APPLEBY CALLS FOR LATER PGA DATE

Stuart Appleby has called for the year's final major to be pushed back in the golfing calendar.

Next week's PGA Championship at Oakland Hills in Michigan will come just three weeks after the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale with Thursday's World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational sandwiched in between.

That is too many big tournaments in such a short space of time for the Australian.

"I would personally like to see the PGA another two to four weeks later, spacing them out," Appleby said on Tuesday ahead of the Bridgestone event in Akron, Ohio.

"We wait for the Masters so much, then we have a nice break until the (US) Open, and then we get to the Open, and only a handful of weeks later, really, we jam in the PGA sort of very, very close.

"I'd ideally like to see them spaced out relatively evenly, but then you might be clashing with TV ratings in other sports, so there is a TV functional reason why.

"But as a golfer I'd like to see a good four to six weeks between majors minimum."


Traore Hoping For Hammers Move
BRITISH PAIR READY FOR WOODS
Palmer calls out AWOL Johnson, Houshmandzadeh

SORENSTAM TO SIGN OFF IN STYLE

Annika Sorenstam brings down the curtain on her major career at Sunningdale this week with a question for Michelle Wie - why on earth are you still playing against the men?

While the soon-to-be-retired Swede competes in the Ricoh Women's British Open starting on Thursday, Wie is in Reno, Nevada, making her eighth US Tour appearance.

And that despite the fact that she is currently ranked only 244th in the women's game.

Sorenstam was the world number one when she became the first female for 53 years to play on the US Tour in 2003.

Even though she missed the halfway cut the 37-year-old looks back on it as "a wonderful experience - a turning point in my career and as a person".

But the 10-time major winner and first woman to have a round of 59

never felt the need to do it again and she is at a loss to explain 18-year-old Wie's latest decision.

"I really don't know why Michelle is continuing to do this," said Sorenstam, who announced in May that she is to retire at the end of the season.

"I mean, we have a major this week and if you can't qualify for a major I don't see any reason why you should play with the men."

Wie's crash down the rankings meant she was not previously exempt for Sunningdale, but she was in with a chance of earning a late spot two weeks ago when she stood just one off the lead with a round to go in the LPGA Tour event in Illinois.

Then, however, she was disqualified for not signing her second round scorecard until after she had left the recording area.

So, having not entered the qualifying for this week and not receiving an invite, she took up the US Tour chance instead.

Last year's Solheim Cup captain Helen Alfredsson, winner of the Evian Masters in France on Sunday, believes Wie and her advisors have it totally wrong.

"I think the exhibition time for her is over. I feel kind of sad for her," she said.

"I think she's a very good person. I feel sad for the guidance that she seems not to have in the right direction.

"She was so good a couple of years ago when she finished second a few times. I think she should just keep working on winning. Winning is tough - it takes a different mindset.

"I think if she wants to be a golfer she should really concentrate on being on the women's tour. I just don't see the interest really on being on the men's tour.

"I thought she had quit that idea, but obviously not."

Sorenstam, who has other business plans for next year and also hopes to start a family, does not expect emotion to get in the way of her bid for an 11th major this week.

"There have been a few tournaments where I've kind of choked up coming down the stretch. But I think it's easy when you make the decision on your own, when you feel content about something and you know it's the right reason.

"I really don't get that emotional. This is the last major and I would love to play well here, but it's not the end of the world.

"The key is to be realistic with yourself and listen to what your needs are and what you want.

"It's sad in a way because I enjoy the competition, but I have a desire to do some other things and I'm excited about that.

"I can't think of a better timing because I'm leaving on my terms,

at a really healthy stage for the LPGA and it feels good."

She has, of course, already passed on the crown of number one to Mexican Lorena Ochoa, this week's defending champion.

But, while confessing that she does not have the drive that she used to possess, Sorenstam does have a reason for winning on Sunday.

"My expectations are always high and this is the only major that I haven't won two or three times.

"If I could win here this week then I would say I've pretty much achieved everything that I possibly can."

At her prime Sorenstam regularly exchanged text messages with Tiger Woods over how many majors they each had.

They spoke before her announcement two months ago and Woods told her: "You beat me to this."

To that Sorenstam replied: "Well, it's the only thing I beat you at."

Overshadowed maybe, but both careers have been phenomenal.

Their record in majors is as follows: Woods - played 52, won 14, top 3s 22, top 10s 29. Sorenstam - played 56, won 10, top 3s 20, top 10s 31.


MORGAN SEEKING FIRST TOUR WIN
Eyjolfsson Ready For Hammers Adventure

OPEN HERO TURNS PRO

Chris Wood, the 20-year-old amateur from Bristol who finished a brilliant joint fifth at The Open eight days ago, has decided to turn professional.

Wood has signed for the International Sports Management group and becomes a stablemate of Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and David Howell - and also last year's Open silver medal winner Rory McIlroy.

After taking a week to consider his future, the 6ft 5in Wood said: "Royal Birkdale was the best week of my life and now I am looking forward to an equally exciting and successful future in the professional ranks.

"If I was going to play amateur golf for another year, I'm not sure that I would be in a better position than I am now.

"I played with Darren Clarke yesterday and I've spoken to another two professionals and they've all said that I'll be a better player after a year on the tour."

Wood has already received an invitation to the Quinn Insurance British Masters at The Belfry on September 25-28. His management company are the promoters of that event.

McIlroy made his professional debut there last season and a week later came third in the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.

Wood is allowed seven sponsor's invites and if he earns around Ј150,000 from them he will avoid November's European Tour qualifying school.

"We are thrilled and delighted that Chris has chosen to join ISM when he had several options," said managing director Andrew Chandler.

"He is an extremely talented and likeable young man and proved at The Open that he can perform at the highest level."

Wood partnered Ian Poulter in the final round of The Open and at the start of the back nine was only two off the lead.

Although he slipped back into a tie for fifth, seven strokes behind Padraig Harrington, his performance was easily the best by an amateur in any major since Justin Rose's fourth-place finish on the same course 10 years ago.

Also leaving the amateur ranks and joining ISM is Southport 22-year-old Matthew Baldwin, who just missed out on qualifying for The Open at his home club.

Baldwin has twice been Lancashire champion and was a member of the England elite squad.


Frey turns down Bayern move
WOOD NOT CONSIDERING PRO ROUTE

REAVIE EARNS MAIDEN WIN

Little-known Chez Reavie had the world of golf asking "Whose he?" after he overcame a shaky start in Sunday's final round to grab his first PGA Tour victory at the the Canadian Open.

Reavie carded a one-under-par 70 to finish three strokes ahead of Tour veteran Billy Mayfair (68).

Holding a one-shot lead after completing his third round earlier on Sunday, Reavie shrugged off two bogeys in his first three holes to finish at 17-under 267 overall.

The American, who turned professional in 2004, pocketed US dollars 900,000 (Ј452 785) for his victory and earned a two-year exemption.

In his first full year on the tour, Reavie became the first player without a previous tournament victory to win this event since Jerry Pate in 1976.

He was the most unlikely victor, having posted a career-best fifth-place finish at the Bob Chrysler Classic in January but failing to finished better than 34th in his 19 events since then.

Sean O'Hair (68) and Steve Marino (70) tied for third place at 271.

Canadian Mike Weir was unable to capitalise on the home-course advantage, signing for a 69 to finish in a three-way tie at 12-under 272.

Anthony Kim, who was paired with Reavie and trailed by one shot following a seven-under 64 yesterday, soared to a 75 to finish six shots off the pace.

Seeking his third win of the year, Kim struggled the entire day, carding five bogeys and one birdie in his round.

That came after he played 21 holes yesterday in 11 under par.

Collated final-round scores (USA unless stated, par 71):

267 Chez Reavie 65 64 68 70

270 Billy Mayfair 68 66 68 68

271 Steve Marino 67 67 67 70, Sean O'Hair 65 71 67 68

272 Scott McCarron 66 72 63 71, Mike Weir (Can) 65 70 68 69, Nicholas Thompson 67 66 70 69

273 Kevin Na 69 66 70 68, Anthony Kim 65 69 64 75, Glen Day 71 70 64 68

274 Ken Duke 68 67 69 70, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 68 70 67 69, Briny Baird 69 65 71 69

275 Brian Davis (Eng) 69 64 70 72, Charlie Wi (Kor) 69 69 67 70, Bob Estes 68 73 65 69, Mark Calcavecchia 70 66 67 72, Jim Furyk 70 68 67 70, Carlos Franco (Par) 67 68 69 71

276 Eric Axley 65 67 73 71, Fred Couples 69 69 70 68

277 Kent Jones 71 70 69 67, Omar Uresti 72 68 69 68, Ryan Palmer 71 70 68 68, John Huston 65 72 68 72, Martin Laird 71 67 69 70, Mark Wilson 71 69 69 68

278 Charley Hoffman 69 70 71 68, Corey Pavin 71 70 69 68

279 Retief Goosen (Rsa) 73 68 65 73, Steve Flesch 68 67 69 75, Todd Hamilton 69 68 69 73, Kevin Sutherland 70 71 69 69, Parker McLachlin 69 69 68 73, Shane Bertsch 67 73 68 71, Kevin Streelman 68 67 71 73

280 Jerry Kelly 67 70 71 72, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 69 68 72 71, Y. E Yang (Kor) 68 68 73 71, Bill Haas 68 68 71 73, Todd Demsey 69 70 72 69, Steve Allan (Aus) 68 69 68 75, Tom Pernice Jnr. 71 65 75 69

281 Bob Tway 74 67 70 70, Robert Garrigus 70 71 72 68, Tim Petrovic 69 72 72 68, J.P. Hayes 67 73 70 71

282 Joe Durant 71 68 72 71, Chad Collins 75 66 70 71, Jason Dufner 72 69 70 71, Ben Curtis 70 68 73 71, Jason null Day (Aus) 65 75 69 73

283 Andrew Buckle (Aus) 69 70 70 74, Ryan Armour 67 73 71 72, Camilo Villegas (Col) 71 68 72 72, Nick Taylor (Can) 70 70 72 71, Frank Lickliter II 69 72 72 70

284 Dudley Hart 68 70 70 76, David Hearn (Can) 69 72 69 74, Ted Purdy 68 71 73 72, Cliff Kresge 69 66 76 73, Alex Cejka (Ger) 69 69 73 73

285 Patrick Sheehan 70 68 73 74, Michael Letzig 68 73 71 73, Jeff Quinney 69 71 72 73, Scott Sterling 72 69 72 72, Bryan Decorso (Can) 74 67 70 74

286 Jason Allred 67 72 73 74

287 Nick Flanagan (Aus) 73 68 70 76

288 Jeff Maggert 68 73 71 76

291 Cameron Beckman 68 70 75 78


Top from start to finish
REAVIE TAKES LEAD IN CANADA

NORMAN TURNS DOWN USPGA OFFER

Greg Norman has turned down the chance to play in next week's USPGA Championship in Detroit.

