Golf: Fitzpatrick leads McIlroy, Rai at Italian Open

ROME, Italy -- Matthew Fitzpatrick closed with a birdie in a third-round 69 on Saturday to open up a one-shot lead on Rory McIlroy and Aaron Rai at the Italian Open in Rome.

US Open champion Fitzpatrick bounced back from a front-nine bogey with birdies at the 10th, 12th and 18th in blustery conditions at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.

World number two McIlroy and Englishman Rai are tied one shot behind Fitzpatrick in second at the venue which will host next year's Ryder Cup.

Halfway leader McIlroy had a mixed round with three birdies and three bogeys for 71, while Rai took a leap up the leaderboard with two eagles and two birdies in a six-under-par 65.

McIlroy, who like Fitzpatrick will be hoping to represent Team Europe in the 2023 Ryder Cup, faces a tough task on Sunday.

"I know it will be a tough day. Fitz is very solid. These are the sort of conditions that he relishes. He's going to be tough to beat," said the player from Northern Ireland.

"Thankfully I'm still in it. Still only one shot back. I'll be in the final group tomorrow. So that was a big putt on the 18th to hole so I can keep an eye on Fitz and what he's doing."

France's Victor Perez, American Kurt Kitayama and Australian Lucas Herbert were in a three-way tie for fourth on eight under.

Agence France-Presse

Golf: McIlroy in the dark about late birdies at U.S. Open

SAN DIEGO - Rory McIlroy might want to consider putting with his eyes closed after the way he finished the opening round at the U.S. Open on Thursday.

McIlroy banged in putts of 20 and seven feet respectively at the final two holes in near darkness at Torrey Pines to boost his chances of at least having a chance to end a seven-year major championship winning drought.

Never mind that he could barely see the hole, he struck his uphill birdie putt at the 18th with such conviction that it banged against the back of the cup at speed and fell in.

"The birdie is awesome," said a delighted Northern Irishman of his effort at the last.

"I mean, that putt was pretty, I was sort of like, I think it's straight, I'll hit it straight and we'll see.

"But, yeah, it was nice to get in, get an extra hour of sleep tonight and it was a bonus to birdie in as well."

He was one of the last players to finish the round, with 36 others having to return early on Friday to complete the final few holes, a result of a morning fog delay of minutes that backed up the afternoon tee times.

McIlroy badly needed a solid start after shooting himself out of contention before he had barely started at the year's previous two majors.

He shot an opening 76 and subsequently missed the cut at the Masters, while at the PGA Championship he opened with 75 and never in the hunt en route to a tie for 49th. (Reporting by Andrew Both; Editing by Kim Coghill)

-reuters-

Golf: Rory McIlroy commits to return to Irish Open

Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland has committed to play in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in July, along with three fellow golfing stars of the Emerald Isle -- Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell.

"I am really excited to get back and play the Irish Open," McIlroy told the BBC. 

"I have so many incredible memories of this event down the years, not least my victory in 2016, and I think it is going to be a pretty special week this July with the fans returning. I'm really excited to play in front of them again."

McIlroy won the Irish Open in 2016 and served as the event's host from 2015-18, but hasn't played it since 2018. 

In 2019 he upset some in his native land by skipping the Irish Open because it was one week before the Open Championship, and he wanted a week's rest to prepare for the major.

He committed to return to the event in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic paused all sports and forced golf tours to reshuffle their calendars. The Irish Open was moved to late September, and McIlroy backed out after playing a partial season entirely in North America.

This year's Irish Open takes place July 1-4 -- two weeks before the Open Championship -- at Mount Juliet Hotel & Golf Course in County Kilkenny.

With McIlroy (No. 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking), Ireland's Lowry (No. 40) and Harrington (No. 148), and McDowell of Northern Ireland (No. 154), the event secured the four highest-ranked golfers from the two nations.

-reuters-

World No. 1 McIlroy 'probably wouldn't' golf again with Trump

LOS ANGELES -- World number one Rory McIlroy says there's little chance he'd tee it up again with US President Donald Trump, criticizing Trump's handling of the COVID-19 crisis on a golf podcast.

McIlroy told the McKellar Golf Podcast on Thursday that a more settled life away from the golf course has him feeling "more comfortable in my own skin" and more able to voice opinions.

The 31-year-old from Northern Ireland, who has a home in Florida, has not been impressed with Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

"We're in the midst of something that's pretty serious right now and the fact that he's trying to politicize it and make it a campaign rally, saying that (the United States) administers the most tests in the world like it's a contest... It's just not the way a leader should act and there is a bit of diplomacy that you need to show and I just don't think he's shown that, especially in these times," McIlroy said.

Back in 2017, McIlroy was surprised at the "blow-back" he received after accepting an invitation to play a round with the then-recently inaugurated president.

"I'll sit here and say that the day that I did spend with him and others was very enjoyable," McIlroy recalled this week of that round with Trump.

"He's very charismatic. He was nice to everyone. It didn't matter whether you were me or the guys in the cart barn or the pro at the golf club.

"He has something. He obviously has something or he wouldn't be in the White House, right?

"So I will sit here and say that the day I had with him I enjoyed but that doesn't mean I agree with everything -- or, in fact, anything that he says."

And while he once defended that round with Trump as a show of respect to his office, McIlroy indicated he wouldn't accept another such invitation.

"I don't know if he'd want to play with me again after what I just said," McIlroy said. "I know it's very self-serving of me to say, 'No' and if I don't, then it means then I'm not putting myself in position to be put under scrutiny and that I'm avoiding that.

"But I probably wouldn't, no."

