A Tadd on the low side in the Sony Open

Tadd Fujikawa, an 18-year-old Hawaiian, set the very early clubhouse target on the third day of the Sony Open with a brilliant eight-under-par round of 62 for an eight-under-par tally of 202.
Tadd made the cut in this event two years ago as an amateur.
He had only 26 putts in his great round today at Honolulu, Hawaii.
It will be some time before the halfway leaders complete their third rounds but Ernie Els is way down the field with a 68 for one-under-par 209.

Sterne's 61, but Kingston and Clarke

share the Africa Open lead

FROM THE SUNSHINE TOUR WEBSITE
Golfers refer to the Saturday of a tournament as “moving day”, but Richard Sterne’s course record 61 in round three of the Africa Open today took the saying to ridiculous lengths as he charged his way around the East London Golf Club.
He shot five birdies on the opening nine, turning in 31, and then six more on the inward nine in a faultless display that had even playing partners Alan McLean and Andre Bossert shaking their heads in bewilderment.
“Maybe the best round of my life,” was his laconic evaluation of it in its aftermath.
And he’s not even in the lead: On a day of low scoring, Sterne’s predecessor as SA Open champion James Kingston shot a 65 to top the leaderboard at 18-under-par 198 together with Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke, who shot a 66.
“All day, I made one mistake, and for me to make only one mistake in a round of golf is pretty good,” Clarke said of his bogey on 13.
“But overall, I played really nicely, and the ball felt under control for the most part,” he added. Control gave him five birdies and an eagle.
The hard statistics of Sterne’s round tell the tale, for once: After 10 holes in his opening round, he was four-over-par. In the following 44 holes, he picked up 20 strokes, with 11 of those coming in the last 18 he played.
He couldn’t believe he could engineer that kind of turnaround, either: “After the practice round - I think I shot about 85 - I wondered about what was going to happen here because the wind was just unbelievable,” he recalled. “But when the tournament starts you do what you have to do and so far, so good!”
He took just 10 putts on the inward nine, and it was so nearly just nine: He had a 10-metre putt for birdie, and the ball shaved the cup on its way a foot further on. “Seventeen was the only hole I two-putted. That was quite nice,” he said.
Halfway leader Angel Cabrera struggled his way to an even-par 72 to be 14-under 202 in a share of sixth with Clarke’s compatriot Michael Hoey and Retief Goosen.
Goosen came good, atoning for a double-bogey 6 on the fifth with six birdies and an eagle.
Up ahead, Darren Fichardt is lurking together with Sterne two shots off the pace after his 67, and fifth place is the sole possession of Canada’s Graham DeLaet, whose faultless 64 with eight birdies paled into insignificance next to Sterne’s pyrotechnics.
Sharing ninth are Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace of South Africa, and Marc Cayeux of Zimbabwe. Schwartzel shot a seven-under 65, and lamented a cold putter which, he believes, cost him a much lower score.
THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
Players from South Africa unless stated
198 James Kington 66 67 65, Darren Clarke (NIr) 67 65 66.
200 Richard Sterne 72 67 61, Darren Fichardt 65 68 67.
201 Graham de Laet (Can) 63 74 64.
202 Michael Hoey (NIr) 68 68 66, Retief Goosen 66 70 66, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 62 68 72.
203 Charl Schwartzel 65 73 65, Brenden Grace 69 68 66, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 68 66 69.
Selected scores:
211 Alan McLean (Sco) 68 71 72 (jt 43rd).

Abu Dhabi Championship

Paul Casey's 63 gives him

four-shot lead with

one round to go

FROM THE A O L GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Paul Casey and Martin Kaymer, the last two winners of the Abu Dhabi Championship, will go head to head in the final group of the final round on Sunday.
But whereas Kaymer was six clear with a round to go last year, this time the 24-year-old German trails Casey by four.
The Ryder Cup star's bid to end two full years without a victory anywhere - he has had no fewer than 15 top-10 finishes in between - saw him come within a stroke of the course record with a dazzling nine-under-par 63 in the third round today.
So Kaymer, despite a 65, was further behind at the end of the day than he was at the start of it.
Casey is at 19 under par 197 - he won the event with 17 under in 2007 - with Kaymer 15-under 201 and joint halfway leader Graeme Storm (69) one stroke further back on 202.
Open and US PGA champion Padraig Harrington had a 68, but now finds himself eight behind, while world No 2 Sergio Garcia is 11 adrift after a 67.

Stephen Gallacher, who had a 65 for 205, is the top Scot in joint fifth place.

Next come Marc Warren (70) and Colin Montgomery (70), joint 28th on the 209 mark, one shot ahead of Alastair Forsyth who had a 69 for a share of 33rd place.
Paul Lawrie had a 68 for 211 and a share of 39th place.

David Drysdale is on level par 216 after a moderate 74 today.

THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
197 Paul Casey 69 65 63
201 Martin Kaymer (Ger) 68 68 65
202 Graeme Storm 69 64 69
203 Anthony Wall 67 67 69
204 Peter Hanson (Swe) 67 71 66, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 67 69 68, Johan Edfors (Swe) 66 69 69
205 Stephen Gallacher 74 66 65, Danny Willett 71 66 68, Oliver Fisher 67 69 69, Padraig Harrington 71 66 68
206 Brett Rumford (Aus) 68 67 71, Rory McIlroy 66 69 71, Anders Hansen (Den) 70 67 69, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 72 67 67, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 68 69 69, Bradley Dredge 71 69 66
207 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 67 69 71, Mark Foster 70 69 68
208 Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 66 69 73, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 70 71 67, Soren Hansen (Den) 71 66 71, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 72 67 69, Simon Dyson 71 68 69, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 69 70 69, Robert Allenby (Aus) 71 68 69, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 71 70 67
209 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 68 72 69, Marc Warren 70 69 70, Colin Montgomerie 72 67 70, Phillip Archer 71 71 67, Richard Green (Aus) 68 65 76
210 Oliver Wilson 69 71 70, Alastair Forsyth 75 66 69, Gary Murphy 69 72 69, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 67 70 73, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 68 70 72, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 69 71 70
211 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 74 67 70, Danny Lee (Nzl) 68 70 73, Paul Lawrie 73 70 68, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 67 75 69, Scott Strange (Aus) 73 66 72, Mark Brown (USA) 72 69 70
212 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 68 72 72, Damien McGrane 70 72 70, Hennie Otto (Rsa) 73 66 73, Ross Fisher 75 67 70, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 72 69 71, Peter Lawrie 73 70 69, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 71 69 72, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 72 69 71, David Dixon 70 69 73, Jamie Donaldson 69 72 71
213 Rodney Pampling (Aus) 70 72 71, Robert Rock 67 75 71, Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 70 72 71, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa) 71 71 71
214 Chinarat Phadungsil (Tha) 72 70 72, Thomas Levet (Fra) 69 74 71, Simon Wakefield 71 72 71
215 Gary Orr 75 68 72, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 74 69 72, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 73 69 73, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 72 71 72
216 Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 72 71 73, David Drysdale 72 70 74, Paul McGinley 69 73 74
217 Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 71 71 75, Nick Dougherty 74 69 74
218 Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 72 71 75
219 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 72 69 78, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 72 70 77

Stonehaven GC award

honorary life

membership to

Willie Donald

Willie Donald, who joined the club in 1952, has been awarded honorary life membership of Stonehaven Golf Club for all the work he has done for the club over the years.
Willie officially retired as club secretary/manager at the club's annual general meeting this week.
Morag Duncan took over as club manager last November but Willie worked on to complete the annual accounts for the AGM.
He had been in the post since 1996 and he's been serving on the North-east District of the Scottish Golf Union committee for 14 years. He is in his second year as president.
"It's not an honour the club grants often and, unusually, his late father, also Willie Donald, was also given honorary life membership in recognition of his services to the club," said club captain Harry Roulston.
"We think old man Donald joined Stonehaven GC just before World War II so the family connection has been quite long.
"Willie has been a tremendous servant to our club and, when he was given his honorary life membership, he received a standing ovation from the largest turn-out we've had at an AGM for many years.
"Willie knows more about the intricacies and history of Stonehaven GC than anyone else and we're lucky that he'll still be around for us to pick his brains when necessary."
Willie Donald (66) went to Mackie Academy and then Aberdeen University where he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering in 1964. He worked for a while with the South of Scotland Electricity Board (now Scottish Power) in central Scotland before joining the Ben Line in 1978 as a ship's engineer.
He travelled the world in a variety of ships, sailing out through the Panama Canal and returning via Cape Town, visiting the Great Lakes in North America and just about all parts of the Far East.
He retired in 1991 and returned to Stonehaven, becoming competitions convener at the club the following year. In 1996, he took over as secretary/manager. He remains a keen golfer, playing currently off a handicap of eight.
+Picture of Willie Donald (above) by courtesy of Sandy Walker, vice-captain of Stonehaven Golf Club.

Casey sweeps into Abu Dhabi lead

with nine holes to go in Round 3

Paul Casey took a two-stroke lead into the back nine of his third round at the Abu Dhabi Championship today.
Casey trailed joint leaders fellow Englishman Graeme Storm and Richard Green, the Australian left-hander, by one shot overnight but overtook them by covering the outward half in 32 shots to be on the 14 under par mark overall with nine holes to play in the third round.
Casey, 31. birdied the first, second, seventh and eighth as he followed up a sparkling second-round 65. He won this tournament two years ago.
Storm, playing his first tournament for more than two months, led on his own when he birdied the first and fifth, but a poor tee shot to the short seventh found the rough and failing to salvage a par dropped him alongside Londoner Anthony Wall at 12 under.
Green also opened with a birdie, but then came bogeys on the fifth and ninth and instead it was defending champion Martin Kaymer, Swede Per Hanson and South African Louis Oosthuizen in joint fourth.
Padraig Harrington was only one further back after an outward 33 and youngsters Rory McIlroy and Oliver Fisher were on the same mark, while Sergio Garcia threatened to get back into contention when he covered his first 13 holes in six under, but a bogey followed and left the world number two eight under.
Colin Montgomerie, now thought to be ready to become Ryder Cup captain for the 2010 match in Wales, stood six under with four to play.

Scots Bain and Dunn miss out in Thailand

Ally Mellor loses play-off at Asian

Tour Final Qualifying School

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ASIAN TOUR
Rayong, Thailand: Japan’s Daisuke Maruyama triumphed in a play-off against England's Ally Mellor to win the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School at the St Andrews 2000 course.
Colombia’s Eduardo Herrera ended his week in third spot after a 69 while South African James Kamte nailed a strong 67 to claim fourth place.
A total of 40 players earned their cards for the 2009 season.
Maruyama, a former US PGA Tour player, carded a 68 for a 353 total and was forced to a play-off after Mellor had birdied the final par-5 18th hole in regulation play. After posting matching pars in the first play-off on the 18th hole, Maruyama holed a six feet birdie putt in the second play-off hole to seal the top spot.
“I came here this week hoping do my best and I did just that so I am very pleased with my performance. It has been a tough week but a good experience and the result has given me the perfect start to the 2009 season,” said Maruyama, with five top-10 finishes on the US PGA Tour.
England’s Mellor, who turned professional in 2004, walked away pleased with his overall performance in the last two weeks.
“I’ve been playing here since the First Stage last week so I am happy with how I competed at the Qualifying School. I’m a bit gutted to lose in the play-off but this is still a good performance overall,” said Mellor.
South African James Kamte battled through an injured toe on the way to an impressive 67 to finish in fourth spot
“I cut my right toe yesterday and it required 12 stitches. I was not on any painkillers as I didn’t want to think about it. It’s been a great week and I hope to have a smooth sailing year on the Asian Tour,” said Kamte.
Finland’s Pasi Purhonen and Australia’s Bradley Lamb fired similar 71s and narrowly missed the cut when the duo finished in a tie for 41st spot
FINAL TOTALS
Par 365 (5 x 73)
353 Daisuke Maruyama (Japan) 72 69 74 70 687, Ally Mellor (England) 70 73 70 72 68 (Maruyama won play-off).
354 Eduardo Herrera (Colombia) 70 72 69 74 69.
355 James Kamte (South Africa) 74 74 70 73 67.
358 Wu Ashun (China) 77 71 71 71 68, Panya Junhasavasdikul (Thailand) 75 69 74 73 69, Tetsuji Hiratsuka (Japan) 75 70 72 72 69.
Selected scores:
359 Peter Cooke (Australia) 73 70 72 75 69, Matthew Griffin (Australia) 70 72 72 74 71 (jt 9th).
360 Michael Light (Australia) 76 74 75 75 66, Chris Roake (England) 73 71 73 73 70 (jt 12th).
363 John Parry (England) 72 659 73 75 75 (jt 19th).
364 Andrew Marshall (England) 74 75 71 69 75 (jt 26th).
+A total of 42 players with totals of 366 of better gained players' cards for the 2009 Asian Tour.
DID NOT QUALIFY
367 Craig Smith (Wales) 73 76 77 74 67.
369 Paul Grannell (England) 72 73 75 74 75.
370 Simon Dunn (Scotland) 71 77 78 69 75.
373 Yasin Ali (England) 70 79 77 74 73.
374 Ross Bain (Scotland) 68 76 82 74 74, Steven Tiley (England) 73 74 75 76 76.
377 Steve Parry (England) 76 72 73 77 79.
378 Mark Mouland (Wales) 73 72 73 78 82.

Martin Laird misses cut by seven shots in US Opener

Green, Pernice share Sony Open

lead at Honolulu, Hawaii

FROM THE A O L GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Nathan Green of Australia and American Tom Pernice Jr share the lead after the second round of the Sony Open at Honolulu, Hawaii.
Englishmen Luke Donald, Brian Davis and Greg Owen are in or around the top 20 but Glasgow's Martin Laird missed the cut (those with one-over-par 141 or better) by seven strokes.
Taking advantage of an early start and pristine conditions at the Waialae Country Club, Green fired his second straight four-under-par 66 and is at eight-under-par 132 after 36 holes.
Green, whose best finish in 90 previous PGA events was second at the Buick Invitational in 2006, had five birdies and one bogey during his round.
"I don't think the conditions were as bad as we thought they were going to be," Green said. "Last night, you could hear the wind whipping. Sort of a stronger version of yesterday. It didn't seem anywhere near as strong as they predicted."
Pernice played later in the day and blistered the course for a 63, firing five birdies and an eagle on the par-five 18.
"Obviously, conditions like this on a challenging golf course and to get around in seven-under, yeah, it's a very good round," Pernice said. "You're not going out thinking you're going to shoot seven-under. You just kind of plod your way around and try to hang in there.
"The mentality was to hang in there and keep plugging along, and I made some nice saves when I needed to on the back nine. Obviously, the eagle at the last was quite exciting."
The pair hold a one-stroke edge over first-round leader Shigeki Maruyama, who fired a 68 to go with his opening 65, and Brian Gay. Maruyama is at seven-under 133 overall, while Gay fired a 67 to go with his first-round 66.
Zach Johnson is another shot back, tied for fifth after a hot-and-cold round of 65. The 2007 Masters champion had two bogeys, five birdies and an eagle on number nine for a five-under. Johnson is even with Webb Simpson at six-under.
Geoff Ogilvy, who cruised to a six-stroke victory at the Mercedes-Benz Championship last week, is part of a group at five-under overall. Ogilvy fired a 69 and is tied with Steve Marino, Boo Weekley and Charles Howell III at 135.
Luke Donald and Brian Davis are join 16th on 137, Donald shooting a second-round70 and Davis a 68.
Compatriot Greg Owen is a shot behind them in joint 25th place with a second-rund 67.
Martin Laird, pictured above, who retained his playing rights with nothing to spare at the end of the 2008 season, did not get the flying start to his 2009 campaign he was hoping for. On a par-70 course, his opening round of 75 left him with little or no chance of beating the cut and a second-day 73 for eight-over 148 confirmed it.
Other notables who missed the cut included new US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin and past US Ryder Cup player Jeff Maggert.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 140 (2 x 70)
Players from US unless stated
132 Nathan Green (Aus) 66 66, Tom Pernice Jnr. 69 63
133 Brian Gay 66 67, Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) 65 68
134 Zach Johnson 69 65, Webb Simpson 66 68
135 Steve Marino 68 67, Boo Weekley 66 69, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 66 69, Charles Howell III 67 68
136 Wil Collins 69 67, David Mathis 68 68, David Toms 70 66, Stewart Cink 71 65, Briny Baird 69 67
137 Brian Davis (Eng) 69 68, Chris Stroud 67 70, Adam Scott (Aus) 71 66, Hideto Tanihara (Jpn) 72 65, Kevin Na 72 65, George McNeill 69 68, K J Choi (Kor) 68 69, Troy Kelly 71 66, Luke Donald (Eng) 67 70
138 Steve Stricker 70 68, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 68 70, Ted Purdy 69 69, Greg Owen (Eng) 71 67, Cliff Kresge 69 69, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 68 70, Jeff Klauk 69 69, Kenny Perry 69 69, Cameron Beckman 72 66, Marc Leishman (Aus) 72 66, Glen Day 70 68, Troy Matteson 71 67, D.J. Trahan 71 67
139 Jerry Kelly 67 72, Michael Letzig 69 70, Tim Herron 68 71, Steve Lowery 71 68, Harrison Frazar 69 70, Scott Piercy 67 72, Kevin Streelman 70 69, Bob Estes 72 67, Jarrod Lyle (Aus) 70 69, Bill Haas 68 71, Sean O'Hair 71 68, Jimmy Walker 73 66
140 Spencer Levin 71 69, John Merrick 70 70, Bart Bryant 71 69, Jeff Overton 71 69, Tag Ridings 71 69, Junpei Takayama (Jpn) 71 69, Matthew Borchert 73 67, Chez Reavie 70 70, Tadd Fujikawa 71 69, Michael Allen 72 68, Arjun Atwal (Ind) 69 71, Brendon Todd 69 71, Scott Sterling 71 69
141 Arron Oberholser 68 73, Paul Azinger 68 73, Jeff Quinney 71 70, Azuma Yano (Jpn) 71 70, Casey Wittenberg 71 70, Matt Bettencourt 73 68, Alex Cejka (Ger) 72 69, D.A. Points 68 73, Richard S Johnson (Swe) 70 71, Joe Durant 73 68, Andres Romero (Arg) 73 68, Ernie Els (Rsa) 72 69, Tim Petrovic 69 72, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 71 70, Tim Clark (Rsa) 71 70, Tommy Gainey 71 70
MISSED THE CUT
142 Aron Price (Aus) 71 71, Vaughn Taylor 71 71, Billy Mayfair 73 69, David Berganio Jnr. 69 73, Will MacKenzie 74 68, Dean Wilson 73 69, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 71 71, Derek Fathauer 73 69, Brendon De Jonge 67 75, Pat Perez 71 71, Davis Love III 72 70, Jeff Sluman 73 69, John Senden (Aus) 72 70, Chris DiMarco 72 70, Joe Ogilvie 70 72, Bubba Watson 72 70, Peter Lonard (Aus) 70 72
143 Peter Tomasulo 73 70, Paul Goydos 73 70, Jason Dufner 72 71, Gary Woodland 68 75, Marc Turnesa 71 72, Chris Couch 72 71, Shintaro Kai (Jpn) 72 71, Hiroshi Iwata (Jpn) 72 71
144 Brad Faxon 71 73, Kirk Triplett 74 70, Robert Garrigus 70 74, Loren Roberts 74 70, Johnson Wagner 76 68, Mark Wilson 71 73
145 Bill Lunde 72 73, Colt Knost 75 70, Tomohiro Kondo (Jpn) 73 72, Greg Chalmers (Aus) 73 72, Matt Kuchar 73 72, Greg Kraft 73 72, James Nitties (Aus) 74 71, Heath Slocum 76 69, Alex Aragon 73 72, Sang-moon Bae (Kor) 74 71, Corey Pavin 75 70, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 73 72
146 Kris Blanks 74 72, Bo Van Pelt 72 74, Rich Beem 73 73
147 Ricky Barnes 74 73, Lorens Chan 72 75, Leif Olson 74 73, Scott Gutschewski 76 71, Nicholas Thompson 73 74
148 J.B. Holmes 73 75, Notah Begay III 74 74, Martin Laird (Sco) 75 73, Rick Price 77 71, John Lepak 76 72
149 Eric Axley 73 76
150 John Lynch 78 72, Parker Mclachin 73 77, James Oh (Kor) 73 77
151 Jeff Maggert 77 74, John Mallinger 76 75
152 Brian Vranesh 81 71
153 Tyler Aldridge 76 77

