TOMS LEADS BUT McDOWELL, DONALD IN PLAYERS' CONTENTION

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida (AP) — David Toms quit trying to be perfect on a TPC Sawgrass course that appears to demand it. It led to nearly perfect play over two days at The Players Championship and a one-shot lead over Nick Watney going into the weekend.
Toms went 25 holes before making a bogey Friday and countered with enough good shots for a 4-under 68, surprising only because he has missed the cut more than half of the times he has played in his nearly two decades at this event.
Watney did his best to catch him.
He started the back nine with back-to-back birdies, then gave himself a chance on every hole. Watney missed four birdie putts inside 12 feet over his last seven holes, settling for 71 after opening with a 64. His emotions showed what this place can do for you.
"I'm not exactly happy," Watney said, before ending his remarks with, "I'm excited where I am."
Toms was at 10-under 134, leading a quality list of contenders at the biggest event of golf's strongest tour.
U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, who had missed three of his last four cuts on the PGA Tour, finally got back on track with a 69 that left him two shots out of the lead, along with Steve Stricker, who made five birdies on the back nine for a 67. Former U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover, a winner last week at Quail Hollow, traded birdies with bogeys for a 71 and also was at 8-under 136.

Looming particularly large was England's Luke Donald, pictured right, who can go to No. 1 in the world with a victory. He has only been out of the top 10 once since last September. Perhaps even more impressive this week is that Donald became the first player since 2004 to make it around Sawgrass without a bogey for the open 36 holes.
"I think it's an accomplishment anywhere," Donald said. "This is a tough course. There is a lot of danger lurking. It is pretty easy to slip up around this course. So it's pretty satisfying to go without making a bogey 36 holes.
Four major champions are among the top 10 - one of them is Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III, a two-time winner of The Players who was three back going into the weekend. All but Toms among the top six have won tournaments in the last year.
Even with Tiger Woods long departed after withdrawing Thursday, there was no shortage of drama.
A fan offered to be lifted down into the lake off the 18th tee to retrieve Michael Bradley's driver when it came out of his hands. Mark Wilson called a two-shot penalty on himself for a double-hit - even though video evidence was inconclusive - which caused him to miss the cut. Jonathan Byrd challenged a bad time he received, and had Rory Sabbatini argue on his behalf.
The cut came at even-par 144, and even that featured some tough moments. Ernie Els, inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on Monday, was in front of the par-5 ninths in two, flubbed a chip and missed a 4-foot putt to make bogey and miss the cut by one.
Then there was the scorecard of Phil Mickelson - a 31 on the front to get within two shots of the lead, a 40 on the back to settle for a 71 and linger eight shots out of the lead.
Toms doesn't have a great record at TPC Sawgrass. In 18 previous attempts, he has missed the cut 10 times and only once has finished in the top 10. He just couldn't figure out the right angle into the greens, and always believed it had to be just right.
"It seemed early in my career around here I was always trying to play the perfect shot," he said. "I think the last few years, I've just learned to try to play my game, my shot ... rather than trying to hit the perfect shot on the golf course."
After a bogey-free opening round, he was determined not to give anything away. His first blunder came on the par-3 eighth when he missed the green to the left. He also dropped a shot on the 15th when he was between clubs and ended up hitting into a plugged lie on the bunker right of the green.
For all the putts he missed, Watney got a pair of good breaks. On the par-5 11th, his ball was headed into deep rough short of the green when he noticed it slightly plugged and covered with mud. It was determined to be in his pitch mark, so he was able to take a drop and wipe the golf ball clean, then chipped up to 4 feet for birdie.
"I would have lot a lot of money had I bet on a ball plugging today," he said. "It was a great break and I took advantage of it."
He was in deep rough on the 15th, but the ball landed in a divot, leaving him a clean shot that he could spin. This time, though, he missed a 7-footer. And in a mental blunder, Watney was over his 6-foot birdie putt on the 16th to tie for the lead when he heard the cheer for Bubba Watson making a long birdie on the island-green 17th. He pulled back the putter and missed it badly to the left.
No matter. He's one shot behind, confident of adding to a World Golf Championship he won earlier this year at Doral.
Watson, meanwhile, shot a 66 to easily make the cut, and Sergio Garcia rallied for a 68 to make it to the weekend.
So did McDowell, which didn't used to be big news.
His U.S. Open victory last summer at Pebble Beach set up a dream year for McDowell. He won the decisive singles match in the Ryder Cup to lead Europe to another win, then ended the season by coming from four shots behind to beat Tiger Woods in the Chevron World Challenge in a playoff.
Fortunes can change quickly in this game, and so can the confidence. McDowell missed three of his last four cuts on the PGA Tour before The Players, and he was starting to wonder what was going wrong.
"You go through a spell like I've just gone through where I just couldn't piece anything together, you have crazy thoughts. 'Will I ever win again? Will I ever be in contention again? Am I done? Am I finished?' It's just the craziness of this sport," he said. "You never know what's around the corner."
That much still holds true going into the weekend.


SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Total prizefund: $9.5million. Winner: $1.71million.
Par 144 (2x72). Yardage: 7,220.
Players from US unless stated
134 David Toms 66 68.
135 Nick Watney 64 71.
136 Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 67 69, Steve Stricker 69 67, Luke Donald (England) 69 67, Lucas Glover 65 71.
137 Hunter Mahan 70 67, Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 70 67, J B Holmes 68 69, Davis Love III 68 69.
138 Brian Davis (England) 69 69. Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 71 67, Chris Stroud 71 67, Greg Chalmers (Australia) 73 65, Rory Sabbatini (S Africa) 67 71, K J Choi (S Korea) 70 68.
139 Martin Kaymer (Germany) 67 72, Justin Rose (England) 70 69, Jason Day (Australia) 69 70, Kevin Sreelman 70 69, Paul Goydos 69 70, Jason Duffner 69 70.
SELECTED SCORES
140 Alvaro Quiros (Spain) 67 73 (T23).
142 Ian Poulter (England) 70 72, Phil Mickelson 71 71, Martin Laird (Scotland) 72 70, Matteo Manassero (Italy) 72 70, Retief Goosen (S Africa) 73 69, Stewart Cink 70 72, Sergio Garcia (Spain) 74 68, Bubba Watson 76 66 (T34).
143 Charl Schwartzel (S Africa) 72 71 (T47).
MISSED THE CUT (144 and better qualified)
145 Ernie Els (S Africa) 72 73, David Duval 70 76, Camilo Villegas (Colombia) 74 71, Rickie Fowler 77 68.
146 Francesco Molinari (Italy) 76 70, Paul Casey (England) 71 75, David Duval 70 76.
147 Jim Furyk 71 76, Louis Oosthuizen (S Africa) 71 76, Vijay Singh (Fiji) 75 72.
148 Michael Sim (Scotland/Australia) 76 72, Adam Scott (Australia) 76 72.
150 Edoardo Molinari (Italy) 72 78.
151 Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 73 78.
154 Henrik Stenson (Denmark) 79 75.

TO ACCESS ALL THE SCORES ON THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

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JAMIE McLEARY HAS JOINT BEST ROUND OF DAY IN ITALY

By SARAH GWYNN
European Challenge Tour Press Officer
Englishman Benn Barham and Spaniard Jordi Garcia both carded two-under-par 69s in the second round of the Mugello Tuscany Open to edge ahead on a tightly-packed leaderboard.
The pair reached six under par for the tournament to lead by one shot from four players - including Scotland's Jamie McLeary - at Poggio dei Medici Golf Club in Florence, Italy, while eight players are another shot back on four under.
Barham set the target in the morning, picking up shots at the first, ninth, 15th and 18th to counter bogeys at the second and sixth, and Garcia maintained the pressure in the afternoon with three birdies and one bogey.
The 35-year-old from Kent is playing only his third Challenge Tour event since recovering from surgery to remove a cancerous kidney towards the end of last year.
“The front nine is a bit more difficult so I felt level par for nine holes was okay, and there are more chances on the back nine,” said Barham. “So I just tried to hit fairways and greens and made a nice birdie at the 15th, a great par save on the 16th and a good birdie at the last. Two good rounds so far.
“I’m enjoying myself this week. I love Italy and the countryside and this is a lovely part of the world. I’ve had some nice food, one of my favourite things, and I’m staying in a lovely place this week. I’ve been sleeping like a log, which I think is due to the toughness of the course. It must be at least a five-mile walk.
“I intend to just keep playing the way I am and drawing on past experiences to spur me on. It’ll be good to turn a negative situation into a positive situation.”
Garcia finds himself in unfamiliar territory at the top of the leaderboard, but is confident he can maintain his good form over the weekend.
“I’m playing pretty well,” said the 25-year-old from Spain. “I’ve been working well the last three or four months. Now the only thing I can do is enjoy the weekend. This is the first time I’ve led a Challenge Tour event.
“I’m in Category 11 so I can only play about ten tournaments this year, so hopefully I can play well over the weekend and either win or do well enough to ensure I have some invitations for more events.
“I said yesterday that I’ve been very happy with the way I’ve been playing lately. I finished 41st in the Spanish Open last week despite being seven over in the third round. I’ve just got to keep up this form.”
Edinburgh’s Jamie McLeary, pictured below by Cal Carson Golf Agency, had the joint-best round of the day, bouncing back from a double bogey at the second hole to sign for a four-under-par 67, five under overall.
“I’ve missed a few putts this week, which isn’t really like me, but I’m happy with five under,” said the 30-year-old, whose only previous Challenge Tour victory was at the 2009 Scottish Hydro Challenge.

“I’ve had a couple of double bogeys, one on each day, on the first and second hole, so to be up at the top of the leaderboard after those is good.
“Last week I finished 15th (in the Allianz Challenge de France) despite leading after two rounds. I’ve been having bad weekends for the last year and a half so I hope this week is going to be the turning point.
“I’ve been practising my heart out over the winter and I started working with a new coach at the end of last year. He identified that my short irons and wedges weren’t very good, and the difference in them compared to last year is unbelievable, so he’s been really good. He’s made a huge difference to my game so I’m really hoping I might get my European Tour card this season.”
Fellow Scots Andrew Coltart (143), Callum Macaulay (145), Scott Drummond and Eric Ramsay(both 146) and Gavin Dear (153) missed the cut.

SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD

 Par 142 (2x71)

136 B Barham (Eng) 67 69, J Garcia  (Esp) 67 69.

137 B Hebert  (Fra) 65 72, J McLeary (Sco) 70 67, J Moul  (Eng) 68 69, M Delpodio  (Ita) 69 68.

138 B Akesson  (Swe) 67 71, A Hansen  (Den) 70 68, R De Sousa (Sui) 68 70, M Ford (Eng) 68 70, C Lloyd (Eng) 68 70, L Jensen (Den) 69 69, C Russo (Fra) 72 66, F Praegant (Aut) 68 70,

139 A Tadini (Ita) 68 71, F Colombo (Ita) 71 68, B Hafthorsson (Isl) 67 72, A Ahokas (Fin) 69 70, A Domingo (Esp) 71 68, R Santos  (Por) 72 67, E Pepperell (Eng) 73 66, B Grace  (RSA) 70 69, A Maestroni  (Ita) 69 70, J Palmer (Eng) 69 70.

