Golf-Campillo, Nel shoot record 59s but fail to enter history books

(Reuters) - Spain's Jorge Campillo and South African Colin Nel became the first players to card 59s on the European Tour in a birdie fest at the Nelson Mandela Championship on Friday but their efforts will not go into the record books.

Campillo, yet to win a tour event, fired seven birdies and two eagles in a faultless round made easier by the fact the players were able to place the ball on the par-70 Mount Edgecombe course in Durban due to the soft fairways.

As a result, the round will not be entered into the record books.

The 27-year-old shares the second-round clubhouse lead at 11 under par with England's Matthew Baldwin after Campillo had carded a level-par 70 in the first.

Nel, who shot a 77 in his opening round, managed nine birdies and an eagle to improve by 18 shots.

Organisers hope to finish the second round on Friday having reduced the tournament to 54 holes in the morning.

The tournament will end on Saturday as the start was brought forward by 24 hours to avoid a clash with the funeral of Nelson Mandela on Sunday.

Larry Bush: No one but Tiger

Tiger Woods was the toast of our town the first time he played in the Honda Classic at PGA National, in March 2012, shortly after moving to Jupiter Island from the Orlando area.

No one would have, or should have, expected anything less.

He didn’t play quite as well last year, but Woods was still the biggest attraction and he will likely be so again this year even though we can only assume he’ll be teeing it up on the Champion course in March.

No one but Tiger may know for sure until a month or so beforehand.

To the delight of record crowds in 2012, Woods shot a hard-charging 62 on Sunday to tie Tom Gillis for second at 270, two strokes behind Rory McIlroy’s 268.

Last year, Woods was 12 strokes higher the last day, a 74 after three straight 70s, and tied for 37th on 284. That was 13 shots behind the winner, the unheralded Michael Thompson’s 271.

Nevertheless, as he continues to cut his ties to his native California, no one should doubt that Tiger has become a Floridian for life.

His elite gathering last weekend at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks marked the last time it would be played in California. Next year, Woods is moving the event to Isleworth, his old home course in Orlando. Then, it could be headed to the Bahamas (Note to Mr. Woods: There are many high-quality golf courses in this area worthy of consideration.).

Woods, a native of Cypress, Calif., made his PGA Tour debut at Riviera CC in Pacific Palisades in the 1992 Nissan Open when he was a 16-year-old high school junior.

AS THE STORY GOES

As the story goes, he might have made the cut if not for a growth spurt during the week that made the shaft in his driver too short. He never won what he often referred to as his “hometown event” at Riviera.

He made up for it by winning five times and counting at Sherwood; and last weekend he closed a chapter on golf in the area he had always called home. But he stopped playing at Riviera in 2006 after he narrowly made the cut. The only regular tour event in California that Woods still plays is at Torrey Pines near San Diego, a two-hour drive from Cypress.

When Tiger won the Canadian Open in 2000 with that 6-iron out of a bunker and over the water, his father, Earl, said that day, “In every tournament, he’ll hit shots that people will be talking about for the next 30 years.” And now we here in South Florida will be able to see them more than ever before, maybe even more so than golf fans in Southern California.

Campillo Shoots 59 But ‘Preferred Lie’ Rules Out European Tour First.

Spain’s Jorge Campillo shot an 11 under par 59 to grab a share of the clubhouse lead during the second round of The Nelson Mandela Championship presented by ISPS Handa.

The Spaniard, whose round will not enter the record books due to a preferred lie rule in effect allowed on the rain-softened Mount Edgecombe fairways, shot seven birdies and two eagles to join England’s Matthew Baldwin on 11 under par.Another three hours of play was lost to rain on Friday morning, which added to the lengthy delays on Wednesday and Thursday forced organisers to reduce the event to 54 holes.

Several players had to finish their first rounds when play did resume at 09:00, but nobody was able to surpass Daniel Brooks eight under par 62 from the opening day.

However, first South African Oliver Bekker and then Campillo soon raced past the Englishman when they went out for their second rounds for a quick turnaround.

Bekker birdied the tenth – his first – then leapt into the lead with an eagle at the long 12th.

Another birdie followed at the 13th, and a fine approach to five feet at the 14th saw him go five under through five holes and 11 under for the week.

However, the 29 year old faded slightly with three bogeys and two birdies from that point leaving him with a 66 and share of third place alongside compatriot Branden Grace.

Campillo pitched in for a second eagle of the day at the fourth – like Bekker he made a three at the long 12th – and added seven birdies as he chases a first European Tour title.

Baldwin has never finished higher than fifth, but made six birdies and an eagle on the 12th in his second round 62.

