Kuchar and family make third trip Down Under

SYDNEY (AP) — American golfer Matt Kuchar's trips Down Under have been few and far between since making his professional debut at the 2000 Australian Open. Three years later, he returned for his honeymoon on Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef. Kuchar is back for the Australian Open at The Lakes and next week's Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne, and he's got company - his wife, Sybi, their two sons, Kuchar's parents and his in-laws. The family tour stopped in Bora Bora on the way over from the U.S. and spent a few days at the famed Cape Kidnappers course in New Zealand. Kuchar said "it's a great way to get back in the game, have a couple of weeks off, then a little bit of a warmup." Although Kuchar has earned $9 million over the past two years, he's winless this year. He's among a strong American contingent this week: eight of the 12 U.S. team members for the Presidents Cup are in the Australian Open field. Kuchar finished tied for second in the Memorial and was second in The Barclays. "It's been a bit frustrating," Kuchar said Wednesday. "I played a great final round at the Memorial, but Steve Stricker just played even better. I just had a few opportunities that didn't go my way." SCOTT'S SCOUTING MISSION: Adam Scott had five weeks off after the U.S. PGA Tour season ended, including a week surfing in Mexico with some friends from Australia. Before he played at the HSBC Champions event last week in Shanghai, he left his family's home in Queensland state to make a reconnaissance mission to Royal Melbourne, site of next week's Presidents Cup. "I felt the changes that had been made to the grasses at Royal Melbourne - it had been six years since I'd played there - that it would be a good idea to have a sneak peek," Scott said. "It will be hard to take it all in next week with all the distractions." The Royal Melbourne composite course will feature new grass on the greens. "It's a different grass to when I was last there - it's still couch, but it's a bit slower," said Scott, who tried not to "step on too many members' toes" as he negotiated around the composite course on a Sunday. STAR ATTRACTIONS: The Australian Open, with next week's Presidents Cup as the drawing card, has its best international field in decades, harkening back to the days when Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer traveled Down Under for the championship. The featured groups over the first two days help highlight it - four consecutive morning threesomes have defending champion Geoff Ogilvy and Americans Bill Haas and Bubba Watson, followed by International captain Greg Norman, Dustin Johnson and two-time former champion Aaron Baddeley. U.S. captain Fred Couples is in the following group, followed by another which includes U.S. team member David Toms. In the afternoon, Matt Kuchar and Adam Scott, who could play each other in next week's Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne, lead the featured groups off at midday, followed by the trio of Tiger Woods, Jason Day and Robert Allenby. Stuart Appleby and American Nick Watney are in the next group, followed by one which includes Hunter Mahan and John Daly. It will be the 23-year-old Day's first time playing in a group with the 35-year-old Woods, but there's plenty of history from Day's side. "I read a book about Tiger and that is why I woke up every morning at 5.30 and went out and practiced," Day said. "I got up to 32 1/2 hours a week of practice because of that guy. He has influenced my life a lot, and I have always wanted to play against him." Day says he'll try not to be intimidated. "No, I don't think so," he said "I can't control what he does. All I can do is control what I do. Looking back, 1997 to 2008 or 2009, he dominated for so long. When he came in he changed the way everyone looked at golf." Scott has some advice for his younger Presidents Cup teammate - don't look. "I never watched him hit a shot," Scott said Wednesday. "My old coach Butch Harmon told me early on when he was still working with him, if you played with him you should not watch him hit a shot because in the early 2000s he golf ball was launching far faster than anyone else. We all saw the magnificent highlight reels he's got. It was better not to watch and feel like you can't match it."

Finchem has eye on Asia, South America, for 2015

SYDNEY (AP) — The only two continents where the Presidents Cup has not been played are Asia and South America, which is likely to change when the next one goes overseas in 2015. And while Asia appears to have more appeal, South America might be more critical. A record four Asian players are on this year's International team - K.J. Choi, Y.E. Yang, K.T. Kim and Ryo Ishikawa - and PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said Asia is "becoming a bigger part of what the Presidents Cup is all about." "We are looking hard at Asia," he said. But when pressed about which Asian country might be best suited to host the Presidents Cup, Finchem had his eyes on another event - the Olympics in Brazil in 2016. "When you look at the Olympic date sitting there in '16, and everybody is gearing toward that, you've sort of got to draw some conclusions as to where we'll be in 2015," he said. Golf's return to the Olympics is not guaranteed to be for long. The sport gets only one chance to shine before the next International Olympic Committee vote on whether to keep golf in the games, so it's important that it is received well in Brazil. There had been some discussion about taking a World Golf Championship to South America ahead of the Olympics, such as the Cadillac Championship at Doral. "We've discussed that a little bit as a possibility," Finchem said. "There are some other things we could do down there as well. We were hopeful we'll see some daylight here in terms of when the golf course will be ready so we know we'll have a place to play, and by '15. Once we know that's going to happen, then we can start to work on real options." Finchem said if the golf course - the architect is to be chosen in late December - is not ready before 2016, then the first event would be the Olympics. Ideally, it could be ready in time for another event. "We need it ready by '15, which means it needs to get going," he said. OVERLOOKED: Luke Donald has been No. 1 in the world since the end of May. He has won four times around the world, and he likely will be voted PGA Tour player of the year. Apparently, that's still not enough to get on Greg Norman's radar screen. Norman was asked Monday who he thought was the best player in the world regardless of the world ranking. "I'm going through three or four players right now. That's how tough it is," Norman said. "I don't think there is one guy out there like Tiger used to be out there, and that's again a testament of the validation of why I think the game of golf is so good right now." He mentioned Martin Kaymer, Adam Scott, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Ryo Ishikawa. "I'm going down the list and I'm missing out on guys," Norman said before going on to mention the swing of PGA champion Keegan Bradley. "You go down this list and all of a sudden now I'm at 10 players." He never once mentioned the guy at the top - Donald. NO COMEBACK: The PGA Tour awards ballot are now in the mail, though they might be shorter than previous years. Tour officials have decided not to submit any candidates as comeback player of the year. The Players Advisory Council is responsible for suggesting names on the awards ballot. However, there's an exception with the comeback player nominees decided by PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and the four players on the tour policy board. "We just thought it originally was an award that focused on a player who had an unusual injury, an injury that was career-threatening and he comes back from it," Finchem said in Shanghai. "And that morphed into having three or four players on the ballot that had some minor situations occur. We were asking players to decide who should be the bigger comeback." Finchem said a few years ago, the PAC and the policy board decided to leave the award up to him and his staff. It will be the second time in three years there is no comeback player of the year. Stuart Appleby won the award a year ago, and the thought was he'd came back from poor play. Steve Stricker won the comeback award two years in a row. WORLD-CLASS WINNERS: Perhaps no other tournaments in the world offer better odds of getting a high-ranked winner than the World Golf Championships. They usually invited the top 50 players, although three of them also have lesser-known players from other tours. Even so, Martin Kaymer strengthened the trend by winning the HSBC Champions. In the 13-year history of the series, only four players ranked outside the top 50 have won a World Golf Championship. Geoff Ogilvy was No. 53 when he won the Match Play in 2006 at La Costa. Kevin Sutherland was No. 65 when he won the 2002 Match Play at La Costa. Steve Stricker was No. 91 when he won the Match Play Championship in 2001 in Australia, the event where some two dozen top players stayed home. Craig Parry is the only player outside the top 100 to win a WGC, at No. 118 when he captured the 2002 NEC Invitational at Sahalee. MATCH PLAY CROWD: The Match Play Championship is trying to give fans a better view of the final match in Arizona by allowing fans to walk in the fairway behind the players. It's a practice often seen at the U.S. Amateur, Walker Cup and Curtis Cup matches. When Tiger Woods played the Australian Masters, officials allowed the overflow of fans to line the fairways some 75 yards from each green, creating a stadium feeling. At Dove Mountain in Marana, Ariz., marshals will hold ropes that keep the fans 40 feet behind the players down the fairway, though they will be kept away from greenside bunkers. DIVOTS: The Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico, held opposite the Match Play Championship, has extended its title sponsorship through 2018. ... Mark Calcavecchia has his own special "cocktail" to deal with an ailing hip. He takes one Celebrex before he leaves his hotel room and one Vicodin on the practice range. That gets him through 15 holes, and he just toughs out the last three. "That's only on tournament days," he said. "Pro-ams and practice rounds I tough it out." ... With so much success by European players this year, the cover of its media guide will stick to the major champions. Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy and British Open champion Darren Clarke recently posed for a photo. Left out is Luke Donald, the No. 1 player in the world. STAT OF THE WEEK: Europeans will have held the No. 1 ranking for an entire season for the first time since Nick Faldo in 1993. Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald all have been at No. 1 in the world this year. FINAL WORD: "Maybe it's just I'm so used to hitting so many bad shots." - Tiger Woods, when asked about controlling his temper on the golf course.

Japan's Momoko Ueda wins Mizuno Classic

SHIMA, Japan (AP) — Japan's Momoko Ueda won the Mizuno Classic for the second time in five seasons, beating China's Shanshan Feng with a 15-foot birdie putt on the third hole of playoff. Ueda, also the 2007 winner in the event sanctioned by the LPGA Tour and Japan LPGA, closed with a 3-under 69 to match Feng at 16 under at Kintetsu Kashikojima. The victory, her first since the 2009 AXA Ladies Open, was her second on the LPGA Tour and ninth on the Japan LPGA. "I was starting to think I'd never win again," said Ueda, who earned her LPGA Tour card with her 2007 victory. "It's been a tough four years in America." The 25-year-old Ueda earned $180,000 in the $1.2 million event. Feng finished with a 65. "It was my first playoff ever in my life," Feng said. "The third time we played that hole, she made a good putt to win and I feel happy for her. This was her week." Ueda missed a chance to win in regulation when her 16-foot birdie try on the par-4 18th slid to the right of the hole. "When I missed that birdie putt, I thought I had lost my luck to win," Ueda said. "But my caddie told me to just enjoy this and to just finish it." On the first extra hole, Ueda missed a 5 foot birdie try to the left, while Feng two-putted from 20 feet for par. "I really thought she was going to make that putt," said the 22-year-old Feng, the LPGA Tour's first full-status member from China. "I thought, 'Good, she gave me another chance.'" They settled for pars on the second playoff hole, and Ueda won with her 15-footer on the third extra hole after Feng two-putted for par from 25 feet. Ueda got a big break in regulation on the par-4 ninth when her drive ricocheted off a fan's head and bounced back into the fairway, setting up a birdie. "The man told me he was OK and said, 'I just want to see you play. I don't have time to go to the hospital. Just do your best,'" Ueda said. South Korea's Na Yeon Choi had a 64 - the best round of the day - to finish a stroke out of the playoff. Scotland's Catriona Matthew (67) and Taiwan's Teresa (67) followed at 13 under, and Americans Stacy Lewis (65) and Mina Harigae (69) were another stroke back along with Japan's Sakura Yokomine (70). South Korea's Jiyai Shin, the 2010 winner, had a 66 to tie for ninth at 10 under.

PGA Tour happy with 2 events in Asia

SHANGHAI (AP) — The PGA Tour no longer is looking for new tournaments in Asia as it considers revamping the schedule so that a new season would start in the fall after the FedEx Cup is over. PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said Sunday that if players approve the idea of a fall start to the season, then it would be easy to give the HSBC Champions equal status as the other three World Golf Championships. That would include making prize money official. That would give the PGA Tour two Asia stops - the Asia Pacific Classic in Malaysia and the HSBC Champions - which Finchem feels is adequate combined with the domestic tournaments. The earliest a fall start could happen is 2013, and Finchem said much of that depends on a player meeting in January at Torrey Pines and the next policy board meeting in March. "We have a combination set of changes in front of the players that would relate to restructuring the Nationwide Tour and maybe restarting the season in the fall," Finchem said. "If we go down that road, it makes it a lot easier. And that's the road I'd like to go down." Tour officials have been studying a concept that would merge top Nationwide Tour players with PGA Tour players who fail to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs. They would play their own series of events to determine who gets tour cards for the following season, while qualifying school would offer Nationwide Tour cards. If that happens, a new season could start with what is now the Fall Series, and it would include Malaysia and Shanghai. Both tournaments would offer official money and FedEx Cup points toward the following year. "There are issues with it," Finchem said. "The players need to support us. We have some work to do, although I don't know of anyone who has huge problems with the specifics. But, change is change." HSBC is troubled that the PGA Tour does not consider it the same as the three WGC events in America. At the moment, the HSBC Champions only counts as official if a PGA Tour member wins, and even then it doesn't count toward a money list. Finchem said HSBC could still get full status even if the Nationwide idea is rejected. "We have options even if we don't go down that path with the structure of the tournament and what it means," Finchem said. "We've looked at official money in the past. It's just cleaner if we get everything done under the FedEx umbrella. Finchem's appearance in Shanghai two years ago raised speculation that he was looking to stake out an already crowded territory. Some referred to it as his "Asian invasion." Finchem was on an 18-day trip through China, South Korea and Japan. Now, however, he says two tournaments should be enough. Asked if he were actively looking for a new tournament in Asia, Finchem replied, "No." "But we're entertaining people who want to talk to us about it," he said. "Right now, we feel like we have a game plan that's a really good schedule. You never know, so you always want to know what's available." As for the Asia Pacific Classic, Finchem said the field likely would be expanded if it were an official event. Bo Van Pelt won two weeks ago against a 47-man field, with 35 of them on the PGA Tour. He said the field still would be small compared with other PGA Tour events because of the weather. "We're getting good support for the guys wanting to play, which is a factor," he said. "You need demand from the players, and that seems to be there."

Williams causes stir with racial inference to Woods

SHANGHAI (AP) — Already one of the most festive evenings in golf, the annual Caddies Awards roast was buzzing with talk that Tiger Woods' former caddie might be getting a prize. One award was called "Celebration of the Year." Everyone knew who would get it and why. The surprise was how Steve Williams ripped into his old boss with a racial slur that caused even more commotion involving the jilted caddie and golf's biggest name. "He's a character within the game of golf, and whatever bitterness that exists between him and Tiger should be in the past by now," said Graeme McDowell, one of several players at the party. "It's unfortunate that it's going to rear it's head again." Williams, still angered over getting fired by Woods this summer, was working for Adam Scott when he won the Bridgestone Invitational. That tournament also was the first time Woods played since splitting with his caddie. An emotionally charged Williams gave a TV interview on the 18th green and called it "the best win of my life," even though he had been on the bag for 13 majors with Woods. On Friday night, the host called Williams to the stage to collect his award and asked him to explain his enthusiasm. Williams, with a smirk on his face, leaned toward the microphone and said, "It was my aim to shove it right up that black a------." On a night filled with banter and off-color remarks, this one was a show-stopper. Heads turned, eyes widened and jaws dropped amid a mixture of shock and laughter. Williams later issued a statement apologizing to Woods. That was good enough for Scott, who said he had no plans to fire his caddie. "I think everything in that room last night was all in good spirits and for a bit of fun," Scott said after his third round Saturday at the HSBC Champions. "And I think it probably got taken out of that room in the wrong context." Even as players and caddies spilled into the bar, they couldn't stop talking about it - some because of the racial overtones, some because of how Williams so openly showed his disdain for Woods. The ground rules for the roast is that everything is off the record, yet this was bound to get out. A group of British reporters returning from a night out in Shanghai were at the hotel bar when at least one caddie told them what was said. Williams was stunned the next morning to learn that his comments had been published. "Why would they do that?" he said. "The whole thing was meant to be fun." He shook his head and walked away without wanting to say more. Hours later, Williams posted a comment on his website. "I apologize for comments I made last night at the Annual Caddy Awards dinner in Shanghai," it said. "Players and caddies look forward to this evening all year, and the spirit is always joking and fun. I now realize how my comments could be construed as racist. However, I assure you that was not my intent. I sincerely apologize to Tiger and anyone else I've offended." Woods was in Australia, though it didn't take long for the comments to get back to him. "I was with Tiger last night when he heard the news," agent Mark Steinberg said. "We got multiple calls from people who sounded like they were leaving the caddie party. Tiger obviously wasn't there. He doesn't know exactly what was said. But if multiple reports - which all seem to be accurate - are true, then it's sad it's come down to this." "It's a regrettable comment, and there's really nothing that Tiger can do or say. He's just going to move on." Scott said he was satisfied with Williams' apology and that his comments were not reported in the right spirit of the evening. When asked if Williams should be fired, Scott said, "I disagree with that." "Look, anything with Tiger involved is a story," Scott said. "I value Steve's contribution to my game and having him on the bag. While he's caddying, I hope he can caddie for me." Scott said he did not talk to Williams about it after the awards party - both stayed to the end - or on the course Saturday morning. Asked about comments that Williams was racist, Scott replied, "I think we all know that's not the case." "Those things are not meant to go past that room," Scott said. "Obviously, somebody took it out and that's the way it goes. There's really no safe haven for what you say, and so you've got to be careful." Players who were at the party were careful to say nothing. Ian Poulter walked away when the topic arose. Lee Westwood resorted to his dry wit when he replied, "I've had an ear infection for two weeks and I couldn't hear a lot of what was going on, so it would be wrong for me to comment on anything." Beyond his choice of words was the deep resentment Williams expressed. "It's just unfortunate that there's been such an argument between a player and a caddie," U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy said. "I've heard that Stevie has apologized for his comments, and I think now that he's done that, everyone can just move on and put it behind them." Not so fast. Woods and Scott are supposed to be in the same group next week at the Australian Open, and the following week is the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne, where there is the chance they could face each other. Scott feels stuck in the middle, so maybe it's appropriate that he has a home in Switzerland. "I don't think it should be awkward for me," Scott said. "I'm the guy stuck in the middle, but I don't really have a gripe with either guy. So it's for them to sort out between themselves." Some felt that Williams should have lost his job three years ago when he used a disparaging comment about Mickelson during a dinner in New Zealand. Woods had him apologize to Mickelson. McDowell was among several players who did not believe Williams was being racist with his comments, particularly in a night filled with slapstick humor. "He takes one word out of that sentence, and nothing gets said about it," McDowell said. "These are racially sensitive times, especially in sport." Last month, English soccer star John Terry allegedly made racial comments toward an opponent in Chelsea's 1-0 loss to Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League. McDowell called the situation with Williams "very sticky." "I kind of feel bad for him in many ways because it was a very humorous evening," he said. "And it's unfortunate that it's come out as negatively as it did."

