Golf

Sweden's Robert Karlsson wins Qatar Masters in Doha

2010-02-03T08:28:00.000Z

FINAL ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-15 R Karlsson (Swe) -12 A Quiros (Spa) -11 L Westwood (Eng), B Rumford (Aus) -8 O Wilson (Eng), P Casey (Eng), B Dredge (Wal)
Selected others: -7 T Bjorn (Den) -6 Pe Lawrie (Ire) -5 N Dougherty (Eng), G McDowell (NIre) -3 S Garcia (Spa)

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Karlsson missed four months of last season with an eye problem
Sweden's Robert Karlsson fired a final-round bogey-free 65 to claim a three-shot victory in the Qatar Masters.

The European Ryder Cup star held off defending champion Alvaro Quiros (67) of Spain to finish 15 under in Doha.

Australian Brett Rumford (69) and England's Lee Westwood (70) ended 11 under as overnight leaders Paul Casey and Bradley Dredge slipped back.

England's Casey carded 74 to end eight under, the same mark as Welshman Dredge as Karlsson overhauled a two-shot lead.

The 40-year-old, who in 2008 became the first Swedish player to be named European number one, missed four months of last season after suffering from blurred vision caused by fluid behind the retina in his left eye.

Bad luck for Lee Westwood, he played some great golf this week and battled hard, he wasn't far off taking this one down

BeTheBall
"It was a tough time coming back," said Karlsson, who won the last of his nine other professional victories at the Dunhill Links Championship in 2008.

"I had a couple of good finishes at the end of last year with Henrik (Stenson) at the World Cup and with a second in Japan, but it is fantastic to be back now.

"I am really happy to be back playing well, it is the first time I have played really well for a long time and the way I finished off today was very satisfying."

European number one Westwood saw his chance of victory vanish when he three-putted the par-four 16th for bogey, but he held firm to claim a 12th top-10 finish in his last 15 events.

Westwood was forced to use a new driver after cracking the face of his previous club during Saturday's third round.

He put himself in contention with four birdies in five holes after the turn, moving him within one shot of Karlsson with four holes remaining.

But after his mistake at the 16th Karlsson pulled clear with back-to-back birdies over his closing two holes.

"It's hard to imagine anything else going wrong this week so 11 under is an unbelievable score," said Westwood.

"Long, straight driving is one of my strengths and if you take someone's strengths away from them it is going to very difficult to compete."

World number nine Casey, who is back to fitness after a long-term rib injury, dropped three shots on his front nine to go out in 39 and added two further bogeys mixed with three birdies on the way home.

Dredge, who won the last of his two European Tour titles in 2006, handed in a card the exact reverse of Casey's - 35 out and 39 back.

England's Oliver Wilson (71) finished with a hat-trick of birdies to share fifth at eight under, while Thomas Bjorn carded 69 for eighth place at seven under.

Scotland's Marc Warren had a disappointing 74 to finish 11 shots adrift of Karlsson, with compatriot Richie Ramsay four shots further back after a 70.

Scotland's Richie Ramsay wins the South Africa Open

2009-12-29T15:53:00.000Z

FINAL LEADERBOARD:
-13 R Ramsay (Sco) S Kapur (Ind) - Ramsay won at first extra hole -12 A Hansen (Den) -11 F Andersson Hed (Swe) E Molinari (Ita) -10 D Fichardt (SA) P Martin (Spa)

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Ramsay surged up the field on the final day to clinch victory
Scotland's Richie Ramsay won the South African Open at Pearl Valley by beating Indian Shiv Kapur in a play-off.

The pair tied on 13 under par after Ramsay had shot a a best-of-the-day 65 and Kapur had carded a 67.

But the last title of the 2009 golfing year was settled when 26-year-old Ramsay two-putted the first extra hole for a birdie four.

Ramsay, 25, started the day five adrift of Pablo Martin but the Spaniard managed only a 73 and dropped to sixth.

"There's no greater feeling than winning and I'm just a flood of emotions - I'm holding back the tears," said Ramsay after receiving the second oldest trophy in golf, a first prize of £141,745 - and a Tour exemption that runs until the end of 2011.

"Things just went for me," he added. "But I am a lot more positive now - I go out believing and thinking I can win."

Ramsay did not drop a shot all day, going to the turn in 33 and then grabbing more birdies on the 10th, 12th, 15th and 17th.

Denmark's Anders Hansen, Swede Fredrik Andersson Hed and Italian Edoardo Molinari all could have joined the play-off with a closing eagle but failed.

Ramsay went into the event ranked 240th in the world and the victory will take him just inside the top 120.

That makes him the second highest-ranked Scot behind US Tour-based Martin Laird. The last Scottish winner on the European circuit was Alastair Forsyth in Portugal 19 months ago.

Tiger Woods hits out at 'false rumours' after car crash

2009-11-30T13:43:00.000Z

Woods has been at the top of the profession for many years
Tiger Woods has hit out at "unfounded rumours" circulating since his car accident in the early hours of Friday.

The golfer was found semi-conscious with facial injuries after his car reportedly hit a fire hydrant and tree.

In a statement on his website the golfer said the only person responsible for the crash in Florida "was me".

He added: "The many false, unfounded and malicious rumours that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible."

The incident occurred in the suburb of Isleworth, an exclusive area near Orlando, at 0225 local time (0725 GMT) on Friday.

Florida police officers were told Woods' wife Elin had used a golf club to break the car's rear window and help him out.

Police were expected to question Woods about the incident on Sunday but the Associated Press reported that the meeting was cancelled for the third straight day.

TIGER WOODS'S CAREER
Born: Eldrick Woods in December 1975 in Cypress, California
First major title: In 1997, less than a year after turning professional
Winner: Of 71 official PGA Tour events, including 14 majors
Described as world's most marketable athlete, sponsorship deals with GM, Nike and others

Focus on reluctant Woods
Tiger Woods profile
Sgt Kim Montes of the Florida Highway Patrol said Woods' lawyer did not reschedule the meeting.

In a statement posted online about an hour before he was due to be interviewed, Woods said: "My wife, Elin, acted courageously when she saw I was hurt and in trouble. She was the first person to help me. Any other assertion is absolutely false.

"This incident has been stressful and very difficult for Elin, our family and me. I appreciate all the concern and well wishes that we have received.

"But, I would also ask for some understanding that my family and I deserve some privacy no matter how intrusive some people can be."

On Sunday authorities released a recording of a 911 emergency call made by the golfer's neighbour after the incident.

In a shaken voice, he says: "I need an ambulance immediately. I have someone down in front of my house. They hit a pole."

Woods, who has been married for five years and has two young children, has recently been the subject of tabloid allegations about his private life.

Asked about reports the couple had been arguing in the hours leading up to the crash, the police said they were treating the incident as a traffic accident, not a domestic issue.

According to the highway patrol, alcohol was not a factor in the incident.

