Blasting into the week ahead, from the home of a Monster to Trump’s playground . . .

WGC-CA Championship

Feverish, shaky and drenched in cold sweat . . .

No, that isnt how PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has been waking mornings since Tiger Woods drove into a neighbors fire hydrant three months ago. Its how Phil Mickelson felt sleeping on the 54-hole lead the last time the WGC-CA Championship was staged at Doral.

Mickelson won at Doral despite suffering from a bout of food poisoning on the eve of last years final round.

Mickelson is back to defend his title at whats now being called the TPC Blue Monster at Doral, and theres something ailing him again. Hes been sluggish, out-of-sorts and just not himself so far this season. This time he appears to be suffering from a bout of ordinary golf, a malady far more difficult to win with than food poisoning.

Longtime fans of Dorals PGA Tour stop are fighting a sickening feel, too. The event begins with CA having yet to announce it will renew title sponsorship after its contract runs out at the end of this week.

Stance: If you stuck a thermometer in Leftys mouth, you might detect some frost. Mickelsons gone cold. In fact, you can argue this is the coldest hes been in a decade upon his arrival for the Florida Swing. Thats more a testament to Mickelsons past success on the West Coast Swing than an indictment of his uninspired form this season. In four starts, Mickelsons logged one top-10 finish. We know Mickelson can get off to slow starts, but this is his slowest since 2000, when he didnt have a top 10 in his first five starts. With Woods on the shelf, Mickelsons failed to capitalize on an opportunity to gain ground on the worlds No. 1. Of course, its all about the majors for Lefty, and hes still got a month to heat up for the Masters.

Takeaway: Hurry up, fellas. It looks like the money grab in World Golf Championship events is winding down with news that Woods is intensifying his work at Isleworth for a possible return. You could argue that Woods skipping the CA Championship is akin to tournament officials announcing theyre adding $1,530,000 to the purse. Thats the first-place check Woods would be eyeing if he were in the field. Woods is far more a sure thing in WGC events than he is in majors. Throw out the two-man team World Cups that were staged as WGC events, and 33 WGC tournaments have been played since they were initiated in 1999. Woods has won more than half of them. Hes won as many WGC titles (17) as Curtis Strange won PGA Tour titles. He has more WGC titles than Tom Weiskopf (16), Ernie Els (16) and Mark OMeara (16) have PGA Tour titles.

Bunker shot: Best player never to win a WGC title? Mickelson took his name out of that mix last year winning the CA Championship and the HSBC Champions. Who does that leave? Sergio Garcia isnt just in the running for best player never to win a major, hes also never won a WGC title. Neither have Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Jim Furyk.

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Bunker Shots: Home of a Monster and Trump’s playground

MIAMI For amateurs and PGA Tour golfers alike, the TPC Blue Monster at Doral is one of South Florida’s most daunting tests. And with the recent opening of the Jim McLean Signature Course at Doral, the resort now boasts the most intimidating one-two punch in the Southeast.

The 18-hole championship layout, formerly known as the Silver Course, was redesigned by noted golf instructor Jim McLean, who not only has his flagship golf school at Doral but also was lauded for his redesign of the Blue Monster in 1999.

“That worked out very well,” McLean said of his 1999 project. “The top tour players came back to Doral. They loved the changes back to the original Dick Wilson look. Our rounds of golf were taking close to six hours, and that dropped way back to under five hours.”

But while the TPC Blue Monster is most notorious for one hole its water-lined, par-4 finisher the Jim McLean course for which McLean consulted Tom Fazio has three holes in succession that will grab your attention. The trio is aptly dubbed the Bermuda Triangle.

The adventure begins at the par-4 13th, where players must avoid a lake that hugs the right side of the fairway from tee to green. The fairway is broad, but there’s little room for error down the right side of the fairway, which runs to the edge of the water.

No. 14 is considered the signature hole at the Jim McLean course, and for good reason. This island-green par 3 is as diabolical as it is visually stunning. It’s like No. 17 on the Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass, but the green is smaller, and there’s a little more rough around the green. Good luck!

No. 15 is the easiest of the Bermuda Triangle holes, but for the third straight hole, any shot right of the target will meet a watery grave. The elevated, two-tiered green is this hole’s greatest defense. Play a fairway metal or hybrid off the tee, and you’ll have a simple approach shot. Like the other holes in the Bermuda Triangle, par here is a great score.

