WARREN BOOKS PLACE IN US OPEN BUT MONTY MISSES OUT

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Swede Alex Noren and Scot Marc Warren finished top of the pile in the US Open Championship Qualifier at Walton Heath Golf Club, where Italian sensation Matteo Manassero was one of four players to emerge from a nail-biting play-off for the final places.
Noren, who will defend his ISPS Handa Wales Open title this week, and Warren, whose afternoon round of 65 on the New Course was the lowest of the day, cruised through the Qualifier on nine under par, two shots clear of their nearest rivals.
England’s Lee Slattery, Frenchman Grégory Bourdy, Finn Mikko Ilonen, South African George Coetzee and Dane Søren Kjeldsen made up the remaining automatic qualifiers on seven under par, meaning that five players on six under par had to return to the course to battle it out for the final four berths.
After birdies at the first extra hole, European Tour rookie Matthew Baldwin of England and Manassero were the first players to book their places at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, where Baldwin will be making his US Open Championship debut.
That left Korean Sihwan Kim, Frenchman Raphaël Jacquelin and Ireland’s Peter Lawrie to fight for the two remaining spots on the second extra hole, and it was Challenge Tour Member Kim who fell by the wayside after failing to get up and down for par from the greenside bunker.However, as the first alternate Kim could still, in the event of withdrawals, tee up at the second Major of the 2012 season, which will be held from June 14-17.
Two-time European Tour champion Warren is guaranteed his place, and is relishing the prospect of competing in his maiden Major.
He said: “There were a lot of highlights today, I actually burned the edge of the hole quite a few times so I could’ve gone even lower than nine under, but I’ll certainly take it. The way I played at Wentworth last week gave me confidence to take into this week, then my round this morning was another big step in the right direction, and a 65 in the second round was better than I could have imagined.
“It’ll be my Major debut, so I can’t wait to get out there. I think I’ll need to get a new lob wedge with new grooves in the bag, because the greens are going to be very firm and the rough’s going to be up. I spoke to Gareth Maybin last week, and he told me the course is pretty brutal. But I’m really looking forward to it. I’m sure I’ll enjoy the experience, and if I can take the mindset I had today into the tournament, hopefully I can give a good account of myself.”
Noren will be making his second US Open Championship appearance, having successfully qualified at Walton Heath 12 months ago, and the Swede is determined to improve on his tied 51^st finish at Congressional Country Club last year. He said: “I’m very happy. I was really tired this morning after Wentworth last week, but now I feel a lot better. I managed to keep the ball in play all day, which is key because if you don’t, you’re going to get punished. So I’m really pleased with my driving.
“When I qualified here last year, it really turned my season around because I won in Wales the week after. I’ve always wanted to play the US Open, and it really spurred me on for the rest of the season. Hopefully this year will be the same.”
Manassero also made his US Open Championship debut last year, and after securing a second appearance the young Italian is keen to enhance his burgeoning reputation.
He said: “It feels great, especially to do it with a birdie in the play-off. There was a lot of tension, because there was so much to play for. So it means a lot to me to get my place, and I’m really looking forward to going back to play in America.
“It should be a great experience, and I’ve heard really good things about the course. There are lots of World Ranking points available, so hopefully I can play well and climb the Rankings and The Race to Dubai. Everybody wants to play in the big tournaments, and they don’t come much bigger than the US Open. I can’t wait.”                  
Despite highly encouraging morning displays, Colin Montgomerie and José María Olazábal, Ryder Cup Captains past and present, will not be making the trip to San Francisco after carding respective afternoon rounds of 72 and 74.

