Hennie Otto set a new course record at the Serengeti Golf & Wildlife Estate

Hennie Otto set a new course record at the Serengeti Golf & Wildlife Estate on what is likely to be his final day as the reigning SA Open Champion.

The 2011 victor had failed to replicate last season’s title winning form this time out as he barely made the cut before dropping a shot on four successive holes in yesterday’s 75.

But the South African produced a scintillating 62 this morning, bettering fellow countryman George Coetzee’s 63 yesterday, to ensure he finished on eight under par for the tournament.

Charl Schwartzel, who took the green jacket at the 2011 Masters Tournament, also recovered well from a disappointing third round with a positive start to his last 18.

Schwartzel, competing in his 11th national championship, recorded two double-bogeys yesterday but three birdies in the first six holes left him sitting in a tie for fifth.

Henrik Stenson led the field after the penultimate round from Swedish compatriot Magnus Carlsson and Coetzee.

Just months into his career as the UAE’s first professional golfer

Just months into his career as the UAE’s first professional golfer, Ahmed Al Musharrekh will rub shoulders with many of the biggest names in world golf when he becomes the first Arab golf pro to play in the Rolex Pro-Am at next week’s DP World Tour Championship.

To be staged on 20 November on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the Rolex Pro-Am will see Al Musharrekh as pro captain for the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) team in a line-up that features the top 60 players on The European Tour, including the 2012 Race to Dubai Champion Rory McIlroy during the annual curtain raiser for the $8 million tournament.

The 22 year-old won the UAE National Championship in 2008 as has tasted gold medal success at both the Arab Games and the GCC Championships but this will be the biggest test of his professional career as he plays alongside the elite players who have qualified for the final round of The Race to Dubai.

“Ahmed has moved up into the ranks of professional golf so we are delighted to be able to invite him to play – as a pro – in the Rolex Pro-Am at the DP World Tour Championship,” said Nick Tarratt, European Tour International Director, Dubai Office. “He won’t be an amateur enjoying a day out with his friends in the company of a tour pro – he will be the pro playing off the Championship tees and the man responsible for the performance of his team.

“This is a great boost not only for the Emirates Golf Federation who do a magnificent job in encouraging golf at grass roots level here in the UAE but also for Arab golf in the Middle East region. I am sure Ahmed will learn a lot from it and enjoy the experience of mixing with Major winners and Ryder Cup stars both past and present.”

Al Musharrekh is in no doubt as to the challenge that lies ahead in his professional career and is grateful for the opportunity to play in the Rolex Pro-Am.

“It’s a great honour to be invited to play alongside the best of The European Tour,” he said. “I’ve played in a few Pro-Ams over the years as an amateur so this is an exciting step up for me. But I always like to push and challenge myself so I am looking forward to it and to helping the EGF team do well in the Pro-Am.

“It has always been my dream to play professional golf and while I know it won’t be easy I am willing to work hard and commit myself to being the best player I can. Of course, it will be a challenge with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood captaining their teams in the Pro-Am but it’s a great opportunity to gain even more experience and I want to thank everyone for their faith in me and for inviting me to take part.”

The Rolex Pro-Am is seen as the traditional opener to the DP World Tour Championship as event sponsors and supporters are invited to enter a team of three amateurs to join forces with one of the top 60 players

Competing in the Rolex Pro-Am alongside World Number One McIlroy will be all 11 of his victorious Ryder Cup team-mates including Ian Poulter, Luke Donald, Justin Rose and Lee Westwood. 

The Rolex Pro-Am gives the pros the opportunity to get to grips with the Earth course in full championship mode before the tournament itself starts on Thursday (22 November) with $8 million in prize money and a Race to Dubai Bonus Pool of $3.75 million at stake. Free season tickets for the tournament can be obtained by registering online at www.dpwtc.com.

A global audience of 850 million households

A global audience of 850 million households will tune in to Jumeirah Golf Estates this week when Dubai welcomes the top 60 players on The European Tour for the DP World Tour Championship.

The final leg of the season-long Race to Dubai, the DP World Tour Championship will be televised live by Tour Productions and broadcast on satellite channels around the world. And for the first time in the history of the event, viewers in the UAE will be able to enjoy 20 hours of live coverage on Dubai Sports Channel 1.

Getting underway on Thursday (Nov 22) from the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the four-day, $8 million tournament will see World Number One and Race to Dubai winner Rory McIlroy aim to end the season in style at the final event on The European Tour’s 45-date calendar.

“As the finale to the season, the DP World Tour Championship will see the world tuning in to ‘Earth’,” said Nick Tarratt, European Tour International Director, Dubai Office. “Tour Productions will do their customary excellent job of broadcasting the action worldwide, while we are delighted Dubai Sports Channel will also show the action live for the first time.”

To broadcast the tournament to a global audience, Tour Productions will lay 60km of cable alongside the fairways and greens of the Greg Norman-designed Earth course, while 87 tonnes of equipment – including cabling, trucks and broadcasting technology – will be used throughout the event.

In addition, over 100 TV crew will ensure viewers don’t miss any of the action with their number increased by 18 locally recruited scorers and spotters.

As well as TV personnel, over 150 local and international media representatives will cover the tournament, while the event’s Official Media Partners CNN and Dubai Eye 103.8 will both play key roles as the players fight it out for the title. Dubai Eye 103.8 will broadcast live from the Earth course with player interviews, event news and information throughout the tournament.

Regular updates will also appear on the tournament website as well as on The European Tour’s official site, while the event’s Twitter and Facebook social media outlets will also provide news and information relating to play on the Earth course as well as the events and entertainment in the Championship Village.

