Ever wonder how the boys from the US of A roll. Wonder no more. Here an exclusive picture of the wives and girlfriends of the boys in blue and red.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Photo of US Ryder Cup team's wives and girlfriends
Ever wonder how the boys from the US of A roll. Wonder no more. Here an exclusive picture of the wives and girlfriends of the boys in blue and red.
Friday Fourball pairings announced
The U.S Ryder Cup defense starts on Friday, and the Americans are turning to Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson to start things off.
The pairings for the Celtic Manor tournament have been released. "Lefty" and Johnson play Lee Westwood and PGA champion Martin Kaymer, representing Europe.
For the first time since 1999, Tiger Woods is not in the leadoff match, but is paired with Steve Stricker, with opposition from Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher.
The other two match-ups sees Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar playing Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell - and Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton face Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington.
The pairings for the Celtic Manor tournament have been released. "Lefty" and Johnson play Lee Westwood and PGA champion Martin Kaymer, representing Europe.
For the first time since 1999, Tiger Woods is not in the leadoff match, but is paired with Steve Stricker, with opposition from Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher.
The other two match-ups sees Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar playing Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell - and Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton face Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Pavin keeping quiet on a Tiger/Rory duel...But would like to see it
Corey Pavin says it would violate the spirit of the Ryder Cup to make a deal ensuring Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy would meet in a singles final.That doesn't mean the American captain wouldn't like to see the match that has been the buzz of the event ever since the young Northern Irish sensation said he would like a shot at Woods.
"We'll just have to see where the cards fall, but I think it would be fun for me to watch," Pavin said Wednesday. "I'd enjoy it."
The singles matches are made in a blind draw, but Pavin was asked whether he and European captain Colin Montgomerie might make a side agreement to match Woods and McIlroy in the singles finals scheduled for Sunday.
"I don't think it's in the spirit of what the Ryder Cup is all about and the way pairings are supposed to happen," he said. "But it would be by chance, or if either of us wanted to guess and guess right."
Woods welcomed the challenge a day earlier, answering "Me, too" when asked about McIlroy's comments that he would like to go up against the best player in the world. McIlroy made the comments in August at a time Woods was struggling to avoid finishing last at the Bridgestone Invitational.
Pavin noted that others who have challenged Woods in the past haven't fared too well.
"I think other people have said things like that to Tiger in the past and have maybe regretted it," he said. "I think anything that gets players fired up is always a positive thing for that player who is getting fired up."
McIlroy said a day earlier that he respected Woods and thought he would return to being a dominant player. But he also said the days of other players being intimidated by Woods may be over.
"I suppose a little bit of that aura is probably gone," McIlroy said.
Pavin's remarks came on a rainy day that cut practice short for both teams at Celtic Manor. Most players were only playing nine holes.
Monday, September 27, 2010
RYDER CUP Wallpapers
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The Ryder Cup facts & figures @ a glance
Facts and figures for the Ryder Cup, at a glance:
Event: 38th Ryder Cup matches
Date: Oct. 1-3.
Course: The Twenty Ten Course at the Celtic Manor Resort is the first golf course designed specifically for the Ryder Cup. The course combines nine new holes created by European Golf Design and nine renovated holes from the Wentwood Hills course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. Water comes into play on half of the holes. It plays 7,378 yards at par 71.
Format: Four matches of fourballs (better ball) and foursomes (alternate shot) on Friday and Saturday, 12 singles matches on Sunday.
Points: The United States needs 14 points to retain the cup. Europe needs 14½ points to win the cup.
Series: United States leads 25-10-2.
Last time: The United States ended a three-match losing streak behind rookies Hunter Mahan and Anthony Kim, and the homegrown Kentucky duo of Kenny Perry and J.B. Holmes. The 16½-11½ margin was the largest for the Americans since 1981. Mahan became the first American captain's pick to go unbeaten (2-0-3) while playing all five matches. They won without Tiger Woods, who was recovering from knee surgery.
Captains:Corey Pavin (United States), Colin Montgomerie (Europe).
U.S. roster:Stewart Cink, Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Jeff Overton, Steve Stricker, Bubba Watson, Tiger Woods.
European roster:Luke Donald, Ross Fisher, Peter Hanson, Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Edoardo Molinari, Francesco Molinari, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood.
Tiger tales: Tiger Woods has played on only one winning Ryder Cup team in his career.
Key statistic: The United State has not won on European soil since 1993 at The Belfry.
Noteworthy: The European team has 17 wins and two majors this year, compared with 12 wins and one major for the American team.
Quoteworthy: "There is no complacency. We are under no illusion here at all how difficult the task this will be attempt to regain this Ryder Cup." — European captain Colin Montgomerie.
Television (Times Eastern): Friday, 3 a.m.-1 p.m., ESPN. Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., NBC. Sunday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m., NBC.
Angry woman runs down hubby with a golf cart
An enraged woman attacked her husband and a female employee as they sat talking at Robbie's Marina in Islamorada last night, eventually allegedly hitting her husband with the golf cart she was driving.
Monroe County Sheriff's Office is reporting that Anna Marie Reckwerdt, 41, confronted her husband at the marina, which they own together, as he was sitting with a woman who manages the Hungry Tarpon Restaurant located on marina property.
Reckwerdt is alleged to have accused her husband of an affair before striking him in the head, cutting him with her ring.
She then told the unnamed woman she was fired and then followed her in a golf cart as the woman tried to leave the scene, shouting at her to leave the property immediately.
During the confrontation Reckwerdt is reported to have struck her husband with the golf cart, knocking him to the ground and causing injury to his leg.
Reckwerdt was later arrested at a friend's house and charged with battery, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and booked into jail.
Monroe County Sheriff's Office is reporting that Anna Marie Reckwerdt, 41, confronted her husband at the marina, which they own together, as he was sitting with a woman who manages the Hungry Tarpon Restaurant located on marina property.
Reckwerdt is alleged to have accused her husband of an affair before striking him in the head, cutting him with her ring.
She then told the unnamed woman she was fired and then followed her in a golf cart as the woman tried to leave the scene, shouting at her to leave the property immediately.
During the confrontation Reckwerdt is reported to have struck her husband with the golf cart, knocking him to the ground and causing injury to his leg.
