Busy Fortnight for Relaxed McIlroy

So far Rory McIlroy is refusing to press any panic buttons after the worst Open Championship finish of his career to date.

In an event that he hoped would bring him his second major title and take him back to world number one, it all ended with him down on eight over par and outside the top 50 after a closing 73. The 23-year-old had been in joint fifth spot when he opened with a 67, but he then had a 41-hole stretch containing only one birdie.

"I think the thing for me is to stay patient," said the Northern Irishman, whose previous lowest finish in the event was 47th.

"If it doesn't happen over the next couple of weeks no big deal. It's a 20-year career, so I'm not going to get too wound up just over a few weeks."

McIlroy, had arrived at Lytham on the back of four missed cuts in his previous six starts, is next in action at the Bridgestone World Championship in Akron on Thursday.

The next major chance is the week after at Kiawah Island in South Carolina for the USPGA Championship.

"I've got to keep working away, plugging away, working on the right things and eventually it will come around," he said.

Asked about the Ryder Cup in September, he added: "The thing about the Ryder Cup, I'm going to be left out if I'm not playing too good."

He knows that is not going to happen. He leads the points race with only five weeks to go.

"No, it's fine," McIlroy said. "Everyone goes through little struggles. What I'm experiencing at the minute is frustrating at times, but it's not anything that I can't deal with.

"I'm obviously very disappointed because I felt like I was coming in here playing pretty well. I had a really nice first round, set myself up well for the week and then just started to struggle after that."

Profile - Caroline Westrup - Ladies Irish Open

Nickname: Carro and Line

Born: February 11 1986 in Kristianstad, Sweden

Represents: Kristianstads GK

Residence: Tallahassee Florida

Status: Turned professional summer of 2009

Education: Florida State University (Graduated with a degree in Sport Management and minor in communication fall 2009.) GPA 3, 68

Family: Father Charlie, mother Helene, sister Emelie

Favorite food: Raclette & sushi

Favorite movie: Mamma Mia

Favorite music: Hip Hop & R&B

Favorite golf course: Kristianstad, Gray Hawk, Seminoles

Best round: 66/ -7 New Port CC, Wales (British girls 2003)

Hobbies: Sports, friends & family, shopping, travel, cooking

About

Started to play golf when I was about 8 years old. In the beginning, it was obviously just for fun, but soon went to become much more determined. When I was 16, I moved away from my parents to go to a golf high school and I think it was during this time I realized that golf was something I could see myself doing for the rest for my life. Ever since my goal and dream has been to become a professional golfer and play against the best players in the world on the LPGA tour.

Therefore, after high school I moved across the ocean to Florida and enrolled at Florida State University to fulfill my dreams. I felt I was not ready to turn professional right away and my main goal at FSU was to improve my golf game, but also to graduate and get an education.

My four years at Florida State were successful and I learned a lot about myself as a person but also as a golf player. Florida State was not just about golf and education, but about getting ready for my professional career. Therefore, I got involved in many different things on campus, for example student government, boosters and SAAC. They all involved meetings and prepared me for the business and social side. I also got a lot of networking and got to know people I would have never met otherwise. Addition, to this I did an internship with sports information for two years as well. Now I feel ready for the “real” life and would not have choice any other school, because it prepared me for everything not just golf and school.

I have had a lot of success when it comes to the golf game:

Played for the national team since 2001

Four time All –American and All- ACC

Three Gold medals and three silver medals at the European Championship

First place at the World Amateur Championship 2006

Five individual college victories

Number one at the college ranking 2006/2007

Second place at the European Tour in Finland 2005

Played the Jr. Solheim Cup 2003 (beat the United States)

With these results, I am going to have a good chance on achieving my dreams and be successful. I am a very positive, outgoing, independent, goal oriented and stubborn person, who works hard for what I want. 

