Woods and Watney share China lead

Woods struggled on the front nine then produced five birdies in 10 holes

Tiger Woods birdied the last to share the lead with fellow American Nick Watney after two days of the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai.

Woods carded a five-under 67, while Watney followed his superb opening-day 64 with a second round 70 to head the field at 10 under for the tournament.

Watney struggled until the turn on Friday, but he and Woods each produced four birdies on the back nine.

Phil Mickelson, Ryan Moore and Spain's Alvaro Quiros are a shot back.

Anthony Kim, Pat Perez and Brian Gay lie behind Mickelson and Moore near the top of a US-dominated leaderboard in China.

German Race to Dubai contender Martin Kaymer fell away with a two-over 74 to drop six shots back, while European money list leader Lee Westwood is tied for 23rd place at three under after two solid but unspectacular rounds.

I knew if I could play the back nine at three-under par, that would be a good number - and I did a couple better than that Tiger Woods

Fellow Englishman Ross Fisher bogeyed the last having found the water, dropping him to four under after two rounds, alongside compatriot Paul Casey and Kaymer.

Fisher was accompanied on his second round by Woods, who appeared angry at times on the front nine as he bogeyed the sixth.

But, like Watney, the 33-year-old found his game as the day progressed.

Having rolled a lengthy eagle putt to within a couple of feet of the 18th hole, Woods tapped in to take a share of the lead.

"It was certainly a little bit frustrating," Woods said of his start to the day.

"I knew that if I could just basically play the back nine at three-under par, I figured that would be a good number. And I did a couple better than that.

"I was surprised at how difficult the pins were. Consequently, the guys didn't go as low, but still there were plenty of opportunities out there."

"I knew from the start that Tiger and Phil were in the field and it's no surprise to see them playing well," said the 28-year-old.Watney, asked how he would fare with Woods and Mickelson in such close attendance, insisted the focus would be on his own game.

"I need to go out and keep making birdies to have a shot at winning."

Fisher was named the European Tour's golfer of the month for October after Friday's action in Shanghai had concluded.

In the wake of his victory in the Volvo World Match Play Championship, Fisher took the award ahead of Sweden's Michael Jonzon, who saved his Tour career by capturing the Castello Masters

Woods wins Presidents Cup for US

Woods avenged his USPGA defeat to Korea's YE Yang

Tiger Woods holed the winning putt as the United States took the Presidents Cup for a sixth time in eight events by beating the International team.

The US led 12½-9½ going into Sunday's 12 singles matches, and Woods's 6&5 win against Yang Yong-eun gave them the decisive fifth point in San Francisco.

Stewart Cink, Hunter Mahan, Anthony Kim and Sean O'Hair took the US to the brink with victories early on Sunday.

Woods won all five of his matches as the US triumphed 19½-14½ overall.

The US are now unbeaten in five Presidents Cup matches on home soil.

Open champion Cink beat Australian Adam Scott 4&3 in the second match out before Mahan came from two down after four holes to edge Colombian Camilo Villegas 2&1.

Moments later, Kim completed a 5&3 win over Australian Robert Allenby before O'Hair trounced South African Ernie Els 6&4.

We played great as a team and the captain did some great pairings Tiger Woods

In the ninth match out, Woods was up against Yang, the South Korean who had come from two shots behind the American to win the USPGA championship at Hazeltine in August.

Yang's victory, the first major title for an Asian-born male, ended Woods's 100% record of winning all 14 of his majors when leading going into the final round.

But Woods was too strong at Harding Park, though he was unaware that, with six matches still on the course, his putt on the 13th green had secured the win for captain Fred Couples's side.

"All I knew was I was trying to get my point and I was five up trying to make it six," said Woods.

"I didn't look at any boards. I saw we were down six matches at one point so I just kept my head down and tried to extend my own lead.

"We played great as a team and the captain did some great pairings.

Woods joined countryman Mark O'Meara and Japan's Shigeki Maruyama as the only players to win all five matches in the Presidents Cup. Woods now has 18 victories, the most of any player in this event."He put us together with some guys that we knew we could play really well with, and the guys made putts this week. All in all, I'm very proud of the guys."

After victory was secured, Canadian Mike Weir and Justin Leonard halved, Australian Geoff Ogilvy beat Steve Stricker 2&1 and South African Tim Clark beat Zach Johnson 4&3.

Japan's Ryo Ishikawa then defeated Kenny Perry 2&1, Jim Furyk lost 4&3 to Argentina's Angel Cabrera, Fiji's Vijay Singh halved with Lucas Glover and Phil Mickelson beat South African Retief Goosen 2&1.

The International team's only victory was at Royal Melbourne in 1998 and the teams tied at Fancourt in South Africa in 2003.

