Golf International Magazine Online

May 2008 - Posts

• Matthew Goggin Leads at Augusta Like Muirfield Village

  Jack Nicklaus always envisioned the Memorial as a northern version of the Masters, from the superb course conditions to super slick greens, from caddies wearing white coveralls to grounds so immaculate that nary a cigarette butt is to be found. He got his wish Thursday, at least with the greens. Mathew Goggin spent as little time on them as possible, taking only nine putts over his final nine holes on his way to a 7-under 65 and a one-shot lead over Jerry Kelly and two-time Memorial champion Kenny Perry. Goggin holed out a bunker shot for birdie on the par-3 fourth, then ended his round with a 12-footer for par from off the green, giving him only 22 putts for his round. “Is that possible?” Goggin said when told he had nine putts on his back nine. Strangely enough, he was 3 under playing his best golf, then hit some loose shots that produced four birdies over the final six holes. “It was one of those bizarre days where I didn’t drop any shots coming in with the poorly played holes,” he said. Perry found the right speed and ran off six straight birdies on his way to a 66, also taking 22 putts. Kelly birdied four of his last six holes. Ten other players also managed to break 70 on a day when the average score was 73.7. Most everyone else hung on for dear life. Shaun Micheel had a 55-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that traveled 35 yards back into the fairway. Boo Weekley watched a wedge land near the hole at the par-5 11th, only to spin back to the front of the green, off the green and into the creek for a triple bogey. “The greens are the best greens I’ve ever putted on anywhere in the world,” Robert Allenby said after a 69. “You can take Royal Melbourne, you take Augusta … these are the best.” Perry could not have agreed more. The two-time Memorial champion, who twice has given himself a chance to win this month, knocked in an 8-foot birdie on No. 11, and his next five birdies were holed from 18 feet or longer, a streak that ended on No. 17. “I was shocked when the one on 17 didn’t go in,” Perry said. “Awesome day, though.” The greens rolled as true as a billiards table, and some players said they were the fastest they have seen all year, including that tournament at Augusta National last month. That was largely a product of spectacular weather at Muirfield Village, a rarity. “The greens are so fast, you can’t believe it,” Brett Quigley said after his 67, which included five straight birdies to close out his front nine. “The whole day, you’re playing defensive, even on uphill putts.” Phil Mickelson, coming off a victory at the Colonial, had a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 9 that went 12 feet by an onto the fringe, leading to a final bogey and an even-par 72. “The speed is quick, obviously,” he said. “Some putts are very tough, obviously.” Mickelson got an early glimpse of the speed on his opening hole, when he faced a bunker shot left of the green. Sergio Garcia was marking his ball some 20 feet left of the flag when Mickelson motioned that he was aiming in that direction. He played at a 45-degree angle from the flag, ran the shot some 40 feet by to a ridge, then watched it roll back and graze the edge of the cup. “We almost had another ‘shot of the week’ on consecutive holes,” caddie Jim Mackay said, referring to Mickelson’s wedge through the trees to 9 feet for birdie to win the Colonial on Sunday. Garcia, playing for the first time since winning The Players Championship, ran off three straight birdies toward the conclusion of his round until twice trying to play out of the bank of the water on No. 9, only once successfully. He finished with a double bogey for a 72. “Even though I played well, it felt like you couldn’t—you didn’t,” he said. “There were very little chances of giving yourself a putt you could go for. It’s just not easy. Unfortunately that double on the last, after all the work I did, that didn’t feel that good.” The greens were so fast that rules officials also were on the defensive, having to abandon several hole locations to keep it fair. One possibility was the front of the 11th green, because any putt above the hole could run off the green and into the creek. One area that kept this from being anything like the Masters was the field. It was tough enough for the Memorial to lose Tiger Woods (knee), Vijay Singh (ribs), Steve Stricker (elbow) and Adam Scott (fatigue). the field expanded to 120 players this year to keep all invitationals consistent in size, but several players didn’t want to come. Ten alternates got into the tournament, but the list went down 17 names because of alternates who withdrew. Tee times at the Memorial used to be cherished. “It was the alternate who didn’t want to come,” Quigley said. “Maybe it was too far away or they had U.S. Open qualifying. But how can you skip coming here?” Quigley got the call Tuesday while playing with Brad Faxon in Rhode Island, and when he got to Muirfield Village, all he heard on the range were horror stories about thick rough and lightning-quick greens. “It was doomsday out there,” Quigley said. But as they showed Thursday, it wasn’t that bad if the shots were hit in the right spot and the putts were on the right line. Posted May 30 2008, 07:49 AM by Golf International with no comments Filed under: Golf International, 2008, Kenny Perry, Jerry Kelly, Memorial, Muirfield, Mathew Goggin

• Scott Strange Leads with Opening 63

  Australian Scott Strange covered nine holes in just 28 strokes to fashion an eight-under-par 63 and lead the Wales Open first round by a stroke on Thursday. Although achieved with preferred lies over a soaking course hit by heavy rain, Strange’s back nine—his opening nine, which included five successive birdies—took him a stroke better than the early leader Edoardo Molinari of Italy. India’s Jeev Milkha Singh shared third place on six-under with Spaniard Alvaro Velasco. Despite not being used to bad weather at home in Perth, Strange made light of his commendable foray over the Twenty Ten course at Celtic Manor, which will host the 2010 Ryder Cup. “I’ve had plenty of 28s back home in Perth, and over 36 holes and not 35 like here,” a delighted Strange, looking to better his Johnnie Walker Classic second place earlier in the season, told reporters. “Everything is progressing nicely, we’ll have to see what weather we get tomorrow, it might rain, might be foggy, it might even snow. “We don’t have weather like this back home but I’m enjoying myself.” Molinari, the 2005 U.S. Amateur champion trying to emulate his brother Francesco and win a European Tour title, had the day’s best reason for contending strongly. The 27-year-old from Turin, whose brother won their national title in 2006, has been bedeviled by tendonitis in his left wrist for some time. Through the wife of his manager, who worked at AC Milan, he sought help at the football club, who recommended inserting a plastic gum shield to ease the pain. “Somehow it worked,” Molinari told reporters after also seeing his putting fortunes change at the Celtic Manor venue. “They found out I was gritting my teeth and tensing up all down my left side through my shoulder to my wrist. “I had started shooting really high numbers and for a time I could hardly lift a club. But now I stay relaxed and it’s all gone away completely.” As the son of a dentist, Molinari admitted he was not the only one to doubt the cure would work. “My dad said ‘I don’t believe this,’ but now he has to admit it works.” Tournament favorite Padraig Harrington, the British Open champion and world number 12, had a disappointing 70 as he warms up for next month’s U.S. Open. The start of play was delayed for one hour 45 minutes because of fog. Last week’s PGA title-winner and European money-list leader Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain retired at the 12th in the morning, suffering from a knee injury. Posted May 30 2008, 07:46 AM by Golf International with no comments Filed under: Golf International, 2008, Jeev Milkha Singh, Edoardo Molinari, Scott Strange, Wales Open

