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Player glad to have Big Easy back to lead the Internationals
MONTREAL: Six players from each Presidents Cup team took turns sitting behind a long table during two days of press conferences at Royal Montreal, and it was no coincidence that the centre seat belonged to the top players.
And it was no surprise to see Ernie Els front and centre.
No one has played in more Presidents Cup matches for the International team than Vijay Singh, but it's the Big Easy who is considered the spiritual leader of this team. And they were glad to have him back.
揑t was a big disappointment for me last time not to have Ernie,'' captain Gary Player said. 揑t was a very, very important thing to have Ernie, and we lost by one hole. And that's when you really realised how important it would have been to have Ernie. So we are pleased to have him back this year, and let's hope he plays well.''
Els missed the 2005 matches while recovering from surgery after tearing ligaments in his left knee while tubing in the Mediterranean on a family holiday. The United States won in the final match and Player always wondered how much it would have helped to have the three-time major champion on his side.
揙bviously, this is a big deal,'' Els said. 揧ou want to get in a team like this. It puts you with world-class players like we have.''
His last Presidents Cup was in South Africa in 2003, and Els took two rookies under his wing with alarming success. He and Tim Clark won both their matches, and Els and Adam Scott went 2-0. The only thing that kept it from being a perfect week was losing to Tiger Woods in the Sunday singles, although their sudden-death playoff for the cup ended in a tie at dark.
Els has not won anywhere in the world in 2007, although he comes into these matches with momentum on his side. He was in contention on the back nine of the British Open and US PGA Championship, had a chance at The Barclays, then settled into mediocrity at the US Tour Championship.
Even so, he appears fully recovered from his knee injury, enough that US captain Jack Nicklaus made fun of him.
揑'm taking Ernie tubing,'' Nicklaus said.
Once the laughter subsided, Player replied, 揟iger is joining him. |
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Birdie woes for last year抯 winners Mardan, Chih Bing
PETALING JAYA: Singaporeans Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing did not have the best of starts in the Fortis International Challenge yesterday.
The winners of the last two World Cup qualifying tournaments in Malaysia failed to convert several birdie opportunities and ended with a six-under 66 for joint sixth spot.
A disappointed Mardan, who is nursing a back injury picked up in the British Masters last week, said: 揥e should have done better. We missed a few putts after hitting some shots close to the pin. I missed two good birdie chances on 16th and 17th.
揃ut there are still three days more to go and we抣l just have to stay focused on what we have to do. |
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Airil and Steel slip to seventh spot after second round
By LIM TEIK HUAT
PETALING JAYA: Thai golfing stars Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng maintained their grip at the top spot with a two-under 70 for a one stroke lead as Malaysia's Airil Rizman Zahari-Iain Steel struggled after the second round in the Fortis International Challenge at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club yesterday.
The field switched to the more challenging foursomes (alternate shot) format yesterday and it was not Malaysia's day.
 | Swinging time: Thailand抯 Thongchai Jaidee in action during the second round of the Fortis International Challenge at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club yesterday
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Airil and Steel, the overnight joint leaders with the Thais, had problems keeping the ball on the greens and only managed a three-over 75 to slip to joint seventh spot yesterday in the World Cup qualifying event.
Singapore抯 Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing, who had won the last two qualifiers, also had a miserable day when they ended ninth on a two-day total of 138.
The Malaysian pairing produced a poor back nine of 40 and will start the third round today five shots off the pace.
Only the top five teams will qualify for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup to be held in Shenzhen, China in November and the Malaysians will have to bounce back with stronger performances in the four-balls (better ball) format today.
After Thursday's fiery opening round of 11-under 61, Steel was down in the dumps and felt he did not give a good account of himself.
揑 could not find the fairway and I was struggling with my driver today. This put Airil in several bad positions when we couldn抰 attack the greens, let alone the pins.
