WGT Golf News : phil mickelson

Rory Be Wary

WGTwildcat — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:53:00 GMT

By Mike Purkey for GlobalGolfPost

So, fellow travelers, what to make of this little bromance between Tiger and Rory, them suddenly looking like best buds and all?

Every time you look up lately, they are strolling down some fairway, side by side, smiling and chatting like they’re fraternity brothers. They’ve played together a handful of times late into this season, the last being this one-day exhibition in China in which each was paid a small boatload of money to turn up.

What do you suppose they talk about? Do they dissect the Celtic-Rangers football match? Or whether Ray Allen will get the Heat another NBA title? Did Tiger give Rory the name of his real estate agent and housekeeper? Well, maybe not the housekeeper. Did Tiger invite Rory over to throw something on the grill and play X-Box deep into the night?

Do you think they discuss what it’s like to have a famous girlfriend except in a good way?

If this is the new Tiger, we can’t be sure how to figure this one out. The old Tiger would have never given McIlroy the time of day, much less engage in some harmless convo during a competitive round of golf. Woods would have stared a hole through Rory the size of a cannonball and would have no other thoughts than to beat the living daylights out of his biggest challenger.

McIlroy is No. 1 in the world and Woods is No. 2. That in itself would normally have been enough for Tiger to keep Rory at arm’s length while he goes about the business of regaining the top ranking.

Woods certainly didn’t treat any other of his closest rivals, if you could call them actual rivals, anything like civil. He didn’t have any use for Phil Mickelson, not even for a minute, and when they played together, the only contact they had was a handshake and a nod on the first tee and the 18th green. In between, nothing, absolutely nothing.

The reason Tiger and Phil didn’t win either of their Ryder Cup matches together in 2004 was because both of them had contracted frostbite from the Arctic iceberg between them that prevented them from speaking a word to one another. Go get ’em, pards.

But now, they are Ping-Pong partners in the Ryder Cup team room and, according to Phil, are a dominant force. If Mickelson finds out that you play Pong, he’ll buy a table, set it up and bet you $100 he can kick your ass. Maybe he ought to try that in golf. Just saying.

Where were we? Oh, yes, is it possible that Tiger has turned into a docile house cat at age 37? Has the world’s greatest competitor decided he has nothing to prove? In the beginning of Jack Nicklaus’ career and for years thereafter, he was Arnold Palmer’s bitter rival. But when Arnie and Jack were no longer trying to beat each other’s brains out, they became friends, and now no one is closer than these two of the game’s most prominent citizens.

Or is Tiger a little more content to sit back and count his considerable coin and enjoy the good life that 14 majors bring?

Tiger has all the money that he will ever need and McIlroy is getting there. At the China exhibition, it was reported that Tiger received $2 million and McIlroy half that. Pretty good payday all around but it still demonstrates that Tiger still not only moves the needle but he is the needle.

Now, we see that Rory and Tiger are going to be teammates of sorts, as McIlroy is about to sign a big, long-term deal with Nike. Reported at $200 million – or more – for 10 years, McIlroy is about to rise near the top of off-course earnings among professional golfers. However, it’s not entirely certain what Woods is making but you can bet it’s more than that.

As the late, great Sen. Everett Dirksen used to like to say, “A billion here, a billion there and sooner or later, you’re talking about real money.”

And, it was reported that Woods and McIlroy have already shot their first Nike commercial together, engaging in some of what you call your light-hearted banter about the company’s new driver and what kind of insane distance they get from it.

It has been rightly pointed out that if McIlroy moves to Nike, he will get the equipment he needs to continue playing his best golf. There’s really nothing to worry about here. Nike has one of the best club designers in Tom Stites and golf ball builders in Rock Ishii. The company will make certain that it does whatever is necessary and go to whatever source is required to get something in McIlroy’s hands in which he has the utmost confidence.

So if golf’s new power couple shares a brand, do they share the same hunger to be the No. 1 player in the world? On the surface, Tiger and Rory look for all the world like best mates – but what’s underneath?

It is thought that Chinese general Sun-Tzu (The Art of War) once rightly said, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

PHOTO: Global Golf Post

Another Playoff Payoff For Rory

WGTwildcat — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:46:00 GMT

Contributed by GlobalGolfPost

There can be no doubt, no question, no dispute. Rory McIlroy is the No. 1 player in the world, and given the kind of golf he has displayed in the last month, he will hold that spot for some time.

