G-Mac masters emotions to win French Open

  

 Paris: Tied with Richard Sterne of South Africa in the final round of the French Open, Graeme McDowell didn't blink on the back nine. The Northern Irishman made two of his five birdies on the way home to shoot a 4-under 67 on Sunday and capture his ninth European Tour title by four strokes.
Sterne, by contrast, made three birdies on the front nine before faltering after the turn with three bogeys to hit a 71 and finish runner-up.
"Thankfully I've managed to learn how to calm my emotions and learn how to respond under pressure, sometimes," McDowell said. "I'm starting to become very comfortable under pressure."

Graeme McDowell made two of his five birdies on the way home to shoot a 4-under 67 and capture his ninth European Tour title by four strokes.

McDowell won the World Match-Play Championship in May, but missed the cut in his three following tournaments. That could have given rise to doubt on the tough Albatross course of Le Golf National, which will host the Ryder Cup in 2018, but he put that aside to finish in style.
"There was no real panic button," McDowell said. "It's been a funny season. Inconsistent, yes. But when it's been good, it's been really good."
Graeme Storm of England, the 2007 winner, and Eduardo De La Riva of Spain shot 69s to share third place, five strokes off the pace.
McDowell played solidly throughout the tournament, making only four bogeys in four rounds. In fifth place after the second round, the 2010 U.S. Open champion started believing in his chances on Saturday.
"The last 12, 13 holes yesterday, I felt the old juices kind of starting to flow again," McDowell said. "I hit a lot of quality shots coming in yesterday, and I got a lot of belief from that. You know, if the putter had been a little hotter perhaps I could have got my nose in front a little earlier in this tournament."
McDowell and Sterne entered the final round with a share of the lead and both broke away from the field by making two birdies for a three-shot advantage after five holes.
Sterne won the Joburg Open in South Africa and was the runner-up at the Dubai Desert Classic, both in February.
"He really hung in there, played some great golf, and I knew it was not going to be an easy day," McDowell said. "The way he played kind of inspired me to play better, and you know it was a really good battle with him."
McDowell missed short birdie putts on Nos. 6, 11 and 14. But the Northern Irishman could rely on his accurate long game.
"That was the key really," said McDowell, who led the field in hitting greens. "Short game was tricky around this course. The rough was quite sticky and the greens were quite firm and fast. You had to be very careful to leave the ball on the correct side of the pin, and I hit a lot of greens."
Sterne initially got the upper hand when McDowell missed a short par putt on No. 7. But McDowell picked up a shot on No. 10 to draw level with Sterne. He then took sole possession of the lead when the South African sent his tee shot into the thick rough to bogey No. 12.
McDowell smiled when he sank a short par putt on No. 16 to increase his lead to two strokes as Sterne sailed 15 feet past the flag from a chip on the edge of the green to make bogey.
"Fifteen and 16 were just kind of those lucky breaks that you need when you win tournaments," McDowell said. "Fifteen was an average putt which I thought missed and it went in. Sixteen, I still don't know how that putt went in. It was a right-to-left putt that I was trying to hit right edge and I felt like I started it left edge, and it managed to go in."
McDowell rode the momentum with a birdie on No. 17 while Sterne missed a four-foot par putt. After clearing the water hazard on the last, McDowell waved to the crowd on his way to the green with victory just about secured.

Jonas Blixt wins rain-delayed Greenbrier Classic

 

 White Sulphur Springs: Jonas Blixt wasn't having the type of year he had envisioned - until the final round of the Greenbrier Classic came along.
The Swede shot a 3-under 67 Sunday to win the rain-delayed tournament by two strokes.
Blixt emerged from a five-player chase over the final five holes to pick up the $1.1 million winner's check. He also shot from 139th to 39th in the FedEx Cup points standings.

The Swedish shot a 3-under 67 Sunday to win the rain-delayed tournament by two strokes.

