Golf Tips 001-blogspot: 08/26/13

Monday, August 26, 2013

Inbee Park, Cristie Kerr share lead in Canada

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- Top-ranked Inbee Park shot a 5-under 65 on Friday for a share of the second-round lead with playing partner Cristie Kerr in the Canadian Women's Open.

Park, the South Korean star who swept the first three majors of the season and has six LPGA Tour victories this year, had seven birdies and two bogeys at Royal Mayfair to match Kerr at 8-under 132.

Kerr, coming off the United States' loss to Europe in the Solheim Cup, shot her second straight 66. She won the Kingsmill Championship in May for her 16th career LPGA Tour title.

''It's a course where you have to really shape the ball off the tee and be creative,'' said Kerr, the 2006 winner at London Hunt in Ontario. ''I played very well the last couple of days. It's unfortunate I bogeyed the last hole today, but that's what happens when you hit an errant shot and have to chip out to a difficult pin.''

On the par-4 18th, Kerr drove into the left rough and was startled on her approach when a door on a portable restroom slammed shut.

''I mean, (the noise) really scared me,'' she said. ''I could have hooked (the ball) in the water.''

Park also bogeyed the final hole. She's returning to play after a break in South Korea following a failed bid in the Women's British Open to become the first professional to win four straight majors in one season.

''I worked on a couple of things after that because I wasn't hitting it my best at the British Open. I'm obviously hitting it a lot better this week and putting a lot better,'' she said. ''On the greens, I was really comfortable because they're so pure wherever you hit it, it's just going to go right there.''

Park holed out from 20 yards from a bunker on the par-4 first hole for a birdie.

''I always love to start with a birdie,'' Park said. ''It's like a good luck charm for me.''

She finished second last year at Vancouver Golf Club, three strokes behind teen star Lydia Ko.

Park and Kerr will play together for the third straight day Saturday.

''It's always fun to play with Inbee,'' Kerr said. ''She always plays well, and I enjoy playing with her.''

Angela Stanford, 0-4 for the United States in the Solheim Cup, and France's Karine Icher, a member of the winning European team, were a stroke back. Icher had a 66, and Stanford shot 68.

''Good putting made the difference today,'' Icher said. ''The course is quite hard, (with) tricky fairways and big rough, so I'm looking to get some good drives and putts on the weekend.''

Ko was 6 under after a 69. Last year in British Columbia, the New Zealand amateur star became the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history at 15 years, 4 months.

''I've just got to play my own game and hopefully get some more putts rolling in,'' Ko said.

Paula Creamer and 49-year-old Laura Davies also were 6 under. Davies had a 66, and Creamer shot 68.

''I'm holing putts,'' Davies said. ''That's the difference. ... You know, you can't compete if you can't hole putts.''

Charley Hull, the 17-year-old English player coming off a strong performance in the Solheim Cup, was 5 under after a 66. She played alongside Ko in the first two rounds.

''I played pretty solid,'' Hull said. ''I wasn't hitting that good today on the front nine with my tee shots because I felt a little tired out there. The back nine I got something going, holed a few putts and I'm pretty pleased with that.''

Michelle Wie missed the cut with rounds of 73 and 76. She won the 2010 tournament at St. Charles in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

''I'm completely under the weather,'' said Wie, also a member of the losing U.S. Solheim Cup team. ''I was struggling today, just could not get out of bed. I just felt really sick today, though that is no excuse.

''I'm going to take advantage of the two days I'm not playing, and just not leave my bed and just kind of sleep for 40 hours straight.''

U.S. teammate Stacy Lewis withdrew Thursday after an opening 74, citing illness.

Sweden's Caroline Hedwall, a record 5-0 in the Solheim Cup, was 4 under after her second straight 68.

Park seizes share of Canadian LPGA lead

World number one Park In-Bee fired a five-under par 65 to grab a share of the second-round lead at the LPGA Canadian Women's Open.

South Korea's Park, who has won three major titles this season, was joined on eight-under 132 by US veteran Cristie Kerr, who carded a 66.

First-round co-leader Angela Stanford carded a 68 that left her tied for third on 133 with France's Karine Icher, who posted a 66.

