藍、6打差4位で最終日へ「なんくるないさ～」

2010年10月02日19時39分




リーダーズボード
順位 選手名 スコア1 宮里　美香 -8
2 上原　彩子 -4
3 佐伯　三貴 -3
4 宮里　藍 -2
5 有村　智恵 -1
シン・ヒョンジュ -1
チェ・ナヨン -1
朴ヒヨン -1
横峯　さくら -1
10 アン・ソンジュ 0


順位の続きを見る





4位に浮上した宮里藍（撮影：上山敬太）











＜日本女子オープンゴルフ選手権競技　3日目＞◇2日◇大利根カントリークラブ(6,570ヤード・パー72)

　茨城県にある大利根カントリークラブで開催されている、国内女子メジャー第3戦「日本女子オープンゴルフ選手権競技」の3日目。5位タイでスタートした宮里藍は、4バーディ・4ボギーとスコアは伸ばせなかったが、首位とは6打差の4位に浮上した。

女子プロ写真館

　1番でボギーを叩いた宮里だったが、その後3つのバーディを奪い前半でスコアを2つ伸ばした。後半は13番でバーディを奪ったあと「14番からショットがブレはじめて、タイミングの修正ができなかった」と上がり4ホールで3つのボギーを叩いてホールアウト。スコアは動かなかったが「トータル的には良い集中力で、内容も良かった。自分の納得いくプレーだったので」と仕方がないといった様子だった。

　3日目終了時点で宮里美香が首位。2位には上原彩子と沖縄勢が健闘。宮里(藍)自身も「さっき美香ちゃんに(明日は)一緒に回りたかったと言われました。上原さんも頑張っているし、もう1日ベストをつくしたいと思います」と気合十分。「(沖縄勢の奮闘に)いい連鎖反応はあると思います。気持ちの中にはナンクルナイサはあると思います」と6打差ビハインドにも静かに闘志を燃やした。

【3日目の順位】
1位：宮里美香(-8)
2位：上原彩子(-4)
3位：佐伯三貴(-3)
4位：宮里藍(-2)
5位T：横峯さくら(-1)
5位T：シン・ヒョンジュ(-1)
5位T：朴ヒヨン(パク・ヒヨン)(-1)
5位T：有村智恵(-1)
5位T：ナ・イェン・チョイ(-1)
10位T：アン・ソンジュ(E)
10位T：堀奈津佳(E)※アマチュア

＜速報＞ベ・サンムンが日本ツアー初優勝！遼は2位タイ

2011年08月28日16時09分

リーダーズボード
順位 選手名 スコア優勝 ベ・サンムン -22
2 石川　遼 -20
近藤　共弘 -20
4 武藤　俊憲 -18
5 J・チョイ -16
6 甲斐　慎太郎 -15
宮里　優作 -15
キム・キョンテ -15
9 上平　栄道 -14
許仁會 -14


順位の続きを見る


＜VanaH杯KBCオーガスタゴルフトーナメント　最終日◇28日◇芥屋ゴルフ倶楽部(7,140ヤード・パー72)＞

福岡県にある芥屋ゴルフ倶楽部で開催された、国内男子ツアー「VanaH杯KBCオーガスタゴルフトーナメント」の最終日。首位タイでスタートしたベ・サンムン(韓国)が、スコアを5つ伸ばしトータル22アンダーで日本ツアー初優勝を飾った。

　石川遼はこの日6つスコアを伸ばしトータル20アンダーで2位タイ。同じく2位タイに近藤共弘が並んでいる。金庚泰(キム・キョンテ)はこの日スコアを伸ばせず首位と7打差の6位に終わった。


【最終順位】
優勝：ベ・サンムン(-22)
2位T：石川遼(-20)
2位T：近藤共弘(-20)
4位：武藤俊憲(-18)
5位：J・チョイ(-16)
6位T：甲斐慎太郎(-15)
6位T：宮里優作(-15)
6位T：金庚泰(キム・キョンテ)(-15)

遼、チャージかけるも届かず…2位タイでフィニッシュ

2011年08月28日17時24分




リーダーズボード
順位 選手名 スコア優勝 ベ・サンムン -22
2 石川　遼 -20
近藤　共弘 -20
4 武藤　俊憲 -18
5 J・チョイ -16
6 甲斐　慎太郎 -15
宮里　優作 -15
キム・キョンテ -15
9 上平　栄道 -14
許仁會 -14


順位の続きを見る





18番の3打目、アプローチはピン奥2メートルにつけたもののバーディパットを決められず…（撮影：岩井康博）








＜VanaH杯KBCオーガスタゴルフトーナメント　最終日◇28日◇芥屋ゴルフ倶楽部(7,140ヤード・パー72)＞

　福岡県にある芥屋ゴルフ倶楽部で開催された、国内男子ツアー「VanaH杯KBCオーガスタゴルフトーナメント」の最終日。首位とは3打差の3位タイでスタートした石川遼は、6つスコアを伸ばしトータル20アンダーでフィニッシュするが、優勝には届かず2位タイに終わった。

【関連リンク】石川遼の一打速報で猛チャージを振返る

　出だしの1番をパーとした石川は2番、3番で連続ボギーを叩いて後退。序盤から苦しい立ち上がりとなる。「2番、3番は(アイアンのミスで)ボールにサイドスピンがかかりすぎた。まだまだ練習が足りないですね」と反省したが、悪い流れを引きずることなかった。5番で最初のバーディ奪うと6番、7番でも3連続となるバーディを奪取。9番パー5では2オンに成功し、イーグルこそ逃したがバーディを奪って前半を折り返した。

　後半に入ると石川の勢いはさらに加速し、13番から3連続バーディを奪って首位を猛追。首位とは2打差で18番パー5を迎える。しかし、優勝するためにはイーグルが求められるこのホールで石川はティショットを左の林へ打ち込んでしまう。アイアンで2オンを狙いにいくが、グリーンには届かずボールは右手前のラフへ。3打目をピン奥2メートルにつけたものの、スコアを伸ばせず4日間の競技を終えた。

　惜しくも今季初優勝には届かなかった石川。だが「8つバーディが獲れたというのは、追いかける立場としてはいいプレーだった」と最終日のプレーを振り返る。来週はディフェンディングチャンピオンとしてむかえる「フジサンケイクラシック 」が開催される。石川は「いい状態できているので楽しみです」と大会3連覇に意欲を見せる。「後半は自分の好きな試合が続くので楽しみです」今大会終了後の最新賞金ランキングでトップに立った石川がこのまま走り続けることができるか。

【最終順位】
優勝：ベ・サンムン(-22)
2位T：石川遼(-20)
2位T：近藤共弘(-20)
4位：武藤俊憲(-18)
5位：J・チョイ(-16)
6位T：甲斐慎太郎(-15)
6位T：宮里優作(-15)
6位T：金庚泰(キム・キョンテ)(-15)

