KIWI GOING DOWN ... No 1

Slump does not worry Danny Lee

... dismisses the need for a coach

FROM THE STUFF.CO.NZ WEBSITE

A retreat from the US PGA Tour to the European version, a putting catastrophe at the cathedral of golf in Augusta and another missed cut overnight to add to a terrible start to 2010.
Welcome to the world of Danny Lee, the supposed next big thing of international golf – a fair statement too, after the teenager wiped Tiger Woods out of the history books as the youngest US amateur championship winner.
But after a duffed professional debut on tour, with only one top 10 finish and six missed cuts out of 12 tournaments, Lee lost the right to play with the big boys in America. Lee is picture above in happier trophy-winnng days.
Vowing to return with a solid season in Europe, his fightback is off to the worst possible start with Lee yet to make a cut, his latest failure coming last Friday when he failed to advance beyond the second round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
This is not the scenario many anticipated for a young man frequently mentioned worldwide alongside precocious 20-year-old Irishman Rory McIlroy as the new kids Tiger and company need to fear in the new decade.
Not that Lee gives any impression that things are not on track.
In fact, his first major media interview for the year was remarkable for the supreme confidence the 19-year-old Lee has in himself.
"My game's good and I can make it back," he told Sunday News from Dubai.
"I always dreamed about playing on the US PGA Tour and last year it finally came true. But I wasn't good enough to make this year's card. It was tougher than I thought. I think it's hard to manage the schedule."
Despite being a full-time member of the European Tour, Lee continues to live in Dallas, facing hefty commutes to Africa and the Middle East already this month. Even odder is Lee's admission to Sunday News that Dallas "doesn't really feel like home".
Asked why he hasn't relocated, Lee said: "I haven't really thought about it." Unusual? Yes. But then comes the downright bizarre.
While the world's best players Phil Mickelson, and Lee's self-confessed hero, Tiger Woods, put their careers in the hands of world-renowned swing gurus Butch Harmon and Hank Haney, the struggling young Kiwi dismisses the need for a coach.
"Hearing lots of information from lots of people, always thinking about your swing – it messes with my head. I don't think it's worth it.
"I think coaching yourself is the best way to do it, not thinking too much."

A rude awakening surely awaits such a naive stance, and should Lee's poor form continue much longer, persuasion to reconsider will be essential to prevent him slipping into oblivion.
The image of Lee waving the New Zealand flag on the green at Pinehurst after victory over Drew Kittleson seems a distant memory. Since winning the US amateur little over a year ago Lee's had little to celebrate on the fairways.
A dream appearance at Augusta National, arguably the world's most prestigious course, quickly turned into a nightmare when Lee took a record-high quintuple bogey 9 to complete the par 4 10th hole at the 2009 US Masters.
In his first three tournaments this year, Lee has failed to make the cut. "My game's really good at the moment, I'm confident about the year ahead," he said.
"You've got to be yourself and not listen to other people too much. Michael Campbell has helped me a lot and he told me the same thing, you've got to be yourself."
But while Lee struggles to match his billing, other hotly-tipped young-guns like Rory McIlroy and Ryo Ishikawa go from strength-to-strength on the world stage.
Ultimately, golfers are judged on their performance in the season's four majors, the US Masters, US Open, British Open and USPGA Championship.
Lee faces an uphill task to qualify.
"If I play well in Europe my world ranking will go up and I'll have a good chance," Lee said.
Currently weighing in at 147th in the world, Lee needs to get his skates on if he is to make the US Masters in April and revisit the scene of his infamous six-putt at Augusta National.

