Golf: Rahm seizes three-shot lead at Riviera, where Woods impresses

LOS ANGELES -- World number three Jon Rahm fired a bogey-free six-under par 65 on Saturday to grab a three-shot lead at Riviera, where Tiger Woods thrilled fans with a four-under par 67.

Rahm, who can return to number one with a victory, hit just five of 14 fairways but moved past overnight leader Max Homa, putting himself in position to capture a third US PGA Tour title of 2023.

His 15-under par total of 198 put him three clear of Homa, whose two-under par 69 for 201 kept him one in front of Keith Mitchell, who also posted a 69.

"It's a great round of golf," Rahm said. "Really proud of today, heck of a round of golf."

Rahm opened his round with a birdie at the first, just missing a 12-foot eagle attempt. He rolled in birdie putts from inside eight feet at the fourth, eighth and ninth.

He rolled in a two-foot birdie at the 11th, to take the solo lead at 14-under.

Homa, who started the day with a one-shot lead, kept the pressure on. He drained a 19-foot birdie putt at the third and added a five-foot birdie at the sixth. He tied Rahm's lead with a birdie at the 10th and tied him again with a seven-foot birdie at the 13th.

Homa faltered, however, with back-to-back bogeys at the 15th and 16th, and Rahm closed his round with a final flourish -- draining a 23-foot birdie putt at 18.

"The only thing I was worried about was getting that ball to the hole," Rahm said. "I've hit that putt a million times, I've seen that putt hit a million times and we all leave it just a couple, a couple rolls short, so I just wanted to get it there. Felt good obviously making it, it's a huge bonus, right?"

Rahm is seeking a third title of the year after victories at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii and at La Quinta, California, in his next event.

His hot start followed a strong autumn in Europe, where he won a third Spanish Open title in October and the DP World Tour Championship in November.

It all has him in position to grab the number one spot from American Scottie Scheffler, who supplanted Rory McIlroy with his Phoenix Open win last Sunday.

While Rahm arrived at Riviera as perhaps the hottest golfer on tour, Woods was a mystery coming into his first event since he missed the cut at the Open Championship in July.

Still severely limited by the right leg injuries he suffered in a February 2021 car accident, Woods had barely made the halfway cut.

But he equaled the third-best round of the day behind Denny McCarthy's 64 -- which pulled the American into a share of seventh, and Rahm's 65.

- Woods's best -

Woods has played just three tour-level tournaments since the crash, finishing 47th at the Masters last April, withdrawing from the PGA Championship after three rounds and missing the cut at St. Andrews.

"It's the best I've played," he said of Saturday's effort, which featured an eagle at the par-five first -- where his approach from just off the fairway looked like it might yield an albatross before leaving him a three-footer for the eagle.

Woods said there wasn't that much difference between Friday and Saturday, apart from the putts falling

"I've driven it well the last three days, my iron play has been good," he said. "I made a few adjustments today and some of the putts went in."

Woods is the host of the tournament, which features 19 of the world's top 20 all chasing a $3.6 million winner's prize from a purse of $20 million.

That prize money is bumped up thanks to the tournament's status as one of the tour's new designated events, designed to bring the best players together more often.

But even with the wealth of talent on view, Woods was the undisputed star attraction, provoking roars throughout the day from his legion of followers.

"You're fully aware where Tiger is," Rahm said.

Agence France-Presse

Golf: No.1 Scheffler wins first major at Masters after Tiger's return

AUGUSTA -- Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler captured his first major title on Sunday by winning the Masters in dominating fashion, holding firm down the stretch to seize the green jacket after Tiger Woods completed his amazing comeback from severe leg injuries.

Scheffler fired a final-round one-under par 71 to finish 72 holes on 10-under 278 and defeat four-time major winner Rory McIlroy by three strokes with Australian Cameron Smith and Ireland's Shane Lowry sharing third on 283.

"It was a long day, a tough day for me," Scheffler said. "I just tried to keep my head down and execute my shots."