ベ・サンムンが国内ツアー初優勝！「チャンスをつかむことができた」

2011年08月28日17時44分




リーダーズボード
順位 選手名 スコア優勝 ベ・サンムン -22
2 石川　遼 -20
近藤　共弘 -20
4 武藤　俊憲 -18
5 J・チョイ -16
6 甲斐　慎太郎 -15
宮里　優作 -15
キム・キョンテ -15
9 上平　栄道 -14
許仁會 -14


順位の続きを見る





近藤共弘とのデッドヒートを制し、日本ツアー初優勝を挙げた（撮影：岩井康博）










＜VanaH杯KBCオーガスタゴルフトーナメント　最終日◇28日◇芥屋ゴルフ倶楽部(7,140ヤード・パー72)＞

　福岡県にある芥屋ゴルフ倶楽部で開催された、国内男子ツアー「VanaH杯KBCオーガスタゴルフトーナメント」の最終日。首位タイでスタートしたベ・サンムン(韓国)が、5つスコアを伸ばしトータル22アンダーでフィニッシュ。同じく首位タイでスタートした近藤共弘と最後までデッドヒートを繰り広げ、嬉しい国内ツアー初優勝を挙げた。

　サンムンは1986年生まれの25歳。08年、09年には韓国ツアーの賞金王に輝き、2010年から本格的に国内ツアーに参戦。優勝こそなかったが、賞金ランキング29位とまずまずの成績を収めた。

【関連リンク】初日からトップを守りきったベ・サンムン

　2年目となる今季は「つるやオープンゴルフトーナメント」で2位となり、初優勝は時間の問題かと思われていた。だが、2位や3位に甘んじることはあっても、なかなかチャンスをつかむことはできない。同じ韓国のJ・B・パク(ツアー選手権優勝)や、黄重坤(ハン・ジュンゴン)(ミズノオープン優勝)に先を越されてしまう。

　「プレッシャーはあったが、そのプレッシャーがあったからこそ勝てた」と話すサンムン。「今までチャンスを逃したのが勉強になりました。今回はそのチャンスをつかむことができて嬉しい」とようやくつかんだ国内1勝目に笑顔を見せる。「将来は米国ツアーで戦いたい」実力を開花させたサンムンが、後半戦どのようなプレーをしていくか注目だ。

フジサンケイクラシック、池田勇太、キム・キョンテが欠場

2011年08月31日13時39分




リーダーズボード
順位 選手名 スコア1 諸藤　将次 -4
2 星野　英正 -2
3 市原弘大 -1
室田　淳 -1
5 津曲　泰弦 0
小田　孔明 0
上田　諭尉 0
K・アフィバーンラト 0
石川　遼 0
上井　邦浩 0


順位の続きを見る


＜フジサンケイクラシック　事前情報◇31日◇富士桜カントリー倶楽部(7,405ヤード・パー71)＞

　9月1日から山梨県にある富士桜カントリー倶楽部で開催される、国内男子ツアー「フジサンケイクラシック」。本戦を前に池田勇太、金庚泰(キム・キョンテ)(韓国)が共に体調不良のため、今大会の欠場を発表した。池田の代わりに石川裕貴、キョンテの代わりに岩井亮磨が出場する。

2013 Senior PGA Championship headed to Bellerive CC in St. Louis

2013 Senior PGA Championship headed to Bellerive CC in St. Louis











PGA.COM April 1, 2013 9:58 AM

.

View gallery
(Burt Remis Photography)


PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The PGA of America has selected Bellerive Country Club of St. Louis, one of America's most storied venues, to serve as the site of the 2013 Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid and the 2018 PGA Championship. The Championships coincide with the creation of a philanthropic outreach program of The PGA and local Gateway PGA guided by baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith and other leaders in the St. Louis business community.


In May 2013, Bellerive Country Club will host its first Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, the most historic and prestigious event in senior golf. Bellerive will become the third venue to host all four of the country's rotating major championships -- the Senior PGA Championship, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and the U.S. Senior Open. Then in August of 2018, Bellerive will host the Centennial PGA Championship.

"Bellerive Country Club is one of the country's premier championship venues that blends experience in staging a major championship, rich tradition, a spectacular golf course and a wonderful region of knowledgeable sports fans to support championships featuring both the legendary and the current finest golfers in the world," said PGA of America President Allen Wronowski. "We enjoyed a memorable PGA Championship at Bellerive in 1992, and we believe that two more special chapters in PGA of America history will be written over championships in 2013 and 2018."

Gov. Jay Nixon heralded the economic impact the Championships will bring to Missourians and the teamwork by which the St. Louis region and the State of Missouri were selected to work with The PGA of America in expanding the Gateway PGA Outreach Program.

"We are thrilled that the State of Missouri will be hosting two of golf's most prestigious major championships in the next few years, placing the Show-Me State once again in the international spotlight while providing a powerful economic boost for the region," said Gov. Nixon. "The partnership between the Gateway PGA Outreach Program and these two Championship events will have a tremendous benefit for Missouri and the people of our state."

Gateway PGA Foundation President Ozzie Smith heads a steering committee composed of Ed Glotzbach, vice chair, Information Services Group Inc.; Michael DeCola, president and CEO, Mississippi Lime Company; Benjamin Akande, dean, George Herbert Walker School of Business and Technology, Webster University; and Don Ross, vice chair, Enterprise Holdings Inc.

"The formation of this philanthropic partnership with Bellerive, St. Louis and the State of Missouri is a dynamic alignment of the economic, human and charitable impact of golf with the priorities of the community," said PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Joe Steranka. "Our championships will have a historical and economic impact on the area for the next eight years, but the legacy of the outreach program will impact families in St. Louis and throughout the state for many more years."

Smith, who is in his first year as president of the Gateway PGA Outreach Program, welcomed the partnership with two of The PGA of America's premier championships. The shared mission of The PGA and Gateway charitable foundations is "Improving Lives Through Golf."

"It is wonderful to see the City of St. Louis, which has been a major piece of my heart for so long, connect with golf in such a significant way to bring hope to many who would otherwise not have that opportunity," said Smith. "The Gateway PGA Outreach Program is about opening doors through the influence of golf in enhancing education, the economy and family health and wellness. I could not be more excited for St. Louis in the days and years ahead."

Founded in 1897 as the former St. Louis Field Club in north St. Louis, the membership incorporated as Bellerive Country Club in 1910, taking its name after Louis St. Ange De Bellerive, the last French Commander in North America. That same year, Scotsman Robert Foulis designed a "new" Bellerive in Normandy, where the club remained for 50 years. After half a century, the membership then voted to move west, and Mr. Jones was enlisted to chart a new course. He chose a prime farm location, and the "Green Monster of Ladue Road" opened on Memorial Day, 1960.

In 1965, coinciding with the St. Louis Bicentennial, Bellerive Country Club became the youngest course to host a U.S. Open Championship. Bellerive also has hosted the inaugural U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in 1981 and the 2008 BMW Championship.

"Bellerive has enjoyed a long and rich relationship with The PGA of America, and are truly honored to be chosen to host their 2013 Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid and the Centennial PGA Championship in 2018," said Steven Schumm, president of the Board of Governors of Bellerive Country Club. "We are equally excited for the economic opportunity this provides the St. Louis region and the State of Missouri, along with the launch of a new PGA vision for broad-based community benefits through golf and PGA Professionals."

