SOUTH KOREAN SCORES FIRST EUROPEAN TOUR WIN AT PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

NEWS RELEASE FROM EUROPEAN TOUR 
Jin Jeong fought back from a four-putt double bogey on his first hole of the day to overcome Ross Fisher in a play-off and land his first European Tour victory at the ISPS HANDA Perth International.
The 23 year old South Korean started the day one behind home favourite Brody Ninyette, but made a nightmare start to his final round at Lake Karrinyup before recovering to shoot a three under par 69 and match Fisher’s ten under clubhouse target.
Birdies at the fourth and fifth atoned for Jeong’s early blunder, but it was only when Ninyette dropped his first shot of the day at the 13th that the Australian was caught.
Jeong made important clutch putts at the 16th and 17th as Ninyette’s challenge faded, but when Fisher hit his tee shot to within a foot at the 17th and birdied the two were tied and neither could birdie the last.
On their first return trip down the 18th Fisher caught a flyer with his approach and went through the green, leaving Jeong two putts to sew up the title.
“I was nervous, I was shaking but I controlled myself pretty well all day I thought,” said former Amateur Champion Jeong. “I don't know what I've done to be honest.
“I was struggling quite a bit when I was turning pro, but it was going to happen in the learning circuit I guess.
“I had played play-offs in mini tour events, but playing with Ross Fisher, he's one of my heroes. Playing with him in the play-off, it was unbelievable.”
Jeong, who has featured on The Challenge Tour this season, had recently progressed through the First Stage of The European Tour Qualifying School, but now earns a two-year exemption.
“I was going to go back to Q School Second Stage the week after next but I guess I don't have to anymore,” he added.
Western Australia native Ninyette had surged three clear early on after leading by one overnight, with birdies from three feet at the first and 25 feet at the fourth taking him into a commanding lead.
Fisher had pitched to three feet at the first and holed from 12 feet at the third for birdies, although he did hand a shot back at the fifth.
Jeong holed from 12 feet for birdie at the fourth and added an eight footer at the next to remain in the hunt, but at the turn there was little to suggest that Ninyette would be caught, and he strengthened his position by splashing out a greenside bunker to two feet at the long 11th for a birdie.
A wayward drive two holes later saw Ninyette make his first bogey of the day, and when he dropped further shots over the closing stretch Jeong – who had drawn level with birdies at the 11th and 12th – was able to take advantage with a gain at the long 15th.
Former Ryder Cup star Fisher matched Jeong’s gain at the 15th and forced extra holes with his tremendous tee shot at the 17th, but in the end had to console himself with a runner-up cheque that should see him climb into the top 60 of The Race to Dubai and qualify for the DP World Tour Championship.
“Obviously it would have been lovely to have come here and won, but that's golf,” said Fisher, who carded a closing 68.
“Unfortunately I came up a little bit short, but I can be very pleased the way I played today. I hung in there really well; it was always going to be tough.
“There are some good names up t

Complete Fourth Round Scores:

 

278 J Jeong (Kor) 68 72 69 69; R Fisher (Eng) 72 67 71 68;

280 D Willett  (Eng) 72 71 68 69; D Papadatos (Aus) 69 71 72 68; B Ninyette (Aus) 72 69 67 72;

281 B Rumford (Aus) 71 73 65 72;

282 J Hansen  (Den) 70 73 66 73; J Sjöholm (Swe) 71 73 67 71; R Finch  (Eng) 72 69 69 72;

283 P Hedblom (Swe) 68 69 75 71; F Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 73 68 73;

284 J Younger (Aus) 70 70 73 71; J Nitties (Aus) 68 73 69 74; R Haller (Aus) 72 70 74 68; S Hansen (Den) 71 69 72 72; D Johnson (USA) 69 74 75 66; E Kofstad (Nor) 71 73 72 68;

285 F Zanotti (Par) 75 68 72 70; D McKenzie (Aus) 75 68 71 71; M Hoey  (Nir) 73 69 69 74; G Paddison (Nzl) 74 69 71 71; M Fraser (Aus) 72 70 71 72; B Van Pelt (USA) 70 71 71 73; D Popovic (Aus) 72 74 69 70; O Fisher  (Eng) 72 72 69 72; J Walters (RSA) 76 69 73 67; P Lawrie (Irl) 73 70 72 70;

