LPGA. Kraft Nabisco Championship. Inbee In Charge

Inbee Park is in charge of the Kraft Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills in California, scorching round the Dinah Shore Tournament Course in -5 under par 67. She now leads the Championship by 3 strokes, with her total of -12 under par, at the conclusion of the third round.

Inbee Park / LPGA Tour

After her marvelous round Inbee was asked if she felt she needed to win another Major to validate her position in Women’s golf;

” Of course, I only have won one major in my seven-year career, and after the U.S. Open, I haven’t won for a while. I had a good year last year, but I definitely need to show a little more good play and maybe a couple more majors would be nice. I mean, this kind of golf course, anything can happen. So no, I can’t really say that only one player is trying to catch me. I think everybody within maybe six, seven shots of the lead is still in the mix. My putter was really good today, but I don’t think I’m the best putter on the earth. There’s a lot of good putters out here, but I think I’m one of them.”

Trying to chase down Inbee is Lizette Salas, a -3 under par 69 round today to give her a total of -9 under par. Lizette does not think it is all done and dusted;

” No, not in my professional career, maybe in college I came back to win a golf tournament, and so this is all a learning experience for me, and I’m just trying to have fun with it.  You know, if I just keep it simple and just stick to my game plan and just really believe that I can pull it off and I have so many people around me that believe in it, I just have to believe it myself, so we’ll just see. I just say keep cheering me on, and that’s what keeps the adrenaline going and keeps the momentum up for me.  You know, I feed off the crowd, and to have my fans out here, my family here, it just helps me stay calm.  I said yesterday other players would feel more pressure if they had more fans out.  To me that’s the opposite.  I welcome more cheers.  I heard lots of “fight ons” today and lots of lilies, and that’s very heartwarming.  I’m playing in my backyard, so I can’t ask for anything more than that. I can’t sleep very well when I’m in a position like I am today.  I just tend to think of a lot of what‑ifs, so tonight I’m just going to tell my mind to shut up and to let me sleep.”

There are six ladies jockeying for the minor placings behind Inbee and Lizette, but as they are way back on -6 under par, one of them would need to shoot a magical round to even come close. I think Inbee has her destiny in under control.

 

 

LPGA. Kraft Nabisco Championship. Inbee Park Leads

Inbee Park / Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

 

Inbee Park had a second round of -5 under par 67 which propelled her into the lead at -7 under par in the Kraft Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills in California.

After her second round Inbee Tweeted;

“I just like to stay a little quiet and just do my own thing. If I win a little more I think I’ll get more attention.”

She has never been a feature on the week-end at this tournament, so this is new territory for her;

” I never had a good two days, this is something new on this golf course for me, and I don’t know. It’s good. I think it’s good to be ahead because you’re in better position than anybody else. Obviously putted really good out there, especially on the back nine. The wind picked up, so it was tough on the back nine.”

The lead is just one shot as American Lizette Salas kept in touch with a second round -2 under par for her total of -6 under par for the tournament. Lizette said she not a long hitter, so makes up for it with good wedges;

” I’m comfortable in my short game and I’m not a long hitter, so I have to make it up some way. I’ve been working hard and dialing in with my wedge because that’s your go-to club. I try to make it easy as I can, I started off with a birdie and then had my first three-putt, my only bogey of the day. That made me a little frustrated, missed a couple of birdie putts on the front, but turned it around on the back and started rolling them in.”

Caroline Hedwall, one of Europe’s finest young stars, is tied for third place with Giulia Sergas. Caroline, a five-time winner on the LET,  but has yet to do anything noteworthy in a Major.

Lydia Ko, the 15-year-old Kiwi World Amateur number one,  who already has three professional titles to her name, shot  a second round 74 and is +2 over par for the tournament.

 

 

World Ladies Championship. Mission Hills. Suzann Petterson Wins

Suzann Petterson of Norway won the World Ladies Championship at Mission Hills, China.

Suzann Petterson / LET

 

Suzann fired a last round of -6 under par 66, to claim the title at Mission Hills, Sandbelt Trails Course with a tournament total of -18 under par. That magnificent last round was good enough to claim the title, which had seemed destined to go to Inbee Park.

A happy Suzann felt that she could have gone lower;

” I felt like there was a 64 out there today and I got off to a good start. My goal was to get it to 20 under par. I said if I get beat at 20, I can live with it. I know Inbee is in there and if she just gets one look at a putt, it’s in, so I had to bring my best and the putter was hot today. I’m very happy with how the game is and I’m just very happy to see the work that the China Golf Association does with the kids and how they grow the game. I’ve been really enjoying myself here and I feel comfortable. I like coming back and playing on the European Tour.”

