Category: Tournament Reports

Davies-Johnson duo dominates first day of Handa Cup

WEST POINT, MS. – Juli Inkster received a rude welcome in her debut on the LPGA Legends Tour on Saturday.

Winner of seven major titles in a Hall of Fame career on the LPGA circuit, Inkster partnered with Meg Mallon in both of her matches in the ninth annual ISPS Handa Cup at Old Waverly Golf Club – the site of Inkster’s first win in the U.S. Women’s Open in 1999.

The Inkster-Mallon team drew the World team’s premier pairing, Laura Davies and Trish Johnson, and the U.S. pair was no match for them. In fact, no team was in the first day of the two-day competition that concludes with 12 singles matches on Sunday.

Davies and Johnson were 5-under-par in winning their best ball match with Inkster and Mallon on Old Waverly’s front nine. Matchups were shuffled for the afternoon nine-hole matches, played in a modified alternate shot format.

The format change didn’t cool off the Davies-Johnson team. They were also 5-under in polishing off the U.S. team of Val Skinner and Rosie Jones in the last match of the day. The result created a 12-12 tie, meaning today’s singles matches will decide who gets the Handa Cup.

Davies, Johnson and eight other members of the current World team also played last year, when the U.S. was beaten for the first time. The U.S. still leads the series 6-1-1, but the World squad has a draw and victory in the last two.

Inkster and Mallon recovered from their morning defeat to defeat Liselotte Neumann and Alicia Dibos in the first match of the afternoon session. The U.S. trailed 7-5 after the morning session and the Inkster-Mallon effort was a springboard to tying up the competition at the end of the day.

Davies and Johnson have been factors on more than just the Legends circuit, for players who have reached their 45th birthday, this season. The long-hitting Davies finished in the top 10 at the Women’s British Open and Johnson won the Scottish Open.

That dynamic duo was broken up for singles play, but World captain Sally Little put them in prominent positions for the final day of the competition as well. Little had first choice in the pairings decisions for Sunday, and she opted to send Johnson out first.

U.S. captain Nancy Lopez will send Laurie Rinker against Johnson. Lopez then named Beth Daniel for the second match, where she’ll face Lorie Kane. Little came back with Davies in the third match. Her opponent? Inkster.

That could be the match of the day, as the World squad hopes to retain the Cup with a strong singles showing much like it produced last year in a 27-21 win at Hermitage in Nashville, Tenn.

Daniel was sent out first by then-U.S. captain Joanne Carner against Davies last year. Daniel took a stirring victory, but the World squad was better the rest of the way.

Notably absent from last year’s winning World side is Australian Jan Stephenson, who rolled in the 30-foot putt on the final green in the next-to-the-last match to clinch her team’s first Cup win. Stephenson is here, but pulled out of the competition on Friday due to a wrist injury.

Dawn Coe Jones, who is Little’s assistant captain, stepped into the lineup as Stephenson’s replacement and was a factor in Day 1. Playing with different partners, her teams earned points for halving both of their matches. Last year Jones was scheduled to play but came up with an injury. She helped her team win by working as a caddie instead.

Old Waverly return makes this Handa Cup special

WEST POINT, MS. – The ninth playing of the Handa Cup begins Saturday at a most appropriate location. Old Waverly Golf Club is the first site used for the LPGA Legends Tour’s premier team event that had previously hosted a U.S. Women’s Open.

Captain Nancy Lopez gathers her U.S. team at the Handa Cup’s opening ceremonies.

Old Waverly hosted the 1999 U.S. Women’s Open 11 years after opening its course, and owner George Bryan admitted at Thursday night’s opening ceremonies that “We feel we have an ongoing partnership with the LPGA. These players provide us inspiration.’’

The club’s enthusiasm for the Handa Cup showed in the nine months leading up to the big event. The club’s chairman, Rick Milburn, said that 111 sponsors, advertisers and contributors stepped forward and over 250 volunteers were projected to contribute over 7,000 hours to the staging of the event.

“Pretty impressive for West Point, Mississippi,’’ said Bryan, who was born in West Point.

Nancy Lopez, the U.S. captain, was in the foursome that played the ceremonial first round at Old Waverly in 1988. Her partners included Jerry Pate, the former U.S. Open champion who joined with Bob Cupp in the course design effort, and the late LPGA player Heather Farr.

The World (in blue) and U.S. (in red) get ready for battle.

“It was so exciting to know that we were coming back to Old Waverly for this event,’’ said Lopez. “Everyone has worked so hard to make this event one of the best Handa Cups ever. Old Waverly is a great place, and our players come from all over the world. This is the kind of competition you really want to watch.’’