286 W Ormsby (Aus) 73 72 71 70; N Cullen (Aus) 69 73 71 73; C Lee (Sco) 73 71 72 70; J Scrivener (Aus) 75 67 68 76; N O'Hern (Aus) 69 73 72 72; A Kaleka  (Fra) 74 69 72 71;

287 A Bland (Aus) 72 72 73 70; R Blizard (Aus) 70 74 72 71;

288 R Bland (Eng) 75 71 72 70; M Brown (Nzl) 70 72 74 72; C Campbell (Aus) 71 71 73 73; R McEvoy  (Eng) 76 70 73 69; S Henry  (Sco) 74 72 70 72; C Doak (Sco) 72 73 72 71; G Havret  (Fra) 73 73 73 69;

289 J Morrison  (Eng) 73 72 73 71; T Bond (Aus) 71 73 74 71; S Jones (Aus) 74 72 71 72; P Spargo (Aus) 72 71 73 73; T Cox (Aus) 75 70 72 72; S Kjeldsen (Den) 76 68 73 72; B Grace  (RSA) 73 73 69 74;

290 S Dartnall (Aus) 74 71 72 73;

291 J Wade (Aus) 76 70 74 71; M Korhonen (Fin) 73 71 72 75; J McLean (Aus) 76 68 73 74; M Tullo (Chi) 75 71 75 70; D Bransdon (Aus) 71 73 74 73;

292 D Drysdale (Sco) 72 74 75 71; S Little (Eng) 69 75 71 77; C Rice (Aus) 68 72 75 77; D Higgins (Irl) 73 72 74 73; C Parry (Aus) 72 74 74 72; A Brown (Aus) 70 75 76 71;

293 B Åkesson (Swe) 69 77 77 70; R McGowan  (Eng) 71 72 74 76;

294 S Jeffress (Aus) 76 70 74 74;

295 P Wilson (Aus) 72 71 73 79; S Wakefield (Eng) 72 74 68 81;

296 L McKechnie (Aus) 74 72 72 78; P Cooke (Aus) 72 73 74 77;

302 N Basic (Aus) 72 74 78 78;

 

PETER LAWRIE RELIEVED TO KEEP HIS 
EUROPEAN TOUR CARD

After weeks of sleepless nights, Ireland’s Peter Lawrie can finally relax after securing his European Tour card at the ISPS HANDA Perth International.
The 2008 Open de España winner started the week 115th on The Race to Dubai, with only the top 110 after the tournament at Lake Karrinyup retaining their playing rights for 2014.
Despite finishing bogey-bogey, Lawrie carded a closing two under par 70 to finish in a share of 18th.
That was enough to move Lawrie into the all-important top 110, but former European Tour winners James Kingston, Oliver Fisher, Fredrik Andersson Hed and Richard Finch were not so lucky.
Kingston was leapfrogged after missing the cut, while top-ten finishes were not enough for Finch or Andersson Hed and Fisher missed out after finishing tied for 18th when he needed to be in the top seven.
They now face a trip to Qualifying School in Spain next month, but Lawrie can rest easy after an exhausting couple of months that saw him miss six cuts in a row before finally reaching the weekend in Perth. 
“I'm just glad it's over to be totally honest with you,” he said afterwards. “I've never felt so much pressure as the last eight weeks: can't sleep, can't eat properly, it’s just horrendous. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
“I got off to a great start, so it wasn't that much pressure, but jeepers, just coming down trying to get the job finished without making a mental error or doing something stupid, even finishing bogey, bogey.
“Finishing anywhere in the 20s I reckoned was going to get me to keep my card, but it's not easy, I can tell you that. It is not easy.
“Hopefully fly home and probably sleep for a change. Go home and be with the family and stop being grumpy.”

AUSSIE SCOTT HEND WINS VENETIAN MACAU OPEN BY FOUR STROKES

 

NEWS RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR
 

Macau, October 20: Australian Scott Hend hit the jackpot for the third time this season as he cruised to a commanding three-stroke victory at the Venetian Macau Open on Sunday.

