Sunday, June 30, 2013

Inbee Park makes history at U.S. Women's Open

Inbee Park holds the U.S. Women's Open trophy aloft after her four-shot victory.

(CNN) -- South Korea's Inbee Park entered the golfing record books Sunday as she wrapped up a four-shot victory in the U.S. Women's Open at Sebonack.

It made it three out of three majors this season for the World No.1, matching the record of the legendary Babe Zaharias, who achieved the feat in 1950.

Park, who won the Kraft Nabisco Championship in April and the Wegmans LPGA Championship earlier this month, will be looking to complete the grand slam in the upcoming British Women's Open and the Evian Championship in France.

When Zaharias achieved her milestone only three majors were on the schedule.

Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986) are the only other players in LPGA history to win three majors in a season.

The 24-year-old Park was always in control in testing last day conditions on the course in New York State.

She shot a two-over par 74 for an eight-under 280 aggregate. Fellow South Korean I.K. Kim matched her 74 to finish runner-up.

The remarkable Park was completing her sixth victory of the season and adding a second U.S. Open title to the crown she won back in 2008 at just 19.

On the men's European Tour, England's Paul Casey finished with a spectacular eagle to end a two-year victory drought by claiming the Irish Open at Carton House.

The Ryder Cup star was four back overnight but ripped through the field with a six-under 66 to finish three shots clear on 14-under-par.

England's Robert Rock shared second with third round leader Joost Luiten of the Netherlands.

Bill Haas also shot a 66 to win the AT&T National on the PGA Tour by three shots.

He finished on 12-under with Roberto Castro second after a 69.

Tiger Woods, whose foundation is a beneficiary of the tournament, sat out the event with a left elbow injury, but was on hand to congratulate Haas at the end.


Via: Inbee Park makes history at U.S. Women's Open

Friday, June 28, 2013

McIlroy leads exodus of home attractions

Rory Mcilroy looks dejected as he contemplates an early exit from the Irish Open at Carton House.

(CNN) -- World No.2 Rory McIlroy headlined a mass exodus of home hopes at the Irish Open Friday as failed to make the halfway cut at Carton House.

McIlroy battled to a level-par second round 72, but on two over 146 he was two outside the qualifying mark.

Former major champions Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke will also miss out on weekend play in a major disappointment for the Irish galleries.

McDowell and Harrington were shy by shot on one-over, but Clarke continued his disappointing form since landing the 2011 British Open as he slumped to six-over.

McIlroy has this year's British Open at Muirfield on his mind despite another disappointing display in a season marked by a series of lackluster performances.

Read: McIlroy and Woods fall off the pace at Merion

After his first round 74, the Northern Irishman left himself plenty to do and the birdies putts refused to drop.

"From tee to green it was much better," McIlroy told the official European Tour website.

"But I need to put in a hard work and the hours to get ready for the Open in two weeks time," he admitted.

With leaders Peter Ulhlein of the United States and England's Robert Rock on nine-under 135, the Irish challenge rested with former winner Shane Lowry.

The Carton House specialist was on seven-under 137 and McIlroy, who played with him the first two rounds, said Lowry had a "great chance."

Read: McIlroy slumps to opening 78 at Memorial

Lowry admitted that the departure of his big name compatriots was disappointing for the loyal crowds.

"It's that type of golf course," he said. "It's easy to go out there and shoot 75.

"It's tricky, especially in conditions like this, and it's unfortunate to see Rory and Padraig and Graeme miss the cut, but hopefully I can give the Irish guys something to cheer about this weekend."

Lowry has former European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal for company in the chasing pack, the veteran Spaniard claiming he had not given up hope of winning again on the European Tour.

"The captaincy took a lot out of me, I could not dedicate as much time to my game, but now it's over I can spend time on the range working on my game," he said.

"I have never lost hope, that's why I spend hours and hours on the range."

Rock, last year's Abu Dhabi Championship winner, returned to form with a brilliant 66 with four birdies and an eagle to share the lead with Ulhlein, who won last month's Madeira Open.


Via: McIlroy leads exodus of home attractions

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Virtuoso Ryu hits the high notes on LPGA Tour

So Yeon Ryu is seeking to win her second major title at this week's U.S. Women's Open in Southampton, New York.

(CNN) -- So Yeon Ryu was seven years old when she gave her first violin recital. She was in love with music, but at age 12 she had to make a tough decision.

"I started playing golf in elementary school. One day my golf coach took the team to a golf course and I fell in love with it. I loved walking the course and being out in nature," recalls Ryu, now 22.

She started to notice several professional golfers, like fellow South Korean Grace Park. "She was fashionable, powerful and beautiful," Ryu says.

Her golf was getting so much better that her mother asked what everyone had been thinking: "Do you want to become a violinist or a professional golfer?"

The moment of truth

"It was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. I always wanted to become violinist," Ryu acknowledges.

By that time, she already had a role model: a girl who played on the elite U.S.-based LPGA Tour, and who, at age 20, became the first South Korean to claim a major title: Se Ri Pak.

Read: From military kid to major champion

"She is a great trailblazer for all Korean golfers. She played super great on the LPGA and because of that we could dream about playing on the world stage," Ryu says.

"But, this is not only her influence, we must be thankful to Grace Park, and Mi-Hyun Kim and other first generation Korean players on the LPGA."

With her mind solely on golf, Ryu informed her family about her decision to put the violin to one side, though her mother was not convinced.

"'Really? No violin?' My mom was so disappointed with my decision because everybody said I had a talent for music. I think my mom enjoyed choosing my recital dresses and having me perform on stage."

The transition

Waking up early for practice was one of the toughest things in Ryu's new life. Little by little she got used to it and during the transition she discovered that her musical background would be very helpful.

As a junior golfer, she had some trouble with her swing but her shots were good enough. "My swing tempo was consistently well and I think I got my good tempo from music," she says.

In 2006, at age 16, Ryu represented South Korea in the Asian Games in Qatar and won gold in the individual and team events.

Having impressed as an amateur, Ryu turned professional at the end of the following year and joined the KLPGA, the Korean women's tour.

She won her first tournament as a KLPGA member, triumphing by four strokes at the Sports Seoul Open in April 2008.

Read: Golf's 'Pink Panther' invests in future stars

Her first winner's check brought her back to her first love -- she bought a violin for her sister, who had decided to pursue music as a career.

The 2009 season would be even better for Ryu. Aged just 19, she won five times, earned over $500,000 and finished second in the Player of the Year race.

But the real breakthrough came in 2011, at the most prestigious tournament in the female game: the U.S. Women's Open.

After a shaky opening round that put her six strokes off the pace, Ryu shot 69 on Friday and Saturday to share the lead going into the final day.

The tournament ended in a showdown between Ryu and her rival Hee Kyung Seo -- who had beaten her to the KLPGA player of the year award two years earlier.

Read: Creamer finds inspiration in overcoming adversity

This time it was Ryu who prevailed. She forced a playoff with a birdie on the last regulation green before, after three extra holes, becoming just the fifth South Korean to win the major.

A sixth, Na Yeon Choi, will defend her title at Sebonak Golf Club in Southampton, New York, this week.

Ryu emulated her hero Pak -- who 13 years earlier became the first Korean to win it -- and, along with the winner's check of $585,000, it prompted her to make the next big step in her career.

"I transferred from the KLPGA to the LPGA and people started to recognize me," she says. "I moved to the U.S. and I am now based in California. That was a pretty big change, relocating to another country."

A keen student

Despite moving, Ryu continued studying physical education at Yonsei University, a private institution and the oldest of her country, and graduated in February this year with a bachelor's degree in sports management..

"I could not and would not trade my university life for anything. It was such a great time for me," she says.

"Sometimes I couldn't sleep during a tournament because of assignments. I had to wake up early if I wanted to practice before going to class. Physically, it was a hard job but it was worth it."

That work ethic goes some way to explaining the success of Korean women golfers and Ryu is now hoping that she can inspire new generations of young players like Pak and Kim did for her.

"I'd love to be someone's role model. I want to share my experience and heart," says the golfer, who finished second behind compatriot and close friend Inbee Park at this season's opening major, the Kraft-Nabisco Championship in April,.

"I would like to donate to poor people or junior golfers. I really want to support young golfers, not as an instructor but as a manager."

The best decision

Ryu's determination at age 12 has led her to become one of the best players in women's golf; she currently sits fifth in the Rolex world rankings, just behind Choi, while Park is No. 1 after also winning this month's LPGA Championship.

Last weekend the two friends battled for victory at the NW Arkansas Championship event, with Park beating Ryu in a playoff to claim her fifth win this season.

"Inbee and I practice together a lot so when we are standing at the 18th hole, it feels like just a practice round," Ryu told reporters. "I wasn't really nervous. Two players cannot be champion, so she deserved it."

Ryu was named 2012's LPGA Rookie of the Year, having won the 11th title of her pro career by a massive seven shots at the Jamie Farr Toldeo Classic.

Her love for music is still alive, and Ryu acknowledges that it "is too hard" to even think of trading her accomplishments in golf for a night as concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic or Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Her mother, who once was not satisfied with her daughter's decision, is now "so happy that I am a professional golfer."

And it was from her mom that she received the advice that has shaped her career: "Enjoy your life."


Via: Virtuoso Ryu hits the high notes on LPGA Tour

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Els magic ahead of Muirfield

Ernie Els savors his moment of triumph after landing the BMW International Open in Munich.

(CNN) -- Ernie Els gained the perfect confidence boost ahead of his defense of the British Open title by completing a wire to wire victory in the BMW International Open in Munich Sunday.

The 43-year-old South African carded a final round three-under-par 69 to win by a shot from fellow veteran Thomas Bjorn of Denmark on 18-under 270.

Bjorn had looked set for his second victory in the event, but a double bogey on the 14th proved costly as he also shot a 69.

The ever-popular Els was winning for the first time since claiming his fifth major title at Royal Lytham last year and he will now go to Muirfield next month in fine fettle.

Read: Els and Bubba share leads

"Winning this championship will just give me so much confidence going into the Open Championship," he told the official European Tour website.

