'Best season of my life', Manassero says of 2013 Mark Lamport-Stokes August 2, 2013

.View gallery


Matteo Manassero of Italy watches his tee shot on the third hole during a practice round ahead of the …

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

 AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - Italian golf sensation Matteo Manassero may have missed the cut in the first three majors of this season but the 20-year-old rates his 2013campaign overall as the best of his burgeoning career.

 In May, he became the youngest winner of the European Tour's flagship BMW PGA Championship, earning his fourth title on the circuit, and aims to end the year with a flourish after showing signs of solving recent problems with his driving accuracy.

 Manassero produced good form from tee to green in the opening round of this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, an ideal time for his game to turn around with the season's final major, the PGA Championship, starting at Oak Hill next Thursday.

 "I've hit some fairways, I've hit some greens and I've put some balls close on this tough golf course which is pretty long," Manassero told Reuters after starting out with a one-over-par 71 at Firestone Country Club.

"I wasn't all that comfortable with my putting but I am happy with what I have seen overall," said the Italian, who hit 10 of 14 fairways in the first round. "If I can keep it up for three more days, it's definitely going to be a good week."

Manassero, who was tied for 31st in an elite field of 73 heading into Friday's second round at Firestone, said he had no concerns over his recent struggles for form with the PGA Championship fast approaching.

"No, I have already seen improvements here at Firestone and that's what I need to see," the world number 27 added. "I am happy to have played some good, steady golf here."

Asked what had been the main reason for his missed cuts at the Masters, U.S. Open and at last month's British Open, Manassero replied: "Probably my driving. I was not swinging well and so I was losing the driver and not hitting enough fairways.


"When you don't drive it well in majors, then you try to save yourself with the putter and at times it doesn't work and you miss the cut. That's about it."

CONFIDENCE BOOST

Manassero, who announced himself as one of golf's brightest prospects by winning the 2010 Castello Masters as a 17-year-old just months after turning professional, said his victory in May at Wentworth had been the biggest confidence booster of his career.

 "That was a great week and I am really proud of winning the flagship event," Manassero smiled as he reflected on his achievement of becoming youngest player to clinch the BMW PGA Championship in its 58-year history.

"It was almost a major-quality field. We were missing the Americans but all the top Europeans were there.

"Winning that gives me a lot of confidence for the majors, more than anything else. If you win a big event like that, then you know in yourself that you are competitive."

 Though the swarthy Italian has not played particularly well on the U.S. PGA Tour this year with three missed cuts in seven starts, he believes his 2013 campaign has been a great success due to his performances in Europe.

 "For sure, it's been a good season," said Manassero who has recorded three top-10s in 16 starts on the 2013 European Tour. "It's been busy. I've played a lot of golf so lately I haven't been fresh enough to be able to compete at my best.

"My mind, at times, goes off just because I am a little tired. But I will have to cope with it. It's two more weeks and then I'm going to take quite a big break and get fresh again. Overall the season has been the best of my life."

 (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Julian Linden)

COMMENTARY | Things could be worse for Rory McIlroy.

In fact, coming into this week's tournament -- the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational -- a year ago, things arguably were worse. Believe it or not, the former world No. 1 was still using Titleist golf clubs and still dating Caroline Wozniackiand still was having trouble making cuts.

After beginning last season scorching hot, top-fiving in six of his first seven starts, McIlroy began one of those downward trends that have come to define his roller-coaster career. Despite winning the Honda Classic early in the year, McIlroy's record in the first three majors was unimpressive: T40 at the Masters, cut at the US Open and T60 at the Open Championship.

Coming into Akron, McIlroy had missed the cut in four of his previous seven tournaments. We all know what happened next, however. McIlroy found something after coming back Stateside from the Open; he built on that with a good week at Firestone and then went on to lap the field at the PGA Championship the following week on Kiawah Island.

McIlroy, who has been facing criticism on a weekly basis this season, seems to be in a similar position following his MC at the 2013 edition of the Open as he was 12 months ago. And each time he takes to the podium, like he did on Wednesday in Akron, he talks as if a breakthrough is imminent, although recent results would point to the contrary.

