WGC-Accenture World Match Play Championship: Asian Aces Square Off


Arizona (February 18): Friendship will take a back seat when Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa faces off with Thai Thongchai Jaidee in the third round of the World Golf Championships-Accenture World Match Play Championship. Maintaining Asia's stunning start to the tournament, Ishikawa defeated England's Ross McGowan and Thongchai overcame Swede Robert Karlsson in Thursday's second round at Dove Mountain. Team-mates for Asia in last month's Royal Trophy in Bangkok, Ishikawa and Thongchai will now go head-to-head with a place in the quarter-finals at stake. THIRD-ROUND DRAW Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) v Thongchai Jaidee (THA) Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) v Ian Poulter (ENG) Tim Clark (RSA) v Sergio Garcia (ESP) Oliver Wilson (ENG) v Luke Donald (ENG) Nick Watney (USA) v Retief Goosen (RSA) Ben Crane (USA) v Camilo Villegas (COL) Charl Schwartzel (RSA) v Stewart Cink (USA) Paul Casey (ENG) v Brian Gay (USA)

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Will Tiger Woods Finally Come Clean? We'll Find Out On Friday


Orlando (February 18): He's alive! And presumably well. We’ll find out for sure tomorrow when Tiger Woods is slated to make a statement at PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach. The last time Woods appeared in public was his news conference on November 15 after winning the Australian Masters in Melbourne. Ten days later, the National Enquirer broke the news of Woods’ infidelity and the day after that he crashed his SUV at the end of his driveway – suspicious circumstances, to say the least. His collision with a fire hydrant was followed by an endless torrent of revelations, speculation and ridicule about his sexual appetite.

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Paula Primed To Put New Backswing Into Play


Chonburi (February 17): It’s sad that the first question that comes to mind when talking to Paula Creamer these days is: “How is your health?” She’s only 23, but illnesses and injuries have dominated her life for more than a year. “I haven’t figured everything out yet, but I feel good,” said Creamer on a sticky afternoon in Thailand, where she will commence her 2010 campaign at this week's Honda LPGA Thailand. “I think it is always going to be an issue when I leave the country.” As usual, Creamer packed an extra bag filled with food to take to Thailand and Singapore, the Tour’s first two stops. Asia wasn’t good to her system last year.

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World Cup-Winning Brothers Eyeing Individual Glory In Arizona


Arizona (February 16): Less than three months after leading their country to an historic victory in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup, Italy's Molinari brothers return to the spotlight at this week's World Golf Championships (WGC)-Accenture Match Play Championship. Edoardo and Francesco Molinari will make history week when they become the first brothers to play in a WGC event - and they both admit they are brimming with confidence heading into their debuts. The siblings have both enjoyed a spectacular past 12 months. As well as teaming up to win the World Cup in China, Francesco finished 14th in the inaugural Race to Dubai while Edoardo, the elder brother, dominated the European Challenge Tour to climb into the world’s top-50.

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Mercedes-Benz Tour Revving Up For Record-Breaking Season


Singapore (February 12): The new season of the Mercedes-Benz Tour tees off next month with a rock-solid schedule of tournaments, confirmed venues and record prize money. A total of 10 tournaments offering total prize money of US$580,000 will be staged, paving the way for the Tour's most memorable season to date. The Singha Pattaya Open in Thailand, to be played from April 1-4, will raise the curtain on the fourth season for the Tour. Mercedes-Benz, who came on board as title sponsor of the Tour in 2008, have once again shown their drive and passion for the sport by committing to stage six Mercedes-Benz Masters tournaments - in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

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China Role Model Feng Reaps Rich Reward From HSBC


Singapore (February 11): China's Jenny Feng Shanshan has been handed the final sponsor exemption for this month's US$1.3 million HSBC Women’s Champions. A year ago, HSBC acknowledged the impact that Feng’s 2008 rookie season on the LPGA had had on the girls in the HSBC China Junior Golf Programme. The bank made the unusual move of saying that had she not qualified for the 2009 HSBC Women’s Champions by right, they would almost certainly have given her one of their invitations. Feng, who was 36th on the money list that year, didn’t need the help then, but after suffering something of a 'sophomore slump' in 2009, HSBC has stepped in to offer the 20-year-old a helping hand.

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