Allen holds two-shot lead at U.S. Senior Open

Allen holds two-shot lead at U.S. Senior Open

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July 13, 2013 9:27 PM


(Reuters) - American Michael Allen withstood four bogeys on the back nine to cling to a two-stroke lead over surging compatriots Kenny Perry and Fred Funk after three rounds of the U.S. Senior Open in Omaha, Nebraska, on Saturday.

Allen, who seized a record five-shot lead after a brilliant seven-under-par 63 at Omaha Country Club on Friday, was 10 under par and still leading by five at the turn on another hot day at the hilly layout.

Back-to-back bogeys from the 10th were balanced by birdies at 13 and 14, but bogeys at 16 and 18 put Allen at two-over 72 for the day for a total of eight-under-par 202.

At the par-three 16th Allen did not get up and down from the greenside bunker, and a wayward drive at the last sent him on his way to a closing bogey.

"Today I had a few more bads than goods," said Allen. "But it's fun. It's nice to be in the lead."

Perry closed strong with birdies at 16 and 17 for a six-under 64 that put him on 204 along with Funk, who birdied the last two holes for 67.

"I played unbelievable today," said Perry, who two weeks ago won the Senior Players Championship. "I hit every fairway, green. It was an easy six-under. It was just stress-free."

Perry began the round 10 shots off the lead.


"I went from the outhouse to the penthouse," he said about a round aided by greens softened from watering to combat the extreme heat.

Funk, winner of the 2009 championship at Crooked Stick, sank a 35-foot birdie at the last to tie for second with Perry.

Two more strokes adrift was 1995 U.S. Open winner Corey Pavin, who posted bogey-free 64 for 206, one stroke better than fellow-American Rocco Mediate, who carded a 72.

"I think there was a few more accessible pins today so I think it played probably a little easier with the pin placements," said Pavin.

Ten players were tied on two-under-par 208 including Mark O'Meara (70), Tom Lehman (70), Steve Pate (67) and Taiwan's Lu Chien-soon (65).

Sounding more like a weekend golfer than an accomplished pro, Pavin said he was still grappling with the same things with his swing.

"I've been working on trying to get the club more inside," noted Pavin.

"I've been doing that for about 40 years now and I'm still working on it."

(Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by Gene Cherry/Greg Stutchbury)

Summerhays fires 62 for lead, Johnson lurking

Summerhays fires 62 for lead, Johnson lurking

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July 13, 2013 9:28 PM


(Reuters) - American Daniel Summerhays fired a nine-under-par 62 to grab a two-stroke lead over Canadian David Hearn heading into Sunday's final round of the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois.

Defending champion Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner and overnight co-leader, was lurking just off the pace another shot back at 16-under-par 197 after posting 67 at TPC Deere Run in the third round on Saturday.

Summerhays, looking for his first PGA Tour win, had 10 birdies against a lone bogey in ideal scoring conditions, using a string of three in a row from the 15th hole to vault to the top of the leaderboard.

"I think when I'm playing well the mentality is make as many birdies as you can," Summerhays told reporters.

"I'm really looking forward to (Sunday). I'm playing really well."


Hearn, also seeking his maiden tour victory, posted eight birdies and one bogey in his 64, running off three successive birdies over the same stretch of holes from 15.

Tied for fourth on 198 were Americans J.J. Henry (65) and Jerry Kelly (66).

Australian Matt Jones and Americans Nicholas Thompson and Chris Kirk were another shot back. Two-time U.S. Junior Amateur champion Jordan Spieth, 19, was among three players on 200, six shots off the pace after three rounds.

Summerhays blew a two-shot lead during the final round of last year's Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico but said he was more relaxed this time.

"I know there's going to be obstacles and challenges, as there always are," he said.

"There are always things that stand in your way. But I'm just excited to see what those are and deal with them."

Johnson sank not one but two massive putts on Saturday, a 60-foot eagle putt on the par-five second hole then a 42-foot birdie putt on the par-four 14th, to surge into contention.

"I certainly think there were a lot more positives out there than negatives," Johnson said. "My putter has been great. Even the ones I've missed have been great."

(Reporting by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Gene Cherry/Greg Stutchbury)

Golf-Issue of single-sex clubs is divisive, says R&A

Golf-Issue of single-sex clubs is divisive, says R&A

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July 17, 2013 7:57 AM



By Ed Osmond

GULLANE, Scotland, July 17 (Reuters) - British Open organisers the R&A are aware the issue of gender and single-sex golf clubs is a divisive one which it is finding increasingly difficult to handle, said chief executive Peter Dawson.