Inbee could only post a last round score of -3 under par 69, and she lost out by just one shot, finishing on -17 under par. The fireworks started on the second hole with a two shot swing.  Inbee had a bogey while Suzann sunk her birdie putt, the two were now level. The pair of them battled it out between them, but Suzann eventually won through. These two players were well clear of the rest of the field. Inbee said she really wanted to win the singles;

 “ I don’t really worry about the team competition because we had a big lead for the last three days. I think we are pretty comfortable for the team event. So I just focus on the game as an individual today because I wanted to win this tournament. I didn’t play great today but Suzann played great so she did it. I am happy that we won as a team. It was a great experience.”

Third place went to Shan Shan Feng, the defending champion from last year, she completed the tournament at -11 under par.

Inbee had to settle for the Team win, with her partner Ha-Neul Kim, the South Korean pair won by five shots from the Norwegian team of Suzann Petterson and Marianne Skarpnord.

Inbee Park and Ha-Neul Kim with the Team Trophy / LET

 

Thailand, represented by Ariya Jutanugarn and Nontaya Srisawang were third, they were  followed by England in fourth place with the pairing of Trish Johnson and Laura Davies.

Leading amateur was Simin Feng of China, with a tournament score of +3 over par.

Simin Feng / LET

World Ladies Championship, Mission Hills, China. Inbee In Control

Inbee Park is in control of the World Ladies Championship at Mission Hills in China, sitting on top of the leaderboard at -14 under par for the tournament.

 

Inbee Park tee’s off, watched by Suzann Petterson & Carlota Ciganda / LET

Inbee had a third round of -3 under par 69, on the Sandbelt Trails Course to lead the World Ladies Championship by two strokes from Suzann Petterson of Norway.

Inbee admitted she had started the round badly, but was happy to recover;

” I had a really bad start today, I bogeyed two of the first four holes but I’m happy with the way I finished today with five birdies after the two bogies. That’s very good momentum going into tomorrow. I’m just a little bit disappointed with my ball striking; it wasn’t as good as yesterday but my putting was getting much better. The golf course is playing a bit firmer today, I think because it was in the afternoon and was a bit drier so it was a little bit different condition for putting and I think that worked out a little bit better for me.”

Suzann climbed up the leaderboard with a third round of  -5 under par 67, to be two shots off the lead at -12 under par. Suzann said she is playing good golf and is excited about the last round;

” I played decent golf today but a bit disappointing not finishing stronger on the last hole. I have a lot of faith in my game, I’m playing good golf and excited that I have one more round.”

Soo Jin Yang of South Korea is in third place after her steady third round of -4 under par 68. Carlota Ciganda was in contention for most of the day, but suffered a triple bogey 7 on the 17th hole, which dropped her back to fourth place at -8 under par, now six shots off the lead.

In the Team event the  South Korean pair of Inbee Park and Ha-Neul Kim lead the competition by ten shots over Norway, represented by Suzann Petterson and Marianne Skarpnord.

World Ladies Championship. Mission Hills, Round 2, Inbee Park Leads By One

Inbee Park leads the World Ladies Championship at Mission Hills, China, by just one shot, even though she fired in a  blistering second round of  -7 under par 65. But she has a challenge on her hands as Carlota Ciganda of Spain broke the World Championship record in the second round, recording a -9 under par 63.

Inbee Park / LET

Inbee’s round has secured her the top spot on the leaderboard at -11 under par. Playing in the early warm and humid conditions, after there had been a delay of one hour and fifty minutes due to fog,  Inbee started her round with two birdies in the first three holes, shooting 32 on the outward nine and 33 on the way in. South Korea leads both the Team and Individual Competitions,  largely due to Inbee’s amazing 36-hole total of -11 under par.

 Carlota Ciganda / LET

Carlota went out in 32 strokes and then played the back nine in 31, for a tournament total of -10 under par. The players with later tee times had faced the possibility of a stronger breeze in the afternoon, making the playing conditions much tougher on the Sandbelt Trails Course, but it did not affect Carlota’s performance. A smiling Carlota, who is no stranger to China, she  has won a Ladies European Tour victory at the Suzhou Taihu Open in China in October, before going on to win the tour’s Rolex Rookie of the Year award and ISPS Handa Order of Merit, said she felt at home in China;

” I feel very comfortable. I like the way they treat us and the course is very nice so I feel very calm, very relaxed. It’s one of my favourite places because I played well last year and it seems like I’m playing well this year so hopefully I can play good over the weekend and be at the top. I’m going to focus on my game and enjoy this beautiful golf course; enjoy China! “

The team event, where each country is represented by two players, the result will be determined by the lowest aggregate score of both players. If one player misses the cut in the individual event, she must play the remaining two rounds to be eligible for the team prize fund.  In all there are 19 teams representing 18 different countries, with two teams from China. The stage has been set for an exciting weekend at Mission Hills.