"I was sitting up here this time last year probably not feeling as if my game was in great shape and I'm sitting up here this year a lot more positive, so that's a great sign," McIlroy said. "I feel like if something similar could happen like it did last year -- get a good finish here or get into contention -- that would set me up for the last major of the season.

"I feel like my game is in better shape now than it was last year. I was really searching last year for answers."

McIlroy found those answers in the form of tie for fifth place after rounds of 70-67-67-68 on Firestone Country Club's South Course. According the to 24-year-old, the key was getting out of his own way, going out and simply playing golf, not getting overly concerned about his technique.


McIlroy headed back to his native Northern Ireland following the Open and played a bit of golf with his childhood friends at the courses he grew up on. Then, like last year, McIlroy got to Ohio on Monday of tournament week to practice at one of his favorite practice facilities on Tour. A few notes from his swing instructor Michael Bannon and a session or two with putting guru Dave Stockton, and McIlroy is once again feeling confident about where his game is.

This isn't to say that McIlroy is guaranteed a spot in contention this weekend or will be the man raising the Wanamaker Trophy next week at Oak Hill, but this isn't to say that it's that far of a stretch to think he might.

The acclimation necessary for an entire new bag of equipment has been overstated, but it shouldn't be dismissed entirely. Six months of tinkering with his new Nike equipment specs and finding out what works best for him is fair enough.

McIlroy said the irons were good to go from the start of the year, but his biggest weapon -- the driver -- was missing. McIlroy claimed to have found "the one" prior to the Open Championship and now will have an opportunity to put it to use repeatedly at Firestone.

Although the PGA Championship has dropped its moniker, "Glory's Last Shot," it will be Rory's last shot for a major in 2013.

If history is any indicator, McIlroy will have to make a run at the WGC this week to get him swinging confidently heading into the last major of the year.

Crazier things have happened than McIlroy turning a season around in the matter of a week; all you need to do is turn the calendar back to this time last year.

Chris Chaney is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based sportswriter. He has written for multiple outlets including WrongFairway.com, Hoopville.com, The Cincinnati (OH) Enquirer and The Clermont (OH) Sun.



Follow him on Twitter @Wrong_Fairway.

Women's British Open: Park struggles as Choi surges into leadThe Sports Xchange August 2, 2013The SportsXchange

Inbee Park survived difficult conditions just well enough to reach the weekend at the Women's British Open, but the South Korean faces an uphill battle in her effort to become the first golfer - male or female - to win four major titles in a calendar year.

 With winds gusting close to 30 mph on The Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland on Friday, Park carded a second-round score of 73 and stands 2-under entering the third round. While that's three shots inside the cut line, it's also eight shots back of countrywoman Na Yeon Choi, who surged into the lead with a 5-under round of 67. 

"Pressure I think got to me the last couple days," said Park. "This is pretty much the only week I'm going to get this much (attention). I should enjoy this moment."

Choi is at 10-under, one shot clear of China's Miki Saiki, who posted the low round of the day - a 6-under 66 - featuring a pair of eagles.

"The weather wasn't good," said Choi, the No. 4-ranked player in the world. "It was very hard. But my focus was very good and my caddie helped me a lot."

 First-round leader Morgan Pressel is two shots off the pace after a solid second-round score of 70 and is alone in third place. 

 American Nicole Castrale, Norway's Suzann Pettersen and South Korea's Jee Young Lee are tied for fourth at 7-under, one shot ahead of Sweden's Mikaela Parmlid. Americans Angela Stanford and Stacy Lewis, the world's No. 2-ranked player, are in a group of five players at 5-under. 

"We've seen this golf course player hard. We know how patient you have to stay," said Lewis.

 Among those missing the cut were Yani Tseng (2-over), the world No. 1 entering the year who has tumbled out of the top 10 with four consecutive missed cuts and Australian Karrie Webb (6-over). American Lexi Thompson followed up a first-round 75 with a 77 on Friday and will not play the weekend at 8-over. 

