Friday, March 12, 2010

Harrington makes move but Poulter has a painful day

FROM THE SCOTSMAN SPORT.COM WEBSITE
By Mark Garrod in Miami
Playing partners Ian Poulter and Padraig Harrington went in totally opposite directions in the second round of the WGC-CA Championship in Miami yesterday.
Harrington moved into contention on six-under-par following a four-under 68, four behind clubhouse leader Ernie Els in joint fifth place. But, three weeks on from his World Match Play victory, Poulter crashed to near last place with a 78 for 150 and then revealed that he had nearly quit the event because of a neck problem.
The pair finished their day's work just before play was held up briefly because of an approaching thunderstorm, officials having made a very wise move in bringing forward tee times by nearly three and a half hours.
South African Els, 40, added a 66 to his opening 68 to lead on 10-under-par 134 by one shot from Australian Robert Allenby who had a hole in one - the 14th of his career - at the 233yd 13th. Allenby finished with a 67 for 135.
Harrington's only 2009 success came in the non-Tour Irish PGA Championship, but he was making no promises about putting that right this weekend.
The Dubliner has dropped to 13th in the world with nothing better than a 16th place finish in four starts so far this season. With that in mind he said:
"I have a tradition that I don't normally win out of the blue. It's very rare. I normally warm up by getting into contention a few times. I'm happy with my scoring but I made a few mental errors out there and missed a few putts. Obviously, though, I hit enough good shots and I seemed to have a lot of reasonable chances for birdies."
His only dropped shot came after he hooked his drive into the lake on the treacherous 18th, his ninth of the day.
Poulter did the same, but for him it was one of seven bogeys.
"I nearly didn't play yesterday," said the world No 5. "My usual physio guy is in Australia so I had to get some treatment when I got to the course and as I went to practice I still wasn't sure I'd be playing."
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Blue Monster at Doral Golf Resort, Miami, Florida
Par 144 (2-71)
134 Ernie Els (South Africa) 68 66.
135 Robert Allenby (Australia) 68 67
136 Bill Haas 71 67.
137 Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 67 70.
138 Soren Hansen (Denmark) 69 69, Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 70 68.
139 Yuta Ikeda (Japan) 71 68, J B Holmes 69 70, Vijay Singh (Fiji) 68 71, Mike Weir (Canada) 73 66, Tim Clark (South Africa) 70 69, John Senden (Australia) 69 70.
140 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain) 72 68, Peter Hanson 74 66, Phil Mickelson 71 69, Camilo Villegas (Colombia) 72 68, Francesco Molinari (Italy) 69 71.
141 Alvaro Quiros (Spain) 72 69, Paul Casey (England) 69 72, Dustin Johnson 69 72, Wen-Chong Liang 72 69.
142 Alistair Presnell 72 70, Hunter Mahan 72 70, Steve Stricker 73 69, Matt Kuchar 71 71, Jason Dufner 73 69, Sean O'Hair 71 71, Lee Westwood (England) 74 68, Martin Kaymer (Germany) 70 72, Jerry Kelly 70 72, Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 74 68.
143 Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 72 71, Brian Gay 74 69, Adam Scott (Australia) 74 69, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 71 72.
144 David Toms 72 72, Lucas Glover 72 72, Anthony Kim 71 73.
145 Heath Slocum 74 71, Luke Donald (England) 70 75, Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) 73 72, Simon Dyson (England) 72 73, Y E Yang 73 72, Nick Watney 73 72, Ross Fisher (England) 73 73, Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 74 71.
146 Steve Marino 75 71, Zach Johnson 76 70, Sergio Garcia (Spain) 74 72, Anders Hansen 76 70, Edoardo Molinari (Italy) 72 74, Jim Furyk 70 76.
147 Ryan Palmer 79 68, Ben Crane 74 73, Kenny Perry 73 74, Ross McGowan (England) 76 71, Retief Goosen (South Africa) 76 71.
148 Kevin Na 78 70, Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 78 70, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 73 75, Scott Verplank 76 72.
149 Michael Sim (Australia) 75 74, Stewart Cink 75 74, Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 76 73.
150 Ian Poulter (England) 72 78.
151 Marc Leishman (Australia) 78 73.
152 Oliver Wilson (Engloand) 78 74, Soren Kjeldzen 74 78.

