Sunday, June 16, 2013

UNITED STATES OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP SCOREBOARD

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4x70)
players from USA unless stated
281 Justin Rose (England) 71 69 71 70
283 Jason Day (Australia) 70 74 68 71, Phil Mickelson 67 72 70 74
285 Jason Dufner 74 71 73 67, Ernie Els (S Africa) 71 72 73 69, Billy Horschel 72 67 72 74, Hunter Mahan 72 69 69 75
286 Luke Donald (England) 68 72 71 75, Steve Stricker 71` 69 70 76
287 Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 71 75 74 67, Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) 69 72 7472, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain) 71 72 72 72, Rickie Fowler 70 76 67 74
288 Charles Schwartzel (S Africa) 70 71 69 78 (14th)
289 Lee Westwood (England) 70 77 69 73, John Senden (Australia) 70 71 74 74 (T15)
290 John Huh 71 73 75 71, Brandt Snedeker 74 74 70 72, David Lingmerth (Sweden) 74 71 71 74, Michael Kim (amateur) 73 70 71 76 (T17).
291 Martin Laird (Scotland) 74 73 76 78, David Heard 78 69 73 71, Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 73 71 75 72, Bo Van Pelt 73 71 72 75, Ian Poulter (England) 71 71 73 76 (T21)

OTHER SELECTED TOTALS
293 Tiger Woods 73 70 76 74, Bubba Watson 71 76 76,  Paul Lawrie (Scotland) 76 71 69 77 (T32)
294 Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 73 70 75 76 (T41)
295 Russell Knox (Scotland) 69 75 77 74, Adam Scott (Australia) 72 75 73 75, Paul Casey (England) 72 72 71 79 (T45) (T45)
303 David Howell (England) 77 71 77 77 (T65)
308 Simon Khan (England) 74 74 82 76 (T72)


TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS AND SCORECARDS
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PHIL GOLDING SHOTS CLOSING 66 TO WIN WALES SENIOR OPEN

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Phil Golding produced a sensational final round performance to rampage to victory and deny home favourite Ian Woosman at the Speedy Services Wales Senior Open.
 
The 50 year old Englishman, second in this event last year, carded a quite brilliant five under par 66 to overhaul Woosnam’s six-shot advantage over him and collect the first prize of £37,500.
 
While Golding shone in the blustery and at times miserable conditions at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, South Wales, Woosnam and the rest of the field struggled to find rhythm and momentum.
 
The former Masters Champion was battling throughout the day but his title bid came unstuck with a double bogey at the ninth after losing a ball. Just as Woosnam was making a six, Golding was picking up his fifth birdie of the day on the 11th to move one clear of the Welshman.
Another birdie on the 15th pushed Golding further ahead and moments later his two-shot lead was extended to four as Woosnam made another double bogey, this time on the par five 13th.
 
That allowed Golding a relatively straightforward finish, and he played his last three holes in one over to secure a two shot win and the first victory of his European Senior Tour career.
 
“I am delighted to have won the Speedy Services Wales Open,” said Golding, who moves to the top of the Senior Tour Order of Merit.
 
“I have to admit that I didn’t play at my best today in terms of ball striking and of the tee, but my short game was really on early in the round and I made some really important par saves early on to stay in the tournament.
 
“Then the putter got pretty hot at points and I managed to make a few birdies and keep the mistakes to a minimum.
 
“Obviously I have kind of spoiled Woosie’s party here in his homeland but I am sure he won’t hold it against me too much – he has had a lot more success in his career than I ever will and I am just so happy to get my first Senior Tour win.”
 
