CHRIS CURRIE WINS WEST RACE TO TUNISIA

FROM MARGARET CARROLL

West of Scotland Alliance secretary 

The West played the Race to Tunisia Competition today at Falkirk Tryst on what was an excellent day, considering the weather we have been having over the last few months.

Our winner was Chris Currie from Caldwell who shot a 70. A very big thank you to Stephen Dunsmore, the professional at Falkirk Tryst for all his help with the organisation of todays event.

++ Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) has won the Edinburgh and East of Scotland Alliance Free Trip to Tunisia prize. More details from Alan Greenshields tomorrow

THAT'S MORE LIKE IT, PHILIP! McLEAN WINS NE ALLIANCE WITH A 58 AT INVERALLOCHY

                           PHILIP McLEAN ... Had to turn down trip to Tunisia prize
               
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com 
This could be the year when Philip McLean's tour pro career takes off.
So far it has hardly got off the ground but the Peterhead man could be about to change all that in 2013.
McLean recovered his best form in time for the forthcoming start of the EPD Tour with an impressive five-under-par 58 to win the first prize of £100 in today's North-east Alliance fixture over Inverallochy Golf Club's short winter course.
McLean, playing out of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, had bogey-free halves of one-under 31 and four-under 27 as he birdied the fourth, 11th, 15th, 16th and 18th.
As an amateur the Buchan man won a Scotland cap and such prestigious open events as the Leven Gold Medal Edward Trophy.
McLean's tour schedule cost him the bonus prize to the leading professional of a free trip to the inaugural Tunisia Golf Festival from February 9 to 16.
With other leading pros also otherwise engaged, Colin Nelson's 65 put him in the frame. It was such a shock to the manager of the Mackenzie Shop at Hazlehead that it was Thursday evening before he could work out if he would be able or not to go to Tunisia.
Regrettably, Colin had to say "No" when he added up the pros and cons of leaving his shop business for a week.
Lee Vannet (Carnoustie), who had a 66, is next in the pros' pecking order for the prize which the R and A ruled was worth more than the amateur status limit of £500.
Lee will sleep on it tonight and give his decision on Thursday.
Paul Lawrie's teenage son Craig, playing out of the Deeside club where his father is an honorary member, produced his best Alliance performance to finish as the leading amateur and runner-up overall in a field of 77.
Craig shot a level par 63 (31-32) over the short but tricky lay-out with birdies at the fourth, 11th and 16th. He had bogeys at the 12th, 15th and 17th. Craig is having a year out on the amateur circuit before starting PGA Training at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre.
Three handicap McDonald Ellon amateur Bruce Mitchell had an excellent score of 64 gross to share third place overall with David Law.
Full marks to Gary Homer for figuring on the Class 2 handicap prizelist with a net 64 - after reversing his car over his caddie car BEFORE he went out.
"Somebody suggested that the nose of the car was sticking out after I had parked so I reversed it ... forgetting that I had taken by caddie car out of the boot and it was right behind men," said the Northern member.
"No wonder I took 43 shots to the turn but the shock had worn off by the turn and I came home in 33 for a 76. That's golf!"
   