McIlroy won the BMW Championship on Sunday for his second consecutive PGA Tour FedEx Cup playoff event and his third victory in his last four starts, which includes the PGA Championship in August at Kiawah Island.

He is by far No. 1 in points in the three playoff events going into The Tour Championship next week at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. The playoffs take a week off following the BMW Championship.

McIlroy has now won four events on the PGA Tour this year and is a certainty for Player of the Year honors. And he can win the $10 million bonus for winning the FedEx Cup playoffs at East Lake.

“I knew I could win big tournaments but I didn’t think it would come this quickly,” said the 23-year-old McIlroy. “I’m on quite a little run right now and I’m trying to keep that going as long as possible.”

McIlroy shot a final-round, 5-under 67 to post 20-under-par 268 at Crooked Stick Golf Club – site of the 1991 PGA Championship – good enough for a two-shot victory over playing companion Lee Westwood and Phil Mickelson.

This playoff event created the most buzz because of the quality of the field that was on the leaderboard most of the last two days. Joining the top three players in the fray were Dustin Johnson, Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods and Adam Scott all pushing toward the lead at some point during the weekend.

But McIlroy put his nose in front with four birdies in his first 10 holes to move ahead of 54-hole co-leaders Singh and Mickelson and took the lead for good with birdies at the par-5 15th, which he reached in two, and a birdie at the par-4 16th. He had a three-shot lead going into the final hole and made his first bogey in 27 holes for the final winning margin.

Woods shot 68 on Sunday to tie with Robert Garrigus (69) for fourth at 17 under. Johnson and Scott were next at 16 under. Singh shot 73 and went from safely inside the top 30 to outside the list with three bogeys in his last five holes.

Bill Haas, last year’s FedEx Cup champion, fell outside the top 30 and failed to advance to The Tour Championship with a 78 on Sunday. Garrigus and Ryan Moore were the only players outside the top 30 to play their way in, replacing Haas and Kyle Stanley, who fell out.

Photo: Getty Images

Ryder Cup Team USA Finalized

WGTwildcat — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 18:39:00 GMT

Ryder Cup captain of Team USA, Davis Love III, announced his 4 captain’s picks today, including Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson, Brandt Snedeker and Steve Stricker, to finalize the American golfers playing in the 2012 Ryder Cup.

Left off the American Ryder Cup team were top players Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan and Nick Watney.

Below are the final 12 golfers on Team USA competing in the Ryder Cup 9/28 to 9/30 at Medinah Country Club in Chicago.

Ryder Cup Team USA

Keegan Bradley
Jason Dufner
Jim Furyk
Dustin Johnson
Zach Johnson
Matt Kuchar
Phil Mickelson
Webb Simpson
Brandt Snedeker
Steve Stricker
Bubba Watson
Tiger Woods

Team USA official site

Read more at WGT

Check out Team Europe’s Ryder Cup Picks

Ryder Cup 2012 Team USA Golf Players

WGTwildcat — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 21:28:00 GMT

The 2012 Ryder Cup features the world's best PGA and European Tour players in a head-to-head battle at Medinah Country Club in September.

The following professional golfers from America qualified on 8/12/12 to represent Team USA in the 2012 Ryder Cup...

POS	PLAYER	POINTS
1	Tiger Woods	6,014.184
2	Bubba Watson	5,815.054
3	Jason Dufner	5,697.302
4	Keegan Bradley	5,551.206
5	Webb Simpson	4,635.500
6	Zach Johnson	4,491.544
7	Matt Kuchar	4,448.942
8	Phil Mickelson	4,233.108

American golfers on the bubble who could be selected as the four potential coach's picks by Davis Love III include...

POS	PLAYER	POINTS
9	Hunter Mahan	4,082.228
10	Steve Stricker	4,015.069
11	Jim Furyk	3,369.616
12	Rickie Fowler	3,313.338
13	Brandt Snedeker	3,176.787
14	Bo Van Pelt	3,152.315
15	Dustin Johnson	3,040.020
16	Robert Garrigus	2,604.580
17	Bill Haas	2,546.017
18	Ben Curtis	2,457.284
19	Scott Piercy	2,416.346
20	Kyle Stanley	2,341.219

Other past Team USA Ryder Cup players include: David Toms, Nick Watney, Sean O'Hair, JB Holmes, Boo Weekley.

See more at official Team USA Ryder Cup website

Team Europe

Webb Simpson's Weekend To Remember

WGTwildcat — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 18:52:00 GMT

By Brian Hewitt for GlobalGolfPost

Webb Simpson said he had "a peace all day" Sunday.