A neighbour makes a 911 emergency call after the car accident involving Tiger Woods.
Chief Daniel Saylor of the Windermere Police Department said: "From what we understand, his wife came out of the house when she heard the accident, him hitting the fire hydrant, (and) used a golf club - that's what we were told - to break out the rear window to gain entrance into the vehicle, removed him from the vehicle and laid him down in the street.

"He was in and out of consciousness with lacerations to his upper and lower lip, with a little bit of blood in his mouth, but he was conscious enough to be able to speak a little bit. According to my officers, it was not life-threatening injuries."

In comments to the Associated Press news agency, Chief Saylor said his officers found the 33-year-old lying in the street with his wife hovering over him.

"She was frantic, upset. It was her husband laying on the ground."

Top four kept apart in Match Play

2009-10-28T11:09:00.000Z

Casey has been out of action since early August with a torn rib muscle
The top four players on the European Tour money list have avoided each other in the draw for this week's World Match Play Championship in Spain.

Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Rory McIlroy and Paul Casey have all been drawn in different groups for the tournament's new round-robin stage.

Westwood's four-man group includes fellow Englishman Ross Fisher while Casey's features American Anthony Kim.

The group winners at Finca Cortesin progress to Saturday's semi-finals.

Masters champion Angela Cabrera of Argentina, Sweden's world number seven Henrik Stenson and Colombian Camilo Villegas are also in the field.

The round-robin ties see every player matched up against every other competitor in their group during Thursday and Friday.

Casey, Northern Ireland's McIlroy and Germany's Kaymer all have the chance to take the European number one spot from Westwood should they make the semi-finals.

Withdrawals hit Vivendi defence

2009-09-22T22:14:00.000+01:00

The injured Casey is among the big names absent this week
Britain and Ireland will go into this week's Vivendi Trophy - the renamed Seve Trophy - as underdogs because they have been so badly hit by withdrawals.
Britain and Ireland have beaten Continental Europe four times in a row but captain Paul McGinley is without his four highest-ranked players.
Paul Casey, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter are missing, as are Luke Donald and Justin Rose.
Europe captain Thomas Bjorn is without Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer.
Casey and Kamyer are both injured, while the other players are unavailable.
Despite eight such high-profile names not showing up for a variety of reasons, 18 of the 20 players on show are in the world's top 100.
606: DEBATE
I'd certainly have the Europeans as favourites looking at those teams - certainly stronger than in the past
DD
The exceptions are Steve Webster and Robert Rock, two of the eight English players taking part.
Unlike the Ryder Cup, the competition at St Nom la Breteche in Paris is over four days rather than three.
Fourballs are played on Thursday and Friday, followed by greensomes (when partners both drive on each hole, but then choose one ball) and foursomes on Saturday and then singles on Sunday.
European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie will be in attendance looking at candidates for his side at Celtic Manor next year, and for 20-year-old Rory McIlroy and 21-year-old Chris Wood it will be a first taste of international team golf as professionals.
McIlroy's rise to world number 24 makes him Britain and Ireland's top player on paper, while Wood's performances in the last two Open Championships - fifth as an amateur then third as a pro - have thrust him into the limelight.
Montgomerie said: "You can't do anything about players who are injured (Kaymer and Casey) and scheduling is also difficult.
"What I would rather focus on is who is there because there is an awful lot of talent in both teams.
"Also, due to players not being there, it gives an opportunity to others who otherwise might not have been involved. It is a very important four days."
Continental Europe team: Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Soren Kjeldsen, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Soren Hansen, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Alvaro Quiros, Peter Hanson, Anders Hansen, Francesco Molinari.Non-playing captain: Thomas Bjorn
Britain and Ireland team: Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher, Oliver Wilson, Graeme McDowell, Chris Wood, Simon Dyson, Robert Rock, Nick Dougherty, Steve Webster, Anthony Wall.Non-playing captain: Paul McGinley

Lawrie grabs lead at Gleneagles

2009-08-28T18:01:00.000+01:00

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD:-5 P Lawrie (Sco), -4 G Havret (Fra), A Nilsson (Swe), S O'Hara (Sco), W Ormsby (Aus) Selected others: -1 JM Olazabal (Spa) +4 C Montgomerie (Sco) +10 T Bjorn (Den)

Lawrie was the last British winner of the Open in 1999
Scotland's Paul Lawrie fired a five-under-par 67 to lead after the first round of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
One stroke back are Scot Steven O'Hara, France's Gregory Havret, Swede Ake Nilsson and Australian Wade Ormsby.
Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal is one under par, but European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie is four over after a disappointing 76.
The Scot has never missed four successive cuts on the European Tour.
But that fate is now staring him in the face after a round containing three birdies, three bogeys and two double bogeys.
However, Montgomerie refused to blame the responsibility of the Ryder Cup captaincy for his current slump.
I've always wanted to work with [coach] Bob Torrance, but it's never been the right time. I think it's the right time now
Paul Lawrie
"My golf was going downhill anyway," said the 46-year-old, who was appointed to the role in January and who has collapsed from 121st in the world at the start of the season to 232nd.
Without a top-10 finish for 14 months, Montgomerie added: "I didn't play well, obviously. I haven't been playing well all year, and it just continues - same again."
Lawrie was 97th on the money list going into the tournament and needs to be in the top 115 in November to save his card after 10 years of exemptions following his Open triumph at Carnoustie in 1999. He is without a win since the 2002 Wales Open.
Lawrie, still Britain's last winner of a major title, did not drop a stroke all day and the highlight was a 40-foot putt for an eagle on the long 9th.
At last month's Open he sought help from Padraig Harrington's coach Bob Torrance and since then has made the journey from Aberdeen to Largs - three hours each way - five or six times.
"It's been too long since I won," said Lawrie, 40. "I've always wanted to work with him, but it's never been the right time. I think it's the right time now."
Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, playing for the first time in almost two months because of dizzy spells that led to him having a brain scan, crashed to a 10-over 82.
"That was even worse than I thought it would be," said the former Ryder Cupper. "I'm just feeling out of sorts.
"I wasn't dizzy out there, but I did get tired and being out of the game so long it was always going to be hard."

