tournament

Video: Tennis Channel’s Solomon Discusses U.S. Open, Viewers: Video

by on September 10, 2010

Sept. 10 (Bloomberg) — Ken Solomon, chief executive officer of the Tennis Channel, talks about the U.S. Open. Solomon also discuss possible match-ups in the finals of the tournament, and the Tennis Channel’s viewers and coverage. Solomon talks with Pimm Fox at the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows on Bloomberg Television’s “Taking Stock.” (Source: Bloomberg)

Originally posted here:
Video: Tennis Channel’s Solomon Discusses U.S. Open, Viewers: Video

Video: Tennis Channel’s Solomon Discusses U.S. Open, Viewers: Video

by on September 10, 2010

Sept. 10 (Bloomberg) — Ken Solomon, chief executive officer of the Tennis Channel, talks about the U.S. Open. Solomon also discuss possible match-ups in the finals of the tournament, and the Tennis Channel’s viewers and coverage. Solomon talks with Pimm Fox at the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows on Bloomberg Television’s “Taking Stock.” (Source: Bloomberg)

Read the original:
Video: Tennis Channel’s Solomon Discusses U.S. Open, Viewers: Video

Video: Mandela to Miss Cup Opener After Great-Grandchild Dies: Video

June 11, 2010

June 11 (Bloomberg) — Bloomberg’s Matt Teale reports from Johannesburg about the death of Nelson Mandela’s great-granddaughter ahead of the opening of the soccer World Cup in South Africa. Former Australia and South Korea coach Guus Hiddink also speaks about his picks for the tournament.

Read the full article →

Wal-Mart Sees World Cup Sales Boom in Countries Reaching Final

June 7, 2010

By Sarah Shannon June 7 (Bloomberg) — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. , which has outlets in eight of the 32 countries competing in the soccer World Cup, anticipates sales will boom in those markets should their teams reach next month’s final match. Revenue at stores open at least a year in the nations that contest the final will probably gain by an additional 2 to 4 percentage points over the tournament’s monthlong duration, Wal- Mart’s international chief marketing officer Rick Bendel said by phone from Bentonville, Ankansas. Countries whose teams make the semi-final may see a 1 percent to 2 percent benefit, he said. “It’s a television event, and what goes with TV is fresh food, drinks, TV sets, sofas, memorabilia, mugs,” Bendel said. In the U.K., where Wal-Mart’s Asda is the second-biggest supermarket chain, the event could drive “hundreds of millions of pounds” in additional revenue, he said. Wal-Mart has an exclusive global agreement with a subsidiary of FIFA, soccer’s governing body, to sell memorabilia with the patented term “World Cup” on items such as paper plates, beer vessels and balls. The retailer, which has outlets in 14 countries outside the U.S. including World Cup contenders Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Japan, Honduras and Argentina, will face competition from rivals such as Britain’s biggest supermarket company Tesco Plc , which is sponsoring the England team. Retailers are tapping the fervor surrounding the World Cup with special products and in-store displays. DSG International Plc , Britain’s largest consumer electronics retailer, is offering 10 pounds ($15) in cash for every goal England scores to customers buying a television for more than 599 pounds. Kingfisher Plc ’s B&Q home-improvement chain in the U.K. is stocking gnomes and wheelbarrows with England’s St George flag. ‘New Dimension’ Wal-Mart sees potential for similar global deals to the FIFA agreement, whose terms Bendel wouldn’t disclose. “It’s really great that FIFA approached us,” Bendel said. “It’s a signal of the fact that this is a new dimension for Wal-Mart in terms of leverage. It might open up channels for license suppliers, the movie industry etc. to consider Wal-Mart as a slightly better partner.” The executive said Wal-Mart’s planned 778 million-pound acquisition of Netto’s 193 U.K. discount supermarkets shows the retailer has “tremendous belief” in growing the Asda unit, “when they could be investing in some developing markets.” Asda’s U.K. market share fell to 16.8 percent in the three months through May 16, according to Kantar Worldpanel, leaving it 0.5 percentage points ahead of third-placed J Sainsbury Plc. To contact the reporter on this story: Sarah Shannon in London at sshannon4@bloomberg.net .

