" The round of my life" Speith wins Aussie Open by 6 shots

Live scoring click http://www.ausopengolf.com/scores


In the end Jordan Speith "played the best round of my life", a stunning -8 63 to get to -13 on another windy afternoon in Sydney at the venerable Australian GC, 6 shots ahead of plucky Rod Pampling (68) -7


Only 8 players broke par, the golf course was clearly the winner as well this week..
Spieth, whose putter was on fire, birdied four holes on the front nine to lead by three strokes after nine holes, then made four more on the back nine, never threatening to lose his lead.

His score was a record for the revamped Jack Nicklaus-designed layout which was being played as a par 71 for the first time.

Adam Scott shot 71 and finished fifth, nine strokes behind. Defending champion Rory McIlroy, who shot 76 on Saturday, finished with a 72 and was 2-over, 15 strokes behind Spieth.

3 tied for the lead at windy Aussie Open

Live scoreboard click http://www.ausopengolf.com/scores


Saturday morning in Sydney dawned with sunny blue skies but the wind in the forecast soon arrived getting worse as the afternoon arrived, swinging from the east to the north and scoring soared as a result. The scoring average was 73.6, more than two shots above par


Only 8 players are left under par, 3 of them are at -5, Greg Chalmers (E), Jordan Speith (69) and Brett Rumford (69). Another veteran Aussie Rod Pampling (69) and crowd favourite Adam Scott (69) are next at -4.


Long hitting amateur Todd Sinnott hung tough with 73 but is alone at -2, while Jake Higginbottom (72) and Aron Price (69) are at -1.


5 guys are at E, and the rest of the field is over par including one Rory McIlroy who had to fight all the way for his +5 76 to sit at +1 after 3 rounds..


Rory was playing well enough until he went triple, double at 9 and 10. Here was his explanation in the press tent.  "The wind was up. I was doing okay, steady enough, until I got to the ninth. I hit a wayward tee-shot into what I thought was a decent enough lie that I could advance the ball. But I didn’t realise what I was standing on is not like dirt or earth. It was more like carpet. So the ball went underneath the carpet. Had it been a normal surface it would have been alright, but down there it was impossible.


  “So that added up to a seven. Then I did what I did last week in Dubai and compounded that error with another just about as bad. I got a huge flier with a wedge. The ball pitched at 160-yards into the wind which is ridiculous. Over the last few holes I was just trying to hang on really"


Adam Scott had a tough day on the greens but fought hard for his -2 69. At -4 he is in great shape for Sunday and he asked the tournament officials not to put too much water on the ever quickening greens, too make them a tough test on Sunday.


Of the leaders Jordan Speith Spieth, 21, like so many Texans is a good wind player and will not mind if it blows tomorrow. "I almost prefer it, wind and a very difficult golf course''


But I can't help but cheer for the little lefty Chalmers, who hasn't used more than 26 putts a round so far, and after a poor year in the US, his air mile points are sky high having travelled to Turkey, Malaysia back to the States through the east coast, back to Dallas, then off to Cancun before flying down to Perth, then across Australia to Sydney, all in the last 2 months in search of world points and of course prize money. If he does win it will be his 3rd Australian Open and will cap off what has been a miserable year.


4th round tee times http://www.ausopengolf.com/news-display/final-round-tee-times-released/83982


Bryan Angus

Lefty Chalmers leads, Rory, Scott lurking at Aussie Open

Live scoring click http://www.ausopengolf.com/scores


Veteran Aussie lefty Greg Chalmers is vying for his 3rd Australian Open title, but Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott are amongst a star studded pack right behind him going into the weekend, under beautiful blue skies in Sydney. 16 players are within 5 shots.


Chalmers, now based out of Dallas equalled the 2nd lowest round of the day -5 66 to take a one shot lead at -5, while Rory shot his 2nd straight 69 to join Aussies Adam Crawford (69) and incredibly long hitting amateur Todd Sinnott (67) on -4, along with little known American Conrad Shindler (68)


American Jamie Lovemark has the low round of -6 65 to get to T17 E. He had 7 birdies including 5 in a row to finish..


Adam Scott is in a pack at -2 recovering from his opening 74 with a -5 66 this morning, his early round starting on the 10th was bogey free, with 3 birdies and an eagle 3 on the 14th. Round 1 leader Jordan Speith slipped a little with a +1 72 to sit T6 at -3.


Rory had only 5 pars on his remarkable card, 6 birdies, 6 bogey's and an eagle 3 on the 14th. He only had 1 par on his back nine. He will be in the final pairing with Chalmers and Crawford for round 3.