Matthew wins maiden British Open

2009-08-02T20:33:00.000+01:00

Women's British OpenFINAL LEADERBOARD:-3 C Matthew (Sco) Level K Webb (Aus) +1 A Miyazato (Jpn), P Creamer (US), C Kim (US), HW Han (Kor) Selected others: +3 J Shin (Kor)
Highlights - Women's British Open fourth round
Catriona Matthew became the first Scottish woman to clinch a major title when she won the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
The 39-year-old, who led by three overnight, won by three shots from Karrie Webb after birdies on 13, 14 and 15 gave her a one-over 73.
Australia's Webb closed with a four-under-par 68 to finish on level par.
Americans Paula Creamer and Christina Kim, Japan's Ai Miyazato and Korea's Hee-Won Han finished joint third.
Scotland's Matthew, who only gave birth to her second child 11 weeks ago, is only the fourth Briton to win a major and the first since England's Karen Stupples triumphed at the Women's British Open at Sunningdale in 2004.
"There have been times when I've wondered if I was ever going to win a major. I thought time was beginning to run out," Matthew said.
Matthew began poorly with bogeys at the 1st and 3rd but steadied the ship with six successive pars before letting another shot slide away at the 10th to drop to one under par.
Matthew overcome by Open victory
Meanwhile, Webb, who started the day eight shots adrift, eagled 15 and birdied 16 to post the clubhouse lead.
But the seven-time major winner's bogey-free round was only good enough for second as Matthew recovered to sink a trio of birdies, including a monster 45-foot putt on the 14th.
"That putt on 14 really steadied me," Matthew told BBC Sport. "I didn't play well, but I hung in there.
"I can't quite believe it. It hasn't sunk in yet. Coming up the last I had tears in my eyes and I had to hold myself together for those last two putts."
Defending champion Jiyai Shin began the day four shots adrift of Matthew and the Korean was never in contention after dropping a couple of shots on the outward nine as she closed with a three-over-par 75.

Yesss. Catriona wins easily in the end. How do ya like that folks?
Charlie_Chaplin
Creamer provided the real threat to Matthew after birdies on 14 and 15 moved her to one under par and within a couple of shots of the lead.
But her good work was undone when she drove into a fairway bunker on the last and she was forced to play backwards. She then hit her approach through the green and finished with a double bogey.
Miyazato, who briefly shared the lead on one under par, also self-destructed with a double bogey on 17, while Matthew's closest overnight rival, Kim, haemorrhaged shots early on and despite knocking in a couple of birdie putts, was never in contention.
US teenager Michelle Wie carded a final-round 69 to finish seven shots off the lead, while world number one Lorena Ochoa was 13 behind after a fourth-round 74.
England's Laura Davies has won four majors (1987 US Women's Open, 1994 and 1996 LPGA Championship and 1996 Du Maurier Classic) and compatriot Alison Nicholas claimed the 1997 US Open.
The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as a major in 2001.

Dougherty holds on for BMW title

2009-07-01T10:04:00.000+01:00

FINAL LEADERBOARD: (GB & Ire unless stated)-22 N Dougherty -21 R Echenique (Arg) -18 R Goosen (SA) -17 F Aguilar (Chi), D Drysdale, MA Jimenez (Spa), G Storm -16 S Kapur (Ind) Selected others: -15 D Willett -14 R McIlroy -12 B Dredge +1 C Montgomerie

Dougherty carded an eight-under round to secure his win
England's Nick Dougherty resisted a late charge from Argentina's Rafa Echenique to claim the BMW International Open by one shot.
Dougherty began with four birdies in the opening five holes to pull level with overnight leader Retief Goosen.
Birdies on 13, 14 and 15 established a comfortable lead, but an albatross at the last helped Echenique to a European Tour record 27 on the back nine.
Goosen finished in third while home favourite Bernhard Langer ended ninth.
The third and most high-profile European Tour win of Dougherty's career had seemed in danger when Echenique sank his approach shot at the par-five last.
The three strokes picked up by the 243-yard three-iron cut Dougherty's advantage to just one heading onto the 18th tee.
But, after a bogey on the same hole on Saturday, the world number 120 kept his nerve to clinch an emotional win.
606: DEBATE
Brilliant win for a very popular player
Golfbug
The Liverpool-born player paid tribute to those who helped him after the sudden death of his mother in April 2008.
"The strength that my Mum had lives on in me," he said.
"I want to say thank you to all the people who have helped me through some tough times.
"I have a great team around me and it's great to be back where I feel I belong."
South Africa's Goosen, who had led over the first three rounds, could not maintain his pace under pressure from the chasing pack.
Dropped shots on the 10th and 12th saw him lose touch just as Dougherty accelerated.
Langer's hopes of becoming the oldest winner in Tour history in front of his home fans were fuelled by an opening birdie that put him within one shot of the lead.
But he finished level-par for the day as he struggled to reproduce the form that saw him go seven-under on Saturday.

McIlroy makes European Open move

2009-05-30T21:49:00.001+01:00

McIlroy is chasing his second title as a professional
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy surged up the European Open leaderboard with a third-round 68 in strong winds at the London Golf Club in Kent.
McIlroy, 20, is six under par overall, three shots behind Frenchman Christian Cevaer (70) and India's Jeev Milkha Singh (71).
Alongside McIlroy on six under are England's Chris Wood (68) and Spain's Alvaro Quiros (69).
Scotland's Gary Orr (68) and England's Steve Webster (70) are five under.
England's Anthony Wall, who was one off the lead after rounds of 68 and 69, slumped to a 76 and six off the pace on a day of high-scoring.
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (74) is one over, Ryder Cup skipper Colin Montgomerie of Scotland (74) is two over and England's Lee Westwood (74) is three over.

There were nine different leaders on day three, and like most players Singh struggled with his consistency in testing conditions, mixing six birdies with five bogeys, while Cevaer had three birdies and a bogey.
World number 449 Cevaer made one of only two birdies all day on the 471-yard last. The 69-strong field were a cumulative 76 over par there.
Meanwhile Singh, joint halfway leader with Cevaer's compatriot Michael Lorenzo-Vera, covered the last six in four under.
Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal had a sextuple-bogey nine on the short 17th, including two penalty drops and a left-handed air shot in the bushes left of the green. World number four Sergio Garcia was one of several stars to finish with a triple-bogey seven.
McIlroy, who had three birdies and an eagle, demonstrated the strength of the wind by reducing the 541-yard 5th to a drive and 118-yard sand wedge, while on the 16th his 153-yard seven-iron came up 30 yards short.
Wood, the 21-year-old from Bristol who as an amateur finished fifth in the Open last July, said: "I'm not thinking about winning yet. I've just got to keep doing the same that I've been doing mentally this week.
"It's taken me a while to get going this season. Coming through Tour school I didn't get into that many events and those I did I was practising in snow and ice at home and then going out to Indonesia or wherever."
Stephen Dodd of Wales mixed eight birdies with six bogeys 24 hours after driving all the way from Kent to Wales thinking he had missed the halfway cut.
And Westwood was between Cambridge and Peterborough when he was contacted and told he was back in the tournament.
"I increased my carbon footprint," said the Ryder Cup star after his disappointing round 74. "I got a call - but I wish I hadn't!"
All those who finished on one over par at lunchtime yesterday looked like missing out on the final two rounds, but a strong afternoon wind sent scores soaring.

