Golf News

Bernard Gallacher knows a fair amount about what it takes to captain a Ryder Cup squad, and his advice to an American contingent looking to end its drought is clear: ditch the task force and install Fred Couples as captain in 2016. Gallacher made the European squad eight times as a player, then served as captain three times, including a victory at Oak Hill in 1995. He told GolfMagic.com that the establishment of a Ryder Cup task force after the U.S. loss at Gleneagles amounts to an overreaction following narrow defeats in both 2010 and 2012. "Things will swing back America's way if they don't panic, but that's exactly what they appear to be doing with this new task force. It just looks like a publicity stunt to me," he said. "America lost the 2014 Ryder Cup because they lost the foursomes 7-1. I find it difficult to see how a task force is going to help with that." Gallacher also captained the Europeans in 1991 and 1993, both narrow victories for t...

A spectacular hole-in-one helped Lee Westwood surge into contention for the CIMB Classic at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club on Friday. Westwood needed a hybrid club on the 226-yard 11th hole, but saw his perfectly-struck tee shot land 10 feet from the pin and roll inexorably into the hole. "Well that was a pretty special day," he posted on Twitter. "It's not often you see them go in from 226 yds!" The 41-year-old, who won the Maybank Malaysian Open on the same course on the European Tour in April, had already picked up three birdies on the front nine and added more on the 16th and 18th to complete a flawless 65. That took the former world number one to seven under par and three shots behind halfway leader Billy Hurley, who recorded his second consecutive 67. Fellow American Kevin Streelman was two shots back after two rounds of 68, with Westwood sharing third place with playing partner and Ryder Cup team-mate Sergio Garcia, Korea's Noh Seung...

Sky Sports golf pundit Rob Lee says Ian Poulter does not have the most natural talent in the world but is an inspiration to young players everywhere... Ian Poulter has hit the headlines this week after being criticised by former PGA of America president Ted Bishop, but it has been a pretty quiet year for the Englishman in the main. Ian has not won a tournament, didn’t really have the Ryder Cup he wanted, and seems to have struggled to piece everything together â€" though it was about this time last year he went on a bit of a tear. Poulter performed extremely well in the European Tour’s Final Series in 2013, lifting himself up to second in the Race to Dubai behind Henrik Stenson, so perhaps autumn is his time and he will come out all guns blazing over the next few weeks. Whatever happens, though, Ian is a man to be admired, as he has maxed out and made the most of every ounce of ability he has got; he may not have the most natural talent in the world but...

France's Alexander Levy made the ideal start to his bid for a third European Tour title of the season - and second in China - in the BMW Masters on Thursday. Levy, who won the Volvo China Open in April and the rain-shortened Portugal Masters three weeks ago, carded a flawless opening 65 at a damp Lake Malaren to finish seven under par, one shot ahead of compatriot Romain Wattel, Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo. Starting from the 10th, Levy birdied his first four holes and picked up another shot at the par-three 17th to reach the turn in 31, before recording further birdies at the second and ninth. "I think this country likes me," joked the 24-year-old. "For me, this golf course is pretty much the same as the one where I won in Shenzhen. "I like this type of golf course with water and the target golf. I enjoy being in China and I'm going to try my best the next few days to do the same things I did in A...

Justin Rose admits he will have one eye on the world rankings in the weeks ahead as he looks to sign off another fine season in memorable style. The Englishman has wins on both the European and PGA Tours to his name in 2014 and also played a leading role in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory at Gleneagles, taking four and a half points from his five matches. He is now refocusing his efforts on the European Tour with the Race to Dubai’s lucrative ‘Final Series’ starting this week in China. The four-tournament swing gets underway with the BMW Masters in Shanghai and culminates at the end of next month with the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. Rose is slated to play in three of the four events and, while the world number six is unlikely to reel in runaway leader Rory McIlroy, he acknowledges the next few weeks present him with a great chance to push on to a highest-ever world ranking. “I’m not sure I can catch (leader) Rory (McIlroy) in The Race to Dubai,” stated t...