An invitation was issued to the 53-year-old Australian after his spectacular attempt to become the oldest winner in major history in The Open at Royal Birkdale.

Outright leader with nine holes to play, Norman finished joint third and then went on to be joint fifth in the Senior British Open at Royal Troon this weekend.

Now he is preparing for the US Seniors Open starting at Broad Moor in Colorado Springs on Thursday and he has decided that after playing just a handful of events this year prior to Birkdale, four weeks in a row is one too many.

"It's a great honour to be thought of in that regard," said the former world number one last week after receiving the invitation.

Darren Clarke, who missed the 2006 USPGA the week after his wife Heather died of breast cancer but returned last year to finish 42nd, has accepted an invite.

The field is, of course, without Tiger Woods, winner of the title the past two years, but it does include American Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger, champion in 1993 after a play-off with Norman.

Previous captains have had wild-card decisions to make at the end of the final major of the year, but Azinger is taking three extra weeks to decide his four picks.

Two spots in the PGA field are kept open in case the winners of this week's Bridgestone World Championship event in Akron and Reno-Tahoe Open are not exempt.

German Alex Cejka is amongst the reserves waiting to discover if that is the case.


Frey turns down Bayern move
NORMAN HAS PLENTY TO DO

PLAY-OFF JOY FOR ALFREDSSON

Sweden's Helen Alfredsson claimed a record third title at the Evian Masters after a three-way sudden-death play-off in France.

Alfredsson, who won the inaugural title in 1994 before her second victory four years later, had birdied the final two holes for a final-round 67 to join Brazil's Angela Park and South Korean rookie, Na-Yeon Choi, in the play-off on 15 under par.

Extra time was over the par-five 18th and Alfredsson clinched the Ј240,000 title at the third time of asking when she hit the green in two and two-putted for a birdie four at the third extra hole.

Park, who had led going into the final round and closed with a 71, went out when she could only make par at the first extra hole, and 21-year-old Choi missed a six-foot birdie putt that would have extended the contest.

"I'm really getting too old for this," said the 43-year-old, who has now won 19 tournaments worldwide in 19 years as a professional.

It was her 11th win in Europe, but her first since the 2001 WPGA Championship of Europe in Wales.

"I'm thrilled to win again.

"This tournament has always had a special place in my heart ever since I won the first one.

"It is the most beautiful place and I feel I have been so lucky to be invited back every year. It's just great to be a three-time champion."

Alfredsson has been hit by a string of injuries over the years, and she cut back on her tournament play last season when she was the European Solheim Cup captain.

But she showed great form last month with a second place in the US Women's Open.

World number one Lorena Ochoa - who defends the Ricoh Women's British Open at Sunningdale this week - closed with a 68 and was fifth on 12 under par, while two-time winner Annika Sorenstam, in her final Evian Masters before retirement, also shot 68 for seven under.

"It is sad to know I won't be back (playing here again)," admitted Sorenstam.

"But I have good memories and I'm looking forward to new challenges in the future."

Wales' Becky Brewerton had a fine, six-birdie 68 in the final round to move up into a tie for 24th place on five under par.

However, Laura Davies, a two-time winner, had a horror final day 80 and was last of the 70 qualifiers on 13 over par.

Collated final round scores & totals in the LPGA Tour, Evian Masters, Evian Masteres Golf Club, Evian-les-Bains, France

(USA & Kor unless stated, par 72):

273 Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 72 63 71 67 (Alfredsson won after three-hole sudden death play-off), Na Yeon Choi 71 67 69 66, Angela Park (Bra) 66 68 68 71

275 Jin Joo Hong 71 69 68 67

276 Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 65 73 70 68

277 Shi Hyun Ahn 69 69 69 70, Cristie Kerr 70 66 72 69, Hee Young Park 70 69 70 68

278 Paula Creamer 70 69 69 70, Juli Inkster 67 69 69 73

279 Sun Young Yoo 74 68 69 68, Eun Hee Ji 71 71 67 70, In Kyung Kim 68 68 75 68, Candie Kung (Tai) 66 70 67 76

280 Ji-Yai Shin 72 73 68 67, Meena Lee 67 69 73 71

281 Giulia Sergas (Ita) 71 74 70 66, Natalie Gulbis 69 71 72 69, Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 71 69 73 68

282 Young Kim 68 71 74 69, Laura Diaz 67 73 71 71, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 67 74 69 72, Christina Kim 72 70 73 67

283 Becky Brewerton 72 72 71 68

284 Ya-Ni Tseng 70 70 70 74, Sun Ju Ahn 66 74 73 71, Morgan Pressel 69 72 72 71, Karrie Webb (Aus) 72 75 71 66

285 Momoko Ueda (Jpn) 70 69 74 72, Amy Yang 68 73 70 74, Diana D'Alessio 73 71 71 70, Song-Hee Kim 69 72 74 70, Hye Jung Choi 73 73 74 65

286 Lindsey Wright (Aus) 72 73 69 72, Jimin Kang 71 71 72 72, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 73 69 72 72, In-Bee Park 69 72 74 71

287 Linda Wessberg (Swe) 69 71 74 73, Wendy Doolan (Aus) 77 68 74 68, Teresa Lu (Tai) 71 71 71 74, Angela Stanford 67 72 78 70, Hee-Won Han 72 74 76 65, Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 73 70 74 70, Katherine Hull (Aus) 72 72 74 69

288 Ji-Young Oh 70 71 75 72, Pat Hurst 74 73 70 71, Hwa seon Lee 69 75 76 68

289 Se Ri Pak 70 76 70 73, Jane Park 74 74 71 70, Trish Johnson 70 75 71 73, Jeong Jang 74 73 72 70

290 Ai Miyazato (Jpn) 74 72 70 74, Carin Koch (Swe) 73 74 69 74, Sarah Lee 71 73 74 72, Brittany Lang 73 73 73 71, Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 72 72 71 75

291 Mhairi McKay (Sco) 72 74 69 76, Karine Icher (Fra) 74 70 72 75

292 Rachel Hetherington (Aus) 75 71 75 71, Meaghan Francella 70 72 76 74, Julieta Granada (Par) 72 73 75 72

293 Mi-Hyun Kim 71 73 73 76, Sherri Steinhauer 72 74 74 73

294 Sophie Giquel (Fra) 71 76 77 70

295 Nicole Castrale 74 74 74 73

296 Minea Blomqvist (Fin) 74 69 76 77

297 Emma Zackrisson (Swe) 72 75 78 72

298 Martina Eberl (Ger) 75 72 78 73

299 Catrin Nilsmark (Swe) 70 73 81 75

301 Laura Davies (Eng) 71 77 73 80


Walk in the park for VfB
NO WALK IN THE PARK FOR BRITONS
MORGAN 25th AS OH CLAIMS PLAY-OFF WIN

REAVIE TAKES LEAD IN CANADA

Chez Reavie created a little breathing room for himself on what was a crowded leaderboard.

Reavie surged into first place on Friday at the Canadian Open with a seven-under-par 64 during the suspended second round, taking a two-shot lead over Eric Axley, who had one hole left to play when play was called for the day.

Carding six birdies and an eagle at the par-five 13th, Reavie moved to 13-under 129 for the tournament.

The 26-year-old was part of a seven-way tie for first place after the first round, which was completed earlier Friday due to torrential rain that postponed play for nearly six hours on Thursday.

The players were unable to complete the second round before it was suspended due to darkness. More than 60 players will return to finish their second round Saturday at 7:30 am local time. The third round will begin three hours later.

Reavie is seeking his first PGA Tour title. The Kansas native has just one top-five finish in his brief career, which came at the Bob Hope Classic in January.

Axley is the nearest contender at 11-under following his bogey-free round that featured five birdies.

His playing partner, Nicholas Thompson, also was five-under for the round and alone at nine-under with just one hole to play.

Billy Mayfair (66) and Steve Marino (67) each managed to complete their rounds and are tied at eight-under 134. Cliff Kresege (66), Carlos Franco (68), Ken Duke (67) and Kevin Na (66) all finished at 135.

Local favourite Mike Weir was tied for the lead after the first round but was at even-par through 16 holes in his second round and six-under overall thanks to a double-bogey at number nine.

The 38-year-old Weir is making his first PGA Tour appearance in Canada since last year's President's Cup, when he defeated Tiger Woods in match play. The lefthander has just two top-10 finishes in 17 starts this season and has missed five cuts.

Two-time defending champion Jim Furyk, who finished in a tie for fifth at the British Open last week, carded a three-under 68 and is nine strokes back at four-under 138.

