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Moving day lived up to its name on day three of the New Zealand golf open at Clearwater today as Mark Brown fired a six-under 66 - the joint-best round of the day - to give him a three-stroke leader over Australians Peter Wilson and Jake Higginbottom.
It was the front nine where Brown produced his best work as he delivered five birdies and took advantage of the still conditions in Christchurch.
The weather has favoured a select group of players throughout the tournament and Brown is one of those golfers. The breeze got up as he played the back nine but he was still good enough to bogey only the 17th down the stretch.
Brown is bidding to become the first New Zealander to win the New Zealand Open since Mahal Pearce etched his name on the trophy at Middlemore in 2003.
There are a host of Australians chasing Brown, while Wellingtonian Peter Spearman-Burn looked like he would make a run at Brown today before a double bogey on 18 saw him sign for an even-par 72.
Spearman-Burn is in a group of players in a tie for eighth on even par and could be heading for his biggest career payday.
Michael Hendry's mixed back nine caused him to slide down the leaderboard as one of the pre-tournament favourites lodged three birdies, two bogeys and two double bogeys.
At one point this afternoon, Hendry held the outright lead of the tournament as the Aucklander birdied three of the first eight holes but he eventually signed for a two-under 70 to be four shots behind Brown in a tie for fourth with veteran Australian Peter O'Malley.
Australian Jason Norris equalled Brown's round of 66 but his six-under score only erased the shots he had dropped during his first two rounds and he is also in the group of players at even par.
Of the other Kiwi hopefuls, Richard Lee fired a two-under 70 to be at even par for the week and Brad Shilton is tied for 14th at one-over.
Pearce shot a frustrating two-over 74 to be in a share of 21st at two-over the card, alongside Phil Tataurangi, who signed for a 69 - his best round of the week - and Ryan Fox.
Gareth Paddison and Mathew Perry both shot 75s to drop back to two-over for the tournament with Pearce, Fox and Tataurangi.
Tasmania's Clint Rice provided the shot of the day when he aced the par-three ninth hole with a six iron from 177m - it was the fourth hole in one on the Australasian PGA Tour this year.
Golf: Brown makes his move - Sport - NZ Herald News
It was the front nine where Brown produced his best work as he delivered five birdies and took advantage of the still conditions in Christchurch.
The weather has favoured a select group of players throughout the tournament and Brown is one of those golfers. The breeze got up as he played the back nine but he was still good enough to bogey only the 17th down the stretch.
Brown is bidding to become the first New Zealander to win the New Zealand Open since Mahal Pearce etched his name on the trophy at Middlemore in 2003.
There are a host of Australians chasing Brown, while Wellingtonian Peter Spearman-Burn looked like he would make a run at Brown today before a double bogey on 18 saw him sign for an even-par 72.
Spearman-Burn is in a group of players in a tie for eighth on even par and could be heading for his biggest career payday.
Michael Hendry's mixed back nine caused him to slide down the leaderboard as one of the pre-tournament favourites lodged three birdies, two bogeys and two double bogeys.
At one point this afternoon, Hendry held the outright lead of the tournament as the Aucklander birdied three of the first eight holes but he eventually signed for a two-under 70 to be four shots behind Brown in a tie for fourth with veteran Australian Peter O'Malley.
Australian Jason Norris equalled Brown's round of 66 but his six-under score only erased the shots he had dropped during his first two rounds and he is also in the group of players at even par.
Of the other Kiwi hopefuls, Richard Lee fired a two-under 70 to be at even par for the week and Brad Shilton is tied for 14th at one-over.
Pearce shot a frustrating two-over 74 to be in a share of 21st at two-over the card, alongside Phil Tataurangi, who signed for a 69 - his best round of the week - and Ryan Fox.
Gareth Paddison and Mathew Perry both shot 75s to drop back to two-over for the tournament with Pearce, Fox and Tataurangi.
Tasmania's Clint Rice provided the shot of the day when he aced the par-three ninth hole with a six iron from 177m - it was the fourth hole in one on the Australasian PGA Tour this year.
Golf: Brown makes his move - Sport - NZ Herald News
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Having watched his New Zealand Open lead slip through his fingers during the final round, Mark Brown was left to ponder an off-day on the greens at Clearwater today.
The Lower Hutt professional had 33 putts during his final round as the three-stroke lead he held overnight evaporated in front of his eyes.
Australian amateur Jake Higginbottom claimed the New Zealand Open title with a one-stroke, ahead of compatriots Jason Norris and Peter Wilson.
Brown's one-over 73 today saw him slip to fourth overall at four-under, and the 37-year-old was visibly devastated after he walked off the 18th green.
"I played well enough. I played beautifully for the first 10 holes. I didn't miss a shot, really, and only holed one putt," Brown said.
"I had 33 putts for the day, so that's never going to win a golf tournament and probably proves you can't win a golf tournament with your long game. You're going to have to hole a few putts and today that didn't happen. It was frustrating because it seems to be happening quite a bit lately."
After having only 28 putts in his third round, when he fired a six-under 66, Brown was disappointed to see his putting desert him when it mattered most. "I just couldn't start them on line so there's probably a technical issue there and I gave myself a lot of chances. I think I had 30 greens for the last 36 holes - so a lot of chances - but when you don't take them you won't win on a Sunday."
Brown, who has played throughout Asia and Australia this year after losing his European Tour card, said he hoped for more as he attempted to become the first Kiwi to win the Open since Mahal Pearce triumphed in 2003.
"[It's] just frustrating. It's probably been a career thing for me so I've just got to get better if I want to reach the goals that I want to reach. But I'll go away and work hard and try to get better."
Wind was one of the defining factors in Christchurch this week but the breeze died down as the day wore on today, which appeared to work against Brown.
"I don't think it was good for me. I was hoping it was going to blow and it calmed right down and became pretty much target golf so it probably didn't [help], but that's the way it goes sometimes."
Brown is one of the leading money-winners on the Australasian PGA Tour in 2012 and will likely tee it up at the Australian Open in Sydney in two weeks.
Golf: Brown rues his missed putts - Sport - NZ Herald News
The Lower Hutt professional had 33 putts during his final round as the three-stroke lead he held overnight evaporated in front of his eyes.
Australian amateur Jake Higginbottom claimed the New Zealand Open title with a one-stroke, ahead of compatriots Jason Norris and Peter Wilson.
Brown's one-over 73 today saw him slip to fourth overall at four-under, and the 37-year-old was visibly devastated after he walked off the 18th green.
"I played well enough. I played beautifully for the first 10 holes. I didn't miss a shot, really, and only holed one putt," Brown said.
"I had 33 putts for the day, so that's never going to win a golf tournament and probably proves you can't win a golf tournament with your long game. You're going to have to hole a few putts and today that didn't happen. It was frustrating because it seems to be happening quite a bit lately."
After having only 28 putts in his third round, when he fired a six-under 66, Brown was disappointed to see his putting desert him when it mattered most. "I just couldn't start them on line so there's probably a technical issue there and I gave myself a lot of chances. I think I had 30 greens for the last 36 holes - so a lot of chances - but when you don't take them you won't win on a Sunday."
Brown, who has played throughout Asia and Australia this year after losing his European Tour card, said he hoped for more as he attempted to become the first Kiwi to win the Open since Mahal Pearce triumphed in 2003.
"[It's] just frustrating. It's probably been a career thing for me so I've just got to get better if I want to reach the goals that I want to reach. But I'll go away and work hard and try to get better."
Wind was one of the defining factors in Christchurch this week but the breeze died down as the day wore on today, which appeared to work against Brown.
"I don't think it was good for me. I was hoping it was going to blow and it calmed right down and became pretty much target golf so it probably didn't [help], but that's the way it goes sometimes."
Brown is one of the leading money-winners on the Australasian PGA Tour in 2012 and will likely tee it up at the Australian Open in Sydney in two weeks.
Golf: Brown rues his missed putts - Sport - NZ Herald News
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Rory McIlroy's rivals were in awe of his two-shot victory at the DP World Tour Championship and compared the world No 1's form to the dominance 14-times major winner Tiger Woods displayed in his prime.
The Northern Irishman landed his fifth title of the year today, countering a course-record 62 by Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose with a stunning sequence of five straight birdies at the conclusion of the final European Tour event of the season in Dubai.
Luke Donald, who played alongside McIlroy in the last round at the Greg Norman-designed Earth course, said the 23-year-old's performance proved he was the world's outstanding golfer. "He showed a lot of grit and determination," the second-ranked Donald said. "It capped off an amazing year for him.
"Rory has been the best player all year and that was some finish. You have to give him a lot of credit for digging deep.
"I think he'll be around for a long time, but it's good, because he'll push me to work harder," added the 34-year-old Englishman, who collected three victories of his own this season.
South African Charl Schwartzel, who finished tied for third with Donald, was similarly impressed by the standard of golf McIlroy had produced in 2012.
"Rory is playing like Tiger did in his young days and it's amazing to see," said last year's US Masters champion. "To watch it happen and Justin coming up shooting a 10-under 62, just shows you how strong golf is right now."
Schwartzel's sentiments were echoed by fellow South African Louis Oosthuizen.
"Rory is probably playing the golf that Tiger was playing when he was on form," said the 2010 British Open champion, after finishing fifth in Dubai.
"At the moment Rory's in his own little world, which is great to see."
McIlroy's other victories this year came in the US PGA Championship - his second major win after last season's US Open triumph - the Honda Classic in Florida and two events in the US PGA Tour's end-of-season FedExCup playoff series.
He also became the second player, after Donald in 2011, to land the money-list titles on both sides of the Atlantic.
Stunning win puts McIlroy in golfing league of his own - Golf News | TVNZ
The Northern Irishman landed his fifth title of the year today, countering a course-record 62 by Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose with a stunning sequence of five straight birdies at the conclusion of the final European Tour event of the season in Dubai.
Luke Donald, who played alongside McIlroy in the last round at the Greg Norman-designed Earth course, said the 23-year-old's performance proved he was the world's outstanding golfer. "He showed a lot of grit and determination," the second-ranked Donald said. "It capped off an amazing year for him.
"Rory has been the best player all year and that was some finish. You have to give him a lot of credit for digging deep.
"I think he'll be around for a long time, but it's good, because he'll push me to work harder," added the 34-year-old Englishman, who collected three victories of his own this season.
South African Charl Schwartzel, who finished tied for third with Donald, was similarly impressed by the standard of golf McIlroy had produced in 2012.
"Rory is playing like Tiger did in his young days and it's amazing to see," said last year's US Masters champion. "To watch it happen and Justin coming up shooting a 10-under 62, just shows you how strong golf is right now."
Schwartzel's sentiments were echoed by fellow South African Louis Oosthuizen.
"Rory is probably playing the golf that Tiger was playing when he was on form," said the 2010 British Open champion, after finishing fifth in Dubai.
"At the moment Rory's in his own little world, which is great to see."
McIlroy's other victories this year came in the US PGA Championship - his second major win after last season's US Open triumph - the Honda Classic in Florida and two events in the US PGA Tour's end-of-season FedExCup playoff series.
He also became the second player, after Donald in 2011, to land the money-list titles on both sides of the Atlantic.
Stunning win puts McIlroy in golfing league of his own - Golf News | TVNZ
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When rising Australian golf star Jake Higginbottom ripped his final drive down Clearwater's difficult 18th hole for a one-shot victory in the New Zealand Open, he knew there was no point waiting to turn professional.
The first amateur since Harry Berwick in 1956 to win the New Zealand Open, the NSW teenager made the decision 24 hours after his last hole heroics to make the switch.
He initially told reporters after his win he would wait until next year.
