GOL | Reed does it again; open qualifies for HPBNC

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Reed does it again; open qualifies for HPBNC

Patrick Reed buried eight birdies en route to a bogey-free, 8-under-par 31-33=64 and medalist honors at today's four-spotter for this week's HP Byron Nelson Championship.

Reed finished three strokes clear of co-runners-up Stuart Deane (5-under 32-35=67) and former PGA TOUR member Todd Demsey (bogey-free 33-34=67) at Lantana (Tex.) Golf Club. Reed also earned exemptions in New Orleans and Charlotte via the open qualifiers. A 4-man playoff determined the final berth today. TOUR winner Robert Gamez emerged after finishing regulation in bogey-free, 4-under 32-36=68. He eliminated Chris Thompson (bogey-free 35-33=68), Sam Cyr (33-35=68) and Cole Moreland (35-33=68). The field for the HPBNC is now complete at 156.

Source: PGA - Northern Texas Section

May 14 - 5:01 PM

Report: Dustin Johnson to return at Memorial

Dustin Johnson will return to competition at the Memorial on May 31-June 3.

This is certainly welcome news for all of DJ's fantasy owners. He has been sidelined for two months with a back injury. "Obviously, I can’t wait to get back out and compete," he said in a statement. "I came into this year with some big goals, including making our Ryder Cup team, so I’ve got some serious ground to make up this summer." He's currently 21st in Ryder Cup points. "I’m feeling better every day and working hard, so I plan to be 100 percent ready by the time the Memorial rolls around. I’m still a little rusty, but it’s falling off in chunks. It will be great to get back out there and I can assure you I’ll be plenty motivated,"

Source: PGATOUR.com

May 14 - 4:49 PM

All-time money leader at the HPBNC withdraws

Scott Verplank has been removed from the published field of this week's HP Byron Nelson Championship.

You suspected that this would happen when he withdrew after 23 holes at last week's PLAYERS due to a wrist injury. The 2007 champ of the HPBNC has made 25 appearances at the tournament and sits atop its all-time money list.

Source: PGATOUR.com

May 14 - 11:58 AM

Casey withdraws from Volvo World Match Play

Paul Casey has withdrawn from this week's Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain due to the injury in his right shoulder.

The Brit played nine holes at THE PLAYERS before walking off. He was 6-over at the time. "Unfortunately, despite having had intensive treatment since last Thursday, I have been advised not to play," Casey said, referring to the European Tour event. "I am absolutely gutted as it is one of my favorite events and I was really looking forward to a week of match play to kick-start my season. I am very sorry to miss out." For the time being, he's listed in the preliminary field for the BMW PGA Championship on May 24-27.

Source: Associated Press (via The Washington Post)

May 13 - 8:02 PM

Kuchar claims THE PLAYERS by two strokes

Matt Kuchar claimed THE PLAYERS by two strokes over Rickie Fowler, Zach Johnson, Martin Laird and Ben Curtis when he signed for a final-round 2-under-par 35-35=70.

Kuchar ended the week at 13-under 68-68-69-70=275. His final round was steady, as he circled four birdies and swallowed two bogeys after landing 15 GIR and splitting 10 (of 14) fairways. He took 31 putts to navigate the TPC Sawgrass. For the week, he ranked second in Strokes Gained-Putting and 73.6 percent GIR was good for a third place tie. This marks his first win since the 2010 Barclays and jumps him from 14th to third in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings. With this victory, Kuchar is officially exempt into the 2012 PGA Championship.

May 13 - 7:01 PM

Estes' 65 in PLAYERS finale ties the week low

Bob Estes fired a final-round 7-under-par 33-32=65 to tie Martin Laird for the low round of the 2012 PLAYERS.

He circled eight birdies to a lone bogey even though he only found six (of 14) fairways. He did manage to land 15 GIR and needed just 26 putts to navigate the TPC Sawgrass Staduim Course. He becomes the first in the clubhouse at 5-under 283.

May 13 - 1:49 PM

Santos of Portugal first to win in homeland

Ricardo Santos became the first golfer in European Tour history to win an event in his home country of Portugal, taking the Madeira Islands Open by four strokes.

