Law and Kellett both returns 73s in Round 2 at Buenos Aires

Hazlehead's David Law and Ross Kellett (Colville Park) both shot one-over-par 73s in the second round of the Juan Carlos Tailhade Cup after play eventually was possible on the Los Lagartos Country Club course, Buenos Aires, which was flooded by sudden torrential rain on Friday.
Law and Kellett have a team total of 296 and are joint 14th with Colombia behind England's Tommy Fleetwood and Eddie Pepperell, leaders by three shots.

SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
276 ENGLAND 134 141 (Tommy Fleetwood 67 68, Eddie Pepperell 68 73).
279 ARGENTINIA 138 141.
283 SOUTH AFRICA 144 139, FRANCE 143 140, NORWAY 141 142.
284 SPAIN 137 147.
285 PERU 140 145.
286 PORTUGAL 139 147.
289 GERMANY 145 144.
291 AUSTRALIA 145 146.
293 VENEZUELA 142 151.
294 ITALY 147 147
295 HOLLAND 150 145.
296 SCOTLAND 150 146 (Ross Kellett 73 73, David Law 77 73), COLOMBIA 147 149 (tied 14th).
297 NEW ZEALAND 148 149.
308 URUGUAY 149 159.
311 MEXICO 154 157.
313 FINLAND 157 156.

David Duval, the man who had it all, is

about to lose full status on US Tour

Former Open champion David Duval, the US golfer who once had the golfing world at his feet, is about to lost full status on the US PGA Tour for the 2010 season.
Duval, at one time ranked No 1 in the world, missed the cut with a five-over-par two-round total in the last competition of the season, the Children's Miracle Network Classic.
"It's not a position you want to be in," Duval said. "It's not fun, but really, I haven't been focusing on it a whole lot."
Duval began the week at No 125 on the money list, the last spot to earn full status on the 2010 US Tour. He is now projected to finish at No. 131, giving him conditional status that would allow him to enter about a dozen tournaments for being in the top 150.
Duval's name recognition should help him land sponsor exemptions. And his runner-up finish at this year's US Open and his 2001 British Open victory will get him into the first three majors next year.
He said he has already signed up for qualifying school. If he doesn't qualify, he'll be making his schedule on a weekly basis next year.
"I've played long enough, so I'd like to think the relationships I've built up for 14, 15 years out here, that the events I go to year in and year out would show me a little love if I need it," he said.
Duval, wearing his trademark shades, won three straight US Tour events in 1997, captured the 2001 Open at Royal Lytham by three strokes, and became only the third player to shoot 59 in a round on the US Tour in 1999. He is still the last to accomplish that feat.

His last victory was in the 2001 Dunlop Phoenix Open in Japan.

Duval had his 38th birthday last Tuesday (November 9)
The man many thought would challenge Tiger Woods for years then had a downward spiral of a career for nearly a decade. Duval is the walking nightmare of any top professional golfer. One night you go to sleep as one of the best in the world; you waken up next morning and for some inexplicable reason you can no longer play the game to such a high standard. Another Open champion, Ian Baker-Finch, is another example. He peaked in the 1991 Open at Royal Birkdale.
Duval's runner-up finish at this year's US Open must have reminded the American of how he once could up. Was to be the long-awaited turning point, the start of his resurgence. Sadly no. His success at Bethpage Black was short-lived.
That was his first top-10 finish in America since 2002, placing him well inside the top 125 on the money list. Duval was using a one-time exemption this year for being among the top 50 on the career money list.
"I talked a lot early on in the year about coming back, building the confidence back that I had for so long, and I feel like for the most part I did that," Duval said. "So I'm excited about everything I'm doing. I'm happy with it.
"But I want to start at 0, start even, not feel like I'm behind the 8-ball. So that's what I'm looking forward to."
Which is one way of looking at it.

