Stenson Nears Euro Money Title, Leads in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Henrik Stenson closed in on the European Tour money title Saturday, birdieing four of his last five holes for a 5-under 67 and one-shot lead after three rounds of the season-ending World Tour Championship. The Swede was at 17-under 199 and is trying to become the first player to win the FedEx Cup and European title in the same year. Victor Dubuisson of France, coming off a victory in Turkey for his first European Tour win, was in second place after a 64. England's Ian Poulter (66) and Spain's Alejandro Canizares...

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Stenson Retains Dubai Lead; Poulter and Dubuisson Chase

DUBAI — Henrik Stenson fired a five-under 67 in the third round of Dubai's $8-million DP World Tour Championship on Saturday to retain a one-shot lead, although Ian Poulter - who can pip the Swede to Europe's money list title - closed to within four shots. Stenson can win the Race to Dubai, formerly the European Order of Merit, with victory at the tour's season finale, as can Poulter if he prevails over 72 holes at the Earth course and Stenson fails to finish in the top two. Stenson sank four birdies on the final five holes to move to an...

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Westwood's Birdie Splurge Puts Him in Dubai Shake-Up

DUBAI — England's Lee Westwood struck a seven-under-par 65 in the third round of the $8-million DP World Tour Championship on Saturday to give the former world number one a fighting chance of claiming his first European title of 2013. The 40-year-old, who has managed just one top-10 finish on the PGA and European Tours since June, made five birdies on the front nine and picked up further shots on the 10th and 11th. But his charge stalled with a bogey on the 12th and he made par on the remaining holes except for a last birdie on 15 to put...

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Golf Capsules

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Henrik Stenson remained in position to win the European Tour money title, opening a one-stroke lead Friday in the season-ending World Tour Championship. The Swede had an 8-under 64 to reach 12 under after two rounds on Jumeirah's Earth Course. Stenson also leads the Race to Dubai standings. The points champion will receive $1 million from a $3.75 million bonus pool that counts on the final money list. In September, Stenson won the PGA Tour's season-ending Tour Championship to take the FedEx Cup title and $10...

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Golfer in Mexico nearly gets leg bitten off by crocodile

Ever seen a crocodile on a golf course? If you have then you've likely felt about 1/100th of the emotions these four men felt recently during a round in Mexico. Great Britain resident Dougie Thomson was hitting his ball out of a bunker at an Iberostar resort course in Cancun when a crocodile sneaked out of the bushes, sank his teeth into Thomson's leg, and dragged him towards the water. Thomson's buddy Brendan O'Hara tried to save him. "I...

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Nordqvist, Ryu, Phatlum tied for Ochoa Invitational lead

GUADALAJARA, Mexico -- Sweden's Anna Nordqvist and South Korea's So Yeon Ryu each birdied the final hole for a share of the second-round lead with Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum on Friday in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Nordqvist and Ryu shot 5-under 67 to match Phatlum at 9-under 135 at Guadalajara Country Club. Nordqvist and Ryu played in the same group "I'm always really happy to play with Anna," Ryu said. "We have so much fun always, so I love it. We pretty much played so well, especially on the back-nine. We hit a really great shot...

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Tiger Woods on winning 18 majors: 'It takes a career'

Rachel Nichols sat down with Tiger Woods last week in Turkey to talk Lindsey Vonn, his kids, his future, and whether or not he's actually a dork. Woods was more open than usual (though still fairly buttoned-up) and addressed his recent injury history. "To finally come out on the other side where I feel more consistent." He also said that mentally it's taken a while to get back to where he wants to be but that he's finally there. "I didn't go to the range and say 'I have 10 thoughts I need to work on' it was just warm up, go play." On...

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Rory McIlroy admits he was distracted in 2013

We've always gotten a candid Rory McIlroy and usually had an honest Rory McIlroy but now we get a Rory McIlroy laid bare, and it's not pretty, but it is refreshing. McIlroy is in Dubai for the final tournament of the European Tour season and he spoke pretty openly for the first time about what affected him off the course in 2013. "Obviously there have been a few different things to think about and different things occupy your head that...

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Darkness suspends OHL Classic

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico -- Harris English and Robert Karlsson shared the lead Saturday in the rain-delayed OHL Classic when third-round play was suspended because of darkness. English and Karlsson were 15 under overall with 11 holes left in the round. English matched the lowest round of his PGA Tour career in the morning with a 9-under 62 on Mayakoba Resort's El Camaleon course. The 24-year-old former Georgia star won the FedEx St. Jude Classic in June for his first PGA Tour title. "The last three weeks, last two tournaments, my ball-striking...

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LPGA Tour team wins championship

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Stacy Lewis shot 7-under 65 to lead the LPGA Tour team to the championship of the 3Tour Challenge on Tuesday. The LPGA Tour combined for a score of 17 under, edging the Champions Tour by one stroke and beating the PGA Tour by nine strokes. Lewis (31-34) had eight birdies, including six birdies on the first nine holes at the Rio Secco Golf Club, and one bogey to pace the LPGA Tour toward its first 3Tour win since 2009. Last year, the LPGA Tour lost a two-hole playoff to the PGA Tour team. Natalie Gulbis, with four...

