INCHEON, South Korea – Bae Sang-moon never felt the kind of pressure that weighed on him Friday at the Presidents Cup.

He only made news in South Korea this year during a failed bid to extend his waiver for mandatory military service. He wasn’t sure what kind of reception he would receive at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea. And as Bae stood over a 12-foot putt that was critical to the International team’s rally, half his teammates were on the edge of the green and thousands of Koreans were watching in the gallery.

“I’m pretty sure he was nervous. I was nervous watching him,” Danny Lee said. “So he had to stand up and man up, and hit that golf ball.”

The celebration when the putt dropped was raw emotion, a defining moment for Bae and the International team in its bid to finally give the Americans a worthy fight.

Bae teamed with Lee for a 1-up fourballs victory over Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker, and the Internationals won their first team session in four years to pull within a point of the Americans. Next up is a double session Saturday of eight matches that will shape the final round.

“That putt Sang-moon made on No. 18 today was probably the highlight of the last two days for us,” International captain Nick Price said.

Price had other reasons to cheer.

Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace made three big putts around the turn and sailed to a 4-and-3 win over Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson, while Charl Schwartzel and Thongchai had little trouble against an American team of Chris Kirk and Bill Haas that went 13 holes of nothing better than par.

The Americans, up 4-1 after the opening session, had their lead cut to 5½-4½.

“I think the U.S. team after yesterday, they probably thought it was going to be a walk-off,” Grace said. “We put our chests out and we went full heart. We’re in a good position now. We’re just one point back, and you know, a lot can happen.”

The U.S. lead might have been slightly larger if Phil Mickelson had known the rules.

A penalty that baffled even the captains – the match went from all square to 2 up in one hole – began when Mickelson was not aware of the one-ball rule.

Players must stick with the same model of golf ball for the entire match in fourballs and singles. That didn’t cross Mickelson’s mind until after he switched to a firmer golf ball on the par-5 seventh to help him reach the green in two. Only when he saw U.S. captain Jay Haas did he ask him to make sure it was OK.

It wasn’t.

“It’s my responsibility to know that,” Mickelson said. “I should have at least asked about it before I teed off.”

The penalty in this format is known as a one-hole adjustment – one hole is awarded to the other team. The rules committee made it worse by mistakenly telling Mickelson that he was out of the hole, and so Mickelson picked up his ball. Only later did the committee realize that Mickelson should have been allowed to finish the hole because the penalty already had been assessed.

Jason Day made birdie to win the hole, and the International team got credit for another hole because of the penalty on Mickelson. It made a difference in the end when Day made an 8-foot birdie putt to halve the match. Based on scores for each hole, the Americans would have won.

“I didn’t realize you could lose two holes on one hole,” said Adam Scott, who played with Day.

The ruling overshadowed Mickelson’s great rally – a birdie on the 11th, holing a 142-yard bunker shot for eagle on the 12th – to get his team back in the match. And while it likely cost the Americans a half-point, Mickelson didn’t seem too bothered.

“I feel like we spotted the International’s best team two holes, and they still couldn’t beat us,” Mickelson said. “Just saying.”

Day didn’t bite on Mickelson’s barb. The International team was happy to be back in the match. Price said he spoke to his team Thursday night about trying to relax, and he saw enough of that to give him hope going into the weekend.

The lone American victory came from J.B. Holmes and Bubba Watson, the big-hitting duo who has not lost this week.

The biggest blow for the International side came from Oosthuizen, when he rolled in a 70-foot birdie putt on the eighth hole to square the match. Grace followed with a pair of birdies for a 2-up lead, and the Spieth-Johnson tandem didn’t put up much of a fight. They made only two birdies, none over the final eight holes.

“We both played very poor rounds of golf and we didn’t have many chances,” Spieth said. “So it was ‘Merry Christmas’ to the other guys.”

It sure felt like it to Bae, who made his debut in the Presidents Cup one to remember.

“The first time for me to play in The Presidents Cup, and I have already very good memories,” Bae said. “And I’m very happy about that.”

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – South Korea’s Ha Na Jang used a late three-hole birdie run to take a one-stroke lead Friday in the LPGA Malaysia.

