Thursday, September 01, 2011

PHIL MICKELSON GETS BELLY-PUTTER MADE TO SIZE

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
NORTON, Massachusetts (AP) — Two drivers at the Masters. No drivers at the U.S. Open.
Phil Mickelson threw in yet another surprise Thursday at the Deutsche Bank Championship with a belly putter in his golf bag, saying he was likely to become the next in a growing list of players to see if it will help make more putts.
"It's awkward to me," Mickelson said after his pro-am round at the TPC Boston. "But so many guys have had success with it that I thought I'd give it a try."
The longer putters have been getting more attention this year, especially after Keegan Bradley became the first player to win a major with one at the US PGA Championship.
Mickelson, once renowned for a silky putting stroke, has been struggling the past several years on shorter distances.
Not only has he been a mentor to Bradley this year, Mickelson played with the 25-year-old rookie last week at The Barclays and began grilling him about a putter in which the end of the grip anchors into the stomach.
Mickelson had one built to similar specifications as Bradley and received his new toy Monday. Then, he called Bradley over the last few days to ask questions how to use it.
So it's a rookie teaching a four-time major champion?
"Yeah, it is funny," Mickelson said. "You can always learn, and he putts it extremely well, and it rolls so nicely off the face."
It didn't work out for him during the pro-am when Mickelson took 34 putts, including 18 on his opening nine.
"I was a little shady with it on the front nine, but a little bit better with it on the back," he said. "Look, I don't mind trying new things. I've hit two drivers and no drivers, and I don't mind trying something different. We'll see."
The timing is peculiar.
Only last week, Mickelson said he had grabbed a belly putter off the rack and tried it out, and that he would not "rule it out." He also said, however, that a player has to understand the technique of using a longer putter because the motion is different from a conventional size. "I don't know those little secrets ... and so I don't really putt very effectively with it," he said.
One week later, he is willing to try it in the second FedEx Cup playoff event.
Mickelson dropped five spots to No. 11 in the standings. The idea is to at least get into the top five before the Tour Championship at the end of the month as he tries to win the FedEx Cup and the $10 million prize for the first time.
Plus, he won the Deutsche Bank Championship in 2007 and considers the TPC Boston "one of my favourite courses we play all year." The third playoff event is at Cog Hill, one of his least favorite courses.
Only the top 100 players advanced to the second playoff event at Boston, although the field is only 99 players because J.B. Holmes had successful brain surgery Thursday that will keep him out the rest of the year.
The top 70 after this week move on to the BMW Championship at Cog Hill in two weeks.
Among those on the bubble are Ian Poulter (No. 78) and Padraig Harrington (No. 80), both of whom had to play well last week at the rain-shortened Barclays simply to advance.
At the top is Dustin Johnson, who won The Barclays with a 65 before the rain from Hurricane Irene arrived. Johnson became only the sixth player to win multiple playoff events - he won at Cog Hill last year - and he understands why the list is so short.
"These are the few events where you get all the top 100 or 125 or the top 70 on the FedEx Cup ... all playing at the same time," Johnson said. That's why it makes it harder. And there's only four each year."
Tiger Woods was at the Deutsche Bank, but not for long. Woods failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time, although the tournament benefits his foundation. He showed up Wednesday night for the pro-am pairings party.
His absence - not only from the playoffs, but from dominating the PGA Tour as he once did - has created plenty of parity. That extends to the playoffs, which is up for grabs.
Luke Donald is at No. 5 in the standings, even though he has been No. 1 in the world since the end of May. Donald has only one win in the United States this year, at the Match Play Championship in Arizona, although his consistency is what has taken him to the top of the world ranking. He figures winning might not be too far behind.
"The goal is to win," Donald said. "I think winning is more important than ever during the playoffs. There's a lot more volatility, and winning is very important. Hopefully, I'll have a good chance come Sunday."
Chalk that up to Donald being a creature of habit. The Deutsche Bank Championship ends Labor Day.
For all that's at stake - not only an $8 million tournament, but a chance to move closer to the FedEx Cup trophy - nothing dominated the talk Thursday than seeing a belly putter in Mickelson's bag.
Donald was asked what he found the biggest surprise in the playoffs so far - an earthquake last week in New Jersey or the three-time Masters champion with a belly putter.
"Probably the first one," he said with a smile. "I think if you look at stats, Phil hasn't been the best putter in terms of stats for a long time. He's known as someone that putts well, but in streaks. And he's obviously looking for a bit more consistency, maybe even on those shorter ones."
Mickelson has not been among the top 50 in the tour's new "Strokes Gained" putting statistic since 2006.
Johnson said he would have to see Lefty holding a belly putter to believe it.
"Is he using a belly right now? I doubt he'll putt with it," Johnson said. "But as good as the guys that are using bellies are putting right now, I've thought about it. So it certainly doesn't surprise me."