Cabrera leads Clarke by two at

halfway in the Africa Open

Angel Cabrera leads Darren Clarke by two shots at the midway point of the Africa Open after a second round 68 took him 14 under par 130 at East London Golf Club.
The Argentine player carded a blistering ten under par 62 in the opening round and extended his lead with a four under par effort.
Northern Ireland’s Clarke climbed to second with a 65 for 132 with South Africa’s James Kingston one of three players a shot further back with a 133 total.
“It’s very nice to be leading. If I keep playing as I am, everything should be okay,” said Cabrera.
However, Clarke’s round must have been cause for some concern - he had four birdies on the front nine, and four on the back nine, and he got his round in before the late afternoon weather became breezier and drizzly.
“I got a huge break obviously with the weather,” said Clarke. “We get good draws and we get bad draws, and I’ve been very fortunate so far this week to get a good draw and I was able to make the most of it this morning.”

Tiger Woods given speaking part in

Obama Inaugural Celebration

Tiger Woods for President? Well, not quite yet but he is going to be part of the festivities for Barack Obama’s inauguration, according to the world No 1 golfer's websiter.
Woods has accepted an invitation to speak Sunday at "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration" at the Lincoln Memorial Opening Celebration for the 56th Presidential inaugural.
“I am honoured that I was invited to this historic event, and look forward to participating in Sunday’s festivities,” Woods said on his website.
The event will be carried live by US television, two days before Obama is inaugurated as the 44th president.

Somebody has leaked the news: Monty

to be Ryder Cup captain next year

FROM THE TIMESONLINE WEBSITE
EXCLUSIVE By JOHN HOPKINS
The love affair between Colin Montgomerie and the Ryder Cup will be consummated at Celtic Manor in September 2010. European Tour officials, having made a policy decision to select the best available captain for each future Ryder Cup, are doing everything they can to make sure that Europe regain the trophy that was lost at Valhalla last year and will shortly confirm that the Scot will lead the team in Wales.
The first signs that Montgomerie was going to be involved much sooner than the match at Gleneagles in 2014, for which he had hitherto been pencilled in, came on Thursday. Bookmakers in Britain reported heavy betting on the Scot being the first choice as next year’s captain if José María Olazábal turned it down to play his way into the team.
Clearly there had been leaks from the meeting of the Tour’s tournament committee held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday evening, when the names of Montgomerie and Olazábal were mentioned as future captains, but no decision was made. Odds on Montgomerie being involved in the 2010 match dropped from 16-1 to 2-1 within a few hours on Thursday.
Despite these leaks, the tournament committee wanted to delay the announcement until a committee meeting in Dubai scheduled for January 28. That remains the position. “No decision on the Ryder Cup captain has so far been taken,” George O’Grady, chief executive of the European Tour, said yesterday. “The Ryder Cup captain will be decided at that meeting.”
All the signs in the desert yesterday, however, were that the job will be Montgomerie’s, particularly after Sergio Gómez, Olazábal’s manager, confirmed that his client had not been offered the 2010 captaincy, contrary to previous indications.
“Thomas Björn sounded him out four weeks ago but we have heard nothing since,” Gómez said. Olazábal will not play in Qatar next week because of a recurrence of rheumatism.
There are two other reasons why it will be Montgomerie and not Olazábal. The latest thinking is that, to remain in touch with the players, captains need to be younger than Nick Faldo, who was 51 when he captained Europe at Valhalla last year. Montgomerie will be 47 at Celtic Manor and will have spent most of the season competing against many of those he will want in his team.
A second reason concerns history, which tells us that Montgomerie cannot be captain in the US because of the feeling against him that existed, even though much of it has dissipated.
At the 1999 Ryder Cup, for example, James Montgomerie was so upset by the abuse being directed at his son that he walked off the course after seven holes. It would be insensitive and a mistake to consider putting Montgomerie in a position where old feelings against him might be revived.
When, in Dubai in 11 days’ time, Montgomerie is named as Europe’s captain, it will allow Olazábal to take the reins at Medinah near Chicago in 2012, when he will be 46. Paul McGinley, who is 42, Darren Clarke, 40, and Lee Westwood, 35, all of whom will probably captain a Ryder Cup team, should be asked to form an orderly queue.
The way that things have changed since Tuesday night might explain Montgomerie’s good humour yesterday after he had completed his second round in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, a five-under-par 67 that left him six strokes behind Richard Green and Graeme Storm, the joint leaders.
“We are no further forward with that selection process than we were when we left the meeting last Tuesday — I know as much as anyone else,” Montgomerie said, managing to keep a straight face. But, he could not suppress a smile as he walked away, asking cheerily: “Was that diplomatic enough?”
Paul Casey, who has played in winning Seve Trophy teams captained by Montgomerie, has been impressed by his leadership. “He was very attentive.” Casey said. “He asked us what we wanted. We said, ‘A ping pong table in the team room.’ He showed good attention to detail. He spoke well at meetings. He got the guys nicely motivated. There was lots of consultation with us. We felt very much a team.”
Making Montgomerie and Olazábal the captains for the next two Ryder Cups would significantly enhance Europe’s chances in the event.
“History shows that the captain is very important,” Padraig Harrington said yesterday. “I think Monty is the right man. He will make a great captain.”
In the Ryder Cups at The Belfry in 2002 and The K Club in 2006 Montgomerie was the player chosen by his team-mates and captain to lead Europe in the singles matches. The images remain as clear in the mind’s eye as if they had happened yesterday. If the Scot had been given the European flag to carry and told to shout: “Follow me, lads”, the significance could not have been greater.
Montgomerie was considered the man to answer his continent’s call by giving a winning example to his 11 team-mates. Both times he not only delivered the point expected of him but seemed at home as he did so. His singles record is remarkable, having won six and halved two of his eight matches in the biennial competition against the United States.

Storm and Green share lead in

Abu Dhabi Championship

FROM THE A O L GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Paul Casey has returned to the scene of his last victory and is sparkling again.
Casey, winner of the Abu Dhabi Championship two years ago and one of Nick Faldo's wild card picks for last September's Ryder Cup, fired a second-round 65.
It was not the low round of the day, however, as fellow Englishman Graeme Storm, in his first event for more than two months, shot 64 just before play was called off for the day. Storm was paired with Richard Green and the Australian left-hander returned a 65 to be 11 under par 133 at halfway as well as Storm, one ahead of Casey and Londoner Anthony Wall.
Open and US PGA champion Padraig Harrington birdied the last two holes for a 66 which left him only four behind.
Colin Montgomerie, surprised by reports that he may be ready to take the Ryder Cup captaincy next year rather than 2014 if Jose Maria Olazabal chooses to wait, is not out of the hunt either after a 67 lifted him to 139.
Masters champion Trevor Immelman and world number two Sergio Garcia are two further back.
Top Scot's score of the second round was a 66 by Alastair Forsyth who is on 141 - a shot ahead of David Drysdale who scored a 70 today. Paul Lawrie had a 70 for 143.

Abu Dhabi Championship Scoreboard
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
Second round play suspended due to darkness & will be resumed on Saturday at 07.45hrs local time
133 Richard Green (Aus) 68 65, Graeme Storm 69 64
134 Anthony Wall 67 67, Paul Casey 69 65
135 Brett Rumford (Aus) 68 67, Rory McIlroy 66 69, Johan Edfors (Swe) 66 69
136 Martin Kaymer (Ger) 68 68, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 67 69
137 Anders Hansen (Den) 70 67, Soren Hansen (Den) 71 66, Danny Willett 71 66, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 67 70, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 68 69, Padraig Harrington 71 66
138 Danny Lee (Nzl) 68 70, Peter Hanson (Swe) 67 71
139 Hennie Otto (Rsa) 73 66, Marc Warren 70 69, Robert Allenby (Aus) 71 68, Colin Montgomerie 72 67, Scott Strange (Aus) 73 66
140 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 68 72, Stephen Gallacher 74 66, Oliver Wilson 69 71, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 69 71, Bradley Dredge 71 69, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 71 69
141 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 74 67, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 72 69, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 70 71, Mark Brown (USA) 72 69, Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 72 69, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 72 69, Gary Murphy 69 72, Alastair Forsyth 75 66, Jamie Donaldson 69 72, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 71 70
142 Damien McGrane 70 72, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 70 72, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 71 71, Ross Fisher 75 67, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 67 75, David Drysdale 72 70, Robert Rock 67 75, Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 70 72, Chinarat Phadungsil (Tha) 72 70, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 71 71, Paul McGinley 69 73
143 Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 72 71, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 72 71, Gary Orr 75 68, Paul Lawrie 73 70, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 74 69, Peter Lawrie 73 70, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 72 71, Thomas Levet (Fra) 69 74
144 Stephen Dodd 72 72, Paul Waring 72 72, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 74 70, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind) 75 69, David Lynn 73 71
145 Steve Webster 74 71, Alexander Noren (Swe) 74 71, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 70 75, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 72 73, Ariel Canete (Arg) 75 70, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 71 74
146 Jean Van de velde (Fra) 73 73, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 76 70, Gregory Havret (Fra) 72 74, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 72 74
147 Anton Haig (Rsa) 76 71, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 71 76, Marcel Siem (Ger) 75 72, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 72 75, Kenneth Ferrie 70 77, Markus Brier (Aut) 77 70, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 79 68, Pablo Martin (Spa) 76 71, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 75 72
148 Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 73 75, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 73 75
149 Richie Ramsay 76 73, Scott Drummond 77 72, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 78 71, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 76 73
150 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 73 77, Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe) 74 76
151 Paul Broadhurst 75 76
154 Lee Slattery 76 78

Dundonald Links to stage Final in June

Glenmuir glory

beckons at PGA

Professional

Championship

PRESS RELEASE
One of the strongest qualifying venue line-ups in history has been unveiled for the 2009 Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship.
The challenging selection of courses includes a past Open and Ryder Cup venue and the Seve Ballesteros-Jeff Howes designed Heritage course in Ireland which staged the Seve Trophy in 2007.
The eight-strong list of venues for the regional qualifiers reflects the prestige of the £78,000 event, which winning remains a pinnacle of achievement for Great Britain and Ireland’s PGA professionals.
Prince’s, scene of Gene Sarazen’s 1932 Open triumph, will host the South qualifier on Wednesday, May 20 with England’s first Ryder Cup venue, Moortown, bringing the curtain down on the qualifiers on Monday, June 1.
“As always we have an outstanding line-up of venues throughout the qualifying stages and with a return to Scotland for the final and the additional incentive of winning a PGA Cup place I suspect this year’s championship will be more closely contested than ever,” said PGA chief executive Sandy Jones.
The first competitive blows of the qualifiers begin at Hadley Wood in the East Region on Thursday, April 30 with Ireland’s pros beginning their quest for qualification in County Louth at The Heritage on Wednesday, May 6 with the testing links of Hesketh staging the north west qualifier on Friday, May 8.
Dundonald Links (pictured above), which is hosting the final on June 16-19, will stage the Scottish qualifier on Tuesday, May 12 with The Players Club hosting West Region pros on Monday, May 18.
The Harry Vardon-designed Little Aston again serves the Midland pros on Friday, May 22.
“This year’s list of qualifying venues is amongst the strongest we have ever been able to put together,” said Glenmuir marketing director Andy Bough.
“With an earlier June final in Scotland and the PGA Cup also in Scotland in September we are looking forward to a great year supporting PGA tournament golf.”
In total 156 players will compete in the championship at Dundonald Links with the added incentive of attempting to secure a place on the 2009 Great Britain & Ireland team to take on America in the PGA Cup at The Carrick at Loch Lomond from September 18-20.
The top 10 finishers at Dundonald also gain exemption from regional qualifying for the 2010 Open Championship at St Andrews.
Regional qualifiers:
EAST – Hadley Wood, Thursday 30 April
IRISH – The Heritage, Wednesday 06 May
NORTH (West) – Hesketh, Friday 08 May
SCOTTISH – Dundonald Links, Tuesday 12 May
WEST – The Players Club, Monday 18 May
SOUTH – Prince’s, Wednesday 20 May
MIDLAND – Little Aston, Friday 22 May
NORTH (East) – Moortown, Monday 01 June
Championship Final:
Dundonald Links, Tuesday 16 – Friday 19 June

Gordon Yates (left) and Ross Kellett (images by Cal Carson Golf Agency) report below from China.

Gordon Yates beaten in play-off

for Asia-Pacific Open title

Since Messrs Macaulay, Booth and Dear won the Eisenhower Trophy world amateur team championship, things have continued to go well on the overseas international front for Scottish amateur golfers.

Gavin Dear became the first Scot ever to win the prestigious Dixie Amateur title over the Festive period in Florida.

Now Gordon Yates has gone very close to winning the Mission Hills Asia-Pacific Open amateur title in China where Ross Kellett was also representing the Scottish Golf Union.

Here, courtesy of the Scottish Golf Union website, are reports from both players

Gordon Yates:

“I finished tied second, beaten in a three-way play off for the 2009 Asia Pacific Open Amateur Championship. Some of my highlights from today's final round would have been the 55ft birdie putt I holed on the second hole, par 5.

"I then failed to get up and down for par on the par 3 fifth hole, a hole that I played +3 for the week! I then had a string of pars until the 15th where once again, I shor- sided myself from the tee shot and failed to get up and down.

"One final twist to the regulation round: I birdied the long 17th, holing a 35ft putt from the lower tier of the green. In the play-off itself I had a good look at a birdie on the first hole, narrowly missing on the left, breaking at the final second away from the hole!

"Then I hit a poor approach into a greenside bunker in the second hole, where the eventual winner (French international Alexandre Kaleka) hit a three-iron to within 3ft to win.

"For me, it is a fantastic start to the season, I didn't expect to play quite so well as I haven't been on a course since the training camp in Portugal at the end of November. Also having to practise off mats in the cold, snow, rain - the typical Scottish winter - wasn't the best preparation for China as most of the competitors are in their mid-summer and playing regularly. However I managed to adapt to conditions straight away which was a massive bonus.
"I have made some big swing changes with my coach Spencer Henderson so it is nice to see them working so well so early in the season. Hopefully I can maintain the form on to Australia for the Lake Macquarie Amateur and New South Wales Amateur.”

Ross Kellett:

“I finished tied 31st at Mission Hills. Considering my early scores weren't great I didn't finish all that badly. For the first tournament of the season I was happy with how I played. I hit lots of quality shots. However, I hit a few errant ones as well which cost me around 10 shots. "Considering the weather we have been practising in all winter, I’m pretty happy with how things have gone.
"This has been a nice warm-up for next week in Australia. Hopefully I will start scoring a bit better when I get down under.
"Mission Hills is an unbelievable place, like nothing we've ever seen before. No stone is left unturned in any department of the facility, hotel or golf course. It has been a great experience.”

FINAL TOTALS

Par 288 (4 x 72)

289 Alexandre Kaleka (France) 73 73 71 72, Gordon Yates (Scotland) 71 70 76 72, Mithun Perera (Sri Lanka) 76 75 68 70 (Kaleka won three-way play-off at second extra hole).

290 Ryan McCarthy (Australia) 72 77 70 71.

291 Wen Ting Wu (Taipei) 72 72 71 76.

292 Shunsuke Sonoda (Japan) 75 71 70 76, Chi Hsien Hsieh (Taipei) 72 75 72 73.

293 Chien Yao Hung (Taipei) 77 70 74 72.

294 Ferdinard Aunzo (Philippines) 71 76 74 73, Shingo Ito (Japan) 70 76 76 72.

295 Grant Scott (Australia) 77 74 72 72, Vikram Rana (India) 78 75 73 69, James Frazer (Wales) 77 68 75 75, Vasin Sripattranusorn (Thailand) 73 72 75 76.