Lopez and World team captain Sally Little introduced their 12-player teams during the well-attended opening ceremonies, which were held in the club’s English Garden prior to the dinner for participants in Friday’s Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi Pro-Am.

Two of Lopez’ Handa Cup players finished one-two in the U.S. Women’s Open played at Old Waverly. That was an historic event on several fronts. Champion Juli Inkster posted a 16-under-par 272 score for 72 holes, which was six shots better than the previous tournament record for under-par scoring. The 272 also matched the stroke total record set by Annika Sorenstam three years earlier on a par-71 course. Old Waverly was a par-72 that played a 6,421 yards for its U.S. Women’s Open.

The word is out that the Handa Cup matches are a big deal.

Inkster’s closest challenger was Sherri Turner, who was five strokes back. During that tournament Inkster was 38 and Turner 42, so it was a battle of veterans. Inkster was also the first American to win since Patty Sheehan five years earlier.

That was Inkster’s first of two U.S. Women’s Open wins – she also was the 2002 champion – and the fourth of her seven titles in major tournaments. She would also win the LPGA Championship three weeks later.

Lopez was delighted that Inkster consented to be part of her team in her debut on the Legends circuit, which welcomes players who reach their 45th birthday. Lopez expected that Inkster would have good vibes about returning to the course where she posted such a big victory.

This unusual fountain is the centerpiece for Old Waverly’s English Garden.

“I love Juli Inkster, and I know she’ll have good feelings about that golf course,’’ said Lopez. “She killed us that year. She kicked our fannies all over the place.’’

Inkster and Turner weren’t the only Handa Cup participants who did well in that U.S. Women’s Open. Canadian Lorie Kane, a member of the World team, should have some good vibes coming into this Handa Cap as well. She was tied with Inkster after 36 holes in 1999 and remained a contender on the weekend, though Inkster’s lead never dropped to less than three strokes.

The U.S. takes a 6-1-1 edge into the ninth playing of the Handa Cup, but the World team won last year at Hermitage in Nashville, Tenn. Saturday’s schedule calls for best ball matches over nine holes in the morning and alternate shot matches over nine holes in the afternoon. The concluding 12 singles matches will be played on Sunday.

HANDA CUP: Will Inkster’s debut get U.S. back on winning track?

WEST POINT, MS. — This week in golf isn’t all about the Ryder Cup. The LPGA Legends Tour will have its premier team event, the ISPS Handa Cup, going on at the same time.

Old Waverly’s majestic clubhouse provides an attractive setting for the Handa Cup.

The Handa Cup isn’t as old as its male counterpart, but the U.S. teams in both are in precarious positions. The Handa Cup has been played every year since 2006. It’s not a biannual competition like the Ryder Cup. Like the Ryder Cup, however, the U.S. side dominated the competition early on, but now it’s a different story.

After losing the first six meetings the Internationals managed a 24-24 tie at Reunion Resort in Orlando, FL., in 2012.

That wasn’t good enough to claim the cup, named after Dr. Haruhisa Handa, a Japanese businessman and philanthropist, but the Internationals managed their breakthrough win last year, taking a 27-21 victory at Hermitage in Nashville, Tenn.

That didn’t sit well with Nancy Lopez, who was on the losing side as a player last year and will captain the U.S. in this Handa Cup.

“My team is ready to win back the Handa Cup,’’ she said. “I’m mad. I’m tired of this. We have a great team, and we’re not going to let (the Europeans) celebrate.’’

Sally Little, captain of the Internationals, isn’t so sure.

“It’s going to be a heckuva go,’’ she said. “Winning last year moved our team to the next level.’’

Like Lopez, Little is serving as captain for the first time. Sweden’s Pia Nilsson captained the winning European side last year while Joanne Carner completed her second year directing the U.S. side. Kathy Whitworth handled those duties during the U.S. victory run from 2006 to 2011.

The captains aren’t the only thing that’s different this time.

Old Waverly, a beautiful facility that hosted the 1999 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2006 U.S. Mid Amateur, should be a more familiar venue for the U.S. players – especially a most notable one. Juli Inkster, who won that U.S. Women’s Open at Old Waverly, is making her Legends debut at the Handa Cup after enjoying a brilliant career on the LPGA circuit. The Legends is for players who have reached their 45th birthday.

Also known as the Country Club of Mississippi, Old Waverly was co-designed by Jerry Pate and Bob Cupp. The course opened in 1988 and a second course, to be designed by Gil Hanse, is in the planning stages.