揑t was just a bad day on my behalf, |
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Americans in charge at Presidents Cup
MONTREAL: Steve Stricker and rookie Hunter Mahan led the way as Presidents Cup holders the United States dominated Thursday's opening foursomes to lead the Internationals by 5-1/2 points to a half.
Although four of the six matches went to the 18th hole, the Americans dashed their opponents' hopes with a series of clutch putts and came close to producing the third clean sweep after the first session in the biennial team competition.
 | Happy time: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson (left) and Jim Furyk (back centre) of the US team laugh with assistant captain Jeff Sluman (centre) and captain Jack Nicklaus (second from right) after the end of the first round foursome matches at the Presidents Cup on Thursday.
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The US surged into a 5-0 lead after the opening fourballs in 1994 and went 5-0 up in 2000 after the opening foursomes.
Bidding for their fifth victory in the Cup's seventh edition, the Americans lit up an overcast Royal Montreal Golf Club with a shining display of golf and sportsmanship.
揙ur guys were sensational and they played well down the stretch, |
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It抯 all square as Britain, Ireland battle back in Seve Trophy
KILLENARD (Ireland): Britain and Ireland battled back yesterday to square the Seve Trophy matches with Europe at five points apiece.
Trailing 3-2 after the opening day fourballs, Nick Faldo's home team reversed that result in the second round of fourballs.
Scotland's Marc Warren and former Britain and Ireland captain Colin Montgomerie lost heavily, however, going down 5 and 3 to Frenchmen Raphael Jacquelin and Gregory Havret. The previous day the pair had been overwhelmed by Swedes Robert Karlsson and Peter Hanson.
Havret was on fire on the back nine with a run of five birdies in six holes to close down the match.
Warren began the day nursing an injury he had suffered in a bizarre accident the previous night.
The Scot shattered a light-shade in his hotel room while practising his golf swing and needed six stitches in his arms and abdomen.
Warren refused to blame his accident for the heavy defeat.
揚hysically I am 100 per cent fit, |
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Airil-Steel face uphill task in World Cup qualification
By LIM TEIK HUAT
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia抯 Airil Rizman Zahari and Iain Steel face an uphill task to finish in the top-five and qualify for the World Cup after the birdies dried up on the back nine of the Fortis International Challenge at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club yesterday.
The Malaysian duo enjoyed a solid front nine of 31 but failed to fire on the homeward journey. After five birdies on the front nine, they only managed one more on the 12th hole but dropped a shot on the 15th to end with a five-under 67 for the third round yesterday.
Malaysia抯 aggregate of 13-under 203 saw them finish eighth, five strokes behind fifth placed South Korean duo of Lee Sung and Lee Seung-ho.
Overnight leaders Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand were joined atop the leaderboard by Dutchmen Maarten Lafeber and Robert-Jan Derksen going into the final round today.
The Thai hotshots carded a bogey-free nine-under 63 in the third round played under fourball (better ball) format, thanks to a sparkling performance from Prayad who sank eight birdies.
 | The Dutch pair of Maarten Lafeber (left) and Robert-Jan Derksen shot an 11-under 61 to join Thailand atop the leaderboard Saturday.
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The Dutch side produced a stunning 11-under 61 yesterday, highlighted by an opening eagle by Lafeber, to tie for the lead on 22-under 194.
Myanmar抯 Soe Kyaw Naing and Zaw Moe matched the day抯 best of 61 for joint third place with Filipino duo Tony Lascuna and Gerald Rosales, who shot a 64 to lie three strokes off the lead.
Only the top five finishers today will secure tickets to the World Cup, which will be held in Shenzhen, China in November.
And the pressure will be on the Malaysian pair to produce a magical performance in the foursomes (alternate shot) format today to make the cut.
揂s a team, we didn't play well. It seemed like we had opportunities but we didn't take advantage on the back nine.