Selected scores:

302 Alex Christie (England) 72 80 71 79 (jt 22nd).

307 Ross Kellett (Scotland 76 80 72 79 (jt 31st).

310 Gary King (England) 81 72 76 81 (jt 37th).

Early leader Ross Bain just makes fourth-round cut

England's Ally Mellor sharing lead with

one round to go at Asian Tour Q School

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ASIAN TOUR
Rayong, Thailand. Japan’s Daisuke Maruyama blasted a three-under-par 70 for the joint lead in the fourth round of the Final Stage at the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School presented by Sports Authority of Thailand today.

Maruyama, 37, nailed an eagle, two birdies against a lone dropped shot under windy conditions at the St Andrews 2000 course for a 285 total alongside England’s Ally Mellor and Colombia’s Eduardo Herrera who shot a 72 and 74 respectively.
South African James Kruger shot a 71 and was in a tie for fourth spot alongside Finland’s Toni Karjalainen who recorded a 72 two strokes off the pace.
England’s John Parry, who completed his third round with a 73 early this morning, slipped to a 75 today. He was in the mix in sixth place alongside South Africa’s James Kamte who was even par for the day and Australia Matthew Griffin who posted a 74.
Despite the tricky conditions at the par-73 course, Japan’s Maruyama bounced back in the fourth round firing a 70 to join the leaders at the top of the leaderboard.
“The course was very difficult today but my putting and chipping was steady and helped me produce a good score,” said Maruyama, who nailed five top-10 finishes and one third place result on the US PGA Tour.
“I would like to finish in the top five this week as I want to play in as many Asian Tour events as I can. I was a full playing Asian Tour member in 2000 but I would like to return to Asia as I enjoy it here with the good weather and friendly people,” added Maruyama, with one win on the local circuit.
England’s Mellor held his game in the fourth round firing a 72 for a 285 total.
“I was really consistent despite it being a lot windier today. I am quite happy with my performance today. I’ve been here for two weeks since the First Stage. I am trying to play down the pressure and take it a step at a time. I’m still adjusting to the heat but I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” said Mellor.
Colombia’s Herrera, the third round leader, was pleased to remain at the top of the field after a 74.
“I shot a one over but I’m pleased as it was tough out there. I putted better yesterday though. I am quite tired as it has been a long week for me but I hope to play solid in the final round,” said Herrera.
After a strong 69 today, Mohammad Siddikur rose to a tie for 15th place today as he hopes to be the first Bangladeshi player to earn playing rights on the Asian Tour.
“I turned professional and played in India last year. Everyone told me that I should join the Asian Tour so I decided to try out this week. I am the first player from Bangladesh competing in the Asian Tour Qualifying School and I’m enjoying my time this week.
“I hope to keep my pace when I head into the final round,” said the 25-year-old golfer, who won two titles in India last year.
England’s Yasin Ali and Scot Ross Bain, the first round leader, shot matching 74s and were on the mark in a tie for 80th place while Singapore’s Quincy Quek narrowly missed the cut when he posted a 76.
A total of 89 players made the cut today and will compete in the fifth and final round on Saturday where the top-40 and ties will earn playing rights for the 2009 season.
FOURTH ROUND TOTALS

Par 292 (4 x 73)
285 Ally Mellor (Eng) 70 73 70 72, Eduardo Herrera (Col) 70 72 69 74, Daisuke Maruyama (Jpn) 72 69 74 70
287 James Kruger (Rsa) 72 74 70 71, Toni Karjalainen (Fin) 74 72 69 72
288 James Kamte (Rsa) 74 71 70 73, Matthew Griffin (Aus) 70 72 72 74, John Parry (Eng) 72 68 73 75
289 Tetsuji Hiratsuka (Jpn) 75 70 72 72, Sattaya Supupramai (Tha) 71 72 71 75, Pariya Junhasavasdikul (Tha) 73 69 74 73, Sushi Ishigaki (Jpn) 72 70 72 75, George Coetzee (Rsa) 70 70 79 70, Andrew Marshall (Eng) 74 75 71 69
290 Heo Won-Kyung (Kor) 73 72 70 75, Chris Roake (Eng) 73 71 73 73, Peter Cooke (Aus) 73 70 72 75, Siddikur (Ban) 74 73 74 69, Wu Ashun (Chn) 77 71 71 71
291 Wilhelm Schauman (Swe) 75 70 73 73, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 72 73 75 71, Chris Gaunt (Aus) 72 73 71 75, Will Yanagisawa (USA) 73 70 76 72, Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha) 71 72 77 71, Jason Norris (Aus) 72 68 75 76, Tim O'neal (USA) 72 76 72 71
292 James Mclean (Aus) 73 73 72 74, Kim Dae-Hyun (Kor) 74 72 73 73, Son Joon-Eob (Kor) 72 69 74 77, Mark Purser (Nzl) 74 73 70 75, Kim Do.H (Aus) 76 72 74 70
293 Young Nam (Kor) 71 73 75 74, Chris Baryla (Can) 71 76 73 73, Kim Hyung-Tae (Kor) 72 70 77 74, Rory Hie (Ina) 76 74 74 69, C. Muniyappa (Ind) 73 75 72 73, Rohan Blizard (Aus) 71 77 74 71
294 Paul Grannell (Eng) 73 72 75 74, Michael Light (Aus) 70 74 75 75, Anirban Lahiri (Ind) 72 74 74 74, Adam Groom (Aus) 73 74 75 72, Amandeep Singh Johl (Ind) 75 72 75 72, Scott Arnold (Aus) 79 68 75 72
295 J.B. Park (Kor) 74 71 74 76, Tim Stewart (Aus) 74 70 77 74, Mitch Tasker (Aus) 70 74 77 74, Pijit Petchkasem (Tha) 69 73 78 75, Himmat Rai (Ind) 77 73 74 71, Hur In-Hoi (Kor) 74 74 76 71, Simon Dunn (Sco) 71 77 78 69, Kim Hyung-Sung (Kor) 78 73 74 70
296 Mark Mouland (Wal) 73 72 73 78, Bradley Lamb (Aus) 70 76 78 72, Lars Johansson (Swe) 70 77 77 72, Zaw Moe (Mya) 75 73 75 73, Christopher Campbell (Aus) 71 77 74 74, Pasi Purhonen (Fin) 77 74 74 71
297 Heath Reed (Aus) 74 71 73 79, Lee Jun-Seok (Kor) 72 74 78 73, Adam Le Vesconte (Aus) 75 71 72 79, Wu Kang-Chun (Chn) 76 71 78 72, Rafael Ponce (Ecu) 70 79 75 73, Richard Moir (Aus) 74 73 75 75
298 Su Dong (Chn) 76 71 76 75, Steven Tiley (Eng) 73 74 75 76, Kang Min-Woong (Kor) 73 68 77 80, Hsieh Tung-Hung (Tpe) 73 77 75 73, Edward Loar (USA) 75 75 74 74, Gene Xavier Bondoc (Phi) 74 76 77 71, Jeff Burns (USA) 79 71 77 71, Steve Parry (Eng) 76 72 73 77, Motoharu Mukai (Jpn) 73 75 77 73
299 Jason King (Aus) 73 72 81 73, Jamie Arnold (Aus) 77 72 80 70, Corey Harris (USA) 75 74 77 73, Toto Thimba Jnr (Rsa) 75 74 76 74, Yasumasa Suzuki (Jpn) 76 74 77 72, Bae Kyu-Tae (Kor) 71 78 78 72, Brad Andrews (Aus) 78 73 78 70
300 Nakul Vichitryuthasastr (Tha) 74 71 76 79, Ross Bain (Sco) 68 76 82 74, Firoz Ali (Ind) 73 73 77 77, Kang Sung-Hoon (Kor) 73 69 82 76, Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 73 76 73 78, Yasin Ali (Eng) 70 79 77 74, Craig Smith (Wal) 73 76 77 74, Nathan Main (Aus) 78 72 77 73, Graydon Woolridge (Aus) 73 75 76 76, Chung Won (Kor) 76 75 79 70
MISSED THE CUT
301 Clay Devers (USA) 70 75 78 78, Hiromichi Kubo (Jpn) 71 73 79 78, Narinrit Tantrakul (Tha) 76 71 77 77, Piya Swangarunporn (Tha) 75 72 80 74, Quincy Quek (Sin) 71 76 78 76, Liao Gui-Ming (Chn) 74 77 77 73
302 Jin Yong-Gab (Kor) 73 73 78 78, Varut Chomchalam (Tha) 76 73 79 74, Brad Mcintosh (Aus) 76 72 77 77, Fredrik Ohlsson (Swe) 75 76 77 74, Masaki Sakata (Jpn) 73 74 78 77
303 Vernon Sexton-Finck (Aus) 71 79 78 75
304 Joonas Granberg (Fin) 77 69 85 73, Sirapong Maitreeyeunyong (Tha) 73 77 81 73, Henry Liaw (USA) 75 75 78 76, S.Siva Chandhran (Mal) 74 77 73 80
305 Pornsakon Tipsanit (Tha) 73 76 78 78, Panuwat Muenlek (Tha) 73 77 81 74
306 Eiji Mizoguchi (Jpn) 75 76 81 74, Anthony Brown (Aus) 79 72 77 78
307 Goh Kun-Yang (Sin) 76 72 85 74
308 Yoshinobu Tsukada (Jpn) 72 75 82 79, Mike Cunning (USA) 75 76 78 79, Shang Lei (Chn) 72 79 80 77, Toshimasa Nakajima (Jpn) 77 74 81 76, Wanich Petcharit (Tha) 75 76 78 79
309 Somchai Pongpaew (Tha) 74 75 80 80, Weng Young-Tien (Tpe) 73 76 84 76
310 Senroku Isa (Jpn) 77 73 79 81
312 Nick Becker (USA) 74 76 84 78
314 Stuart Lunn-Walker (Aus) 74 76 79 85

Maruyama leads Sony Open with a 65,

Martin Laird trails 10 shots behind

FROM THE A O L GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Japanese player Shigeki Maruyama recorded four birdies on the front nine en route to a five-under-par 65 and the lead after the first round of the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club.
Geoff Ogilvy, who cruised to a six-stroke victory at the Mercedes-Benz Championship last week, is one of five players one stroke off the lead at four-under 66.
The US $5.4 million event is the first full-field event of the season and the second straight in Hawaii.
After a bogey on the par-four 12th hole dropped him to four-under, Maruyama recorded pars on four straight holes before birdying the 17th to take sole possession of the lead.
Following his wire-to-wire win, the fifth of his PGA career, Ogilvy started his round on the back nine with a birdie. The Australian recorded six birdies and two bogeys.
Americans Boo Weekley, Brian Gay and Webb Simpson shot rounds of 66, as did Ogilvy's countryman, Nathan Green.
Defending champion K J Choi, who opened with a six-under-par 64 last year and went on to a wire-to-wire victory, shot a 68. The South Korean had four birdies and two bogeys on the round. Choi tied for 15th last week at the Mercedes-Benz Championship.
Other notable players in the field of 114 players teeing it up on the 7,044-yard, par-70 course include Ernie Els, Steve Stricker, Stewart Cink and Adam Scott.
Els, who has enjoyed great success here since 2000, struggled to a two-over 72. He fell to three-over after a double bogey on number five. After three birdies in a four-hole stretch from number seven to number. 10 got him back to even-par, the South African bogeyed the 16th and 17th to conclude a disappointing first round. The 39-year-old won this event in 2003 and 2004 and finished as runner-up in 2005. Els also was third in 2001 and fifth in 2000.
Stricker is another player that has had success here, tying for fourth in each of the past two years. The American opened with an even-par 70. Cink and Scott each carded rounds of 71 to tie for 51st.
Scot Martin Laird, who just managed to hold on to his US PGA Tour players' card at the end of last season, had an opening 75.

US PGA Tour Scoreboard
SONY OPEN
Waialae CC, Honolulu, Hawaii
FIRST ROUND
Par 70
65 Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn)
66 Nathan Green (Aus), Brian Gay, Boo Weekley, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus), Webb Simpson
67 Brendon De Jonge, Jerry Kelly, Chris Stroud, Scott Piercy, Luke Donald (Eng), Charles Howell III
68 Arron Oberholser, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa), Tim Herron, Paul Azinger, Gary Woodland, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl), D.A. Points, Steve Marino, Bill Haas, KJ Choi (Kor), David Mathis
69 Michael Letzig, Wil Collins, David Berganio Jnr., Harrison Frazar, Jeff Klauk, Tim Petrovic, Briny Baird, Brian Davis (Eng), Zach Johnson, Ted Purdy, Tom Pernice Jnr., Cliff Kresge, Kenny Perry, George McNeill, Arjun Atwal (Ind), Brendon Todd
70 Steve Stricker, Robert Garrigus, John Merrick, Joe Ogilvie, David Toms, Kevin null Streelman, Peter Lonard (Aus), Chez Reavie, Richard S Johnson (Swe), Jarrod Lyle (Aus), Glen Day
71 Spencer Levin, Aron Price (Aus), Vaughn Taylor, Jeff Overton, Bart Bryant, Azuma Yano (Jpn), Jeff Quinney, Tag Ridings, Greg Owen (Eng), Tadd Fujikawa, Daniel Chopra (Swe), Sean O'Hair, Troy Kelly, Ryuji Imada (Jpn), Pat Perez, Adam Scott (Aus), Casey Wittenberg, Junpei Takayama (Jpn), Steve Lowery, Stewart Cink, Mark Wilson, Brad Faxon, Scott Sterling, Marc Turnesa, Troy Matteson, Tim Clark (Rsa), Tommy Gainey, D J Trahan
72 Bill Lunde, Bob Estes, Marc Leishman (Aus), Ernie Els (Rsa), Bo Van Pelt, Shintaro Kai (Jpn), Chris DiMarco, Davis Love III, John Senden (Aus), Jason Dufner, Bubba Watson, Hideto Tanihara (Jpn), Hiroshi Iwata (Jpn), Alex Cejka (Ger), Kevin Na, Michael Allen, Lorens Chan, Cameron Beckman, Chris Couch
73 Billy Mayfair, Greg Kraft, Matt Bettencourt, Alex Aragon, Dean Wilson, Derek Fathauer, Joe Durant, Jimmy Walker, James Oh (Kor), Nicholas Thompson, Peter Tomasulo, Tomohiro Kondo (Jpn), Eric Axley, Jeff Sluman, Greg Chalmers (Aus), Matt Kuchar, Matthew Borchert, J.B. Holmes, Paul Goydos, Andres Romero (Arg), Rich Beem, Parker McLachin, Carl Pettersson (Swe)
74 Kris Blanks, Kirk Triplett, James Nitties (Aus), Ricky Barnes, Will MacKenzie, Loren Roberts, Sang-moon Bae (Kor), Leif Olson, Notah Begay III
75 Colt Knost, Martin Laird (Sco), Corey Pavin
76 Scott Gutschewski, Johnson Wagner, John Lepak, Heath Slocum, John Mallinger, Tyler Aldridge
77 Jeff Maggert, Rick Price
78 John Lynch, Darron Stiles
79 John Huston
81 Brian Vranesh

Boo's 25 putts see him share early Hawaii lead

Boo Weekley hit only 40% of the fairways with his drives but only 25 putts saw the American share the early clubhouse lead with compatriots Brian Gay and Webb Simpson as well as last weekend's Aussie winner, Geoff Ogilvy, on the 66 mark in the first round of the Sony Open on Hawaii.
Charles Howell had a 67 and Bill Haas a 68.
Scot Martin Laird is in this event but he had a later starting time, as had England's Luke Donald.

Hot stuff on the Hooters Tour in Florida

Russell Knox finishes on 10-under

- that's only good enough for jt 11th

Inverness-born Russell Knox had a 54-hole total of 10-under-par 206 but that was still only good-enough for the Jacksonville, Florida-based Scot to finish joint 11th in the highly competitive NGA Hooters Tour Winter Series event at Fores Lake Golf Club, Ocoee, Florida today.

Knox, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, had rounds of 68, 69 and 69 to earn $2,073. He was one of the tour's leading money-winners in 2008.

Winner of the top prize of $12,132 was former European Tour player Paul Curry from Essex but now based at Longwood, Florida. Curry had scores of 66, 69 and 66 for a 15-under-par total of 201.

He won one stroke from Jeff Corr, also from Longwood, with 66, 65 and 71 for 202 and a pay-out of $6,066.

To survive the 36-hole cut, players in the field of 130 had to shoot four-under-par 140 or better. Irishman Sean McTernan was eliminated with a pair of 74s for 148.

HOW THEY FINISHED

Par 216 (3 x 72)

Players from US unless stated

201 Paul Curry (Eng) 66 69 66.

202 Jeff Corr 66 65 71.

203 Jim Renner 70 66 67, James Vargas 66 68 69.

Selected score

206 Russell Knox (Sco) 68 69 69 (jt 11th).

Missed the cut

148 Sean McTernan (Ire) 74 74.

Tiger's hitting longer irons and driver

- but when is he going to return?


FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE:
Tiger Woods can’t be too far from his much-anticipated ’09 debut. He’s got driver in his hands.
Woods, whose dramatic 91-hole U.S. Open victory was followed by season-ending knee surgery last June, has progressed to hitting long irons and driver, he said Monday on his Web site, TigerWoods.com.
“As I had hoped, after January 1, I started hitting longer irons and my driver,” Woods said. “I’m not swinging as hard as I can, but I’m working towards that goal.”
Woods, 33, had reconstructive ACL surgery on his left knee. He has played some holes at his home course near Orlando, Isleworth Country Club, with swing coach Hank Haney.
Woods still has no timetable for his return.“So far my knee has held up well, but I don’t know when I’ll be able to return to competition,” Woods said.
Most US Tour watchers peg Woods’ return to one of the events leading up to the Masters in early April. The Arnold Palmer Invitational, played two weeks before the Masters and near Woods’ home in Orlando, is a popular prediction.
Woods’ wife, Elin, is expecting the couple’s second child next month.

