World Golf News - 03 August 2010

On the US PGA Tour, Australia's Stuart Appleby played a blistering final round to win the Greenbrier Classic by a single stroke. With the summer weather bearing down on players in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia the Australian birdied the final three holes to card a 59 for the final round, only the fifth in US PGA history. Appleby faced stiff competition from Jeff Overton of the United States, who seemed poised to snatch the title after the first nine holes. In the end Appleby prospered, finishing one ahead of Overton, with Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge finishing four strokes behind in third place. This is Appleby's ninth title on the Tour, four years after his win at the 2006 Houston Open. His chances of participating in the Ryder Cup have increased as a result of the win, which may be a taste of things to come from this seasoned golfer.

In Europe, the Irish Open at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club was won by England's Ross Fisher, who edged out local favorite Padraig Harrington by two shots to claim victory. Fisher played consistently from the first day, outplaying the field on the last day with an eighteen under par finish. Weathering an Irish crowd who were completely in support of Harrington, the Briton kept his nerve as he negotiated the course. Ultimately it was Fisher who was victorious, increasing his place in the European rankings. Third place went to Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.

On the Champions' Tour, Bernhard Lange won the US Senior Open in Seattle just a week after winning the British Senior Open. Playing his usual brand of precision golf at the Sahalee Golf Club, the German birdied the first three holes, then made par on the remaining fifteen to win with a closing round eight under par 72, the only player to break par on all four rounds. America's Fred Couples took second place. For two-times Masters winner Lange, this Champions Tour victory is yet another feather in his cap as he follows up a great US and European Tour career with a winning streak in the seniors events.

In women's golf, the British Open at Royal Birkdale was won by Taiwan's Yani Tseng. After the first thirteen holes of the final round, Tseng was only one stroke ahead of Australia's Katherine Hull, who birdied four of the thirteen holes. Despite this charge by the Australian, Tseng hung on to her lead, sinking a six foot putt to make par on the final hole and claim victory. This is Tseng's third title, and at the age of 21 she can look forward to a successful future on the tour.