For Woosnam, it was a day of disappointment having led after the first two rounds in his homeland.
The 55 year old posted a four over 75 to eventually finish the day in a tie for third alongside defending champion Barry Lane and former PGA champ Andrew Oldcorn on one over, with DJ Russell taking solo second spot thanks to his level par 71.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3x71)
211 P Golding (Eng) 66 79 66
213 D Russell (Eng) 69 73 71
214 A Oldcorn (Sco) 66 77 71, B Lane (Eng) 67 77 70, I Woosnam (Wal) 65 74 75
216 T Price (Aus) 69 72 75, T Thelen (USA) 70 75 71, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 68 72 76, M Cunning (USA) 71 72 73
217 M Martin (Esp) 70 75 72, A Sherborne (Eng) 70 73 74
218 A Franco (Par) 70 78 70, M James (Eng) 69 71 78
219 E Darcy (Irl) 74 79 66, P Jonas (Can) 70 78 71, J Quiros (Esp) 70 76 73, D Smyth (Irl) 74 71 74, S Tinning (Den) 74 74 71
220 G Manson (Aut) 71 79 70, J Rivero (Esp) 72 73 75
221 C Mason (Eng) 70 76 75, P Fowler (Aus) 72 75 74, J Harrison (Eng) 71 75 75, J Carriles (Esp) 73 75 73, M McLean (Eng) 76 71 74
222 P Linhart (Esp) 73 75 74, P Walton (Irl) 68 81 73, N Job (Eng) 68 83 71, A Forsbrand (Swe) 71 76 75, B Longmuir (Sco) 73 79 70, J Bruner (USA) 68 82 72, S Brown (Eng) 69 79 74, S Luna (Esp) 76 74 72
223 G Wolstenholme (Eng) 72 80 71, G Ralph (Eng) 73 75 75, L Carbonetti (Arg) 68 82 73, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 71 76 76
224 W Grant (Eng) 72 76 76, J Spence (Eng) 75 74 75, J Gould (Eng) 74 77 73, K Spurgeon (Eng) 72 77 75, G Norquist (USA) 75 73 76, M Farry (Fra) 67 81 76
225 G Ryall (Eng) 73 79 73, R Gibson (Can) 76 78 71
226 M Mackenzie (Eng) 78 78 70, D James (Sco) 75 78 73, N Ratcliffe (Aus) 78 74 74, C Williams (RSA) 72 79 75, T Johnstone (Zim) 74 71 81
227 S Cipa (Eng) 74 77 76, S Van Vuuren (RSA) 70 83 74, B Cameron (Eng) 73 77 77, R Drummond (Sco) 67 86 74, P Wesselingh (Eng) 75 78 74
228 S Bennett (Eng) 72 83 73
231 C O'Connor Jnr (Irl) 75 80 76, P Mitchell (Eng) 77 79 75
232 J Laforce (Can) 72 81 79
233 G Brand (Eng) 77 74 82, M Bembridge (Eng) 74 82 77, M Piñero (Esp) 74 74 85
235 T Elliott (Aus) 76 77 82
236 D Hospital (Esp) 78 80 78
237 R Thompson (USA) 75 80 82, P Way (Eng) 72 84 81
238 P Mayo (Wal) 79 79 80, M Deboub (Alg) 80 81 77
239 A Garrido (Esp) 81 81 77
242 D Durnian (Eng) 79 86 77
246 V Garcia (Esp) 88 82 76
247 G Banister (Aus) 83 82 82

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EMOTIONAL THORNTON WINS PLAY-OFF AT SAINT OMER GC, FRANCE

    Simon Thornton dedicated victory to his late father on 
      Father's Day. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS 
An emotional Simon Thornton dedicated his maiden European 
Tour victory to his late father after the Irishman showed nerves of 
steel to beat Tjaart Van der Walt of South Africa in a play-off and 
claim the Najeti Hotels et Golfs Open presented by Neuflize OBC 
title on Father’s Day.
The Irishman holed several tricky putts on the back nine in an 
enthralling battle of wits with his South African playing partner in 
the final group at Aa Saint Omer Golf Club.
The most important putt of all, however, came at the 18th during regular play when, after Van der Walt sealed a par, Thornton was left with a ten-foot putt to take it to extra holes.

