Tiger scuffles through Round 1 of U.S. Open

Tiger scuffles through Round 1 of U.S. Open











Eric Adelson June 14, 2013 10:27 AMYahoo Sports





ARDMORE, Pa. – Tiger Woods is back – way back. Like, six shots back. After one round.



Is he too far back?

At right around the time the East Coast arrived at work Friday morning, getting ready for a Father's Day weekend watching the three best players in the world compete for a major, the three best players in the world were getting their scorecards vandalized by a par 3 17th hole that can make a grown man cry.

Woods, already five shots off the lead held by Phil Mickelson, landed in the front-left bunker. Rory McIlroytried a high hook and missed the green. Adam Scott did best of all, landing 40 feet short of the cup.

But these guys are good, as the saying goes. They know how to recover, right?

Woods missed the green with his bunker shot. McIlroy missed the green with his chip shot. Scott three-putted.

All three carded bogeys. All three finished their first round over par. Scott is at 2-over, McIlroy and Woods are both at 3-over.

The much ballyhooed threesome of the world's top three turned out to be more pain than pleasure – especially considering a couple of the early round shots from the thick rough here at Merion Golf Club left Woods wincing away pain in his left arm. He said his arm bothered him on "a few shots." Asked what he felt on those few shots, Woods conjured Clubber Lang and quipped, "Pain."

In his last 12 majors, Woods has only eight rounds under par. And only four of his 78 victories have come when he's entered the second round with a score over par. Woods said his round could "easily" have been under par if he'd made a few putts, and, well, he'll have to make those putts if he's going to get back to scratch.

The good news? Woods still has golf's best mental game, and Merion will crush some spirits ahead of him. After the end of Round 1, only five players were under par – leader Mickelson (-3) and Luke Donald (-2) among them. The British-Open-like breeze here is giving everyone wind burn on this Friday, and the flagsticks without flags are not helping players figure out what their shots will do in flight.

"I think everyone thought that as soon as the course got wet it was going to play easy," said Donald. "The scores certainly aren't showing that. The tough holes are extremely tough."

The 17th told the story on Friday, as former major winner Angel Cabrera found the left bunker and couldn't get to the green with his second. Former major winner Zach Johnson came along in the next group and landed in the right bunker, needing to take a drop after an unplayable lie. By the time the marquee group arrived at the tee, there was a bottleneck on the 17th green that would make a Broad Street cabbie bang his fist on the steering wheel.

The wind even fooled with Woods on his short second shot out of the bunker. "I hit a good pitch," he said, "and the wind killed it."

They all had to write down 4s and then go to 18, which is already among the toughest holes in Open history.

But it's not over for them at 17 on this chilly Friday. Woods, and his highly-ranked playing partners, will have to be back again Friday for Round 2.

Golf-Four-way tie for lead at Congressional

Golf-Four-way tie for lead at Congressional










June 29, 2013 8:07 PM


* Castro chips in from 80 feet to complete foursome on top

* 10 players within three shots of the lead (Adds details, quotes)

June 29 (Reuters) - A tumultuous day at the AT&T National ended with a four-way tie for the lead heading into Sunday's final round at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.

Roberto Castro chipped in from 80 feet after hitting his approach into the water to save par at the 18th and complete a 71 to join the group at seven-under-par 206 along with Andres Romero of Argentina, and Americans Bill Haas and James Driscoll.

Long-hitting Jason Kokrak, who powered a 349-yard drive at 18 on his way to finishing a 70 for 207, one stroke better than Tom Gillis and South Korea's Charlie Wi.

Wi made nine birdies, including seven on the front nine, on his way to a 65.

On a long, hot day for many players, who had to come in early on Saturday to finish their weather-interrupted second rounds, there were dramatic swings on the leaderboard at the long, rough-lined layout where numerous pins were placed on the edge of trouble.

Haas had nine birdies and only five pars in a three-under 68 that included a triple bogey and three other bogeys.

"Certainly, could have been a 6, 7, 8-under day," said Haas. "But it also could have been a 4, 5, 6-over day if I hadn't putted well."

"You can't blame being tired, it just was a long day and I didn't feel it with the golf swing. Luckily when I did hit a good shot, I was able to make a putt."


Jordan Spieth, a 19-year-old who began the round sharing the lead with Castro, took an early two-shot advantage after opening the round with two birdies to reach nine under par before he slipped back to four under, three strokes off the pace.

Romero, who had to finish five holes to complete his second round, made four birdies on the front side in the third round to climb to 10 under par and seize a three-stroke lead.

But the Argentine double-bogeyed the 11th, where Haas also tripled, and bogeyed the 12th to set up the logjam at the top as player fortunes rose and fell throughout the round.

Castro fell from the lead he had shared with Spieth heading into the round as he bogeyed the second hole and double-bogeyed the third.

But he worked his way back with four birdies, including ones at 16 and 17, as the leaders faltered to make it a foursome atop the leaderboard going to the final round.

Driscoll's round was relatively dull with five birdies and just two bogeys. He shot 68 and is the only player in the field with three rounds in the 60s.

"It's not perfect golf, but you don't really have to play perfect golf sometimes," Driscoll said.

"If you're just patient and putt well and have a good short game.

"There is no let-up. Every hole is long and tough. The rough is up. it's just 18 tough holes out there."

Because of a threat of poor weather on Sunday, players will again go off both tees in groups of three beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET (1230 GMT) with the final groups teeing off two hours later.

(Reporting by Larry Fine in New York,; Editing by Gene Cherry/Greg Stutchbury)

Park heads towards U.S. Open title

Park heads towards U.S. Open title










June 29, 2013 8:32 PM

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View gallery
Inbee Park of South Korea hits her 2nd tee shot during the third round of the 2013 U.S. Women's Open …


(Reuters) - South Korean golfer Inbee Park forged to a four-shot lead after the third round of the U.S. Women's Open at Sebonack Golf Club in New York on Saturday, giving her the chance to win the first three major championships of the year.

Park fired a one-under 71 in the third round, the only player in the field to post a sub-par round in red figures in difficult winds, to move to 10-under 206, four shots clear of compatriot I.K. Kim (73) at six-under 210.

England's Jodi Ewart-Shadoff (74) appears the only other legitimate challenger at three-under with Korea's Ryu So-Yeon (73) and American Angela Stanford (74) the only other players under par, nine off the pace at one-under in a tie for fourth.

"The wind was a bit stronger than (Friday), so the conditions were tough." Park said. "The pin positions were tough, a lot of long irons hitting into the greens.

"It was just a very tough day, but I think I battled it really good out there.


"I had my tough times in the middle but ended up finishing very good, so I'm happy with that."

The 24-year-old Park is keeping the dream of a grand slam alive having already won the Kraft Nabisco Championshipand the LPGA Championship earlier this year.

Should she prevail she will not only claim a fourth major but will be just the second LPGA Tour player to win the first three majors in a season.

Mildred (Babe) Didrikson Zaharias won all three majors played in 1950, the Titleholders Championship, the Women's Western Open and the U.S. Women's Open.

"It's tough not to think about it ... I just try to think that's not a big deal," Park told reporters.
View gallery."
Inbee Park of South Korea tees off on the 5th hole during the third round of the 2013 U.S. Women's O …

"If I want to do it so much, it's just so tough and it puts too much pressure on you. I try to not think about it so much.

I'm just going to try to do the same thing that I did for the last three days. It will be a big day, but it's just a round of golf, and I just try not to think about it so much. I just try to concentrate on whatever I'm doing on the golf course."

Park would be just the fourth woman to win three majors in a calendar year, joining Zaharias, Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986).

Only Ben Hogan (1953) has won the first three majors of the year in the professional era of men's golf and prior to that only Bob Jones has won what is considered the grand slam.

Jones won the U.S. and British Amateurs and U.S. and British Opens in 1930.

While Zaharias won every major on offer in 1950, from 1955-1966 and 1983-2012 the LPGA held four majors though this year a fifth was added.