Bellerive, a par-71, 7,547-yard layout, underwent a year-long renovation guided by Rees Jones, son of the late original architect, and was reopened in October 2006.

About The Senior PGA Championship

Begun in 1937 on the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club, the Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid is the most historic and prestigious event in senior golf. The Championship brings together both the legends of the game and the newest members of senior professional golf to new audiences throughout the United States. The following venues will host the Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid:

2012 The Golf Club at Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor, Mich. 2013 Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis, Mo. 2014 The Golf Club at Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor, Mich.

About The PGA Championship

Since its origin in 1916, the PGA Championship has become one of the game's most anticipated major championships, and perennially features the strongest field in golf. The PGA Champions roster featured many of the greatest players from all generations of golf -- from Hagen, Sarazen, Snead, Nelson and Hogan, to Nicklaus, Trevino, Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh. Overall, 71 courses in 25 states (through 2011) have served as a host site for at least one PGA Championship. The latest venues that will host a PGA Championship:

2012 -- Kiawah Island Golf Resort (The Ocean Course), Kiawah Island, S.C. 2013 -- Oak Hill Country Club (East), Rochester, N.Y. 2014 -- Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville, Ky. 2015 -- Whistling Straits (Straits), Kohler, Wis. 2016 -- Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower), Springfield, N.J. 2017 -- Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, N.C. 2018 -- Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis

About KitchenAid

Since the introduction of its legendary stand mixer in 1919 and first dishwasher in 1949, KitchenAid has built on the legacy of these icons to create a complete line of products designed for cooks. Over 90 years later, the KitchenAid brand now offers virtually every essential for the well-equipped kitchen with a collection that includes everything from countertop appliances to cookware, ranges to refrigerators, and whisks to wine cellars. To learn why chefs choose KitchenAid for their homes more than any other brand visit www.KitchenAid.com.

About The PGA of America

Celebrating its 95th year, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission of its founders: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in a multi-billion dollar golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.

Why Tiger Woods Won't Win the Masters

Why Tiger Woods Won't Win the Masters











Rick Woelfel April 1, 2013 12:12 PM









COMMENTARY I The Masters doesn't begin until April 11, but the golf world is already focusing its eyes on Augusta.

This is hardly a new phenomenon, of course, but the anticipation is heightened this year because of the recent efforts of one Tiger Woods, whose play has been attracting attention of late

Woods' victory at the recent Arnold Palmer Invitational was his third this year and the 77th PGA Tour victory of his career. It also put him back atop the world rankings.

It was at Augusta National Golf Club that Tiger Woods truly became Tiger Woods by winning the 1997 Masters at age 21. It's hard to grasp the fact that that was 16 years ago.

The record Woods has compiled, one that includes 14 major championships (including four Masters titles) is truly extraordinary. But he hasn't won a major championship since 2008 and, amazingly, hasn't won a green jacket since 2005.

And the view from here is he won't win one this year, either.

Woods will be the favorite in the eyes of a lot of people, but there are factors working against him. Leaving his off-course issues aside, time has extracted its inevitable toll.

Woods is 37 years old now and his body is feeling the effects of his nearly two decades as an elite athlete. His driver often takes him east to west rather than north to south; through March 26, he was ranked 24th on the PGA Tour in driving distance but just 142nd in driving accuracy.

The real question mark for Woods, however, is his putting. At Bay Hill, he looked like the Tiger of old, rolling in birdie putts from points far and near.

But he was never under serious pressure during the final round and in his two previous wins this season at Riviera and Doral, he seemed less than focused down the stretch.

We're not dismissing what Woods has accomplished already in 2013. But an unanswered question remains.

Does he still have the ability to handle the atmosphere of a major championship? To fight off a challenger or challengers over the last nine holes and all the way to the finish?

A decade ago the answer to that question would have been obvious. But that is no longer the case.

Since Woods last won a major, and certainly since he last won at Augusta, a new group of challengers has emerged who respect his record but are not in awe of it or of him.

We still think Tiger Woods will win another major two. But the 2013 Masters will not be one of them.

Rick Woelfel resides near Philadelphia and edits the Womensgolfreport.net web site. He's picking Matt Kuchar to win the 2013 Masters.

Course Source: Grayhawk (Talon), North Scottsdale, Ariz

Course Source: Grayhawk (Talon), North Scottsdale, Ariz










Derek Harper, The Sports Xchange April 2, 2013 2:00 PMThe SportsXchange


COURSE SOURCE


IN THE PUBLIC EYE: Grayhawk Golf Club - The Talon Course, in North Scottsdale, Ariz.

THE LAYOUT: Phil Mickelson has enjoyed a long relationship with Grayhawk dating back to the opening of the facility in 1988, and Mickelson still carries a Grayhawk logo on his bag. He's friends developer Gregg Tryhus, there are pictures of Mickelson's career highlights throughout the clubhouse and "Phil's Grill" - the restaurant looking out at the Raptor course - is named in his honor.

It stands to reason Mickelson would only associate himself with a top-tier golfing experience, and Grayhawk offers two of the best tracks in the Phoenix area.

We had the opportunity to play Talon, designed by former U.S. Open and PGA Champion David Graham and regularly ranked among the top 100 public courses in the country.

While most of Grayhawk's bigger events are now held on the Raptor course, Talon is steep with its own tradition. It once played host to the semifinals and finals of the Andersen Consulting World Championship of Golf - now known as the Accenture Match Play Championship.

Talon can be stretched out to 6,973 yards (73.3/146) from the tips, and is still a very challenging test from the green "Palo Verde" tees (6,391/70.8/134). There are five sets of tee boxes in all, down to the "Heather" (5,143/70.1/126). You'll notice from the rankings that Talon is challenging, but it's a fun test and very playable for most anyone.

Graham and course architect Gary Panks designed the course to place a premium on driving the ball accurately. Most fairways are lined with swaths of bush-ridden desert on both sides, and while water rarely comes into play, almost every green is protected by multiple bunkers and features a tiered putting surface.

Talon weaves its way through the property with beautiful views of the McDowell Mountains while blending into its natural surroundings. Nothing about Grayhawk feels forced - it's extremely well maintained, but it's not a resort-style course, which many golfers will appreciate.

Miss left or right off the tee and you'll find trouble. The areas surrounding the large putting surfaces are generous, but bunkers come into play around 15 of 18 greens.

GENERAL MANAGER: Joe Shershenovich

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: Two pre-round thoughts to keep in mind - the fairways are bigger than they appear, and don't be fooled by the massive greens.

Talon is certainly a course you'll score better on the first time around if you play with someone familiar with the layout. From the opening tee shot, fairways often look significantly smaller than they are - and local knowledge keys you into which side they open up on.

The 385-yard Par-4 first hole isn't long from the green tees, but it gives a good feel for the experience at Talon. There's more landing area to the right than it appears off the tee box, but an accurate drive leaves a short iron in to a big green. It's a common theme with six par-4s under 400 yards but featuring tight landing views from the box.

