Canwest News Service
Australian Open Finalist Serena Williams has deposed golfing legend Annika Sorenstam as the all-time career prize money leader in women's sport, the wta tour announced early today.
The American moved to the top of the bank balance sheets by advancing to the singles final with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over russia's elena dementieva and also by reaching the doubles final with sister Venus.
Ahead of the two finals, williams has earned us$22,725,475, overtaking the now-retired sorenstam who had held the record for career earnings with a total of $22,573,192.
"I'm thrilled with the news. i remember earning my first cheque of $240 at Quebec City in 1995 and while i knew that i could have a great career in tennis, i could not have imagined or dreamed of all of this," said williams.
"It's amazing how much women's tennis has grown since i joined the tour 14 years ago. i am very proud to have reached this milestone for me, my family and all women athletes out there. this achievement really shows that if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything."
Williams turned professional at the age of 14 in november 1995 and played her first tournament in Quebec City.
She has won every major title in addition to nine grand slams, becoming the sixth woman, other than Margaret Court, Chris evert, Martina navratilova, steffigraf and Monica seles, to achieve such a feat.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Montgomerie Named European Ryder Cup Captain
Colin Montgomerie was named captain for the 2010 European Ryder Cup team. The announcement was made Wednesday and Montgomerie learned of his appointment while in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The biennial event will be held in September 2010 at Celtic Manor in Wales.
Montgomerie, who will be 47 when the competition starts, will be Europe's youngest-ever captain. His counterpart on the American team, Corey Pavin, has already been named. Pavin will be two weeks shy of his 51st birthday when the next Ryder Dup is played.
The Scot is one of the most successful European Ryder Cup players ever. "Monty" accumulated 23½ points while a member of the team, the second most after Nick Faldo; he has a record of 20 wins, seven halves and nine losses.
The American team pulled an upset last September at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., beating the favored Europeans 16½ to 11½. Montgomerie is hoping the Welsh "home crowd" will back its players as those in Kentucky did for the Americans.
Montgomerie was obviously pleased and excited after learning he will be leading the 2010 European team. "It's not just an honor but a huge responsibility as well," Montgomerie said. "It is important we do everything we can to claim back the Ryder Cup in Wales in 2010.
"This is one of the proudest moments I can think of. I am very proud and honored to be selected by the committee to be the 2010 Ryder Cup captain. I dreamt this opportunity might come my way, but far-off dreams I must admit. We speak here 17, 18 years later and here it is."
Montgomerie, who will be 47 when the competition starts, will be Europe's youngest-ever captain. His counterpart on the American team, Corey Pavin, has already been named. Pavin will be two weeks shy of his 51st birthday when the next Ryder Dup is played.
The Scot is one of the most successful European Ryder Cup players ever. "Monty" accumulated 23½ points while a member of the team, the second most after Nick Faldo; he has a record of 20 wins, seven halves and nine losses.
The American team pulled an upset last September at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., beating the favored Europeans 16½ to 11½. Montgomerie is hoping the Welsh "home crowd" will back its players as those in Kentucky did for the Americans.
Montgomerie was obviously pleased and excited after learning he will be leading the 2010 European team. "It's not just an honor but a huge responsibility as well," Montgomerie said. "It is important we do everything we can to claim back the Ryder Cup in Wales in 2010.
"This is one of the proudest moments I can think of. I am very proud and honored to be selected by the committee to be the 2010 Ryder Cup captain. I dreamt this opportunity might come my way, but far-off dreams I must admit. We speak here 17, 18 years later and here it is."
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
CN Canadian Women’s Open Drives Home The Gold
- LPGA’s only Canadian Tournament wins TV’s top spot -
Oakville, Ont. (RCGA) – The success of the 2008 CN Canadian Women’s Open both on and off the golf course was recently recognized by The LPGA’s Tournament Owners Association (TOA).
Canada’s only LPGA tournament, the CN Canadian Women’s Open, received a total of six awards in 12 categories at the Gold Driver Award competition which judges promotional, marketing and advertising efforts amongst LPGA events worldwide.
The event grabbed top honours for their promotional television spots and received five silver awards for their success in promoting the tournament in Magazine Advertisements, Pairings/Spectators Guides, Unique Promotional Items, 18th Green Look and Feel, and Posters/Billboards/Outdoor/Mobile Advertisements.
