Swedish Ryder Cup star Henrik Stenson will play defending champion Geoff Ogilvy in the 36-hole final of the WGC Match Play in Arizona on Sunday. Stenson beat South Africa’s Trevor Immelman 3&2, while Australia’s Ogilvy also downed American Chad Campbell 3&2.
Stenson took the lead at the first and was never headed, alternating between two and three up from the fourth hole.
US Open champion Ogilvy was one down after seven but took the decisive lead on the 9th before winning on the 16th.
Immelman and Campbell will fight it out over 18 holes for third place on Sunday.
“I’m knackered now, playing two rounds today. It was nice not to have to go all the way to the end in this one,” said Stenson, 30, who held off Ernie Els and Tiger Woods to clinch his fifth European Tour title at this month’s Dubai Desert Classic.
Fourteen year-old Scot Carly Booth has become one of the youngest players to be chosen to play for a Britain and Ireland squad.
The announcement of the squad is ahead of the Vagliano Trophy and Commonwealth tournament next season.
Booth – who, at 11, partnered Sandy Lyle to victory in the British Masters pro-am – has now earned a scholarship to David Leadbetter’s Florida academy.
She was also part of the side which tied the junior Ryder Cup in September.
The squad was picked by the Ladies’ Golf Union and the union’s chairman Gillian Kirkwood is pleased that they are able to give so much experience to the young group.
“We are delighted to give a number of young players the opportunity of being part of the LGU training programme,” she said.
“We believe that the mix of youth and experience will ensure that strong teams are selected for the two matches.”
Curtis Cup quartet Tara Delaney, Naomi Edwards, Breanne Loucks and Melissa Reid have also been named in the squad.
Source: news.bbc.co.uk
Not enough European Tour players at the New Zealand Open? Try telling top Kiwi Michael Campbell.
He launched a salvo at those who bemoan the shortage of Europeans at Gulf Harbour this week.
The field contains 34 players who qualified for the Open out of the European circuit.
“I don’t know why they’re so negative about it,” he said last night.
“It really pisses me off. We should be really excited about this week, not pointing the finger at the European Tour and saying there should be more Europeans. I think it’s great there’s less [of them].”
World No 22 Campbell pointed out that the European shortfall opened more spots for young New Zealand players and reckoned the benefits for their golf education this week are significant. Continue reading Lack of Europeans gives young Kiwis a chance→
Fourteen year-old Scot Carly Booth has become one of the youngest players to be chosen to play for a Britain and Ireland squad.