Agence France-Presse

Golf: McIlroy shuts door on Premier Golf League

World number one Rory McIlroy has distanced himself from the prospect of taking part in the Premier Golf League (PGL) as he prefers to have autonomy over his career choices.

The British-based World Golf Group last month unveiled plans for a global tour it hopes to launch in 2022 that would consist of 18 yearly tournaments -- each with prize money of $10 million -- and feature 48 of the game's top players.

Former world number one Tiger Woods said last week he had been approached by the PGL and was gathering information about something which could be a more lucrative alternative to the PGA Tour.

Northern Ireland's McIlroy is the first top player to reject the idea outright.


"For me, I'm out. My position is I'm against it until there may come a day that I can't be against it," McIlroy said ahead of this week's WGC-Mexico Championship.

"If everyone else goes, I might not have a choice, but at this point I don't like what they're proposing."

The PGL has said it wanted to work with established tours rather than as a breakaway circuit, but the U.S. PGA and European Tours have been all but dismissive about the proposed circuit.

For McIlroy, a key sticking point is that the PGL proposal would not allow him the freedom to make his own schedule as it would be mandatory for players to participate in each event.

As such, those competing in the PGL would be highly unlikely to maintain an active status of the PGA Tour, meaning golfers would essentially have to chose between the two.

"The more I've thought about it, the more I don't like it," said four-times major champion McIlroy.

"The one thing as a professional golfer in my position that I value is the fact that I have autonomy and freedom over everything that I do. ... If you go and play this other golf league, you're not going to have that choice."

McIlroy used the lucrative WGC-Mexico Championship as an example given that big names like Woods, Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose have decided not to compete at Club de Golf Chapultepec.

"I've never been one for being told what to do," said McIlroy. "I like to have that autonomy and freedom over my career, and I feel like I would give that up by going to play this other league."

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru and Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Ed Osmond)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Golf: McIlroy 'sick' of too easy European Tour courses

ST. ANDREWS -- Rory McIlroy said Sunday he was "sick" of not being challenged by European Tour courses which fail to reward barnstorming scoring.

The world number two lashed out after finishing the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in a tie for 26th place despite a 15 under par total.

He carded a final round 67 thanks to birdies on his last six holes but was still seven shots behind champion Victor Perez of France.

"I'm honestly sick of coming back over to the European Tour, shooting 15 under par and finishing 30th," four-time Major winner McIlroy was quoted by Sky Sports. 

"I don't think the courses are set up hard enough. There are no penalties for bad shots, and it's tough when you come back when it's like that. I don't feel like good golf is regarded as well as it could be.

"I think if the European Tour want to put forth a really good product, the golf courses and setups need to be tougher."

In his other recent European Tour starts, the Northern Irishman carded a 14 under at the European Masters only to lose to Sebastian Soderberg in a play-off.

He then finished on 11 under at last week's PGA Championship at Wentworth but was still nine shots off the pace of champion Danny Willett.

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Golf: McIlroy named PGA Tour player of the year

MIAMI - Rory McIlroy was named the PGA Tour's Player of the Year on Wednesday, winning the prestigious Jack Nicklaus Award for the third time.

Northern Ireland star McIlroy, who was also handed the accolade in 2012 and 2014, came out on top after a vote by fellow tour professionals.

The 30-year-old beat out competition from Brooks Koepka, Matt Kuchar and Xander Schauffele for the award, which comes just weeks after his victory in the season-ending PGA Tour Championship.

McIlroy, who was presented with the award on Wednesday by golf legend Nicklaus, said he was "at a loss for words" after the accolade.

"I couldn't be more proud of what I've achieved this year," McIlroy said.

"I wanted to try and bring my best every single week that I played and I feel like I did that to the best of my ability.

"The greatest compliment you receive is that your peers feel like you've done something pretty special and for this award to be voted on by my fellow players, I'm very humbled and very honored."

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said McIlroy's season was "a model of consistency punctuated by milestone victories."

"While there are a number of honors one can receive in this game, PGA TOUR Player of the Year has to be among the most satisfying as it comes directly from his peers," Monahan said.

McIlroy meanwhile admitted he had been somewhat surprised to pip PGA Championship winner and world number one Koepka to the award.

"I thought maybe Brooks winning the PGA Championship this year was going to be the difference-maker, but you know, the other players thought differently and I'm very honored that they thought enough of my season to give me this award," McIlroy said.

McIlroy is only the second player after Tiger Woods to win the season-long FedEx Cup race multiple times.

As well as the Tour Championship/FedEx Cup crown, his 2019 season also included victories at The Players Championship and the RBC Canadian Open.

Golf: McIlroy banks $15 million with Tour Championship, FedEx Cup wins
https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/26/19/golf-mcilroy-banks-15-million-with-tour-championship-fedex-cup-wins


Golf: McIlroy captures Canadian Open with career-tying 61
https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/10/19/golf-mcilroy-captures-canadian-open-with-career-tying-61

McIlroy also won the Byron Nelson Award for adjusted scoring average (69.057) for the third time in his career and topped the PGA Tour in top-10 finishes (14).

Im Sung-Jae of South Korea was named the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, lifting the renamed Arnold Palmer Award.

rcw/pb

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Golf: McIlroy banks $15 million with Tour Championship, FedEx Cup wins

*Northern Irishman wins by four shots

*Clinches FedEx Cup for second time

*Collects biggest prize in golf history 

Victory at the Tour Championship in Atlanta on Sunday will not completely erase the disappointment of a futile season at the majors for Rory McIlroy, but it may be worth far more than the $15 million he received for winning the FedEx Cup.

