GolfOnline News Archives

Lee Westwood wins Indonesian Masters

Monday, 23 April 2012 11:40 AM
World number three Lee Westwood is off to a flying start in 2012 after winning his first title of the year at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters yesterday April 23rd. The Englishman, who successfully defended his title at the hotly-contested event, completed a marathon of 32 holes as he returned on the final morning to finish the third round before ending the competition with a 74 for a total of 16-under-par. Westwood - who turned professional in 1993 - triumphed over former Asian Tour number one Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand by two strokes, while Indians Gaganjeet Bhullar and Shiv Kapur finished in joint third place. His victory comes following an impressive performance at the Masters Tournament two weeks ago, where he enjoyed an eight shot lead going into the final day this week before tiredness kicked in on the homeward nine and he shot one birdie and three bogeys. You never know how to play with such a big lead. You dont know if you should attack or defend. It is quite hard to get your mental attitude around it, he commented. It was a case of staying patient and calm and playing the holes correctly. It was exhausting. Meanwhile, South African professional Branden Grace became only the second player in European Tour history to triumph three times in the same season after storming to victory at the Volvo China Open. The talented golfer, who graduated through the campaigns Qualifying School, entered into the final day with a one-shot lead, but a closing round of 69 was enough to end the tournament on 21-under-par at Binhai Lake. As a result, the 23-year-old joins a number of sporting legends in the tours record books - matching Johan Edfors 2006 accomplishment of winning three times after coming through the institute in the winter. Graces name will be remembered alongside Seve Ballesteros, who won a trilogy of titles on three occasions between 1977 and 1980, as well as Sandy Lyle in 1979. He has also become only the third South African to win three times in a single season, while he is in the company of major winners Ernie Els and Retief Goosen who have also done so. If I think back now to last year and playing on the Challenge Tour and just trying to get back to the main tour and really just trying to make a living it was tough at points, Grace told the European Tour website. So to be here with three wins is amazing. .. Full Story

Promising golfer tees off at China Open

Friday, 20 April 2012 04:47 PM
Chinas Guan Tian-Lang has got his name into the history books as the youngest-ever player on the European Tour as he teed off at the Volvo China Open yesterday April 19th. The 13-year-old struggled throughout his debut performance with two bogeys and a double bogey over his initial five holes, leaving him in second-last place on the leader board, reports the Daily Mail. Guan, who finished with five-over-par and 150th in the field after the first round, beat the previous record for the youngest ever player after compatriot Lo Shik-kai at the 2003 Hong Kong Open. He qualified to take part alongside some of the sports biggest names following a fourth-place finish in a qualifying event. During the opening round of the Volvo China Open, English professional Matthew Baldwin enjoyed one of his best days yet since joining the campaign to take a one-stroke lead after the first round, which took place in Tianjin. .. Full Story

Lee Westwood leads pack in Indonesia

Thursday, 19 April 2012 05:03 PM
World number three Lee Westwood is off to a successful start at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters, where he is attempting to defend his title. The 39-year-old Englishman shot a seven-under-par 65 during the opening round and established a two-stroke lead over Thailands Arnond Vongvanij at the Royal Jakarta Golf Club. Westwood, who became a professional in 1993, birdied the first three holes at the event before turning in 31 and adding a further three birdies and one bogey on the last nine. His appearance in the competition comes after his joint third place finish at the Masters Tournament earlier this month, as he returns to the course after a weeks break following the first major of the year. It was good to go home and recharge my batteries because the Masters always takes a lot out of you. It is physically and mentally very demanding, he told the European Tour website.News brought to you by Golf Online, your online shop for golf equipment including golf clubs, golf clothing and golf balls .. Full Story

Ryder Cup stars return to Celtic Manor

Thursday, 19 April 2012 04:49 PM
A quartet of European Ryder Cup heroes are set to return to the venue of their victory at Celtic Manor to take part in this years ISPS Handa Wales Open. Swedish professional Peter Hanson will join his former team mates Ross Fisher, Francesco Molinari and Edoardo Molinari on May 31st as the four players tee off at the competition. Hanson, who is currently ranked 24th in the world, is still on a high from finishing in joint third position at this months Masters tournament at Augusta National. The Swede is currently second in this years Ryder Cup rankings and said he recognises how much his match debut at Celtic Manor played a large part in enhancing his ability on the worlds golfing stage. I think the Ryder Cup was really important for me - it showed that I can get in there and play with the big boys, he told the European Tour website.News brought to you by Golf Online, your online shop for golf equipment including golf clubs, golf clothing and golf balls .. Full Story

