Golf-Groupings for first two rounds at PGA Championship

Golf-Groupings for first two rounds at PGA Championship

August 5, 2013








Aug 5 (Reuters) - Tee times and groupings for the first two

rounds of the PGA Championship being played at Oak Hill Country

Club in Rochester, New York, from Thursday (times are local, for

GMT add four hours; U.S. unless stated):

Thursday, Aug. 8, first hole-Friday, Aug. 9, 10th hole

0710-1220: Rob Labritz, John Senden (Australia), Shane Lowry

(Ireland)

0720-1230: Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand), Bob Gaus, Luke

Guthrie

0730-1240: Marc Leishman (Australia), Josh Teater, Pablo

Larrazabal (Spain)

0740-1250: Tommy Gainey, Ryan Palmer, David Hearn (Canada)

0750-1300: Michael Thompson, Marcel Siem (Germany), Bo Van Pelt

0800-1310: Shaun Micheel, Rich Beem, Mark Brooks

0810-1320: Richard Sterne (South Africa), Scott Brown, David

Lingmerth (Sweden)

0820-1330: Ben Curtis, Marcus Fraser (Australia), Peter Hanson

(Sweden)

0830-1340: Stewart Cink, Paul Lawrie (Scotland), Rafael

Cabrera-Bello (Spain)

0840-1350: Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark), Brian Gay, David Lynn

(England)

0850-1400: Stephen Gallacher (Scotland), David McNabb, Branden

Grace (South Africa)

0900-1410: Caine Fitzgerald, Kevin Streelman, Bernd Wieseberger

(Austria)

0910-1420: J.C. Anderson, Matt Jones (Australia), Jaco van Zyl

(South Africa)

Thursday, Aug. 8, 10th hole-Friday, Aug. 9, first hole

0715-1225: Charley Hoffman, Bob Sowards, Matt Every

0725-1235: Mark Sheftic, Robert Garrigus, Hiroyuki Fujita

(Japan)

0735-1245: Hunter Mahan, Paul Casey (England), Billy Horschel

0745-1255: Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), Steve Stricker, Jason

Dufner

0755-1305: Sergio Garcia (Spain), Matt Kuchar, Rickie Fowler

0805-1315: Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland), Ernie Els (South

Africa), Bill Haas

0815-1325: David Toms, Padraig Harrington (Ireland), Yang

Yong-eun (South Korea)

0825-1335: Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Dustin Johnson, Charl

Schwartzel (South Africa)

0835-1345: Davis Love III, Keegan Bradley, Tiger Woods

0845-1355: Peter Uihlein, Jim Furyk, Thomas Bjorn (Denmark)

0855-1405: K.J. Choi (South Korea), Ryan Polzin, Jonas Blixt

(Sweden)

0905-1415: Scott Stallings, Jason Kokrak, Jeff Sorenson


0915-1425: Scott Jamieson (Scotland), Roberto Castro, Stuart

Smith

Thursday, Aug. 8, first hole-Friday, Aug. 9, 10th hole

1225-0715: John Huh, Ryo Ishikawa (Japan), Danny Balin

1235-0725: Darren Clarke (Northern Ireland), Tom Watson, Paul

McGinley (Ireland)

1245-0735: Kohki Idoki (Japan), Rod Perry, Nick Watney

1255-0745: Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium), Jason Day (Australia),

Brandt Snedeker

1305-0755: Tim Clark (South Africa), Lee Westwood (England),

Bubba Watson

1315-0805: Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain), Webb Simpson, Angel

Cabrera (Argentina)

1325-0815: Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), Vijay Singh (Fiji),

Martin Kaymer (Germany)

1335-0825: Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain), Luke Donald

(England), Jordan Spieth

1345-0835: Adam Scott (Australia), Justin Rose (England), Phil

Mickelson

1355-0845: Lucas Glover, Ian Poulter (England), Zach Johnson

1405-0855: Kevin Chappell, Christopher Wood (England), Mike

Small

1415-0905: Kevin Stadler, Chip Sullivan, Chris Stroud

1425-0915: Sonny Skinner, Gary Woodland, Richie Ramsay

(Scotland)