The confidence gained from playing his best on a big stage and beating nemesis Brooks Koepka can only help his self-belief after a disappointing final round when paired with Tiger Woods at the same event last year.

The Northern Irishman emphatically outdueled Americans Koepka and Xander Schauffele with a closing four-under 66 at East Lake en route to the biggest prize in the sport.

He finished at 18-under, four shots ahead of Schauffele to claim the season-long FedEx Cup for the second time on the PGA Tour, after his 2016 win.

It was a sweet stroll up the final hole for McIlroy, who last year had to endure the walk alongside a victorious Woods as the heaving gallery chanted, "Tiger, Tiger."

This time, chants of "Rory, Rory" rang out from the crowd.

"I must say I didn't enjoy that walk last year like everyone else did," McIlroy said. "I never took the fight to Tiger.

"It's amazing how different things can be in a year."

McIlroy took the fight to Koepka just four weeks after being given a lesson by the American when they were paired in the final round at a World Golf Championships event in Memphis.

"Going up against the number one player in the world today, he got one over me in Memphis and I wanted to get some revenge," McIlroy said.

"To play like that alongside Brooks, get the win, win the FedEx Cup, it's awesome."

Schauffele shot a closing 70, while Koepka was unusually error-prone in a 72 to tie for third with Justin Thomas, five shots behind.

McIlroy, who teed off one stroke behind Koepka, hit the ball long and straight as he split fairway after fairway.

Koepka, on the other hand, was often wayward. At the par-four seventh he lost a ball after hooking a tee shot into the trees and took a double-bogey.

McIlroy picked up three shots there with a birdie and from that point Schauffele was his main challenger.

The Northern Irishman opened the door slightly with bogeys at the 14th and 15th holes, but slammed it shut again with a clutch eight-foot par putt at the 16th.

THIRD WIN

McIlroy's third win of the year followed triumphs at the Players Championship and Canadian Open.

His major results were disappointing, however, particularly a missed cut at the British Open in his homeland at Royal Portrush.

"To win three times is awesome," he said.

"I feel like I could have won more but to win the FedEx cup again, to persist the whole way throughout the year, to keep giving myself chances, even when I was getting knocked back and not be denied, I'm very proud of myself."

The Tour Championship used a staggered scoring system for the first time, based on accumulated points.

Hence, top seed Thomas started at 10-under, the second seed at eight-under and so on down to even par for the 26th-to-30th ranked players in the field.

This was done to ensure that the winner of the season-long FedEx Cup points race and the winner of the Tour Championship were guaranteed to be the same person.

Fifth seed McIlroy, who started on five-under, shot the best score of the field anyway, 13-under-par 267.

"My goal was to shoot the lowest score of the week," he said.

Mission accomplished.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Golf: Koepka dominates one-sided bout with McIlroy in Memphis

What loomed as a blockbuster bout between two four-times major champions ended up a technical knockout as Brooks Koepka floored Rory McIlroy on the way to a three-stroke victory at the WGC-St. Jude Invitational in Memphis on Sunday.

Koepka had McIlroy reeling with early blows in the final round and never eased up on his out-of-sorts rival at TPC Southwind as he underlined his world number one status.

The American sank a series of clutch putts and carded a five-under 65 for his first victory in the World Golf Championships series.

"I've been playing so well as of late and everything just kind of comes if you let it happen and stay patient," said Koepka.

After starting the final round a stroke behind McIlroy, Koepka finished at 16-under 264, notching his third PGA Tour victory outside the majors.

On top of the $1.745 million winner's cheque, he also picked up a $2 million bonus as winner of the regular season points race.

It was the first time Koepka and McIlroy had been paired in a final round, raising hopes of a day-long duel.

But McIlroy missed a short birdie putt at the third hole from inside four feet and never recovered.

The Northern Irishman failed to birdie until the 14th hole in his round of 71 and finished equal fourth, five shots adrift of Koepka.

American Webb Simpson (64) claimed second place on 13-under, a stroke ahead of Australian Marc Leishman (67).

Koepka won the PGA Championship in May for his fourth major title in less than two years, and if not for an uncooperative putter, he might have challenged Shane Lowry at last week's British Open.

The 29-year-old hit a couple of loose shots early on Sunday but chipped and putted precisely, and three birdies were enough for a three-shot lead over McIlroy at the turn.

"These last few years have been unbelievable. It's been an incredible run," said Koepka, who spoke of his record of nine runnerup finishes.

"Every time I come second I'm learning something, watching the guy who wins if I'm playing with him, or trying to figure out how I handle shots under pressure.

"I've come into my own, figuring out my game, especially under the gun." 

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Toby Davis / Ian Ransom)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Golf: McIlroy captures Canadian Open with career-tying 61

OTTAWA -- Rory McIlroy blitzed the field at the Canadian Open on Sunday, firing a scintillating nine-under 61 to run away with the title by a massive seven strokes less than a week before the US Open.

McIlroy, who flirted with a 59, put on a golf clinic, rolling in nine birdies, one eagle and two bogeys for a 22-under 258 total and a dominating victory over runner-ups Shane Lowry of Ireland and American Webb Simpson.

"It was awesome," said McIlroy, who claimed his sixth career national open title in his Canadian debut. "I said at the start that I wanted to be aggressive and play with freedom. 

"This will give me so much confidence. This is a huge tournament and I am so proud of myself.

"I am going to take a lot from this and I am so excited for next week (US Open)."

The four-time major championship winner tied his career best when he shot a 61 in the third round of the Wells Fargo Championship in 2015. His previous best closing score to win a tournament was a 62 at the Quail Hollow Championship in 2010. 

McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, began the day with a share of the lead with Simpson and Matt Kuchar at 13-under at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ontario.

He was making his Canadian Open debut and improved with each round, shooting 67, 66, 64, before opening the birdie floodgates on Sunday.

Lowry, who shot a closing round of 67, and Simpson, who shot a 68, finished at 15-under 265, two shots ahead of fourth place finishers Brandt Snedeker (69) and Matt Kuchar (70).

The four-time major winner McIlroy was part of a strong field at the Canadian Open, which this year serves as the final tune up before the US Open.

The win was also his second of 2019 -- he captured The Players Championship in March. 

McIlroy bested the previous Canadian Open scoring record by five shots. The previous record of 263 was set by Johnny Palmer in 1952 and equalled in 2014 by Tim Clark. 

McIlroy made four straight birdies on the back nine, starting at the par-four 11th, to put himself in contention to become just the sixth player in history to win a tournament with closing score of 59.

A bogey-eagle-bogey finish foiled his attempt, but made for a highly entertaining conclusion to his round.

His eagle on the par-five 17 started with a 341-yard drive off the tee to the centre of the fairway. His perfect approach shot set up an easy two-foot putt.

That left him needing a birdie on the par-four 18 to shoot a 59. It would have been his first birdie of the week on the hole.

But he found the bunker on the right of the green. Instead of holing out from the sand for 59, he came out too hot, putting his ball about eight feet past the pin. 

Canadian Adam Hadwin carded a 70 to finish alone in sixth. 

World number one Brooks Koepka shot an even-par 70 on Sunday to finish tied for 50th place. 

Defending champion Dustin Johnson finished with a 69 for a tie for 20th at seven under.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Golf: McIlroy surges into share of lead at Canadian Open

Rory McIlroy fired six birdies in a bogey-free third round of 64 to jump into a three-way tie for first place at the Canadian Open on Saturday.

McIlroy shared the lead at 13-under with Americans Matt Kuchar (69) and Webb Simpson (67) on a sunny and breezy day at the Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

McIlroy, making his first appearance at the event in Ontario, is trying to bounce back after failing to make the cut at the Memorial tournament in Ohio last week, his first missed cut of the season.

The 30-year-old Northern Irishman used his weekend off working on his game and said the extra practice has paid off.

"I feel like I turned that missed cut into a positive," he said. "There were a couple things in my game that were highlighted and I had a chance to work on them ... that's why I am where I am on the leaderboard."

McIlroy had the shot of the day on the par-four 15th when his approach shot from 130 yards away narrowly missed the cup, setting up a 10-inch birdie putt.

Veteran Kuchar, who was also a co-leader after his second round, said he will need to step up his game if he is to win his first Canadian Open trophy.

"The goal is to just keep making improvements," said Kuchar, who mixed three birdies with two bogeys on Saturday.

"Tomorrow I need a firmer understanding of the greens so I can roll in more birdies."

American Brandt Snedeker, who produced a sparkling 10-under-par 60 in Friday's second round, shot 69 on Saturday that put him in a three-way tie in fourth on 12-under with Canada's Adam Hadwin and Ireland's Shane Lowry.

Snedeker's best moment came on 15 when he sank a 52-yard putt for his third birdie of the day, although he followed it up with his second bogey on the next hole.

Defending champion Dustin Johnson finished his third round with four birdies and two bogeys and is tied for 17th at six-under.

(Reporting by Rory Carroll; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

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Golf: McIlroy celebrates 30th birthday at happy Quail hunting ground

Rory McIlroy is back in North Carolina at the site of his first PGA Tour victory, focused on winning the Wells Fargo Championship again, though with one eye turned towards the next two majors which are looming quickly in view.

McIlroy is part of a strong field at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, joined by world number two Justin Rose and defending champion Jason Day for the PGA Tour event starting on Thursday.

The Wells Fargo will be McIlroy's only start between the first and second majors of the year -- last month's Masters and this month's PGA Championship.

The betting favourite at Augusta National, where he had a chance to complete the career Grand Slam of majors, he never contended en route to a tie for 21st behind winner Tiger Woods.

McIlroy does not plan to make a reconnaissance trip to PGA venue Bethpage Black before the May 16-19 championship in New York, where he expects length off the tee to be more important than precision.

"I've never done that for a PGA before and I've done pretty well at them, so just treating it like any other event," he told reporters on Wednesday, referring to his 2012 and 2014 victories.

"I would assume Bethpage is going to feel like a normal PGA Tour set-up. You're not really going to have to do anything different."

He will, however, prepare differently for June's U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by playing immediately beforehand at the Canadian Open, instead of following his past routine of having the week off.

The decision to play his way in -- he will also contest the Memorial tournament in Ohio a fortnight before -- comes following a poor recent record at the U.S. Open since winning it in 2011.

"I've been pathetic at the U.S. Open so I've changed that up to make that my third event in a row," said the Northern Irishman, who turns 30 on Saturday. "Three missed cuts in a row, it is pathetic."

More immediately, McIlroy, who turns 30 on Saturday, hopes to celebrate his birthday in style at the place where he scored his breakthrough PGA Tour victory in 2010 with a final-round 62.

He shot 61 in the third round en route to winning in 2015, making him the only twice winner of the event.

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina, editing by Ed Osmond)

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Golf: Excitement builds for Masters as McIlroy eyes Career Slam

AUGUSTA -- Newcomers, past winners and a host of green jacket hopefuls made final preparations Sunday at Augusta National on the eve of official practice rounds for the 83rd Masters.