A tough beginning on the Jim McLean Signature Course at Doral

Don’t get ahead of yourself, though. Before you get to the Bermuda Triangle, you’ll have to navigate your way through a difficult opening stretch.

“The first three holes from the back tees are the toughest starting holes in Florida and likely the U.S.A.,” McLean said.

So why make the course so difficult? McLean says it’s all about creating a memorable golf experience.

“Golfers are not traveling to play mediocre golf courses,” he said. “The idea was always to get our guests at Doral to take the shuttle over to the Jim McLean course and also to have golfers traveling to South Florida make this a ‘must-play’ golf course.”

Upgrades at Doral Golf Resort & Spa

If you thought the Jim McLean Signature Course is the only thing Doral has going on, think again. It’s just one item on a $16 million list of upgrades the resort is making. Other projects include a partnership with the PGA Tour’s TPC to rename the Blue Monster, TPC Blue Monster at Doral, as well as the enhancement of The Great White Course and Gold Course with TifEagle greens.

A $5 million renovation of the spa and a new Latin-inspired steakhouse are also among the upgrades, which will be finalized in time for the resort’s 50th anniversary in 2012.

The golf star in Miami shines brighter because of Doral Resort & Spa and the new Jim McLean Signature Course at Doral. But don’t be caught star-gazing or bogey beckons.

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Jim McLean gives Doral intimidating one-two punch

Above: Sand Hollows 13th hole

My review queue is fairly long. Ive got course reviews on my list from a year or more ago, and products can be months. Im shoving all of those items down one slot and Ive put my Sand Hollow Golf Course review at the top of the list. It is been 31 hours and six minutes since I walked of the 18th hole at Sand Hollow, making a par after missing about a five foot uphill birdie putt. Missing birdie putts, though a common occurrence during my round yesterday, didnt matter. In fact, if I would have made a double bogey on every hole I wouldnt care.

Anyone who knows me knows that my favorite thing in the world to do is golf, and a close 2nd place is exploring the red rock country of southern Utah. I can hike for miles in the desert red rock. Im like a little kid, discovering new adventures and letting natures wonder inspire and humble me. Sand Hollow humbled me. Like the Willey Nelson line, Sand Hollow is always on my mind.

Overview

Sand Hollow is a 27 hole golf course located just outside of Hurricane (pronounced Hurricun by the locals) Utah. The first 18 are the primary golf course, while the 3rd set of nine is called the Links Course. Im reviewing the first 18. I attempted to play the Links Course, but was rained out before I could tee off. Trust me. Ill be back soon to get in another round and experience that 3rd nine, even if I have to start walking the 300 miles from my house now.

Design

Sand Hollow was designed by John Fought and Andy Staples. These are the two newest members of my favorite golf course designers list. There are now a total of four on the list, the other two being Baxter Spann (Black Mesa in New Mexico) and my all time favorite Tom Doak.

John and Andy probably had a relatively easy design job really. They didnt move much earth. They let the sandy terrain of the area dictate the rolling hills of the fairways and undulations of the putting greens. In true links style, Sand Hollow has hard fairways with many humps and bumps. Flat lies are uncommon. The player must stay focused on all shots or the small variations in terrain will cause errant shots or produce errant and unexpected bounces.

Sand Hollow is a tale of two nines, or perhaps a tale of the first eight and last ten holes. The first eight holes are very linksey (I just invented that word). The links holes wind through the red sand dunes, defined by the areas of uncut sagebrush and spires of red rock.

Starting with hole #9, elevation changes become much more dramatic, crescendoing with the incredible trio of holes, the 12th, 13th and 14th. More on those later. And stick around will you? These holes are unbelievable.

Practice Facility

Sand Hollow has a large driving range and short game areas for fine tuning your game. I hit a few balls and practiced putting before my round. Right next to one practice green is a great red rock mountain. I love it.

Tees

Like many links courses, the tees at Sand Hollow are not unnatural or constructed by moving a ton of dirt. Many of the tees on the links holes are very unassuming and find themselves fitting in with the surroundings. Views from the tees show green landing areas over and enclosed by sand dunes and sage. Looking out over the course is fascinating; rolling hills, contrasting green grass, red rock, gray sage and red sand.

On the more desert plateau style holes, the tees are in some very cool places. Some are elevated, up on cliffsides while others are down below the holes, requiring more club. Just wait until you see the tees on the signature par-3 15th hole. Amazing.

