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Geordie Ahmed

Geordie Ahmed

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This thread is dedicated to the wonderful sport of Golf (Majors will have their own threads)
 
Stunning putt earns Woods victory

from bbc.co.uk/sport

Tiger Woods holed a remarkable 24-foot putt at the 18th to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill as he continued his six-month winning streak.

The world number one arrived at the final hole level with Bart Bryant on nine-under-par but sunk a birdie to clinch his seventh successive win.

Woods was in a five-way tie for the lead at the start of the final round.

He soon moved out on his own with a flawless front nine - holing three birdies, before that stunning finale.

"It didn't surprise me one bit," said Bryant. "You've still got to chuckle even though you're not surprised. Nothing he does anymore surprises me."

It marked a remarkable turnaround for Woods who was down in 20th place, seven shots off the lead, after the second day's play on Friday.

Vijay Singh led the way going into Saturday, but Woods produced an impressive comeback on the penultimate day to tie at the top of the leaderboard with the Fijian, Sean O'Hair, Bart Bryant and Bubba Wilson.

Last year's winner Singh eventually had to settle for a share of third place with Americans Cliff Kresge and O'Hair after a final round 69.

Bryant, ranked 137th before this event, produced a consistent final round of 67 but could do nothing as he was left to watch a perfect putt from Woods for victory.

It is Woods's fifth career win at Bay Hill and means he is the first player in PGA Tour history to win four tournaments at least five times.

Of his winning putt, Woods said: "It's just like when I beat Phil Mickelson here a few years ago, only this time it was a bit deeper in the green.

"I had to at least make par to get in a play-off and lo and behold I made birdie. That's pretty good."

Next up is the CA Championship at Doral, which he has won six times.
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That is some amazing stuff from Tiger Woods, the guy is playing unbelievable Golf at the moment. Winning 7 straight tournaments is a phenomenal achievement.

Even when he seems out of it, the guy somehow manages to claw his way back in and grab a win. I bet the other Golfers are sick of him.

Surely we are witnessing the greatest Golfer of all time and you would be hard pressed to find a greater sportsman in the world right now.
 
any reasons why we don't see any Pakistani golfers even on the Asian circuit ?
 
in pakistan we dont have golf courses! come to think of it.. the only grass we DO have is cricket pitches!! ;-)
 
jusarrived said:
any reasons why we don't see any Pakistani golfers even on the Asian circuit ?
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I havnt the foggiest.

Im a relative newbie to the fascinating sport of Golf. Started watching it properly last year and even started playing briefly (hopefully will start to play again in a month or two when the weather improves). So really Im not too familiar with Golf aside from the major tournaments, PGA tours etc etc

Im not familiar with the Golf facilities in Pakistan, I can only assume they are below par.
 
SameerM said:
in pakistan we dont have golf courses! come to think of it.. the only grass we DO have is cricket pitches!! ;-)
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There are some (Im sure I saw some documentary or show with some minister playing Golf) BUT they are a rareity
 
there are loads of pakistani golfers in leeds

it's a bit of a phonomenon - i think it's a keeping up with jones' type thing and a show of upword social mobility

i even got dragged into playing once!!

we have a young lad down here who is tipped for golfing greatness
 
i just like the driving ranges... get ur self a bucket of balls and then lauch them as hard as u can.. did that once only.. when i was about 12 with my uncle.

Other then that it seems a slow, slow game that would take all day to play!!!
 
on a tangent.. anyone see the Ozzies before the ashes i think it was.. they were practicing with a cricket bat in a DRIVING RANGE??

Symmonds was having cricket balls thrown to him underarm, and he was smacking them, practising his pulling and hooking and driving
 
Geordie Ahmed said:
I havnt the foggiest.

Im a relative newbie to the fascinating sport of Golf. Started watching it properly last year and even started playing briefly (hopefully will start to play again in a month or two when the weather improves). So really Im not too familiar with Golf aside from the major tournaments, PGA tours etc etc

Im not familiar with the Golf facilities in Pakistan, I can only assume they are below par.
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The reason i asked was , indians have been doing really well at the world stage lately ....of the first 5 asian/eu tour indians have either won or come second ....there are 6 indians in top 11 of asian order of merit...most experts think , as kids start playing cricket at a very young age it helps them with the swing & being naturally wristy as we have seen in cricket also helps .....I thot it shud be the same case for paksitan .

I follow the asian , european & US tour closely ....asian & european tours are also very competetive & surprisingly I have never seen a pak golfer on asian circuit , apart from this guy muneer(?) who took part in indian open & few other tournaments .
 
jusarrived said:
The reason i asked was , indians have been doing really well at the world stage lately ....of the first 5 asian/eu tour indians have either won or come second ....there are 6 indians in top 11 of asian order of merit...most experts think , as kids start playing cricket at a very young age it helps them with the swing & being naturally wristy as we have seen in cricket also helps .....I thot it shud be the same case for paksitan .

I follow the asian , european & US tour closely ....asian & european tours are also very competetive & surprisingly I have never seen a pak golfer on asian circuit , apart from this guy muneer(?) who took part in indian open & few other tournaments .
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Yeah the Indians are certainly making big strides in Golf - I guess it all depends on the support and facilities that the Golfing Authorities provide.

Im assuming only a tiny amount of people play Golf in Pakistan, if they want to improve then they need more people to take up the sport.
 
Geordie Ahmed said:
Yeah the Indians are certainly making big strides in Golf - I guess it all depends on the support and facilities that the Golfing Authorities provide.

Im assuming only a tiny amount of people play Golf in Pakistan, if they want to improve then they need more people to take up the sport.
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from wat I have read , the facilties in pak is decent ....the cource which held lat years pak open was quite good as well ... the results might take couple of years to show !
 
jusarrived said:
from wat I have read , the facilties in pak is decent ....the cource which held lat years pak open was quite good as well ... the results might take couple of years to show !
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Yeah BUT that is just one course - if we are to expect Pakistan to produce more and more good Golfers then there needs to be more quality courses around the country - not only that the game needs to be given more exposure BUT I cant see that happening. Its all about Cricket really, even a sport like Hockey is suffering and that is light years ahead of Golf
 
Golf is one of best sports where one plays against a course yet in the end ends up playing each other. That is why it is so hard to win. There are few passionate golfers and fans here at PP. They will pop up before the Masters for sure.

To me the ugly green jacket is the ultimate prize to win. Tiger has four of them. In 1999 or 2000 Palmer (The king) said that, "Tiger would win more green jackets than me and Jack (The Bear) combined." Things are falling in place and and it seems his words are just formality now.

I liked Tom Watson but my favorite player was an Aussie named "The Shark". Then Duval. Tiger is just too good. In PGA winning one tournament is very tough. Making a streak is unbelievable. That is why Nelson's 11 is the hardest record to break in all sports. Even harder than the 99 average Bradman has.
 
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Ah so 11 wins on the trot is the record?

Would be amazing if Tiger can beat that BUT it will certainly not be easy
 
Yes!! 11 is the mark.
Tiger went to six twice. That was the 2nd best in the history!! lol.

18 majors is another record by Jack Nickolas was thought untouchable until Tiger started winning in bunches. Tiger has 13 that is also the second best in the history.
 
Yeah I was aware of the 18 majors and that is definately achievable by Tiger, I would expect Tiger to get atleast 2 this year. If he plays like he is now then Im sure a clean sweep is on the cards
 
Casey relishing duel with Woods

from bbc.co.uk/sport

Paul Casey says he thrives competing alongside Tiger Woods after the British number five was drawn to play with the world number one in Miami on Thursday.
Woods is bidding for a successful defence of his WGC-CA Championship title for an eighth straight victory.

Casey, 28th in the world, played 54 holes with Woods at the 2007 Masters and said: "It raises my game a little. You can feed off his focus and energy.

"He's setting the pace, so why not be right next to him and see how you go?"

Casey went on: "He's great to play with because he compliments you if you hit a good shot.

"I stay in my own little bubble but there have been occasions when you witness things that are a little different."

Casey tied for 10th at Augusta last year, with Woods in a tie for second, but the Englishman missed the cut at last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational, won by Woods.

The 32-year-old American has now won nine of his last 10 starts since last July's Open and was second in the other event.

He has not always dominated his events, but has delivered the killer punch when it matters. He holed a 24-foot putt on the 18th at Bay Hill on Sunday to beat countryman Bart Bryant by one stroke.

"What people talk about in the locker room is how does he putt so well every week?" said Australia's 2006 US champion Geoff Ogilvy.

"Lots of guys can work out how to hit it well every week, but week in and week out, he seems to make bombs all over the place, which is not easy to do.

