| Choi nets win & $415K at LG Skins Game | Sunday 11/30, 9:20 PM CT |
|
K.J. Choi holed an 11-foot birdie putt worth $270,000 on the 18th hole Sunday to win the 26th Skins Game with $415,000, according to the Associated Press. Stephen Ames missed a nine-footer that would have tied the hole and forced the foursome including Phil Mickelson and Rocco Mediate into a playoff. Instead, Choi's putt gave him $340,000 for Sunday's nine holes and made him the fifth international player to win the title. "I'm very proud to have won the Skins Game, the first time ever for a Korean player," said Choi, who said he watched the Skins Game and the Masters growing up in South Korea. "I'm very, very happy today."
Our View: Stephen Ames, looking for a third consecutive title in the event, won $250,000 on the first hole of the day with a birdie to finish second. Mickelson was third with $195,000, while Mediate earned his $140,000 with a birdie on the 16th hole. Choi started the day with the lead but fell behind Ames on the first hole. Mickelson won $170,000 on the par-4 13th with a tap-in birdie. Choi added $70,000 with a four-foot eagle putt on the 14th hole. On the 18th, all four players hit the green, but Mediate and Mickelson missed putts from about 11 feet, while Choi made his uphill birdie putt. Putting down the same hill, Ames' putt slipped to the right, giving Choi the title. |
|
| Swedes rally to take World Cup | Sunday 11/30, 9:16 PM CT |
|
Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson gave Sweden its second World Cup title, shooting a 9-under 63 on Sunday in alternate-shot play to beat Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal by three strokes, according to the Associated Press. Karlsson and Stenson, four strokes behind the Spaniards after the third round, finished at 27-under 261 on Mission Hills' Olazabal Course. Sweden's only other victory in the event came in 1991 when Per-Ulrik Johansson and Anders Forsbrand beat Wales by a stroke at Le Querce in Rome.
Our View: Jimenez and Larrazabal finished with a 70 in their bid to give Spain its fifth title and first since 1984. Australia's Richard Green and Brendan Jones (76) and Japan's Ryuji Imada and Toru Taniguchi (68) tied for third at 18 under. Americans Ben Curtis and Brandt Snedeker (73) finished ninth, 14 strokes back at 13 under. The victory caps a great season for Karlsson, a two-time winner on the European tour. Stenson is winless this season in individual play. The Swedes split $1.7 million in prize money, a big chunk of the $5.5 million purse. Despite the global economic downturn, the purse offered by sponsor Omega was 10 percent above last year. This year's event was the second of a 12-year contract at Mission Hills, the sprawling golf estate that boasts the world's largest layout with 216 holes. |
|
| Pampling takes Australian Masters | Sunday 11/30, 9:13 PM CT |
|
Rod Pampling won the Australian Masters on Sunday, beating Australian countryman Marcus Fraser with a par on the third playoff hole, according to the Associated Press. Pampling closed with a 5-under 67 to match Fraser (65) at 12-under 276 on the Huntingdale Golf Club course. Australia's Robert Allenby shot a 73 to finish third, three strokes back in the event sanctioned by the Australasian and European tours.
Our View: Both players parred the first two playoff holes, with Pampling holing a testy 5-footer on the first extra hole. On the second, Fraser made a 20-footer for par after hitting his approach into a bunker. On the third playoff hole, Fraser's putt from off the green nearly went in. He missed the return putt of about 7 feet for par, while Pampling made a 3-footer to win the 30th anniversary Masters. Allenby shared the third-round lead with fellow Australian Michael Sim, who shot a 77 to finish seven strokes. |
|
| Choi surges at LG Skins, nets $75K | Sunday 11/30, 12:14 AM CT |
|
K.J. Choi overcame the nerves of playing in his first LG Skins Game by using a precise short game and key putts to take the first-day lead in the 26th annual event on Saturday, according to the Associated Press. Choi rolled in a three-foot birdie putt worth $75,000 on the third hole, and earned $75,000. That gave him the lead over Phil Mickelson, who earned $25,000 with a spectacular eagle-3 on the fourth hole. "Everybody here is a good player, good games and good short-game players," Choi said. "I was just really focused on 100 yards and inside."
