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Europe name experienced wildcard Cup picks

Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson have been named as Europe's Ryder Cup team wildcards by captain Thomas Bjorn.

By Martyn Herman, Australian Associated Press
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Europe Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn has loaded his team with experience after announcing Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson as his four wildcards for this month's match against USA in Paris.

With five rookies having already booked their places automatically through the European and World Points standings, Denmark's Bjorn opted to beef up his team with four players who boast 20 previous Ryder Cup appearances.

Englishman Casey, 41, returns after a 10-year absence from the Ryder Cup, while compatriot Poulter, 42, has been one of Europe's best-performing players in the team event.

Spain's Garcia, 38, will be making his ninth appearance while Swede Stenson has played in four previous matches.

The four captain's picks join Open champion Francesco Molinari of Italy, Britain's Olympic champion Justin Rose, rising English duo Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood, Spain's Jon Rahm, four-times major winner Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, Swede Alex Noren and Danish debutant Thorbjorn Olesen.

Europe are attempting to win back the trophy after being well-beaten at Hazeltine National in Minnesota in 2016 -- their first loss in the biennial match since 2008.

US captain Jim Furyk has named 11 of his 12 players, with experienced duo Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson added to his lineup when he announced his wildcards on Tuesday.

A return to form and fitness for Poulter, known as "Mr Ryder Cup", is a major boost for Bjorn.

Poulter produced a stunning display at the Medinah Country Club in 2012 when he inspired an unlikely comeback.

"He is a man for the occasion." Bjorn said after revealing his picks. "He is a special person. Both he and Sergio, sometimes you feel they should be footballers because they like that team sport environment."

The 42nd Ryder Cup takes place at Le Golf National in Paris from September 28-30.

Europe team: Justin Rose, Francesco Molinari, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Alex Noren, Thorbjorn Olesen, Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson.


Smith in line for golf World Cup selection

Marc Leishman says Cameron Smith is in the frame for World Cup of Golf selection but is allowing Adam Scott a last chance saloon at the BMW Championship.

By Evin Priest, Australian Associated Press
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Marc Leishman admits a red-hot Cameron Smith is in the driver's seat for a dream World Cup of Golf debut but hasn't ruled out an Adam Scott fightback at this week's BMW Championship.

The event will be held at Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne from November 22-25, featuring two players from the top-28 nations on the world rankings.

Each nation's top-ranked golfer became eligible on September 3 and has until September 13 to accept or defer his selection.

World No.11 Jason Day tops the Australian list but is uncertain on returning to his homeland given wife Ellie is due to give birth to the couple's third child days before the Cup.

If Day was to defer, world No.21 Leishman would be the frontrunner with Smith (32nd) the next best, followed by Scott (39th).

With Smith posting consecutive third-place results in the opening two events of the FedExCup playoffs, Leishman says the young Queenslander has his nose just in front of Scott.

"I think Cam's form has been very good ... Cam is probably in the box seat," Leishman told AAP at the BMW Championship on Tuesday.

"But I am going to wait until the deadline to give everyone the best chance to get in.

"One good week from Scotty and he's only got to jump eight spots; I'm giving them both as much chance I can.

"A lot can happen in a week; golf is a funny game."

Scott, who selected Leishman for the 2016 World Cup at Kingston Heath, laid down the marker to Smith two weeks ago at the FedExCup finals opener in New Jersey.

The former world No.1 said, tongue-in-cheek, that Smith "better be up for" a selection battle.

Smith admitted the friendly fire played a part in his sensational start to the $US67 million ($A93 million) FedExCup series.

"Yeah it fired me up a fair bit; I knew it was a big challenge to get back ahead of (Scott) on the rankings," the 25-year-old said.

Smith has climbed to eighth on the FedExCup standings and leads the Australians, ahead of Day (10th), Leishman (22nd) and Scott (48th).

But he said his World Cup debut is far from locked in.

Smith is determined to win the BMW Championship after twice falling just short of Bryson DeChambeau in the first two playoffs events.

"My foot is on the pedal; I still need to make sure of (World Cup selection)," Smith said.