Sixteen of 18 greens are at least 34 feet deep, and nearly all feature multiple tiers. So while the landing surfaces are very large, they're also deceptive because three-putts are commonplace without solid approach shots. Pay attention to the pin locations and avoid the mindset of simply attempting to hit the putting surface.

One of the highlights of the front nine is the 465-yard par-5 third hole. It features a strong dogleg left and is reachable in two with a well-placed drive down the left-hand side. The green is 34-feet deep, but is also elevated and protected by deep bunkers on the front right that you want no part of.

The par-3 eighth hole is a ball-striking test. There are no bunkers to contend with and plenty of room to miss the green, but at 189 yards it requires a well-hit long iron to avoid a testy up-and-down for par.

The front nine closes with another excellent par-5 that runs 507 yards. The green is protected by a deep bunker stretching from the front right all the way around behind the back right side.

Talon's back nine was built around several deep box canyons that provide some unique layouts and a bit of a different flair from the front nine.

The par-4 13th hole is appropriately named "Heaven or Hell." At 277 yards it is drivable, although the wind often is in your face off the tee. It requires a 235-yard carry over a canyon and is 250 to the front edge of the green. Miss short right and you're in the hazard. Miss left and there are five bunkers protecting the three-tiered green. The landing area is small, but the potential reward is an eagle putt.

Take in the Mesquite, Palo Verde and Ironwood trees that line the course as you traverse through the inward nine.

Water only comes into real play on one hole - but there is 360 degrees of it.

The par-3 17th is a pretty island green. At 114 yards from the green tees it's a short iron to a green that is 32-feet deep, so the danger is minimal as long as you don't let the vision of carrying the water - and stopping before it on the back side - paralyze your brain.

The par-5 18th is an excellent closing hole. Playing 552 from the green tees with a dogleg right protected by a string of reachable bunkers, it's not a two-shot hole for most. The fairway is undulating, creating many uneven stances for your approach shot. But the green is 36 feet deep and inviting for a closing birdie.

After the round, grab a pint at Phil's Grill, or the new Italian restaurant, Isabella's Kitchen, which has a big patio facing out to the 10th tee box and the 18th green.

OTHER COURSES IN THE AREA: It's hard to go wrong in the Phoenix area, and there are more courses than even the locals have time to get tired of.

Many of the top facilities feature two courses worthy of lining up a 36-hole day for, including Troon (Pinnacle, Monument) and TPC (Stadium, Champions) in Scottsdale, We-Ko-Pa (Cholla and Saguaro) in Fort McDowell and the Boulders (North, South) in Carefree.

Talking Stick, owned by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, is another Troon establishment with a pair of consistently top-ranked tracks.

WHERE TO STAY: There are a number of rentals available in the Grahawk community - www.vrbo.com is an excellent resource to see what is available during your stay.

For those seeking a quality hotel or resort, the Four Seasons in the Pinnacle Peak area is just a few miles north and around more excellent golf courses. Ten minutes to the south, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princes and the Sheraton Desert Oasis are walking distance to TPC Scottsdale, along with the Hilton Garden Inn and Zona Resort Suites.

There is also a wealth of more budget-friendly options centrally located for avid golfers, including a pair of Residence Inns and a Marriott Courtyard in the North Scottsdale area.

Woods loses momentum after hitting flagstick

Woods loses momentum after hitting flagstick











PGA.COM April 13, 2013 1:12 AM

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Tiger Woods, after taking a penalty stroke when his balls struck the flagstick and rebounded into a …


By Paul Newberry, Associated Press


AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Tiger Woods knew this day should've turned out so much better.

He was cruising toward the end of the second round at the Masters on Friday, in a share of the lead and looking every bit like the player who would be in control heading to the weekend.

Then, with one tough break at the 15th hole, everything changed.

Woods struck the flagstick and wound up in the water, forcing him to scramble for bogey. A three-putt at the final hole left him with another bogey. Instead of leading, he found himself three shots behind 36-hole leader Jason Day of Australia.

"The sun was in my eyes, so I knew I started the ball on the flag," Woods said. "I didn't know if I cut it enough, but evidently it was a really good one."

Too good, in fact.

The ball struck the stick with a resounding thud, which sent it back into the pond in front of the green. After taking his penalty stroke, Woods needed a brilliant do-over just to salvage bogey. The unfortunate bounce seemed to take all the momentum out of his round.

Woods finished with a 1-under 71 for a 3-under 141 overall.

He's still in contention heading to the weekend, but seemed a bit stunned that his name wasn't higher on the leaderboard.

"I really swung the club well and didn't really get a lot out of this round," Woods said. "Granted, these conditions were tough. It was swirling all over the place."

Even playing in the afternoon, when the wind picked up significantly after a rainy, overcast morning, Woods got off to a stellar start. There was a stretch of three birdies in four holes on the front side. After a gust caught his tee shot at the par-3 12th, he pulled off a brilliant up-and-down from the back bunker to keep pace with the leaders.

He figured to have a good shot at birdie after laying up about 90 yards from the hole at the 15th, leaving him just a soft wedge over the pond.

Unfortunately for Woods, it didn't work out.

"I felt like I played really well today and the round should've been in the 60s."

At least Woods managed a better finish than Dustin Johnson, who tumbled off the leaderboard with a 76 after being up by two strokes. Johnson was the victim of a double-bogey at the 15th (he also dunked one in the pond), a bogey at the 17th, and another double-bogey at the 18th. Then there's Sergio Garcia, who was the 18-hole leader but also soared to a 76, nary a birdie on his card.

Compared to them, Woods is in much better shape.

"There's a long way to go," said Woods, again cheered by his girlfriend, Olympic ski champion Lindsey Vonn. "We've got 36 holes and this is a tricky test."

He's faced more daunting 36-hole deficits in two of his four Masters victories, but Saturday's round will likely go a long way toward determining whether he's donning a green jacket for the fifth time on Sunday.

Woods has never won any of his 14 major championships without holding at least a share of the lead going to the final round.

But if he plays like he did on Friday, he likes his chances.

"I really played well," Woods said. "The score is not indicative of quite how well I played."

Augusta National gives Tiger Woods two-shot penalty for bad drop

Augusta National gives Tiger Woods two-shot penalty for bad drop











PGA.COM April 13, 2013 10:56 AM

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Tiger Woods' drop after his ball bounced off the flag stick on hole No. 15 and bounded into the water …



By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -- Tiger Woods got a reprieve Saturday in the Masters when he was given a two-shot penalty for a bad drop but allowed to stay in the tournament.

Woods' shot on the 15th hole of the second round hit the flag stick and bounced back into the water. He took his penalty drop two yards behind where he hit the original shot, which was a violation of the rules.

Augusta National added the two-shot penalty to his score, meaning he had a 73 instead of a 71 and now is five shots out of the lead. Officials said he was allowed to stay in the tournament under a new rule that keeps players from being disqualified based on television evidence.

©2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press.