Read the full article →

Daimler’s Zetsche Makes Biggest World-Cup Bet to Broaden Mercedes Appeal

June 3, 2010

By Chris Reiter June 4 (Bloomberg) — Daimler AG Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche isn’t just pulling for Germany’s soccer team when it takes the field for the World Cup. He’s also betting on a victory for his Mercedes-Benz luxury brand. Zetsche is rolling out discounts and cut-rate financing packages in Germany as part of its most extensive promotion in 20 years for soccer’s biggest event, while competitors Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Volkswagen AG’s Audi balk at tournament-specific incentives. A discount of as much as 2,050 euros ($2,493) is available on the 38,000-euro SLK roadster, and the savings rise if Germany wins the competition, which kicks off June 11 in South Africa. The deals reflect the carmaker’s need to broaden its appeal, whose drivers are about a decade older than Audi and BMW owners, according to market researcher Sinus Sociovision. “Mercedes has the image of a senior citizen’s car,” Boris Schaefer, a 40-year-old sales executive who owns a BMW X3 SUV and isn’t currently considering a Mercedes , said in an interview at his Berlin home. “I wouldn’t feel that I would support the German team any more by driving a Mercedes.” Stuttgart, Germany-based carmaker’s 2010 campaign involves traditional advertisements as well as online, print, and television media cooperation agreements, spokesman David Biebricher said. Germany hasn’t won the World Cup since 1990, the year Mercedes began sponsoring the team. Germany’s Odds A special leasing offer pays Mercedes’ customers as much as 319 euros if Germany wins the title at the July 11 final in Johannesburg. The country’s odds of winning are 14-1, according to betting company William Hill Plc. Spain and Brazil, both with 4-1 odds, are the co-favorites. Mercedes is also offering zero-percent financing under the “dream selection” program, which includes the compact A- and B-Class models, as well as the GLK SUV. The SLK discounts are for a package of options including larger wheels and black leather seats with red stitching. BMW, which doesn’t plan any special World Cup offers, is loaning armored 7-Series sedans and X5 SUVs to shuttle heads of states, said Guy Kilfoil, a BMW spokesman in South Africa. Audi, which sponsors German soccer champion Bayern Munich, won’t roll out any deals or marketing campaigns linked to the tournament, spokeswoman Esther Bahne said. Volkswagen, Audi’s parent, is taking a different tack. Europe’s largest carmaker is offering discounts on the Golf and Polo compacts, Tiguan SUV and Scirocco coupe under the “Team” campaign, featuring German players from winning squads in 1954, 1974, and 1990. The models have special features including shaded windows, new seat fabrics and parallel parking guidance. ‘Ageless Sport’ If anti-theft alarm systems and alloy wheels are added under the “Team Plus” program, buyers save as much as 2,600 euros, spokesman Enrico Beltz said. “Football is a classless, ageless sport in Germany,” said Willi Diez , head of the Nuertingen, Germany-based Institute for Automobile Industry, a state-funded think tank. “It speaks to a broad audience.” Mercedes this year has defended its position as Germany’s biggest luxury brand, even as registrations through May fell 4 percent to 107,269 vehicles, according to the German motor vehicle office KBA. Sales of BMW and its Mini brand dipped 1.5 percent to 105,170 in the first five months of 2010, while Audi’s deliveries slumped 8.2 percent to 89,503 cars and SUVs. Mercedes has boosted its World Cup promotions after an effort to enhance its sportiness with the signing of Formula One driver Michael Schumacher has stumbled. The former-Ferrari driver, who won a record seven Formula One championships before retiring in 2006, is in ninth place after seven of 19 races. Beckenbauer Promotion “It’s certainly necessary to make the Mercedes brand more youthful,” said Stefan Bratzel , director of the Center of Automotive at the University of Applied Sciences in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany. “The question is whether promoting through football and Formula One is the right approach. So far it hasn’t really worked.” Mercedes is sponsoring a fan Web site and has hired German soccer icon Franz Beckenbauer to promote the discounts in radio ads. The brand is also bringing out special edition postage stamps and showing matches at dealerships. The carmaker’s Berlin showroom will have a 48-square meter (517 square feet) LED screen and space for 3,000 fans. “The promotion is very sympathetic and the partnership between Mercedes and the Germany’s premium football team fits together very well,” said Thomas Rosier, managing director of dealer Autohaus Rosier GmbH in Oldenburg near Bremen, adding that he expects the offers to boost sales during the tournament. Still, Mercedes needs to lower sticker prices and improve its green image to boost its appeal with younger customers, said Simon Empson , managing director of U.K. discount-car Web site Broadspeed.com. When he recently asked a customer whether he’d be interested in a Mercedes off a dealer lot rather than waiting for an Audi, the customer replied: “Come on, I’m only 44.” To contact the reporter on this story: Chris Reiter in Berlin at creiter2@bloomberg.net

Read the full article →

Damien Hoffman: Will an NCAA Basketball Tournament Expansion Crush the NIT?