Oakville, Ont. (RCGA) – The success of the 2008 CN Canadian Women’s Open both on and off the golf course was recently recognized by The LPGA’s Tournament Owners Association (TOA).
Canada’s only LPGA tournament, the CN Canadian Women’s Open, received a total of six awards in 12 categories at the Gold Driver Award competition which judges promotional, marketing and advertising efforts amongst LPGA events worldwide.
The event grabbed top honours for their promotional television spots and received five silver awards for their success in promoting the tournament in Magazine Advertisements, Pairings/Spectators Guides, Unique Promotional Items, 18th Green Look and Feel, and Posters/Billboards/Outdoor/Mobile Advertisements.
Monday, January 26, 2009
New season, new deals for PGA Tour players
By JEFF BABINEAU, Golfweek Editor
KAPALUA, Hawaii – PGA Tour veteran Steve Lowery paused when asked if there was anything new in his golf bag to start the 2009 season. “Only everything,” he said, smiling.Lowery, 48, a longtime Cleveland staff player, is one of many Tour pros starting ’09 with a new deal. He is carrying a TaylorMade bag filled with TaylorMade Tour Preferred irons and an r7 Limited driver. He’ll continue to play a Titleist golf ball (“I’ve been a Titleist guy for 30 years,” he said.)
In a sign of tighter times for PGA Tour players, Lowery still is seeking a corporate endorsement on his chest. “Yeah, I had to go out and buy a bunch of shirts,” he said.
Vijay Singh started the year with a bum right knee and a new golf ball. Having won last year’s FedEx Cup playoffs with a Titleist Pro V1x, Singh has switched to a Srixon Z-Star golf ball. Boo Weekley is playing the new ball as well. “I think I hit it longer and I control it pretty good,” Singh said. “(It) spins as good as any ball I’ve used, and it’s very straight.”
Singh also is carrying the Stanford Financial logo on his bag this season and wearing the company logo on his visor.
In other news:>> Anthony Kim, arguably the most attractive “free agent” available this offseason, is expected to re-sign with Nike. Kim changed agents in 2008 (he now is represented by IMG), which stalled negotiations until Jan. 1. “I don’t know what’s going on there, but it would be strange not to be with Nike,” said Kim, who shot footage for a Nike commercial with Tiger Woods in Fort Worth, Texas, in the offseason.
>> Adams is expected to announce the signing of Ryder Cup player Chad Campbell, who had been with Nike. Campbell lives near the company’s Texas headquarters and plans to take an active role in helping Adams develop equipment lines. Campbell signed a ball, shoe and glove deal with Titleist.
>> D.J. Trahan, formerly with Wilson, has joined Titleist as a full-line player. He opened his season at Kapalua with Titleist ZM irons (4-PW), three Vokey wedges and a Scotty Cameron Newport SLT T10 putter. He is working on getting a new 909 series driver into his bag.
>> In addition to Lowery, TaylorMade added Paul Goydos, Richard S. Johnson, Tim Wilkinson, Charles Warren and Arjun Atwal as full-line players.
>> Ping announced it has re-signed Ryder Cup player Hunter Mahan, and Callaway announced a new multiyear agreement with Stuart Appleby.
• • •
Jeff Babineau is Golfweek’s Editor. To reach him email jbabineau@golfweek.com.
KAPALUA, Hawaii – PGA Tour veteran Steve Lowery paused when asked if there was anything new in his golf bag to start the 2009 season. “Only everything,” he said, smiling.Lowery, 48, a longtime Cleveland staff player, is one of many Tour pros starting ’09 with a new deal. He is carrying a TaylorMade bag filled with TaylorMade Tour Preferred irons and an r7 Limited driver. He’ll continue to play a Titleist golf ball (“I’ve been a Titleist guy for 30 years,” he said.)
In a sign of tighter times for PGA Tour players, Lowery still is seeking a corporate endorsement on his chest. “Yeah, I had to go out and buy a bunch of shirts,” he said.
Vijay Singh started the year with a bum right knee and a new golf ball. Having won last year’s FedEx Cup playoffs with a Titleist Pro V1x, Singh has switched to a Srixon Z-Star golf ball. Boo Weekley is playing the new ball as well. “I think I hit it longer and I control it pretty good,” Singh said. “(It) spins as good as any ball I’ve used, and it’s very straight.”
