Irishman Padraig Harrington beat Sergio Garcia of Spain by one stroke in a four-hole British Open play-off on Sunday to land his maiden victory in a major and the first by a European for eight years. Harrington (35) completed the extra holes in 15 shots (level par) after the two Ryder Cup colleagues had finished the championship locked together on seven-under 277.
Richard Sterne’s second European Tour victory at the Wales Open has earned the South African a place in next month’s British Open at Carnoustie. Sterne also climbed to fourth in the order of merit after scooping the first prize of 000 at Celtic Manor on Sunday.
Remodelled Wentworth now resembles a major championship test, according to Ernie Els. The world number five, who has a house on the Surrey estate, has masterminded a series of changes to the historic West Course in recent years and is delighted with the result.
Australia’s Adam Gilchrist did not contravene the rules by using a squash ball in his left glove during the World Cup final, the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) said on Tuesday. ”The incident could not be classed either as contravening the law or as breaching the spirit of the game,” said the MCC.
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/ 5 February 2007
Henrik Stenson again demonstrated his affection for the European Tour’s ”Gulf Swing” by winning the Dubai Desert Classic by one stroke on Sunday. The Dubai-based Swede, who has finished in the top eight in the last six tournaments in the Middle East, overcame gusts of up to 30kph to shoot a closing 68 for a 19-under-par tally of 269
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/ 5 February 2007
Chief executive Malcolm Speed says the International Cricket Council (ICC) took on a sizeable task by agreeing to stage the World Cup on nine different Caribbean islands and has called for understanding when problems arise. ”There will be logistical problems, everyone knows that,” Speed told Reuters.
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/ 3 February 2007
Three-times champion Ernie Els was breathing down the neck of surprise leader Ross Fisher of Britain when the Dubai Desert Classic second round was completed on Saturday morning. The 37-year-old South African, two strokes adrift when fading light forced him off the course with four holes to play on Friday, finished with three pars and a birdie four at the last to record a seven-under 65.
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/ 2 February 2007
Britain’s Ross Fisher maintained his unlikely surge in the Dubai Desert Classic on Friday, a second successive seven-under-par 65 securing a two-stroke lead at the end of a day interrupted by bad weather. Three-time champion Ernie Els was second on 12-under with four holes left when darkness fell. Earlier, play was halted for over two hours due to a thunderstorm at the Emirates Golf Club.
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/ 31 January 2007
Ernie Els says he must ignore the Tiger Woods factor if he is to harbour realistic hopes of securing an unprecedented fourth Dubai Desert Classic trophy this week. ”He is so far ahead of me right now but I have got new goals and I want to stay focused on them,” the 37-year-old South African told reporters on the eve of the European Tour event.
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/ 22 January 2007
World number five Ernie Els, refreshed after a break from golf, feels his game is sharp and is itching to launch his 2007 schedule at this week’s Qatar Masters. Previous trips to the Middle East have provided the South African with plenty of success, especially when he won back-to-back titles in Doha and Dubai two years ago.