Archive for October, 2009
October 19, 2009
LAS VEGAS -Scotlands Martin Laird won the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on Sunday for his first PGA Tour title, beating George McNeill with a birdie on the third hole of a playoff.
Laird closed with a 3-under 68 to match McNeill (67) and former UNLV player Chad Campbell (69) at 19-under 265. Campbell was eliminated on the second extra hole.
The 26-year-old Laird, a former Colorado State player, earned $756,000 and a two-your tour exemption for the breakthrough victory at TPC Summerlin in his 53rd tour star. He jumped from 134th to 62nd on the money list with $1,271,254.
Three-time Las Vegas winner Jim Furyk (62) and Jeff Klauk (68) tied for fourth at 18 under, and former UNLV player Charley Hoffman (68) followed at 17 under.
Administaff Small Business Classic
THE WOODLANDS, Texas - John Cook won his third career Champions Tour title and first of the season, closing with a 4-under 68 to hold off Jay Haas and Bob Tway by two strokes in the Administaff Small Business Classic.
The 52-year-old Cook, an 11-time winner on the regular PGA Tour, finished at 11-under 205 on The Woodlands Country Clubs Tournament Course.
Haas, bidding for a victory in his third consecutive start and one stroke off the lead at the start of the final round, shot a 71. Tway had a 70.
Portugal Masters
VILAMOURA, Portugal - Englands Lee Westwood won the Portugal Masters for his first victory since September 2007, closing with a 6-under 66 for a two-stroke victory over Italys Francesco Molinari.
Westwood finished at 23-under 265 at the Oceanico Victoria and moved to the top of the European tour money list. Molinari had a 70. Irelands Padraig Harrington shot a 67 to finish third at 19 under. Third-round leader Retief Goosen had a 75 to tie for sixth, six strokes behind Westwood.
Miccosukee Championship
MIAMI - Chad Collins won the Miccosukee Championship for his second career Nationwide Tour title, closing with a 1-under 70 in windy conditions for a two-stroke victory in the final full-field event of the season.
The 31-year-old Collins, also the 2005 Henrico County Open winner, had a 10-under 274 total on the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club course. He earned $112,500 to jump from eighth to second on the money list with $386,014, with the top 25 next week after the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship earning 2010 PGA Tour cards.
Won Joon Lee (71), Brian Smock (71) and Justin Smith (72) tied for second.
October 19, 2009
Scores Sunday from the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, a $4,2 million US PGA Tour event at 7,223-yard, par-71 TPC Summerlin.
Final Round
(x-Won on third playoff hole)
x-Martin Laird, $756,000 63-67-67-68-265
Chad Campbell, $369,600 67-62-67-69-265
George McNeill, $369,600 66-69-63-67-265
Jim Furyk, $184,800 64-67-73-62-266
Jeff Klauk, $184,800 65-67-66-68-266
Charley Hoffman, $151,200 66-69-64-68-267
Andres Romero, $113,700 68-69-67-64-268
Tim Petrovic, $113,700 65-68-72-63-268
Matt Kuchar, $113,700 66-64-72-66-268
D.J. Trahan, $113,700 71-65-65-67-268
Rickie Fowler, $113,700 67-64-69-68-268
Ryan Moore, $113,700 67-63-70-68-268
Tom Pernice, Jr., $113,700 62-69-68-69-268
Kevin Streelman, $71,400 69-67-66-67-269
Greg Chalmers, $71,400 66-67-67-69-269
Hunter Mahan, $71,400 70-63-67-69-269
Jason Bohn, $71,400 66-67-65-71-269
Scott Piercy, $71,400 64-67-65-73-269
Matt Weibring, $50,904 68-68-68-66-270
Dean Wilson, $50,904 67-70-66-67-270
Ben Crane, $50,904 68-65-69-68-270
Chris Stroud, $50,904 69-68-70-63-270
Bob Heintz, $50,904 63-67-68-72-270
Alex Cejka, $36,960 66-68-70-67-271
Fredrik Jacobson, $36,960 66-69-68-68-271
Brandt Snedeker, $36,960 69-66-67-69-271
Roland Thatcher, $26,231 68-67-70-67-272
Tim Clark, $26,231 69-66-70-67-272
Chris DiMarco, $26,231 69-68-68-67-272
Brian Gay, $26,231 66-72-65-69-272