My main goal has always been to become, as good as I can be. With hard work and determination, I know time will show the results and I will become one of the best players in the world.


www.carolinewestrup.com

Ladies Irish Open Winner - Sophie Gustafson

Sophie Gustafson was born on 27 December 1973, and is a Swedish professional golfer  based on the LPGA Tour and a life member of the Ladies European Tour. 

She has four LPGA and 22 international wins in her career. She is a two time LET Order of Merit winner and has represented Europe in the Solheim Cup in each match since 1998. 

Sophie Gustafson turned professional in 1992 whilst studying marketing, economics and law at Aranasskolan & Komvux University in Sweden. In the next three years she played 12 Telia Tour and four Ladies European Tour tournaments. 

On the Telia tour she had six top ten finishes. Her best finish on the LET was a 22nd at her home tournament in Sweden. Gustafson was a member of Europe's Solheim Cup team in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007. 

Hobbies include motorbikes and music. Purchased a “Triumph Tiger” motorbike in 2004. 

Credits Seve Ballesteros and Solheim Cup team mate Laura Davies as the individuals most influencing her career. 

In 2011, gave a sit-down interview for The Golf Channel during The Solheim Cup for the first time despite a stuttering problem and then in January 2012, named the recipient of the Golf Writers’ Association of America (GWAA) Ben Hogan Award for remaining active in golf despite a physical handicap or serious illness. 

TOUR VICTORIES

2011 European Nations Cup (team event partnering Anna Nordqvist), 

2010 Comunitat Valenciana European Nations Cup (team event partnering Anna Nordqvist), 2010 AIB Ladies Irish Open. 

2007 De Vere Ladies Scottish Open, 2006 Siemens Austrian Ladies Open. 

2003 Ladies Irish Open, BT Open, HP Open. 

2002 Biarritz Ladies Classic. 

2001 AAMI Australian Open, 2011 Waterford Crystal Irish Open

2000 Ladies Italian Open, 2000 Waterford Crystal Ladies Irish Open, 2000 Weetabix Women’s British Open, 

1998 Donegal Irish Ladies Open, 1998 Marrakech Palmeraie Open, 

1996 Deese Ladies Swiss Open. 

OTHER VICTORIES

1996 Rörstrand Open, 1997 Thailand Open, 1998 Telia Final, 1998 Princess Lalla Meryem Cup. 2000 Chick-fil-A Charity Championship, TSN World Cup Golf (partnering Carin Koch), 2001 Subaru Memorial of Naples. 2003 Samsung World Championship. 2003 Catalonia World Matchplay Championship. 2009 CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge.

SOLHEIM CUP

1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011

GMAC and McIlroy Play the Bridgestone

Ernie Els and World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational champion Adam Scott  highlight a strong field of contenders when the best players from across the globe come to Firestone Country Club, August 1-5. 

Ten more players, led by Graeme McDowell, also punched their tickets to Akron after cracking the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Only a win this week at the RBC Canadian Open, or moving into the top 50 in the world, will earn a player a last-minute spot in the Bridgestone Invitational field.

Els' second career win at the British Open came after shooting a 32 on the back nine which included a clutch birdie on the 18th hole. Els entered the final round trailing Scott, his good friend, by six strokes. Scott bogeyed the final four holes to lose by one stroke despite having a comfortable lead throughout most of the day. Els has qualified for all 12 of the previous Bridgestone Invitational events, sitting out in 2005 due to injury. His best finish came in the inaugural event in 1999, when he finished 5th. 

He has two career World Golf Championships victories, both at the Cadillac Championship (2004, 2010).

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell headlines a group of nine players from the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking, not otherwise qualified, who gained entry to the Bridgestone Invitational following this weekend's action. McDowell, No. 11 after a T5 at last week's British Open, has four top-10 finishes on the PGA TOUR this year, including a T2 at the U.S. Open. McDowell will play the Bridgestone Invitational for the seventh time, looking to better his career-best finish in Akron, a T22 in 2010.

Other players who qualified via their Official World Golf Ranking:

There are 77 players from 16 countries who have qualified for this year's event. Players who moved into the top 50 in the World Golf Ranking this week or the winner of the RBC Canadian Open will complete the field.

