GARCIA EXPLAINS RECRUITMENT DRIVE

Sergio Garcia on Wednesday revealed how he persuaded rising stars Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas to join the European Tour.

Several of the world's top players, including Phil Mickelson, have been considering taking up membership in order to be eligible for the US Dollars 20million Dubai World Championship in November 2009 at the end of the inaugural Race to Dubai.

Mickelson has yet to confirm his intentions but Ryder Cup star Kim and Colombian Villegas have now paid their membership fees.

"It's great," said Garcia, who is competing at the Volvo Masters this week looking to add to his victory in the Castellon Masters on Sunday.

"I think any time you can get players of the calibre of Camilo and Anthony into the Tour, it's great.

"It's an asset and it's good for golf. It's good for the European Tour and it's nice to see those guys move around a little bit and not only play in the US.

"We'll welcome them with open arms and we hope they can enjoy it as much as we do.

"They asked me a couple of things and I told them how the Tour is. Everything seems to be a little bit more relaxed in Europe.

"Don't get me wrong, when we go out there we are all trying our hardest and we are all trying to win. But outside of that everything seems to be a bit more relaxed.

"I think it's a little bit looser here. You get along and have dinners and all of those kind of things.

"I think that's probably one of the things that they enjoyed and obviously The Race to Dubai is a big asset too."

Players lower down the European Tour pecking order may not share Garcia's enthusiasm over the new arrivals, but the Spaniard is concentrating on the bigger picture.

"There's no doubt that the more good players you get here, some guys are going to feel it," the 28-year-old added.

"But it happens everywhere, so you can't have both. If you want the Tour to get better and to grow and get to the level that it deserves, there's no doubt that you need those big players.

"Obviously if you're taking four or five spots there's going to be four or five guys that are going to struggle, but it's the way of life. You can't please everybody unfortunately."


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CALM KARLSSON CLOSING IN ON PRIZE

Robert Karlsson is on the verge of becoming the first Swedish player to win the Order of Merit, thanks to transforming himself from Mr Angry to Mr Consistency.

Despite Padraig Harrington claiming back-to-back major titles at the Open and USPGA Championship this year, Karlsson leads his Ryder Cup partner by Ј230,312 at the top of the money list.

The 39-year-old has accumulated 12 top-10 finishes and also claimed back-to-back victories in the Mercedes-Benz Championship and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship either side of his second cup appearance at Valhalla.

His performances in the major championships were also second only to Harrington, with eighth in the Masters, fourth in the US Open, seventh in the Open and 20th in the USPGA Championship helping him amass more than Ј2million in prize money.

Second place at this week's season-ending Volvo Masters would secure the Order of Merit title, even if Harrington were to win, and Karlsson puts his amazing consistency down to learning to control a volcanic temper.

"I worked on my attitude on and off the golf course," admitted Karlsson. "I'm not wasting a lot of energy on bad shots and bad rounds.

"My toughest situation this year was obviously that 74 in the final round of the

BMW Championship (when he blew a four-shot lead), and I came back the week after and finished second in Wales.

"That was such big proof for me that I can handle pretty much any situation now, and that is the week that I am most proud of in my career actually, to play as well as I did the week after I've had a really bad last round and made a mess of it."

Asked to expand on the "wasted energy" after bad rounds, the 6ft 5in Swede added: "I would have been hacked off, I would have wasted two days of being really, really angry.

"I would not have been able to leave that week behind, and now it's like, 'Okay, it's a new week now, what happened, what happened, I'm going to learn from this.'

"I had that focus the whole year and no matter what happens I have to become a stronger person and a stronger player. Then I can never lose.

"When I was very, very inconsistent it was because when I had a good day, I was really, really upbeat, and when I had a bad day, I beat myself up pretty badly.

"It's tough to play well when there's so many ups and downs. Before, I would have reacted immediately and slapped the club in the bag or shown that I was disappointed with the shot.

"Now I try to find that little space of time when the ball lands in the water until I slam the club, and if you can stop yourself right there you can get better and better at it and all of a sudden it's no big thing."

In total four members of Europe's Ryder Cup team can still win the Order of Merit at Valderrama, with Lee Westwood and Miguel Angel Jimenez also in the frame.

Westwood trails Karlsson by Ј361,318 and even claiming the second prize of Ј374,990 would need Karlsson to almost finish last.

Jimenez is Ј523,968 behind Karlsson and has to win the Ј562,485 first prize and also hope Karlsson finishes outside the top 20.

"I'm trying to make this as much as possible a separate week," Karlsson added. "It's a big event so my focus is going to be to do my best this week and see on Sunday if it's going to be enough.

"If I start playing matchplay against Padraig and Westwood, I think we are going to put ourselves in a lot of trouble.

"The Order of Merit is a bit funny because it depends so much on how many tournaments you're playing. Padraig has played maybe 12 but I've played 23 or something like that, so it's a bit unfair.

"It's like Manchester United against Arsenal and one has to play 12 matches and the other 22, it's not really a fair judgment of the season I think.

"But if I win it, I'm not going to complain, put it that way."


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GARCIA CONTINUES RANKINGS CLIMB

Sergio Garcia moved up to a career-high third in the world after his first European Tour win since 2005 in the Castellon Masters.

The 28-year-old, hosting the inaugural event at the Club de Campo del Mediterraneo where his father is still the host professional, closed with a four-under 67 to finish three shots ahead of Sweden's Peter Hedblom.

Garcia, who dedicated his win to compatriot Seve Ballesteros who remains in hospital after a third brain operation, said: "It feels absolutely awesome.

"It just feels very special and means so much.

"Just getting the tournament here was special for me and my family but to play the way I did and win it is awesome.

"I had so many positive comments throughout the week from everybody and I hope this can be a great tournament for many years to come."

It was a fairytale win for the 28-year-old, who took a four-shot lead into the final round following scores of 66, 65 and 66 and never relinquished top spot on the leaderboard.

Afterwards, he paid tribute to 51-year-old Ballesteros, who remains in intensive care in a Madrid hospital.

"I couldn't help but think of Seve," said Garcia.

"I'm sending all my love to him and his family and hope he recovers soon.

"I hope this victory helps him to get a little better."

Garcia held off the strong challenge of Hedblom, the only player who threatened to spoil the occasion when he opened his final round with four successive birdies.

But he never got ahead of Garcia, who used his knowledge of every nook and cranny of the course to complete victory.

English duo David Lynn and Simon Dyson were tied for second overnight alongside Hedblom and Soren Kjeldsen, but failed to close the gap and ended up joint fourth after rounds of 69.

"I didn't play amazing and when Peter had such a great start I thought these guys were not making it easy for me," added Garcia.

"On the back nine I felt I had it under control and had a lot of chances and putts but didn't make that many."


GARCIA DEDICATES WIN TO SEVE
GARCIA HOPES TO DOUBLE UP
Bucs’ Brooks, Garcia questionable against Falcons

HARRINGTON: KARLSSON DESERVES CROWN

Padraig Harrington insists the Order of Merit would not be devalued if he failed to win it despite claiming back-to-back major titles this season.

Harrington became the first European since James Braid in 1906 to successfully defend the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in July, and then won the USPGA Championship at Oakland Hills just three weeks later.

That would usually be enough to see the Dubliner top of the money list ahead of the season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama, which gets under way on Thursday, but the 37-year-old finds himself Ј230,312 behind Ryder Cup partner Robert Karlsson.

To claim a second Harry Vardon Trophy in three years, Harrington needs to finish first or second at Valderrama - a course he is not a particular fan of - and even victory would not be enough if Karlsson were to finish second.

But asked if it would take anything away from the Order of Merit if winning two majors in 2008 was not good enough, Harrington said: "Not at all. At the end of the day, I haven't played enough events to put myself out there.

"And in the events I played, I certainly didn't show the form that I probably showed in the States this year. My best events definitely weren't in Europe this year at all.

"I had a lot of top-five finishes in the States, but didn't seem to have much form in Europe, and that's why I'm not winning the European Order of Merit at the moment. Obviously, I need a big week this week.

"Robert has performed more consistently in Europe throughout the year, so consistency-wise, and that's what an Order of Merit is, he probably deserves it.

"But that doesn't mean he gets it. We have to wait until Sunday to sort that out."

Karlsson, 39, looking to become the first Swedish golfer to top the Order of Merit, has accumulated 12 top-10 finishes this season and also claimed back-to-back victories in the Mercedes-Benz Championship and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship either side of his second Ryder Cup appearance in Kentucky.

His performances in the major championships were also second only to Harrington, with eighth in the Masters, fourth in the US Open, seventh in The Open Championship and 20th in the USPGA Championship helping him amass more than Ј2million in prize money.

Lee Westwood and Miguel Angel Jimenez are also still in with a chance of finishing the year as European number one, although Westwood trails by Ј361,318 and even the second prize of Ј374,990 would need Karlsson to almost finish last.

Jimenez is Ј523,968 behind Karlsson and has to win the Ј562,485 first prize and also hope Karlsson finishes outside the top 20.

Other issues at stake include finalising the top 15 players on the Order of Merit who will secure a place in next year's US Open at Bethpage in New York, while the top 30 also qualify for The Open at Turnberry.


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ROYAL TROPHY TO GO AHEAD

The third edition of golf's Royal Trophy will go ahead as planned in January, despite the poor health of Europe captain Seve Ballesteros.

Ballesteros is currently in hospital in Madrid after three operations on a brain tumour detected after the Spanish legend collapsed at the city's airport.