Round 3 pairings and tee times http://www.ausopengolf.com/tee-times




PGA Latino America live scoring http://www.pgatourla.com/leaderboard/m2014180/#.VHh3CDpMvMx
Canadian Chris Baryla is making a rare tournament appearance down in Buenos Aires and he has opened with a -7 65.. !!






Bryan Angus

Speith leads subdued Aussie Open after the passing of Phillip Hughes

Jordan Spieth, took advantage of the late draw with less wind and carded a four-under-par 67 to lead the Open after the first round. Despite getting a case of the hooks with his last 2 drives, Speith all of 21 now, fired 6 birdies and 2 bogey's on this Jack Nicklaus re designed course.


Live scoring click http://www.ausopengolf.com/scores


Aussie favourite Adam Scott shot 40 on his front nine and ended up +3 74 after a disastrous double bogey at the first. Rory McIlroy had the early draw with all the wind and declared himself pleased with his -2 69 to put himself in the mix on a day where only 21 players broke par with scores averaging more than two shots above par.


New South Welshmen Scott Gardiner and Aron Price (69) are the closest pursuers. Gardiner an Aussie who lives in the States has lost 15 pounds since he discovered he had a thyroid problem won an $80,000 Lexus vehicle for his hole in one on the par-three 11th. The shot missed the green but it spun back on to the putting surface and trickled down the hill and in.


This event however has been over shadowed after Phillip Hughes (25) one of Australia's best Test batsman’s passed away earlier in the day, 2 days after being hit in the top of his neck with a bouncer, shocking all at The Australian Golf Club. Players will wear a black ribbon in his honour they will be given as they begin their second rounds


Bryan Angus

Aussie Open features Rory and Adam this week..

Live scoreboard Australian Open http://www.ausopengolf.com/scores


This year the Australian Open is being played at The Australian which is one of Australia’s most exclusive golf clubs and is perhaps also one of the oldest golf club having been founded in the 1882 and it has hosted many Australian Open’s, including the first tournament in 1904.


Kensington, just outside Sydney is the fourth location of the club. The course was laid out by golf professionals, Jock Hutchison, Gilbert Martin and Carnegie Clark in 1904/5, who copied the links style they were so familiar with in Scotland. It was re designed in 1973 due to a new highway being built on the course boundaries but retained it's links style.


Jack Nicklaus won the Aussie Open here in 1974, and the following year Aussie billionaire Kerry Packer paid Jack Nicklaus to make the changes he felt necessary to make the course more difficult and Jack has redesigned it twice.  Now the course looks a bit like Augusta National with its emerald fairways, fast rolling greens and white bunkers. It has hosted 17 previous Opens, most recently in 2007 when Craig Parry won. Plays long and tough and with totally reshaped and realigned greens.


Rory McIlroy (1) won last year by a shot at Royal Sydney and has flown here from Dubai to defend his title against a field of mainly Australians led by Adam Scott (3) who led last year until Rory caught him at the 72nd hole. Jordan Speith (14) leads a handful of Americans as they all vie for the Stonehaven Cup..


I'll be up during the night following it all so join me here for what promises to be another great Aussie Open...




Bryan Angus



















(notes from BBC Reuters, australianopen.com)

Koepka wins Rookie of the Year

The young American Brooks Koepka has been named the European Tour's Sir Henry  Cotton Rookie of the Year" for 2014.


The award comes having won the Turkish Airlines Open two weeks ago and claimed 8th place in the Race to Dubai. He follows good friend and fellow US player Peter Uihelin who won it in 2013 as a recipient of the prestigious award.


Koepka won 3 times on the Challenge Tour in 2013 before graduating and along with his win in Turkey over Ian Poulter, he had 4 top 10 finishes. He also T4 at the US Open and T15 at the PGA Championship.


Young Englishman Tyrell Hatton finished 2nd to Koepka.


Bryan Angus

Tiger signs a new "swing consultant" on advice from Notah Begay..

After Butch Harmon, Hank Haney and Sean Foley, Tiger has hired his 4th coach (consultant)..Chris Como from Dallas..


What I can tell you is that Como, 36, was named by Golf Digest as one of "the best young teachers" in 2013. He has a degree in biomechanics, and reportedly shares the same swing philosophy of Sean. He also teaches Aaron Baddeley and Trevor Immelman.


Woods hasn't played since missing the cut at the PGA Championship following another back issue.


His agent Mark Steinberg released this statement on behalf of his client..
I was introduced to Chris this summer by Notah [Begay] and subsequently we had several good conversations about the golf swing. I've worked with him about a month since I started practicing. Chris will consult and work with me during the year."


