Archive for September, 2009
September 23, 2009
The LPGA Tour has lost one of its marquee events.
Anheuser-Busch announced Monday that it is not renewing its sponsorship of the popular Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill after seven years.
Anheuser-Busch vice president Dan McHugh said that the company has decided to spread its sponsorships over a wider range of professional golf events. He says it will continue working with the LPGA.
Were looking to give sort of a little bit more national scope, McHugh said. He said after a lengthy analysis after the May event here, the company wants to create a footprint in more tournaments.
The LPGA has lost at least seven tournaments since 2007.
McHugh said Mondays announcement will mean a Michelob presence at more events, and a continuing support of the LPGA Tour. McHugh added that the support would be with hospitality opportunities rather than a major sponsorship.
Anheuser-Busch owns the Kingsmill Resort and Spa, where the PGA Tour made a stop for 22 years before the LPGA took over seven years ago. McHugh said the decision-making process included considering the higher costs of being the owner and operator of a tournament.
Michelob Ultra also hopes to continue as the official beer of the tour, he said.
The news is expected to be taken especially hard by the players on the tour, who voted the event their favorite in 2007. Fans voted it their favorite event in 2008, said Eric Albrecht, vice president of marketing for the tour. He attended the press conference.
The players were notified of the news early Monday, Albrecht said.
I think its a little bit the realities of the sports sponsorship landscape, he said, adding that the tour has close to 20 events confirmed for 2010. He said the tour is in discussions with nine other events and working with several potentially new event partners.
As we move closer and closer to the 2010 schedule, were feeling better and better about that schedule, Albrecht said. We feel good where was are in September. Were optimistic but were also realistic knowing that our 2010 schedule may not be what it was a couple of years ago.
In 2007, the LPGA had 34 events on its schedule. It had just 27 this year, lost all three of its events in Hawaii, longtime sponsor Corning after 31 years and several others.
It has been a particularly difficult year for the womens tour. A group of prominent players wrote a letter in July asking for the resignation of tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens after four years, saying the tours woes could not all be blamed on a weakened economy.
Bivens resigned the following week, and was replaced on an interim basis by Marsha Evans, a retired rear admiral in the Navy who also has led the American Red Cross and Girl Scouts of the USA. The tour has said it hopes to find a permanent replacement for Bivens by years end.
Albrecht said since the change the news has been encouraging, including the announcement last week that Rolex will sponsor this years final event, the LPGA Tour Championship.
The U.S. victory in the Solheim Cup against a team of European players drew positive attention to the tour, he said, and may help the tour land new sponsors.
Weve had a lot of companies begin to talk to us just since the Solheim Cup, he said.
For Kingsmill, which drew raves from players for the corps of 1,500 volunteers that made the week of tournament activities run so smoothly, it might not be the end of professional golf in Virginia, said Wayne Noe, the tournament director of the Michelob Ultra Open.
Kingsmill will and has had some dialogue with the LPGA and would like to have further discussion about any opportunities for us moving forward, Noe said. If there are opportunities that arise in the future, wed like to be part of those discussions.
McHugh said the decision not to go forward was not finalized until last week, but if a sponsor arose willing to bring the LPGA back, the company would be very receptive to it.
September 22, 2009
Prize money for the Dubai World Championship and the bonus pool will be reduced 25 percent because of the global economic downturn.
The winners check for the Nov. 19-22 tournament in Dubai will be $1.25 million, and first prize for the season-long bonus pool, known as the Race To Dubai, has been reduced to $1.5 million. The total for each has been cut to $7.5 million from $10 million.
The European Tour has offered to reduce the prize money to reflect the current worldwide economic position, European Tour chief executive George OGrady said. We will jointly examine prize money levels in future years in the light of this developing global situation.
When the tournament was launched two years ago it was hailed as the richest in golf, but the cuts mean it can no longer say that. This weeks Tour Championship at Atlanta also has a purse of $7.5 million, with a winners check of $1.35 million.
September 22, 2009
The LPGA Tour has lost one of its marquee events.
Anheuser-Busch announced Monday that it is not renewing its sponsorship of the popular Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill after seven years.
Anheuser-Busch vice president Dan McHugh said that the company has decided to spread its sponsorships over a wider range of professional golf events. He says it will continue working with the LPGA.
