TheState.com: Golf

Dufner is on a mission in Texas

Sat, 26 May 2012 00:01 EDT

Jason Dufner lists Ben Hogan as his hero.

At Hogan’s Alley, Dufner had the lead halfway through the Colonial with a chance for a Texas two-step that only Hogan has accomplished.

Dufner had a bogey-free 6-under 64 on another windy day Friday to reach 11-under 129. A week after winning the Byron Nelson Championship, Dufner had a two-stroke lead over Zach Johnson — the 2010 winner who shot a 67.

The only player to win both PGA Tour events in the Dallas-Fort Worth market in the same year was Hogan in 1946.

“That would be great company to join, obviously,” Dufner said. “To have anything compared to him or be talked in the same sentence with him is something that would be pretty unique and special to me.”

Alabama wins 1st title, Jao-Javanil top individual

Fri, 25 May 2012 21:15 EDT

Alabama won its first women's golf title Friday, holding off two-time champ Southern California by a stroke on the 72nd hole in the NCAA Division I championship.

Oklahoma's Chirapat Jao-Javanil won the individual title by four strokes, closing with a 2-under 70 to finish at 6-under 282.

The Crimson Tide gave coach Mic Potter his first national title and first for a program in its seventh trip to the national tournament when senior Brooke Pancake rolled in a 4-footer for par on No. 18. It's the third national title this year for Alabama, which also won in football and women's gymnastics, and sixth for the Southeastern Conference.

"Coach (Nick) Saban practices at our practice facility all the time," Potter said of the coach who has two national football titles at Alabama. "I feel more on his level."

Alabama finished at 6-over 294 in the fourth round for a 19-over 1,171 total.

Dufner has 2-stroke lead halfway through Colonial.

Fri, 25 May 2012 19:42 EDT

Jason Dufner lists Ben Hogan as his hero.

At Hogan's Alley, Dufner had the lead halfway through the Colonial with a chance for a Texas two-step that only Hogan has accomplished.

The only player to win both PGA Tour events in the Dallas-Fort Worth market in the same year was Hogan in 1946.

"That would be great company to join, obviously," Dufner said. "To have anything compared to him or be talked in the same sentence with him is something that would be pretty unique and special to me."

Irwin shoots his age with 66, trails leaders by 2

Fri, 25 May 2012 20:27 EDT

Hale Irwin shot his age - and was so frustrated afterward he might switch putters before playing again.

Just over a week before his 67th birthday, Irwin shot a 5-under 66 on Friday in the second round of the Senior PGA Championship. He trailed leaders Roger Chapman and John Cook by two strokes heading into the weekend, but Irwin wasn't the least bit satisfied with his work on the greens.

"I know the greens are difficult, but some of the putts I missed today are not that difficult," Irwin said. "So I'm a little discouraged with that to the point where I might even change to another putter (Saturday) that's similar, but a different putter. I can't putt any worse."

Cook also had a 66 to match Chapman at 7 under after a more forgiving day at Harbor Shores. Chapman had a 67.

Michael Allen broke the course record with a 64, recovering nicely from a first-round 77. But Irwin was the focus afterward. He even arrived for his post-round news conference while Cook was still finishing his.

McIlroy misses cut with 79; Morrison leads with 64

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:07 EDT

Rory McIlroy missed the cut at the BMW PGA Championship on Friday after his game disintegrated in spectacular fashion in a second straight errant round at Wentworth, leaving his grip on the No. 1 ranking under serious threat from Luke Donald.

The U.S. Open champion made seven bogeys and two double bogeys in a 7-over 79 to finish 9 over - a massive 21 strokes behind James Morrison, whose superb 64 gave him a four-shot lead on Donald (68) and first-round co-leader David Drysdale (70).

McIlroy's hopes had evaporated by the midway point in his second round, when he endured a disastrous spell of seven dropped shots in six holes from No. 8 to No. 13. He looked sullen and his shoulders dropped as he walked along the fairways contemplating a second straight missed cut, having succumbed to the same fate at The Players Championship in Florida two weeks ago...