Thomas was playing great, but he stumbled on 14," he added.

"When you go up against Ernie, you've got to take it 18 holes to the end and I didn't quite do it today, former Ryder Cup star Bjorn admitted.

Els is the oldest winner of the 25-year-old tournament, beating the previous record of Zimbabwe's Mark McNulty, who won the event in 1994 aged 38.

It was his 28th on the European Tour and while he has entered the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, he has strongly hinted he may withdraw to concentrate his efforts on the British Open.

French rookie Alexander Levy claimed third place on 16-under while Sede Alexander Noren, home favorite Martin Kaymer and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger finished tied for fourth on 15 under par.


Via: Els magic ahead of Muirfield

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Bubba and Els share leads

Bubba Watson shares the lead going into the final round of the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.

(CNN) -- Ernie Els was in a three-way tie for the lead going into the final round of the BMW International in Munich as he was joined at the top of the leader board Saturday by France's Alexander Levy and Swede Alex Noren.

The reigning British Open champion has been at the head of affairs since a brilliant 63 on the Munchen Eichenried course Thursday, followed by a pair of 69s.

Heavy rain held up play for over two hours and again Els finished with a flourish, birdying three of his final five holes to draw level with Levy and Noren at 15-under 201.

England's Mattew Baldwin and Dane Thomas Bjrn were a shot further back in a tie for fourth.

"All in all I've got to be happy," said Els, who had held the outright lead since opening with a brilliant 63 at Golfclub Mnchen Eichenried.

"I'm in a good position still, just hanging onto the lead or co leader now, and tomorrow is all to play for," he told the official European Tour website.

The 43-year-old Els is playing his final tournament before his title defense at Muirfield next month and coming off the back of a fine display at the U.S. Open where he tied for fourth behind Justin Rose.

American Peter Uihlein was on 13-under with a clutch of big names one shot further back, including defending champion Danny Willett and home hero Martin Kaymer.

Sergio Garcia of Spain also moved into contention with a superb seven-under 65 to go into the last day four shots behind and still in contention.

Meanwhile, in the Travelers Championship on the PGA Tour, Bubba Watson wasted the opportunity to claim the outright lead with a shaky back nine on the TPC River Highlands course.

The 2012 Masters champion appeared to be set for a big lead going into the last day when he went to the turn with three birdies to reach 13 under, but coming home he struggled.

Bogeys on the 13th, 15th and 17th saw him share top spot with first day leader Charley Hoffman and Graham DeLaet of Canada, who carded a fine 65 for 10-under 200.

U.S. Open champion Justin Rose stayed in contention for back to back wins with a 68 to join a big group on seven under, three shots back.


Via: Bubba and Els share leads

Friday, June 21, 2013

Evergreen Els leads in Munich

Ernie Els stayed ahead of his rivals with a last hole birdie in the BMW International second round in Munich.

(CNN) -- Evergreen Ernie Els set the halfway pace at the BMW International in Munich Friday after finishing his second round with a flourish.

Coming off the back of a strong performance at the U.S. Open where he tied for fourth behind Justin Rose, the 43-year-old South African carded a three-under 69 on the Munchen Eichennied course.

Combined with his superb first round of 63, it left Els on 12-under 132 and one shot clear of Frenchman Alexander Levy (68) and England's Matthew Baldwin (69), who tied for second place on 11-under par.

Els slipped back when he carded a double bogey after finding the water on the seventh, but four birdies in the next seven holes saw him back in command.

Read: Emotional Rose shares dream with his late father

He dropped a shot on the 16th, but grabbed the outright lead with a birdie at the last.

"I'm in a nice position obviously," he told the official European Tour website.

"I'm quite fortunate to be where I am. I didn't play as good today as I did yesterday obviously. I fought hard for a score today and satisfied with that." Els will be looking for a morale boosting victory ahead of his defense of the British Open title at Muirfield next month.

Defending BMW champion Danny Willett of England improved his chances of doubling up in the 25th edition of the tournament with a seven-under 65, tied for fourth with Bernd Wiesberger of Austria.

Home hope Martin Kaymer battled an upset stomach to card a one-under 71 to stay in the hunt on nine under par in a five-strong group which also included popular Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Read: Winning? There's more to life says Jimenez

Meanwhile, at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut, Rose kept in touch with the leaders after another solid round on the TPC River Highlands Course.

Fresh from his triumph at Merion, the Englishman carded a two-under 68 to go into the clubhouse on five-under 135.

It left him five shots adrift of leader Bubba Watson, who shot a 67 to follow his opening 63.

Watson, a runner up in the event last year, is searching for his first win since last year's U.S. Masters.

His nearest challengers were Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Patrick Reed, who were both eight-under.

First round leader Charley Hoffman slipped back after his opening 61 with a 73.


Via: Evergreen Els leads in Munich

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Tiger and Obama: Golf's power pairing

President Obama and Tiger Woods enjoyed a round of golf in Palm Beach, Florida in February this year. The press were left disappointed though, as it was a strictly private affair.

Living Golf is CNN's monthly golf program. Click here for showtimes, videos and features.

(CNN) -- Butch Harmon could hardly believe what he was seeing.

Two of the most recognizable faces on the planet were casually shooting the breeze as they swept down the fairway in Florida.

While the White House press pack fumed outside the gates, President Obama enjoyed a leisurely 18 holes with the world's number one golfer Tiger Woods.

If ever there was a powerhouse pairing, this was it.

"It was really amazing," renowned golf coach Harmon told CNN's Living Golf show about that momentous February day when he had a greenside view.

"If you'd have told me 20 years ago that a black man would be the President of the United States I would have said you're crazy.

Read: Amen Corner: God's Golfers

"And if you'd have told me 20 years ago that a black golfer was going to be the greatest golfer that ever walked the planet I'd say you're crazy, and there they go."

Harmon is already more than familiar with Woods, having played an influential role in his formative years, sculpting the swing that would capture eight major championships by the age of 26.

He has also coached other stellar names in the world of golf, such as fellow American Phil Mickelson and South African Ernie Els -- both with four majors to their name -- as well as Australians Greg Norman and Adam Scott, the current Masters champion.

But never before in his illustrious career had he been afforded the chance to offer a few tips to the leader of the free world -- himself a golf fanatic.

The U.S. President spent hours in a teaching studio at The Floridian resort, alongside Butch's son Claude -- also a coach to some of the game's leading lights -- as they fine-tuned a swing that by Harmon's evaluation needed some work.

"President Obama loves golf," he explained. "He's not very good, he's probably an 18 or 20 handicap, plays left-handed, didn't hit the ball very far with a weak fade but we got him where he could draw and hit about 250, 260.

Read: Golf's 'wicker men' challenge

"When he gets out of office in another three years and he has a chance to play, he could probably get down to a 10 or 12 handicap -- but he loves to play and he knows so much about everything. He loved the place. He said 'Man, I'm coming back here.'

"We'd love to (have kept) the film of the lesson we gave him but as soon as he walked out the secret service took everything and they had to watch us delete it all from the computers.

"In this day and age with the multimedia stuff all over the world, he didn't want it to show up on YouTube.

"I said to this one secret service guy, 'I actually went on YouTube to look at the president's swing and it was terrible, you actually might want some of these shots because they're better than the ones you have. These look pretty good!' "

The President and a clutch of his closest friends bunkered down at The Floridian for a weekend's vacation -- his erstwhile secret service detail, naturally, in tow -- on the invitation of the resort's owner, Jim Crane.

Crane, owner of the Houston Astros baseball team, and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk joined Obama for one of his two rounds on the Sunday, and making up the numbers just happened to be a 14-time major winner.

Not that Woods is a stranger to the President. The 37-year-old delivered a speech at Obama's inauguration back in 2009, though he has always tried to stay away from politics throughout his career.

Read: Tiger tops highest-paid list

But whether Woods is a Democrat, Republican, or apolitical, the invitation to play with the President is not one to be ignored, according to Harmon.

"In all honesty it doesn't matter what your politics are, if you get the chance to play golf with the President -- which is the highest honor in our country -- whether you voted for him or not or agree with the politics, it's a great honor.

"When the President drove up and he instantly went right over and said, 'Tiger it was great to see how well you played at Torrey Pines when you won the (Farmers Insurance Open) tournament.'

"He was into it, he wanted to play with Tiger, he was asking about his swing. It was great, it was fun to watch, and it was fun to see it and fun to be part of it."

The Harmons have a rich history of rubbing shoulders with Washington power brokers.

Claude Snr. was the last club professional to win a major championship when he secured the Masters title in 1948.

His four sons Butch, Craig, Bill, and Dick all became golf professionals and had a keen eye for teaching, just like their father.

And from a young age they knew that Claude's golfing prowess opened some pretty special doors.

Read: 'Fried chicken' jibe 'hurts' Woods

"My father played with so many presidents himself," Harmon explained. "He played with Eisenhower and he played with Ford, Nixon, and I got to play with a lot of them too when I was younger.

"I think if my father was still alive he'd be very proud of all of us. He'd be proud of the four sons, he'd be proud of his grandson because in reality we're just carrying on what he taught us and what he did and we're a very proud family.

"He had the greatest eye I think of anyone that's ever taught and he saw things that other people didn't see and quickly, he knew how to fix them, he'd watch you hit five or six balls and he'd know exactly what you were doing wrong."

It was that wisdom passed down from father to son that led Harmon to believe that the 13-year-old kid presented to him in 1993 could go on to be one of the greatest players the game had ever seen.

Woods' father Earl had noted the work Harmon had done with Greg Norman and asked if he could bring his son over to hit some balls. The session was filmed by Butch's young son Claude.

"You've seen the footage, he's a tall skinny kid in tennis shoes hitting balls and you just saw this natural talent that this kid had," Butch said.

"I asked him so many different kinds of questions about how do you do this? Why do you do that? He didn't know it at the time but I was giving him an examination, trying to find out really what ticked in his head, what he knew about golf.

"The kid was special, he was just a special person you could see it. It was no surprise to me that he turned out to be who he was."