But the 19-year-old will now make his pro debut in this week's NSW PGA Championship at Mt Broughton before taking on some world class opposition in the Australian Open and PGA Championship next month.
"I made the decision straight after I won," Higginbottom told AAP during a practice round for the NSW PGA at the Mt Broughton course on Tuesday afternoon.
"I always felt I was ready but I didn't really have anywhere to play."
His victory on Sunday solved that problem.
While he missed out a $72,000 winner's cheque because of his amateur status, he did score a two-year exemption on the OneAsia Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia as well as automatic entry into the both the second round of 2013 US PGA and European Tour qualification schools.
The win helped him make his decision, but it was his final drive which convinced him he was ready.
"I knew it was a crucial drive," he said.
"That drive reinforced to me I can trust my swing under pressure.
"Shots like that one helped my decision. All the shots I hit through that back nine (on Sunday) showed me I could handle it (pressure)."
Had Higginbottom turned professional after he tied for 10th in Australian Masters a fortnight ago, he would have been able to keep the $72,000 which was split between joint runners-up, Australian pros Jason Norris and Peter Wilson.
"After a win like that I just thought it was time to `give it a crack'," he said.
"Hopefully I'll make that ($72,000) up in other wins."
Higginbottom won't be changing much about his golf game when he enters the pro ranks following a distinguished amateur career.
He competed in the WA Open at Royal Perth last month and impressed with his long hitting. He was in contention after the first two days but faded in the third and fourth rounds to finish tied 36th in the event won by fellow amateur young gun Oliver Goss, of Royal Fremantle.
Rising star Higginbottom turns pro - Yahoo! New Zealand Sport
The first amateur since Harry Berwick in 1956 to win the New Zealand Open, the NSW teenager made the decision 24 hours after his last hole heroics to make the switch.
He initially told reporters after his win he would wait until next year.
But the 19-year-old will now make his pro debut in this week's NSW PGA Championship at Mt Broughton before taking on some world class opposition in the Australian Open and PGA Championship next month.
"I made the decision straight after I won," Higginbottom told AAP during a practice round for the NSW PGA at the Mt Broughton course on Tuesday afternoon.
"I always felt I was ready but I didn't really have anywhere to play."
His victory on Sunday solved that problem.
While he missed out a $72,000 winner's cheque because of his amateur status, he did score a two-year exemption on the OneAsia Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia as well as automatic entry into the both the second round of 2013 US PGA and European Tour qualification schools.
The win helped him make his decision, but it was his final drive which convinced him he was ready.
"I knew it was a crucial drive," he said.
"That drive reinforced to me I can trust my swing under pressure.
"Shots like that one helped my decision. All the shots I hit through that back nine (on Sunday) showed me I could handle it (pressure)."
Had Higginbottom turned professional after he tied for 10th in Australian Masters a fortnight ago, he would have been able to keep the $72,000 which was split between joint runners-up, Australian pros Jason Norris and Peter Wilson.
"After a win like that I just thought it was time to `give it a crack'," he said.
"Hopefully I'll make that ($72,000) up in other wins."
Higginbottom won't be changing much about his golf game when he enters the pro ranks following a distinguished amateur career.
He competed in the WA Open at Royal Perth last month and impressed with his long hitting. He was in contention after the first two days but faded in the third and fourth rounds to finish tied 36th in the event won by fellow amateur young gun Oliver Goss, of Royal Fremantle.
Rising star Higginbottom turns pro - Yahoo! New Zealand Sport
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How much stomach does it take to play professional golf?
That was the overriding question Tuesday at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, where Tiger Woods and other PGA Tour pros were preparing for this weekend's World Challenge, which benefits Woods' charities.
The topic is the growing popularity of belly putters, where players use long putters with grips that rest against their stomachs.
The practice has been around for years, but it has now received substantial attention because three of golf's last five major tournaments were won by players using belly putters: Keegan Bradley at the 2011 PGA Championship, Webb Simpson at the 2012 U.S. Open and Ernie Els at this year's British Open.
Their success has prompted many young golfers to use belly putters as well, and that trend is thought to be one reason why the club might be banned as early as Wednesday by the U.S. Golf Assn. and its overseas counterpart, the Royal & Ancient.
Golf's two governing bodies have scheduled a joint news conference Wednesday morning that's expected to address the issue, and any ban is expected to be implemented in two to four years so players using belly putters can adapt to shorter putters.
At his news conference Tuesday, Woods reiterated that he's opposed to belly putters or any type of so-called "anchoring" of putters against the body.
Asked if his opposition might help lead to a ban, Woods replied, "I don't know if it carried any weight or not, but I just believe that the art of putting is swinging the club and controlling nerves."
Having one end of the putter at a fixed point, Woods said, "is something that's not in the traditions of the game. We swing all other 13 clubs, I think the putter should be the same. One of the things that I was concerned about going forward is the kids who get started in the game and [are] starting to putt with an anchoring system.".
Woods also argued against having separate sets of rules for pros and amateurs. "It's nice for amateurs to understand that they're playing by the same guidelines we are," he said.
Simpson and Bradley are playing in the World Challenge's 18-player field, and they said Tuesday that although they're not happy about a possible ban of belly putters, they don't plan to take legal action or otherwise contest it.
"I never said the word 'sue,' I never said the word 'legal action,' " Bradley said. "Somehow it got twisted around into that."
The governing boards "are doing what they think is best for the game and I respect that," Bradley said. "That doesn't mean I'm happy with the decision."
Simpson said he has already been practicing with a conventional short putter because "I expected this day to come, and so I just wanted to be ready."
Meanwhile, this will be the 14th World Challenge, which Woods has won five times, including last year. That helped propel him to a solid 2012 that included three PGA Tour victories.
But Woods — currently third in the world golf rankings, behind Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald — failed to win a major tournament this year. His last major win was the U.S. Open in 2008. So Woods still needs to win four more majors to tie Jack Nicklaus' record of 18.
Woods, who turns 37 on Dec. 30, has noted that Nicklaus won his final major, the 1986 Masters, at age 46. And when Nicklaus was Woods' current age, Nicklaus likewise had won 14 major tournaments.
Woods cited his pursuit of Nicklaus' record as one reason why he won't also play on the European Tour next year.
"I enjoy playing around the world and I still always will," Woods said, but he added that winning a major "feels incredible. It lasts with you and that's something that I would like to have happen again."
Golf might ban belly putters - latimes-com
That was the overriding question Tuesday at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, where Tiger Woods and other PGA Tour pros were preparing for this weekend's World Challenge, which benefits Woods' charities.
The topic is the growing popularity of belly putters, where players use long putters with grips that rest against their stomachs.
The practice has been around for years, but it has now received substantial attention because three of golf's last five major tournaments were won by players using belly putters: Keegan Bradley at the 2011 PGA Championship, Webb Simpson at the 2012 U.S. Open and Ernie Els at this year's British Open.
Their success has prompted many young golfers to use belly putters as well, and that trend is thought to be one reason why the club might be banned as early as Wednesday by the U.S. Golf Assn. and its overseas counterpart, the Royal & Ancient.
Golf's two governing bodies have scheduled a joint news conference Wednesday morning that's expected to address the issue, and any ban is expected to be implemented in two to four years so players using belly putters can adapt to shorter putters.
At his news conference Tuesday, Woods reiterated that he's opposed to belly putters or any type of so-called "anchoring" of putters against the body.
Asked if his opposition might help lead to a ban, Woods replied, "I don't know if it carried any weight or not, but I just believe that the art of putting is swinging the club and controlling nerves."
Having one end of the putter at a fixed point, Woods said, "is something that's not in the traditions of the game. We swing all other 13 clubs, I think the putter should be the same. One of the things that I was concerned about going forward is the kids who get started in the game and [are] starting to putt with an anchoring system.".
Woods also argued against having separate sets of rules for pros and amateurs. "It's nice for amateurs to understand that they're playing by the same guidelines we are," he said.
Simpson and Bradley are playing in the World Challenge's 18-player field, and they said Tuesday that although they're not happy about a possible ban of belly putters, they don't plan to take legal action or otherwise contest it.
"I never said the word 'sue,' I never said the word 'legal action,' " Bradley said. "Somehow it got twisted around into that."
The governing boards "are doing what they think is best for the game and I respect that," Bradley said. "That doesn't mean I'm happy with the decision."
Simpson said he has already been practicing with a conventional short putter because "I expected this day to come, and so I just wanted to be ready."
Meanwhile, this will be the 14th World Challenge, which Woods has won five times, including last year. That helped propel him to a solid 2012 that included three PGA Tour victories.
But Woods — currently third in the world golf rankings, behind Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald — failed to win a major tournament this year. His last major win was the U.S. Open in 2008. So Woods still needs to win four more majors to tie Jack Nicklaus' record of 18.
Woods, who turns 37 on Dec. 30, has noted that Nicklaus won his final major, the 1986 Masters, at age 46. And when Nicklaus was Woods' current age, Nicklaus likewise had won 14 major tournaments.
Woods cited his pursuit of Nicklaus' record as one reason why he won't also play on the European Tour next year.
"I enjoy playing around the world and I still always will," Woods said, but he added that winning a major "feels incredible. It lasts with you and that's something that I would like to have happen again."
Golf might ban belly putters - latimes-com
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Twelve months after ending a two-year victory drought at the tournament he hosts, Tiger Woods is excited about his prospects for 2013 as he prepares to defend his World Challenge title at the event starting today.
His one-shot triumph over fellow American Zach Johnson at last year’s World Challenge set the tone for a successful 2012 PGA Tour campaign highlighted by three wins, the only disappointment being his continued barren run in the majors.
“I’m very excited because last year at this point in time I was still not quite where I wanted to be physically,” Woods, who has battled assorted knee injuries during his career, told reporters at Sherwood Country Club.
“This year has been fantastic in that regard. I’ve felt good. I’ve played a full schedule for the first time in a very long time, and I’m just very pleased with what I’ve done overall with my game.
“At the outset of the year I didn’t really putt well. Towards the end of the year I really started putting well. My short game has really come around ... I am becoming more consistent.”
Woods won his 72nd PGA Tour title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, then followed up with wins at the Memorial tournament and AT&T National.
Glittering record
However, he has not triumphed in the majors since the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines and has set his sights on removing that blemish from his otherwise glittering record during his 2013 campaign.
“I’ve had some really nice years, some really good years in there, but winning a major championship just takes it to a whole new level,” said Woods, who will celebrate his 37th birthday next month.
“I know how it feels when you win a major championship, and it feels incredible. It lasts with you, and that’s something that I would like to have happen again. That’s something I haven’t done since ‘08 so it’s something I’m hoping I can do next year.”
Woods has fond memories of his World Challenge victory last year at Sherwood where he birdied the last two holes to snatch a one-shot win from Johnson.
“I hadn’t won in a little bit there, and it was nice to not only win but to go head-to-head against Zach and to do it the way I did,” the 14-times major champion said. “I had to earn it.
“Against a guy like Zach, he’s not going to go away. That really started the year off for me on a positive note, and consequently I ended up winning three times this year. But there are always things we need to work on, and this off-season we have a list of things we want to get done. That’ll start probably a couple of weeks after this event.”
Woods, who has been working with coach Sean Foley on the fourth swing change of his professional career, faces a strong field this week in the $5 million invitational event.
Among the 18 players competing at Sherwood are Masters champion Bubba Watson, U.S. Open winner Webb Simpson, 2012 FedExCup champion Brandt Snedeker and Ryder Cup players Ian Poulter of England and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland.
Merely qualifying for the elite field of 18 at this week’s $5 million World Challenge is an achievement in itself for the players, an early Christmas present to signal a successful year.