Under the most intense of pressure, the 36 year old rolled it into 
the cup and clenched his fist in celebration as he signed for a one 
under par 70 to finish alongside Van der Walt on four under.
He kept his cool once again in the play-off, finding the fringe of the 
green while Van der Walt’s approach landed in a greenside bunker 
and after the South African’s sand shot fell 12 feet short, Thornton 
rolled a perfectly-weighted putt from 30 feet which slid just left of 
the hole but ensured a par.
When Van der Walt’s par putt came up short, Thornton tapped in to 
the rapturous applause of the watching crowds, before dedicating 
the victory to his father, who passed away three years ago.
“It’s so big for me,” said a tearful Thornton. “On father’s day too, 
he passed away three years ago and it still hurts, but they are 
happy tears today. This is dedicated to him.
“I didn’t play particularly well today in perfect conditions but I got 
up and down when I had to and holed good putts.
“On the last putt – I had been saying to myself all day, if I'm going 
to make it easy for myself I need to try on every putt and make
sure it goes where you want to hit it – so I just picked a line and 
willed it in and it dropped.”
Thornton’s rise is an incredible story of progression to the top of 
European golf against all odds, as he was a seven handicap golfer 
just over a decade ago.
Born in Bradford, England, he moved to Ireland to become an 
Assistant Professional at Royal County Down Golf Club before 
rising from the Irish professional ranks to the Challenge Tour and then to The European Tour.
“Hopefully this is a stepping stone for me,” said Thornton, who 
carded the first hole in one of his professional career on the third 
day in France. “I’ll go home this week now and celebrate, take a 
week off, and then play in the Irish Open.
“To come here and play like I did is incredible. What happens now 
with this category is fantastic, it’s mad how things have changed. 
It’s surreal.”
For Van der Walt, who also carded a one under par final round 70, 
it was a second runner-up finish on The European Tour after 
finishing second in the Africa Open last year.
Englishman Seve Benson sealed the highest finish of his European 
Tour career as a one under par 70 left him in outright third place, 
two shots ahead of his compatriot Robert Dinwiddie whose final 
round of 70 earned him a fourth-placed finish.


FINAL TOTALS
  (Par 284 (4x71)
279 S Thornton (Irl) 74 70 65 70, T Van Der Walt (RSA) 67 71 71 70 (Thornton beat Van der Walt with a 4 to a 5 at the first play-off hole).
280 S Benson (Eng) 75 65 70 70
282 R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 72 66 74 70
283 P Edberg (Swe) 74 69 69 71, C Lloyd (Eng) 73 68 70 72
284 V Riu  (Fra) 68 71 72 73, J Huldahl (Den) 73 67 73 71, A Domingo (Esp) 74 71 68 71
285 G Orr (Sco) 73 71 74 67, B Koepka  (USA) 75 70 68 72, D Gaunt (Aus) 70 70 75 70, J Elson  (Eng) 75 69 68 73, M Glauert (Ger) 77 65 69 74
286 S Henry  (Sco) 72 69 74 71, D Vancsik (Arg) 73 67 75 71, G Shaw (Nir) 76 69 70 71, S Kim (Kor) 73 71 73 69, M Lundberg (Swe) 73 71 71 71, F Calmels  (Fra) 73 71 71 71, B Chapellan (Fra) 72 68 69 77
287 J Walters (RSA) 71 69 75 72, T Nørret (Den) 75 69 74 69, R Davies (Wal) 77 67 71 72, A Kaleka  (Fra) 73 71 71 72, D Brooks (Eng) 69 71 76 71, A Pavan (Ita) 74 70 70 73
288 A Snobeck  (Fra) 76 69 72 71, C Brazillier  (Fra) 75 70 73 70,
289 S Wakefield (Eng) 71 68 77 73, L Goddard  (Eng) 75 67 76 71, R Kakko  (Fin) 72 71 77 69
290 M Jonzon (Swe) 74 70 70 76, A Tadini (Ita) 73 71 75 71, G Boyd  (Eng) 76 68 75 71, C Russo (Fra) 73 72 73 72, T Hatton (Eng) 75 67 74 74, J Lima  (Por) 74 71 72 73, P Dwyer (Eng) 73 70 78 69, R McEvoy  (Eng) 71 71 74 74, G Stal  (Fra) 75 68 76 71
291 J McLeary  (Sco) 75 70 76 70, S Little (Eng) 74 70 78 69, T Remkes (Ned) 75 70 76 70, A Marshall (Eng) 74 68 76 73, D Im (USA) 73 72 69 77, C Hanson (Eng) 71 68 77 75, M Decottignies-Lafon (am) (Fra) 75 69 75 72
292 J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 73 68 78 73, M Korhonen (Fin) 74 70 74 74, J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 73 72 72 75, A Forsyth (Sco) 73 70 76 73, F Praegant (Aut) 73 70 75 74
293 G Houston (Wal) 74 70 76 73, J Dantorp (Swe) 73 70 76 74, D Perrier (Fra) 77 66 76 74
294 E Dubois (Fra) 71 74 71 78, B Hebert  (Fra) 74 68 77 75, Å Nilsson (Swe) 71 74 73 76
295 C Suneson (Esp) 72 71 75 77, M Crespi  (Ita) 75 68 82 70
296 T Murray (Eng) 75 70 78 73, T Fournier  (Fra) 71 71 79 75, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 71 72 76 77
297 R Quiros  (Esp) 75 70 76 76, P Maddy (Eng) 72 72 78 75,
298 O Floren  (Swe) 72 71 77 78
303 L Weber (Fra) 75 70 80 78
 
