Cauley, Dawson share Tour lead

Updated October 19, 2012 12:05:01

Bud Cauley and Marco Dawson shared the first-round lead on 8-under-par 62 at the McGladrey Classic on Friday morning (AEDT), two shots in front of a chasing trio.

Cauley had eight birdies without a bogey. Dawson joined Cauley atop the leaderboard despite having to take drops after two wayward tee shots.

He salvaged a par to limit the damage at the par-5 seventh, where his tee shot had found the water.

Australian Rod Pampling, American Boo Weekley and England's Greg Owen were two shots back on 64.

The tournament is the penultimate PGA Tour event that counts toward the money list. The top 125 on the list earn full playing privileges for next season and Dawson is at number 216.

Dawson said he cannot afford even to think about that right now.

"I'm so far away from it that the only thing I can do is just try and play well," Dawson said.

"And when I am playing well, just to keep it going instead of kind of messing it up like I have during the year."

Pampling is right on the bubble, sitting in 124th spot on the money list going into the tournament.

He has been on the edge before, however. Last season he missed the cut at the final event, but still ended up at 125th on the money list.

He says it is a stressful way to end a season.

"It hasn't been a lot of fun the last few years," Pampling said. "I've been playing good, but I haven't scored. And it's all down to the putting. Nothing is going in."

Weekley - 121st entering the tournament - says he thinks his game is good enough right now to keep his card in sight.

"It's been a long time coming," he said. "I finally started making some putts, and I've been hitting the ball good, pretty good the last two weeks, and finally today the putts showed up, so - hoping I carry it on this week."

Cauley, 22, has no such worries, having reached 55 in the world and made more than $1.7 million this season.

Now he is seeking a first win on the tour.

"Obviously, I've thought about winning every tournament I've teed up in this year," Cauley said.

"It's been a long year, and although I've played a lot this year, I haven't won.

"It's still a goal of mine, but I'm not thinking about that while I'm out there, or putting any more pressure on myself this week."

United States Ryder Cup captain Davis Love was in a group on 65 that included Colombian Camilo Villegas, New Zealand's Danny Lee and Americans Zach Johnson and David Toms.

AFP

Tags: sport, golf, united-states

First posted October 19, 2012 12:05:01

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Sabbatini to play Australian PGA Champs

Updated October 29, 2012 13:01:05

South African golf star Rory Sabbatini will return to join a quality field contesting the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum from December 13-16.

Sabbatini has confirmed he will make his second trip to Australia, having led the 2007 Australian PGA after three rounds only to struggle on the back nine as Peter Lonard triumphed.

"That was five years ago now, and I'm looking forward to heading back to Australia," said Sabbatini, a six-time winner on the US PGA Tour.

"It's been an up and down year for me, but the Australian PGA will be a great way to finish off the year."

Sabbatini's last victory came at the 2011 Honda Classic, however he came close this year when tied second behind Tiger Woods at the Memorial Tournament.

He adds more international flavour to a PGA line up that also includes Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke plus defending champion, Greg Chalmers, Greg Norman, Geoff Ogilvy, John Senden, Robert Allenby, Marc Leishman and Brendan Jones.

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, coolum-beach-4573, qld, australia

First posted October 29, 2012 12:27:38

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Hanson produces Shanghai surprise

Updated October 28, 2012 22:55:04

Sweden's Peter Hanson capitalised on the early errors of playing partner Rory McIlroy to hold on for a one-shot victory over the world number one at the BMW Masters on Sunday

Overnight leader Hanson posted a final round 67 for a 21-under-par total on the Lake Malaren course to capture his second European Tour success in three events and move behind Briton McIlroy at the top of the Race to Dubai standings.

The 35-year-old, who won the Dutch Open in September, stretched his advantage at the start of the day from one shot to four when his 23-year-old Ryder Cup-winning team mate recorded back-to-back bogeys from the fourth hole.

Double major winner McIlroy regrouped to birdie four of his next eight holes before highlighting his round with a 25-foot eagle putt at the par-five 15th, moments before Hanson walked off with a birdie.

Despite a final-hole bogey, Hanson held on to capture a sixth European Tour win while the $US1.66 million first-prize cheque is easily the biggest of his career.

"It's fantastic to win the BMW Masters and to go head-to-head with the world number one is always nice, but to come out on top, it feels great," Hanson told reporters.

"It's kind of weird because when you have that kind of lead you're playing a bit safe and I couldn't really step it up towards the end, hit the shots and get it up close to the pin.

"So it's lucky we didn't have to play another two or three holes.

"This is by far my biggest win so it feels great as we had just so many guys in the world's top 10 here... this trophy is very, very special to me."

Despite picking up a cheque for $779,000, McIlroy looked disappointed to be settling for a ninth second place finish on the European Tour.

"I didn't get the best of starts but it started coming together over the back nine ... I was aiming to make him work for it," McIlroy said.

"It would have been nice to hole that (birdie) putt on the last to have him think a little bit but it wasn't to be.

"He played well and deserved his win. To go out there with the lead and play the way he did and shoot 67 is very impressive, so he was always going to be tough to beat."

