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Ochoa, sin jugar, encabeza torneo de LPGA en Texas

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:53:18 +0100

RICHMOND, Texas, EE.UU. (AP) — Sophie Gustafson se acercó a dos golpes de la líder del torneo de Texas, la mexicana Lorena Ochoa, antes de que la ronda fuera postergada debido al mal tiempo.

La lluvia inundó el Club Campestre y de Golf Houstonian antes del amanecer y el comienzo de la segunda ronda fue postergado por seis horas. El torneo comenzó de nuevo a la una de la tarde, pero una ligera llovizna comenzó a precipitarse dos horas más tarde y la actividad fue suspendida a las 5:05 de la tarde, hora local (2305 GMT) al aproximarse la oscuridad.

Ochoa no jugó el viernes luego de terminar la jornada del jueves con 66 golpes, seis bajo par. Ella comenzará su segunda ronda al amanecer del sábado.

Gustafson tuvo 70 golpes en su primera ronda y luego recorrió otros 11 para colocarse con cuatro impactos debajo de par el viernes.

Helen Alfredsson, Juli Inkster y Wendy Ward terminaron con tres golpes debajo del par.

A las jugadoras se les permitió levantar la pelota, limpiarla y colocarla de nuevo en su lugar debido a las condiciones húmedas de los campos.

"Los greens estuvieron realmente húmedos", indicó Inkster, quien marcha con un golpe debajo del par después de 10 hoyos en su segunda ronda. "Pensé que nos dejaron en el campo por demasiado tiempo, pero esa es mi opinión. Jugué bien, pero normalmente lo hago en condiciones húmedas", agregó.

El pronóstico del clima para este fin de semana es mayormente soleado y las autoridades del torne buscan terminar este torneo que pone fin a la temporada de la LPGA para el domingo por la noche.

El vicepresidente de reglamentos y competencias de la Gira de la LPGA, Doug Brecht, señaló que se sintió afortunado por siquiera haber podido comenzar la segunda ronda, si se tomaba en consideración la manera como comenzó el día.

El campo logró evitar fuertes tormentas que azotaron a la costa de Texas durante todo el día.

Brecht dijo que los funcionarios del torneo necesitarán "de un poco de suerte" para completar 72 hoyos para la tarde del domingo.

Se espera que llueva nuevamente en la noche del viernes y parte del sábado por la mañana y si un gran número de competidoras supera el corte —Las primeras 70 y las que terminen empatadas— entonces se aplazarán las horas de salida para los grupos que salgan a jugar más tarde.

Idle Ochoa leads LPGA Tour Championship

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:28:39 +0100

RICHMOND, Texas (AP) — Sophie Gustafson moved within two shots of leader Lorena Ochoa at the LPGA Tour Championship on Friday before second-round play was suspended because of bad weather.

Rain swamped the Houstonian Golf and Country Club before dawn and the start of the second round was pushed back six hours. The tournament resumed at 1 p.m., but light rain started falling about two hours later and play was halted for the day at 5:05 p.m. with darkness approaching.

Ochoa didn't play on Friday after shooting a 6-under 66 early Thursday. She will start her second round at daybreak Saturday.

Gustafson shot a 70 in the first round, then played 11 holes and moved to 4 under on Friday. Helen Alfredsson, Juli Inkster and Wendy Ward were 3 under.

The players were allowed to lift, clean and place because of the soggy conditions.

"The greens were really wet out there," said Inkster, 1 under through 10 holes in her second round. "I thought they left us out there too long, but that's just my opinion. I played good, but I usually do in wet conditions."

The weekend forecast is mostly clear and tournament officials are racing to finish the season-ending event by Sunday night.

LPGA Tour vice president of rules and competition Doug Brecht felt fortunate that the second round began at all, considering how the day began. The course managed to dodge powerful storms that moved up the Texas coast throughout the day.

"We're pretty lucky right now in that a big storm was heading our way and we didn't think we were going to get to play as long as we're playing," Brecht said. "Like most storms that have headed here, it broke up before it got to us and was not nearly as strong or severe."

But Brecht said tournament officials will still need "a little bit of luck" to finish 72 holes by late Sunday afternoon.

More rain is expected overnight and into Saturday morning, and if a high number of players make the cut — the top 70 and those tied will move on — that will push back the tee times for the last groups.

"We've got a couple of other issues, we'll see how they pan out," Brecht said.

The LPGA wants to avoid reducing the tournament to 54 holes at all costs, mainly because of the event's importance.

Ochoa is trying to win her fourth straight player of the year honor. She leads Jiyai Shin by four shots on the leaderboard and needs a victory to pass the 21-year-old South Korean in the points standings. Shin and Ochoa are also in a virtual dead-heat for the Vare Trophy, awarded to the player with the lowest scoring average.

Several players also need good performances to crack the top 80 on the money list and avoid going to qualifying school in two weeks.

"There are a ton of things riding on this tournament," Brecht said. "We are committed to playing 72 holes."

Brecht mapped out a tight schedule for the rest of the weekend that would get the tournament finished by 5 p.m. on Sunday. He was happy to see the players set a brisk pace on Friday to move things along.

"We are playing a lot faster than we did (Thursday), because there are less rulings and no wind," Brecht said. "So we're actually playing a little faster than the time schedule that I've laid out for us going forward from here."

Shin was one of the idle players who took advantage of breaks in the weather to practice.

"There isn't much you can do, but practice and get ready," Shin said. "I haven't really had much practice with waiting out rain delays."

Brecht said the course absorbed 0.64 inches of rain Friday. Though the course drained well, he expected that players would be allowed to use preferred lies for the rest of the tournament.

Westwood shoots 69 for 2-shot lead in Dubai

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:38:18 +0100

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Lee Westwood shot a 3-under 69 Friday to take a two-stroke lead after the second round of the Dubai World Championship, strengthening his chance of winning the European money title.

The English golfer could pick up two big prizes on Sunday. If he wins the last tournament of the European Tour season, he will receive $1.25 million in prize money — plus a $1.5 million bonus for winning the Race to Dubai money prize.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, the leader of the money race going into the tournament, also shot a 69. He was one of six players tied for second place at 7 under, two shots behind Westwood.

The others are Ireland's Padraig Harrington, England's Ross McGowan, Australia's Robert Allenby, South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen and Colombia's Camilo Villegas.

Westwood is confident of winning both prizes.

"I am as much in control of my game as I have been for a long time," he said after a round that began with two birdies on the Earth Course. "I feel very calm and happy with myself. All parts of my game feel solid and I enjoy times like this. I know that if I play as good as I can play I can win this tournament."

Westwood said he took the advice of his caddy, Bill Foster, and stopped looking at the leaderboard during his round.

"I have always been a leaderboard watcher," he said. "But this week we decided to try something different. So we are not looking."

McIlroy had gone to the top of the leaderboard, reaching 9 under with an eagle at the par-5 seventh hole. He covered the front nine in 31 shots. But he slipped backed by missing two putts from inside 3 feet to save par on the 14th and 15th greens.

"I feel I am playing well enough to give myself a shot at the title," the 20-year-old McIlroy said. "I am still in a good position going into the weekend not to dwell on missed opportunities."

Harrington, a winner of two British Open Championships and the 2008 PGA title, held the lead when he reached the par-5 18th. But he found the water his second shot and again when going for the green, putting his ball in the stream to the left of the flag.

Harrington finished with a 69 and dropped back to join the group of players in second place. Westwood sank a 20-foot birdie putt at the same hole to reach 9 under for two rounds.

Allenby, the Australian first-round leader, slipped back after making bogey at his first hole and shot 72.

Wie withdraws, Ochoa leads LPGA Tour Championship

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:18:00 +0100

RICHMOND, Texas (AP) — Michelle Wie couldn't take the pain one week after taking the spotlight at Lorena Ochoa's tournament.

Ochoa is back on center stage now, trying to steal the player of the year honor away from Jiyai Shin at the LPGA Tour Championship.

Wie withdrew from the season-ending event Thursday because of a sprained left ankle, hours after Ochoa shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-shot lead over Reilley Rankin.

Ochoa is four shots ahead of Shin (70) on the leaderboard, but the 21-year-old South Korean leads Ochoa by eight points (156-148) in the race to become the tour's player of the year. To earn the distinction for the fourth consecutive season, Ochoa must win this week or finish no worse than third and hope Shin places out of the top 10.