Joining Inkster on the 12-player U.S. team are Pat Bradley, Beth Daniel, Christa Johnson, Rosie Jones, Meg Mallon, Barb Mucha, Laurie Rinker, Nancy Scranton, Val Skinner, Sherri Steinhauer and Sherri Turner. Elaine Crosby is Lopez’ co-captain..

The Internationals roster features Helen Alfredsson, Jane Crafter, Laura Davies, Alicia Dibos, Wendy Doolan, Trish Johnson, Lorie Kane, Jenny Lidback, Liselotte Neumann, Allison Nicholas, Mieko Nomura and Jan Stephenson. Little’s co-captain is Dawn Coe-Jones.

Inkster is one of three U.S. players who weren’t part of last year’s team, the others being Mallon and Skinner. Mallon, though, has played in the Handa Cup in the past. Doolan is the lone newcomer on the International side.

In the biggest early season Legends events of the year Neumann won the Walgreen’s Charity Classic, Jones took the Wendy’s Charity Challenge and Rinker was the titlist in the Legends Championship. Trish Johnson also won a big one, taking the Ladies Scottish Open in August.

Players on both sides played practice rounds at Old Waverly on Thursday morning, and participants in Friday’s Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi Pro-Am tuned up on the course in the afternoon. Opening ceremonies are on tap for Thursday evening and pairings for Saturday’s team matches will be announced afterwards.

Saturday’s program calls for nine holes of alternate shot competition in the morning and nine holes of best ball in the afternoon. Twelve singles matches are on tap for Sunday to conclude the competition. The singles pairings will be announced after Saturday’s play is concluded and closing ceremonies will be held after the last putt drops on Sunday.

LPGA LEGENDS: Final round rainout makes Rinker a champion

FRENCH LICK, Ind. – The final round of the LPGA Legends Championship was impacted by weather for the second straight year Sunday, and this time it prevented a ball from being struck.

Anticipating weather problems, Legends officials scheduled a 7:30 a.m. start of play off both the Nos. 1 and 10 tees, but a night of rain left the course too wet for play to begin on Sunday morning. Consideration was given to starting play five hours later, perhaps in a shotgun format, but the rain became stronger and fog made visibility difficult. A car accident on the road leading in to the course also was a factor in the decision to shorten the tournament to 36 holes.

That meant that Laurie Rinker, the leader after Saturday’s second round, was declared the champion and the winner of the $60,000 first-place check. She accepted the trophy to a standing ovation in the Dye Course pavilion and had words of wisdom for her brother Lee, a golf professional who will be playing in the Senior PGA Championship on the course next May.

“I texted my brother a picture of the trophy because he’ll be here next year,’’ said Rinker. “Maybe I can give him a tip or two.’’

She might also advise Lee to hire her caddie. Caleb Powers, a local bag-toter who was on her bag for both her tournaments on the Dye Course (they’re pictured together, below).

“He’s the best,’’ said Rinker. “He knows the course better than anybody. He told me where to hit it, and this week I could do it. French Lick’s a very special place. I’ve told people how beautiful it is, and the course is in fabulous shape.’’

Rinker, from Stuart, Fla., was joint runner-up in the first LPGA Legends Championship when Canadian Lorie Kane won the title. Kane had a two-stroke margin after the final round of 2013 was played in cold, rainy weather. She finished in a tie for 17th in her title defense after rounds of 75 and 73.

After two days of great weather rain and fog covered the Pete Dye Course and made the layout After two days of great weather rain and fog made it difficult to even see the Pete Dye Course from the clubhouse.

Sherri Steinhauer was within one stroke of Rinker after 36 holes thanks to a blistering 9-under-par 63 on Saturday. Steinhauer’s round is believed to be the lowest in the Legends’ 14-year history, two better than the 65 Kane shot in the Wendy’s Charity Challenge in 2011. Steinhauer’s runner-up check was for $36,969.

After two days of great weather rain and fog covered the Pete Dye Course and made the layout barely visible from the clubhouse.

Rosie Jones, winner of the Wendy’s Charity Classic in Michigan last Sunday, wound up third after Sunday’s round was cancelled. She was two strokes behind Steinhauer and earned $27,720. The tourney purse was $500,000, the highest on the Legends Tour.

Rinker, who shot 66 in the second round, posted a winning total of 7-under-par 137. It was her third win on the Legends circuit, the others coming in the BJ Charities Pro-Am in 2012 and the Legends Tour Open in 2013.

