The Asian Tour is set to massively expand with corporate interest higher than ever as golf becomes ”cool” thanks to Tiger Woods, executive chairperson Kyi Hla Han says. Kyi, who has been running the tour since chief executive Louis Martin left to work with Ernie Els five months ago, predicted it was on the verge of exploding.
Retief Goosen clawed his way into contention at the Johnnie Walker Classic on Friday, lurking two behind Oliver Wilson who leads by a stroke from South Africa’s Anton Haig. The world number six compiled a 68 to sit dangerously in the shadow of the Englishman, who spoiled a perfect score by hitting a bogey on the 18th for a round of 66 to be 10 under for the tournament.
Adam Scott and Ernie Els wilted in the hot and humid conditions on Thursday and will need to produce something special if they want to reel in Johnnie Walker Classic leader Brad Kennedy. World number four Scott fired a three-over-par 74 to be nine off the pace while Els, the world number five, trails by eight after shooting 73.
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/ 28 February 2007
Retief Goosen and Ernie Els on Wednesday forecast a big future for golf in Asia, with more top players and leading events coming to the region and a champion waiting in the wings. The two players are in Phuket for the Johnnie Walker Classic this week.
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/ 27 February 2007
Ernie Els and Adam Scott do battle in Asia again this week with the prospect of more fireworks from two of the world’s top golfers at the lucrative Johnnie Walker Classic. The last time Els and Scott met in the region they went head-to-head at the Singapore Open in September, with the Australian world number four digging deep to beat the big South African.
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/ 24 January 2007
A stunned Rafael Nadal was turfed out of the Australian Open on Wednesday by Fernando Gonzalez as Kim Clijsters ended the dreams of Martina Hingis to set up a semifinal showdown with Maria Sharapova. Russian third seat Nikolay Davydenko joined Nadal on the scrapheap, beaten by unfancied German Tommy Haas in five tough sets.
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/ 23 January 2007
The ”ultimate competitor”, Serena Williams, upset the form book to blitz into the Australian Open semifinals on Tuesday as Roger Federer and Andy Roddick set up a showdown against each other. Seven-time Grand Slam champion Williams, who won here in 2003 and 2005, staged an amazing fightback to down Israeli 16th seed Shahar Peer 3-6, 6-2, 8-6 in an epic battle.
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/ 22 January 2007
Rafael Nadal battled through a five-set firestorm to book his ticket to the Australian Open quarterfinals early on Tuesday as Martina Hingis and Kim Clijsters set up an enticing clash. Top seed Maria Sharapova also marched on, outmuscling fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva 7-5, 6-4.
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/ 20 January 2007
For the first time in the Open era there is no American female seeded at the Australian Open, but Serena Williams is doing her best ensure United States tennis doesn’t sink completely from view. With Lindsay Davenport pregnant and expected to retire and sister Venus Williams out injured, she is flying the Stars and Stripes with a watershed match on Sunday in her comeback from injury.
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/ 19 January 2007
Marat Safin was bounced out of the Australian Open in the third round by Andy Roddick in a bad-tempered dogfight on Friday as Serena Williams announced she is back with a vengeance. World number one Roger Federer also made the fourth round, as did women’s champion Amelie Mauresmo and Russian third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova.