KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) ― Dustin Johnson ended a windy week with a wild ride Tuesday that carried him to the first win of the PGA Tour season.Despite hitting two drives into native areas that cost him three shots, Johnson never lost the lead at Kapalua. He closed with a 5-under 68 for a four-shot victory in the Tournament of Champions, though it was up for grabs with five holes remaining.Stricker came within a fraction of an inch of tying for the lead until his birdie putt peeled away from the cup

Jan. 9, 2013

Golfer Pak Se-ri confirmed on SBS TV talk show “Healing Camp“ that she had been in a relationship with a man for six years, the show’s production team said Monday.The 36-year-old golfer, who has won 25 LPGA trophies since the late 1990s, mentioned her boyfriend, saying “I act charming and express him a full physical affection.” Even so, she said that marriage “seems difficult for now.”The legendary sportswoman also recalled a harsh time around 2004, when she was accused of having lost her spirit

Jan. 7, 2013

KAPALUA, Hawaii (AFP) ― American Rickie Fowler will strike the first ball as the 2013 PGA Tour season kicks off Friday with 30 players in the field for the winners-only Hyundai Tournament of Champions.Last year’s winner Steve Stricker is back and he will have some strong competition to beat in his quest to repeat.Stricker, who is the only previous winner in the abbreviated field, posted a pair of 69s in the final two rounds last year, defeating Martin Laird by two strokes.Stricker’s worst finish

Jan. 4, 2013

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei ― Asia took back the Royal Trophy Sunday for first time since 2009, in Asian Captain Naomichi “Joe” Ozaki’s second face-off against European player-captain Jose Maria Olazabal. They first met in 2009. But Ozaki has Korean pair Yang Yong-eun and Kim Kyung-tae to thank for it. After tying it up in nail-biting singles “battle royal” 8-8, the all-Korean dynamic duo powered over Europeans Nicolas Colsaerts and Francesco Molinari, respectively ranked 35 and 30 in the world,

Dec. 17, 2012

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei ― The Royal Trophy lived up to its name as several members of Brunei’s ruling family, headed by Prince Yam Pengiran Muda Abdul Hakeem, played a high-profile role, promoting tourney venue The Empire Hotel and Country Club and, by extension, Brunei as a top-tier golfing destination. The royal connection purveyed through the entirety of the event, including the trophy itself ― a statuesque 16-kilogram solid-silver cup donated by the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej,

Dec. 16, 2012

  BANDER SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI — Korean duo of Yang Yong-eun and Kim Kyung-tae led the way in Day Two of the Royal Trophy golf tournament, Saturday, as the Asians come out firing on all cylinders to dominate the second session 3-1, winning two of the matches and claiming a half point in each of the other two. Given the seemingly hopeless position at the end of the first day’s Foursomes — they trailed 3 1/2 – 1/2, now they head into Sunday’s singles just one point adrift at 4 1/2 – 3

Dec. 15, 2012

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei- Yang Yong-eun and Kim Kyung-tae emerged the sole bright spot for the Asian side, preventing a total route by the Europeans, at the conclusion of the first day of the three-day Royal Trophy golf championship, Friday.Europe prevailed over Asia 3 1/2 to 1/2, with Henrik Stenson and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano shutting down Ryo Ishikawa and Bae Sang-moon at the 14th hole, up 5 with 4 holes remaining.Yang and Kim emerged the sole bright spot for the Asian side out of the fo

Dec. 14, 2012

Asia’s first major champion Yang Yong-eun appeared confident that his youthful teammates will not be intimidated by older and more experienced European rivals, as the Royal Trophy teed off at the Empire Hotel and Country Club in Brunei on Friday. Yang and Indian Jeev Milkha Singh are the only two members of the Asian side that are over 27 years of age. Four of the younger players are making their Royal Trophy debuts. The youthful Asian team will be put to the test this weekend during the three-d

Dec. 14, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) ― Weary of two decades of defeat in Europe, the Americans are breaking from precedent with a captain uniquely suited for the 2014 Ryder Cup in Scotland.Tom Watson will be by far the oldest man to fill the role and the first repeat captain for the U.S. since 1987. But he’s also the last American to lead the team to victory on the road, and he knows how to win in the blustery Scottish weather.“We are just really tired of losing the Ryder Cup,” PGA of America president Ted Bishop said

Dec. 14, 2012

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei — The Royal Trophy Golf Championship promises three days of action-clad drama as Asian and European pro-golfers square off at The Empire Hotel & Country Club in Brunei, Friday. The triumphant Ryder Cup leader at Medinah, Illinois, Jose Maria Olazabal, hopes to continue his recent winning record at the Royal as the captain of the European side — this time against Asia. Europe clenched its fifth victory of the last six Ryder contests. He dedicated the victory to Spanish

Dec. 13, 2012

DUBAI (AP) ― Shanshan Feng of China won the Dubai Ladies Masters by five strokes on Saturday after shooting a 3-under 69 to capture her second Ladies European Tour title.The sixth-ranked Feng had an eagle, two birdies and a bogey to total 21-under 267 at Emirates Golf Club.“I didn’t look at the leaderboard until 18, so I had no idea how everyone else was doing. But I’m very happy,” said Feng, who won the World Ladies Championship in March. “I wanted a top-five finish this week and I did even bet

Dec. 9, 2012

Lee Dong-hwan, a South Korean golfer who recently finished first at the PGA Tour qualifying tournament in California, said Friday he has set a lofty goal for himself.Returning home from the grueling, six-round event, Lee said he hopes someday to win the Masters, one of four major championships in golf.“For next year, I’d like to keep my tour card (by finishing in the top-125 on the money list) and win a tournament, plus the Rookie of the Year award,” Lee told reporters in Incheon International A

Dec. 7, 2012

DUBAI (AP) ― Shanshan Feng birdied five of her first nine holes Thursday to shoot a 7-under 65 and take a four-stroke lead after the second round of the Dubai Ladies Masters.Feng, the highest-ranked player in the field, had three more birdies on the back nine at the Emirates Golf Club for a total of 13-under 131.“My putting was really good today,” Feng said. “I felt a little pressure in the beginning, but after those two birdies on the second and third the pressure was off.“I’m still on the same

Dec. 7, 2012

Korean-American John Huh, 22, was named the U.S. PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year on Tuesday. The award is an inspiration for Korean golfers seeking to make their names on the U.S. Tour. The award sets a milestone for golfers of Asian heritage as well. Huh is the first Asian-American to be named the PGA Rookie of the Year since it was established in 1990. His award is especially memorable as he is the only rookie to make it to the tour championship. Huh qualified for the tour playoff as the only ro

Dec. 6, 2012

LA QUINTA, California (AP) ― The final Q-school that granted direct access to the PGA Tour could turn out to be a waste of a remarkable effort by Kim Si-woo.The 17-year-old from South Korea made it through all four stages of qualifying ― that includes a pre-qualifying stage in September ― and was among 25 players who earned their cards Monday at PGA West. Trouble is, he can’t become a PGA Tour member until he turns 18 on June 28.Kim might play as few as three tournaments and go right back to Q-s

Dec. 5, 2012