A long year for McIlroy, a sprint to the finish

SHANGHAI (AP) — The smattering of conversations suddenly gave way to the constant shutters of cameras Wednesday night at Le Meridien hotel, and there was no mistaking who was causing all the commotion. U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy could barely make his way across the room without being stopped. He stood tall as he posed with a Chinese businessman, and stooped over for another picture with a young girl, smiles everywhere. At his side was Caroline Wozniacki, the No. 1 player in women's tennis and the girlfriend of golf's newest star. McIlroy wasn't bothered by all the attention. As he said earlier Wednesday before a room packed with reporters at the HSBC Champions, it comes with his expanding territory. Only now, the fuss is for more than just his golf. It already has been a long year for McIlroy, who now embarks on a sprint to the finish when he tees off Thursday in the final World Golf Championship of the year. On the course, he went from a Sunday meltdown at the Masters to blow a four-shot lead to an overwhelming performance in the U.S. Open at Congressional, where he went wire-to-wire to win his first major and shattered the scoring record in an eight-shot win. Off the course, he is part of sport's new power couple - "WozIlroy" - and then really caused a sensation when he chose to leave longtime agent Chubby Chandler of International Sports Management to join Horizon Sports Management, a Dublin agency that represents good friend and fellow U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell. "It's been an interesting year," McIlroy said. "A lot has happened. There's been incredible highs and the one very disappointing low. But I think that disappointing low was needed to experience the incredible high of Congressional. So it's been a great year. When I get a chance to reflect on it over Christmas and the new year, it's been a fantastic year and I wouldn't take it back." The reflection can wait. McIlroy won't get into specifics over why he left Chandler, only that he wants to concentrate on winning tournaments. Chandler raised the notion that Wozniacki had become a big influence on him, while Lee Westwood tweeted that the move was "bizarre." In his first tournament since the split, McIlroy opened with a 64 against a world-class field last week in the unofficial Shanghai Masters, then beat Anthony Kim in a playoff to win $2 million, the richest payoff of any tournament in the world. He can only hope that serves as a springboard toward a spectacular finish. McIlroy is about $1.8 million behind Luke Donald on the European Tour money list going into the final month of the season. Donald, who won the PGA Tour money list by closing with a 64 to win Disney two weeks ago, was unable to play the HSBC Champions because his wife is expecting their second child. Winning at Sheshan International comes with a $1.2 million check, which could make a big dent in the deficit as players make their way to the season-ending Dubai World Championship. "With him not being here this week ... I feel like I've got a chance to cut into the lead a little bit," McIlroy said after enduring a steady rain in the pro-am. "It would be fantastic to get another win, the second win in two weeks, and cut into that lead. But it's such a strong field here, and there's a lot of guys with a chance to win." Missing from the field is Tiger Woods, winless in two years and ineligible for the first time at a WGC. Phil Mickelson, a two-time winner of the HSBC Champions, chose to stay home with family before consecutive weeks in the Singapore Open and Presidents Cup. Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Steve Stricker and Webb Simpson aren't playing. Even so, the field remains strong with a heavy influence of European players and enough PGA Tour players - Nick Watney, Hunter Mahan, FedEx Cup champion Bill Haas and all four major champions - that there will be no shortage of challengers. And it's meaningful for plenty of these players, such as PGA champion Keegan Bradley. The HSBC Champions counts on the PGA Tour if one of its members wins, and that would give Bradley a tour-leading three wins this year, including a major. No one argues that Donald has had the best year - not Bradley, not even McIlroy - although the PGA Tour delayed sending out the awards ballots until after this week. "Luke Donald has had such a great year," Bradley said. "I think it would be difficult to beat him. But I definitely think a win would help." It's been a great year, and certainly a memorable one, for McIlroy. First came his collapse at Augusta National, where he shot 80 in the final round to blow a four-shot lead. That was followed by a flawless performance at the U.S. Open to capture his first major. He stumbled at the British Open, on the links and after his round when he complained about too much wind, and he had a jarring moment at the PGA Championship when he tried to hit a 7-iron through a tree root and injured his right arm. McIlroy recovered, and he has not finished worse than third since the PGA Championship. Meanwhile, his star power grows. He first noticed that a month after the U.S. Open, when he walked into a press conference at Royal St. George's and saw every seat occupied, with a dozen or so reporters lined up against the wall. "It was the first time I had really addressed the media after Congressional, and it was a bit of a shock to me, to be honest," McIlroy said. "I feel as if I'm learning to deal with it a little better, and it's quite an adjustment to make. But that's just part and parcel of what we do. And I'm very glad to be in this position, very glad that people are interested in me."

PGA champ Bradley opens with a 65

SHANGHAI (AP) — A dream year for PGA champion Keegan Bradley might not be over yet. Bradley relied on his power off the tee and enough key putts Thursday for a 7-under 65 in the HSBC Champions to open the final World Golf Championship with a two-shot lead. Bo Van Pelt, coming off a big win last week in Malaysia, twice ran off three straight birdies and joined the Swedish duo of Alex Noren and Fredrik Jacobson at 67. The group at 68 included K.J. Choi and David Toms. Defending champion Francesco Molinari was challenging the lead late in his round as a light rain began to fall, but a double bogey-bogey finish sent him to a 70. Rory McIlroy, with Caroline Wozniacki following him inside the ropes, made two late birdies to salvage a 70. What made the opening round at Sheshan International so rewarding for Bradley was the company he kept. He played alongside Lee Westwood and Adam Scott, each of whom had a 69. "Every week, I'm amazed at who I'm around," said Bradley, who only a year ago had just secured his PGA Tour card. "And to be in a group like that in this tournament, and to play like that on this course is very rewarding and it means a lot to me." The rewards might not be over yet. The PGA Tour delayed sending out its postseason awards ballots when it realized the HSBC Champions, which it does not treat equal to the other WGCs, still counts as an official victory if a tour member wins the title. A win by Bradley would be his third of the year - one of them a major, another a world championship - and it might be enough to merit strong consideration as player of the year, which is a vote by PGA Tour members. Luke Donald is considered a heavy favorite with two wins, the money title and Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average. Donald could not come to Shanghai because his wife is expecting their second child. Asked if his opening 65 might have made Donald nervous, Bradley laughed. "Maybe," he said. "You know, all I'm trying to do is win this golf tournament. I know there's a lot on the line, and there's some awards to be won. I'm sure Luke is not very interested in this tournament. I'm sure he's sleeping. But I hope to keep playing well and those fall where they fall." Bradley played bogey-free on a course that was still soft from relentless rain the day before, though it still had enough bite if players weren't careful. Graeme McDowell, coming off an embarrassing weekend in Spain in which he failed to break 80 on the weekend, had seven birdies in a round that was marred by a double bogey on the 17th. Italian teenager Matteo Manassero made only five pars in his round of 82. Tom Lewis, who won the Portugal Masters in his third event as a pro, opened with a 78. Bradley took advantage with one booming tee shot after another. He opened with a birdie after a wedge to 3 feet on No. 10 and drilled a hybrid 3-iron over the water to 20 feet on the 18th for an eagle. He had three birdies and an eagle on the par 5s, and kept bogeys off his card with a nice up-and-down from the bunker on No. 7 and a two-putt from some 60 feet on his final hole. Van Pelt got off to a sluggish start and then continued his amazing play in Asia. He won the Asia Pacific Championship last week by six shots, and is 28-under par in his five rounds during this two-week Asian excursion. Toms holed out for eagle on the par-4 16th, which is 288 yards and tempts the big hitters to reach the green. The best shot of the day might have belonged to Westwood, who hit 5-wood from 250 yards on the par-5 14th and saw it clear the water and hit the pin before settling a few feet away for an eagle. Westwood lost by one shot to Molinari in a great duel at Sheshan a year ago and knows his way around this place. McIlroy, meanwhile, is relying on his memories of a 63 two years ago to lift his spirits. Coming off a $2 million win last week across town at Lake Maleren, he three-putted for bogey on the opening hole and twice watched short birdie putts horseshoe around the cup. Following along was Wozniacki, his girlfriend and the No. 1 player in women's tennis, asking questions about a game she is just starting to learn. Without being here, Donald is a focal point in two respects. He still figures to get plenty of votes for PGA Tour player of the year, although Bradley could affect that. Donald also is trying to become the first player to win the money title on the PGA and European tours, and he has a $1.8 million lead in Europe over McIlroy. Despite opening with a 70, McIlroy was only five shots behind with three rounds ahead of him and was not at all discouraged. "It's a huge event anyway, but for me, it's a big event in the course of the season just because I feel like if I can play well this week, I can eat into Luke's lead a little bit," McIlroy said.

