Friday, February 20, 2009

David Law top Scot in clubhouse
as fog slows play in Portugal

Four Scots - Philip McLean (Peterhead), Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie), Scott Borrowman (Dollar) and Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) - are among the 42 players who were unable to complete their second rounds today in the 72-hole Portuguese open amateur golf championship at Troia Golf Resort near Lisbon.
Early morning fog has disrupted the tee times on both days.
Aberdeen teenager David Law is the best-placed Scot in the clubhouse on three-over-par 147. After an opening round of 77, in which he took 42 shots to reach the turn, Law, one of Paul Lawrie's two protegees in the field - Philip McLean is the other, settled down to return a second-round 70 (36-34).
Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) is on 150 (79-71), Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) (75-76) and Wallace Booth (Comrie) (77-74) both on 151.
McNicoll scored 74 in the first round, McLean a 76, O'Hara an 80 and Borrowman an 83.
Jurrian Van der Vaart (Netherelands) is the leader in the clubhouse at seven-under-par 137 with rounds of 68 and 69.
LEADING SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
137 Jurrian Van der Vaart (Net) 68 69.
138 Anders Kristiansen (Net) 70 68.
142 Jamie Abbott (Eng) 73 69, Luke Goddard (Eng) 72 70.
144 Leonarda Motta (Ita) 73 71, Oliver Farr (Wal) 75 69.
145 Edouard Espana (Fra) 79 66, Manuel Alexandre Violas (Por) 75 71, Eddie Pepperell (Eng) 72 73, Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) 70 75.
146 Paul Cutler (Ire) 73 73, Romain Schneider (Fra) 70 76.
147 David Law (Sco) 77 70, Craig Hinton (Eng) 75 72, Darren Wright (Eng) 77 70, Erwan Vieilledent (Fra) 74 73, Adam Runcie (Wal) 75 72.
148 Christopher Mivis (Bel) 78 70, Jason Barnes (Eng) 77 71, Dylan Bushart (Net) 75 73, Luke Lennox (Ire) 73 75, Michael Salminen (Fin) 75 73, Olivier Serres (Fra) 74 74.
149 Billy Hemstock (Eng) 75 74, Richard Merchant (Wal) 76 73, Julien Brun (Fra) 74 75.
150 Greg Paterson (Sco) 79 71, Andrew Hogan (Ire) 75 75, Kevin Turlan (Fra) 71 79, Jacok Roth (Den) 75 75, Floris de Vries (Net) 75 75.
151 Ricardo Melo Gouveia (Por) 77 74, Gavin Dear (Sco) 75 76, Goncalo Pinto (Por) 75 76, Romain Wattel (Fra) 73 78, Todd Adcock (Eng) 78 73, Wallace Booth (Sco) 77 74, James Howie (Wal) 80 71.
Selected scores:
153
Pat Murray (Ire) 76 77 (jt 237th).
155 Jack Senior (Eng) 80 75 (jt 31st).
158 Andy Sullivan (Eng) 76 82 (jt 35th).
+42 players have still to complete their second rounds.

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David Drysdale makes South Africa cut

with not a stroke to spare

Dunbar's David Drysdale survived the cut with nothing to spare today in the Sunshine Tour's Telkom PGA Championship at Country Club Johannesburg.
The Scot goes into the weekend's final two rounds in joint 57th place after rounds of 73 and 70 for one-under-par 143, the qualifying limit.
Dunbar saddled himself with a double bogey 7 at the third in his opening round but an outward half of 33 in his second round, with birdies at the fifth, sixth and seventh, gave him a bit of breathing space for beating the halfway cut until he bogeyed the short 13th. That left no room for any further bogeys and he managed to get the required pars at the last five holes.
Glasgow-born Canada-based Alan McLean is in joint 31st place with rounds of 72 and 68 for 140.
Former Tartan Tour player William Guy, who emigrated to South Africa several years ago, missed the cut with rounds of 75 and 72 for 147.
South African Jean Hugo leads the field by only one shot after rounds of 65 and 69 for 10-under-par 134.
LEADING SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72) Players from South Africa unless stated
134 Jean Hugo 65 69.
135 Peter Karmis 69 66, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 68 67, James Kington 69 66, Branden Grace 67 68, Oliver Bekker 66 69.
Selected scores:
140 Alan McLean (Sco) 72 68 (jt 31st).
143 David Drysdale (Sco) 73 70 (jt 57th)
MISSED THE CUT
147 William Guy (Sco) 75 72