Woods, Mickelson in US Ryder Cup team

US captain Jim Furyk has named Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods as his first three wild cards for the Ryder Cup contest against Europe.

By Australian Associated Press
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US Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk has named Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods as his first three wild cards for the biennial contest against Europe from September 28-30.

World No.7 DeChambeau, Mickelson and Woods finished ninth, 10th and 11th in qualifying, with DeChambeau winning the first two FedEx Cup play-off events in the past fortnight.

Furyk heaped praise on the trio, particularly 14-times major champion Woods, who will now relinquish his role as a vice-captain.

"It's been great to have his help and to get a little feel of one of the best minds in the history of the game on your side helping you out," Furyk said.

"We're all excited to see him healthy again, to see his game playing so well."

Replacing Woods as vice-captain, Furk has added David Duval, Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar to his backroom staff.

After undergoung spinal fusion surgery in April last year, the 42-year-old Woods only returned to competitive golf in November but has been impressive ever since.

The former world No.1 has recorded five top-10 finishes and missed just two halfway cuts, with sixth place in the Open at Carnoustie and second in the US PGA removing any lingering doubts about his place on the team.

"I haven't been part of the team playing-wise for six years," Woods said. "This year to have the honour of being able to play again is beyond special.

"This team is young, full of guys in their 20s. We've got an unbelievable veteran leader in Phil who's been around the Ryder Cup since before some of these guys were born. It's a great mix of guys."

But the 14-time major winner will look to improve on his poor record in the event, which has seen him win 13, lose 17 and halve three of his 33 matches.

Mickelson's record does not make for any better reading. The five-time major winner has won 18, lost 20 and halved seven of his 45 matches. Only Furyk has lost as many matches in the competition.

The 48-year-old had to rely on a wild card for the first time in his career after his chances of qualifying ended with a missed cut in the US PGA, although he did win his first title since the 2013 Open in the WGC-Mexico Championship earlier this season.

"This is most likely my last chance to go over to Europe and be part of a winning team in Europe," Mickelson said.

"It's going to be a great challenge because we know how strong the European side is and how well they play at home but it's a wonderful opportunity to do something I haven't been a part of in my career."

Tony Finau is favourite to get the final wild card on September 10, which be announced after the BMW Championship.


Day eyes win-win finish to PGA playoffs

Jason Day wants "to do a Billy Horschel" and win the final two PGA Tour playoffs to secure the $US10 million FedEx Cup title.

By Evin Priest, Australian Associated Press
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Jason Day has warned critics to write him off at their own peril after an uncharacteristically slow start to the PGA Tour's $US67 million playoffs series.

Day has been a fast starter in previous FedEx Cup finals and even won the first and third events of the 2015 series.

But the former world No.1 Day posted a mediocre result at the Northern Trust event in New Jersey before missing the cut at last week's Dell Technologies Championship in Boston.

However, Day is confident he can repeat the efforts of American Billy Horschel by winning the final two playoffs events to secure the $US10 million FedEx Cup bonus.

Horschel achieved that in 2014, but no Australian has won the overall FedEx title in its 11-year history.

Day starts his quest at this week's BMW Championship at Philadelphia's Aronimink Golf Club.

"If I can do a Billy Horschel and win the last two that would go a long way," Day told AAP on Tuesday.

Day, the 2015 BMW champion, is no stranger to winning back-to-back events on the US Tour.

He first pulled it off during his sensational 2015 campaign before winning the 2016 Arnold Palmer Invitational and WGC-Match Play in successive starts.

"It's definitely realistic; you can catch fire," Day said.

"Sometimes, all it takes is one moment to spark you and ignite that flame and hopefully I get that this week."

While American Bryson DeChambeau has won the first two events of this year's finals, Queenslander Cameron Smith finished third on both occasions to climb to eighth on the FedEx Standings - overtaking Day as the top Australian.

Day, who has won twice on the US Tour this year, has dropped to 10th and is desperate to play his way into the top-five seeds with a good BMW Championship campaign.

The top-five seeds are assured of the FedEx title if they win the Tour Championship finale in Atlanta.