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Soren Hansen in court next Friday on tax evasion charge

Danish Ryder Cup player Soren Hansen will be in a Danish court next Friday to answer charges of tax evasion.
Hansen, 35, is charged with misreporting earnings from the years 2000 to 2006, stemming from his claim that he resided in Monaco and not Denmark, his country of birth.
In February this year, US Seniors Tour player Jim Thorpe, 61, was sentenced to 12 months in prison and ordered to pay $2million in back taxes for tax evasion.

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Ernie Els early clubhouse leader at Miami

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
South African Ernie Els was the clubhouse leader at the second round of the World Golf Championships-CA Championship before play was held up briefly because of an approaching thunderstorm at the Doral Golf Resort, Miami in Florida.
It vindicated the officials, who made a very wise move in bringing forward tee times by nearly three and a half hours.
Els, 40, who last year failed to land a title for the first time since his rookie season in 1990, has been putting in the hours on the practice range recently.
That certainly paid off as he added a 66 to his opening 68 and he shared top spot with Australian Robert Allenby, who still had three holes to complete when the suspension came.
The pair were three clear of closest challenger Bill Haas and overnight leader Charl Schwartzel.
Padraig Harrington finished just before the break, sitting tied for fifth with Søren Hansen on six under.
The Irishman's only 2009 success came in the Irish PGA Championship, but he was making no promises about putting that right this weekend.
The Dubliner has dropped to 13th in the world with nothing better than a 16th place finish in four starts so far this season.
With that in mind he said: "I have a tradition, unfortunately for me, that I don't normally win out of the blue.
"It's very rare. I normally warm up by getting into contention a few times.
"I'm happy with my scoring but I made a few mental errors out there and missed a few putts.
"Obviously, though, I hit enough good shots and I seemed to have a lot of reasonable chances for birdies."
His only dropped shot came after he hooked his drive into the lake on the treacherous 18th, his ninth of the day.
Els said: "I'm just pleased we got it done. The weather is changing a lot.
"I'm in pretty good shape. Halfway there and, you know, just got to keep it up."
Dane Hansen kept alive his hopes of the first prize with a second successive 69 to be alongside Harrington.
“Playing really well. Hitting a lot of greens. Giving myself a lot of chances and I suppose that's what it's all about in this game,” he said afterwards.
SCOREBOARD TO COME

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Spaniard Del Moral leads by three on home territory