Though the four-round tournament is not a PGA Tour event, it offers official world ranking points and every player competing this week is ranked in the world’s top 35.
“It’s an honor just to be here,” U.S. Open champion Webb Simpsonsaid.
“To make an elite field of 18 guys is a good feeling and just shows that you’ve been doing the right stuff. I am excited for the week.”
Fellow American Keegan Bradley, who won his first major title at last year’s PGA Championship, agreed.
“It’s always good to be back here and play in Tiger’s tournament,” Bradley said. “This is a bonus tournament. It’s run so amazingly and to have Tiger be the host obviously makes it more special. It’s one that I look forward to every year.”
For PGA Tour veteran Steve Stricker, competing in the warm autumn sunshine of Southern California provides welcome relief from the biting cold of his home in Wisconsin.
“It’s a good opportunity for me to come out of the cold weather and get some rounds under my belt,” said the 12-time PGA Tour winner.
“It just turned for the worse back in Wisconsin this last weekend. We had great weather all fall and I actually played a little golf out on the golf course last week, but then over the weekend it got cold.“I haven’t really picked up the clubs since the Ryder Cup so it’s a good opportunity to get my game going again for the New Year.”
GOLF - Woods happy with his return to World Challenge
His one-shot triumph over fellow American Zach Johnson at last year’s World Challenge set the tone for a successful 2012 PGA Tour campaign highlighted by three wins, the only disappointment being his continued barren run in the majors.
“I’m very excited because last year at this point in time I was still not quite where I wanted to be physically,” Woods, who has battled assorted knee injuries during his career, told reporters at Sherwood Country Club.
“This year has been fantastic in that regard. I’ve felt good. I’ve played a full schedule for the first time in a very long time, and I’m just very pleased with what I’ve done overall with my game.
“At the outset of the year I didn’t really putt well. Towards the end of the year I really started putting well. My short game has really come around ... I am becoming more consistent.”
Woods won his 72nd PGA Tour title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, then followed up with wins at the Memorial tournament and AT&T National.
Glittering record
However, he has not triumphed in the majors since the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines and has set his sights on removing that blemish from his otherwise glittering record during his 2013 campaign.
“I’ve had some really nice years, some really good years in there, but winning a major championship just takes it to a whole new level,” said Woods, who will celebrate his 37th birthday next month.
“I know how it feels when you win a major championship, and it feels incredible. It lasts with you, and that’s something that I would like to have happen again. That’s something I haven’t done since ‘08 so it’s something I’m hoping I can do next year.”
Woods has fond memories of his World Challenge victory last year at Sherwood where he birdied the last two holes to snatch a one-shot win from Johnson.
“I hadn’t won in a little bit there, and it was nice to not only win but to go head-to-head against Zach and to do it the way I did,” the 14-times major champion said. “I had to earn it.
“Against a guy like Zach, he’s not going to go away. That really started the year off for me on a positive note, and consequently I ended up winning three times this year. But there are always things we need to work on, and this off-season we have a list of things we want to get done. That’ll start probably a couple of weeks after this event.”
Woods, who has been working with coach Sean Foley on the fourth swing change of his professional career, faces a strong field this week in the $5 million invitational event.
Among the 18 players competing at Sherwood are Masters champion Bubba Watson, U.S. Open winner Webb Simpson, 2012 FedExCup champion Brandt Snedeker and Ryder Cup players Ian Poulter of England and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland.
Merely qualifying for the elite field of 18 at this week’s $5 million World Challenge is an achievement in itself for the players, an early Christmas present to signal a successful year.
Though the four-round tournament is not a PGA Tour event, it offers official world ranking points and every player competing this week is ranked in the world’s top 35.
“It’s an honor just to be here,” U.S. Open champion Webb Simpsonsaid.
“To make an elite field of 18 guys is a good feeling and just shows that you’ve been doing the right stuff. I am excited for the week.”
Fellow American Keegan Bradley, who won his first major title at last year’s PGA Championship, agreed.
“It’s always good to be back here and play in Tiger’s tournament,” Bradley said. “This is a bonus tournament. It’s run so amazingly and to have Tiger be the host obviously makes it more special. It’s one that I look forward to every year.”
For PGA Tour veteran Steve Stricker, competing in the warm autumn sunshine of Southern California provides welcome relief from the biting cold of his home in Wisconsin.
“It’s a good opportunity for me to come out of the cold weather and get some rounds under my belt,” said the 12-time PGA Tour winner.
“It just turned for the worse back in Wisconsin this last weekend. We had great weather all fall and I actually played a little golf out on the golf course last week, but then over the weekend it got cold.“I haven’t really picked up the clubs since the Ryder Cup so it’s a good opportunity to get my game going again for the New Year.”
GOLF - Woods happy with his return to World Challenge
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29893
Bifurcate is one of those words that could send people scrambling for dusty old dictionaries, assuming people still use dusty old dictionaries.
Basically, bifurcate means to divide or separate into two parts or branches. What it means for golf these days is the potential for big headaches and lots of debate over whether there should be two sets of rules in the game, one for recreational players and one for professionals.
It is easy to say the proposed ban on anchored putting strokes is at the heart of the push for separate rules in the game, but the truth is the talk has been around for years. Everything from dumbed-down golf balls to deadened clubs for professionals has been talked about. But the people who make the rules, the USGA and the R and A, have steadfastly resisted such calls. They like the idea that you believe you are playing the same game that Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are playing, even if it takes you a big drive and a 7-iron to get near a McIlroy drive these days.
For now, it is the anchoring of the putter against the body that is fueling the bifurcation debate. The lines are pretty clearly drawn. The USGA and the R and A have decided something that many people have always said, that an anchored stroke with a putter is not a true free-swinging golf stroke. They want to ban the practice starting in 2016, and they have plenty of supporters who wonder why the two ruling organizations ever allowed the putting style to thrive in the first place.
On the other side are people who wonder why, in a day when there are calls to make the game more accessible, less expensive and easier for players, the USGA would take away a club that makes putting easier for some players.
Popular putters
Without question, long putters have become more popular with the masses, with TaylorMade reporting 15 percent of its putter sales in the last two years being long putters. Not all of those putters are on the PGA Tour, naturally.
So, should the PGA Tour, where players like Keegan Bradley and Ernie Els have won majors using long putters, break with the USGA and allow its players to use long putters beyond Jan. 1, 2016? Players will grumble, but the PGA Tour is almost certainly going to abide by the USGA rules, just as it always has. Who knows, some player might even file a lawsuit for whatever reason, arguing that the ban is in some way unfair. But the USGA certainly has a right to make its rules. And most of the golf world including the PGA Tour has always bowed to the wisdom of the USGA in such matters.
You aren’t playing the same game as Rory McIlroy these days. Heck, often PGA Tour players are using equipment you can’t even buy yet. But no one in golf likes the idea of separate rules, especially since much of the appeal of the game (and much of the sale of equipment) is based on the illusion that recreational golfers and top-notch pros are playing the same game.
For golf, bifurcation is a word no one wants to look up.
www-mydesert-com/article/20121129/SPORTS0501/311290040/Rules-golf-set-split?odyssey=nav|head
Basically, bifurcate means to divide or separate into two parts or branches. What it means for golf these days is the potential for big headaches and lots of debate over whether there should be two sets of rules in the game, one for recreational players and one for professionals.
It is easy to say the proposed ban on anchored putting strokes is at the heart of the push for separate rules in the game, but the truth is the talk has been around for years. Everything from dumbed-down golf balls to deadened clubs for professionals has been talked about. But the people who make the rules, the USGA and the R and A, have steadfastly resisted such calls. They like the idea that you believe you are playing the same game that Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are playing, even if it takes you a big drive and a 7-iron to get near a McIlroy drive these days.
For now, it is the anchoring of the putter against the body that is fueling the bifurcation debate. The lines are pretty clearly drawn. The USGA and the R and A have decided something that many people have always said, that an anchored stroke with a putter is not a true free-swinging golf stroke. They want to ban the practice starting in 2016, and they have plenty of supporters who wonder why the two ruling organizations ever allowed the putting style to thrive in the first place.
On the other side are people who wonder why, in a day when there are calls to make the game more accessible, less expensive and easier for players, the USGA would take away a club that makes putting easier for some players.
Popular putters
Without question, long putters have become more popular with the masses, with TaylorMade reporting 15 percent of its putter sales in the last two years being long putters. Not all of those putters are on the PGA Tour, naturally.
So, should the PGA Tour, where players like Keegan Bradley and Ernie Els have won majors using long putters, break with the USGA and allow its players to use long putters beyond Jan. 1, 2016? Players will grumble, but the PGA Tour is almost certainly going to abide by the USGA rules, just as it always has. Who knows, some player might even file a lawsuit for whatever reason, arguing that the ban is in some way unfair. But the USGA certainly has a right to make its rules. And most of the golf world including the PGA Tour has always bowed to the wisdom of the USGA in such matters.
You aren’t playing the same game as Rory McIlroy these days. Heck, often PGA Tour players are using equipment you can’t even buy yet. But no one in golf likes the idea of separate rules, especially since much of the appeal of the game (and much of the sale of equipment) is based on the illusion that recreational golfers and top-notch pros are playing the same game.
For golf, bifurcation is a word no one wants to look up.
www-mydesert-com/article/20121129/SPORTS0501/311290040/Rules-golf-set-split?odyssey=nav|head
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2006/12/07
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29893
Winner here in 2010 and runner-up in 2009, McDowell fired a superb six-under-par 66 in rain-softened conditions to take control of the elite 18-player event hosted by Tiger Woods.
The 33-year-old Northern Irishman made a fast start with three consecutive birdies on a receptive layout and finished with four more in the last nine holes to post a nine-under total of 135.
"A good day's work," said McDowell, who has not won anywhere since his 2010 World Challenge victory.
"The golf course is obviously very receptive ... so it's an opportunity to be very aggressive coming into these pins.
"And it's nice to come back to a golf course which has got some good memories for me. It's just been a golf course that's always fit my eye."
Jim Furyk, World Challenge winner in 2009, carded a 69 to sit three strokes off the pace with fellow Americans Bo Van Pelt (68) and Keegan Bradley (69).
Woods, the defending champion who has won the tournament a record five times, was a further shot back at five under after carding a five-birdie 69.
"Certainly I hit the ball a lot better than I did yesterday and made a couple more putts," said Woods, who moved into a four-way tie for the lead on the back nine before slipping back with a bogey at the 15th.
"I felt a lot better today with my swing overall. I just had to come out here and trust it and when I did I got into a nice little run there. I just need to do that all 36 holes on the weekend."
McDowell, however, took charge of the invitational event on a mainly overcast day with intermittent drizzle after starting the second round two strokes behind overnight leader Nick Watney.
He covered the front nine in two-under 34 with his only bogey coming at the par-four seventh, and picked up four more shots with a flawless display on the hillier homeward nine.
McDowell was well aware, though, that any of his closest challengers were capable of shooting a low score on a Sherwood layout softened by rain.
"I've certainly got my small little cushion going into the weekend, but all I can do is concentrate on my game," he said.
"I believe someone will go low this weekend at some point.
"Certainly seven, eight, nine under par is not out of the question on this golf course. There are a lot of birdie chances on this golf course.
"You really just gotta stay patient and wait for your opportunities to come along," said the Northern Irishman who won his first major title in the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach.
McDowell would dearly love to end his 2012 campaign with a victory, having not triumphed anywhere since he beat Woods in a play-off to clinch the 2010 World Challenge.
