Moving moment with mother gives Aussie Jason Day winning edge

    Jason Day high-fives the Fanatics after yesterday's emotion-fuelled round.

JASON Day has used an emotional meeting with his mother - and a "heart attack in a box" - to spur himself and Australia to the brink of World Cup glory.      

Day met his mother, Dening, for breakfast - the first time they've been face to face since eight of their family perished in last week's killer Philippines typhoon - before firing a near flawless five-under-par 66 to take a one-shot lead into the final round.His heroics also propelled he and fellow Queenslander Adam Scott into a one-shot lead in the teams event lead at Royal Melbourne.Day, 26, desperate for his maiden win on home soil as a professional, said it had been an "incredibly moving" moment to see Dening, whose own mother was among those lost in Typhoon Haiyan."It was only brief, but special … so good to see her," he said."She makes a special chicken. It's salty. We call it salty chicken. It's pretty much a heart attack in a box."If I don't show up for the round, you know where I am," he joked. Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar. End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar. Day hasn't been a prolific winner and it frustrates him no end.But what he has done repeatedly throughout his young career is perform well on tough courses and the big stage.

    Jason Day plays his second shot at the 15th hole.

 

And it won't get much bigger for Day in Australia than on Royal Melbourne today.The world No. 16 has a happy knack of playing well in tough conditions and famous courses set up to test the world's best."I just like playing difficult golf courses," he said."Easier (ones) I feel like it's more of a `putt-athon' and anyone can get around an easy golf course."That's why I find I play better at difficult golf courses because you really have to grind it out."And that's exactly what has taken Day to the top this week, on the verge of what would be just his third professional win despite an incredible six top-10 finishes in the past 13 major championships.

Jason Day knows it won’t get much bigger in Australia for him than on Royal Melbourne today. 

 

"I feel like I should be winning every week and when you hold that expectation up, you sometimes try a little bit too hard," said Day, who has just four bogeys despite incredibly trying conditions that have left just 16 players under par."That just plays you out of golf tournaments … so I have learnt to come in neutral - not really think about winning, or who is coming from behind … just gather all the information that I can possibly gather on every single shot and commit to it."But to win my first (tournament in Australia) would be amazing."To be at Royal Melbourne with the calibre of player here this week, how tough the course has been and in such a big, big tournament … I would definitely welcome it with open arms."

    Jason Day and Ricardo Santos line up their putts on the fifth yesterday.

 

Day cashed in early in his third round with two opening birdies, then tamed the back nine with the wind up to come home in 33 and sail past overnight leader Thomas Bjorn, who could only muster an even-par 71.The Queenslander's only blemish came on the short par-three fifth when he blocked his tee shot right and scrambled a bogey."Other than that I hit the ball wonderful today and stayed very patient with the greens."

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Remarkable bunker recovery lifts Adam Scott back into the big picture

   Adam Scott digs deep during the third round to haul himself back into contention at Royal Melbourne.

 

IT will appear on his scorecard as a regulation three, but there was nothing ordinary about it. Adam Scott, by his own admission tiring on his green jacket homecoming tour after wins in consecutive weeks before this World Cup, was in a horrendous lie in a greenside 14th bunker and in distinct danger of another disaster.Remember, he'd taken an almost unthinkable quintuple bogey nine on Thursday and a double-bogey six from nowhere on Friday as he battled his normally flawless swing for the first time in three weeks.And here he was, about to blast from a half-buried lie to a pin downhill, downwind and only 5m from his stance.Former touring pro Paul Gow, a three-time winner in the United States, said he'd do well to keep his shot within 8m of the pin.For how hard he'd fought to get back into the hunt after his previous calamities, Scott knew he couldn't afford it again.And with the weight of the team event, the "Scotty-slam" and his own expectations firmly on his shoulders, the Queenslander simply nipped it cleanly 3m past the pin and calmly rolled in the par putt - just as champions do. Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar. End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar. Scott then made birdies on 15 and 17 - albeit split by a bogey on the brutal 16th - and signed for what he said was an "ugly" three-under-par 68 to haul himself back into a tie for eighth when the masses had dared to write him off."The rhythm wasn't good, they weren't coming out spot on line. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't crisp," he said."That one on 14 was really good, though. I didn't really give myself much of a chance there and I hit about as good a shot as I could and yeah, it was a good day."I'm knocking the putts in that you want to make, all those ones, par saves and a few 10-footers that I got for birdie rolled in."The putter is actually starting to feel pretty good, so if I can get the rhythm back for tomorrow, you never know, it could be one of those days."Those days have become more common for Scott than most on the planet - and if he does get rolling in the final round, be sure that his name will send a shudder up the leaderboard."I've been saying there's a really low round in me and it hasn't come out yet."I'd like to find it tomorrow."Scott referred to playing Royal Melbourne so many times in a row - after last week's Australian Masters triumph on the same course - as being like "Groundhog Day".For the remaining seven players above him after his long haul back, they'd want to hope that's not entirely true.