"It's very important to get a good start and give myself a good chance," Ochoa said. "That's all I was trying to do."

The 20-year-old Wie, fresh off her first LPGA Tour victory at Ochoa's tournament in Mexico, shot a 72 on Thursday. She limped through her round on the gimpy ankle that she sprained during the Solheim Cup in August. She went for treatment after Thursday's round and withdrew about an hour later.

"I wanted to do everything I could do to fight through the injury," Wie said in a statement. "It bothered me last week in Mexico, but I was able to play through the pain. I realized today that I wouldn't be able to continue to play through it."

Ochoa teed off in the morning, before the wind picked up across the Houstonian Golf and Country Club.

Shin and Ochoa started on the back nine and both were 2 under after three holes. Shin added birdies at Nos. 13 and 15 to move to 4 under.

Both players bogeyed the difficult 17th, then picked up birdies early on their second nines. Ochoa added birdies on Nos. 6, 8 and 9, capping her round with a 15-foot putt and a modest fist pump.

Shin bogeyed two of her last four holes as the wind strengthened. She is trying to sweep the rookie and player awards. Nancy Lopez is the only player to win both in the same season, accomplishing the feat in 1978.

Shin and Ochoa also are in a virtual dead heat for the Vare Trophy, given to the player with the season's lowest scoring average.

"I played 2 under, which was not bad in the wind," Shin said. "Lorena, she played really good, a 66. But we still have three more rounds. I will just focus on my game and try my best for three more days."

Rankin also teed off early and finished her 67 before the wind became a factor. The 30-year-old has missed seven cuts in 17 starts this season before matching her best round of the year on Thursday.

"It was nothing spectacular," Rankin said. "I just tried to stay patient and not worry about how I hit it. I'm just giving myself chances and not getting too frustrated."

Wie drew the largest galleries and she was 3 under through 12 holes. But her ankle gave way on several tee shots on the back nine.

After pulling out of the tournament, Wie said she wanted to take a careful approach to her injury.

"I want to make sure that I'm being smart with it," she said. "I will return home to have it looked at by my doctors and follow their advice for treatment."

The first round was suspended because of darkness at 5:25 p.m., with four groups still on the course.

Ochoa comienza con gran ronda y es líder del Tour Championship, CABEZA

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:26:51 +0100

RICHMOND, Texas, EE.UU. (AP) — Lorena Ochoa comenzó con el pie derecho la búsqueda de su cuarto premio consecutivo como la Jugadora del Año, el jueves, al firmar una tarjeta de 66 golpes y tomar un impacto de ventaja sobre Reilley Rankin, en el Tour Championship, último torneo del año en la Gira Estadounidense de la LPGA.

La primera ronda se interrumpió debido a la falta de luz, a las 5.25 p.m. Los golfistas que no lograron concluir el recorrido lo harán el viernes.

Ochoa comenzó su ronda en la mañana, antes de que arreciara el viento. Tiene cuatro golpes de ventaja sobre la surcoreana Jiyai Shin (70), quien suma ocho puntos más que la mexicana en la búsqueda del nombramiento como la Jugadora del Año.

Para que Ochoa sea la mejor del mundo por cuarto año seguido, debe ganar esta semana. Otra posibilidad es que la estrella de Guadalajara no quede abajo del tercer lugar y que la surcoreana no logre meterse entre las 10 primeras.

Shin y Ochoa comenzaron en los últimos nueve hoyos del campo y ambas se ubicaban en dos debajo del par luego de tres hoyos. Shin añadió birdies en los hoyos 13 y 15, para colocarse en cuatro bajo par.

Ambas jugadoras incurrieron en bogeys en el 17, un hoyo muy difícil, y rescataron birdies en el comienzo de la segunda parte del recorrido. Ochoa añadió birdies en los hoyos 6, 8 y 9, coronando su ronda con un putt de unos cinco metros, que celebró batiendo ligeramente un puño en el aire.

"Mañana es un nuevo comienzo", dijo Ochoa. "Voy a jugar como si estuviera algunos golpes atrás y seguiré siendo agresiva y dándome oportunidades de ganar el domingo".

Ochoa se siente más relajada esta semana, sin la presión de jugar un torneo que lleva su nombre en su ciudad natal.

"La semana pasada fue un poco difícil con todo lo que debí hacer y con toda la presión", dijo. "Todo es ahora un poco más fácil, comparado con la semana pasada".

Shin tuvo bogeys en dos de sus últimos cuatro hoyos, cuando el viento se intensificó. Trata de ganar en la misma temporada el premio de la Novata y el de la Jugadora del Año. Nancy López es la única jugadora que ha ganado ambas distinciones en el mismo año, en 1978.

Shin y Ochoa libran también una cerrada lucha en pos del Trofeo Vare, que se entrega a la jugadora con el menor promedio de golpes en la temporada.

"Yo jugué en dos bajo par, lo que no fue tan malo en el viento", consideró Shin. "Lorena jugó muy bien, con un 66, pero quedan tres rondas. me concentraré en mi juego y trataré de hacer lo mejor en los últimos tres días".

La estadounidense Michelle Wie, quien apenas el fin de semana pasado logró su primer título en la LPGA, en Guadalajara, debió abandonar el Tour Championship por una torcedura en el tobillo izquierdo.

Wie, de 20 años, entregó una tarjeta de 72 golpes el jueves. Durante el recorrido, la estadounidense renqueó, al resentir una lesión que sufrió originalmente en agosto, durante la Solheim Cup.

Después de la ronda, Wie recibió tratamiento y anunció su retiro una hora después. Reconoció que el tobillo le dolió en la última semana y empeoró el jueves.

Wie tuvo un recorrido de tres abajo del par después de 12 hoyos. Pero ante el dolor, cometió su primer bogey en el hoyo 13. En el 17, volvió a fallar, haciendo muecas de dolor.

"Quise hacer todo lo posible por soportar la lesión", dijo Wie en un comunicado. "Sentí dolor la semana pasada en México, pero pude aguantarlo. Hoy me di cuenta de que no podía seguir jugando".

La colombiana Carolina Llano tuvo una tarjeta de 72 golpes, para quedar en par, mientras que su compatriota Marisa Baena se ubicó en los últimos lugares entre las golfistas que terminaron la ronda, con 79, siete arriba del par. La paraguaya Julieta Granada tuvo un recorrido de 75 impactos, tres sobre par.

Wie withdraws from LPGA event with ankle injury

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:17:51 +0100

RICHMOND, Texas (AP) — Michelle Wie withdrew from the LPGA Tour Championship on Thursday after hobbling through her first round on a sprained left ankle.

The 20-year-old Wie, fresh off her first tour victory last week, shot an even-par 72 on Thursday. She first injured her ankle at the Solheim Cup in August.

"Ice has become my new best friend ... wow today was tough," Wie said Thursday night in a Twitter posting.

Wie went for treatment after her round and withdrew about an hour later.

"I wanted to do everything I could to fight through the injury," Wie said in a statement after dropping out of the tournament. "It bothered me last week in Mexico, but I was able to play through the pain. I realized today that I wouldn't be able to continue to play through it."

Wie was 3 under through 12 holes. Her ankle gave way on the 13th tee, and she stumbled backward, sliced her shot into the rough and took her first bogey. She bent over in apparent pain on No. 14, then slipped again hitting her tee shot on No. 17.

"I want to make sure that I'm being smart with it," she said. "I will return home to have it looked at by my doctors and follow their advice for treatment."

Marcadores en el Tour Campeonato de la LPGA

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:32:01 +0100

Otras 14 golfistas no completaron la ronda.

Allenby shoots 7-under 65 for 1-shot lead in Dubai

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:09:27 +0100

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Robert Allenby of Australia shot a 7-under 65 Thursday for a one-shot lead after the first round of the Dubai World Championship, while Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy vied for the European Tour money title.

Allenby had eight birdies and only one bogey on the Earth Course, which is hosting the $7.5 million final event of the European Tour season. He was one shot ahead of Westwood, Chris Wood and Camilo Villegas, who all shot 66.

When the tournament ends Sunday, the top player on the European Tour's money list will win a $1.5 million bonus from the Race to Dubai.

Westwood, second in the race, was two shots ahead of money leader McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who shot a 68. Westwood produced three birdies in the final four holes to boost his chances of overtaking McIlroy's $191,000 lead in the money race.

The two other players in contention for the money title were off the pace. Germany's Martin Kaymer shot a 71, and England's Ross Fisher had a 73.

Allenby decided to travel to Dubai with a new set of clubs in his bag. He adjusted quickly to the feel on the desert course, designed by fellow Australian Greg Norman.

Villegas and Wood, playing for the first time in a month after injuring an ankle falling down a flight of stairs during a tournament in Spain, had taken the clubhouse lead with 66s. That score was matched later in the day by Westwood.

Ochoa y Shin buscan el título de golfista del año

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:53:48 +0100

RICHMOND, Texas, EE.UU. (AP) — Jiyai Shin puede convertirse en la primera novata en más de tres décadas en ganar el título de Jugadora del Año de la LPGA si tiene una buena actuación en el LPGA Tour Championship, que comienza el jueves a las afueras de Houston.

Pero en el certamen participará también la mexicana Lorena Ochoa, quien ha sido la Jugadora del Año en tres temporadas seguidas y seguramente está interesada en conseguir esa distinción por cuarta vez, aún cuando la estrella de Guadalajara ha parecido más concentrada en su próxima boda con el director general de Aeroméxico, uno de sus principales patrocinadores.

Ochoa, quien ganó 21 torneos en los tres años anteriores, sólo suma tres en el 2009. Para ser la mejor del año, necesita ganar el torneo. De no hacerlo, necesitaría ayuda de otras golfistas.

"Este ha sido un buen año para mí en muchos aspectos, pero algo difícil en el campo de golf. Aún así estoy muy contenta", dijo Ochoa. "Tengo muchas cosas en las que concentrarme fuera del campo de golf. Simplemente voy a disfrutar la semana y luego a prepararme para la boda".

Shin saldrá con motivación de sobra al campo del Houstonian Country Club, donde la bolsa de 225.000 dólares al primer lugar le bastaría para terminar con el reinado de Ochoa en el golf para mujeres.

La surcoreana de 21 años ganó tres torneos el año pasado, cuando no era integrante de la Gira Estadounidense de la LPGA, incluyendo el Abierto Británico. Este año obtuvo tres victorias más y se coló entre las mejores 10 en 11 torneos.

"Comencé la temporada con la meta de ganar el premio a la Novata del Año, y ahora puedo ser también la Jugadora del Año. Eso me haría muy feliz", dijo Shin.

Además del duelo entre Shin y Ochoa, y de la historia en torno de la próxima boda de la golfista mexicana, habrá interés por lo que pueda hacer Michelle Wie, luego de conseguir su primer triunfo como profesional, la semana pasada, en México.

Wie espera que la segunda victoria no tarde tanto en llegar como la primera. Su triunfo en Guadalajara dio al golf de mujeres un impulso muy necesario, apenas unos días antes de que trascendiera información de que el calendario de la gira se recortará a sólo 24 torneos la temporada próxima.

"Tuve algunos altibajos, pero he aprendido mucho este año", dijo Wie. "Desde luego que sentiré presión, pero espero que todo vaya mejor ahora".

El miércoles, la estadounidense Natalie Gulbis se retiró del torneo por un problema de salud no revelado.

LPGA Championship moves to Locust Hill in New York

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:52:31 +0100

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — The LPGA Championship will be held at Locust Hill golf course in suburban Rochester for one year next June, with supermarket chain Wegmans replacing McDonald's as sponsor of the season's second major.

The recession-pinched LPGA Tour is shrinking to 24 tournaments in 2010, down from 27 this year and 34 in 2008. With 13 events in the United States, it's the smallest tour schedule in nearly 40 years.

Newly named the LPGA Championship Presented by Wegmans, the $2.25 million tournament will be held from June 24 to June 27 in the suburb of Pittsford. Locust Hill has been a perennially popular LPGA Tour stop since 1977 and the Wegmans LPGA will return there in 2011.

"We are grateful to Colleen Wegman and Wegmans Food Markets for their continued commitment to the LPGA," acting commissioner Marty Evans said in a statement, "and look forward to working closely with them while concurrently continuing our discussions with potential long-term partners for the LPGA Championship."

The championship, launched in 1955, is one of four majors on the LPGA Tour. McDonald's has been involved with the event since it was founded as the McDonald's Kids Classic in 1981.

Locust Hill "has enjoyed a long history of women's golf over the last 34 years and we now have a chance to shine," said Larry Dewine, the club's president. "We hope we get record crowds."

The Wegmans LPGA estimates it drew more than 110,000 spectators in 2007 and "we're hoping the major designation" will shatter that record attendance, said tournament co-chairman Larry Kitts.

The championship lost McDonald's as a sponsor in June after Anna Nordqvist's victory at Bulle Rock Golf Course in Havre de Grace, Md. About a month ago, LPGA Tour officials asked organizers of the Locust Hill event if they could step in as a one-year replacement.

The LPGA wants to "take over this championship, own it themselves just like the PGA of America owns the PGA Championship," said Jerry Stahl, tournament co-chairman at Locust Hill. "In trying to find a corporate sponsor on a long-term basis for this championship, they just didn't have enough time to put it all together."

In July, Evans replaced LPGA commissioner Carolyn Bivens, who resigned under pressure as sponsors dropped tournaments in a slumping economy.

"We have made great strides in our long-term goal of building an intelligent and sustainable schedule for the LPGA Tour," Evans said.

The 93-year-old, family-owned Wegmans Food Markets Inc. is a grocery store chain with 75 outlets in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey and Maryland.

Ochoa se prepara para balancear el golf y una familia

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:22:42 +0100

GUADALAJARA, México (AP) — Este ha sido uno de los mejores años en la vida de Lorena Ochoa, y no ha tenido nada que ver por su condición de número del golf femenino.

La mexicana contraerá matrimonio el mes próximo en su natal Guadalajara. Su compromiso ha sido noticia de primera plana en los diarios del país. Pero el inminente casamiento tal vez no sea lo mejor para al tour de la LPGA, que imperiosamente necesita de una figura dominante.

Ochoa no estuvo en esa categoría este año.

Apenas ganó tres títulos esta temporada y ni siquiera estuvo en la pelea en los cuatro grandes torneos tras totalizar 21 en los tres anteriores, incluyendo un par de 'majors'.

Y la surcoreana Jiyai Shin se perfila para llevarse el premio a la mejor jugadora del año, uno que Ochoa ganó tres veces seguidas.

Ochoa terminó compartiendo el sexto puesto durante el fin de semana en el torneo que lleva su nombre. Michelle Wie logró imponerse para conseguir el primer título de su carrera y eclipsó a la mexicana en su propio feudo.

"En lo personal ha sido un año mejor (con respecto a los tres previos)", dijo Ochoa. "No ha sido, en resultados, lo de otros años. Ha sido un balance entre la situación personal y el golf. Estoy contenta".

Ochoa se ha erigido entre las principales figuras deportivas en México y la expectativa es que gane siempre.

Ahora viaja más, juega menos y tiene más compromisos fuera del golf, como su propia fundación para obras de caridad. También planea mudarse de Guadalajara a la Ciudad de México después que se case Andrés Conesa, el director general de la aerolínea Aeroméxicom, una de sus patrocinadores.

Conesa es padre de tres hijos de un matrimonio previo, así que Ochoa se encontrará con una nueva familia.

Ochoa podría emular el ejemplo de Annika Sorenstam, la ex número del mundo que se casó este año apenas semanas después de poner fin a su carrera. Dio a luz a una bebé en septiembre.

"Voy a pensar en una familia, pero luego", dijo Ochoa, a quien sus compañeros del tour suelen describirla como una "gran embajadora" y una "gran persona".

Brittany Lincicome dice que Ochoa no cambió esta temporada, excepto que ahora está "más obligada con otras cosas". Lincicome dijo que Ochoa dejó de asistir a las reuniones habituales de un grupo de deportistas cristianos.

"Dijo que no tenía tiempo", señaló Lincicome. "Sigue siendo religiosa, pero nos dijo que tiene otras obligaciones".

Con todas las distracciones, el talón de Aquiles en su juego fue tal vez su 'putt'. Esa fue su queja la semana pasada, aunque se le vio practicando poco en los 'greens'.

Paula Creamer, quien quedó segunda detrás de Wie, puso énfasis en el tiempo que se le debe dedicar a practicar.

"Es lo que se ve con los jugadores número uno", dijo Angela Stanford. "Tienen más exigencias de su tiempo ... No me imagino planificar una boda y al mismo tiempo ser la número uno del mundo. Estoy seguro que debe ser más difícil".