140 J Lucquin (Fra) 71 69, A McArthur (Sco) 69 71, J Van Der Vaart (Ned) 71 69, L Canter (Eng) 70 70, G Molteni (Ita) 71 69, D Denison  (Eng) 70 70, A Snobeck  (Fra) 71 69, A Rota (Ita) 70 70, A Butterfield (Eng) 70 70, G Lockerbie  (Eng) 70 70, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 69 71, L Westerberg (Swe) 71 69.

141 M Evans (Eng) 67 74, R Kind (Ned) 73 68, E Kofstad (Nor) 69 72, F Svanberg  (Sui) 70 71, J Gallagher  (Sco) 72 69, W Schauman  (Swe) 70 71, F Pasqualucci (Ita) 70 71, H Bacher (Aut) 68 73, M Bothma (RSA) 73 68, T Whitehouse  (Eng) 71 70, K Sullivan (Wal) 74 67.

142 B Ritthammer (Ger) 70 72, M Thorp  (Nor) 72 70, A Pavan (Ita) 71 71, C Ford (Eng) 72 70, C Gane (Eng) 70 72, C Brazillier  (Fra) 69 73, C Lee (Sco) 70 72, J Abbate (Arg) 73 69, T Shadbolt (Eng) 72 70, J Lima  (Por) 73 69, B Miarka (Ger) 71 71, V Riu  (Fra) 74 68, R Whitelock  (Eng) 73 69, A Bernadet  (Fra) 69 73, M Erlandsson (Swe) 71 71, P Streeter (Eng) 72 70.

MISSED THE CUT 

143 S Bebb (Wal) 74 69, M Kramer  (Ger) 72 71, G Piris (am) (Esp) 71 72, A Coltart (Sco) 70 73, A Bruschi  (Ita) 71 72, P Golding (Eng) 67 76, S Jeppesen  (Swe) 74 69, P Archer (Eng) 74 69, A Jacobsson (Swe) 72 71, M Lundberg (Swe) 72 71.

144 J Hepworth (Eng) 71 73, T Feyrsinger  (Aut) 71 73, M Baldwin (Eng) 74 70, S Walker (Eng) 73 71, M Vibe-Hastrup  (Den) 75 69, P Relecom  (Bel) 71 73, A Signor  (Ita) 72 72, J Billot (Fra) 71 73, R Steiner (Aut) 72 72, K Eriksson (Swe) 71 73, N Ravano (Ita) 70 74.

145 C Rodiles (Esp) 72 73, L Kennedy  (Eng) 74 71, N Kearney (Irl) 74 71, C Macaulay  (Sco) 74 71, R Neil-Jones (Eng) 69 76.

146 N Lemke (Swe) 72 74, A Sjöstrand (Swe) 73 73, M McGeady (Irl) 74 72, R Blaum (USA) 72 74, J Caldwell  (Nir) 72 74, A Johnston (Eng) 74 72, J Clément  (Sui) 74 72, M Crespi  (Ita) 74 72, K Borsheim  (Nor) 75 71.

147 J Grillon  (Fra) 73 74, B Chapellan (Fra) 72 75, G Jackson (Eng) 77 70, J Heath  (Eng) 75 72, D Wuensche  (Ger) 75 72, T Leon (USA) 70 77, E Lattanzi (Ita) 74 73.

148 S Drummond (Sco) 73 75, G Houston (Wal) 73 75, A Haindl (RSA) 75 73, J Relecom (Bel) 76 72, Å Nilsson (Swe) 74 74, N Maestroni  (Ita) 74 74, I Keenan (Eng) 77 71, E Ramsay (Sco) 77 71.

149 G Adell (Swe) 73 76, R Hjelm (Den) 68 81, N Johansson (Swe) 77 72, A Bihan (Fra) 77 72, S Piaget  (Mon) 76 73, P Kaensche  (Nor) 75 74, J Robinson (Eng) 75 74, J Dantorp (Swe) 75 74,

150 N Meitinger  (Ger) 76 74, J Lopez Lazaro (Fra) 75 75, M Pastor (am) (Esp) 75 75, M Cryer (Eng) 74 76, V Vaccaro (Ita) 73 77, W Roebuck (Eng) 72 78, M Laskey  (Wal) 74 76, D Lokke (Den) 78 72,

151 D Marmion (Eng) 74 77, J Jori (am) (Ita) 78 73, N McCarthy  (Eng) 74 77,

152 N Bertasio (Ita) 76 76, C Günther (Ger) 76 76, W Besseling  (Ned) 76 76, J Ruth  (Eng) 76 76,

153 G Dear (Sco) 76 77, J Gidney (Eng) 78 75, N Lombardi (Ita) 76 77, D Whitnell  (Eng) 73 80,

154 J Kim (Ita) 81 73, M Cidonio (Ita) 77 77, J Little  (Eng) 76 78, T Sherreard  (Eng) 74 80,

155 A Perrino  (Ita) 75 80, M Dam (Den) 74 81, P Del Grosso  (Arg) 76 79, M Palm (Swe) 73 82,

156 M Bliss (Can) 78 78,

158 G Pietrobono (Ita) 78 80,

159 D Vanegas (Col) 78 81,

165 L Beneduce  (Ita) 90 75,

172 A Saragnese (Ita) 89 83,

173 M Beneduce  (Ita) 88 85,

 ** J Quesne  (Fra) 76 withdrew, A Zanini  (Ita) 71 retired.

TONIGHT'S ABERDEEN TRADES FOURSOMES RESULTS

HAZLEHEAD NO 1 COURSE


FIRST ROUND
Tulloch Recruitment bt Sparrow Group by 5 holes
T. Allan, J. Hewitt 4, S. Watt, C. Watt 0
G. Allan, S. Allan 1, J. Henderson, G. Blackwood 0)

Baker Hughes bt Morrison Construction by 8 holes
D. Stuart, R. Carr 7, G. Mennie, R. Wells 0.
K. Johnstone, C. Stuart 1, P. Wadsworth, P. Wilson 0.