THE DEUTSCHE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP AT TPC BOSTON STARTS ON FRIDAY WHEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET LIVE SCORING ON THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

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SCOTT HENRY JT FOURTH BEHIND THIRD-TIME WINNER PAISLEY

Scott Henry finished joint fourth in a field of 49 behind Chris Paisley as the Englishman scored his third win of the season on the Alps Tour this week.
This week's event was the Styrian Mountain Open at Golf Club Reiting-Gal in Austria.
Paisley (70-69) was eight shots behind leader Carlos Aguilar (Spain) (66-65) with one round to go ... then shot a brilliant last round of eight-under-par 63 to the Spaniard's closing 71 to force a play-off on 11-under 202.
Paisley won the sudden-death play-off with an eagle at the first extra hole.
Henry scored 68, 67 and 69 for 204, only two shots off the pace.

LEADING FINAL TOTALSPar 213 (3x71)
202 Chris Paisley (England) 70 69 63, Carlos Aguilar (Spain) 66 65 71 (Paisley won sudden death play-off at first hole).
203 Manuel Trappel (Austria) (amateur) 69 69 65.
204 Scott Henry (Scotland) 68 67 69, Will Roebuck (England) 71 69 64, Juan Antonio Bragulat (Spain) 70 68 66.

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EUROPEAN SENIOR MEN'S AMATEUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

Venue: Troia Golf Club, Portugal

FLIGHT A MATCH-PLAY FIRST ROUND RESULTS
(Seed number in brackets)

Finland (7) 3.5, Germany (2) 1.5
Netherlands (3) 3, France (6) 2.
Spain (5) 4, Italy (4) 1.
Sweden (1) 4, Portugal (8) 1.

FLIGHT B
Switzerland 4.5, Luxembourg 0.5
Austria 3.5, Poland 1.5
Norway 4, Denmark 1.
Bye: Belgium.

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FRIDAY STARTING TIMES AT ABERDEEN ASSET NORTHERN OPEN



MADE OF THE WRIGHT STUFF. Welshman Gareth Wright, joint leader at halfway in the Aberdeen Asset Management Northern Open championship.


Starting times for the final 36 holes of the Aberdeen Asset Management Northern Open championship at Meldrum House Hotel course, Oldmeldrum on Friday.

STARTING FROM FIRST TEE

07.15 and 11.45: Mark Loftus, Jonathan Lomas.
07.23 and 11.53: Graeme Brown, Ross Kellett.

07.31 and 12.01: Greg McBain, Paul McKechnie
07.39 and 12.09: Mark Kerr, Steven Taylor.
07.47 and 12.17: Craig Matheson, Ross Dixon.
07.55 and 12.25: Scott Henderson, David Law.

08.03 and 12.33: Jason McCreadie and William Colquhoun.
08.16 and 12.46: Philip McLean and Alan Reid.
08.24 and 12.54: James Byrne and Kris Nicol.

08.32 and 13.02: David Patrick, Chris Kelly.
08.40 and 13.10: Stephen Gray, Scott Crichton.
08.48 and 13.18: Neil Fenwick, Daniel Kay.
08.56 and 13.26: Gareth Wright, Graeme Robertson.

STARTING FROM TENTH TEE

07.15 and 11.45: Paul Shields, Jonathan Porteous.
07.23 and 11.53: Alan Tait, Andrew Crerar.

07.31 and 12.01: James Erskine, Steven Duncan.
07.39 and 12.09: Fraser McKenna, Callum Trahan.
07.47 and 12.17: Nick Robson, Colin Gillies.
07.55 and 12.25: Ian Taylor, Kenneth Hutton.

