Brown leads NZ Open by three strokes

Updated November 24, 2012 16:46:49

New Zealander Mark Brown has jumped to the top of the leaderboard at the New Zealand Open with a third-round 6-under 66 in Christchurch.

Brown's score, the equal best at the Clearwater Golf Club, put him 5-under for the tournament on Saturday.

He will go into the final day with a three-shot buffer, giving him a great chance of being the first New Zealander to win the title since Mahal Pearce in 2003.

His closest pursuers are the Australian pair of Victorian Peter Wilson, who carded a 71, and New South Wales amateur Jake Higginbottom, who shot 72.

One shot further back are a quartet that includes New Zealander Michael Hendry and seasoned Australian Peter O'Malley.

The 47-year-old O'Malley, the 1995 champion, came home with three birdies on the back nine for a 68.

Brown, who was four shots off the pace at the start of the day, took little time to start making his move with birdies at the first two holes.

Five further birdies had him seven under for his round after 14.

His only blip came at the par-four 17th after his approach to the green spun off the front of the putting surface.

Brown almost saved par, his attempt from four metres lipping out.

The 37-year-old Wellingtonian came into the tournament with good form after a tie for third at the Australian Masters last week.

He says his putting was the difference compared with the first two days, when he had scores of 72 and 73.

"A couple of friends helped me out last night with a tip to stay a bit steadier," he said.

"In the wind, it helps to keep the old melon down a little bit. It felt a lot better and I did what I needed today and knocked a few in early."

Hendry was Brown's main challenger over the early part of the afternoon, but sputtered with two double-bogeys on the back nine after twice finding the water.

The leader on the PGA Tour of Australasia money list, Hendry signed for a 70 that included six birdies and an eagle.

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, new-zealand

First posted November 24, 2012 16:46:49

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McIlroy leads, Oosthuizen and Woods chasing

Updated September 02, 2012 11:28:07

World number one Rory McIlroy fired a second straight 65 for a slim halfway lead in the PGA Tour event in Norton, Massachusetts with Louis Oosthuizen and Tiger Woods heading the chasing pack.

Northern Ireland's McIlroy, who earned his second career major title at the PGA Championship in August, had a 12-under total of 130 after two rounds on the par-71 TPC Boston layout.

South Africa's Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, was one shot back after a 65 for 131 and 14-time major champion Woods carded a 68 for 132, where he was joined by compatriot Ryan Moore, who also carded a 68.

McIlroy's round included an eagle on the revamped par-five 18th - his ninth hole of the day - where he stuck his approach shot two metres from the pin.

He had two bogeys on his inward nine, finding the water at the par-five second for a six and also bogeying the par-three third. But he bounced back with birdies at four and five.

"Everything seemed to work pretty well out there," McIlroy said.

"I felt like I drove the ball a bit better today and hit more fairways, which gave me some more opportunities to make birdies.

"And I was putting well enough to take a few of those," he added. "Yeah, pleased with where I am and looking forward to the weekend."

Overnight leader Seung-Yul Noh of South Korea had an even-par 71 that included an eagle and a double-bogey and was in a group of five players on 133 that also included South Africa's 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (65).

Nine players were separated by three shots heading into Sunday's third round of the $7.75 million tournament, which is scheduled to end on the US Labor Day holiday.

Prior to the event, the second in the US PGA Tour's four-tournament play-off series that ends with the Tour Championship in Atlanta, McIlroy predicted the winning total after four rounds on Monday would be from 15 to 18-under par.

"Now that I'm in the tournament, I just want to play as well as I can and maybe reassess things going into the last day," McIlroy said.

"But I was very happy with the two scores that I've got already and know that I need to go out and play just as good tomorrow to give myself a chance going into Monday."

While McIlroy said his putting helped him score, Woods could not get much going on the greens. He missed six birdie putts from within 18 feet.

"I didn't make anything today," Woods said. "There are a bunch of guys stacked up so we have to go out there and make some birdies."

