PARADISE ISLAND, January 27, 2014 (AFP) - Jessica Korda's unusual birdie at the 72nd hole lifted her to a one-shot triumph over Stacy Lewis Sunday in the season-opening Bahamas LPGA Classic.
Tied for the lead with Lewis as she arrived at the Ocean Club Golf Course's par-five finishing hole, Korda found the fairway with her drive.
Her second shot went through the back of the green, stopping near some cables at the base of the grandstand.
Her caddie and a tournament official held the cables up as she putted onto the green to within five feet of the pin, and when she converted the birdie her the 20-year-old's second LPGA Tour victory was complete.
"That was different -- it was like a jump rope," said Korda, calling the win "Incredible".
She said she was so nervous she "could barely put the golf ball down" for her final putt.
Korda fired a seven-under-par 66 and finished with a 19-under winning total of 273.
Her previous LPGA Tour win came at the 2012 Women's Australian Open, the season-opening event in February of that year.
"I don't know, maybe I pay attention more to detail, and I'm more relaxed out here," of the fact that her two wins have both come in season-opening events. "I don't know, but whatever it is I need to figure it out and do it more often."
Lewis, who played a group ahead of Korda, also shot 66 and was alone in second on 18-under 274.
Overnight leader Choi Na-Yeon of South Korea carded a 72 to finish tied for third on 276, level with Americans Paula Creamer (69) and Lizette Salas (71) and Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum (67).
Lydia Ko shot 68 and shared seventh with three others on 277 in her first LPGA Tour event as a member.
The 16-year-old New Zealander, who won four professional tournaments as an amateur before turning pro last year, was the first player since Korda to successfully petition LPGA Tour commissioner Michael Whan for early membership.
Korda charged into contention courtesy of a seven-hole stretch that included five birdies.
She needed to go low in the optimum scoring conditions, the sun-splashed course offering a contrast to last year's rain-shortened inaugural event.
Lewis got off to a hot start with birdies at six of her first eight holes.
She finished her round with five straight pars, unable to get up and down for birdie from behind the green at 18.
Leading final-round scores on Sunday in the Bahamas LPGA Classic (USA unless noted, par-73):
273 - Jessica Korda 69-66-72-66
274 - Stacy Lewis 69-71-68-66
276 - Pornanong Phatlum (THA) 71-69-69-67, Paula Creamer 71-65-71-69, Lizette Salas 72-67-66-71, Choi Na-Yeon (KOR) 70-68-66-72
277 - Sandra Gal (GER) 71-69-71-66, Christel Boeljon (NED) 71-67-73-66, P.K. Kongkraphan (THA) 69-69-71-68, Lydia Ko (NZL) 68-70-71-68
278 - Morgan Pressel 70-73-69-66, Thidapa Suwannapura (THA) 70-71-68-69
280 - Brittany Lincicome 70-71-71-68, Chella Choi (KOR) 73-69-67-71, Michelle Wie 72-65-72-71, Amelia Lewis 69-73-66-72, Jenny Suh 71-66-71-72
282 - Alena Sharp (CAN) 75-69-70-68, Kristy McPherson 73-71-69-69, Park Hee-Young (KOR) 69-72-72-69, Sandra Changkija 71-72-68-71, Azahara Munoz (ESP) 70-71-69-72
283 - Haru Nomura (JPN) 73-74-70-66, Jodi Ewart Shadoff (ENG) 75-68-71-69
284 - Angela Stanford 73-73-69-69, Laura Diaz 74-69-70-71
285 - Line Vedel (DEN) 73-74-70-68, Moriya Jutanugarn (THA) 74-72-70-69, Gerina Piller 71-75-68-71
0119. 1720
Garcia champion in Qatar after play-off
Sergio Garcia became the second Spaniard after Alvaro Quiros to win the Qatar Masters when he edged Finland's Mikko Ilonen in a thrilling playoff at the Doha Golf Club on Saturday.