"That's the bit people can't work out, how does he hole that many putts?"

Woods is chasing Byron Nelson's record of 11 straight wins on the PGA Tour, set in 1945.

"Tiger has a good career every year," added Ogilvy. "Last year would have been a good career for anybody, a major and seven other tournaments. That's a career, and he does it every year.

"He has his ups and downs but his ups tend to last longer than most people's and his downs don't last very long, and are very good."

Woods will try to extend his winning streak at a course - the Blue Monster - where he has enjoyed plenty of success.

He has won at Doral for the past three years, twice on the PGA Tour and last year in the World Golf Championship event.

This year's field has been set at 79 players, with Open champion Padraig Harrington the only one among the world's top 50 absent as he builds up to the Masters, the year's first major, which starts on 10 April.

Colin Montgomerie, who missed the cut at Bay Hill last week, needs to finish in the top four to climb from 66th into the world's top 50.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell needs a top-five placing after rising to 59th with victory in the European Tour's Ballantine's Championship in South Korea at the weekend.

The pair will then have to remain in the top 50 when the world golf rankings are published on 31 March to secure a berth at Augusta.

Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald, Nick Dougherty, Ross Fisher and Graeme Storm make up the British contingent.
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Its amazing hearing other players talk about Tiger, its as if Tiger isnt human - I guess its cos he plays on another level to these guys. Psychologically he has the beating of them.
 
Luck crucial to success - Woods

from bbc.co.uk/sport
World number one Tiger Woods has revealed his belief that success is impossible without an element of luck.

Woods, who has won 13 Majors, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "You cannot win events without having a break here and there.

"You can hit a borderline shot. It could easily bounce one way, but all of a sudden it bounces your way and ends up on the green and you make a putt.

"Little things like that happen. I have never played an event without having one break go my way in order to win."

Woods is currently on a remarkable six-month winning streak, and clinched the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill earlier this month with a stunning 24-foot putt at the 18th.

The 32-year-old is also the first player in PGA Tour history to win four tournaments at least five times.

And he admitted achieving that level of success has taken a lot of determination and discipline, as well as good fortune.

"A lot of it is due to hard work," he said. "To be able to put myself in a strong position.

"I have to work on my mechanics and make sure they are sound, so that I am pretty consistent day-in and day-out."

Woods begins the defence of his WGC-CA Championship title on Thursday, where he will be aiming for an eighth straight victory.
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I would agree with him, he is brilliant BUT here and there he does get the lucky breaks. BUT as some say you create your own luck.

I hope he can get an 8th straight victory
 
I read somewhere after the last victory he was saying he is still improving and not reached his peak. Bad news for the rest of the professional golfers.

What he meant was Ben Hogan owned his swing and he doesn't yet. Hogan had such control of his swings that when the mechanics were off (For golfers this is a common occurance) he could change adjust his swings on the fly right then and there. This needs an astounding amount of practice. That way in a tournament Hogan was never out. He could come back and beat anyone like Parmer or Snead, just by tweaking his stands or swings a little while playing. Tiger wants to own his swing like Hogan. He is feeling that he is gradually learning that phase of his game.

In Golf history, the elite ones started to win their majority of the tournaments after 30. Jack won 35 times after the age of 32. Vijay is another great example. Actually 90% of the best golfers are like that. With age they get accustomed with the courses and their own ability to eliminate mistakes. Tiger is only 32 and already has 64 career wins. I wonder will he set the bar in triple figures. Jack is now second with 75 and Sam Snead with 82 victories. These are just mind boggling numbers.

As Ogilvy said "Last year would have been a good career for anybody, a major and seven other tournaments. That's a career, and he does it every year."
 
Yeah that Ogilvy quote definately stood out - his stats are surely amazing and I want him to break all records for selfish reasons. I want to be able to say to any potential grandkids I grew up watching Tiger Woods and maybe hopefully I got to see him play in the flesh

64 career wins - It would be a surprise if he fails to get 100, that would surely be amazing.
 
Woods charge off to steady start

from bbc.co.uk/sport

Tiger Woods kicked off his attempt to win an eighth straight tournament with a mixed round of 67 to lie two off the leaders in the WGC-CA Championship.

Three birdies and a bogey on the front nine put him in good stead and three birdies on 14 through 17 looked to have put him on course for the lead.

But, with the rain falling, he bogeyed the last to finish on five under.

Australian Geoff Ogilvy and Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez lead on seven under, with Stewart Cink a shot back.

Ogilvy, who had a bogey-free round, birdied the first four odd-numbered holes and added another at the eighth to stand five-under at the turn, before picking up shots at the 12th and the 18th.

"I drove the ball very well, which is key around here because the rough is not very nice. I hit my irons pretty good, gave myself a lot of chances and made those chances," he said.

Jimenez, who opened with an eagle and birdied four of the last five holes, including the 18th, to seize a share of the lead, added: "When you're hitting it well and holing some putts, you expect to shoot 65."

That left Woods in a pack of five on five under, with American compatriot Phil Mickelson, Dane Anders Hansen and Australian pair Adam Scott and Nick O'Hern for company.

"I didn't really do anything all that special today," said Woods, who has won this World Golf Championship event six times in eight attempts.

"I hung in there and took care of the par-fives and made a couple other birdies. But all in all I just ground it out.

"I wasn't hitting the ball all that poorly. I was hitting it in the right spots and just didn't make any putts until 15 and 16. But when you three-putt 18, you're not going to be real happy."

Luke Donald and Ross Fisher lead England's charge on four under, while fellow countryman Justin Rose was disappointed to only post a round of 70.

"(I feel a) little hard done by," said last year's European Order of Merit winner. "I played well coming in, hit some great putts on 16, 17 and 18 that all defied gravity.

"I played well, stayed patient, my attitude was great, I played the best I've played all year. I felt it could have been or should have been a few better but at least inside I feel good about the round."

Meanwhile, Colin Montgomerie's Masters hopes were in shreds after a three-over 75.

The Scot needs a top-four finish on Sunday to jump into the top 50 in the world and therefore qualify for the Masters, but it would take a dramatic transformation for that to happen after four bogeys in a miserable five-hole stretch around the turn ruined his bid.
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An okay round for Woods BUT he is only 2 shots off the lead so is well in there
 
FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
(GB & Ire unless stated):
-7 G Ogilvy (Aus), MA Jimenez (Spa)
-6 S Cink (US)
-5 T Woods (US), P Mickelson (US), A Scott (Aus), A Hansen (Den), N O'Hern (Aus)

Selected others:
-4 L Donald, R Fisher
-2 J Rose, N Dougherty, L Westwood
+1 V Singh (Fij)
+2 E Els (RSA)
+3 C Montgomerie
 
Tiger Woods has completed his 2nd round and is on -11

Ogilvy is in the lead on -12 after the 16th hole. Scott is on -11 to level with Tiger after the 16th hole aswell.
 
SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD
(GB & Ire unless stated):
-12 G Ogilvy (Aus)
-11 T Woods (US)
-9 A Scott (Aus)
-6 A Hansen (Den), JM Singh (Ind), R Karlsson (Swe)

Selected others:
-4 L Donald
-3 G Storm, R Fisher, J Rose, N Dougherty, V Singh (Fij)
-1 L Westwood, I Poulter, G McDowell
+3 P Casey
+5 C Montgomerie, E Els (SA)
 
Code: 
		COUNTRY  ROUND 3  	SCORE  	AFTER
1 	Ogilvy 	Aus 			-14 	11
2 	Scott 	Aus 			-13 	11
3 	V Singh Fij 			-11 	16
3 	T Clark  SA 			-11 	15
3 	Woods 	US 			-11 	11
6 	Storm 	Eng 			-10 	15
6 	Furyk 	US 			-10 	13
 
Woods is 3 shots behind Ogilvy. Ogilvy has been playing really well and should win this. Vijay Sing has done well to get back into contention
 
Montgomerie fails to make Masters

from bbc.co.uk/sport

Colin Montgomerie will definitely miss next month's Masters after he slipped to 75th in the latest world rankings.

Players not already qualified for Augusta needed to climb into the world's top 50 when the rankings were published on Monday.

Montgomerie needed a top-four finish at the Miami WGC-CA event this month to get back inside the top 50 but fell a long way short and took this week off.

The 44-year-old will miss the Masters for only the second time in 17 years.

Justin Leonard, Soren Hansen and Peter Lonard all made it into the top 50 on the eve of the cut-off and will line up at Augusta on 10 April.

Montgomerie has known for some time that his chances of appearing at Augusta this year were slim.