The tournament director of this week’s BMW Masters says he is 'disappointed' that world No 1 Rory McIlroy will not be in the field at Lake Malaren in China. The 25-year-old, who won two Majors this year, is taking time away from golf to prepare for his multi-million dollar legal case against his former management company in Ireland. Tournament director Marco Kaussler said: "We are very sorry that Rory McIlroy will not tee off at the BMW Masters for the first time since the tournament has been held. "We obviously understand the disappointment of the many golf fans in China but we respect his decision."              Also absent from Shanghai is world No 5 Henrik Stenson who withdraw on Tuesday after his wife Emma gave birth in Florida on Sunday. McIlroy made his announcement last week leaving Jamie Donaldson as the leading European player in the field. The Welshman is currently fourth in the Race to Dubai standings with only a slim chance...

Henrik Stenson has become the latest big name to withdraw from this week’s BMW Masters tournament at Lake Malaren in China. The $7 million European Tour event had already seen both Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia pull out in recent weeks. Stenson has now confirmed that he will not be making the trip to China either following the birth of his third child, daughter Alice, on Sunday. "No3 has arrived!!" Stenson posted on his Facebook page along with a picture of himself holding the family’s latest arrival. "Alice was born Sunday afternoon! Mommy did great! Lisa and Karl seems to be pretty happy with the new addition." The Swede’s withdrawal means that none of the top three players in the Race to Dubai standings will now be present this week in the first of four season-ending series events on the European Tour. McIlroy & Garcia also absent McIlroy revealed last week that he would be skipping both the BMW Masters and the subsequent WGC-HSBC Champio...

The fourth event in the PGA Tour's 2014/15 schedule takes us to Asia for the CIMB Classic in Malaysia. Although the tournament has been staged three times previously, last year's edition was the first time that FedEx Cup points were up for grabs. Last year was also the first time that Kuala Lumpur Country Club had played host (from 2010-2012 it had been held at The Mines Resort), with Ryan Moore coming through a storm-delayed Monday play-off to edge out fellow American Gary Woodland. The two had finished at 14-under, Moore setting a course record 63 in the opening round. The victory was Moore's third PGA Tour success while Woodland was left to rue a missed 10 foot birdie putt on the final hole of regulation play that would have given him the title. The field is limited to 78 players and seven of those finished among the top 30 in last season’s FedExCup points race. It's very much dominated by PGA Tour stars while current Asian Tour Order of Merit leade...

Robert Streb clinched his first victory on the PGA Tour after coming out on top in a three-man playoff at the McGladrey Classic. Streb hit his tee shot to within four feet on the second extra hole and then sank the biridie putt to take the win ahead of Will MacKenzie and Brendon de Jonge at Sea Island in Georgia. De Jonge and MacKenzie had finished tied with Streb on 14-under par after four rounds and the former narrowly missed his long birdie putt on the decisive playoff hole. MacKenzie, who was bidding to win his first PGA Tour title in six years, was eliminated at the first extra hole after a trip into a green-side bunker led to him carding a bogey. Streb signed for a final round of 63 â€" the lowest of the day â€" to propel himself to the top of the leaderboard, while de Jonge shot a 65 and MacKenzie closed with a 68. Streb began the day five shots off the lead and fell even further back when he bogeyed his first hole of the day. But he recovered to make fi...

ISPS HANDA Perth International The McGladrey Classic Bet now: Latest golf odds Sea Island,GA Date: 23rd - 26th October Par: 70 Yardage: 6883 Weather Min: 14°C, Max: 27°C Clear. Wind: WNW at 6 km/h. Humidity: 86%. Chance of precipitation: 0%

Thorbjorn Olesen sealed his second career European Tour title on Sunday with a final-round 71 to see off the challenge of Victor Dubuisson at the Perth International. The 24-year-old Dane took a three-shot lead into the final day at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, and eventually held on to win by as many strokes from Dubuisson. The Frenchman signed for a closing 66 to finish in outright second after a bogey-free round that featured six birdies. Olesen was one over through 12 holes, but birdied the 13th and 15th to regain a commanding lead and eventually finish at 17 under. The win marked Olesen's second title on the European circuit after his maiden breakthrough at the Sicilian Open in April 2012. "It was tough - they were not easy conditions today," the world number 130 told the European Tour's website. "I missed a few short putts today in the middle of the round and I think that the lead got down to one shot, but I was just thinking about get...