Now he owns a large piece of golf history.

By scorching a nails-tough Olympic Club layout with a pair of weekend 68s, the 26-year-old Wake Forest grad from Charlotte, N.C., won the 112th U.S. Open by a shot ahead of little-known American Michael Thompson and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open champion.

"One of my thoughts on the back nine," Simpson said, "was 'I don't know how Tiger's won 14 of these things.' "

But an important part of the "peace" he mentioned clearly came from swing work he had done after missing the cut at The Memorial in May, his last start. Then, last week, Simpson went on a buddy’s golf trip to Pinehurst to clear his mind in advance of the Open.

It all worked.

In the end, McDowell needed a 25-footer to force an 18-hole Monday playoff on the 72nd hole and missed it left. Third-round leader Jim Furyk, playing in the final pairing with McDowell, also arrived at the final hole needing a birdie to tie Simpson. He bunkered his second and made bogey to drop into a five-way tie for fourth with David Toms, Padraig Harrington, John Peterson and Jason Dufner.

"Nerve-wracking," said Simpson when asked what it was like watching McDowell and Furyk on their final hole.

Playing in his second U.S. Open, Simpson became the 15th different player to win in the past 15 majors.

Furyk held at least a share of the lead throughout the final round until he snap-hooked a drive on the par-5 16th and had to settle for a bogey that dropped him one behind the charging Simpson, whose four birdies in a five-hole stretch in the middle of his Sunday proved to be the difference.

"This course," Simpson said of Olympic, "is so hard."

The tipoff on how difficult Olympic was going to play last week came Thursday afternoon when the grouping of Luke Donald, defending champion Rory McIlroy, and Westwood combined to shoot 19-over par.

Donald, McIlroy and Westwood are the Nos. 1, 2, and 3 players in the world rankings, respectively. Neither Donald nor McIlroy survived the cut that came at 8 over par.

"There's an 80 lurking," said Masters champion Bubba Watson, who opened with a 78 and also missed the weekend.

The usual player carping was mostly muted. But there was enough to elicit a rare non-conciliatory response from USGA executive director Mike Davis.

"We made it very clear," Davis said in a moment of frustration. "Some don't like it, I guess they can tune out by this week or not file an entry if you're a player."

Earlier, Davis had described the purposed inconsistency of the lies in the rough as being a "little bit like an Easter egg contest."

Davis also went the extra mile during a post-round TV interview between Simpson and announcer Bob Costas. When an interloper attempted to run into NBC's shot, Davis grabbed him and yanked out of the camera's reach.

Later, McDowell said he enjoys tough tests. But, he added, "I'm not sure you can have your 'A' game on this course. It’s just impossible. It beats you up."

Tiger Woods looked for all the world like a winner the first two days and was tied with Furyk after 36 holes. Alas for him, his driver, iron game, and putter deserted him Saturday on the way to a 75. When he bogeyed the first two holes and doubled the third Sunday his bid to join Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, and Willie Anderson this year as the only men to have won four U.S. Opens died aborning.

Woods closed with a 73 and a 7-over total of 287. It was good for a tie for 21st.

Phil Mickelson celebrated his 42nd birthday Saturday and little else at the major championship he still hasn't won. His 72-hole total of 296 was a whopping 16-over par and left him tied for 65th.

The feel good story of the week was the performance of 17-year-old amateur American Beau Hossler. Just four shots back of the leaders after 54 holes, Hossler hung on with a Sunday 76 to gain second-low amateur honors. Jordan Spieth was low amateur.

In the end, there was the wait. "I did not want to play in a playoff for a lot of reasons," said Simpson, who watched in the locker room with his wife, Dowd, as the final drama unfolded.

All he really wanted to do this year, he said, was to continue to get better. "I don’t care if I make a million dollars as long as I keep getting better," he said.

Better, for now, for Webb Simpson, is best.

Photo: USGA

U.S. Open Featured Pairings Struggle in Round 1

WGTpete — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:17:00 GMT

The USGA paired some of the world's best players together in the opening rounds of the 2012 U.S. Open, but Round 1 went to the challenging Olympic Club golf course.

The top American group was led by Tiger Woods, who was the only one under par...

Tiger Woods, 69, -1
Phil Mickelson, 76, +6
Bubba Watson, 78, +8

The top European players, and also the top 3 ranked players in the world, struggled even more...