With an overnight four-shot lead, the big-hitting Hend comfortably held off the chasing pack at the Macau Golf and Country Club, closing with a four-under-par 67 to for a 16-under-par 268 total to add to his triumphs in Chiangmai and Taipei this year.

India’s Anirban Lahiri matched the course record with a blistering nine-under-par 62 for second place while four-time Major champion Ernie Els of South Africa shared third with Elmer Salvador of the Philippines after a 67 and 66 respectively in the US$800,000 Asian Tour tournament.

Hend, who picked up the champion’s cheque of US$144,000, was delighted to extend his magical season after opening his week with a dismal 74 and then going head-to-head with Els over three rounds.

“It's important to win again this week, for the third time, it feels good. Thursday was a difficult day, mentally and physically. Then on Friday and Saturday, I started holing putts which I haven’t done the whole year even when I won a couple of weeks ago. I’ve holed my fair share this week,” said Hend, who averaged 26.5 putts for the tournament.

“Ernie is one of the best players in the world. I had my own goals and targets and I achieved my goal which was to stay patient, patient, patient. In the first four holes, I didn’t make any birdie. Ernie started to put some heat on me and all of the sudden, I hit a great shot on the fifth for birdie there. It was all about being patient.

“Three wins in a year is definitely the best golf of my career. Who knows what’s going to happen in the next few months. There are some big tournaments coming up and it’ll be nice to perform well in those and be competitive.  The year hasn’t finished yet,” added the Aussie, whose victory was his fifth on the Asian Tour.

Els, who turned 44 on Thursday, applied the pressure early on with birdies on two, three and six but a bogey on nine halted his momentum. “It was very frustrating. I started off nicely again and then made a soft bogey on nine. I couldn’t afford any mistakes. I needed to keep the pedal on the metal but I made that mistake and I didn’t play the back nine all that well either. Tough weekend but I think Scott was very strong,” said Els, who was making his debut at the Venetian Macau Open.

“I had four shots to make up and four shots is a lot to make up especially with the caliber of Scott. He deserved to win.”

The 26-year-old Lahiri charged up the leaderboard to finish second, thanks to one eagle and eight birdies as he tied countryman Amandeep Johl’s course mark set in 2004.  The Indian star, who has three wins on the Asian Tour, got to within two shots of Hend during the final round but was still delighted with his strong finish.

“I got off to a great start, holed a 30-footer on the first hole. I played really good right from the start. Yesterday was a similar story but I ran into some trouble on the back nine. I’m glad I kept my cool and played solid in the end,” said Lahiri.

“I changed my driver from yesterday. I’ve had major issues controlling the golf ball but I changed my driver and it gave me confidence having a club that I could control better. Hit it close on two to make eagle and kept hitting it close.”                                                                                                                                           

Salvador was delighted to tie Els for third place for his best outing of the year, with a cheque of US$45,200 securing his Tour card for 2014 after starting the week in 73^rd place on the Order of Merit.  

“I saved many pars and had a good putting day. My driving was a little wild but my irons helped me save a lot of pars. I’m happy that I’ve saved my card for next year. It feels good to be tied with Ernie. He’s a superstar,” said the Filipino.

For more details on the Venetian Macau Open, please visit www.thevenetianmacauopen.com

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 284 (4x71) Yardage 6,6606

268 - Scott HEND (AUS) 74-64-63-67.

271 - Anirban LAHIRI (IND) 73-68-68-62.

272 - Elmer SALVADOR (PHI) 70-66-70-66, Ernie ELS (RSA) 71-65-69-67.

275 - Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) 71-68-71-65, Daisuke KATAOKA (JPN) 71-66-69-69.

276 - Adam GROOM (AUS) 70-69-71-66, SIDDIKUR  (BAN) 69-66-70-71.

277 - Stephen LEWTON (ENG) 72-67-72-66, BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR) 71-65-70-71.

278 - LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 71-72-66-69, Rahil GANGJEE (IND) 73-67-66-72.

279 - Arjun ATWAL (IND) 72-69-68-70, HUNG Chien-yao (TPE) 70-71-68-70, Kalle SAMOOJA (FIN) 68-71-69-71.