American Will MacKenzie took advantage of a hole in one at the sixth to move into a share of the lead in the McGladrey Classic. MacKenzie holed his tee shot at the 174-yard par three at Sea Island on his way to a 65 and a tie at the top of the leaderboard alongside fellow countryman Andrew Svoboda on 12 under par. MacKenzie made bogey at 17 but bounced back with a 40-foot birdie putt on the last. Svoboda produced a superb up and down for a par four on 18 for his third successive 66 on the Seaside Course. The leading pair are a shot ahead of halfway leader Russell Henley after he had to settle fo a 68 following his 63 on Friday. Stewart Cink is one of five players three shots off the lead on nine under par. The 41-year-old former Open champion matched his career-best round with a 63 on Saturday. One of the palyers alongside Cink is defending champion Chris Kirk, who shot a 66.

Scores remain bunched early at the McGladrey Classic, but Erik Compton is one of two Georgia Bulldogs who have snagged a share of the lead. Here's how things stand after one round at Sea Island, where four players are tied at the top: Leaderboard: Erik Compton (-5), Brian Harman (-5), Michael Thompson (-5), Will MacKenzie (-5), Chesson Hadley (-4), Jason Kokrak (-4), Shawn Stefani (-4), Andrew Svoboda (-4), Sung Joon Park (-4) What it means: No one was able to separate from the pack in the first round on the Seaside Course, as 28 players sit within two shots of the lead. The group of co-leaders include Compton and Harman, two Georgia alums who have played more than their fair share of golf in the Peach State, while the large chase pack at 4 under features Hadley, the reigning Rookie of the Year, and Park, who is making his first PGA Tour start. Round of the day: Compton started quickly with birdies on his first two holes, adding another circle at No. 11 before his lone droppe...

Ted Bishop has apologised for his comments towards Ian Poulter which led to his removal from his role as PGA of America president. Bishop referred to Poulter as "a little girl" because of critical remarks written by the Englishman about Nick Faldo and Tom Watson as Ryder Cup captains. The comments were later removed from Twitter and Facebook, but PGA of America chief executive officer Pete Bevacqua later released a statement saying his insensitive comments could not be tolerated, with vice-president Derek Sprague taking over as interim president until November 22. "I want to apologise to Ian Poulter and anyone else that I might have offended with my remarks on social media that appeared on October 23, 2014," he said in a statement reported on www.geoffshackelford.com. "Particularly, I have great remorse that my comments contained the words 'little girl' because I have always been a great advocate for girls and women in golf." "My ...

Russell Henley carded a second round 63 to take a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of The McGladrey Classic. The American improved five shots on his opening effort of 68, making eight birdies in benign early conditions at the Seaside Course in Sea Island, Georgia. Henley's round started poorly with a bogey at the 10th - his first hole - but that proved to be his only blemish with birdies coming at the 14th, 16th and 18th holes. He moved closer to the leaders with another shot picked up at the first and then managed three successive birdies from the fourth and a final one at his last hole of the day, the ninth. "It was beautiful when we teed off," Henley said. "It was cool and the ball wasn't going nearly as far as normal but the greens are perfect and I felt really comfortable. I made some putts, and I feel like I could have made a couple more (putts) too. "I just felt really comfortable off the tee. I've been hitting the driver really w...

Scotland's Peter Whiteford leads the way at the halfway stage of the ISPS HANDA Perth International while England's James Morrison catapulted himself into contention by breaking the course record at Lake Karrinyup. Whiteford followed up his 66 on the opening day with another six-under-par score in his second round and was once again in superb touch on the front nine. After starting at the 10th on Friday, the 34-year-old - who requires a top-two finish to hold onto his European Tour card - had only one birdie to show for his efforts but he picked up shots at three of his next four holes after the turn. He then eagled the par-five seventh for the second day in succession to move to 12 under par for the tournament, one ahead of Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen. "You're always thinking you could have done better, but that eagle made me feel a lot better," Whiteford told the European Tour's official website . "This week it's no holds barred - ...