Padraig Harrington, outside the world top 50,  has opted to play the Reno-Tahoe Open Montreux G&CC, Reno, Nevada.

Killeen Ready for Ladies Invasion

This week Norway’s Suzann Pettersen returns to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Killeen Castle, County Meath to defend her title as Ladies Irish Open Champion. Teeing off on 3rd August, world no. 6, Pettersen will be joined by a selection of the world’s best female golfers as they battle it out in the quest to win one of the most prestigious competitions on the Ladies European Tour. 

Taking to the field in what is set to be one of the most competitive line-ups of the tour this season are four-time Irish Open Champion Sophie Gustafson and golfing legends Laura Davies and Karen Stupples as well as Solheim Cup Star England’s Melissa Reid.

The Ladies Irish Open supported by Fáilte Ireland takes place from the 3rd – 5th August at Killeen Castle, Dunsany, Co. Meath. Large crowds are expected to attend the event which is now one of the biggest events on the Ladies European Tour with a prize fund of €350,000.

Irish spectators will have plenty to cheer about with a wealth of home grown talent on show including Ireland’s top player, Rebecca Codd, recently turned professional, Danielle McVeigh from County Down, Carlow’s Tara Delaney and Dublin’s Martina Gillen. The sensational amateur twins, Leona & Lisa Maguire aged 17, jointly named Women’s Amateur of the Year at the AIB Irish Golf Writers’ awards for 2011, will also compete against the world’s best professionals.

Tournament Director, Roddy Carr commented, “I would encourage people of all ages to take this opportunity to watch some of the world’s best golfers compete in one of the finest golfing venues in Ireland. I am delighted that such a strong international field will compete in this year’s Ladies Irish Open and I am particularly pleased that so many of the victorious European Solheim Cup players will return to Killeen Castle, where they enjoyed one of the most dramatic wins over the USA in Solheim Cup history.”

Along with the top-class golf, there will be plenty entertainment for all including live music each day and a dedicated Kidzone and Junior Golf area. There will be a traditional Farmer’s Market which will provide a variety of delicious culinary delights and treats including The Thai BBQ, Tasty Land Asian Noodle Bar, Jarek’s Kitchen and for a more traditional option Gran Clarks Bakery will serve up tart’s, bracks and muffins.

www.ladiesirishopen.ie. 

Grant and Moriarty in Challenge Chase

Stephen Grant was the leading Irish player at Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa, at the end of Thursday after firing a three under par 69 in the Challenge Tour event. Having made the turn in 33, the former Shamrock Rovers player card three bogeys on the way home for share of 9th place.

Colm Moriarty was a stroke further back following a round of 70, in a crowded field that sees the Glasson golfer in 18th place.

Robert Dinwiddie and Stuart Manley set the pace on seven under par after the opening day of the English Challenge at a sun-drenched Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa, where they both carded scorching 65s to hold the tied lead.

There was not a bogey between them over the difficult lay-out on the Gainsborough Course at the Essex venue, just outside Colchester, as they lay one shot ahead of second-placed Francis McGuirk.Welshman Manley started strongly, holing a 20 foot putt to open with a birdie at the first before chipping in from 25 yards for eagle at the fifth. He picked up another shot at the ninth hole before birdies at the 12th, 14th and 15th put him into contention to claim his maiden Challenge Tour title.

“I am high on confidence,” said the 33 year old. “I've been playing nicely recently and I had a good lesson with my coach last week and again this week and I felt things changing for me. I've been putting great recently but I haven’t been hitting the ball well enough to go with it.“But I'm hitting the ball well now and I’ll do well if I can do that because I normally putt pretty well. I am confident because there’s no pressure on me at the moment and as long as I'm committed I’ll do well.