He eventually finished in a share of 65th place in Miami, effectively ending his hopes.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (61st in the rankings) and Wales' Bradley Dredge (69th) will also have to watch the Masters from the sidelines.

However, England's Nick Dougherty will be in the hunt for the Green Jacket, despite the latest rankings placing him just outside the top 50.

Dougherty's top-eight finish at last year's US Open, plus his top-50 ranking at the end of 2007, are enough to qualify.

Paul Casey, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Lee Westwood are the other English players confirmed for the Masters field, while former winners Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle will boost the British contingent.

Earlier this year, Masters organisers offered three special invites to players outside the top 50.

Liang Wen-Chong (China), Prayad Marksaeng (Thailand) and Jeev Milkha Singh (India) all received the nod to compete in January.

Masters tournament chairman Billy Payne said the trio were "outstanding representatives" of their countries.

"We think the interest in golf in each country will heighten when these players compete in the Masters," he added.
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Monty is the Tim Henman of Golf - he aint gonna win a Major BUT elements of the press retain that hope.
 
Monty is waaaay over-rated in my opinion. Age is also catching up. There are loads of English player who are better than him let alone Europeans. He was never in the class of Els, Singh, Hefty, Love, Toms, Payne Stuart, Duval, Mike Weir, Olazabal.

He is same as Garcia who still has years ahead of him.
 
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Montgomerie slams Masters invites

from bbc.co.uk/sport

Colin Montgomerie has criticised the Masters organisers for inviting three Asian players for commercial reasons.

China's Liang Wen-Chong, Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng and Indian Jeev Milkha Singh have been added to the field.

"It's a strange way to make up a field for a major championship - TV rights," said the Scot, who failed to qualify.

But Augusta chairman Billy Payne said: "These three individuals are successful, accomplished and talented golfers deserving of an invitation."

The 44-year-old Montgomerie, now ranked 75 in the world, is missing the Masters for only the second time in 17 years.

The three invited players are ranked 111th, 93rd and 80th and the Scot is unhappy at being overlooked for the first major of the year.

"They are quite open about why, just as they were when I missed out last time in 2005, when they picked Shingo Katayama, then 67th in the world. I was 51st at the time," he continued.

"They picked him over me for the Japanese TV rights.

"There are enough Brits in the field, so there won't be a call. Now if I were the only person in the country, a la China, I might get in.

"Let me tell you, I am not the only one who feels this way. In or not, I would be saying the same thing.

"It is the only one of the four majors you can get invited to - you don't get an invite to The Open or the US Open or the US PGA. You have to qualify. But the Masters has its own rules.

"It would be easier to swallow if no one was invited and the entry list was based on sporting and not commercial criteria."

The US Open and US PGA do, in fact, issue invitations from time to time, but usually to past champions whose exemptions have expired or, in the case of the PGA, Ryder Cup captains.

Wen-Chong, Marksaeng and Singh will compete with the world's top 50 players at Augusta National.

And chairman Payne added: "They are outstanding representatives of their respective countries.

"This is also another component in our objective of growing the game of golf worldwide utilising the Masters brand.

"We think the interest in golf in each country will heighten when these players compete in the Masters."
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Monty aint a happy bunny is he?
 
way is he being so greedy ...the three invites are all talented players & its not like they have invited players from nowhere...dosen this happen in every sport ?
 
I agree with him that players should not be picked for commercial reasons, but really he can't complain about missing out this year.
 
Uzi said:
I agree with him that players should not be picked for commercial reasons, but really he can't complain about missing out this year.
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I dont agree with him - I can understand them wanting to expand Golf and take it to a wider audience, that will happen by giving people in China, Thailand and India an added incentive to watch, also like Jusarrived mentioned those guys are good players, not some random blokes plucked from their countries.

Monty is an an average golfer who does very well in the Ryder Cup BUT chokes in individual torunaments
 
lol Monty, sour grapes!!

Had he been among the top 50 he did not need any invitation. His best chance will come once he bocomes an ex-Ryder cup captain and then gets an invitation. He game is not good enough to be in top 50 year-in year-out.

I have seen Jeev Milkha Singh and Shingo play on Sundays. They are both immensely talented.
 
BD-fan said:
lol Monty, sour grapes!!

Had he been among the top 50 he did not need any invitation. His best chance will come once he bocomes an ex-Ryder cup captain and then gets an invitation. He game is not good enough to be in top 50 year-in year-out.

I have seen Jeev Milkha Singh and Shingo play on Sundays. They are both immensely talented.
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Exactly - he knew what was required of him to be eligible BUT he cudnt match that requirement, only has himself to blame.
 
Woods sidelined by knee operation

from bbc.co.uk/sport

Tiger Woods is set to be out of action for between four to six weeks following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

The world number one, who was second in the Masters at the weekend, will now be unable to defend his Wachovia Championship title from 1-4 May.

Woods has had two previous operations on the same knee.

"I made the decision to deal with the pain and schedule the surgery for after the Masters," said Woods, 32, on his official website.

"The upside is that I have been through this process before and know how to handle it.

"I look forward to working through the rehabilitation process and getting back to action as quickly as I can."

The American, who could also miss the Players Championship in May, had hoped to achieve a Grand Slam of majors this season but his bid came to an end at the first hurdle in the Masters, which was won by Trevor Immelman.

Woods first had an operation on the knee in 1994 to remove a benign tumour and then had arthroscopic surgery in December 2002.

"Tiger has been experiencing pain in his knee since the middle of last year," said his manager Mark Steinberg.

"When he had it looked at by his doctors, arthroscopic surgery was recommended. Tiger has played through the pain in the past but knew it would be better for him to have the procedure done as early as possible."
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Woods could miss Open at Birkdale

from bbc.co.uk/sport
US Open champion Tiger Woods could miss the Open Championship as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.

Woods, 32, made a stunning return after two months out by winning the US Open on Monday, but he struggled physically.

And the 14-time major winner will now take stock before deciding whether to play at Royal Birkdale, with this year's Open starting on 17 July.

"I pushed it pretty hard this week. We're going to re-evaluate after this event and see what happens," he said.

Asked whether he thought he would recover in time for the Open, Woods said: "I hope so. To be honest with you, I really don't know."

Woods had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on 15 April after finishing second in The Masters and had not played a competitive round until the US Open, where he saw off Rocco Mediate at the first sudden-death hole of an 18-hole play-off at Torrey Pines.

And having played through obvious pain, Woods, who has moved to within four of Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 majors, admitted that he could have further injured his knee by playing at the San Diego course.

Asked if doctors had told him he risked further damaging his knee, Woods nodded, and asked if he thought he had done further damage, he said: "Maybe.

"I really don't feel like playing any more. It's a bit sore.

"(I won't play again) for a while. I'm going to shut it down for a little bit here and see what happens.

"I need to take a little bit of a break."

Woods is likely to miss the Buick Open in Michigan from 26-29 June and the AT&T Congressional a week later is also doubtful, even though it is an event he hosts.

That would leave Woods short of golf ahead of the Open, which returns to Birkdale for the first time since his great friend Mark O'Meara won in 1998.

If he does play, Woods will be aiming to win his fourth Open Championship.

He came out on top in 2000, 2005 and 2006, but tied for 12th last year as Padraig Harrington ended Europe's eight-year major drought.
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Would be gutted if he wasnt playing in The Open - a Major without Tiger would feel incomplete

Hopefully he can recover and then make it 15 Majors
 
Simply unbelievable stuff. Without match practice most elite golfers don't make the cut. One top that playing with a bad knee. Not only contending but winning the damn thing.

His dad taught him well.

Yes, major without Tiger is no fun. But for the sake of future I think he needs to skip this one and aim for the PGA with full force.
 
If anyone could win a major title without any practice - its Tiger Woods.
 
Injured Woods out for the season

from bbc.co.uk/sport

US Open champion Tiger Woods will miss the rest of the season to have surgery on his injured left knee.

That means Woods, 32, is ruled out of the Open at Royal Birkdale, the Ryder Cup and USPGA Championship.

"It was important to me that I disclose my condition publicly at an appropriate time," Woods said on his website.

"Now, it is clear that the right thing to do is listen to my doctors, follow though with this surgery, and focus my attention on rehabilitating my knee."

Woods also stated he needed time to recover from a double stress fracture in his leg which were "attributed to Woods's intense rehabilitation and preparations for the US Open".

BBC Radio 5 Live golf correspondent Iain Carter said many in the golfing world did not realise how serious the world number one's problems were.

"Woods gave nothing away about the true condition of his left knee," he said.

