Forgotten man Hamilton enjoys rare moment in the sun

Forgotten man Hamilton enjoys rare moment in the sun

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Ed Osmond July 18, 2013 8:48 AM

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Todd Hamilton of the U.S. hits his tee shot on the second hole during second round play at the 2009 Masters …


By Ed Osmond

GULLANE (Reuters) - American Todd Hamilton, shock winner of the 2004 British Open, was briefly the clubhouse leader of this year's tournament after shooting a first-round two-under-par 69 on Thursday.

Playing in the second group out, the 47-year-old showed glimpses of the form that brought him the Claret Jug nine years ago with four birdies around the Muirfield links.

It was a rare moment in the spotlight for the unassumingHamilton who has never won again on the U.S. or European Tours since beating Ernie Els in a playoff to claim the Open title at Troon.

"I definitely thought my golfing career would have been better after that than it was," he told reporters.

"(It has been) terrible," added Hamilton. "I try not to reflect on it. It's been trying, I guess. There's been days where I didn't want to play."

Hamilton was a prolific winner on the Japanese circuit before earning his U.S. PGA Tour card at the eighth attempt in 2003.

He won the Open and the U.S. Tour's Honda Classic in 2004 but was unable to maintain his form and has had only three top-10 finishes on his home circuit since.

"Looking back I had done a lot of good things overseas at places that people probably wouldn't know that golf even exists," Hamilton said.


"I played a lot in Japan, I played a lot in Asia. So when I won the Open I was kind of at the end. I think I was 38, so I was kind of close to the end of the decent career," he added.

"I thought it was decent, I just didn't do it on the European Tour or U.S. Tour."

Hamilton never achieved celebrity status in the United States, even in his sleepy former home town of Oquawka, Illinois.

"I think I get recognized more over here than I do in my home country which is kind of an oddity," he said.

"I walk down the street, had dinner the other night, and we were sitting outside of a little fish and chip place. The owner knew who I was."

Hamilton felt comfortable on the Muirfield links, even though he has only twice made the cut in eight British Open appearances since Troon.

"I enjoyed it," he said. "I do enjoy this style of golf. I think it takes a person that is very happy with not only their game but themselves.

"You've got to be very confident and do stuff that you feel you can do, otherwise you try to chase the game. And on courses like this it is very difficult. "

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)

Miguel Angel Jimenez off to another fast start at Open Championship

Miguel Angel Jimenez off to another fast start at Open Championship

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Miguel Angel Jimenez is looking to become the first Spanish champion at the Open since Seve Ballesteros in 1988.(Getty Images)

PGA.COM July 18, 2013 9:45 AM


By Steve Douglas Associated Press

GULLANE, Scotland (AP) -- Leaning on his putter and gazing out toward the Firth of Forth, Miguel Angel Jimenezhad the look of a contented man as he waited his turn for a birdie attempt under sunny skies on the 11th green.

The pony-tailed, pot-bellied, cigar-smoking Spaniard had birdied five of his first nine holes -- including the first three -- and was leading the Open Championship by three strokes early in the first round.

Not bad for a 49-year-old man who recently returned to action after breaking his right leg in a skiing accident.

He couldn't quite keep it up, though, missing that putt and making two bogeys on his back nine to shoot a 3-under 68. But the charismatic Jimenez is still on the leaderboard.


"I would love to have a major in my career," Jimenez said. "I would love to have one of these. I don't know how much longer for me on the tour. I'm 49, you know."

Unless a Scot goes on to lift the claret jug, there would likely be no more popular winner than Jimenez, a Ryder Cup stalwart and the owner of a frame that could generously be described as portly.

He would become the oldest winner of the oldest major -- Old Tom Morris holds the record at 46 from back in 1867 -- as well as the first Spanish champion at the Open since Seve Ballesteros in 1988.

But Jimenez won't be getting ahead of himself. He has been here before at Opens, where his fast starts are now commonplace.

At Turnberry in 2009, he was the first-round leader but came home tied for 13th, and he was one off the first-round lead at Sandwich in 2011 after a 66.

This year's showing is even more impressive since he missed the first three months of the season after his skiing fall while on vacation in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Andalucia, southern Spain.

"If you break your leg at 30 years old, you can say, `OK, I'm going to have a sabbatical year,' but at 49 you don't want to spend any sabbatical day," Jimenez said, laughing. "It's tough so many months without hitting. Just knowing the competition that is around."

Jimenez, who is playing with padding under his left elbow because of tendonitis, became the oldest winner in European Tour history when he won the Hong Kong Open last year at 48 years, 318 days.

