Pressel poised to end drought

Pressel poised to end drought










The Sports Xchange June 8, 2013 9:10 PMThe SportsXchange



PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Morgan Pressel has teed it up 106 times in tournament play since her last victory at the 2008 Kapalua LPGA Classic.

She's positioned herself well to end that drought on Sunday in the Wegmans LPGA Championship, but there's a lot of work left to do on what will be a marathon day at Locust Hill Country Club.

There are 20 players within six shots of the lead, which sits at 6 under par after Pressel carded a 2-under 70 on Saturday in the second round. Rain washed out the first round on Thursday, meaning players will play 36 holes Sunday to complete the third and fourth rounds.

"The question will be just how committed I can be to every shot, because when you get tired your mind starts to wonder," Pressel said. "So that'll be the biggest test, truly staying focused on every shot. At the end of the day I probably won't want to think another second, but that will mean that I gave it my all."

Starting on the 10th hole in the afternoon wave and dealing with an occasional downpour on her front nine, Pressel birdied three of her first five holes to move to 7 under. She dropped shots at the par-4 16th and 18th holes but steadied herself coming in by playing her final nine holes in 1 under, thanks to a birdie on the par-5 eighth hole.

There are several players giving chase, most notably world No. 1 Inbee Park. She tied for the day's low round with a 4-under 68 and is 4 under for the tournament, tied for second place with first-round leader Chella Choi. Those two will join Pressel for the final two rounds.

Park and Pressel played junior golf together in Florida, but lately their careers have gone in opposite directions. Pressel has just one top-10 this season, and Park has won three times, including the season's first major in the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

"I've experienced a lot of golf," she said. "That really helps going into major championships like this.

"You feel a lot more comfortable."

Asian-born players have won the last eight majors on the LPGA Tour, and if Pressel falters Sunday, they're in position to continue that streak. Including Park and Choi, six of the top 11 players on the leader board come from South Korea, with Amy Yang and Jiyai Shin in a tie for fourth at 3 under and Sun Young Yoo and Na Yeon Choi part of a tie for seventh at 2 under.

The last time an LPGA major went to 36 holes in the 2012 Women's British Open, Shin romped to a nine-shot victory.

Yoo had an incredible stretch of birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie from holes nine through 12, but faltered with a pair of bogeys down the stretch to finish at 3-under-par 69 for her round.

Just 13 players are under par after another cold, wet day. Overnight rain left the already-waterlogged course downright sloppy in areas.

"I've heard a lot of people talk about the rough and you just gotta not hit it in it, basically. It's easier said than done, but just stay away from it," said Australian Sarah Jane Smith, who did that by hitting 11 of 14 fairways on her way to a round of 3-under 69.

Park hit 12 of 14 fairways in the second round.

"If you hit the ball straighter, it makes the golf course play a lot easier," she said. "I've been doing that the last two days here."

NOTES: Tying Park for low round of the day with a 68 was Michelle Wie. She's at par for the championship and moved up 57 spots on the leaderboard, from a tie for 71st to a tie for 14th. ... World No. 2 Stacy Lewis, the top-ranked American, is in a tie for 31st at 2 over for the tournament after shooting par 72. ... South Korean Mi Jung Hur has hit only 25 percent of the fairways this week, an astonishingly low number because of the heavy rough, but made the cut thanks to taking just 51 putts, second in the field to Pressel's 50 through two rounds.

Woods paired with McIlroy and Scott at Merion

.

View gallery

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods will play together for the first time ever in a major.(Getty Images)

 

PGA.COM June 9, 2013 7:27 PM

ARDMORE, Pa. (AP) -- Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy andAdam Scott will play together the opening two rounds of the U.S. Open next week at Merion.

For the third straight year, U.S. Open officials have put the top three players in the world ranking in the same group. The feature group will start at 1:14 p.m. Thursday off the first tee, and then 7:44 a.m. starting on the 11th tee Friday.

The U.S. Open disclosed the Nos. 1-2-3 group in a tweet, and McIlroy immediately responded on Twitter.

"Decent group for the first 2 rounds at Merion I see ..." he tweeted.

Woods is trying to end five years without a major title. McIlroy, who has yet to win this year, will be trying to capture a major for the third straight year. Scott is the Masters champion, the only player capable of the Grand Slam this year.

This will be the first time Woods and McIlroy have played together in any round of a major. They have played in the opening two rounds together at five previous tournaments -- twice in Abu Dhabi, the Cadillac Championship at Doral this year (won by Woods), the BMW Championship last year (won by McIlroy) andThe Barclays last year.

The USGA first went to the 1-2-3 grouping in the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines -- Woods, San Diego native Phil Mickelson and Scott.

Playing in front of that threesome will be former U.S. Open champions Jim Furyk and Graeme McDowell, and former Masters champion Zach Johnson.

Mickelson is on the other side of the draw -- starting Thursday morning on the 11th hole, Friday afternoon on the first hole. Mickelson, with a record five runner-up finishes in the U.S. Open, is joined by Steve Strickerand Keegan Bradley, his partner from the last Ryder Cup.

In front of that group will be the power trio of Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson and Nicolas Colsaerts.

For those wanting to see Woods and Sergio Garcia mix it up again, that won't happen, at least for the weekday rounds. Garcia might not be thrilled with his tee, however, because he's playing with Padraig Harrington and Stewart Cink. Garcia and Harrington, despite being Ryder Cup teammates, are not terribly close. Harrington beat the Spaniard in a playoff at Carnoustie to win his first major in the 2007 British Open, and the Irishman beat him again a year later in the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills.

Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer are in another group, just as they were two years ago at Congressional.