Paul Casey sets sights on golden jacket

Wednesday, 18 April 2012 02:52 PM
Paul Casey is hoping the odds are on his side this weekend as he prepares to take part in the Volvo China Open at Binhai Lake in Tianjin tomorrow April 19th in a bid to take home the coveted golden jacket. The English golfer will make his first appearance following a three-month break due to a snowboarding injury and is aiming to start contending for titles once again. Casey, who turned professional in 2000, triumphed at the same tournament in 2006, but has failed to make much of an impact since, with a 56th place finish at the WGC-Cadillac Championship and missing the cut at the Masters. The Ryder Cup star, who has 11 European Tour titles under his belt, is refusing to rest on his laurels going into the tournament and said he expects a tough test at the Pete Dye-designed Binhai Lake layout. It is a very intimidating looking course but that is one of the things I like about Pete Dye, commented the player, who is ranked 43rd in the world. He likes to intimidate golfers but once you get down the fairways you realise the landing areas are very generous and this course is an absolutely classic example of that. Another professional hoping to make an impact at the Volvo China Open is Peter Hanson, who is returning to action following his third-place finish at the Masters two weeks ago. The Swedish player insisted his fine performance at Augusta National will help to transport his game to the next level, as he is now in fourth position on the prestigious Race to Dubai and second in the points list to take part in the Ryder Cup in September. He was in the lead with 18 holes to play at the first major championship of 2012, but said there is no sense of disappointment at missing out on the play-off that eventually saw Bubba Watson take the green jacket. Speaking to the European Tour website, the 34-year-old said the fact that the competition is sponsored by Volvo will give him extra motivation. They have always been great and it is one of those events where you look forward to, he added. For me as a Swede it is one of those big brands that I think all Swedish people are extremely proud of and I always try to come here. .. Full Story

Louis Oosthuizen claims title in Malaysia

Monday, 16 April 2012 12:06 PM
Louis Oosthuizen has recovered from a sensational near-miss at last weekends Masters Tournament by taking the crown at the Malaysia Open yesterday April 15th, despite facing some of golfs fiercest competitors. The talented South African travelled over 10,000 miles from Augusta, Georgia to the Kuala Lumpur Golf Country Club in order to compete in the event, which saw him clinch the title with a three-shot advantage. Storm disruptions on Friday and Saturday tested Oosthuizens ability to remain in the game and left the 2010 Open champion with 26 holes to complete during the final day. Fortunately, the 29-year-old managed to card a closing 68 for a 17-under-par total with all his rounds under 70, as he battled to compete despite the jet-lag of travelling across 12 time zones. Oosthuizen began the last day one shot ahead of Scotlands Stephen Gallacher, but was able to grind down his closest competitor who remained in contention right until the closing stretch. He all but secured his fifth European Tour victory due to a lucky break on the 16th hole, where he avoided heading into the water with a pitch to two feet and sunk a birdie. It was a long journey to get here and I have to be honest and say that I didnt expect to play this well because of the tiredness, commented Oosthuizen. On Thursday I knew the game was there - it was just a question of whether or not I would be able to go all the way physically. Meanwhile, Swedish professional golfer Carl Pettersson took the title at the RBC Heritage in South Carolina by five shots, as Englands Luke Donald allowed world number two Rory McIlroy to climb to the top of the world rankings for the second time. Pettersson, who turned professional in 2000, led by a single shot from US competitor Colt Knost going into the final round and finished with a two-under-par score of 69 to end the competition on 14 under. The Swede was off to a flying start with three birdies in his first five holes, while his stellar performance meant he could comfortably afford a bogey on the sixth and 15th. Johnson was also on three-under for the round as he set his sights on Pettersson, but failed to make an impact with four bogeys and only two more birdies. Former world number one Donald finished with a level par, recovering well from a double-bogey six on the first and birdies on the fifth and sixth. .. Full Story