The 51-year-old led his side to victory in the first two years of the team contest between Europe and Asia, but this year's event in Bangkok was cancelled after a member of Thailand's royal family died shortly before it was due to take place, prompting a period of national mourning.

A spokesman for the tournament organisers said: "We are in close contact with Seve's advisors and have been told he very much wants the Seve Trophy to proceed.

"He did so much to establish the competition and we would like nothing better than to see Seve well enough to select the European team and attend the event himself."

Asia captain Joe Ozaki added: "All of us in Japan, Asia and all around the world have enjoyed the privilege of seeing a true sportsman in Seve. He has inspired so many and touched the hearts of people all over the globe.

"We hold the deepest and strongest hope for his speedily recovery and wish the greatest strength to his family during this difficult time."

The Royal Trophy is scheduled to take place from January 9-11, 2009 at the Amata Spring Country Club in Bangkok, with Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng today confirmed as the first member of the Asia team.


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SEVE STILL 'STABLE'

Seve Ballesteros remains in a "stable condition" following his latest operation, doctors at Madrid's La Paz hospital announced on Saturday.

The surgery, which lasted over six hours, was declared a success with doctors stressing there had been no complications in the procedure to alleviate pressure on the brain caused by an edema and to remove remaining tumour tissues.

And the hospital confirmed on Saturday his condition has not changed.

"We only want to say that Severiano Ballesteros continues to be in a stable condition within the seriousness of his condition and remains in the Intensive Care Unit," read a brief statement.

Spaniard Ballesteros, the 51-year-old five-time major winner, was diagnosed with a tumour earlier this month and before Friday's surgery he had already undergone two operations - the second to reduce swelling on the brain.


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SEVE OPERATION A SUCCESS

WOODS HAS MASTERS GOAL

Tiger Woods has vowed to return from injury in time for the Masters at Augusta in April next year.

The world number one continues to make steady progress from the serious knee injury that has kept him off the course since his heroic victory in the US Open in June.

Woods insists he will not swing a club before January in order to give the knee every chance to heal but believes his game will be ship-shape for the first Major of 2009.

"If I have six months off from surgery, that puts me into January, and another four months, that puts me at pretty much 10 months," he said. "That's a long time. I figure I can come back after 10 months.

"Generally it's between six-to-nine months and (American football players) are able to come back and compete and play. And if they can do it at that level, I hope I can do it in golf.

"You have to let the ligament heal. It has to get more taut. I don't want to stretch it out. I don't want to have it go back to where it was.

"I have to keep it taut, which means no rotation, everything in a straight plane. I feel good. I can do everything, except for rotation right now. I'm not allowed to rotate yet."


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BECKMAN TAKES TITLE IN PLAY-OFF

Cameron Beckman won the Frys.com Open at the second extra hole after a final-round 63 forced a play-off with overnight leader Kevin Sutherland.

Beckman made up three strokes on Sutherland at Grayhawk Golf Club in Arizona to finish tied on 18 under for the tournament.

The pair both parred the first extra hole but Sutherland was in trouble at the second, the 464-yard 17th, flying the green with his third shot which allowed his opponents two putts from seven feet for the title.

England's Brian Davis finished 67th after a final round of 73 - his worst of the week - left him one under par.

Collated final-round scores (USA unless stated, par 72):

262 Cameron Beckman 69 66 64 63 (Beckman won at the second play-off hole), Kevin Sutherland 67 66 63 66

263 Mathew Goggin (Aus) 69 63 68 63

266 Arron Oberholser 65 64 71 66, J J Henry 65 69 68 64, Mike Weir (Can) 66 68 69 63

267 Michael Sim (Aus) 72 63 68 64, Pat Perez 71 66 67 63, Paul Goydos 70 62 66 69, Steve Allan (Aus) 67 63 68 69

268 Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 67 70 66 65, George McNeill 68 63 66 71, Davis Love III 69 67 67 65, Woody Austin 69 65 65 69, Brenden Pappas (Rsa) 69 69 64 66, Bob Tway 69 67 64 68

269 Sean O'Hair 68 65 69 67, Billy Mayfair 69 64 68 68, Steve Elkington (Aus) 66 67 68 68

270 Nick Watney 69 67 66 68, Charley Hoffman 70 65 69 66, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 70 68 65 67, Brad Elder 68 63 70 69, Robert Garrigus 66 66 71 67, Todd Hamilton 69 69 64 68, John Mallinger 63 69 66 72, Peter Lonard (Aus) 69 70 64 67, Bill Haas 66 68 68 68

271 Robert Gamez 67 69 69 66, Michael Letzig 69 66 68 68, Chris Stroud 65 71 67 68, Tim Clark (Rsa) 70 64 71 66, Rocco Mediate 68 69 66 68

272 Patrick Sheehan 72 64 68 68, John Merrick 74 65 67 66, Omar Uresti 67 70 66 69, Jeff Quinney 68 71 65 68, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 65 68 72 67, Bubba Watson 69 66 70 67, Y. E Yang (Kor) 66 71 64 71, Martin Laird (Sco) 73 66 67 66, Douglas Labelle 63 72 69 68

273 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 72 67 68 66, Tim Herron 72 65 71 65, Steve Lowery 72 64 69 68, John Riegger 70 68 66 69, Tommy Gainey 68 68 66 71

274 Bob Estes 71 68 66 69, Ryan Palmer 73 66 69 66

275 Richard Johnson (Wal) 64 71 72 68, Charlie Wi (Kor) 68 70 67 70, Brett Quigley 71 67 68 69, Jim McGovern 67 70 71 67, Steve Flesch 69 70 67 69, Scott Verplank 69 70 67 69, Jonathan Byrd 71 67 67 70

276 Olin Browne 68 71 66 71, John Douma 70 69 65 72, James Driscoll 70 69 68 69, Kevin Streelman 68 67 67 74

277 Chad Collins 67 68 66 76, Todd Demsey 65 69 72 71, Mark Hensby (Aus) 69 66 70 72, Tom Pernice Jnr. 67 70 68 72

278 Chris Riley 67 67 73 71, Nick Flanagan (Aus) 71 67 69 71

279 Brian Davis (Eng) 72 63 71 73

280 Marco Dawson 65 71 69 75, Eric Axley 73 66 69 72, Shane Bertsch 69 69 70 72, Frank Lickliter II 69 67 70 74

WILL US INFLUX BENEFIT EUROPEAN TOUR?

Europe may have lost the Ryder Cup last month but the strength in depth of the continent's golfers is apparent for all to see.

Even taking away the obvious achievement of Padraig Harrington's USPGA victory in August to add to his second successive Open title, the best of the rest are not far behind.

With two events remaining on the European Tour there are five players in with a chance of being crowned number one.

And the issue will not be decided until the climax of the season in the Volvo Masters at Valderrama next week - tour bosses could not have wished for a better finish.

Ultra-consistent Swede Robert Karlsson, who played solidly for Europe at Valhalla, tops the pile with two wins and 10 top-10 finishes.

That puts him just ahead of Harrington, who must feel slightly aggrieved that his only two victories this season have both been majors yet are still not enough to put him clear.

The Irishman has only two other top-10 finishes to his credit but, to be fair, he has played fewer events and the exertions of those major wins can often have a knock-on effect later in the season.

Third-placed Westwood is the byword for consistency as, without a win this season, he has been boosted by 12 top-10 finishes.

Jimenez has two wins and seven other top-10s while Stenson, the only one of the quintet playing in the Castello Masters in Spain this week, has 10 top-10s.

A variety of outcomes are possible but Karlsson remains the favourite to claim the title.

This year, of course, is the last of the old-style Order of Merit. From next season the lucrative Race to Dubai begins.

In a bid to strengthen the tour further, millions of pounds have been invested in the future of European golf.

It could mean the leading player on the European Tour next year is not a European - not a new occurrence after the successes of Ernie Els, Retief Goosen et al but an increasingly likely one considering the admiring glances and noises being made from across the Atlantic.

Next season there is the possibility the likes of Phil Mickelson and other big names - Tiger Woods excluded - from the PGA Tour coming over to try to bag the riches on offer.

That then opens up the debate as to whether the influx of these stars will benefit the European game as a whole.

Yes, our players will be facing more of the world's best but will that increase the chances of the bigger tournaments being won by the chosen few who can afford to take three weeks off to prepare for an event, fly in, play and fly out again?

A sort of Champions League of golf, so to speak.

It will inevitably mean more focus on those tournaments and less on the bread-and-butter events which provide the building block for much of the talent coming through.

At the other end of the scale you have players fighting for their futures as they try to secure their cards for next year.

They are the ones who need the other, less high-profile events, to earn a living by accumulating enough to qualify for another 12-month stint on tour.

The calendar is already packed with events and it would be a shame if , because of the pressures of the big-money tournaments, some were to be lost to ease the congestion.


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GARCIA DEDICATES WIN TO SEVE

Sergio Garcia dedicated his first European Tour win since 2005 to Seve Ballesteros after victory in the Castellon Masters on the course he played as a boy.

The 28-year-old, hosting the inaugural event at the Club de Campo del Mediterraneo where his father is still the host professional, closed with a four-under-par 67 to finish three shots ahead of Sweden's Peter Hedblom, who signed for a 66, and five clear of Alexander Noren (65).

Ballesteros, 51, is seriously ill in hospital following three operations on a brain tumour.

"I couldn't help but think about Seve," said Garcia. "I'm sending all my love to him and his family and hope he recovers soon.

"I hope this victory helps him to get a little better."

Having taken a four-shot lead into the final round after scores of 66, 65 and 66, Garcia held off the strong challenge of Hedblom, the only player who threatened to spoil the fairytale story when he opened today with four successive birdies.

But he never got ahead of Garcia, who used his knowledge of every nook and cranny of the course to complete a memorable victory and move up to third in the world rankings.

English duo David Lynn and Simon Dyson were tied for second overnight alongside Hedblom and Soren Kjeldsen, but failed to close the gap and ended up joint fourth after rounds of 69.

"It feels absolutely awesome," said Garcia. "I didn't play amazing and when Peter had such a great start I thought these guys were not making it easy for me.

"On the back nine I felt I had it under control and had a lot of chances and putts but didn't make that many.

"It just feels very special and means so much. Just getting the tournament here was special for me and my family but to play the way I did and win it is awesome."

Garcia birdied the first hole to move to 17 under overall but Hedblom did the same to keep him in his sights, and then reined the Spaniard back in with three more birdies to narrow the gap to just one shot.

At the par-three sixth, Garcia missed the green from the tee and had a tricky chip which he failed to get up and down, while Hedblom sank a simple putt for par to draw level on 16 under.

Garcia immediately responded by picking up a shot at the seventh, holing a putt from eight feet following an excellent approach shot to regain the outright lead, and extended that advantage with a birdie on the eighth.

Both players birdied the 13th and 16th and when Hedblom bogeyed the 17th to fall three shots behind, it was all but over.

There was also drama as two players battled for 118th place on the Order of Merit to retain their card for next season.

With 118th-placed Patrick Sjoland failing to make the cut, Garry Houston needed just under Ј8,800 to keep his card but finishing two under overall left him short.

Francois Delamontagne was eventually the lucky man, scraping in by about Ј240 despite carding a three-over 74.

Collated final-round scores (Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 71):

264 Sergio Garcia (Spa) 66 65 66 67

267 Peter Hedblom (Swe) 68 65 68 66

269 Alexander Noren (Swe) 68 68 68 65

270 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 64 67 70 69, David Lynn 67 66 68 69, Simon Dyson 66 67 68 69

271 Peter Hanson (Swe) 65 73 67 66, Richard Finch 65 66 71 69

272 Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 67 68 68 69, Paul Casey 69 67 69 67, Rory McIlroy 68 67 69 68, Stephen Gallacher 67 70 65 70

273 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 71 66 69 67, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 67 66 76 64

274 Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa) 66 72 67 69, Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 66 71 69 68, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 65 70 69 70, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 65 72 69 68, Sam Little 72 69 66 67

275 Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 69 67 67 72, Phillip Archer 67 68 70 70, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 70 66 69 70, Thomas Levet (Fra) 66 68 73 68

276 Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 71 67 68 70, Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 70 68 67 71, Gary Orr 70 67 69 70, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 69 68 68 71, Camilo Villegas (Col) 70 66 71 69

277 Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 70 70 67 70, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 72 65 70 70, Chris Wood 68 72 69 68, Nick Dougherty 68 69 72 68, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa) 69 68 68 72

278 Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 71 69 67 71, Justin Rose 67 70 70 71, Jean Van de velde (Fra) 68 70 68 72, John Bickerton 66 70 73 69, Mark Foster 72 70 68 68, Bradley Dredge 71 68 68 71

279 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 72 68 69 70, David Griffiths 67 71 70 71, Paul Lawrie 71 70 71 67, Alastair Forsyth 68 70 73 68, Markus Brier (Aut) 74 67 76 62, Stuart Manley 69 68 73 69, Ross McGowan 72 69 70 68

280 Anthony Wall 71 69 67 73, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 66 67 73 74, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 71 69 71 69, Barry Lane 71 69 72 68

281 Pedro Linhart (Spa) 68 72 70 71, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 68 70 67 76, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 71 68 71 71

282 Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 71 68 70 73, Garry Houston 67 71 71 73, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 73 69 71 69, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 67 71 73 71

283 David Howell 69 73 72 69, Benn Barham 68 72 75 68, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 73 71 70, Simon Wakefield 72 68 73 70, Johan Edfors (Swe) 70 71 72 70

285 Lee Slattery 71 71 69 74, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 72 70 73 70

287 Peter O'Malley (Aus) 72 70 75 70

293 Pelle Edberg (Swe) 70 72 74 77


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OBERHOLSER OPENS NARROW ADVANTAGE

Arron Oberholser carded eight birdies and two bogeys in his second-round 64 to lead the Frys.com Open by a stroke on 11-under from Steve Allan.

Oberholser enjoyed a sizzling start at Grayhawk Golf Club, sinking birdies on four of his first six holes while the 33-year-old was also perfect off the tee as he hit every fairway.

Allan began his round on the back nine but the Australian birdied five of his final seven holes on the front to finish seven-under for the day and 10-under for the tournament.

Americans Brad Elder and George McNeill both collected eight birdies and a single bogey en route to rounds of 63 to finish two shots behind Oberholser on nine-under.

Paul Goydos posted the lowest round of the day, collecting eight birdies during a bogey-free round of 62. First round co-leader John Mallinger joined Goydos, Matthew Goggin and Robert Garrigus on eight-under after shooting a 69.


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DYSON BLOWS HOT

Englishman Simon Dyson claimed he played the best round of his life after a five-under-par 66 left him two shots off the lead at the end of the first day of the Castello Masters.

The 30-year-old needs a good week in Spain to secure entry to next week's season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama, where last year he lost out in a play-off to Justin Rose.

He was 62nd on the European Tour's Order of Merit heading into this event and only the top 60 players qualify, but he was delighted with the way he played and hopes the rich vein of form continues.

"That was probably as good as it gets," said Dyson, who trailed leader Soren Kjeldsen by two shots.

"It's the best I've ever played tee to green. It was nearly a perfect round.

"I gave myself a lot of chances and I didn't ever feel there was a danger I wouldn't make par.

"My putting was good - the greens were immaculate. I've been playing well all season but haven't been putting well. I'm trying to be more positive and it's done me some good.

"Last week was great as I birdied the last two holes which moved me up to 62nd in the Order of Merit."

When asked about his chances of winning the title this week, Dyson insisted he is not getting carried away and that his main aim is qualifying for the Volvo Masters.

"I need another good week to get into Valderrama," he added.

"But I'm feeling good and hitting the ball probably the best I've ever hit it. The shots I wanted to hit I pulled off every time.

"I've just got to keep taking every day as it comes and if I can carry on playing like this you never know. We'll see what happens."


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SEVE OPERATION A SUCCESS

Doctors at Madrid's La Paz hospital have declared Seve Ballesteros' third brain operation a success.

Friday's surgery lasted over six hours and was intended to alleviate pressure on the brain caused by by an edema, and to remove remaining tumour tissues.

Ballesteros, the 51-year-old five-time major winner, was diagnosed with a tumour earlier this month and has already had two operations - the second to reduce swelling on the brain.

A statement issued by the La Paz hospital read: "The patient Mr Severiano Ballesteros has been subjected to a new surgery that ended at 1700 today with no complications occurring.

"In the operation, the aims originally planned have been achieved and the edema and the remnants of the tumour eliminated.

"The patient entered the operating room of the neurosurgery service at 0830 for the preparation and process anaesthetic and the intervention began at 1030.

"It has involved three neurosurgeons, two anaesthesiologists and three nurses.

"The patient is stable... and is currently under observation in the intensive care unit."

Justin Rose earlier offered words of support to the golfing great.

The Englishman, who had just completed his second round at the Castello Masters, said all the players were waiting on tenterhooks for further news.

"Everyone is keeping a very close eye on the situation and wishing Seve all the best,'' said Rose.

"We are all wishing him and his family well.

"I know everyone here is sending their heartfelt best wishes and thinking of him.''

Alvaro Quiros, who won the Portugal Masters last week, echoed Rose's sentiments, adding: "We can't help him with words, that won't be enough.

"It is not in our hands and all I can say is good luck to Seve and I hope he recovers.''


BALLESTEROS RECOVERING
Lions fire Millen after 7 years as president, CEO
BALLESTEROS STABLE AFTER FAINTING

GARCIA EYES HOME WIN

There was no place like home for Sergio Garcia on Friday as a six-under-par 65 gave him a share of the lead at the Castello Masters on a course he grew up playing.

The Spaniard, hosting the inaugural tournament, showed sparkling form at the Club de Campo Mediterraneo, where his father Victor is still the professional, to reach 11 under after his second round.

That put him level with Englishman Richard Finch and Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen, the first-round leader.

Garcia suffered a shaky start with a bogey at the second hole, but used his local knowledge to good effect as he fired seven birdies thereafter.

His back nine was peppered with some sublime short play, the highlight of which was a brilliantly controlled chip from the rough with his second shot on 18 which stopped inches from the pin.

"I've had to play that shot many times but that's probably the closest I've got," said Garcia.

"I knew as soon as I hit it that it would be close and it was great to finish the round with a birdie again.

"This week is great. It's nice to be in this position as there is a little bit of pressure playing on my home course. But I'm really enjoying it and hope I can be 100 per cent over the weekend."

Finch went on a six-hole birdie spree on his way to a 66, racking up shots on six successive holes from the fifth, but that run came to an abrupt halt at the par-four 11th where he three-putted for bogey, and he dropped another shot at the last.