DOHA, January 25, 2014 (AFP) - With the light fading fast, Garcia clinched the title with a birdie after both players had failed to break the deadlock in their first two attempts on the par five 18th hole.
However when they started all over again for the third time, Ilonen found the bunker and misread his putt from 12 feet to par the hole, while Garcia two-putted for birdie to win his 11th title on the European Tour.
His last two titles in Europe came in 2011 when he won the Andalucia Masters and the Castello Masters.
With Saturday's win Garcia also made amends for dramatically losing out on the title last year in Qatar when Chris Wood's brilliant eagle on the 18th gave the Englishman his first and so far only European Tour victory.
Wood's feat left Garcia tied for second with South African George Coetzee.
"Yeah, it was nice. I think last year, we had a lot of close calls, starting here.
"So very excited to be able to get my hands on this beautiful trophy, beautiful and heavy trophy," said Garcia who is back in the world top 10 after his victory.
"It's a good start to the year. Great to kind of set up my year a little bit, win again on The European Tour. Get more Ryder Cup points. So I couldn't ask for a better week."
Garcia added that it all boils down to good putting.
"As long as you're putting to win, even if you miss, you know that you're still there. What I was a bit more worried about was when Mikko had that eagle chance on the second playoff hole and then he had the chance to win. But it was a tough putt.
"Then on the third hole, hit a really nice 5?iron for my second shot and hit a good putt. I thought it had a chance, it just missed right and he had pretty much the same putt he had for eagle before and still wasn't able to hole it."
Ilonen was left ruing his missed chances in what was his first playoff.
"I was actually expecting that one of us is going to make an eagle. But you know, I hit two poor bunker shots out of that front right trap, one in the regulation and one now in the third playoff hole. I'm not going to blame anything else for my poor shot."
In an action-packed final round several players were in contention for the tile, but Garcia, who was three shots off the pace when play began, shot a bogey-free 65 for an aggregate of 16 under par 272 to put the chasing pack under pressure.
But only Ilonen was up to the task as he sank a birdie from 20 feet on the 18th hole despite finding the bunker to sensationally tie with the Spanish ace.
Denmark's Thorbjørn Olesen was also in with a chance to make the playoff but, but dropped a shot on the 17th after finding the bunker. That left him needing an eagle on the last hole where he only managed a birdie to finish tied third with Rafa Cabrera-Bello on 15 under.
Overnight joint leader Steve Webster missed several easy putts to be tied fifth on 14 under with Thomas Aiken, Coetzee and Alejandro Canizares.
"I had a few chances again, missed one green in regulation, played really good, really happy with my swing," said Webster.
"Just a bit unlucky on the greens. If it had been a little bit of luck, you know, I'd have fancied winning."
Leading scores after the fourth and final round of the 2.5 million dollar Qatar Masters at the par-72 Doha Golf Club on Saturday:
Sergio Garcia beat Mikko Ilonen at the third hole in a playoff to clinch the title.
272 - Sergio Garcia (ESP) 71-67-69-65, Mikko Ilonen (FIN) 68-67-71-66
273 - Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 68-69-68-68, Rafa Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 66-65-73-69
274 - Alejando Canizares (ESP) 68-68-73-65, George Coetzee (RSA) 64-69-73-68, Thomas Aiken (RSA) 67-68-70-69, Steve Webster (ENG) 65-69-70-70
275 - Magnus Carlsson (SWE) 69-71-70-65, Dawie Van der Walt (RSA) 65-72-70-68
276 - Romain Wattel (FRA) 67-68-74-67, Paul Lawrie (SCO) 67-70-69-70
277 - Carlos del Moral (ESP) 72-68-69-68, Seve Benson (ENG) 68-71-69-69, Branden Grace (RSA) 67-69-71-70
278 - Dominic Foos (GER) 70-70-70-68, Peter Ulhlein (USA) 70-69-69-70, Simon Dyson (ENG) 68-69-71-70, Darren Fichardt (RSA) 69-70-69-70, Johan Carlsson (SWE) 69-65-72-72, Adrien Saddier (FRA) 70-71-64-73
279 - Peter Hanson (SWE) 69-67-75-68, Tyrell Hatton (ENG) 69-71-71-68, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 67-70-73-69, Matthew Baldwin (ENG) 68-66-74-71, Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR) 69-6968-73
Choi in charge in Bahamas
South Korea's Choi Na-Yeon birdied three of her last four holes on Saturday to seize a one-shot third-round lead at the season-opening Bahamas LPGA Classic.
