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Lydia Ko favourite for NZ Women's Open

Fourteen-year-old New Zealand golf star Lydia Ko is regarded as the bookies favourite for the New Zealand Women's Open.

NZ Women's Open field finalised in Christchurch

Two local amateurs are among the four golfers to secure final qualifying places for the New Zealand Women's Open at Pegasus Golf and Sports Club north of Christchurch starting on Friday.

Tiger on a Sunday ain't what he used to be

TIM DAHLBERG - AP

The pretenders were as obedient as ever and folded early, just like they always seemed to when Tiger Woods was in his prime.

Mickelson charges to victory at Pebble Beach

MARK LAMPORT-STOKES - Reuters

Phil Mickelson totally upstaged playing partner Tiger Woods while charging past overnight leader Charlie Wi to win the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Danny Lee finishes brightly at Pebble Beach

Danny Lee resumed his love affair with the famed Pebble Beach course to finish his latest US PGA Tour outing brightly.

Cabrera-Bello holds nerve to win Dubai Desert

MATT SMITH - Reuters

Rafael Cabrera-Bello was the surprise winner of the Dubai Desert Classic.

Lydia Ko blitzes amateurs at Australian Open

CHRIS BARCLAY - © Fairfax NZ News

An eagle and playing with world golf hall of famer Karrie Webb are the precious memories Lydia Ko will take from her maiden LPGA Tour event.

Danny Lee out of running at Pebble Beach

FRED WOODCOCK - © Fairfax NZ News

Danny Lee has faded right out of contention after a horror third round at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in California.

Tiger Woods on the prowl at Pebble Beach

Tiger Woods evoked memories of his glory days with a blistering run of six birdies in eight holes as he charged into contention for the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am today.

Thomas Bjorn leads at Dubai Desert Classic

Veteran Dane Thomas Bjorn was 14 under at the turn of the third round of the Dubai Desert Classic.

Ko upstages local hero in penultimate round

CHRIS BARCLAY - © Fairfax NZ News

Lydia Ko upstaged local hero and four-time champion Karrie Webb during the penultimate round of the Australian Open.

Danny Lee drops back to pack at Pebble Beach

After a stunning first round at the T&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in California, New Zealand's No 1 golfer Danny Lee has fallen back.

Lydia Ko, Brooky make cut at Australian Open

CHRIS BARCLAY - © Fairfax NZ News

Lydia Ko is grateful to be working the weekend after making the cut at the Australian Open despite some second round jitters.

Woods makes encouraging Pebble Beach start

MARK LAMPORT-STOKES - Reuters

Tiger Woods had a glint in his eye as he made a confident start to his 2012 PGA Tour campaign, firing a four-under-par 68 in the opening round of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Rory McIlroy seeks caddy help for birdie charge

Rory McIlroy called on caddy JP Fitzgerald to help him sink six birdies on the back nine in the opening round of the Dubai Desert Classic to finish six under and three shots behind surprise leader Rafael Cabrera-Bello.

Danny Lee shoots to lead at Pebble Beach

Tiger in his wake

FRED WOODCOCK - © Fairfax NZ News

Danny Lee has caught fire at Pebble Beach, charging into the lead on the latest stop on the US PGA Tour.

Another horror show for Michael Campbell

New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell's dreadful start to the 2012 European Tour season has continued.

Eric Brodie leads NZ Seniors golf championship

Taupo golfer Eric Brodie leads the New Zealand Seniors Championship by a shot after an even-par 71 in the first round at the Waitikiri Golf Club in Christchurch.

Ko comfortably within cut at Australian Open

CHRIS BARCLAY - © Fairfax NZ News

A birdie on the final hole lifted Lydia Ko's spirits as she made a confident start to the LPGA Tour-opening Australian Open.

Lydia Ko honoured with world No 1 medal

FRED WOODCOCK - © Fairfax NZ News

Lydia Ko's startling progression through the ranks of women's amateur golf was recognised ahead of today's Australian Open when she finally received a medal to recognise her status as the world No 1.

Lydia Ko a coup for inaugural NZ Pro-Am event

SUE FEA IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

Some big names are already emerging in the lineup for next month's inaugural New Zealand PGA Pro-Am golf tournament, with women's world No 1 amateur Lydia Ko confirmed yesterday.