• Annika Sorenstam Struggles at Her Own Event

  Annika Sorenstam’s name is everywhere at the Ginn Tribute except where she wanted it most—near the top of the leaderboard after Thursday’s opening round. Sorenstam’s even-par 72 left her seven shots behind co-leaders Karrie Webb and In-Kyung Kim, and tied for 60th at RiverTowne Country Club. Sophie Gustafson was third at 66. U.S. Open winner Cristie Kerr led a group of seven another stroke back at 67. Sorenstam, ranked second in the world, has looked forward to playing strongly at the tournament she’s hosted the past two years. Pairing sheets, programs, caps and t-shirts all bear her first name, “ANNIKA,” in capital letters. The event lost world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa earlier this week when she left to be with her sick uncle in Mexico, leaving Sorenstam as the marquee attraction. Sorenstam was injured a year ago, her event the first one back after nearly two months away from the tour to heal. She finished tied for 36th and vowed to do better for fans and sponsors. A year later, Sorenstam came in with three tour victories, her old-school precision and a sense of urgency after announcing earlier in May she’d step away from competitive golf after this season. Yet again, Sorenstam couldn’t get much going at RiverTowne. She opened with a bogey and had a disastrous triple bogey 7 on the fifth hole. “I need some low scores the next few days,” Sorenstam said. Instead it was Webb who was the Hall-of-Famer on fire in the opening round. She had five birdies and an eagle for her 7-under 65. “I’ve been swinging it quite nicely for the majority of the year, and just not getting the most out of it,” Webb said. She might say that about this round, too. Webb rolled in an uphill, 35-foot birdie putt on the 10th hole to tie for the lead. She moved in front a hole later, chipping to 4 feet on the par-5 11th for another birdie. Webb nearly made it three in row on the 12th, but her 15-foot rolled completely around the cup and out. Webb began pumping her fist in celebration, stopping immediately when the ball popped out. She turned and grinned back at her caddie as she walked back to her bag. Webb followed with birdie putts of 15 feet or less on the next three holes— none that she could convert. Webb closed strongly, though, knocking a 5-iron to five feet for birdie on the difficult par-4 18th hole. “Even though you could have left some out there, I’m not going to complain too much,” Webb said, smiling. What she got to complain about? It was Webb’s best opening round of the season and just a stroke off her low round this year, a 64 to close the Stanford International Pro-Am last month. Webb hasn’t won on the LPGA Tour since 2006, although she has captured three tournaments in her homeland of Australia since. Webb hopes to regain that championship touch on the LPGA Tour. “I’d like to give myself more chances of winning than I am, and then hopefully start getting on that track where I’m pulling off those wins,” she said. Kim, a second-year pro from South Korea, had four birdies in five holes to move into contention. She tied Webb with a birdie on the par-5 16th hole—Kim’s eighth birdie of the round—after putting her wedge to 10 feet. “I had a lot of opportunities and I think I made the most of them,” she said. Sorenstam wanted a lower score. Still, she was proud she steadied herself with two birdies on her final eight holes “I made triple today and that really hurt me,” Sorenstam said. “You can’t do this tomorrow, or any day really.” Especially not if you want to win your namesake tournament. Posted May 30 2008, 07:44 AM by Golf International with no comments Filed under: Golf International, Annika Sorenstam, 2008, Karrie Webb, Ginn Tribute, Sophie Gustafson, In-Kyung Kim

