Putnam, Petrovic share Canadian Open lead

Yang Yong-eun tees off on the 13th hole during the first round of the RBC Canadian Open at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Canada, Thursday. (AFP-Yonhap)MONTREAL (AP) ― Michael Putnam and Tim Petrovic shared the first-round lead in the Canadian Open on Thursday, shooting 6-under 64 in sunny conditions at rain-softened Royal Montreal.The 47-year-old Petrovic was the last player to get in the field, grabbing a spot when Benjamin Alvarado withdrew on Tuesday.“I didn’t set my expectations

July 25, 2014

Asian stars excited for LPGA team showdown

After two decades of watching U.S. and European women golfers play for the Solheim Cup, top worldwide rivals have their chance at a team title in the LPGA International Crown.The inaugural edition of the event will begin Thursday at suburban Baltimore’s Caves Valley Golf Club with eight teams of four women seeking global bragging rights and the richest share of $1.6 million in prize money.“Every time I was watching the Solheim Cup, I always wish I can be there playing,” Taiwan’s third-ranked Tse

July 22, 2014

Ko takes Marathon with closing birdie

SYLVANIA, Ohio (AP) ― Now that she’s officially a millionaire, Lydia Ko joked she’ll have to keep a closer watch on where her paychecks go.“I’ll probably see that going into my mom’s account,” she said with a laugh, referring to the $210,000 she got for winning Sunday’s Marathon Classic.The 17-year-old broke free from a late tie with Ryu So-yeon, hitting a wedge to 4 feet for birdie on the 72nd hole to take the lead. Then she tried in vain ― she’s just 5-foot-5 ― to see past the large gallery at

July 21, 2014

McIlroy, Tiger deliver at Brit Open

Korea’s Choi Kyung-ju chips onto the 16th green at the British Open on Thursday. ( UPI-Yonhap)HOYLAKE, England (AP) ― Rory McIlroy had everything go his way Thursday in the British Open. A lovely summer day in England with abundant sunshine and minimal wind allowed him to attack Royal Liverpool. He made half his six birdies on the par 5s and kept bogeys off his card. And on the day Tiger Woods made a promising return, McIlroy took the lead with a 6-under 66, his best score in nearly two years at

July 18, 2014

Diaz shoots 62 to lead Marathon Classic by 4

SYLVANIA, Ohio (AP) ― Laura Diaz got off to a surprising start at the Marathon Classic.Diaz shot a 9-under 62 for a four-stroke lead in Thursday’s opening round.U.S. Open champion Michelle Wie shot a 2-over 73, 2008 Marathon winner Paula Creamer was at 72 along with another perennial contender at Highland Meadows, Morgan Pressel.The defending champion, Spain’s Beatriz Recari, and the world’s No. 1-ranked player, Stacy Lewis, a Toledo native, were well down the list at 1 under.“I definitely didn’

July 18, 2014

Just like old times

Hoping to recapture some of their old magic, South Korean PGA Tour veteran Choi Kyung-ju has reunited with his former caddie Andy Prodger for the Open Championship this week in England.In an interview with the Asian Tour Wednesday, Choi said he brought Prodger out of retirement for the season’s third major tournament. The Open Championship will start at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on Thursday.“This week, Andy has come back to be on my bag. He lives in Scotland, so it made sense to have him with me

July 16, 2014

Three-way tie for lead in John Deere Classic

Zach Johnson tees off on the second hole during the first round of the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, Thursday. (AFP-Yonhap)SILVIS, Illinois (AP) ― Zach Johnson, Rory Sabbatini and Brian Harman shot 8-under-par 63s Thursday to share the lead after the first round of the John Deere Classic.Johnson and Sabbatini played bogey-free golf, while Harman had nine birdies and one bogey on the par-71 TPC Deere Run. They led 2004 British Open champion Todd Hamilton, Australian Ste

July 11, 2014

Wie goes for encore at Royal Birkdale

SOUTHPORT, England (AP) ― As much as Michelle Wie prefers to look forward, this is one week when it’s tempting to get caught up in the past.That could include her recent tour of New York as the U.S. Women’s Open champion or a decade ago when the teen prodigy from Hawaii got her first taste of links golf along the Lancashire coast of England.Both are relevant memories this week at the Ricoh Women’s British Open.Wie is among the favorites when the LPGA Tour’s third major of the year gets underway

July 10, 2014

Wie and Lewis are friends linked by golf

SOUTHPORT, England (AP) ― The friendly matches in South Florida can involve as many as eight players, with teams decided by drawing names from a hat.Michelle Wie would seem to be a great pick, except for the timing.“We usually play in the morning and then go have lunch,” Stacy Lewis said Tuesday. “And she usually gets very focused on the lunch and kind of doesn’t pay attention to the whole golf side of it. She’ll tell you the same thing.”Wie laughed when told the story Lewis shared. Wie loves he

July 9, 2014

Kim wins Ladies European Masters

Korea’s Kim In-kyung looks to take advantage of her momentum heading into the Women’s British Open. (File photo)DENHAM, England (AP) ― South Korea’s Kim In-kyung won the Ladies European Masters on Sunday, closing with a 3-under 68 for a five-stroke victory in the final event before the Women’s British Open.Kim had an 18-under 270 total at Buckinghamshire for her first victory since the LPGA Tour’s 2010 Lorena Ochoa Invitational. She opened with rounds of 68, 63 and 68.“I just had a great time,”

July 7, 2014

Hurley extends lead to 2

Korea’s Yang Yong-eun tees off on the sixth hole at the Greenbrier Classic. ( AFP-Yonhap)WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, West Virginia (AP) ― Billy Hurley III doesn’t plan to lose much rest sitting on a third-round lead for the first time on the PGA Tour.The former U.S. Navy officer shot a 3-under 67 on Saturday to extend his advantage to two strokes over Angel Cabrera entering the final round of the Greenbrier Classic.“I’ve been working for a long time to win on the PGA Tour,” Hurley said. “I figure if

July 6, 2014