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

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AYRSHIRE BOYS 4, LANARKSHIRE BOYS 4 AT CAPRINGTON


WEST OF SCOTLAND BOYS' LEAGUE
Under 18s
1 S Campbell (Cambuslang) lost to D McCutcheon (Welbeck) 3 and 2. 
     R  Livingston (Colville Park) lost to J Fraser (Ayr Belleisle) 5 and 4.
     C Connacher (Wishaw) lost to S Hedger  (West Kilbride) 5 and 4. 
.    Jay Hainie  (Hamilton) bt E Henderson (Kilmarnock Barassie) 2 holes.
A Thomson  (Lanark) bt R McDonald (Irvine) 1 hole.
I Ferguson  (Drumpellier) bt C McKay (Loudon) 6 and 5.
D Fair (Hamilton) bt C Mathieson (Welbeck) 3 and 1.
8   K McVicar (East Kilbride) lost to M McCrone (Welbeck) 1 hole.

Match Result:  Ayrshire Boys 4,  Lanarkshire  Boys    4

Willie Sharpe
 LGA 

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RISING STAR GREG McBAIN WINS EDZELL PRO-AM

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Aberdeen-based Greg McBain (Gamola Golf) scored his third win of the season - his first outright success - in today's (Sunday) Edzell pro-am.
McBain, 29, followed up shared successes at Bishopbriggs and Buchanan Castle with a five-under-par 66 to win the £916 prize ahead of Stephen Gray (Hayston), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) and Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) who tied for second place on 67 and earned £565 each.
Former Newmachar Golf Club member McBain had a bogey-free card with birdies at the first, seventh, long ninth, 13th and long 18th. This win boosts his Tartan Tour earnngs from 14 events this season to £6,238.
It was his sixth top five finish - definitely a rising star on the Scottish pro circuit. He won last year's Paul Lawrie Invitational at Deeside and finished 14th on the Order of Merit. The way he's going in 2013, Greg will certainly make the top 10 by the end of this season, very possibly breaking into the top five.
Gray and Fox both had five birdies but one bogey while McKechnie had four birdies and no bogeys.

