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)

Mentally fatigued Mickelson battles to a 72 at Firestone

Mentally fatigued Mickelson battles to a 72 at Firestone

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Mark Lamport-Stokes August 1, 2013

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Phil Mickelson of the U.S. watches his second shot on the second hole during the first round of the WGC-Bridgestone …


By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - Euphoric after winning his fifth major crown at the British Open last month, Phil Mickelson had a tough time mentally re-adapting to the rigors of thePGA Tour at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Thursday.

The American world number two, who by his own admission has been playing some of the best golf of his life in recent weeks, carded a two-over-par 72 in the opening round at Firestone Country Club, a stroke worse than the day's average score.

Mickelson said he had lacked the necessary mental precision and lipped out from short range to bogey consecutive holes, the sixth and seventh, before ending the round in a tie for 41st place in the elite field of 73.

"I've been hitting the ball really well, and today I had a hard time focusing," the American left-hander told reporters after mixing three birdies with five bogeys on a Firestone layout softened by overnight rain.

"Mentally I wasn't sharp. I could tell I was a little bit tired or I just wasn't able to see the shot clearly. I wasn't able to see the putt roll clearly.

"I had trouble seeing the shot chipping, and I just had a hard time mentally visualizing. But I'm not concerned. I mean, my swing and game still feels very sharp."

Mickelson, who won his second PGA Tour title of the year by three shots in the British Open at Muirfield after closing with a brilliant five-under-par 66, aimed to come out guns blazing and refreshed for Friday's second round at Firestone.

"I just need to get a little bit of rest tonight and see if I can come out tomorrow a little bit more focused and start to see a little bit clearer what I'm trying to do," said the Californian, a 42-time winner on the PGA Tour.


"Like I said, I'm not overly concerned. I'm disappointed in the round. I certainly didn't want to shoot over par and leave myself this far back after the first day."

Mickelson trails the pacesetting Webb Simpson by eight shots heading into the second round.

"But my game feels sharp," Mickelson said. "I feel like I'm rolling the ball well. I know I'm swinging the ball well, and tomorrow if I can just mentally see it a little clearer, I should have a good day."

Asked to explain his lipouts for bogey from five feet at the par-four six and par-three seventh, he replied: "I hit them well, I rolled them well, right on my line, but the speed was bad.

"I just didn't quite get into the feel of the putt to be able to make it. I had that theme throughout the day on just about every shot."

Having already claimed five major titles in a Hall of Fame career, Mickelson is well aware of the danger of a possible mental let-down when competing soon after a big win.

"I am aware of it and I'll try to make sure I'm a little bit more rested and sharp heading into the weekend. But it does happen, it's a good problem to have," he smiled.

(This story corrects reference to British Open from this month to last month)

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

Golf-Teater top in Tahoe under Modified Stableford system

Golf-Teater top in Tahoe under Modified Stableford system

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August 1, 2013



Aug 1 (Reuters) - American Josh Teater did not shoot the lowest score in the first round of the Reno-Tahoe Open on Thursday but finished top of the leaderboard in the PGA Tour's only event using the Modified Stableford scoring system.

Teater, who shot a six-under 66 at Reno's Montreux Golf and Country Club, holds a one point lead over compatriotsJames Driscoll (66) and Gary Woodland (65).

Under the scoring system, points are awarded on each hole for being under par, with birdies earning a player two points and eagles five. A bogey costs a player one point, double bogeys and worse three points. No points are won or lost with par.

While Woodland carded a lower score, Teater's round included an eagle at the par-five eighth, as well as six birdies and a pair of bogeys, adding up to 15 points.

Woodland, chasing his first top 10 finish of the season, posted five birdies on the front nine and closed with two more at 17 and 18 to finish on 14 points alongside Driscoll, who mixed eight birdies with a pair of bogeys.

Playing the back nine first, Australian Greg Chalmers also got his day off to a blazing start with five straight birdies, then picked up two more as well as a bogey to sit a point further back on 13. (Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

McIlroy heads to Oak Hill still searching for confidence

McIlroy heads to Oak Hill still searching for confidence

Mark Lamport-Stokes August 5, 2013







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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland watches his tee shot on the second hole during the first round of the …


By Mark Lamport-Stokes

(Reuters) - Twelve months ago Rory McIlroy went into thePGA Championship at Kiawah Island on a high, having ended a run of poor form with an encouraging tie for fifth at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational the previous week.

The mop-haired Northern Irishman took full advantage, clinching the season's final major by a record-breaking eight shots before going on to win twice more on the 2012 PGA Tour as he stormed back to the top of the world rankings.

This year, however, is very different, and McIlroy will launch his PGA Championship title defense at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York on Thursday still searching for confidence and consistency in his driving.

His bid last week to replicate that 2012 turnaround in his game at the Bridgestone Invitational was not as successful: he carded rounds of even-par 70, 71, 69 and 72 to finish joint 27th at Firestone Country Club in a field of 73.

"I definitely had a better week last year, coming out of Firestone with a lot of confidence going into the PGA, feeling good about my game," world number three McIlroy told reporters.

"I keep saying my game doesn't feel too far away. It's obviously not where I want it to be, but it's not a million miles away."

Though McIlroy signed off at Firestone with his worst score of the week, he was somewhat encouraged by the improvement in his ball striking.

"It was okay," the 24-year-old said. "I thought I struck the ball much better (in the final round) than I did the previous three days, which was great, which was a good sign.

"Obviously I didn't score very well the first day, then I didn't hit it particularly well in the middle two rounds, but actually my short game was good and was able to keep myself around par.


"(On Sunday) I played nicely, just a couple of bad holes on the back nine. It's definitely going in the right direction."

McIlroy, who claimed the order of merit on both sides of the Atlantic last year, certainly needs his game to be heading in the right direction after enduring a roller-coaster ride this season, both on and off the course.

LUCRATIVE DEAL

He has mainly struggled for form since switching his club brand at the start of the season to Nike in a lucrative deal reported to be worth as much as $250 million over 10 years, recording just four top-10s in 12 starts on the PGA Tour.

McIlroy has also been criticized for the amount of time he spends with his girlfriend, former world number one tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, many suggesting that his private life has taken up too much of his potential practice time for golf.

The Northern Irishman readily admits the past 12 months have been "up and down" for him, with a tendency of late to become "a little bit too emotionally involved" with his game.

"I've let it either get me excited or get me down, where I should really just not get too high or too low about it at all," McIlroy said.

"But I have put in a lot of work for the past couple of weeks and I definitely feel things are going in the right direction.

"Once I get my long game back on track, I feel like my short game is exactly where it needs to be. If I can start hitting some fairways, hopefully I can challenge for some tournaments."

McIlroy will tee off in Thursday's opening round at Oak Hill in the company of former champions Vijay Singh of Fiji (1998) and Germany's Martin Kaymer (2010).

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