The 23-year-old Jang shot a bogey-free 6-under 65 to reach 10-under 132 at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. She made a downhill 10-footer on the par-4 14th, holed a right-to-left curler from 15 feet on the par-3 15th and ran in a 12-footer on the par-5 16th.

A six-time winner on the Korea LPGA, Jang lost a playoff loss to Chella Choi in July in the Marathon Classic for the second of her three runner-up finishes in her rookie season on the LPGA Tour.

China’s Xi Yu Lin was second after a 68.

Top-ranked Inbee Park, Alison Lee and Yani Tseng were another stroke back.

Park, the 2012 winner, had a 68. The South Korean star won two majors this year and is tied with second-ranked Lydia Ko for the tour victory lead with four.

Lee, tied with Lin for the first round, bogeyed Nos. 15 and 16 en route to a 69. The 20-year-old American is playing her first event since her emotional Solheim Cup debut.

Last month against Europe in Germany, she was in tears after Suzann Pettersen called for the American to be penalized for picking up her ball when she mistakenly thought a short putt had been conceded in the completion of a fourballs match. Infuriated, the U.S. rallied for the biggest comeback in event history, with Lee winning her singles match.

Tseng had a 68.

Defending champion Shanshan Feng was 7 under after a 69. She made a double bogey on the par-4 18th after chunking her approach into the water in front of the green.

Ko was tied for 18th at 6 under after a 65. The 18-year-old New Zealander is coming off consecutive victories in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and Evian Championship, where she became the youngest major champion.

Michelle Wie, a stroke out of the lead entering the round, birdied three of her last six holes to salvage a 72. She dropped into a tie for 18th at 4 under.

Pettersen, also playing her first event since the Solheim Cup, was tied for 72nd in the 74-player field at 12 over. The competitive Norwegian had her second straight 77, making a quadruple bogey on 15 and a double bogey on 18.

The event is the first of five straight in Asia. The LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship is next week in South Korea, followed by stops in Taiwan, China and Japan.

INCHEON, South Korea – Phil Mickelson has played 49 matches in the 21 years since the Presidents Cup began.

And he learned something new Friday.

For starters, Mickelson was not aware of the one-ball rule in fourballs and singles matches, meaning that players can’t change the model of their golf ball during the match. He also didn’t realize that a match could go from all square to 2 up in just one hole.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever heard of that happening,” he said.

It turned out to be a costly mistake when Mickelson and Zach Johnson halved their fourballs match with Jason Day and Adam Scott, and that allowed the International team to pull within one point of the Americans going into Saturday.

There’s rarely a dull moment around Mickelson, and that was the case Friday at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea. For the second straight day, he holed a bunker shot that helped to turn his match around. For the second straight day, tensions were high coming to the final green.

All that was overlooked because Mickelson didn’t know the rules – and in this case, neither did the rules committee.

It was a double blunder, and it started when Mickelson reached into his bag for a golf ball with a slightly harder cover that he thought would help him reach the green in two on the par-5 seventh hole. Mickelson found the fairway and was sauntering to his ball when he noticed U.S. captain Jay Haas following them.

“I was talking with Jay and I just thought, ‘Gosh, I’m going to ask. I’m sure it’s not an issue,'” Mickelson said. “And it turns out that there was a one-ball rule and it was an issue. As a player, you need to know that. You need to know the rules, and if you have a question, you do it beforehand.”

No one knew the ramifications.

The penalty for violating the one-ball rule is called a one-hole adjustment, meaning the one hole is awarded to the other team.

But the rules committee erred when it told Mickelson that he was out of the hole, and Mickelson picked up his ball. Because the one-hole adjustment already had been assessed, Mickelson should have been able to finish the hole. He was in the fairway just over 290 yards from the hole, which he could have reached with a good shot.

But he never got that chance. Day made birdie and won the hole, so the International team went 2 up heading to the eighth hole.

“The weird thing was I’ve never heard of a match adjustment penalty,” he said. “I just thought, ‘OK, if I hit the wrong ball, no big deal. Zach will cover me on this hole’ But obviously, that’s not what happened.”