"It is nice to see Cam playing well the last couple weeks, but I'm not too worried about being the top Australian," Day said.

"Bryson has secured the No.1 seed going into the Tour Champs so we are all really playing for the other four spots this week.

"There is a lot of work to be done, and a lot of good players ahead of me and behind me."

Joining Day and Smith in the field are fellow Australians Marc Leishman, the defending champion who won the 2017 edition in wire-to-wire fashion, as well as Adam Scott.

Leishman is 22nd on the FedEx standings while Scott has dropped to 48th.


DeChambeau wins, Smith stays hot in finals

Bryson DeChambeau has won back-to-back FedEx Cup playoffs event while Cameron Smith became the leading Australian on the standings.

By Evin Priest, Australian Associated Press
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Cameron Smith has squandered a chance to win the Dell Technologies Championship in Boston but has cemented his status as Australia's best hope to finally win the $US10 million ($A13.9 million) FedExCup title.

For consecutive tournaments, 25-year-old Smith finished third behind in-form Bryson DeChambeau as the American cruised to his second play-offs victory in as many starts.

DeChambeau fired a four-under-par 67 for a 16-under total and a two-shot win from Englishman Justin Rose (68) at TPC Boston - becoming just the second player in the 12-year history of the playoffs to win the opening two events.

Smith carded a 69 to finish at 13 under, making another leap on the world golf rankings to No.32.

The Brisbane native was up against it on Monday with DeChambeau a group behind and in cruise control.

Smith made a pair of late birdies but was blindsided when his drive on the 72nd hole ran through the fairway and into a poor lie in the rough.

He then chunked his second shot into the hazard and carded a bogey on the par-5 18th.

DeChambeau said his TPC Boston win, which netted him another $US1.62m ($A2.25m) winner's cheque, was more difficult than duelling Smith in New Jersey last week.

"Honestly, down the stretch was a lot more difficult," he said.

"I saw Cameron making a run and unfortunately, he didn't finish out the way I thought he would; but it was fortunate for me."

The consolation prize for Smith is eight place on the FedExCup standings, now the top Australian.

If he posts a high finish at this week's BMW Championship in Philadelphia he could move into the top-five seeds for the Tour Championship finale in Atlanta.

The top-five seeds can guarantee the lucrative FedEx Cup bonus if they win the Tour Championship in Atlanta later this month.

No Australian has won the FedExCup title.

Jason Day, who owns two US Tour wins this year, missed the cut in Boston and dropped to 10th on the standings.

Marc Leishman (71) tied for 21st at eight under and moved up two spots to 22nd, while Adam Scott fired a blistering 66 to share 49th at three under.

Scott rounds out the Australian contingent in the $US67m ($A93m) finals series but dropped eight spots to 48th on the standings.


Aussie Lee fades as Alex wins LPGA event

World No.7 Minjee Lee has carded a disastrous 77 to finish fourth behind winner Marina Alex at the LPGA's Portland Classic.

By Australian Associated Press
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Marina Alex has rallied to win the Portland Classic for her first LPGA Tour title, closing with a seven-under 65 for a four-stroke victory over Georgia Hall.

Australian world No.7 Minjee Lee, two strokes behind playing partner and overnight leader Hall entering the final round, had a disastrous 77 to blow any chance of claiming a second LPGA victory this season.

The 22-year-old could not find a birdie on Sunday in her five-over round and finished fourth at 11 under.

"It was very bad," Lee said. "I didn't really have my 'A' game on."

Her compatriot Su Oh carded a three-under 69 to move up to a share of ninth at seven under - in a group which included American world No.5 Lexi Thompson (70) in her third event after a three-week break for emotional and mental fatigue.

Alex birdied the final five holes in a front-nine 30 to take the lead and added birdies on the par-5 12th and par-4 15th at the tree-lined Columbia Edgewater Country Club.

She made her only bogey of the day on the par-4 18th, leaving her at 19-under 269.

"My goal was eight under to give myself a chance but I even thought maybe that wouldn't have been good enough," Alex said.

