Australasian tour suffers under PGA Tour heat

 

Andrew Both August 20, 2013

By Andrew Both

GREENSBORO, North Carolina (Reuters) - As the heavyweight U.S. PGA Tour revamps its schedule and continues to expand internationally, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the world's other tours to survive, let alone thrive.

 Nowhere are the problems more acute than in Australia, a proud golfing nation that has produced some of the game's greatest players, including this year's Masters champion Adam Scott and former world number one Greg Norman.

 The PGA Tour of Australasia has shrunk considerably since the halcyon days of a couple of decades ago when Japanese sponsorship money and the regular presence of home-grown superstar Norman combined to create a perfect storm that yielded a dozen or more world-class tournaments.

This year, the tour has dwindled to just four tournaments offering prize money of at least $1 million (A$1.1 million). That might not be too much of a problem if the country's top players competed in all four, but this will not be the case.

 Among the notable absentees will be Australian veteran Stuart Appleby, a nine-time winner on the PGA Tourwho intends to skip his home circuit for the first time.

"I haven't got any plans to play in Australia this year," Appleby, 42, told Reuters. "It will be the first time I've aborted the whole schedule.

"The new schedule has made it really difficult and unfortunately there is very little making Australia look like a proposition now (for us) to come back and play.

"Many of us have done it for 15 years or so but you may find that this is now a trend and that you'll see very few guys (going back to Australia to play)."

The PGA Tour of Australasia faces several problems, but perhaps none is greater than the fact that three of its four big tournaments (in October and November) will clash with the start of the 2013-14 PGA Tour season.

For the first time, the U.S. circuit will officially launch its season in October, rather than in January, and six events will be played in late 2013, with two of them in Asia.

It is no coincidence that the Australian Open, the only event on the PGA Tour of Australasia that does not clash with the 2013-14 PGA Tour, will have the strongest field.

SOFTENING THE BLOW

 Masters champion Scott will help soften the blow this year by playing in three events - the Australian PGA Championship in Queensland (Nov 7-10), the Australian Masters in Melbourne (Nov 14-17) and the Australian Open in Sydney (Nov 28-Dec 1).

But, as Appleby observes, Scott cannot be expected to prop up the tour indefinitely.

"Adam is going to put in a fair effort this year and that's awesome of him but he can't be held accountable for holding the torch the next five years," Appleby said.

"I love playing in Australia and truly wish I could but the Australian tour is a small tour and insignificant on the world stage compared to the other tours.

 "Asia (where the PGA Tour has mainly expanded) has made a big difference. The whole landscape has changed, and I don't know how Australia is going to deal with that change in scheduling.

"Corporately we're a strong economy and yet we've had our prize money drop in golf. It's going to take a miraculous amount of ingenuity to get our prize money back to where it was."

The irony is that Florida-based Appleby will still visit Australia toward the end of the year - on a holiday with his family.

"Older guys like me have kids locked into school (in the U.S.)," he said.

"It's unfortunate but I feel like all the Australian guys, we've put our time in. I've done as much as I can and I hope there's a way we can move forward in five years, but I'm not sure how that's going to be possible."

(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

Teen star Lydia Ko wins again in Canada

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- Lydia Ko breezed through another perfect Sunday in the Canadian Women's Open - until a reporter pressed the amateur about missing out on another $300,000 payday.

''I don't care! I don't care!'' Ko said. ''I can say that a couple times more, if you want.''

The 16-year-old New Zealander successfully defend her title, closing with a 6-under 64 at Royal Mayfair for a five-stroke victory and her fourth win in professional events.

''I'm pretty surprised, but I played some really good golf out there, so I was really happy about that,'' Ko said. ''My goal today was to shoot 5 under and just play my own game. If somebody else shot better, then I can't do anything about it.''

Last year at Vancouver Golf Club in British Columbia, the South Korean-born Ko became the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history at 15 years, 4 months, 2 days. She also became the fifth amateur winner in tour history and the first since JoAnne Carner in the 1969 Burdine's Invitational.

''I never really thought about making history and all that,'' Ko said.