Thursday, Aug. 8, 10th hole-Friday, Aug. 9, first hole

1220-0710: Mark Brown, Scott Piercy, Brooks Koepka

1230-0720: Derek Ernst, Jeff Martin, Charles Howell III

1240-0730: Ken Duke, Matteo Manassero (Italy), Jimmy Walker

1250-0740: Danny Willett (England), Joost Luiten (Netherlands),

Russell Henley

1300-0750: Freddie Jacobson (Sweden), George Coetzee (South

Africa), Harris English

1310-0800: Boo Weekley, Francesco Molinari (Italy), Thongchai

Jaidee (Thailand)

1320-0810: Jamie Donaldson (Wales), Ryan Moore, Alex Noren

(Sweden)

1330-0820: Brett Rumford (Australia), Geoff Ogilvy (Australia),

John Merrick

1340-0830: Bae Sang-moon (South Korea), Woody Austin, Martin

Laird (Scotland)

1350-0840: Carl Pettersson (Sweden), D.A. Points, Mikko Ilonen

(Finland)

1400-0850: Graham DeLaet (Canada), Kirk Hanefeld, Kyle Stanley

1410-0900: David Muttitt, Charlie Beljan, Brendon de Jonge

(Zimbabwe)

1420-0910: Lee Rhind, Chris Kirk, Marc Warren (Scotland)

(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

Snedeker feels close to unlocking major key

Snedeker feels close to unlocking major key

Mark Lamport-Stokes August 7, 2013







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Brandt Snedeker of the U.S. reacts after he hits from the rough from to the twelfth green on his way …


By Mark Lamport-Stokes

ROCHESTER, New York (Reuters) - Winning breeds confidence and in-form Brandt Snedeker says he now knows what is needed for him to land a first major title at this week's PGA Championship after a few close calls in the past.

The fast-talking American clinched his second PGA Tourvictory of the season at the Canadian Open two weeks ago and believes he is close to replicating the sizzling form he produced at the start of the year.

Snedeker recorded four top-threes in his first five events, including a two-shot triumph at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February, before he was sidelined for five weeks because of a sore rib cage.

"I feel really good about my game coming into this week, I feel good about having a better idea of what it takes to win one of these (majors)," Snedeker told Reuters at Oak Hill Country Club while preparing for Thursday's opening round.

"I realize it's more of a marathon and not a sprint. I realize that you have to learn how to manage your mistakes, keep hanging in there and wait for good things to happen."

A six-times winner on the PGA Tour, Snedeker is delighted to be close to his best heading into the year's final major.

"I am starting to play good," said the 32-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee. "I feel like I am playing like I was at the beginning of the year. I feel like I am close to playing some great golf.

"I am a lot more relaxed now and I'm a lot more into the process and realizing that a lot more goes into winning majors than just hitting the golf ball good.

"You've got to do a lot. You have to think well, you have to hit the ball in the right spots, you've got to get up and down when you need to, that kind of stuff."


BEATING THE BEST

Snedeker has posted five top-10s in the majors, including ties for third at the 2008 Masters and the 2012 British Open, but it was his victory in last year's Tour Championship that proved to him he could beat the world's best when it counted.

"That was really good," Snedeker said of his three-shot triumph at the season-ending Tour Championship where he also earned FedExCup honors and the eye-popping $10 million bonus.

"Any time you beat one of the best fields in golf, take the lead into the last round with Tiger (Woods) and Rory (McIlroy) and everybody right there and being able to win, gives you a lot of confidence. You know you can do it."

Snedeker, who is known for being one of the best putters in the game, is especially pleased that he achieved both of his PGA Tour wins this year after holding at least a share of the lead going into the final round.

"I've just got to do that more often, give myself more chances," he smiled. "I know you're not going to win them all but the more chances I keep giving myself in these majors, the better chance I have of winning one."

Snedeker likes the look of Oak Hill's challenging East Course, which this week will be staging the PGA Championship for a third time.

