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Seven-time Bridgestone Invitational champion Tiger Woods wants to play in the $8.5 million event at Firestone Country Club Aug.  4-7, but his plan is being thwarted by his firing of caddie Steve Williams, according to a report on Foxsports.com.

News broke Wednesday of Williams’ firing, which happened July 3 at the AT&T National, which benefits Woods’ foundation. Woods was upset that Williams went to work for Australian Adam Scott while he was sidelined with knee and Achilles injuries.

Robert Lusetich, author of “Unplayable: An Inside Account of Tiger’s Most Tumultuous Season,” reports that Woods may not be able to get one of his two choices for Williams’ replacement.

Lusetich wrote that the two caddies Woods most respects, Billy Foster and Joe LaCava, are currently employed by Lee Westwood and Dustin Johnson, respectively, and aren’t likely to switch. LaCava recently joined Johnson with the blessing of long-time boss Fred Couples and Johnson has been a contender in several majors over the past two years. According to Lusetich, Englishman Foster doesn’t want to relocate to the U.S.

 

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Although it’s likely he’ll have to stick to a confidentiality agreement, caddie Steve Williams became the most qualified person to recount Tiger Woods’ fall from grace after Woods fired Williams Wednesday.

The two teamed for 72 victories, including 13 majors, during their 12 years together. But Williams also endured Woods’ Thanksgiving night car crash in 2009 that unleashed a sex scandal that ended Woods’ marriage.  Both were groomsmen in each other’s weddings and their wives were reportedly friends.

Willliams had been working for Adam Scott while Woods was sidelined with knee and Achilles injuries.

"I want to express my deepest gratitude to Stevie for all his help, but I think it’s time for a change," Woods said on his web site. "Stevie is an outstanding caddie and a friend and has been instrumental in many of my accomplishments. I wish him great success in the future."

Woods did not announce a replacement for Williams on his web site. Woods has been undergoing rehab since he withdrew after 9 holes at the Players Championship in May. Some have speculated that Woods could return for the $8.5 million World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational Aug. 3-7 at Firestone Country Club, where he has won seven times. The Bridgestone is played the week before the PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club.

According to ProGolfTalk.com, Williams flew from his home in New Zealand thinking he would be working for Woods at the U.S. Open at Congressional. When he found out that Woods was not playing, Williams hooked up with Scott.

Some saw Williams as a thug for his heavy-handed tactics with photographers during his time on Woods’ bag. But observers have to wonder if he felt betrayed by the double life Woods was leading.

According to the Associated Press, Williams confirmed he’d been fired on his web site and posted a statement.

"Needless to say this came as a shock," Williams said, according to AP. "Given the circumstances of the past 18 months working through Tiger’s scandal, a new coach and with it a major swing change and Tiger battling through injuries, I am very disappointed to end our very successful partnership at this time."

A Willilams’ tell-all would be the blockbuster sports book of the decade. It will never happen, but we can dream, can’t we?

 

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By virtue of his British Open championship, Darren Clarke will return to Firestone Country Club for the $8.5 million Bridgestone Invitational Aug. 4-7.

Clarke won the World Golf Championships event in 2003 in Akron, along with the 2000 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. He’s qualified for every Bridgestone Invitational except for 2010.

The 42-year-old from Northern Ireland will be playing in his 27th World Golf Championships event.

The field will be finalized with players who are ranked in the world’s top 50 as of Ju;y 25 and/or Aug. 1. Among those on the bubble are Ben Crane, Anthony Kim, Webb Simpson and Ryo Ishikawa.

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Shot comes up roses

by Akron Beacon Journal on August 9, 2010 @ 8:20 am

in Uncategorized

By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer

 

It will always be considered one of the most adventuresome pars ever on the South Course at Firestone Country Club.

For those who saw it and lived it, ”the Monster” was transformed into ”the Bouquet” for a brief time.

Hunter Mahan survived a harrowing experience on Firestone’s famed and ferocious 16th hole on Sunday to win the Bridgestone Invitational by 2 shots.

Mahan, 28, of Colleyville, Texas, saved his best for last with a final round of 6-under 64 that gave him a 72-hole score of 12-under 268. Ryan Palmer fired a 1-under 69 to finish second at 10-under 270.

The victory in the World Golf Championships tournament was the biggest of Mahan’s life and netted him the first prize of $1.4 million.

”To win any time on the PGA Tour is great, but an event like this, 80 of the best players in the world, it’s something special,” said Mahan, who now has three tour titles. ”This is a great, great tournament. Bridgestone does an incredible job. The course is immaculate. Every time we come here, it’s like a major.

”All the players all over the world come here to play. It’s definitely the best win of my career, for sure.”