Scheffler, who only won his first PGA title in February, holed a spectacular chip-in birdie from 87 feet at the par-4 third to blunt an early charge by Smith, last month's Players Championship winner.

"It was not a shot I expected to see go in but it got things off and rolling for me," Scheffler said.

He also birdied the 14th and sank a 14-foot birdie putt at the par-5 15th to signal there would be no collapse to open a door for McIlroy, chasing an Augusta National win to complete a career Grand Slam.

Scheffler endured an agonizing double bogey at the 18th hole, needing three putts from inside five feet before finally sinking the putt to secure his breakthrough major triumph.

"I can't put into words what it means to know I'll be able to come back here for life," Scheffler said.

The 25-year-old American took a $2.7 million top prize from a $15 million purse and joined 1991 Masters champion Ian Woosnam as the only players to win majors in their debut events as world number one.

Scheffler is only the fifth player to win the Masters while atop the rankings, joining Welshman Woosnam and Americans Fred Couples, Dustin Johnson and Woods, whose epic injury fightback dominated attention all week.

Spectators gave Woods a standing ovation at the 18th green for his astonishing return to golf 14 months after a car crash that left him hospitalized for weeks and unable to walk for months.

"I wasn't playing my best but to have their support out there, I don't think words can describe it," Woods said.

The 15-time major winner fired weekend 78s, his worst Masters rounds, to finish with his highest Augusta National 72-hole score of 301 and in a worst-ever 47th place.

But the fact Woods was able to walk the course and play at all was nothing short of incredible given the 46-year-old medical marvel had not played a top event for 17 months and feared amputation of a right leg now held together with rods, plates, pins and screws.

"Given where I was a little over a year ago and what my prospects were, to end up here and be able to play in all four rounds, even a month ago, I didn't know if I could pull this off," Woods said.

Woods arrived at Augusta chasing a record-tying sixth Masters crown and departed knowing he had the fortitude to play majors again.

"It has been a tough road and one that I'm very thankful to have the opportunity to be able to grind through," Woods said.

- Six starts, four wins -

Scheffler won his first US PGA title at February's Phoenix Open, added another last month at Bay Hill and overtook Spain's Jon Rahm for the summit by capturing the WGC Match Play crown two weeks ago.

He's the first player to win four times in six PGA starts since Australian Jason Day in 2015.

Smith, who missed a chance to join Woods in 2001 as the only players to win the Players and Masters in the same year, opened with back-to-back birdies to trim Scheffler's lead to one stroke, but faltered with bogeys at the third and fourth holes.

"Just too many mistakes," Smith said. "Those two bogeys really slowed me down."

Both birdied from about five feet at the par-4 seventh and bogeyed the 10th.

Smith sank a 15-foot birdie putt at 11 but his tee shot at the par-3 12th found a watery grave in Rae's Creek on the way to a triple bogey to fall six adrift.

"At 12, that was the tournament," Smith said.

Scheffler, meanwhile, parred his way through Amen Corner, a perilous three-hole stretch where Scheffler sank par putts from seven feet at 11, nine feet at 12 and missed a five-foot birdie putt at the par-5 13th.

The par saves thwarted a dramatic run by McIlroy, who delivered his best Masters round with a bogey-free 64 that included a 10-foot eagle putt at 13 and a 54-foot birdie chip-in from a greenside bunker at the 18th.

"That's as happy as I've ever been on a golf course right there," McIlroy said after his best major finish since a share of second at the 2018 British Open. He hasn't won a major since 2014.

Agence France-Presse

Golf: No.1 Scheffler happy to dwell in Tiger's Masters shadow

AUGUSTA -- World number one Scottie Scheffler is just fine with Tiger Woods dominating the scene this week at the Masters.

After three victories in the past two months, Scheffler is the hottest golfer in the world and took the top spot from reigning US Open champion Jon Rahm by winning the WGC Match Play two weeks ago.