"This is what I play for," Blixt said. "I play to win. It just confirms that if you do the right things, that you work hard, dreams can come true."
Among the perks for his victory are a spot in next year's Masters.
Blixt also will move to around No. 50 in the next world ranking, which is used as the alternate list to fill the field for this month's British Open. That would make him the top alternate in a year that about eight players from the list will get into the Open at Muirfield.
He overcame a four-shot deficit at the start of the final round and finished at 13-under 267. Third-round leader Johnson Wagner (73), Australians Steven Bowditch (68) and Matt Jones (68), and Jimmy Walker (71) tied for second at 11 under.
Blixt went from a tie to a two-shot lead when he made a 9-foot birdie putt on No. 16 to move to 13 under. No other player made a birdie after that. Wagner bogeyed the par-3 15th moments later to fall to 11 under alongside Bowditch and Walker.
Blixt also won the Frys.com Open last year as a tour rookie. But entering the Greenbrier Classic, he hadn't had a top-10 finish this season, missing as many cuts as he made.
Blixt was overcome with emotion after watching Wagner and Walker, needing holes-in-one at No. 18, reach the green but land well away from the hole.
"It's just been a hard year," Blixt said. "My game has not been on."
Defending champion Ted Potter Jr. (67), Pat Perez (69) and Brian Stuard (67) tied for sixth at 9 under.
Wagner, who had missed out on weekend play in his last seven tournaments, couldn't match the seven birdies he had in the third round on his way to a 64. He bogeyed three holes in a five-hole stretch on the back nine and never recovered.
The 54-hole leader has yet to win the Greenbrier Classic, now in its fourth year.
"The swing just left," Wagner said. "I'm furious. But given where I was a couple of weeks ago, I'll take a lot of positives when I get over this disappointment right now."
While Bowditch couldn't make up a five-shot deficit, he earned his first top-10 since Pebble Beach in 2011.
Play on the Old White TPC course was halted for three hours due to thunderstorms. The last group teed off at 5:10 p.m. EDT and finished just after sunset. The tour narrowly avoided going past a Sunday finish for the fourth time this year.
Many players in the Greenbrier Classic field are entered in the John Deere Classic that starts Thursday, including Walker, Blixt and Jordan Spieth.
Spieth ran off nine straight pars to start Sunday's round, then had two bogeys in a four-hole stretch. He shot 73 and finished tied for 23rd at 6 under. The 19-year-old Texan is still searching for an elusive win that would give him his PGA Tour membership and make him eligible for the FedEx Cup playoffs. He is assured of a tour card when the new season starts in October.
Walker joined four others after the Greenbrier Classic to earn spots in the British Open as the leading five players not already exempt from the top 20 in the FedEx Cup standings. He moved up to 17th. The others are Billy Horschel, Boo Weekley, Russell Henley and Harris English.
The Greenbrier Classic has had close finishes in every year of its four-year existence. The tournament went to playoffs the past two years and Stuart Appleby shot 59 to win by a stroke in 2010.
The tournament's end means New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton can go back to his regular job after carrying the bag of friend Ryan Palmer.
"It's a good grind, good exercise," Payton said. "I thought Ryan was really patient."
Palmer shot a 70 Sunday to finish in a tie for 59th at 1 under.
"It was a blast," Palmer said. "I was more relaxed. A vacation golf tournament. I wish I could have played better."

Simpson aims for third time lucky at the Greenbrier

 

 For two years in a row, the final nine holes at the Greenbrier Classic have cost Webb Simpson dearly and the American is hoping for a case of 'third time lucky' at this week's edition in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
In 2011, Simpson was one ahead of the chasing pack after reaching the turn in the final round but he slid backwards to finish in a tie for ninth, two strokes out of a playoff for the title eventually won by American Scott Stallings.
Twelve months ago, Simpson again squandered a one-shot lead on the back nine as he closed with a 73 to wind up joint seventh.

Simpson has not tasted victory on the PGA Tour since claiming his first major title at last year's US Open.

"That's the difference," the former U.S. Open champion told reporters on Wednesday while preparing for Thursday's opening round at The Greenbrier's Old White Course. "Any time a player wins, they're playing quality golf for 72 holes.
"You can't really afford a bad nine when you win. I think it's just me continuing to keep playing well, and hopefully I'm in that position on Sunday where I do have a chance to win."
Simpson has not tasted victory on the PGA Tour since claiming his first major title at last year's US Open but he has come close this season, posting four top-10s in 16 starts on the U.S. circuit.
His best finish was a playoff loss at the RBC Heritage in April while he has displayed good form in his last two events, placing joint 32nd in difficult scoring conditions at the US Open and tying for fifth at the Travelers Championship.
"I played well there (at the Travelers), and I really played well at the US Open," said Simpson, a three-times champion on the PGA Tour. "I just didn't score the ball well so I'm looking forward to playing. I love this spot."
Simpson was delighted to have been grouped with good friend and fellow American Bill Haas for the first two rounds at The Greenbrier, both players having competed for Wake Forest University during their college days.
"I can't say enough nice things about Bill Haas," said the 27-year-old Simpson. "When I got out on tour in 2008, there was nobody nicer in terms of giving me advice, helping me out, whatever I needed.
"You want to see your buddies play well but, at the end of the day, you want to beat them. He's one of the few that actually roots for me."
Haas will be seeking his sixth victory on the PGA Tour, and his second in as many weeks after winning the AT&T National at Congressional by three shots on Sunday. Fellow American Ted Potter Jr. will be defending his title this week, having triumphed last year in his rookie season after beating compatriot Troy Kelly in a playoff.
Though he has not won on the circuit since then, Potter has been encouraged by the much more consistent form he has shown on the 2013 PGA Tour.
"It's definitely gotten better," said Potter, who had missed five consecutive cuts before his win at last year's Greenbrier Classic. "The biggest goal I had at the beginning of the year was playing more consistent and ... I've played a lot better.
"I'm not finishing 60th at the events where I made the cut. At least I got some top-30s and one top-10 and some top-25s this year. I'm definitely pleased how the year's gone."
American world number six Phil Mickelson, seeking a 42nd career victory on the PGA Tour, heads a strong field this week which also includes 10th-ranked South African Louis Oosthuizen and 17th-ranked American Bubba Watson.