Kyle Stanley, $26,231 67-69-67-69-272
Tim Herron, $26,231 74-63-66-69-272
Bill Lunde, $26,231 68-70-68-66-272
Billy Mayfair, $26,231 68-67-68-69-272
Rich Beem, $26,231 69-64-75-64-272
Troy Matteson, $26,231 62-67-70-73-272
Kirk Triplett, $26,231 65-69-66-72-272
Chris Riley, $16,800 73-64-67-69-273
Tag Ridings, $16,800 70-65-70-68-273
Aaron Baddeley, $16,800 66-69-69-69-273
D.A. Points, $16,800 69-66-69-69-273
Steve Elkington, $16,800 70-67-70-66-273
Parker McLachlin, $16,800 67-65-70-71-273
John Mallinger, $16,800 72-62-68-71-273
Mark Wilson, $16,800 67-66-68-72-273
J.J. Henry, $13,020 71-63-74-66-274
Greg Owen, $10,788 66-68-70-71-275
Nathan Green, $10,788 68-66-72-69-275
Robert Garrigus, $10,788 65-70-68-72-275
Mathew Goggin, $10,788 71-65-71-68-275
Ernie Gonzalez, $10,788 75-63-69-68-275
Johnson Wagner, $10,788 68-68-73-66-275
Daniel Chopra, $10,788 69-68-72-66-275
Jerry Kelly, $9,618 66-69-69-72-276
Charles Howell III, $9,618 69-68-69-70-276
Spencer Levin, $9,618 62-71-68-75-276
Steve Lowery, $9,618 68-70-70-68-276
Bo Van Pelt, $9,282 68-65-72-72-277
Ryuji Imada, $9,282 70-66-70-71-277
Stuart Appleby, $9,282 70-67-70-70-277
Ted Purdy, $9,282 67-70-71-69-277
Jeev M. Singh, $8,904 67-65-75-71-278
David Toms, $8,904 66-71-71-70-278
Jay Williamson, $8,904 66-71-72-69-278
Harrison Frazar, $8,904 69-69-71-69-278
Jeff Quinney, $8,904 68-70-71-69-278
Briny Baird, $8,610 65-71-74-69-279
Carl Pettersson, $8,610 69-69-72-69-279
Tommy Armour III, $8,442 68-70-68-75-281
Cameron Beckman, $8,442 70-67-73-71-281
Nick OHern, $8,316 67-69-75-71-282
Brian Bateman, $8,232 69-68-72-75-284
Glen Day, $8,148 70-68-78-69-285
October 17, 2009
Chad Campbell closed with an eagle on the par-5 ninth for a 9-under 62 and a share of the second-round lead with Troy Matteson in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on Friday.
Campbell also had seven birdies in his bogey-free round in warm conditions at TPC Summerlin.
I didnt hit a very good tee shot, Campbell said about his final hole. I hit it a little left. Luckily, it stopped short of the bunker and had a perfect lie. (It was) just a perfect 3-wood (shot) and I was able to hit it up there 12 to 15 feet. … It was definitely a great way to finish a round.
Matteson followed his career-best 62 with a 67 to match Campbell at 13-under 129.
Matt Kuchar, coming off a victory two weeks at Turning Stone in the Falls Series opener, shot a 64 to join Ryan Moore (63), Bob Heintz (67) and Martin Laird (67) at 12 under.
I think the back nine is the nine that people are going to be taking advantage of, Kuchar said after his sixth straight round in the 60s. I did it today. I shot 6 under on the back side and only 1 under on the front side.
It seems like people are making the majority of their birdies on the back side. It makes for some fun finishing holes.
Moore eagled the par-5 16th and had six birdies.
Every hole is a birdie hole if you can get in position, Moore said. So even if you do make a bogey or two, you feel like you can bounce back right away and make some birdies.
Rickie Fowler (64), the 2008 college player of the year, was 11 under in his first U.S. PGA Tour start as a professional.
Three-time Las Vegas winner Jim Furyk (67) also was 11 under along with Las Vegas local Scott Piercy (67) and Tom Pernice Jr. (69), the Champions Tour winner who shared the first-round lead with Matteson and Spencer Levin after an opening 62. Piercys wife Sara delivered son Jett on Thursday night.
U.S. Presidents Cup team member Hunter Mahan was 9 under after a 63.
Yes, I hit a lot of fairways, said Mahan, who had 26 putts. I gave myself a lot of good looks with some short irons and was able to make some.
Levin also was 9 under after a 71.
The cut was at 4-under 138. Among the 73 players who failed to advance were defending champion Marc Turnesa and U.S. Presidents Cup team member Anthony Kim.