Augusta National Official Statement on Tiger Woods penalty

Augusta National Official Statement on Tiger Woods penalty











PGA.COM April 13, 2013 11:05 AM



AUGUSTA, Georgia (AP) -- Tiger Woods was assessed a two-stroke penalty Saturday for his drop in the second round of the Masters, but was not disqualified. Below is the Masters' statement on the decision:

"Yesterday afternoon, the Rules Committee was made aware of a possible Rules violation that involved a drop by Tiger Woods on the 15th hole.

"In preparation for his fifth shot, the player dropped his ball in close proximity to where he had played his third shot in apparent conformance with Rule 26. After being prompted by a television viewer, the Rules Committee reviewed a video of the shot while he was playing the 18th hole. At that moment and based on that evidence, the Committee determined he had complied with the Rules.

"After he signed his scorecard, and in a television interview subsequent to the round, the player stated that he played further from the point than where he had played his third shot. Such action would constitute playing from the wrong place.

"The subsequent information provided by the player's interview after he had completed play warranted further review and discussion with him this morning. After meeting with the player, it was determined that he had violated Rule 26, and he was assessed a two stroke penalty. The penalty of disqualification was waived by the Committee under Rule 33 as the Committee had previously reviewed the information and made its initial determination prior to the finish of the player's round."

-- Fred Ridley, Chairman, Competition Committees

©2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press.

Norman calls golf's drug policy 'disgraceful'

Norman calls golf's drug policy 'disgraceful'










The Sports Xchange April 29, 2013 4:00 PMThe SportsXchange



Greg Norman told The Australian newspaper on Monday that golf's anti-drugs policies are "disgraceful" and that blood testing needs to be included.

"You only have to look at what happened to Vijay Singh just recently to know the drugs issue is there," Norman said.

Singh said in January that he had used deer antler spray, which is banned by the PGA Tour because it has a muscle-building hormone and can only be detected by blood tests.

Norman said he does not know how widespread the problem is.

"I have no idea because we only do urine analysis instead of blood testing," he said. "If you really want to be serious about it and find about what's really going on, we need to do blood testing. I think it's disgraceful, to tell you the truth. The golf associations have to get together and step it up."

Norman believes all sports should prioritize drug testing.

"Any sportsman or sportswoman who uses an outside agency to improve their skills is cheating," he said. "It sickens me. They're putting a black eye on their sport. If a sport gets itself clean, the corporate dollars will always be there because people will know it's a sport they can trust. The rest will take care of itself."

Will the Players Ever Become the Official Fifth Major?

Will the Players Ever Become the Official Fifth Major?











Travis Mewhirter April 30, 2013 5:25 PM




COMMENTARY | Adam Scott bellowed. Aussies drank. Long putter supporters rejoiced. The Masters happened. Now what?

After Augusta delivered another outstanding spectacle, as is the norm with the Masters, the large majority of the golfing world went back into hibernation, sleeping out the two month drag between majors. The U.S. Open doesn't tee off until June 13; the British not till mi
d-July; and the PGA Championship closes out the grand slam in early August.



So, what to feed the golfing fans with the most voracious appetites? The Players Championship, the unofficial fifth major, of course.

That tag has long been the moniker of the Players, a tournament segueing the gap between the recognized majors, and one that the PGA Tour has long been pushing to become an official major. It's an event that's big enough and loud enough to excite the casual golfing fan who generally only flicks over to the Golf Channel on Sundays and major weeks, and attracts the most attention of any non-major tournament from the players.

It typically hosts the most elite field (the top 50 in the World Golf Rankings are exempt), playing for the biggest purse ($9.5 million since 2008), at one of golf's most prestigious and well-known venues (TPC Sawgrass), with one of the most signature holes on Earth (the island green 17th), and is the biggest event put on by the PGA Tour.

This is the Tour's baby. It has been since 1974 when Jack Nicklaus won the inaugural title. So what's the problem? What exactly does it take for the Players -- or any other tournament -- to become the official fifth major?

Of all of golf's governing bodies, you would think that the PGA Tour would have its own major. The United States Golf Association has the U.S. Open, the R&A hosts the British, PGA of America puts on the PGA Championship and the Masters is Augusta's pride and joy. But the Tour, while it does have the FedEx Cup and a staggeringly lucrative playoff system in order, doesn't have a major.

Golf, as even any 36-handicap will tell you, is a tradition-driven sport. It takes a whole heck of a lot to change anything, aside from the courses themselves, about the game. And the majors, golf's four shining pillars, are apparently not to be messed with. Ernie Els has long decried the addition of the Players to golf's Big Four, even going as far to give another tournament the nod over the Players.

"[The BMW] is definitely taking the place of the Players," he told Sports Illustrated. "I also feel we have a stronger field here and a classic course."

Els isn't the first to point to a different tournament. Nicklaus used to say the same about the Australian Open and, as SI noted, wrote in his 1969 autobiography, The Greatest Game of All: My Life in Golf, with Herbert Warren Wind: "In conversations with friends I referred to the Australian Open as a major championship, but they knew and I knew I was kidding myself. Being the national championship of a golf-minded country, the ­Australian Open was a most estimable tournament to be won but simply wasn't a major championship except in the eyes of Australians. Of course, the men who won it prized it highly."

SI would also note that Lee Trevino sided with the Canadian Open as one of the top four tournaments in the world.

Will golf ever actually add a fifth major? Who knows? I sure don't. It's getting to the point where nearly a dozen tournaments could make a case as the next logical major addition. The Accenture Match Play Championship would provide a non-stroke play major, something we haven't seen since the PGA Championship did away with match play in 1958. I know I'd like to see a match play major somewhere down the road.

But for now, renowned golf writer John Feinstein seems to have it right when he said that the Players isn't the fifth major.

There is no fifth major.



Travis Mewhirter has been working in the golf industry since 2007, when he was a bag room manager at Piney Branch Golf Club in Carroll County, Maryland, and has been involved, as a player, since 2004. Since then, he has worked at Hayfields Country Club, where the Constellation Energy Classic was formerly held, and has covered golf at the high school, college, and professional levels.

Singh avoids suspension for deer-antler spray

Singh avoids suspension for deer-antler spray










The Sports Xchange April 30, 2013 6:20 PMThe SportsXchange



Vijay Singh acknowledged earlier this year that he had used a banned substance, but he will not be penalized by the PGA Tour as a result.

Singh, 50, was told Tuesday by commissioner Tim Finchem before a practice round for the Wells Fargo Championship that he would not face sanctions for taking a deer-antler spray after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) determined its use was no longer considered prohibitive.

The three-time major champion's case was subsequently dropped, Finchem said at a news conference, because WADA no longer considers the substance to be prohibited unless a positive test for 1GF-1, a growth factor, results from taking it. Singh did not test positive for the banned substance found in the spray.

"Based on this new information, and given WADA's lead role in interpreting the prohibited list, the tour deemed it only fair to no longer treat Mr. Singh's use of deer-antler spray as a violation of the Tour's anti-doping program," Finchem said.

Singh contended that he didn't know the spray contained a growth hormone. He was sanctioned by the tour on Feb. 19 for admitting its use, but the tour does not administer blood tests -- the only way to detect growth hormones -- as part of its routine regimen.

Singh appealed the sanctions and continued to play.

