Tiger Woods Targets October Return

Fourteen-time major winner Tiger Woods hopes to return to action in October after more than a year out with injury.

The American has twice had back surgery since his last appearance, at the Wyndham Championship in August 2015.

The former world number one, now ranked 711, aims to play in the Safeway Open in California, starting on 13 October.

“My hope is to have my game ready to go,” said the 40-year-old. “Whether I can play depends on my continued progress and recovery.”

Woods suggested he will compete in the Turkish Airlines Open in November and the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in December.

Woods, who will be a non-playing vice-captain with the US Ryder Cup team at Hazeltine later this month, also plans to take part in the Tiger Woods Invitational on 10 and 11 October.

“It could be a fun fall,” said Woods. “It was difficult missing tournaments that are important to me, but this time I was smart about my recovery and didn’t rush it.”

Woods had a back operation in March 2014, another in September 2015 and a follow-up procedure to relieve discomfort.

He missed the Masters in April 2016 for only the second time since his debut at Augusta in 1995 and then pulled out of the US Open in June a week before the event because he was not “physically ready”.

What do the players think?

World number one Jason Day: “It’s great. I am looking forward to seeing him play again, seeing what the state of his game is, how his body holds up, how the mental side and the golf side hold up as well.

“I don’t expect big things of him even though he is Tiger Woods. He has been out for a while but it is always tough to come back, even though you are the greatest of all time. It would be fun to play against him when he is at his best.”

Eighteen-time major winner Jack Nicklaus tweeted: “It’s great to see you back and in good health. You’ve done so much for the game and it’s better with you playing. Good luck!”

World number three Rory McIlroy: “He brings an aura and an atmosphere that no-one else in golf can bring. I’ve missed that. Hopefully he can get out on the course and stay healthy for a prolonged period of time.”

BBC

Tiger Woods Targets October Return

Dustin Johnson wins 2016 US Open Golf

Dustin Johnson has claimed his first major – but only after a farcical end to the US Open that drew criticism from Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth.

Johnson played his last seven holes knowing he had to review a possible rules infringement after the round.

He shot 68 to finish five under but was then penalised a shot for making his ball move on the fifth green, despite being initially absolved of wrongdoing.

McIlroy called organisers “amateur” and Spieth said the decision was “a joke”.

Johnson’s score was amended to four under, but he still finished three shots ahead of Irishman Shane Lowry and American duo Jim Furyk and Scott Piercy at Oakmont.

England’s Lee Westwood, playing alongside Johnson, started the day on two under par but carded a 10-over-par 80 to finish on eight over.

What did Johnson do?

Standing over his ball on the fifth green, he made two practice putts. As he prepared to address the ball to take his putt, it moved slightly.

Johnson stepped away, claiming he had not addressed the ball. He checked with a rules official, who was happy there had been no infringement, and playing partner Lee Westwood also absolved him of blame.

Johnson, the runner-up at Chambers Bay last year and who missed out on a play-off at the 2010 US PGA as a result of a rules violation, went on to par the hole.

But another rules official approached Johnson on the 12th tee and, after a discussion, decided they needed to review the footage of the incident after he had completed his round because he could face a one-stroke penalty.

The penalty stroke was eventually upheld and Johnson, whose victory moves him up to world number three, signed for a one-under-par 69.

Johnson claimed he was not affected by the intervention from officials.

“At that point, I just thought I’d deal with it when I’m done,” he said. “I tried to block it out and not let it bother me. Who cares, it doesn’t matter any more.”

The USGA’s director of rules Jeff Hall said he had watched video of the incident and decided Johnson’s actions “could have caused the ball to move”.

Hall added: “The first time we had the opportunity to speak to Dustin was the 12th hole. We asked if there was some other reason the ball could have moved. He didn’t state a reason. We decided not to review it with Dustin at the media tent on the 13th hole and instead wait till the end.”

BBC

Dustin Johnson wins 2016 US Open Golf

Captain"s Prize At Celebrity Golf Club May 21

This year’s Captain’s Prize competition at the Celebrity Golf Club (CGC) will be played on Saturday, May 21 Sportscrusader.com can confirm.

