• Archives

Tag Archives: tiger woods

Luke Donald Tops No. 1 Martin Kaymer at Match Play Championship

February 27, 2011   FanHouse Newswire   No comments

Luke DonaldMARANA, Ariz. (AP) — Luke Donald spoiled Martin Kaymer‘s rise to No. 1 in the world by winning the Match Play Championship on Sunday with a performance so dominant he never played the 18th hole all week.

Not even the snow and sleet could stop Donald.

On a bizarre final day in the high desert, which began with snow covering the fairways, Donald pulled ahead for good with a birdie on the par-5 11th and a par on the next hole, eventually closing out Kaymer on No. 16 for a 3-and-2 victory.

The consolation prize for Kaymer is going to No. 1 in the career, which he assured by reaching the championship match.

Donald was in more dire need of this trophy, however.

It was his first win in America in five years, and it was only his second win worldwide since he captured the 2006 Honda Classic. The 33-year-old Englishman had done just about everything right except win.

He took care of that in a week like no other in the 13-year history of the Accenture Match Play Championship. Donald played only 89 holes in six matches and never trailed in any of them. In fact, he led after 81 of those holes.

“It feels amazing,” Donald said. “I had a bit of a monkey on my back. I hadn’t won in the U.S. in five years.”

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read More

Tiger Woods Knocked Out in First Round of Match Play

February 23, 2011   FanHouse Newswire   No comments

Filed under:

Tiger Woods MARANA, Ariz. (AP) — The slow road back for Tiger Woods took another detour Wednesday when he followed a clutch birdie with a shocking shot into the desert and lost to Thomas Bjorn in the first round of the Match Play Championship.

It was only the second time that Woods, the No. 3 seed, had been eliminated in the first round.

But this was stunning even to Woods.

Moments after he made an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to extend the match, he hit a 3-wood so far to the right that it landed in a desert bush. It took two shots just to get it back onto the grass. After badly missing an 18-foot bogey putt, he conceded to Bjorn.

“I blew it,” Woods said.

Twice he had simple chips on the back nine and failed to convert them into birdies, losing his lead on the 13th and falling behind on the 15th. He missed a 10-foot birdie on the 17th that he figured he should make “every time.”

And then came No. 1, the first extra hole.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read More

WGC-Accenture Match Play Power Rankings: Euros Lead Ranks

February 23, 2011   B.J. George   No comments

Filed under:

Graeme McDowellAs March Madness draws near, this week’s PGA stop will give you a little taste of the bracket format that makes college basketball so exciting. The World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championships is one of the best tournaments outside of the majors, pitting the top 64 available players in the world rankings.

This will easily be the best field thus far in 2011, and it will be particularly interesting to see the top 5 players in the world all in the same location for the first time since Tiger Woods was unseated as No. 1.

We’ve decided to break this week’s power rankings down a little differently due to the match play format. This week we’ll dissect players’ chances by where they’re seeded.

From the top group (seeds 1-4), here are the three that have the best chance:

1. Graeme McDowell — Last time we saw McDowell in a match play format, he was closing out Hunter Mahan to retain the Ryder Cup for Europe. He’s playing in the same half of the bracket as defending champion Ian Poulter, but McDowell is arguably the best player in the world right now.

2. Rory McIlroy — McDowell’s fellow countryman hasn’t finished outside of the top 10 in six starts and holds a 4-2 all-time record at this event. McIlroy has a difficult draw that includes a possible matchup with Martin Kaymer. It would be a coin toss at that point, but I like McIlroy’s game a slight bit more at the moment.

3. Martin Kaymer – Rounding out the European trifecta of favorites, the No. 2 player in the world could very well be the only No. 1 seed to advance beyond Friday. As a Ryder Cup rookie, the German lost just once in four matches. With a potential matchup looming, Kaymer or McIlroy won’t be making the semifinals, but whoever escapes the Player bracket will be a heavy favorite come Sunday.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read More

Match Play Presents Early Intrigue, Often Unfulfilling Final Rounds

February 21, 2011   Mick Elliott   No comments

Filed under:

This week’s WGC Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Ariz., could be something really special.