For a clean sweep the current world number one will also need to win the Women's British Open in August followed by the Evian Championship in September.

(Reporting by Ben Everill in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

Korda fires caddie during U.S. .Women's Open

Korda fires caddie during U.S. .Women's Open









The Sports Xchange June 29, 2013 10:22 PMThe SportsXchange



Jessica Korda and her caddie weren't seeing eye to eye during the third round of the U.S. Women's open on Saturday and so she fired him.

On the spot. In the middle of the round.

The 20-year-old American golfer turned to her boyfriend,Johnny DelPrete, who was following her in the gallery, as a replacement and he carried the bag the rest of the way on a windy day at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.

"I just told him, 'Johnny, grab the bag, let's go.'" Korda said.

The change did her some good. After finishing the front nine at 5 over par, Korda improved to 1 over on the back nine and completed the round with a 4-over 76. She's in sixth place at 1 over for the tournament, 11 shots behind leader Inbee Park, going into the final round on Sunday.

It is not like DelPrete is a novice. A professional golfer, DelPrete played on the Web.com Tour in 2012. But it was his first time as Korda's caddie.

"The first few holes I was very shaky, but my boyfriend/caddie kept me very calm out there and kept it very light," Korda said. "And it was kind of funny seeing him fumble over yardage."

Korda and her regular caddie, Jason Gilroyed, had a shouting match during the round -- on a day when difficult conditions sent scores soaring -- and that was it.

"We had a couple of disagreements here and there, and I wasn't in the right state of mind," Korda said. "I knew I needed to switch and just have a little bit more fun out there. It's a U.S. Open. It's tough out there. It just wasn't working out.

"It was tough for me because I care about Jason a lot. He is a great guy. That's just how it happens sometimes in life. That was one of those things today that it just unfolded. It was very hard for me to do. I'm not that type of person to take these things really easily. For me it was very hard to tell him that and it took a lot for me."

Korda's father, Petr, is a former Australian Open tennis champion who is carrying the bag this week for his younger daughter and Jessica's sister, Nelly. The 14-year-old is tied for 61st at 13 over after shooting a 79 on Saturday.

Dad will stay on Nelly's bag for the final round and DelPrete will stick with Jessica.

As for the future, Korda is not sure whether she will reunite with Gilroyed.

"I think everybody has problems every week," Korda said. "You blame the caddie, the caddie blames you. It's just up in the air. I just felt like enough was enough today. I just wasn't mentally ready for it."

Likely Monday finish to Greenbrier Classic

Likely Monday finish to Greenbrier Classic










July 7, 2013 5:35 PM


(Reuters) - The Greenbrier Classic was heading for a likely Monday finish after the final round was interrupted by a weather delay of just over three hours on Sunday at White Sulphur Springs in West Virginia.

Play was suspended due to the threat of lightning at 1:50 p.m. ET (1750 GMT), 10 minutes before overnight leaderJohnson Wagner was scheduled to tee off at The Greenbrier's Old White Course in pursuit of his fourth victory on the PGA Tour.

Though the final round eventually resumed at 5:00 p.m. ET, there was very little chance the lead groups would be able to finish the tournament on Sunday with sunset expected at 8:45 p.m. ET.

"With this cloud cover, I think we can play until about 8.30 p.m.," Slugger White, the PGA Tour's vice president of rules and competition, told CBS Sports.

On Saturday, the lead groups completed the third round in three hours 45 minutes. Final rounds generally take longer with players having to cope with the mounting pressure of a title on the line.


American Wagner, who fired a sparkling six-under-par 64 on Saturday to seize a two-shot lead after the third round, was prepared for all eventualities.

"Rain, sun, shine - it doesn't really matter," Wagner, 33, told CBS Sports. "I'm ready to play if it's tomorrow or Tuesday. I am just happy to be in this position."

Wagner, who won his most recent PGA Tour title at last year's Sony Open in Hawaii, will start the final round with a 14-under total of 196.

Fellow American Jimmy Walker, seeking his first victory on the U.S. circuit, was alone in second with Swede Jonas Blixt a further two strokes back at 10 under.