KIWI GOING DOWN ... No 2

Michael Campbell, the 2005 US

Open champion's free fall continues

-

FROM STUFF.CO.NZ WEBSITE
From United States Open champion in 2005 down to a player who missed the cut in 17 events on the European Tour last year ... and again in the Abu Dhabi Championship this past week.That's the free fall from a place in the sun to the golfing pits that has beset popular New Zealander Michael Campbell whose surname supports his theory that a century or two ago his forefathers came from Scotland.
Campbell, pictured with the US Open championship trophy in 2005, says he has seriously considered quitting professional golf but the only thing holding him back is that he would have nothing else to do.
Campbell's new season began horribly when he signed for an 11-over par 83 on day one of the Abu Dhabi European Tour event last Thursday, the worst score of any player over the four rounds.
Campbell scored 77 on the second day to miss the halfway cut in the first event of his 18th season in the pro ranks.
Disappointingly, his scoring display in the UAE capital continued an embarrassing downturn in form for the 2005 US Open champion who either missed the cut or was forced to withdraw in 17 of 21 events he contested on the European Tour last year.
Campbell's 249th overall standing on the 2009 money list was his lowest since joining the European Tour full time in 1995 while his earnings of €19,655 ($NZ38,545 ) was also the poorest of his career.
This year will mark an important point in his career as some of the exemptions for winning the US Open will expire, including April's US Masters and July's Open at St Andrews.
Campbell will drive down Magnolia Lane for what could be his last-ever Augusta appearance, knowing he has never played all four rounds in nine appearances.
But that was of little concern to 40-year old.
"I just don't know what is going on as it's like there are two Michael Campbells at a golf tournament these days," he said.
"On the practice range my game is fine and I am hitting balls perfectly but when I get onto a golf course I just tighten up. I just can't bring it from the practice range to the first tee.
"Maybe it's the expectations of trying too hard because I can feel myself tightening-up on the golf course.
"But what I do know is that it has been a horrible rut over the last two to three years. I've been through this before, so I have some idea what it's like but hopefully this will be the last time.
"I know that my peers are feeling for me and I've got a lot of support from other people but it's up to me, really.
"The lows of my career have always been very, very low but then my highs have always been very high so there has never been any happy medium for me unfortunately.
"I've even thought about quitting but what am I going to do with myself?"
"I've accomplished a lot in my life that I get in a comfort zone, take it easy, stop practising, don't go to the gym to work out and that sort of things.
"It's almost like I am doing it on purpose to get away from the limelight but now I miss it. Though not so much the limelight but just winning golf tournaments ."
Two people Campbell has spoken with have been fellow New Zealander Steve Williams, who caddies for Tiger Woods, and fellow US Open winner Ernie Els.
"I was chatting with Steve Williams towards the later part of last year at a tournament somewhere and he suggested I should try to be more aggressive when I am playing poorly," said Campbell.
"That's a strong aspect of Tiger's make-up when he is not playing that great. So sometimes when you get defensive, Steve said you can become more negative.
"When I spoke to Ernie all he said he (when in the doldrums) was trying to do was break 40 for nine holes and that's how low he got.
"So having very low expectations helped him come through that period of his career and to start winning again.
"So that was a nice little tip from Ernie but I'm trying to soak-up information as I can and filter out what I feel will work for me.
"But while they have been helpful it's up to me to choose my path. I know whatever it is can be fixed very easy so here's hoping."
Campbell said he would resume working with Belgian-born sports psychologist Josh Vanstiphout at this week's Qatar Masters in Doha.

+Australian Ian Baker-Finch, winner of the Open at Royal Birkdale in 1991, had a comparable complete loss of ability to play golf at the highest level ... and he never found it again, eventually retiring competitively.

FOTHERINGHAM JT 75TH IN AUSTRALIA

FRASER FOTHERINGHAM JOINT 75th

IN LAKE MACQUARIE INTERNATIONAL

Nairn's Fraser Fotheringham, beaten finalist in the 2007 British boys' championship, finished joint 75th in the Lake Macquarie international amateur golf tournament at the Belmont Golf Club, a couple of hours' drive north of Sydney, New South Wales today.
Fotheringham, pictured right, spending the Scottish winter working on his golf in Australia, had rounds of 77, 72, 75 and 80 for a total of 304.
The leading Scots-born player was Stephen Spiers who emigrated Down Under a few years back and now lives in South Australia. He finished eighth on 283 with scores of 70, 73, 71 and 69.
Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall), winner of the Scottish open amateur stroke-play at Murcar Links last year, and Welshman James Frazer (Pennard) tied for fifth place on 282. Fleetwood scored 70, 70, 68 and 74 while Frazer's rounds were 73, 69, 66 and 74.
Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park), like Fleetwood a member of the 2009 GB&I Walker Cup team, finished joint 20th on level par 288.
The impressive winner of the prestigious event was Australian Kieran Pratt, a 21-year-old from Victoria. He cruised to victory by 11 strokes with a tournament record total of 21-under-par 267 with scores of 68, 71, 63 and 68. His fourth-round 63 was also a course record.
Former Scottish youths champion Scott Borrowman (Dollar) missed the halfway cut.
Leading final totals
(Par 288, 4x72).
Players from Australia unless stated.
267 Kieran Pratt 68 71 63 68.
278 Brendan Smith 70 69 68 71.
281 Daniel Bringolf 68 69 73 71, Matthew Steiger 72 73 66 71.
282 Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) 70 70 68 74, James Frazer (Wal) 73 69 66 74.
283 Stephen Spiers (Sco) 70 73 71 69.
Selected scores:
288 Matt Haines (Eng) 72 73 72 71 (jt 20th).
304 Fraser Fotheringham (Sco) 77 72 75 80 (jt 75th).