So please, Scheffler said, focus on Woods and his astonishing comeback tale from severe leg injuries to playing for a major title only 14 months later -- not Scheffler trying to win his first major title.

"Tiger takes a lot of attention away from all of us, which I think is a good thing for us," Scheffler said. "He's used to being in the spotlight. Tiger is the needle for professional golf. It seems like he's for sure going to play so that's exciting for us and we're glad to see him back."

That's far more enthusiasm than Scheffler musters for his ascension, the 25-year-old American having made his big goal simply to play on the US PGA Tour rather than leap to any particular ranking.

"Looking at the rankings and focusing on that stuff doesn't provide any benefit for me," said Scheffler. "I look forward to preparing and playing good golf and executing shots and being in contention. That's what's fun."

Scheffler admits he doesn't look at social media much. He doesn't take himself too seriously, 11th-ranked pal Sam Burns calling him "goofy" as well as "one of the most competitive people I've ever met."

"He isn't necessarily defined by golf," Burns said. "He knows that golf isn't everything. It's not who he is, it's what he does."

Scheffler, who also won at Phoenix and Bay Hill in the run-up to the year's first major, shared 19th in 2020 and 18th last year in his past two Masters starts.

"I've been playing some good golf. Definitely not going to take it for granted and hoping to keep it rolling this week," Scheffler said. "My game feels like it's in a pretty good spot."

Scheffler has been determined not to let his jump from fifth to first in the rankings change his attitude.

"Having some recent success doesn't place any more expectations on myself for this week," he said. "I feel like I've done everything I could to play well, and if I don't play well, that's just how it goes.

"I'm going to try to do my best, execute shots, and just play golf."

Scheffler hasn't seen many signs of being treated differently by others either. Topping the world rankings doesn't keep him from having to do routine chores at home.

"Outside of guys saying congrats, I wouldn't say too much," Scheffler said. "My friends are still making fun of me. I've still got to do my chores at home and nothing really changes."

Scheffler, making his 10th major start, must fight to keep his top ranking this week as five players could dethrone him.

Spain's Rahm needs at least a solo sixth finish to have a chance while British Open champion Collin Morikawa and Norway's Viktor Hovland need top-three efforts, American Patrick Cantlay needs a win or solo second place and Australian Cameron Smith must win to have a chance.

Agence France-Presse

Mickelson salutes Woods win

Phil Mickelson led the praise for Tiger Woods after the former world number one ended a five-year title-drought with victory at the Tour Championship here Sunday.

Mickelson, who will face Woods in a lucrative head-to-head shoot-out in Las Vegas in November, said he had never doubted that the 14-time major winner would add to his collection of PGA Tour titles.

“He’s played such good golf all year that it is just not surprising,” Mickelson said.

“Tiger’s played so well on a very difficult golf course and we almost kind of expected it.


“We never doubted he would not win again, not from what I’ve seen he’s been swinging the club and the way he’s being playing.

“It was just a matter of time.”

The victory lifts Woods tally to 80 PGA Tour titles and just three wins shy of becoming the most successful player in the history of the PGA Tour.

Mickelson meanwhile said he is looking forward to joining up with Woods for this week’s Ryder Cup in Versailles, despite a disappointing showing in Atlanta which saw him finish on 13 over par.


“It was not the week here I would have liked heading into any big tournament but next week in France is going to be totally different with different grass, different course and different everything so we’ll see,” Mickelson said.

“It’s going to be a special week and with Patrick (Reed) and I playing together today we were talking about it and it’s going to be a fun and exciting week.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Spieth’s ‘chicken wing’

IT HAS taken me some time to write about the unexpected victory of Danny Willet, son of a preacher, and the mind-boggling collapse of Jordan Spieth at golf’s first major of the year, the Masters.

Willet wasn’t even supposed to be in the 2016 Masters, one of golf’s most coveted titles, because he prioritized his family before his golf career. But since his wife gave birth earlier than he had expected, he proceeded to play and the golfing gods smiled on him.