Ochoa ha sido la número uno durante dos años y medio, y seguirá en lo más alto hasta el próximo año sin importar el resultado del torneo final de temporada en Houston. Pero Shin, quien lidera la lista de ganancias, le está pisando los talones.

Sorenstam no tenía quien le hiciera sombra en sus mejores años y de Ochoa se esperaba que hiciera lo mismo.

El retiro de Sorenstam quizás le puso más presión a Ochoa, quien dominó en algunos ratos pero que en Estados Unidos --en particular-- no tiene el mismo tipo de arrastre que goza Wie.

"Con la salida de Annika, la responsabilidad fue mayor de lo que se esperaba", dijo el portavoz de la LPGA David Higdon. "Lorena quedó atrapada en el medio en cierta forma. Annika siempre fue un ícono. Creo que la gente no se da cuenta lo mucho que Annika permitió que Lorena madurase como jugadora".

Juli Inkster ha estado en la situación de Ochoa.

La veterana de 49 años ha ganado siete majors y 31 títulos en totales, balanceando las responsabilidades de una familia con su carrera deportiva.

"No fue fácil y mis resultados mostraron los altibajos", dijo Inkster, quien empezó a viajar con sus hijas seis meses después que nacieran. Ahora tienen 19 y 15 años.

"Siento que Lorena aún tiene esa pasión por el golf", comentó Inkster. "Creo que quiere seguir siendo la número uno. Pero no creo que el golf es lo que define a Lorena. El golf es su oficio, no lo que ella es".

Giving new definition to being on tour

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:44:29 +0100

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Tiger Woods first made his move in the Australian Masters in the middle of the opening round, getting his name on the leaderboard next to a player named "Jordan" that even some of the local fans did not recognize.

Damien Jordan, the last player to get into the field, was worth getting to know.

The 29-year-old rookie fulfilled one part of his dream by making it through Q-school last year on the Australasian Tour, a goal that had been put on hold when he enlisted in the Army and served two tours in Iraq.

The first tour was for five months in 2002, and he returned in 2005 for a seven-month tour of more heavy combat. He left the Army a year later, and took two years to polish his game. If anything, it has given him a different perspective than most.

"Regardless of what happens, I know I'll go home at the end of the day and have a hot shower, have a good feed," he said. "Half the time you're over there, you're thinking, 'This could be the time when an IED goes off and I'm not going home.'"

Jordan's parents introduced him to golf at a young age, and he was slowly developing into a decent golfer when he felt compelled to join the Army, serving in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment.

"A lot of people before me have given their lives for the country, and I thought, 'Why should I be different and not put my end up?'" Jordan said. "That's what I did. I met a lot of good mates, a lot of friends for life, and it made me stronger out here."

Even now, he faces a struggle different from most.

He said his time in the Army cost him his marriage, which Jordan said was one of the untold statistics of Army life. He spends as much time as he can with his two daughters, ages 2 and 3.

Jordan said he will take medication the rest of his life to cope with the dreams, and he continues to see a psychiatrist twice a month.

"Even smells can bring it back," he said. "I walked into a fruit and vegetable shop, and there had been an Iraqi shop that had the same incense going," he said. "That made it tough. It was exactly the same. I'm trying to get away from stuff like that."

Jordan mostly played the pro-am circuit this year in Australia, in which amateurs put up the purse while playing with the pros. It would be comparable to a mini-tour in the United States, and Jordan won eight tournaments.

The Australian Masters was his first event that counted on the world ranking. He opened with a 69 before falling well back and finishing toward the bottom of the leaderboard.

Asked for his greatest moment in golf, he smiled.

"Playing here, mate," he said. "It's the biggest thing I've ever done in my golf career. To make the cut, and to be out here, is just brilliant. And I got to see Tiger. To play in the field with anyone of that stature is phenomenal."

Jordan was not sure if he would get into the Australian Open or the Australian PGA Championship next month. Asked for his ultimate goal, he did not mention winning or even playing a particular tournament.

"Just keep living the dream, doing what I'm doing," Jordan said. "Every day is a win for me."

___

RACE TO DUBAI: The European Tour has four players in position to win the Race to Dubai, which features a $7.5 million bonus pool in addition to the $7.5 million purse this week at the Dubai World Championship.

Rory McIlroy, the 20-year-old from Northern Ireland, moved atop the standings with his runner-up finish last week in Hong Kong, putting him about $190,000 ahead of Lee Westwood. They are followed by Martin Kaymer and Ross Fisher.

Paul Casey is fifth in the standings, but has withdrawn with a recurring rib injury.

___

PRESIDENTS CUP: PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said the tour has agreed to look into the possibility of staging the Presidents Cup in China in 2019, which he said might be enough time for China to set a goal of having a player capable of competing in the matches, or worthy enough to be a captain's pick.

If that's the case, it would leave 2015 open for an international venue.

Finchem is intrigued by the idea that the Presidents Cup head to South America in 2015, one year before golf returns to the Olympic program in Brazil. Golf is only guaranteed the 2016 and 2020 Olympics before another vote of confirmation. It is important that golf put on a good show in Rio.

"We can't just show up and say, 'We're here,'" Finchem said.

The Nationwide Tour is headed to Colombia next year, home country of Camilo Villegas. One problem is that the best players from South America are coming from Argentina — two-time major champion Angel Cabrera, Andres Romero, Ricardo Gonzalez, Daniel Vancsik and Estanislao Goya. Argentina held a wildly successful World Cup, won by Tiger Woods and David Duval, in 2000.

"Will that help with an Olympics in Brazil? I don't know," Finchem said.

He said the first priority before South America — perhaps Brazil, in this case — can be considered for a Presidents Cup is getting more golf courses built.

___

TIGER'S CHECK: Depending on the exchange rate when the check was written, Tiger Woods earned a little more than $250,000 for his victory in the Australian Masters, which was the sixth-lowest winning check of his career.

Two of those checks came on the PGA Tour.

Woods earned $216,000 for winning at Disney in 1996 and the Mercedes Championship at La Costa to open the next season. The tour negotiated its new TV deal later that year, and prize money took off a few years later.

The smallest check was $48,450 in 1997 for winning the Asian Honda Classic, followed by $190,798 for winning the Johnnie Walker Classic in 2000. Woods also received only $223,061 for winning the Johnnie Walker in 1998.

Of course, he received appearance fees that dwarfed the total purse in those overseas events.

___

DIVOTS: Tiger Woods earned 28 world ranking points with his victory in the Australian Masters, the fewest for any victory since he received 24 in the 2000 Johnnie Walker Classic. ... There were 91 players who earned over $1 million on the PGA Tour, the fewest since 78 players in 2005. ... The PGA Tour had 13 playoffs this year, three short of the record last set in 1991.

___

STAT OF THE WEEK: Adam Scott tied for third in Singapore and tied for sixth in Australia. It was the first time he had top 10s in consecutive tournaments since May 2008.

___

FINAL WORD: "I'm definitely playing well. I haven't missed a cut since Tiger invited me to his tournament. But unfortunately, it's not about missing cuts out here." — Chris Riley, who failed to finish inside the top 125 on the PGA Tour money list to keep his card.

US Magistrate denies restraining order to Barron

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:53:25 +0100

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A U.S. magistrate has denied a temporary restraining order sought by a golfer trying to block a one-year doping ban by the PGA Tour long enough to let him play at a qualifying tournament in Houston.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Tu Pham ruled Monday that Doug Barron did not show a likelihood that he would win on his claims argued in a hearing Friday.

Barron, a 40-year-old professional from Memphis, was the first to be banned for violating the PGA Tour policy that went into effect July 3, 2008. Barron tested positive for the anabolic steroid testosterone and propranolol, a beta-blocker that calms nerves, at the PGA's St. Jude Classic in Memphis in June.

The judge said Barron made a strong case that irreparable harm would be caused but ruled the harm to others and the public interest weighed in favor of denying the "extraordinary remedy" of the restraining order.

ShopRite Classic returning after 3 year absence

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:23:25 +0100

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — After losing at least seven tournaments since 2007, the LPGA is renewing an old acquaintance. The ShopRite Classic is returning to the LPGA lineup next year with a $1.5 million pure.

The New Jersey supermarket chain, which is run by Village Super Market Inc., said Monday it is bringing back the tournament after a three-year absence. The event again will be held at the Seaview Resort in Galloway Township outside Atlantic City. It will be played June 14-20, coinciding with the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

ShopRite has been the sponsor for the Sybase Classic in Clifton for the past three years. Sybase decided to leave after this year's event.

