International Olympic Committee : News

Golf: Garcia bounces back after weather delay

5/11/2013 10:43:35 PM

Henrik Stenson was clinging to a narrow lead in the weather-hit third round of the Players Championship on Saturday, trying to gain some space over Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods.

Stenson was two-under through eight holes, and one shot in front of Garcia and Woods, when thunderstorms halted play for just under two hours on the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course.

Sweden's Stenson had birdied the fourth and sixth holes to get to 11-under for the tournament, with Woods and Garcia both at 10-under when play was stopped.

Overnight leader Garcia nabbed his first birdie of the day after the break, picking up a stroke at the ninth hole to get back to even par for the day and 11-under for the tournament.

Stenson kept his nose in front however, with a birdie of his own at the ninth.

Woods remained at 10-under through nine holes, with one birdie and one bogey.

US veteran Jeff Maggert was in the clubhouse on nine-under 207 after a six-under 66.

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Construction set to begin on Rio 2016 golf course

4/29/2013 9:00:00 AM

Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman said: “We are very pleased to take another important step forward in the golf course project. We will continue to work very closely with course designer Gil Hanse and the International Golf Federation to ensure we deliver an excellent course for the world’s finest golfers to enjoy at the 2016 Games.”

Golf will re-enter the Olympic Games in 2016 after a 112-year absence, having last been part of the Olympic programme at the 1904 Games in St. Louis, USA.

The 2016 Olympic course is being built at Reserva de Marapendi in Barra da Tijuca – the district that will contain the largest number of Games venues – located approximately five kilometres from the Athletes’ Village and seven kilometres from the Main Press Centre (MPC) and the International Broadcast Centre (IBC).

Following the Games the course will create an important legacy for the sport by becoming the first publicly accessible golf course in Rio de Janeiro, helping to promote golf in Brazil.

Golf: Play resumes at Ballantine's after weather delay

4/25/2013 4:53:55 AM

First round play resumed Thursday at the Ballantine's Championship in South Korea after a two-hour delay caused by rain and fog.

Players returned to the par-72, 7,281-yard course at 1:00 pm, a little over two hours after opening round action at the $2.8 million tournament was suspended due to poor visibility.

Swede Johan Edfors was top of the leaderboard at five-under through 10 holes when play was halted.

Bernd Wiesberger of Austria is the defending champion at the event, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the European Tour.

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Golf: Fast finish puts penalty-hit Tiger in Masters hunt

4/14/2013 1:04:30 AM

Tiger Woods fired a two-under par 70 in Saturday's third round of the Masters only hours after being hit with a two-stroke penalty, putting him in the hunt for his 15th career major crown.

Woods began a run of three birdies in four holes at the par-3 12th and made tense par putts on the last three holes to share seventh on three-under 213 after 54 holes at Augusta National, where he has won four green jackets.

After a bogey at the par-4 11th, Woods birdied three of the next four holes, then made a sand save at the 16th, a tricky par putt at 17 and a 10-footer for par at the 18th after a bad tee shot.

"That was a nice one to make," Woods said of his last putt. "The last three saves were key and kept me in the tournmament."

Woods was four strokes off the lead when he reached the clubhouse with the leaders still finishing their third rounds, but the 14-time major champion has never won a major when he was not leading after 54 holes.

World number one Woods began the day with an early morning meeting with the Augusta National competition committee, which imposed the penalty on him for an improper drop at the par-5 15th hole in Friday's second round.

"I made a mistake. Under the rules of golf, I made an improper drop and I got a penalty," Woods said. "I'm abiding by the rules."

The committee had checked the drop and ruled it proper on Friday after a television viewer inquiry, but comments by Woods in a post-round television interview opened the door to reconsider the ruling.

After hitting the flagstick with his third shot at 15 on Friday and seeing his ball roll into a water hazard, Woods had said he dropped the ball two yards back from the original shot to avoid a similar risk on the next shot.

When Augusta National competition committee chairman Fred Ridley saw those remarks, the group reversed itself and imposed the penalty, but it would have been within its rights to disqualify Woods for signing an incorrect scorecard.

