Posts tagged Kaymer
Featured Group: Watney, Kaymer and Watson
Mar 16th
At each PGA TOUR event this season, a featured pairing will be highlighted prior to the first round. Here is the featured group for Thursday and Friday at the Transitions Championship.
TRANSITIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: TOUR Report | Tee times | Expert picks | Power Rankings | Fantasy Insider
PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Three players who featured prominently in 2010′s final major championship are paired together in the first two rounds of this week’s Transitions Championship.
Not to mention, Martin Kaymer ranks No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking and Nick Watney and Bubba Watson have already won PGA TOUR events this year. How’s that for star power on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort?
Watson, who had to withdraw from the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship last week with the flu, is energized by the draw. Here’s what he tweeted on Tuesday:
“Had a little practice today, body is still off with the meds I had to take. Thursday & Friday will be fun with Watney & #1 in the group!!”
Watney was the one who took the lead into the final round of the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits last year but Kaymer made up four strokes beat Watson in a three-hole aggregate playoff. The 26-year-old from Germany has won three times on the European Tour since that signature victory.
“In the playoff against an American player, it was always very difficult for me because it felt like all of America against me,” Kaymer said on Tuesday. “It was important for me to win such a big thing. It wasn’t just a major. It was a major playing against Bubba and then winning, it gave me a lot of confidence.”
Indeed. Kaymer ended Lee Westwood’s 17-week reign as world No. 1 with a runner-up finish at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship three weeks ago. With none of the five players underneath him competing this week, Kaymer should eclipse countryman Bernhard Langer’s three-week stay at the top in 1986.
Watney is the man with the hot hand, though, after his win at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship on Sunday. The two-stroke victory over Dustin Johnson was the 29-year-old Watney’s third and marked his sixth straight top-10 finish dating back to last year’s TOUR Championship.
Watney showed a flair for the dramatic at TPC Blue Monster, too. He punctuated the victory with a 13-footer for birdie on the 72nd hole — one of just three made at the demanding par 4 in the final round.
The meltdown at the PGA, where Watney closed with an 81 and ended up tying for 18th, is just a distant memory now. With the win, the earnest Californian finds himself second in the FedExCup standings, his first appearance in the top five since week 18 in 2009, and 15th in the world. He’s a combined 74 under in his last 24 rounds and has a scoring average of 68.17 during that stretch.
Watson’s win at the Farmers Insurance Open in January was the second of his career — and came at the expense of hometown favorite Phil Mickelson. Watson, who is ranked sixth in the FedExCup and 17th in the world, also reached the consolation bout of the Accenture Match Play Championship and picked up his second top-10 of the season when he finished fourth.
The amiable Floridian ranks first on TOUR in driving distance (314.8 yards) and greens in regulation (76.80 percent) which is a deadly combination. Not surprisingly, Watson goes for the green at TOUR-leading 77 percent of the time and his birdie or better conversation percentage is 63.
EXPERT PREDICTIONS: We asked some of our PGATOUR.COM experts to predict which player will fare best this week at the Transitions Championship.
Stan Awtrey: Watney: He’s been as consistently good as anyone on TOUR this year. He’s full of confidence after last week’s win and is coming to an Innisbrook course he likes; he finished fourth there a year ago and tied for 12th in 2009.
Craig Dolch: Can’t see Martin Kaymer playing poorly on consecutive weeks.
Melanie Hauser: Watney. Can you say momentum? Yes, Bubba finished third last year, but Watney was fourth. Like the humility and the way he closed last week.
FANTASY INSIDER: All three players should in your Yahoo! line-up, according to this week’s Fantasy Insider.
From www.pgatour.com
Kaymer makes fine start to storm-hit WGC event at Doral
Mar 11th
(CNN) — World number one Martin Kaymer made an fine start to the storm-hit World Golf Championship on Doral’s Blue Monster course to move to within two shots of the lead when play was called off Thursday night.
