MARTIN LAIRD BLOWS IT OVER LAST TWO HOLES

Martin Laird had a disastrous finish to destroy his hopes of winning the Phoenix Open. at Scottsdale, Arizona today.
The Scot, long-time leader and three ahead with 18 to play, bogeyed the 17th and then double-bogeyed the 18th to finish with a one-ove-par 72 and a total of 12-under 272, in a tie for fifth place with amateur Jon Rahm.
Winner was fast-finishing Brooks Koepka with an aggregate of 15-under-par 269 after third and fourth rounds of 64 and 66 catapulted him into the forefront.
Joint second on 270 were Bubba Watson (65), Ryan Palmer (66) and Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) *67).
Russell Knox bogeyed the 11th and then parred the last seven holes to finish with a 70 for T15 on nine-under 275

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71) Players from USA unless stated
269 Brooks Koepka 71 68 64 66
270 Bubba Watson 65 71 69 65, Ryan Palmer 64 72 68 66, Hideki Matzuyama (Japan) 69 71 63 67.
272 Jon Rahn (amateur) 70 68 66 68, Martin Laird (Scotland) 66 66 68 72 (T5)

SELECTED TOTAL
275 Russell Knox (Scotland) 69 71 65 70 (T15)

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 CAMERON, LAW SHARING 6th PLACE IN MOROCCO

Two Paul Lawrie Golf Centre players, Ross Cameron from Ellon and Aberdeen's David Law, are sharing sixth place on one-under-par 71 after the first round of the German PGA Pro Golf Tour event, the Samanah Open at Marrakech, Morocco.
Cameron deviated from par only three times over the Jack Nicklaus designed course which was opened in 2008. He birdied the ninth and 16th with a solitary bogey at the 13th.
Northern Open champion Law birdied all four long holes but dropped shots at the par-4 second, 10th and 18th.
Last year's Scottish amateur champion, Chris Robb (Meldrum House), is joint 13th on 72 after birdieing the sixth, 12th and 16th, cancelling out these gains with bogeys at the third, 10th and 15th.
Ted Innes Ker is joint 35th on 74 while the third and four Paul Lawrie Golf Centre players in the field of 111, Philip McLean from Peterhead and Portlethen's Sam Kiloh will struggle to beat the second-round cut after scores of 77 and 78 respectively.
Dutchman Fernand Osther's six-under 66 has him three shots ahead of second placed compatriot Reinier Saxton who won the British amateur championship at Turnberry in 2008.

SAMANAH OPEN
Samanah Country Club, Marrakech.
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 72
66 F Osther (Net)
69 R Saxton (Net)
70 J Girrbach (Swi), M Keskari (Ger), S Echikson (Bel).
SCOTS' SCORES
71 R Cameron, D Law (T6)
72 C Robb (T13)
74 T Innes Ker (T35)
77 P McLean (T66)
78 S Kiloh (T77)

RORY McILROY WINS WITH EASE, GREAT EFFORT BY

STEPHEN GALLACHER TO FINISH THIRD

Rory McIlroy cantered home to an all-the-way victory in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic today.
The 25-year-old from Holywood near Belfast shot rounds of 66, 64, 66 and 70 for a 22-under-par aggregate of 266.
He won by three shots from fast finishing Swede, Alex Noren - 68,67, 67 and 65 for 269.
Stephen Gallacher, bidding for an historic hat-trick of triumphs in this event did very well indeed to finish third on 16-under 272 with scores of 66, 67, 70 and 69. 
Marc Warren tied for 13th on 275 with a closing round of 71.
Paul Lawrie finished T29 on 279. His last round was his worst of the four - a one-over-par 73 which saw him drop shots coming down the home straight: at the 14th, 16th and 17th. He had earlier birdied the eighth and 10th.
Chris Doak tied for 63 on 286 with a closing 71.
Scott Jamieson lost the plot over the last nine holes of the tournament. He finished with a mind-blowing 11-over-par 83, with halves of 36-47.
Jamieson had a double bogey at the long 10th, a triple bogey 8 at the long 13th, bogeyed 14-15-16, birdied 17th and had a double bogey at the 18th.
Richie Ramsay withdrew before the final round after scores of 71, 70 and 75 for 216.

