Golf FanHouse

McIlroy, McDowell Pace World Cup

FanHouse Newswire — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:17:00 EST

Filed under: Golf Odds and Ends

SHENZHEN, China (AP) -- Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell shot a better-ball 58 on Thursday to give Ireland a three-stroke lead over Argentina after the first round of the World Cup of Golf on Thursday.

Argentina's Tano Goya and Rafael Echenique were at 11-under 61, with Japan another shot behind. The United States' pair of Nick Watney and John Merrick was tied for 15th at 5-under 67 after four birdies by Watney.

Defending champion Sweden was tied with Italy, Canada and South Korea six strokes off the lead in the $5.5 million tournament at the Mission Hills Golf Club. Friday's second round will be alternate-shot, as will Sunday, while Saturday will be better-ball again.

McIlroy, McDowell Pace World Cup originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Legends Tour Looks to Fill Void Left by LPGA's Shrinking Schedule

Mick Elliott — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:05:00 EST

Filed under: LPGA

PALM HARBOR, Fla. -- In any other era of women's golf this thing called the Legends Tour would most likely be viewed as just another overly optimistic venture that would be last seen going nowhere.

After all, if the LPGA, inarguably the best women golfers in the world, can't excite the masses, what are the chances a senior circuit of age 45 and older has-beens can make itself interesting?

This, however, is like no other time in women's golf.

Legends Tour Looks to Fill Void Left by LPGA's Shrinking Schedule originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ochoa LPGA's Best for 4th Straight Year

FanHouse Newswire — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:41:00 EST

Filed under: LPGA

RICHMOND, Texas (AP) -- Lorena Ochoa and Jiyai Shin fought to the last hole for the LPGA's top player award.

By the slimmest of margins, Ochoa won -- and for the fourth straight year, too.

She finished two strokes behind tournament winner Anna Nordqvist at the LPGA Tour Championship on Monday. The 22-year-old's final-round 65 was good enough to beat Ochoa in the weather-shortened event at 13 under par on Monday.

Shin needed to finish seventh or better to win the LPGA player of the year award, but missed a birdie putt on the 18th hole that tied her for eighth and gave Ochoa a 160-159 victory in the standings.

Ochoa LPGA's Best for 4th Straight Year originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Westwood Cashes in After Caddie's Message in a Bottle

Mick Elliott — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:25:00 EST

Filed under: PGA, Golf Odds and Ends, European Tour

Here's the difference between European Tour players and America's programmed PGA Tour robots.

Englishman Lee Westwood shot a final-round, course-record, 8-under 64 Sunday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to not only claim a six-shot tournament victory in the Dubai World Championship but also overtake Rory McIlroy on the season-long money list.

The veteran won $1.25 for the tournament title and another $1.5 for the year-long bonus.

Even more satisfying for Westwood, he did it by pulling his game out of a recent slump.

Westwood Cashes in After Caddie's Message in a Bottle originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Westwood Wins Dubai World Championship, $1.5M Bonus

FanHouse Newswire — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:24:00 EST

Filed under: European Tour

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Lee Westwood of England became Europe's No. 1 golfer on Sunday after winning the Dubai World Championship by six strokes.

Westwood shot a course-record 8-under 64 in the final round at the Earth Course to finish at 23-under 265.

He earned $1.25 million with the 31st victory of his career to overtake Rory McIlroy on the season-long money list and win the European Tour's first Race to Dubai since it changed from the European Order of Merit.

Westwood Wins Dubai World Championship, $1.5M Bonus originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Westwood Maintains Dubai Lead

FanHouse Newswire — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:44:00 EST

Filed under: European Tour

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Lee Westwood maintained his two-shot lead at the Dubai World Championships after shooting a 6-under 66 Saturday in the third round.

The Englishman made six birdies to take his total to 15-under 201. England's Ross McGowan was second after a 66.
Westwood opened up a five-shot advantage over Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, his only remaining rival for the Race to Dubai.

Should he win both titles, Westwood will receive $2.75 million and become Europe's No. 1 player for the first time since 2000.

Westwood Maintains Dubai Lead originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Westwood Leads Race, Dubai Tourney

FanHouse Newswire — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:01:00 EST

Filed under: European Tour

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Lee Westwood shot a 3-under 69 Friday to take a two-stroke lead after the second round of the Dubai World Championship, strengthening his chance of winning the European money title.

