EDWARD LEAR LEADS BY TWO IN CHILE CLASSIC

Edward Lear has gone two shots clear at halfway in the Web.com Tour (it used to be the Nationwide Tour) event, the Chile Classic, down in Santiago.
The American has a pair of 65s to his credit for 14-under-par 130.
Sharing second place on 132 is New Zealander Danny Lee (67-65).
Those on 140 and better qualified for the final two rounds
at the South American venue.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE    

TIGER IS TAMING THE TRUMP BLUE MONSTER AT DORAL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Tiger Woods, the man they said would never be as good a golfer as he used to be, is giving a pretty good imitation of what he was like at the height of his powers.
He is taming Trump's Doral Blue Monster course at Miami and has surged two shots clear of the world's top-ranked 65 players with rounds of 66-65 for 15-under-par 131.
Woods is driving well, hitting the greens and holing the putts .. just like he did when he was the World No 1 for many months.
Lying second at halfway in the WGC Cadillac Championship is Ulsterman Graeme McDowell with 66-67 for 133.
There's good news too about the other man from Northern Ireland in the field, the current World No 1 Rory McIlroy.
He got it round in three-under-par 69, an improvement of four shots and is lying T32 on 142, the same total as Lee Westwood.
Phil Mickelson is looking menacing in joint third place on 134 alongside Steve Stricker. The left-hander and Stricker have shot 67 each round.

Scott Jamieson, pictured, from Glasgow, playing in his first WGC event, is hanging on in there alongside the big guns. He had a 69, one shot better than his opening round, and on 139 is bracketed with Hunter Mahan in joint 21st position.      
Luke Donald ruined his victory chances with a 76 for 146.
Stephen Gallacher failed to improve on his first round, adding a 75 to a 74 for T61 on 149.
Paul Lawrie is still bottom of the heap but the encouragement for him is that he improved by five shots with a 73 - a better score than Donald and others. 
The downside was that Paul could have broken 70. He had a double bogey 6 at the 18th for the second day in a row after bogeying the short 15th, so three shots dropped to par over the last four holes.
Before that he had recovered from a double bogey 6 at the third with birdies at four par-5 holes: the first, the eighth, the 10th and the 12th in halves of 36-37.  

WGC CADILLAC CHAMPIONSHIP SCOREBOARD

LEADING SECOND-ROUND SCORES
There is no halfway cut
Par 144 (2x72)
Players from USA unless stated
131 Tiger Woods 66 65
133 Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 66 67
134 Phil Mickelson 67 67
134 Steve Stricker 67 67
135 Bubba Watson 66 69, Freddie Jacobson (Sweden) 66 69.
136 Charl Schwartzel (S Africa) 71 65
136 Keegan Bradley 68 68 

SELECTED SCORES
138 Sergio Garcia (Spain) 66 72 (T10).
138  Dustin Johnson 68 69 (T10)
137 Ian Poulter (England) 68 70 (T10)
138 John Huh 71 67
138 John Senden (Australia) 69 69
139 Hunter Mahan 67 72 (T21)
139 Scott Jamieson (Scotland) 70 69 (T21)
140 Justin Rose (England) 68 72 (T27)
141 David Lynn (England) 71 70 (T30)
142 Lee Westwood (England) 73 69 (T32)
142 Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 73 69 (T32)
142 Ernie Els (S Africa) 73 69 (T32)
142 Matteo Manassero (Italy) 71 71 (T32)
142 Jim Furyk 72 70 (T32)
142 Adam Scott (Australia) 72 70 (T32) 
145 Chris Wood (England) 71 74 (T48)
146 Luke Donald (England) 70 76 (T34)
148 Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 76 72 (T39)
149 Jamie Donaldson (Wales) 72 77 (T61)
149 Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) 74 75 (T61)
151 Paul Lawrie (Scotland) 78 73 (last of 65) 

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE       

 

EXPONENT OF BELLY PUTTER FOR FIFTY YEARS

FROM HUGH McCORQUODALE, Inverness

Copy of Email sent to Ted Bishop of the USPGA and David
Rickman of the RandA

ANCHORED INTEGRITY

The proposed introduction of a ban in 2016 to any method of putting which incorporates a anchoring technique is now top subject in most golfing conversations. 