Without question, the key moment for him Sunday came on No. 16, a challenging par-5 hole of 602 yards (the tee was moved up from the normal 667 yards) that has proved pivotal in past tournaments and has sunk many a championship dream.

Mahan had a 2-shot lead when he came to the hole known as ”the Monster” and hit a perfect drive that traveled 375 yards.

The adventure began on his approach shot when cries of ”fore,” ”coming right” and ”look out” could be heard from the gallery.

The 5-wood shot was far right of the green, brushed a fan, bounced once on the cart path and came to rest in a flower bed behind one of the grandstands.

As fans and officials milled around wondering what the ruling would be, Mahan made the long walk to the area not knowing what to expect.

”One of the TV guys said it was in a bush, in a flower bed. I was thinking, ‘Where the heck is a flower bed up there’ because I had no idea,” he said.

Mahan eventually saw his unplayable ball buried in the flowers. The official ruling was favorable in that the flower bed was an obstruction because it is considered part of the cart path.

He took a drop between the two grandstands and chipped just over the green, 60 feet from the pin. He then used his putter to get the ball to two feet and made the par putt.

”I pushed it, probably a little bit of adrenaline and I just flew it and it went into that bush,” Mahan said about his second shot. ”It was a pretty easy drop, and I got out of there with a 5.”

Mahan parred the final two holes to become the clubhouse leader and then waited while none of the other contenders was able to overtake him.

”Yeah, it feels good,” said Mahan, who had rounds of 71, 67, 66 and 64. ”I got better each day and then came out today and I thought I had a good round in me.”

Mahan began the final round in a tie for seventh place, 5 shots behind co-leaders Palmer and Sean O’Hair.

He moved into the lead with a 5-under 30 on the front side that saw him make five birdies, highlighted by putts of 22 feet on No. 3, 16 feet on No. 5 and 22 feet on No. 8.

He protected the lead on the back nine with eight pars and one birdie (on No. 11) for a 34. The 64 was the lowest final-round score by a winner in tournament history.

Mahan is just starting to realize his potential as a pro after winning the Class 5A high school state championship in Texas, winning the United States Junior Amateur and being a two-time All-American at Oklahoma State.

He joining the PGA Tour in 2003 and got his first victory in the Travelers Championship in 2007. He also was a member of the Presidents Cup team in 2007 and the Ryder Cup team in 2008. He got his second title by winning the Phoenix Open in 2010.

Now, with this victory, he is second in Ryder Cup points and appears a lock to be a member of the U.S. team again.

”I felt my game was good enough to make it . . . and that was a goal of mine this year,” Mahan said.

Palmer, 33, also of Colleyville, Texas, hurt himself with bogeys on Nos. 2 and 9, but got back in contention with birdies on Nos. 10 and 11. But he could never make up ground by settling for pars on the final seven holes.

”I played good today, being under the gun like I was,” said Palmer, who earned $850,000 for second. ”You have to hand it to Hunter Mahan. He went out and did what I expected somebody to do and shoot a low round. I didn’t lose the golf tournament. I’m proud of that.”

Retief Goosen of South Africa and Bo Van Pelt of Tulsa, Okla., tied for third at 9-under 271.

Phil Mickelson, who could have become No. 1 in the World Golf Rankings with a victory, shot an 8-over 78 to tie for 46th. He was a contender heading into the final round, but dropped out of sight with a 41 on the front, marred by a double bogey and four bogeys.

Defending champion Tiger Woods, who remained No. 1 in the world, had the worst performance of his Firestone career with a final-round 77 that left him in a tie for 78th in the field of 80 at 18-over 298.

 


Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow the Bridgestone Invitational blog on Ohio.com at http://firestone.ohio.com/.

 

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By Michael Beaven
Special to the Beacon Journal

The past eight months have been unlike any other for Hunter Mahan.

Mahan entered this season with one title, the 2007 Travelers Championship at Hartford, Conn., but held a spot on the money list top 30 for the past three years.

Mahan was having success as a golfer and then he met his future wife, former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Kandi Harris, in December.

The two hit it off, dated, became engaged in June and are planning a January wedding.

Mahan won the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Feb. 28, and Sunday he claimed his second victory of the season by securing the title at the Bridgestone Invitational.

Mahan, 28, carded a 12-under-par 268 on the South Course at Firestone Country Club.

”Yeah, it’s been interesting,” Mahan said of the changes in his life.

”I mean, it’s been good. She’s only been good for me. But everything has kind of happened pretty fast, so it’s different. Different is not bad. It’s always been good.

”A year ago, the only thing I worried about was playing golf. That’s it. I really didn’t worry about anything else. And now [the time has] come to start my family and we’re doing a bunch of stuff right now and we did a bunch of wedding stuff last week. A lot is kind of changing. It’s all for the better, and each day I feel like I’m understanding it better and adjusting to it better.”