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Triump Links Project
Director Neil Hobday
to speak at KPMG
Forum at Celtic Manor

Neil Hobday, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, Project Director of the Trump International Golf Links at the Menie Estate, Balmedie, north of Aberdeen, is among a world-class line-up of speakers arranged for the KPMG Golf Business Forum at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport from May 4 to 6.
Arnold Palmer will also attend in person to receive the Forum’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
More than 300 delegates, including investors, developers, operators, designers and other golf industry professionals from 40 countries are expected to attend the event at the venue for The Ryder Cup in 2010.

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KNOX, GUNN WIN FISTFUL
OF DOLLARS ON MINI-
TOURS THIS WEEK

North golfing exiles Russell Knox from Inverness and Dornoch's Jimmy Gunn have won more than $8,000 between them on two of the United States' biggest satellite professional tours this week.
Knox, pictured first right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, stayed on in the States after four successful years on the US college circuit as a Jacksonville University, Florida student. He has won money regularly on the NGA Hooters Tour since turning pro and he added $5,375 to his bank balance on Thursday when he finished runner-up in the three-round event at Rock Springs Ridge Golf Club, Apopka in Florida.
Knox was lying in 14th place after opening rounds of 71 and 69 over the par-72, 7135yd course. But he rocketed up the scoreboard with an eight-under-par final round of 64 for an 11-under-par total of 204 - two shots behind winner American Andrew Svoboda who scored 68, 70 and 64 for 202 to claim the $10,909 first prize.
Knox had eight birdies in his bogey-free final halves of 33 and 31, including four birdies in a row from the 14th. Over the three rounds he had 16 birdies and only four bogeys, three of them on the first day.
The Inverness man, who was a Scotland youth cap in his amateur days, collected $5,375, boosting his 2009 earnings in five Hooters Tour events to $11,701.
Meanwhile Jimmy Gunn, who campaigns on the Gateway Tour, earned $3,000 for finishing joint 11th in the Desert Series' sixth event, over three rounds, at Anthem Golf & Country Club, Arizona.
Gunn, picture above right by courtesy of Robin Wilson, had rounds of 71, 69 and 70 over the 6813yd, par-72 course. He finished six shots behind the winner of the $24,000 jackpot prize, American Greg Buckner, who scored 69, 69 and 66 for 12-under 204.
The Highlander staged a grandstand finish with an eagle 3 at the long 17th and a birdie 3 at the 18th to double the size of his cheque over only two holes.
These satellite tours charge high entry fees and are very competitive. Normally a double bogey knocks a player so far back on the leaderboard, he does not recover.
But not Jimmy Gunn. He had TWO double bogey 6s and nine single bogeys over the 54 holes but cancelled them all out with an eagle and 17 birdies.
If he could eliminate the negatives, Gunn would be contending for the really big cheques on the Gateway Tour.
ends

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Kirkwoodgolf for US college news + and lots more

If you want regular news from the United States college golf season or an update from the world of women's amateur and professional golf, then switch over every day to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

