AYRSHIRE WINTER GOLF ASSOCIATION FIXTURES

Gerry Smith runs the website for the Ayrshire Winter Golf Association.

Below are our fixtures for the upcoming Winter. 

With Gerry's input, Scottishgolfview.com will display the results after each event.

Ayrshire Winter Golf Association
 

Fixtures 2012/2013

Dundonald Tue 16th Oct

Western Gailes Wed 14th Nov

West Kilbride Tue 20th Nov

Kilmarnock Barassie Tue 8th Jan

Royal Troon (Portland) Tues 12th Feb

Prestwick Wed 13th March

Glasgow Gailes Tues 26th March

COLSAERTS LYING SECOND IN US PGA TOUR EVENT

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts shot a six under par 65 to lie joint second after the first round of the Frys.com Open, three shots behind Australia's Nick O'Hern, in California 
In carding nine birdies and no bogeys in a flawless nine-under-par 62, O'Hern equalled the CordeValle course record and established a three-shot cushion from early leader Jhonattan Vegas, Colsaerts and Derek Ernst.
With players attempting to clinch a US PGA Tour card for next season, O'Hern made the ideal early statement in San Martin, California.To qualify for membership without going to the qualifying school, players must match the earnings of the player 125th on this year's money list.
Starting at the tenth, O'Hern, 144th on the money list after just one top-ten finish this season, claimed eight birdies in 11 holes from the 13th, then added another on his final hole, the ninth.
Belgian Colsaerts, who made such an impact as one of José María Olazábal’s wild card picks at The Ryder Cup, entered the tournament 120th on the money list.
He too was bogey-free, carding six birdies for a share of second alongside Venezuela's Vegas and Ernst of the United States
Behind them was a group of five players on five under, including England's Greg Owen.
Scotland's Russell Knox was one under for a share of 33rd, England's Brian Davis one over in joint 72nd and his compatriot Gary Christian in 121st on five over.
Defending champion Bryce Molder was in a tie for 50th after a level-par round of 71.


CHECK OUT THE SCOREBOARD IN THIS WEEK'S US PGA TOUR EVENT

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FOR A SUMMARY OF THE FIRST-ROUND PLAY
AND WHAT THE PLAYERS HAD TO SAY

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FOR NEWS OF THE FIRST DAY'S PLAY IN
THIS WEEK'S WEB.COM TOUR (formerly
the Nationwide Tour)

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FISHER AND GALLACHER SHARE FIRST-ROUND LEAD ON ALGARVE

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Ross Fisher hopes victory at the Portugal Masters can provide the stepping stone for a return to The Ryder Cup side after claiming a share of the first round lead on the Victoria course, Vilamoura on Portugal's Algarve coastline.
The Englishman represented Europe in the victory at The Celtic Manor Resort two years ago, but missed out on The Miracle of Medinah after a slump in form.
Five top-ten finishes this summer hinted that the 31 year old may be getting back to his best, and a six under par 65 saw Fisher share the first round lead with in-form Scot Stephen Gallacher.
“It's been coming for a while and it's nice to see the hard work paying off,” said Fisher. “I watched a fair bit of it [The Ryder Cup in Chicago].
“I was tuning in watching and cheering on the boys - I actually felt more nervous sitting on the sofa than I did at Celtic Manor, it was kind of weird.
“If that doesn't inspire me and all of these other guys to get in The Ryder Cup, then you shouldn't be playing the game of golf. That was just awesome; I've experienced it in Wales and it's something that I think - Rory said it once - you've played in one, you never want to miss another one.
“So that did spur me on to get out and work hard. I think 17th in the world was my best, I'm not there now but I'm working hard and I'm improving, so one step at a time and we'll be back hopefully soon enough.”
Fisher birdied three of his first six holes, bogeyed the short 16th, but then picked up four more shots in five holes at the start of the outward half.
Gallacher’s bogey-free effort was all the more impressive as it came just four days after the horror of dropping four shots in one hole when still in contention for a second European Tour title.
The 37 year old was lying fourth at St Andrews on Sunday, when he played the wrong ball on the 16th hole and incurred a two stroke penalty.
"There's not much rough, and the greens are unbelievably good," said Gallacher after collecting three birdies on each nine.
"I got off to a good start, which was nice, but when the wind picked up it was pretty tough."
Another Scot, George Murray, sat third on five under par, with Swedes Fredrik Andersson Hed and Christian Nilsson, Ireland’s Shane Lowry, South African Jbe Kruger and Welshman Jamie Donaldson all signing for rounds of 67.
Ryder Cup Captain José María Olazábal was paired with two of his Medinah heroes in Martin Kaymer and Francesco Molinari.
None of them really sparkled in the first round, however. Kaymer carded a two under par round of 69, Molinari a 71 and Olazábal a 75.
Defending champion Tom Lewis, like Murray trying to end a run of eight successive missed cuts, reached four under par when he eagled the long sixth hole from six feet, but bogeyed two of his last three holes for a round of 69.
"It was a shame about the finish, but I remembered the shots I hit last year and it definitely helped," the 21 year old commented. "I drove the ball well and gave myself a lot of opportunities."