Reckwerdt was later arrested at a friend's house and charged with battery, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and booked into jail.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Rory wants Tiger @ Ryder Cup
Rory McIlroy wants to go head-to-head with Tiger Woods at next week's Ryder Cup.The Holywood superstar was yesterday tipped by Sir Nick Faldo to be one of the stars of the European team at Celtic Manor.
And the 21-year-old is certainly not short of confidence going into the event for the first time.
“It would be great to take someone like Tiger Woods down,” he said yesterday on a flying visit to the Lough Erne Resort where he is the touring professional.
“But I don't mind who I play, I just want to win points for the team.
“Whoever I come up against from the American side, I will be ready for them.”
McIlroy is looking forward to partnering fellow Ulsterman Graeme McDowell next week.
“I'm pretty certain I'll get a game with him next week, if not more,” he said.
“We have done well together in the past and we do play well together and feed off one another quite well on the course.”
The excitement of the competition against the Americans is starting to get to McIlroy who earlier this week maintained that majors and world golf championships were more important.
“I can't wait to get over there on Monday now,” he said.
“Everyone is really excited about the week and Europe have got a great side which should hopefully get the Ryder Cup back.
“I do suffer from first tee nerves sometimes and I'm sure I'll get them at the Ryder Cup, but once the first tee shot is on its way you are just thinking about winning a point for the team.
“Once I'm there and get into it, there'll be nothing that I will want more than to win the Ryder Cup back for Europe. For that week it will be the most important week for me.”
Ernie Els inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame
Ernie Els, Doug Ford, the late Jock Hutchison and former President George H. W. Bush were named Wednesday as the newest members of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Els, in his first year eligible, was elected on the PGA Tour ballot with 66% of the vote. The native of South Africa is the owner of 18 PGA Tour victories, including the U.S. Open in 1994 and 1997 and the The Open Championship in 2002.
"I was shocked and extremely honoured when the call came through from Commissioner (Tim) Finchem to say that I was to be inducted into the Hall of Fame," said Els, who is competing in this week's playoffs for the FedExCup finale. "I would like to thank all those who have helped make this possible, not least my family whose support has never wavered. There are too many others to mention by name, but they know who they are and can be assured of my eternal gratitude."
Ford and Hutchison were selected in the Veterans Category.
The West Haven, Conn.,-born Ford was the winner of the 1995 PGA Championship and 1957 Masters Tournament, along with 17 other PGA Tour victories.
"It is an honour and a privilege to be named to the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum," said Ford, the 1955 PGA Player of the Year. "It took a little while, but I think it's great they're doing this while I'm still alive. It is an honour of which I am deeply proud."
Hutchison, from St. Andrews, Scotland, won 14 Tour events, including the 1920 PGA Championship and 1921 Open Championship. He also took the inaugural Senior PGA Championship in 1937.
President Bush served as honorary chairman of The Presidents Cup in 1996, and is also an honorary member of the PGA, an honorary chair of the USGA Museum and Archives President's council and has served as honorary chairman of The First Tee since 1997. He was also a recipient of the 2009 PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award.
"I am deeply honoured to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame," President Bush said. "I would like to thank PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem and the World Golf Foundation Board of Directors for everything they do to support the traditions of golf. I wish everyone gathered here today all the best."
The foursome, along with a fifth member to be announced in October, will be enshrined on May 9, 2011 at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla.
Els, in his first year eligible, was elected on the PGA Tour ballot with 66% of the vote. The native of South Africa is the owner of 18 PGA Tour victories, including the U.S. Open in 1994 and 1997 and the The Open Championship in 2002.
"I was shocked and extremely honoured when the call came through from Commissioner (Tim) Finchem to say that I was to be inducted into the Hall of Fame," said Els, who is competing in this week's playoffs for the FedExCup finale. "I would like to thank all those who have helped make this possible, not least my family whose support has never wavered. There are too many others to mention by name, but they know who they are and can be assured of my eternal gratitude."
Ford and Hutchison were selected in the Veterans Category.
The West Haven, Conn.,-born Ford was the winner of the 1995 PGA Championship and 1957 Masters Tournament, along with 17 other PGA Tour victories.
"It is an honour and a privilege to be named to the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum," said Ford, the 1955 PGA Player of the Year. "It took a little while, but I think it's great they're doing this while I'm still alive. It is an honour of which I am deeply proud."
Hutchison, from St. Andrews, Scotland, won 14 Tour events, including the 1920 PGA Championship and 1921 Open Championship. He also took the inaugural Senior PGA Championship in 1937.
President Bush served as honorary chairman of The Presidents Cup in 1996, and is also an honorary member of the PGA, an honorary chair of the USGA Museum and Archives President's council and has served as honorary chairman of The First Tee since 1997. He was also a recipient of the 2009 PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award.
"I am deeply honoured to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame," President Bush said. "I would like to thank PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem and the World Golf Foundation Board of Directors for everything they do to support the traditions of golf. I wish everyone gathered here today all the best."
The foursome, along with a fifth member to be announced in October, will be enshrined on May 9, 2011 at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla.
Friday, September 17, 2010
European's refuse to underestimate Tiger in upcoming Ryder Cup
Padraig Harrington is refusing to underestimate Tiger Woods heading into next month's Ryder Cup, insisting the American retains an "intimidation factor" despite his lack of success this year.
The No. 1-ranked Woods only made it onto the United States team after receiving a wild card by captain Corey Pavin and has not won a tournament this year.
"In many ways the Ryder Cup could be the pinnacle of his year," Harrington said Friday. "Definitely he'll be in a fighting mood for the week -- a mood to perform."
Woods has been on the winning side only once at a Ryder Cup, in 1999, and has earned just 11 points from a possible 25 in five appearances. The 14-time major winner missed the U.S. victory over Europe in Valhalla in 2008 with a knee injury.
"He's coming into this Ryder Cup not having succeeded and achieved a lot of his goals this year," Harrington said. "He's coming in thinking, 'I want to play well in this Ryder Cup to make me have a successful year.'
"He is the No.1 golfer in the world still by rankings," Harrington added. "He has a presence -- an intimidation factor."
Harrington also had to rely on a captain's pick to make the Oct. 1-3 match at Celtic Manor, Wales. Europe captain Colin Montgomerie said he could not go into the match without the three-time major champion, and said the experienced Harrington was someone "we feel that nobody in match-play golf wants to play."