His next action will be his annual tournament, the Hero World Challenge that raises funds for the Tiger Woods Foundation. It is Dec. 4-7 at Isleworth near Orlando where he invites 18 top golfers, including newly minted world # 2 Henrik Stenson.


World rankings click http://www.owgr.com/




Bryan Angus

Stenson, Ko, McIlroy, Lewis big winners this weekend

European Tour final scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=euro


Despite shanking one out of bounds on the 11th and looking shaky for a few holes after,Henrik Stenson finished like a champion as he birdied the last two holes to successfully defend his DP World Tour Championship title. He shot a -2 70 to win by two strokes with an overall 16-under 272 on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.


Rory McIlroy (68), Victor Dubuisson (68) and Justin Rose (69), shared second on 14-under 274, Rory of course wins the overall Race To Dubai for the 2nd time in 3 years, while Stenson ends up 2nd and moves to 2nd in the world ranking. Rory takes home the $1.25m first prize share of the $5m bonus pool, along with his T2 winnings..


When asked what he could do in 2015 to match this incredible year he promptly answered " The Masters, I can be the youngest to win the Grand Slam at 25, so I'll be ready to go in April"


Rafa Cabrera-Bello (75) was leading with three holes to play but made back-to-back double bogeys at Nos. 16 and 17 to finish tied for ninth with an overall 277.




LPGA Tour final scoreboard  http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=lpga


New Zealand golf was buoyed on Friday when Grant Waite won full status on the Champions Tour by finishing 2nd at Q School, then it really got a shot in the arm when teenager Lydia Ko (-4 68 -10) won the CME Group Championship on the 4th hole of a  three-way playoff, worth $500,000, and by doing so she also scooped up the $1m dollar "Race to CME Globe" bonus, the biggest single pay day in LPGA history...


She is only 17, not even allowed to drink the champagne she was showered in !!..She now has five wins after she defeated Carlota Ciganda (-2 70 -10) of Spain and Julieta Granada (-1 71 -10) of Paraguay. She won three times this year, and her earnings from the Tour Championship made her the first player to go over $2 million as a rookie.


The other big winner on the day was Stacy Lewis who was not in contention on the weekend but she became the first American in 21 years to sweep the three most significant awards on the LPGA Tour, player of the year, the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average and the money title!




Bryan Angus

Rafa, Rory and Henrik neck and neck late in round 4 in Dubai

Live scoring  http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=euro


Rafael Cabrera Bello is at -15 thru 14 playing with Henrik who is struggling suddenly after hitting it OB on 11, but is still -14 and Rory is up to -14 thru 15


More to follow..




Bryan

Congratulations Rod Spittle !!

Rod Spittle as I reported yesterday, earned full status on the Champions Tour for 2015 after finishing fifth at the final stage of Champions Tour Q-School after he shot a steady 2-under 70 at Panther Lake Golf Club and finished the week at -5.


Spittle, now 60, turned pro in 2004 after a stellar amateur career and won his first and only event in 2005. He was out of options for this year, so this finish is a huge boost. Only the top 5 get full status..


Jim Rutledge of Victoria, B.C. and Rick Gibson of Calgary both shot 68s and just missed full status..


Rutledge (-4) finished in a tie for sixth place, just one stroke back of Spittle, while Gibson (-2) climbed thirteen spots to finish in a T10. By finishing between 6-13, both players earned conditional exempt status in 2015.


Other Canadian scores.. Ken Tarling (+10) of Stouffville, Ont. and Calgary’s Darryl James (+16).

Stenson, Rafa tied for lead after round 3 in Dubai..

European Tour  Live scoreboard click http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=euro


Rafael Cabrera Bello, known only as Rafa to everyone on tour has shot 64 65 in his last 2 rounds and if it wasn't for his opening 73 he'd be well ahead, as it is the streaky Spaniard is T1 with Henrik Stenson who came to life late in his round to shot 68, both are at -14.


Rory looked for all the world like he'd be in the lead as well until he double bogeyed 12 and 13 to fall to -9, a late birdie got him to -10 so he is spotting the leaders 4 shots.


Justin Rose is 3rd after his 68, -11, while Rory is joined by 3 others at -10, including Thorbjorn Olesen and Victor Dubuisson.








LPGA Tour  Live scoreboard click http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=lpga


On a tough day that only rewarded the best shots, Michelle Wie holed out for eagle with a pitching wedge on her way to a 5-under 67, -5 139, that moved her up high enough on the leaderboard Friday at the CME Group Tour Championship to get into position for a $1 million bonus.