"It's a great test from tee to green," he said. "You have to drive the ball in play. It tests every club in your bag, and there's 10 different ways to play every hole.

"You can hit driver on most of them if you want to or you can lay back with a three-iron and put the emphasis on your iron play. So it's just what you feel comfortable with.

"But, like any major, it's going to come down to putting. You've got to make those 10-footers, those eight-footers for pars because this golf course is really, really tough. Anywhere around par (in total) is going to win."

(Editing by Frank Pingue)

Golf-Back to work for Mahan, with new mouth to feed

Golf-Back to work for Mahan, with new mouth to feed

August 7, 2013








By Steve Keating

ROCHESTER, New York, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Having already won golf's Father of the Year honours, Hunter Mahan will turn his focus to winning his first major this week as he returns to work at the PGA Championship following the birth of his first child.

Mahan, who walked away from a potential million dollar payday at the Canadian Open two weeks ago to return home to Dallas after his wife went into labour, has soaked up well-wishes from his fellow players and endless praise from golf fans all week for putting his family ahead of his job.

"I haven't met anyone who has said I made the wrong decision," said an in-form Mahan, who turned his back on a two-shot lead going into the third round of the Canadian Open to be with his wife.

"But it's been pretty much a consensus of people saying I did the right thing. Everyone knows someone who has given birth or had a child and I think everyone knows how special it is.

"I think people are just ready for a great story in sports, and it was a great time."

A storybook finish to this feel-good tale would see Mahan walking away from the year's final major holding the Wanamaker Trophy in one arm and his daughter Zoe in the other.

Mahan has been knocking on the major door recently and the 31-year-old American will be on the shortlist of contenders when action gets underway on Thursday at stately Oak Hill Country Club.

A five-time winner on the PGA Tour, Mahan has six top-10 finishes at the majors, including two this year after playing in the final pairing going into the last day at both the U.S. and British Opens.

"It's been very encouraging to be in the final group in a major; I think it's a great accomplishment, because you're in the last group out there and you get to see what everybody else does," said Mahan.

"You can see why Tiger (Woods) and why those guys want to be in the last group. I feel like it's somewhat calming in a way, or at least that's what I felt, because you kind of know what everyone is doing and you get a sense of everything.


"You know you're playing well and so you can just go out there and play golf and enjoy the experience."

MAJOR TURNAROUND

Mahan, however, has been unable to turn good form at the majors into a victory.

In last month's British Open at Muirfield, Mahan struggled on the final day before finishing joint ninth, having shared fourth place at the U.S. Open five weeks earlier.

"I don't know what's held me back," shrugged Mahan. "It's hard to win tournaments out here. It's not easy. Phil (Mickelson) played unbelievable at the British Open and no one was going to beat him that day.

"I felt like at the U.S. Open, I wasn't that far off. I just had one or two shots that hurt me. I've just got to keep working, keep getting better at my all-around game, and I think I'll get there."

Mahan's only competition for the unofficial crown of PGA Tour's Father of Year might have been Mickelson, who made a coast-to-coast trip on the eve of the U.S. Open at Merion to attend his daughter's graduation in California.

This week, the on-course competition will be much tougher at Oak Hill where Mahan estimates that as many as 30 golfers have a shot at the PGA title.

"The depth and quality of the field now is pretty remarkable, especially at majors," he said. "I know it seemed like when I first joined the Tour there was maybe a handful of guys who could win and had a legitimate chance and by Sunday they were all up there.

"Now, there might be 20 guys with a legitimate chance when they step on the tee, maybe 25, 30, when they step on the tee on Thursday with a chance to win and they have the games and potential to do that.