LEADING SCRATCH
Par 63 (32-31) SSS 64
58 P McLean (Paul Lawrie GC) 31-27.
63 C Lawrie (Deeside) 31-32
64 D Law (Paul Lawrie GC) 33-31, B Mitchell (McDonald Ellon) 32-32
65 C Nelson (Mackenzie Shop) 34-31, K Nicol (Paul Lawrie GC) 33-32 , D C Clark (Duff House Royal) 32-33.
66 L Vannet (Carnoustie) 34-32, S Finnie (Caledonian) 36-30, J Duff (Newmachar) 33-33.
67 Sean Lawrie (Portlethen) 34-33, D Fleming (Portlethen) 34-33, I Bratton (Newburgh) 32-35, J Wilson (Newmachar) 35-32, J Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen) 32-35, C Dempster (Inchmarlo) 34-33, R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo) 36-31.
68 D Leslie (Northern) 37-31, K Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 38-30.
69 M Forster (Cruden Bay) 37-32, G Milne (Newburgh) 36-33, J Emslie (Royal Aberdeen) 34-34.
70 K Zeynlove (Portlethen) 36-34, L Prouse (Hazlehead) 36-34.
71 R O'Donnell (Oldmeldrum) 38-33
72 K Beveridge (Inchmarlo) 39-33, C Cassie (Nigg Bay) 36-36, K Watson (Deeside) 38-34.
74 Steve Lawrie (Portlethen) 35-39, W Skene (Deeside) 36-38, E Allan (Inchmarlo) 37-37, L Fowler (Royal Aberdeen) 38-36.
75 J Jessiman (Oldmeldrum) 40-35, H Roulston (Stonehaven) 38-37, M Merchant (Newmachar) 38-37, R Brown (Newburgh) 42-33
76 G Homer (Northern) 43-33, B Lumsden (Northern) 38-38, A Campbell (Deeside) 39-33.
77 M Booth (Kemnay) 40-37, G Allan (Auchmill) 38-39
78 N K Parker (Murcar Links) 40-38, M Winton (Caledonian) 42-36, D McKay (Caledonian) 39-39, D Bisset (Banchory) 41-37, J Murray (Banchory) 40-38, L Roger (Royal Aberdeen) 38-40, R Duncan (Royal Aberdeen) 38-40, J Forrest (Northern) 39-39, P Adams (Royal Aberdeen) 41-37.
79 H McNaughton (Cruden Bay) 40-39, S Davidson (Northern) 42-37
80 P Cornfield (Auchmill) 43-37
81 W Shaw (Banchory) 37-44, M Smith (Inverurie) 44-37, A Gall (Deeside) 43-38
82 D Randall (Banchory) 42-40, J Borthwick (Craibstone) 39-43, M Rendall (Stonehaven) 40-42.
83 D Wright (Northern) 47-36.
84 M Brown (Newburgh) 45-39
86 I Grant (Huntly) 49-37
87 G Thom (Murcar Links).
88 P Leech (Oldmeldrum) 45-43
89 D Lawrie (Inchmarlo) 49-40
92 E Adams (Ballater) 47-45.

HANDICAP PRIZEWINNERS
Class 1 - M Forster (Cruden Bay) (7), D Fleming (Portlethen) (5) 62; G Milne (Newburgh) (6), D C Clark (Duff House Royal) (2) 63; D Leslie (Northern) (4) 64.
Class 2 - J Jessiman (Oldmeldrum) (14) 61; R Brown (Newburgh) (13) 62;  B Lumsden (Northern) (13) 63; N K Parker (Murcar Links) (14), G  Homer (Northern) (12) 64

INVERALLOCHY PAR SCORECARD
OUT: 3-3-4-4-3-4-4-4-3 = 32
    IN: 3-4-3-3-4-4-4-3-3 = 31

BEST SCORECARDS

PHILIP McLEAN 58 (-5)
OUT: 3-3-4-3-3-4-4-4-3 = 31
   IN: 3-3-3-3-4-3-3-3-2 = 27    

CRAIG LAWRIE 63
OUT: 3-3-4-3-3-4-4-4-3 = 31
   IN: 3-3-4-3-4-5-3-4-3 = 32  

DAVID LAW 64
OUT: 3-3-4-3-3-6-3-5-3 = 33
   IN: 3-3-3-4-4-6-3-3-2 = 31  

BRUCE MITCHELL 64
OUT: 3-3-4-4-3-4-4-4-3 = 32
   IN: 3-4-3-2-5-3-4-4-4 = 32   

COLIN NELSON 65
OUT: 4-2-4-4-2-5-4-5-4 = 34
    IN: 4-4-4-3-4-3-3-3-3 = 31   

KRIS NICOL 65
OUT: 3-3-4-4-4-4-3-4-4 = 33
   IN:  4-3-4-3-4-3-4-3-4 =  32

+The publication of the tee times for next Wednesday at Peterhead will be delayed until joint secretary Dave Wilson has spent a day in bed, trying to shake off the flu-type symptoms through which he battled to run today's affairs at Inverallochy. Mind you, he has probably infected the rest of us! 