The PGA of America president has branded Ian Poulter as 'a little girl' on social media for his criticism of the jobs Nick Faldo and Tom Watson did as Ryder Cup captains. Faldo was captain of the last European team that lost the Ryder Cup in 2008. Watson, who has won five Opens among his eight majors, was captain of the USA team that lost at Gleneagles last month. Poulter, a European stalwart with a 12-4-2 record in the Ryder Cup, criticised both this week and PGA president Ted Bishop tweeted: "Faldo's record stands by itself. Six majors and all-time RC points. Yours vs His? Lil Girl." In a separate posting on his Facebook page, Bishop - who was involved in the selection of Watson as captain - added: "Really? Sounds like a little school girl squealing during recess. C'MON MAN!" Poulter responded: "I guess we can only have opinions if you won a major or 6." Faldo stirred up the European team at Gleneagles when he said that ...

It’s been nearly a month since the final putt dropped at the Ryder Cup, but the hits keep coming. PGA of America president Ted Bishop was instrumental in naming Tom Watson captain of the American squad, then led the charge to create a task force in the wake of a lopsided loss to the Europeans. Now Bishop has turned his attention on social media to a player who has haunted the U.S. in past Ryder Cups: Ian Poulter. Poulter's autobiography, "No Limits," was published this week, and in an excerpt he called out Nick Faldo, saying players had "lost a lot of respect" for the Englishman because of his recent comments calling Sergio Garcia useless in the 2008 Ryder Cup, which Faldo captained. That happens to be the only time Europe has lost the matches this century. “It makes me laugh. Faldo is talking about someone being useless at the 2008 Ryder Cup," Poulter wrote. "That’s the Ryder Cup where he was captain. That’s the Ryder Cup where the Europ...

Erik Compton is one of four players tied for the lead after the opening round of the McGladrey Classic at Sea Island in Georgia. The 35-year-old, one of the most remarkable professional golfers in the world having undergone two heart transplants, fired a confident five-under 65 to join fellow Americans Brian Harman, Michael Thompson and Will MacKenzie at the top of the leaderboard. Compton, runner-up behind runaway winner Martin Kaymer at the US Open in June, birdied the first two holes at the Seaside Course and added another at the ninth to turn in 32. He picked up another shot at 11 and bounced back from his first blemish of the day at the 14th with two further birdies before parring safely in. "I expect I should win this year. That's a goal of mine," said Compton, who has yet to claim a PGA Tour title in 13 years as a professional. "It's always been a goal, but I think every time I get on the course it becomes more of a realistic expectation....

You know that line old Rodney Dangerfield line from "Caddyshack," "You wanna make $14 the hard way?" Well - not that we condone that sort of thing - this happens to be more along the lines of, "You wanna make a 3-foot putt the hard way?" Via the PGA, we bring you this putt from  the ninth hole at The Golf House Club, Elie, in Fife, Scotland. There doesn't appear to be any clear edit, so I'm giving the guy all the credit in the world for making it, but I'm not buying the other part of the story that the putt was for birdie (despite secretly hoping it was). Either way, (winter) hat's off. 

On today's Golfing World News, John Wade and Thorbjorn Olesen share lead at ISPS Handa Perth International. At the Blue Bay LPGA, Jessica Korda is out in front, with Shanshan Feng and Michelle Wie chasing. Also, Bubba Watson teases Patrick Reed as he enters the world of Twitter.