• Perfect Start for Sweden’s Reis

  Sweden’s Nina Reis posted a flawless eight-under-par 64 at Golf Club Gut Häusern to take a two shot lead after the first round of the HypoVereinsbank Ladies German Open presented by Audi. The 28-year-old from Gothenburg posted eight birdies, with four on each of the front and back nine, to lead over England’s Lora Fairclough and France’s Jade Schaeffer on six-under-par 66. Reis finished with two birdies and revealed that she had been aiming to equal or better her career low round of 64. “After the front nine I was four under and my best round is eight under and I wanted to shoot eight under or better,” said Reis, who is playing in her third Ladies European Tour event of the year. “I hit good shots all day and made some good putts. I never really made any mistakes. I thought the scores were going to be low because there are a few par fives that are really short but still there are some holes that you really have to place the ball where it’s really narrow so you can make bogey easily too.” Reis has had a miserable run of four missed cuts in her most recent events played on the US LPGA Tour, while Fairclough and Schaeffer were two of the other players who prospered in the hot and dry conditions. Fairclough recently moved house from Chorley to Woking in Surrey and has been working on creating more stability in her swing with her new coach Neil Plimmer at Mid Sussex Golf Club. She said: “I’ve just missed three cuts in a row so for me it’s such a positive; just that I’m not hitting the ball sideways like I was doing. I’m experienced enough to know that it’s three days away. I’ve got a long way to go and a tournament was never won on the first day. I like the German Open. I’ve won it once in 1998.” Schaeffer arrived in Germany on the back of a missed cut in Switzerland but her driving has since improved. “I hit some very long drives today and I had some very short holes,” said the 21-year-old from Strasbourg. Meanwhile England’s Natalie Booth, who now lives in Abu Dhabi, tied for fourth with Italy’s Veronica Zorzi and Spain’s Marta Prieto on five-under-par 67. Michelle Wie shot 68 and was one of eight players in a share of seventh place on four-under. The 18-year old American birdied three of her first five holes as well as the par-four 17th coming in, but failed to take advantage on the par fives. “I would take another three-under-par on the first five holes any day,” said Wie, who added that she feels she has lost some of her length since hurting her wrist last year. “I’m still in the rehab process just really building up to what I had before. It’s definitely on the right track. I don’t feel like I’m holding on,” she said. “I felt like I played really well but I felt like I left a couple out there as well.” The event is the first on the Ladies European Tour to be held in Germany in seven years. HypoVereinsbank Ladies German Open presented by Audi Golfpark Gut Hausern 29th May - 1st June 2008 Scores at End of Round 1 64 - Nina Reis (SWE) 66 - Lora Fairclough (ENG), Jade Schaeffer (FRA) 67 - Natalie Claire Booth (ENG), Veronica Zorzi (ITA), Marta Prieto (ESP) 68 - Martina Gillen (IRE), Lynn Brooky (NZ), Michelle Wie (USA), Paula Marti (ESP), Gwladys Nocera (FRA), Christine Hallstrom (SWE), Margherita Rigon (ITA), Louise Stahle (SWE) 69 - Frances Bondad (AUS), Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA), Kate Combes (AUS), Rachel Bell (ENG), Lara Tadiotto (BEL), Julie Greciet (FRA), Mianne Bagger (DEN), Sophie Sandolo (ITA), Lotta Wahlin (SWE), Beatriz Recari (ESP), Becky Brewerton (WAL), Felicity Johnson (ENG), Anja Monke (GER), Joanne Mills (AUS), Cherie Byrnes (AUS), Henrietta Zuel (ENG), Vittoria Valvassori (ITA), Yuki Sakurai (JPN), Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) 70 - Camille Fallay (FRA), Lisa Hall (ENG), Lydia Hall (WAL), Joanne Morley (ENG), Fame More (ENG), Federica Piovano (ITA), Rebecca Hudson (ENG), Asa Gottmo (SWE), Johanna Westerberg (SWE) 71 - Karen-Margrethe Juul (DEN), Stacy Lee Bregman (SA), Stefania Croce (ITA), Julie Tvede (DEN), Laura Cabanillas (ESP), Kathryn Imrie (SCO), Anne Norman Hansen (DEN), Martina Eberl (GER), Ana B Sanchez (ESP), Lupine Kreutz (FRA), Amy Yang (KOR), Cassandra Kirkland (FRA), Lynn Kenny (SCO), Caroline Masson (Am) (GER), Samantha Head (ENG), Trish Johnson (ENG), Stephanie Arricau (FRA), Maria Boden (SWE), Anna Rawson (AUS), Lisa Holm Sorensen (DEN), Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (AUS) 72 - Caroline Afonso (FRA), Nicole Gergely (AUT), Sara Beautell (ESP), Tania Elosegui (ESP), Mette Buus (DEN), Emma Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Diana Luna (ITA), Tanja Morant (Am) (GER), Amanda Moltke-Leth (DEN), Marianne Skarpnord (NOR), Iben Tinning (DEN), Lee-Anne Pace (SA), Danielle Masters (ENG), Eva Steinberger (AUT), Elizabeth McKinnon (NZ), Laura Terebey (USA), Sofia Renell (SWE), Melissa Reid (ENG), Jenna Wilson (SCO) 73 - Melodie Bourdy (FRA), Marina Arruti (ESP), Marjet van der Graaff (NL), Lill Kristin Saether (NOR), Ana Larraneta (ESP), Stephanie Kirchmayer (Am) (GER), Stefanie Michl (AUT), Sophie Walker (ENG), Nora Angehrn (SWI), Anna Tybring (SWE) 74 - Jo Clingan (ENG), Rebecca Coakley (IRE), Kiran Matharu (ENG), Saskia Hausladen (Am) (GER), Georgina Simpson (ENG), Laurette Maritz (SA), Nicola Rossler (Am) (GER), Dana Lacey (AUS), Nikki Garrett (AUS), Emma Zackrisson (SWE), Ellen Smets (BEL), Kirsty S Taylor (ENG) 75 - Denise-Charlotte Becker (GER), Clare Queen (SCO), Ursula Wikstrom (FIN), Florence Luscher (SWI), Karen Lunn (AUS), Natascha Fink (AUT) 76 - Denise Simon (GER), Cecilia Ekelundh (SWE), Anna Knutsson (SWE) 77 - Beth Allen (USA), Leah Hart (AUS), Elin Ohlsson (SWE), Bettina Hauert (GER), Jehanne Jail (FRA), Katharina Schallenberg (GER) 78 - Elisabeth Esterl (GER) 79 - Olof Maria Jonsdottir (ICE), Itziar Elguezabal (ESP) 80 - Michaela Kopp (Am) (GER), Kaisa Ruuttila (FIN) 81 - Rui Yokomine (JPN), Anna Rossi (ITA) 82 - Gabriela Zuber (Am) (GER) Posted May 30 2008, 07:41 AM by Golf International with no comments Filed under: Golf International, 2008, Ladies German Open, Nina Reis

• Michelle Wie Four Back at Ladies German Open

  Michelle Wie shot a 4-under 68 in the first round of the Ladies German Open to share seventh place four strokes behind leader Nina Reis of Sweden. The 18-year-old American birdied three of the first five holes and made par the rest of the way at the Golfpark Gut Haeusern, north of Munich. “I felt I was a little bit rusty. But I am happy with how I played today,” said Wie, who is hoping to gain some confidence after playing just two tournaments in the United States this year. “I feel I can do a lot. I left a lot out there on the par-5s.” It’s Wie’s first appearance in a full Ladies European Tour field after receiving a sponsor’s invitation to play in the event. Reis had eight birdies, including at the last two holes, for a bogey-free round of 64. Lora Fairclough of England, who won here in 1998, and France’s Jade Schaeffer were tied for second, two shots behind Reis. Three players had 67s to sit a stroke further back. Posted May 30 2008, 07:37 AM by Golf International with no comments Filed under: Golf International, Michelle Wie, 2008, Ladies German Open, Nina Reis

• Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia Top Draws at Memorial

  The Memorial had high hopes of landing all of the top 10 players in the world for the first time until Tiger Woods decided his left knee was not fully recovered from surgery. Since then, the stars have been falling like rain, which is never a good sign at Muirfield Village. Adam Scott opted not to play, citing fatigue. Vijay Singh was still smarting from a rib injury and had to pull out. Steve Stricker withdrew with an elbow injury. Even some of the alternates for the 120-man field decided not to come. Who does that leave at the Memorial?...Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia, both fresh off important victories. Mickelson had not seriously contended since his February victory at Riviera, his only top 10 coming at the Masters, where he finished six shots behind Trevor Immelman. He was headed for more disappointment Sunday at Colonial when he drove left into the trees on the final hole, only to escape with a stunning shot through the treetops to just inside 10 feet for a winning birdie. “I’m excited about how I’m starting to play, and I want to continue that momentum,” Mickelson said. “This will be the last tournament I play before the U.S. Open. And after this event, I’ll get home and start practicing at Torrey (Pines) getting ready for that. Although the U.S. Open is on my mind, I would like to play well this week.” Garcia didn’t need any heroics, but he was far more desperate. The 28-year-old Spaniard had gone three years without a victory anywhere in the world, and constant questions about his putting problems were getting under freckles. That all changed Sunday at Sawgrass, when Garcia holed a half-dozen putts that proved pivotal, none bigger than a 7-footer for par on the final hole to get into a playoff that he won against Paul Goydos. Then it was off to Spain for two weeks of rest and celebration, and he has a solid outlook heading into the summer. “It’s definitely a boost of confidence. There’s no doubt about that,” Garcia said. “I guess at the end of the day, every tournament is different, and winning the Players was great. But I’ve still got to go out there and perform at the U.S. Open, and at the British Open, and at the PGA, and give myself a chance. “The good thing about it is I know that coming down the stretch, my whole game can step up to it,” he said. “So that’s good to have.” Adding to the spice of Mickelson and Garcia coming off big wins is they’ll be playing together the first two days at Muirfield Village, which is in supreme condition from tee-to-green, with rough that might be thicker—albeit different — than the U.S. Open. They aren’t alone, of course. Ernie Els was coming and going and finally showed up Tuesday for a tournament he won in 2004. Three others from the top 10 were Geoff Ogilvy, Jim Furyk and K.J. Choi, the defending champion of the Memorial. The big absence, however, is Woods. He missed the Memorial two years ago while coping with the death of his father, and he skipped this year with a knee that’s not quite ready for competition. The question is whether anyone inside the ropes misses Woods. Garcia jokingly thanked Woods at The Players Championship for not being there, and there is a part of him that truly wishes Woods were around at Muirfield Village this week. “We always enjoy playing against the best, and when he’s around, it’s always a little bit extra motivation,” Garcia said. “It does make it a little bit tougher to win the event, but that’s what drives you into trying to become a better player. So we miss him a little bit, and we’ll see him in a couple weeks.” Mickelson and Woods have switched roles this year. Woods got off to a stunning start in 2008 by winning his four tournaments, and finishing no worse than fifth in the last two he failed to win. Then came stiffness in his knee that grew so painful that surgery couldn’t wait, and no one is sure what to expect when he returns in two weeks for the second major of the year. A year ago, Mickelson was coming off a victory at The Players and was gearing up for a big summer when he injured his wrist while practicing out of deep rough at Oakmont for the U.S. Open. He had to withdraw from the Memorial, he missed the cut at the U.S. Open and endured what turned out to be a lost summer. This time, Mickelson is feeling better than ever. Even though he never seriously contended from Riviera through Colonial, he realized he was never too far off once he sorted out his putting. A trip to a testing center showed him the flaws in his stroke, and he’s starting to piece that together. “I feel better than I’ve ever felt,” Mickelson said. “I’ve got no more issues with my hands or anything. I feel great. I’ve had a year now to work on the swing changes with Butch (Harmon). I expect a lot of this summer. I think it could be a very good one.” The official start of summer is a month away, but it starts here for Mickelson on a course that has not treated him all that kindly. And he would love to add a trophy from another tournament made famous by legendary figures, having already won at Bay Hill (Arnold Palmer), Colonial (Ben Hogan) and the Byron Nelson Championship. He was asked where the Memorial ranked among tournaments he has not won. “Well, I haven’t won the U.S. or British Open, so those two are going to be the ones I would like to get the most,” Mickelson said. “But this is one of the most prestigious events we have on tour. So it’s high up there.” Posted May 29 2008, 08:18 AM by Golf International with no comments Filed under: Golf International, Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson, 2008, Memorial, Muirfield

• Padraig Harrington Says US Won't Fear Celtic Manor

  After trying out the new $30 million Twenty Ten course at Celtic Manor that will host the 2010 Ryder Cup, this week’s Wales Open favourite Padraig Harrington said it would hold no fears for the American team. “Players nowadays understand and are well capable of playing in all conditions and I don’t think there will be anything out there (on the course) they will fear,” the British Open champion told reporters on Wednesday. “That’s in the same way I don’t think the European players would fear playing what would be termed as a typical U.S.-style course. “This course is in many ways a U.S.-style course, that will be played in European conditions.” Holders Europe defend the Ryder Cup when the biennial match is staged in Valhalla, Kentucky in September this year. Harrington said he preferred to play in Newport for the first time rather than travel across the Atlantic to prepare for the U.S. Open in two weeks’ time. The Irishman skipped last week’s PGA Championship at Wentworth, the European Tour’s flagship event. “It (the Wales Open) fits into my schedule,” he said. “I like to build up to the majors and it takes me at least two tournaments to get sharp and focused. “Here I have two goals in mind, to try and win and play my best. But I also realise that as part of the bigger picture the competitive rounds will help me build towards the U.S. Open (at Torrey Pines in San Diego).” Harrington stole a march on his rivals this week by playing the course as early as Monday. Among the other competitors are PGA champion Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, who plays alongside holder Richard Sterne of South Africa in Thursday’s opening round. Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke, Nick Dougherty, Graeme McDowell and Robert Karlsson also chase the first prize of 376,671 euros ($592,100) while Bradley Dredge flies the flag for Wales. Posted May 29 2008, 08:15 AM by Golf International with no comments Filed under: Golf International, Ryder Cup, Padraig Harrington, 2008, Twenty Ten course at Celtic Manor