THAI SETS PACE AT ASIAN TOUR Q SCHOOL FIRST STAGE

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ASIAN TOUR

 

Hua Hin, Thailand: Thailand’s Kittiroj Chantharothai took a significant step towards playing on the Asian Tour when he posted a seven-under-par 65 to take the opening round lead at the Asian Tour Qualifying School First Stage Section A today.

 

Kittiroj, who played at the Imperial Lakeview Golf Club, held a one-shot lead over Norway’s Elias Bertheussen and Korea’s Lee Jun-hak after they returned with matching 67s.

 

At the Royal Thai Army Sports Centre, Korea’s Jeong Dae-eok shared pole position with Grant Doverspike of the United States when they signed for matching 66s.

 

Over at the Banyan Golf Club, Sweden’s Thomas Petersson took the day’s honour when he fired a 67 to move atop the leaderboard. Thailand’s Varan Israbhakdi is four shots back of the Swede after he carded a 71 to take second place.

 

Due to the record number of entries which hit an all-time high of 761 players, the First Stage Section B will be played next week at the Imperial Lakeview Golf Club and Springfield Royal Country Club to accommodate the additional players.

 

After four rounds, the top 15% players from each venue will qualify for the all-important Final Stage which will be held at the Imperial Lakeview Golf Club and Springfield Royal Country Club from January 23 to 26.

 

The top-40 and ties from the Final Stage will earn their playing rights on the new 2013 Asian Tour season.

  
SCORES AT BANYAN GOLF CLUB

Pos.	Score	-Par+	Name	Represents	R1
1	67	-5	Thomas PETERSSON	Sweden	67
2	71	-1	Varan ISRABHAKDI	Thailand	71
3=	72	Par	Manuel QUIROS	Spain	72
3=	72	Par	James SHEFFIELD	England	72
3=	72	Par	MOON Tae-yang (1138)	Korea	72
6=	73	1	Hisho NAKAYAMA	Japan	73
6=	73	1	Hirohito KOIZUMI	Japan	73
8=	74	2	Marcus WARENIUS	Sweden	74
8=	74	2	KWON Ki-taek	Korea	74
8=	74	2	Ryoya GOTO (A)	Japan	74
11=	75	3	CHOI Gwang-taek	Korea	75
11=	75	3	Shaun MALONE	England	75
11=	75	3	Yoshikazu HAKU	Japan	75
14=	76	4	LEE Do-hyun	Korea	76
14=	76	4	Katsuyoshi ARATANI	Japan	76
16=	77	5	Tye ALEXANDER	USA	77
16=	77	5	Miro VEIJALAINEN	Finland	77
18=	79	7	Nathan PARK	Australia	79
18=	79	7	Hiroaki NEGORO	Japan	79
18=	79	7	MOON Tae-yang (4944)	Korea	79
21=	80	8	Andrew SCAIFE	England	80
21=	80	8	Panu KYLLIANEN	Finland	80
23	81	9	Simon FORSSTROM	Sweden	81
24	82	10	Kenichi SAWADA	Japan	82
25	84	12	Timothy GALVAN	USA	84
26=	87	15	Rick HANSEN (A)	Australia	87
26=	87	15	Kyohgo YOSHINAKA	Japan	87
28	88	16	Michael PEARCE (A)	Australia	88