Kaymer birdied his first three holes and was five-under through 10 to trail only American Hunter Mahan, who improved to seven-under after 11 holes.
The German was in a seven-strong group, which included Charley Hoffman, one of only nine of the 66-strong field to finish their rounds as he carded a 67.
An earlier storm had caused considerable damage to trees, the television towers and a leaderboard, but when played resumed the course was at the mercy of the world’s best players.
“I had a fantastic start and then played very, very solid golf,” Kaymer told AFP.
“My putting was good and I hit a lot of fairways, although, to be honest, it was not that difficult today.”
Kaymer was playing with English pair Lee Westwood and Luke Donald as organizers paired the top three in the rankings.
Donald was tied with Kaymer on five-under while No.2 Westwood, looking to win back the top ranking, was on four-under.
Former world number one Tiger Woods did not take full advantage of the favorable conditions, but two birdies after the turn left him one-under after 15 holes.
Several wayward drives showed that the swing changes he is making with coach Sean Foley remain a work in progress.
Three players withdrew before play even started — South African Tim Clark with an elbow injury and Americans Ben Crane, with a rib injury, and Bubba Watson, through illness.
From edition.cnn.com
Kaymer is German role model – Langer
Mar 2nd
Kaymer is German role model – Langer
New world No 1 Martin Kaymer is ‘just what German golf needs’, according to Bernhard Langer, but the 26-year-old himself insists he is not golf’s version of Boris Becker, Michael Schumacher or Franz Beckenbauer.
Kaymer, from Duesseldorf, replaced England’s Lee Westwood at the top of the world golf rankings on Monday after reaching the final of the Match Play Championship in Arizona last weekend.
It was almost 25 years since Langer, the last and only other German to do so, headed the world rankings in April 1986 – when Kaymer was 14 months old.
“From a golfing standpoint, he can do anything,” Langer told pgatour.com.
“I think it’s wonderful. It’s what German golf needs. He’s a great role model. I hope he stays up there for many, many years.”
But while Germany may need a golfing hero to rejuvenate interest in the sport here, Kaymer says he is nothing like tennis’ Becker, Formula One’s Schumacher or football-legend Beckenbauer.
“Those three dominated their sports for decades and inspired a whole country,” said Kaymer when the Cologne Express asked if he could spark the same interest in his sport as the trio did in theirs.
“I am only at the beginning of my career and have still have many years ahead of me in which I must prove that I belong amongst the best golfers.
“Such comparisons do not honestly sit well with me at all.”
But Kaymer is pleased to have reached the summit of world golf.
“I am pleased about the wonderful comments and the increased interest in my sport,” he said.
“I had a great season in 2010, which totally exceeded my expectations.
“I had planned, of course, to one day be at the top, but the fact it has happened at the start of the season is not something I would have even dreamed of.”
While reaching No 1 is impressive, Kaymer says the goal now is to stay there.
“I want to keep playing successfully, win further titles, defend others and stay for as long as I can at No 1,” he said.
In football-mad Germany, golf has been off the terrestrial airwaves for while and Kaymer’s exploits on the world’s courses are only screened by pay-to-view broadcaster Sky.
But his rapid rise to world No 1 status has aroused the interest of Germany’s main broadcasters.
“We have been watching closely how Martin has been performing,” ARD sports co-ordinator Axel Balkausky told SID, an AFP subsidiary.
“With him as No 1 it makes it a lot easier to put golf on television.
“We will look to have a conversation with Sky.”
Germany are bidding, along with France, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain to host the 2018 Ryder Cup and the successful candidate will be announced at Wentworth Club, Surrey, England, on Tuesday May 17.
If successful, Germany will host golf’s top event at a brand-new course in Rohrenfeld, north of Munich and, as president of the bid, Langer says Kaymer’s success is a boost to Germany’s hopes.
“For the application, his success is very important, but won’t determine anything,” said Langer.
