Lee Westwood plans winter of hard work despite decent 65 in Dubai

Lee Westwood cut something of a disappointed figure despite shooting 65 in the third round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Westwood was seven-under for his first 11 holes but he struggled after that and admitted he had a lot of hard work to do over the winter.

The Worksop star has struggled badly for form over the second half of the season, with only one top-25 finish since he came home third in The Open Championship at Muirfield.

After such a positive start, he bogeyed the 12th and managed only one further birdie in good scoring conditions, having to battle to save par at the last after finding the water.

"I got in my own way a little bit around the back nine there," Westwood said.

"It's a good 65 but seven under through 11, you're looking for a few less than that. I could have been 10-under conceivably, but 65 puts me in with a better chance than when I went off this morning.

"I didn't mind bogeying the 12th, that's a difficult hole, but I hit it close on the 13th and the 16th and missed both.

"I've not been playing very well. I've not been hitting it close and not been making anything.

"My swing hasn't been in sync all year, I'm sort of fumbling my way around the golf course and it's something I'm going to work on over the winter, but I can build on the momentum this week has given me."

Good round for Westwood

The round left him six shots adrift of leader Henrik Stenson, who finished with four birdies in five holes to all but end anyone's hopes of catching him atop the Race to Dubai.

The late run did little to ease the task ahead of Graeme McDowell, who now needs a turnaround of miraculous proportions to catch Stenson.

Before Stenson's finish, he said: "I think there is a weak pulse still there.

"Hats off to Henrik, he came here this week and is doing exactly what he needs to do.

"He has been the best player in the world the last six months and he needs to slip up tomorrow and I need to mount a massive challenge. I have not done much better than 68 round here before and I will need to do so tomorrow.

"I have not played my best the last three rounds but I am proud of how I have hung tough. I am still alive and kicking."

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DP World Tour Championship: Henrik Stenson on course for Race To Dubai crown

Halfway leader Henrik Stenson says he is delighted by his play so far in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Stenson carded a second-round 64 on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates to finish 12-under par, one shot ahead of Spain's Alejandro Canizares.

The 37-year-old Swede is one of three players in control of their own destiny, knowing that a win on Sunday would secure overall victory in the Race to Dubai, status as European number one and a million dollar bonus.

McGinley and Roe on R2

Justin Rose and Graeme McDowell can still deny Stenson the title with victory here, with Rose best placed on seven under after a 67 and McDowell four under after a 68.

A win for Ian Poulter would leave Stenson needing to finish second to claim the Harry Vardon trophy, with Poulter alongside Rose on seven under following a 68.

Game plan

"I have my game plan cemented on this course and it's been working out great the first two days," said Stenson, who carded eight birdies and no bogeys.

"It could have been a bit better but there is no point being greedy. I am delighted with the first two days' work." 

Henrik Stenson

"It could have been a bit better but there is no point being greedy. I am delighted with the first two days' work.

"I keep track of what's happening with the other players, I'm too curious not to. I saw both Justin and Ian are seven under so they are chasing me as hard as they can.

Henrik Stenson: 64

"They are not going to back down so I better keep my foot and my head down, play another two good rounds and see where that takes me. I am in a great position to have a shot at winning and hopefully I will be there on Sunday afternoon."

Stenson admitted he is battling fatigue from a long season as well as an ongoing wrist injury, but added: "The two days I had off on Monday and Tuesday have helped.

"I got the club stuck in the ground on the sixth tee and felt it there but thankfully I don't think that made it flare up."

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Carlos del Moral eases to five-stroke victory at Qualifying School in Spain

Carlos del Moral coasted to victory at the European Tour's Qualifying School in northern Spain, winning the 108-hole event by a comfortable five strokes.

The 28-year-old from Valencia posted a closing five-under-par 67, with playing partner Fabrizio Zanotti his closest challenger after six rounds in Girona.

Del Moral had taken control of the tournament in round four when he carded a 63 - as he completed the final 54 holes in 21-under-par.

Zanotti from Paraguay was, in turn, six strokes clear of Italian Marco Crespi in third place.

On Friday, del Moral opened with a bogey before making a trio of birdies in six holes to reach the turn in 35.

