Top-ranked amateur Lydia Ko has announced her decision to turn professional at the age of 16 and after foregoing more than $1 million in potential prize money.Ko, ranked No. 5 in the world, tweeted her decision on Wednesday, saying she made up her mind after taking advice from All Blacks rugby player Israel Dagg.She posted on Twitter: “made a monumental decision today with a little help from my (at)AllBlacks friend (at)Izzy_Dagg (hash)LOVEGolf.”New Zealand Golf chief executive Dean Murphy confir

PERTH, Australia (AFP) -- South Korea's Jin Jeong beat England's Ross Fisher in a playoff to win the European Tour co-sanctioned US$2 million Perth International at Lake Karrinyup on Sunday.Former leading world amateur Jeong and Fisher finished the tournament locked at 10-under 278 before the Korean claimed victory at the first playoff hole.Jeong, who carded a closing round of three under 69, held the upper hand when Fisher was left with a four-metre putt for par after fluffing his chip onto the

INCHEON (Yonhap News) ― Amy Yang of South Korea captured the LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship in a playoff here on Sunday for her first career LPGA win.Yang birdied the first playoff hole at the par-72 Ocean Course at Sky72 Golf Club to defeat compatriot Seo Hee-kyung at the only LPGA event in South Korea.Both players ended the 54-hole regulation at 9-under par. Back on the par-5 18th for the playoff, Yang drove to the deep rough on the right and had to chip out to the fairway before hitting her t

Former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy moved into contention at the Kolon Korea Open golf tournament here on Friday, despite committing five bogeys in an up-and-down round.McIlroy fired a 2-under 69 at the par-71 Woo Jeong Hills Country Club in Cheonan, south of Seoul, to reach 3-under for the tournament, good for a tie for fifth. He is sitting two shots behind the leader, Hong Soon-sang of South Korea, who shot a bogey-free round of 68.McIlroy, currently ranked sixth, is seeking his first win of 2013,

 South Korean veteran Jang Ik-jae shot a 4-under 67 to open a one-stroke lead after the first round play at the Kolon Korea Open golf tournament here on Thursday.The 40-year-old enjoyed a bogey-free round that included an eagle on the par-4 10th hole, along with two birdies at the par-71 Woo Jeong Hills Country Club in Cheonan, 90 kilometers south of Seoul in South Chungcheong Province."I didn't hit too well off the tee," said Jang, a Japan Golf Tour member seeking his first win on native soil s

SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda (AP) ― Masters champion Adam Scott broke the course record Wednesday at Port Royal with a 7-under 64 to win the PGA Grand Slam of Golf by two shots over U.S. Open champion Justin Rose.Trailing by four shots with 10 holes to play, Scott pulled ahead of his good friend for the first time with a 6-iron that settled inches from the cup on the par-5 17th for a tap-in eagle. Rose pulled his approach and had to settle for par.“Obviously, I’m thrilled to come out on top,” Scott said

INCHEON (Yonhap News) ― South Korean LPGA stars said Thursday they’re looking forward to a new opportunity next year to represent their country at an inaugural international competition.The LPGA Tour earlier this year unveiled plans to stage the International Crown, a new global event featuring four golfers each from eight countries. The match play event, with three days of four-ball matches and one day of singles, will be held at Caves Valley Golf Club, outside Baltimore, Maryland in July next

Even with the PGA Tour starting a new season in October, and big golf being played around the world, Tiger Woods said he was pleasantly surprised to draw another big cast of stars to his holiday tournament in California.“It’s our deepest and strongest field that we’ve had, possibly ever,” Woods said Tuesday.The World Challenge has not announced its two sponsor exemptions from among the top 50 in the world ranking to fill out the 18-man field. The tournament, which was in jeopardy this summer unt

SAN MARTIN, California (AP) ― Coming off his worst year, Jeff Overton opened the new U.S. PGA Tour season on a good note. Once he finally made a putt in the Frys.com Open on Thursday, Overton felt as if he couldn’t miss. Over the last 11 holes at CordeValle, he made three birdie putts over 25 feet and a 20-foot eagle putt when his gamble paid off on the par-5 ninth. He finished with a tap-in birdie on the 18th for a 7-under 64 and a two-shot lead over the early starters. “It would be great if we