PARADISE ISLAND, January 26, 2014 (AFP) - The seven-time LPGA Tour winner posted a seven-under par 66 for a 15-under total of 204 and had a one-stroke lead over American Lizette Salas -- whose own 66 put her on 205.
"I think the last three rounds I had a really good swing," Choi said. "I had so many solid shots out there. I missed two greens today. Only two, but I hit a putt from the fringe, so obviously I haven't chipped the last two rounds."
Salas will be seeking her first title on Sunday on the Ocean Club course.
"I was working really hard during the offseason with my coach. Seeing results this quickly, I've been feeling really good about it," she said.
Overnight leader Jessica Korda and playing partner Paula Creamer both eagled the par-five 18th to grab a share of third place on 12-under 207.
Korda carded a 72. Her eagle at the last, where she landed her second shot within two feet, helped counter a double-bogey at 13.
Creamer's closing eagle helped her overcome a triple bogey from the water at 15. She carded a 71.
Stacy Lewis, the highest-ranked player in the field at number three in the world, carded a 68 and jumped into a share of fifth on 208. She was tied with Amelia Lewis (66) and Monday qualifier Jenny Suh (71).
"I actually like where I am and I like that I'm going to get out tomorrow a couple groups early and hopefully can make a couple putts early and then kind of put some pressure on the leaders," Stacy Lewis said.
New Zealand 16-year-old Lydia Ko, playing her first tournament as an LPGA Tour member, carded a 71 that left her in a group of six players on 209.
Ko, who turned pro last year after a stellar amateur career, is the second-highest ranked player in the field at number four in the world.
Both Choi and Salas played without a bogey on Saturday. Salas briefly grabbed sole possession of the lead after her seventh birdie of the day at the 15th.
She couldn't find another birdie however, and Choi notched the last two of her seven birdies at 16 and 18 to gain the lead.
Leading third-round scores on Saturday in the Bahamas LPGA Classic (USA unless noted):
204 - Choi Na-Yeon (KOR) 70-68-66
205 - Lizette Salas 72-67-66
207 - Paula Creamer 71-65-71, Jessica Korda 69-66-72
208 - Amelia Lewis 69-73-66, Stacy Lewis 69-71-68, Jenny Suh 71-66-71
209 - Chella Choi (KOR) 73-69-67, Thidapa Suwannapura (THA) 70-71-68, Pornanong Phatlum (THA) 71-69-69, P.K. Kongkraphan (THA) 69-69-71, Lydia Ko (NZL) 68-70-71, Michelle Wie 72-65-72
210 - Azahara Munoz (ESP) 70-71-69
211 - Sandra Changkija 71-72-68, Sandra Gal (GER) 71-69-71, Christel Boeljon (NED) 71-67-73
212 - Morgan Pressel 70-73-69, Brittany Lincicome 70-71-71
213 - Tiffany Joh 73-74-66, Kristy McPherson 73-71-69, Laura Diaz 74-69-70 , Danielle Kang 73-69-71, Park Hee-Young (KOR) 69-72-72
214 - Karine Icher (FRA) 74-73-67, Gerina Piller 71-75-68, Sarah Jane Smith (AUS) 72-73-69, Alena Sharp (CAN) 75-69-70, Cindy LaCrosse 70-74-70, Jodi Ewart Shadoff (ENG) 75-68-71
Woodland leads as Woods crashes at Torrey
On a day when Tiger Woods's woes were the talk of Torrey Pines, Gary Woodland kept mistakes to a minimum to take the Farmers Insurance Open third-round lead.