"Take the fact that it was Tiger out of the equation and it is a fair ruling," tweeted Graeme McDowell, who missed the cut. "Since it is him the debate begins about TV ratings etc etc."

Ridley said Woods was treated like any other golfer.

"I thought (on Friday) Tiger had done his best to comply," Ridley said. "Other people may disagree with that. It was my decision.

"It would have been grossly unfair to Tiger to have disqualified him. If this had been John Smith from wherever he would have gotten the same ruling because it's the right ruling under the circumstances."

Instead, a rule change approved in 2011 governing such situations allowed for a two-stroke penalty rather than disqualification for a player who unknowingly makes a violation, which Ridley ruled Woods had done.

"It was certainly a distraction early with the routine but it's like anything, it happens and you move on," Woods said. "I was ready to play come game time."

The ruling sparked furious comments from former players who were accustomed to players withdrawing themselves if they found they had made a violation, none moreso than three-time Masters winner Nick Faldo of England.

"He should really sit down and think about this and the mark this will leave on his career, his legacy, everything," Faldo said on The Golf Channel.

"It's just dreadful. Tiger is judge and jury on this. There is absolutely no intention to drop as close to the divot. That's a breach of the rules."

Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, has not won a major title since the 2008 US Open and has not won the Masters since capturing his fourth green jacket in 2005.

The spectre raised of Woods winning on Sunday and having a tainted victory as he tries to catch or pass Nicklaus was raised by commentators.

"This is a flagrant, obvious violation," retired player Brandel Chamblee said. "If Tiger has read the rule it is incumbent on him to say he is in violation and disqualify himself. Anything else is unacceptable."

Faldo, however, backed off his comments in Masters TV coverage, saying, "We're in a new era under new rules. Even if they bring some controversy, we're playing under new rules. Some of the old pros like myself, we have to accept that now."

Ridley noted that the US PGA and European tours and the US and Royal and Ancient Golf Associations were notified of the decision and supported it.

"I'm pleased the governing bodies and the tours are behind our decision because I think it's a good decision," Ridley said. "I can't really control what the perception might or might not be."

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Golf: Guan struggles to 77 but still enjoying Masters

4/14/2013 1:02:34 AM

Chinese 14-year-old schoolboy Guan Tianlang, the youngest player in Masters history, struggled to a five-over par 77 in Saturday's third round of the 77th Masters to stand third-from last.

Simply reaching the weekend by making the cut on the number was a triumph of sorts for Guan, the youngest player in a major since Scotland's "Young" Tom Morris made his British Open debut at age 14 in 1865.

"It's just a great week for me, and I really enjoy it," Guan said. "People here are nice and I learned a lot from the top players. I played pretty good rounds these three days. It's really great."

Guan, who won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship last year in Thailand to qualify for the Masters, stood on nine-over par 225 after 54 holes.

On Sunday, Guan will play alongside Scotland's 55-year-old Sandy Lyle, the 1985 Masters winner, in the second group.

"I'm pretty excited I get to play with all the top players on the weekend," Guan said. "I had a pretty good run in the first two days, and today feels pretty good, not badly. I did a couple unlucky (things), but that's golf."

After a bogey at the par-3 fourth for the second day in a row, Guan took bogeys at the par-4 ninth and par-4 11th for the second time in three days. He also made bogeys at 14 and 17 playing alongside Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen.

"Unbelievable. He's a great player," Olesen said. "Every shot he hit was almost at the pin and in the right spots. He could have holed a few more putts, but I was really impressed by his game. It was impressive to watch."

Guan has not made a birdie since sinking a 20-foot putt on the 18th hole on Thursday to finish his first Masters round with a sizzling 71.

That start helped ensure Guan will claim the Silver Cup as low amateur as the only non-pro to make the cut and put Guan in the Butler Cabin on Sunday when the new champion is first presented with his green jacket.

"It's my honor to be there and I'm really happy," Guan said.

Guan's Asia-Pacific Amateur triumph also booked him a berth in the final international qualifying for this year's British Open and he said that he hopes to attempt to qualify for June's US Open if timing with schoolwork allows.

Asked about his idol, 14-time major winner Tiger Woods, receiving a two-shot penalty for an improper drop from the same Augusta Natyional officials who gave Guan a rare slow-play penalty stroke on Friday, Guan backed the authorities.