Abu Dhabi Championship goes to German once again

Martin Kaymer birdies the last to win

by a shot from Ian Poulter

NEWS FROM EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
New World No 6 Martin Kaymer hopes his second Abu Dhabi Golf Championship title will be the catalyst to a highly anticipated Ryder Cup debut at Celtic Manor later this year.
After winning his maiden title in Abu Dhabi in 2008 with a nervous, four-stroke, wire-to-wire victory, the 25-year-old German, pictured right, needed every ounce of experience gained from adding three wins since then to edge out Ian Poulter by a single stroke at the end of 72 holes today.
Overnight leader Kaymer, who also finished second last year, birdied the final hole at Abu Dhabi Golf Club to card a bogey-free final round of six-under-par 66 and a four-round total of 21-under-par 276.
Poulter produced a valiant effort to play his part in a thrilling duel as The Ryder Cup ace matched Kaymer’s final round, but it was not enough to erase the one-shot overnight deficit as he untimely paid the price for a wayward final-hole tee shot.
“My goal for every year is to win two tournaments on The European Tour. I did it in 2008 and 2009 and I hope I can do it this year,” said Kaymer.
“But my main goal is to play The Ryder Cup this year because when I went there two years ago (as a spectator) I really felt I want to be there one day because it is so cool. Even though I wasn’t playing, it gave me so much experience and it helped me so much.
“My goals for the future are to have two wins on The European Tour each year, to play better in the big events and try to play The Ryder Cup.”
Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie will be wetting his lips at the chance to have Kaymer at his disposal in October along with Poulter and another expected debutant, Rory McIlroy, who finished third.
“I’ve been in contention a few times already in my career over the last three years,” added Kaymer. “My first win was difficult and my second win in Germany was very difficult. Now it has changed a little bit.
“My self confidence is bigger than two years ago and I think it has come from playing well all around the world. I played well in the last Major and I’m getting better in the World Golf Championships events."
Poulter, 34, returned from a similar break to end a two-year winless streak in Singapore at the end of last year and traded blows with Kaymer for the entire final round to continue his recent string of top ten finishes - with the latest pushing him into the world’s top 10 for the first time.
“It’s a nice start to the season. If you’re going to take the positives out of that, I’m pretty frustrated that I’ve walked away from shooting that score and I haven’t won,” said the new World No 10.
“But it’s good. I will move on next week in Qatar, have a bit of fun and see if I can go one step closer and then take two weeks off before the Match Play.”
After failing to keep up with the electrifying start to the final round from playing partners Kaymer and Poulter, McIlroy, 20, claimed an eighth top-10 finish in his last nine events with a five-under 67.
“It’s a great way to start the season in the last group and going down the last one behind and getting the juices flowing again,” said last year’s Race to Dubai runner-up, who has been bumped down one place to 11 in the world rankings. A win here would have seen him become the youngest ever player to reach the top five.
“It was a nice feeling and hopefully that will set the tone for the rest of the season.”
Rory McIlroy dropped just one shot on his way to a five under 67 to claim third place, a further shot adrift.
The Irish Open champion Shane Lowry posted his best finish on The European Tour since turning professional with his bogey-free 67 securing fourth at 17 under.
Ryder Cup hopefuls Kaymer, Poulter and McIlroy were playing together in the final group, and were in sensational form from the outset.
Both Kaymer and Poulter birdied the first two holes, before the Englishman caught the overnight leader from Germany when he completed his hat-trick at the third.
