Els holds on to win BMW International in Munich

Els holds on to win BMW International in Munich











June 23, 2013 1:54 PM


(Reuters) - South Africa's Ernie Els held off final round challenges from Thomas Bjorn and Alexander Levy to seal a one-shot start to finish victory at the BMW International Open in Munich on Sunday.

The British Open champion led the field from the opening round and started Sunday tied with France's Levy and Sweden's Alex Noren.

The 43-year-old's lead slipped during the final round to both Denmark's Bjorn and tour rookie Levy, but his third consecutive card of three-under par 69 was enough for an 18-under par total, following his stunning 63 on the opening day.

"I just felt good this week," Els told the europeantour.com website.

"I just felt my game was there and lucky enough it was one shot good enough.


"I really had it going and then I made it tough for myself again. Thomas was playing great, he stumbled on 14, I was watching the kid - I played with him yesterday and he looked like he had a great game - but he stumbled as well on the back nine.

"It's great to get my name on this wonderful trophy.

"Obviously it gives you a lot of confidence. Wire-to-wire you've got the pressure, every night you've got to sleep on it, guys are chasing you. So this is quite a week for me."

Bjorn finished one shot behind Els and was left to rue a double-bogey on the 14th hole, with 22-year-old Levy two shots behind the winner.

The victory was Els' 28th on the European Tour, but first title since winning his fourth major at last year's Open.


His defence of that title begins at Muirfield from July 18.

(Reporting by Josh Reich; Editing by Mark Meadows; mark.meadows@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 7933; Reuters Messaging:; mark.meadows.reuters.com@reuters.net; To sign up for our Global Sports Forum chatroom, click on https://forms.thomsonreuters.com/global_sports_forum)

Golf-Els aims to be king of the castle at Scottish Open

Golf-Els aims to be king of the castle at Scottish Open










July 2, 2013 9:21 AM



July 2 (Reuters) - World number 15 Ernie Els will prepare for his British Open title defence by going for his third Scottish Open victory next week.

The 43-year-old South African previously won the British Open warm-up event in 2000 and 2003.

"Playing the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open is not only the perfect preparation for The Open, it's also a tremendous tournament in its own right," Els said in a European Tour news release on Tuesday.

"I have very fond memories of my two wins in the Scottish Open and if I can win it a third time next week it would be the perfect platform for my defence of The Open."

World number six Phil Mickelson will also compete at the Castle Stuart course in Inverness from July 11-14.

This year's British Open will also be held in Scotland, at Muirfield the following week. (Writing by Tony Jimenez in London; editing by Clare Fallon)

PGA Tour Officially Adopts Anchoring Ban, Plays Both Sides Perfectly

PGA Tour Officially Adopts Anchoring Ban, Plays Both Sides Perfectly
Commissioner Finchem Comes Out on Top of Anchoring Issue










Chris Chaney July 2, 2013 11:52 AM




COMMENTARY | The PGA Tour's Policy Boardannounced on Monday, July 1 that the Tour would accept the United States Golf Association (USGA) and Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews' (R&A) ban on anchored strokes in all competitions effective Jan. 1, 2016.

The ban, which will be enforced under Rule 14-1b, cleared its final hurdle with the PGA Tour and subsequent PGA of America adoption of the legislation.

If all that sounded a bit rigid and political, it should have. After all, getting a new rule accepted and incorporated into the Rules of Golf can be just as difficult as making a bill become a law.

The road to adoption of 14-1b was a long and arduous one for those in favor of implementing the rule as well as for those standing firm in fighting it. In playing both sides, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchemhas come out as one of the few unscathed by the process.

A lawyer by trade and the owner of a political science degree from the University of Richmond, Finchemhas been hard-wired with a political and analytical brain that allows him to see the forest from amongst the trees.


With the proposed ban on anchoring set forth by the USGA and R&A in late November of 2012, the ruling bodies opened up a 90-day comment period in which concerns over the implementation of 14-1b would be heard and considered.

The PGA Tour, by way of Finchem joining the NBC broadcast of the World Golf Championship - Accenture Match Play Championship in May, announced their opposition to the proposed ban. In essence, the statement was a show of good faith for the estimated 18-percent of PGA Tour players who anchor their putter.

However, Finchem's statement was not a definitive line in the sand. He skirted that line as such: "They've asked us to give our comments. All we're doing at this point is saying this is our opinion," he said.