08.03 and 12.33: Scott Grieve, James McGhee
08.16 and 12.46: Greig Hutcheon, Alastair Mackenzie.
08.24 and 12.54: Lee Harper, Robert Arnott.

08.32 and 13.02: James White, James McKinnon.
08.40 and 13.10: Alan Lockhart, Christopher Currie.
08.48 and 13.18: David Orr, Graham Fox.
08.56 and 13.26: Peter Smith, Stuart Williamson.

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STAGE SET FOR FINAL-DAY SHOOT-OUT AT MELDRUM HOUSE


A STUDENT OF GOLF: Graeme Robertson of Stirling University and Glenbervie GC, joint leader with Gareth Wright (West Linton) at halfway in the Aberdeen Asset Management Northern Open championship at Meldrum House.
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Stand by for a golfing version of the Gunfight at OK Coral at Meldrum House Hotel golf course tomorrow.
Only two shots span the leading 10 players - five of whom are amateurs - with Friday's final 36-hole shoot-out set to make a thriller of a climax to the £25,000 Aberdeen Asset Management Northern Open golf championship at the Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire venue.
The men in the pole position on seven-under-par 133 are Welsh-born, Edinburgh-based tour pro Gareth Wright (West Linton) (65-68) and Glenbervie GC amateur Graeme Robertson (66-67), a 23-year-old Stirling University student.
Wright shared the lead with Alan Reid (West Lothian) at the start of the second day before Reid slipped back with a 71 for 136.
Robertson and Wright are a shot ahead of two amateurs, Daniel Kay (Dunbar) and Scott Crichton (Aberdour) and four pros, Dunbar's Neil Fenwick, Hayston's Stephen Gray, one of the most successful men on the Tartan Tour this season, Chris Kelly (Cawder) and former Walker Cup player David Patrick (Elie Sports Club).
Gray was one of two players to equal today this week's lowest score of five-under-65. The other was Scottish amateur championship beaten finalist Kay.
Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) (68-67) and Banchory's Walker Cup selection James Byrne (67-68) are in joint ninth place on 135, which means that five of the leading 10 at halfway are amateurs.
Never mind the Bookless Cup, which goes to the leading amateur. At this rate there could be the first amateur winner of the Northern Open since Hazlehead's Sandy Pirie's 1970 success at Cruden Bay.
Graeme Robertson, 23, scored his first win on the SGU Order of Merit circuit at the South-east District open championship at Musselburgh on Sunday after being there or thereabouts in most of the preceding weekend events.
Today Robertson had a three-under 67, one more than his opening effort but his seven-under tally of 133 was good enough to put him at the top of the leaderboard alongside Wright who had a 68 for 133.
Robertson, who will be heading off to Slovena with the rest of the Stirling University squad to compete in the 2nd European universities championships next week, birdied the first, second, long fifth, long 11th and 14th. He had bogeys at the eighth and 13th as the players continue to play a course some 300yd shorter than the 7,010yd distance from the "Black Tees."
Tartan Tour supremo Michael MacDougall is planning to have the qualifiers - 52 players with aggregates of four-over-par 144 or better - play the final 36 holes off the longest course available on Friday.
Wright, who missed the cut in this championship last year and lost a play-off to Chris Doak for the 2010 Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship, had birdies at the long fifth, eighth, short 10th, 11th and 13th but dropped shots at three holes - the short third, short sixth and long 16th.
After a 2010 season without a victory, the former Welsh amateur international whose father is West Linton GC club pro, Gareth has learned to win in the pro ranks this season. His four victories on the Tartan Tour have included two in Young Pros' competitions.
Dunbar amateur Daniel Kay, beaten by David Law in this year's Scottish amateur championship final, had a bogey-free 65 - birdies at the first, long fifth, eighth, long 11th and 17th for a total of 134.
Defending champion Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) has it all to do. A lacklustre 73 with six bogeys and three birdies leaves him eight shots behind the leaders with 36 holes to play.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 140 (2x70). Yardage: approx 6,700