"It would mean a lot to me to win this weekend, but I've got 36 holes of difficult golf against some great players to come," he said. "It's not like beating 156 guys, but there's 18 pretty good players here.
"This event has always got good memories for me. Like I say, I have a very relaxed approach to this week generally."
Watney, two strokes ahead of the field overnight after opening with a 67, bogeyed two of the last three holes for a 73 to lie five shots off the pace.
"Definitely a little sloppy today, and just a terrible way to finish," he said. "But we're only halfway through so we'll see if we can kind of make a charge at those guys in the morning."
World Challenge leaderboard after second round:
Name Score R1 R2 Total
1. Graeme McDowell -6 69 66 135
T2. Bo Van Pelt -4 70 68 138
T2. Jim Furyk -3 69 69 138
T2. Keegan Bradley -3 69 69 138
5. Tiger Woods -3 70 69 139
T6. Rickie Fowler -5 73 67 140
T6. Nick Watney +1 67 73 140
8. Jason Dufner -4 73 68 141
T9. Dustin Johnson -4 74 68 142
T9. Matt Kuchar -3 73 69 142
Golf - McDowell takes charge at Sherwood - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
The 33-year-old Northern Irishman made a fast start with three consecutive birdies on a receptive layout and finished with four more in the last nine holes to post a nine-under total of 135.
"A good day's work," said McDowell, who has not won anywhere since his 2010 World Challenge victory.
"The golf course is obviously very receptive ... so it's an opportunity to be very aggressive coming into these pins.
"And it's nice to come back to a golf course which has got some good memories for me. It's just been a golf course that's always fit my eye."
Jim Furyk, World Challenge winner in 2009, carded a 69 to sit three strokes off the pace with fellow Americans Bo Van Pelt (68) and Keegan Bradley (69).
Woods, the defending champion who has won the tournament a record five times, was a further shot back at five under after carding a five-birdie 69.
"Certainly I hit the ball a lot better than I did yesterday and made a couple more putts," said Woods, who moved into a four-way tie for the lead on the back nine before slipping back with a bogey at the 15th.
"I felt a lot better today with my swing overall. I just had to come out here and trust it and when I did I got into a nice little run there. I just need to do that all 36 holes on the weekend."
McDowell, however, took charge of the invitational event on a mainly overcast day with intermittent drizzle after starting the second round two strokes behind overnight leader Nick Watney.
He covered the front nine in two-under 34 with his only bogey coming at the par-four seventh, and picked up four more shots with a flawless display on the hillier homeward nine.
McDowell was well aware, though, that any of his closest challengers were capable of shooting a low score on a Sherwood layout softened by rain.
"I've certainly got my small little cushion going into the weekend, but all I can do is concentrate on my game," he said.
"I believe someone will go low this weekend at some point.
"Certainly seven, eight, nine under par is not out of the question on this golf course. There are a lot of birdie chances on this golf course.
"You really just gotta stay patient and wait for your opportunities to come along," said the Northern Irishman who won his first major title in the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach.
McDowell would dearly love to end his 2012 campaign with a victory, having not triumphed anywhere since he beat Woods in a play-off to clinch the 2010 World Challenge.
"It would mean a lot to me to win this weekend, but I've got 36 holes of difficult golf against some great players to come," he said. "It's not like beating 156 guys, but there's 18 pretty good players here.
"This event has always got good memories for me. Like I say, I have a very relaxed approach to this week generally."
Watney, two strokes ahead of the field overnight after opening with a 67, bogeyed two of the last three holes for a 73 to lie five shots off the pace.
"Definitely a little sloppy today, and just a terrible way to finish," he said. "But we're only halfway through so we'll see if we can kind of make a charge at those guys in the morning."
World Challenge leaderboard after second round:
Name Score R1 R2 Total
1. Graeme McDowell -6 69 66 135
T2. Bo Van Pelt -4 70 68 138
T2. Jim Furyk -3 69 69 138
T2. Keegan Bradley -3 69 69 138
5. Tiger Woods -3 70 69 139
T6. Rickie Fowler -5 73 67 140
T6. Nick Watney +1 67 73 140
8. Jason Dufner -4 73 68 141
T9. Dustin Johnson -4 74 68 142
T9. Matt Kuchar -3 73 69 142
Golf - McDowell takes charge at Sherwood - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
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SUN CITY, South Africa - Germany's Martin Kaymer holed a tricky 10-foot par putt on the final hole for a 2-under 70 and a one-stroke lead in the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
Kaymer was 5 under overall at Gary Player Country Club in the 12-man event.
South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen was second after a 69, and countryman Charl Schwartzel was another stroke back after a 70. England's Lee Westwood, the two-time defending champion, and American Bill Haas were 2 under. Westwood had a 70, and Haas shot a 71.
Germany's Bernhard Langer won the Nedbank Champions Challenge seniors event, shooting a 74 for a two-stroke victory over Jay Haas, Bill Haas' father. Langer finished at 7-under 209.
PGA TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL
LA QUINTA - South Korea' Lee Dong-hwan shot an 8-under 64 on Saturday on PGA West's Stadium Course to take a two-stroke lead after the fourth round of the PGA Tour qualifying tournament.
Lee had a 19-under 269 total in the six-round event. The final top 25 and ties will receive 2013 PGA Tour cards and the next 50 and ties will earn Web-com Tour cards.
The 25-year-old Lee has played the last five seasons on the Japanese tour, winning the 2007 Mizuno Open and 2011 Toshin Open. He was the tour's rookie of the year in 2006.
Edward Loar, Meen Whee Kim, Vaughn Taylor and Richard H. Lee were tied for second after their rounds on the Stadium Course. Richard H. Lee had a 64, Taylor shot
Read more: Golf Roundup: Martin Kaymer leads in South Africa - Pasadena Star-News
Kaymer was 5 under overall at Gary Player Country Club in the 12-man event.
South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen was second after a 69, and countryman Charl Schwartzel was another stroke back after a 70. England's Lee Westwood, the two-time defending champion, and American Bill Haas were 2 under. Westwood had a 70, and Haas shot a 71.
Germany's Bernhard Langer won the Nedbank Champions Challenge seniors event, shooting a 74 for a two-stroke victory over Jay Haas, Bill Haas' father. Langer finished at 7-under 209.
PGA TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL
LA QUINTA - South Korea' Lee Dong-hwan shot an 8-under 64 on Saturday on PGA West's Stadium Course to take a two-stroke lead after the fourth round of the PGA Tour qualifying tournament.
Lee had a 19-under 269 total in the six-round event. The final top 25 and ties will receive 2013 PGA Tour cards and the next 50 and ties will earn Web-com Tour cards.
The 25-year-old Lee has played the last five seasons on the Japanese tour, winning the 2007 Mizuno Open and 2011 Toshin Open. He was the tour's rookie of the year in 2006.
Edward Loar, Meen Whee Kim, Vaughn Taylor and Richard H. Lee were tied for second after their rounds on the Stadium Course. Richard H. Lee had a 64, Taylor shot
Read more: Golf Roundup: Martin Kaymer leads in South Africa - Pasadena Star-News
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On the final day of the three-day Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Amateur Golf Championship contested at the Royal Palm Club Golf Course here Saturday, the courage of a very experienced national golfer Tariq Mehmood of Pakistan Navy did wonders for him as he forcefully and gallantly stopped Ghazanfar Mahmood's march to victory. Through solid play Tariq wiped out the overnight deficit of eight strokes and then in a playoff he went on to birdie the first playoff hole and stamp his name on the winner's trophy.
While Tariq was composed and in control over the final eighteen holes and in particular the closing three holes, the overnight leader and dominant one over the past two rounds found his putting touch and feel rebel against him and he was made to look like a novice and a competitor in total disarray.
Earlier in the morning when the championship started, Ghazanfar looked radiant and his march on the first hole reflected the walk of a proud winner but then Nature has its own ways of passing the final judgement.
And as the holes were played, apparent was Tariq's superiority and by the end of the first nine holes the stroke deficit was down from eight to four strokes and on the back nine the slide for Ghazanfar picked up pace. And on the last three holes, Ghazanfar facilitated his rival's victory march by three putting the last three holes.
The die had been cast, and on the first playoff hole Tariq looked brilliant and in a mood to kill and that brought loud cheers from his fans and supporters.
In the contest for net honours, the top one was Hussain Hamid with a three days net score of 214, Waleed Zubair who ended at 216 was runner-up net. Raza Ali Khan came third with a score of 217. The women's gross winner was Ghazala Yasmin of Gujranwala Golf Club and the seniors' gross winner was Javed Khan of Pakistan WAPDA. In the invitational category, the top performer in gross section was Khan Hasham Bin Sadiq while Usman Tariq was the runner-up. Net winner was Sohail Ahmed and net runner-up was Asad Lodhi. Asad IA Khan won the nearest to the pin prize. The chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony was Admiral Muhammad Asif Sandila, Chief of Naval Staff, Pakistan Navy.
The final positions were as follows:
Tariq Mehmood (Navy) 74+75+72=221
Ghazanfar Mahmood (Rawalpindi) 69+72+80=221
Mohammad Rahman (Royal Palm) 77+79+70=226
Salman Jahangir (Gymkhana) 81+75+77=233
Imran Ahmed (Gymkhana) 74+80+80=234
Waleed Zubair (Gymkhana) 86+76+75=237
Sajid Khan (Arabian Sea) 85+76+76=237
Col Rustam Chatta (Gujranwala) 82+76+79=237.
Tariq wins CNS Golf Championship - PakTribune.Com
While Tariq was composed and in control over the final eighteen holes and in particular the closing three holes, the overnight leader and dominant one over the past two rounds found his putting touch and feel rebel against him and he was made to look like a novice and a competitor in total disarray.
Earlier in the morning when the championship started, Ghazanfar looked radiant and his march on the first hole reflected the walk of a proud winner but then Nature has its own ways of passing the final judgement.
And as the holes were played, apparent was Tariq's superiority and by the end of the first nine holes the stroke deficit was down from eight to four strokes and on the back nine the slide for Ghazanfar picked up pace. And on the last three holes, Ghazanfar facilitated his rival's victory march by three putting the last three holes.
The die had been cast, and on the first playoff hole Tariq looked brilliant and in a mood to kill and that brought loud cheers from his fans and supporters.
In the contest for net honours, the top one was Hussain Hamid with a three days net score of 214, Waleed Zubair who ended at 216 was runner-up net. Raza Ali Khan came third with a score of 217. The women's gross winner was Ghazala Yasmin of Gujranwala Golf Club and the seniors' gross winner was Javed Khan of Pakistan WAPDA. In the invitational category, the top performer in gross section was Khan Hasham Bin Sadiq while Usman Tariq was the runner-up. Net winner was Sohail Ahmed and net runner-up was Asad Lodhi. Asad IA Khan won the nearest to the pin prize. The chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony was Admiral Muhammad Asif Sandila, Chief of Naval Staff, Pakistan Navy.
The final positions were as follows:
Tariq Mehmood (Navy) 74+75+72=221
Ghazanfar Mahmood (Rawalpindi) 69+72+80=221
Mohammad Rahman (Royal Palm) 77+79+70=226
Salman Jahangir (Gymkhana) 81+75+77=233
Imran Ahmed (Gymkhana) 74+80+80=234
Waleed Zubair (Gymkhana) 86+76+75=237
Sajid Khan (Arabian Sea) 85+76+76=237
Col Rustam Chatta (Gujranwala) 82+76+79=237.
Tariq wins CNS Golf Championship - PakTribune.Com
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Otago and Waikato made perfect starts to the Toro Men's Interprovincial at the Otago Golf Club today.
