SINGAPORE (AFP) ― European Tour chief executive George O’Grady has rebuffed calls to back the Royal Trophy team event, citing “fundamental differences of policy with the promoters.”The European Tour has launched a rival match play tournament between the players of Europe and Asia, despite the established “Ryder Cup-style” Royal Trophy having recently concluded its seventh edition.In the wake of Europe’s dramatic victory over Asia at China’s Dragon Lake Golf Club last weekend, triumphant captain

SAO PAULO (AP) ― Brazilian prosecutors want FIFA and local World Cup organizers to pay nearly $2 million in damages for alleged ticket irregularities at a Confederations Cup venue.Prosecutors in the northeastern state of Pernambuco say organizers did not provide the services that fans paid for at the Arena Pernambuco during the warm-up tournament this year, especially in relation to seating location.Many fans complained that their seats were not as good as shown when they made the purchases.

Teenage golf star Lydia Ko has split with the only coach she has had since she took up the sport as a 5-year-old.Ko told Television New Zealand on Monday she was sad to have ended her partnership with Guy Wilson, who she called a great coach and friend. But she said she and her family had decided it would be impossible to continue the relationship because she will be based in the United States and he in New Zealand.“It doesn't really work, him being here and him coming on the weeks that I'm not

Augusta National added 14 players to the field for the Masters when the final world ranking of the year was published Monday.That brings the field to 90 players who are expected to compete April 10-13, and again raises the possibility of the Masters exceeding 100 players for the first time in nearly 50 years. Augusta National has the smallest field of the four majors and prefers to keep it under 100 to enhance the overall experience at its tournament.This is the third time in the last four years

VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) ―English golfer Simon Dyson was handed a suspended two-month ban from the European Tour and fined 30,000 pounds ($49,000) on Thursday following his rules violation at the BMW Masters in Shanghai in October. Dyson attended a hearing on Thursday where he was found guilty of a serious breach of the tour’s code of behavior for using his ball to press down a spike mark on the green in direct line of a short par putt. His ban will become effective only if he commits anothe

SUN CITY, South Africa (AP) ― Luke Donald’s rapid start at the Nedbank Golf Challenge was halted by lightning Thursday, leaving the former top-ranked Englishman ahead by two shots on 5 under through 11 holes of an incomplete opening round. No one was able to play more than 12 holes on the first day at Sun City because of lightning and a thunderstorm. Donald began the 30-man invitational with a birdie and an eagle and was 5 under when the day’s second interruption for lightning forced players off

THOUSAND OAKS, California (AFP) ― Zach Johnson got hot on a chilly Southern California day Thursday to seize a one stroke lead in the World Challenge, with tournament host Tiger Woods four adrift.Johnson, a two-time runner-up in this event, had seven birdies in his five-under par 67. He was one shot in front of Matt Kuchar, whose four-under 68 was highlighted by an eagle at the par-five 11th.Hunter Mahan and Bubba Watson shared third on 70, followed by Woods on one-under 71 ― the only players in