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Gene Cherry)

Golf-U.S. PGA Tour Greenbrier Classic scores

Golf-U.S. PGA Tour Greenbrier Classic scores










July 7, 2013 9:18 PM


July 8 (Infostrada Sports) - Scores from the U.S. PGA Tour Greenbrier Classic at the par-70 course on Sunday in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

267 Jonas Blixt (Sweden) 66 67 67 67

269 Steven Bowditch (Australia) 65 67 69 68

Matt Jones (Australia) 69 66 66 68

Johnson Wagner (U.S.) 62 70 64 73

Jimmy Walker (U.S.) 69 65 64 71

271 Ted Potter Jr. (U.S.) 69 66 69 67

Brian Stuard (U.S.) 71 66 67 67

Pat Perez (U.S.) 71 65 66 69

272 Daniel Summerhays (U.S.) 65 67 73 67

Davis Love III (U.S.) 67 70 68 67

David Lingmerth (Sweden) 71 66 67 68

Tim Petrovic (U.S.) 69 68 67 68

Tag Ridings (U.S.) 65 69 68 70

Rory Sabbatini (South Africa) 70 65 67 70

Lee Dong-Hwan (South Korea) 66 68 68 70

Bill Haas (U.S.) 68 67 67 70

273 Brendon De Jonge (Zimbabwe) 66 68 73 66

George McNeill (U.S.) 66 71 68 68

Ben Curtis (U.S.) 67 66 71 69

Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) 67 68 69 69

Bryce Molder (U.S.) 71 67 66 69

Bill Lunde (U.S.) 66 66 71 70


274 K.J. Choi (South Korea) 71 67 68 68

Cameron Tringale (U.S.) 73 66 67 68

Greg Owen (Britain) 67 66 72 69

Scott Stallings (U.S.) 70 67 67 70

Nick Watney (U.S.) 72 67 65 70

Morgan Hoffmann (U.S.) 69 67 67 71

Jordan Spieth (U.S.) 67 67 67 73

275 Jim Herman (U.S.) 72 67 71 65

John Senden (Australia) 70 68 69 68

Bubba Watson (U.S.) 68 69 69 69

Billy Horschel (U.S.) 69 70 67 69

Brian Davis (Britain) 67 68 70 70

Graham DeLaet (Canada) 69 70 66 70

Russell Henley (U.S.) 67 65 72 71

Cameron Percy (Australia) 71 68 65 71

276 Tom Watson (U.S.) 68 69 72 67

Michael Kim (U.S.) 70 69 67 70

Matt Every (U.S.) 69 62 74 71

277 Robert Streb (U.S.) 69 70 70 68

Brendan Steele (U.S.) 66 70 72 69

Kenny Perry (U.S.) 68 67 73 69

Richard Lee (U.S.) 68 70 70 69

Andres Romero (Argentina) 68 71 69 69


Webb Simpson (U.S.) 64 73 70 70

Chad Campbell (U.S.) 69 66 72 70

James Hahn (U.S.) 72 67 68 70

Kevin Chappell (U.S.) 67 68 71 71

Jason Kokrak (U.S.) 66 71 68 72

Brad Fritsch (Canada) 68 71 66 72

Troy Matteson (U.S.) 69 70 66 72

Tommy Gainey (U.S.) 62 71 69 75

278 Martin Flores (U.S.) 71 65 74 68

D.A. Points (U.S.) 70 65 73 70

Andres Gonzales (U.S.) 71 68 70 69

James Driscoll (U.S.) 66 68 71 73

Charlie Wi (South Korea) 73 65 67 73

279 Shawn Stefani (U.S.) 70 69 70 70

Jeff Overton (U.S.) 68 68 72 71

Luke List (U.S.) 71 67 69 72

280 Ryan Palmer (U.S.) 68 71 70 71

Chez Reavie (U.S.) 70 69 68 73

Gary Woodland (U.S.) 69 70 64 77

281 Tom Gillis (U.S.) 67 71 71 72

Brian Harman (U.S.) 68 70 70 73

Park Jin (South Korea) 64 73 71 73

282 Carl Pettersson (Sweden) 69 70 70 73

283 William McGirt (U.S.) 69 70 71 73

287 Justin Leonard (U.S.) 68 70 67 82

Golf-Swede Blixt wins Greenbrier title by two shots

Golf-Swede Blixt wins Greenbrier title by two shots










July 7, 2013 9:28 PM


* Blixt closes with a 67 to overhaul Wagner

* American Wagner falls back into a tie for second (Adds quotes, detail)