The leaders are Carlota Ciganda of Spain who took advantage of a putting lesson from Spanish great Jose Maria Olazabal to make five birdies for a 67 that gave her a share of the lead with Julieta Granada of Paraguay, who scrambled for a 71. They were at 7-under 137 going into the weekend at the Tiburon Golf Club. Morgan Pressel, shot a 66 and was one shot out of the lead.


Wie, who captured her first major this year at Pinehurst No. 2 in the U.S. Women's Open, is No. 4 in the Race to CME Globe. Only the top three players, Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park and 17-year-old Lydia Ko, can win the $1 million bonus simply by winning the tournament. So Wie needs a little bit of help and she got it because Lewis shot 74 and is six shots out of the lead. Park couldn't get a putt to drop. She also had a 74. Ko had another 71 and was five shots behind.

Spittle T6 after 3 rounds of Champions Q School..

Live scoring click http://www.pgatour.com/champions/leaderboard.html


Rod Spittle needs just one more solid round today to grab his fully exempt tour card for next year on the Champions Tour. His 69 73 71 -4 have him in a 4 way tie for 6th, 6 shots behind red hot leader Frank Esposito 67 -10 who won last week’s Senior PGA Professional National Championship in Port St. Lucie, Florida


There will be no cut in the 72-hole qualifier. After today's final round, the top-five finishers earn fully-exempt status through the re-order in the 2015 season, while the next seven players will be conditionally exempt. In addition, the top-30 finishers and ties will be eligible to compete for spots in open qualifiers at all co-sponsored events on the Champions Tour in 2015


Jim Rutledge was. T17 70 75 71 E


Latest .. Rod Spittle is playing the 13th currently -2 today now T3, while Rick Gibson is charging up the board now T10 at -4 today having gone eagle birdie bogey birdie on his last 4 holes, now playing the 18th at -2. Jim Rutledge is -1 today through 15.

Granada leads LPGA Tour Championship in round 2...

Julieta Granada played bogey-free in a tough wind at the CME Group Tour Championship on the Tiburon Course for a 66 that gave her a two-shot lead over Sandra Gal in the LPGA Tour's final tournament.


Live scoring click http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=lpga


The other event going on, is the Race to CME Globe, which pays a $1 million bonus to the winner. Only the top nine players in the standings can win it, and Granada isn't one of them. She still hopes to close out the season with her first victory in eight years.


The top three players, Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park and 17-year-old Lydia Ko need only to win the tournament for the $1 million bonus. Lewis is atop the standings, Park and Ko each shot 71. Lewis is 3 shots behind the leader after her opening 69.


Round 2 is underway as I write this..




Bryan Angus  (notes from BBC, Reuters, AP, lpgatour.com..)

King Henrik back on top in Dubai..Live scoreboards..

European Tour  After his record breaking 2013 season Henrik Stenson came into this year " completely stressed out " and his game suffered. Recently though he has been showing the form he stunned the golfing world with last year, placing 3rd in Turkey last week.


You'll remember his stunning 3 wood from 250 yards on the 18th last year that nestled down just 2 feet from the pin for a tap in eagle, it won him the shot of the year to go along with the tournament and all his other baubles...


Well he posted a solid 66 earlier this morning to take a 2 shot lead at -10 over Rory (70), Danny Willett (67) and Richie Ramsay (69) all on -8 in Dubai.


On a day of low scoring there are 10 players with 4 shots of the big Swede. Rory hardly made a putt all day, although he is still hitting the ball miles. The low round of the day -8 64 went to Spaniard Rafeal Cabrera Bello and he leads a group of 5 players including Justin Rose and Shane Lowry who had a hole in one at -7..


Live scoring click  http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=euro


Meanwhile down in Melbourne, Adam Scott stayed in contention at the Australian Masters with a 4-under 68 to leave him six shots off the lead after two rounds at Metropolitan Golf Club.He is T12th, and has won the previous two Masters.


Leader Michael Wright shot a 68 for a 36-hole total of -9,135, two strokes ahead of fellow Australian Paul Spargo on a crowded leaderboard.




Bryan Angus

What rust ?? Rory the Story again in Dubai..

European Tour  Live scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=euro


Like it was yesterday I remember Rory getting his first professional win at age 19 when he won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on February 1st in 2009, moving him to 16th in the world rankings. His girlfriend of 6 years, Holly Sweeney couldn't be with him as she was studying for her high school exams. We all knew the kid who joined Holyrood GC as a junior member at age 7 was going to take the golf world by storm.


Now 5 majors and millions and millions of dollars, pounds, euros whatever you want later the world's #1 player returned from a six-week absence to shoot a 6-under 66 for a share of the lead with his Irish pal Shane Lowry, on the first day of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.


