Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki engaged

Sports stars Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki have announced their engagement.

 

The couple spread their happy news via Twitter, with the duo posting matching pictures of themselves with a ring.

 

Northern Irish golfer and current world number six McIlroy told his more than 1.8 million followers: "Happy New Year everyone! I have a feeling it's going to be a great year!! My first victory of 2014 #shesaidyes!!"

 

Danish tennis player Wozniacki, who is also in her sport's top 10, also took to Twitter, saying: "Happy New Year everyone! Rory and I started 2014 with a bang! ... I said YES!!!!"

 

Wozniacki, 23, pulled out of this week's Brisbane International with an injured right shoulder but is confident she will be able to play in this week's Sydney International in preparation for the first major of the year, the Australian Open which begins on January 13 in Melbourne.

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Sky Sports News club golf survey reveals slow play main concern

Slow play and declining memberships are the main causes of concern among golf clubs in the UK, according to a Sky Sports News survey.

 

Over 250 British clubs took part in the poll, which revealed that slow play was the biggest talking point in the 19th hole.

 

An overwhelming 94% of clubs admitted that the average round is taking too much time, while 91% insist the problem could be eased if golf's governing bodies took firmer action against professionals guilty of slow play.

 

Five-hour rounds are common on the European and PGA Tours these days, and club golfers believe heavier and more frequent punishment for the pros would speed up the pace of play around the local municipals.

 

After a year in which a ban on anchored putting was agreed by the R&A and the PGA Tour, only 8% of clubs said this was a bigger cause of concern than slow play.

"A lot of the juniors who are watching golf are picking up bad habits after seeing us taking our time. It's down to the intricacies of the rules or people not being ready when it's their turn ... it's a reasonably big problem in the game."
Luke Donald

Another worrying trend is the decline in club membership, with 70% of clubs reporting that subscriptions have decreased over the last five years.

 

Only 1% said their dominant membership group was in the 31-40 bracket, and youth membership has also taken an alarming dive despite 76% of clubs having a youth scheme in place.

 

Female membership has been hit even harder, with a 75% drop according to the survey.

 

Despite the declining numbers, 52% of clubs believe they are getting enough assistance from golf's ruling bodies, although non-major tournaments appear to have little impact on club business.

 

The Open Championship (21%) and the Masters (29%) are known to have a "significant" effect on revenue, but regular European Tour events staged in the UK rarely boost club coffers.

 

The other main cost to British golf clubs is, of course, the weather. Adverse conditions have cost 37% of clubs more the 31 days of business over the last three years, although 22% have lost less than a fortnight.

 

Sky Sports News golf survey - the key points

- 254 respondents
- 70% say membership down over past 5 years
- 81% say 51+ is predominant membership demographic
- Only 1% say 31-40 is dominant membership group
- 75% say female membership has dropped over past 5 years
- 60% have seen a drop in youth membership numbers over past 5 years
- 64% say success of British players on Tour makes no impact on their business
- 21% says Open Championship has significant impact on business
- 29% say The Masters has significant impact on business.
- 61% say another UK Tour event would have no impact on business
- 34% say another UK Tour event would have a small impact on business
- 2% say another UK Tour event would have a significant impact on business
- 52% say biggest selling club in pro shop is the driver
- 39% say most popular club brand is TaylorMade
- 20% say most popular club brand is Ping
- 82% say most popular ball brand is Titleist
- 94% say slow play is problem at club level
- 91% say problem would be eased if Tour dealt more effectively with slow play
- 92% says biggest talking point in club this year is slow play while only 8% says anchored putting
- 37% say they've lost more than 31 days of business due to bad weather in past 3 years
- 34% say they've lost 15-31 days of business due to bad weather in past 3 years
- 22% say they've lost 8-14 days of business due to bad weather in past 3 years.

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Luke Donald warns against slow play

 

Luke Donald has warned that slow play on the European Tour could have a negative impact on youngsters playing golf at club level.

 

Sky Sports News has undertaken a survey of clubs across the UK and Ireland and found that the issue is one that frustrates amateurs more than any other.

 

In the survey, 94% of clubs said it was a problem whilst 92% thought it was a bigger talking point than the ban on anchored putters.

"It used to be that golf was a half-day activity. You could have breakfast with the family and be back home for lunch. But now it seems to have expanded into something that take up two thirds of the day and I think it's having a negative effect on participation - it needs speeding up."
Peter Dawson

"A lot of the juniors who are watching golf are picking up bad habits after seeing us taking our time," said Donald.

 

"It's down to the intricacies of the rules or people not being ready when it's their turn - there are so many different factors but unfortunately it's a reasonably big problem in the game.

 

Nicolas Colsaerts agrees: "Something needs to be done," he said. "Most of the time you end up playing for over five hours and that's not good enough."

 

However, European Tour Chief Executive George O'Grady believes the game's governing bodies are taking adequate steps to combat the problem.

Leadership

"I think the Tours take really good leadership - certainly the European Tour does. Last time I checked - at the end of the year - we'd had 400 different cases of players being timed and 12 penalties imposed."

