Aussie golfers ready for success: Parry

Updated October 16, 2012 18:29:25

Veteran golfer Craig Parry predicts it is just a matter of time before the floodgates open for Australians at major tournaments, saying the likes of Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Jason Day are well placed to break the country's six-year drought.

Australia has not tasted success at a major since Ogilvy snared the 2006 US Open, although there have been a number of close calls in recent times.

World number six Scott, Ogilvy and Day were all in the hunt at the 2011 US Masters before being pipped by a rampaging Charl Schwartzel, while Scott threw away victory at this year's British Open with a disastrous final four holes.

Scott, Day, Ogilvy and world number 38 John Senden remain Australia's best chances at the biggest tournaments, while world number 56 Aaron Baddeley also has the talent to shine if everything clicks into gear.

Victorian Parry, who has pocketed $8,481,456 in prize money and snared two PGA Tour wins since turning professional in 1985, felt there were bright skies ahead for Australia's golfers.

"Australia's doing very well. You've got Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Jason Day - these guys are world-class players," Parry said on Tuesday.

"Scotty was really unlucky this year. It's just a matter of time. The floodgates will open and there'll be a heap of major winners."

Day's world ranking has slipped to 27 since the birth of his first child in July, with the 25-year-old only recording four top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour in 2012 compared to 10 last year.

But Parry predicted the 25-year-old would bounce back to form in 2013.

Parry will compete at this week's $2 million Perth International at Lake Karrinyup, with the October 18-21 event co-sanctioned by the European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia.

Also in the field is Schwartzel, who feels no remorse for breaking the hearts of Australian golf fans with his 2011 Masters triumph.

Schwartzel birdied the final four holes to win that event, leaving Scott, Day and Ogilvy in his wake.

"I didn't think it was cruel," Schwartzel said with a laugh when asked about his two-shot victory over Day and Scott, with Ogilvy four shots off the pace.

"It was such a tight finish.

"It was always going to come down to someone that made a race to the end there at the last few holes.

"There were 10 guys that could win it. I was the fortunate one to make all of those birdies coming in."

AAP

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

First posted October 16, 2012 18:29:25

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Eagle-eyed Lowry wins in Portugal

Updated October 15, 2012 08:19:26

A spectacular 11th-hole eagle helped Ireland's Shane Lowry clinch the Portugal Masters on Monday (AEDT) by one shot from Ross Fisher.

Lowry, lying four shots off the lead going into the closing day at the Oceanico Victoria golf course, produced his moment of magic when his approach landed a foot short of the hole and hopped in for an eagle two.

He eventually signed for a 66 for a 14-under-par total of 270.

Australia's Andrew Dodt finished in a tie for 16th place with a 6-under 278, with compatriot Richard Green two shots further back.

This was Lowry's second win on the European Tour, his first coming as an amateur in the 2009 Irish Open.

The 26-year-old, only the second player after Spain's Pablo Martin to win on the tour as both an amateur and a professional, said: "I cannot believe this.

"I can't explain how I feel really. It's a dream come true - I'm over the moon.

"Everyone was referring to me as the fella who won the Irish Open as an amateur, but now I've won such a prestigious event. I don't know what to say."

Lowry was still three behind at the turn, but then his luck changed with a birdie at the 10th and the eagle at the next.

"I thought then this could be my day and thankfully it is," he said.

"We had a long wait on the 12th tee which was good, I had time to compose myself."

He was one ahead with one to play, but took five on the last after driving into sand.

But Fisher, seeking his first title since his Ryder Cup debut two years ago, was unable to force a sudden death play-off, also finishing with a bogey.

The Briton came in with a 70 to take second, with 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell of New Zealand one shot further back in third for his highest finish in four years.

Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, the overnight leader, came in fourth, another shot behind after finding water on the 11th and 17th.

ABC/AFP

Tags: golf, sport, portugal

First posted October 15, 2012 08:13:05

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Webb lurking in KL

Updated October 14, 2012 07:28:28

Australia's Karrie Webb holds down third place heading into the final round of the LPGA tournament in Kuala Lumpur.

Webb, who was co-leader after the first round, produced a 3-under-par 68 to move to 9-under through three rounds.

She is four shots shy of leader and defending champion Choi Na-Yeon.

"The putt on the last gets me that little bit closer," said Webb, who had five birdies and two bogeys to round off her day.

"I feel great going into the final round and it all depends how well Choi plays tomorrow."