“Obviously with free season tickets for the tournament, the best way to watch the players in action is by coming along to Jumeirah Golf Estates for what we believe is the Greatest Weekend on Earth,” added Tarratt. “But for those who can’t make it in person, there will be a wide variety of media sources providing excellent coverage as we celebrate the climax of The European Tour season.”

Free season tickets for the 2012 DP World Tour Championship are available online by registering at the official website www.dpwtc.com

Whilst The European Tour’s presence in Hong Kong is focused

Whilst The European Tour’s presence in Hong Kong is focused primarily on staging the UBS Hong Kong Open, a secondary aim is to leave a lasting legacy by working alongside the Hong Kong Golf Association (HKGA) in developing its burgeoning Elite Junior Programme.

Since The European Tour began promoting the US$2million tournament in 2010, the programme has benefitted hugely from a percentage of the substantial sanction fee received by the HKGA through its partnership with the Tour.

The programme is run free of charge by the HGKA and is attended by approximately 80 local youngsters, who are coached and mentored by former Asian Tour member Brad Schadewitz.

Schadewitz oversees the juniors’ fitness training programme and accompanies them to international amateur tournaments, including the Eisenhower Trophy.

The scheme has been a resounding success, with three of the junior girls having recently been offered scholarships by universities in America.   

Peter Aherne, President of the Hong Kong Golf Association, said: “We’d like to thank The European Tour for their help and support over the past three years. Their commitment to growing the game in Hong Kong is very much appreciated by everyone at the Hong Kong Golf Association, and we look forward to working alongside them in the years to come.”  

Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer of The European Tour, said: “The Hong Kong Golf Association does a superb job in running its Elite Junior Programme, and we are fully committed to supporting the development of the game in Hong Kong. The sanction fee the HGKA received from the Tour this year and for the past two years will assist in its efforts to produce talented young golfers, and we are already seeing the fruits of their labour.”  

In addition to the Elite Junior Programme, the promotional budget also enabled The European Tour and the HKGA to run the ‘Golf in the City’ initiative, which included the junior golf clinic conducted on Wednesday afternoon by American John Daly, Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiménez and Italian Matteo Manassero, who passed on their wealth of experience to 140 local schoolchildren.

Jointly organised by the HKGA and The European Tour and sponsored by Mega Events Fund, ‘Golf in the City’ aimed to increase awareness and interest in both the tournament and the game in general.

A series of fun golf-related games and challenges for the general public were run free of charge last week at Chater Garden, in the city’s Central District, where the Urban Golf Challenge was also held.

A level par 71 was good enough for England’s Luke Donald

A level par 71 was good enough for England’s Luke Donald to retain his four shot advantage at the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan.

The World Number Three could not reproduce the sparkling form that had taken him to 13 under par at Phoenix Country Club, mixing three birdies with three bogeys.

The rest of the field failed to take advantage, however, with first round co-leader Brendan Jones 67 to move into a share of second with Shunsuke Sonoda the day’s most significant move.

If Donald can complete the job on Sunday it will be his first victory since successfully defending his BMW PGA Championship title at Wentworth Club back in May.

Spain’s Alvaro Quiros moved into the top ten with a two under par 69, although the long hitter is eight behind Donald.

Quiros’ compatriot Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño advanced to two under par, but Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts dropped back to one under with a 72.

Singapore storms threaten McIlroy's money bid

SINGAPORE: Tropical thunderstorms threw the $6 million Barclays Singapore Open into chaos on Friday and threatened Rory McIlroy's bid to seal the European money title this weekend.

After a rain-hit first day, play was suspended twice before finally being abandoned for the day as forked lightning streaked the skies and heavy downpours hit par-71 Sentosa Golf Club.

Thailand's Chapchai Nirat and Simon Dyson held the joint lead midway through their second rounds, with half the field yet to take the course and more rain forecast for the weekend.

Organisers said more delays could force them to slash the event from 72 to 54 holes or to complete the fourth round on Monday. Last year, it was cut to 54 holes and still only finished on the Monday morning.

"At present, our aim is still to complete 72 holes, weather permitting," said tournament director Jose Maria Zamora.

"However, if we do suffer more delays we would then decide, in consultation with the sponsor and promoter, whether to reduce the tournament to 54 holes or complete the fourth round on Monday," he added.

Reducing the tournament could be inconvenient for world number one McIlroy, who was tied for 29th after 12 holes of his second round and needing a high finish to confirm himself as Europe's top prize money-winner this year.

The 23-year-old, bidding to become only the second man to seal the money titles on both sides of the Atlantic in the same year, completed his first round five shots off the pace and went straight back out for round two.

Watched by tennis star girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki but suffering from a cold, McIlroy made a wretched start to his second round with bogey and double bogey in his first four holes.

But some razor-sharp iron shots got him back to one-under-par for the tournament before he was hauled off the course for the second time, in a golf buggy with Wozniacki sitting cosily on his lap.

"Nearly 12 hours at the golf course already today!" McIlroy tweeted, with a picture of Wozniacki asleep on a desk. "@CaroWozniacki really enjoying her holiday this week... Not!! #ratherbeonabeach."

Chapchai was a first-round leader at the 2005 Singapore Open, and in 2009 he set a world 72-hole scoring record with a staggering total of 32-under-par 256 to win India's SAIL Open.

However, the victories have since dried up and after only one top-10 finish this year, he said he had taken his father's advice to lose some weight and had been visiting a Buddhist monastery to improve his temperament.