"We saw he was in pain but few knew he needed cruciate ligament surgery. It makes the US Open win become more remarkable by the day."

Organisers of The Open Championship, the Royal and Ancient (R&A), said they were disappointed that Woods would not feature in the tournament due to start on 17 July.

"It's a real shame," R&A chief executive Peter Dawson told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"We're sorry to hear about his continuing problems. The spectators at Birkdale will be very sad."

This will be the fourth time Woods's left knee will be operated on.

The first was carried out in 1994 when a benign tumour was removed and that was followed by arthroscopic surgery in December 2002. Woods then hurt his knee in 2007 while jogging in Orlando, but played through the pain, winning nine tour titles.

The American finally opted to have another arthroscopic procedure on 15 April to clean out cartilage in his left knee.

It was hoped that by doing that, and avoiding knee ligament surgery, he could complete the 2008 season.

Woods added: "My rehabilitation schedule after the arthroscopic surgery was designed with the goal of returning to play at the Memorial (on 29 May), but the stress fractures that were discovered just prior to the tournament unfortunately prevented me from participating and had a huge impact on the timing for my return.

"I was determined, though, to do everything and anything in my power to play in the US Open at Torrey Pines, which is a course that is close to where I grew up and holds many special memories for me.

"Although I will miss the rest of the 2008 season, I'm thrilled with the fact that last week was such a special tournament."

Woods announced his decision just two days after winning his 14th major by defeating Rocco Mediate in a sudden-death play-off at the US Open.

He was limping throughout the four days of competition at Torrey Pines but stayed in contention forcing a play-off with an 18th hole birdie before repeating the feat on the final hole in the play-off.

The Californian eventually sealed the victory on the sudden-death hole.
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Didnt realise how bad his knee was - dont really care about him missing the Ryder Cup since i will be supporting Europe BUT he will be missed in the majors

Hopefully he will come back stronger than before

As is mentioned in the article his US Open win is even more remarkable considering his injury
 
Ballesteros suffers complication

from bbc.co.uk/sport

Golf legend Seve Ballesteros suffered a complication following surgery on a brain tumour on Tuesday but remains in a stable condition.

Doctors removed a piece of Ballesteros's skull on Thursday to relieve pressure that was building up on the brain after Tuesday's surgery.

A statement from La Paz Hospital in Madrid said: "His situation is stable and is under control."

The Spaniard, 51, collapsed at Madrid Airport on 6 October.

He underwent a number of tests over the weekend which uncovered the tumour and after informing his family, Ballesteros confirmed the news in a statement on Sunday.

A biopsy on the tumour had been scheduled for Tuesday but doctors decided to operate to remove as much of the tumour as possible before treatment.

"Forty-eight hours after his operation, the patient Severiano Ballesteros suffered a loss of consciousness because of a cerebral oedema and had to undergo a decompressive craniectomy," said the statement on Thursday.

A decompressive craniectomy is a medical procedure aimed at relieving critically increased intracranial pressure.

Ballesteros won 87 titles during his career, including the Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and the Masters in 1980 and 1983 and captained Europe to Ryder Cup victory at Valderrama in 1997.

He retired last year following arthritic back and knee problems late in his career and doctors discovered an irregular heartbeat when he was admitted to hospital in 2007.
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Lets hope he gets better soon
 
Rory McIlroy the 19 year old from Northern Ireland getting a lot of praise - Tiger said that he will become World Number 1, as did Ernie Else a few weeks back.

Has anyone seen him play? and is he really that good?
 
I saw him (TV) play over the weekend. Good control on the distance. Nothing extra ordinary to me. Garcia at early age was better. That is my observation.

Hefty won. Tiger finished top ten.
 
Woods wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational - words cant describe how great he is

He was 5 shots behind Sean O'Hair as he hit a 3 under 67

The putt he got to win was typical Tiger - 16 feet putt that anyone else would have fluffed BUT not Tiger

He is looking good and doesnt seem to be suffering with his knee

Not too long to go for The Masters
 
Did you get to watch it GA ? must have been a special effort to come back from 5 shots down..poor Sean O'Hair was leading most part for the tournament .

just unbelievable , i was following it for some time ..by then Tiger had reduced to gap to 3 strokes ..never thot he could actually come back form there and win ,so switched to something else and totally forgot about :)
 
jusarrived said:
Did you get to watch it GA ? must have been a special effort to come back from 5 shots down..poor Sean O'Hair was leading most part for the tournament .

just unbelievable , i was following it for some time ..by then Tiger had reduced to gap to 3 strokes ..never thot he could actually come back form there and win ,so switched to something else and totally forgot about :)
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I watched most of the last round - it was just amazing.

I guarantee if O'Hair had anything other player breathing down his neck he would have won with ease BUT Tiger is a freak - the opponents are half beaten just by his aura

I cant wait til the Masters
 
In another forum I have mentioned Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan are two aliens. My assumption can be justified.
 
The Open is less than a week away - hopefully the weather doesnt spoil things

Phil Mickelson confirms his absence as he will be with his wife and mother (both of whom are battling cancer) - must be tough for him right now
 
Anyone here play golf?

Been meaning to get into it as I have the gear but don't know where to start.
 
I used to play golf often but not anymore because it requires a whole afternoon.

My advice is to buy a putter and practice holding it with the correct technique and rolling the ball into a cup etc. After this you really need golf lessons because to strike a golf ball is not easy , even though the golf ball is still on the ground.
 
I actually love golf and I used to play it on Nintendo Wii.

I never played it in real life though. I would love to try it.
 
Playing off a 9 hc.

Lot of crickets progress onto becoming very good golfers.
 
US open in progress:

Leader: -5 Thomas (18:27)
Selected: +3 Westwood; DeChambeau and world number one Johnson on course
Woods, McIlroy and Rose (18:27)
 
US Open 2020: Patrick Reed leads by one shot at Winged Foot

-4 P Reed (US); -3 B DeChambeau (US); -2 J Thomas (US), R Cabrera Bello (Spa), H English (US); -1 J Kokrak (US)
Selected others: Level X Schauffele (US); +1 J Rahm (Spa); +3 L Westwood (Eng), D Johnson (US), R McIlroy (NI); +5 M Wallace (Eng); +6 S Lowry (Ire); +8 T Fleetwood (Eng), G Woodland (US); +10 T Woods (US), J Rose (Eng)
Patrick Reed holds a one-shot lead heading into the weekend at the US Open after a chaotic second round in windy conditions at a tricky Winged Foot.

Bryson DeChambeau eagled his final hole to set the target at three under par early on and then watched as many of his challengers crumbled in New York.

But fellow American Reed birdied the last as he scrambled to four under par.

Overnight leader Justin Thomas fell back with a three-over 73, while Rory McIlroy is seven adrift after a 76.

Thomas started the second round on five under but had four bogeys and a double bogey before a couple of birdies in his closing holes lifted him to two under.

Northern Ireland's McIlroy, chasing his fifth major and first since 2014, started the day two shots off the lead and birdied the first. But seven bogeys and a double bogey followed as he dropped away to three over par.

World number one Dustin Johnson is also at three over after dropping two shots in his final three holes in a level-par 70.

Former Masters champion Reed made five bogeys during his level-par 70 on Friday but was continuously able to claw shots back and a birdie at the 557-yard par-five ninth, his 18th, edged the world number 10 into the lead.

"Thursday was soft, benign, the pins were more accessible," said Reed, who opened with a four-under 66.

"It's almost like they set it up to ease us in and then they showed us what it was really going to be like. You had to shoot a low one on Thursday because you knew Friday was going to be brutal."

DeChambeau, who signed for a two-under-par 68, was one of only three players to shoot under par in round two, with fellow American Bubba Watson and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama carding 69s.

However, 17 players sit within six shots of the lead at the halfway point of the men's second major of 2020, which was delayed from June because of the coronavirus pandemic.

DeChambeau shines in tricky conditions

DeChambeau stated earlier in the week he would be looking to overpower Winged Foot's notoriously difficult West Course, where only one of five men's US Open winners have finished under par.

The world number nine, the longest average driver on the PGA Tour last season, showcased that power with a 380-yard drive on the par-five ninth, his final hole, before pitching to within six feet to set up his closing eagle.

DeChambeau revealed some late-night practice after his opening round had paid off as the 27-year-old carded the best round of the day.

"I knew it was going to be cooler and so I waited and was able to hit balls almost in dark," added the American, who said the windy conditions made it "super tough".

"I knew it was going to be similar conditions so we got some good numbers with my wedges and I felt really comfortable."