LEADING PRO SCORES
Par 71
66 Greg McBain (Gamola Golf) £916.
67 Stephen Gray (Hayston), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), Graham Fox (Clydeway Golf) £565 each.
68 David Patrick (Kingsfield GR), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs GR) £302 each.
69 Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Chris Kelly (Cawder) £220 each.
70 James McKinnon (Irvine) £174
71 Craig Ronald (Carluke) £155.
72 Craig Mathieson (Falkirk Tryst), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) £132 each.
73 Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) £114 each.
74 Scott Henderson (Kings Links), Alastair Webster (Edzell) £96 each.
75 Christopher Currie (Caldwell) £82.
76 James McGhee (unatt), Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) £68 each.
79 Mark King (Kingsfield GR) £55.
80 Michael Mackenzie (Edzell).
83 Brian Mason (Callaway Golf).

Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) led the Edzell Ladies team to victory in the pro-am event with an 18-under-par  net total of 124, a score matched by the teams who had Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) and Alastair Webster (Edzell) as their pros. A card countback gave the verdict to Greig and the Edzell Ladies who were represented by Jane Tough (handicap 4), Anne Middleton (handicap 13) and Fiona Black (handicap 22).


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THIRTY SCOTS IN KENT FOR BRITISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP STARTING MONDAY MORNING

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION  WEBSITE
By ED HODGE, Press and PR Executive SGU
Scotland’s highest-ranked amateur and current SGU Men’s Order of Merit leader, Jack McDonald, will seek to emulate his heroics of last year and continue his recent form when he tees-up as one of 30 Scots in The Amateur Championship from Monday.
The elite of amateur golf are assembling in Sandwich, Kent for the 118th staging of the Championship (17-22 June) at Royal Cinque Ports and Prince’s.
The Amateur champion will earn a place in next month's Open Championship at Muirfield and next year’s US Open at Pinehurst, North Carolina. Traditionally, an invitation is also extended to The Amateur champion to play in the following year’s Masters Tournament at Augusta.
For Kilmarnock Barassie’s McDonald, up to 85th in the world rankings after back-to-back top-10 finishes at the Carrick Neill Scottish Stroke Play and the St Andrews Links Trophy, it’s a great chance to impress the Walker Cup selectors by building on his semi-final finish in the event last year.
McDonald and fellow Scot Paul Ferrier both reached the last-four stage, but it was Northern Irishman Alan Dunbar who prevailed at Royal Troon and Glasgow Golf Club’s Gailes Links. The 2011 Walker Cup star overcame Austria's Matthias Schwab by one hole in the 36-hole matchplay final.
As well as McDonald, Great Britain & Ireland cap Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie), presently second on the Men's Order of Merit, will hope to feature, as will teenage talents Ewan Scott (St Andrews) and Blairgowrie’s Bradley Neil. Reigning SGU Men’s Order of Merit champion Scott Borrowman has also been showing form and will be out to maintain his recent play.
The Scottish Amateur champion, Grant Forrest from Craigielaw, also tees-up, along with 2012 Scottish Boys champion Craig Howie (Peebles) and the in-form James Ross (Royal Burgess).
Royal Cinque is regarded by many as one of the finest in the world. The club has previously hosted two Open Championships in 1909 & 1920 and has been made one of four Final Open Qualifying venues from 2014-2017, and is sure to pose a stern test for the world's leading amateurs.
Prince's Golf Club has also hosted The Open Championship back in 1932, when Gene Sarazen prevailed. It has also featured as a qualifying venue for Championships played at Royal St Georges.
For the second year running all 288 competitors, from 29 countries, are ranked players on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). Leading the field and world ranked three, five and seven respectively on WAGR are Australia’s Brady Watt, Cheng-Tsung Pan from Chinese Taipei and Julien Brun from France.
Corhampton’s Neil Raymond, winner of last week’s St Andrews Links Trophy, will be hoping to take his good form forward into The Amateur alongside fellow Englishmen, Max Orrin (North Foreland) and Nathan Kimsey (Woodhall Spa), who tied second in the same event. Kimsey is the highest-ranked British player in the starting line-up, placed 16th on WAGR.
Commenting on the quality of the field, The RandA’s Director - Amateur Events, Euan Mordaunt, said: “288 of the world’s best amateur golfers will be competing over two of Kent’s most challenging links courses for the prestigious title of Amateur champion and exemptions into at least two of golf’s Majors.
“With this in mind there is a great deal at stake and the opportunity to watch the talents of some of the world’s finest amateur golfers should not be missed, particularly as admission is free and full spectator facilities are available.”
The stroke play stage of The Amateur Championship is played over the first two days of competition at both courses before the field is cut to 64 and ties. The match play stage is played over the final four days at Royal Cinque Ports.
TV highlights will be broadcast on Thursday through Saturday, 20-22 June on Sky Sports. Visit www.randa.org for scoring and daily news updates or follow on Twitter @TheAmateurLive
Round-up
* Brian Grieve, a member of Blairgowrie and King James VI golf clubs and a past club champion of both clubs, has won the French International Seniors 2 Open Championship (for those over 64 years of age).
The Perth resident, a past member of the Scottish Seniors team for four years, triumphed recently at La Baule in Brittany by two strokes. It’s the first time a Scot has been successful in this national open championship.
* The US Junior Golf Team defeated their counterparts from the Scottish Golf Academy 12.5-7.5 in a first-ever friendly challenge match between the sides, played earlier this week at Monifieth and the Jubilee Course, St Andrews.