Kjeldsen also bogeyed the 18th, finding bunkers from the tee and with his second shot, for a 67, which cost him the outright lead.

It was a different story 12 months ago for Finch as he left it until his last event of the season to secure his card with a seventh-placed finish at the Mallorca Classic.

Three months after that he won the New Zealand Open, in May he clinched the Irish Open, and he was comfortably placed at 19th in the Order of Merit heading into this event.

"I'm sleeping a little better than I did this time last year," said Finch.

"I'm still as determined as I was last year but the pressure is not so great and I'm able to sleep a lot better.

"Keeping hold of your card is such a tough thing to do.

"Today was strange. The run of birdies was great and it was like I couldn't miss. But then on the way back I only had one and it shows how the game can turn."

Five players were on nine under, including Alvaro Quiros, last week's Portugal Masters champion, who continued his red-hot form with a 66, and Frenchman Francois Delamontagne, who needs a strong performance to finish in the top 115 and retain his European Tour card for next season.

Camilo Villegas lived up to his billing as one of golf's most exciting young talents by hitting a hole in one on the par-three 12th, which helped him to a five-under 66 to leave him six under.

Garcia said of the shot: "I said to him you're not supposed to do this on my home course. But I was just joking, I was very happy for him.

"That was the hole where I got my first ever hole in one."

Collated second round scores & totals in the European Tour Castello Masters Costa Azahar, Club de Campo, Castellon, Spain

(Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 71):

131 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 64 67, Richard Finch 65 66, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 66 65

133 Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 66 67, David Lynn 67 66, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 68 65, Simon Dyson 66 67, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 67 66

134 Thomas Levet (Fra) 66 68

135 Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 67 68, Rory McIlroy 68 67, Phillip Archer 67 68, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 65 70

136 Paul Casey 69 67, Alexander Noren (Swe) 68 68, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 69 67, Camilo Villegas (Col) 70 66, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 70 66, John Bickerton 66 70

137 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 72 65, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 71 66, Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 66 71, Gary Orr 70 67, Nick Dougherty 68 69, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 65 72, Stuart Manley 69 68, Justin Rose 67 70, Stephen Gallacher 67 70, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 69 68, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa) 69 68

138 Garry Houston 67 71, Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 70 68, David Griffiths 67 71, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 67 71, Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa) 66 72, Peter Hanson (Swe) 65 73, Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 71 67, Jean Van de velde (Fra) 68 70, Alastair Forsyth 68 70, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 68 70

139 Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 71 68, Bradley Dredge 71 68, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 71 68

140 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 72 68, Chris Wood 68 72, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 71 69, Benn Barham 68 72, Simon Wakefield 72 68, Anthony Wall 71 69, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 70 70, Pedro Linhart (Spa) 68 72, Barry Lane 71 69, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 71 69

141 Paul Lawrie 71 70, Markus Brier (Aut) 74 67, Sam Little 72 69, Johan Edfors (Swe) 70 71, Ross McGowan 72 69

142 Lee Slattery 71 71, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 72 70, David Howell 69 73, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 73 69, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 70 72, Mark Foster 72 70, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 73, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 72 70

Missed the cut:

143 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 72 71, Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 73 70, Sam Walker 73 70, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 71 72, Santiago Luna (Spa) 69 74, Scott Drummond 72 71, Oliver Fisher 70 73, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 71 72

144 Steve Webster 67 77, Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 72 72, Phillip Price 74 70, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 71 73, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 73 71, Andres Romero (Arg) 73 71, Paul McGinley 72 72, Miles Tunnicliff 67 77

145 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 71 74, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 75 70, Anders Hansen (Den) 73 72, David Frost (Rsa) 72 73, Peter Lawrie 71 74, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 76 69, Carl Suneson (Spa) 74 71, Marc Warren 73 72, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 75 70

146 Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 69 77, Paul Broadhurst 76 70, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 73 73

147 Luis Claverie (Spa) 76 71, Carlos Garcia (Spa) 75 72

148 Gary Murphy 74 74, Robert Dinwiddie 73 75, Tom Whitehouse 75 73, Ariel Canete (Arg) 71 77, Gregory Havret (Fra) 75 73, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 74 74

149 Carlos Balmaseda (Spa) 73 76, Jordi Garcia (Spa) 80 69

150 Leif Westerberg (Swe) 76 74, Graeme Storm 75 75

151 Pablo Martin (Spa) 72 79, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 79 72, Simon Khan 74 77

155 Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 77 78

156 Federico Cabrera (Arg) 77 79

166 Luis Romero (Arg) 86 80


GARCIA PUTS DISAPPOINTMENT BEHIND HIM
GARCIA HOPES TO DOUBLE UP
With Gustav a memory, Saints happy to be home
Bucs’ Brooks, Garcia questionable against Falcons

KJELDSEN BACK TO HIS BEST

Soren Kjeldsen shot a seven-under-par 64 to lead by one shot after the first day of the Castello Masters and afterwards revealed he was glad to be back in form after the disappointment of missing out on a place in the European Ryder Cup team.

The Dane had his heart set on making Nick Faldo's team and claims his game suffered as a result of his failure to do so.

The 33-year-old tied for 30th at the British Masters in September then finished a disappointing 13 over par for joint 131st at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland last month.

Last week he tied for 16th at the Portugal Masters to signal an upturn in fortunes, and he improved even further with an impressive round in Spain today.

"For me it was sort of a post-mortem Ryder Cup thing," said Kjeldsen.

"I desperately wanted to get on the team but I didn't make it and it knocked me a bit.

"When I didn't make it maybe I was out there with not the best focus.

"I wasn't sure what I was trying to achieve because the goal was gone. It took me a while to get things into perspective and get on with it."

On leading today, Kjeldsen added: "It was a very solid round. I'm hitting it pretty straight especially with my short irons.

"My plan is just to keep playing the same and trust in myself.

"There is a long way to go but today was a great start."

One shot back on six under were Englishman Richard Finch, Spaniard Ignacio Garrido, Argentinian Angel Cabrera and Swede Peter Hanson, while seven players including Spanish pair Sergio Garcia and Jose Maria Olazabal were five under after rounds of 66.

Tournament favourite Garcia, who is hosting the event at the club he played as a boy and where his father is still the professional, closed his round with three successive birdies.

"Scoring-wise it was good but I know I need to play a little better," said Garcia.

"It feels good playing at home this week. It's good fun. There has been a lot of build-up to it and it's finally here and I was a little nervous this morning."

Two other players on five under are Yorkshireman Simon Dyson and 2002 Open runner-up Thomas Levet, who are aiming for good performances to secure entry to next week's season-ending Volvo Masters.

Only the top 60 players in the Order of Merit gain exemption for the event at Valderrama, and the pair sit 62nd and 61st respectively.

Dyson, who along with Kjeldsen lost out in a play-off to Justin Rose at the same tournament last year, was bullish about his chances.

"Today was the best I've ever played tee to green," he said. "It was nearly a perfect round.

"I gave myself a lot of chances and I didn't ever feel there was a danger I wouldn't make par.

"I've just got to keep taking every day as it comes and if I can carry on playing like this you never know. We'll see what happens."

Finch, who has won twice on the European Tour this year, most recently at the Irish Open in May, was one of a number of players to have a bogey-free card.

"I'm pleased with six under," said Finch, who earned his 2008 tour card by the skin of his teeth last year, rising to 113th after an excellent performance in the penultimate tournament.

"I played well on the front nine but it could have been better.

"I had many opportunities to make birdies. But the most important thing is to keep bogeys off your card."

Collated first-round scores (Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 71):

64 Soren Kjeldsen (Den)

65 Peter Hanson (Swe), Richard Finch, Angel Cabrera (Arg), Ignacio Garrido (Spa)

66 Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa), Alvaro Velasco (Spa), Francois Delamontagne (Fra), Sergio Garcia (Spa), John Bickerton, Simon Dyson, Thomas Levet (Fra)

67 Mikael Lundberg (Swe), Garry Houston, Steve Webster, David Griffiths, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg), David Lynn, Alvaro Quiros (Spa), Stephen Gallacher, Justin Rose, Phillip Archer, Miles Tunnicliff

68 Chris Wood, Benn Barham, Nick Dougherty, Peter Hedblom (Swe), Pedro Linhart (Spa), Rory McIlroy, Alexander Noren (Swe), Jean Van de velde (Fra), Alastair Forsyth, Gregory Bourdy (Fra)

69 David Howell, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe), Stuart Manley, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha), Paul Casey, Thomas Bjorn (Den), Santiago Luna (Spa), Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa), Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe)

70 Gary Orr, Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa), Maarten Lafeber (Ned), Pelle Edberg (Swe), Oliver Fisher, Johan Edfors (Swe), Jose-Filipe Lima (Por), Camilo Villegas (Col)

71 Martin Erlandsson (Swe), Rafael Echenique (Arg), Peter Lawriem Pablo Larrazabal (Spa), Magnus A Carlsson (Swe), Anthony Wall, Felipe Aguilar (Chi), Lee Slattery, Michael Jonzon (Swe), Bradley Dredge, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra), Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind), Andrew McLardy (Rsa), Paul Lawrie, Ariel Canete (Arg), Barry Lane, Richard Sterne (Rsa)

72 Christian Cevaer (Fra), Robert Jan Derksen (Ned), Francesco Molinari (Ita), Patrik Sjoland (Swe), Shiv Kapur (Ind), Scott Drummond, David Frost (Rsa), Simon Wakefield, Paul McGinley, Mark Foster, Pablo Martin (Spa), Sam Little, Peter O'Malley (Aus), Ross McGowan

73 Anders Hansen (Den), Robert Dinwiddie, Carlos Balmaseda (Spa), Raphael Jacquelin (Fra), Daniel Vancsik (Arg), Sam Walker, Marc Warren, Andres Romero (Arg), Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra), Jyoti Randhawa (Ind)

74 Gary Murphy, Carl Suneson (Spa), Markus Brier (Aut), Phillip Price, Henrik Stenson (Swe), Simon Khan

75 Mikko Ilonen (Fin), Niclas Fasth (Swe), Tom Whitehouse, Carlos Garcia (Spa), Gregory Havret (Fra), Jose Manuel Lara (Spa), Graeme Storm

76 Leif Westerberg (Swe), Luis Claverie (Spa), Carlos Rodiles (Spa), Paul Broadhurst

77 Henrik Nystrom (Swe), Federico Cabrera (Arg)

79 Emanuele Canonica (Ita)

80 Jordi Garcia (Spa)

86 Luis Romero (Arg)

Retired: Jamie Donaldson


Bucs’ Brooks, Garcia questionable against Falcons
DOUGHERTY STILL IN THE HUNT

VAN DE VELDE CUTS TOUR COMMITMENTS

Jean Van de Velde is quitting full-time golf and will only play a handful of events on the European Tour next season.

