Friday, December 09, 2011

SPANIARD QUIROS SHOOTS FOUR CLEAR AS LAWRIE FALLS BACK

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE (after end of play)
Alvaro Quiros, with one win in Dubai already this year, emerged as the biggest threat to Rory McIlroy's hopes of ending The European Tour season with back-to-back wins - and maybe taking The Race to Dubai title as well.
The big-hitting Spaniard finished a course record-equalling 64 by sinking a 20 foot eagle putt and will go into the third round of the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World four clear of the star-studded field on 12 under par 132.
Nearest challenger overnight is Sweden's Peter Hanson who had a par-matching 72 for 136 after leading at the end of the first-round with an eight-under 64.
McIlroy twice shared the lead on the back nine, but left a chip short of the green on the 17th and then bogeyed the last as well after driving into water.
Those errors dropped him into joint third with England's Robert Rock on 137.
Northern Ireland's US Open Champion, who came from behind Quiros to win the UBS Hong Kong Open last Sunday, has to triumph again to have a chance of denying Luke Donald The Race to Dubai crown.
Even then Donald would complete his double of European and US PGA Tour money list titles if he finishes in the top nine this weekend and thanks to three closing birdies he is in a tie for 12th at halfway.
McIlroy knows all about Quiros - not just from last week, but also from the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February. The 22 year old was joint leader with a round to go, but fell back to tenth as golf's biggest-hitter came charging through.
This time Quiros resumed four behind Peter Hanson, but with the Swede struggling and Scot Paul Lawrie wasting a red-hot start the opportunity was there.
The Spaniard  turned in 33 with birdies at the second, fourth and eighth and then stepped it up even more on the inward half.
After further birdies at the 11th, 14th and 16th he took advantage of the tee being moved forward 95 yards on the par five last.
McIlroy has been suffering from a virus for the past few weeks and has now been told he might have been battling with dengue fever, transmitted by a mosquito bite and fatal in less than one per cent of all cases.
"It could have been a number of things and I'm going to see a doctor again tomorrow before deciding whether to go to Thailand next week," he said.
"To be honest, I'm ready for the season to be done and looking forward to putting the clubs away."
Donald was down in 31st place when he three-putted the eighth, but after pars on the next seven holes he made 15 foot putts on the 16th and long 18th and in between holed from ten feet.
"Just personally in terms of my mental approach, that was huge," said Donald.
"It would be foolish of me to rely on him (McIlroy) not winning. I know what's at stake and it's a big deal to me.
"I was frustrated out there. I tried to stay patient, but it's tough. I want to finish off what I came here to do and those last three brought a smile to my face.
"There's certainly a lot of pressure. I'm still making a few mistakes - maybe because of what's at stake. When there's a lot on the line you feel more nervous, but sometimes it's a good thing."
Quiros said: "Obviously they are fighting for The Race to Dubai final top position, but we are playing here to try and ruin the party.
"They are not the only important people in the golf tournament."
Hanson shot 72 and Lawrie's 73 - a big disappointment after three birdies in the first four - dropped him to joint fifth on six-under 138. The Aberdonian let it get away from him on an inward half of 39, compared to 33 in the first round.
Lawrie birdied two long holes on the second nine, the 14th and the 18th, but that could not compensate completely for a double-bogey 6 at the 12th and single shots dropped at the 15th, 16th and 17th.
FROM THE PAUL LAWRIE WEBSITE
"I got off to a great start but drove it poorly so struggled to keep it going.   I hit some really nice putts that lipped out so it could easily have been a whole different story. I hit a couple of buckets of balls with the driver when I finished as it was awful today."

HALFWAY LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
132 Alvaro Quiros (Spain) 68 64.
136 Peter Hanson (Sweden) 64 72.
137 Robert Rock (England) 68 69, Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 66 71.
138 Paul Lawrie (Scotland) 65 73, Paul Casey (England) 72 66.
139 Louis Oosthuizen (S Africa) 72 67, Pablo Larrazabal (Spain) 71 68, Francesco Molinari (Italy) 71 68, Shane Lowry (Ireland) 69 7, Jaco Van Zyl (S Africa) 69 70.
140 Luke Donald (England) 72 689, Johan Edfors (Sweden) 72 68, Charl Schwartzel (S Africa) 69 71, Sergio Garcia (Spain) 67 73.
SELECTED SCORES
142 Lee Westwood (England) 73 69, Ian Poulter (England) 73 69, Ross Fisher (England) 68 74 (T22).
143 Richie Ramsay (Scotland) 74 69, Ernie Els (S Africa) 74 69 (T29).
144 Scott Jamieson (Scotland) 72 72 (T36)