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IAN BROTHERSTON 15TH PLACE FINISH IN EUROPEAN SENIORS

Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and County) finished 15th in the European senior men's amateur golf championship at the Estonian Golf and Country Club on Saturday.
Brotherston had rounds of 71, 76 and 79 for a 10-over-par total of 226 - nine shots behind the winner, Lorenzo Sartori (Italy) who shod 72-, 74 and 71 for 217.
Edzell's Keith Bruce, with scores of 78, 78 and 77 finished joint 37th on 233

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FANS' ABUSE GETS TO GARCIA WHO RUNS UP A TEN WITH THREE OUT OF BOUNDS

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

By JAMES CORRIGAN

Sergio García did not need to make himself a figure of ridicule here at the 113th US Open – but he did so anyway.
The Spaniard hit three shots out of bounds off the 15th tee on his way to a septuple-bogey 10 on Saturday.
The Spaniard’s worse fears have been confirmed in Philadelphia. Three weeks ago, he told Colin Montgomerie of his concerns regarding the American fans’ reaction to his racist jibe at Tiger Woods’s expense. And the hecklers have duly let their feelings be known.
On his first tee (the 11th) on Saturday, a member of the gallery screamed “fried chicken!” just as García was addressing the ball. The dejected look on his face said it all. Of course, fried chicken was what he told the compère at the European Tour awards dinner he would serve to Woods when he invited him over for dinner here at Merion. García has been obliged to apologise, on several occasions, but the galleries have not forgiven.
Clucking noises have been audible since Thursday, although there was a discernible raising of the volume when the weekend crowd showed up. In the first round he was asked whether he wanted the hecklers ejected but he informed a rules officials that it would “only make things worse”.
On the 397-yard par four his major descended into farce as three shots crossed the white markers. He managed to “par” his fourth ball but it still added up to double figures. The 15th has plagued him all week. He quadruple-bogeyed it on Thursday. Saturday’s experience provided painful memories of a similar moment at last month’s Players Championship.
It was at the Sawgrass event where the long-standing enmity between Woods and García flared up again. The latter was upset that the former was not taking enough care in ensuring the fans around him were quiet as he took his shot.
The pair traded barbs via the media before the final round, in which García and Woods were level going to the final two holes. It was on that famous island hole that García hit two into the water, effectively handling the title to his nemesis. Fast forward a fortnight and the spat went from petty to putrid.
Credit to Garcia for putting the embarrassment behind him on Saturday and playing his next 13 holes in three-under. He is not known for the strength of his psyche, but at 14-over he had been in danger of becoming the backmarker in those who had made the cut.
With hindsight, qualifying for the weekend was an achievement in itself considering the scrutiny Garcia has been under. Yet as the shots relentlessly totted up on that tee-box, rivalling the clucking sounds in number, he may well have wished that he was at home in Castellon.