My opposition to this proposal relates in no way whatsoever to the mechanics of a golfing strike. The fixed point in putting has been accepted and condoned for 50 years since its appearance a the 1963 Open at Lytham, and in particular by the men who sit on the Rules Committee of the RandA at St Andrews, every four years. 

These are the men whose prime incentive is to ensure “the underlying principal of rules is fairness”. These are the eminent doyens of golf who ratify and regulate the rules to which we play this game. 

The present spokesperson of that rules committee suggests pressure from well regarded sources as the reason for considering and supporting this banning proposal. 

Let me put my point of objection to this proposition as resolutely as I possibly can.

Since the inception of golf in the Middle Ages and supported with enthusiasm and dignity by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews from the second half of the 18^th century, the game of golf has seen many changes. 

The one element however which has never changed and is the baserock of the game so many of us love is “participant integrity”. Guilt, or suspicion of guilt, of a lapse of integrity is looked upon with incredulous disbelief and disgust by golfers at those who perpetrate such an action. 

The stigma imposed never leaves, not even after one’s final demise. For fifty years I have been an exponent of the belly putter, having used it through all these years as a pro and as an amateur to this time. I face the prospect of being guilty of using an illegal putting method and have therefore cheated as does every other golfer in the same boat. 

The men who sat on fourteen rules committees whether they be dead or alive are deemed as incompetent.

Golfers, no matter age, sex, creed, colour, size, shape, religion or of any propensity imaginable can adopt this method if they find it brings more enjoyment and success, the ultimate goals in golf. 

What right has any individual or any clique for that matter to condemn a method which is open to themselves to adopt on the premise that it does not meet the requirements of correctness? 

In an environment where golf clubs biased to draw and to fade, £1000 shafts, titanium heads, multi-compression golf balls are all available and are tailored to each and every one's needs if they wish to pay for it.

The word Integrity is what golf is built on and is displayed by countless millions of golfers all over the world on an ongoing basis. 
To accept a practice for 50years which is then decreed as illegal on the voice of men of little virtue who fail to recognise the road we have come and the point we have reached.

Right or wrong, anchored putting is as close to “cast in stone” as it possibly can be and should continue to remain acceptable. I rest my case.

Hugh McCorquodale

Inverness

DANNY STILL LEADING IN GLENMARIE MASTERS IN SELANGOR

NEWS RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR

Shah Alam, Selangor: Danny Chia continued to lead the packed Malaysian leaderboard in the third round of the PGM Northport Glenmarie Masters with Nicholas Fung and Mohamad Azman Basharudin trailing closely today.

Chia, the leader for three rounds, remained in pole position despite shooting a two-over-par 73 for seven-under-par 209 to lead by three shots over Fung and Azman, who both shot a 70 and 71 respectively at the RM200,000 (approximately US$65,000) Asian Development Tour (ADT) event.

Another Malaysian M. Sasidaran (70) was bunched up in fourth with Shaun Malone (71) of England, Pavit Tangkamolprasert (73) of Thailand, Park Il-hwan (73) of Korea, Jakraphan Premsirigorn (74) of Thailand and ADT Order of Merit leader James Bowen (76) of the United States at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

Chia, who is recovering from a stiff neck, was two-under for the day after five before his putter went cold and he dropped five shots in the next 10 holes. He was fortunate to birdie the last which kept him on track to become the first Malaysian to win an ADT title this year.

“My putting was an entirely different story today compared to the last two days. The pins were placed on difficult areas of the greens which explain the relatively high scores,” said Chia, who turned 40 last November.

He was delighted to capitalise on his overnight lead where he was four shots ahead of Bowen, who slipped down the leaderboard with a 76.

“I’m glad I had a big lead going into today’s round. I’m in a good position and it is nice to see some Malaysians behind me. Hopefully I can win it but if I don’t, I hope one of the Malaysians can do it,” added Chia.

After shooting a 73 in the first round, Fung, who earned his Asian Tour card at Qualifying School earlier this year, has slowly fought his way back into contention.

“It is good to be in contention. My game was okay and I’m glad with how I’ve been playing these last two days. I only had one bad round but now I’m looking forward to the last day,” said the bespectacled Sabahan.

