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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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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Furyk takes charge at Tour Championship

Updated September 22, 2012 14:51:09

Veteran Jim Furyk, hunting his first PGA Tour victory in two years, took advantage of a sizzling start to grab a one-shot lead in Saturday's (AEST) second round of the elite Tour Championship.

While tournament favourite Rory McIlroy carded a 2-under-par 68 to stay on track for FedExCup play-off honours and the mind-boggling bonus of $10 million, Furyk birdied seven of the first 10 holes on the way to a best-of-the week 64.

Aussie Adam Scott fell from two off the lead after round one to a distant eight shots back by firing a 3-over 73, leaving him at 1-over 141 for the tournament.

Senden started the tournament with a poor 72 but was four shots better in round two, his 68 moving him into a tie for 16th but still seven away from Furyk.

On a steamy day at East Lake Golf Club, American Furyk scorched the front nine in 6-under 29 with a stunning display of pinpoint approach shots before finding the going much tougher after the turn.

He offset birdies at the 10th, 15th and 17th with bogeys at the 13th, 16th and par-three last to post a 7-under total of 133 in the PGA Tour's fourth and final playoff event.

"To be able to write 'three' on your card nine times in the first 11 holes was a lot of fun," a smiling Furyk, 42, said after his round.

"I struggled to kind of keep that momentum going the last six holes, but I feel like I played a real solid round of golf. My iron game was as good as it's been all year on the front nine.

"I've got myself in good position for the weekend, and I'm a lot closer to the top of the (FedExCup) leaderboard than I was starting on Thursday. I'm in good spirits."

Britain's Justin Rose, co-leader overnight with twice winner Tiger Woods in the elite 30-man field after opening with a 66, was alone in second place after sinking a five-foot birdie putt at the last for a 68.

Masters champion Bubba Watson birdied two of the last three holes for a 66 to finish at 5-under, level with fellow American Bo Van Pelt (68) and one ahead of Dustin Johnson (67) and Matt Kuchar (69), also of the United States.

Northern Irishman McIlroy, who is seeking a fifth PGA Tour victory this year, and his fourth in just five starts, was a further stroke back at 3-under while Woods battled to a 73 for a 1-under total.

"I didn't play very good today," Woods said after recording his worst score at East Lake since he opened 75-76 at the 1998 Tour Championship. "Didn't hit it very good, and definitely didn't putt well, so it was a struggle all day.

"But I'm still right there. This is a golf course that is playing tough but some of the pins are pretty accessible. You've got to get the ball on the fairway."

Furyk has not triumphed on the PGA Tour since he clinched the Tour Championship and FedExCup honours in 2010 and to complete the 'double' this week he needs a lot to go his way.

Among several requirements, FedExCup points leader McIlroy would have to finish 12th or worse and second-ranked Woods fifth or worse.

Any of the top five players in the standings would secure the playoff title by winning the Tour Championship on Sunday - and that quintet comprises McIlroy and Americans Woods, Nick Watney, Phil Mickelson and Brandt Snedeker.

However, McIlroy remained in overall control of FedExCup honours after eagling the par-five 15th on the way to a 68 that also included a birdie and a bogey.

"I'm only four shots back, so I've still got a good chance going into the weekend," the 23-year-old said. "First and foremost, I just have to try to think of my standing in this golf tournament, not really think about anything else.

"If it comes down to it on Sunday where I need to really know what I have to do for the last few holes, then if I have a decision to make between protecting my lead in the FedExCup or trying to win the golf tournament, I think I know what I'm going to choose.

"But we just have to play until we reach that point. At the minute, I'm just concentrating on trying to play as well as I can."

Reuters

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First posted September 22, 2012 11:08:43

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McIlroy blows away Championship field

Updated August 13, 2012 09:54:50

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy repelled an early onslaught by Britain's Ian Poulter before cruising to his second major title by a record eight shots at the PGA Championship on Sunday.

The 23-year-old McIlroy, who started the final round with a three-shot lead, carded a flawless 6-under-par 66 that gave him a 13-under total of 275 in the year's last major.