But the real story that will continue to baffle me is the sudden collapse of three-day leader Spieth.

He birdied the last four holes of the front nine and had such a commanding five-shot lead that I did not expect him to lose everything in just three holes.

This is my take on what caused that collapse:

Spieth’s phenomenal rise has definitely earned him the label of the next golf superstar, following in the footsteps of Tiger Woods, in terms of achievements at a very young age.

However, I have always questioned his fundamentals, which I felt are suspect during heavy-pressure situations.

He is the only golf professional on the US PGA Tour who uses a very “weak” grip. This makes him swing through the ball with what golf gurus and commentators call a “chicken wing.”

On a missed shot, the result of this action is usually a blocked shot that lands way off target.

The way he missed his drives on the last two holes of the second and third rounds of the Masters was already an indication that he was not comfortable with his swing.

And on the last day, his quadruple bogey on the famous par-3 No. 12 was just unbelievable. It is very unusual to miss shots like those if you are a professional.

However, his recovery from this horrendous hole showed the stuff he is made of. It’s one of the reasons why he is one of golf’s finest players today.

He exudes a heart that appears to be equal to the ones that came before him. It will be very interesting to watch him in the next three Majors.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Tiger Woods has second microdiscectomy surgery on back

With his game ailing, Tiger Woods announced he underwent a second microdiscectomy surgery on his back.

“This is certainly disappointing, but I’m a fighter,” Woods said. “I’ve been told I can make a full recovery, and I have no doubt that I will.”

Woods made the announcement on his website — www.tigerwoods.com — and reported the microsurgical procedure — intended to relieve pain from a pinched nerve — was performed late Wednesday in Park City, Utah, by neurosurgeon Dr. Charles Rich. Woods pulled out of three events he planned to play this year and isn’t expected to return to the tour until January at the earliest.

Dr. Rich, who performed the initial operation in March 2014, called it “a complete success.” Woods was discharged Thursday.

The 14-time major champion hasn’t won one of golf’s four biggest events since the 2008 U.S. Open. Woods also has won more than 100 events worldwide, but none since the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Woods canceled planned appearances in the Frys.com Open at Silverado in California and the Bridgestone America’s Golf Cup in Mexico City next month and his own Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in early December.

“I’d like to send my regrets to Frys and all those associated with the America’s Golf Cup … I will be attending my foundation-hosted Hero World Challenge but won’t be able to play,” Woods said.

After experiencing lingering discomfort in his back and hip, Woods elected to have surgery quickly in hopes of returning to the PGA Tour early in 2016, or as soon as possible. He is scheduled to begin rehabbing within a week.

“I appreciate the fans’ concern and support,” he said. “This is unfortunate, but these things happen. I’ve been injured before and played again. It won’t be any different this time.”

In his last tournament, Woods had a season-best 10th-place tie late last month in the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina. He played only 11 events this season, missing four cuts and withdrawing once, and has dropped to 283rd in the world ranking.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Woods says he’ll return when his game is ready

PEBBLE BEACH, California — Tiger Woods said Wednesday his game is “not acceptable” to compete in tournaments and he will return when he thinks it is.

Hopeful of having injuries behind him, Woods made a horrific start to the new year. He shot a career-high 82 in the second round of the Phoenix Open to miss the cut by 12 shots. And then he withdrew after 11 holes of ordinary golf at Torrey Pines because of tightness in his back from a fog delay.

Woods said on his website the last two weeks have been disappointing, especially at Torrey Pines, where he is an eight-time winner. He said he never wants to withdraw, but recent injuries have allowed that to happen too often.

Woods said his latest injury was not related to the back surgery he had last spring, and that he is feeling better every day with physical therapy.

“Right now, I need a lot of work on my game, and to still spend time with the people that are important to me,” Woods said. “My play, and scores, are not acceptable for tournament golf. Like I’ve said, I enter a tournament to compete at the highest level, and when I think I’m ready, I’ll be back.”