SCORES AT LAKEVIEW
 1    65    -7    Kittiroj CHANTHAROTHAI    THA    65
2=    67    -5    Elias BERTHEUSSEN    NOR    67
2=    67    -5    LEE Jun-hak    KOR    67
4=    68    -4    Jakraphan PREMSIRIGORN    THA    68
4=    68    -4    Quinton HOWE    AUS    68
4=    68    -4    LEE Jun-hyuk    KOR    68
7=    69    -3    Kazumi TAKAHASHI    JPN    69
7=    69    -3    Supravee PHATAM    THA    69
7=    69    -3    James BOWEN    USA    69
10=    70    -2    Keishiro NAKATA    JPN    70
10=    70    -2    UH Hyun-gon    KOR    70
10=    70    -2    LEE Yun-tack    KOR    70
10=    70    -2    Konosuke NAKAZATO    JPN    70
10=    70    -2    Ryan David MCCARTHY    AUS    70
15=    71    -1    Richard LEE    CAN    71
15=    71    -1    YOON Sejun    USA    71
15=    71    -1    James MCMILLAN    AUS    71
15=    71    -1    Akinori TANI    JPN    71
15=    71    -1    Ryoma YAMAGATA    JPN    71
15=    71    -1    Ryuji MIYAZAKI    JPN    71
15=    71    -1    LEE Seung-yun    KOR    71
15=    71    -1    Brad SMITH    AUS    71
23=    72    Par    FAN CHIANG Hao Chuan    TPE    72
23=    72    Par    Brandon RAVE    AUS    72
23=    72    Par    Aaron HWANG    USA    72
23=    72    Par    Andrew S. COOPER    AUS    72
23=    72    Par    Masaaki KATO    JPN    72
23=    72    Par    PARK Seong-je    KOR    72
23=    72    Par    Justin K. YU    USA    72
23=    72    Par    Kouki KAWAKAMI    JPN    72
23=    72    Par    Andrew CURLEWIS    RSA    72
23=    72    Par    Yoshihito KAWAI    JPN    72
23=    72    Par    LEE Chieh-po    TPE    72
23=    72    Par    Dale WHITNELL    ENG    72
35=    73    1    Masao NAKAJIMA    JPN    73
35=    73    1    Sebi GARCIA    ESP    73
35=    73    1    KO Dong-woo    CAN    73
35=    73    1    Gary KNIGHT    USA    73
35=    73    1    Shotaro NEDA    JPN    73
35=    73    1    DO Eun-an    AUS    73
35=    73    1    Jimmy Ko    HKG    73
35=    73    1    Jochen LUPPRIAN    GER    73
35=    73    1    CHUN Il-jin    CAN    73
35=    73    1    Worrasorn SUWANPANANG    THA    73
35=    73    1    Billot J. NICOLAS    FRA    73
35=    73    1    Matt JAGER    AUS    73
35=    73    1    Isao OHMOTO    KOR    73
48=    74    2    Donlaphatchai NIYOMCHON    THA    74
48=    74    2    Niall KEARNEY    IRL    74
48=    74    2    ANG Chin Ling    SIN    74
48=    74    2    Senroku ISA    JPN    74
48=    74    2    Francois HAUGHTON    RSA    74
48=    74    2    NAM Jae-sung    KOR    74
48=    74    2    Masataka MORI    JPN    74
48=    74    2    LEE Ju-heon    KOR    74
48=    74    2    Glenn JOYNER    AUS    74
48=    74    2    Danie-Van TONDER    RSA    74
48=    74    2    KIM Kook-Hyan    KOR    74
48=    74    2    Tatsuya MIYAKI    JPN    74
48=    74    2    HO Hao-ching    TPE    74
61=    75    3    Alan HUANG    TPE    75
61=    75    3    Jordan SHERRATT    AUS    75
61=    75    3    Aadil JEHANGIR    PAK    75
61=    75    3    RYOO Dong-ho    KOR    75
61=    75    3    LEE Chin-chou    TPE    75
61=    75    3    Prin SOW    THA    75
61=    75    3    Jay CHOI    AUS    75
61=    75    3    Robert FISHER    USA    75