Via: Tiger and Obama: Golf's power pairing

Tiger Woods pulls out of AT&T National

World No. 1 Tiger Woods first picked up a left elbow injury at the Players Championship last month.

(CNN) -- World No. 1 Tiger Woods has pulled out of this weekend's AT&T National to ensure he is ready for next month's British Open.

The 14-time major winner has an ongoing left elbow injury which he first picked up on his way to winning last month's Players Championship.

Woods' decision means he will not defend the title he won in 2012.

Read: Rose shares boyhood dream with late father

"I was examined after I returned home from the U.S. Open, and the doctors determined I have a left elbow strain," the 37-year-old told the PGA Tour's official website.

The British Open, which will be held at Muirfield, begins on July 18. The American will be looking to win a first major title since the 2008 U.S. Open.

Woods aggravated his injury at last week's U.S. Open at Merion, which saw him finish 13-over par in a tie for 32nd position.

It was his worst performance in 16 appearances at the tournament.

"I have been advised to take a few weeks off, rest and undergo treatment," he added. "I'll be ready to go for the British Open, and I'm looking forward to playing at Muirfield.

"I would like to extend my regrets to AT&T, our sponsors and the fans in the Washington, D.C., area.

"The AT&T National means a lot to me and my foundation. It's especially difficult not defending at my own tournament. It's going to be a great event, and I look forward to being there to provide my support."

Woods has enjoyed a stellar 2013 so far, regaining his position at the top of the world rankings and winning four PGA Tour titles.


Via: Tiger Woods pulls out of AT&T National

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Rose denies Mickelson at U.S. Open

(CNN) -- Justin Rose became the first English golfer in 43 years to win the U.S. Open on Sunday as Phil Mickelson failed to conjure up a 43rd birthday present for himself.

The American finished as runner-up at the tournament for the sixth time, while the 32-year-old Rose ended his long wait for a major title as he triumphed by two shots after a tense final round in Pennsylvania.

Mickelson needed to birdie the last hole to force a playoff -- which no-one had managed during the final round -- but he ended up dropping a shot and tying for second with Australia's Jason Day.

World No. 3 Rose, who moved to Britain from South Africa as a five-year-old, launched himself onto the golf scene when he finished fourth at the 1998 British Open as the leading amateur.

However, he missed the cut in his first 21 tournaments as a professional and took time to find his way after losing his father and mentor Ken to cancer in 2002.

Read: U.S. Open final leaderboard

"You saw me look to the heavens, with it being Father's Day -- I was just trying to remember my dad," Rose told reporters.

He became the second first-time major winner this season, following Australian Adam Scott's victory at April's Masters, as he made up a two-shot deficit on Mickelson going into the final round.

Mickelson made a terrible start, with two double-bogeys either side of a birdie within his opening five holes, and Rose had a share of the lead with Day at the halfway stage.

Mickelson regained the lead with a superb eagle at the par-four 10th, but Rose bounced back from a bogey with birdies at 12 and 13 before dropping back to level with his rival.

However, Mickelson paid for a poor shot at 15 as he dropped back to two over and Rose responded with pars at 17 and 18 -- the latter chipping from off the green with a three-wood to give himself a tap-in for an even par round of 70.

That left Mickelson needing to produce the kind of putting heroics that Rose displayed against him in last year's decisive singles match at the Ryder Cup at Medinah, but the left-hander will have to wait another year to win his national tournament -- having also been bridesmaid in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2009.

"Very heartbreaking," Mickelson said. "This is probably the toughest for me."

Read: Woods, McIlroy trail Mickelson at U.S. Open

World No. 1 Tiger Woods endured his worst performance at the U.S. Open since turning professional as he closed with 74 to be 13 over for the tournament -- his highest score when making the halfway cut.

"There's always a lesson to be learned in every tournament whether you win or lose," said Woods, who had been seeking his fourth U.S. Open win and 15th major overall.

"I'll look back at the things I did right and the things I did wrong. I did a lot of things right. Unfortunately I did a few things wrong as well."

Second-ranked Rory McIlroy also had a miserable week, and ended it by breaking a club after making a quadruple bogey during his closing 76 -- which left him a shot behind Woods in a tie for 41st.

"What you don't want to do as a golfer is follow one mistake with another, and that's what I did," said McIlroy, who won the first of his two mjaors at the 2011 U.S. Open.

"I think that's what this tournament does to you. At one point or another it's got the better of you, and it definitely did this weekend."

Veteran South African Ernie Els finished tied for fourth with Americans Hunter Mahan, Jason Dufner and Billy Horschel, with the British Open champion closing with 69.

Mahan had been in contention for his first major title but he faded on the home stretch, with a double bogey at the 15th before dropping shots at his last two holes to card 75.

Dufner shot 67 for the equal best score of the final day -- which was matched by 10th-placed Hideki Matsuyama of Japan.

Michael Kim was the leading amateur as he finished in a tie for 17th on 10-over 290.

The 19-year-old, born in South Korea but raised in San Diego, suffered a double bogey at his last hole as he signed for a 76.


Via: Rose denies Mickelson at U.S. Open

Monday, June 17, 2013

Rose denies Mickelson at Merion

(CNN) -- Justin Rose became the first English golfer in 43 years to win the U.S. Open on Sunday as Phil Mickelson failed to conjure up a 43rd birthday present for himself.

The American finished as runner-up at the tournament for the sixth time, while the 32-year-old Rose ended his long wait for a major title as he triumphed by two shots after a tense final round in Pennsylvania.

Mickelson needed to birdie the last hole to force a playoff -- which no-one had managed during the final round -- but he ended up dropping a shot and tying for second with Australia's Jason Day.

World No. 3 Rose, who moved to Britain from South Africa as a five-year-old, launched himself onto the golf scene when he finished fourth at the 1998 British Open as the leading amateur.

However, he missed the cut in his first 21 tournaments as a professional and took time to find his way after losing his father and mentor Ken to cancer in 2002.

Read: U.S. Open final leaderboard

"You saw me look to the heavens, with it being Father's Day -- I was just trying to remember my dad," Rose told reporters.

He became the second first-time major winner this season, following Australian Adam Scott's victory at April's Masters, as he made up a two-shot deficit on Mickelson going into the final round.

Mickelson made a terrible start, with two double-bogeys either side of a birdie within his opening five holes, and Rose had a share of the lead with Day at the halfway stage.

Mickelson regained the lead with a superb eagle at the par-four 10th, but Rose bounced back from a bogey with birdies at 12 and 13 before dropping back to level with his rival.

However, Mickelson paid for a poor shot at 15 as he dropped back to two over and Rose responded with pars at 17 and 18 -- the latter chipping from off the green with a three-wood to give himself a tap-in for an even par round of 70.

That left Mickelson needing to produce the kind of putting heroics that Rose displayed against him in last year's decisive singles match at the Ryder Cup at Medinah, but the left-hander will have to wait another year to win his national tournament -- having also been bridesmaid in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2009.

"Very heartbreaking," Mickelson said. "This is probably the toughest for me."

Read: Woods, McIlroy trail Mickelson at U.S. Open

World No. 1 Tiger Woods endured his worst performance at the U.S. Open since turning professional as he closed with 74 to be 13 over for the tournament -- his highest score when making the halfway cut.

"There's always a lesson to be learned in every tournament whether you win or lose," said Woods, who had been seeking his fourth U.S. Open win and 15th major overall.

"I'll look back at the things I did right and the things I did wrong. I did a lot of things right. Unfortunately I did a few things wrong as well."

Second-ranked Rory McIlroy also had a miserable week, and ended it by breaking a club after making a quadruple bogey during his closing 76 -- which left him a shot behind Woods in a tie for 41st.

"What you don't want to do as a golfer is follow one mistake with another, and that's what I did," said McIlroy, who won the first of his two mjaors at the 2011 U.S. Open.

"I think that's what this tournament does to you. At one point or another it's got the better of you, and it definitely did this weekend."

Veteran South African Ernie Els finished tied for fourth with Americans Hunter Mahan, Jason Dufner and Billy Horschel, with the British Open champion closing with 69.

Mahan had been in contention for his first major title but he faded on the home stretch, with a double bogey at the 15th before dropping shots at his last two holes to card 75.

Dufner shot 67 for the equal best score of the final day -- which was matched by 10th-placed Hideki Matsuyama of Japan.

Michael Kim was the leading amateur as he finished in a tie for 17th on 10-over 290.

The 19-year-old, born in South Korea but raised in San Diego, suffered a double bogey at his last hole as he signed for a 76.


Via: Rose denies Mickelson at Merion

Rose shares 'boyhood' dream' with late father

(CNN) -- As Justin Rose emerged onto the 18th fairway and saw his ball just yards from the spot where Ben Hogan fired his famous one iron to the green in 1950, he knew it was his moment to seize the U.S. Open crown.

The 32-year-old knew if he could repeat Hogan's par on the notoriously tricky 18th hole at Merion in Pennsylvania he could end England's 43-year wait for a champion in America's national championship.

With thoughts of his late father Ken swirling round his mind, Rose struck a near-perfect approach shot and duly completed par.

When Phil Mickelson failed to birdie the same hole moments later, Rose had sealed his first major triumph.

Read: Rose denies Mickelson at Merion

It meant success at the 37th time of asking for Rose, who became the first Englishman to win a major since Nick Faldo's Masters success in 1996.

"I just had to stand up there and be counted," he told CNN World Sport. "It was a major, it was my moment, it was stand up and deliver.

"It was a special moment when I walked over the hill and saw my ball sitting right there on the up slope in the middle of the fairway.

"Hogan definitely popped into my mind because I know he hit the green and two-putted to get into a playoff.

"Someone had chirped from the crowd 'Rose, a good iron shot, two putts and its yours.' And in a sense that was all I was trying to do at that point."

Rose held his nerve at the end of a day that fluctuated wildly, as crowd favorite Phil Mickelson desperately tried to nail down victory in a tournament he had finished runner up in five times.