Choi, who won the tournament last year and has led from the opening day, finished with a 3-under 68 for a total score of 13-under at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club

She had a lone bogey on the 10th hole. She started the day brilliantly, sinking a putt on the first hole to set the pace. She then had three more birdies on the fifth, 12th and 16th holes.

The day, however, belonged to fellow South Korean Park Inbee, who lit up the greens with a flawless 6-under 65 to move into contention.

With a three-day score of 11-under 202, the 24-year-old Park moved up from joint 12th to lie just two strokes behind Choi.

World number one Yani Tseng of Taiwan had her first sub-par round of the tournament with a 3-under 68, but is tied for 53rd on 5-over.

AFP

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First posted October 14, 2012 07:28:28

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Mallinger maintains lead at CordeValle

Updated October 14, 2012 14:59:39

American John Mallinger, winless in seven years on the PGA Tour, fired a 1-under 70 Saturday to maintain the lead after the third round of the $5 million event in San Martin, California.

The 33-year-old had a 15-under 198 total at the CordeValle golf course. He equalled the course record 62 in the second round after opening with a 66 on Thursday.

"It was a little scrappy," said Mallinger, who has a two-shot lead.

"I didn't have my best off the tee, but I started hitting some good shots coming in. I hit a lot of good putts that just didn't fall.

"Hopefully, I can straighten out the drive and make some putts tomorrow."

Mallinger had finished second twice, including losing in a play-off to Bo Van Pelt three years ago in Milwaukee.

Sweden's Jonas Blixt was second after a 66, while Americans Charles Howell and Jason Kokrak were another stroke back at 12-under. Howell shot a 66, and Kokrak fired a 67.

Fiji's Vijay Singh and Brazil's Alexandre Rocha were 11-under after both shot 66.

The 28-year-old Blixt birdied five of the last eight holes.

He was even-par on the front nine with a birdie and a bogey. He shot up the leaderboard with birdies at 11 and 13 and then rolled in a birdie on 15 to get to 11-under.

Blixt birdied the 17th and followed with a six-foot birdie putt at 18 to finish two back. He finished third last week in Las Vegas.

"The front nine is a little harder. The back nine you can make a couple birdies," Blixt said.

"Hopefully, I can finish like I did today."

Greg Owen (68), Scott Dunlap (70), Jhonattan Vegas (71), Danny Lee (67) and Russell Knox (65) share seventh at 10-under-par 203.

AFP

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First posted October 14, 2012 14:59:39

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Mallinger snatches lead at CordeValle

Updated October 13, 2012 16:51:13

American John Mallinger posted seven birdies and an eagle to power to a four-shot lead after the second round of the US PGA Tour event in San Martin, California.

Searching for his maiden win on the Tour, Mallinger was flawless with a course-record equalling 9-under-par 62, remaining bogey-free through the opening two rounds to reach 14-under at CordeValle Golf Club.

The 33-year-old pulled away from the leading pack when he knocked in an 11-foot putt for eagle on the 15th hole and then stepped on the gas with birdies on the 17th and 18th.

Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas (67) and American Billy Horschel (65) finished the day tied for second at 10-under.

Australian overnight leader Nick O'Hern could not maintain his course record-tying rage from the opening day, backing up his 62 with an even-par 71.

He shares fourth place with Belgian Ryder Cup rookie Nicolas Colsaerts (68) and American Scott Dunlap (63) at 9-under.

Reuters

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First posted October 13, 2012 16:51:13

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O'Hern finds form at right time

Updated October 12, 2012 14:36:26

Aussie Nick O'Hern equalled the course record by shooting a 9-under 62 to take a three-shot lead after the opening round of the $5 million PGA Tour event in San Jose on Friday (AET).

O'Hern, who will turn 41 next week, had eight birdies in an 11-hole stretch and capped the bogey-free round on the CordeValle club course with a birdie on the par-five ninth hole.

"I just hit the ball lovely all day, was able to hit it close," O'Hern said.

"I started off having to make a few par putts, crucial ones, sort of four- five-footers.

"Once I made those, it got me going. Then I made a few birdies on the front nine, which was my back nine."

The Western Australian is winless on the USPGA Tour and has a three-stroke lead over European Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts, Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela, and American Derek Ernst.

Charles Howell, John Mallinger, Jonas Blixt, Gary Woodland and Greg Owen all shot 66. British Open champion Ernie Els opened with a 71 in the Fall Series event.