TO VIEW ALL THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES

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ROSE versus WESTWOOD FOR $1.5MILLION JACKPOT IN TURKEY

FROM THE BBC SPORTS.COM WEBSITE
Justin Rose put in a late charge to beat Tiger Woods and set up an all-English decider against Lee Westwood in the inaugural World Golf Final.
Rose shot a 69, including two birdies and an eagle in the last six holes, to beat the 14-time major winner and world number two by one shot in Turkey.

Earlier Woods had knocked out world number one Rory McIlroy.

Westwood reached the final after a six-stroke win over 2011 US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.
The Englishman shot two eagles and eight birdies in a course record 61.
He will go head to head with Rose on Friday for the first prize of $1.5m.
Rose trailed Woods, who beat McIlroy by six strokes in their final Group One encounter, until he holed a 110-yard sand wedge for an eagle two at the 14th.
"When Justin birdied 13 and holed out at 14 it was the turning point in the match," Woods said afterwards. "I was two up at the time and all of a sudden one down with four to play."
Rose, who carded a 62 to defeat US Open champion Webb Simpson in his last group game, agreed with Woods.
"That shot at 14 was easily the turning point," he said. "In proper matchplay you would only win the hole but in this format I've picked up two shots on Tiger and it's helped me win the match.
"It's now an all-English final with Lee. I would dearly love to win as I want to stay fresh and hungry for the rest of the season.
"There is very little history of Westwood and me playing each other but being the world number five at the moment it would be great to get one over the world number four."
Westwood said of his round "it was just one of those days when I was on a roll".
He added: "It seemed the hole just got bigger and bigger with each hole I played and that hasn't happened for a while."