Latest second-round scores (USA unless stated, par 71):

129 Chez Reavie 65 64

134 Steve Marino 67 67, Billy Mayfair 68 66

135 Kevin Na 69 66, Ken Duke 68 67, Carlos Franco (Par) 67 68, Cliff Kresge 69 66

136 Y. E Yang (Kor) 68 68, Sean O'Hair 65 71, Mark Calcavecchia 70 66, Tom Pernice Jnr. 71 65

137 Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 69 68, Jerry Kelly 67 70, John Senden (Aus) 66 71, John Huston 65 72

138 Dudley Hart 68 70, Patrick Sheehan 70 68, Scott McCarron 66 72, Ben Curtis 70 68, Alex Cejka (Ger) 69 69, Jim Furyk 70 68, Cameron Beckman 68 70, Martin Laird 71 67

139 Paul Claxton 67 72, Charley Hoffman 69 70, Todd Demsey 69 70

140 Dustin Risdon 68 72, Omar Uresti 72 68, Jeff Quinney 69 71, Nick Taylor (Can) 70 70, Shane Bertsch 67 73, Jason null Day (Aus) 65 75, Jon Mills (Can) 69 71

141 Kent Jones 71 70, Robert Garrigus 70 71, Cody Freeman 71 70, David Hearn (Can) 69 72, Ian Leggatt (Can) 70 71, Kevin Sutherland 70 71, Bob Tway 74 67, Bob Estes 68 73, Scott Sterling 72 69, Tim Petrovic 69 72, Ryan Palmer 71 70, Larry Mize 70 71, Frank Lickliter II 69 72

142 Richard Johnson (Wal) 67 75, Nick Watney 72 70, Jim McGovern 72 70, Tag Ridings 71 71, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 73 69, Matt Kuchar 73 69, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 73 69

143 Pat Perez 71 72, Kevin Stadler 73 70, Brad Elder 71 72, Adam Short (Can) 76 67, Jeff Overton 71 72, Stephen Ames (Can) 72 71

144 Brett Rumford (Aus) 72 72, Jin Park (Kor) 71 73, Charles Warren 71 73, J J Henry 72 72, Jeff Gove 73 71, Dan Forsman 74 70, Michael Knight (Can) 71 73, Douglas Labelle 69 75

145 Daniel Im 68 77, Lee Janzen 71 74

146 Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 74 72, Bo Van Pelt 74 72, Jim Rutledge (Can) 75 71, Matthew Jones (Aus) 73 73

147 Brad Fritsch (Can) 71 76, Wes Heffernan (Can) 74 73

148 Brad Adamonis 74 74

149 Harrison Frazar 74 75, Bob Heintz 77 72

150 Marco Dawson 75 75, Troy Matteson 76 74

151 Craig Barlow 79 72

152 Eric Landreville (Can) 81 71, Travis null Perkins 74 78

153 Todd Halpen 75 78

155 Kyle Thompson 74 81

159 Justin Bolli 82 77


DAVIS IN FOUR-WAY TIE FOR LEAD
RB Kevin Jones workout witnessed by 4 NFL teams
Coppa Italia Round-Up

NORMAN HAS PLENTY TO DO

Greg Norman found life tough going in the first round of the Senior Open Championship today as Bruce Vaughan and Eduardo Romero established a one-shot lead at Royal Troon.

Norman, 53, turned back the clock in sensational fashion in The Open at Birkdale last week, leading going into the final round before finishing third.

However, the Australian could only manage a four-over-par 75 - seven shots adrift of Vaughan and Romero's three-under total.

Sandy Lyle, who pulled out midway through his first round at The Open because of the poor weather conditions, carded the same score as Norman.

England's Nick Job is among a group of four players one off the lead after a 69 while Bernhard Langer and Irishman Mark McNulty are both one under along with defending champion Tom Watson.


NORMAN TOILS AS VAUGHAN TAKES CONTROL
Marshall practices at Broncos’ QB camp; Henry sits
Klinsmann appoints backroom staff at Bayern
NORMAN CALLS FOR OLYMPIC RECOGNITION

POD TARGETS MORE MAJORS

Padraig Harrington never expected a second major victory to follow so soon after the first.

But, now that it has and in the manner that it has, golf's new world number three believes there could well be more to come.

Harrington, who at Royal Birkdale became the first European to make a successful defence of The Open since James Braid in 1906, said: "This will give me more confidence. It was the first time I was in the last group of a major tournament on a Sunday.

"It's a different pressure and I'm delighted that I managed it. I hit the ball probably every bit as solid as I've ever hit it and I'm really thrilled with the way I felt.

"I was comfortable, very relaxed and at no stage did I get ahead of myself.

"I kept myself on my toes. I need a certain level of tension, but I don't need too much and I think I got that spot-on.

"I got to sixth in the world before and I wasn't comfortable there. It was 'ooh, I'm sixth and I'm not good enough'.

"But I've improved and I'm continuing to improve. I've got to say that if you ask me my best trait over the years it's been my ability to learn.

"It's to look around me, see what's out there, take the best from everything and try and put it together.

"If I was standing still I'd lose the interest. You kind of have to have the feeling that things are better in order to get up every morning and want to get out there in order to get to the gym, do the boring stuff and not eat that extra piece of pudding."

Harrington continued: "I've had a funny year. My results might have looked quite average, but wins like this help you wait it out.

"Thankfully what I might be getting good at is making sure those days are the big days and that's very important.

"My goal is to keep getting myself into contention in majors. They are what it's all about for me.

"I set my schedule out for this year for the four majors and the Ryder Cup. I was trying to peak for them.

"I got myself vaguely in contention at The Masters (he tied fifth), the US Open it didn't happen (he was 36th) and The Open it happens.

"If I can get 50 per cent into contention and then maybe hit one out of four of those you're winning every second year. That's a pretty high rate for most of us mere mortals."

Tiger Woods, of course, is more than a "mere mortal", having already amassed 14 majors, but in his enforced absence through injury everybody was wondering who would capitalise and Harrington is the first to do it.

And he did so after a wrist problem endangered his defence of the Claret Jug. Never has "beware the injured golfer" been so apposite.

The concern and the focus on his health helped the Dubliner, taking the attention away from the "can you do it again?" questions both from the media and from inside his own head.

Twelve months ago a closing bogey from Sergio Garcia enabled Harrington to escape from what would been the mental torment of his own 72nd hole double bogey.

This time he was level with Ian Poulter, playing five groups ahead of him, and the birdied the 13th and 15th before hitting five-wood, five-wood to three feet for a brilliant, clinching eagle on the long 17th.

That five-wood was the favourite club in his bag even before those two shots. Now it is worth its weight in gold.

From outside the first 10 on the Ryder Cup points table Harrington, told to "pull your finger out" by captain Nick Faldo at a dinner last Tuesday, is now top.

Poulter is up to 12th, but still has to grab one of the automatic places and with Paul Casey, Colin Montgomerie and injury-hit Luke Donald outside as well - and Justin Rose very close to joining them - Faldo's two wild cards might be no easy matter at the end of next month.

Harrington, though, can now target the USPGA at Oakland Hills in just three weeks' time and then the match at Valhalla in September without any concern for his cup place.

It was practising almost fanatically hard a week last Saturday which brought the wrist injury, but he has already promised a week off to celebrate before he flies to America to try to make it two majors in a row on the back of two Opens in a row.

And if he does that then reaching the world number one spot while Woods is still recovering from his knee surgery might not seem the far-off dream that it remains at the moment.

For the time being, though, third sounds good and twice Open champion sounds even better.


Yasinskas: No need to rush Ryan
HARRINGTON SOARS TO THIRD
HARRINGTON BACKS POULTER

NO WALK IN THE PARK FOR BRITONS

The British threat fell by the wayside as Brazilian teenager Angela Park birdied her final three holes for a third round 68 and set her sights on a maiden LPGA victory at the Evian Masters in France.

However, Mhairi McKay, with a 69, and Rebecca Hudson and Becky Brewerton, with matching rounds of 71, were all on one under par - a distant 13 shots behind 19-year-old Park.

Park, last year's LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year, showed her growing maturity as she birdied the final three holes for a 14 under par 202 total and a one-stroke lead over Taiwan's Candie Kung, who had a joint best of day 67.

Helen Alfredsson, the popular 43-year-old Swede, was in second place at halfway, but she had a rollercoaster 71 - five birdies and four bogeys - and slipped back into fourth place on 10 under par.

Another veteran, 48-year-old American Juli Inkster, who won the title in 2002, was in third place on 11 after a 69 and she could become the oldest LPGA winner if she does claim the title for a second time on Sunday.

But world number one Lorena Ochoa, who defends the women's British Open at Sunningdale this week, dropped to six shots off the lead after a 70, and two-time former winner Annika Sorenstam was 11 strokes behind after a disappointing 73.

Park, who lives in Florida, had a career best of joint second in last year's US Women's Open and has had another two top fives in majors

In a third round that started in glorious sunshine and ended in rain, she staged a great birdie finale, including rolling a putt in from 10 feet at the long 18th to snatch the lead.

"I just know I have to be patient," said Park of her desire breakthrough win.

"I played pretty mediocre at the start but told myself to not to hurry anything and it paid off.

"I surprised myself by coming back so strong. But it was great that I managed to stay so positive."