"I've been going there a lot to calm myself. I used to be very hot-tempered and I get frustrated easily especially at such a young age," said Chapchai, 29.

"My parents sent me to the monastery and I became a monk for a while. My temper is better now but I still try to go back to the monastery once in a while."

Ryder Cup star Francesco Molinari, his fellow Italian Matteo Manassero and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn were a shot back from Chapchai and Dyson at five-under-par during their second rounds.

Last year's runner-up, Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines, hit the shot of the day with a 161-yard hole-in-one on the par-three second - the second ace of the tournament, after Edoardo Molinari's on day one.

Organisers of the event, sometimes referred to as "Asia's Major", have admitted they are keen to move it to a different time of year to avoid the notorious storm delays.
Leading incomplete scores during round two of the Singapore Open:

-6 - Simon Dyson (ENG), Chapchai Nirat (THA)
-5 - Matteo Manassero (ITA), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Thomas Bjorn (DEN)
-4 - George Coetzee (RSA), Chris Wood (ENG), Simon Khan (ENG), Chinnarat Phadungsil (THA), Pablo Martin (ESP)
-3 - Chan Yih-Shin (TPE), Rikard Karlberg (SWE), Pablo Larrazabal (ESP), Paul Casey (ENG), Y.E. Yang (KOR), Kwanchai Tannin (THA)
-2 Anirban Lahiri (IND), Berry Henson (USA), Anders Hansen (DEN), S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND), Choo Tze Huang (SIN), David Howell (ENG), Himmat Rai (IND), Jyoti Randhawa (IND), Richard Green (AUS), Hennie Otto (RSA), Garth Mulroy (RSA), Gunn Charoenkul (THA)

Selected:

-1 - Rory McIlroy (NIR)
Even - Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), Adam Scott (AUS)

Chinese teen wins Asia-Pacific, spot in Masters

Guan Tianlang is an eighth-grader from China who barely weighs 125 pounds and doesn't hit the golf ball far enough to reach some par 4s. The next stop for the 14-year-old prodigy will be the Masters, where he will tee it up with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson at Augusta National.

Guan completed a wire-to-wire victory Sunday in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, making a 5-foot par putt on the final hole at Amata Spring Country Club for a one-shot win that earned him an invitation to the Masters.

"I'm really excited about it," Guan said after closing with a 1-under 71. "I will be training maybe a little bit harder and got some more power for that because I'm still growing right now. So it will be great fun."

He is believed to be the youngest male to play in a major championship. Andy Zhang of China, who trained at a golf academy in Florida, was 14 years, 6 months when he qualified for the U.S. Open last summer at The Olympic Club. Guan would be about a month younger.

Woods could have seen this coming.

Just two years ago, Woods was playing in the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions pro-am at Sheshan International in Shanghai when Guan was in a group of juniors who played with him on the par-3 17th hole. Woods was amazed that day, not only at the polished swing of a 12-year-old, but the poise Guan showed at performing on such a stage -- more than a thousand people in the gallery, an audience that included Woods, a 14-time major champion.

Even with a spot in the Masters on the line, Guan didn't flinch.

Pan Cheng-tsung of Taiwan, the second-ranked amateur in Asia, made par on the 18th hole for a 65 that left him one shot behind. Guan, the youngest player at the Asia-Pacific Amateur, hits the ball only about 250 yards off the tee, and even a 3-wood for his second shot left him short of the green. Guan had made bogey twice on the 18th during the tournament.

"I think about it a little bit at the last hole, but I'm trying not to get it in my mind," Guan said, referring to the Masters invitation. "So just want to focus on my game. I got a little bit nervous on the last putt because that's the winning putt. But I just do my own routine and everything is good."

He rolled in the final stroke with a belly putter, which he began using in June because he feels more stable over the putts.

Guan's choice of putter is sure to draw more attention to the debate over the club, which is anchored to the body. The USGA and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club are close to announcing a decision on whether to ban such a putting stroke.

For now, it's another amazing feat for the eighth-grader at Zhi Xin Middle School in Guangzhou.

Guan started playing when he was 4, going to the golf course with his parents. He goes to California for about three months during the year, staying with relatives in Los Angeles and San Diego to train. He first got attention last year at the Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego when he won his age division (11-12) by 11 shots.

He was invited to play in the China Open in April, making him the youngest competitor in a European Tour-sanctioned event. Guan missed the cut.

"I feel pretty comfortable with that," Guan said. "I didn't do pretty well, but it's still a great experience for me. I think it's going to help me in the Masters."

Guan said he has been watching the Masters every year since 2005, when Woods hit a chip from behind the green on the par-3 16th that hung on the lip for a second before it took one last turn and dropped for birdie, carrying him to a playoff win and his fourth Green Jacket.

Woods is his favorite player. Along with hitting a tee shot with him on the 17th hole during the HSBC Champions pro-am in Shanghai, he met Woods again during a Nike clinic at Mission Hills a year later.

I think he has a strong mind and a strong heart, so I think that's why he's so great, a good player," Guan said. "I played the hole each time with Tiger, and he knows me the second time," Guan said. "We talk a little bit and I just really like him."

Guan would like to play a practice round with Woods at the Masters "or anyone else, because the guys that go to Augusta are all fantastic players."

He became the first Chinese player to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur, which was created by Augusta National and the Royal & Ancient to help inspire growth in the emerging golf nations of Asia. This was the fourth year for the tournament.

Along with getting into the Masters, Guan earns a spot in the final stage of qualifying for the British Open. Pan, the runner-up, also gets a spot in the British Open qualifier.

