Chicago Sun-Times

U.S. Open title by Justin Rose is fitting Father’s Day tribute

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:13:56 -0500

ARDMORE, Pa. — After nearly holing out his 3-wood chip from the back of the 18th green Sunday and finishing with a one-shot lead, Justin Rose looked skyward. His emotions spent, he couldn’t help but think of his father, Ken, who died of leukemia in 2002, after coaching Rose and instilling his passion for golf. “The look up to the heavens was absolutely for my dad,’’ Rose said. “Father’s Day was not lost on me today. You don’t have opportunities to really dedicate a win to someone you love. And today was about him and being Father’s Day. I got …

Tiger Woods to rest sore elbow until British Open

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:12:00 -0500

Tiger Woods’ sore left elbow will keep him out of competition until the British Open.

Hissy fit by Rory McIlroy leaves his iron bent out of shape

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:13:56 -0500

ARDMORE, Pa. — After dropping two tee shots into Cobbs Creek, which guards the 11th green, on Sunday, Rory McIlroy bent his offending iron in frustration, rendering it useless. When the world’s second-ranked player can become that irritated, even though his chances of making any noise in the U.S. Open are long gone, that’s a statement. “What you don’t want to do as a golfer is follow one mistake with another, and that’s what I did,’’ said McIlroy, who took an eight on the tantalizing 367-yard par-four. “Obviously, I got a bit frustrated. That’s what this tournament does to you.’’ …

U.S. Open leader Phil Mickelson poised for ‘something special’

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 02:41:00 -0500

ARDMORE, Pa. — Is the golf world ready for another Merion moment? It could happen Sunday. Phil Mickelson — the best (and most popular) player who hasn’t won a U.S. Open, will have a chance to take his place alongside the likes of Bobby Jones and Ben Hogan at this historic, quirky and dangerous course outside Philadelphia. Mickelson put himself in the driver’s seat to end his U.S. Open frustrations with a solid 70 in the third round Saturday. It was highlighted by a stellar birdie with a 4-iron on the into-the-wind, over-the-quarry 17th hole, which was playing 206 yards …

Tiger Woods loses his ‘feel,” sinks to 10 off the lead

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 02:41:09 -0500

ARDMORE, Pa. — Another weekend at a major, another major Tiger Woods swoon. Ten shots behind Phil Mickelson heading into Sunday, Woods is toast, as Johnny Miller said. That will make it 20 majors (including four he missed due to injury) since Woods’ last major victory at the 2008 U.S. Open, when he completed a string of six wins in 14 major championships. After making his lone birdie on No. 1, Woods posted seven bogeys on Saturday for a 76 that leaves him 9-over par. It is his highest 54-hole total as a professional in the U.S. Open. “It is …

Phil Mickelson still the leader at U.S. Open after three rounds

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 19:32:00 -0500

ARDMORE, Pa. — Phil Mickelson has the lead after three rounds at the U.S. Open. Mickelson shot an even-par 70 Saturday, including three birdies on the back nine, for a 1-under 209 total on the hard-to-read greens at Merion Golf Club. Mickelson took the lead with a birdie at No. 17 and had a hard-fought bogey at the 18th — a hole that none of the 73 players in the field birdied in the third round. He is one stroke ahead of Hunter Mahan, Charl Schwartzel and Steve Stricker. Mickelson is seeking his first U.S. Open title. He’s been a …

Wincing Woods battling elbow injury

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 02:14:07 -0500

ARDMORE, Pa. — After shooting a second-round 70 that put him 3 over par, Tiger Woods confirmed he’s battling a left elbow injury but only gave vague details. ‘‘I made a couple of mistakes out there today,’’ Woods said, ‘‘but I really played well. Maybe I could have gotten one or two more out of it, but it was a pretty good day.’’ Woods, who grimaced several times while following through on shots for the second straight day, said he first injured the elbow at the Players Championship in mid-May. ‘‘My left arm didn’t feel very good on that shot, …