 

 

 

World Ladies Championship.Three Tied at The Top

Gwladys Nocera, Linda Wessberg and Sophie Walker / LET

The World Ladies Championship at Mission Hills in China has three European players tied at the top of the leaderboard after the opening round. They are Gwladys Nocera, Linda Wessberg and Sophie Walker, who all posted bogey free first rounds of -5 under par 67 on the par 72  Sandbelt Trails Course.

Gwladys picked up three shots on her last two holes and was very happy with her performance;

” There are days when you finish with a bad hole the frustration gets to you but of course when you finish like that it is even better. I missed a couple of short putts on the front nine for birdies but I made some good ones to get some pars and then I finished with a good birdie on the 17th and a long putt, like a 15 meter putt on 18, to make it an eagle. I am pretty happy with the way I am hitting the ball, so it’s good.”

Sophie thought the greens were very difficult and was happy not to three putt today;

” The greens are very difficult and we don’t normally have greens like this in Europe, so they take a bit of getting used to. They are very undulating so that’s why it’s key not to have a three-putt. Today’s round was pretty impressive. If I can do that again then I’m sure I’ll be close but I’ll take every round as it comes and try and eliminate the mistakes.”

Linda said she had putted very well, and that made for an easy day;

” I was actually putting myself in very good positions off the tee, so it was pretty handy to attack the pins. I hit some really good shots that I didn’t really get rewarded for because I pitched it too close to the pin. I also putted really well, so it was a pretty easy day.”

There are five players tied for fourth in this compacted leaderboard, with scores of -4 under par; Valentine Derry, Rungthiwa Pangjan, Bo-Mi Suh, Hyo-Joo Kim and Inbee Park.

Inbee Park, the recent Honda LPGA Thailand Champion went out in three under par, with two birdies and then an eagle on the eighth hole, but played the  back nine in level par, with a bogey on her card;

” I hit the ball very good today which I was very happy with. I knew that the greens were going to be tricky this week and I had a tough time putting today but hopefully better days in the next three days. I’m just getting used the greens a little bit more and I’ll be fine. I knew after the practice round that the putting was going to be the toughest challenge this week. Obviously today I hit a lot of putts that were looking like they were going to go in but it just breaks a lot with the green. So I just learned that I have to play a little bit more break.”

Running concurrently with this singles event is a  72-hole stroke-play team competition, with the Korean pairing of Inbee Park and Ha Neul Kim  in the lead, with a combined aggregate score of 137, seven under par. They are followed by French pair Gwladys Nocera and Anne-Lise Caudal who are two strokes back and then the English duo of Laura Davies and Trish Johnson in third place on 140.

Euro Tour WGC-HSBC Champions, China. Incredible Ian Poulter Wins

Ian Poulter/getty images

The incredible performances of Ian Poulter continue to impress everyone, as he pulled off another wonderful win at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Mission Hills, China, with a grittty -7 under par 65 last round to win in style. It was in the same fashion as his amazing Ryder Cup performance for Team Europe last month where he won all four of his matches, Ian’s putter display was as equally destructive at Mission Hills as he carded eight birdies before dropping a shot at the penultimate hole to finish with a score of -21 under par for the tournament. This victory is Ian’s 12th European Tour title and his second success in a WGC event,  he won the Accenture Match Play Championship in 2010. Ian spoke about his amazing run of recent form;

“ It’s been an amazing five or six weeks with The Ryder Cup, and then coming here in good spirits, I played well last week and took a lot from that. I knew that if I stayed patient I’d be right there at the end. It was a special day, I knew there was a good round of golf in me out there on that golf course. As we saw yesterday, if you start going low and get a number on the board then you’re going to be hard to beat. I feel confident with the putter right now. It’s so nice to get my hands on another trophy and get back in the winner’s circle. I feel fantastic, I feel great. After looking at the board after two days, Louis being five shots clear , if he carried on that way, he was going to run away. But it was nice to put up two scores over the weekend, -14 under for Saturday and Sunday is a decent finish, and nice to get another victory in a year where there one was sorely needed. As well as I’ve played this year, it would have been a disappointment personally to have gone that year without winning, and for me and for how I played this year, it’s obviously a great and fantastic feeling especially after The Ryder Cup to get my hands back on a great trophy like this. I definitely think it is a part continuation of The Ryder Cup. I played great and I felt like I holed putts at the right time, which I did. After two days, I felt I was probably too far back with the way Louis was playing, but as you saw anything is possible on this golf course once you get the putter warm. I’ve already spent the cheque last week. I’m not going to tell you what it is until it arrives and I’ve got it home safe and sound, but yes, it was a vehicle, and yes, it was very expensive. I’ll let you all know what it is when it arrives. Some things don’t change!”

