PETERSON BEATS SPIETH IN JONES CUP PLAY-OFF

FROM THE GOLFWEEK.COM WEBSITE
By SEAN MARTIN
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Georgia: John Peterson didn’t get much time to celebrate his Jones Cup victory. After beating Jordan Spieth in a play-off Sunday and giving a brief acceptance speech, the Louisiana State University senior-year student sprinted toward Ocean Forest’s clubhouse.
His flight was scheduled to leave in approximately an hour, and he still had a 30min drive to Brunswick Golden Isles Airport ahead of him. He missed that flight, then drove about 90 minutes to Jacksonville to catch a later flight.
Peterson probably hadn’t planned on sticking around Ocean Forest so long. He started the Jones Cup’s final round in a tie for 12th, six shots off the lead. He teed off 40 minutes ahead of the final group.
Peterson shot 68 Sunday, the 54-hole tournament’s low score, to tie Jordan Spieth at 1-over 217.
Peterson made a 10-foot birdie putt on the first play-off hole for his first victory in nearly two years.
Spieth and Peterson had nearly identical birdie putts on the first play-off hole. Their balls were both 10 feet from the hole and within one foot of each other. Spieth left his putt short. Peterson poured his in the middle of the hole, then calmly lifted his putter in the air.

US Walker Cup Watch List
2) Jordan Spieth, 73-70-74--217
3) Bud Cauley, 73-70-75--218
5) A. Putnam, 75-72-73--220
T6) Scott Langley, 76-71-74--221
T6) Patrick Reed, 75-71-75--221
19) Peter Uihlein, 79-71-75--225
T29) B Barber, 76-75-77--228
T29) John Hahn, 78-72-78--228
39) R Henley, 78-76-76--230
51) H English, 80-76-76--232
74) N Smith, 78-80-80--238
Peterson made birdies on Nos. 2, 6,7, 8 and 17.
His only bogey was a three-putt on the 18th hole. He hit 3-iron to 15 feet, but thought he needed to make his birdie putt to win. He ran the 15-foot birdie putt well past the hole, then missed the 4-foot comebacker. Peterson birdied the 216-yard, par-3 17th after hitting 4-iron to 10 feet.
His ball-striking improved after a lengthy practice session earlier this week with LSU coach Chuck Winstead. Peterson was unhappy with an excessive right-to-left ball-flight. He hit 33 of 36 greens in the final two rounds.
“My ball’s just flying dead straight,” Peterson said. “When you know where it’s going and how far it’s going, you can aim right at it. I was taking 3-irons right at it. I had complete control of my ball all week.”
Peterson’s Jones Cup victory doesn’t guarantee him a spot in LSU’s starting lineup for the Gator Invitational February 12-13. The team will play its final 27 holes of qualifying Monday and Tuesday. The top five will travel to Gainesville, Florida Peterson’s currently in sixth place.
“I have to earn my spot,” Peterson said. “I think it’s cool. If I get beat, I have a great team and they beat me. I want them to beat me.”
Spieth also three-putted the final hole to fall into the playoff. He hit his hybrid approach to 40 feet on Ocean Forest’s 480-yard, par-4 finishing hole, but missed a 4-foot par putt.
“I thought I got past this kind of stage, where if I just needed to two-putt the last hole I could two-putt the last hole,” said Spieth, the 2009 U.S. Junior champion and AJGA player of the year. “I just got a little muscle tension, and just pulled it.”
It was Peterson’s first victory since the John Hayt Intercollegiate in February 2009. Peterson, of Fort Worth, Texas, was a second-team All-American as a sophomore, and an honourable mention last season. He finished this fall college season ranked 52nd in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings.
Spieth, playing his first tournament since a nine-shot victory in October’s AJGA Ping Invitational, also three-putted the par-3 15th from about 50 feet. Spieth looked to have control of the tournament after birdies on Nos. 10 and 11 gave him a two-shot lead. He reached the par-5 10th in two shots with a fairway wood, then made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 419-yard, par-4 11th. Spieth shot 36 on the final nine despite hitting eight of the final nine greens in regulation.
Patrick Rodgers (74) and Bud Cauley (75), who played with Spieth in the final group, tied for third, one shot out of the play-off. Cauley and Spieth started the final round tied for the lead at 1-under 143.
Andrew Putnam (73), who won the Arizona Intercollegiate on February 1, finished fifth at 4-over 220. NCAA champion Scott Langley (74) and 2010 Jones Cup champion Patrick Reed (75) tied for sixth at 221.
Reed was leading the tournament at 1 under par when he stepped on the 17th tee. He blocked his tee shot on the 216-yard, par-3 into the hazard, then tried to play his ball from the marsh. It took him three shots to get his ball out of the hazard. He two-putted for triple bogey, then triple-bogeyed the final hole.
Both Rodgers and Cauley had opportunities to earn a spot in the play-off.
Rodgers hit 4-iron into Ocean Forest’s 480-yard finishing hole. A fan standing greenside yelled “Get in the hole” as the ball rolled past the hole. It came to rest about 10 feet from the hole, but Rodgers missed the birdie putt. Rodgers also lipped out a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th and three-putted the par-4 16th for bogey. Rodgers, a high-school senior bound for Stanford, made 16 pars and two bogeys Sunday.
Cauley, who was 1 over par for the tournament when he stepped to the 18th tee, also took aim at the back-left hole location that was tucked behind a bunker.
“I hit it where I was aiming, but the wind never pushed it,” Cauley said.
His ball rolled down a steep slope left of the green. His first bump-and-run chip failed to climb the hill and rolled back toward him. His next chip came to rest 5 feet from the hole. He made the bogey putt. Cauley hit every green on the final nine except for the 18th. He missed birdie putts of 10, 3 and 12 feet on Nos. 13-15.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
Players from US unless stated otherwise
217 John Peterson 76 73 68, Jordan Spieth 73 70 74 (Peterson won play-off at first extra hole).
218 Bud Cauley 73 70 75, Patrick Rodgers 73 71 74.
220 Andrew Putnam 75 72 73.