Mahan posted a 6-under 64 round Sunday after scores of 71, 67 and 66 the first three days.

”I’ve had two wins this year and I’ve missed six cuts, and I didn’t miss one last year,” Mahan said. ”I don’t know how this game works. I’m just trying to figure it out as I go.”

Mahan, who was born in Orange, Calif., and lives in Colleyville, Texas, said additional responsibilities that come with a relationship have changed his mindset.

”For us, it’s about communication and compromise and everything, and it’s been nothing but awesome,” Mahan said. ”I’ve only worried about golf for the past 27 years of my life, and to think about somebody else and . . . their feelings and stuff was just different. I think like anyone knows, when you get married or anything, it’s an adjustment period, and that’s kind of what we went through. But she’s only been for the better.”

Mahan proposed to Harris the Saturday before the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

Harris was a Cowboys cheerleader for three seasons, in 2006-08.

When asked about the quick engagement, Mahan said: ”Yeah. People say when you know, you know. I’m always like, ‘That’s crazy talk.’ But we had a great connection. She’s just the best. I mean, she just brings out the best in me, so that’s all I can ask for.”

Mahan also said he is more involved in the wedding plans than he ever envisioned.

”I always thought I would be [not involved much], but no,” said Mahan, who was a standout at Oklahoma State University and the University of Southern California.

”If I hated something, I’m like, ‘I don’t like that at all.’ But I’m going to keep my mouth shut until she asked me. If she loved it, then she loved it. That’s all I need.”

Mahan has encountered some struggles on the golf course this year, but said personally, he was happy with his life.

”I just didn’t play very good,” Mahan said. ”It was kind of ugly there. Swing got a little out of whack. You know, there was a lot going on in a good way, you know, with getting engaged and kind of having a serious, serious girlfriend and everything. It was all good, it was all positive, it was all fun.

”We were having a great time, but it was energy going another place.”

Mahan did not reveal the exact wedding date, but said it will take place on a Saturday during the Sony Open in Hawaii. The PGA has not released it’s 2011 schedule yet.

Perry eagles No. 6

Kenny Perry scored an eagle on No. 6 with a shot from 177 yards away. He eagled the par-4 when the ball went into the hole on the fly.

”I never saw it. I just heard the crowd,” Perry said. ”I have never hit a shot where it went straight in the hole. It just went straight in. It was perfect. It barely nicked the front of the lip and went straight into the bottom of the cup. It was like Michael Jordan, a slam dunk.”

Perry high-fived his caddie and jumped into the air in excitement.

”It was a lucky shot,” said Perry, who finished tied for 19th with Justin Rose and Stewart Cink at 2 under.

”It was a good shot, but you don’t ever expect to hit it into a four-and-a-quarter-inch hole from 177 yards. I was excited.”

Palmer is second

Ryan Palmer placed second, just 2 shots behind Mahan after tallying a 1 under Sunday.

”I’m proud of the way I hung in all day,” Palmer said. ”My swing felt good all day. I never got nervous with each shot and had a good strong round to get me fired up. I just could not get quite close enough to make a good putt.”

Two tie for third

Retief Goosen and Bo Van Pelt shot 65 and 67, respectively to finish tied for third at 9 under.

”I was about 5 shots better in the first two holes than yesterday, so that was a positive note,” Goosen said.

Goosen and Van Pelt each shot a 33 on the front nine.

”I played good on the front nine, gave myself a chance and played good on the back nine,” Van Pelt said. ”I hit a bunch of putts where I wanted. I’m disappointed, but I hit the putts like I wanted. . . . They just didn’t go in.”

Sean O’Hair placed fifth at 8 under.

Other top scores

Jim Furyk shot a 64 Sunday and finished tied for sixth with Jeff Overton (69) at 7 under for the tournament.

Louis Oosthuizen (65), Padraig Harrington (66), Adam Scott (67), Steve Stricker (67) and Rory McIlroy (69) were each under par Sunday and joined Matt Kuchar (73) for a six-way tie for ninth.

Playing for charity

Rickie Fowler and Troy Matteson are contributing money this week to Walking for Kids, a children’s charity founded by D.J. Gregory.

Gregory, 32, is a Savannah, Ga., resident who was born 10 weeks premature with cerebral palsy. He got around with an army crawl until age 5, and then began trying to walk. He worked himself up to a walker, then two canes, and now a single cane.

Gregory watched close friend Fowler and Matteson play Sunday. He has watched every PGA Tour event this year except for the Maykoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya in Cancun, Mexico, Feb. 18-21.

”Each week, I have different players for the foundation and they donate per birdie and eagle they make,” Gregory said.

