Golf, by TourMiss

Defending champion Martin Laird was pleased with his opening round defence of his Valero Texas Open title on  TPC San Antonio course. Laird emerged from a two-and-a-half delay to the start of play before walking off just at 3.15pm local time with level par 72 in the $US 6.2m event. The Scot picked up three birdies and an equal number of bogeys to be just four shots behind American Pat Perez who carded a round of 68 while playing partner Phil Mickelson, and competing in the event for a first time ...

Phil Mickelson’s long overdue return to the Lone Star State ended with the five-time Major Champion tumbling to the tail of the field on the opening day of the fog-affected Valero Texas Open in San Antonio. Mickelson’s five over par 77 in his worst score in 25 rounds of the PGA Tour’s 2013/13 wraparound schedule. Including in reigning Open Champion’s round was sour cocktail of two birdies, five bogeys and a last hole double bogey. A spectator seeking Mickelson’s autograph ...

Edouard Espana created a slice of MENA Tour history winning the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Open and in his very first MENA Golf Tour appearance. Espana commenced the final round two shots off the pace but closed with a bogey-free 69 for a six under par tally and denying overnight leader Ross McGowan by three shots and with Italy’s Alessandro Tadini and Germany’s Sebastian Heisele sharing third on a two-under 217. The 24-year-old Bordeaux-born Espana grabbed three birdies on the front nine and one ...

Padraig Harrington’s Valero Texas Open appearance takes on near Alamo proportions with now just eight rounds remaining if he’s to qualify for the Masters. Harrington is among 144 players teeing-up in the $US 6.2m event deep in the heart of Texas on the JW Marriott TPC San Antonio course. Just 15 in the field are in the Masters and with Harrington, who is also among seven past Majors also who have not qualified for the Masters, fighting for the two remaining Augusta invitations. It was 178-years ...

A San Antonio car salesman brought plenty of zip to Martin Laird as he warmed-up for his defence of the Valero Texas Open in suburban San Antonio. Braving real Scottish-like weather Laird kept warm thanks to the humour of his Pro-Am partner named Speedy Gonzalez. No, not the Loonie Tunes cartoon character known as ‘The Fastest Mouse in all of Mexico. Gonzalez works for a local Ford dealership but then there were plenty who could not believe it was the 10-handicapper’s real name when ...

As expected double Major winning Rory McIlroy has confirmed he will again jump aboard this year’s 2014 Wells Fargo Championship. Organisrs of the event announced via Twitter today (Wed) the 24-year old will tee it up this year at Quail Hollow, his fifth consecutive appearance in the event and set to take place in Charlotte, North Carolina from 1st to 4th May. The event will always have fond memories for McIlroy, as he recorded his first PGA Tour win there in 2010 with a blistering final round ...

Former European Tour member Ross McGowan rode on another strong finish to fire back-to-back 71s and take a two-shot lead as overnight leader Faycal Serghini of Morocco slipped to tied seventh after a five-over 78, going into the final round of the MENA Golf Tour’s Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Open on Wednesday. The Englishman made the turn at one over, but left the best for last as he picked up three birdies in his last six holes to move atop the leaderboard at four-under 142 with France’s Edouard ...