Inconsistency on the green leaves McIlroy feeling blue

SYDNEY - Rory McIlroy is driving as well as ever but his putting let him down on Thursday when he ended the first round of the Australian Open seven shots behind leader Adam Scott after shooting a three-under-par 69. The world number six's problems since changing his equipment this year have been well documented and he arrived at the Royal Sydney Golf Club this week still searching for his first title of 2013. After Scott's brilliant round,...

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Madsen on a roll as he takes Dunhill first round lead

Dane Morten Orum Madsen continued his hot streak after Sunday's victory in the South African Open by taking the first-round lead at the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Malelane, east of Johannesburg, on Thursday. His seven-under 65 put him one shot ahead of South African Allan Versfeld and Portuguese Ricardo Santos, who eagled the last for a share of second place. The 25-year-old Madsen was a surprise winner of last week's opening 2014 European Tour event and his form held with eight birdies and one bogey on the picturesque Leopards Creek...

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Hot Scott seeks to finish tour Down Under in style

SYDNEY - World number two Adam Scott's victory lap of his home nation draws to a close this weekend, with the U.S. Masters champion bidding to win the Australian Open for a clean sweep of the country's three marquee tournaments. Amid the grind of training, playing, media appearances and sponsor events, Scott has enjoyed showing off his green jacket to fans and given a huge boost to the embattled local tour which has been devoured by the...

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European Tour Race to Dubai money list

Leading money winners on the 2014 European Tour Race to Dubai on Tuesday: 1 Morten Orum Madsen (Denmark)  174,350 euros 2 Jbe Kruger (South Africa)  101,310 2 Hennie Otto (South Africa)  101,310 4 Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)  49,720 4 Marco Crespi (Italy) 49,720 6 Alejandro Canizares (Spain)  38,940 7 Trevor Fisher Jnr (South Africa)  29,755 7 Johan Carlsson (Sweden)  29,755 9 Garth Mulroy (South Africa)  ...

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Scott wows the Sydney crowds with sizzling 62

SYDNEY - Adam Scott revived memories of Greg Norman's glory days when he wowed the Sydney crowds with a brilliant 10-under-par 62 to take a three-stroke lead after the opening round of the Australian Open on Thursday. The world number two, who managed what even Norman failed to do in his celebrated career by winning the U.S. Masters earlier this year, smashed the course record by three shots as he continued his celebratory tour of his homeland. The...

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John Daly gets scared by cobra in South Africa

John Daly is in South Africa for the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club and he has a problem. Don't worry, John, it's my biggest phobia as well. According to Wikipedia this type of snake is "nervous and high strung" so that sounds fun. Also, it is considered one of the most dangerous snakes in Africa and it can spit venom. Welcome to Leopard Creek! ...

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Biggest turkeys of 2013

Thanksgiving is finally upon us and sure I could post on 394 things I'm grateful for (Jordan Spieth, Nike Covert driver, British Open finish, etc.) but why don't we have a little fun with it and post on the biggest turkeys of 2013 instead? The list is not short -- these are folks who, if given an opportunity, would likely take a mulligan in things they did and/or said in the past golf season. On to the awards! Sergio Garcia -- Garcia...

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Masters: Augusta National spends $8.3 million on potential parking lot

First of all, I just want to tell you guys how good it felt to type "Masters" in the headline there. We are just over four months away from the azaleas and white caddie jumpsuits and It can't get here soon enough. On to the real news. According to Bloomberg, in 2012 Augusta National purchased The Greens on Washington Road which is an apartment complex built back in 1972. 9.8 acres for $8.3 million. Now they're tearing it down. Why?...

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Justin Timberlake takes golf swing at AMA Awards show

Justin Timberlake was presented with the "Favorite male artist (soul/R&B)" award on Sunday at the AMA Awards by Dustin Johnson's fiance, Paulina Gretzky (topical!) He proceeded to give a speech and take a fake golf swing on stage. Timberlake used to sponsor the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open until this season and still maintains a sub-10 handicap because, you know, Justin Timberlake needs more things to be good a...

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Tiger Woods' niece moonwalks

Cheyenne Woods is known mostly as "Tiger Woods' niece" but her golf game isn't a joke. And apparently neither is her dance game (see video above). Woods has over 30 amateur wins and got her first professional win on the SunCoast Ladies Series last fall, and now we know she has a sweet moonwalk. Woods will be competing in the final stage of LPGA Q-school Dec. 4-8.Also, this isn't even the best thing she's done on Instagram in the last...

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Steve Stricker practices in the snow

Steve Stricker tweeted on Tuesday morning that he was going back to work on the range. One problem, the weather in Wisconsin isn't exactly conducive to such a thing as you can see by the photo above.Here's a look at the average low temperature in Wisconsin by month. November-March aren't exactly balmy. Stricker must love it, though. Hunting in the morning, golf in the late morning, hanging with the family in the afternoon.The Steve Stricker...

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Bubba Watson shoots 81 with one club

Bubba Watson shot 81 at Pelican Hill Golf Club in October. Not very good for a Masters champ. Except that he did it with one 20-degree hybrid club and three golf balls. Tim Mitchell of GolfWRX was on hand for the occasion and said Watson told him he somtimes gets bored with regular golf. "Are you wondering if Bubba's other 13 clubs were hijacked on the way to the course? I know I did. But Bubba told one of our staff members that he sometimes...

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