Woods urged to make Ryder recce

2009-04-29T09:25:00.000+01:00

Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods are the top two players in the world
United States skipper Corey Pavin has urged Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to play the Wales Open before the course hosts next year's Ryder Cup.
Pavin will embark on a Ryder Cup reconnaissance mission to check out the Celtic Manor's Twenty Ten course when he plays in the Wales Open in June.
And Pavin told the BBC: "I'd certainly encourage guys who maybe on the US team to come over and play the Wales Open."
European captain Colin Montgomerie will go head-to-head with Pavin in Newport.
Pavin, the 1995 US Open champion, will be the first US PGA Tour star to play at the Celtic Manor event when the four-day Wales Open begins on 4 June.
Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Anthony Kim and world number six Kenny Perry are also in line to be in Pavin's United States team when they defend their Ryder Cup crown in September 2010.
The 38th Ryder Cup is the first to be played on a course specifically designed for golf's showpiece matchplay event.
And Pavin wants world number one Woods and the rest of his team to follow him to the Celtic Manor.

I expect both Phil and Tiger will be in the team so I'd be more than happy to see them at the Celtic Manor beforehand
US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin
"Anybody who is going to be on the team, I would love them to get over to Wales to check out the Celtic Manor course," he added.
"I expect both Phil and Tiger will be in the team so I'd be more than happy to see them at the Celtic Manor beforehand.
"If not in a tournament then for a practice, although to play in Wales Open would be even better because they would be able to play the Ryder Cup gold course in a tournament mode.
"It's always good to see and get accustomed to the golf course before, in whatever form it takes.
"If they don't it's not the end of the world, it would certainly be better if they did play the Wales Open before the Ryder Cup."
Woods, a 14-time major winner, is golf's biggest box office name and such is his X factor draw, Wales Open chiefs could expect a sell-out if the iconic American did announce his desire to make his Celtic Manor debut before next year's Ryder Cup.
The Wales Open has attracted big-name Europeans such as Montgomerie, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Miguel Angel Jiminez and Ian Poulter as well as major winners like Retief Goosen Michael Campbell.
But Pavin is the first big-name American.
The 49-year-old is the 26th US captain and will lead an American team which won the Ryder Cup for the first time since 1999 at Valhalla last year.
He will also attempt to become the first US captain since Tom Watson at The Belfry in 1993 to lead a team to victory on European soil.
Pavin, the 1991 US PGA Tour leading money winner who was in the world top ten between 1986 and 1997, will make his Celtic Manor bow on his first trip to Wales.
"I'm excited about playing in Wales as I was want to check out the golf course and the facilities," he added.
"It is a reconnaissance trip to go over things at hotel to ensure everything is done nicely for my team.
"I've seen pictures on the course; there's plenty of water and it seems the final holes will be interesting for matchplay but I want to see the course for real.
"I want to work out the likely matchplay pin-placements for the Ryder Cup and get some insight on how the rough will be cut and at what height so I can work out what type of players will work out best on that golf course.
"I won't need to tell my guys how to play the Celtic Manor course, but I can't advise if I don't know myself."

Mickelson set for Augusta warm-up

2009-04-01T21:35:00.001+01:00

Mickelson won the WGC-CA Championship in March
Phil Mickelson insists he is delighted with his form in the build up to the Masters at Augusta.
The world number two will attempt to win his third PGA Tour title in 2009 at the Houston Open this week, the last event before the Masters on 9 April.
Mickelson, a two-time Masters winner, has already won the WGC-CA Championship and Northern Trust Open this season.
"It feels great to have won because I knew that I was playing some good golf heading in," said the 38-year-old.
"It feels great because I'm starting my Masters run to Augusta. This is all part of the process."
The left-handed American goes into the Houston Open alongside 14 of the world's top 20 golfers and the Redstone Golf Club has again been set up to provide similar conditions to Augusta National.
606: DEBATE
Will Mickelson, Harrington, Ogilvy, Garcia, Poulter, etc be able to step up to the plate and overhaul the Tiger?
PositiveSteve
"I enjoy this process of competing, being in the final group, being tied for the lead, feeling that pressure, feeling that intensity and how important each shot is throughout the entire round," added Mickelson, who worked hard on his game during the off-season with swing coach Butch Harmon.
"All of that adds to helping me, or whoever, play better in the majors, as well as being able to come out on top in a World Golf Championships where we have the best players in the world competing."
Spaniard Sergio Garcia (ranked third), Australian Geoff Ogilvy (fourth), Irishman Padraig Harrington (fifth), Fijian Vijay Singh (sixth), Swede Robert Karlsson (seventh), Colombian Camilo Villegas (eighth) and Swede Henrik Stenson (10th) will all be in action.
Although Singh is still recovering from the effects of knee surgery earlier this year, he has a strong affinity with this tournament having won at Woodlands in 2002 and at Redstone in 2004 and 2005.
American Johnson Wagner defends the title he won by a shot last year to book his place in his first Masters.

Ogilvy cruises to win over Casey

2009-03-02T14:14:00.001Z

Ogilvy went ahead at the first and never let Casey back in
Geoff Ogilvy beat Englishman Paul Casey 4&3 to win the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tuscon, Arizona.
Casey made a shaky start and was unable to get close enough to his Australian opponent to put any pressure on him.
Three up after 18 holes, Ogilvy, the 2006 champion and 2007 runner-up, forced home his advantage to take the $1.4m first prize.
In the third-place match, Englishman Ross Fisher was edged out by American Stewart Cink at the 18th to win 1up.
Despite having led for 79 of the 80 holes he had played in the tournament prior to Sunday, Casey made a nervous start to the 36-hole final at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club.
He immediately went one behind when he missed from four feet for birdie at the first after Ogilvy had already holed from six feet.
Casey, chasing a first PGA Tour win of his career, missed another short putt on the severely undulating greens, this time at the sixth to go two down.
606: DEBATE
I personally think Ogilvy is one of the very best players in the world, but does anyone think he can compete for more majors?
2 Slams Lleyton 09
Ogilvy increased the pressure by winning the eighth and ninth to go four up before Casey halted the Australian's momentum in spectacular fashion, holing out at the par-four 10th hole with his second shot from 204 yards for an eagle.
The par-five 11th should have gone to Casey after Ogilvy found trouble after pulling his second shot into the jaws of a cactus.
But after a penalty drop, the Australian hit his fourth shot just short of the green before chipping in for an unlikely par.
Ogilvy had his lead cut at the par-five 13th when Casey holed his first birdie putt of the match, but the former got the upper hand at the par-three 16th.
Three-time Ryder Cup player Casey gave himself a boost heading into the lunch break when he won the 18th with a birdie three from 11 feet.
But Ogilvy would not give him an inch when play resumed.
The Englishman rolled in a birdie putt from 40 feet at the 22nd, but Ogilvy simply rolled in his own birdie putt from close range for a half.
At the 25th, Casey again laid down the gauntlet, firing in an iron to around 15 feet from the green only for Ogilvy to match it and cash in when his rival missed his birdie putt.