New Golf Books Index

Throughout the year, we'll be keeping you up to date on the golf books of 2011 — what's out, what's coming out, and what they're all about. Check below for 2010's books. 2011 NOVEMBER Golf Magazine: The Best Driving Instrution Book Ever Editor: David DeNunzio Publisher: Time Home Entertainment Next up on the tee, our friends in Time's hardcover division with another snazzily illustrated instructional full of nuts, bolts, tips, drills, theory, practice, and -- for good measure -- a bonus DVD loaded up with 16 ways to let the big dog dominate. Top 100 teachers like Mike Adams, P.J. Tomasi, Jim McLean, Jim Hardy, and Mike Bender advise on every aspect of whacking it long and keeping it straight, from mechanics and set-up to finding the right driver for unsheathing the titanic driver trapped inside us all. Golf Magazine: The Best Instruction Collection Ever: The Most Complete Guide To Improving Performance in the Three Most Critical Areas of Your Game Publisher: Time Home Entertainment Here's where it all comes together: a three-book instructional suite uniting our individual volumes on driving, short game, and putting into a single package. The gang's all here -- the Top 100 instructors and their insights, the unbefuddling prose, the full-color illustrations, and a trio of accompanying DVDS. Prime yourself now. Another season's just around the corner. OCTOBER Golf Courses: Great Britain and Ireland Authors: David Cannon Publisher: Rizzoli The tariff on Cannon's new stunner runs about the same as the freight for seven holes at Pebble ($195); "Courses" is a thrill-for-thrill exchange for even the seven on Carmel Bay -- plus you can take it home with you. Cannon's one of the two best course photographers on the planet, and his book's leviathan format -- with gatefolds extending beyond the leather to a full five feet -- shows off his moody, dreamy golfscapes gorgeously. Through his lens, even the usual suspects -- St. Andrews, Turnberry, Prestwick, Royal County Down, Brancaster -- come off in new light from unexpected angles. Granted, the volume's a luxury, but what journey through the game's trophy addresses isn't? Brassies, Mashies, & Bootleg Scotch: Growing Up on America's First Heroic Golf Course Author: Bill Fitzpatrick Publisher: University of Nebraska Press What "Brassies" lacks in length, it makes up for in charm, warmth, and the window it opens onto the National Golf Links and a bygone era of the game. The son of the course's Depression-era greenkeeper, Fitzpatrick worked on the crew and caddied for the swells, and his memoir recollects the old days -- the faces and the place -- less with nostalgia than with a boy's wonder three quarters of a century after the fact. His remembrance of C.B. Macdonald's visit -- by ambulance on his deathbed -- for one last whiff of the place he built is a genuine nugget. SEPTEMBER Unconscious Putting Authors: Dave Stockton with Matthew Rudy Publisher: Gotham Books Golf's simplest lessons are the ones that prove most effective and tend to stick. Maybe that's why the path to Dave Stockton's door has become well-worn. His philosopy is so uncluttered and clear, he's emerged as the go-to guy for the likes of Rory and Yani and Michelle and Phil. His secret, like his book, is short and sweet and resides primarily in lightening -- and enlightening -- the dark abyss between our ears. Stockton preaches the benefits of a forward press in the swing and an unconscious mind -- not the same thing as as an empty one -- over the ball. Putting, for Stockton, is about feeling, not thinking; once we've banished the paralyzing march of fixes, fears, and failures, a whole other opportunity presents itself: to just feel the stroke and get the ball rolling. The 3-Degree Putting Solution: The Comprehansive, Scientifically Proven Guide to Better Putting Authors: Michael Breed with John Steinbreder Publisher: Gotham Books The ebullient host of "The Golf Fix" and a regular contributor to Golf Magazine , Breed codifies and lobbies for a tactic that some of the game's best putters intuitively incorporated into their putting: delofting the club to eliminate backspin and produce a smoother roll. The methodology is uncomplicated, but ingraining it takes practice; Breed spawns a variety of drills to go with sound advice for reading greens, so only one negative remains: the angle at which the clubface collides with the golf ball. AUGUST The 40 Toughest Shots in Golf: A Pro's Guide To Better Shot Making and Lower Scoring Authors: Todd Sones with John Montelone Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing OK, raise your hands if you look forward to deep rough, fried eggs, uneven lies, hardpan and threading the needle through the trees. Didn't think so. Still, they're the sorts of predicaments we find ourselves in all too often. By effectively assembling a bagful of well-illustrated plans for escaping from dozens of these situations, Sones, a Top 100 Teacher, may not change your outlook about getting into trouble, but he'll certainly bolster your confidence — and technique — for getting out. The Scratch Golfer's Ultimate Trivia Book Author: Don Wade Publisher: Sterling With its hundreds and hundreds of multiple-choice teasers clumped into categories from Bobby Jones to Tools of the Trade, if "Trivia's" not the most mind-numbing golf book of the year, it may well be the most addictive. What other volume reveals that Mark Rolfing was Dan Quayle's college roommate, that Frank Connor and Ellsworth Vines were the only gents to have competed in U.S. Opens in both golf and tennis, and that the 1930 greens fee for hotel guests at Pebble Beach was — get the defibrillator ready — $1.50? And there's more where that came from. Lots more. JULY The Swinger: A Novel Authors: Michael Bamberger and Alan Shipnuck Publisher: Simon & Schuster Consider the set-up: His real name is Herbert, but all call him Tree, and he's the greatest golfer in the history of the solar system. He's rich, he's famous, he's got a spectacular wife, adorable kids, and a yacht almost as big as his ... libido. You can guess the rest, right? Not so fast. With SI's own Bamberger and Shipnuck at the keyboards, the obvious isn't so obvious and it's ha-ha funnier than real life. Sure, the scandal's a hoot, the fall's titanic, and the players -- on and off the course -- identifiable without a scorecard, but this is still a novel, which means after the fall, there's even hope for redemption. Golf Course of Rhymes: Links Between Golf and Poetry Through the Ages Author: Leon S. White, Ph.D. Publisher: Golfiana Press Now for something completely different. White, a retired MIT professor, lets the big doggerel eat in an appealing collection that covers the fairways with reasonable rhymes from Poets Laureate (Britain's John Betjman and America's Billy Collins) to more familiarly versed in other genres, among them Rudyard Kipling, Arthur Conan Doyle, Grantland Rice, Ring Lardner, E.C. (as in Clerihew) Bentley, Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Chick Evans -- yes, that Chick Evans -- and the ubiqiutuos and always reliable Unknown. White seasons his mix with contributions from his own pen, and enjoyable commentary from end to end. Golf Fitness Author: Karen Palacios-Jansen and the editors of Golf Fitness Magazine Publisher: Taylor Trade There's not a swing tip in its pages, but "Fitness" can only improve your game -- and overall health. Filled with stretches, exercises, and full routines (including those of Masters champ Trevor Immelman and LPGA titleist Suzanne Peterson), "Fitness" extends itself to address nutrition, weight, pain and mental outlook. Gary Player pens the foreward. How fitting. Putter Perfection: The Groundbreaking Guide to Finding the Right Fit For Your Game Author: Sean Weir Publisher: Overspin Media So, which putter is hurting your game more, the one holding the stick or the flat stick itself? Weir contends the inanimate one is as organic to success on the greens as the one with DNA, and devotes just under 100 informative pages to what you need to know to assure that the putter and the putter holding it can coexist in peace and harmony. JUNE Wonder Girl: The Magnificent Sporting Life of Babe Didrickson Zaharias Author: Don Van Natta Jr. Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Like that other Babe, this one also casts a mighty shadow. Talented, audacious, and full of pizzazz, she was one of a kind, a tower of sporting achievement, and golf is forever fortunate she chose to embrace the game after mastering so many others. She didn't just promote golf, she barnstormed for it, making the cuts in several PGA events. Her presence alone jumpstarted the fledgeling LPGA, then her courageous return from colon cancer to win the 1954 Women's Open jumpstarted the national imagination. She was so Bunyonesque a character that it's easy to overlook the reality: like that other Babe, her life was just that, a life -- as fragile and flawed as it was fabulous. Van Natta rectifies the oversight. In his sweeping bio, her heart beats loudly on every page. Deane Beman: Golf's Driving Force Author: Adam Schupak Publisher: East Cottage Press In his 20 years as PGA commissioner, Beman's vision changed the face of tournament golf. He steered a collection of events into a juggernaut, built the charity base, lassoed sponsors, sowed the seeds of the Players Championship and the TPCs, shepherded the separation of the Tour from the PGA, fought insurrections, forged alliances, battled equipment makers, raised profiles, and made a lot of people a lot of money. Schupak's scrupulously researched chronicle does more than give Beman his overdue due; by telling Beman's story, he compellingly charts the behind-the-scenes maneuverings that transformed a not-so-simple game into billion-dollar enterprise. Let There Be Pebble: A Middle Handicapper's Year in America's Garden of Golf Author: Zachary Michael Jack Publisher: University of Nebraska Press Every golfer goes through some variation of the mid-life crisis. Not everyone gets to do it on the Monterrey Peninsula. Once the obvious envy is removed from the equation, what's left is an inviting escapade into discovering -- through a diverse cast from Michael Murphy and Clint Eastwood to the caddie corps and the author himself -- why Pebble and its high-rent environs are always so absorbing, especially in an Open season. MAY Four Days in July: Tom Watson, the 2009 Open Championship and a Tournament for the Ages Author: Jim Huber Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books The drama was heart-stoppingly rich in the moment, and remains heart-breakingly rich in retrospect. Watson. 59 years old. Turnberry. The Open. Huber, whose sterling commentaries grace CNN and TNT, carefully reconstructs the unforgettable week in a lively narrative filled with the recollections of those who lived it -- from participants like Watson, his caddie Neil Oxman, and eventual winner Stewart Cink to such interested and interesting parties as Nicklaus, Trevino, and Player. Huber's chronicle is elegant and detailed. It just doesn't change the ending. Championship Golf Courses of Great Britain and Ireland: The Essential Guide to 43 Major Courses Publisher: AA Publishing The British Automobile Association has always had a knack with drivers. In this lavishly illustrated tour guide fit for any golfer's coffee table, the venerable AA displays its mastery of several other parts of the game, not the least of which is inspiring golf dreams. The nearly four dozen included courses cover the waterfront, the parkland, and the heathland from Royals -- like St. George's, Dornoch, Porthcawl and County Down -- to the peerless: St. Andrews, Aberdovey, Ballybunion and Sunningdale. Each has its own pictorial spread and brief write-up. Even better, each arrives with 18 hole-by-hole drawings that amount to a set of tantalizing yardage books. Which should come as no surprise. If the AA can't map a journey, who can? The World Atlas of Golf: The Greatest Courses and How They Are Played Editor: Mark Rowlinson Publisher: Hamlyn When first published in 1976, the "Atlas," now in its sixth incarnation, was a revelation, an instant cornerstone to any golf library. Focusing on the course itself -- as a cunning piece of craftsmanship, not just a destination or a battlefield -- it was big. It was brash. It was smart. It was colorful. It still is, thankfully. It still covers every continent. It's still full of analysis, insight, history, architecture, and advice. And it still comes with its marvelous defining feature: detailed overhead drawings of each of the 80 included courses (though, alas, given satellite photography not every routing is hand painted anymore.) But the original arrived with a murders' row of wordsmiths behind it -- the cosmopolitan foursome of Herbert Warren Wind, Pat Ward-Thomas, Charles Price and Peter Thomson -- and time has sadly erased their contributions and replaced their presence with lesser pens. Mesmerizing and addictive as the "Atlas" remains, nothing can replace the backbone and style of its Founding Fathers. The Art of the Swing: Short Game Swing-Sequencing Secrets That Will Improve Your Total Game in 30 Days Author: Stan Utley with Matthew Rudy Publisher: Gotham Short game guru Utley uses his sequencing concepts to -- well, the book's subtitle tells the story. What it doesn't tell is this: "Art" is the first instructional to incorporate Smartphone TagReader technology. So, in addition to photographs interspersed through the text, tags are sprinkled throughout; point your iPhone or Blackberry and click, and a video appropriate to the point Utley's making magically appears. If only sorting out the swing were that easy. Golf List Mania!: The Most Authoritative and Opinionated Rankings of the Best and Worst in the Game Authors: Leonard Shapiro and Ed Sherman Publisher: Running Press Nicklaus's own list of his five favorite victories? Certainly authoritative. Shapiro on the 10 Greatest Golf Traditions and Sherman on the 11 Greatest Shots of All Time? Opinionated, to be sure. There's much to digest and argue with in "Mania," but, then, what else are lists for? Guest lists contributed by Ian-Baker Finch, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Dan Jenkins, and even Errie Ball, the last survivor of the original Masters, add to the entertainment. Driving Lessons: A Father, Son, and the Healing Power of Golf Author: Steve Friedman Publisher: Rodale You can always tell when Father's Day's on the horizon; squint and you'll see subtitles like this one's. Though Friedman's short, mid-life memoir of reconnection hits the requisite shots of the genre -- lives in flux, father-son loose ends, renewal on the links -- Friedman's a skilled enough writer not to let the conventions sink him. When he was growing up, golf stood between him and his father. In middle-age, he finally ask his father to teach him how to play. Instead of spooning out the treacle, Friedman lets his story resonate with a deprecating wit he directs at himself. Golfing With Dad: The Game's Greatest Players Reflect on Their Fathers and the Game They Love Author: David Barrett Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing You can always tell when Father's Day's on the horizon ... but why sound like a broken record? When a gaggle of tour pros -- from Arnie, Jack and Phil to Peter Jacobson, Christina Kim, and J.J. Henry -- look back on the moments they shared on course with their fathers, expect the expected, and for the most part, that's what "Dad" delivers. There are a few different strokes here and there -- like Brittany Lincicome's dad, a scratch player, sacrifices his own Jones for the game to foster his daughter's -- just not enough to cut the sugar high. Science and Golf: Proceedings of the First World Scientific Congress of Golf Editor: A.J. Cochran Publisher: Routledge In 1990, golf-savvy scientists from around the globe convened for a conference at -- where else? -- the University of St. Andrews to present their research to other golf-savvy scientists. With titles such as "The Analysis of Time Series Decomposition Techniques to the Analysis of Golf Performance" and "The Effect of Sand Type on Ball Impacts, Angle of Repose and Stability of Footing in Golf Bunkers," this collection may not find its way to the bedside table, but some of the presenters have become household names in the game: Gary Wiren, Bob Rotella, and Dave Pelz. Even a quick delve into Rotella's co-written "A Closer Look at the Mind in Golf" can find the seed of several best-sellers planted within.