 

But the bodies that help regulate the amateur game see slow play as a major problem to attracting new players into the game.

 

"The people we want to get to haven't got four hours going spare and therefore we do have to have a two hour version of the game," said England Golf Chief Executive David Joy. "It would be great to have a nine hole format that people could choose to play in."

 

"It used to be that golf was a half-day activity," added R&A Chief Executive Peter Dawson. "You could have breakfast with the family and be back home for lunch.

 

"But now it seems to have expanded into something that take up two thirds of the day and I think it's having a negative effect on participation - it needs speeding up."

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Solheim Cup star Charley Hull is keen to progress further in 2014

Charley Hull may have enjoyed arguably the greatest year of her life but she is keen to progress even further in 2014.

 

The 17-year-old from Kettering was named Ladies European Tour (LET) rookie of the year and played a key role in helping Europe win the Solheim Cup on American soil for the first time ever.

 

Hull became the youngest player to compete in the tournament, the women's equivalent of the Ryder Cup, beating Paula Creamer 5 & 4 in the singles.

 

But she has set her sights high and after finishing second in her first five tournaments since turning professional in March, she is keen to become the top-ranked player in the world during her career.

 

"It was a great season and I loved every minute of it. Looking back on it now, I couldn't wish for a better rookie season," she told Sportsline on Sky News.

 

"Beating Paula Creamer on the final day was fantastic as I have looked up to her for years. To beat one of the most famous names in golf was pretty awesome.

 

"I didn't feel very well when I played her but I just went out and played really well."

 

Hull was offered the chance to work with England Golf but opted instead to stick with her own coaching and support team, a move she feels has paid dividends.

 

"I was always an individual player. I've never been into big team sports, even though it was awesome in the Solheim," she added.

 

"Golf is an individual sport and I (would) have to have their coaches. I have done so well with the coaches I have had, so why change?

 

"That was the route I chose to go and it has done me pretty well."

 

Hull also confirmed she will look to play some tournaments on the American LPGA Tour after impressing during the Solheim Cup but has no immediate plans to move to the USA.

 

"I am going to play on some invites on the LPGA and then play LET as well," she said.

 

"I feel I am too young to go over there at the moment. I still want to enjoy going out with my friends, so I don't want to move over there yet.

 

"I think I have balanced it out well and you have to enjoy life."

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Golf: Tiger Woods, despited limited schedule, racks up world ranking points

Along with wins, money and scoring average, another way to measure the strength of a golf season is total world ranking points. Tiger Woods won that category, too, but just barely over Henrik Stenson. A closer look reveals it wasn't really that close.

 

Woods earned 488.75 points this year, only 3.65 ahead of Stenson. Masters champion Adam Scott was third, more than 100 points behind.

 

The difference, though, is Woods played only 19 tournaments that awarded ranking points. Stenson played 31. Woods averaged 25.7 points for every event he played, compared with 15.6 for Stenson.

 

This is nothing new for Woods. He tends to play the toughest courses against the strongest fields. He also helps to make the field strong as the No. 1 player in the world. And while he doesn't play often, he plays well when he does tee it up.

 

"Most of my events I play have been on the more difficult venues and against the better fields," Woods said this month. "And now that we have not just the majors and The Players, but we also have the World Golf Championships ... and also the playoffs at the end of the year, you're getting the top players to play together more often. And I'm very proud of my overall record, especially in the bigger events."

• The PGA Tour already alters the pairings to create marquee groups for the opening two rounds. Now it's letting the fans get involved. In voting that will end Monday, fans can go to the tour's website (pgatour.com) to vote who should be paired with defending champion Dustin Johnson at Kapalua for the Tournament of Champions that starts Jan. 3 in Hawaii. The choices are Scott, Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker.
• Darren Clarke has a three-year deal to be the pro and global ambassador at The Astbury in Shropshire, England. It's the first course designed by KK Downing, founding member of the heavy metal band Judas Priest.
• LPGA Tour regular Cristie Kerr became a mother Dec. 8. Kerr and husband Erik Stevens had Mason Kerr Stevens through surrogacy because of what she said were "personal medical complications precluding us from traditional pregnancy. We'd like to send out a special thanks to all the people who helped make this miracle happen."

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TOC field at Kapalua announced

Masters champion Adam Scott headlines the field for next week's Hyundai Tournament of Champions, the first PGA Tour event of 2014 -- although no longer the first event of the season.

 

The PGA Tour went to a wraparound schedule in October, which means the Tournament of Champions at the Kapalua Resort on Maui will be the seventh event of the 2013-14 season.

The format for the 72-hole tournament that begins on Jan. 3 remains the same -- only winners of official PGA Tour events during 2013 are eligible. There were 35 such winners, and 30 of them have signed up for the $5.7 million tournament.

 

As expected, both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will skip the event. Neither has played it in years, with Woods last competing in 2005 and Mickelson in '01.

 

Woods is expected to make his season debut next month at the Farmers Insurance Open. Mickelson already has committed to that event, as well as the week prior at a European Tour stop in Abu Dhabi.

