Open champion opts to part company with bag man
Darren Clarke has parted company with caddie John Mulrooney, the man with whom he won The Open Championship at Sandwich last July.
Clarke took the decision after missing the halfway cut at the Abu Dhabi Championship over the weekend.
The Ulsterman finished well down the field after following a level-par opening 72 with a disappointing 81 in Friday's second round.
The 43-year-old has struggled for form since his memorable major triumph and has not managed a top-10 finish since that victory at Royal St George's.
Clarke's management stable, ISM, have insisted that the split is amicable and report that he will now spend the next few weeks considering Mulrooney's replacement.
Clarke's next competitive outing will be the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona at the end of February and he will hope to have a new man in place for that event.
Mulrooney took over as Clarke's full-time caddie after the former Ryder Cup player won the Iberdrola Open in Majorca in May of last year. - http://www1.skysports.com/
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Clarke splits with caddie
Play-off joy for Snedeker
Brandt Snedeker recorded an extraordinary win at the Farmers Insurance Open on Sunday night after Kyle Stanley endured a final-hole meltdown to send the tournament into a play-off.
Stanley, who started the day with a five-shot lead, looked to be cruising to a maiden PGA Tour title having pulled seven strokes clear of the field at one stage.
But the 24-year-old found himself under pressure on the back nine from Snedeker who posted a closing 67 to set the target in the clubhouse at 16-under-par.
Stanley, though, looked to have retained his composure and made crucial, testing putts for par at 14, 15 and 16 to ensure he headed for final tee with a three-shot advantage.
However, having opted to lay up at the par-five 18th, Stanley watched on in horror as his third spun back off the green and into a water hazard. - http://www.skysports.com/
Play-off joy for Snedeker
Brandt Snedeker recorded an extraordinary win at the Farmers Insurance Open on Sunday night after Kyle Stanley endured a final-hole meltdown to send the tournament into a play-off.
Stanley, who started the day with a five-shot lead, looked to be cruising to a maiden PGA Tour title having pulled seven strokes clear of the field at one stage.
But the 24-year-old found himself under pressure on the back nine from Snedeker who posted a closing 67 to set the target in the clubhouse at 16-under-par.
Stanley, though, looked to have retained his composure and made crucial, testing putts for par at 14, 15 and 16 to ensure he headed for final tee with a three-shot advantage.
However, having opted to lay up at the par-five 18th, Stanley watched on in horror as his third spun back off the green and into a water hazard. - http://www.skysports.com/
Woods and Rock card six-under to pull clear of the chasing pack
Tiger Woods showed ominous signs of a return to his best to take a share of the lead after three rounds of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
Third round leaderboard(GB & Ire unless stated)-11 T Woods (US)-11 R Rock-9 P Hanson (Swe)-9 F Molinari (Ita)-9 R McIlroy-9 P LawrieClick here for collated scoresThe former world number one carded a third-round 66, finishing off with a fine birdie at the last to stand atop a crowded leaderboard on which at least 20 players will fancy their chances of a Sunday charge.
Looking in determined mood throughout, Woods had six birdies and avoided any mistakes, making it only two bogeys through 54 holes of his first tournament of the season.
Englishman Robert Rock, playing in the group behind, proved his most consistent challenger and made a birdies at the last two holes to match Woods' 66.
They have a two-stroke lead over the chasing pack which includes Rory McIlroy.
Playing with Woods for the third day running, the US Open champ matched Tiger over the front nine as the pair went out in two-under but McIlroy never had the same consistency off the tee on the back and couldn't keep pace.
Peter Hanson carded the best round of the day, an eight-under 64, to vault from tied 32nd to tied third.
The Swede birdied three of his first five holes and picked up five more shots along the way to be part of a four-man group at nine-under which features McIlroy, Francesco Molinari and Paul Lawrie.
Halfway leader Thorbjorn Olesen struggled after dropping shots at five and six, but three birdies around the turn helped him home in 71, three shots off the leading duo alongside George Coetzee, James Kingston and Jean-Baptiste Gonnet.
