Tiger Woods no longer the star attraction, says Faldo

2011-09-29T04:00:09Z

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Tiger Woods will not be the star of the show when he joins the United States team for November's Presidents Cup, three-time Masters champion and former world number one

Breakthrough year sees majors swept by first-timers

2011-08-15T14:30:28Z

From Charl Schwartzel's four-birdie finish to win the Masters, Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke's emotional triumphs and Keegan Bradley's JOHNS CREEK, Georgia (Reuters) - Charl Schwartzel's return to Georgia for this week's PGA Championship suits ...

Tiger unsure of British Open, no return timetable

2011-06-28T18:30:41Z

Injured 14-time major champion Tiger Woods said Tuesday he remains uncertain if he will play at the British Open in two weeks and has no timetable for his recovery.

Woods, chasing the all-time record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, will not play at the $6.2 million US

British, Irish PMs hail McIlroy achievement

2011-06-20T10:30:22Z

British and Irish Prime Ministers David Cameron and Enda Kenny on Monday joined the tributes to Northern Ireland golfer Rory McIlroy, who won the US Open in sensational fashion at the weekend.

McIlroy's next target - dueling with Tiger

2011-06-19T21:00:09Z

BETHESDA, Maryland (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy has realized one of his dreams with a record-shattering romp to victory at the U.S. Open Sunday for his first ma...

Magnificent McIlroy lights up US Open

2011-06-16T21:30:15Z

Rory McIlroy put his Masters misery firmly behind him Thursday, firing a superb six-under 65 for a three-stroke lead in the first round of the 111st US Open at Congressional Country Club.

The previous round of major golf for the...

US stars try to avoid record major golf drought

2011-06-13T18:30:16Z

For only the second time in modern golf history, no American owns any of the four major titles.

And if no US player captures the 111th US Open that begins on Thursday at Congressional Country Club, the drought will be...

Ishikawa ready to be 'beaten up' at US Open

2011-06-07T06:30:24Z

Japanese teenage golf star Ryo Ishikawa says he is ready to be "beaten up" at next week's US Open as he struggles for form after missing the cut for two straight weeks on the domestic tour.

But Ishikawa, who has one year to fulfil his boyhood dream of winning the US Masters before turning 21, said Tuesday he would aim high at the...

Schwartzel set for Memorial with media whirlwind behind him

2011-06-01T13:00:07Z

DUBLIN, Ohio (Reuters) - Life has finally settled back into something approaching normal for Charl Schwartzel after the dizzying whirlwind of media attention he faced following his spectacular Masters victory in...

Seve Ballesteros mourned at US tour event

2011-05-07T18:30:30Z

Seve Ballesteros was recalled by US PGA players and officials for his style and flair as well as his golf skills on Saturday, hours after his death from respiratory failure at age 54.

"It was his creativity, his imagination, and his desire to compete that made him s...

Schwartzel's Masters breakthrough trumps Woods

2011-04-26T18:00:08Z

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Almost overlooked as Charl Schwartzel surged clear of a congested leaderboard to clinch this month's U.S. Masters with a sizzling finish was the fact that he eclipsed Tiger Woods...

Heritage draws strong field, despite date change

2011-04-20T17:30:19Z

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, South Carolina (Reuters) - Initial fears that a later date on the PGA Tour schedule would weaken the field for The Heritage this week have proved unfounded with seven of the world's top 20 set to take part.

Last year, the event attr...

Cink, Henry share Texas PGA lead

2011-04-14T20:30:21Z

Former British Open champion Stewart Cink and J.J. Henry shared the Texas Open lead, but it was Kevin Na who found himself in an unwelcome spotlight.

Na's 16 strokes at the par-4 ninth hole on Thursday gu...

McIlroy vows to learn from Masters disaster

2011-04-13T09:30:29Z

An upbeat Rory McIlroy said on Wednesday he was determined to learn from his heart-breaking US Masters final round when he threw away a commanding lead to finish well off the pace.

The 21-year-old Northern Irishman said he had time to reflect during the long trip from Augusta to Masters remained intact on Sunday after another Augusta National heartbreaker for co-runner-ups Adam Scott and Jason Day.

But Greg Norman<...

Schwartzel wins Masters with birdie blitz

2011-04-11T06:30:18Z

South African Charl Schwartzel birdied the last four holes at formidable Augusta National to win the 75th Masters by two strokes over Australians Adam Scott and Jason Day.

No Masters...

Schwartzel wins Masters to extend Aussie jinx

2011-04-10T21:30:05Z

South African Charl Schwartzel birdied the last four holes to win the 75th Masters on Sunday by two strokes over Australians Adam Scott and Jason Day in a dramatic back-nine showdown.