The mop-haired Northern Irishman sank a 20-foot putt from just off the green to birdie the last in glorious late afternoon sunshine at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, then lifted his putter skywards in celebration.

"I don't think I have let it sink in yet but it was a great round of golf," the mop-haired Northern Irishman said after being presented with the Wanamaker Trophy.

"I am speechless.

"It's been an incredible week. I had a good feeling about it at the start and I never imagined to do this."

His victory margin eclipsed the previous best set by golfing great Jack Nicklaus at Oak Hill in 1980 and underlined his burgeoning status as heir apparent to former world number one Tiger Woods.

Geoff Ogilvy was the best-finishing Australian, returning to the clubhouse with a 70 on the final day to finish 2-under, tied for 11th with countryman Adam Scott, American Tiger Woods and Graeme McDowell.

Britain's David Lynn, competing in his first PGA Championship, birdied two of the last three holes for a 68 to finish alone in second.

Fellow Englishman Poulter, who briefly trimmed McIlroy's lead to one shot after a sizzling five-birdie start, faded after the turn en route to a 69 and a tie for third at 4-under.

Level with Poulter were his compatriot Justin Rose (66), Swede Carl Pettersson (72) and defending champion Keegan Bradley of the United States (68).

Pettersson, despite being slapped with a two-stroke penalty for grounding his club in a hazard on the first hole, responded well with three birdies in five holes before coming unstuck like so many others on the more difficult back nine.

Four-times champion Woods, hunting his 14th major crown but his first in over four years, had to settle for a share of 11th place at two under after signing off with a 72.

"I was right there ... but I came out with probably the wrong attitude yesterday," the American world number two told reporters after offsetting two birdies with two bogeys in the final round.

"And I was too relaxed, and tried to enjoy it, and that's not how I play. I play intense and full systems go. That cost me."

Woods, however, paid tribute to McIlroy who he has long regarded as a player of uncommon talent.

"He's very good," he said.

"He's got all the talent in the world to do what he's doing. And this is the way that Rory can play. When he gets it going, it's pretty impressive to watch."

Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted August 13, 2012 09:07:14

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Webb in the mix at LPGA Championship

Updated June 10, 2012 12:03:54

Australia's Karrie Webb was just one stroke off the lead following the third round of the LPGA Championship in Pittsford, New York.

Webb posted a 4-under-par 68 to be 3-under heading into the final round at the Locust Hill Country Club, a shot behind South Korea's Eun-Hee Ji, who recorded a 3-under 69.

"Whether I win tomorrow or not, just the feelings that I will have tomorrow with a chance to win is what I work hard for," Webb said.

"And I probably want it more now than I ever have in my career just because I don't feel it as often as I would like."

Webb says she expects the leaderboard to get extremely crowded on the final day.

"It's not just the people in the lead that have a chance to win," she said.

"I think my patience level has really been quite good - for me."

Ji had a bogey at the fourth which put her at minus-one, but she followed up with consecutive birdies.

On the back nine, Ji birdied 11 and 15 to compile a two-stroke lead, but a bogey at 16 brought her back. She parred the last two holes to maintain her lead.

Giulia Sergas moved back near the top of the leaderboard with four birdies on the front nine and finished with a 69. Sergas shared the first-round lead before shooting a 76 in the second round.

Sergas was tied at 2-under with Stacy Lewis, Suzann Pettersen and Inbee Park.

AFP/ABC

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First posted June 10, 2012 11:58:44

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Feng wins LPGA Championship, first major for China

Updated June 11, 2012 09:31:28

Feng Shanshan became the first Chinese golfer to win a major title by firing a bogey-free 5-under-par 67 on Monday morning to capture the LPGA Championship by two strokes.

The 22-year-old from Beijing, who began golfing at age 10 and came to America as a teen before joining the LPGA in 2008, took her first career LPGA triumph by finishing 72 holes at Locust Hill Country Club in New York state on 6-under 282.

"I still can't believe that I won a major. It just feels so good," Feng said.

"I'm just so excited right now. I did it."

Japan's Mika Miyazato, Norway's Suzann Pettersen, American Stacy Lewis and South Korean Eun-Hee Ji shared second on 284.