Woods opened his round with birdies at the first and second holes, but he was unable to get up and down from a bunker at the par-three third and took bogey.

A birdie at the sixth was followed by a three-putt bogey at 11, but he picked up another shot at 14 where he drained a 30-foot birdie putt.

He holed a 17-footer for birdie at 17, but any hope of a birdie at the last evaporated when he found the rough off the tee and came up short with his third shot.

Oosthuizen also teed off on 10 and his round included five birdies and a chip-in for eagle on the par-four fourth, with just one bogey.

AFP

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted September 02, 2012 11:28:07

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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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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

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted April 06, 2012 08:27:01

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Westwood leads after first round at Masters

Updated April 06, 2012 11:07:34

Lee Westwood grabbed the lead under the rain and late in the day in the first round of the Masters on Friday (AEST), as he set out yet again on his lifelong quest to win a major title.

Aaron Baddeley was the best of the Australians with a one-under 71, while John Senden and Geoff Ogilvy both finished two-over at 74.

Compatriots Jason Day and Adam Scott struggled, carding 76 and 75 respectively as amateur Bryden Macpherson endured a tough Augusta initiation with a five-over par 77.

World number three Westwood went out in 32 to signal his intentions and two more birdies against one bogey on the back nine, as the bad weather came in, nudged him ahead atop the leaderboard at five-under 67.

It was the first time the 38-year-old Englishman had led after the first round of a Major despite having five top-three finishes in his last nine majors.

Westwood finished the day one shot ahead of South African Louis Oosthuizen, who had four birdies in the last five holes to card a 68, and Peter Hanson of Sweden.

A stroke further back were a group of players comprising Paul Lawrie of Scotland, Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, Francesco Molinari of Italy and Americans Ben Crane, Jason Dufner and Bubba Watson.

The 2008 winner, Zach Johnson of the United States, was on 70, level with veterans Vijay Singh and Jim Furyk among others.

Favorites Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy both struggled.

Woods battled against a wayward driver to scramble a level par 72 while McIlroy opened with a double-bogey six and splashed into Rae's Creek in front of the 13th green en route to an edgy 71.

Westwood, runner-up here to Phil Mickelson two years ago, said that he had been working at easing the tension involved in playing in the Masters.

"I've taken it very relaxed this week. I've played here enough - it's my 13th time - and I know the golf course and that eradicates a lot of the tension," he said.

"I came close recently and I have had a good career and all there is to win is a major championship and that is my primary focus now."

Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, said he was surfing on the wave of recent South African successes at Augusta National, including close friend Charl Schwartzel's four-birdie finish to win last year.

"We play together a lot and I think it's more just watching videos of him winning over and over, and seeing the way he handled himself under the pressure which was brilliant, finishing with four birdies," he said of his fellow South African's influence on him.

Timid Tiger

Woods, meanwhile, was wayward off the tee and had his short game to thank for salvaging a 72.

"I hit some of the worst golf swings I've ever hit today, and that's all right," he said.

"I just hung in there and grinded my way around the golf course and stayed very patient, stayed in the moment.

"Unfortunately that was about as good as I got right there. I could have shot one, maybe two better, but I got a lot out of that round."

Woods, who is seeking his 15th major title to draw to within three of Jack Nicklaus's record of 18, won his first tournament in 28 months two weeks ago and was immediately installed as Masters favorite with McIlroy leading a strong European challenge.

McIlroy, who blew a four-stroke lead on the Sunday in last year's Masters, seldom looked comfortable after pushing his opening drive into the tall Georgia pines lining the first hole.

But after a mixed bag of a round, he finished strongly with back-to-back birdies to duck under par.

"I'm a lot more pleased coming off the golf course than if I had finished par and to come off under-par is pleasing," the 22-year-old US Open champion said.

"My perseverance and patience paid off and it was nice to finish as I did, but I'm surprised someone didn't go lower than five today."