Were looking to give sort of a little bit more national scope, McHugh said. He said after a lengthy analysis after the May event here, the company wants to create a footprint in more tournaments.
The LPGA has lost at least seven tournaments since 2007.
McHugh said Mondays announcement will mean a Michelob presence at more events, and a continuing support of the LPGA Tour. McHugh added that the support would be with hospitality opportunities rather than a major sponsorship.
Anheuser-Busch owns the Kingsmill Resort and Spa, where the PGA Tour made a stop for 22 years before the LPGA took over seven years ago. McHugh said the decision-making process included considering the higher costs of being the owner and operator of a tournament.
Michelob Ultra also hopes to continue as the official beer of the tour, he said.
The news is expected to be taken especially hard by the players on the tour, who voted the event their favorite in 2007. Fans voted it their favorite event in 2008, said Eric Albrecht, vice president of marketing for the tour. He attended the press conference.
The players were notified of the news early Monday, Albrecht said.
I think its a little bit the realities of the sports sponsorship landscape, he said, adding that the tour has close to 20 events confirmed for 2010. He said the tour is in discussions with nine other events and working with several potentially new event partners.
As we move closer and closer to the 2010 schedule, were feeling better and better about that schedule, Albrecht said. We feel good where was are in September. Were optimistic but were also realistic knowing that our 2010 schedule may not be what it was a couple of years ago.
In 2007, the LPGA had 34 events on its schedule. It had just 27 this year, lost all three of its events in Hawaii, longtime sponsor Corning after 31 years and several others.
It has been a particularly difficult year for the womens tour. A group of prominent players wrote a letter in July asking for the resignation of tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens after four years, saying the tours woes could not all be blamed on a weakened economy.
Bivens resigned the following week, and was replaced on an interim basis by Marsha Evans, a retired rear admiral in the Navy who also has led the American Red Cross and Girl Scouts of the USA. The tour has said it hopes to find a permanent replacement for Bivens by years end.
Albrecht said since the change the news has been encouraging, including the announcement last week that Rolex will sponsor this years final event, the LPGA Tour Championship.
The U.S. victory in the Solheim Cup against a team of European players drew positive attention to the tour, he said, and may help the tour land new sponsors.
Weve had a lot of companies begin to talk to us just since the Solheim Cup, he said.
For Kingsmill, which drew raves from players for the corps of 1,500 volunteers that made the week of tournament activities run so smoothly, it might not be the end of professional golf in Virginia, said Wayne Noe, the tournament director of the Michelob Ultra Open.
Kingsmill will and has had some dialogue with the LPGA and would like to have further discussion about any opportunities for us moving forward, Noe said. If there are opportunities that arise in the future, wed like to be part of those discussions.
McHugh said the decision not to go forward was not finalized until last week, but if a sponsor arose willing to bring the LPGA back, the company would be very receptive to it.
September 21, 2009
Nicole Gergely has claimed a two shot victory at the Randstad Open de France to become the first Austrian winner on the Ladies European Tour.
Gergely hit a superb final round of five-under 67 to finish on 13-under-par 275 at the Golf dArras course - putting her two clear of Finlands Ursula Wikstrom, who signed off with a round of 69.
Becky Brewerton of Wales shared third place with defending champion Anja Monke of Germany.
September 21, 2009
SAN DIEGO - Na Yeon Choi of South Korea lost her seven-stroke lead, then rallied to shoot 1-under 71 Sunday to win the Samsung World Championship, her first LPGA Tour victory.
Choi finished at 16-under 272 and held off runner-up Ai Miyazato of Japan, who shot a 69, the low round of the day at Torrey Pines.
Miyazato took the lead shortly after when Choi three-putted for bogey on No. 14.
Then it was Miyazatos turn to make a mistake. With 203 yards remaining for her second shot, Miyazatos 5-wood approach hit the bank in front of the 18th green and rolled into the water. She dropped in front of the pond but could not get up and down for par.
Chois second shot on the 18th reached the front left of the green and her third shot came to rest 5 feet below the pin. Choi, who had missed several putts of equal or less distance, converted the birdie for the victory.
Champions Tour
CONOVER, N.C. - Jay Haas overcame a slow start to shoot a 7-under 65, winning his second Greater Hickory Classic by two shots over Russ Cochran and Andy Bean.