The competition will be sponsored by outgoing captain of the club, Francis Akwasi Opoku, an Accra based lawyer who is stepping down after two years as captain of the club.

This will be the first in a long time since this competition has been held, and it is expected to bring together golfers from all the major clubs in Ghana and beyond.

Mr Akwasi Opoku has told sportscrusader.com that after two years of dedicated service to the CGC, he bows out with head held high after achieving some remarkable successes during his tenure.

“This is an opportunity to say thank you to to the club for the role handed me to serve as club captain, something I have really enjoyed and appreciated,” he said.

He added: “In this upcoming event, I expect to see golfers coming from the Tema Country Golf Club, Achimota, the Royal Golf Club, Kumasi, Takoradi, Obuasi, Tafo as well as friends from the Ikeja and Abuja Clubs in Nigeria, Abidjan and Lome Clubs”.

He said the competition will be a landmark occasion where he will also say thank you to all the corporate sponsors that have being associated with the club over the last couple of years.

He named them as MTN Ghana, Goldfields Ghana, Holiday Inn Hotel, Coca Cola, Karlo King, Bank of Africa, First Atlantic Bank, Old Mutual, Oak Plaza Hotel, Kenya Airways and Emirates among others.

The competition he added, will also be sponsored in collaboration with his ‘WAHALA Corporates’ some of whom are mentioned above.

Among the landmark achievements under his watch at the CGC have been bring these corporates on board, the construction of a changing room for men, tee boxes on the course of  the club as well as a new management system for the club among others.

Mr Akwasi Opoku hoped the new committee that will take over from him, will even do more to take the club to new heights.

He officially steps down as Club Captain on May 28, 2016 after the club’s Annual General Meeting.

Captain"s Prize At Celebrity Golf Club May 21

Amponsah-Mensah, Botha, Wins GMA-South African Airways Golf At Sakumono

The third edition of the Freedom Day Golf tournament came off successfully at the Celebrity Golf Club (CGC), Sakumono near Tema on Saturday.

Leticia Amponsah Mensah and Botha Sorossouw came out tops in the ladies and men’s main event after producing some amazing shoots in the one-day 18-Hole competition.

Amponsah Menash produced a net score of 74 to win in her division with Mona Captan in second position with 78 net.

Botha dominated the men field, and scored a net of 68 to win the competition ahead of Abodi Kleen (70) and Samuel Agyapong also with 70.

The two winners as part of their prizes, will visti South Africa for their troubles.

In the ladies B category, Maureen Akuaku won the day with a net of 68 ahead of Hellen Appah who shoot 69.

Yang Fuhai won the men B category with a net of 71 ahead of Oswald Amuzu whoalso shoot 71 and Tony Matthews who scored 72.

Freedom Day is an annual celebration of South Africa’s first non-racial democratic elections of 1994. Peace, unity, the preservation and the restoration of human dignity, hallmark Freedom Day celebrations on the 27 April of each year.

The South Africa Freedom Day Golf, is organised by Global Media Alliance in collaboration with the Celebrity Golf Club and the South African High Commission.

The event was partnered by Trellidor, Afrgri Ghana, First National Bank, Old Mutual, MultiChoice Ghana, Mobile Tout Terrain (M.T.T), Shoprite and Distell Company among others.

Amponsah-Mensah, Botha, Wins GMA-South African Airways Golf At Sakumono

GMA-South African Airways Golf At Sakumono Saturday

Some of the most established golfers in Ghana are set to show off their golfing skills at the third edition of the South Africa (SA) Freedom Day Golf tournament to be held on Saturday, 30 April 2016 at the Celebrity Golf Course in Tema.

Freedom Day is an annual celebration of South Africa’s first non-racial democratic elections of 1994. Peace, unity, the preservation and the restoration of human dignity, hallmark Freedom Day celebrations on the 27 April of each year.

Over 300 golfers are expected to take part in this event to demonstrate their solidarity to South Africa’s Freedom Day celebration.

