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Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Ko, Hull paired together in Canada

August 21, 2013AP - Sports

Europe's Charley Hull, from England, reacts after making a birdie putt on the 17th hole during a fourball …

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- Lydia Ko made history last year at Vancouver Golf Club when she won the Canadian Women's Open to become the LPGA Tour's youngest winner and fifth amateur champion.

Fellow teenager Charley Hull starred last week in theSolheim Cup, helping Europe rout the States 18-10 at Colorado Golf Club.

They will play alongside each other in the first two rounds at Royal Mayfair, starting play Thursday morning in a group with young Canadian player Jennifer Kirby.

''She obviously proved herself out there last week, and she's obviously a really great player,'' Ko said about Hull.

Last year, Ko won at 15 years, 4 months. The South Korean-born New Zealander broke the age record of 16 set by Lexi Thompson in the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic.

''Time flies and lots of things have happened since then,'' Ko said. ''I've been really enjoying it the last year.''

Ko has two other victories in professional events, the New South Wales Open last year and New Zealand Women's Open this year. She's making her 10th LPGA Tour start of the season.

''You know, I've been getting a whole new experience, because courses change,'' Ko said. ''I've been getting a feel for all these different types of golf courses in different countries and situations. I've been really enjoying it. It doesn't feel like I've played 10 already, but yeah, it's been really cool to have that opportunity to play this many.''

Hull, from England, was 2-1-0 in the Solheim Cup, capped by a 5-and-4 singles victory over Paula Creamer.

''It was amazing, because you're always dreaming of being able to play, and getting to Solheim, especially with it being my first year on tour, it was just a dream come true,'' said Hull. ''I absolutely loved every moment of it.''

South Korea's Inbee Park, second last year behind Ko, has six victories this year. She won the first three major championships of the season, then finished 14 strokes behind winner Stacy Lewis in the Women's British Open in her bid to become the first professional to win four straight majors in one season.

''I feel like I'm a lot more relaxed now,'' Park said. ''I mean, I experienced some big pressure in British Open. That week was big, and it could have been great if I could have played a little bit better, but some weeks you don't play your best. But I had a great experience there, so I think that experience will help me throughout this season and my career.''

Park returned home to South Korea for the two weeks.

''When I was in Korea I obviously met up with my family and friends and I did some charity work,'' Park said. ''I did some stuff for sponsors. Everything kept me really busy. I really enjoyed my time there. I feel like I'm more refreshed, feel like I'm ready to go again.''

Lewis also is in the field along with Sweden's Caroline Hedwall, the first player in Solheim Cup history to win all five of her matches.

For Woods, still some work to do this year

DOUG FERGUSON (AP Golf Writer) August 21, 2013AP - Sports

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) -- This might be the best way to measure Tiger Woods' season. Sam Snead is getting more attention than Jack Nicklaus.

Woods said again Wednesday at The Barclays this already has been a great season, and it's difficult to argue. His five wins - including two World Golf Championships and The Players Championship - are three more than anyone else on the PGA Tour. He is leading all the right indicators, such as the Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average, the money list ($2.6 million more than anyone else) and the No. 1 seed going into the FedEx Cup playoffs that start Thursday.

The standard for Woods, however, always has been the majors, and he was shut out for the fifth straight year.

''His lack of winning a major is the only thing talked about, which I think is sad,'' Bill Haas said. ''I think it's ignorant. But that's what we are basing his year on. He may even say, 'Oh, I'm disappointed because I didn't win a major. But he's not winning the smaller events. He's winning the WGCs and Bay Hill. And yes, it makes what he's doing that much more impressive, absolutely.''

Woods is stuck on 14 majors, leaving him four short of the Nicklaus standard. The five wins this year, after three wins in 2012, has put him at 79 career wins, moving him closer to Snead's record 82 wins on the PGA Tour.

''I tell you what, I never thought I would ever get there this quick,'' Woods said. ''It's been an amazing run to get here. One of the things I'm most proud of is winning five or more tournaments 10 years in there. That's one of the stats that I look at as one of the ones I'm really proud of. This is one of those years.''

The next chance to add to his wins starts Thursday at The Barclays, the first of four FedEx Cup playoff events against some of the strongest fields of the year.

Yes, the majors are over.

There is still plenty up for grabs - for Woods, British Open champion Phil Mickelson and even someone like Rory McIlroy.

Even though Woods has twice as many wins as anyone else, Mickelson could make a case for PGA Tour player of the year if he were to win a playoff or event (or two), particularly the FedEx Cup and its $10 million prize. Despite two decades of greatness and a spot in the World Golf Hall of Fame, Mickelson has never won player of the year, a money title or the Vardon Trophy.