133 Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) (am) 66 67, Gareth Wright (West Linton) 65 68.
134 Daniel Kay (Dunbar) (am) 69 65, Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 67 69, Scott Crichton (Aberdour) (am) 68 66, Stephen Gray (Hayston) 69 65, Chris Kelly (Cawder) 68 66, David Patrick (Elie Sports Club) 67 67.
135 Kris Nicoll (Fraserburgh) (am) 68 67, James Byrne (Banchory) (am) 67 68.
136 Alan Reid (West Lothian) 65 71, Philip McLean (Peterhead) (am) 69 67, William Colquhoun (Dundonald Links) 66 70, Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 68 68, David Law (Hazlehead) (am) 67 69, Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 67 69, Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club) 68 68.
138 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 68 70, Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 68 70, Mark Kerr (unatt) 66 72, Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 67 71, Greg McBain (Gamola Golf) 66 72, Ross Kellett (Colville Park) (am) 70 68, Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) 70 68.
139 Jonathan Lomas (unatt) 69 70, Mark Loftus (Adam Hunter Golf) 71 68, Stuart Williamson (West Kilbride) 72 67, Peter Smith (Deeside) 70 69, Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle) 70 69.
140 David Orr (East Renfrewshire) 68 72, Christopher Currie (Caldwell) 71 69, Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) 68 72, James McKinnon (Irvine) 74 66, James White (Lundin) (am) 67 73, Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 73 67, Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) 69 71.
141 Alastair Mackenzie (Renaissance Club) 68 73, Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) 68 73.
142 James McGhee (Duddingston( 69 73, Scott Grieve (Turnhouse) 72 70, Kenneth Hutton (Downfield) 70 72
143 Ian Taylor (Drumpellier) 71 72, Colin Gillies (Kingsfield) 71 72, Nick Robson (Meldrum House) (am) 72 71, Callum Trahan (Meldrum House) (am) 67 76, Fraser McKenna (Balmore) (am) 73 70, Steven Duncan (Carnoustie) 71 72
144 James Erskine (Portpatrick Dunskey) 72 72, Andrew Crerar (Panmure) 68 76, Alan Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy) 76 78, Jonathan Porteous (Craigielaw) 76 68, Paul Shields (Kirkhill) (am) 71 73
MISSED THE CUT
145 Craig Ronald (Carluke) 75 70, Alistair Brown (Whitecraigs) 71 74.
146 Paul Wardell (Whitekirk) 73 73, Ian Graham (Crow Wood) 74 72, Mark King (Kingsfield) 70 76.
147 Scott Herald (Adam Hunter Golf) 72 75, Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) 76 71, Sandy Aird (McDonald Ellon) 73 74, Colin Brodie (Meldrum House) (am) 74 73.
148 Stephen McAllister (Renaissance Club) 76 72, Campbell Elliott (Haggs Castle) 5 73, David Broadfoot (Dumfries and Co) 73 75, John Ruth (Clydeway) 76 72, Joel Hopwood (Carnegie) 73 75, Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon) 73 75, Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie Links) 73 75.
149 Brian Mason (Callaway Golf) 71 78, Graham Forbes (Gourock) 74 75, Christopher Robinson (Dumfries and Galloway) 73 76, Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 73 76, Clarke Lutton (Qatar) 76 73.
150 Andrew Cooper (Newmachar) 71 79, Grant Smith (Gleneagles) 74 76, Sean Thompson (Renaissance Club) 75 75.
151 Terry Mathieson (Murcar Links) 76 75, Joseph MacBrearty (Haggs Castle) 77 74.
152 Sean O’Donnell (Balbirnie Park) 75 77, Craig Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre), Jordan Ramanauskas (Gullane) 76 76
153 Nathan Keast (Renaissance Club) 74 79, Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 75 78, Terence Burgoyne (Gotastroma) 76 77, Stuart Morrison (Tain) 76 77.
154 Paul Brookes (Pitreavie) 78 76
155 Duncan Williamson (Kirkhill) 82 73, Ewan Davie (Dunblane New) 78 77, Jonas Hedberg (Royal Aberdeen) 79 76.
156 Anthony Mackrell (Playsport Golf) 79 77, Paul Wytrazek (Burntisland) 81 75.
157 Nicola Melville (Nicol Melville Golf) 82 75, Lewis Burnett (Adam Hunter Golf) 80 77
159 David Thomson (Carnegie) 74 81, Stewart Savage (Dalmuir) 79 80, Ryan Buckley (Craigielaw) 77 82, Fraser Malcolm (North Berwick) 79 80, Jamie Carver (unatt) 84 75.
167 Duncan Bain (Aberdour) 82 85.
168 Keil Beveridge (Inchmarlo) 84 84.
Retired – James smallwood (Fereneze) 74 -.