Mark Russell, the senior vice president of rules and competition for the PGA Tour who took the blame for the mistake, said the committee could not go back and let Mickelson finish the hole because “allowing a correction could potentially undermine the strategy” with players on both teams having already hit their shots.

Mickelson had reason to be confused.

The Ryder Cup does not have a one-ball rule when it is played in America, nor does the PGA Championship. So he thought nothing of using a different ball, especially one day after a foursomes match (alternate shot) where teams can switch golf balls on every hole.

Asked to comment on his match, Mickelson smiled and said, “Zach and I had a very uneventful day. We walked away with a tie.”

He took the blame, even though it was shared with the rules staff, saying that he never should have put the staff in that position if he had known the rule. And Mickelson wasn’t bothered that his team had to settle for a halve.

“I feel like we spotted the International’s best team two holes, and they still couldn’t beat us,” he said. “Just saying.

The new Scotty Cameron Futura X7 and X7M putters make use of face-sole core technology with advanced perimeter weighting to offer increased stability and forgiveness throughout the stroke, in addition to providing easy alignment and a soft, sure feel.

Futura X7 and X7M are the next evolution of Scotty Cameron’s tour-proven Futura X line, a putter family defined by modern contours that deliver high-MOI performance through advanced perimeter weighting.

“The motivation behind Futura X always has been to help golfers make a more stable, more balanced, more consistent, more confident stroke,” Cameron said. “We’ve enhanced those benefits with X7 and X7M through larger, multi-material constructions that make alignment simple. For the golfer, that translates into higher MOI for stability, a bigger sweet spot for forgiveness, easier alignment for a more confident setup, and a better, softer feel.”

Futura X7 is a large, modern wingback mallet with horizontal and vertical sight lines, while Futura X7M offers a unique pop-through bar-back mallet design for additional MOI and stability. Futura X7M Dual Balance combines the X7M head style with tour-proven Dual Balance technology for added stability.

Each Futura X7 model features a lightweight aluminum face-sole core surrounded by a stainless steel frame. “The key feature is the two materials,” Cameron said. “Basically there are two constructions involved here. The feel and sound of the lightweight midsection are married together with the heavier surrounding heel, toe and back to be more forgiving, for better performance.”

On this side of the pond, we’re very concerned about score for some reason. I don’t know when that became the norm, but we would do well to flip this thought and consider some great alternate forms of play on a regular basis. Want to have more fun? Try Match Play, Stableford, or combine both in a four-ball whether that be Stroke Play, Stableford or Match Play! No idea what we’re referring to, or why these are cool? Read on.

MATCH PLAY:

The beauty of this game is only understood by playing it. In Match Play, each hole is a game in itself, and a hole is won by the side that completes the hole in the fewest strokes. When applying the Handicap System to Match Play events, the lowest net score wins the hole. Generally, a match is won by the side leading by a number of holes greater than the number of holes remaining. In singles match play, Golf Canada recommends using 100 per cent of the course handicap (CH). The percentage is known as a Handicap Allowance, and allowances exist to provide equity in handicapped events. The higher-handicapped player receives the full difference in Course Handicap between the two players; and the lower-handicapped player plays from scratch (0). At Golf Canada we receive an extraordinary number of inquiries about Match Play, and the two most frequent questions asked are:

1. An alternate allowance is being used in singles Match Play (75 to 80 per cent); and
2. Each player in the match should take their full CH, and not bother applying the difference between the two players (each player takes their strokes as they would fall).

Although it is certainly up to a Committee conducting an official competition to determine allowances, we use this example when responding to singles match play allowances: If 80 per cent is taken, a 1 handicapper becomes a 0.8 which rounds to 1, and 80 per cent of a 30 handicapper is 24 (6 strokes less). Does that setup really provide equity? Second, in singles matches, it is not permissible to allow each player to use their handicap and apply it fully to the allocation table. This is because the majority of handicap stroke holes are established to maximize the number of halved holes in a match by assigning strokes where higher handicapped players most need them. If matches are conducted by taking full CR, the lower handicapped player has a slightly greater advantage, and the result is more holes won on those higher stroke holes by the lower handicapped player. That’s a fact, and you’ll have to trust that some very smart people set up the system for equity, and differing substantially from their recommendation breaks the model down (and believe me these guys have run serious statistical data modelling to base their decisions from).