Singh also is carrying the Stanford Financial logo on his bag this season and wearing the company logo on his visor.
In other news:>> Anthony Kim, arguably the most attractive “free agent” available this offseason, is expected to re-sign with Nike. Kim changed agents in 2008 (he now is represented by IMG), which stalled negotiations until Jan. 1. “I don’t know what’s going on there, but it would be strange not to be with Nike,” said Kim, who shot footage for a Nike commercial with Tiger Woods in Fort Worth, Texas, in the offseason.
>> Adams is expected to announce the signing of Ryder Cup player Chad Campbell, who had been with Nike. Campbell lives near the company’s Texas headquarters and plans to take an active role in helping Adams develop equipment lines. Campbell signed a ball, shoe and glove deal with Titleist.
>> D.J. Trahan, formerly with Wilson, has joined Titleist as a full-line player. He opened his season at Kapalua with Titleist ZM irons (4-PW), three Vokey wedges and a Scotty Cameron Newport SLT T10 putter. He is working on getting a new 909 series driver into his bag.
>> In addition to Lowery, TaylorMade added Paul Goydos, Richard S. Johnson, Tim Wilkinson, Charles Warren and Arjun Atwal as full-line players.
>> Ping announced it has re-signed Ryder Cup player Hunter Mahan, and Callaway announced a new multiyear agreement with Stuart Appleby.
• • •
Jeff Babineau is Golfweek’s Editor. To reach him email jbabineau@golfweek.com.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Olazabal offers himself as 2010 Ryder Cup captain
LONDON (AP) — Jose Maria Olazabal wants to captain Europe at the 2010 Ryder Cup.
The two-time Masters champion, who has played on three winning Ryder Cup teams, had initially said he wanted to play at Celtic Manor next year. But Olazabal has been troubled for several years by rheumatic problems and a foot injury and his game hasn't been in shape.
The European Ryder Cup committee will pick the captain Wednesday in Dubai. The other candidate is Colin Montgomerie, who was left off the European team when the United States won the Ryder Cup at Valhalla last September.
Olazabal's manager, Sergio Gomez, said the Spaniard would accept the job if asked.
``He is available. If he is offered the job he will say 'Yes','' Gomez said. ``We know it is a matter of two and there are factors favoring Jose Maria and factors favoring Monty.''
Gomez said Olazabal pulled out of the Qatar Masters in Doha this week but hoped to play in next week's Dubai Desert Classic, where the Ryder Cup announcement will be made.
``He had a small problem with his wrists and forearms and it was painful when gripping the club, but not too severe,'' Gomez said.
Olazabal played only four events on the PGA Tour last year, missing the cut at the Masters and Wachovia Championship.
``The chances of him making the team are not what he wanted or expected,'' Gomez said, ``so he made up his mind that he would accept the captaincy if it was offered.''
The two-time Masters champion, who has played on three winning Ryder Cup teams, had initially said he wanted to play at Celtic Manor next year. But Olazabal has been troubled for several years by rheumatic problems and a foot injury and his game hasn't been in shape.
The European Ryder Cup committee will pick the captain Wednesday in Dubai. The other candidate is Colin Montgomerie, who was left off the European team when the United States won the Ryder Cup at Valhalla last September.
Olazabal's manager, Sergio Gomez, said the Spaniard would accept the job if asked.
``He is available. If he is offered the job he will say 'Yes','' Gomez said. ``We know it is a matter of two and there are factors favoring Jose Maria and factors favoring Monty.''
Gomez said Olazabal pulled out of the Qatar Masters in Doha this week but hoped to play in next week's Dubai Desert Classic, where the Ryder Cup announcement will be made.
``He had a small problem with his wrists and forearms and it was painful when gripping the club, but not too severe,'' Gomez said.
Olazabal played only four events on the PGA Tour last year, missing the cut at the Masters and Wachovia Championship.
``The chances of him making the team are not what he wanted or expected,'' Gomez said, ``so he made up his mind that he would accept the captaincy if it was offered.''
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Japanese teen phenom Ryo Ishikawa gets Masters invite
Posted at 5:17 PM by Gary VanSickle
This year’s Masters will feature a boy wonder. The Masters Tournament issued an invitation to Ryo Ishikawa, a 17-year-old Japanese phenom who won a Japan Golf Tour event as an amateur in his debut when he was only 15.