Ko's other victories in professional events came last year in the Australian tour's New South Wales Open and this year in the Ladies European Tour's New Zealand Women's Open. Projected to jump from 19th to seventh in the world ranking, she has played 14 LPGA Tour events the last two seasons, making the cut in everytournament. She also won the U.S. Women's Amateur last summer.

Ko was again asked about turning professional.

''I've got some people above me like my mom and dad, they're the boss,'' Ko said. ''They're going to help me to make the right decision and to turn pro at what time. I think as I'm only 16 still, it's quite hard to make huge decisions. When I turn pro it's like a job. Money is all about it and everything like that, every shot counts. Yeah, I think my parents and New Zealand golf they're all going to have a say, and hopefully we'll make a really good decision on when I will turn pro.''

Ko had a 15-under 265 total after opening with rounds of 65, 69 and 67.

A stroke behind Caroline Hedwall entering the final round, Ko birdied five of the first eight holes and reached 15 under with a birdie on the par-4 12th. She dropped a stroke on the par-4 13th, parred the next four and closed with a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th.

''I didn't have it coming,'' Ko said about her final putt. ''That's why I was like, 'Oh, my God.' I was pretty worried it would just go straight down because I knew it was a slippery putt. No, I just hit a little bit, and it trickled down in the hole.''

France's Karine Icher was second after a 67 - and ended up with the $300,000 check.

''I would like to play tomorrow,'' Icher said. ''It was a good day today. I'm very happy with my game.''

She marveled at Ko's performance.

''She's amazing,'' Icher said. ''Sixteen-years-old and to win twice. She has no fear, I guess. It's incredible. As an amateur and so young, it's great for women's golf, but not so great for us.''

Hedwall, the Swede coming off a record 5-0 Solheim Cup performance in Colorado in Europe's blowout victory over the United States, had a 71 to tie for third at 9 under with Brittany Lincicome(69).

''I was trying to keep up with (Ko), but at the same time I couldn't hit it as close and I couldn't make as many putts,'' Hedwall said. ''She was just really impressive today.''

Golf-World rankings

Aug 26 (Reuters) - World rankings on Monday (U.S. unless

stated, last week's positions in brackets):

 1. (1) Tiger Woods 14.38 average points

2. (4) Adam Scott (Australia) 9.44

3. (2) Phil Mickelson 8.62

 4. (3) Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) 8.18

 5. (5) Justin Rose (England) 7.88

6. (6) Matt Kuchar 6.58

7. (7) Brandt Snedeker 6.32

 8. (8) Jason Dufner 5.99 

9. (9) Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) 5.82

 10. (10) Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 5.77 

11. (11) Luke Donald (England) 5.09

12. (12) Keegan Bradley 5.06

 13. (14) Lee Westwood (England) 4.93 

 14 (13) Steve Stricker 4.92

15. (19) Jim Furyk 4.70

 16. (17) Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 4.53 

17. (15) Ian Poulter (England) 4.52

18. (18) Jason Day (Australia) 4.49

 19. (16) Ernie Els (South Africa) 4.44 

 20. (20) Sergio Garcia (Spain) 4.37

(Editing by Josh Reich)

Golf-PGA Tour money list

Aug 26 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013 PGA

Tour on Monday (U.S. unless stated):

 1. Tiger Woods $8,215,119

2. Phil Mickelson $5,224,727

3. Matt Kuchar $5,100,008

4. Brandt Snedeker $4,913,261

5. Adam Scott (Australia) $4,646,513

6. Justin Rose (England) $3,691,881

 7. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) $3,465,963

8. Bill Haas $3,281,963

9. Keegan Bradley $3,180,813

 10. Billy Horschel $3,117,543

11. Jason Day (Australia) $2,981,763

 12. Kevin Streelman $2,878,018

 13. Jordan Spieth $2,724,820

14. Jason Dufner $2,678,134

15. Boo Weekley $2,601,662

 16. Dustin Johnson $2,572,844

 17. Steve Stricker $2,553,532

18. D A Points $2,507,287

19. Webb Simpson $2,487,284

20. Jim Furyk $2,433,929

(Edited by Josh Reich)

Europe finally wins the Solheim Cup in America

CBSSports.com wire reports

Aug. 18, 2013 9:18 PM ET

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Hedwall birdies on the 18th to become the first in Solheim Cup history to win all five of her matches. (USATSI)

PARKER, Colo. -- Even with six rookies on her team, captain Liselotte Neumann told the Europeans this was their time to make history in the Solheim Cup.