The Frenchman, who is competing in this week's Castello Masters in Spain, is currently too low on the money list to retain his card for 2009.

But the 42-year-old's management company said on Tuesday he will not change his mind even if he climbs into the top 115 by the end of the season.

Van de Velde is best known for his spectacular collapse in The Open at Carnoustie in 1999, when he held a three-shot lead with one hole to play only to rack up a triple-bogey and eventually lose out to Paul Lawrie in a play-off.

A skiing accident six years ago left him with chronic knee problems and he also wants to spend more time with his family.


CAMPBELL SEEKING MORE SUCCESS
Panthers’ Colclough charged with DWI, then cut
Cowboys get CB Newman back, lose another two

BALLESTEROS RECOVERING

Seve Ballesteros remained in intensive care on Wednesday but is showing signs of improvement, La Paz hospital confirmed.

The 51-year-old five-time major winner has had two operations on his brain since the diagnosis of a tumour earlier this month and is being kept under sedation.

A spokesperson for the Madrid hospital said: "They let him wake up for a short while.

"He reacted well and then they put him back under sedation again.

"As hours go by it means a bit of recovery."


BALLESTEROS RECOVERING WELL
Jets LB Pace questionable, but expects to play

TURNESA HITS THE MARC

Marc Turnesa fired a four-under-par 68 to win the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Turnesa finished at 25-under 263 to record the first PGA Tour victory of his career.

Matt Kuchar was second, a stroke back at 24 under after a closing 67.

Chad Campbell, John Mallinger and Michael Allen tied for third, three shots behind Turnesa, who earned US dollars 738,000 (Ј425,000) for the win.

Turnesa comes from a successful golf family. His late grandfather Michael won six PGA tour events and his great uncle Joe had 15 tour titles to his credit.

Collated final round scores from the US PGA Tour's Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at the TPC at Summerlin in Las Vegas, Nevada (USA unless stated, par 72):

263 Marc Turnesa 62 64 69 68

264 Matt Kuchar 63 63 71 67

266 Chad Campbell 65 67 67 67, Michael Allen 63 69 64 70, John Mallinger 64 64 70 68

267 Tim Herron 72 65 68 62, Davis Love III 68 67 65 67

268 Scott Sterling 69 65 70 64, Tom Pernice Jnr. 68 68 67 65

269 Brad Adamonis 67 65 66 71, Zach Johnson 62 65 70 72, Chris DiMarco 69 64 63 73, Mike Weir (Can) 69 68 66 66, Charles Howell III 67 67 69 66

270 Brian Davis (Eng) 65 68 66 71, Charley Hoffman 67 67 68 68, James Driscoll 71 65 68 66, Kevin Na 64 70 67 69, Bob Estes 66 68 70 66, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 69 65 68 68, George McNeill 67 67 67 69, Ken Duke 63 66 67 74, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 67 66 71 66

271 Kent Jones 69 69 66 67, Chris Stroud 65 65 67 74, Pat Perez 66 63 71 71, Mark Hensby (Aus) 69 65 68 69, Kevin Sutherland 69 67 66 69, Fred Couples 68 64 69 70, Mark Wilson 70 65 69 67, Jason Day (Aus) 70 67 68 66, Hunter Mahan 65 69 72 65, Bill Haas 68 68 65 70, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 68 67 71 65, Ryan Moore 66 64 68 73

272 Nick Watney 63 68 73 68, Jeff Maggert 70 68 69 65, Robert Garrigus 65 69 68 70, Eric Axley 68 69 69 66, Woody Austin 67 67 68 70, Parker McLachlin 67 69 67 69, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 69 65 66 72

273 Joe Durant 65 70 68 70, John Huston 71 63 69 70, Kevin Streelman 68 69 68 68, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 72 65 70 66

274 Dean Wilson 69 63 72 70, Steve Marino 71 64 69 70, Brett Quigley 68 67 72 67, Martin Laird (Sco) 67 68 70 69, Chez Reavie 64 66 69 75, Frank Lickliter II 65 69 71 69

275 Charlie Wi (Kor) 69 66 71 69, Ben Crane 69 69 68 69, Rich Beem 66 65 72 72, Bo Van Pelt 67 69 68 71

276 Jason Gore 68 70 68 70

277 Steve Lowery 68 70 70 69, Peter Lonard (Aus) 66 69 72 70

278 Charles Warren 65 72 67 74, Omar Uresti 68 70 70 70

279 Jason Allred 69 69 70 71, John Riegger 66 68 70 75

280 Mike Ruiz 67 71 69 73

281 David Duval 69 68 69 75, Matthew Jones (Aus) 66 71 71 73

282 Patrick Sheehan 68 69 66 79, Nick Flanagan (Aus) 64 74 68 76

284 Jeff Overton 69 69 70 76, Kenneth Ferrie (Eng) 66 70 70 78

287 Nicholas Thompson 68 65 75 79


U.S. appeals court OKs Facenda suit against NFL
KUCHAR AND TURNESA ON TOP
STROUD LEADS IN TEXAS

GOOSEN ADDED TO JOHOR FIELD

Two-time US Open winner Retief Goosen is to headline next week's Iskandar Johor Open following the withdrawal of Vijay Singh with an arm injury.

Organisers of the Asian Tour event confirmed on Tuesday that the 39-year-old South African will tee off in the tournament at the Royal Johor Country Club from October 30 to November 2.

"We are happy to confirm Goosen's participation. Having missed out on Vijay because of his injury, we're very proud to attract another big name for the championship," said tournament organising committee chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.

"Goosen's presence at the IJO will add a touch of class. He is a big name in golf and hopefully the fans and players alike will benefit from his participation here."

Goosen, who is 46th in the official world rankings, finished joint second in the 2003 Malaysian Open but his participation in the Johor Open marks his first visit to the country's southernmost city.

"I am looking forward to the trip to Johor Bahru. It will be a new experience for me and a challenging one because of the humidity," he said.

"It hasn't been a good year for me. I have not managed to get a win yet. But I hope my fortunes will change in Johor."


Falcons’ White questionable after hitting head
SINGH PREPARES FOR VICTORY MARCH
Kicker Nugent still banged up so Jets sign Feely

QUIROS INSPIRED BY SEVE

Alvaro Quiros revealed Seve Ballesteros was the inspiration behind his three-shot victory at the Oceanico Portuguese Masters.

The powerful Spaniard picked up the biggest cheque of his career after holding off European Tour Order of Merit leader Robert Karlsson and former Open winner Paul Lawrie at the Victoria Club in Vilamoura.

All Spanish golfing attention has been devoted to the failing health of legend Ballesteros, and Quiros' thoughts, too, were with the 51-year-old.

"My caddy told me that Seve always wanted to beat everybody and today I drew inspiration from thinking about the way he played his golf," said the 25-year-old from Cadiz.

"Seve was and still is an inspiration for all of the Spaniards, particularly when things don't go very straight.

"But with the short game I stopped and remembered him - when he made chips and putts with wonderful recoveries.

"Seve was playing in a different way to the rest of the world. He was something special.

"He was playing more with the heart than the real game and when you think about it, you have two ways to make a birdie.

"The easy way: driver, green and one putt, and the other is one drive - don't know where - a chip and a good putt. That's how I played and Seve sometimes had rounds like that."

Quiros calmly sunk a five-foot birdie putt on the 18th green to finish on 19 under par, three ahead of Lawrie with Karlsson, Ross Fisher and Steve Webster a further shot back.

The Spaniard signalled his ability with victory in the 2007 Dunhill Championship in South Africa but that field could not compare to the one in Vilamoura, which contained six members of the recent European Ryder Cup team.

Karlsson now only leads Padraig Harrington by around Ј246,000 in the money list heading into the Volvo Masters, when victory for the Swede would have almost certainly settled the Order of Merit title.

The lowest score of the final day belonged to Bristol's Chris Wood, who as an amateur finished tied for fifth place to take the Silver Medal in this year's Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Having turned pro immediately after that achievement, and this weekend playing in the last of his permitted seven invitations, Wood's 65 produced his first top-10 finish in the paid ranks. However, it left him with a dilemma.

