FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Padraig Harrington will complete his season's work in the Tiger Woods-promoted Chevron championship in California in a fortnight's time which is a non-US Tour event but one which carries world ranking points. While Harrington will be doing his best to win that out-of-season money fest, the visit to the west coast has a secondary mission. Harirngton will be bringing his coach Bob Torrance with him on the trip, which will also incorporate visits to the Titleist Performance Institute where the player will be put through a series of tests aimed at developing his game for next season's assault on the majors.

Irish Times

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Lee Westwood turned bully boy yesterday to plunder the biggest prize in Euro Tour history with what he insisted was the most stunning golf of his career. The 36-year-old Englishman boosted his bank balance after scooping a Dubai World Championship and Order of Merit double. Westwood said: "My caddie, Billy Foster, had enough beers at the beach party this week to tell me what he really thought of me. He told me I had to start bullying them out on the course. So I felt like I bullied everyone today." The bagman's advice was duly heeded when Westwood ripped out a breathtaking course record eight-under 64.

Daily Record

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Against the advice of his manager and at least three vastly more experienced players, 20-year-old Rory McIlroy officially announced his intention to join the PGA Tour next year.

Scotsman

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A reporter asked Robert Allenby why more American players don't play international events. You can almost hear the angel and devil arguing across his shoulders. "You know what, I've got to word this right so I don't get into trouble, because I'm good at getting myself into trouble," Allenby said. Did he word it right? Sure, if he meant to say that American players are spoiled and that PGA Tour courses are dull. Common enough opinions, but not usually heard from a Tour pro. Here's his answer: "You know, Americans play for so much money, and when you've got a purse where $1 million, a million plus, is first prize, not to say that they are spoiled, but it's a little bit that way. It's like, well, why would I want to travel, when I can make a million bucks instead of going to Europe and only making $500,000 or $600,000?"

golf.com

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So where does Marty Evans go from here? The acting commissioner steps aside on Jan. 4 when Michael Whan takes over, but Evans gave up her spot on the LPGA Board of Directors to assume her interim role. Evans could rejoin the board with two openings for independent directors to be filled sometime early next year, but Golf World reported this week that there are some significant maneuvers under way that may reshape the board. According to sources cited in the report, Dawn Hudson will remain on the board but is unlikely to be re-elected chairwoman because of "backlash for allowing the Carolyn Bivens situation to go on for so long." Bivens was forced out as commissioner in a player revolt in July. The report also stated that Evans has told the board that she will only serve again if she is elected chairwoman, but that player directors might not support that move because of Evans' role in recent layoffs at the tour.

thegolfchannel.com

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