Bigfoot Golf Tours

Ai Miyazato has won her first LPGA Tour title after beating Sophie Gustafson in a playoff at the co-sanctioned Evian Masters in France on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Japanese golfer was tied with joint third-round leader Gustafson after closing with three-under-par 69, while Sweden’s Solheim Cup veteran carded 70 after a long eagle putt at the final fell agonizingly short.

The 35-year-old Gustafson, who has won four LPGA titles and 13 on the Ladies’ European Tour, then missed a birdie putt from the edge of the green at the first extra hole, while Miyazoto was successful with her effort.

The tournament had been incredibly tight, with the lead shared at the end of every round.

South Korea’s Meena Lee recorded nine birdies in her 65 to share third place with American veteran Cristie Kerr (70), finishing one shot behind the leaders on 13-under 275.

Two shots further back, Sweden’s defending champion Helen Alfredsson shot 70 to share fifth place with American Paula Creamer (70) and Australia’s veteran former world No. 1 Karrie Webb (71).

They were a shot ahead of joint overnight leader Na Yeon Choi (71), her fellow South Korean In-Kyung Kim (74) and Japan’s Yuko Mitsuka (70).

Becky Brewerton of Wales, who had also shared the 54-hole lead, slumped with a 76 to finish in a tie for 13th on 280.

Former American teen prodigy Michelle Wie ended with 70 to be tied for 20th on 283, while world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa of Mexico was equal 34th on 286 after carding 73

Embarking on my first British Open, I was of the understanding the weather would be wet and windy and the scoring tough but my week thus far has been spent in shorts and t-shirts at a surprisingly benign Turnberry.

As nice as it is for a roving reporter to be out in the warm sunshine, fielding questions to the world’s best golfers on one of Britain’s finest courses, it would be interesting to see the usual wind and rain to see how good these guys really are.

When Irishman Padraig Harrington retained the Claret Jug at Birkdale last year he did so after enduring a fierce battle with the elements as well as a strong field.

His ability to shoot a four-under-par 32 on the back nine whilst battling wind that was gusting above 50mph was golf of the highest order and a joy to watch, albeit on a television in the Reuters office.

This year I was expecting the same conditions but as it stands, with sunny weather, the Ailsa course’s generous fairways and flat greens could become a birdie fest which we have grown accustomed to on the PGA Tour.

The uniqueness of the Open is that it is an event which is like no other, played on a seaside links with hard and fast fairways and blustery conditions which give spectators a chance to see how skilful the best players have to be.

Right now it will be simple for the players to take aim at the pins and shoot low scores and while pros may enjoy the easy ride, many fans would like to see them tested.

Let’s see if mother nature does her stuff and we witness a typically brutal Open championship here in Scotland — and I will dig out the waterproofs.

Are you a LEED AP itching to play golf on a course that behooves your accreditation? Look no further: entertainer Justin Timberlake’s Mirimichi public golf course, near Memphis, Tenn., has earned the first Audobon Classic Sanctuary certification from Audobon International, an environmental education organization. The course will open July 25 and when completed, will have a LEED-certified clubhouse and a fleet of solar-powered golf carts.

The $16 million project was undertaken by Timberlake and his family with the goal of reconstructing the golf course (once known as Big Creek) to be eco-friendly, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal. The course has irrigation and drainage systems to re-use rainwater, a re-circulating stream system to support wildlife and water quality, and a natural resource management center for biodegradable treatment of rinse water.

As part of the Audobon Classic Sanctuary program, the course also restored natural habitats to conserve wildlife and integrate the course into the surrounding environment while minimizing energy, water, and maintenance costs.

In a time when some celebrities find it hip to be green, Timberlake put his money where his mouth was by purchasing the golf course and renovating it to the standards set forth by the U.S. Green Building Council and Audobon International.

Open crowds have slumped by 13,000 this year as Turnberry’s remote Scottish location and the credit crunch hit home.

The first day attendance yesterday was 23,500, compared to 36,500 at Birkdale last year, but the R& A last night insisted it was pleased with the figures - which are up on the last time the Open was in Turnberry in 1994.

A spokesman said: “The Open is as popular as ever. “Birkdale has large cities nearby, and a good road network. It is impossible to compare the two venues.

“We have good ticket sales for the weekend, and we believe we are on track to get more fans through the gates than 14 years ago.”

The Dubai-based owners of the Turnberry Resort which is venue for 2009’s Open Championship, will confirm their intention to honour a £100 million five-year deal with the European Tour this week. The tour has been in question because of the global economic downturn.

Telegraph Sport has disclosed that Nakheel, the property-development arm of the Dubai government, will deliver a timely boost to the game on the eve of the highest-profile event in the European calendar by committing the £100 deal.

The said deal had been put into doubt by the financial crisis, which has created an explosion of the property bubble that has driven Dubai’s rapid development in the recent past. The £100m sponsorship, which saw the Order of Merit renamed the Race to Dubai and a $10m end-of-season Dubai World Championship, was initially signed by Leisurecorp, a division of Nakheel.