61=    75    3    KWON Hyuk-koan    KOR    75
61=    75    3    JUNG Joon-ki    KOR    75
61=    75    3    Rafael LEE    CAN    75
61=    75    3    Edward REYES    PHI    75
61=    75    3    Patrick SIMARD    ESP    75
74=    76    4    CHOI Jong-min    KOR    76
74=    76    4    Steve PARRY    ENG    76
74=    76    4    PARK Yeong-hu    KOR    76
74=    76    4    KIM Sang-ki    KOR    76
74=    76    4    Pinyo PIROMRUEN    THA    76
74=    76    4    Ethan SHANAHAN    AUS    76
74=    76    4    Larry PETRYK    CAN    76
74=    76    4    Yohei SHINNO    JPN    76
74=    76    4    Paul BRYANT    AUS    76
74=    76    4    Terence COUTINHO    POR    76
74=    76    4    Steven SHARP    ENG    76
74=    76    4    CHAE Sung-duk    KOR    76
86=    77    5    Sirapong MAITREEYEUNYONG    THA    77
86=    77    5    Lerd BHAKDIBUMI    THA    77
86=    77    5    Ryuichi KONDO    JPN    77
86=    77    5    Jack HARRISON    ENG    77
86=    77    5    KIM Jae-young    KOR    77
86=    77    5    Narinrit TANTRAKUL    THA    77
86=    77    5    Prasertsak PONGSAWALEESRI    THA    77
86=    77    5    Thanakorn JIROTTANASAN    THA    77
86=    77    5    Anders ENGELL    NOR    77
86=    77    5    Takeshi FUCHIGAMI    JPN    77
86=    77    5    Jani PERTTILA    FIN    77
86=    77    5    Ross CANAVAN    ENG    77
86=    77    5    Kitdanai SUPHASIRISES    THA    77
86=    77    5    Bobby PARK    KOR    77
86=    77    5    Eiji YAMASHITA    JPN    77
86=    77    5    PARK Eun-bi    KOR    77
102=    78    6    Kazuki IMURA    JPN    78
102=    78    6    Masatsugu FUJISHIMA    JPN    78
102=    78    6    Pongdej TEJAVIBULYA    THA    78
102=    78    6    Teruki TAKEUCHI    JPN    78
102=    78    6    Eakapat CHUARATANAPHONG    THA    78
102=    78    6    Rory BOURKE    AUS    78
102=    78    6    LEE Do-won    KOR    78
102=    78    6    Masashi MIYAZATO    JPN    78
102=    78    6    CJ GATTO    USA    78
102=    78    6    Tazio OTSUKA    JPN    78
112=    79    7    CHEN Tsung Wei    TPE    79
112=    79    7    Hideya OKUDA    JPN    79
114=    80    8    KO Dong-jin    CAN    80
114=    80    8    Sam HAJRI    TUN    80
114=    80    8    CHANG I-feng    TPE    80
114=    80    8    LEE Jong-hwi    KOR    80
114=    80    8    Pree HIRUNWIWAT    THA    80
119=    81    9    JANG Yong-jun    KOR    81
119=    81    9    Konstantin LIU    GER    81
119=    81    9    KIM Jae-woo    KOR    81
119=    81    9    Keisuke ITO    JPN    81
119=    81    9    Yuta SAKAMAKI    JPN    81
119=    81    9    Bill KIM    KOR    81
119=    81    9    PHENG U. Ly    USA    81
126    82    10    Shintaro MASAI    JPN    82
127=    83    11    Benedict GOH    SIN    83
127=    83    11    Jeffrey WANG    HKG    83
129    84    12    Joseph SUAREZ    USA    84
130=    85    13    BANG Chang-wook    KOR    85
130=    85    13    Ser LEE    USA    85
130=    85    13    Anawin KIATLACHCHANONT    THA    85
130=    85    13    Sandy MITCHELL    SCO    85
134    87    15    Takashi OKUDA    JPN    87
135    88    16    Vic SHIH    TPE    88
136    RTD    -    Mick KENNY    RSA    RTD