FROM THE ALPS TOUR WEBSITE
Jordi Garcia Del Moral, a 24-year-old Spaniard, took the lead at the Peugeot Open El Escorpion in Spain, signing for the best score of the day, a seven-under-par 64, for a three-stroke advantage ahead of Italian Matteo Delpodio.
Del Moral is full member of the Challenge Tour but is just coming back from wrist surgery.
“I know the course well. I live about one hour from here and I often play practice rounds here. I feel relaxed to play here because it is not my circuit. I came to train. I have a medical exemption from the Challenge Tour.
"I will play some small European Tour events in April if I can, then I will focus on the Challenge Tour. Today, my back nine was a dream. I putted so well and I holed one putt for eagle on the 15th hole after a great three-wood of 243 metres.
"I am very pleased to play with Matteo tomorrow. We are good friends.”
Yesterday's leader, Delpodio holed a beautiful eagle putt too on the 18th hole, his ninth. Confident teeing off the back nine, he missed some putts to increase his advantage. He dropped one shot with a three-putt on the third hole, short par 4.
On the following green, after a wonderful shot from 60m range, he holed for a birdie. It was his last one. After that his driving was not so precise and he had to play great golf to save pars. He scored 69 and completed his two rounds with a seven-under-par total.
“I know Jordi well. We have played together for the Continent of Europe in the St Andrews Trophy match of 2006 as amateurs. We are really good friends. Tomorrow will be a good and fun day. I will need to hole more putts if I want to challenge him.”
In third place are two Spanish players at five-under-par, Jorge Campillo and Jesus Legarrea. Then one stroke behind, a big-hitting former European Tour player, Italy's Emanuele Canonica and English Steve Lewton, recently graduated from the Challenge Tour via his second place at the 2009 Alps Tour final order of merit.
The cut is fixed at +2.
SCOTSWATCH: Murrayshall members as amateurs, Steven Home and Gavin Dear continue stick fairly close together on the Alps Tour. Hume is outscoring is star Pertshire colleague with rounds of 69 and 70 for a share of sixth place of three-under-par 139. Dear is two shots back with scores of 71 and 70.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2x72)
132 Jordi GARCIA DEL MORAL (ESP) 68 64
135 Matteo DELPODIO (ITA) 66 69
137 Jorge CAMPILLO (ESP) 71 66, Jesus LEGARREA (ESP) 71 66
138 Steve LEWTON (ENG) 69 69, Emanuele CANONICA (ITA) 70 68 »»
139 Borja ETCHART (ESP) 70 69, Steven HUME (SCO) 69 70, Santiago LUNA (ESP) 69 70, Xavier GUZMAN SADABA (ESP) 71 68
140 Jose ROMERO (ESP) 69 71, Kim JOON (ITA) 70 70, Christophe BRAZILLIER (FRA) 67 73, Carlos DEL MORAL (ESP) 70 70, Ivan LARA (ESP) 73 67, Marco GUERISOLI (ITA) 71 69, Ivo GINER (ESP) 69 71.
141 Moises COBO (ESP) 69 72, Alex LARRAZABAL (ESP) 71 70, Jose Manuel OCEJO (ESP) 76 65, Carlos BALMASEDA (ESP) 71 70, Gavin DEAR (SCO) 71 70, Jose Manuel LARA (ESP) 70 71, Andrea PERRINO (ITA) 67 74, Lawrence DODD (ENG) 69 72, Pedro ORIOL (ESP) 69 72, Olivier SERRES (FRA) 72 69.
142 Farren KEENAN (ENG) 71 71, Pol BECH (ESP) 70 72, Vicente BLAZQUEZ (ESP) 71 71, Juan PARRON (ESP) 72 70, Daniel ALONSO (ESP) 74 68, Jose Luis ADARRAGA (ESP) 72 70,
Simone BRIZZOLARI (ITA) 71 71, Paolo TERRENI (ITA) 74 68, Bruno-Teva LECUONA (FRA) 72 70, Matthew CRYER (ENG) 72 70, Jorge GARCIA FERNANDEZ (ESP) 74 68, Sam ROBINSON (ENG) 72 70.
143 Jason PALMER (ENG) 71 72, Ismael DEL CASTILLO (ESP) 70 73.
144 Damien PERRIER (FRA) 71 73, Uli WEINHANDL (AUT) 73 71, Michael MOSER (AUT) 73 71, Jose Miguel ROSILLO (ESP) 73 71, Andrea SIGNOR (ITA) 73 71, Javier COLOMO (ESP) 71 73, Neil CHAUDHURI (ENG) 73 71, Matjaz GOJCIC (SLO) 72 72.
MISSED THE CUT
145 Mariano SAIZ (ESP) 73 72, Carlos GARCIA SIMARRO (ESP) 75 70, Matthew BALDWIN (ENG) 72 73, Pedro LINHART (ESP) 71 74, Jann SCHMID (SWI) 73 72, Francisco VALLS (ESP) 75 70, David ANTONELLI (FRA) 73 72, Benn BARHAM (ENG) 76 69, Nicholas MURTAGH (ENG) 71 74.
Selected non-qualifiers:
146 Richard KILPATRICK (NIR) 70 76.
148 Max BRACKLEY (ENG) 72 76.
149 Andy SMITH (ENG) 76 73
150 Ricki NEIL-JONES (ENG) 76 74
151 Jason Barnes (Eng) 75 76, Mark Hooper (ENG) 73 78.
156 Jordon Smith (Eng) 79 77.