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Stuart Manley has spectacular blow-up after hole-in-one fails to bag him a new Mercedes at World Cup

WELSH golfer Stuart Manley walked to the back of the tee and patted the shining silver Mercedes Benz at Royal Melbourne on Saturday. He thought he would collect the keys later after his centimetre-perfect eight-iron at the 161m par-three hole disappeared into the cup for a spectacular ace.Alas, a World Cup official broke the bad news as the excited 34-year-old watched his playing partner putt out - the hole-in-one prize, valued at $129,000, applied only for Sunday.

"I asked him can you let me know if it does count because I was pretty pumped up. I was devastated,'' Manley said after a one-over 72 left him tied eighth heading into today's final round.If that wasn't bad enough, what followed can only be described as golf's equivalent of a train wreck as Wales lone representative in the tournament took 11 strokes to complete the 401m par-four fourth hole.After Manley's drive buried in heavy rough, he could only chip out sideways before chunking his approach shot into a greenside bunker. He blasted through the green onto a hill and watched his chip shot scurry across the green and down a slope, coming to rest 20m below the green.He admitted he lost count of the number of times he chipped and watched in dismay as the ball twice rolled back to his feet. Eventually, he managed to get the ball to settle on the back-to-front sloping putting surface and took three putts to finish the hole a horrible seven-over par. Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar. End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar. "I was still pumped up walking up to the tee. I just made a couple of bad swings on that hole, it's just the way it goes, I guess,'' Manley said."I kept asking my caddie 'how many is that?' I actually thought it was one less, but I wasn't going to argue. My head was pretty fried, to be honest."I heard a few giggles and laughs and cheers when I actually finished out. I felt pretty bad at the end, but it's golf and I'm glad to still be in the top 10.''

 

Manley, who had started his third round with birdie, birdie and the hole-in-one eagle, regrouped to pick up a birdie two holes later, grabbed another at the short 14th and then holed a 15m chip for an eagle at the par-five 15 on the way to his adventurous 72 and two-under for the tournament."If someone had said you'll be two-under at the end after an 11, I would've taken that.,'' he said."I'm pretty strong mentally, but it was a slap in the face and gives you a wake-up call. I was playing good golf, I just had one nightmare hole. I started birdie, birdie and obviously the hole-in-one. I knew the game was there to bounce back.''It's a fair bet that he will never again sign a scorecard that starts 3-4-1-11 for the first four holes.Manley made the long dash to Melbourne after regaining his European tour card at a six-rounds qualifying school in northern Spain last week.He didn't even have time to get behind the wheel of his car at home in Aberdare. "It's a Vauxhall Insignia. It's fairly new, but it doesn't compare to that Mercedes,'' he said.
 

AN ANYTHING-BUT-REGULATION 72

Stuart Manley's amazing third round
              
Hole Par Score To par

1 4 3 -1

25 4 -2

3 3 1 -4

4 4 11 +3

5 3 3 +3

6 4 3 +2

7 4 4 +2

8 4 5 +3

9 4 4 +3

10 4 4 +3

11 4 4 +3

12 4 4 +3

13 4 4 +3

14 3 2 +2

15 5 3 E

16 4 4 E

17 4 4 E

18 4 5 +1

THE HORRROR HOLE

1. Drove into rough, 2. Chipped out sideways onto the fairway, 3. Dumped approach shot into front bunker, 4. Blasted onto a hill behind the green, 5. Pitch ran across the green and down a slope in front coming to rest 20m below the green, 6. Chip rolled back to his feet, 7. Second attempt again rolled back off the green, 8. More solid pitch ran 12m past the pin, 9. Putt ran 2m past the cup. 10. Putt up the hill to near the cup. 11 Tap in for a seven-over 11

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LPGA: Natalie Gulbis climbs into a three-way tie for top spot at Titleholders tournament

 

Natalie Gulbis moved into a three-way tie for the lead after three rounds of the LPGA CME Group Titleholders in Florida.

Gulbis bounced back from a bogey at the first and carded eight birdies in a fine round of 65 to join Gerina Piller and Pornanong Phatlum at the top of the leaderboard.

The portents were not good for Gulbis when she hooked a five-iron into the water on the par-five first, leading to an ugly six, but she soon regained her composure and rattled off three straight birdies from the third.

Further strokes were picked up at the eighth and ninth and three more birdies on the back nine meant Gulbis finished the day on 11-under.

Impressive Solheim Cup rookie Piller and Thailand star Phatlum were tied for third going into the day and carded matching rounds of five-under 67, neither dropping a shot.

But round of the day came from Women's Open champion Stacy Lewis, who stormed through the field with a nine-under 63 that included eight birdies and an eagle two at the par-four third.

That round all but wraps up the Vare Trophy for Lewis, the award given to the player with the lowest scoring average over the season.