• Lorena Ochoa Withdraws from Annika's Event

  Annika Sorenstam’s competitive fire had her hoping to face the world’s best one last time at her LPGA event. Sorenstam’s compassionate heart understood why that wouldn’t happen. Sorenstam learned during Wednesday morning’s pro-am that Lorena Ochoa, ranked No. 1 in the world, dropped out of the Ginn Tribute to be with an uncle who’d fallen ill. “Sorry to hear that, but the family comes first,” Sorenstam said. “We all have our priorities in life.” One of Sorenstam’s had been to challenge for the title at RiverTowne Country Club, where the tournament bears her name, in her last year of competitive golf. Sorenstam announced her retirement from the LPGA Tour earlier this month. A year ago, this event was Sorenstam’s first after nearly two months sidelined with neck and back problems. She graciously handled her duties as host in the first-time tournament, but was never a factor on the leaderboard. She tied for 36th after shooting 74-76 on the weekend. Now, Sorenstam’s back to her winning ways, collecting three LPGA victories so far this season. Missing the world’s top-ranked player doesn’t change how Sorenstam views her chances here when the tournament starts Thursday. “I think I can win any week so I don’t look at it that way,” she said. “We’re going to miss Lorena for many reasons.” Since Sorenstam’s decision, every LPGA event the two are in is billed as a head-to-head showdown between current No. 1 Ochoa and the woman she passed for the top spot. Ochoa told tournament officials about her departure late Tuesday. “I am very sorry to have to withdraw,” Ochoa said. “I need to be with my uncle and my family right now.” Instead of preparing to face Ochoa, Sorenstam and other competitors sent their prayers and best wishes. “My heart goes out to her and her family, and hopefully, everything is 100 percent OK,” Paula Creamer said. Ochoa has won six of 13 LPGA tournaments this season. Ochoa “is a tremendous ambassador for our game, and we will miss her this week,” Sorenstam said. “That being said, family comes first and I know she has a very close family. I respect and support her decision and wish them the best.” Ochoa looked like she would win the inaugural Ginn Tribute last year, holding a two-stroke lead against Nicole Castrale with two holes to play. But Castrale caught Ochoa on the 71st hole to force a playoff, then watched the world’s best player drive into a marsh on the first playoff hole. That helped Castrale earn her first LPGA victory. Leta Lindley, who won the LPGA Corning Classic last week, said Ochoa will be missed. “But I guess that leaves a little bit more money for everybody else, the way she’s been playing this year,” Lindley said. Ochoa leads the money list with more than $1.83 million earned in nine events this season. It’s the second high-profile withdrawal in as many years for the Ginn Tribute. Michelle Wie left after playing 16 holes of her opening round, citing a wrist injury. She was playing poorly at 14-over and two shots shy of the LPGA’s “88” rule when she stepped away. She would have been banned from tour exemptions until the following season for shooting an 88 or higher. Wie was not offered, nor did she seek, an exemption to play in the tournament this year. Last year, Sorenstam wanted to test her rehabbed neck and shoulder here. Sorenstam’s much happier hosting with her game in championship shape. “I’m enjoying the week and I’d love it a lot if I was here on Sunday and picked up the check,” Sorenstam said. Posted May 29 2008, 08:12 AM by Golf International with no comments Filed under: Golf International, Annika Sorenstam, Lorena Ochoa, 2008, LPGA Tour, Ginn Tribute

• Paul Azinger Believes Selection Will Make the Difference

  The changes made to the U.S. team’s selection process will make a big difference at the Ryder Cup, captain Paul Azinger said on Wednesday. He believes the alterations he persuaded the PGA of America to make are more important than anything he will do in the week of the biennial match against holders Europe at Valhalla, Kentucky from Sept. 19-21. Azinger is to be allowed four captain’s picks instead of two and will be allowed to wait until two weeks before the match to announce his wildcard choices. “With all my heart I believe the selection process is going to make the big difference,” he told reporters on the eve of the Memorial tournament at Muirfield Village. “We have averaged six players in each of the last five Ryder Cups who had not won a tournament that year. We have (this time) laid the groundwork to get the hottest, most confident players there.” Azinger said he would almost certainly select any player who won one of the three PGA Tour events immediately before he finalised his team. He also did not rule out taking an in-form golfer from the secondary Nationwide Tour. “The great intangible, the thing you look for out here as a player and hope to attain is confidence,” he added. “Everybody can play but the guys that are the most confident play the best. Anybody who wins after the U.S. PGA Championship (from Aug. 7-10) is probably going to be pretty confident three weeks later.” Azinger plans to follow the lead of Jack Nicklaus, who successfully captained the past three American Presidents Cup teams. With much the same players who have been hammered in the last three Ryder Cups, Nicklaus’s side posted two commanding victories and a tie against strong International teams. Nicklaus employed a hands-off approach, asking his players who they wanted to be paired with before sending them on their way. “I’m dealing with the 12 best Americans in the world,” said Azinger. “If I go in there thinking we have to hold hands, what chance do we have? “They’re all big boys. I’m not going to target we’re going to have fun this week or any of that. Guys just hang out and have fun. That’s not something that’s forced.” Posted May 29 2008, 08:09 AM by Golf International with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Golf International, Ryder Cup, Paul Azinger, 2008