Guan, who opened with rounds of 66-64 to build a five-shot lead, finished at 15-under 273. He felt the pressure toward the end of the final round after a bogey on the 16th hole. But he handled the island-green 17th with a par, and then clipped a 60-degree sand wedge for his 5-foot par putt and the win.

Oliver Goss of Australia, a quarterfinalist at the U.S. Amateur, closed with a 72 to finish third. Hideki Matsuyama, Asia's No. 1 amateur who was going for his third straight Asia-Pacific Amateur title, shot 68 and was five shots behind. Matsuyama made the cut at the Masters the last two years.

"I'm so excited," Guan said. "I'm really happy to become the youngest player at the Masters and looking forward to going there. I don't know what's going to happen there, but I know I just want to do well."

Guan added to what already has been an historic year at Augusta National, which in August invited Darla Moore and Condoleezza Rice to become the first female members in its 80-year history. In April, there will be two women in green jackets, and an eighth-grader from China trying to win a Green Jacket.

Sergio Garcia to make his comeback from eye surger

Sergio Garcia will make his comeback from eye surgery at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

The Spaniard, who has not played since helping Europe to victory over the United States at the Ryder Cup in Medinah, underwent an operation to correct an astigmatism. He was the only one of the 12 victorious team members to miss last week’s BMW Masters in Shanghai.

Garcia will now return at the European Tour's season-ending event, which gets underway at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in the United Arab Emirates on Nov. 22.

"I had the surgery, but everything went very well," the world No. 21 said. "I will have three tournaments towards the end of the year. I hope I can play good, finish on a high note and get ready for next year."

The 32-year-old will then head for the Asian Tour in December after confirming his place in the field for the Thailand Golf Championship, as well as the Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia.

"I really like Thailand, I have been there for holiday and I really enjoyed the country," said Garcia, who finished tied for 24th in the event last year. "The tournament is very well organized, and I think it is a very nice tournament; everyone does a great job there."

Hunter Mahan will also be at the Amata Spring Country Club from Dec. 6-9 for the Thailand Golf Championship, the penultimate event on this year's Asian Tour calendar.

The American is added to a stellar field that already included former world No. 1 Lee Westwood and major winners Darren Clarke, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Bubba Watson.

"My wife, Kandi, and I went on a vacation in Thailand a couple of years ago," Mahan said. "We love to travel and it was definitely one of our favorite trips.

"The beaches were beautiful, the food was great -- we had a really good time so I thought it was a great place for me to play, a great place for me to see and to show Thailand what kind of golfer I am."

Rory McIlroy and Titleist Will Part Ways in December

The rumors have been circulating for weeks, but this morning it finally became official, Rory McIlroy and Titleist will part ways this December.

McIlroy has been playing Titleist equipment since turning pro five years ago, but after two major championship victories in the past two years, McIlroy clearly feels that it is time to pursue what could very well wind up being the biggest payday of his career and one of the most lucrative equipment contracts the game has ever seen.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are now entering the twilight of their careers, and despite an abundance of young talent on the PGA Tour, McIlory has been the only player to really step up and assert himself as the game’s next big star. So, if you’re a golf equipment company looking to lock up golf’s next household name for the foreseeable future, you really only have one choice: Rory McIlroy.   

It has been rumored that Nike is contemplating offering McIlroy a 10-year deal, worth as much as $250 million.

A budding “bromance” has developed between Woods (who also plays Nike equipment) and McIlroy over the past six months. Most thought this to be a genuine friendship based on mutual respect of each other’s games, but perhaps this “bromance” was actually just a matter of Woods courting McIlroy and steering him towards Nike Golf all along.

Woods essentially built Nike golf from the ground up after he signed with the company back in 1996 and would undoubtedly benefit financially from any spike in equipment and apparel sales that could come as a result of McIlroy signing on with the company.

Nike may have gotten in early with McIlroy, but there is bound to be a fierce competition amongst all of the major golf manufacturers over the coming weeks, because after all, it’s not every day that golf equipment companies have the opportunity to sign a 23-year-old World No. 1 with two major championships already under his belt.

Expect to see McIlroy’s name within the Top 10 on Forbes 2013 list of the world’s highest paid athletes.

Vo Van Pelt holes a 60 foot putt to take lead

Bo Van Pelt holed a 60 foot birdie putt on the final green to take a one shot lead into the final round of the ISPS HANDA Perth International.

Four behind Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo overnight, American Van Pelt turned five shots adrift but came home in 32 for a 67 and 12 under par total.

His compatriot and World Number Ten Jason Dufner matched Van Pelt’s five under par round to sit second on 11 under, while Grillo three-putted the last for a 73 and third place on ten under.

The 20 year old Grillo initially stretched his advantage when he holed a 12 footer at the sixth and got down in two from a fairway bunker at the ninth to turn in 34.

It was Dufner who initially began applying pressure, The Ryder Cup star chipping in at the seventh to start a run of five birdies in six holes.

Grillo dropped shots at the tenth and 11th, responded with a birdie at the short next, but bogeyed the 16th and 18th for a costly inward 37 as the Qualifying School graduate looks to cement his place in the top 115 on The Race to Dubai – he currently lies 112th.

Van Pelt curled in a ten footer at the first for birdie but gave the shot back at the sixth after a poor bunker shot.

The World Number 24 two-putted the long seventh and 11th for birdies, holed from 12 feet at the next and chipped to two feet at the 15th before his spectacular finish.