She sits in a tie for fourth place with Shanshan Feng of China, American phenom Lexi Thompson and Germany's Sandra Gal, who led the tournament at halfway.

Gal got off to a nightmare start, dropping three shots in her first four holes, and she was only able to get one of those back over the rest of the round, but the quartet are still only two strokes behind the three leaders.

Michelle Wie moved into eighth place with a fine six-under par 66 but there was no improvement from teenage star Lydia Ko, who carded a level-par 72 to lie nine shots off the pace in a tie for 25th.

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South African Open: Charl Schwartzel one ahead in Johannesburg

 

South African Charl Schwartzel is on course to win his own national open after carding a third round 69 to claim a one-stroke lead in Johannesburg.

The 29-year-old, who was tied for the lead overnight, offset five birdies with a brace of bogeys to secure a slender advantage over two European pros.

 

Schwartzel, the world No 22, is one of only two players inside the top 100 teeing-up at Glendower this week, and on Sunday will partner Dane Morten Orum Madsen in the concluding round.

Madsen, ranked 244, is tied for second following a 69, while Italian Marco Crespi is also a single stroke adrift after a 70.

Schwartzel remarked: "It was a bit up and down but I think I did what I needed to do.

"You always think some things could have been done better."

Otto on the charge

Also well placed is 2011 champion Hennie Otto who conjured up the round of the day.

The burly South African has fired consecutive rounds of 66 and 65 and, on Saturday afternoon, endured mixed bag.

An eagle three at the second was more than wiped out by a triple-bogey seven at the ninth.

But Otto's calamitous finish to the front nine did not deter the 37-year-old from Boksburg who came home in 29 shots thanks to seven birdies in his final eight holes.

The brilliant back nine burst left the former winner just two behind Schwartzel who is seeking to become the 15th home player to lift the trophy in the last 20 stagings of the South African Open.

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World Cup of Golf: Jason Day leads after best-of-day 66 in Melbourne

 

Jason Day will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of golf's World Cup after posting a joint best-of-day five-under-par 66 at Royal Melbourne on Saturday.

The Queensland-born 25-year-old's excellent performance also enabled Australia to take over at the top of the team standings.

His third round included six birdies, as he moved one-stroke clear of Denmark's Thomas Bjorn who carded a level par 71 on day three.

Third round leaderboard

-9 J Day (Aus)
-8 T Bjorn (Den)
-6 M Kuchar (US)
-5 F Molinari (Ita)
-4 K Streelman (US)

In 54 holes over one of the world's most respected venues, Day has made just four bogeys.

Also within touching distance are Americans Matt Kuchar and Kevin Streelman, and Italy's Francesco Molinari.

Kuchar's third round 68 leaves him three strokes adrift while Molinari is a shot further back after a 66.

Streelman is one behind Molinari - and five off the pace - following a disappointing 74, not helped by dropping four shots in his opening four holes.

Streelman's mediocre score allowed Australia to assume first place in the team competition.

        

Stuart Manley experienced ecstasy and disappointment in the space of a few minutes during the World Cup in Australia.

                    

Day's team-mate Adam Scott made 68 on Saturday to help the hosts slip one stroke clear of the United States.

Japan are third - seven shots behind - while Denmark are nine off the pace.

A delighted Day said: "You just have to have some patience. I like playing difficult golf courses, that's what I do best."

As for the home challenge Ireland, represented by Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry, lead the way in a share of sixth spot, while England and Scotland are two strokes further behind.

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Germany's Sandra Gal takes three-shot lead into weekend at LPGA Titleholders

 

Sandra Gal defied blustery conditions in Florida to open up a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the LPGA Titleholders Championship.

The German followed up her opening 64 with a solid three-under 69 to claim a commanding lead over Sun Young Yoo at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples.

Gal mixed two birdies with a pair of bogeys in a steady front-nine 36 before picking up three shots over the last seven holes to remain at the top of the leaderboard.

Yoo emerged as Gal's closest challenger as she kept a bogey off her card in a second-consecutive 68 - one of only 10 sub-70 scores on the second day.

Two-time major winner Cristie Kerr earned a share of third on six under despite a double-bogey at the first hole and another dropped shot at the third.

The American bounced back with three straight birdies from the sixth and added another at 12 before making a superb eagle at the penultimate hole to return a 69.

Kerr is alongside compatriot Gerina Piller, who fired a flawless, best-of-the-day 67, and Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum, while Gal's Solheim Cup team-mate Anna Nordqvist lost ground on the leaders after a 73 left her six adrift.

Lydia Ko's professional debut again attracted large galleries, although the 16-year-old sensation looks unlikely to claim her third LPGA Tour title after she battled to a second one-under 71.

Catriona Matthew, the lone Briton in the field, also has plenty of ground to make up after an erratic 73 which featured a bogey, one double-bogey and an eagle at 17.

The season finale, open to players who posted top-three finishes this year, features a top prize of $700,000 - the largest on the LPGA Tour.