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Kang, McGrane share halfway

Johnnie Walker Classic lead
PRESS RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR
American Anthony Kang extended his rich vein of form to earn the joint halfway lead at the Johnnie Walker Classic today, five days after his memorable win in Malaysia.
The Asian Tour regular fired a second successive five-under-par 67 at The Vines Resort and Country Club at Perth, Western Australia to lead on 10-under-par 134 alongside Irishman Damien McGrane, who came in with a 68.
Japan’s Hiroyuki Fujita, New Zealand’s amateur sensation Danny Lee and Spaniard Ignacio Garrido were a stroke back after matching 68s in the £1.25 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia.
A birdie at the last hole for a 71 saw Mardan Mamat of Singapore stay within touching distance of the leaders on 136, in a share of sixth place with the likes of American rising star Anthony Kim and the Australian quartet of Adam Blyth, Terry Pilkadaris, Andrew Dodt and Andre Stolz.
However, it was the end of the road for Australian great Greg Norman and world number nine Camilo Villegas, who missed the cut after shooting 71s on another scorching day at The Vines.
Kang continued his dream run to give himself a shot at the Johnnie Walker Classic.
“You know, I'd be lying to you if I didn't think about winning two in a row. We've got a pretty stellar field and for me to do that, I think if you look at it statistically, it’s against the odds,” said Kang, whose Malaysian triumph was his third Asian Tour success but first in eight years.
The American-Korean had opened his campaign with a disappointing 74 in Malaysia and joked that he “cried like a little girl” in his hotel room before bouncing back with a vengeance to top the field which included Kim.
“The last three rounds in the Malaysian Open was probably the best golf in my life so far. I'm not making too many mistakes. I'm holing a lot of putts, so it feels great to be on the golf course right now,” said the 36-year-old.
Fujita, winner of the Pine Valley Beijing Open last year, sank five birdies against a lone bogey to stay hot on the leaders’ heels. “It was good to maintain my form after yesterday’s good start. The greens are getting firmer and I’m sure they will place some tight pins at the weekend which will make putting more difficult,” he said.
The crusty greens at The Vines frustrated Mardan, with two three-putts spoiling his card which included three other birdies. “From tee to green, it was good. I made a couple of three putts but apart from that, it was nice. I was happy to birdie the last hole to get closer the leaders,” said the Singaporean, a two-time winner in Asia.
“I’m happy with how I’m playing. I’m striking it well and hopefully I can keep playing well over the last two days. I’ll just focus on my own game. I can’t control what the others are doing.”
Kim, one of the hottest young properties in world golf after two victories on the US PGA Tour last season, was excited to be in the title hunt after a disappointing showing in Malaysia.
“It was a good couple days, but I'm still making some careless mistakes,” said Kim. “I think I'm just starting to knock the rust off my game, so happy to have a shot going into the weekend and hopefully my game will keep improving.”