ISPS HANDA Perth International The McGladrey Classic Bet now: Latest golf odds Lake Karrinyup CC Date: 23rd - 26th October Par: 72 Yardage: 7143 Weather Min: 13°C, Max: 22°C Humidity: 94%. Wind: 18Km/h ENE. Precipitation: 40%

Highlights from day one of the Perth International at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club. John Wade and Thorbjorn Olesen shot a course-record eight under 64s for a share of the lead after the opening day of the ISPS HANDA Perth International at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club. The 46-year-old Australian made a blistering start, carding four birdies on his first five holes on the back nine, before adding an eagle on the 15th. He picked up two further shots after turning in 30 to set the pace before being pegged back by Denmark's Olesen, who notched eight birdies to join him in finishing on 64, with the rest of the field at least two shots behind. Wade, who is an assistant pro at the Commonwealth Golf Club in Victoria state has only won one title on the Challenge Tour eight years ago, and he told the official European Tour website : "This is ridiculous really. I didn't know what to expect. "I...

Jason Dufner: Back in action after neck and shoulder problems Jason Dufner is looking forward to returning to action this week after being sidelined for almost three months with neck and shoulder problems. Dufner is honouring his committment to playing in the ISPS HANDA Perth International, and he is one of three major champions in the field at Lake Karrinyup along with Charl Schwartzel and Geoff Ogilvy. "I will just try to do my best, and if my putting is good I can win." Jason Dufner The American was unable to defend his PGA Championship title in August, and he was also ruled out of the FedExCup play-offs and the Ryder Cup as he recovered from injury. Dufner admitted he was still not fully fit, but he insisted he now feels no pain while swinging the club and he has taken the chance to work hard on his putting during his enforced break from competitive golf. "It it has been about 11 weeks si...

Davis Love III at Sea Island's Seaside Course The Seaside Course at Saint Simons Island in Georgia plays host to this week's McGladrey Classic for a fifth straight season. A quartet of Americans - Heath Slocum (2010), Ben Crane (2011), Tommy Gainey (2012) and Chris Kirk (2013) - have picked up the trophy in those four runnings and home US players fill the top eight slots in Sky Bet's outright tournament betting. Webb Simpson, who boasts course form of 7-2-12, leads the way at 12/1, with Matt Kuchar, Bill Haas, defending champion Kirk, Zach Johnson, Nick Watney, Harris English and Brendon Todd following him in the betting. The course A par 70 on the southern tip of Saint Simons Island, the Seaside Course's first nine was built by Harry Colt and Charles Alison in 1929. Joe Lee added the "Marshside Nine" in 1973 and they were pieced together by Tom Fazio in 1999. The shortish 7,005-yard par 70 requires ...

LAS VEGAS   -  Stewart Cink birdied seven of the final 11 holes Thursday for a 7-under-par 64 and a share of the first-round lead with Martin Laird in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Cink had a bogey-free round at TPC Summerlin in his first start since dropping out of the FedEx Cup playoffs after the second event. He won the last of his six PGA Tour titles in the 2009 British Open. "Well, 64 is good for anybody, I think, but on the first day of the year, you don't really ever know what's going to come out, the first day of the season," Cink said. "It's been six weeks since I played and you have to prepare yourself to be ready for both, a great start and a not so great start, and just be ready to keep going. "I have to be honest, through seven holes I had seven pars and it didn't look like anything special out there except a whole lot of grazed putts. I just kind of was patient and waited for a good stretch, and a good stretch happe...

Rory McIlroy has withdrawn from the BMW Masters and World Gold Championships-HSBC Champions tournament World number one Rory McIlroy faces a break from the sport as a Dublin courtroom is poised to take centre stage rather than a golf course early next year. Attempts at a resolution over a contractual dispute between lawyers representing McIlroy and his former management company, Horizon, ultimately failed, with the legal battle now poised for the courts. "I'm going to need time away from tournament golf to prepare for the trial over my legal dispute with Horizon Sports Management," said McIlroy via his management company. "The court-directed mediation process failed over the weekend to resolve the issue." With a hearing expected to take place in February, McIlroy has opted to withdraw from two events in Shanghai at the end of this month and early next, the BMW Masters and World Golf Championships-HSBC ...