Gregory earned fame after attending and walking every PGA Tour event in 2008. He wrote a blog for the tour’s official Web site, http://www.pgatour.com. Each week, he followed a different player, conducted interviews and shared personal experiences and he was featured on ESPN.

His experiences on the 45-week journey are chronicled in the book Walking With Friends.

Gregory said he likes Firestone’s course. ”It is a very easy course to walk. It is a long course, but it is fun because it is very challenging for the players.”

Fowler colorful

Fowler concluded his week at even par and tied for 33rd. He wore a bright orange outfit Sunday: golf shirt, hat, pants and shoes.

His outfits had a theme each day; light blue Thursday, purple Friday and lime green Saturday.

”I try to throw some fun stuff together for the week,” Fowler said. ”The fans expect it.”

Fowler might want to consult with fellow golfer Ian Poulter, who has his own clothing line.

Short putts

Mahan’s 64 is the lowest final round score by a winner in tournament history and the 3 shots he overcame equal the event’s record for largest comeback, matching seven-time champion Tiger Woods in 2009. . . . Oosthuizen and Mahan were the only players to compile a bogey-free round Sunday. . . . There were five eagles Sunday and 13 in the four days at Firestone. . . . Woods finished tied for 78th and Phil Mickelson finished tied for 46th. The only other time Woods (77) and Mickelson (78) have shot 77 or higher in the same round was the third round of the 1998 British Open. . . . Woods is holding the No. 1 ranking for the 270th consecutive week and the 612th week overall in his pro career, both of which are records.

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WGC

(At Firestone Country Club (South Course)

Purse: $8.5 million; Yardage: 7,400; Par: 70)