280 - Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 73-67-71-69.

FAST FINISHING RORY MCILROY CLAIMS SECOND PLACE IN CONTROVERSIAL FINISH TO KOREA OPEN

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
Former world number one Rory McIlroy cards five birdies in his four-under-par round to end one behind winner Kang Sung-hoon 
at the Korea Open today. 

McIlroy shot a final-round 67 to claim a share of second place. The Northern Irishman, who had fallen 10 shots behind the lead after three rounds, carded five birdies in his four-under-par round to end one behind winner Kang Sung-hoon.

It was a strong finish after what had been a frustrating third day for the world number six at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course near Cheonan. The only blemish in the final round for McIlroy, who had been playing his first tournament for a month, was a bogey at the 16th.

McIlroy, the star attraction at the OneAsia Tour event, said: "I could have shot anything, absolutely anything.

"I only missed two greens and had so many chances, but it was like the story of yesterday - I just didn't hole enough putts.

"I created so many more chances today that it could have been 61, 62. It just wasn't to be. I didn't birdie any of the par fives, which was disappointing. I felt like it could have been so much lower the last couple of days."

McIlroy was three off the pace when he completed his round but the capitulation of overnight leader Kim Hyung-tae may have exacerbated his sense of frustration.
Kim had begun the final round with a four-stroke lead but shot a six-over 77, which included a triple bogey six at the 13th, to finish alongside McIlroy on three under. Three other South Koreans, Lee Sang-hee, Lee Chang-woo and Joong-kyung, also finished on three-under 281.
Kang scooped the title after a strong back nine, including a crucial birdie at the last. Kang was one over for the day after 11, but birdies at the 14th and 15th, as well as the 18th, saw him come home in 32 for a two-under-par round of 69. 

 FROM THE GOLF CHANNEL WEBSITE
So much for cruising to victory.
Hyung-tae Kim was two shots ahead as he stood on the 17^th tee Sunday at the OneAsia Tour’s Kolon Korea Open. That all changed when he was approached by a rules official, who told Kim that he would be penalized two shots for grounding his club in a hazard on the 13^th hole.
Kim proceeded to bogey the 17^th and couldn’t birdie the 18^th, finishing in a share of second (along with Rory McIlroy), one shot behind Sung-hoon Kang.
The discussion of the penalty didn’t end on the 17^th hole, however. Before signing his card, Kim returned to the 13^th and spent nearly two hours arguing the infraction with rules officials, who had consulted TV replays, according to published reports.
The Korean Golf Association rules committee voted, 5-3, against Kim, and eventually he signed for 6 instead of 4. He finished with 77 after taking a four-shot lead into the final round.
Even Kang didn’t feel like celebrating afterward, telling reporters, “I’m a really good friend of his, so at the moment it doesn’t feel great. Even though I won the tournament, I just feel really sorry for him. I was actually out there to celebrate for him, but … I don’t know … I don’t know what to say. It’s horrible.” 

DUNCAN STEWART TOP SCOT IN JOINT 12TH PLACE IN CHINA

Duncan Stewart signed off with a three-under-par 69 to finish top Scot in joint 12th place in the Foshan Open European Challenge Tour event at Foshan Golf Club, China today (Sunday).
The Grantown on Spey man, who had his first hole in one as a professional earlier in the event, totalled six-under-par 282 to earn 4,510 Euros. 
Although Stewart had six birdies in his first round he also had three costly bogeys on the inward half - at the 10th, 12th and 17th - which deprived him ot a top 10 finish and a bigger payslip.
Raymond Russell earned 3,243 Euros for joint 16th place on 283 after a closing par-matching 72.
George Murray finished joint 25th on 285 with a good last round of 68 which earned him 2,294 Euros.
Jamie McLearly and Andrew McArthur both closed with 72s andtied for 33rd place on 288 for which the pay-out was 1,933 Euros apiece.
Spaniard Nacho Elvira won the first prize of 41,234 - his first victory as a pro-  with a closign round of 72 for an aggregate of 14-under-par 274.

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

A nerveless putt from 12 feet earned Nacho Elvira his first professional title at the Foshan Open and moved him within sightof a place on The European Tour.