Leading third round scores

209 - Danny CHIA (MAS) 67 68 74

212 - Nicholas FUNG (MAS) 73 69 70, Mohamad Azman BASHARUDIN (MAS) 71 70 71

215 - M. Sasidaran (MAS) 74 71 70, Shaun MALONE (ENG) 75 69 71, Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 70 72 73, PARK Il-hwan (KOR) 71 71 73, Jakraphan PREMSIRIGORN (THA) 73 68 74, James BOWEN (USA) 68 71 76

216 - Lindsay RENOLDS (CAN) 73 73 70, Michael BIBAT (PHI) 70 73 73, CHANG Tse-Peng (TPE) 70 71 75

217 - Mitsuhiko HASHIZUME (JPN) 71 74 72

218 - Ratchapol JANTAVARA (THA) 73 74 71, Takashi YOKOYAMA (JPN) 76 69 73, S. Siva Chandhran (MAS) 73 71 74, George GANDRANATA (INA) 71 73 74, Grant JACKSON (ENG) 70 71 77

219 - Sukree OTHMAN (MAS) 74 73 72, Anis HASSAN (MAS) 78 70 71, Pasamet POGAMNERD (THA) 74 70 75, Pasavee LERTVILAI (THA) 76 73 70, Iain STEEL (MAS) 69 74 76, Takuya YAMAUCHI (JPN) 71 78 70

220 - Kazumi TAKAHASHI (JPN) 73 74 73, Mhark FERNANDO (PHI) 76 71 73, George THACKER (ENG) 71 74 75, Kenneth DE SILVA (MAS) 69 76 75, LOW Khai Jei (A) (MAS) 74 74 72, Akhmal TARMIZEE (MAS) 72 73 75, S. Murthy (MAS) 70 73 77, Carl SANTOS-OCAMPO (PHI) 76 73 71

SIDDIKUR TAKES LEAD IN SAIL OPEN AT NEW DELHI

 NEWS RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR

New Delhi, India: Bangladeshi Siddikur was rock steady as he carded a third straight four-under-par 68 for a one-shot lead over title holder Anirban Lahiri of India at the SAIL-SBI Open presented by Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism on Friday.

Siddikur put himself in prime position to win a second Asian Tour title after firing five birdies against a lone bogey at the Delhi Golf Club to lead from Lahiri, who birdied his last two holes for a bogey-free 66.

Joint overnight leader Khalin Joshi battled to a 71 to end the day two strokes back in the US$300,000 Asian Tour event, which is celebrating its sixth edition, while another local hope Rashid Khan was a further shot behind after also a 71.

Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat and home hero Shiv Kapur will enter the final day four off the lead after rounds of 67 and 69 respectively while American Chan Kim stumbled to a 74 to fall out of contention.

The 29-year-old Siddikur, the first Bangladeshi to win on the Asian Tour when he won the Brunei Open in 2010, was delighted to push ahead of the home favourites.

“Very consistent. I’m so happy,” smiled Siddikur, who hit 12 fairways and 14 greens in regulation. “I’ve been very consistent. I’m happy with myself with three 68s. I’ve been trying to get more regulation play and it’s been working.”

Siddikur’s round was highlighted by a monster 40-foot birdie conversion on 16 but he said a par save on 18 after finding the punishing bushes was crucial as it kept his nose ahead of the defending champion, Lahiri.

“On 16, I tried to make just a two putt but it went it. It was a fluke. But I made a good save on 18, made a great up and down. Conditions are not easy. It’s not finished until the last hole and last putt. This course is never easy but I’m looking forward to playing with Anirban as he’s a good friend of mine,” said Siddikur, who leads on 12-under-par 204.

The 25-year-old Lahiri, who started the day four behind, charged into contention with a superb display of ball striking as he hit 15 greens in regulation. “It’s the best I have played all week. I’m getting more comfortable on the greens. Just a couple of bad swings but I got away with pars which was important. Four putts kind of stood at the lip but I’m not going to complain as some fell for me in the end. I’m happy with where I am right now,” said Lahiri, who is seeking a third Asian Tour victory.

“The last putt was a good putt. It was like a 10 or 12 footer and given the fact that I knew I was two shots back, I thought it was important to make that putt. I’m one shot closer to the lead now.”

The talented Joshi, who is making his professional debut on the region’s premier Tour, lost his way momentarily on his outward nine with three bogeys but fought back to stay in the hunt for a dream victory.

“I struggled today really badly. Started well with birdie, birdie, and then three putted the third hole. From there, I had a tough day on the front nine but managed  to get something back together on the back nine. It was a tough day overall. I didn’t lose my cool which helped me,” he said.

