Martin Kaymer crowned European #1

Martin Kaymer became only the second German to be crowned European Number One after Bernhard Langer by winning The 2010 Race to Dubai.

The 25 year old, the youngest Number One since Ronan Rafferty in 1989 and only the fourth continental European to win the Harry Vardon Trophy after Seve Ballesteros, Robert Karlsson and Langer, had just one hole of the final event, the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World, to play when the year-long Race to Dubai was officially decided.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, the only remaining challenger with a week to go, needed a top three finish to have any chance, but closing rounds of 69 and 68 were just too little too late.

Topping The Race to Dubai earned Kaymer an impressive bonus of €1,092,418 from a $7.5 million Bonus Pool that rewards the leading 15 money winners, taking his season’s earnings to €4,461,010 and surpassing Lee Westwood’s record of 12 months ago by over €200,000.

Kaymer said: "It's been a fantastic year I think. All of the goals that I set for myself, for my career, everything happened this year. To win The Race to Dubai, Number One in Europe, and to play The Ryder Cup, and to win a Major.

"And obviously when you win a Major you know that you can win any tournament in the world.

“I am very proud. I am very satisfied with my year, and that round today, my goal was obviously to play as well as possible, to putt 100 per cent in there. And that is what I certainly did. It was not my best round of the week but I really enjoyed that week and I really enjoyed the last round that I played.

“As we walked up the 18th, the announcer was saying all the scores, the PGA Champion, currently Number One in The Race to Dubai, and it sounds pretty good to me. It's a very proud moment.”

McDowell, unable to add the finishing touch he wanted to an incredible season in which he won the US Open Championship and helped regain The Ryder Cup for Europe, said: "It's been a dream season and it just so happened that Martin had an unbelievable season as well.

"It's just been a great year for European golf and I'm just very proud to be part of that.

"My greatest moment was the putt on the 16th (at The Celtic Manor Resort). There's nothing like The Ryder Cup.

"To give Martin a run for his money this week was very good, but things didn't really go my way - it's a golf course which continues to frustrate me.

"I played unbelievably well this weekend, but could barely buy a putt."

Kaymer might well have finished Number One last year but for an August go-kart accident in which he broke three toes and was put out of the game for two months.

He eventually finished third behind Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy, but started his season with victory at the Abu Dhabi Championship and then had a spell he will never forget.

Two months after McDowell had gone to Pebble Beach and become Europe's first US Open Champion since 1970 Kaymer won the US PGA Championship after a play-off with Bubba Watson, then added the KLM Open and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on his next two starts.

The last of those came just six days after he had made his Ryder Cup debut - a winning debut, of course - so he could actually claim four triumphs in a row.

McDowell did well to make it a contest after that, but came up short in the final week.

Not that he allowed it to take the gloss off his year - and he now believes he could become World Number One.

"I know I can get a lot better when I see one of my friends and colleagues Lee Westwood as the world's best player of course I have to believe I can do the same thing."

Karlsson out duels Poulter in the desert

Robert Karlsson overcame Ian Poulter in a play-off to win the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World.

The pair tied on the 14 under par mark of 274 after Karlsson, three behind overnight, played the first three holes in four under and then pitched to three feet for a birdie on the 620 yard last.

They were round in 67 and 70 respectively and so sudden death decided who won the first prize of €910,348.

Both birdied the first extra hole after hitting approaches within five feet, and at the second extra hole Poulter mis-cued his sand wedge approach to leave a 30 foot putt.

Karlsson was precise again, his ball finishing three feet from the cup, and to make matters worse Poulter then picked up a one shot penalty when he dropped his ball on his marker and moved it.

Two putts meant a bogey six for Poulter, but the penalty was irrelevant as Karlsson holed his birdie putt.

The 2008 European Number One, who has suffered a serious eye problem and glandular fever since then, will also remember his start.

From three behind Poulter overnight he birdied the first two holes and then sank an eight iron on the third for an eagle two, just as Martin Kaymer did in the opening round.

World Number One and defending champion Westwood shared third place with Alvaro Quiros a stroke behind, the Spaniard missing a long eagle putt on the 18th and Westwood pulling his second to the hole into water and taking five when a birdie would have made him part of the play-off.

Kaymer and Graeme McDowell, the only two contenders for The Race to Dubai entering the event, finished joint 13th, which earned the 25 year old German - the youngest number one since Ronan Rafferty in 1989 - a bonus of €1,092,418.

McDowell had to finish third in the tournament just to have a chance, but the memories of the US Open Championship and Ryder Cup, of course - softened the blow of just missing out on the top spot.

Karlsson said: "It was a strange day to say the least. To start birdie-birdie-eagle is not what you expect to happen when you are three behind.

"Then there was the one shot penalty. It's not the way you want to win, but these things happen in golf.

“It's a fantastic field, and obviously when we have all of the best players in Europe together, the way it looks now, it's going to be a great field - so to win here is fantastic.”

Poulter, winner of last week’s UBS Hong Kong Open and looking for consecutive wins for the first time in his career, struggled to contain his disappointment.

“A lot of positives to take away, but right now not really seeing them,” he said.

Fisher & Poulter lead after 2 rounds in Dubai

Ross Fisher and Ian Poulter led the way with turbo-charged displays as the elite of European golf jockeyed for position on a day of superb low-scoring in the Dubai World Championship second round on Friday.

In the two-way tussle to finish the season as European number one on Sunday, money-list leader Martin Kaymer opened an eight-shot advantage over Graeme McDowell, second in the money list.

German Kaymer shot a 70 for a seven-under total of 137 while Briton McDowell slumped to a 73 for 145.

Up for grabs for Kaymer and McDowell, the only two players who can top the money-list, is a $1.26 million cheque for winning the tournament plus a $1.5 million bonus for finishing the season as Europe's number one.

"It's not over," said McDowell, who is playing his fifth tournament in five weeks and acknowledged he felt mentally drained. "Going 65-65 at the weekend is not out of the question.

"I just have to rest," the Northern Irishman told reporters. "I have got to somehow go out and relax and have a good time, maybe have a few beers tonight and hang out by the hotel pool."

Irish Open champion Fisher was as relaxed as anyone in the Dubai heat, equaling fellow Briton Lee Westwood's eight-under par course record 64 set last year to finish on 135.

Poulter, bidding for back-to-back titles after his victory in the Hong Kong Open last Sunday, carded a 66 to join compatriot Fisher on nine-under.

World number one Westwood was one stroke adrift in third place after a 67 while fellow Briton Paul Casey (67) also joined the birdie bonanza to take joint fourth spot on 137 with Kaymer and Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee (69).

Wie out of LPGA Tour Championship

Nine of the top 10 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings will play in the season-ending LPGA Tour Championship next week at Grand Cypress in Orlando, Fla.

As expected, Michelle Wie wasn’t on the commitment list released Tuesday by the LPGA. She’s the lone player among the top 10 who isn’t scheduled to play.

Wie withdrew from the Lorena Ochoa Invitational with back pain almost two weeks ago, but her appearance in the LPGA Tour Championship was uncertain even before that. She’s had a long-standing commitment to play in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters the week after the LPGA Tour Championship. Omega’s one of her sponsors. Her appearance in the LPGA Tour Championship became uncertain when LPGA officials announced late in the summer that they were moving their tournament dates to December, up against final exams at Stanford, where Wie’s a senior, and up against her Dubai appearance.

Wie’s ailing back is healing, with her representatives reporting today that she visited her doctors Monday and is “happy with her progress.” She’s planning to rest and rehab this week and next week with the plan to play in Dubai.

If Wie plays in Dubai in two weeks, it’s sure to draw some flak from fellow pros who think she should support one of the LPGA’s flagship events. The tour’s been on a blitz in Central Florida the past week promoting its season-ending event with players making appearances at Sea World, Disney World, an Orlando Magic basketball game and other venues to create interest. The Rolex No. 1 world ranking and Rolex Player of the Year are among the big prizes up for grabs in the season finale.

Tiger Woods has caught the "Tweeting" bug

Tiger Woods has joined the chorus of athletes Twittering away at fans.

The disgraced golf great began tweeting Nov. 17, shortly after he released an update to the world about how he was coping after his divorce. Tiger's persona is maintained by a well-documented media machine, and we're trying to discern if his tweets are edited or if they're even him.

The usually ultra-private Woods is making himself ultra-accessible (by his standards) and opening fans and followers up to an rarely seen side of him. On Nov. 18 the golf star tweeted, "the best part about phone interviews is getting to wear shorts." (It jokes!)

Of course, it may all be part of Tiger's PR campaign to rehabilitate his image following his much-publicized indiscretions and destroyed marriage. It reminds us of another controversial athlete, LeBron James', own attempts to use Twitter to regulate public opinion.

James regularly answers fans and has even spawned a fake account dedicated to his ego. (A hilarious read.)