From supersport.com
Kaymer is new world No. 1 as Europeans dominate golf rankings
Feb 28th
MARANA (Arizona): Europeans occupy the top four positions in the world golf ranking for the first time in nearly 19 years.
Despite losing the final at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship on Sunday, German Martin Kaymer has become the 14th player to be ranked No. 1.
Englishman Lee Westwood drops to No. 2 after holding top spot since the end of October, with countryman Luke Donald jumping to No. 3 thanks to his Match Play victory on Sunday at Dove Mountain.
Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell slips in at No. 4, relegating American Tiger Woods to No. 5, his lowest ranking since before the won the 1997 Masters.
“It’s fantastic to have four Europeans up there,” said Kaymer. “It was always Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
“I’m sure Tiger and Phil will chase us. But the guys you are up there are very consistent, good players, so I can see them staying there for a while.”
Donald, who was ranked ninth just a week ago, concurred: “We’ve really had a purple patch in world golf,” he said.
“Whether I deserve No. 3, I don’t know, but certainly in terms of my work ethic and wanting it, I do.
“There is some volatility in the rankings. Tiger Woods isn’t way ahead and No. 1 is up for grabs for a number of people.
“If I keep winning tournaments, then I’ll probably deserve to be No. 1, but I’ve got to keep on winning.” — AFP
From thestar.com.my
Kaymer on top of the world
Feb 27th
Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald face each other in the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play in Tucson with the German certain to be the new world number one.
Kaymer booked his place in the final after finally emerging as victor in a see-saw clash with Bubba Watson. Donald had earlier produced a fine day of golf, demolishing quarter-final opponent Ryan Moore and last-four rival Martin Kuchar on his way to the final.
Victory at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club would move the Briton up to number three in the world.
Kaymer is already assured of replacing Lee Westwood as number one but the 26-year-old, who defeated Miguel Angel Jimenez in his last-eight tie, is more worried about taking on Ryder Cup team-mate Donald in the final.
“It has taken me only five years to get to number one,” he said. “For myself, my family and the people I work with it’s a great achievement.
“I was not thinking about the number one spot (against Watson) as I was sure I would get the opportunity again over the next few weeks, I just wanted to win the match.
“He made a great birdie at 17, you can’t do anything about that, but it worked out fine. Luke is probably one of the best match play players in the world, we get along well but because it’s a final it will add more pressure.”
Donald had impressed with a 5&4 win over Moore, before going on get the better of Kuchar 6&5.
“It was good,” Donald, who only played 27 holes in the day, told Sky Sports. “I didn’t leave anything out there and I was pretty dominant. I was able to keep my opponents at bay.
“On a long day like this it was nice to get done early in both matches. I didn’t know I could go to number three in the world, but that would be amazing. I’ve been playing consistently, but it’s been a while since I’ve won over here (in America).”
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From www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk
Match Play: Kaymer wants to show he deserves No. 1
Feb 27th
During his run through the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, Martin Kaymer has displayed the emotional range of a cactus. Big shots and maddening misses have been greeted with the same expression: a half-grin and a nod.
“I think it’s very German,” he said. “I think it’s very good for golf.”
Still, even Kaymer had to crack a smile – and maybe a bottle of champagne – after Saturday’s performance at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain.
By dispatching Bubba Watson 1 up in the afternoon semifinals, Kaymer earned a spot in today’s championship match against Luke Donald and secured his place as the world’s best golfer.
Kaymer will be No. 1 when the new World Golf Ranking is released Monday, regardless of how he fares in this afternoon’s final.
Not that he is celebrating just yet. If anything, Kaymer’s new ranking comes with a responsibility to back it up.
“It would be fantastic if I could win – then it feels like I would deserve to be No. 1,” he said. “I’m not saying that I don’t deserve it, but it would make me feel better if I would win, instead of finishing second.”