Lydia Ko, whose victory in this tournament last year at the age of 15 made her the youngest player to win an LPGA title, had shared the overnight lead with Stanford.

The 16-year-old phenom from New Zealand carded a second-round 69 that left her tied for fifth on six-under 134, alongside England's Laura Davies (66) and American Paula Creamer (68).

Park got off to a hot start at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club course with birdies at the first and second. She holed out from a bunker at the par-four first.

"I always love to start with a birdie," Park said. "It's like a good luck charm for me. I almost never finish a round over par when I start with a birdie."

Park, seeking a needed just 25 putts on Friday. Her seven birdies included three in a row at the 14th, 15th and 16th.

"I hit the ball really good, and I obviously putted really good out there," she said. "On these greens, you can two-putt from anywhere. I think it's pretty good. If you slightly over-hit it, you can easily three-putt. So the three-putt is something that I was trying to avoid."

Park played with Kerr in the first two rounds and said they fed off each other's birdies.

"I think it's always good when you're playing with a partner while she's making a lot of birdies and it makes you want to have more birdies," Park said. "It already felt like a final round, and trying to make more birdies and trying to get the momentum going."

Kerr, who had six birdies and two bogeys, agreed.

"It's always fun to play with In-Bee," said Kerr, who is happy with her own game despite a disappointing bogey at 18.

"I'm mad at myself for knocking my last tee shot, but I did so much good stuff in the last couple days," she said.

"I mean, you can't do anything about a porta potty door slamming in your back swing," she added of the noise that distracted her on that tee shot. "I sucked it up, and I made a really good two-putt for bogey."

Ko, who has played in nine other LPGA events this season including four majors, says she's trying to make more decisions, such as club selection, without the help of her caddies.

As an amateur she has hired and played with new caddies every week, often using someone with local experience.

This week Royal Mayfair member Bruce McMillan is carrying her bag.

"The last couple of caddies, local caddies, we've kind of done club selection and stuff together, but this time I decided I wanted to make the decision so Bruce doesn't know what club I'm hitting," Ko said. "I've decided I wanted to be more independent. Doing it this way, it actually helps me to learn to know my clubs better, so I think that's a really good opportunity that way."

Bart Bryant leads Boeing Classic

SNOQUALMIE, Wash. (AP) -- Bart Bryant got off to a fast start in his bid to win consecutive Champions Tour titles, shooting a 6-under 66 on Friday to take the first-round lead in the Boeing Classic.

Bryant had eight birdies and two bogeys at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge, five days after winning the Dick's Sporting Goods Open in Endicott, N.Y., for his first victory in his rookie season on the 50-and-over tour.

''It was a good way to start. I wish I could have hung on there late. Kind of ran out of steam the last few holes, but overall, a great day,'' Bryant said. ''I'll take a 66 every day for the rest of my life.''

Bryant opened with a birdie and added four in a row on Nos. 3-6. He bogeyed the par-4 seventh, rebounded with birdies on Nos. 11, 13 and 14, and had another bogey on the par-3 17th. On the 210-yard, par-3 13th, he holed out from a bunker.

Bryant did not play much during his final four years of PGA Tour eligibility because of two surgeries on his left wrist. The first one didn't work and, after the second one, he said, ''I was beginning to think this might be it.''

''I was not really hopeful to play again,'' he said, ''but the second time we did it, it worked. It seems like it's holding together. It was just years and years of beating it up. I lost all the cartilage in there. The bones started rubbing. So they went in there and fused one big bone.''

Duffy Waldorf and Bobby Clampett shot 67, and Bernhard Langer, Dick Mast and Kirk Triplett followed at 68. Langer tied the course record with a 5-under 31 on the front nine.

Hometown favorite Fred Couples opened with a 69.

Waldorf, who tied for sixth last year in the event in his Champions Tour debut, chipped in from a bunker behind the green for an eagle on the 498-yard, par-5 18th.

Triplett, who grew up in Eastern Washington, had four birdies in a bogey-free round.

Kenny Perry, No. 1 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, struggled to a 70.

Mark Calcavecchia hurt his back on the 12th hole and withdrew.