Anirban Lahiri ahead by five strokes at Eagleburg Open

 

Bangalore: Golfer Anirban Lahiri stamped his authority on the PGTI Eagleburg Open by taking a five-stroke lead following an impressive eight-under 64 in the third round at the Eagleton Golf Resort course here Thursday.
Lahiri followed up his blistering 62 in Round 2 with an equally impressive 64 in Round 3 to take his score to 17-under-199, well clear of Lucknow's Sanjay Kumar, who held on to second place with a 68 in Round 3 which moved his overall score to 12-under-204. The 26-year old Lahiri (73-62-64) had a terrific start to the day as he landed his approach shots from a distance of about 100 yards to within a couple of feet on both the first and second holes to collect two birdies.
Lahiri, overnight leader by one shot, made pars on the next seven holes even as Sanjay drew level with him at the turn. Lahiri started to pull away from Sanjay thanks to a well-timed 15-feet eagle conversion from the back fringe of the green on the 10th.

Lahiri followed up his blistering 62 in Round 2 with an equally impressive 64 in Round 3 to take his score to 17-un

Lahiri then had an outstanding run of six birdies against two bogeys on the last eight holes that helped him consolidate his lead. He landed his approach within five feet for birdie on the 11th and found the par-5 15th green in two shots to set up another birdie. He sank birdie putts from a range of 15-20 ft on the 13th, 14th and 17th holes.
"I enjoyed a good start today but Sanjay grabbed more chances on the front-nine and drew level with me on the ninth. I needed some momentum at that stage and the 15 ft eagle putt on the 10th did the trick for me. There was no looking back from thereon as I putted much better on the back-nine. Interestingly, I didn't have a single par on the back-nine. I wasn't that accurate off the tee but hit some great approach shots with the wedges," said Lahiri, looking to win his second title in two weeks.
"I am glad I finished with birdies on the last two holes as it was important to stay well ahead of Sanjay and Chikkarangappa heading into the last round. I am delighted to be playing the final round along with my good friend Chikka in the same group. We have both spent many years playing together here so it'll be great fun playing in the same group at our home course once again. However, it will be a tough contest as Chikka knows the course well."
Sanjay (69-67-68), who will celebrate his 42nd birthday during the final round Friday, made five birdies against a lone bogey in Round 3. Sanjay, a winner of four professional titles, had an amazing run of five consecutive birdies from the seventh to the 11th hole before he dropped his only bogey of the day on the 12th.
He converted birdie putts from a range of six to eight ft from the seventh to the 10th. Sanjay landed his second shot within a foot of the flag for birdie on the 11th. Bangalore's Chikkarangappa S. (72-67-66) fired a 66 on his home course to climb from overnight tied-fourth to third place. He made an eagle, six birdies and two bogeys in the third round to take his total score to 11-under-205. Rahil Gangjee of Kolkata was in fourth place at 10-under-206 while Gurgaon's Arshpreet Thind occupied fifth at nine-under-207.

Andy North named US Ryder Cup vice captain

File photo of American golfer Andy North. (Getty Images)

White Sulphur Springs: Andy North needed as much time as it takes for a tap-in putt to accept an invitation to be a vice captain for US Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson at next year's matches.
The television analyst and two-time US Open champion jumped at Watson's invite over dinner earlier this year. "I was absolutely giddy over the opportunity not only hopefully to have a role to get the Cup back but also to be able to help a dear friend," North said during a conference call on Wednesday at The Greenbrier Classic. "If I can take a little bit of the responsibility off his shoulders and make it an easier week for him, that will be awesome for me."
The Ryder Cup will be held in September 2014 in Gleneagles, Scotland. The Europeans have won seven of the last nine Ryder Cups, including the last two. North won the 1978 and 1985 US Opens and played on the US Ryder Cup team that lost to Europe in 1985.

"When you win a couple of US Opens, he knows what it takes to close the deal, and that's what we need on the Ryder Cup team," Watson said. "We need players who can close the deal."

Now a golf analyst for ESPN, North believes being at PGA Tour events makes him qualified to help Watson make solid choices for the team. A points system will determine the top nine spots on the US team and Watson will make three captain's picks.
"The one thing I do bring is a lot of experience of being around these players and hopefully I can help Tom get a good grasp on some of them," North said. "It's nice to have four eyes looking at players versus just two.
"The most important thing for me is that if he asks me a question, I give him an honest answer immediately. You don't have time to sit down and go through 45 different scenarios of something if he needs an answer right away. We're going to have to come up with some answers. That excites me. I can't tell you how much fun this is going to be over the next 16 months."

Colin Montgomerie fails to qualify for British Open

 

Gullane, Scotland: Former world number two Colin Montgomerie blew his chance of taking part in this month's British Open after a second-round 76 left him three over par in qualifying on Tuesday.
The 2010 European Ryder Cup captain was one shot off the lead after an opening-round 69 during Local Final Qualifying at Gullane in Scotland before a round of 76, featuring four bogeys and a double bogey, saw him miss out by four strokes.
"I got to five under and threw it away - never mind," the 50-year-old Scot said in a news release. "It's not my schedule. I just played badly. I didn't get going at all."

Former world number two Colin Montgomerie blew his chance of taking part in this month's British Open after a second-round 76 left him three over par in qualifying on Tuesday.