The event is one of four season-ending PGA Tour events aimed mainly at players trying to crack the top 125 on the tour money winners list to keep their playing rights for next year.

It was the lowest round of the year for O'Hern and it could not have come at a better time.

O'Hern came into the week 144th on the money list after just one top 10 finish in 23 starts this year. He has missed the cut in five of his past seven starts.

"I know I've got my work cut out as far as the money list goes," O'Hern said.

"I know what I need to do. I need to play good golf. I've been doing that, I just haven't had the results unfortunately.

"Today is a perfect start to what I need to do."

He hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation and needed just 23 putts in the first round.

AFP

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First posted October 12, 2012 14:36:26

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McIlroy and Woods lose on opening day in Turkey

Updated October 10, 2012 09:54:35

The world's leading two golfers, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, were beaten in the opening round at the $5.1m World Golf Final at the Turkish resort of Belek.

World number one McIlroy played his closing five holes on the Sultan Course in a horror seven-over par for an eventual round of a five-over par 75 to lose to American rival Matt Kuchar who shot a one-under par 70.

It was both McIlroy and Kuchar's first competitive round of golf since last month's Ryder Cup.

McIlroy had his girlfriend, the former world number one tennis player Caroline Wozinacki, walking the course with him but it failed to lift the 23-year-old Northern Irishman.

McIlroy had gone ahead at the first with a par but after Kuchar birdied the second that was the closest the double major Champion got to the current world number 15.

Kuchar made the turn two shots ahead and while McIlroy was one-under par from the 10th to the 14th holes he finished triple bogey, double bogey, double bogey and par.

"I hit a drive into the trees on 15 and lost a bit of confidence," said McIlroy.

"I need to win both of my matches tomorrow if I am to advance. I just struggled for a bit of motivation out there so I need to go out and concentrate on both of my matches tomorrow."

Kuchar remarked: "It was quite a match and I played really well on the front nine and was three ahead through 10 holes.

"I just thought I had to play mistake-free and hopefully Rory wouldn't get too hot.

"All of a sudden we were back to even with four to go but then it was one of these formats which really showed itself with what happened on 15 to Rory.

"There we are all square with four to go, he hits it right and makes triple bogey, and I go three up with three to go and I think both of us lost a little interest at that point."

Kuchar earns a point for his victory and now faces Woods in Wednesday morning's second round and Schwartzel in the afternoon.

Woods began his campaign for the $1.5m first prize cheque with a birdie at the first but found himself two strokes behind his fellow Masters winner when Woods triple bogeyed after finding water off the tee and then three-putting.

Their match was all-square coming down the last but Woods then sent his second shot into a back greenside bunker from where the 14-time major winner took bogey to lose by a shot with a round of 70 to Schwartzel's 69.

"It came right down to the wire but I can't believe how far that second shot flew into the back bunker and that was the match," Woods said.

"It means now that I have to play 'Kooch' (Matt Kuchar) and try and win that match before facing Rory in the afternoon but my main concern is 'Kooch' and trying and beat him.

"Despite the outcome I really enjoy the format and I haven't played since format since the times of the Dunhill Cup.

"It's not something that we play very often and we saw today how it can swing on you. I had a three-shot swing go against me on nine and a two-shot in my favour at 17 when I birdied the hole and Charl bogeyed."

The leading two point scorers in their Group 2 will advance to Thursday's semi-final against the leading two players from Group 1.

Victorious Ryder Cup colleagues Lee Westwood and Justin Rose head Group 1 with Westwood accounting for US Open champion, Webb Simpson with a round of 72 compared to Simpson's 73.

Rose defeated Hunter Mahan by four strokes with a round of 71 to Mahan's 75.

AFP

Tags: sport, golf, turkey

First posted October 10, 2012 07:47:29

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Rose wins World Golf Final

Updated October 12, 2012 22:37:45

Justin Rose drew on memories of last month's Ryder Cup singles defeat of Phil Mickelson to down fellow Englishman Lee Westwood by a stroke and capture the World Golf Final in Belek, Turkey.

The world number five-ranked Rose shot a round of 5-under-par 66 to defeat Westwood, who birdied the last hole in a score of 67 on the Sultan Course at the Antalya Club.

Rose was never behind in his match, starting with a first-hole birdie and was then 3-under-par through nine holes and one ahead of Westwood.