Cabrera plays like an angel for

record 62 in Africa Open

FROM THE SUNSHINE TOUR WEBSITE
Angel Cabrera got the kind of start players dream of on a coastal course today when he shot a course record 10-under-par 62 in the opening round of the Africa Open at East London Golf Club.
All the talk the day before was about the wind, but, on a still, cloudy morning, Cabrera started out with nine birdies and an eagle before he dropped a shot on the fifth (the 15th for him in his round) and had taken a single shot lead over Canadian Graham De Laet, who also started early.
Of the other early starters, those who made best use of the conditions were Neil Schietekat, Alex Haindl and James Kingston at six-under-66.
They were joined later by Retief Goosen, who played a carefully-compiled round with six birdies and no dropped shots and looked ominously calm.
But ahead of them were Darren Fichardt and Charl Schwartzel, who overcame a pair of bogeys each to card seven-under 65s and lead the South African challenge.
Cabrera didn’t let the dropped shot deter him: “That was the only shot that I hit badly on the whole course, actually. I just felt good and I was just trying to make another birdie on the last three holes,” he said.
He was only too aware of the fragility of his lead in the face of the forecast of winds for the rest of the tournament: “I was lucky today, playing in the morning,” he said. “Tomorrow I have to play in the afternoon. Guys who played in the afternoon today will have a bit of an advantage tomorrow, so it wills even things out.”
De Laet’s round was flawless with seven birdies and an eagle: “I actually holed out a shot on the 13th, and that doesn’t happen every day. So yeah, it was a good day,” he said.
It was disconcerting to have Cabrera firing away in front of him: “It was kinda crazy because I was playing well. I was like four-under through nine and the first leaderboard we saw, he was like nine-under through 12,” he said.
Another player who was disconcerted at Cabrera’s sublime round was Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke after his five-under 67: “When I got here first thing this morning to get ready for play, I had a look at the leaderboard and I was 11 behind before I hit a ball!” he said. “So now I’m only five behind, so it’s a bit of an improvement.”

Unexpected bad weather hits desert tournament

Hailstorm hits Abu Dhabi - half of

field still to complete first round

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Swedish duo Johan Edfors and Mikael Lundberg both completed opening rounds of 66 to set the clubhouse target at six under par at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship today.
Following the recent success of compatriots Robert Karlsson - winner of last year’s Order of Merit - and Henrik Stenson, who won the NedBank Challenge and teamed up with Karlsson for Omega Mission Hills World Cup glory at the back end of 2008 - Edfors and Lundberg continued the good form of Sweden’s golfers by claiming an early one shot lead.
Play was held up for more than two hours after a hailstorm flooded the course at 9am local time and although the storm was fairly brief, it was so fierce that the greenkeeping staff then had to clear flooded bunkers and fairways.
And the two hours lost meant that around half the field had still to complete their opening round when darkness brought the day’s play to a close.
Edfors had a golden opportunity to set an even stiffer target, but three putted the last for a par five and six under 66.
The former The Barclays Scottish Open champion had earlier recorded three successive birdies either side of the hold up and another hat-trick at the start of the back nine.
Compatriot Lundberg, twice a winner of the Inteco Russian Open Championship, was alongside him after a bogey free round.
Another Swede, Jarmo Sandelin, was a shot further back on five under, alongside England’s Oliver Fisher and Italy’s Francesco Molinari.
Molinari said: “It's good, probably better than what I expected. It's not easy to start over again after four weeks off, so I'm quite happy. I didn't expect to score this well, and looking forward to the rest of the week.”
And the Italian admitted he had not been prepared for the weather interference. “It was a bit of a surprise, because you don't expect that to come down in the desert,” he added. “It was a funny, new thing. Hopefully we won't get any of that in the next few days.”
Defending Champion Martin Kaymer is in the frame, having completed a first round 68.
“Not as good as last year but I'm very happy,” said the German. “I didn't hit the ball very well but my putting was awesome, so that gave me a lot of opportunities to make birdies. I'm happy.” Alongside Kaymer are Rafael Cabrera Bello, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, Richard Green and Joburg Open runner-up Andrew McLardy.
Three time major winner Padraig Harrington, playing his first event on The European Tour International Schedule 2009, recorded a respectable one under 71.
“I felt reasonably good, coming at the end,” he said afterwards.
“I was disappointed to make the bogey on eight, and had two reasonable chances certainly with shots into the last two greens. So maybe a shot or two better would have been certainly what it felt like.”
Another major winner last year, Trevor Immelman, posted a level par 72. “I actually felt like I hit some nice shots but couldn't get the putter cooperate, so I need to work on that this afternoon,” said the South African.
One Swede not going well was course record holder and World Number 12 Stenson, who struggled to a four over 76.
That included a triple bogey 7 on the 16th when he played the wrong ball from the dense rough. It was of the same type and number, but he did not identify it closely enough and only after hitting the shot did he discover it did not have his personal mark on it.
On the course, Louis Oosthuizen is five under with two holes to play, while Spaniard Ignacio Garrido is also five under with three holes to go.
Race to Dubai leader and World No 2 Sergio Garcia made a fantastic start, moving to three under after just five holes after starting his round with consecutive birdies. The Spaniard was still three under when bad light brought his day to an end with four holes remaining in his first round.

Abu Dhabi Championship
Abu Dhabi Golf Club, United Arab Emirates
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72
First round to be completed Friday following two-hour hailstorm delay
66 Mikael Lundberg (Swe), Johan Edfors (Swe)
67 Francesco Molinari (Ita), Jarmo Sandelin (Swe), Oliver Fisher
68 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra), Richard Green (Aus), Martin Kaymer (Ger), Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa), Andrew McLardy (Rsa)
69 Gary Murphy, Alvaro Quiros (Spa), Graeme Storm, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha), Thomas Levet (Fra)
70 Marc Warren, David Dixon, Chapchai Nirat (Tha), Mark Foster, Kenneth Ferrie
71 Mikko Ilonen (Fin), Martin Erlandsson (Swe), Soren Hansen (Den), Robert Dinwiddie, Steven Jeppesen (Swe), Simon Dyson, Peter Hedblom (Swe), Simon Wakefield, Robert Allenby (Aus), Richard Finch, Phillip Archer, Miles Tunnicliff, Sam Little, Padraig Harrington
72 Alvaro Velasco (Spa), Shiv Kapur (Ind), Soren Kjeldsen (Den), Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg), Pelle Edberg (Swe), Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den), John Bickerton, David Drysdale, Stephen Dodd, Trevor Immelman (Rsa), Ross McGowan, Gregory Havret (Fra)
73 Christian Cevaer (Fra), Thomas Bjorn (Den), Paul Lawrie, Alejandro Canizares (Spa), Scott Strange (Aus)
74 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind), Steve Webster, Niclas Fasth (Swe), Nick Dougherty
75 David Howell, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind)
76 Pablo Martin (Spa), Henrik Stenson (Swe), Jose Manuel Lara (Spa)
78 Benn Barham, Jamie Wood
79 Gregory Bourdy (Fra)

John Hamilton (left) and David Law withe the trophy that links them

John and David - Two North-east District boys'

champions who span the last 45 years

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com

What do Murcar Links member John Hamilton and Hazlehead's David Law have in common, apart from both being regular competitors on the North-east Alliance circuit?
The answer is the North-east District boys' championship trophy, first played for in 1927.
John won it in 1963 when the tournament was played at Royal Aberdeen. David won it last year at Duff House Royal.

John has only a vague memory of a local newspaper photographer making a fleeting visit to the Balgownie clubhouse 45+ years ago and snapping his picture with the trophy. But he has never had a picture to place among his souvenirs - and reminder that for one day in 1963 he was the best boy golfer in the North-east of Scotland.

So John asked me the other day to be his "Mr Fix-it" and reunite him with the boys' championship trophy so that he could have his picture taken. It did not take much fixing. I knew where the trophy could be found, because I knew that David Law, the top prospect on the Aberdeen golf scene, won it last year.

So I was able to bring Messrs Hamilton and Law together today and take a picture of them for posterity ... 1963 champion meets 2008 champion.

So who were John Hamilton's contemporaries on the Aberdeen boys' golf scene 45 years ago?

"Well, Billy Hogg was the David Law of my day. Billy, a Royal Aberdeen member, won this trophy in 1960 and again in 1961 (both championships played at the Kings Links) and Philip Milne (Deeside) won it in 1962 at Hazlehead," said John.

"Way back in 1933 the late Jack Booth was North-east boys' champion at Stonehaven."

More recently the list of winners has included players such as Richie Ramsay (1999), Greig Hutcheon (1990) and Scott Henderson (1986).

David Law will be 18 in May. He has a handicap of +2 and is a full-time amateur golfer under the wing of Paul Lawrie.

Very soon David will be off to the Algarve for warm-weather training and practice with a Scottish Golf Union squad and he will go on to play in the Portuguese men's open amateur championship at Troia from February 19 to 22.

Obviously Master Law has ambitions to become a tour professional, following in the footsteps of Richie Ramsay but he is no immediate hurry to take the plunge.

"I've still got a lot to learn and gain experience of playing in the big amateur championships so 2011 or 2012 would be soon enough to think seriously about it," said David.

Herrera leads by two shots at Final

Stage of Asian Tour Q School

PRESS RELEASE ISSUE BY ASIAN TOUR
Rayong, Thailand, January 15: Colombia’s Eduardo Herrera grabbed a two-stroke clubhouse lead in the third round of the Final Stage at the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School today.
Herrera, 43, recorded a four-under-par 69 for a 211 total at the St Andrews 2000 course for a two stroke advantage over England’s Ally Mellor who posted a 70.
Compatriot John Parry was even-par after 17 holes before poor visibility due to darkness stopped play at 6:20pm.
Local golfer Sattaya Supupramai shot a 71 and was in a tie for third spot alongside Japan’s Sushi Ishigaki and Matthew Griffin of Australia who both recorded similar 72s. Australia’s Jason Norris was among those in a tie for sixth place after a 75.
But it was Herrera who took full advantage of the calm conditions at the par-73 St Andrews 2000 course when he fired a solid 69 today.
“It was windy in the beginning but it died down and I played well. I two putted for birdie on the final 18th hole which was a good end to the day,” said Herrera, with six wins in Japan.
“I have a lot of friends on the Asian Tour like Frankie Minoza and Zaw Moe so I’m hoping to gain playing rights in the 2009 season. Before, there were a few South Americans who used to come here but now I hope to start the trend of coming back to the Asian Tour,” said Herrera.
England’s Mellor, with one win on the local circuit, posted a steady 70 thanks to four birdies against a lone bogey in second place.
“I played really good today and I’m very happy. This has been the easiest day with not much wind so I could make the score. I got it going and put it all together,” said Mellor, who is based in the outskirts of London.
“I think Green Valley is a great test but St Andrews offers something different. I played the First Stage here and I finished sixth so I quite like it and I hope to keep it going in the remaining rounds,” he added.
Sattaya, 25, fired four birdies against two dropped shots and was the highest ranked local player when he was in joint third place.
“I had two chip-ins which was nice. I came here with the goal of playing in more Asian Tour events this year as I already have a country exemption.
“I will give it 100 percent and aim to finish strongly but if I don’t end the week where I want to it’s alright. I am just happy to be playing golf every day,” said Sattaya, with two top-10 finishes last year on the Asian Tour.
Overnight co-leader Parry, 22, who was even-par after 17 holes, will be eager to finish up his closing 18th hole early on Friday.
“The greens got a bit firmer and it was a bit tougher today. I was in the greenside bunker on the final 18th hole after my second shot but it was too dark to play. I hope to finish off the hole well early tomorrow morning and keep my momentum going,” said Parry, who was the World Amateur number seven in 2007.
The top-80 and ties after the fourth round on Friday will compete in the all-important fifth round where the top-40 and ties will earn playing rights for the 2009 season.
For all the scores log on to www.asiantour.com
Asian Tour Final Qualifying School
Thailand
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
211 Eduardo HERRERA Colombia 70 72 69
213 Ally MELLOR England 70 73 70
214 Sattaya SUPUPRAMAI Thailand 71 72 71, Matthew GRIFFIN Australia 70 72 72, Sushi ISHIGAKI Japan 72 70 72
215 James KAMTE South Africa 74 71 70, HEO Won-kyung Korea 73 72 70, Peter COOKE
Australia 73 70 72, Toni KARJALAINEN Finland 74 72 69, SON Joon-Eob Korea 72 69 74, Daisuke MARUYAMA Japan 72 69 74, Jason NORRIS Australia 72 68 75.
216 Chris GAUNT Australia 72 73 71, James KRUGER South Africa 72 74 70, Pariya JUNHASAVASDIKUL Thailand 73 69 74
217 Tetsuji HIRATSUKA Japan 75 70 72, Chris ROAKE England 73 71 73, Mark PURSER
New Zealand 74 73 70
218 Heath REED Australia 74 71 73, Wilhelm SCHAUMAN Sweden 75 70 73, Mark MOULAND
Wales 73 72 73, James McLEAN Australia 73 73 72, Adam Le VESCONTE
Australia 75 71 72, KANG Min-woong Korea 73 68 77.
219 WU Ashun China 77 71 71, Young NAM Korea 71 73 75, Michael LIGHT Australia 70 74 75,
J.B. PARK Korea 74 71 74, Will YANAGISAWA USA 73 70 76, KIM Hyung-Tae Korea 72 70 77,
KIM Dae-Hyun Korea 74 72 73, George COETZEE South Africa 70 70 79
Selected scores
220 Andrew MARSHALL England 74 75 71, Paul GRANNELL England 73 72 75
221 Steve PARRY England 76 72 73, Tim STEWART Australia 74 70 77, Mitch TASKER
Australia 70 74 77
222 Christopher CAMPBELL Australia 71 77 74, Rohan BLIZARD Australia 71 77 74, Adam GROOM Australia 73 74 75
222 Steven TILEY England 73 74 75
225 Brad MCINTOSH Australia 76 72 77
226 Yasin ALI England 70 79 77.
226 Craig SMITH Wales 73 76 77, Simon DUNN Scotland 71 77 78, Ross BAIN Scotland 68 76 82, Jason KING Australia 73 72 81

St Andrews Links Trust renew contract

with Compass Group for tee times

St Andrews Links Trust has renewed its contract with Compass Group (UK & Ireland) Ltd to deliver premium tee time packages on the Old Course.
The contract has been renewed with effect from 2010 and will continue on a rolling basis.
Compass Group, trading as the Old Course Experience, currently delivers guaranteed tee times on the Old Course through premium golf tour programmes packages and handles travel trade tee times.
The arrangement has been of great benefit to the Links in recent years enabling the Links Trust to make substantial investment in the courses and facilities. It has also been instrumental in helping the Links Trust to keep other prices at a lower level than would otherwise be possible.
The announcement follows a review of the commercial operations of the Links Trust carried out by consultants. The review was carefully considered by St Andrews Links Trustees before they decided to continue with the Compass Group arrangement.
Alan McGregor, general manager of the Links Trust, said, “The Trustees took time to consider the options available to them and decided that it was clearly in the best interests of the Trust to continue to work with the Compass Group. The arrangement has made it possible for the Trust to invest in the courses and facilities over the years which has resulted in a far better experience for golfers. In a difficult economic climate it is prudent for the Trust to renew the contract going forward.”

*St Andrews Links Trust is a charitable organisation responsible for the management and maintenance of the Links courses at St Andrews, including the famous Old Course, host of the 2010 Open Championship. The Trust was established in 1974. It employs more than 250 permanent staff and seasonal workers during the high season. It manages a number of additional facilities including three clubhouses, a golf practice centre and three shops.

Gordon Yates lying third in China

Gordon Yates (Hilton Park) is lying joint third in an international field of 84 players with one round to to in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship with one round to go at Mission Hills Golf Club, China.
Yates has scored 71, 70 and 76 for a 54-hole tally of one-over-par 217 so far over the course that staged the professional World Cup.
Taipei's Wen Ting Wu leads with 72, 72 and 71 for one-under-par 215.
Ross Kellett from Colville Park is tied for 24th place with scores of 76, 80 and 72 for 228.
THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
215 Wen Ting Wu (Taipei) 72 72 71.
216 Shunsuke Sonoda (Japan) 75 71 70.
217 Alexander Kaaleka 73 73 71, Gordon Yates (Scotland) 71 70 76.
219 Mithun Perera (Sri Lanka) 76 75 68, Ryan McCarthy (Australia) 72 77 70, Chi Hsien Hsieh (Taipei) 72 75 72, Vasin Sripattranusorn (Thailand) 73 71 75.
Selected scores:
223 Alex Christie (England) 72 80 71 (jt 15th).
228 Ross Kellett (Scotland) 76 80 72 (jt 24th).
229 Gary King (England) 81 72 76 (jt 28th).
287 Jim Baillie (England) 101 96 90 (last of 84).

Hailstorm stops play in Abu Dhabi

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
A hailstorm halted play in the Abu Dhabi Championship less than two hours into the tournament as Swedish duo Johan Edfors and Mikael Lundberg carved out an early lead.
The Open Championship and US PGA Championship winner Padraig Harrington, making his first appearance of the year, and the Masters Tournament champion Trevor Immelman had time only for four successive pars before they and the rest of the early starters were called off the course.
When play resumed Edfors - part of the Europe team beaten at The Royal Trophy last week - and Lundberg moved to three under after six and five holes respectively.
Five players were a shot further back on two under during the early stages of their rounds.
Spain’s Rafael Cabrera Bello had played seven, Dane Søren Kjeldsen and another Swede, Jarmo Sandelin, were through six and English duo David Howell and Mark Foster had played four and two holes respectively.