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NICK DOUGHERTY AT TOUR SCHOOL IN SEARCH OF FORMER GLORY

By PAUL SYMES
European Tour Press Officer
Nick Dougherty is hoping to take a step back in time at this week’s Qualifying School Final Stage in a bid to extend his long tenure on The European Tour.
The affable Englishman – whose wife Di, the former Sky Sports presenter, has also made the trip to PGA Catalunya Resort – is making his second appearance at the six-round Final Stage, a decade after a sparkling performance on his debut.
In 2001, the then-19 year old Dougherty (pictured by courtesy of ©Getty Images).

cruised through the Final, finishing third behind Sweden’s Johan Sköld to earn a European Tour card a mere matter of months after joining the professional ranks.
Fast forward ten years, however, and the three-time European Tour champion is back at school with contrasting emotions, following a testing campaign which has yielded just €10,600 in prize money.
But Dougherty is taking a philosophical approach to his week’s work in Girona, north-east Spain, where a top 30 finish will secure him a place on The 2012 European Tour International Schedule.
He said: “Last time I was at Qualifying School wasn’t stressful at all, and I loved every minute of it – just being there was a bonus for me at that stage in my career. The emotions are obviously a bit different coming back here ten years later, but it’s still only a golf tournament.
“It’s often referred to as the dreaded Tour School, but we’re only here to play golf – it’s not like we’re expected to find a cure for cancer this week! But now that I am here, I’m going to do everything I can to make it a successful week. Obviously in an ideal world I would’ve played well enough to have kept my card, but the reality is that I didn’t play anywhere near well enough.”
By his own admission, just one cut all season has had a debilitating effect on Dougherty’s confidence levels; but the likeable Liverpudlian is determined to reverse his recent fortunes through a mixture of hard work, determination and sheer bloody-mindedness.
He said: “Things can turn around quickly in this game. There are still some technical issues I need to address going forward, but all my focus this week has to be on playing the best I possibly can. I’ve really struggled all year to keep the ball in play, but if I can do that this week, then I’ll give myself a good chance.
“Things haven’t gone my way this year and of course it’s been very tough at times, but there’s no point feeling sorry for yourself in this game. You’ve just got to keep plugging away and hoping you turn the corner. If I can play well here this week and build some confidence, it could be the start of good things for me again.”
SCOTSWATCH - There are nine Scots in the field for the European Tour Final Qualifying School. We'll be keeping you up todate with how they get on each day.

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ROSS DRUMMOND SEVEN BEHIND MAURITIUS LEADER TOM LEHMAN

By STEVE TODD
European Seniors Tour Press OfficerScotland’s Ross Drummond carded a level par opening round 72 in the MCB Tour Championship to sit seven shots behind leader Tom Lehman in the European Senior Tour’s season-finale in Mauritius.
Drummond, who is trying to consolidate his position inside the top 20 on the Senior Tour Order of Merit, posted five birdies and the same number of bogeys in a mixed round at Constance Belle Mare Plage.
He is tied for 16th position while compatriots Bill Longmuir and Sam Torrance are a shot further back in tied 24th after rounds of 73. Andrew Oldcorn carded a 76 as he continues his recovery from an eye operation.
Former Open Champion and Ryder Cup captain Lehman is the man to catch after a flawless 65, which gave him a three shot lead over David Frost of South Africa.
“Anytime you get round without a bogey you are happy,” said the 2010 US Senior PGA Champion. “I managed to roll the ball pretty well today and made seven birdies so it is a great start.
“To make two birdies to start with was great and I just kept it going. I made some big putts to save par, on the sixth in particular when I made a 12 footer and nine from eight feet. Those were really key to the round.
“I love the course here. I think it is a wonderful golf course. It has the appearance of being extremely narrow but when you get out on the course there is room if you pick the right club and I only hit the driver twice today.”
Peter Fowler and Barry Lane, the leading two on the Order of Merit, struggled in their battle for the John Jacobs Trophy, carding rounds of 73 and 75 respectively.
ALL THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 72
65 T Lehman (United States)
68 D Frost (S Africa) 
69 P Dahlberg (Sweden)
70 N Job (England), A Sherborne (England), G Wolstenholme (England), C Mason (England), B Cameron (Eng) , J Rivero (Spain) , M Mouland (Wales), J Sallat (Fra)
71 D Cambridge (Jamaica), D Johnson (United States), J Harrison (England), M Moreno (Spain)
72 D Hospital (Spain), T Thelen (United States), T Johnstone (Zimbabwe), C Rocca (Italy) , R Drummond (Scotland), A Sowa (Argentina), J Bruner (United States), S Van Vuuren (S Africa)
73 S Cipa (England) , S Torrance (Scotland) , D Merriman (Australia) , M Farry (Fra), B Longmuir (Scotland) , G Manson (Austria) , P Fowler (Australia)
74 D Russell (Eng) , M Belsham (England), G Cali (Italy), G Ryall (England), G Brand (Eng) , D O'Sullivan (Ireland), J Gould (England), G Banister (Australia), J Stuart (USA)
75 K Spurgeon (England), B Lincoln (S Africa) , R Chapman (England) , M Harwood (Aus), J Quiros (Spain), B Lane (Eng) 
76 S Bennett (England), A Oldcorn (Sco), I Espitalier Noel (Mus), A Forsbrand (Sweden)
 77 M Cunning (US), C Williams (S Africa), G Ralph (England) 
 80 B Smit (S Africa)
 82 A Franco (Paraguay)