“This is the best I've felt all year really and I thought, ‘just try and be more aggressive this week’ because I've got a good enough short game to get up and down if I do miss a few greens so I wanted to push on and make birdies and be committed.”England’s Dinwiddie is vying for a fourth Challenge Tour title and he started his home tournament perfectly with a birdie at the first hole before two more gained shots at the third and sixth. He kept a blemish off his card with a superb save at the eighth before a birdie at the ninth took him to the turn in three under.

He gave himself plenty of birdie chances on the back nine but could only capitalise at the 14th, 16th and 18th, where he sank a 20-footer in front of the watching crowds to crown a superb day.“It’s not an easy course and you can easily get out of position,” said the 29 year old. “But I found in the Pro-Am that I was reading the greens well and I feel like I've been putting well all year, I just needed to read the greens better.

“Hopefully I can read them well now for the rest of the week. It was a nice two on the last because it’s not an easy hole. It will be exactly the same game plan tomorrow and hopefully I can keep it going.”

Another Englishman, McGuirk, was a shot further back after three consecutive birdies from the third hole took him to the turn in three under before four birdies and a bogey meant he signed for a six under par round of 66.Julien Grillon of France was another shot back on five under after a 67 while four Englishmen – Jordan Gibb, Matt Haines, Sam Little and Chris Paisley – were all on three under and still in with a shout of claiming the title in the only England-based Challenge Tour event of the 2012 season

Tim Rice finished with a 74 and needs a few birdies on Friday to get inside the cut, currently projected at +1.

McNulty Best of the Senior Irish

Mark McNulty led the Irish challenge at The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex  after a round of 65 on Thursday on the Ailsa Course at Turnberry  to finish the day 5 under, and one stroke off the leader Berhnard Langer.

Philip Walton signed for a 73 after two double bogeys on the back nine - on the par three 11th and then the par four 16th - to leave him trailing nine shots off the pace.

Des Smyth was one stroke further adrift with Denis O'Sullivan and Eamonn Darcy +6 after both carded rounds of 76.

Bernhard Langer, the last man to win the event in Scottish soil, began his bid to reclaim the title with a flawless six under par opening round 64 to establish one shot lead at Turnberry.

The former World Number One and two-time Masters Champion birdied the second, third and seventh holes before the turn and then produced an almost identical back nine, picking up further shots on the 11th, 12th and 17th holes.

“I’m very pleased with the way I played,” said Langer, who was Senior Open Champion at Carnoustie two years ago. “I played smart, played well, hit some good drives, good iron shots and made a few putts. I maybe even left a couple of putts out there, as well. But overall, it was very solid. No blemishes.”

“The only trouble really I had was the 18th. I drove it in the fairway bunker but I had checked it out in practice, that bunker is maybe the only one on the whole golf course where you have a chance to reach the green. I didn't reach the green but I got close enough to get it up and down.” 

Langer, who finished in a tie for 12th in last year’s event at Walton Heath, claimed his maiden Senior Major two years ago when he completed a wire-to-wire victory at Carnoustie in 2010, a victory he described as “one of the highlights of my career”.

It was also one that propelled the ten-times Ryder Cup player onto a second Major triumph the following week when he won the US Senior Open at Sahalee Country Club, and the Anhausen man looked to have brought his fine season form to Scotland this week.

In all three of his appearances on the European Senior Tour this year Langer has finished in the top five, narrowly missing out on a third Senior Major when he surrendered a four shot lead in the final round of the US Senior Open, eventually finishing tied for second as Chapman seized his second Major title in succession at Indianwood in Michigan.

“It still hurts and it's going to hurt a while,” he reflected. “That's golf. Roger played a great round of golf and I can't take that away from him. It was my tournament to win or to lose, and I just didn't perform well enough on Sunday. 

“But I took a lot of positives away from it. It was some of the best golf I've played in my whole life.”

Despite having never won an Open Championship during a glittering career that has yielded 42 European Tour titles – including his two Masters titles in 1985 and 1993 – Langer retains a good record on links courses and in the aforementioned Championship, having finished in the top ten on eight occasions, including two second place finishes at the 1981 and 1984 Opens.

