Golf, by TourMiss

Despite an expected final round collision, Augusta National organizers have clearly separated Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy for the opening two rounds of the Masters. Woods has been drawn to play alongside fellow American Scott Piercy and England’s Luke Donald. McIlroy, competing off his best of the season in San Antonio, will tee up three hours later at 6.41pm Thursday night Irish time in the presence of fellow PGA Champion and Ryder Cup Sunday Single rival, Keegan Bradley and Sweden’s Freddie ...

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy is almost certain to contest the Omega European Masters later this year and also next year’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic after the announcement here at Augusta today he has signed a new endorsement deal with Swiss watchmaker Omega. McIlroy, who secure a best season finish of second in last week’s Valero Texas Open, will join fellow Omega Ambassadors that includes Michael Phelps, Greg Norman, Nicole Kidman, George Clooney, Sergio Garcia and Women’s World No. ...

Martin Laird could not have received a better omen as he now strives to become the first player in 25 years to win both the week before the Masters and also succeed at Augusta National. The new Valero Texas Open champion was among 24 players, caddies and team managers flown by sponsors on three private jets on Sunday night direct from San Antonio, Texas and touching down at around 11pm local time in Augusta, Georgia. However Laird had nowhere to stay so his management company Hambric Sports organised ...

Former Open Champion Darren Clarke has been forced to withdraw from the Masters through injury. The 2011 Open champion pulled a hamstring more than a week ago during holiday on The Bahamas island of Abaco that forced him out of last week’s Valero Texas Open and now the Masters. “It is with deep regret that I will not be able to play at Augusta this year,” said Clarke from the Caribbean Island. “Playing in The Masters is one of golf’s greatest pleasures and I am very disappointed to ...

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy didn’t get to slip on the winning Valero Texas Open cowboy boots but he’s now ready to slip into an Augusta National green jacket. Even though McIlroy didn’t in San Antonio it seems that everytime he’s questioned he responds, as we reported earlier this week, in the best way possible. McIlroy posted a final round 66 to finish in second place on 12 under and two shots behind Scotland’s Martin Laird. It is McIlroy’s best finish all season ...

  MARTIN LAIRD CAPTURES 2013 VALERO TEXAS OPEN – NOTES Scotland’s Martin Laird earns his third career PGA TOUR victory at the age of 30 years, 3 months and nine days in his 134th career start on TOUR. He previously won the 2009 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and 2011 Arnold Palmer Invitational. With his win, Laird moves inside the top-20 in the FedExCup standings to No. 18. In the midst of what had been a challenging season, this week’s Valero Texas Open marks Martin Laird’s ...

Martin Laird is heading to this week’s Masters in stunning form after ending a two-year winless drought in capturing the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio. The Scot carded a blistering final round 63 to deny World No. 2 Rory McIlroy the Texas title by two shots with a 14-under par tally in bright but windy conditions on the TPC San Antonio course. McIlroy did his best to counter Laird’s challenge and could be pleased with his best result all season after finishing with a 66 for a 12-under ...