 

FedEx Cup and Tour Championship winner Henrik Stenson is also taking a pass at Kapalua, as is U.S. Open champion Justin Rose and RBC Heritage winner Graeme McDowell. The latter three all had hectic schedules on the European Tour at the end of 2013.

 

The tournament boasts 13 first-time winners, including 2013 rookie of the year Jordan Spieth. Others competing are PGA champion Jason Dufner, Webb Simpson, Matt Kuchar, defending champion Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson and Brandt Snedeker.

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Golf: Henrik Stenson is looking to break his major duck after a record-breaking year on tour

 

Henrik Stenson is looking to add a major title to his growing CV after a record-breaking year on both sides of the Atlantic.

 

The Swede dominated the sport from the summer, chalking up seven top 10s from his final nine events on his way to securing the Race To Dubai title and the FedEx Cup.

 

Stenson also topped up his bank balance to the tune of 1m euros with victory in the DP World Tour Championship at Dubai November but it his showing in the majors which gives him hope for the coming year.

 

Second to Phil Mickelson in The Open at Muirfield was followed by a third-placed showing at the USPGA and he believes he now has the game to see him break his duck in 2014.

 

"From the US Open onwards I was on a really, really good run," he told Sky Sports News.

 

"Obviously my game was in good shape but my attitude and state of mind was phenomenal and the success I have had is down to the mental state I was in over that period.

 

"But you have to have a good golf game to back it up as well, and it all came together for me in 2013.

 

"I took so many positives out of my second place at The Open and third at the US PGA and that is what I will be trying to build on for next year, try to up my game that little bit more to put myself right in the mix."

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Lydia Ko splits with coach of 11 years

WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Teenage golf star Lydia Ko has split with the only coach she has had since she took up the sport as a 5-year-old.

 

Ko told Television New Zealand on Monday that she was sad to have ended her partnership with Guy Wilson, whom she called a great coach and friend. But she said she and her family had decided it would be impossible to continue the relationship because she will be based in the United States and he in New Zealand.

 

"It doesn't really work, him being here and him coming on the weeks that I'm not playing a tournament means I'll only see him like 10 times a year, and to me that kind of situation didn't work out," Ko said.

 

Wilson, who worked with the 16-year-old Ko for 11 years, issued a statement saying he was "incredibly disappointed" the partnership is over.

 

Michael Yim, her agent at IMG, said Monday that Ko worked with various teachers at the Leadbetter Academy in Florida before going to Taiwan for the Swinging Skirts tournament, an event she won two weeks ago in her second start as a professional. Kim said Ko plans to meet with other teachers before deciding on a full-time coach.

 

Ko has won five professional tournaments -- four as an amateur -- while coached by Wilson, who said it had "been an honor to help develop Lydia into the No. 4 golfer in the world."

"When I first met her the golf clubs were taller than she was and she didn't know the first thing about a driver or a putter, but now she has one of the most envied swings in the women's golf world," Wilson said.

 

Born in South Korea and raised in New Zealand, Ko won the Women's Canadian Open at 15 last year to become the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history and successfully defended the title this year.

Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press

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Win a Golf Break to London Golf Club by Picking the Shot of the Year

Win a fantastic golf break for four at London Golf Club with The European Tour Shot of the Year competition.

 

London Golf Club, the first Destination venue in the European Tour Properties portfolio, has joined forces with Brandshatch Place Hotel & Spa to offer a fantastic golf break as a prize for the winner of The European Tour Shot of the Year competition through My European Tour.

 

The prize includes two rounds of golf for a fourball at London Golf Club – one round over the Heritage Course, the Jack Nicklaus signature design which hosted the 2008 and 2009 European Open, and one round over its acclaimed sister course, the International. A two course meal is also included.

 

The prize is offered in partnership with the stunning Brandshatch Place Hotel & Spa, with accommodation of two twin rooms for a two night stay with bed and breakfast.

 

All you have to do is correctly select the winning Shot of the Year from the three options below to have a chance to win this fantastic prize. So click here to enter

 

A panel of golfing commentators debated the merits of the 11 winners of the Shot of the Month Awards from January to November to come up with three contenders. If you can match their decision of the best shot of 2010, you will be entered into the random draw to select a winner.

 

London Golf Club was the first European Tour Destination and it is the attention to detail that sets it apart from its competitors. Conveniently located south east of London in England, it is the perfect destination for golfers. There are two championship courses, each with their own characteristics and offering unique and inspired challenges for any golfer.

 

Stretching across Kent’s North Downs, both courses are kept in immaculate condition with true fairways and pristine greens, features for which  London Golf Club is renowned. For more information about London Golf Club, visit www.londongolf.co.uk 

 

And where better to relax after a round of golf than at the Brandshatch Place Hotel & Spa.  A sophisticated Georgian mansion built in 1806, Brandshatch Place Hotel & Spa stands proudly in the lush countryside known as the Garden of England. For more about Brandshatch Place Hotel & Spa, click here 

In addition to the main prize, ten runners-up will receive a European Tour cap.