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PAUL LAWRIE FALLS OUT OF THE LEAD WITH A SECOND-ROUND 73

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE (before the end of play)
Luke Donald was back in control of his own destiny after three closing birdies gave him a second round 68 at the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World.
Needing a top-nine finish to be sure of completing the double of US PGA and European Tour money lists - an unprecedented feat - England's World Number One was down in 31st place when he three-putted the eighth.
But after pars on the next seven holes Donald made 15 foot putts on the 16th and long 18th and in between holed from ten feet.
They brought him into a tie for 12th - still not quite where he wanted to be, but in a position to strike over the weekend.
"Just personally in terms of my mental approach, that was huge," said Donald of a finish that lifted him to four under par, five behind new leader Paul Lawrie, who still had ten holes to play.
He will take The Race to Dubai wherever he finishes if Rory McIlroy, his only remaining challenger, fails to win the tournament, but the Ulsterman still had a great chance of that after birdies at the second and eighth put him in a tie for second, one back.
"It would be foolish of me to rely on him not winning," added Donald. "I know what's at stake and it's big deal to me.
"I was frustrated out there. I tried to stay patient, but it's tough. I want to finish off what I came here to do and those last three holes brought a smile to my face.
"There's certainly a lot of pressure. I'm still making a few mistakes - maybe because of what's at stake. When there's a lot on the line you feel more nervous, but sometimes it's a good thing."
Lawrie took over at the top when he birdied the first two holes and overnight pacesetter Peter Hanson, who had equalled the course record with his 64, bogeyed the third.
When 1999 Open Champion Lawrie almost holed-in-one at the fourth he was three clear, but he followed with three pars and McIlroy birdied the eighth to get closer and Hanson was two back again as well when he picked up his first stroke of the day on the long seventh.
Donald had been close to the right-hand bushes with his opening drive on the first day and after straying that way again he hit a provisional ball just in case.
The original was found in the deep rough, but he missed a four foot par putt and thought to himself: "Not again".
Like his first round, though, he came back with three birdies in the next four, but covering the first ten in one over left him in dire need of a strong finish - and he produced it.
McIlroy did not appear to have the same touch of magic on the greens as he did in covering the back nine in 30 on Thursday. He missed three birdie chances from eight feet or less in the first six holes, but two-putted the long second and a three on the 461 yard eighth was a real boost, especially when Lawrie, bunkered off the tee, then bogeyed it to be only one ahead once more.
McIlroy grabbed a share of the lead for the first time thanks to a seven foot birdie putt on the 11th, but followed it with a three-putt bogey.
That sent him down into a tie for third as Quiros joined Lawrie out in front with his fifth birdie of the day on the long 15th.
Just as McIlroy's stopped short of the water on the short 17th Quiros used his power to find the green in two at the par five last and made a 20 foot eagle putt.
He had matched the course record of 64 and leapt to 12 under, with McIlroy nine under.
The lead then became four when the Northern Irishman did not make the green with his chip and bogeyed.
LATER NEWS:
Paul Lawrie fell out down the leaderboard with an inward half of 39 - compared with 33 yesterday. He had a double-bogey 6 at the 12th and single shots dropped at the 15th, 16th and 17th. Birdies at the long 14th and long 18th could not repair all the damange. A one-over-par 73 gave him a halfway total of 138.