Rinker’s wins as an LPGA regular came at the Boston Five Classic in 1984 and the Corning (N.Y.) Classic in 1986. She also won the Bridgestone Ladies Open in Japan in 1984 and had three runner-up finishes on the LPGA circuit in 1987. Her brothers, Lee and Larry, are also golf professionals and Laurie teamed with Larry to win the JC Penney Classic in 1985.

Sunday’s cancellation also meant the six-player Super Seniors event was cut from 36 to 18 holes. It ended in a three-way tie for the title based on the 77s shot by Shelley Hamlin, Jane Blalock and Judy Dickinson on Saturday. Each pocketed $750. Blalock, CEO of the Legends Tour, also was inducted into the Legends Hall of Fame as part of the pre-tournament festivities.

LPGA LEGENDS: Steinhauer’s 63 likely a tour record

FRENCH LICK, Ind. – Sherri Steinhauer posted a round for the ages on the LPGA Legends Tour Saturday, but – as good as her 9-under-par 63 was – it wasn’t good enough to give her the lead going into Sunday’s final round of the $500,000 Legends Championship, played on the tricky Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort.

Sherri Steinhauer (left) celebrates her 9-under-par round with caddie Lisa DePaulo.

Steinhauer, who posted a 75 in Friday’s first round, made bogey on her first hole Saturday, then reeled off 10 birdies in the last 17 holes for what’s believed to be the lowest round in the 14-year history of the Legends circuit. It’s also the lowest round – male or female – shot in competition on the Dye Course.

Legends’ officials believe the previous low was 65 by Lorie Kane in the 2011 Wendy’s Charity Challenge in Michigan but they wanted to check further before declaring Steinhauer’s round the best in the history of the circuit. It was a career-best for Steinhauer, who shot 64 four times while playing on the LPGA Tour.

All those birdies on Saturday boosted Steinhauer, 51 years old and from Madison, Wis., to 6-under 138 total for the first 36 holes. That left her one stroke behind Laurie Rinker, who posted her 6-under 66 about an hour after Steinhauer finished. They’ll be paired in the final group for Sunday’s final round.

Their closest challenger after 36 holes was Rosie Jones, the co-leader after Round 1. She shot 71 Saturday and is at 4-under 140 heading into the final 18, with a $60,000 first-place prize is on the line. The other first-round leader, Lisa Grimes, is a stroke behind Jones and the only other players under par are Barb Mucha (2-under 142) and Trish Johnson (1-under 143).

“I’m excited for tomorrow,’’ said Rinker, who tied for second last year – two strokes behind champion Kane. “I feel pretty comfortable on this course. You’ve got to play along and take what it gives you. The key is being very patient and take a lot of deep breaths.’’

Steinhauer wasn’t thinking along those lines Saturday. She was made after her bogey at No. 1, then went along for the ride the rest of the way.

“It was quite a day,’’ she said. “I started hitting it close and making the putts. It felt really good, and then you just get out of your own way and keep swinging. I tried to not think about it and just enjoy it.’’

Enjoying it was no problem. She answered the first-hole bogey with a 20-foot birdie putt at No. 2, the made birdies from five feet at the fourth, eight feet at the fifth, one foot after a fine chip at the seventh and eight feet at the ninth.

The back side started with birdie putts of 15 feet at No. 10 and four feet at No. 11, but the highlight of the day came two holes later when Steinhauer put a 4-iron second shot from 176 yards to six inches of the cup. She finished her birdie run with a 10-footer at the 14th and a long double-breaker at the 17th. As it turned out, the 10-foot downhill birdie putt that she left short at No. 18 cost her a share of the 36-hole lead.

Using local caddie Caleb Powers for the second straight year, Rinker started Round 2 four strokes better than Steinhauer and was steady throughout. She hit 17 greens in regulation and putted from 60 feet for eagle from the fringe at No. 18. She took three to get in, however, so her lead remained at only one stroke.

“Anything can happen tomorrow,’’ said Steinhauer, who won eight times –twice in major championships, on the LPGA Tour before winning her first Legends tournament at Innisbrook in Florida in 2012.

Her only other Legends win came in last year’s Wendy’s Charity Challenge in Michigan, but Jones kept her from defending her title in that 18-hole event last Sunday.

“It would be nice to add this tournament,’’ said Steinhauer, “but there’s a long way to go. I can’t get ahead of myself.’’

She’s downplaying the significance of winning the Legends’ biggest tournament for another reason, too. Both Steinhauer and her caddie, Lisa DePaulo, have been touched by cancer issues that diminish the significance of what happens to them on the course.