Others regard Harrington as a controversial pick who was fortunate to have been given the nod ahead of No. 7-ranked Paul Casey, having only won half a point from a possible four in 2008. He had the same total in 2006 from five matches.
"When you get picked, you are under the spotlight more," said Harrington, who is without a TOUR win in more than two years. "You have something to prove, in many ways you're trying to justify it.
"There's definitely more pressure, but pressure brings a bit more adrenaline, more nerves, more focus. I'm trying to hold myself back and I'm excited about getting into it."
The No. 1-ranked Woods only made it onto the United States team after receiving a wild card by captain Corey Pavin and has not won a tournament this year.
"In many ways the Ryder Cup could be the pinnacle of his year," Harrington said Friday. "Definitely he'll be in a fighting mood for the week -- a mood to perform."
Woods has been on the winning side only once at a Ryder Cup, in 1999, and has earned just 11 points from a possible 25 in five appearances. The 14-time major winner missed the U.S. victory over Europe in Valhalla in 2008 with a knee injury.
"He's coming into this Ryder Cup not having succeeded and achieved a lot of his goals this year," Harrington said. "He's coming in thinking, 'I want to play well in this Ryder Cup to make me have a successful year.'
"He is the No.1 golfer in the world still by rankings," Harrington added. "He has a presence -- an intimidation factor."
Harrington also had to rely on a captain's pick to make the Oct. 1-3 match at Celtic Manor, Wales. Europe captain Colin Montgomerie said he could not go into the match without the three-time major champion, and said the experienced Harrington was someone "we feel that nobody in match-play golf wants to play."
Others regard Harrington as a controversial pick who was fortunate to have been given the nod ahead of No. 7-ranked Paul Casey, having only won half a point from a possible four in 2008. He had the same total in 2006 from five matches.
"When you get picked, you are under the spotlight more," said Harrington, who is without a TOUR win in more than two years. "You have something to prove, in many ways you're trying to justify it.
"There's definitely more pressure, but pressure brings a bit more adrenaline, more nerves, more focus. I'm trying to hold myself back and I'm excited about getting into it."
Monday, September 13, 2010
Mickelson in the Tour Championship; Tiger outside the top 30 looking in
When it was over, when Tiger Woods rolled in his final par putt on the 18th hole, he shook hands with his playing partner, Phil Mickelson, who then gave Tiger a friendly tap on the left arm. As they walked toward the scorer's trailer, Tiger reciprocated with a friendly tap on Mickelson's back.Both players, ranked as the two best in the world, left Cog Hill smiling and feeling optimistic about their respective golf games.
But only one remains alive in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.
Woods' defense of his FedExCup title ended prematurely but with little drama on a gorgeous Sunday outside Chicago. There was no final-round charge, no big move to climb up the projected FedExCup points list. Instead, Woods shot himself in the foot with three front-nine bogeys before rebounding to shoot a 1-under 70 and finishing tied for 15th.
He suffered elimination much like he suffered through this season -- with expectations unfulfilled but hoping for better days ahead.
"I didn't play well in the beginning of the year and I didn't play well in the middle of the year," Woods said. "Now I'm starting to play well. I'm headed in the right direction."
But that direction will not include a stop in Atlanta.
Unlike Mickelson, who is safely in the field, Woods has failed to qualify for the 30-man field at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. He has missed the tournament only two other times in his career, in 2006 and 2008, the latter when he was recovering from knee surgery.
It's a disappointing end to a disappointing season for Woods, who did not win a TOUR event this year while trying to manage his personal life and then a new swing.
While it will be odd to have a TOUR Championship without Woods in the field -- he's either won or finished second in his last four starts at East Lake -- perhaps it is best for him. He'll get an extra week to work on his swing with Sean Foley, and he can start getting his game face on for the Ryder Cup. He also plans to play the HSBC Champions in China in November, along with the JBWere in Australia and his own event, the Chevron World Challenge in early December.
"I was looking forward to only getting a one-week break, but now I've got two," Woods said. "It'll be good because now I can practice with Sean in peace and away from everybody and put some work in and also work on my short game and my putting -- things I have not been able to do out there."
Just how far away is Woods from regaining his dominant form? By his own high standards, plenty of work remains.
He managed just two top-10 finishes in 12 starts, tying for fourth at the Masters and the U.S. Open. His driving accuracy and greens in regulation numbers are not within the top 150 on either list. And in the category he generally dominates -- TOUR scoring average -- he ranks outside the top 30.
But those numbers may be deceiving. Mickelson, for one, thinks Tiger is close to being, well, Tiger again.
"You can tell that his game is like inches from turning because his speed is back and his putter looks great," Mickelson said. "I mean, his game is not far off at all. It looks very close to being right there."
For now, though, the person getting the most out of Tiger's game is Mickelson.
In the last seven times they've been paired together -- dating back three years ago at the 2007 Deutsche Bank Championship -- Mickelson has produced the better score on five occasions.
In shooting a 4-under 67 on Sunday, Mickelson closed the all-time score at 11-10-4 (in favor of Woods) in their 25 pairings on TOUR. And if you count last year's World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions -- an unofficial TOUR event -- the record is knotted at 11-11-4.
On Sunday, while Tiger got off to a rotten start with bogeys on three of the first eight holes, Mickelson set a positive tone for his round with birdies on three of the first seven.
"He certainly brings the best out in me," Mickelson said. "That wasn't the case early on. But I feel like he gets the best out of me now."
In fact, Mickelson enjoys the pairings so much that he hopes he and Tiger will be paired in the first and second rounds of some TOUR events instead of waiting for it to happen naturally on the weekend leaderboard.
Of course, the pairing won't be possible at East Lake. Mickelson is in, hoping to defend his TOUR Championship win of a year ago. Woods is out, unable to defend his FedExCup title.
The next time they will share common ground is at the Ryder Cup, where both will be part of a U.S. team hoping to successfully defend its title on foreign soil.
"I think we're both looking forward to going over there," Mickelson said. "I know that we're underdogs. I know how strong the other team is; they're loaded from top to bottom.
"But we've never won over there, and it would mean a lot for us if we were able to."