The weather was fine this morning at the oldest golf club in New Zealand before the wind picked up this afternoon and made scoring challenging for the best 75 golfers from around New Zealand.
The Otago team, who were playing in front of sizeable and parochial crowds, began in confident fashion this morning when they hammered Poverty Bay 5-0 and then backed that up with a gritty 3-2 win over 2005 champions North Harbour to remain unbeaten.
"I don't think the expectations are too big on us because we are a pretty inexperienced team," said Otago No2 Michael Smith who won both of his matches comfortably.
Smith said he was inspired by his No.1 Brent McEwan who led from the front all day and was a collective nine under par for his two wins over Steven Donnelly (Poverty Bay) and Cam Jones (North Harbour).
"It is pretty easy when you are playing in front of him and you turn around and he is hitting darts right by the hole all day. He is going to be tough to stop around here. He is one of the best golfers in Otago if not New Zealand."
Smith was also proud of his own efforts. Particularly in the second match against when he turned his team's fortunes around with a come-from-behind win over Kevin Budden.
"I was three down through three but got back into the match and then made some birdies after the turn. It was pleasing to get that win that we needed.
The young Waikato team, who are looking to win the title for the first time in five years, were just as impressive as they managed wins over Hawkes Bay and Taranaki both by the margin of 4 -1.
There is a long way to go with the leading six teams from the 2011 event having the bye today. They will look to make up significant ground tomorrow.
Defending champions Southland, with NZ No1 Vaughan McCall away at the Australian Open, were ruthless in dispatching Aorangi 5-0 this afternoon.
Auckland, the second most successful team in history began their 2012 campaign with a 4 -1 win over Hawkes Bay this afternoon.
The most successful team Wellington also managed a win in their only match this morning by 3-2 over Manawatu-Wanganui.
One of the pre-tournament favourites Canterbury was looking likely to be upset early on by Tasman.
The Tasman No3 Ryan Chisnall and No4 Glen Drummond put the pressure on the Red and Black when they won their two points to put Tasman in a position where they couldn't lose the match.
Canterbury's leading players rallied however to secure a valuable half.
Jordan Bakermans, who recently played well in Argentina finishing runner-up at the Juan Carlos with team-mate Josh Munn, beat fellow New Zealand rep Blair Riordan one-up at the last hole and Canterbury No2 Owen Burgess beat Hamish Campbell 3 and 2 to halve the match.
The young promising Northland team got off to a poor start this morning but won 3-2 this afternoon over Tasman.
There is still everything to play for at Balmacewen and Waikato and hosts Otago will be happiest with their day one efforts in the national team's championship.
Toro Men's Interprovincial Round One and Two Scores - Otago Golf Club, Dunedin
Round One Scores:
Taranaki 3 Aorangi 2
Brad Hayward bt Cameron Grant 5/4, Jaime Reid bt Jordan Green 5/4, Zac Lewis bt Garth Simpson 5/4, Joseph Doyle lost to Damian Rodgers 2up, Brook Gray bt George Wardell 4/3
North Harbour 4 Northland 1
Cam Jones bt Luke Brown 2up, Kevin Budden lost to Alex Neely 2up, James Davis bt Chase McKeown 1up, David Feeny bt Sean Masters 1up, Jason Gulasekharam bt Brad Bonnington 5/3
Wellington 3 Manawatu/Wanganui 2
Marc Jennings bt Josh Munn 5/4, Fraser McLachlan bt Lachie McDonald 2/1, James Donnelly lost to Trent Munn 2/1, Adam Church lost to Junior Tatana 1down, Peter Brinsdon bt Hayden Ring 2up
Waikato 4 Hawkes Bay 1
Compton Pikari lost to Richard Squire 1down, Luke Toomey bt Ben Swinburne 4/3, Tom Brockelsby bt Russell Mitchell 4/2, Ho Jun Sung bt Max Gill 3/2, Steven Kuggeleijn bt Madison Noakes 1up
Otago 5 Poverty Bay East Coast 0
Brent McEwan bt Steven Donnelly 4/3, Michael Smith bt Andrew Higham 5/4, Samson Kim bt William Brown 1up, Brandon Hodgson bt Ruel Pedersen 6/5, Tony Giles bt Matthew Mackey 5/4
Canterbury 2 Tasman 2
Jordan Bakermans bt Blair Riordan 1up, Owen Burgess bt Hamish Campbell 3/2, Harry Bateman lost to Ryan Chisnall 1down, Nic Kay lost to Glen Drummond 1down, Tom Turner halved with Nick Ludbrook
Round Two Scores:
Auckland 4 Hawkes Bay 1
Sam An bt Richard Squire 2/1, Nick Voke bt Ben Swinburne 3/2, Tae Koh lost to Russell Mitchell 2/1, Jonathan Ratcliffe bt Madison Noakes 7/6, Josh Leitch bt Carlos Tawera 1up
Otago 3 North Harbour2
Brent McEwan bt Cam Jones 4/3, Michael Smith bt Kevin Budden 3/2, Samson Kim bt James Davis 5/4, Brandon Hodgson lost to David Feeney 2/1, Tony Giles lost to Jason Gulasekharam 2/1
Waikato 4 Taranaki 1
Compton Pikari bt Brad Hayward 2/1, Luke Toomey lost to Jaime Reid 1up, Tom Brockelsby bt Zac Lewis 2/1, Ho Jun Sung bt Joseph Doyle 3/2, Steven Kuggeleijn bt Brook Gray 2up
Southland 5 Aorangi 0
Tyler McLean bt Cameron Grant 2/1, Scott Hellier bt Jordan Green 6/5, Liam Balneaves bt Garth Simpson 5/4, Jeremy Hall bt Damian Rodgers 5/4, Matt Tautari bt George Wardell 3/2
Bay of Plenty 4 Poverty Bay EC 1
Brad Kendall bt Steven Donnelly 5/3, Peter Lee Andrew Higham 2/1, Sam Davis William Brown 7/6, Victor Janin Ruel Pedersen 1up, Landyn Edwards lost to Matthew Mackey 1down
Northland 3 Tasman 2
Luke Brown bt Blair Riordan 1up, Alex Neely bt Hamish Campbell 1up, Chase McKeown lost to Ryan Chisnall 5/3, Sean Masters bt Glenn Drummond 2/1, Nick Ludbrook lost to 2/1 Kadin Neho
The weather was fine this morning at the oldest golf club in New Zealand before the wind picked up this afternoon and made scoring challenging for the best 75 golfers from around New Zealand.
The Otago team, who were playing in front of sizeable and parochial crowds, began in confident fashion this morning when they hammered Poverty Bay 5-0 and then backed that up with a gritty 3-2 win over 2005 champions North Harbour to remain unbeaten.
"I don't think the expectations are too big on us because we are a pretty inexperienced team," said Otago No2 Michael Smith who won both of his matches comfortably.
Smith said he was inspired by his No.1 Brent McEwan who led from the front all day and was a collective nine under par for his two wins over Steven Donnelly (Poverty Bay) and Cam Jones (North Harbour).
"It is pretty easy when you are playing in front of him and you turn around and he is hitting darts right by the hole all day. He is going to be tough to stop around here. He is one of the best golfers in Otago if not New Zealand."
Smith was also proud of his own efforts. Particularly in the second match against when he turned his team's fortunes around with a come-from-behind win over Kevin Budden.
"I was three down through three but got back into the match and then made some birdies after the turn. It was pleasing to get that win that we needed.
The young Waikato team, who are looking to win the title for the first time in five years, were just as impressive as they managed wins over Hawkes Bay and Taranaki both by the margin of 4 -1.
There is a long way to go with the leading six teams from the 2011 event having the bye today. They will look to make up significant ground tomorrow.
Defending champions Southland, with NZ No1 Vaughan McCall away at the Australian Open, were ruthless in dispatching Aorangi 5-0 this afternoon.
Auckland, the second most successful team in history began their 2012 campaign with a 4 -1 win over Hawkes Bay this afternoon.
The most successful team Wellington also managed a win in their only match this morning by 3-2 over Manawatu-Wanganui.
One of the pre-tournament favourites Canterbury was looking likely to be upset early on by Tasman.
The Tasman No3 Ryan Chisnall and No4 Glen Drummond put the pressure on the Red and Black when they won their two points to put Tasman in a position where they couldn't lose the match.
Canterbury's leading players rallied however to secure a valuable half.
Jordan Bakermans, who recently played well in Argentina finishing runner-up at the Juan Carlos with team-mate Josh Munn, beat fellow New Zealand rep Blair Riordan one-up at the last hole and Canterbury No2 Owen Burgess beat Hamish Campbell 3 and 2 to halve the match.
The young promising Northland team got off to a poor start this morning but won 3-2 this afternoon over Tasman.
There is still everything to play for at Balmacewen and Waikato and hosts Otago will be happiest with their day one efforts in the national team's championship.
Toro Men's Interprovincial Round One and Two Scores - Otago Golf Club, Dunedin
Round One Scores:
Taranaki 3 Aorangi 2
Brad Hayward bt Cameron Grant 5/4, Jaime Reid bt Jordan Green 5/4, Zac Lewis bt Garth Simpson 5/4, Joseph Doyle lost to Damian Rodgers 2up, Brook Gray bt George Wardell 4/3
North Harbour 4 Northland 1
Cam Jones bt Luke Brown 2up, Kevin Budden lost to Alex Neely 2up, James Davis bt Chase McKeown 1up, David Feeny bt Sean Masters 1up, Jason Gulasekharam bt Brad Bonnington 5/3
Wellington 3 Manawatu/Wanganui 2
Marc Jennings bt Josh Munn 5/4, Fraser McLachlan bt Lachie McDonald 2/1, James Donnelly lost to Trent Munn 2/1, Adam Church lost to Junior Tatana 1down, Peter Brinsdon bt Hayden Ring 2up
Waikato 4 Hawkes Bay 1
Compton Pikari lost to Richard Squire 1down, Luke Toomey bt Ben Swinburne 4/3, Tom Brockelsby bt Russell Mitchell 4/2, Ho Jun Sung bt Max Gill 3/2, Steven Kuggeleijn bt Madison Noakes 1up
Otago 5 Poverty Bay East Coast 0
Brent McEwan bt Steven Donnelly 4/3, Michael Smith bt Andrew Higham 5/4, Samson Kim bt William Brown 1up, Brandon Hodgson bt Ruel Pedersen 6/5, Tony Giles bt Matthew Mackey 5/4
Canterbury 2 Tasman 2
Jordan Bakermans bt Blair Riordan 1up, Owen Burgess bt Hamish Campbell 3/2, Harry Bateman lost to Ryan Chisnall 1down, Nic Kay lost to Glen Drummond 1down, Tom Turner halved with Nick Ludbrook
Round Two Scores:
Auckland 4 Hawkes Bay 1
Sam An bt Richard Squire 2/1, Nick Voke bt Ben Swinburne 3/2, Tae Koh lost to Russell Mitchell 2/1, Jonathan Ratcliffe bt Madison Noakes 7/6, Josh Leitch bt Carlos Tawera 1up
Otago 3 North Harbour2
Brent McEwan bt Cam Jones 4/3, Michael Smith bt Kevin Budden 3/2, Samson Kim bt James Davis 5/4, Brandon Hodgson lost to David Feeney 2/1, Tony Giles lost to Jason Gulasekharam 2/1
Waikato 4 Taranaki 1
Compton Pikari bt Brad Hayward 2/1, Luke Toomey lost to Jaime Reid 1up, Tom Brockelsby bt Zac Lewis 2/1, Ho Jun Sung bt Joseph Doyle 3/2, Steven Kuggeleijn bt Brook Gray 2up
Southland 5 Aorangi 0
Tyler McLean bt Cameron Grant 2/1, Scott Hellier bt Jordan Green 6/5, Liam Balneaves bt Garth Simpson 5/4, Jeremy Hall bt Damian Rodgers 5/4, Matt Tautari bt George Wardell 3/2
Bay of Plenty 4 Poverty Bay EC 1
Brad Kendall bt Steven Donnelly 5/3, Peter Lee Andrew Higham 2/1, Sam Davis William Brown 7/6, Victor Janin Ruel Pedersen 1up, Landyn Edwards lost to Matthew Mackey 1down
Northland 3 Tasman 2
Luke Brown bt Blair Riordan 1up, Alex Neely bt Hamish Campbell 1up, Chase McKeown lost to Ryan Chisnall 5/3, Sean Masters bt Glenn Drummond 2/1, Nick Ludbrook lost to 2/1 Kadin Neho
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When did "issues" become such an all-purpose, often euphemistic word for anything disagreeable? We have issues now where we used to have problems, and concerns, and troubles, and hornet's nests. Like for example: The American and British big wheels who run golf have "issues" with putting.