DINWIDDIE CZECHS OUT COURSE RECORD WITH EIGHT-UNDER 64

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE REPORT
FROM NEIL AHERN
Robert Dinwiddie equalled the course record at Kunetická Hora Golf Club as the Englishman stormed into the overnight lead at the inaugural D+D Real Czech Challenge Open thanks to an eight under par opening round of 64.
It looked like it was going to be the day of the Danes in the Czech Republic when three players from the Nordic nation launched an early assault on the leaderboard, Andreas Hartø the best of them as he carded a seven under par round of 65.
But at the sun-kissed venue in Drítec, Dinwiddie shone the brightest thanks to a back nine which included just 11 putts as he equalled the record set by the host club’s own brightest star, Ondrej Lieser - who turned professional the day before this tournament and finished the opening day as the highest-placed Czech on four under par.
Dinwiddie’s first birdie came at the par five second hole and he reached the turn on three under thanks to back to back birdies at the sixth and seventh holes.
After driving into a fairway bunker at the par five 11th hole, Dinwiddie credited his par there as a crucial moment in his round as he maintained his momentum. He went on to pick up shots at the 12th and 13th holes before three birdies in a row at the 15th, 16th and 17th handed him a one shot lead.
“The save on 11 for par was important,” said Dinwiddie. “There is a decision there to hit it down the right or left of the fairway and I went with a three wood, which went into the bunker.
“I just didn’t have enough knowledge of that hole and I scrambled for par and that kept me going. Then I had about six or seven one-putts in a row, which was nice. I hit a lot of good putts and they all went where I wanted them to go.”
The three-time Challenge Tour winner has been in a similar position this season as he led after each of the opening two rounds at the English Challenge in July but could not press home his advantage. He is hoping to go a step further this week, however, and claim his fourth title.
“It’s been an average year really,” said the 29 year old. “But it’s one of those developmental years where I have figured out a lot about my game and I've started to play better in the second half of the season.
“I have been in this position before and I haven’t quite managed to get it done this year but it would be really nice to win at the end of the season. It’s a great start but it’s only the first round and I have to go out and try and build on it tomorrow.
“I am 46th in the Rankings at the moment and because I’m so close to making it to the (Apulia San Domenico) Grand Final, I felt I had to come and give it a go.”
Earlier in the day, Hartø took the clubhouse lead having also avoided a single dropped shot on the way to his seven under par round and he headed a significant Danish presence at the top end of the leaderboard, with Anders Schmidt Hansen (-6), Rasmus Hjelm (-5), Joachim B Hansen (-5) and Morten Orum Madsen (-4) all having positive starts to the week.
The two-time Challenge Tour winner was happy to be the leader of that pack and put it down to a new putting routine which he adopted after missing the cut by one shot at last week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on The European Tour.
“I played well tee to green in Scotland last week but I putted badly so I drew a line on my ball to help line up the putt and I made some good putts today,” said the 24 year old. “I made the ones you have to make to get a round going.
“It was nice to see that the putting was working and that was the main thing today. Even though I missed the cut last week by one it was a good experience and I’ve mixed the putting up a little so I took a good game here and improved my putting.”
Hartø was out on his own in second place going into the second day while (Anders Schmidt) Hansen, Mikko Korhonen of Finland, Frenchman Alexander Levy and England’s Steven Tiley were in tied third place on six under par.

FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72
64 R Dinwiddie (Eng) 
65 A Hartø (Den)
66 A Hansen (Den) , M Korhonen (Fin) , S Tiley (Eng) , A Levy (Fra)
67 R Hjelm (Den) , A Tadini (Ita) , J Hansen (Den) , V Riu (Fra) , S Jeppesen (Swe) , S Benson (Eng)
68 B Ritthammer (Ger) , A Bossert (Sui) , A Velasco (Esp) , B Parker (Eng) , M Madsen (Den) , A McArthur (Sco) , A Bernadet (Fra) , O Lieser (Cze) ,
69 A Engell (Nor) , D Ulrich (Sui) , M Southgate (Eng) , A Otaegui (Esp) , F Mruzek (Cze) , J Huldahl (Den) , C Doak (Sco) , M Prihoda (Cze) , C Macaulay (Sco) , C Aguilar (Esp) , A Domingo (Esp) , H Bacher (Aut) , G Houston (Wal) , J McLeary (Sco) , R Russell (Sco) , G Stal (Fra) 
70 R Nechanicky (Cze) , C Ford (Eng) , F McGuirk (Eng) , F Praegant (Aut) , R Steiner (Aut) , E Kofstad (Nor) , C Suneson (Esp) , C Brazillier (Fra) , M Crespi (Ita) , B Åkesson (Swe) , M Ford (Eng) ,
71 M Kieffer (Ger) , C Lloyd (Eng) , F Delamontagne (Fra) , L Jensen (Den) , J Parry (Eng) , D Brooks (Eng) , L Kennedy (Eng) , S Matus (Cze) , D Vancsik (Arg) , J Guerrier (Fra) , P Oriol (Esp) , M Nixon (Eng) , C Russo (Fra) , J Garcia Pinto (Esp) , R Kakko (Fin) , D Gaunt (Aus) , S Hutsby (Eng) , M Novy (Cze) , O Henningsson (Swe) ,
72 A Gee (Eng) , S Buhl (Ger) , M Delpodio (Ita) , Å Nilsson (Swe) , A Snobeck (Fra) , P Nic (Cze) , J Senior (Eng) , T Hatton (Eng) , K Benz (Sui) , S O'Hara (Sco) , P Dwyer (Eng) , T Remkes (Ned) , C Aronsen (Nor) , S Henry (Sco) , A Perrino (Ita) , S Wakefield (Eng) , P Uihlein (USA)
73 J Walters (RSA) , M Tullo (Chi) , E Pepperell (Eng) , P Svajlen (Svk)
74 J Krejcar (Cze) , S Palenik (Svk) , P Archer (Eng) , J Zvarik (am) (Svk) 
75 R Echenique (Arg) , N Meitinger (Ger) , K Eriksson (Swe) , C Gane (Eng) , P Baker (Eng) , J Heath (Eng) , L Tintera (Cze) , B Chapellan (Fra)
76 J Busby (Eng), M Haines (Eng) 
77 B Barham (Eng), J Navarro (Esp) , L Saltman (Sco) , A Kaunas (Ltu) , V Novak (am) (Cze)
78 J Gibb (Eng), P Gal (Cze) 
79 O Lebl (Cze), J Stanislav (Cze) 
80 Š Zach (am) (Cze)
81 D Strouf (am) (Cze) 
82 R Schovanek (Cze)
83 P Dedek (am) (Cze)

