Golf-Woods reveals another unseen side (Reuters)
April 30, 2010
* Woods misses cut after second round 79
* Refuses to blame personal problems for failure (Updates with details, quotes)
By Julian Linden
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, April 30 (Reuters) – Anotherside of Tiger Woods was unveiled to the golfing world onFriday. And just like the last time, it was shocking to see.
The private life of the world’s richest sportsman hadalready been laid bare by the sordid revelations of hisextra-marital affairs. Now his golf game is facing examination.
It is too early to say what, if any, effect his personaltroubles will have on his game but Woods ensured thosequestions would be asked after a rare inept performance at theQuail Hollow championship on Friday.
Woods missed the cut for only the sixth time in hisprofessional career after rounds of 74 and 79. That aloneshould be no real cause for concern but it was the manner ofhis early exit that was most alarming.
By his own incredible standards, this was a train crash thegolfing world never expected to see. Woods looked like a manwith the weight of the world on his shoulders but insisted thedistractions in his private life were not to blame.
“Does it test you? Yes, of course it does,” he toldreporters.
“Is that any excuse? No, because I’m out there and I havethe same opportunity as everybody else here in this field toshoot a good number, and I didn’t do that.”
Golf is a game that revolves around numbers and Wood’snumbers were not impressive. At times, he looked like anyweekend hacker.
It was just the sixth time in 241 professional appearancesthat he missed the cut. His second round of 79 was the secondworst of his pro career, two behind the 81 he shot at the 2002British Open.
Woods took 43 shots to complete the back nine on Friday.This did match his worst-ever record. For the first time innearly three years he made double bogeys on successive holes.
“It does bother me, no doubt,” he said.
“But at least I get the weekend to watch and see how it’sdone, how real players play golf.”
Woods was appearing in only his second tournament sincecoming out of his self-imposed five-month exile. No-one reallyexpected him to start winning tournaments straight away, buteven less thought he would implode as he did on Friday afterfinishing fourth at the US Masters.
There were ominous signs after he shot 74 on the first dayand he struggled to get through his first nine holes on Fridaylevel with the card, spoiling three birdies with three bogeys.
What unfolded on the back nine was like watching a manbleed on the course. Woods bogeyed the 10th, 11th and 12thholes to suddenly drop back to five-over-par. He stopped therot with a par at the 13th before making a double-bogey at the14th when he pitched over the green and into the water.
Worse was to come at the next hole when he four-putted foranother double bogey. He closed with three pars to avoidshooting an embarrassing 80 but that failed to save him fromhaving to pack his bags and head back home.
“It is what it is,” he said. “Whatever it was, it wasn’tgood enough.”
(Editing by Ian Ransom; To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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Tway, Thompson top Champions Tour leaderboard
April 30, 2010
SAUCIER, Miss. (AP)—Bob Tway and Leonard Thompson shot 5-under 67s on Fridayto share the first-round lead in the Champions Tour’s inaugural Mississippi GulfResort Classic.
Tom Purtzer, David Peoples, Brad Bryant and David Eger opened with 68s atFallen Oak. Mark O’Meara, coming off his first Champions Tour victory last weekwith Nick Price in the Legends of Golf team event, was two strokes back at 69along with Eduardo Romero and Ted Schultz. Price had a 70.
Tway birdied Nos. 12, 14 and 16 to match Thompson at 5 under.
Thompson bogeyed the second hole, then ran off four straight birdies. Healso bogeyed No. 11, then birdied Nos. 13-15 and closed with three pars.
Bernhard Langer, a two-time winner this year, opened with a 72.
Jodie Mudd and Bobby Clampett made their Champions Tour debut. Clampett hada 72, and Mudd shot a 74.