No doubt it would mean a lot to Woods. Unable to win on his own this year, he'll be more than happy to take one with the team.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Captain Pavin not scared to sit Tiger during Ryder Cup
Tiger Woods is not guaranteed to play in a maximum five matches against Europe in next month's Ryder Cup, United States captain Corey Pavin said Sunday.
The No.1-ranked Woods, who was chosen as one of Pavin's four wild-card picks last week, will be playing in his sixth Ryder Cup but has only been on the winning side once, in 1999.
"I am going to treat every player the same. The objective is to try to win the Ryder Cup and if in my judgment I think Tiger is to play five matches, or should play four or three, then that is what I will do -- that's my call as captain," Pavin told BBC Radio.
"For me, it's how he's playing golf. That's my concern as far as the Ryder Cup goes."
Woods, a 14-time major winner but without a tournament victory this year, has picked up 11 points from a possible 25 in the Ryder Cup. He has won three of his five singles matches but only seven of 20 matches in Foursomes and Four-balls, which are played in pairs on the opening two days. He also has two halves.
Woods was missing when the U.S. won back the trophy from Europe at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., in 2008.
"Tiger told me he will do whatever is necessary to help the team win, and that is going to be my call, and I will probably be making that decision a little bit on the fly. But I'm not afraid to not play him every match, that's for sure," Pavin said.
"The objective is to win the match and that's what I'm going to be trying to do, whatever that takes."
The Ryder Cup will be played at Celtic Manor in Wales from Oct. 1-3.
Tseng beats Wie by one in close finish in Arkansas
Yani Tseng collected five birdies on the back nine, including one on the final hole Sunday, to fend off Michelle Wie and win the NW Arkansas Championship.
Tseng closed with a 6-under 65 to finish her fifth LPGA Tour title at 13-under-par 200.
“It’s always pretty good to come from behind. I missed the cut the last tournament and then I won this tournament,” said Tseng, who has won four of her five LPGA Tour titles in come-from-behind fashion. “It means so much to me, seems like I really prepared for this tournament.”
Tseng’s total of 200 betters the event’s scoring record by one stroke and she collected the $300,000 US first prize. Seon Hwa Lee posted 201 when she won in 2008.
Wie got up and down for birdie at the 18th to force Tseng to make her birdie for the win. Wie closed with a 2-under 69 to finish one back at minus-12.
Mika Miyazato fired a 7-under 64 to take third place at 10-under-par 203.
Both Canadians struggled in the final round. Calgary’s Samantha Richdale came into the final 18 holes tied for 12th place, but shot a 4-over 75 Sunday and finished in a tie for 41st at 214. She collected $8,985. Montreal’s Lisa Meldrum won $3,992 after shooting a 76 Sunday and finishing in tie for 70th at 218.
Trailing by two with two holes to go, Wie converted a six-foot birdie effort on the 17th to get within one.
At the par-five 18th, Tseng found the right fringe with her second, while Wie pulled her approach left of the green. Wie pitched to five feet.
Tseng rolled her eagle effort inside three feet. Wie drained her birdie putt to tie Tseng at minus-12. But Tseng kicked in her short birdie effort for the victory.
It was a pep talk she gave herself at the turn that did the trick for Tseng.
“After nine holes, I felt like my heart was not fighting, I didn’t feel like I really wanted to win this tournament,” she admitted. “So after nine holes, I just wrote a lot of things on my yardage book, like, ’I can do this.’ Just feel like you really, really want to win this tournament.”
It worked for Tseng and denied Wie her second victory of the season.
“Yani played great. Usually, if you’re 12-under, it’s good enough,” Wie said. “But I played good today. I had faith in myself, a couple irons shots went a little bit left today. Overall, I hung in there, made a lot of good putts. I just was a little short.”
Wie and Tseng were paired together with Juli Inkster in the final group. Wie parred the first five holes before stumbling to a bogey on sixth. That created a tie for the lead with Inkster, who fell down the leaderboard with bogeys on seven and eight.
The 20-year-old Wie erased her bogey on the sixth with a birdie on No. 7. She parred three straight around the turn before moving to 11-under with a birdie on the 11th.
Wie was two clear of Tseng at that point, but Tseng was starting to heat up.
Tseng birdied the first and fifth before a bogey at six. She dropped in back- to-back birdies from the 11th to get within one of Wie’s lead. Tseng joined Wie atop the leaderboard with a birdie on the 14th.
The 20-year-old Tseng dropped her tee shot within six feet at the par-3 15th. She drained that putt to take the lead and setup the exciting finish.
Inbee Park fired a six-under 65 to end alone in fourth place at 8-under- par 205.
Bolstered by a hole-in-one on the par-three 11th, In-Kyung Kim closed with a 65 to share fourth place with world No. 3 Jiyai Shin (66), Kristy McPherson (68) and Lee (69) at minus-7.
Tseng closed with a 6-under 65 to finish her fifth LPGA Tour title at 13-under-par 200.
“It’s always pretty good to come from behind. I missed the cut the last tournament and then I won this tournament,” said Tseng, who has won four of her five LPGA Tour titles in come-from-behind fashion. “It means so much to me, seems like I really prepared for this tournament.”
Tseng’s total of 200 betters the event’s scoring record by one stroke and she collected the $300,000 US first prize. Seon Hwa Lee posted 201 when she won in 2008.
Wie got up and down for birdie at the 18th to force Tseng to make her birdie for the win. Wie closed with a 2-under 69 to finish one back at minus-12.
Mika Miyazato fired a 7-under 64 to take third place at 10-under-par 203.
Both Canadians struggled in the final round. Calgary’s Samantha Richdale came into the final 18 holes tied for 12th place, but shot a 4-over 75 Sunday and finished in a tie for 41st at 214. She collected $8,985. Montreal’s Lisa Meldrum won $3,992 after shooting a 76 Sunday and finishing in tie for 70th at 218.
Trailing by two with two holes to go, Wie converted a six-foot birdie effort on the 17th to get within one.
At the par-five 18th, Tseng found the right fringe with her second, while Wie pulled her approach left of the green. Wie pitched to five feet.
Tseng rolled her eagle effort inside three feet. Wie drained her birdie putt to tie Tseng at minus-12. But Tseng kicked in her short birdie effort for the victory.
It was a pep talk she gave herself at the turn that did the trick for Tseng.