Montgomerie, who won a record eight order of merit titles on the European Tour between 1993 and 2005, has never won a major despite several close calls with five runner-up spots among a total of 10 top-10 finishes.
There were three qualifying spots up for grabs at Gullane with amateurs Ben Stow and Matthew Fitzpatrick joining Sweden's Oscar Floren in securing their places at the July 18-21 major at Muirfield.
At the qualifying event at The Musselburgh, Steven Tiley dominated the field to win by three shots to book his berth along with Scot Lloyd Saltman and Tyrrell Hatton.
At Dunbar, amateur Grant Forrest shot 67 and 65 for an eight-under-par aggregate and was joined in The Open field by Indian Shiv Kapur and Australian John Wade, who finished a stroke behind.
In the event at North Berwick, amateur Jimmy Mullen, Gareth Wright and George Murray took the coveted qualifying places.

Golfer Shiv Kapur qualifies for British Open

 

 Dunbar (Scotland): Seven years after his first and only Major appearance, Shiv Kapur shot a stunning six-under 64 on a rainy afternoon in the second round of the 36-hole qualifier to earn a berth at the 2013 British Open. Kapur grabbed one of the three spots available from the Local Final Qualifying in Dunbar. The Indian, who was lying tied 11th after a first round of one-under 69, was two-under for the front nine in the second round.
He then went all out on the back nine and nailed four birdies for a flawless 64 and finished the 36-hole qualifiers at seven-under 133. His birdies came on the fourth, ninth, 11th, 13th, 14th, and most crucially on the closing 18th. In the morning, he played the first round with an eagle on par-5 second and a birdie on 15th and bogeys on sixth and 13th. Finishing one shot ahead of Kapur was local amateur Grant Forrest who shot 67 and 65 for an 8-under-par aggregate. The third berth from Dunbar went to a 45-year-old Melbourne club professional John Wade, who took a holiday to play the qualifier (70-63).
"I wanted to try to qualify on a links course because I think that's the proper way to do it. It was the first time I had played a links course since this time last year, so it was all a bit strange to start with, but I soon got the hang of things again. I played beautifully this afternoon," Kapur said. Kapur`s last and only appearance at a Major came at Royal Liverpool in 2006, a year after he had a sensational Rookie year on Asian Tour.

Kapur grabbed one of the three spots available from the Local Final Qualifying in Dunbar.

He had won the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia and was adjudged Rookie of the year for 2005. "Basically the reason you play golf is to compete in the Majors against the best and there is no greater tournament than the Open Championship with all its history. "It feels great and to shoot on a tough rainy afternoon and basically play my round of the summer when it matter most is a great feeling.
"I am really looking forward to Muirfield and it was one of my goals this year to get back to the Majors," added Kapur, who this year won the Gujarat Kensville Challenge on European Challenge Tour this year and also finished tied 10th at Lyoness Open. Ahead of Kapur was the 20-year-old Forrest has just finished his first year at the University of San Diego and will be representing his country in next week's European Team Championship in Denmark.
From the other qualifiers, Kent's Steven Tiley, who made a name for himself at St Andrews three years ago, will be back in The Open at Muirfield in a fortnight. Tiley dominated the 36-hole LFQ event at The Musselburgh, handing in scores of 64 and 69 to win by three from Scot Lloyd Saltman and Tyrrell Hatton on 9-under-par. At Gullane No.1 amateur Ben Stow (72-68 ) led the other two qualifiers, Swede Oscar Floren (72-69) and another amateur, 18-year-old Matthew Fitzpatrick (69-72), who was last year's Boys' Amateur champion.
From the same qualifiers, Colin Montgomerie (69-76) failed to get to the Open and earn himself a return to the course where he had such a rollercoaster ride 11 years ago. Yet another amateur, Jimmy Mullen (68-68) at six-under 136 led the three qualifiers from North Berwick. The other two were Gareth Wright (69-68) and George Murray (73-64).

Anirban Lahiri fires 62 to take lead at Eagleburg Open

 

 Bangalore: Local favourite Anirban Lahiri, after enduring a poor first round, bounced back with a vengeance with an awesome 10-under-62 to seize the lead in the PGTI Eagleburg Open at the Eagleton Golf Resort near here on Wednesday.
Lahiri's two-day total stood at nine-under-135 following his one-over 73 in the first round. Lucknow's Sanjay Kumar fired a five-under-67 to be placed second at eight-under-136.
Lahiri (73-62) was off to a flying start in round two as he had a 30-feet eagle putt on the opening 10th where he managed to extract a birdie. The 26-year-old went on to convert 15-footers for birdies on the 11thand 12th. His chip for eagle missed the hole by a whisker on the 15th where he picked up his fourth birdie of the day.

Lahiri (73-62) was off to a flying start in round two as he had a 30-feet eagle putt on the opening 10th where he managed to extract a birdie.