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PLAYERS field filled with worldwide stars (PGATOUR.com)
April 30, 2010
Spains Sergio Garcia and Swedens Henrik Stenson help make up a star-studded field for the 2010 PLAYERS.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.—With the passing of Friday’s 5 p.m. ET commitment deadline, the deepest field in golf is all but finalized for next week’s THE PLAYERS Championship. The winner from Sunday’s Quail Hollow Championship will be added, or if that player is already qualified for THE PLAYERS, Brendon de Jonge will round out a field of 145 that includes all 29 of the top 30 players from the Official World Golf Ranking as well as both last year’s final FedExCup standings and this year’s current FedExCup.
The current field includes every winner on the PGA TOUR dating back to last year’s PLAYERS Championship, a total of 33 different players, except for Retief Goosen. Goosen missed the Quail Hollow Championship with a broken toe.
Fifty-two of the players headed to TPC Sawgrass are from outside the Unites States, representing 19 countries and highlighted by defending champion Henrik Stenson. Australia leads the way with 14 players. Players from England, however, seem to be making the most noise on the golf course coming into THE PLAYERS with nine English players committed and three inside the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking: No. 4 in the world Lee Westwood; last year’s runner-up and winner of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship Ian Poulter (No. 6); and Paul Casey (No. 8). Sweden and South Africa each have five players each in the field. The other countries represented are: Argentina (2), Canada (2), Spain (2), Germany (2), South Korea (2), Northern Ireland (2), Colombia (1), Fiji (1), Ireland (1), Italy (1), Japan (1), Scotland (1), Thailand (1) and Zimbabwe (1). International players have experienced recent success at TPC Sawgrass as five of the last nine PLAYERS Champions have come from outside of the United States.
Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods will square off against a demanding field and equally demanding golf course. Woods comes to THE PLAYERS Championship after a top-10 finish at The Masters. The world’s No. 1-ranked player and 2001 PLAYERS Champion, Woods has not missed a cut in 12 appearances at THE PLAYERS but recorded his first top-10 finish last year since his victory seven years ago. He is joined by the world’s No. 2-ranked player and 2007 PLAYERS Champion, Phil Mickelson. Depending on how the Quail Hollow Championship finishes this weekend, Mickelson may come to TPC Sawgrass with an opportunity to pass Woods as the No. 1 player in the world.
Seventeen players are making their first start at THE PLAYERS: Ricky Barnes (USA), Kris Blanks (USA), Brendon de Jonge (ZIM), Rickie Fowler (USA), Derek Lamely (USA), Marc Leishman (AUS), Bill Lunde (USA), Bryce Molder (USA), Alex Prugh (USA), Francesco Molinari (ITA), James Nitties (AUS), D.A. Points (USA), Alvaro Quiros (SPN), Chris Stroud (USA), Roland Thatcher (USA), Jimmy Walker (USA) and Oliver Wilson (ENG).
Only one avenue remains for a player not otherwise qualified to gain entry into THE PLAYERS and that is to notch a victory at this week’s Quail Hollow Championship.
At 56 years, 5 months of age, Jay Haas will be the oldest player in the field at THE PLAYERS. Haas earned an invitation to THE PLAYERS by virtue of his victory last fall at the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship. He will make his tournament-record 29th-career start at THE PLAYERS. Haas, along with his son Bill, will make history at THE PLAYERS, becoming the first father-son duo to compete in the event during the same year.
A total of 149 players qualified for this year’s PLAYERS Championship. The following players qualified but chose not to participate – Edoardo Molinari (ITA), Miquel Angel Jimenez (SPN), Yuta Ikeda (JPN), Louis Oosthuizen (SAF), Ryo Ishikawa (JPN), Rich Beem (USA), Soren Hansen (DEN), Tom Watson (USA), Michael Campbell (NZ), Michael Sim (AUS) and Goosen (SAF). In order to fill the field to 144 players (not counting Jay Haas who makes 145) the following players qualified via their ranking in this year’s FedExCup standings: Rickie Fowler (USA), Alex Prugh (USA), J.P. Hayes (USA), Chris Couch (USA), Kris Blanks (USA) and Brendon de Jonge(ZIM).