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PHIL MICKELSON LEADS US OPEN BY ONE ... BUT THE MERION COURSE IS THE REAL WINNER SO FAR

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
ARDMORE, Pennsylvania -- Phil Mickelson began his week with a flight back-and-forth across the country. Even longer might be the 18 holes that now stand between him and that U.S. Open title he has been chasing his entire career.

And he's never had a better opportunity than this one.
Despite a bogey on the final hole of a taxing Saturday afternoon, Mickelson was the sole survivor to par at Merion with an even-par 70 that gave him a one-shot lead over Hunter Mahan, Charl Schwartzel and Steve Stricker going into the final round.
It's the first time Mickelson has held the outright lead through 54 holes in the U.S. Open, and the timing could be right.
Mickelson celebrates his 43rd birthday Sunday -- on Father's Day, no less. He left Merion on Monday and didn't return until three hours before his tee time on Thursday so he could attend the eighth-grade graduation of his oldest daughter.
"It's got the makings to be something special," Mickelson said. "But I still have to go out and perform, and play some of my best golf."
Mickelson, who already has a record five silver medals for being runner-up at this demanding major, was at 1-under 209.
And the fun is just getting started.
"It's a hard challenge, but it's a lot of fun," Mickelson said. "Every shot requires such great focus because a penalty can bite you quickly. I can't wait to get back and playing. I feel good ball-striking, I feel good on the greens. I think it's going to take an under-par round tomorrow."
Saturday was more about weeding out the pretenders for this U.S. Open -- and one of them turned out to be Tiger Woods. He started out just four shots out of the lead, and made a bending, 12-foot birdie putt on the opening hole. It never got any better for the world's No. 1 player. He made seven bogeys the rest of the way and didn't add another birdie, matching his worst U.S. Open score as a pro with a 6-over 76.
Woods Is 10 shots behind.
"It certainly is frustrating," said Woods, who has been stuck on 14 majors since winning the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. "I'm playing well enough to do it, and unfortunately just haven't gotten it done."
The final hour might have been a sneak preview for Sunday. At one point, there were five players under par, and suddenly there was only Mickelson.
Luke Donald had the outright lead until two bad swings on the last two holes -- a 2-iron into the bunker on the 17th that led to bogey, and another 2-iron into ankle-deep rough well right of the 18th green that led to a double bogey. Just like that, one of the best rounds of the day turned into a 71, and he was two shots behind.
"I should have done better," Donald said. "It was disappointing, but I'll take the positives out of today -- a really solid 16 holes of golf, and I'm only two back."
Mahan let his spectacular back nine filled with four birdies go to waste with a bogey-bogey finish for a 69. He will be in the final group for the first time in a major with Mickelson, whom he considers a close friend.
Former Masters champion Schwartzel also went bogey-bogey at the end of his round for a 69. Stricker made a 10-foot par putt on the 18th hole to complete a 70 and perhaps the steadiest round of the day. His only mistake in a round that lasted 5 hours under sunshine was a tee shot into the water on the par-3 ninth for a double bogey.
At 46, Stricker can become the oldest U.S. Open champion.
"I've got to play smart golf ... not make any mistakes," he said. "I think that's the biggest thing. And it's a course where it's tough to come back."
Billy Horschel, tied with Mickelson at the start of the third round, kept his emotions in check and shot 72. He was two shots behind, along with Donald and Justin Rose, who also had a bogey-bogey finish. Rose thought his shot into the 17th was pure until it ran through the green into a sticky lie in the rough.
The third round featured so much movement, and so many wild swings, that seven players had a share of the lead at some point. Even though USGA executive director Mike Davis said the course was set up to allow for good scores, this was more about hanging on for dear life.
There was no faking it Saturday afternoon.