Saturday, Kaymer played with a champion’s resolve.
He advanced to the semifinals with a 1-up win over Miguel Angel Jimenez, though it didn’t come without drama. Kaymer was 4-up through 14 holes when Jimenez, a 47-year-old Spaniard, made his run.
Jimenez won Nos. 15, 16 and 17, forcing Kaymer to win or halve the 18th to secure the victory. Kaymer and Jimenez both finished with 4s, allowing the German to advance.
Kaymer’s semifinal win against Watson, a rematch of last year’s PGA Championship playoff, looked nearly identical to his morning round. Kaymer took a 2-up lead with a birdie on No. 15 and a par on No. 16, only to watch as Watson sank a clutch birdie putt on the 17th hole.
With the match on the line, Kaymer played it safe. He drilled his second shot on No. 18 to 73 feet past the pin, away from the green’s false front, and rolled his third shot to within 7 feet of the cup.
With thousands watching from the gallery, Kaymer calmly rolled in the biggest shot of his pro career.
Watson said Kaymer “just beat me.” In doing so, he stopped one of the most improbable runs in recent Match Play history.
Watson rallied from a Match Play-record 5-hole deficit to defeat J.B. Holmes 1 up in 19 holes during the quarterfinal.
Watson won the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 18th holes to force a playoff, then watched as Holmes drove into the desert. Watson hit an approach shot to within 3 feet of the hole, then tapped in to cap the win.
While Kaymer and Watson were grinding their way through a windblown afternoon, Donald sailed.
The Brit blew through Saturday’s rounds, defeating Ryan Moore 5 and 4 in the quarterfinals and Matt Kuchar 6 and 5 in the semis.
Donald, a former Northwestern University star, said the early blowouts “should put me in good stead” for the final, where the more- rested player typically prevails. Donald spent just 5 hours 56 minutes on the course Saturday; Kaymer’s rounds took 2 hours 3 minutes longer.
“Certainly, in 18 holes, anything can happen,” Donald said. “Saying that, I’m playing well. I’ve been up in all matches. I’m feeling confident.”
So is Kaymer, even if he’ll have to wait another day for validation. Kaymer said he considers Lee Westwood the world’s best player, at least until Monday. By then, Kaymer could be the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer and a Match Play champion.
“When the rankings say that I’m the No. 1, then I’m the best player in the world,” he said. “If they say so, then that’s the truth.”
Today
• What: Championship and consolation matches
• TV: Noon on Channel 4
• Ticket info: 1-866-942-2672 or worldgolfchampionships.com
From azstarnet.com
Golf’s new No.1 Kaymer no flash in the pan
Feb 27th
Martin Kaymer is the new world No.1 golfer and you’d better get used to it.
The 26-year-old German is no flash in the pan.
He has an impressive swing, a precise short game and an even better temperament.
Kaymer was understandably reluctant to celebrate his new top dog status on Saturday, because there was still the little matter of his participation in the final at the WGC Match Play Championship.
The second seed will play England’s Luke Donald in an all-European final at Dove Mountain.
“Tomorrow if I could win, it really feels like I deserve to be No.1,” Kaymer said after edging American Bubba Watson 1-up in their semi-final of the World Golf Championships event.
“I’m not saying I don’t deserve it, but it would make me feel better if I would win. So yes, it is a little strange.
“I can say one thing for sure. It’s a very proud moment, not only for me, but (also) for my family, for the people who helped me and for Germany as well.
“To be the second German is a nice feeling.”
He was referring to Bernhard Langer, who was No. 1 for all of three weeks when the rankings were first unveiled in 1986.
Kaymer has some of Langer’s traits, including a cool if not outright stoic temperament, but the new No.1 hits it much further.
His victory, in a play-off over Watson, at last year’s US PGA Championship, was almost ignored in the wake of Dustin Johnson’s bizarre two-stroke penalty for grounding a club in a bunker at the final hole.
