Latest Golf course Stories

By Gordon BellWALVIS BAY, Namibia - Elen Gubeb's tattered sandals and torn jeans don't match his pricey new Mizuno glove, but dress is not important at this home-made golf track on Namibia's desert coast, an unlikely golf hotspot.The 20-year-old part-time caddy practices with a classic swing as the first of a group of eight players tees off from a small rocky mound nearby.The nine-hole course dubbed the "West Side Club" has no greens or tees, water or grass. Stinging sand and gusts...

By Tony Jimenez LONDON (Reuters) - The golfing genie was again let out of its bottle at last week's PGA Championship when Colin Montgomerie reopened the debate on how best to counter the game's big hitters and advancing technology. Under the guidance of world number six Ernie Els, who has won a record six World Match Play titles at the famous Wentworth estate he calls home, the West Course has been stretched by more than 300 yards to meet the demands of the modern-day golfer. The...

LONDON (Reuters) - Royal Liverpool has been lengthened by 122 yards and the order of the holes slightly altered for this year's British Open (July 20-23), organizers said on Wednesday. The Hoylake course, staging its first Open since 1967, will measure 7,258 yards and the present 17th hole will be played as the first so the par-five 16th will be the last for the event. "We have slightly rearranged the way the holes are played to set competitors a more challenging final hole," said Peter...

By Mark Lamport-Stokes AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - American Rocco Mediate reeled off four birdies in five holes to take the early lead in the U.S. Masters first round on Thursday while champion Tiger Woods improved to one under with four holes to play. Mediate, a five-times winner on the PGA Tour, picked up shots at the 11th, 13th, 14th and 15th on the way to an opening four-under-par 68 in difficult conditions at a sun-drenched Augusta National. "It was fun, I had a blast today," a...

By Mark Lamport-Stokes AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Tiger Woods launched his Masters title defense on Thursday by parring the first three holes, despite missing the fairway off the tee with his opening shot. Chasing a fifth green jacket at Augusta National, the world number one pulled his drive into the left rough beside two pine trees but was able to punch out his second through to the back of the green. In bright sunshine, American Woods two-putted for par from 40 feet. The 10-times...

By Mark Lamport-Stokes PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - Tiger Woods moved into contention with a three-under-par 69 in the Players Championship second round on Friday, despite growing concern over his father's failing health. The world number one, who had considered pulling out of the tournament earlier in the week, birdied four of his first seven holes before finishing at three-under 141. Woods was in danger of bogeying his final hole, the ninth, after finding water off the tee...

By Mark Lamport-Stokes CARLSBAD, California (Reuters) - Twice winner Tiger Woods captured the limelight at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship on Wednesday with a rousing six-birdie start against Canadian Stephen Ames. The world number one, who withdrew from the Nissan Open four days ago because of flu, led the hapless Canadian by eight with 10 holes to play. Champion at La Costa Resort and Spa in 2003 and 2004, Woods launched his red-hot run by hitting a superb approach to just...

By Mark Lamport-Stokes CARLSBAD, California (Reuters) - Australia's Adam Scott drew first blood at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship with a 2&1 victory over American Lucas Glover in Wednesday's opening round. Soon afterwards, U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman beat Australian Stuart Appleby 3&2 in the second match out, after reeling off three birdies in the last six holes. The 25-year-old Scott, who lost his first two holes with bogeys, sank a birdie putt from 20 feet at the...

By Mark Lamport-Stokes PEBBLE BEACH, California (Reuters) - Mike Weir birdied his last three holes to take a three-shot lead in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am second round on Friday. The Canadian left-hander, who opened with a sparkling 63 at the Pebble Beach Golf Links, fired a five-under-par 67 at Poppy Hills in surprisingly cold and foggy conditions on the Monterey Peninsula. That left Weir at 14-under 130, with American Arron Oberholser alone in second place after carding a 68 at...

By Mark Lamport-Stokes PEBBLE BEACH, California (Reuters) - Mike Weir birdied his last three holes to take an early three-shot lead in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am second round on Friday. The Canadian left-hander, who opened with a sparkling 63 at the Pebble Beach Golf Links, fired a five-under-par 67 at Poppy Hills in surprisingly cold and foggy conditions on the Monterey Peninsula. That left Weir at 14-under 130, with American Jonathan Byrd alone in second place after returning a...