LAMB ROARS INTO NEW YEAR LIKE A LION

Victorian Brad Lamb has continued his spectacular run of form by winning this year’s Srixon Master of the Amateurs Am-Pro at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
The unique format of the Am-Pro leads into the four-round Australian Master of the Amateurs tournament held from Tuesday to Friday at the famed Royal Melbourne lay-out.
Monday’s Am-Pro is played in a teams event, but with a tie at the conclusion of the day’s play, Lamb took on Horsham Club Professional Mark McIntyre in a play-off.
A par by Lamb on the first play-off hole was enough for him to clinch the title.
Royal Melbourne was presented in all her glory with putting surfaces firming up throughout the day as the summer sun was unforgiving.
The only saving grace for the players was the cool breeze that persisted over the day, keeping temperatures bearable.
Lamb along with fellow team members took advantage of their early tee time to shoot an outstanding nineteen under par 53.
McIntyre’s team played extremely well in matching the nineteen under par in the more challenging afternoon condition, where birdies seemed to be harder to come by.
While both players hit the fairway on the first play-off hole, Lamb’s drive left him considerably closer to the hole.
McIntyre’s second shot hung out to the right before missing the green by only two meters, coming to rest in the thick rough and opening the door for Lamb.
Lamb’s second shot was stuck perfectly to fifteen feet from the hole, leaving an easy two putt for his par.
McIntyre was unable to get the ball up and down for his par allowing Lamb to take home the winners cheque of $10,000.
“It’s a special moment anytime you get to make a winners acceptance speech at Royal Melbourne” Lamb said at presentations.
It has been a massive week for Lamb who in the past seven days has shared the honours at the Portsea Pro-Am and only yesterday finished in a tie for third at the Australasian Tour School, providing him with full exemption for the 2013 season.
The Victorian Order of Merit Season gets back underway on Thursday 10th January at Goonawarra, before heading down the Bellarine Peninsula for three further events.
Please visit the Australian Master of the Amateurs website for more information and results.

 

McILROY-NIKE BIG BUCKS DEAL TO BE ANNOUNCED ON MONDAY

Rory McIlroy will be unveiled by Nike as its face of golf in Abu Dhabi on Monday, in a 10-year deal understood to be worth £156 million.

NOTAH BEGAY JOINS GOLF CHANNEL TEAM AS ON-COURSE REPORTER

FROM THE GOLF CHANNEL.COM WEBSITE
 Notah Begay, a four-time winner on the US PGA Tour, will join Golf Channel and NBC Sports full time as an on-course reporter beginning at this week’s Sony Open in Hawaii.
Begay will take on the role vacated by Dottie Pepper, who joined the board of the PGA of America and retired from NBC last year to pursue programs geared toward junior golf.
''I'm absolutely thrilled to join the Golf Channel and NBC golf broadcast teams,'' Begay, 40, said in a statement. ''The game of golf is as exciting as ever, and I look forward to utilizing my extensive experience to provide viewers with insight into the competition and its players.''
Begay, a Navajo, is the only full-blooded American Indian to play on the US Tour. His career was derailed by back injuries. He has devoted much of his recent time to his foundation that he established in 2005, providing health and wellness education for Indian youth.
Begay made his TV debut in 2010 during Golf Channel's ''Live from the Masters'' and has contributed to Golf Channel's coverage at The Masters and U.S. Open the last three years.
Along with being a walking reporter, he will contribute to Golf Channel news programs and coverage from majors.
''Notah has a wealth of knowledge, experience and a tremendous passion for the game of golf, and we are excited for him to be expanding his role within the NBC Sports Group,'' Golf Channel executive producer Molly Solomon said:
 ''He already has demonstrated a knack for honest and candid analysis during Golf Channel's 'Live From' coverage, and our viewers can expect the same when he reports from the golf course.''

DUSTIN JOHNSON WINS BY FOUR AFTER WILD RIDE ON HAWAII

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) -- Dustin Johnson ended a windy week with a wild ride Tuesday that carried him to the first win of the US PGA Tour season.

Final leaderboard    

Despite hitting two drives into native areas that cost him three shots, Johnson never lost the lead at Kapalua. He closed  with a 5-under 68 for a four-shot victory in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, though it was up for grabs with five holes remaining.
Stricker came within a fraction of an inch of tying for the lead until his birdie putt peeled away from the cup on the 13th hole, which Johnson chopped up for a double bogey. With only a one-shot lead, Johnson pitched in from 50 feet in front of the 14th green to restore his three-shot lead, and Stricker never challenged him after that.
And so, the tournament that didn't start until the fourth day and was cut to 54 holes because of a powerful wind finally ended with a guy who overpowered the Plantation Course.
Johnson, who finished at 16-under 203, won for the sixth straight season. Only Phil Mickelson with nine straight years has a longer active streak of most consecutive seasons with a PGA TOUR victory.
"He's very athletic, and he's just going to continue to get better," Stricker said. "It's fun to watch. You never know what he's going to do, and he's got a lot of talent."
Johnson also added a peculiar footnote to his record. He now has won the last three US Tour events reduced to 54 holes because of weather -- rain at Pebble Beach in 2009, a hurricane at The Barclays in 2011 and gusts that topped 40 mph in Hawaii from a freak weather pattern that led to a bizarre season opener.
Johnson earns 500 FedExCup points for his win and takes the early lead in the season-long competition.
The tournament ended just over 29 hours after it started. Then again, 54 holes were all that was needed to show who was playing the best golf.
"It gives me a lot of confidence going into this year," Johnson said.
Not since Tiger Woods has a player gone straight from college to winning in his first six seasons on TOUR.
Stricker put up a good fight on one good leg. He has been feeling a shooting pain down his left side on every shot and limped his way around the most mountainous course on TOUR for 54 holes in two days. He closed with a 69. "I knew it was going to be tough, but I gave it run for a little while," Stricker said.

Brandt Snedeker went 5 under during a four-hole stretch on the front nine to get within one shot of the lead until he closed out the front nine with three straight bogeys. Snedeker had a 69 and finished alone in third, six shots behind. He moved to No. 8 in the Official World Golf Ranking, second only to Woods among Americans.
Masters champion Bubba Watson (71) and former PGA champion Keegan Bradley (70) were another shot back.
Johnson overcame the first threat from Snedeker with back-to-back birdies, and just like that, he was ahead by five and looked unbeatable. And he won by four shots, which would appear to be an easy day of work in paradise.
"It was nowhere near ho-hum," Johnson said. "I had to really fight hard."
And he had no one to blame but himself.
His tee shot on the par-5 ninth sailed right into a patch of knee-high grass and short trees, and Johnson never found it. Without showing any fear, he stepped up and smashed another driver, and then reached the green in two dead into the wind and salvaged a bogey.
 He nearly drove the 12th green downwind for a birdie and a three-shot lead over Stricker, and that's when the fun began.
Johnson hit driver on the 13th and pulled it enough to land into a bunker and tumble into a native area of high grass, trees and plenty more.
"We found a shoe, some sunglasses, about five or six other balls," said Stricker, who joined in the search. "There might have been a guy living up in the tree."
Johnson found the ball, but it took two swings to get it back in play, and he had to two-putt from about 50 feet just to escape with double bogey. He thought his lead was gone as he watched Stricker, so smooth with a putter in hand, stand over his 20-foot birdie putt. It turned away at the last second.
With trouble to the right on the 14th, Johnson was predictable as ever. He pulled driver.
"He hit a couple of wayward drives and opened the door me a little bit, and then he stepped up there with a driver again (on 14), and I'm like, `OK.' But then he piped it, and chips it in," Stricker said with a smile. "Most guys would have been pulling out an iron or some utility club. It's amazing that he even did that, to tell you the truth."
The eagle chip was the end for Stricker.
Johnson hit a beautiful pitch up the dangerous slope on the 15th for a short birdie to match Stricker's 10-foot birdie, and he made no mistakes coming in.
"It looks like very little fear in him," Stricker said. "Because he'll hit one a little crooked, but he'll pull out that driver again and try it again. And he pulled it off, especially at 14. That was the deciding shot and chip for the tournament. Expect a lot of good things as he continues his career."
And don't expect it to ever be dull.
Johnson headed to Oahu for the Sony Open in Hawaii, which starts in two days. Stricker was headed down the coast of Maui for three days of vacation with his wife and two daughters before going home to Wisconsin for the next six weeks. He is going into semi-retirement, playing only about 10 times this year. And he wants to fix his left leg. More than anything, he'd like to win again and come back to Kapalua, even if that means having to take on Johnson again. 