Langer also finished in a tie for third when Turnberry hosted The Open in 1986 as Greg Norman stormed to his first Claret Jug, so the Ailsa has long suited the German’s eye.

He said: “It's playing very long. Someone said this course is playing longer than they played last week at The Open Championship.

“But I like links golf. It's just fun to hit off that kind of turf and you really have to think your way around some of these golf courses, not just hit driver, blast it away and find it and hit it again. That's what makes it so much fun.”

Ireland’s Mark McNulty, who opened with back-to-back birdies, is Langer’s nearest challenger following a five under par 65, while six players, including 1996 Open Champion Tom Lehman, are a shot further back on four under par.

“I kept myself out of trouble today, and that's my game plan this week, trying to strategise myself around this golf course, because as we have all seen over the years that when you play these links courses and get into these bunkers, all hell can break loose,” said McNulty.

“I was very lucky to get off to a good start, get a couple of birdies and I just played very solid.”

Tom Watson made a satisfying return to Turnberry three years after almost winning The Open Championship at the age of 59.

The American, winner of Claret Jug over the Ailsa Course in 1977 as well as The Senior Open Championship in 2003, carded a one under par opening round 69 to claim bragging rights in his mouth-watering three-ball with Englishman Roger Chapman and Australian Greg Norman.

“It was a good start,” said Watson. “The golf course was there for the taking if you played some good shots. On the back nine, I got sloppy, but the front nine I played pretty well and I was happy with the way I started.”

After winning both the US Senior PGA Championship and US Senior Open Championship already this season, Chapman began his bid for the hat-trick of Senior Majors with a two over par 72, the same as Norman who won The 1986 Open Championship over the Ailsa Course.

Leaderboard - R1

Walton Joins Turnberry Ranks at Senior Open

Philip Walton will mix with the greatest names of golf this week as the Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex tees off at Turnberry in Scotland. Although Walton missed  The Open when it was last played on the Ailsa Course, the Malahide golfer did qualify for the previous year at Royal Birkdale.

This week  the Turnberry field includes Greg Norman, Gary Player, Tom Lehman, Fred Couples, Larry Mize, Tony Jacklin, Sam Torrrance and Ian Woosnam, who beat Walton in a play off at the Carrolls Irish Open in 1988.

Another name returning to Turnberry - after nearly winning The Open in 2009 as a Senior - is Tom Watson, who has a long link with the course.

So it was appropriate that Watson unveiled a plaque to commemorate that famous Duel in the Sun with Jack Nicklaus 35 years ago at Turnberry on the eve of the Senior British Open.

In 1977, Watson hit a 7-iron approach within two feet of the 18th hole in beating Nicklaus in a head-to-head battle to seal the second of his five British Open titles. The weather was remarkably similar 35 years later for the plaque's presentation on the right side of the final fairway.

Watson says "I remember hitting the shot which meant so much to me and so many other people."

Watson will tee off Thursday alongside another former British Open champion at Turnberry, Greg Norman, plus Roger Chapman of England, who has two senior majors this year.


The other Irish players in the field are Mark McNulty, Des Smyth and Eamonn Darcy.

Leaderboard

Harrington Going to Reno-Tahoe Open

Officials for the PGA's Reno-Tahoe Open say they've landed a commitment from Padraig Harrington.

The former PGA Tournament champ and two-time winner of the British Open will be making his first appearance at Montreux Golf & Country Club.

Tourney director Jana Smoley says Harrington is a big international addition to the field that begins play Aug. 2.

A five-time winner on the PGA Tour, Harrington has won more than $1 million this season and ranks 62nd in FedEx Cup points. He's not eligible for the World Golf Championship event the same weekend in Ohio because he isn't ranked in the Top 50.

Other major winners committed to Reno so far are Rich Beem, Shaun Micheel, Todd Hamilton, John Daly, David Duval, Lee Janzen and Mike Weir.