A closing round of 72 for an aggregate total of 14 under par was enough to see off a whole host of challengers, but the bare numbers do not do justice to the drama that unfolded at Foshan Golf Club.  

Having come into the inaugural US$350,000 event in 50th place in the Challenge Tour Rankings, Elvira’s chief aim was simply to secure his berth in the 45-man Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final in a fortnight’s time; but a radical revision will be needed after the winner’s cheque for €41,234 moved the Spaniard into the all-important top 15.      

For the latter stages of a fraught final day in Foshan City, where several thousand spectators basked in glorious sunshine, it had looked like a play-off would be needed to determine the winner. 

Elvira, who held a three-shot lead overnight, got off to a fine start with a birdie on the second hole but, after a succession of pars, opened the door to his rivals with a bogey at the 15th hole.

That, combined with a 16th hole birdie from his playing partner Sam Walker and a two-birdie burst from Indian Shiv Kapur playing in the group ahead, meant the leading trio all teed off on the 18th on 14 under par, with Englishman Tyrrell Hatton one shot behind. 

But when Tyrrell’s birdie attempt shaved the hole and Kapur, whose tee shot found the bunker, lipped out for par to fall back to 13 under par, the stage was set for a showdown between Elvira and Walker.

When Walker’s approach shot came up short of the green and Elvira’s flew 50 feet past the hole, both looked in danger of dropping shots and giving Kapur an unlikely reprieve. But once Walker had failed to get up and down from the fringe, Elvira faced a 12-foot putt for victory – and he duly rolled it in with the confidence of a seasoned champion, rather than a first-time winner. 

An emotional Elvira, who climbed from 50th to 13th in the Rankings, said: “This has to be one of the best days of my life. It’s been an unbelievable week from the start, with the course and the crowds and the way we’ve been made to feel so welcome by everyone. I’m just so grateful I managed to finish the job off.

“I hadn’t made a putt all day, but I said to my caddie on the last that if I was going to make one putt, now would be a good time to do it. It was an incredible feeling, and I’ll never forget this day. I didn’t play as well as I would’ve liked today, but I made the best up and down of my life for par from the edge of the water on the 17th, then to hole that putt on the last under such pressure was amazing.  

“Your first win is always special, but to win here on such an amazing course and in such an incredible tournament, it really doesn’t get any better. Obviously it gives me a great chance of getting onto The European Tour, but I’m not thinking about that right now. I just want to enjoy the moment, then we will see what the next two weeks bring.”

Walker, who signed off with a round of 70 for a 13 under par total, could at least console himself with

 a cheque for €20,617 which moved the Englishman to 12th place in the Rankings and within touching distance of a return to The European Tour. 

His fellow runner-up Hatton (70) virtually guaranteed his place in The 2014 Race to Dubai after climbing to 11th, but there is more work to do for Kapur (69), who is in 19th place.

The same goes for England’s Phil Archer, who is three places below the Indian after finishing fifth on 11 under par.

 

FINAL TOTALS

Par 288 (4x72) 

274 N Elvira  (Esp) 68 68 66 72

275 S Walker (Eng) 66 69 70 70, S Kapur (Ind) 70 68 68 69, T Hatton (Eng) 66 69 70 70

277 P Archer (Eng) 71 69 68 69,

278 N Lemke (Swe) 68 76 67 67, S Arnold  (Aus) 65 72 72 69,

279 W Besseling  (Ned) 68 69 70 72

280 J Elson  (Eng) 70 71 73 66, J Guerrier  (Fra) 69 69 74 68

281 M Crespi  (Ita) 71 70 69 71

 282 D Stewart (Sco) 68 71 74 69, G Stal  (Fra) 72 68 72 70, D Im (USA) 72 68 69 73, R Kakko  (Fin) 72 71 68 71

 283 J Fahrbring (Swe) 73 70 68 72, R Russell (Sco) 68 70 73 72, R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 72 69 71 71, R Davies (Wal) 65 73 70 75, S Tiley (Eng) 69 71 71 72, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 73 70 71 69,