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Meet the Rookies: Nacho Elvira

 

For over three years, Nacho Elvira and Andrea Pavan went to the same classes together, shared a flat together and toured the American collegiate golfing circuit together, so it must have been fate that the Spaniard would join his Italian friend in graduating from the Challenge Tour in 2013.

 

They both did so in the most spectacular of fashions, with Pavan claiming the prestigious title of Challenge Tour Number One after doubling his win count on the developmental tour to four during a superbly consistent campaign – but Elvira’s rise was arguably the more dramatic.

 

With five events to go in a long season, Elvira was sitting in 85^th position in the Challenge Tour Rankings, but he embarked on an incredible run of form, finishing with five successive top tens including a triumphant victory in the inaugural Foshan Open in China.

 

His future hung in the balance at the season-ending Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final hosted by Al Badia Golf Club, entering the week right on the bubble in 15^th place, but he soared to a final round 66 to climb into a share of ninth place and earn a rookie season on The European Tour.

 

“It feels great to be a European Tour player,” he said. “It all happened very quickly. Late in July I was only trying to get into the top 100 to play in Kazakhstan and then I started playing well and got a couple of good finishes and it was all uphill from there.

 

“Honestly, I don’t know what sparked it. I was just setting some goals one by one, to play well in Ukraine and then get into Kazakhstan and get a top ten there, so that I could make it into The Foshan Open, because I didn’t have a category for it.

 

“It all worked out pretty well, with my top ten in Kazakhstan getting me into China. China was the breakthrough and everything changed. I moved up to 13^th place and I was in with a chance then of making my European Tour card.

 

“Obviously my goals turned around big time with that win. I was just looking to get to the Grand Final and get an exemption for Final Stage at Qualifying School, but all of a sudden I was in the top 15.”

 

And there he stayed, but it may not have been so easy for the 25 year old were it not for the fact that one of his closest friends was more than a little adept in the skill of making it on the Challenge Tour – namely Pavan.

 

The Roman has played two seasons on the tour, finishing in second place in the Rankings first time out in 2011 before finishing top of the pile in his second attempt this year. Friends in high places, indeed.

 

“Andrea and I met long ago, on the amateur scene,” said Elvira. “Then we went to college together and lived together for three-and-a-half years, so it has been amazing. We went to all the classes together, played all the tournaments together and roomed together when travelling so it’s been a good relationship.

 

“He’s been helping me out because he had a lot more experience than me, playing in the Challenge Tour in 2011 and a year on The European Tour, so he was helping me out, telling me I needed to this and I should do that.

 

“I'm excited to see what the next step is but these last couple of months have been unbelievable, with him helping me out, and I'm really happy for him. He set his goal to win the Challenge Tour Rankings and he did that, so I’m happy for him – and I bet he was happy for me too.

 

“The year he played The European Tour he didn’t keep his card so he has some learning to do as well, but he has some experience and he can tell me what I should be doing and what I should not be doing.”

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Stenson Becomes Honorary Member of the PGA Sweden National

 

On the back of the finest season of his career, World Number Three Henrik Stenson has received Honorary Lifetime Membership of the PGA Sweden National.

After finishing runner-up behind Spaniard Sergio Garcia in the Thailand Golf Championship on the Asian Tour, Stenson flew home to his native Sweden to receive the award from Mats Paulsson and Henrik Treschow, respectively the co-owner and chairman of PGA Sweden National, in Malmo.

The Lake Course will host the €1.5 million Nordea Masters for the first time from May 29-June 1, 2014, when Finland’s Mikko Ilonen will defend his title.  

Stenson, who will begin the defence of his Race to Dubai crown in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, said: “It’s a big honour – and now I don’t have to pay any green fees!

“Now that I’m a member of the club, the Nordea Masters will be even more fun, and it goes without saying that I’m aiming for victory.

“I’m obviously in a good position in the World Rankings after last season, but I’m always looking to improve and I’m already looking ahead to next year.”

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Wals Backs Omega Dubai Desert Classic

 

Leading Asset Management Group wasl has once again joined hands with golf in Dubai in reaffirming its support of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, which celebrates its 25th anniversary from January 30-February 2.

Owned by Dubai Real Estate Corporation (DREC), wasl was created to strengthen the success of Dubai by managing its extensive portfolio of assets in the residential, commercial, hospitality and leisure sectors.

Their move to continue their association with ‘golf in DUBAi’ as a key sponsor of one of the premier European Tour events underlines wasl’s growing role in driving the game forward in sync with Dubai’s growth strategy.

Boasting a wide spectrum of properties within a portfolio that includes Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club and Emirates Golf Club, wasl takes pride in presenting superb golfing facilities that have become a major attraction for local and international visitors.

Designed by Karl Litten and sculpted around the original tall desert dunes in 1987, the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club is fondly referred to as the ‘home of golf’ in the region, having successfully hosted the Omega Dubai Desert Classic since the inception of the European Tour event in 1989 and the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters when it was first held in 2006.

Hesham Al Qassim, CEO and vice chairman of wasl, said: "We are delighted to be part of the flagship golf tournament of Dubai. I think it’s our common objective of promoting Dubai and the drive for excellence in sport which has led to this perfect partnership.