Houston golf-related donations top $2 M this year

HOUSTON (AP) — The PGA Tour's Houston Open and the Houston Golf Association have generated $2,077,000 this year for city charities. Association officials announced the total on Tuesday. The Houston Golf Association has been funding youth-development programs since 1974. A total of $55.2 million has been donated to charities through the HGA - about $51.46 million since Shell Oil became the tournament's title sponsor in 1992. The money benefits about 200 charities in the Houston area. The HGA raised $2,145,000 in 2010. The Houston Open is the 10th oldest event on the tour schedule. Last year, Shell announced a 5-year extension of its tournament title agreement that will run through 2017.

Bo Van Pelt leads Asia Pacific Classic

SELANGOR, Malaysia (AP) — Bo Van Pelt shot a 4-under 67 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over fellow Indiana player Jeff Overton after the third round of the Asia Pacific Classic. Van Pelt, the winner of the PGA Tour's 2009 U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee, had a 16-under 197 total at The Mines in the second-year event sanctioned by the PGA Tour and Asian Tour. "I just love to play to compete," Van Pelt said "It's not about the money. That's what gets my juices flowing. Like my grandpa always told me, 'You can't take it with you.' "Obviously, any time you're near the lead with 18 to go, you're excited. That's why we practice and why we enter tournaments. That's all you can ask for, to have a chance to win on Sunday. It's exciting, and I'm looking forward to it. It's been a while since I won a golf tournament, so it would be great." Overton, tied for second-round lead with Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson after a course-record 62, had a 69. "It wasn't my day on the greens," Overton said "Didn't make anything." Overton noted the Hoosier connection at the top of the leaderboard. "It's crazy," Overton said. "We're from the same state, Indiana, and probably the only two players in the field or on tour from Indiana. To actually come all the way here, a 12-hour time change, halfway around the world to play golf with each other, it'll be fun." Jacobson (71) and Mark Wilson (67) were 13 under. Van Pelt bogeyed the opening two holes, but countered with birdies on Nos. 3 and 5. He also birdied the 12th and made three more on Nos. 15-17. "I didn't make a big deal after bogeying the opening two holes," the former Oklahoma State star said. "I told myself it wasn't the end of the world and just concentrated on playing my shots. "I think that's the biggest thing I've learned, experience-wise. As much as golf as I've played, in the times I've let a bad start lead to a bad round, it was probably when I made too big a deal out of it, got upset or got quicker (with my swing). I think today was just a good example of not making a big deal out of it and trying to hit good golf shots." Three-time major winner Vijay Singh followed his second-round 64 with a 66 to join Jason Dufner (65) and Malaysia's Danny Chia (6) at 11 under. "I guess the expectation is building up now," Chia said. "Every day when I begin my round, I don't really think about the result. I just want to play my golf. I only started looking at the leaderboard on the second last hole and told myself, 'Hey, I still got an outside chance.'" Defending champion Ben Crane was 8 under after a 68. The winner will receive $1.3 million from the $6.1 million purse.

Sergio Garcia wins Andalucia Masters by 1 shot

SOTOGRANDE, Spain (AP) — Sergio Garcia held off fellow Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez to win the Andalucia Masters by one shot on Sunday for his second straight European Tour victory. Garcia shook off two early bogeys with two birdies on a flawless back nine to card an even 71 and finish with a 6-under total of 278 at the Valderrama course. "It's very, very special. Valderrama ... I have so much history here and unfortunately it wasn't as good as this until now," said Garcia, who had previously finished runner-up three times on the course. Jimenez seized the lead early when Garcia three-putted the sixth hole and bogeyed the next. The 47-year-old Jimenez dropped shots on the 13th and 15th before making a pair of birdies to press Garcia until the last hole. Jimenez had a chance at pulling even with a birdie on the 18th, but his 15-foot putt fell short and Garcia calmly made par. "On 18, we decided to play a little more conservatively and make sure we hit the fairway," Garcia told the European Tour website. "I've been in that situation three or four times on this course. It wasn't easy, but I believed in my ability. To be able to hit the chip I hit there and roll the putt in with the pressure, it was nice." Richie Ramsay of Scotland, who led for the first two rounds, finished two shots back in third, with Irish golfer Shane Lowry a further shot behind in fourth. The 31-year old Garcia won the Castello Masters by 11 strokes last weekend to end a nearly three-year title drought. "It's been two amazing weeks," said Garcia, who became the first Spaniard to win a stroke play event at the cork tree-lined Valderrama course. "I wasn't as good as probably the last 13 days, but we hung on and managed to pull through." Once ranked No. 2, Garcia had dropped outside the top 75 after near-misses at the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie and 2008 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills. His fifth European Tour win on his home soil will lift him back into the top 20. It also qualified him for next week's WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai and moved him to the top of the European Ryder Cup points race. "Ryder Cup years are always special for me," he said. "So hopefully we can make that team."

McIlroy takes 3-stroke lead in Shanghai Masters

SHANGHAI (AP) — U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy shot a 7-under 65 on Saturday to increase his lead to three strokes after the third round of the Shanghai Masters. The 22-year-old star from Northern Ireland made seven birdies in another bogey-free round on Lake Malaren's Jack Nicklaus-designed Masters course to finish at 18-under 198. "Another good day on the course! Excited to have a chance to get another win this year!" McIlroy tweeted, adding the hashtag "itsbeentoolong." American Anthony Kim was second after a 65. He's coming off a third-place finish last week in the Asian Tour event in South Korea. South Korea's Noh Seung-yul was 14 under after a 67. Ian Poulter (67) and Hunter Mahan (68) were 11 under, second-ranked Lee Westwood (70) and Geoff Ogilvy (66) were another stroke back, and Robert Karlsson (72), Padraig Harrington (73) and Y.E. Yang (68) were 6 under. Louis Oosthuizen struggled in the windy, overcast conditions, shooting a 76 to finish at 4 under. The 2010 British Open champion had a double bogey on the par-5 13th and made four bogeys. The 30 players are vying for the $2 million first prize, the richest in golf. All the top players are getting appearance money, and last place pays $25,000. Because the International Management Group-run event isn't sanctioned by a major tour, it doesn't have world-ranking points. The World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions is next week at nearby Sheshan International.

McIlroy take 2-stroke lead in Shanghai Masters

SHANGHAI (AP) — U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy shot a 3-under 69 on Friday to increase his lead to two strokes after the second round of the Shanghai Masters. After opening with a bogey-free 64, McIlroy struggled on the front nine, bogeying the fourth hole and dropping two strokes when he drove into the water on the par-4 ninth. The 22-year-old star from Northern Ireland recovered with four birdies on the back nine to finish at 11-under 133 on Lake Malaren's Jack Nicklaus-designed Masters course. "I liked the birdie on 18, and had a good back nine," McIlroy said. "To shoot four birdies kept me going after the double bogey." Noh Seung-yul was second after a 63. The 20-year-old South Korean player birdied three of the last four holes. He began the round tied for 18th after an opening 72. "I had hurt my ankle and not been able to practice too much and also not be able to swing as hard as I would like," Noh said. "I just decided to be careful with how I played. I putted well and chose good options, which obviously helped my score." The 30 players are vying for the $2 million first prize, the richest in golf. All the top players are getting appearance money, and last place pays $25,000. Because the International Management Group-run event isn't sanctioned by a major tour, it doesn't have world-ranking points. Louis Oosthuizen (66) and Anthony Kim (68) were 8 under, and Padraig Harrington (70) and Hunter Mahan (72) were another stroke back. Ian Poulter (71) and Robert Karlsson (69) were 6 under, and John Daly followed his opening 69 with a 70 to match Lee Westwood (70), Colin Montgomerie (69) and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (69) at 5 under. The World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions is next week at nearby Sheshan International.

Robert Allenby leads Asia Pacific Classic

SELANGOR, Malaysia (AP) — Australia's Robert Allenby shot an 8-under 63 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas after the first round of the Asia Pacific Classic, the second-year event sanctioned by the PGA Tour and Asian Tour. Allenby birdied four of the first six holes and three of the last four in his bogey-free round at The Mines Resort and Golf Club. "I got away with a nice par on the 18th. I made lots of nice putts and hit the ball really well all day," Allenby said. "I had just one wayward tee shot at the last, but I made a good par to save at the last." Winless since the 2009 Australian Masters, Allenby was a captain's pick for the upcoming Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne - the 40-year-old Australian's home course. "I've been playing well for a while, but I just haven't really put the scores on the board," Allenby said. "I've been making a lot of birdies, but a few others have been slipping in there. So to have a bogey-free round and to shoot 8 under around here is a great score." He won his first pro title in Malaysia in the 1992 Perak Masters. Vegas birdied the final four holes. "I had a really good round and hit the ball well," said Vegas, the PGA Tour rookie who won the Bob Hope Classic in January. "I felt like I hit a lot of good putts as well. Hopefully, I can keep the momentum going for the next three days." Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson opened with a 65, and Americans Bo Van Pelt, Cameron Tringale and Jimmy Walker were another stroke back. "I hit a perfect bunker shot," said Jacobson, the Travelers Championship winner this summer for his first PGA Tour title. "That was a bit of a nice one to get. It was 25 yards, with the bunker a little left of the green. If I could have upped-and-downed it from there I would have been really happy." Mark Wilson, Stewart Cink, Jeff Overton, Scott Stallings and John Senden were four strokes back at 67. Defending champion Ben Crane shot a 69. The winner will receive $1.3 million from the $6.1 million purse.