The year's first major championship begins Thursday at the famed course under the Georgia pines with Rory McIlroy making his 11th Augusta National start and fifth attempt to complete a Career Grand Slam by winning the Masters.

The 29-year-old Northern Ireland star, a four-time major champion, has finished between fourth and 10th in each of the past five years at the Masters, sharing fifth last year, and is a Las Vegas oddsmakers pick to win this time.

If he dons the green jacket next Sunday, McIlroy would become only the sixth player to have won each of the major titles at least once in his career, joining legends Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.

"It would be a massive achievement. It would be huge," McIlroy said during his run-up to Augusta. "But I can't think about it that way."

Among those driving down Magnolia Lane to Augusta National's clubhouse early was 22-year-old Aaron Wise, a South African-born American who won last year's PGA Byron Nelson title to claim his first Masters berth.

"Right now I'm just soaking it all in," Wise said. "We can all remember the great moments and great shots just from having watched on TV."

Wise, whose family moved to the United States when he was three, was last year's US PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. He missed the cut in three prior major starts as he and 16 other newcomers prepare for their Masters debuts.

"Coming to Augusta I feel good. I love the place," said two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson. "I'm thankful just to be here."

Watson was on hand for the start and finish of the Augusta National Women's Amateur on Saturday and was among presenters in Sunday's Drive, Chip and Putt Championship for youth.

"The buzz is unbelievable," said Australia's Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters champion. "It gets me excited for next week."

The biggest excitement is coming for defending champion Patrick Reed, who is now based out of the Champions Locker Room.

"This year, having all the extra activities, extra things going on, it's going to be a lot of fun," Reed said. "I honestly can't wait.

"To come back and experience what it's like to be on the first tee as defending champion is going to be an awesome experience. Just can't wait to cherish all the moments."

- Ribeye steak for champs -

Anticipation is building outside the course as well.

Signs are already posted saying "Golf Tickets Needed" in hotels and on the sides of the road with people looking for a deal on one of the toughest tickets in sport.

Along Washington Road, the highway golfers take to reach Magnolia Lane, several restaurants have their party tents assembled and ready for the visitors from around the world to arrive.

The most exclusive meal of the week will be Tuesday's Champions Dinner, where Reed serves the menu he has dreamed about having since he was a teenager -- ribeye steak, macaroni and cheese, creamed spinach and creamed corn.

"I'm definitely going to fatten everyone up," Reed said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Golf: McIlroy, Tiger, No. 1 DJ open with wins at WGC Match-Play

WASHINGTON -- Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and world number one Dustin Johnson were among the top seeds and past champions to capture opening group stage matches Wednesday at the WGC Match-Play Championship.

The 64-player showdown at Austin Country Club uses a round-robin format to determine 16 players for a weekend knockout event to decide a champion, although it's a format untested until this year by Woods, who qualified for the first time since 2013.

The 14-time major champion opened solidly but unspectacularly with a 3&1 victory over US 61st seed Aaron Wise, leaving 13th seed Woods atop his all-American group after Brandt Snedeker and Patrick Cantlay halved.

"We were both struggling a little bit," Woods said. "It was just trying to beat the guy in front of you and I was able to advance."

Woods -- who won the event in 2003, 2004 and 2008 -- fell 1-down when Wise birdied the eighth, ninth and 10th holes. But Wise made bogeys at 13, 15 and 17 to hand Woods the win.

"I was up early then down and up. There was a lot of ebb and flow in this match," Woods said. "It's not like we were playing great golf. Somehow I came out with the win." 

Fourth seed McIlroy, the 2015 WGC Match-Play winner coming off a Players Championship victory two weeks ago, downed US 64th and last seed Luke List 5&4.

McIlroy never trailed and never lost a hole and closed with back-to-back seven-foot birdie putts at 13 and 14 to secure the triumph.

"I rode my luck a litle bit," McIlroy said. "I had some missed shots but somehow got away with most of them. I played well. To birdie 13 and 14 to close the match out was nice.

"I needed to respond to what he did and I feel like I did that well so that gives me a little bit of confidence going into tomorrow."

US top seed Johnson, the 2017 winner who captured last month's WGC Mexico event, opened with a 4&3 win over US 55th seed Chez Reavie.

"I like the golf course. it sets up well for me," Johnson said. "It plays tough. The greens are tricky. They are firm. You've got to hit quality golf shots if you're going to get close to the hole."

- Rose, Casey win openers -

England's second-seeded Justin Rose downed Argentine 53rd seed Emiliano Grillo 2&1.

"I was fairly steady. I didn't give away much, took care of the par-5s for the most part," Rose said. "Not electrifying golf but just good enough to get the job done."

England's 10th-seeded Paul Casey, a two-time WGC Match-Play runner-up coming off his second consecutive PGA Valspar crown just three days ago, beat Mexico's 58th-seeded Abraham Ancer 5&3.

"I was trying to manage the energy," Casey said. "I was tired the past couple of days. Form and confidence are fine. I'm trying to get the energy back up.

"That was one of the best matches I've played around this golf course."

Also on his game was English 30th seed match-play wizard Ian Poulter, the 2010 champion who beat US 48th seed Kevin Kisner 2-up to avenge his ouster from last year.

"It was painful. I wasn't going to roll over like last year," Poulter said. "It was a match I wanted to win. Today was really important to come out strong and do whatever you need to do."

- Aussie No. 12 Day falls -

In the "Group of Death" where only one can advance, Australian 12th seed Jason Day blew a 3-up lead after eight holes and lost to US 52nd seed Jim Furyk 2-up while Swedish 37th seed Henrik Stenson beat US 20th seed Phil Mickelson 2&1.