As a quick aside, there are some unique Match Play formats that allow you to play your partner’s ball, or take a total score for your team on each hole. I recommend reading Section 9-4 of the Golf Canada Manual that outlines many formats/games in detail.

STABLEFORD:

Our friends in Australia use Stableford more than any other golfing nation. Scoring is simple, points are awarded in relation to a fixed score (usually par or net par) on each hole. Points are accumulated and the highest point total at the end of the round wins. Have a look at the table for the point breakdown.

An alternative is Modified Stableford, which the PGA TOUR has glamourized, that uses the following point system:

• Double Eagle: 8 pts
• Eagle: 5 Pts
• Birdie: 2 Pts
• Par: 0 Pts
• Bogey: -1 Pt
• Double Bogey or higher: -3 Pts.

FOUR-BALL:

Would you like a partner to help out once in a while? If yes, then this is your game. Four-Ball is also known as “Better Ball” where you and your partner both play your own ball but the lowest score between partners counts for the team. At times, you’ll find having a partner to rely on a relief, and you may even putt a little bolder knowing you have a backup. Partnered events are great for strategy, camaraderie and fun. And, a four-ball game can be played as stroke play or match play. Fourball is a fairly popular format played in Member/Guest events.

What’s the coolest thing about playing Stableford, Match Play, Four-Ball games, or combining them? For one, these forms play fast (that’s a fact). Think about it, you don’t have to grind out a messy hole for a high score. If you aren’t able to score any points or better your competitors or partners score, just pick your ball up knowing you start fresh on the next hole. That equates to a good pace of play (in competitions or fun play). For clubs struggling to get participation in some of your Club Championships, especially in higher handicapped flights, try using Stableford; it will help participation/sign-ups. Second, we believe new golfers and higher handicapped golfers will appreciate being introduced to these partnered formats. They certainly won’t feel as much pressure or intimidation knowing they have a partner to rely on, or that they could pick up their ball with no real harm.

Let’s start a movement towards team play and match play. In one of your upcoming rounds, try one of these formats or make a push to try it at your club, league, men’s/women’s night. We think it will add to the enjoyment of your round. These games are all used on Tours in one shape or form whether it’s in the PGA TOUR’s President’s Cup, LPGA’s Solheim Cup, or the Ryder Cup. Don’t those players look like they’re having fun?

WOBURN, England – England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick birdied his final two holes to card a seven-under par round of 64 and lead by one stroke after the first day of the British Masters at Woburn on Thursday.

Fitzpatrick made six birdies and an eagle in his opening round to edge ahead of Marc Warren, Lee Slattery, Soren Kjeldsen and Robert Karlsson, who all shot a 65.

“It doesn’t get better than that,” Fitzpatrick. “I think tee to green, it is pretty tough. If you don’t hit it in the fairway, the rough isn’t deep but it is quite wet, so it clings. It is difficult to get it to the full, normal distance of your irons.”

The 21-year-old Fitzpatrick won the 2013 U.S Amateur Championship as well as taking the silver medal in the British Open at Muirfield later that year for finishing tied 44th, the highest placed rookie.

His first professional appearance was at last year’s Irish Open but he had to rely on invites to compete in the remainder of the European Tour’s events. He secured his card at Qualifying School in Spain in November for his first full campaign.

This season, Fitzpatrick has already recorded five top-five finishes, including second at the European Masters in Switzerland in July, and his prize money for the year stands at 681,640 euros ($770,882). But he is still seeking his first victory.

“I missed quite a few cuts in a row at the start of the year even though I felt like I was playing all right,” Fitzpatrick said. “Now, I’ve played decent and I’m getting the results I have been looking for. I have been getting so much experience, week-to-week learning more about myself and about tournaments and that has been the biggest thing.”

Bridgestone Invitational winner Shane Lowry is two shots behind Fitzpatrick following a five-under 66, alongside Irish compatriot Padraig Harrington.