 Americans of note entering the weekend include Paula Creamer (4-under), Natalie Gulbis and Jessica Korda(1-under), Michelle Wie (even) and Cristie Kerr (1-over). 

Park won the U.S. Women's Open in July, the LPGA Championship in June and the Kraft Nabisco Championships in April. If she can't get a fourth major title in Scotland, another chance exists with the Evian Masters, added as a fifth major this season.

 Bobby Jones won four majors in a calendar year, but two were amateur championships. He won the British Open, U.S. Open and the amateur events at those two tournaments. 

Tigers Woods won the 2001 Masters after winning the British Open, PGA Championship and U.S. Open in 2000, giving him four successive major title wins.

"When you experience something big like this, some kind of big pressure like this, you're just really not afraid of any kind of pressure," Park said. "How can it get bigger than this? If you experience something like this, you're just ready to go and ready to experience something - anything's going to be less than this."

Golf-Bradley grabs early clubhouse lead as Woods sizzles August 2, 2013

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

 AKRON, Ohio, Aug 2 (Reuters) - While Tiger Woods made an explosive birdie-eagle-birdie start to move two strokes clear in Friday's second round at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, defending champion Keegan Bradley seized the clubhouse lead.

 American Bradley, who triumphed by one shot at Firestone Country Club last year after closing with a superb six-under-par 64, maintained his bid for a fourth career victory on the PGA Tour by shooting a 68.

 On a warm but breezy day, Bradley birdied four of his first 11 holes before running up two bogeys over the closing stretch to post a six-under total of 134.

That left him a stroke in front of compatriot Bill Haas, who also carded a 68 despite not striking the ball at his very best.

PGA Tour veteran Jim Furyk and England's former world number one Luke Donald were level at four under after returning matching 69s but most eyes were firmly focused on the fast-starting Woods who has always relished playing at Firestone.

 Winner here a record seven times in the elite World Golf Championships (WGC) event, Woods knocked in a three-footer to birdie the par-four first before draining a 20-foot eagle putt at the par-five second.

The world number one, who has won a season-high four times on the PGA Tour, then rolled in a 12-footer at the par-four third to forge two ahead of the chasing pack in a field of 73 players.

Though Bradley was delighted with his own position heading into the weekend, he was wary of the pre-tournament favourite.

"Those first couple holes out there are definitely birdie holes, so I'd expect him to do that," Bradley said of the sizzling start made by Woods. "I hope he doesn't go too low, but I'm in a good spot going into the weekend regardless.


"My game feels really sharp right now. Everything that I've done this week so far has felt really good, putting, driving the ball, irons. I haven't gotten the most out of both my rounds, so hopefully tomorrow I can do that.

"This time of year my game always kind of comes around, and I start to play better," added Bradley, who clinched his first major title at the 2011 PGA Championship.

HAPPY HAAS

Haas, who won his fifth PGA Tour title at the AT&T National in June, was happy enough with his 67-68 start on the challenging, 7,400-yard South Course at Firestone.

"Pretty solid ball striking, maybe not ideal, but good enough, and just pretty consistent," he said. "I'm not striking it great, but when I've missed shots I've been able to save par.

"If the putter is feeling good and I have good thoughts with that. If that stays the same this weekend, hopefully I'll be there (contending) on Sunday. This week is a tough week, the golf course is playing as tough as I've seen it."

Northern Irish world number three Rory McIlroy, striving to turn his game around ahead of his title defence at next week's PGA Championship, carded a roller-coaster 71 to finish seven strokes off the clubhouse lead.

The double major winner hit only five of 14 fairways as he mixed three birdies with a double at the 14th and two bogeys for a one-over tally of 141, level with England's U.S. Open champion Justin Rose (72)

Newly crowned British Open champion Phil Mickelson was a further two strokes back after shooting a 71, alongside big South African Ernie Els (72).