Haas didn't hesitate when asked who had the best year - Woods.

Neither did Masters champion Adam Scott.

''It's hard to pass up looking at five wins,'' Scott said. ''I think the next best guy might have two, is that right? That's a great year to win that many times. It's all personal opinion. If you think winning a major is what you base success on, then if you haven't (won), you haven't had a great year. But winning ... I've always based it around winning events, and I don't think one major makes up for five tournaments.''

That led to another question posed to Scott: Would he trade seasons with Woods?

''I'd rather have mine, that's for sure,'' said Scott, who collected his first major at Augusta National. ''He may want mine. I mean, No. 15 is proving to be difficult for him, so that would have given him that. But they've all got to get tougher the more you get.''

Woods only played nine holes of his pro-am Wednesday at Liberty National, the course along the Hudson River across from the Statue of Liberty. He experienced stiffness in his neck and back from what he attributed to a soft bed in his hotel, and Woods decided only to chip and putt on the back nine as a precaution.

It was the latest nagging injury this year - a tweaked back during the final round of the PGA Championship, an elbow injury in the summer that caused him to miss two tournaments - though Woods was not concerned and said he was fine during his week off at home in Florida.

He is facing one of the toughest fields in the year featuring the top 125 players on the PGA Tour, all of whom are in form, some of whom are desperate to go as far as they can in these lucrative FedEx Cup playoffs. Only the top 100 advance next week to the Deutsche Bank Championship.

McIlroy has an easier time defining his season to date. It hasn't been very good. He jokes with caddie J.P. Fitzgerald that he effectively has taken six months off, and now it's time to get to work.

The good news for the 24-year-old from Northern Ireland is that golf is starting to feel more like play than work again.

He was swinging free during his pro-am, finally comfortable with his driver and launching them high and relatively straight. McIlroy feels like he turned the corner at Firestone a few weeks ago, and he rallied at Oak Hill to at least flirt with contention for the first time in a major.

A year ago, McIlroy won consecutive playoff events, tied for 10th at the Tour Championship and Brandt Snedeker walked off with the FedEx Cup and the $10 million prize.

''Maybe it will be the other way around,'' McIlroy said. ''That's the beauty of it. You look at basketball, baseball, football. Teams squeeze in and make a great playoff run and win. I'm in that position where I've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.''

Woods looks to add to 'great' year with FedEx win

Larry Fine August 21, 2013

Tiger Woods of the U.S. tees off on the third hole during the third round of the 2013 PGA Championship …

By Larry Fine

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Reuters) - Tiger Woods has gone a fifth season without winning a major but still considers his five tour titles a "great year" and is looking to add more in the FedExCup series starting on Thursday withThe Barclays.

Woods, who has long measured success by his hardware from golf's major championships, sounded philosophical on Wednesday when asked to assess his 2013 season ahead of the opening round at Liberty National.

"You're going to have years where you don't win major championships and years that you do," said Woods, whose stated pursuit of Jack Nicklaus and his record 18 majors has stalled since winning the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

But failure to end his majors drought did not diminish his achievements this year, Woods said.

"This year's been a great year so far," the 37-year-old American told reporters.

"I've won at two of my favorite venues (Torrey Pines and Bay Hill), plus winning two World Golf Championships and a Players (Championship) in there. It's been pretty good," he added with a smile.

The five tournament victories from 12 starts this year have put him firmly atop the world rankings and brought him to a total of 79, three away from the record 82 won by Sam Snead.

Woods said his PGA Tour wins column was something he was very proud of.

"It's been an amazing, amazing run to get here," he said. "The consistency is one of the things I'm most proud of, winning five or more tournaments, 10 years. That's one of the stats that I look at as one of the ones I'm really proud of. This is one of those years.

"I'm second on the all-time list on both, whether it's majors or all-time wins. That's not bad at my age."

Woods has twice won the FedExCup competition, in the inaugural 2007 series and again two years later, but his 2009 triumph began with a contentious start at The Barclays, which served as the coming-out party for the Liberty National venue.

The American was very critical about the layout, especially the heavily undulating contours of the greens.

Woods remarked to a player in his pro-am group the day before the tournament began that "maybe Tom (co-designer Kite) did this course before his eye operation."

Kite shed his thick-lensed eyeglasses after having Lasik surgery in 1998, six years after first considering the challenge of turning the former landfill site into a world-class venue.

"The golf course is obviously very different than the last time we played it," Woods, who still managed to tie for second in the 2009 event, said about the 74 changes made to the layout since then.