"Significant" number of US Tour pros have tested

postive for drugs but not been punished" - lawyer

FROM THE GUARDIAN.CO.UK WEBSITE
A lawyer acting for the first player banned under golf's anti-doping policy has claimed a "significant" number of US PGA Tour pros had tested positive for drugs but not been punished by the authorities.
Jeffrey Rosenblum told a court in Memphis the tour had singled out Doug Barron, a journeyman professional, for punishment in an attempt to prove it was serious about its anti-doping policy while at the same time ignoring a number of other alleged positive tests for recreational drugs such as marijuana and cocaine.
Barron, who has made $3m in prize money during his US PGA Tour career, was banned for a year after testing positive this summer for beta-blockers and testosterone – both drugs prescribed by his doctors to combat medical conditions.
He had sought, and had been denied, "therapeutic exemptions" to take the drugs and continue to play in tour events.
"I cannot say how many positive tests there have been on the tour but from discussions I have had with my client and other people, I believe the number is significant," Rosenblum told the Guardian.
"I am very concerned that if the PGA Tour knew of even one person who took an illegal drug and yet chose not to punish that person, while at the same time my client was thrown out of the sport for one year. I believe that is an abuse of discretion."
The US PGA Tour could not be reached for comment last night. Earlier this year, its commissioner Tim Finchem was asked about the use of recreational drugs on tour and said, "We may have had some test results that trouble. But we don't publicise those. We treat those as conduct unbecoming. I'm not saying this has happened or not, I'm just saying what the process is.
"If we get a test like that, we will consider it conduct unbecoming, and what are our choices? We can suspend a player, we can fine a player, we can do both of those and put a player into treatment. We could also add to that regular testing,'' he added.
Barron's lawyer said that if the case progressed he would seek a disclosure order from the court requiring the PGA Tour to provide all records of any positive drugs tests since the introduction of its anti-doping policy last year, including the type of drug use uncovered and the names of the players who had allegedly been involved.
"It is just not fair for the PGA Tour to sit in its ivory tower and cast judgment on people in an inconsistent way. This is Doug Barron's livelihood. It is how he supports his wife and kids,'' Rosenblum added.
A ruling on the Barron's request for a stay was expected today (local time).

South African Sunshine Tour Scoreboard
NAMIBIA PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Rossmund Golf Club
LEADING THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
Players from South Africa unless stated
209 Willie Van Der Merwe 68 77 64, Tyrone Mordt 66 70 73.
210 Merrick Bremner 72 73 65, Doug McGuigan 69 69 72.
Selected score:
213 Alan McLean (Sco) 68 71 74 (jt 9th).

United States PGA Tour Scoreboard
CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK CLASSIC
Magnolia Golf Club, Disney's Magnolia & Palm Courses, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
THIRD ROUND
Par 216 (3x72)
203 George McNeill 68 66 69, Justin Leonard 68 64 71, Justin Rose (Eng) 65 69 69, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 68 69 66
204 Carl Pettersson (Swe) 71 66 67, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 68 70 66
205 Will MacKenzie 67 72 66
206 Zach Johnson 67 70 69, Bill Haas 68 69 69, Jeff Overton 70 68 68, Joe Ogilvie 70 69 67, Matt Weibring 68 68 70, Stephen Ames (Can) 69 70 67
207 Chris DiMarco 68 68 71, Jimmy Walker 69 70 68, Tom Lehman 71 67 69, Greg Owen (Eng) 66 71 70, Jonathan Byrd 70 68 69
208 D.A. Points 71 70 67, Ben Crane 71 70 67, John Rollins 70 71 67, Jeff Maggert 71 69 68, Chez Reavie 68 69 71
209 Brian Davis (Eng) 72 69 68, Kent Jones 70 68 71, Patrick Sheehan 70 70 69, Kris Blanks 67 70 72, Brett Quigley 71 68 70, David Toms 73 67 69, Nicholas Thompson 72 69 68
210 Spencer Levin 71 68 71, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 72 69 69, Tim Herron 70 66 74, Rich Beem 69 73 68, Harrison Frazar 71 70 69, Rickie Fowler 66 75 69, Tom Pernice Jnr. 69 67 74, Johnson Wagner 70 68 72
211 Cameron Beckman 70 68 73, Bo Van Pelt 70 72 69, Jay Williamson 70 71 70, Darron Stiles 71 69 71, Briny Baird 71 71 69, Charles Howell III 70 70 71
212 Charles Warren 70 70 72, Rod Perry 69 70 73, Aron Price (Aus) 71 70 71, Jeff Quinney 70 71 71, Brian Gay 68 71 73, Todd Hamilton 74 68 70, Richard S Johnson (Swe) 69 72 71, Dean Wilson 75 65 72, Ryan Palmer 71 71 70, Brandt Snedeker 70 70 72, James Oh 71 71 70
213 Ricky Barnes 73 69 71, Michael Bradley 70 71 72, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 68 71 74, Corey Pavin 69 71 73, Marc Turnesa 72 70 71, Rick Price 67 73 73, Jason Bohn 72 70 71
214 Brendon De Jonge 70 72 72, Chris Riley 70 71 73, Casey Wittenberg 66 71 77, Kevin Streelman 70 71 73
215 Jeff Klauk 69 72 74, D.J. Trahan 70 71 74
216 Ted Purdy 69 73 74, Peter Lonard (Aus) 69 70 77
217 Ken Duke 71 71 75
Withdrew: 142 Webb Simpson 70 72