Earlier this week, former Tour player Greg Norman called for blood testing in the sport.

Korda leads Mobile Bay, but Michaels sets course record

Korda leads Mobile Bay, but Michaels sets course record










The Sports Xchange May 17, 2013 9:40 PMThe SportsXchange


MOBILE, Ala. -- Karrie Webb was just trying to keep up during the second round of the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic on Friday.

Not necessarily with Sydnee Michaels, who broke the course record by two shots at Magnolia Grove, but with long-hitting playing partner Jessica Korda.

Webb managed to stay with them. She trails Korda, the 36-hole leader, in the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic by one shot after 36 holes. Korda, a 20-year-old from Bradenton, Fla., shot a 7-under 65 in the afternoon and was at 13-under 131.

Webb fired a 9-under 63 -- a score that would have broken the course record had not Michaels beat her to it in the morning.

"When you're playing with Jess and Brittany (Lincicome)," Webb said, "if I hit a really good one, I'm 20 yards behind them. In certain parts of the golf course where they can carry parts that I can't, I'm 40 yards behind them. So I'm the little short one out there trying to keep up with the big girls."

Michaels carded eight birdies and an eagle to eclipse the course record by two strokes with a 10-under 62. She is at 10 under for the tournament.

Michaels had missed four straight cuts. Her best previous LPGA round was 7 under.

"It feels so good to finally have a good round because I've been struggling the last few weeks and going through some swing changes," Michaels said. "And the week off last week, I just said, 'You know what? I'm just going to go back to what feels good.' So I hit a lot of balls and just kind of got back to where I was feeling good over the ball again. So it feels good to finally have a good round."

Korda got a shock on the first hole.


"We give Webby a hard time," Korda said. "She did outdrive me on the first hole today, and she's like, 'What's going on?' And I'm like, 'Did you work out last night?'"

Korda's seven-birdie round came without a missed fairway. She played the four par-5 holes in 3 under. All of her birdies have come on par-4 and par-5 holes the first two days.

Korda was playing in her first tournament since injuring her wrist in the LPGA Lotte Championship on April 20.

"Honestly, right now it's Friday," Korda said, "so I think the tournament starts on the back nine on Sunday. So right now, it's great to have the lead, and I feel good. I'm healthy, somewhat, so I'm happy just to be here and playing right now."

Webb stood at 1 over with six holes to go on Thursday. She was 4 under on the final six holes in the first round and 4 under on the final five holes on Friday.

"I'm not sure the last time I had a bogey-free round," Webb said, "so I'm really happy about that. That's sort of been my problem. I have bogeys at the wrong time, and it really kills my momentum.

"That's what happened yesterday. I turned at 2 under and then doubled (No.) 1 and bogeyed 2, and all of a sudden I'm at 1 over. I just was really happy to fight back yesterday to finish at 3 under, and I think that really carried over into today."

Six players are at 10 under or better after two rounds..

Chella Choi stands at 11 under. Two golfers from Thailand -- Pornanong Phatlum and Thidapa Suwannapura -- were tied with Michaels at 10 under.

"My shot is really good and my distance is better than last year," said Choi, a Korean who likes playing in Mobile because she can drive from her home in Jacksonville, Fla. "I tried very hard on my putting because it's 80 percent putting, 20 percent shots. My shots are the same, but my putting is much better than before.

"I don't make a lot of putts (in the previous) couple of tournaments. But today and yesterday, really good -- my putting. My confidence is better."

First-round co-leader Lexi Thompson is at 9 under after a second-round 70 that included an eagle on the par-5 16th. Also at 9 under are Azahara Munoz, Ariya Jutanugarn and Mina Harigae.

Munoz holed out from the 18th fairway for an eagle on her way to an 8-under 64.

Jutanugarn, a 17-year-old playing on a sponsor exemption, has not finished worse than fourth in her four LPGA outings and had a 6-under 66.

Nordqvist sets record, but Choi still leads Mobile Bay

Nordqvist sets record, but Choi still leads Mobile Bay










The Sports Xchange May 18, 2013 8:20 PMThe SportsXchange



MOBILE, Ala. -- For the second straight day, a golfer shot herself into contention at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic with a tournament-record round. And for the second straight day, a record-breaking performance wasn't enough to take the lead on Magnolia Grove's Crossings Course.

On Saturday, Anna Nordqvist fired an 11-under-par 61. ButChella Choi is the third-round leader, coming in at 17-under 199.

Nordqvist is one stroke back, tied for second with second-round leader Jessica Korda.

Sydnee Michaels' 10-under-par 62 of the second round lasted one day as the tournament record. Before this year, the tournament record had been 8-under, accomplished three times.

Choi got to 17 under for the tournament with her second straight 66 Saturday. Last year, Stacy Lewis won the tournament at 17 under. This is the first time that Choi has led entering the final round of an LPGA tournament.

Hall of Famer Karrie Webb is alone in fourth place at 15 under after a 3-under 69. Jennifer Johnson is another stroke back after turning in a 65, making her one of five players to shoot 7 under or better on Saturday.

Lewis gave herself a chance to repeat as the tournament champ with a 9-under 63 on Saturday to get to 13-under, where she's tied with Michaels.

The group at 12 under includes first-round leaders Lexi Thompson and Eun-Hee Ji, Nicole Castrale and Ariya Jutanungarn, a 17-year-old playing on a sponsor exemption.

In the third round, Nordqvist made 10 birdies, including holing out from the greenside bunker on No. 12, an eagle on the par-5 13th and a three-putt bogey on the par-3 14th. She birdied the third through seventh holes.

"It's just one of those days where you just feel like you can't miss," she said. "Today was a lot of fun. I started out with a couple birdies, hit a lot of good shots, and I think I missed one green. And then I made that bunker shot, and it was just like I couldn't stop smiling, couldn't stop laughing."

Korda had a bumpy 3-under 69 in the third round. After shooting 3 under on the front nine, she bogeyed 11, where hitting her ball out of a divot aggravated the wrist injury she suffered in the LPGA LOTTE Championships on April 20.

This is her first outing since that injury.

She followed the bogey with a double-bogey. But she bounced back with a birdie on the 13th and rolled in a 33-foot eagle putt on the 16th hole to get back to 16 under.

Lewis had six birdies in each of the first two rounds of the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic, but the 2012 Rolex Player of the Year was only 4 under for the tournament, thanks to four bogeys and two double-bogeys.

In the third round, Lewis didn't have any bogeys. But she did have nine birdies.

Nordqvist seizes opportunity to have chance at Mobile Bay win

Nordqvist seizes opportunity to have chance at Mobile Bay win










The Sports Xchange May 18, 2013 9:20 PMThe SportsXchange


MOBILE, Ala. -- Anna Nordqvist wore a necklace on Saturday that read: Carpe Diem.

Did she ever.

Nordqvist fired a tournament record 11-under-par 61 in the third round of the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic on to launch herself into contention for her first victory since 2010.

The Swedish golfer will enter the final round one shot behind leader Chella Choi, who is at 17-under 199 for the tournament after her second straight 66 on Saturday.

