Scott maintains lead; McIlroy gains ground at Australian Open

SYDNEY -- Adam Scott held a two-shot advantage over Rory McIlroy as the tournament's star players moved to the top of the Australian Open leaderboard at Royal Sydney on Friday. Scott shot 2-under-par 70 for a two-round total of 12-under 132. McIlroy, playing in the morning and avoiding the rain and storms that later hit the course, had a 65. Scott and McIlroy will play together on Saturday in the third round. "It was always going to...

Read More

Charl Schwartzel, Morten Orum Madsen share lead at Alfred Dunhill

South Africa's Charl Schwartzel shot his second straight 68 to join Denmark's Madsen in the lead. Charl Schwartzel and Morten Orum Madsen share the lead after two rounds at the European Tour's Alfred Dunhill Championship. Defending champion Schwartzel shot a second straight 4-under 68 on Friday to join Madsen on 8-under 136 at Leopard Creek in northern South Africa. Denmark's Madsen added a 71 to his opening-round 65 to stay on course...

Read More

Phil Mickelson to return to Scottish Open to defend title

Phil Mickelson said he will return to defend his Scottish Open title in the summer of 2014. Most people remember Mickelson's dramatic win at the Open Championship at Muirfield, coming from five shots back on the final day, but he set the stage for that victory with his win the previous week at the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, his first professional victory on a links course. Mickelson also turned the two events into a Griswolds-style "European...

Read More

McIlroy trails Scott by two

Rory McIlroy shot a second-round 65 to give himself a chance of winning the first trophy of a forgettable year at the Emirates Australian Open. The Northern Irishman will want to put 2013 to bed after an alarming loss of form cost him the world number one spot, but he could at least end it on a high. He trails home favourite Adam Scott by two shots at the midway point at the Royal Sydney Golf club after a fine round which contained nine...

Read More

Hull in contention in India

Thailand's Thidapa Sunawannapura claimed a narrow lead after the second round of the Hero Women's Indian Open on Friday. Sunawannapura could only add a 74 to her opening 66 at Delhi Golf Club, but her four-under-par total of 140 was enough to lead by one from fellow overnight leader Valentine Derrey and England's Charley Hull. Derrey struggled to a 75 while Hull returned a 72 which featured two birdies and two bogeys. Sunawannapura,...

Read More

Alfred Dunhill Championship

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel claimed a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the Alfred Dunhill Championship, despite complaining of some "very, very iffy" pin positions at Leopard Creek. Schwartzel carded a second consecutive 68 to finish alongside South African Open winner Morten Orum Madsen on eight under par, with Madsen's fellow Dane Soren Hansen and England's Ross Fisher a shot behind in second. Despite not dropping a...

Read More

Scott storms into Sydney lead

Masters champion Adam Scott rated Thursday's course-record 10-under 62 at the Emirates Australian Open as one of his best-ever rounds - but maintained his picture-perfect golf swing was not quite where he wanted it to be. The world number two burst out of the blocks with six straight birdies but lost his rhythm midway through his opening round at the Royal Sydney Golf Club and had to settle for eight straight pars. He bounced back with...

Read More

Duo lead the way in India

Thidapa Suwannapura and Valentine Derrey lead the way at the end of day one of the Hero's Women's India Open on Thursday, with the pair tied on six under and holding a two-shot lead over the chasing pack. Thailand's Suwannapura had just one blemish in her opening round of 66, dropping a single shot on the seventh but carding seven birdies to more than make up for the disappointment. Derrey of France performed even better, posting a flawless...

Read More

Mental pressures taking their toll in sport, says McIlroy

The pressure to succeed in sport is pushing more and more athletes towards stress-related illnesses, says Rory McIlroy, who is looking to put a troubled year on and off the course behind him at this week's Australian Open. McIlroy, who slipped from the top of the rankings to world number six after a winless 2013, said the mental toll of sport could far outweigh the physical pressures and cases such as that of England cricketer Jonathan...

Read More

Leader Scott weathers storm as McIlroy makes his move

SYDNEY - Overnight leader Adam Scott battled through the Sydney wind and rain for a mixed bag of a round of two-under-par 70 to take a two-stroke lead over Rory McIlroy at the halfway stage of the Australian Open on Friday. McIlroy, growing in confidence by the round, benefited from easier early conditions to post a nine-birdie 65 and join the world number two at the top of the leaderboard on 10-under before the Australian had even teed off. The...

Read More

Madsen leads at Alfred Dunhill

MALELANE, South Africa -- Morten Orum Madsen leads the Alfred Dunhill Championship after shooting a 7-under 65 in the opening round at Leopard Creek. The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africa's Allan Versfeld and Portugal's Ricardo Santos. Defending champion Charl Schwartzel was in a four-way tie for fourth after...

Read More

Scott hot at Australian Open with 1st-round 62

SYDNEY -- Adam Scott birdied his first six holes en route to a course-record 10-under 62 at Royal Sydney on Thursday to take a three-stroke lead after the first round of the Australian Open. Scott broke the previous Royal Sydney mark of 65 set by five players at the 2008 Australian Open. After Scott's opening birdie run, he made par on the next eight holes before birdieing his final four.Scott is attempting to join Robert Allenby as the only...

Read More

Scott looks to complete Australian Triple Crown

SYDNEY -- Adam Scott has lifted three trophies in three weeks - two from his Australian PGA and Australian Masters wins - and one he shared with Australian teammate Jason Day at last week's World Cup at Royal Melbourne. Scott begins his attempt to complete the Triple Crown of Australian majors on Thursday at the Australian Open at Royal Sydney, which is hosting the country's national championship for the 14th time. He'll play in the same...

Read More

Scott fires course record in 'rollercoaster' round

SYDNEY - Adam Scott shot a course record 10-under-par 62 in the first round of the Australian Open at Royal Sydney on Thursday but the world number two was left ruing a mid-round dip that prevented him from posting an even lower score. Scott has been on fire on a valedictory tour of his homeland over the last few weeks, winning both the Australian PGA and Masters, and helping his country to hoist the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne last weekend. The...

Read More

Golf-European Tour Dunhill Championship scores

Scores from the European Tour Dunhill Championship at the par-72 course on Thursday in Malelane 65 Morten Madsen (Denmark)  65 66 Allan Versfeld (South Africa)  66 Ricardo Santos (Portugal)  66 68 Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)  68 Victor Riu (France)  68 Richard Finch (Britain)  68 David Drysdale (Britain) 68 69 James Kingston (South Africa) 69 Danny Willett (Britain)  69 Gareth Maybin (Britain)  ...

Read More