Watson, who almost returned home on Wednesday to be with his family when Hurricane Sally hit Florida, was the only other player in the early wave to shoot under par.

The American's one-under 69 would have looked even better if not for a double bogey on his last hole that put him at one over heading into the weekend.

World number three Thomas, one of the late starters, endured a troubling start with four bogeys in five holes on his front nine before double-bogeying the first, his 10th.

But he recovered with birdies on both par-threes on his closing stretch to card a three-over 73 that leaves him at two under par.

Only six players are under par heading into the third round, with Harris English tied with Thomas at two under after following his opening 68 with a well-constructed 70 on Friday.

Woods, Fleetwood and Rose heading home
Players enjoyed unusually benign conditions on the opening day at Winged Foot, where Geoff Ogilvy won at five over par in 2006 when it last staged the US Open, but the West Course began to bite back on Friday.

Despite relatively low scores no player carded a bogey-free round on day one, and difficult pin positions during a windy second round kept scoring at a premium.

Xander Schauffele, one of the favourites to win his first major, birdied the 11th to briefly move within two shots of the lead but three bogeys in his final five holes saw the American finish with a two-over 72 to sit level for the tournament.

South African Louis Oosthuizen had also climbed to within two of the lead but he followed back-to-back bogeys with a double at the last to card a 74 and slip to one over par.

Thomas Pieters, who started the day on four under, moved into the lead with two birdies on the front nine, but unravelled after the turn as six bogeys saw him fall back to level par.

"It's definitely twice as tough as Thursday, with the wind," said the Belgian after his four-over-par 74.

England's former world number one Lee Westwood also failed to build on an opening 67, beginning his round with back-to-back bogeys and adding another at the sixth.

A birdie on the par-five ninth offered the 47-year-old some relief, but he dropped four shots in his final three holes for a six-over 76 that leaves him three over par for the week.

Compatriot Matt Wallace is two further back at five over, alongside Scotland's Robert MacIntyre

However, Tommy Fleetwood, runner-up in 2018, struggled to find any momentum as five birdies were wiped out by nine dropped shots, including a double-bogey at the second to finish eight over and miss the cut, which came at six over par.

Justin Rose, the 2013 winner, also missed out on 10 over, while Gary Woodland's US Open defence came to an end with a second round of 74.

And what of Tiger Woods? The three-time US Open winner, who missed the cut at Winged Foot in 2006, following the death of his father, will also be missing the weekend this year.

"It's frustrating that I'm not going to be here for the weekend," Woods, who finished on 10 over said. "It feels like the way the golf course is changing, anybody who makes the cut has the opportunity to win this championship."
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/54211678.
 
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US Open 2020: Matthew Wolff takes two-shot lead into final day at Winged Foot

US Open round four
Date: Sunday, 20 September
Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website from 18:00 BST. Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra 20:00
US Open third-round leaderboard
-5 M Wolff (US); -3 B DeChambeau (US); -1 L Oosthuizen (SA); Level H Matsuyama (Jpn), X Schauffele (US); +1 R McIlroy (NI)
Selected others: +3 P Reed (US); +4 J Thomas (US); +5 P Casey (Eng), D Johnson (US), L Westwood (Eng); +7 J Rahm (Spa); +8 M Wallace (Eng); +12 R MacIntyre (Sco); +13 S Lowry (Ire)
Matthew Wolff takes a two-shot lead into the final round at Winged Foot as he looks to become the first debutant in 107 years to win the US Open.

The American, 21, had six birdies in a scintillating five-under 65 to improve to five under par overall in New York.

Bryson DeChambeau is three under, with Louis Oosthuizen at one under par.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy is in contention at one over par after "a good round" of 68 - one of only seven players to shoot under par on Saturday.

The world number four, who finished a couple of hours before Wolff, said he felt he would have a chance on the final day if he could stay within six of the lead.

"The key for me was just to play the first five holes well. I saw from a few of the guys early on those holes were playing really tough," said McIlroy, after a round containing three birdies and one bogey.

"I knew that middle section of the round you could maybe make a couple of birdies and then you sort of have to hang on coming in.

"I executed the game plan really well, knocked a couple in when I could. It was a really good round of golf."

Wolff, playing in only his second major after qualifying for this tournament by tying for fourth at last month's US PGA Championship, holed five birdies as he played the first nine holes in 30 shots.

The world number 36, who has one win on the PGA Tour, only hit two of 14 fairways but scrambled well and made just one bogey, after finding the trees on the 16th with one of many wayward tee shots, but recovered to birdie the last.

"I got pretty fortunate with my lies in the rough," he said. "I stuck with my game. It was a grind out there but hopefully I hit a few more fairways on Sunday."

If Wolff completes the win on Sunday, it will be 107 years, to the day, since 20-year-old amateur Francis Ouimet claimed the title at his first attempt after winning a US Open that had also been delayed from June to September.

This year's was pushed back because of the coronavirus pandemic. Back then, it was to allow six-time Open champion Harry Vardon and fellow Briton Ted Ray to play. Ouimet, who famously had a 10-year-old caddie, beat them both in an 18-hole play-off.

Wolff would also become the youngest player to win a major since Tiger Woods won the first of his 15 at the 1997 Masters.

His closest challenger is DeChambeau, who looked set to post a third successive round in the 60s after birdies on 16 and 17 but he bogeyed the 18th to hand Wolff a two-stroke advantage at the top.

The world number nine, chasing his first major title, was satisfied with his level-par round after beginning the day with successive bogeys.

"It shows perseverance and resilience," said DeChambeau, who added he was heading to the practice range to "fix a couple of things".

"(Sunday) is another day of golf. I have got to look at it as that."

Reed crumbles after extending lead
Only three players enter the final day under par, though Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and American Xander Schauffele both briefly made charges on Saturday.

Matsuyama is trying to become his country's first major winner and he climbed to three under only to bogey the 15th and then double bogey the 17th to remain level for the championship.

He will head out in the penultimate group on Sunday alongside South Africa's Oosthuizen, who tied for second in this tournament in 2015.

The former Open champion is four off the pace at one under par after a third-round 68 that included four birdies and two bogeys.

Schauffele, meanwhile, rolled in for eagle at the par-five ninth to move to two under before three bogeys after the turn, though he finished with a birdie to also sit level.

Former Open champion Oosthuizen, runner-up in this tournament in 2015, is four off the pace at one under par after a 68 that included four birdies and two bogeys.

Overnight leader Reed started with a one-stroke lead and stretched that advantage to three with a birdie at the second as his nearest challengers faded away.

But Wolff's electric start meant by the time Reed walked off the third green with a bogey his advantage had been wiped out.

Reed was one under for the day as he hit the turn but soon fell away with six dropped shots in six holes on the back nine, including a double bogey at 11 after fluffing a chip that failed to escape the rough.

The former Masters champion finished with two bogeys to sign for a seven-over 77 that leaves him three over par and eight shots off the lead.

Conditions remained tough at Winged Foot's West Course, where Geoff Ogilvy won at five over par when it last staged the US Open in 2006.

Paul Casey was one of the seven to shoot under par, with a one-under 69 taking him to five over, alongside fellow Englishman Lee Westwood and world number one Dustin Johnson.

Casey slumped to 11 over par after five bogeys in his first seven holes, but birdied the ninth and holed five more on the back nine.

"In all honesty I kind of wanted to walk in after the first five, six, seven holes. It was just ugly," said the 43-year-old. "I was just trying not to shoot 80 after that front nine. I'm glad I finally got one off of Winged Foot.

"It takes its pound of flesh every single time you seem to play this golf course, so I feel like I got an ounce or two of my own flesh back."
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/54222076.
 
Wolff’s third shot is out of the bunker on the par-four fifth. He chips out well enough, but he’s left with a tricky downhill 10ft putt to make par, which he ... misses. He’s now bogeyed the two of the last three holes. Meanwhile, DeChambeau, has a 90ft putt to make birdie.

We’ll forgive him for not making it. There’s a 6ft putt for him to make par and become the sole leader at -4. He sinks it too - DeChambeau now leads the US Open!

On the 18th, Jon Rahm’s bogey means he finished the tournament +9.
 
US Open 2020: Bryson DeChambeau storms to first major title at Winged Foot, New York

US Open final leaderboard
-6 B DeChambeau (US); E M Wolff (US); +2 L Oosthuizen (SA); +3 H English (US); +4 X Schauffele (US); +5 D Johnson (US), W Zalatoris (US)
Selected others: +6 R McIlroy (NI), J Thomas (US), T Finau (US); +7 L Westwood (Eng), P Reed (US); +8 P Casey (Eng); +10 J Rahm (Spa); +15 S Lowry (Ire)
American Bryson DeChambeau produced a wonderful final-round display to win the US Open by six shots and claim the first major title of his career.