Fairways

The fairways at Sand Hollow are fairly wide, though some may not look that wide from the tee because you may not be able to see them in their entirety. Size alone doesnt mean you can hit any part of the fairways and be in a good position, or even in play for that matter. Hitting the wrong side of a fairway at Sand Hollow can mean a bad position for the next shot or even worse, a lost ball in the desert sage.

Above: Sand Hollows 10th hole

With all of the mounds and slants of the fairway, bounces are interesting to say the least. Some good shots can catch penalizing bounces, while some bad shots may bounce into better than expected positions. The mounds of the fairways can produce very interesting lies as well. Top level concentration is required to hit the correct shot type from the many different stances. For instance, I had many shots which called for a fade to the green, but the lie was influencing a draw.

Bunkering

The bunkering at Sand Hollow is amazing, stunning, dramatic. A great item of note on the bunkers, is that basically all they are is holes in the ground. No sand was brought in. The sand in the bunkers is the native red rock sand. I have a bottle of it at home above my mantle. This sand is so fine and consistent. When I found a bunker I was able to read a carbon copy of the dimple pattern of my golf ball within the trails the ball left in the sand.

Greens

The greens at Sand Hollow are very large with many distinct quadrants. Subtle and not-so-subtle mounding and tiers make putting a difficult but fun challenge. Creativity around the greens is required to score. The greens are firm and fast, requiring control on approaches and chips.

On the par-5 17th hole I was short-sided left in two shots. I was about 15 feet off the green, and the pin was on the other side of a large hump about another 15 feet. In order for me to get the ball close I had to play a bump-and-run shot up the fringe and die it at the top of the hump, letting it feed down and left to the hole. I had to play a British Open style shot. This particular shot I executed with an 8-iron and a putting stroke to perfection. My one foot birdie was the only birdie putt Id make all day, though I had many opportunities within 10 feet. I told my playing partner after that putt, Ive found my range: One foot.

Signature Stretch

There are several holes which could be signature holes at Sand Hollow. But the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th holes are a stretch of golf holes like no other Ive ever seen or played. In fact, nothing Ive experienced to this point on a golf course really can compare to the stunning views and awe inspiring scenery of these holes.

I got my first glimpse of #12 from the 11th green. 11 is a very cool par-3 with a huge drop off to the right of the green, protected by a massive and deep bunker. I was in that bunker and short sided. The hillside where the green lay was so slanted, I blasted my bunker shot out, far past the pin and off the green up the hill, watching it roll back to the pin to about five feet. Unfortunately my putting woes continued and I carded a bogey.

But while on #11 I caught a glimpse of what is now one of the most visually amazing golf holes Ive ever seen. Hundreds of feet below, down the cliffside, was a golf hole. It was so strange to see just a sliver of the hole, so many hundreds of feet down and away, that it didnt even look real.

As I got closer to #12 (below)I was awestruck. Elevated tees on a red rock cliffside to a fairway with a cliff rising to the right and another cliff dropping off hundreds of feet left. The hole is very steeply uphill as well, with an elevated green guarded by many big bunkers. The green was at the top of this small cliffside canyon.

Above, Im teeing off on the par-4 12th. Left of the fairway is a cliff which drops 100s of feet.

My drive was in the left rough, three feet from dropping hundreds of feet into the desert abyss. My heels were almost on the edge of the cliff as I thrashed my 17 degree hybrid. I was over 200 yards out and severely uphill. I caught a great bounce, then the ball rolled up onto the green about five feet above the hole.

I was actually shaking over this putt, like I was putting to win my first green jacket or something. I wanted to birdie this hole bad. Somehow my downhill putt came up about one inch short, or I would have birdied one of the most visually stunning and difficult holes Id ever played. Still, a one inch par putt is a no-brainer.

#13 (first image) is a great risk/reward hole. 320 from the tips. When we played it, the yardage I lasered from the tee we were on was 287. We all took out driver and went for it. I ended up in the bunker short of the green, and was saved from going in the right greenside bunker by the rake. My running chip was too hard and I couldnt make the recovery putt. The view of this hole from the next tee, off a small cliff, is stunning as you can see:

#15 (pictured below) is Sand Hollows signature hole, though 11, 12, 13 could qualify for such status as well. This par-3 has more sets of tees than I can count, and theyre all at different angles and elevations. The shots to this beautifully framed green can vary greatly. One set of tees which is down below where I played from, is framed by two red rock spires on each side of the tee.

Above: Im about to knock an 8-iron to three feet!

