No Extra Security Planned For Tiger's St Andrews Return


St Andrews, Scotland (April 27): Fans at this year’s Open Championship at St Andrews will not be removed from the Old Course if they heckle Tiger Woods over his extra-marital affairs, Royal & Ancient chief executive Peter Dawson said. The R&A head anticipates no extra security measures to handle Woods’ first return to British soil following his fall from grace. “As long as it’s not intrusive to the game or the championship, then people can say what they like,” Dawson said after a news conference on Tuesday. “We’re not a police state here. But if they (the galleries) start putting players off, then we’ll have something to say about that.” Woods has not yet entered the Open, but organisers expect him to compete. He would be the first player to win the title three times at St Andrews.

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World Number One Ochoa Leaves LPGA On Her Own Terms


Mexico City (April 23): Not long after Lorena Ochoa’s formal press conference had concluded, Andres Conesa walked into a small conference room at the Banamex Centre and gave his wife a sweet kiss. “Somebody has to work, no?” the AeroMexico CEO said with a laugh as he headed back to the office. Ochoa joked that she should have recognised Conesa as her newest sponsor since she will retire at the blissfully young age of 28. Ochoa announced on Friday that she will step down as an active member of the LPGA following next week’s event in Morelia. The news came three years to the day she became the number one player in the world.

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Mercurial Montgomerie Keen To Strengthen Vietnamese Links


Danang, Vietnam (April 20): Once he’s done with the small matter of captaining Europe in October’s Ryder Cup, don’t expect Colin Montgomerie to slow down. While all things Ryder Cup dominate the eight-time European Tour Order of Merit champion’s thoughts right now, there are various other enticing projects and possibilities on the back burner. One is to create history by becoming the first European to play in the Ryder Cup after acting as captain with 2012 and 2014 firmly in the Scotsman's sights. Another is to use his considerable influence to bring a European Tour event to The Montgomerie Links in Vietnam.

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Experienced Chun Steps Into OneAsia Hot Seat


Suzhou, China (April 18): Sports industry veteran Sang Y. Chun has been named as the OneAsia Tour's Chairman and Commissioner. Chun has extensive experience in sports sponsorship and securing multi-million dollar television deals across the globe, involving many sports most valuable properties. Chun said: "I truly believe in the OneAsia vision to develop an elite-playing pathway right here in Asia, a true force in international golf that in time will sit comfortable beside the PGA Tour. And I am very excited at the opportunity to assist OneAsia on this journey."

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Mercedes-Benz Masters Philippines: Murakami Snatches Last-Gasp Win


Cavite, Philippines (April 17): Artemio Murakami from the Philippines timed his run to perfection and came out of the pack to win the US$60,000 Mercedes-Benz Masters Philippines. Murakami birdied the final two holes while others were making mistakes to record a last-gasp victory at Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club. He closed with a final round five-under-par 67 to beat compatriots Jay Bayron and Angelo Que and Manila-based Dutchman Guido Van Der Valk by one shot. The tournament is the opening event of the season on the 10-leg Mercedes-Benz Tour.

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Determined Liang Longing To Win China's National Open


Suzhou, China (April 14): A determined Liang Wen-chong is targeting a third OneAsia title in his homeland as he seeks this week to become only the third Chinese winner of the Volvo China Open following Cheng Jun in 1997 and Zhang Lian-wei in 2003. Liang and Zhang spearhead a 32-strong challenge from China in the US$2.5 million event, which is co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the European Tour, held for the first time at the Suzhou Jinji Lake International Golf Club. The 31-year-old Liang, who continued his putting and chipping practice in pouring rain on Wednesday, is in a strong vein of form following wins in last October’s Midea China Classic and this month’s Luxehills Chengdu Open.

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