Bourdy's 63 puts him two ahead with a

round to go in UBS Hong Kong Open

FROM THE ASIAN TOUR WEBSITE
France’s Gregory Bourdy matched the day’s lowest score of seven-under-par 63 - posted earlier in the day by former title winner and Ryder Cup player Miguel Angel Jimenez from Spain - to move into the final round of the UBS Hong Kong Open with a two-shot cushion.
The two-time European Tour winner’s three-day total of 16-under-par 194 sees him atop the leaderboard while Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands posted a 65 to lie closely in the wait in second place on 196.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy made his move by signing for a 65, which included a double bogey, to take third place on 199 while defending champion, Lin Wen-tang is among the four players bunched in tied-fourth on 200.
Bourdy ended the day in the same position from where he started. A place at the top was never in doubt after the Frenchman returned with an unblemished card that was highlighted by seven birdies.
“It was a fantastic round with seven birdies and no bogeys. I feel good on this course. I feel good in Hong Kong and I am enjoying the week. I’ll try and keep the putter warm for tomorrow as it was unbelievable today,” said Bourdy.
While many have known to self-destruct on the final day, Bourdy believes that he is capable of maintaining his composure and stay focus for the final task ahead.
“I rather be two shots ahead than two behind and I know from that position and playing under par I’ll have a good chance to win,” added Bourdy.
Derksen, seeking his first win since 2005, registered six birdies against a lone bogey on the par-four fourth to set up a tantalising clash with Bourdy on the final day.
“It’s a good position to be in. Bourdy and I will be playing together again tomorrow. There is a bit of a cushion behind me but on the other hand he’s two in front so if he has another good score, I’ll have to shoot low to catch him,” said the Dutch who is also aiming to settle some old scores with the Frenchman.
“Last time I played with him was in Majorca and he got me there so I will be trying to even the score tomorrow,” added Derksen.
Having rallied himself back into contention with round scores of 66, 68 and 65, McIlroy knows that he is just 18 holes away from a famous victory that will help erase the heartbreak of last year where he lost to Lin in a play-off.
“I was in a similar position last year and shot a 65 to get into the play-off. I’ll have to do something like that or even better tomorrow. My mindset is to get off to a fast start and try my best to keep it going,” said McIlroy.
Meanwhile Lin will be hoping that luck will be on his side again when he tees off on the final round as it eluded him on several occasions on the 6,722yd par-70 composite course at the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling.
“I just wished that my back-nine was as good as my front-nine where I got four birdies. I was left to rue several missed birdie chances on the back-nine. They just simply wouldn’t fall into the cup,” said Lin.
“Not really sure why, perhaps I just didn’t have the luck today. I’ll do my best and hope that everything will turn out well tomorrow,” added the 35-year-old defending champion.
Miguel Angel Jimenez continued his love affair with the UBS Hong Kong Open as the Spaniard blazed a seven under par 63 to set the third round clubhouse target at ten under par.
The two time former champion at the Hong Kong Golf Club began the day with a bogey but rebounded with eight birdies including a run of four straight on the front nine.
“I have won a couple of times here. I like the golf course. You don’t need to bang the ball to win, you have to play well, focus on the tee and put the ball in play,” said Jimenez as he headed for the clubhouse for one of his favourite cigars and a well-earned lunch. He will start the final day in joint fourth position on 200, six behind pacemaker Bourdy.
The Race to Dubai contender Rory McIlroy picked up two shots at the turn to improve to eight under par but will be left to rue a costly double bogey in the middle of his outward nine.
Lee Westwood, who sits just ahead of McIlroy on The Race to Dubai with just two events remaining, continued to struggle and carded a third round 69 to improve to five under par.
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS

Par 210 (3x70)
194 Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 64 67 63
196 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 63 68 65
199 Rory McIlroy 66 68 65
200 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 66 68 66, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 68 69 63, Wen-Tang Lin (Tpe) 64 69 67, Peter Lawrie 66 68 66
201 Graeme McDowell 67 68 66, Danny Chia (Mal) 67 66 68
202 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 65 66 71, David Howell 69 66 67, Simon Dyson 68 67 67, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 66 68 68, Marcus Both (Aus) 70 67 65, David Dixon 64 69 69, Ian Poulter 68 66 68, Yong-eun Yang (Kor) 66 67 69, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 66 69 67
203 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 65 67 71, Wei Chih Lu (Tha) 65 69 69, Scott Strange (Aus) 68 65 70, Darren Clarke 69 67 67, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 64 71 68, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 68 67 68, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 68 68 67, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 66 65 72, Mark Foster 65 69 69
204 Tony Carolan (Aus) 65 71 68, Airil-Rizman Zahari (Mal) 68 66 70, Scott Drummond 69 67 68, Jason Knutzon (USA) 68 67 69, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 68 68 68
205 Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 67 70 68, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71 67 67, Colin Montgomerie 69 69 67, Rhys Davies 65 69 71, Lian-Wei Zhang (Chn) 67 69 69, Simon Yates 70 68 67, Markus Brier (Aut) 70 68 67, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 67 70 68, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 69 68 68, Lee Westwood 66 70 69
206 Kiradech Aphibamrat (Tha) 68 67 71, Anders Hansen (Den) 68 70 68, Iain Steel (Mal) 68 70 68
207 Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 70 65 72, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind) 65 69 73, Chih-bing Lam (Sin) 71 67 69, Chinnarat Phadungsil (Tha) 66 66 75
208 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 71 67 70, Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) 67 70 71, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 68 68 72, Jamie Donaldson 69 69 70, Mars Pucay (Phi) 68 67 73, Andrew Dodt (Aus) 69 68 71, Simon Khan 67 70 71
209 Anthony Kang (USA) 69 66 74, Kodai Ichihara (Jpn) 65 73 71, Shun yat jason Hak (Hkg) 70 67 72, Pablo Martin (Spa) 69 69 71
210 Darren Beck (Aus) 68 70 72, Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 71 67 72, Bradley Dredge 66 71 73
211 Udorn Duangdecha (Tha) 62 74 75, Graeme Storm 68 67 76
215 Ter-Chang Wang (Tpe) 66 72 77
Retired: Ben Curtis (USA) 65 72 -