He's looking to make more history at Turnberry.

Golf-Rory's story is a sad one as he balloons to a 79

Golf-Rory's story is a sad one as he balloons to a 79

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July 18, 2013 10:21 AM



By Tony Jimenez

GULLANE, Scotland, July 18 (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy's woes continued in the first round of the British Open on Thursday as the world number two slumped to an ugly opening 79, eight over par.

The 24-year-old Northern Irishman, whose form has deserted him since he changed clubs at the start of the year after signing a mega-bucks deal with Nike, sported a look of sad resignation when he walked off the 18th green at Muirfield.

The scorching sun may have been beating down on the banks of the Firth of Forth but the storm clouds hovered over McIlroy's head from the start.

The double major champion dropped strokes at the fourth and fifth before getting one back with a birdie at the seventh.

McIlroy then dropped four shots in three holes from the 10th before he produced a wonder stroke from the knee-high rough at the 14th, coaxing the ball to within six feet of the pin from a seemingly impossible position.

It was, however, a rare moment of delight amid the overall gloom. He then proceeded to putt the ball straight into a back bunker from the front of the 15th green to card his second double bogey in four holes.

Two more dropped strokes at the 17th and 18th means he now faces a battle to make the cut on Friday. (Editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Tiger commits to Bridgestone

Tiger commits to Bridgestone

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The Sports Xchange July 25, 2013 3:10 PMThe SportsXchange



Tiger Woods announced he will play in the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club next week leading up to the PGA Championship at Oak Hill the following week.

The Bridgestone has traditionally been the lone tournament Woods plays in the week preceeding a major. He is a seven-time winner of the tournament and has finished in the top 10 in 12 of his 13 appearances at the Firestone Country Club.

"This is one of my favorite courses," Tiger said on TigerWoods.com. "There is nothing tricky about it; everything is right in front of you. And the fans do a great job of supporting the event."

The Bridgestone is the third of four World Golf Championship events this season.

Golf-Nicklaus expects more major wins for Tiger, lauds Mickelson

Golf-Nicklaus expects more major wins for Tiger, lauds Mickelson

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July 25, 2013 3:35 PM


By Mark Lamport-Stokes

July 25 (Reuters) - Jack Nicklaus remains convinced thatTiger Woods will end his five-year title drought at the majors but says that not enough credit has been given to the players who have triumphed in golf's big four events during that time.

Nicklaus was hugely impressed by Phil Mickelson's stunning three-shot victory in last week's British Open atMuirfield and has marked the American left-hander out as the favourite for next month's PGA Championship, the last of the season's majors.

"Phil is obviously playing awfully well," golfing great Nicklaus said on Thursday during a conference call to preview the Aug. 8-11 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York.

"He would have to be the favourite going into Oak Hill, on record for how he has played. If you look at the history of the guys that are playing today, only Tiger has won more majors as an active player."

Woods won the most recent of his 14 major titles at the 2008 U.S. Open and has only fellow American Nicklaus, who piled up a record 18 victories, ahead of him on the all-time list.

"Phil has won five (majors) now," said Nicklaus. "He has won three of the four majors. He has not won the U.S. Open championship. Phil is going to go down in history as one of the great players in the game, there is no question about that."

Mickelson, 43, had never previously triumphed at the British Open until he coasted home at Muirfield on Sunday with a dazzling five-under-par 66, a stunning finish to a week of tough scoring conditions on a firm, fast-running layout.

For Nicklaus, that breakthrough victory in the year's third major was even more impressive because the American left-hander had to adapt his swashbuckling, high-ball game to the very different demands of links course golf.

"His ability to see that he needed to adapt himself to the Scottish conditions was much to his credit," said Nicklaus. "Phil has always tried to take his game and play his game and put it on the golf course, and that doesn't always work.

"And here he is into his forties and he is finally realizing that driver did not have to come out of the bag. He found a golf club that he could keep it in play with.

"He found that he is a good enough player, matter of fact a terrific player, who doesn't need to hit it 10 miles. He can hit it into the fairway somewhere and play like everybody should want to play and be successful. I give him great kudos."


MUIRFIELD REMINDER

Mickelson's triumph at Muirfield reminded Nicklaus of his own victory there, at the 1966 British Open.

"For him to go and win at the British Open as high as he hits the golf ball, it's a lot like I was," said the 73-year-old Nicklaus. "I won at Muirfield and I was a high-ball hitter.

"And people said, 'Jack will never win, particularly at Muirfield. It's a golf course he can't play.' And I proved them wrong there by being a little smarter than some of the other guys on that particular week.