Ian Poulter, who is hosting the tournament at his home course, had to overcome some tension caused by his extra responsibilities before his three-under 68.

“I felt nervous on the first tee today, on the 10th, and that is a feeling I haven’t had for a little while,” Poulter said. “But it was nice feeling. I was pretty pumped last night, I was excited and I could not drop off to sleep. Coming out today and seeing everyone on the course, it was a great day.”

When the Golf Canada Calgary Centre was established in 2001, the strategy was very clear-cut—create a well-rounded training facility (academy, range, executive par-3 and mini golf) that delivers best-in-class programming and an inviting experience to all types of golfers.

Since its inception, the Calgary Centre has been at the forefront of quality junior programming in Canada. For Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer, Jeff Thompson, the Calgary Centre continues to push the needle when it comes to junior golf and Long-Term Player Development.

“The Calgary Centre has been our flagship facility with respect to piloting programming and coaching programs that appeal to all types of golfers—including schools in the community, women’s groups and families looking to get involved with competitive golf programs,” said Thompson. “The coaches and instructors on staff have done a tremendous job in maximizing programs available to them such as CN Future Links and Golf in Schools. It is our vision that National Junior Golf Development Centres like the Calgary Centre will lead the way when setting an example for best-in-class junior facilities.”

Seven PGA of Canada Class “A” professionals are on staff at the Calgary Centre, delivering a full suite of junior programs, including the Get Linked initiative which provides grants that connect CN Future Links facilities to nearby Golf in Schools sites.

To find a National Junior Golf Development Centre in your area, visit the Golf Canada Juniors website: golfcanada.ca/juniors

To learn more about the Golf Canada Calgary Centre, click here

Odyssey Golf has officially announced the new Odyssey Works Tank Cruiser line of putters which feature the high performance Fusion RX insert, and adjustable weighting options in the head and grip for improved stability and feel. The line of putters, which uses the company’s Versa high contrast alignment, is made up of 4 popular Odyssey head shapes: #7, V-Line, #1 Wide and 2-Ball Fang.

The adjustable counterbalance weighting is designed so golfers can fine-tune the weighting to match their putting stroke. A heavier counterbalance can help take the hands and wrists out of the stroke for a smoother, more consistent motion while a lighter counterbalance weight helps activate the hands for a more “feel” type of stroke.

With adjustable head weights, a heavier head can add stability and a lighter head can provide more feel. The head weights in the #7, V-Line and #1 Wide models can be adjusted to 365 grams, 375 grams or 385 grams. The 2-Ball Fang head weight can be adjusted to 375 grams, 385 grams or 395 grams. These putter models also come standard with a Superstroke grip.

Odyssey Principal Designer, Austie Rollinson noted, “There’s a lot of versatility with these adjustable weighting options. The whole platform of this adjustability is to give you stability throughout the stroke. And when you add all of the other great technologies, you have a great package.”

Charles-Éric Bélanger has an enviable attitude towards golf.  “Golf is a passion for me and every ball I hit, every shot I make, brings a special feeling,” he says. “Through golf, I meet great people and friends everywhere.  I enjoy everything about it.  It’s a great game.  I love it.”

That’s a mature and balanced perspective for just about anyone; it is even more impressive when it comes from a 16-year-old, but not just any 16-year-old.

In August, Bélanger became the first Canadian Junior Boys’ champion from Quebec since 1976.  Since the tournament’s Juvenile Division was introduced in 1970, Bélanger is only the seventh champion to capture both the Junior and Juvenile titles in the same year and only the third to do so in his home province.  It wasn’t easy. He needed a one-hole playoff to thwart Maxwell Sear of Unionville, Ont., at Summerlea Golf & Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que. Raphaël Lapierre-Messier of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., and Henry Lee of Coquitlam, B.C., finished tied for third place.

“To win the national championship is something I am very proud of,” Bélanger said.  “It is a great honour for me.  It is a huge accomplishment and an objective I had in my junior career.”