"Today, the name of Dubai has become synonymous with golf, and a great deal of the city's popularity as a golf destination is due to the overwhelming success of events like the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, which showcases the world’s leading golfers.

The 2014 edition of the event will feature a galaxy of superstars, as World Number One Tiger Woods, European Number One Henrik Stenson, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, defending champion Stephen Gallacher and other former winners descend on Dubai to contest the US$ 2.5million prize fund.

Welcoming wasl’s continued partnership, Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of 'golf in DUBAi,' said: "It is indeed a matter of pride for us that we have the backing of a company of the stature and profile of wasl who share our mandate and view of golf as the ideal vehicle to project Dubai to international audience.

"As the first in the region to assume the profile of an asset management group, wasl has emerged as a pacesetter in the real estate property management sector. We acknowledge their role in promoting sports as well and hope our association will be as smooth as our tournaments!"

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LET Welcomes New Class of 2014

• Caroline Martens wins Lalla Aicha Tour School by Eight Strokes
• Nobuhle Dlamini qualifies, becoming first representative from Swaziland on LET
• Lucie Andre records hole-in-one during final round at Samanah Golf Club
• 31 players finished at +2 or better earning Category 8a Membership for 2014

MARRAKECH, MOROCCO – December 18, 2013: Caroline Martens saved the best until last as she fired an eight-under-par 64 during the fifth and final round of Lalla Aicha Tour School for the 2014 Ladies European Tour season in Morocco.

The 26-year-old Norwegian posted eight birdies at Samanah Golf Club in Marrakech on a warm and breezy day to end eight strokes ahead of the field on 13-under-par.

“It feels fantastic. I played ridiculously well and didn’t make any mistakes out there. I was striking the ball perfect, I was putting well. It was a fantastic round of golf: the best I’ve ever played,” said Martens, who had her mother, Ingrid, on caddie duties.

“The one word I kept on thinking on every shot, every day, was patience. Like, ‘It’s a marathon of a week, I have to be patient; it’s not over until it’s over. Even on the last putt on 18, I just kept saying to myself, I need to be patient, I need to be patient, just breathe, take one shot at a time, don’t get ahead of yourself and enjoy the moment really.”

Having previously held Category 9b membership of the LET in 2012, Martens kept competitive by playing on the LET Access Series in 2013, but dislocated both of her shoulders during a tournament in Sweden in early September.

“It’s been such a difficult year and I’ve worked so hard. Having this week going the way it did, it makes me feel like all the hard work I’ve put into it really paid off. I’m really looking forward to next year, getting started and improving on what I did here,” she said.

Sally Watson of Scotland and Germany’s Steffi Kirchmayr shot rounds of 68 and 73 respectively to share second on five-under-par.

A stroke further back were Swedish pair Josephine Janson and Viva Schlasberg, who tied for fourth with amateur Nobuhle Dlamini, who qualified to become the LET’s first representative from Swaziland.

Early in the final round, Lucie Andre used her six-iron to hole-in-one at the third, which was her second ace during an LET qualifying tournament, as she also had one on the North Course at La Manga.  

At the end of an emotional and nerve-wracking five days in Marrakech a total of 31 players finished on two-over-par or better, earning Category 8a Membership of the LET for the 2014 season.

In addition to those already mentioned, new players to qualify included Ariane Provot and Isabelle Boineau of France, South African Kim Williams, Tessa Teachman of the USA, Krista Bakker of Finland, Austrian Nina Muehl, Germany’s Karolin Lampert, England’s Charlotte Thompson and Victoria Lovelady of Brazil.

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Lexi Breaks Out of Her Shell

Lexi Thompson broke onto the world stage when she became the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history at the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic. She was tabbed the ‘next big thing’ on the LPGA Tour but the wins didn’t necessarily come flowing in for Thompson right away.

 

After being granted membership by LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan following her victory in Alabama, Thompson geared up for her rookie season in 2012. She would come close to winning again with two runner-up finishes at the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic and the Navistar LPGA Classic but was also faced with the learning curve of playing a full schedule as a Tour member.

 

After working tirelessly on her game, particularly on her putting, Lexi hit her stride following her first Solheim Cup appearance in August. She made 43 starts before picking up win No. 2 at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia where she put on a dominating performance in Kuala Lumpur against a top-notch field. The teen shot all four rounds in the 60s for the first time in her career (67-63-66-69) and finished four strokes ahead of Shanshan Feng. She acknowledged that earning her second win was essentially getting a monkey off her back.

 

“It's very big,” Thompson said after her win in Malaysia. “I've worked so hard between this whole last year since Navistar, just working hard on my game, improving on my short game in particular, and just to have it pay off, it means so much to me, and it's just no stopping here, just going to continue to work hard and just going to try to win every tournament.”

“It took a little longer than I thought,” Thompson added. “But it's the top players in the world here, so it's not easy. Every tournament you have to shoot super low and you have to have your A game, and that's what I had this week.”

