Fitzpatrick ends England's wait for U.S. Amateur title

 

August 19, 2013

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Amateur Matthew Fitzpatrick of England watches his tee shot on the second hole during a practice round …

(Reuters) - Teenager Matthew Fitzpatrick became the firstEnglishman to win the U.S. Amateur Championship in 102 years after he defeated Australian Oliver Goss in the 36-hole final on Sunday.

The baby-faced 18-year-old from Sheffield, whose younger brother acted as his caddie, sunk a par putt on the 33rd hole to close out a 4&3 victory in the matchplay format tournament held at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

 "I mean, it's absolutely amazing," said Fitzpatrick, who won the title on the same course where amateur Francis Ouimetclaimed his famous U.S. Open victory in a playoff against Harry Vardon and Ted Ray a century ago.

 "I can't really describe how I'm feeling at the minute. That's sort of what everyone wants in golf, wants to achieve, and I'm pretty sure Justin Rose said that after his U.S. Open that it's nice to go down in the history books."

 Rose became the first Englishman in 43 years to win the U.S. Open when he won his first major at the Merion Golf Club in June.

 The amateur, who grabbed attention last month when he won the silver medal at the British Open as leading amateur, ended England's wait for a victory in the tournament since Harold Hilton lifted the trophy in 1911.

 The win earns Fitzpatrick, who is soon to begin a golf scholarship at Northwestern University in Chicago where former world number one and fellow Briton Luke Donald studied, an exemption into the 2014 U.S. Open provided he remains an amateur.

 He is also exempt from next year's British Open and is likely to receive an invitation to The U.S. Masters at Augusta.

Fitzpatrick led the 19-year-old Goss by one after the morning round but the Australian tied the match on the opening hole of the second when his opponent missed a seven-foot par putt.

The Englishman, who came into the event as the number two ranked amateur in the world, won the next two holes to take the lead for good.

"I'd probably say this week what's come out most is that my short game has just been really, really top drawer," Fitzpatrick said. "I'd say my weakest part of my game was into the greens.

"What's come out more than anything is I've just putted really well."

(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by John O'Brien)

Golf-Spieth leads charge of young guns into FedExCup playoffs

 

August 20, 2013

By Larry Fine

 JERSEY CITY, New Jersey, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Jordan Spieth is soaking up the atmosphere at scenic Liberty National for the start of the FedExCup playoffs, but the 20-year-old will be all business by Thursday's first round of the lucrative series.

"I haven't been to New York City since I was probably 10 years old, so I don't remember it much," the American told reporters on Tuesday.

"Just being in the area is really special, seeing the Statue of Liberty (from) the golf course and the course in general, there's not a blade of grass out of place.

"I'm just extremely kind of honored to be here. Starting the year, I had no idea that this would be a potential opportunity for me, and I'm happy to be in the top-10 starting the FedExCup playoffs and control my own destiny from here."

The Texan leads a group of young guns into the playoff series which pays the overall winner a $10 million prize.

 Spieth, who last month at age 19 became the youngest winner of a PGA Tour event in 82 years, lost a chance to notch a second tour win in a Wyndham Championship playoff on Sunday against another up-and-comer, 23-year-old compatriot Patrick Reed.

"It's pretty wild," Spieth said about a season that started with him playing on sponsors' invites and blossomed into seven top-10s from 19 starts and $2.6 million in earnings.

 Spieth's giant step in 2013 has put him into the company of FedEx points leader Tiger Woods and this year's majors winners Phil Mickelson (British Open), Justin Rose (U.S. Open) and Adam Scott (Masters) among the leading contenders.

 Four years ago, when The Barclays was last played at Liberty National, Spieth was winning the U.S. Junior Amateur about 40 miles away at Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey.

"At the beginning of (each) year, I've had a goal to achieve, to reach that new, higher level," said Spieth, who won his maiden PGA Tour title at the John Deere Classic.

"So far each year, I've been on track, and this year, maybe skipped a few steps. I don't really think of my age as my age. When you're out here, everyone's your peer. New goals come up each day that I'm trying to reach out and accomplish."

LATEST GOAL

 His latest goal will be to win the first step in the four-event FedExCup series at Liberty National, a reclaimed landfill that affords spectacular views of Lady Liberty and the lower Manhattan skyline.

 Spieth said he and other young players - including 2013 winners Russell Henley (Sony Open), Derek Ernst (Wells Fargo), Harris English (St. Jude Classic) and Reed - were well prepared.

"The game's getting younger. There's just more better, younger players. You have to step up your game just to compete against kids your own age," he said.

"You see teenagers now consistently making cuts on the PGA Tour when they get starts, and that I think just has to do with the fact that the AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) now is playing golf courses set up like PGA Tour events.

"The other players are getting better and better, and same at the college level, that's just a step up."

Spieth, who left U.S. national college champions Texas to try his hand on the tour, said he greatly admires what Woods has accomplished but is not cowed by the numbers.

The confident American stands 78 career wins behind 37-year-old Woods, who has won five times on the PGA Tour this year.

"It is extremely hard to fathom 78 times, but I'm going to strive for it," Spieth said.

 When asked what he thought about a possible eventual Tiger target of 100 career PGA wins, Spieth said: "He's separating himself as No. 1 in the world right now again, just like he was when I was growing up, and that's something that me personally and everybody else...is striving to close the gap, and surpass.