揥e were even struggling for the pars today. I don't know why. We can't put a finger on it. We both three putted the 15th for bogeys, it was just a struggle, |
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US sweep foursomes at Presidents Cup
MONTREAL: Tiger Woods bounced back from his worst match-play loss as a professional by leading a US foursomes sweep yesterday to give the Americans a 12-5 lead over the Internationals at the Presidents Cup.
Woods and Jim Furyk defeated South African Ernie Els and Australia's Adam Scott 4 and 3 in a morning alternate-stroke match one day after being routed 5 and 4 by Fiji's Vijay Singh and Aussie Stuart Appleby in a four-ball match.
It was only the fourth session sweep in Presidents Cup history, following US runs in 1994 four-balls and 2000 foursomes and a 2003 Internationals four-ball effort.
揥hat a whitewashing, |
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Britain-Ireland peg back Europe
KILLENARD (Ireland): Britain and Ireland came roaring back in the Seve Trophy foursomes on Saturday to leave the match with Continental Europe on a knife edge.
After trailing by three points following the morning greensomes, captain Nick Faldo's home side took the foursomes 3-1 to leave Europe with a 9 |
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Austin抯 double-drenching lifts team抯 spirit
MONTREAL: American Woody Austin twice ended up in water, first with his ball and then comically on his stomach, while playing the par-four 14th in Friday's foursomes matches at the Presidents Cup.
Although he and partner David Toms lost the hole to Internationals duo Rory Sabbatini and Trevor Immelman after his untimely drenching, he ended his round with three consecutive birdies to halve the match.
Playing in his first Presidents Cup at the age of 43, the ultra-competitive Austin has been an inspiration to his team-mates at Royal Montreal Golf Club.
揥hen Woody went under water, we were on the 16th tee, and that loosened us up, |
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Short putts
Coaching lapse
TREVOR Immelman was about to take his stance over a 20-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole when Ernie Els, watching from against the bleachers, asked assistant captain Ian Baker-Finch if he was allowed to help line up the putt.
揝ure,'' Baker-Finch replied.
Els then told him that everyone had been missing that putt on the low side, and that Baker-Finch should tell Immelman to play the ball a little more out to the right. Trouble was, Immelman was well into his routine.
揥hat if you're wrong?'' Stuart Appleby said to Els.
They sat back and watched Immelman complete his routine. The ball veered to the left. Els looked over and shot Baker-Finch another look.
Rally cry
STUART Appleby credited the International comeback Friday to a motivational speech assistant captain Ian Baker-Finch delivered on the bus ride back to the hotel the night before. Well, sort of.
揑t wasn't anything like Gen. Schwarzkopf,'' Appleby said. 揑 think we're going to get Retief (Goosen) to do the next one. His will be a lot shorter.''
What was said?
揟hat's a secret, |
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Reply #439 JustWant2Know's post
i'm still ere.. so sorry.. mula2 balik.. mcm2 hal...
wld after raya sounds good for u n others? |
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Near miss for our pair
By LIM TEIK HUAT
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's Airil Rizman Zahari and Iain Steel staged a strong comeback in the final round of the Fortis International Challenge at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club yesterday and came agonisingly close to winning a place in the World Cup.
They carded a six-under 66 for a total of 19-under 269 but fell short by just one stroke. Airil and Steel tied for sixth spot with Singaporeans Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing, who were the winners of the last two qualifying tournaments.
A top-five finish would have secured the Malaysian duo qualification for the Omega World Cup to be held in Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen in November and prize money of at least US$30,000 each.
 | Wrong read: Malaysia抯 AirilRizman Zahari reacts in disbelief after missing his birdie putt on the 18th green.
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But despite an impressive bogey-free round on the foursomes (alternate shot) format, Airil's and Steel's hopes of going into a playoff with Singapore were dashed after Filipinos Gerald Rosales and Tony Lascuna birdied the last hole for a total of 20-under 268 to claim the final ticket. The Filipino duo scored a one-under 71 final round.