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LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72) Prizemoney in Euros
266 Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 66 64 66 70 (378,779).
269 Alex Noren (Sweden) 68 67 69 65 (252,519)
272 Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) 66 67 70 69 (142,272)
273 Martin Kaymer (Germany) 67 69 73 64, Gary Stal (France) 69 69 67 68, Bernd Weisberger (Austria) 64 69 70 70, Andy Sullivan (England) 65 68 70 70 (82,908 each).

OTHER SCOTS' TOTALS
275 Marc Warren 66 65 73 71 (T13) (32,143)
279 Paul Lawrie 69 71 66 73 (T29) (20,227)
286 Chris Doak 72 70 73 71 (T63) (5,341)
295 Scott Jamieson 74 68 70 83 (last of 74) (3,400)
Withdrew: Richie Ramsay 71 70 75-216

McILROY CANTERS TO FIRST WIN OF 2015
 
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
Rory McIlroy claimed his first title of 2015 by steamrolling his way to victory at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, thanks to a composed and clinical display befitting of the world’s number one golfer.
Leading by four shots entering the final day at the Emirates Golf Club, the 25 year old was a steady and assured presence despite a relatively unspectacular level par front nine.
While his closest challengers struggled to close the gap, McIlroy’s class began to show on the way home as he birdied two of the back nine’s three par fives, the tenth and 13th, to sign for a two under par 70, a tournament record-equalling 22 under total and a three-shot victory.
Swede Alex Noren’s return to form continued as he carded a seven under par 65 to claim runner-up spot, his best finish since winning the most recent of his three European Tour victories at the 2011 Nordea Masters.
Stephen Gallacher of Scotland maintained his incredible record in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic despite missing out on a third consecutive win at the event, adding an outright third place finish to his two wins and a runner-up finish in 2012, courtesy of a closing 69 and a 16 under total.
Morten Ørum Madsen, who was McIlroy’s nearest competitor after round three, struggled to a triple-bogey on the opening hole and, while he staged a brave comeback, it was ultimately a bridge too far for the Dane and he finished in a share of fourth place alongside German Martin Kaymer - who recorded a superb eight under par 64 - Frenchman Gary Stal, England’s Andy Sullivan and Bernd Wiesberger of Austria on 15 under par.

PLAYER QUOTES

Rory McIlroy - "It wasn't the best round that I've played this year but I got the job done and that's the most important thing.
"That was sort of the objective coming to the Middle East, just after the new year. I wanted to get at least one win going heading to the States and getting into the sort of big part of the season I guess.
"It's great to get that win and coming off a good performance in Abu Dhabi, as well, I've got some confidence and momentum on my side heading into the next couple months.
"I've done a lot of good work the last few weeks here in the Middle East and I've got three weeks off now. I won't have three weeks of hitting balls I guess, but I'll have at least a good week of preparation going into the Honda.
"I'll keep it ticking over. It will be nice to get back to the States and get in my own house and get into a routine and practice and stuff.
"I don't mind that the Masters is still a couple of months away. I feel like I can keep this run of form going, and there's no reason why I shouldn't. I'm comfortable with my game, I'm happy with how I'm swinging it and it's just a matter of keeping on top of things and not getting complacent and working hard."

Alex Noren - "It was an amazing day and an amazing week. I missed it so much, feeling some pulse and nervousness, it's really nice.
"I never even thought of winning, he's (Rory McIlroy) playing so good, even though today was a slower start from him. I was just trying to get a nice finish in. I'm thinking the next few weeks it's going to happen, so I just need to keep making birdies and try to stay up with the other guys.
"I was pretty unsure even two months ago if I was going to play again this early ‑ it's tough when you don't know if the hand is holding up, and that's been a little bit of a problem Thursday morning. I was like, here we go again. But it turned out better than I thought.
"I'm very, very surprised, happily surprised. But it feels, knock‑on‑wood, almost better than ever.
"I'm hitting better shots under pressure in the end. It felt like a lot of pressure, especially to me when I haven't felt pressure in a long time. And to pull off the shots that I did, I haven't been able do that so I'm really happy with that."

Stephen Gallacher - "It was a good week, I'm delighted with it. Obviously it was tough out there today and tough to chase the World Number One from so far back.  We were kind of playing for second place, so I'm delighted with my performance.
"I was way back. You needed to be three or four off the lead to have a chance. So you're trying to get as low as you can and get up the board and it was a tough day. I think for everybody in swirling wind, it's tough to get it pin‑high. You just have to knuckle down and take your chances.
"I made a conscious effort not to do too much in the winter. I wanted to come back and pick up from where I left off last season after having such a good season. It's going to plan so far."

Martin Kaymer - "I played very similar to the first three days but made some putts finally which was nice. I changed one little thing yesterday afternoon on the putting green.
"My hands were a little too far behind the ball so I just put them a little bit more forward, makes the ball roll easier on the greens and that made the biggest difference, because, especially yesterday, I struggled to make some putts, even to get them to the hole.
"It's always one of those places, I wish we would have a major here. I enjoy playing so much in the Middle East and usually I play well. Therefore, you know, I look forward to coming back in November again when we play The Race to Dubai final.
"When I came here, what happened in Abu Dhabi was a big learning lesson, and therefore I could move forward, especially when I teed off here on Thursday morning.
"So therefore I didn't really think much. I just played the way I played in Abu Dhabi, played really good golf. The first three days I didn't make as many putts as today but fortunately I finished well today."

ALL THE FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
266 R McIlroy  (NIr) 66 64 66 70
269 A Noren  (Swe) 68 67 69 65
272 S Gallacher (Sco) 66 67 70 69
273 B Wiesberger  (Aut) 64 69 70 70, G Stal  (Fra) 69 69 67 68, A Sullivan (Eng) 65 68 70 70, M Kaymer (Ger) 67 69 73 64, M Madsen  (Den) 71 63 66 73
274 G McDowell  (NIr) 67 65 72 70, T Aiken (RSA) 68 71 66 69, R Rock (Eng) 68 67 69 70, L Westwood (Eng) 65 68 69 72,
275 P Uihlein  (USA) 65 69 70 71, H Stenson (Swe) 70 66 70 69, B An (SKor) 70 70 66 69, R Paratore (Ita) 68 66 70 71, M Warren (Sco) 66 65 73 71, G Bourdy (Fra) 69 71 69 66, D Willett  (Eng) 67 66 70 72
276 P Larrazábal (Esp) 69 66 69 72, R Fisher (Eng) 71 68 71 66, G Havret  (Fra) 68 71 70 67, E Grillo (Arg) 67 68 69 72, A Quiros  (Esp) 73 69 70 64
277 D Howell (Eng) 71 69 69 68, R Green (Aus) 70 68 70 69
278 R Jacquelin (Fra) 71 71 67 69, D Lipsky (USA) 68 71 68 71
279 D Van Der Walt (RSA) 69 73 66 71, P Lawrie (Sco) 69 71 66 73, A Levy (Fra) 72 68 70 69
280 N Colsaerts  (Bel) 65 74 67 74, A Hansen (Den) 66 72 71 71, M Kieffer (Ger) 66 68 73 73
281 J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 70 66 72 73, E Espana (Fra) 70 70 70 71, T Jaidee (Tha) 71 68 69 73, A Wall (Eng) 69 70 72 70, S Benson (Eng) 66 66 73 76, G Mulroy (RSA) 69 70 72 70, A Johnston (Eng) 68 72 71 70
282 M Foster (Eng) 73 69 67 73, T Pieters  (Bel) 69 69 75 69, F Aguilar (Chi) 70 71 70 71, M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 70 70 71 71, K Broberg (Swe) 69 69 70 74
283 A Cañizares  (Esp) 72 69 69 73, Y Yang (SKor) 67 73 71 72, D Brooks (Eng) 69 73 71 70, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 72 70 71 70, J Campillo (Esp) 67 70 75 71, J Luiten (Ned) 68 70 70 75,
284 M Hoey  (Nir) 72 70 71 71, M Carlsson  (Swe) 71 71 65 77
285 R Bland (Eng) 71 69 72 73, B Grace  (RSA) 73 69 71 72, P Lawrie (Irl) 73 69 73 70, O Farr (Wal) 73 68 72 72, T Hatton (Eng) 71 69 72 73, M Ilonen  (Fin) 67 71 74 73, M Lampert (Ger) 71 67 75 72, E Els (RSA) 72 70 72 71
286 H Otto (RSA) 66 73 70 77, T Lewis (Eng) 68 73 70 75, C Doak (Sco) 72 70 73 71, E Molinari  (Ita) 70 72 73 71,
287 P Waring  (Eng) 69 67 72 79, B Dredge (Wal) 71 71 68 77, J Palmer (Eng) 74 68 72 73, W Ormsby (Aus) 69 69 70 79,
289 M Baldwin (Eng) 71 71 73 74
290 D Foos (Ger) 71 71 72 76
291 D McGrane (Irl) 71 70 74 76
295 S Jamieson  (Sco) 74 68 70 83
** R Ramsay  (Sco) 71 70 75 WD