Australian Karrie Webb shot a final round of 72 to finish at 3-under in a tie for sixth place.

World number 10 Feng, whose victory was worth $US375,000, fired the low round of the week on the last day.

"My goal for the year was to win on the LPGA Tour and a top-10 in a major. I did them at one time," Feng said.

Feng birdied the par-4 second and sixth holes and added another at the par-5 eighth. As her rivals stumbled, Feng birdied the 12th and reached the 16th tee with a two-stroke edge on the field.

Miyazato sank a 10-foot birdie putt at 17th hole to pull within one stroke of Feng and sank a six-foot par putt at 18, but needed a stumble from Feng that never came.

Feng parred the 16th and sank an eight-footer birdie putt at the 17th, stretching her advantage to two strokes at the 18th tee.

Feng sank a tricky, breaking four-foot downhill putt for par at the 18th to claim the clubhouse lead, then watched as a handful of rivals needing eagles and birdies to force a playoff failed to match her.

In a strong amateur career in China, Feng won nine titles, including the China Women's Amateur title from 2004 through 2006.

Feng shared the runner-up spot in February's HSBC Women's Champions event in Singapore to match her best LPGA result to that point, runner-up efforts in last year's Mizuno Classic and the 2008 Bell Micro LPGA Classic.

"This means a lot for me," Feng said. "This is my fifth year on the tour. I had no winning. I was down. I was thinking, 'Could I win again?' Now I know I can win again."

Pettersen, who had shared the lead with Feng on the back nine, took bogeys at the 13th and 14th holes to stumble off the pace and not even a birdie at the 17th could put her back in the hunt.

AFP

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First posted June 11, 2012 09:31:28

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Pak leads LPGA Championship

Updated June 09, 2012 10:31:01

Three-time champion Se Ri Pak of South Korea pushed past a quartet of rivals to seize the 36-hole lead at the LPGA Championship in Pittsford, New York.

Pak, winner of five major LPGA titles, shot a 1-under-par 71 for a 3-under total on a difficult day for scoring on a Locust Hill Country Club course lined with deep, unforgiving rough for the second women's major of the year.

Tied one stroke back were 2010 US Open champions Paula Creamer, who shot level par 72, 2008 US Open winner Park In-bee of South Korea (70), Japan's Mika Miyazato (72) and Sandra Gal of Germany (71).

Six players were bunched another shot back at 1-under-par, including former champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway.

Karrie Webb was the best-placed Australian on one-over for the tournament in a seven-way share of 19th position, having fired a 1-under 71 in the second round.

Defending champion Yani Tseng of Taiwan, who won the title last year by 10 strokes, made the cut without a stroke to spare after a three-over 75 left her with a two-day total of 7-over.

Reuters

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First posted June 09, 2012 10:31:01

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Na snatches lead at Players Championship

Updated May 13, 2012 11:25:20

Kevin Na drained a 15-foot birdie putt on the last hole to snatch the outright lead from Matt Kuchar after the third round of the Players Championship as Rickie Fowler made his move with a 6-under par 66, the best round of the day.

Australia's Adam Scott endured a wretched round, shooting a 2-over-par 74 to drop back into the pack some eight shots behind sole leader Na.

Scott's day started and ended badly as he bogeyed the first hole and finished up with a disastrous double-bogey on the 18th hole to all but end his chances of winning the tournament.

Geoff Ogilvy was the best of the Australians with a 2-under-70 to put himself 3-under for the tournament, while Marc Leishman (even), Robert Allenby (3-over) and Rod Pampling (5-over) are all well back in the field after three rounds.

Na, frequently taking excessive practice strokes and often backing away from his shot, otherwise struck the ball sweetly in carding a bogey-free 68 to reach 12-under for the tournament.

The South Korean-born American met with rules official Mark Russell after his round to discuss his slow play but said there were no problems.

"We were talking about the pace of play. We were on the clock quite a bit. Everything's okay," said Na who blamed his problems due to a lack of comfort with his balance.

"As ugly as it is and as painful as it is, believe me, it is really tough for me and I am trying," he said.

Fellow American Kuchar had a mixed day, combining seven birdies with four bogeys, including one on the notoriously difficult 'island green' 17th, for a round of 69 to finish a shot behind Na.