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Tiger Woods' World Challenge will move from California to Florida next year

 

Tiger Woods has announced that his World Challenge tournament will move from California to Florida from next season.

The invitational end-of-season charity event has been played at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks since 2001.

But the tournament host has now arranged to stage the event at Isleworth Country Club near Orlando, where Woods regularly worked on his game until moving to south Florida two years ago.

Isleworth has also hosted the Tavistock Cup on a number of occasions since its launch in 2004, and several of the world's top players are based there and at the neighbouring Lake Nona.

"I'm looking forward to this next phase of the World Challenge and what it can bring to Florida."
Tiger Woods

The world No 1, who has won the title five times, confirmed the tournament will now benefit both the Tiger Woods Foundation and the Tavistock Group.

"We have a longstanding relationship with Tavistock Group and my friend, Joe Lewis, and I am thrilled to see it grow in support of our foundations," said Woods in a statement on his foundation's website.

"We've enjoyed 15 amazing years in Southern California, which helped us launch our flagship Tiger Woods Learning Center.

Next phase

"It serves as a lasting tribute to the local fans that have supported us year after year. I'm looking forward to this next phase of the World Challenge and what it can bring to Florida."

The elite, 18-player tournament now offers world ranking points due to the high quality of the field, and the event has raised over $25m for the Tiger Woods Foundation since its launch in 1999.

"We've been looking for ways to expand our relationship with Tavistock and this is a perfect fit," said foundation president and CEO Greg McLaughlin.

"The golf season has evolved significantly since our first tournament in 1999. We are very proud of the $25 million the World Challenge has raised, and we've been evaluating the best path forward to continue this work.

"We are excited to partner with Tavistock Group and honored to bring our tournament to Isleworth."

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South African Open: Charl Schwartzel tied for lead after second round 65 at Glendower

 

 

Pre-tournament favourite Charl Schwartzel carded an eagle and seven birdies to tie for the halfway lead at the South African Open.

Schwartzel's second round 65 in the afternoon at Glendower Golf Club saw him match the clubhouse lead of Italian Marco Crespi who had earlier posted 12-under after a 67.

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Former Masters champion Schwartzel, who turned in just 29, said of his fast start: "It was just one of those nines where most things go right. I made some really good iron shots, put myself in play, and the greens are just in such fantastic condition that if you get the line right they go in, and that was pretty much the case.

"I holed some nice putts and played some great shots to turn in seven under. It looked like it could be a really low one at one stage.

"It's nice to turn in a low nine and get yourself quickly up the board. I got a bit derailed by a short putt on 10. Actually a good putt but, late on the afternoon on the greens with all the guys stepping round the hole, I managed to hit a little footprint and it came back at me.

"It sort of put the brakes on a little bit. Who knows what I would have been on if that went in?"

Second round leaderboard

(SA unless stated)

-12 C Schwartzel
-12 M Crespi (Ita)
-11 M O Madsen (Den)
-10 C Basson
-9 Jbe Kruger
-9 J Morrison (Eng)

 

Crespi, 35, has only had his European Tour card seven days after finishing third at the Qualifying School at PGA Golf Catalunya last week.

Pretty amazing

He said: "I missed a lot of fairways and a lot of greens today. My long game was not how I like to play. My putting and chipping was pretty amazing.

"I was expecting a good tournament because I was playing well. Obviously not this big but I'm confident about the weekend. I'll just try to remain calm and play my game."

Morten Orum Madsen is the leading duo's nearest challenger after an impressive 66 left the Dane 11-under and just a shot back.

It would have been even better for Madsen put for a bogey four on the penultimate hole - his only dropped shot of the day.

"I holed some nice putts and played some great shots to turn in seven under."
Charl Schwartzel

Behind Madsen are two South Africans, Christiaan Basson on 10-under after a 68 and Jbe Kruger, looking to regain his full European Tour playing rights having been outside the top 110 on last season's Race to Dubai, at nine-under following his 70 today. England's James Morrison, who carded a 66, is level with Kruger.

Former US Open Champion and two-time winner of this event Retief Goosen had been on course to take his place on the leaderboard but double bogeyed the fifth after hitting a poor drive and seeing his second shot finish against a tree.

The double Major winner eventually signed for a 71 to be part of a large group on seven under.

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World Cup of Golf: Thomas Bjorn sets the pace at Royal Melbourne

Thomas Bjorn posted a three-under-par 68 to take a one-shot lead into the third round of the World Cup of Golf at Royal Melbourne.

The 42-year-old Dane book-ended his round with bogeys but five birdies in between secured a narrow halfway advantage over Kevin Streelman.

The American opened with birdies on his first four holes but a bogey at eight and a double-bogey at the next saw him come back to the field.