"I didn't use a driver very much. We had to use the driver back in those days because the golf ball didn't go as far but Muirfield this time (last week) was much faster than when I won."

Nicklaus was asked to assess next month's PGA Championship prospects for Woods, who has triumphed a season-high four times on the 2013 PGA Tour in just 10 starts.

"Obviously Tiger has had a very, very good year," said Nicklaus. "He has not finished off a couple of majors that he has had an opportunity to be involved in.

"You would be pretty hard pressed to make him, if not the favourite, one of the favourites going into Oak Hill. He will play Oak Hill well, he will control his golf ball there and manage his game well, just as he does every week.

"Will he win more majors? I think so. When? I don't know."

Woods tied for fourth at the Masters in April and shared sixth place at Muirfield last week, on both occasions failing to capitalise after playing his way into contention.

"I don't know what is happening in his head, between his ears," Nicklaus said of Woods' lengthy title drought at the majors. "Each person handles things differently.

"Certainly, winning four times this year he had to have something that was working properly between the ears coming down the stretch in those tournaments. Something prevented him from winning the majors that have been played so far.

"But then again maybe you've got to give Adam Scott (Masters), Justin Rose (U.S. Open) and Phil Mickelson a little bit of credit for playing better. That's the way I look at it." (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)

Nicklaus expects more major wins for Tiger, lauds Mickelson

Nicklaus expects more major wins for Tiger, lauds Mickelson

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Mark Lamport-Stokes July 25, 2013 3:45 PM

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Jack Nicklaus of the U.S. (R) is applauded by Arnold Palmer of the U.S. as he is introduced during the …


By Mark Lamport-Stokes

(Reuters) - Jack Nicklaus remains convinced that Tiger Woods will end his five-year title drought at the majors but says that not enough credit has been given to the players who have triumphed in golf's big four events during that time.

Nicklaus was hugely impressed by Phil Mickelson's stunning three-shot victory in last week's British Open at Muirfield and has marked the American left-hander out as the favorite for next month's PGA Championship, the last of the season's majors.

"Phil is obviously playing awfully well," golfing great Nicklaus said on Thursday during a conference call to preview the August 8-11 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York.

"He would have to be the favorite going into Oak Hill, on record for how he has played. If you look at the history of the guys that are playing today, only Tiger has won more majors as an active player."

Woods won the most recent of his 14 major titles at the 2008 U.S. Open and has only fellow American Nicklaus, who piled up a record 18 victories, ahead of him on the all-time list.

"Phil has won five (majors) now," said Nicklaus. "He has won three of the four majors. He has not won the U.S. Open championship. Phil is going to go down in history as one of the great players in the game, there is no question about that."

Mickelson, 43, had never previously triumphed at the British Open until he coasted home at Muirfield on Sunday with a dazzling five-under-par 66, a stunning finish to a week of tough scoring conditions on a firm, fast-running layout.

For Nicklaus, that breakthrough victory in the year's third major was even more impressive because the American left-hander had to adapt his swashbuckling, high-ball game to the very different demands of links course golf.

"His ability to see that he needed to adapt himself to the Scottish conditions was much to his credit," said Nicklaus. "Phil has always tried to take his game and play his game and put it on the golf course, and that doesn't always work.

"And here he is into his forties and he is finally realizing that driver did not have to come out of the bag. He found a golf club that he could keep it in play with.

"He found that he is a good enough player, matter of fact a terrific player, who doesn't need to hit it 10 miles. He can hit it into the fairway somewhere and play like everybody should want to play and be successful. I give him great kudos."

MUIRFIELD REMINDER


Mickelson's triumph at Muirfield reminded Nicklaus of his own victory there, at the 1966 British Open.

"For him to go and win at the British Open as high as he hits the golf ball, it's a lot like I was," said the 73-year-old Nicklaus. "I won at Muirfield and I was a high-ball hitter.

"And people said, 'Jack will never win, particularly at Muirfield. It's a golf course he can't play.' And I proved them wrong there by being a little smarter than some of the other guys on that particular week.

"I didn't use a driver very much. We had to use the driver back in those days because the golf ball didn't go as far but Muirfield this time (last week) was much faster than when I won."

Nicklaus was asked to assess next month's PGA Championship prospects for Woods, who has triumphed a season-high four times on the 2013 PGA Tour in just 10 starts.

"Obviously Tiger has had a very, very good year," said Nicklaus. "He has not finished off a couple of majors that he has had an opportunity to be involved in.

