Golf-No top player should be denied Dubai spot - Molinari

Ryder Cup player Francesco Molinari joined the debate over the controversial Final Series rules on Sunday by saying no one in the top-60 of the money list should be denied a place in the season-ending event in Dubai.

The 31-year-old Italian also wants the 20 percent bonus pool money that is awarded to players who compete in all four Final Series events to be scrapped.

The European Tour's new FedExCup-style competition has been golf's hot topic in the last week and a half with leading players like Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia and Charl Schwartzel complaining the regulations are unfair.

"It's not easy to get it right first time, we saw that in America too when the FedExCup started," Molinari told Reuters in an interview during the final round of the $7 million Turkish Airlines Open.

"All four tournaments have good potential, it's a lot of money especially for the European Tour so it's just a matter of making the rules slightly better.

"I don't think anyone should be forbidden from playing at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai even if they don't want to play in the first three events of the Final Series," said Molinari after a closing 67 gave him a share of 25th spot in Turkey.

"I don't think there's any need to say you have to play in two out of the three events before Dubai to be eligible for Dubai. If you are in the top 60 in the money list...nobody should tell you that you can't play."

South African Els, a member of the tour for almost two decades, has described the system as "farcical" while Schwartzel said this week he was thinking about his future on the circuit.

Molinari, who played in the triumphant Ryder Cup sides of 2010 and 2012, said the bonus pool awarded to those who participate in both Shanghai events and the Turkish Open that precede Dubai was a waste of time.

"They brought in the bonus to try to get all the top players in all the Final Series tournaments but it's obvious to everyone that it didn't work," added the Italian.

NOT FAIR

"I think we just need to stress that and not have any sort of bonus. It's silly ... and not really fair for the players.

"I think what would probably make the difference is to increase the bonus pool for the leading 10 in the money-list to get the top players to play in the last few events," said Molinari.

"If you can make more money from your position in the overall money-list I'm sure the top guys will be more involved in these last few tournaments."

Molinari said there was too much golf on the calendar right now and something had to give for the elite of Europe who try to divide their time equally between their own tour and the U.S. PGA circuit.

"There are too many tournaments and each player decides when and where he will play but nobody plays all of them," he explained.

"I think we should be doing our best to keep the best European players competing in Europe, if not for all the tournaments then at least a few of them."

Molinari has been consistency personified this season, chalking up a string of top-20 finishes without managing to add to his tally of three European victories.

"I wasn't really playing my best in the first half of the season but now I feel a lot closer," said the Italian who occupies 14th position in the money list.

"It's just a matter of getting the breaks at the right time, trying hard on the course and making the most of my chances."

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Golf-Nervy Siddikur wins second Asian Tour title

Bangladesh's Siddikur Rahman survived a nervy final round before winning his second Asian Tour title at the Indian Open on Sunday.

The stocky 28-year-old, who led from day one, was a bundle of nerves as he laboured to a final round of three-over 75 for a tournament total of 14-under 274 at the Delhi Golf Club.

"I was two-under after a couple of holes so I was confident that I could win but somehow I stumbled but I still had the confidence. This is the best week of my life," Siddikur said.

Indians Anirban Lahiri and S.S.P Chowrasia, who missed a five-foot birdie putt to force a playoff, finished one shot behind after carding 70 and 72 respectively.

Siddikur went into the final round with a four-shot lead but made five bogeys and a triple bogey which nearly cost him his second Asian Tour title since winning the 2010 Brunei Open.

"Since Brunei, I've always played badly on the last day. I also played badly today but thankfully I still managed to win," said Siddikur.

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UPDATE 1-Golf-Happy homecoming as Scott wins Australian PGA

Scott thrives after storm

* Fowler second

Adam Scott stormed to victory by four strokes at the Australian PGA Championship to celebrate his homecoming after winning the U.S. Masters in some style on the Gold Coast on Sunday.

The world number two was made to wait for his win by rain and lightning that stopped play for nearly two hours but came out firing after the break to complete a round of four-under-par 67 for a tournament total of 14-under 270.

"This is the one I wanted desperately, it's the icing on the cake for me in a great year," the 33-year-old, the first Australian to don the famous green jacket at Augusta, said after collecting the Joe Kirkwood Cup.

"I've been looking forward to coming home since April and playing in front of my friends and family."

Scott's American playing partner Rickie Fowler finished second after a fourth round 68 with local youngster Jack Wilson, who also shot a 68, a further two shots back in third on eight-under.