"It was just an incredible day. I'm proud."

Alex matched the course record with a 62 on Thursday, then shot 71-71 to begin the final round six strokes behind Women's British Open champion Hall.

"It was tough to back up the first round with some good rounds," Alex said.

Hall had a closing round of 75.

"The pin positions were really, really tough," she said.

"The front nine was unbelievable. I couldn't even get to hardly any of them.

"I was just trying to stay patient and do what I could to kind of stay in it.

"I mean, she shot, what, 7 under? That's incredible. ... My hats off to her."

Japan's Ayako Uehara was third at 13 under after a 69.


Ancer leads at TPC Boston, Smith in mix

Australian Cameron Smith has finished the third round of the Dell Technologies Championship two shots behind leader Abraham Ancer.

By Australian Associated Press
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Australian Cameron Smith will begin the final round of the PGA Tour's Dell Technologies Championship just two shots behind surprise leader Abraham Ancer.

The pair started Saturday tied for fifth with Smith carding a bogey-free four-under 67 to move up to 11 and a share of fourth.

American-born Mexican Ancer upstaged the game's big names with a six-under 65 lifting him to 13 under - he got off to a fast start when he birdied the first three holes at TPC Boston and made the turn in just 30 shots.

Bryson DeChambeau, who won last week's opening FedExCup play-offs tournament, vaulted into joint second place with a 63 that included a tap-in eagle at the par-five 18th.

Englishman Tyrrell Hatton (69) was also one behind after a birdie at the last, where he almost holed his wedge approach shot.

Justin Rose (70) of England is alongside Smith while halfway leader Webb Simpson carded a miserable 76 to drop seven strokes off the pace.

Rory McIlroy (66) and Jordan Spieth (68) are in a group sharing eighth at nine under.

Marc Leishman is next best of the Australians with a 69 leaving him at eight under while Adam Scott had a 73 to slip back to two over.

Tiger Woods carded a 68 on moving day to be seven under in a tie for 16th.

Ancer missed the cut at last week's Northern Trust but was not surprised by the turnaround.

"There's a very fine line from being right there fighting for the cut and fighting to win the tournament," he told NBC television.

DeChambeau, the FedExCup points leader, gave himself a chance of going back-to-back.

He was perhaps more excited at playing with Woods for the first time and outplaying his boyhood idol to the tune of five shots.

"To play as well as I did, that's something I'll never forget," he said.

This week's event is the second of four FedExCup play-offs events to determine the season-long champion on the PGA Tour.


Wallace wins in Denmark, Ryder Cup beckons

England's Matt Wallace prevailed in a four-man playoff at the Made in Denmark event to claim his third European Tour title of the season.

By Australian Associated Press
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Matt Wallace has made an impressive case for a Ryder Cup wild card with a third win in his past 15 starts, a victory completed in dramatic fashion in front of captain Thomas Bjorn.

Wallace birdied five of his last six holes to finish 19 under par and get into an all-English four-man playoff with Lee Westwood, Steven Brown and Jonathan Thomson at the Made in Denmark event at Bjorn's home course.

The quartet returned to the 18th for the first extra hole and Brown piled the pressure on his opponents with an approach to three feet but Wallace hit his to seven feet and both made birdie, while Westwood and Thomson were eliminated with pars.

Wallace and Brown then headed back to the par-four 18th and Wallace produced an even better approach to set up a winning birdie from four feet as Bjorn looked on.

Bjorn's fellow Dane Thorbjorn Olesen had earlier secured the final automatic place on the team to face the United States at Le Golf National at the end of the month when Matt Fitzpatrick was unable to claim the victory he needed.

Fitzpatrick could only finish in a tie for seventh and joins the likes of Wallace, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey and Rafa Cabrera Bello in anxiously waiting to see Bjorn's four wild card selections on Wednesday.

Asked if his win had given Bjorn a selection headache, Wallace said: "I've given myself one! That playoff was pretty mental, four-man, to keep the 100 per cent record going as well from the one in India (where he beat Andrew Johnston) is really nice."