Mikko Ilonen kisses the trophy after winning the Volvo World Match Play Championship Mikko Ilonen became the first Finnish player to win the Volvo World Match Play Championship with a 3&1 victory over top seed Henrik Stenson in the final at The London Club. Ilonen went bogey-free and carded four birdies despite the windy conditions to secure the first prize of 650,000 euros, almost double his previous biggest cheque earned by victory at the Irish Open in June. Stenson, who had not led at any stage of his morning semi-final against George Coetzee before making a birdie on the 18th to win, claimed an early lead in the final with a birdie on the fourth. However, the world No 5 then bogeyed the fifth and hit his tee shot into the water on the eighth, before birdies on the 10th and 12th took Ilonen three up. Miko Ilonen has won the world match play championship golf beating Henrik Ste...

Joost Luiten: The in-form man this week Joost Luiten of the Netherlands maintained his 100 per cent record as he cruised into the semi-finals of the Volvo World Match Play Championship at the London Club. Luiten was the only player to win all three of his group matches en route to the quarter-finals and was equally impressive in recording the largest winning margin of the week by thrashing Spain's Pablo Larrazabal 6&5. The 28-year-old, who was considered for a Ryder Cup wild card by European captain Paul McGinley, was gifted the opening hole when Larrazabal found water with his approach to the par five, and then won the second, fifth, sixth and seventh to move five up. Luiten moved further ahead with a birdie on the 11th and even when Larrazabal recorded just his second birdie of the day on the 12th, Luiten followed him in from 20 feet for a half before closing out the match on the next. Luiten will face Mikko Ilon...

'; } ldbHTML += ' '; if (response.ldb.status) { ldbHTML += ' ' + response.ldb.status + ' '; } var totalScores = response.ldb.scores.length; if (totalScores '; if (mResult == "-") { ldbHTML += ' A/S '; } else if (mResult == "T1") { ldbHTML += ' ' + mScore + ' '; } else { ldbHTML += ' '; } ldbHTML += ' ' + mName1.replace('/',' ') + ' '; if (mHoles == "") { ldbHTML += ' ' + mTime + ' '; } else { ldbHTML += ' ' + mHoles + ' '; } ldbHTML += ' ' + mName2.replace('/',' ') + ' '; if (mResult == "-") { ldbHTML += ' A/S '; } else if (mResult == "T2") { ldbHTML += ...

Marcus Fraser: Australian leads in his first competitive outing for eight months Australia’s Marcus Fraser shot an excellent 65 on Saturday to ensure he will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Hong Kong Open in Fanling. The 36-year-old’s performance this week has been made all the more impressive by the fact that it is his first competitive outing in eight months following a long spell out injured. Fraser has been laid low with a ligament injury in his left hand, which required surgery, and has only played four European Tour events this season. However, the Australian again showed no ill effects in his third round, bouncing back from a bogey at his opening hole to post six birdies, including four in his last six holes. That left him alone at the top of the leaderboard on 11 under, one clear of compatriot Scott Hend (67) and two ahead of England’s Mark Foster (66), South African Jbe Kruger (66) and Angelo...

Russell Knox: Holds a share of the halfway lead in Las Vegas as he looks for his maiden PGA Tour win Scotland’s Russell Knox and America’s Andrew Putnam share the halfway lead at the Shriners Hospitals Open in Las Vegas. PGA Tour rookie Putnam, making just the fourth Tour start of his career, fired a six-under-par 65 which featured seven birdies to join Knox at the top of the leaderboard on 10 under. Knox, who like Putnam is chasing his maiden Tour victory, followed his opening 65 with a 67 to sit one clear of two more Americans, Andrew Svoboda (67) and Tony Finau (65). Knox, 29, started his round with a birdie at the first, but then had to regroup after back-to-back bogeys and admitted patience had been key for him. "I was all over the map," stated the Scot. "I didn't feel real good with my swing, and I knew if I just made some pars, eventually something would click. Slow progress for Laird "And...