McIlroy is not contesting next week's $7 million WGC-HSBC Champions event at Shenzen and a Hanson victory there would but the Swede ahead of the Briton on the European Tour order of merit.

English Ryder Cup team mates Luke Donald (17-under) and Ian Poulter (16-under) ensured the top four spots were secured by players who helped Europe register a stunning fightback victory over the US at Medinah last month.

Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, china

First posted October 28, 2012 22:55:04

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McIlroy edges Woods in exhibition battle

Updated October 29, 2012 22:01:53

Rory McIlroy staked an early lead before holding on to win by a stroke in his "Duel at Jinsha Lake" 18-hole exhibition event against Tiger Woods on Monday.

"It was a pretty exciting day and the match was pretty close all day," Northern Ireland's McIlroy told reporters just 24 hours after finishing second in the European Tour BMW Masters event in Shanghai.

The world number one moved into a lead he would never relinquish against his American opponent when he birdied two of his opening three holes and Woods dropped a shot on the third, before going on to sign for a bogey-free 5-under 67.

On a cool and misty day in front of an enthusiastic gallery, double major winner McIlroy made the turn two shots clear of Woods at three-under par in the medal match-play encounter.

Woods, who was playing in China for a first time in two years, clawed a shot back when he chipped in from off the green at the par-three 12th but slipped two behind again with a bogey on the next.

The world number two birdied the 14th to reapply the pressure back on McIlroy and after both players picked up shots on the 15th, they each parred the final three holes with Woods almost forcing a play-off when he almost chipped in on the last.

"I got off to a good start and had a little bit of advantage for the first few holes but then Tiger birdied a few on the back nine," McIlroy said.

"All I was trying to do was to keep myself ahead and I managed to do that."

Woods arrived in Zhengzhou having finished fourth in the CIMB Classic in Malaysia on Sunday and was looking for a repeat win over McIlroy after handing the Briton a seven-shot round-robin defeat in the recent World Golf Final in Turkey.

However, both players struggled with the speed of the Jinsha Lake greens while staff fought a constant battle with fans, who often broke through security lines.

Despite his defeat, Woods hinted he would welcome further opportunities to go head-to-head against McIlroy in similar end-of-season exhibition matches.

"This certainly was not my usual way I spend Mondays but to have this many people come out and watch us play golf... was something special," Woods said.

"These events don't happen that often and it was just great to see everyone so excited to see us come here and excited to watch us play.

"So as far as doing something like this down the road, it would be fun.

"We're ranked one and two in the world respectively and to have matches like this to promote the game of golf is what it's all about."

Reuters

Tags: golf, sport, china

First posted October 29, 2012 20:41:17

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Chalmers and Tiger chasing leader in Malaysia

Updated October 26, 2012 22:04:48

Australia's Greg Chalmers is four shots off leader Robert Garrigus at the halfway stage of the Malaysia Open, with Tiger Woods lurking a shot further back.

Chalmers hit his second consecutive 66 to keep him within striking distance of the American leader who holds a three-shot lead at 14-under-par.

Woods mixed slices off the tee and errant putts with great escapes and a memorable chip-in, in a rollercoaster round of 67 watched by hundreds of loyal fans at the par-71 Mines Resort and Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur.

A day after raising the prospect of a 59 at the venue, softened by Malaysia's regular heavy rain, Woods was overshadowed by playing partner Jbe Kruger, who ignored the crowds and heat for 64 and second place, two off the leader.

America's Garrigus carded his second 64 in a row for 14-under-par 128, raising hopes of only his second ever US PGA Tour win, with a low-scoring weekend in prospect at the no-cut, 48-man event with a US$6.1 million purse.

Kruger was alone in second with Chalmers and Troy Matteson, the overnight leader, two shots further back. Woods, Brendon de Jonge and Kevin Na were grouped on nine under par.

"It's wet, it's a little bit muddy. It (low scoring) can be had out there, guys are shooting good scores, a bunch of 65s and lower today," Woods said.

"It's going to take a really low total (to win). I've just to get after it tomorrow so at least I'll have a chance on Sunday."

Woods had headed straight for a cold shower after sauna conditions in round one, but if he thought Thursday was hot, Friday was a furnace.

"That's one of the hard things. You've got to just somehow suck it up and do it," he said of the heat, forecast to again hit 32 degrees Celsius over the weekend.

"It was bothering everybody I think. It's hot out there and humid... There's just no wind here. It's just so still and heavy."

With sweat dripping from his head as early as the second tee, Woods mirrored his first day by opening with two pars and then birdying the par-five third, where a 12-foot eagle putt went begging.

Drama struck on the fourth hole as Woods sliced his tee-shot into trees and then watched as his recovery attempt lodged at the bottom of a steep, muddy, lakeside bank just inches from water by the green.

But in a tough escape, Woods took a difficult stance and hacked the ball, along with clods of mud, onto the green and two-putted from 20 feet for bogey.

Woods drained a 12-foot birdie putt on the next hole, and missed an 18-foot opportunity on the sixth -- but holed a memorable chip for birdie on the par-three seventh.

A birdie on 11 gave him a share of fourth, and he seemed to have conjured more heroics after another sliced tee-shot put him into undergrowth on a steep slope on the par-four 12th.