Olesen, who surged into Ryder Cup contention with a victory and four other top 10s in his past nine events before this week, said: "It's been an incredible summer, a lot of pressure but I've been playing well and it's been a lot of fun."

Olesen joins fellow rookies Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Alex Noren in the side alongside Open champion Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy.

"There's a few newcomers in there but strong names and people that I have a lot of trust in," Bjorn told Sky Sports.

"I'm pretty much there in my head in how I see this team being and how I want to try and mix and match everyone. But there's still one little doubt in my head."


The PGA eagle has landed for Simpson

American Webb Simpson leads the second FedEx Cup play-offs event on the PGA Tour by a shot from Englishmen Justin Rose and Tyrrell Hatton after two rounds.

By Australian Associated Press
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The putt is one that Webb Simpson never practises enough. Yet he worked it to perfection.

From 70 feet and off the green on the par-5 18th, Simpson rolled in an unlikely eagle putt for an eight-under 63 to take a one-shot lead at the halfway point of the Dell Technologies Championship.

"You just kind of laugh at those because you're not trying to make them, you're just trying to get them close," Simpson said.

"The grass around the greens is firm enough to where the ball runs pretty smoothly. I didn't like my lie to chip it.

"I decided to putt it, and it came off really nice, just how I wanted it."

A gorgeous Saturday allowed for low scoring at TPC Boston and Simpson ended it at 11 under.

Tyrrell Hatton of England had eight birdies with his store-bought putter for a 63 and was one shot behind Wimpson, along with first-round leader Justin Rose (67).

Tommy Fleetwood made it a trio of Englishman near the top with his 65, leaving him three shots off the pace.

Australian Cameron Smith carded a five-under 66 - shooting a back nine 31 - to be tied fifth with Mexico's Abraham Ancer (69) at seven under while Marc Leishman is in a group of nine a shot further back after a second consecutive 68.

Adam Scott had two rounds of 71 to be even but his fellow Queenslander Jason Day missed the cut by five shots, finishing at seven over.

Double 2018 major winner Brooks Koepka (69) and world No.1 Dustin Johnson (69) trailed Simpson by six strokes.

Tiger Woods shot a 66 to stay in the picture, though he was seven behind Simpson at four under - in a group which includes Rory McIlroy (67).

"I've got some work to do still," Woods said.

"This is a golf course you can't sit still on. You have to keep making birdies. You have to keep getting after it.

"Conditions are going to be like this the rest of the weekend. You're going to see plenty of birdies out there."

Hatton is riding a hot streak with a $149 ($A205) putter that his caddie bought last week before the final round at Ridgewood Country Club.

"Obviously, he made a good choice," Hatton, too embarrassed to be seen in a golf store shopping for a new putter himself, said.


Lee trails Hall at LPGA's Portland Classic

Minjee Lee has reduced Georgia Hall's lead at the LPGA's Portland Classic to two shots after the third round.

By Australian Associated Press
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Georgia Hall holds a two-shot lead over Minjee Lee late after the third round of the LPGA's Portland Classic.

Hall, the Women's British Open winner last month, carded a three-under 69 on Saturday to sit at 18 under.

Her Australian playing partner Lee had six birdies and two bogeys in a four-under 68 at the tree-lined Columbia Edgewater Country Club to be 16 under and four shots clear of third-placed American Marina Alex (71),

"I've got a two-shot lead. Still a lot of golf to play but looking forward to tomorrow," Hall said.

The Englishwoman opened with a 66 and shot 63 on Friday to set a tournament 36-hole record.

"I definitely putted yesterday like I did at the British," Hall said.

"Hopefully, I'll putt like that tomorrow, as well.

"But I still kind of feel the same, and I'm just looking forward to playing another round of 18 holes."

Lee lost a share of the lead with a bogey on 17 but remains well in the hunt for a second LPGA win this year.

"Just tried to play my game," the 22-year-old said.

"I felt like I played pretty solid all day. Probably had one bad drive on 17 that really cost me my bogey."

Canada's Brittany Marchand (70) and Japan's Ayako Uehara (70) were 10 under in a tie for fourth.