 

Just three events after her second win, Thompson battled top-ranked American Stacy Lewis down to the wire in Mexico for her third-career victory at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational. Thompson stayed cool under pressure, sinking a five-foot birdie putt on the 72^nd hole to defeat the top-ranked American.  Lewis had high praise for Thompson and expects her to help carry the flag for American women’s golf.

 

“After playing with her a couple practice rounds and a match together (at the Solheim Cup), I said as soon as she figures out her putting, she's going to be unbelievable because she's the best -- hands down the best ball striker on Tour,” said Lewis. “And for her length, it's unbelievable how straight she hits it for her length.  I knew I was going to be in trouble on that golf course -- she carried me by 40 yards and I had no chance.”

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Royal Trophy: Europe produce stunning fightback to beat Asia at Dragon Lake GC

Jose Maria Olazabal mastermined another epic comeback as Europe beat Asia 8.5-7.5 to win the Royal Trophy.

 

Asia, the holders, needed to claim just three-and-a-half points from Sunday's eight singles matches to win the trophy again and extended their lead from 5-3 to 7-3 by winning the top two matches.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat beat Paul Lawrie 3&2 in the top match before fellow Thai Thongchai Jaidee defeated Stephen Gallacher 4-2.

 

But requiring just another point and a half from the final six matches at Dragon Lake Golf Club in Guangzhou, Asia were blown away as Olazabal's team produced a charge reminiscent of Europe's amazing comeback in the Ryder Cup at Medinah last year.

 

Marc Warren, David Howell, Thorbjorn Olesen, Bernd Wiesberger and Nicolas Colsaerts all scored victories while Alvaro Quiros added a half as Europe closed out a stunning 8.5-7.5 victory.

 

Warren fought back to beat Japan's Ryo Ishikawa with a par at the last, Olesen beat Wu Ashun 3&2, Howell edged Kim Hyung-sung one up and Wiesberger overcame Hiroyuki Fujita 3&2.

 

Kim had been three up on Howell heading to the 15th tee but lost four straight holes, the last with a three-putt.

 

Spain's Quiros also three-putted 18 to cost himself victory against South Korea's Kim Kyung-tae and that half meant the scores were tied at 7.5-7.5 with just one match still out on the course.

 

Colsaerts had a narrow one-up lead on Liang Wenchong after 16 and protected it by holing a tricky putt on 17.

 

Liang also made a tough putt to send the match down the last but it was Belgian Colsaerts who sealed victory with a brave up and down as his opponent three-putted.

 

"I want to thank these fantastic eight guys who did something extraordinary today," said a delighted Olazabal after recording his first success in the team matchplay event.

 

"To be honest, I had a few doubts, especially early in the round but what you did was extraordinary. Thank you very much for your contribution, for making things easy for me," the Spaniard told his team as he was presented with the trophy on the 18th green.

 

"I hope you all learned a little bit this week, especially the rookies.

 

"I really appreciate it, it means a lot to me. Thanks for your efforts."

 

Asia captain YE Yang said: "I congratulate Europe for an outstanding comeback. It was a great tournament but unfortunately a shocking loss for us.

 

"I never expected this because we were so far in front. The loss is a huge blow and a big surprise. Hopefully we'll learn from the mistakes we made and return stronger next year."

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Royal Trophy: Asia stay two points clear after Saturday fourballs are shared 2-2

 

Asia lead Europe 5-3 in the Royal Trophy after Saturday's fourballs in China were shared 2-2.

 

It means the holders, who won Friday's foursomes 3-1, need three-and-a-half points from Sunday's eight singles matches at the Dragon Lake Golf Club in Guangzhou, China to retain the trophy.

 

Asia were given the ideal start by Thai duo Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Thongchai Jaidee, who defeated Scots Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher 2&1 to extend the lead to three.

 

Jose Maria Olazabal's Europe were on course to reduce the gap when England's David Howell and Scotland's Marc Warren headed to the 17th tee two-up on Chinese pair Liang Wen-chong and Wu Ashun.

 

But the Asian pair pulled out two closing birdies to snatch an unlikely half point to keep YE Yang's men in control of the contest.

 

Europe's only win of the day came via Austria's Bernd Wiesberger and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen.

 

They scored a 2&1 victory over Japanese pair Ryo Ishikawa and Hiroyuki Fujita to reduce the gap to two points again.

Ishikawa and Fujita had beaten Wiesberger and Spain's Alvaro Quiros 3&2 in Friday's foursomes but looked out of sorts this time.

 

The bottom match appeared to be going Asia's way with South Korean duo Kim Hyung-sung and Kim Kyung-tae sitting two-up with two to play against Quiros and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts.

Vital half point

But, after winning 17, Quiros hit a fantastic shot from the trees on 18 to around five feet and, after consulting captain Olazabal about the line, rolled home the birdie putt. "I knew how crucial that was," he said.

 

Olazabal famously inspired Europe's Ryder Cup comeback at Medinah last year and hopes for a repeat performance. On that occasion, his team were four behind going into Sunday.

 

He said: "Getting a half in that last match has kept our hopes alive. If we have a solid start in the singles and put pressure on the Asian team then we can still turn it around."

 

Yang, meanwhile, is confident that his team can hang on and win the trophy back-to-back for the first time.