“Once in a while a hole just gets in the way,” said Van Pelt. “I felt like I hit a pretty good second shot, just carried about five yards further. I was just trying to get the ball down there and two-putt and get out of there, and lo and behold, it goes in the hole.

“There's still a lot of golf to be played. It was just nice to finish with a birdie like that and hopefully take that into tomorrow.

“Jason is a great player, Grillo is playing well and he's probably going to come out and probably shoot a low one tomorrow. You've got to drive the ball straight and then put the ball in position on the greens, because they have a lot of slope and they are getting firm and they are getting fast.”

Dufner parred his way in from the 13th, and the highest-ranked player in the field was delighted to have given himself a chance going into Sunday.

“It was a nice day to get a good score and move up and have a realistic chance of not having to do anything crazy tomorrow and being in contention to try to win the tournament,” he said.

“Sometimes in the middle of a round, something happens that spurs you to some better play, and I got a little bit of a tough break on seven on my tee ball. Thought it would be in the fairway but hung up in the rough, which put me a good way back and I ended up getting into a bunker 70 yards or so and hit it over the back and then chipped in.

“So not really thinking that you're going to make birdie; in your mind you're almost feeling like maybe bogey might come on a pretty easy hole. Chipped in there and then hit one stone on nine and birdied ten, 11, 12.”

Fourth place is shared by Spain’s Alejandro Cañizares and England’s David Howell, and although the pair are five shots off the lead both have plenty to play for.

Currently 70th and 71st on The Race to Dubai, both need a big finish to force their way into the top 60 who will make the trip to Jumeirah Golf Estates next month.

Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo carded a six under par 66

Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo carded a six under par 66 to take the early clubhouse lead at the ISPS HANDA Perth International.

The 20 year old Qualifying School graduate shot four birdies and an eagle three from ten feet at the long 15th to set the early benchmark and lead alongside Spain’s Alejandro Cañizares, who still had six holes remaining.

Grillo has enjoyed a solid debut season with a best finish to date of tied tenth in Austria, and at 112th on The Race to Dubai a good finish this week in Australia could secure his playing rights for 2013.

“I hit a lot of fairways out there, that's very important on this golf course and a lot of greens and then the ones that I missed, I got up and down,” Grillo said of his bogey-free effort. “So it was a good round overall. 

“There are not many tournaments left, so I’m trying to make as much ground as I can this week.  

“It was very nice to get my card through Q School last year. It's been a great year so far and I'm enjoying it.  

“It's good to have a good round on a good day, but it's going to get windy and you've just got to play very good from the tee, hit good drivers, and probably the hardest thing on this golf course are the par threes. So if you play the par threes here and you hit fairways, you're going to go well.” 

Cañizares, whose only European Tour title came six years ago, had six birdies in his first 12 holes on the Lake Karrinyup course to give himself a chance of surpassing Grillo’s effort.

New Zealander Michael Hendry and Australian trio Ashley Hall, Max McCardle and Jason Scrivener were tied for third on four under, with England’s Andrew Johnston, Welshman Rhys Davies, Italian Edoardo Molinari and Australian Andrew Dodt rounding out the top ten on three under par.

Hendry birdied three of his last five holes to set the clubhouse mark at seven under par, and Cañizares joined him when the 29 year old birdied the short 17th.

Johnston, who had been three over par after four holes, had three birdies in his last four holes to take fourth with a five under par 67.

A return to a key fundamental tells me Tiger is almost back Read more: http://www.golf.com/instruction/johnny-miller-says-tiger-woods-nearly-back-top-form#ixzz29dOVE7kZ

Slowly but surely, Tiger is showing signs that he’s capable of recapturing his dominating form. He still has some chinks in his armor and his putting isn’t as consistent as it once was, but I’m picking up on a few things that, if Tiger sticks to them, will give him a good shot to pass Jack Nicklaus in the major victories column.

Forget for the moment about the fundamental differences among the swings impressed upon Tiger by his former and current coaches. They don’t matter. What does is Woods’s ability to hit key positions -- regardless of method or theory -- that have proved successful for him in the past. In my opinion, it’s a return to the impact arrangements that made his stinger shot one of the most effective weapons in golf history. (The fact that he’s hitting his stinger consistently proves he’s moving in the right direction.) The most important of these is lining up the shaft with his left arm when he strikes the ball and keeping this alignment intact until the clubhead whips past his left leg.

Here’s what I mean: Notice at address how the clubshaft extends straight out from your left forearm. Good ballstrikers re-create this alignment at impact. The goal is to feel like the club is “growing” out of your left arm as you strike the ball. If you can hold this arrangement until the momentum of your swing causes your left arm to fold in your release, you’ll hit the ball straight and solidly.

Get a feel for this by developing a stinger swing like Tiger’s (shown at left). Think of it as a punch shot with a little extra oomph. When you make contact, try to get the shaft and your left arm to match the positions they held at address. It helps if you “stick” the club at impact. Then work on keeping your left arm and clubshaft in line until your swing moves past your left leg. You’ll develop some serious shotmaking skill and improve your swing, to boot.

Tiger to begin 2013 in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 

Tiger Woods plans to start his season in the Abu Dhabi Championship on the European Tour for the second straight year,

The tournament said Wednesday Woods and Rory McIlroy have committed to play Abu Dhabi, which will be Jan. 17-20. That's the same week as the Humana Challenge in the California desert, a PGA Tour event that Woods has never played.

A year ago, Woods was tied with Robert Rock going into the final round, closed with a 72 and tied for third, two shots behind the Englishman. McIlroy was the runner-up.