Despite holding a two-shot advantage after the second round and extending it to three on Saturday, Scott's lead had been cut to one by Fowler when the players were taken off the Royal Pines course with the leaders on the 12th hole.

After the weather break, though, there was only player in it with Scott immediately nailing a four iron from 215 metres to leave himself with a tap-in for an eagle three.

"I kind of had some momentum going into the break having parred the 11th but when I came out I knew I had to do something special to win it," he said.

Fowler tried to keep pace with a birdie of his own but bogeyed the 13th and when Scott picked up shots at the 14th and 15th, the latter courtesy of another sublime approach shot, the Australian's 24th career title looked assured.

Adding the PGA to his previous victories at his home Open and Masters tournaments, Scott joined Greg Norman, Craig Parry, Peter Lonard, Robert Allenby and Peter Senior as the only players to have won all three of Australia's marquee titles.

Scott will continue his valedictory tour of his homeland with appearances at the Australian Masters, World Cup of Golf and Australian Open over the next three weeks.

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Golf-Happy homecoming as Scott wins Australian PGA

Adam Scott celebrated his homecoming after winning the U.S. Masters earlier this year by storming to victory in the Australian PGA Championship by four strokes on the Gold Coast on Sunday.

The world number two was made to wait for his victory by a passing storm that stopped play for nearly two hours but he returned to the course to complete a final round of four-under-par 67 for a tournament tally of 14-under 270.

His American playing partner Rickie Fowler finished second at Royal Pines after a fourth round 68 to finish on 10-under with local youngster Jack Wilson (68) a further two shots back in third.

Adding the PGA to his previous victories at his home Open and Masters tournaments, Scott joined Greg Norman, Craig Parry, Peter Lonard, Robert Allenby and Peter Senior as the only players to have won all three of Australia's marquee titles.

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Taiwan's Teresa Lu wins Mizuno Classic

Taiwan's Teresa Lu won the Mizuno Classic on Sunday, birdieing the last two holes and six of the final eight for a two-stroke victory.

''I've been waiting for this day for so long,'' Lu said. ''This is my first win. It's been eight years on tour. I'm really happy. Really nervous and really happy.The 25-year-old Lu, a regular on the Japan LPGA Tour after giving up her LPGA Tour membership in 2010, shot an 8-under 64 in windy, wet conditions at Kintetsu Kashikojima. She finished at 14-under 202 and earned $180,000 for her first professional title.

She made a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th.

''I knew I have to go lower and get more birdies otherwise I was going to get in a playoff,'' Lu said. ''It's better not a playoff. So I focus on the birdie.''

She has three runner-up finishes and 13 top-10s this season on the JLPGA.

View gallery."

Taiwan's Teresa Lu watches her tee shot on the second hole during the final round of the Mizuno Clas …

''Beginning of this year, I got into two playoffs and in both of them, I lose,'' Lu said. ''I guess I really learned from that and just tried to be calm.''

South Korea's Chella Choi, tied with Lu with two holes to play, had a 66 to finish second.

''I think I had very good confidence today,'' said Choi. ''I just think, 'OL, one putt, just one stroke.' So I think birdie and focus. I don't know why, not nervous. I think good experience for me. ... It's OK, though, because I played well today. Disappointed, but satisfied.''

Japanese players took the next five spots. Mamiko Higa and Yuki Ichinose shot 70 to tie for third at 10 under, Yumiko Yoshida (68) and Shiho Oyama (71) followed at 9 under, and Asako Fujimoto (71) was 8 under.

Stacy Lewis, the 2012 winner, tied for eighth at 7 under after a 70. The American was the top-ranked player in the field at No. 3.

View gallery."

Taiwan's Teresa Lu poses with her trophy after she won the Mizuno Classic golf tournament in Shima,  …

''It's really hard out there,'' Lewis said. ''I could have made some putts earlier I just couldn't seem to make any putts. But to shoot 2 under in this wind is a good score. It's pretty crazy what those two are doing today.''

American Brittany Lincicome, a stroke behind second-round leaders Higa, Ichinose and Oyama entering the day, had a 77 to tie for 29th at 2 under.

Lu became the second Taiwanese winner in tournament. Ai-Yu Tu won in 1986 when the event was called the Mazda Japan Classic.

Lu was asked if she planned to return to the LPGA Tour next season.

''Probably, probably,'' she said. ''It's big!''

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