Our View: Two-time defending champion Stephen Ames and Rocco Mediate, playing in his first Skins Game, were shut out on the first nine holes. With the foursome halving the final five holes of the front nine, $900,000 of the event's $1 million purse is still alive for today's final nine holes at the Celebrity Course at Indian Wells Golf Resort. Choi said he came to the Skins Game hoping to avoid being one of the numerous players who have been shut out in the previous 25 events, and that pocketing the $75,000 eased his nerves. Mickelson nearly recorded the Skins Game's first double-eagle on the 501-yard fourth hole, hitting his 5-iron approach shot from the rough around a tree. The ball hit the front edge of the green and rolled to within four inches of the cup. The tap-in eagle, and Ames missing a 25 foot eagle chance, earned Mickelson the $25,000 for the hole and a $25,000 home appliance and entertainment package. |
|
| Jones leads Australia to top of the board at World Cup | Sunday 11/30, 12:08 AM CT |
|
Brendan Jones made a 4-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole Saturday, giving Australia a 9-under 63 and a share of the lead with Spain after the third round of the World Cup of Golf, according to the Associated Press. Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal of Spain, who held a four-stroke lead after two rounds, settled for a 67. Jimenez missed a 6-foot putt for birdie on the final hole, which would have kept Spain in the outright lead. Both teams were 22-under 194.
Our View: Jones and teammate Richard Green have thrived in the fourball style of play. On Thursday they also shot a 63 in fourball. Sunday's final, however, will be played in foursomes (alternate shot). Spain shot a blistering 63 on Friday playing that format. Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson of Sweden, the two highest-ranked players in the event, shot 66 and are four strokes off the lead. Germany was another stroke back after a 68. Ireland (68) trailed by seven and the United States (69) and Japan (68) were eight behind. Australia pulled even with Spain on the 15th with an eagle. Jones landed his 180-yard approach -- using a 9-iron -- and then holed his 5-foot putt. Spain has won the World Cup four times -- the last in 1984 with Jose Maria Canizares and Jose Rivero. Australia has also won four, the last in 1989 with Peter Fowler and Wayne Grady. |
|
| Allenby surges on home course at Australian Masters | Sunday 11/30, 12:05 AM CT |
|
Robert Allenby holed a 3-wood shot for a double eagle on the par-5 seventh and finished with a 5-under 67 on Saturday for a share of the third-round lead in the Australian Masters with playing partner Michael Sim, according to the Associated Press. Sim shot a 68 to match Allenby at 10-under 206 on the Huntingdale course. Allenby's 3-wood shot on the 535-yard seventh landed on the front of the green and ran about 25 feet direct before it hit the flagstick and dropped in. "It's a good way to kick-start the round," Allenby said. "To hole a 3-wood was pretty awesome. Michael and I both played pretty well."
Our View: Ashley Hall (68) was two strokes back, and Rod Pampling (70), Anthony Summers (71) and England's Steve Webster (70) were another shot behind at 7-under. Australian players held five of the top six positions on the leaderboard. Second-round leader Tim Clark was seven strokes back after a 76. |
|
| Ames set to defend LG Skins title starting Saturday | Friday 11/28, 7:48 PM CT |
|
For Stephen Ames, the Skins Game has become a lucrative holiday tradition, according to the Associated Press. Ames has won the last two Skins Games, pocketing more than $1.2 million in the process. But as he tries for a third straight title this weekend, he's not only thinking about the $1 million purse. "I'm just out here to have fun," Ames said Friday at the Indian Wells Golf Resort. "That's what this game is about, having fun." Ames will try to repeat his titles this weekend against Phil Mickelson, Rocco Mediate and K.J. Choi at the Celebrity Course at Indian Wells Golf Resort. The foursome will play nine holes Saturday and another nine Sunday. A player must win a hole outright to earn the designated cash prize for the hole. If two or more players tie for low score on a hole, the money carries over to the next hole. Saturday's first six holes are worth $25,000 each, with the last three worth $50,000 each. The first three holes Sunday are worth $50,000, the next five holes $70,000 and the 18th hole $200,000.
Our View: Ames won $675,000 last year, with all but $25,000 on an 8-foot birdie putt on the final hole. Before that, Ames had not played the best golf of the weekend. Mickelson is playing the Skins Game for the first time since 2003. Mediate, who this year lost to Tiger Woods in a U.S. Open playoff, wondered if organizers dialed the wrong number when inviting him. Besides the money, the Skins Game has become known for friendly jabs between players during the round and on-course antics -- Fred Funk forced to wear a dress when he was outdriven by Annika Sorenstam in 2003. Mickelson said the players get quiet on the greens when they are putting for big money, but there's a lot of gabbing on the tee. |
|
| Clark holds lead at Australian Masters | Friday 11/28, 7:45 PM CT |
|
Tim Clark of South Africa shot a 2-under 70 on Friday at Huntingdale to take a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Australian Masters, according to the Associated Press. Clark had a two-round total of 7-under 137, a stroke ahead of Australians Anthony Summers, who shot a 68, and Michael Sim, who had a 66. Seven players were one stroke further back at 5 under, including former winner Robert Allenby, who picked up five shots on the back nine for a second-round 66. Another in that group was Australian Aaron Townsend, who had a second-round 64 after completing his first-round 75 on Friday morning. John Daly shot a 73 after an opening 76 and missed the cut at 5 over. He'll remain Down Under to play in next week's Australian PGA at Coolum in Queensland state. "I had a couple of eagle opportunities and hit horrible putts, and three-putted one of them," Daly said.