Sybase is considering other clubs in New Jersey. That would give New Jersey two LPGA events in 2010.

At long last, Michelle Wie gets 1st LPGA Tour win

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:04:34 +0100

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — Michelle Wie, LPGA Tour champion.

Imagine that.

Wie ended her long wait by tapping in a birdie putt Sunday at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational, and her first tour title may finally quiet the skeptics who second-guessed her career decisions and questioned the fuss over a player without a pro victory.

"Never thought this would feel THIS great!!!!" Wie posted on her Twitter account.

The 20-year-old closed with a 3-under 69 for a two-stroke victory over Paula Creamer. Wie finished it off in style, hitting a greenside bunker shot within a foot on the final hole.

When it was over, it was time for a celebration that was a decade in the making. Wie pulled the ball from the 18th hole, looked up to the sky, let out a big sigh of relief, bounced up and down and pumped her right fist.

After all the near misses, after all the expectations, she was a winner.

"It's definitely off my back," Wie said. "I think that hopefully life will be a lot better, but I still have a lot of work to do."

Solheim Cup teammates Morgan Pressel and Brittany Lincicome showered Wie on the 18th green.

"Just seeing them come out and pour beer all over me, it was a great feeling," Wie said. "I've always seen it on TV and I've always wanted people to pour beer on me. It was as great as I thought it was."

Her parents, dad B.J. and mom Bo, were there, too, for an embrace.

"I think it's just so awesome, seeing them on the 18th green and hugging them," Wie said. "You know, we have been through a lot as a family, and it's just so great that they are here to share my highs and to keep me up from the lows, as well."

Wie earned $220,000 to push her season winnings just over $900,000. The win came in her 65th LPGA Tour event — she had finished second six times.

Wie won the 2003 USGA Women's Amateur Public Links, the Stanford student's only significant victory until Sunday.

"Right now it feels fantastic," Wie said. "It's a great year. I went through some ups and downs ... And obviously this tournament is the icing on the cake."

Pressel (67), Jiyai Shin (71) and Cristie Kerr (72) were three back. Wie finished at 13-under 275 after starting the day at the Guadalajara Country Club tied for the lead with Kerr at 10 under.

"Congrats to michelle!!" Pressel tweeted.

Wie first qualified for a USGA event at age 10 and played an LPGA event when she was 12. She joined the LPGA this season and has begun to show the sizzling game that has made her arguably the biggest attraction in women's golf.

Dressed head to toe in red, Wie had a few shaky moments but she was steadier down the stretch as her rivals faltered. In the past, it's often been the Hawaiian who has stumbled.

The 6-foot Wie stood tall despite a nagging sprained left ankle that forced her to wear a large, black brace that extends 6 inches above her shoe top.

She had chances to pull away on the front nine, but couldn't quite do it and finished with a 2-under 34 at the turn — 12 under for the tournament. She went to 13 under with a birdie on 11, giving her a one-shot lead over Creamer and Kerr. Wie bogeyed the next hole when her escape shot from under a cluster of trees squarely hit a trunk, the ball rebounding into the fairway behind her.

But she made par through 17.

Creamer drew even with Wie with an eagle on 10. But two bogeys down the stretch ruined her chances of victory.

"I gave it a chance, and Michelle played great," said Creamer, who has battled stomach problems for a year and fought off back and thumb injuries. She is winless this year after eight career victories.

"I feel a lot better with my golf," she said. "It's just unfortunate that you're so close, yet you're so far away."

The co-leader with Wie after three rounds, Kerr played even on the front nine before reaching 12 under with birdies on 10 and 11. After 12 holes, Wie, Creamer and Kerr were tied, but Kerr faded with bogeys on 15 and 16.

Shin, the rookie of the year, also slipped. Tournament host Ochoa shot 69 to finish six back and Ai Miyazato, No. 2 on the money list behind Shin, was 10 back after a 72.

Ochoa and Shin will battle next week for the player of the year award at the season-ending LPGA Tour Championship in Houston. Nancy Lopez is the only player to win both the rookie and player awards in the same season, accomplishing the feat in 1978.

The LPGA, battered by economic problems and the forced resignation of its commissioner this summer, needed this as much as Wie.

"Literally, when Michelle Wie is atop the leaderboard it's like night and day and that's star power," LPGA spokesman David Higdon said the day before Wie's win.

Wie played PGA Tour events when she was 14 — the biggest stage there is. She was criticized at the time for not focusing on women's events. She turned pro in 2005 before even finishing high school.

She ignored the criticism and, at 16, she was poised to become the first woman to qualify for the men's U.S. Open before her putter failed her. Shortly after that she began to lose confidence and went into a long, painful slump that was made worse by a wrist injury that ruined her 2007 season.

She has slowly worked her way back, earning her LPGA card for this season, gaining credibility with players and emerging as a star at this year's Solheim Cup, going undefeated in four matches.

"It just taught me so much about handling that situation," Wie said. "And actually, I wore my Solheim shoes today. So I felt pretty lucky."

5-time champ Watson gets British Open exemption

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:33:18 +0100

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — Tom Watson's place in the next five British Opens is safe after the Royal & Ancient's decision to change one of its exemption rules.

The 60-year-old five-time British Open champion finished runner-up this year but would have lost his exemption status because of the R&A's age rules. But golf's governing body outside the United States said Monday it has amended one of its rules so that former champions who finish in the top 10 in the previous five Opens get a five-year exemption.

That also applies to Greg Norman, a two-time champion who tied for third at the 2008 British Open.

Wie obtiene su primer triunfo en la LPGA; Ochoa en sexto, CABEZA

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:43:09 +0100

GUADALAJARA, México (AP) — Michelle Wie obtuvo el domingo el primer triunfo de su carrera en la Gira de la LPGA al concluir con 69 golpes, tres bajo par, para superar por dos impactos a Paula Creamer en el Lorena Ochoa Invitational.

La excelente ronda final de Wie la dejó con un total de 275 golpes, 13 bajo par.

La mexicana Ochoa terminó su propio torneo a seis de la ganadora, empatada en el sexto lugar con siete bajo par, tras haber registrado el domingo una ronda de 69 impactos.

Morgan Pressel (con ronda de 67), Jiyai Shin (71) y Cristie Kerr (72) compartieron el tercer puesto a tres golpes de Wie y uno de Creamer.

Por su parte, la colombiana Mariajo Uribe, quien llegó al torneo por invitación, tuvo un muy buen resultado al registrar 70 golpes el domingo y 283 golpes en total, ubicándose a dos de Ochoa y ocho de la campeona.

Wie y Kerr habían arrancado la última jornada empatadas en el primer puesto con 10 golpes bajo par.

La ganadora terminó el hoyo 18 con gran estilo, al pegar un tiro desde la trampa de arena hasta 15 centímetros (seis pulgadas) del banderín, lo cual le permitió cerrar con un birdie y una victoria por dos golpes.

Wie levantó los brazos y vio al público, luego al cielo y dejó escapar un gran suspiro de alivio.

A los 20 años, la hawaiana Wie lleva una década como promesa del golf. Clasificó para un torneo de la asociación estadounidense cuando tenía 10 y jugó su primera competencia de la LPGA a los 12. Se sumó a la gira esta temporada y ha comenzado a mostrar el juego atractivo que la vuelve quizás la jugadora más interesante en ella.

Wie tuvo algunos momentos de duda durante el torneo, pero en la definición se mostró segura mientras sus rivales fallaban. En otras oportunidades, había sido ella la que se dejaba vencer por la presión.

La mexicana Sophía Sheridan culminó con 291 tras pegar 73 en la última jornada. Sheridan también participó por invitación.

Stephen Ames wins in playoff at Disney

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:33:19 +0100

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Stephen Ames was munching on sliders and drinking a few beers at his coach's house Saturday night when he realized that he needed all the help he could get to make his final round of the year a special one.

So at the place where the entrance gates declare "Where Dreams Come True," Ames figured he should give it a shot.

"I wished for 64," Ames said, "and I got that 64."

Ames won his second title in three years at the Children's Miracle Network Classic on Sunday, edging George McNeill and Justin Leonard in a playoff to become the oldest winner in the tournament's history.