• Michelle Wie to Play in Ladies German Open

  American teenager Michelle Wie, troubled by a wrist injury for more than a year, will make only her third appearance of the season in this week’s Ladies German Open. It will be the first time the 18-year-old Hawaiian has competed in a full-field Ladies European Tour (LET) event. “They gave me a sponsor’s exemption and I thought, ‘Wow, Munich,” Wie told the LET’s official Web site on Tuesday. “I have never been there and it’s a great opportunity. “I found at the last tournament I was really rusty and I need to play more tournaments.” Wie’s two previous appearances this year were on the LPGA Tour, at the Michelob ULTRA Open in Virginia earlier this month and at the Fields Open in Hawaii in February. “I feel a lot healthier and I want to start playing more and playing some good golf,” said Wie, now studying fulltime at Stanford University. “My goal is just to have fun and keep my head on straight and shoot some low scores. I’ve never played in Germany before.” Wie, who has five top-five finishes in major championships, has occasionally played on the men’s PGA Tour and has been tipped to become one of the best female golfers of all-time. The 72-hole Ladies German Open, which starts on Thursday, is being held on the outskirts of Munich at Golfpark Gut Hausern. For a girl with such grandiose dreams, even Michelle Wie thought the bar was set too high. It was one of her first exercises late last year with Paul Gagne, a fitness guru who spends most of his time with hockey players, and the task was a simple pull-up. Wie jumped up to grab the bar, and her 6-foot frame dangled in the air for a few seconds before she tried to lift herself. She barely moved a few inches. When the workout was over, Wie said she was so sore she couldn't lift her arms to wash her hair in the shower. "It was way too painful," she said. "My New Year's Resolution is to cut down on sugar and not be as lazy. That means going to the gym a lot more. My goal is to get fit, get stronger and prevent injury." Her ultimate goal remains the same -- to play golf against the best in the world. The next chance comes Thursday in the Sony Open, the first full-field event on the PGA Tour where Wie has become a regular fixture. It will be her seventh time competing against the men, and fourth time on the PGA Tour as she tries to become the first woman since Babe Zaharias in 1945 to make the cut. But the junior at nearby Punahou School no longer emphasizes getting to the weekend. The older she gets, the farther along in her unique journey, she has paid less attention to results and more on hitting the right shots. How does she measure success? "If at the end of the week I felt good about the week, I had a lot of fun and I played as hard as I can," she said. Her newfound dedication to fitness is one example of Wie seeing a bigger picture. Swing coach David Leadbetter said her upper body strength was woefully lacking, and he brought in Gagne for help. In the last few months, he said Wie has increased her ball speed about 5 mph to 161 mph, which he compared favorably with the 166 mph ball speed of Justin Rose. Wie has added about eight pounds of muscle, which Leadbetter says has given her more strength to hold the club in the proper position at the top of the swing. "Look at what strength training did for Annika (Sorenstam)," Leadbetter said. "Michelle tended to shy away from it. But once we pointed out the benefits, it's a full program she has to work on. When you've got the talent she has, it's a matter of getting your ducks in a row. She's game for it. She's starting to enjoy it." Even so, Wie will be measured this week by the scores on her card, and whether she finishes among the top 70 players and ties over the first two rounds. The defending champion is Vijay Singh, and the field includes three-time Mercedes Championships winner Stuart Appleby, Mike Weir, David Toms and Adam Scott. Scott finished behind her two years ago and paid dearly. When he got to Bay Hill, swing coach Butch Harmon had plastered pictures of Wie inside his locker. "It's a big week for us, a big week for me," Scott said with a smile. "Two years ago she almost made it. If she putts really well, she can make the cut." Even so, the novelty is wearing off the more she plays, and the older she gets. Three players at the Sony Open have never played a PGA Tour event, having earned their way through qualifying school. Wie already has played four tour events, and dozens of rounds at Waialae getting ready for this week. "I was expecting a good player, but not a seasoned player," said Sean O'Hair, the PGA Tour rookie of the year, after playing a practice round with Wie on Tuesday. "She seems like she's been doing this a while." She has. Mark Calcavecchia is among those who wonder why she doesn't concentrate more on the LPGA Tour, where she had three runner-up finishes last year, two of them in majors. He doesn't mind her playing the Sony Open, because Wie grew up in Honolulu and is a huge draw this week. "I think she should try to win some LPGA tournaments first and go from there," he said. These are suggestions Wie has heard before, and she's not about to change. Now that she's a pro, she might add two more PGA Tour events this year. "Playing with the guys has made me a better player," she said. "With that experience and knowledge, I think it will help me win women's events. That's my goal -- to win with the women's events." Leadbetter wouldn't put a timetable on when that might happen, although the sooner the better. The last time Wie hoisted a trophy was as a 13-year-old at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links. He said one problem was her schedule, which includes nine months of high school. "You don't set the goal to win," he said. "You set the goal of becoming more proficient, hitting more fairways, becoming a better putter. There's no doubt she's going to win, and when she wins, she's going to win a lot." Meanwhile, Wie has shifted her attention to the journey instead of the score. That meant listening to her parents, which is not easy for a teenager. "My parents would say that and I would think, 'It's the results that matter,"' she said. "But as I get older, I'm realizing it's the road you take that's the most important thing. There is so much to learn from the guys. They have so much to offer, and I'm soaking it all in." Posted May 28 2008, 07:42 AM by Golf International with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Golf International, Michelle Wie, 2008, Wrist Injury, Ladies European Tour, Ladies German Open