Monty who made an overnight dash home to Scotland from Wentworth for a change of putter and arrived at Walton Heath at 6am, started well, despite his lack of sleep, with a four-under 68 but a total of four-under-par 140 was never going to be good enough in a field of 81.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

Those who played only one round (or fewer)

Andrew Dodt, Australia 68-Withdrew



Scott Jamieson, Scotland 76-WD



Gareth Maybin, Northern Ireland 72-WD
Richie Ramsay, Scotland 80-WD



Pelle Edberg, Sweden 74-WD



Lorenzo Gagli, Italy  78-WD



Brett Rumford, Australia 73-WD
Edoardo Molinari, Italy 79-WD



Julien Quesne, France 75-WD



Fredrik Andersson Hed, Sweden 75-WD



Shiv Kapur, India 74-WD



George Murray, Scotland 72-WD



Thomas Levet, France 73-WD



Pablo Martin, Spain WD
Jose Manuel Lara, Spain WD-

LUKE DONALD FANCIES JUSTIN ROSE AS RYDER CUP PARTNER

FROM THE BT YAHOO GOLF NEWS SERVICE

Justin Rose may have been his title rival on Sunday, but double PGA Championship winner Luke Donald has a vision of the duo being paired together at the Ryder Cup in Illinois in September.

"I think we would make a good partnership in four-balls or foursomes," Donald told reporters at Wentworth, after landing the coveted PGA title for the second year in a row with a closing 68 for 273, 15 under par.
"Justin is a solid player and I don't have any doubts he'll be in the team. I think captain Jose Maria Olazabal is going to have the satisfaction of having a lot of people to pick from, and that's always a good thing."
Donald compared the attributes of Rose, the world number 10, to those of third-ranked Lee Westwood.
"Justin has the game to win a U.S. Open for sure," he said of his fellow Englishman. "He hits it very good off the tee and has a similar kind of game to Lee.
"He strikes it solid and doesn't make a lot of mistakes. I'm sure he's working on just getting a little bit better on the greens, but he's certainly making big strides in that area too.
"I see a lot of great things coming from Justin."

JUSTIN ROSE LAUNCHES NEW OFFICIAL WEBSITE

NEWS RELEASE

 English golfer Justin Rose has launched a new official website under the web address www.justinrose.com.   

Rose, who this week moved up to No.6 in the world rankings and No.1 on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, has re-launched his site to coincide with last week’s announcement that he is the new global ambassador for Ashworth clothing.  

Rose’s website has been re-designed by Locker Room Media following a brief to create a modern and stylish site to reflect the high-end brand values for which Justin has become known.

DARREN CLARKE RESTS UNTIL IRISH OPEN ON JUNE 28

FROM THE BBCSPORT.COM WEBSITE

Open champion Darren Clarke will miss the US Open in California next month after being advised to rest a groin problem.

Clarke has also withdrawn from the NordeaMasters in Stockholm and will not play again until the Irish Open at his home course of Royal Portrush.
"I am extremely disappointed as Open champion that I am unable to play the US Open," said Clarke.
"I have to make sure I am 100% ready for the Open and to do that I have been advised not to play for a month."
Clarke was troubled by a groin strain during the Houston Open the week before the US Masters in early April, and felt it again at last week's BMW PGA Championship.
He took medical opinion and was advised to rest for four weeks or risk further damage.
"I haven't been able to get through the ball properly because of it and I don't want to take any chances," added Clarke.
Clarke has struggled for form since his Open victory at Sandwich and has failed to make the halfway cut this season.
The US Open will be staged at the Olympic Club, San Francisco on June 14 to 17, with Clarke's compatriot Rory McIlroy the defending champion.
The Irish Open starts on June 28 while Clarke will bid to retain the Open title at Royal Lytham and St Annes from July 19 to 22.

ONLY A NUTTER WOULD DRIVE 900 MILES FOR A PUTTER ... SAYS MONTY

FROM THE BBCSPORT.COM WEBSITE

Colin Montgomerie embarked on a 900-mile drive to grab a putter in his efforts to qualify for the US Open.

Following a final round of 81 in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, Monty headed home to Scotland for his club.

He then headed back to Surrey for the 36-hole US Open qualifier at Walton Heath.
"Who in their right mind would do that? But yes, I did," said the former European number one.
"I putted like an idiot and played like one too."
After starting with a four-under-par 68 today as 81 players battled for 11 spots, the former Ryder Cup captain confirmed his lengthy trip.
"I left Wentworth at 2pm on Sunday, was home in Scotland at 8pm, had tea with the family, left at 11pm and got here just after 6am.
"Last week was very disappointing."