March 19, 2010

There are reports that the NCAA is going to expand the Men’s Basketball Tournament from 65 to 96 teams. If this deal is true, the NIT just got kicked in the nuts. If the NIT loses the best 31 teams in their tournament, they might as well put their brand on a high school tournament. High school basketball has risen to the ranks of ESPN prime time coverage of the hottest future pros in the country. There is lots of money to be made in that emerging space. I’m not sure what the backend politics are, but if I were the NIT I’d ring my attorney to see whether the NCAA move is an anti-trust violation. This is America: when in doubt, sue. Personally, I don’t care whether the NCAA expands their field of teams. They know they have a built-in, emotional captive audience for each team — so, it’s a brilliant way to monetize school spirit. In order for the NIT to survive, they may want to bring their grievance before economic high priest Ben Bernanke. In a last ditch effort, the bubble king may thwart the NCAA’s move simply to prevent a further drop in economic productivity near the Ides of March. Like the surprises and upsets on the hardwood, anything is possible in Washington.

Read the full article →

SABMiller May Sell 12 Million Beers at South Africa’s World Cup Fan Parks

March 2, 2010

By Antony Sguazzin March 2 (Bloomberg) — SABMiller Plc may sell 12 million more units of beer at this year’s soccer World Cup if it capitalizes on the decision by Anheuser-Busch InBev NV not to sell Budweiser at fan parks in the nine host cities. SABMiller, which dominates South Africa’s beer industry, began talks with FIFA after Anheuser-Busch said in January it wouldn’t supply the parks. SABMiller needs to conclude talks within about 10 days so that it can organize the transport and additional brewing capacity, Alastair Hewitt, the head of SABMiller’s World Cup strategy, said in an interview in Johannesburg yesterday. Ten fan parks with giant screens and bars to cater for fans unable to get tickets for games at the world’s most watched sport event are planned. The venues have been built to cater for a combined 280,000 people a day during the tournament, which begins on June 11, according to FIFA. Anheuser-Busch said in January that it would concentrate on selling beer in stadiums. “The stadium value is quite small in comparison to what happens outside the stadiums,” Hewitt said. “It’s a good opportunity.” The parks may account for 40 percent of the 100,000 extra hectoliters of beer SABMiller expects to sell during and around the monthlong tournament, Hewitt said. That’s equivalent to 8 million half-liter (1.1 pint) glasses of beer or 12 million 340 milliliter cans of the beverage. Hewitt declined to give the terms of the possible agreement with FIFA. Brandhouse The only other brewer with a large brewing plant in South Africa is Brandhouse, a venture whose owners include Amsterdam- based Heineken NV and London-based Diageo Plc . Brandhouse isn’t in talks with FIFA over the parks, Priscilla Singh, a spokeswoman for the venture, said in a telephone interview from Cape Town. Delia Fischer, a FIFA spokeswoman, didn’t immediately respond to e-mailed questions after requesting them when called by Bloomberg. Michael Torres, a spokesman for Anheuser-Busch, said by e-mail that his company decided “more than a decade ago to focus our beer presences in-stadium” during FIFA World Cup matches. “Just like our successful involvement with FIFA World Cup over the last two decades, as well as last year’s FIFA games, we look forward to once again having the opportunity to satisfy the tens of thousands of attending fans,” he said The Johannesburg-based Mail & Guardian newspaper reported in January that Anheuser-Busch didn’t have the capacity to meet demand as it has no infrastructure in South Africa, citing unidentified people in the industry. Torres said yesterday that Budweiser had not been a participant of “Fan Fest” activities in previous tournaments. Unbranded Beer SABMiller is willing to sell unbranded beer at the parks “to make the event a success,” Hewitt said. Demand for beer over the five-week World Cup period is expected to increase by between 4 percent and 6 percent, according to SABMiller. To meet the expected rise in demand during the tournament, which is expected to attract 450,000 visitors to South Africa, SABMiller will delay maintenance at its plants in the country and increase brewing ahead of the tournament, he said. Marketing staff won’t take vacation during the tournament and additional staff may be employed at the fan parks, he said. SABMiller, which jointly sponsors the South African national soccer team with Absa Group Ltd. , will build its marketing efforts around its Castle Lager brand and will place refrigerated vans in areas that may need additional supplies of beer. A hotline will be set up for vendors to call, he said. Castle, along with Carling Black Label, is among the cheaper brands that SABMiller sells in South Africa. June and July are mid-winter months in South Africa, usually a time of lower beer consumption, and this will help SABMiller to cater for the additional demand, he said. SABMiller normally sells about 25 million hectoliters of beer a year in South Africa out of total beer sales of 27 million hectoliters. “We see a mini-peak” for the company, Hewitt said. SABMiller shares fell 89 cents, or 0.4 percent, to 202.60 rand as of 9:12 a.m. in Johannesburg trading. To contact the reporter on this story: Antony Sguazzin in Johannesburg at asguazzin@bloomberg.net .

