Category Archives: News Stories

Incredible McIlroy Closing In On Famous Victory

Posted on June 19, 2011 by | Comments Off on Incredible McIlroy Closing In On Famous Victory

Rory McIlroy is closing in on a maiden major title after extending his lead to eight shots over YE Yang going into the final round at Congressional.

McIlroy, 22, shot 68 to post the US Open’s best ever 54-hole total of 199 and become the first man to reach 14 under in its 111-year history.

Yang (70) remained second at six under as Lee Westwood and Jason Day hit 65s for five under with Robert Garrigus.

World number one Luke Donald (74) and Phil Mickelson (77) ended seven over.

Sergio Garcia (69), American Matt Kuchar (69) and Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson (66) all climbed into a contention of sorts at four under.

Please click here to read the full report at bbc.co.uk .

 

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McIlroy Flying At US open

Posted on June 18, 2011 by | Comments Off on McIlroy Flying At US open

Rory McIlroy broke a host of records to take a six-shot lead into round three of the US Open at Congressional.

McIlroy, 22, matched the biggest halfway lead in US Open history and posted the lowest 36-hole total with 66, 65 for 131 and 11 under.

He also became the first US Open player ever to reach 13 under but double-bogeyed the last via the water.

YE Yang was his only real rival but could get no closer than six strokes and carded 69 to end five under.

Sergio Garcia (71), Robert Garrigus (70), Brandt Snedeker (70), Zach Johnson (69) and Matt Kuchar (68) all finished two under.

Phil Mickelson bounced back with a 69 to climb to one over alongside Lee Westwood (68), while defending champion Graeme McDowell (74) ended two over and world number one Luke Donald (72) made the cut with no room to spare at four over.

Milestones:

  • First man ever to reach -10 in R2
  • First player ever to reach -13
  • Lowest 36-hole total of 131
  • Equals biggest 36-hole lead of six shots set by Tiger Woods in 2000

The year’s second major is traditionally set up to discourage low scoring and only 14 of the 156-man field finished under par on the second longest course in US Open history.

But Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, who led by three shots after an opening 65, produced another Maryland masterclass and was back in the clubhouse with an eight-shot advantage before second-placed man Yang had started his second round.

 

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Donald And Westwood Struggle On Day One Of US Open

Posted on June 16, 2011 by | Comments Off on Donald And Westwood Struggle On Day One Of US Open

Luke Donald and Lee Westwood both struggled on the opening day of the 111th US Open at Congressional.

World number one Donald shot a three-over 74, while second-ranked Westwood took 75 to trail clubhouse leader YE Yang by six strokes.

The English duo played with world number three Martin Kaymer, who hit 74.

Defending champion Graeme McDowell made a promising start with a one-under 70.

South Africa’s Open champion Louis Oosthuizen was two under with American Ryan Palmer, while 2009 Open winner Stewart Cink ended one under alongside fellow Americans Davis Love and Chez Reavie and Swedes Johan Edfors and Henrik Stenson.

Three-time major champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland carded a level-par 71.

Please click here for the Official US Open Website.

Please click here for the latest leaderboard.

 

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US Open Preview

Posted on June 15, 2011 by | Comments Off on US Open Preview

One of the biggest dates in the sporting calendar starts tomorrow at Congressional Country Club in Maryland, USA – the US Open.

Lasting four days (finishing Sunday), it sees the best golfers in the world competing for this prestigious title, won last year by Irishman Graeme McDowell.

The big story of the tournament has occurred before a ball has even been struck, and that’s the absence of three times US Open Champion Tiger Woods, who misses the tournament through injury.

All eyes will be on the European golfers who currently dominate the World Rankings and who will be looking to follow up McDowell’s achievement of being the first European to win the tournament since Englishman Tony Jacklin in 1970.

You can see the entire field of players by clicking here.

You can see an interview with Graeme McDowell by clicking here.

Read more about, and see detailed maps of the course by clicking here.

See other video interviews by clicking here.

And check back here tomorrow where I’ll be giving you some tips and telling you who my money is on!