Lahiri carried on the good work on his second-nine as he collected birdies on the first, third, fourth and fifth. He nailed a 20-feet putt on the third and a 12-footer on the fifth.
The three-time Asian Tour winner recovered well from the bunker to salvage a birdie on the seventh before landing his chip within inches of the pin for his last birdie on the ninth. He thus signed off with a near-perfect bogey-free round.
Incidentally, Lahiri also holds the record for the joint lowest-to-par score in a single round ever recorded in India, thanks to his round of 12-under-60 posted a couple of years back in Greater Noida.
"It was pretty close to a dream round. I didn't miss a single green today and had eight one-putts. I felt good about my hitting as I did not hit bad golf shots unlike the first round.
"I was very calm through the day and judged the speed of the greens to perfection," said Lahiri, who won on the PGTI last week and last year made his debut appearance at a Major during the British Open.
The 2009 Rolex Rankings champion added: "Another positive aspect was finding the green in two shots on two par-5s, the 10thand fourth. I had three missed putts from a range of six to eight feet, but that's bound to happen in every round. I'd say I'm back on friendly terms with the course after the ordinary score in round one."
Lahiri's score was lower than the course record of 64, but did not count as a course record due to the application of the 'preferred lie' rules.
Sanjay Kumar (69-67), who is the joint holder of the course record of 64, sank six birdies against a lone bogey in his 67 Wednesday thanks to his good form with the wedges to finish one shot behind the leader.
Sri Lankan K. Prabagaran (68-69), the overnight joint leader, slipped to third place despite a solid 69 in round two. His total read seven-under-137.
Gurgaon's Arshpreet Thind and Rahil Gangjee of Kolkata, the other two joint leaders from round one, were placed tied fourth at five-under-139 along with Bangalore's Chikkarangappa S, Abhinav Lohan of Faridabad and Delhi's Naman Dawar.
The cut came down at three-over-147. Fifty-three professionals and one amateur made the cut.

Webb Simpson looks for another title shot at Greenbrier

 

 Webb Simpson hopes to have a shot at another late lead at The Greenbrier Classic - and this time hang onto it.
He was in first place on the back nine in each of the past two years before late bogeys took him out of contention. Simpson will get another chance starting Thursday when the tournament begins on the Old White TPC course.
With the British Open two weeks away, only four golfers in the top 20 world rankings are entered in West Virginia - Phil Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen, Bubba Watson and Simpson.

Webb Simpson hopes to have a shot at another late lead at The Greenbrier Classic - and this time hang onto it.

Also in the field is Bill Haas, who's coming off last week's win at Congressional. He says this week has a different feel because it marks the first road trip for his newborn son, William Jr.

Billy Horschel takes early lead on tough Congressional

 

Maryland: Billy Horschel made three birdies in his opening four holes and hung on for a 3-under 68 for the best score among the early starters at the AT&T National on a cloudy day at Congressional.
With thick rough on a long course, par was at a premium. Jim Furyk, Nicolas Colsaerts and Ben Kohles were at 69. No one else managed to break 70.
Horschel tied for fourth in the US Open two weeks ago at Merion.

Billy Horschel made three birdies in his opening four holes and hung on for a 3-under 68 for the best score among the early starters.

Lucas Glover had a 72 and said it was a very quiet morning - not because Tiger Woods wasn't around to attract a big crowd, but because not many players were making a lot of birdies.

Rory McIlroy, feeling 'lost,' shoots 74 at Irish Open

 
Maynooth: Saying he's "feeling a bit lost" in a difficult year, Rory McIlroy shot a 2-over 74 on Thursday in the Irish Open to fall eight stroke behind first-round leader Oscar Floren.
The second-ranked McIlroy, from Northern Ireland, had four bogeys and two birdies in wet and overcast conditions at Carton House on the outskirts of Dublin. McIlroy hit only five of 14 fairways and took 34 putts.
"At the moment, no aspects of my game are strong and I'm just feeling a bit lost at the moment," he said. "It feels good on the range and I can hit all the shots, but when I get out on the course it really does not seem to be there.

McIlroy shot a 2-over 74 on Thursday in the Irish Open to fall eight stroke behind first-round leader Oscar Floren.

"Off the tee, I am missing one right and then missing one left and it's just not going where I want it. It gets you in two minds every time you are playing a tee shot. The game is just not coming easy to me at the moment and while I was struggling at this point last year, I was able to turn the corner in the middle of the summer and have a great end to my season. I don't know whether it's a matter of trying to play my way out of it or just keep grinding away on the range or whatever."
Floren, from Sweden, had a 6-under 66. He drove the green on the par-4 13th and holed a 20-foot eagle putt. "I just came out and hit everything really, really pure," Floren said. American Peter Uihlein was a stroke back along with Dutchman Joost Luiten, , France's Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey and Ireland's Shane Lowry.
Uihlein, the Madeira Islands Open winner last month, is making his 10th European Tour start of the year. The former Oklahoma State star won the 2010 U.S. Amateur.
Lowry, the 2009 winner at County Louth as an amateur, had six birdies and a bogey played alongside McIlroy. "I was just chomping at the bit to get out there this morning and I was just trying to play me way into the tournament nicely so I'm really pleased with a 67," he said.
Hoey said wife Barbara had their first child induced last week so he could compete in the event. "It's great being a father and already it's added a new perspective to my life," said Hoey, a four-time European Tour winner.

Castro grabs two-shot lead at Congressional

 

Maryland: American Roberto Castro coped best with tough, US Open-like conditions at Congressional Country Club as he moved into a two-shot lead after Thursday's opening round of the AT&T National in Bethesda, Maryland.
Seeking his first victory on the PGA Tour, the flame-haired Castro limited the damage always lurking on a course flanked by thick rough and reeled off three consecutive birdies in his last five holes to take control with a five-under-par 66.
Fellow Americans Billy Horschel and Bud Cauley, and Canadian Graham DeLaet, returned 68s while Masters champion Adam Scott of Australia, the highest-ranked player in the field, struggled on the greens on the way to a 73.