I knocked an 8-iron to about three feet on this beautiful hole, and once again couldnt convert the bird. But by that point I was so humbled and in such awe of this golf course that I didnt even care about my score.

Sand Hollow Images

Unfortunately the day was overcast with occasional rain when I played Sand Hollow. Even in unfavorable lighting conditions I shot over 150 photos, all of which are posted in my Sand Hollow Image Gallery. I plan on heading back down for the 3.5 hour drive when the weather is right, and spending some time on the course not only with my golf cubs, but with my Nikon.

Conclusion

Im still in awe of this incredible golf course. Im already looking at my calendar, trying to find a date I can go back and play the course for 2-3 straight days. Sand Hollow golf course is tough, but not unfair. The course allows for ball striking and short game creativity with the rolling hills and links style play. I was quite satisfied that I managed my way around the whole thing with one golf ball.

The scenery at Sand Hollow is 2nd to none. When you play this course, and you WILL, let me know and Ill meet you there. And bring your camera.

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Sand Hollow Golf Course Review

KISSIMMEE, Fla. When Falcons Fire Golf Club opened in 1993, the Orlando golf scene looked a lot different than it does today behemoths Reunion Resort, ChampionsGate and Orange County National simply didnt exist yet.

Fast-forward to today and there are about 75 golf courses in Orlando.

Recognizing the old adage, if youre standing still youre falling behind, Falcons Fire completed a renovation in Oct. 2009 that included new greens, which were resurfaced with TifEagle turf. Bunkers also were reworked to make the course more visually intimidating. The result is Falcons Fires reemergence as one of Orlandos elite daily-fee golf courses.

Utilize the run-up shot

Designed by Rees Jones, the course features plenty of water particularly on the back nine but most holes dont have any short of the green. This design characteristic gives the course flexibility by allowing the weekend hacker to enjoy the course without losing a million golf balls, while still challenging the better ball-striker by making him or her consider trajectory on approach shots.

About the only holes where the run-up shot cannot be used is on the par-3s, which are diverse in distance but require an aerial attack.

Creating virtual movement

If you look at Falcons Fire on a scorecard it appears as though most holes are straight, but fairway bunkers frame the holes in such a way that careful thought should go into the placement of your tee shot.

No. 2, for example, is a simple short par-4 but a drive down the right side flirts with a bunker, and gives players a tough angle into the green even if he or she is in the fairway. The proper play is a left-to-right shot down the left side of the fairway.

No. 12 has the opposite effect, where tee shots left feed toward a bunker and leave you with a narrow angle into the green.

Nos. 2 and 12 appear straight but require a dogleg-type tee shot. If you miss it on the wrong side of the fairway, be prepared to hit your approach shot into the skinny part of the green.

New greens are faster, more undulating

Just like a steak knife, green contours get duller over time, so the renovation at Falcons Fire included a fresh sharpening. While the increase in undulation isnt drastic from a visual standpoint, when you add fast greens to the mix its a tricky combination.

And while were on the subject of green speed, youll want to pay attention to the new TifEagle surfaces. Speed and smoothness of greens is arguably the most important characteristic in determining the overall quality of a golf course, and the new surfaces at Falcons Fire are some of the purest in town.

With the combination of speed and undulation at Falcons Fire, putts from above the hole require a surgeons touch.

Factor the wind

If youve played golf in Florida you know that the terrain is flat and exposed, and its not uncommon for the wind to blow 20-25 mph on any given day, no matter the season. Falcons Fire is no exception to this rule, and if the greens are running fast the wind can play an even larger role.

The green at No. 13 is particularly tricky because of its tiered design and position along a lake that sits exposed to the elements.

The verdict

With the recent renovation at Falcons Fire you can bet that conditions are some of the best in the area, and its close proximity to Disney (3 miles) means its convenient for the Mickey-goers.

With a rack rate of $129 Falcons Fire is right on par with the areas other high-end daily-fee courses. One aspect that makes it stand out amongst some of the resort courses in its price range is that its a stand-alone golf course with no hotel, so you dont have to book a stay-and-play to get the best rate all golfers are treated equally.

If youre considering a trip to Central Florida for MLB spring training, check out Falcons Fires Hats Off promotion, which offers golfers $30 off green fees between March 4 and April 3, 2010 if you play in your favorite baseball teams hat.

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Falcon’s Fire ups Orlando golf ante

This is probably what it seems like the golf experts are saying. Sounds like an awful lot of work that you have to do just to enjoy playing a round. In fact, work is exactly what it sounds like. Whether you are still in the corporate world or are enjoying the golden years of retirement no one wants to associate golf with work unless you are planning on competing for the next PGA championship.