“After nine holes, I felt like my heart was not fighting, I didn’t feel like I really wanted to win this tournament,” she admitted. “So after nine holes, I just wrote a lot of things on my yardage book, like, ’I can do this.’ Just feel like you really, really want to win this tournament.”
It worked for Tseng and denied Wie her second victory of the season.
“Yani played great. Usually, if you’re 12-under, it’s good enough,” Wie said. “But I played good today. I had faith in myself, a couple irons shots went a little bit left today. Overall, I hung in there, made a lot of good putts. I just was a little short.”
Wie and Tseng were paired together with Juli Inkster in the final group. Wie parred the first five holes before stumbling to a bogey on sixth. That created a tie for the lead with Inkster, who fell down the leaderboard with bogeys on seven and eight.
The 20-year-old Wie erased her bogey on the sixth with a birdie on No. 7. She parred three straight around the turn before moving to 11-under with a birdie on the 11th.
Wie was two clear of Tseng at that point, but Tseng was starting to heat up.
Tseng birdied the first and fifth before a bogey at six. She dropped in back- to-back birdies from the 11th to get within one of Wie’s lead. Tseng joined Wie atop the leaderboard with a birdie on the 14th.
The 20-year-old Tseng dropped her tee shot within six feet at the par-3 15th. She drained that putt to take the lead and setup the exciting finish.
Inbee Park fired a six-under 65 to end alone in fourth place at 8-under- par 205.
Bolstered by a hole-in-one on the par-three 11th, In-Kyung Kim closed with a 65 to share fourth place with world No. 3 Jiyai Shin (66), Kristy McPherson (68) and Lee (69) at minus-7.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Ryan Moore fires back nine 29, 65 in first round
Ryan Moore has never played in THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. And he's not really planning on it this year, either.Reverse pyschology? Of course it is. But it worked in Moore's favor on Thursday as he fired a 65 that left him one stroke off Matt Kuchar's lead after the first round of the BMW Championship.
Moore came to Cog Hill this week ranked 58th in the FedExCup, which means he has a pretty big climb to get into the top 30 to be eligible to play at East Lake. If he can ride the momentum he gained with that round of 6 under, though, Moore just might have to change his travel plans.
And maybe that's why Moore has the psychological edge this week. He's not giving in to the pressure that others may be feeling in the third event of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.
"In my mind this is my last tournament of the year and I'm just playing hard," Moore explained. "I'm just going to see what I can do. Obviously I have to do exactly what I am doing just to have a chance. That's kind of my mindset is I'm here to play hard and try and win a golf tournament, and wherever it falls from there, I mean, that's out of my control."
Moore, who set a tournament record with a back-nine 29, is playing in his sixth straight tournament in a season that has seen him win $1.8 million. As such, it's no surprise that he's looking forward to a break, and he's been able to use that to his advantage this week.
"So the thought to me in my mind that I'm kind of done after this is just kind of a relief, and just let me relax and just go play," Moore said. "Just kind of in my head, this is it, and just play hard. That's what I'm trying to achieve.
"It seemed to work pretty well today. We'll see if I can keep it up."
Even so, Moore had something of a Jekyll-Hyde round on Thursday. He made the turn at 1 over and parred No. 10 before he turned things around at the par-5 11th where he hit a "horrible" tee shot, an "even worse" layup and a "terrible" third shot into the greenside bunker.
Moore holed the bunker shot, though, and not coincidentally, "got a little positive momentum going" as he made a 7-footer for birdie at No. 12, parred the 13th and then closed with five straight birdies. His birdie putts in that streak came from 19, 6, 9 and 11 feet, as well as 2 inches, after a deft wedge at the par-5 15th.
Moore said he had no idea what kind of a roll he was on, though. Dapper, as always, in a black cardigan, khaki slacks and burgundy tie, Moore was just enjoying his stroll around Cog Hill with Marc Leishman, last year's PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, and the putts finally began to fall.
"They were just very straightforward putts," Moore reported. "Some days you get putts that are easy to read from 10 feet and some days you get five-footers that have three breaks in them somehow. It's weird. But I just kind of had really straightforward putts."
Moore was better equipped to make those putts, too, after he and his brother, Jason, who is his caddy, did some extra work on the practice green. He had started last week strong, too, with a season-low 64 but went on to shoot 76-70-76 and ended up tying for 67th. Hence, the frustration set in.
"We just kind of tweaked the grip to get my hands relaxing on the putter a bit more and really just kind of rolled the ball today again, which is how I normally like to approach it," Moore said. "I was just definitely getting a little too tense on there.
"It doesn't surprise me that I played this good of a round. You just never know when you're going to make five birdies in a row. That's just golf, and it's nice it happened at the end of the (round) so I didn't have to do anything after I did it. Just a great way to finish.'
Speaking of great ways to finish -- what about a berth in THE TOUR Championship? Even if Moore has to prolong that much anticipated break.
"(The Playoffs seem) to be making it interesting, which is, I think, the goal -- to make it kind of an everything-on-the-line-almost-every-week kind of a thing," he said. "That's truly what playoffs are in other sports, so making it a little more volatile and you can move around a lot, I think that's great. For someone like me who's played horrible, it's not so great.
"But I still have a chance. I like that. I still have a chance to get in that last tournament."
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Pavin announces captain's picks for 2010 Ryder Cup team
Ending months of speculation, Team USA Captain Corey Pavin completed his 12-man Ryder Cup team on Tuesday by selecting Tiger Woods, Stewart Cink, Zach Johnson and Rickie Fowler with his four captain’s picks.
Pavin, seated between three of his four assistant captains -- Tom Lehman, Davis Love III, Paul Goydos (Jeff Sluman was unable to attend) – and PGA of America President Jim Remy, made the announcement at the New York Stock Exchange, where he will also ring the closing bell Tuesday afternoon.
Pavin’s four captain’s picks join the eight automatic qualifiers who were announced following the 92nd PGA Championship last month at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis.: reigning Masters champion Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Matt Kuchar.
In selecting Woods, Cink and Johnson, Pavin adds proven Ryder Cup experience to his relatively young squad. Woods has competed in five Ryder Cups, Cink four and Johnson one. Fowler, a PGA Tour rookie who has made 16 of 24 cuts, including five top-10 finishes this season, will be making his Ryder Cup debut. He finished 20th in the U.S. Ryder Cup Points Standings.