Corn Trade wo, Lawyers scr.

Chartered Accountants wo, Plumbing and Heating scr.

SECOND ROUND
Insurance bt R. and C. Construction by 1 hole
G. Walker, D. Love 0, C. Simpson, P. Urquhart 0.
N. Henderson, J. Moore 1, J. Spiers, K. Allan 0.

PETER SMITH WINS BRITISH PGA SENIOR PROFESSIONALS' TITLE

Peter Smith, the new British Senior PGA professional champion (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency).

FROM THE PGA WEBSITE
Aberdonian Peter Smith, a teaching pro on Frank Coutts' staff at Deeside Golf Club, towed more than his caravan back to Scotland after winning the British Senior PGA Professional Championship on his debut at Northants County Golf Club today.
The 51-year-old, who pitched his tourer next to a nine-hole course for some extra practice, carded a final round four-over-par 74 to finish at one-over-par 211 for the tournament, which was enough to claim the silverware and the winner's cheque of £4,750.
Smith, who opened his title challenge with a best-of-the-week 67 and followed that up with a 70, had a four-shot winning margin over a trio of players - Stockport-based Richard Green (Bramhall), Southwold's Robin Mann and Royal North Devon's Iain Parker. They all earned £2,733.
All four of them, along with the rest of the top 20 at Northants County, have secured their place at the £250,000 De Vere Club PGA Championship at Slaley Hall next month, while Smith also gains entry to the Scottish Seniors Open in August.
And after taking the title, Smith is looking forward to his European Senior Tour dates, having made his bow at Slaley Hall last year.
He said: "I played last year and was sixth after two rounds. I played the final two rounds with Sam [Torrance] and Barry Lane and with Sandy Lyle and Andrew Oldcorn and I really felt I should be there. I didn't feel out of place. I didn't play great the last couple of rounds but I felt comfortable and winning this title is one of the steps in trying to get established.

"I've got Slaley Hall and the Scottish Seniors but I am known in a few places and this win will give me confidence as I can put on my CV that I am the Senior PGA Professional champion."

A former Scottish Northern Open champion, Smith was on the European Tour for a couple of years in the early 1990s but had spent the last 10 years in New Zealand (where he won the national club pros' championship) and the Netherlands before returning to Aberdeen last summer.

He began the final day with a five-shot advantage over his nearest rival but that got eroded to one shot at one stage as he struggled over the front nine, before recovering to take the title.

"I had a dreadful start and was just doing what I had seen everyone else do during the week," he said. "I was missing greens, not getting it close and missing six and seven foot putts.

"Hitting good shots but three-putting for bogey and so the first nine holes were a bit worrying. But I knew if I could get a few good shots under my belt it would turnaround. The tough holes at the start of the back nine I've played well all week, which I did again to give me that cushion coming the last couple of holes."

The trio of runners-up were all more than satisfied with the outcome of their week, given the margin Smith had at the start of the day over a course which is difficult to attack.

Mann, whose final round one-under-par 69 was the only sub-par round of the day, said: "I started the day nine behind Smithy, who's a quality player, and I got five of them back to get closer.

"I've finished second which is the closest I've been and so I'm delighted to have had a good week and can look forward to Slaley Hall."

Green, who was almost forced to quit the game as a result of tennis elbow, admitted he was still on the comeback trail but after his closing 72 was more than content with battling through the week to finish second.

"I'm quite surprised I came second," said the 54-year-old. "It was only when I made birdie at the 12th and looked at the leaderboard that five-over was close.

"I thought if I could stay at five-over then they always come back to you at this tournament they don't go away from you, so I did my job."

Parker,who like Smith was making his debut in the tournament, more than achieved his aim and looked to be a contender after opening his account with an eagle. But the Devon-based Scot had no complaints after closing with a two-over-par 72.

"My thoughts at the start of the week were to finish in the top 20 and get into Slaley Hall," he said.

"That would have been a good achievement but I've done much better than that and I'm delighted."

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 210 (3x70)

211 Peter Smith (Deeside) 67 70 74 (£4,750).

215 Robin Mann (Southwold) 72 74 69, Iain Parker (Royal North Devon) 73 70 72 (£2,733 each).

217 Graham Farr (Worcester) 68 76 73, Bob Larratt (Kibworth) 69 75 73 (£1,675 each).

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES

220 Jim Farmer (RandA) 74 72 74 (T13) (£627).

221 John McTear (unattached) 74 75 72, John Heggarty (Royal Liverpool) 74 72 75, Campbell Elliott (Haggs Castle) 70 73 78 (T17) £482 each).