It revived memories of his infamous meltdowns at last year's Masters and at the 2010 British Open, when he shot 80 both times. It was the first time in more than two years that McIlroy has failed to make the weekend at two consecutive tournaments, giving the second-ranked Donald a great opportunity to replace him as No. 1.

"I might have taken my eye of the ball a little bit," McIlroy said. "Maybe just haven't practiced as hard as I might have been.

Pinehurst No. 2 preps for 2 US Opens in 2014

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:15 EDT

Things are starting to take shape before the first doubleheader of U.S. opens.

In just over two years, Pinehurst's renowned No. 2 course will play host to the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open on consecutive weeks - the first time the USGA has attempted such a feat.

Organizers said Friday they'll keep an eye on the freshly renovated course next month to see how it behaves in typical June weather and make any necessary tweaks.

Ben Crenshaw led the course's yearlong $2.5 million facelift in which, among other things, the rough was removed and its layout reverted closer to its original Donald Ross design.

That project started in the fall of 2010 and the course re-opened last spring. Now Pinehurst president Don Padgett says it's finally mature enough that "we can kick the tires and see what we've got."

McIlroy to miss cut after imploding at Wentworth

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:25 EDT

Top-ranked Rory McIlroy will miss the cut for the second straight tournament after a spectacular second-round implosion at the BMW PGA Championship on Friday.

McIlroy made seven bogeys and two double bogeys in a 7-over 79 at Wentworth to finish 9 over. It continued his struggles from Thursday, when he tossed a club in frustration on his way to a 74.

The U.S. Open champion's game fell apart completely around the turn when he dropped seven shots in six holes from No. 8 to No. 13. It revived memories of his meltdowns at last year's Masters and the 2010 British Open, when he shot 80 both times.

Luke Donald is tied for second place - four shots behind James Morrison (64) - after shooting a 68 and can replace McIlroy as No. 1 by finishing eighth or higher on Sunday.

Montgomerie, Olazabal head US Open qualifying

Fri, 25 May 2012 11:58 EDT

Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal, Europe's past and present Ryder Cup captains, headline the field contesting the 36-hole U.S. Open qualifier at Walton Heath on Monday.

A total of 104 players are challenging for 12 spots available for the year's second major, which will be held at the Olympic Club in San Francisco on June 14.

Montgomerie was the runner-up at the U.S. Open on three occasions between 1994 and '97 but hasn't qualified through Walton Heath for the past two years. Olazabal is looking to make the tournament for the 18th time.

Six winners from this year's Race to Dubai - Jbe Kruger, Julien Quesne, Michael Hoey, Thorbjorn Olesen, Bernd Wiesberger and Ricardo Santos - are also in the qualifying field.

Golf roundup

Thu, 24 May 2012 22:06 EDT

Zach Johnson shot a bogey-free 6-under 64 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Colonial.

Johnson opened his round with a 40-foot birdie putt on his first hole, No. 10. After blasting from a greenside bunker at No. 12 to save par, he had four birdies in a row on a day when gusty wind whipped through the big oaks lining the fairways at Hogan’s Alley.

Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, is winless since his victory in the 2010 Colonial. That year, he shot 65-66-64-64 to finish at a tournament-record 21-under 259.

Jason Dufner, the Byron Nelson Championship winner Sunday, was a stroke back along with PGA Tour rookie Harris English, Tom Gillis and Kyle Reifers.

Chapman leads Senior PGA Championship

Alabama wins 1st title, Jao-Javanil top individual

Fri, 25 May 2012 20:22 EDT

Alabama won its first women's golf title Friday, holding off two-time champ Southern California by a stroke on the 72nd hole in the NCAA Division I championship.

Oklahoma's Chirapat Jao-Javanil won the individual title by four strokes, closing with a 2-under 70 to finish at 6-under 282.