Harrington’s thoughts have also turned to the season’s final Major at Kiawah Island as he hopes to force his way into the Ryder Cup reckoning - having played in every time since he made his debut in 1999.

Brooms and Bellies Under Review

The R&A and the USGA are in discussions regarding long putters that could see them banned by 2016.

Ernie Els became the third winner of the last four majors to use the controversial belly putter, and authorities will continue to discuss the issue of 'anchoring' in the weeks ahead.

Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal and Ancient Club, said that while a decision could be made by the end of the year, the success of Els has no bearing on it.

"This decision has not been taken, but I think we are going to say something in a few months rather than years," Dawson said.

"There are further discussions to be had, but if the rule is changed it would come into effect on January 1 2016.

"Let me say that the Open Championship result does not have a direct bearing on the discussions about long and belly putters. They were going on well before what has happened.

"The situation is that the R&A and the USGA do have this subject firmly back on the radar.

"We appreciate that there is much speculation about this and that we need to clarify the position as soon as possible.

"The initial determination has been that we are examining the subject from a method of stroke standpoint rather than length of putter standpoint."

Dawson added that more and more players who have not 'failed' with a conventional putter are joining the ranks of players reaching for a longer club.

"The objections I find from those who object at professional level, at elite level, are all about 'If people have become failed putters in the conventional way, why should they have a crutch to come back and compete against me when I haven't failed in the conventional way'," he added.

"That's the general argument one hears, but we're also seeing now people who can putt perfectly well in the conventional way thinking that an anchored stroke gives them an advantage.

"I think that's the fundamental change that we've witnessed in the last couple of years.

"Anchoring is what we're looking at, method of stroke, and it's all about putting around a fixed pivot point, whether that fixed pivot point is in your belly or under your chin or on your chest. I don't distinguish."

Ian Poulter added his thoughts to the argument, telling Sky Sports he was against the use of an anchor.

"It's a interesting one - three of the last four majors have been won by people using belly putters," he said. "Should they be used? I dont think they should be, you shouldn't be able to anchor them with the butt end of the club, it certainly makes it easier.

"It's definitely an advantage on certain putts. If you're able to anchor the club you then have a way of stopping rotation, so theoretically the club should swing back through the impact position squarer if the butt-end is anchored.

"They're are definitely looking at that to see what it is they can do, if anything at all."

McIlroy Slips Rank as Woods Promoted

The Official World Golf Ranking released Monday saw Tiger Woods tie for third at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, help him leap Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy in the rankings this week. The finish, which was Woods' best in a major since his runner-up at the 2009 PGA Championship, saw McIlroy fall to No. 3, Westwood to No. 4 and Webb Simpson rounds out the top 5.

Open champion Ernie Els vaulted from No. 40 to No. 15.

Woods had been sitting in the No. 4 spot since June 3 after his victory at the Memorial Tournament. Woods returns to the No. 2 spot that he vacated on Jan. 16, 2011.

Returning to the second spot also makes him the highest-ranked American since Phil Mickelson was No. 3 the week of April 3, 2011. Five of this week's top 10 are from the U.S., including Bubba Watson (No. 7), Jason Dufner (No. 8) and Matt Kuchar (No. 9).

Woods' return to the top 2 in the rankings is remarkable considering he was ranked No. 50 or worse from Sept. 25 through Dec. 3 in 2011. His victory at the Chevron World Challenge, an unofficial event that carries world-ranking points, bumped him up to No. 21, but he finished the year at No. 23.

His victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks before the 2012 Masters put him back in the top 10, at No. 6, and he hasn't been worse than No. 9 (May 27) since.

Despite his rise in the rankings, Woods is still working on parts of his game that made him a finisher in majors. That work mostly centers on distance control - off the tee and in the fairway.

"I finally feel like I'm really healthy. And I've got my pop back in my swing. So I'm hitting the ball distances I know I can," said Woods, who will next play at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Aug. 2-5 at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.