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

  AZINGER, HANEY DISAGREE ON TIGER'S YIPS

Paul Azinger said on Saturday that Tiger Woods' short-game woes could be corrected "in minutes" (from Golf Channel.com)
Hank Haney, one of Woods' former swing coaches, doesn't agree. 
He says Woods has the yips with his wedge game. 
“When you have the yips, you have issues,” Haney said. “This isn’t going away."
Haney made his comments on his show on Sirius/XM PGA Tour Radio.
Haney said watching Woods use a 4-iron to hit bump-and-run shots rather than lofting a wedge convinced him Woods has "a serious issue and he knows it."
Mishitting several chips and pitches at TPC Scottsdale, Woods shot 73-82 - the second round his worst as a pro - and missed the cut in the  Phoenix Open.

Paul Howard through to last eight in New South Wales

Paul Howard (Southport and Ainsdale) is through to the last eight of the New South Wales men's open amateur championship at Avondale Golf Club.
Today he beat Nick Marsh (Huddersfield) 2 and 1 in the first round and followed that up with a second-round win by 6 and 4 against Australian Joshua Armstrong.
Ben Stow (Rushmore) won his morning match by 3 and 1 against Aussie Douglas Klein but went down int he second round by 4 and 3 to Brayden Petersen who beat Adam Batty by two holes in the morning action.
Match-play results included:
FIRST ROUND
Jack Bush (Wales) lost to Brayden Petersen (Australia) 7 and 5.
Ben Stow (England) bt Douglas Klein (Australia) 3 and 1.
Paul Howard (England) bt Nick Marsh (England) 2 and 1
Adam Batty (England) lost to Hayden Barron (Australia) by 2 holes.
SECOND ROUND
Stow lost to Petersen 4 and 3.
Howard bt Joshua Armstrong (Australia) 6 and 4.

MARTIN LAIRD LEADS BY THREE, RUSSELL KNOX T8

Martin Laird carries a three-shot lead into Sunday 's final round of the Phoenix Open after a third-day 68 for 13-under--par 200.
His nearest challengers at Americans Zach Johnson (67), Brooks Koepka (64) and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama (63) on 203.
Russell Knox is hanging on in there in a share of eighth place on 205 after a third-round 65.

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THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
par 213 (3x71)
200 Martin Laird (Scotland) 66 66 68
203 Zach Johnson (USA) 66 70 67, Brooks Koepka (USA) 71 68 64, Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 6971 63.