World number one Luke Donald, meanwhile, survived a disqualification scare after an investigation ruled that an administrative error was to blame for the wrong posting of his score at 73 instead of 75.

But the Englishman's four-over total left him with a mountain to climb as he seeks to win his first Major.

"I'm disappointed. That's not what I wanted. My irons were a bit off. Here that can eat you up. Maybe I can find something tomorrow," Donald said.

Three-time former champion Phil Mickelson was also left with a battle on his hands just to make the cut.

He stumbled badly with a triple bogey seven at the 10th, where he lost his ball off the tee, and with his driver deserting him, he came in with a two-over 74 that included a long birdie putt at the last.

First-round strugglers also included last year's joint runners-up Jason Day and Adam Scott of Australia, who carded 76 and 75 respectively, and 2008 champion Trevor Immelman of South Africa, who had a 78.

ABC/AFP

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First posted April 06, 2012 10:09:09

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Tiger leads by one at Bay Hill

Updated March 25, 2012 11:43:30

Tiger Woods, looking to end his long victory drought, will take a one-stroke lead over Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell into the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Florida.

Woods shot a 1-under-par 71 in the third round at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge.

"As a whole I played well," Woods said.

"I hit a lot of good shots and was just very consistent."

The former world number one, searching for his first win on the PGA Tour since September 2009, had a four-stroke lead before a bogey on the 14th and a double-bogey on the next where he drove out of bounds into a neighbouring garden.

Woods revealed that shot had been the result of a scream from a woman in the crowd after a teenager fainted and that the noise came as he was already committed to his shot.

"It happened midway on my downswing and I tried to stop it but I had passed the point of no return. I stopped it and flipped it out of bounds," he said.

"It was a solid day. Just happened to have one little fluke thing where a kid passed out."

A birdie on the par-five 16th hole restored some calm to Woods' round but McDowell kept up the pressure with a birdie on the par-three 17th, where he hit his tee shot to six feet from the hole on his way to posting 71.

Woods stood on 11-under through 54 holes at a course where he has won six times.

"I'm looking forward to getting out there and seeing what happens," he said.

South African Ernie Els, who needs a win here or next week in Houston to gain a berth at the Masters, was well-placed for a push in the final round after a fine 67 that left him just three strokes behind Woods, alongside Briton Ian Poulter.

Marc Leishman is the best-placed Australia in an eight-way share of 17th place on 3-under, having shot a par round of 72.

Reuters

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First posted March 25, 2012 11:28:10

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Scott leads in Florida

Updated March 09, 2012 12:10:27

Australian golfer Adam Scott weathered blustery conditions to be tied for the lead after the opening round of the WGC event at the Blue Monster in Florida.

Scott fired an impressive 6-under-par 66 to share the first round lead with American Jason Dufner (66).

The pair were two clear of Dane Thomas Bjorn and South African Charl Schwartzel who both fired 4-under-par 68s.

Despite heavy winds throughout the round Scott posted five birdies and an eagle with just the one bogey on his way to the lead.

After pars on his opening two holes he began his assault with four birdies in his next six.

Playing the back nine first, Scott knocked birdies into the cup on the 12th, 14th, 16th and 17th holes and made the turn at 4-under the card with an impressive 32.

His broomstick putter working a treat in the difficult conditions.

The 31-year-old's first birdie was from nine feet but he then holed efforts from 29, 12 and 19 feet to create an early gap on the field.

When he attacked the pin on the first, his 10th, with a brilliant eight iron to just four feet the charge was well and truly on.

Scott jammed in the eagle putt and backed it up with an eight-foot birdie roll on the next hole to create a hefty buffer.

His first blemish came on his 15th hole of the day where he missed a five-foot par putt and dropped a shot, allowing the chasing pack to get within range.

But Dufner was the only serious challenger, grabbing a last hole birdie to join Scott at the top.

"Obviously I'm very satisfied with the round today especially in these conditions," Scott said.

"I took advantage of my good play the first 11 or 12 holes and then managed to kind of get it up and down here and there coming in.