There was still nothing to choose between them when both men gained a shot at the sixth, but on the par five eighth Poulter left his 40ft birdie putt agonisingly short as Kaymer converted from close range to restore his one shot lead.
Consecutive birdies on the 11th and 12th saw Poulter go in front, before Kaymer levelled the scores at 20 under on the long par four 14th.
A play-off looked likely until Poulter miscued on the last, and was unable to hole his birdie effort from the fringe. Kaymer’s birdie putt was just a few feet and he duly holed it, claiming his fifth European Tour title in the process and the first since breaking his foot in a go-karting accident that de-stabled his Race to Dubai bid in 2009.
Paul Lawrie and Gary Orr finished joint top Scot in a share of 27th place on nine-under-par 279. They each gained Euros 13,350.
ALL THE FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
267 Martin Kaymer (Ger) 67 67 67 66 (Euros 250,000)
268 Ian Poulter 65 70 67 66 (Euros 166,660)
269 Rory McIlroy 66 69 67 67 (Euros 93,900)
271 Shane Lowry 68 65 71 67 (Euros 75,000)
272 Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 67 71 68 66
273 Rhys Davies 66 68 72 67, Ariel Canete (Arg) 70 65 74 64
274 Anders Hansen (Den) 69 70 68 67, Soren Hansen (Den) 72 67 68 67, David Horsey 73 66 70 65
275 Peter Hanson (Swe) 66 67 70 72, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 66 70 68 71
276 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 68 68 72 68, Anthony Kim (USA) 70 70 68 68, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 71 67 72 66, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 66 67 74 69, Richard Green (Aus) 70 65 72 69, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 69 70 67 70
277 Chris Wood 70 64 70 73, Camilo Villegas (Col) 71 68 69 69
278 Hennie Otto (Rsa) 70 67 70 71, Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 67 70 71 70, Steve Webster 68 69 74 67, Rick Kulacz (Aus) 69 63 73 73, Jamie Donaldson 70 69 67 72, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 70 72 69 67
279 Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 70 67 72 70, Gary Orr 69 71 70 69, Paul Lawrie 66 70 72 71, Paul Casey 72 69 69 69, Peter Lawrie 71 71 70 67, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 69 66 71 73, Ross McGowan 69 71 67 72 (jt 27t) (Euros 13,350 each).
280 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 66 70 73 71, Richard Bland 65 74 71 70, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 72 69 68 71
281 Anthony Wall 71 68 74 68, Paul Waring 68 70 71 72, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 70 72 68 71, Simon Dyson 72 67 75 67, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 74 68 69 70
282 Johan Edfors (Swe) 70 69 73 70
283 Alexander Noren (Swe) 66 74 72 71, Marc Warren 69 69 72 73, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 71 69 70 73, Nick Dougherty 71 68 74 70, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 74 68 72 69, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 73 69 73 68 (jt 43rd) (Euros 8,100 each).
284 Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 71 71 73 69, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 73 69 72 70, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 70 72 72 70, Keith Horne (Rsa) 65 72 78 69, Tano Goya (Arg) 71 70 72 71, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 72 70 73 69, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 71 69 71 73
285 Shiv Kapur (Ind) 68 74 72 71, Phillip Price 72 70 71 72, Darren Clarke 70 72 71 72, Bradley Dredge 68 73 72 72
286 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 72 70 73 71, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 74 68 75 69, Colin Montgomerie 73 68 74 71 (jt 60th) (Euros 4,050 each).
287 Paul Broadhurst 71 70 74 72
288 Brett Rumford (Aus) 71 69 73 75, David Howell 69 72 75 72, Todd Hamilton (USA) 68 74 73 73, James Kamte (Rsa) 72 68 74 74, Mark Foster 68 70 74 76
289 Niclas Fasth (Swe) 73 69 73 74, Richard Finch 69 68 77 75
291 Rafael Echenique (Arg) 67 75 70 79
292 David Dixon 71 69 76 76
293 Matteo Manassero (Ita) (amateur) 70 72 77 74