July 7 (Reuters) - Swede Jonas Blixt took advantage of a last-day collapse by overnight leader Johnson Wagner to win his second PGA Tour title by two shots at the Greenbrier Classic in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia on Sunday.

Four strokes off the pace heading into a weather-interrupted final round that ended in fading light, Blixt fired a three-under-par 67 in rain-softened conditions on The Greenbrier's Old White Course.

The 29-year-old Swede held his nerve over a pressure-packed closing stretch, mixing four birdies with two bogeys over the last 10 holes to post a 13-under total of 267.

American Wagner, two ahead overnight in his bid for a fourth PGA Tour victory, dropped three shots after the turn as he struggled for accuracy off the tee on the way to a 73 and a four-way tie for second place.

Also finishing at 11-under were Wagner's compatriot and playing partner Jimmy Walker (71), andAustralians Steven Bowditch (68) and Matt Jones (68).

Blixt, who had missed eight cuts in 16 starts on the 2013 PGA Tour before this week with a best finish of joint 11th at the Crowne Plaza Invitational in May, choked back the tears as he reflected on his come-from-behind win.

"This year has been kind of a bad year for me so to pull it off, I can't believe it," the emotional Swede, who earned an automatic place at next year's Masters with his triumph, told Golf Channel.

"I am really happy. Just to be able to play Augusta (National) ... so many dreams come true.

"It's just one week and the whole year kind of turns around," added Blixt, who clinched his maiden PGA Tour title by one shot at last year's Frys.com Open.

The final round was interrupted by a weather delay of just over three hours as thunder rumbled and lightning cracked overhead and a Monday finish appeared to be on the cards when the action finally resumed in the late afternoon.


LEADEN SKIES

Wagner eventually teed off in the last pairing shortly after 5:00 p.m. ET (2100 GMT) under leaden skies and light drizzle and he three-putted for bogey at the par-four second for his overnight lead to be cut to one at 13 under.

However, Walker followed suit when he three-putted from well below the hole at the par-three third to hand Wagner a two-stroke advantage.

Though Walker rebounded with a birdie at the par-four fifth, where he struck a superb approach to six feet, Wagner responded with a curling 15-footer to birdie the sixth and regain his two-shot lead at 14-under.

Blixt briefly trimmed Wagner's advantage to one with birdies at the fifth, ninth and 10th but the Swede slid back with a bogey at the par-four 11th after missing the green to the right with his approach.

Wagner then bogeyed the 11th after hitting a poor chip from greenside rough and was caught in a two-way tie at the top at 13-under when Blixt knocked in a five-footer to birdie the par-five 12th.

The Swede also succumbed to the pressure over the closing stretch when he bogeyed the par-four 13th after finding the left rough off the tee.

Moments later, Wagner faltered at the same hole, a three-putt there dropping him back into a tie for the lead with Blixt at 12-under.

Blixt seized the outright lead for the first time by sinking a nine-foot birdie putt at the 16th and soon after found himself two strokes in front when Wagner bogeyed the short 15th after missing green to left off the tee.

As twilight fast approached, Blixt narrowly missed a seven-foot birdie putt at the 17th, then safely two-putted from long range at the par-three 18th to remain at 13-under, two ahead of the chasing pack.

Striving for late birdies, Wagner and Walker each parred the last three holes to ensure that Blixt would celebrate a second victory on the PGA Tour.

"I am so happy I pulled it off," said the Swede. "It was a little bit 'iffy' today but I pulled out some really good shots and had some short birdie putts that I could make. It's awesome." (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Gene Cherry/Ian Ransom)