Wide-eyed Ko to face cream of golf in Melbourne

CHRIS BARCLAY - © Fairfax NZ News

Lydia Ko will be a star-struck autograph hunter when she competes alongside the cream of women's golf in Melbourne.

Lydia Ko to play in NZ PGA Championship

SIMON PLUMB - © Fairfax NZ News

Teenage amateur Lydia Ko has been confirmed for the 2012 NZ PGA Championship.

Tiger Woods pulls rank over use of long putters

BY BEN EVERILL - AAP

Tiger Woods has revealed he's been talking to golf's powerbrokers about a rule to ban the long putter.

Westwood apologises for foul-mouthed outburst

Lee Westwood was forced to apologise after his mum caught him swearing on live television at last week's Qatar Masters.

McIlory compares with golf greats says Player

TOM PILCHER - Reuters

Gary Player spent much of his career in the shadow of record 18-times major winner Jack Nicklaus and the South African believes young Briton Rory McIlroy has as much natural talent as any golfer he has seen.

Stanley wins first PGA Tour title in Arizona

MARK LAMPORT-STOKES - Reuters

American Kyle Stanley took advantage of a final-round collapse by overnight leader Spencer Levin to win his first PGA Tour title.

Paul Lawrie holds strong to win Qatar Open

MICHAEL CASEY - AP

Former British Open champion Paul Lawrie chipped in for an eagle and a birdie on his way to winning the Qatar Open.

Tough final day for NZ's Lydia Ko in Australia

NZ golfer Lydia Ko has missed out on a top-10 finish at the Australian Ladies Masters.

Spencer Levin six shots clear at Phoenix Open

MARK LAMPORT-STOKES - Reuters

Little-known American Spencer Levin held his nerve over the tricky closing stretch to move six shots clear after the third round of the frost-delayed Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Lawrie rebounds, Campbell crashes in Qatar

NICHAEL CASEY - AP

Former British Open Champion Paul Lawrie recovered from a penalty for dropping his ball on a marker to shoot a five-under 67 and take a one-shot lead over Nicolas Colsaerts into the final round of the Qatar Masters.

Lydia Ko in contention for top 10 Masters finish

Lydia Ko is eyeing a top-10 finish at the Australia Ladies Masters after another polished performance at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast today.

Dufner, Palmer share first round Phoenix lead

MARK LAMPORT-STOKES - Reuters

Jason Dufner birdied two of his last five holes to join fellow-American Ryan Palmer in a tie for the lead when the frost-delayed opening round of the Phoenix Open was completed in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Strong winds halt second round at Qatar Masters

TONY JIMINEZ - Reuters

The Qatar Masters was reduced to a 54-hole tournament after 70 kms an hour desert winds allowed only three hours of play in the second round.

Praise for Ko from experienced playing partner

West Australian Kristie Smith has given talented teenagers Lexi Thompson and Lydia Ko glowing report cards after spending the first two rounds of the Australia Ladies Masters watching them trade shots at Royal Pines.

Mickelson seeks identity of internet defamer

DOUG FERGUSON - AP

Phil Mickelson has filed a lawsuit against an Internet service provider in Canada to learn the identity of a person who has been posting "vexatious statements" that the four-time major champion says is a deliberate attack on his reputation.

Fernandez-Castano trumps Daly in the desert

Campbell slumps to four-over

TONY JIMINEZ - Reuters

A late flurry of birdies helped Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano leapfrog American John Daly at the top of the first-round leaderboard on a windswept day in the desert at the Qatar Masters.

Ten-time PGA winner Frost heading Down Under

Ten-time PGA Tour winner David Frost has confirmed his place in next month's New Zealand PGA Championship at The Hills.

Thompson outplays Lydia Ko in opening round

American golfing prodigy Lexi Thompson has won the opening round of her showdown with Lydia Ko.

Coach to don women's clothing if Ko wins again

PETER STONE

Like any 14-year-old, there is a touch of mischief in Lydia Ko. | Sharing spotlight | Happy to make cut

Young stars Ko and Thompson share limelight

The body language and their stances were awkward as Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson shared the limelight for the first time.

Ko hoping to just make the cut at Ladies Masters

WAYNE HEMING - AAP

Golf prodigy Lydia Ko has set what seems a modest ambition for this week's Australian Ladies Masters.

Ryan Fox makes first win as a pro

Auckland golfer Ryan Fox notched his first win as a professional as he cantered to victory in the Martinborough pro-am tournament in south Wairarapa yesterday.