PGA EuroPr0 Tour provisional

schedule issued for 2009

The provisional schedule for the 2009 PGA EuroPro Tour has been released, with three new courses added to the this year’s list of events.
Following the conclusion of Qualifying School at the beginning of April, the Tour kicks off with a return to Collingtree Park in Northampton at the beginning of May. Players north of the border will welcome a return to Scotland at Fairmont St. Andrews in October, one of three new courses announced so far along with Marriott Tudor Park in Kent and Wychwood Park in Crewe, who both host the Tour in August.
There will be 16 events on this year’s Tour including Qualifying School and it concludes with the Tour Championship at the end of October. The remaining events of the Tour will be announced in the run up to Q School, which begins at four courses on 31 March. Information on how to register for Q School can be accessed at http://www.europrotour.com/
THE 2009 PGA EUROPRO TOUR SCHEDULE
31 March-2 April – Qualifying School first stage at Forest Pines (Lincolnshire), Mentmore (Bedfordshire), Stoke by Nayland (Essex) and Cumberwell Park (Wiltshire)
6-9 April – Qualifying School final round at Frilford Heath (Oxford)
4-8 May – Collingtree Park, Northamptonshire
11-15 May – TBC
1-6 June – TBC
8-12 June – TBC
15-19 June – Bovey Castle, Devon
24 June – Open Qualifying
13-17 July – The Players Club, Bristol
28-31 July – TBC
3-7 August – Tudor Park, Maidstone
9-13 August – Wychwood Park, Cheshire
17-21 August – TBC
26-28 August – Five Lakes, Essex
31 August-4 September – TBC
7-11 September – European Tour Qualifying School
14-18 September – European Tour Qualifying School
21-25 September – TBC
5-9 October – Fairmont St Andrews
26-30 October – Tour Championship

Off and running at the Fairways

Target Golf Leagues, Inverness

By NEIL D HAMPTON
Here we go again – another 10 weeks of excitement at the driving range in the Fairways Target Golf Leagues, Inverness.
The Spring Target Golf Leagues started on Monday night this week with a familiar look to the results. Winter League winners the Neverwillbees got off to a winning start against perennial underachievers BM Trucks although there was more to the game than just the five-shot difference in the scoreline as the Trucks had 14 scoring balls to the Neverwillbees' 12.
But luck just wasn’t with the Trucks and the Neverwillbees had hit the higher scoring targets. The Specialists started their usual Spring campaign but it wasn’t with a win as Trilight had the night's highest score and took the points and the top of the table position.
Monday night's most eagerly-awaited match up didn’t quite produce the fireworks that we expected as Fairways, moving from a Tuesday night, just didn’t get going. Although they scored 43, it was the lowest tally of all six teams.
The Juniors took advantage and their 66 safely secured the points and immediate bragging rights.
Results:
BM Trucks 53 – 58 The Neverwillbees.
Fairways 43 – 66 Loch Ness Juniors.
Specialists 45 – 67 Trilight.

On Tuesday night there was also a sense of déjà vu as the Luckless Leadbetters once again are at the head of affairs. The Leadbetters saw off the Muirton Marvels who can count themselves unlucky not to get something out of the game as their score would have beaten most of the other teams.
Tag Team have tried a change of name to Darren’s Dazzlers and immediately found a change in fortune, scoring twice as many as their opposition, the Coastguards.
Raigmore, like the Specialists on Mondays, are just Spring League golfers but unlike the Specialists, Raigmore made a winning start over the Fairhust Fore with the night's second highest total.
The final match had the lowest score but it was Patsy’s Pets who took the points as the Sainties were missing in action supporting their team in the Scottish Cup football.
The Tuesday League will follow the football example and have a split at the end of the season with the top four playing each other one more time as will the bottom four. This should make the run-in for the title, play-off places and even the wooden spoon quite dramatic (hopefully!).
Results:
Patsy’s Pets 16– 0 The Sainties.
Luckless Leadbetters 59 – 43 Muirton Marvels.
Coastguards 23 – 47 Darren’s Dazzlers.
Fairhurst 14 – 51 Raigmore Motel.

David Patrick wins at Gullane

with a six-birdie round of 63

By KEITH LITTLE
Edinburgh & East of Scotland Alliance secretary
Exactly 100 Alliance members enjoyed a sunny, cold and frosty day at Gullane No 3 golf course. Our thanks go to Alison MacLeod for looking after us on the golf front and John, Alison Greer and their staff for the catering.
Overall winner of the John Glen Trophy was David Patrick (Elie) with a great five under par round of 63
David had six birdies (4th, 7th, 8th, 14th, 17th and 18th). His only dropped shot of the day was at the long 10th hole.
In second place in the scratch section, one shot behind David, was Andrew Oldcorn (King's Acre) with a 64. Andrew also had six birdies (5th, 8th, 11th, 12th, 16th and 17th) but dropped shots at the 13th and 14th holes.
Seven other players shot fine one under par scores of 67.
In the handicap section Hinton Bootland (Duddingston) and Justin White (Harrison) shared the honours with net 64s. In third equal place were Kenny Bisset (Prestonfield) and Scott Walker (Leven) with net 65.
Graeme Johnstone (Glenbervie) and Grant Skinner (Glencorse) shared fifth place, one further shot behind.
Next meeting is at Craigielaw Golf Club on January 21 when we will be playing for the Berwickshire Trophy.

GULLANE PRIZE LIST
SCRATCH
1st (£100) David Patrick (Elie) 63.
2nd (£80) Andrew Oldcorn (King's Acre) 64.
3rd equal (£17 each) Graham Brown (Dalmahoy), Stuart Callan (Bathgate), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Colin Fraser (Peebles), Scott Grieve (Turnhouse), Stevie Lamb (Broomieknowe), Terry Mathieson (King's Acre) 67.

HANDICAP
1st equal (£90 voucher each) Hinton Bootland (Duddingston) & Justin White (Harrison) 64.
3rd equal (£50 voucher each) Kenny Bisset (Prestonfield) & Scott Watson (Leven) 65.
5th equal (£10 voucher each) Graeme D Johnston (Glenbervie), Grant Skinner (Glencorse) 66.

TRAINEE PROFESSIONAL
1st equal (£10 each) Ryan Buckley (Craigielaw) & Ross Neil (Drumpellier).

SENIOR
1st equal (£4 each) Harvey Butterworth (Tantallon), Jimmy Rankeillor (Baberton), Graham Ross (Tantallon), John Wardrop (Niddry Castle), David Whyte (Merchants) 67.

Celtic Pro Tour extends membership offer

The Celtic Pro Tour is extending its offer of cut-price membership to the end of January.
The Welsh-based development tour, which enters its fourth season this year, has cut membership prices from £175 to £99, as a way of supporting young professional golfers during this financially pressured time.
The offer was due to end on December 31, but has been extended by a month.
Tour director, Rhydian Thomas said: "The difficult economic situation is affecting professional golfers as much as anyone.
“By extending our reduced membership offer, we are showing them our support, and hopefully the guys will be able to afford to enter and win money on their own locally-based professional tour.”
Entry fees to the tour’s 36-hole events have also been reduced from £149 to £100.
Golfers wanting to join the tour are asked to send cheques, made payable to Celtic Golf Tours Ltd to the following address: Ein Cartref, Adare Terrace, Treorchy, RCT, South Wales, CF42 6EN.
The 2009 Celtic Pro Tour will include eight events across Wales with an extra event in Ireland. Venues confirmed so far are: Marriott St Pierre, Southerndown, Gower, St Mary’s and Garnant Park, with negotiations ongoing with three more. Details of these will be announced in the next few weeks, with the official schedule including dates following that.
The Celtic Pro Tour has proven to be an excellent testing ground for aspiring tour professionals, with European Tour professionals Stuart Manley and Kyron Sullivan, Asian Tour pro Craig Smith and former double winning Welsh Open Young PGA professional champion Adam Constable, event winners in recent seasons.
This year’s X Factor contestant, former pro golfer James Williams has also won money on the Tour, which also accommodates amateur golfers with a scratch handicap or better (£50 entry fee per 36-hole event and no membership required) and lady professionals.
(ends)
Further information:
Rhydian Thomas
07861 686568
info@celticpro.co.uk
www.celticpro.com

Local knowledge pays off

for Philip McLean at

windless Peterhead

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Paul Lawrie protégé Philip McLean, a +3 full-time amateur, was always going to be difficult to beat in a North-east Alliance competition over his home course, Peterhead.And so it proved today when McLean left a field of 85 trailing with a two-under-par score of 67 in unusually benign, windless conditions at the Buchan links.

He had two shots to spare from Hazlehead shop professional Colin Nelson who was bidding to win three competitions in a row.

McLean, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, who played recently in two South American events at the SGU's expense, had only one bogey on his card – at the eighth – and he turned in one-over-par 35 before reducing the inward half to 32 shots, three under par, with birdies at the 11th, 15th and 18th.

Nelson had a little bit of everything in his 69, collecting four birdies but running up a double bogey 5 at the short 16th and dropping single shots at the fifth and eighth in an outward 35.

Leading scores (par 69)

SCRATCH

67 P McLean (Peterhead).

69 C Nelson (Mackenzie Club).

70 G H Paterson (Northern).

71 A Campbell (Deeside), D Law (Hazlehead), D Garrett (Turriff).

72 B Nicolson (Auchmill), R Pirie (Caledonian), R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo), H Dougal (Peterhead), M Jenkins (Duff House Royal).

73 S Davidson (Banchory), L Taylor (Auchmill).

74 B Ritchie (Inverallochy).

75 S Murray (Newburgh), S Finnie (Caledonian), F Bisset (Banchory), S Cooper (Banchory), C Law (Hazlehead).

76 S Scott (Auchmill), S Chalmers (Banchory).

77 J Borthwick (Craibstone), C Buchanan (Hazlehead), L Prouse (Hazlehead), H Roulston (Stonehaven), M Lawrie (Kemnay).

78 C Cassie (Nigg Bay), B Harper (Newburgh), P Morrison (Oldmeldrum), J H Hamilton (Murcar Links), J Scott (Peterculter), M Booth (Kemnay), J Murray (Banchory), J Short (Peterculter), J Mooney (unatt), A Nelson (Banchory).

79 B Brooks (Meldrum House), D Philip (Newburgh), M Holley (Braemar), L Roger (Royal Aberdeen), C Selby (Kemnay), B McPherson (Northern).

80 J Roberts (Cruden Bay).
HANDICAP

Class 1 – J Borthwick (Craibstone) (8), C Buchanan (Hazlehead) (8), R Pirie (Caledonian) (3), S Cooper (Banchory) (6), L Taylor (Auchmill) (4) 69; B Nicolson (Auchmill) (2), C Cassie (Nigg Bay) (8), G H Paterson (Northern) (scr), P McLean (Peterhead) (+3), D Garrett (Turriff) (1) 70.

Class 2 – J Scott (Peterculter) (12), M Booth (Kemnay) (12), J Short (Peterculter) (12) 66; B Lumsden (Northern) (14) 67; R Brown (Craibstone) (14) 69; M Ord (Royal Aberdeen) (12) 70; I Strachan (Royal Aberdeen) (12), R Lumsden (Northern) (2) 71.

PETERHEAD WINTER SCORECARD (yellow tees). Par 69.

OUT: 4-3-4-4-4-3-4-4-4--34. IN: 3-4-4-4-4-4-3-4-5--35

PHILIP McLEAN 67 (-2)

OUT: 4-3-4-4-4-3-4-5-4--35. IN: 3-3-4-4-4-3-3-4-4--32.

COLIN NELSON 69 (level par)

OUT: 4-3-4-3-5-3-4-5-4--35. IN: 3-4-3-4-4-4-5-3-4--34.

GEORGE PATERSON 70 (+1)

OUT: 4-3-4-3-4-3-4-4-5--34. IN: 3-4-6-4-4-4-3-4-4--36.

DAVID LAW 71 (+2)

OUT: 4-3-3-4-4-3-4-5-4--34. IN: 4-4-4-5-5-4-2-4-5--37.

ANDREW CAMPBELL 71 (+2)

OUT: 4-3-4-4-5--3-5-5-4--37. IN: 3-4-4-4-4-4-3-3-5--34.

DON GARRETT 71 (+2)

OUT: 4-3-3-4-5-3-4-4-4--34. IN: 4-4-5--4-3-3-3-4-5--37

Scot Bain drops down to 10th place in Thailand

Triple tie for lead in Asian Tour

Final Qualifying School

Rayong, January 14: England’s John Parry, South African George Coetzee and Australia’s Jason Norris took charge in the second round at the Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School presented by Sports Authority of Thailand today.
Parry, who is playing in his first ever Qualifying School in Asia, improved with a four-under-par 68 at Rayong Green Valley Country Club while Coetzee and Norris recorded a 70 and 68 respectively for matching total of 140s.
Korea’s Kang Min-woong rose to a tie for fourth spot after a solid 68 at the Rayong Green Valley Country Club and was tied alongside Japan’s Daisuke Maruyama and Korea’s Son Joon-eob who recorded similar 69s for a 141 total.
First round leader Ross Bain of Scotland slipped to a tie for 19th place after a 76 today. A total of 12 players had previously returned to complete their opening rounds early today morning. After a 45 minute delay due to a bush fire on Tuesday, the first round was later suspended due to darkness and resumed play at 7am today morning.
Battling the windy conditions in the second round, Parry stood firm firing a strong 68.
“I played better than the first day with a bit more control to my game. I thought of giving it a shot on the Asian Tour and I’m enjoying it so far this week.
“I hope to finish in the top-40, the higher the better. I am not thinking how the others are performing but just focus on my own game,” said the 22-year-old Parry, who was the World Amateur number seven in 2007.
South Africa’s Coetzee and Australia’s Norris were equally pleased with their rounds of 70 and 68 respectively as they rose to the top of the field alongside Parry.
“It’s been good for me. I’m happy with where I am at the moment and I’m looking forward to the remaining rounds,” said Coetzee, who won three professional titles on the local circuit coupled with six amateur wins.
With an eagle, four birdies against two bogeys, Min-woong, 29, is enjoying the ride in his third attempt at the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School.
“I am very happy with my performance in the last two days. I was unable to make the top-40 mark in my first two attempts but hopefully this week will be different. I’m striking it well and steady on the greens so it’s shaping up to be a good week,” said Min-woong, with two amateur wins on the home circuit.
After a 69 at St Andrews 2000, Korea’s Kang Sung-hoon rose up to joint seventh spot for a 142 total.
“I had some chances on the back nine and I did quite good under the windy and tough conditions today. I would like to have an Asian Tour card and I think this is the best place to be right now. The experience is important for me.
“I am pleased with my performance and I hope to continue my momentum and hopefully finish strongly this week,” said Sung-hoon.
Local favourite Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who is a two-time World Junior Champion, nailed an eagle, four birdies against three bogeys and a double bogey for a 72 at St Andrews 2000.
“I would love to join the Asian Tour as I have many friends on board and I heard that it’s a great place to test my skills against some of the region’s best. I’m heading in the right direction and I hope to keep it steady,” said Kiradech, who won the South East Asian Games individual and team gold medals in 2007.
Indonesia’s number one golfer Rory Hie, 20, endured a challenging week when he posted a 74 for a 150 total to lie in joint 93rd place.
“It’s been tough. I wasn’t hitting the ball well yesterday but today it was slightly better. I hope things will turnaround for me tomorrow,” said Hie, with one amateur win in United States.
A total of 120 players made the cut today with 36-hole totals of 152 or better. They will now battle to make it into the top-80 and ties in the fourth round on Friday. Only the top-40 and ties from the fifth and final round on Saturday will gain playing rights for the 2009 season.
SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72)
140 John Parry (Eng) 72 68, George Coetzee (SAf) 70 70, Jason Norris (Aus) 72 69.
141 Daisuke Maruyama (Jap) 72 69, Son Joon-Eob (SKo) 72 69.
Selected scores:
142 Matthew Griffin (Aus) 70 72 (jt 7th).
143 Ally Mellor (Eng) 70 73 (jt 14th).
144 Mitch Tasker (Aus) 70 74, Chris Roake (Eng) 70 74, Tim Stewart (Aus) 74 70, Michael Light (Aus) 70 74, Ross Bain (Sco) 68 76 (jt 19th).
145 Mark Mouland (Wal) 73 72, Paul Grannell (Eng) 73 72 (jt 26th).
147 Steven Tiley (Eng) 73 74 (jt 50th).
148 Simon Dunn (Sco) 71 71, Steve Parry (Eng) 76 72 (jt 66th).
149 Andrew Marshall (Eng) 74 75 , Yasin Ali (Eng) 70 79 (jt 80th).
MISSED THE CUT
152 Matthew King (Eng) 71 81.
155 James Hepworth (Eng) 77 78.
+All the scores are available on:
: http://www.asiantour.com/

Europe's Ryder Cup captain to be

named on Tuesday, January 27

The name of the next European Ryder Cup captain will be announced on Tuesday, January 27.
The 15-man European Tour tournament committee met for four hours in Abu Dhabi last night and narrowed the list of prospective candidates down to two or three.
Jose Maria Olazabal is still favourite to get the nod ahead of Sandy Lyle - but the Spaniard has to make up his mind over the next couple of weeks whether or not he wants the job for next year's Celtic Manor match or whether he would rather have a go at earning a team place as a player and possibly end up falling between two stools.
Seven of the tournament committee come from the British Isles:
Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Paul Lawrie, Colin Montgomerie, Richard Finch, Barry Lane and Mark Roe.
The rest come from continental Europe: Joakim Haeggman, Chris Hanell, Robert Karlsson, Henrik Stenson, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Raphael Jacquelin. Thomas Bjorn is the committee chairman.