Collated third round scores & totals in the LPGA Tour, Evian Masters, Evian Masters Golf Club, Evian-les-Bains, France

(USA & Kor unless stated, par 72):

202 Angela Park (Bra) 66 68 68

203 Candie Kung (Tai) 66 70 67

205 Juli Inkster 67 69 69

206 Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 72 63 71

207 Na Yeon Choi 71 67 69, Shi Hyun Ahn 69 69 69

208 Paula Creamer 70 69 69, Jin Joo Hong 71 69 68, Cristie Kerr 70 66 72, Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 65 73 70

209 Meena Lee 67 69 73, Eun Hee Ji 71 71 67, Hee Young Park 70 69 70

210 Ya-Ni Tseng 70 70 70, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 67 74 69

211 Sun Young Yoo 74 68 69, In Kyung Kim 68 68 75, Laura Diaz 67 73 71, Amy Yang 68 73 70

212 Natalie Gulbis 69 71 72

213 Ji-Yai Shin 72 73 68, Sun Ju Ahn 66 74 73, Teresa Lu (Tai) 71 71 71, Momoko Ueda (Jpn) 70 69 74, Young Kim 68 71 74, Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 71 69 73, Morgan Pressel 69 72 72

214 Linda Wessberg (Swe) 69 71 74, Lindsey Wright (Aus) 72 73 69, Jimin Kang 71 71 72, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 73 69 72

215 Giulia Sergas (Ita) 71 74 70, Song-Hee Kim 69 72 74, In-Bee Park 69 72 74, Diana D'Alessio 73 71 71, Becky Brewerton 72 72 71, Christina Kim 72 70 73, Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 72 72 71, Mhairi McKay (Sco) 72 74 69

216 Ji-Young Oh 70 71 75, Ai Miyazato (Jpn) 74 72 70, Se Ri Pak 70 76 70, Carin Koch (Swe) 73 74 69, Trish Johnson 70 75 71, Karine Icher (Fra) 74 70 72

217 Mi-Hyun Kim 71 73 73, Angela Stanford 67 72 78, Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 73 70 74, Pat Hurst 74 73 70

218 Karrie Webb (Aus) 72 75 71, Meaghan Francella 70 72 76, Sarah Lee 71 73 74, Katherine Hull (Aus) 72 72 74

219 Minea Blomqvist (Fin) 74 69 76, Wendy Doolan (Aus) 77 68 74, Jane Park 74 74 71, Brittany Lang 73 73 73, Jeong Jang 74 73 72

220 Sherri Steinhauer 72 74 74, Hwa seon Lee 69 75 76, Julieta Granada (Par) 72 73 75, Hye Jung Choi 73 73 74

221 Laura Davies (Eng) 71 77 73, Rachel Hetherington (Aus) 75 71 75

222 Hee-Won Han 72 74 76, Nicole Castrale 74 74 74

224 Sophie Giquel (Fra) 71 76 77, Catrin Nilsmark (Swe) 70 73 81

225 Emma Zackrisson (Swe) 72 75 78, Martina Eberl (Ger) 75 72 78


Walk in the park for VfB
MORGAN 25th AS OH CLAIMS PLAY-OFF WIN

NORMAN TOILS AS VAUGHAN TAKES CONTROL

Greg Norman's Open Championship hangover continued as he struggled at the halfway mark of The Senior Open Championship.

The 53-year-old Australian ran Padraig Harrington close in the The Open at Birkdale last week, leading going into the final round before finishing third.

But Norman, who finished with an eagle on the 16th and a birdie on the last for a one over par round of 72, remains five over par - eight shots off the lead held by American Bruce Vaughan.

The joint overnight leader is a shot clear of compatriot John Cook and two ahead of Bernhard Langer, Eduardo Romero and defending champion Tom Watson at Royal Troon Golf Club.

Vaughan admitted it was too early to think about the prospect of the biggest pay day of his career but insisted he was not surprised to find himself in contention.

"You look at my scores in the last half of the year and I have been playing pretty good. A lot of it has been the putting which has let me down," he said.

"I have had some good finishes but I have had some problems with my knee so I haven't really been playing that well until last year so it is just good to be out here and competing with guys who are in the field here."

Collated second round scores & totals in The Senior Open Championship by Master Card, Royal Troon GC, Ayrshire, Scotland

(USA unless stated, par 71):

139 Bruce Vaughan 68 71

140 John Cook 69 71

141 Bernhard Langer (Ger) 70 71, Tom Watson 70 71, Eduardo Romero (Arg) 68 73

142 Kirk Hanefeld 69 73, Mark McNulty (Irl) 70 72

144 Andy Bean 69 75

145 Gary Hallberg 76 69, Luis Carbonetti (Arg) 72 73, Tony Johnstone (Zim) 71 74, Mike Reid 73 72

146 Philip Blackmar 74 72, Ken Green 75 71, Costantino Rocca (Ita) 73 73, Gene Jones 70 76, Jeff Hall (Eng) 73 73, Wayne Grady (Aus) 74 72, Ronnie Black 74 72

147 Joey Sindelar 70 77, Tim Conley 73 74, Eamonn Darcy (Irl) 71 76, Greg Norman (Aus) 75 72, Kiyoshi Murota (Jpn) 75 72, Adam Adams 76 71, John Bland (Rsa) 71 76, David Merriman (Aus) 74 73

148 Craig Stadler 74 74, Tom Kite 76 72, Mark James (Eng) 75 73, Seiji Ebihara (Jpn) 75 73, Andrew Murray (Eng) 72 76, John Morse 70 78, Ian Woosnam (Wal) 75 73, Ross Drummond (Sco) 72 76, Jon Chaffee 73 75, Isao Aoki (Jpn) 75 73

149 Nick Job (Eng) 69 80, Jim Lapsley (Nzl) 76 73, Mike Goodes 75 74, Peter Mitchell (Eng) 74 75, Mark O'Meara 74 75, Denis O'Sullivan (Irl) 75 74, Jim Rhodes (Eng) 74 75, Clarence Rose 76 73

150 Bertus Smit (Rsa) 76 74, Bob Boyd 78 72, James Chancey 77 73, Mark Wiebe 74 76, Martin Poxon (Eng) 75 75, Jerry Bruner 78 72, Manuel Pinero (Spa) 78 72, Tim Simpson 75 75

151 Mike Williams (Zim) 72 79, Katsuyoshi Tomori (Jpn) 78 73, Pete Oakley 74 77, Mike Hulbert 75 76, Angel Franco (Par) 76 75, Noel Ratcliffe (Aus) 76 75, Yutaka null Hagawa (Eng) 75 76

152 Phil Hinton (Eng) 77 75, Tommy Horton (Eng) 80 72, Juan Quiros (Spa) 74 78, Terry Gale (Aus) 78 74, Scott Hoch 79 73, Jeff Sluman 78 74, John Hoskison (Eng) 75 77, Tom McKnight 76 76, Bill null Mccoll (Sco) 76 76, Scott Simpson 75 77, Gary Koch 76 76

-------------------The following players failed to make the cut--------------------

153 David Ogrin 73 80, Carl Mason (Eng) 77 76, John Ross 72 81, Bob Gilder 77 76, Vicente Fernandez (Arg) 74 79, Bob Charles (Nzl) 81 72, Bill Longmuir (Sco) 76 77, John Mctear (Sco) 75 78, Maurice Bembridge (Eng) 80 73, Motomasa Aoki (Jpn) 79 74, David Good 78 75

154 John Chillas 79 75, Jimmy Blair 79 75, Martin Gray (Eng) 77 77, Andrew Reynolds (Eng) 75 79, Sam Torrance (Sco) 73 81, Ron Streck 80 74, Gordon J Brand (Eng) 75 79, Denis Durnian 74 80, Arthur Pierse (Irl) 80 74, Sandy Lyle (Sco) 75 79, Tomohiro Maruyama (Jpn) 74 80

155 Guillermo Encina (Chi) 79 76, Des Smyth (Irl) 78 77, Bobby Lincoln (Rsa) 80 75, Jose Rivero (Spa) 77 78

156 Giuseppe Cali (Ita) 80 76, Gordon Townhill (Eng) 80 76, Gary Player (Rsa) 81 75, Ian Brotherston (Sco) 76 80, Bruce Heuchan 81 75, Simon Owen (Aus) 78 78, Nobumitsu Yuhara (Jpn) 74 82

157 T.c. Chen (Tpe) 80 77, Horacio Carbonetti (Arg) 80 77, Ray Carrasco 78 79, David

j Russell (Eng) 78 79, Domingo Hospital (Spa) 82 75, J A Fraser (Sco) 72 85, Donnie Hammond 78 79, Bob Cameron (Eng) 80 77

158 Tony Allen (Eng) 78 80, Tony Price (Wal) 81 77, Steve Martin (Sco) 80 78, Brady Exber 78 80, Harumitsu Hamano (Jpn) 81 77, Andrew Hall (Eng) 79 79

159 Buddy Harston 79 80, Tim Giles (Eng) 79 80, Steve Stull 83 76, Adrian Morrow (Irl) 73 86, John Harris 79 80, Peter Dahlberg (Swe) 80 79

161 Torsten Giedeon (Ger) 79 82

162 Antonio Garrido (Spa) 78 84

163 Ossie Moore (Aus) 83 80

164 Joel Hirsch 82 82, Paul j Mckellar (Sco) 87 77, Jimmy Heggarty (NIrl) 82 82, Steve Prendergast (Irl) 84 80

165 David Downie (Sco) 83 82, Robin Clark (Eng) 83 82, Mike Gallagher (Eng) 84 81, Peter Teravainen 80 85, Bill Lockie (Sco) 79 86

166 Garry Harvey (Sco) 83 83, John Mcdonald (Sco) 78 88

167 Shigenori Mori (Jpn) 81 86

172 J.p. Morgan (Eng) 84 88

173 Niall Lavin (Irl) 85 88

174 Robert Fox (Eng) 85 89

175 Stewart Graham (Eng) 87 88


NORMAN CALLS FOR OLYMPIC RECOGNITION
WOODS STILL ON TOP
Labbadia takes over from Skibbe

MICKELSON SET FOR BERMUDA TRIP

Phil Mickelson is in position to replace Tiger Woods at the 36-hole PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda in October.

When one of the season's major winners cannot compete his spot goes to the player who has performed best in the majors - providing, that is, he is a past major winner himself.

Mickelson leads Retief Goosen in the points race in the battle to join Masters winner Trevor Immelman, Open champion Padraig Harrington and whoever captures the US PGA title.


“A fantastic trip so far”
MICKELSON PONDERS EUROPE EXCURSION
MICKELSON SAYS OPEN WILL BE STRUGGLE

MURPHY PLAYING IT COOL

Ireland's Gary Murphy believes a laid-back approach will pay dividends in the Inteco Russian Open at the Le Meridien Moscow Country Club.

Murphy is still seeking his first European Tour title after more than 200 starts but has a superb record in the Russian capital.

The 35-year-old from Kilkenny was fifth last year behind runaway winner Per-Ulrik Johansson, and third in 2006 behind Spain's Alejandro Canizares.

Murphy was also ninth in 1999 and third again as far back as 1997 - only the second time the event was held - and feels the special atmosphere in Moscow is to thank for his performances.

"I really enjoy this golf course and the place. It's a fun week, a relaxed atmosphere, everybody is staying on site and it's all very laid back, which kind of suits me really," said Murphy, currently 78th on the Order of Merit thanks largely to finishing third in the Irish Open in May.

"I have had some good success here. I just enjoy the course."