It was intended as a promotional tool for the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, a massive development of four Championship golf courses and thousands of residential units. The financial collapse placed the entire prospect in jeopardy last autumn, and in March this year Leisurecorp was subsumed into the parent company Nakheel, which instituted a review of all its commitments.

The review potentially placed a deal that was intended to bankroll the European Tour for the next five years and beyond in jeopardy, but negotiations over the last few weeks appear to have been successful.

It is understood that delays in completing the Jumeirah development had led to a possibility that the World Championship event could be put back from November, but it will now take place as originally scheduled.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of Nakheel’s ultimate holding company, was at Turnberry on Tuesday to meet representatives of the European Tour, and is understood to have signed off the final details of the deal.

Hamza Mustafa, managing director of Nakheel Leisure, confirmed to Telegraph Sport that the deal had been under review, but said the company would honour the terms of its original commitment.

“We have been looking at every aspect of our business. In this climate you would expect us to review our business. No-one is immune from this downturn, but we have recently reaffirmed to the European Tour that we stand by our commitment to the deal on the same terms. We hope that by standing by golf in the hard times the game will remember us when times improve.”

Nakheel has also decided to delay the full redevelopment of Turnberry because of the downturn. Some 50 rooms have been upgraded in time for the Open, but the remaining 50 will not be refurbished until the economy improves.

Rescuing the Race to Dubai deal represents a coup for the European Tour and bucks the recessionary trend that is hitting golf at all levels.

Sponsors that have lavished riches on the world’s best players and the tournament prize funds for which they compete are reviewing their spending, corporate hospitality budgets have been slashed, and property developments linked to golf resorts have seen the bottom fall out of the market.

Even the Open is not immune. Hospitality spending at Turnberry is down by at least 10 per cent, squeezed by the recession and an avoidable clash with the Lord’s Test.

RBS, one of six R&A patrons, has made the most marked cuts in its expenditure by necessity, with public opinion still against a company that under Sir Fred Goodwin was among the most indulgent of sponsors. Forced in to a hair shirt by public opinion they have abandoned their normal double-decker hospitality chalets overlooking the 18th fairway for marquee space in the tented village, with a ban on champagne and a buffet replacing sit-down three course lunches.

RBS’s current deal with the R&A has another year left to run but with the company committed to cutting 90 per cent from its sponsorship budget a renewal cannot be taken for granted.

The challenges facing the Open are slight in comparison to the wider professional game and leisure market, and the R&A will still hope to turnover £40m from this year’s championship.

Elsewhere the climate is more difficult. Guy Kinnings, managing director of IMG golf, acknowledges that the climate has changed. “Where you have great athletes like Tiger Woods and great tournaments such as the Open, they will continue to flourish, but there are some [tournaments] that inevitably will get caught out by the downturn. And the business is going to be more competitive and cut-throat.”

Away from the professional game the squeeze is even more acute. “There is no doubt that the downturn has had a dramatic effect on the golf industry across the board,” says Mark Sandilands, a manager in KPMG’s golf advisory practice. “A lot of the people we talk to are freezing their building plans because demand has dropped away completely and finance is harder than ever to raise,” he said

PADRAIG HARRINGTON is not yet ready to rule out completing a hat-trick of Open titles in 15 days’ time despite his fifth missed cut in a row at the French Open.
“I have another week,” said the Dubliner after a second round 75 that included a triple bogey eight on the 14th.

As he did before his victories at Carnoustie and Birkdale, Harrington will play fur rounds on a links course in the Irish PGA ChampionADVERTISEMENTship this week.

Last year he overcame a wrist injury to win by four. This time, though, it is a crisis of confidence as much as anything.

“I was never comfortable on the greens this week,” added Harrington. “I am hoping that’s all it was. I just putted terribly all week and didn’t gain any confidence.”

Argentina’s Rafa Echenique led on 10-under going into today’s third round at Le Golf National, two ahead of England’s Steve Webster, German Martin Kaymer and South African Charl Schwartzel.

Lothians ace David Drysdale dropped out of contention after coming home in 41, six-over, in his second round of 76.

The Dunbar player was five-under after a birdie at the ninth only to undo his good work with two double-bogeys as well as two bogeys on the back nine.

Bathgate’s Stephen Gallacher missed the cut after rounds of 74 and 79.

In the Credit Suisse Challenge in Switzerland, Raymond Russell and Lloyd Saltman also made early exits.

More about PADRAIG HARRINGTON

SYLVANIA, Ohio Reprt of AFP Australia’s Sarah Kemp seized a share of the lead at 11-under 131 after the second round of the 1.4 million dollar LPGA Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.

Kemp shot an eight-under 63 on Friday and shares the lead with American Laura Diaz who had a 67.

American Morgan Pressel is in third place after a three-under 68. She shared the first round lead with South Korea’s Kim Song-hee and Diaz.

Kim, of Sydney, shot a 71 on Friday and is one of nine South Koreans in the top 20 but four strokes adrift of Kemp.

Lee Seon-hwa (63) is tied for fourth with countrywomen Shin Jiyai (67).