 284 W Kang-Chun (Chn) 71 70 70 73, S Manley (Wal) 70 71 71 72, B Paolini (USA) 71 68 72 73,

 285 D An (Aus) 70 74 71 70, A Pavan (Ita) 70 73 72 70, G Murray  (Sco) 75 70 72 68, B An (Kor) 73 66 76 70,

 286 F Calmels  (Fra) 71 76 71 68,

 287 B Ritthammer (Ger) 73 72 72 70, V Riu  (Fra) 73 69 70 75, J Barnes (Eng) 73 73 73 68

 288 J McLeary  (Sco) 72 74 70 72, A McArthur  (Sco) 71 72 73 72

 289 D Gaunt (Aus) 72 74 72 71, H Wen-Yi (Chn) 71 73 74 71, M Brier (Aut) 70 77 70 72,

 290 O Zheng (Chn) 74 72 73 71, O Wilson (Eng) 74 73 69 74, J Dantorp (Swe) 69 77 71 73,

 291 A Gee  (Eng) 69 74 72 76, S Kim (Kor) 73 72 74 72, C Ding-Gen (Chn) 74 73 72 72, T Nørret (Den) 69 79 72 71,

 292 L Hao-Tong (Chn) 72 76 71 73, L Kennedy  (Eng) 71 74 74 73, F Zhi-Peng (Chn) 76 71 71 74, P Edberg (Swe) 75 72 74 71,

 293 E Dubois (Fra) 74 71 76 72, G Cambis  (Fra) 77 70 72 74, D Brooks (Eng) 71 72 76 74, Y Tian (Chn) 70 74 73 76,

 294 C Aguilar  (Esp) 74 73 74 73, S Zi-Han (Chn) 73 75 72 74,

 295 H Ming-Jie (Chn) 73 75 74 73, J Da-Xing (Chn) 73 72 74 76, H Ren (Chn) 74 72 74 75, S Dong (Chn) 74 71 79 71,

 296 A Velasco (Esp) 73 74 77 72, D Griffiths  (Eng) 73 69 73 81, J Cheng (Chn) 77 70 76 73,

 297 A Domingo (Esp) 77 71 75 74

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

DAVID LAW HOPES ITS THIRD TIME LUCKY IN ABU DHABI

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
David Law hopes it will be third time lucky when he plays his final event on the MENA Tour this week, the $50,000 Abu Dhabi Golf Citizen Open at Saadiyat Golf Club.
The 22-year-old Aberdonian has led into the fin\@al round in the last two events - and been relegated to second place by Zane Scotland in both of them.
"I'm playing this week at Saadiyat before I fly home to Aberdeem on Wednesday night to get ready to travel to Spain for Stage 2 of the European Tour Qualifying School thefollowing week," said Law.
"I'm looking forward to this week as Saadiyat is a fantastic course, long and tough so you need to be on top form to perform here."
Law has won $12,000 from his runner-up finishes in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah and is lying fourth on the MENA Tour Order of Merit in which the leading placings are:

1 Zane Scotland (England) $45,000
2 Ian Keenan (England) $16,818
3 Stephen Dodd (Wales) $15,882
4 David Law (Scotland) $12,000
5 Tommy Mou (US) $10,702
6 Duncan Stewart (Scotland) $10,405
7 Trevor Marshall (New Zealand) $9,950
8 Younes El Hassani (Morocco) $8,968
9 William Harrold (England)  $7,524
10 Daniel Owen (England) $7,104

RORY MCILROY TRAILS BY TEN SHOTS IN KOREA OPEN

 
FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
World No 6 Rory McIlroy appeared to blow his chances of breaking his 2013 drought after a four-over third-round 75 left him 10 shots behind at the Kolon Korea Open in Seoul.

McIlroy began the day two off the pace in a share of fifth but after a frustrating front nine in which he missed a number of chances he went backwards quickly after the turn.

The Northern Irishman went out in level par at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course near Cheonan after his only birdie of the day - at the par-five fifth - was cancelled out by a bogey at the next.

A double-bogey six at the 10th were the first of four dropped shots in five holes as McIlroy, who has not won since he changed his clubs at the start of the year, fell further behind as he finished the day one-over for the tournament.