An audacious chip in for eagle from Mickleson at the tenth hole swung the momentum his way but Rose responded immediately, with birdies at the 12th and 13th.

And as he negotiated the fiendishly difficult closing stretch of holes in just one-over-par, it left Mickelson needing a birdie on the last to force a playoff.

He couldn't, which left an emotional Rose with his own special moment on Father's Day, as he remembered his dad Ken, who lost his battle with cancer in 2002.

"I've thought about my dad quite a bit this week," Rose explained to Living Golf anchor Shane O'Donoghue.

"Saturday I was driving to the course and I looked in the rear view mirror and saw my eyes and that was one thing my dad always knew -- he could tell by the look in my eyes if I was going to play well or not.

"I thought 'I wonder how my dad thinks I'm going to play today.' I always knew the U.S. Open finishes on Father's Day and I'd been in contention most of the week and I really wanted that moment I could share with him and honor him.

"He sacrificed so much for me and taught me the game. I've seen Rory (McIlroy) celebrate with his dad, G-Mac (Graeme McDowell) celebrate with his dad.

"I've always thought that moment must just be so special and for me, today, it was special in my own way."

The new world No. 3 burst onto the scene as an amateur at the 1998 British Open when he finished fourth. But that early promise stalled as he missed 21 cuts in a row after turning professional.

He has steadily been working his way towards the summit of the game with notable victories on the PGA Tour and a stellar showing for Europe in the Ryder Cup at Medinah last year.

But he revealed it is only recently he has felt his game was equipped to capture one of golf's major prizes.

"I've been a pro a long time now -- 14 or 15 years -- but not until recently have I felt truly ready," he said.

"You try and kid yourself you are ready but this is one of the first majors I've ever played where I came in knowing if I go about my business I'm going to be hard to beat.

"It's just a really nice feeling to have that cleared off the plate now fairly early and it's a lot of boyhood dreams paying off."


Via: Rose shares 'boyhood' dream' with late father

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Tiger and Obama: Golf's most powerful pairing

President Obama and Tiger Woods enjoyed a round of golf in Palm Beach, Florida in February this year. The press were left disappointed though, as it was a strictly private affair.

Living Golf is CNN's monthly golf program. Click here for showtimes, videos and features.

(CNN) -- Butch Harmon could hardly believe what he was seeing.

Two of the most recognizable faces on the planet were casually shooting the breeze as they swept down the fairway in Florida.

While the White House press pack fumed outside the gates, President Obama enjoyed a leisurely 18 holes with the world's number one golfer Tiger Woods.

If ever there was a powerhouse pairing, this was it.

"It was really amazing," renowned golf coach Harmon told CNN's Living Golf show about that momentous February day when he had a greenside view.

"If you'd have told me 20 years ago that a black man would be the President of the United States I would have said you're crazy.

Read: Amen Corner: God's Golfers

"And if you'd have told me 20 years ago that a black golfer was going to be the greatest golfer that ever walked the planet I'd say you're crazy, and there they go."

Harmon is already more than familiar with Woods, having played an influential role in his formative years, sculpting the swing that would capture eight major championships by the age of 26.

He has also coached other stellar names in the world of golf, such as fellow American Phil Mickelson and South African Ernie Els -- both with four majors to their name -- as well as Australians Greg Norman and Adam Scott, the current Masters champion.

But never before in his illustrious career had he been afforded the chance to offer a few tips to the leader of the free world -- himself a golf fanatic.

The U.S. President spent hours in a teaching studio at The Floridian resort, alongside Butch's son Claude -- also a coach to some of the game's leading lights -- as they fine-tuned a swing that by Harmon's evaluation needed some work.

"President Obama loves golf," he explained. "He's not very good, he's probably an 18 or 20 handicap, plays left-handed, didn't hit the ball very far with a weak fade but we got him where he could draw and hit about 250, 260.

Read: Golf's 'wicker men' challenge

"When he gets out of office in another three years and he has a chance to play, he could probably get down to a 10 or 12 handicap -- but he loves to play and he knows so much about everything. He loved the place. He said 'Man, I'm coming back here.'

"We'd love to (have kept) the film of the lesson we gave him but as soon as he walked out the secret service took everything and they had to watch us delete it all from the computers.

"In this day and age with the multimedia stuff all over the world, he didn't want it to show up on YouTube.

"I said to this one secret service guy, 'I actually went on YouTube to look at the president's swing and it was terrible, you actually might want some of these shots because they're better than the ones you have. These look pretty good!' "

The President and a clutch of his closest friends bunkered down at The Floridian for a weekend's vacation -- his erstwhile secret service detail, naturally, in tow -- on the invitation of the resort's owner, Jim Crane.

Crane, owner of the Houston Astros baseball team, and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk joined Obama for one of his two rounds on the Sunday, and making up the numbers just happened to be a 14-time major winner.

Not that Woods is a stranger to the President. The 37-year-old delivered a speech at Obama's inauguration back in 2009, though he has always tried to stay away from politics throughout his career.

Read: Tiger tops highest-paid list

But whether Woods is a Democrat, Republican, or apolitical, the invitation to play with the President is not one to be ignored, according to Harmon.

"In all honesty it doesn't matter what your politics are, if you get the chance to play golf with the President -- which is the highest honor in our country -- whether you voted for him or not or agree with the politics, it's a great honor.

"When the President drove up and he instantly went right over and said, 'Tiger it was great to see how well you played at Torrey Pines when you won the (Farmers Insurance Open) tournament.'

"He was into it, he wanted to play with Tiger, he was asking about his swing. It was great, it was fun to watch, and it was fun to see it and fun to be part of it."

The Harmons have a rich history of rubbing shoulders with Washington power brokers.

Claude Snr. was the last club professional to win a major championship when he secured the Masters title in 1948.

His four sons Butch, Craig, Bill, and Dick all became golf professionals and had a keen eye for teaching, just like their father.

And from a young age they knew that Claude's golfing prowess opened some pretty special doors.

Read: 'Fried chicken' jibe 'hurts' Woods

"My father played with so many presidents himself," Harmon explained. "He played with Eisenhower and he played with Ford, Nixon, and I got to play with a lot of them too when I was younger.

"I think if my father was still alive he'd be very proud of all of us. He'd be proud of the four sons, he'd be proud of his grandson because in reality we're just carrying on what he taught us and what he did and we're a very proud family.

"He had the greatest eye I think of anyone that's ever taught and he saw things that other people didn't see and quickly, he knew how to fix them, he'd watch you hit five or six balls and he'd know exactly what you were doing wrong."

It was that wisdom passed down from father to son that led Harmon to believe that the 13-year-old kid presented to him in 1993 could go on to be one of the greatest players the game had ever seen.

Woods' father Earl had noted the work Harmon had done with Greg Norman and asked if he could bring his son over to hit some balls. The session was filmed by Butch's young son Claude.

"You've seen the footage, he's a tall skinny kid in tennis shoes hitting balls and you just saw this natural talent that this kid had," Butch said.

"I asked him so many different kinds of questions about how do you do this? Why do you do that? He didn't know it at the time but I was giving him an examination, trying to find out really what ticked in his head, what he knew about golf.

"The kid was special, he was just a special person you could see it. It was no surprise to me that he turned out to be who he was."


Via: Tiger and Obama: Golf's most powerful pairing

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Woods, McIlroy struggle at Merion

Phil Mickelson reacts on the 18th green during round three of the 113th U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club on June 15, 2013, in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.

(CNN) -- They've mirrored each other at Merion. And now it looks like both Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy won't be in contention on the final day of the U.S. Open.

Woods shot a six-over-par 76 Saturday on Merion's unforgiving East Course and McIlroy, second only to Woods in the world rankings, carded a five-over-par 75.

They were paired together for the third straight day, hitting identical 73s in first round and 70s in the second.

While Woods and McIlroy were only four shots behind co-leaders Phil Mickelson and Billy Horschel through two rounds, McIlroy had slipped a further two shots behind the clubhouse leader, Australia's Jason Day, and Woods was seven shots behind Day.

Read: Woods plays through pain

It got worse after Mickelson, a five-time U.S. Open runner-up, completed his round. McIlroy drifted to nine shots behind and Woods 10.

It means Woods' wait to end his five-year drought at majors appears set to continue.

Woods, bothered by a left arm injury he sustained en route to winning The Players Championship last month, raised hopes among his fans when he struck a birdie on the first hole.

Woods, though, wouldn't hit another birdie for the rest of the round. Instead he registered seven bogeys.

McIlroy, in search of a third major, wasn't much better, hitting one more birdie than Woods.

Read: Mickelson makes grade

The low scores at Merion have failed to materialize, and Sergio Garcia needed 10 shots to complete the par-4 15th hole. Despite the disastrous hole, he still managed to match McIlroy and shoot a 75.

Garcia said he was heckled in the first round and a fan blurted out, "fried chicken" before he teed off at his first hole Saturday. It was a reference to the "fried chicken" jibe Garcia directed at Woods last month.

Garcia issued a public apology and left Woods a note this week leading into the tournament.

Unlike Woods, McIlroy and Garcia, Day tamed Merion with a two-under-par 68.


Via: Woods, McIlroy struggle at Merion

Wounded Tiger at the U.S. Open

Tiger Woods, bidding for a first major in five years, shot a par 70 in the second round at tricky Merion.

(CNN) -- Dealing with Merion is turning out to be tough enough. But Tiger Woods is also battling an injury at the U.S. Open in Pennsylvania.

Woods revealed that he hurt his left arm while winning The Players Championship last month, which would explain why he grimaced noticeably on several occasions in the first round.

The world's top-ranked golfer was back in action in the second round Friday and shot a level-par 70 to complete two rounds at three-over-par 143.

Asked to provide more details about injury, Woods didn't elaborate.

"Well, it is what it is," Woods said.

Read: Woods triumphs in Florida

Woods is bidding to win his 15th major but first since 2008 at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

Back then he had to deal with seemingly a more serious injury -- a broken leg. He memorably beat Rocco Mediate in a playoff.