Monty in Qatar Masters line-up

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ALAN EWENS

European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie will be able to run the rule over the majority of his potential Ryder Cup team this week when he lines up at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy at Doha Golf Club, Qatar.
Teeing off on Thursday, the $2.5 million tournament will feature most of the 2008 European Ryder Cup team as well a host of young talent – including defending champion Alvaro Quiros – who will all be eager to qualify for the 2010 clash with the United States at Celtic Manor in Wales.
“Everyone at the Qatar Golf Association is thrilled with the news that Colin Montgomerie will be joining us for the 13th staging of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy,” said Qatar Golf Association (QGA) President Hassan Al Nuami.
“He may be making the news as the captain of the European Ryder Cup side but we should never forget that Colin is an eight-time Order of Merit winner, a feat that is unlikely to be repeated on the European Tour, and has won more European Tour titles than any other British player. I’m sure we’ll see many potential European Ryder Cup players trying to catch his eye at Doha Golf Club.”
Montgomerie returns to Doha just weeks after proving his prowess as both captain and player by leading his team to victory in the Royal Trophy in Thailand. Seve Ballesteros was due to captain the team but as he was not well enough, the influential Scot took on the role.
“It was an honour to captain the team,” he said. “We went with a strong team and it was very, very close, eventually winning 8½–7½. All credit to my team for fighting. They all contributed at least a point out there, including me and we did great. It's a very important year for European golf and that was a good start for us.
Monty’s playing appearance will be another highlight of a tournament that will see 18 of the world’s top ranked 50 in action – including US Ryder Cup star Kenny Perry – with live TV coverage going out to over 360 million homes across the globe. It will also be Montgomerie’s fourth time in the Qatar event with a sixth place finish in 2008 being his best position over Doha Golf Club.
“Once again the 126-man field is very impressive with plenty of young stars such as Alvaro Quiros and Martin Kaymer as well as established European Ryder Cup players like European No.1 Lee Westwood, Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson,” said Andy Stevens, Group CEO of title sponsors Commercialbank, organisers of the event in association with the QGA and the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC).
“Add in the experience of five Major winners – Michael Campbell, Paul Lawrie, Todd Hamilton, Shaun Micheel and Retief Goosen – as well as the undoubted aura of Kenny Perry and Colin Montgomerie and it’s clear that we have arguably the strongest field of the year so far. Congratulations must go to the QGA and the QOC for attracting some of the biggest names in the game to Qatar.”

Brown beats Hall in NZ PGA Championship play-off

Australian Mitchell Brown won the New Zealand PGA Championship at Christchurch today after a final round of fluctuating fortunes.
Brown beat long-time leader and compatriot Ashley Hall in a sudden-death play-off.
New Zealander Grant Moorhead who finished third, one shot behind Brown and Hall, also led early on the inward half.
Mitchell Brown set the clubhouse target and then hoped the gusting wind would grow and make things difficult down the final stretch for Hall. His hopes came true.
Brown was playing ahead of Hall and managed to avoid most of the wind. Hall, on the other hand, had to battle with the worst of it and dropped a shot on the 18th to finish the round at seven under and set up the play-off.
Brown, who won the play-off after Hall misjudged a putt and bogeyed, said it was lucky he managed to get off the course before the worst of the weather hit.
"It was probably a good thing that those guys were two or three holes behind so they had to play the last four holes in the wind. We only played a hole in the rough stuff," said the 24-year-old Hall from Sydney.
"That was probably a good thing, if it hadn't of got windy they probably wouldn't have dropped shots."
"It's always a good thing when you're in the clubhouse and there's guys coming in because it's a lot easier to drop shots than it is to make them."
The win was Brown's first since becoming professional four years ago and was made even sweeter given he had to win it in a play-off against a good friend.
Brown said he is very familiar with Hall's playing style and knew he had an advantage going into the play-off on the difficult 18th hole at Clearwater.
"He's a good mate of mine, we travel together a lot and we were actually roommates for about two years on the Asian tour," he said.
"We play practice rounds together and everything so it was good, it was a bit of fun."
"Ash hits fades and I hit draws so the play-off hole was set-up perfectly for me with the right to left wind."
"I could hit it out to the right and let it come back while Ash had to hit against the wind so it was a bit of a harder tee shot for him."
Hall led the tournament from the second round and has dealt with the atrocious Christchurch conditions perfectly throughout.
The Victorian admitted his last round was a struggle however and felt he didn't really play well enough to deserve the title in the end.
"It was definitely a battle," he said. "Until the last three holes it was definitely a day for scoring and I thought that if I shot even par I'd have a chance anyway."
"I didn't play good enough today, I didn't hole any putts at all. I was probably hitting it just the same but I putted terribly today."
"I'll be disappointed for a little while but I'll take positives out of it. I have been playing badly lately so it definitely does a lot for the confidence."
Both Brown and Hall will be playing in the New Zealand Open at Hillbrook in Queenstown that begins on Thursday morning.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
281 Mitchell Brown (Aus) 68 73 72 68, Ashley Hall (Aus) 68 69 71 73 (Brown won sudden death play-off at first hole).
282 Grant Moorhead (NZ) 67 74 70 71.
283 Joe Affrunti (Us) 71 73 69 70, Stephen Allan (Aus) 72 69 71 71.
284 Scott Arnold (Aus) 73 71 72 68, Andrew Bonhomme 71 73 70 70, Adam Crawford (Aus) 71 76 70 67, Mahal Pearce (NZ) 71 74 69 70.
285 Anthony Doyole (NZ) 71 69 74 71, Michael Hendry (NZ) 71 74 71 68, Ewan Porter (Aus) 68 74 72 71, Grant Waite (NZ) 69 74 75 67.
286 Adam Blyth (Aus) 72 71 75 69, Michael Curtain (Aus) 66 77 71 72, Matthew Holten (NBZ) 67 76 72 71, Gareth Paddison (NZ) 70 71 70 75, Anthony Summers (Aus) 70 73 72 71.