Casey's highlight was an incredible eagle at the 10th
Looking to become the first Englishman to win this event, Casey bogeyed the par-four ninth to lose the 27th hole and go six down, but an eagle at the 29th gave him a glimmer of hope.
When the 30th was halved, Ogilvy stepped up on the 31st knowing the win was in sight, but Casey birdied to push the match to another hole.
Ogilvy finally had a putt for victory on the 33rd hole - and the Australian's nerve did not let him down as he stroked home.
"I was out of the blocks fast this afternoon and made three birdies over the first eight holes and still lost two holes, so he played great golf," said Casey.
"I threw a lot at him but he didn't flinch. It was very impressive.
"I didn't have enough, simple as that. I have no excuses, he just played excellent golf all day."
Ogilvy, who had beaten Northern Irish sensation Rory McIlroy in the quarter-finals, said he was delighted with how he had played in Arizona.
"The whole weekend I played fantastic. I played two unbelievable players yesterday, Rory is going to be one of the best players in the world," said Ogilvy.
"Stewart Cink is very hard to beat in this tournament, always up there, and then Paul today, one of the best players in the world, a really great competitor head to head.
"I've been on the wrong end in this final, it's not a very nice feeling, but it's a very satisfying week to play well, I'm really happy with this."
In the consolation match, Cink took the $600,000 third-place prize in dramatic fashion when he holed with a stunning chip from the bunker on the 18th.
Fisher led the opening exchanges, leading until the ninth when a bogey let his American rival back in to level things up.
A birdie from Cink at the par-three 16th pulled the match level and ensured a tense run-in.
And he hit his third birdie in a row on the 18th to take the match, leaving Fisher in fourth and a cheque for $490,000.

Majors in 2009

2009-01-30T12:22:00.001Z

Tiger Woods won his 14th major title at last year's US Open
Mark your card with the dates and venues of golf's four major championships in 2009.
The season will be dominated by the return of Tiger Woods from injury.
The 14-time major champion is expected back in time for the Masters as he pursues Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 major titles.
But he faces fierce rivalry from Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who has won two straight Open Championships and the last two major titles.
The Masters, Augusta, 9-12 April
Defending champion: Trevor Immelman, South Africa
Immelman wins Masters
The US Open, Bethpage, New York, 18-21 June
Defending champion: Tiger Woods, US
Woods seals dramatic US Open win
The Open, Turnberry, Scotland, 16-19 July
Defending champion: Padraig Harrington, Ire
Brilliant Harrington retains Open
The USPGA, Hazeltine, Minnesota, 13-16 August
Defending champion: Padraig Harrington, Ire
Superb Harrington clinches USPGA

Woods faces 'arduous' route back

2008-12-23T11:36:00.000Z

Tournament host Woods (left) presents Singh with the World Challenge trophy
Tiger Woods admits he faces a struggle to rebuild his game and says he is still unsure when he will be able to play again following knee surgery.
Woods, 32, is recovering from anterior cruciate ligament surgery and has not played since his dramatic US Open victory at Torrey Pines in June.
"I've got to do a lot of work, and it'll be an arduous task," he said.
"I think I can handle a full swing now, but I'm not there yet. It's going to take a little bit of time."
The 14-time major champion, whose recovery is reportedly ahead of schedule, began hitting shots two weeks ago.
But asked how soon he would be able to make a full swing with his driver, Woods replied: "I don't know, it's just the recovery day-to-day.
"I don't know how my legs are going to start recovering, then swinging more full, progressing through the ball, and the ball count."
He is targeting the Masters in April as his first priority but he is likely to want to play competitively before then.
The WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson in late February is a possibility for his much-anticipated comeback, although the WGC-CA Championship in Miami (12-15 March) is more likely.
In Woods's absence, Sergio Garcia and Padraig Harrington have narrowed the gap at the top of the world rankings.
Woods's lead has now shrunk from 11.3 to 3.8 points over world number two Garcia, who was nearly 15 points behind when he entered 2008 in 12th place.

But Open and USPGA champion Harrington, who has improved from eighth to fourth this year, could also have the American in his sights if he begins the 2009 season strongly.
Woods has been at the head of the rankings for a total of 529 weeks in his career. The last player to take the top spot from him was Vijay Singh in June 2005.
World number three Phil Mickelson, who was the subject of derogatory comments from Woods's caddie Steve Williams two weeks ago, has never been number one, but he may also have an opportunity to pass his long-time rival in the coming months.
Despite Harrington's heroics in the year's final two majors, Woods has been sorely missed in the game, not least by television viewers whose numbers have diminished.
"Tiger brings viewers in droves to the telecast so his absence had a negative impact," said PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem.
"You can also see some softness in tournaments where he typically plays in the galleries, but not significant.
"But I could write a script that, from the interest of competition, we are going to have a great year (in 2009). You guys (the media) are all going to participate in the coming back of Tiger, (speculating) can he play and can he have stamina."
Woods, though, is looking forward to spending the rest of the year at home in Florida with his wife Elin and their 18-month-old daughter Sam Alexis. Their second child is due in February.
"I'm just going to go home and celebrate Christmas with Sam and just kind of hang out at home," Woods told reporters after presenting Vijay Singh with the winner's trophy at his charity Chevron World Challenge event on Sunday.
"Then I will just gradually start building back into the game, but I'm really looking forward to it."

Montgomerie eyes World Cup glory

2008-11-26T20:44:00.000Z

After Scotland lost the 2006 play-off, Montgomerie tasted victory last year
Colin Montgomerie and Alastair Forsyth launch Scotland's bid to defend their World Cup crown in China on Thursday.
Montgomerie, who won last year with Marc Warren, hopes to become the first player since Tiger Woods in 2000 to retain the trophy for his country.
"I am looking forward immensely to defending the title with Alastair this time around," said Montgomerie.
A total of 28 nations are competing in Shenzhen, with Sweden's Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson the favourites.
Ian Poulter teams up with Ross Fisher as England look to repeat their success of four years ago.
Both players head into the tournament on the back of impressive performances over the last year.
Poulter finished as Europe's leading points scorer at the Ryder Cup in September while Fisher won The European Open in July on the way to a career-best sixth place on the European Tour's Order of Merit.
"I'm happy with my golf game right now and Ross has been playing exceptionally well," said Poulter.
606: DEBATE
Can Monty win a major? Give us your thoughts on the World Cup
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"I like the way Ross plays. He hits the ball a long way off the tee, which I think is great in foursomes.
"The holes that I've looked at right now, certainly with some of the par fives, will be an advantage with Ross teeing off on those holes. I'm happy with hitting three-wood, five-wood into some of those holes.
"He is also an aggressive player and that's great in four balls. I think how straight he hits it is a big bonus in foursomes, as well.
"That's why when it come down to me to pick, I looked at Ross as a guy that's been very, very steady, and someone that hits the ball a long way; that's a great mix. That's why I'm excited to be out there."
Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley represent Ireland while Bradley Dredge and Richard Johnson join forces for Wales.
Swedes Karlsson and Stenson are the strongest pairing on paper, ranked sixth and 12th in the world respectively.
"We have only had one chance to play together before in the Ryder Cup and that worked well," said Karlsson, the 2008 European Order of Merit winner.
The United States, who have won the tournament 23 times, are represented by Ben Curtis and Brandt Snedeker.
"In our sport you do not get the opportunity too many times to compete for your country and this is going to be a thrill for me," said Snedeker.
The opening round of the World Cup will be played in a fourball format while Friday is foursomes before it goes back to fourballs on Saturday with the final round on Sunday a foursomes.