"My positive is my guys. I had a tremendous week with all of them," said International captain Greg Norman.

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Singles results:

Hunter Mahan (US) bt Camilo Villegas (Col) 2&1

Stewart Cink (US) bt Adam Scott (Aus) 4&3

Mike Weir (Can) halved with Justin Leonard (US)

Anthony Kim (USA) bt Robert Allenby (Aus) 5&3

Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) bt Steve Stricker (US) 2&1

Sean O'Hair (US) bt Ernie Els (SA) 6&4

Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn) bt Kenny Perry (US) 2&1

Tim Clark (SA) bt Zach Johnson (US) 4&3

Tiger Woods (US) bt Yang Yong-Eun (Kor) 6&5

Vijay Singh (Fij) halved with Lucas Glover (US)

Phil Mickelson (US) bt Retief Goosen (SA) 2&1

Angel Cabrera (Arg) bt Jim Furyk (US) 4&3

Mickelson to return at Firestone

Mickelson was roared on by a sympathetic crowd at the US Open

Phil Mickelson will make his return to golf at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio next week.

Mickelson has not played since coming second at the US Open in June after taking time off to be with his wife and mother who both have breast cancer.

Amy Mickelson underwent surgery in Houston on 1 July, while Mickelson's mother Mary was operated on 10 days later at the same hospital.

His decision suggests he will also play the following week in the USPGA.

The world number two, who missed the Open at Turnberry earlier this month, has only played twice since he announced on 20 May that his wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

He finished tied 59th at the St Jude Classic but missed out on winning the US Open by two shots, finishing second alongside fellow Americans David Duval and Ricky Barnes behind winner Lucas Glover at Bethpage.

Earlier this season, Mickelson won the Northern Trust Open and the World Golf Championships-CA Championship.

The three-time major winner has competed in all 10 previous Bridgestone Invitationals. His best finish came in 1999 when he tied for second.

The USPGA Championship, the year's final major, takes place at Hazeltine, Minnesota, from 13-16 August.

Woods will play an Open Championship at Turnberry for the first time

Woods will play an Open Championship at Turnberry for the first time

World number one Tiger Woods will begin his Open Championship challenge alongside England's Lee Westwood when play gets under way on Thursday.

The American, in search of his fourth Open title and 15th major in all, tees off at 0909 BST with Westwood and top Japanese prospect Ryo Ishikawa.

Padraig Harrington, bidding to win a third Open running, tees off at 1420.

The Irishman will be partnered by former US Open winners Jim Furyk of America and Australian Geoff Ogilvy.

US Masters champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina has been grouped with British world number three Paul Casey and Japan's Ryuji Imada, teeing off at 1409.

Former European number one Westwood he was happy to be grouped with Woods and Ishikawa.

"You know Tiger is going to be there or thereabouts, so what better place to keep an eye on him," said the Worksop golfer.

"I've always enjoyed playing with Tiger and I've always done well. It should be a great atmosphere and I think I'm experienced after 16 years (as a professional) to focus on my own game.

"And the Japanese as a race are very respectful, so I don't think there's a danger of (Ishikawa's fans) getting silly out there."

Westwood and Woods also played together at the 2004 Open at Troon, when the Briton went on to finish fourth and the American ended up ninth.

Other notable threesomes include 2002 champion Ernie Els, US Open winner Lucas Glover and Germany's in-form Martin Kaymer, while young guns Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and American Anthony Kim will play in the company of double US Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa.

Britain's Paul Broadhurst, a six-times winner on the European Tour, is scheduled to hit the first shot of the championship at 0630.

Turnberry, on the south-west coast of Scotland, is hosting the Open for the fourth time - but with the last time being 1994, it will be the first time Woods has played a championship there.

The American completed only his second practice round on the course on Monday, admitting afterwards: "It's a lot more difficult than people are letting on."

Immelman out of Open

Immelman won the Masters last year

Former Masters champion Trevor Immelman has withdrawn from next week's Open because of a wrist problem.

The 29-year-old South African also withdrew from the US Open because of the injury, which he suffered at the Memorial a month ago.

"My wrist has been responding well to treatment, but at this point, it just isn't far enough along to allow me to be ready for the Open," he said.

Swede Robert Karlsson is also out of the major because of an eye problem.

The 39-year-old has not played since the European Open in late May and his balance and vision have been affected.

It was first thought to be an inner ear infection, but fluid behind the retina was detected and Karlsson has been told it could take six months to clear.

"I'm just looking forward to getting through it and back playing," he said.

My depth vision had gone and where I noticed it most was with chip shots and bunker shots. Robert Karlsson

"When that is, though, I just don't know. I'm taking it week by week.

"If I had a normal job it would not be a problem - I'd just take things a bit easy.