BRITISH AND IRISH TOTALS
226 Eddie Pepperell (England) 76 73 77 (T21).
229 Oliver Farr (Wales) 78 74 77 (T34).
231 Kevin Phelan (Ireland) 82 71 78 (T46).
232 Andrew Cooley (England) 83 75 74 (T51).
234 Rhys Enoch (Wales) 81 74 79, Alastair Jones (Wales) 83 77 74, Rhys Pugh (Wales) 83 74 77 (T60).


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NEW CYPRUS CLUB POST FOR CHRIS CAMPBELL

NEWS RELEASE

Elea Golf Club in Cyprus, part of the prestigious Elea Estate development near Paphos, welcomes experienced Scottish golf professional CHRIS CAMPBELL to manage its state-of-the-art Teaching Academy

In its mission to be regarded as one of the best new golf clubs in the world, Elea has secured the services of one of the industry's best young professionals, who previously worked for the Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle in Scotland.

Ross Robertson, Director of Golf Operations at Elea Estate, said: "Chris comes to us with a rich pedigree of experience, having worked at both Skibo Castle and the Cranfield Academy, thus fulfilling our criteria of having experience in an exclusive and world-class members' environment, as well as being schooled as an excellent teacher at a prestigious academy.

"Furthermore, it was also critical that our golf professional was both educated to degree standard aswell being an excellent player of the game. Chris has an admirable playing record that includes being a Scottish Boy, Youth then Men’s International player, which included becoming the Scottish Under 16 Champion and runner-up in both the European Amateur Championship and European Boys Championship."

Chris joins the team at Elea Golf Club during a very exciting time. Since Elea was opened in October 2010 – by Sir Nick Faldo – the course has received rave reviews, including a 'Top 10 new internationalgolf courses of 2010' ranking from American title, Golf Magazine, and being recognised as 'one of the World's most exciting new courses' by UK title, Golf World.
Chris Campbell commented: "To be part of a development that has already been recognised as one of the world’s top new courses, so early in its life, is an opportunity I wasn't going to pass over. The facilities at Elea Golf Club are quite superb and I look forward to helping members and visitors alike, to get the best from their game."
At 6,900 yards, Elea Golf Club circulates through groves of mature carob and olive trees, while dramatic outcrops of weathered limestone strikingly contrast with the dark green fairways that, on many holes, are fringed by Mediterranean grasses and an abundance of wild herbs and native flora.
The course is supported by the Elea Golf Academy that features a full-length driving range complete with target greens and bunkers, a short game practice area and a stunning putting green, which commands an imposing location overlooking the whole course.
For further information about Elea Estate, visit the website, http://www.eleaestate.com/