Phil Mickelson shot -4 under par 68 last round which left him with a share of second place with compatriots Jason Dufner and Scott Piercy, as well as Open Champion Ernie Els. Phil missed a makeable birdie putt on the 18th, which would have given him second spot alone. For a good part of the day it appeared that Lee Westwood was going to break his WGC duck at the 41st attempt, but sadly his short game let him down on the 15th and a bogey there saw him sign for a par round of 72, the same as Louis Oosthuizen, as the overnight leaders tied for sixth. Martin Kaymer ran up a triple bogey six at the par three 17th after finding the greenside bunker, and followed that mistake with a poor bunker shot, and he eventually finished ninth behind first round joint-leader Adam Scott.

Congratulations to Ian Poulter, I can not wait to see what car he has bought, on offer last week were Ferrari, Maserati and Rolls Royce, my guess would be Maserati, I think that fits Ian’s style.

Euro Tour WGC-HSBC Champions, China. Wonderful Westwood shoots 61

Lee Westwood/ getty images

England’s Lee Westwood caught Louis Oosthuizen at the top of the leaderboard after his wonderful third round of  -11 under par, 61, at Mission Hills in China, at the WGC-HSBC Champions. Both players are now at -18 under par for the tournament as Louis had a more modest third round of -2 under par to record his -18 under par total. Amazingly Lee Westwood has played in 41 WGC events, more than any other player, but he still has yet to record a win. A fact that is not lost on the 39 year-old Lee, who has been runner three times, the Worlds fourth ranked player said;

“ It does surprise me I’ve played more than anyone else, I didn’t realize I was that old! I know I’ve played a lot but I’ve never won one. As the week’s gone on, and we’ve played it and walked it more, I started to sort of get a feel for the golf course more and sort of see the lower scores around it. I played very solidly, got off to a nice start, birdied the first three holes and kept ticking over, birdieing the odd hole and finished strongly. I hit it good, hit it in the fairway, hit it close, and made a couple of 20 footers which has been missing.” 

Louis had standing still day, which has brought everybody else back into contention. By contrast to his round Brandt Snedeker matched The European Tour’s lowest round with a -12 under par, 60 , Brandt also had a putt for a first-ever 59 on the final green. Louis, the former Open Champion managed only four birdies and two bogeys in his -2 under par 70,  he spoke of his frustration today;

” Early I didn’t play really well and then started to find a little bit of form on the back nine, but just didn’t make any putts. Knowing all the birdies that were out there, you look at the leaderboard, but I’m still in a good position for going into tomorrow. I still gave myself birdie opportunities, just normal ones and the ones I hit really close I just didn’t make. So the putter went cold on me today, but I still hit good putts which is very frustrating.”

The two-time WGC winner Phil Mickelson shot a -6 under par 66 to be in third place alone on -15 under par, his compatriot Bill Haas, Ernie Els and Ian  Poulter are a shot further back on -14 under. American Brandt Snedeker leapt 31 places on the leaderboard, to be at – 13 under par, after his record round. Tomorrow is going to be an exciting event, could someone shoot a 59 to win this event, I think the possibility certainly exists.

 

Euro Tour, WGC-HSBC Champions in China. Awesome Oosthuizen shoots 63

Louis Oosthuizen/ getty images

Louis Oosthuizen shot an amazing second round of -9 under par 63 at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Mission Hills, China, taking him to -16 under par for the tournament and five shots clear of the field.