Woods is not playing Pebble Beach or Riviera, and said he would practice next week at his home and at The Medalist “getting ready for the rest of the year.”

He said he wants to play the Honda Classic, which starts Feb. 26, but he won’t be there unless his game is tournament ready.

“That’s not fair to anyone,” Woods said. “I do, however, expect to be playing again very soon.”

Ernie Els, who has known Woods longer than any other active PGA Tour player, heard about his woes while playing in Dubai and later saw highlights.

“As competitive as we are, we don’t want to see anyone suffer like that,” said Els, who has finished second to Woods more than any other player. “We’ve got to do our stuff in public. I don’t care if you’re Tiger Woods, Ernie Els or whoever. If you have some error in your game, you get exposed.”

Woods, the winner of 79 PGA Tour events and 14 majors, has never looked this bad on the golf course. He had back surgery to relieve a pinched nerve a week before the Masters and missed three months (including the first two majors), and then he took four months off at the end of last year to regain strength and get his back fully healed.

He also hired a new swing consultant and embarked on the fifth swing change of his career.

His chipping was bad at the 18-man Hero World Challenge at Isleworth in December, when he tied for last. His chipping looked even worse at the Phoenix Open, a collection of shots that he either flubbed short or bladed across the green.

Woods is at No. 62 in the world, his worst ranking since before he won his first PGA Tour event in 1996. He is not eligible for the World Golf Championship at Doral.

“I am committed to getting back to the pinnacle of my game,” Wood said.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Woods is back and still aiming high at Open

HOYLAKE, England — Tiger Woods was an early arrival to the British Open with hopes of avoiding an early departure.

Woods has played only two competitive rounds in the last four months because of back pain that led to surgery. That’s why he chose to get to England a day earlier than usual — Saturday — to get acclimated to links golf at Royal Liverpool.

He at least can count on his health. Even though Woods missed the cut at Congressional in his return three weeks ago, he was pleased at having no setbacks, and even has been to the gym a couple of times this week.

As for his goals? They haven’t changed. When asked what would be a reasonable result at his first major of the year, Woods, replied, “First.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Tiger Woods tops world rankings

LONDON—Tiger Woods is back at the top of the world rankings for the first time in two and a half years following his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida.

The 37-year-old American was last in that position in October, 2010 before a tangle of personal problems, injuries and changes to his swing pattern sent him tumbling down the table.

He eventually bottomed out at 58th in the world in November 2011 before finally starting to find his way again.

Three wins in five USPGA tournaments so far this year, including back-to-back wins in his last two outings, have seen him move past Rory McIlroy to claim the number one spot.

The Northern Irishman could, however, regain top spot should he win this week’s Houston Open, with Woods opting not to take part as he prepares for the year’s first major, The Masters, which starts at Augusta National on April 11.

England’s Justin Rose meanwhile has moved up to a career-best third place in the rankings on the back of his runner-up finish behind Woods in Florida on Monday.

Leading world rankings:

1. Tiger Woods (USA) 11.87pts

2. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 11.29

3. Justin Rose (ENG) 7.11

4. Luke Donald (ENG) 6.86

5. Brandt Snedeker (USA) 6.39

6. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 6.05

7. Adam Scott (AUS) 5.82

8. Steve Stricker (USA) 5.74

9. Matt Kuchar (USA) 5.38

10. Keegan Bradley (USA) 5.25

11. Phil Mickelson (USA) 5.24

12. Ian Poulter (ENG) 5.15

13. Lee Westwood (ENG) 5.12

14. Bubba Watson (USA) 5.07

15. Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 5.01

16. Graeme McDowell (NIR) 4.87

17. Sergio Garcia (ESP) 4.83

18. Jason Dufner (USA) 4.73

19. Webb Simpson (USA) 4.57

20. Dustin Johnson (US) 4.41

source: sports.inquirer.net