Dane Thomas Bjorn and Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano had showed what was possible on a perfect day for scoring by going to the turn in 30. Both would shoot 65s to end at seven-under and five-under respectively. - http://www1.skysports.com/
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McIlroy steals the show
Rory McIlroy outshone playing partners Tiger Woods and Luke Donald with a five-under-par 67 which earned him a share of the first-round lead at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
The 22-year-old US Open champion ended the opening day at the top of the leaderboard alongside Swede Robert Karlsson thanks to a chip-in birdie on his penultimate hole, while Woods shot a bogey-free 70 and world number one Donald a 71.Live on Sky Sports
McIlroy's ball-striking was not at its best, but like Karlsson he scrambled brilliantly in his first tournament since recovering from suspected Dengue fever.
Woods was playing his first event since ending more than two years without a victory at his Chevron World Challenge event last month and produced a highly consistent display hitting 17 of 18 greens in regulation.
But the 14-time major winner did not make the most of his chances and collected birdies only at the 11th - his second hole of the day - and the short fourth, where he almost holed in one.
Donald, meanwhile, followed eight opening pars with back-to-back birdies, but could not save par from the sand on the 200-yard seventh. - http://www1.skysports.com/
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Jbe Kruger vs Romain Wattel Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship 12BET online sports betting 1/26 12:40PM GMT+8
The Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship is a European Tour golf tournament that was staged for the first time in January 2006. It is played at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Sheraton in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
The creation of this event is part of the European Tour's continuing expansion into Asia, and it makes up a trio of European Tour events in the Gulf States alongside the Dubai Desert Classic (founded in 1989) and the Qatar Masters (founded in 1998). Unlike most European Tour events staged in Asia it is not co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour. The prize fund for each of the first five editions was US$2 million.
Tiger to partner Rory and Luke
The American is making his debut in the Gulf state this week having turned down the chance to play in the PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines, (Farmers Insurance Open) - a tournament he has won no fewer than six times.
Woods will take on the world's top four players in Abu Dhabi with number two Lee Westwood and number four Martin Kaymer also teeing it up.
Westwood and Kaymer will also play the first two rounds together alongside Sergio Garcia who produced a stunning return to form with back-to-back victories in Spain last October.
Kaymer is the defending champion and is something of a course specialist having won on three of his previous four visits to Abu Dhabi - last year thrashing the field by a stunning eight shots.
Other notable groups see Darren Clarke, Jason Day and Alvaro Quiros playing together and Padraig Harrington, Charl Schwartzel and Thomas Bjorn teaming up. - http://www1.skysports.com/
GOLF news update 1/24
European Ryder Cup captain benefits from field increase
Jose Maria Olazabal is one of three players to be added to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after the field for the tournament was increased.
The line-up has been adjusted from 126 to 129 players, meaning the European Ryder Cup captain will now compete in the competition, having previously being listed as second reserve.
The 45-year-old Spaniard will now be on the course alongside Europe's top four golfers in Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer.
Tiger Woods is also set to feature this week after receiving one of the seven sponsor's invitation places alongside Henrik Stenson, Jason Day, KJ Choi, Kiang Wen-Chong, England's Challenge Tour winner Tommy Fleetwood and locally-based Englishman Stuart Fee, who won a qualifying event last month. - http://www1.skysports.com/
PGA Tour news update 1/23
Wilson holds his nerve
Late flourish sees 37-year-old claim fifth PGA Tour title
Mark Wilson overcame a nervy start at the Humana Challenge to secure his fifth PGA Tour title.
Wilson must have feared the worst as his three-shot lead from overnight was quickly wiped out in the final round on the Palmer Course at PGA West.
A front nine of 37 from the 37-year-old had opened up the door to the chasing pack.
However Wilson recovered his composure to play the last eight holes in four-under par for a closing 69 and 24-under-par total of 264.
That gave Wilson a two-shot win over fellow Americans Johnson Wagner - who won the Sony Open in Hawaii last week - John Mallinger and Robert Garrigus.
Garrigus, who had dropped a shot on the 17th to fall out of a tie for the lead with Wilson, had a chance to finish outright second but missed from nine feet for birdie on the last.
Wilson bogeyed the third and did not pick up his first birdie of the day until the par-five 11th. - http://www1.skysports.com
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hot 12BET sports: Volvo Golf Champions Winner European Tour - 12BE...
hot 12BET sports: Volvo Golf Champions Winner European Tour - 12BE...: Colsaerts, Grace one clear Schwartzel and Goosen lead chasing pack at Fancourt Nicolas Colsaerts and Branden Grace will head into the ...