"This is a world-class field and this is a world-class golf course, so you're going to have to play your best to win this week." (Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

Back to work for Mahan, with new mouth to feed

Back to work for Mahan, with new mouth to feed

Steve Keating August 7, 2013





.View gallery
Hunter Mahan of the U.S. tees off on the first hole during a practice round for the 2013 PGA Championship …By Steve Keating
ROCHESTER, New York (Reuters) - Having already won golf's Father of the Year honors, Hunter Mahan will turn his focus to winning his first major this week as he returns to work at the PGA Championship following the birth of his first child.
Mahan, who walked away from a potential million dollar payday at the Canadian Open two weeks ago to return home to Dallas after his wife went into labor, has soaked up well-wishes from his fellow players and endless praise from golf fans all week for putting his family ahead of his job.
"I haven't met anyone who has said I made the wrong decision," said an in-form Mahan, who turned his back on a two-shot lead going into the third round of the Canadian Open to be with his wife.
"But it's been pretty much a consensus of people saying I did the right thing. Everyone knows someone who has given birth or had a child and I think everyone knows how special it is.
"I think people are just ready for a great story in sports, and it was a great time."
A storybook finish to this feel-good tale would see Mahan walking away from the year's final major holding the Wanamaker Trophy in one arm and his daughter Zoe in the other.
Mahan has been knocking on the major door recently and the 31-year-old American will be on the shortlist of contenders when action gets underway on Thursday at stately Oak Hill Country Club.
A five-time winner on the PGA Tour, Mahan has six top-10 finishes at the majors, including two this year after playing in the final pairing going into the last day at both the U.S. and British Opens.
"It's been very encouraging to be in the final group in a major; I think it's a great accomplishment, because you're in the last group out there and you get to see what everybody else does," said Mahan.
"You can see why Tiger (Woods) and why those guys want to be in the last group. I feel like it's somewhat calming in a way, or at least that's what I felt, because you kind of know what everyone is doing and you get a sense of everything.

"You know you're playing well and so you can just go out there and play golf and enjoy the experience."
MAJOR TURNAROUND
Mahan, however, has been unable to turn good form at the majors into a victory.
In last month's British Open at Muirfield, Mahan struggled on the final day before finishing joint ninth, having shared fourth place at the U.S. Open five weeks earlier.
"I don't know what's held me back," shrugged Mahan. "It's hard to win tournaments out here. It's not easy. Phil (Mickelson) played unbelievable at the British Open and no one was going to beat him that day.
"I felt like at the U.S. Open, I wasn't that far off. I just had one or two shots that hurt me. I've just got to keep working, keep getting better at my all-around game, and I think I'll get there."
Mahan's only competition for the unofficial crown of PGA Tour's Father of Year might have been Mickelson, who made a coast-to-coast trip on the eve of the U.S. Open at Merion to attend his daughter's graduation in California.
This week, the on-course competition will be much tougher at Oak Hill where Mahan estimates that as many as 30 golfers have a shot at the PGA title.
"The depth and quality of the field now is pretty remarkable, especially at majors," he said. "I know it seemed like when I first joined the Tour there was maybe a handful of guys who could win and had a legitimate chance and by Sunday they were all up there.
"Now, there might be 20 guys with a legitimate chance when they step on the tee, maybe 25, 30, when they step on the tee on Thursday with a chance to win and they have the games and potential to do that.
"This is a world-class field and this is a world-class golf course, so you're going to have to play your best to win this week."
(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

Webb Simpson shoots 64 after slow start to PGA

Webb Simpson shoots 64 after slow start to PGA


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RACHEL COHEN (AP Sports Writer) August 9, 2013AP - Sports








PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) -- Webb Simpson shot a 72 on Thursday that felt like a 64.

Then he went out and shot an actual 64.

Simpson, who was at 5 over after his first eight holes of thePGA Championship, surged into contention Friday by tying the course record at Oak Hill - only for it to be broken a few hours later. With a 6-under 64 in the morning, he was at 4 under overall, five strokes behind Jason Dufner, who matched the mark for a major with a 63 in the afternoon.

Simpson didn't know the course record, but he was almost positive that 63 was the standard for a major. And when he made four birdies in five holes to reach 7 under with three to play, he couldn't help but fantasize about history.

