Monty wants more Ryder Cup wild-cards

Winning Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has suggested that future Ryder Cup captains be given more wild card picks than the three that he was handed for this year’s match at The Celtic Manor Resort, Wales.

Montgomerie came in for some criticism after electing to overlook Justin Rose and Paul Casey for his European team in favour of Padraig Harrington and Edoardo Molinari, and the Scot believes that having more wild-cards would have avoided such a scenario.

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Crane wins CIMB Asia Pacific Classic

Ben Crane held off several late charges to capture the first ever co-sanctioned PGA Tour and Asian Tour event with a gritty 2-under par 69 to win the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic at The Mines Resort and golf club, Malaysia.

After three successive bogeys between the 12th and 14th holes to drop behind Scotland’s Martin Laird, Crane, who had started the final round with a two shot lead drove the par-4 15th hole and holed out for eagle to regain a one-shot advantage.

A win looked assured as he found the par-5 17th hole in two, but with considerable distance between him and the flag, he three-putted for par.

With Laird in the clubhouse at 16-under par, he was joined by Ryder Cup player Luke Donald but it was another Englishman, Brian Davis who posed the sternest threat to Crane as he carded birdie-eagle-birdie on his closing three holes to reach 17-under and turn the screw on the American.

Crane needed a birdie on the last hole – a hole he had played bogey-par-par in his previous round – to seal the win and after a fairway-splitting drive, shot to within 8 feet and holed out for the $1million-winning putt.

A three-time winner on the PGA Tour, Crane’s last win had come in the early season Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.

Australian Robert Allenby shot a best-of-the-day 64 to share fifth place with five other players – Ernie Els, Rickie Fowler, DJ Trahan, Ryan Moore and Mardan Mamat; the sextet finishing on 14-under par.

Choi successfully defends LPGA Hana Bank Championship

South Korean Na Yeon Choi came from behind to successfully defend her LPGA Hana Bank Championship title at the Sky 72 Golf Club’s Ocean Course in her native South Korea.

Choi carded a closing 3-under 69 to record a two-stroke victory over American player Vicky Hurst. Hurst, who had lead the tournament after the first round closed with a 70.

Choi’s 10-under par total earned her $270,000 and saw her capture her second LPGA Tour victory of the year and her fourth in two years. Choi had previously came out best in a four-way playoff to win the Jamie Farr Classic back in July.

Second-round leader Song-Hee Kim carded a round of 73 to finish in third place on 7 under, while US Women’s Open champion Paula Creamer finished with a 67 to share fourth place with world number two Jiyai Shin and world number four Suzann Pettersen , who shot rounds of 69 and 70 respectively on six-under par.

Michelle Wie posted a 70 to tie for 12th at 3 under in a group that included the new world number one, Cristie Kerr – who closed with a 71.

McDowell and Maybin tie Andalucia Valderrama Masters lead after third round

It looks like the final round of the Andalucia Valderrama Masters will boil down to a shootout between Northern Irish pair Graeme McDowell and Gareth Maybin, as the pair opened up a four-shot gap at the top of the leaderboard after the third round.

US Open champion McDowell had secured a two-shot lead at the halfway stage, but could only muster a 1-over par 72 in the third round at the tough Valderrama course – made all the more difficult by windy conditions, while Maybin shot a 1-under par 70 to match McDowell.

Another Irishman, Damien McGrane also fired a third round 70 to share third place, alongside McDowell’s Ryder Cup team-mate and home player Miguel Angel Jiminez on 2-under par, while fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Ryder Cup vice-captain Thomas Bjorn tied together a further shot behind.

Those were the only six players in the field to remain on an under-par score from the 13 players who set out on the third round with scores in the red, such was the strength of the wind.

McDowell had held a commanding two shot lead heading down the 18th at the course which staged the 1997 Ryder Cup match, but after a good drive he misjudged the wind and fired his approach into a greenside bunker. From there, he needed four shots to gt up and down for a costly double-bogey.

“Standing on the fairway I thought about having a comfortable lead and what happened was just careless,” McDowell said. “But there was enough good golf out there to make me happy. I am going into the Sunday afternoon with a chance to win a golf tournament and that’s where I want to be.”

Maybin, meanwhile opened his round with back-to-back bogeys before rallying to cancel them out with back-to-back birdies as he seeks to win his maiden European Tour event.

Martin Kaymer’s chances of becoming world number one look slim after the German’s third round of 70 left him nine shots behind the leaders. US PGA champion Kaymer needs to win or finish no worse than a two-way tie for second to pip England’s Lee Westwood to the top spot in the Official Golf World Rankings.

Crane takes Malaysia lead into final round

Ben Crane takes a two-shot lead into the final round of the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic in Malaysia – the first ever co-sanctioned event between the PGA Tour and the Asian Tour.

Crane leads Swedish player Carl Pettersson after birdies on three of his last four holes for a third round 66 – 5 under par – and a three round total of 197 – 16 under par at The Mines Resort and Golf Club.

United States-based Swede Petterson also carded a round of 66 to move into contention while Singaporean veteran Mardan Marmat went one better with a 65 to share third place, a further two behind. Marmat shares third with US duo Ryan Moore and Ricky Barnes – the first round leader – and the English pairing of Ryder Cup player Luke Donald, and Brian Davis – still seeking a first PGA Tour win in retribution of his self-called penalty in his playoff against Jim Furyk in the Verizon Heritage back in April.

Despite play being delayed for an hour due to a thunderstorm, joint overnight leader Crane never broke stride as he seeks to add to his three PGA Tour wins with birdies on the 15th, 16th and 17th holes to open up his advantage.

“I’m pretty excited with where my game is at. I’ve been working hard on getting my mind in the right place. That’s what this game is all about. I’m just trying to play freely and trying to play like when I was playing like a kid,” said Crane, who won the Farmers Insurance Open in January.

“I haven’t been in this position a lot. But I’m thrilled to be here. Obviously there’s no position I’d rather be in but certainly, I’ll pray tonight for peace and relaxation and come out tomorrow to enjoy this experience. It’s really fun to be playing well here. The Malaysian people have welcomed us with open arms. Everything has been fantastic.”

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