 

He said: "I'm a little disappointed with losing that final half a point and I was pretty nervous watching the last two matches. I hope we still have the momentum and that we can finish off the job in the singles."

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Asia move into 3-1 lead after opening day of foursomes competition at Royal Trophy

 

Asia moved into a 3-1 lead over Europe after the opening day of foursomes competition at the seventh edition of the Royal Trophy.

 

The two highest-ranked players on the Asian team, Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, set the tone for the hosts at the Dragon Lake Golf Club's Asian Games Course in China as they cruised to a 5&3 victory over Scottish duo Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher.

The Thai pairing were always in control of the contest having moved four up through the opening six holes and wrapped up victory when Aphibarnrat rolled home a 35-foot putt for eagle at the 14th hole.

 

Ryo Ishikawa and Hiroyuki Fujita extended the home team's advantage with a 3&2 defeat of Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger.

 

As in the top match, the Japanese duo made a fast start and were three up through four holes and then proceeded to hold their big-hitting opponents at bay.

 

Behind them, Koreans KT Kim and Kim Hyung-Sung combined in impressive fashion to secure a 4&2 victory over Spaniard Alvaro Quiros and Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen.

Holed out

The highlight came early in the contest as Kim Hyung-Sung holed out from 150 yards at the fourth for an eagle and the home pairing did not let their opponents back into the match.

 

The only bright spot for Europe came in the bottom match as England's David Howell and Scotland's Marc Warren combined to claim a valuable point with a 2&1 success against Chinese duo Liang Wenchong and Wu Ashun.

 

All square through seven holes, momentum swung after Warren holed a remarkable bunker shot from a plugged lie at the par-five eighth and, after winning the next two holes, Europe ultimately eased to a much-needed triumph.

 

European captain Jose Maria Olazabal admitted it had been a disappointing start, stating: "It was a bad day for us. We didn't expect that start.

 

"Now we have to be spot-on for the last two days - and that's our goal. We have to play aggressively and go for it. We do not have much room to manoeuvre."

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YE Yang explains decision to drop himself from Asian team for Royal Trophy

Asia captain YE Yang has defended his decision to leave himself out of his team for this week's Royal Trophy against Europe.

 

The South Korean was Asia's hero last year, partnering compatriot KT Kim to victory in a tense play-off after the teams had finished level at 8-8.

 

The former PGA champion was set to be a playing captain this year, but he believes his form over the past 12 months has not been good enough to justify a place ahead of plenty of in-form Asian players.

 

"When I was first offered the Royal Trophy captaincy the idea was that I would also play in the competition as well," said Yang, who remains the only Asian golfer to lift a major title.

 

"I wanted to play. But I quickly realised that there so many players who were playing better than me that I had to give up my spot on the team. I could not be greedy about it.

 

"It was not an easy decision to take, but I suppose the positive side of it is that it underlines that Asian golf is getting stronger and stronger all the time. And the Royal Trophy deserves a huge amount of credit for that.

 

"The Royal Trophy's influence can be seen in the way Asian players perform with greater confidence on the world stage, something that is definitely reflected in their results.

 

"It has given us an added focus as well as exposing out players to white-hot competition against some of the best golfers in the game. That is why the competition should be revered and respected by everyone.

 

"I would even go so far as to say the Asian victory last year was in some ways just as important as me becoming the first Asian golfer to win a Major title at the 2009 PGA Championship.

 

"I think both wins were very significant for Asian golf, and in their different ways they were equally important.

 

"One proved that Asian golfers could stand shoulder to shoulder with the best golfers in the world and win major championships. For me to go head to head with Tiger Woods in the final round and come out on top sent a very positive to every golfer on our continent.

 

"And last year's Royal Trophy victory showed that as a team, we in Asia could prevail under the most intense pressure. We emerged triumphant when the situation was incredibly tense, and incredibly tight."

 

Yang is now intent on relaying his experience of match play to the younger members of his team as he bids to deny European captain Jose Maria Olazabal his first victory in the event.

Yang added: "I have a lot of experience of match play, and I felt it would be best to concentrate on trying to use that experience to guide them and to try to help the players repeat the success of last year.

 

"I thought it would be a good experience for me to move up the ladder and just do the captaincy. I want to bestow some of my knowledge on the younger players in the team.

 

"There is also a big difference between stroke and a team match play event. In stoke play you need to play the course and the elements, and you need to be very strategic in how you control your game throughout the whole 18 holes."

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Jose Maria Olazabal backs Europe to overpower Asia at Royal Trophy

Jose Maria Olazabal is determined to complete a captaincy treble this week as Europe take on Asia in the Royal Trophy.

 

The Spaniard was at the helm for the Ryder Cup "Miracle at Medinah" last year, and he was also the winning captain in the Seve Trophy in October.

 

But his two stints as Royal Trophy skipper have both ended in defeat, and he has warned Asian counterpart YE Yang to expect a backlash at Dragon Lake in China.

 

Olazabal said: "I regard not winning the Royal Trophy so far as a blot on my record as a captain, and I serve notice to the Asian captain, YE Yang, and his players that I do not intend to allow this state of affairs to continue.