Woods last year skipped Torrey Pines, where he has won seven times as a pro, to play Abu Dhabi, This year, Torrey Pines is the week after Abu Dhabi, leaving open the possibility that Woods could play.

Truth & Rumors: Rory 'ready to be done' with 2012 season; plans lighter 2013

Has his 2012 season brought too much of a good thing -- O.K., a great, occasionally transcendent thing --  for Rory McIlroy?

With obligations piling up throughout his would-be offseason, he seems to think so. McIlroy told ESPN UK on Monday that he was "ready to be done" with this year, despite having a handful of tournaments left to play, including the four parts of the Race to Dubai that ends the European Tour's season, and a heads-up exhibition match against Tiger Woods in China at the end of October.

So far, McIlroy has played 21 tournaments in 2012, not including the Ryder Cup. By the time the year is wrapped, he'll probably be up to 26 -- an event every other week. Don't expect as many Rory sightings in 2013:

"I would just love to cut my schedule back even further and I think next year I will cut it down again to a max play of 22 or 23," McIlroy continued.

"I still have got some big events left and I would love to win the Race to Dubai and repeat what Luke did also winning the money list on the PGA Tour, so I am going to give it one last push.

"It has been a great season and I am ready to be done. It is just such a long season these days. But then I feel I have got an obligation to play some of these big events leading up to Dubai."

McIlroy did add that he "won't find it hard" to motivate himself to play the year out, especially since a strong finish would likely place him atop both the American and European money lists. If he does it, McIlroy would match Luke Donald, who accomplished the same feat in 2011.

Poulter golfer of the month

Ian Poulter has been named The Race to Dubai Golfer of the Month for September after he left “a continent in rapture” with his influential display as Europe surged from behind to retain The Ryder Cup against the United States at the Medinah Country Club on the outskirts of Chicago.

Poulter, who receives an engraved alms dish and a jeroboam of Moët & Chandon champagne, collected four points from four matches – energising Europe on the Saturday afternoon with birdies at the last five holes to claim a vital fourball victory with Rory McIlroy on the last green, then completing his personal master-class with a singles win against Webb Simpson.

The Englishman was the overwhelming choice of The Race to Dubai Golfer of the Month Panel, comprising members of the Association of Golf Writers as well as commentators from radio and television, who also praised European captain José María Olazábal in addition to Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño (BMW Italian Open presented by Cartasi) and Peter Hanson (KLM Open), both winners on The European Tour International Schedule, and Rory McIlroy, who captured the BMW Championship in America.

Poulter said: “I am delighted to be named The Race to Dubai Golfer of the Month, the week at Medinah was truly incredible and something I will always cherish. It is important to note that this was a team event, and I couldn’t have played the way I did without the support and belief I had from all my team-mates including caddies, the four Vice Captains and, of course, Captain Olazábal. This accolade is for all of us. The Ryder Cup will always be very special to me, because of the pure pride and passion it brings out in everyone, and I am already looking forward to Gleneagles in 2014!”

Derek Lawrenson, Golf Correspondent of the Daily Mail, said: “It was another month full of worthy candidates. Peter Hanson’s victory in the KLM Open was particularly impressive, given he was on the verge of pulling out owing to his son falling ill. José María Olazábal achieved the dream of a lifetime in captaining Europe to a Ryder Cup win, while Rory McIlroy continued his astonishing form with his third win in four events in America.

“But there’s no question who was The Race to Dubai Golfer of the Month – Ian Poulter left his team-mates in awe with his Ryder Cup showing and a continent in rapture.”

Iain Carter, Golf Correspondent of BBC Radio Five Live, said: “There is no doubt that the outstanding performance came from Ian Poulter at The Ryder Cup. He was the inspiration behind the greatest comeback we have ever seen. When we talk about great performances at future Ryder Cups, Poulter’s feat will be regarded as the measuring stick.”

James Corrigan, Golf Correspondent of The Daily Telegraph, said: “Ian Poulter’s performance at Medinah was perhaps the most influential Ryder Cup display by any individual in the history of The Ryder Cup. He became the first player to play four and win four since Jack Nicklaus in 1981. Poulter embodies an event which stirs the passions like no other in the game. In a team competition he stood head and shoulders above the rest – and the rest happened to be the very best in the world.”

And Peter Dixon, Golf Correspondent of The Times, said: “Rory McIlroy described Poulter as Mr Ryder Cup – and who could argue with him? Without Poulter, the Cup would have been lost.”

Poulter follows Branden Grace (January), Paul Lawrie (February), Rory McIlroy (March and August), Louis Oosthuizen (April), Luke Donald (May), Jamie Donaldson (June) and Ernie Els (July) in winning a Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month Award this year. All eight will join subsequent recipients in being considered for The 2012 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year Award.

Six birdies in seven holes around the turn helped Bernd Wiesberger

Six birdies in seven holes around the turn helped Bernd Wiesberger claim a one shot lead after the third round of the Portugal Masters at Oceânico Victoria Golf Course.

The Austrian, already a two-time winner on The European Tour this season, had all his birdies between the eighth and 14th holes in a bogey-free round of 65.

That took the 27 year old to 13 under par and one ahead of overnight leader Ross Fisher, who saw a five foot par putt lip out on the last.

“After seven holes I was not thinking about a 65,” admitted Wiesberger. “I hit some poor wedges early on, but I grinded through that and hit better shots around the turn and into the back nine.

“I played beautifully on the back nine, and I could’ve gone even lower.”