“Lisa and I went to college at Texas,’’ explained Steinhauer. “My mom died of cancer in 2010 and Lisa’s taking care of her mom, who has cancer and isn’t doing very well. A college teammate, Piper Wagner, was also just given less than two months to live. We’re playing for all of them. Golf is just a game, and I’m just out here playing and fortunate to be able to play the game I love.’’

Saturday’s play also included the start of the six-player Super Seniors division for players 63 and over. Jane Blalock, CEO of the Legends Tour and winner of last year’s Super Seniors, is tied for the leader with Judy Dickinson and Shelley Hamlin. All shot 77s on Saturday.

LPGA LEGENDS: Co-leaders present a sharp contrast in golf careers

FRENCH LICK, Ind. – There’s a tie at the top of the leaderboard after Round 1 of the LPGA Legends Championship, and the co-leaders couldn’t be much more different.

Rosie Jones and Lisa Grimes both covered the Pete Dye Course in 3-under-par 69. Jones is one of the stalwarts on the Legends circuit and won last week’s Wendy’s Charity Challenge in Jackson, Mich. Grimes is playing in only her fourth Legends event.

Only three other players bettered par on the first 18 of the $500,000 championship that pays $60,000 to the champion on Sunday. Barb Mucha is one stroke off the lead and 2-under for the tournament./ Danielle Ammaccapane and Laurie Rinker, who tied for second last year, are another shot back.

Ammaccapane’s sister Dina set the women’s course record of 64 in the first round last year. Rinker tied for second with Val Skinner in 2013, two shots behind champion Lorie Kane. Kane struggled with a 3-over 75 in the first round of her title defense on Friday.

Though the careers of Jones and Grimes are much different, they both found ways to make birdies on Friday. Grimes, an early starter, highlighted her round with a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th but then gave the stroke back with a three-putt bogey on the next hole.

Grimes didn’t compete in last year’s Legends Championship because it conflicted with a qualifying round for the LPGA Teaching Division Championship. Grimes, a full-time teacher, lives seven months of the year in Arizona and teaches at Gold Canyon, near Phoenix. She lives the other five months in Minnesota and is director of instruction at Alexandria Country Club, the same course where Champions Tour standout Tom Lehman grew up.

“Teaching is my passion, but I still enjoy playing,’’ said Grimes, who has won the Minnesota Women’s Open several times and played part-time on both the LPGA circuit and its Futures (now Symetra) Tour. She finished top-10 in two of her three previous appearances on the Legends Tour.

“It’s great to have something to play in after you’re done on the (LPGA) tour,’’ said Grimes. “I still have the drive to play, but it’s not fun to play with those 25-year-olds.’’

The Pete Dye Course is filled with spectacular views, starting with the waterfall at the front gate.

As has been the case in her previous Legends tournaments Grimes has her brother Dave Kluver on her bag. He’s a PGA professional in Arizona who used to caddie for Rex Caldwell and Jim Thorpe on the PGA Tour.

Jones, by contrast, won 13 times on the LPGA Tour and took her seventh Legends title in a sudden death playoff with Nancy Scranton on Sunday. She finished tied for seventh in last year’s Legends Championship. The 3-under 69 she posted on Friday matched her winning score in the 18-hole event at Country Club of Jackson in Michigan on Sunday. She claimed that title with a victory over Nancy Scranton thanks to a 25-foot putt on the first hole of a sudden death playoff.

“Any time you play this golf course under par you’ve got to feel good about yourself,’’ said Jones. “I’m feeling confident about my game. My ball-striking is as good as it’s been in the last couple years.’’

Last year’s inaugural Legends Championship was played in September, and the weather wasn’t as picture-perfect as it was on Friday.

The number of sponsorship signage has nearly tripled for the second staging of the LPGA Legends Championship.

“I remember the greens as being much harder as far as approaches were concerned,’’ said Jones. “This is a little different golf course, and I liked it.’’

Jones had Grimes as a target all day long and caught her thanks to a hot front nine. Jones fell out of the lead with a three-putt bogey at No. 10 but went back into a tie at the top thanks to an eight-foot downhill birdie putt at No. 13.

The tourney had one late withdrawal when Pat Bradley pulled out, citing illness. The field resumes play at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Friday’s starters will be joined by six Super Seniors who will play a 36-hole competition of their own. Jane Blalock, CEO of the Legends Tour, won last year’s Super Seniors event and will go after a repeat after being inducted into the circuit’s Hall of Fame on Thursday night.

LPGA Legends Tour braces for its biggest tournament

A statue of course architect and namesake Pete Dye will greet members of the LPGA Legends Tour when they compete in their biggest tournament this week.