"Unfortunately when I get out here with a little bit of adrenalin, it goes a little bit further, too. It's a combination of having my strength and my speed back, at the same time playing tournament golf. It's not that far off."

Woods Dreams Bunkered at Sixth

Tiger Woods reflected on the one horrific hole that effectively ended his chances of Open Championship glory on the final day at Royal Lytham.

The three-time champion had made a solid start in the blustery conditions, reeling off five opening pars while most of the leaders were frittering shots away.

But Woods came to grief at the sixth, where he took two splashes to escape a greenside bunker and then three-putted to run up his first triple-bogey in a major since 2003.

"The problem is if I played left I wasn't assured I could get it to the gallery and get it out of that slope because if it rolls back in the bunker and I'm on the downslope then I've got no backswing," he explained.

"The game plan was to fire it into the bank, have it ricochet to the right and then have an angle to come back at it. Unfortunately it ricocheted to the left and almost hit me."

Woods battled on, chipping in for birdie at seven and picking up further shots at 10 and 12, but he bogeyed the next three before a closing birdie capped a three-over 73 as he finished four behind Ernie Els.

"Overall I'm pleased with the way I played, unfortunately just a couple here and there ended up costing me some momentum, especially at six," Woods added.

"Again, I left a lot of putts short out there. The greens were a little bit slow and I tried to put some more hit in my stroke but they were dying off the front of the lip."

McDowell Feels Scott's Pain

Graeme McDowell admitted there was little he could say to comfort Adam Scott after his costly finish to The Open at Royal Lytham.

McDowell's hopes of victory had long since disappeared when Scott's game fell apart over the last four holes, bogeys at each of them handing the Claret Jug to Ernie Els.

"It was tough to say anything to him that was going to be of any relevance," McDowell said.

"I said he's a great champion and there are many majors ahead for him. It's just a tough beat.

"He struggled on the greens a little bit today, as we all did. The putt he missed on 16 was huge for him.

"Then he hit a great drive down the middle of 17 and with half of England right of that pin he missed it left.

"He's going to be extremely heart-broken and disappointed, but he's a great, great, great player and that's what I tried to convey to him on the last green.

"Like I say, it felt like a futile exercise trying to say anything to him, but I'm sure he's going to be unbelievably disappointed."

On his own round of 75, which left him in a tie for fifth, he added: "It was a tough day at the office, no doubt about it.

"But I'm not splattered on the floor right now in disappointment. I'm just a little frustrated.

"I guess my disappointment kind of seems relatively stupid. I've just seen a guy lose the Open Championship."

Els Stunned by Lytham Open Win

Ernie Els could hardly believe it after he became Open champion again following Adam Scott's collapse at Lytham.

The 42-year-old South African triumphed after Scott suffered a nightmare collapse over Royal Lytham's closing stretch.

Scott, chasing his first major, looked all set to become the first Australian to hold the Claret Jug aloft since Greg Norman in 1993 when he led by four shots with only four holes to play.

But he bogeyed them all and Els, having made a 15-foot birdie putt on the final green 20 minutes earlier, suddenly found himself with a fourth major title without even having to go into a play-off.

As Nick Faldo said: "Well done Ernie Els, but Adam Scott is going to be scarred for life."

Els commented: "I'm just all numb at the moment. He's a great friend of mine. Obviously we both wanted to win very badly for different reasons and I really feel for him.

"It's the nature of the beast. That's why we are out here. You win, you lose and it was my time.

"I was hoping at best play-off. When I was on the 17th green he was on the 16th tee and, as we all know, it's not the hardest hole."

Having stood 11 under earlier in the day, the Australian signed for a 75 and six under.

Tiger Woods, who also finished poorly in addition to taking a triple bogey, tied for third with fellow American Brandt Snedeker three shots further back, while Scott's playing partner Graeme McDowell ended up fifth with world number one Luke Donald.

