy triple-bogey for her lead to be cut to just two.
However, she responded with a 'bounce-back' birdie at the 11th after hitting a superb approach to five feet to stretch her cushion to three strokes.
Choi did remarkably well to save par at the 12th, sinking a 20-footer after her approach had ended up in thick grass to the left of the green.
The Korean again flirted with disaster with an errant tee shot at the par-three 13th, her ball bouncing off rocks on the edge of a water hazard before ending up behind the green from where she got up and down to save par.
Choi gained welcome breathing room when Yang, her closest pursuer, bogeyed the 14th to slip four shots behind.
Both players birdied the par-four 15th but Choi picked up her fourth shot of the day at the 16th to forge five ahead before finishing par-bogey to triumph by four.
Reuters
Tags: sport, golf, korea-republic-of First posted July 09, 2012 09:41:21Johnson downs Matteson in llinois play-off
American Zach Johnson birdied the second hole of a sudden death play-off to beat compatriot Troy Matteson and capture the PGA Tour event in Silvis, Illinois on Monday morning (AEST).
It was the second Tour title of the year for the 2007 Masters champion, who celebrated his ninth career win with hugs from his children on the 18th green before heading off to board a charter plane put on by the tournament sponsor to fly him to Britain for next week's British Open.
Australia's John Senden was briefly in contention before going on to card a four-round total of 267.
Senden shook off a double bogey at the first and thrust himself into contention with an eagle two at the par-four 14th, followed by his sixth birdie of the day at 15.
But Senden's challenge ended with bogeys at 16 and 17.
The play-off began looking as if it was a tournament neither man wanted to win, with Johnson's drive on the first play-off hole finding the fairway bunker. Matteson could do no better landing deep in the trees.
Attempting to punch out, Matteson watched his second shot skid across the fairway into the water where he was soon joined by Johnson - both eventually carding messy double-bogeys.
Back on the 18th tee, Johnson found the same fairway bunker but this time produced a brilliant second shot that rolled within two feet of the pin, leaving him a routine putt for birdie and the win.
"I think we're stating the obvious - that was really good. That was my shot of the week," Johnson said of his spectacular bunker shot, which was from the same bunker he landed in when the pair opened the play-off at 18.
"All in all, you go into a play-off and lose to a shot like that, I mean, that's an unbelievable shot," Matteson said.
"My hat's off to Zach. He drove it in the bunker twice and figured out a way to win."
Matteson with a 2-under 69 and Johnson with a bogey-free 65 finished regulation at 20-under par 264 after a roller-coaster final round.
American Scott Piercy also returned an error free 65 to finish alone in third with 18-under 266.
Johnson began the day four shots behind Matteson, who had topped the leaderboard since firing a course record equalling opening round of 10-under 61.
Matteson saw his lead trimmed to a single stroke several times over the final round but fought off all challengers until he double-bogeyed the 15th and Johnson drained birdies at 13 and 14 to replace him atop the leaderboard.
Another birdie at 17 gave Johnson a two-shot cushion stepping onto the 18th tee but Matteson was not ready to surrender.
With victory fading, Matteson cancelled out his double-bogey in dramatic fashion, rolling in a 60-foot putt for eagle at the par five 17th, the ball ringing the cup before falling into the hole to regain a share of the lead.
"I'm not disappointed at all really," Matteson said.
"I'm kind of shocked I got into a play-off because I just didn't play my best today, but kind of hung in there.
"Luckily that putt went in on 17," added Matteson, who made an aggressive stroke then watched as the ball spun around the rim and dropped to a roar from the gallery.
Three-time defending champion Steve Stricker had been well positioned to make a late charge for a fourth consecutive crown but watched his chances disappear with back-to-back bogeys at 14 and 15 to fall four shots off the pace with three to play.
Stricker hit back with a birdie at 16 but was quickly in trouble again with a bogey at the 17th to finish with a 1-under 70 and a tie for fifth.