October 17, 2009
Scores Friday from the Administaff Small Business Classic, a $1,7 million Champions Tour event at 7,003-yard, par-72 The Woodlands Country Club.
First Round
Dan Forsman 32-32-64
John Cook 33-32-65
Jay Don Blake 33-34-67
Mark Wiebe 33-34-67
Nick Price 34-33-67
Bob Tway 35-32-67
Keith Fergus 34-34-68
Bernhard Langer 33-35-68
John Harris 34-34-68
Bruce Lietzke 35-33-68
Russ Cochran 35-33-68
Gene Jones 36-33-69
Denis Watson 35-34-69
Tom Watson 36-33-69
Mike Reid 34-35-69
Tom Lehman 35-34-69
Jim Thorpe 34-35-69
David Eger 35-34-69
Joey Sindelar 36-33-69
Olin Browne 36-33-69
James Mason 35-35-70
Robin Freeman 38-32-70
Lanny Wadkins 35-35-70
Jay Haas 37-33-70
Loren Roberts 35-35-70
Fuzzy Zoeller 36-34-70
Bruce Fleisher 35-36-71
Tom Kite 37-34-71
Ben Crenshaw 36-35-71
Allen Doyle 36-35-71
Andy Bean 34-37-71
Bobby Wadkins 35-36-71
Scott Simpson 37-34-71
Mark James 36-35-71
Jack Ferenz 36-35-71
Mark OMeara 36-36-72
Fred Funk 36-36-72
Blaine McCallister 35-37-72
Chip Beck 38-34-72
Don Pooley 37-35-72
Tim Simpson 38-35-73
Peter Jacobsen 35-38-73
R.W. Eaks 36-37-73
Craig Stadler 39-34-73
Curtis Strange 36-37-73
Jeff Sluman 36-37-73
Tom Purtzer 38-35-73
Phil Blackmar 38-35-73
Sandy Lyle 37-36-73
John Morse 37-36-73
Hal Sutton 35-38-73
Mike Hulbert 40-34-74
Mike McCullough 39-35-74
Fulton Allem 36-38-74
Tom Wargo 37-37-74
Larry Nelson 35-39-74
D.A. Weibring 39-35-74
Bob Gilder 36-38-74
Lonnie Nielsen 37-37-74
Mark McNulty 36-38-74
Tom Jenkins 36-38-74
Bruce Vaughan 36-38-74
Wayne Levi 38-36-74
David Frost 37-37-74
Bruce Summerhays 38-37-75
Kirk Hanefeld 40-35-75
Lee Trevino 38-37-75
Hale Irwin 33-42-75
Gil Morgan 36-39-75
Mike Goodes 39-37-76
Gary Hallberg 39-37-76
Ronnie Black 38-38-76
Tom McKnight 38-38-76
Robert L. Thompson 38-39-77
Steve Thomas 38-39-77
Jim Dent 43-38-81
Keith Clearwater 42-39-81
Bob Murphy DQ
October 16, 2009
LAS VEGAS -Champions Tour winner Tom Pernice Jr shot a bogey-free 9-under 62 on Thursday for a share of the first-round lead with Troy Matteson and Spencer Levin in the PGA Tours Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
The 50-year-old Pernice, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour who won the SAS Championship on Sept. 27 in his Champions Tour debut, birdied his final two holes - Nos. 8 and 9 - at TPC Summerlin. Levin had an eagle and seven birdies in his bogey-free round, and Matteson, the 2006 winner, had 10 birdies and a bogey - on No. 17.
Bob Heintz and Martin Laird were a stroke back, and three-time Las Vegas winner Jim Furyk matched Scott Piercy at 64. Furyk bogeyed his first two holes.
Tim Petrovic, Kirk Triplett, Briny Baird, Robert Garrigus and Jeff Klauk shot 65s.
Portugal Masters
VILAMOURA, Portugal - Italys Francesco Molinari shot a 9-under 63 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Portugal Masters.
Molinari had an eagle, nine birdies and a bogey at Oceanico Victoria to match his best score on the European tour. Englands Justin Rose, Scotlands Alastair Forsyth, and South Africas Charl Schwartzel were tied for second.
Northern Irelands Rory McIlroy, The Race to Dubai money leader, matched Irish star Padraig Harrington with a 69.
October 16, 2009
Scores Thursday from the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, a $4,2 million US PGA Tour event at 7,223-yard, par-71 TPC Summerlin.