Or it might not.

That’s the tricky thing about match play. When competition begins Wednesday with 64 of the top ranked players in the world, there will be all sorts of intriguing possibilities. A few times over the years, promise has even delivered. In 2000, Darren Clarke beat Tiger Woods in the final. Woods won in 2003 by taking down David Toms in the final and won again in 2004 over Davis Love III. Woods defeated Stewart Cink in 2008. Even last year, although an all-England final, Ian Poulter‘s victory over Paul Casey had its viewing strengths.

But then there was 2001 when Steve Stricker beat Pierre Fulke in the Sunday final. Or 2007 when Henrik Stenson beat Geoff Ogilvy. And who doesn’t remember Kevin Sutherland’s 1-up decision over Scott McCarron in 2002?

Because players are eliminated as the week wears on, it is always possible that by the time Sunday’s final match arrives, there is the possibility of a “Who’s He?” taking on “Who Cares?”

That makes match play events fascinating in that much of the intrigue often occurs early in the week, and the final days can drag.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read More

L.A. Confidential: Tour Takes Turn Down ‘Hogan’s Alley’

February 16, 2011   Mick Elliott   No comments

Filed under:

It’s easy for golf to feel a little romantic about this week’s Northern Trust Open. By any name, it’s the old Los Angeles Open at Riviera Country Club.
This is the course that Ben Hogan all but made his own, turning it into “Hogan’s Alley.” In the 1940s, Hogan won the Los Angeles Open three times and finished second once.

Other winner’s over the years include Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Hale Irwin, Tom Watson, Johnny Miller, Ben Crenshaw, Fred Couples, Nick Faldo, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson.

Not bad.

And then there’s the real history.

Riviera is the club that was so Hollywood.

Famous members over the years include Humphrey Bogart, Glen Campbell, Peter Falk, Dean Martin, Gregory Peck, Walt Disney and Douglas Fairbanks.

Oh, yeah, O.J. Simpson once had a locker there, too.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read More

Monday Movers: Taking Points at Pebble

February 14, 2011   B.J. George   No comments

Filed under:

Stock Up

D.A. Points — If there’s such a thing as a perfect week in golf, Points might have discovered it — team up with legendary funny man Bill Murray for four rounds at Pebble Beach, capture the pro-am title, become a first-time winner on Tour and earn your first invite to the Masters. The key moment of the round was a hole out from 100 yards on the 14th for an eagle. I hope Murray went Carl Spackler on his partner after that shot — something like, “Cinderella Story. Outta Nowhere. Trying to become champion. It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole!”

Getting Inside the Ropes — PGA Tour rookie Jhonattan Vegas has been the story of the early season, and it’s players like him that are breathing new life to the Tour. For those that enjoy Twitter, Vegas is one of the most interactive players in the game. This week @JhonattanVegas shared his invitation to the Masters with his followers. This guy is making all the right moves. We’re talking about an invitation that even professional golfers dream about, and we all got a chance to share in the experience this week.

Alvaro Quiros — The Dubai Desert Classic was billed as a battle of the top 3 players in the world, but the Spaniard stole the show in the desert. He ended with three straight 68s en route to a one-stroke victory, his fifth in five years on the European Tour. The win moves Quiros into first place in the Race to Dubai and jumps him to 21st in the world rankings, his highest ranking yet. Over the last five tournaments he’s played, Quiros has four top 10s and a 23rd place finish. The 28-year-old seems to be hitting his prime and he’s someone to keep your eye on this year.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read More

Tiger Woods Falls Short With 3-Over Final Round in Dubai

February 13, 2011   FanHouse Newswire   No comments

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Tiger Woods stumbled in a bid for his first victory in 15 months Sunday, leaving Alvaro Quiros to win the Dubai Desert Classic with a wild round that included a hole-in-one and triple bogey.