Garcia clinches home town victory

2008-10-27T16:20:00.000Z

FINAL LEADERBOARD: (GB & Ire unless stated) -20 S Garcia (Spa) -17 P Hedblom (Swe) -15 A Noren (Swe) -14 S Dyson, S Kjeldsen (Den), D Lynn -13 R Finch, P Hanson (Swe)Selected others: -12 P Casey, R McIlroy, S Gallacher -10 JM Olazabal (Sp)-7 N Dougherty, C Wood -6 J Rose

Garcia collects one of world sport's more unusual trophies
Sergio Garcia captured his first European Tour title since 2005 with a three-stroke victory on his home course at the Castello Masters.
The Spaniard, 28, sank five birdies in a four-under-par 67 to see off the challenge of Swede Peter Hedblom (66).
After starting the final round four shots adrift, Hedblom only needed six holes to draw level.
But Garcia held his nerve and finished on 20 under par after a bogey five at the 17th ended Hedblom's hopes.
"Just getting the tournament here was extremely special for me - and my family - and to come out on top playing like I did was awesome," Garcia said afterwards.
He dedicated his victory, however, to Seve Ballesteros, who has undergone three operations after being diagnosed with a brain tumour and remains seriously ill.
"I couldn't help but think about Seve. I'm sending all my love to him and his family and hope he recovers soon," Garcia commented.

Hedblom's compatriot Alexander Noren took third place with a best-of-the-day 65 which featured five successive birdies on the back nine before he dropped a shot at 18.
England's Simon Dyson and David Lynn, who carded 69s, were a stroke further back on 14 under, sharing fourth with first round leader Soren Kjeldsen.
Most eyes, however, were on Garcia whose father Victor is still the the professional at the Club de Campo.
And he did not let the crowd down despite the best efforts of Hedblom, who birdied the first four holes.
After bogeying the short 6th where he missed the green with his tee-shot, Garcia responded by immediately holing an eight-footer for birdie at the next.

Garcia is congratulated by his father, the Club de Campo professional
Both players picked up shots at the long 13th and again had matching birdies three holes later.
Garcia was in trouble at 17 where his approach finished in sand, but he almost holed his bunker shot before securing his par, while Hedblom missed his putt from short range.
A noisy ovation greeted Garcia at the 18th where he avoided any last-minute alarms before tapping in to seal a win which ended a run of seven second-place finishes in Europe since his 2005 European Masters success.
"On the back nine I felt I had it under control and had a lot of chances and putts, but didn't make that many. It just feels very special and means so much," he added.

Fernandez-Castano wins at Belfry

2008-09-28T20:56:00.000+01:00

FINAL ROUND LEADERBOARD: (GB & Ire unless stated) -12 G Fdez-Castano (Spa)*, L Westwood -10 M Campbell (NZ) -8 M Lundberg (Swe) -6 C Schwartzel (SA), JM Singh (Ind) Selected others: -5 R Fisher, -3 T Bjorn (Den), -2 D Howell, P Lawrie *wins after play-off

Watch the best moments from the British Masters
Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano needed a play-off to beat Lee Westwood and deny the Englishman his defence of the British Masters at the Belfry.
The pair played the 18th three times before they could be split after Westwood hit a final round 70 and the Spaniard a 67 to finish 12 under.
Trading 10-foot putts on the first two play-off holes for par, Fernandez-Castano produced another to win.
New Zealand's Michael Campbell was third on 10 under par.
Fernandez-Castano, 27, played some fine shots in a sparkling final round, not least a chip in on the 12th and a save from the rough on the 72nd hole which left him a four-foot putt to take the contest to sudden-death.

Fernandez-Castano thrilled with title
Although he was shorter off the tee than Westwood he made up for it with an assured short game which eventually paid dividends for his fourth career title and a winner's cheque of over £300,000.
It also gave him a perfect play-off record having won two of his previous four titles by that method.
"I think it's probably the best of my four wins," Fernandez-Castano said. "My season was not going very well and I was starting to get worried."
Westwood, who played in last weekend's Ryder Cup, was always in contention over the weekend but admitted his form was lacking on Sunday.

Tano24
A win would have put him right in the mix in the European Order of Merit but second place means he is over £160,000 behind leader Padraig Harrington with only six events left in the calendar.
"I just struggled with my swing all day," he told BBC Sport afterwards "I didn't feel under control at any point.
"I was pleased to be in a play-off as I felt I really hung in there. When 'Gonzo' chipped in at the 12th I think the writing was on the wall. I felt I am at the end of my tether and running on empty."
It was a long day for the players who had to complete their third rounds on Sunday morning following a fog delay on Saturday.

Westwood not looking for excuses
But Westwood, 35, made a great start completing his final eight holes in four under par, taking him to 10 under overall at the start of the final round.
Indeed it was Campbell who looked to be his main challenger after finishing his third round for a 65, but the pair tied up over the back nine as Fernandez-Castano produced a flawless final round.
Five birdies gave the Spaniard the momentum going into the play-off and he sealed it with a delicate putt from off the green that almost rolled in for a birdie.

Sweden's Peter Hanson edged England's Nick Dougherty by one shot to clinch the SAS Masters title in Stockholm.