The Crimson Tide gave coach Mic Potter his first national title and first for a program in its seventh trip to the national tournament when senior Brooke Pancake rolled in a 4-footer for par on No. 18. It's the third national title this year for Alabama, which also won in football and gymnastics, and sixth for the Southeastern Conference.

Alabama finished at 6-over 294 in the fourth round for a 19-over 1,171 total.

Southern Cal trailed Alabama by 14 strokes after 36 holes and by two going into the final round. The national champs in 2003 and 2008 tied the Crimson Tide five times atop the leaderboard and led by five strokes before losing the lead on the back nine. The Trojans shot 293 for a 1,172 total. They were followed by LSU (289-1,173) and Virginia (292-1,175), which lost a six-stroke lead in the first round when Elizabeth Brightwell signed an incorrect scorecard.

Dufner has 2-stroke lead halfway through Colonial.

Fri, 25 May 2012 19:07 EDT

Jason Dufner moved into position for his second straight victory and third in five weeks, shooting a bogey-free 6-under 64 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead in the Colonial.

The Byron Nelson Championship winner last week, Dufner had an 11-under 129 total at Hogan's Alley. First-round leader Zach Johnson was second after a 67, and Bo Van Pelt and Tommy Gainey were third at 7 under. Van Pelt had a 64, and Gainey shot 67.

The only player to win both PGA Tour events in the Dallas-Fort Worth market in the same year was Ben Hogan in 1946. Both of Dufner's PGA Tour victories came in his previous three starts. He has led or shared the lead after 11 of his last 34 rounds.

Johnson had his 14th consecutive sub-par round at Colonial, one more than Van Pelt.

Defending champion David Toms missed the cut, shooting 74-71.

Allen in contention at Senior PGA after 64

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:31 EDT

Michael Allen has shot a 7-under 64 in the second round of the Senior PGA Championship on Friday, bouncing back impressively from a difficult first day to move into contention.

Allen shot 77 in the first round but finished the second at 1 under for the tournament. He's three shots behind leader Roger Chapman, with Chapman still on the course. Steve Pate is at 3 under after six holes Friday. Joel Edwards (67), Hale Irwin and John Cook are at 2 under.

Allen, the Champions Tour's money leader this year, hit 17 greens in regulation Friday - after reaching only seven in his first round. No player has recovered from a first-round 77 to win the Senior PGA Championship.

McIlroy misses cut with 79; Morrison leads with 64

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:06 EDT

"I might have taken my eye of the ball a little bit," McIlroy said. "Maybe just haven't practiced as hard as I might have been.

McDowell stunned by 'freak' incident at Wentworth

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:21 EDT

Graeme McDowell was left to bemoan the sometimes obscure rules of golf after he was docked two shots on the last hole in a "freak" scenario at the BMW PGA Championship on Thursday.

The former U.S. Open champion was on course to break par in his opening round at Wentworth when he approached the ball after hitting his drive into the bushes to the right of the fairway.

The ball, which was lying on a bed of branches, moved slightly - costing him a shot - and because he didn't replace it, he was handed another penalty stroke by the European Tour referee.

The triple-bogey 8 wrecked his round as he finished with a 2-over 74.

"The rules of golf are very precise and in-depth - it's impossible to know every idiosyncrasy of them," McDowell said.

Alabama pads team lead, Pancake individual leader

Wed, 23 May 2012 20:22 EDT

Alabama grabbed an 11-stroke lead, and Crimson Tide senior Brooke Pancake shot a 2-under 70 on Wednesday to top the individual leaderboard after the second round of the NCAA Division I women's golf championship.

The Crimson Tide had a two-stroke lead after the first round at the Vanderbilt Legends Club, and shot a 3-under 285 in the second to reach 5-under 571. Defending champion UCLA, North Carolina and Virginia were tied for second at 6 over.

Pancake had a 6-under 138 total. Arizona State's Giulia Molinaro was 4 under after a 71, and South Carolina's Katie Burnett shot a 67 to join North Carolina State's Brittany Marchand and Virginia's Portland Rosen at 3 under.