Mickelson will be making his ninth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance, while Furyk makes his seventh consecutive, and Mahan and Stricker their second straight. Watson, who finished second in the 92nd PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in August following a three-hole playoff, Johnson, Kuchar and Overton will be making their debuts in the Ryder Cup.
Looking to capture consecutive Ryder Cups for the first time since 1993, Team USA heads to the Twenty Ten Course at The Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales, hoping to continue the success it enjoyed two years ago while upsetting the heavily favored Team Europe at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
Powered by the inspired play of six Ryder Cup rookies -- Mahan, Stricker, Boo Weekley, J.B. Holmes, Anthony Kim and Ben Curtis – and the leadership of captain Paul Azinger, the Americans shocked the Europeans 16 ½-11 ½ to snap a three-match losing streak.
Team Europe, led by captain Colin Montgomerie, will again be favored over the Americans when the teams meet in a little more than three weeks. Ryder Cup veterans Lee Westwood, three-time major champion Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Miguel Angel Jiminez will be joined by reigning PGA Champion Martin Kaymer, reigning U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher, Peter Hanson and brothers Francesco Molinari and Edoardo Molinari or Italy.
Begun in 1927, the Ryder Cup is among the last great professional sporting events where winning, not prize money, is the ultimate reward. The United States owns a 25-10-2 overall advantage in the biennial competition, but Europe has won five of the last seven Ryder Cups.
Pavin, seated between three of his four assistant captains -- Tom Lehman, Davis Love III, Paul Goydos (Jeff Sluman was unable to attend) – and PGA of America President Jim Remy, made the announcement at the New York Stock Exchange, where he will also ring the closing bell Tuesday afternoon.
Pavin’s four captain’s picks join the eight automatic qualifiers who were announced following the 92nd PGA Championship last month at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis.: reigning Masters champion Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Matt Kuchar.
In selecting Woods, Cink and Johnson, Pavin adds proven Ryder Cup experience to his relatively young squad. Woods has competed in five Ryder Cups, Cink four and Johnson one. Fowler, a PGA Tour rookie who has made 16 of 24 cuts, including five top-10 finishes this season, will be making his Ryder Cup debut. He finished 20th in the U.S. Ryder Cup Points Standings.
Mickelson will be making his ninth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance, while Furyk makes his seventh consecutive, and Mahan and Stricker their second straight. Watson, who finished second in the 92nd PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in August following a three-hole playoff, Johnson, Kuchar and Overton will be making their debuts in the Ryder Cup.
Looking to capture consecutive Ryder Cups for the first time since 1993, Team USA heads to the Twenty Ten Course at The Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales, hoping to continue the success it enjoyed two years ago while upsetting the heavily favored Team Europe at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
Powered by the inspired play of six Ryder Cup rookies -- Mahan, Stricker, Boo Weekley, J.B. Holmes, Anthony Kim and Ben Curtis – and the leadership of captain Paul Azinger, the Americans shocked the Europeans 16 ½-11 ½ to snap a three-match losing streak.
Team Europe, led by captain Colin Montgomerie, will again be favored over the Americans when the teams meet in a little more than three weeks. Ryder Cup veterans Lee Westwood, three-time major champion Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Miguel Angel Jiminez will be joined by reigning PGA Champion Martin Kaymer, reigning U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher, Peter Hanson and brothers Francesco Molinari and Edoardo Molinari or Italy.
Begun in 1927, the Ryder Cup is among the last great professional sporting events where winning, not prize money, is the ultimate reward. The United States owns a 25-10-2 overall advantage in the biennial competition, but Europe has won five of the last seven Ryder Cups.
Tiger survives another week, and moves on to the BMW Championship
Tiger Woods has survived to play another tournament in the Playoffs. And he also has survived another attempt at his No. 1 ranking.
Woods posted his third consecutive round in the 60s on Monday, a 3-under 68 that left him at 10 under for the tournament. It wasn’t good enough to get him into contention, but it did show that he’s on the right path in terms of regaining top form.
Woods entered this week 65th in FedExCup points and faced the possibility of being eliminated in the Playoffs had he not maintained his position inside the top 70. But now projected at 51, he’ll be in next week’s field to defend his title at the BMW Championship.
For Woods, the key on Monday — and basically throughout the week — was his ability to make mid-round adjustments with the new swing he’s implementing with Sean Foley.
"I feel good about what I’ve been working on," Woods said. "More than anything, it’s how I’ve been able to fix it on the golf course. That’s the biggest thing.
"You’re not going to hit every shot perfect. To be able to go out there and understand what my fixes are going to have to be and then be able to rectify it out there is pretty good."
Woods was also pleased with his putting on Monday, especially on the back nine. He one-putted his last seven greens, rolling in a couple of putts from outside 17 feet.
"I hit the ball pretty good all day," Woods said. "I was just missing some putts early, but once I got the speed right, I started making quite a few putts."
Steve Stricker and Phil Mickelson each went into Monday threatening to overtake Woods at No. 1 in the Offical World Golf Ranking. But neither was able to make the kind of move they needed to, so Woods will once again remain at No. 1 going into Cog Hill.
But he knows he needs to start winning golf tournament. His last win on TOUR was last year’s BMW Championship. So, in essence, it’s been a full year now.
"I’ve just got to keep playing well," Woods said. "Winning takes care of everything, the World Rankings, Player of the Year awards, all the trophies and things that come with it.
"That only happens when you win. Most of my career I’ve been able to do that, and I just haven’t done it this year."
Meanwhile, there’s a little matter of a spot on the Ryder Cup team. The announcement will be made at 10:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday and since Woods didn’t make it on merit, he has to hope for one of Corey Pavin’s four Ryder Cup picks.
He said he was planning to speak with Pavin at some point after Monday’s round.
"Hopefully, I played well enough to get a mention," he said with a smile.
Woods posted his third consecutive round in the 60s on Monday, a 3-under 68 that left him at 10 under for the tournament. It wasn’t good enough to get him into contention, but it did show that he’s on the right path in terms of regaining top form.
Woods entered this week 65th in FedExCup points and faced the possibility of being eliminated in the Playoffs had he not maintained his position inside the top 70. But now projected at 51, he’ll be in next week’s field to defend his title at the BMW Championship.
For Woods, the key on Monday — and basically throughout the week — was his ability to make mid-round adjustments with the new swing he’s implementing with Sean Foley.