Michelle Wie remains in the hunt after shooting a two-under 69. She shares seventh at minus-eight, while Mexican world number one Lorena Ochoa (68) is tied for 13th at seven-under-par 135.

Kemp started on the back nine and birdied the 10th, gave that stroke back with a bogey on the 12th then rebounded with a six-foot birdie putt on the 14th. Another birdie on 18 allowed her to make the turn at minus-five.

Kemp rolled in four consecutive birdies starting at the fifth hole to move to 11-under.

“I just tried to stay in the moment. I knew I was playing good,” Kemp admitted. “My putter was amazing. I don’t know how many putts I had, but I don’t think it was many. I just tried to have fun, and tried not to think about how many birdies I was making.”

Diaz, whose last win was the 2002 Corning Classic, birdied four of the last six holes.

“I didn’t make any birdies on my front side, but I just tried to stay patient out there,” said Diaz. “I haven’t been in place to be looking at the scoreboard in the last several months, so I really just was trying to stay in my own world.”

Dubai: The new Dubai Golf Summer Series started at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club on Saturday.

The first round sponsored by Ping witnessed a strong field of 86 players making a start to their campaign to reach the grand final at Emirates Golf Club on September 5.

Two players scored an amazing 38 points from their ¾ handicap allowance and by virtue of a superb back nine of 22 points M.R Rajalekha takes the winner spoils and a place at the top of the series leader board.

Y.J Kim just missed out and finished two points clear in second place. Sami Butt (EGF) finished in 3rd place on 36 points and also scoring 36 points Rigel Fernandes (EGC) picked up the best gross prize with great 34 gross points.

Two nearest the pins were snapped up by two great shots from Dan Weisser .

Over the series the best three of potentially five stableford scores will determine the final field that will surely be a highly competitive day over the very testing Majilis course, venue for the Dubai Desert Classic.

Leader board

M. R Rajalekha (DCGYC) 38 Y.J Kim (DCGYC) 38 Sami Butt (EGF) 36 Rigel Fernandes (EGC) 36 Hajir Sami (EGF) 35 Paul King (DCGYC) 34 Mark Irwin (DCGYC) 34 Hassan Yazdi (EGF) 34

Nothing can stop the Tiger Woods money machine.

Eight months on the shelf after knee surgery put a severe dent in his prize money, and killed his overseas appearance fees. One of his main sponsors walked away a year before their agreement was set to expire.

Yet Tiger Woods remains sports’ highest earner with an annual income two and a half times larger than his closest competitor. The world’s top golfer made $110 million during the past 12 months and is the best paid sportsman for the eighth straight year.

Woods’ knee injury caused his prize money to drop to $5 million from $25 million, but his overall earnings only fell $5 million thanks to an expansion of Woods’ non-playing financial empire.

PepsiCo (PEP - news - people) launched Gatorade Tiger last year in March with claims that it “helps focus your mind and your body.” Woods receives a cut of sales for the four flavors sold under his name. When General Motors’ ( GMGMQ.PK - news - people ) problems caused Buick to terminate its $8 million a year deal with Woods one year early, the Woods camp moved quickly to sign a deal with AT&T ( T - news - people ) to put the phone company’s brand on his golf bag in Buick’s place.

Nike ( NKE - news - people ) is by far Woods’ biggest benefactor with an annual payday of more than $30 million for the golfer. Woods profits from the success of the company’s golf division, and last year sales for Nike Golf hit a record $725 million. Woods’ most lucrative new endeavor is his golf course design business. Last year he announced plans for a third course to be built in Mexico. His other courses in Dubai and North Carolina are currently under construction.

Our list of the highest-paid athletes looks at earnings derived from salaries, bonuses, prize money, endorsements and licensing income between June 2008 and June 2009 and does not deduct for taxes or agents’ fees. Overall, the top 20 earned $789 million, down 1% from last year. The cutoff to make the list was $30 million.

Drop-offs from last year include boxer Floyd Mayweather (has not fought since December 2007), NFL players Ben Roethlisberger and Dwight Freeney (both made the 2008 list after inking contracts with big signing bonuses) and Formula One driver Fernando Alonso (just missed the cut).

The highest-ranking of the four newcomers to the list is boxer Manny Pacquiao who earned $40 million over the last year, tied for the sixth most. Pacquiao cemented his claim as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter with convincing knockouts of Oscar De La Hoya in December and Ricky Hatton in May. The two blockbuster fights garnered more than 2 million pay-per-view buys in the U.S. and earned Pac-Man $30 million combined.

Pacquiao’s massive popularity in his native Philippines is why companies like Nike and San Miguel beer have signed him to endorse their products. Pacquiao intends to use that popularity to run for political office when his ring career is over.

Our 20 highest earners have a very international flavor with Pacquiao one of eight non-Americans on the list. Finnish Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen earned $45 million over the past year, tied for second on our list with hoop legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Right behind that trio is global icon David Beckham who earned $42 million playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy and AC Milan, while schilling for Adidas ( ADDDY.PK - news - people ), Giorgio Armani and Motorola ( MOT - news - people ).