Thai hotshots Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng put on a superb display of ball striking for an eight-under 64 final round score. Their impressive total of 30-under 258 won them the tournament, three shots ahead of Holland抯 Maarten Lafeber and Robert-Jan Derksen, who closed with a 67.
New Zealand抯 Richard Lee and Stephen Scahill claimed third place (266) and South Koreans Lee Sung and Lee Seung-ho were fourth (267).
Airil, who had hoped to end a six-year-drought for Malaysia in his maiden attempt to qualify for the World Cup, said: 揑'm so disappointed. We were five strokes behind the fifth-placed team (South Korea) after the third round on Saturday and we gave it our best.
揃ut this is what we can do at the moment. I missed a 15-footer on the 18th for birdie and it may have been different if it had gone in. It was supposed to move right and I hit it good but it just stayed left. |
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Tiger roars back to put US on verge of Presidents Cup title
MONTREAL: Tiger Woods and David Toms crushed Australians Nick O'Hern and Geoff Ogilvy 5 and 3 in Saturday's fourballs, capping a commanding display by the United States at the seventh Presidents Cup.
After completing a rare sweep of the morning foursomes, the Americans ended a sun-drenched day at Royal Montreal Golf Club leading the Internationals by 14 |
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Britain and Ireland retain Seve Trophy with singles rout
KILLENARD (Ireland): Britain and Ireland crushed Continental Europe 8-2 in the Seve Trophy singles yesterday to record their fourth successive victory in the event.
The home side, led by Ryder Cup skipper Nick Faldo, recovered from a three-point deficit after Saturday's greensomes and from being a point behind overnight to defeat their opponents, captained by Seve Ballesteros, 16 |
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Montgomerie抯 misery puts Faldo抯 men in trouble
KILLENARD (Ireland): Colin Montgomerie endured a torrid time in the Seve Trophy as Britain and Ireland ended the third day a point behind Continental Europe on Saturday.
Scotland's Montgomerie had lost just three of his last 22 Ryder Cup games going back 10 years, but he suffered his third defeat in three matches here.
From one up with nine holes to play, Montgomerie and Graeme Storm lost four holes in a row and went down 3 and 2 to Swede Robert Karlsson and Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.
At least Nick Faldo's Britain and Ireland, having fallen three points behind in the morning greensomes, staged enough of a recovery to go into the 10 concluding singles trailing just 9 |
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Consolation cheer: Weir抯 win over Tiger
MONTREAL: Mike Weir could not deliver a Presidents Cup but gave Canadian golf fans plenty to cheer on Sunday by winning a stirring battle with world number one Tiger Woods.
With the US needing just three wins from 12 singles matches to clinch the Cup, the final day lacked the usual suspense, leaving Woods and Weir to provide the drama.
Backed by a record Presidents Cup crowd of 35,000, Weir rode the support to a final-hole victory over Woods, providing the hosts with a memorable consolation prize.
揊or me, being from Canada, to have this kind of support, it's overwhelming, |
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Dismal foursomes record costs Internationals dear
MONTREAL: The Internationals, who outgunned the Americans in world ranking strength, were left to rue their dismal foursomes record after losing the Presidents Cup by 19 |
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Dismal foursomes record costs Internationals dear
MONTREAL: The Internationals, who outgunned the Americans in world ranking strength, were left to rue their dismal foursomes record after losing the Presidents Cup by 19 |
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Victory for the US
[table=364][tr][td] [/td][/tr][tr][td]All the Presidents |
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Criticisms fire Britain to win Seve Trophy
KILLENARD (Ireland): Nick Faldo's Britain and Ireland team won the Seve Trophy with a brilliant final-day that blew away Continental Europe here on Sunday.
Seve Ballesteros's Europeans led by a point overnight ahead of the 10 concluding singles, but Faldo's men lost just one tie and halved two others, winning the trophy 16 |
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Post time 28-9-2007 01:08 PM