222 Bill Lockie (North Gailes) 70 75 77 (T22) (£412).

223 Alan Hemsley (Barnham Broom) 74 77 72, Garry Harvey (Kinross) 69 74 80 (T24) (£355 each).

224 Alastair Webster (Edzell) 73 78 73, Graham Laing (North Wilts) 74 76 74 (T30) (£307 each).

226 Duncan Williamson (Kirkhill) 73 74 79 (37th) (£280).

CHRIS WOOD HAS THREE-STROKE HALFWAY LEAD ON MAJORCA

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Chris Wood holds a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Iberdrola Open as the Englishman put himself on course for a maiden European Tour title on the island of Majorca
Breezy conditions made for tough scoring at Pula GC, and the 23 year old - who has twice finished in the top five at The Open Championship - recorded a five under par 65 to advance to eight under.
Leading the chase are Wood's compatriot Matthew Nixon and Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke, who not surprisingly was enjoying the links-style conditions as he signed for a second round 70.
"You just have to keep it in play and think your way round a bit more," said Wood, who picked up six birdies before dropping his only shot at the 16th after his drive finished behind a tree.
"I am taking some holes on and being a bit more considered on others and it is working. I played lovely all day really but it's funny how it can change so quickly.
"I was cruising along and then came to 16 and that is not an easy tee shot. I was just trying to work the ball towards the bunkers on the right but ended up under a tree. I made bogey from there and then on 17 I hit a shot that had I played it a few hours beforehand would have been six feet from the pin but because the greens were firming up it bounced through the green. Not every shot is going to work out so I played nicely overall."
Wood has had 14 top-ten finishes on The European Tour, and the closest he came to winning was a play-off defeat in the Africa Open at the start of the current season.
"It will happen - I just need to keep putting myself in these positions," said Wood when asked about his long wait for a title. "The more that I can do that then the more chances I will have to win.
"It suits me this course. It can be tricky and you have to think your way round which is how I like to play golf - to try and be aggressive when I can and conservative when I have to. It is not a bombers course and it is only going to play shorter as the week goes on."
Clarke, who won the last of his 12 European Tour titles at the KLM Open in 2008, looked to be sliding out of contention when he started the day with an outward 38, but four birdies in six holes after the turn put him back on track.
There was another dropped shot when his tee shot found water at the 16th, but the former Ryder Cup star was satisfied with his day's work.
"I didn't play badly I just hit a few errant shots that, as I said earlier, put me in the wrong spots which you can't afford to do on this golf course," he said. "The wind turned on us on 16 and I hit my tee shot the wrong way so dropped one there but all in all I am pretty pleased, five under going into the weekend."
European Tour rookie Nixon, who was the only amateur to secure a card at last year's Qualifying School Final Stage, shot a level par 70 which included two double bogeys.
The 21 year old Englishman, who won the British boys' title at Royal Aberdeen in 2006, shot six birdies but two dropped shots at the par four third and par three 18th, the latter after hitting his tee shot into a bunker and three putting, prevented him getting closer to Wood.
"I think I'll be more dwelling in the fact that I am playing well and have a great chance over the weekend having missed the last two cuts," said Nixon when asked about his finish.
"I just have to go out there and give it 100 per cent and see what happens. There are scores to be made out there but if you hit a couple of lose ones then you can make a big number so hopefully I can keep it going and keep the mistakes off the card.
"There is work to do over the weekend and some great players in the field so I will keep my head down and see what it brings over the next couple of days."
Overnight leader Grégory Bourdy had a day to forget as a seven over par 77 sent him back to level par the day after he broke the course record.
Another Englishman, David Lynn, climbed into a share of fourth on four under with a second straight 68, and was joined by France's Thomas Levet, who matched Wood's best-of-the-day 65.
SCOTSWATCH. Paul Lawrie continued his fine spell of form with a 69 for 137 to be five shots off the pace in joint sixth place with two rounds to go. Scott Jamieson also continues to go well although he went over par with a 71 for 138 but he is still inside the top 10.
David Drysdale is just outside the top 10 after a 71 for 139 - one shot ahead of Alastair Forsyth, sharing 20th place on 140 after a 72. The other Scots  to survive the cut at a generous four-over-par 144 were Chris Doak, who had a 70 for 142 to be in joint 25th place, and the Saltman brothers, Elliot (74) and Lloyd (69) as well as Peter Whiteford (70), all tied 30th on 142.
Steven O'Hara (75-145), George Murray (73-146), Marc Warren (74-146), Colin Montgomerie (73-150) and Jack Doherty (81-155) all bowed out after two rounds.
HALFWAY LEADERBOARD
Par 140 (2x70)
132 Chris Wood (England) 67 65.
135 Matthew Nixon (England) 65 70, Darren Clarke (N Ireland) 65 70.
136 Thomas Levet (France) 71 65, David Lynn (England) 68 68.
137 Simon Thornton (Ireland) 72 65, Paul Lawrie (Scotland) 68 69, Danny Willett (England) 64 73.
OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
138 Scott Jamieson 67 71 (T9).
139 David Drysdale 68 71 (T12).
140 Alastair Forsyth 68 72 (T20).
141 Chris Doak 71 70 (T25).
142 Lloyd Saltman 73 69, Elliot Saltman 68 74, Peter Whiteford 72 70 (T30).
MISSED THE CUT (144 or better qualified)
145 Steven O'Hara 70 75.
146 George Murray 73 73, Marc Warren 72 74.
150 Colin Montgomerie 77 73.
155 Jack Doherty 74 81.