He is now scheduled to attend the second stage of Q School at Jerez in Spain, working towards earning a Tour card for 2009, but his top-10 placing has also earned him the right to play in the coming week's Castellon Masters near Gerona.

The two events run back-to-back and after playing seven of the last nine weeks, his energy levels are running low.

"Q School and getting my card for next year has to be my priority," said Wood. "So I may not go to the Castellon."


QUIROS WINS IN PORTUGAL
Infant son of Bucs kicker Bryant passes away
Colts could have injured Addai, Sanders back soon
HARRINGTON WINS SHOT OF MONTH

RESCUED MARSHAL GRATEFUL TO ESCAPE

Cries of 'Help" are not normally heard at a golf tournament, but they were on Friday when a 69-year-old marshal had to be rescued from a lake.

Play in the European Tour's Portugal Masters in Vilamoura was halted for a short time after Graham Finch, a former captain of the High Post club in Salisbury, slid into the water on the seventh hole.

"It was not funny at the time. I was frightened - it's no good saying I wasn't," said Finch.

"I was up to my neck and I can swim only a few yards, so I cried out.

"At first someone came with an umbrella to try to pull me back to dry land, but I couldn't reach it and every time I tried to put a foot down I went further in.

"But another marshal was brilliant then. He came in and pushed me so I could reach the rocks and clamber out.

"I'd been watching drives and had taken a few backward steps when suddenly I did the splits and went down into the lake. It was like going down a children's slide."

After being given a change of clothing and time to recover from what he called "my lucky escape", Finch, who spends part of each year in the Algarve and is also an ex-captain of Quinta do Lago, was back working - at the same spot.

When the incident happening Jean Van de Velde - famous, of course, for his water exploits in the 1999 Open at Carnoustie - was playing the hole.

The rescue act was performed by Portuguese marshal Miguel Palhoa.


MANLEY PREPARES FOR CRUCIAL WEEKEND
NFL reinstates suspended Pacman for Week 1

PRESSEL BREAKS SEASON'S DROUGHT

Morgan Pressel birdied the final hole to win the inaugural Kapalua LPGA Classic and chalk up her first victory of the season.

The Kapalua tour professional shot a closing three-under 69 to edge out first-round leader Suzann Pettersen, another star seeking her first win of the season, (69) by a stroke on a course were the tradewinds were down considerably from the first three rounds.

Twenty-year-old Pressel birdied two of her final three holes and then made a critical 15-foot putt from the edge of the green to tie up her victory with an eight-under total of 280.

"I was nervous out there," said Pressel, who had missed a simple two-footer for birdie on 18 in the third round.

"I knew what I had to do. I didn't want to have to go extra holes."

The victory was her first win in her last 43 starts and her first top-10 finish since June.

"You expect her to make it," Pettersen said. "You expect good players to make putts."

Pressel won the Kraft Nabisco Championship last year to become the youngest player in LPGA Tour history to win a major.

Ironically Pettersen also tied for second in that event after faltering down the stretch.

Laura Diaz (70) finished third at six-under with Angela Stanford (70) and Sun Young Yoo (72) tied for fourth at four-under.

Pressel shed tears of joy and relief afterwards when she thanked her grandparents.

Winning had not been easy, the young tournament host having to play alongside the world numbers one and two Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam for the first two rounds.

Pressel showed great emotion when she holed the seven-foot birdie putt at the par-four 16th to match Pettersen, already in the clubhouse and hoping for a play-off.

Ochoa shot a 71 to tie for 14th at one-under while Sorenstam, who opened with a disastrous 77, closed with a 72 and a share of 25th at two-over.

"I do feel very good about my game, but I know the score doesn't reflect that and that's the bottom line in golf," Sorenstam said.

Sorenstam, who has won 72 times on the LPGA Tour, was making her penultimate competitive appearance in the United States before leaving the tour at the end of the year.

She will make her final US appearance at next month's ADT Championship.

Collated final round scores & totals in the LPGA Tour Kapalua LPGA Classic, Kapalua Plantation GC, Maui, Hawaii, United States of America

(USA unless stated, par 72):

280 Morgan Pressel 72 72 67 69

281 Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 68 72 72 69

282 Laura Diaz 70 71 71 70

284 Sun Young Yoo (Kor) 70 71 71 72, Angela Stanford 71 73 70 70

285 Carin Koch (Swe) 72 71 68 74, Stacy Lewis 73 73 73 66

286 Jee Young Lee (Kor) 71 70 70 75, Heather Young 72 74 67 73, Linda Wessberg (Swe) 76 71 68 71, Meena Lee (Kor) 73 72 70 71, Cristie Kerr 71 72 70 73, Brittany Lang 69 71 71 75

287 Lorena Ochoa (Mex) 74 69 73 71, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 73 74 69 71

288 Young-A Yang (Kor) 73 71 70 74, Becky Morgan (Wal) 72 71 72 73, Sarah Jane Kenyon 72 74 71 71, Michele Redman 72 74 73 69, Allison Fouch 72 73 74 69, Katherine Hull (Aus) 73 73 72 70

289 Ji-Young Oh (Kor) 70 71 76 72, Alena Sharp (Can) 74 67 72 76, Helen Alfredsson (Swe) 72 71 72 74

290 Laura Davies (Eng) 76 71 67 76, Jamie Hullett 72 72 73 73, Eun Hee Ji (Kor) 73 71 73 73, Annika Sorenstam (Swe) 77 70 71 72, Wendy Ward 73 71 73 73, Anna Rawson (Aus) 70 75 71 74, Seon Hwa Lee (Kor) 73 69 72 76, Rachel Hetherington (Aus) 77 71 68 74, Momoko Ueda (Jpn) 73 73 71 73, Janice Moodie (Sco) 74 72 68 76

291 Karrie Webb (Aus) 75 71 75 70, Sophie Giquel (Fra) 74 71 75 71, Carri Wood 73 74 72 72, Na Ri Kim (Kor) 74 69 76 72, A.J Eathorne (Can) 73 73 72 73

292 Ai Miyazato (Jpn) 74 74 71 73, Il Mi Chung (Kor) 73 68 71 80, Heather Daly-Donofrio 72 72 74 74

293 Virada Nirapathpongporn (Tha) 72 76 72 73, Louise Friberg (Swe) 73 74 73 73, Juli Inkster 72 72 75 74, Moira Dunn 74 69 76 74, Candie Kung (Tai) 72 70 76 75

294 Ya-Ni Tseng (Kor) 72 74 73 75, Jane Park 74 72 72 76, Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 71 74 76 73

295 Teresa Lu (Tai) 73 75 76 71, Gloria Park (Kor) 75 72 75 73, Diana D'Alessio 73 74 74 74, Kristy McPherson 70 76 74 75, Karine Icher (Fra) 74 72 76 73

296 Johanna Head (Eng) 71 76 74 75, Na On Min (Jpn) 72 76 73 75, Charlotte Mayorkas 72 75 77 72, Katie Futcher 71 77 72 76, Kris Tamulis 74 74 74 74

297 Beth Bader 76 70 77 74, Brandie Burton 70 76 74 77, Tracy Hanson 69 74 78 76

298 Sherri Turner 72 76 78 72, Amy Hung (Tha) 74 72 77 75, Christina Kim 73 74 76 75

299 Karin Sjodin (Swe) 71 75 74 79

300 Aree Song (Kor) 76 72 77 75

302 Jackie Gallagher-Smith 72 75 77 78

304 Lee Ann Walker-Cooper 76 71 77 80


Fisher: Titans to stick with QB Collins over Young
KIM CLAIMS MAIDEN LPGA TOUR WIN

QUIROS WINS IN PORTUGAL

Powerful young Spaniard Alvaro Quiros proved there is more to his game than just booming drives as he produced a three-shot victory at the Oceanico Portuguese Masters.

The 25-year-old from Cadiz showed he has strength of character to go with his power as he held off a determined challenge from European Money List leader Robert Karlsson and England's Ross Fisher.

And he clinched the Ј395,000 first prize - the biggest of his career - in some style, calmly sinking a five-foot birdie putt on the 18th green at the Victoria Club in Vilamoura to complete a final-round four-under-par 68 for a 19-under total.

Karlsson, who had been hot favourite to clinch his third successive Tour victory after wins in the German Masters and the Dunhill Links Championship, eventually had to settle for a share of third place after a series of mistakes.

Instead, the runners-up spot went to Scotland's Paul Lawrie, who produced his best tournament finish for three years.

The 1999 Open champion had previously only managed one top-10 finish this year but after signing for a final-round 67, he sounded very relieved, saying "It feels great to be competitive again."

But at the end of a week when all Spanish golfing attention has been devoted to the failing health of golfing legend Seve Ballesteros, the emergence of another exciting young star from that country will be welcomed.

Quiros sign-posted his ability with his victory in the 2007 Dunhill Championship in South Africa but that field could not compare to the one in Vilamoura, which contained six members of the recent European Ryder Cup team.

But it is not only his length that will attract golf fans across Europe but his engaging sense of humour, which was evident from the first tee when he starting cracking jokes with his two playing partners.

He had to get up early to complete his third round after a thunderstorm forced play to be abandoned early on Saturday night. And in completing five holes he moved one shot ahead of the field.

It was an advantage he did not hold onto for long when, after outrageously birdieing the opening hole with a 50-foot putt, he immediately bogeyed the second. It was the start of an afternoon when the lead was to change hands regularly.

A birdie at the second took Fisher to the top of the leaderboard and after an early dropped shot, Karlsson then produced three birdies on the trot.