JOHN HENRY LEADS ALL THE WAY IN SCOTTISH ALLIANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

JOHN HENRY with The Scotsman Trophy as Scottish Alliance Champion for 2012  Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency By COLIN FARQUHARSON  Colin@scottishgolfview.com John Henry has a bit to go to catch up on older brother Scott, now a Challenge Tour player after a stellar amateur CV, but the 20-year-old Clydebank and District pro added the Scottish Golfers' Alliance championship to the family roll of honour at Monifieth Links today. John Henry, who campaigns on the PGA EuroPro Tour, led from wire to wire to win the title, a cheque for £1,000 and The Scotsman Trophy by three shots with rounds of 69 at Arbroath (par 70) and 71 and 74 at Monifieth (par 71) for two-over-par total of 214. Runner-up was Gullane assistant pro Keir McNicoll with 74, 73 and 70 for 217. Keir's 70 today was bettered only by The Duke's assistant pro Alan Martin's 69. "I played most of my best golf in the first round at Arbroath and could have led by more than five shots there as I double-bogeyed the last for a 69, but I was able to keep it going well enough over the last two rounds at Monifieth," said John. "I once won an Open championship regional qualifying round but I would say this is the best win I've had. I think playing on the very competitive EuroPro Tour has made me a better player and I just aim to keep Improving. "My coach Gregor Monks and I have been working pretty hard on my game over the last few months using data from a golf stats website - Golf Data Lab - which has improved my weaknesses dramatically."  Next target for the ambitious Henry may be a crack at the Alps Tour Qualifying School.   Newmachar +2 player John Duff, pictured left above with John Henry, won the leading amateur award - the Clydebank Quaich - after finishing joint third overall with Philip McLean (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) on 219 (71-74-74). George Wither (Lothianburn) won the Caldwell Trophy, the  senior amateur award (decided over the first 36 holes). for the fourth year in a row, an incredible feat. He had rounds of 74 and 73 for 147 and finished joint 12th overall with a three-round score of 226, adding a 79 at Monifieth for his third round. Midlands, repesented by professionals Jamie Stevenson (Braehead), Alan Martin (The Duke's) and Paul Brookes (Pitreavie) and amateurs Bob Stewart (Tulliallan), George Finlay (Ballumbie Castle) and Graeme Collins (Ballumbie Castle), won the team event for the Mountbatten Trophy comfortably with a total of 1353 West (1380) were runners-up and North-east (1399) third. Nairn Dunbar will be the main course for next year's championship (October 8-10). If the entry is big enough, Fortrose and Rosemarkie will also be used. This year's Scottish Alliance championship had a lower entry than normally, well under 100, mainly due to the fact that it clashed with the Optical Express PGA tournament at The Duke's. That deprived the "Alliance" of many regular competitors such as Paul McKechnie, Jordan Findlay, Craig Matheson, to name but a few. Wouldn't it be nice if the PGA of Scotland and the Scottish Alliance organisers got their heads together to avoid a similar clash next year when otherwise the Optical Express grand finale tournament will almost certainly be played the same week?  