MARTIN LAIRD COMES HOME IN 30 FOR A THIRD-ROUND 64

Martin Laird shot one of his lowest nine-hole scores - and one of his lowest rounds on the US PGA Tour - in the third round of the Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona.
The Glasgow-born former Scottish youths champion returned a seven-under-par 64 for a 54-hole tally of 10-under-par 203 in a tournament which has been hit by so many early-morning frost delays that it won't now finish until Monday.
His earlier rounds over the par-71 lay-out were 68 and 71.
Laird reached the turn, in the third round, in one-under-par 34 with a birdie at the second, a birdie at the short fourth and a bogey at the sixth.
Then he came whistling home in six-under-par 30 with birdies at the 10th, 11th and 13th, an eagle 3 at the 15th and a birdie 2 at the short 16th.
The Scot carried on the good work in his final round. Starting at the 10th, Laird birdied the 10th, 12th, 13th, third and sixth. Bogey-free so far, he has two holes, the eighth and ninth, to complete on Monday and is 15 under par for the tournament.
SONY OPEN WINNER WILSON LEADING IN FINAL ROUND

END OF SUNDAY REPORT FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITESCOTTSDALE, Arizona (AP) — Mark Wilson had some fun on the amphitheatre 16th hole in the third round of the Phoenix Open, donning a cheesehead and joining caddie Chris Jones to lead the rowdy fans in Packers chants (Green Bay Packers later beat Pittsburgh Steelers to win the NFL's Super Bowl).
The Wisconsin player, two strokes ahead of three players when play was suspended Sunday because of darkness, will be careful not to get too carried away Monday morning when he hits the 20,000-seat hole in the final round.

"I'm just going to try to make birdies in a smart way, not going to be firing at every pin," said Wilson, the Sony Open winner last month in Hawaii. "That's silly. Just hit smart shots and try to roll in the putts."

Wearing a yellow visor and green shirt in support of his beloved Packers, Wilson did just that late Sunday, breaking a tie with Tommy Gainey with a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-3 12th. Gainey three-putted the hole for a bogey.

"I birdied some tough holes," Wilson said. "The 4-iron I hit on 12 was the best swing of the day and I rolled in that putt. Just felt good.

"Been a long ride. I mean, four holes the first day, 28 holes the next day and then four holes and now 31 holes, and we'll do five more tomorrow and see what happens."

Wilson and Gainey were facing 20-foot birdie putts on the par-5 13th when they decided it was too dark to finish the hole.

"I was thinking about putting it, but it's hard to read and it's a goofy little putt," Wilson said. "It'll be a lot easier tomorrow morning.

"Someone was screaming in my head saying, 'Don't putt this tonight!' So, when I heard that voice, I said, 'Let's mark it.'"

Wilson was 18 under on TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course.

Gainey was tied for second with Vijay Singh and Jason Dufner. Singh shot a 5-under 66, while Dufner had four holes left.

The start Sunday was delayed a half-hour because of frost. About nine hours of playing time has been lost to frost and frozen turf, forcing the Monday finish.

Wilson completed a 68 in the third round Sunday and was 2 under through 12 holes in the final round. He got Super Bowl updates from the on-course announcers.

"The saddest thing is I couldn't watch the first half of the Super Bowl," he said.

Gainey was 1 over in the final round after shooting a 68 in the third round to take a one-stroke lead over Wilson.

"I'm not too happy in my position right now, two back, but I've just got to come out tomorrow and just get it done," Gainey said. "Just start making some putts."

He matched Wilson with a bogey on the par-4 11th after driving into the water on the left, then dropped another stroke on 12 when he three-putted from 90 feet.

"I made a couple bogeys the last few holes, and you know, I didn't think I really hit that many bad shots to be honest with you," Gainey said. "The drive on No. 11, I thought was good. I hit it in the middle of the fairway and it just happened to go in the water. That's just how it goes."