He then went two ahead with a birdie at 10 and while Westwood then birdied the 16th, Rose holed a 20-foot putt for birdie at the 17th hole.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, turkey

First posted October 12, 2012 22:37:45

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Day falls short of perfection

Updated October 08, 2012 13:32:24

Australian Jason Day flirted with golfing perfection over the first nine holes before coming down to earth with a resounding bump after the turn in the Las Vegas Open final round on Monday (AEDT).

In pursuit of an unlikely victory in the opening event of the PGA Tour's Fall Series, Day knew he needed to shoot an unthinkable 58 to give himself a "sniff" at a second victory on the U.S. circuit.

The 24-year-old went into the final round a distant seven strokes off the pace but tore apart the TPC Summerlin layout in near-perfect scoring conditions with a scorching front nine of seven-under-par 28.

Day surprisingly missed a three-foot birdie putt at the 10th that would have earned him a share of the lead, then missed several more chances before ending his round with a double-bogey after finding water with his second shot at the last.

"The only blemish was obviously the missed green on 18, but I thought I was going to shoot 59 today just the way things were going," Day told reporters after closing with a six-under 65 to finish alone in fourth, six shots behind winner Ryan Moore.

"I was hitting it good; I was putting it good, too. I just didn't capitalise on the opportunities I had on the back nine."

Day always knew his chances of victory in the Nevada desert were very slim after heading into the final round so far back but he still had a target in mind.

"Probably 58 I'm guessing that I had to shoot," he said. "We picked 24 (under par as the winning total).

"I was thinking 58 to try and at least have a sniff at it."

Asked about his squandered birdie opportunity at the par-four 10th, Day replied: "I can think about all the putts that I missed today. During the first three rounds I missed a ton as well.

"But I'm very excited the way I played over the last two days, even the last four days. I'm looking forward to McGladrey's. You know, I feel like I'm going to win soon."

Day, whose only PGA Tour victory came at the 2010 Byron Nelson Championship, will next compete at the October 18-21 event at Simons Island in Georgia, the third of four events in the Fall Series.

Reuters/ABC

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First posted October 08, 2012 13:04:11

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Rose beats Woods, faces Westwood in World Golf final

Updated October 12, 2012 10:23:51

England's Justin Rose produced a Tiger Woods-like shot to defeat the 14-time major winning American and set up a showdown with compatriot Lee Westwood in the World Golf final on Friday (AEDT).

The World number five-ranked Rose was trailing in his semi-final tie against Woods until holing an improbable 110-yard wedge shot at the par four 14th hole for an eagle.

An embarrassed Rose then tried to cover his face with his cap en route to a round of 2-under-par 69 to defeat Woods who signed for a 70.

"When Justin birdied 13 and holed out at 14 it was the turning point in the match," said Woods.

"I was two up at the time and all of a sudden one down with four holes to play.

"But I haven't played this format since the Dunhill Cup in '98 so it's been a while, and it's a neat format as it's never over until it's done.

"There can be some big-time swings out there, as we saw with Justin at 14, but then it was a long day."

After having dealt with Woods, Rose now heads to the final "hungry" to finish in front of Westwood, his European Ryder Cup winning team-mate.

"I was really struggling early on today and to can that shot at 14 was easily the turning point," reflected Rose.

"In proper match-play you would only win the hole but in this format I've picked up two shots on Tiger and it's helped me win the match.

"So I've now got Lee and while it's an all-English affair I would dearly love to win this as I want to stay fresh and I want to stay hungry for the rest of the season.

"There is very little history of Westwood and myself playing against each other but being the world number five at the moment it would be great to get one over the world number four."

Westwood secured his passage to the final when setting a new course record of a 10-under 61 to defeat former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel who carded a 67 on the Sultan Course at the Antalya Club.

Westwood's round included two eagles along with eight birdies, including a 50-footer at the last but also a fourth-hole double bogey.

Westwood's score came some five hours after he shot a 64 to defeat American rival Hunter Mahan in the morning's weather-delayed third round.

Woods had earlier easily accounted for world number one Rory McIlroy in the first ever matchplay showdown between the pair to reach the last four.

Woods was always ahead, shooting a 7-under 64 to McIlroy's 1-under 70.

Rose, meanwhile, defeated reigning US Open champion Webb Simpson with a new course record of 9-under 62, compared to Simpson's 67.

McIlroy, who had already lost his opening two matches, began horribly against Woods when he found the water off the opening tee and he did not drop below par for the round until he birdied the 17th hole.

McIlroy said he was now looking forward to time away from the course despite having to return on Friday for a Pro-Am involving all eight players.