Left to right: Braehead pro Jamie Stevenson, captain of the winning Midlands team, John Duff (Newmachar) leading amateur, Scottish Alliance champion John Henry (Clydebank and Dist) and George Wither (Lothianburn), senior amateur champion for the fourth year in a row. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency. SCOTTISH ALLIANCE CHAMPIONSHIP Monifieth Links and Arbroath FINAL TOTALS Par 212 (Monifieth 2 x 71, Arbroath 1 x 70) 214 J Henry (Clydebank and Dist) 69 71 74 217 K McNicoll (Gullane) 74 73 70 219 P McLean (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 73 75 71, J Duff (Newmachar) 71 74 74 220 J Stevenson (Braehead) 75 70 75 221 A Martin (The Duke's) 80 73 68, I Wilson (Longniddry) 74 74 73 223 P Brookes (Pitreavie) 77 72 74, J Smallwood (Affordable Golf) 74 73 76 224 C Knowles (Panmure) 73 78 73 225 A Marshall (Houston DR) 76 76 73 226 D Roger (Windyhill) 76 74 76, G C Wither (Lothianburn) 74 73 79 227 P Jamieson (Dunblane New) 76 76 75, R Stewart (Tulliallan) 75 76 76 228 R Harrower (Boat of Garten) 77 76 75 229 G Finlay (Ballumbie Castle) 72 73 84 233 G Collins (Ballumbie Castle) 78 76 79 234 S Graham (Arbroath) 77 77 80, L Grindrod (Cawder) 76 77 81 235 W Crosbie (Blairgowrie) 77 78 80 236 D Leslie (Northern) 82 77 77, G Ramsay (Wellsgreen) 84 78 74 237 H Wong (Wellsgreen) 76 78 83, F Sharp (Boat of Garten) 81 76 80, I Craig (Carnoustie) 77 80 80, K Beveridge (Inchmarlo) 75 83 79 240 S L Brough (Alyth) 80 82 78 241 J Ingram (Boat of Garten) 76 78 87, N McGarva (Kilmacolm) 82 82 77 242 R Brownhill (Edzell) 82 76 84, S Baker (Hilton Park) 80 81 81 243 J Nicholson (Auchmill) 86 75 82, G Mitchell (Blairgowrie) 87 78 78 245 J Kinloch (Cardross) 84 80 81, J D Hamilton (Murcar Links) 83 83 79, I Butchart (Strathmore) 88 81 76 246 P Morrison (Oldmeldrum) 87 82 77 247 D Wilson (Monifieth) 82 83 82, F Bisset (Banchory) 88 78 81, C Cassie (Nigg Bay) 85 84 78 249 D Fleming (Portlethen) 86 84 79 252 P Kinloch (Cardross) 84 81 87, J D'Aguilar (Glasgow) 83 84 85 254 D Mackay (Newmachar) 79 84 81, D S Bisset (Banchory) 86 82 86 255 R Barton (Alloa) 86 81 88 256 J Rankin (Scotscraig) 91 83 82 257 R Farquhar (Carnoustie) 88 79 90 258 H Roulston (Stonehaven) 85 88 85 259 P Leggate (Musselburgh) 89 83 87 261 J D Murray (Banchory) 85 89 87, C Duffus (Kemnay) 85 90 86 263 D Nelson (Aboyne) 90 81 82 265 G Allan (Newmachar) 88 85 92, G Cant (Monifieth) 91 84 90 266 A Glass (Alloa) 87 85 94 269 A Boxx (Boat of Garten) 85 90 94 NR J Forrest (Northern) 87 87 NR LEADING FINAL HANDICAP TOTALS 218 I Wilson (Longniddry) (1) 73 73 72  220 W Crosbie (Blairgowrie) (5) 72 73 75 220 G C Wither (Lothianburn) (2) 72 71 77 222 F Sharp (Boat of Garten) (5) 76 71 75 222 J Duff (Newmachar) +1) 72 75 75 223 J Ingram (Boat of Garten) (8) 70 72 81  224 J D Hamilton (Murcar Links) (7) 76 76 72 224 D Leslie (Northern) (4) 78 73 71 224 R Stewart (Tulliallan) (1) 74 75 75 LEADING SENIOR SCRATCH  (Caldwell Trophy) Decided over first two rounds 147 G C Wither (Lothianburn) 74 73 151 R Stewart (Tulliallan) 75 76 154 J Ingram (Boat of Garten) 76 78 155 W Crosbie (Blairgowrie) 77 78 157 F Sharp (Boat of Garten) 81 76 158 R Brownhill (#Edzell) 82 76 162 A Gall (Deeside) 76 86 164 J Kinloch (Cardross) 84 80 164 N McGarva (Kilmacolm) 82 82 165 P Kinloch (Cardross) 84 81 165 G Mitchell (Blairgowrie) 87 78

