Van Pelt falls just short of 59

Updated October 27, 2012 20:26:47

Defending champion Bo Van Pelt flirted with a magical round of 59 on Saturday before double-bogeying the last hole at the co-sanctioned US PGA and Asian Tour event in Malaysia.

The American was 11-under-par through 17 holes at the par-71 Mines Resort and Golf Club, meaning he needed his 12th birdie of the day on the final hole to claim the rare score.

But van Pelt, defending a title for the first time, found sand in front of packed galleries on the 18th and three-putted to finish his round on 62 - enough for a three-shot clubhouse lead.

But overnight leader Robert Garrigus finished later with a 69 to join van Pelt at the top of the leaderboard on 16-under 197.

They were a shot clear of fellow American Chris Kirk who had a round of 63.

Greg Chalmers (69) is the leading Australian but he fell from equal-third place to a tie for seventh, four shots off the pace.

Tiger Woods is in a group one stroke further back after also shooting 69.

Stuart Appleby shot the last 59 on the PGA Tour at the 2010 Greenbrier Classic, while two players have shot 12-under-par 60s on the Asian Tour - Englishman Lee Westwood and Liang Wenchong of China.

Van Pelt's score, had he made it, would not have counted among PGA Tour records because the present tournament, the CIMB Classic, is not a full-status event on the American circuit.

It would not have made Asian Tour statistics either because the round was being played with the "preferred lie" rule, meaning players can pick up and move their balls when they land in difficult positions.

But with Tiger Woods the centre of attention, nearly everyone missed the shot of the day.

As bulging galleries trailed Woods, Jason Dufner was watched by just a handful of people as he pulled out his five-iron and aced the par-3 seventh, his first hole in one at a PGA-sanctioned event.

"I hit a five-iron that landed about two paces short and hopped right in the hole. First one in a competitive round," the world number nine said.

"It's about the 15th hole-in-one of my life, but felt good to get one when it counted. There were about 10 people (watching). It was a good shot with a little bit of luck."

Woods, the 14-time Major champion, has been followed by so many people this week - his first Asian tournament in two years - that marshals have had difficulty controlling the crowds.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, malaysia

First posted October 27, 2012 19:07:44

View the original article here

Day falls short of perfection

Updated October 08, 2012 13:32:24

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reuters/ABC

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted October 08, 2012 13:04:11

View the original article here

Furyk maintains lead as Woods falls back

Updated August 04, 2012 11:39:33

Jim Furyk fired a 4-under 66 to maintain his two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, while Tiger Woods is off to his worst start in four months.

Furyk reached 11-under 129 and has a two-shot lead over Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello, who shot a 5-under 65 at the Firestone Country Club course in Akron, Ohio.

"I thought it was key to get off to a nice start and see some putts go in," Furyk said.

"I made a good birdie putt at two, and saw some birdies go in on the front nine, good putt at nine, and off to the races."

Cabrera-Bello was alone at 9-under 131.

Former British Open champ Louis Oosthuizen also had a 65 in round two and was alone in third at 8-under.

Jason Dufner shot a 4-under 66, good for fourth at 7-under-par, while John Senden was the best of the Australians, two strokes further adrift after backing up his opening round 66 with a 70.

Seven-time winner Woods had a difficult day. He shot a two-over 72 and was tied for 44th, 13 shots behind Furyk.

Woods has had good success at the event for most of his career but has stumbled on the course at his last two attempts and needs to get his putting turned around to avoid another dismal score.

His 2-over 142 is his highest 36-hole score to par since his 3-over 145 start at the Masters.

"I get in these little spells where it's hot or cold," Woods said about his putting.

"I was a decent putter over the years, but lately it's been very streaky. I'm making everything or I make nothing."

Furyk, who opened with a 63, not only had his putter going but he saved par from the bunker four times on the back nine.

He had a nice birdie putt on the second hole and poured in a 20-foot birdie putt on the ninth.

"Making birdie at nine was like stealing one," said Furyk, who has not won since his 2010 Tour Championship victory.