VIDEO: A history of Tiger Woods fist pumps

By Kyle Porter | Golf Writer

August 4, 2013 4:41 pm ET

Since the Bridgestone Invitational is all but over I thought I should post this brief history of the best Tiger Woods fist pumps.

My favorites in order:

1. The point and run at the PGA to beat Bob May -- I'll never forget this one, even Steve Williams got in on the fun!
2. The triple pump from the U.S. Amateur -- He had some monstrous pumps early on in his career. More subtle of late.
3. The Masters one (1:40 mark) -- So classic.

Speaking of fist pumps, it's been a while since we've had a classic one from Woods -- maybe next week at the PGA Championship would be a good place to start.

h/t Andrew Dewitt

For more golf news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnGolf and @KylePorterCBS on Twitter or Google+ and like us on Facebook.

What's at stake for Tiger Woods at Bridgestone Invitational?

By Kyle Porter | Golf Writer

August 4, 2013 8:57 am ET

We know who's going to win the Bridgestone Invitational.

Or, rather, we know that if Tiger Woods doesn't win the Bridgestone Invitational with a seven-stroke lead going to the final round it will be much bigger news than if he does.

So with that in mind, with new Tiger conjuring up old Tiger and blasting away at one of the best fields of the year, here's a look at a few things he's chasing.

His 18th World Golf Championships win. The next closest guy has three.
His fifth win of the year. This would mark the 10th (!) year in which he's won at least five times.
His 79th career PGA Tour win. That would leave him three behind Sam Snead's record of 82.
His eighth career win at the Bridgestone Invitational. This would give him two different tournaments where he's won eight times.
His 12th career win by six or more shots (he's up seven). Since Tiger became a pro nobody else has more than two (via @jrayespngolf).

So as you can see, all eyeballs will be on history rather than Henrik Stenson (who is in second) and whoever can draw a 62 or 63 from the well.

All Woods likely has to do to win is shoot par. He can do that in his sleep at this course.

For more golf news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnGolf and @KylePorterCBS on Twitter or Google+ and like us on Facebook.

Tiger Woods retains seven-stroke lead at Bridgestone Invitational

By Kyle Porter | Golf Writer

August 3, 2013 6:03 pm ET

Tiger Woods is way out front of the field at the Bridgestone Invitational. (USATSI)

If "cruise control" is a club then Tiger Woods will likely stuff it in his bag on Saturday night in front of Sunday's final round at the 2013 Bridgestone Invitational.

Woods backed up his second-round 61 with a 68 in the third round and will take a seven-stroke lead over Henrik Stenson as they head to Sunday.

After his round Woods downplayed his third straight day under par.

"Today was a day that I didn't quite have it, but I scored. Just tried to build on my lead somehow. I was just trying to post something in the red. It was blowing today, I figured anything in the red would be a good number."

I'm convinced that if he could figure out a way to shoehorn all his birdies for any given week into his Thursday and Friday rounds, the man would never lose a tournament. He was just striding around the course on Saturday, doing what he does best -- protecting a monster lead.

The odds on him winning are currently -7500. That means you have to wager $7,500 on Tiger to win the tournament to win a measly $100. That's how much of a sure thing this is.

And as Justin Ray of ESPN pointed out a win here would be Woods' 18th at a World Golf Championships event.

The next closest golfer (Geoff Ogilvy) has three wins.

Woods missed out on his all-time 54-hole PGA Tour record of 20 under, but not by a lot. Here's a look at his scorecard:

The back nine was a little sloppy at the end but some world-class scrambling and a chip-in on No. 13 were sufficient to get him to the last 18 holes with nary a worry.

Woods has only lost once when leading by more than one after 54 holes -- that was to Y.E. Yang at the 2009 PGA Championship.

The real history Woods is chasing (other than Sam Snead's 82 PGA Tour win record) is this:

That's absurd.

And I'm guessing his record when taking a seven-stroke lead to the final round of tournaments he's won seven times is, um, solid.

Woods said after his round "hopefully I can seal the deal tomorrow."

I don't think that will be an issue.

For more golf news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnGolf and @KylePorterCBS on Twitter or Google+ and like us on Facebook.