(am) denotes amateur

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NICKLAUS LEADS EXPERIMENT WITH FUN, INNOVATIVE GOLF OPTIONS

NEWS RELEASEDUBLIN, Ohio—Over recent months, Jack Nicklaus has joined several of golf’s leading organisations, including the PGA of America and USGA, to encourage out-of-the-box thinking to attract new players to the game and retain those already in the game.
In an effort to show his commitment, the Golden Bear is experimenting with fun and innovative options in golf at one of the world’s most prestigious clubs, Muirfield Village Golf Club.
Muirfield Village Golf Club, as part of its Labour Day weekend golf festivities, will host two separate 12-hole tournaments, during which golfers will be encouraged to play one tee up from where they normally play, the hole will be almost doubled in size, and participants will be penalized for slow play.
“I love the game of golf and believe we have a unique opportunity right now to grow our sport,” Nicklaus said. “But we all have to recognize that the game in our country has been stagnant for a number of years, and actually has lost a significant number of golfers—close to four million in the last five years, according to the National Golf Foundation. The numbers of female and junior golfers—two segments that once represented a large percentage of the new people coming into the game—have dropped 23 and 35 percent, respectively, over the last five years. Many say the game is too hard and others say the game takes too long.
“I think the game is a great game and in no way am I trying to change it. There are few bigger traditionalists than me, but I realize we need to start thinking out of the box. So I ask all the traditionalists to be tolerant while we try something new, something fun to hopefully help us grow the game.
"It’s too important for us not to try. With so many sports and activities fighting for the time and attention of families, we need to think of ways to make our game more attractive and thus more inviting, especially to children and young adults. Perhaps what Muirfield Village is trying over Labour Day can help open a few eyes and a few minds.”
Nicklaus has been outspoken in recent months about providing new and current golfers options in a round of golf. For example, if golfers are limited by time or energy, encourage them to play 6, 9 or 12 holes instead of 18. Nicklaus has also encouraged clubs to occasionally expand the hole once a month or even once a week in an effort to entice some people who might have been reluctant to try the game because they fear it’s too difficult.
At Muirfield Village Golf Club and The Bear’s Club, Nicklaus’ Ohio and Florida home clubs, he has created a 12-hole scorecard as an option for members.
At Muirfield Village, a 12-hole composite (Holes 1, 2, 5-13 and 14) will be used for a 12-hole better-ball tournament on Sunday, Sept. 4, and another 12-hole, stroke-play event on Labor Day, Sept. 5. In both rounds, the club will use an 8-inch cup, rather than the normal 4.25 inches.
To encourage faster play, participants will be required to complete their round in 2.5 hours, and players will be penalized one stroke for every five minutes over the allotted time limit.
“Muirfield Village Golf is excited to be a part of any efforts to grow the game by bringing new perspectives on it,” said Jack Nicklaus II, Chairman of Muirfield Village Golf Club. “The traditions and integrity of the game will always be respected and honored, but golf has to be cutting edge. The time has come for the golf community to make a fresh start for the benefit of the future of the game, and show new people that the game of golf can be about makeable putts, camaraderie and enjoyable competition played out in a timely manner.”
Muirfield Village intends to extend their experiment into October. Traditionally, as the golf season nears its end, the club has invited all members’ children who play on a local golf team, middle school or high school, to bring their entire team to play the world-ranked golf course. This year the tradition will continue, but with a 12-hole event utilizing the 8-inch cup.