Roberto Castro coped best with tough, US Open-like conditions at Congressional Country Club as he moved into a two-shot lead after opening round.

"The rough's brutal," Castro told reporters after surging to the top of the leaderboard with a total of six birdies and one bogey. "We probably were 50 per cent you'd get it up to the green and 50 percent pitching out.
"It's very similar in that there are not a lot of birdies out there," the 28-year-old said, referring to the US Open feel at Congressional. "You're just plugging along."
Castro, whose best PGA Tour finish was a seventh placing at last year's Greenbrier Classic, totalled only 23 putts on Thursday but had to scramble on several holes to salvage par.
Horschel, who 11 days ago recorded his best-ever finish at a major with a tie for fourth in the US Open at brutally difficult Merion, felt conditions were almost as tricky at Congressional on Thursday.
"It's like another U.S. Open," Horschel said after mixing four birdies with a bogey. "Off the fairways, the rough is thick. It's tough to hit the ball on the green.
"Fortunately, the greens are soft so they're really receptive. But it's still a tough golf course. You've got to drive the ball really well here to give yourself opportunities.
"The tougher the golf course, the better I play," added Horschel, who has posted seven top-10s in 16 starts on the 2013 PGA Tour, including a maiden victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in April.
American world number eight Brandt Snedeker and compatriot Jim Furyk, a 16-times winner on the US circuit, were among a group of eight players who opened with 69s. Former Masters champions Angel Cabrera of Argentina and Fijian Vijay Singh, and emerging Australian talent Jason Day, started out with matching 70s.
Two notable absentees from Congressional this week are defending champion Tiger Woods, whose foundation benefits from this event, and U.S. Open winner Justin Rose.
World number one Woods pulled out on the advice of his doctors to rest a left elbow strain while third-ranked Englishman Rose opted out due to fatigue since he clinched his first major victory at the Merion U.S. Open.

Jeev, Chowrasia likely to exit early from Irish Open

 

Kildare: Jeev Milkha Singh and SSP Chowrasia are sure to miss the cut after carding 75 and 73 in the first two rounds of the Irish Open at Carton House on Friday.
The Indian pair was way down at four-over for 36 holes, where the cut looked likely at even par. At the top of the leaderboard, where Peter Uihlein and Robert Rock shared the clubhouse lead midway through the second round at Carton House.
Uihlein has been in good form after winning his first European Tour event at the Madeira Islands Open last month, while Rock had missed six cuts in nine tournaments since finishing tied for seventh in Dubai.

Jeev and Chowrasia are sure to miss the cut after carding 75 and 73 in the first two rounds of the Irish Open at Carton House.

American Uihlein, a former US Amateur Champion, had five birdies and a single bogey in his second round 68 to reach nine under par.
England's Rock saw off Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship last year, and returned to that sort of form with four birdies and eagle at the long fourth in his 66.
Overnight leader Oscar Floren was in a tie for third, the Swede signing for a 71 to sit alongside former Ryder Cup captain Jos Mara Olazbal, Dutchman Joost Luiten and Portugal's Ricardo Santos on seven under.

Rory McIlroy misery goes on as he misses Irish Open cut

Rory McIlroy's hopes of picking up much-needed form before the British Open next month ended in more disappointment on Friday when he missed the cut in the Irish Open.
The world number two improved his two-over par first round score to card a level par 72 but that was not good enough to keep him in the tournament at Carton House, County Kildare.
The 24-year-old Northern Irishman was 11 shots off the lead, held jointly by American Peter Uihlein and England's Robert Rock on nine under.

The 24-year-old McIlroy was 11 shots off the lead, held jointly by American Peter Uihlein and England's Robert Rock on nine under.

Rock shot a six-under-par 66 to join Uihlein at the top of the leaderboard while both were being pressed by former Ryder Cup captain Jose-Maria Olazabal, after a 69 put him in a group on seven under par and joint second.
Overnight leader Oscar Floren of Sweden could not match his first round 66 but did manage to produce another sub-par round of 71 to join Spaniard Olazabal on seven under for the tournament.
Twice major winner McIlroy's form has dipped alarmingly. In the last five months of 2012 he won four tournaments and was top of the world rankings but after changing his club manufacturer he has recorded just one top-five finish in 13 events, including this one, in 2013.
The 142nd British Open is at Muirfield from July 18-21.

Travelers Championship: Justin Rose makes solid start, Charley Hoffman leads thanks to 61

Justin Rose: Being announced as US Open champion was 'sweeter moment than I thought it would be'

US Open champion Justin Rose returned to action with a three-under 67 to leave him six shots behind first-round leader Charley Hoffman at the Travelers Championship.

Rose, just four days removed from his major breakthrough at Merion, stuttered early on before finishing off his round in a blaze of birdies.
The Englishman picked up a shot at the first but then had three bogeys in reaching the turn at one over.