All she wanted was for them to prove they could win in America.

They gave her so much more.

Caroline Hedwall became the first player in Solheim Cup history to win five matches, and the final point was for more than the 24-year-old Swede. She stuck her approach on the 435-yard 18th hole into 4 feet for a birdie that gave her a 1-up win over Michelle Wie and assured Europe of keeping the cup.

"I'm still shaking," Hedwall said. "It's just amazing."

Moments later, Catriona Matthew holed a 5-foot par putt to halve her match and give Europe the outright win on the seventh try in America.

And it only got better.

Even as the celebration played out across Colorado Golf Club, tears rushing over the European stickers on their cheeks, Neumann's crew kept battling for half-points until the very end. The Solheim Cup ended when Cristie Kerr and Karine Icher reached the 18th green -- the scene of this great outdoor party -- and conceding each other birdies to get on with the celebration.

That final half-point put Europe in the record books again -- 18-10, the biggest blowout since this competition began in 1990.

"It was really fun to see Caroline get her fifth point this week, making some history on the team," Neumann said. "Winning here for the first time, making more history. ... I'm sure we'll go have a drink or two and do some dancing and singing tonight."

The Americans have an 8-5 lead in the series, though this is the first time they have lost back-to-back in the Solheim Cup. The Americans are without the Solheim Cup, the Ryder Cup, the Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup, the four biggest team events between both sides of the Atlantic.

U.S. captain Meg Mallon, gracious to the end, could only point to a poor performances on the slick greens -- and her team's inability to close. Over the final three-hole stretch, Europe had a 17-10 advantage in holes won.

"The way we played 16, 17 and 18 I think is what really made the difference," Mallon said. "It wasn't for lack of preparation because we played this golf course quite a bit. So it wasn't like a surprise for us. It was just a matter of who dropped the putts on those holes. And unfortunately, it was the Europeans."

And she didn't get much help from her best players.

Stacy Lewis, the highest-ranked American coming off a Women's British Open title at St. Andrews, went 1-2-1 for the week. Paula Creamer was 1-3 and was blown out by a 17-year-old Charley Hull in Sunday singles. Angela Stanford was the other player without a point this week, going 0-4. Cristie Kerr, the most experienced American on the team, went 1-2-1.

Europe's rookies were 12-5-2, with Hull stealing the show. The English teenager showed no fear, at one point asking Neumann, "When am I supposed to be nervous?"

"I didn't really feel that nervous, to be honest," Hull said. "Because this is how I always look at golf -- I'm not going to die if I miss it. Just hit it, and find it, and hit it again."

It really was that simple.

"It's a fantastic feeling right now," Neumann said. "I'm so proud of them. They played such good golf this week. They just played tremendous golf."

Hull, the youngest player in Solheim Cup history, capped off her amazing week by demolishing Creamer in a match that set the tone for Europe. Another rookie, Carlota Ciganda, handed Morgan Pressel her first lost in singles in four appearances to go 3-0 for the week.

Not even a one-hour delay due to lightning in the area could damper this European celebration. Suzann Pettersen was lining up her putt on the 16th hole when she heard the cheers from the 18th, got the news that Hedwall won her match and began pumping her fist.

Matthew holed the winning the putt, but the Europeans really won Saturday afternoon when they swept the fourballs matches to build a 10-5 lead, matching the largest margin going into Sunday.

Raucous cheering on the first tee raised American hopes of the greatest comeback in Solheim Cup history.

Once they got on the golf course, it was a hopeless cause.

Mallon stacked some of her best players at the top of the lineup with hopes of filling the leaderboard with red scores and building momentum. Europe was ahead early four of the opening five matches.

Brittany Lang delivered a point, though she had a tussle with Azahara Munoz until winning on the 17th.