A different ballot for the PGA Tour

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The PGA Tour was going to send its postseason awards ballot to the players on Tuesday until realizing the World Golf Championship in Shanghai counts as official if a PGA Tour member wins. So it will wait until after the HSBC Champions next week. On a slow news day, this became a controversy, and in some corners a conspiracy against Luke Donald. Now players will have only a month, instead of six weeks, to decide which box to check. They might need longer than that to find someone who had a better year than Donald. If what Donald did at Disney was that special - and it was - then it won't be forgotten. Would it not have been worse if the tour became aware of an oversight and chose to do nothing at all? Of course, this could have been avoided if the PGA Tour treated the HSBC Champions like the other three WGC events. It's still a "world" event, even though it's not held in global communities such as Marana, Ariz., and Akron, Ohio. Now that's a controversy. That also can wait. In the two weeks that players will be on pins and needles waiting for those PGA Tour ballots, here are some other awards worth mulling over. BEST MAJOR: It was the first time since 2003 that four players captured their first major, and all were compelling for reasons beyond that. Darren Clarke scores sentimental points, a popular champion whose best golf appeared to be behind him. Rory McIlroy represented the youth movement and smashed scoring records at the U.S. Open. The PGA Championship gets credit for being the only major to go overtime, but that only meant more TV commercials. There simply was no topping Charl Schwartzel at Augusta National. Eight players had a share of the lead at some point in the final round, and the South African became the first Masters champion to birdie the last four holes. So spectacular was the finish that it overshadowed his 60-foot chip for birdie on No. 1 and holing out from the fairway for eagle on No. 3. COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: This award typically goes to a player who returned from some sort of injury, or barring any candidates, a player who really stunk it up the year before. In this case, the vote is for McIlroy. The lasting image from the Masters is the 22-year-old burying his head in the crook of his arm when he finished four-putting the 12th hole from 12 feet on his way to blowing a four-shot lead with an 80 in the final round. Yes, he's young and resilient. But to bounce back two months later and win the U.S. Open by eight shots with a record score was remarkable. By the way, if Steve Stricker goes 5-0 at the Presidents Cup after sitting out nearly two months with a neck injury, does the PGA Tour put him back on the ballot? SHOT OF THE YEAR: The best shots come from the biggest moments, and it's hard to argue with Bill Haas splashing out of the water from left of the 17th hole in a playoff at East Lake to save par and stay in the hunt for the $10 million FedEx Cup, which he won. It was a great shot. It was a greater moment. And because of the water level, it was a great break. For a pure golf shot that not many saw? Go back to Honolulu at the start of the season, when Steve Marino needed an eagle on the last hole to tie for the lead. With his feet in the bunker and the ball chest-high on the side of a hill, Marino hit fairway metal from 234 yards that landed on the front of the green and stopped 40 feet away. He missed the putt. Another consideration would be Stricker, tied for the lead at the John Deere Classic on the 18th hole, his feet pressed against the back of the bunker, the ball below his feet and water between him and the green. From 182 yards, he hit 6-iron just through the green and made the putt to win. BIGGEST BREAKUP: In a peculiar year, this gets plenty of candidates. Start with Tiger Woods and Steve Williams, his caddie for 12 years and 13 majors. It started with Williams going to work for Adam Scott at the U.S. Open, featured a nasty departure a month later, and culminated with Williams' television interview at Firestone calling it the "best win I've ever had." And then there was McIlroy's abrupt departure from agent Chubby Chandler, a surprising turn of events after a summer filled with talk about the "Chubby Slam." The award, however, goes to Mark Steinberg and IMG. Steinberg for so many years was seen primarily as Woods' agent and known in some quarters as "Dr. No" for his propensity to rarely say "Yes." However, he also was the head of the powerful IMG golf division and a major player when it came to creating new tournaments around the world and finding a spot for them on the schedule. BEST PERFORMER: Donald wins under any definition. He turned in the best year, no matter what happens in Shanghai, with two wins, the most money and the lowest scoring average. If that's not enough, his top 10 finishes - 14 of 19 - was the highest rate this side of Woods. Under the circumstances, was there a better performance than his six straight birdies on the back nine at Disney? Still, his best performance came in the high desert of Arizona at the Match Play Championship. Donald never trailed in any of his six matches. Even more incredible, he never played the 18th hole except in a practice round.

Flash to the past: star golfers return Down Under

COOLUM, Australia (AP) — Not since the heady days of regular appearances by Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer have so many top players decided to travel Down Under to play in three Australasian PGA tour events spread over six weeks. Credit the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne in mid-November for having a large part to do with it. The challenge for Australian golf officials will be to find a way to entice stars like Tiger Woods, British Open champion Darren Clarke and top-ranked Luke Donald to return next year. The Australian Open at Sydney from Nov. 10-13, in particular, reaped the benefit of players who wanted to arrive a week ahead of the Nov. 17-20 Presidents Cup to get over jet lag and familiarize themselves with Australian conditions. Captain's pick Woods and his U.S. teammates Matt Kuchar, David Toms, Nick Watney and Hunter Mahan are among the Australian Open entries at The Lakes, along with U.S. captain Fred Couples, his International counterpart Greg Norman, defending champion and International team member Geoff Ogilvy and Adam Scott. "Our field is the best we've ever had," Stephen Pitt, chief executive officer of Golf Australia, which has direct responsibility for the Australian Open, told The Associated Press. "It's not so much all the great players, but the depth, and they're all in terrific form." Also scheduled to play at The Lakes are U.S. Presidents Cup teammates Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson and U.S. Tour Championship winner Bill Haas and International team members Jason Day and captain's pick Robert Allenby of Australia. That's eight of 12 American team members and all five Australians in the International team, including two-time Australian Open champion Aaron Baddeley. The Australian PGA on the Hyatt Regency resort course at Coolum from Nov. 24-27, the week after the Presidents Cup, will feature Day, Watson, Y.E. Yang, Norman, Ogilvy and Scott, to be joined by Northern Irishman Clarke and American Rickie Fowler. Even the Australian Masters, which Woods won in 2009 and will be played Dec. 15-18 in Melbourne, has managed to attract a strong field despite its closeness to the holiday season. U.S. PGA Tour money title winner Donald, who won Sunday's Children's Miracle Network Classic at Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Italian teenager Matteo Manassero and Ian Poulter will be at Victoria Golf Club with defending Australian Masters champion Stuart Appleby. Only three of the top 10-ranked players won't make it Down Under - Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer, who play regularly on the European Tour, which still has five tournaments remaining this year. Phil Mickelson, a member of the U.S. Presidents Cup team, is playing in Singapore the week before the Royal Melbourne event, as is International team member Yang. The star power is a welcome sign - the Australasian Tour has been in decline over the past decade, losing several tournaments due to lack of sponsorship and watching prize money fall behind most events in the U.S., Europe and Asia. The Australian Open and Australian PGA each offer total prize money of $1.5 million this year, with the winner getting $270,000. Most U.S PGA tour events offer purses of at least of $5 million, with the winner often collecting a million dollars. Pitt says the influx of top golfers is an opportunity for the Australian tour to showcase its world-class courses and hospitality, regardless of the lack of prize money. "The bar is very clearly being raised for us, and the challenge will be to maintain some sort of growth to follow on from this year," Pitt said. "The feedback we get from players is that they've always wanted to play the Australian Open in particular, and that's recognition of the status of the tournament. Now we've got to tap into that, give the players a really good experience, and get them to come back." The biggest attraction of the past five years was Woods at the 2009 Australian Masters, which he won after being paid $3 million in appearance money, half of that paid by the Victoria state government. Weeks later, news of his infidelities surfaced, followed by a divorce, injuries and swing changes, leaving his win at Kingston Heath in Melbourne his last tour victory anywhere. He returned to Melbourne a year later to unsuccessfully defend his Masters title when it was played at the Victoria layout. Tim Clark of South Africa won the Australian Open in 2008, but the last non-Australian winner before that was Westwood in 1997. That's a big difference from Player's seven Australian Open titles beginning in 1958 and ending in 1974, Nicklaus' six, including four in the 1970s, and Norman's five, the first in 1980 and the last in 1996. Palmer won his only Australian Open title in 1966 while five-time British Open champion Peter Thomson has three of his native Open trophies. Even in 1966, the Australian Open offered a relatively small purse. When Palmer won at Royal Queensland in Brisbane, his first-place prize money of $1,600 was part of a $6,000 total purse. Nicklaus and Player won the Australian Open the previous two years, so the big three then apparently didn't come Down Under for the money. The Australian PGA has had mostly homegrown and two New Zealand winners since Seve Ballesteros won in 1981. The exceptions were Scotland's Andrew Coltart in 1994 and 1997 and England's David Howell in 1998. Peter Heiniger, the head professional at the Coolum course, says the PGA entry list will have its best international field since the days when Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam and other top players made their way from Europe to Australia. "There is no doubt about it, the profile will be greatly influenced by this summer of golf," Heiniger says. "I think the sponsors will want to jump on board over the next few months. Hopefully, this year will provide a bonus for the years to come."