Hunter Mahan (550), $1,400,000 71-67-66-64—268 -12

Ryan Palmer (315), $840,000 70-68-63-69—270 -10

Retief Goosen (170), $412,500 67-66-73-65—271 -9

Bo Van Pelt (170), $412,500 67-68-69-67—271 -9

Sean O’Hair (115), $295,000 67-70-64-71—272 -8

Jim Furyk (100), $227,500 72-68-69-64—273 -7

Jeff Overton (100), $227,500 67-70-67-69—273 -7

Peter Hanson (0), $180,000 69-66-68-71—274 -6

Louis Oosthuizen (0), $125,833 72-70-68-65—275 -5

Padraig Harrington (72), $125,833 69-70-70-66—275 -5

Adam Scott (72), $125,833 66-70-72-67—275 -5

Steve Stricker (72), $125,833 68-71-69-67—275 -5

Rory McIlroy (72), $125,833 68-69-69-69—275 -5

Matt Kuchar (72), $125,833 69-67-66-73—275 -5

Dustin Johnson (59), $96,000 72-65-68-71—276 -4

Martin Laird (55), $90,000 70-71-68-68—277 -3

Ryan Moore (55), $90,000 70-68-70-69—277 -3

Nick Watney (55), $90,000 68-68-69-72—277 -3

Justin Rose (51), $81,333 71-70-70-67—278 -2

Stewart Cink (51), $81,333 72-69-70-67—278 -2

Kenny Perry (51), $81,333 66-73-68-71—278 -2

Paul Casey (44), $72,000 68-68-73-70—279 -1

Sergio Garcia (44), $72,000 70-70-69-70—279 -1

Martin Kaymer (0), $72,000 72-67-69-71—279 -1

Jason Day (44), $72,000 69-70-69-71—279 -1

Graeme McDowell (44), $72,000 66-73-68-72—279 -1

Lucas Glover (44), $72,000 70-66-70-73—279 -1

Miguel A. Jimenez (0), $72,000 69-67-70-73—279 -1

Geoff Ogilvy (44), $72,000 71-67-68-73—279 -1

Bubba Watson (44), $72,000 64-71-70-74—279 -1

Justin Leonard (44), $72,000 68-66-69-76—279 -1

Ernie Els (44), $72,000 69-70-64-76—279 -1

Zach Johnson (36), $63,500 70-70-71-69—280 E

Bill Haas (36), $63,500 73-66-71-70—280 E

Rickie Fowler (36), $63,500 68-73-69-70—280 E

Angel Cabrera (36), $63,500 71-68-67-74—280 E

Oliver Wilson (0), $63,500 71-67-67-75—280 E

Katsumasa Miyamoto (0), $63,500 71-72-62-75—280 E

Alvaro Quiros (0), $58,000 73-66-74-68—281 +1

Francesco Molinari (0), $58,000 70-72-71-68—281 +1

Ben Curtis (30), $58,000 69-70-71-71—281 +1

Scott Verplank (30), $58,000 75-68-68-70—281 +1

Heath Slocum (30), $58,000 75-68-67-71—281 +1

J.B. Holmes (27), $54,500 74-72-69-67—282 +2

Troy Matteson (27), $54,500 72-70-69-71—282 +2

K.J. Choi (22), $50,214 70-73-72-68—283 +3

Chad Campbell (22), $50,214 67-73-73-70—283 +3

Y.E. Yang (22), $50,214 74-68-71-70—283 +3

Boo Weekley (22), $50,214 73-72-68-70—283 +3

Luke Donald (22), $50,214 70-69-73-71—283 +3

Ross Fisher (0), $50,214 70-68-74-71—283 +3

Phil Mickelson (22), $50,214 66-68-71-78—283 +3

Ryo Ishikawa (0), $47,250 71-73-72-68—284 +4

Alexander Noren (0), $47,250 69-69-70-76—284 +4

Mike Weir (15), $46,000 72-69-72-72—285 +5

Edoardo Molinari (0), $46,000 71-71-70-73—285 +5

Ross McGowan (0), $46,000 71-69-70-75—285 +5

Tim Clark (11), $44,000 70-72-75-69—286 +6

Vijay Singh (11), $44,000 71-73-70-72—286 +6

Ben Crane (11), $44,000 71-70-72-73—286 +6

Marcus Fraser (0), $44,000 72-72-68-74—286 +6

Charl Schwartzel (0), $44,000 73-68-68-77—286 +6

Stuart Appleby (8), $42,250 74-72-70-71—287 +7

James Kingston (0), $42,250 75-65-71-76—287 +7

Ian Poulter (5), $40,750 72-70-77-70—289 +9

Robert Karlsson (0), $40,750 71-74-73-71—289 +9

Hennie Otto (0), $40,750 73-72-72-72—289 +9

Jason Bohn (5), $40,750 71-68-73-77—289 +9

Yuta Ikeda (0), $39,250 72-76-69-73—290 +10

Gregory Bourdy (0), $39,250 68-72-74-76—290 +10

David Horsey (0), $37,750 73-71-75-72—291 +11

Camilo Villegas (1), $37,750 75-73-71-72—291 +11

Simon Dyson (0), $37,750 72-73-73-73—291 +11

Rhys Davies (0), $37,750 75-69-72-75—291 +11

Soren Hansen (0), $36,750 71-75-72-77—295 +15

Anthony Kim (1), $36,375 75-76-69-76—296 +16

Simon Khan (0), $36,375 73-71-74-78—296 +16

Michael Jonzon (0), $35,875 76-74-76-72—298 +18

Tiger Woods (1), $35,875 74-72-75-77—298 +18

Henrik Stenson (1), $35,500 79-75-71-75—300 +20

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By Jason Lloyd
Beacon Journal sports writer

Tiger Woods came to Firestone confident he could play himself onto the Ryder Cup team. Instead, he might have played his way off it.

Woods’ disastrous 18 over for the weekend left him tied for 78th — only Henrik Stenson’s 20 over was worse.

It dropped Woods to 10th on the Ryder Cup points list, but with only the top eight guaranteed places on the team, his strongest chance might be as one of captain Corey Pavin’s four selections. Woods is playing the worst golf of his career entering this weekend’s PGA Championship, the final major of the season.

Ryder Cup points are worth double at all the majors, so Woods still has time to play his way onto the team if he can find a way to pull himself together in the next three days. Based on what fans witnessed at the Bridgestone Invitational, though, that might be asking a lot.

”If he wants to be on the team, I want him on the team,” said Jim Furyk, who is third in Ryder Cup points after finishing 7 under and tied for sixth this weekend. ”It’s a no-brainer. It’s a 100 percent stamp. Who the hell wouldn’t want Tiger on his team?”

The question, though, is whether Woods is even interested anymore. He left Akron early Sunday en route to Kohler, Wis., where he insisted he was going right out to play Whistling Straits in preparation for the weekend.

Woods is expected to meet with Pavin this week about the Ryder Cup. Needless to say, he hasn’t left the captain with very much proof he can contribute to the 12-man American team.

Asked on Sunday whether he still wanted to play in the Ryder Cup, Woods said ”Not like this. I wouldn’t help the team if I’m playing like this. . . . I think I can turn it around, but we’ve got a lot of time between now and then, which is good.”

Pavin’s selections don’t have to be made until Sept. 7, leaving Woods time to get his game in order. But Woods conceded Sunday that he isn’t sure whether he needs another break from golf to get his life in order after his well-documented personal problems.

Furyk said the only way Woods should make the trip to Wales in October is if it’s good for him. The PGA of America stresses the Ryder Cup to be a family-oriented atmosphere, Furyk said, with plenty of interaction and support from players’ wives or girlfriends. If such a circumstance would leave him uncomfortable, it might not be the best situation for Woods, who is in the midst of a divorce.