He birdied four of his opening five holes and then two of the last four to join Lowry at the top, in Dubai at the Earth Course at Jumeriah Estates Resort who were once Rory's main sponsor.


In 2011 he began dating Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki after meeting at a boxing match, and after their emotional split last May, he went on a tear that week winning the BMW at Wentworth, then of course the summer of summers with 2 majors and the WGC that has won him this Race to Dubai.


By the way over the summer Rory was linked to Dublin model Nadia Forde and Belfast model Sasha Gale, although he has made it clear to friends he is staying unattached for the foreseeable future.


T3 a shot behind are Scotland's Richie Ramsay and Norway's star, Thorbjorn Olesen both at -5 67. In last place in this elite final field of 70, was last week's winner Brooks Koepka who struggled to an ugly +6 78..


Australiasian Tour   Meanwhile it's a big few weeks of golf down under in Australia beginning with the Masters where defending champion Adam Scott struggled in the blustery conditions at Metropolitan Golf Club for a 1-over 73, six strokes behind a group of four of his countrymen. Live scoring click http://www.pga.org.au/tourns/pga-tour/event/leaderboard?season=2014&tour=pga&id=1075


Scott, who won the Masters the past two years at Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath remained optimistic. "A strong northerly (wind) from the get-go was always going to make it tough. I played pretty well but didn't take any of my chances. I'm a little behind the eight-ball at the moment but it's nothing a good round tomorrow won't fix."


Australians Michael Wright, Stephen Allan, Steven Bowditch and amateur Todd Sinnott shot 67s to share the lead.


Bryan Angus

McIlroy, Koepka, Kim and Hoffman your weekend winners.

Rory McIlroy has won the European Tour's Race to Dubai for the second time in three years after neither Marcel Siem or Sergio Garcia could win the Turkish Airlines Open.


Nobody can catch him now, based mainly on his sensational play this summer, starting with the BMW Championship at the end of May followed by  the Open Championship on July 20, the Bridgestone Invitational on Aug. 3 and the PGA Championship on Aug. 10. He ended up more than 2.7 million euros ($3.4 million) ahead of Henrik Stenson who was T3 in Turkey..


European Tour  Speaking of Turkey, Brooks Koepka (65)-17 edged out Ian Poulter (67) -16 for his first European Tour win. Poulter had a 6 footer to tie on the 72nd but missed, but really he lost the event after blowing a 6 shot lead on Saturday with a sorry 75..
Final scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=euro


Koepka is a 24 year old from Tallahassee in Florida who decided to go to Europe to take that path to the top. He won 3 times on the Challenge Tour to graduate and his new world ranking this morning is 35, meaning he can pretty much play whereever he wants next season.  New official world rankings click http://www.owgr.com/ranking


PGA Tour  Final scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
Charlie Hoffman, without a win in 4 years, rallied from three-shots behind, taking advantage of Danny Lee's mistakes on the back nine closing with a 5-under 66 -17 267, after taking two putts for a bogey on the 18th. It was his third career victory.


Lee fired seven straight birdies on the front nine to take the lead, but couldn't hold on,  dropping three shots on the back nine for a 67. He finished two shots behind in a tie for third with Andres Gonzalez, who had a 67 for his best career finish
Canadians  David Hearn T16 -10 68 65 73 68.. Roger Sloan, Nick Taylor both -3 281


LPGA   Final scoreboard  http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=lpga

Christina Kim won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational for her first LPGA Tour title in nine years, beating Shanshan Feng in a playoff after blowing a five-stroke lead and immediately announced " This is the greatest win in my life, without a doubt"


After battling depression, the yips and a loss of confidence the relief was obvious, as she celebrated jumping up and down on the green. She hugged her caddie T.J. Jones, then Michelle Weir's caddie Duncan French who happens to be Kim's boyfriend before embracing Wie as well.


 The field only has 36 players but is awarded full LPGA status...




Bryan Angus

Poulter and Koepka leading 4th round in Turkey

European Tour...The weather has cleared, the sun is out and Ian Poulter along with American Brook Koepka are leading at -14 going into the back nine at the Turkish Airlines Open.


More to follow..


Live scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=euro




PGA Tour  Jason Bohn -15 leads by 2 shots over another American Shawn Stefani heading into today's final round. David Hearn is the top Canadian T17 68 65 73 -7.


Live scoring click http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga

Ormsby catches Poulter after 3 rounds in Turkey....Hearn T5 in Mexico..

European Tour   Ian James Poulter completed the rain delayed 2nd round of the Turkish Airlines Open earlier today firing -6 66 to lead the field at -14, 6 shots clear of Miguel Jimenez (73) Wade Ormsby (71) and Shane Lowry (66) all at -9.