"I feel good about what I’ve been working on," Woods said. "More than anything, it’s how I’ve been able to fix it on the golf course. That’s the biggest thing.
"You’re not going to hit every shot perfect. To be able to go out there and understand what my fixes are going to have to be and then be able to rectify it out there is pretty good."
Woods was also pleased with his putting on Monday, especially on the back nine. He one-putted his last seven greens, rolling in a couple of putts from outside 17 feet.
"I hit the ball pretty good all day," Woods said. "I was just missing some putts early, but once I got the speed right, I started making quite a few putts."
Steve Stricker and Phil Mickelson each went into Monday threatening to overtake Woods at No. 1 in the Offical World Golf Ranking. But neither was able to make the kind of move they needed to, so Woods will once again remain at No. 1 going into Cog Hill.
But he knows he needs to start winning golf tournament. His last win on TOUR was last year’s BMW Championship. So, in essence, it’s been a full year now.
"I’ve just got to keep playing well," Woods said. "Winning takes care of everything, the World Rankings, Player of the Year awards, all the trophies and things that come with it.
"That only happens when you win. Most of my career I’ve been able to do that, and I just haven’t done it this year."
Meanwhile, there’s a little matter of a spot on the Ryder Cup team. The announcement will be made at 10:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday and since Woods didn’t make it on merit, he has to hope for one of Corey Pavin’s four Ryder Cup picks.
He said he was planning to speak with Pavin at some point after Monday’s round.
"Hopefully, I played well enough to get a mention," he said with a smile.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Phenom Ryo Ishikawa wins 8th title on Japan Tour
TOKYO (AP) -- Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa won his eighth career title on Sunday, defeating Shunsuke Sonoda on the fourth playoff hole at the Fujisankei Classic.
Ishikawa entered the final round with a three-stroke lead but finished tied with Sonoda (67) at 9-under 275 after a final round 70.
Ishikawa two-putted for par on the fourth playoff hole -- the par-4 18th -- and then picked up his second title of the season when Sonoda's par putt lipped out.
With a winner's prize of $270,000, the 18-year-old Ishikawa moved into first place in the Japan Tour's money rankings.
Han Lee of the United States finished alone in third after a 69 left him at 7 under.
Ishikawa entered the final round with a three-stroke lead but finished tied with Sonoda (67) at 9-under 275 after a final round 70.
Ishikawa two-putted for par on the fourth playoff hole -- the par-4 18th -- and then picked up his second title of the season when Sonoda's par putt lipped out.
With a winner's prize of $270,000, the 18-year-old Ishikawa moved into first place in the Japan Tour's money rankings.
Han Lee of the United States finished alone in third after a 69 left him at 7 under.
Jimenez wins for third time this year @ the European Masters
CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, Switzerland (AP) -- Miguel Angel Jimenez won the European Masters on Sunday, shooting a 4-under 67 to beat Edoardo Molinari by three strokes.
Jimenez finished at 21-under 263 to secure his third European Tour victory of the year, following wins in Dubai and France.
Molinari also shot a 67, while fellow Italian Matteo Manassero had a 68 to finish third another two shots back.
Despite his convincing victory margin, the 46-year-old Jimenez nearly faltered on the back nine.
After leading by three shots going into the final round, the Spaniard extended his advantage to six as he covered his first nine holes in 4-under.
But in the space of four holes that lead was cut to just one stroke as Molinari produced birdies at the 12th and 14th holes, and then holed a 2-foot eagle putt at the par-5 15th.
With Jimenez having bogeyed the 14th, there was a chance Molinari might produce a late dash for the line for the second weekend running. He birdied the last three holes to come from behind and win the Johnnie Walker Championship last Sunday.
Jimenez, however, got up and down after hitting a tree at the par-3 16th, which Molinari bogeyed after finding a green side bunker.
The Spaniard then birdied the 17th to ensure a long awaited victory in the Swiss mountains. It was his 22nd appearance in the European Masters and his best previous finishes had been second place in 1993 and 2004.
"It was not easy," Jimenez said. "At one point I was six ahead of Edoardo, but at the 14th I missed the fairway with my drive and went into a bunker, missed the green with the third shot, and missed a putt for a par.
"That was a lot of misses and Edoardo hit two superb shots to 2 feet at the 15th where I struggled just to make par. But it feels good to win after so many visits to these mountains where not only had I finished second twice but also been in contention many times. So I really wanted to come here and win this tournament."
The 17-year-old Manassero, appearing in his sixth tournament as a professional, won $161,445, putting him over the threshold to qualify for his first full European Tour playing card in 2011.
"I am now a full member of the European Tour for the first time, which is great,: he said. "It has been my goal since I turned professional earlier this year, something I wanted to do and making my card is fantastic."
South Korea's Noh Seungyul finished fourth after a 67 took him to 13-under, three shots behind Manassero.
Jimenez finished at 21-under 263 to secure his third European Tour victory of the year, following wins in Dubai and France.
Molinari also shot a 67, while fellow Italian Matteo Manassero had a 68 to finish third another two shots back.
Despite his convincing victory margin, the 46-year-old Jimenez nearly faltered on the back nine.
After leading by three shots going into the final round, the Spaniard extended his advantage to six as he covered his first nine holes in 4-under.
But in the space of four holes that lead was cut to just one stroke as Molinari produced birdies at the 12th and 14th holes, and then holed a 2-foot eagle putt at the par-5 15th.
With Jimenez having bogeyed the 14th, there was a chance Molinari might produce a late dash for the line for the second weekend running. He birdied the last three holes to come from behind and win the Johnnie Walker Championship last Sunday.
Jimenez, however, got up and down after hitting a tree at the par-3 16th, which Molinari bogeyed after finding a green side bunker.
The Spaniard then birdied the 17th to ensure a long awaited victory in the Swiss mountains. It was his 22nd appearance in the European Masters and his best previous finishes had been second place in 1993 and 2004.
"It was not easy," Jimenez said. "At one point I was six ahead of Edoardo, but at the 14th I missed the fairway with my drive and went into a bunker, missed the green with the third shot, and missed a putt for a par.
"That was a lot of misses and Edoardo hit two superb shots to 2 feet at the 15th where I struggled just to make par. But it feels good to win after so many visits to these mountains where not only had I finished second twice but also been in contention many times. So I really wanted to come here and win this tournament."