Santos, a 29-year-old Challenge Tour graduate and rookie on the European Tour, started the final round four strokes adrift of overnight leader, Carlos Del Moral of Spain. Santos then blistered Clube de Golf do Santo da Serra for a bogey-free, 9-under-par 32-31=63 to post a tournament-record 22-under 266. Sweden's Magnus A. Carlsson finished alone in second place at 270. Del Moral closed with a 73 and settled for a share of fourth place at 272. "It is very emotional and I haven’t got the words to describe how I feel," Santos said afterwards. "To win my first European Tour event in my own country is very special. ... It was a sensational round –- definitely the best of my career. It was amazing to have the crowds here supporting me. It would be difficult to imagine a better win than this. I didn’t have many bad moments in the round, but the supporters were always there to pick me up and keep me going. This is a huge moment in my career."

Source: EuropeanTour.com

May 13 - 12:05 PM

Na leads PLAYERS by one after a bizarre day

Kevin Na survived spending the back nine on the clock and overcame what could possibly be described as the yips on the tee to post a 4-under-par 35-33=68 in the third round of THE PLAYERS, and leads by one over Matt Kuchar.

On most of his tee shots, Na stood over the ball and waggled numerous times. He even took full swings over the top of his teed ball while shouting "pull the trigger" to himself. It was reminiscent of Sergio Garcia at the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, but perhaps even more pronounced. It didn't have a negative bearing on his performance, as he split 10 (of 14) fairways, landed 15 GIR and navigated the TPC Sawgrass without a bogey. As if that wasn't enough, he was informed of a bad time he recorded on the 16th, meaning another slow time would result in a one-stroke penalty. At the end of the day, his 12-under 67-69-68=204 has him on top. He leads the field in birdies (20), putting (1.459), Strokes Gained-Putting and putts per round (25.7).

May 12 - 7:03 PM

Fowler still hungry; PLAYERS clubhouse leader

Just six days after earning his first victory at the Wells Fargo, Rickie Fowler is leading in the clubhouse at THE PLAYERS after a third-round 6-under-par 32-34=66 vaulted him to 9-under 72-69-66=207.

He circled seven birdies before suffering a lone bogey on the 18th. Fowler landed 16 GIR and putting to a 1.688 average. At the time of his posting, his 79.6 percent GIR was leading the field. If he were to win tomorrow, he would be the first golfer since David Duval to follow up his first victory with another in his next start.

Source: PGA TOUR Media on Twitter

May 12 - 4:37 PM

FedExCup Points leader misses PLAYERS' cut

Hunter Mahan missed the cut at THE PLAYERS by six strokes at 6-over-par 74-76=150.

Mahan arrived at TPC Sawgrass atop the FedExCup Points list, but hit only 21 greens in regulation this week, a sum that rarely bodes well for him on a track where scrambling is challenging. Lo and behold, he totaled 61 putts and swallowed six bogeys and three doubles. This is his first missed cut on the PGA TOUR since last year's British Open.

May 11 - 8:38 PM

Kuchar a 36-hole tri-leader at TPC Sawgrass

Matt Kuchar chased his opening 4-under-par 34-34=68 at THE PLAYERS with another in his second round, good for a share of the overnight lead with Zach Johnson and Kevin Na at 8-under 136.

For the second straight day, Kuchar hit 13 greens in regulation, but settled for one fewer birdie (five). He also had one fewer bogey, too, dropping his only shot at the par-4 fifth hole. Three of his birdies in the second round measured over 10 feet in length, the highlight occurring at the par-3 13th where he drilled it home from 45'1".

May 11 - 7:09 PM

Na earns share of the 36-hole clubhouse lead

Kevin Na backed up his opening 67 at THE PLAYERS with a 3-under-par 35-34=69 in his second round to grab a share of the 36-hole clubhouse lead at 8-under 136.

Na's putting has been brilliant all week. He hit only five (of 14) fairways and 10 greens in regulation today but buried seven birdies, including conversions of 12'8" and 14'0" at the fifth and 11th holes, respectively. At the time he signed his card, he led the field in Strokes Gained-Putting and birdies (16). Through 36 holes, he's hit 22 GIR but taken just 48 putts.

May 11 - 6:44 PM