Our View: The field in the joint European PGA and Australasian PGA tour event took full advantage of calm, quiet conditions on Friday on a course softened by overnight rain. On Thursday, a storm and hail caused a three-hour suspension in play, forcing 39 golfers to complete their rounds on Friday morning. Clark said he failed to take advantage of the easier conditions. Townsend completed the final five holes of his first round on Friday morning, and bogeyed four of them. But after a short break for some tea and toast, he had nine birdies and one bogey in his second round to equal the Huntingdale course record. |
|
| Jimenez, Larrazabal put Spain up front at World Cup | Friday 11/28, 7:41 PM CT |
|
Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal lifted Spain into a four-shot lead at the World Cup of Golf, shooting a surprising 9-under 63 on Friday in the difficult foursomes (alternate-shot) format, according to the Associated Press. Spain has shot a 17-under 127 through 36 holes. Australia (68) and Germany (69) were in second place behind Spain, which opened on Thursday with a 64 playing the easier fourball (best-ball) format. Sweden (67), was five back, and the United States (69) and Ireland (68) were six off the pace.
Our View: The Spanish picked up seven strokes on the front nine with five birdies and an eagle. They were 8-under after 10 holes and 9-under after 11. Jimenez had the hot hand early, making a 15-foot birdie on No. 2, and a 17-footer for eagle on No. 3. The record in foursomes in the World Cup is 10-under 61 by Argentina in 2005. Jimenez and Larrazabal seemed relaxed throughout the round, with Jimenez at times smoking his trademark cigar. The German team of Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka -- leaders at 10-under after the first round -- managed a 69 with three birdies on the back nine. Americans Ben Curtis and Brandt Snedeker got themselves back in the tournament with birdies on the last four holes. |
|
| Clark jumps out front at Australian Masters | Thursday 11/27, 8:39 PM CT |
|
South Africa's Tim Clark waited out a three-hour suspension because of a severe thunderstorm to shoot a 5-under 67 for a share of the first-round lead in the Australian Masters, according to the Associated Press. Australian Scott Hend was in the clubhouse at 67 when a hail-laced storm hit Huntingdale, forcing nearly 80 players off the course Thursday. When they returned, Clark, 3 under when play was suspended, birdied 15 and 16 on what he said was a "totally different course." "I was starting to drop shots before they called us off and I was lucky to come back out and make a few birdies," Clark said. "It's always tough to go out and finish off a round after such a delay, but it worked out for me." Chris Downes of Australia, who played the final five holes of his first round Friday morning, was third at 68, followed by Australians Anthony Brown and Michael Wright and England's Daniel Wardrop at 69. American John Daly shot 76.
Our View: After picking up an early shot at the par-4 fourth, Clark holed eagle putts at the par-5 seventh and 10th holes, both of which were playing downwind. But Clark bogeyed the 11th and the short par-4 13th just before the siren sounded to end play. Daly, who closed with a 62 on Sunday in the Hong Kong Open to tie for 17th, bogeyed three holes on the back nine -- his first -- while being followed by a large gallery. Bogeys on his final two holes, the eighth and ninth -- both into the wind -- came after an eagle at the par-5 seventh lifted him within striking distance of the leaders. Three-time Masters winner Craig Parry, who played in Daly's group, also had a 76. |
|
Crushing hits. Explosive separation. Hail Mary bombs to streaking receivers. For that and fantasy analysis for all things football turn to Owners Edge NFL every week on your way to the championship.
A 95 mph heater. A perfectly executed hit and run. A blast into the sky. At Owners Edge MLB, we break down every conceivable fantasy angle from the simple to the complex to quench your fantasy thirst.
Power-plays. Goals. Fights. Great glove saves. If you are looking to augment your NHL experience with some of the most innovative fantasy hockey analysis on the Internet, then turn to Owners Edge NHL.
Outlet passes. Jumpers from downtown. Alley-oops leading to thunderous jams that bring the crowd to their feet are all part of the NBA experience leading to our analysis of the hardwood at Owners Edge NBA.
The smell of burning rubber. The thrill of unmitigated speed coming out of the turn. The visceral exhilaration of a pile up. At Owners Edge NASCAR we make the pit stop so you don't have to on race day.