Tiger blows big lead - tied with Chalmers and

Nitties with a round to go in Aussie Masters

Who would have believed it? Tiger Woods, with a clear lead at halfway in the Australian Masters, blew it - and not just gradually but all of a sudden.
Woods scattered his three-stroke advantage over six holes today and by the end of the round the world No 1 was happy to salvage a share of the third-round lead with Greg Chalmers and James Nitties.
It was not the Tiger that turned up for the first two rounds, over which he attracted galleries six-deep in places.
He hit one poor shot after another, put himself in bad positions and had to scramble for an even-par 72. The difference perhaps between Woods and many others who have blown a clear lead is that he is still very much in with a chance. It all depends on what game he takes with him to the Kingston Heath, Melbourne course on Sunday for the decisive round.
'I'm very fortunate to be tied for the lead. I could have played myself out of the tournament,' Tiger was honest enough to admit in the post-round interview.
Chalmers, who hasn't won in his native Australia since 1998, had a 69 despite missing a 6ft par putt on the 16th hole and a birdie putt on the 18th from about the same range.
Nitties, frustrated early as putts refused to fall, played bogey-free for his 69 and will give Kingston Heath an All-Australian final pairing.
Not only did Woods lose his lead, he lost his cool.
After missing a 5ft birdie putt on the 12th, he hit his driver well to the right on the 354yd 13th hole. Woods threw his driver into the ground and it bounced up and into the gallery, where one surprised fan caught the club and returned it.
"That was my mistake," Woods said. "I got hot and let go of the club."
He wasn't in the best of moods even before he teed off. Woods had what he described as a terrible session on the practice range. He took that game to the course, missing most of the shots to the right, starting with a 3-iron into the hay on the easy par-5 opening hole that he failed to birdie for the first time all week.
It never got better.
His lone birdies were a 35ft putt on the second hole and a two-putt on the 14th. With a chance to take the outright lead, Woods missed a 10ft birdie try on the final hole to remain tied at 10-under 206.
"Today was reflective of how I warmed up," he said. "I'm very fortunate to be tied for the lead. I played myself into a tie. I could have played myself out of the tournament."
If he fails to win Sunday, it would be the first time in his career that Woods has blown 36-hole leads in three straight tournaments. He had the halfway lead at the US Tour Championship and was tied after 36 holes last week in Shanghai, both tournaments won by Phil Mickelson.
The challenge now comes from an Aussie duo that was steady throughout the overcast day at Kingston Heath, which kept the greens relatively soft. Thirty-two of the 77 players who made the cut managed to break par.
Woods is playing Down Under for the first time since the Presidents Cup in 1998, and he has returned to record-setting crowds that have made Kingston Heath feel like a major, with fans climbing trees for a good view.
Suddenly, that 11-year anniversary is taking on a different meaning. That's how long it has been since Chalmers won before the home crowd, and his odds are looking far better than they were Friday when Woods had a three-shot lead.
"I don't think anybody is sort of sitting around trying to hand the trophy to anybody else," Chalmers said. "I think everyone is fighting to shoot the lowest score they can."
Nitties spent the first two rounds playing behind Woods, coping with fans who are allowed to stand in crosswalks and surround every green that Woods plays.
He gets to play behind him again Sunday, and that's a good thing, for he no longer trails. Nitties, who easily kept his PGA Tour card in his rookie season in America, was surprised that he was playing in the final group without Woods joining him.
"I want to be playing with Tiger. He's my idol. It's disappointing," Nitties said. He paused, then smiled before adding, "It's not that disappointing."
Along with being tied for the lead, Nitties is hopeful he can contain his emotions playing before the largest gallery of his career.
"It's a special kind of week," he said.
Woods, who received a $3 million appearance fee to play the Australian Masters, stretched his lead to four shots with his long birdie putt on the second hole. He went 12 more holes before making another birdie.
His lead was gone four holes later as Jason Dufner outplayed him with three straight birdies. Dufner took the lead for the first time with a 40-foot birdie putt on the eighth, only to scramble for a bogey on the ninth. He didn't make a birdie the rest of the way, dropping shots on the 16th and 17th for a 71 to tie for fourth at 8-under 208 with Cameron Percy of Australia.
Still in the hunt is Aberdeen-born Australian Michael Sim, who already earned his PGA Tour card for next year by winning three times on the Nationwide Tour. He shot a 69 for 210 and was four shots behind, along with Stuart Appleby, who had a 71.
Adam Scott made a double bogey late in his round of 69 and was at 5-under 211, on the periphery of contention.
Woods is only hopeful he got his bad round out of the way.
"There was no gray area. I didn't have any shots that were borderline," he said.