Second round leaderboard

-8 T Bjorn (Den)
-7 K Streelman (US)
-4 J Day (Aus)
-7 R Santos (Por)

Three shots further back are Jason Day (70) of Australia and Portugal's Ricardo Santos, who matched Streelman's 69 for a two-round total 138.

Scotland's Martin Laird and Stuart Manley of Wales both carded one-over 72s to share fifth place alongside Matt Kuchar (68) of the United States and Japan's Hideto Tanihara (67).

In the team event Streelman and Kuchar lead the way on 10-under-par, three shots clear of Danish duo Bjorn and Thorbjorn Olesen with Japan and Australia a further four strokes adrift.

After the round a satisfied Bjorn said: "There were a couple of things that happened on the golf course today that really tested me. I three-putted the first, so got caught a little bit there.

"But after that I patiently worked my way into the round and played very solid. Maybe not quite as good as yesterday on the front nine, but on the back nine I played awesome.

"Obviously it was disappointing to bogey the last, but if you'd asked me when the ball was in the air, I would've said you couldn't have hit a better golf shot."

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LPGA: Sandra Gal earns one-shot lead as Lydia Ko struggles on professional debut

Sandra Gal got off to a flying start at the LPGA Titleholders Championship in Florida as teenage superstar Lydia Ko made her professional debut.

Solheim Cup star Gal birdied her first six holes after starting at the 10th, and the German picked up three more shots over her last four holes to card a superb eight-under 64.

The only blot on her card was a bogey at the fifth as Gal earned a one-stroke lead over Canadian Rebecca Lee-Bentham, who also covered the back nine in 30 blows before hitting back from a bogey at the second with birdies at four and nine.

Gal's Solheim Cup team-mate Anna Nordqvist is a further shot adrift after mixing eight birdies with two dropped shots, including a mistake at the last which cost her a share of second.

The Swede is alongside in-form Lexi Thompson and China's Shanshan Feng, who provided one of the highlights of the day when she holed her approach to the ninth for an unlikely eagle.

World No 1 Inbee Park of Korea is in a six-way tie four shots off the lead after a round comprising one bogey and five birdies, while Scottish veteran Catriona Matthew - the lone Briton in the field, opened with a solid 70.

But much of the attention was on 16-year-old Ko, who already has two LPGA Tour titles under her belt as an amateur.

The Seoul-born New Zealander, the youngest person ever to win a professional golf tour event, made a nervy start as she double-bogeyed the third and dropped another shot at the seventh.

But she responded with birdies at the eighth, 12th, 15th and 17th holes to salvage a one-under 71 which left her tied for 30th in the 69-player field.

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South African Open: England's Matthew Nixon takes slim round one lead after late eagle

 

An eagle on his penultimate hole allowed Matthew Nixon to open up a one-shot lead after round one of the South African Open at Glendower Golf Club in Ekurhuleni.

The Englishman carded a round of 64 to finish the opening day on eight under par, one shot ahead of Marco Crespi and Jbe Kruger.

Italian Crespi, who has only been in possession of a European Tour card for only six days, looked set for a dream day until Nixon's strong finish replaced him and home hope Kruger atop the leaderboard.

First round leaderboard

(RSA unless stated)

-8 M Nixon (Eng)
-7 M Crespi (Ita)
-7 J Kruger
-6 C Basson
-6 R Goosen

Nixon started on the back nine and opened his round with three birdies as he reached the turn in 31 before dropping a shot on his 11th hole.

Two further birdies put him within one shot of the lead and his eagle on the 477-yard par-five eighth saw him leapfrog Crespi and Kruger to claim the overnight advantage.

Crespi finished third at the Qualifying School at PGA Golf Catalunya last week to secure his place on Tour for the 2014 season and on Thursday fired an opening 65 which included an eagle in his 16th hole.

Kruger, like Nixon, eagled the eighth and then birdied five of his last seven holes to edge ahead of a host of fellow South Africans in the chasing pack.

Home charge

Two-time US Open winner Retief Goosen was leading the group on six under after seven birdies, including one on the last, and a single bogey saw him fire a 66 alongside Christiaan Basson.

Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel was expected to be in contention as he attempts to win his home tournament for the first time, but it was a surprise to see his younger brother Atti join him on five under.

"It means a lot, I'd love to win the South African Open," Charl Schwartzel told the European Tour's official website.

"I did my preparation and figured out the way I want to play the golf course and it worked today. I've always had really good results in the South African Open, come close a few times.

"I reckon it's one of those where you have to keep at it and keep playing and it will come eventually."

Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen and Italian Andrea Pavan were also on five under, one shot clear of Simon Dyson, who was playing his first tournament since disqualification from the BMW Masters after signing for an incorrect score.

The Englishman put aside concerns over an impending disciplinary hearing after being charged with a serious rules breach, despite insisting his actions were an accidental mistake after television footage showed him touching the line of a putt.

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World Cup: Kevin Streelman and Thomas Bjorn share first round lead

 

Kevin Streelman of the United States and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn share the lead after the opening round of the World Cup at Royal Melbourne.

