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.
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 …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.
Allenby’s day was highlighted by eight birdies, but a lone …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.
But it’s not all bad for the former No. 1 player in the world.  Because he is …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.
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 …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.
A miserable third round for …read more

Tiger Woods returned to Australia for the Australian Masters, the first time he has competed Down Under in 11 years.  And he gave the crowd of over 20,000 exactly what they came to see.  Tiger had birdie opportunity on every hole in the round, except for the 18th, en route to a 6-under 66.  His first round score left him tied for first, with South African Branden Grace and Australian James Nitties.
The horde of fans following Woods made life difficult for not only the golfers in his group, but also the group following.  Nitties was one of the unfortunates in …read more

I can honestly say this comes as a surprise to me.  Joining such luminaries as Paul McCartney, Elton John, Mick Jagger and Christopher Lee, golfer Nick Faldo has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.  Faldo becomes only the second golfer to receive the honor, following Henry Cotton in 1998.
Faldo is a six-time major winner, as well as being named captain of the 2008 European Ryder Cup team.  He has twice won the European Order of Merit, to go along with his three Masters titles, and three British Open championships.
The official knighting ceremony is to take place at Windsor Castle.  For …read more

In the end, the final day turned into a showdown between two of the best golfers in the world.  Only it was Ernie Els, not Tiger Woods, battling Phil Mickelson for the HSBC Champions.  Right from the get-go Tiger seemed off his game, and his score of 72 was proof of that.  On the front nine Mickelson pulled away from his old foe, pulling ahead of Woods by six strokes, and finishing with a 3-under 69 on the day, good for 17-under and the win.
But after vanquishing Woods, “Lefty” had another challenger to contend with–South African Ernie Els.  After an …read more

Phil Mickelson grabbed the lead after three rounds at the HSBC Champions, after a torrid finish to his round of 67.  “Lefty” made an outstanding three birdies over his final five holes to go from a two-stroke deficit to a two-stroke lead over Tiger Woods and Nick Watney.  Woods, the second round leader, made birdie on No. 10, but that was it for his round, finishing with a 2-under 70, leaving him at 12-under for the tourney.
Expect the photogs to be out in full force on Sunday, with the ideal final pairing of Mickelson and Woods.  The two haven’t been …read more

There may have been 70+ players teeing off in the first round of the HSBC Champions tournament, but the throngs of Chinese fans were really there to see only two players–Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.  And even though neither of the superstars was at the top of the leaderboard, neither disappointed the fans.  But the first day, at least, belonged to Nick Watney, who fired an 8-under 64, good for a two stroke lead over a group of three golfers, including Ireland’s Shane Lowry.
Woods finds himself three strokes back after an opening round 67.  American Anthony Kim and England’s Paul …read more