Given the challenging conditions at Merion, Woods suggested his total might not be so bad heading into the final two rounds.

Storms caused delays of more than four hours Thursday -- Woods had to complete his first round Friday -- and play was eventually suspended due to darkness. Windy conditions added to the degree of difficulty at Merion's shorter East Course.

Woods, Rory McIlroy and Masters winner Adam Scott made for a dream pairing and while Scott struggled, Woods and McIlroy -- the second-ranked golfer -- fared better.

Seen chatting amicably during the round, the duo compiled identical scores in the first two rounds.

Beginning at the 11th hole, Woods birdied the 13th for a good start. Two bogeys, however, on the 14th and 18th, meant he had work to do on the first nine.

He hit birdies on the second and fourth, although with a one-under-par in sight, he bogeyed the seventh. As evening descended on Merion, unheralded American Billy Horschel was the clubhouse leader at one-under-par 139.

Phil Mickelson, a five-time U.S. Open runner-up, led following the first round with a 67.

"I played well," Woods said. "I just made a couple of mistakes out there.

"But I really played well. Maybe I could have gotten one or two more out of it, but it was a pretty good day."

Read: Mickelson makes grade

McIlroy, who hasn't hit peak form in 2013, hit four birdies and four bogeys.

"I got through that tough stretch from 14 to 18 in only one over which was a pretty good effort," he told Sky Sports. "I played solid. It felt like every time I made a birdie I made a bogey straight away.

"It's a course where you sort of feel like you can shoot a score but where they put the pins ... it's just tricky and tough. I'm right there for the weekend and I'm happy about that."

Scott bettered Woods and McIlroy in the first round, shooting a 72. But he came undone nearing the end of his second round, hitting four bogeys in a row from the third to the sixth hole.

"I just lost my rhythm early this morning when it was a bit cold and windy and just fought with it all day long," Scott said. "The putter kind of cooled off.

"I would have liked to make some putts and then you're always happy."


Via: Wounded Tiger at the U.S. Open

Friday, June 14, 2013

Kuchar claims Memorial title

Matt Kuchar poses with the winner's trophy and Memorial Tournament host Jack Nicklaus at Muirfield Village.

(CNN) -- There are only two multiple winners on the PGA Tour this season -- one of them is in top form ahead of the U.S. Open, and the other is Tiger Woods.

Matt Kuchar moved up to second place in the FedEx Cup standings with victory at Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament on Sunday, having finished runner-up last weekend at the Crowne Plaza Invitational.

It is the first time the American has won more than once in one season, having also claimed the World Golf Championships Match Play title in February.

His four-under-par 68 in the final round was crowned by a 21-foot birdie at the last hole which left him two shots clear of fast-finishing Kevin Chappell, who is still waiting for his breakthrough win.

The biggest names in the field -- world No. 1 Woods and second-ranked Rory McIlroy -- were respectively nine and 13 shots off the pace after both carded par 72.

Read: Tiger rues 'rough day' at Memorial

For defending champion Woods, Sunday's effort was a relative relief after Saturday's nightmare 79 -- his equal second-worst score as a professional -- but he triple-bogeyed the par-three 12th hole that he had doubled in the third round. He also had a triple on Saturday.

The American has won this event five times, but is struggling to regain the form that has already brought him four victories this season ahead of the second scheduled major at Merion in Pennsylvania starting June 13.

"You want everything clicking on all cylinders, especially at the U.S. Open, because everything is tested in the U.S. Open," he said.

Woods is still four short of Nicklaus' record 18 major titles, and has not won one since the 2008 U.S. Open. He was eight over the card at Muirfield Village.

"It wasn't that bad today," Woods said. "It was just one hole that cost me obviously a few shots. It happens, it happens to us all."

McIlroy is also struggling for form ahead of the tournament that provided his first major win in 2011.

"I hit the ball much better today. I actually putted a little better, too. A little bit of work next week -- yeah, it's not that far away," the Northern Irishman said after finishing in a tie for 57th.

"It's just a little bit of an adjustment and something I can work on and something it was good to figure out this week, so I can work on it next week."

Kuchar, who has yet to win a major, was delighted after taking home the $1.16 million first prize in front of his wife and two children.

"It's such an amazing feeling, this stuff never gets old," the 34-year-old Ryder Cup player said after his sixth PGA Tour victory. "To win this and have Jack Nicklaus congratulate me is a real treat."


Via: Kuchar claims Memorial title

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Mickelson makes the grade at U.S Open

England's Ian Poulter tees off at the second hole during the first round of the 113th U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania on Thursday, June 13.

(CNN) -- It started with an overnight flight and a thunderstorm -- it finished with a place at the top end of the leaderboard.

Phil Mickelson would dearly love to win the U.S. Open having finished as runner-up on five separate occasions, but not even the lure of Merion was enough to keep him away from his daughter's eighth-grade graduation.

The four-time major champion missed the practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday to be with daughter Amanda in California before flying through the night on his private jet to Philadelphia.

Arriving in at 4.15am Thursday morning, Mickelson easily made his 7.11am tee time and produced his lowest round in the U.S. Open since 1999 with a three-under 67.

Read: Golf's 'wicker men'

"I loved having an early tee time," he told reporters following a rain-delayed round.

"I wish we did not have the delay because it made it a long day but the golf course is playing about as easy as it could, but Merion is fighting hard.

"It's one of the best I've seen for a US Open. It's soft but we are having a hard time getting under par."

Mickelson, 42, also insists his preparation for the tournament has not been undermined by spending time back in California.

He added: "When I was here the week before I was able to do all the work I needed, the last part was getting my game sharp so being able to do that in nice weather on a good practice facility was advantageous."

A three hour and 32 minute rain break meant an inauspicious start to the 113th U.S. Open, being hosted by Merion for the first time in 32 years.

The morning starters managed just 111 minutes of play before torrential rain hit the course and forced play to be suspended.

Read: No formal apology

Meanwhile, Spain's Sergio Garcia revealed he was heckled by "a couple of guys" during his opening round of 73.

Garcia's jibe last month that he would invite Tiger Woods round for "fried chicken" during the U.S. Open led to an immediate and unreserved apology from the Spaniard, who denied it was racially motivated.

Woods took to Twitter to register his disappointment with the remarks, calling them "wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate."

The two men shook hands on Monday and Garcia has sent Woods a note, but the Spaniard confirmed he had yet to hear from the World No.1.

Read: God's Golfers

Woods teed off alongside the two men directly below him in the rankings -- 2011 winner Rory McIlroy and Masters champion Adam Scott.

Woods, 37 has not won a major since he won the U.S Open at Torrey Pines in 2008 where he defeated Rocco Mediate on a playoff while playing with a broken leg.

A 15th major victory would take him to within three of all-time record of 18 set by Jack Nicklaus, whose final triumph came at the 1986 Masters at Augusta.

Amongst the early finishers, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson and Steve Stricker all ended on one-over for the day after rounds of 71.


Via: Mickelson makes the grade at U.S Open

'Wicker men' challenge for U.S. Open stars

The famous wicker basket flagsticks will be on full view again at the 2013 U.S. Open on the East Course at Merion.

(CNN) -- "I love Merion, and I don't even know her last name," legendary golfer Lee Trevino was once memorably quoted when asked about the venue for this week's U.S. Open.

"Supermex" had good cause for his admiration of the famous inland links near Philadelphia, having won the 1971 edition of the tournament after a playoff with Jack Nicklaus, no less.

Nicklaus, who went on to win a record 18 major titles, described Merion's championship East Course as "Acre for acre, maybe the best test of golf in the world."

Current No. 1 Tiger Woods is another big fan. "You have to be so disciplined to play that course," he said after a recent practice round.

So what is it about the Merion which evokes such praise -- and what will await Woods and his rivals when they bid for major glory this week? Thursday's opening round was disrupted by the arrival of predicted bad weather, but there is much more at the Pennsylvania venue to challenge the world's top golfers.

CNN's Living Golf has gone behind the scenes at the iconic venue to provide the definitive guide to the magic of Merion and all its charms.

Wicker wonders

Foremost among them are the famous red wicker baskets which are positioned above the pin sticks in place of conventional flags -- a peculiarity these days, though more common earlier in the history of golf.

They first appeared at Merion in 1915, three years after the course opened in September 1912.

The historical origins of the baskets and indeed the reason for them remain unclear, but by the time the 1916 U.S. Amateur Championship was hosted -- the first major event on the course -- they were still in place and have remained ever since.

The green staff even have a special machine into which each individual wicker basket flag can be gathered up each night in the "wicker cart."

When a move to replace "the wickers" with standardized flags was mooted, the outcry was loud and clear.

But, according to Trevino, they add to the challenge facing the golfers, particularly in breezy conditions.

"Generally when we stand out in the middle of the fairway we can see which way the flag is blowing so we have some idea of how to play the wind," he told CNN.

"But with the wicker baskets, no!"

Whoever emerges the winner this Sunday evening will be presented with a wicker basket to commemorate their win along with the championship trophy.

One-iron wonder

In 1950, the legendary American golfer Ben Hogan won the U.S. Open at Merion -- just 16 months after suffering terrible injuries in an automobile crash which nearly claimed his life.

By a curious twist, and for the only time, the wicker baskets were not used that year.

Perhaps they did not want to upset Hogan -- who had the unfair reputation of being a ruthless and aloof winning machine -- on his courageous comeback trail.

So when he came to play his second shot to the testing par-four 18th in the final round, he would have seen a flag blowing in the far distance over 200 yards away.

Struggling with pain from his still-healing injuries and knowing he needed to find the small green with his shot to have any real chance of joining two other golfers in a playoff, Hogan selected a one-iron club -- which hits the ball far and low if hit correctly.

Ever the perfectionist, Hogan's strike was pure perfection and brought gasps from the galleries as it arrowed its way to the heart of the green.

Two putts for a par were enough and he won the next day's 18-hole playoff against Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio.

The drama of the moment was captured for posterity by famous Sports Illustrated and Life Magazine photographer Hy Peskin. It is rated one of the best sports photos of the 20th century.