"I knew it was going to be a tricky day, there were going to be a lot of bogeys and dangers around every corner," said Kuchar, who tied for third at last month's Masters.

"It was a great day in terms of not letting the bad holes bother me. I think that is one of my strong suits and today it came in really helpful."

Kuchar and Na began the day in a three-way tie for the lead with Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion. Johnson shot a 1-over 73 to slip back into equal fourth with Ben Curtis (70) at 7-under.

It was a sign of the difficulty of the course that Na and Kuchar were the only players to post three rounds in the 60s and Na was one of only three players, along with Curtis and Carl Pettersson, that were bogey free during the third round.

While Kuchar and Na jostled for the outright lead, most of the buzz around a sun-drenched TPC Sawgrass layout surrounded Fowler.

The 23-year-old Californian, who claimed his first PGA Tour win at Quail Hollow last week, racked up seven birdies before spoiling his otherwise flawless round with a bogey at the last, missing a putt from less than four feet.

He ended the day perfectly poised, two shots behind Fowler and one behind Kuchar.

For most of the round, Fowler, who would become the tournament's youngest winner, was right on target, and even when he got in trouble, he remained unflustered.

On the fifth hole, he drove into a bunker, 200 yards from the pin, but blasted out of the sand to just four feet and made birdie.

"I drove it well, put myself in position off the tee, which is the key here, no matter what, especially with the wind blowing today. I was able to play out of the short grass as much as possible," Fowler said.

"Other than bogeying the last, I'd have to say it was a fairly perfect round."

Tiger Woods made an even-par 72 and was 2-under for the tournament, tied for 34th place. Phil Mickelson signed for a 69 to climb 16 places to be equal 14th.

Spain's Sergio Garcia made a double bogey on the par-five second hole to tumble back to a tie for last place but recovered to finish with a 4-under-68 leaving him level with Mickelson.

ABC/Reuters

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First posted May 13, 2012 11:18:56

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Senden out of Match Play Championship

Updated February 25, 2012 14:32:52

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AAP

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First posted February 25, 2012 11:42:17

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Bradley heads for PGA Championship win

Keegan Bradley celebrates a birdie putt on the 17th green during the final round of the 93rd PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club on August 14, 2011

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Haas hoists Tour Championship trophy

Bill Haas waves to the gallery on the 18th green after winning both the FedEx Cup and the US PGA Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club on September 25, 2011

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Scott seals world championship win

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Tseng storms to LPGA Championship win

Published:Monday, June 27, 2011 9:22 AEST

Yani Tseng of Taiwan celebrates her 10-stroke victory on the 18th hole during the final round of the LPGA Championship at Locust Hill Country Club on June 26, 2011 in Pittsford, New York.

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Tseng takes charge at LPGA Championship

Updated June 26, 2011 09:29:00

World No. 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan fired a 5-under par 67 on Sunday morning to seize a five-stroke lead after the third round of the LPGA Championship as she bids for a fourth major title.

Tseng, looking for a wire-to-wire victory in the second women's golf major championship of 2011, was leading the year's first major, the Kraft Nabisco, after 54 holes last April but fired a 74 and lost to American Stacy Lewis.

"I learned from that. I won't grab the trophy on the first hole," Tseng said.

"I'm excited. I will just go out there with a big smile tomorrow and enjoy it."

Entering the final round, 22-year-old Tseng stood on 13-under 203 with Americans Morgan Pressel and Cindy Lacrosse sharing second on 208 and South Korean Hee Young Park fourth on 210.

"I'll be right in front of her trying to put pressure on her," Pressel said of Tseng.

"I just have to be aggressive, not stupidly aggressive but just be patient and make putts. I've got to make some birdies but I'll give it a shot."

A pack sharing fifth on 211 included South Korean Meena Lee and Americans Lewis, Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr, who matched Tseng for the day's low round. Creamer fired 18 pars to stay in the hunt.

Tseng could complete a career grand slam at next month's US Women's Open after winning last year's Kraft Nabisco and Women's British Open crowns and the 2008 LPGA Championship.