Corporate organisations partnering this prestigious event include South African Airways, South African Tourism (SAT), Cummins Ghana and other South African Companies.

The South Africa Freedom Day Golf, is organised by Global Media Alliance in collaboration with the Celebrity Golf Club and the South African High Commission.

It is expected to gather both the South African and Ghanaian Business communities in Ghana in a relaxed, friendly and thrilling atmosphere.

The event is partnered by Trellidor, Afrgri Ghana, First National Bank, Old Mutual, MultiChoice Ghana, Mobile Tout Terrain (M.T.T), Shoprite and Distell Company,

GMA-South African Airways Golf At Sakumono Saturday

Rory McIlroy Cuts Spieth"s Lead At US Maters Golf

Rory McIlroy closed the gap on leader Jordan Spieth to one shot as he revived his Masters bid at Augusta National.

McIlroy, aiming to complete a clean sweep of four majors, sunk three birdies in the final six holes to move to three under par after two rounds.

The Northern Irishman, 26, carded a one-under 71 before defending champion Spieth posted a two-over 74.

At one stage before his late rally, McIlroy trailed American Spieth, 22, by eight shots.

But the turnaround, facilitated by Spieth dropping four shots, tightened a leaderboard which he had threatened to dominate.

Spieth and McIlroy go into the weekend as the final pairing after American amateur Bryson DeChambeau blew his chance of separating them on the 18th.

DeChambeau, 22, whipped two tee shots way left, eventually finding a suitable dropping position after long discussions with Augusta officials before holing for a triple bogey seven.

New Zealand’s Danny Lee and American Scott Piercy are the nearest challengers to Spieth and McIlroy on two under.

Brandt Snedeker, Soren Kjeldsen and Hideki Matsuyama are one under, with England’s Danny Willett, Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Spaniard Sergio Garcia among those on level par.

With swirling winds continuing to challenge the players, McIlroy was one of only four players in the 89-man field to shoot a below-par round.

Four-time major winner McIlroy said his gutsy fightback was “up there” with the best rounds of his career.

“I kept my composure and I played the shots when I needed to,” he said.

McIlroy failed to capitalise on birdies on the second and third, compounding a double bogey on the next with further dropped shots on the fifth and 11th.

But the world number three, aiming to become the sixth man to claim the career Grand Slam, reignited his challenge with a birdie on the par-five 13th.

Further birdies followed on 15 and 16 before he saved his par on the last with a six-foot putt – greeted with a fist-pump – after a wayward drive right into the trees.

“It’s only the second day; there’s still two days to go,” McIlroy said.

“But it’s a great round and it’s nice to be up there near the lead going into the weekend, instead of on the cut line and having to battle back from where I found myself the last couple years.

Despite the difficult conditions in Georgia, few would have predicted Spieth’s demise after he levered himself into such a position of strength.

An opening birdie was followed by another on the third, moving him five shots clear of the chasing pack after he began the day with a two-stroke lead.

But his normally immaculate putting failed him at the fifth, a four-putt leading to a double bogey and ending his record as the only player yet to drop a shot.

A birdie at the par-five eighth offered false hope to the Texan, who bogeyed the ninth and 10th before becoming annoyed at being timed for slow play as he waited for the wind to die down on his approach to the 11th.

It was a rare example of two-time major winner Spieth losing composure and, although he birdied the 15th, dropped shots on the 16th and 17th brought McIlroy within one.

Only Spieth’s plucky save for par from a bunker on the last prevented his rival from starting the weekend level.

“I thought even par was a good score today,” said Spieth, who has now led the Masters for six successive rounds – matching Arnold Palmer’s feat in the early 1960s.

“It was a couple of strokes higher than I was looking for. It was a bit disappointing but it is pretty much a new tournament coming our way over the weekend.

“It was a grind on each hole. Emotionally it gets you going a little. The person who walks the tallest will win next over the next couple of days.”

Credit: BBC

Rory McIlroy Cuts Spieth"s Lead At US Maters Golf