Haas, who also won the Champions Tour event in 2005, set a tournament-record of 18-under 198 at Rock Barn Golf and Spas Robert Trent Jones course. His three-day total broke the mark set by R.W. Eaks in 2007 by one shot.
It also made the 13-time winner on the 50-and-over tour the second repeat winner in the tournaments seven-year history. Eaks won back-to-back titles in 2007 and 08.
Cochran and Bean also shot 65 on Sunday, with Hal Sutton (65) and second-round co-leader Nick Price (68) tied for fourth at 15 under.
PGA Cup
LUSS, Scotland - Scott Hebert won all five of his matches, and the U.S. club pros dominated Great Britain Ireland in singles for a 17 1/2-8 1/2 victory in the PGA Cup.
The Americans won 8 1/2 points from the 10 singles matches, beating by one point their largest margin of victory on foreign soil set in 1983 at Muirfield. The United States has twice won by 12 points playing at home.
Hebert, a former club pro champion from Traverse City, Mich., had a 2-up victory over Jon Bevan to become the only player on The Carrick course at Loch Lomond to win all five of his matches.
Sonny Skinner won the first of 10 singles matches over Barry Taylor to go 4-0 for the week, while Steve Schneiter of Sandy, Utah, also had a 1-up victory for a 4-0 record.
European Tour
OBERWALTERSDORF, Austria - Rafael Cabrera-Bello of Spain shot a course-record 11-under 60 to win his first European Tour title by one stroke over Benn Barham at the Austrian Open.
Cabrera-Bello was in seventh place overnight, trailing leader Barham by eight strokes. He overtook the Englishman with 11 birdies to finish at 20-under 264.
Cabrera-Bello missed an eagle putt on No. 18 that would have given him a European Tour record 59 that would have matched the best score ever on the PGA Tour.
Barham bogeyed the par-4 third in a 2-under 69. Soren Hansen of Denmark was two strokes back, placing third for the second straight week.
September 21, 2009
Rafael Cabrera-Bello of Spain shot a course-record 11-under 60 on Sunday to win his first European Tour title by one stroke over Benn Barham at the Austrian Open.
Cabrera-Bello was in seventh place overnight, trailing leader Barham by eight strokes. He overtook the Englishman with 11 birdies to finish at 20-under 264.
Cabrera-Bello missed an eagle putt on No. 18 that would have given him a European Tour record 59 that would have matched the best score ever on the PGA Tour.
Its just amazing. I played the best golf of my life and I cant believe it, said Cabrera-Bello, who had never been under 64 on the European Tour. I was so far back I wasnt thinking about winning. I just tried to play one shot at a time.
Barham bogeyed the par-4 third in a 2-under 69. Soren Hansen of Denmark was two strokes back, placing third for the second straight week.
The 25-year-old Cabrera-Bello lost his place on the European Tour in 2007, but returned from the Challenge Tour this season.
It was his fifth top-10 finish this year and he will rise from 74th to 46th in The Race to Dubai standings.
Cabrera-Bello drew even with Barham after the Englishman failed to make a birdie on the first 10 holes.
Barham, who had led the competition from the opening day, dropped two behind before sinking a 12-footer on the 16th. But a drive into the rough at the 18th was the decisive stroke.
September 19, 2009
Scores Friday from the Samsung World Championship, a $1 million US LPGA Tour event on the 6,721-yard, par-72 South Course at Torrey Pines.
Second Round
Jiyai Shin 66-69-135
Ai Miyazato 68-68-136
Lorena Ochoa 67-69-136
Sophie Gustafson 67-70-137
Cristie Kerr 72-66-138
Na Yeon Choi 71-67-138
Paula Creamer 69-69-138
Song-Hee Kim 66-72-138
Brittany Lincicome 70-70-140
Yani Tseng 75-66-141
Catriona Matthew 74-68-142
Juli Inkster 68-74-142
Suzann Pettersen 71-72-143
Karrie Webb 73-72-145
Lindsey Wright 73-72-145
Kristy McPherson 73-72-145
In-Kyung Kim 72-73-145
Anna Nordqvist 71-74-145
Angela Stanford 72-74-146
Eun-Hee Ji 78-73-151
September 19, 2009
Scores Friday from the Greater Hickory Classic, a $1,75 million Champions Tour event at 7,090-yard, par-72 Rock Barn Golf Spa.