Patrick Reed: Beat Jamie Donaldson to advance to the quarter-finals of the Volvo World Match Play Patrick Reed gained a small measure of revenge for last month's Ryder Cup defeat by knocking European hero Jamie Donaldson out of the Volvo World Match Play Championship on Friday. Reed, who was the top scorer for the United States at Gleneagles, beat Donaldson 3&2 in the final round of group matches at The London Club to advance to the quarter-finals. Donaldson, who secured the winning point against Keegan Bradley to make it three wins from four matches on his debut, was never ahead against Reed, who carded five birdies but was also crucially gifted the 11th when Donaldson three-putted from close range. Birdies on the 12th and 14th took Reed four ahead with four to play, and although Donaldson kept the match alive by almost holing his second shot to the par-five 15th and hitting his tee shot to two feet on the next, Re...

Ernie Els: Four-time major champ leads in fanling after second round of 65 Former world number one Ernie Els celebrated his 45th birthday by shooting a five-under-par 65 to take the lead in the Hong Kong Open at the halfway stage. The veteran South African, on nine under, is two clear of Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin and Australian duo Scott Hend and Cameron Smith after the second round in Fanling. Four-time major winner Els sank six birdies, four of which came in the space of five holes, with a bogey on the fourth being the only blemish on his card. Smith looked like bettering Els' round after seven birdies in his opening 10 holes, but a second bogey of the day on the ninth - his last - meant he also had to settle for a 65. Jacquelin and Hend, who is fighting to retain his European Tour card, shot 67 and 66 respectively. Els, who has not won in 42 events, said: "I played quite nicely and 65 is what I needed to...

Martin Laird: Seven birdies in a blemish-free opening round Martin Laird and Russell Knox both made flying starts to the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. Laird earned a share of the clubhouse lead with Stewart Cink after opening with a confident seven-under 64, while fellow Scot Knox prompted a 59 alert before settling for a 65. Knox started at the 10th and blitzed the back nine at TPC Summerlin for six birdies, including four in a row from the 15th, and he moved to seven under with another birdie at the second. But the 29-year-old could not maintain his sparkling run and bogeyed the fifth and sixth, although he closed with his eighth birdie of the round to claim outright second. Laird, the 2009 champion, also raced out of the blocks with three birdies in the first four holes, and he picked up two further shots at the eighth and ninth to turn in 30. After a run of five pars, Laird got another birdie putt to ...

Victor Dubuisson: Two wins from two at the Volvo World Match Play Defending champion Graeme McDowell suffered a rare defeat in the second round of the Volvo World Match Play Championship, where Ryder Cup partner Victor Dubuisson continued his hot run of form by making it two wins out of two. Dubuisson and Dutchman Joost Luiten are the only two men in the field with 100 percent records after two matches â€" with the Frenchman beating Shane Lowry and Luiten seeing off Alexander Levy. Results Dubuisson 3&2 Lowry Gallacher 1up Larrazabal McDowell 2&1 Ilonen Luiten 4&3 Levy Stenson 2&1 Molinari Jaidee 2&1 Coetzee Donaldson 3&2 Blixt Reed 2&1 Casey McDowell has a superb record in the event and his 2&1 defeat to Finland’s Mikko Ilonen was just his third in 18 matches in what is his fourth year in...

Hong Kong Open Shriners Hospitals for Children Open Volvo World Match Play Championship Bet now: Latest golf odds Date: 16th - 19th October Weather Min: 21°C, Max: 29°C Humidity: 96%. Wind: 12Km/ h. precipitation: 0%

Jyoti Randhawa: One-stroke lead after opening round of the Hong Kong Open Jyoti Randhawa of India claimed a one-shot lead after the first round of the Hong Kong Open following an opening six-under-par 64 at Fanling. Randhawa finished the day one clear of Angelo Que of the Philippines, while the likes of Ernie Els and Nicolas Colsaerts were part of a large group two back of the early pacesetter. Making his debut appearance at the event, four-time major winner Els mixed six birdies with two bogeys on the tight Hong Kong GC track, although he admitted he was far from satisfied with his overall display. “I missed three very makeable putts. If people had the cameras with us on the front, you'd have thought I was a seven-handicap.  But I pulled it together and played much better on the back nine,” he commented. “You want to have a good round the first day, it's easy to shoot yourself out of it. At first there's...