MAJOR FLAVOUR TO WGC-HSBC CHAMPIONS FIELD IN CHINA

MEDIA RELEASE FROM IMG

Masters Champion, Bubba Watson, and Open Champion, Ernie Els, head the latest list of Major Champions to enter the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, October 29 – November 4 at Mission Hills Guangdong, China, on the Olazabal Course.

The latest stars joining defending champion Martin Kaymer, winner of the 2010 US PGA Championship and four-time major winner, Phil Mickelson, include 2011 US PGA Champion, Keegan Bradley,  2010 US Open Champion, Graeme McDowell, 2010 Open Champion, Louis Oosthuizen and 1999 Open Champion, Paul Lawrie. 

First-time Major winner, Bubba Watson, will be making his debut at the WGC-HSBC Champions and is looking forward to visiting China for the first time. He explained, “Winning my first Major at the Masters in April has made this an amazing year but I haven’t won since so I’d love to end my year with my first World Golf Championship win. Asian golf is definitely on the up and up and I am excited to go there and see it and experience it for myself. I love travelling, we are blessed as golfers to have the chance to travel all over the world and I can't wait to experience China and look forward to making new friends."  

South Africa’s Ernie Els is, in contrast to Watson, one of the most global golfing stars, plying his trade all around the world in front of adoring fans. His win at the Open marked his fourth Major title and 65th international win. He enjoyed some time off last week while many of his closest competitors were battling it out at the Ryder Cup in Chicago. 

Els explained, “Winning my second Open at Lytham was obviously a very special moment in my career, so I guess you could say I’ve had a bit of a spring in my step ever since. I’m definitely enjoying my golf and, as always, I’m excited about the prospect of returning to Mission Hills for the WGC – HSBC Champions. I feel very comfortable in Shenzhen, having enjoyed site visits while working on our golf course design project, and I’ve played well here and obviously come very close to winning. It’s always a fantastic week. Hopefully this is the year when I get to add this great title to my CV.”