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Henrik Stenson leads by 1 in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Henrik Stenson closed in on the European Tour money title Saturday, birdieing four of his last five holes for a 5-under 67 and one-shot lead after three rounds of the season-ending World Tour Championship. The Swede was at 17-under 199 and is trying to become the first player to win the FedEx Cup and European title in the same year. Victor Dubuisson of France, coming off a victory in Turkey for his first...

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Jarrod Lyle returns from second bout of Leukemia at Australian Masters

MELBOURNE, Australia – When Jarrod Lyle returns to golf after a 20-month layoff at the Talisker Australian Masters, he expects some teary eyes on the tee. His among them.  Lyle is 32 years old and will be playing his first tournament since his second fight with myeloid leukemia – his first came at 17. This time, he'll have his wife and young daughter with him Thursday when he starts a tournament that he's not sure he's physically ready...

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Suzann Petersen closing in fast on Major end-of-season LPGA awards

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Just more than three months ago, Inbee Park went to St. Andrews with a shot at becoming the first golfer to win four straight majors in one year. She was No. 1 in women's golf by any measure – world ranking, money list – and it wasn't even close.  But as the LPGA Tour goes into the final two weeks of its season, there's a chance Park won't win any of the major awards. And she might even lose her No. 1 ranking.  Suzann...

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Stenson nears Euro money title, leads in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Henrik Stenson closed in on the European Tour money title Saturday, birdieing four of his last five holes for a 5-under 67 and one-shot lead after three rounds of the season-ending World Tour Championship. The Swede was at 17-under 199 and is trying to become the first player to win the FedEx Cup and European title in the same year. Victor Dubuisson of France, coming off a victory in Turkey for his first...

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Robert Karlsson, Harris English share OHL Classic lead

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — Harris English and Robert Karlsson shared the lead Saturday in the rain-delayed OHL Classic when third-round play was suspended because of darkness. English and Karlsson were 15 under overall with 11 holes left in the round. English matched the lowest round of his PGA Tour career in the morning with a 9-under 62 on Mayakoba Resort's El Camaleon course. The 24-year-old former Georgia star won the FedEx St. Jude...

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Lexi Thompson leads Lorena Ochoa Invitational

GUADALAJARA, Mexico  — Lexi Thompson took the third-round lead on Saturday in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational, positioning herself for a second tournament victory in four starts. The 18-year-old Thompson shot a 5-under 67 in rainy conditions to reach 13-under 203 at Guadalajara Country Club. She had a one-stroke lead over South Korea's I.K. Kim. "The rain definitely affected us somewhat, but I teed off a little bit later with the delay,"...

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R2D contenders

We take a look at what the nine contenders to win the European Tour's Race to Dubai title need to do this week Henrik Stenson: The man everyone must catch at this week's Race to Dubai finale The Race to Dubai reaches its climax this week with the DP World Tour Championship bringing the curtain down on the European Tour season. What's more, there promises to be a thrilling finale at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai with no fewer than...

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OHL Classic: Robert Karlsson and Harris English share lead as bad light stops play

Robert Karlsson: Swede shares lead in Mexico Robert Karlsson remained on track to complete his leg of a Swedish double this weekend by retaining a share of the lead after the third day of the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. The 44-year-old, who won the European Order of Merit back in 2008, was on 15 under after seven holes of his third round when darkness halted play in Mexico. He will return to the El Camaleon course on Sunday as his compatriot...

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Rory McIlroy throws weight behind possibility of Ireland hosting USPGA Championship

Rory McIlroy gives his thoughts on the prospect of the US PGA being staged outside of the States, possibly in Ireland. Rory McIlroy has thrown his weight behind the possibility of an Irish venue hosting the USPGA Championship in the future. PGA of America chiefs announced recently that they were looking into the idea of staging the season's fourth major away from US shores. With Bethpage Black in New York having already been selected...

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DP Tour Championship: Henrik Stenson retained a one-stroke lead after three rounds

Henrik Stenson retained a one-stroke lead heading into the final round of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. The Swede, who will be crowned European No 1 should he follow through with victory on Sunday, had a quiet start to his third round before picking up four shots in the last five holes to card a 67. Henrik Stenson remains in pole position in World Tour Championship after round three and has no intention of...

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Paul McGinley would be delighted to see the PGA Championship staged at Portush

McGinley backs PGA changes Paul McGinley would support any move by the USPGA to take Paul McGinley would support any move by the USPGA to take the final major event of the year on the road. Talk has recently centred upon the possibility of the PGA Championship behind held outside of the United States every five years, in acknowledgment to the game's increasingly global appeal. Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland has been mentioned as...

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DP Tour Championship: Henrik Stenson knows that destiny is in his own hands in Dubai

Henrik Stenson is focused on securing the Race to Dubai by winning the season-ending DP World Tour Championship on Sunday. The Swede can emulate countryman Robert Karlsson and become European No 1 even if he doesn't go on to win in Dubai. But with a one-stroke lead going into the final round Stenson knows that he has destiny in his own hands. "I am trying to avoid all that," the 37-year-old said. "I know I can win the Race to Dubai...

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