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Tiger Woods birdied five of his last 10 holes during second-round play today, carding a 5-under 67 (his second of the week) to seize a share of the 36-hole lead with Nick Watney in the HSBC Champions, final World Golf Championship of the year, according to the Associated Press. Seven of the top nine players on the leaderboard heading to the weekend hail from the United States, including Phil Mickelson as the world's made three birdies over the last four holes for a 66 to finish one shot behind the top spot.
Our View: Woods has finished in 2nd place at the HSBC Champions twice before. After consecutive holes failing to make birdie with a wedge in his hand, he knocked in a 10-foot birdie on the ninth and was on his way. He reached the par-5 18th in two for one last birdie to catch Watney (70) at 10-under 134. They were one shot clear of Mickelson, Ryan Moore (69) and Alvaro Quiros. Anthony Kim and Pat Perez reside one stroke off that group, giving golf fans a wonderful environment to watch and enjoy this weekend.
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Nick Watney has used his first round to leap in front of the pack at the first World Golf Championship in Asia, carding a round of 64 (-8) to tie the course record and seize first place by two strokes over Ryan Moore, Martin Kaymer, and Nick Dougherty, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: He birdied his first two holes from inside 10 feet, then hit a hybrid where he wasn't aiming on the par-5 14th. He was playing away from the flag -- and the water guarding the right side -- pushed it slightly and was relieved to see it settle 30 feet behind the hole. He made the putt for eagle and turned in 31, then fired off four straight birdies while building a two-shot lead. Matt Kuchar and Pat Perez were among those at 68, while Phil Mickelson, Jason Dufner and Brian Gay checked in at 69. Of the top 20 on the leaderboard through the opening round, nine were Americans. |
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Ryan Moore, having earned notice as the PGA Tour's only sponsor-free player in recent years, has inked a deal with Scratch Golf in which he will not only use their equipment but will also become part owner of the company, according to Jason Sobel with ESPN.
Our View: A five-year tour pro, Moore takes over an equity ownership role with the company and has various performance incentives built into his contract. In exchange, he will use irons and wedges from Scratch Golf, while also wearing its logo on his clothing and golf bag. Moore is currently competing at the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai and wasn't immediately available for comment. He opened with a first-round 6-under 66 for a share of second place, two strokes behind leader Nick Watney. |
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Greg Norman's slower-than-expected recovery from shoulder surgery will force him to miss next month's Australian Open, according to the Associated Press. Tournament officials said that Norman was advised by his doctors not to play competitive golf again this year following arthroscopic surgery in September.
Our View: Golf Australia said Norman will also sit out his signature event in Florida, the Shark Shootout, in the week after the Australian Open. Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott and John Daly are entered in the Australian Open, the second of three tournaments on the Australian late-year circuit. |
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Anthony Kim has announced he will forego his place in the Dubai World Championship, an event with a $7.5 million financial pool, according to the Associated Press. "I'm not going," Kim said Wednesday evening on the practice range at the HSBC Champions (reports indicate Kim was the last to arrive due to visa troubles that forced him to spend all of Tuesday in Hong Kong). "I need the week off," he said. "My parents want to see their boy."
Our View: Kim has been one of the most traveled players in the game this season, filing cards in Australia, Malaysia, Spain, China, New Zealand, and (of course) England and America. He is one of six US-based golfers to join the European Tour to join the Race for Dubai, a series of events that will invite the top 60 on the money leaders list to qualify. Of the six golfers from the States to join the fight, Kim, Geoff Ogilvy, and Camilo Villegas are the only to make that top 60. Kim will not be repalced in the Dubai World Championship. |
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This week's HSBC Champions, the newly-added fourth installment of the World Golf Championships series, will be the first time in their careers that Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have engaged in professional competition in Asia, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Since the creation of the World Golf Championships in 1999, Tiger has emerged victorious in 16 of the 30 WGC events, including this year's Bridgestone Invitational. Mickelson has not been nearly as success at the WGC venues but he has served as the champion at the HSBC before (2007). Both golfers remarked to the AP reporters today that the opportunity to promote golf around the world while still playing in a PGA-sanctioned event has encouraged their decisions to include more international tourneys. This week's $7 million will be the largest in the history of professional golf in Asia. |
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Erik Compton, the professional golfer made famous as the recipient of two heart transplants, has received another exemption into the Children's Miracle Network Classic at Disney next week, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Compton also received an exemption last year and tied for 60th. He was allowed to ride in a cart, just five months after his second transplant, but will be walking this season. Compton received the exemption Tuesday, a week after he was medalist by seven shots in the first stage of Q-school. |
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Doug Barron has become the first golfer on the PGA Tour suspended for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy, according to Bob Harig with ESPN. The Tour reports Barron will be suspended for one full year.
Our View: Barron has just four starts on the Nationwide Tour this season with one start on the PGA (failing to make the cut). Harig notes Barron's suspension will start immediately though his official status is not fully known as he was participating in professional golf this season under a medical exemption. Reports fail to indicate what substance Barron tested positive for and the Tour reports they will not be commenting on the matter. |
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Ross Fisher found the winner's circle following an exciting win over Anthony Kim in today's final at the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Fisher eagled the 22nd hold and birdied the next to take an insurmountable lead following missed opportunities over the next three holes for Kim. Fisher never trailed Kim during the match, earning $1.1 million while moving into third place in the Euro Tour money standings. Kim, who would have been the youngest winner in tournament history, improved his chances of playing in the season-ending Dubai World Championship by earning $666,000. The finish moved him into the top 35 on the money list. |
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Ian Poulter carded a score of 72 (+1) to secure the win at the Barclays Singapore Open by one stroke over WC Liang, according to Reuters.
Our View: Poulter struggled on the day but was able to finish strong. He started in a tie for first with 12 holes still to play in his third round and started posting bogeys after a birdie on his first hole. However, he found four birdies over the six holes after the turn to reclaim the top spot. He was back and forth playing with Graeme McDowell, holding on to win his eighth European Tour event. |
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