Louis won the 2010 Open Championship from five shots clear after two rounds on the Old Course at St Andrews, and now a course record 63 in the second round here at Mission Hills saw the South African establish another commanding halfway lead. Louis thinks this contest is far from over though;

” Scoreboard-wise, it’s probably the same as St Andrews. Looking at the leaderboard, there’s so many great players up there. Like I said, it’s far from over. It was probably the same at The Open. With this tournament I’m in a great position to win it, but it’s not even crossed my mind at the moment. There’s still a lot of golf to be played, and I need to put myself in a great position going down the back nine on Sunday. I played the par fives really well, and I think I was six under on them today, “I played the par fives really well, and I think I was six under on them today, the rest was down to putting really well. I gave myself a lot of opportunities for birdie, and hitting fairways, hitting greens, and if you make the putts, you shoot a low number. The par fives, I think I can reach all of them, which makes it easy, if you’re hitting it well just get yourself around the green. I really didn’t make a lot of eagle putts, I just was really close to the green, which led to getting up-and-down and I hit really good chips on a few today for some tap ins for birdie. You get those days where if you hit it well, you leave yourself in a decent spot for a chip-and-putt for a birdie on the par fives.”

There are two players tied in second spot, five shots off the pace, they are Adam Scott, a first round leader, and Ernie Els, a countryman of Louis. Ernie matched Louis on the day with his -9 under par round, and said he was just happy to be able to play golf this week after a tennis related injury last week that forced him out of the PGA Grand Slam in Bermuda. In a strange twist to that tale, his replacement in that tournament was Padraig Harrington, who actually won the title. Ernie thought his 63 today was a bonus;

“I obviously had a good start and all of that, but I wish I can always play like that. I’m just glad to be here, after going down on the tennis court two weeks ago, to stand here and shoot 63 is quite a bonus.”

In joint fourth spot are Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who is bidding for a second win in three starts and a place in the Official World Golf Ranking’s top 50 for the first time, and American Ryder Cup player Jason Dufner, but they are six strokes behind. Shane said he was happy with his days play;

” I didn’t birdie two easy par fives and made a bad bogey on the sixth, but other than that I played lovely all day and gave myself a lot of chances. What’s not to enjoy? I’m playing a World Golf Championship and I’m up there in the top five going into the weekend.”

The way Mission Hills is playing, calm and easy, I don’t see anyone else catching up to these players over the weekend, the tournament is definitely Louis Oosthuizen’s to lose.

 

Euro Tour, WGC-HSBC Champions, China. It’s Oosthuizen and Scott

Louis Oosthuizen/Getty Images

Louis Oosthuizen and Adam Scott lead the World Golf Championship, HSBC Champions event at Mission Hills, China, with opening rounds of -7  under par, 65, in the calm and excellent low scoring conditions. Both players finished with Eagles on their last hole, the par 5 ninth.

Louis said he did not think that there was a low score to be had;

“I don’t think I saw a really low number out there but once you look at the leaderboard and see the guys are firing it up, all of a sudden you started seeing birdies. I played well, I made five birdies on the par fives, and that got the round going, and then I made two more birdies. I hit a few bad iron shots, but made good up and downs for pars and just glad to have a bogey-free round. I’m always happy with that. There are three rounds left and a lot of golf to be played. The main key is to try to put myself in a spot to win it on Sunday. If I can keep doing what I’m doing on the par fives and hitting fairways, you’ve got a good chance.” 

Adam Scott, he of the long putter, which could be banned shortly, is seeking a win before the ban arrives. Adam, the eight-time European Tour winner said he was having a solid day, that turned into a good day;

“ It was a solid day that all of a sudden turned into a really good day. I hit a lot of good shots, and they ended up finishing close on the last couple holes and I took advantage of that. With five par fives, it sets up well for my game, and the plan is to just take advantage of the fives and hopefully hang in there with the leaders all week.”

Phil Mickleson, who also managed to eagled the ninth, says his game feels really good. Phil joined the group at -6 under par, with his round of 66;

 ”My game feels really good, It’s gotten better each week since the PGA Championship and hopefully I can carry on. I certainly feel confident that I will be able to.”

Bubba Watson, Peter Hanson and Shane Lowry are the other players who completed their opening  rounds in 66. It certainly looked like Shane was going to be the clubhouse leader after he bounded into a clear lead when he holed a six footer for birdie at the 15th and gained another shot from ten feet at the 16th. Unfortunately Shane failed to save par from the green-side bunker on seventeen, and then also hit it into the sand on the last, finishing with two bogeys for his 66.

Shane said he was disappointed to finish like that, but he was happy with his position;

“ I’m happy with six under and I’m in a good position with three days to go. Obviously was very disappointed bogeying the last two, I felt like I had the ball on a string all day and felt like it came very easy to me today.  Just to bogey those last two was disappointing but six under is a good score out there, and I’m looking forward to the next few days.”

Luke Donald has made a good start to this tournament, a -4 under par 68, a good solid start, Luke has a good record in the WGC, and could figure in this one.