 Overnight leader Webb Simpson, who opened with an eight-birdie 64, was among the late starters. (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Gene Cherry)

Golf-Struggling Park's grand slam hopes fade at British Open August 2, 2013

Aug 2 (Reuters) - World number one Inbee Park's hopes of a fourth successive major were dealt a blow when the South Korean shot a one-over-par 73 to finish eight shots off the lead after the second round of the women's British Open on Friday.

 Park, aiming to become the first player of either gender to win four majors in a calendar year, is two-under par for the tournament adrift of compatriot and leader Na Yeon Choi at St Andrews in Scotland.

"A little bit of everything wasn't really working well out there today, but it was tough conditions," the 25-year-old, who has never won the tournament, was quoted as saying by the BBC.

"I think I grinded (it out) really well out there."

Former U.S. Open champion Choi, hit six birdies on the way to matching her first-round 67 on the Old Course with her only bogey coming at the seventh.


 She is one shot clear of Japan's Miki Saiki (66) and a further stroke ahead of overnight leader Morgan Pressel of the U.S. who is third on eight under after a 70.

Park has won the first three majors of 2013 - the Kraft Nabisco title, LPGA Championship and U.S. Open.

Officially, victory this weekend would not constitute a grand slam, since the Evian Masters in September has this year been granted the status of the fifth major.

But securing a fourth successive major in a calendar year would be heralded as an unprecedented achievement.

 Park has already matched the feat of Babe Zaharias in 1950 of winning the first three majors of the year. (Writing by Alison Wildey in London; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Golf-PGA Tour money list August 26, 2013

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

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

1. Tiger Woods $8,215,119

2. Phil Mickelson $5,224,727

3. Matt Kuchar $5,100,008

4. Brandt Snedeker $4,913,261

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

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

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

8. Bill Haas $3,281,963

9. Keegan Bradley $3,180,813


10. Billy Horschel $3,117,543

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

12. Kevin Streelman $2,878,018

13. Jordan Spieth $2,724,820

14. Jason Dufner $2,678,134

15. Boo Weekley $2,601,662

16. Dustin Johnson $2,572,844

17. Steve Stricker $2,553,532

18. D A Points $2,507,287

19. Webb Simpson $2,487,284

20. Jim Furyk $2,433,929

(Edited by Josh Reich)

Golf-PGA Tour FedExCup points table
Reuters August 26, 2013
 
Aug 26 (Reuters) - PGA Tour 2013 FedExCup points table on

Monday (U.S. unless stated):

1. Tiger Woods 3,059 points

2. Matt Kuchar 2,293

3. Brandt Snedeker 2,218

4. Phil Mickelson 2,166

5. Bill Haas 1,505

6. Billy Horschel 1,487

7. Justin Rose (England) 1,447

8. Jordan Spieth 1,436

9. Henrik Stensen (Sweden) 1,426

10. Keegan Bradley 1,416

11. Adam Scott (Australia) 1,347

12. Boo Weekley 1,335

13. Kevin Streelman 1,333

14. Jason Day (Australia) 1,284

15. Jason Dufner 1,256

16. Dustin Johnson 1,226

17. Webb Simpson 1,188

18. Zach Johnson 1,141

19. Harris English 1,134

20. Steve Stricker 1,117

(Editing by Josh Reich)

Golf-European Tour Race to Dubai money list
 August 26, 2013

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

European Tour Race to Dubai on Monday:

1. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 2,118,961 euros

2. Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) 1,693,388

3. Justin Rose (England) 1,661,271

4. Richard Sterne (South Africa) 1,265,514

5. Matteo Manassero (Italy) 1,228,188

6. Branden Grace (South Africa) 1,069,469

7. Ernie Els (South Africa) 1,036,616

8. Sergio Garcia (Spain) 1,016,700

9. Brett Rumford (Australia) 997,190


10. Ian Poulter (England) 973,716

11. Lee Westwood (England) 943,639

12. Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 882,321

13. Mikko Ilonen (Finland) 877,527

14. Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) 861,276

15. Jamie Donaldson (Wales) 826,072

16. Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 821,744

17. Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark) 793,293

18. Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) 769,616

19. Marc Warren (Scotland) 736,862

20. Chris Wood (England) 690,469

(Editing by Toby Davis)

Tommy Fleetwood wins Johnnie Walker Championship
August 26, 2013
AP - Sports
 Tommy Fleetwood wins Johnnie Walker Championship.
View gallery
England's Tommy Fleetwood celebrates with the trophy following his 3 way play off win during the final …

GLENEAGLES, Scotland (AP) -- Tommy Fleetwood of England birdied the first playoff hole Sunday at the Johnnie Walker Championship to earn his first European Tour 

victory.