Live scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=euro


Round 3 is now suspended due to darkness with the rain that was forecast this afternoon holding off. The course, in particular the deep rough, is very wet, there are 5 par 5's, the greens are like dart boards, but Poulter came out to start his 3rd round with a poor drive and never got back in sync, droping out of the 6 shot lead with a sloppy +3 75 to end up T2 -11 with his pal Lee Westwood (67) who surged up the leaderboard now at -11 as well. Marcel Siem, last week's winner shot 66 to join them.
They are all chasing little known Aussie Wade Ormsby whose -4 68 has him in at -12. Ranked 240th in the world if he wins he would double the amount of money he has made since joining the tour in 2004.


Of note John Daly who says Tiger should captain the US Ryder Cup team shot 67 and is T8 just 4 shots back.


PGA Tour Round 2 is complete at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba GC just south of Cancun in Mexico and Canada's David Hearn has vaulted into T5 (68 65) -9. The leader at -12 is American Micheal Putnam 66,64 with Shawn Stefani 66 65 and Jason Bohn 66 65 trailing at -11. Veteran Ken Duke has the low round of the day with -8 63 to stand at -10.


Other Canadian scores . Mike Weir MC 73 75,  Roger Sloan T46 68 70 -4, Nick Taylor T58 71 68 -3, Adam Hadwin 69 71 -2 MC


Live scoring  http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga




LPGA Tour Now to Mexico City where Lorena Ochoa has invited 36 of her pals to play her Invitational and Christina Kim leads after 2 rounds at -10 with Paula Creamer right behind at -9


Live scoreboard  http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=lpga




Bryan Angus

Round 2 suspended as storm hits Turkish Airlines Open. Live scoreboards

My long time colleague from the European Tour media, Nick Dye, is currently stretched out in his luxurious hotel room at the Maxx Royal watching a tremendous storm that has swept in over the Mediterranean suspending round 2 play at the Turkish Airlines Open.


The high winds and rain arrived quickly and earlier than expected, forcing officials to evacuate the press tent, thus Mr Dye's position in his hotel room !! Play will resume tomorrow morning..


Live scoring http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=euro


Ian Poulter who says he is finally injury free after playing through a bad shoulder for much of the year opened with a -8 64 and is -4 through 10 holes -12 total. He has just changed to Titleist clubs. 4 guys are at -10 including Miguel Jimenez after his sparkling -9 63 opening round..


It is sad to see Luke Donald, world #1 just 2 years ago, winner of it all on both sides of the Atlantic, struggling so mightily with his game these days. He has dropped to 36th in ranking.


PGA Tour  Meanwhile in Mexico, there are 6 players at -6 at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. Live scoring click http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga


Canadian scores..Roger Sloan and David Hearn -3 68 T29... Adam Hadwin -2 69 T45..Nick Taylor E 71 T76.. Mike Weir +2 73 T107


LPGA Tour   is also in Mexico, but inland in Mexico City as opposed to just south of Cancun for the men, and they are playing the Lorena Ochoa Invitational  Live scoring click http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=lpga.  Crazy Christina Kim who had the swing yips so bad the last time I saw her leads by a shot after opening with a -7 65. She has such a bubbly personality it's hard to imagine she suffers from depression.. There are only 36 women in the field, no Canucks.

Jimenez leading in Turkey..Live scoreboards

European Tour live scoring click http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=euro


On October 9, 2012 Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy headlined an 8 man field in what was the Turkish Airlines World Golf Final, an event encouraged by the European and PGA Tours to help spread the ever expanding world game to Turkey who apparently have several beautiful course but nobody to play on them.


The government of Turkey paid not only all 8 to attend, but also media from around the world. In return they were promised a spot in the European Tour rotation and today round 1 of the Turkish Airlines Open on the Montgomerie Course at the Maxx Royal Belek Golf Resort has just wrapped up, the last event of the Race to Dubai "Final Series" prior to next weeks finale in Dubai..


The Maxx Royal is a beautiful 5 star hotel right on the Mediterranean Sea, you can see Cyprus on a clear day and this Belek region is trying hard to establish itself to grab a share of all the European winter golf tourist industry that floods into the Algarve in Portugal and Spain every year.


Evergreen Miguel Jimenez has just gone out in perfect conditions, opening with an eagle and finishing with -9 63. Ian Poulter is right behind him with -8 64 and they lead a no cut field of 80 playing for $7m with the top 60 getting into the finale where the top 15 will share the $10m Race to Dubai bonus fund..


Colin Montgomerie who designed the course is playing his 600th European Tour event, shot +5 77.