Singh, winless since 2008, was the last player off the course, putting out on the par-4 18th in the dark more than 10 minutes after Wilson and Gainey stopped playing.

"I've got no chance," Singh said. "They're going to come back tomorrow and I think the leaders have two par 5s to go and 17, and they're good enough players."

Singh has been slowed by right knee problems.

"Considering all, this is the first time that I've actually felt good, and coming back to the way I know how to play golf," he said. "Whatever happens, I'm very satisfied with my result this week."

J.B. Holmes (67) and Nick Watney (68) finished at 15 under. Martin Laird and Chris Couch also were 15 under. Laird had two holes left, and Couch had five.

Fan favorites Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler, paired together in the second-to-last group, dropped out of contention.

Fowler holed out from 123 yards on the final hole of the third round for a 69, but was six strokes back at 12 under with five holes left.

Mickelson, second a week ago in San Diego, had a 71 in the third round and was 11 under overall. He needs at least a solo third-place finish to pass Tiger Woods for No. 3 in the world. Lefty hasn't been ranked ahead of Woods since the week before the 1997 Masters.

Fowler wore a hot pink hat, shirt and shoes in the third round, prompting a female fan near the 16th green to shout "Rickie, I want your shoes!" In the fourth round, he switched to an all-orange "Oklahoma State" ensemble.

FINAL ROUND POSITIONS AT SUSPENSION OF PLAY
-18 after 12 holes Mark Wilson.
-16 after 18 holes Vijay Singh.
-16 after 14 holes Jason Duffney.
-16 after 12 holes Tommy Ganes.
-15 after 18 holes Nick Watney.
-15 after 18 holes J B Holmes.
-15 after 16 holes Martin Laird.
-15 after 13 holes Chris Couch.

 
CHECK OUT THE SCORES AND SCORECARDS ON THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

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SO THIS IS WHY PHIL MICKELSON IS SUCH A GOOD WEDGE PLAYER

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
By James Achenbach
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona – Here at frosty TPC Scottsdale, Phil Mickelson, aka Wedge Man, was holding court.
Fascinating stuff. The master tossed out a few nuggets of wedge wisdom, and they were immediately snatched up by the quick and the curious.
First, Mickelson revealed he is a better wedge player because he is using a different ball this year. He has gone soft, playing the Callaway Tour i(s). He called it “Callaway’s version of a very high-spin golf ball” and added, “It helped me last week at Torrey (the Farmers Insurance Open, held at San Diego’s Torrey Pines, where he finished second), and it’s going to help me this week as well.”
Why does he like a soft ball, particularly in cold weather?
“When it gets cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well, and when it hits the face, the face actually moves, and the misses get exaggerated, and this golf ball doesn’t do that. This golf ball compresses very easily, so I hit it a lot straighter in cold conditions.”
Mickelson talked about his wedge practice sessions, in which he follows the advice of instructor Dave Pelz.
“We don’t work with technique, we work on how to practise. When we work, we’re building a foundation that carries over to the golf course. For instance, I do a towel drill where I try to fly my irons a specific yardage, and I hit 1,500 balls a month to those specific yardages and have for the last seven years.
“So when I get a wedge shot like No. 18 (at Torrey Pines) that’s 72 yards and my towel drill number is 75, I only have to alter it three yards to get it to fly to my number. And over seven years of doing this, I can usually fly it within a yard 95 percent of the time.”
He needed to sink that 72-yard shot to tie Bubba Watson. He came close, but lost the title to Watson by a stroke.
Mickelson also is using an unusual wedge configuration – 52, 60 and 64 degrees – although nobody questions Lefty when it comes to wedges. The gap between 52 and 60 is greater than most players can comfortably handle.
Finally, Mickelson revealed one of his career goals. Normally he doesn’t talk much about goals, but here he was, taking a long-term perspective.
“Well, I don’t really like to share goals too publicly, but one goal that I will share is I think there’s a magic number about 50 wins. I’m 12 away. I really think that’s an attainable goal and maybe in a short period of time.”
That’s Phil, who at 40 is still totally captivated by the Thrill.
Editor's Note: I E-mailed James (Ross) Achenbach to ask him to explain what the words "towel drill" - he uses them twice in the above article - meant. Back came the reply, very quickly:
"Simply trying to land a golf ball on a white towel.
"They measure the yardages with a laser, placing towels at 10-yard intervals (or whatever they choose).
"The drill is surprisingly challenging at short distance such as 45, 55 or 65 yards."
JAMES ROSS ACHENBACH