Lee Westwood, 73, +3
Rory McIlroy, 77, +7
Luke Donald, 79, +9

Here are the tee times (Pacific) for Round 2 on Friday...

Westwood/McIlroy/Donald - 7:44am at Hole #9, watch on www.usopen.com live streaming and Golf Channel
Woods/Mickelson/Watson - 1:18pm at Hole #1, watch on NBC and Golf Channel

For the cut, only the Top 60 players (plus ties) after Round 2 on Friday will advance, which is currently +5 to advance, so Woods and Westwood have the best chance to play this weekend, but the others will need to improve.

Meanwhile, here are the leaders of the U.S. Open after Round 1, with their Round 2 starting times (Pacific)...

Michael Thompson, 66, -4, 12:52p at #9
Graeme McDowell, 69, -1, 7:55am at #9
Nick Watney, 69, -1, 7:59am at #1
Justin Rose, 69, -1, 8:10am at #1
David Toms, 69, -1, 1:40 at #1

...and top players at even par include Jim Furyk, Ian Poulter, Matt Kuchar.

Photo: AP

2012 U.S. Open Pairings Announced

WGTwildcat — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 16:49:00 GMT

The USGA has announced the first and second round pairings for the 2012 U.S. Open at The Olympic Club on June 14-15, 2012.

The headliners are Tiger, Phil and Bubba, golf's biggest stars paired together, along with a lot of fans.

The USGA continues to have some fun with the pairings, notably the C's of Carl, Charl and Charles, as well as KJ, YE and KT from Korea.

Everyone will be rooting for the Qualifiers, featuring Casey Martin, Dennis Miller and Stanford golf team local, Cameron Wilson. Martin's last U.S. Open was in 1998 and has since been cleared by the Supreme Court to use a golf cart to ride between holes due to a medical condition. Miller was trying for the 12th year to qualify for the U.S. Open, and on the 4th playoff hole appeared to leave his putt on the lip of the hole, but it amazingly dropped in...and he's in the national championship.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Note, due to course configuration, players will be in threesomes and teeing off on Holes #1 and #9, instead of the typical #10. All times US Pacific Standard. TV coverage in the United States on the Golf Channel on Thu/Fri and NBC Sat/Sun.

See Full 2012 U.S. Open Pairings

Highlighted U.S. Open Pairings

Headliners - Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson

Thu 7:33a, Hole #9
Fri 1:18p, Hole #1

The C's - Carl Pettersson, Charl Schwartzel, Charles Howell III

Thu 8:06a, Hole #9
Fri 1:51p, Hole #1

Team Korea - K. J. Choi, Y. E. Yang, K. T. Kim

Thu 8:28a, Hole #9
Fri 2:13p, Hole #1

The Qualifiers - Casey Martin, Dennis Miller, A-Cameron Wilson

Thu 12:45p, Hole #1
Fri 7:00a, Hole #9

Under The Radar - Martin Kaymer, Hunter Mahan, Justin Rose

Thu 1:25p, Hole #9
Fri 8:10a, Hole #1

UK Stars - Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood

Thu 1:29p, Hole #1
Fri 7:44a, Hole #9

The Contenders - Jason Day, Louis Oosthuizen, Jason Dufner

Thu 1:47p, Hole #9
Fri 8:32a, Hole #1

The Bro's - Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Ryo Ishikawa

Thu 1:58p, Hole #9
Fri 8:43a, Hole #1

Photo Courtesy of Golf Channel

WGT GOLF UPDATE: Dufner Gets Second Win of 2012 at Byron Nelson Championship

WGTwildcat — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:09:00 GMT

Jason Dufner is a happy man these days after getting his second PGA Tour win this weekend at the HP Byron Nelson Championship at TPC Four Seasons. This comes within a month of his first victory on April 29 at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans, and getting married the following week.

Dufner finished the golf tournament Sunday with a one-stroke victory over Dicky Pride with a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole. That closing birdie wrapped up a 3-under 67 round for an 11-under 269. Pride finished 3-under 67 for a 10-under 270 on the tournament.

Phil Mickelson finished tied for seventh place with 6-under 66 and last weekend's Players Championship winner, Matt Kuchar, ended up tied for 15th with 4-under 70. Both remain steady in the FedEx Cup Rankings: in fourth and sixth places, respectively.

This win makes Dufner the second two-time winner this season, along with Hunter Mahan, and also knocks Mahan out of the #1 spot in the FedEx Cup rankings (now #2) -- replaced by Dufner, who was #12 last week.