Streelman led the way for the Americans with a five-under-par 66 which featured five birdies on the back nine before two late bogeys checked his charge.

His team-mate Matt Kuchar could only manage a level-par 71 after four bogeys on the back nine.

Streelman said: "I made some good birdie putts today and some par saves as well, so pretty happy. It's just an incredible golf course, I love it. I just had a lot of fun there to be honest."

Bjorn also started strongly with a 66 as his team-mate Thorbjorn Olesen matched Kuchar's 71.

Bjorn had a poor start to his day, four-putting the fourth hole for a double-bogey six, but made a fine recovery.

He said: "I thought, 'Well, this could be a long day,' but I just kind of kept my composure and made some good birdies and kept playing solid. It is, in my eyes, probably the finest golf course you can ever play."

Portugal third

Portugal are in third place in the team event on two under - three behind both Denmark and defending champions USA - while in the individual standings third place is tied between South Korea's KJ Choi, Martin Laird of Scotland and Stuart Manley of Wales on four under.

Laird's compatriot Stephen Gallacher could only manage a 74, while English duo Danny Willett and Chris Wood opened with scores of 69 and 75 respectively.

Manley is playing as one of eight individuals in the 60-player field after Jamie Donaldson withdrew with a back injury.

In-form Australian Adam Scott, who has won the Australian PGA and Australian Masters over the past two weeks, had a quintuple-bogey nine on the 12th as he carded a 75.

Scott's compatriot Jason Day shot a solid 68 to be two off the pace, alone on three under.

Day, grieving the loss of eight relatives in the Philippines who were killed in Typhoon Haiyan, rolled in five birdies and two bogeys in his first round in five weeks.

Graeme McDowell, playing for Ireland, carded a one-over 72 with double-bogeys on the sixth and 18th wrecking his card although he holed a long-range chip for an eagle on the par-four ninth.

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Graeme McDowell expects to play for Ireland at 2016 Olympic Games

 

Graeme McDowell has declared his intention to play for Ireland when golf makes its Olympic debut in the 2016 Rio Games.

 

The former US Open champion is again representing Ireland along with Shane Lowry at this week's World Cup of Golf in Melbourne.

 

Being from Northern Ireland entitles McDowell to have the option of playing for either Ireland or Great Britain in the Olympic Games.

 

But by-law two of rule 41 of the Olympic Charter states that if an athlete has represented a country in a tournament recognised by the relevant international federation, in this case the International Golf Federation (IGF), then three years must pass before they can represent another at an Olympic Games.

With McDowell playing for Ireland in Australia this week, he would then be committed to the country for the 2016 Games although his allegiance could be changed if agreed by the IGF, national Olympic committees and the International Olympic Committee Executive Board.

 

The 34-year-old, along with countryman Rory McIlroy, has always been coy on the subject of Olympic allegiance but McDowell hinted that the decision had now been made for him.

"It is a very touchy political and religious subject, one that myself and Rory have not really enjoyed answering questions about the last few years because it is very difficult to pick a side because you are going to end up upsetting someone from either side."
Graeme McDowell

"I believe that me being here and representing Ireland will, with the Olympic regulations, mean that I will have to play for Ireland when it comes to the Olympics in 2016," McDowell told www.pgatour.com

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Simon Dyson to play in SA Open as he awaits disciplinary hearing

 

 

Simon Dyson will return to action at this week's South African Open despite facing the prospect of a European Tour suspension.

 

The Englishman was disqualified from last month's BMW Masters in Shanghai after he was deemed to have touched the line of his putt on the eighth green in the second round.

 

Having marked his ball four feet from the hole, he appeared to press down a spike mark with his ball - an offence the tournament committee were alerted to by television viewers.

Dyson's actions incurred a two-shot penalty, which he failed to add to his card before signing, leading to his disqualification.

 

He now faces a disciplinary hearing in December, and he withdrew from the recent Turkish Airways Open but he has decided to play in this week's opening event of the new European Tour season in Gauteng.

 

The 35-year-old has maintained his actions in Shanghai were an accidental mistake, but after being charged with a serious rules breach he could be handed a ban at his hearing next month.

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Louis Oosthuizen forced to miss Alfred Dunhill Championship

 

Louis Oosthuizen has been forced to pull out of next week's Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek after having painkilling cortisone injections in his back.

 

The South African has struggled with a lower back problem this year and missed two months of action after withdrawing from the Open Championship - a tournament he won in 2010.

 

A course of injections to reduce pain and inflammation in the affected area has now ruled him out for two weeks.

 

"I was really excited to play in the tournament so it is very disappointing to miss out," the 31-year-old said.

 

"My back has been sore during the last few tournaments and it has been frustrating. I'm hopeful the injections will free up the problem and enable it to go away completely."

 

Oosthuizen, whose last victory came on home soil at the Volvo Golf Champions in January, aims to return at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in December.