Rookie Prugh leads Bob Hope Classic

FROM THE CBS.SPORTS.COM WEBSITE
Alex Prugh, a 25-year-old US PGA Tour rookie, shot a seven-under-par 65 over the testing La Quinta course to take a one-stroke lead from the big-hitting Bubba Watson and another Tour rookiie, Martin Flores in the Bob Hope Classic in California.
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Leaderboard
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Prugh, a former University of Washington golf team leading light, leads the five-round, four-course tournament with a 54-hole tally of 21-under-par 195. He has not had a bogey over his last 36 holes.
Prugh thinks the pro-am format keeps him away from any mental dangers that might otherwise arise from leading a PGA Tour tournament after three rounds. Perhaps helping amateurs with their game prevents him from overthinking his own.
Whatever the magic formula, Prugh is the first rookie to lead a round at the event since John Senden took the second-round lead in the 2002 tournament eventually won by Phil Mickelson.
"I'm just trying to entertain my amateur partners as well as I can, and hopefully they get their money's worth when they're out here," Prugh said.
Flores was every bit as impressive as Prugh, shooting the second straight 65 of his bogey-free tournament to pull into a tie with second-round leader Watson (68), who rallied after a slow start on the Arnold Palmer Private course.
Joe Ogilvie (68) was four strokes back at 17 under. Chad Collins (69), Tim Clark (67) and Bill Haas (66) were 16 under, and Mike Weir (67) was 15 under.
After rain washed out play Thursday and threatened Friday, the players finally revelled in perfect Palm Springs scoring weather. Amateurs, celebrities and pros alike were thrilled to see fewer fairway marshes and more sturdy greens, but two unheralded rookies made the biggest splashes by crowding around Watson, who's also seeking his first US PGA Tour victory.
The long-hitting Watson was in prime position to pull away a bit after doing well on the two tougher courses during the rainy first two days, but he was 1 over after eight holes on the Palmer course Saturday before stringing together four birdies on the back nine. Although he's touting a new mental attitude this season, Watson couldn't help jabbing himself after wasting a chance.
"I just played bad," said Watson, the tour's second-longest driver last year. "The 68 was getting a lot out of my round today, so I'm not mad at a 68. It's just [that] I wanted to play better. My caddie kept yelling at me, trying to get me to pay attention and stay focused. I just hung in there."
After finishing 72nd last week at the Sony Open, Prugh played as well as a Pacific Northwest native might be expected to do on the Hope Classic's two rainy days. He shot an opening-round 64 on the easier Nicklaus Private course at PGA West, followed by a steady 66 on Friday at the Palmer course.
Prugh has played 41 straight holes without a bogey, while the 27-year-old Flores has yet to make a bogey in the tournament. The Texas native seemed a bit more excited than Prugh about the auspicious debuts of two Nationwide Tour regulars last year.
"There's a first for everything, and I just seemed to be very comfortable in this situation for some reason," said Flores, whose last bogey was on the 17th hole of his final round at the Sony Open last week. "I don't know why that is. I never want to come off as arrogant, but ... I'm just confident in my game, and I like that right now."
Prugh and Flores both played on the Nationwide Tour last year. Prugh won the New Zealand Open and earned his PGA Tour card by finishing 16th on the money list, while Flores didn't do particularly well in his nine starts, but earned his card by finishing fourth at the national qualifying tournament.
After two weeks, Prugh hasn't found the US PGA Tour competition to be a whole lot stiffer than on the Nationwide Tour. With none of the tour's top 35 players in the Hope Classic field, he might have a point.
"The competition level is very similar," Prugh said. "I think you're very well prepared after coming out of there