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NICK DOUGHERTY POISED TO END RUN OF 21 EARLY EXITS IN ROW

ENGLISHMAN LEADS EUROPEAN MASTERS WITH A 63

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
England's Nick Dougherty finally had something to smile about this season when he began the Omega European Masters with an eight under par 63 at Crans-sur-Sierre.
In a nightmare slump to 791st in the Official World Golf Ranking the 29 year old has not made a single halfway cut since the UBS Hong Kong Open last November.
But after a horror run of 21 early exits in a row - the same number Justin Rose had at the start of his professional career - Dougherty leads by two in Switzerland.
And the three-time European Tour winner does so against a field that includes Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer - three of the game's top six.
"It's quite a bounce-back," said Dougherty when interviewed afterwards by his golf presenter wife Diana.
"I do like to be a little bit dramatic when I do everything, as you well know!
"It's been tough coming home and having to deal with constant disappointment and I'm really, really proud of how I played.
"It feels great, obviously. I've not had a lot to be happy about and you've had to take the brunt of it and put up with me.
"It was difficult to find positives because there was nothing going my way, but today was super. My short game's been great all year, but I drove it much better and hit some quality iron shots.
"I felt something click at Gleneagles last week (he missed the cut by one after a second round 69) and I also 'manned up' - instead of feeling sorry for myself and the world's against me I fought for it."
Dougherty covered the back nine first in a four under 31, then added further birdies at the first, third, seventh and long ninth - the last of them when his pitch spun back to four feet after he had carved his second shot onto the adjoining 18th fairway.
“I don’t need to go into too much detail how bad it has been – it’s fairly evident when you look at the scores,” he added. “It’s been really un-pleasurable to play golf. It’s been the bane of my life for two years.
“It’s been difficult and I’ve had to pick myself up but I am good at that. Every week I missed the cut I still turned up the next week feeling that would be the week and that takes a lot of strength.
“A lot of credit has to go to my coach Stuart Morgan. He’s not your regular coach. He doesn’t stand there and teach me positions. He’s done a lot of mental work with me and helped me understand myself better. I had to face up to a few facts so it’s not been comfortable.”
Asked in his post-round press conference what the goal was for Friday he added: “First, to see you guys. How long has it been since I sat here. I feel good about what I’ve done. I feel conscious that I want to play well again.
“I’ve got work to even keep a Tour card but that’s not my goal. My goal is to win again and I firmly believe I will with the work I’ve done. Today was physical proof. I’m going to enjoy it though.
“Tomorrow I’ll play aggressively again. If it comes unstuck it comes unstuck but it won’t be through fear. I’m going to go out there and play aggressive and express myself on the golf course.
“She’s [Diana] great. She has a sporting background. Her cousin is [former England rugby star] Will Greenwood and her whole family know sporting people. She’s a rock for me. It is hard for her. I can’t pretend I’ve been coming home happy. I can’t walk in and say it’s alright, just another missed cut.
“Di was always there to pick me up and remind me who I am. She’s a strong woman and I admire greatly for her drive and ambition and her career and it helps pull me along.
“It’s fairly obvious my game started to deteriorate after my mum passed away. If it was just a swing problem I can fix that but you think something has disappeared from you since my mum’s gone. You think I just don’t want it any more and she had to remind me that was a load of rubbish. The constant support of being there and allowing me to vent and be angry and kick the bed – all that sort of stuff. Just to remind me of who I am and what I’ve done before.
“It’s quite touching. Monty goes out of his way to see me. Thomas Björn who has been a good friend. Everyone has been great. The caddies. You guys. It’s really touching and it really means a lot when everyone pulls for you. Nick Faldo has a few times.”
Kaymer and McIlroy had set the morning pace with six under 65s, while Westwood was alongside them until he closed with two bogeys.
The World Number Two, after a family holiday in Barbados, had come back brilliantly from a double bogey on the second, making eagle twos on the driveable fifth and seventh.
It was McIlroy's first tournament since he injured himself hitting a tree root at the US PGA Championship.
"My arm's nearly back to 100 per cent," he said after making five birdies in his last eight holes. "I had a good bit of treatment on it and rested it.
"I kept my eye in last week, but it was nice to get back on the course and feel the competitive juices again."
Kaymer has fallen from top of the Official World Golf Ranking to fifth since May, but looked much more like his old self and, in stark contrast to Westwood, finished with back-to-back birdies.
He and McIlroy share second place with England's Gary Boyd and Korean Lee Sung, while Open Champion Darren Clarke was among those alongside Westwood four behind.
Westwood made a start full of drama. He double-bogeyed the second, but played the next five in a remarkable six under.
After a birdie at the third he holed for eagle on the fifth, birdied the next and followed that with another eagle two at the seventh - like the fifth a driveable par four.

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LEADING SCORES
Par 71
63 Nick Dougherty (England)
65 Martin Kaymer (Germany), Rory McIlroy (N Ireland), Sung Lee (S Korea), Gary Boyd (England).