Nordqvist is tied for second with Jessica Korda, the second-round leader who shot a 3-under 69.

Sydnee Michaels' 10-under-par 62 of the second round lasted one day as the tournament record. Before this year, the tournament record had been 8-under, accomplished three times.

In the third round, Nordqvist made 10 birdies, including holing out from the greenside bunker on No. 12, an eagle on the par-5 13th and a three-putt bogey on the par-3 14th.

"It's just one of those days where you just feel like you can't miss," she said. "Today was a lot of fun. I started out with a couple birdies, hit a lot of good shots, and I think I missed one green. And then I made that bunker shot, and it was just like I couldn't stop smiling, couldn't stop laughing."

Nordqvist was 1 over in the first round and shot a 6-under 66 in the second. On Saturday, she hit all 14 fairways, was on all but one green in regulation -- and holed out from the bunker on the one miss -- and used 26 putts to get through the round.


"It's one of those days where you feel like all your hard work, and your patience is paying off," she said. "You look back in the day, you see yourself with a lot of confidence and know you can do it and believe in yourself."

Choi put her second shot on the par-5 16th hole into the greenside bunker, but she got out for a birdie to get to 17 under and will take the lead into the final round for the first time in her LPGA career.

Choi has a different approach this week -- she is scoreboard watching for the first time as she tries to match the top scorers throughout her rounds.

The Korean golfer explained that before this week, watching as scores were posted made her nervous and would erode her confidence.

"So like this week, I start watching the leaderboard. ... Starting Thursday, every hole watching the leading score. So I think much better, mentally better, than before."

Hall of Famer Karrie Webb is alone in fourth place at 15 under after a 3-under 69. Jennifer Johnson is another stroke back after turning in a 65, making her one of five players to shoot 7 under or better on Saturday.

Stacy Lewis won the tournament last year with a record 17-under score. She gave herself a chance to repeat with a 9-under 63 on Saturday to get to 13-under, where she's tied with Michaels.

The group at 12 under includes first-round leaders Lexi Thompson and Eun-Hee Ji, Nicole Castrale and Ariya Jutanungarn, a 17-year-old playing on a sponsor exemption.

Korda had a bumpy third round. After shooting 3 under on the front nine, she bogeyed 11, where hitting her ball out of a divot aggravated the wrist injury she suffered in the LPGA LOTTE Championships on April 20.

This is her first outing since that injury.

She followed the bogey with a double-bogey on No. 12. But she bounced back with a birdie on the 13th, and she set up an eagle on the 16th with a massive tee shot to get back to 16 under.

"I think they said I hit it 325 (yards)," she said. "And then I had a 6-iron in and I was 33 feet past the pin. (The putt) just went straight in the hole. I mean it was a left-to-right putt, and it was pretty."

Lewis had six birdies in each of the first two rounds, but the 2012 Rolex Player of the Year was only 4 under for the tournament because of four bogeys and two double-bogeys.

In the third round, Lewis didn't have any bogeys. But she did have nine birdies.

Fifty-four golfers are at 5 under or better. Korda said they're all in contention.

"What did Anna shoot today -- 11 under?" the 20-year-old from Bradenton, Fla., asked. "Anybody within 12 shots, I think, is still close."

Plan executed, Spittle eyes first major crown

Plan executed, Spittle eyes first major crown











PGA.COM May 25, 2013 10:42 PM

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View gallery
Rod Spittle has overcome a rough start to his week to put himself in contention to win.(Montana Pritchard/The …


By T.J. Auclair, PGA.com Interactive Producer

ST. LOUIS - Back in 2004, at age 49, Rod Spittle and his wife, Ann, made a life-changing decision.

After 25 years selling health insurance, Rod quit his job, Ann quit hers, they sold their house in Columbus, Ohio, and decided to try something new - professional golf.

That's right, at age 49, Spittle - who starred as a collegiate golfer at Ohio State, where he was a teammate of John Cook and Joey Sindelar - decided all those years later to finally take a crack at the pros.

"My dream was always to play again," Spittle said. "I played at Ohio State with John Cook and Joey Sindelar, who are great guys and great gentlemen. I just thought I could always play. I won my two Canadian Amateurs when I was in school. I just chose not to chase the lifestyle of being away from my family. My hat continues to go off to John and Joey because of that. I turned pro at 49. Our kids are grown. We have three kids - our daughter is 34, and we have two boys who are 32 and 29, as well as two granddaughters. That was when we figured it was OK to do this."

It might sound crazy, but the Spittles put together a five-year plan. If it worked out, great. If it didn't, it was back to the drawing board.

Fast forward to this week at Bellerive Country Club, site of the 74th Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid. With just 18 holes left to play, the 57-year-old, nine-year professional is alone in fourth place, just four shots behind leader Kenny Perry at 6-under-par 207. Spittle shot a 4-under 67 on Saturday to go along with Friday's 71 and Thursday's 69.

The nutty thing about all this is that if it weren't for burning the midnight oil on that five-year plan, Spittle wouldn't even be here this week.

So let's go back to 2010 for a minute. Spittle's five-year plan was coming to an end and it wasn't exactly the end he had in mind. Bluntly, it was getting to "dust off the resume" time.

"Having not played the regular tour, our plan was to work our way on to the Champions Tour," he said. "And I did that for a couple of years playing the Monday qualifiers. I basically learned again how to play at this level."

In the last event on the 2010 Champions Tour schedule - the AT&T Championship in San Antonio - and with perhaps a final trip to qualifying school looming in the fall, Spittle changed everything: He won.


Talk about cashing in on a five-year plan.

Spittle defeated Jeff Sluman in a playoff, earned his full status on the Champions Tour and didn't miss a single start in 2011 or 2012.

"Everybody wants to play as well as they can - no matter what level that might be," Spittle said. "That win at the end of 2010 was huge. It changed everything. Like I've told my buddies and all my kids - I played golf for 40 years and made a 3 1/2-foot putt in 2010 to win a professional golf tournament.

"I still get goose bumps [thinking about it]. That's what's so great about this sport we play. I postponed my stuff a little bit later than John and Joey. They won their tournaments at 25 and I won mine at 55."

Adding to the legend of Rod Spittle is the perseverance he showed early on this week. With a 2:30 p.m. tee time in Thursday's first round starting on the back nine, Spittle began this journey at Bellerive in the worst of the week's conditions - howling wind, sideways rain.

Through his first three holes Spittle was 3 over par - a bogey, par, double bogey start.

Simply put, it was ugly.

"You just simmer down," Spittle said. "And I think I made three birdies on the back nine to get back to even par before the turn. I got back to even par and we've been playing well ever since. I guess I had my bad holes in that first hour instead of stretching them out over the four days. The first day it was just long, wet and cold. And I'm old, so it was just a brutal start.

"That's what the last few years have taught me. You've got to be patient. You just have to ride it out and simmer down. It dried out. The rain and the wind stopped and I was fortunate to make some birdies."

Now, Spittle - sitting where he's always dreamed of eventually being - has an opportunity to do something on Sunday that he's never before even given himself the time to imagine: the chance to win a major championship.