Volvo Golf Champions Winner European Tour - 12BET tips 1/22 5PM GMT 8
Colsaerts, Grace one clear
Schwartzel and Goosen lead chasing pack at Fancourt
Nicolas Colsaerts and Branden Grace will head into the final round of the Volvo Golf Champions event with a narrow one-shot lead after a fascinating third day at a wet and windy Fancourt.
After a couple of days of low scoring, the South African lay-out bit back on Saturday with many players, including overnight leader Grace, failing to break par and Spaniard Pablo Martin shooting a 90.
Grace had started the day with a commanding four stroke advantage, but saw his lead disappear following a two-over 75 that included five birdies, but also three bogeys and two doubles.
That allowed Colsaerts - who posted a course record 64 on Thursday - to move level with him at the top of the leaderboard on 10-under-par after sinking a long putt for eagle on 18.
It represented a fine fightback from the 29-year-old Belgian who had crashed out of the lead following a forgettable 76 on Friday.
The duo are one clear of two more South Africans, Charl Schwartzel and Retief Goosen, who posted rounds of 68 and 70 respectively to put themselves right in contention.http://www1.skysports.com/
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hot 12BET sports: GOLF news update 1/20
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news update 1/20: McIlroy wins Shot of the Year Majestic tee-shot over water at Congressional secures award for Rory Rory McIlroy's six-iron to the 10th h...
GOLF news update 1/20
Majestic tee-shot over water at Congressional secures award for Rory
Rory McIlroy's six-iron to the 10th hole on the final day of his runaway US Open victory has been voted by fans the European Tour Shot of the Year for 2011.
The towering tee shot over water came to rest just a few inches from the cup and for most people removed any lingering fear that the young Ulsterman would collapse like he did at The Masters two months earlier.
"I thought that shot was probably the most important in the round because YE Yang had just stuck it in there close," he said. "To follow that up with mine was pretty cool.
"I had a big lead, but there was always the chance that if I had hit it in the water or done something silly and YE had made his birdie then it would have put a bit of pressure on me.
"Hopefully I can produce a few more of those in 2012.
" With 30% of the vote McIlroy was an overwhelming winner. Miguel Angel Jimenez had 21% for his 250-yard second shot to the long 17th - again over water - at Valderrama in the Andalucia Masters, while McIlroy also took third place for his holed bunker shot on the final hole of his Hong Kong Open win. - http://www1.skysports.com/
hot 12BET sports: 12BET Golf News 1/19
hot 12BET sports: 12BET Golf News 1/19: Reigning Masters champion Charl Schwartzel leads a line-up of eight South Africans, including Major winners Ernie Els, Louis Oosthuizen a...
12BET Golf News 1/19
Among the winners of last season – and 10-time champions on the European Tour – the international field includes Open Champion Darren Clarke, Thomas Björn, Simon Dyson, Tom Lewis, Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jose María Olazábal and Colin Montgomerie, as well as the youngest qualifier, 18-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero.
The brooding Outeniqua Mountains which held Fancourt captive in a sun-drenched bowl yesterday, were starkly outlined against the faded denim sky above on a near-breathless day.
But, if the weather predictions have got it right, that is due to change as the week wears on with wind forecast for Saturday and Sunday.
But that holds few fears for Els. “This is my first tournament of the New Year and there is always a buzz that goes with that, even for a seasoned pro like me,” he said.
Els, who is talking about handing over the baton as a South African flag bearer for the past 20 years – “But not just yet” – is also delighted by the size of the local contingent and pleased that Grace, a one-time member of the Els Academy at Fancourt, has made the field.-http://www.citizen.co.za/
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GOLF news 12BET update 1/19
Clarke: No pain, no gain
Open champion raring to go
Darren Clarke claims he is a "lean, mean, fighting machine" ahead of his seasonal return in South Africa.
The Open champion, awarded an OBE in the New Year's Honours, has been off the booze and in the gym ahead of the Volvo Golf Champions at Fancourt.
Brilliant and career-defining though his victory at Sandwich was - coming 20 years after his first attempt to lift the Claret Jug - the last five months of 2011 were a big let-down for the 43-year-old Northern Irishman and he does not want the same to be true of 2012.
"My golf career has been extended somewhat by winning the Open Championship and I just thought that enough is enough and it was time to get myself into better shape," he said.