"I'm very pleased to put myself in the tournament so far. It's a good way to start.

"The last few years I've really got my head around this golf course and how to play it.

"I feel comfortable here. I look forward to coming here because it feels like you want to get playing good now. There's a lot to play for here and in the upcoming weeks."

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, making his first start since ascending to the world number one spot, opened with a 1-over-par 73.

Tiger Woods tapped in for eagle at his opening hole but found the going tougher the rest of the way en route to an even-par 72.

Aaron Baddeley was the next best Australian with a 3-under 69 leaving him tied fifth.

Greg Chalmers had an impressive round clicking before posting a bogey and double bogey on his final two holes to fall to a 1-under 71 and a tie for 21st.

Geoff Ogilvy (73), Jason Day (73), John Senden (76) and Marcus Fraser (76) had their struggles and will all need to improve to contend.

AAP

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First posted March 09, 2012 12:02:03

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Levin leads Phoenix Open

Updated February 04, 2012 15:11:27

Little-known American Spencer Levin eagled the par-four 17th on his way to a commanding six-shot lead in the unfinished second round of the frost-delayed Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona on Friday.

In pursuit of his first victory on the PGA Tour, Levin fired a flawless eight-under-par 63 at the TPC Scottsdale to post a 14-under total of 128.

The 27-year-old holed out from a greenside bunker to eagle the driveable 17th and then parred the last to finish six ahead of compatriots John Huh (66) and world number six Webb Simpson (69).

American Kyle Stanley, agonisingly beaten in a playoff for the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego on Sunday, was a further stroke back at seven-under after also carding a 66.

However, 34 players were yet to complete the second round when play was halted in fading light, among them American Harrison Frazar who was at 11-under overall with three holes remaining.

It was an extra long day for Levin, who had to complete three holes from the opening round on Friday morning before setting off for round two.

He was delighted with his form, especially after struggling on the practice range before the start of the tournament.

"It's kind of weird," Levin told reporters after covering his back nine in five-under 31. "Yesterday on the range before I teed off, I didn't feel good about my swing at all. I was hitting it all over the range, and I bogeyed my first hole.

"And I told my caddie going to the next tee: 'This might be a nine-hole week here.' Shows you how crazy this game is, I guess. After that I just started playing good, simple as that."

Asked what had been the key to his 65-63 start, Levin replied: "I've been putting really well, and if you're going to shoot a low round you've got to putt good.

"I'm just going to try and stay as aggressive as I can the next two days. If you're playing well, chances are someone else is, too," added Levin, whose best PGA Tour finish was second place at last year's Mayakoba Golf Classic.

First-round leaders Ryan Palmer and Jason Dufner carded 72s to finish at six-under, alongside fellow Americans Bubba Watson, Ben Crane, Bo Van Pelt and Derek Lamely.

Phil Mickelson, winner of the Phoenix Open in 1996 and 2005, was at four-under, a four-birdie 70 putting him level with playing partners Dustin Johnson (70) and Rickie Fowler (69).

The cut was projected to fall at even-par 142 with former major winners Davis Love III, Yang Yong-eun and Angel Cabrera among those likely to miss out.

Following two consecutive mornings of one-hour frost delays, there is a chance the tournament could spill over into a Monday finish, just like last year's edition which was won by American Mark Wilson in a playoff with Dufner.

Reuters

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First posted February 04, 2012 14:17:18

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McIlroy leads Donald after birdie blitz

Updated December 09, 2011 10:26:39

A swashbuckling finish yielding five birdies in six holes catapulted Rory McIlroy up the Dubai World Championship leaderboard as he seized the early initiative in his European money-list battle with Luke Donald.

The US Open champion returned a 6-under-par 66 while US PGA Tour money-winner Donald, bidding to become the first player to land the orders of merit on both sides of the Atlantic, struggled to a 72.

Swede Peter Hansen led the field after a record-equalling 64.