Ishikawa, who is being called the Japanese Tiger by the Japanese media, has already scored two exemptions to play in America — the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club and the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. The Masters invite was announced Thursday.
Late last year, he became the youngest player to crack the top 100 in the World Golf Rankings. Ishikawa currently ranks 60th. He is the second-highest-ranked Japanese pro behind Shingo Katayama, who is 34th.
Ishikawa won’t be the youngest Masters entrant ever. He’ll be 17 years, 6 months and 23 days old in April. Tommy Jacobs was 17 years, 1 months and 21 days when he competed in the 1952 Masters.
When he won the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup in 2007, Ishikawa was 15 years, 8 months and posted a final-round 66. He surpassed the mark for previous youngest tour winner by a wide margin — Seve Ballesteros, who was 20 years, 7 months old when he captured the 1977 Japan Open.
Ishikawa turned pro last year and won his second Japan tour event in November. He also won the 2008 Kansai Open. His nickname is Hanikami Oji, which translates to "Bashful Prince."
This year’s Masters will feature a boy wonder. The Masters Tournament issued an invitation to Ryo Ishikawa, a 17-year-old Japanese phenom who won a Japan Golf Tour event as an amateur in his debut when he was only 15.
Ishikawa, who is being called the Japanese Tiger by the Japanese media, has already scored two exemptions to play in America — the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club and the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. The Masters invite was announced Thursday.
Late last year, he became the youngest player to crack the top 100 in the World Golf Rankings. Ishikawa currently ranks 60th. He is the second-highest-ranked Japanese pro behind Shingo Katayama, who is 34th.
Ishikawa won’t be the youngest Masters entrant ever. He’ll be 17 years, 6 months and 23 days old in April. Tommy Jacobs was 17 years, 1 months and 21 days when he competed in the 1952 Masters.
When he won the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup in 2007, Ishikawa was 15 years, 8 months and posted a final-round 66. He surpassed the mark for previous youngest tour winner by a wide margin — Seve Ballesteros, who was 20 years, 7 months old when he captured the 1977 Japan Open.
Ishikawa turned pro last year and won his second Japan tour event in November. He also won the 2008 Kansai Open. His nickname is Hanikami Oji, which translates to "Bashful Prince."
Friday, January 23, 2009
CJGA Releases 2009 National Schedule
MARKHAM, ON (January 16, 2009) – The Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) is pleased to release its national 2009 tournament schedule as well as a change to its age divisions on both the CJGA Junior Tour and CJGA Junior Linkster Tour.
Now in its 17th year, the CJGA will continue to provide an unmatched national junior golf tournament schedule this season with events scheduled in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. In total, the CJGA will conduct 65 Junior Tour events for junior golfers from the ages of 11 to 19 and 21 Junior Linkster Tour events for junior golfers from the ages of 5 to 13.
“It’s important that junior golfers in Canada continue to learn and progress through professionally run, multi-day tournaments and the CJGA has proven to be a leader in that regard,” said Jason Gendron, Director of Tournament Operations with the CJGA.
New for 2009 will be the introduction of the Puma Challenge, a four tournament series presented by Puma that will feature a banquet after the final round including interactive displays and music. The multi-day events will be conducted on various dates in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.
Once again, the CJGA will offer unmatched international opportunities for junior golfers as the CJGA schedule will include qualifying events for tournaments such as the Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego, Euro Junior Golf Cup in Scotland, US Kids World Golf Championship in Pinehurst, Triangular Cup in South Africa, Stephen Ames Cup in Calgary and Canadian International Junior Challenge in Collingwood.
The CJGA will play host to a number of events this summer including the Stephen Ames Cup, North America Cup and Canadian International Junior Challenge while popular events such as the Nike Golf Junior Championship, TaylorMade-adidas Golf Invitational, Humber College Invitational, Kaneff Junior Series and CJGA Junior Golf Fundraiser presented by Lexus will also return. The 2009 Stephen Ames Cup will make its first stop in Calgary at Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club in late August.
The CJGA will also adjust its age divisions in 2009 to bring them in line with the age divisions used in national and provincial competitions.