Man died after being struck by golf ball

SANFORD, Fla. -- A worker at a central Florida country club is dead after being struck by a golf ball.

Police say Maurice Hayden was doing maintenance work at the Mayfair Country Club in Sanford on Wednesday when he was struck in the temple by a golfer's tee shot.

The 42-year-old man was taken to Central Florida Regional Hospital. Police say he died Thursday after being removed from life support.

Police are calling the incident an accident and say the golfer will not face charges.

Kobe Bryant shows Tiger the way to redemption - WINNING

Kobe Bryant wasn’t about to go there. Not when he controls the message, and what happened seven years ago in a hotel room in Colorado fades from public memory.

That didn’t stop a reporter from trying on the eve of the first anniversary of the Tiger Woods scandal to find out how Bryant thought he was able to overcome his own scandal and regain his stature as a superstar in demand by fans around the NBA.

“I’m not answering that question,” Bryant said earlier this month in Denver.

Nothing new there. Bryant has never talked publicly about what happened between himself and a teenage hotel worker that night, though he did have his attorney read a statement in which he apologized to the woman for his behavior.

While Woods continues to struggle to define his scandal, Bryant for the most part seems to have successfully put his behind him even if the allegations against him were more serious. The sexual assault charges were dropped, he paid to settle a civil suit brought by the alleged victim and both sides have kept quiet ever since.

As a strategy, it seems to be working. His image has recovered enough that he earns millions of dollars a year in endorsement deals and his jersey is a top seller not only at home but in Europe and China.

That may be largely because Bryant found a way to do something Woods has yet to do – keep on winning.

“Kobe went back onto the court and returned to his all-star status. He brought back the legions of basketball fans first,” said Michael Kempner, president of MWW Group public relations in East Rutherford, N.J. “Tiger hasn’t, and in many ways people are reveling in his mediocrity.”

Adding two more titles to his haul since the charges in Colorado has paid off nicely for Bryant. He signed a contract extension in April worth nearly $90 million over three years to become the highest paid player in the NBA, and Forbes magazine estimated that his total annual earnings come close to $50 million when endorsements are figured in.

“Yes, Kobe Bryant had an incident,” said Ronn Torossian, president of 5W Public Relations in New York. “But the incident didn’t define Kobe Bryant. He has recovered, just like many others have recovered.”

Indeed, the mention of his name is no longer followed by talk about the charges. If anything, discussion now revolves around whether he may one day be regarded as the greatest player in the game.

“It’s unbelievable if you think back to that time because the allegations were far more serious than the ones facing Tiger,” said Ralph Cindrich, a sports attorney and agent in Pittsburgh. “Kobe is an example of what can happen if someone comes back, conducts himself properly and says the right things.”

It’s a template some think Woods might want to follow as he tries to put a sex scandal of his own behind him a year after his private escapades were revealed. There is one difference: Bad as they were, the accusations against Bryant came from one woman. Woods is now a divorced man because of numerous reports of serial cheating.

In Bryant’s case, his attorney read the following statement on his client’s behalf:

“I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year. Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did.”

Bryant immediately returned to basketball – and winning.

Woods relayed his regrets in a globally televised message: “I want to say to each of you, simply and directly, I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in. …”

As for winning, it hasn’t happened.

“It all starts with winning and the popularity goes from there,” Cindrich said. “It’s the same way with a Michael Vick or a Ben Roethlisberger. People tend to forgive and forget when they win.”

Once one of the NFL’s biggest and highest paid stars, Vick was broke, reviled and his career was in ruins after he served 18 months in federal prison for running a dogfighting ring.

Now he’s on top again, quarterbacking for the Philadelphia Eagles, and could become perhaps the biggest free agent on the market next year.

Roethlisberger returned to the Steelers on Oct. 17 following a four-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. He was accused of, but not charged with, sexually assaulting a Georgia college student in March. Since his return, the Steelers are 3-2 (6-3 overall), including losses to two of the best teams in the league – New England and New Orleans.

Woods and Bryant went to dinner in Orlando last year before the golfer’s scandal broke, with Bryant reportedly trying to find out how Woods handled life in a fishbowl.

Someday they may have even more in common if Woods can regain his dominance on the golf course.

“I think America loves to build stars, knock stars down a little bit and then build them back up,” said David Schwab, a vice president at Octagon who specializes in offering celebrity strategy for brands. “You certainly saw that with Kobe.”

Kaymer & McDowell set for Dubai duel

Every year at the beginning of December a group of golf journalists are invited to lunch by the European Tour and we are expected to sing for our sustenance by deciding the Tour's Golfer of the Year.

It is always a convivial gathering, spiced by lively debate stirring memories of the fine golf we have witnessed over the previous 11 months, but more often than not the decision-making process is completed somewhere between the starter and the main course.

The swift selection process is not a dereliction of duty, it is simply that one outstanding candidate invariably emerges from the discussion. Indeed, there is often no need for any chat at all as it is immediately obvious to whom the accolade should go and we can raise a glass to the winner with a clear conscience.

It didn't take too long to nominate Lee Westwood last year and Padraig Harrington was the obvious choice in 2008 and 2007. But this time? Well, let's just hope the cheeseboard is well stocked because we may be arguing for quite some time.

There is very little to choose between the two outstanding candidates, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer.

Both have won majors in the United States, while Kaymer has won three other titles compared to McDowell's two. That would seem to give the edge to the German, who leads the Race to Dubai heading into this week's final event, the Dubai World Championship.

But that doesn't take account of the extraordinary role McDowell played in the final match of the Ryder Cup, holding his nerve against Hunter Mahan to win the trophy for Europe.

For my money those achievements are enough to mark out McDowell as the outstanding UK sports personality of 2010 - OK, I admit I am biased - but are they enough to make the US Open champion Europe's Golfer of the Year?

It is an extraordinarily tough call but one that might become a little easier if either of the two finishes the season in style in Dubai.

Kaymer won his first major with victory at the USPGA Championship in August but has called this the biggest week of his career as winning the Race to Dubai was his stated ambition at the start of the year.

Only McDowell can deny him the title. The Northern Ireland man is 290, 911 Euros behind heading into this big-money event and needs a top-three finish to have any chance of pipping his rival.

For that to happen, McDowell will need to sustain and improve on the form that gave him a third-placed finish in Singapore and fifth in Hong Kong in the last two weeks.

Kaymer, on the other hand, took last week off and said he has never slept as well given the exhausting nature of his stellar season. He's raring to go and keen to finish the job over the coming days.

It was another massive boost for the European Tour when Kaymer confirmed he will not be taking up PGA Tour membership next season. The implication is that his chosen tour is every bit as strong as its American counterpart.

Already the PGA Tour has felt the need to slightly alter its eligibility rules for players leaving them, which means Westwood will be able to play the US events that he wants to compete in next year.

The world number one will be allowed to accept three tournament invitations on top of the four majors, three World Golf Championships and the Players' Championship. Until this tweak Westwood was facing a choice between having to miss either the Players or defending the title he won in Memphis this year.

The change in rules shows how the PGA Tour is having to bend to the current power shift in the world game and benefits Rory McIlroy, who is not renewing his membership Stateside.

There are no such restrictions on Kaymer because he has never been a PGA Tour member, so isn't liable to the rules put in place to deter players from turning their backs on membership as McIlroy is doing next year.

All of which is fine news for the European Tour as it readies itself to unveil its 2011 calendar. There are plenty of issues to be resolved with sponsorship of the Irish Open again high on the agenda. There's also the likelihood of the Scottish Open heading north to Castle Stuart and a later end to the season with the Dubai World Championship switching to a December date.

That, though, is for next year. There's still plenty to be decided in 2010, which should provide for a fascinating finale before what is sure to be a lengthy lunch to decide the Europe's player of the year.

Sean Foley; The new generation golf guru?

Sean Foley is ready to step into the spotlight.

The man overseeing the latest set of changes to Tiger Woods's golf swing remains something of an unknown outside of the golf industry -- even in Canada, where he was born, raised and first started teaching the game.

But that has slowly started to change since striking up a working relationship with Woods in August.

"There's recognition in airports and restaurants, and that never happened before," Foley said in a recent interview. "People say 'that's got to be so annoying.' But I created it, I said yes (when asked to work with Woods) and I could have said no. You have to embrace it and take it on.

"This is when your principles and character (are important). Who you tell people you are and what you believe about yourself, this is when it's tested."

In fact, Foley is hoping to take his profile to another level. The 36-year-old from Burlington, Ont., has signed on with sports agency The Wasserman Group -- looking for agent Chris Armstrong to "drum up business" -- and released his first instructional DVD, titled The Next Generation.

Foley had relied solely on the quality of his work to speak for itself.

"I've never really built my brand," he said. "I still don't have a website."

The desire to start brand building comes at an interesting time for Foley -- and not just because he's now working with Woods. Some have recently criticized his teaching methods, accusing him of borrowing heavily from the "Stack and Tilt" swing developed by Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett.