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Golf-Woods misses cut after game implodes (Reuters)
April 30, 2010
* Tiger Woods misses cut
* Mickleson charges up leaderboard
(Updates with Woods missing cut)
Julian Linden
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, April 30 (Reuters) – Tiger Woods,his game imploding with every wayward shot, missed the cut foronly the sixth time as a professional on Friday after a woefulsecond round of 79 at the Quail Hollow championship.
The world number one cut a forlorn figure as he trudged offthe course after limping to the halfway stage at nine-over-par,eight shots off the projected cut-off following his openinground of 74.
As Woods struggled, many of his main rivals, including U.S.Masters champion Phil Mickelson, ripped up the course on aperfect spring day.
American Billy Mayfair shot 68 to lead at eight-under, oneahead of Argentina’s Angel Cabrera and two ahead of Mickelson,but their performances were completely overshadowed by thealmost-unimaginable showing by Woods.
It was the first time Woods had missed the cut at any eventsince last year’s British Open and the first on home soil sincethe 2006 U.S. Open but it was the manner of his early exit thatwas most alarming.
Playing only his second event since taking a five-monthbreak from the game following revelations about his infidelity,Woods at times looked like at weekend hacker as his gameunravelled on the back nine.
There were already some worrying signs as he went throughthe first nine holes in even par with three birdies cancelledout by three bogeys but few could have expected what was tounfold.
He bogeyed the 10th, 11th and 12th holes to suddenly dropback to five-over-par. He stopped the bleeding with a par at the13th before making a double-bogey at the 14th when he pitchedover the green and into the water.
Worse was to come at the next hole when he four-putted foranother double bogey. He closed with three pars to avoidshooting an embarrassing 80 but that failed to save him from anearly exit.
Mickelson, who was ill from food poisoning and faded late inhis opening round, looked a picture of health as he shot afour-under-par 68 to be suddenly feeling upbeat about hischances.
“I should be 100 percent for the weekend,” he declared.
“I thought I was going to get a few more on the front. Butfour under? I would say I’m in good position for the weekend.”
With a handful of players still to finish their rounds, hewas tied for third with J.P. Hayes, who fired a courserecord-equalling 64, and Dustin Johnson, who shot a 65.
(Editing by Pritha Sarkar; To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com) (julian.linden@thomsonreuters.com; +1 646-552-9780. ReutersMessaging: julian.linden.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net; For thesports blog Left Field go to: blogs.reuters.com/sport/))
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Golf-Woods misses cut for only sixth time as a professional (Reuters)
April 30, 2010
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, April 30 (Reuters) – Tiger Woodsmissed the cut for only the sixth time as a professional aftercarding a woeful second-round 79, seven over, at the QuailHollow Championship on Friday.
The world number one was sent packing from the PGA Tourevent after recording a nine-over total of 153.
It is the first time the American has missed the cut sincelast year’s British Open, and the first time on home soil sincethe 2006 U.S. Open.
Woods is playing his second tournament since taking afive-month break from golf following revelations about hisextra-marital affairs.
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Wie takes one stroke lead at Tres Marias
April 30, 2010
MORELIA, Mexico (AP)—Michelle Wie’s game held together with the wind hollowingthrough the mountainside ravines at the Tres Marias Championship, shooting a5-under 68 in Friday’s second round for a one-shot lead.
Wie led from fellow American Brittany Lincicome (67) and Japan’s Ai Miyazato(72).
But the gusts and the emotional ups-and-downs got to Lorena Ochoa, who fellfive strokes off the pace with a 73 in her farewell tournament.
This is the last event for the No. 1-ranked Ochoa, under some pressure todeliver a victory for her adoring fans in Mexico—she has won this event threetimes—before stepping away.
“I’ll take it I guess with these conditions,” Ochoa said. “With all theemotions I am going through and the adrenalin it’s been a little bit tough.”
Wie beat the wind, and seems to love playing in Mexico where she won herfirst LPGA event 5 1/2 months ago in Ochoa’s Invitational in Guadalajara—Ochoa’s hometown.
“It’s fun over here,” Wie said. “It’s a good attitude over here; relaxed,great weather, great people and hopefully I can keep it going.”