The 142nd British Open starts on Thursday at Muirfield, one of three male-only member clubs on the tournament's rota, and the R&A has again come under pressure to change its stance.

"Obviously the whole issue of gender and single-sex clubs has been pretty much beaten to death recently," Dawson told a news conference.

"And we do, I assure you, understand that this is divisive. It's a subject we're finding increasingly difficult, to be honest."

Dawson said the R&A (Royal & Ancient) had been at pains recently to try to explain some of the facts around the issue.

"Single-sex clubs are in a very small minority in the UK," he added. "Half of them are women only, half of them are men only. They're perfectly legal. In our view they don't do anyone any harm.

"The media are, with seemingly boundless energy and enthusiasm, giving out the message that this is an issue and that such clubs should be condemned to extinction and we shouldn't be using one to stage the Open Championship.

"We understand that view," said Dawson. (Editing by Tony Jimenez)

Golf-McIlroy hits back at Faldo on eve of British Open

Golf-McIlroy hits back at Faldo on eve of British Open

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July 17, 2013 8:51 AM


By Tony Jimenez

GULLANE, Scotland, July 17 (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy hit back at Nick Faldo on Wednesday after the six-times major winner told the young Northern Irishman earlier in the week that he had to devote more time to golf.

McIlroy has had a troubled season after changing clubs at the start of the year following the signing of a mega-bucks deal with Nike and he was clearly irritated by Faldo's comments.

"He said I should be at the course nine to five," the world number two told reporters on the eve of the 142nd British Open at Muirfield.

"I actually was on the range at 6.15 (yesterday) and got out of the gym at 6:15, a 12-hour day compared to his eight-hour day.

"Nick should know how hard this game is at times and he's been in our position before. He should know how much work that we all put into it."

Englishman Faldo, who turns 56 on Thursday and is playing in the Open this week for the first time in three years, hinted on Monday that McIlroy was spending more time than he should on off-the-course activities.

"You have a window of opportunity, that's my only words of wisdom to Rory," said the veteran who now works as a full-time television commentator. "You have say a 20-year window as an athlete - concentrate on golf, nothing else.

"Hopefully you have another 40 years to enjoy it so just concentrate on your golf."

McIlroy acknowledged that Faldo was not trying to unduly criticise him.


"He probably said a million other things in that interview," said the 24-year-old. "He obviously said something about me and that's the thing that's been picked up by everyone.

"I know how these things go, I know he wasn't trying to get on my case at all. He was just offering words of advice in some way.

"(But) I think he has to remember how hard this game can be at times."

McIlroy is without a victory since the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November, a win that made sure he ended the year as the number one golfer in Europe and the United States.

"I think the game's like life, you're going to go through highs and you're going to go through lows. It's just about trying to work your way out of the lows," said the twice major winner.

"I haven't played my best golf this year but I've showed signs that it is there. It's just a matter of trying to do that more often.

"Sooner or later it will turn around and I'll play the golf that everyone knows I'm capable of and the golf I know that's capable of winning major championships," said McIlroy.

McIlroy has left no stone unturned in his bid to prepare for this week's event at Muirfield.

"I played 18 holes last Monday and then 27 on Tuesday," he explained. "Then I played 18 this Sunday, 18 on Monday, 18 yesterday and I'll play nine today.

"That's a lot of holes. I've also got a new driver in the bag...it's a different head shape, more of a pear shape, but it encourages the club face to close a little bit more.

"My bad drive this year has been losing it to the right so this is encouraging the club face to square up on impact and obviously I'm not getting that right shot anymore which is a huge plus." (Editing by Justin Palmer)

Watson advice put Scott on majors trail

Watson advice put Scott on majors trail

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PGA.COM July 17, 2013 9:41 AM

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The fourth-ranked Adam Scott is one of the favorites and prominent names at the British Open at Muirfield …


By STEVE DOUGLAS, AP Sports Writer

GULLANE, Scotland (AP) -- Of all the words of consolation and advice for Adam Scott after his meltdown at last year's British Open, the most inspirational came from Tom Watson.

During a practice round for the Australian Open in December, Watson waited seven holes before addressing what happened to Scott at Royal Lytham & St. Anne's.

"He said that he let one slip early in his career, and he said he would never let that happen again," Scott recalled on Wednesday, back at the British Open. "He would just be tough and want it so badly, and sometimes maybe that has to happen for you to realize that."

The message clearly hit home with Scott -- the Australian went out and won the very next major, the Masters in April after a playoff with Angel Cabrera.

"It was a completely different situation at Augusta. But I felt like I played tough, especially in the playoff, because no one's going to give you a major," Scott said.

