Hoey scoops Trophee Hassan

Updated March 26, 2012 07:26:08

Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey won his fourth European Tour title with a three-shot victory at the Trophee Hassan in Agadir, Morocco.

Hoey carded a final round total of 7-under-par 65 to finish on 17-under, three strokes ahead of Ireland's Damien McGrane, who had led at the end of the third round.

The 33-year-old Hoey, who defeated celebrated compatriot Rory McIlroy to win the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last years, is now inside the top 15 on The Race to Dubai and back in the hunt for a Ryder Cup debut later this year.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, morocco

First posted March 26, 2012 07:26:08

View the original article here

Wright on pace at LPGA major

Updated March 30, 2012 18:06:48

Sensational putting has catapulted South Korean Amy Yang to the lead in the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship, but Australia's Lindsey Wright is well in contention after the opening round.

Yang took advantage of ideal scoring conditions at the Mission Hills Country Club in California, firing a 6-under-par 66 to start the year's first women's major.

Wright, who just six months ago considered quitting the game because of depression, was alone in second place after carding a 67, with Taiwan's Yani Tseng a further stroke back.

American world number eight Paula Creamer was among a group of seven players who opened with matching 69s to lie in joint fourth position.

Yang, who at 16 became the youngest champion on the Ladies European Tour with victory at the 2006 Australian Ladies Masters, charged to the top of the leaderboard with a run of six birdies in nine holes from the par-three fifth.

"My whole game worked great," the 22-year-old told reporters after totalling only 23 putts on the sun-baked greens.

"I had a great feeling for the green speed and my rhythm felt good."

However, Yang will need to keep a close eye on tournament favourite and World number one Tseng, who has triumphed three times this season in five LPGA Tour starts and won four of the last eight majors.

Wright took a four-month break from the game late last year after feeling "smothered" by golf and was delighted with her start at Mission Hills, covering her last nine holes in 5-under 31.

"It was one of those days when everything just felt good. I didn't feel intense. It was just going smoothly,'' the Australian said.

Wright, who tied for fourth at this tournament in 2009, said she felt re-energised after her decision to spend time away from the game.

"I was being smothered by it, by the lifestyle and golf, and I wanted to do something else so I took four months off," she said.

"It was really great. I took the time off and experienced other things, and I think that's made a massive impact for me coming into the year."

Wright last month won the New Zealand Women's Open, which is co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour, with a free-wheeling approach to the game which she has brought to Mission Hills.

Australia's former world number one Karrie Webb and fourth-ranked American Cristie Kerr carded 71s while big-hitting Brittany Lincicome of the United States, the 2009 champion, battled to a 76.

Reuters

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted March 30, 2012 18:06:48

View the original article here

Davis, Oosthuizen lead in Houston

Updated March 31, 2012 13:11:57

England's Brian Davis and South African Louis Oosthuizen shared the clubhouse lead as darkness stopped play in the second round of the rain-hit Houston Open.

Seventy players were still on the Redstone course when darkness fell, the legacy of thunderstorms that caused delays on the opening day.

Davis and Oosthuizen were in the clubhouse on 11-under par 133, Davis completing a first-round 68 on Friday morning (local time) and following up with 65.

Oosthuizen added a second-round 66 to his opening 67.

Jeff Maggert was at 10-under with eight holes remaining when play was halted.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson, who had seized a share of the first-round lead in the morning as he wrapped up a 65, shot a second-round 70 to head a group in the clubhouse on 9-under 135.

He was joined by JB Holmes (67), Tommy Gainey (67), and England's Greg Owen (69).

Three-time major champion Ernie Els, who needs a victory to book a berth at the Masters next week, carded a second-round 69 for 139.

Davis played a total of 32 holes, but looked anything but tired as he made seven birdies without a bogey in his second round.

The 37-year-old Englishman said he made changes in his life after the death of his father, Robert, from cancer last year.

"I think I'm more prepared going forward now this year," he said.

Davis changed his caddie and his swing, and also worked with sports psychologist Bob Winters on managing his time.

"I really struggle when my kids say, 'Can we do this?' and I should be practising," Davis said.

"It's hard to juggle that around. You've got to give yourself some time as well."

Davis missed the cut in three of his first four starts, but said he thought things were coming around.

"It's one of them things, you've got to stay the course and keep at it," Davis said.

Like Els, Davis must win here to earn an invitation to the Masters next week.

"Obviously, I'm well aware that I need to start winning," said Davis, who has never won on the US tour.

"It's one of those things where you can't force it. You've just got to keep putting yourself in position."

Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, has made some changes to his swing, and returned to the driver he used in his St. Andrews triumph.

"I hit it well at the Open in 2010, and I feel like I'm very close to hitting it like I did there," Oosthuizen said.

"Swing-wise, I feel confident."

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted March 31, 2012 13:11:57

View the original article here

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

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted April 06, 2012 10:09:09

View the original article here

Yoo edges Kim in play-off

Updated April 02, 2012 11:41:10

South Korea's Yoo Sun-young rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off to beat compatriot Kim In-kyung and win the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Yoo, who tied Kim at 9-under-par after 72 holes, birdied the par-five 18th at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, to claim her first major title.

Kim squandered a chance to win the first women's major of the year in regulation when she missed a one-foot par putt at the final hole.

Karrie Webb was the best of the Australian contingent in a five-way share of 14th place on 4-under with countrywoman Katherine Hull a stroke further back.

AFP

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted April 02, 2012 11:41:10

View the original article here

Tseng takes charge at Mission Hills

Updated March 31, 2012 13:56:37

World number one Yani Tseng birdied her final hole to end the second round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship with a one-shot lead in Rancho Mirage, California.

A winner in six of her last 12 LPGA events, the long-hitting Taiwanese fired a 4-under-par 68 on another day of glorious sunshine at Mission Hills Country Club in the first women's major of the year.

Champion here in 2010 and fresh from consecutive victories on the US circuit, Tseng mixed five birdies with one bogey to post an 8-under total of 136 on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course.

South Korea's Kang Haeji was alone in second, after carding a 68, with compatriot Yoo Sun-young (69) and Australian Lindsey Wright (71) a further stroke back at 6-under 138.

Wright had joined Tseng at 8-under when she sank a curling 30-foot putt to birdie the par-four 10th but she slipped back with a double-bogey at the 15th to finish two off the pace.

Two more Koreans, Choi Na-yeon (67) and five-times major winner Pak Se-ri (69), and Swede Karin Sjodin (67) were tied for fifth at 5-under.

The ominous sight of Tseng at the top of the leaderboard will have the field at Mission Hills worried as the game's top player hunted a sixth major victory.

"To catch Yani is difficult," five-times LPGA champion Choi told reporters after compiling five birdies in a flawless display.

"When she's playing well, she looks like a very intimidating player. She played so well today and last week and two weeks ago. She's an amazing player right now."

Tseng had been disappointed with her opening 68 but she was much happier with the same score in her second round having negotiated slick greens that had quickened under a baking sun.

"Yesterday I had a couple of shots I just missed, and a couple of shots where I wasn't committed and I just hit it," said the 23-year-old, who has won four of the last eight majors

"But today, on every shot, I gave my 100 per cent focus. The goal was the same, but I feel so much happier today.

"I still have two more days to go, and this golf course suits me really well. I heard tomorrow's going to be very windy in the afternoon, so I just need to be patient."

Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted March 31, 2012 13:56:37

View the original article here

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

Tags: golf, sport, united-states

First posted March 25, 2012 11:28:10

View the original article here