Kim does not know Kang although they share a few things in common with their Korean origin and also the same ‘AK’ initials.
“He's obviously playing the best out of the Anthonys, so not much to say about it. I don't know much about Anthony, but I know obviously he can play, and he's playing great right now,” said the 23-year-old Kim.
Blyth was the third-round leader in Malaysia but failed to maintain his push for a career breakthrough in Asia, finishing 10th. But two straight 68s at The Vines have given him the chance to set the record straight.
“It was a great result and I’ve got the confidence into this week. When I’m ready to win, it will just happen. I probably pushed it too hard during the final round. I was patient enough but I was trying really hard,” said Blyth.
Pilkadaris was delighted to have his wife Monique, who gave birth to their second child in November, back as his caddie. He is desperate to end a four-year winless run and a 66 vaulted him onto the leaderboard.
“It’s like getting back to the old days. I’ve got Monique back and pulling the strings. And she’s telling me where to go and most of the time, I listen. She’s the boss and she’s very rarely wrong. I’ve had a lot of success when she’s been on the bag,” he said.
The halfway cut was set at three-under-par 141, with 71 players making the weekend rounds.
SCOTSWATCH:
There will be two Aberdonians in action over the weekend - Michael Sim, who emigrated to Perth, Western Australia with his family from the Granite City when he was seven years old, and Richie Ramsay. Both were ranked No 1 in world men's amateur golf during their unpaid days.
Sim is on 138, Ramsay on 141. Other Scots to qualify were Colin Montgomerie on 137 and Andrew Coltart on 141.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
134 Anthony Kang (USA) 67 67, Damien McGrane 66 68.
135 Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 67 68, Hiroyuki Fujita (Jap) 67 68, Danny Lee (NZ) (am) 67 68.
136 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 64 72, Andrew Dodt (Aus) 70 66, John Bickerton 66 70, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 70 66, Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 68 68, Anthony Kim (USA) 68 68, Andre Stolz (Aus) 69 67, Adam Blyth (Aus) 68 68, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 65 71.
137 Chris Gaunt (Aus) 68 69, Colin Montgomerie 67 70, Peter Senior (Aus) 70 67, David Frost (Rsa) 73 64, Graeme Storm 73 64, Tony Carolan (Aus) 65 72, Alexander Noren (Swe) 68 69, Ian Poulter 68 69, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 72 65, Ross McGowan 70 67 , Seve Benson 70 67, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 70 67, Peter Lawrie 67 70.
138 Gary Lockerbie 69 69, Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 71 67, Michael Sim 69 69, Taichiro Kiyota (Jpn) 68 70, Gareth Maybin 68 70, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 70 68, David Howell 70 68, Philip Price 68 70, Clint Rice (Aus) 67 71, Markus Brier (Aus) 70 68.
139 Scott Laycock (Aus) 68 71, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 68 71, Nick Dougherty 73 66, Paul Casey 71 68, Richard Finch 69 70, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 70 69, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 71 68, Brad Kennedy (Aus) 71 68, Hyung-sung Kim (Kor) 68 71, Lee Westwood 66 73, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 73 66.