Now understand, modern golfers have kryptonite drivers with club heads as large as prize pumpkins, and steroid balls that would not pass the drug test, even if the hapless International Cycling Union were doing the random sampling.
Golfers are slugging the dimpled rockets so far that all sorts of classic courses have had to be lengthened — even the sacred Old Course at St. Andrews. This is like if baseball bats and balls had been supercharged so much that Bud Selig decreed that now it had to be 100 feet instead of 90 between bases.
But never mind the bazooka transcontinental drives. No. The golf honchos have issues with the little itty-bitty part of the game called putting. If the U.S. Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient were in charge of nuclear proliferation, they would handle things by legislating the size of bayonets.
The issue is long putters and what are called "belly putters," which certainly is an ugly name. But nomenclature is not the issue here. What is, is that golfers employ these belly putters by stabilizing them against their gut, their pot, their tummy, their corporation.
The golf Solomons have decreed that anchoring your putter against a substantial body part is just not proper golf. Plus, it looks wimpy. You gotta "stroke."
Now, even the best golfers — especially the graybeards who get what are called the "yips" on the green — have been monkeying around with various desperate putting styles forever. Even the great Sam Snead experimented with croquetlike putts a half-century ago. But so many unconventional putting styles were deemed legitimate because the golfers were stroking with their arms.
Presumably, you could putt with a pool cue or a balero. You just can't belly up to the ball.
Golfers have never looked as athletic as other, uh ... athletes. So why aesthetics are suddenly an issue is a mystery. Especially this is true because golf costs so much and takes so long that it's having trouble attracting new young players.
But the fact is, a great many golfers are distinguished ... by what? By their bellies. Hey, go with what you got.
It's really the equivalent of the dumb decision in 1967 when the NCAA outlawed dunking because basketball attracts tall players who used their height to dunk.
That was so stupid that it was a slam-dunk that basketball would change the rule back, which it did in 1976. Likewise, it should be a gimme for the bodies who run golf to stomach bellies.
Navel-Gazing: Why Golf Should Embrace Belly Putters : NPR
Now understand, modern golfers have kryptonite drivers with club heads as large as prize pumpkins, and steroid balls that would not pass the drug test, even if the hapless International Cycling Union were doing the random sampling.
Golfers are slugging the dimpled rockets so far that all sorts of classic courses have had to be lengthened — even the sacred Old Course at St. Andrews. This is like if baseball bats and balls had been supercharged so much that Bud Selig decreed that now it had to be 100 feet instead of 90 between bases.
But never mind the bazooka transcontinental drives. No. The golf honchos have issues with the little itty-bitty part of the game called putting. If the U.S. Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient were in charge of nuclear proliferation, they would handle things by legislating the size of bayonets.
The issue is long putters and what are called "belly putters," which certainly is an ugly name. But nomenclature is not the issue here. What is, is that golfers employ these belly putters by stabilizing them against their gut, their pot, their tummy, their corporation.
The golf Solomons have decreed that anchoring your putter against a substantial body part is just not proper golf. Plus, it looks wimpy. You gotta "stroke."
Now, even the best golfers — especially the graybeards who get what are called the "yips" on the green — have been monkeying around with various desperate putting styles forever. Even the great Sam Snead experimented with croquetlike putts a half-century ago. But so many unconventional putting styles were deemed legitimate because the golfers were stroking with their arms.
Presumably, you could putt with a pool cue or a balero. You just can't belly up to the ball.
Golfers have never looked as athletic as other, uh ... athletes. So why aesthetics are suddenly an issue is a mystery. Especially this is true because golf costs so much and takes so long that it's having trouble attracting new young players.
But the fact is, a great many golfers are distinguished ... by what? By their bellies. Hey, go with what you got.
It's really the equivalent of the dumb decision in 1967 when the NCAA outlawed dunking because basketball attracts tall players who used their height to dunk.
That was so stupid that it was a slam-dunk that basketball would change the rule back, which it did in 1976. Likewise, it should be a gimme for the bodies who run golf to stomach bellies.
Navel-Gazing: Why Golf Should Embrace Belly Putters : NPR
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A multi-million dollar world class golf course proposed in southern Dallas has the real possibility of luring the PGA's Byron Nelson Championship to Big D, along with some of the finest golfers in the world.
But that leads to important questions: Who else would be able to play at the new facility? And who might not be able to?
Southern Dallas community activist Ben Brown thinks a PGA-standard golf course would be a vast improvement to the proposed plot south of downtown that is currently distinguished by overgrown brush and the city dump. "I am very excited about that," he said.
But Brown believes the planned links go badly off-course when he hears the discussion from City Hall about how much a membership at the planned Trinity Forest club might cost.
“Between 100 and 150 thousand dollars,” Dallas City Council member Scott Griggs estimated at the body’s Wednesday meeting.
"That's a lot more than people are paying for their houses," Brown said.
Councilman Griggs touched on that at City Hall. “This is going to be a golf course out of reach for everyone in the City of Dallas," he said.
Everyone in Dallas would have to chip in to build the course, since up to $12 million in tax money has been committed to the project. But those behind the plan insist this isn’t a public subsidy to build a playground for the wealthy.
“This will be a game-changer in southern Dallas,” Mayor Mike Rawlings gushed at a news conference last month. He predicted that such an extensive and high-profile starter development will lead to many millions of dollars worth of future improvements in southern Dallas that will eventually make the grass greener on the other side of the Trinity, even for those who don’t golf or who don’t have the reserves to afford a membership.
This may allay some concerns: The city says since public money is being used, one-fourth of the time on the greens would be reserved for non-members.
Many details still need to be worked out, and millions of private investment dollars still need to be raised. Development is slated to begin in the spring, with a target opening date three years after that.
Dallas' high-dollar golf course discourse | wfaa-com Dallas - Fort Worth
But that leads to important questions: Who else would be able to play at the new facility? And who might not be able to?
Southern Dallas community activist Ben Brown thinks a PGA-standard golf course would be a vast improvement to the proposed plot south of downtown that is currently distinguished by overgrown brush and the city dump. "I am very excited about that," he said.
But Brown believes the planned links go badly off-course when he hears the discussion from City Hall about how much a membership at the planned Trinity Forest club might cost.
“Between 100 and 150 thousand dollars,” Dallas City Council member Scott Griggs estimated at the body’s Wednesday meeting.
"That's a lot more than people are paying for their houses," Brown said.
Councilman Griggs touched on that at City Hall. “This is going to be a golf course out of reach for everyone in the City of Dallas," he said.
Everyone in Dallas would have to chip in to build the course, since up to $12 million in tax money has been committed to the project. But those behind the plan insist this isn’t a public subsidy to build a playground for the wealthy.
“This will be a game-changer in southern Dallas,” Mayor Mike Rawlings gushed at a news conference last month. He predicted that such an extensive and high-profile starter development will lead to many millions of dollars worth of future improvements in southern Dallas that will eventually make the grass greener on the other side of the Trinity, even for those who don’t golf or who don’t have the reserves to afford a membership.
This may allay some concerns: The city says since public money is being used, one-fourth of the time on the greens would be reserved for non-members.
Many details still need to be worked out, and millions of private investment dollars still need to be raised. Development is slated to begin in the spring, with a target opening date three years after that.
Dallas' high-dollar golf course discourse | wfaa-com Dallas - Fort Worth
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European Tour regulations state that a tournament must complete at least 36 holes to avoid cancellation and the prospects of further rain in Durban mean their 2013 season-opener is in doubt after a second day of no play.
"The further overnight rain, around 30 millimetres, and a huge thunderstorm has obviously set us back by a long way now," European Tour Tournament Director Mikael Eriksson said.
"Every fairway is almost completely under water now and there is no chance we will be able to play at all on Friday.
"The plan now is to try to start the first round at 0630 (local time) on Saturday morning. We are hiring more pumps and more people to try to clear the water off the golf course as fast as possible," Eriksson said.
The Durban course sits nearly 15 metres below sea level and has suffered unseasonably high amounts of rain in recent months.
The €1 million event is co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and their climatologist, Evert Scholtz, told Reuters there was a chance of more rain on Friday.
"The further overnight rain, around 30 millimetres, and a huge thunderstorm has obviously set us back by a long way now," European Tour Tournament Director Mikael Eriksson said.
"Every fairway is almost completely under water now and there is no chance we will be able to play at all on Friday.
"The plan now is to try to start the first round at 0630 (local time) on Saturday morning. We are hiring more pumps and more people to try to clear the water off the golf course as fast as possible," Eriksson said.
The Durban course sits nearly 15 metres below sea level and has suffered unseasonably high amounts of rain in recent months.
The €1 million event is co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and their climatologist, Evert Scholtz, told Reuters there was a chance of more rain on Friday.
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Jack Nicklaus has 22 grandchildren, but only one pursues the game with tournament-level passion. The others "fiddle around with it and they certainly enjoy it," Nicklaus said Wednesday. A few can break 80, which Nicklaus considers an important benchmark for increasing the odds they will stick with the game, or return to it later in life. But in general, despite the family heritage, his grandkids grew up more interested in other sports.
The man who has won more major golf tournaments than anybody else takes this as a personal challenge. For the last couple of years, concerned about golf's future, he has convened meetings with people to brainstorm ideas for expanding the game at the grass-roots level. Golf is too slow out of the blocks, Nicklaus believes. "Today, kids start playing athletics when they are as young as 4 or 5 years old, and by the time they are just 7, 8 or 9 years old, many of them have picked their two or three sports," he said. And golf isn't usually in the mix.
One reason is that, for kids, it lacks a team component. The youngest shy away from golf, Nicklaus said, because there's no one to share responsibility with: "It's all on their shoulders." Another barrier is golf's difficulty and its lack of easier-to-use kids' equipment. "In football, kids play flag football with smaller footballs and shorter fields. In basketball, they start with a smaller ball and a shorter hoop. But often in golf, kids start the game with real equipment and real golf balls," Nicklaus said. If adults think it's hard to connect with a tiny golf ball using a long stick, imagine how a 6-year-old feels.
After reviewing numerous formal and informal proposals, Nicklaus has decided to put his considerable clout behind a proposal to form golf leagues using equipment developed by SNAG Golf, a small, closely held company in Tahlequah, Okla. If all goes according to plan, some 300 Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues will pop up this spring in city parks-and-recreation departments across the country, with a further 500 in 2014 and as many as 1,000 additional local programs a year after that. The leagues will operate much like youth soccer and baseball Little Leagues, with minimal cost for the kids. Initial funding for the equipment and administration will come through a foundation that Nicklaus is setting up for that purpose.