Although overnight leader Hong Soon-sang could manage only a level-par 71, dropping him into second on five under, Kim Hyung-tae shot a 66, the joint-best round of the week, to take a four-shot cushion into the final day.

Following the round, McIlroy had not given up hope of staging a miraculous recovery but the world No 6 was left to rue missed opportunities to strengthen his position on day three.
“Last time here [in 2011] I shot 64 in the last round so it would need something probably similar or a little better to have a chance,” he told oneasia.asia.
“A frustrating day because I was in contention after two days and if you shoot a solid score today you’re right in there.
“I’ve just got to go out there tomorrow and shoot the best score that I can. I just think the story of the day is that I missed a lot of putts, missed a lot of chances for birdies at the start of the round and then missed a few short ones for pars in the middle and end of the round. That’s really what it was.
“It’s a struggle, especially where they’ve put some of the pin positions,” the Northern Irishman added. “It’s tough to get yourself to commit to a certain line because you’ll hit a few and they’ll go through the break, and some turn more than others. It’s just tough to commit to the line you choose.
“I wanted to come here and play; it’s nothing about trying to build confidence or anything like that. I guess more than anything else I wanted to shake the rust off this week and try and get into contention - and obviously try to win.”

WEBB SIMPSON STAYS FOUR SHOTS CLEAR AT TPC SUMMERLIN

  FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Webb Simpson was far from comfortable with a four-stroke lead at TPC Summerlin.
"This is a golf course where guys can shoot, as we've seen this week, 8, 9, 10, 11 under," Simpson said. "So, I have to go out with a mindset of attacking and trying to make birdies."
Simpson maintained his four-shot advantage Saturday in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, birdieing four of the last seven holes for a 4-under 67.

SHRINERS HOSPITALS

Full leaderboard   Round 4 tee times Raleigh rivals in final pairing TOUR Report notes  FedExCup projections Event video Round 3 photos  Follow on Twitter  Like on Facebook

"I think the key tomorrow is to, No. 1, stay patient again in case I do get off to another slow start," said Simpson, who missed a playoff -- that Jonathan Byrd won with a hole-in-one on the fourth extra hole -- by a stroke in 2010 after making a double bogey on the par-3 17th.
Making his first start since helping the U.S. win the Presidents Cup, the 2012 U.S. Open champion was 19 under overall. He opened with rounds of 64 and 63.
"The conditions were perfect," Simpson said. "I knew guys were shooting low numbers. I felt like I was playing good enough. I just was shooting pretty bad -- parred 9, dropped the shot at 11. So, it was frustrating. But my caddie just told me to stay patient and let the birdies come. And that's what happened. I made some putts coming in."
Chesson Hadley was second after a 67, birdieing the short par-4 15th and following with a hole-out for an eagle on the par-5 16th.
"They waved us up on 15 and I just roasted a driver up there," Hadley said. "I think it hit perfectly into the hill and dribbled up there to about 10 feet. I hit a good putt. It was just a little to the left, so it was a nice tap-in birdie. So that was good.
"Then I drove it right on 16, and I laid up to the perfect number. And my first thought when I hit it was, `Please go a little.' Then I saw it take the first bounce and it looked like it just one hopped right in the bottom of the stick. That was huge."
The Web.com Tour Championship winner last month, Hadley is making his fourth career PGA TOUR start. He and Simpson are both from Raleigh, N.C.
"Webb and I grew up playing together," Hadley said. "He's always been more successful earlier than I have been. And you know, he's been such a good role model and just influence for the game as far as his faith is concerned. I'm just looking forward to playing with him tomorrow."
Jeff Overton was third at 14 under after a 68.
Jason Bohn had a 69 to reach 13 under, and Sean O'Hair shot a 63 to join first-round leader J.J. Henry, defending champion Ryan Moore, William McGirt, Ryo Ishikawa and Russell Knox at 12 under.
O'Hair eagled the 15th.
"I've been playing some nice golf, and it was nice to come out today and get started off quick," O'Hair said. "I was 3 under pretty quickly and turned at 4, and kind of started off slow on the back nine, but that eagle helped on 15. So, it was just all in all a great day."
O'Hair had to play the four-event Web.com Tour Finals to regain his PGA TOUR card.
"I think it was a tough time this year for me, especially late because I was realizing I was going to lose my card," O'Hair said. "I just had to get my mind right going into those Web.com events. I knew I had an opportunity to get my card back, but I had to be in a right spot mentality. It was a disappointing time for me.
"I was able to get my mind right, and I played fairly well. ... I really feel good about my game right now, everything about it, from putting, ball-striking. I really feel like I can play some great golf right now. I think it helped me to kind of go back to basics and simplify my game."
Henry has shot 71-70 after opening with a course-record 60. McGirt shot 64, Ishikawa had a 68, and Moore and Knox shot 69.
Daniel Summerhays had a 68 to reach 11 under. He eagled the par-5 13th and 16th holes.
Jimmy Walker, the winner of the season-opening Frys.com Open last week in California, was 10 under after a 64. 