Meanwhile the PGA Tour is at the Mexican Riviera playing the OHL Classic at Mayakoba  http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga


Nick Taylor, David Hearn, Mike Weir, Adam Hadwin and Roger Sloan are the 5 Canadians in the field.




Bryan Angus

Bubba wins a thriller in Shanghai..Live scoreboards..

After 25 years getting paid to cover sports, golf in this case, there are a few players I would actually pay to see perform. Ali in his prime, Barry Sims, Georgie Best, Bobby Hull in the old days, Gretz, Mario when he was in the mood are just a few..


In this era, head and shoulders above the rest, not in ability but just to watch is Bubba Watson. You never know what he is going to do with each shot, and nobody in the game today shapes the ball the way he does. The man is an emotional bag of bones, there are times he putts like a 10 handicapper, sometimes his shots don't come off, sometimes he's just not interested when he doesn't like the course or the weather, but damn it he is entertaining.


Final scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga


Overnight if you missed it he emerged from a pack of six to beat Tim Clark with a birdie on the first playoff hole of the WGC HSBC Champions on a tough Sheshan International course. That not half the story..


Seemingly in charge at -12, he promptly made bogey on 16, then double on the par 3 17th including 2 from the bunker to drop to -9, two shots behind the pack of Hiroshi Iwata, Graeme McDowell, Martin Kaymer, Clark and Rickie Fowler who were all taking turns at -10 and -11..


Coming down the par 5 18th he drove the ball 330 yards and hit a nine iron most of 200 but into the greenside bunker..Interrupted by a camera on his downswing in the bunker, he stopped himself, backed off, splashed out and watched it run and curl down the hill right into the cup for the eagle 3, back to -11.


Tim Clark, fully 75 yards behind Bubba off the tee, laid up, relied on his wedge game and made birdie 4 to get to -11


Kaymer at -10, laid up on 18 then hit his 3rd into the water to end his hopes, as did Rickie who ended up -10, Iwata missed a putt to end up at -10 as did Graeme McDowell.


In the playoff Bubba bombed his drive, hit his approach into the same bunker, while Clark laid up, hit his wedge 3rd to 20 feet, not his best.


Bubba fluffed his bunker shot this time leaving it way short and well above the hole. Clark missed his birdie, then of course Bubba rolled the ball gingerly down just trying to 2 putt and of course it rolled right in !


When play started  the top 9 on the leaderboard were from 8 different countries, all playing in the Far East... my how golf has grown..


LPGA  ..Meanwhile in Japan, Laura Davies (71) as I wrote yesterday was vying to become the oldest winner in LPGA history but she came up just a shot shy in a group of 8 players at -10.


The winner in a 3 way playoff was yet another South Korean Mi Hyang Lee who birdied the fifth hole to win the Mizuno Classic for her first win, beating compatriot Ilhee Lee and Japan's Kotono Kozuma. She shot 69 in regulation to finish tied at 11-under 205 with Ilhee Lee (70) and Kozuma, who also had a 69 in the final round.


Final scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=lpga




Bryan Angus

Laura Davies tied for the lead in Japan

Live scoring click http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=lpga


England's Laura Davies has been playing on the LPGA Tour for as long as I can remember, and I must admit I was surprised when I looked at her stats and saw she has only won 20 times, the last time being in 2001. The big gal shot a 5-under 67 overnight to share the lead with Ai Suzuki of Japan and Ilhee Lee of South Korea after 2 rounds of the Mizuno Classic in Japan.


She is the story for me, now 51 years old Davies had seven birdies at the Kintetsu Kashikojima course for a 9-under 135 total, and is heading for the Golf Hall of Fame.
She will become the oldest winner in LPGA history with a win here.


First round leader Morgan Pressel had an even-par 72 to fall into a tie for 11th place.

GMac still leads but who is Iwata ??

Live scoring click http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga


After a cool gray day on the Sheshan International course in Shanghai Graeme McDowell's lead is reduced to 1 shot. His -1 71 leaves him at 11-under 205, one shot ahead of a little known Japanese player Hiroshi Iwata, who made 15 foot curling birdie putt on the par-5 18th for a 68, and he sits two shots ahead of Martin Kaymer (66) and Bubba Watson (69) -9 207.


Kaymer made nine birdies over the last 12 holes to win the HSBC Champions on this course in 2011. I watched overnight as Kaymer was impressive with seven birdies and he will play in the last group with GMac and Iwata.


Speaking of Iwata, he is 33, a 10 year veteran on the Japan Golf Tour, he only has one win and that came 2 months ago, he admits to being bad tempered with himself, but it hasn't shown yet this week with rounds of 73 65 68.