Tseng birdied the par-4 second and added another at the par-3 ninth, then fired back-to-back birdies at the par-4 12th and 13th holes, stretching her lead to five strokes.

After stumbling with a bogey at the par-4 14th, Tseng responded with birdies at the par-3 15th and par-5 17th and needed another at the 18th to match the 54-hole tournament record of retired Swedish legend Annika Sorenstam.

Tseng was three-feet short on a 25-foot birdie putt but tapped in to finish an impressive round after leading by only a stroke after the first two days.

"I just wanted to stay below the hole, be very patient and make my putts," Tseng said of her round.

"To put it in the fairway, that's the most important thing. I just kept it below the pin. I just wanted to enjoy it and just relax."

Tseng could become the first player since retired Mexican star Lorena Ochoa in 2008 to win a major after capturing the prior regular LPGA event, having won the LPGA State Farm Classic two weeks ago, her seventh career LPGA crown.

Tseng also won her first four events of the year, the first in Taiwan, the next two in Australia and the LPGA season opener in Thailand.

Lacrosse birdied three of the first five holes on her way to a third-round 69.

"I've scrambled around and made some good par saves," Lacrosse said. "My putting and chipping has been pretty good."

Lewis, whose first career victory was at the Kraft Nabisco, will try to finish the first half of a grand slam by overhauling Tseng again on the last day.

"Off the tee she can lose it a litle bit," Lewis said. "I think if she has got a couple shot lead she has got a good chance."

- AFP

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First posted June 26, 2011 09:24:00

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Tseng wins LPGA Championship

Updated June 27, 2011 09:25:00

World No.1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan captured her fourth major title on Monday morning in overwhelming fashion, firing a final-round 6-under-par 66 to win the LPGA Championship at Locust Hill in New York by 10 strokes.

The 22-year-old Asian star became the youngest player to collect a fourth career major title, having previously taken last year's Kraft Nabisco and Women's British Open crowns as well as the 2008 LPGA Championship.

"I don't think about being the youngest," Tseng said. "I just focus on the shots and the tournament."

Tseng finished 72 holes on 19-under par 269 to complete a wire-to-wire victory for her eighth career LPGA crown.

Asked if she has ever played better, Tseng said, "I don't think so, especially because this is a major."

American Morgan Pressel was second on 279, one stroke ahead of compatriots Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr and Norway's Suzann Pettersen.

South Korean Meena Lee and American Stacy Lewis, the year's first major winner, were on 282.

Tseng also led this year's first major, the Kraft Nabisco, after 54 holes in April but went on to fire a 74 and lost to Lewis.

Tseng will have the chance to complete a career Grand Slam in two weeks at the US Women's Open in Colorado on the same Broadmoor course where Tseng's friend and role model, retired legend Annika Sorenstam, won her first major.

"I'm just going to talk to Annika, get some tips, go to the swimming pool and then head for the mountains," Tseng said.

"I think I have a chance (to win for the career Slam) the way I'm playing now. That sounds really good."

New face of the game

Sorenstam, a 10-time major champion from Sweden, lives only a long chip shot from Tseng in Florida after Tseng bought Sorenstam's former home.

Sorenstam warned current players that Tseng's best might very well be yet to come.

"She's playing some amazing golf. The way she is playing a major is really, really impressive," Sorenstam said. "She is the new face of the LPGA. She's great for the game.

"She still has some things to improve. Once she does, she is going to be hard to stop."

Tseng became the first player since retired Mexican star Lorena Ochoa in 2008 to win a major after winning her prior LPGA event, having won the State Farm Classic two weeks ago.

Taiwan prodigy Tseng is a former teen training partner of Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who won his first major title last week at the US Open at age 22.

While McIlroy hopes to become a dominant figure on the men's side beyond a single triumph, Tseng has already served notice this is her era in majors as well as this season.

Tseng won her first four events of the year, the first in Taiwan, the next two in Australia and the LPGA season opener in Thailand.

After waking up with a five-stroke lead, Tseng appeared to open the door for her pursuers with a bogey at the first. But Tseng birdied the next three holes and birdied the sixth and par-5 eighth to pull away.

