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
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Sunday, November 9, 2014
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
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
Saturday, November 8, 2014
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.
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 !!
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 !!
Friday, November 7, 2014
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
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
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
Thursday, November 6, 2014
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
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
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