Bubba didn't make a longish putt all day but birdied 4 of his last 5, while GMac didn't play badly, I think the difference today was the par 5's where he was +1 today opposed to -3 yesterday.


Rickie Fowler (69) is only 3 behind, along with Tim Clark (69), while Ian Poulter had  a 72, four shots behind with Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark. (69)


Should be quite a day tomorrow, or in my case (est) later tonight !!

Pressel leads LPGA event in Japan

American Morgan Pressel hasn't won since 2008 but has opened with -5 67 to lead after round 1 at the Mizuno Classic as the LPGA Tour continues it's Far East swing in Japan. Veteran Laura Davies and Chella Choi are T2 with -4 68's.


Live scoring http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=lpga


World #1 Inbee Park is not in the field.


Bryan Angus

Steady McDowell leads after 2 rounds in Shanghai

Live scoreboard click http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga


When Rory was at his peak this summer amongst all the arrows in his quiver was a consistent little 10 foot draw, it is his go to shot.


This week so far at the WGC event in Shanghai his buddy from NIre., Graeme McDowell has that shot working as well, he is keeping it in play on the tight fairways and out of the deep rough on the Sheshan International course. Couple that with a red hot putter and the result is 67,67 -10 and a 3 shot lead going into the weekend.


Former winner and runner-up here last year Ian Poulter birdied 4 of the last 5 for 67 -7 total. Poulter has had a poor year by his standards, but often saves his best golf of the year for the Far East swing.


Bubba birdied the last 5 in a row for 67, -6 tied with Japanese star Hiroshi Iwata had the low round of the day 65 for a -6 total. Adam Scott's even par 72 belies the mess on his scorecard. He mixed a quadruple 9, a double and a bogey with 5 birdies and an eagle !! He is T15 at -2


There is no cut, and only 26 of the 78 starters broke par. Amongst the worst scores Billy Horschel, the hottest player in golf just 6 weeks ago is 75th after 80,77 and a 23 year old Aussie called Brody Ninyette who plays on the Australasian Tour was at +32 86 90 before being disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard. He is ranked 949 in the world and the poor guy caught a stomach bug on the flight from Australia, that's the bad news.... the good news is he still picks up $40,000 for last place !!


Nice to see Rickie Fowler has his young, all dressed in orange fans even in China. He is at -5 69,70 as is Kevin Na, 71 68 who started the year ranked as low as 235 and is now in the top 40.


The final pairing tomorrow will be GMac, Poulter and Bubba...




Bryan Angus

McDowell leads the WGC in Shanghai.. DeLaet has to WD

Graeme McDowell leads the HSBC Champions in Shanghai by 2 strokes after opening with -5 67 at this WGC event. Six others led by Rickie Fowler, Martin Kaymer and Brandt Snedeker are 2nd at -3 69. On a windy day only 27 players of the 78 man field broke par in the 10th year of this event, the rough is really thick and the fairways are narrow and McDowell drove it well all day, at one point through 12 holes he was -7.


Live scoring click  http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga


40 0f the world's top 50 are in the field on the Sheshan International GC, it's the 2nd week in a row for golf in Shanghai and I must say after watching a lot of it overnight the crowds were very sparse by pro standards for the opening round.


Ken Schofield. the Euro Tour's commish prior to the departing George O'Grady has been travelling to China for many years and he explained that while golf is expanding rapidly it is still in it's infancy in this huge country and is very expensive to play. He feels they need many more municipal courses and driving ranges to get the masses more involved. Chinese golf fans were shocked last week when they learned Xin-Jun Zhang the leading money winner on the PGA Tour China has been suspended six months by the China Golf Association for signing incorrect scorecards.
He was leading that tour with 650,600 yuan ($105,863), with the top five in money earnings slated to earn exempt status on the 2015 Web.com Tour.
The China Golf Association said that at the Lanhai Open in June and the Cadillac Championship in September, Zhang was disqualified for signing for the wrong scores, "which have been verified by multiple sources. Such behavior has seriously violated the basic rules of the game of golf, which has brought severe negative publicity.''
Zhang is listed as having been disqualified in each event's official scoring.


With 3 bogey's 2 doubles and a triple in a front 9 of 45, Graham DeLaet had to WD again with that bulging disc in his neck and I hope he can get himself back home to get proper treatment, just shut it down. I have tried to contact him and will report back asap.


Jason Dufner had a red face in the 18th fairway after picking up his ball to clean and place it, like he had been doing all last week in Malaysia...The one stroke penalty left him at E 72.


Bryan Angus