McIlroy, who needs to win this week to have a chance of catching Donald, made a bad start, losing his ball at the second hole after slicing his long approach shot into bushes and racking up a double-bogey seven.

The 22-year-old Northern Irishman dropped another shot at the eighth but roared home in 30 strokes with birdies at the 10th, 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th.

"I just stayed patient," McIlroy told reporters.

"I knew there was going to be some point where I would be able to make a bit of a charge.

"When you get on a roll like that it's nice. You don't have to think about it too much, you just try to hit the fairway, hole the putt and go on to the next hole."

McIlroy, who kept alive the money-list battle by winning the Hong Kong Open on Sunday, has finished in the top five in his last five events on the European Tour.

"This is the longest period in my career I've played this level of golf," said the world number two.

"It's been a good run."

Donald said before the tournament he rated McIlroy as a more talented golfer than Tiger Woods, but the Northern Irishman was keen to play down the Englishman's assessment.

"It's one thing to have talent but it's another to actually have the capability of turning that talent into something productive," he said.

"I think what Luke was trying to say was maybe golf comes as easy to me as it does to Tiger. I'll never know but look, Tiger's won 90-odd tournaments worldwide and 14 majors and that's definitely more of a talent than my five wins.

"There are different types of talent. You could say some of Luke's short-game shots out there today were unbelievable," said McIlroy.

"Luke's definitely got more talent than me around the greens. I don't feel invincible."

Donald toiled in the face of McIlroy's assault, bogeying three holes in a row from the 14th.

The 34-year-old Englishman has a lead of $1.06 million over second-placed McIlroy at the top of the money-list and needs to finish in the top eight here to end the season as number one even if his rivals wins the tournament.

"I played solidly with four birdies on the front nine and then hit a few shots that cost me, poor drives on 14 and 15, and it was a bit of a loose back nine unfortunately," said world number one Donald.

"This course can do that to you. There are a lot of hazards in the middle of the fairways, bunkers that you have to aim to one side or the other.

"Rory had a great back nine," added Donald.

"He was holing putts from everywhere (but) I cannot really concentrate on what he is doing, I've got to take care of my own business."

Reuters

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First posted December 09, 2011 07:12:42

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Scott leads Day by one at Bridgestone

Updated August 07, 2011 09:40:12

Australia's Adam Scott shot a 4-under-par 66 to regain sole possession of the lead heading into the final round at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational.

Scott moved to 12-under 198 for the tournament to take a one-stroke lead over fellow Australian Jason Day and Japanese 19-year-old phenomenon Ryo Ishikawa, who finished 11-under 199.

Day matched Scott's 66 while Ishikawa rocketed into contention with a bogey-free 64.

American Keegan Bradley and Scotsman Martin Laird share fourth a shot further back at 10-under 200.

Scott enters the final day in prime position to grab his eighth win on the US PGA Tour and the US$1.4million payday that goes with it.

He birdied two of the opening four holes before bogeys on the sixth and 10th stalled his run.

But after abandoning his strategy to draw the ball off the tee and instead hit everything with a fade he birdied 12, 14, 15 and 16 to ensure sole possession of the 54-hole lead.

"Today was a good round because I wasn't really feeling it, although I'm swinging well," Scott said.

"Just a couple shots got away from me throughout the round, and I somehow managed to straighten it out early on the back nine and played really nicely coming in, so I was very happy.

"A few holes that I tried to draw the ball off the tee, I left them out to the right.

"I couldn't get the ball working back to the left, and I've been hitting the ball really nice the other way this week, left to right, so I just went back and hit everything left to right coming in."

The 31-year-old Scott was not concerned with golf's new breed, with the four guys behind him in their 20s, or in Ishikawa's case, teens.

The Queenslander believes he has the game to outlast them on Sunday but admitted the tournament was still well and truly up for grabs.

"I'm just going to look at it as a great opportunity," he said.