2008-08-20T11:47:00.000+01:00

Hanson fired a closing 71 to end nine under and hold off Dougherty (70) and Swede Pelle Edberg (70).
England's Paul Broadhurst and Sam Walker, and Scot Gary Orr ended tied fourth at seven under.
Bristol's Chris Wood, 20, making his professional debut after finishing fifth at the Open, ended in a tie for 18th on three-under par.
Hanson's victory in cold, wet and windy conditions ensured he came the first home winner of the SAS Masters for 10 years.
The 30-year-old, whose only previous European Tour victory in 174 starts came in Spain three years ago, was four clear with eight to go but he double-bogeyed the 11th and bogeyed the 16th and 17th before parring the last to hang on.
Hanson moves up from 24th to 17th in the European Ryder Cup standings and will play in this week's KLM Open in Holland rather than taking a break because he still has an outside chance to make the team.
I'd thought my [Ryder Cup] chance was gone but you never know in golf what can happen
Peter Hanson
"I'd thought my chance was gone but you never know in golf what can happen," said Hanson.
"It's a long chance and I'll really need another good week, in fact I'll probably need to win again but at least I've given myself a chance now."
Dougherty, who earned his second straight runner-up spot in the event, remains 14th in the Ryder Cup race but edged closer to the automatic top 10 with just two events to go.
But the 26-year-old was in danger of not finishing the tournament after injuring his back during the night.
"What a day. If my chiropractor had been here he might have told me to pull out, so I'm glad he wasn't," said Dougherty. "After all I've been through I was going to finish no matter what."
TriperWoodsGerman Martin Kaymer finished in joint 14th place after a closing 69 and is now little more than £200 behind 10th-placed Soren Hansen in the Cup standings.
Hansen took the week off, as did ninth-placed Oliver Wilson.
"It sounds weird, but I don't feel the pressure," said Kaymer. "I just see it as a challenge and it's fun to be in this position trying to make others angry. It's getting really tight, but I'm enjoying it."
Wood has invites for this week's event in Holland, the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles that follows and next month's British Masters at The Belfry.
His goal is to earn around £150,000 to avoid a trip to the qualifying school at the end of the season.

Vaughan wins Senior Open play-off

2008-07-28T10:46:00.000+01:00

FINAL-ROUND LEADERBOARD (US unless stated)-6 B Vaughan, J Cook - Vaughan won at first play-off hole-5 E Romero (Arg) -4 B Langer (Ger) Selected others: -2 T Watson, G Norman (Aus) +4 I Woosnam (Wal) +5 M James (Eng)

Vaughan has won on the Nationwide Tour but not on the PGA
Former fireman Bruce Vaughan calmly holed a 20-foot putt to beat fellow American John Cook in a play-off for the Senior Open at Royal Troon.
Cook had a one-stroke lead going into the 18th hole of the final round but a bogey five led to Vaughan's reprieve.
"Money is great but until you win, you're just another player," he said after winning his first senior title.
Eduardo Romero finished one shot back, Bernhard Langer came fourth and Greg Norman and Tom Watson were joint fifth.
Romero had a chance to make the play-off but he missed an eight-foot putt at the 18th, leaving Cook and Vaughan in the share of the lead on six under.
Both players found the green with their tee shots in the sudden death play-off but while Vaughan holed out, Cook missed from 12 foot.
It proved to be a heartbreaking day for Cook, who looked to be cruising to the title when he took a three-shot lead after 10 holes.
But a double bogey at the 11th put him in trouble before his nightmare at the 18th.
The 50-year-old, who missed a short putt at the 1992 Open to lose out on the title to Nick Faldo, defended his decision to putt from at least 10 yards short of the green.
"I just felt the putter was a better play and I've been doing that all week," he said.
Cook added: "I tried to convince myself for the last two-and-a-half hours but I couldn't get it done.
"Bruce played his heart out. He battled yesterday and battled through the first nine today. You know, that's just the way it is."
Norman, 53, came into the tournament having come close to becoming the oldest winner of the Open at Royal Birkdale last week.
He finished four shots off the lead at Troon after a final-round 68 saw him finish on two under.
"I enjoyed (the two weeks) on a scale of 1 to 10, a 10," said the Australian.
"I enjoyed every step, loved it. From a scoring perspective, I haven't enjoyed that. I've played a lot better than what my scores indicated and just didn't work out."
Ian Woosnam finished four over and Mark James five over.

Clarke's Open chances are fading

2008-06-30T15:29:00.000+01:00

Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy hope to play at Royal Birkdale
Darren Clarke's hopes of getting into the Open at Royal Birkdale look bleak after a four-over-par 74 in the opening round of Monday's 36-hole qualifier.
"That is my worst-ever score here and it would appear I will be going fishing in three weeks' time," said Clarke.
The Ryder Cup hero's only remaining chances of making it are to finish in the top five either in the European Open or the Scottish Open.
Rory McIlroy is still in with a shout after having a one-under first round.
Paul McGinley was struggling at three over midway through his first round, while earlier Jose Maria Olazabal managed a one-over-par 71.
England's Simon Wakefield and Scot Alastair Forsyth led the way with five-under-par 65s.

Birkdale 'will provide Open test'

2008-04-29T19:53:00.000+01:00

R&A chief Peter Dawson says Royal Birkdale is a challenge
Sixteen of Royal Birkdale's 18 holes have been altered for the 2008 Open, say organisers the Royal & Ancient.
Most of the modifications are focused on tightening the course which will be playing at 7,173 yards in July.
That is only 155 yards longer than when the links at Southport, near Liverpool, last hosted the Championship in 1998, when American Mark O'Meara triumphed.
The course is short compared to some, but R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said: "Believe me, it is long enough."
Since O'Meara's victory, 20 bunkers - 16 fairway and four greenside - have been added.
Significant mounding has also been carried out to seven greens which will demand more varied and imaginative recovery shots.

The ninth fairway has been moved 25 yards to the left while the par-five 17th has a new green 25 yards further back and raised above the fairway.
The aim of the latter is to create a more challenging approach shot, particularly for those attempting to reach the putting surface in two.
Dawson said: "I don't think that this is a golf course you could accuse of being short, or one that intends to take the driver out of the player's hands. Far from it."
The Open, with extensive live coverage on BBC television, radio and online, starts on 17 July.

Beem shares lead after late surge

2007-09-02T10:01:00.001+01:00

Beem finished his round strongly to move into contentionSECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:(US unless stated)-9 A Baddeley (Aus), R Beem, M Weir (Can)-8 P Mickelson, S O'Hair, B Wetterich, R MooreSelected others:-6 T Woods-4 S Garcia (Spa), L Donald (Eng)-3 B Davis (Eng)+3 I Poulter (Eng)+5 J Rose (Eng)
Mike Weir, Aaron Baddeley and Rich Beem moved into a share of the lead at the halfway mark of the Deutsche Bank Championship in Massachusetts.
Weir went two strokes clear before bogeying his last two holes for a 68 while Beem birdied his last four holes to move into contention.
Both Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods moved up the leaderboard with seven-under pars 64s.
Mickelson is one off the lead with Woods two shots further back.
Mickelson twice chipped in, for birdie on 15 and then for eagle at the par-five 18th, while defending champion Woods covered his last eight holes in six under.
Overnight leader Camilo Villegas of Colombia shot a 72 to be among a group of five players on seven under.
"It was a lot of fun," said Mickelson. "This is what we were kind of hoping for in the first round but you can't get it going all the time.
"It was actually a little more challenging today with the cooler air and the breeze but the greens were so perfect you felt you could make lots of putts.
"We just didn't get it going yesterday but I just sensed that everybody was going to come out ready.
We all needed a good round to get back into the tournament, and that's what we ended up doing."
Woods added: "It was nice to get the putter rolling and I caught fire on the back nine. The whole idea was for me to get something around three or four under par today. Now I'm back in the tournament."