"They made some really nice improvements. Some of the landing areas have been changed. Some of the greens have been changed, and a couple bunkers have been repositioned, but they have made some really nice, positive improvements."

Woods said his goal was to add to his wins total and play his way into the top five on the points list - which ensures that victory at the Tour Championship finale would clinch the FedExCup title and its $10 million bonus.

With all that winning, Woods was asked would the 2013 season be better with six titles, or none of those and one major.

"I think the major," admitted Woods. who tied for fourth at the Masters, tied for 32nd at the U.S. Open, was tied for sixth at the British Open and finished tied for 40th at the PGA.

(Reporting by Larry Fine, Editing by Simon Evans)

Monday, August 26, 2013

Golf-PGA Tour FedExCup points table

Aug 26 (Reuters) - PGA Tour 2013 FedExCup points table on

Monday (U.S. unless stated):

1. Tiger Woods 3,059 points

2. Matt Kuchar 2,293

3. Brandt Snedeker 2,218

4. Phil Mickelson 2,166

5. Bill Haas 1,505

6. Billy Horschel 1,487

7. Justin Rose (England) 1,447

8. Jordan Spieth 1,436

9. Henrik Stensen (Sweden) 1,426

10. Keegan Bradley 1,416

11. Adam Scott (Australia) 1,347

12. Boo Weekley 1,335

13. Kevin Streelman 1,333

14. Jason Day (Australia) 1,284

15. Jason Dufner 1,256

16. Dustin Johnson 1,226

17. Webb Simpson 1,188

18. Zach Johnson 1,141

19. Harris English 1,134

20. Steve Stricker 1,117

(Editing by Josh Reich)

Golf-European Tour Race to Dubai money list

Aug 26 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013

European Tour Race to Dubai on Monday:

1. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 2,118,961 euros

2. Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) 1,693,388

3. Justin Rose (England) 1,661,271

4. Richard Sterne (South Africa) 1,265,514

5. Matteo Manassero (Italy) 1,228,188

6. Branden Grace (South Africa) 1,069,469

7. Ernie Els (South Africa) 1,036,616

8. Sergio Garcia (Spain) 1,016,700

9. Brett Rumford (Australia) 997,190

10. Ian Poulter (England) 973,716

11. Lee Westwood (England) 943,639

12. Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 882,321

13. Mikko Ilonen (Finland) 877,527

14. Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) 861,276

15. Jamie Donaldson (Wales) 826,072

16. Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 821,744

17. Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark) 793,293

18. Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) 769,616

19. Marc Warren (Scotland) 736,862

20. Chris Wood (England) 690,469

(Editing by Toby Davis)

Tommy Fleetwood wins Johnnie Walker Championship

GLENEAGLES, Scotland (AP) -- Tommy Fleetwood of England birdied the first playoff hole Sunday at the Johnnie Walker Championship to earn his first European Tour victory.

Fleetwood also birdied the 18th to finish his round with a 70 and set up a three-way playoff with Scotland's Stephen Gallacher (67) and Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez (70) after all three finished at 18-under 270 on the PGA Centenary course.

Playing the par-5 18th again, Fleetwood narrowly missed an eagle putt from the fringe and then rolled in a three-footer for the win. Gallacher and Gonzalez both made par.

Gallacher overcame a triple-bogey 7 on the 11th hole with a round that included five birdies and two eagles - including one on the 18th to make the playoff.

''It's just unbelievable as it's been a lifetime goal to win on the European Tour,'' Fleetwood said. ''I'm sure there will be bigger and better goals in my career but this feels absolutely amazing right now.''

Fleetwood went into the final round of his 50th Tour event sharing the lead on 16-under with Gonzalez but slipped well off the pace to be 1 over for his round through 15 holes.

However, he then eagled the 16th and birdied the last.

Fleetwood was watched by his parents and ailing 14-year old dog, Maisy.

''She was diagnosed with cancer a couple of weeks ago,'' Fleetwood said. ''So given her condition, this week is pretty special.''

Gallacher made a triple bogey at the 11th hole but then made up four shots in his closing five holes, including grabbing an eagle at the last.

The 43-year old Gonzalo was looking to end a four-year winless drought.

Scotland's Scott Henry chipped in for eagle at the last in a score of 67 to finish tied fourth on 17-under with Austrian Bernd Wiesberger who shot a 68.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Masters champ Scott opens FedEx Cup playoffs with a win

CBSSports.com wire reports

Aug. 25, 2013 6:22 PM ET

55 | Comments

JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Masters champion Adam Scott didn't think his good round was good enough Sunday at The Barclays.