PAUL LAWRIE IS NOT COUNTING HIS RYDER CUP CHICKENS JUST YET

FROM BBCSPORT.COM WEBSITE

In-form Paul Lawrie is "focused" on claiming a Ryder Cup place after his latest rise up the rankings.

The Scot, who finished tied for second at BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, has risen to 29th after being 272nd 14 months ago.

"I'm trying to play every week; not for a second am I thinking I'm in there yet," he told BBC Scotland.
"There's a long way to go but it's my job to play as well as I can."
The 1999 Open champion, who shot a final round 66 to finish four strokes behind BMW PGA Championship winner Luke Donald, sits second in the Ryder Cup points race.
However, the 43-year-old is taking nothing for granted

"You've got to take one week at a time," he said. "I won't be in the Ryder Cup team until they announce it."

Lawrie was happy with his display in the final round at Wentworth, adding: "I played solid tee to green and hit the ball really well.
"It could've have been better, which seems a bit silly when you've just shot six under par on a pretty tough golf course.
"But it was much easier today. I think they watered the greens overnight and it was much softer and easier."

MONDAY MORNING COMMENT ON THE WORLD GOLF SCENE

FROM THE ESPN.COM WEBSITE

By Farrell Evans

Last May, Luke Donald's win at the BMW PGA Championship got him to No. 1 in the world for the first time in his career. Since then he has earned four worldwide wins and the money titles on the PGA Tour and European Tour. Lately, has been embroiled in a seesaw battle for No. 1 with Rory McIlroy.
Last week, Donald started No. 2 in the rankings, the same spot he held when he came to the BMW last year at the Wentworth Club, where he unseated Lee Westwood from the top of the rankings by beating his fellow countryman on the first playoff hole.

On Sunday, Donald didn't need a play-off to win the BMW PGA and regain No 1 in the world. The 34-year-old Englishman carded his third 68 of the week for a four-stroke win from Paul Lawrie and Justin Rose. The BMW title was Donald's second worldwide win of the year.

For Donald, last year's BMW was really the start of one of the most consistent runs of golf in recent history. He went into Congressional as the favorite to win his first U.S. Open, but he played mediocre and finished in a tie for 45th. He would win his next time out at the Scottish Open. But then he missed the cut at the British Open.
So it's difficult to know what good play around the majors means for Donald. Which player will show up? Will it be the guy who seems to never finish outside the top 10 or will it be the guy who disappears into the back of the pack in the most important tournaments in the world?
My guess is that he'll play better this time around in the next two majors. The role of No. 1 was a new thing to him in 2011. Now he has done that and come out of it a better player who is still improving. With his amazing short game, he is a clear favorite at Olympic, which is not a bomber's course. But time will tell if he can master the nerves and finally get it done on golf's highest stage.

Johnson's penalty nearly costs him Colonial

In the waning minutes of the Colonial, CBS Golf announcer Peter Kostis spotted two infractions in the final pairing of Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson. The first, not a rules violation, happened on the 18th tee, when the players hit out of order. The second came on the 18th green, when Johnson failed to replace his ball mark. For that one, Johnson received a two-shot penalty, but he still held on for a one-shot win over Dufner.
With the win, Johnson got his eighth career title and some valuable Ryder Cup and FedEx Cup points. But his embarrassing brain flub was a reminder of the careful attention to detail it takes in all facets of the game.
Replacing your ball is one of the most routine acts on a golf course. It's a good measure of courtesy to remind your playing partners to not forget to put the ball back in its original position on the green.