That club used by Hogan now resides in the U.S. Golf Association Museum as one of its prized exhibits.

Iconic winners

Hogan would be near the top of any list of all-time great golfers, but call it coincidence, the best of the best have filled the honors board at Merion.

The 1916 U.S. Amateur was the first tournament for a 14-year-old Bobby Jones. He returned in 1924 to win the event, but his victory in 1930 is best remembered.

In the days before the U.S. Masters and PGA Championship, the majors were considered to be the U.S. and British Opens and the British and U.S. Amateur Championships.

Jones, the dominant golfer of his era, amateur or professional, arrived at Merion in September 1930 needing to win the U.S. Amateur to complete the set in the same calendar year.

In the 36-hole final, played to a matchplay format, he thrashed his unfortunate opponent Eugene Homans, watched by a massive crowd. A reporter labeled the feat as the "Grand Slam" -- a term which has stuck. It was to prove Jones' final tournament as he retired from competition aged just 28 to practice law, although he was the driving force behind founding the Masters at Augusta.

Olin Dutra won the first U.S. Open to be staged at Merion in 1934, Hogan's 1950 heroics have gone down in golfing folklore, while Nicklaus famously led the United States to victory there in the Eisenhower Trophy (the World Amateur Team Championship) in 1960.

His four-round total of 269 is considered one of the greatest displays in the history of the game, but when Nicklaus returned to Merion for the U.S. Open at the peak of his powers in 1971 he found Trevino barring his way to victory.

They both tied in 280 level par after four rounds on a course Trevino described as holding "a lot of trouble and with a lot of tall grass."

Few gave him much chance in the playoff, but with a round of 68 to Nicklaus' 71 he claimed his second U.S. Open and his words "had beaten the best" giving him the belief he "really belonged" in very elite of golf.

David Graham claimed the fourth staging of U.S Open at Merion in 1980 and was in awe of his place in golfing history, becoming the first Australian to win the tournament.

"Bobby Jones won there, Trevino, Hogan won there and then this little kid from Australia comes along and wins," he told CNN.

Hogan phoned him after his victory and they had lunch. "He liked international players, he congratulated me on winning. It was cool," Graham said.

Anyone for cricket

Coming from Australia, Graham would acknowledge that while golf is a popular sport, cricket is a national obsession as it is in England -- the two battling for supremacy for the famous Ashes.

When the original Merion club was founded in 1865 -- a playground for the rich society elite of Philadelphia -- the British influence was still strong, so cricket was the chosen sport for the country club setting, while tennis also became popular.

In 1896, a golf club was formed from the membership and a course built on existing grounds.

The Merion East Course came later -- completed in 1912 and built on land acquired near Ardmore.

It was designed by one of the club's members, Scotsman Hugh Wilson -- who had never done such a job before.

Scottish roots

He went back home to find inspiration from Scotland's famous coastal links courses, and it was he who introduced the wicker baskets.

North Berwick Golf Course, near the border of England, has a strong resemblance to Merion, particularly the 15th and 17th holes.

The style of the bunkers is also different from that commonly found in the United States and according to Trevino are devilishly difficult. They are nicknamed the "white faces of Merion" and with good reason.

"The Scottish-type bunkers are unbelievable because you think you might be in the bunker, then all of a sudden you're in the lip of it and you can't find your ball, I mean it's hiding in there!" Trevino told CNN.

Trevino believes that despite its short length by modern standards, the combination of the bunkers, small greens and forbidding rough will leave Tiger and co. with a very real test.

"That'll be the toughest little 7,000-yard golf course you'll ever see."

Lunch tee

One of other challenges facing the players will be the unusually close proximity of the dining patio to the first tee.

Nerves jangling at the start of an important round, the players can almost hear the tinkle of cutlery and glasses as the members tuck in to some fine cuisine.

"It almost feels like you're teeing off in a carport because the first tee is just outside the door there," Trevino said.

"That's the way all the courses used to be. If you go over to Scotland and if you shank a ball out of a bunker, then you'll break the biggest window in the world in a dining room.

"That's the way they built it -- they had a lot of property, they didn't waste it. Now you're building golf courses on 500 acres and nine holes covers five miles!"

Merion, hosting the U.S. Open for the fifth time, takes up a mere 120 acres.

All about tradition

As Trevino and others have suggested, it is a course absolutely dripping with traditional influence and none more so than the clubhouse, which was once a farmhouse.

Players will use a changing room full of big metal lockers and period features.

Photos and old scorecards adorn the walls and there is a massive trophy case -- appropriate for a club which has hosted more USGA events, 18 in all, than any other in the United States.

The last was the 2009 Walker Cup amateur competition, where the likes of Rickie Fowler helped the United States to victory over Great Britain and Ireland.

Once on the course, players and caddies will have to do without yardage markers, while golf carts are prohibited even for members.

Graham has nothing but praise for the work of the club in preserving its culture and heritage.

"They've done such a superb job with their museum, they're very cognizant of the club's tradition and they do what Augusta National does. At all costs they protect the integrity of the club," the 67-year-old said.

"Certain (U.S.) Opens, like the one at Pebble Beach, is a little special and certainly the Open at Merion was special, especially for me."

Doubtless, whoever writes their name into the roll of honor under 2012 U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson will take away similar thoughts and join a list of special greats.


Via: 'Wicker men' challenge for U.S. Open stars

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Tiger Woods tops highest-paid athlete list

Golf's world No. 1 Tiger Woods has reclaimed his position as the world's highest-earning athlete, according to Forbes. The 14-time major winner picked up $13.1 million in salary/winnings in the 12 months to June 1, as well as $65 million from endorsements with companies such as Nike. Woods is thought to be close to resigning with the American sportswear giant.

(CNN) -- The last 12 months have seen Tiger Woods climb back to the top of the golf rankings, and now the 14-time major winner has reclaimed his crown as the world's highest-paid athlete.

Forbes estimates Woods' earnings for the 12 months to June 1 this year total $78.1 million, putting him ahead of tennis ace Roger Federer -- who topped the 2012 list.

The top 10 features two golfers, three soccer players, two NFL quarterbacks, two NBA stars and one tennis player.

The 100-strong list compiled by the influential business magazine features just three women, the highest-ranked of which is world No. 2 tennis player Maria Sharapova in 22nd place with earnings of $22 million.

Read: Forbes' full list

Woods has started 2013 in fine form, winning four PGA Tour titles so far this year. The 37-year-old pocketed $13.1 million in winnings over the last 12 months.

He has also cashed in on appearances fees, collecting over $10 million for playing in Abu Dhabi, China, Malaysia and Turkey.

Federer has won more grand slams than any other male tennis player in history with 17. The Swiss had total earnings last year of $71.5 million -- $14 million of which came from playing six exhibition events during a tour of South America.

Like Woods, Federer earns an estimated $65 million through endorsements, and both players are long-term members of Nike's stable of athletes. According to his agent Mark Steinberg, Woods is close to signing a new deal with the American sportswear giant.

Read: Bundesliga 'most profitable' league

NBA icons Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are third and fourth on the list respectively.

Bryant's salary with the Los Angeles Lakers is the highest in basketball at $27.85 million a year, $7 million more than any other player.

Miami Heat's "King James" earns $42 million from endorsements with major companies like Nike, McDonald's, Coca Cola and Samsung.

Quarterbacks Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers benefited from lucrative playing contracts worth $100 million and $110 million respectively.

Read: Amen corner - God's golfers

Golf's Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson is seventh on the list after making $48.7 million, with soccer trio David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi completing the top 10.

Former England captain Beckham recently ended his playing career with a five-month spell at French side Paris Saint-Germain. The $5.2 million salary he was paid during that time was donated to charity.

Beckham took home $47.2 million, profiting from commercial deals with Adidas, H & M and Samsung.

Real Madrid's Ronaldo pipped on-field rival Lionel Messi, earning $44 million compared to the Barcelona star's $41.3 million.


Via: Tiger Woods tops highest-paid athlete list

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Woods: No time yet for Garcia apology

Tiger Woods practices at Merion Golf Club as Sergio Garcia (far right) looks on

(CNN) -- Despite their public handshake on Monday it appears there is still some way to go before Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia bury the hatchet.

A long-running spat between the two golfers resurfaced after they shared a contentious round together at The Players' Championship in May.

After several verbal volleys in either direction, Garcia's joke that he would invite Woods round for "fried chicken" during the U.S Open led to an immediate and unreserved apology from the Spaniard, who denied it was racially motivated.

A statement from the world No. 1 on social networking site Twitter called the remarks "wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate."

Read: Woods: Garcia's jibe 'wrong and hurtful'

Woods also said that he was sure there was "real regret" on the part of Garcia and that it was time to move on.

Inevitably, the issue resurfaced as both players prepared to come face-to-face ahead of the second major of the year at Merion in Philadelphia.

The pair greeted each other on the practice range but the world No. 1 told a press conference on Tuesday there had been no time for a formal apology.

Asked if they had discussed Garcia's comments Woods replied: "No, we didn't discuss anything. Just came up and said 'hi' and that was it."

Woods was pressed by reporters as to whether the Spaniard had offered him any form of apology but he said: "No, we haven't had time for that.

"It's already done. We've already gone through it all. It's time for the U.S. Open and we tee it up in two days."

Garcia told a press conference he had hoped to meet Woods after their practice rounds on Monday but that the 14-time major winner had gone by the time he had finished.

"Obviously we saw each other yesterday on the range," Garcia said. "I was hoping to meet him after the round, but he was gone after the round.

"And this morning I was here early. I didn't see him around. Obviously he got here later on. But I did leave him a note. A handwritten note. And hopefully he can take a look at it.

"I understand that it's difficult to meet up and stuff. So hopefully we'll be able to do it. If not, at least he has read the note and he's happy with that."

The duo have been at loggerheads since an acrimonious round during the penultimate day of The Players' Championship in May.

Read: Tiger Woods tops highest-paid athlete list

Garcia claimed he had been disrupted during one of his shots after the gallery following Woods cheered as the 37-year-old pulled a club out of his bag that signaled his intention to go for the green despite being in the rough.