After slipping up in the second round with a 75, big-hitting Chapchai produced five birdies for an unblemished card to earn a shot at a second SAIL-SBI Open title, which he won in 2009 with a world record 32-under-par 256 aggregate.

“My putting and iron play were really good. This round has given me a good chance again. I struggled in the winds yesterday afternoon and couldn’t control my shots. Teeing off at 9am this morning, the conditions were good for scoring and thankfully I managed to take advantage.  I reckon I’ll probably need a five or six under round to .

 

Scores after round 3 of the SAIL SBI Open being played at the par 72, 6935 Yards Delhi Golf Club course (a- denotes amateur):

204 - SIDDIKUR  (BAN) 68-68-68.

205 - Anirban LAHIRI (IND) 71-68-66.

206 - Khalin JOSHI (IND) 66-69-71.

207 - Rashid KHAN (IND) 72-64-71.

208 - Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 66-75-67, Shiv KAPUR (IND) 69-70-69.

209 - Matthew STIEGER (AUS) 70-71-68, Chan KIM (USA) 67-68-74.

210 - Pawin INGKHAPRADIT (THA) 70-69-71.

211 - Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) 71-73-67, Adam GROOM (AUS) 71-71-69, Boonchu RUANGKIT (THA) 72-69-70, LAM Chih Bing (SIN) 73-67-71, Ajeetesh SANDHU (IND) 70-70-71, Thitiphun CHUAYPRAKONG (THA) 72-67-72, Chiragh KUMAR (IND) 68-70-73.

212 - Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA) 69-75-68, Scott HEND (AUS) 73-71-68, Rahul BAJAJ (IND) 73-68-71, BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR) 71-69-72, Vinod KUMAR (IND) 73-73-66.                                 

 

REPORT FROM NEWBURGH ON YTHAN GOLF CLUB

On a high scoring day, playing to Summer Greens, the Final Round of the Sunday Winter League produced another first time winner.
Mark Graham scored 44 points to win by two, ahead Top of the League challenger Wullie Dyker, who shared second place with Alex Third.
Leading Scores, Winter Stableford League 

Final Round, March 3

Mark Graham (20) 44 pts; Alex Third (16) 42; Wullie Dyker (2) 42;
Euan Ross (7) 41; Brian O'Neill (8) 40; Andy Williamson (13) 39;
Stewart Clark (21) 39.
---------
Stuart Mitchell held on to the top spot for all of the last six weeks to finally clinch the Winter League championship on 16 points. In doing so, he resisted a strong challenge in the final weeks from Stewart Clark and Wullie Dyker who finished three points down in joint second. 

Just behind them was Shelley Johnstone  who was top of the league for several weeks in the early stages and dropped out of the top three only in the final week. Sheena Cruickshank was the next lady in a group of six who shared fifth place, including the first Senior player, Don Hawthorn.

Sunday Stableford, Final Winter League Placings

(after 16 Rounds)
Stuart Mitchell 16 pts; Stewart Clark 13; Wullie Dyker 13;Shelley Johnstone 12; Sheena Cruickshank 8; Don Hawthorn 8;
Philip Milne 8; John Finnie 8; Keith Watson 8; Alex Third 8.
In Wednesday's Seniors' Stableford Summer greens were in play and the players welcomed their return to Summer Handicaps. Former seniors' captain Zander Kirk, played again in the final group from which was beamed up into a clear first place. His 44 points proved too much for second placed Don Hawthorn, newly returned from his intensive Spring golf practice in the Algarve.

Leading Scores, Seniors' Stableford, March 6Zander Kirk (23) 44 pts; Don Hawthorn (28) 42; Peter Scott (17) 41;
Fred Watson (25) 39; Dave Spowart (21) 39; Graeme Watson (13) 39;
Stan Hepburn (13) 39; Dave Philip (7) 37; Billy Murray (16) 36.