Read the full article →

Tiger Woods to Stay Out of Public Eye By Skipping Golf Tournament He Hosts

December 1, 2009

By Erik Matuszewski Dec. 1 (Bloomberg) — Tiger Woods will remain out of the public eye a while longer after withdrawing from the golf tournament his foundation hosts this week in California. Woods received hospital treatment for facial cuts and bruising after his Cadillac sport-utility vehicle struck a fire hydrant and a tree as he was leaving his Windermere, Florida, house about 2:20 a.m. local time on Nov. 27. The world’s No. 1-ranked golfer hasn’t commented on the circumstances and declined three times to meet with investigators, fueling public and media speculation about the incident. Woods, 33, said in a statement yesterday that his injuries will prevent him from playing in the Chevron World Challenge . He canceled a news conference that had been scheduled for today to preview the Dec. 3-6 event. “I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament this week,” Woods said on his Web site . “I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I’m very sorry that I can’t be there.” Woods has hosted the tournament, an invitation-only exhibition at the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks that benefits his charitable foundation , since 1999. Woods, a 14-time major championship winner, said he won’t play again until the 2010 golf season. Based on his schedule from previous years, Woods likely won’t return to action until the Century Club of San Diego Invitational, which is scheduled for Jan. 28-31 in Torrey Pines, California. ‘Embarrassing’ Woods issued a statement two days ago in which he took responsibility for the crash, which he called “embarrassing.” Police said Woods’s wife, Elin, told them she heard the crash, ran from the house and used a golf club to smash a window in the vehicle and get her husband out. Woods, who was treated and released from a local hospital, said Nov. 29 that the accident has led to “false, unfounded and malicious rumors” about him and his family. Woods’s attorney Mark Nejame that day canceled a third meeting with the Florida Highway Patrol, which is investigating the crash. While Woods called it a “private matter,” crisis communications expert Peter Morrissey, a Boston University professor , said Woods could damage his image by waiting further to publicly discuss specifics of the accident. Woods has more than $1 billion in career earnings from prize money, endorsements and his golf course design business. “We judge and assess folks how they behave in good times and bad,” Morrissey, the founder of a Boston-based reputation management and public relations firm, said in an e-mail. “The news media feeds off this type of delayed response. Tiger and his folks should get the truth out to defuse the situation.” Refunds Woods’s decision to skip his tournament this week prompted organizers to issue a refund policy . Tickets cost $30 for the first two rounds and $40 for weekend rounds. The prices go as high as $4,250 for a 20-pass “Executive Club” package. Advance ticket holders who don’t attend the four-day event are eligible for a full refund. Those who do attend can get a 20 percent discount on 2010 tickets. Graeme McDowell replaced Woods in the 18-player field, which is set to include U.S. Open winner Lucas Glover , British Open winner Stewart Cink , PGA Championship winner Y.E. Yang, Ireland’s Padraig Harrington , England’s Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter , and Americans Anthony Kim , Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk . The first two rounds of the $5.75 million tournament will be televised on the Golf Channel cable network, with weekend play on General Electric Co.’s NBC. The winner receives $1.35 million, while the last-place finisher gets $150,000. The event’s prize money doesn’t count toward official U.S. PGA Tour earnings, though competitors receive World Golf Ranking points for the first time this year. Woods last played two weeks ago, when he won the Australian Masters in his first appearance in that country since 1998. To contact the reporter on this story: Erik Matuszewski in New York at matuszewski@bloomberg.net