Full leaderboard

PHOTO: Associated Press

WGT GOLF UPDATE: Kuchar Gets His Wins First Win of 2012 at Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass

WGTwildcat — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:38:00 GMT

After an exciting day of golf Sunday at TPC Sawgrass for the final day of the 2012 Players Championship, Matt Kuchar finished at the top with a 2-under 70, giving him his first win of 2012. Pars in the middle of his back nine holes turned out to be the key to his leaderboard top spot with a 13-under 275 total.

Kuchar beat out Martin Laird (67), first-time winner Rickie Fowler (70), Zach Johnson (68) and Ben Curtis (68), all tied for second, while Na dropped to tie for seventh at 280 with a 76 after leading Kuchar by one shot going into the final day. Na struggled to focus while spectators continued to heckle him and the importance of golf's mental game became very clear.

The win at TPC pushed Kuchar from #28 to #6 in the FedEx Cup standings. Phil Mickelson, who finished tied for 25th this weekend, remains in the #4 spot, while Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson and Rory McIlroy sit at the top.

Kuchar celebrated his fourth career win on the 18th green with his wife, two sons and parents, and is now ranked #5 in the official world golf ranking.

PHOTO: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

WGT GOLF UPDATE: Bubba Watson Wins 2012 Masters

wgtmustang — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:56:00 GMT

In a heart-pounding sudden death playoff at the 2012 Masters on Sunday, Bubba Watson hooked a shot from the pine straw on No. 10 to defeat Louis Oosthuizen and win his first-ever major golf tournament. Earlier in the day, 2010 British Open champion Oosthuizen produced the first double eagle on the second hole in Masters history, which also launched him into the tournament lead at 10-under. Watson was still four shots back after Oosthuizen made his "albatross" and was able to keep a very good eye on the leader since they were playing partners. On No. 13, Watson made a tricky 6-foot putt that would be the first of four straight birdies. Watson then tied it on No. 16 and after the two made par on No. 17, Watson just missed a 20-foot putt for birdie that led them into the playoffs. In the second hole of the playoffs, Oosthuizen came up short of the green and pitched past the hole, then missed the final putt that could have pushed the playoff to a third hole. In the end, it was Watson's wedge on the second hole that helped him save par and secure his win at the Masters.

There were several moments that made this year's Masters exciting and spectacular to watch. Peter Hanson had an incredible day on the course Saturday where he birdied five of his last seven holes, shooting seven-under 65 for the day. Hanson finished the tournament 8-under. Phil Mickelson birdied the par-five No. 13 each of his first two rounds, and then buried a 25-foot eagle on the same hole Saturday. Unfortunately, Mickelson essentially took himself out of the tournament with a triple-bogey on No. 4, and finished on Sunday with 8-under as well. Westwood tightened up his game on Sunday with 7 birdies in the final round, but missed several putts and eventually finished 8-under overall.

Final Masters Leaderboard

WGT GOLF UPDATE: 2012 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Preview

wgtmustang — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:57:00 GMT

The 76th annual Masters Tournament commences this Thursday, April 5, 2012, on August National, and is considered by many as the most-anticipated Masters in history. While world ranking players are en route for the tournament the week, including last year's winner Charl Schwartzel and No. 1 ranked player Luke Donald, the burning question among golf enthusiasts is whether Tiger Woods will return to major championship form. Woods has had good performances at The Masters in the past, but no official PGA Tour victories in over 2 years, until recently winning his seventh title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The win, less than a month ago, instantly gave credence to the notion that Woods was once again a favorite for a fifth green jacket. Watch Tiger Woods tee off on Thursday at 10:35 a.m. ET.

World-ranked No. 2 professional golfer Rory McIlroy dominated the 2011 Masters for three rounds, but a disastrous drive at the 10th, which came to rest seemingly in someone's backyard, resulted in McIlroy falling into a tie for 15th. Recently, McIlroy crushed the field in a victory at the U.S. Open at Congressional, which was the launching point to the top of the world rankings, albeit a brief one. McIlroy was No. 1 for just two weeks after he won this year's Transitions Championship. With his form, McIlroy is a clear choice at Augusta this year.

A list of favorites for The Masters has to include Phil Mickelson because he's won the title three times (the green jackets came in 2004, 2006 and 2010). At the Pebble Beach Invitational, and paired in the final round with Woods, Mickelson made every putt spanning the California coastline. Mickelson had a good showing this past weekend with a tie for fourth in his Houston Open title defense.