The Spaniard sliced his shot and made a bogey that saw him relinquish the one-shot lead he held at the time. Woods went on to win the tournament with late errors seeing his rival slip down the leaderboard.

Their row rumbled on for a few more weeks until Garcia was asked at a European Tour event whether he would be inviting Woods round for dinner during the U.S. Open. Garcia replied: "We'll be having him round every night... and serving him fried chicken."

Fried chicken is a common food in the American South, but when used in references to African-Americans, it often implies a negative stereotype.

Garcia apologized and later said in an interview with Sky Sports: "Obviously it was an unfortunate comment from me. I didn't mean it in a bad way. Everyone knows I'm not racist at all."

It remains to be seen what reception Garcia is afforded when bumper crowds hit Merion for the start of the tournament on Thursday.

Former European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, who has been targeted several times by American spectators, said Garcia could face a rough ride from the galleries.

He was quoted by The Scotsman newspaper as saying: "Yes, he could do, which is very sad for our game. Remember we're only a couple of hours from New York and it's a lively crowd and I think he could well be booed.

"You would feel for him, but the trouble is [if] you feel for him that's you condoning it. So you can't feel sorry for him because you're condoning it. So it's very difficult -- it's a very difficult situation to be in."

Garcia has been paired with Stewart Cink and Padraig Harrington -- both major winners -- for his first two rounds, while Woods plays with 2011 U.S. Open winner Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott, this year's Masters champion.

This week will mark five years since Woods last won a major -- his 14th -- at Torrey Pines in 2008. He has since gone 20 without victory.


Via: Woods: No time yet for Garcia apology

Sunday, June 9, 2013

English keeps his nerve as Mickelson charges

Harris English secured his maiden PGA Tour triumph at TPC Southwind in Memphis.

(CNN) -- Phil Mickelson's late charge came up just short in the St. Jude Classic in Memphis Sunday as Harris English held on for his maiden PGA Tour triumph.

Starting the day five back, the four-time major winner was still seven-under-par through his first 13 holes on the TPC Southwind course, but picked up three birdies in five holes to put the pressure on the leaders.

Mickelson's approach to the tough 453-yard 18th came desperately close to being holed for an eagle two, but he made the birdie to go into the clubhouse on 10-under 270.

That left him tied with Scott Stallings, who had bogeyed the final hole, but behind the 23-year-old English kept his nerve.

He found the green on 17th from a difficult position and rolled home a curling birdie putt to go 12-under and with it a two-shot lead playing the final hole.

Read: Mickelson moves in Memphis

Two safe shots to the green and two putts for par saw English home in impressive style.

He had come home through the back nine in just 32 shots under immense pressure.

But Mickelson will go to Merion later this week in fine fettle as the 42-year-old bids to win the major which has eluded him, finishing runner-up five times.

He believed that playing the week before the U.S. Open will benefit him as the test was similar.

"I am really like playing here, it's a good golf course with a premium on hitting fairways and greens."

English has not qualified for the U.S. Open next week, but his win gives him a coveted place in next year's Masters at Augusta.

Meanwhile on the European Tour, Dutchman Joost Luiten held off a charge from former Ryder Cup star Thomas Bjorn to win the Lyoness Open near Vienna.

He shot a final round 71, to 68 for Dane Bjorn, to win by two shots on 13-under 271.

Romain Wattel of France and Liang Wen-Chong of China tied for third, a further shot back.


Via: English keeps his nerve as Mickelson charges

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Mickelson in the mood in Memphis

Phil Mickelson is all smiles as he charges into contention at the St. Jude Classic in Memphis

(CNN) -- Phil Mickelson served a timely reminder of his talents on the eve of the U.S. Open with a third round 65 Saturday at the St. Jude Classic in Memphis.

Mickelson ripped into the TPC Southwind course with six birdies and an eagle, tuning up his form ahead of the second major of the season at Merion next week.

"I could really get some glimpses of my game getting where I want it," he told the official PGA Tour website.

"Hopefully, I'll put together a really low round (Sunday) and catch the leaders."

He will need to pick up five shots on rookie Shawn Stefani, who shrugged off a quadruple bogey on the way to a superb 66 for 12-under 198.

The 31-year-old Texan led halfway leader Harris English by a stroke. He shot a 69.

Former three-time major winner Padraig Harrington also moved up after matching Mickelson's 65 in early play, the Irishman lying six shots back on six-under 204.

On the European Tour, Dutchman Joost Luiten led after the third round of the Lyoness Open at Atzenbrugg in Austria.

He carded a five-under 67 for 14-under 200, three clear of Spanish pair Eduardo De La Riva and Jorge Campillo.

Ryder Cup veteran Miguel Angel Jimenez trailed by six shots after a 69.


Via: Mickelson in the mood in Memphis

Friday, June 7, 2013

Woods, Williams to meet again

Steve Williams, left, will be reacquainted with Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open after Woods and Adam Scott were paired together.

(CNN) -- Tiger Woods will be reunited with his former caddy at next week's U.S. Open after the world's top three golfers were paired together in the opening two rounds in Pennsylvania.

The dream trio of Woods, Rory McIlroy and Masters winner Adam Scott will tee off from the first hole at the Merion Golf Club on Thursday at 1:14 p.m. local time and then at 7:44 a.m. on the 11th hole on Friday, the United States Golf Association said.

It prompted the slumping McIlroy to take to twitter, writing "Decent group for the first 2 rounds at Merion I see...."

Woods split with his caddy, Steve Williams, in 2011 in a move that left the New Zealander in "shock." Williams was beside Woods for 13 of his 14 major titles but now works with Scott.

Read: Woods doesn't regret firing Williams

Williams later in 2011 apologized for making a racist remark aimed at Woods and this year reportedly said Woods should have been disqualified for an illegal drop at the Masters.

There's more intrigue because Woods is firmly against anchored putting -- while anchored putting helped Scott claim his first major at Augusta in April.

Last month, golf's governing bodies ruled that the use of anchored putters will be banned from 2016.

Although he is the world No. 1, Woods hasn't won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open. World No. 2 McIlroy, meanwhile, missed the cut at last month's PGA Championship in Wentworth, England, the flagship event on the European Tour.

He barely made the cut at last week's Memorial in Ohio.


Via: Woods, Williams to meet again

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Misfiring McIlroy trailing at Memorial

Rory McIlroy hit a number of wayward shots during his opening round of 78 at the Memorial in Ohio.

(CNN) -- Rory McIlroy was at a loss to explain another first round meltdown after the World No.2 made a sorry start to the Memorial Thursday.

McIlroy carded an opening six-over 78 at Muirfield Village -- littered with errant tee shots and missed putts -- to leave him 13 shots behind leader Charl Schwartzel of South Africa.

The 24-year-old Northern Irishman came to Ohio off the back of a missed cut in the European Tour's flagship event at Wentworth and after a first hole birdie when starting on the 10th, his day deteriorated quickly.

He four-putted the 12th hole from 58 feet for double bogey and added three more bogeys to go to the turn in 40.

Tiger Woods' former coach Butch Harmon tweeted: "What is going on with Rory, already +4 thru 9 holes at the Memorial ??????? WOW !!!!!!!!"

Two more shots were dropped on his second nine, concluded by a dispiriting miss from four feet for a birdie at the last, taking his tally of putts for the round to 33.

Read: McIlroy misses the cut at Wentworth

"The last four weeks have been the same," McIlroy told the official PGA Tour website.

"I've missed a lot of short putts. It's probably lack of confidence more than anything else. And those are the sort of putts that are important to keep the momentum of the round going. And they're the putts that I'm not really making."

But despite showing some improvement on the U.S. Tour with three top 10s in his last four starts, McIlroy admitted he was still out of sorts.

"The game just isn't all there at the minute. But I'm working hard and I'm trying to figure things out and hopefully they'll come around soon."

He was trying to stay positive in what is likely to be his last tournament before the U.S. Open at Merion. "A few bad rounds of golf isn't going to ruin anything," before admitting -- "but I don't really have many explanations for this."

While McIlroy searches for his best form, former Masters champion Schwartzel shrugged off a late double bogey on his way to a seven-under round which included 10 birdies.

"The birdie on the last definitely will make my evening a lot better," he said.

He led Scott Piercy by a shot on a day of generally low-scoring at the Jack Nicklaus-hosted tournament.

Defending champion Tiger Woods was one of the later starters, bidding for his sixth victory in one of his favorite events, but found it difficult to gain momentum.

A late birdie on the 17th took him under par as he closed with a 71.


Via: Misfiring McIlroy trailing at Memorial

Kuchar claims title as top duo struggle

Matt Kuchar poses with the winner's trophy and Memorial Tournament host Jack Nicklaus at Muirfield Village.

(CNN) -- There are only two multiple winners on the PGA Tour this season -- one of them is in top form ahead of the U.S. Open, and the other is Tiger Woods.

Matt Kuchar moved up to second place in the FedEx Cup standings with victory at Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament on Sunday, having finished runner-up last weekend at the Crowne Plaza Invitational.

It is the first time the American has won more than once in one season, having also claimed the World Golf Championships Match Play title in February.

His four-under-par 68 in the final round was crowned by a 21-foot birdie at the last hole which left him two shots clear of fast-finishing Kevin Chappell, who is still waiting for his breakthrough win.

The biggest names in the field -- world No. 1 Woods and second-ranked Rory McIlroy -- were respectively nine and 13 shots off the pace after both carded par 72.

Read: Tiger rues 'rough day' at Memorial

For defending champion Woods, Sunday's effort was a relative relief after Saturday's nightmare 79 -- his equal second-worst score as a professional -- but he triple-bogeyed the par-three 12th hole that he had doubled in the third round. He also had a triple on Saturday.

The American has won this event five times, but is struggling to regain the form that has already brought him four victories this season ahead of the second scheduled major at Merion in Pennsylvania starting June 13.

"You want everything clicking on all cylinders, especially at the U.S. Open, because everything is tested in the U.S. Open," he said.