Here are the pairings and tee times for Thursday's first round. The numbers 1 or 11 in front of each group indicate wich hole the group will tee off on -- at Merion, the players will begin on on No. 11 instead of No. 10 for logistical reasons:

1 6:45 a.m.: KRESGE, C. TAMBELLINI, R. TBD 11 7:00 a.m.: WATSON, B. JOHNSON, D. COLSAERTS, N. 1 6:56 a.m.: TBD UEDA, Y. PARRY, J. 11 7:11 a.m.: MICKELSON, P. STRICKER, S. BRADLEY, K. 1 7:07 a.m.: WATNEY, N. HANSON, P. MAHAN, H. 11 7:22 a.m.: KUCHAR, M. ROSE, J. SNEDEKER, B. 1 7:18 a.m.: GLOVER, L. CASEY, P. HAAS, B. 11 7:33 a.m.: OOSTHUIZEN, L. SCHWARTZEL, C. CLARK, T. 1 7:29 a.m.: BADDELEY, A. SABBATINI, R. LINGMERTH, D. 11 7:44 a.m.: GARCIA, S. CINK, S. HARRINGTON, P. 1 7:40 a.m.: COETZEE, G. LAIRD, M. SIEM, M. 11 7:55 a.m.: POULTER, I. DUFNER, J. WEEKLEY, B. 1 7:51 a.m.: KELLY, J. HOFFMAN, C. HUH, J. 11 8:06 a.m.: FOWLER, R. MANASSERO, M. DAY, J. 1 8:02 a.m.: STENSON, H. MOORE, R. GARRIGUS, R. 11 8:17 a.m.: YANG, Y. JACOBSON, F. FUJITA, H. 1 8:13 a.m.: TBD KHAN, S. POTTER JR., T. 11 8:28 a.m.: STALLINGS, S. PETERSON, J. KARLSSON, R. 1 8:24 a.m.: STEFANI, S. KIM, M. (a) THOMPSON, N. 11 8:39 a.m.: BLAKE, J. JOBE, B. CAMPBELL, M. 1 8:35 a.m.: DOAK, C. SVOBODA, A. LABELLE II, D. 11 8:50 a.m.: HEARN, D. TBD VAN ZYL, J. 1 8:46 a.m.: SUTHERLAND, K. WEIBRING, M. HUTCHISON, R. 11 9:01 a.m.: PHELAN, K. (a) COLLINS, W. TBD 1 8:57 a.m.: MCELYEA, C. (a) NELSON, R. HAHN, J. 11 9:12 a.m.: PAN, C. (a) HUGHES, M. SISK, G. 1 12:30 p.m.: TOMS, D. CLARKE, D. OLAZABAL, J. 11 12:45 p.m.: HICKS, J. HOWELL, D. STUARD, B. 1 12:41 p.m.: OGILVY, G. CABRERA, A. LAWRIE, P. 11 12:56 p.m.: STEELE, B. GOYA, E. HEDBLOM, P. 1 12:52 p.m.: DONALD, L. WESTWOOD, L. KAYMER, M. 11 1:07 p.m.: LEISHMAN, M. SENDEN, J. FRASER, M. 1 1:03 p.m.: FURYK, J. MCDOWELL, G. JOHNSON, Z. 11 1:18 p.m.: LANGLEY, S. WILLIAMS, C. (a) HOFFMANN, M. 1 1:14 p.m.: WOODS, T. MCILROY, R. SCOTT, A. 11 1:29 p.m.: THOMPSON, M. WEAVER, M. (a) WITTENBERG, C. 1 1:25 p.m.: JAIDEE, T. FDEZ-CASTANO, G. OLESEN, T. 11 1:40 p.m.: CHOI, K. MOLINARI, F. PETTERSSON, C. 1 1:36 p.m.: SIMPSON, W. FOX, S. (a) ELS, E. 11 1:51 p.m.: PIERCY, S. CHAPPELL, K. DONALDSON, J. 1 1:47 p.m.: TBD OGILVIE, J. GUTHRIE, L. 11 2:02 p.m.: VAN PELT, B. STREELMAN, K. POINTS, D. 1 1:58 p.m.: TEATER, J. TSUKADA, Y. PEPPERELL, E. 11 2:13 p.m.: GRACE, B. BAE, S. HENLEY, R. 1 2:09 p.m.: LOAR, E. MADSEN, M. HWANG, J. 11 2:24 p.m.: MATSUYAMA, H. HORSCHEL, B. SPIETH, J. 1 2:20 p.m.: HOMA, M. (a) KNOX, R. BETTENCOURT, M. 11 2:35 p.m.: GOGGIN, M. ALKER, S. PRESNELL, A. 1 2:31 p.m.: HADWIN, A. NIEPORTE, J. HERMAN, J. 11 2:46 p.m.: HARMON, M. HALL, G. (a) KIM, B. 1 2:42 p.m.: BROWN, B. MURRAY, G. (a) SMITH, J. 11 2:57 p.m.: FISCHER, Z. SULLIVAN, R. CRICK, B.

Park shows why she's No. 1, wins LPGA title

Park shows why she's No. 1, wins LPGA title










The Sports Xchange June 9, 2013 8:40 PMThe SportsXchange



PITTSFORD, N.Y. --- No one can ever say Inbee Park isn't a fighter.

The No. 1 player in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings captured her second straight major championship Sunday, defeating Catriona Matthew of Scotland with an 18-foot a birdie on the third playoff hole in the Wegmans LPGA Championshipat Locust Hill Country Club.

Park, a 25-year-old from South Korea, became the third player in the last 40 years to win the first two majors of the women's season, joining Annika Sorenstam in 2005 and Pat Bradley in 1986.