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Chang Thailand Senior Masters Scoreboard
FIRST ROUND
64 B Ruangkit (Tha)
65 M Saengsui (Tha)
66 K Tomori (Jpn), J Chitprasong (Tha)
67 A Sowa (Arg), P Harrison (Eng), N Meesom (Tha), D Russell (Eng),
68 J Bruner (US), S Ebihara (Jpn), M Williams (Zim), J Quiros (Esp), J Rhodes (Eng), B Lincoln (RSA), M Farry (Fra)
69 S Bennett (Eng), D O'Sullivan (Irl), L Yong-Gun (Kor), M Harwood (Aus), T Johnstone (Zim), M Cunning (USA), L Carbonetti (Arg), H Carbonetti (Arg),
70 S Lyle (Sco), J Rivero (Esp), G Brand (Eng), F Minoza (Phi), F Mann (Sco), D Merriman (Aus), G Gunn (Can), G Ryall (Eng), G Cali (Ita), K Spurgeon (Eng), B Cameron (Eng),
71 S Saengsui (Tha), C Rocca (Ita), M Ramayah (Mas), N Job (Eng) , R Chapman (Eng) , G Banister (Aus) , B Boyd (US) , J Heggarty (Nir) , P Mitchell (Eng) , P Dahlberg (Swe) , S Bunpimuck (Tha)
72 L Stephen (Aus) , J Chillas (Sco) , C Williams (RSA) , M Poxon (Eng) , S Owen (Nzl) , G Ralph (Eng) , B Hardwick (Can) , I Woosnam (Wal) ,
73 B Longmuir (Sco) , T Gale (Aus) , S Torrance (Sco) , K Nam (Kor) ,
74 P Teravainen (USA) , J Hall (Eng) , B Smit (RSA) , P Allan (Eng) , S Taylor (US) , D Cambridge (Jam) ,
75 N Ratcliffe (Aus) , M Miller (Sco) , M Piñero (Esp) , P Oakley (US) , I Palmer (RSA) , A Garrido (Esp) , M Clayton (Aus) , A Tapie (USA) ,
76 I Mosey (Eng) , J Hawkes (RSA) , T Chen (Tpe) , D Johnson (US)
77 A Johnsson (Swe) , T Burgoyne (Sco)
78 M Gray (Sco)

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Nine Scots warm up in South Africa - thanks to Rupert!

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
Nine of Scotland’s leading amateur golfers arrive in South Africa today to complete their winter training programme, boosted by the support of the man behind the Dunhill Links Championship, Johann Rupert.
The South African business tycoon has sponsored the SGU’s Men’s Elite Squad training camp in his home country, providing golf, accommodation and facilities to the Scotland players over the next ten days. The Scots will use three different world-class courses during the trip as the final part of their preparation for the season ahead under the warmth of the South African sunshine.
The trip will include a two-day Test Match against South Africa at Leopard Creek, a three-team tournament against the South African Development and Junior sides at Houghton Golf Club and a match at Pearl Valley – scene of Richie Ramsay’s recent win in the South African Open - against a combined Provincial team.
A mixture of youth and experience has been selected for the squad, with four other players heading for Spain to play in the European Nations Cup next week. Former Allied Surveyors Scottish Amateur Champion Glenn Campbell is included in the squad alongside the youngest member of the team, Jack McDonald, the reigning firstpointusa.com Scottish Boys Stroke Play Champion.
Kirkhill’s Paul Shields, a recent Academy graduate to the Men’s Elite Squad makes the trip, whilst another youngster, 18-year-old Scott Gibson earns his first call up to the senior team. Fraserburgh’s Kris Nicol and Hilton Park’s Gordon Yates, fresh from reaching the knock-out stages of the Spanish Amateur Championship, are included alongside former SGU Order of Merit winner Steven McEwan, 2008 Scottish boys stroke play champion Mark Bookless and St Andrews’ Greg Paterson.
Rupert, who is the current chairman of the South African PGA Tour, said:
“I am delighted to support the Scotland Men’s Elite Squad and bring them over to South Africa to experience our wonderful facilities and beautiful golf courses. I am very proud to be associated with the Home of Golf through the Dunhill Links Championship and wanted to give something back to the development of talented young golfers in Scotland.”
“We will also be offering our support to the young South African golfers by way of competition against some of Scotland’s best, which will assist with their development. There should be some great matches in prospect.”
Douglas Connon, SGU Chairman, added:
“This is an exceptional gesture from Johann Rupert and we are very grateful for his generous support. This new partnership allows us to further expand our winter training programmes for our elite squads, providing opportunities for our players to experience world class facilities.”
The Scotland squad is also sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management and TaylorMade adidasGolf.
Scotland Squad for Player Development Camp in South Africa:
1. Mark Bookless (Sandyhills)
2. Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie)
3. Scott Gibson (Southerness)
4. Jack Macdonald (Kilmarnock Barassie)
5. Steven McEwan (Caprington)
6. Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh)
7. Greg Paterson (New Club, St Andrews)
8. Paul Shields (Kirkhill)
9. Gordon Yates (Hilton Park)

