Mickelson to Tiger: Bring it on

ROCHESTER (AFP) ― Phil Mickelson says playing against Tiger Woods brings out the best in him and that he wants a showdown with both men at their best at the 95th PGA Championship.“I’m as motivated as ever to compete and to play and get the best golf out of me, to hopefully play against Tiger when he’s playing his best,” Mickelson said Tuesday. “That would ultimately be the goal. If I can play as well as I can at the same time he’s doing the same, I would love that opportunity.”It could come star

Aug. 7, 2013

Park ready to start fresh after disappointing Open

INCHEON (Yonhap News) ― After coming up short in winning her fourth straight LPGA major last weekend, South Korean star Park In-bee said Tuesday she is ready to put the disappointment behind her.Park arrived home on Tuesday to rest after competing at the Ricoh Women’s British Open at the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland. She was seeking to become the first golfer, male or female, to win four consecutive professional majors in the same season, but she finished tied for 42nd at 6-over par, 14 s

Aug. 6, 2013

Park In-bee comes up short in bid to win fourth consecutive major

South Korean Park In-bee came up well short in her bid to win her fourth LPGA major in a row on Sunday, finishing tied for 42nd at the Ricoh Women's British Open.Park closed out the tournament with a 6-over 78 on Sunday at the par-72 Old Course at St Andrews, 14 shots behind the champion, Stacy Lewis of the United States. Park ended her tournament at 6-over 294.Having captured the first three majors of 2013, Park was trying to become the first golfer, male or female, to win four straight profes

Aug. 5, 2013

Wind suspends 3rd round

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) ― Park In-bee wanted tough conditions at St. Andrews to try to make up an eight-shot deficit in her pursuit of a fourth straight major.It turned out to be too tough for anyone.The third round of the Women’s British Open was suspended Saturday by gusts that topped 40 mph and kept golf balls from staying put on the greens. After waiting six hours for the wind to calm, players were told to return Sunday morning for a marathon finish.Whether that becomes a huge break for t

Aug. 4, 2013

Park gets off to solid start

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) ― Wearing a black rain suit and a soft smile, Inbee Park looked calm as ever standing before the imposing Royal & Ancient clubhouse just moments before she teed off Thursday in the Women’s British Open. Only after her unsteady round of 3-under 69 did Park reveal perhaps the biggest surprise at St. Andrews. She was nervous. “But then once the round started, and especially playing so good in the first few holes, that really gave me a lot of confidence,” Park said. “I did

Aug. 2, 2013

[Newsmaker] Koreans garner attention in British Open

World No. 1 Park In-bee of South Korea is aiming to make headlines with her Korean rivals as the British Open kicks off its four-day run at the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, Thursday. Heavy favorite Park aims to make history at the course, regarded as the “home of golf,” where the sport was first played in the early 1400s, by adding a first British Open to her three major wins. The 25-year-old Seoul native captured titles at Kraft Nabisco, the LPGA Championship and U.S. Open. A win in the

Aug. 1, 2013

With history in sight, Park In-bee keeps her cool

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) ― Park In-bee once felt she could walk down the streets of Seoul as the No. 1 player in women’s golf without being recognized.That was two months ago.Now she can’t even make it through a toll booth.The week before she set out to make history at St. Andrews, the 25-year-old Park went home to South Korea to visit family and friends. She was surprised by the number of people who met her at the airport, and who looked her way when she was out in public dressed in regular c

July 31, 2013

Yang to lead Asia against Europe at Royal Trophy

South Korean Yang Yong-eun and Spaniard Jos Maria Olazbal will lead their respective Asian and European teams at the next edition of The Royal Trophy Dec. 20-22 at Dragon Lake Golf Club in Guangzhou, China, according to the organizer.“I am committed to building a very strong team for our continent’s defense of the Royal Trophy. I will do my utmost to retain stewardship of the Trophy in Asia and look forward to the matches with great excitement and anticipation,” said Yang, the winner of the 2009

July 31, 2013

With history in sight, Park keeps her cool

Inbee Park once felt she could walk down the streets of Seoul as the No. 1 player in women's golf without being recognized.That was two months ago.Now, she can't even make it through a toll booth.The week before she set out to make history at St. Andrews, the 25-year-old Park went home to South Korea to visit family and friends. She was surprised by the number of people who met her at the airport, and who looked her way when she was out in public dressed in regular clothes.“I was driving by the

July 31, 2013

History beckons as Park bids for four major wins in a row

Park In-bee will feel as if “the whole world is watching me” when the South Korean attempts next week to become the first golfer of either gender to win four majors in one season.The 25-year-old has already lifted the U.S. Women’s Open and LPGA and Kraft Nabisco Championship trophies this year and will write a fresh page in the record books if she can add the British Open title at St Andrews.Park knows all eyes will be on her when she tees it up at the home of golf on Thursday. “I’m trying to ge

July 28, 2013

Recari hangs on to win Marathon

SYLVANIA, Ohio (AP) ― The head-to-head duel between Beatriz Recari and Paula Creamer in the final round of the Marathon Classic on Sunday was great theater.Don’t be surprised if there’s a sequel.Recari rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on the 14th hole to take the lead for good and hung on to hold off Creamer for her third LPGA Tour title.They started the day tied and spent most of the day trading the lead ― as if it were match play. The duel in the heat in suburban Toledo might have been foreshad

July 22, 2013

Phil Mickelson wins British Open for 1st time

One of the greatest final rounds in a major. Two of the best shots he ever struck with a 3-wood. The third leg of the Grand Slam.Phil Mickelson never imagined any of this happening at the British Open.No wonder he never took his hand off the base of that silver claret jug as he talked about the best Sunday he ever had at a major. Five shots out of the lead, Mickelson blew past Tiger Woods, caught up to Lee Westwood and Masters champion Adam Scott, and won golf's oldest championship with the lowe

July 22, 2013

Recari, Creamer share lead at Marathon

SYLVANIA, Ohio (AP) ― The Marathon Classic isn’t a match-play tournament.Except for maybe this year.Beatriz Recari birdied the two closing par 5s to catch Paula Creamer atop the leaderboard through 54 holes Saturday, setting up a head-to-head battle between players who are three shots clear of the field.Recari, a 26-year-old Spaniard who has won twice on the LPGA Tour, conceded that it’s hard not to get caught up in a two-person competition.“Definitely, it’s easier because you’re playing with th

July 21, 2013

Prepping for Open unlike other majors

GULLANE, Scotland (AP) ― The practice round schedule posted each day at Muirfield is not the only way to determine how players are getting ready for the British Open.Johnson Wagner’s name was on the tee sheet at St. Andrews over the weekend.Geoff Ogilvy could be found on the other side of the country, on links courses like Turnberry, Royal Troon and Western Gailes. Justin Rose was at North Berwick. So were Bubba Watson and Luke Donald, who got in plenty of golf along the Firth of Forth the week

July 18, 2013