Host Vanderbilt jumped from a tie for 22nd to 10th at 14 over.

The Crimson Tide turned in a second strong round with Pancake leading the way. Hannah Collier and Jennifer Kirby shot 71, and Stephanie Meadow had a 73. Meadow had a lone double bogey in the second round on No. 17 and bounced back with a birdie on No. 18.

Johnson has 1st-round lead at Colonial after 64

Thu, 24 May 2012 18:49 EDT

Zach Johnson shot a bogey-free 6-under 64 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Colonial.

Even though he has made the cut in all 12 tournaments he has played this season, Johnson hasn't won since the Colonial two years ago.

Jason Dufner, the Byron Nelson Championship winner Sunday, was a stroke back along with PGA Tour rookie Harris English, Tom Gillis and Kyle Reifers.

With Watson out, no repeat champion at Senior PGA

Wed, 23 May 2012 18:31 EDT

A day before the start of the Senior PGA Championship, Fred Funk offered a modest suggestion for tournament organizers.

"I thought maybe we could reverse the order and play the greens as tees and the tees as greens and it would be easier to putt," Funk said. "Just play in reverse."

Funk wasn't the only golfer approaching the 6,822-yard, par-71 course at Harbor Shores with apprehension. Bernhard Langer talked of the "most severe - or worst - green complexes" he's ever seen. Fred Couples wondered what scores might look like if the wind picks up alongside Lake Michigan.

There may have been some pre-tournament posturing going on. But there could also be carnage this week.

"My goal is to think you're never really out of it because everyone's going to make bogeys," Couples said. "I don't know if under par is going to win, 10-under is going to win or if 2-over is going to win, but I know it's a very hard course."

Lee Westwood feels loss of injured caddie Foster

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:46 EDT

Lee Westwood says his season has been seriously disrupted by the injury to his caddie and new putting coach Billy Foster.

Foster could miss most of the summer after having surgery on his right knee, which he hurt before a charity soccer match earlier this month.

The No. 3-ranked Westwood will be without Foster for next month's U.S. Open and possibly the British Open in July and the PGA Championship in August, denting his hopes of landing a first major title.

Westwood says "he's an integral part of the team . my game and results have improved the last few years as a result of Billy being on the bag."

Westwood's replacement caddie is Mike Waite, who helped Michael Campbell win the U.S. Open in 2005.

McIlroy tosses club, shoots 74 at Wentworth

Thu, 24 May 2012 10:01 EDT

A frustrated Rory McIlroy tossed his club to the ground in a fit of anger during his bogey-filled opening round at the BMW PGA Championship on Thursday.

Making his first appearance in Europe in seven months, the top-ranked Northern Irishman made five bogeys and a double bogey in a 2-over 74 at Wentworth.

The low point of the round came on the par-5 12th when he hurled his club in despair following a poor provisional shot, which came after he had just sent his second out of bounds on his way to a bogey 6.

"It's pretty disappointing," said McIlroy, whose No. 1 ranking is under threat from Luke Donald this week. "I feel like I'm playing well, I just need to go out there and shoot a score."

He has only one top-10 finish in four tournaments.

Luke Donald looking for elusive major title

Wed, 23 May 2012 08:52 EDT

Luke Donald was awarded honorary life membership of the European Tour on Wednesday, the latest of a string of accolades for the Englishman following his stellar 2011 season.

However, there is still a gap on his mantle piece for the biggest prize of all.

"I'm not going to shy away from it. That's the one thing missing on my resume - I want to win majors," Donald said.

The U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco next month offers him a 36th chance to end his drought at majors, which would allow him to shed that tag of being one of the best players yet to win one.

Particularly since Tiger Woods has stalled, major titles have been spread around players on the tour. Capturing the Masters in April made Bubba Watson the eighth first-time major winner in a row, but No. 2-ranked Donald and fellow Englishman Lee Westwood, who is No. 3, have been unable to capitalize.