"If it so happened that I won tomorrow night, we'd have to break out the handkerchiefs," he said. "I can't even think about what that would be like. The classic answer is tomorrow is just like any other day. You hit it in the fairway, you hit it on the greens. We'll try not to watch the scoreboard too much. You get yourself in position come tomorrow afternoon about 3-4 o'clock and we'll see what happens. I have a brilliant strategy - just try to make more birdies than bogeys. Either way, we're in a pretty neat spot."

Neat and unbelievable.

Overton DQ Suggests Golf Rules Need a Facelift

Overton DQ Suggests Golf Rules Need a Facelift
Jeff Overton was Disqualified from the Crowne Plaza Colonial Invitational for a Mild Offense. Would Tiger Woods Have Also Been DQ'd?











Adam Fonseca May 25, 2013 11:13 PM





> COMMENTARY | Jeff Overton was disqualified from the Crowne Plaza Colonial Invitational Saturday in one of the most peculiar ways you'll ever see. As a result, it may be time to update the rule book.



While waiting to tee off at hole no. 10 due to a traffic jam of players, Overton walked over to a nearby practice putting green to work on his putter alignment. Overton used a plastic rod to help him with his alignment, which is apparently a huge no-no in the Rules of Golf. He was informed of the disqualification while playing the next hole.

According to PGA Tour officials, Overton violated rule 14-3, which states that "a player is disqualified under Rule 14-3 as [an alignment rod] is unusual equipment and such use, during the stipulated round, is not permitted". A "stipulated round" consists of playing the holes of the course in their correct sequence unless otherwise authorized by tournament officials.

For the sake of clarity, a player is prohibited from using any training aid or device during a competitive round. Furthermore, it is not against the rules for Overton to carry the alignment aid rod in his bag during competition. Surely a practice green that has no bearing on the completion of a golf round would be fair game, right?

According to Mark Russell, PGA Tour vice president of rules and competition, the answer is a resounding no.

"You can go to a designated practice area and chip and putt if you'd like while you are waiting to play," Russell stated. "But you cannot use an artificial device. That's what he did. The penalty for that is disqualification."

So you can literally hit a small bucket of pitches and chips on a practice green in the middle of your round, but as soon as you lay down an object to help with alignment, you break the rules. Not only that, you don't just get penalized; you get disqualified. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Just for the sake of comparison, other rule violations that result in player disqualification include:
Misrepresenting your handicap under USGA Rule 6 (which will never be an issue on the PGA Tour);


Missing your starting time, a la Jim Furyk at the 2010 Barclays (prior to a pro-am round, at that);


Starting your round too early, as Ed Oliver discovered at the 1940 US Open;


Turning in an incorrect or unsigned scorecard;


Playing with nonconforming equipment, which includes the presence of a foreign substance on your clubs or using balls that do not conform to USGA standards. The Rules can even regulate your golf glove design.



As many golf fans learned during Tiger Woods's illegal drop debacle at the 2013 Masters, the USGA and Royal & Ancient Golf Club added an addendum in 2011 to offer tournament officials the option of waiving disqualification under certain circumstances. Despite the fact Woods was deemed to have taken an illegal drop - and since a television viewer whistle blower identified the violation after the fact - Augusta National officials decided to penalize Woods two strokes instead of disqualifying him.

Why didn't Colonial officials opt to simply penalize Overton instead of disqualifying him in this case? Rolling a few putts on a practice green that has no impact on his competitive round seems pretty mild in comparison to taking an illegal drop.

Where's the addendum on enforcing the Rules of Golf consistently?



Adam Fonseca has covered professional golf since 2005. His work can be found on numerous digital outlets including the Back9Network and SB Nation. Follow Adam on Twitter at @chicagoduffer.

Perry leads Haas by two shots after third round

Perry leads Haas by two shots after third round











PGA.COM May 26, 2013 6:23 PM

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Kenny Perry had an eagle, five birdies and four bogeys in his 68 on Saturday.(Getty Images)


ST. LOUIS -- Kenny Perry has been here before, and been crushed by disappointment. Whatever happens in the final round of the Senior PGA Championship, he plans on leaving with his head held high.

If his two-stroke lead over two-time champion Jay Haasdoesn't hold up Sunday, Perry said, "It's not going to be the end of the world."

"I played beautifully for three rounds," Perry said. "I'm just going to go out there and play like I did, and point and shoot."

The 52-year-old Perry is close to an elusive first major championship in a career known more for near-misses in the 2008 Masters and 1996 PGA Championship than his 16 total tournament victories. He was at 10 under overall at Bellerive Country Club, which held up fine after a rain delay of more than two hours before the last twosome of Perry and Russ Cochran teed off.

Perry is the lone player in the field to break 70 all three rounds, capitalizing on booming drives and finesse. On Saturday, he chipped in from about 30 feet from an awkward lie for an eagle on No. 4.

"I couldn't stand there all day and do that again," Perry said. "That was a one in a million shot."

The odds did not help Perry when he faltered and lost in a playoff to Mark Brooks in the PGA Championship. When it happened again in the Masters, it hurt a lot more. Perry led by two strokes with two holes to go but finished with a pair of bogeys, ending a streak of 22 holes without one. Then he bogeyed the second playoff hole and lost in a playoff to Angel Cabrera.

"That Masters loss put a big dent in my life," Perry said. "So this right here, this is awesome. I'm just going to try to do my best and hopefully the cards will fall my way this time."

Perry had the eagle, five birdies and four bogeys in the third round, mixing spectacular shots with some stumbles and doing enough of the right things for a 3-under 68. Though Perry had just one bogey the first two rounds, his closest pursuer doesn't see any weaknesses in his game.


"It was nice to stay within a few of Kenny," Haas said. "It looks like he's really going to be tough to beat."

Haas finished with a pair of birdies for a 67. Cochran was three strokes back after rallying for two birdies on the back nine for an even-par 71, and Rod Spittle was four shots back after a 67.

The 59-year-old Haas, who won the championship in 2006 and `08, shot 66 in the first round to share the lead and credited a telephone tip from coach Billy Harmon about keeping his right shoulder down for helping to steady his game.

"I think I missed maybe one or two fairways and just hit some real quality shots," Haas said. "So, that was a lot of fun."

Haas has played Bellerive a couple dozen times, but doesn't consider it much of an advantage.

"Golf is such a different game than playing at your home court or something with the fans," Haas said. "I don't know what it makes a big deal of a difference."

Perry had a three-stroke lead after the chip for eagle from an awkward lie on No. 4, with both feet in a greenside bunker and the ball on the lip. He was aiming at the gallery and just hoping to get it on the green.

"When I hit it, man, it went straight toward the flag," Perry said. "And it hit and checked a little bit and rolled right in there like a putt."

The lead was down to one after he followed up with consecutive bogeys, but he was back up by four over Cochran and Haas after birdies on Nos. 7 and 8, and no one got closer than two strokes on the back nine.

Defending champion Roger Chapman shot 66 for the second time, matching the tournament's best round, and was 1 under. Bernhard Langer shot a bogey-free 67 for the second straight day to climb back to even par for the tourney after opening with a 79.