FRENCH LICK, Ind. – The Legends Championship, which made its debut on the Pete Dye Course here last year, is bigger and better for its second staging. It begins on Friday as the climax to a week of festivities designed to celebrate women’s golf.

The two-day Alice Dye Invitational drew 112 amateur players from throughout the Midwest on Monday and Tuesday, with competition on both the Pete Dye and Donald Ross courses. The Legends day-long clinic on Wednesday drew 58 amateur participants and Thursday’s pro-am will be packed with 195 players.
Sponsorship has also increased significantly.

“This is one of many big events we’ve hosted at French Lick,’’ said director of golf Dave Harner. “We’re rapidly becoming known as a destination for championship golf.’’

Prior to the start of the competition on Friday there’ll be an induction ceremony for the Legends Hall of Fame, which was created for the inaugural event last year. Jan Stephenson and Kathy Whitworth were the first inductees and Mickey Wright, Betsy Rawls, Louise Suggs and Alice Dye were also honored with membership. Wright, Rawls and Suggs won previous LPGA tournaments played at French Lick in the 1950s.

This time, following the induction of Nancy Lopez and Legends co-founder Jane Blalock, there’ll be a ribbon-cutting to open the Legends Hall of Fame at the West Baden Springs Hotel.

The Legends Championship is the only 54-hole event on the 14-year old circuit, but the last three events have all gone beyond regulation.

In May Liselotte Neumann won the Walgreen’s Charity Classic in Arizona in a playoff with Danielle Ammaccapane. In June Barb Moxness won the Judson College & Legends Pro-Am Challenge in Georgia in a playoff with Alicia Dibos.

The Legends Championship was immediately preceded by the Wendy’s Championship Challenge in Michigan, and Rosie Jones defeated Nancy Scranton in a playoff there. It was Jones’ seven win on the Legends circuit and she’s also in the field here.

Canadian Lorie Kane was the first winner of the Legends Championship, and she’ll defend her title. The inaugural Legends Championship was held in late September and finished in cold, rainy weather. Kane posted a 3-under-par 213 total to win by two strokes over Laurie Rinker and Val Skinner on the rugged but spectacular Dye layout.

“Being the inaugural winner was a thrill, but I’m looking forward to playing the course earlier in the summer, compared to last year,’’ said Kane, who earned $60,000 for her victory. This year she’ll be part of a 60-player field that will battle for the biggest purse on the Legends Tour — $500,000.

The tourney also includes a 36-hole Super Seniors Division on Saturday and Sunday. Blalock won that category, for players 63 and over, last year with a 5-over-par 149 total. The tourney will benefit the Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health Foundation.

PGA: McIlroy shines brightest — even with a finish in darkness

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – No major golf tournament ever ended quite like the 96th PGA Championship did on Sunday.

The finish came in darkness with players from the last two twosomes clustered around the 18th green playing much like a foursome would. There could have been some controversy, but both Phil Mickelson nor Rickie Fowler steered clear of that after Rory McIlroy won his third straight tournament and second major title in a row.

“This is just incredible. I didn’t think in my wildest dreams I’d have a summer like this one,’’ a jubilant McIlroy said after beating Mickelson by one shot and Fowler by two with a 16-under-par 268 total for the 72 holes at Valhalla Golf Club.

A 1-hour 50-minute morning rain delay caused major problems for all involved – the players, PGA of America tournament organizations and those in the huge, swarming galleries that splashed their way through muddy spots throughout the course.

Just finishing play appeared doubtful after the delay. McIlroy was to tee off in the last group at 2:55 p.m. (Eastern time). Instead he started his round at 4:20. Because the course was so wet there were frequent delays as players sought rulings for unplayable lies. The last twosome needed 2 hours 20 minutes to play nine holes.

McIlroy, considered one of the game’s fastest players, won on patience as much as anything else. First Ernie Els and then Henrik Stenson made runs at home by shooting 5-under-par 30s on the front nine.

They backed up on the back nine, but Fowler and Mickelson, playing in the twosome immediately in front of McIlroy, never did. They had a shot as late as the strange final hole.

Play was delayed on the 18th tee as players hurried to finish before play would be called by darkness. McIlroy produced his key birdie at No. 17, hitting a 9-iron bunker shot on the par-4 to 12 feet. That put him two shots in front of Fowler and Mickelson, who couldn’t tee off on the last hole before McIlroy arrived there.

They hit there shots and headed down the fairway when tournament officials chased them down to ask if McIlroy and his partner, Austrian Berndt Wiesberger, could hit their tee shots before Fowler and Mickelson hit their second shots on the par-5. They agreed, believing that to be common courtesy, then were asked to allow the same procedure to be allowed after their second shots.