Foley has been around the PGA Tour since getting hired by Calgary's Stephen Ames four years ago. He also works with Sean O'Hair, Hunter Mahan and Justin Rose, among others, but only recently started hearing negative things about his style.

"It never happened until I started working with Tiger," he said.

Foley is the first to acknowledge that he's studied up on what others are teaching, both about golf and life. He's well-versed on a variety of subjects -- referencing everyone from Gandhi to Bob Marley to Deepak Chopra to Phil Jackson during a 30-minute interview -- and aims to pass on whatever he can to his pupils.

He readily acknowledges that the foundation for his knowledge on the golf swing comes from others.

"My job is to help people so why would I not tap into every educational source?" said Foley. "I'm not going to pretend that I'm going to figure it all out on my own. Looking at (David) Leadbetter's stuff and Butch (Harmon's) stuff and Chuck Cook, Mac O'Grady, Mark Evershed and Stack and Tilt and all that. It's my job to know that.

"If you've done this for 16 years and you're smart and you're passionate about helping people, you will all find the same points."

Foley still manages to stand out. He's supremely confident in his ability and has no qualms about doing things his own way.

It's something Armstrong plans to use to his advantage as he seeks out ways to start growing Foley's brand.

"We strongly believe that with Sean's contemporary and innovative approach to golf instruction, his candid and dynamic personality, and commitment to using his success as a platform to affect change in the lives of those who are less fortunate, his brand has great appeal to both the corporate and non-profit sectors," Armstrong wrote in an email. "I have no doubt that he will have opportunities both inside and outside of the sport of golf -- endorsements, corporate outings, public speaking engagements, and literary works to suggest a few."

The release of his DVD on Monday was the first step. Produced by brother Kevin Foley and Toronto-based Project 10 Productions, The Next Generation offers 90 minutes of insight and tips to improve the golf swing.

The advice isn't much different than what he gives to his top clients on a regular basis.

"I was teaching a 15 handicap the other day and I was working on the same thing that I'm trying to get Sean O'Hair to do," said Foley. "Now, when they both do it well, it looks completely different. But it helps them equally."

The arc of Foley's career has been pretty dramatic. Prior to starting his work with Ames in 2006, he served as director of player development for the ClubLink Academy out of Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont. Now just four years later, he's got one of the highest-profile jobs in the sport.

While Foley always envisioned himself in his current position, he acknowledges that some fortunate timing also played a role. Reflecting on that helps keep him grounded.

"There's many people who have done the same thing and just didn't get the opportunity," he said. "That kind of takes the arrogance out of it, where you feel like you're just amazing, because you realize that if Stephen Ames doesn't come down (and hire him), who knows?

"I might be back at Glen Abbey right now."

-Canadian Press

Ian Poulter holds off Simon Dyson to win 10th Euro title

Ian Poulter landed his tenth European Tour title by holding off all challengers at the UBS Hong Kong Open.

The 34 year old, who narrowly missed out at last week's Barclays Singapore Open, closed with a three under par 67 to finish with a 22 under par aggregate of 258.

That was one clear of compatriot Simon Dyson and Italy's Matteo Manassero, but in truth The Ryder Cup star never looked like relinquishing the advantage he had held since the second round.

A bogey at the last after his approach found the bunker slightly spoiled his card, but three birdies on the front nine and a brilliant eagle at the par five 13th - where he nailed his drive then faded a fairway wood approach to 12 feet - secured victory.

"It feels more than good," said Poulter. "I'll be honest, the last two weeks I've been really disappointed. Shanghai I was lying fourth with six holes to play.

"Obviously last week, I was in the lead for a number of holes. I was in position again to win and I didn't do it - I didn't convert the putts.

"I played nicely on Sunday - on Monday shall I say - and didn't quite convert the putts, and I've played great all week this week.

"I think today, I actually played better to shoot three under than I did ten under. I don't think I've hit as many good golf shots today in a long time. So it was nice, I felt calm all day. I felt as if I just kept going around my business, I'd make a few birdie putts and that would be enough to win - it's very pleasing to do so."

Dyson's 65 saw him emerge as the main challenger, but after a front nine 30 the former KLM Open winner's putter went cold on the way in and he picked up just one more shot.

"Disappointed," admitted the former Asian Tour Order of Merit winner. "I played lovely today, I just didn't hole a thing on the back nine, didn't hole a thing.

"Eight kind of stopped me in my tracks. I got off to such a great start that the bogey on eight just stopped me in my tracks a bit.

"I had a good chance at nine - I had a good chance on every hole the back nine. Didn't miss a green and they just didn't want to drop and that last one summed it up, absolutely summed it up. It can't miss three foot out, downhill, downgrain and it stops two inches short.

"Still, a great week. I played lovely, and it's good to take into the last tournament of the year."

Manassero's eight under 62 confirmed the teenager's outstanding talent, while American Anthony Kang took fourth ahead of Graeme McDowell - who having been second overnight will be disappointed not to have made a bigger dent in Martin Kaymer's Race to Dubai lead.

World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play winner Poulter had hardly put a foot wrong all week and when he found water at the third it was his first bogey of the tournament.

"After hitting a poor four iron on the third hole and making bogey, I think I pretty much had a birdie putt on every single hole," he added. "You know, putts from eight feet which kept looking like they were going to go in but didn't. But to make five at the last, get the job done, it's a good victory."

The win also moves Poulter to eleventh in the Official World Golf Rankings and increases his earnings in The Race to Dubai to €1,983,142 - the most he has ever won in a single European Tour season.

Manassero became the youngest ever winner on The European Tour in Spain last month, and was pleased to continue his good form.

"Fantastic day actually for me," he said. "I started the day quite far behind - Poulter was 19, I was 13.

"I made some great shots, so I'm very happy with the way I played and the way I tried to catch the leaders."

McDowell's challenge for the title never really materialised as the Northern Irishman finished with a two under 68 to take fifth place.

The US Open Champion was undone by two bogeys in his first three holes and though he recovered on the back nine with five birdies, it was too late to threaten playing partner Poulter.

McDowell now switches his focus to the Dubai World Championship next week where he hopes to be crowned Europe's Number One ahead of current Race to Dubai leader Martin Kaymer, having reduced his arrears to €214,222.

Rory McIlroy had narrowly missed out on victory at the Hong Kong Golf Club in the last two years and though he started well this time he was never really in the hunt as the final round progressed.

The 21 year old bogeyed the first and though he recovered with four birdies over his next 12 holes, another dropped shot on the par four 14th left him with plenty to do in his remaining holes.

McIlroy birdied the 16th before making par on the last two holes to finish on 18 under, four shots behind Poulter in sixth.

Last year's winner Grégory Bourdy claimed a share of 11th after carding a 68 while Europe's Ryder Cup-winning Captain Colin Montgomerie shot a 69 to tie for 47th place.

Tiger's candid about dramatic changes in his life the past year

Nearly a year ago, Tiger Woods' world came crashing down on him -- literally. It was, in Woods' own words Thursday during an interview on ESPN radio, "The best thing that could've happened to me."

That was perhaps the most revealing, or at least telling, statement from Woods in the 25-minute interview, which Woods said he gave -- along with launching a Twitter account and writing a first-person account for Newsweek magazine -- in an effort to connect with the fans.

"That's been the biggest surprise of all is how supportive the fans have been," said Woods, who echoed similar words when he returned to golf at the Masters earlier this year.

"The only way [to rebuild my image] is to come to grips with who I am," he added. "I wasn't happy with who I was. I was doing things morally that inside I knew I shouldn't be doing."

Asked what about what he thinks he learned about himself in the past year, Woods added that he wasn't the person he used to be.

Asked if he's happier now, Woods said, "Infinitely so. I'm more clear about who I am and where I want to go."

Where Woods goes on the golf course in terms of whether or not he breaks Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championships remains to be seen.

Woods, who has 14 career major championships, will play one more event this season, his upcoming Chevron World Challenge. If he doesn't win, it will mark the first year since 1995 that he has gone without a victory.

"Bits and pieces" is how Woods described how the swing changes he's been working on with new coach Sean Foley have been coming along.

"The fixes for the misses are a little different than the past," Woods added.

The main priority in Woods' life, however, appear to be his children.

In the Newsweek article, for example, he talked about the joy of bathing his son over hitting another bucket of golf balls in practice.

He wrote: "Slowly, I'm regaining the balance that I'd lost. My healing process is far from complete, but I am beginning to appreciate things I had overlooked before. I'm learning that some victories can mean smiles, not trophies, and that life's most ordinary events can bring joy."

Thursday, Woods re-iterated that, saying his kids are his No. 1 priority and that every day he tries to teach them something, much the way his own late father, Earl, did with him.

Woods added that he'll also tell his children the "absolute truth" when it comes time to explaining the events of the past year.

Said Woods: "My dad always said that love is a given, but trust and respect are earned."