The 27-year-old was the only player to break par at the notoriously difficult Winged Foot, in New York.

Renowned for his big-hitting approach, the world number nine showed maturity and composure to card an impressive three-under 67 to win on six under par.

Matthew Wolff faded on the back nine, shooting 75 to finish second at level.

South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen, who finished third at two over, and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy were the only non-Americans to place inside the top 10.

World number four McIlroy ended joint eighth at six over after a final-day 75 that included two double bogeys, while England's Lee Westwood was a stroke further back.

DeChambeau, who began the day two behind 21-year-old overnight leader Wolff, was the only player to score an under par round on Sunday.

He was firmly in control by the time they hit the final stretch after playing the front nine in 33 shots - two under par and he then had one birdie and eight pars in his final nine holes.

Wolff, who was hoping to become the first debutant to win the championship since Francis Ouimet in 1907, dropped four shots on the run-in as the pressure built.

DeChambeau becomes only the second player to win the men's US Open at Winged Foot with a score under par, joining 1984 champion Fuzzy Zoeller.

"It's just an honour, it has been a lot of hard work," he said

"At nine, that was when I first thought this could be a reality. I made an eagle, I had shocked myself to do that, and I thought 'I can do it'.

"Then I said 'no, you have to focus on each and every hole'. Throughout the back nine I kept saying 'no, you still have three, four, five holes to go', whatever it was.

"I had to keep focused and make sure I executed each shot the best I could do."

'Scientist' DeChambeau proves the doubters wrong

DeChambeau's unique methods have divided opinion since he turned professional in 2016. Fans find them innovative, critics call them irritating.

The former physics student's experiments have seen him dubbed 'The Scientist', tinkering with oversized grips, cutting all his clubs to the same length and most recently piling on more than 40lbs in the past year.

That helped turn him into the longest average driver on the PGA Tour last season and he said in the build-up to the US Open he would look to overpower the difficult West Course at Winged Foot.

DeChambeau claims to have been fuelling his muscle growth with a 3,000-3,500 calorie daily diet that packs in 400g of protein, and his length off the tee has helped fuel the debate around whether tournament balls should be introduced.

But for all the tinkering, chuntering and pursuit of power, the American showed great composure and an air of calmness to execute his game plan on a superb final day at Mamaroneck.

The obsessive DeChambeau was at the practice range under the floodlights on Saturday night after only hitting three fairways during a third-round 70, and the work paid off.

He wiped out Wolff's two-shot lead within four holes. Wolff bogeyed the par-three third before DeChambeau rolled in his opening birdie of the day at the fourth.

When Wolff dropped another shot at five, DeChambeau was the sole leader.

Both then bogeyed the eighth to give the rest of the field a sniff, only to card a pair of eagles on the par-five ninth to turn it into a two-horse race.

It soon became a DeChambeau procession.

A frustrated Wolff, who carded a superb 65 on Saturday to lead on five under, fell away with bogeys at 10 and 14, before a double bogey at 16 ended any slim hopes he held of victory in only his second major appearance.

"I battled hard. Things just didn't go my way," said Wolff. "But first US Open, second place is something to be proud of."

DeChambeau, who finished tied fourth with Wolff at last month's US PGA Championship, rolled in another birdie at 11 and proceeded to complete a bogey-free back nine.

It meant, as he headed to the 18th tee with a six-shot lead, there would be none of the drama that accompanied the last US Open to be staged at Winged Foot, when Geoff Ogilvy won by one stroke at five over after Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie double bogeyed the last.

Instead, DeChambeau was able to look into the camera and send love to his family as he walked up the final fairway, before rolling in a par putt and throwing his arms in the air in delight.

He becomes just the third player after Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods to win an NCAA individual title, the US Amateur title and a US Open.

McIlroy's hopes over on the first
Four-time major champion McIlroy said he felt he had a chance if he was within six shots heading into the final day.

And that was the gap to leader Wolff when he teed off on Sunday, but his hopes of winning a second US Open title and first major in six years quickly unravelled with a double bogey at the first.

McIlroy's tee shot found the fairway and he was on the green in two, only to four-putt from 90 feet after his first attempt failed to get over a ridge in the putting surface and rolled back towards him.

The 31-year-old added two more bogeys before clawing shots back at the ninth and 11th but a bogey on the 15th and a second double bogey at the 16th saw him fade again.

McIlroy's was not the only drama on the first, as Harris English, who started the day at level par, lost his ball in the rough to the left of the opening fairway and had to return to the tee.

Club members had been employed as spotters throughout the week, but despite their efforts and those of English and playing partner Xander Schauffele, the ball could not be found within the three-minute time limit.

English recovered to finish in fourth place at three over with Schauffele, one of the favourites before the tournament, a stroke further back.

World number one Dustin Johnson, who came into the week with two wins and two second-placed finishes in his past four events, carded a final-round 70 to climb into a tie for sixth on five over par.
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/54229887.
 
Scottish Open: Plan for spectators shelved in line with pause on pilot events

The decision to have spectators at the Scottish Open at Renaissance Club next month has been reversed.

The tournament in East Lothian had been chosen as a pilot for the return of fans, with 650 permitted on both Saturday and Sunday.

However, a rise in coronavirus cases has resulted in a pause on all sporting test events.

The European Tour event, moved from its usual July slot to 1-5 October, will go ahead behind closed doors.
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/54273466.
 
Irish Open: England's Aaron Rai leads as Shane Lowry misses cut with Padraig Harrington also set to exit

Irish Open second-round leaderboard
-5 A Rai (Eng); -4 R Rock (Eng), D Burmester (SA), J Lagergren (Swe); -3 S Hend (Aus), J Catlin (US), J Harding (SA), E Ferguson (Scot), J Smith (Eng) 15 holes, T Tree (Eng) 14, M Antcliff (Aus) 10
Selected others: -2 D Law (Scot), L Herbert (Aus), Level J Sugrue (AM) (Ire) 16; +1 S Gallacher (Scot); +2 J Caldwell (NI) 10, D McGrane (Ire) 13; +4 G Coetzee (SA), C Moriarty (Ire); +5 M Power (Ire) am; +6 P Harrington (Ire); +7 S Lowry (Ire)
England's Aaron Rai leads the Irish Open by one shot as Shane Lowry missed the cut with Padraig Harrington also set to exit when the second round is completed on Saturday morning.

With frost delaying Friday's start, Rai's level-par 70 kept him on his overnight total on five under.

That left the world 254 one ahead of a trio including compatriot Robert Rock.

Lowry is certain to exit after a 72 left him on seven over with Padraig Harrington set to miss out on six over.

Harrington was left to rue a bogey at the par-five last where his 10-foot par-putt horseshoed out after he had missed the fairway and also found the rough with his second and third shots.

As the second round was suspended, the three-time major winner was sharing 74th place and needing an unlikely series of events early on Saturday morning to survive.

Lowry suffers three putt from six feet on 10
Open Champion Lowry's miserable day was summed up by a three putt from six feet on the 10th as a possible momentum-generating birdie was instead turned into a bogey.

A further dropped shot at the 13th left him on eight over and while his first birdie on the day came at the next, he was unable to summon up any heroics in his closing four holes as he rushed to complete his second round in the gathering darkness.

Wolverhampton-born Rai, 25, was one of only two players to card bogey-free opening rounds and regrouped well from an immediate dropped shot on Friday to card four birdies on a tough day for scoring as a north wind continued to blow after the sheet of overnight frost had delayed the start by 90 minutes.

"A bit of a mixed bag out there but I think it is to be expected, the course played so tough," said Rai, whose only previous European Tour win came at the Hong Kong Open in 2018.

"Driving it is key around here, with how thick the rough is, and I think for most part I have driven it well the last few days."

Rock carded arguably the round of the day as his 67 in the toughest of the conditions included only one dropped shot which came at the sixth.

He was joined on four under by Swede Joakim Lagergren, a Northern Ireland Open winner at the venue in 2014, who fired a 66 on Friday with South African Dean Burmester remaining in contention as he added a 71 to his opening 65.

'I played a lot better than the score'
Europe Ryder Cup captain Harrington, playing his first event since February, looked thoroughly deflated after acknowledging that his total was "going to be one too many" although he attempted to "take positives" from his brief week.

"I didn't take my chances early on and then got some swirling winds and didn't chip very well, so I played a lot better than the score but these things happen," said the 49-year-old after his seven-bogey round.