Danish 50th seed Lucas Bjerregaard upset US fifth seed Justin Thomas 3&2 in the biggest upset while two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson lost 1-up to US 57th seed Kevin Na and reigning Masters champion Patrick Reed, the US 16th seed, lost to US 51st seed Andrew Putnam 3&2.

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Golf: McIlroy wins Players Championship by one stroke in Florida

Rory McIlroy celebrated St Patrick's Day in style by becoming the first player from Northern Ireland to win the Players Championship, emerging as the last man standing to beat Jim Furyk by one stroke in Ponte Vedra, Florida on Sunday.

On a day when 15 players at one stage were within two shots of the lead, McIlroy eventually emerged from the pack, overcoming an early double-bogey by displaying enough maturity to hang tough before moving in for the proverbial kill.

McIlroy carded two-under-par 70 at the famous TPC Sawgrass course in Ponte Vedra Beach to win a championship that was first held in 1974, when it was won by Jack Nicklaus.

McIlroy finished at 16-under 272 to edge American Furyk, who with a gimme birdie at the final hole threatened to become the event's oldest winner at the age of 48.

"Sawgrass and I didn't have the greatest relationship starting off," McIlroy told reporters, referring to missed cuts in his first three appearances from 2009-11.

"It's a massive win on a course (where) I've had mixed results. I had to show a lot of character out there. Any time I looked at the leaderboard I was pleasantly surprised I hadn't fallen two or three shots behind.

"That gave me a little bit of encouragement to keep going and play a great back nine. I am just thankful that it was my turn this week."

With Furyk already in the clubhouse, the 29-year-old McIlroy knew what he had to do as he played the final three holes.

After a birdie at the par-four 15th, he used his power to reach the par-five 16th in two shots and a two-putt birdie gave him the lead.

McIlroy then safely negotiated the water-lined final two holes with tap-in pars to clinch the most prestigious tournament outside the four majors.

Furyk shot 67 to finish alone on 15-under.

FURYK DISAPPOINTED

"There's a little disappointment, thinking maybe I played well enough to win," said the American. "Rory obviously felt differently."

It was Furyk's 31st runner-up finish on the PGA Tour, the same number as Tiger Woods who has also won 80 times compared to his compatriot's 17.

Englishman Eddie Pepperell (66) and Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas (66) finished two strokes behind McIlroy in a tie for third.

Pepperrell and Vegas sank monster birdies at the par-three 17th, Pepperell sinking a rollercoaster 50-footer before Vegas one-upped him with a 70-footer.

Overnight leader Jon Rahm floundered, the Spaniard making three bogeys in the first four holes and compounding his misery by dunking his tee shot into the water at the par-three 17th.

He shot 76 and finished equal 12th on 11-under.

McIlroy's win came after close calls at all five of his previous starts this year.

He will head to the Masters next month brimming with confidence, needing a victory at Augusta National to complete the grand slam of all four modern majors.

"I'm just really proud of myself the way I played the last few holes," he said.

"(I was thinking) why not me? This is my tournament and I've got to finish it off.

"I kept telling myself on the way to the 17th tee, just make three more good swings, that's all you need to do and this thing is yours.

"To step up and make those three good swings, it's very satisfying knowing that it's in there when it needs to be."

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Ken Ferris)

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Golf: Fitzpatrick grabs lead, McIlroy charges in PGA Bay Hill showdown

MIAMI -- England's Matthew Fitzpatrick fired a bogey-free five-under par 67 Saturday to seize a one-stroke lead over defending champion Rory McIlroy after the third round of the US PGA Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Fitzpatrick, a 24-year-old seeking his first US PGA title after five European Tour triumphs, stood on nine-under 207 for 54 holes at Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida.

Four-time major winner McIlroy, who would complete the career Grand Slam by winning next month's Masters, fired a 67 to join pal Fitzpatrick in Sunday's final pairing.

"It'll be a fun day," Fitzpatrick said. "I've become good friends with him. He has got a ton of fans over here. It's exciting. I've put myself in a good position. I'm looking forward to it."

Australia's Aaron Baddeley, England's Matt Wallace and American Kevin Kisner shared third on 209 but McIlroy, who began the day seven adrift, said plenty of rivals are within reach of the title.

"It's so bunched," McIlroy said. "I'd still say the 2- and 3-unders still have a chance to win the tournament."

World number 44 Fitzpatrick, never better than a share of seventh in a US PGA event, opened with a nine-foot birdie, added a three-footer to birdie the par-5 fourth, began the back nine with a 10-foot birdie putt and added two more at the par-4 15th from 13 feet plus a tap-in at the par-5 16th.

"Just played really smart," said Fitzpatrick. "I've been driving it pretty solid all week. Did the same today. Hit a lot of greens. You've got to play smart and stick to your shots and hit the greens. It's getting harder out there."

Northern Ireland's McIlroy birdied four of the first six holes and three of the last our holes while taking his lone bogey at the par-4 eighth.

"I've just been trying to play high cuts into every single pin I can look at. It's the only way I feel like I can stop the ball near the pin," McIlroy said.

"I knew the key for me today was to hit fairways. The greens are so pure. Whenever you start them on line they have a good chance."

Sixth-ranked McIlroy put his approach to five feet and made birdie at the par-3 second then sank an 11-foot birdie putt at the par-4 third.

After a three-putt par at the par-5 fifth, McIlroy sank a 26-foot birdie putt at the fifth and then blasted from a greenside bunker inches from the cup on the way to a birdie at the par-5 sixth.