First round leaderboard

(US unless stated)
-9 C Hoffman
-8 H Mahan
-7 B Watson

But he birdied four of five holes from the 12th to finish the day in good shape.
Rose said: "I got to the first tee and there was a nice crowd assembled there. I felt very calm, focused and ready to play golf.
"And then that happened (introduced as US Open champion) and I felt a smile come across my face. It was a sweeter moment than I thought it would be."
Hoffman took advantage of good scoring conditions on the back nine at TPC River Highlands to come home in 28 shots, including eagles at the 10th and 13th.
He is one ahead of his fellow American Hunter Mahan, who briefly flirted with a 59 before parring the last three holes in his eight-under 62.
Former Masters champion Bubba Watson is a stroke further back after a 63, while Graham DeLaet, Zach Johnson, John Merrick, Rod Pampling, Webb Simpson and Camilio Villegas all managed 65s to sit in a share of fourth on five under.

BMW International Open: Ernie Els one ahead of Alexander Levy and Matthew Baldwin

Ernie Els: South African is gearing up for his Open Championship defence at Muirfield in July

Ernie Els birdied the 18th to maintain his one-shot advantage at the halfway stage of the BMW International Open in Munich.

Els followed his opening 63 with a 69 on Friday to leave him on 12-under-par for the tournament, just ahead of Frenchman Alexander Levy and England's Matthew Baldwin.

Second round leaderboard

(GB and Ire unless stated)
-12 E Els (SA)
-11 M Baldwin
-11 A Levy (Fra)
-10 B Wiesberger (Aut)
-10 D Willett

The South African played the front nine in level par, a double bogey at the seventh cancelling out his birdies at the sixth and ninth.
He rallied with four birdies on his back nine, including at the last, to ensure he remained clear of the chasing pack.
"I think it's going to play a little tougher over the weekend," said Els. "It's getting a little bit firmer but I would like to swing a little better tomorrow, but I'm in a really nice position.
"I'm quite fortunate to be where I am. I didn't play as good today as I did yesterday obviously. I fought hard for a score and satisfied with that.
"There is so much golf to be played. If you fall out of the lead, if you're not leading after three rounds, it doesn't really mean much at all late Sunday. So you just want to stay in the race and keep trying to go forward."
Levy mixed seven birdies with three bogeys in his 68, while Baldwin - starting from the 10th - came home in 32 for a 69.

Defending champion Danny Willett moved up the leaderboard into a share of fourth place at 10 under thanks to a 65, the equal best round of the day.
Willett is alongside Austria's Bernd Wiesberger (68) with German duo Martin Kaymer (71) and Marcel Siem (68) part of a five-man group a stroke further back.
Kaymer, who won the tournament in 2008, and Siem are joined on nine under by Spanish veteran Miguel Angel Jimenez (67), Englishman Tommy Fleetwood (69) and Swede Alex Noren (71).
American Ryder Cup player Dustin Johnson is well placed on seven under after 71, while Spain's Sergio Garcia managed a 69 to move to four under.
Former European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, who turns 50 on Sunday, is among those free to make alternative weekend plans after successive 71s left him on two under, one outside the cut.

Two-time Ryder Cup captain Bernard Hunt has died at the age of 83

Bernard Hunt (far right) at the 1953 Ryder Cup at Wentworth with, from left, Americans Ted Kroll (1919 - 2002), Jack Burke Jr and the UK's Jimmy Adams

Tributes have been paid to two-time Ryder Cup captain Bernard Hunt MBE, who has died at the age of 83.

As a player Hunt featured in eight of nine Ryder Cups between 1953 and 1969 - including the famous 1957 Great Britain victory over the United States at Lindrick - losing just three of 10 singles matches.
In 1963 he and his brother, Geoff, became the first brothers to play in the same Ryder Cup team and he went to captain the side in the 1973 and 1975 Ryder Cups.
His record as a player was impressive, winning the Order of Merit in 1958, 1960 and 1965 on his way to 30 titles and four top-five finishes at The Open.
Hunt, a founding member on the European Senior Tour when it was launched in 1992, is survived by his wife Meg and three children Matthew, Sophie and Viv.

Great champion

"Bernard Hunt was one of Britain's truly great champions and has been a steadfast ally to all of us involved in the growth of The European Tour."
European Tour chief executive George O'Grady

"Bernard Hunt was one of Britain's truly great champions and has been a steadfast ally to all of us involved in the growth of The European Tour," said European Tour chief executive George O'Grady.
"He was enormously respected by all of his fellow players, as was evidenced when he was appointed Ryder Cup captain in 1973 and 1975 and captain of the PGA in 1966 and again from 1995 to 1997.
"We extend our deepest sympathy to Meg and all the extended Hunt family."
Chief executive of the Professional Golfers' Association Sandy Jones added: "It was with great sadness I learned of Bernard Hunt's passing.
"He was one of the gentlemen of golf and his record on the course is one of the best in the British game.
"He will be missed greatly by those who played with and against him during those halcyon days."

BMW International Open: Danny Willett shakes off 'rust' with second-round 65 in Munich

Danny Willett: Englishman was round in 65 in Munich on Friday

Defending champion Danny Willett was pleased to take advantage of good early scoring conditions in the second round of the BMW International Open.