"I think rules are rules, and I respect the decisions they make," Guan said. "I think Tiger played pretty good."

Guan said rules officials told him he was slightly slow at the 12th hole on Saturday but not out of position.

"They said we are a couple minutes behind but we are still good," Guan said.

Added Olesen: "I didn't think he played slow. I think he played pretty quick actually. He's 14 and there's a big crowd following him so it's pretty difficult for him. I think he has handled it really, really good."

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Golf: Masters resumes after overnight rain softens greens

4/12/2013 12:36:23 PM

Second-round play began Friday in the 77th Masters with Spain's Sergio Garcia and Australian Mark Leishman sharing the lead and Tiger Woods lurking close behind in familiar territory.

Overnight rain softened the undulating greens of Augusta National, which surrendered 45 rounds of par or better in Thursday's opening round.

But tougher pin placements Friday at Augusta National, 11 of them within five paces of a greenside edge, figure to toughen the test for a world-class field in the year's first major championship.

Garcia and Leishman shared the lead on six-under 66 with Dustin Johnson a stroke behind and South African Trevor Immelman, England's David Lynn, Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Americans Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar and Fred Couples on 68.

Garcia has a morning start alongside 2009 Masters winner Angel Cabrera and Aussie Adam Scott while Leishman goes off in the afternoon alongside US amateur T.J. Vogel and 1994 and 1999 Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain.

World number one Woods, a 14-time major winner seeking his first major title since the 2008 US Open and first Masters triumph since 2005, opened with a 70, the same score that has launched three of his four Masters triumphs.

Among those following him was girlfriend Lindsey Vonn, the reigning Olympic women's downhill ski champion who was wearing a black brace on her surgically repaired right knee. She watched him play the first hole on Thursday.

"I can't really walk too much, and it's so hilly here, but I will be here every day until the end," Vonn told the New York Times, planning to spend much of her time in the clubhouse area and following Woods on television.

Vonn said she is continuing her rehabilitation from an injury suffered at the world championships. She is working to be ready to defend her crown next February at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

"Everything is good," she said. "My knee is doing great."

Woods was set to tee off in Friday's penultimate group alongside England's Luke Donald and fellow American Scott Piercy. Just behind them are Aussie Jason Day, Fowler and Ireland's Padraig Harrington.

China's 14-year-old schoolboy sensation, Guan Tianlang, opened with a 73 to stand as the low amateur and the only one with a solid chance to make the cut. He was set for a morning departure as well.

Guan became the youngest player in Masters history on Thursday but showed poise under pressure in an impressive debut round over the famed 7,435-yard course.

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Golf: Panasonic Open India results

4/4/2013 5:33:15 PM

Panasonic Open India 1st round leading scores on Thursday:

67 - Wade Ormsby (AUS), Kieran Pratt (AUS), Lam Chih Bing (SIN)

69 - S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND)

70 - Adam Groom (AUS), Boonchu Ruangkit (THA), Jay Bayron (PHI), Chiragh Kumar (IND), Lionel Weber (FRA), Angad Cheema (IND), Sanjay Kumar (IND).

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Golf: Woods stays top of world rankings

4/1/2013 9:59:46 AM

Tiger Woods stayed top of the world rankings on Monday following Rory McIlroy's failure to win the Houston Open on Sunday.

The 37-year-old American returned to the top last week after an absence of two and a half years, replacing the 23-year-old Irishman, who has struggled with his game this year following a change of clubs and ball in the close season.

Woods will go into next week's Masters Tournament at Augusta National with back-to-back wins boosting his confidence, while McIlroy will take part in the Texas Open in another bid to win for the first time this year.