The 45-year-old Ames was calm and cool on greens that were too slick for most of the field on a sun-baked day at Disney World. The Canadian finished with an 8-under 64 for the clubhouse lead, watching as McNeill (67) and Leonard (67) failed to pass him.

It was the first win of the year and fourth career victory for Ames, including The Players Championship in 2006. This time, he had a few extra people in the gallery.

Among those who followed him on the back nine was his 10-year-old son, Ryan, who provided a little extra motivation walking up to the 18th tee needing a birdie.

"He said, 'Dad, you need to hole this,'" Ames recalled. "I said, 'All right, I'll try my best.' It was a very casual round. It's Mickey Mouse, come on."

Ames got some help.

Leonard rimmed out a 16-foot putt for the win in regulation, even beginning to pump his fist in celebration only to watch the ball spin away. He twice left putts short when he was eliminated on the first playoff hole — also the 18th.

"To be this close and not be able to pull it out is disappointing," Leonard said. "Obviously, I thought I made it by my reaction. I was surprised it didn't go in."

Ames also caught another break.

After McNeill saved par on the first playoff hole despite landing his tee shot between the trees, he had a 6-foot putt on the 15th to force a third playoff hole. McNeill struck the ball right on the line, but it trickled around the edge and popped off to give Ames the win and the $828,000 first-place prize.

"It made a full 360," McNeill said. "It went down in the hole, and then it spit back out."

There were other rallies that didn't end up on the leaderboard.

Sunday was the last day for players to secure a tour card for next year. Only those who finished the year in the top 125 on the money list are guaranteed full status. The next 25 will at least get conditional status and be able to enter more than a dozen tournaments.

For as much back and forth as there was throughout the week, in the end, there wasn't a lot of movement.

Former world No. 1 David Duval already had lost his full status by missing the cut. Robert Garrigus also missed the cut and was knocked out of full status for next year.

Jimmy Walker and Nicholas Thompson were the only two players to move inside the top 125 after beginning the week outside. Walker finished at No. 125.

"It's tough. You can't do anything," Walker said. "You just have to sit back and relax. Not relax, you can't relax. But I did all I could do."

There were plenty others who cut it close.

Rich Beem shot a 68 to finish at 10 under for the tournament. The 2002 PGA Championship winner finished at No. 122 for the season.

He admitted the pressure to perform this weekend got to him in the first two rounds. He talked to his coach Friday night and said that helped him find his swing.

"I must say it was about as odd as I've ever felt thinking about it. I never expected myself to feel the way that I did," Beem said. "When somebody tells you that you can't do your job next year when you know you're so close, that's not such a good feeling."

After turning in his scorecard, Beem stood behind the 18th green watching a monitor with the projected money list. His name flip-flopped twice, and he had to walk away. He later walked into the media center to check the minute-by-minute standings.

"I'm sweating," he said. "But things look good."

Ames is going to have to rework his schedule now, too.

He wasn't planning to try to play at the next year's first event in Maui. That just happens to be the place the Ames family vacations every winter, and they were planning to leave a few days before the tournament.

Looks like they'll need a new itinerary.

"I always tell Gary Player golf always gets in the way," Ames said. "I don't want to play golf. I want to sit on the beach and relax."

Now he'll get to do both.

Tiger wins for first time in Australia

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:02:37 +0100

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Tiger Woods gave the record crowds at the Australian Masters everything they could have wanted with his victory Sunday, except a definitive answer when he would return.

"I promise it won't be as long," Woods said to yet another warm ovation.

Woods took the lead for good with a 7-iron to within four feet for birdie on the fifth hole, and he hardly missed a shot the rest of the way for a 4-under 68 and a two-shot win over Australia's Greg Chalmers.

He won for the seventh time this year, and the 82nd time worldwide in his career. Woods now has a trophy from every continent where golf is played. Australia, the 13th country where he has won an individual event, had been the missing link.

"I've never won down here, so now I have won on every continent, except for Antarctica," Woods said. "I haven't played the Antarctica Four-Ball yet. But to have won on every playable continent, it's something I've always wanted to do. And now I've done that."

It had been 11 years since Woods last competed in Australia, at the 1998 Presidents Cup. Since then, he has won 13 majors and 72 times around the world, becoming the face of golf and one of the most famous athletes in the world.

More than 100,000 fans who passed through the gates of Kingston Heath gave him rock-star treatment.

Woods put on quite a show.

One day after he lost his swing and nearly fell out of contention, Woods hit every fairway and only ran into trouble when a photographer standing too close clicked twice in the middle of his swing, leading to his lone bogey.

Starting the day in a three-way tie for the lead, Woods began his final round with a 3-wood to the par-5 first hole that landed next to the hole and rolled 30 feet away, producing the first of many roars from thousands of fans surrounding the green, some of them perched in trees.

After his birdie on the fifth, he followed with his most exquisite shot of the day — from 82 yards away to a firm green just over a ridge, the pin on a slope feeding toward a deep bunker. Playing a 56-degree wedge for a flatter shot, it bounced 30 feet from the flag, checked slightly and trickled down the slope to 2 feet.

"It came off perfect," he said.

Chalmers, who hasn't won on his native soil since 1998, found consolation in his runner-up finish. It was one of the biggest weeks of golf in Australia, energy not felt since the glory days of Greg Norman.

He stayed within range of Woods on the back nine, but failed to convert a couple of good birdie chances and shot 70.

"It was like a football crowd brought to the golf, and for us as players, I have only experienced that a handful of times, and I've never experienced it in Australia at all," Chalmers said. "That was special. It really was very exciting, and it made you play better. Even though I finished second, I'm thrilled that he's here. I wish he would come every couple of years. I'm sure we all do."

Asked on live television, the closing ceremony and in his press conference about returning, Woods only said, "I would love to."

"I want to come back, no doubt," Woods said.

He said he would go over his 2010 schedule during the holidays, although Australians are assured of at least seeing him in two years at Royal Melbourne for the Presidents Cup.

Woods received a $3 million appearance fee to play in the Australian Masters. Half of that fee was paid by the Victorian government, which estimated the economic return at $20 million.

"He over-delivered," said Ian Baker-Finch, the former British Open champion helping out with local TV analysis.

Woods wasn't too shabby on the golf course, either.

One week after he fell apart in the final round at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, Woods sorted out his swing problems overnight and was precise as ever around Kingston Heath. He saved par with a 10-foot putt on the ninth, and he reached the 574-yard 12th hole into the wind with a 3-wood for a key birdie.

The only mishap came on the 13th, with a sand wedge in his hand.

"I thought I was in control of the tournament after I made that birdie on 12," Woods said, "and then a photographer took the control right away from me."

The photographer, standing unusually close, took two pictures in the middle of his swing, and the ball sailed right of the green. Still fuming on the par-5 14th, he failed to make birdie and left himself open to Chalmers cutting into the lead.

On the next hole, however, Woods hit an 8-iron that had the crowd buzzing during its entire flight, the cheers getting louder as it covered the flag and rolled 6 feet beyond the hole. He made the last birdie he needed.

The result was Woods slipping into a jacket after winning the Masters — this one Australian gold, not Augusta green, but it will do. He finished at 14-under 274 and earned about $250,000 from a purse that was half the size of his appearance fee.

American Jason Dufner, who received an exemption between tournaments in Asia, shot 70 and tied for third with Frenchman Francois Delamontagne (69). James Nitties, part of that three-way tie for the lead going into the last round, shot 73 to finish fifth, while fellow Australian Adam Scott recorded his second straight top 10 finish with a 69 to tie for sixth.

Asked what legacy he would leave behind, Woods smiled and said, "I got a W. That was the goal this week."

No matter the country, the time zone or the size of the gallery, that's one thing that doesn't change.

Wie y Kerr comparten la punta en el Ochoa Invitational, CABEZA

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:45:22 +0100

GUADALAJARA, México (AP) — La estadounidense Michelle Wie se colocó cerca de lo que sería su primera victoria en la Gira de la LPGA, al anotarse el sábado una tarjeta de 70 golpes, dos debajo del par, en el Lorena Ochoa Invitational, para compartir la punta con su compatriota Cristie Kerr, luego de la tercera ronda.

"Estoy muy emocionada por la ronda de mañana", dijo Wie. "Espero salir y ganar".

Kerr se apuntó un 67, para igualar a Wie en 10 bajo par, en el campo del Guadalajara Country Club.

