Ishikawa Ready For Elementary Links Lessons From Master Watson


St Andrews, Scotland (July 12): Ryo Ishikawa will be reacquainted with legendary Tom Watson for the first two rounds of this week's 150th anniversary Open Championship. The 18-year-old Japanese sensation was paired with Watson during last month's US Open at Pebble Beach when he impressed the 60-year-old American with his array of shots. Playing alongside the five-time Open Championship winner at the home of golf will prove an education for Ishikawa, who is still learning his trade, especially in the art of links golf.

> FULL STORY

US Women's Open: All Set For 'Slugfest In The Steel City'


Pittsburgh, United States (July 7): If you thought the trials and tribulations of Dustin Johnson last month at Pebble Beach made for great entertainment, then don’t miss this week’s US Women’s Open. The best players in the world have converged on storied Oakmont Country Club in suburban Pittsburgh, where we’ll learn just how far the women’s game has evolved. Hard to believe, given golf’s rich history, but the Major 'Open' championships for the fairer sex, the US Women’s Open and the Ricoh Women’s British Open, are only 57 and 34 years old, respectively. The men’s British Open Championship, by contrast, will celebrate its 150th anniversary at venerable St Andrews next week and thus draw the lion’s share of the golfing world’s attention. That’s a shame, because the slugfest in the Steel City figures to be a classic. Rarely do the women get to test their skills over layouts of such stature.

> FULL STORY

A 'Scary' Major Examination Awaits At Oakmont


Pittsburgh, United States (July 6): Oakmont. Pinehurst. Pebble Beach. Venues that conjure up some of golf’s most celebrated moments – for men. Now the women get a chance – beginning this week at Oakmont – to etch their place in history. The US Women’s Open rota includes traditional courses that resonate, even with casual golf fans. This will mark the second staging of the Women’s Open at Oakmont, where Juli Inkster lost a play-off to Patty Sheehan over Henry Fownes’ demanding design in 1992.

> FULL STORY

Mizuno Open Yomuiri Classic: Rookie Sonoda Races To Victory


Tokyo, Japan (June 27): Rookie Shunsuke Sonoda scored a stunning upset victory in the weather-hit 130 million yen (about US$1.45 million) Gate Way To The Open Mizuno Open Yomuiri Classic. Playing in only his fifth event as a professional, 20-year-old Sonoda fired a breathtaking closing six-under-par 66 over the 7,230-yard Yomuiri Country Club. That gave him a total of 15-under 201 in the event that was reduced to 54 holes following the cancellation of Saturday’s third round due to heavy rain – and a three-shot win from Toru Taniguchi.

> FULL STORY

LPGA Championship: Kerr Continues Inexorable Major March


Connecticut, United States (June 26): Cristie Kerr is poised to take over as world number one after extending her lead to eight shots going into the final round of the LPGA Championship, the second Major of the season. Kerr fired a three-under 69 in the third round at Locust Hill Country Club for a 54-hole aggregate of 13-under 203. In joint second place on 211 are Mika Miyazato, Kang Ji-min and Azahara Munoz. Kerr is projected to take over the Rolex Rankings number one spot with a victory, unless Ai Miyazato finishes second. She would be the first American to hold the top spot in the world rankings since their inception in 2006.

> FULL STORY

Pioneering Tran Plans To Put Vietnam On World's Golf Map


Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (June 24): Michael Tran may have earned just a little over US$2,000 in what was his first pay-day on the Asian Tour but the significance of it all was worth its weight in gold. The 20-year-old Vietnamese made his first cut in five tries on the Asian Tour at the Queen’s Cup in Thailand last week, a result which gave him an added dose of confidence in his quest to become his country’s most successful professional golfer ... and put Vietnam on the world’s golfing map. Tran, whose full name is Tran Le Duy Nhat, shot rounds of 71, 68, 76 and 73 to finish tied 33rd in the US$300,000 event and the slender youngster now hopes that there will be better things to come for him on the Asian Tour.

> FULL STORY