First Round
Tom Pernice, Jr. 31-31-62
Troy Matteson 31-31-62
Spencer Levin 31-31-62
Bob Heintz 32-31-63
Martin Laird 33-30-63
Scott Piercy 31-33-64
Jim Furyk 30-34-64
Tim Petrovic 33-32-65
Jeff Klauk 32-33-65
Kirk Triplett 33-32-65
Briny Baird 35-30-65
Robert Garrigus 33-32-65
Fredrik Jacobson 33-33-66
Jerry Kelly 34-32-66
David Toms 32-34-66
Jason Bohn 33-33-66
Alex Cejka 34-32-66
Greg Chalmers 32-34-66
Matt Kuchar 35-31-66
Brian Gay 33-33-66
Charley Hoffman 33-33-66
George McNeill 33-33-66
Aaron Baddeley 32-34-66
Greg Owen 33-33-66
Jay Williamson 35-31-66
Ted Purdy 34-33-67
Nick OHern 32-35-67
Ryan Moore 34-33-67
Chad Campbell 32-35-67
Mark Wilson 34-33-67
Dean Wilson 34-33-67
Brett Quigley 34-33-67
Aaron Watkins 33-34-67
Kyle Stanley 35-32-67
Parker McLachlin 32-35-67
Jeev M. Singh 33-34-67
Rickie Fowler 33-34-67
Bo Van Pelt 36-32-68
Paul Goydos 33-35-68
Billy Mayfair 34-34-68
Andres Romero 36-32-68
Ben Crane 34-34-68
Jeff Quinney 36-32-68
Tommy Armour III 34-34-68
Bill Lunde 36-32-68
Nathan Green 33-35-68
Steve Lowery 36-32-68
Johnson Wagner 36-32-68
Roland Thatcher 33-35-68
Steve Marino 34-34-68
Matt Weibring 34-34-68
Nicholas Thompson 36-33-69
D.A. Points 32-37-69
Kevin Streelman 38-31-69
Charles Howell III 37-32-69
Michael Bradley 35-34-69
Kevin Sutherland 33-36-69
Brian Bateman 38-31-69
Chris DiMarco 33-36-69
Chris Stroud 36-33-69
Brendon de Jonge 35-34-69
Rich Beem 33-36-69
Tim Clark 34-35-69
Heath Slocum 34-35-69
Brandt Snedeker 37-32-69
Nick Watney 33-36-69
Carl Pettersson 33-36-69
Daniel Chopra 36-33-69
Harrison Frazar 34-35-69
Jonathan Byrd 34-36-70
Woody Austin 34-36-70
Cameron Beckman 34-36-70
Stuart Appleby 35-35-70
Tag Ridings 37-33-70
Scott McCarron 34-36-70
Steve Elkington 35-35-70
Bryce Molder 35-35-70
Hunter Mahan 33-37-70
J.B. Holmes 35-35-70
Chez Reavie 36-34-70
Ryuji Imada 33-37-70
Glen Day 34-36-70
Patrick Moore 34-36-70
John Merrick 34-37-71
David Duval 35-36-71
Mark Calcavecchia 36-35-71
Joe Ogilvie 37-34-71
Jarrod Lyle 35-36-71
David Mathis 34-37-71
J.J. Henry 36-35-71
Ken Duke 36-35-71
D.J. Trahan 38-33-71
Mathew Goggin 37-34-71
Craig Barlow 35-36-71
Jeff Overton 36-35-71
Vaughn Taylor 35-37-72
John Mallinger 35-37-72
Steve Flesch 33-39-72
Brad Faxon 35-37-72
Richard S. Johnson 37-35-72
Kent Jones 37-35-72
Marc Turnesa 35-37-72
Peter Lonard 38-34-72
Rocco Mediate 38-34-72
Cliff Kresge 37-35-72
Ricky Barnes 36-36-72
Anthony Kim 32-40-72
Rory Sabbatini 34-38-72
Stephen Ames 36-36-72
Will MacKenzie 38-34-72
Aron Price 37-35-72
Brian Davis 36-37-73
Chris Riley 36-37-73
Eric Axley 35-38-73
Jeff Maggert 37-36-73
Ryan Palmer 35-38-73
Webb Simpson 35-38-73
Michael Letzig 36-37-73
Casey Wittenberg 34-39-73
Tim Herron 36-38-74
Davis Love III 38-36-74
Greg Kraft 37-37-74
Wes Weston 36-38-74
Bill Haas 38-36-74
Ernie Gonzalez 35-40-75
Todd Hamilton 35-40-75
Marc Leishman 38-37-75
Jimmy Walker 39-36-75
Nickolas Jones 39-36-75
Matt Bettencourt 37-40-77
Alex Aragon 39-39-78
Leif Olson 46-42-88
October 16, 2009
Francesco Molinari had an eagle and eight birdies Thursday to take a 2-shot lead with a 9-under 63 after the first round of the Portugal Masters.