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Golf Governing Bodies Tweak Rules Over 'Trial by Television'

 

Golf's governing bodies have made a total of 87 changes to the 2014-2015 version of their 'Decisions on the Rules of Golf', among them one allowing players to make more use of modern technology during the course of their round.

 

The changes also reduce the ability of TV viewers to report what they perceive as breaches of the rules when players' balls appear to move without being touched, despite the movement being undetectable by the naked eye.

 

The availability of instant replay facilities at home has seen this trend rise in recent years with a number of armchair 'judges' phoning TV stations to flag up the alleged indiscretions.

The new Decision makes it clear that 'where enhanced technological evidence, eg digital recording or online visual media etc, shows that a ball has left its position and come to rest in another location, the ball will not be deemed to have moved if that movement was not reasonably discernible to the naked eye at the time'.

 

The Royal and Ancient and the US Golf Association, who meet every two years to review their rules, have added three new Decisions to their 'bible', revised 59 and have re-numbered one.

 

A total of 24 have also been withdrawn from the book, which contains more than 1,200 entries designed to address specific situations under the Rules of Golf.

 

Thomas Pagel, the USGA's senior director of the Rules of Golf, said: "The rules are constantly evolving and this review process is an opportunity for the R&A and the USGA to continue to help make the game more understandable and accessible for players, officials and others who participate in the game."

Other notworthy changes are:

 

1. New Decision 14-3/18 confirms that players can access reports on weather conditions on a smartphone during a round without breaching the Rules. Importantly, this new Decision also clarifies that players are permitted to access information on the threat of an impending storm in order to protect their own safety.

 

2. Revised Decision 25-2/0.5 helps to clarify when a golf ball is considered to be embedded in the ground through the use of illustrations.

 

3. Revised Decision 27-2a/1.5 allows a player to go forward up to approximately 50 yards without forfeiting his or her right to go back and play a provisional ball.

 

David Rickman, The R&A's executive director (Rules and Equipment Standards), said: "It is important to consider carefully new developments in the game and that is reflected in the new Decisions on the Rules which give greater clarity on the use of smart phones and advanced video technology."

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World Cup Guide

 

 

The World Cup is back in Australia for the first time in 25 years and fourth time in all.

 

This week's venue Royal Melbourne was also the location for all three previous visits in 1959, 1972 and 1988.

 

However, the competition has undergone a complete revamp, with most of those teeing-up this week chasing victory on two fronts.

 

While the team element continues, the main focus will now be as an individual event, with the tournament following the format to be used when golf takes its place at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

 

Eight of the 60 players will only compete for the individual prize while the remaining 52 will form part of the 26 two-man team event.

 

The combined 72-hole totals of the two players representing each nation will determine the finishing order of the team competition - thus the country with the lowest 144-hole total will be deemed the winner.

 

As for the venue, Royal Melbourne is probably Australia's best known course and certainly its most revered.

 

The club was formed in 1891, moving to its current home ten years later.

The composite layout features 12 holes from the club's West Course and six from the East.

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American Peter Uihlein has been named rookie of the year by the European Tour

 

Peter Uihlein has been named Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year on the European Tour, the first American to receive the award.

 

The 24-year-old, who turned professional in December 2011 after a successful amateur career, won his maiden title at the Madeira Islands Open in May before finishing second at both the Wales Open and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in September.

 

Uihlein also had several other top-10 finishes and ended up in 14th spot in The Race to Dubai.

 

"It's an honour to win the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award," said Uihlein.

 

"I wasn't expecting it, but it's been a great year and I'm very pleased. I think I'm the first non-European to win it, so that's a great honour. Any time you're the first of anything, it's neat.

"The win in Madeira was great and I had a lot of top 10s. The win opened a few doors for me and I was able to play at Wentworth (the BMW PGA Championship) the following week."

European Tour chief executive George O'Grady added: "We heartily congratulate Peter on an outstanding season, during which he has thrilled golf fans and challenged for several titles.

 

"His incredible 60 at Kingsbarns (at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship), which ended with his eagle putt for a 59 missing by a fraction, will go down as one of the finest displays on The European Tour."

 

Previous winners of the award, which was launched in 1960, include Sir Nick Faldo (1977), Jose Maria Olazabal (1986), Colin Montgomerie (1988), Ian Poulter (2000) and Martin Kaymer (2007).

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Jason Day plays in World Cup of Golf despite losing eight relatives in Philippines typhoon

 

Jason Day still plans to take part in this week's World Cup of Golf despite learning that he lost eight relatives in the Philippines typhoon disaster.

 

The 27-year-old has been informed that his grandmother, uncle and six cousins were amongst the thousands killed when Typhoon Haiyan struck the country last week.

 

Day released a statement saying: "I am deeply saddened to confirm that multiple members of my family lost their lives as the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

 

"My family and I are thankful for all who have reached out with their prayers and concern. We feel devastated for all who have been affected by this horrific tragedy.