Read the full article →

Tiger Woods Skipping California Tournament He Hosts After Crash injuries

November 30, 2009

By Michael Buteau Nov. 30 (Bloomberg) — Tiger Woods will skip his Chevron World Challenge golf tournament amid questions about a car crash that sent him to a hospital with injuries. Woods said in a statement that he canceled a tournament- preview news conference that was scheduled tomorrow at the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, and won’t play because of injuries. Woods, 33, has played host to the tournament, an invitation-only exhibition that benefits his charitable foundation, since 1999. “I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament this week,” Woods said in a statement on his Web site. “I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I’m very sorry that I can’t be there.” Woods said he is unable to attend “due to injuries” sustained in the car accident. He said he won’t participate in any other tournaments in 2009 and will return to action next year. Greg McLaughlin , president of the Tiger Woods Foundation , said “we support Tiger’s decision.” The tournament is scheduled for Dec. 3-6, with early rounds televised on the Golf Channel cable network and weekend play on General Electric Co.’s NBC. It features a field of 18 players competing for $5.75 million, including a winner’s share of $1.35 million. The last- place finisher receives $150,000. The event’s prize money doesn’t count toward official PGA Tour earnings. Competitors receive World Golf Ranking points for the first time this year. ‘Embarrassing’ Woods took the blame yesterday for what he called an “embarrassing” one-car crash outside his Florida home. The world’s No. 1-ranked golfer said the accident created a stressful situation for him and his family. “This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way,” Woods said in a statement on his Web site , his only comments about the accident so far. “Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible.” Woods declined to meet with investigators for the third time yesterday to discuss the Nov. 27 accident in which his Cadillac sport-utility vehicle struck a fire hydrant and a tree as he was leaving his Windermere, Florida, house about 2:20 a.m. local time. Golf Club Police said that Woods’s wife, Elin, told them she heard the crash, ran from the house and used a golf club to smash a window in the vehicle and get her husband out. Woods was released from a local hospital after being treated for facial cuts. “This situation is my fault and it’s obviously embarrassing to my family and me,” said Woods, a 14-time major champion who’s topped golf’s Official World Ranking since 2005. “I’m human and I’m not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn’t happen again.” In addition to his cuts, Woods said he has bruising and is “pretty sore,” making his playing status unknown. He last played two weeks ago, winning the Australian Masters in his first appearance in that country since 1998. Those invited to this year’s Chevron tournament at the Jack Nicklaus-designed course include defending champion Vijay Singh , U.S. Open winner Lucas Glover , British Open winner Stewart Cink , PGA Championship winner Y.E. Yang, Ireland’s Padraig Harrington , England’s Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter , and Americans Anthony Kim , Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk . While daily tickets to the four-day event, which also includes a Pro-Am round on Dec. 2, cost $30 for the first two rounds and $40 for weekend rounds, the prices go as high as $4,250 for a 20-pass “Executive Club” package. There are no refunds, according to the tournament’s Web site, whether Woods plays or not. To contact the reporter on this story: Michael Buteau in Atlanta at mbuteau@bloomberg.net .