Although Murphy feels at home, he is braced for anything the notoriously fickle Russian weather can throw at him as he looks to build on making the cut in four of his last five events.

"I have had success here and you feel that there are a lot of birdies out there and chances to be had," he added on www.europeantour.com.

"Obviously the weather can throw anything at you here - I have played here in frosty conditions some mornings - but just because I have done well here in the past doesn't mean that I am going to do it again. I have to focus the mind and be patient."

Murphy was among the early starters today, playing in the group in front of star attraction John Daly, the former Open champion looking to bounce back from missing the cut at Birkdale last week after rounds of 80 and 89.


Judge denies suspect’s bail request in Taylor case
FINCH MAKES A SPLASH
CLARKE SPURRED ON BY BAD PRESS
Pack to retire Favre’s No. 4 during season opener

OCHOA THE ONE TO BEAT

England's Laura Davies and Swede Annika Sorenstam both begin the chase for a third Evian Masters tomorrow, but it is world number one Lorena Ochoa who starts favourite in a Ј1.7million tournament that matches the US Women's Open as the richest in the women's game.

Davies won in 1995 and 1996 - before the tournament came under the umbrella of the LPGA Tour - and a third win would take her to within one victory of a place in the LPGA Hall of Fame.

"I love this course and have done well many times here," said Davies, who was tied second two years ago.

"It's always lovely to be back. My form has been quite good this year - I just need some more putts to fall."

Sorenstam, the 2000 and 2002 champion, has already announced that she is to retire at the end of the year. And the 37-year-old admitted: "I will miss this tournament for sure.

"I've seen the tournament grow from just being just a regular stop on the European Tour into becoming one of the best tournaments on the LPGA.

"But I haven't retired yet and I want another good week," added the season's three-time winner.

"I have another five months to play, and about 10 tournaments or so. My goal is to end the year as the number one player on the LPGA Tour. I've got a chance."

The player most likely to stop her is Ochoa, who took over from Sorenstam as world number one 15 months ago and has already won six times this season. But she has not played since she failed to mount a challenge at last month's US Women's Open.

"I've been working now a lot on my game, recharging the batteries," explained the Mexican, who defends the Ricoh Women's British Open at Sunningdale next week.

"I always intended to take a break and be ready for the second part of the year."

American Natalie Gulbis - who beat Jeong Jang in a play-off last year - defends the title but has not had a particularly impressive start to the year.


MORGAN SEEKING FIRST TOUR WIN
HAPPY RETURN FOR PETTERSEN
Spain B beat Greece
Bielefeld beat Bayer

FALDO WILL CONSULT RYDER CUP STARS

Nick Faldo has pledged to listen to members of his Ryder Cup team when it comes to deciding his pairings.

Faldo will captain a European side looking to win a record fourth straight contest at Valhalla in Kentucky from September 19-21.

And the 51-year-old, who holds the records for most appearances and points in the Ryder Cup, insists he will be happy to listen to suggestions from players on who they would like play with.

"Of course you should," said Faldo. "You have to understand what they want. It's no good putting out pairings that I want. They are the ones that have to do it.

"Some pairings come off the wall, like Seve Ballesteros and Paul Way (they won two and a half points out of four in 1983) and some are more obvious, putting players together because they are of the same nationality."

The qualifying period ends on August 31 after the Johnnie Walker Championship in Gleneagles, but if the team were selected today, Faldo would have at least five rookies in his side with two wild card picks at his disposal.

"We have a lot of players some people don't know a lot about, which is good in match play," Faldo added on the BBC. "I would like to keep it that way."

As for his captaincy style, Faldo seems likely to take a more low-key approach than the likes of Seve Ballesteros, who famously spent much of the Ryder Cup at Valderrama racing around the course in a buggy advising players how to hit their shots.

"I am there to understand the players' needs," Faldo insisted. "That's the fun bit for me, I'm in a different role. Some guys are very quiet, some will need geeing up and some will just get on with it.

"It's about learning how to get two guys to perform the best together."


The Bundesliga at the EURO 2008
FALDO: IT WON’T BE A ROUGH RYDER
FALDO AND AZINGER MEET

HARRINGTON SOARS TO THIRD

Padraig Harrington has climbed 11 places to his highest ranking of third in the world after his Open Championship triumph.

But even victories in the next two majors may not be enough for him to catch number one Tiger Woods.

Woods, out of action for the rest of the year following knee surgery, still has more than double the points average of second-placed Phil Mickelson and over three times that of Harrington.

It has already been calculated that if Open champion Harrington won next month's US PGA and next April's Masters - providing Woods does not play until Augusta - he would still need some high finishes in other events to overtake the American.

Open runner-up Ian Poulter improves from 42nd to 23rd, while Greg Norman, who finished joint third, makes the biggest leap in rankings history - from 646th to 166th.

Latest leading positions:

1 Tiger Woods 19.50, 2 Phil Mickelson 9.68, 3 Padraig Harrington 6.37, 4 Adam Scott 5.54, 5 Ernie Els 5.53, 6 Geoff Ogilvy 5.40, 7 Sergio Garcia 5.36, 8 Stewart Cink 5.33, 9 Steve Stricker 5.22, 10 Jim Furyk 5.04

11 Henrik Stenson 4.94, 12 Justin Rose 4.87, 13 KJ Choi 4.85, 14 Anthony Kim 4.84, 15 Vijay Singh 4.76, 16 Kenny Perry 4.41, 17 Trevor Immelman 4.40, 18 Lee Westwood 4.28, 19 Rory Sabbatini 4.26, 20 Miguel Angel Jimenez 3.97

Other leading Europeans:

21 Luke Donald, 22 Robert Karlsson, 23 Ian Poulter, 30 Graeme McDowell, 33 Martin Kaymer, 41 Paul Casey, 43 Soren Hansen, 47 Fredrik Jacobson, 48 Oliver Wilson, 50 Niclas Fasth, 53 Anders Hansen, 55 Ross Fisher, 65 Nick Dougherty, 71 Carl Pettersson, 82 Colin Montgomerie, 83 Soren Kjeldsen, 86 Peter Hanson, 87 Daniel Chopra, 91 Steve Webster, 97 Alastair Forsyth, 99 Peter Hedblom


Yasinskas: No need to rush Ryan
HARRINGTON BACKS POULTER
SERGIO BACK AMONG ELITE
Falcons GM says he’s had offers for No. 3 pick

HARRINGTON BACKS POULTER

Padraig Harrington expects Ian Poulter to be with him at the Ryder Cup in September.

And he also expects to be more of a force himself at the coming US PGA Championship than he was after last year's Open breakthrough.

Harrington was back facing the media again this morning after a night of celebrating his successful defence of the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale.

The Dubliner beat Poulter by four strokes, a result that keeps the Englishman out of an automatic place in Europe's cup team as things stand.

But Harrington said: "I think it's inevitable he will play his way in from here. He's shown he is a big-time player and that's the type you want in the Ryder Cup."

Should Poulter remain in need of a wild card after the qualifying race ends in six weeks Harrington also believes that a runner-up finish in a major has to count heavily in the thinking of captain Nick Faldo.

Not in the top 10 himself until his superb performance - now he tops the table - Harrington can now relax in the knowledge that his spot for Valhalla is secure.

"The Ryder Cup is very entertaining once you're in the team!" he added.

Last season Harrington followed up his Carnoustie triumph with only a 42nd place finish in the US PGA, 16 strokes behind winner Tiger Woods.

The world number one will, of course, not be defending at Oakland Hills in a mere two weeks' time following his knee surgery.

"Last year it was far too much far too quickly - I don't think it's going to be like that this year," said the new world number three.

"It was a blur. This is more satisfying, but I don't believe I'm going to be as mentally hit.

"It's a more solid win and the high isn't the same. I'm looking forward to the PGA - I'll have to be disciplined in some area, but I should be ready."


Ranieri backs Stankovic case
Ranieri backs Lamps for success
WORK STILL TO DO FOR HARRINGTON

WOOD NOT CONSIDERING PRO ROUTE

There were echoes of 1998 as Bristol amateur Chris Wood shot to fame by finishing fifth in The Open to win the silver medal - but he is not yet ready to follow in the footsteps of Justin Rose.

A decade ago Rose, then 17, pitched in for a three at the last to earn a share of fourth place and then immediately turned professional.

Wood, who chipped in for birdie at the 17th on Sunday, carded a final-round 72 to close 10 over par and alongside 2003 US Open winner and Ryder Cup star Jim Furyk.

His score was four strokes better than Kent's Tom Sherreard, the only other amateur to make the cut, and secured the silver medal.

But Wood is still considering his options and is intent on playing the English Amateur at Woodhall Spa later this month.

"I haven't had any time to think about anything so far," said 2007 Russian Amateur champion, who when he birdied the ninth was in third place.

Wood's round fell apart with successive bogeys from 11 to 13 which dropped him out of contention for what could have been an amazing victory and he dropped another shot at the last.

"I was unfortunate I had three bogeys on the back nine and that is not what I needed in a tournament like this.

"But it's been the best week of my life. I didn't feel any pressure at all really, apart from the first tee.

"I tried to play one shot at a time, which is obviously a lot harder to do.

"I was just looking at leaderboards because I was just enjoying it."


CIGANDA IN LEAD AT HALFWAY
Gunners losing Flamini battle

WIE SET TO RETURN TO PGA TOUR

In the wake of her scorecard blunder at the State Farm Classic, Michelle Wie has decided to once again square off with the men.

Wie will play in the Reno-Tahoe Open next week, tournament organisers announced Monday.

This will be the eighth time Wie will have played on the PGA Tour, and the first this season. She has never made the cut.

Wie has struggled mightily in her last four appearances against the men, but considered this latest opportunity to good to pass up.

"It's not every day that a woman is given the opportunity to play on the greatest tour in the world," she said.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for me to learn from these great players and take those lessons to the LPGA. This is another step in the process of making me a better player."

Held the same week as the World Golf Championship, the Reno-Tahoe Open will have a relatively weak field when it begins July 31 at Montreux Golf & Country Club. Attendance should be boosted by the presence of Wie.

"This will be a great experience for the community to see a player like Michelle in this setting," tournament director Michael Stearns said.

"Michelle is getting her game together, she's getting back in the swing of things and we have no problem extending her this opportunity."

Wie, 18, has never won on the LPGA Tour.

She spoiled a great chance over the weekend, as she was disqualified from the State Farm Classic in Illinois because she left the scoring area without signing her scorecard following Friday's second round.

LPGA officials could not act on the rules violation until after the third round, when Wie closed within a shot of the lead.

It was a costly mistake for Wie, as a high finish would have given her enough money to finish within the top 80 players in the LPGA, making her an automatic member of next year's tour.

Wie has one sponsor's exemption left on the LPGA Tour, which she is expected to use at the Canadian Women's Open in August.

She will need to finish within the top three in order to gain her tour card or be relegated to qualifying.


Ronaldo To Miss United’s Nigeria Trip
HAPPY RETURN FOR PETTERSEN
MORGAN SEEKING FIRST TOUR WIN

MORGAN 25th AS OH CLAIMS PLAY-OFF WIN

Becky Morgan finished joint 25th at the State Farm Classic as South Korea's Ji Young Oh claimed her first LPGA title following a sudden death play-off with Yani Tseng at Panther Creek Country Club in Illinois.

Morgan, the only British player to make the cut, closed with a 71 and finished in a tie for 25th on 10 under par.

Oh beat Tseng with a birdie at the first hole of their play-off but the Taiwanese woman, who won her first title at the McDonald's LPGA Championship, led by two shots going into the final round and was one ahead with one to play.

But she bogeyed the 18th for a disappointing 72 and finished tied on 18-under par 270 with Oh, who made her move with a three-under 69.

In the play-off, Ji clinched the Ј125,000 prize when she hit from the rough to tap-in range for a birdie three at the par four 18th.

South Korea's Na Yeon Choi finished in third place on 17 under after a 68, and China's rookie, Shanshan Feng, had a best of day 63 to record her second successive tie for fourth place on 16 under alongside American Stacy Prammanasudh (69) and South Korea's Hee Won Han (71).

The tournament was rather overshadowed by Michelle Wie's disqualification yesterday - the 18-year-old thought she was in second place after a third-round 66, but was then disqualified for failing to sign her scorecard when she was in the recorder's tent on Friday.

She did eventually sign it after a volunteer ran after her - but that was too late, and the infringement only came to light after she had teed off on in the third round.

But Ji was a worthy winner, with a six birdie final round and she will now head to Europe for this week's Evian Masters in France and next week's Ricoh Women's British Open at Sunningdale.

Wie, for the first time since 2005, will be missing from both European tournaments.

Canada number one Alena Sharp had gone into the final day tied for 15th, but she could only manage a one-over-par 73 and dropped to joint 34th on nine under par.

The 27-year-old bogeyed the first and 14th before finally making a solitary birdie at the 18th.

Lorie Kane, the second Canadian to make the cut, closed with a 70, but it still left her outside the top 50 on five under par.

Collated final round scores & totals in the LPGA Tour State Farm Classic, LPGA Panther Creek CC, Springfield, Illinois, United States of America

(USA unless stated, par 71):

270 Ji-Young Oh (Kor) 66 66 69 69 (Ji Young Oh shot par Won the 1st playoff hole), Ya-Ni Tseng (Kor) 66 66 66 72

271 Na Yeon Choi (Kor) 67 67 69 68

272 Stacy Prammanasudh 69 66 68 69, Hee-Won Han (Kor) 69 71 61 71, Shanshan Feng (Chn) 70 70 69 63

273 Kyeong Eun Bae (Kor) 68 67 69 69, Kristy McPherson 65 71 70 67

274 Wendy Ward 73 66 69 66, Katie Futcher 70 64 66 74, Christina Kim 63 68 73 70

275 Wendy Doolan (Aus) 67 68 69 71, Sun Young Yoo (Kor) 64 69 72 70, Jimin Kang (Kor) 67 70 69 69, Erica Blasberg 70 66 70 69

276 Jane Park 70 66 70 70, Carri Wood 70 66 70 70, Anna Grzebien 69 70 67 70

277 Michelle Ellis 73 66 73 65, Marisa Baena 67 69 73 68, Jee Young Lee (Kor) 65 70 70 72, Ai Miyazato (Jpn) 67 72 68 70, Jill McGill 68 70 71 68, Mikaela Parmlid (Swe) 73 66 68 70

278 Hannah Jun 71 70 71 66, Young-A Yang (Kor) 68 69 73 68, Beth Bader 70 66 69 73, Diana D'Alessio 69 70 70 69, Kris Tamulis 67 69 70 72, Sherri Turner 66 66 73 73, Becky Morgan (Wal) 70 69 68 71, Hee Young Park (Kor) 72 66 68 72, Katherine Hull (Aus) 68 70 73 67

279 Jin Joo Hong (Kor) 69 68 69 73, Angela Park 72 68 69 70, Kim Hall 69 69 71 70, Seo-Jae Lee 70 68 71 70, Meredith Duncan 69 72 66 72, Gloria Park (Kor) 69 68 74 68, Eva Dahllof (Swe) 68 67 72 72, Alena Sharp (Can) 68 70 68 73, Angela Stanford 70 68 74 67

280 Heather Young 70 69 68 73, Paige Mackenzie 74 67 69 70, Michele Redman 71 69 71 69, Lisa Strom 68 71 69 72, Charlotte Mayorkas 70 67 69 74, Anna Rawson (Aus) 70 71 73 66

281 Brittany Lang 71 70 72 68, Sandra Gal (Ger) 69 68 71 73, Sarah Kemp (Aus) 70 71 68 72, Hye Jung Choi (Kor) 70 68 73 70, Marcy Hart 68 71 71 71

282 Leta Lindley 72 69 75 66, Dina Ammaccapane 72 68 71 71

283 Il Mi Chung (Kor) 73 68 69 73, Audra Burks 66 73 74 70, Tracy Hanson 70 68 74 71, Ashli Bunch 68 72 73 70, Lorie Kane (Kor) 72 68 73 70, Karine Icher (Fra) 69 71 70 73

284 Anja Monke (Ger) 66 71 76 71, Soo-Yun Kang (Kor) 72 69 71 72, Moira Dunn 71 68 71 74

285 Sarah Lynn Sargent 69 72 71 73, Jennifer Rosales (Phi) 68 73 73 71, Candy Hannemann 71 70 72 72, Na Ri Kim (Kor) 74 66 75 70, Russamee Gulyanamitta (Tha) 69 69 74 73

286 Virada Nirapathpongporn (Tha) 74 66 73 73

288 Na On Min (Jpn) 74 67 74 73, Chris Brady 70 71 73 74

290 Birdie Kim (Kor) 70 69 76 75


Luccin claims English offers
Agent claims Gunners talks
HUDSON CLAIMS PLAY-OFF VICTORY
IMADA CLAIMS CLASSIC GLORY

McDOWELL EXCITED BY "MASSIVE STEP"

Graeme McDowell will finally consent to being measured for his Ryder Cup uniform after the biggest win of his career at the Barclays Scottish Open.

McDowell carded a final round 68 at Loch Lomond to finish 13 under par, two shots ahead of South African James Kingston, with Australia's Richard Green and Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez a shot further back in third.

As a result the Northern Irishman climbs to second in the Order of Merit, behind Jimenez, and inside the top 30 in the world rankings.

But most importantly, the Ј500,000 first prize lifted the 28-year-old from Portrush from 10th to sixth in the Ryder Cup standings and only an extraordinary series of results can now deny him a place in Nick Faldo's side to defend the trophy at Valhalla in September.

"I put the Ryder Cup up there with winning majors," said McDowell, winner of the Ballantine's Championship in Korea earlier in the season. "It's something I have really, really desperately wanted.

"I refused to be measured for my Ryder Cup clothes last week but maybe I will accept next time. It's never over until it's over of course but this is a massive step in the right direction. It will be a dream come true."

McDowell and England's Simon Khan began the day tied for the lead and were still locked together at the turn on 12 under par.

Khan then moved two shots clear after a birdie on the 11th followed McDowell's bogey on the 10th, but that lasted just one hole when the 36-year-old from Essex ran up a double bogey six on the 12th, needing two attempts to chip up a steep slope onto the putting surface after his approach came up short of the green.

McDowell then took command with a hat-trick of birdies from the 13th and when Khan bogeyed the 15th, he had a three-shot cushion.

"This is just unbelievable," McDowell added. "It really was a tough weekend's golf with such a stacked field. It's a massive relief. It's one of the toughest finishes in European golf and I don't think I've ever shaken as much as I was coming down the stretch.

"I've never had a two-shot lead coming down the last hole and I much prefer it to the the stress and drama I normally put my mum (Marian) and dad (Kenny) through and it's great to have them here.

"My dad first put a club in my hand aged seven and he's been with me for 20 years, through thick and thin. He just retired last Friday. This is my retirement present to him. He's an emotional man and I'm sure there'll be a few tears tonight."

World number two Phil Mickelson could only manage a closing round of 73 to finish well off the pace on two under par while Ernie Els, twice a winner here, was joint ninth after a 69.


RYDER BOOST FOR McDOWELL
Juve step up Amauri interest
Hargreaves: Destiny In Our Hands
HANSEN OUSTS McDOWELL

KAYMER EYES HELP FROM ABOVE

Martin Kaymer believes "someone special" will be looking down on him during this week's Open Championship.

The German withdrew from last week's Barclays Scottish Open following the death of his mother from cancer the previous weekend, just a fortnight after his emotional victory in the BMW International Open in Munich.

The 23-year-old dedicated his win to his then seriously ill mother, saying: "This was for you," upon beating Anders Hansen in a play-off after letting slip a six-shot lead.

And speaking at Royal Birkdale on Monday, the 2007 European Tour Rookie of the Year added: "It's been a sad time for our family but everyone has been wonderful. I definitely know there will be someone special looking down on me this week.

"This is such a great tournament and I didn't want to miss it and I know my mother would not want me to miss it either.

"This is my first Open and I am really looking forward to it. I was here in 2005 for the British Amateur championship but it's going to be a whole lot different this week."

Kaymer has been paired with former champion Ernie Els and American Scott Verplank in the opening two rounds, teeing off on Thursday at 8:31am.


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GUTSY KAYMER IN CUP CONTENTION
DOUGHERTY MOURNING MOTHER

CAMPBELL FOLLOWS TIGER TIP

Michael Campbell filled the Tiger Woods role at The Open on Monday morning, teeing off at 6.45am and finishing his practice round before most spectators were even at Royal Birkdale.

"I can see why he does it," said Campbell, who came off the final green just before 11 o'clock.

"There was nobody around the first tee at all and even now it's quiet and peaceful."

The only obstacle to his progress, in fact, was an articulated lorry reversing across the 18th hole in front of him as he went to hit his tee shot there.

Rather than waiting for it to get out of the way, though, the New Zealander blasted a drive over the top and into the perfect position on the fairway.

Winner of the US Open three years ago - he pushed Woods into second place at Pinehurst - Campbell would appear to be at another crisis point in his fluctuating career after missing his last six cuts and nine of the last 10.

But the 39-year-old commented: "It's like water off a duck's back to me. Ever since I was a schoolboy I've gone through big ups and downs.

"I know other players in my position would be panicking and might even give up, but with me it can turn right round in one week. That's how it's always been."

Campbell finished fifth at St Andrews only a month after his US Open victory, but his best Open remains 1995, also at the Home of Golf, when he led by two with a round to go and missed out on the play-off between John Daly and Costantino Rocca by just a single stroke.


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WIE DISQUALIFIED

Michelle Wie raised hopes of clinching a long-awaited first victory on the LPGA Tour with another stellar round on Saturday but cancelled out all her good work after being disqualified for a scorecard violation.

Wie finished the third round of the State Farm Classic alone in second place but saw all her hard work undone when an elementary error came back to haunt her.

Wie failed to sign her scorecard after Friday's second round but the LPGA did not hear of the violation until she had already started her third round. Wie fired a five-under-par 67 and was one stroke behind Yani Tseng before the LPGA made the ruling to disqualify her.

Wie was having by far her best tournament of the year. She opened with a five-under 67 and followed with rounds of 65 and 67, but will not have a chance to track down Tseng on Sunday.

The 18-year-old who has endured a major slump since breaking her wrist last year, carded seven birdies to move to 17-under 199 through 54 holes. The Hawaiian was one shot behind Taiwan's Yani Tseng, who won last month's major at the McDonald's LPGA Championship.

Tseng signed for a 66, while American Katie Futcher also had a 66 to get to 16-under. Hee Won Han, with a tournament-best 61, and fellow-South Korean Ji Young Oh, who shot 69, are three strokes back at 15-under.

Tseng had four birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free round.

"Winning the LPGA Championships has given me a lot of confidence," she said. "Now I go out knowing I can win."

Starting the day one shot out of the lead, Wie moved ahead when she birdied the first two holes and she made another at the sixth before dropping only her second shot of the tournament at the seventh.

Wie then made a real move with four birdies in a row from the turn in a back nine of 32.

"It was another solid round and I'm just going to go out and try and shoot even lower tomorrow," Wie said before learning of her disqualification.

"It was a bit disappointing not to birdie the long 16th and then to drop one at the last. But I'm really excited about tomorrow."

Wie had seven top-10 finishes in majors between 2003 and 2006, but her highest finish in the last two seasons on the LPGA Tour was a tie for 24th in last month's Wegmans tournament in Rochester, New York. She finished sixth in last month's German Open on the Ladies' European Tour.


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ROSE GROWS OUT OF TEEN DREAM

Ten years on from his amazing fourth-place finish in the Open Championship as a teenager, Justin Rose feels it is time to forget the good old days and get his "game face" on.

Rose was just 17 years old when he holed out from around 50 yards on the final hole at Royal Birkdale to finish a shot behind Tiger Woods and just two off the play-off eventually won by Mark O'Meara.

With the Open returning to Birkdale a decade later, Rose has been inundated with media requests and asked to recall his memories of that amazing week, even going so far as to recreate that famous shot - hitting the pin with his fifth attempt back in May.

The 27-year-old has obliged willingly and believes he should now concentrate on the serious business of attempting to win a first major after finishing in the top 12 in all four in 2007 and leading the Masters after the first round for the third time in his career this April.

"To be honest, I think I'm past it," Rose said when asked if he was still re-living the experience of 1998.

"I feel the goodwill from everyone who knows the situation from 10 years ago but, at the same time, a lot has changed since then and I feel today was pretty much a normal practice round.

"This 18th hole is special, it's a great setting with the clubhouse in the background and any Open Championship, the way it's framed with the grandstands, is great.

"But, in a sense, it's time to get the game face on and do what I need to do this week. I always feel like I've played well when it really matters, although it's going to be a different kind of week for me.

"I'm going into it feeling like the game is there or thereabouts and just hopefully a little bit of spark or something and we'll be off and running."

Rose missed the cut in the US Open and was only 38th in the European Open a fortnight ago, and admits he would love to recapture the carefree attitude he had as an amateur 10 years ago.

"Pressure is very much self-inflicted," added Rose, who topped the Order of Merit last year after victory in the season-ending Volvo Masters.

"There is more of course because you feel like you actually have a genuine chance, whereas as an amateur you have nothing to lose. That's where the pressure comes from.

"If I could create a little bit of the approach I had back then, that sort of attitude, that's probably the right sort of combination.

"I'm happy with where I am in the game right now: top 10 in the world, European number one. I would have dreamed of winning a major but I don't think I ever timelined it.

"I feel like I'm coming into my prime the next 10 years. The first 10 years has given me a great opportunity to achieve what I want out of the game."

A Ryder Cup debut is one thing on the agenda and Rose looked a certainty after his victory at Valderrama, but he now finds himself in danger of being overtaken by Scottish Open winner Graeme McDowell in the world points list.

"It's a tough battle this year, the guys are all playing well so you can't be complacent," Rose added.

"My goal is to get into the Ryder Cup playing well, not just squeak into the team. I want to be a valuable team member and win some points.

"My schedule has been set all year. I always thought my best way was getting in through the world points list so I'll continue to focus on that, but my next three events are all European events as well, two majors and the WGC Bridgestone Invitational.

"A big week there puts me right up on the money side too."


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CASEY TAKES THE MICKELSON AGAIN

Paul Casey will be able to feed off the memory of one of the best days of his golfing life after being paired again with Phil Mickelson in the opening two rounds of the Open Championship.

Four years ago at Royal Troon the pair were also drawn together and Casey shot a five under par 66 to be the joint first round leader.

The Englishman could not keep it going then, however. He managed only a 77 the following day and finished joint 20th while Mickelson came back from his opening 73 to miss the play-off between Todd Hamilton and Ernie Els by one shot - easily his best Open performance.

They will tee off at Royal Birkdale at 9.20am on Thursday, with Japan's Hideto Tanihara as the third member of the group.

Padraig Harrington will already be on the Southport links by then for the start of his title defence.

The Dubliner, conqueror of Sergio Garcia in a play-off at Carnoustie last July, starts at 7.58am alongside 1997 winner Justin Leonard and twice US Open champion Retief Goosen.

Justin Rose is off even earlier than that on his return to the course where, as a 17-year-old amateur, he finished a spectacular fourth 10 years ago.

Rose's tee-off time is 7.36am and he plays with five-time champion Tom Watson, winner at Birkdale in 1983, and Australian Aaron Baddeley.

Garcia and Ernie Els are the two favourites in the absence through injury of Tiger Woods and they are at opposite ends of the draw.

Els is another early starter, going out at 8.31am with American Scott Verplank and rising German star Martin Kaymer, but Garcia has to wait until 2.31pm to begin his bid.

The Spaniard, runner-up in the European Open two weeks ago, has Japan's Ryuji Imada and American Sean O'Hair for company.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, winner of the Scottish Open this weekend, partners 2004 winner Hamilton and South African Rory Sabbatini at 12.36pm, while Colin Montgomerie plays with Canadian left-hander Mike Weir and American Boo Weekley at 9.31am and Lee Westwood is just over half an hour earlier than that 2003 champion Ben Curtis and Korean KJ Choi.

The distinction of hitting the first shot - at 6.30am - falls to Australian Craig Parry, while the last group of English qualifiers Jonathan Lomas and Peter Appleyard and Japan's Yoshinobu Tsukada are not teeing off until 4.21pm and might struggle to finish before darkness if play is slow.

Tee-off times in the first round of the 137th OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, Royal Birkdale GC, Southport, Merseyside, England

(Gbr & Irl unless stated, all times Local):

(x) denotes amateurs

Starting at hole 1

0630 Lucas Glover (USA), Craig Parry (Aus), Simon Dyson

0641 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra), Pat Perez (USA), Peter Fowler (Aus)

0652 Soren Kjeldsen (Den), Brendan Jones (Aus), Matt Kuchar (USA)

0703 Jerry Kelly (USA), Darren Fichardt (Rsa), Damien McGrane

0714 Graeme Storm, Scott Strange (Aus), Sandy Lyle

0725 Richard Green (Aus), Mark Calcavecchia (USA), Anders Hansen (Den)

0736 Tom Watson (USA), Justin Rose, Aaron Baddeley (Aus)

0747 Geoff Ogilvy (Aus), Oliver Wilson, Davis Love III (USA)

0758 Retief Goosen (Rsa), Padraig Harrington, Justin Leonard (USA)

0809 Richard Sterne (Rsa), Henrik Stenson (Swe), Jeff Quinney (USA)

0820 Hunter Mahan (USA), Vijay Singh (Fij), Reinier Saxton (Ned)

0831 Martin Kaymer (Ger), Scott Verplank (USA), Ernie Els (Rsa)

0842 David Howell, Andres Romero (Arg), J.B. Holmes (USA)

0858 Lee Westwood, KJ Choi (Kor), Ben Curtis (USA)

0909 Nick O'Hern (Aus), Ian Poulter, Paul Goydos (USA)

0920 Phil Mickelson (USA), Hideto Tanihara (Jpn), Paul Casey

0931 Boo Weekley (USA), Colin Montgomerie, Mike Weir (Can)

0942 Toru Taniguchi (Jpn), Richard Finch, John Daly (USA)

0953 David Duval (USA), Simon Khan, David Frost (Rsa)

1004 Rich Beem (USA), Pelle Edberg (Swe), Thomas Sherreard

1015 Michoi Matsumura (Jpn), Tom Gillis (USA), Barry Hume

1026 Shintaro Kai (Jpn), Tim Petrovic (USA), Dave Horsey

1037 Ariel Canete (Arg), Craig Barlow (USA), Phillip Archer

1048 Jamie Elson, Rohan Blizard (Aus), Jon Bevan

1059 Adam Blyth (Aus), Jamie Howarth, Josh Cunliffe (Rsa)

1110 Thomas Aiken (Rsa), Gary Boyd, Brad Lamb (Aus)

1141 Jean Van de velde (Fra), Steve Webster, Andrew Tampion (Aus)

1152 Philip Walton, David Smail (Nzl), Michael Letzig (USA)

1203 Paul Waring, Hennie Otto (Rsa), Kevin Stadler (USA)

1214 Paul Lawrie, Rocco Mediate (USA), Angel Cabrera (Arg)

1225 Niclas Fasth (Swe), Mark O'Meara (USA), Michael Campbell (Nzl)

1236 Graeme McDowell, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa), Todd Hamilton (USA)

1247 Jim Furyk (USA), Nick Dougherty, Camilo Villegas (Col)

1258 Robert Karlsson (Swe), Greg Norman (Aus), Woody Austin (USA)

1309 Robert Allenby (Aus), Steve Stricker (USA), Benjamin Hebert (Fra)

1320 Adam Scott (Aus), Zach Johnson (USA), Pablo Larrazabal (Spa)

1331 Gregory Havret (Fra), Tim Clark (Rsa), Stewart Cink (USA)

1342 Wen-chong Liang (Chn), Fredrik Jacobson (Swe), Jeff Overton (USA)

1353 Trevor Immelman (Rsa), Soren Hansen (Den), Anthony Kim (USA)

1409 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa), Stephen Ames (Can), Charles Howell III (USA)

1420 Peter Hanson (Swe), Bart Bryant (USA), Rodney Pampling (Aus)

1431 Ryuji Imada (Jpn), Sergio Garcia (Spa), Sean O'Hair (USA)

1442 Stuart Appleby (Aus), Brandt Snedeker (USA), Ross Fisher

1453 Azuma Yano (Jpn), Johan Edfors (Swe), Tom Lehman (USA)

1504 Simon Wakefield, Jay Williamson (USA), James Kingston (Rsa)

1515 Gregory Bourdy (Fra), Danny Chia (Mal), John Rollins (USA)

1526 Prayad Marksaeng (Tha), Chris Wood, Scott McCarron (USA)

1537 Anthony Wall, Alexander Noren (Swe), Ewan Porter (Aus)

1548 Peter Baker, Hiroshi Iwata (Jpn), Alex Cejka (Ger)

1559 Douglas Labelle (USA), Chih-bing Lam (Sin), Jose-Filipe Lima (Por)

1610 Martin Wiegele (Aut), Angelo Que (Phi), Doug McGuigan

1621 Jonathan Lomas, Yoshinobu Tsukada (Jpn), Peter Appleyard


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DONALD A DOUBT FOR RYDER CUP

Just a month after Tiger Woods ruled himself out of the Ryder Cup it is looking increasingly likely that Europe will also be without one of their leading players.

Luke Donald misses the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale this week and cup captain Nick Faldo is not sounding optimistic that all will be well by the time he has to make his selections for September's match.

Donald, unbeaten in four games with Sergio Garcia as his foursomes partner and with an overall record of five wins, one half and only one defeat, injured his wrist during the US Open five weeks ago and is now struggling to make it back for the US PGA Championship on August 7-10.

The Ryder Cup qualifying race ends just three weeks later and even if he does return before that the world number 21, already outside the top 10 on the points table, will need something special to avoid having to rely on a wild card.

"You can't come back from a wrist injury too early because it will flare up again," said Faldo last night.

"He won't be able to play for another month minimum if rehab goes well. If he's injured then I'll probably talk to him and get his honest opinion.

"I haven't set him any deadline and will leave the decision up to him."

In an interview with BBC Radio Five Live Faldo also stated: "He would need to be a pick and to pick a man who is injured would be a major story.

"I've been receiving emails from him to keep me up to speed - he is contemplating heavy therapy first and trying to put off surgery.

"He was talking about a couple of months, maybe therapy for a month and then make a decision.

"He would need a very quick recovery to get to the US PGA and to be able and play for a couple of weeks. He is a good balanced guy who would give me a honest opinion.

"He will be missed (if he loses his race against time), but we will make up a 12-man team and will be all right."

Donald was a wild card pick of Bernhard Langer for his debut in Detroit four years ago and lost only his singles.

Two years ago in Ireland he qualified automatically in second place and won all his three games in what was another record nine-point European victory.

He has been diagnosed with a subluxation of the extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendon in his left wrist, which is a partial dislocation.

If it becomes clear in the next month that Donald is out of the reckoning for a third cap then Faldo's task of selecting two wild cards could at least be made simpler.

Open champion Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey and Colin Montgomerie are among those also currently outside of an automatic top 10 spot.


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OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP INSIDE TRACK

The 137th Open Championship will be held at The Royal Birkdale Golf Club.

This will be the ninth occasion that Royal Birkdale has hosted the Open.

Royal Birkdale is a typical links golf course which runs along the sea on the self proclaimed 'Gold Coast' of English golf in Southport just outside Liverpool. It is a par 70 that plays 7,173 yards.

Birkdale has undergone a number of modifications since it last hosted the Open in 1998. There are six new championship tees on the third, sixth, eleventh, thirteenth, sixteenth and eighteenth and twenty new bunkers.

The most significant change has been to the seventeenth hole. In order to make the hole more challenging after advances in technology over recent years the green has been moved back twenty five yards.

The change has received mixed reviews as the severe mounding on the green is out of keeping with the other greens on the course.

The R&A aim to prepare Open golf courses that are 'brown' which translates as hard and fast.

The wet weather this summer has not been conducive to creating such conditions and Birkdale is green and therefore softer and slower than ideal.

The fairways will play wider as the ball will not go bounding into the rough. However they are not so soft that the ball stops instantly and downwind balls are still rolling up to fifty yards.

The verdant conditions mean the rough is thicker than normal so players will still need to drive the ball accurately.

Sergio Garcia pointed out; 'The greener it is, the better you're going to have to drive the ball because the thicker that high grass is going to get and then the more difficult it is to advance your ball from there.' He added; 'Driving the ball well is going to be important.'

There are three cuts of rough. The first two will not inconvenience the players but the third cut of rough is so thick that in most cases players will be forced to chip out sideways. In most extreme instances some balls will get lost despite the number of marshals.

The greens are typical links greens. They are open fronted, large and undulating defended by bunkers, little hollows and run offs.

The size of the greens means there will a strong emphasis on lag putting this week. As the greens are on the slow side short putting is not at premium which brings the field closer together.

This year the Open is 'more open' not just because of absence of Tiger Woods but the layout of the golf course.

The multiple doglegs and positioning of the fairway bunkers means most players will be forced to lay up to the same spots on many holes. Therefore length is not an issue which also brings the closer field together.

Ernie Els explained; 'The whole field in going to hit into those same areas. You've got to position your tee shots, but really your second shots are going to the scoring club this week.'

The key at any Open Championship is ball striking. Players are required to shape the ball both ways and control their flight trajectory and spin.

The par three twelfth is a classic example. It plays 184 yards to a raised green on the most exposed part of the course where the wind generally blows right to left. Ball trajectory will be all important as anything hit high will be taken on the breeze and to certain extent left in the lap of the gods.

A left pin requires a draw but any shot attempting to get close to pin on the right hand side will have to be a fade.

There are different ways to play the course and some players will be more aggressive and drive ball longer whilst others will lay up to avoid any danger. The first hole is a good example.

A bunker at 232 yards means a safe tee shot requires a semi blind second, where as a driver should carry the trouble and reward risk by presenting an easier approach.

Whichever strategy players adopt they will have to strike the ball brilliantly.

The Open Championship is often defined by the wind conditions. In practice there has been a strong westerly wind, which is the prevailing wind.

The 451 yard par four fourth plays driver three iron into the wind whereas the 572 yard par five seventeenth plays driver five iron.

Scoring depends on strength of the wind. If it blows up to 20mph the winning score will be close to par but with no wind the winning score should be around double digits.

On the windy Saturday in 1998 there was only one score of 70 but on the calm opening day two players shot 65.

The forecast is for 10-15mph winds on Thursday with gusts up to 25mph on Friday.

As Ernie explained; 'one of the big things at the Open, is the luck of the draw sometimes, especially the first couple of rounds.'

With the forecast wind expect the winning score to be around four under and those going out early on Friday maybe at distant advantage.

Card of course with the hole rankings from 1998.

The key scoring holes are the fifth, fifteenth and seventeenth.

The 345 yard par four fifth plays into wind but a three wood or long iron into the neck of the dogleg with leave only a short iron which must be hit with precision into the heavily undulating green.

The 544 yard par fifteenth requires a long straight drive and then only the longest hitters will get home with a three wood. For most this will be a three shot par five.

The 572 yard par five is a driver and five iron for the longer hitters but the extreme nature of the undulations on the green means that there maybe less eagles than in the past (27 in 1998).

The first and eighteenth holes of any championship are difficult and Birkdale will prove no exception but the most difficult hole on the course is the sixth.

Into the wind it is impossible to carry the bunker at 280 yards so players are left with a 220 yards shot into wind to a raised green. Mark O'Meara made two bogeys and two pars on his way to victory in 1998.


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