"I just came here because I have never played in Turkey and there is a lot of good players here, and I thought it would be a fun week and it has been.

"So I've enjoyed myself. I feel fine and the energy levels are okay and I've got another week off next week before I get myself up for the Race to Dubai."

However, McIlroy's immediate concern is getting a Russian visa so he can accompany girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki to Moscow, where the Danish tennis star will be contesting the Kremlin Cup next week.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, turkey

First posted October 12, 2012 07:38:37

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Webb shares lead in Malaysia

Updated October 11, 2012 22:52:46

Australia's Karrie Webb reeled off six birdies to share the lead following the opening round of the LPGA tournament in Kuala Lumpur.

Webb fired a 6-under-par 65 to top the leaderboard alongside South Korea's Choi Na-Yeon.

The pair are a stroke ahead of Choi's compatriot Sun Young Yoo, Japan's Mika Miyazato and amateur Min Lee of Taiwan.

Defending champion Choi kept her cool on the last hole to sink a putt to share the lead and enjoy a bogey-free round at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

World number one Yani Tseng, who was runner-up last year, had a horrendous opening day, shooting a 7-over 78 after carding three double bogeys and four bogeys before saving her round with three birdies.

Choi, a crowd favourite, holed birdies on the second, fourth, sixth and eight holes as she blazed through the opening nine holes. She added further birdies on the 12th and 14th holes on the back nine.

"I had a great run and after the rain everything just came into place for me," said Choi, who had to endure an hour's delay due to rain before finishing her round.

Webb was just as consistent, posting birdies on the second, seventh, ninth, 12th, 15th and 17th holes.

Cristie Kerr of the US carded six birdies to end the day on 3-under 68 and is tied for eighth.

AFP/ABC

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First posted October 11, 2012 22:52:46

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US in sight of Ryder Cup triumph

Updated September 30, 2012 13:27:09

The United States maintained a stranglehold on the 39th Ryder Cup, winning the foursomes and sharing the fourballs overnight to leave Europe trailing 10-6 at the end of the day.

That left Davis Love and his men in prime position to retain the trophy they lost agonisingly at Celtic Manor, Wales two years ago.

It left Europe needing to match the record last day comeback set by the US team at Brookline, Massachusetts in 1999 when it won from four down.

The afternoon's fourballs ended with two wins for Europe as darkness fell after the Americans had won the first two on the back of dominating the morning foursomes 3-1.

To retain the cup, Jose Maria Olazabal's men need to win eight out of the closing 12 singles, a highly-unlikely scenario given that the Americans have habitually been stronger on the final day.

The Americans need just four and a half points to get past the winning post.

Mission impossible as concerns Europe for some, but US crowd-pleaser Bubba Watson said there was still plenty fight left in the European team.

"The team is not going to lay down. Europe is not going to lay down.

"They are not going to give it to us. We have to play good golf and come out focused and ready to win some points," he said.

Love said he would continue with the approach he has had all week telling his 12 players to relax and have fun.

"All I'm going to stress to them is - all you can do is just go win your match.

"You can't think about the outcome of the day and what the other guys are doing, and we don't want to talk about how many points we need or what it's going to take to win. We just want to go play." he said.

The home team took up early on Saturday where it left off on Friday evening with one hand round the European throats as the star duo of Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley once again led the charge.

Their 7 and 6 thumping of former world number ones Lee Westwood and Luke Donald equalled the highest ever 18-hole winning margin by a Ryder Cup pairing, and the first time such a drubbing had been handed out since 1991.

Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson scored their second straight win for the United States, while Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker turned the tables on Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell who beat them in the first match out on Friday.

Only English pair Ian Poulter and Justin Rose provided some respite for Olazabal with a victory at the last hole over Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson.

That left the Americans 8-4 ahead at the end of the morning's play and Olazabal saying his team had to at least carry the afternoon session to have any realistic chance of retaining the trophy on Sunday.

But that never looked likely as once again the hosts dominated from the start of the fourballs.

Matt Kuchar and Dustin Johnson came home with their second straight win in the format, edging the untested partnership of Nicolas Colsaerts and Paul Lawrie by 1 up.

Watson and Simpson then put their morning reverse behind them to romp away to a 5 and 4 win over Rose and Francesco Molinari.

That put the Americans 10-4 up with two games to go and the dejection was clear to see on the faces of Europe's players, fans and skipper Olazabal.