 

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Lexus Tees Up for the U.S. Open Championship With Online Golf Survey

Posted on June 9, 2011 by | Comments Off on Lexus Tees Up for the U.S. Open Championship With Online Golf Survey

Calling all golf fans: Lexus wants to hear from you. What would you rather have, the perfect golf game or the perfect marriage? Are you willing to give up a full head of hair, a vacation, even celebrating an anniversary, for that perfect swing? Will Phil Mickelson, Jason Day or Nick Watney perfect their game in time to win the 2011 U.S. Open Championship?

Starting today, in celebration of the automaker’s fifth year as the exclusive automotive partner of the USGA, Lexus is asking golf fans how far they will go in their pursuit of the perfect golf game. In the weeks leading up to the U.S. Open Championship, Lexus will launch an online golf survey on the Lexus Facebook page (http://on.fb.me/LexUSGA) where golf fans can vote on the sometimes outrageous things they have done, all in the name of golf.

“Since not everyone can make it out to Congressional for this year’s U.S. Open, we want to share our passion for golf with fans by letting them express their love for the game on the Lexus Facebook page,” said Dave Nordstrom, Lexus vice president of marketing. “We value the golf community and invite them to check in with us daily and vote on everything from how far they are willing to go for the perfect swing to how many golf bags they can fit in their car. The page will be an engaging destination for golf fans to connect.”

Every day leading up to the U.S. Open Championship at Congressional Country Club, Lexus will post new questions on its Facebook page to see how obsessed fans actually are with the game of golf. After submitting an answer to the survey question of the day, visitors can view poll results in real-time. Fans on the page can also watch videos with Peter Jacobsen and USGA Sr. Technical Director Dick Rugge about why golf balls have dimples and why wedges have grooves.

In addition to the online golf poll, Lexus will be enhancing the onsite experience for U.S. Open attendees. A Full Swing Golf simulator located inside the Lexus Performance Drive Pavilion will encourage golf enthusiasts to take their best shot on a virtual Congressional course for the chance to win an all-new CT Hybrid. Other activities in the Pavilion include a photo with the U.S. Open Championship Trophy that can be shared on Facebook and Twitter, autograph signings with golf pros and the opportunity to create a personalized flipbook using golf props. The LFA supercar will be available for golf fans to explore.

To participate in the survey or for more information about Lexus at the U.S. Open, please visit http://on.fb.me/LexUSGA.

 

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Steve Stricker wins PGA Memorial Tournament

Posted on June 6, 2011 by | Comments Off on Steve Stricker wins PGA Memorial Tournament

Despite bogeying the 18th in a tense finish, American Steve Stricker held his nerve to win the rain-delayed Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village.

He finished on 16 under to beat Matt Kuchar and Brandt Jobe by a stroke, for his 10th career victory.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy finished five shots behind Stricker, after a final-round 68.

Stricker, who led by three shots going into the final round, birdied five of the opening eight holes to increase his lead to four shots after Kuchar and Jobe took advantage of a huge wobble from Jonathan Byrd.

Byrd began the day in second place but saw his challenge disappear after a bogey on the third and a double-bogey on the eighth.

Stricker, whose win moves him to number four in the world rankings, twice saved par from bunkers, at the 16th and 17th, after a two-and-a-half-hour rain delay, but missed the par putt at the 18th before tapping in for victory.

 

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Donald Is World Number One After PGA Win

Posted on May 30, 2011 by | Comments Off on Donald Is World Number One After PGA Win

Luke Donald beat Lee Westwood in a play-off to win the PGA Championship at Wentworth and overtake him as the world number one.

Donald won at the first play-off hole when Westwood found the water in front of the 18th green.

Donald hit 70 to Westwood’s 68 to tie on six under, while Englishman Simon Dyson (69) was third at four under.

On climbing one spot to the top of the rankings, England’s Donald said: “Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?”

The American-based golfer added: “It’s something I’ll be very proud of. Obviously, there’s a lot of work still to do and hopefully there’ll be much more to come, but I’ll savour this.

“It’s a lot of responsibility and I’m looking forward to the challenge of being number one and hopefully I can hold onto it for a few more weeks. I know Lee and Martin [Kaymer] will be chasing me hard.

“To come through in these circumstances in one of the biggest tournaments in the world, going head-to-head with Lee is pretty special. It doesn’t get much better.

