Golf-McIlroy seeks full benefit of Donald’s Shanghai absence (Reuters)
Golf-McIlroy seeks full benefit of Donald’s Shanghai absence (Reuters)
SHANGHAI, Nov 2 (Reuters) – Rory McIlroy is hoping to use his appearance at the WGC HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai this week as a stepping stone towards winning the European Tour’s 2011 Race to Dubai. The 22-year-old Northern Irishman is currently 1,302,823 euros ($1.78 million) behind money list leader Luke Donald, who is on course to become the first player to win both the U.S. and European money lists in the same year. However, the world number one has opted against playing in Shanghai, instead staying home in Chicago, where his American wife Diane is expecting to give birth to their second child in the next two weeks. McIlroy sees the U.S. PGA order of merit champion’s absence along with the 842,217 euro winner’s prize on offer as an opportunity to end a year which has already seen him claim a first major at the U.S. Open on an even higher note. “I am 1.3 million euros behind Luke,” McIlroy told reporters on Wednesday, fresh from a $2 million win at last week’s non-sanctioned Shanghai Master that did not count towards any money list. “But I have got three big events coming up. I have got this week, the Hong Kong Open and the Dubai World Championship. So three more chances to really try to cut into his lead. “With him not being here this week because his wife is giving birth to their second child, I feel like I have got a chance. “It would be fantastic to get another win, the second in two weeks and cut into that lead. It would be fantastic if I could get a littler closer to him.” Accompanying McIlroy around the Sheshan International course will be Danish girlfriend and world number one tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, who will be watching him play a tournament for the first time. During his news conference, McIlroy cleverly dodged a question about whether the couple had started making any marriage plans. On a day of heavy rain he joked: “It’s great to have Caroline here. This is the first time she’s at a golf tournament but if the weather keeps going like this, it might be the last one she is at as well.” McIlroy was, however, more forthcoming about his plans to displace Donald at the top of the money list. “I obviously have not had as good a season as Luke because he has been the most consistent golfer in the world for probably the best part of 18 months,” McIlroy added. “But if I can give it my all and really give it a good go for the next few weeks and even just run him close, I think that would be a good achievement in itself.” McIlroy also accepted that with the season’s three other major winners—Charl Schwartzel, Darren Clarke and Keegan Bradley—in the 78-strong field, he might not make as much of a dent in Donald’s advantage on Sunday than he would like. ($1 = 0.731 euros) (Editing by John O’Brien; To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com) For more golf click on
Top-ranked Yani Tseng wins in China (AP)
Top-ranked Yani Tseng wins in China (AP)
SUZHOU, China (AP)—Top-ranked Yani Tseng won the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open on Sunday for her 11th worldwide victory of year, closing with a 6-under 6 to beat Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg by seven strokes. The 22-year-old Taiwanese star, coming off a victory last week in the LPGA Tour’s Taiwan Championship, finished at 16 under at Suzhou International in the Ladies European Tour event. “It’s very exciting,” Tseng said., “I played so consistently. I was really patient. … I just play one shot at a time and be patient and keep learning. I just learn from mistakes.” The victory was Tseng’s 30th in her professional career. She has won seven this season on the LPGA Tour, including major victories in the LPGA Championship and Women’s British Open. Lindberg shot a 70. South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace, the 2010 winner, had a 70 to tie for third with England’s Melissa Reid (68) at 8 under.
Garcia takes 2-shot lead at Andalucia Masters (AP)
Garcia takes 2-shot lead at Andalucia Masters (AP)
SOTOGRANDE, Spain (AP)—Sergio Garcia leads a strong Spanish contingent intent on a Valderrama victory at this weekend’s Andalucia Masters, where defending champion Graeme McDowell heads the challengers. Garcia, coming off an 11-shot Castello Masters win for his first victory in three years, is among 14 Spanish players looking for a first ever home triumph since Spain’s most famous golf course began hosting tournaments 23 years ago. Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jose Maria Olazabal, Alvaro Quiros, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Garcia lead the local contenders’ bid to triumph at the Robert Trent Jones designed course. Martin Kaymer, Thomas Bjorn, Matteo Manassero and Italian brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari will also compete at the 96-player, ?3 million ($4.17 million) event. Since 1988, when the Volvo Masters was first held, there have been 20 European Tour events at Valderrama but not one Spanish winner. “I’ve been three times runner-up on this course, and that really spurs me to try harder,” Garcia said. “It’s been really positive recently, after two really bad years. I’ve had great feelings and at the end of the day the most important thing is what I feel. I’ve been putting really well since before the U.S. Open, I like the consistency I’m achieving now. “I think I am going the right way but that doesn’t mean that it’s time to relax.” Valderrama’s cork tree-lined, par-71 course offers tight fairways and small greens that test a golfer’s game from tee to green, especially rewarding those who show patience and accuracy. These characteristics suited McDowell on his way to a 2-shot victory last year, which was the Northern Irishman’s last European win. The former U.S. Open champion is keen on a first 2011 title to improve his Race to Dubai position at the European Tour’s last continental event before moving on to Asia. “It’s one of those iconic courses on the European Tour, and I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with it,” McDowell said. “There are holes you can consider being decent birdie chances, and when the wind is up, well, good luck. “But I like that challenge.” Kaymer was second here in 2008 and the German player is looking for his first victory since January to put pressure on Dubai leader Luke Donald. Bjorn has won three tournaments this season while Manassero’s first win came in Spain last year. South African player Thomas Aiken will also be expected to challenge for the ?500,000 ($695,450) winner’s cheque after his Spanish Open victory earlier this year, coupled with top-10 finishes in Madrid and Castellon. Valderrama gained fame in 1997 when former Spanish great Seve Ballesteros captained Europe to Ryder Cup victory. Ballesteros died in May from cancer.