There was something for them to cheer at last when Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia, both pointless through the three first sessions, defeated Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker at the last hole.

It was a third straight defeat for the Woods-Stricker pairing, having been left out of the morning session - the first time that Woods had been benched in a Ryder Cup career dating back to 1997.

And then five straight birdies from the 14th from Poulter, including a clutch 12-footer at the last saw the Englishman and world number one McIlroy, playing for the first time without McDowell, overhaul the previously unbeaten Dufner and Johnson for a win that left Europe with a glimmer of a hope.

"It was huge - those last two matches were massive. That keeps us in just with a chance.

"It's been done before in the past. And tomorrow is going to be a big day," Olazabal said.

AFP

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First posted September 30, 2012 13:27:09

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Europe pulls off Ryder Cup miracle

By Andrew McGarry

Updated October 01, 2012 11:39:23

Europe has won the Ryder Cup on the final day with the biggest and most remarkable comeback in the competition's history.

Once again, the biennial competition ended in heart-stopping drama, with German Martin Kaymer setting off wild celebrations when he sunk a difficult putt on the last hole of the penultimate match to ensure at least a tie.

The German's victory meant Europe retained the Cup, having won two years ago at the Celtic Manor club in Wales.

Francesco Molinari and Tigers Woods halved the final, dead rubber to deliver a 141/2-131/2 outright win for the European team.

It was an emotional result for Europe, whose golfers were wearing the colours of Cup legend Seve Ballesteros who died from brain cancer last year.

Captain Jose-Maria Olazabal - who formed one of the great Ryder Cup partnerships with Ballesteros - shed tears in the aftermath of victory.

"The boys have done a wonderful job - I had a few thoughts about my friend Seve and this one's for him," he said, before breaking down.

Asked if he had ever experienced anything like it, Olazabal replied: "No. That's why this event is so special, you get 12 guys to give their hearts to win this, those guys give their best, they give 120 per cent."

"Unbelievable day, one that will go down in history.

"It's hard to express it in words. I knew it was going to be difficult but, at the same time, I truly believed we could do it."

Kaymer said he embraced the pressure on the back nine.

"This is indescribable," he said.

"I was so nervous in the last two or three holes. Olazabal came up to me on the 16th and told me we needed my point to win the Ryder Cup. I loved that feeling. Loved it.

"You cannot compare the pressure of winning this to winning my major. I won that for myself. But today I could hear my team and hear all the people. My season hasn't been good but today I made a huge step for my confidence."

The crowd at Medinah Country Club in Chicago had been heavily behind the home side, letting out roars at every American putt holed and point scored.

But there were plenty of European supporters in the crowd as well, meaning rival chants of "USA" and "Ole, Ole, Ole" punctured the air as each team made decisive shots.

Europe, which was 10-6 down going into the final 12 singles matches, won the first five on the card in a stunning start to the day.

Luke Donald beat Bubba Watson 2 & 1, and then his fellow Briton Ian Poulter fashioned a stunning recovery shot on the 18th to hold his lead and beat Webb Simpson 2-up - giving Poulter a 100 per cent win record for the week.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy defeated Keegan Bradley 2 & 1 after nearly failing to make his tee-time.

Phil Mickelson was leading late against Justin Rose, but the Brit holed a putt of more than 12 metres on the 17th to level the match and then took advantage of a shocking failure of the American's short game to sink a putt and seal the win.

When Scot Paul Lawrie beat FedExCup champion Brandt Snedeker 5 & 3, the United States team looked under pressure.

The home side rallied with wins to the Johnsons, Dustin and Zach, over Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell respectively to leave the score at 12-11 to the US.

Lee Westwood levelled the match again with a 3 & 2 win over Matt Kuchar.

The tension built, as a usually taciturn Jim Furyk jumped for joy on 16 thinking he had holed a birdie putt to go 2-up with two to play against Spaniard Sergio Garcia.

His joy turned to horror however, as the ball spun out of the cup to give Garcia hope of victory.

On the next Furyk hit long into a bunker, and lost the hole to even the match going down to the last.

Then the American hit his drive into the bunker again on the 18th and was off the green in two.

Garcia had a putt for victory which missed, but Furyk's putt to halve the match slid wide to give Europe the lead for the first time in the entire competition.

Jason Dufner got the Medinah crowd roaring again as he closed out a 2-up victory over Swede Peter Hanson.

It came down to the final two matches - Kaymer versus America's Steve Stricker, and Woods against Italy's Molinari.