With these three contenders, The Masters is set up for a wildly entertaining tournament this year!

Tune in to the official Masters Tournament site for live coverage, and watch for more updates on the tour from the WGT Blog.

WGT GOLF UPDATE: Hunter Mahan Wins By 1 Stroke in 2012 Shell Houston Open

wgtmustang — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 01:04:00 GMT

At the 2012 Shell Houston Open, Hunter Mahan held on to a one-stroke lead over Carl Pettersson during the final four holes and shot a 1-under 71 for the win on Sunday. With this victory, Mahan took over the top spot in the latest FedExCup standings and became the first two-time champion on TOUR in 2012. Additionally, he moved to No. 4 in the world rankings, the first time he's ever been the highest-ranked American.

Pettersson needed a victory to secure a spot at the 2012 Masters Tournament this coming weekend at Augusta National Golf Club, but unfortunately couldn't gain a stroke down the final stretch. He missed a birdie putt from 20 feet away on 18 that could have forced a playoff, and instead made par to finish at 1-under for the day and 15-under for the tournament.

Louis Oosthuizen began the day two strokes ahead of the field, but struggled on the front nine. He shot 6-over through 10 holes before hitting three birdies over the final stretch to save face at 3-over on the day and 14-under for the tournament. Four players took fourth place at 12-under, including Phil Mickelson.

Three-time major champion Ernie Els finished 10-under and fell short in his bid to earn an automatic invitation to this week's Masters tournament. Els needed a victory to avoid missing Augusta for the first time since 1993; however, the Masters could offer a special invitation to Els. Els has played well this year, earning top-five finishes at the Transitions Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Final PGA Leaderboard

WGT GOLF UPDATE: Bubba Falters, Rose Wins, Tiger Injured at 2012 WGC-Cadillac Championship

pharrison — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:31:00 GMT

Another lead lost in the final round of the 2012 WGC-Cadillac Championship on the PGA Tour.

This time, it was Bubba Watson, who shot a 62 on Friday, but missed most of the fairways and many putts to finish on Sunday with a 74 at -15 in second place. Watson's weekend performance brought the rest of the field back into the tournament, including Keegan Bradley, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose.

It was Rose who swooped in for the victory at the Blue Monster, shooting 70 and finishing at -16. Rose is now ranked #7 in the world, joining McIlroy (#1), Luke Donald (#2) and Lee Westwood (#3) as other UK players who are currently dominating the world rankings of golf.

McIlroy had an impressive charge on Sunday, shooting 67 and just missing several birdie putts, finishing in third place at -14. McIlroy has now finished in the Top 5 in 9 of his last 10 professional golf events.

Tiger Woods withdrew on the 12th hole, after noticeably limping and stretching his left leg. Reports are that Woods has re-injured his left Achilles tendon, which he initially injured at the 2011 Masters. It doesn’t appear to be the left knee, which has undergone surgeries in recent years. His expected return date is unknown.

Full PGA Tour Leaderboard

WGT GOLF UPDATE: 2012 WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral Preview

pharrison — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:01:00 GMT

The 2012 World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship kicks off this week at the famed TPC Blue Monster at Doral in Florida.

The TPC Blue Monster at Doral is one of the most well-known courses on the PGA Tour. Measuring 7,266 yards with generous fairways and undulating greens, as well as a number of water holes, including the iconic par-4 18th hole - nicknamed the Blue Monster - where water runs along the left side of the hole from tee to green, ranked as the 33rd most difficult (+0.311) on tour last season, so should make for some exciting finishes.

All eyes are on Rory McIlroy, defending his new #1 world ranking, as well as Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood, who are coming off low rounds last weekend. The defending champ is Nick Watney, and watch-out for Phil Mickelson, a previous winner here and coming off that playoff loss at the Northern Trust last month.

On a related note, Donald Trump is purchasing the Doral resort for $150 million, and planning to renovate the facilities in 2013, so Mr. Trump is sure to keep Doral in the headlines next year.

TV Schedule: The tournament will be broadcast on the Golf Channel and NBC Sports, check your local listings:

Thurs, March 8 from 1pm - 6pm ET
Fri, March 9 from 1pm - 6pm ET
Sat, March 10 from 11am - 6pm ET
Sun, March 11 from 12pm - 7pm ET

Video: Check out some of the memorable moments from the WGC-Cadillac Championship's history.