Schwartzel's third birdie in a row was a tension-packed eight-foot putt at the 17th hole that left him needing only to par the 18th to ...

Masters smiles on teen Matsuyama

2011-04-10T19:30:44Z

Japanese amateur Hideki Matsuyama completed a heroic week at the Masters on Sunday, doing honor to his country, which is still reeling from the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

The 19-year-old freshman at Sendai's Fukushi University, which is located in the disaster zone, fired a 74 in the final round to clinch an impressive tie...

Amateur Matsuyama sizzles with 68 at golf Masters

2011-04-10T02:30:10Z

Japanese teen Hideki Matsuyama, who nearly called off his dream trip to the Masters after an earthquake and tsunami devastated his homeland, has delivered the inspirational performance he wanted.

The 19-year-old sophomore at Sendai's Fukushi University fired a four-under par 68 in Saturday's third round of the 75th Masters to stand on three-under 213, nine strokes off the pace in a share of 18...

Aussies eye end to Masters jinx

2011-04-09T20:30:32Z

No Australian golfer has won the Masters but Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and first-time Masters starter Jason Day have put themselves in position to end the jinx and claim the green jacket.

All three were among the leaders Saturday in the third round at Hideki Matsuyama, who nearly called off his dream trip to the Masters after an earthquake and tsunami devastated his homeland, has delivered the inspirational performance he wanted.

The 19-year-old sophomore at Sendai's Fukushi University fired a four-under par 68 in Saturday's third round of the 75th Masters to stand on three-under 213 after 54 holes in the year's first major go...

Age no barrier for Couples at Masters

2011-04-08T19:30:26Z

Jack Nicklaus set the benchmark with his sensational Masters win as a 46-year-old in 1986, and 25 years on Fred Couples says he could surpass him.

The 51-year-old former world No. 1 bounded, or, given the state of his chronically bad back, limped into Masters contention on Friday with a second-round 68 that left him ...

Tiger Woods back on the prowl at the Masters

2011-04-08T19:00:07Z

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - The deafening roar that echoed around Augusta National on Friday meant only one thing. Tiger Woods was back on the prowl.

The former world number one's private life and golf game may have been torn to ...

Woods shows long-absent form, chases McIlroy at Masters

2011-04-08T18:30:26Z

Tiger Woods roared into contention at the 75th Masters by displaying the long-absent form that made him a 14-time major champion even as young stars Rory McIlroy and Jason Day shined.

Northern Ireland

Club change puts Choi in swing of things at Augusta

2011-04-08T16:30:09Z

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - A calculated gamble by K.J. Choi could pay big dividends for the South Korean at the Masters.

Choi, a seven-times winner on the U.S. PGA Tour

Masters: Phil the Thrill primed for weekend charge

2011-04-08T16:00:09Z

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Holder Phil Mickelson again zig-zagged his way across Augusta National and was relieved to conclude an up-and-down second round on Friday in position to mount a

Masters: Par 3 jinx in Donald's rear-view mirror

2011-04-08T16:00:07Z

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Two days after risking the infamous curse of the Masters' Par-3 Contest, Britain's Luke Donald charged into contention for the opening major of the year.

The English w...

Korean Yang joins the leaders at the Masters

2011-04-08T08:00:48Z

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - South Korea's Yang Yong-eun, the first Asian man to win a golf major, surged into a tie for the Masters lead with a string of three birdies early in the second round on Frida...

McIlroy, Quiros lead Masters with 65s

2011-04-07T21:30:08Z

European young guns Rory McIlroy and Alvaro Quiros shared the first-round lead in the 75th Masters on Thursday with matching rounds of seven-under par 65.

At 21, McIlroy is the youngest first-round leader in the tournament's history, bettering the 23-year-old Reuters) - Spain's Alvaro Quiros birdied the last two holes at Augusta National on Thursday to join R...

US-SPORTS Summary

2011-04-07T19:00:08Z

McIlroy and Quiros take control at Augusta

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Britain's Rory McIlroy, widely tipped as a future world number one, produced golf as dazzling as the spring sunshine at

Tiger launches Masters bid to end win drought

2011-04-07T12:30:34Z

Tiger Woods teed off in Thursday's opening round of the 75th Masters with hopes of ending a 17-month win drought by capturing his fifth green jacket at the famed Augusta National course.

The 14-time major champion, who has not won since the eruption of a sex scandal that led to a divorce and d...

Americans open strongly at Masters

2011-04-07T12:30:33Z

A quartet of Americans set the early pace when the 75th edition of the Masters got underway on Thursday.