WATNEY COMES BACK FROM MISSED CUT TO LEAD AT SAWGRASS

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida (AP) — Phil Mickelson hit a shot onto the green and it rolled into the water. Ben Crane hit a shot over an island and it wound up on dry land. Tiger Woods played the shortest tournament of his career.
Even on a relatively calm day, there's no predicting what might happen at The Players Championship at Sawgrass.
The strangest sight of all Thursday was Woods, limping off the ninth green and heading to the parking lot, but not before making a detour to a fitness trailer with a sign painted on the side that said, "Is knee pain holding you back?"
Nine holes into this first tournament since the Masters - where Woods said he had a "minor injury" to his left knee and Achilles - he couldn't go on. He withdrew after a 42 on the front nine, his highest 9-hole score ever at the TPC Sawgrass.
"I'm having a hard time walking," he said.
Nick Watney and so many others made it look easy, even though it rarely is on this crazy course.
One week after he missed the cut for the first time in nearly a year, Watney opened with an 8-under 64 for a one-shot lead over Lucas Glover. Not only was it Watney's best score at Sawgrass by four shots, he had a double bogey early in his round.
"Last week in Charlotte, I got off to a bad start and I never really righted the ship," Watney said. "So today to have a bad hole like that and still play a good round is a rewarding feeling, just because I didn't let it affect the rest of my day.
Glover atop the leaderboard was not unusual, not after he won last week at the Wells Fargo Championship to end a two-year drought since his U.S. Open title. He played the par-5 16th and the par-3 17th in eight shots, but not the way he would have thought. He hit into the water on the 16th to make bogey on the easiest hole at Sawgrass, then knocked in a 20-foot birdie on the island-green 17th.
There were plenty of other surprises.
Mark O'Meara, the 54-year-old who qualified for this prestigious event by winning the Senior Players Championship, returned to Sawgrass for the first time since 2003 and opened with a 66.
span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The last time O'Meara had a score tha low on this course, Woods was still in high school. He's not very long off the tee, but this is one golf course that is not all about length.
"Even when I went to dinner with Tiger last night, my wife Meredith said, 'How's Mark hitting it?' He says, 'Short.' OK, yeah, I'm not 32 and strong," O'Meara said. "But I hit it far enough."
Davis Toms also had a 66, and he managed to do that without a single bogey on his card.
PGA champion Martin Kaymer, who can return to No. 1 in the world by winning or finishing alone in second this week, opened with a 67 along with U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell and Rory Sabbatini. Kaymer was witness to the biggest news of the day.
He was in the group with Matt Kuchar and Woods, although it became a twosome on the back nine when Woods left.
"Nobody really knows how much pain he was in," Kaymer said. "He was walking really slowly. He was walking behind us. But I didn't know that it was because of pain or I just thought that he walks a little slower than me."
Crane shot a 68, a round highlighted because of a bogey.
On the infamous island-green 17th, Crane caught a gust of wind as the ball was in flight and it took over the green. But the ball landed on the back of the wooden frame and bounced so far that it cleared the water and landed among the spectators. He then faced a scary pitch back to the island and hit the bulkhead in about the same spot, the ball rolling to the front of the green.
He two-putted from 50 feet for his bogey, which could have been much worse.
"A crazy day, a crazy game," Crane said.
Mickelson might have chosen a different word. He saw his tee shot land on the front corner of the green at No. 13, then begin rolling toward the bottom shelf until it dropped over the ledge.
"I didn't know it could possibly go in the water," Mickelson said after a 71. "I think when I design golf courses, I try not to screw the player like that. I try to keep it a little bit fair. But those things happen."
Fortunes can turn quickly, as Watney showed.
He was never in the hunt at Quail Hollow and never looked particularly happy. But he was grinning and laughing with swing coach Butch Harmon on the range, and he came out firing.
"I was definitely disappointed," Watney said. "But I figured there were two ways to react - you either sulk about it or come here. I flew here Saturday, did a little bit of work Sunday, just figured I'd get on with it and use it as motivation."
He holed a 15-foot putt on the 10th hole, got up-and-down from the bunker on the par-5 11th and nearly holed his approach on the 12th. Then came the 14th, where Watney was caught in the large mounds right of the fairway. He chopped up one shot and three-putted from medium range for a double bogey, then bounced back with a birdie on the next hole.
His highlight came on the par-5 second, when he holed out a bunker shot for eagle.
Glover also made birdie on his first hole, which doesn't mean much over the course of four days, but meant plenty to him.
"Got things going," Glover said. "Just the confidence from last week, from looking up and seeing the ball where I'm looking instead of not. And that's been an issue."

FOUR MORE MAJOR WINS OUT OF REACH FOR WOUNDED TIGER

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By KEVIN GARSIDE
No word yet from wounded knee. The condition of Tiger Woods was the talk of Sawgrass this morning. The game is gripped by the idea that Tiger's withdrawal from the Players Championship after nine holes has significance way beyond the limp.
His former coach Butch Harmon captured the Sawgrass mood. “I think his whole future is up in the air. Does it mean he needs more surgery? If he does who knows what is going to happen.”
The injuries to knee ligament and Achilles sustained five weeks ago at the Masters flared again at Sawgrass. In his haste to be ready for the U.S Open next month Woods rushed his return to championship golf.
He had not hit a ball until Monday this week, not played a hole until Tuesday. Medical expertise suggested he was ready, but that advice did not stand up to the scrutiny of play under pressure.
Though we have yet to see a medical bulletin it is clear that there is a long standing vulnerability in Woods's left peg. He has had five operations to cure ligament and cartilage problems, including reconstructive surgery after his U.S. Open victory in 2008.
Woods turns 36 at the end of this year. His golf game is predicated in athleticism and power. He is obviously impaired, therefore it is not unreasonable to speculate that his best days might be behind him.
The four majors he needs to match the magic number of 18 set by Jack Nicklaus looked a long way off watching him ascend the steps to the Sawgrass car park.
On the other hand Nicklaus won his last major at 46. That gives a reconstructed Woods ten years to close the gap.
Tiger was hitting the ball beautifully on the range at Augusta, suggesting his work with new coach Sean Foley was ready to bear fruit and end a winless run that stretches back to November 2009.
It's too early to write him off, but if that knee injury proves more serious than first believed, or requires further surgery, then it might prove one hurdle too many even for him.