That's exactly what Woods is hoping to continue to earn himself.

Race to Dubai promises to be "Greatest show on Earth"

While World Number One Lee Westwood and the cream of The European Tour will battle it out for the richest prize of the year, spectators at next week’s Dubai World Championship presented by DP World are in for a four-day feast of sporting and social attractions.

Organisers have confirmed a wealth of both entertainment and dining options to ensure spectators have a variety of off-course attractions as the Tour’s top 60 players go head-to-head in the $7.5 million tournament.

As well as golfing lessons, trick shot demonstrations, children’s golf and live musical entertainment, a wide selection of Food & Beverage outlets around the Greg Norman-designed course will offer everything from snacks and soft drinks to fish and chips and full meals.

“This is the grand finale of the golfing calendar and a celebration of what has been an historic year for the European Tour with three Major winners and a victory for Europe in The Ryder Cup,” said Dubai World Championship director Colin Smith.

“We believe we have something for everyone during the four days of the tournament. With season tickets free of charge we expect a record number of spectators as well as an all-star cast of players, while our musical events in the Championship Village will ensure the party goes on long after the close of play each day.”

Outside of the Championship Village, one of the most popular places for spectators is sure to be a temporary version of Dubai’s popular watering hole Left Bank, which allows a great vantage point for the signature par three 17th hole with the laid back lounge creating its own unique golfing atmosphere.

To be staged from Thursday to Sunday (November 25-28), the tournament will also offer free golf tuition courtesy of the Emirates Golf Federation. Three local pros from the UAE PGA will be on hand from 9am to 4pm each day to provide complimentary ten minute lessons with prior booking.

Former Tour pro David Edwards, who kept the crowds enthralled with his extraordinary array of trick shots at The Ryder Cup, is also making a bee line for the Earth course. A former European Tour pro, Edwards currently holds the world record for his famous Scissor Hands shots - 310 balls in just three minutes – and will be demonstrating his trick shot talents on the driving range every day (12.45pm and 3.00pm) during the Dubai World Championship.

Also making sure the party goes with a swing will be a number of live music acts including U2 tribute band Vertigo (November 25), Suburban Voodoo (November 26 and 28), Rich and Famous (November 27) and DJ Gail Cherelle. Add in SNAG (Starting New At Golf) for younger fans as well as the Flying Elephant Children’s Zone and it is clear there will be something for all the family at the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World.

Season tickets can be downloaded free of charge from the official website (www.dubaiworldchampionship.com), while tickets are also available at Dubai branches of MMI and Costa as well as from Dubai’s golf clubs.

In addition to DP World – Presenting Sponsor for the second year in succession – the Dubai World Championship is supported by Premium Partners Rolex, Emirates and BMW; Sponsors Atlantis, CNN, The National and Polo/Ralph Lauren; and Event Supporters Dubai Duty Free, MMI, TNT and Toshiba.

Ian Poulter shoots 60 in Hong Kong

England's Ian Poulter shot a record-breaking 10-under-par 60 to take the lead at the Hong Kong Open at Fanling. The world number 14 rattled off 10 birdies in a sizzling performance for a 13-under-par two-day total of 127.

After the round a surprisingly downbeat Poulter said he had "mixed emotions" about his achievement, adding he was "happy but slightly disappointed" he did not score even lower after an excellent start.

"It's one of those golf courses where if you get a decent start you really feel you can shoot a low number. Five under on the front nine was a great score. "I had five birdies in a row from the seventh and as soon as that happened I kind of felt there's plenty of chances coming in, there's a lot of short irons to finish."

The Englishman had gone bogey-free on the first day but could only pick up three birdies to leave him five short of overnight leader Mark Brown. But he turned on the style to move ahead of Anthony Kang, who earlier shot a course-record-equalling nine-under 61.

Kang delighted the spectators with nine birdies for a two-day total of 12-under-par 128. Rory McIlroy was making strides up the leaderboard with the Northern Irishman 11 under through 13 holes before a double-bogey left him in fourth place, two shots off the lead.

India's Jeev Milkha Singh kept up his title bid with a 67 to lie in joint fourth in a pack including McIlroy, Italian Matteo Manassero, Ulsterman Graeme McDowell and Thai Thongchai Jaidee.

Teenager slinger Manassero continues quick rise to the top

Italian teenager Matteo Manassero's precocious rise to the top echelon of world golf took another step Friday when he shot an impressive seven-under 63 at the Hong Kong Open.

The 17-year-old holed his putts impressively around the Fanling course to push himself into title contention against an impressive field at the joint European and Asian Tour event.

"The first day was three under, today was seven under, probably just because of the putts, because the game was very similar perfect and pretty steady," Manassero said. "I'm very happy with this round. That puts me in contention for the weekend and that's actually what I wanted."

Manassero became the youngest-ever winner on the European Tour last month when he took out his first professional title at the Castello Masters.

Manassero exudes the confidence of youth, putting that down to a blend of confidence and low expectations.

"I don't expect too much out of me, so I don't fear a lot on the golf course," Manassero said.

"I'm confident, I'm playing good golf. I got my schedule playing for next year, everything already done. I just need to go and play."

That confidence is leavened with the lessons learnt from his family, to not let success go to his head — not an easy task after beating some of the world's top pros while still a child.

"Just after the win, it's difficult. You think you're very good. Just after the win, you're up in the sky," Manassero said.

"You always try to keep your feet down in the ground, and that's always been my family, that gave me education and educated me that way, which is very important for me, for this life, everybody."

Life as a professional has increased the time Manassero spends away from friends and family in Italy but, after sampling the life of a touring player while still an amateur, he is adapting to the demands of playing on tour.

"It's part of the life," he said. "You have to travel, say, 25 events per year, plus some extra weeks. So we travel 30 weeks; more traveling than staying home.

"I traveled a little bit as an amateur, which was important, was a good experience. And now, one thing is that everybody takes care of everything for us, which is very important."

-Associated Press

Tiger blames golf for affairs

Tiger Woods blames golf for his marriage woes, insisting the game made him so "self-centred" he thought he could "tackle the world".

The sports ace split from his wife Elin Nordegren last year after his numerous affairs became public, and their divorce was finalized in August.

Woods' infidelities were exposed after he crashed his car into a tree as he fled his home in Florida following a confrontation with Nordegren.

Now the golf star has penned an article about his public downfall for U.S. magazine Newsweek, in which he describes the emotional "pain" he's still suffering as a result of his cheating.

But he is adamant many of the women who have since claimed to have slept with him are liars who are trying to "cash in" on the scandal.

Woods writes, "Golf is a self-centred game. That self reliance made me think I could tackle the world by myself ... The physical pain from that car accident has long healed. But the pain in my soul is more complex and unsettling ...

"Opportunists are trying still to cash in on my troubles, no matter how irresponsible or ridiculous their claims may be. In many cases, I've never even met these people."

Women's Tour to vote on controversial 'female at birth' policy

Photo: Lana Lawless

The LPGA Tour is close to getting rid of its stipulation that anyone who wishes to join the most lucrative women's professional Tour must be "female at birth".

The policy change would bring the LPGA into line with every other major women's golf organisation, including the Ladies' Golf Union and the International Olympic Committee, which all allow transgender participation. It will be voted upon by the Tour's membership in two weeks' time, according to this report by the US-based Golf Channel.

News of the proposal comes after the LPGA Tour was sued last month by Lana Lawless, a former police officer in California who had transgender surgery five years ago and won the women's world long-driving championship in 2008. The rules of that event were subsequently changed to exclude transgender participants from competing. In her suit, Lawless claimed she was being discriminated against because of her transgender status, in violation of Californian law.

The Golf Channel reported: "In a special 'one-agenda item' meeting at the Hana Bank Championship in South Korea at the end of October, LPGA players were briefed on the upcoming vote and the vital nature of it. According to sources familiar with the meeting, LPGA players were told the 'female at birth' provision was created 'in a different time' and would be a significant challenge to defend legally today.

"LPGA commissioner Mike Whan and the LPGA's executive committee are expected to recommend the change to the association's bylaws."

A two-thirds majority is required to enforce any change to the Tour's rule book. It is expected to pass. If it does not the LPGA might still find itself in legal jeopardy.

Lawless's attorney Christopher Dolan told the Golf Channel he had already been notified by the LPGA of its proposed change. He seemed less than impressed.

"When they told me they were going to put this up to a vote of their members, I said that's insane," Dolan said. "To put whether you want to continue to discriminate to a vote, that's insane. It would be similar, in another time, to voting on whether you want to let black people into your organisation. From my perspective, the law's perfectly clear.

"If the members vote to continue to act unlawfully, we will seek to stop them from doing business in California."

This year the LPGA has staged three events in California.

2010 PGA Tour year in review

The 2010 season was unique in many ways. No wins by Tiger Woods, a return to form by Ernie Els and the emergence of Matt Kuchar were just a few of the storylines that set the year apart.