Sean O'Hair, Jerry Kelly, Jeff Overton and Kevin Na all ducked under par over the first few holes as the chase for th...

Kaymer heads European assault at Augusta

2011-04-07T07:30:33Z

European domination of world golf will be complete should the last bastion of the former US hegemony fall here this week at the 75th Masters.

Already the US Open and USPGA are safely in European hands, while the Augusta National Golf Club will consider ways to reduce the field for the Masters after 99 players, the largest starting lineup in 45 years, booked their berths in the 75th Masters.

Augusta National chairman Billy Payne said Wednesday on the eve of the annual start to the major golf season that the Masters has nearly reached the maximum number of players it can handle.`

"It's bord...

Golf's greatest tee off in Masters at Augusta

2011-04-07T06:30:25Z

An all-star cast of golf's greatest players will attack the legendary Augusta National course in the 75th Masters starting on Thursday, with the world number one ranking and a major title up for grabs.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson made himself the favorite with a victor...

Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods ready for Masters clash

2011-04-07T06:30:22Z

Successful juggling of the risks and rewards of aggressive shot-making at Augusta National has brought Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods each three Masters titles in the past 10 years.

While both American stars have struggled in the past...

Golfers Tiger, Mickelson ready for intense Masters

2011-04-06T17:30:29Z

Successful juggling of the risks and rewards of aggressive shot-making at Augusta National has brought Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods each three Masters titles in the past 10 years.

While both American stars have struggled in the past...

Mickelson a slight favorite in "wide open" Masters

2011-04-06T16:30:09Z

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - With just a few hours to go before the Masters gets under way at Augusta National, the growing sense of anticipation for the season's first major has reached fever pitch because of its rich promise.

While India?s Arjun Atwal is counting on tips from Tiger Woods and the experience of winning on four international Tours to drive him to a strong showing in his Masters debut starting on Thursday.

The former Asian Tour number one is only the seco...

Tiger game and amateurs in Masters plot to grow the sport

2011-04-06T13:00:17Z

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - The Lords of the Masters on Wednesday defended their awkward partnership with Tiger Woods on a new edition of his video game as one component in a vigorous initiative to grow the game of golf.

Last year, Jack Nicklaus, basking in the glow of his epic 1986 Masters triumph at age 46, says older players have an easier time these days at winning Majors thanks to advances in equipment.

While recalling the last of his 18 major titles and sixth Masters crown won 25 years ago, Nicklaus said such older stars as Vijay Singh

Mellow Mickelson still smiling at Masters

2011-04-05T18:30:40Z

One year after a broad smile and emotional Masters victory embrace with wife Amy at the 18th green, World No. 3 Phil Mickelson still has a wide grin on his face and a casual confidence.

The American left-hander, who captured the Masters in 2004 and 2006 as well as last year, joked his way through a news conference Tuesday, two days after winning the Reuters) - Holder Phil Mickelson and four-times Masters champion Tiger Woods were major talking points at British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen has new confidence after his first Major triumph entering the 75th Masters, where he is among a host of strong South African contenders.

Oosthuizen withstood the swirling winds of St. Andrew...

Masters-Mickelson will take a hard swing at Augusta repeat

2011-04-05T14:00:13Z

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Short is sweet at Augusta National, where a fine touch around the greens often spells success, though holder Phil Mickelson is prepared to hit the ball long and hard at the

Oosthuizen empowered by British Open memories

2011-04-05T10:30:17Z

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Louis Oosthuizen missed the cut in his first two Masters but winning last year's British Open has given the South African a major jolt of ...

Absent Seve in Masters hearts, minds and menu

2011-04-04T19:30:32Z

On the verge of a wide-open Masters that Seve Ballesteros would have loved, the Spanish golf legend was honored in the Champions Dinner menu selections of defending champion Phil Mickelson.

Ballesteros, a flamboyant five-time major winner who turns 54 on Saturday, is unable to travel because of a brain tumo...

New Day dawns on Aussie bid to end Masters hex

2011-04-04T17:30:34Z

No Australian has ever captured the Masters, but a handful of hopefuls from Down Under with titles in the past year will try to break the hex this week at Augusta National Golf Club.

The 75th Masters field includes Australians Aaron Baddeley,

Aussie golf aces launch bid to end Masters hex

2011-04-04T17:30:26Z

No Australian has ever captured the Masters, but a handful of hopefuls from Down Under with titles in the past year will try to break the hex this week at Augusta National Golf Club.

The 75th Masters field includes Australians Aaron Baddeley,

Fowler holds great expectations on Augusta debut

2011-04-04T13:30:13Z

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - First-timers have traditionally struggled at the U.S. Masters but American Rickie Fowler likes his chances of contending for the title in his debut this week at the opening major of the season.