His win was secured early on the back nine when he went birdie-eagle-birdie from the 11th, with his impressive 67 the lowest score of the final day.

Welshman Stuart Manley and England's James Morrison were the only Brits to finish in the top-10.

The pair tied-for-eighth, with Manley and Morrison closing with rounds of 72 and 73 respectively.

Rewarded

The top-25 and ties - as it happened 27 pros - were rewarded with their European Tour cards for the 2014 season.

But disappointment for Oliver Wilson, who played in the 2008 Ryder Cup, after the Lincolnshire golfer missed out by two strokes following a level par 72.

And spare a thought for young Frenchman Edouard Espana who posted a first round 62 and had been in the top-25 all the way through the tournament until making a bogey on his final hole.

Espana had been tied-for-fourth after 72 holes only to end the tournament with a brace of 74s - to finish tied-28th.

Card holders for 2014:

402:Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 67 71 69 63 65 67 

407: Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 66 70 67 68 68 68 

413: Marco Crespi (Ita) 71 70 67 68 67 70 

414: Gary Stal (Fra) 71 68 69 68 68 70

415: Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 69 68 70 71 66 71, Adrien Saddier (Fra) 71 66 69 71 67 71, John Hahn (USA) 66 66 73 68 71 71 

416: Connor Arendell (USA) 72 70 71 65 70 68, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 69 67 70 69 70 71, Stuart Manley (Wa) 68 71 67 69 69 72, James Morrison (Eng) 72 67 63 70 71 73 

417: James Heath (Eng) 69 71 70 69 69 69, Simon Wakefield (Eng) 69 68 67 69 75 69, Jens Dantorp (Swe) 66 68 68 72 73 70, Brinson Paolini (USA) 70 71 68 64 72 72, Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 66 72 67 67 73 72 

418: Kevin Phelan (Irl) 73 67 68 71 70 69, Andreas Harto (Den) 67 70 69 72 69 71, Daniel Brooks (Eng) 65 71 69 66 76 71, Thomas Pieters (Bel) 64 73 72 68 68 73, Lucas Bjerregaard (Den) 65 70 69 69 72 73 

419: Jason Knutzon (USA) 70 69 71 69 69 71, Mikko Korhonen (Fin) 69 71 68 70 70 71, Estanislao Goya (Arg) 66 70 67 73 72 71, Jack Doherty (Sco) 68 70 66 71 73 71, Adam Gee (Eng) 66 70 71 69 69 74, Alastair Forsyth (Sco) 65 70 70 69 71 74

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Golf--English and Karlsson lead the way in Mexico

American Harris English and Swede Robert Karlsson separated themselves from the pack on Saturday to share the lead midway through the third round of the weather interrupted OHL Classic at Mayakoba.

The pair moved to 15-under-par, three shots clear of their nearest challengers, when play was suspended because of darkness at the El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

English and Karlsson still had 11 holes to play in the third round after the first two days were also interrupted by foul weather.

English, who won the FedEx St Jude Classic in June, finished off his second round on Saturday morning, adding three more birdies to his overnight score to finish with a nine-under-par 62, the lowest round of his career.

Karlsson, an 11-time winner on the European Tour, was one of only a handful of players able to sleep in, having finished his second round on Friday.

The former world number six continued his good form, also grabbing three early round birdies.

With no status on the tour, Karlsson was only included in the field courtesy of his top 10 finish in last week's McGladrey Classic, where he was on a sponsor invite.

The last of his wins in Europe came almost three years ago in the Dubai World Championship and he has slipped to 287th in the world but made 18 birdies in this tournament.

South African Rory Sabbatini (eight holes) and American Kevin Stadler (six holes) were tied for third place at 12-under while Spain's Alvaro Quiros (14 holes) and Americans Jason Bohn (nine holes) and Chris Stroud (eight holes) shared fifth at 11-under.

Defending champion John Huh sat 10 shots adrift at five under through 15 holes in a tie for 32nd.

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Watch Jarrod Lyle’s emotional tee shot as he makes his return to professional golf after battling cancer

Most of the time, it is our job here to expand on a situation, giving you commentary or quotes or a quip about whatever it is that is happening in the golf world.

