Dustin Johnson Rockets Into the Lead in Shanghai

    

  

          American Dustin Johnson has fired a course record to rocket into the lead at the WGC Champions tournament in Shanghai.
          The American fired six birdies in his first seven holes on his way to a nine-under par second round of 63 that's seen him jump to 12-under overall.

He's a massive five shots clear of a three-way tie for second including compatriots Boo Weekley and Bubba Watson and overnight leader Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy is at seven-under after he failed to capitalise on his opening round.

Johnson says he would have never seen that round coming.

       "When I played the course on Wednesday I didn't make one birdie. I hit it okay, I just didn't make any putts."

He says it was one of his better rounds.

"I hit one bad drive on 18 but got away with it. That's really by far the worst shot I hit all day and I still ended up making birdie."

        Mark Brown is the best of the Kiwis at four-under in a tie for 18th with Michael Hendry well back at one-over.

Simon Dyson Faces Disciplinary Hearing for Rules Violation at BMW Masters

Published: Thursday, October 31, 2013 | 11:04:36 AM  

       VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) -- Simon Dyson faces a disciplinary hearing over his disqualification for a rules violation at the BMW Masters.

       Dyson was marking his golf ball on the eighth green at Lake Malaren when he used the ball to tamp down the green in the direct line of his short par putt. It was a clear violation of Rule 16-1a, which says that a player cannot touch the line of his putt.

        Under tour policy, a player faces a disciplinary hearing if it is determined that a serious breach may have occurred. The hearing will be before a panel of an independent lawyer, a former European Tour player or Senior Tour player, and a sports administrator.

If found guilty of a breach, punishment ranges from a reprimand to a fine or a suspension.

Senior Leads Charles Schwab Cup Finale

Published: Thursday, October 31, 2013 | 07:20:06 PM

        SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Peter Senior is a big winner in Australia. He'd like at least one win in the United States.

         He got off to a good start Thursday in the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, shooting an 8-under 63 to take a one-stroke lead in the Champions Tour's season-ending event.

        The 54-year-old Senior had nine birdies, an eagle and three bogeys at TPC Harding Park to match the event first-round record set by Jim Thorpe in his 2003 victory at Sonoma Golf Club.

        "That was probably the best round of golf I've played this year," Senior said. "I putted well and hit it well."

        Senior won the Australian Open last year for his 19th PGA Tour of Australasia victory. He's seeking his first Champions Tour title after finishing second five times - including three playoff losses - in 93 career starts.

       "That's the only disappointing thing," Senior said. "It's such a great tour and I've enjoyed every minute of it. It's a little disappointing I haven't won in four years. You've got to be fortunate at the right times and I haven't done enough down the stretch, going par, par, par when I needed a birdie to make the difference. Hopefully, it might happen."

         David Frost shot 64, missing a short putt on the 18th hole. Fred Couples was third at 65, and Mark O'Meara had a 66. Bernhard Langer, Steve Elkington and Duffy Waldorf shot 67.

       Charles Schwab Cup points leader Kenny Perry topped the group at 68. Perry entered the event 612 points ahead of second-place Langer. If Langer wins the tournament, Perry needs only to finish fifth or better take the season title and $1 million annuity.

       Senior shot a 6-under 30 on the front nine, culminating with an eagle on the ninth hole. He birdied Nos. 11 and 12 and allowed himself to start thinking big.

        "I started counting the easy holes that I could possibly birdie," he said. "As soon as I thought that, I made a bogey." "

       Frost has two victories season, including his first senior major victory at the Regions Tradition in June.

      "It was nice to get off to a good start," Frost said. "You want to get excited but there's so much golf left to play you can't get ahead of yourself because of a couple of early birdies.

       "I think I've had a great year. I didn't drive the ball as well as I should have and that's something that has held me back. I'm not too disappointed. I'm happy to have played solid golf and here is like a tournament within a tournament. There's no reason I should not focus on the task at hand."

Couples is dealing with neck and back issues. He had a double bogey on the eighth hole.

       "I hit what I thought was as good a shot as I could and no way could it stay on the green," Couples said. "I kind of fluffed a pretty difficult chip to about 5 feet and missed it, so that was that."

Couples had nine birdies, three immediately before his double bogey and two immediately following.

Mickelson Drops Five Shots in Final Two Holes

Oh, Phil Mickelson. Will it ever be easy?

           Mickelson was 6 under par, one shot off the lead, through 16 holes in Round 1 of the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China. He finished six back after a 1-under 71.
        After starting on the 10th, and collecting six birdies to no bogeys, Mickelson hit his third shot – with a wedge – into the water guarding the green at the par-5 eighth. After a drop, he hit his fifth shot – another wedge – onto the green, but it spun back, past the flag and into the water. He made a quadruple bogey-nine.