The first match was level going to 17, where Stricker had the advantage with a much closer tee-shot.

However the German lagged an extremely long first putt to within a few feet, and then holed a pressure putt to go 1-up with one to play when Stricker - normally a rock-solid putter - inexplicably three-putted.

The last match was also all square with two to play. Molinari drove over the pin but his ball trickled over the edge of the green. Woods landed in almost the same spot but stayed on the green to take the advantage.

Molinari ran his ball well past and missed the one back to give Woods a one hole lead going down the last.

The decisive drama came fittingly at the 18th, where Kaymer drove into the bunker and Stricker landed on the fairway.

Somehow the German hit the green with his second, receiving a kind bounce to give himself a birdie chance.

Stricker's approach ran to the back of the green, then his long putt ran well to the left of the hole. Kaymer had a 25-footer to win the Cup, but it slid well by.

The American had to sink his par putt to keep his team's hopes alive, and it went straight in the centre to put the pressure squarely back on Kaymer.

As everyone held their breath, the German then holed the longest five-footer of his life to clinch the vital victory that took Europe to an unassailable 14 points.

Woods missed a short put on the last to halve his match with Molinari, and somehow Europe had won the Cup outright.

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted October 01, 2012 08:39:45

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McIlroy in Ryder Cup times mixup

Updated October 01, 2012 06:52:15

Rory McIlroy nearly missed his tee off time in the third Ryder Cup singles match at Medinah Country Club on Sunday following a mixup over times.

The world number one was seen being driven hastily into the course with 10 minutes to go before he was due to take on Keegan Bradley.

He rapidly pulled his golf shoes on and acknowledged skipper Jose Maria Olazabal before heading straight to the practice putting green.

US TV reports said that McIlroy in his hotel room had mistaken eastern seaboard time for Chicago time which is one hour later.

McIlroy promptly pushed his first drive into the crowds lining the side of the first fairway and the ball bounced back to nestle in a bunch of TV cables.

He got relief from that but then badly under-hit his approach shot.

A superb chip stone dead ensured his par, and the hole was halved.

"We didn't have that in mind," said Olazabal of McIlroy's no-show drama.

"All of a sudden we realised that he wasn't here. We looked for him and nobody knew where he was. He came in with a police escort and made it with 10 or 12 minutes before he was due to tee off," he said.

The incident did not have too much impact on the Northern Ireland golfer, who went on to beat Bradley by 2 & 1.

AFP

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted October 01, 2012 06:52:15

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We never gave up hope: Olazabal

Updated October 01, 2012 14:53:17

Europe's victorious Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal said he never gave up hope for his side even when they were 10-4 down with just two of Saturday's fourballs remaining.

His side won both of those to pull within four points of the United States at 6-10 down and that, he felt, was within range for Sunday's closing 12 singles.

"Unbelievable day, one that will go down in history," he said after Europe's took the singles 8.5 points to 3.5 for a stunning 14.5 - 13.5 cup victory.

"It's hard to express it in words. I knew it was going to be difficult but, at the same time, I truly believed we could do it.

"When I looked at those matches, the matches were pretty much even, well-balanced. I said to them I believed we could change things around."

Olazabal, a European Ryder Cup hero, especially for his partnership with the late Seve Ballesteros, had been under fire for some of his decisions at Medinah Country Club this week.

He notably was slammed for leaving Ian Poulter out of the Friday afternoon fourballs after the Ryder Cup favourite had teamed up with Justin Rose to win in the morning foursomes.

He then took some stick for a flat showing from most of his team during the first two days in contrast to the high emotion shown by the American players under US counterpart Davis Love.

It had been, he admitted hard-going at times.

"Well, it's been a tough week. The first two days nothing went our way. We struggled on the greens, and this morning I felt a little change in that regard, and we started to make a few putts," he said.

"The Americans just started to miss them. And winning those few matches, that was key. I've been under pressure hitting shots, but today tops that.

"I cannot explain today, the guys did a wonderful job. Maybe they knew how much it meant to me.

"Last night in the meeting I told them that I really believed they could do it. The pairings were well balanced and they just believed in themselves. That's why we are here as winners."

Olazabal also said that the Ballesteros factor had been important with the European team going out clad in the dark blue and white colours that the late Ryder Cup legend had favoured.

"Seve will always be present with this team," he said.

"He was a big factor for this event, for the European side, and last night when we were having that meeting, I think the boys understood that believing was the most important thing, and I think they did."