In the case of Jarrod Lyle and his first tee shot at a professional golf event since he was diagnosed with myeloid leukemia 20 months ago, we're just going to sit back and let you enjoy this amazing moment.

The 31-year-old Australian was diagnosed with myeloid leukemia for the second time in his life in March of 2012, and was told this June that he was cancer free.

Lyle posted an opening round 72 at the Australian Masters, a great round considering the emotions he was fighting off for most of his round, and he sits T-38 after one round of play at Royal Melbourne.

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Cancer survivor Jarrod Lyle returns to professional golf

The golf world will get a special treat on Thursday morning at Royal Melbourne when Jarrod Lyle returns to golf after 20 months away battling myeloid leukemia.

Lyle, a 32-year-old professional golfer from Australia, had to step away from the game when he was diagnosed with cancer for the second time (he first was diagnosed when he was 17) and while it has been a serious battle, the kind-hearted Lyle is just excited about getting back to the game and trying to play it again for a living.

His first goal is holding it together on the first tee on Thursday.

"Just walking to that first tee and teeing the ball up and trying to hit it -- that's probably going to be the hardest thing," Lyle said on Tuesday.

"It's just going to let a whole lot of stuff out. Hopefully when that ball flies I can just get on to playing golf and put everything behind me and just get back to the golfer that I am."

Lyle has played in 102 career PGA Tour events, carding five top-10 finishes and 10 top-25 finishes, and his hole-in-one at the Waste Management Open back in 2011 was one of our shots of the year after the season wrapped up.

The PGA Tour video people did an incredible tribute to Lyle that you can watch below, so check that out and if you want to wish him good luck this week, send him a tweet over at @jarrodlylepga.

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Check out Lee Westwood, Justin Rose and others attempt to hit a green from the 22nd floor of the Atlantis Hotel

The PGA Tour might be the most popular golf tour in the world, but it can't compete with what the European Tour does with YouTube.

Their latest video features some of the biggest names in the game hitting golf shots from the 22nd floor of the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai, an easy challenge if you don't mind hitting a golf shot from 100 yards high to a green that is floating on the ocean just 235 yards away.

Yep, piece of cake.

Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, and Lee Westwood were some of the big names that participated, with a guest appearance from Ian Poulter in what can only be described as a very Ian Poulter-y bathing suit.

Check the video below to see the winner, and trust me when I say this, don't ever, ever, ever try this, no matter how high up you are at a hotel or how good you are with your long irons.

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English, Karlsson lead OHL Classic

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico -- Harris English and Robert Karlsson shared the lead Saturday in the rain-delayed OHL Classic when third-round play was suspended because of darkness.

English and Karlsson were 15 under overall with 11 holes left in the round.

English matched the lowest round of his PGA Tour career in the morning with a 9-under 62 on Mayakoba Resort's El Camaleon course. The 24-year-old former Georgia star won the FedEx St. Jude Classic in June for his first PGA Tour title.

Karlsson played 36 holes Friday, shooting 63-67. The 44-year-old Swede, an 11-time winner on the European Tour, tied for 10th last weekend in the McGladrey Classic - playing on a sponsor exemption - to earn a spot in the field this week.

Rory Sabbatini and Kevin Stadler were tied for second at 12 under. Sabbatini completed eight holes in the third round, and Stadler played six.

Alvaro Quiros, Jason Bohn and Chris Stroud were 11 under. Quiros finished 14 holes, Bohn nine, and Stroud eight.

None of the 78 players who made the cut were able to finish the round.

More than 4 1/2 inches of rain hit the course from Wednesday afternoon to Friday afternoon. Because of the wet conditions, players are using preferred lies.