STENSON AND JIMENEZ SET TO BE FINED FOR CLUB-THROWING

FROM THE BT YAHOO SPORT SERVICE
The European Tour is set to fine Henrik Stenson and Miguel Angel Jimenez over recent club-throwing incidents.
Spaniard Jimenez looks set to be penalised after he threw his putter in a bout of frustration during last week's Volvo Champions event in Bahrain.
The four-times Ryder Cup player snapped the head off the putter but then birdied three of his closing six holes on day two of the event using a wedge.
Swede Stenson hurled a wedge back over his head into a water hazard after taking a 9 at his final hole during Friday's Qatar Masters second round.
A tournament official said they would look at footage of the incidents and expected both Jimenez and Stenson to be fined for "conduct unbecoming a professional".
Reuters

IAN BROTHERSTON FADES TO FINISH JOINT SECOND IN SPAIN

Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and County) led the field through the first 36 holes of the Spanish international senior men's amateur individual championship - but was caught over the final 18 holes at Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort in the province of Murcia, south-east Spain today.
Brotherston, leader by six strokes after starting with the round of the tournament - a two-under-par 70, had subsequent rounds of 77 and 79 for a total of 10-over-par 226. He was headed by Spain's Angel Macias Romero with scores of 77, 73 and 73 for seven-over-par 223.
The Scot shared second place with Ireland's Adrian Morrow (76-78-72)
Edzell's Keith Bruce finished joint eighth on 232 with scores of 79, 76 and 77.
John Johnston (Royal Aberrdeen) tied for 23rd place on 237 with scores of 81, 77 and 79.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
223 Angel Macias Romero (Spain) 77 73 73.
226 Ian Brotherston (Scotland) 70 77 79, Adrian Morrow (Ireland) 76 78 72.
229 Carlos Saldaya Martinez (Spain) 80 72 77.
Selected totals
231 Basil Griffiths (Wales) 77 78 76, Trevor Gray (England) 79 72 80 (T6)).
232 Keith Bruce (Scotland 79 76 77, Glyn Rees (Wales) 78 74 80 (T8).
235 Gaius Potton (England) 79 81 75, James Johnston (Scotland) 80 76 79, John Whitcutt (Wales) 78 80 77 (T13).
236 Maurice Kelly (Ireland) 82 75 79 )(T17).
237 John Johnston (Scotland) 81 77 79, Iain Stewart (Scotland) 82 75 80.
238 David Lane (England) 81 80 77 (T29).
240 Alistair J Fiddes (Scotland) 81 80 79, Terance Brown (England) 80 80 80 (T32)
MISSED THE CUT
168 Danny Dowell (England) 88 80.
169 Tom McEvoy (Ireland) 90 79.
172 Robert Gill (Scotland) 89 83.
177 Andrew Laird (Scotland) 96 81.

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FEDERATON WEBSITE

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CALLING SENIOR GOLFERS TO TAKE THE ROAD TO MOROCCO

THE INAUGURAL MOROCCAN INTERNATIONAL SENIOR AMATEUR INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR MEN (55th birthday on or before  October 18, 2011) AND WOMEN (50th birthday on or before October 18, 2011) WILL BE STAGED AT THE GOLF DU SOLEIL COURSE, AGADIR OVER 54 HOLES FROM OCTOBER 18 TO 21.
Log on to the Menara Travel Home Page - www.morocco4golf.com - to find out more details and how to enter.
Any difficulties, E-mail the Tournament Director Colin Farquharson at Colin@scottishgolfview.com