Donald makes a clear case for player of the year

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Luke Donald can only hope that shooting 30 on his last nine holes to win at Disney was the hard part. His sole reason for entering the final PGA Tour event of the year was to keep alive his bid to become the first player to win the money title on both sides of the Atlantic. The bonus of capturing the PGA Tour money title was that it surely would make him the frontrunner, if not the overwhelming favorite, as player of the year. Donald was better than everyone on the PGA Tour in two of the most relevant categories - money and scoring average. He and six others tied for most wins (two). Of that group, only Keegan Bradley won a major. More telling is that in 14 of his 19 tournaments, Donald finished in the top 10. That's a rate of 74 percent, a level of consistency matched only by Tiger Woods in the last 15 years. There's a reason he has been No. 1 in the world since May. And if that's not enough, Disney provided a rare head-to-head competition with Donald and Webb Simpson playing in the same group all four days. In a winner-take-all situation, Donald birdied six straight holes on the back nine to win. The ballots go out in two weeks, after the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, where the only person who could possibly cloud the decision is Bradley. Even though he has missed 10 cuts and only has four top 10s, he could attract votes with three wins, including a major and a World Golf Championship. Either way, picking the winner is not as easy as it should be. Remember, this is a vote of the players. Perhaps it's only a coincidence that as PGA Tour members start deliberating on player of the year, EA Sports announced the winners of a contest in which fans voted to determine who would join Woods on the cover of its next video game. The winners were Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy, two of the most popular young players in the game. The hope is that player voting doesn't turn into a popularity contest, too. A year ago, Fowler was chosen PGA Tour rookie of the year over McIlroy in a vote that made little sense. Fowler finished only four spots ahead of McIlroy in the money list (No. 22 to No. 26), but failed to win a tournament. McIlroy not only shot 62 on the last day to win at Quail Hollow, he finished third in two majors. Then again, the case could be made that Fowler was a true rookie devoted exclusively to the PGA Tour, while McIlroy was in his third full year as a pro and spent most of his time on the European Tour. Could something like that happen again? Robert Garrigus said he had made up his mind before the tournament even started last week. "I would vote for Webb," he said. "I mean, he's had such an unbelievable year. If you look at how many top 10s he's made (12), it's almost more than some guys have played in tournaments. What has he made, $6 million? That's Tiger money, and that's pretty special. "And not taking anything away from anything Luke has done, but it's pretty neat to see an American do that - finally." So much for looking at performance over passport on the PGA Tour. Then there was Scott Gutschewski, who played with Donald and Simpson in the final round at Disney and witnessed a performance that he described several times simply as "awesome." Does this clear up who wins player of the year? Gutschewski suddenly was at a loss for words. "Is he the best player in the world? Probably," he said almost begrudgingly. "Playing part-time on the PGA Tour, does he get the player of the year? It's a good argument. It's a tough call." Just because Donald is English does not make him a part-time player. The NCAA champion from Northwestern has been a regular in America since 1997. He has two homes, none in England - one is his primary residence outside Chicago, the other in south Florida. Donald has averaged 20.5 starts a year since his rookie season in 2002. Not even Woods plays that many. The rookie vote last year also took place after Europe won the Ryder Cup (again). Is that a factor? It shouldn't be, but with so much attention on the rise of world golf - particularly European golf - there has been a noticeable "us against them" mentality among some Americans. "Obviously when it comes to voting, there's going to be some leniency toward your friends," Donald said. "There's still more American players on the U.S. tour, and I'm sure Rickie has more followers and peers that follow him on the U.S. tour. Again, it's a vote, so it's totally subjective." Donald was asked if he could make a case for anyone else as player of the year, an awkward question in the immediate aftermath of the most gratifying win of his career. "Not sure I could at the moment," he said. "I think I've answered everyone's questions." No matter what happens in Shanghai, the lasting image when it comes to player of the year should be Disney. Except for two majors - Charl Schwartzel making birdie on his last four holes to win the Masters, McIlroy obliterating the scoring record at the U.S. Open to win by eight - Donald's final round at Disney might have been the best performance of the year. Forget for a moment that Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck presented him the bronze trophy. It's a rare occasion in golf when a player knows an opportunity might never come along again, and it's win or else. Think back to Woods in the 2001 Masters attempting to become the only player to hold all four professional majors. That's why Donald's win at Disney rates so high. A chance like this might not come along again, and he seized it in a manner expected of the No. 1 player in the world. It was the kind of performance only seen from Woods at the height of his game. Think of it this way. What if it had been Woods who, in the final tournament of the year that he had to win, shot 30 on the back nine? What if it had been Woods who had as many wins as anyone else, including a World Golf Championship? What if it had been Woods who won the money title and the Vardon Trophy and had 74 percent of his finishes in the top 10? Would there even be a discussion?

Leonard, Kim, Stenson tied at Disney

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Justin Leonard described his round Friday at Disney as a "fun, easy day," and it was every bit of that. He had a 9-under 63 for his lowest round of the year, putting him in a tie for the lead with Henrik Stenson and Bio Kim at the Children's Miracle Network Classic. It was only after his round that he felt as though he was on Thunder Mountain without ever leaving the golf course. Leonard is at No. 144 on the PGA Tour money list and not the least bit worried about keeping his card because he already is exempt through 2012. Because of a misprint in the media guide, reporters didn't understand how he was exempt, leading to confusion - and a brief spell of panic for Leonard - while tour officials researched the regulations to confirm the answer. By the time he headed for the Magic Kingdom for the parade with his four children, all was well. The leaders were at 12-under 132, two shots clear of Nick O'Hern. Gary Woodland was in the group at 9-under 135. The money list is magic at Disney. Webb Simpson and Luke Donald are battling for the money title, and they both played the opening two rounds at 7-under 137, meaning they will be paired again Saturday. Simpson has a $363,029 lead, so the third round looms large for Donald. The stress is at the bottom. The players at Nos. 123, 124 and 125 - D.J. Trahan, Bobby Gates and James Driscoll - all made the cut. Kim is at No. 168 and will have to finish no worse than second to avoid Q-school. Stenson, who had a 64 on the Palm Course, is at No. 180 but is exempt through 2014 from winning The Players Championship. Leonard also has no concern about next year. "I did call the tour a couple months ago and asked about my status. I'm exempt for next year, so I'm not playing with that kind of pressure," Leonard said in his press conference. "I don't know how, I just am. I gave the same look to the telephone. 'How is this guy still exempt?'" It was a reasonable question, for his exempt status on his biography page showed him exempt through his position on the money list in 2010. In the exempt ranking at the front of the media guide, however, it shows him in the winner's category. The answer took time. Andy Pazder, the chief of operations, was out of the state on business and did not have immediate access to the records. It required an official at Ponte Vedra Beach headquarters to go through each year's regulations to provide the correct answer. That took time, and a tour official at Disney didn't want to keep Leonard waiting. He told him the staff was checking on it. "Are you going to eat?" media official Mark Stevens said to him. "I already ate," Leonard replied. "I think I'm going to go throw up." As it turned out, Leonard had the correct information all along. His British Open win in 1997 came with a 10-year exemption. Starting in 2003, the tour began adding to the 10-year exemption with every win. Leonard won five times after 2003, thus he is exempt through 2012. Leonard is not exempt for the Tournament of Champions in Kapalua to start next year, and that's something he now has a chance to remedy at Disney. Over the last few months, he has gone to Morris Pickens to develop some practice strategies, and Dave Stockton Jr. for help getting back to his natural putting stroke. It has paid off so far at Disney, where he took advantage on the Palm for a bogey-free round of 63. Kim had a 65 on the tougher Magnolia Course, and his spot on the leaderboard was far more critical. "I'm not afraid of Q-school, because I'm only 21 and I've got a lot of things to do and a lot of tournaments to do," Kim said. Far more fearful was undergoing heart surgery in his native South Korea while the FedEx Cup playoffs were going on. He previously had the surgery for an irregular heartbeat when he was 11, and knew he was having a problem when he nearly fainted at the Wyndham Championship in August. He was back to playing golf before long, and now is hopeful of a big week. Simpson had a bogey on the final hole at Magnolia for a 69, while Donald battled a sinus infection and a lack of energy on his way to a 71 as they at least stayed in the game. Their battle was summed up on the 12th hole, when Donald stuffed his tee shot into 2 feet, and Simpson followed with a shot into 3 feet. Both made birdie. "I think both of us are in the same mindset and trying to win the golf tournament," Simpson said. "We want to beat not only each other, but we want to beat the field. I feel that's just natural as competitors. He's got a little further to go. All it takes is a good weekend, and he would be right there." Donald can finish no worse than a two-way tie for second, provided Simpson finishes down the leaderboard. It's a tall order for Donald, the No. 1 player in the world. "I'm going to need to go low on the weekend," Donald said. That won't be the case for a pair of British Open champions, David Duval and Ben Curtis, who both missed the cut. Duval was outside the top 150 on the money list, meaning he would have to go through two stages of Q-school to get his card back. Having gone through Q-school last year, the former world No. 1 is likely to take a year relying on sponsor exemptions and his status as a past champion. Curtis was at No. 149 and likely to fall out of the top 150. Curtis still has the option of playing the European Tour, where he is exempt, while also playing the PGA Tour. Meanwhile, four players from the Champions Tour all made the cut. Michael Allen, whose only win was the Senior PGA Championship two years ago, had a 66 and was in the group at 9-under 135. Others playing the weekend are Mark Calcavecchia, Tom Pernice Jr. and Tom Lehman. Leonard (63) and Stenson (64) played on the easier Palm course, while Kim had a 65 on the Magnolia.

McIlroy splits from agent Chandler after 4 years

LONDON (AP) — U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy split from agent Chubby Chandler on Friday to join Ryder Cup partner Graeme McDowell at a Dublin management company. The 22-year-old Northern Irishman had been represented by Chandler's International Sports Management since turning professional in 2007. McIlroy will now be affiliated with Horizon. "I am now keen to move onto the next stage of my career and I feel this will be facilitated by a fresh view and a new structure around me," McIlroy said in a statement. ISM said it took "great pride ... in guiding him successfully through his formative years as a professional golfer." McIlroy, ranked No. 3, thanked Chandler for his "guidance, representation and management." "Chubby and his team have played a very important role in my success to date," he said. "I have made great progress under their management and for that I will always be grateful."

Arnold Palmer christens Hilton Head redesign

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Arnold Palmer thought long and hard 40 years ago about moving to Hilton Head. And it was easy to see why after the reception the legendary golfer received Thursday in his latest visit to the island. Palmer was on hand to christen his latest signature course, a redesigned Wexford Plantation layout. He was cheered and celebrated by several hundred fans that turned out to revel in his every move. Palmer gained the undying affection of the region when he won the first-ever Heritage Classic in 1969, bringing national exposure to a largely unknown recreation area. He said he and late wife, Winnie, loved the area and considered locating here back in the late 1960s before choosing Bay Hill, Fla., which hosts Palmer's annual PGA Tour event each March. Those feelings haven't let up for either side more than four decades later. "Winning here was very important in many ways," Palmer said. "I loved Hilton Head and really considered settling here." The fans acted like he already had, following their idol's every move and applauding everything he did, even shouting down a resident at the clinic who had some questions about the redesigned 11th hole could lower his home's resale value. They laughed at his jokes, snapped pictures with cellphones and clapped at just about everything Palmer did. "We all became part of 'Arnie's Army,' didn't we?" said Porter Morgan, a Wexford member. Palmer took a tour of all 18 holes, then put on a clinic for spectators, showing off the swing that in its heyday won four Masters, a U.S. Open and a British Open among 62 PGA Tour titles. These days, the 82-year-old Palmer said he barely plays and does not practice the way he used to as his swing-speed has slowed significantly. "Someone asked, 'Why don't you have your spikes on?'" Palmer said. "I don't even need them." Still, Palmer hit several crisp shots and took questions from the gallery. He was asked about his start in golf and recounted how at 2, he began going to the course with his golf professional father, Deacon, because of Palmer's newborn sister. His father fashioned clubs out of small sticks for his toddler to grip and swing. A few years later, Palmer was playing every day and practicing as often as he could. He's made some sacrifices because of age, using hybrid irons instead of the blades he struck as a younger man. Palmer said he still puts together his clubs from pieces sent to him. Palmer kept urging those ringing his clinic area to push back, joking that he couldn't be sure what direction his shots might fly. He needed have worried, striking the ball solidly on the new practice range built in January and February. About his only wayward ball came on the ceremonial opening drive on the first tee when he hooked his shot into the trees. "No, that doesn't count," said Palmer, sounding like every duffer who ever played the game. The crowd egged him on for a mulligan, which Palmer struck much better to land in the fairway. The driver will be framed and hung in Wexford Plantation's clubhouse. Hilton Head Mayer Drew Laughlin read a proclamation making Thursday, "Arnold Palmer Day" on the island. "I don't know that I deserve it, but it's fun," he said. Palmer said he followed the Heritage tournament's recent search for a replacement title sponsor after Verizon left and did what he could to encourage businesses to look at backing the tournament. RBC stepped in this past June to sponsor the PGA Tour event the next five years. Palmer keeps up with the game and enjoys watching young, rising stars like Webb Simpson and Rory McIlroy reinvent the sport. Palmer wishes the business side of things was as strong as what he sees on the PGA Tour. He said his design company is down from 29 people to three as the demand for courses has declined. He is among those bidding to design the Olympic golf course when the sport's makes its debut for the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016. He also hopes golf's young bombers don't make smaller, tighter layouts like Harbour Town Golf Links, site of Palmer's Heritage victory 42 years ago, obsolete. Palmer remembered the narrow fairways and small greens designed by Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus. "It was so narrow, I had to walk single file with my caddie," he said. "But the straightness I hit it with is really what afforded me the championship."