Robert McClymont
Seniors Convener
Newburgh on Ythan Golf Club

01358 723869

HOLD-UP IN CONSTRUCTION OF BRAZIL COURSE FOR OLYMPICS GOLF 2016

NEWS RELEASE FROM GOLFBUSINESS.COM
The dispute over the legal ownership of the site of the Brazil course planned to host Golf’s return to the Olympic Games in 2016 continues unresolved. Construction work, due to commence last year, has still not started.
Speaking on the Golf Channel, course designer Gil Hanse has stated that his team is “right up against the deadline now” to get the lay-out ready for test tournaments scheduled for 2015, while Executive Director Antony Scanlon has told the media that the International Golf Federation is “very concerned” over the construction delays.
Does anyone have a ‘Plan B’?
Geoff Russell, Editor

WOODS ON HIS GAME, McILROY STILL LOOKING FOR HIS

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

By PGATOUR.COM wire reports

DORAL, Florida -- Tiger Woods was on his game, and so were most of the world's best golfers on Thursday in the first round of the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, with the notable exception of No. 1 Rory McIlroy.

Leaderboard Tee times
Full coverage

Woods made nine birdies on the TPC Blue Monster at Trump Doral for a 6-under 66 that put him in a five-way share of the lead with Masters champion Bubba Watson, former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, Sergio Garcia and Freddie Jacobson.
This World Golf Championship lived up to its name with Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker and Hunter Mahan among the big names one shot behind.
But it was another rough day for McIlroy, who hit only three fairways and made six bogeys that kept him at par or worse on a perfect day for scoring. Despite making a 15-foot eagle putt on the par-5 first hole, and lacing a 5-iron over the water for another eagle attempt on the par-5 eighth that narrowly missed, the best he could manage was a 73.
McIlroy has yet to break par this year.
"It was a bit of a struggle, to be honest," McIlroy said to Sky Sports. "Hit some good shots. Hit some not-so-good shots. As I've been saying all week, this is a work in progress and I'm working at it and I'm staying patient."
Coming off a pedestrian performance a week ago at The Honda Classic, Woods looked sharp in most aspects of his game, except for a few lapses with his chipping. He wasted two early birdies with a three-putt bogey on the 13th hole and a delicate flop shot that he mishit on the 14th, leading to another bogey. His chip up the slope on the third didn't reach the green for another bogey.

He holed two long birdie putts, including a 40 footer on the par-3 fourth hole, and missed four reasonable chances inside 15 feet. His final birdie was on the par-5 eighth, when he had to lay up from a fairway bunker and hit a wedge that stopped 2 feet from the hole.

"It was certainly a day that could have been a little lower," Woods said.

Just about everyone could say that in these conditions.

Garcia and McDowell were in the same group. Not only did they have bogey-free rounds, both birdied the same four holes. Jacobson made two eagles in a span of three holes, both times hitting a 5-wood onto the green to just over 12 feet.

Watson played in the group with Mickelson and Stricker, and they were a collective 16-under par.

Stricker had a chance to tie for the lead except he missed a 4-foot birdie putt on the final hole. Mickelson, as usual, kept it entertaining. He pulled his tee shot on the 17th hole and his ball stopped rolling after it traveled some 450 yards. He purposely took a free drop on the cart path to avoid the rough, and chipped that to about 5 feet for birdie.

"You hit the ball in as much trouble as I do off the tee, you learn to hit those kinds of shots and have enough practice at it," he said. "I knew what was going to happen."

McIlroy appears to be struggling with a change of equipment following his Nike sponsorship and backing up a big year that made him No. 1 in the world. It all got the best of him last week at The Honda Classic, when he walked off the course midway through the second round.

McIlroy apologized during a press conference Wednesday, said it would never happen again and wanted to get back to being happy on the golf course. There weren't many smiles, though he often chatted with Woods as they walked down the fairway.

He didn't hit a fairway on the front nine (he started on No. 10), though two of those shots were in the first cut and led to birdie. But as much time as he has spent trying to rediscover that easy, balanced swing, it was clear he has neglected his short game. On the second hole, he had an 80-foot putt that he left 20 feet short.

"It was nice to sneak in a couple birdies on the last three holes and make it look somewhat respectable, even though everyone seems to be going pretty low out there today," McIlroy said.

Woods played two rounds with him at Abu Dhabi to start the year, and they were frequent playing partners during the FedExCup Playoffs last year. Woods said McIlroy looked "just a little bit defensive" with his swing.

"That happens, and we have all gone through stretches like this," Woods said. "It happens, and it happened to him last year in the middle of the year, and ended up all right at the end of the year. When you play golf for a very long time, you're going to have spells like this. You can't play well every week, even though you try. You're going to have ups and downs, and just got to battle through it."