Thirty players were separated by only five shots at the start of the third round. By the end of the day, there were just 10 players separated by five shots, including amateur Michael Kim. He was tied for third until losing four shots on the last three holes.
That's really what Merion demands -- score early and try not to lose too many shots at the finish. For all the talk about Merion being just a short course, the final two holes were beastly -- 253 yards for a par 3 surrounded by deep bunkers and framed by the Scottish broom grass, and then a 530-yard closing hole up the hill, deep rough on both sides with bogeys or worse waiting for a single missed shot.
Stricker, remarkably, played bogey-free on the back nine. Horschel, striving for perfection at a championship that doesn't allow for it, dropped only one shot.
"Seventeen and 18, you've got to buckle up and hit good shots," Horschel said. "So I think tomorrow, with the pressure being on, those holes will stick out even more."
The 17th was crucial for Mickelson, who stood on the tee box one shot behind. He selected a 4-iron and couldn't have hit it any better.
"I just stood and admired it," Mickelson said. "It was one of the best shots I've ever hit. I mean, it just was right down the center of the green and I was hoping it would kind of get the right bounces. It left me a beautiful uphill putt that I could be aggressive with and I made it. That was fun to do that because that's just not a hole you expect to get one back."
Mickelson chose not to carry a driver, and he had to be flawless again on the long closing hole. He swung the 3-wood with confidence throughout the back nine and drilled another. With some 250 yards left, another fairway metal took him just over the green. 
 His chip came out some 10 feet short and he missed the par putt to end a streak of 12 holes without a bogey.
But he still had the lead. It was the first time only one player remained under par through 54 holes at the U.S. Open since 2007 at Oakmont, when there was none. Mickelson was tied for the 54-hole lead at Winged Foot in 2006, where he lost a one-shot lead on the final hole by making double bogey.
Of his five runner-up finishes, that one stung the most.
But he's back for another try to win his national championship. Of those 10 players within five shots of the lead, Schwartzel is the only one with experience in winning a major championship. The challenge, however, hasn't changed from the opening tee shot on Thursday.
It's not any player. It's Merion.
Mickelson has one piece of history working against him. In the four previous U.S. Opens at this classic course, no one with the lead going into the final round has ever gone on to win.
"I love being in the thick of it," Mickelson said. "I've had opportunities in years past, and it has been so fun, even though it's been heart-breaking to come so close a number of times and let it slide. But I feel better equipped than I have ever felt heading into the final round of a U.S. Open."
THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 210 (3x70)
Players from USA unless stated
209 Phil Mickelson 67 72 70
210 Hunter Mahan 72 69 69, Charl Schwartzel (S Africa) 70 71 69, Steve Stricker 71 69 70
211 Justin Rose (England) 71 69 71, Luke Donald (England) 68 72 71, Billy Horschel 72 67 72
212 Jason Day (Australia) 70 74 68
213 Rickie Fowler 70 76 67
214 M217 Bubbichael Kim (amateur) 73 70 71
215 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain) 71 72 72, Ian Poulter (England) 71 71 73, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 7 68 73, Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) 69 72 74, John Senden (Australia) 70 71 74. 
 SELECTED SCORES
216 Paul Casey (England) 73 72 71, Paul Lawrie (Scotland) 76 71 69, Lee Westwood (England) 70 77 69, Ernie Els (S Africa) 71 72 73 (T16)
217 Bubba Watson 71 76 70 (T23)
218 Rory McIlroy (N Irlenad) 73 70 75 (T25)
219 John Parry (England) 76 71 72, Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 73 71 75, Tiger Woods 73 70 76 (T31)
221 Sergio Garcia 73 73 75, Russell Knox (Scotland) 69 75 77 (T44)
223 Martin Laird (Scotland) 74 73 76 (T55)
225 David Howell (England) 77 71 77, Martin Kaymer (Germany) 76 72 77 (T63)
226 Kevin Phelan (Ireland) (amateur) 71 77 78 (T65)
230 Simon Khan (England) 74 74 82 (T69)

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