Woods is still four short of Nicklaus' record 18 major titles, and has not won one since the 2008 U.S. Open. He was eight over the card at Muirfield Village.

"It wasn't that bad today," Woods said. "It was just one hole that cost me obviously a few shots. It happens, it happens to us all."

McIlroy is also struggling for form ahead of the tournament that provided his first major win in 2011.

"I hit the ball much better today. I actually putted a little better, too. A little bit of work next week -- yeah, it's not that far away," the Northern Irishman said after finishing in a tie for 57th.

"It's just a little bit of an adjustment and something I can work on and something it was good to figure out this week, so I can work on it next week."

Kuchar, who has yet to win a major, was delighted after taking home the $1.16 million first prize in front of his wife and two children.

"It's such an amazing feeling, this stuff never gets old," the 34-year-old Ryder Cup player said after his sixth PGA Tour victory. "To win this and have Jack Nicklaus congratulate me is a real treat."


Via: Kuchar claims title as top duo struggle

Monday, June 3, 2013

Amen Corner: God's Golfers

Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson and their caddies pray during the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah, Illinois. They were later met by their wives, who also joined in the huddle.

Watch CNN's U.S. Open previews on Living Golf. Click here for showtimes, videos and features.

(CNN) -- Forget hitting the greens -- it's the fairway to heaven which is on the minds of some of the world's top golfers.

From Augusta's Amen Corner to an Amen on every corner, these golfers practice what they preach.

Players from across the PGA Tour meet regularly at a Bible group, whose members include high-profile stars such as major champions Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson and Stewart Cink.

Each week, the group will study one particular verse, with some players such as Kevin Streelman taking that particular scripture and getting it printed onto a golf club.

For Streelman, who won his first big PGA Tour tournament at the Tampa Bay Challenge in March, his reawakening has come following a period of struggle in his personal life.

God's Love

"I would lie if I said that I was previously that way," he told CNN's Living Golf.

"My journey has been incredible but I have been in the darkest lows to get to where I am today, to meet my wife, to be the father I hope to be."

His conversion has made Streelman think deeply about what Christianity potentially demands of the individual.

"The thing with Christianity is it's tough for us to understand that whether you're Mother Teresa or the Boston bombers, God loves us all the same.

"We all fall short of his perfection and that's the reason the gospel happened and Jesus had to come down and save us.

"When you wrap your mind around that, I think it kind of frees you up, that no matter what, he loves us incredibly much, and he's got our back no matter what."

On the course and off the course, the Bible group is the invisible club in the bag -- some members pause midway through their rounds to read from the New Testament, meditate on holy scriptures and, of course, pray.

The Word

With crucifixes on balls, prayer books in the golf bag and scriptures printed on clubs, the Almighty's presence is never far away for these God-fearing golfers.

"We do something before every round," Ben Crane, an integral member of the group, revealed during an interview with CNN.

Crane, who grew up in a Christian household, wrestled with his religion during his college years before finding his way back to God.

"We do a devotional, and it's called a player's devotional, a bunch of us players on Tour do it," he said.

"It's a way of us getting our hearts warmed up before we play. We get our bodies warmed up, our swings warmed up, we get our minds warmed up, but we want to get our hearts warmed up and remind ourselves why we are doing this.

"It's not like a Jedi mind trick. My caddy and I meet two hours and 20 before every tee time and we start with The Word and ask each other questions to reflect on it, and it gets us going, this is why we're here."

When the PGA Tour reaches Merion, Pennsylvania, on June 13 for the start of the U.S. Open, one man in particular will be praying for a repeat of last year's success.

"I probably prayed more the last three holes than I ever did in my life," Simpson, who won at San Francisco's Olympic Club 12 months ago, revealed after his triumph.

Belief

A one-shot victory over Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and fellow American Michael Simpson secured a first major title for the 27-year-old -- a success with which he believes his religious belief was key.

"My verse that week was Second Corinthians 12:9 and the Apostle Paul's writing," Simpson recalled during an exclusive interview with CNN.

"In it, 'God said to me my grace is sufficient for you for my powers made perfect for weakness' and I just meditated on that verse all week.

"On that back nine I felt very weak, I felt physically weak, my legs were shaking, but I also felt I had a huge mountain to climb to try to beat the field at the U.S. Open and more than anything it just reminded me of that when I am weak.

"God's powers are made perfect. He'll help me if I ask him too, not necessarily to help me to win, help me to try to execute shots under that pressure.

"We want to honor and glorify God however that looks like. Whether it's winning, surely we want to try and to win, but if it's missing the cut, we want to honor him by our attitudes in the way we treat the other competitors, the volunteers."

It's not just some of the world's best golfers who hold deeply religious convictions on Tour.

Simpson's caddy Paul Tesori is just one of those who believes his life has been revitalized by religion.

Baptized in 2010, Tesori says his whole outlook on life has been transformed -- and that is reflected by his blossoming partnership with Simpson.

"I started to do things to be more obedient to the Lord," said Tesori. "My language changed, we all hang around with the boys, and want to fit in a lot more so one of the first things I changed was my language, to try and be less uncouth.

"If my daughter was watching me, I'd try to think what she would think of me at that time or if Christ was sitting with me there, would he be OK with the way I was acting. Very quickly after that I was fired from a job. I'd never been fired before.

"But in December 2010, the Lord brought me Webb Simpson and since then my walk has got 10 folds better."

Hypocrisy

While Tesori's faith is a source of great pride to him, he is aware of the skepticism that he encounters in espousing his beliefs.

Describing himself as a "sinner saved by Jesus" on his Twitter biography, Tesori also acknowledges the glamorous lifestyle and materialistic nature of the game opens overtly religious players up to accusations of hypocrisy.

"They look down on me and I definitely think there are a lot of Christians that are like that," he said.

"I know my pastor at my church tells us all the time, 'Look guys we can't be the ones that are complaining, bickering or getting divorced or having affairs, if we're the ones that are trying to call more people into the living.'

"People are going to look at us and say, 'I don't want to be part of that.' "

Faith in sport is nothing new -- the sight of soccer stars crossing themselves on entering the field of play, kneeling to offer prayer or pointing to the sky after scoring a goal is common.

Australian golfer Aaron Baddeley recalls how he turned to the Bible during his first PGA Tour event more than a decade ago after speaking at the Easter service earlier in the day.

"I went out and on the last hole I was pretty nervous," he said. "I quoted Second Timothy 1:7 which says 'God did not give your spirit fear but of power and sound mind.'

"I was quoting that as I was nervous around the putt. I stood there and said, 'This is for you, Jesus,' and knocked it in."

Baddeley's tale is not unusual, and the sight of golfer and caddy standing together and reciting from the Bible no longer raises eyebrows from seasoned spectators.

Puzzle

Sports psychologist Dr. Bob Rotella, who has worked with some of the biggest names in golf for the past 29 years, believes faith helps athletes cope with an "achievement orientated society."

Rotella helped Darren Clarke claim a famous victory at the British Open in 2011 and Keegan Bradley triumph at the PGA Championship in the same year.

"People can feel like if you don't achieve, you're a terrible person or you're a failure," he said.

"I think for a lot of people that believe, they think 'Well I'm OK no matter how this turns out,' which really takes the pressure off a putt or a shot.

"It doesn't mean that everyone that believes in God is going to win the tournament, I think that would be a mistake to think that's what it does."

Rotella has worked with 74 winners from the men's, women's and senior tour throughout his career, gaining a unique insight into what helps the world's top golfers succeed at the very highest level.

He has explored the idea that a belief in God helps performance

"That's a big piece of the puzzle that these players are trying to deal with," he said.

"On the other hand, you try to get these players to understand that God probably doesn't really care if you win a tournament or make a putt or hit a good shot.

"If God did care about that, he's probably not the God that we'd like to believe in, so that's where it gets fascinating.

"But I think it allows them to be happy away from the course, and I think the other part of it is that when you're living on the road all the time, to have a belief in a God keeps you on the right track in terms of values and morals and how you live your life.

"I think a lot of players feel there's a sense of destiny that God gave them a gift of God and a passion for golf, because God wanted me to do some incredible things with my life."

Refuge

Zach Johnson, who won the Masters at Augusta in 2007, concurs with Rotella that his religion has helped provide perspective on his life.

"I am a believer; I believe in Christ, I believe he died for me," the 37-year-old American, who is away from his family from months at a time and competing under constant pressure told CNN.

"I feel I'm ultimately blessed that I play this game for a living and the perspective on it is that I don't want my identity to be wrapped in the fact that I am a golfer.

"I'd rather be wrapped in the fact that I am a Christian. I feel blessed and lucky that I can play this sport. It's a job -- that's crazy -- but I will never forget my number one priority and that's him."

Like many of his fellow Bible group attendees, the opportunity to talk about Christianity offers a refuge from the constant media spotlight which surrounds the Tour.

"It gives me peace about my days," Johnson said of his faith.

"If I have a bad day, it's irrelevant; if I have a good day frankly it's irrelevant. My scorecard is irrelevant. The best part is when I get here and I can see my family.

"I think a lot of us Christians out here like to utilize our platform and witness what is important in our faith. If anything I would like to witness when I have a bad day, that's really what it boils down to."

Fellowship

The bond between members of the Bible group remains strong, with each week offering a new opportunity to discuss a religious tenet.

And as the word spreads, the group's attendance figures are growing with the next generation of players fiercely proud of their religious faith.

"If you look at it from a sheer numbers stand point of view, you think 'Wow maybe that God thing is working' because there are so many believers on Tour," added Crane, who regularly discusses religion with his 105,000 followers on Twitter.

"I think it's because there are so many ups and downs with the game of golf and guys that have been out here for five to 10 years, and all of a sudden you expect to play a certain way.

"Those expectations are very hard to deal with. When you first come out on Tour you're extremely nervous, you want to do well and your identity is so much wrapped up in how you play and that's how other people see you.

"You think that's how people like you, based on your performance, and with my relationship with Christ I get relief from that."


Via: Amen Corner: God's Golfers

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