"I don't feel bad at all, which is a bit annoying and frustrating, and my doctor has said that if I have to play I could, but if I did it would most likely take longer to get through this."

Karlsson had an outstanding year in 2008 and was the first Swedish player to win the old Order of Merit title, since rebranded The Race to Dubai.

He won twice in Europe and finished in the top eight in each of the first three majors, sharing 20th in the other, the USPGA Championship.

But this year he has had only one top 10 finish - fourth in January's Dubai Desert Classic - and was told by sports physiotherapists that his balance was out of kilter.

"Apparently it's quite common for men between the ages of 25 and 50 with stressful jobs," said the 6ft 5 Ryder Cup player.

"Light and dark shades of green started to float together if I can put it that way and in the PGA at Wentworth it was bad - everything started to look flat.

"My depth vision had gone and where I noticed it most was with chip shots and bunker shots. When the ball was up in the air I just couldn't judge how far it was going.

Also out of The Open is New Zealander Tim Wilkinson, who came through qualifying in America but has since required thumb surgery.

No replacements have been called up at this stage since the field is set to be 156-strong even without them

Dougherty holds on for BMW title

FINAL LEADERBOARD: (GB & Ire unless stated)
-22 N Dougherty -21 R Echenique (Arg) -18 R Goosen (SA) -17 F Aguilar (Chi), D Drysdale, MA Jimenez (Spa), G Storm -16 S Kapur (Ind)
Selected others: -15 D Willett -14 R McIlroy -12 B Dredge +1 C Montgomerie

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Dougherty carded an eight-under round to secure his win

England's Nick Dougherty resisted a late charge from Argentina's Rafa Echenique to claim the BMW International Open by one shot.

Dougherty began with four birdies in the opening five holes to pull level with overnight leader Retief Goosen.

Birdies on 13, 14 and 15 established a comfortable lead, but an albatross at the last helped Echenique to a European Tour record 27 on the back nine.

Goosen finished in third while home favourite Bernhard Langer ended ninth.

The third and most high-profile European Tour win of Dougherty's career had seemed in danger when Echenique sank his approach shot at the par-five last.

The three strokes picked up by the 243-yard three-iron cut Dougherty's advantage to just one heading onto the 18th tee.

But, after a bogey on the same hole on Saturday, the world number 120 kept his nerve to clinch an emotional win.

606: DEBATE Brilliant win for a very popular player Golfbug

The Liverpool-born player paid tribute to those who helped him after the sudden death of his mother in April 2008.

"The strength that my Mum had lives on in me," he said.

"I want to say thank you to all the people who have helped me through some tough times.

"I have a great team around me and it's great to be back where I feel I belong."

South Africa's Goosen, who had led over the first three rounds, could not maintain his pace under pressure from the chasing pack.

Dropped shots on the 10th and 12th saw him lose touch just as Dougherty accelerated.

Langer's hopes of becoming the oldest winner in Tour history in front of his home fans were fuelled by an opening birdie that put him within one shot of the lead.

But he finished level-par for the day as he struggled to reproduce the form that saw him go seven-under on Saturday.

Goosen holds two-shot Munich lead

THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD: (GB & Ire unless stated)
-17 R Goosen (SA) -15 B Langer (Ger) -12 D Drysdale, N Dougherty -13 S Kjeldsen (Den), J Kingston (SA) -12 G Storm, P Broadhurst
Selected others: -10 D Willett -9 B Dredge, R McIlroy -3 C Montgomerie

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Goosen has led the Munich event since an opening round of 64

Retief Goosen holds a two-shot lead going into the final round of the BMW International Open in Munich after carding a five-under 67 on Saturday.

The South African's closest challenger is German Bernhard Langer, whose seven-under 65 took him to 15 under overall.

Also in close contention are British duo Nick Dougherty and David Drysdale on 14 under after rounds of 68.

England's Graeme Storm carded the round of the day with an eight-under 64 to leave him joint-seventh on 12 under.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, 10th in the US Open on Monday, will enter the final day joint 15th on nine under following a 69.

This is as close as I could get to winning at home and it would mean a lot Bernhard Langer

Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie fired a hole-in-one on the par-three 8th - a record ninth Tour ace for the Scotsman - but it was not enough to prevent him dropping two places on the leaderboard to joint 58th after a round of 72.

"It was the only good shot I hit all day," said Montgomerie. "It looked good all the way, but I played rubbish apart from that. I never made a birdie, which is terrible."

Goosen, who has led since his opening 64 on Thursday, should probably be going into the final round holding an greater lead.

He missed a putt of barely a foot on the long sixth and drove into water for a closing bogey six.

"The ball went straight right off the club face," said Goosen. "The greens are pretty soft and there are a lot of footprints around."