The 17-year-old Manassero, appearing in his sixth tournament as a professional, won $161,445, putting him over the threshold to qualify for his first full European Tour playing card in 2011.
"I am now a full member of the European Tour for the first time, which is great,: he said. "It has been my goal since I turned professional earlier this year, something I wanted to do and making my card is fantastic."
South Korea's Noh Seungyul finished fourth after a 67 took him to 13-under, three shots behind Manassero.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Eighteen year old dies tragically on golf course
A former three-sport athlete died in a tragic accident Friday morning while working at a golf course in Lakeville, Mass.
Greg Misodoulakis drowned while working as a groundskeeper at the Back Nine Club in Lakeville when he drove his lawnmower into a man-made lake.
Misodoulakis became trapped in the water underneath the mower, reports The Boston Globe. According to the paper, a spokeswoman for the Plymouth district attorney's office called the drowning "accidental."
A freshman-to-be at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Misodoulakis was an athlete while in high school winning awards for leadership and sportsmanship.
According to the paper, an owner of the Back Nine claims that no one saw that accident. The owner did recall Misodoulakis, an employee for a couple of years, "a fine young man," and called the accident "terrible and tragic."
Greg Misodoulakis drowned while working as a groundskeeper at the Back Nine Club in Lakeville when he drove his lawnmower into a man-made lake.
Misodoulakis became trapped in the water underneath the mower, reports The Boston Globe. According to the paper, a spokeswoman for the Plymouth district attorney's office called the drowning "accidental."
A freshman-to-be at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Misodoulakis was an athlete while in high school winning awards for leadership and sportsmanship.
According to the paper, an owner of the Back Nine claims that no one saw that accident. The owner did recall Misodoulakis, an employee for a couple of years, "a fine young man," and called the accident "terrible and tragic."
Saturday, September 4, 2010
"The Mechanic" Jimenez shoots sizzling 61 to lead the European Masters
CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, Switzerland (AP) -- Miguel Angel Jimenez shot a 10-under 61 Friday to take a three-stroke lead after the second round of the European Masters.
The 46-year-old Spaniard had two eagles to produce the lowest score of his 28-year professional career in the build up to his fourth Ryder Cup appearance at Celtic Manor next month.
It also lowered the course record from the 62 shot by Eduardo Romero in 2000.
Jimenez didn't shoot below par on the final three holes at the Crans-Sur-Sierre. One birdie would have made him the 13th player on the European Tour to shoot 60; two birdies would have made him the first to shoot 59.
It was not for a lack of trying.
Jimenez's 32-foot effort on the 16th green stopped two inches from the hole, a 15-footer at the 17th lipped out and at the 18th he holed a 4-footer just to save par.
Although low scores are not considered records when preferred lies are in operation at tournaments, European Tour and course officials agreed that Jimenez's score will count as a personal best and a course record because the preferred lies rule was in effect on just one hole.
The tree-lined, par-4 sixth hole had preferred lies because of a damp and shaded fairway.
Jimenez said toward the end of his round, he was shooting for a record.
"I played pretty solid," he said. "And then had two eagles and after I hit my three wood to within two feet at the 14th. I thought a little bit about a 59.
"I was certainly trying for it with those putts at the 16th and 17th. And I was really pleased to play so well up here at Crans."
It was the eagle at the 14th that finally broke an Italian monopoly at the top of the leaderboard.
Earlier in the day, Edoardo Molinari had posted the clubhouse lead at 11-under after shooting a 65 and completing two rounds without a bogey.
He was later joined in the lead by 17-year-old Matteo Manasssero who needs a top-five finish on Sunday to secure his playing rights for 2011.
Manasssero reached 12 under with an eagle of his own when he chipped in from the back of the 15th green, but a dropped shot at the 17th and a 67 dropped back into a share of second place with Molinari.
A 4-under 67 from Finland's Mikko Ilonen was good for fourth place at 10 under, one shot ahead of England's Graeme Storm who shot a 68.
Among the players who did not survive the cut was 55-year-old Greg Norman, who was making his first appearance in a year after shoulder surgery. He missed the cut, set at 1 under, by nine shots after shooting two rounds of 75.
The 46-year-old Spaniard had two eagles to produce the lowest score of his 28-year professional career in the build up to his fourth Ryder Cup appearance at Celtic Manor next month.
It also lowered the course record from the 62 shot by Eduardo Romero in 2000.
Jimenez didn't shoot below par on the final three holes at the Crans-Sur-Sierre. One birdie would have made him the 13th player on the European Tour to shoot 60; two birdies would have made him the first to shoot 59.
It was not for a lack of trying.
Jimenez's 32-foot effort on the 16th green stopped two inches from the hole, a 15-footer at the 17th lipped out and at the 18th he holed a 4-footer just to save par.
Although low scores are not considered records when preferred lies are in operation at tournaments, European Tour and course officials agreed that Jimenez's score will count as a personal best and a course record because the preferred lies rule was in effect on just one hole.
The tree-lined, par-4 sixth hole had preferred lies because of a damp and shaded fairway.
Jimenez said toward the end of his round, he was shooting for a record.
"I played pretty solid," he said. "And then had two eagles and after I hit my three wood to within two feet at the 14th. I thought a little bit about a 59.
"I was certainly trying for it with those putts at the 16th and 17th. And I was really pleased to play so well up here at Crans."
It was the eagle at the 14th that finally broke an Italian monopoly at the top of the leaderboard.
Earlier in the day, Edoardo Molinari had posted the clubhouse lead at 11-under after shooting a 65 and completing two rounds without a bogey.
He was later joined in the lead by 17-year-old Matteo Manasssero who needs a top-five finish on Sunday to secure his playing rights for 2011.
Manasssero reached 12 under with an eagle of his own when he chipped in from the back of the 15th green, but a dropped shot at the 17th and a 67 dropped back into a share of second place with Molinari.
A 4-under 67 from Finland's Mikko Ilonen was good for fourth place at 10 under, one shot ahead of England's Graeme Storm who shot a 68.
Among the players who did not survive the cut was 55-year-old Greg Norman, who was making his first appearance in a year after shoulder surgery. He missed the cut, set at 1 under, by nine shots after shooting two rounds of 75.
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