Baddeley leads Aussie charge at Augusta

Updated April 06, 2012 10:34:30

Aaron Baddeley is flying Australia's flag at the Masters in Augusta, while English world number one Luke Donald's survived a major scorecard scare.

Baddeley posted a one-under par 71 to be the leading Australian, while Donald avoided disqualification after a smudge on his scorecard led to what Masters officials called an "administrating error."

Donald shot a 75 but faced a scorecard review after a scorekeeper misread his fifth-hole score of five and recorded it as a three.

The Englishman was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing, while compatriot Lee Westwood raced to the top of the leaderboard with a five-under par 67.

Baddeley was the only Australian to finish under par after compatriot John Senden bogeyed his final hole to finish with a two-over 74.

With seemingly perfect scoring conditions following overnight rains the Augusta National course gurus tried to guard against low scores by putting out tough pin placements.

The tactic worked against the Australian big guns with Geoff Ogilvy (74), Adam Scott (75) and Jason Day (76) all struggling in the opening round while amateur Bryden Macpherson also found the going tough on the way to a 77.

Baddeley fashioned a birdie on the second hole but bogeyed the sixth before a cracking three iron on the par five 13th allowed him to two-putt for birdie.

When he hit a wedge to almost gimme range on the 17th he converted to get to two-under but bogeyed the last to post his 71.

"They put some tough pins out there today," Baddeley confirmed.

"That front side there really wasn't many birdie opportunities at all.

"You want to shoot as low as you can, but 71 is a good start.

"I felt like I played well, I felt like I played better and better as the day went on, which I was pleased about."

Day, in doubt before play with an ankle strain played through the pain despite the injury being too close to a tendon for a painkilling injection.

The 2011 runner-up will potentially need a second round similar to last year, when he posted an eight-under 64 to move into contention.

ABC/AAP

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First posted April 06, 2012 08:27:01

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Baddeley makes his move in LA

Updated February 19, 2012 12:47:58

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, united-states, australia

First posted February 19, 2012 12:16:01

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Baddeley ready for major assault

Updated January 05, 2012 16:56:02

Finally at peace with his golf game, Aaron Baddeley believes he is ready to rectify his mediocrity in majors in 2012.

Baddeley rocketed up 228 places in the world rankings last year to re-enter the top 50.

After a season which also provided his first US PGA Tour victory in four years and more than $2.9 million in prize money, Baddeley could be forgiven for treating this week's season-opening Tournament of Champions in Hawaii as a rewarding holiday.

But the 30-year-old has set his sights much higher in 2012 and knows the limited field event at Kapalua provides a great opportunity to kick-start his assault from Saturday (AEDT).

"Being back in the top 50 in the world was a goal at the start of last year but now I'd like to be inside the top 15 by year end," said Baddeley, now ranked number 46.

"I'd like to also get my first multiple win season on the PGA Tour. It's about taking my game to a new level."

The next level includes a better showing in the four major championships, all of which he will play in 2012.

Despite making an impressive 76 per cent of cuts on the US Tour in the past five years, the mark drops to just 40 per cent in majors over the same period.

It drops to 33 per cent in majors over his entire career, with his best finishes being two ties for 13th (2007 US Open, 2008 PGA Championship).

But a relaxed Baddeley believes now is the perfect time to make his move on the big stage, having sorted out his game after battling through swing changes in recent years.

"The condition of my game right now gives me a great base to work from," Baddeley said.

"I'm not really searching for anything anymore. I'm not trying to find a golf swing or anything like that and I'm not fighting myself.

"I feel comfortable again and there is no stress around my game.

"I am just trying to improve and get better at small aspects of the game. It's a big difference."

With plenty of press surrounding those who are missing from Kapalua - three of the four 2011 major winners plus fellow Australian Adam Scott to name a few - the majority of the 28-man field has been idle from competition for a few months.

Not so Baddeley, who comes off the Australian summer of golf and a reasonable performance in a losing Presidents Cup team.

With additional confidence from knowing Australians have won the tournament five of the past eight times (Stuart Appleby 2004-06 and Geoff Ogilvy 2009-10), Baddeley looks a decent bet.

"Playing late into November has actually given me an advantage," he said.