“The original plan was to let them hit their tee shots, but we weren’t planning on them also hitting their approach shots,’’ said Fowler. “We wanted to put pressure on Rory, but he was playing pretty solid golf.’’

Mickelson’s second shot ended just short of the green and Fowler’s found the front of the green. Then McIlroy hit his second shot into a green-side bunker. Mickelson nearly holed his chip shot for eagle. Fowler’s putt went five feet past the cup. They finished out their rounds, Mickelson making birdie to cut the gap on McIlroy to one shot and Fowler lipping out his birdie putt to end in a tie with Stenson for third.

McIlroy escaped the bunker and two-putted for par from 20 feet. Had Mickelson’s chip or Fowler’s first putt dropped, the competitive dynamics would have been far different for McIlroy. He thanked Mickelson and Fowler for their patience.

“I wanted to play up as a foursome,’’ said McIlroy. “That was a nice show of sportsmanship and class by those guys.’’

Mickelson was clearly not pleased with the group finish and said PGA Tour policy would have called for only the ahead-of-schedule tee shot by McIlroy to be permitted.

“But it’s not a big deal,’’ said Mickelson. “It gave everyone a chance to finish, and we did just in the nick of time.’’

Had there been a tie after 72 holes the leaders would have had to return on Monday morning for a three-hole total score playoff.

McIlroy could also have refused to play if he deemed it too dark to continue, but he didn’t want that.

“I wanted to finish this thing and get out of here,’’ he said.

The weird finish came in the aftermath of his wins in the British Open in July and the Bridgestone Invitational earlier this month. McIlroy, 25, won the PGA for the second time, the first in 2012, and also has a win in the U.S. Open. Sunday’s victory made him the third-youngest player to win four majors, following Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. He’ll go for the career Grand Slam at next April’s Masters – the first major of 2015.

PGA: Fowler looms as best bet to overtake McIlroy

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It’s certainly not a case of Rory McIlroy being unable to win his third straight tournament and second major championship in a row on Sunday. The world’s No. 1-ranked golfer owns a one-stroke lead going into the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla.

The challenge of closing out another tournament, though, is a bit different this time.

“The leaderboard is the most jam-packed it’s been since the final round of the Masters,’’ said Rickie Fowler, who is two shots behind McIlroy. “It’s there for the taking, for sure.’’

But if it’s not McIlroy taking it, then who?

He’ll play in the final twosome with Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger, the surprise of Round 3 with his 6-under-par 65. He’s one shot behind McIlroy’s 14-under 200 total for the first 54 holes.

Wiesberger, though, is playing in the last group of a major for the first time. Prior to this week the only time he made a cut in a major was in 2013, when he tied for 64th in the British Open. Wiesberger will feel the pressure – just like he has in the past.

“I’ve never played well in the majors,’’ he said. “I’ve played well in other bigger events in Europe and won a couple, but that’s not the same. (A major) is on a different level.’’

Fowler’s final round playing partner, Phil Mickelson, is the most experienced of McIlroy’s challengers. He has wins in the Masters, British Open and PGA but has had a sub-par season. Saturday’s 67 followed a 62 in the last round of the Bridgestone Invitational last week. Those two encouraging rounds may have put him Mickelson back on the right track. He’s three behind the leader.

“It’s so fun for me to be back in the thick of it, to have a chance, to be in contention heading into Sunday,’’ said Mickelson. “I don’t have to get up a six o’clock in the morning to tee off. That’s a nice change.’’

Eighteen players are within six shots of the lead. Among the others are Australian Jason Day, who’s tied with Mickelson; Louis Oosthuizen, Henrik Stenson, Steve Stricker and Hunter Mahan. They’re all established stars, and Mahan’s 65 matched Wiesberger for the low round on Saturday.

The best bet to slow down McIlroy, though, is Fowler. He’s been the best player in the first three majors – though he didn’t win any of them. He tied for fifth in the Masters, which was won by Bubba Watson, and was joint second at both the U.S. Open, which was taken by Martin Kaymer, and the British, which went to McIlroy.

Fowler loves the pairing with Mickelson in the next-to-the-last group.

“I’m in a great position for tomorrow,’’ said Fowler. “ Phil and I are going to have some fun. If we get off to good starts we can feed off each other.’’

The near-misses in the year’s pervious majors also bode well for Fowler’s chances. He feels his time will come – maybe on Sunday.

“I expect to feel more comfortable than I did in the last two majors, ‘’ he said. “The past three majors were building blocks. Now I’ve got to go out and get one.’’