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Golf-U.S. PGA Tour OHL Classic scores

Scores from the U.S. PGA Tour OHL Classic at the par-71 course on Saturday in Playa del Carmen

	played rounds	holes
-15	Robert Karlsson (Sweden)	7	63 67
	Harris English (U.S.)	7	68 62
-12	Rory Sabbatini (South Africa)	8	68 65
	Kevin Stadler (U.S.)	6	67 63
-11	Alvaro Quiros (Spain)	14	67 70
	Jason Bohn (U.S.)	9	67 68
	Chris Stroud (U.S.)	8	66 68
-10	Spencer Levin (U.S.)	15	70 68
	Justin Leonard (U.S.)	14	70 67
	Scott Brown (U.S.)	9	69 66
	Charles Howell III (U.S.)	8	67 67
-9	Robert Allenby (Australia)	15	70 68
	Wes Roach (U.S.)	13	67 70
	Camilo Villegas (Colombia)	13	70 67
	Jeff Maggert (U.S.)	11	69 66
	Brian Stuard (U.S.)	10	65 70
	Pat Perez (U.S.)	9	66 68
	Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela)	9	66 68
	Tim Wilkinson (New Zealand)	8	70 63
-8	Matt Every (U.S.)	15	71 67
	Russell Knox (Britain)	13	67 70
	Davis Love III (U.S.)	13	69 68
	Brendan Steele (U.S.)	11	70 66
	Chad Collins (U.S.)	11	69 67
	Bob Estes (U.S.)	11	68 69
	Justin Hicks (U.S.)	10	69 67
	Tommy Gainey (U.S.)	10	71 65
-7	Len Mattiace (U.S.)	13	69 68
	James Driscoll (U.S.)	13	69 68
	Brendon Todd (U.S.)	13	71 66
	Jay McLuen (U.S.)	11	67 69
-6	Michael Putnam (U.S.)	15	69 69
	Matt Jones (Australia)	15	69 69
	Jamie Lovemark (U.S.)	14	68 69
	Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden)	14	70 69
	Ryan Moore (U.S.)	8	67 67
-5	John Huh (U.S.)	15	70 68
	Joe Durant (U.S.)	15	70 68
	Jeff Overton (U.S.)	15	68 70
	Ben Martin (U.S.)	13	69 70
	J.J. Henry (U.S.)	12	72 65
	Erik Compton (U.S.)	11	67 69
	Josh Teater (U.S.)	9	68 73
-4	Peter Malnati (U.S.)	15	69 69
	Billy Hurley III (U.S.)	15	69 69
	Will MacKenzie (U.S.)	15	69 69
	Tyrone Van Aswegen (South Africa)	14	69 69
	Darren Clarke (Britain)	13	71 68
	Greg Chalmers (Australia)	11	70 70
	Luke Guthrie (U.S.)	7	71 70
-3	Jose Coceres (Argentina)	12	68 69
	Scott Gardiner (Australia)	10	70 70
	Oscar Fraustro (Mexico)	9	72 68
	Kevin Na (U.S.)	9	71 70
	Tim Clark (South Africa)	8	71 70
	Brian Gay (U.S.)	8	70 71
-2	William McGirt (U.S.)	15	70 68
	Cameron Beckman (U.S.)	13	72 67
	Tim Petrovic (U.S.)	13	71 68
	Kevin Kisner (U.S.)	10	65 75
	Ryan Palmer (U.S.)	9	70 71
	John Senden (Australia)	9	73 68
-1	Derek Ernst (U.S.)	14	69 70
	Ben Curtis (U.S.)	12	72 68
	Richard Lee (U.S.)	11	75 65
	Yang Yong-Eun (South Korea)	9	74 67
	Brian Davis (Britain)	9	71 70
	Charley Hoffman (U.S.)	9	73 68
	Kyle Stanley (U.S.)	8	73 68
	Lee Williams (U.S.)	7	73 68
0	Noh Seung-Yul (South Korea)	13	69 70
	Tag Ridings (U.S.)	13	70 69
	Lucas Glover (U.S.)	12	70 70
	Mike Weir (Canada)	9	72 69
1	Morgan Hoffmann (U.S.)	12	69 71
	Martin Flores (U.S.)	12	69 71
	David Duval (U.S.)	10	67 73
4	Mark Calcavecchia (U.S.)	7	70 71

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Golf-European Tour World Tour Championship scores

Scores from the European Tour World Tour Championship at the par-72 course on Saturday in Dubai