Despite one bogey, the Italian matched his lowest-ever score on the European Tour.
The last time Molinari scored that well was at the Irish Open five months ago. He was disqualified in the second round of that tournament for signing for the wrong score.
Alastair Forsyth, Justin Rose and Charl Schwartzel were tied for second, and Lee Westwood was in a group of six another shot back.
Colin Montgomerie showed a return to form by making birdies on four of his first six holes and finished with a 68. The European Ryder Cup captain has failed to finish in the top 10 this year.
Rory McIlroy, the current European Tour money leader, carded a 69 as did Padraig Harrington who made five birdies before bogeys at the 17th and 18th.
October 15, 2009
The cancer in Seve Ballesteros brain hasnt erased the thoughts of walking down the 18th fairway at St Andrews once again, reliving the glory of one of his most famous wins.
If the Spaniards well-known fighting spirit has anything to say about it, hell be doing just that at next years British Open.
Ballesteros, who continues to recover from the cancer that has left him nearly blind in his left eye, said Wednesday he hopes to show up and play one round at the major next year. It was on the Old Course that he won the 1984 British Open.
Its still a long way before we can make any decisions, Ballesteros said. I would like to show up at St. Andrews this coming year because St. Andrews is a very special place.
The Spaniard spoke briefly to reporters in an appearance to promote the upcoming Volvo Match Play Championship, which he will attend when it is played in Spain for the first time Oct. 29-Nov. 1. Ballesteros charity is linked to the event.
Ballesteros described his recovery as going under par after undergoing numerous operations over the last year to remove a malignant tumor.
He has even managed some golf, saying he played one round with his son Javier. He ended up losing ?6 in that duel, and said he is desperate to win it back.
Thats one of my motivations, Ballesteros said.
Looking gaunt but acting lively as he donned a black baseball cap over his hairless head, the Spaniard likened dealing with the medical treatments to how he famously used to play rescue shots from off the fairway.
He is approaching his chemotherapy sessions as I did many times in tournaments when I had to play between two trees.
A little more difficult, but similar, said Ballesteros, who also won two Masters titles and notched 50 European Tour victories. The worst moments have passed.
At the match play championship, Ballesteros will be joined by Ryder Cup captains Colin Montgomerie and Corey Pavin at the Finca Cortesin golf course. The 16-man field includes two-time U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen and Sergio Garcia.
Match play is a very special tournament for me, Ballesteros said. Im happy to be here.
October 15, 2009
Thomas Bjorn is set to step down as chairman of the European Tours players committee when it meets Thursday to discuss tougher restrictions on membership rules.
Bjorn has seen his world ranking slip to 210th since taking over leadership of the committee in 2007, and said Wednesday the administrative duties have hurt his game.
To be fair to my golf and myself, I have too much to deal with as chairman and it takes away my concentration with what I want to do on the golf course, Bjorn said.
The committee will meet at the start of the Portugal Masters to discuss ways of forcing players to compete in more European events instead of in the United States.
That plan has raised objections from some leading players, including three-time major winner Padraig Harrington, who thinks European golfers should be free to decide their own schedule.
The European Tour, however, is worried about losing more sponsors if the top local players arent competing enough on the continent.
The players committee will discuss nominating six core tournaments in Europe for 2010, such as the French and Irish Opens, with the requirement that members play in at least four of them to qualify for the Race to Dubai next year.
Europe is at the heart of this tour and we have to support our sponsors with our best players, Bjorn said.
October 15, 2009
Robert Allenby said Wednesday he has apologized to Anthony Kim about his comments after losing to the American in the Presidents Cup, and both golfers said the issue was over.
After their singles match Sunday, Allenby was quoted as saying his friends saw Kim returning to his hotel room at 4 a.m. that morning, and the Australian referred to him as the loosest cannon in that team. Kim denied he was out late.
Both released statements through the PGA Tour.
While I feel like the comments published were taken out of context, I did call Anthony to apologize for anything that I said or inferred that could possibly portray Anthony as anything less than a professional of the highest caliber, Allenby said.
Kim said he accepted the apology and we are both moving on.
They could face each other again. Both are scheduled to play the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain at the end of the month.