Scott's collapse at Lytham, where he bogeyed his last four holes to let slip a four-shot lead and give away the claret jug to Ernie Els, was one of the most memorable at an Open. It didn't quite have the drama ofJean Van de Velde at Carnoustie in 1999 but it wasn't far off.


Looking back, it may just be the making of him.

"No matter how you react, it's hard to console somebody who feels so terrible about it. But I think it's all the good advice and guidance that I've been given on how to handle playing a professional sport or handle just being a person and having a decent perspective on all that," Scott said.

"And somehow that turned into me taking Lytham as a positive, and just pushing me harder to try to get across the line to win a major."

The fourth-ranked Scott is one of the favorites and prominent names at the British Open at Muirfield starting on Thursday, but he's been trying to keep a low profile this week. It's nothing to do with his golf, more to do with Australia's woes in sport.

After the Wallabies' 2-1 defeat in the recent rugby test series against the British and Irish Lions, Australia's cricket team began the Ashes against England by losing the first test.

"It's a tough time being an Aussie over here at the moment, to be honest with you. I move very quietly around town," Scott said, with a smile.

"I'd love to get in here this week," he added, "and maybe spur our cricket team along to leveling the test series."

©2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press.

Golf-Fans to choose pin position at PGA Championship

Golf-Fans to choose pin position at PGA Championship

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July 23, 2013 5:42 PM



July 23 (Reuters) - Golf fans will play a direct role in course set-up for the first time in a major at next month's PGA Championship in Rochester, New York, organisers said on Tuesday.

Through the "PGA Championship Pick the Hole Location Challenge Hosted by Jack Nicklaus," fans will be able to choose online one of four designated pin positions at Oak Hill Country Club's par-three 15th for the final round.

The 181-yard 15th is a tricky, downhill hole with a narrow green guarded by water on the right and by two bunkers on the left.

"The chance for golf fans to interact with the PGA Championship and play a role in shaping the outcome of the final round fascinates me," golfing great Nicklaus said in a statement. "It's like being able to call the shots during the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl."

Fans will make their selections for the 15th hole via thePGA of America website (www.pga.com) between July 23 and Aug. 10. The final round of the PGA Championship is scheduled to be played on Aug. 11.

"The PGA of America is delighted to present this innovative opportunity, as we believe this is the first time that consumers have been able to make a direct and significant impact on a global sports arena," said PGAPresident Ted Bishop.

"We are honoured that the legendary Jack Nicklaus will lead fans as their host and teacher in understanding the nuances that the greatest players in golf consider and think about regarding course setup and hole locations."

Nicklaus, winner of a record 18 major titles, clinched the most recent of his five PGA Championship titles at Oak Hill in 1980.

The 95th PGA Championship will be played from Aug. 8-11 at Oak Hill where Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy will defend the title he claimed by a record eight shots last year at Kiawah Island. (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)

Fans to choose pin position at PGA Championship

Fans to choose pin position at PGA Championship

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July 23, 2013 5:44 PM

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Jack Nicklaus of the U.S. (R) is applauded by Arnold Palmer of the U.S. as he is introduced during the …


(Reuters) - Golf fans will play a direct role in course set-up for the first time in a major at next month's PGA Championship in Rochester, New York, organizers said on Tuesday.

Through the "PGA Championship Pick the Hole Location Challenge Hosted by Jack Nicklaus," fans will be able to choose online one of four designated pin positions at Oak Hill Country Club's par-three 15th for the final round.

The 181-yard 15th is a tricky, downhill hole with a narrow green guarded by water on the right and by two bunkers on the left.

"The chance for golf fans to interact with the PGA Championship and play a role in shaping the outcome of the final round fascinates me," golfing great Nicklaus said in a statement. "It's like being able to call the shots during the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl."

Fans will make their selections for the 15th hole via thePGA of America website (www.pga.com) between July 23 and August 10. The final round of the PGA Championship is scheduled to be played on August 11.


"The PGA of America is delighted to present this innovative opportunity, as we believe this is the first time that consumers have been able to make a direct and significant impact on a global sports arena," said PGA President Ted Bishop.

"We are honored that the legendary Jack Nicklaus will lead fans as their host and teacher in understanding the nuances that the greatest players in golf consider and think about regarding course setup and hole locations."

Nicklaus, winner of a record 18 major titles, clinched the most recent of his five PGA Championship titles at Oak Hill in 1980.

The 95th PGA Championship will be played from August 8-11 at Oak Hill where Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy will defend the title he claimed by a record eight shots last year at Kiawah Island.

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)