But the tournament was finally sorted on the back nine as Fisher dropped back with a run of three successive bogeys and Karlsson found water at the 17th.

The Swede now only leads Padraig Harrington by around Ј246,000 in the money list heading for the Volvo Masters, when victory for Karlsson would have almost certainly settled the Order of Merit title.

For Quiros there is now a place in the Tournament of Champions in Shanghai, and throughout his round Ballesteros was never far from his thoughts.

"My caddy told me that Seve always wanted to beat everybody and today I drew inspiration from thinking about the way he played his golf," said Quiros.

The lowest score of the final day belonged to Bristol's Chris Wood, who as an amateur finished tied for fifth place to take the Silver Medal in this year's Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Having turned pro immediately after that achievement, and this weekend playing in the last of his permitted seven invitations, Wood's 65 produced his first top-10 finish in the paid ranks. However, it left him with a dilemma.

He is now scheduled to attend the second stage of Q School at Jerez in Spain, working towards earning a Tour card for 2009, but his top-10 placing has also earned him the right to play in the coming week's Castellon Masters near Gerona.

The two events run back-to-back and after playing seven of the last nine weeks, his energy levels are running low.

"Q School and getting my card for next year has to be my priority," said Wood. "So I may not go to the Castellon."

Collated final-round scores (Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 72):

269 Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 66 68 67 68

272 Paul Lawrie 70 65 70 67

273 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 69 67 66 71, Steve Webster 72 67 66 68, Ross Fisher 67 70 65 71

274 James Kingston (Rsa) 69 71 64 70

275 Soren Hansen (Den) 73 65 65 72, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 69 67 68 71, Simon Dyson 71 69 67 68

276 Anthony Wall 72 66 70 68, Rory McIlroy 69 69 69 69, Chris Wood 73 70 68 65

277 Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 67 75 66 69

278 Stuart Manley 65 68 73 72, David Lynn 70 69 68 71

279 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 71 68 67 73, Alexander Noren (Swe) 71 69 67 72, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 67 74 72 66, Lee Westwood 72 67 72 68, Bradley Dredge 70 70 67 72

280 Sam Walker 67 73 69 71, Garry Houston 73 66 73 68

281 Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 68 68 72 73, Gary Orr 74 68 68 71, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 67 73 73 68, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 73 69 66 73, Mark Foster 66 71 73 71, Peter Lawrie 72 69 71 69, Darren Clarke 72 69 74 66

282 Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 69 66 72 75, Marc Warren 68 73 70 71, Paul Waring 71 71 68 72, David Howell 74 70 67 71, David Dixon 72 69 72 69, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 67 69 73 73, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 72 65 73 72, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 66 70 74 72

283 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 72 72 71 68, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 73 71 69 70, Jamie Donaldson 69 70 74 70, Oliver Fisher 73 71 71 68

284 Graeme McDowell 67 74 73 70, Richard Green (Aus) 71 69 72 72, Phillip Price 69 70 74 71

285 Peter Hanson (Swe) 73 69 70 73, Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 69 72 72 72, Johan Edfors (Swe) 70 71 72 72

286 Stephen Gallacher 69 71 72 74, Gary Murphy 69 74 68 75, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 72 70 72 72, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 74 68 73 71, John Bickerton 71 73 69 73

287 Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 72 72 69 74, Robert Rock 72 72 72 71, Thomas Levet (Fra) 71 73 73 70

288 Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 70 73 73 72, Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 73 71 73 71, David Frost (Rsa) 69 72 73 74

290 Marcel Siem (Ger) 68 71 73 78, Antonio Sobrinho (Por) 70 73 73 74, Gregory Havret (Fra) 71 71 71 77

291 Rafael Echenique (Arg) 72 71 71 77

292 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 73 71 74 74, Nick Dougherty 70 70 73 79

293 Sion Bebb 68 74 72 79, Robert Dinwiddie 72 68 72 81, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 73 69 74 77

295 Graeme Storm 69 69 72 85

297 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 72 69 73 83, Barry Lane 68 70 78 81


KARLSSON CLIMBS TO EIGHTH
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SCOTS TEAM UP FOR WORLD TITLE

Scotland completed an historic double by winning their first World Amateur Team Championship in Adelaide on Sunday.

After Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren won Scotland's first World Cup in November last year, Wallace Booth, Callum Macaulay and Gavin Dear secured the amateur crown to lift the Eisenhower Trophy with a nine-stroke victory.

The trio held a four-stroke lead over the United States going into the final day and held on in windy conditions to take the title.

Macaulay, who shot a one-under-par 72 on the Royal Adelaide Golf Club, said: "We set out to try to win but to go out and do it is unbelievable."

Macaulay's 72, combined with Dear's two-over 75, meant Scotland finished with a 20-under-par total of 560 for 72 holes. The Scots' final round 147 - one over par - was five strokes better than the United States' effort.

The American team finished second at 569 with Sweden third on 574.

USA captain Walter Driver admitted the Scots handled the conditions better.

"We got off to slow start and made some bogeys earlier and then we were really in a hole.

"There were very testing conditions with the wind blowing hard. Obviously, the Scots loved it. They played well."

Dear was in agreement.

"It helps because we feel we are all good wind players," he said. "It was good to have it blowing a mere gale and we know that par is a good score."

Scotland captain George Crawford said: "It is history in the making for a small nation as the home of golf.

"The way golf has developed on the continent means it's much more difficult to compete at this level. It's a historic occasion. It's tremendous."


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CURTIS SET FOR CUP DEBUT

MANLEY PREPARES FOR CRUCIAL WEEKEND

Stuart Manley, a schoolboy soccer starlet who had a trial with Manchester United, is about to find out how good a golfer he is.

The 29-year-old from Mountain Ash in Wales has never had a top 10 finish on the European Tour since turning professional in 2003, but at halfway in the Portugal Masters he is 11 under par and one ahead of Spaniard Alvaro Quiros.

From the depths of 174th on the Order of Merit and 575th in the world Manley followed up his opening 65 - the lowest round of his Tour career - with a 68 on Friday.

While Colin Montgomerie headed home after missing his fourth cut in his last five starts and for the ninth time this season, Manley looked ahead to the test that he realises the final 36 holes will be.

"I know what I've got to do," said the 2003 Walker Cup hero, who has his wife, brother, parents and a couple of friends in Vilamoura cheering him on.

"I just have to commit really. If the shots don't come off they don't come off, but as long as I commit and go out there and give myself a chance that's all I can ask for."

Winning the first prize of almost Ј400,000 is the aim, of course, but third place would be a great result. It is worth almost Ј150,000 and, having earned less than Ј60,000 from his previous 31 events this year, could save him from a fifth trip to the Tour qualifying school.

Not that he is aware of the exact position there.

Asked if he had studied the money list Manley shook his head and replied: "Best not to. I'd get depressed."

Leader by one overnight, he had been overtaken by the time he reached the turn in 36 on his return to the Oceanico Victoria course.

But then came a chip-in par on the 11th, a four-iron to six feet for an eagle at the 547-yard next and birdies at the 15th and 16th.

His change of fortunes follows a kick up the rear from coach Pete Cowen two weeks ago.

"It wasn't a rollicking, just a bit of a telling off. He said I should be spending four hours on my short game and one hour on the long game.

"I was spending more time perfecting my swing. You don't really need to do that - if you can perfect your short game you can save a lot more shots."

Former Open champion Paul Lawrie is hoping this will be the weekend when he returns to winning ways.

Less than three months away from his 40th birthday Lawrie, whose last success was the 2002 Wales Open, had a seven-birdie 65 to move to nine under and joint third with Swede Magnus Carlsson.

"I've been playing good golf for a while, but holed a few putts today," said the Scot. "It's disappointing obviously to be 96th on the Order of Merit - I'm a better player than that - but you never realise how hard the game is until you struggle with the putter."

Order of Merit leader Robert Karlsson could yet record his third successive victory, a 67 lifting him from 17th to joint fifth on eight under.

Lee Westwood, third in the standings, matched that round to stay three behind the Swede, but after running up a seven at the 17th in his opening 72 he went in the lake there again on his return and took six.

"The marvellous 17th", he said. "That was the most disappointing thing of the day. I was six under and should have been nine or 10 under."

Darren Clarke, paired with Montgomerie, climbed to five under, but then double-bogeyed the last for a 69.

The day's action also included an amazing incident on the seventh hole when a 69-year-old marshal fell into the lake and, able to swim only a few strokes, needed rescuing.

Graham Fitch, a former captain of the High Post club in Salisbury, said: "It was not funny at the time. I was frightened - it's no good saying I wasn't.

"I was up to my neck and I can swim only a few yards, so I cried out for help.

"At first someone came with an umbrella to try to pull me back to dry land, but I couldn't reach it and every time I tried to put a foot down I went further in.

"But another marshal was brilliant then. He came in and pushed me so I could reach the rocks and clamber out.

"I'd been watching drives and had taken a few backward steps when suddenly I did the splits and went down into the water like going down a children's slide."

Jean Van de Velde - famous, of course, for his water exploits in the 1999 Open at Carnoustie - was playing the hole at the time.


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KUCHAR AND TURNESA ON TOP

Matt Kuchar carded a second successive round of 63 to move into a share of the lead at the halfway mark of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on Friday.

Kuchar sank nine birdies in his bogey-free effort to join Marc Turnesa at the top of the leaderboard on 18 under par. Zach Johnson, who held the overnight alongside Turnesa, is third a shot back.