SELECTED SCORE
205 Russell Knox (Scotland) 69 71 65 (T8)

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LAIRD CHASES FOURTH US PGA TOUR WIN

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona – Martin Laird watched the ball disappear into the cup on the par-3 16th hole and put some elbow grease into his fist pump, by Doug Ferguson (Golf.com)
It certainly wasn't the most exciting moment on golf's most raucous hole. That belonged to Francesco Molinari, who made the first hole-in-one at the 16th on Saturday at the Phoenix Open since Tiger Woods in 1997.
But it was plenty important to Laird.
On the verge of dropping another shot and watching his lead dwindle, the Scot followed that 10-foot par putt with a birdie on the 17th and another par save on the 18th to finish off a 3-under 68 and take a three-shot lead into the final round.
Next up is another round with a new pair from the next generation.
Laird, a 32-year-old from Glasgow and former Scottish youths champion, who has lived in Scottsdale since turning pro after his US College days at Colorado State, played in the final group Saturday with two 21-year-old rookies, Justin Thomas and Daniel Berger. Chasing him Sunday will by Hideki Matsuyama, the 22-year-old from Japan who is No. 18 in the world, and 24-year-old power hitter Brooks Koepka.
''This might just be the way it is,'' Laird said of the increasingly evident youth movement. ''When they come out, they're ready to go. They don't need three or four years to get used to the Tour life or used to the golf courses. I don't think they get intimidated at all anymore.''
Laird was at 13-under 200 as he goes for his fourth US PGA Tour victory

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Matsuyama, already with seven wins worldwide, birdied his last four holes to surge into contention with a 63. Koepka finally managed to find the fairways, made birdie on both par 5s on the back nine and shot 64. They were at 203 with Zach Johnson, who shot a 67.
Laird at least has a cushion, which might not have been the case without those key par putts, especially on the 16th.
He pulled his tee shot into the water on the par-5 15th and made bogey, which can feel like losing two shots. And then he stepped into the arena at the 16th, hit wedge at the flag from 133 yards and pulled it enough to go in a bunker. He blasted out to about 10 feet, though the putt had plenty of break.
''That was a big one,'' he said. 'You don't want to make two bogeys in a row at two holes you're looking at maybe making birdies on.''
He followed with a perfect pitch to 3 feet for birdie on the 17th, and finished his round with a 10-foot par save.
Molinari's ace wasn't for show. It carried him to a 64, and at 8-under 205, he was among 15 players still within five shots of the lead.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of that group was Jon Rahm of Spain, a third-year student at Arizona State University, playing this week on a sponsor's exemption. He got the gallery on his side early, especially by wearing a Sun Devils jersey when he teed off on the 16th, and shot 66. Rahm was at 9-under 204, along with Ryan Palmer (68) and Thomas, who had four birdies over his last six holes to salvage a 69.
''I'm not surprised, but I didn't expect it. Something between there,'' Rahm said.
Laird played in the final group with Thomas and Berger, two players who were still in high school three years ago. That's the way golf is shifting, players getting younger and more fearless. And that's what Laird faces again on Sunday.
Matsuyama, who won the Memorial last year, was the first rookie to win the Japan Golf Tour money list. He played bogey-free, and it was his birdie streak at the end of the round that put him into contention. The best one of all was his 50-degree wedge into the 16th and a salute from the crowd.
Koepka is the Floridian who went to the far corners of the world to chase his card, starting at the Challenge Tour on Europe and then winning the Turkish Open last year. He was 3 over on the par 5s this week, his first tournament in nearly two months, and made up some ground Saturday. Koepka hit the fairway on two par 5s on the back nine, setting up simple up-and-down birdies, and he made birdie on the 17th.
''It's just a little bit of rust, just not playing in two months,'' Koepka said. ''Felt like today I was finally comfortable. Being out there the last two days, it was almost like I was trying to find the driver a little bit.''
Even with an overcast sky and cool temperatures, TPC Scottsdale still had a big buzz. The hope was for a record attendance – as it had been all week – until Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson both missed the cut. The attendance was 159,906, some 40,000 short of the record last year.
But it was loud enough, especially the final hour.
''It shouldn't be a struggle to get your adrenalin going,'' Laird said.