 

"I will have no further public comments at this time. Please pray for all who have suffered loss."

Day's mother, Dening, who is of Philippines descent, migrated to Australia some 30 years ago.

Difficult time

She admitted it had been extremely difficult being so far away from the tragedy, but remained confident that her son would be able to remain focused on his golfing commitments.

 

"You can't do anything, you can't help, you can't even talk to them to find out what's going on," she said.

 

"But he's a very strong boy, mentally he's very strong. Hopefully he can focus on what he is doing."

 

Day will partner Masters champion Adam Scott at the World Cup which gets underway at Royal Melbourne Golf Club on Thursday.

 

Playing on home soil, the Queenslanders are unsurprisingly hot favourites to win the four-day competition with the in-form Scott having won on his last two stroke-play outings.

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Harris English cards final round of 65 to win OHL Classic at Mayakoba by four shots

 

American Harris English produced a superb final round of 65 to win the rain-affected OHL Classic at Mayakoba by four strokes.

 

It was the 24-year-old's second PGA Tour victory, his first coming at the St Jude Classic in Memphis five months ago.

English had to play a total of 29 holes on Sunday as the tournament made up for ground lost to inclement weather during Thursday first round.

 

A third round of 68 had left the Georgia native tied for second on 15-under-par behind long-time leader Robert Karlsson.

 

The duo were paired together in the final group but, despite an early bogey at the second, it was English who played much the more consistent golf and four birdies on the front nine ensured he stayed in touch with the Swede who boosted his hopes with an eagle at the fifth.

But the momentum swung towards English on the back nine after three birdies in the space of four holes between 10 and 13.

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Lorena Ochoa Invitational: Lexi Thompson edges out Stacy Lewis

 

American teenager Lexi Thompson notched her second victory in four starts by snatching a one-shot success in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.

 

The 18-year-old edged out her compatriot Stacy Lewis after birdieing the 18th hole at Guadalajara Country Club in Mexico to card a three-under-par 69 in the final round which took her to 16-under 272.

 

Thompson started the day one shot ahead of South Korea's IK Kim on 13 under with Lewis a shot further back in third.

 

Birdies at the seventh, ninth and 10th kept Thompson clear of Lewis, who also had three birdies over the first 10 holes, as Kim's challenge faded.

 

A bogey from Lewis at the 11th appeared to have handed Thompson the win but the following three holes saw a dramatic turnaround as Lewis rattled in three successive birdies and Thompson dropped a shot at the 12th.

 

However, there was to be one final twist over the closing holes as Lewis bogeyed the 17th and Thompson stepped in at the last - holing a five-foot birdie putt before Lewis missed from a similar distance - to add the title to her LPGA Malaysia crown from last month and her 2011 LPGA Navistar Classic victory.

 

South Korea's So Yeon Ryu fired in three birdies on the back nine for a 69 to claim third place on 13 under, two shots ahead of compatriot Inbee Park (69). Norway's Suzann Pettersen (70) shared fifth place with first-round leader Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand (71) on 10 under, while Kim slipped back to nine under following a three-over 75. England's Jodi Ewart-Shadoff had to settle for a share of 25th place on two under after closing with a level-par 72, while Catriona Matthew of Scotland (73) finished in 29th spot on level par for the tournament.

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Fellow European Tour professionals line up to say well done to Henrik Stenson

Henrik Stenson has been lauded by his fellow European Tour professionals after securing the Race to Dubai title.

The Swede capped an incredible 2013 season with victory in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, beating Ian Poulter by six shots to finish things off in style.

        

Some famous faces from the world of golf share their thoughts on Henrik Stenson after he won the DP World Tour Championship.

                  

Stenson became the first player to win the European Tour's overall ranking as well as the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup in the same season.

Defending Race champion Rory McIlroy led the tributes, saying: "Henrik is playing too good for everyone it looks like right now.

"He's done really well. He's played all these four events in the Final Series and he's really wanted to get the job done, and he's been pushed all the way.

"Justin Rose, Ian Poulter, G Mac and even Victor Dubuisson, they have pushed him all the way. He's responded in unbelievable fashion so he definitely deserves this."

Emphatic

Lee Westwood added: "He's been there or thereabouts every week, and in the biggest tournaments. That's how golf is when you get on a run."

Rose, who eventually finished third overall behind Stenson and Poulter, said: "He came in as No 1 and to win the golf tournament.

"It's probably not all he had to do, but it's an emphatic way for him to finish the season and exactly like he did in the FedEx Cup, and it's been a very impressive year.

"It was going to take a great performance to get past Henrik. He's done well to hold off all challengers this week."

And 2011 champion Luke Donald joined in, saying: "I don't think there's been a better player in golf the last six months, and Henrik looks in total control.

"He's missed one green the first three days. He's making golf look easy, and believe me, it's not that easy. Hats off to him and he deserves everything he's getting."

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