Giles Morgan, Global Head of Sponsorship and Events for HSBC, said, “As a Patron of the Open Championship, HSBC was privileged to witness Ernie’s return to Major winning form at Lytham. He has had some fantastic performances in past WGC-HSBC Champions so will definitely be one of the players to watch at this year’s tournament. This is a wonderful array of Major Champions and we are looking forward to welcoming Bubba Watson to his first WGC-HSBC Champions as I know the Chinese golf fans are looking forward to the opportunity to watch ‘Bubba golf’ up close. ”

World Number three, Luke Donald and World Number Four, Lee Westwood, were amongst early entries to the year’s final World Golf Championships announced last month.

The final World Golf Championships of 2012 will take place at Mission Hills for the first time after seven very successful editions at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai.

 The WGC-HSBC Champions boasts a prize fund of $7,000,000 and is one of four World Golf Championships sanctioned and organized by the operational committee of the International Federation of PGA Tours, which includes the Asian Tour, European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour.  The other World Golf Championships include the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, WGC-Cadillac Championship and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

The following marquee players have won the coveted WGC-HSBC Champions title;  David Howell, YE Yang, Sergio Garcia, Francesco Molinari and Phil Mickelson – the only one to have won the title twice – and as referenced above, Germany’s Martin Kaymer became the latest to join that impressive roll of honour in 2011.

For ticket information, regular field updates, the full qualifying criteria and more information, please visit www.hsbcgolf.com.

TIGER BEATS RORY IN TURKEY

FROM THE BBC SPORTS WEBSITE
World number one Rory McIlroy bowed out of the World Golf Final in Turkey after losing his third successive match.
Having lost to Matt Kuchar and Charl Schwartzel, McIlroy needed to beat Tiger Woods with a low total in the final group game of medal match play.
But he could only post a one-under 70 as Woods surged into the semi-finals with a fine 64 containing no bogeys.
He plays Justin Rose, who carded a 62, while Lee Westwood shot 64 and faces Charl Schwartzel in the other semi.
Final Group One standings
C Schwartzel (SA) points: 3
T Woods (US) points: 2
M Kuchar (US) points: 1
R McIlroy (NI) points: 0
McIlroy, who won his second major in August by claiming the USPGA title at Kiawah Island and helped Europe to Ryder Cup glory last month, was behind from the opening hole against Woods, after sending his opening drive into the water.
With a three-wood he drove pin high at the 304-yard par-four fifth but miscued his chip and could only make par.
Woods tapped in from four feet for his second birdie and opened a three-shot lead as McIlroy remained the only player in the eight-man field over par.
At the next, a par three, Mcilroy missed the green and made another bogey, while Woods rolled in a six-foot birdie putt to go five shots clear.
Final Group Two standings
J Rose (Eng) points: 3
L Westwood (Eng) points: 2
W Simpson (US) points: 1
H Mahan (US) points: 0
Meanwhile Westwood, one of three players resplendent in shorts at the Antalya Golf Club, was in fine form with the putter as he played the first nine holes in seven under, the highlight an eagle at the fifth when he drove to within 10 feet at the 373-yard par-four.
He dropped his only shot of the round at the 11th but finished a comfortable five shots ahead of American Hunter Mahan, who ended without a point despite rounds of 67 and 69 this week.
Rose was level with US Open champion Webb Simpson at seven under after 15 holes, before a two-shot swing at the par-five 16th, and a closing birdie gave the Englishman a nine-under total, the best of the week.
Schwartzel recorded four birdies on each nine in an impressive 63 to defeat Matt Kuchar by two strokes.