La surcoreana Jiyai Shin, líder de la segunda ronda tuvo una ronda de 74 impactos, y se ubicó a un golpe de las líderes, junto con la estadounidense Paula Creamer (71) y otra golfista de Corea del Sur, Song-Hee Kim (70), quien fue la líder de la primera rueda.

Ochoa, cuyo nombre y éxitos inspiraron este torneo en su ciudad natal, firmó una tarjeta de 72 golpes y se ubicó a seis de las punteras, con cuatro bajo par.

Wie comparte el primer puesto de cara a la ronda final por segunda vez en la temporada. En febrero, estuvo empatada como puntera en el SBS Open de Hawai, pero terminó a tres golpes de Angela Stanford, quien se llevó el triunfo.

Quedó claro que Wie y Creamer son las favoritas del público mexicano, después de Ochoa.

"Podíamos oír cómo cantaba la gente", dijo Wie. "Fue muy bonito. Están muy emocionados por ver este torneo, y siempre es un placer jugar frente a un público como éste".

Kerrr ganó ya un torneo en la temporada, el Michelob Ultra Open.

Shin tuvo un día difícil con tres bogeys en los últimos nueve hoyos. La surcoreana ha ganado ya el trofeo de la novata del año y podría conseguir también la distinción de Jugadora del Año si gana el domingo. Ochoa se ha llevado ese nombramiento en tres años consecutivos.

"Toda jugadora sabe que, de cuatro rondas, alguna será muy difícil. Hoy tuve mi mal día", dijo Shin. "Espero que mañana pueda reaccionar".

Kerr se ubicó en 10 bajo par con un eagle en el hoyo 16.

Wie compartió la punta por primera vez en el hoyo 13, con un putt para birdie a un metro del hoyo, pero la estudiante de la Universidad de Stanford tuvo un bogey en el 15. Se anotó par en los últimos tres hoyos, mientras que Creamer y Shin fallaron para rezagarse.

Wie, Kerr share lead after three rounds

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:54:32 +0100

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — Michelle Wie moved into position for her first LPGA Tour victory, shooting a 2-under 70 on Saturday in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational for a share of the third-round lead with Cristie Kerr.

"I'm really excited for tomorrow," Wie said. "Hopefully, I can go out and win.

"I think I'm just going to play the same way I've always played and go out there and try my hardest and try not to make any expectations of myself. Just go out there like it's another day and try to play as hard as I can and try not to make any bogeys."

Kerr had a 67 to match Wie at 10 under on the Guadalajara Country Club course.

Second-round leader Jiyai Shin (74) was a stroke back along with Paula Creamer (71) and first-round leader Song-Hee Kim (70).

The top-ranked Ochoa (72) was six strokes behind at 4 under.

The 20-year-old Wie has a share of the lead going into the final round for the second time this season. She was tied for the lead in February in the SBS Open in Hawaii, but ended up three strokes behind winner Angela Stanford.

"I don't want to talk about what happened then," Wie said. "It's unfortunate. All I want to think about is tomorrow and how I'm going to play tomorrow."

Kerr won earlier this season, taking the Michelob Ultra Open.

Shin had a difficult day with three bogeys on the back nine. The South Korean has already won the rookie of the year award — ahead of Wie — and could clinch the player of the year trophy if she wins Sunday. Ochoa has won that award three straight years.

Kerr reached 10 under with an eagle on 16.

Wie opened with two straight birdies — a 10-footer on the first and a 30-footer on the second. A 3-foot birdie putt on 13 put her in a three-way tie with Shin and Creamer at 11 under. After that it was holding on. Wie dropped one more shot before the round was over, but Shin and Creamer each dropped two.

Wie and Creamer are clearly the peoples' choice behind hometown star Ochoa.

"We could hear them chanting — like singing off and on," Wie said. "It was kind of cool. They were just really riled up and they are really excited to be here. Which makes us really happy to play in front of them."

Kerr, a 12-time winner on the LPGA Tour, saw her round turn on the 16th when she holed a 9-iron approach from 137 yards for an eagle to get to 10 under. She then saved par on the final two holes.

"I said to my caddie, today is moving day and that's what I did," Kerr said. "I moved into position and I'm excited to be here. This is what Tiger Woods does every week. This is where he wants to be and this is what I want to be."

Second-round leader Shin slipped with three bogeys on the back nine — and two on the final three holes. She entered the round with a three-stroke lead, and if she wins Sunday, could claim the player of the year award. Ochoa has won the last three.

Shin, a three-time winner this year, has already won the rookie of the year award, and also is the season's top money winner. Nancy Lopez is the only player to win both the rookie and player awards in the same season, accomplishing the feat in 1978.

"Every player in four rounds — one will be really hard and today was my bad day," Shin said. "Tomorrow I think I should make a comeback."

Kim is also looking for her first tour win.

"I have had a lot of chances to win this year," she said. "I mean, I'm really excited to play tomorrow."

Creamer is an eight-time winner, but she's winless this season battling year-long stomach problems combined with a back and thumb injury. The stomach problems began a year ago after this tournament.

She was upbeat despite three bogeys over the last four holes.

"I played well all day, it was just unfortunate the last four holes," she said. "I'm ready to go. I want to go out there and play. I haven't been in this situation for quite some time."

McNeill shares lead at Disney Classic

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:29:27 +0100

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — George McNeill stepped onto the 18th tee with a two-stroke lead, and was surprisingly still feeling good after just making bogey.

That's because everybody else also was struggling, too.

"It was funny. Justin Rose walked up on the tee and he says, 'Man, out of the three guys making 5, I think there's one guy that is actually happy about it,'" McNeill recalled. "I think he was right because Justin Leonard turned around and kind of gave him a look."

That was only the beginning.

McNeill closed with a double bogey Saturday for a share of the lead entering the final round of the Children's Miracle Network Classic, giving hope to others who seemed far out of contention.

McNeill overcame a five-shot deficit and made two eagles on a cool day at Disney World that made greens fast but easy to reach. He shot a 3-under 69 that left him tied with Rose (69), Leonard (71) and Mathias Gronberg (66) at 13 under.

"I felt back in the tournament, and I felt like it was going to be us three guys fighting it out," Rose said. "Then all of a sudden now we're in a tournament where it's a complete logjam."

McNeill kept his poise after two early bogeys. But he gave back three strokes on the final two holes, including a double bogey on the 18th.

McNeill found trouble from the outset.

His first shot of the day hooked past the brush and into the trees, forcing him to take a drop before guiding the ball 20 feet from the hole. McNeill two-putted for bogey but gained six strokes back on six holes later in the round.

None were bigger than when McNeill sank a 34-foot putt for eagle on the 10th and made a 30-footer for another eagle on the 14th.

"I can't remember the last time I made two eagles in a round," said McNeill, who won the 2007 Frys.com Open for his lone tour title. "So I was pretty excited about those."

Then things went sour — again.

After bogeying on the 17th, McNeill's final drive landed out of play. He took a drop before missing a 10-foot bogey putt to take the lead into the final round.

Leonard, the leader after two rounds, had his troubles as well.

He had a five-shot lead after five holes and seemed as if he were going to run away with the tournament. But one hole did him in. His drive on the 11th sliced way right, bounced off the cart path and splashed into the water. He was able to fade the next shot 30 feet from the pin and two-putted for bogey.

Leonard figures most of the field now has a chance.

"There's three or four or five or eight of us tied," he joked. "Don't really know what to expect Sunday. I think with it bunched up as it is, it's going to take a really good round."

The competition to secure tour cards next year won't be decided until Sunday.

Only those who finish in the top 125 on the money list are guaranteed full status. The next 25 will at least get conditional status and be able to enter more than a dozen tournaments.

Rich Beem was among those in danger. The 2002 PGA Championship winner shot a 68, and he is projected to finish No. 128 on the money list unless he improves in the final round.

Jeff Maggert and Ricky Barnes stayed inside the cut line for full status with solid rounds. Barnes, who tied for a runner-up finish at the U.S. Open, shot a 71 Saturday.

For those at the top, it's a different feeling.

"I think you almost don't want to think that you're leading because I certainly don't see any pressure," Rose said. "I don't feel like I'm leading the tournament because there are so many guys around the lead."

(This version CORRECTS Optional. SUBS lead to correct to two-stroke lead.)

Woods trying to close out victory Down Under

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:53:35 +0100

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Tiger Woods has been saying since he first showed up on the PGA Tour that he plays only to win.

Lately, he has been making just as many headlines when he loses.