T...

Practice lessons help build Masters champions

2011-04-03T20:30:23Z

Tiger Woods, winless in nearly 18 months, was among the stars who practiced Sunday at Augusta National in rounds that the 14-time major winner says can be critical to claiming a Masters title.

England's

Mickelson storms to share of Houston lead

2011-04-02T21:30:09Z

Phil Mickelson, warming up for his Masters title defense, fired his lowest round in two years Saturday to seize a share of the Houston Open third-round lead.

Mickelson equalled the Redstone course record with a bogey-free nine-under par 63 for a 13-under total of 203.

He was joined atop the leaderboard by fel...

Woods in "competitive shape" after Masters practice round

2011-03-31T17:30:10Z

MIAMI (Reuters) - Tiger Woods described himself as in "competitive shape" for next week's U.S. Masters after playing a practice round at a rain-sodden Augusta National Golf Club earlier this wee...

Preview: Golf-Masters: Unusually wide open feeling at Augusta

2011-03-31T13:30:14Z

RANCHO MIRAGE, California (Reuters) - Just as an oddly shaped Christmas gift intrigues a young child before the wrapping comes off, next week's U.S. Masters has whetted the appetite of fans and players because of its rich promise.

...

New faces, familiar stars to collide at golf Masters

2011-03-30T20:30:30Z

A quarter-century after US legend Jack Nicklaus outdueled Spain's Seve Ballesteros to win the Masters at age 46, another American-European showdown is looming at Mike Weir will not play in next week's Arnold Palmer Invitational after having a cyst on his left wrist drained but the 40-year-old Canadian golf star plans to play in next month's Masters.

Weir, the 2003 Masters champion, skipped last week's Martin Kaymer of Germany and the rival he beat in a playoff for his first major title, American Bubba Watson, will play alongside each other again at the PGA Transitions Championship here on Thursday.

Kaymer, Watson and American ...

Mickelson abandons Masters menu tribute to Ballesteros

2011-02-15T17:00:17Z

PACIFIC PALISADES, California (Reuters) - Phil Mickelson scrapped plans to provide Masters champions with Spanish cuisine to honor

Tiger Woods dropped from cover of his own game

2011-01-05T15:31:30Z

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) The woes continue for Tiger Woods off the course.

Last year, Electronic Arts made the golfing great share the cover of his bestselling game with Northern Iris...

Masters makes videogame debut, boosts Tiger brand

2011-01-04T15:30:44Z

Tiger Woods, whose brand name was tarnished mightily by the sex scandal that erupted around him last year, has a new partner with a highly regarded image - Augusta National Golf Club.

The fabled home course of the Masters, nestled among the Georgia pine trees, will be featured in a videogame for the first time in the next edition of ...

Augusta National to be part of Woods' video game

2011-01-04T07:30:15Z

A new tradition: Masters lets course be part of Tiger Woods' video game

The Masters is about to let anyone play Augusta National — at least in a video game.

In another step toward reaching a younger audience, the Master...

Masters field grows by 13 thanks to world ranking list

2010-12-20T18:31:09Z

Teen star Ryo Ishikawa of Japan and Italian brothers Francesco and Edoardo Molinari were among 13 golfers who booked a trip to the 2011 Masters on Monday from the final 2010 world rankings.

The annual tee off to the men's major championship season at Trevor Immelman of South Africa holings his forehead on the 18th green following his final round of the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Ga. Immelman won the Masters two years ago and is now ranked No. 269. The So...

Emirates Dubai Ladies Masters Golf

2010-12-10T06:01:28Z

Iben Tinning of Denmark plays a shot on the 11th hole during the second round of the Dubai Ladies Masters golf tournament at the Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Stephen Hindley)

...

Switzerland Golf Masters

2010-09-05T10:20:34Z

Miguel Angel Jimenez from Spain celebrates with the trophy after winning the 2010 Omega European Masters Golf Tournament in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010. (AP Photo/Keystone/Jean-Christophe Bott)

Sweden Golf Scandinavian Masters

2010-07-23T16:15:41Z

Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa plays his second shot at the Scandinavian Masters golf tournament in Stockholm on July 23, 2010. The event runs until July 25. (AP Photo/Scanpix, Niklas Larsson)

Sweden Scandinavian Masters Golf

2010-10-06T12:44:05Z

Rickie Fowler, of US tees off on the second hole during his first round of the Nordea Scandinavian Masters golf tournament at the Bro Hof golf course in Stockholm, Sweden, on Thursday July 22, 2010. (AP Photo /

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