It could have been even better for the Hawaiian, who pulled off aspectacular birdie on the 541-yard 16th, but then stumbled with two bogeys toclose.
She hit a booming drive downwind on 16—her father B.J. Wie estimated it at380 yards—but hit an 8-iron approach from 165 yards over the green into loosegravel. She chipped out, but knocked it across the green into a bunker. She thenholed out from 70 feet, lifting both arms skyward to celebrate the shot.
“Holing out the bunker shot was kind of funny,” said Wie, breaking into asmile.
Ochoa tried to force a few laughs, but it wasn’t easy—even for a playerrecognized as one of the most likable and humble on the LPGA tour.
“I try not to think (about the retirement), but of course it is in myhead,” said Ochoa, who has 27 career victories—including two majors—and hasheld the No. 1 ranking for three years.
“Today when I was struggling a little bit more, I was more frustrated thanusual. But you try to smile. Trying to keep myself together and focus on thetournament is difficult.”
Ochoa, 28, chose to play Thursday and Friday with Miyazato and NatalieGulbis. She called Miyazato “the nicest girl on the tour,” and she grew upplaying junior golf, and college golf at Arizona with Gulbis.
Ochoa said her mind was wandering, walking with Gulbis and talking about theold days. Then she’d pull herself back to reality.
“All of a sudden I’d say: `Hello, but you are here.”’
“It was not my best day I guess,” Ochoa added. “I only have five or sixplayers in front of me so I’m trying to be positive.”
Miyazato, who has won two of the first four LPGA events to reach No. 5 inthe rankings, missed too many putts.
“The fairways were really firm today, and the greens were a little bitdrier, so it was tough to make adjustments about my distance,” said Miyazato,who is from Japan’s southern island of Okinawa. “But I still had many chancesout there.”
Lincicome had a hole-in-one on the par-3 13th, using a pitching wedge tohole the 125-yard shot. It was her first on the LPGA Tour.
The American has played all four events this season, playing well but neverputting it all together—until Friday.
“I felt like I’ve been playing really, really well,” she said. “Just ifI’m hitting it well, I’m not putting well. If I’m putting well, I’m not hittingit well. It’s nice to kind of see it coming together, and of all places Mexicobecause this is not normally one of my favorite golf courses.”
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Crowd of three leads at Stadion Athens Classic (PGATOUR.com)
April 30, 2010
Will David Hearn become the first wire-to-wire winner since 2008?
ATHENS, Ga.—South Carolina rookie Mark Anderson, leading money-winner Bobby Gates and Utah’s Daniel Summerhays are all at 7-under 135 and share the 36-hole lead at the Stadion Athens Classic at UGA. Anderson and Gates carded 2-under 69s on Friday at the University of Georgia Golf Course, while Summerhays went one better with a 3-under 68 to force a tie at the top.
Washington’s Michael Putnam (69) and Texan J.J. Killeen (67) are tied for fourth and one shot back in the Nationwide Tour event. Four players—Ryan Armour (67), Bradley Iles (71), Martin Piller (70) and veteran Bob May (68) are two strokes back heading into the weekend.
The UGA course, opened in 1968 and renovated in 2006, continues to be the story as players battle the speedy greens, tall pines and undulating layout. Only 38 players in the starting field of 156 have posted sub-par totals for the first two days.
“This golf course is awesome,” said Armour, an Ohio State product. “I wish we could play more golf courses that made us think as much as this one’s doing, instead of just bombing and bashing. This is fun golf. It’s stressful, but it’s fun.”
It wasn’t much fun for Anderson, a 2008 graduate of the University of South Carolina, who battled his way to a 69 despite hitting only four of 14 fairways.
“I was driving on both sides of the golf course,” said Anderson. “I didn’t have just one miss so it was tough to play. I missed a lot of short putts for birdie inside of 10 feet but I hit it really solid from the fairway or wherever I drove it to.”