Monty misses cut at Scottish Open

2007-07-13T21:52:00.001+01:00

Montgomerie finished a miserable second round at lunchtimeSECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:GB & Ire unless stated-10 G Havret (Fra), JM Lara (Spa) -9 P Mickelson (USA) -8 S Khan, A Romero (Arg), B Weekley (USA) Selected others: -7 E Els (SA) -6 M Foster, S Garcia (Spa), I Poulter
Colin Montgomerie will go to the Open Championship on the back of a missed cut for the first time after crashing out of the Scottish Open.
Five days after victory at the European Open ended 19 months without a victory, Montgomerie hit a second-round 74 to finish on 143 along with Retief Goosen.
Gregory Havret of France and Spain's Jose Manuel Lara held the lead
Phil Mickelson was one stroke off the lead after a 68, with Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia hovering in the shadows.
Havret, one of the early starters, blitzed his way to a seven-under 64 for a 10-under total of 132 in perfect conditions.
Lara shrugged aside the heavy rain later in the day to shoot 65.
Els (66) was among four players on seven-under 135, with Garcia (65) among another group on 136.
Montgomerie finished at lunchtime, but it was 1900 BST before his exit from the event was confirmed.
He had resumed on two under par, only four off the lead, and was three under after seven holes before bogeys on the short 17th, first, third and fifth.
"I hit 27 out of 28 fairways but I just didn't putt well at all," he said.

England's Nick Dougherty carded a superb two-under 68 at Oakmont to claim the first-round lead at the US Open.

2007-06-15T09:42:00.001+01:00

The 25-year-old relied on a masterful short game to pass the typically stern examination posed by the USGA.
The Liverpudlian is one shot ahead of Angel Cabrera, the only other man under par, and two clear of Bubba Watson and Spanish veteran Jose Maria Olazabal.
Justin Rose, another Englishman, is in a 16-strong group on one over with 2006 winner Geoff Ogilvy and Tiger Woods.
Interview: England's Nick Dougherty
Nick Dougherty's golf tips: In the bunker
Other players to sign for one-over 71s on Thursday include world number seven Vijay Singh, 2003 Open champion Ben Curtis, Anders Hansen, the winner of last month's BMW Championship, and Spanish 21-year-old Pablo Martin.
It's still frightfully tough out there but the morning players definitely got the better half of it
Nick DoughertyDougherty, the European Tour's rookie of the year in 2002, was understandably delighted with his superb start, particularly as he has only made one cut in his five previous appearances in majors.
"I didn't play all that well from tee to green but my short game was red-hot, as it has been lately, and I putted solidly," he said.
Indeed he did. He only used his putter 11 times on the back nine.
But the former Walker Cup star, a protege of six-time major winner Nick Faldo, admitted he was fortunate to be among the early starters as rain on Wednesday night had softened the fearsome Pittsburgh course's defences.
"The course is playing as good as it could be for us," he said. "It's playing somewhat easier because you can stop the ball by the hole.
"It's still frightfully tough out there but the morning players definitely got the better half of it, especially if we don't get any more rain this week."
Cabrera was also more than satisfied with his efforts.
"It was a very good round," the powerful Argentine said. "It's always tough to shoot par in the US Open."
The key to my round was 16, 17 and 18 - I could have lost three shots there but was able to keep it where it is
Tiger WoodsBoth men will be not be getting ahead of themselves just yet, though, as Woods and a host of other big names are within striking distance on a course that is only going to get tougher.
The world number one's display was another textbook demonstration of how to post a score whilst not firing on all cylinders. The 31-year-old American's driving was average at best but his touch around the greens and iron will kept his round on track.
Trying to add a third US Open to his 12 major titles, an increasingly wayward Woods dropped three shots in five holes from the 8th and was two over with four to play.
But he closed with an eight-footer for par at 16, a birdie at 17 and then another solid par on the last after finding the rough with his drive.
"That was a nice way to end the round," Woods said. "The key to my round was 16, 17 and 18. I could have lost three shots there but was able to keep it where it is."
606: DEBATE
Give your thoughts on the opening round
Ogilvy, who was playing with Woods, had only nine pars in an erratic start to his defence of the title he won in such dramatic fashion at Winged Foot last year.
Like Woods, the 30-year-old Australian struggled from the tee but his approach work was first-rate.
Another highly-fancied player to spend considerable amounts of time in Oakmont's punitive rough was Phil Mickelson, one of the players who faltered at the last 12 months ago to hand Ogilvy the title.
But the popular American had an excuse here as his recently injured left wrist troubled him throughout. A lesser player would have got nowhere near the four-over 74 he managed, and some would have simply quit.

Rose was compiling a great round until a few late mistakesMickelson's fighting display was far more impressive than Colin Montgomerie's, the other player with a Winged Foot hangover.
The 43-year-old Scot finished bogey, double bogey for a six-over 76, the same score as Masters champion Zach Johnson, world number four Adam Scott and two-time US Open winner Retief Goosen.
Ernie Els, another double US Open champion from South Africa, will be more happy with his 73, although he might have been hoping for better on his return to the course where he won his first major in 1994.
On the other hand, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson, still chasing their first majors, will be bitterly disappointed with their 79s.
Elsewhere, there was better news for the European contingent, and at one stage the 107th US Open appeared to be becoming the English Open. With only an hour or so to play, Rose seemed set to join Dougherty in the lead and Ian Poulter was also going well with a couple to play.
Rose then lost three shots in his last five holes and Poulter doubled the 288-yard par-three 8th, his 17th. That left Rose three behind Dougherty, and Poulter four back on two over with Lee Westwood.
But with an Englishman in the lead and six other Europeans in the top 20, the chances of a first European major winner since 1999 (and a first European US Open champion since 1970) are greater now than they were on Wednesday.
Not that anybody should go rushing to the bookmakers just yet. The more sensible money will be placed on Oakmont winning this one.

Rose & Broadhurst share PGA lead

2007-05-25T14:09:00.000+01:00

Rose has been out of action since the MastersFIRST ROUND LEADERBOARDGB & Ire unless stated-6 P Broadhurst, J Rose-5 M Fraser (Aus), S Kapur (Ind), S Khan, F Molinari (Ita)-4 A Canizares (Spa), E Els (SA), M Ilonen (Fin), J Randhawa (Ind), R Sterne (SA), Y Yang (Kor)
English pair Paul Broadhurst and Justin Rose shared the lead on day one of the PGA Championship at Wentworth after shooting six-under-par 66s.
Rose was making his first appearance in England for three years and marked the occasion with eight birdies, including five in the first eight holes.
England's Simon Khan was one of four players another shot back, while Ernie Els stayed in contention at four under.
Els, who designed the course, hit eight birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.