LA JOLLA, January 26, 2014 (AFP) - World number one Woods - whose eight triumphs at Torrey Pines include seven titles in this US PGA Tour event and the 2008 US Open - staggered to third-round 79 that saw him notch a dubious career first in missing the secondary cut.
Woods's round included back-to-back double-bogeys at the 18th and first holes, followed by five straight bogeys from the second through sixth holes.
His six-over total of 222 left him 14 shots behind Woodland, who overcame a bogey and a double-bogey of his own to post a two-under 70 for a 54-hole total of eight-under 208.
Woodland was one stroke in front of Australian Marc Leishman, who posted an even-par 72, and overnight leader Jordan Spieth who carded a 75 to join Leishman on 209.
Pat Perez and Morgan Hoffman were tied on 210, both Americans posting even par 72s.
A group of seven players on 211 included Argentina's Andres Romero, whose 67 was the lowest round of the day. Japan's Ryo Ishikawa and South African Rory Sabbatini joined that group with 69s, while Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, who started the day in third place, ended up in the group at five-under after a three-over 75.
American Stewart Cink, who began the round one stroke behind Spieth, carded a 79 that left him tied for 27th.
But it was Woods's woes on a course playing hard and fast in the absence of the damp weather usual for the Southern California coast in January that made the most news.
"It was definitely different seeing him making so many bogeys," said playing partner Jhonattan Vegas. "You don't expect to see that out of him."
Never before has Woods missed a secondary cut -- made after the third round in US PGA Tour events when the halfway cut yields an excessive weekend field.
Only the top 70 and ties advanced to Sunday's final round, and Woods was tied for 80th.
Despite balmy temperatures and little wind, only 18 players broke par.
Woodland had five birdies to counter his bogey at the par-four 15th and a double-bogey at the par-four 17th.
Leishman was admirably steady with one birdie and one bogey in his 72.
"It was a bit tougher out there today," Leishman said. "The greens firmed up, got quicker, it was had to roll in those putts."
Spieth played his first five holes in four-over, including a double-bogey at the par-four fifth. He was delighted to find himself just one off the lead going into the final round.
"The par-fives were gettable, you just had to be in the fairway," he said. "I guess a lot of people were struggling to hit the fairways today, including myself. I think I only hit three of them. That's not going to work tomorrow."
American Phil Mickelson was a notable absentee on Saturday. After making the cut despite a sore back, he opted to withdraw Friday. He's due to defend his title at the Phoenix Open next week.
Leading third-round scores on Saturday in the $6.1 million US PGA Farmers Insurance Open (USA unless noted):
208 - Gary Woodland 65-73-70
209 - Marc Leishman (AUS) 66-71-72, Jordan Spieth 71-63-75
210 - Pat Perez 67-71-72, Morgan Hoffmann 72-66-72
211 - Rory Sabbatini (RSA) 74-68-69, Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 72-70-69, Will MacKenzie 72-69-70, Scott Stallings 72-67-72, Brad Fritsch (CAN) 69-70-72, Andres Romero (ARG) 72-72-67, Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL) 69-67-75
212 - Robert Streb 73-69-70, Charles Howell 70-72-70, Brian Stuard 70-73-69, Keegan Bradley 69-72-71, Graham DeLaet (CAN) 70-73-69, Jason Day (AUS) 66-73-73, Kevin Chappell 73-66-73, Kevin Tway 69-70-73, Erik Compton 69-69-74, Russell Knox (SCO) 71-67-74
213 - Ian Poulter (ENG) 75-67-71, Justin Thomas 68-73-72, Trevor Immelman (RSA) 68-74-71, Noh Seung-Yul (KOR) 68-73-72
Missed secondary cut:
222 - Tiger Woods 72-71-79