Ernie Els heads all-star cast for

Ballantine's Championship

PRESS RELEASE
Three-time Major winner Ernie Els will spearhead a world-class field at the forthcoming Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.
The South African ace, pictured right, will be joined in the line-up for the €2.1 million showpiece by Henrik Stenson of Sweden and England’s Lee Westwood.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland will be back to defend his title while former Masters champion Fred Couples is also in the impressive field.
The Ballantine’s Championship will return to Pinx Golf Club – venue for last year’s inaugural tournament – on the picturesque holiday island of Jeju, from April 23-26, 2009.
“I’ve enjoyed my previous visits to Korea and I’m delighted to be returning to take part in the Ballantine’s Championship for the first time,” said Els, winner of the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and the British Open in 2002.
“Korea is at the forefront of the Asian golf boom and the fans there are extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the game, so I’m really looking forward to playing at Pinx Golf Club.
“I know the inaugural Ballantine’s Championship was an outstanding success and I’m excited to be involved in what promises to be another fantastic tournament.”
Els, currently 10th in the world rankings, has more than 50 victories worldwide to his name, including an astonishing seven World Match Play Championship titles.
He has twice finished top of the European Tour Order of Merit and has triumphed 16 times on the US PGA Tour.
Westwood, the world No 11, has an impressive 18 European Tour victories to his name and another solid campaign last year included finishing third at the US Open.
World No 12 Stenson is a six-time winner on the European Tour and ended the 2008 season in style when he partnered Robert Karlsson to victory for Sweden at the World Cup in China.
McDowell triumphed in dramatic fashion at Pinx last year, edging India’s Jeev Milkha Singh on the third extra hole.
The victory sparked a stellar season that yielded a second success at the Barclays Scottish Open and his Ryder Cup debut.
“Winning the 2008 Ballantine’s Championship was an unforgettable moment in my career and also the start of a brilliant year for me,” said McDowell.
“I have some wonderful memories of my week at Pinx Golf Club and I’m thrilled to be returning as defending champion.
“I know Ballantine’s and the organisers are putting together a world-class field and the Korean fans can be assured I’ll be doing my very best to mount a successful title defence.”
Superstar Couples – hugely popular in Korea – won the Masters in 1992, one of 15 career victories on the US PGA Tour, while he also has two European Tour successes.
The evergreen American had three top 10 finishes on the US PGA Tour last year.
“I’ve always had so much fun playing in Korea and I cannot wait to return there to play in the Ballantine’s Championship,” said Couples.
“I’ve heard great things about the tournament and Pinx Golf Club, so it promises to be an awesome week.”
Ballantine’s is title-sponsoring the tournament – which is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and Korea PGA – for a minimum of three years.
“We are very proud to be launching the 2009 Ballantine’s Championship knowing we will play host to such a high calibre field of international golfers,” said Christian Porta, Chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers, which owns Ballantine’s.
“With the star players announced today, we have high hopes of a stylish and world class showcase in April, and are confident that this prestigious event will continue to build on the outstanding success of the inaugural tournament last year.”
The 2009 Ballantine’s Championship will have a full field of 156 players headed by the top 60 available players from the official world rankings.
In addition, the top 25 players from the Korea PGA, as determined by the Ballantine’s Points System, will be awarded places, giving home-grown golfers the opportunity to compete en masse alongside the game’s elite.
The remainder of the field will be split between the European and Asian Tours, plus eight sponsor invitations.

Eric Walker wins Midland Alliance

at Charleton with a two-under 69

The Midland Golfers Alliance circuit got underway after the midwinter break with a competition, sponsored by Fraser Bros (Tyres) at Charleton Golf Course in Fife.
Winner of the scratch prize was Burntisland assistant professional Eric Walker with a two-under-par 69.
There was a tie for first handicap prize between Alistair Mason (Thornton) (6) and Chris Westland (Alloa) (9), both returning net 70s.
Alistair also helped his team of Guy Mathieson (Dunnikier Park) (8) and Graham Milne (Aberdour) (5) to the best team award with a net score of 62
LEADING SCRATCH
69 E Walker (Burntisland) ap.
71 T McLevy (Blairgowrie).
73 G Mackie (Ladybank).
75 A Lockhart (Ladybank) ap.
76 M Fraser (Leven Thistle), A Mason (Thornton).
77 P Brookes (Pitreavie) p, D Anderson (Blairgowrie), R Stewart (Tulliallan), G Milne (Aberdour).
78 S Rettie (Stirling Golf Sudio) p, R McDonald (Monifieth), D Cameron (Pitlochry), M Niven (Alloa), D Mitchell (Panmure).
LEADING HANDICAP
70 A Mason (Thornton) (6), C Westland (Alloa) (9).
71 D Anderson (Blairgowrie) (6).
72 D Black (Dunfermline) (12), G Mackie (Ladybank) (1), G Milne (Aberdour) (5), T McLevy (Blairgowrie) (+1).
73 G Cant (Monifieth) (9).
74 D Cameron (Pitlochry) (4), M Niven (Alloa) (4), R McDonald (Monifieth) (4), M Fraser (Leven Thistle) (2), D Mitchell (Panmure) (4), J Ward (Carnoustie) (9).

FRASER BROS (Tyres) TEAM COMPETITION
Winners
62 A Mason (Thornton) (6), G Mathieson (Dunnikier Park) (8) & G Milne (Aberdour) (5).

Qualifiers for the JTC Kitchens Midland Golfer’s Alliance Championship in April at Pitlochry
G Mackie (Ladybank)
M Fraser (Leven Thistle)
A Mason (Thornton)

Arnold Palmer to attend KPMG Golf

Business Form at Celtic Manor

PRESS RELEASE

Arnold Palmer, world famous sportsman, iconic golfer, business executive and talented golf course designer, will attend the sixth annual KPMG Golf Business Forum at Celtic Manor Resort, Wales from May 4 to 6.

He will receive the conference’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Arnie, as he is affectionately known to sports fans across the globe, was voted ‘Athlete of the Decade’ for the 1960s, a time when his popularity and success reached heights never seen before in world sport.

Before, during and after that great decade, he amassed 92 championships in professional competition, including seven Majors. He also participated in seven Ryder Cup Matches, six times as a player, successfully captaining the side in 1963, and again as a non-playing captain in 1975.

On May 5, Arnold Palmer will be recognised for his lifetime commitment to the business and the game of golf and will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in front of an expected audience of more than 300 international industry professionals at The Celtic Manor Resort, Wales, venue of the 2010 Ryder Cup.

“Arnold Palmer is not only one of the world’s greatest golfing legends, he is also an icon of the international golf business,” said Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG's Golf Advisory Practice in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMA).

“Arnold’s presence at the 2009 Golf Business Forum will make this year’s event exceptionally special and we are privileged not only to be able to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to him in person, but also to have the opportunity to hear insights from one of the golf industry’s pioneers and most revered businessmen.”

The Golf Business Forum, which has established itself as the leading golf business event for EMA, will this year focus on topics relating to financing, development, golf tourism, and design, and will include interactive panel discussions, country focus sessions, key-note presentations from industry experts, and an array of networking opportunities.

For more information about the Golf Business Forum, to register and participate in the Golf Tournament, visit: www.golfbusinessforum.com

Gordon Yates (71) makes good start

to Asia Pacific Amateur Open

Gordon Yates made a good start to the 72-hole Mission Hills Asia Pacific Amateur Open championship at the same Chinese venue that hosts the World Cup.
Gordon had a one-under-par 71 to be one shot behind leader Shingo Ito (Japan).
The Hilton Park player birdied the first but bogeyed the short fifth on his way to the turn in level par.
He got some momentum going with birdies at the long 11th and par-4 12th and looked set to finish at two-under-par until dropping a shot at the par-14 18th.
Ross Kellett (Colville Park) finished with a 76 to be joint 18th in the field of 88 players.
Ross wasn't doing too badly with a birdie at the long 11th and a bogey at the short fifth as he turned in level par 36.
Then things started to go wrong and the inward half cost him 40 shots.
Kellett bogeyed the long 11th and then ran up a triple-bogey 7 at the par-4 12th and also dropped another shot with a 5 at the 17th.
But he did birdie the 18th which both Yates and the leader bogeyed.
Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn), beaten British boys' championship finalist two years ago, did not have the enjoyment of a single bogey in his round of 78 over what is a difficult course.
Fraser had a double bogey 7 at the long sixth and bogeyed the seventh and ninth to be out in 40.
He bogeyed two long holes in an inward 38 - the 11th and the 16th.
LEADERBOARD
Par 72
70 Shingo Ito (Japan).
71 Gordon Yates (Scotland), Ferdinand Aunzo (Philippines).
72 Chi Hsien Hsieh (aipei), Ryan McCarthy (Australia), Wen Ting Wu (Taipei), Alex Christie (England).
Selected scores
76 Ross Kellett (Scotland) (jt 18th).
78 Fraser Fotheringham (Scotland) (jt 35th).
Field of 88 players.

Cheers! Pilsner Urquell and R&A's

five-year Open agreement

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY R&A
The R&A and SABMiller plc today announced that they have entered into a long term agreement under which Pilsner Urquell, the iconic beer brand from SABMiller, will become the Official Beer of The Open Championship.

The arrangement is effective from the upcoming 2009 Championship at Turnberry and will last for five years, taking in confirmed future Championships at St Andrews, Royal St George’s and Royal Lytham and St Annes.

Vinod Giri, International Brand Director of SABMiller plc, said, “The heritage, authenticity and premium nature of The Open Championship offer fantastic synergies for Pilsner Urquell. Both brands are the original, uncompromised leaders in their fields and set the gold standard. We are excited by this partnership, and look forward to building a long and successful association with The R&A.”

David Hill, R&A Director of Championships, said: “The R&A is delighted to welcome Pilsner Urquell as the Official Beer of The Open Championship. I’m sure spectators at this year’s Open at Turnberry will be delighted that such an iconic beer is available throughout the Open Championship site.”
The agreement will see Pilsner Urquell served within all public and VIP hospitality facilities at Open championship venues.

In addition, SABMiller Group companies around the world will be able to utilise the association with The Open Championship through advertising, promotions, ticketing and hospitality.
Pilsner Urquell is marketed and distributed in the UK through Miller Brands UK –a subsidiary of SABMiller. The beer has seen impressive growth in the last six months with sales growing in excess of 50% -this is in contrast with the overall UK beer market, which declined by 5% in 2008. Meanwhile, the number of pubs and bars stocking Pilsner Urquell on draught has doubled inthe past year.






Pilsner Urquell is the Original Pilsner from Pilsen. Created in 1842, it gave birth to the pilsner style beers. Still brewed to the same exacting standards, this beer offers the uniquely distinctive full bodied flavour of true pilsner. It is a widely view that once you have discovered and grown to appreciate its taste, it may change your perspective on other beers.

Pilsner Urquell is the flagship brand of SABMiller’s international premium brand portfolio and is distributed in over 40 countries worldwide. SABMillerSABMiller plc is one of the world’s largest brewers with brewing interests and distribution agreements across six continents. The group’s wide portfolio of brands includes premium international beers such asGrolsch, Miller Genuine Draft, Peroni NastroAzzurroand Pilsner Urquell, as well as market-leading local brands such as Aguila, Castle, Miller Lite, Snow and Tyskie.SABMiller is also one of the largest bottlers of Coca-Cola products in the world.In the year ended 31 March 2008, the group reported US$3,639 million in adjusted pre-tax profit andrevenue of US$21,410 million. SABMiller plc is listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges.

This announcement is available on the company website: www.sabmiller.comHigh resolution images are available for the media to view and download free of charge from www.sabmiller.comor www.newscast.co.uk

Miller Brands UKMiller Brands was launched in 2005 and is a subsidiary of SABMiller, one of the world's largest brewers. Miller Brands have assumed responsibility for the development of all SABMiller’s international premium brands across the UK; these include Peroni NastroAzzurro, Pilsner Urquell and Miller Genuine Draft. Through its consistent pricing and distribution discipline, supplemented by engaging marketing activities, Miller Brands is bringing value back into the beer category.

Scot Ross Bain leads Asian Tour

Final Qualifying School

PRESS RELEASE ISSUE BY ASIAN TOUR
Rayong, January 13: Scottish exile Ross Bain blasted a five-under-par 68 for the clubhouse lead in the opening round at the Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School presented by Sports Authority of Thailand today.
Bain, who resides in Dubai, took a one-stroke lead after nailing an eagle, four birdies against a lone bogey at the par-73 St Andrews 2000 course.
The Final Stage is played over five rounds where the first two rounds will be staged at the par-73 St Andrews 2000 and par-72 Rayong Green Valley Country Club. The final three rounds will be held at St Andrews 2000.
Local golfer Pijit Petchkasem, who celebrated his 22nd birthday today, recorded a 69 to lie in lone second place while American Clay Devers, England’s Yasin Ali, Australia’s Matthew Griffin, Colombian Eduardo Herrera and Sweden’s Lars Johansson were among those in the mix in tied third spot after firing matching 70s.
A bush fire at St Andrews 2000's seventh hole had forced a 45min delay today before play was resumed at 4pm. Play at St Andrews 2000 was then stopped at 6:15pm due to darkness. A total of 12 golfers will resume the first round on Wednesday at 7am.
But it was Bain who took advantage of the early morning conditions firing a solid 68.
“I played very well in the first eight holes as I was six under at one point and I couldn’t have asked for a better start. But it was tough and tricky out there,” said Bain, who has been a regular feature on the Asian Tour since 1999.
“I holed an eagle at the (par six 702 yards) fourth hole. I drove it well off the tee followed by a three wood in my second shot. I then used a seven iron from 190 yards out and putted for eagle. That was nice.
“I had a frustrating year in 2008 so I hope this is a sign of better things to come. I’ve been out for here for 10 years and I want to continue playing here as I enjoy it, even if it means coming back to Q-School again,” said Bain, who played in all four rounds at the British Open in 2007.
Birthday boy Pijit believes lady luck was on his side when he shot a steady 69 to lie a stroke behind the leader.
“There was a long delay because of the fire and I thought it would disrupt my concentration but looking at the result, I think it helped me even more as I was steady coming in. I was also quite lucky out there,” said Pijit, with seven amateur wins on the domestic circuit.
American Devers was pleased with his form when he posted a 70 to lie in a tie for third spot.
“I played well. I started on the back nine and I putted solid. This is my third round of golf since November so I’m satisfied with my run today,” said Devers, with two wins on the Asian Tour.
After a solid campaign in the local amateur scene last year, Australia’s number one amateur Matthew Griffin was steady in the opening round at the Rayong Green Valley Country Club firing a 70.
“I’ve just turned professional over the last three months. I’ve enjoyed a good amateur career last year which helped me claim the number one ranking on the amateur list.
“I’m enjoying it so far this week and I’ve heard many good things about the Asian Tour. I went through the amateur ranks with Ashley Hall and Rick Kulacz who have both played on the Asian Tour before so I’m looking forward to shooting more good scores and earn my card for the 2009 season,” said 25-year-old Melbourne-based Griffin, with three amateur wins in 2008.
With five birdies against two bogeys and a double bogey, Singaporean amateur Quincy Quek was pleased with his opening round performance of 71 at Rayong Green Valley Country Club to lie in a tie for 13th place.
“It’s my first time playing at the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School. The reason I decided to try out is because I hope to play on the Asian Tour after my National Service ends. I’ll complete National Service in three months time and since I decided to focus in golf, I wanted to give it a go this week,” said the 21-year-old Quek, who won the 2007 Putra Cup individual title and the 2008 Putra Cup team event. He was also the 2007 Singapore Amateur Closed winner.
“It’s an important step to come to Qualifying School. I’ve spoken to Mardan (mamat) and he said that it would be a good experience for me as I’ve got nothing to lose but all to gain by trying out here this week.
“I had a decent round with five birdies against two bogeys and one double bogey but I’m looking forward to the second round and hopefully better my run,” added Quek.
FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD

St Andrews 2000 (Thailand), Par 73

68 Ross Bain (Sco).

69 Pijit Petchkasem (Thai).

70 Clay Devers (US), Eduardo Herrera (Col), Ally Mellor (Eng), Yasin Ali (Eng), Lars Johannson (Swe), Matthew Griffin (Aus), Bradley Lamb (Aus), Mitch Tasker (Aus), Michael Foster (Aus), Rafael Ponce (Ecu).

71 Matthew King (Eng), Rohan Blizard (Aus), Simon Dunn (Sco).

Selected scores:

72 John Parry (Eng).

73 Paul Grannell (Eng), Mark Mouland (Wales), Chris Roake (Eng), Craig Smith (Wales).

74 Andrew Marshall (Eng) (jt 63rd).

75 Eddie Barr (Ireland (jt 85th).

76 Steve Parry (Eng) (jt 107th).

77 James Hepworth (Eng).

Field of 189 players.

More information on http://www.asiantour.com/

Dominic Rehaag appointed pro at

China Fleet Country Club

PRESS RELEASE
Dominic Rehaag has been appointed the new golf pro at China Fleet Country Club, Saltash in Cornwall.

Dominic, who grew up in Launceston, started playing golf at his local club aged just 13 and went on to win several county and regional junior events as well as playing for Cornwall Under-16s and Under- 18s.
Dominic, pictured right, turned pro aged 22 and after working at several local clubs joins China Fleet from Tavistock Golf Club. Winner of several West Region PGA pro –am and stroke-play events Dominic was also captain of the Devon PGA in 2003.
On his new appointment Dominic said “I am so lucky to be able to do a job which I enjoy and am passionate about. I like to coach to the individual needs and tailor my coaching to individual requirements. I love helping people play the best golf that they can. I have taught hundreds of golfers of all levels and experience from complete beginners to James Ruth who is currently on the European Tour. ”
Karl Taylor, general manager of China Fleet Country Club, added: “We are delighted to welcome Dominic on to our team. I am sure will be a great asset to the club, our members and in promoting the game.”