Read the full article →

Tiger Woods’s Status for Golf Tournament He Hosts Is Uncertain After Crash

November 30, 2009

By Michael Buteau Nov. 30 (Bloomberg) — Tiger Woods made it to a news conference at his Chevron World Challenge last year as he recovered from knee surgery. Whether he shows up for tomorrow’s media session amid questions about a car crash that hospitalized him and has buffeted his privacy isn’t a sure thing. Woods, 33, has played host to the tournament, an invitation-only exhibition that benefits his charitable foundation, since 1999. While Woods is scheduled to speak at a tournament-preview news conference at the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, his appearance remains in question, a foundation representative said. “I don’t have any updates,” Emily Taylor, a spokeswoman for the Tiger Woods Foundation , said in an e-mail. Glenn Greenspan , Woods’s personal spokesman, didn’t immediately return an e-mail seeking comment. The tournament is scheduled for Dec. 3-6, with early rounds televised on the Golf Channel cable network and weekend play on General Electric Co.’s NBC. It features a field of 18 players competing for $5.75 million, including a winner’s share of $1.35 million. The last- place finisher receives $150,000. Competitors receive World Golf Ranking points for the first time this year. Woods took the blame yesterday for what he called an “embarrassing” one-car crash outside his Florida home. The world’s No. 1-ranked golfer said the accident created a stressful situation for him and his family. ‘Private Matter’ “This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way,” Woods said in a statement on his Web site , his only comments about the accident so far. “Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible.” Woods declined to meet with investigators for the third time yesterday to discuss the Nov. 27 accident in which his Cadillac sport-utility vehicle struck a fire hydrant and a tree as he was leaving his Windermere, Florida, house about 2:20 a.m. local time. Police said that Woods’s wife, Elin, told them she heard the crash, ran from the house and used a golf club to smash a window in the vehicle and get her husband out. Woods was released from a local hospital after being treated for facial cuts. “This situation is my fault and it’s obviously embarrassing to my family and me,” said Woods, a 14-time major champion who’s topped golf’s Official World Ranking since 2005. “I’m human and I’m not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn’t happen again.” Last Tournament In addition to his cuts, Woods said he has bruising and is “pretty sore,” making his playing status unknown. He last played two weeks ago, winning the Australian Masters in his first appearance in that country since 1998. Those invited to this year’s Chevron tournament at the Jack Nicklaus-designed course include defending champion Vijay Singh , U.S. Open winner Lucas Glover , British Open winner Stewart Cink , PGA Championship winner Y.E. Yang, Ireland’s Padraig Harrington , England’s Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter , and Americans Anthony Kim , Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk . While daily tickets to the four-day event, which also includes a Pro-Am round on Dec. 2, cost $30 for the first two rounds and $40 for weekend rounds, the prices go as high as $4,250 for a 20-pass “Executive Club” package. There are no refunds, according to the tournament’s Web site, whether Woods plays or not. To contact the reporter on this story: Michael Buteau in Atlanta at mbuteau@bloomberg.net .

Read the full article →

Robin Soderling Upsets No. 3 Seed Novak Djokovic in ATP Tennis Group Stage

November 25, 2009

By Chris Elser Nov. 25 (Bloomberg) — Robin Soderling, the lowest-ranked player at this week’s ATP tennis finals, continued his run of upsets, defeating No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic in two sets in the event’s group stage. Soderling, who opened the tournament with a two-set victory over second-seeded Rafael Nadal, won 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 today. The Swede is the No. 8 seed in the eight-man end of season tournament.

Read the full article →

Tiger Woods Wins Australian Masters Golf Title in Melbourne by Two Shots

November 15, 2009

By Dan Baynes Nov. 15 (Bloomberg) — Tiger Woods won the Australian Masters golf tournament after shooting a 4-under-par final round to take his first career victory in the country. Woods, the world’s top-ranked player, finished with a 14- under par total of 274 at Melbourne’s Kingston Heath Golf Club, two shots ahead of Australian Greg Chalmers. Playing his first event in Australia for 11 years and fourth in total, Woods entered the final round in a three-way tie for the lead after carding an even-par 72 yesterday. He made amends with five birdies on the last day. Woods collected A$270,000 ($252,000) of the tournament’s A$1.5 million prize pool. He was also presented with the champion’s gold jacket for the victory, which followed six wins on the U.S. PGA Tour this year.

Read the full article →

Golfer’s $1 Million Shot: A Hole-In-One (VIDEO)

September 21, 2009

SPRINGVILLE, Utah (AP) — A Utah man who was a late addition to a charity golf tournament made a hole-in-one during a contest for a $1 million prize. Jason Hargett’s shot Tuesday on the 150-yard hole cut in the driving range at Red Ledges golf resort near Heber City was the winner. He hit a nine-iron about 10 feet past the hole and the ball rolled back and in, giving the 35-year-old restaurant manager the $1 million. The contest was part of the Mark Eaton Celebrity Golf Classic. Hargett says he almost didn’t play in the tournament because of a sore wrist and ended up using his brother’s clubs. The tournament benefits a fund at the University of Utah’s Diabetes Center. WATCH: Get HuffPost Business On Facebook and Twitter !