Even when Fisher, without a win since his Ryder Cup debut two years ago, notched four birdies in five holes around the turn, Wiesberger matched his playing partner all to remain one shot behind.

He then drew level with an 18 foot putt on the 14th hole – his sixth birdie in seven holes – and moved in front for the first time when Fisher failed to get up and down, having missed the final green.

Fisher, playing on with a strained ligament in his left foot suffered when he slipped coming off the first tee in his second round, said after his 69: “It’s challenging, but it was a lot easier than yesterday.

“It was heavily bandaged, and I tried to take the weight off it as much as I could. It’s quite bruised, but the swelling is not as bad as I thought it might be.

“I'm disappointed to drop a shot on the last. I tried to keep my neck out in front, but there’s still a lot of golf to play.”

In joint third place on nine under par are Irishman Shane Lowry, England’s Richard Finch and, after a welcome return to form, New Zealander Michael Campbell.

The 2005 US Open Champion has endured some tough times since that memorable week at Pinehurst, and is down in 607th place in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Campbell has not had a top ten finish on The European Tour since 2008, and two seasons ago made only one cut in 19 starts.

“It’s seven years since my last win and I was surprised how calm I was out there, but I’ve won enough around the world to know what to do, and I’m pretty excited about tomorrow,” he said.

“Over the last three or four years, I’ve put too much pressure on myself to perform. I’ve gone back to basics, and it’s fun once again.”

Campbell and playing partner Lowry were both five under par for the day, before bogeying the last for rounds of 67, while Finch – like Lowry, a former Irish Open winner – did not drop a shot in his 66.

Miguel Angel Jiménez, at 48 trying to become the oldest winner in European Tour history, finished with a 30-foot birdie putt for a round of 68, and is in joint sixth place with England’s Mark Foster.

Padraig Harrington also birdied the tough closing hole, but that was for a round of 71 as he slipped from fourth to 12th place.

The Greenbrier resort is buying one of the nation's oldest golf courses

The Greenbrier resort is buying one of the nation's oldest golf courses after it failed to sell at auction over the summer, the resort's owner told The Associated Press on Friday.

Greenbrier owner Jim Justice confirmed the purchase of Oakhurst Links. The purchase price wasn't disclosed.

"To be perfectly honest, I don't know that it's going to be a great thing for the Greenbrier," Justice said. "But I know it's a great thing to do."

Oakhurst Links was built in 1884 and is a few miles north of The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs. The 30-acre course, museum and clubhouse are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The clubhouse and museum are filled with photos of visits from golfers such as Sam Snead, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson.

For years, 89-year-old Lewis Keller had struggled to find a buyer.

Last year a Richmond, Va.-based group had planned to take over the course but couldn't raise the $2.5 million to close the deal.

Financing for a $410,000 winning bid from a July 28 auction fell through and a heartbroken Keller feared a Virginia bank would foreclose on the property and its history would fall apart -- until Justice came along.

Justice said he plans to keep the nine-hole course that was built in 1884 intact and even make some improvements if needed.

"Jim Justice has been absolutely wonderful to me," Keller said.

Keller said the purchase price was "less than $1 million, but a lot more than the price that was bid at auction."

The Greenbrier already has three 18-hole courses open for public play and has hosted the PGA Tour's Greenbrier Classic since 2010.

Conventional golf clubs aren't used at Oakhurst. Players -- often dressed in period clothes -- rent hickory-shafted clubs and hit gutta-percha balls off tees fashioned from sand and water the way it was done more than 130 years ago.

The Greenbrier dates to 1778 and is a former gathering place for presidents and royalty. It has a 721-room hotel, casino, spa, dozens of amenities and a once-secret underground bunker built for Congress in case of nuclear attack during the Cold War. Justice bought the resort out of bankruptcy in 2009.

Though he has owned Oakhurst since 1959, it wasn't until 1994 that Keller reopened the course after it had been dormant for more than 80 years. The National Hickory Championship has been played at Oakhurst since 1998.

Oakhurst was first owned by Russell Montague, who became enamored with golf while studying in Great Britain.

Montague and a small group of colleagues held the first competition at Oakhurst in 1888 in the Scottish match play tradition, predating by a few years the St. Andrews Golf Club of Yonkers, N.Y.

Truth & Rumors: Bobby Jones's ghost for sale on eBay

Let's begin with the facts: If you're a "true believer," for the low, low price of $1,000, you can own the ghost of Bobby Jones, and the glass jar it lives in.

For the non-believer, for the high, high price of $1,000, you can own a glass jar.

Who you gonna call? eBay, according to Deadspin.

That's right, the sports site reports that the ghost of Bobby Jones, which is currently spending its ectoplasmic retirement encased in a glass jar, is up for auction -- and bidding starts at $500! (If you don't want to chance it, you can purchase it outright for $1,000. We'd entirely understand.) Not only do you get the ghost, but you also receive the story behind its capture, and a tax write off. Here's what the seller has to say on the post:

Earlier this year, I began to hear strange voices come from my garage and specifically my golf clubs. The voice would repeat "Syringomyelia, Syringomyelia." At first I had no idea what the ghost was saying, so I googled the word. Syringomyelia is the disease that paralyzed killed hall of fame golfer Bobby Jones. I asked the apparition are you Bobby Jones? The ghost then became visible dressed in 1950's golfing gear. The ghost said yes I am Bobby Jones. I didn't know what to do, so in panic I took the jar next to me and forced the ghost of Bobby Jones into the container. Thankfully this ghostly version of Bobby Jones was the paralyzed version of him and not the pristine athlete from the 1920's.