PHILIPPINE OPEN SECOND-DAY REPORT AND SCORES

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Manila: Himmat Rai of India and local hope Jay Bayron stayed in the hunt for their maiden Asian Tour victory after sharing the halfway lead at the ICTSI Philippine Open on Friday.
Rai posted a two-under-par 70 to tie with Bayron, who returned with a 69, on a two-day total of six-under-par 138 in the US$300,000 event held at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.
Rookies Berry Henson of the United States and Daisuke Kataoka of Japan were a stroke back with South African Jbe Kruger, who finished second on three occasions last year.
Thailand ’s Panuphol Pittayarat bounced back from two opening bogeys with a solid 69 to lie in sixth place, two strokes from the leaders.
Rai, 23, was on seven-under after 15 holes but swirling winds threw him off track when he dropped his second bogey of the day on the 16th hole.
“It was hot out there and the wind picked up later in the afternoon. The wind was swirling but I managed my shots well to give myself a chance in the weekend,” said Rai. He hopes there will not be a repeat of last week’s tournament where he was in contention at the Impian Classic in Malaysia on the Asian Development Tour before finishing in tied fifth place.
“There’s always a huge learning curve in golf and the one thing I took back from last week was how to handle myself. I think I’ve done that pretty well in these two days,” added the Indian.
Bayron fired four birdies against one bogey with the highlight of his round coming on the 14th hole when his eagle attempt from 97 yards out stopped mere inches from the cup.
He was introduced to the game of golf at the age of 13 when he caddied in a local golf club. He joined the national team six years later and took the plunge in the play-for-pay ranks in 2008.
“This is a very difficult golf course and I’m very surprised to shoot six-under after two rounds. Winning on the Asian Tour especially my national Open will be a dream come true,” smiled the 32-year-old.
Henson, 31, continued his rich vein of form after winning the Clearwater Masters in Malaysia on the Asian Development Tour two weeks ago.
He was delighted to be in the mix when he made a pivotal up-and-down par save on the 17th hole after his tee shot found the fairway bunker.
“I felt like I escaped with my score. If I can get my putter going, I will be dangerous in the weekend,” said Henson.
The halfway cut was set at four-over-par 148 with a total of 65 players makingthe weekend rounds.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALSPar 144 (2x72). Yardage 7,222
138 Jay BAYRON (PHI) 69-69, Himmat RAI ( IND ) 68-70.
139 Berry HENSON ( USA ) 69-70, Jbe KRUGER (RSA) 71-68, Daisuke KATAOKA (JPN) 70-69.
140 Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 71-69.
141 WANG Ter-chang (TPE) 69-72.
142 Lucas LEE (BRA) 72-70, BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR) 73-69, Peter KARMIS (RSA) 69-73, Mars PUCAY (PHI) 69-73, Digvijay SINGH (IND) 70-72, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 70-72, Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI) 73-69.
143 Takafumi KAWANE (JPN) 70-73, Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA) 72-71, Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 72-71, Darren BECK (AUS) 71-72, Pariya JUNHASAVASDIKUL (THA) 71-72, SIDDIKUR (BAN) 71-72, Kwanchai TANNIN (THA) 73-70.
Selected scores
147 Thanyakon KHRONGPHA (Tha) 68-79
148 Frankie MINOZA (Phi) 76-72
149 Rikard KARLBERG (Swe) 74-75

BRABAZON TROPHY AT FORMBY GOLF CLUB IN 2013

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION
The English Men’s Open Stroke Play Championship for the Brabazon Trophy will return to familiar territory in 2013 when it is played at Formby Golf Club on Merseyside.
One of the EGU’s blue riband events, the Brabazon will be played on 26th – 29th June that year, reverting from a Sunday to a Saturday finish.
The Brabazon has been hosted by Formby on three previous occasions. It was played there initially in 1951 when the late Ronnie White emerged as champion.
In 1965, Michael Burgess, Clive Clark and Dudley Millensted shared the title after a three-way tie, while in 1998, Sweden’s Peter Hanson, now a successful professional on the European Tour, was the winner.

THURSDAY NIGHT ABERDEEN TRADES FOURSOMES RESULTS

FIRST ROUND

Royal Mail 1 beat Teachers by 16 holes.

Bankers beat Grampian Fire and Rescue by one hole.

PSN wo, Motor Trade scr.

Surveyors beat Royal Mail 2 by nine holes

Grampian Police beat Bancon Construction by 13 holes.

Elmar UK beat Meat Trade by four holes.

ROSS KELLETT BOOSTS WALKER CUP SELECTION PROSPECTS

The GB and Ireland Walker Cup practice squad at Balgownie. Back row (left to right): Rhys Enoch, Darren Wright, Kris Nicol, Jack Senior Nigel Edwards (team captain), Steven Brown, Alan Dunbar, Rhys Pugh, Kevin Phelan, Tom Lewis.
Front row (left to right): Paul Cutler, Ross Kellett, Oliver Farr, David Law, Stiggy Hodgson, Tyrrell Harron, Dermot McElroy.
The image is by courtesy of David Cannon (Getty Images). Click on it to enlarge the faces.


By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Motherwell's Ross Kellett will have done his GB and I Walker Cup team selection prospects no harm at all by finishing second to the leading points earner, Ireland's Alan Dunbar, at the end of the three-day squad practice match over Royal Aberdeen's Balgownie links, the venue for the 43rd match against the Americans on September 10-11.
There were 16pt at stake individually over two sessions of foursomes and two of singles' play, with points awarded for front-nine and back-nine positions as well as 18-hole results.
Rathmore GC member Dunbar, 21, winner of the St Andrews Links Trophy in 2009 and the Irish open amateur stroke-play in 2010, finished at the top of the 16-man points table, capping his three-day performance by taking 4pt out of four in a 2 and 1 win over Tom Lewis, the British boys champion of 2009, in the final session of singles this morning.
Colville Park's Kellett, pictured below by Cal Carson Golf Agency,  finished second with 11 1/2 pt out of 16.