He escaped nine with a par after "probably the worst mud ball I've ever had... it was good to get away with a four there."

McIlroy's ferocious finish saw him sink short tap-in birdies at 15 and the par-5 16th then sink a nine-foot par putt at the par-3 17th and drop a birdie putt from the same distance at 18.

"It was nice for that one to go in to cap off a really good round," McIlroy said.

- Friday leaders fade -

McIlroy has not won since taking last year's crown at Bay Hill, his 14th career PGA victory.

"This golf course has played much tougher from the beginning compared to previous years," McIlroy said. "The course is going to get tougher as it goes along.

"The greens are getting so firm and so fast out there, anything above the hole you're going to have trouble getting it to stop."

McIlroy won major titles at the 2011 US Open, the 2012 and 2014 PGA Championship and the 2014 British Open.

Second-round co-leaders Keegan Bradley of the United States and Tommy Fleetwood of England faded, Bradley firing 75 to finish three back and Fleetwood shooting 76 to stand four adrift.

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Golf: Woods and McIlroy share lead at BMW Championship

Tiger Woods fired his lowest opening round in nearly 20 years to join Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy at the top of the leaderboard at the BMW Championship on Thursday.

The 14-time major winner Woods and McIlroy have a one-stroke lead after both shot eight-under 62 which marked the American's best PGA first round since the 1999 Byron Nelson Classic.

Woods managed an eagle and seven birdies and his only hiccup being a late bogey on his back nine at the Aronimink Golf Course in Philadelphia. 

Woods was joined in the lead by McIlroy who highlighted his round of 10 birdies with a career-best six in succession, beginning with the last hole of his front nine.

McIlroy though let slip any thoughts of a 59 when he bogeyed his 16th and 17th holes of the round.

This is the first time Woods has shared a PGA Tour lead after any round since capturing the 2013 WGC-Cadillac Championship.

Woods and McIlroy had played a nine-hole practice round together on Tuesday.

"I made a few putts today and also from right out of the gate with birdies at 10 and 12 and 13 so that was a nice way to get things rolling," said Woods, who started on the back nine.

Woods had ignited thoughts of his career first 59 after an outward nine that produced a seventh hole eagle and four birdies in a six-under par 29.

It is the sixth occasion in Woods’ career he’s recorded nine holes in 29 or better, and on four of those five prior occasions he has gone on to win.

Woods moved to seven-under par with a birdie at his 10th hole. He then parred his next five holes ahead of a 16th hole birdie before his only bogey at his 17th. He also birdied 18.

"I made some great putts out there today including getting off to a better start than I have most of the season," he said.

"To shoot 29 on the front nine helps. It helped a lot."

Looked refreshed

Woods clearly looked refreshed after electing not to visit the course on Wednesday. He also skipped the Pro-Am due to the heatwave conditions.

"The heat is hard for me because I lose so much weight out here," said Woods. "I lose strength and I lose power and endurance."

McIlroy had been a shot clear of Woods at nine-under par after 15 holes when Woods headed for the clubhouse.

McIlroy pared his 15th but three-putted for bogey both his seventh and eighth holes before a consolation birdie at the last.

"What was worst was just not giving myself a better chance to shoot the 59," he said.

"I can accept a bogey on a hole like on the eighth (17th) hole and the bogey on seven wasn't good, but you don't get many opportunities to break 60 and today was one of them and I didn't capitalize."

American Xander Schauffele, who hopes to secure the last spot on the USA Ryder Cup team, is in third place with a 63, while Rickie Fowler, who played alongside Woods, returned from injury to shoot a 65.

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Forget Nicklaus' record, McIlroy just wants to win again

ST. LOUIS, Missouri - Seven years after being hailed by one of his peers as the man to challenge Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major titles, Rory McIlroy remains stuck on four and running out of time in his quest to get anywhere near the Golden Bear's mark.

McIlroy blew away the field for his first major win at the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional, after which his potential was hailed by fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington.

"If you are going to talk about someone challenging Jack's record there's your man," said Harrington at the time.

"Winning majors at 22 with his talent -- he would have 20 more years, so probably 100 more majors in him where he could be competitive. It would give him a great chance."

McIlroy for a while lived up to the billing, quickly racking up his second, third and fourth major titles by the end of 2014, but he has spun his wheels since and comes into this week's PGA Championship at Bellerive on a 15-major drought.

At 29, time is still on his side to reach double-digit major wins, but Nicklaus's record seems firmly out of reach, and McIlroy arrives at this week's PGA Championship if not entirely an after-thought, then not exactly the centre of attention.

"From 2014 I've given myself some half chances at majors," McIlroy said on Tuesday, slipping easily into soccer vernacular.

"The last time I won a major in 2014 at Valhalla, that's one of the best times I swung the club and I'm trying to get back to (that)."

LITTLE STEP

McIlroy has had a chance in two majors this year. Second starting the final round at the Masters, he faded to finish equal fifth, while his late charge at the British Open earned a tie for second, his first career runner-up finish in a major.

"I've played in a lot of final groups and haven't played well enough when it's counted," he bluntly acknowledged.

"That's something I'm trying to figure out, what I need to do to make that little step from contending to lifting trophies."

McIlroy has fallen well behind the pace set by Nicklaus, who won seven majors before his 28th birthday.

European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn reckons the victory floodgates could open for McIlroy at any time.

"You go through spells where you don't quite get over the line but he's still contending every week and I admire his patience and the way he goes about it," Bjorn said.

"He is such quality and I think he's in a place where it's going to go 'boom' and then he's going to start winning a lot of tournaments.