The Englishman, who has been struggling with a back problem recently, followed his first-round 69 with an equal best-of-the-day 65 on Friday to get to 10 under for the tournament, two behind leader Ernie Els.

"Yesterday was a little bit hit-and-miss. I haven't played a lot of tournaments in the last 14 weeks," said Willett.
"It was a bit rusty but I hit a lot of good shots. It is good to put yourself in a good position playing sensible golf.
"It is a birdie-fest out here. People make a lot of putts and the greens are obviously better in the mornings than the afternoons, but if you can keep hitting it inside 15-20 feet you have a chance."
Martin Kaymer, who lifted the title in 2008, is another former champion in contention at the Munich event.
The German is part of a five-man group tied for sixth on nine under after rounds of 64 and 71.
"The course has played longer, there was more wind and the pins are the biggest difference - today you have to play more conservatively," he said.
"My game was similar to yesterday, I just didn't make as many putts. It was definitely tougher to play but it is fine.
"Overall I am playing okay but I'm not feeling very well."

Hoffman eyeing redemption after hot start at Travelers

American Charley Hoffman kick-started his bid for redemption at the Travelers Championship with a stunning nine-under-par 61 for a one-shot lead after Thursday's opening round in Connecticut.
Hoffman, looking to atone for last year's collapse when he squandered a two-shot lead with two holes to play, turned a steady start of five straight pars into a sensational round, carding five birdies and two eagles over the final 13 holes.
Compatriot Hunter Mahan, fresh off a share of fourth place at the U.S. Open, was alone in second following a bogey-free, eight-birdie 62 while big-hitting Bubba Watson sits third following an entertaining 63. Hoffman came to the 17th tee in last season's event at TPC River Highlands with a two-shot lead over Marc Leishman's clubhouse number but double-bogeyed to drop into a tie before making bogey on 18 to hand the Australian the win.

Charley Hoffman set a stunning nine-under-par 61 for a one-shot lead after Thursday\'s opening round in Connecticut.

"Believe it or not, I was thinking about (last year) going down 16, 17, 18," said Hoffman, whose round included a course record-equalling back nine of 28. "If I could have just gotten those balls in play, I would have been defending champion here. "But this year, I got off to a good start and was obviously a little more focused on those last two holes. Hopefully I'm there again this year."
Americans Webb Simpson and Zach Johnson were among six players in a tie for fourth following 65s. U.S. Open champion Justin Rose of England was in a tie for 18th with a respectable three-under 67 that followed a whirlwind few days doing the talk show circuit to discuss his breakthrough major win at Merion.
He admitted that being introduced as the U.S. Open champion on the opening tee gave him a real buzz, even if it shook his focus a tad and left him two-over through six holes. "I got to the first tee and there was such a nice crowd assembled there and I felt really calm and ready to play golf today," said Rose.
"I felt focused and then that happened and I couldn't help a smile come over my face and it truly was a sweeter moment than I thought it would be." Watson, the 2010 champion and a runner-up here last year, entertained the crowd with seven birdies and an eagle but also had two early bogeys.
The 2011 Masters champion's round was highlighted by a stunning three-wood off the tee on the par-four 15th to just six-feet and a subsequent eagle putt. Defending champion Leishman shot 68 and was among eight players in a tie for 10th.

Shiv Kapur opens with 69 in Munich

 

Munich: Shiv Kapur battled his way through the second nine and returned with a card of three-under 69 in good scoring conditions at the BMW International Open, while his colleague Jeev Milkha Singh, struggled to a 73 that had four bogeys and three birdies.
Kapur was lying tied 48th, while Jeev was in danger of missing of the cut at tied 117th. Meanwhile at the top, Ernie Els, fourth at the US Open at Merion and getting ready to defend his British Open title next month, continued his fine form with a sublime nine-under 63 to take a one shot lead at the end of a low scoring first round.
The South African, who also finished tied for sixth at the BMW PGA Championship last month, fired five birdies in an outward 31 having started at the tenth on a lengthened Golfclub Mnchen Eichenried layout.

Kapur was lying tied 48th, while Jeev was in danger of missing of the cut at tied 117th.

He then turned for home with a 40 foot birdie at the short second, before producing one of the shots of the day at the par five sixth.
With water looming large by the side of the green and having found the right rough, Els fired a brilliant fairway wood approach from almost 250 yards to within five feet of the hole to set up a sublime eagle.
Els almost replicated that feat at the ninth, where another eagle would have seen him equal the course record, but a two-putt birdie still proved good enough for a one stroke lead.
"It seems like it's really a day of scoring today," said Els. "If you shoot a really low one, it's nice. It takes the pressure off the rest of the tournament a little bit. Although when you're leading, it doesn't really mean much until Sunday, but if you get into the race, so to speak, early on in the tournament, it's nice to be right in the hunt."
In a tie for second at eight under par is home favourite Martin Kaymer, who took one of the biggest crowds of the afternoon, and he duly rewarded those watching with nine birdies and just a single dropped shot en route to a round of 64.
Kaymer is in a tie for second alongside England's Matthew Baldwin, Sweden's Alex Noren and fellow afternoon starter Robert-Jan Derksen, who all signed for opening rounds of 64, while Alexander Levy, Tom Lewis and Matthew Nixon are all a shot further back on seven under par.