"It's a pretty bunched up leaderboard and a pretty tough golf course out there.
"I'm just going to have to play well to win tomorrow. You know, my strategy is just to have a chance when I'm coming down the last.

"I feel like my game is in good enough shape. The one thing I'm going to focus on is my rhythm, my rhythm of my golf swing and try and keep it nice and smooth because everything else feels good.

"I don't feel like there's a lot of pressure on me, I just want to play well tomorrow, and I think if I do that, I can win."

Ishikawa, winner of 10 titles on the Japan Golf Tour, is trying to become the youngest winner on the US PGA Tour in a century.

England's Luke Donald moved up the leaderboard with a 64 that put him on 201, tied with American Rickie Fowler (69) and Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson (67).

Donald, winner of the WGC Match Play Championship earlier this year, needed just 26 putts and said that was the key to his improved scoring.

"It's nice to get in position," Donald said. "I putted a lot better today. That was really the only difference between today and the first two days.

"I've been swinging it nicely, hitting a lot of fairways, a lot of greens. Just was able to get the putter rolling and hole a few putts, which was a pleasant surprise."

Former world number one Tiger Woods struggled on the greens on the way to a 2-over 72 that left him 13 shots off the lead.

The event serves as a tune-up for Woods for next week's PGA Championship at Atlanta, where he will resume his quest to break the record of 18 major championships won by Jack Nicklaus.

Woods is playing his first tournament since limping out of the Players Championship in May. His last complete round came at the Masters, where he first suffered the left knee and Achilles injuries that sidelined him.

Despite his difficulties with the putter, Woods was satisfied with his ball-striking.

"I really hit it good coming home, started hitting the ball the right flight, every tee shot was flash, everything was back to where it was at the beginning of the week," Woods said.

"Only difference is I didn't putt well again today, two horseshoes, three-putted 18, and then obviously made a bogey with a sand wedge on 16.

"That's four shots right there."

AAP/AFP

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First posted August 07, 2011 06:03:04

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Scott leads Day by one at Bridgestone

Updated August 07, 2011 09:40:12

Australia's Adam Scott shot a 4-under-par 66 to regain sole possession of the lead heading into the final round at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational.

Scott moved to 12-under 198 for the tournament to take a one-stroke lead over fellow Australian Jason Day and Japanese 19-year-old phenomenon Ryo Ishikawa, who finished 11-under 199.

Day matched Scott's 66 while Ishikawa rocketed into contention with a bogey-free 64.

American Keegan Bradley and Scotsman Martin Laird share fourth a shot further back at 10-under 200.

Scott enters the final day in prime position to grab his eighth win on the US PGA Tour and the US$1.4million payday that goes with it.

He birdied two of the opening four holes before bogeys on the sixth and 10th stalled his run.

But after abandoning his strategy to draw the ball off the tee and instead hit everything with a fade he birdied 12, 14, 15 and 16 to ensure sole possession of the 54-hole lead.

"Today was a good round because I wasn't really feeling it, although I'm swinging well," Scott said.

"Just a couple shots got away from me throughout the round, and I somehow managed to straighten it out early on the back nine and played really nicely coming in, so I was very happy.

"A few holes that I tried to draw the ball off the tee, I left them out to the right.

"I couldn't get the ball working back to the left, and I've been hitting the ball really nice the other way this week, left to right, so I just went back and hit everything left to right coming in."

The 31-year-old Scott was not concerned with golf's new breed, with the four guys behind him in their 20s, or in Ishikawa's case, teens.

The Queenslander believes he has the game to outlast them on Sunday but admitted the tournament was still well and truly up for grabs.

"I'm just going to look at it as a great opportunity," he said.

"It's a pretty bunched up leaderboard and a pretty tough golf course out there.
"I'm just going to have to play well to win tomorrow. You know, my strategy is just to have a chance when I'm coming down the last.

"I feel like my game is in good enough shape. The one thing I'm going to focus on is my rhythm, my rhythm of my golf swing and try and keep it nice and smooth because everything else feels good.