Opinions change. Finchem knows that. Finchem also knows that 18-percent is nowhere near a majority, nor will a majority of that portion boycott or change professions due to the inclusion of Rule 14-1b.

By coming out in opposition of the ban originally, Finchem stood by his guys, giving them a bigger, more respected dog in the fight. When the USGA and R&A brought an even bigger dog - one that has governed the game for multiple centuries - Finchem had no choice but to acquiesce.


"He tried," the anchoring elite would think. "There was no stopping the rolling stone that is Rule 14-1b."

Finchem saw the end game of the proposed anchoring ban from the outset. The comment period was merely a formality. Once proposed, the ruling bodies had already decided upon the game's need for the rule change. No amount of posturing or dissention from such a small portion of the playing public was going to change their minds.

Finchem knew that. And he fought the good fight for his men. No anchorer left behind.

So when the proposed ban became the imminent ban on May 21, Finchem had to cut his losses and do what was best for the future of the Tour in the long-term, which meant going along with the ruling bodies.

But, then again, he already knew that.

Chris Chaney is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based sportswriter. He has written for multiple outlets including WrongFairway.com, Hoopville.com, The Cincinnati (OH) Enquirer and The Clermont (OH) Sun.

Follow him on Twitter @Wrong_Fairway.

Golf-Montgomerie fails to qualify for British Open

Golf-Montgomerie fails to qualify for British Open










July 2, 2013 6:09 PM



July 2 (Reuters) - Former world number two Colin Montgomerie blew his chance of taking part in this month's British Open after a second-round 76 left him three over par in qualifying on Tuesday.

The 2010 European Ryder Cup captain was one shot off the lead after an opening-round 69 during Local Final Qualifying at Gullane in Scotland before a round of 76, featuring four bogeys and a double bogey, saw him miss out by four strokes.

"I got to five under and threw it away - never mind," the 50-year-old Scot said in a news release. "It's not my schedule. I just played badly this afternoon. I didn't get going at all."

Montgomerie, who won a record eight order of merit titles on the European Tour between 1993 and 2005, has never won a major despite several close calls with five runner-up spots among a total of 10 top-10 finishes.

There were three qualifying spots up for grabs at Gullane with amateurs Ben Stow and Matthew Fitzpatrick joining Sweden's Oscar Floren in securing their places at the July 18-21 major at Muirfield.

At the qualifying event at The Musselburgh, Steven Tileydominated the field to win by three shots to book his berth along with Scot Lloyd Saltman and Tyrrell Hatton.

At Dunbar, amateur Grant Forrest shot 67 and 65 for an eight-under-par aggregate and was joined in The Open field by Indian Shiv Kapur and Australian John Wade, who finished a stroke behind.

In the event at North Berwick, amateur Jimmy Mullen, Gareth Wright and George Murray took the coveted qualifying places. (Reporting by Sonia Oxley; editing by Ken Ferris; Editing by)

Golf-Elbow problem won't be an issue at British Open, says Woods

Golf-Elbow problem won't be an issue at British Open, says Woods

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July 13, 2013 4:27 PM


July 13 (Reuters) - Tiger Woods still needs medication and treatment on his left elbow but does not believe the injury will pose a problem in next week's British Open at Muirfield, Scotland.

The world number one had been suffering with minor discomfort ahead of last month's U.S. Open in Pennsylvania where he aggravated the problem and was seen wincing and shaking his arm on several occasions.

Woods has not played since the second major championship of the season at Merion.

"I started chipping and putting a little over a week ago and I'm full go for the British Open," Woods said on his website (www.tigerwoods.com) on Saturday.

"I'm very confident my elbow strain won't be a problem and I will be able to hit all the shots I need to hit."


Woods said he was taking anti-inflammatory medication and the elbow was still being treated but he had more pressing concerns as he prepared for the third major of the year.

"The big thing at Muirfield will be to avoid the rough," said the 37-year-old American. "Although I have been playing every day I also have to get back into a competitive feel.

"The practice rounds are going to be important for how that particular golf course is playing. Whether we're going to need to hit the ball higher or lower, what the conditions are and what the weather is going to be."

Woods is making his second appearance at a Muirfield-hosted British Open after finishing tied 28th in 2002.

"My first visit didn't go very well. I caught the worst of the weather," said the 14-times major winner.

"That's just the nature of links golf. Luck plays a big part in it and you never know what you're going to get."

The 142nd British Open starts on Thursday. (Writing by Tom Bartlett; editing by Tony Jimenez)