Fleetwood also birdied the 18th to finish his round with a 70 and set up a three-way playoff with Scotland's Stephen Gallacher (67) and Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez 

(70) after all three finished at 18-under 270 on the PGA Centenary course.

Playing the par-5 18th again, Fleetwood narrowly missed an eagle putt from the fringe and then rolled in a three-footer for the win. Gallacher and Gonzalez both made 

par.

Gallacher overcame a triple-bogey 7 on the 11th hole with a round that included five birdies and two eagles - including one on the 18th to make the playoff.

''It's just unbelievable as it's been a lifetime goal to win on the European Tour,'' Fleetwood said. ''I'm sure there will be bigger and better goals in my career but 

this feels absolutely amazing right now.''

 Fantasy Football Signup
Fleetwood went into the final round of his 50th Tour event sharing the lead on 16-under with Gonzalez but slipped well off the pace to be 1 over for his round through 

15 holes.

However, he then eagled the 16th and birdied the last.

Fleetwood was watched by his parents and ailing 14-year old dog, Maisy.

''She was diagnosed with cancer a couple of weeks ago,'' Fleetwood said. ''So given her condition, this week is pretty special.''

Gallacher made a triple bogey at the 11th hole but then made up four shots in his closing five holes, including grabbing an eagle at the last.

The 43-year old Gonzalo was looking to end a four-year winless drought.

Scotland's Scott Henry chipped in for eagle at the last in a score of 67 to finish tied fourth on 17-under with Austrian Bernd Wiesberger who shot a 68.

Tommy Fleetwood wins Johnnie Walker Championship
August 26, 2013
AP - Sports
 Tommy Fleetwood wins Johnnie Walker Championship.
View gallery
England's Tommy Fleetwood celebrates with the trophy following his 3 way play off win 

during the final …

GLENEAGLES, Scotland (AP) -- Tommy Fleetwood of England birdied the first playoff hole 

Sunday at the Johnnie Walker Championship to earn his first European Tour victory.

Fleetwood also birdied the 18th to finish his round with a 70 and set up a three-way 

playoff with Scotland's Stephen Gallacher (67) and Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez (70) after 

all three finished at 18-under 270 on the PGA Centenary course.

Playing the par-5 18th again, Fleetwood narrowly missed an eagle putt from the fringe and 

then rolled in a three-footer for the win. Gallacher and Gonzalez both made par.

Gallacher overcame a triple-bogey 7 on the 11th hole with a round that included five 

birdies and two eagles - including one on the 18th to make the playoff.

''It's just unbelievable as it's been a lifetime goal to win on the European Tour,'' 

Fleetwood said. ''I'm sure there will be bigger and better goals in my career but this 

feels absolutely amazing right now.''

 Fantasy Football Signup
Fleetwood went into the final round of his 50th Tour event sharing the lead on 16-under 

with Gonzalez but slipped well off the pace to be 1 over for his round through 15 holes.

However, he then eagled the 16th and birdied the last.

Fleetwood was watched by his parents and ailing 14-year old dog, Maisy.

''She was diagnosed with cancer a couple of weeks ago,'' Fleetwood said. ''So given her 

condition, this week is pretty special.''

Gallacher made a triple bogey at the 11th hole but then made up four shots in his closing 

five holes, including grabbing an eagle at the last.

The 43-year old Gonzalo was looking to end a four-year winless drought.

Scotland's Scott Henry chipped in for eagle at the last in a score of 67 to finish tied 

fourth on 17-under with Austrian Bernd Wiesberger who shot a 68.