199	Henrik Stenson (Sweden)	68 64 67
200	Victor Dubuisson (France)	70 66 64
203	Ian Poulter (Britain)	69 68 66
	Alejandro Canizares (Spain)	66 67 70
204	Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain)	72 66 66
205	Lee Westwood (Britain)	70 70 65
	Justin Rose (Britain)	70 67 68
206	Joost Luiten (Netherlands)	73 68 65
	Luke Donald (Britain)	73 66 67
	Rory McIlroy (Britain)	71 67 68
207	Jamie Donaldson (Britain)	68 72 67
	Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spain)	68 71 68
	Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand)	67 70 70
208	Graeme McDowell (Britain)	72 68 68
	Peter Hanson (Sweden)	70 68 70
	Francesco Molinari (Italy)	70 68 70
	Jonas Blixt (Sweden)	72 65 71
	Marcus Fraser (Australia)	67 69 72
209	Darren Fichardt (South Africa)	71 71 67
	Mikko Ilonen (Finland)	72 68 69
210	George Coetzee (South Africa)	74 67 69
	Richard Sterne (South Africa)	70 70 70
	Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark)	69 70 71
	Chris Wood (Britain)	73 66 71
	Pablo Larrazabal (Spain)	72 66 72
211	Bernd Wiesberger (Austria)	72 73 66
	Matteo Manassero (Italy)	71 72 68
	David Howell (Britain)	75 66 70
	Martin Kaymer (Germany)	70 69 72
	Ross Fisher (Britain)	75 64 72
212	Gregory Bourdy (France)	76 70 66
	Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain)	71 74 67
	David Horsey (Britain)	72 72 68
	Marcel Siem (Germany)	75 67 70
213	Scott Jamieson (Britain)	73 70 70
	Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand)	69 70 74
214	Thomas Bjorn (Denmark)	71 74 69
	Craig Lee (Britain)	73 70 71
	Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa)	73 70 71
	Eduardo De La Riva (Spain)	71 71 72
215	Raphael Jacquelin (France)	77 66 72
216	Julien Quesne (France)	74 73 69
	David Lynn (Britain)	71 72 73
	Paul Casey (Britain)	75 68 73
	Shane Lowry (Ireland)	71 71 74
217	Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium)	71 75 71
	Branden Grace (South Africa)	76 70 71
	Brett Rumford (Australia)	71 72 74
218	Tommy Fleetwood (Britain)	72 76 70
	Marc Warren (Britain)	74 71 73
	Felipe Aguilar (Chile)	79 66 73
	Simon Khan (Britain)	72 72 74
219	Stephen Gallacher (Britain)	77 71 71
220	Peter Uihlein (U.S.)	72 72 76
223	Thomas Aiken (South Africa)	76 74 73
225	Garth Mulroy (South Africa)	76 75 74

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Stenson keeps 1-shot lead after 3rd round in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Henrik Stenson closed in on the European Tour money title Saturday, birdieing four of his last five holes for a 5-under 67 and a one-shot lead after three rounds of the season-ending World Tour Championship.

The Swede is at 17-under 199 and is trying to become the first player to win the FedEx Cup and European money title in the same year.

Victor Dubuisson of France, coming off his first European Tour victory at the Turkish Airlines Open, is in second place after a 64. England's Ian Poulter (66) and Spain's Alejandro Canizares (70) share third place, another three shots back.

Dubuisson pulled even for the lead but Stenson made three straight birdies starting at the 14th hole and sank a tap-in birdie on the 18th.

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Watch Phil Mickelson talk about the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst and what he’s doing to prepare for ’14

The Golf Channel's "Morning Drive" got a nice little surprise on Friday when Phil Mickelson showed up to chat about his British Open win this year and what he has planned in the coming months and years.

Mickelson has already said that his entire focus is on completing the career Grand Slam with a win next year at the U.S. Open, and it would be a perfect storm of sorts since he nearly won his first major championship back in 1999 at Pinehurst #2, the site of the U.S. Open next season.

Phil talked about that tournament and how it helped mold him later in life (specifically a chip shot he hit on the 16th hole at Pinehurst back in '99 that helped him with a chip shot he hit at the 2005 PGA Championship to set up a winning birdie on the final hole), and he reflected on the late Payne Stewart who obviously beat him at that event some years ago.