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FIFE ACE OF YESTERYEAR, WILLIE MOYES DIES AT 87

FROM BOB THOMSON, St Andrews Golf Club
Some info which may be of interest to Fife golfers. Willie Moyes, died on December 5, aged 87 years. He was one of Fifes' best golfers. Willie won the Eden Tournament twice. He was a former Fife stroke-play and match-play champion and won 11 club championships between his membership of Leven Thistle and Lundin Golf Clubs. He was also a former captain of Leven Thistle Golf Club.
Bob Thomson

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'BULLDOG' DRUMMOND ON THE QUALIFYING SCHOOL TRAIL AGAIN



 THE WAY THEY WERE: Scott Drummond, born in Shropshire, played for the England team that included Lee Westwood (centre, front row) and won the boys' home internationals' title at Montrose in 1991. Drummond's parents are Scottish and he opted to be a "Scot" when he turned pro. We think that's him on the left of the back row. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

FROM THE HERALD WEBSITE
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/golf
By NICK RODGER
Scott Drummond. Remember him? Seven years ago, the Shropshire-born Scotsman was top of the class after winning the European Tour's flagship PGA Championship at Wentworth.
This weekend, the 37-year-old is back re-sitting the main circuit's entry examination again as he strives to recapture the glory days in the 108-hole Qualifying School final, which begins tomorrow, at PGA Golf de Catalunya near Girona.
While Mother Nature's fearsome hissy fit yesterday closed most of the schools in this part of the world, there will be plenty of golfing pupils out in Spain wishing they could skip class too.
For those who have dined at the top table, the humbling drop back into the dreaded Q-School is a bit like rummaging through the bins for scraps.
Drummond has certainly enjoyed the high life – his 2004 PGA win left him ranked 23rd in Europe with earnings of almost €1m – but it's been a slow, downward spiral since those heady times.
The former rookie of the year's category was so low during the 2011 campaign that he was offered a mere seven starts on the main circuit and a similar number on the second-tier Challenge Tour. Given the fact that he managed to make just two cuts from those events, you'd expect the Devon-based golfer's morale to be at an all-time low ahead of the draining, six-round marathon.
Yet Drummond's determination to haul himself out of the doldrums, allied to the inspiration he still gets from that memorable PGA triumph, continues to be a source of positivity.
"It's been another very difficult year with hardly any opportunities, but the Qualifying School is a chance for me to turn it all around," said the two-time Challenge Tour winner, ahead of the grim battle for 30 tour cards up for grabs. "There's been nothing to build on this season but I'm still working as hard as ever. It has been very hard for me to accept the position I'm now in but in my heart I believe I'm a better player now than at any time. I just have to get through this week and prove that on the tour next season.
"Everyone keeps reminding me of 2004 and it is something I have to use as inspiration. I got myself in a position then and I handled myself under serious pressure. I feel comfortable at that level and I know I can do it. Yes, I've had my struggles, but the drive is still there and I still have some good years to come."
Drummond, who chipped in from 25 yards on the last hole of the 2009 Qualifying School final to squeeze into the all-important top-30, is one of nine Scots hoping to earn pass marks in north-east Spain.
Alastair Forsyth, the two-time tour winner who finished in 140th place on the money list this season, returns to the scramble for the second year in a row while Steven O'Hara, 131st on the order of merit, also has to regain his playing privileges the hard way.
Lloyd and Elliot Saltman, who became the first brothers to successfully come through the same qualifier 12 months ago, find themselves back in the mix again while Callum Macaulay and Alan McLean, who shared second place in the stage two shoot-out in Murcia earlier this week, will tee-up in good spirits. Gary Orr and Chris Doak make up the home posse on the attendance register.

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JIMMY GUNN MISSES CUT IN ARIZONA

Dornoch exile Jimmy Gunn failed to make the 36-hole cut to the leading 25 in this week's three-round event on the American Professional Golf Tour at Corte Bella Golf Club, Sun City West, Arizona.
Gunn, pictured, had rounds of 71 and 75 for a two-over-par tally of 146 - six shots over the qualifying limit.
American Chris Kamin leads on 13-under-par131 with scores of 65 and 66.
SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72). Players from US unless stated
131 Chris Kamin 65 66.
132 Darren Wallace (Canada) 66 66, Ryan Dillon 66 66.
133 Mark Baker 67 66.
134 Blaxton Marquez 66 68.
SELECTED SCORE
MISSED THE CUT (140 or better qualified)
146 Jimmy Gunn (Scotland) 71 75.
Next event on the American Professional Golf Tour is an 18-hole competition on December 12 at Troon North in Scottsdale, Arizona

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