THIRD-ROUND LEADERS (five-round tournament)
Par 216 (3x72). First prize $918,000.
Players from US unless stated
PGA West (Palmer Course)
196 Martin Flores 66 65 65
199 Joe Ogilvie 65 66 68
200 Chad Collins 67 64 69
201 Mike Weir (Can) 67 67 67
202 Kevin Na 69 66 67, J.P. Hayes 65 67 70, D.J. Trahan 69 68 65, Steve Elkington (Aus) 69 65 68
203 Derek Lamely 68 69 66
204 Brandt Snedeker 70 69 65
205 Jeff Overton 68 68 69, Paul Goydos 69 69 67, Webb Simpson 67 72 66
206 Brian Gay 71 65 70, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 67 71 68, Tom Gillis 68 66 72, Heath Slocum 66 72 68
207 Greg Chalmers (Aus) 70 69 68
208 Henrik Bjornstad (Nor) 68 70 70, Justin Bolli 70 71 67
209 Greg Owen (Eng) 74 65 70
210 Briny Baird 68 67 75
211 Billy Mayfair 71 71 69, Blake Adams 74 68 69
212 Boo Weekley 71 74 67, David Duval 74 65 73
213 Jeff Maggert 76 67 70
214 Marc Turnesa 69 70 75, Alex Cejka (Ger) 70 74 70
215 Mathew Goggin (Aus) 76 71 68, Jeff Gove 72 69 74
220 Steve Flesch 71 78 71

PGA West (Nicklaus Course)
195 Alex Prugh 64 66 65
200 Tim Clark (Rsa) 70 63 67
203 Richard S Johnson (Swe) 69 69 65, Charles Howell III 68 69 66
204 Garrett Willis 65 69 70
205 Scott McCarron 67 71 67, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 70 67 68, Chris DiMarco 72 67 66, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 73 66 66, Matthew Jones (Aus) 69 67 69
206 Vaughn Taylor 66 67 73, Matt Bettencourt 71 66 69
207 Brendon De Jonge 73 67 67, Chris Wilson 69 67 71, Bill Lunde 68 68 71, Jeff Quinney 64 74 69
208 Omar Uresti 70 67 71, Kevin Sutherland 69 71 68, Shane Bertsch 62 69 77, Brenden Pappas (Rsa) 68 70 70
209 Jerod Turner 69 69 71
210 Jay Williamson 71 68 71, Ted Purdy 70 69 71
211 D.A. Points 70 71 70
213 Nicholas Thompson 72 71 70
214 Garth Mulroy (Rsa) 73 72 69
215 Chris Stroud 71 68 76, Kris Blanks 69 75 71
216 Kevin Johnson 76 75 65, Martin Laird (Sco) 73 72 71
219 Scott Piercy 76 71 72
222 Brad Faxon 70 73 79