The soft-spoken Kaymer is not particularly charismatic, and is not even a US PGA Tour member.
He is not easily promotable in the way of previous No.1s such as Greg Norman, Seve Ballesteros and Tiger Woods.
But golf purists will find him a joy to watch, because he has impeccable manners and is a clutch player, as he showed by calmly sinking his winning putt from just outside two metres.
“The PGA Championship gave me so much motivation and belief that I can win any tournament,” he said.
“The most important thing is that I kept working on my game. I didn’t want to win just once and you don’t hear about me anymore.”
Kaymer had a tougher battle getting to the final than Donald, who has been the best player in the field so far, never trailing in any of his five matches.
“Martin is a steady player, like me but hits it further,” said ninth seed Donald, previewing the final.
Two quiet achievers from another continent will hardly bring huge crowds to the final, but that will leave more room for those who simply appreciate great golf.
From wwos.ninemsn.com.au
What they said: Martin Kaymer
Feb 27th
MORE INTERVIEWS: WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship transcript archive
PAUL SYMES: Martin, it’s been a long day, but you must be delighted with how it’s turned out in the end.
MARTIN KAYMER: It’s a long day, for sure. It was mentally very difficult, as well. Match play is definitely mentally more exhausting than stroke play. But the good thing is there’s only one more round to go.
PAUL SYMES: How does Martin Kaymer World No. 1 sound? It might take awhile to sink in, I appreciate, but just give us your initial thoughts.
MARTIN KAYMER: Definitely I need some time to think about it. The good thing is next week I don’t play a tournament, so maybe I can realize what happened. But I can say one thing for sure, you know, it’s a very proud moment. Not only for me, I think for my family, for the people who helped me and, you know, for Germany, as well. To be the second German, I think it was maybe ’86, ’87 when Bernhard Langer was No. 1. It was a long time ago. And to be the second is a nice feeling.
PAUL SYMES: Luke Donald in the final tomorrow. Obviously, fellow Ryder Cup teammate. He described your game as quite similar to his; you just hit it further. How would you assess his game?
MARTIN KAYMER: I think he’s a little bit better on the putter. He’s very good in the short game. He’s one of the best match play players in the world, otherwise he wouldn’t be in the final tomorrow. He has a lot of experience in Ryder Cups, as well. And it will be there were a lot of difficult matches out there, especially yesterday and today, but tomorrow, because we are playing for a big trophy tomorrow, for World Golf champion trophy, and that adds a little bit of pressure, maybe. So it’ll be definitely a very difficult day for me tomorrow.
Q. Last week I asked you who the best player in the world was and you told me Lee Westwood, because he was ranked No. 1. Well, who is the best player in the world now?
MARTIN KAYMER: Still Lee Westwood until Monday (laughter).
Q. How about after Monday?
MARTIN KAYMER: Well, when the rankings say that I’m the No. 1, then I’m the best player in the world. And if they say so, then that’s the truth.
Q. Do you believe that?
MARTIN KAYMER: Not now. But maybe on Tuesday or Wednesday, when I see my name up there, I’ll definitely take a picture of that moment.
Q. This last year and a half, especially this last six months, four wins since the PGA and possibly another one tomorrow. What’s been the biggest difference in the before and after for you? Why this crazy spike? You’ve been the most successful player the last six months without any question?
MARTIN KAYMER: I think after the PGA, the PGA Championship that gave me so much motivation and so much belief that I can win any tournament that I play. And I think the most important thing was that I kept working on my game, that I didn’t stop. That I didn’t want to be, I don’t know, just win once and kind of like you don’t hear about me anymore. I kept playing and kept winning. I think it’s just because of that.
Did I really know that I can win any tournament that I can play in? My short game has been very good since last year. It has been has improved big time. But I think it’s a mixture and a combination of many, many little parts.
Q. Not only was it 36 holes today but the wind was blowing. It was cool. After that kind of a day, just how tired are you now?