Lewis, in the opening match, didn't take her first lead against Anna Nordqvist until driving the green on the par-4 14th for a birdie. But the closing stretch belonged to Europe, as it had all week. Lewis missed an 8-foot birdie on the 16th for a chance to go 2 up, and the Swede found more magic on the 17th. One day after her hole-in-one, she holed a 20-foot birdie putt to square the match, and Lewis had to make a 7-foot par to get a half-point.

Ciganda, the Spanish rookie who couldn't break 80 in her opening fourballs match, finished with five straight birdies to pull away from Pressel.

Europe's biggest boost came from its youngest star.

Hull, playing as if she had been here many times before, dropped in a 45-foot birdie putt on No. 6 to take her first lead, and she demoralized Creamer from there, 5 and 4. Creamer has not made it beyond the 14th hole in singles losses the last two Solheim Cups.

Hull only showed her age at the end. She took a marker from her bag and asked Creamer if she could sign a golf ball for a friend back home.

"He's a big fan, so I thought I might as well get one," Hull said.

By the end of the week, the Americans had reasons to ask for the autographs.

Malnati wins first Web.com Tour title

CBSSports.com wire reports

Aug. 18, 2013 10:45 PM ET

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Peter Malnati won the News Sentinel Open on Sunday for his first Web.com Tour title, birdieing five of the last seven holes for a one-stroke victory.

Malnati, a former University of Missouri player from Dandridge, Tenn., closed with a 5-under 65 for a 16-under 268 total at Fox Den Country Club. He earned $99,000 to jump from 80th to 16th on the money list with $155,917 in seven starts, assuring him of PGA Tour playing privileges in the 2013-14 season.

"I've worked really hard and I love doing this," Malnati said. "The only thing that stresses me out is wondering am I going to have to play mini tours next year? And the answer to that is no."

James White, Miguel Angel Carballo, Matt Bettencourt and Blayne Barber tied for second. White had a 66, Carballo and Bettencourt shot 67, and Barber finished with a 68.

PGA Tour Expert Picks: The Barclays

by Kyle Porter | Golf Writer

Aug. 21, 2013 11:44 AM ET

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Each week during the official PGA Tour season, CBSSports.com's Kyle Porter will give his best shot at pegging the winner and seeing what other golfers will have a good week. The picks are based on a combination of homework, guesswork and just plain instinct.

Want to make your picks? Tweet your Winner, Top 10 finisher and sleeper to @EyeOnGolf

Odds provided by Bovada.lv

Field | Course Guide | Previous Champions | Schedule | Rankings, FedEx Points

Liberty National Golf Club -- Jersey City, NJ

Purse: $8 million

Defending Champion: Nick Watney

TV Schedule

Thursday: GOLF -- 3-6 p.m.

Friday: GOLF -- 3-6 p.m.

Saturday: GOLF -- 1-2:30 p.m., CBS -- 3-6 p.m.

Sunday: GOLF -- Noon-1:30 p.m., CBS -- 2-6 p.m.

Pick to win

Luke Donald Odds: 50 to 1 World Ranking: 11 These odds seem way too high for a guy who's finished in the top 18 at this tournament in each of the last three years. The last time Donald went winless worldwide for an entire year was 2009. With no wins yet this year, I'd say he's overdue. In his last five tournaments Donald has two top 10s (and, strangely, three cuts) so I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the Englishman get a W in New Jersey.

Lock for Top-10 finish

Brandt Snedeker Odds: 28 to 1 World Ranking: 7 Snedeker finished T3 at this tournament in 2011 and second last year so he's inching ever closer to that win. Throw in a T12 in 2009 and I'm convinced he'll be inside the top 10 this year -- especially with how he's been playing the last few weeks. Before the Bridgestone he had three straight top 11s including a win in Canada.

Sleeper

Nick Watney Odds: 125 to 1 World Ranking: 33 Watney is the defending champion here and you can get him at 125-1? How does that make sense? It's not like it was a one-time thing either. He finished T10 in 2011 and T6 in 2009. Sure, he's been playing terribly of late but there's nothing like getting on a course you traditionally play well at to bust out of that slump.