As soon as the Christmas festivities were over Clarke began working with Belfast-based fitness expert Jonny Bloomfield, recommended to him by stable-mate Lee Westwood's trainer Steve MacGregor. - http://www1.skysports.com
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hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET news update 1/18
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET news update 1/18: Pettersson in Ryder Cup limbo Carl on neither US or European list despite good start at Sony Carl Pettersson's joint second place at the Son...
GOLF news 12BET news update 1/18
Pettersson in Ryder Cup limbo
Carl on neither US or European list despite good start at Sony
Carl Pettersson's joint second place at the Sony Open in Hawaii has not taken him any nearer a Ryder Cup cap in September - for either Europe or the United States.
"My first top 10 as an American," said Pettersson, the Swede who has been based in North Carolina most of his career and recently took out citizenship.
He does not appear on their Ryder Cup list, however, as, according to PGA Tour spokesman Joel Schuchmann, he would have to have become a US citizen by his 18th birthday to be eligible. Pettersson is 34.
The Swedish flag still appeared against his name during last week's event and Schuchmann added: "He would only have the opportunity to play for Europe with Sweden being his native country."
He does not appear on their standings either, though, because he is not currently a European Tour member. - http://www1.skysports.com/
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hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 1/17
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 1/17: Wagner hits the right note American claims Sony title A final-round 67 helped Johnson Wagner register his third PGA Tour win at the Sony Ope...
GOLF news 12BET update 1/17
Wagner hits the right note
American claims Sony title
A final-round 67 helped Johnson Wagner register his third PGA Tour win at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Wagner finished on 13-under for the event to move two shots clear of the chasing pack - with overnight leader Matt Every missing his chance to push for the title after carding a two-over round to finish tied for sixth.
Four players finished in a share of second on 11-under, with each player having been in with chance of victory at some point during the day.
Carl Petterson, Sean O'Hair and Harrison Frazar all matched Wagner's 67 on the day, while Charles Howell III managed only one under - his worst round of competition. - http://www1.skysports.com/
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hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BEt update 1/16
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BEt update 1/16: Grace holds his nerve South African pars home to claim maiden European Tour win Branden Grace sealed his maiden European Tour title as ...
GOLF news 12BEt update 1/16
Branden Grace sealed his maiden European Tour title as he produced a measured display in the final round of the Joburg Open to clinch a one-shot victory.
Grace shot a level-par 72 that included 16 pars to finish on 17-under-par, just ahead of England's Jamie Elson who stormed into second place on the back of a superb final round of 63.
Scottish duo David Drysdale (67) and Marc Warren (68) ended in a six-way tie for third at 14-under alongside four home players; Jaco Van Zyl, Michiel Bothma, Dawe Van Der Walt and Trevor Fisher Jr.
Grace, who secures a one-year exemption with his triumph, becomes the 30th different South African to win on the European Tour in what was his 50th start on the circuit.
The 23-year-old was up early on Sunday morning to complete the remaining three holes of his third round and did so in fine style, as he birdied 17 and 18 to open up a three-shot lead heading into the final round. - http://www1.skysports.com/
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hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 1/15
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 1/15: Finch stays calm amid storm Englishman shares lead with Grace after day three of Joburg Open Richard Finch and Branden Grace finished a rain...
GOLF news 12BET update 1/15
Finch stays calm amid storm
Englishman shares lead with Grace after day three of Joburg Open
Richard Finch and Branden Grace finished a rain-shortened day three at the Joburg Open tied for top spot on 15 under.
A heavy storm hit the East Course of the Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club with Englishman Finch having played 14 holes of his third round, one less than South Africa's Grace.
Finch had shared the lead with countryman Robert Rock and South African George Coetzee at the start of the third round, and kept his victory bid intact as Grace came through to challenge with three birdies just before play was brought to a premature halt.
The round started well for Finch as he claimed an opening-hole birdie, but he was joined by both Rock and Coetzee who also claimed birdies.
All three made par on the second but Rock paid for a short approach shot on the third and dropped a shot, Coetzee making par and Finch seeing his birdie putt lip out.
Coetzee made par on four, but when Finch dropped a shot he joined a group of six, including Rock and Retief Goosen, on 11 under.
Finch just failed with a birdie putt on the par three fifth as both Rock and Coetzee made par.
Coetzee went two ahead on the sixth hole when he kept his nerve to make a birdie after his eagle putt from near the back edge of the green was well short.
Rock held on for a scrappy par, but Finch cut the lead back to one when he rolled in a birdie to go to 12 under, one behind Coetzee.
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