In winning for the sixth time in her last 22 LPGA Tour starts, including the Kraft Nabisco Championship to start the major season, she was the last player standing after a 36-hole marathon was required on Sunday because the first round was rained out on Thursday.

In the end, Park needed 39 holes before claiming her seventh LPGA victory, including three majors, the first coming in the 2009 U.S. Women's Open.

Park did it by coming from five strokes behind Morgan Pressel after nine holes of the third round on Sunday morning on a course where birdies are hard to come by.

With four birdies on the back nine of that morning round, she turned the deficit into one-shot lead when the final round began.

Park extended her lead to three shots by the time she reached the 14th tee in the final round, but her swing began to get away from her. She dropped shots at holes 14, 16 and 18 to shoot 3-over-par 75 in the final round and allow Matthew into a playoff.

The 43-year-old Matthew, who 2009 Ricoh Women's British Open among her four titles on the LPGA Tour, closed with a bogey-free 68 and got into the playoff when Park made a bogey on the 72nd hole.

After both players made par on the opening two playoff holes, Park made a birdie on the par-4 18th to secure the win after Matthew hit into the rough and was scrambling simply to save par.

Pressel, trying to win for the first time since the 2008 Kapalua LPGA Championship, was tied for the lead in the final round, but carded three bogeys in the last nine holes and shot 75 to tie for third with Suzann Pettersen of Norway, who closed with a 65.

Pettersen and Pressel finished one stroke out of the playoff.

NOTES: The best round of the tournament was turned in by Suzann Pettersen, who carded a 7-under 65 in the final round. That moved her all the way up from a tie for 31st at the start of the day to her tie for third. ... Amateur Lydia Ko, the 16-year-old from New Zealand who last year became the youngest-ever winner on the LPGA Tour, continued her strong play with a tie for 17th. Ko's 3-under-par 69 in the final round was her best of the tournament. ... Defending champion Shanshan Feng, the first player from Mainland China to win a major, closed with a 70 to finish in a tie for ninth that included and Michelle Wie, who finished with a 71.

Notebook: Short week for rare local qualifiers

Notebook: Short week for rare local qualifiers












.

View gallery


Gain Hall, 18, clearly had a great time despite missing the U.S. Open cut.(Getty Images)

PGA.COM June 16, 2013 5:27 PM


By Doug Ferguson, Associated Press

ARDMORE, Pa. -- Among those who had the shortest week at the U.S. Open took the longest road to even get to Merion.

For the first time since at least 1997, none of the 20 players who endured 18 holes of local qualifying and 36 holes of sectional qualify for the U.S. Open made the cut.

That doesn't mean the experience was a total waste of time.

Take 18-year-old Gavin Hall, who birdied his last four holes to make it through sectional qualifying in New York. Hall went to bed Thursday night with his name on the leaderboard because he was 1 under par when the opening round was suspended. He ran off a string of bogeys Friday morning, though he also holed out from the eighth fairway for an eagle to open with a 74.

The second round was tougher -- a 40 on the front nine, and then a triple bogey on the 10th hole, the shortest par 4 at Merion. He shot 77, but that included back-to-back birdies on Nos. 15 and 16, and an experience he wouldn't trade.

"That's a special place, a special tournament to play in, and for me to play in this at such a young age is a great learning experience, and it's just a great tournament to kick off the summer," said Hall, who clearly had a great time despite missing the cut.

"I've gotten exposed to a lot of things and I have a lot to work on," he said. "But I still feel like if I clean up some things in my game, I belong out here."

Harold Varner III made it through local qualifying, and he was an alternate from sectional qualifying to play in his first U.S. Open. He went 76-79, so it was never really close when it came to staying for the weekend.

Varner was one of two players who competed in The First Tee event at Pebble Beach -- Scott Langley was the other -- only the 22-year-old who played at East Carolina was more disappointed with his results.

The biggest surprise was the size of the crowd.

"When I played in the Wal-Mart First Tee, there was a lot of people, and then I played in the one Web.com in Charlotte, seeing that many people," Varner said. "But this week was obviously like a circus. It was unbelievable."


WEIBRING'S STRUGGLES: Matt Weibring made the cut in his first U.S. Open, though it becomes an even greater achievement considering that Merion was only his second form of competition in the last two months.

Weibring, a Web.com Tour player and the son of former PGA Tour player D.A. Weibring, has been coping with Bell's palsy, a form of facial paralysis.

"I was happy just to be here, just to be back playing," he said. "And I hung in there, and I did what I had to do. It's hard out there."

Weibring, who qualified out of Dallas, had to return Saturday morning to complete his round and slipped over the cut line with two holes to play. But he made a birdie on the par-3 ninth hole, hung on for par and a 73 and earned two more days at Merion.

The 33-year-old Weibring said he couldn't even practice the last two months.

"Your face gets paralyzed so you can't close or blink your eye or anything," he said. "It's hard being outside because if the wind blows, you feel disoriented. I practiced a couple of weeks leading up to the qualifier. Sometimes you go out after you've been sick and shoot good, and I tied for medalist, and here I am. So I'm excited."

BIG NAMES MISS THE CUT: Former Masters champion Zach Johnson was among 12 major champions who failed to make the cut, and he wasn't happy -- not about his game, not about the way Merion was set up, and certainly not with the USGA.

"I would describe the whole golf course as manipulated," Johnson said after rounds of 74-77, his first weekend off at a U.S. Open since 2009 at Bethpage Black. "It just enhances my disdain for the USGA and how it manipulates golf courses."

As another example of how predicting winners is mostly guesswork in golf, three of the players who some thought would contend at Merion were Johnson, Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk. All of them missed the cut by at least three shots. For McDowell, it was his second straight cut in a major -- in a year when he already has won twice.

