World number two Phil Mickelson, third-ranked Ernie Els and fourth-ranked Adam Scott will lead a strong field in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond in July. Mickelson and Els, a double winner of the British Open warm-up event, return after finishing second and third respectively last year behind Frenchman Gregory Havret.
Trevor Immelman benefitted from a piece of Masters luck on Saturday, but the third-round leader from South Africa knows it's Sunday that offers a chance to enter Masters lore. Immelman (28) had a stroke of good fortune at the par-five 15th when his ball stuck on the steep bank of the green after his third shot.
It was the Big Easy of Old who blitzed round the Outeniqua course in 62 strokes in today's first round of his own Ernie Els Invitational, which is being played at Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate. Eight seemingly effortless birdies and an eagle on the par-five 17th saw Els finish three ahead of compatriot Retief Goosen.
Tiger Woods played a six-hole stretch in seven-under par but followed with a back nine of even-par golf that left him three strokes ahead of the field on Friday after two rounds of the United States Tour Championship. Tearing apart a defenceless course at East Lake Golf Club, Woods made five straight birdies and capped it with a 70-foot eagle putt on the par-five ninth hole to make the turn in 28.