MARTIN KAYMER: Yeah, of course I’m very tired. And I will definitely eat very well tonight. I will have a big steak.
I think Luke, he played definitely less holes than me, might be a little bit of an advantage for him tomorrow. But I’m a little bit younger, which might be my advantage.
It was a tough day, but the good thing is I’ll sleep very well. Hopefully I can get to bed soon and then I’m ready to win tomorrow.
Q. Are you finally finding it difficult at all to celebrated this moment for what’s going to be coming out on Monday and still having to stick to the business at hand tomorrow?
MARTIN KAYMER: For sure. When I hear those things, that I’m No. 1 in the world on Monday, I’m in the middle of the tournament. I don’t really know it would be fantastic tomorrow if I could win, then it really feels like I deserve to be the No. 1. I’m not saying that I don’t deserve it, but it would make me feel better if I would win instead of finishing second tomorrow. So, yes, it is a little strange.
Q. Could it possibly work to your advantage that you’ve been perhaps tested more than Luke over the last four days, in terms of being put in stressful situations?
MARTIN KAYMER: Well, I don’t think he has played very often 17 and 18, but I’ve played them many times. Maybe when it comes down to this, maybe I have an advantage.
Q. Fanny said we had to ask you about the scarf?
MARTIN KAYMER: Why did she do that? I don’t know how it’s called in English snood. And I heard a lot of guys in soccer they are using that. I just got it yesterday in order to stay warm. And maybe it’s a European thing. Maybe we’ll see it more often on the PGA TOUR.
Q. Did you bring a turtle neck with you?
MARTIN KAYMER: No, I’m staying in Scottsdale, usually to get ready for tournaments. When you drive only one and a half hours, you’re not expecting to bring a sweater, even. But if we needed a turtle neck, I was not expecting that.
Q. Your demeanor on the golf course seems to have a range of about this much, you always seem to be the same. Do you ever get mad or do you just not show it? And if you do, how could we tell? Because you seem that seems to be one of your strengths.
MARTIN KAYMER: I think it’s very German. If you know Bernhard Langer the way he is on the golf course, I think it’s very good for golf.
For me it helps me a lot to stay calm. But of course I’m mad at times; I’m excited about some things. But I think for myself I know I’m always trying to put a hundred percent in there. I’m always trying to do my very best. And that’s all I can do. If I do well, I do well. If I don’t do well, then that’s how it is. And I think, yeah, of course, if you screw up a tournament, yes, of course you’re mad and you want to destroy something. I think that’s pretty normal. But it takes me a while.
I mean, it didn’t happen yet, but maybe one day it will happen and you will see. But so far, you know, I think it’s very good for golf.
Q. Could you it talk a little bit about how Fanny is helpful to you?
MARTIN KAYMER: Well, Fanny and me, we know each other since seven or eight years now. She was helping out us in the national team when I was an amateur. And she was talking about course management and strategy and some experience that she had with Nick Faldo, and I found it very interesting.
And then when I played the qualifying school five or six years ago, I could always call her and then we talked about a few suggestions for the golf course, how I felt about certain golf shots.
And then since 2008, when I won my first tournament, you know, we were talking about why I won, why I screw up some tournaments, you know, just to find solutions for things.
And in the end of the day, I found the solutions by myself but only through talking to her. And the experience that she had and the right questions that she asked me, they made me to the golf player I am today.
Q. What’s her position, can you describe it, coach?
MARTIN KAYMER: Coaching.
Q. Just coach?
MARTIN KAYMER: That’s how she calls herself.
Q. Your match kind of turned on 15 and 16. Then Bubba came right back and slapped you with a great shot. Can you talk about 17 and 18 knowing you had to make that putt, what were your thoughts?