"I just told myself, 'It's only the first hole. It's better than a bogey on 10 or 18,'" Tseng said. "I just told myself to be patient and try to get it back."

Tseng also birdied the next par-5 hole, the 11th, before taking another bogey at the 13th. Tseng responded with a birdie at 14 and another at the par-5 17th to reach 19-under and stretch her lead to double digits.

Tseng marched up to the 18th green to applause to find her ball 15 feet from the cup for a closing birdie. The putt rolled up just short but she dropped in a two-footer to finish off the triumph, then raised her arms to celebrate.

"I had very good emotions," Tseng said. "I felt so many people supporting me. I really feel appreciated."

Pettersen was already playing to prepare for the US Women's Open because Tseng was so far ahead.

"I just tried to grind it out and find something for the Open," Pettersen said.

"I found a little something but it was too late. Yani is playing really well out here. She's going to be a tough competitor all year around."

- AFP

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First posted June 27, 2011 09:18:00

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Harrington to miss PGA Championship

Posted May 20, 2011 07:16:00

Padraig Harrington will miss next week's PGA Championship at Wentworth after aggravating a knee injury, the three-times major champion said on Thursday.

The Irishman originally hurt his knee during the Wells Fargo tournament earlier this month and the problem flared up again at last week's Players Championship in Florida.

"After returning home I continued to have physio on what was originally a hamstring tear, which caused the popliteus muscle to become inflamed," Harrington, who has slumped to 43 in the world rankings, said on his website.

"This resulted in the inability to stabilise my knee, causing acute pain.

"As it hasn't improved significantly, and the recommended course of action is a couple of weeks rest, reluctantly, I am forced to withdraw from next week's PGA Championship."

The PGA Championship, seen as the European Tour's flagship event, will feature six of the world's current top 10 players.

- Reuters

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Woods limps out of Players Championship

Updated May 13, 2011 07:47:00

Tiger Woods has hobbled out of the Players Championship after nine holes, the former world number one's latest leg injuries leaving the immediate prospects for his game shrouded in doubt.

Woods had suffered a left knee and Achilles injury during the third round of the Masters in April and had not played since that tie for fourth spot at Augusta.

"The knee acted up and then the Achilles followed after that and then the calf started cramping up," said Woods, who trailed his playing partners as they walked the course in Florida.

"Everything started getting tight, so it's just a whole chain reaction."

Woods played his first five holes in 5-over - including a triple bogey at the fourth hole.

His 42 on the front nine was three shots higher than his previous worst nine-hole score at Sawgrass.

"The Achilles and knee would be sore, but you're not worse than what icing and treatment wouldn't do at night," he said.

"So this morning, [I] felt fine during warm-up, and then as I played, it progressively got worse."

Woods said he was surprised that his leg injuries, which he had described as minor, had flared up.

"The treatment has been good," he said.

"It's been getting better. But it just wasn't enough."

Swing coach Sean Foley, who has overseen the changes that Woods has struggled to implement effectively in competition, said the 14-time major champion had looked "fantastic" on the driving range.

But Woods was in trouble from the first hole, where he hit his tee shot into the trees, then came up short of the green at the bottom of a slope.

"The pine straw didn't help because my foot slipped, my left foot slipped," Woods said.

"It obviously would have probably felt better if it would have held."

At the fourth, Woods said, his knee "grabbed" him on his tee shot, which went left. His approach found the water and after a drop he found the water again.

Woods' early exit marked the second straight year he departed in the middle of a round at the Players.

Last year he stopped on the seventh hole of the final round with a neck injury.

The 35-year-old has already had four surgeries on his left knee.

He had major reconstructive surgery in 2008 after limping to victory at the US Open at Torrey Pines that year on his damaged leg.

He has not won a major title since, his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus' record 18 stalled at 14.

Woods has not won a title at all since the Australian Masters in 2009, which was soon followed by the sex scandal that eventually ended his marriage.

Although he has said often that he is on the verge of a breakthrough with his latest swing changes, Woods admitted he did not know what would come next.

"Give me a few days to see what the docs say, and we'll take a look at it," he said.

-AFP

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted May 13, 2011 06:13:00

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