Bradley, Steele to defend title
BY Associated Press
Friday, December 07, 2012
12/07/12 at 6:01 AM
Keegan Bradley and Brendan Steele are defending their title in the Franklin Templeton Shootout, and Dustin Johnson and Ian Poulter also are back for the first time since winning the team event.
Last year, Bradley and Steele became the first PGA Tour rookies to win the Greg Norman-run tournament, shooting a 13-under 59 in the final-round scramble for a three-stroke victory. Bradley is coming off a second-place finish Sunday in Tiger Woods' World Challenge in California.
Johnson and Poulter won in 2010, then skipped the event last year because of scheduling conflicts.
The 12-team tournament begins Friday in Naples, Fla., at Tiburon - "shark" in Spanish - with a modified alternate-shot round. The team will play better ball Saturday, and finish with a scramble Sunday.
Norman is teaming with Fredrik Jacobson, and the field also features the teams of Davis Love III-Brandt Snedeker, Bud Cauley-Rickie Fowler, Justin Leonard-Scott Verplank, Jerry Kelly-Steve Stricker, Charles Howell III-Rory Sabbatini and Jason Dufner-Vijay Singh
Senden leads Australian Open at 66: Australia's John Senden shot a 6-under 66 on Thursday in calm morning conditions at The Lakes to take a two-stroke lead in the Australian Open.
Englishman Justin Rose was second along with Australians Kim Felton, Brendan Jones and Richard Green and New Zealand's Gareth Paddison.
Schwartzel opens 7-under at Thailand: South Africa's Charl Schwartzel shot a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Thailand Golf Championship. Winless since the 2011 Masters, Schwartzel had seven birdies in a bogey-free round at Amata Spring.
Thailand's Thitiphun Chuayprakong was second. Masters champion Bubba Watson opened with a 68, and defending champion Lee Westwood had a 70.
Fend leads Dubai Ladies Masters: China's Shanshan Feng opened a four-stroke lead in the Dubai Ladies Masters, shooting a 7-under 65 in the second round at Emirates Golf Club.
England's Felicity Johnson was second after a 67.
Nelson Mandela Championship rained out: Rain has washed out play in the inaugural Nelson Mandela Championship. The event opens the 2013 European Tour season and also is sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour.