Three new faces pushed their way into the list of winners at major championships and Tim Clark proved with his victory at THE PLAYERS Championship that you don't have to be big to win big.

Here are some highlights from the 2010 PGA TOUR season:

Top player: Three victories on three great golf courses qualifies Jim Furyk for Player of the Year honors. Furyk won the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook, the Verizon Heritage at Harbor Town, and The TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. The latter victory also happened to give Furyk the FedExCup title -- which proves that old-fashioned Furyk consistency has never been more apparent.

Key shot: The 6-iron that Phil Mickelson struck from the pine straw, between two pine trees, on the 15th hole at the Masters will go down as one of the all-timers. Even though Mickelson didn't make the eagle putt, the birdie was enough to let Lee Westwood and the rest of the contenders realize their cause was lost.

Biggest surprise: Louis Oosthiuzen ran away from the field with a record victory at the British Open. That may be the biggest surprise winner of a major since Todd Hamilton won the Open at Royal Troon in 2004 but he'll likely have more staying power.

Most improved: Brendon de Jonge finished third on three occasions, had seven top-10 finishes, and improved his Official World Golf Ranking from No. 323 to No. 94. Now he gets to experience something new: Life without q-school.

Best moment: Why does the Masters Tournament always seem to give us so many great moments? There's no way you can possibly top the emotional overflow that occurred behind the 18th green between Phil and Amy Mickelson. Only a person with a heart of stone didn't shed a tear when watching that scene.

Best finish: Stuart Appleby was playing every week to try to regain his fully exempt status and end a four-year winless streak. He did OK, shooting a 59 on the final day to beat Jeff Overton and win the Greenbrier Classic.

Most impressive win: The victory by Rocco Mediate at the Frys.com Open was impressive on many levels. The 47-year-old won for the first time in eight years and holed out for an eagle on each day. Nice to know he'll be exempt for the next two seasons. The TOUR needs more guys like Rocco.

Best round: Didn't everybody shoot at least one 59 on TOUR this year? Regardless, the best round belonged to Rory McIlroy, who came up with a 62 in the final round at Quail Hollow to beat Phil Mickelson and win his first PGA TOUR event.

What do we have to look forward to next year? There are bound to be a few surprises to emerge at qualifying school -- and right now someone is probably working on a part of their game that will make a big difference. Fortunately we won't have to wait long to find out: The new season is only six weeks away.

Daly set to tee it up in Hong Kong

John Daly's dramatic weight loss might help him get around the golf course a little easier, but it hasn't come without its problems.

After dropping more than 100 pounds, the two-time major winner said this week that he's still trying to get used to his new weight of 195.

"The biggest problem has been my putting because I've got nowhere to put my elbows. I used to be able to put my elbows on my love handles and putt pretty good. Now they're all over the place," Daly said. "It's taken a while to get used to this, but I know it's for the better for me and hopefully the results will come pretty soon."

The popular Daly begins play Thursday in the $2.5 million Hong Kong Open. He's hoping to return to form against an impressive European Tour field that features reigning U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, as well as Ryder Cup stars Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter and Miguel Angel Jiminez.

After an injury-plagued season, the 44-year-old American is confident his game has improved enough to allow him to challenge for the $405,000 first prize.

"It's been a tough year with injuries," Daly said. "I've had my shoulder put back in place probably about five times this year -- I've had it popped back in before I came over -- but the ball striking has been great.

"I probably have made more cuts this year on tour than I ever have, but just didn't do anything on the weekends," he added. "I'm looking forward to a good week and I'm feeling good."

McDowell will have another opportunity to close the gap on Race to Dubai leader Martin Kaymer because the German is not playing this week. The Northern Irishman had a solid finish at the Singapore Open last week, where he finished tied for third.

"Of course, this week is very important to me," McDowell said. "It's important that I get as close as I possibly can going into Dubai next week and like I say, with Martin not being here this week, it's an opportunity to put some more numbers on the board."

Aussie Stuart Appleby wins his first Australian Masters title

STUART APPLEBY captured his first Australian Masters title with a gripping one-shot victory at Victoria Golf Club.

Appleby started the day seven shots behind leader Adam Bland but fired a brilliant six-under-par 65 as all around him faltered.

Bland had the chance to force a play-off at the 72nd hole but his putt for eagle drifted by the cup. Appleby, on the practice fairway preparing for a play-off, broke into a broad grin.

The 39-year Victorian had a difficult 2009 but his 2010 has been something special. in August, he made history when he shot a 59 in the last round to win The Greenbrier Classic - his ninth victory on the US PGA Tour. His win in the Masters is his third on the Australasian tour - he won the 1998 Coolum Classic and the 2001 Australian Open.

Appleby made six birdies in all - three on the front nine and three on the back. Two of those birdies came at the closing two holes, including a monster putt at the par-five 17th as he finished at 10-under.

Bland was second at nine-under while Daniel Gaunt was a further shot back. Defending champion Tiger Woods finished his tournament with a bang, matching Appleby with a closing 65 to finish in outright fourth.

The world No 2's final four holes were breathtaking. Woods made eagles at 15 and 18 to finish three shots behind Appleby at seven-under.

“It would have been nice if I got off to that start,” Woods said.

“Unfortunately I didn't do it. Too little, too late.”

Woods' putting was once again his bugbear, although he finally found his range over the closing holes.

“I finally made a couple of putts,” he said.

Woods also said he wanted to return next year.

“I would love to come back and play, no doubt,” he said.

Tiger's image may be tarnished, can still draw a crowd though

Tiger Woods’s status as a drawcard appears safe, even if the golf titles and top ranking are gone.

Woods relinquished his last remaining championship yesterday at the Australian Masters, a final-round charge at the Victoria Golf Club failing to prevent him from finishing a calendar year without a tournament win for the first time.

Following a year of personal and professional upheaval that included divorce and the loss of sponsors and his record run atop the golf rankings, the Melbourne event was well placed as a barometer of Woods’s appeal, tournament promoters said.

“From what we’ve seen he’s lost none of his ability to pull a crowd,” Tony Roosenburg, who’s promoted golf events including the Australian PGA Championship for 30 years, said in an interview. “At the end of the day these tournaments are still built around Tiger. If anything, his troubles made him more interesting because he seems more human.”

Less than two weeks after winning the 2009 Masters at nearby Kingston Heath, Woods entered a turbulent 12 months that began with a single-car accident outside his Florida home in the early hours of Nov. 27.

Since then, the 14-time major champion admitted to repeated marital infidelity, leading to the end of his marriage to Elin Nordegren and the loss of sponsors including Accenture Plc and Procter & Gamble Co.’s Gillette razors. His 281-week run atop the Official World Golf Ranking ended Nov. 1, England’s Lee Westwood taking over.

Fourth Place

That didn’t deter fans who followed Woods at the Victoria Golf Club in their thousands, even as he struggled with his putting in the first three rounds before rallying with a 6- under-par 65 to secure a fourth-place finish, three shots off the lead.

For David and Sandra Whitburn, retirees from Sydney who said they regularly attend PGA Tour of Australasia events in their home city, Woods was the main reason they’d made the trip for their first tournament in Melbourne.

“He’s still the big attraction,” David Whitburn said as the couple made their way to grandstand seats at the 18th hole. “We didn’t come in 2009 and didn’t want to miss out again.”

Last year, local golfer Kieran Pratt watched Woods’s win at Kingston Heath. Two days ago, the 22-year-old found himself playing alongside the American in only his third round as a professional after matching him with scores of 69 and 72 to make the cut.

Just sharing the practice range with Woods would have been thrill enough, Pratt said after outscoring him by one shot during their round together.

‘Unreal’ Experience

“I saw him walking on the range on day one and it’s just unreal seeing him,” Pratt said. “I’ve seen him so much on TV, and there he was. He’s got such an aura around him. To play with him was really cool.”

To be sure, Woods’s second straight appearance at the Masters didn’t generate the same buzz as last year, when his first tournament in Australia since 1998 prompted tickets to sell out six weeks in advance.

His arrival and pre-tournament press conference were broadcast live on national television and the opening round began with traffic jams around Kingston Heath, where more than 95,000 fans attended the tournament’s four days. This year, the helicopters that had tracked his movements were absent and about 62,000 turned up at the Victoria Golf Club.

“We all acknowledge that last year was unique,” said David Rollo, director of golf at IMG Australia, which owns and promotes the Masters. “Tiger hadn’t been here for 11 years. Getting him back as the defending champion was a real boost.”

‘Swollen Crowds’

Australian golfer Stuart Appleby thanked the galleries at the presentation ceremony after winning the tournament yesterday on 10-under-par, one and two shots, respectively, ahead of his compatriots Adam Bland and Daniel Gaunt. Appleby, a nine-time winner on the U.S. PGA Tour, said he realized that most of the spectators probably hadn’t come to watch him.