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES AND ALSO, THIS EVENING,
LIVE SCORING FROM THE FINAL ROUND

CLICK HERE

DINGWALL AND GAITTENS SHARE NORTH ALLIANCE HONOURS AT GRANTOWN

Amateurs took the leading honours in Saturday's North Scottish Alliance fixture at Grantown on Spey.

A total of 10 players broke the par of 70.

Pride of place went jointly to Scott Dingall of the host club and Chris Gaittens (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) who both returned six-under-par 64s.

Dingwall's downside was a double bogey 6 at the 12th and a bogey at the eighth. But he cancelled these out with an eagle 2 at the ninth and birdies at the first third, sixth, 11th, 16th, 17th and 18th.

Gaittens' bogey-free round was highlighted with birdies at the first sixth, eighth, ninth, 13th and 17th.

They won by two shots from early starters John Campbell (Grantown) and Neil McWilliam (Elgin).

Leading pro was Ross Harrower (Boat of Garten), in fifth place with a 67.

LEADING SCRATCH

64 S Dingwall (Grantown), C Gaittens (Fortrose and Rosemarkie)

66 J S D Campbell (Grantown), N McWilliam (Elgin)

67 R Harrower (Boat of Garten) p

68 A J Duncan (Elgin) p, G H Hay (Grantown)

69 B R Fotheringham (Inverness), L Reid (Fortrose and Rosemarkie), S Johnston (Elgin)

70 K Thomson (Moray), A Cameron (Fortrose and Rosemarkie), K Stables (Foremost Golf) p, R H Stewart (Torvean)

71 A Hutchison (Inverness)

72 B Cruickshank (Spey Bay), S Wilson (Inverness), L Crawford (Moray)

73 G Mackenzie (Moray), J A Grant (Grantown), L Stewart (Grantown), W Weatherall (Muir of Ord)

74 A W Mair (Moray), I Murray (Boat of Garten), L Duncan (Elgin), F Mackellar (Grantown), P Matheson (Grantown)

75 D F Sharp (Boat of Garten), M Mcdonald (Boat of Garten), W Donnelly (Fortrose and Rosemarkie), K Williamson (Fortrose and Rosemarkie)

76 J K England (Moray), D Hector (Elgin)

77 D Thom (Grantown), W Hutchison (Inverness), P Masson (Rothes), V Tilman (Muir of Ord), A Cowie (Moray), A P Thomson (Inverness) p

78 T Loynes (Boat of Garten), A Boxx (Boat of Garten), A Waterson (Boat of Garten), A Imrie (Muir of Ord), D Macleod (Grantown)

79 W F Mackellar (Grantown), B Johnston (Moray), S Rooney (Boat of Garten), A Fraser (Inverness), I Hamilton (Elgin), S Mullen (Elgin), J R Souter  (Moray), I Grant (Grantown), L F Grant (Grantown), K Barnett (Torvean)

LEADING HANDICAP

Class 1 - 

64 A Hutchison (Inverness) (7), S Johnston (Elgin) (5)

66 L Crawford (Moray) (6);

67 L Duncan (Elgin) (7), W Weatherall (Muir of Ord) (6);

Class 2 - 

65 T Loynes (Boat of Garten) (13), A Fraser (Inverness) (14)

67 I Grant (Grantown) (12), A Boxx (Boat of Garten) (11).