Woods grabbed his fairway iron and blasted to near the green, and then chipped to four feet -- but watched in frustration as the short par putt rolled just wide.

Meanwhile, round partner Kruger, who had seized the joint lead with a run of six birdies, also bogeyed 12, but then the South African hit back with birdies on 13 and 17.

Woods made a six-foot save on the 14th, and he surged back up the leaderboard at the 15th, where a 20-yard eagle chip bounced out of the cup and left him with a simple three-footer for birdie.

Another birdie on the par-five 17th, and a missed eight-foot attempt at the last, left him five shots off Garrigus, whose lead was slashed by a disappointing bogey on the final hole.

"I'm two shots ahead of the field right now. That means nothing," Garrigus said. "I'll probably be tied for the lead or behind before I get on the tee box tomorrow. That happens a lot.

"I've just got to go out and have fun, enjoy it and see what happens."

AFP

Tags: sport, golf, malaysia

First posted October 26, 2012 22:04:48

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Scott takes out first Aussie Masters

Updated November 18, 2012 18:33:40

Adam Scott cast aside memories of his late British Open collapse to produce a nerveless display in a final round face-off with Englishman Ian Poulter and storm to his first Australian Masters title.

Australia's top player shot a 5-under-par 67 on Sunday to finish on 17-under, four shots clear of Poulter, who had started the day one stroke ahead.

New Zealanders Gareth Paddison and Mark Brown shared third, a distant eight shots behind Scott.

It was world number five Scott's first win this year and second career Australian tour victory, adding to his 2009 Australian Open triumph.

He stopped Poulter becoming the only man other than Greg Norman to successfully defend a Masters title.

Unlike at the British Open, where Scott relinquished a four-hole lead with four holes to play in July to let slip what would have been his maiden major title, this time he showed superb composure.

Poulter had come into the event as one of the world's hottest golfers after winning the Champions event in China a fortnight ago and spearheading Europe's remarkable Ryder Cup win in September.

But Scott quickly asserted himself in their head to head, final group battle on Sunday.

He birdied the opening two holes - the second of those coming when he sunk a putt of about 20m from the front fringe - to seize the outright lead.

Missed shorter putts on the next two holes caused Scott to drop a shot while Poulter gained one and the Englishman regained his one-shot advantage.

A bogey on the fifth brought Poulter back to the shared lead though and Scott birdied the sixth to again move a shot clear, the sixth lead change in as many holes.

It was the last one.

The Englishman fought hard in trying to catch Scott, making birdie at the next two holes, but the Australian sunk clutch putts on both to also make consecutive birdies and retain his slender buffer.

He extended it to two when Poulter struck trouble on the par-five 12th.

Poulter found two fairway bunkers and a greenside trap to make bogey.

He again faltered at the par-five 14th, finding light rough behind the green on his way to another bogey, handing Scott a three-shot cushion.

Poulter cut it to two with a birdie at the 16th.

But a horror missed par putt from less than a metre on the 17th gave Poulter his third bogey in six holes and Scott a three-shot lead.

The Australian closed it out in emphatic style with a birdie at the last.

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, melbourne-3000

First posted November 18, 2012 17:21:39

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Out-of-sorts Appleby set to play on

Updated November 14, 2012 17:56:20

A form slide which will force Stuart Appleby to use a one-off exemption to return to the US PGA Tour hasn't dulled the Australian veteran's belief he has plenty of good years left at the top level.

The 41-year-old has been on the top-tier US tour since 1996, although this will be the second time in three years he has had to rely on a special exemption to stay there.

In 2010, he used a clause for the tour's top-25 career money earners.

He backed that up by notching the ninth tour win of his career that year, the Greenbrier Classic, on the back of a stunning final-round 59.

He won the Australian Masters at Victoria Golf Club three months later, again thanks to a fast finish.

A back injury forced Appleby to pull out of last year's Masters defence.

Then came a mediocre 2012 in the US, Appleby not finishing better than 16th in any event to place 162nd on the money list.

He will use his remaining special exemption, as a top-50 career money-earner, to return rather than fight through Qualifying School, freeing him up to be at Kingston Heath for this week's Australian Masters.

Appleby will also play December's Australian Open in Sydney and Australian PGA in Coolum.

While there has been retirement speculation, the Victorian said his body was in better shape than a year ago and he had the desire to push on for years.

"If you've got those two things and a good plan ahead, absolutely, there's no reason why you can't," Appleby told AAP at Kingston Heath on Wednesday.

"You see guys well into their 40s playing well.

"I think of guys like Vijay (Singh), he's a great example, Kenny Perry, Bernhard Langer - these guys have been around forever."

Appleby said he loved Kingston Heath and had played well there in the past.

He is also seeing the benefits of a more-structured practice program late in the US season as he rebuilds his game.

But he was not about to declare himself a contender.

"I haven't really contended at all this year, so I'm not really going to talk about anything like that," Appleby said.

"If I play like I can play, then yes, I will be.

"But there's no need to put the cart before the horse."

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, heatherton-3202, vic, australia

First posted November 14, 2012 15:49:56

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