CJGA Junior Tour
Boys 14 & Under
Boys 15-19
Girls 11-19
CJGA Junior Linkster Tour
Boys 11-13
Boys 9-10
Boys 8 & Under
Girls 10-13
Girls 9 & Under
“We continue to move forward with the support of our members and sponsors,” said Earl Fritz, Executive Director of the CJGA. “Junior golfers in this country will have no shortage of options for tournament competition this summer and we’re excited about the prospects of another successful season both within Canada and on the international stage.”
The CJGA currently has nearly 55 tournaments available for registration with more to be added in the coming weeks. Junior golfers are reminded that the majority of events are filled on a first come, first serve basis and encouraged to register early to avoid missing out on an event.
ABOUT THE CJGA
Registered federally as a not-for-profit association, the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) is dedicated to providing Canada's junior golfers with the necessary skills and knowledge required to lay a foundation for a future in competitive golf. Through its six-stage competitive development program that focuses on tournaments, clinics, international competitions, and mentoring programs with PGA Tour professionals, the CJGA introduces the game to juniors as young as five and offers competitive multi-day events for the more advanced golfer. The CJGA acts as a feeder system to provincial and national competitions, collegiate and university golf, as well as professional and recreational golf. For more information please visit www.cjga.com.
The Canadian Junior Golf Association is generously supported by its National Founding Partner, LEXUS.
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Now in its 17th year, the CJGA will continue to provide an unmatched national junior golf tournament schedule this season with events scheduled in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. In total, the CJGA will conduct 65 Junior Tour events for junior golfers from the ages of 11 to 19 and 21 Junior Linkster Tour events for junior golfers from the ages of 5 to 13.
“It’s important that junior golfers in Canada continue to learn and progress through professionally run, multi-day tournaments and the CJGA has proven to be a leader in that regard,” said Jason Gendron, Director of Tournament Operations with the CJGA.
New for 2009 will be the introduction of the Puma Challenge, a four tournament series presented by Puma that will feature a banquet after the final round including interactive displays and music. The multi-day events will be conducted on various dates in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.
Once again, the CJGA will offer unmatched international opportunities for junior golfers as the CJGA schedule will include qualifying events for tournaments such as the Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego, Euro Junior Golf Cup in Scotland, US Kids World Golf Championship in Pinehurst, Triangular Cup in South Africa, Stephen Ames Cup in Calgary and Canadian International Junior Challenge in Collingwood.
The CJGA will play host to a number of events this summer including the Stephen Ames Cup, North America Cup and Canadian International Junior Challenge while popular events such as the Nike Golf Junior Championship, TaylorMade-adidas Golf Invitational, Humber College Invitational, Kaneff Junior Series and CJGA Junior Golf Fundraiser presented by Lexus will also return. The 2009 Stephen Ames Cup will make its first stop in Calgary at Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club in late August.
The CJGA will also adjust its age divisions in 2009 to bring them in line with the age divisions used in national and provincial competitions.
CJGA Junior Tour
Boys 14 & Under
Boys 15-19
Girls 11-19
CJGA Junior Linkster Tour
Boys 11-13
Boys 9-10
Boys 8 & Under
Girls 10-13
Girls 9 & Under
“We continue to move forward with the support of our members and sponsors,” said Earl Fritz, Executive Director of the CJGA. “Junior golfers in this country will have no shortage of options for tournament competition this summer and we’re excited about the prospects of another successful season both within Canada and on the international stage.”
The CJGA currently has nearly 55 tournaments available for registration with more to be added in the coming weeks. Junior golfers are reminded that the majority of events are filled on a first come, first serve basis and encouraged to register early to avoid missing out on an event.
ABOUT THE CJGA
Registered federally as a not-for-profit association, the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) is dedicated to providing Canada's junior golfers with the necessary skills and knowledge required to lay a foundation for a future in competitive golf. Through its six-stage competitive development program that focuses on tournaments, clinics, international competitions, and mentoring programs with PGA Tour professionals, the CJGA introduces the game to juniors as young as five and offers competitive multi-day events for the more advanced golfer. The CJGA acts as a feeder system to provincial and national competitions, collegiate and university golf, as well as professional and recreational golf. For more information please visit www.cjga.com.
The Canadian Junior Golf Association is generously supported by its National Founding Partner, LEXUS.
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