”It would be interesting to see in that situation,” Furyk said, ”because he’s been in a tough place. . . . He’s in a different spot right now. What’s good for him is what I wish. If it’s not right for him, then I understand.”

One man who doesn’t have to worry about his standing is Hunter Mahan, who was expected to jump from 10th to second in Ryder Cup points with his $1.4 million victory Sunday.

Mahan has been a captain’s selection three times and threw his head back in shock when he heard the only player expected to be above him now in points is Phil Mickelson.

”I felt my game was good enough to make it on my own, and that was a goal of mine this year,” Mahan said. ”I was in it early and kind of been falling slowly but surely out of it, but the last couple of weeks, the game has been good. I knew it was there. I knew I just had to keep going and keep trusting it.”

Mahan has heard the criticisms that Woods isn’t a good Ryder Cup teammate, but he disagrees. In fact, he thinks Woods and the Americans just might need each other.

”I think he needs the Ryder Cup right now,” Mahan said. ”When he gets back in a routine and he kind of finds himself and finds his situation, he’ll be fine.

”You just never know when he can kind of get it going, a little momentum on his side. I mean, he’s still No. 1, so he’s still a dangerous guy.”


Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com.

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SHOT COMES UP ROSES

by Akron Beacon Journal on August 9, 2010 @ 3:00 am

in Uncategorized

By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer

It will always be considered one of the most adventuresome pars ever on the South Course at Firestone Country Club.

For those who saw it and lived it, ”the Monster” was transformed into ”the Bouquet” for a brief time.

Hunter Mahan survived a harrowing experience on Firestone’s famed and ferocious 16th hole on Sunday to win the Bridgestone Invitational by 2 shots.

Mahan, 28, of Colleyville, Texas, saved his best for last with a final round of 6-under 64 that gave him a 72-hole score of 12-under 268. Ryan Palmer fired a 1-under 69 to finish second at 10-under 270.

The victory in the World Golf Championships tournament was the biggest of Mahan’s life and netted him the first prize of $1.4 million.

”To win any time on the PGA Tour is great, but an event like this, 80 of the best players in the world, it’s something special,” said Mahan, who now has three tour titles. ”This is a great, great tournament. Bridgestone does an incredible job. The course is immaculate. Every time we come here, it’s like a major.

”All the players all over the world come here to play. It’s definitely the best win of my career, for sure.”

Without question, the key moment for him Sunday came on No. 16, a challenging par-5 hole of 602 yards (the tee was moved up from the normal 667 yards) that has proved pivotal in past tournaments and has sunk many a championship dream.

Mahan had a 2-shot lead when he came to the hole known as ”the Monster” and hit a perfect drive that traveled 375 yards.

The adventure began on his approach shot when cries of ”fore,” ”coming right” and ”look out” could be heard from the gallery.

The 5-wood shot was far right of the green, brushed a fan, bounced once on the cart path and came to rest in a flower bed behind one of the grandstands.

As fans and officials milled around wondering what the ruling would be, Mahan made the long walk to the area not knowing what to expect.

”One of the TV guys said it was in a bush, in a flower bed. I was thinking, ‘Where the heck is a flower bed up there’ because I had no idea,” he said.

Mahan eventually saw his unplayable ball buried in the flowers. The official ruling was favorable in that the flower bed

was an obstruction because it is considered part of the cart path.

He took a drop between the two grandstands and chipped just over the green, 60 feet from the pin. He then used his putter to get the ball to two feet and made the par putt.

”I pushed it, probably a little bit of adrenaline and I just flew it and it went into that bush,” Mahan said about his second shot. ”It was a pretty easy drop, and I got out of there with a 5.”

Mahan parred the final two holes to become the clubhouse leader and then waited while none of the other contenders was able to overtake him.

”Yeah, it feels good,” said Mahan, who had rounds of 71, 67, 66 and 64. ”I got better each day and then came out today and I thought I had a good round in me.”

Mahan began the final round in a tie for seventh place, 5 shots behind co-leaders Palmer and Sean O’Hair.

He moved into the lead with a 5-under 30 on the front side that saw him make five birdies, highlighted by putts of 22 feet on No. 3, 16 feet on No. 5 and 22 feet on No. 8.

He protected the lead on the back nine with eight pars and one birdie (on No. 11) for a 34. The 64 was the lowest final-round score by a winner in tournament history.

Mahan is just starting to realize his potential as a pro after winning the Class 5A high school state championship in Texas, winning the United States Junior Amateur and being a two-time All-American at Oklahoma State.

He joining the PGA Tour in 2003 and got his first victory in the Travelers Championship in 2007. He also was a member of the Presidents Cup team in 2007 and the Ryder Cup team in 2008. He got his second title by winning the Phoenix Open in 2010.

