Top-ranked Jiyai Shin and Julie Inkster held a share of the early clubhouse lead at the Women’s British Open after shooting 1-under 71 in the first round at Royal Birkdale. Brittany Long, another American, also shot a 71 despite a double-bogey 6 on the 15th, in a round that also included five birdies and two bogeys.
Permalink: Shin, Inkster share early lead at British Open (AP)

Darren Clarke carded
a five-under-par 66 in the Irish Open first round on Thursday to
maintain the good form that could land him a surprise spot in
the European Ryder Cup team.
Permalink: Golf-Clarke’s Ryder Cup hopes boosted by bright start in Ireland (Reuters)

Bobby Wyatt shot a 57 at the Alabama Boys State Junior Championship. The University of Alabama-bound teen, who turns 18 this weekend, had 12 birdies, an eagle and five pars Wednesday on the par-71, 6,628-yard course at the Country Club of Mobile. His birdie putt hung on the lip on the 18th green and he had to settle for par.
Permalink: Alabama teen shoots 57 in State Junior (AP)

Fred Couples arrived at the U.S. Senior Open this week as a tournament favorite and a hometown hero. The Seattle native is trying for his first USGA title at any level, playing just 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the Seattle public course where he learned the game growing up. He hasn’t lived in Seattle for decades.
Permalink: Couples back home for US Senior Open (AP)

Jim Furyk is usually one of
the most consistent players on the PGA Tour but this year he
has happily traded surprising lapses in form for two victories
on the U.S. circuit.
Permalink: Golf-Win column trumps erratic 2010 form for Furyk (Reuters)

Briton Justin Rose
could find himself part of a Ryder Cup wild-card lottery which
is a fate the former European number one is keen to avoid.
Permalink: Golf-Britain’s Rose out to nip wild-card lottery in the bud (Reuters)

Playing good golf at this
week’s inaugural Greenbrier Classic in White Sulphur Springs,
West Virginia could be the least of Boo Weekley’s worries as he
prepares for Thursday’s opening round.
Permalink: PREVIEW-Golf-Weekley needs his compass at the Greenbrier Classic (Reuters)

Corey Pavin’s thought process was sound. His execution was a little off. Standing in the middle of the 11th fairway on Tuesday morning, Pavin decided to take the two mammoth fir trees creating field goal uprights in front of the green out of play. Hitting a low, stinging fairway wood could keep the ball under the tree limbs and leave a reasonable pitch on the long par-5.
Permalink: Trees the biggest obstacle at Sahalee (AP)

SOUTHPORT, England, July 28 – American Cristie Kerr goes
into this week’s Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale, the
final major of the season, determined to fight her way back to
the top of the world rankings.
Permalink: PREVIEW-Golf-Kerr sets sights on retrieving top ranking (Reuters)

First-round tee times for Cox Classic Presented by Lexus of Omaha
Permalink: First-round tee times for Cox Classic Presented by Lexus of Omaha (PGATOUR.com)

Cristie Kerr has her sights set on a return to the top of world rankings when she tees off at the Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale on Thursday. Kerr is currently third behind Japan’s Ai Miyazato and top-ranked Jiyai Shin of South Korea, the winner of last week’s Evian Masters. The American reached the top for the first time in her career in late June after winning the LPGA…
Permalink: Kerr eyes top of women’s rankings (AP)

First-round tee times for The Greenbrier Classic
Permalink: First-round tee times for The Greenbrier Classic (PGATOUR.com)

Fans will be able to bring their cell phones on the course at next month’s Wyndham Championship. Defending champion Ryan Moore hopes to give them something to talk and text about. Tournament officials said Tuesday that they would allow fans to use mobile phones at Sedgefield Country Club — as long as the devices are kept in silent mode and calls are made only in designated areas around the…
Permalink: Wyndham Championship now cell-phone friendly (AP)

Inside the field: The Greenbrier Classic
Permalink: Inside the field: The Greenbrier Classic (PGATOUR.com)

Inside the course: Greenbrier’s Old White Course
Permalink: Inside the course: Greenbrier’s Old White Course (PGATOUR.com)

Carl Pettersson’s family left Sweden when he was 10, spent five years in England, then settled in Greensboro, N.C. “I call myself a mutt,” Pettersson said Sunday after rallying to win the Canadian Open for his fourth PGA Tour victory. “I’m not your typical Swede, as you know. I don’t have a 28-inch waist and I don’t eat bananas at the turn, stuff like that.” In…
Permalink: Carl Pettersson rallies to win Canadian Open (AP)

Carl Pettersson had to choose
between being fit or playing golf and the Swede decided he
would be happier winning tournaments than losing weight.
Permalink: Golf-Pettersson happier winning tournaments than losing weight (Reuters)

D.J. Brigman shot a 7-under 64 to win the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational on Sunday, finishing one stroke ahead of Jamie Lovemark. Brigman earned $144,000 for his 10-under 274 total and moved to No. 6 on the Nationwide Tour money list with 13 tournaments left on the schedule. The top 25 on the money list at the end of the year get PGA Tour cards for 2011.
Permalink: Brigman wins Nationwide stop in Columbus (AP)