MARTIN KAYMER: Yeah, 15, you know, you don’t want to win a hole when somebody screws it up. You don’t want to do that. It would have been nice if I made the putt for birdie to win the hole in the proper way. The way I won 16 was huge. When I was standing over the putt, I was reminding myself what happened yesterday with Hunter Mahan, that was a very important putt that I made. And 17, I mean, it was a great round.
We played good golf. It was always up and down. He was 1 up, I was 1 up. I don’t think we played very good golf, scoring wise, but, you know, we kept ourselves alive. And on 18, I think I’m not sure, maybe I took the wrong club on 18. It was a little bit long. I was in between clubs, and I didn’t want to make the same mistake Bubba did. But the up and down, obviously those moments, they tell me that I can I think at the PGA, that was just big putts that I made. And they gave me the belief and every putt that I’m facing now, which is difficult, I know that I can do that. And that’s what I was thinking on 18, as well.
Q. What clubs were you in between?
MARTIN KAYMER: 7 and 8.
PAUL SYMES: Big day tomorrow, so we’ll let you get on to it. Thanks again.
From www.pgatour.com
Golf Capsules: Martin Kaymer is a match away from No. 1 ranking
Feb 26th
MARANA, Ariz. (AP) — Martin Kaymer is one match away from becoming No. 1.
The German squandered a big lead on the back nine Saturday morning before parring the 18th hole to defeat Miguel Angel Jimenez and reach the Match Play Championship semifinals.
Kaymer need only reach the final to take the top ranking and replace Lee Westwood. Kaymer faced Bubba Watson, who staged an amazing comeback to beat J.B. Holmes in 19 holes. Kaymer beat Watson in a playoff at last year’s PGA Championship for his first major.
Holmes was 5 up with eight holes to play when he got sloppy, failing to birdie either of the par 5s on the back nine and then losing control of his tee shots with the match on the line. He lost the 18th hole with a shot in the desert to force extra holes.
They returned to No. 10, and both players hit into the desert. Watson was helped by being left-handed and played a strong shot just off the green. Holmes had no choice but to take a penalty drop from the bush, and after some 20 minutes figuring where to drop, he couldn’t reach the green and made bogey.
It was the second time in as many appearances in this tournament that Holmes blew a big lead.
Three years ago on a different course, he was 3 up with five holes to play until Tiger Woods won four straight holes with three birdies and an eagle to beat him.
That was Woods producing amazing shots. This was Holmes hitting poor ones.
Holmes looked lost over the final hour of an excruciatingly long match that took nearly five hours. Watson let him off the hook twice by missing birdie putts inside 10 feet on the 16th and 17th holes. Watson won the last two holes of the match with pars.
“I didn’t finish off the way I needed to,” Holmes said.
In the other quarterfinal matches, Luke Donald of England put on another strong display of shotmaking to easily beat Ryan Moore, 5 and 4. Donald played only 60 holes the first four matches without reaching the 18th. He has never trailed in any match, and only four times were his matches all square.
Next up for Donald was Matt Kuchar, who had no trouble against Y.E. Yang of South Korea in a 2-and-1 victory. Kuchar won four holes in a five-hole stretch on the front nine, and Yang ran out of holes in his bid to rally.
That left two Americans and two Europeans in the semifinals.
Kaymer wore a scarf to fight off the morning chill at Dove Mountain. He never trailed and appeared to be sailing toward the semifinals when Jimenez made him work for it.
The 47-year-old Spaniard, the oldest player in the field, was 4 down with four holes to play when he won the next three holes, two of them with par. They reached the 18th hole, long and into the wind, and Kaymer hit a solid shot from 224 yards onto the green. Jimenez hit fairway metal left of the green and failed to chip in for birdie to extend the match.
The one match that never figured to go the distance was Holmes and Watson.
In a power display unseen at The Ritz-Carlton Club, two of America’s biggest hitters put on a show. Holmes hit two drives of at least 400 yards with the wind at his back and elevation in his favor. Watson was tentative with every swing and especially every putt. Holmes made a short birdie to go 5 up through 10, and it appeared to be a short match.