Squad Itinerary:
March 12-13

Practice at Vodacom World of Golf in Johannesburg
March 14-15
Triangular Match: Scotland v South Africa Junior Team v South Africa Development Team, Houghton GC
March 16
Practice, Leopard Creek Golf Club
March 17-18
Test Match: South Africa v Scotland, Leopard Creek Golf Club
March 19
Fly to Cape Town
March 20
Practice at the River Club
March 21
Provincial Match: Combined Provincial Select v Scotland, Pearl Valley GC
Depart

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Tiger Woods' early comeback is on the cards

FROM THE BBC.CO.UK WEBSITE
Speculation is growing that Tiger Woods will make his return to competitive golf within the next few weeks.
The American world number one has not played since November when revelations about his marital infidelities began.
In February, Woods said he did not know when he would return, but he has been working out with his coach Hank Haney.
"If he wasn't going to play for six months, why would Hank be there?" said Australian pro Roger Allenby, a Florida neighbour of Woods.
"I look at that as maybe he's getting ready."
Woods announced in December that he was taking an indefinite break from golf to try and save his marriage to wife Elin Nordgren. The couple have two children.
In an apology for his conduct which was televised worldwide last month, he again said he did not know how long he would be away from the sport. But the New York Post, citing two unnamed "sources in the golf community," said on Thursday that Woods was preparing for a possible return at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando on March 25.
The newspaper also reported Woods had consulted Ari Fleischer, a former presidential adviser to George W Bush, on a strategy to manage his return.
The Bay Hill tournament is run by Woods' management company, International Management Group, but tournament director Scott Wellington said he has not heard from the player's agent, Mark Steinberg.
"At this point, we still don't know," he said. "Tiger has until next Friday to commit. But it was a busy day, for sure. We had a lot of calls, a lot of interest and we sold some tickets. It was interesting."
Woods has won at Bay Hill six times, from 2000-2003 and again in 2008 and 2009, and it is the only US PGA Tour event he has never missed since turning professional.
The first major championship of the year, the Masters at Augusta (April 8-11), also remains a likely venue for his return.
Augusta National is famed for its water-tight security, which means it would be next to impossible for the paparazzi to gain access to the course.
Speculation has also centered on the Tavistock Cup, a made-for-TV exhibition team event between PGA talent from rival Florida golf clubs Isleworth and Lake Nona.
Golfer Mark O'Meara, a friend and neighbour of Woods, fanned that flame this week when he told Golf Channel that he "wouldn't be surprised" to see Woods play in the March 22-23 competition.
Woods has represented Isleworth in the past, and the club is hosting the event this year, meaning he would not even have to leave the exclusive estate where he lives.
And Allenby added: "I hope he plays Tavistock Cup, because we need him on our team. And I hope he plays Bay Hill and then I hope he plays Augusta.
"He's the best golfer in the world and we want to play the best, (although) I'm definitely making more money when he's not playing."

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Seve OK after falling off golf cart

Seve Ballesteros has fully recovered after falling off a golf cart and banging his head on the ground in his home town of Pedrena in northern Spain.
The three-time Open champion, 52, underwent hospital exams for four days before being discharged.
In 2008, Ballesteros underwent surgery after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

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