In the 268 official tournaments that Woods has played around the world as a pro, he has never gone three consecutive events without winning when he held at least a share of the 36-hole lead.

That streak was in jeopardy Sunday in the Australian Masters, where Woods looked to be in control with a three-shot lead until stumbling to an even-par 72 in the third round to fall into a three-way tie with the Australian duo of Greg Chalmers and James Nitties.

For that, Woods was thankful.

"I played myself into a tie for the lead, and I could have easily played myself straight out of the tournament," Woods said Saturday. "But I grinded, I hung in there and turned it around. That's a huge positive."

He took a lousy session on the practice range onto the course at Kingston Heath, and it never got any better.

Woods blocked a 3-iron on the opening par 5 and failed to make birdie for the first time all week. He came up short of the third green with a wedge and three-putted from the fringe for a bogey. He missed the seventh fairway well to the right, and short-sided himself in a bunker on the eighth, both times making unlikely pars.

The low point came at the 13th, where he was so angry after another shot sailed to the right that he slammed his driver into the ground and it bounced up and into the gallery. A surprised fan caught the club and returned it to him.

"That was my mistake," Woods said. "I got hot after a bad tee shot and let go of the club."

The reaction will be far worse if he fails to win the Australian Masters after going into the final round tied with two players who are not among the golf's elite.

Nitties just finished his rookie season on the PGA Tour and easily kept his card, although he is No. 223 in the world ranking. Chalmers, who hasn't won in Australia in 11 years, also finished among the top 100 on the PGA Tour money list and is No. 194 in the world. His goal this year was not to return to Q-school.

Two shots behind them were Jason Dufner and Cameron Percy.

Woods was the 36-hole leader at the Tour Championship only to be passed in the third round by Kenny Perry and beaten in the final round by Phil Mickelson. Then came the HSBC Champions last week in Shanghai, where Woods was tied with Nick Watney after 36 holes, both were passed by Mickelson and Lefty went on to win again.

In the Australian Masters, where Woods faced lesser competition, he has far more to lose.

Of his six victories this year, the easiest might have been the Buick Open. He had the lead going into the final round, but 12 of the 13 players within five shots of the lead were ranked outside the top 100. He had more to gain than he did to lose.

When that was mentioned to Woods after he won by three shots, he agreed.

"Plus, you had a golf course where anyone could get hot and go low," he said at the time.

That probably won't be the case at Kingston Heath, which can be difficult to navigate in only a slight breeze. This is old-style golf, more about angles than power. Whenever Woods missed a shot over the first two days, he at least missed on the right side. Not so on Saturday, when he had to work for pars and dropped two shots, usually by hitting in the one place he couldn't.

"I hit some really good shots out there, but also I hit some terrible golf shots," Woods said. "It was either-or. There was no gray area. I didn't really have any borderline shots."

Chalmers and Nitties don't have the pedigree, which is not to suggest they are incapable.

Nitties played bogey-free in the third round, although he cringed after so many putts that burned the edge of the cup. Chalmers rolled in some big putts in the middle of his round to take the lead, only to give it back with two short misses at the end.

They were at 10-under 206 and will be in the final group before a hometown crowd.

The gallery has turned out in record numbers this week, their first chance to see Woods in Australia since 1998, no guarantee of seeing him again until the Presidents Cup in 2011 at Royal Melbourne, assuming he qualifies.

No one was sure what to expect in terms of a gallery favorite Sunday.

At a World Golf Championship in Spain a decade ago, Woods battled down the stretch with Miguel Angel Jimenez, and the Spanish gallery cheered when Woods hit a chip into the water on the 17th at Valderrama and made triple bogey. They root for their own in Spain.

Nitties believes the gallery will root for a good show.

"You can hear the roars are huge for Tiger and the roars are huge for us if we hole a putt, which is awesome," he said. "I wouldn't like it if everyone was going against Tiger or an American guy or a European guy. Obviously, Tiger gets massive roars because he does special stuff. But the crowd is really hoping that we do well, and hoping that Tiger does well."

It's the golfing public that might not go so easy on Woods if he doesn't win.

Alas, he is not the only one facing such pressure. One online betting agency in Australia was so sure Woods was going to win that it paid out all its bets — $150,000 — after he took a three-shot lead after the second round.

Tiger Woods pierde la ventaja que llevaba en el Masters

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:01:51 +0100

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Tiger Woods perdió el sábado la ventaja de tres golpes que llevaba en el Masters de Australia para quedar igualado en la primera posición con los golfistas locales Greg Chalmers y James Nitties.

El número uno del mundo fue perdiendo esa diferencia a lo largo de seis hoyos en los que tuvo golpes vacilantes y cerró la vuelta con par 72 para un total de 206, diez bajo par.

Chalmers, que no gana en su nativa Australia desde 1998, hizo el recorrido en 69. Nitties también necesitó tres bajo par.

Woods se mostró frustrado después de errar un golpe de birdie desde 5 pies en el hoyo 12 y lanzó el palo, para que un sorprendido espectador lo recogiera y se lo entregara.

"Fue un error mío", admitió Woods. "Me enojé y largué el palo".

Woods empezó su actuación fastidiado por una práctica que calificó de horrible.

"Hoy mi juego reflejó mi calentamiento previo", dijo. "Soy muy afortunado de estar empatado en la punta. Yo caí en el empate. Pude haberme asegurado el torneo".

Woods juega en Australia por primera vez desde la Presidents Cup en 1998 y su presencia ha concitado un público récord. El estadounidense recibió 3 millones de dólares por jugar este torneo.

Chalmers aclaró que "no creo que nadie esté sentado tratando de entregar el trofeo a otro", en alusión a Woods. "Creo que todos están peleando para hacer sus mejores marcadores".

Cuatro golfistas están con 208 a dos golpes de los líderes: Cameron Percy de Australia, Jason Dufner de Estados Unidos, Tim Wilkinson de Nueva Zelanda y François Delamontagne de Francia.

Bourdy takes 2-stroke lead at Hong Kong Open

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:25:09 +0100

HONG KONG (AP) — Gregory Bourdy of France shot a bogey-free 7-under 63 on Saturday to take the lead heading into the final round of the $2.5 million Hong Kong Open.

Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands was the only one of the three other overnight leaders to keep pace with Bourdy, shooting a 5 under to stay within two strokes after the third round.

Bourdy, a two-time winner on the European Tour, maintained his form from Friday, making four birdies on the front nine and three on the back nine for a 16-under 194.

Now No. 87 on the European Tour money list, the Frenchman boosted his chances to qualify for the $7.5 million year-end championship in Dubai next week, which is limited to the top 60 money earners after Hong Kong.

"It is my last chance to get into Dubai, last chance to win and I am leading by two, so I will do my best tomorrow to win," said Bourdy, who described his 63 as one of the best rounds of his career. "I hit a lot of greens and that has been the key the last three rounds. I have been very consistent with my irons and my putting was unbelievable."

Rising star Rory McIlroy shot a 65 to sit five strokes off the pace and bolster his bid to win the European Tour money title despite a seesawing day that saw him make a double bogey, a bogey, six birdies and an eagle. The 20-year-old from Northern Ireland is No. 2 on the money race behind England's Lee Westwood.

McIlroy, who lost a playoff to Taiwan's Lin Wen-tang last year, said he was happy with the way he recovered from the double bogey.

"I knew I was hitting it well and putting well, and it was a matter of giving myself chances again," he said. "Maybe a couple of years ago after making double I would have been a bit flustered ... When people ask about the difference between turning pro and now, the answer is experience."

Two-time Hong Kong champion Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain briefly enjoyed the clubhouse lead with a 7 under, before moving into fourth with an overall 10 under with Lin (67), Ireland's Peter Lawrie (66) and Italian Francesco Molinari (66).

U.S. PGA Championship winner Y.E. Yang had a double bogey and two bogeys before recovered to a 1-under 69. The South Korean shared 10th at 202 in a group that included with England's Ian Poulter (68) and overnight co-leader Charl Schwartzel of South Africa (71).

The fourth overnight leader, China's Liang Wenchong, also faded, shooting four bogeys for a 2-over 72 and was in a group another shot back.

Westwood, who is playing in Hong Kong for the first time, has complained about having a hard time getting used to the course at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling and continued to struggle on Saturday, shooting three bogeys en route to a 1-under 69 that put him at 205.

Eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie shot a 3-under 67 and was also at 5 under.