Johnson wins windswept USPGA season-opener

Updated January 09, 2013 11:12:15

It required a lot patience and overtime but American Dustin Johnson opened the PGA Tour season with a comfortable victory at the windswept Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on Wednesday (AEDT).

Johnson fired a five-under 68 on another blustery day at the Kapalua Resort to finish four shots clear of defending champion Steve Stricker (69).

With the win, Johnson becomes the first player since Tiger Woods to win at least one tournament in six consecutive years straight out of college.

Johnson posted a 16-under 203 total at the weather-hit event that was trimmed to three rounds and forced to a rare Tuesday finish because of relentless howling winds that did not allow the first round to be played until Monday.

Stricker got to within a shot of his US Ryder Cup team mate with five holes to play but could not keep up the rally as Johnson went on to collect his seventh career win.

American Brandt Snedeker, last season's FedExCup champion, had a solid start to his 2013 campaign, also closing with a 69, to finish alone in third, six shots back of Johnson.

Masters champion Bubba Watson (71) was a further shot back in a tie for fourth with fellow American Keegan Bradley (70).

Reuters

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted January 09, 2013 10:25:17

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Four Aussies accept Masters invite

Updated January 12, 2013 15:24:18

Four Australians were amongst 85 golfers to accept invitations to compete in the 2013 US Masters, the first major of the season.

Billy Payne, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, said the field for the April 11-14 tournament so far featured golfers from from 21 countries - including young Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa and Thai veteran Thaworn Wiratchant, 16 first-time participants and six amateurs.

The Aussies in the field are Jason Day, Marc Leishman, Adam Scott and John Senden.

In 2011, Day and Scott came close to becoming the first Australian golfer to win the Masters, when they finished joint second two shots behind winner Charl Schwartzel of South Africa.

"Through our established qualifications, and invitations to selected international players not otherwise qualified, we historically bring together a collection of the world's top players, and this year is no different," Payne said.

"The Masters has long established a tradition of supporting the global game, and we were excited to extend invitations to Thaworn Wiratchant and Ryo Ishikawa, who we hope will provide added interest and enthusiasm for golf in Asia through their participation in the tournament."

Wiratchant, 46, won the 2012 Asian Tour Order of Merit.

He will be making his first Masters appearance when he competes at Augusta National in April.

He holds the Asian Tour record for most career victories, having won for the 15th time at the India Open last October, a co-sanctioned European PGA Tour event.

The 21-year-old Ishikawa will be making his fifth straight start at the Masters with his best finish coming in 2011 when he tied for 20th.

In his final five starts of 2012, he closed out the season on the Japan Golf Tour by collecting his 10th career win and recording three additional top-10 finishes.

Golfers have two more chances to qualify for the 2013 Masters by winning a PGA Tour event that awards a full-point allocation for the season-ending Tour Championship or by climbing into the top 50 of the world golf rankings published during the week prior to the Masters.

AAP/ABC

Tags: sport, golf, united-states, australia

First posted January 12, 2013 15:14:32

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Popovic eyes strong Invitational showing

By Paul Kennedy and James Maasdorp

Updated December 21, 2012 10:36:12

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read the story: Popovic snares PGA Championship

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First posted December 21, 2012 10:36:12

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Webb back for tilt at eighth Masters title

Updated December 19, 2012 11:17:55

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AAP

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

First posted December 19, 2012 11:16:45

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Popovic holds two-shot lead

Updated December 13, 2012 23:17:35

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Strange finished that tournament in third place behind Geoff Ogilvy.

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

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

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

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

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

It put a lot of things into perspective for Strange.

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

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

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

But it is a win he would cherish for life.

AAP/ABC

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

First posted December 13, 2012 16:48:43

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Popovic snares PGA triumph

Luke Pentony

Updated December 16, 2012 18:25:59

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First posted December 16, 2012 17:07:53

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Popovic looking forward to a big 2013

Updated December 17, 2012 17:01:17

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

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

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

No kidding.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Popovic impressed some seasoned professionals in the past fortnight.

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

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

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

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

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

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

AAP

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

First posted December 17, 2012 17:01:17

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Senior eyes historic double

Updated December 10, 2012 12:18:23

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

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

Read the story: Senior masters weather to win Australian Open

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AAP

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

First posted December 10, 2012 12:18:23

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McIlroy can surpass Nicklaus: Norman

Updated December 13, 2012 09:44:47

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AAP/ABC

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

First posted December 13, 2012 00:24:47

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Australian PGA on the move in 2013

Updated December 12, 2012 07:43:30

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ABC / AAP

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

First posted December 11, 2012 16:03:13

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Watson to lead US in Ryder Cup

Updated December 14, 2012 06:55:56

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted December 14, 2012 06:55:56

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Duo share lead at Australian PGA

Updated December 14, 2012 23:04:12

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Experience really counts in golf," Ogilvy said.

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

AAP/ABC

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

First posted December 14, 2012 15:49:39

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Jamieson wins inaugural Mandela Championship

Updated December 10, 2012 09:31:28

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, south-africa

First posted December 10, 2012 08:44:50

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Senior masters weather to win Australian Open

Updated December 10, 2012 10:10:17

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Herden said player and spectator safety was paramount.

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

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

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

"We had to suspend play."

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

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

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

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

AAP

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

First posted December 09, 2012 20:12:48

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Peerless Schwartzel cruises to Thailand victory

Updated December 10, 2012 09:32:57

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, thailand

First posted December 10, 2012 08:36:20

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Sick Norman pulls out of Championship

Updated December 13, 2012 10:21:32

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

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

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

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

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

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

"They're all facilitating medical treatment.

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

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

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

AAP

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

First posted December 13, 2012 09:27:43

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Palmer confident PGA will stay at Coolum

Updated December 15, 2012 13:51:50

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The new deal would be through to 2017.

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

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

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

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

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

AAP

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

First posted December 15, 2012 13:45:34

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Chalmers shooting for top-50 berth

Updated October 17, 2012 21:54:50

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"So it's always evolving.

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

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

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

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

AAP

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

First posted October 17, 2012 21:54:50

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McIlroy named PGA Player of the Year

Updated December 05, 2012 07:19:58

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, northern-ireland

First posted December 05, 2012 07:19:58

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Appleby facing PGA wildcard for 2013

Updated October 22, 2012 17:27:52

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, australia, united-states

First posted October 22, 2012 17:27:52

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