As played was halted on, James Sugrue, who won last year's British Amateur title, was the leading Irishman on level-par after 16 after slipping back from his overnight position of three under while fellow Irish amateur international Mark Power was also certain to make the weekend after a 71 left him on five over.

Former European Tour winner Damien McGrane and Clandeboye man Jonathan Caldwell were both in position to play the final two rounds as they stood on two over after 13 and 10 holes respectively.

Colm Moriarty's weekend birth was safe as a battling 69 left him on four over while but the Irish casualties included Paul Dunne (74 for nine over), amateur Tom McKibbin (78 for 11 over) and Cormac Sharvin (74 for 17 over).
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/54303399.
 
Women's PGA Championship: Kim Sei-young leads by two going into final round

KPMG Women's PGA Championship third-round leaderboard
-7 SY Kim (Kor); -5 B Henderson (Can), A Nordqvist (Swe); -4 Inbee Park (Kor); -3 B Pagdanganan (Phi); -2 M Harigae (US), G Lopez (Mex), J Kupcho (US), C Ciganda (US); -1 N Hataoka (Jpn)
Selected others: level C Hull (Eng); +1 J Ewart Shadoff (Eng); +2 L Ko (NZ); +5 M Reid (Eng); +8 G Hall (Eng), L Maguire (Ire); +10 L Davies (Eng)
South Korea's Kim Sei-young will take a two-stroke advantage into the final round of the penultimate major of 2020, the Women's PGA Championship.

The 27-year-old world number seven, yet to win a major title, began the day one ahead and had six birdies in her three-under 67 to reach seven under par.

Two-time major winner Anna Nordqvist shares second with Brooke Henderson.

Charley Hull is the leading British player, tied 11th, seven shots adrift at level par after a round of 69.

Kim, second at this event in 2015 and runner-up in the 2018 Evian Championship, claimed the most recent of 10 LPGA victories in last year's Tour Championship.

She might have had a three-shot lead going into Sunday's final round at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania, only for her six-foot par putt to lip out of the cup at the 18th.

Nordqvist ran off three consecutive birdies from the sixth hole but also finished with a bogey after her approach bounced over the 18th green.

Canada's Henderson, whose lone major win came at the 2016 Women's PGA, reeled off five birdies in an 11-hole span from the second in a bogey-free round and returned a 65.

Reigning Olympic champion Inbee Park, a seven-time major winner and three-time Women's PGA champion, is only three off the lead after a 66.

Hull had four birdies in her round and is one ahead of compatriot Jodi Ewart Shadoff, who dropped three shots in her final four holes, while Georgia Hall slipped to eight over after a second successive 74.
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/54495774.
 
BMW PGA Championship: Tyrrell Hatton seals four-shot win at Wentworth

BMW PGA Championship final leaderboard
-19 T Hatton (Eng); -15 V Perez (Fra); -14 A Sullivan (Eng), P Reed (US); -13 I Poulter (Eng); -12 E Pepperell (Eng)
Selected others: -11 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -9 S Lowry (Ire), T Fleetwood (Eng); -8 L Westwood (Eng), A Johnston (Eng); -6 G McDowell (NI); -4 D Willett (Eng); -3 J Rose (Eng) Final leaderboard
Englishman Tyrrell Hatton sealed his fifth European Tour win with a four-stroke victory at the prestigious BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The 28-year-old world number 15 from Buckinghamshire was three ahead overnight and shot a five-under 67 for a 19-under total on the West Course.

Victor Perez of France challenged but eventually finished second after a 68.

Andy Sullivan's 65 put him joint third with Patrick Reed, with Tommy Fleetwood tied 13th at nine under after a 73.

The victory will see Hatton break into the world's top 10 for the first time when the rankings are updated on Monday, two days before his 29th birthday.

"This was a goal of mine to win this tournament and part of me is sad I didn't get to experience the crowds, but it's just amazing to win this trophy," said Hatton, who attended the tournament as a child with his father.

Following his victory in tranquil Sunday afternoon conditions, the two were able to speak via a monitor beside the 18th green.

Playing in the penultimate group, Perez, who lost to Hatton in a play-off at last year's Turkish Open, briefly tied for the lead when he pitched inside three feet to set up a birdie at the seventh to add to a birdie at the second and an eagle at the fourth.

But Hatton, who secured his maiden PGA Tour win at the coveted Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, moved clear with three consecutive birdies from the ninth, holing from 25 feet on successive greens and then sending a superb approach to two feet at the 11th.

Sullivan, the world number 90 who ended a five-year wait for a European Tour win by capturing the English Championship in August, had five birdies and an eagle in his first 14 holes before his progress was checked by a dropped shot at 15.

Former Masters champion Reed, the highest-ranked player in the field, eagled the last for the second day running to ensure a share of third with the Englishman.
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/54501110.
 
Adam Scott: Former world number one tests positive for coronavirus

Former world number one Adam Scott has pulled out of this week's Zozo Championship in California after testing positive for coronavirus.

The PGA Tour confirmed on Wednesday that the 40-year-old Australian will not play at the Sherwood Country Club.

Scott said his "focus now is on recovery" for the rest of the season.

In a statement, the PGA Tour said Scott "will have the PGA Tour's full support throughout his self-isolation period under CDC guidelines".

American Phil Mickelson is playing in California, but says he is considering missing next month's Houston Open, where a limited number of fans are set to be allowed in.

"For me personally, I don't like the risk that having that happen the week before the Masters," said Mickelson.

"I just don't want to have any risk heading in there, It has made me question whether or not I'll play there.

"But I have to give the Tour a lot of credit and confidence in the way that they've handled the entire year and I'm sure they're going to do a great job at keeping the players safe in that environment."
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/54639527.
 
Rory McIlroy: Four-time major winner aims to sharpen game for Masters

Rory McIlroy hopes a good performance at the Zozo Championship will be the perfect preparation for his bid to complete the Grand Slam at the Masters.

The world number five, who has not won an event in 2020, had secured the other three majors by 2014 and will tee up again at Augusta next month.

"This is an opportunity to win and that would be a huge step," said McIlroy.

"To be in contention to win would be great looking ahead (to the Masters) - under that pressure trying to win."

McIlroy has struggled for form since the return of golf from the Covid-19 lockdown, which resulted in the Masters being moved from its traditional April date.

Augusta is a course McIlroy has visited many times out of competition and this could help in the colder temperatures of November.

No pressure
"My favourite times at Augusta have been out of the Masters, on trips there with my father," said the Northern Irishman.

"A lot of people feel the same way - when you have nothing on the line, they are the best times.

"I've played it enough times to know what to expect whatever the temperature and conditions are like.

"You need all aspects of your game to be in good shape, especially your short game. So by getting your short game in order everything else will follow."
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/54632966.
 
Patrick Cantlay seals one-shot win at Zozo Championship

Zozo Championship final leaderboard
-23 P Cantlay (US); -22 J Thomas (US), J Rahm (Spa); -19 R Henley (US), C Smith (Aus), B Watson (US), R Palmer (US)
Selected others: -15 R McIlroy (NI), J Rose (Eng); -14 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -13 T Hatton (Eng); -12 P Casey (Eng); -7 T Fleetwood (Eng); -1 T Woods (US); +3 P Mickelson (US)
American Patrick Cantlay posted nine birdies in a seven-under 65 to capture the Zozo Championship by one stroke.

The 28-year-old world number 14 began the final day three shots behind leader Justin Thomas but finished on 23 under for his third PGA Tour victory.

Thomas made three birdies in the first six holes but finished with a 69 to share second with Jon Rahm (68).

Rory McIlroy made 29 birdies over the week, his record for a PGA Tour 72-hole event, but was eight back in tied 17th.

In cool, overcast Californian conditions for the final day, Cantlay moved two shots ahead with four birdies in five holes from the 11th, but dropped a shot after inexplicably pulling a wedge into a tree at the par-five 16th.

He parred the final two holes to set the clubhouse target, leaving Rahm needing to hole from 19 feet at the last for a birdie to force a play-off.

It stayed up and the Spaniard was denied a return to the top of the rankings as world number three Thomas, one ahead going into the final round, made a closing birdie to match him at 22 under.

Tiger Woods, a five-time winner and five-time runner-up at the Sherwood Country Club and defending Zozo champion following his win in Japan last year, finished joint 72nd at one under after a 74, with playing partner Phil Mickelson 76th at three over after a 78.
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/54686508.
 
Callum Shinkwin claims victory at Cyprus Open for first European title

England's Callum Shinkwin won his first European title by beating Kalle Samooja in a play-off at the Cyprus Open.