PLAY GOLF IN AFRICA FOR A WEEK ... AND BRAG ABOUT IT FOR A YEAR

LOCAL HERO WINS BANGLADESH MASTERS

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Dhaka: Local star Siddikur completed a remarkable wire-to-wire triumph at the Grameenphone Bangladesh Masters today and immediately reiterated his desire of spearheading the continued growth of golf in the country.
Siddikur posted a final round score of three-under-par 69 for a 19-under-par 269 total to run away with the title at the US$75,000 Asian Development Tour event.
Milon Ahmed of Bangladesh secured second position with a 72 for a 281 total, 12 strokes behind Siddikur while amateur golfeR Jakiruzzaman (68), also of Bangladesh, and flamboyant Japanese prospect Yosuke Tsukada (74) shared third place on a 284 total at the Kurmitola Golf Club.
LEADING FINAL TOTALSPar 288 (4x72)
269 Siddikur (Ban) 66-65-69-69
281 Milon AHMED (Ban) 72-69-68-72
284 Jakiruzzaman (Ban) (amateur) 71-75-70-68, Yosuke TSUKADA (Jap) 70-71-69-74
285 Zamal Hossain MOLLAH (Ban) 72-68-74-71
286 Rezaul KARIM (Ban) 74-70-75-67, Hirotaro NAITO (Jap) 70-70-72-74
287 Justin BRINK (Ire) 71-72-75-69, Ross CANAVAN (Eng) 71-72-69-75
288 Javed INAYAT (Pak) 73-74-67-74, Liton HOWLADER (Ban) 69-71-71-77
289 Takafumi KAWANE (Jap) 73-71-75-70
290 Sayum MIAH (Ban) 70-72-72-76
291 Llewellyn MATTHEWS (Wal) 75-74-73-69, Neil REILLY (Eng) 72-73-74-72
292 Shakhawat SOHEL (Ban) 75-71-75-71, A. MOTIN (Ban) 68-71-76-77
293 - Will YANAGISAWA ( USA ) 75-72-74-72, Lindsay RENOLDS (Can) 72-75-71-75

THOMAS BJORN IS GREAT DANE AT QATAR MASTERS

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Thomas Bjorn held his nerve to land an 11th European Tour title at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy today.

The Dane, who will be 40 on February 18, saw his overnight one-shot lead wiped out by Markus Brier at the first hole, and then when the Austrian fell away 2009 winner Alvaro Quiros charged to within one on the back nine.

But the former Ryder Cup star, an assistant to team captain Colin Montgomerie at The Celtic Manor Resort last year, stayed calm to record a closing round of 69 to win by four shots on 14 under.

Bjorn parred his first 14 holes, before a wonderful six iron approach to the 15th led to his first birdie of the day, and he made further gains at the 16th and 18th.

"I said yesterday it was going to be one of those days where it's a question of hanging in, and that's all I did earlier on," said Bjorn.
"I didn't play particularly well for at least the first six holes. I was really struggling and didn't hit any fairways, and just kept holing a few putts for pars.
"I knew it was going to be a tough day, but from there on I started playing a lot better and got more control over the ball and just kept making pars. I stood on the tenth tee with a four shot lead and I knew it was going to be difficult, if I parred every hole on the back nine, it's going to be difficult for them to catch me."

Quiros came closest to catching the Estoril Open de Portugal winner - the big-hitting Spaniard turning one under before defying windy conditions to reach the par five tenth in two for birdie.

He picked up further shots at the 11th and 14th, but a missed five foot par putt on the 15th shortly before Björn's birdie on the same hole provided a crucial two-shot swing.

And when Quiros misjudged his tee shot at the penultimate hole and bogeyed, the contest was effectively over.

The 28 year old gained a shot at the last to finish second on ten under, with Brier joined by Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello in third.

"Alvaro put in a stint there where he threw a few birdies in and it became a little bit tense," admitted Bjorn.

"But after I hit that shot on 15 and saw him miss that putt for par, well, it's going to be difficult for him to catch me out if I don't make any mistakes.

"In the end it became a bit of a cruise, but I'm delighted with the week. I played solid golf - I think I made one bogey in the last 54 holes. On this golf course and in these conditions, that's good going."

Quiros was left to rue his late blips, but was generally happy to have finished runner-up for the second year running.

"Yesterday I was thinking I was going to finish top five. Now I have finished second by myself," he said.