World Top 20:-

1. Tiger Woods (USA) 11.74 pts

2. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 10.87

3. Justin Rose (ENG) 7.01

4. Luke Donald (ENG) 6.69

5. Brandt Snedeker (USA) 6.29

6. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 6.05

7. Adam Scott (AUS) 5.70

8. Steve Stricker (USA) 5.68

9. Matt Kuchar (USA) 5.29

10. Phil Mickelson (USA) 5.24

11. Keegan Bradley (USA) 5.21

12. Ian Poulter (ENG) 5.17

13. Lee Westwood (ENG) 5.12

14. Bubba Watson (USA) 5.08

15. Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 4.94

16. Sergio Garcia (ESP) 4.84

17. Graeme McDowell (NIR) 4.79

18. Jason Dufner (USA) 4.64

19. Dustin Johnson (USA) 4.63

20. Webb Simpson (USA) 4.47.

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Golf: Stenson claims clubhouse lead at storm-hit PGA event

3/31/2013 11:31:03 PM

Sweden's Henrik Stenson birdied four of the last five holes to seize the clubhouse lead when a thunderstorm halted play on Sunday in the final round of the $6.2 million PGA Houston Open.

Stenson, a former top-five player whose effort will enable him to qualify for the Masters, fired a six-under par 66 to finish 72 holes on 15-under 273.

"To be heading back to Augusta is really special for me. I'm extremely happy with what I've done," Stenson said. "It's a very pleasing finish to birdie four of my last five holes. I played some great shots coming down the stretch."

American D.A. Points, who birdied three of the first four holes on the back nine, was on the course at 16-under with four holes to finish when play resumed. Points said his basic strategy will not change because of the delay.

"It doesn't affect me personally, other than the conditions, how the greens will be, how muddy it will be out there," he said. "Same game plan. If I have a shot I think I can get close to the hole, I'm going to try to get it close."

American Billy Horschel was level with Stenson at 15-under with only the 18th hole remaining.

Dustin Johnson was in the clubhouse at 14-under 274, level with fellow American Jason Kokrak, who had only completed 15 holes when the horn sounded stopping play with 12 players still on the course.

"I played really well," Johnson said. I played a lot better than that but I'm not complaining shooting 65 or Sunday. I left a few shots out there."

In all, eight players had seized at least a share of the lead during the interrupted last-round shootout for the $1.08 million top prize.

Rory McIlroy, who could have reclaimed the World No. 1 ranking from Tiger Woods with a victory this week, matched his best round of the event with a two-under 70 to finish on 284.

He birdied the last two holes on both the front and back nines but consecutive bogeys at 11 and 12 set him back.

Stenson found a fairway bunker and took a bogey at the par-5 13th.

"That was the only bad hole I had," Stenson said. "I was happy with the way I came back after that. I have been patient all week."

The Swede put his tee shot at the par-3 14th just inches from the cup for a tap-in birdie, followed with a birdie at the par-5 15th and a 20-foot birdie putt at the par-4 17th.

"I've putted well all week but I haven't made that much," Stenson said. "It was good to see that go in on 17."

Stenson finished by sinking a testy nine-foot birdie putt at 18, which had surrendered only four prior birdies all day.

"I didn't know it was only four birdies," Stenson said.

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Golf: Poulter powers into WGC Match Play semi-finals

2/24/2013 1:41:36 AM

The semi-finals of the World Golf Championships Match Play Championship will feature a clash between two stars of the fickle format: defending champion Hunter Mahan and 2010 winner Ian Poulter.

England's Poulter put away Steve Stricker 3 and 2 in the quarter-finals, spoiling his American opponent's 46th birthday.

Mahan, trying to join Tiger Woods as the only players to win back-to-back titles in this event, defeated US Open champion Webb Simpson 1-up.

Sunday morning's other semi-final will pit Australian Jason Day against American Matt Kuchar.

Kuchar defeated compatriot Robert Garrigus 3 and 2 in the quarter-finals and Day downed former US Open winner Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland 1-up.

Earlier Saturday, Day ousted reigning Masters champion Bubba Watson 4 and 3.

McDowell ended Irishman Shane Lowry's dream run with a 3 and 2 third-round victory.

Lowry had toppled world number one Rory McIlroy in the first round on Thursday en route to becoming the first 64th seed to reach the third round of the event.

McIlroy led a parade of top seeds out of the tournament in the first two rounds.

Three-time champion Woods, the world number two and second seed, also exited in the first round, while the overall third, fourth and fifth seeds -- Luke Donald, Louis Oosthuizen and Justin Rose -- all lost in the second round on Friday.

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