Johnson's caddie, Damon Green, or Dufner could have told him to replace the ball, but they, too, probably were caught up in the moment. It's the kind of thing that probably happens more often than we know on the US PGA Tour. Lots of weird stuff happens on the golf course. We just don't see most of it because there isn't a gallery or a TV announcer to catch it.
Unless it's a major or your name is Tiger, Phil, Daly or Rickie Fowler, the typical tour player competes in relative peace and anonymity with only his family and friends following him on the course.
That's probably not the first time Johnson has failed to replace his ball. But it's likely to be his last time committing the rules infraction. It won't just be a force of habit. It will become a habitual concern of his and his caddie's. And we'll probably be looking closer than ever to catch that player in the act as someone who forgot to remember something he's done his whole life.


Gainey keeps gaining on 2013 tour card

For every Luke Donald or Zach Johnson, there are 20 Tommy Gaineys on the US PGA Tour. For the Gaineys of the world, the PGA Tour is a road show that goes 30-odd weeks or as many weeks as it takes for one to lock up his playing privileges for the next year. In the lexicon of the game, these men are sometimes called journeymen, but more practically they are fathers and husbands trying to eke out a living. Granted, it's a living that yields lots of millionaires, but not a gig with much job security.

In 2011, the 36-year-old Gainey had a career year, earning more than $2.1 million while claiming seven top-10s. His blue-collar background and baseball-inspired golf swing have made him an instant celebrity on tour. But if you don't play well that fame can be fleeting.
Coming into the Colonial, Gainey had eight missed cuts and two withdrawals in 17 events. At the Valero Texas Open, he shot 80-84 to miss the cut with a 20-over-par total.
The former line worker at the A.O. Smith water heater company, who once boasted of making $12 per hour at the plant, had earned less than $100,000 in the season. He was well on his way to a return to Q-school in the fall.
But miraculously, his game came together this week at Colonial, where he had rounds of 66-67-73-67 to finish in solo third, which was good enough for a $435,200 payday. Now he's in a position on the money list in which he needs to make probably another $150,000 to keep his card next year. He'll play another 15 to 17 events this year, so if he performs decently, his homespun nature should grace the tour for another year.
Some of Gainey's poor play can be attributed to a nagging elbow injury, but playing with injuries is a part of the game. Now that he's healthy, maybe he can show in the remainder of the year some of the dazzling play we saw from him in 2011.
While a future on the PGA Tour is never secure for scrappy types such as Gainey, it's one of the greatest gifts of the tour that these players can have a great week that lifts their spirits and changes the entire course of their year.



McIlroy heads to Memorial after two straight weekends off

At the BMW PGA Championship, Rory McIlroy missed his second cut in a row after shooting a 7-over-par 79 in the second round at the Wentworth Club in Surrey.
Earlier this month, the 23-year-old Ulsterman, who will try to defend his U.S. Open title next month at the Olympic Club, also went packing after two rounds at The Players Championship.

Since starting his year with five top-5s, including a win at the Honda Classic, McIlroy has had a disappointing tie for 40th at the Masters, a T-2 at the Wells Fargo Championship and the two missed cuts.
His 79 at the BMW was his worst competitive round since that infamous 80 in the final round at the 2011 Masters. McIlroy, who gave up No. 1 to Luke Donald after the Englishman's win at the BMW, is now headed to the Memorial.
"I just think I've lacked competitive rounds," McIlroy said on Friday. "I'm looking forward to getting to the States and playing four rounds. I'm still confident in my ability."
He has no reason to lack confidence in his game, but he should be concerned about missing cuts so near the U.S. Open. Last year, he came into Congressional off of a tie for fifth at the Memorial. Though his runaway win in the U.S. Open was a signal to the world that he was going to be a contender for a long time, getting to No. 1 this year has been his real coming-out party.
It's difficult to lose focus in less than six months, but McIlroy's last two showings should be a wake-up call for him that he can't take his game for granted, and that every week should be an occasion to demonstrate that he's one of the best players in the world.
Tiger Woods, the benchmark for success on the contemporary US PGA Tour, has never missed two cuts in a row in his pro career. If McIlroy wants to reach that level of greatness, he had better figure out how in the world a player of his otherworldly abilities could ever shoot a 79.