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
206 Tiger Woods (USA) 66 68 72, Greg Chalmers (Aus) 68 69 69, James Nitties (Aus) 66 71 69
208 Jason Dufner (USA) 70 67 71, Cameron Percy (Aus) 67 72 69
209 Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 71 70 68, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 71 71 67
210 Scott Laycock (Aus) 72 68 70, Michael Sim (Sco) 70 71 69, Klas Eriksson (Swe) 71 73 66, Ashley Hall (Aus) 69 69 72, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 69 70 71
211 Rodney Pampling (Aus) 71 70 70, Adam Scott (Aus) 71 71 69, Alistair Presnell (Aus) 72 73 66, Bernd Wiesberger (Aut) 72 67 72
212 Mathew Goggin (Aus) 68 70 74, Seve Benson 71 71 70
213 Craig Scott (Aus) 71 72 70, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 71 69 73, Leigh Mckechnie (Aus) 73 71 69
214 Manny Villegas (Col) 70 68 76, Peter Nolan (Aus) 68 72 74, Rick Kulacz (Aus) 69 76 69, Branden Grace (Rsa) 66 75 73, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 73 72 69, Steven Bowditch (Aus) 71 68 75
215 David McKenzie (Aus) 70 72 73, Gary Murphy 71 73 71, Richard Green (Aus) 72 71 72, Andre Stolz (Aus) 71 74 70, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 71 73 71, Sam Little 71 71 73, Matthew Griffin (Aus) 71 75 69
216 Mahal Pearce (Nzl) 71 68 77, Josh Younger (Aus) 72 73 71, Michael Long (Nzl) 71 75 70, Anthony Brown (Aus) 72 72 72, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 72 73 71, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 71 74 71
217 Richard Bland 71 73 73, Andrew Tampion (Aus) 71 75 71, John Senden (Aus) 73 69 75, Michael Wright (Aus) 73 73 71, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 73 68 76, Callum Macaulay 75 71 71, Ewan Porter (Aus) 71 76 70, Steven Jones (Aus) 72 75 70
218 Jason Norris (Aus) 73 74 71, Kurt Barnes (Aus) 70 73 75, Doug Holloway (Nzl) 67 74 77, Peter Wilson (Aus) 73 73 72, Adam Groom (Aus) 73 70 75, Lee Slattery 69 74 75
219 Marc Leishman (Aus) 72 73 74, Matthew Millar (Aus) 71 76 72, Craig Parry (Aus) 70 76 73, Aaron Pike (Aus) 74 73 72, Craig Spence (Aus) 72 75 72, Andrew Tschudin (Aus) 73 72 74, Heath Reed (Aus) 77 68 74, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 75 72 72, Paul Sheehan (Aus) 73 72 74
220 Frank Power (Aus) 74 70 76, Adam Bland (Aus) 72 75 73, Andrew Bonhomme (Aus) 73 74 73, Ryan Haller (Aus) 70 74 76, Matthew Giles (Aus) 74 69 77
221 Aaron Townsend (Aus) 75 72 74, Miles Tunnicliff 74 72 75
222 Rohan Blizard (Aus) 69 76 77
223 Marcus Fraser (Aus) 74 73 76
224 Simon Furneaux (Aus) 73 74 77, Ryan Hammond (Aus) 75 72 77, Kim Felton (Aus) 76 71 77
225 Terry Price (Aus) 73 72 80
226 Damien Jordon (Aus) 69 78 79