Furyk had his worst U.S. Open, and it hurt coming in his home state.

The most painful cut belonged to Stewart Cink, who played his last four holes in 4 over -- including a double bogey at No. 18 -- to miss by two shots.

DIVOTS: Kevin Sutherland, who turns 49 on July 4, was the oldest player remaining at Merion. Jay Don Blake, now on the Champions Tour, said he only recognized a dozen or so players in the locker room. "I have seen some of the kids walking in there," the 54-year-old Blake said. "Even seeing the name, I didn't even know some of the names, either. It's pretty interesting. It's kind of neat, though." Blake missed the cut with 74-80. ... For the second straight year, only two players were under par through 36 holes. The winning score at Olympic Club turned out to be 1-over 281. ... Thirty players were separated by five shots going into the third round.

Woods matches his worst-ever score in a major

Woods matches his worst-ever score in a major












.

View gallery


Tiger Woods shot a 4-over 74 Sunday, which gave him his worst 72-hole score as a pro in the U.S. Open, and tied his high score in any major at 13-over 293.(Getty Images)

PGA.COM June 16, 2013 7:47 PM


By Doug Ferguson, Associated Press

ARDMORE, Pa. -- This isn't the kind of record Tiger Woods had in mind at the U.S. Open.

Woods went out-of-bounds on his second tee shot of the final round at Merion on Sunday and closed with a 4-over 74. That gave him his worst 72-hole score as a pro in the U.S. Open, and it tied for his high score in any major.

"I did a lot of things right," Woods said. "Unfortunately, I did a few things wrong, as well."

Woods finished at 13-over 293.

His previous high score in a U.S. Open was 290 at The Olympic Club in 1998 and Shinnecock Hills in 2004. Woods shot 294 at Oakland Hills in 1996 as an amateur.

Just two days ago, Woods was four shots out of the lead and very much in the hunt to end his five-year drought in the majors. Then, he went 76-74 for his worst weekend in a major championship. Just over two weeks ago, the world's No. 1 player had won three of his last four events on the PGA Tour and was starting to establish his dominance.

But he looked ordinary at Merion.

Starting the final round 10 shots behind, Woods made a birdie putt on the opening hole. Instead of a fist pump, he offered only a mild wave. Whatever hopes he had of at least getting his name on the leaderboard ended quickly. Woods pushed his tee shot to the right on the par-5 second hole, over the trees and out-of-bounds. His next tee shot was close to going out-of-bounds, stopping a few yards away in front of a tree. He wound up with a triple bogey.


It was his only big number of the week, though his 20 bogeys were startling.

"I struggled with the speed all week," Woods said. "These greens are grainy. It's one of the older bent grasses -- creeping bent. I struggled with the speed, especially right around the hole. Putts were breaking a lot more. I gave it a little more break and then it would hang. That's kind of the way it was this week."

The 293 matched his high score at any major, last year at the Masters when he tied for 40th.

Woods didn't mention any pain in his left elbow, though he kept that a mystery throughout the week. He was flexing and shaking his left hand on shots out of the rough early in the week, saying only that it was painful. He later revealed that he first hurt it at The Players Championship last month, which he won. But he didn't mention the shot or even which round it happened.

Merion remained a mystery for Woods throughout the week. For the first time since Olympic in 1998 -- the year he was rebuilding his swing -- he failed to break par in any of the four rounds at a U.S. Open.

"It played tricky. The rough was up," Woods said. "They were raking the rough up every morning into the grain, and the pins were really tough."

Woods plays again in two weeks at the AT&T National at Congressional, where he is the defending champion. His next major is the British Open at Muirfield, where in 2002 he was going for the calendar Grand Slam until he got caught in a vicious weather pattern of a cold, sideways rain and shot 81 to fall from contention.

The final major of the year is at Oak Hill for the PGA Championship, where 10 years ago Woods never shot better than 72 and wound up at 12-over 292.

"There's always a lesson to be learned in every tournament, whether you win or lose," Woods said. "I'll look back at the things I did right and the things I did wrong."

Stefani makes hole-in-one on Merion's 17th hole

Stefani makes hole-in-one on Merion's 17th hole












.

View gallery


Shawn Stefani aced the 17th hole Sunday, making him the first golfer to make a hole-in-one at any U.S. Open at Merion.(Getty Images)

PGA.COM June 16, 2013 5:32 PM


By Dan Gelston, Associated Press

ARDMORE, Pa. -- Shawn Stefani lost track of the ball as soon it rocketed off his 4-iron. A roaring U.S. Open gallery tracked it for him.

"Go! Go! Go! Go!"

It did Sunday when Stefani aced the 17th hole, making him the first golfer to make a hole-in-one at any U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club, which is hosting the major for the fifth time.

"When the crowd went crazy, I knew it went in," he said.

His shot bounced out of the rough and rolled some 50 feet toward the pin before falling in the cup.

Stefani raised his arms and hopped around the tee in celebration. Caddie Chris Callas gave him a playful hug and a slap on the back.

"I didn't know what to do but jump up and down for joy," Stefani said.


Then he walked down the 213-yard, par-3 hole and planted a kiss on the sweet spot where it landed.

"We're in Philly. There's some great fans up here and I know they can be tough on you and they can love you forever," he said.

USGA Museum officials waited for Stefani near the scorecard trailer and hoped to acquire the ball. Stefani declined.

"It's hiding right now," he said. "I'm going to save it."

But he did pull the ball out of his pocket and showed it off. He also inquired about getting some sort of commemorative plaque from Merion.

The USGA's Far Hills, N.J. museum didn't go home empty-handed -- Stefani donated a signed glove and scorecard.