"It was weird," Stricker said.
"I just didn't feel like something good was going to happen.
"I tried to hang in there, hit some really good iron shots, but just never really got any momentum seemed like."
While Matteson missed out on a third career US PGA Tour title, his runner-up finish was enough to gain a place in the British Open starting Thursday at Royal Lytham.
"This will be my first time over there and I think I've tried to qualify about nine times and haven't gotten in," Matteson said.
Young Tom Morris, Walter Hagan, Gene Sarazen and Tiger Woods are the only male players who have won a tournament in four consecutive years.
Reuters
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted July 16, 2012 10:25:07Harrington takes early lead at Bethpage
Padraig Harrington leads the PGA Tour event in Farmingdale, New York after carding a first-round 64 to keep his faint Ryder Cup hopes alive.
Harrington, who was earlier told by European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal that he needed to win this event to have a chance of making his team, responded in superb fashion.
Wielding a red-hot putter, Irishman Harrington covered his final nine holes in a blistering 6-under-par 29 en route to a round of 7-under in the first of the PGA Tour's four lucrative FedEx Cup play-off events.
In pursuit of his first victory on the US circuit since the 2008 PGA Championship, three-times major winner Harrington piled up eight birdies and a lone bogey to finish a stroke in front of Americans Nick Watney and Brian Harman.
Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who ended a four-year title drought on the PGA Tour by winning the rain-delayed Greensboro PGA Tour event on Monday, was among a group of four on 66 while FedEx Cup points leader Woods opened with a 68 and McIlroy a 69.
Harrington, who also has one eye this week on earning a late call-up for the European Ryder Cup team, was delighted with his putting on the challenging, 7,468-yard Bethpage Black layout.
"I've been playing well for quite a while, but this is the best I've putted, the best I've struck my putts, the best I've rolled the ball for a long period of time," the 40-year-old Irishman told reporters after taking only 26 putts.
"We had super conditions today. Bethpage is a big, strong golf course, and we got it on a very calm day, which was in our favour."
Harrington conceded he had learned a valuable lesson about the scoring possibilities at a venue which has staged two US Opens from his American playing partner Troy Matteson, who eagled the fourth hole.
"Wow, an eagle! Imagine making an eagle at a US Open," smiled Harrington.
"If anything, it really helped me because I could see that, 'Hey, this wasn't a US Open, there were birdies to be made.'
"So you have to get out of that mindset because level par isn't winning the tournament this week. It isn't a US Open," added the Irishman, who won at Westchester in 2005 and tied for second at Liberty National in 2009.
Harrington hopes his sizzling form at Bethpage will help him earn one of two wildcard picks by European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal on Monday, though he accepts he is on the outside looking in.
"I'm sure if I went and had a look at the odds, I would be a long-shot to make the team," the Irishman said.
Woods, the only triple winner on the 2012 PGA Tour, expressed mixed views about his round after failing to make the most of soft, receptive conditions on a benign morning.
"I didn't quite hit the ball as well as I would like," said the 14-times major winner who was followed by huge crowds as he launched his title bid in the company of world number one McIlroy and 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson.
"I'm going to do some work this afternoon and work on a couple things that I know I need to shore up for tomorrow. But I'm very pleased with the way I putted. I putted great today."
Woods, who totalled 28 putts, ended the round level with fellow Americans Johnson and four-times major winner Phil Mickelson, British Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa and former world number one Luke Donald of England.
Northern Irishman McIlroy, who clinched his second major title with a stunning eight-shot victory at the PGA Championship earlier this month, was satisfied with his 69, despite losing momentum after the turn.
"It was good," the 23-year-old said after mixing five birdies with three bogeys. "I thought I played really solid, especially starting off, three under through six.
"Got a little quiet around the middle of the round, and my short game let me down a couple of times. It definitely could have been a few shots better, but I'm happy with how I played."
Reuters
Tags: sport, golf, united-states First posted August 24, 2012 10:23:22