Monty and Kim join field for

Johnnie Walker Classic

PRESS RELEASE
American Anthony Kim and Colin Montgomerie have added their illustrious names to the star-studded field for the Johnnie Walker Classic which tees off from February 19 to 22 at The Vines Resort & Country Club in Perth, Western Australia.
The participation of Kim, pictured right, one of golf’s hottest young talents who is currently ranked ninth in the world and Montgomerie, the most prolific British winner in European Tour history, will add strength and depth to the stellar line-up for Asia Pacific's premier luxury golf event which already features the legendary Greg Norman, world No 8 Camilo Villegas, and Englishmen Lee Westwood, ranked 11, colourful Ian Poulter who is 27 in the world and Paul Casey in 42nd spot.
Said US Ryder Cup player Kim: “I am very excited to play in my first Johnnie Walker Classic. I am really enjoying playing in tournaments all around the world and I can’t wait to visit Perth. One of my goals this year is to win my first European Tour title and it would be great to do that in February at the Johnnie Walker Classic."
Commentating on the confirmation of Kim and Montgomerie, David Gates, Global Brand Director for Johnnie Walker, said. “The confirmation of Anthony Kim adds an extra sparkle to this year’s Johnnie Walker Classic as the 23-year-old is one of the most exciting names in golf at the moment following his two wins on the US PGA Tour and his pivotal role in the America’s Ryder Cup victory last year, in only his second year as a professional.
“Meanwhile Monty, a regular competitor in the 19-year history of the Johnnie Walker Classic, will no doubt be hoping that his support for one of Asia Pacific’s most popular events will reward him with this prestigious title and the iconic Striding Man trophy.”
Born in California of Korean origin, Kim recorded his two victories in 2008 at the Wachovia Championship and the AT&T National in sensational style and then went on to secure fourth spot in the FedEx Cup in only his second year on the US PGA Tour. A highly-decorated amateur who only turned pro in 2006, Kim also earned himself an automatic spot in Paul Azinger’s US Ryder Cup team last September.
At Valhalla he made an impactful debut producing some brilliant play, securing 2.5 points out of 4, and displaying a youthful exuberance on the course that captured the imagination of world golf.
Montgomerie overtook Nick Faldo as the most prolific British winner on The European Tour when he won his 31st Tour title at the European Open at the K Club in Ireland in 2007. Later that year he went on to secure the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China with compatriot Marc Warren. Only the second European alongside Bernhard Langer to play in five successful Ryder Cup teams, the 45-year-old also holds a record eight European Order of Merit titles.
“I am really looking forward to playing in the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth. It is a tournament I always enjoy and yet, it is one that I haven’t managed to win," said Montgomerie.
"I came pretty close when I finished second to Nick Faldo in Singapore in 1993, and have had a few top 10 finishes over the years, but it is certainly a title I would like to have on my C.V. and I hope that this will be the year,” said Montgomerie.
For more information please visit http://www.johnniewalkerclassic.com/

R&A chief Peter Dawson becomes chairman

of The World Golf Foundation for 2009

The World Golf Foundation has named Peter Dawson, chief executive of The R&A, as its chairman for 2009.
Founded in 1993, the foundation is a non-profit organisation and provides oversight to The First Tee, Golf 20/20 and other industry initiatives. Supported by major international golf organizations and professional tours, it also oversees the World Golf Hall of Fame.
“Golf’s global growth continues to present challenges to golf organisations around the world,” Dawson said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on the foundation’s board and staff to ensure that the foundation is playing a leading role in the development of the game.”
Dawson joined the foundation board in 2006, when it was reconfigured to include the chief executives of golf’s leading global organisations. At that time, the foundation also decided to rotate the chairman’s role among members of the board’s executive committee.
Dawson succeeds David Fay, USGA executive director, who served as chairman in 2008.
In addition to Dawson and Fay, the other executive committee members are:
Jim Armstrong, executive director of Augusta National Golf Club; Carolyn Bivens, LPGA commissioner; Tim Finchem, US PGA Tour commissioner; George O’Grady, chief executive of the European Tour; and Joe Steranka, chief executive of the PGA of America.

Harrington moves from World No 4 to No 3

without playing until this week

Australian Geoff Ogilvy moved from 11th to sixth in the latest world rankings after Sunday's win in Mercedes-Benz Championship, while Pádraig Harrington climbed one place to third despite not lifting a club. The Irishman starts his 2009 season in Abu Dhabi this week.
Anthony Kim, joint runner-up behind Ogilvy, moved up three places to ninth while the other joint second-placed man, Davis Love jumped 23 places to 54th.
World number two Sergio Garcia is also in the Middle East and he and Harrington are looking to close the gap on Tiger Woods, whose long injury lay-off has given both the chance to claim the top spot before the first major of the year gets under way in April.

Scottish PGA looking for

sponsor for Northern

Open at Spey Valley

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY PGA SCOTTISH REGION
By PRESS OFFICER RON MARSHALL
As what’s euphemistically being called the world’s economic downturn continues to affect business at every level, then the Scottish Region of the Professional Golfers’ Association is scarcely immune from its impact either.
The region’s secretary, Gordon Dewar (pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency), in hosting the annual Hangover Lunch (Monday January 12) at Gleneagles Hotel’s Dormy House - essentially an occasion to thank sponsors and media for their support throughout the year - admitted that they were battling to sustain 2008’s level of financial support from Scottish business and commerce.
“We’re determined to maintain the degree of competition our members have become accustomed to”, said Dewar. “Our two 72-hole championships – the Northern Open and our flagship event, the Gleneagles Scottish Championship – will definitely go ahead but at the moment the Northern (again being played at the splendid Spey Valley course on the outskirts of Aviemore) is without a sponsor.
“We’ve had four generous years from a sponsor, a member of the Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle, who’s insisted on being anonymous, and he still wishes us to recognise that. All I want to say to him is that the PGA here in Scotland are extremely grateful to him for his unstinting support.
“Needless to say, we in the PGA are actively seeking a replacement, and obviously would be happy to speak to any individual or organisation wishing to come aboard and help sustain a championship that goes back to 1931.” The event will be held from May 26-29.
Former winners include the legendary Eric Brown and John Panton, plus TV pundit Ewan Murray, former Ryder Cup player Harry Bannerman, and, more recently, Alastair Forsyth. The holder, Chris Doak, is now plying his trade on the European Tour.
The Gleneagles Scottish Championship, again being played over the PGA Centenary course (June 25-28), will provide a prize fund of £55,000, and defending will be Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle).
The Callaway series of 36-hole events will again be on the schedule but because the company representative with whom the PGA negotiates is recovering from a motoring accident, the dates and venues have still to be finalised.
One of the encouraging elements of the schedule is the addition of four new pro-ams – at Murcar Links (June 4), Southerness (August 19), Deeside (August 21), and Drumpellier (August 22).
Other 36-hole events which will be part of the season’s Order of Merit are:
May 6 & 7: Wateraid (Kilmarnock Barassie).
June 6 & 7: Wishaw.
August 4 & 5: Deer Park Masters.
August 10 & 11: Volvo Trucks/Ayrshire Hospice

EGU send Ford, Keenan on five

-tournament trip to Australia

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Charlie Ford and Farren Keenan, both internationals and members of the England Squad for 2009, will represent the English Golf Union (EGU) in five successive Australian tournaments over the coming weeks.
The pair will contest the Avondale Medal at Avondale Golf Club on 16th - 17th January, the Australian Cup on 18th January, followed by the Lake Macquarie International on 22nd - 24th January.
They will then move on to the New South Wales Amateur Championship incorporating the 72-hole NSW Medal at Twin Creeks and Bonnie Doon Golf Clubs on 31st January - 2nd February, with the leading 32 players qualifying for the match play at The Australian on 4th - 8th February.
Keenan (pictured above by courtesy of Tom Ward Photograph), 24, is a former Under 16 and Boy International who made his full England debut in last autumn’s Home Internationals in Scotland. He has also represented GB&I against Europe in the Jacques Leglise Trophy.
He is a previous winner of the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters, the Mauritius Amateur (twice) and the Surrey Championship, while in 2008 he claimed the Berkshire Trophy. Ford, 23, from Leicestershire, became a full England cap in the 2007 Home Internationals in Ireland and has since represented England in last year’s European Men’s Team Championships and Home Internationals.
He gained considerable success while at the University of Texas and finished runner-up in the World University Games in Bangkok in 2007. The duo will be seeking a third successive English victory in the 54-hole Avondale Medal, Steve Lewton and Matthew Cryer having triumphed in the past two years.
The 18-hole Australian Cup at The Australian Golf Club is a new event with a field of 72 international players, while the long established 72-hole Lake Macquarie International at Belmont Golf Club has been won by England’s Roger Chapman, Russell Claydon, Ricky Willison, Nick Dougherty and Adam Gee, while Gary Wolstenholme lost a play-off in 1998.
The field in the New South Wales Medal will play one round over the Twin Creeks and Bonnie Doon courses after which there will be a cut with the leading 60 players plus ties playing 36 holes at Bonnie Doon on 2nd February.
The leading 32 players from that will enter the match play knockout competition at The Australian, each match being contested over 36 holes. In 2007, Wolstenholme won the match play, having been beaten in the final the previous year.
SCOTS IN CHINA ... AND AUSTRALIA
Ross Kellett (Colville Park), Gordon Yates (Hilton Park) and Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn) are in the field of 88 players for the Mission Hills Asia Pacific Open amateur championship which starts in China tomorrow. It's a four-round stroke-play event ending on Friday.
Kellett and Yates are then heading to Australia to play in the Lake Macquarie event at Belmont Golf Club (January 22-24) and the New South Wales Amateur championship from January 31 to February 2.

Caddie Fanny Sunneson and Henrik Stenson have a great record in Doha Golf Club event.

Henrik Stenson (and Fanny) bidding

to retain Qatar Masters title

PRESS RELEASE
Doha (QATAR): Europe may have lost to the USA in the Ryder Cup at Valhalla but many of its players will be out in force when the 2009 Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy, gets underway at Doha Golf Club on January 22.
Henrik Stenson, Oliver Wilson, Soren Hansen, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia Paul Casey and Miguel Angel Jimenez were all in Nick Faldo’s side that lost 16½ to 11½ to the Paul Azinger-led Americans. And the Europeans will no doubt be reminded of that defeat by a certain Boo Weekley, the colourful American who will be making his Middle East debut in Qatar.
“The line-up for the twelfth staging of the tournament is just getting better and better,” said Hassan Al Nuami, President of the Qatar Golf Association (QGA), organisers of the US$ 2.5 million European Tour event in association with the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and Commercialbank.
“We’ve already got most of the European Ryder Cup side confirmed and expect to announce or two more as we countdown to hosting what will be one of the best fields in our short history. Henrik Stenson is also a former champion here so he knows all about Doha Golf Club.”
Under normal circumstances, the big-hitting Swede - currently ranked world number eight - would be returning to Doha as defending champion. Unfortunately, his final round 65 was eclipsed twelve months ago by a course record 61 that saw Australian Adam Scott take the title.

“It's not often you go out and shoot 65 and lose by three to somebody who played in front of you,” said Stenson.
“Last year, I knew I had to do something and I birdied the third and fourth and felt like I was going forward. But I just saw he was in front all the time and I was trying to catch up. When somebody is playing like that, he’s in the zone and just going forward.”
In 2006, Stenson lifted the famous Mother of Pearl trophy thanks to score of fifteen under par, three ahead of runner-up Paul Broadhurst. A year later he tied for seventh and last year had to settle for the runners-up spot behind Scott despite shooting an impressive seventeen under par.
“I like the golf course,” he added. “I think it suits my game when I'm playing well. In the past, I've been able to take advantage on a few of the holes and hit some good tee shots and make it a bit shorter that way. Normally I'm a pretty good grinder when it gets to tough conditions and that's certainly something you need to be able to do around there.”
The 7,388-yard course at Doha Golf Club is in prime condition for the arrival of the 120-man field. “Thanks to the recent good weather we’ve had in Qatar, I think the course is in remarkable shape and will certainly be appreciated by the players,” said Commercialbank Group CEO Andrew Stevens.
More information on the 2009 Commercialbank Qatar Masters, presented by Dolphin Energy is available at the official website http://www.qatar-masters.com/.

We are the champions! The winning Asia team with the Royal Trophy after their first success over Europe.

Asians hope Europe will send a stronger

team for future Royal Trophy matches

The feeling in Asian Tour circles is that Europe paid the price for sending their second or third-best team when they were well beaten, 10-6, by Asia for the first time in the Royal Trophy match which ended at the Amata Spring Country Club, Bangkok in Thailand on Sunday.
South Korean Charlie Wi is hopeful Asia's commanding win will convince Europe to start taking the competition seriously and field stronger teams.
Wi, who plays on the US Tour, said Asia's "humbling" of the twice champions had boosted the credibility of the match-play contest and should see big name players signing up to restore European pride next year.
"It's great to win. Maybe now they'll realise they need to pick better players if they want to win. We'll see what happens next year but we all want everyone to take this seriously. I was surprised they didn't."
Europe won the first two editions, the second by a massive nine point margin, but last week skipper Jose Maria Olazabal fielded a team of his own choice that featured just two members of the Ryder Cup squad that lost to the United States in 2008.
Wi, who had four top-10 finishes in the U.S. last year, said the Royal Trophy was ideally placed on the calendar, a week before the lucrative Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, and should be attractive for top European players. "It's perfectly placed and it's a good competition," he added. "I don't know how surprised the Europeans were by us but they certainly did not put out their strongest team and I hope they'll take it seriously next year."
Paul Lawrie, the best-performing player on what captain Jose Maria Olazabal admitted was a "rusty" European side, said he was surprised by the scale of the event and the standard of the Asian players.
"This competition could have a massive future," the 1999 Open champion said. "I'll tell any other European players that they should jump at the chance if they are asked to play here."

Geoff Ogilvy survives last-round
crisis to win US Tour opener

Australian Geoff Ogilvy won the first event of the 2009 US Tour by six shots with a closing 68 for a 24-under-par total of 268. Joint runners-up on 274 were Anthony Kim, who closed to within one stroke at one stage, and Davis Love. Both shot 67s.
REPORT FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
KAPALUA, Hawaii -- He was frustrated, not angry. Geoff Ogilvy was quick to make the distinction Sunday as he reflected on his win the Mercedes-Benz Championship.
The bearded Aussie needed that lesson in semantics after making bogey on the eighth hole of his final round at the Plantation Course. It was his fourth in eight holes, and suddenly, what had been a six-stroke lead at the start of the day, had dwindled to one.
"Is there a difference between frustrated and angry?" Ogilvy wondered aloud even as he fielded questions with a purple and white lei wrapped around his neck.
No matter. Those emotions were short-lived as Ogilvy reached the par-5 ninth with a 3-iron and rolled in a 21-footer for eagle that gave him a three-shot edge over Anthony Kim. Birdies on five of his next six holes followed and Ogilvy's fifth win was reality.
"Since I walked off the ninth green I felt actually the best I did all week," he said. "All of a sudden, a switch flicked."
The wire-to-wire winner was the just the fifth player to post four rounds in the 60s since the tournament moved to Kapalua in 1999. He made 27 birdies and an eagle, while dropping just five strokes to par in a brilliant display of shot-making and nerve.
"I knew he was going to make birdies," said Kim, who tied for second with Davis Love III at 18 under. "I knew it was my job to keep matching him and keep pushing him. I didn't put enough heat on him; seven under through seven holes, what can you say?"
"This is a great course for a guy that hits it like he does," Love agreed. "If I would have got up-and-down a few more times and made a few more putts, I would have been a little closer, but I don't think I could have got to him."
If his performance at Kapalua is any indication, the 2006 U.S. Open champ could be destined for big things this year. He's been a notoriously slow starter during his career but he's already won twice in four starts since the start of December, counting the Australian PGA Championship.
"That's a dream start to the year," Ogilvy admitted. "I knew I was playing well, so it's nice to have one up early and now I can set about getting more."
Sunday's victory was the fifth of Ogilvy's US PGA Tour career and came against a winners-only field of 32 assembled at Kapalua. The 31-year-old takes the lead in the FedExCup with the 500 points he earned and is $1.12 million richer, as well.
Ogilvy may have a major on his resume, but he's decidedly understated and definitely underappreciated. He's popular among the media for his candour and quick wit but fans appear more drawn to the young guns like Kim and Camilo Villegas.
And that suits Ogilvy, who admits he's comfortable in the "background," just fine.
"They are younger than me and have put some good runs on the board," he said. "They are allowed to be the talk of the Tour. I don't feel like I've missed out at all. In fact, the less I have to come in here and talk about stuff, the better."
That said, don't think for a minute that Ogilvy doesn't believe he can take the next step. He's repeatedly come up big in marquee events like the Open and the World Golf Championships -- joining Tiger Woods and Darren Clarke as the only players to have won two of the elite global tournaments.
"I'm realistic enough to know weeks like this don't come along very often; hopefully more often in the future than they have done in the past," Ogilvy said. "I feel like I'm a pretty good player.
"I still throw out the negative comment here and there, but there's a lot more positive stuff than there used to be. The more you see the benefits from doing that sort of stuff, the more you want to do it."
Ogilvy has already won more than $17 million on the strength of 40 top-10 finishes since joining the US Tour in 2001. He hasn't made his presence known on leaderboards as frequently as he would have liked, though, and that separates him from the Tiger Woods and Vijay Singhs of the world.
"I feel like I'm closer to that stage now, but there's still probably a gap there," he said. "If I played like this every week, I'd be all right, and obviously work out how to do it a bit more often. I think it's coming. I think I could get to that sort of stage.
"Golf's a weird game."
That's exactly what he thought as he left the eighth green on Sunday.
+Ogilvy demonstrated that you don't have to drive the ball over 300yd to be a winner on the US Tour. Geoff's average driving distance for the four rounds was 275.9yd. He hit 75% of the fairways and 86.1% of the greens in regulation. He holed on average 29 putts per round and had a 33.3% success rate in getting up and down in two shots or fewer from bunkers - not that he was in many!
LEADING TOTALS
Par 292 (4 x 73)
Players from US unless stated
268 Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 67 68 65 68.
274 Anthony Kim 71 68 68 67, Davis Love 69 70 68 67.
275 Sean O'Hair 69 70 71 65.
276 Justin Leonard 74 67 65 70.
277 Ernie Els (SAf) 68 69 73 67, Zach Johnson 71 75 64 67, Kenny Perry 68 71 68 70, D J Trahan 70 66 70 71.

278 Johnson Wagner 68 71 70 69
279 Dustin Johnson 72 72 68 67
280 Will MacKenzie 72 70 69 69, Camilo Villegas (Col) 74 67 66 73, Chez Reavie 75 70 68 67
281 K J Choi (SKor) 71 71 66 73, Boo Weekley 70 70 69 72
282 Carl Pettersson (Swe) 72 72 70 68
283 Adam Scott (Aus) 73 67 73 70, Brian Gay 72 70 70 71, Ryuji Imada (Jap) 69 70 74 70
284 Richard S Johnson (Swe) 72 72 71 69, Trevor Immelman (SAf) 72 74 69 69
285 Cameron Beckman 76 73 66 70
286 Steve Lowery 69 75 70 72, Stewart Cink 74 67 71 74, Parker McLachlin 77 69 69 71
287 Daniel Chopra (Swe) 79 69 67 72, Vijay Singh (Fiji) 73 73 71 70
288 J B Holmes 74 75 72 67, Greg Kraft 72 73 68 75
291 Ryan Palmer 78 75 72 66
295 Andres Romero (Arg) 78 74 71 72
296 Marc Turnesa 79 73 70 74

Mercedes-Benz opening event of 2009 US PGA Tour

Ogilvy's bogey-bogey start allows Kim's

birdie-birdie burst to cut lead to THREE

Geoff Ogilvy, six shots ahead at the start of the final round, had his lead slashed to "only" three strokes after four holes in the Mercedes-Benz Championship, a field restricted to 2008 tournament winners, at Kapalua Plantation, Hawaii.
Ogilvy started his round bogey-bogey-par-par.
Ryder Cup young man Anthony Kim, who had been seven behind the Australian after Saturday.s third round, began his fourth round par-par-birdie-birdie-par-par.
So it's Ogilvy 17 under par ahead of Kim 14 under par as the fourth round progresses.
If you cannot wait until breakfast time for the final scores on this website, log on to the US PGA Tour website -
http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r016/

For the best of both worlds, switch over to
Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

Don't forget to switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk, for news from women's golf, amateur and professional.
Today's top stories:

+Annika Sorenstam's Saturday wedding.