So if you are not trying to be Tiger or Ernie then what is the point of spending time in a gym or working out at home? Working out or golf-related fitness cant really be all that important, right? If you want to go out with the guys or your spouse and have fun playing a good round of golf then why bother with all of these exercises promoted by every golf and fitness expert? You are not doing your body or your golf game any harm, right? Wrong.

Studies have shown that the aging population actually has a higher potential for strength gains than those in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. This is primarily due to a lower baseline activity level of the older group.

Compared with younger groups performing similar exercises over a one month period the aging population can achieve more than double the strength gains. You are never too old to start; the results can have a dramatic effect on your daily life and on your golf game.

If golf is your only form of exercise then you are doing your golf game and your body a disservice. Dont get me wrongthere are many beneficial aspects of the game of golf-including the physical aspect of just playing. However, a golf swing is a repetitive movement that puts unusual strain on certain parts of the body.Without undoing that stress-in other words specific strengthening and stretching to protect your neck, back, arms, and legs, you are placing yourself at risk of injuries.

Combine this risk with the normal effects of aging-decreased strength, decreased flexibility, decreased rate of healing of body tissues-and suddenly you are facing a rotator cuff or low back injury that keeps you on the recliner rather than on the golf cart.

Many of my patients come to see me with one problem or complaint, for example low back pain. However, once we get started with treatment, I discover that not only does that patient struggle with the low back, but he or she also cannot reach behind to tuck in a shirt or cannot squat down to pick something off of the floor.

When I question the patient about that limitation the usual answer is something such as, Oh, Ive had it forever or I just thought it was part of getting old or I didnt think it was important enough to tell my doctor about. Wrong again. These problems are not something that just occur with getting older and are important enough to tell your physician about. Below are some common benchmarks that we use to judge physical ability and fitness:

Are you able to reach overhead to put dishes away in the cabinet?

Are you able to reach behind to tuck in your shirt, get your wallet out of your pocket, or hook your bra?

Are you able to reach forward to put on your shoes and socks?

Are you able to squat down to pick up something from the floor (i.e. a golf ball from the bottom of the cup)?

Are you able to turn your torso or do you have to shorten your golf swing?

If you answered no to any one of those questions than you may have an underlying problem that could be treated by a physical therapist. Left untreated, these problems will worsen and lead to more limitations. To prevent that, your physician may want to refer you to therapy, where you can have a thorough evaluation.

By finding the underlying cause and treating that problem you may be able to resume the ability to perform these daily and golf-related activities without pain or limitations.

Here are a few facts:

Virtually everyone will experience low back pain at some point in his or her life. Low back pain is one of the top 10 reasons for people to see their primary care physician.

There are many causes for low back pain and each one is treated differently from a rehabilitation and exercise standpoint-in other words the exercises that helped your golf buddy get back to playing may actually be harmful for you!

Arthritis affects 50% of Americans over the age of 65. It is most common in the hips, spine, and knees. Along with medications that your physician may prescribe, healthy diet, and maintaining a low body weight, moderate exercise including appropriate strengthening and flexibility exercises are the best way to both prevent and manage arthritis.

In order to achieve a normal golf swing, you need good range of motion in you shoulders, spine, and hips. Limitations in any of these will place more strain on other joints and muscles eventually causing injury. Additionally you will try to compensate during your golf swing which may cause you to hit the ball fat, thin or just completely off course.

Here is what you can do about it:

Exercise: All of the exercises that you see out there can be intimidating and overwhelming. The good news is that it doesnt take much-usually just a few specific exercises-to get you back on track. The bad news is that aggressively performing the wrong exercises for your problem may actually cause more harm than good. You need to make certain you are doing what is correct for you.

If you need to increase your activity level with specific exercises, whether to prevent future problems, address current limitations, minimize the problems that you already have, or just fine-tune your golf game-then your best bet is to start with a gentle exercise program (always check with your physician before starting any new exercise program). Pick exercises that stretch and strengthen the area where you have the most limitations. Try to slowly build up more range of motion, flexibility and strength through increasing the amount of stretch and the number of times you perform each exercise.

Manual Therapy: Sometimes a problem requires more than just exercise to the muscles. Often times our joints become very tight and we need specific stretching to the joint and surrounding areas. Performing exercises along with specific hands-on techniques a therapist can provide often leads to the best and quickest recovery.