“The swollen crowds we’ve seen in the last few years is really great,” Allenby told reporters. “I’ve never played golf like that in this country. By no means do I expect 5,000, 10,000 to come and watch us play.”

The drop in crowds from 2009 is “more to do with Woods being back for a second year and probably again next year for the Presidents Cup,” said Roosenburg, whose TRP Sports company is running December’s Australian Open in Sydney.

Getting him back this year was still money well spent, according to Bob Tuohy, a former professional player who set up Adelaide-based golf management company Tuohy Associates in 1974.

Woods’s appearance fee was about $3 million, half of which was paid for by the local state government of Victoria, newspapers including Melbourne’s Herald Sun reported.

“He’s still worth every cent of investment,” Tuohy said in a telephone interview. “You take him out and the event just wouldn’t have the same appeal. Obviously the guy has had some tough times lately but he’s still a very marketable asset.”

Garcia impressive in wind swept round 2 @ the JB Were

SERGIO Garcia has produced a stunning round at a windswept Victoria Golf Club to move into contention at the Australian Masters.

The tournament's other major drawcard _ 14-time major winner Tiger Woods _ laboured to a one-over 72 this afternoon to concede 36-hole pacesetter Adam Bland a widening nine strokes in blustery conditions with the weather forecast to further deteriorate for tomorrow’s third round.

Woods has the job ahead as he searches for his breakthrough tournament victory in a barren 2010 season.

Australian Bland maintained his cracking pace from his opening round 65 to fire a four-under 67 to be 10-under 132 and lead by two strokes from compatriot Andre Stolz (67-67) at the halfway stage.

While Brand was relishing his opportunity to upstage the tournament drawcards, former world number one Woods was frustrated by a round littered with four bogeys and three birdies in winds that gusted around 60 km/h (37mph) for most of the day.

"It was tougher today and when the wind blows this hard it affects everybody,'' Woods said.

"I was struggling with the swing a bit today, but I was as committed to it as I possibly could, it was just a little bit more difficult than I thought it would be, but I got through it.

"It was pretty blustery out there, it was tough, and I just had a hard time on the greens again.

"I over-read every putt because the greens were slower than they were yesterday and it was hard to believe that they weren't going to swing.''

Garcia started the second round in danger of missing the cut but finished his 18 holes breathing down the neck of the leaders. His round was truly exceptional The Spaniard, starting his day at the 10th, fired six birdies in a bogey-free round.

"I am happy about my round," Garcia said.

"I guess it is a little bit funny. It (summarises) my golf game at the moment. Some rounds are special, some rounds are not that great. We're trying to get back into it."

The highlight of Garcia's round was his birdie at the par four 3rd when he holed the ball from off the green. His ball striking was exceptional - he pierced the fairway from the tee and only missed one green. Not bad for a bloke who took two months off earlier this year because he was struggling with his game and motivation.

"As the round started I was getting more and more comfortable," he said.

"I got off to a good start which always helps. It just seemed like it was one of those days where even though it was quite difficult because of the conditions, we were making the right decisions all the time.

"If you put that with the way I hit the ball today, to tell you the truth....it wasn't like the lowest I could have shot today. I hit so many good shots."

Michelle Wie withdraws due to injury

Michelle Wie, the defending champion of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational, had to drop out of this years event following the first round of play today. Wie needed to drop out due to back pain.

She opened the tournament with a 6 over 78 which included one birdie and 6 bogeys in the events opening day at Lorena Ochoa’s home course of Guadalajara Country Club. The leader of the event is Christie Kerr with an 8 under 64 leading all others by 3 strokes.

Michelle Wie was quoted as saying she had “two little cysts near her spine and a little disc bulge.” Little? Yikes! Hopefully little is correct and they will go away and she’ll be able to compete.

Adam Scott leads Ian Poulter by 2 in Singapore

Two-time winner Adam Scott shot a second straight 65 Friday to take a two-stroke lead over defending champion Ian Poulter of England after the second round at the Singapore Open.

Scott was at 12-under 130 Friday after opening with consecutive 6-under rounds on both the Serapong and Tanjong courses at the Sentosa Golf Club, where the Australian won titles in 2005 and 2006.

Poulter shot 63 after an opening 69. and three golfers were three shots back in a tie for third, including U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell after a second-round 68.

Masters champion Phil Mickelsen was six shots off the pace after a 69.

Most of the 204-player field was able to complete their second rounds Friday after thunderstorms delayed the first round for four hours.

Tiger's ball striking starting to pop, but putting still lack-luster

Tiger Woods matched his best ball-striking round in ages with one of his worst days of putting at the Victoria Golf Club yesterday. As a result of this contradictory performance, he signed for a two-under-par 69 when he felt it could easily have been 65.

Still, the world No.2 should be well satisfied with the opening of his defence of the $1.5 million Australian Masters title. Chased around the course by several thousand spectators, Woods departed to the privacy of Lloyd Williams's private Capital club nearby for some work on his putting stroke, as well as a clinic for some corporate folk.

He will begin today four shots from the lead held by Victorians Alistair Presnell and Daniel Gaunt and South Australia's Adam Bland.

A stiff northerly and 32-degree heat are on the way, meaning the challenge is about to ramp up.

''I felt pretty good,'' Woods said after carding three birdies and a bogey in superb conditions. ''That was probably the highest score I could have shot today. I mean, I really played well, hit a lot of good shots and I gave myself a bunch of looks early for birdie. Every putt was hit a little bit shy, not quite hard enough to hold the pace. I tried to be a bit more committed coming in. I tried to hit the putts a little harder but still kept leaving them short.''

The good news for Woods, who is remodelling his swing, is that he missed just two fairways and two greens all day. These are numbers that suggest he will be profoundly dangerous this weekend.

''The only bogey I made was a three-putt [on the 12th]. I was hitting the ball on my lines but I was not hitting them hard enough. They were dying in front of the lip. I tried to be more committed coming in, tried to get that ball to the hole or past the hole, and even still on nine I left it seven feet short. I need to do more work on that tomorrow.''

He had 33 putts for the day, complaining that the greens were not as quick as he was reading them. ''It was just they looked faster to me than they were actually putting. I kept leaving myself in all the spots where I was going back uphill. I was hitting my irons well enough to leave myself in good spots. They were slow up the hill but pretty quick coming down. I just didn't make the adjustment.''

But Woods rated his ball-striking as his most consistent for a full round since he and new coach Sean Foley started making changes several months ago. The former world No.1 has been complaining that his play is streaky. Yesterday he flushed it all day, notably at the long par-five 17th, where he reached the green with driver (smashed 15 metres past playing partner Robert Allenby's ball) and two-iron. This was his high point, along with a silky short iron to the par-three fourth that spun to a stop just 2m from the flag.

His driver came out only three times; even with fairway metal shots or irons off the tee, he found he needed no more than six-irons to the greens at Victoria, ''and I can spin the ball plenty from there''. Conservatism ruled; at the two driveable par-fours, the first and the 15th, he stung irons off the tee.

''Tricky'', was his description of the course. ''I've just got to be patient. Today could have easily been four-, five-, six-under-par. But I'm right there. I'm only four back as of now. I'm right there. I have not hit the ball like this the first round. I hit it pretty good last week in China, the first round, but not like this. I hit it pretty good today. If I could have hit a few putts a little harder, it could have been a really good round.

''I'm plodding along, trying to get myself there. It's a process, and you certainly can't win on the first day, but you can lose it. I know what to do. I know how to win golf tournaments.''

Aussie Daniel Gaunt hit rock bottom but never stopped believing

He has struggled to put food on the table for his wife and children. He has been forced to earn money selling equipment in a golf shop _ located in, of all places, the middle of a racetrack.

He has been ready to toss it in. He has considered a future without the game. But he has stuck it out, never losing faith that one day he will win a tournament. Which makes days like yesterday very special.

Gaunt, who grew up in Victoria but has spent the past 10 years in England, finished the opening round of the Australian Masters in a share of the lead at six-under with Adam Bland and Alistair Presnell. He did it with a round of 65 and a belief that one day things will turn around.

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"There was a time when I hit rock bottom," Gaunt said.

"I think the best thing was taking some time off. It changes you and makes you think a bit differently to what you did before."

Gaunt, whose brother Chris is also in the field, claimed Aaron Baddeley's scalp not once, but twice during the mid-1990s on his way to the Victorian boys' matchplay title. These days, Baddeley is a golfing star who earns millions on the US Tour. Gaunt has been forced to work part-time to look after wife Caroline and children Thalia and Ashton.

Asked about his period working in the golf shop, Gaunt said: "I have always thought I could win tournaments.

"It was just the financial situation I was faced with. Sometimes you have to go to work and get some commission and try to back yourself that way.

"Luckily I did that, and got a good job, and didn't work that hard to be honest. I used to hit a lot of balls at the range, just kept myself in the golf zone."