"I don't feel like there's a lot of pressure on me, I just want to play well tomorrow, and I think if I do that, I can win."

Ishikawa, winner of 10 titles on the Japan Golf Tour, is trying to become the youngest winner on the US PGA Tour in a century.

England's Luke Donald moved up the leaderboard with a 64 that put him on 201, tied with American Rickie Fowler (69) and Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson (67).

Donald, winner of the WGC Match Play Championship earlier this year, needed just 26 putts and said that was the key to his improved scoring.

"It's nice to get in position," Donald said. "I putted a lot better today. That was really the only difference between today and the first two days.

"I've been swinging it nicely, hitting a lot of fairways, a lot of greens. Just was able to get the putter rolling and hole a few putts, which was a pleasant surprise."

Former world number one Tiger Woods struggled on the greens on the way to a 2-over 72 that left him 13 shots off the lead.

The event serves as a tune-up for Woods for next week's PGA Championship at Atlanta, where he will resume his quest to break the record of 18 major championships won by Jack Nicklaus.

Woods is playing his first tournament since limping out of the Players Championship in May. His last complete round came at the Masters, where he first suffered the left knee and Achilles injuries that sidelined him.

Despite his difficulties with the putter, Woods was satisfied with his ball-striking.

"I really hit it good coming home, started hitting the ball the right flight, every tee shot was flash, everything was back to where it was at the beginning of the week," Woods said.

"Only difference is I didn't putt well again today, two horseshoes, three-putted 18, and then obviously made a bogey with a sand wedge on 16.

"That's four shots right there."

AAP/AFP

Tags: golf, sport, united-states, australia

First posted August 07, 2011 06:03:04

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Van Pelt leads Canadian Open

Bo Van Pelt watches his shot on the 18th hole during round three of the Canadian Open at the Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club on July 23, 2011

Tags: golf, sport, canada, australia

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Van Pelt leads at Canadian Open

Updated July 24, 2011 13:14:24

Bo Van Pelt, who is gunning for his second career PGA Tour title, fired a 5-under-par 65 for a one-shot lead over hometown favourite Adam Hadwin after the third round of the Canadian Open.

American Van Pelt birdied four of his final five holes to reach 5-under on the unforgiving Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club course.

Hadwin, who grew up just an hour's drive away from Vancouver in Abbotsford, shot a 2-under 68 and is alone in second place at 4-under.

Hadwin got into the tournament on a sponsor's exemption and he had a chance to be the co-leader with Van Pelt but missed a 12-foot birdie putt on his final hole.

Argentina's Andres Romero (67) and first-round leader Kris Blanks (69) shared third at 3-under after another bruising day in the thick rough at the tree-lined Shaughnessy course.

American John Daly four-putted number 18 for triple-bogey on Friday but rebounded with a solid 67 on Saturday.

He was in a group of four at 2-under with Sean O'Hair (66) and Australians Aron Price (69) and Geoff Ogilvy (70) heading into Sunday's final round.

Organisers are stepping up security around the Shaughnessy golf club after someone poured bleach on one of the greens prior to Saturday's third round.

Officials had to cope with an unexpected problem on Saturday morning when grounds crews discovered bleach had been poured on the grass on the eighth green, a par-three hole. Play was not affected.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, canada, united-states

First posted July 24, 2011 12:59:19

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Magical McIlroy leads by six at US Open

Updated June 18, 2011 10:24:00

Rory McIlroy completed the lowest opening 36 holes in US Open history overnight despite a double-bogey finish that brought back memories of similar major leads the Ulsterman has squandered.

Ignited by an eagle from the eighth fairway, McIlroy shot a 5-under-par 66 to stand on 11-under 131 through two rounds after finding water at 18 to keep a historic round from being one for the ages.

"You can't dwell on it," McIlroy said. "I played 35 very good holes and that's what I need to focus on."