"While I haven't had as much time off as other guys, it means I don't feel I will be as rusty as some of the others.

"Plus I really enjoy the golf course, particularly how it uses slopes and the land appropriately.

"It has some similarities to Australian sand belt courses just by the way you have to be able to play to the slopes so I will start with plenty of confidence."

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, australia

First posted January 05, 2012 16:56:02

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Close but no cigar for Baddeley

Updated September 26, 2011 10:00:52

Australian Aaron Baddeley has fallen one shot short of a play-off at the US PGA Tour Championship in Atlanta, won by American Bill Haas over countryman Hunter Mahan.

Haas captured $US11.44 million ($A11.75 million) as winner of the tournament at East Lake Golf Club and also the season-long FedEx Cup on the third sudden-death play-off hole with a clutch par.

Both men finished regulation at 8-under-par.

The pair parred the difficult par-three 18th hole and the par-four 17th, before returning to the 18th in the play-off.

Haas was able to two-putt while Mahan failed to get up and down from the greenside bunker.

The shot of the tournament came on the second play-off hole when Haas managed to play a shot from in the water hazard on the left of the green to just a few feet to stay alive.

Baddeley was left to rue two short missed putts on the back nine, each just over a metre.

It left the 30-year-old with a 2-over 72 final round and an 7-under total, tied third with Englishman Luke Donald and South Korean KJ Choi.

Fellow Australians Jason Day and Adam Scott finished in a tie for sixth at 6-under-par.

"Two short misses on the back nine cost me," Baddeley said.

"That was the golf tournament. Make those two short ones, I win."

The Victorian still had a chance on the last hole but his putt from just outside 10 metres agonisingly burned the edge of the hole.

"I felt like I played good enough to win," he said.

"I hit it pretty good all day except for a couple of loose tee shots."

Baddeley, who started tied for the lead, began nervously when his opening drive went well left of the fairway and into tree trouble but he scrambled well for par and then added four more despite a few loose shots.

But his luck ran out on the par-three sixth when missing the green meant hitting the lake.

Thankfully, he limited the damage to a bogey and remained in a tie for the lead as Mahan also dropped a shot. Fast-forward two holes and Baddeley took charge, grabbing birdie from two metres to take the outright lead.

But it was short-lived when he nuked his second shot on the par-five ninth past the green and failed to reach the putting surface with a flop shot third.

He eventually took bogey when a four-metre putt would not drop and settled back into a battle with Mahan and Haas.

More trouble befell Baddeley two holes later when he turned a five-metre birdie chance into a three-putt bogey, dropping him out of the lead for the first time.

Another close miss on the 16th hole proved crucial and the bogey seemingly ended his run, although a great birdie on the second last hole gave him one last chance.

But it was not to be.

When Haas bogeyed the final hole in regulation, Day was actually in the $10 million hot seat but his three-wood betrayed him on the 17th tee and sailed right into the rough.

He carried the ball up to the greenside bunker but failed to get up and down and the bogey dropped him one back.

The Queenslander gave himself an eight-metre look at birdie and a play-off spot on the last and gave the putt a good run only to see it run by the edge and just over a metre long.

Emotionally exhausted, he missed the short putt to drop to sixth.

Geoff Ogilvy (tied 11th) and John Senden (25th) rounded out the Australian charge.

AAP

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First posted September 26, 2011 09:54:12

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Close but no cigar for Baddeley

Updated September 26, 2011 10:00:52

Australian Aaron Baddeley has fallen one shot short of a play-off at the US PGA Tour Championship in Atlanta, won by American Bill Haas over countryman Hunter Mahan.

Haas captured $US11.44 million ($A11.75 million) as winner of the tournament at East Lake Golf Club and also the season-long FedEx Cup on the third sudden-death play-off hole with a clutch par.

Both men finished regulation at 8-under-par.

The pair parred the difficult par-three 18th hole and the par-four 17th, before returning to the 18th in the play-off.

Haas was able to two-putt while Mahan failed to get up and down from the greenside bunker.

The shot of the tournament came on the second play-off hole when Haas managed to play a shot from in the water hazard on the left of the green to just a few feet to stay alive.