First Round
Jay Haas 30-32-62
Gil Morgan 34-31-65
Tom Jenkins 34-32-66
Nick Price 32-34-66
Jerry Pate 32-34-66
Steve Thomas 35-32-67
Russ Cochran 33-34-67
Hal Sutton 32-35-67
Jeff Sluman 32-35-67
Dan Forsman 33-34-67
Bobby Wadkins 31-36-67
Andy Bean 34-33-67
Mark Wiebe 33-34-67
Mark McNulty 35-32-67
Chris Starkjohann 33-35-68
Ronnie Black 36-32-68
Larry Mize 35-33-68
Fulton Allem 32-36-68
Gene Jones 33-35-68
David Frost 35-33-68
Lonnie Nielsen 36-32-68
Jim Thorpe 34-34-68
Bruce Vaughan 33-35-68
Dave Eichelberger 35-34-69
Bob Tway 33-36-69
Joey Sindelar 33-36-69
R.W. Eaks 33-36-69
Mark James 36-33-69
Fred Funk 36-33-69
John Harris 35-34-69
Larry Nelson 36-33-69
Joe Ozaki 36-34-70
Wayne Levi 35-35-70
Jack Ferenz 34-36-70
Olin Browne 35-35-70
Don Pooley 34-36-70
Keith Clearwater 37-33-70
David Eger 36-34-70
Tim Simpson 36-34-70
Mike Reid 36-34-70
Scott Simpson 36-34-70
Tom Kite 34-36-70
Denis Watson 35-35-70
Brad Bryant 35-35-70
Bob Gilder 36-34-70
Allen Doyle 35-35-70
D.A. Weibring 33-37-70
James Mason 34-37-71
Tom Wargo 34-37-71
Phil Blackmar 36-35-71
Jay Sigel 37-34-71
Walter Hall 37-34-71
John Cook 36-35-71
Mike Goodes 36-35-71
Craig Stadler 34-37-71
Javier Sanchez 35-37-72
Gary Hallberg 35-37-72
Blaine McCallister 35-37-72
Bruce Summerhays 38-34-72
J.C. Snead 35-37-72
Jim Colbert 37-35-72
Mark W. Johnson 35-37-72
Chip Beck 36-36-72
Tom Purtzer 36-36-72
Sandy Lyle 36-37-73
Keith Fergus 37-36-73
Lee Trevino 38-35-73
John Morse 37-37-74
Jay Don Blake 38-36-74
Morris Hatalsky 37-37-74
Gibby Gilbert 36-39-75
Bruce Lietzke 37-39-76
Mike McCullough 39-37-76
Lanny Wadkins 38-38-76
Mike Hulbert 39-38-77
Bruce Fleisher 39-38-77
Leonard Thompson 40-38-78
Jim Dent 39-40-79
September 18, 2009
Benn Barham of England shot an 8-under 63 Thursday to lead the Austrian Open by one stroke after the opening round.
Barham had an eagle and seven birdies. His best result on the European Tour was third at last years Russian Open.
Scott Drummond of Scotland and Brett Rumford of Australia are in second, while 2007 champion Richard Green is in a group of four another shot back.
Ryder Cup player Soren Hansen of Denmark, the highest ranked player at No. 42, shot a 67. Jose Maria Olazabal, a winner of 23 European Tour titles, finished with a 70.
The Austrian Open was initially scheduled for June but was moved after the British Masters was dropped from the calendar.
September 18, 2009
Scores Thursday from the Samsung World Championship, a $1 million US LPGA Tour event on the 6,721-yard, par-72 South Course at Torrey Pines.
First Round
Song-Hee Kim 31-35-66
Jiyai Shin 34-32-66
Sophie Gustafson 32-35-67
Lorena Ochoa 33-34-67
Ai Miyazato 33-35-68
Juli Inkster 33-35-68
Paula Creamer 34-35-69
Brittany Lincicome 35-35-70
Na Yeon Choi 34-37-71
Anna Nordqvist 35-36-71
Suzann Pettersen 34-37-71
In-Kyung Kim 37-35-72
Angela Stanford 35-37-72
Cristie Kerr 39-33-72
Kristy McPherson 34-39-73
Lindsey Wright 36-37-73
Karrie Webb 36-37-73
Catriona Matthew 38-36-74
Yani Tseng 37-38-75
Eun-Hee Ji 38-40-78