Read the full article →

Oudin Records Biggest Upset of U.S. Open, Faces Sharapova Next

September 4, 2009

By Erik Matuszewski Sept. 4 (Bloomberg) — American teenager Melanie Oudin continued a run of women’s upsets at the U.S. Open, eliminating fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva yesterday to set up a third-round meeting with former champion Maria Sharapova . Dementieva and No. 5 Jelena Jankovic , the 2008 runner-up, were among five seeded women to lose yesterday at the season’s final Grand Slam tennis tournament. The 11 men’s seeds in action won, including No. 4 Novak Djokovic and No. 5 Andy Roddick , the last American man to win the title, in 2003. While top-seeded Dinara Safina rallied in three sets to advance, 16 women’s seeds failed to reach the third round at the National Tennis Center in New York. It’s the second-most since the four majors expanded to 32 seeds in 2001 and Sharapova said she was aware of the upsets before her 6-2, 6-1 win over Christina McHale last night. “This game on most occasions is more mental,” Sharapova told reporters. “It’s all about competing and fighting and knowing that, no matter what the score line is, it’s not over until you’re shaking hands.” Oudin, a 17-year-old American, sported the word “Believe” on her sneakers as she beat Dementieva 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court. “I played with no fear,” said Oudin, who is 70th in the WTA Tour rankings. “She’s expected to win and I just went out there and played my game and I came out with a win.” Williams Sisters Women’s third-round play begins today in New York, where No. 2 seed and defending champion Serena Williams meets Spain’s Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez , and No. 3 Venus Williams faces Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova in the opening night match. Safina, a Russian seeking her first major title, joined them in the third round yesterday by rallying past Germany’s Kristina Barrois 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-3. Sixth-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova , No. 9 Caroline Wozniacki , No. 13 Nadia Petrova and No. 29 Sharapova were straight-set winners. Jankovic followed Dementieva out of the tournament after losing a third-set tiebreaker to Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan. Serbia’s Jankovic said after the match she was negatively affected by the recent death of her grandmother. “My head wasn’t really there,” Jankovic told reporters. “It was like a shadow of myself.” Other women’s seeds to lose yesterday were No. 19 Patty Schnyder of Switzerland, No. 23 Sabine Lisicki of Germany and No. 30 Alona Bondarenko of the Ukraine. Men’s Winners Serbia’s Djokovic, the U.S. Open runner-up in 2007, moved into the third round with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over Australia’s Carsten Ball. He’ll next face American qualifier Jesse Witten . Roddick has yet to drop a set after beating Frenchman Marc Gicquel 6-1, 6-4, 6-4, to complete yesterday’s play and set up a third-round meeting with fellow American John Isner . Roddick has won both prior meetings against the 24-year-old Isner. “John’s been playing a lot better and it’s going to be a completely different match-up,” Roddick said in a televised courtside interview. “It’s going to come down to a couple of points here and there.” The top-10 men’s seeds have yet to drop a set through the first four days of the tournament. No. 21 James Blake of the U.S. defeated Belgium’s Olivier Rochus 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 6-3, while Sam Querrey , the 22nd seed, was a four-set winner over fellow American Kevin Kim . The other men’s seeds advancing yesterday were No. 8 Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, No. 10 Fernando Verdasco of Spain, No. 12 Robin Soderling of Sweden, No. 14 Tommy Robredo of Spain, No. 15 Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic, No. 20 Tommy Haas of Germany, and No. 23 Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany. Second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain plays a second-round match today against Chile’s Paul Capdeville , while No. 3 Rafael Nadal of Spain will meet Germany’s Nicolas Kiefer in the final night match on Day 5. To contact the reporter on this story: Erik Matuszewski at the U.S. Open at matuszewski@bloomberg.net

Read the full article →

Stephanie Wei: General Motors to Drop Sponsorship: Goodbye Buick Open

July 28, 2009

Ah, more chatter about golf sponsors. This week’s Buick Open in Grand Blanc, Michigan, will be the last.

Read the full article →