“To win here with the top three in the world, top six out of seven, all of the Ryder Cuppers, all four major champions, and to beat them in stroke play feels pretty good.”

 

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Donald Sets The Wentworth Pace

Posted on May 27, 2011 by | Comments Off on Donald Sets The Wentworth Pace

Luke Donald set the pace on day one of the  PGA Championship at Wentworth, shooting a wonderful 64 to go into day two leading the pack on -7.

Donald, currently world number two, equalled his best ever round on the European Tour and held firm despite occasional treacherous conditions at the famous Surrey course.

He leads by two shots from 18-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero and Sweden’s Johan Edfors.

Another Swede, Oscar Floren, will resume today on -4 with four holes of his first round still to play, as a 36-minute delay for thunder and lightning during the afternoon left several players with unfinished rounds.

England’s Ian Poulter and Ross McGowan, Welshman Bradley Dredge and Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara were three under.

Europe’s 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie also lit up the morning with some vintage golf to lead alongside Donald for a spell before slipping back to a two-under 69.

 

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Luke Donald: Titles More Important Than Rankings

Posted on May 25, 2011 by | Comments Off on Luke Donald: Titles More Important Than Rankings

England’s Luke Donald insists that being the number one ranked player in the world would not diminish his appetite for silverware and major championship titles.

Donald is locked in a three-way tussle for the top spot with Lee Westwood, the current incumbent, and Germany’s Martin Kaymer who lies third.

Any one of the three could be the number one player by the end of the PGA Championship at Wentworth on Sunday.

Donald missed out on a chance to overtake Westwood when he lost to Ian Poulter in the final of the World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin in Spain last week.

But Donald is adamant that becoming statistically the top golfer in the world is a secondary consideration compared to adding to his collection of eight tournament wins worldwide.

“Being number one is not a focus of mine. Winning tournaments is,” said Donald as he prepared for the European Tour’s flagship event.

“It is a fun topic to debate and there has not been a world ranking for a long time where it has been this close, where there has been some movement in it.

“If everything goes to plan and I get to number one, it doesn’t mean I have made it – it would be an honour and a great achievement but it doesn’t mean I can just stop working, that’s the end of the road and I can put my clubs away.

“There’s plenty more to do in this game, to improve and get better and being number one would be great but it is not everything.”

 

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Wounded Tiger Out Of Comebacks?

Posted on May 25, 2011 by | Comments Off on Wounded Tiger Out Of Comebacks?

Tiger Woods took part in a strange news conference at Aronimink Golf Club, Pennsylvania on Tuesday morning.

Strange because an event designed to promote the AT&T National, being held at the club shortly, turned  into a Q&A session about Woods’ health and his chances in competing in next month’s U.S. Open.

Every question bar two was about Woods’  state of mind, and his ability to potentially play golf again.

“It is kind of about golf,” Woods said of the interrogation about his injured left leg. “When can I get back in there and play again?”

Woods has been wearing a special boot to ease pressure on his left Achilles tendon, walking on crutches to take weight off his balky left knee. Combined, the measures lessen the pain in his back.

“You play through these things,” Woods said. “There’s a difference between being in pain and being injured. Those are two totally different things. You can handle pain, but being injured is a totally different deal.”

“As you get older, you have to do things differently,” Woods said. “Your body doesn’t allow you to do these things. You have to be smart. . . . I used to run four to six miles before I played. I don’t do that anymore.”

“I can’t hit the ball, in relative terms, as far as I used to compared to other Tour players,” Woods said. “There are guys who hit it much further than I do. It’s a different ball game. Some guys hit wedges from 150 in. When I came on the Tour, everyone used an 8-iron from 150 in. But you still have to be able to score.”

Woods said pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 major championships remains “one of the things that drives me in this game.” When Woods won the 2008 U.S. Open, his 14th major, at age 32, it seemed inevitable he would eclipse Nicklaus. Indeed, Nicklaus won his 14th in 1975, when he was the same age Woods is now. It took him 11 years to win those final four, culminating in the 1986 Masters, at age 46.

“I still have plenty of time,” Woods said.

Can Woods’ leg stay strong long enough for him to get his game sharp enough to win again? Will he return to consistency or show mere flashes of his former game?

Let me know your thoughts!

 

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