SCOTS' SCORES
68 David Drysdale (T14)
69 Gary Orr, Paul Lawrie (T24)
70 George Murray, Stephen Gallacher, Richie Ramsay (T40)
73 Steven O'Hara (T106).
74 Peter Whiteford (T122)
75 Scott Jamieson, Marc Warren (T135)
76 Colin Montgomerie (T144).

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SENIOR OPEN PRO CHAMPIONSHIP FOR ROYAL PORTHCAWL 2014

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOURThe Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex will be played in Wales for the first time in 2014 and the Wales Senior Open will also return to the European Senior Tour schedule next year through a £5 million agreement between the Welsh Government, The European Tour and The R and A.
The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex will become the first Major Championship to be held in Wales when it is hosted by Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, South Wales, from July 24-27, 2014 before returning to Welsh shores on two further occasions between 2015 and 2024, on dates yet to be confirmed.
The Wales Senior Open, meanwhile, will make its return to the European Senior Tour schedule after an absence of one season when it is played at Conwy Golf Club in 2012 before moving to Royal Porthcawl in 2012

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REVISED DRAW FOR FIRST TWO ROUNDS OF EDWARD TROPHY

GLASGOW GAILES GOLF CLUB, AYRSHIRE
Revised tee times for Saturday's first two rounds.
A new draw will be made for Sunday's final two rounds, contested by the leading 40 and ties at the end of two rounds.

1 6.40 and 11.30 Sam Binning Ranfurly Castle +2.2
Craig Hamilton Ballochmyle +1.4
James Hendrick Pollok +2

2 6.50 and 11.40 Craig Ross Kirkhill +1.5
Mathew Clark Kilmacolm +2.9
Michael Smyth Prestwick +2.8

3 7.00 and 11.50 Paul McGhee East Renfrewshire 1
Gordon Yates Hilton Park +1.3
Chris Lawton Falkirk Tryst +1.4

4 7.10 and 12.00 Laurence Allan Alva +0.8
Jamie Savage Cawder +1.8
Keith Hamilton Ayr Belleisle +2.5

5 7.20 and 12.10 Mark Cox Falkirk 1.0
Michael Dailey Erskine +1.0
James Paterson Hayston 1.9

6 7.30 and 12.20 Grant Beaton Bonnyton 0.2
Ewan Waugh Whitecraigs 1.4
Andrew Wallace Glenbervie +0.4

7 7.40 and 12.30 James Whitelaw West Linton +2.2
Jordan Finlay Fraserburgh +3.2
Jamie Lamb Lanark 0.7

8 7.50 and 12.40 John Yuille Royal Burgess +0.8
Kyle McClung Wigtownshire County +2.9
Daniel Sommerville St Andrews +2.0

9 8.00 12.50 Fraser Moore Glenbervie +1.2
Colin Thomson East Renfrewshire +1.1
Tom Dingwall Nairn Dunbar 1.3

10 8.10 1.00 Michael Bacigulupo Longniddry +0.3
Alistair McDougall Elderslie 0.3
Scott Stewart - Cation The Dukes +1.4

11 8.20 1.10 Paul Gault Snr. Westerwood 2
Daniel Kay Dunbar +1.9
Myles Cunningham Longniddry +2.6

12 8.30 1.20 Ross Noon Craigielaw +2.0
Ross Kellett Colville Park +2.6
Stephen Rennie Drumpellier +1.6

13 8.40 1.30 Stephen Neilson Dunbar +1.6
Scott Crichton Aberdour +2.4
John Duff Newmacher +2.7

14 8.50 1.40 Kevin Duncan McDonald Ellon +1.7
Fraser McKenna Balmore +2.2
Graham Robertson Silverknowes +1.1

15 9.00 1.50 Craig Watson East Renfrewshire +0.8
James Hendry Glasgow 1
James Steven Bothwell Castle +1.7

16 9.10 2.00 Adam Dunton McDonald Ellon +1.7
Angus Carrick Douglas Park +0.3
Malcolm Pennycott Whiting Bay +2.617

9.20 2.10 Philip Mclean Peterhead +3.4
Ross Bell Downfield +1.8
John Laurie Cowglen +0.5

18 9.30 2.20 James White Lundin +3.6
Greig Marchbank Dunfries & County +1.2
Alistair Hain Ladybank +1.3