As much as I like having Mr.Jones in my house, my wife is petrified of ghosts and is now forcing me to sell him. I have decided to sell Mr. Jones on ebay and donate half of the proceeds to the cure Syringomyelia fund.

Unfortunately Mr. Jones ghost can only be seen by true believers. If you are not a true believer bid with caution, for you may be unable to see him. I will not be giving refunds, so bid with caution as this is something impossible to authenticate and verify.

Good thing Jones isn't one of those Stephen King-style ghosts. "Aileymognirys" would be quite the mouthful, for a ghost. And certainly not "Redrum" level threatening.

UPDATE: The seller's auction has been pulled from Ebay. We don't know by whom. But he's said too much already…

Tiger Woods at World Golf Final 2012

Tiger Woods played some of his finest golf on Thursday at the Turkish AirlinesWorld Golf Final. And then he played something far less than that and was eliminated in the semifinals.

It was a day of contrasts for Woods.

He started off the day with some of his finest golf, soundly defeating Rory McIlroy in stroke play. The Golf Channel's Tiger Tracker on Twitter—yes, there is an entire Twitter account dedicated just to following Woods during golf tournaments—had updates throughout the day:

I'm sure Tiger did enjoy that moment. McIlroy has been golf's darling once again in 2012 and helped lead Europe to its epic Ryder Cup win. Surely, Woods was pleased to better McIlroy, if only for one round of golf.

But the good times didn't last, as Woods couldn't advance past Justin Rose in the semifinals.

From a 64 to a 70, all in one day. Golf surely is a fickle mistress, isn't she?

But don't feel too bad for Woods, as he'll still walk away with $600,000 dollars for bowing out in the semifinals. Not a bad day at the office, right?

Tiger now will go on to play the CIMB Classic in Lumpur, Malaysia and the Duel atJinsha Lake in Zhengzhou, China. Golfers really have the best business trips.

In all, Tiger's 2012 will be remembered for both the good and bad. He won three tournaments and often evoked talk that he was back and ready to take the golf world by storm once again. While that never came true, he was far better throughout the year than we've seen him in some time.

Still, he was disappointment at the majors. While he did finish third at the British Open, his inability to play well over the weekend cost him his first Major Championship since 2008. In general, the weekends did him in at the majors, as he was 15-over par on Saturdays and Sundays.

The man once known for his ability to run away with a lead suddenly lost his game when the pressure turned up. 

While I wouldn't put his Thursday in quite the same category—this is a pretty laid-back exhibition, after all, albeit one that pays really well—in many ways it was a microcosm of his season on the whole. Against McIlroy, it at times seemed as if he could do no wrong. Against Rose, he reverted to mere mortal status.

We have a tendency to overanalyze every little move Woods makes, and it would be folly to look too deeply into his performance at an exhibition. But you know he wanted a piece of McIlroy, at least a little bit, and you know as well he'll be disappointed he couldn't keep the good times rolling against Rose.

Another day, another mixed result for Tiger Woods. At least for 2012, this is the central theme that accompanies his game.

WINNER OF DESIGN COMPETITION FOR 2016 OLYMPIC GOLF COURSE CLUB HOUSE ANNOUNCED

Young architect Pedro Évora created the project, to be built in Barra da Tijuca
 
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 1 October 2012: A large veranda showcasing the lush tropical landscape of Barra da Tijuca, combining an atmosphere of conviviality with nature -- in the spirit of Rio -- defines the character of the winning project in the competition to choose the design for the Rio 2016™ Olympic Games golf course's club house, announced on Monday at the Brazilian Institute of Architects, Rio de Janeiro department (IAB-RJ). 

The event was attended by the President of the Rio 2016™ Organising Committee for the  Olympic and Paralympic Games (Rio 2016™), Carlos Arthur Nuzman; the committee's chief executive, Leonardo Gryner; the President of IAB-RJ, Sergio Magalhães; the competition's coordinator, Claudio Taulois; and the President of the jury, Fernando Alencar. 

Pedro Évora and Pedro Rivera, of Rio de Janeiro, are the author and co-author respectively of the winning project. Altogether, 82 teams of architects and landscape architects from across Brazil entered the competition, with 57 projects submitted. The competition was open to professionals who graduated within the last 15 years. 

"We wished to showcase Brazilian culture and to give this opportunity to our country's young architects," said Nuzman. "They've come up with projects that honour and make Brazilian architecture proud. I'm delighted with the result." 

The winners will receive a R$25,000 (Brazilian Real) prize (about $12,000 USD), the runner-up will claim 15,000 BRL (around $7,500 USD) and the third place, 10,000 BRL ($5,000 USD). 

The competition was organised by IAB-RJ, which has more than 50 years' experience in running similar contests, and was also assigned to hold the Olympic Park and Olympic Port design contests by the City of Rio de Janeiro. 

The grandson of Affonso Évora, who was point guard for the Brazilian national basketball team that won the bronze medal at the London 1948 Olympic Games, architect Pedro Évora, 34, was thrilled about the selection of his project. "It's an open space, with full contact with nature, integrated with the landscape of Barra. Those who play and who attend will have a unique experience, one that could only be experienced here," he explained. 

For Sergio Magalhães, the high standard of the competition proved that the decision to opt for young architects was right: "The terms of reference or, in other words, what the customer wanted done, were clear and high level, facilitating the development of projects. Of the 57 submitted, 40 were approved in the first round, which demonstrates the high level of the pool. To offer this opportunity to young Brazilians proved to be an excellent choice", said the President of IAB-RJ.