140 Anthony Wall 70 70, Scott Hend (Aus) 68 72, Darren Beck (Aus) 70 70, Benn Barham 68 72, Sang-moon Bae (Kor) 70 70, Alistair Presnell (Aus) 72 68, Craig Parry (Aus) 71 69, James Kamte (Rsa) 73 67
141 Richie Ramsay 68 73, Robert Dinwiddie 71 70, Marcel Siem (Ger) 72 69, Andrew Coltart 72 69, Tim Wood (Aus) 69 72, Simon Khan 68 73, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 71 70, Brett Rumford (Aus) 71 70, David McKenzie (Aus) 68 73, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 70 71, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 73 68, Anton Haig (Rsa) 69 72, David Smail (NZ) 70 71, Won Joon Lee (Aus) 71 70, Michael Long (NZ) 74 67.
MISSED THE CUT
142 Bryan Saltus (USA) 71 71, Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 71 71, Seung-yul Noh (Kor) 68 74, Michael McGrath (Aus) 73 69, Johan Edfors (Swe) 70 72, Stuart Bouvier (Aus) 69 73, Robert Rock 71 71, Stephen Dartnell (Aus) 71 71, Sam Little 69 73, Stephen Leaney (Aus) 70 72, Michael McGrath (Aus) 73 69, Mads Vibe Hastrup (Den) 73 69, Adam Crawford (Aus) 72 70, Jean Knutzon (USA) 72 70.
143 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 71 72, Richie Gallichan (Aus) 69 74, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 72 71, Andrew Tschudin (Aus) 68 75, Brad Lamb (Aus) 72 71, Artemio-hiromasa Murakami (Phi) 71 72, Angelo Que (Phi) 76 67, Camilo Villegas (Col) 72 71, Miles Tunnicliff 71 72, Ashley Hall (Aus) 71 72, Simon Wakefield 70 73, Tristan Lambert (Aus) 71 72, Tai Hee Lee (Kor) 74 69.
144 Gary Murphy 73 71, Scott Barr (Aus) 71 73, Taco Remkes (Ned) 73 71, Richard Green (Aus) 74 70, Scott Drummond 72 72, Mark Brown (USA) 70 74, Mark Foster 71 73, Cameron Percy (Aus) 71 73, Oliver Fisher 72 72, Ben Leong (Mal) 72 72, Wayne Perske (Aus) 70 74, Jarrod Moseley (Aus) 74 70, Iain Steel (Mal) 70 74, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 74 70, Pablo Martin (Spa) 73 71
145 Chih-bing Lam (Sin) 69 76, Adam Bland (Aus) 76 69, Phillip Archer 74 71, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 74 71, Ryan Hammond (Aus) 74 71, Jamie Donaldson 75 70, Paul Sheehan (Aus) 71 74, Matthew Griffin (Aus) 73 72, Craig Scott (Aus) 69 76, Jason Scrivener (Aus) 73 72
146 Aaron Townsend (Aus) 77 69, Rick Kulacz (Aus) 71 75, Scott Strange (Aus) 74 72, Anthony Summers (Aus) 72 74, Ryan Haller (Aus) 74 72, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 71 75, Greg Norman (Aus) 75 71, Kane Webber (USA) 72 74, Josh Geary (NZ) 75 71, Peter Wilson (Aus) 78 68.
147 Marcus Both (Aus) 70 77, David Gleeson (Aus) 75 72, Matthew Millar (Aus) 73 74, Alastair Forsyth 71 76, Anthony Brown (Aus) 77 70, Rhys Davies 77 70
148 Shiv Kapur (Ind) 78 70, Terry Price (Aus) 80 68, Gavin Flint (Aus) 73 75, Simon Griffiths 73 75, Marc Warren 71 77, Jean-Francois Lucin (Fra) 72 75.
149 Steven Bowditch (Aus) 76 73
150 Steve Webster 73 77, Peter Fowler (Aus) 77 73.
151 Jason King (Aus) 77 74, Heath Reed (Aus) 75 76
152 Chris Rodgers 77 75
153 Chris Downes (Aus) 74 79, Steve Jones (USA) 77 76
156 Ewan Porter (Aus) 77 79, Paul Broadhurst 75 81
160 Michael Moore (Aus) 78 82