Shinkwin, 27, ended his final round of 63 with a birdie and a 54ft eagle to set a clubhouse target of 20 under par.

Samooja, 32, birdied the last hole as he shot a final round of 64 to set up a play-off.

Shinkwin, who lost a play-off for the Scottish Open in 2017, then secured victory over his Finnish rival with a birdie on the first extra hole.

Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Scotland's Robert Macintyre finished in joint third after respective fourth rounds of 67 and 65.
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/54771572.
 
Darren Clarke: Northern Irishman wins TimberTech PGA Tour Champions event in Florida

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke has won the PGA Tour Champions' TimberTech Championship in Florida.

It is Clarke's first victory since his triumph at the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St George's.

The 52-year-old fired a final-round 68 to finish on 17 under par for the tournament, one shot ahead of Bernhard Langer and Jim Furyk.

Clarke laid the foundations for his win with a 10-under 62 at the Broken Sound Club of Boca Raton on Saturday.

That round, which included an eagle and eight birdies, left him tied for the lead overnight with Swede Robert Karlsson.

The 2016 Europe Ryder Cup captain carded six birdies in his closing 18 holes, with a double-bogey six at the ninth the only blemish on his final round scorecard.
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/54772633.
 
World Handicap System: 'Teething problems' expected as new way of calculating handicaps starts

Golf's authorities are responding to renewed lockdown on the day handicap procedures change for hundreds of thousands of the UK's recreational players amid fears of "teething problems" with the new system.

The World Handicap System, devised by the sport's ruling bodies, the R&A and United States Golf Association, is being described as a "seismic" change to how the club game is administered.

It was launched last January and from Monday, 2 November is being used in Britain for the first time.

Every club golfer is affected by changes which mean that, when it is again permissible, they can play any course in the world with the correct handicap allowance for their playing ability.

Under the new system the best eight scores from a player's last 20 competitive rounds provides the basis of their "Handicap Index". Separately, the difficulty of golf courses for scratch and 'bogey' golfers has been assessed.

This gives each course a gender specific rating, known as "slope index" for each set of tees. Multiplying the handicap index by the course rating and dividing by a base measurement of 113 creates a playing handicap.

It is specific to that player on that course, wherever in the world it is located.

Further complexities abound, depending on the format that is being played (for example 95% of the calculated handicap for medal stroke play) but in practice this should be clearly indicated by the host clubs and competition organisers.

Furthermore, the centralised administration of the new system has drawn criticism because of concerns over data distribution.

National federations, rather than individual clubs, act as "calculation hubs" with England Golf assuming responsibility for the country's nearly 2,000 clubs. It is a similar story in Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

"It really is a seismic change," England Gold chief executive Jeremy Tomlinson told BBC Sport. "A huge change is that we are going to be moving from 1800 calculation hubs, which is circa the number of clubs in England, to one calculation hub now."

The transition is far from straightforward and critics have accused governing bodies of making a "data grab" by insisting that clubs and players supply email addresses, dates of birth and gender details.

Sources indicate some clubs have been reluctant to divulge such information, while others have provided only generic email addresses rather than one specific to members.

If no acceptable email address is submitted, players will be denied a handicap. This is a potential problem for older golfers and young juniors who might not use the internet.

"Quite simply, we asked for unique forms of identity, an email address and a date of birth," Tomlinson said.

"We asked for those so that we can identify 640,000 people and make sure we start off with the best possible foundation platform to ensure their golf identity really is theirs."

Tomlinson says England Golf has already unearthed "tens of thousands of inaccuracies" during the transition period and have complied with all legal requirements regarding data protection.

"Far from it being a data grab, it's all about identifying golfers to make sure their handicap data truly is theirs so we start the platform with the highest level of integrity," he said.

Tomlinson is calling for patience during the transition period. "There have been problems with purifying databases," he admitted.

"There have been issues with regards to connectivity, with regards to software. There are many queries coming through right now, so I'm just going to be real about this.

"There are going to be teething problems, but I do think we are going to get through it."

The England Golf boss insists this uniform rating of golfers' abilities will create a fairer game. "There won't be little idiosyncrasies of golf clubs with their own processes, there will be one way of doing things," Tomlinson said.

"One central calculation hub, one central library with one algorithm to calculate people's handicaps.

"We believe it will offer a new level of integrity that people can really trust but also a wonderful way in which people can cross countries and across the world and have the ability to apply their handicap to whatever golf course they play."

Only golf club members are able to gain a legitimate handicap under the new system but thousands of lapsed and new players have taken up the sport during the coronavirus pandemic.

Providing a mechanism to allow nomadic golfers who prefer to pay and play with an official handicap would seem an effective way of encouraging those players to remain committed to the sport.

"I think it's very inherent that the handicap system does drive that avidness," Tomlinson admitted.

"In some way shape or form, I'm sure in the future independent golfers are going to be able to gain a handicap through the WHS.

"I recommend people visit our website and WHS education section where we've put together a ******* so that people can more easily understand it."

It will be no consolation that players in England now appear to have plenty of time to appraise themselves of the new system.

The sport has been regarded a social distancing success during the Covid-19 era but while Scotland and Northern Ireland have allowed their courses to stay open, those in England have not been spared from measures announced by the Prime Minister last Saturday. Courses and driving ranges are due to shut on Thursday. Courses in Wales have been shut since 23 October.

England Golf is to "respectfully challenge the government's rationale for closing golf courses" and Tomlinson described the shutdown as "counter-productive" in an open letter to affiliated golfers.

More than 250,000 people have signed a petition against the move and Tomlinson is promising to lobby "MPs, colleagues, media and friends to make sure we are heard by government". Following this, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf is meeting on Monday.
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/54771401.
 
Ladies European Tour: Australia tournaments postponed over travel restrictions

The Ladies European Tour has postponed two tournaments which were due to be held in Australia in February.

The Geoff King Motors Australian Ladies Classic and the Women's NSW Open have been rescheduled for 2022.

Ongoing travel restrictions remain in place for Australia as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

"We are disappointed to postpone both popular tournaments for the coming year," said the tour's chief executive Alexandra Armas.

"Our players have become used to starting their season in Australia, so it was an extremely difficult decision for us to break an established Tour tradition."
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/54795305.
 
Masters 2020: Rory McIlroy can come to Augusta 'under the radar' and complete career grand slam

Rory McIlroy can go to Augusta National "under the radar" and win the Masters to complete the career grand slam, two double US Open winners believe.

Andy North and Curtis Strange say a soft course and a focus on big-hitting US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau will work to McIlroy's advantage.

"The golf course is going to play a little bit softer, which I think plays into Rory's hands," said North.

"It's not just being able to hit the ball a long way there," he added.

"It's about being able to carry it a long way and he does that as well as anybody.

"I would think with Rory, coming in here, he's got to be in a really happy mind spot right now (as a) new father, figuring all that out," former US Ryder Cup player North said during a teleconference with reporters.

"Bryson and [Dustin (Johnson] and some of these other guys. He might come in there feeling really good that he's under the radar and got nothing to lose and just go out and play."

Strange, who was the last player to win back-to-back US Open titles (1988-89) before Brooks Koepka did so in 2017 and 2018, added: "You try not to root for anybody, but I think we all root for him (McIlroy) a little bit because you would have thought he would have had a green jacket by now.

"If there's a week that I think he can win, it's Augusta because of the set up of the golf course, the way he plays the game, the way he enjoys the fans, the patrons, all of the above, but you still have to get it done.

"Maybe being under the radar can help him this week, maybe playing in November."

The Masters was rescheduled from its customary April date because of the Covid-19 health pandemic.

De Chambeau driving 'astounding'
DeChambeau recently posted an image from his launch monitor showing a drive which flew 403 yards in the air and North expects the world number six to take a unique approach to some holes at Augusta National.

"I watched him play an awful lot of golf at the US Open and watched him hit an awful lot of balls, and you can watch it on TV, but until you're standing next to him and actually watch the violence that he's creating and how the golf ball leaves the club head, you can't believe it," North observed.

"It is absolutely astounding.

"I'm looking forward to see where he drives it on some of these holes. A hole like the (par-five) eighth hole, I've heard rumours he's hit like seven iron in there. Thirteen, he's talking about trying to drive it over the trees into the 14th fairway and create that angle.

"It will be places that we've never seen anybody even think about getting to, and the fact that there are no patrons, you can go some different directions than maybe you normally would, you couldn't, because there's so many people in that spot.

"It sure changes how you can attack the golf course if you can drive over every single bunker and you can start taking shortcuts and hit it up over corners that no one's ever done before. It's going to be fun to see."
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/54826583.
 
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