 

"I take the captaincy very seriously whatever the event, and the Royal Trophy is very special to me because my dear friend Seve Ballesteros asked me to take over from him as the team leader in 2009 when he became too ill to travel to Asia.

 

"He was a winning captain in the first two editions of the Royal Trophy of course, and if you can follow in Seve's footsteps at anything it can only be a good thing.

 

"To lose in a play-off last year was tough to take, but in those situations someone is always going to be overjoyed, while the opposition will have to handle bitter disappointment.

 

"But back home we have a saying which goes: 'third time lucky'. And in a tight corner sometimes you need that little bit of luck to go your way. So if it goes down to the wire again, maybe it will be our turn to celebrate."

 

Olazabal believes his big hitters will have a huge advantage at Dragon Lake, and backed the likes of Nicolas Colsaerts, Alvaro Quiros, Bernd Wiesberger and Stephen Gallacher to prosper.

 

But he has also solidified his team with plenty of experience, and he insisted Europe have the right balance to overcome Asia this year.

 

"It may look like I am putting all my eggs in one basket by going for monster hitters, but that is most definitely not the case," he said.

 

"I have also sought to select players with recent experience of team match play, and Paul Lawrie, Marc Warren, Nicolas Colsaerts, Stephen Gallacher, and Thorbjorn Olesen all fall into that category.

 

"In addition, David Howell is a two-time Ryder Cup winner while Alvaro Quiros and Bernd Wiesberger are players I believe will play in the Ryder Cup before too long.

 

"But at the same time, it certainly does not do any harm to have so many big hitters. If you can add accuracy to raw power, it is a great combination.

 

"I am told most, if not all, the par fives at Dragon Lake Golf Club will be reachable in two shots for the majority of the field.

 

"If that is the case I believe several of my players will be able to hit their approaches with mid-irons rather than fairway woods, and you will always have a better chance of making birdie or eagle that way.

 

"I think we could see some spectacular scoring this week, and I am confident I have a team full of players who are very capable of shooting low scores.

 

"I genuinely hope that both teams serve up a real birdie bonanza this week - as long as we make one or two more than the Asians, and it does not go down to another play-off.

 

"After Medinah and what happened in last year's dramatic Royal Trophy, I don't think my heart could take much more of it!".

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Henrik Stenson has been named the European Tour Golfer of the Year

Swedish star Henrik Stenson has been named the European Tour Golfer of the Year for 2013 after capturing the major money titles on both sides of the Atlantic.

 

Stenson capped a memorable comeback year by winning the season-ending DP World Tour Championship to clinch the Race to Dubai title having already banked a $10m bonus in the United States with victory in the FedEx Cup.

 Henrik Stenson

• Age: 37
• Professional wins: 16
• Current Ranking: 3rd
• Had been as low as 230 in rankings at start of 2012
• Finished 2nd at the Open & 3rd in USPGA
• Won Deutsche Bank Championship in September
• Won Tour Championship & FedEx Cup
• Won World Tour Ch'ship & Race To Dubai

Stenson's achievements were remarkable considering he was ranked only 230th in the world at the start of 2012.

 

The Swede made encouraging progress last year before igniting a surge up the world rankings with victory at the South African Open, breaking a five-year title drought on the European Tour.

 

The 37-year-old was a model of consistency over the first half of 2013, posting three top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour while finishing 18th at the Masters and 21st in the US Open.

Hot summer

But he was the hottest player in the world from July onwards, starting a sparkling run of form with a third-place finish at the Scottish Open.

 

He was runner up to Phil Mickelson at the Open Championship and was also second at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational before finishing third in the PGA Championship.

 

Stenson then won twice during the FedEx Cup play-offs, including a dominant victory in the Tour Championship which secured the overall title.

Famous faces praise Henrik

Returning to the European Tour, he struggled with a wrist problem over the first two events of the inaugural Finals Series before cementing his place at the top of the Race to Dubai with a seventh place in Turkey.

 

He was in a class of his own during the season finale in Dubai, closing with his second 64 of the week to cruise to a six-shot victory and become the first player to win the FedEx Cup and the Race to Dubai in the same season.

Honour

"It's a big honour to be voted the European Tour Golfer of the Year," Stenson said. "It just reflects the stellar year I have had.

 

"You can call it a dream season, year of my life, whatever you want. It has been an unbelievable year and I am delighted to win this award, especially as I am the first Swede to do so.

 

"You look at the past winners of this award and most of the greats of European golf are on there, which just adds to the prestige of winning it. To win the FedEx Cup and the American Tour Championship in some style and then follow that by taking The Race to Dubai was very special.

Butch looks at Stenson's swing

"Winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, where I had made my home for 10 years, in the style I won it, in front of so many family and friends, was something I will never forget.

"I'm not sure how I top it to be honest. I am not sure many people will get the chance to do what I did this year but I just need to keep working hard and pushing forward.

"The majors are the biggest goal for me now and if I can continue to play at the level I have been then I feel I can have a pretty good shot at them."



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