''I made the turn - I'm still trying to make the cut. It's amazing how a day like today, you go from outside the cut line, to just in, to going for the all-time major record,'' Simpson said. ''It's a big swing of emotions. But the mind is powerful, so I was just trying to not think about it and just stay kind of in my rhythm.''


The 2012 U.S. Open champion had five bogeys and a double bogey through eight holes in his first round. He gave himself a little pep talk on the seventh green.

''I said, 'If I have any chance in this golf tournament, any chance at all just to contend, I have to be patient the rest of the day,''' he recalled. ''I wanted to get mad. Wanted to throw clubs and do all that, but it wasn't going to help anything.''

He followed his own advice with four birdies on the back nine, including one on No. 18 to end the day with confidence cresting.

As the rain let up Friday, Simpson made three birdie putts of about 10-12 feet on his back nine. A 35-footer on No. 5 gave him an inkling something special might be happening.

And a conundrum.
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Webb Simpson reacts after missing a birdie putt on the eighth hole during the second round of the PG …

''It's so hard because, on one hand, you want to go for it. You want to go for the record,'' Simpson said. ''But you can't do that on a golf course this hard.''

He needed to stay patient and conservative.

''This game is so funny - when you try to make birdies, it seems like you don't,'' he said. ''It was there. It's like the elephant in the room.''

One of his playing partners, Angel Cabrera, withdrew because of a wrist injury after 11 holes, and Simpson said that helped in the wet weather by giving him more time between shots.

He slipped back to 6 under with a bogey on No. 7 after his second shot got tangled in the branches of one of the towering trees lining the hole. The ball came down in rough so deep Simpson had to ask a spectator where it landed.
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Webb Simpson celebrates after a birdie on the sixth hole during the second round of the PGA Champion …

After just missing birdie putts on his last two holes, Simpson learned he tied the record first set by Ben Hogan in 1942 and matched by Curtis Strange at the 1989 U.S. Open. It would later be lowered by Dufner with soft conditions yielding low scores.

Sharp-shooting Rose charges into contention

Sharp-shooting Rose charges into contention

August 9, 2013







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England's Justin Rose tees off on the seventh hole during the second round of the 2013 PGA Championship …


ROCHESTER, New York (Reuters) - Chock full of confidence less than two months after capturing a maiden major title, Justin Rose used a spectacular inward nine to surge into contention at the PGA Championship on Friday.

Rose, who became the first Englishman in 43 years to win the U.S. Open in June, shot an inward nine of 29 at a rain-soaked Oak Hill country Club to complete a six-under 66 that left him two strokes back of clubhouse leader Jason Dufner (63).

The 33-year-old believes no longer having to chase his first major makes him even more dangerous as a contender in golf's four elite championships.

"It's wonderful to be in this situation right now, talking about having (won a major); talking about feeling like you can win more, believing in yourself, not talking about how I hope it could happen this week," Rose told reporters. "So I think that alone makes it easier."

After good friend and playing partner Adam Scott enjoyed his own breakthrough major victory at the Masters earlier this year, he sent a text message to Rose insisting "this is our time".

Perhaps taking the lead from Australian Scott, who altered his training schedule with a focus on being in top form for golf's four majors, Rose adopted a similar mindset.

"I'm getting to that point now this year where I've really focused on my preparation and come into them really, really focusing on them, trying to peak for them," said Rose.


"When you're not 100 percent ready to win majors, every week is a big week, but then I feel like you get your game to a point where you're trying to make sure it's ready four times a year."

Rose, who tied for 25th at the Masters in April and missed the cut at last month's British Open, heads into the weekend in prime position to capture another major thanks to a flawless finish to a round that opened in driving rain.

Two over for the day through nine holes after mixing three bogeys with a birdie, Rose turned on the jets as the rain stopped and navigated his way home with incredible precision.

He kickstarted his game into high gear, one-putting eight of his final nine holes and carding six birdies along the way.

His playing group also included British Open champion Phil Mickelson, a five-time major winner who was 33 years old when he enjoyed his major breakthrough at the Masters.