Gaunt gave himself a two-year plan to achieve his European Tour card. He did it in less than one. Thanks to a good year on the Challenge Tour, he gained his European Tour card for next year. The turnaround began when he qualified for the 2009 British Open. Gaunt finished last, but he still beat Tiger Woods, who missed the cut. He wants to beat Woods again this week.

"There was a time when I thought golf was finished," said Gaunt, a member of Victoria Golf Club before leaving for England.

"That was pretty much right before the British Open last year. It changed from that. It changed things quite quickly. I come here to win basically.

"(Tournament promoter) IMG gave me an invite . . . I wouldn't have taken it up if I didn't think I could win. It's one of my home tracks and I feel comfortable around here and that's what I want to do _ achieve a win on home soil."

Woods return to Thailand to play skins game in honor of King

Tiger Woods returned to his mother’s home country for a four-man charity skins tournament on Monday and left soon after winning only one hole in another disappointing performance.

Camillo Villegas won the most money at the World Golf Salutes King Bhumibol Skins Tournament at the Amata Springs Club in Chonburi province, taking five skins for $109,800. Paul Casey won nine skins for $92,400, and local golfer Thongchai Jaidee claimed three skins for $90,000.

Woods earned only $6,600 for his skin and left the country right after the event on his private jet to Melbourne, where he will defend his Australian Masters title starting Thursday. It was Woods’ first trip to the homeland of his mother, Kultida, in 10 years. She did not accompany him due to health problems.

In a skins tournament, players compete for a reward for each hole, with prize money added to the next hole in case of a tie.

The prize money of $900,000 will be donated to a charity foundation associated with Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The event is part of celebrations marking King Bhumibol’s 60th year on the Thai throne.

Woods made a visit early Monday morning to the ailing 82-year-old king, who has been at a Bangkok hospital for more than a year. The golfer did not meet the king but signed a get-well book at the hospital.

Woods has not won a tournament this year after stepping away from the game for nearly four months in the wake of an infidelity scandal that damaged his image and led to the breakup of his marriage.

Thais adore Woods because of his family connection to the country. But the golfer displayed his American side by shaking hands with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and ignoring the leader’s “wai,” the traditional Thai greeting of palms pressed together with a head bow that is a sign of humility and respect.

Dressed in a grey blazer and black trousers, Woods and Thongchai, Thailand’s top player, presented Abhisit with a golf club during a brief meeting at his office, the Government House.

The golfers handed Abhisit a check for 2.2 million baht ($73,000) from ticket sales they are donating to the victims of recent floods that left more than 100 people dead. Woods then boarded a helicopter for the tournament in Chonburi, a seaside province southeast of Bangkok.

Woods arrived in Bangkok on Sunday night after competing in the HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

Woods first played in Thailand in 1997, when he won the Asian Honda Classic and was greeted by large crowds. He also received a royal decoration and was feted by the then prime minister.

He last played in Thailand in 2000, winning the Johnnie Walker Classic. He also won the inaugural event in 1998.

John Cook wins the Charles Schwab Championship; Bernard Langer wins the cup

John Cook learned much of what he knows about golf from Ken Venturi. Now Cook has a long-awaited victory at a course Venturi once called home.

With his mentor's voice ringing in his ears, Cook successfully defended his title in the Champions Tour's season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship on Sunday at TPC Harding Park, beating Bay Area native Michael Allen by two strokes.

"One of the great achievements," Cook said. "His voice was in my head all day long and for some reason it just clicked in. So I had a little extra in there. I'm very happy and proud that I could, you know, be a part of his legacy here."

Cook shot a 4-under 67 in steady drizzle after rain delayed the start of play, holing a 15-foot par putt on the 18th hole for his fifth career title.

Bernhard Langer (69) tied for third with David Frost (71) at 12 under to wrap up the Schwab Cup points race and $1 million annuity. Fred Couples, the only player in position to catch Langer entering the tournament, closed with a 67 to tie for 10th at 9 under. Couples got a $500,000 annuity.

"Looking back it's been an unbelievable year," said Langer, who won the Senior British and U.S. Senior Opens in consecutive weeks. "The thing I (hadn't) done so far is winning the Schwab Cup, so this was a big deal for me. To come out on top is a great feeling and it's worth all the hard work over the years."

Cook began the day a shot behind Allen, but birdied two of the first three holes to take the lead for good. Cook finished at 17 under and earned $440,000 for his fifth career victory on the 50-and-over Tour.

Allen shot a 70 in the rainy, windy conditions that hampered his tee shots and forced the 2009 Senior PGA Championship winner to scramble most of the day.

"He really had that blade rolling," Allen said. "On that front nine there were a lot of two-shot swings that made it tough for me to come back, especially when I wasn't firing on all cylinders."

Cook won for the first time since his record-setting performance at Sonoma, and also had his ninth straight round in the 60s.

"If I'd have gone through this year with a win it would have been disappointing to say the least," said Cook, who had five runner-up finishes this season. "People remember who your champions are and it's about winning out here."

Cook won the event by five strokes in 2009 at the Sonoma Golf Club and led each of the first two rounds this year before Allen's record-setting 10-under 61 on Saturday turned it into a two-man race.

It quickly turned into a survival test in the difficult conditions. All week, players have been allowed to lift, clean and place their golf ball because of issues on some fairways.

Cook was steady off the tee and made only one mistake when he bogeyed No. 5, a 429-yard par 4. It was only his second bogey of the tournament. The turning point came on the par-5 10th.

Allen, who had bogeys on Nos. 4 and 6, birdied No. 9, then sank a 30-foot putt for birdie on the next hole to get to 15 under and a temporary tie for first. Cook responded with his own birdie from 10 feet above the hole, hanging onto the lead and silencing the pro-Allen crowd.

"I pretty much matched Michael," Cook said. "When he kind of got something rolling, I matched. And then I hit some really quality shots down the stretch.

Cook added another birdie on No. 16, while Allen could do no better than par. Allen made par saves out of the sand on Nos. 11 and 17 and had a chance at forcing a playoff on the final hole before Cook's clinching putt.

Langer made a brief run with a birdie on No. 9 to get to 12 under, but parred out the rest of the way. A five-time winner on tour this season, the German star is all but certain to win his third consecutive Jack Nicklaus Trophy as the tour's player of the year.

Additionally, Langer won the Arnold Palmer Award as the Tour's leading money-winner and is the third player to lead the money list three times. Don January (1980, '83, '84) and Hale Irwin (1997, '98, 2002) are the others.

"I came out here three years ago trying to be one of the dominant players," Langer said. "I had no clue that this was going to happen."

Garcia is back and rested, hopes golf is in better place

Having played so little golf of late that he can't say how he will fare this week, Sergio Garcia is quick to admit he's more worried about his own game than anyone else's. Yet like all whose immediate focus is the Australian Masters, he knows the landscape at large has changed.

''Maybe not as much,'' Garcia said yesterday, when asked if defending champion Tiger Woods was as fearsome a foe as he was a year ago, when No. 1 ranking and reputation were both intact.

Perhaps pointedly, Garcia dodged an invitation to anoint Woods as ''the man to beat'' this week, saying only ''he's one of them''.
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''I think you can never count out a guy like Tiger, one of the greatest players we've ever had in the game,'' Garcia said. ''He definitely will be a man to beat and to watch, and hopefully we'll be able to do it.

''Obviously he's gone through his fair share of problems. He's trying to get back into it. But at the moment I'm more worried about myself than I am about him.''

The Spaniard's first Australian visit in nine years comes on the back of a self-imposed break from the game, which was messing with his mind to such an extent that he imploded in a bunker during the US PGA Championships in August, hacking his club madly into the sand. Recalling the advice to stop digging when in a hole, he sought solace away from the fairways.

''It was something that I needed to do, mainly because I'd just been playing so much, not only as a professional but before as an amateur, too,'' the 30-year-old said. ''I just felt like I needed a little bit of recharging the batteries.''

He feels like the experience has been positive. ''I've definitely thought about a lot of things, learned a lot about myself,'' he said. ''I always enjoy life away from golf. I love life with golf, but I think one of the reasons why I love golf is because I have so many things going on in my life outside of golf, and those things help me get back to golf stronger. I feel fortunate in that way. I have really enjoyed those two months.''

The hiatus gave him a chance to concentrate on the fortunes of his Spanish third division soccer team Barriol, the club not just of the village where he lives, but of which he is chairman. A lifelong player and fan, Garcia was even able to slip himself into a playing role, coming on to a left wing as a late substitute in a couple of games.

He essayed his skills in a to-camera session with Archie Thompson on the MCG yesterday, leaving the Melbourne Victory striker so impressed that he wondered if Garcia might extend his stay and inject some life into the Victory's middling season.

''The tough years are always the ones you learn the most from, you take the positives out of them,'' Garcia said of frustrating days he hopes are behind him. ''I'm just looking forward to keep improving. I'm still young in golf age.''