"You would be pretty hard pressed to make him, if not the favorite, one of the favorites going into Oak Hill. He will play Oak Hill well, he will control his golf ball there and manage his game well, just as he does every week.

"Will he win more majors? I think so. When? I don't know."

Woods tied for fourth at the Masters in April and shared sixth place at Muirfield last week, on both occasions failing to capitalize after playing his way into contention.

"I don't know what is happening in his head, between his ears," Nicklaus said of Woods' lengthy title drought at the majors. "Each person handles things differently.

"Certainly, winning four times this year he had to have something that was working properly between the ears coming down the stretch in those tournaments. Something prevented him from winning the majors that have been played so far.

"But then again maybe you've got to give Adam Scott (Masters), Justin Rose (U.S. Open) and Phil Mickelson a little bit of credit for playing better. That's the way I look at it."

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)

Simpson in charge at Firestone, Tiger lurks

Simpson in charge at Firestone, Tiger lurks

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Mark Lamport-Stokes August 1, 2013

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Webb Simpson of the U.S. watches his tee shot on the 15th hole during the first round of the WGC-Bridgestone …


By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - It was case of love at first sight for Webb Simpson on his debut at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational as he spectacularly charged into a one-shot lead in Thursday's opening round.

While seven-times winner Tiger Woods also made a strong start, firing a four-under-par 66, Simpson seized control of the elite World Golf Championships (WGC) event with an eight-birdie 64.

On a breezy day of sunshine and sporadic cloud cover atFirestone Country Club, former U.S. Open champion Simpson was in sizzling form on the greens, totaling only 22 putts to end the round a stroke in front of Swede Henrik Stenson.

Woods, who has triumphed a season-high four times on the 2013 PGA Tour, mixed six birdies with two bogeys to sit a further shot back, level with fellow Americans Ryan Mooreand defending champion Keegan Bradley, and Englishman Chris Wood.

Former world number one Luke Donald of England bogeyed his final hole, the par-four 18th, to card a 67 and end the round alongside Americans Bubba Watson, Jason Dufner, Rickie Fowler, Bill Haas and Jim Furyk.

Simpson was elated to be the tournament's front-runner after taking full advantage of advice from his experienced caddie on how to play the heavily tree-lined Firestone layout.

"It was a great start," the 27-year-old American told reporters after setting the tone for a low round on a rain-softened layout with four birdies in his first nine holes.

"My caddie has been here so many years and I had to listen to him. He basically showed me where to go yesterday and told me where to hit it, where the lines were, what clubs to hit.

"Today was one of those days where I just saw the lines well, and my speed was really good. You've got to have great speed because there's so much slope in the greens.

"And the better the speed, the bigger the hole," said Simpson, who missed out on making his debut at Firestone last year due to the birth of his daughter Willow.

IMPROVING FORM


Simpson has not triumphed on the PGA Tour since he clinched his maiden major victory at the 2012 U.S. Open but he has been happy with his improving form on the circuit this season.

"It's encouraging and frustrating because I haven't won and yet I'm 17th in FedExCup (standings)," he said. "I feel like I've let a couple of tournaments go that maybe I should have closed out or at least I should have contended more."

Simpson has recorded four top-10s in 18 starts on the 2013 PGA Tour, his best finish a playoff loss to Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell at the RBC Heritage in April.

"If I'm getting better, I'm happy," said Simpson. "And I do feel like I'm getting better, I just don't have the results this year to show it."

Woods has certainly had the results with four PGA Tour wins this season and he swiftly moved into familiar territory at Firestone, covering his back nine in four-under 31 to rocket up the leaderboard.

"I felt pretty good today," said the 14-times major champion. "I feel very good about what I'm doing with basically my whole swing. I hit a lot of good shots. I had a really good feel for the distance today. I thought I putted well."

Woods has won a record seven times at Firestone, and has piled up a staggering 11 top-10 finishes in 13 appearances at the elite event.

"For some reason this golf course, I just see it," said the world number one. "It's just one of those venues. Luckily over the years I've taken advantage of it. I have played well and I've scored well, and I've won my share of tournaments here."

Northern Irish world number three Rory McIlroy returned a roller-coaster 70 while newly crowned British Open champion Phil Mickelson opened with a 72 to sit joint 41st in the 73-man field.

"Some good, some bad," McIlroy said after carding five birdies, three bogeys and a double at the par-four 10th. "I felt like I hit a lot of good shots out there.

"I drove the ball well for the most part, gave myself a lot of chances for birdies, and I just threw a few shots away around the greens, made double at 10 from nowhere. Felt more comfortable with my putting, which was a good sign."

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Julian Linden)