In his winner's speech Els told the crowd: "I had a lot of support this week. But you guys have got to ask yourselves the question were you just being nice to me or did you actually believe I could win?".Scott retained his composure admirably, but must have been devastated inside. "I'm pretty disappointed," he said. "I had it in my hands and managed to hit a poor shot at each of the closing four holes.

"I'm very, very disappointed, but I played so beautifully for most of the week I certainly should not let this get me down.

"Surprisingly I was incredibly calm and I still am. I thought I could roll that last putt in, but I didn't and that's golf."

GMAC Keeps Leader Scott in Sight

For the second Major in a row Graeme McDowell goes into the final round playing in the last group out.

The 2010 US Open Champion, second in that event last month, is four behind Australian Adam Scott after a third round 67 at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

McDowell was only level par for the day with six to play, but then birdied the 13th, 14th and 17th to earn himself a head-to-head with Scott.

While being in the final group did not work out as he hoped in San Francisco, it did at Pebble Beach two years ago.

The Northern Irishman, up into joint second with American Brandt Snedeker, came from three shots back on the final day to win the 2010 US Open and only last month was one putt away from forcing a play-off in the same event.

And then there is Tiger Woods one stroke further back in fourth place. He senses a chance to grab his fourth Claret Jug and 15th Major four traumatic years after he last tasted success at the highest level.

Taking advantage of Snedeker running into all sorts of problems following his Major-record-equalling first two rounds, 31 year old Scott moved to 11 under par and back out in front with a 68.

His 199 total is only one outside The Open Championship record set by Tom Lehman on the Lancashire links in 1996.

Snedeker had not been in a single bunker or registered a single bogey in his opening 36 holes - but it was not long before that all changed.

He three-putted the 219 yard fifth from just short of the green and then found sand with his approach to the next.

It cost him another dropped shot after he came out sideways and Scott's six straight pars were good enough to take him back into the lead he had held with his opening 64.

Both birdied the long seventh, but while Scott then added a 25 foot putt for another at the 416 yard eighth Snedeker ran up his third bogey after finding the rough.

That made the gap three and when it became four after Snedeker visited another bunker at the ninth, the Nashville golfer was not even second on his own.

Alongside him was Woods. Six back after bogeys at the first and third he re-ignited his bid with an outrageous 60 footer at the difficult sixth and followed with more birdies at the seventh and ninth.

Snedeker's day got worse when he ran up a six on the long 11th, but Scott was on in two and not far away from an eagle. The tap-in birdie swept him five clear.

He did bogey the next, but six closing pars kept him in firm control and on course to become Australia's first winner of the title since Greg Norman in 1993 and their first Major Champion since Geoff Ogilvy at the 2006 US Open.

Snedeker rallied with two birdies in the last three for a 73 that pushed Woods down to fourth - and it ought to be remembered that he has never come from behind to win a Major yet.

Joint fifth are 2002 winner Ernie Els and former Masters Tournament champion Zach Johnson, who flew to Britain after capturing the John Deere Classic last Sunday.

Harrington Struggles to Bag a 70

Padraig Harrington admitted he was "at sixes and sevens" with his game despite managing a level-par 70 in the third round of the Open Championship at Royal Lytham.

The two-time champion, playing with Rory McIlroy for the first time in a major, pulled off a series of par saves and carded his second birdie of the day at 17 to get under the card for the round.

But the Irishman bogeyed the last for the second day running to return to two over for the tournament, and he conceded that his score could have been a lot worse.

"The 70 was a steal - and 69 would have been a miracle. I was really at sixes and sevens with my game," he said.

"It was a big struggle. I didn't show much trust, faith or confidence in anything out there, so it was nice that my short game saved me.

"The first two rounds I just didn't hit my wedges very well. I was sorting that problem out and it certainly got in my head. I wasn't settling on any good thoughts."

McIlroy also admitted to lacking confidence as he posted a 73 to drop to five over, and Harrington added: "Rory was looking for a fast start and he didn't get it.

"Things went against him. It's not much fun when you're two or three over par and you're looking to be four, five, six under."