Fowler’s game was solid on Saturday – a bogey-free 67 – but he didn’t get all he could out of it.

“I was swinging very well,’’ he said. “I had a lot of good looks for birdies, especially on the back nine. I made great swings, but nothing went in. I’d just like that the putts that didn’t go in today can go in tomorrow.’’

As for McIlroy, who held one-stroke lead after both 36 and 54 holes, Fowler knows he’ll be tough to beat.

“He’s playing with a lot of confidence, and he’s not going to back up,’’ said Fowler. “Being patient is key. I’ve got to go shot for shot.’’

McIlroy stayed patient on Saturday. He one-putted nine of the last 12 greens while Wiesberger, Fowler and Mickelson were making runs at him. At one point five players (including Ryan Palmer) were tied with him for the lead.

“I feel like I’m in the best position I can be going into tomorrow,’’ said McIlroy. “I would rather be the guy that’s being chased and have that shot advantage than not. It’s going to be a shootout. The conditions are soft. Guys are going to make birdies and you know you’re going to have to make birdies as well if you’re going to win.’’

PGA: Missed cut probably means the end to Tiger’s season

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The 96th PGA Championship is only at the midway point, but its two weekend rounds will be lacking something. Tiger Woods won’t be around when the pursuit of front-running Rory McElroy resumes on Saturday.

Woods missed the cut after shooting his second straight 74 in Friday’s second round at Valhalla, and that could well mean the end to a dismal, injury-filled season for golf’s long-time No. 1 star. He still has a long way to go to recover from the back problems that bothered him all season and required surgery last spring. His 6-over-par 148 total at Valhalla was five strokes above the cut line to play the final 36 holes of the last major championship of 2014.

In pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 major championships, Woods has been stuck at 14 since winning the 2008 U.S. Open. This PGA makes it 20 straight majors for Woods without a victory. Friday marked the third time in that stretch in which Woods missed the cut, and he didn’t play in six others because of injury.

Injury also played a part in his latest failure. Last week he withdrew after nine holes in the Bridgestone Invitational when he developed back spasms. His participation at Valhalla was in doubt until he showed up somewhat unexpectedly on Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s amazing Tiger was here,’’ said Pete Bevacqua, in his first year as executive director of the PGA of America. “We just wanted Tiger to do what’s best for his career and his health.’’

The only previous times that Woods missed the cut in a major championship were at the 1996 Masters, 2006 U.S. Open, 2009 British Open and 2011 PGA Championship.

Playing partner Padraig Harrington stated the obvious in saying “The man (Woods) looks like he needs to play some golf. He looked kind of raw.’’

Woods showed up here in an effort to prove to U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson that he’s fit enough to play in next month’s matches vs. Europe in Scotland. Watson remained non-committal as Woods struggled through the second round.

“Tiger’s playing performance isn’t good right now,’’ said Watson, “but he is Tiger Woods.’’

Woods played on gamely, even though he was quickly too far behind to make the cut. At least he didn’t withdraw. This PGA has had an unusually high number (seven) after four players, most notably Boo Weekley and Angel Cabrera, dropped out with injuries in the course of play.

Watson is in a tough spot as he prepares a U.S. team that hopes to end the Europeans’ recent domination of the competition, the most recent proof having come in a victory at Medinah in September, 2012. In addition to Woods’ struggles two of the top U.S. players, Matt Kuchar (back spasms) and Jason Dufner (neck), are injured.

“No doubt the injuries concern me, but it’s too early to tell,’’ said Watson. Nine players on his 12-man roster will be finalized off a point race that ends after the last putt drops here on Sunday. Watson will name his three captain’s picks on Sept. 2, after the first event of the FedEx Cup playoffs. Woods, because of his limited season, won’t qualify for the four-tournament postseason competition.

As for the PGA that’s in progress, Friday’s round was delayed 50 minutes by a heavy rain but McIlroy, in search of his fourth straight tournament victory, was ready as soon as it ended. He tacked a 4-under-par 67 to his opening 66 and is at 9-under-par 133 for the 36 holes and owns a one-stroke lead on Jason Day, who carded Friday’s best round – a 65. McIlroy and Day will be paired in the last group in the third round.

McIlroy’s driving carried him on Thursday and his short game was key on Friday.

“The conditions didn’t allow me to play the way I did yesterday,’’ said McIlroy. “I didn’t hit it quite as well, but I was able to get up and down a lot. It’s nice, knowing I can score in different ways if I need to.’’

McIlroy can do no wrong lately. He is 41-under-par in his last 10 competitive rounds, having gone 17-under in winning the British Open and 15-under in taking the Bridgestone Invitational.