Qualifying School graduate Brooks had not begun his second round when the leaders reached the clubhouse, and was likely to have to return early on Saturday morning to complete his second round.

Rose In Second After Round One In Thailand

Britain’s Justin Rose ended the first round of the Thailand Golf Championship in second place, after carding 65 behind Germany's Alex Cejka.

The US Open winner ended seven-under tied for the second place with Thailand's Arnond Vongvanij, one behind Cejka, with defending champion Charl Schwartzel and Sergio Garcia on 68

Sweden's world number three Henrik Stenson, and Americans Bubba Watson and American Rickie Fowler both opened with 70s.

Fresh from his victory at the US Open, the first Englishman to win in 43 years, he is hoping for a perfect end to a season which saw him win his first major title.

"Wining a major, it's still sinking in," he told Sky Sports.

"It's an amazing feeling and a lot of relief. A lot of great players haven't won a major and to get that monkey off my back is fantastic.

"It takes off a lot of pressure. As a kid growing up, I always dreamed of winning a major and it's nice to have that. At this point of my career, it's not time to reminisce; I am motivated to win more."

If a win in the Thailand tournament would be the icing on the cake, perhaps his nomination alongside Andy Murray, the first player for 77 years to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title, for the coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, is a sprinkling of glitter.

Two players shoot 59 on Euro Tour, ruled unofficial

There still hasn’t been an official 59 shot on the European Tour – even after Colin Nel and Jorge Campillo carded golf’s magic number Friday at the Nelson Mandela Championship.

The two players carded 11-under 59s within 10 minutes of each other at Mount Edgecombe Country Club. European Tour rules stipulate, however, that the 59s were not official because the round was played under preferred lies (lift, clean and place).

Nel shot 77 in the first round before an 18-stroke improvement in Round 2. Campillo’s 70-59 put him in a share of the early midway lead with Matthew Baldwin, who carded 62 in the second round.

The tournament has already had two days of delays and suspensions because of heavy rain in Durban, South Africa.

Devereux: Turning fashion trends to the golf course

Devereux is a new contemporary line of men’s apparel.

Said Robert Brunner, the co-founder and creative director: “It’s what’s fashion trending currently into golf fashion.”

The Devereux collection is looking to not only be for golf, but something a player can wear into the clubhouse afterward or out to dinner on a Saturday night.

The inspiration of the line came from the great players and dressers of the game, such as Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Payne Stewart, Brunner said. Devereux was inspired to introduce a more contemporary line while touching all previous fashion statements.

Brunner also added that all the golf apparel out there seems the same. Brunner and his brother and co-founder, Will, wanted to express their own creativity.

Devereux uses the unique blend of Pima cotton and polyester in the clothing line. Both blends combine for high-performance quality.

To start the line, Devereux is introducing three collections.

• The Signature Pocket Collection: It pays tribute to the great golfers of the 1960s, 70s and 80s. It offers a unique and abstract look.

• Essentials Collection: Colors such as black, steel, white and navy can be found here, with steel the primary color.

• The Spring 2014 Collection: It introduces seasonal colors such as sea green and coral.

Nel and Campillo both denied historic 59 in South Africa

Colin Nel and Jorge Campillo were both denied a place in the history books as their rounds of 59 - the first-ever at the European Tour - were not officially recorded due to the Nelson Mandela Championship being played from preferred lies.

Both men arrived at the final hole at 11-under and successfully made par within ten minutes of one another at Mount Edgecombe Country Club, but European Tour rules stipulate the records could not count.

For South Africa native Nel it was a drastic improvement from a first-round 77 which moves him to four-under, while Campillo's 59 ensured he earned a provisional share of the lead with England's Matthew Baldwin.

Baldwin carded a round of 62 to stay level with Campillo while Oliver Bekker's 66 kept him one shot behind the leading pair.

Overnight leader Daniel Brooks is one of a number of players still yet to complete their second round.

The competition, which started a day early to avoid clashing with Sunday's funeral for Nelson Mandela, has already had two days of delays and play suspensions due to heavy rain in Durban.

1st round in Durban delayed again by rain

DURBAN, South Africa — Players will need a third day to complete the first round at the Nelson Mandela Championship after rain again disrupted the European Tour event's schedule.

After a seven-hour delay on Wednesday, only a little more than four hours' play was possible on Thursday before the Mount Edgecombe course became unplayable again because of a heavy downpour.

Englishman Daniel Brooks was still the clubhouse leader after an 8-under 62. Three Frenchmen were right behind, with Francois Camels second after a 63 while Edouard Dubois and Romain Wattel were two shots off the lead.