Hydration and nutrition are important regardless of age. Without the proper foundation of a well-balance diet and fluid intake your body cannot function at its best, regardless of your fitness level. Try eating a small, healthy snack (for example yogurt or a small apple with peanut butter) about an hour or two before working out to ensure you have energy to get you through your work out. Also make sure you drink plenty of water while on the course or driving range.

Prevention is always the best way to make certain that you are able to stay healthy and active as you age. Whether you are at the gym working out several days per week or a couch potato golfing a few times a month get up and get moving!

Doing just a little more each day will add strength, flexibility, and endurance to your game. Playing with more strength and less aches & pains, means lower scores and more enjoyment of the game for many more years to come.

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Its never too late to get your body in golf shape

WOODS, PART I: Tiger Woods returned home from a week-long stint at an Arizona rehabilitation center, The Associated Press reported Tuesday. The AP said he was in Arizona for marriage and family counseling with his wife, Elin. It is still not known when Woods will return to the PGA Tour; though, he has started practicing again, the story said.

The focus now shifts from Woods’ personal life to his professional one at least until he encounters an open media forum. That likely won’t happen until he plays again, which begs the big question: When will he play again? The Masters Tournament is one month away. A week ago that didn’t seem like a target, but now it’s a definite possibility. If Woods has taught us one thing it’s: never be surprised by anything he does [on or off the course].

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As the Golf World Turns

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. — Camilo Villegas was checking his phone constantly on the driving range, barely bothering to hit any balls and instead seeking updates on how his brother was doing at a Nationwide Tour event in their native Colombia.

As Villegas showed all week, practice can be overrated.

Villegas shot a 2-under 68 on Sunday for a five-stroke victory in the Honda Classic, his third PGA Tour victory.

He finished at 13-under 267, the lowest 72-hole score since the tournament moved to PGA National in 2007, four shots better than Y.E. Yang’s winning total a year ago. And Villegas made it look easy most of the way, too, capping his day with a 20-footer for birdie, then raising both hands skyward.

Anthony Kim (67) was second at 8 under, Justin Rose (64) was another stroke back, and Paul Casey (67) and Vijay Singh (72) followed at 6 under.

Toshiba Classic

Newport Beach, Calif. — Fred Couples won his second straight Champions Tour title, shooting a 6-under 65 for a four-stroke victory in the Toshiba Classic.

Couples, making his third start on the 50-and-over tour, had an 18-under 195 total on the Newport Beach Country Club course. He won the ACE Group Classic on Feb. 14 in Florida and finished second behind Tom Watson in the season-opening event in Hawaii. Last week, Couples tied for 14th in the PGA Tour’s Phoenix Open.

Couples earned $255,000 to push his tour-leading total to $691,000.

Ronnie Black (65) finished second. Tom Lehman (69) and Chien Soon Lu (69) tied for third at 12 under, and Watson (62) and Loren Roberts (68) followed at 11 under.

Couples opened with rounds of 66 and 64. In nine Champions Tour rounds, he hasn’t had a score higher than 68 and is 56-under par over 162 holes.

Australian Ladies Masters

Gold Coast, Australia — Karrie Webb won her seventh Australian Ladies Masters title, closing with a course-record 11-under 61 for a six-stroke victory.

Webb, a stroke ahead of defending champion Katherine Hull and South Korea’s Lee Bo-mee entering the final round, finished at 26-under 262 on the Royal Pines course to match the tournament record she set in 1999.

Webb holed a 9-iron approach from about 110 yards for eagle on the par-4 seventh and made a 30-foot putt on No. 18 for her ninth birdie of the round. She broke the course record of 62 set last year by Kristie Smith.

Hull and Lee, bogey-free in four rounds, shot 66s to tie for second in the event sanctioned by Australian Ladies Professional Golf and the Ladies European Tour.

Bogota Open

Bogota, Colombia — Steve Pate became the oldest champion in Nationwide Tour history, winning the Bogota Open when Aaron Watkins missed a 3-foot par putt on the second hole of a playoff.

At 48 years, 9 months, 11 days, Pate broke the tour record of 48 years, 6 months, 17 days set by Dick Mast in the 1999 New Mexico Classic.

Pate won for the first time since the 1998 CVS Charity Classic, the last of his six PGA Tour titles. The victory drought spanned 245 starts (173 PGA Tour, 72 Nationwide Tour) and lasted 11 years, 7 months, 11 days

The Associated Press