Maybe my favorite part of the interview with Mickelson was when he talked about what he is doing now to prepare for major championships. You can hear Phil say it, but basically his goal is to be as comfortable with a major championship venue as he is with his home course, meaning that when he hits a shot he wants to know exactly what he has upcoming before he even gets to the ball, much like you would at a course you play all the time.

It's interesting because a lot of players might not have the time or the means to get out to an Oakmont or a Pinehurst, but Phil's life is now going to be based around winning majors and completing that career Grand Slam, so spending a week or two in North Carolina is a part of his preparation because he knows if he is as comfortable as he can be with a major venue, he has his best chance to win.

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Golf-Karlsson and Stadler surge in weather-hit Mexico

Swede Robert Karlsson and American Kevin Stadler pushed their way to a three-shot lead in Friday's rain-interrupted second round of the PGA Tour's OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Mexico.

Only 29 players completed the second round at El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa del Carmen as rain and lightning interrupted play for a second straight day.

Stadler produced a blistering bogey-free eight-under 63 to back up his opening 67, while Karlsson, the leader after the first round was completed earlier in the day, carded a 67 following his opening 63.

The duo share the lead at 12-under-par, while South African Rory Sabbatini is on nine-under through 17 holes of his second round tied with American Chris Stroud after 15.

Sabbatini opened with a 68 and was six-under in the second round when play was suspended due to darkness, while Stroud opened with a 66 and is four-under for his second round.

Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas (66,68) and Americans Ryan Moore (67,67), Pat Perez (66, three-under through 14) and Jay McLuen (67, four-under through 14) shared fifth at eight-under.

Karlsson, an 11-time winner on the European Tour, is only in the field courtesy of his top 10 finish in last week's McGladrey Classic, where he was a sponsor's invite.

Having gone through a rough patch over the last few years, the former world number six has no status on the PGA Tour and has slipped to 287th in the world. His last win on the European Tour came almost three years ago at the Dubai World Championship.

A week after being in contention but fading to a tie for 10th in Georgia, Stadler is searching for his first career PGA Tour win in his 237th start. The son of former Masters champion Craig had five birdies in his last seven holes.

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Golf-McIlroy struggles after sizzling start in Dubai

Rory McIlroy, seeking a first win of 2013, began Dubai's $8 million DP World Tour Championship in blistering fashion but could not sustain the momentum as he fired a one-under 71 on Thursday in the European season climax.

The defending Dubai champion sank birdies in three of the opening four holes on a cloudless morning at the Greg Norman-designed Earth course.

After a 30-foot birdie on the opening par four, a 40-foot eagle attempt came up just short to leave him with a simple birdie at the second and the 24-year-old Northern Irishman picked up another shot on the fourth as girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki looked on.

But bogeys on the fifth and eighth holes stymied McIlroy's charge, and although he birdied the seventh he dropped another shot after finding the water on the 18th to end on 71, five behind early leader Alejandro Canizares.

"I feel like I played better than the score suggested," McIlroy told reporters. "I was pretty wasteful on the back nine. I had a good chance at 10, good chances at 14, 15, 16 so there were a few chances out there that I didn't take. I'm coming off the course disappointed, but I know there's a good score out there."

That McIlroy was one of Thursday's early starters shows how poorly 2013 has gone for him as he began the day a lowly 46th on the Race to Dubai, formerly the European Order of Merit, which he won last year along with the U.S. money list.

The world number six stressed the importance of ending the year strongly to lay the foundations for a better 2014.

"I've got three tournaments left, this one and two more, so it would be great to get a win before the end of the season, but just some solid performances going into next year would be great," he added.

Spain's Canizares, 30, hit three consecutive birdies on holes 14-16 to end six-under par. Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Australia's Marcus Fraser are a shot behind.

Race to Dubai leader Henrik Stenson and second-ranked Justin Rose were one-under-par after four holes, England's Ian Poulter one-under after five and playing partner Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell one over.

Victory in the DP World Tour Championship for Swede Stenson, McDowell or England's Rose would also see them clinch the Race to Dubai, as would Poulter and Welshman Jamie Donaldson should they prevail over 72 holes and Stenson finishes third or lower.