Exactly what immediate benefit will be evident in his golf this week, Garcia was uncertain.

''But I did play very, very well in Valderrama [where he completed a top-10 finish nine days ago], I felt very comfortable with my game. I'm looking forward to keeping improving on that. As the week goes on we'll see how I feel. But I'm hoping and expecting to play nicely here.''

Can he ape Woods' 2009 effort and win the Masters? ''I'd say so, yes. If I play like I played [in Spain], why not? It's just a matter of getting everything together.

''That's the reason why I came here - I didn't come here to visit and go. My goal is to play well, to have a chance of winning. If I play up to my capabilities I know I can do it.''

Francesco Molinari out duels Lee Westwood @ the WGC-HSBC Champions in China

Francesco Molinari outlasted Lee Westwood in a spirited duel Sunday in the HSBC Champions for a one-shot victory to capture his first World Golf Championship and continue a memorable year for Italy.

Molinari closed with a 5-under 67 at Sheshan International for his first win this season, and only the second of his career. He spoiled the debut of Westwood as the world's No. 1 player, although the Englishman put up a fight worthy of his ranking.

Two shots behind on the par-5 18th, Westwood hit a powerful drive that left him only an iron into the green. He had a 25-foot eagle putt to force a playoff, but the ball stayed left of the hole the entire way, and Westwood had to settle for a 68.

It was only his second stroke-play tournament in three months, and Westwood played the final 43 holes without a bogey.

Molinari finished at 19-under 269.

"It wasn't easy," the Italian said. "I'm just really proud of the way I played and the way I handled myself. Lee is No. 1 in the world, and he was playing some fantastic golf. It was a great finish at the end."

Tiger Woods closed with a 68 and tied for sixth, 13 shots behind. It was only his third top 10 of the year, and his best finish since a tie for fourth at the U.S. Open. For the first time in his career, Woods failed to win on the PGA TOUR, ending a streak of 14 consecutive years with a victory.

"That's just the way it goes," Woods said. "It's not like I didn't try. It just didn't happen this year. But I'm pleased with the progress I've made of late. Things are building and heading in the right direction, which is good."

Molinari had not won since the Italian Open four years ago. He became the third Italian to win on the European Tour this year, joining brother Edoardo Molinari and Matteo Manassero. No doubt, the other wins inspired him.

"It makes me work a little harder," Molinari said. "Because I wanted to contribute to this golden moment of Italian golf."

Molinari, who earned $1.2 million, moved to No. 14 in the world ranking, three spots ahead of his brother.

Molinari built a two-shot cushion with a birdie on the second, and Westwood twice made clutch putts on the front nine after Molinari had already made birdie. When they reached the back nine, they were well clear of the rest of the pack.

Richie Ramsay of Scotland closed with a 71 and tied for third with Luke Donald, who faltered to a 73. For Ramsay, it was enough to secure a spot in the Race to Dubai finale at the end of the month.

Rory McIlroy had a 67 for a European sweep of the top five spots.

Molinari only had to tap in for par on the final hole for his 67 -- it was the third time this week he had the low round of the day -- and walked off the course as fireworks lit up the hazy sky over Sheshan International. The tournament was delayed 1 hour, 15 minutes at the start of the final round because of fog.

Westwood found little to complain about. He had a few bad breaks down the stretch, made big putts and whipped everyone in this field except for one player.

"I mean, 18-under par and nine shots clear of third is never too bad," he said. "Just needed the breaks to win and it didn't happen."

The final round turned on the 16th.

Westwood's tee shot on the 288-yard hole was just left of the green, with a pot bunker between him and the front flag. Molinari drove into the left rough, but hit a wedge to about 4 feet. Westwood had to play a delicate flop shot, and he caught it heavy. It didn't clear the bunker, staying in the thick collar of grass, and he had to settle for par.

Molinari made his putt to go two shots up with two holes to play, and it looked as if he was a lock when Westwood pulled his tee shot on the par-3 17th into a bunker, then blasted out 15 feet by the hole. But as he had done all day, Westwood made yet another big putt to save par, then gave himself a chance on the 18th.

His runner-up finish gives Westwood a larger cushion in the battle for No. 1, although he's still not safe.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson, who shot 73 and tied for 41st, and PGA champion Martin Kaymer, who shot 71 and tied for 30th, are playing next week in the Singapore Open. Woods remains at No. 2 and heads Down Under to defend at the Australian Masters.

"It wasn't really about the rankings," Westwood said. "It was about trying to win this week. The rankings come as a consequence of playing well, and I'm playing well. I know I am. Today is just very typical of how I've played for the last two years."

Westwood stays 1 back in China

SHANGHAI – Lee Westwood figured a 5-wood would be enough to carry the water on the par-5 18th and set up an easy birdie for a share of the lead Friday at the HSBC Champions.

Only when he got to the green did he realize the hole was closer to the edge of a slope than usual, and that his position some 15 yards left of the pin made it nearly impossible to keep it on the green. He had to settle for par, leaving him one shot behind Francesco Molinari.

“That’s why you shouldn’t play golf by memory,” he said after a 2-under 70.

That was only one shot on one hole.

As for the rest of the game, Westwood has total recall. It does not look as though the Englishman is playing in only his second tournament since the first week of August. He was on a roll this year, and the only difference now is the No. 1 ranking next to his name.

In his first tournament since replacing Tiger Woods atop the world ranking, Westwood didn’t know what to expect from his game in the final World Golf Championship of the year.

“Everything is pretty competitive in my game,” Westwood said. “It’s a good performance the first two rounds to come back. I’m pleasantly surprised with how well I’ve played.”

Equally happy was Molinari, whose game is built more on precision than power. Sheshan International measures 7,266 yards, which is a little on the long side for the Italian. But he opened up a four-shot lead with three early birdies, then held it together the rest of the round for a 70 and heads into the weekend at 9-under 135.

“To be better for my characteristics, the course will be probably a bit shorter and with thicker rough,” Molinari said. “So in theory, it should be the best course for me. But as I said, it’s a golf course that you can play many different ways.”

Ernie Els played it like he had nothing to lose, firing at flags on a day when a slightly stronger breeze made scoring slightly harder. Not for the Big Easy, who made eight birdies in a round of 65 and was only two shots behind, along with Richie Ramsay of Scotland and Jaco Van Zyl of South Africa, who had a 29 on his back nine.

Tiger Woods was still in the mix, just not as close to the lead as he would like. Woods hit into the water on the par-5 second, recovered with a pair of birdies, then dropped three shots in a four-hole stretch around the turn. All the putts inside 10 feet that he made in the opening round stayed out on Friday.

Frustration set in late in the round, especially with his final tee shot that he hooked into the rough. Woods let the driver fall from his hands, then he kicked the club about five yards in front of the tee box.

He shot 72, and was five shots out of the lead in the only World Golf Championship he has not won.

“Struggled a little bit,” he said later. “Didn’t hit it very good and had a couple of three-putts there, and had five lip-outs. So my score could have been worse, but it also could have been a lot better.”

Defending champion Phil Mickelson, who played with Westwood, shot a 71 and joined Woods at 4-under 140. PGA champion Martin Kaymer had a 69 and was another shot behind.

The top four players in the world were all in the top 20 heading into the weekend, adding to the anticipation of the first skirmish for the No. 1 ranking. Any of them can get there by winning.

With all the attention on the “Big Four” in Shanghai, Molinari keeps plodding along.

“I think it’s really exciting for everyone watching that one of the four guys could be No. 1 in the world at the end of the week,” Molinari said. “But for us, it doesn’t really make a difference. We play together with them, against them, pretty much week in and week out. So I think everyone is really just focusing on improving his ranking rather than seeing who is going to be on top.”

Luke Donald, who keeps steadily moving up the rankings despite only one victory in Europe this year, shot 70 and was at 6-under 138. Woods and Mickelson had plenty of company at 140, including Padraig Harrington, Ian Poulter, newlywed Nick Watney and Robert Allenby.

The strongest move came from Els, who got a small measure of redemption on the final hole.

A year ago, Els had a chance to shoot 61 in the final round and win the tournament. He had a downhill lie in the 18th fairway and tried to cut a 5-wood into the green, only to catch it fat and watch it go into the water. He made bogey and finished one shot behind.

With an identical shot this year, Els went with a 4-iron. It barely cleared the water, ran through the back of the green and he hit a delicate putt down the slope to 3 feet for a birdie.

“Just after I hit that shot last year, I said, ‘I should have gone with a 4-iron instead of trying to cut a 5-wood.’ That was probably the shot I should have played last year,” Els said. “I would have shot 61 and I would have won the tournament. Yeah, I did think about it.”

Els also made another putter switch, using the one he tried for two rounds last week in Malaysia. He said it helped playing with Woods because of how the former No. 1 looks so comfortable over putts.

Maybe so, but Woods didn’t look terribly comfortable after so many putts failed to drop.