"It'll be nice to relax a little bit this afternoon and maybe check out the weather forecast later on and kind of check out the weekend.

"I think the wind is supposed to pick up a little bit. If it gets breezy, the wind picks up, and the greens get faster, this place will show a little bit more teeth than we've seen so far."

Phil Mickelson shot a 69 and was 11 strokes behind after a change in putters helped pick up his game.

"I'm piecing it together," Mickelson said.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted August 04, 2012 11:39:33

View the original article here

Jones falls to fourth in Puerto Rico

Updated March 11, 2012 10:54:20

Australia's Matt Jones slipped to fourth place following the third round of the Puerto Rico Open in Rio Grande.

Jones, the overnight leader, shot a even-par 72 at the US PGA Tour event to be 11-under and two shots behind leader George McNeill.

American McNeill birdied the final two holes to fire a 5-under 67 and seize a one-stroke lead.

Henrik Stenson and American Kevin Stadler share second position.

Jones birdied the front nine par-fives but closed the front nine with back-to-back bogeys and parred his way to the clubhouse from that point.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, puerto-rico

First posted March 11, 2012 10:54:20

View the original article here

Senden falls just short in Chicago

Updated September 19, 2011 09:23:35

John Senden fell just short of a second career US PGA Tour victory at the BMW Championship in Chicago, finishing two shots behind Englishman Justin Rose.

Starting the day with a four shot lead, Rose looked to be faltering until he chipped in for birdie on the 17th hole to help him to a closing 71 and 13-under-par 271 finish.

He claimed the trophy and the $US1.44 million ($1.4 million) winner's cheque, while Senden shot 69 to be outright second with fellow Australian Geoff Ogilvy (69) a shot further back in third place.

The result ensured Senden moves onto the Tour Championship in Atlanta next week and stamps his ticket to the Masters and the US and British Opens next year.

But he missed automatic qualification for November's Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne - Senden needed victory in Chicago to secure his spot.

Ogilvy's third placing ensures his automatic selection in the Presidents Cup and a trip to the Tour Championship.

Senden appeared content with pars early, reeling off eight in a row to open the round, leaving him five behind Rose after eight holes.

But a five-metre birdie putt on the par five ninth coupled with a Rose bogey cut the lead to three and when the Queenslander dropped a 13-metre bomb on the next hole he was just two back.

His next chance came on the par-five 15th hole when Rose drove the ball into dense trees and was forced to take a penalty stroke.

Rose eventually bogeyed the hole but Senden's seven-metre birdie putt agonisingly burned the edge.

The par still reduced the gap to just one.

When he failed to pick up any more shots on the run home and Rose chipped in from the front of the green on the 17th his fate was sealed.

Ogilvy, who needed a top three finish to make Atlanta and a top five to ensure he would be in the Presidents Cup team, rattled off nine straight pars to open his round before claiming a birdie on the 10th with a five-metre putt.

He faltered slightly when he rammed a 22-metre putt on the par-three 12th almost three metres long and the resulting bogey put his projections under pressure.

But playing clutch golf like he has all play-offs, the Victorian bounced right back with a precision iron to four metres on the next hole and rolled in the birdie to create a two-shot buffer between himself and those behind.

He pulled within three of the lead when he made an eight-metre putt on the 14th hole effectively stamping his ticket to Atlanta.

Aaron Baddeley also secured a place in Atlanta after playing an impressive 67 final round.

Baddeley had slipped to 4-over-par through three rounds, putting him in danger of missing out, but his
day charge moved him to 22nd and ensured he would move on and qualify for the first three majors next year.

Adam Scott (+2, tied 37th) and Jason Day (+5, tied 49th) struggled throughout the tournament however they have already qualified for both the Presidents Cup and Tour Championship.

Marc Leishman's playoff run came to an end when he finished at 3-over-par in a tie for 42nd.

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, united-states, australia

First posted September 19, 2011 08:35:04

View the original article here