His only other ace came when he was 13 at Goose Creek Country Club in Baytown, Texas, his hometown.

It was the first ace at Merion, but not at a Philadelphia Open. The first U.S. Open hole-in-one came in 1907, when Jack Hobens aced the 147-yard 10th hole at the Philadelphia Cricket Club.

Perry ends heartbreak with Senior Players title

Perry ends heartbreak with Senior Players title










June 30, 2013 6:49 PM



(Reuters) - Kenny Perry seized his long awaited first seniors major title with a stellar final round at the Senior Players Championship on Sunday.

Perry shot a six-under 64 to vault past overnight leaderFred Couples and finish at 19-under 261 as he claimed a two-shot victory at the Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh.

Perry, 52, had suffered playoff losses at the 1996 PGA Championship and 2009 Masters before losing last month'sSenior PGA Championship despite a two-stroke lead.

This time, he trailed Couples by two heading into the last round but forged a comeback with a bogey-free round.

After Couples three-putted at No. 15 to give Perry a one-stroke lead, the eventual winner hit consecutive approach shots to tap-in range on the 16th and 17th holes.

Couples had a final chance to tie on the par-5 18th, but after he reaching the green in two shots his 45-foot putt slid past the hole.

Couples finished at 17-under 263, tied with Duffy Waldorffor second.

Michael Allen and John Huston shared fourth at 12-under 268.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles, Editing by Gene Cherry)

Park wins U.S. Open for third major of 2013

Park wins U.S. Open for third major of 2013









Joe Pantorno, The Sports Xchange June 30, 2013 7:00 PMThe SportsXchange


SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. - Inbee Park was just a few holes from making history, and she appeared to be playing a practice round on Sunday. Park seldom shows emotion during a round of golf, but she finally cracked a smile walking toward the 18th green, with the U.S. Women's Open Trophy waiting for her.



In what became a two-player race, Park, the world's top-ranked golfer, beat out I.K. Kim by four strokes to win the 68th U.S. Women's Open at Sebonack.



The others who won three majors in a year were Babe Zaharias (1950), Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986). Park joined Zaharias as the only players to win the first three majors.



It was Park's second U.S. Women's Open win of her career, the first coming in 2008. It also was Park's sixth straight LPGA Tour victory.



Park shot a 2-over-par 74 in the final round to finish at 8-under for the tournament.




Paired with Kim for the final round, Park parred her first five holes while Kim birdied two and bogeyed four in her first six holes.



"I had a really good chance out there," Kim said. "If I putted a little better this week I think I could've pushed it a little bit more."



Park merely limited her mistakes the rest of the way. She made par on six of the last eight holes. She also had bogeys on 14 and 15, but the cushion she had was more than enough.



Park finished with a par to a standing ovation on the 18th hole followed by a champagne bath from So Yeon Ryu and Na Yeon Choi.



"I started off well, had good up and downs. I had a good opportunity, but I made her [Park] comfortable," Kim said. "It was hard to make mistakes. It's disappointing but I was still pleased with how I played."



A consistent outing from Paula Creamer enabled her to tie Angela Stanford and Jodi Ewart Shadoff at 1-over for fourth place. Creamer, like Ryu, managed to stay even on on the final round, but Stanford shot 2-over and Shadoff 4-over.



"It's a top-10 [finish], so I'm not going to complain about that," Korda said after finishing tied for seventh. "This is my sixth U.S. Open, so I would say this one had, by far, the toughest greens and was the windiest."

Golf-South Korean Park wins third consecutive major

Golf-South Korean Park wins third consecutive major










June 30, 2013 8:09 PM


(Adds details, quotes)

* She joins Zaharias with three majors in row

* Park will try for fourth at Women's British Open

* Kim never challenges, finishes four back

June 30 (Reuters) - South Korean Park Inbee became only the second LPGA player to win the first three majors in a season when she roared to a four-stroke victory at the U.S. Women's Open on Sunday.

The world number one held steady with a final-round two-over-par 74 to finish at eight-under 280 at Sebonack Golf Club in New York.

"I just hope this is not a dream," Park, who earlier this year won the Kraft Nabisco and LPGA championships, told reporters. "I don't want to wake up tomorrow and play the final round again."


Only Mildred (Babe) Didrikson Zaharias has previously won the first three women's majors in a season. She did it in 1950, winning the Titleholders Championship, the Women's Western Open and the U.S. Women's Open.

Fellow South Korean I.K. Kim matched Parks' 74 and took second at four-under 284 but was never able to really challenge Park.

Ryu So-Yeon was third at one-under 287 with Americans Paula Creamer and Angela Stanford and England's Jodi Ewart-Shadoff tied for fourth at one-over 289.

Entering the day with a four-stroke advantage, Park's lead was briefly trimmed to three when Kim birdied the second hole but the runner-up gave a shot right back with a bogey on No. 4.

After bogeying holes No. 6 and No. 7, Park ran off birdies at the ninth and 10th holes to swell her cushion to six shots.

Park has won five times overall this year and three in a row. She took over the top ranking after claiming the Kraft Nabisco Championship in April, then added the LPGA Championship earlier this month.

She will attempt to make it four majors in four tries at the at the Women's British Open in August before competing in September's Evian Masters, which has become the women's fifth major.

"I'm glad that I can give it a try at St. Andrews (for the British Open)," Park said. "That's going to be a great experience. Whether or not I (win it), I'm just a very lucky person." (Reporting by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles, Editing by Gene Cherry)

Golf-Perry banks on power game at U.S. Senior Open

Golf-Perry banks on power game at U.S. Senior Open

Like
Dislike







July 10, 2013 5:42 PM


July 10 (Reuters) - Searing heat and a hilly course are likely to pose problems for players at this week's U.S. Senior Open in Omaha, Nebraska where Kenny Perry hopes his power game can help him clinch a second successive major title.