Limiting himself to one bogey in 36 holes, the 30-year-old Kuchar has bounced back from a poor run that has seen him fail to make the cut in seven consecutive tournaments as he attempts to add to his lone PGA title at the Honda Classic in 2002.

Turnesa, who finished strongly to catch Johnson at the end of the opening day, carded an eight-under 64.

He suffered a late setback with a double bogey at the 17th but negated the damage with an eagle at the 18th.

Johnson, meanwhile, bogeyed his opening hole but fought back to sign for a seven-under 65 and 17-under overall.

John Mallinger is two shots off the lead shot following a second consecutive 64, while Ken Duke (66) and Pat Perez (63) are tied for fifth at 15-under.

Defending champion George McNeill is in a tie for 21st on 10-under following two rounds of 67.

Kuchar was naturally pleased with his effort.

"It was fun out there," he said.

"I think no bogeys, that's always a nice thing to not have on your card. The game is good.

"Conditions were just about identical. I mean, just perfect weather, very slight hint of a wind. I think the greens this morning were a little easier to putt than yesterday afternoon.

"The last few weeks I've missed a couple cuts but really have been making some adjustments and working with my instructor, Chris O'Connell, and things have been going well. Things are starting to pay off."

Rookie Turnesa looked to have fallen off the pace when he found the water on the 17th but then holed an approach from 159 yards for an eagle on the 18th.

"What can I say really?" he said.

"I hit a bad shot on 17 and made double and then on 18 hit a good shot and got a little lucky as well and it went in the hole."

Johnson, meanwhile, was disappointed with a slow start to his second round.

"My first three holes I gave at least two shots away, probably three or four even, which was frustrating," he said.

"But I got it turned around and hit some good shots the remainder of the front nine and made some birdies on the back that hopefully will give me only momentum going into the weekend."

Collated second round scores & totals

(USA unless stated, par 72):

126 Marc Turnesa 62 64, Matt Kuchar 63 63

127 Zach Johnson 62 65

128 John Mallinger 64 64

129 Pat Perez 66 63, Ken Duke 63 66

130 Chris Stroud 65 65, Ryan Moore 66 64, Chez Reavie 64 66

131 Nick Watney 63 68, Rich Beem 66 65

132 Brad Adamonis 67 65, Dean Wilson 69 63, Chad Campbell 65 67, Michael Allen 63 69, Fred Couples 68 64

133 Brian Davis (Eng) 65 68, Chris DiMarco 69 64, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 67 66, Nicholas Thompson 68 65

134 Charley Hoffman 67 67, Robert Garrigus 65 69, Mark Hensby (Aus) 69 65, Woody Austin 67 67, Charles Howell III 67 67, Kevin Na 64 70, Hunter Mahan 65 69, George McNeill 67 67, Bob Estes 66 68, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 69 65, Scott Sterling 69 65, John Huston 71 63, John Riegger 66 68, Frank Lickliter II 65 69, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 69 65

135 Davis Love III 68 67, Todd Demsey 67 68, Mark Wilson 70 65, Peter Lonard (Aus) 66 69, Charlie Wi (Kor) 69 66, Steve Marino 71 64, Joe Durant 65 70, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 68 67, Brett Quigley 68 67, Martin Laird (Sco) 67 68

136 Richard Johnson (Wal) 69 67, John Merrick 67 69, Kevin Sutherland 69 67, Kenneth Ferrie (Eng) 66 70, Tom Pernice Jnr. 68 68, Parker McLachlin 67 69, James Driscoll 71 65, Chad Collins 66 70, Bill Haas 68 68, Bo Van Pelt 67 69

137 Charles Warren 65 72, Patrick Sheehan 68 69, Tim Herron 72 65, Eric Axley 68 69, David Duval 69 68, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 72 65, Matthew Jones (Aus) 66 71, Jason Day (Aus) 70 67, Kevin Streelman 68 69, Will MacKenzie 65 72, Mike Weir (Can) 69 68

138 Vaughn Taylor 69 69, Jeff Overton 69 69, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 69 69, Y. E Yang (Kor) 67 71, Ben Crane 69 69, Mike Ruiz 67 71, Jason Gore 68 70, Kent Jones 69 69, Tom Scherrer 69 69, Casey Bourque 70 68, Jason Allred 69 69, Omar Uresti 68 70, Steve Flesch 70 68, Joe Ogilvie 66 72, Steve Lowery 68 70, Nick Flanagan (Aus) 64 74, Jeff Maggert 70 68

Missed cut:

139 Paul Claxton 69 70, John Daly 73 66, Brett Rumford (Aus) 72 67, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 69 70, Brian Gay 70 69, Tag Ridings 70 69, Jay Williamson 71 68, Kevin Stadler 70 69

140 John Rollins 69 71, Justin Bolli 72 68, Paul Azinger 69 71

141 Kyle Thompson 68 73, Tim Petrovic 74 67, Jim McGovern 72 69, Jeff Quinney 69 72, Jimmy Walker 71 70, Carlos Franco (Par) 71 70

142 Michael Letzig 73 69, Chris Riley 70 72, Troy Matteson 70 72, Brenden Pappas (Rsa) 71 71, Stephen Ames (Can) 72 70

143 Arron Oberholser 73 70, Scott McCarron 68 75, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 69 74, J J Henry 73 70, Paul Goydos 72 71, Brad Elder 71 72, Shane Bertsch 69 74

144 Jerry Kelly 71 73, Jin Park (Kor) 74 70, Ben Fox 71 73, Cody Freeman 73 71, Todd Hamilton 73 71, Grant Waite (Nzl) 74 70, Cameron Beckman 72 72, Jon Mills (Can) 71 73

145 Billy Mayfair 75 70, Ryan Armour 73 72, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 71 74, Greg Kraft 73 72, Jonathan Byrd 73 72

146 Kirk Triplett 77 69

147 Bob Sowards 72 75

148 Nathan Green (Aus) 71 77

149 Steve Elkington (Aus) 75 74


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CASEY: DON'T BLAME FALDO

Ryder Cup wildcard Paul Casey has stressed captain Nick Faldo was not to blame for Europe's comprehensive defeat in Valhalla last month.

Faldo was savaged in sections of the media for a number of decisions before and during the biennial event, including his wildcard selections, leaving Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia out of the Saturday foursomes and the risky strategy he employed for the 12 crucial singles matches on the Sunday in a bid to overcome a 9-7 deficit.

The latter saw in-form Ian Poulter's win over Steve Stricker, as well as the matches involving double major winner Padraig Harrington and Ryder Cup stalwart Westwood, rendered obsolete with Jim Furyk having already completed a 2&1 victory against Miguel Angel Jimenez to ensure the Americans tasted victory for the first time since 1999 by 16 1/2 points to 11 1/2.

Casey, however, has joined the list of players that have since leapt to Faldo's defence, insisting the 51-year-old Englishman did everything in his power to secure an unprecedented fourth consecutive European success and that ultimately, he was on a hiding to nothing.

"It didn't matter who it was, if we didn't win, they were going to get it in the neck," he said.

"Nick's Nick. He tried his hardest, he poured his heart out into it and whether it was everybody's cup of tea, the way he approached things, that's their opinion.

"He cares about it, we care about it and it's the way it turned out. I feel sorry for him because I think he's taken a pretty hard rap."

Casey also revealed he had recently contacted Faldo to refute suggestions he had undermined his captaincy.

"I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago. There was a nice rumour going around that I was apparently unhappy with Nick and I was threatening to walk out of the Ryder Cup team," added the 31-year-old, who was in Hong Kong as part of a charity golf day for victims of the Sichuan earthquake.

"That was a rumour I had heard circling around various things and that is complete and utter rubbish. I actually called him and said 'have you heard this rumour'? He said, 'yeah, I've heard'. Nobody knew where it came from so I've spoken to him.

"It's malicious and it didn't get printed. I threatened legal action if that came out because that's just not true. I've had enough of that stuff."

The disappointment in Kentucky was all the more acute given Europe found themselves burdened with the favourites' tag against an American team shorn of the world's best golfer in Tiger Woods.

Casey, though, feels the quality of their opponents' performance was overshadowed by the aftermath of Europe's failed bid.

"Were we favourites? With or without Tiger it was completely irrelevant, they had 12 great golfers and I think they did almost everything right," he said.

"The guys were up for it, they had the crowd with them, they set the golf course up the way they wanted it set up.

"They knew the pin positions, they knew where to fire and hit shots and if you look at Sunday, it was amazing with some of those pin positions how you could bank it in off certain areas. They knew that and we got beaten.

"I don't think there's been enough credit given to the US for playing very, very good golf."

Casey, who picked up two half points in three matches, claimed that, as so often in top-level sport, success or failure at Valhalla was decided by the finest of margins.

"The putts we made at the K Club (in 2006) were outrageous - putts going in all over the place - and that's what they did to us this time," he concluded.

"In my match against Hunter Mahan, he hit his putt on 17 and I thought 'hello, I've got a chance of winning this match from being down', but it hits the back of the hole and goes in when it was probably going 15 feet by.

"He knew it, I knew it, we both had a laugh about it - as much as you could - down the 18th fairway. It could have been different, so that's the way the players feel about it. There's been a lot of criticism about what Faldo allegedly didn't do but it's done.

"We see it differently as players being in that team room - ultimately we've got to get the ball in the hole and make the putts and we didn't necessarily do that in Valhalla. But I loved the experience playing for Nick."


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