BHULLAR LEADS BY TWO IN MACAU OPEN

ASIAN TOUR MEDIA RELEASE
Macau, October 11: In-form Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar rode on an eagle’s wing to shoot a sizzling eight-under-par 63 for a two-shot lead after the first round of the US$750,000 Venetian Macau Open today
The talented Bhullar was man of the hour at the challenging Macau Golf and Country Club with his brilliant shot-making as Thailand’s Prom Meesawat and Scott Hend of Australia led the chasing pack with matching 65s.
Three-time Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand produced a bogey-free 66 for a share of fourth place with Ireland’s Niall Turner, Australian Kieran Pratt and Bangladeshi Siddikur, who sank a hole-in-one on the sixth hole in the tournament which is title sponsored for the first time by Venetian Macau-Resort-Hotel.
Welshman Ian Woosnam, a former Masters Tournament champion, launched his campaign with a solid 68, one better than playing partner and two-time Macau Open winner Zhang Lian-wei of China.
In his last five starts on the Asian Tour, Bhullar has won once and finished second and ninth. An opening bogey didn’t matter for the 24-year-old Indian whose superb play yielded an eagle from 35 feet on the second hole and seven other birdies.
“When you know mentally that you’re striking the ball good, it’ll be a matter of putting and if you putt well, you will score. Today was one of those Super Sunday putting,” said a delighted Bhullar, who is a three-time winner in Asia.
“I canned that putt (on two). It changed the whole game plan. I made a lot of close birdies but holed a lot of long putts. Holed two from 40 feet.”
Bhullar holds Macau close to his heart as he finished second here three years ago. With his good form, the Indian reckons he can contend again come Sunday. “This course is one of my favourite courses in Asia. It will be lovely to have a victory under my belt on this course,” he said.
“In the off season, I’ve worked really hard. I knew that the game is there. It was just a matter of patience. Putting was one thing. I am streaky with the putting, very inconsistent. But I think that has been sorted out. I changed my posture a bit and it’s been helping me.”
The burly Prom, nicknamed the ‘Big Dolphin’ due to his physique and the fact that he hails from a coastal town, made five birdies on his outward nine before settling for a 65. He said his fitness regime has given him an edge during the hectic run of year-end events.
“I started on the tough nine (back nine) and birdied the 10th which was a good start. I made a long putt and it gave me confidence. The pins were tough,” he said. “During the (mid-season) break, I got myself ready for the rest of the year. I went to the gym as I knew I had to play six or seven weeks in a row. This is my fourth week and I’m still very fit. I think it’s the fittest I’ve been.”
Big-hitting Hend stayed patient at the demanding Macau layout, which rewards precision play. He used his driver only on four occasions as he picked up eight birdies, including on all the par fives.
“You have to manage the golf course or the course will manage you,” said Hend, who won the ISPS Handa Singapore Classic earlier this year.
He finished top-10 last week in the CJ Invitational Hosted by KJ Choi in Korea to qualify for the cash-rich CIMB Classic in Malaysia later this month and with the top-eight players on the Order of Merit qualifying for the lucrative HSBC Champions in China after this week, Hend, currently on the bubble, is determined to get into the Champions.
“If I don’t play well this week, I won’t get in it. That’s the key. I’ve put in the hard work. Like someone famous said, the harder you work, the luckier you’ll get. I’m also starting to recover from my operation in July. I’m getting stronger,” said Hend, who underwent surgery for a thyroid problem.
The towering Turner was also impressive, shooting five birdies in his opening seven holes which impressed his girlfriend who was watching him play for the first time. “The start was amazing … I made a lot of birdies which is fun. My ball striking has been very good. If I putt very well, I’ll do alright,” said Turn
Title holder Chan Yih-shin began his defence with a disappointing 73

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 71 Yardage 6,606

63 - Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND).
65 - Prom MEESAWAT (THA), Scott HEND (AUS).
66 - Niall TURNER (IRL), Kieran PRATT (AUS), Thongchai JAIDEE (THA), SIDDIKUR (BAN).
67 - Jonathan MOORE (USA), S. Siva CHANDHRAN (MAS), Berry HENSON (USA), Tim STEWART (AUS), Thitiphun CHUAYPRAKONG (THA), Jason KNUTZON (USA), LEE Sung (KOR).
68 - Sam CYR (USA), Adam BLYTH (AUS), Kwanchai TANNIN (THA), Adilson DA SILVA (BRA), Anirban LAHIRI (IND), Antonio LASCUNA (PHI), Jarmo SANDELIN(SWE), Angelo QUE (PHI), Ian WOOSNAM (WAL), Varan ISRABHAKDI (THA).