The 70th-ranked Quiros shot a 68 to finish at 11-under 277, one stroke ahead of Anders Hansen of Denmark (70) and James Kingston of South Africa (67).

Woods had a 75 to end tied for 20th at 4-under 284.

“There were quite a few positives this week but a couple of glaring examples of what I need to work on,” Woods said.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read More

Tiger Woods Sits One Shot Off Lead After Wild, Windy Third Round

February 12, 2011   FanHouse Newswire   No comments

Filed under:

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Tiger Woods overcame a poor start in windy conditions Saturday to shoot a par 72, one shot behind leader Rory McIlroy and two others going into the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic.

On dusty day in the desert when the wind reached 28 mph, Woods showed an uncanny ability to repeatedly rally.

He finished with a total of 7-under 209, behind second-round leader McIlroy (75), Denmark’s Anders Hansen (71) and South Africa’s Thomas Aiken (74). Woods is in a seven-way tie for fourth.

Woods shouldn’t even be in contention going into Sunday. But the tough conditions took their toll on most of the top players, with McIlroy finishing at 3 over and Sergio Garcia — who was eight shots ahead of Woods after nine holes — finishing at 3 over and tied with Woods and five other players.

In an uneven round, Woods had an eagle, four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read More

Tiger Woods Shoots Bogey-Free Round in Dubai, Hangs in Contention

February 11, 2011   FanHouse Newswire   No comments

Filed under:

Tiger WoodsDUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Strong off the tee and hitting his shots with exquisite control, Tiger Woods seemed like his old self.

He turned in the day’s best score with a bogey-free 6-under 66 Friday to surge into contention at the Dubai Desert Classic. The round put him four strokes behind leader Rory McIlroy and gave him every reason to believe he can for the first time in more than a year.

Woods was part of a powerhouse group that included top-ranked Lee Westwood and second-ranked Martin Kaymer. But on this day, Woods played as if he were unquestionably No. 1 again.

“It felt good today. I hit a lot of good shots,” said Woods, who likened his game to the way he played at last year’s Chevron World Challenge, where he lost in a playoff to U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell.

Woods, who has been outdriving his playing partners, added accuracy to his blistering drives and approach shots. And unlike Thursday, when he missed makable putts and hit approach shots wide of the green, the winner of 14 majors routinely gave himself chances.

He finished with six birdies and was at 7-under 137 entering the weekend at Emirates Golf Club. He won this tournament in 2006 and 2008.

“I felt like I drove it pretty good,” he said. “I feel good. We worked out a few of the things last night that I didn’t like.”

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read More

Brendan Steele, PGA Rookie, Criticizes Tiger Woods’ Effort at Torrey Pines

February 01, 2011   Chris Sesno   No comments

Filed under:

Tiger WoodsTiger Woods‘ competitive edge and determination have almost never come into question, until now. PGA Tour rookie Brendan Steele told Sports Illustrated he thought Woods didn’t give his best effort in the final round at Torrey Pines.

“I don’t think he gave it everything today,” Steele said on Sunday after being paired with Woods for the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open. “Once it started going in the wrong direction, I don’t think it had his full attention.”

Woods started off well at Torrey Pines — a venue he’s had much success at — carding back-to-back 69s in the first two rounds to head into the weekend just back of contention at 6 under. But his putts again weren’t falling and he wasn’t able to align all the aspects of his game to ride the bogey-free first-round momentum through Friday and into the weekend.

In the final two rounds, he logged just four total birdies compared to nine bogeys to shoot 74, 75 and finish the tournament T44, 15 strokes back of tournament winner Bubba Watson. The poor results continue a major slump for Woods and mark his worst season debut since his first full season on the PGA Tour in 1997.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Read More
« Older posts
Powered by WordPress | Designed by: suv | Thanks to toyota suv, infiniti suv and lexus suv