+Harder Hall Invitational report and final totals

+Seven Scots tackle final Ladies European Tour Q Test.

Monty admits he's at the golfing

crossroads at 45 ... and he will

hang up his golf shoes at 52

FROM BBC SPORT.COM WEBSITE
Colin Montgomerie admits the next 12 months are vital as he attempts to revive his flagging career.
The 45-year-old Scot, a former world No 2, has failed to win a tournament since July 2007 and has slumped to 123 in the world rankings.
"This year is very important for me," he told BBC 5 Live's Sportsweek.
"After a disappointing 2008, I have to be realistic and if it does not go well again this year I have to have thoughts about what I am doing."
Montgomerie, who won the last of his record eight European Order of Merit titles in 2005, is desperate to regain his form after a dismal 2008.
He did not qualify for the Masters, finished tied for 58th at the Open, failed to make the cut at the US Open and the USPGA Championship, and only finished in the top 10 of a European Tour event three times.
But after revamping his swing with coaches Pete Cowen and Paul Marchand over the winter, Montgomerie starts the New Year determined to compete again with world's top players.
"I am anxious to get back in the world elite which I have lost ground on over the years," he said.
"I feel I belong with that elite and it's just a matter of proving to myself that I can still compete at that level. There is nothing that should stop me from doing that.
"I am fitter than I have ever been before, technically I am learning as I go along and there is no reason why I should not be confident.
"There is no more ambitious golfer out there than myself and I am eager to get going. I still have that drive."
Montgomerie is guaranteed a place at the Open at Turnberry this year but has yet to qualify for the three other majors and he admits he needs a good start to the year.
"I am in the Open but currently I'm not in the other three and it's the first time I have started a year not in them," he said.
"The first one I might miss out on is the Masters and I have got to start winning early. This is why the first three tournaments are very important to try get going."
And Montgomerie, who has an exemption on the European Tour until 2015, says he will not be following the likes of Ian Woosnam and Sam Torrance in joining the European Senior Tour.
"I don't think you will find me playing seniors golf," he added. "It was a great way for the guys that were not earning the money that we are now to have a second go at it in these modern times where the rewards are so great.
"I can't see myself leaving home for another six days a week to America or Europe for seniors golf.
"I am lucky enough to be exempt on the European Tour until I am 52 and I plan on carrying on playing until then and I will see my options after that."

Olazabal would consider 2010 Ryder Cup

captaincy if he is offered it

FROM THE GUARDIAN.COM WEBSITE
Jose Maria Olazabal has reiterated his desire to play in the 2010 Ryder Cup but admitted that he would consider the captaincy if he is offered it.
The Spaniard, Nick Faldo's deputy when Europe lost to the United States at Valhalla, Kentucky, last September, suffered defeat in his first competition as Europe's captain when Asia eased to a 10–6 victory in the Royal Trophy at the Amata Spring club in Bangkok, Thailand, today.
The European committee will meet in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to discuss Faldo's successor and Olazabal is thought to be high on its wish list. The 42-year-old would prefer to be a playing member of the team for the biennial contest with the US at Celtic Manor in South Wales, however, but hinted that if he fails to win his ongoing battle with rheumatism and does not return to the competitive game, he would like to take the lead role.
"I would love to be considered, I'm not going to deny that," he said. "I've never denied that being captain of the Ryder Cup is something really special, it's a privilege, but it's always been like that. It's always nice to be named but if now is the right time or not, I'm not sure.
"I would love to be playing - if these guys allow me. I think maybe it is too soon [to be captain] but time will tell."

Two late birdies give Scot high finish

Great Dane Anders Hansen wins,

David Drysdale collects 76,120

Euros for third place

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Anders Hansen held his nerve on the final hole of the Joburg Open to claim a birdie and win the title from Andrew McLardy this afternoon.
The Dane, who was playing in the penultimate group at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club, was level with McLardy at 14 under par going to the par-5 18th hole, and gave himself a great chance of winning by leaving his second shot 25 feet from the hole.
He missed the eagle chance, but made birdie from three feet to finish with a 15 under 269 total and see off the challlenge of South African McLardy, who missed several chances to pick up shots over the closing holes.
Needing a birdie himself on the last, McLardy pulled his tee shot into the trees to end his chances after he led the tournament overnight with Charl Schwartzel and David Drysdale.
Drysdale ended his tournament with a 69 - a tournament total 271 - with Danny Willett, Tyrone van Aswegen and Schwartzel ending a further shot back.
Drysdale, who lost his momentum with a third-round 71, which included a double bogey 5 at a short hole, birdied the sixth but dropped a shot at the 10th in his final round. He suddenly clicked into gear again after a string of pars with birdies at the 16th and 17th to move into third place.
The Scot earned 76,120 Euros.
Hansen’s final round of five-under 66 was enough to claim the €174,350 prize on his way to a third European Tour title.
However, it looked very different on day one when he finished with a level par 71 to sit eight shots off the lead.
He said: “I think it means a lot to win obviously – because that’s what we’re here for. Especially after the first day, where the first two holes I started double bogey-bogey and think ‘what is this?’ But I turned that round around and got off to a flying start the second day. I couldn’t keep it going, but that sort of helped me put things into perspective thinking about the next day.
“I thought I needed to keep the third round going and again got off to a good start. And then I thought I had to come out and shoot five under. I thought 15 under was going to be the winning score, so I was right.”
The 38 year old’s biggest move of the co-sanctioned European Tour and Sunshine Tour event came on the front nine today when he claimed five birdies, including four in four holes to make the turn in 31.
But a bogey on the par 3 12th hole saw him slip back before he hit back on the final hole.
He continued: “I played really nice on the front nine there and hit a lot of good shots, so it was really great. It (the bogey) is obviously a momentum breaker, I didn’t hit a great tee shot, and it cost me.
“(On the last) I was focussed on just hitting a good drive and I did that. I hit a great second shot and the two putt was enough, so it’s great.”
Englishman Willett, who began his round with a bogey before finishing birdie-birdie for a round of 68 said: “Yeah, it was a good finish. I turned in one over and not really playing very good and then tried to get it going on the back nine. I had a really good finish then down 17 and 18, so yeah, I’m quite happy.
“A top five this week gets me into next week at Abu Dhabi, which I wouldn’t have got in otherwise. I’m just trying to play well this year, keep plodding along and hopefully keep my card, so we’ll see what happens.”
The biggest cheer of the day was reserved for two time major winner Retief Goosen, who made a three iron 216 yard shot for an albatross 2 on the par-5 18th to end a disappointing round that included nine bogeys in a 74 for a tournament total of seven-under.
Defending champion Richard Sterne, bidding for a third consecutive European Tour title, made a valiant attempt to defend his title finishing with a 68 and a total of 275.
Canada-based Glasgow-born Alan McLean finished with a 72 for 279 and a share of 35th place which earned him 8,250 Euros.
Chris Doak finished joint 6th on 284. He also closed with a 72 for a pay-out of 2,268 Euros.

FINAL TOTALS
(Par 284: 4 x 71)
269 Anders Hansen (Den) 71 68 64 66
270 Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 65 68 69 68
271 David Drysdale 65 66 71 69
272 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 68 71 63 70, Danny Willett 67 66 71 68, Tyrone Van Aswegen (Rsa) 69 65 70 68
273 David Dixon 68 69 68 68, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 69 68 66 70, Richard McEvoy 69 65 72 67
274 Estanislao Goya (Arg) 70 69 69 66, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 71 66 67 70
275 Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 69 69 66 71, Graham De laet (Can) 72 66 68 69, Taco Remkes (Ned) 67 70 69 69, Jaco Van Zyl (Rsa) 67 70 69 69, James Kamte (Rsa) 69 69 66 71, Michael Hoey 64 68 72 71, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 71 66 70 68, Charl Coetzee (Rsa) 68 67 75 65
276 Brett Liddle (Rsa) 67 70 69 70, Jean Hugo (Rsa) 67 72 67 70, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 65 69 70 72
277 Oliver Bekker (Rsa) 67 65 73 72, Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 67 73 71 66, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 70 68 65 74, Klas Eriksson (Swe) 69 69 67 72, Anthony Snobeck (Fra) 72 64 70 71
278 Brandon Pieters (Rsa) 68 71 70 69, Gary Lockerbie 69 68 72 69, James Kingston (Rsa) 71 69 67 71, Jan Are Larsen (Nor) 66 69 75 68, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 63 76 72 67, Lorenzo Gagli (Ita) 70 67 69 72, Martin Maritz (Rsa) 66 72 68 72
279 Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 69 66 72 72, Alan McLean 71 65 71 72, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 66 72 72 69
280 Chris Gane 70 70 71 69, Martin Wiegele (Aut) 68 72 72 68, Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 74 65 70 71, Mikko Korhonen (Fin) 69 69 71 71, James Morrison 67 68 74 71, Gary Clark 72 67 68 73, Dion Fourie (Rsa) 68 70 71 71, Bernd Wiesberger (Aut) 72 64 73 71
281 John Mellor 72 67 70 72, Carl Suneson (Spa) 67 73 72 69, Andre Bossert (Swi) 70 69 74 68, Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 73 65 75 68, Doug McGuigan 69 71 70 71, Cameron Johnston (Rsa) 72 66 73 70
282 Hennie Otto (Rsa) 67 73 75 67, Antti Ahokas (Fin) 72 64 72 74, Tyrone Ferreira (Rsa) 68 72 70 72, Phillip Archer 69 70 73 70, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 68 70 73 71
283 Michiel Bothma (Rsa) 70 70 69 74, Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 67 71 74 71, Iain Pyman 71 69 69 74, Wallie Coetsee (Rsa) 72 64 76 71, Keith Horne (Rsa) 68 70 70 75, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (Spa) 65 71 73 74, Simon Griffiths 73 64 71 75, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 65 71 74 73
284 Chris Wood 69 70 72 73, Ulrich Van Den Berg (Rsa) 70 70 73 71, Jake Roos (Rsa) 69 69 73 73, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 69 71 71 73, Tc Charamba (Zim) 70 67 77 70, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 71 65 78 70, Kevin Stone (Rsa) 69 70 71 74, Chris Doak 68 70 74 72
285 Bobby Lincoln (Rsa) 68 72 73 72
286 Neil Cheetham 73 67 73 73, Kasper L Jorgensen (Den) 68 72 74 72, Michele Reale (Ita) 66 74 73 73
287 David Carter 67 72 73 75
288 Sam Little 72 68 74 74, Michael Curtis (Zim) 74 65 75 74
289 John E Morgan 69 70 72 78
290 Edrich Jansen (Rsa) 70 70 73 77
291 Gregory Molteni (Ita) 73 65 77 76
292 Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 68 72 79 73

Joburg Open - Latest Sunday news
FINAL ROUND
14 under par: Anders Hansen after 13 holes.
14 under par: Andrew McLardy after 12.
12 under par: David Dixon after 16.
12 under par: Charl Schwartzel after 12.
11 under par: David Drysdale after 12.
11 under par: Tyrone Van Aswegen after 15.

LATER NEWS
COMPLETED TOTALS
Par 284 (4 x 71)
269 (-15) Anders Hansen (Den) 66.
272 Tyrone Van Aswegen (SAf) 68, Danny Willett (Eng) 68.
273 David Dixon 68 (Eng), Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 70, Richard McEvoy 67.
279 Alan McLean (Sco) 72.
284 Chris Doak (Sco) 72.

-14 after 16 holes Andrew McLardy.
-12 after 16 holes David Drysdale.
-12 after 16 holes Charl Schwartzel

Aussie Ogilvy leads by six strokes in

Mercedes-Benz US opener

Australian Geoff Ogilvy is on the brink of victory in the opening event of the US PGA Tour season after firing a third-round eight under par 65 to surge six strokes clear of the field in the the Mercedes-Benz Championship at Kapalua Plantation Golf Club, Hawaii.
Ogilvy entered the third round with a one-stroke lead from D J Trahan after rounds of 67 and 68 and tacked on five strokes to his cushion at the 2008 winners-only event with a bogey-free round that included eight birdies.
At 19 under 200, Ogilvy now leads Justin Leonard by six.
"I've never actually been this far in front before, but I've been this far behind a lot of times," said Ogilvy, who got off to a good start with a birdie at the first, one of four that he made on the front nine.
He started the back nine with a birdie at the tenth and then had a run of three straight starting at the 13th.
"I played well, obviously," Ogilvy said. "It was a different course than I've ever seen before. Just a gentle wind in completely the opposite direction that I've ever seen it. So it was different."
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 219 (3x73)
200 Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 67 68 65
206 Justin Leonard 74 67 65, D.J. Trahan 70 66 70
207 Kenny Perry 68 71 68, Anthony Kim 71 68 68, Davis Love III 69 70 68, Camilo Villegas (Col) 74 67 66
208 K J Choi (Kor) 71 71 66
209 Boo Weekley 70 70 69, Johnson Wagner 68 71 70
210 Sean O'Hair 69 70 71, Zach Johnson 71 75 64, Ernie Els (Rsa) 68 69 73
211 Will MacKenzie 72 70 69
212 Dustin Johnson 72 72 68, Brian Gay 72 70 70, Stewart Cink 74 67 71
213 Adam Scott (Aus) 73 67 73, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 69 70 74, Greg Kraft 72 73 68, Chez Reavie 75 70 68
214 Steve Lowery 69 75 70, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 72 72 70
215 Richard S Johnson (Swe) 72 72 71, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 79 69 67, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 72 74 69, Cameron Beckman 76 73 66, Parker McLachlin 77 69 69
217 Vijay Singh (Fij) 73 73 71
221 J B Holmes 74 75 72
222 Marc Turnesa 79 73 70
223 Andres Romero (Arg) 78 74 71
225 Ryan Palmer 78 75 72

Paul Lawrie finishes on a high

but Europe lose Royal Trophy

to Asia by 10-6 margin

Asia held off a final day singles resurgence from Europe to secure an historic first victory in the threee-day Royal Trophy match.

Europe won the singles 4 1/2-3 1/2 but Asia scored a 10-6 victory overall at Amata Spring Country Club near Bangkok, Thailand.

After establishing a 5pt advantage over the first two days of the team match-play event, Asia required just two points from the eight Sunday singles matches.
Prayad Marksaeng beat Pablo Larrazabal 5 and 4 after Paul Lawrie, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, had claimed a 3 and 2 triumph over Liang Wen-chong before Toru Taniguchi sank the winning putt as he cruised to a 7 and 6 win over Niclas Fasth to send the huge home crowds into ecstasy.
European captain José Maria Olazábal - deputising for Seve Ballesteros, who is recovering from surgery on a brain tumour - had hoped the team he chose could perform a final day miracle escape but it was not to be for the visitors.
Paul Lawrie won the day's second match but disappointing performances from Larrazabal and Fasth, playing in the fourth and seventh matches respectively, ensured Asia an unassailable lead.
Lawrie was one of the more successful European players with 2 1/2pt earned out of a possible three on this his comeback to international golf. He played in the 1999 Ryder Cup match after his dramatic Open win at Carnoustie that year.
Nick Dougherty, Oliver Wilson and Johan Edfors recorded their first points of the week, but their wins were ultimately in vain as Asia emerged victorious.
Olazábal congratulated Joe Ozaki's Asian team for their triumph before hinting Ballesteros would return to reclaim the trophy in 2010.
"My last words are for Seve," said the Spaniard as he addressed his eight-man team.
"He is recovering from some health issues, but even though I'm the captain this year, I might not be the captain next year - and I can assure you he is going to be tougher than I was."
"I want to thank my players for trying hard this week," he added."We lost, it hurts but that will make us better in the future."
Olazábal’s players were united in their praise for their captain, most notably Hansen and Dougherty.
Hansen said: “Olly has been a great captain. This week is all about the players and we didn’t perform as we can. There were eight guys out there in front of us and we didn’t beat them, didn’t get the putts in the hole at the right time. Olly has been great this week. He was great as an assistant to Faldo at The Ryder Cup and I would love to play under him in the future.”
Dougherty said: It’s disappointing and I feel really sorry for Olly because he has done a great job, phenomenal. He is going to be a very worthy Ryder Cup captain one day. Everything he does is class: his motivation, the way he handles people, everything like that.
“You can imagine what the atmosphere was like for us. After the first day we were sitting around saying ‘what the hell happened?’, then on the second day it was a double ‘what the hell happened?’ But even through all of that he was brilliant. He got the message across but was funny at the right time while still getting the message across. You can’t help but respect a guy like that anyway and all he achieved in the game.”

FINAL RESULT

ASIA 10, EUROPE 6

Last day singles

ASIA 3 1/2, EUROPE 4 1/2

(Asian names first):

Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn) halved with Soren Hansen (Den).

Liang Wen-chong (PRC) lost to Paul Lawrie (Sco) 3 and 2.

Charlie Wi (Kor) lost to Nick Dougherty (Eng) 1 hole.

Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) beat Pablo Larrazabal (Esp) 5 and 4.

Hideto Tanihara (Tha) lost to Oliver Wilson (Eng) 3 and 2.

S K Ho (Kor) lost to Johan Edfors (Swe) 5 and 4.

Toru Taniguchi (Jpn) bt Niclas Fasth (Swe) 7 and 6.

Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) bt Paul McGinley (Ire) 5 and 4.