The English golfer could pick up two big prizes on Sunday. If he wins the last tournament of the European Tour season, he will receive $1.25 million in prize money -- plus a $1.5 million bonus for winning the Race to Dubai money prize.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, the leader of the money race going into the tournament, also shot a 69. He was one of six players tied for second place at 7 under, two shots behind Westwood.

The others are Ireland's Padraig Harrington, England's Ross McGowan, Australia's Robert Allenby, South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen and Colombia's Camilo Villegas.
Westwood is confident of winning both prizes.

Westwood Leads Race, Dubai Tourney originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ochoa Atop Soggy Tour Championship

FanHouse Newswire — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:36:00 EST

Filed under: LPGA

RICHMOND, Texas (AP) -- Sophie Gustafson moved within two shots of leader Lorena Ochoa at the LPGA Tour Championship on Friday before second-round play was suspended because of bad weather.

Rain swamped the Houstonian Golf and Country Club before dawn and the start of the second round was pushed back six hours. The tournament resumed at 1 p.m., but light rain started falling about two hours later and play was halted for the day at 5:05 p.m. with darkness approaching.

Ochoa didn't play on Friday after shooting a 6-under 66 early Thursday. She will start her second round at daybreak Saturday.

Ochoa Atop Soggy Tour Championship originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Wie Withdraws, Ochoa Leads at LPGA's Season Finale

FanHouse Newswire — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: LPGA

RICHMOND, Texas (AP) -- Michelle Wie is gone, putting all the attention on Lorena Ochoa's player of the year fight with Jiyai Shin at the LPGA Tour Championship.

Wie withdrew from the season-ending event Thursday because of a sprained left ankle, hours after Ochoa shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-shot lead over Reilley Rankin.

The 20-year-old Wie, fresh off her first LPGA Tour victory last week at Ochoa's tournament in Mexico, shot a 72 in the afternoon. She limped through her round on the gimpy ankle that she sprained during the Solheim Cup in August, went for treatment afterward and withdrew about an hour later.

Wie Withdraws, Ochoa Leads at LPGA's Season Finale originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Allenby Opens With 65 To Lead in Dubai

FanHouse Newswire — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: European Tour

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Robert Allenby shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday for a one-shot lead after the first round of the Dubai World Championship, while Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy kept up their battle for the European Tour money title.

Allenby, a 38-year-old Australian who plays mainly on the PGA tour, had eight birdies and only one bogey on the Earth Course, which is hosting the $7.5-million final event of the European Tour season.

Allenby was one shot ahead of England's Westwood, Chris Woods and Colombian Camilo Villegas, who all shot 6-under 66s.

Allenby Opens With 65 To Lead in Dubai originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What in the World Is the LPGA Thinking?

Mick Elliott — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:27:00 EST

Filed under: LPGA

The LPGA just outsourced its season.

Twenty-four events are on next year's incredibly shrinking LPGA schedule and 11 of them will be played on foreign soil, including the season opener in Thailand.

There also are tournaments in Singapore, France, Japan, England, Canada and Mexico.

One bonus: The U.S. Women's Open stays here.

Founded in 1950, the LPGA is the longest continuous-running professional women's sports organization in American history, but its future -- obituary? -- will be written in foreign dialect. Why? Because if selling women's golf in the land of the free and home of the NFL seemed difficult before, the LPGA hasn't seen nothing yet.

What in the World Is the LPGA Thinking? originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Fowler Will Be Top Offseason Attraction

Mick Elliott — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:38:00 EST

Filed under: LPGA, PGA, Golf Odds and Ends

Rickie Fowler's dramatic play over the final month of the PGA Tour season makes him the player most likely to be watched through the offseason's qualifying progresses.

Fowler, 20, did not turn professional until late summer, but the former top-ranked amateur out of Oklahoma State, took advantage of three sponsor's exemptions to earn $571,090 in those three tries, a number that would have placed him No. 136 on the year's money list.

After finishing seventh and runner-up in his first two events, a strong performance at the Children's Miracle Network Classic could have put Fowler into an exclusive group of past players -- Tiger Woods is one of them -- to avoid qualifying school by finishing among the top 125 money winners as a non-member.