Baddeley was left to rue two short missed putts on the back nine, each just over a metre.

It left the 30-year-old with a 2-over 72 final round and an 7-under total, tied third with Englishman Luke Donald and South Korean KJ Choi.

Fellow Australians Jason Day and Adam Scott finished in a tie for sixth at 6-under-par.

"Two short misses on the back nine cost me," Baddeley said.

"That was the golf tournament. Make those two short ones, I win."

The Victorian still had a chance on the last hole but his putt from just outside 10 metres agonisingly burned the edge of the hole.

"I felt like I played good enough to win," he said.

"I hit it pretty good all day except for a couple of loose tee shots."

Baddeley, who started tied for the lead, began nervously when his opening drive went well left of the fairway and into tree trouble but he scrambled well for par and then added four more despite a few loose shots.

But his luck ran out on the par-three sixth when missing the green meant hitting the lake.

Thankfully, he limited the damage to a bogey and remained in a tie for the lead as Mahan also dropped a shot. Fast-forward two holes and Baddeley took charge, grabbing birdie from two metres to take the outright lead.

But it was short-lived when he nuked his second shot on the par-five ninth past the green and failed to reach the putting surface with a flop shot third.

He eventually took bogey when a four-metre putt would not drop and settled back into a battle with Mahan and Haas.

More trouble befell Baddeley two holes later when he turned a five-metre birdie chance into a three-putt bogey, dropping him out of the lead for the first time.

Another close miss on the 16th hole proved crucial and the bogey seemingly ended his run, although a great birdie on the second last hole gave him one last chance.

But it was not to be.

When Haas bogeyed the final hole in regulation, Day was actually in the $10 million hot seat but his three-wood betrayed him on the 17th tee and sailed right into the rough.

He carried the ball up to the greenside bunker but failed to get up and down and the bogey dropped him one back.

The Queenslander gave himself an eight-metre look at birdie and a play-off spot on the last and gave the putt a good run only to see it run by the edge and just over a metre long.

Emotionally exhausted, he missed the short putt to drop to sixth.

Geoff Ogilvy (tied 11th) and John Senden (25th) rounded out the Australian charge.

AAP

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First posted September 26, 2011 09:54:12

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Baddeley, Chalmers in hunt at Sawgrass

Updated May 14, 2011 12:33:00

Aaron Baddeley and Greg Chalmers were well-placed for an assault on the US PGA Tour's richest purse after impressive second rounds at TPC Sawgrass in the Players Championship.

Baddeley backed up his first round 70 with a bogey-free 5-under-par 67 to move to 7-under-par and tied seventh, three off the lead held by American David Toms who was 10-under in the $US9.5 million tournament in Florida.

Overnight leader Nick Watney was second at 9-under-par as a stellar field battles for the $US1.7million first prize.

Chalmers posted the best round of the day with a blistering 7-under 65, moving him to 6-under for the tournament and in a tie for 11th.

He had just 22 putts in his round, which consisted of an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys.

A run of four birdies in a row on his back nine gave him a slim chance of matching Greg Norman and Fred Couples' course record 63.

"I played nicely most of the day and there was a stretch there were on the third hole, (his 12th of the day) I got up and down from over the back of the green and then managed to get four birdies in a row," Chalmers said.

"That stretch was crucial because if I don't make the up and down, I go back to 1-under for the tournament and who knows what can happen from there.

"It's amazing how quickly your round or the feel of the tournament can change. My scorecard had six threes in a row on it but I didn't really think I could get to the record because I was running out of holes real quick."

Jason Day is also within striking distance with a 2-under 70 moving him to a 5-under total in a tie for 17th.

Robert Allenby, runner-up last year, struggled in round two (74) but managed to birdie the famous final two holes, the par-three island 17th and long par-four 18th to make the cut with a shot to spare (1-under).

Matt Jones made the weekend on the number (even) while Nick O'Hern (3-over), Michael Sim (4-over), Adam Scott (4-over), Stuart Appleby (5-over), John Senden (7-over) and Marc Leishman (17-over) missed out.

Former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy withdrew after nine holes with a recurrence of a shoulder injury, but expects to only miss one week of action.

-AAP

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First posted May 14, 2011 11:38:00

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