 "Everyone wants to be the best player in the world. If that means you've got to win 101 times, that means you're going to try." (Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

Spieth leads charge of young guns into FedExCup playoffs

 

Larry Fine August 20, 2013

By Larry Fine

 JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Reuters) - Jordan Spieth is soaking up the atmosphere at scenic Liberty National for the start of the FedExCup playoffs, but the 20-year-old will be all business by Thursday's first round of the lucrative series.

"I haven't been to New York City since I was probably 10 years old, so I don't remember it much," the American told reporters on Tuesday.

"Just being in the area is really special, seeing the Statue of Liberty (from) the golf course and the course in general, there's not a blade of grass out of place.

"I'm just extremely kind of honored to be here. Starting the year, I had no idea that this would be a potential opportunity for me, and I'm happy to be in the top‑10 starting the FedExCup playoffs and control my own destiny from here."

The Texan leads a group of young guns into the playoff series which pays the overall winner a $10 million prize.

 Spieth, who last month at age 19 became the youngest winner of a PGA Tour event in 82 years, lost a chance to notch a second tour win in a Wyndham Championship playoff on Sunday against another up-and-comer, 23-year-old compatriot Patrick Reed.

"It's pretty wild," Spieth said about a season that started with him playing on sponsors' invites and blossomed into seven top-10s from 19 starts and $2.6 million in earnings.

 Spieth's giant step in 2013 has put him into the company of FedEx points leader Tiger Woods and this year's majors winners Phil Mickelson (British Open), Justin Rose (U.S. Open) and Adam Scott (Masters) among the leading contenders.

 Four years ago, when The Barclays was last played at Liberty National, Spieth was winning the U.S. Junior Amateur about 40 miles away at Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey.

"At the beginning of (each) year, I've had a goal to achieve, to reach that new, higher level," said Spieth, who won his maiden PGA Tour title at the John Deere Classic.

"So far each year, I've been on track, and this year, maybe skipped a few steps. I don't really think of my age as my age. When you're out here, everyone's your peer. New goals come up each day that I'm trying to reach out and accomplish."

LATEST GOAL

 His latest goal will be to win the first step in the four-event FedExCup series at Liberty National, a reclaimed landfill that affords spectacular views of Lady Liberty and the lower Manhattan skyline.

 Spieth said he and other young players - including 2013 winners Russell Henley (Sony Open), Derek Ernst (Wells Fargo), Harris English (St. Jude Classic) and Reed - were well prepared.

"The game's getting younger. There's just more better, younger players. You have to step up your game just to compete against kids your own age," he said.

"You see teenagers now consistently making cuts on the PGA Tour when they get starts, and that I think just has to do with the fact that the AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) now is playing golf courses set up like PGA Tour events.

"The other players are getting better and better, and same at the college level, that's just a step up."

Spieth, who left U.S. national college champions Texas to try his hand on the tour, said he greatly admires what Woods has accomplished but is not cowed by the numbers.

The confident American stands 78 career wins behind 37-year-old Woods, who has won five times on the PGA Tour this year.

"It is extremely hard to fathom 78 times, but I'm going to strive for it," Spieth said.

 When asked what he thought about a possible eventual Tiger target of 100 career PGA wins, Spieth said: "He's separating himself as No. 1 in the world right now again, just like he was when I was growing up, and that's something that me personally and everybody else...is striving to close the gap, and surpass.

"Everyone wants to be the best player in the world. If that means you've got to win 101 times, that means you're going to try."

 (Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

Golf-Liberty National has face-lift since last Barclays

 

August 20, 2013

By Larry Fine

 JERSEY CITY, N.J., Aug 20 (Reuters) - Liberty Nationalburst into prominence as a golf venue with its great looks at New York harbor, the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline but it took a face-lift to smooth some rough edges for The Barclays.

 Liberty National, built on reclaimed landfill on the banks of New York harbour, had its high-profile "coming out party" in hosting The Barclays in 2009 but the long, narrow layout designed by Tom Kite and Bob Cupp was not universally embraced.

Tiger Woods remarked to a player in his pro-am group that "Maybe Tom (Kite) did this course before his eye operation", in ripping some of the severe undulations on the greens.

Kite, who shed his thick-lensed eyeglasses after having Lasik surgery in 1998, fell in love with the project in 1992 and was determined to create with Cupp a world-class venue.

"We probably pushed it a little, but to get to host a tournament of this stature, you want it to stand up to them and be a challenge," Kite told a pair of reporters in a chat by the practice area on Monday.

"When I look back, a couple of greens might have pushed it a little bit."

A total of 74 changes were made to the course, many of a subtle variety involving 15 of the 18 holes.

 "I think it is a very fair golf course," said Cupp, who added that some of the changes were made to comply with PGA Tour wishes. "The tour likes to see the boys making birdies."

Five greens were entirely rebuilt and another six were adjusted. Thirteen landing areas were altered and 11 tee boxes were expanded or moved, among the changes.

Thick rough has been cut back, allowing players to rescue drives that settle before reaching the tangly fescue that lines many of the holes.

The finishing hole is using a back tee box that enabled organisers to move the green forward and open up a dramatic view beyond the 18th green.

 Kite and Cupp worked with Steve Wenzloff, the PGA Tour's vice president in charge of design services and player liaison, on some of the changes needed to ensure the venue's place in the New York-area rotation used for The Barclays.

 "It's still a hard golf course, and there's nothing wrong with that," Wenzloff said. "The teeth will still be in it, just the teeth won't sink as deep into your skin." (Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)