La Quinta CC
196 Bubba Watson 66 62 68
200 Bill Haas 68 66 66
202 George McNeill 65 72 65, Ryan Moore 69 67 66
203 Matt Kuchar 67 69 67
204 John Merrick 68 70 66
205 Jeff Klauk 66 72 67, John Senden (Aus) 68 69 68
206 Ricky Barnes 67 72 67, Brett Quigley 71 66 69
207 Rodney Pampling (Aus) 67 70 70, David Toms 70 70 67, Roger Tambellini 66 71 70, Graham Delaet (Can) 71 69 67
208 Bob Estes 68 72 68, Jamie Lovemark 71 71 66
209 Michael Sim (Scot/Aus) 73 67 69, Ben Crane 70 69 70
211 Cameron Percy (Aus) 70 70 71, Scott Verplank 70 74 67, Chez Reavie 71 71 69
212 Michael Bradley 74 68 70, Harrison Frazar 72 72 68, Sam Saunders 74 67 71
213 Chris Tidland 72 72 69, Matthew Every 69 71 73
214 Mark Brooks 70 71 73
216 Cameron Beckman 67 74 75
217 Daniel Chopra (Swe) 73 71 73
218 Johnson Wagner 75 70 73
220 Steve Lowery 71 76 73
221 Christopher Baryla (Can) 71 78 72

Silver Rock
203 Jason Dufner 72 67 64, Ryan Palmer 72 67 64
204 Kevin Streelman 70 71 63
205 Pat Perez 68 69 68, Kevin Stadler 67 69 69, Lee Janzen 69 70 66
206 Justin Rose (Eng) 70 67 69
208 Jimmy Walker 71 68 69, Troy Merritt 72 70 66
209 Joe Durant 71 69 69, Bo Van Pelt 73 70 66, Chris Couch 71 72 66, Josh Teater 71 69 69, Jason Bohn 69 72 68
211 Charley Hoffman 69 72 70, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 68 69 74
212 Brian Davis (Eng) 73 70 69, Tim Petrovic 67 75 70, Billy Horschel 77 68 67, James Nitties (Aus) 71 69 72
213 Chad Campbell 79 70 64, Rich Beem 71 74 68, Rocco Mediate 75 71 67
216 Mark Calcavecchia 71 77 68
218 Justin Leonard 75 71 72, John Mallinger 74 76 68
219 David Lutterus (Rsa) 75 70 74, Rickie Fowler 74 70 75
220 Woody Austin 77 70 73, Greg Kraft 75 73 72
222 Craig Stadler 76 75 71
Withdrew: 224 Ron Skayhan 71 75 78

Tom Watson leads by two from Fred Couples

Tom Watson holds a two-shot lead over over-50s debutant Fred Couple after the second round of the Mitsubishi Electtric Championship at Kaupulehu-Kona, Hawaii in the first event of the new US Champions (Seniors) Tour.
The 60-year-old man from Kansas, who should have won last year's Open at Turnberry had six birdies on the inward half for a six-under-par 66 and a 15-under-par tally of 129 with one round to go over the Hualalai course.
A winner already this month on Hawaii of the Wendy's Champions Skins in partnership with Jack Nicklaus, who turned 70 last week, Watson came back from a less than impressive start to finish with a bag of nine birdies to more than offset three bogeys.
Watson is averaging a driving distance of 288.5 yards in this tournament, hitting 80.6% of the greens in regulation and averaging 1.552 putts per green hit in regulation.
The scores were again on the low side over this resort course, which is just the easiest the veterans are asked to tackled all year.
Couples did not drop a shot in a second-round 66. He is making his first official Champions Tour start on a sponsor exemption to the winners-only event.
Fred is trying to increase the number of players - 15 - who have won in their Champions Tour debut. They include Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player but, a lot more recently - last year in fact, three players, including ex-Open champion and US Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman achieved the not inconsiderable feat.
Lehman had a 67 to join Michael Allen (66) at 12 under par. They were a stroke ahead of Mark O'Meara (65) and Phil Blackmar (67).
The 74-year-old Player shot his age for the 29th time in his long and successful career, but was in last place at 6 over. Player got the birdie he needed to reach his age by holing a bunker shot for birdie on 16 .... "the more I practice, the luckier I get." as the South African use to say.
LEADERS WITH ONE ROUND TO GO
Par 144 (2x72). First prize $315,000.
Players from US unless stated
129 Tom Watson 63 66.
131 Fred Couples 65 66.
132 Michael Allen 66 66, Tom Lehman 65 67.
133 Mark O'Meara 68 65, Phil Blackmar 66 67.
134 Mike Goodes 68 66, Hale Irwin 67 67.
135 Corey Pavin 67 68.
136 Andy North 71 65, John Cook 68 68, Bernhard Langer (Germany) 68 68, Keith Fergus 67 69, Bruce Lietzke 67 69.