In the US camp, Love said that he would not have done anything different in his tactics or selections.

"They played great," he said.

"We had a couple of matches that got flipped there at the end that made it a little bit easier on them. This is a great team and we had a great week."

Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker's struggles at the end of the frantic final day left both men feeling down.

"We'll be disappointed for sure," said Stricker who lost the penultimate match to Martin Kaymer 1-up. "But we'll be all right.

"I am disappointed that I let 11 other players down and the captains. Tiger and I at the end there tried to get some points. And I didn't. So that's disappointing."

Germany's Martin Kaymer made a clutch six-footer to beat Stricker, while Woods ended up halving his match with Molinari - but it did not matter as the Cup was already gone from the Americans' grasp.

Woods and Stricker failed to earn a single point as playing partners in the team sessions on Friday and Saturday, going 0-3.

This marked the first time a US team has lost more than a two-point advantage on the final day since Ryder Cup competition began in 1927.

Woods' missed putt on 18 summed up the Americans' struggles on the final day. He flubbed a four-footer to save par and then conceded Molinari's par putt to halve the hole to round out the scoring.

"I went 1-up at 17, and I asked Joey (caddie LaCava) what was going on down at 18. My responsibility was to be able to get my point," Woods said.

"And then they said that Europe has a chance to win on this hole, or retain the Cup.

"Then after that all went down, my putt was useless. It was inconsequential. So I hit it too quick, and gave him his putt, and it was already over."

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First posted October 01, 2012 11:09:16

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Aussie golfers looking for luck in Vegas

Updated October 03, 2012 13:16:30

Nine-time US PGA Tour winner Stuart Appleby headlines a handful of Australian golfers who have just four weeks to reclaim their jobs next year.

The US PGA Tour 'fall series' begins aptly in Las Vegas this week where countless golfers gamble with their future, trying to get inside the top 125 on the money list and stamp their ticket back on tour next year.

Players ranked 126 to 150 get conditional status on tour.

Appleby, a mainstay on the tour since 1996, needs to find some of the old magic or he will be forced to use his final 'get out of jail free' card to return.

Appleby is 161st on this year's money list with $US338,964 earnings, his lowest mark since his rookie year in 1996.

He is $US248,872 behind the current 125th spot and $US51,095 behind 150th, which may not seem like much but the final four events have downsized purses.

While a win in any event brings a two-year exemption, to make up the current gap Appleby will likely need a top three finish or two to three top 10s in the next month.

Should the 41-year-old Victorian fail in his bid to get inside either mark, he could use a one-time exemption for being inside the top 50 in career money earners on tour - he is 19th.

After a poor 2009, Appleby used a similar exemption for being inside the top 25 of career earnings, leaving him with only one Hail Mary to burn.

Other Aussies battling for survival include Rod Pampling (126th), Nick O'Hern (140th), Nathan Green (164th), Gavin Coles (175th) and Mathew Goggin (201st).

Pampling is the most likely to succeed, starting the series just US$1,078 behind 125th.

Unlike the others he can force his way inside the mark just by making a few cuts and padding his numbers.

"When you look at the money list I am very close to the 125 guy and there is a bit of a gap just a few spots away so we have some wiggle room," said Pampling, pointing to a $US85,000 gap between himself and 128th.

"I just have to play decent good golf and I will be fine.

"It's not the position you want to be in but it's not the worst either.

"I know I have to still get it done and play good golf but I know I have been playing well this year and everything still feels good so I'm not putting myself under any pressure at this stage.

"The guys behind me are the ones who have to play extremely well."

Jason Day and Robert Allenby will also tee up at TPC Summerlin in Vegas despite already securing cards for 2013.

Meanwhile 2013 International President's Cup captain Nick Price announced fellow Zimbabwean's Mark McNulty and Tony Johnstone plus Japan's Shigeki Maruyama as his captain's assistants a year out from the biennial team event against the USA to be held at Muirfield Village in Ohio.

Australians Adam Scott (1st), Jason Day (4th), John Senden (6th), Geoff Ogilvy (8th) and Aaron Baddeley (10th) are currently inside the top 10 automatic qualifying positions, albeit an age away from the selection deadline.

Price will also be called upon to make two captains picks with Greg Chalmers (12th), Marcus Fraser (16th) and Marc Leishman (17th) also in the mix at this very early stage.

AAP

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First posted October 03, 2012 13:16:30

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