Now, with this victory, he is second in Ryder Cup points and appears a lock to be a member of the U.S. team again.

”I felt my game was good enough to make it . . . and that was a goal of mine this year,” Mahan said.

Palmer, 33, also of Colleyville, Texas, hurt himself with bogeys on Nos. 2 and 9, but got back in contention with birdies on Nos. 10 and 11. But he could never make up ground by settling for pars on the final seven holes.

”I played good today, being under the gun like I was,” said Palmer, who earned $850,000 for second. ”You have to hand it to Hunter Mahan. He went out and did what I expected somebody to do and shoot a low round. I didn’t lose the golf tournament. I’m proud of that.”

Retief Goosen of South Africa and Bo Van Pelt of Tulsa, Okla., tied for third at 9-under 271.

Phil Mickelson, who could have become No. 1 in the World Golf Rankings with a victory, shot an 8-over 78 to tie for 46th. He was a contender heading into the final round, but dropped out of sight with a 41 on the front, marred by a double bogey and four bogeys.

Defending champion Tiger Woods, who remained No. 1 in the world, had the worst performance of his Firestone career with a final-round 77 that left him in a tie for 78th in the field of 80 at 18-over 298.


Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow the Bridgestone Invitational blog on Ohio.com at http://firestone.ohio.com/.

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Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer

Those who follow golf might be talking about the 2010 Bridgestone Invitational for months, if not years.

But the chatter won’t center on a fantastic finish or a historic playoff, as it has of late. Instead, with apologies to winner Hunter Mahan, it might be remembered as the week Tiger Woods hit rock bottom.

And to a lesser extent, for Phil Mickelson’s continuing failure to seize the moment and the world’s No. 1 ranking from the floundering Woods.

Woods finished 30 shots behind Mahan and left Firestone Country Club clueless about his golf game and uninspired about his life. He has fallen into an abyss that could not be foreseen even after he drove his car into a fire hydrant on Thanksgiving night and his perfect life toppled like a house of cards.

When his marital infidelities were exposed, no one dreamed that Woods’ extraordinary focus would desert him like this. He survived his father’s death from cancer in May 2006. He won the 2008 U.S. Open on one leg. Now he’s rumored to be in the final throes of divorce — who dreamed he would care this much about a marriage that he neglected before?

On Sunday, Woods completed the worst tournament of his professional career with a 77, his worst in Akron. He finished 18-over par and tied for 78th in a field of 80. Perhaps making it the nadir is that it came at Firestone South, where he had won seven times, including four consecutive events, and shares the course record of 61.

Clearly, Woods was mailing it in the final two days. On Saturday, he and J.B. Holmes finished the front nine in 90 minutes. Woods didn’t dawdle over shots, stepping up and whacking away at a few like John Daly. Woods bantered with Sunday’s playing partner, Anthony Kim, as they repeatedly found the trees. Woods immediately headed to Wisconsin for next week’s PGA Championship and joked he would have time to play 18 holes at Whistling Straits before the Bridgestone leaders teed off at 2:05 p.m.

The numbers are staggering, the kind of numbers never associated with Woods before.

He matched his highest final round score as a professional, which he previously carded in the 1998 Bay Hill Invitational. His score was his highest as a pro for 72 holes by 6 shots. He failed to shoot par or better in any of the four rounds for only the fourth time in his career. Woods has played four rounds in 218 PGA Tour events and this year’s Bridgestone was only the 30th time in which he failed to finish an event with a total score of par or better.

In 13 rounds since his Saturday 66 at the U.S. Open, Woods has shot only one round under par, that in the first round at the British Open.

Asked whether golf was still fun, Woods said, ”Absolutely not. I don’t see how it can be fun shooting 18-over, especially since my handicap is supposed to be zero.”

Winless in 2010, Woods compared this slump to what he went through in 1997-99 when he changed his swing with coach Butch Harmon.

”It took me two years to get it back before I started playing well,” he said.

It’s debatable whether U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin would waste one of his four picks on Woods. The chances of Woods contending next week at the PGA seem slim, but Ireland’s Padraig Harrington wants to see what the all-knowing bookmakers have to say about those prospects.

”It’d be a very naive and very foolish man to write Tiger Woods off,” Harrington said.

Steve Stricker certainly won’t.

”You need some positive thoughts and a clear mind. He probably doesn’t have that right now, but he’ll get it,” Stricker said. ”I’ve got no worries that he’ll find it again and get back to where he once was.”

Woods didn’t rule out another extended break, like he took from last November until the 2010 Masters. But he said on Wednesday he was playing in the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China, in November.

”I don’t know, I’m just going to be ready by Thursday,” Woods said.

But Woods wasn’t the only one who looked lost. On Sunday, he was joined by Masters champion Mickelson, who blew his chance at No. 1 for the eighth consecutive event dating to April.