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Golf-Cullen steals Scott's thunder to lead Australian Masters

Unheralded local player Nick Cullen upstaged defending champion Adam Scott by shooting a sparkling six-under 65 to take a two-shot lead after the opening round of the Australian Masters on Thursday.

The 29-year-old Cullen, ranked well outside the world's top 300, grabbed a share of the lead with compatriot Scott after a sublime chip-in for eagle on the par-four 11th, then left the U.S. Masters champion in his wake by rolling in three more birdies on a chilly, blustery day at Royal Melbourne.

Having long lived in the shadow of twin brother Dan, an elite cricketer who played a test match for Australia, Cullen was tickled to see his name at the top of the leaderboard above the headline act.

"I think it's an amazing golf course and I'm really loving it here this week," the Adelaide professional told reporters after offsetting two bogeys with six birdies at the famed sandbelt course.

Enjoying a rich vein of form, Scott teed off early and carded a solid four-under 67 to sit tied for second with German Maximilian Kieffer.

The world number two caught fire with four straight birdies in the middle of his round, thrilling hundreds of fans that stuck by him through a drizzly morning, but he marched straight to the practice range to bash a few dozen balls in frustration after his ball-striking wavered in the closing holes.

"Sixty-seven around here is a good score," Scott said after a five-birdie round marred only by a solitary bogey on his second-last hole.

"I felt like I left a couple out there but my game is in pretty good shape and four rounds like that might go a long way this week."

Having won the Australian PGA Championship at a canter on Sunday, the 33-year-old remains well-placed to sweep the country's three marquee tournaments, with the national Open title in Sydney to come.

Little-known Kieffer made a mockery of the adage that practice makes perfect as he joined Scott on four-under despite having never played the course's back nine.

On his first trip Down Under to play the World Cup of Golf for Germany, the 23-year-old missed out on a hit on the back nine in the lead-up due to jet-lag and poor weather, but relied on caddy Graeme Heinrich, a Melbourne man and publisher of golf course yardage books, to talk him through the layout.

"My expectations were very low because my preparation was not as it should be but it was good fun and a good learning experience," Kieffer said.

World number eight Matt Kuchar, who will defend his World Cup of Golf title for the United States, this time with Kevin Streelman, at the same course next week, is six behind Cullen after battling to an even-par 71.

Former world number one Vijay Singh cancelled out four birdies with five bogeys on the way to a scratchy 72 to be a further stroke adrift.

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UPDATE-Golf-Manila Masters to go ahead despite typhoon disaster

The inaugural Manila Masters golf tournament will go ahead this week, despite the unprecedented disaster caused by Typhoon Haiyan, the Asian Tour said on Wednesday.

The super typhoon, one of the strongest storms ever recorded, killed thousands and displaced 670,000 people, leaving them with no access to food, water or medicine.

The storm flattened Tacloban, coastal capital of Leyte province, where several local officials have said they feared 10,000 people died, many drowning in a tsunami-like surge of seawater.

The Tour consulted with local golf associations, authorities and relief agencies and decided to continue with the $750,000 event to be held at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club from Thursday.

"The people in this country are resilient and they have shown countless times that they are able to bounce back stronger," Stephen Reilly, chief operating officer of title sponsors Resorts World Manila, said in a statement.

"Through this tournament, we want to show that the Filipinos are survivors and we'll get back on our feet quickly."

Organisers also plan to raise funds and support relief authorities through the event.

"We feel for the people affected by this unfortunate tragedy and hope that through the staging of this tournament, and through our support of aid and relief programmes, we will be able to help in whatever way possible," Asian Tour Chief Executive Mike Kerr added.

Two-time PGA Tour winner Daniel Chopra said the players wanted to do their bit for the affected people.

"I've always wanted to play at Manila Southwoods again and furthermore, I thought the Philippines needs help right now," Chopra, who is born to a Swedish mother and Indian father, said.

"It was an easy decision for me to make between playing here or back on the PGA Tour in Mexico. We've got the Red Cross here this week so hopefully some of the players here can provide some sort of support financially to help the victims."

Local hope Angelo Que also promised help.

"Unfortunately, the typhoon has to happen but we're all good to help. I think it's a good thing that all players get together and help out," Que, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour, said.

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