The 52-year-old American is one of the longest hitters on the over-50s Champions Tour and he views his length off the tee as "a huge advantage" on the 6,711-yard, par-70 layout at Omaha Country Club.

"It's all going to be how well I drive the golf ball is how well I play this week," Perry told reporters on Wednesday while preparing for Thursday's opening round at the fourth of the season's five senior majors.

"Definitely length is going to be a big advantage this week, but you've still got to hit the fairways. The rough is very penal out there. It's chip-out rough.

"It's got definitely a U.S. Open feel out there, with the greens as small as they are and undulating. But with my power, if I can keep driving it straight like I did at Fox Chapel ... I've got a huge advantage."

Perry landed his first major title by two shots in last month's Senior Players Championship at Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh for his third career win on the Champions Tour.

He capped a superb driving display there with a closing six-under-par 64 to seal victory but this week he knows he will need stamina as well as power if he is to visit the winner's circle for a second consecutive event.

"This is probably the hardest walking course I've ever been on," Perry said of the Omaha Country Club layout. "I played the (PGA) Tour 27 years and a couple of years out here and it's the hilliest I've seen. It's very physically demanding.

"You're always coming off the green and walking 50 to 80 yards up the hill to the next tee box, and then you're walking straight down and then back (up).

"The guys that will do well this week are going to be the guys who are in pretty good shape."


MAJOR DEAL

Winning a first major crown, even at senior level, meant a great deal to Perry, who had twice been beaten in playoffs for one of golf's four blue riband events on the regular PGA Tour.

"Anything that has major attached to it was always my one goal," said the American, a 14-times winner on the PGA Tour. "I came so close at the PGA (Championship) when Mark Brooks beat me in the playoff, and then I lost to Cabrera at the Masters.

"Our majors out here (on the Champions Tour) probably are not looked upon like they are on the PGA Tour, but yet they're still a major.

"It still will be attached to your name," said Perry, who was pipped by fellow American Brooks in the 1996 PGA Championship at Valhalla, then lost out in a three-way playoff for the 2009 Masters won by Argentina's Angel Cabrera.

Perry also suffered a close call in May at the Senior PGA Championship at Bellerive Golf Club in St. Louis where he fell back into a tie for second after going into the final round with a two-stroke lead.

"It was a huge monkey off my back when I won (the Senior Players Championship)," he said. "I had a three-shot lead with six to play at the Senior PGA, and I blew that one.

"It was finally nice to get that off my back. It was finally nice to say, 'Hey, yeah, I was able to do it.' That was awesome. That was a great feeling."

Englishman Roger Chapman is defending his title this week, having won last year's U.S. Senior Open by two strokes in Lake Orion, Michigan.

Also competing are Americans Tom Watson and Loren Roberts, who are each seeking to emulate Jack Nicklaus by winning a fourth different senior major title. (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Gene Cherry)

Perry banks on power game at U.S. Senior Open

Perry banks on power game at U.S. Senior Open

Like
Dislike







July 10, 2013 5:45 PM

.

View gallery
Kenny Perry of the U.S. watches his tee shot on the first hole during the third round of the Memorial …


(Reuters) - Searing heat and a hilly course are likely to pose problems for players at this week's U.S. Senior Open in Omaha, Nebraska where Kenny Perry hopes his power game can help him clinch a second successive major title.

The 52-year-old American is one of the longest hitters on the over-50s Champions Tour and he views his length off the tee as "a huge advantage" on the 6,711-yard, par-70 layout at Omaha Country Club.

"It's all going to be how well I drive the golf ball is how well I play this week," Perry told reporters on Wednesday while preparing for Thursday's opening round at the fourth of the season's five senior majors.

"Definitely length is going to be a big advantage this week, but you've still got to hit the fairways. The rough is very penal out there. It's chip-out rough.

"It's got definitely a U.S. Open feel out there, with the greens as small as they are and undulating. But with my power, if I can keep driving it straight like I did at Fox Chapel ... I've got a huge advantage."

Perry landed his first major title by two shots in last month'sSenior Players Championship at Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh for his third career win on the Champions Tour.

He capped a superb driving display there with a closing six-under-par 64 to seal victory but this week he knows he will need stamina as well as power if he is to visit the winner's circle for a second consecutive event.

"This is probably the hardest walking course I've ever been on," Perry said of the Omaha Country Club layout. "I played the (PGA) Tour 27 years and a couple of years out here and it's the hilliest I've seen. It's very physically demanding.

"You're always coming off the green and walking 50 to 80 yards up the hill to the next tee box, and then you're walking straight down and then back (up).

"The guys that will do well this week are going to be the guys who are in pretty good shape."


MAJOR DEAL

Winning a first major crown, even at senior level, meant a great deal to Perry, who had twice been beaten in playoffs for one of golf's four blue riband events on the regular PGA Tour.

"Anything that has major attached to it was always my one goal," said the American, a 14-times winner on the PGA Tour. "I came so close at the PGA (Championship) when Mark Brooks beat me in the playoff, and then I lost to Cabrera at the Masters.

"Our majors out here (on the Champions Tour) probably are not looked upon like they are on the PGA Tour, but yet they're still a major.

"It still will be attached to your name," said Perry, who was pipped by fellow American Brooks in the 1996 PGA Championship at Valhalla, then lost out in a three-way playoff for the 2009 Masters won by Argentina's Angel Cabrera.

Perry also suffered a close call in May at the Senior PGA Championship at Bellerive Golf Club in St. Louis where he fell back into a tie for second after going into the final round with a two-stroke lead.