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 219 (3x73)
Players from US unless stated
203 Dustin Johnson 69 66 68 9 9$1,140,0000
207 Steve Stricker 71 67 69 9 ($665,000)
209 Brandt Snedeker 70 70 69 ($432,000)
210 Bubba Watson 70 69 71, Keegan Bradley 71 69 70 ($304,000 each)
211 Rickie Fowler 70 74 67, Tommy Gainey 72 69 70 ($212,500 each)
SELECTED TOTAL
214 Ian Poulter (England) 71 74 69 (T9)   ($175,000)

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LIMPING STRICKER KEPT JOHNSON UP TO THE MARK

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
By Ann Miller for PGATOUR.COM
KAPALUA, Maui, Hawaii — Somehow, Steve Stricker made it work in Tuesday’s final round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
Stricker, the 45-year-old defending champion, had a putt to tie 28-year-old Dustin Johnson on the 13th green. Stricker missed, Johnson crushed his next drive, chipped in for eagle and ultimately won by four strokes.
“I actually thought, as we started the round today, I could really put some serious pressure on this guy because I’m going to hit first every time to the green,” said Stricker, who shot a bogey-free 69. 
“If I can put it inside there and start making a little run and make some birdies, if I continually hit it in there on him, that’s to my advantage.
“And that just didn't work the way I was thinking, but it’s always a possibility.”
Particularly in Hawaii. At Kapalua Plantation, Stricker is 90 under in his last 20 rounds. He has six top 10s at the Sony Open in Hawaii, which starts Thursday.
But Johnson was too much this windy time around at Kapalua. They were strange looking pair, the young guy with the prodigious drives and the only 40-year-old in the field, walking with a limp because of a shooting pain on his left side that has been bothering Stricker the last month.
He never blinked Tuesday.
“I had an opportunity, which is why we play is to have that opportunity to try to win,” Stricker said. “I had some chances today. I had some chances to put some pressure on early. Missed some putts there early in the round that could have made a difference, maybe not, but who knows-type thing.
“It was a good week. Looking forward to getting rid of this little nagging thing I’ve got going down my leg and looking forward to playing again at the (WGC-Accenture) Match Play.”
That’s six weeks away, giving Stricker time to get well and enjoy the first break of many. He will only play “10 or 12” events this year as he cuts back. That life-changing choice changed him this week.
“Maybe that’s why I played well, too,” Stricker said. “I didn’t expect a lot. I had this different attitude about playing a little bit less, and I felt a little more comfortable and the pressure was taken off me this week, too. So I’m hoping that kind of translates like this into the rest of the season.”
He is hoping he won’t see winds like Kapalua’s again anytime soon. Gusts up to 50 mph forced TOUR officials to start Hyundai with 36 holes Monday — the day it was supposed to end.
Somehow a week that began with questions about his health and was plagued with poor weather turned into another great time in Hawaii for Stricker, who has now won nearly $5 million here.
“Everybody took it great,” Stricker said. “And the rules officials did a great job working with us and trying to get everybody out there and around. I thought yesterday was a great set-up that they did. They shortened the course. They gave us rides on some holes.
“I don’t think this will put a damper on Maui or the Hyundai Tournament of Champions or anything. I thought everything went as well as could be expected given the circumstances with the weather. Guys will be itching to get back here. I’m going to work hard to try to get back here again. It’s a special place to start the year.”