• Tiger Woods Says He Is on Course for US Open

  Tiger Woods entered the room with a slight limp and unwavering determination to play the U.S. Open. “The knee’s doing better,” said Woods, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee April 15. “The rehab is boring. It gets really old riding that bike, man. But everything’s on schedule. Just been training and trying to get this thing organized for the Open, and it’s right on schedule for that.” Woods spoke Tuesday at Congressional Country Club. The second annual edition of Woods’ own PGA Tour event, the AT&T National, returns to Congressional in July. The U.S. Open will be at Torrey Pines in San Diego on June 12-15, a major that could prove a bit dicey for the world’s No. 1 player following a two-month layoff. Woods had hoped to fine-tune his game this week at the Memorial, but he withdrew and has no plans to play in next week’s Stanford St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tenn. “I wasn’t ready,” Woods said. “I started my practice basically just recently. So going to Memorial that rusty, it wouldn’t have made any sense. I wasn’t sharp enough. I didn’t hit all my shots I needed to hit yet at home and make sure everything is organized. … The whole idea is to be ready for the U.S. Open.” Woods also had a two-month layoff before the U.S. Open in 2006, coping with the death of his father. He missed the cut at Winged Foot—the only time he has failed get past the first two rounds at a major. But, as he pointed out Tuesday, he had surgery on the same knee in 2002 and returned to win his next event, the Buick Invitational, which happens to be at Torrey Pines. “I know what it takes to win a tournament coming back off after having a procedure done, and it is just a matter of being prepared, getting all my practice time in, making sure my shots are how I want them, trying to understand what my misses might be,” Woods said. Woods said the current problems with the knee result from “more stiffness than anything.” He said he made the decision to have the surgery two to three weeks before playing the Masters in April. “I couldn’t function anymore with what I was doing,” Woods said. “Not a fun way to play, moving around.” As for his own tournament, Woods hopes to build off last year’s successful inaugural event by again paying tribute to the military. Tickets will remain a bargain ($25), and he hopes to announce a Washington-area location for a Tiger Woods Learning Center by early next year. Woods, however, left the future of the tournament in some doubt. Congressional has agreed to host the event in 2009, but the following two years have been ruled out because of an overhaul to the Blue Course in preparation for the 2011 U.S. Open. Woods said he will look at the nearby TPC course at Avenel, which is undergoing a major renovation. But he didn’t rule out moving the tournament from the Washington area—perhaps for good, if Congressional’s membership doesn’t want to host the event on a yearly basis. “We have to explore every option,” Woods said. Woods, of course, would like to win his own tournament, and he imagined an amusing ceremony in which he presented the Capitol-shaped trophy to himself: “Tiger Woods, here you go.” “Tiger, what do you think of this?” But he beamed brightest when asked for an update on daughter Sam, who will have her first birthday the week following the U.S. Open. “We have a little cut-down putter that she smoked me in the head yesterday with,” Woods said. “I have a hard head.” Posted May 28 2008, 07:39 AM by Golf International with no comments Filed under: Golf International, Tiger Woods, U.S. Open, 2008, Arthroscopic Surgery

• KJ Choi Upbeat About Memorial Title Defence

  South Korean KJ Choi was in optimistic mood for his title defence at this week’s Memorial tournament despite missing the cut in his last two PGA Tour starts. Nine years ago on his Tour debut Choi tied for 24th at the event hosted by Jack Nicklaus and he has enjoyed Muirfield Village ever since. Twelve months ago he produced one of the most satisfying victories of his career when he charged from five strokes behind to triumph by a shot from American Ryan Moore. “I always love coming back to Muirfield,” world number eight Choi told reporters on Tuesday through an interpreter. “There’s a special place in my heart for this tournament. “I was fortunate enough to get an invitation here nine years ago and to have played with a legend like Jack at his tournament and then to win it last year is just so very special. “I haven’t been playing well in the past couple of weeks but I feel good this week,” said the 38-year-old who earned the nickname ‘Tank’ as a teenage weightlifter. Choi made a strong start to the 2008 Tour, winning his seventh title at the Sony Open in January and posting four top-12 finishes in his next five tournaments. However, he battled to 41st in gusting winds at last month’s U.S. Masters before missing the cut at the Players Championship and last week’s Colonial tournament. “Having won this tournament before on this course it definitely gives me the confidence and edge I need,” said Choi, who faces a strong lineup. Phil Mickelson, fresh from his Colonial victory, and 2004 champion Ernie Els head a field that includes six of the world’s top 10. Top-ranked Tiger Woods, the only triple champion at Muirfield Village, is a notable absentee while he recovers from knee surgery but Mickelson (two), Els (three), Australian Geoff Ogilvy (five), American Jim Furyk (seven), Choi and Spaniard Sergio Garcia (10) are competing. Among the other big guns missing this week are fourth-ranked Adam Scott of Australia (illness) and Fijian world number nine Vijay Singh (rib injury). “Obviously we’re disappointed we have lost a couple of guys … but you can’t play if you’re hurt,” said Nicklaus. “I think we have got a great field.” The event starts on Thursday. Posted May 28 2008, 07:37 AM by Golf International with no comments Filed under: Golf International, 2008, K.J. Choi, Ryan Moore, Memorial, Muirfield

• Jack Nicklaus Says Ryder Cup Captain Should Be Low Key

  Jack Nicklaus believes a more relaxed approach to the Ryder Cup captaincy could help the U.S. end a run of three successive defeats by Europe. Nicklaus, who led the Americans to Cup victory in 1983 and defeat in 1987, has advised 2008 U.S. skipper Paul Azinger to be “hands-off” for this year’s matches in Louisville, Kentucky. “Get out of the way and let them go play, that’s sort of my feeling,” host Nicklaus, 68, told reporters on Tuesday in the build-up to this week’s Memorial tournament. “Paul said to me: ‘What do you do?’ I said: ‘Paul, it’s what I don’t do. To me, these guys all got where they got because of their record and how they played. Tell them how to play golf? That’s ridiculous. “All I do is get out of the way. I ask each guy: ‘Give me who you want to play with and who you don’t want to play with. Who you think you’ll do well with, all those things. And then just go have fun’.” Nicklaus, who has captained the U.S. to Presidents Cup success against the Internationals in the last two editions, spoke to Azinger for around 90 minutes on the telephone. “I don’t know whether Paul listened or didn’t,” the 18-times major winner added. “I think he did listen a lot because we talked quite a bit. What he’s going to do, I don’t know.” Nicklaus cautioned Azinger against complicating the captaincy role, singling out Tom Lehman’s decision to take the entire U.S. team to Ireland before the 2006 Ryder Cup on a two-day reconnaissance. “To take a whole team over to go play a practice round a month before an event?,” Nicklaus said. “You give me Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk, who are basically number one, two and three in the world on our team, and they just finished playing all the major championships. “They all are working their tail off and all of a sudden you say: ‘Okay guys, now we’re going to do something important.’ I mean, come on. Give me a break.” Nicklaus echoed the long-stated beliefs of world number one Woods that the Ryder Cup would never surpass the four majors in golfing significance. “Is it (the Ryder Cup) a nice event?” he asked rhetorically. “It’s a great event. Is it different? Absolutely it’s different. Is it exciting? Absolutely it’s exciting. But it’s a goodwill event, it’s for bragging rights. “I think the U.S. Open or the Masters or British Open are a little bit more than bragging rights. Those are events that stand on the record book.” The 2008 Ryder Cup will be held from September 19-21 at the Nicklaus-designed Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky where Europe will bid for a seventh victory in 11 editions. Posted May 28 2008, 07:32 AM by Golf International with no comments Filed under: Golf International, Jack Nicklaus, Ryder Cup, Paul Azinger