Anyone longing for a duel between Woods and Mickelson got a doozy as they battled for the booby prize — the day’s highest round. Mickelson walked away with that one, his 8-over 78 matched by England’s Simon Khan.

Mickelson entered the day 4 strokes off the lead and needed only to tie for fourth or better to claim the world’s top spot, which Woods has held for 269 consecutive weeks and 611 overall. But Mickelson also turned in his highest score at Firestone, surpassing 77s in the first and fourth round of the 1993 NEC World Series of Golf.

”If I keep finishing ahead of him every week, eventually it’ll happen,” Mickelson said of Woods and the No. 1 ranking. ”But the problem is there’s guys behind me that will pass me because I’m not playing well enough right now.”

The answer showed Mickelson has given the issue some thought. Perhaps he’ll be boosted at Whistling Straits by the presence of his favorite cheerleader, wife Amy, who he said plans to accompany him to Wisconsin.

But both Mickelson and Woods might be pinning their hopes on ”eventually.” And at the moment, that seems a far cry from reality.


Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow the Bridgestone Invitational blog on Ohio.com at http://firestone.ohio.com/.

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Mahan is leader in clubhouse

by Tom Gaffney on August 8, 2010 @ 5:32 pm

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Hunter Mahan shot a 6-under 64 Sunday and was the clubhouse leader with a score of 12-under 268. Ryan Palmer was the lone threat to Mahan, trailing by 2 shots with two holes to play.

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Mahan leads by 2 strokes

by Tom Gaffney on August 8, 2010 @ 4:27 pm

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Hunter Mahan, 28, of Colleyville, Texas, birdied the 13th hole to take a 2-shot lead oever Bo Van Pelt and Sean O’Hair.

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Mahan in the lead

by Tom Gaffney on August 8, 2010 @ 4:07 pm

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Hunter Mahan, 28,  took the lead when Sean O’Hair recorded a bogey at No. 8. Mahan, a former All-American at Oklahoma State, was at 11-under and O’Hair was at 10-under.

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Mahan shoots 30

by Tom Gaffney on August 8, 2010 @ 3:30 pm

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Hunter Mahan shot a 5-under 30 on the front side to tie Sean O’Hair for first place at 11-under par. Mahan had four birdies on par-4 holes and one on a par-3 hole. He had 21 shots in the final seven holes on the front side.

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Mickelson out of contention

by Tom Gaffney on August 8, 2010 @ 3:03 pm

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Phil Mickelson played himself out of contention in the final round by shooting a 6-over 41 on the front nine.  He had four bogeys and a double-bogey (on No. 9) to fall into 39th place

Another veteran, Jim Furyk, was making a move but dropped back when his approach shot to No. 16 found the pond in front of the green and he took a bogey 6.

Sean o’Hair had two birdies in his first four holes to stand at 11-under par, 2 shots ahead of Hunter Mahan and Ryan Palmer.

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Hunter Mahan has birdied three consecutive holes, No.’s 3, 4 and 5, Sunday at the Bridgestone Invitational on the South Course at Firestone Country Club.

Mahan is tied for second with Matt Kuchar and Ryan Palmer, one shot behind the leader Sean O’Hair.

O’Hair birdied No. 1 and bogied No. 2.

Bo Van Pelt is fifth and two shots off the lead.

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Phil Mickelson has bogied three consecutive holes, No.’s 6, 7 and 8 Sunday at the Bridgestone Invitational on the South Course at Firestone Country Club.

Mickelson is tied for 31st.

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Ryan Palmer birdied No. 1 Sunday and has a one stroke lead over Matt Kuchar and Sean O’Hair at the Bridgestone Invitational on the South Course at Firestone Country Club.

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Jim Furyk and Padraig Harrington are each producing solid rounds Sunday at the Bridgestone Invitational on the South Course at Firestone Country Club.

Through 14 holes Sunday, Furyk is 6-under and tied for sixth and Harrington is 4-under and tied for 14th.

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Phil Mickelson bogied No.’s 6 and 7 Sunday at the Bridgestone Invitational on the South Course at Firestone Country Club.

Mickelson is dropping down the standings and is outside of the top 20.

Ryan Palmer and Sean O’Hair, the leaders after three rounds, recently teeded off on No. 1.

Matt Kuchar and Ernie Els tied for third and are on No. 2.

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Perry eagles No. 6

by Michael Beaven on August 8, 2010 @ 1:54 pm

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Kenny Perry scored an eagle on No. 6 Sunday at the Bridgestone Invitational on the South Course at Firestone Country Club.

Perry made the shot, on the par-4, from 177 yards away. The ball went into the hole on the fly.

Perry high-fived his caddy and jumped into the air in excitement.

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