"Going into the parks and places where the kids come and where they have team sports—it's a good concept and it's never been done in golf. So let's just see how it evolves," Nicklaus said.
SNAG has been selling its colorful, giant-headed clubs and oversize golf balls to schools, junior golf programs and golf clubs since 2001. The equipment makes it easy for beginners, both kids and adults, to learn the fundamentals of the game and hopefully later transition into regular golf. Already more than 11,000 facilities in the U.S. and 4,000 abroad use SNAG, including many First Tee programs. "It's pretty darn good for what it is going to be used for," Nicklaus said.
Two former PGA Tour pros, Terry Anton and Wally Armstrong, invented SNAG, which stands for Starting New at Golf. "Learning golf from the get-go with traditional equipment and methods is just about impossible for most people, especially kids," said Anton, who bought out Armstrong in 2007. "The golf ball kids use is exactly the same size and weight as the ball pros use, but the club heads on kids' clubs are usually smaller than on adult clubs. I don't think Tour pros could break 80 with those heads."
The ball that Anton and Armstrong came up with is the same weight as a regular ball but much softer, and the size of a tennis ball. You really feel like you're hitting something, unlike with lightweight plastic balls. "Players with slow swing speeds can get the same feeling of compression that good players get when they hit a good shot," Anton said. That feedback is addictive, and also key for developing a feel for different types of shots.
Although SNAG golf can be played in any large open area, like a park or a beach, the Nicklaus Learning Leagues will use municipal soccer fields. A six-hole course takes less than 30 minutes to set up. Each player carries a rubber tee pad, to elevate the ball before hitting, and two clubs. One is the "launcher," which kids can use to knock a ball 40 to 50 yards. The other is the "roller," a putter equivalent, for the delicate shorter shots that finally "snag" the ball to an aboveground cylinder at the base of the flag. This so-called Flagsticky is covered in adhesive material.
The Nicklaus Leagues will build on a two-year pilot program in 15 cities run by the National Recreation and Park Association. For 5- and 6-year-olds in the Nicklaus Leagues, the emphasis will be on whacking the ball around and having fun, with snacks essential. Seven- and 8-year-olds will get more instruction and compete with partners in best-ball format against other teams. Nine- and 10-year-olds will use slightly smaller, Super SNAG clubs and balls and compete as a team with stroke-play scoring. Plans are afoot for leagues involving older kids and even adults.
"The main point of SNAG golf is to serve as a feeder system for every type of regular golf," Anton says. The body movements and playing skills required to succeed at SNAG are the same as for regular golf. "It's just a lot less frustrating," he said.
Nicklaus is hopeful but cautious about the success of the Nicklaus Leagues and other programs he supports, including First Tee and the PGA of America's Golf 2.0 initiative. I asked him where he would place himself on a scale of one to 10, from pessimism to optimism about the future growth of the game. "Without these programs, I'd put myself at a one, two or three. With the programs, we can probably go from five to 10. It depends on how well they are executed," he said.
"There are few people in the game more traditional than I am, but I recognized long ago that our game needs change. We have bee
The man who has won more major golf tournaments than anybody else takes this as a personal challenge. For the last couple of years, concerned about golf's future, he has convened meetings with people to brainstorm ideas for expanding the game at the grass-roots level. Golf is too slow out of the blocks, Nicklaus believes. "Today, kids start playing athletics when they are as young as 4 or 5 years old, and by the time they are just 7, 8 or 9 years old, many of them have picked their two or three sports," he said. And golf isn't usually in the mix.
One reason is that, for kids, it lacks a team component. The youngest shy away from golf, Nicklaus said, because there's no one to share responsibility with: "It's all on their shoulders." Another barrier is golf's difficulty and its lack of easier-to-use kids' equipment. "In football, kids play flag football with smaller footballs and shorter fields. In basketball, they start with a smaller ball and a shorter hoop. But often in golf, kids start the game with real equipment and real golf balls," Nicklaus said. If adults think it's hard to connect with a tiny golf ball using a long stick, imagine how a 6-year-old feels.
After reviewing numerous formal and informal proposals, Nicklaus has decided to put his considerable clout behind a proposal to form golf leagues using equipment developed by SNAG Golf, a small, closely held company in Tahlequah, Okla. If all goes according to plan, some 300 Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues will pop up this spring in city parks-and-recreation departments across the country, with a further 500 in 2014 and as many as 1,000 additional local programs a year after that. The leagues will operate much like youth soccer and baseball Little Leagues, with minimal cost for the kids. Initial funding for the equipment and administration will come through a foundation that Nicklaus is setting up for that purpose.
"Going into the parks and places where the kids come and where they have team sports—it's a good concept and it's never been done in golf. So let's just see how it evolves," Nicklaus said.
SNAG has been selling its colorful, giant-headed clubs and oversize golf balls to schools, junior golf programs and golf clubs since 2001. The equipment makes it easy for beginners, both kids and adults, to learn the fundamentals of the game and hopefully later transition into regular golf. Already more than 11,000 facilities in the U.S. and 4,000 abroad use SNAG, including many First Tee programs. "It's pretty darn good for what it is going to be used for," Nicklaus said.
Two former PGA Tour pros, Terry Anton and Wally Armstrong, invented SNAG, which stands for Starting New at Golf. "Learning golf from the get-go with traditional equipment and methods is just about impossible for most people, especially kids," said Anton, who bought out Armstrong in 2007. "The golf ball kids use is exactly the same size and weight as the ball pros use, but the club heads on kids' clubs are usually smaller than on adult clubs. I don't think Tour pros could break 80 with those heads."
The ball that Anton and Armstrong came up with is the same weight as a regular ball but much softer, and the size of a tennis ball. You really feel like you're hitting something, unlike with lightweight plastic balls. "Players with slow swing speeds can get the same feeling of compression that good players get when they hit a good shot," Anton said. That feedback is addictive, and also key for developing a feel for different types of shots.
Although SNAG golf can be played in any large open area, like a park or a beach, the Nicklaus Learning Leagues will use municipal soccer fields. A six-hole course takes less than 30 minutes to set up. Each player carries a rubber tee pad, to elevate the ball before hitting, and two clubs. One is the "launcher," which kids can use to knock a ball 40 to 50 yards. The other is the "roller," a putter equivalent, for the delicate shorter shots that finally "snag" the ball to an aboveground cylinder at the base of the flag. This so-called Flagsticky is covered in adhesive material.
The Nicklaus Leagues will build on a two-year pilot program in 15 cities run by the National Recreation and Park Association. For 5- and 6-year-olds in the Nicklaus Leagues, the emphasis will be on whacking the ball around and having fun, with snacks essential. Seven- and 8-year-olds will get more instruction and compete with partners in best-ball format against other teams. Nine- and 10-year-olds will use slightly smaller, Super SNAG clubs and balls and compete as a team with stroke-play scoring. Plans are afoot for leagues involving older kids and even adults.
"The main point of SNAG golf is to serve as a feeder system for every type of regular golf," Anton says. The body movements and playing skills required to succeed at SNAG are the same as for regular golf. "It's just a lot less frustrating," he said.
Nicklaus is hopeful but cautious about the success of the Nicklaus Leagues and other programs he supports, including First Tee and the PGA of America's Golf 2.0 initiative. I asked him where he would place himself on a scale of one to 10, from pessimism to optimism about the future growth of the game. "Without these programs, I'd put myself at a one, two or three. With the programs, we can probably go from five to 10. It depends on how well they are executed," he said.
"There are few people in the game more traditional than I am, but I recognized long ago that our game needs change. We have bee
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Play was set to resume at the Australian Open golf on Sunday afternoon after fierce winds earlier forced a three-hour suspension.
Tournament boss Trevor Herden said the final round would continue just before 3pm (AEDT) after officials had no alternative but to halt proceedings before midday when wind gusts of 80kph knocked down a television tower near the 18th green.
Herden said the afternoon players had been instructed to warm up again after the winds that had swept across the Lakes layout in Sydney eased to around 55kph.
The tournament director was hopeful the Open would not require a Monday finish.
Tournament leader John Senden was yet to begin his final round and, barring an unlikely charge from other challengers, he was set to begin with a two-stroke advantage over Englishman Justin Rose after play resumed.
After announcing the earlier stoppage, Herden said player and spectator safety was paramount.
'Obviously there's nothing we can do to protect anybody other than to get them out of danger,' he said.
'We have an obligation to the public and the players and then there's the golf course, which at that point became unplayable.
'We were managing very, very well through the 60km (wind) zone but once we got to 80, we all know that no golf course can defend 80 kilometre winds.
'We had to suspend play.'
Balls were also moving on some greens, but Herden was keeping faith with the weather bureau which is predicting easing conditions.
'We would want to finish this championship and if it means tomorrow morning, then it means tomorrow morning,' he said.
'But we want to make use of every hour of daylight we have.'
Herden described the conditions as 'brutal'.
Taking advantage of easier early morning conditions, golfing great Tom Watson signed off with a fine closing three-under-par 69 and predicted the mounting winds would make the title battle a lottery.
The eight-times major winner finished his campaign at five-over after rounds of 78-68-78-69 and suspected a 72-hole total of about three or four under par would be enough to win the Open.
'A good (round) score is even par,' Watson said.
'It will be interesting to see what happens. It's a really strong wind.'
Chasing a second Open victory, Senden said he was relishing the prospect of a final-round duel with Rose, the world No.4 and top-ranked player in the field.
Senden was the Open's third-round leader for a second year running after posting a workmanlike 70 at the windswept venue on Saturday.
Last year, Senden was unable to convert his third-round lead, narrowly missing a snaking, 35-foot birdie putt on the last to fall by a shot to Greg Chalmers.
Along with Rose, Senden - the 2006 champion - had a swag of other players on his tail.
Matt Jones and veteran Peter Senior were both at four-under and three shots back, with 2001 champion Stuart Appleby, Cameron Percy and American Kyle Stanley sharing sixth spot at three-under.
Halfway leader Marcus Fraser and pre-tournament favourite Adam Scott were five back at two-under.
Australian Open golf to resume - News - BigPond Sport
Tournament boss Trevor Herden said the final round would continue just before 3pm (AEDT) after officials had no alternative but to halt proceedings before midday when wind gusts of 80kph knocked down a television tower near the 18th green.
Herden said the afternoon players had been instructed to warm up again after the winds that had swept across the Lakes layout in Sydney eased to around 55kph.
The tournament director was hopeful the Open would not require a Monday finish.
Tournament leader John Senden was yet to begin his final round and, barring an unlikely charge from other challengers, he was set to begin with a two-stroke advantage over Englishman Justin Rose after play resumed.
After announcing the earlier stoppage, Herden said player and spectator safety was paramount.
'Obviously there's nothing we can do to protect anybody other than to get them out of danger,' he said.
'We have an obligation to the public and the players and then there's the golf course, which at that point became unplayable.
'We were managing very, very well through the 60km (wind) zone but once we got to 80, we all know that no golf course can defend 80 kilometre winds.
'We had to suspend play.'
Balls were also moving on some greens, but Herden was keeping faith with the weather bureau which is predicting easing conditions.
'We would want to finish this championship and if it means tomorrow morning, then it means tomorrow morning,' he said.
'But we want to make use of every hour of daylight we have.'
Herden described the conditions as 'brutal'.
Taking advantage of easier early morning conditions, golfing great Tom Watson signed off with a fine closing three-under-par 69 and predicted the mounting winds would make the title battle a lottery.
The eight-times major winner finished his campaign at five-over after rounds of 78-68-78-69 and suspected a 72-hole total of about three or four under par would be enough to win the Open.