• Tiger Woods to Miss Memorial

  Tiger Woods will skip next week’s Memorial tournament while he continues his recovery from a knee operation, the PGA Tour said on Friday. The American world number one, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on April 15, informed Tour officials of his decision before the Friday deadline. Woods, a three-times champion at the Jack Nicklaus-hosted Memorial, had been hoping to compete but his main focus is on the June 12-15 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in California. He is highly unlikely to play in the June 5-8 St. Jude Championship which means he would return to action for the second major of the year after an eight-week break. Two years ago, he had a nine-week layoff while coping with the illness and death of his father Earl before missing the cut in a major for the first time as a professional in the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. Woods, who has had two previous operations on his left knee, underwent his third surgery two days after finishing second at this year’s Masters. “I made the decision to deal with the pain and schedule the surgery for after the Masters,” he said last month. “The upside is that I have been through this process before and know how to handle it. “I look forward to working through the rehabilitation process and getting back to action as quickly as I can.” Later last month, he admitted he was becoming frustrated over the delay in his return to the PGA Tour. “I’m a little stir crazy,” the 32-year-old said in his April newsletter. “Although I’ve been through this before and understand the need for patience, I don’t enjoy sitting around. “I really don’t have a timetable for returning to competition. I’m just going to do what they (the doctors) tell me to do.” Posted May 27 2008, 09:04 AM by Golf International with no comments Filed under: Golf International, Tiger Woods, PGA Tour, 2008, Memorial

• Fourteen Exempted in to US Open

  Arron Oberholser already has had a tough time this year with a hand injury. He was dealt another blow Monday when he was knocked out of the U.S. Open by the tiniest of margins based on tournaments held on three continents. Oberholser was losing a spot or two each week in the world ranking while recovering from injuries to his left hand, falling to No. 45. But he dropped six spots to No. 51 at the worst time—the cutoff for the top 50 being exempt to the U.S. Open. He wound up .004 points behind Soren Hansen, who already was eligible. “It’s a goofy system—we all know that. But it’s the system we have,” Oberholser said while waiting on lunch at Muirfield Village. “I probably deserve it. I haven’t played but five events because of my hand. And when I have played, I haven’t played well.” The U.S. Open will be held June 12-15 at Torrey Pines in San Diego. Fourteen players were exempt from U.S. Open qualifying based on the world ranking and money lists on the PGA and European tour. Rod Pampling received a small consolation from Colonial. Even though he lost a two-shot lead on the back nine to Phil Mickelson, his tie for second at the Crowne Plaza Invitational was enough to move Pampling from No. 69 to No. 47 and avoid a 36-hole qualifier Monday. Also getting into the U.S. Open through the world ranking were Ian Poulter, Stuart Appleby, Robert Karlsson, Sean O’Hair, Martin Kaymer, Justin Leonard, Mike Weir and J.B. Holmes. Ryuji Imada, Anthony Kim and Jeff Quinney earned spots by being in the top 10 on the PGA Tour money list. Miguel Angel Jimenez defeated Oliver Wilson in a playoff at the BMW Championship in England, and both qualified for the U.S. Open as Nos. 1 and 2 on the European tour’s Order of Merit. Seventy-two players were exempt from qualifying, including defending champion Angel Cabrera and Tiger Woods, who was exempt in 10 categories. That leaves 84 spots available at 36-hole sectional qualifiers next Monday. How did Oberholser fall six spots in one week? He lost a few points when his tie for fourth at Colonial two years ago was wiped off the slate, but that wasn’t enough on its own. It took good results from six players on three tours who were behind him in the ranking going into last week: — Toru Taniguchi tied for fifth on the Japan PGA Tour. — Tim Clark birdied two of the last three holes and tied for second at Colonial, along with Pampling. — Wilson moved into the top 50 with his playoff loss at Wenworth, while Hansen birdied the 17th hole to tie for 34th earning enough points to hold down the 50th spot in the ranking. — Quinney birdied the last hole at Colonial and tied for seventh, earning enough points to move from No. 52 to No. 49. “The perfect storm,” Oberholser said. “I kept looking at the ranking and was falling one spot, two spots. And then I fall six spots when I least needed that to happen. It’s very disappointing.” Oberholser said he will not go to sectional qualifying Monday because he doesn’t think his tender hand can take 36 holes in one day. He had not played since a tie for 25th at the Masters, taking six weeks off for rest and therapy and returning last week at the Colonial, where he tied for 59th and received no points. It would not have mattered had he taken last week off because Oberholser has played fewer than 40 tournaments over the last two years while coping with various injuries. And this might not be the last of his troubles. He said the grip pressure in his left hand was 30 percent weaker than his right hand after the Masters, but therapy has reduced that gap to about 5 percent. But doctors also found a bone spur in the top of his left hand. If it gets too painful, he might face surgery. “I’ve kind of written this year off,” Oberholser said. One thing was certain on Monday. He won’t be playing the U.S. Open for the first time since 2004. Posted May 27 2008, 09:00 AM by Golf International with no comments Filed under: Golf International, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, U.S. Open, Stuart Appleby, Justin Leonard, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Robert Karlsson, 2008, Mike Weir, Martin Kaymer, Anthony Kim, J.B. Holmes, Jeff Quinney, Sean O’Hair, Ryuji Imada, Rod Pampling, Oliver Wilson, Ian Poulter, Arron Oberholser