Fowler Will Be Top Offseason Attraction originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Wie Wise to Enjoy What She's Got

Mick Elliott — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:43:00 EST

Filed under: LPGA

Michelle Wie claimed her first LPGA tournament title Sunday, the Lorena Ochoa Invitational. To celebrate she did not mention a desire to be the first woman to play the Masters at Augusta National, did not unveil a plan to join the PGA Tour and did not ask for an exemption to the U.S. Open.

It's a start.

After a final-round 3-under 69 for a two-shot victory over Paula Creamer in Guadalajara, Mexico, Wie, 20, received a beer shower on the 18th green -- hey, just another college kid in Mexico. She then talked about the relief that came with the victory.

"For sure, it's definitely off my back," she said. "I think that hopefully life will be a lot better."

By all considerations, that will be entirely up to Wie.

More: Wie's Career in Photos | Wie's Homepage on Golf.com

Wie Wise to Enjoy What She's Got originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Watson, Norman Get British Exemptions

FanHouse Newswire — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: British Open

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) -- Tom Watson's place in the next five British Opens is safe after the Royal & Ancient's decision to change one of its exemption rules.

The 60-year-old five-time British Open champion finished runner-up this year but would have lost his exemption status because of the R&A's age rules. But golf's governing body outside the United States said Monday it has amended one of its rules so that former champions who finish in the top 10 in the previous five Opens get a five-year exemption.

That also applies to Greg Norman, a two-time champion who tied for third at the 2008 British Open.

Watson, Norman Get British Exemptions originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Finally! Wie Gets First LPGA Win

FanHouse Newswire — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:12:00 EST

Filed under: LPGA

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) -- Michelle Wie, LPGA Tour champion.

Imagine that.

Finally! Wie Gets First LPGA Win originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Joy and Heartbreak at PGA Finale

Mick Elliott — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST

Filed under: PGA

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A sure sign something outside the norm was in the works Sunday afternoon at the Children's Miracle Network Classic came when Nicholas Thompson rolled in a nine-foot bogey putt on the final hole that would leave him five shots out of a playoff eventually won by Stephen Ames and broke into a fist-pumping, arm-slinging celebration.

"It could have been a double," Thompson said. "And I knew if I missed that, I didn't have a chance and I'm going to qualifying school. I knew making it at least gave me a chance."

Sunday's big prize at Walt Disney World was not as much the tournament championship as it was a secure future. Ames shot a final-round 64 and won his fourth career title, outlasting George McNeill and Justin Leonard in two playoff holes, but on this day you didn't have to get a trophy to feel like a winner.

More Coverage: Leaderboard | Photos | Money Leaders

Joy and Heartbreak at PGA Finale originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tiger Roars to Win Australian Masters

FanHouse Newswire — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:36:00 EST

by FanHouse NewswireMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Tiger Woods gave record crowds at Kingston Heath what they wanted to see -- exquisite shots and a closing round of 4-under 68 to win the Australian Masters on Sunday for his seventh victory of the year.

In his first trip Down Under in 11 years, Woods put on quite a shot for his $3 million appearance fee.

More Coverage: Golf.com's Tiger Tracker

Tiger Roars to Win Australian Masters originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Amateur Hour at the Children's Miracle Network Classic

David Whitley — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:40:00 EST

by David Whitley

Filed under: PGA

ORLANDO -- There are some places on the planet where I never thought I'd end up. The Oval Office and Jennifer Aniston's bedroom come immediately to mind.

But there's nowhere I belong less than on the first tee of a professional golf tournament.

With a club in my hand. And people watching. And my score actually counting. All in all, I'd rather have been in Whoopi Goldberg's bedroom Thursday morning. What was a hack like me doing in a place like the Children's Miracle Network Classic?

Amateur Hour at the Children's Miracle Network Classic originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MacKenzie Loaded for Bear at Disney

Mick Elliott — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:47:00 EST

Filed under: PGA

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Just like most every PGA Tour player, Will MacKenzie is happy to pass along helpful advice to amateur pro-am partners and fans.

One MacKenzie tip you may never have heard from anyone else: "If you are being chased by a bear, you're supposed to just get down in the fetal position and let him rip -- pop you for about 300 stitches real quick and hopefully then leave and not eat you."

It is sage advice passed along by a skilled professional. While MacKenzie, fighting to save his tour card this week at the Children's Miracle Network Classic at Walt Disney World, is no Jack Nicklaus, he does know bears -- Golden or otherwise.

MacKenzie Loaded for Bear at Disney originally appeared on Golf FanHouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.