For Rose, who considers the 43-year-old American one of the game's greats, seeing Mickelson enjoy such success in the later stages of his career is inspiring.

"It's motivating to know that you can still build that kind of career in your 30s," said Rose. "But at the same time, you know, you understand how hard it is."

(Reporting by Frank Pingue; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

Simpson ties Oak Hill record on 'great day'

Simpson ties Oak Hill record on 'great day'

PGA.COM August 9, 2013







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“I was extremely happy with my game today," saidWebb Simpson of his 6-under 64.(Edward M. Pio Roda/Turner …


By T.J. Auclair, PGA.com Interactive Producer

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Webb Simpson tied the course record at Oak Hill Country Club with a 6-under 64 in the second round of the 95th PGA Championship on Friday.

The 64, along with Thursday's opening round of 2-over 72, had Simpson at 4-under 136 through 36 holes and well within the top 10 after the second round's morning wave.

"It was a great day," said Simpson, who joined Ben Hogan and Curtis Strange as the only other players to shoot 64 atOak Hill. "At 5 over through eight holes (on Thursday) it was a pretty low moment for me. But I had a pep talk with myself on the seventh green and just told myself, 'one hole at a time,' and tried to get a birdie here, a birdie there and somehow played the last 10 or 11 holes under par. I was able to do that and I birdied 18 yesterday, which was huge for my confidence. Two over felt like a 64 yesterday after being 5 over.

"So, I was extremely happy with my game today. All around, it was really solid. I made some great putts, made some good par putts to keep the momentum going. It's a special feeling to have tied the course record at Oak Hill."

Simpson, the 2012 U.S. Open champ, really got things started on the right foot with back-to-back birdies out of the gate on Friday, while playing through a steady rain for much of the round.

Playing the back nine first, Simpson hit his approach shot on the 10th hole to within 10 feet to set up a short birdie putt. At the next hole, he drained a 15-footer for birdie.

Another birdie at the short, par-4 14th hole brought Simpson to 3 under through five holes.

Things really started cooking on the front nine. He birdied Nos. 2, 3 and 6 on putts inside of 12 feet and made a 35-footer at No. 5 for another birdie.


For some time, Simpson thought he might be able to shoot a 62, which would have been a new record score for a major championship.

"I was thinking about it once I birdied No. 6," Simpson admitted. "I was thinking about the all-tie major record, and I was about 99 percent sure it was 63. It's so hard because on one hand, you want to go for it. You want to go for the record. But you can't do that on a golf course this hard and I wasn't doing that at any point today. I was trying to be patient and trying to be conservative."

Simpson's only bogey Friday came at the par-4 seventh hole. Though he hit the fairway with his tee shot, Simpson clipped a tree with his approach that led to the bogey.

Since winning the U.S. Open at Olympic Club last June, Simpson has yet to win again. He came close in April, losing to Graeme McDowell in a playoff at the Heritage. Even still, he's had a consistent 2013 season, having compiled four top-10 finishes in 19 starts.

"I didn't know what to expect, but I feel like the transition to being a major champion was smooth," he said. "I felt like I kept playing well the rest of the summer. Yeah, I wish I could have had a victory since then, but you know, we've been working hard all year trying to get better, and I feel like I'm better.

"Someone told me that the older you get, the more special you'll realize what the U.S. Open meant and that's what it's been like," Simpson added. "Every day I've thought about it, and winning the U.S. Open has made me want to get back in contention in golf tournaments and majors all the more. It's hard to believe that was over a year ago."

So how does Simpson plan on backing up the 64 in Saturday's third round?

"Well, I think if you give the course you're playing proper respect, you know and I go out tomorrow not expecting to shoot 64 again, I think I'll be in a good spot," he said. "Tomorrow is a brand new day. It's probably going to dry out a bit. I think I'll be okay with that. Not saying I'll play well, but I don't think that will affect me necessarily.

"I think it's harder when you're playing somewhere where all the scores are very low and you go out and shoot a low number. In that situation, you're trying to press and make birdies. Here, you don't really have to make birdies, as long as you're kind of hanging around par."