19 9.40 2.30 Andrew Cunningham Ranfurly Castle 1.0
Colin Baird Bothwell Castle 0.2
Ross Cooper Cruden Bay +0.1

20 9.50 2.40 Grant Carnie Newburgh on Ythan 0.6
J Gordon Boyle Ayr Dalmillington +0.5
Paul Gault Westerwood +1.9
21 10.00 2.50 Gordon Stevenson Whiecraigs +2.6
Richard Gill Craigmillar +0.2
Eamon Bradley Mount Ellon +1.1

22 10.10 3.00 Thomas Morrison Kilsyth & Lennox +1.2
Ewan Ferguson Bearsden 1.0
Allyn Dick Kingsknowe +2.7

23 10.20 3.10 Peter Latimer St Andrews New +1.7
Anthony Blaney Liberton +0.1
Conor O’Neil Pollok +1.8

24 10.30 3.20




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CHANGES TO OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL QUALIFYING VENUES

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R AND A The R and A has announced changes to the Final Qualifying stage of The Open Championship. Four venues have been selected, one in Scotland and three in England covering the North-west, Central and South-coast regions, replacing the courses which are currently selected for their proximity to The Open Championship venue.
This is designed to provide a more accessible route into The Open for competitors qualifying from the 16 Regional Qualifying courses around Great Britain and Ireland.
From 2014, the four new courses that have been selected for this Final Qualifying stage are Glasgow Gailes Links, Hillside, Woburn and Royal Cinque Ports. Competitors will compete for three Championship places, at each venue.
“This alteration to the qualifying make up will offer a more geographically convenient way for competitors seeking to achieve a starting place in The Open Championship,” said Rhodri Price, The R and A’s Assistant Director of Championships.
“The R and A have maintained a very close relationship with all venues associated with the qualifying stages and this is a natural step towards continuing to offer competitors wishing to enter within Great Britain and Ireland a route into The Open Championship”.


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MARK THE CALENDAR! TIGER WOODS SMILING AT CHARITY EVENT

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
VERONA, New York (AP) -- Hunter Mahan and Cristie Kerr combined to win the Notah Begay Challenge charity event on Wednesday, and Tiger Woods was at least smiling as his pairing came in third.
Mahan and Kerr shot an 11-under 61 in the best-ball format event, coming in a stroke ahead of Annika Sorenstam and Rickie Fowler. Woods and LPGA Tour star Suzann Pettersen were third, two strokes off the pace.
"Oh Lord. It's going to be one of those days," Woods said before the round after Notah Begay III, his college roommate, promised some trash-talking as they prepared to play.
It was one of those days, all right, with Pettersen doing much of the heavy lifting for Woods.
"She played great," Woods said about Pettersen. "She definitely carried me."
Woods, who has played only eight US PGA Tour events this year because of injuries to his left knee and left Achilles' tendon, started the day with a perfect drive that set up a nice birdie at the par-4 opening hole, smiling broadly as fans shouted his name.
The shouts of encouragement never waned as Woods made his way around the course, but his game didn't approach the performance he put on here two years ago. With more than 3,000 awestruck fans watching his every move, Woods hit nearly every fairway and won three of the final four holes in a skins game format to beat Camilo Villegas in 2009.
"It was all right today," Woods said. "I've been hurt the majority of the year and haven't quite gotten to be able to (get) the reps that I need to do what (swing coach) Sean (Foley) wants me to do. We were right on track at Augusta, but unfortunately I got hurt there and then it was a huge setback. We're just trying to get back to where I was at Augusta, and it's coming around. I just need more reps."
Begay said he liked much of what he saw in Woods' performance.
"I saw enough good things to know that he's making some progress," Begay said. "It was nice to be out there with him."
Begay received a cheque for $500,000 for his foundation and said he hoped to be able to surpass $1 million after an auction.
The event is the chief fund-raiser for Begay's foundation, which is dedicated to helping fight obesity and diabetes in the Native American community.
It's a cause close to Woods' heart.
"I can relate to this because my father went through it," Woods said. "My father developed type-2 diabetes. It's tough to watch someone go through that, and what Notah's trying to do is cut that off. I want to be here for that. To be here and have the opportunity to do this, it's an honor."

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