After rolling in a birdie putt at No. 17 to reach 8 under, he drove it behind a pine tree down the right side of the 18th fairway. The ball ended up buried in pine straw and the 24-year-old had no choice but to chip out. He managed to salvage a bogey and grad a share of the lead, right where he started the day.
“I haven’t made any big numbers,” he said of his play thus far. “You have to stay away from the big numbers because they’re out there. I’ve just plodded along and made some nice par putts. I’m disappointed with the way I finished but it could have been a little worse.”
Not so for Summerhays, who admitted he got all he could on Friday afternoon.
“There aren’t too many shots that I left out there, let’s just say that,” said the former BYU standout. “I drove it better than I did yesterday. I honestly felt like I played better today than I did yesterday (68) but I think the course is playing tougher this afternoon than it did yesterday morning.”
Summerhays was just happy he got to tee it up this week, having started off on Monday as the 10th alternate to the field.
“I’ve been playing well and I was really hoping I’d get in this week,” he said. “I knew I just needed to get in the tournament. I’ve been playing well but my scores haven’t reflected how I’ve been playing this year. I missed three cuts by a shot. I just needed a few breaks. I feel really blessed to be in the tournament.”
Though tied at the top, Anderson, Summerhays and the rest of the field are chasing Gates, a 6-foot-6 rookie out of Texas A&M who has stood tall atop the money list since winning the opening event on the 2010 schedule. Gates ranks among the Tour’s longest hitters this year, but this week he’s managed to solve the winds and the slick greens.
“The wind swirls through the trees and it can be doing two different things on the same hole at the same time,” he said. “What you feel on the tee is completely opposite of what you feel on the green. You really have to try and figure it out with you best guess and hope to err on the right side.”
Gates hit 11 of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens during Friday’s second round. His 53 total putts thus far puts him No. 2 in the field.
“I knew putting would be critical this week. Above the hole or below the hole, it doesn’t matter,” he said. “They’re so fast, you cannot be aggressive on these putts. The only thing I’m more conservative with this week is my speed on the putts. I’m really trying to die my putts into the hole. If you hit it an ounce too firm you’re going to have eight feet coming back, and that’s just going to wear you out.”
Second-Round Notes:
* Mathew Borchert (83) withdrew prior to the start of the second round.
* A total of 69 players made the 36-hole cut, which came at 1-over 143.
* Due to expected inclement weather on Saturday afternoon, third-round tee times will be moved up. Pairings will be in threesomes off the 1st and 10th tees. The times will run from 8:00-10:00 a.m.
* Former Georgia All-America Kevin Kisner posted the low round of the first two days with a 6-under 65. His score was two strokes better than the field on Friday. Kisner opened with a 2-over 73 and was tied for 76th place. He moved up 66 spots and is tied for 10th heading into the weekend.
* The low rounds of the day: 65—Kevin Kisner; 67—Ryan Armour, Garrett Osborn, Mark Hensby and J.J. Killeen.
* Patrick Sheehan, winner of last year’s Athens Regional Foundation Classic at Jennings Mill CC, fired a 3-under 68 today and is 2-under for the tournament. He is tied for 19th.
* The scoring average for the opening round was 72.235.
* There are nine current/former Georgia Bulldogs in the field this week:
Player Round 1 Round 2 Standing Justin Bolli 74 69 T51 Paul Claxton 72 69 T29 Harris English (a) 68 73 T29 Brian Harmon 73 70 T51 Russell Henley (a) 73 70 T51 Chris Kirk 69 73 T38 Kevin Kisner 73 65 T10 Matt Peterson 71 76 MC Brendon Todd 76 74 MC
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Golf-Swede Edfors takes control at Spanish Open (Reuters)
April 30, 2010
By Norman Dabell
SEVILLE, Spain, April 30 (Reuters) – Johan Edfors proved hewas back to full fitness after knee surgery when the Swedegrabbed the second-round lead at the Spanish Open on Friday.
An eight-under 64 at the Real Club earned Edfors a one-shotadvantage on 10-under-par 134 over Briton Mark Foster (66) andSpain’s Sebi Garcia (67).
Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin (67) and Britain’s Danny Willett(68) were a further stroke back on 136.
Edfors fought jet-lag after flying in from last week’sEuropean Tour event in South Korea but found the form that wonhim three titles in 2006, collecting nine birdies and just onedropped shot.
Two months ago the 34-year-old underwent keyhole surgery onhis right knee to remove loose cartilage. Within three weeks hewas back playing again and soon recorded a seventh and afourth-place finish.
“The knee kept swelling up and I was having troublewalking,” Edfors told reporters, “but it felt better an hourafter the operation and I’m completely free of problems now.”
The Swede said he was ready to fight for the Ryder Cup debutthat eluded him four years ago.
“I won three times in 2006 and if I can get things going Ican win three again,” added Edfors. “The Ryder Cup is my maingoal.”
SIX-MAN PLAYOFF
Foster won the 2003 Dunhill Championship in South Africaafter a six-man playoff but has never repeated that kind ofform.
The Englishman also suffered jet-lag after the trip fromKorea but warded off fatigue with the help of his female caddieJanet Squire.
“I got Janet to walk the course for me and check it out onWednesday instead of playing myself, to conserve energy,” saidFoster. “She did a great job.”
Garcia, 28, who was born in England but lives in Majorca,birdied five of the last seven holes to climb into contention.
Jacquelin has a proven track record in Spain, having won the2005 Madrid Open while Willett, a former world number oneamateur, fired his career-best round of 64 at the Real Club in2008 before becoming a professional.
Colin Montgomerie again slipped back late in his round tocard a 71 which left him two-under, eight off the lead.
The Ryder Cup captain blamed nearby disco music for afinal-hole lapse on Thursday but this time conceded it was hisfault. “I just can’t finish off a round,” he said.
The halfway cut fell at level-par 144, causing former RyderCup player Darren Clarke some embarrassment and a rapid returnjourney to Seville.
The Briton had flown home expecting to be one shot over thecut-off mark after rounds of 75 and 69.
(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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Wie takes second-round lead in Mexico
April 30, 2010
MORELIA, Mexico (AP)—Michelle Wie has taken the second-round lead in the TresMarias Championship, shooting a 5-under 68 to reach 12 under.
Wie, who won her lone LPGA Tour title 5 1/2 months ago in Guadalajara, was astroke ahead of Brittany Lincicome (67) and two in front of first-round leaderAi Miyazato (73).
Lorena Ochoa, who is retiring after this tournament, shot a 73 on Friday,leaving her five strokes behind Wie. Ochoa has 27 career victories—includingtwo majors—and has been the LPGA Tour’s top-ranked player for three years. Sheis stepping away to raise a family and work on her charity foundation.
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Woods drops to 10 back at Quail Hollow
April 30, 2010
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)—Tiger Woods was headed in the wrong direction Friday inhis second round at the Quail Hollow Championship.
Woods had back-to-back bogeys on the third and fourth holes, falling to3-over par and 10 shots behind leader Bo Van Pelt.
If things don’t change, the world’s No. 1 player won’t be around for theweekend. The projected cut was 1 over and so far, that doesn’t include Woods.
Woods was coming off a 2-over 74 on Thursday and hoped an afternoon awayfrom the range after a bad first round might improve his play.
Woods was greeted by a large, loud and supportive gallery—and he gave themplenty to cheer about on the first hole with a perfect drive that led to anopening birdie.
But just like in the first round, Woods’ rust showed through in his secondPGA Tour event this season.
He missed putts of inside 10 feet to save par on the third and fourth holes.
Woods seemed to catch a break when no one in the morning wave of golfers atthe Quail Hollow Club surpassed Van Pelt’s first-round score. He had put himselfin jeopardy with a 74 on Thursday that ended a streak of 21 straight rounds ofpar or better.
Masters champion Phil Mickelson was a stroke behind Van Pelt after asecond-round 68.
Woods and Mickelson are playing their first tournament since AugustaNational.
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