"When he wins that one I think he'll just start rolling again. As a guy who's played golf since I was three years old, I'll pay money to go and watch him."

(Reporting by Andrew Both; Editing by Ken Ferris)

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Golf: Molinari plots course through the mayhem to win British Open

Woods fades to tied sixth after topping leaderboard

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland -- Francesco Molinari kept the coolest head in Carnoustie as he steered a steady course through a wild afternoon of nail-biting tension at the British Open on Sunday to become the first Italian major champion.

With a strong breeze causing mayhem at the top of the leaderboard which a charging Tiger Woods had topped with nine holes to play, the 35-year-old Molinari buckled down to produce a flawless 69 and claim victory by two strokes.

Overnight leaders Xander Schauffele and Kevin Kisner ended two shots back in four-way tie for second place with England's Justin Rose and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy.

Molinari ended a compelling four-day drama on eight-under 276 -- the lowest combined score in the eight Carnoustie Opens.

Huge crowds descended on the seaside links and the majority were willing Woods to claim a fairytale 15th major a decade after his last one. But it was the American's playing partner Molinari who wrote his own script to claim his major breakthrough at the 36th time of asking.

With defending champion Jordan Spieth, Woods, English duo Rose and Tommy Fleetwood and McIlroy in the Sunday mix, the Molinari sub-plot was almost overlooked as the leading groups went out.

Yet his recent form, two wins and two runners-up finishes in his last five tournaments, should have served as a warning on a day when a steady hand was needed on the tiller.

While Spieth, Schauffele and Kisner endured a rollercoaster ride across the sun-blasted links, as if spooked by the presence of a resurgent Woods, Molinari cranked out 13 consecutive pars before making his move.

He rolled in a birdie on the par-five 14th to move into the lead on seven-under.

With Rose and McIlroy in the clubhouse on six-under, Schauffele fought back from a 40-stroke outward nine to get to seven-under but Molinari was unflappable.

Carnoustie's 18th hole has witnessed its fair share of horror shows but Molinari safely negotiated the snaking Barry Burn with his tee shot before planting his second to six feet.

Molinari was a picture of calm as he walked up to his putt and only after it disappeared into the cup did he allow his mask to slip -- turning to punch the air.

MOST ANXIOUS

The most anxious he looked all day was sitting watching Californian Schauffele play the 17th and 18th.

When Schauffele's par putt stayed out on the 17th the Italian puffed out his cheeks knowing only an eagle for the American at the last could deny him.

The moment Schauffele's approach stopped short on the 18th green the celebrations could start.

"It is absolutely amazing," Turin-born Molinari, who went bogey-free from the 17th hole of his second round, said.

"The course bit me a few times the first couple of days, but then to go bogey-free over the weekend on a course like this is incredible. For the first time I felt like I was ready for it.

"Playing with Tiger makes it even more special. I couldn't have written it any better."

Molinari broke a sequence of five majors won by Americans and for a while Woods looked like making it six.

In his trademark red shirt, the 42-year-old looked in complete control as he birdied the fourth and sixth holes.

He reached the turn in 34 strokes and with Spieth and Schauffele imploding a few holes back Woods was suddenly clear at the top of the leaderboard on seven-under.

A miss-hit flop shot at the 11th ended cost him a double-bogey that stopped him in his tracks and although he birdied the 14th to stay in the hunt he fell just short, finishing in a tie for sixth on five-under.

Spieth's hopes of emulating Woods by winning the Claret Jug for a second successive year withered away as he slumped to a final-round 76 on a desperately hard scoring day.

He had looked assured as he began with four pars but a bogey at the fifth rattled him and the wheels fell off when a trip to a gorse bush ended with a double-bogey at the sixth.

McIlroy had struggled to make any headway but when he eagled the 14th he rocketed to the top of the leaderboard.

Rose also eagled the par-five 14th -- the only hole that was offering any gifts as a course so docile on Saturday bit back.

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McIlroy credits Tiger for American major dominance

Southampton, N.Y. - Even though Tiger Woods has not won a major championship in a decade, he deserves credit for recent American dominance of the biggest events, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy said on Wednesday on the eve of the U.S. Open.

All four majors are now in American hands after Patrick Reed's win at the Masters in April, which followed victories by Brooks Koepka (U.S. Open), Jordan Spieth (British Open) and Justin Thomas (PGA Championship) last year.

The U.S. also holds the Ryder Cup ahead of September's biennial showdown with Europe, and continues to routinely give the International team a shellacking at the Presidents Cup.

McIlroy says the current generation have been inspired not only by growing up watching Woods at his peak, but also getting to know him as a person.

"They have probably a couple of guys, but one in particular that they try to emulate who's back out here playing, and he's become a friend of theirs," McIlroy said.

"A lot of these guys have gotten to know Tiger and being able to say, 'OK, this is what he does, we mightn't be able to achieve everything that he has, but we can at least try'.

"I think that's been a huge thing for Ryder Cups and Presidents Cup, and for them as individuals as well."

McIlroy has won four majors, but has not tasted victory since the 2014 PGA Championship, a drought he hopes to end at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday.

Rickie Fowler is one of the generation who grew up watching Woods but he is yet to win a major, instead carrying the mantle as the best player without one to his name.

World number seven Fowler does not completely agree with McIlroy, believing the 14-times major champion Woods has inspired players worldwide.

"I think everyone can benefit from Tiger," Fowler, 29, said.

"A lot of us playing now grew up watching him. I didn't but I've heard plenty of stories.

"I enjoy having him back out and playing, and I want him playing at his best because I want to beat him at his best." 

(Reporting by Andrew Both, editing by Ed Osmond)

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