South Korean Yang Yong-Eun fired a 69 to stand second on 137, six strokes back of McIlroy, at Congressional Country Club - where play was halted by sunset with 21 players yet to finish due to a 42-minute storm delay.

McIlroy almost certainly will match the largest 36-hole lead in US Open history, the six-stroke margin for Tiger Woods in 2000 at Pebble Beach, where he won the first of four consecutive major titles by a majors-record 15 strokes.

But Yang ensured McIlroy will not match the all-time 36-hole major lead, Henry Cotton's nine-stroke edge from the 1934 British Open.

"I've played two really good rounds of golf but I know I have to play another two if I want to win," McIlroy said.

"I have to keep it going over the next couple of days. I'm halfway there, but there is still a long way to go."

The 22-year-old Northern Irishman broke the US Open 36-hole record of 132 set in 2009 by American Ricky Barnes, but had he closed with a par he would have broken Nick Faldo's 36-hole major mark of 130 from the 1992 British Open.

"It has been very, very good," McIlroy said. "It's very nearly the best I can play."

But McIlroy, contending in his fourth major in a row, has been down this path before and been found wanting.

McIlroy opened April's Masters with a 65 to co-lead and led by four after 54 holes and one with nine to play before a back-nine fall to an 80.

He also led last year's British Open after a 63 but had an 80 in a wind-swept round two.

"I took a few things away from the Masters that I felt I could incorporate into my game and I said we'll find out how they go when I get myself into that position again," McIlroy said.

"We'll see how it goes over the next couple of days. It's a big challenge. Every time I keep myself leading in majors, I'm getting more and more comfortable.

"You are going to be comfortable when you are hitting great shots."

McIlroy became the first man to reach 13-under at any stage in US Open history with a birdie at 17, one better than the old mark set by Gil Morgan in the third round in 1992 and matched by Tiger Woods in the final round in 2000.

But then came the mishap on 18 after pulling his tee shot into the left rough, a reminder how quickly trouble can strike in an event where par is meant to be an exceptional score.

"I got a bit of grass caught between the club face and the ball and it just turned over a little bit," McIlroy said.

"Unfortunately it went into the water. Just one of those things."

Spain's Sergio Garcia and Americans Zach Johnson, Brandt Snedeker, Robert Garrigus and Matt Kuchar shared third in the clubhouse on 140, nine adrift of McIlroy.

"If he keeps playing the way he's playing, we're all playing for second," Snedeker said.

No American holds a major title and if none wins this week, it will mark the longest run of majors in the modern era without a US winner.

"The pressure is off me," Johnson said. "I'm not the one that's supposed to win it right now."

On a morning when no rival could mount a challenge, McIlroy grabbed a stranglehold on the event with an amazing 113-yard wedge shot for an eagle from the eighth fairway.

McIlroy launched the ball to the back fringe of the green and watched from the fairway as the ball slowly rolled back 25 feet and into the cup for a two.

Lifting his arms into the air, McIlroy looked skyward and smiled as playing partner Phil Mickelson, a four-time major champion and five-time US Open runner-up, could only applaud in amazement at the feat by his playing partner.

"He's striking it flawlessly and putted great on the greens," Mickelson said. "His first two rounds were very impressive."

Magical McIlroy birdied the par-4 fourth and par-5 sixth and followed his eagle with birdies at 14, 16 and 17. At the par-5 16th, McIlroy drove the green in two, missed a 12-foot eagle bid and settled for a tap-in birdie.

The past 10 majors have been won by 10 different players and seven of the past eight majors have been taken by first-time major winners, streaks McIlroy would continue with a triumph.

The projected cut line was on 146, with world number one Luke Donald of England among those set to make it on the number.

Those set to miss the weekend included Australians Adam Scott and Scott Hend, Englishmen Paul Casey, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose, South Korean KJ Choi and South African Ernie Els, the winner at Congressional in the 1997 Open.

- AFP

Tags: sport, golf, northern-ireland, united-states

First posted June 18, 2011 07:51:00

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