"It was a huge monkey off my back when I won (the Senior Players Championship)," he said. "I had a three-shot lead with six to play at the Senior PGA, and I blew that one.

"It was finally nice to get that off my back. It was finally nice to say, 'Hey, yeah, I was able to do it.' That was awesome. That was a great feeling."

Englishman Roger Chapman is defending his title this week, having won last year's U.S. Senior Open by two strokes in Lake Orion, Michigan.

Also competing are Americans Tom Watson and Loren Roberts, who are each seeking to emulate Jack Nicklaus by winning a fourth different senior major title.

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Gene Cherry)

Golf-PGA Tour FedExCup points table

Golf-PGA Tour FedExCup points table

Like
Dislike







July 15, 2013 10:40 AM


July 15 (Reuters) - PGA Tour 2013 FedExCup points table on

Monday (U.S. unless stated):

1. Tiger Woods 2,380 points

2. Matt Kuchar 1,964

3. Brandt Snedeker 1,603

4. Phil Mickelson 1,518

5. Billy Horschel 1,459

6. Justin Rose (England) 1,358

7. Bill Haas 1,320

8. Kevin Streelman 1,259

9. Boo Weekley 1,196


10. Jason Day (Australia) 1,148

11. Jordan Spieth 1,114

12. Keegan Bradley 1,051

13. Webb Simpson 1,018

14. Adam Scott (Australia) 1,012

15. Harris English 1,011

16. Russell Henley 1,005

17. Hunter Mahan 1,003

18. D.A. Points 1,000

19. Jimmy Walker 996

20. Steve Stricker 990

(Editing by Caroline Helly)

Golf-European Tour Race to Dubai money list

Golf-European Tour Race to Dubai money list

Like
Dislike







July 15, 2013 10:40 AM


July 15 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013

European Tour Race to Dubai on Monday:

1. Justin Rose (England) 1,557,900 euros

2. Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) 1,530,715

3. Matteo Manassero (Italy) 1,176,977

4. Richard Sterne (South Africa) 1,097,976

5. Branden Grace (South Africa) 1,020,546

6. Ernie Els (South Africa) 951,200

7. Brett Rumford (Australia) 909,770

8. Sergio Garcia (Spain) 903,146

9. Mikko Ilonen (Finland) 829,997


10. Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 746,474

11. Jamie Donaldson (Wales) 725,574

12. Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) 705,378

13. Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark) 691,726

14. Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 670,206

15. Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 664,157

16. Scott Jamieson (Scotland) 644,527

17. Marc Warren (Scotland) 632,691

18. Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) 608,871

19. Joost Luiten (Netherlands) 599,864

20. Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) 590,807

(Editing by Caroline Helly)

Earning His Keep: Jordan Spieth's Life Changes by the Minute

Earning His Keep: Jordan Spieth's Life Changes by the Minute

Like
Dislike







Ryan Ballengee July 15, 2013 12:08 PM


COMMENTARY | It's a true Cinderella story. No, not "Caddyshack."



Jordan Spieth began the year merely as a hotshot kid wearing a pumpkin-colored shirt and, after winning the John Deere Classic on in a playoff on Sunday, now he has a chariot of a charter plane taking him to the ball that is the Open Championship, golf's oldest major.



The 19-year-old, who turns 20 on July 27, outlasted 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson and Canadian David Hearn in a five-hole playoff to become the first teenager to win in a PGA Tour-recognized event in 82 years. That's back before the PGA Tour was its own organization, separate from the PGA of America.



Needless to say, things like this simply don't happen.



Spieth began 2013 without any status on the PGA Tour. None.



To survive and earn a livelihood, Spieth, fresh off leading the University of Texas to the NCAA men's golf championship, would have to rely on the kindness of strangers and sponsor's exemptions to set some kind of schedule.



If he played well enough in those rare opportunities to shine, then maybe the two-time U.S. Junior Amateur champion could earn enough money to get some kind of security for next season. Doing that alone would be an amazing accomplishment, but with a truncated season due to a new PGA Tour calendar, time was especially of the essence.



Spieth began to prove himself in very little time. In March, Spieth finished T-2 at the Puerto Rico Open, the event played opposite the WGC-Cadillac Championship. The $308,000 check was earned against a lesser field -- the big boys were at Doral on the U.S. mainland -- but it was a sign of things to come. It also afforded him an automatic start at the Tampa Bay Championship.



Spieth finished T-7 at Innisbrook. Another six-figure check for almost $150,000. Another earned start, this time in Houston.



The small check from Houston put him over the threshold to earn special temporary membership on the PGA Tour, affording him the chance to take unlimited sponsor's exemptions through the end of the year. No longer limited to accepting just seven invitations to play, the rising star would no longer have to plot where and when he would compete.



A month later, he finished T-9 at the RBC Heritage. It wasn't the Masters, like the week prior, but it was another sign of what was coming.




After moving sideways for a month, Spieth found himself with an outside chance at Colonial. He finished T-7, but practically locked up his 2014 PGA Tour card through the nonmember money list. The biggest goal had been achieved.



A win was really the only thing left for Spieth. It would give him automatic PGA Tour status, a two-year exemption and a chance to chase the FedEx Cup. Despite all of his great play, only PGA Tour members can compete in the Playoffs. Nothing short of a victory would offer Spieth that chance.



A month after Colonial, Spieth was seriously in the mix for the AT&T National title, but the third-round pressure caught up with him, as he ballooned to a 74 that left him to fight for a sixth-place finish.



A week later at Greenbrier, it was the final round, a 73, that got Spieth unglued.