In contrast, 51-year-old Langer barely put a foot wrong in his first event in Europe for over nine months, hitting seven birdies.

606: DEBATE Can Goosen be caught?

The only worrying moment of his round came on the 16th where he drove into the trees on the reachable par four and then chipped far too strongly but salvaged a birdie courtesy of a stunning 70-foot putt.

If Langer does succeed he will become the oldest winner in European Tour history.

"This is as close as I could get to winning at home and it would mean a lot," said Langer.

"I'm at a stage where I just want to enjoy my golf. I don't want to grind any more and I don't have anything to prove - I've been very blessed."

Glover grabs dramatic US Open win

American Lucas Glover survived late charges from Phil Mickelson and David Duval to clinch the rain-hit 109th US Open at Bethpage on Monday.

Glover claimed his maiden major by two shots from world number two Mickelson, former world number one Duval and third-round leader Ricky Barnes.

England's Ross Fisher was close for much of the final round but ended three back for his best major finish.

Tiger Woods threatened but ended four strokes behind Glover at level par.

The tournament was wide open for much of the final day as Barnes, who held a six-shot lead at one stage during the third round, and Glover came back to the pack after starting the day tied for the lead at seven under, five shots clear.

As Tour rookie Barnes fell away early on, Mickelson twice joined Glover in the lead, once with an eagle on the 13th and then again as his compatriot three-putted on 15, his only three-putt of the week.

But Mickelson slipped back with a bogey on 17 and Duval, who had amassed a triple-bogey six on the 3rd, fought back to join Glover out in front with a third straight birdie on 16.

Duval, ranked 882 in the world at the start of the week, also dropped a shot on 17 and Glover picked up a shot of his own to take a two-shot lead into the final two holes.

The 29-year-old, who won his solitary PGA Tour title in 2005, carded careful pars at 17 and 18 for a 73 and an unlikely victory.

"It was a test of patience," he said. "It was tough, we got the full value of the course. But the golf course played fantastic and it was just hard.

"The birdie at 16 was [also] huge. I heard some roars ahead and know it was important."

Glover, ranked 71 in the world before the event, was second at Charlotte last month for his best PGA showing of the year but had missed the cut in his three prior US Open appearances. His best finish in 11 previous majors was tied 20th at the 2007 Masters.

"I guess if I can win this one, I should be able to play all right every week," Glover said. "It will definitely be a big confidence boost."

It was an emotional five days. I want to win this tournament badly Phil Mickelson

Three-time major winner Mickelson, playing in his last event before wife Amy begins breast cancer treatment next month, carded a round of 70 to endure the heartbreak of a record fifth runner-up finish at the US Open and second at Bethpage after 2002.

"It was a lot of ups and downs for me, fighting to get back in it," said the 39-year-old left-hander, who was roared on by the adoring New York crowds.

"It was an emotional five days. I want to win this tournament badly. I feel I will have more chances."

Duval, the 2001 Open champion who has been in the golfing wilderness for much of the last eight years, collected his first top-10 finish in any tournament since 2002 with a closing 71.

"I'm pleased with how I played but disappointed at where I finished. I came here to win," Duval said. "It may be arrogance but it's where I feel like I belong."

Barnes, the 2002 US Amateur champion, set a new US Open 36-hole scoring record of 132 and reached 11 under during the third round, but he struggled with his game for much of the day in the final group with Glover and carded a 76.

Fisher, the world number 29, struck a superb eagle putt at the 13th hole to move three under and within one of the lead but bogeys on 15 and 17 took him to a round of 72 and killed his chances of becoming the first Briton to win the US Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970.

"It's something I will never forget," said the 28-year-old, who learned his golf at Wentworth. "This is only my second US Open. But what an experience."

World number one Woods, who has never won a major when not at least sharing the 54-hole lead, failed in his bid to create more golf history.

He was aiming for a record-equalling fourth US Open crown and to become the first man to defend all four major titles by winning his 15th major.

606: DEBATE Well done Lucas Glover, world number 71 Peter_Dennis

Woods, who made the cut by one and was 14 strokes adrift at one stage during the second round, edged closer to the top as the leaders faltered, while back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14 gave him hope.

But his late charge petered out with a bogey at the 15th and missed birdie putts on 16 and 17 as he carded 69 to finish tied sixth with Soren Hansen and Hunter Mahan.

"I gave myself so many chances and made nothing," said Woods.

Sweden's Henrik Stenson finished on one over, while Northern Ireland's Rory McIlory made a move with a 68 to end two over alongside Spain's Sergio Garcia.

The Monday finish, caused by torrential rain and waterlogging on Thursday and Saturday evening halting play, was the first time a US Open has overrun in regulation play since Larry Nelson won at Oakmont in 1983.