His caddie had already packed his golf clubs into a travel case. He viewed his visit to the CBS Sports tower as nothing more than a courtesy. His only hope was that the other players still on the course -- Tiger Woods and Justin Rose among them -- might find it as difficult to close out a victory as Scott has over the years.

"I'm pretty shocked," Scott said after his 5-under 66 gave him a one-shot win at Liberty National. "There were so many guys out there with a chance and I really didn't think I had much of a chance. If you hang around the lead long enough, you're going to win some, you're going to lose some. And this one went my way."

Scott was watching from the locker room when Rose, who had a 25-foot putt for the outright lead, ran it 5 feet by the hole and three-putted for bogey. Clubs unpacked, Scott was on his way to the range when the groans from around the 18th green told him Woods narrowly missed his 25-foot birdie putt from off the back of the green to tie for the lead. Once on the range, a large video board showed Gary Woodland miss his third straight birdie putt from inside 10 feet.

"I guess it's different playing an hour-and-a-half in front of the leaders, the guys who have been under pressure all day than when you're out there," Scott said. "I know how they feel. When the pressure is on you to close out, it's much harder, and the holes become much harder and shots are far more crucial.

"I feel like I've been given a bit of a gift," he said. "But I'll take it."

Scott finished at 11-under 273 and moved to a career-best No. 2 in the world.

Woods suffered a back spasm on the par-5 13th hole and hooked a fairway metal so far left that it landed in a swamp on the other side of the 15th fairway. Woods dropped to all fours in pain before slowly getting up. He also dropped a shot on the 15th, and then gamely fought back with birdies on the 16th and 17th holes to get within one.

His birdie putt from off the 18th green was one short turn of falling.

"Thought I made it," Woods said after his 69.

Woods had all four rounds in the 60s for the first time in a year on the PGA Tour, though it wasn't enough. He battled stiffness in his lower back all week, which he attributed to a soft bed in his hotel room -- the second straight year he has had back issues from a mattress at this event.

In a brief interview with CBS Sports, he said it was "hypothetical" when asked if he would compete in the Deutsche Bank Championship, the next playoff event that starts Friday on the TPC Boston. The tournament gives its charity money to Woods' foundation. Woods already missed the AT&T National this year, which also benefits his foundation.

"I just got off and I'm not feeling my best right now," he said.

Rose wasn't feeling that great, either. He was in position to win the tournament with a birdie putt, and the U.S. Open champion did not want to leave it short. Instead, he knocked it by farther than he imagined, the ball stayed on the high side of the cup the whole way.

"I got too aggressive," said Rose, who closed with a 68. "I thought it was a putt to win the tournament. It's tough to take."

Kevin Chappell had a two-shot lead after a birdie on the 10th hole, but then played the next seven holes in 7-over par and closed with a 76. Woodland had a 73. Matt Kuchar, who shared the 54-hole lead with Woodland, fell back with a triple bogey on No. 9. His only birdie was on the 18th hole, and it gave him a 78.

"I found a way to hang in there and grind it out and gave myself a chance on the back nine on Sunday, which is everything you can ask for," Woodland said.

It was the second time Woods has missed a playoff by one shot at Liberty National.

Graham DeLaet of Canada, whose 65 matched Phil Mickelson for the low score of the final round, also tied for second. DeLaet will move up to No. 9 in the Presidents Cup standings, and with one week before qualifying ends, is in good shape to make the International team.

Scott won for the second time this year, and at least put himself into the conversation for PGA Tour player of the year if he were to go on to win the FedEx Cup. He is No. 2 in the standings behind Woods, though the $10 million prize does not come into view until the Tour Championship.

The first playoff event was packed with plenty of energy on a spectacular day across from the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. Five players had at least a share of the lead at some point in the final round. Woods put up a great fight despite his back injury. Scott played the final 24 holes without a bogey.

Sunday also had some of the emotions found at Q-school for players whose season came to an abrupt end. And it was just as wild at the bottom.

Only the top 100 players in the FedEx Cup advance to the second playoff event next week outside Boston. Geoff Ogilvy could have joined them except for missing a 2-foot par putt on the final hole that ultimately knocked him out of the top 100.

Camilo Villegas, at No. 110, thought he needed a 6-foot par putt on the last hole to advance. He missed it and was visibly angry. More than an hour later, Aaron Baddeley appeared to be a lock to advance to Boston despite being at No. 119. Baddeley, however, bogeyed his last three holes, missing a 5-foot par putt on the 18th. That knocked him out and put Villegas back in at No. 100.

Scott missed a 15-foot birdie on the 18th hole that he thought might have been enough for a playoff at best.

"I thought I needed at least one more to even think about hanging around," said Scott, who stayed long enough to collect his first FedEx Cup playoff win.