Bogeys don’t deter Luke Donald

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 02:13:58 -0500

ARDMORE, Pa. — Luke Donald bogeyed five of his last nine holes in the second round of the U.S. Open at Merion on Friday. Where does that leave him? ‘‘In great position,’’ Donald said after shooting a 2-over 72 that put him at par through 36 holes. ‘‘I made a couple of mistakes on my back nine, but, overall, I’m very satisfied to be at even par. Looking at the scores, that puts me in a good place.’’ There’s no arguing that. Donald is in a five-way tie, one shot behind leaders Billy Horschel (second-round 67) and Phil Mickelson (72). …

Tattling TV viewers becoming a hazard

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:53:28 -0500

ARDMORE, Pa. — ‘‘Hello, Merion Golf Club. May I help you?’’ ‘‘Yes. Can I speak to a rules official from the U.S. Golf Association, please? I saw a twig move.’’ ‘‘Sir, thousands of twigs get tossed around here every day. It’s a golf course.’’ ‘‘Yeah, but this one was moved by Tiger Woods’ backswing, in a fairway bunker on No. 16.’’ ‘‘Excuse me, but how would you know that? There’s no place for fans to see anything on 16. There’s barely places to stand on that hole.’’ ‘‘I’m not there. I’m in Phoenix, watching on an 80-inch high-def TV.’’ ‘‘I’m …

U.S. Open at Merion is about more than length, or lack thereof

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 02:35:11 -0500

Why Merion? At 6,996 yards, it seems to be too short for a U.S. Open. At 111 acres, it’s very confining for the bread-and-butter hospitality business, and the galleries will be limited to 25,000 spectators. That means the USGA will be taking a big financial hit at this year’s U.S. Open, which begins Thursday. Why Merion? Because, for all the drawbacks, its famed East Course is a historic gem that once prompted Jack Nicklaus to say, ‘‘Acre for acre, it may be the best test of golf in the world.’’ Bobby Jones won the U.S. Amateur at the suburban Philadelphia …

17 million to 1: Brothers hit back-to-back holes-in-one

Wed, 29 May 2013 09:46:00 -0500

PIERRE, S.D. — Two young brothers from Pierre are being credited with sinking back-to-back holes-in-one at the city’s Hillsview Golf Course. Nine-year-old Alex Rowe and his 11-year-old brother, Josh, are celebrating aces on the 148-yard 14th hole on Monday. The brothers and their father, Bert, witnessed Josh’s tee shot go in the cup. No one saw Alex’s tee shot go in, but two golfers who played through after his shot said later that they saw the ball in the cup when they reached the green. The National Hole in One Registry puts the odds of two golfers from the same …

European Tour CEO apologizes for saying Sergio Garcia has ‘colored’ friends

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:22:00 -0500

The head of the European golf tour apologized for using the term “colored” during a live television interview Thursday in which he was reacting to the spat between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia.

Sergio Garcia ‘fried chicken’ comment draws Tiger Woods’ ire

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:40:36 -0500

What’s up with Sergio Garcia? It isn’t enough that he dunks the ball in the water with the tournament on the line. Now he’s put his foot in his mouth in a most inappropriate way. Asked if he’ll invite Tiger Woods, whom he has been sparring with lately, to dinner at the U.S. Open next month, showed no tact at all.

USGA gives long putters the short end of the stick

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:44:01 -0500

Golf’s governing bodies approved a rule Tuesday that outlaws the putting stroke used by four of the last six major champions, a move opposed by two major golf organizations that contend long putters are not hurting the game. The Royal & Ancient Golf Club and U.S. Golf Association said Rule 14-1b will take effect in 2016. “We recognize this has been a divisive issue, but after thorough consideration, we remain convinced that this is the right decision for golf,” R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said. The new rule does not ban the long putters, only the way they commonly are …

Tiger Woods notices lack of black golfers

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:28:00 -0500

Ever wonder if Tiger Woods notices that, after all he has accomplished and all the worldwide recognition he has received across all these years at the top of his sport, he remains the only black American playing on the PGA Tour? “Tiger notices everything,” said Ahmad Rashad. “He’s socially conscious about a lot of things.

Man who reported Tiger Woods’ illegal drop at Masters revealed

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:16:00 -0500

The television viewer who reported the illegal drop Tiger Woods took during the second round of the Masters was more than just a golf fan. Sports Illustrated reported Wednesday it was David Eger, a rules expert who has worked for the USGA and the PGA Tour.