South Africa's Oliver Bekker also moved to 6 under through 14 holes before players were called off again. More than 50 players were still to complete their first rounds.

Tiger Woods’ half-brother arrested for making false bomb threat

The half-brother of golf star Tiger Woods was arrested Thursday in Phoenix for allegedly making a false bomb threat at the government building where he works.

Phoenix police said 58-year-old Earl Dennison Woods Jr. is accused of calling in the threat at the Department of Economic Security building about 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

Police say they were called after DES employees alerted building security.

More than 100 people were evacuated from the building before Woods came forward and told police the phone call was meant as a joke and he didn’t expect his co-workers to take it seriously.

Police said Woods has been booked on suspicion of attempting to terrify, intimidate, threaten or harass others. They say Woods is apologetic and co-operating with the investigation. It’s unclear if he has a lawyer.

Woods Jr.s’ daughter, Cheyenne Woods, is a professional golfer.

Monty finding senior golf ‘enjoyable’

Colin Montgomerie makes his debut in the MCB Tour Championship in Mauritius this week, with the Scot in a relaxed but competitive mood as he prepares to end his first campaign as a senior golfer.

After turning 50 in June, the Scot claimed his maiden title in the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters at the start of September and is hoping to add another victory at Constance Belle Mare Plage in the European Senior Tour’s season finale.

It would be the perfect way for the victorious 2010 European Ryder Cup captain to round off a pleasantly surprising year.

“I’ve enjoyed this season a lot more than I thought I would,” said the Scot. “I thought I’d be walking the dogs by now, but I’ve found that at 50 I might as well do something, and all I can do is play golf. So I thought I’d come out on this tour and enjoy the competition.

“The competition is very, very good. The one thing I have underestimated since turning 50 is the standard of competition. It is only just behind the European Tour. It’s extremely high. It’s more relaxed away from the course, but once the gun goes it is exactly the same on it.”

With Constance Belle Mare Plage providing the idyllic backdrop for the y400,000 event, Montgomerie is hoping to be inspired by his surroundings.

“It’s beautiful here, it really is paradise,” he said. “It’s also very hot. Especially when you are over 50. It’s a good golf course though and it is in good condition. The greens are good too, less grainy than I expected. I think it is a fantastic layout and a good test of golf.”

Having finished as the European Tour’s No 1 a record eight times, Montgomerie knows all about closing out an Order of Merit victory, and he will be keeping an eye on the battle between Paul Wesselingh and Steen Tinning for the Senior Tour top spot.

Wesselingh has a y47,936 cushion heading into the final event of the season, and Montgomerie has been impressed by the Englishman, who has enjoyed a fairy tale rise from a long-time club professional to a three-time winner this season.

“Paul has shown it is possible to come from a club background and compete out here,” he said.

“All credit to Paul. I played with him in Russia a few months ago and he hits the ball extremely well and is very solid. He has a great opportunity to win the Order of Merit this week and I wish him the best of luck with it.”

Rose and Garcia lead way

Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia are tied for the lead at the halfway point of the Thailand Golf Championship in Bangkok.

The Englishman, who started the day one shot off overnight leader Alex Cejka, carded a second round 68 scoring three birdies, one bogey and an eagle on his way to finishing on -11. It was a slightly more difficult test for the US Open Champion, who failed to match the excellent 65 on Thursday and the 33-year-old admitted he found it tough. "Had a bit of a hot spell from nine, 10, 11 and 12," he said. "Other than that, I found the greens more difficult this afternoon, a bit more grainy, more than yesterday." However, one person who was revelling in the conditions was Garcia who lit up the course on Friday, with a hole-in-one at the par three eighth the highlight of a superb seven under par 65. The Spaniard produced a fantastic bogey-free display to catapult up the leaderboard into a share of the lead and the charismatic European expressed his delight at the second round performance. "The hole in one was a little bit of an extra bonus," he said. "I got lucky with the contours on the green. Making a hole in one is always a funny and amazing feeling," Garcia added. "We can't see the hole from the tee because the pin is on the tier. I was calling it to go in, one of those things that you do, not really thinking it's going to go in. But I've seen the past couple of years guys hit over there on the right and it comes quite close to the pin. "I was trying to hit it probably about five yards farther left than what I actually hit it but when it started rolling down the hill, I thought, you know, it's probably going to end up close." India's Anirban Lahiri, who hit a majestic 64, France's Alexander Levy and Germany's Cejka are all two shots behind on -9, with birthday boy Rickie Fowler a further one stroke behind on -8 after carding a round of 66.