McGowan takes two-shot lead at Castello Masters

CATELLON, Spain (AP) — Ross McGowan shot a 7-under 64 on Thursday to take a two-shot lead after the opening round of the Castello Masters. The Englishman, ranked No. 543, holed his approach to the par-4 No. 17 for an eagle and made five birdies in a faultless round that left him two strokes ahead of Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti and England's Richard McEvoy. "It's nice to be playing well again and up in contention. I'm just trying to play each shot at a time and put up a good result at the end of the week," said McGowan, who carded a 64 to lead the Madrid Masters two weeks ago before falling out of the running. Hometown favorite Sergio Garcia shot 67, leaving him among a group of players at 4 under that includes Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey - making his first appearance since winning the Dunhill Links. The 31-year-old Garcia, searching for his first European Tour win in almost three years, was 1 over at the turn before sinking five birdies on the back nine. "It was a slow start, but ... then I got going," he said. Defending champion Matteo Manassero opened with five straight birdies, but a double-bogey on No. 15 slowed him down and he finished with a 69. Tom Lewis, last week's Portugal Masters champion, recovered from a poor start and finished with a 71, while American Anthony Kang shot 70 and two-time major winner John Daly had a 73.

Fred Couples wins Champions Tour event

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Fred Couples ran away with the Champions Tour's AT&T Championship, shooting a bogey-free 6-under 66 on Sunday for a seven-stroke victory - the largest margin on the 50-and-over tour this year. Couples opened with rounds of 65 and 62 and finished at 23 under on TPC San Antonio's Canyons Course. He won for the second time this season and sixth time in two seasons on the tour. "I haven't had a seven-shot lead since '92 or '90 or whenever the heck it was," said Couples, who teed it up ahead by seven to start the day. "I probably may never ever get another one. It's a weird feeling, and I was kind of unnerved (on the front side). But once we got to the back nine I played much better and I pulled away to a lead that was plenty." Mark Calcavecchia shot a 66 to finish second. Charles Schwab Cup points leader Tom Lehman and John Cook tied for third at 14 under. They also closed with 66s. The closest anyone came in the final round was four strokes when Calcavecchia holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the 10th hole, but Couples birdied five of the last eight holes, including the final two. Last year at The Woodlands outside Houston, he also had a seven-stroke victory. Couples' 54-hole total of 193 broke the tournament record of 195 set by Mark McNulty in 2005 on the par-71 Oak Hills Country Club course. Couples earned $270,000, giving him $957,753 in nine starts on the Champions Tour this year. He's the U.S. captain for the Presidents Cup next month in Australia. Couples birdied the first three holes to start each of the opening two rounds. On Sunday, he parred the first five holes. His first birdie came on the par-5 sixth, but Calcavecchia matched it to stay six back. Calcavecchia, second in the Schwab Cup standings, made it a bit interesting. After Couples lipped out a birdie putt from about 5 feet on the seventh, Calcavecchia stuck his tee shot on the par-3 eighth to 10 feet and sank the putt. And his 12-footer on No. 10 cut Couples' lead to four. "Even then I knew I was in a battle for second," Calcavecchia said, "and that's what I was aiming for." Calcavecchia left a birdie putt on the edge on No. 11 from 15 feet, and Couples made his from 8 to get the lead back to five. He holed a 10-footer No. 12 to go to 20 under and six ahead. "Nos. 11 and 12 are very good driving holes and those were probably two of the best drives I hit all day and I birdied them both," Couples said. "Unless (Calcavecchia) was going to birdie every hole, the odds were against him catching me." It was the final full field on the Champions Tour. The top 30 in the point standings are headed to the Charles Schwab Cup on Nov. 3-6 at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.

Crane rallies to win McGladrey Classic

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) — Ben Crane wasn't sure why he was even playing the McGladrey Classic. The real mystery came Sunday afternoon, when he sat down next to a shiny silver trophy. "What the heck am I doing here?" Crane said. His wife is expecting their third child, though a Caesarian section is scheduled for Monday in Dallas. Crane thought about withdrawing five minutes before his tee time Thursday because of a sore hip that was getting worse. And with 11 holes left in the tournament, he was seven shots out of the lead. Crane ran off four straight birdies around the turn, then another batch of four straight birdies for a 7-under 63. He wound up winning in a playoff when Webb Simpson missed a short par putt on the second extra hole. "I'm in a little bit of shock - a lot of shock," Crane said. "I don't know how those guys played, but I know I played just about as good as I can play." Michael Thompson, a 25-year-old tour rookie who had a one-shot lead going into the final round, stretched the margin to three shots on the front nine until he stalled. He hit his tee shot into a hazard on the 18th hole, made bogey and shot 69 to finish one shot out of the playoff. Billy Horschel, also playing in the last group, imploded early and late and shot 75. Simpson closed with a 66, despite not making a birdie over his last seven holes. The playoff - the 18th this year on the PGA Tour to extend a record - looked as though it might go longer when Crane made a 5-foot comebacker for par on the 17th. Simpson only had to knock in a putt just over 3 feet for par, but it caught the right edge and spun away. "As soon as I hit it, I looked up expecting it to be going in, and saw it catching the right lip," Simpson said. "It was unfortunate to end that way." Despite missing a chance to become the PGA Tour's only three-time winner this year, Simpson's runner-up finish gave him a commanding lead over Luke Donald in his late bid to win the tour's money title. Crane, who earned $720,000 for his first win this year, and Simpson finished at 15-under 265 at Sea Island. Starting the day five shots out of the lead, Crane thought a 63 or 62 might be enough. He really didn't pay much attention, not realizing until he saw a leaderboard on the 16th hole that he was still in the game. His 7-iron on the 14th stopped a foot from going in. His 3-wood on the par-5 15th set up a two-putt birdie from long range. Once he knew the score, Crane was at his best with the putter, holing birdie putts of about 20 feet on the 16th and 17th. "I thought, 'Well, I need to make two birdies in three holes.' Do you guys have any idea how many times we say that to ourselves? And how many times does it actually happen?" It did on Sunday, giving Crane is fourth career win. With his runner-up finish, Simpson moved to the top of the money list by $363,029 over Donald. Both have entered the season-ending tournament next week in Disney, though Donald's task became a lot more difficult. At the very least, Donald would have to finish no worse than a two-way for second to have any chance to move past Simpson and resume his bid to become the first player to win money titles on the PGA Tour and European Tour. Donald already has a comfortable lead in Europe. "Finishing second is going to make it a lot harder for Luke," Simpson said. "But I'm sure he's going to play well. He's played well most every week this year. I still wouldn't be surprised if I have a little work to do next week." Crane was playing his last official PGA Tour event of the year. His wife, Heather, is home in the Dallas area and they arranged for the birth to be on Monday. If all goes well - and Crane gets good news from a hip scan Wednesday - he might go to Malaysia to defend his title in the unofficial Asia Pacific Classic. Thompson missed a 5-foot birdie putt on the 15th that would have given him the outright lead, and then his nerves started to show with errant tee shots. He got away with one on the 16th, but not on the final hole, when his tee shot went into the hazard and cost him a penalty drop. "All I think about on those tee shots is just hit in the middle of club face," Thompson said. "And for one reason, that one tee shot I didn't. And It got me." The small consolation was a third-place finish that assures him keeping his card for next year. Also locking up his card was Bud Cauley, the 21-year-old who left Alabama after his junior season to turn pro. Cauley shot 67 and tied for 15th to earn $64,000, and now is the equivalent of No. 112 on the money list. He is only the sixth player to go from college and earn his tour card without having to through Q-school, and Cauley joins Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson as the only players to accomplish that feat in eight starts or fewer. "It's very exciting for me," Cauley said. "I can't wait to come out here and play all year out here." A pair of major champions had their best finish of the year. Louis Oosthuizen, who won at St. Andrews last summer, was one shot out of the lead until a bogey on the 18th. He closed with a 66 to finish fourth. Former Masters champion Trevor Immelman, slowed the last two years by a wrist injury that eventually required surgery, had a 69 and finished finish. It was Immelman's first top 10 since 2008. DIVOTS: Scott McCarron shot a 68 to tie for sixth, earning a spot in the field next week at Disney. He also moved to No. 145 on the money list, which would at least give him conditional status next year if he stays there. ... Going into the final tournament, James Driscoll is at No. 125 on the money list by $6,287 over Bill Lunde, who already is exempt next year. Billy Mayfair, who won Q-school last year, is at No. 127 by $12,367.

Unheralded Lewis wins Portugal Masters by 2

VILAMOURA, Portugal (AP) — English golfer Tom Lewis shot a 7-under 65 to come from four shots back to win the Portugal Masters on Sunday. Lewis managed five of his seven birdies over the last seven holes for a two shot victory over Rafael Cabrera-Bello, who held a four-stroke lead going into the final round. The Spanish golfer hit into the water on his way to a double bogey 7 at the 12th to see his chances at victory fade. The 20-year-old Lewis finished with a 21-under total of 267 to win in his third event since turning professional. Gregory Havret (64), David Lynn (64), Christian Nilsson (71), Thomas Bjorne (71) and Jamie Donaldson (67) finished two strokes back of the unranked Lewis, who won $568,135.