'A good (round) score is even par,' Watson said.
'It will be interesting to see what happens. It's a really strong wind.'
Chasing a second Open victory, Senden said he was relishing the prospect of a final-round duel with Rose, the world No.4 and top-ranked player in the field.
Senden was the Open's third-round leader for a second year running after posting a workmanlike 70 at the windswept venue on Saturday.
Last year, Senden was unable to convert his third-round lead, narrowly missing a snaking, 35-foot birdie putt on the last to fall by a shot to Greg Chalmers.
Along with Rose, Senden - the 2006 champion - had a swag of other players on his tail.
Matt Jones and veteran Peter Senior were both at four-under and three shots back, with 2001 champion Stuart Appleby, Cameron Percy and American Kyle Stanley sharing sixth spot at three-under.
Halfway leader Marcus Fraser and pre-tournament favourite Adam Scott were five back at two-under.
Australian Open golf to resume - News - BigPond Sport
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Ageless golfer Peter Senior has the chance to become the first player ever to win the Australian Open-Australian PGA Championship double twice.
Having mastered savage winds at The Lakes to become the oldest Australian Open champion, 53-year-old Senior will return to a favourite stomping ground at Coolum believing he can defy the odds once more.
No player in more than a century of trying has completed the Australian Open-Australian PGA double on two occasions.
Some of the legends of Australian golf - including Norman Von Nida (1950), Kel Nagle (1959), Peter Thomson (1967) and Greg Norman (1985) - have achieved the rare double act.
Greg Chalmers also pulled it off last year, while Robert Allenby during his triple crown season in 2005 and Peter Lonard in 2004 are others to have gone back-to-back at the Open and PGA in modern times.
But no one has ever done it twice, something Senior has the opportunity to do after first winning the Australian Open and Australia PGA titles back in 1989.
The Queenslander candidly admits he probably wouldn't have raised the Australian Open's Stonehaven Cup for a second time had weather conditions not deteriorated badly on Sunday.
But Senior says his accurate game and percentage plays are ideally suited to Coolum, where he has already won the PGA twice - in 2003 and 2010.
'It is a course that suits me,' he said.
'It is fairly tight and the longer hitters don't have a huge advantage at Coolum because you have to lay up short of the water.
'I have more chance of winning around a course like that than any other.'
Apart from overcoming wind gusts of more than 80 kilometres per hour on Sunday, Senior conquered world No.4 Justin Rose down the stretch after seventh-ranked Adam Scott's challenge faltered on the front nine.
'Winning golf tournaments, you need to have a good week at the right time,' Senior said modestly.
'Justin Rose and the other guys are great players. Not for one moment do I think I am as good as those guys.
'I've had a good week where I got it done ... if the conditions were good, the really good players would have shone.
'These are the conditions I thrive in, where I just battle it out.'
Senior estimated he only missed three fairways in four rounds at The Lakes, while he putted like a demon.
Such consistency will have him in the mix for a fourth PGA Championship when the final event of the year gets underway on Thursday.
Chalmers, though, vowed to mount a stubborn title defence after finishing tied 23rd at the Open, eight shots behind Senior.
'My game is actually in decent shape,' Chalmers said after closing with a 77.
'It's hard to tell when the breeze blows this strong but, in all honesty, I saw some really good signs.
'It didn't really come to fruition with this weather, but I'm looking forward to seeing a little less breeze.
'I had a couple of good things that I liked in my golf swing I saw over the last couple of days, when I got to hit some normal shots, so I'm really looking forward to it.'
Senior eyes historic golf double - News - BigPond Sport
Having mastered savage winds at The Lakes to become the oldest Australian Open champion, 53-year-old Senior will return to a favourite stomping ground at Coolum believing he can defy the odds once more.
No player in more than a century of trying has completed the Australian Open-Australian PGA double on two occasions.
Some of the legends of Australian golf - including Norman Von Nida (1950), Kel Nagle (1959), Peter Thomson (1967) and Greg Norman (1985) - have achieved the rare double act.
Greg Chalmers also pulled it off last year, while Robert Allenby during his triple crown season in 2005 and Peter Lonard in 2004 are others to have gone back-to-back at the Open and PGA in modern times.
But no one has ever done it twice, something Senior has the opportunity to do after first winning the Australian Open and Australia PGA titles back in 1989.
The Queenslander candidly admits he probably wouldn't have raised the Australian Open's Stonehaven Cup for a second time had weather conditions not deteriorated badly on Sunday.
But Senior says his accurate game and percentage plays are ideally suited to Coolum, where he has already won the PGA twice - in 2003 and 2010.
'It is a course that suits me,' he said.
'It is fairly tight and the longer hitters don't have a huge advantage at Coolum because you have to lay up short of the water.
'I have more chance of winning around a course like that than any other.'
Apart from overcoming wind gusts of more than 80 kilometres per hour on Sunday, Senior conquered world No.4 Justin Rose down the stretch after seventh-ranked Adam Scott's challenge faltered on the front nine.
'Winning golf tournaments, you need to have a good week at the right time,' Senior said modestly.
'Justin Rose and the other guys are great players. Not for one moment do I think I am as good as those guys.
'I've had a good week where I got it done ... if the conditions were good, the really good players would have shone.
'These are the conditions I thrive in, where I just battle it out.'
Senior estimated he only missed three fairways in four rounds at The Lakes, while he putted like a demon.
Such consistency will have him in the mix for a fourth PGA Championship when the final event of the year gets underway on Thursday.
Chalmers, though, vowed to mount a stubborn title defence after finishing tied 23rd at the Open, eight shots behind Senior.
'My game is actually in decent shape,' Chalmers said after closing with a 77.
'It's hard to tell when the breeze blows this strong but, in all honesty, I saw some really good signs.
'It didn't really come to fruition with this weather, but I'm looking forward to seeing a little less breeze.
'I had a couple of good things that I liked in my golf swing I saw over the last couple of days, when I got to hit some normal shots, so I'm really looking forward to it.'
Senior eyes historic golf double - News - BigPond Sport
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World number one Rory McIlroy has been awarded the 2012 Golf Writers' Trophy ahead of Europe's Ryder Cup team.
The 23-year-old Northern Irishman had a spectacular season, winning the USPGA Championship by an eight-shot margin as well as four other tournaments.
McIlroy also emulated England's Luke Donald by topping the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic. The Ryder Cup side, of which McIlroy was part, came second in the voting, followed by Ian Poulter.
Then came 53-year-old Roger Chapman and the Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team.
"The 2012 season was a superb one for every aspect of European golf and that comes across when you look at the names of the players in contention for the Golf Writers' Trophy," said McIlroy, recently named as the PGA Tour's Player of the Year.
"To come out on top of that list is a great honour."
Poulter was one of the key architects of Europe's magnificent comeback in Chicago, making five birdies in a row to win a vital fourball match alongside McIlroy and finishing the Ryder Cup with four points out of four.
Chapman enjoyed a fairytale season when he won the Senior PGA Championship and the US Senior Open, a double only previously achieved by Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Hale Irwin.
The Curtis Cup victory at Nairn completed an unprecedented clean sweep of all four of the main trans-Atlantic trophies - Ryder, Solheim, Walker and Curtis Cups.
BBC Sport - Rory McIlroy awarded 2012 Golf Writers' Trophy
The 23-year-old Northern Irishman had a spectacular season, winning the USPGA Championship by an eight-shot margin as well as four other tournaments.
McIlroy also emulated England's Luke Donald by topping the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic. The Ryder Cup side, of which McIlroy was part, came second in the voting, followed by Ian Poulter.
Then came 53-year-old Roger Chapman and the Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team.
"The 2012 season was a superb one for every aspect of European golf and that comes across when you look at the names of the players in contention for the Golf Writers' Trophy," said McIlroy, recently named as the PGA Tour's Player of the Year.
"To come out on top of that list is a great honour."
Poulter was one of the key architects of Europe's magnificent comeback in Chicago, making five birdies in a row to win a vital fourball match alongside McIlroy and finishing the Ryder Cup with four points out of four.
Chapman enjoyed a fairytale season when he won the Senior PGA Championship and the US Senior Open, a double only previously achieved by Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Hale Irwin.
The Curtis Cup victory at Nairn completed an unprecedented clean sweep of all four of the main trans-Atlantic trophies - Ryder, Solheim, Walker and Curtis Cups.
BBC Sport - Rory McIlroy awarded 2012 Golf Writers' Trophy
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Colleen Walker, the former LPGA Tour player who won nine times during her 23-year career, died Tuesday night after her second battle with cancer. She was 56. The LPGA Tour said Walker died at her home in Valrico.
Walker was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2003, and returned to the tour that September. Late last year, cancer resurfaced in her hips and pelvis and spread throughout her body.
Walker played the LPGA Tour from 1982 to 2004. She had a career-high three victories in 1992 and won her lone major title in 1997 in the du Maurier Classic in Canada. In 1998, she won the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average and finished a career-high fifth on the money list.
''Colleen was not only a great ambassador for the LPGA and the game of golf, but more importantly was a true and faithful friend,'' five-time LPGA Tour winner Barb Mucha said. ''From her caring smile, unselfish ways and deep devotion to her family, her life touched all those she knew. She will be dearly missed, but her love will live on forever in our hearts. I am blessed to have called her friend.''
From Jacksonville, Walker was inducted into the Florida State University Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
She is survived by husband Ron Bakich and 16-year-old son Tyler Walker Bakich. Tyler is a top junior golfer who won his age group in July in the Florida State Golf Association Junior Match Play Championship.
''I will always remember Colleen for her fight and determination on the golf course,'' three-time LPGA Tour winner Dawn Coe-Jones said. ''Off the golf course, I loved her sense of humor. I will miss walking the fairways with her as we watched our sons compete. Rest in peace, Colleen.''
Walker was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2003, and returned to the tour that September. Late last year, cancer resurfaced in her hips and pelvis and spread throughout her body.
Walker played the LPGA Tour from 1982 to 2004. She had a career-high three victories in 1992 and won her lone major title in 1997 in the du Maurier Classic in Canada. In 1998, she won the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average and finished a career-high fifth on the money list.
''Colleen was not only a great ambassador for the LPGA and the game of golf, but more importantly was a true and faithful friend,'' five-time LPGA Tour winner Barb Mucha said. ''From her caring smile, unselfish ways and deep devotion to her family, her life touched all those she knew. She will be dearly missed, but her love will live on forever in our hearts. I am blessed to have called her friend.''
From Jacksonville, Walker was inducted into the Florida State University Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
She is survived by husband Ron Bakich and 16-year-old son Tyler Walker Bakich. Tyler is a top junior golfer who won his age group in July in the Florida State Golf Association Junior Match Play Championship.
''I will always remember Colleen for her fight and determination on the golf course,'' three-time LPGA Tour winner Dawn Coe-Jones said. ''Off the golf course, I loved her sense of humor. I will miss walking the fairways with her as we watched our sons compete. Rest in peace, Colleen.''
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Fox offset an early bogey with birdies on the 7th and 16th holes before finishing with his eagle on the par-four 18th to be three under par overall, overtaking compatriots Ryan Haller (71) and 19-year-old amateur Jake Higginbottom (70).
Only 10 players had sub-par totals after two blustery rounds at the Clearwater Resort.
Overnight leader Craig Hancock, who started the day at 4-under, had a 75 and was one of seven players tied for fourth place at 1 under par.
Higginbottom, runner-up at last year's New South Wales Open, had four birdies and two bogeys in 70 to follow his even-par opening round.
Read more: Australian Daniel Fox leads NZ Open golf