Golf | U.S. team maintains lead in Cup
SHENZHEN, China - Police officers salute as players approach the tee. Fans jostle for space when silence is supposed to be in order. Golf carts buzz everywhere, cellphones ring and few people are shy with a camera.
Although the galleries at the World Cup of Golf have been appreciative, they have been a distraction to players at times.
“There’s a lot of movement out there, a lot of talking,” said Boo Weekley, who shot a 3-under-par 69 Friday with partner Heath Slocum to keep a one-stroke lead for the United States after two rounds.
Despite notices on tickets that mobile phones must be switched off and spectators must be “absolutely silent when players are preparing and taking their shots,” Weekley was not the only player with a problem.
Colin Montgomerie, who has played in China several times and is famously sensitive to distractions, called for quiet at the 17th green and later glowered at the grandstand when a mobile phone went off.
Weekley said he was otherwise enjoying his third trip out of the United States and liked other aspects of the crowd’s behavior.
“They appreciate the shots,” he said. “I’m just saying there’s a lot of movement out there, some of it’s distracting and some of it ain’t.”
England’s Justin Rose and Ian Poulter and Scotland’s Montgomerie and Marc Warren shot 68s to trail by a shot at 13-under 131.
Couples in his 14th Skins Game
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - It only seems as if Fred Couples of Seattle has played in every Skins Game.
“For me, this is the only tournament I play in, so I’m thrilled to get a sponsors’ invite from LG and everybody,” said Couples, whose many titles include “King of the Skins.”
Couples, defending champion Stephen Ames, Masters champion Zach Johnson and Brett Wetterich will compete over the weekend for $1 million in the LG Skins Game.
The made-for-TV event will be played for the 25th time, and it will be Couples’ 14th appearance. Since his Skins Game debut in 1992, he has won a record five times and his 86 skins have totaled a record $3.9 million.
Note
• Sweden’s Daniel Chopra shot a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Australians Aaron Baddeley (69) and Kurt Barnes (65) after the third round of the Australian Masters in Melbourne.
Chopra was at 12-under 204.