He "lost" the first nine holes to the big-hitting Steven Brown (Wentworth) but Kellett won the second nine holes by two holes and the match by one hole to earn 3pt. Having missed the 18th green wide right, Kellett played an exquisite pitch to the elevated green and holed the putt for a par 4 to clinch his win.
Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) finished third with 11pt.
Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) finished up pointless from his final match against Tyrell Hatton (Harleyford), losing by 5 and 4 after trailing over the first nine and the second nine holes. The Buchan man was unable, therefore, to add to his overnight points total of seven.
Hazlehead's David Law, playing over the course where he won the 2009 Scottish boys championship, lost his final singles by one hole to North Florida University student Kevin Phelan from Waterford, Ireland.
It was a close contest throughout with the Aberdonian one down for the first nine holes but all square over the inward nine.
Walker Cup skipper Nigel Edwards, who played in four successive Walker Cup matches between 2001 and 2007, expressed himself "well satisfied" with the practice match. The preparation will include another three-day session over the Royal Aberdeen Links from July 19 to 21. The team of 10 will be named in August.
Scottish champion Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), US college student James Byrne (Banchory) and Andy Sullivan (Nuneaton) were three of the big names who missed this week's practice match. Leading performances in the forthcoming St Andrews Links Trophy, Brabazon Trophy and British amateur championship will have a bearing on the selectors' final thoughts.
+David Law and Kris Nicol left the Royal Aberdeen clubhouse immediately after lunch as did Ross Kellett and set off on the long haul to Ayrshire, hoping to squeeze in an early evening practice round at Prestwick where all three are competing - Kellett for Lanarkshire, and Law and Nicol for defending champions North-east - in the Scottish area team championship stroke-play qualifying round on Saturday. The four area teams with the lowest aggregates will contest Sunday's match-play stages.

ROYAL ABERDEEN SCOREBOARD
GB and I WALKER CUP PRACTICE MATCH
Royal Aberdeen GC
Day 3
SINGLES
First nine holes
A Dunbar (Rathmore) bt T Lewis (Welwyn Garden City) 3 and 1.
R Pugh (Vale of Glamorgan) bt S Hodgson (Sunningdale) 2 and 1.
J Senior (Heysham) bt O Farr (Ludlow) 2 and 1.
K Phelan (Waterford) bt D Law (Hazlehead) 1 hole.
D Wright (Rowland Castle) halved with P Cutler (Portstewart).
T Hatton (Harleyford) bt K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 2 and 1.
R Enoch (Truro) halved with D McElroy (Ballymena).
S Brown (Wentworth) bt R Kellett (Colville Park) 1 hole.
Second nine holes
Dunbar bt Lewis 1 hole.
Pugh bt Hodgson 1 hole.
Senior bt Farr 3 and 1.
Phelan halved with Law.
Wright bt Cutler 1 hole.
Hatton bt Nicol 2 and 1.
McElroy bt Enoch 1 hole.
Kellett bt Brown 2 holes.
18-hole results
Dunbar bt Lewis 2 and 1.
Pugh bt Hodgson 3 and 2.
Senior bt Farr 3 and 2.
Phelan bt Law 1 hole.
Wright bt Cutler 1 hole.
Hatton bt Nicol 5 and 4.
McElroy bt Enoch 1 hole.
Kellett bt Brown 1 hole.


PLAYERS' 3-DAY POINTS TOTAL
Maximum 16pt
12 1/2 A Dunbar.
11 1/2 R Kellett.
11 D McElroy
9 S Brown, J Senior.
8 1/2 S Hodgson.
8 D Wright, T Lewis, R Pugh, O Farr.
7 1/2 R Enoch
7 K Phelan, K Nicol.
6 1/2 P Cutler.
5 1/2 D Law
5 T Hatton


TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR THE WALKER CUP MATCH at ROYAL ABERDEEN (September 10-11)

Tickets are now on sale for the 43rd Walker Cup Match at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club on Saturday-Sunday, September 10-11.
Daily tickets cost £25 for adults and £10 for juveniles aged 16 or under.

On each of the two days of competition, there will be four morning foursomes matches, followed by afternoon singles. On the Saturday, there will be eight singles matches, while on Sunday, all 10 players from each team will go head-to-head in afternoon.

“The Walker Cup has witnessed some of golf’s greatest champions in the early stages of their careers, and this year’s contest is sure to be no different,” said Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R and A.

“With spectators coursing down the fairways and the world’s elite amateurs just feet away, the Walker Cup creates an atmosphere unlike any other golf event.”

Grandstands will be erected, offering spectators the best views of the action, and catering facilities will be available.

Tickets are available at RandA.org/WalkerCupTickets, or by calling The R and A Ticket Office on +44 (0) 1334 460000.

OFF THE AIR SINCE 8pm LAST NIGHT. BUT WE'RE BACK NOW!

WE REGRET THAT WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO UPDATE YOU WITH THE LATEST GOLF NEWS SINCE AROUND 8pm LAST NIGHT DUE TO A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION OF THE BLOGGER SYSTEM.
THE CORRECTION OF THE FAULT HAS MEANT THE LOSS OF SEVERAL ITEMS WHICH WERE ON DISPLAY PREVIOUSLY. UNFORTUNATELY, WE CANNOT RETRIEVE THEM.

Colin Farquharson
Editor
Scottishgolfview.com