They say money is a great motivator, and they would be right.  Just ask Lee Westwood, the new leader at the Dubai World Championship.  Westwood fired a 3-under 69 to take a two stroke lead at the tournament, with a bunch of players behind him at 7-under, including Rory McIlroy, the 20-year-old wunderkind whom Westwood is chasing for the European Tour money title.  The money title winner receives a $1.5 million bonus–how’s that for motivation. Lee Westwood (Image: Zuma Press) McIlroy briefly held the lead at 9-under himself, after making the turn in 31, thanks in large part to an eagle on No. 7.  But the Irishman gave it back on the second nine, blowing two putts inside three feet on the 14th and 15th to save par. Westwood doesn’t... [Read more]

The European Tour is down to their final tournament, the Dubai World Championship, and Australian Robert Allenby jumped out to an early lead by firing a 7-under 65.  Sitting one stroke behind Allenby was a group of three, consisting of Lee Westwood, Chris Woods and Camilo Villegas.  The subplot to this tourney is the battle for the European Tour money title, being waged by Westwood and money leader Rory McIlroy.  The young Irishman has a $191,000 lead over Westwood, but finds himself two strokes back of the Brit after one round. Robert Allenby (Image: Zuma Press) Allenby’s day was highlighted by eight birdies, but a lone bogey dropped him back to 7-under.  Still, pretty damn good for a guy who decided at the last minute to make the... [Read more]

Oh how the mighty have fallen–although with David Duval it wasn’t so much a sickening thud, as a steady decline into failure.  Now Duval has to face the ignominy of losing his PGA Tour card, eight years after winning his only major, the British Open.  The top 125 golfers on the money list receive full tour status for the following year, but after missing the cut at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic, Duval is projected to finish at No. 131 on the money list. David Duval (Image: Zuma Press) But it’s not all bad for the former No. 1 player in the world.  Because he is expected to finish in the top 150 on tour, Duval should be able to enter a dozen tournaments or so, and his British Open win, combined with his runner-up... [Read more]

When I first heard about this, two words came to my mind–holy and crap.  But it’s true, Michelle Wie has finally done something she’s never done on the LPGA, or in her ill-advised forays into the PGA–win a tournament.  It took ten years, and a whole lot of hype, but Wie shot a 13-under to win the Lorena Ochoa Invitational by two strokes over Paula Creamer. Michelle Wie (Image: Zuma Press) Wie closed out the tournament in style, with a gorgeous greenside bunker shot that left her but a foot from the hole for birdie.  Of course, like many of today’s pro athletes, Wie was quick to post her excitement on her Twitter account. “Wowwwww …… never thought this would feel THIS great!!!!” It was... [Read more]

When it was all said and done, the government of Australia really didn’t mind paying half of Tiger Woods’ $3 million appearance fee at the Australian Masters.  The Aussie government figures it got back approximately $20 million in return, and Woods got yet another victory, his first win Down Under.  The day started with Woods in a three-way tie for the lead, but a scorching start (three birdies on the opening six holes) left Woods’ competitors in his wake.  His brilliant 4-under 68 left him at 14-under for the tournament, two-strokes better than Australian Greg Chalmers. Tiger Woods (Image: Zuma Press) A miserable third round for Tiger had him slip backwards into a three-way tie for the lead, but Sunday showed that the world’s... [Read more]