It turned out to be just the opposite.
Holmes’ second collapse in this tournament was even more costly this time. He needed to advance to the semifinals to crack the top 50 in the world ranking and become eligible for the next World Golf Championship in two weeks at Doral.
LPGA
Arimura leads Webb by 1 stroke after 3rd round
SINGAPORE (AP) — Japan’s Chie Arimura shot a 1-under 71 for a one-stroke lead over Australia’s Karrie Webb after the third round of the HSBC Women’s Champions on Saturday.
Arimura had two birdies and one bogey for an 11-under 205 going into the final round. Webb shot a 70.
Arimura could have had a bigger lead, but she missed short putts on the 15th and 16th holes. She had a three-shot lead with two holes to play, but three-putted on the 17th and made par on the final hole. Webb birdied the 18th.
Arimura, who has never won an LPGA tournament, will be paired Sunday with Webb and top-ranked Yani Tseng of Taiwan. Tseng had a 69 and trails by six strokes.
“I might be nervous,” Arimura said. “Just competing against those great players is even hard for me to believe, even now, it’s like a dream.”
Webb has won 36 LPGA titles, more than any other active player.
“I feel pretty fortunate to only be one shot behind,” the 36-year-old Webb said. “I’ve got a great opportunity to win.”
Tseng, who is seeking her fourth title of the year, is tied at 5 under with South Koreans Na Yeon Choi (71) and Sun Young Yoo (73).
Morgan Pressel of the United States followed with a 70. Mika Miyazato (70), Cristie Kerr (73) and Ai Miyazato (70) trail by nine strokes.
Tseng earned the top ranking after winning the Australian Women’s Open and Australian Ladies Masters on the Ladies European Tour in February and last week’s LPGA Thailand event.
“It’s a big gap, but this is golf, you never know until the last putt drops,” she said.
South Korea’s I.K. Kim had the best round of the day with a 67. She trails the leader by seven strokes.
Michelle Wie and Juli Inkster finished with 77s, well off the pace.
– Alex Kennedy
From www.brownsvilleherald.com
Kaymer hopeful a long day takes him to the top
Feb 26th
One day after he was forced to go 20 holes to get out of the second round, Kaymer had to rally on the back nine Friday against Hunter Mahan before closing him out on the 17th hole. That put Kaymer in the quarterfinals, and more than a World Golf Championship at stake.
Because of cold weather expected on the final day, the schedule has been altered to play the quarterfinals on Saturday morning, followed immediately by the semifinals.
“Hopefully, it’s going to be a long day, that I can play two matches,” Kaymer said.
Next up for Kaymer is Miguel Angel Jimenez, the 47-year-old Spaniard and oldest player in the field. If the German can win, he would face the winner of the slugfest between big hitters J.B. Holmes and Bubba Watson.
Two wins would put Kaymer in the championship match and guarantee a new No. 1 in golf.
“If I can get up one more spot in the world rankings, of course I wouldn’t mind it,” Kaymer said. “But I think I’ll have a chance the next few weeks, months, as well.”
The 26-year-old German is not one to get ahead of himself, whether its the world ranking or the Accenture Match Play Championship. Jimenez has proved to be tough, especially the way he dismantled Ben Crane in a 7-and-6 victory.
As far as the world ranking, the possibilities are limited.
Lee Westwood, bounced out in the second round, will remain No. 1 if Kaymer loses a match on Saturday. Luke Donald, who beat Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, can move to No. 3 if he wins the tournament. Otherwise, Graeme McDowell will rise to No. 3, even though the U.S. Open champion was beaten Friday by Y.E. Yang.
Whatever the case, Tiger Woods will slip to his lowest ranking – No. 4 or No. 5 – since the week before he won the 1997 Masters.
As for the Match Play Championship?
From www.washingtonpost.com