It only took Spieth 14 days to learn how to win. The Texan opened with a benign 70 at TPC Deere Run, but then took it to the Silvis, Ill. course. Three consecutive 65s, including five birdies in his final six holes, landed him in a playoff with two guys nearly twice his age. It turned out playing five playoff holes in even par was good enough to win.



When the 18-inch par putt to win at the 18th hole fell, Spieth had his victory. With it, he found the only path he had left to next week's Open Championship -- a tournament tailor-made for a kid from Texas.



Now instead of wondering how he might spend the better part of August and all of September, Spieth's calendar has filled quickly. He earned a spot in the PGA Championship. He'll be in the WGC-Firestone Invitational.



Spieth is not only in the FedEx Cup playoffs, but he's a contender to win the whole thing. He is retroactively credited with all of the FedEx Cup points he would have earned earlier in the year and now sits 11th in the standings.



The soon-to-be-20-year-old can continue to go for broke this year. Maybe that's a bad turn of phrase. Spieth has made $2 million this year with the possible to earn millions more before season's end. In fact, the rookie could take home $10 million and the FedEx Cup in September.



It's said the man with nothing to lose is often the most dangerous. With $2 million in his pocket, a two-yearPGA Tour exemption, a spot in the next three major championships, Jordan Spieth still has more to gain in 2013. That could mean his finest hour is still yet to come. And, unlike for Cinderella, midnight will not strike anytime soon.



Ryan Ballengee is a Washington, D.C.-based golf writer. His work has appeared on multiple digital outlets, including NBC Sports and Golf Channel. Follow him on Twitter @RyanBallengee.

Golf-Mickelson ends British Open hoodoo as Westwood falters

Golf-Mickelson ends British Open hoodoo as Westwood falters

Like
Dislike







July 21, 2013 1:58 PM


* American captures fifth major title

* No joy for overnight leader Westwood

* Woods also out of sorts on final day

By Tony Jimenez

GULLANE, Scotland, July 21 (Reuters) - After huffing and puffing at the British Open so often in the past, Phil Mickelson finally blew the house down by romping to a three-shot victory over Swede Henrik Stenson in golf's oldest major on Sunday.

The American left-hander took advantage of a jittery last round from overnight leader Lee Westwood by firing a five-under-par 66 for a three-under tally of 281 on a cool and breezy day on the east coast of Scotland.

Mickelson was the beneficiary of a fortunate bounce with his approach shot at the last and after rolling in a 10-foot birdie putt he raised both arms in the air before hugging Jim 'Bones' Mackay as his long-serving caddie wiped away some tears.

Muirfield once again lived up to its reputation for providing great champions as the popular Californian picked up the fifth major title of his career.

It was Mickelson's 20th appearance at the British Open and only the third time he had finished in the top 10.

"That was one of the best rounds of golf I've ever played," he said as he cradled the coveted Claret Jug in his arms at the presentation ceremony at the conclusion of the 142nd Open.

"I could not be more proud to be your champion.

"To play probably the best round of my career is probably the most fulfilling moment of my career because it is something I thought I would never do here."

Stenson closed with a 70, ending up one stroke ahead of Westwood (75), Australian Adam Scott (72) and a fired-up Ian Poulter (67) who launched a spectacular last-day assault with an eagle-birdie-birdie-birdie burst from the ninth.

World number one Tiger Woods, like Westwood, was strangely out of sorts and never threatened to challenge for the first prize of 945,000 pounds ($1.44 million).

Fourteen-times major champion Woods, bidding to end a five-year wait for a win in one of golf's big four events, could be heard muttering darkly to himself throughout the round as he slid to a 74 to take a share of sixth place on 286.

Mickelson, who won last week's Scottish Open, said his triumph made up for the disappointment of losing out to Britain's Justin Rose in the last round of the U.S. Open a month ago.


"The range of emotions are as far apart as possible following the loss at Merion," added the 43-year-old.

"To win here feels amazing but you have to be resilient in this game, you have to accept the losses as well as you accept the victories.

"This is such an accomplishment for me. I just never knew I could develop the game that I needed to play links golf effectively."

STRAIGHT BIRDIES

Mickelson was on the fringes of contention on the front nine but suddenly lit the blue touch paper on his game with birdies at the 13th and 14th.

The world number five, watched by wife Amy and his children, then delivered a dazzling coup de grace on the 575-yard 17th.

Mickelson reached the green with two crunching blows, crying 'Go, Baby, Go' as his second shot came to rest on the green, and the title was effectively secured when he two-putted for his sixth birdie of the round.

While the American was buzzing, Westwood felt deflated after wasting a glorious opportunity to end his wait for a breakthrough major victory at the 62nd attempt.

Hundreds of British fans started streaming towards the exits with the Englishman on the 17th hole.

The crowds, who had to contend with the coolest temperatures of the week and winds gusting up to 25mph, cheered patriotically for Westwood early on but the atmosphere fell flat around the turn as their man started to struggle.

"I didn't play that badly today but the round came apart at the seventh, eighth and ninth," said the 40-year-old. "I found three bunkers and each time the ball was plugged but that is the defence of the golf course.

"It seems like an over-40 championship now, it seems like you have to be 42 or 43 to win it," he added, referring to the victories by Ernie Els last year and his close friend Darren Clarke in 2011.

Westwood was particularly irked when he was distracted at the seventh and found sand off the tee.

"I can't believe you clicked your camera at the top of my back swing," he fumed at a photographer.

Conditions were difficult for scoring, just as they had been all through the championship, and sub-par rounds were few and far between on Sunday.

Els finished in a tie for 26th place despite producing the shot of the day when his approach at the 17th bounced straight into the cup for an eagle three.

($1 = 0.6553 British pounds) (Editing by Ed Osmond)