Another Woods on the golf scene

Cheyenne Woods turned pro and signed with Excel Sports Management, the same agency that represents her famous uncle, Tiger Woods. The daughter of Tiger's half-brother Earl Woods Jr., Cheyenne Woods won two individual collegiate titles -- including the 2011 ACC championship -- before graduating recently from Wake Forest.

With her good looks and famous last name, the 21-year-old Phoenix native will be an attention-grabber in a women's game desperate for stars. Cheyenne Woods has an opportunity to be a trailblazer on an LPGA Tour that hasn't had a fully exempt African-American player since LaRee Suggs was on the tour in 2001.
In 1964, after she had won five Grand Slam tennis titles, Althea Gibson became the first black woman to play on the LPGA Tour.
Cheyenne Woods' success on the LPGA Tour could encourage more young black girls to take up the sport at a young age. There are already a number of black women trying to play pro golf, including Ginger Howard and Shasta Averyhardt, who was partially exempt on the LPGA Tour in 2011.
None of these women has had the kind of support that Cheyenne Woods is likely to receive from sponsors, the LPGA Tour and her uncle.
Cheyenne Woods will have enough pressure to succeed without being weighed down with expectations that she will be an ambassador of diversity in the game, but her participation in the growth of initiatives to support minority women in golf could go a long way toward the sport becoming truly a melting pot.
But first she has to get her card. She'll enter Q-school this fall, and in the meantime she will try to get into LPGA events through sponsor's exemptions. In her one previous LPGA start at the 2009 Wegmans, she missed the cut.



Farrell Evans covers golf for ESPN and can be contacted at evans.espn@gmail.com.

HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

MIXED FORTUNES FOR TOP COUNTY GOLFERS

There were mixed fortunes over the weekend tournaments for local golfers.  In the Scottish seniors' spring meeting over the Montrose championship links, Tulliallan’s Bob Stewart finished well down the field with rounds of 85 and 77.

Bob will be hoping for a better performance on June 7-8 in the East seniors' championship at Forfar.             .

In the Welsh open amateur stroke play, Alloa’s Jamie Aitken had high hopes when he started with a fine 72, but fell away in the second round with an 84, missing the cut by five shots. 

Scott Borrowman (Dollar) also missed the cut (151) with rounds of 77 and 78.

Best performance came from Alva’s Lawrence Allan in the Scottish Hydro Junior Tour event. Showing great consistency over the Roxburghe course, Lawrence finished in sixth place with rounds of 73-73-75-73 for a six-over-par aggregate of 294.

Over his four rounds he ran up an excellent 11 birdies, but these were cancelled by a greater number of bogeys. For once he avoided any double bogeys or worse, and his performance will consolidate his position in the 2012 Scottish boys' Order of Merit.

SCOTTISH STROKE-PLAY AT BARASSIE

There is a big test for both Scott and Lawrence this coming weekend in the Scottish men's open amateur stroke-play championship at Kilmarnock Barassie.

Lawrence has good memories from last year when he captained the Scottish schoolboys to victory against England, winning his own match in the process. The local players are in a high quality field - no fewer than  85 from the 144 strong field come from outwith Scotland. That’s more than 50% of the field for the first time. 

There are 19 entries from France and 16 of the field play to a handicap of plus 4 or better. Alloa’s Jamie Aitken is 10^th reserve for the event.

BIG CHALLENGE FOR CALLUM

Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay finished 34^th in the latest Challenge Tour event in Belgium, winning just over €1000. He is still in the top 20 Challenge Tour rankings, but really needs a bit of a boost to stay there and make the full European Tour for 2013. 

Callum is entered with six other Scots in the Tecina Golf event in the Canary Islands. It's then back to mainland Europe for a succession of events and a quick dash to the Scottish Challenge in a few weeks.

COUNTY EVENTS COMING UP

 June 3 Patton Trophy - Open Mixed Foursomes (Alloa)

 June 4 County match-play semi-finals (Tillicoultry, 5.30pm_)

 June 6 Senior Open (Tillicoultry)

 June 7 County match-play final (Alloa, 5.30pm)