"Unfortunately I made three putts on 15, and I made a stupid bogey on 17. So after that, it's going to be tough to reach him. But anyway, I'm very pleased to be where I am."

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
274 Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 74 65 66 69 (Euros 303,114).
278 Alvaro Quiros (Spain) 75 69 66 68 (Euros 202,073).
279 Markus Brier (Austria) 71 66 69 73, Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spain) 77 68 66 68 (Euros 102, 393 each).
280 David Howell (England) 75 69 68 68 (Euros 77,113).
SCOTS' TOTALS
284 Steven Gallacher 72 73 69 70, David Drysdale 71 71 72 70 (T12) (Euros 26, 969 each).
285 Paul Lawrie 74 66 71 74, Steven O'Hara 73 69 69 74 (T19) Euros 20,086 each).
287 Peter Whiteford 75 70 72 70 (T37) (Euros 12,549).
289 Richie Ramsay 75 70 74 70 (T45).  (Euros 8,366).
291 Andrew Coltart 74 72 73 72 (T59) (Euros 5,001).

Paul Lawrie's Tour Blog following his disappointing final round:
"I had a disappointing 74 blows today. I played nicely but had 37 putts which was a pity as today was my best ball-striking round of the week but when you putt like that it's impossible to compete. I finished 19th which is no disaster but I should have been a lot better. I missed from inside three feet four times which is soooooooo frustrating! It was windy again which made it tough to get close to the hole. I fly to Dubai at 6pm tonight.


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US OPEN QUALIFYING RULES TWEAKED BY USGA

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
JACKSONVILLE, Florida (AP) — The United States Open will rely more on the world ranking than money list in America and Europe to determine which players will be exempt from qualifying.
In sweeping changes to the criteria, the U.S. Golf Association said Saturday that players now will have two chances to crack the top 50 and get into the U.S. Open - on May 23 and June 13, the final ranking before the championship.
Thomas O'Toole, the USGA's chairman of competition, said the change was a "direct response" to last year, when Memorial winner Justin Rose and runner-up Rickie Fowler moved into the top 50 two weeks after the cut-off.
"Our mission is to always provide the most competitive fields for our national championships," O'Toole said.
Two other changes to the criteria are effective for this year's U.S. Open, to be played June 16-19 at Congressional.
-Instead of the top 15 and ties from the 2010 U.S. Open being exempt, it will be the top 10 and ties. O'Toole said players were made aware last year that this would be changed. Among those hurt by the change are Justin Leonard and Ben Curtis.
-The Players Championship winner now will get a three-year exemption instead of a one-year exemption.
The bigger changes involving the world ranking start next year.
For the last decade, players who finished in the top 30 on the US PGA Tour money list and the top 15 on the European Tour money list in the previous year were exempt from qualifying for the U.S. Open. Also exempt were the top two on the money list in Australasia and Japan, provided they were in the top 75 in the world.
Those exemptions will be eliminated, along with any other reference to a money list.
Instead, the 2012 U.S. Open will take the top 60 - instead of the top 50 - from the world ranking published three weeks before the U.S. Open and the ranking the week of the championship.
Also to be eliminated in 2012 is an exemption for anyone winning multiple US PGA Tour events in a 12-month period between U.S. Open. Over the last 10 years, only four players were exempt through multiple wins, and never more than one player per year. Usually, anyone winning twice in a year will qualify some other way.
The U.S. Open prides itself in being the most democratic of all majors because typically about half the field has to go through qualifying. One reason the cut-off for the world ranking being the third week of May was so the USGA would know how many spots would be available in the final stage of 36-hole qualifying.
Now it can assign alternates that would be added to the field depending on how many players cracked the top 50 in the final week.
Meanwhile, the US PGA Tour still doesn't lose very much for its members. It managed to keep the FedEx Cup criteria - the 30 players who reach the FedEx Cup finale at the Tour Championship remain exempt for the U.S. Open - and recent years have shown a majority of US PGA Tour members in the Nos. 51-60 spots in the world ranking.
The U.S. Women's Open will continue to rely on the LPGA Tour money list, even expanded it for this year from the top 50 to the top 70. This means fewer spots in the 36-hole qualifying, although the Women's Open gets only about 1,000 entries, compared with 9,000 entries for the men's championship.