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By the Left, it's Mickelson striding clear with a 63

The world's No 1 left-handed golfer, Phil Mickelson, put his lacklustre early-season form behind him with an impressive round of 63 at Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades in California to take a one-shot lead after the opening day of the Northern Trust Open.
Defending champion Mickelson leads fellow American Scott McCarronby by one stroke, although four golfers were still on the course when play was suspended due to darkness. They will resume their rounds at 10.45am local time.
"It was a good start and I feel like I'm back on the right track," said Mickelson. "I felt much better with the putter and my short game was as good as it's been. I hit a lot of good shots around the greens to save strokes."
Dustin Johnson, Jim Furyk, Luke Donald, KJ Choi, John Merrick, Dean Wilson and Andres Romero are a further two shots back on five under.
ALL THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 71
*First-day play was halted due to darkness with four players still to finish.
63 Phil Mickelson
64 Scott McCarron
66 Dustin Johnson, John Merrick, Jim Furyk, Dean Wilson, K J Choi (Kor), Andres Romero (Arg), Luke Donald (Eng)
67 Kirk Triplett, Paul Azinger, Todd Hamilton, Tommy Armour III, Fred Couples, Jeff Klauk, Kevin Na, Ryuji Imada (Jpn), Brandt Snedeker, Briny Baird, D.J. Trahan
68 Steve Stricker, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa), Charley Hoffman, Retief Goosen (Rsa), Chris DiMarco, Woody Austin, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus), Ben Curtis, Steve Elkington (Aus), Rich Beem, Bo Van Pelt, Brandt Jobe, Carl Pettersson (Swe), Tim Clark (Rsa), Ryan Moore
69 Brian Davis (Eng), Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind), Brendon De Jonge, Pat Perez, Jeff Quinney, Oliver Wilson (Eng), Bubba Watson, Chez Reavie, Brian Bateman, Hunter Mahan, Will MacKenzie, Michael Allen, Bill Haas, Jimmy Walker, Marc Turnesa, Jason Gore
70 Michael Letzig, Vaughn Taylor, Brian Gay, Soren Hansen (Den), David Duval, John Mallinger, Justin Leonard, Mike Weir (Can), Brad Adamonis, Vincent Johnson, Graeme McDowell (NIrl), Joe Ogilvie, Matt Kuchar, Peter Lonard (Aus), Charlie Wi (Kor), Kenny Perry, Richard S Johnson (Swe), John Rollins, Robert Allenby (Aus), Trevor Immelman (Rsa), Mark Calcavecchia, Cameron Beckman, Rocco Mediate, Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn), Johnson Wagner, Jonathan Byrd
71 Nick Watney, Nick O'Hern (Aus), Tim Wilkinson (Nzl), Steve Pate, Ernie Els (Rsa), Stephen Ames (Can), Nicholas Thompson, Stuart Appleby (Aus), John Senden (Aus), Steve Lowery, Aaron Baddeley (Aus), George McNeill, Jeff Maggert, Mathew Goggin (Aus), Troy Matteson, Scott Verplank
72 David Berganio jun, Kevin Sutherland, Heath Slocum, Charles Howell III, Chad Campbell, Bob Estes, Vijay Singh (Fij), Ben Crane, Martin Laird (Sco), Bryce Molder, Jerry Kelly, Eric Axley, Angel Cabrera (Arg), Tom Pernice Jnr., Cliff Kresge, Mark Wilson, Padraig Harrington (Irl)
73 Jin Park (Kor), Tim Herron, Zach Johnson, Lucas Glover, Steve Flesch, Harrison Frazar, Ricky Barnes, Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn), Daniel Chopra (Swe), Nathan Green (Aus), Steve Marino, J B Holmes, Ken Duke, Corey Pavin, Jason Bohn
74 J J Henry, Bart Bryant, Ryan Palmer
75 David Morland IV (Can), Jeff Overton, Tim Petrovic, Parker McLachlin, Kevin Streelman, Alex Cejka (Ger)
76 Billy Mayfair, Tom Lehman, James Nitties (Aus), Matt Bettencourt
77 Brad Faxon
79 Jim Gormley

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Harrington plays in Palmer Invitational

Padraig Harrington has confirmed he will be playing in the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida from March 26 to 29 for the first time since 2000.
The Irishman's commitment opens up the possibility of the event featuring all the top 10 players in the world.
"I was delighted when I saw that the Arnold Palmer Invitational was two weeks before The Masters because it fits my schedule perfectly," said the reigning Open and US PGA champion.

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Tiger's back in next week's Tucson, Arizona match-play

World number one Tiger Woods will make his long-awaited comeback from injury in next week's World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson.
PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem revealed on Thursday evening the 33-year-old had committed to play in the event in Arizona.
Woods has been out of competitive action since winning the US Open in June last year after having reconstructive surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee the following week.
On his own website Woods said: "I'm now ready to play again.
========================
Tiger Woods' official website
========================
"Elin and our new son Charlie are doing great. I've enjoyed my time at home with the family and appreciate everyone's support and kind wishes."
Woods' victory at the US Open last June was his 10th victory in his last 13 tournaments - and in the other three he was second twice and fifth in the other.
He has held on to the world number one spot throughout his lengthy lay-off, although Sergio Garcia has cut his lead to just over two points and could have gone top in the next two weeks if Woods had not returned.
Among those 10 victories was the Match Play and, assuming there are no withdrawals, he will begin his defence against Australian Brendan Jones, 64th in the world.
Woods described his victory at Torrey Pines as "probably the greatest tournament I've ever had."
He had to play more holes than he ever has for his 14 major victories - 91 in all - but he was referring, of course, to the fact that he not only needed knee reconstruction surgery, but also had a double stress fracture in his left leg.

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