Bélanger points to his father, Patrick, as his inspiration.  A member at Royal Quebec Golf Club, Patrick introduced his son to the club when the boy was eight and, a couple of years later, Charles-Éric says, “I started to feel the love for the game.  I started playing in some tournaments for fun and to experience competitive play when I was around 11-years-old.  My father never put any pressure on me, but he has been a great support.”

Bélanger attributes much of his progress to Académie de golf Fred Colgan, which is associated with his high school, Académie Saint- Louis in Quebec City.

While Bélanger’s immediate goal is to become part of Team Canada’s Development Squad, he hopes his golf eventually provides him with a scholarship to an NCAA university.  He is focused on getting a good education before making any decision on turning pro. “Like my father always said: ‘Work hard, enjoy yourself and have fun. Never forget to smile and that golf is a game’.”

With a parental attitude like that, it is no wonder Charles-Éric Bélanger is mature beyond his years.

Also in August, 18-year-old Michelle Kim finished off a terrific year by winning the Canadian Junior Girls’ Championship at Deer Park Golf Course in Yorkton, Sask.

The 18-year-old Team Canada Development Squad member’s third-round 69 propelled her ahead of the competition with a four-stroke lead through 54 holes; she went on to finish the championship at six-under-par 286.

“This is probably the biggest achievement that I’ve ever made,” said Kim, who now is a freshman at the University of Idaho.  “It feels amazing especially because it is my last junior tournament and I’ve worked really hard.”

Hannah Lee, a fellow Surrey, B.C., native, finished her final round at two-under-par to claim solo second at four-under for the championship. The 15-year-old won the national Juvenile title as a result.  Her opening-round 66 was a new competitive course record.  Rounding out the top three in the overall standings was Team Canada Development Squad member Naomi Ko, a 17-year-old from Victoria who is headed to North Carolina State.

“Michelle is quiet, but fierce,” says Ann Carroll, the women’s Development Squad’s head coach.  “Her strong suits are her mental game and short game.  She works for hours and hours on her putting and certainly puts in the hours on the range.”

That dedication and hard work paid off this season; in addition to the Canadian Junior, Kim also claimed the B.C. Junior and B.C. Amateur titles as well as the CJGA’s Western Canadian Junior Championship.

Lambton Golf and Country Club, home of George S. Lyon, was proud to host a special day on Thursday, September 24 to honour Mr. Lyon.   This marked the 111th anniversary to the day that he won the last golf gold medal at the 1904 Olympics.

Three of his descendants joined in for the celebration and it was a special moment as the trio gathered around the Olympic Cup for pictures.

His granddaughter, Mary Lou Morgan, remembers her grandfather fondly and recalls the joy she felt on her family’s usual visits for Sunday tea.  She remembers her grandfather’s diabetes and his need for insulin injections as she and her sister looked on with curiosity.

George S. Lyon played a very important role in the development of Lambton – he was one of eight members on the original committee to fund, build and attract members to Lambton Golf and Country Club.  George would work half-days at his insurance business downtown and then head to Lambton where he would work tirelessly with Willie Dunn, a top UK golf designer of the time, to oversee construction of the course.  George was golf captain for 23 years and was a key opinion leader and icon throughout that time.

In 2010/11, Rees Jones, the “Open Doctor”, completely redesigned the Championship course with state-of-the-art grasses, bunkers and sub-air systems. However, one tree on hole #9 was sacrosanct.  Referred to as the “Lyon Oak”, the tree has been a proud tribute to George S. Lyon honouring the days when George used to fly his ball over this grand old oak as he went for birdie.

This past August, when Lambton co-hosted the Canadian Amateur, hole #9 played the hardest for the impressive field of players and the Lyon Oak continued to cause top players to re-think their strategy.

Gerry McLeod, Sandy Somers, Mary Lou Morgan, Ross Wigle and Bob Beaumont (Wendy Boyd/ Lambton Golf and Country Club)

It was a special moment indeed when Mr. Lyon’s granddaughter, Mary Lou Morgan and his two great-grandsons, Ross Wigle and Sandy Somers, gathered in front of the Lyon Oak, alongside Lambton President Bob Beaumont and Vice-President Gerry McLeod, to celebrate George S. Lyon’s extraordinary character and varied accomplishments.