Thomas Aiken wins Africa Open after play-off

Ireland’s Damien McGrane tied for ninth on 16 under after closing round of 65, Hoey eight under

Thomas Aiken of South Africa won the Africa Open at East London Golf Club after a play-off with England’s Oliver Fisher. Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Thomas Aiken kept the Africa Open in South African hands by defeating England’s Oliver Fisher in a play-off to claim his third European Tour title on Sunday.

Aiken birdied the first extra hole at East London Golf Club after the pair had finished tied on 20 under par, joining compatriots Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen (twice) and Darren Fichardt in lifting the trophy.

Ireland’s Damien McGrane finished in a share of ninth place on 16 under, thanks to a final round of 65. Michael Hoey (70) finished on eight under.

• Two-shot lead for William McGirt in California

Fisher narrowly missed a birdie putt on the 18th to win in regulation but then missed the green when the players returned to the same hole for the play-off, and was facing a 15ft par attempt before Aiken made sure of victory by holing from 35ft.

Aiken, with his wife Kate acting as his caddie for the week, had carded a closing 67 while Fisher returned a 69 in pursuit of his second European Tour title.

England’s David Horsey birdied four of his last six holes to shoot a final round of 65 and claim a share of third place on 19 under alongside American John Hahn.

Overnight leader Emiliano Grillo was in a four-strong group a shot further back after birdies at the last five holes repaired some of the damage of a quintuple-bogey nine on the opening hole.

Grillo held a two-shot lead thanks to a brilliant 62 on Saturday, but the 21-year-old Argentinian had already taken a penalty drop from an unplayable lie when he chipped his fourth shot into a greenside bunker, from where he needed two attempts to escape.

His sixth shot had rolled back off the green however and after chipping up to seven feet, he needed two putts to complete an extraordinary opening hole and drop his first shot since his 15th hole on Thursday.

Rory McIlroy drawn to meet Boo Weekley

Graeme McDowell will take on Gary Woodland at WGC Match Play in Tucson

Graeme McDowell will meet Gary Woodland in the first round of the WGC Match Play in Arizona.

Rory McIlroy takes on Boo Weekley in the first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona which gets under way this week.

The 24-year-old, who lost out to eventual winner Hunter Mahan in the 2012 final, comes up against Weekley in a late-morning start on Wednesday.

Graeme McDowell will take on Gary Woodland while former winner Ian Poulter faces another American in Rickie Fowler to kick off the action.

Luke Donald, who won the event in 2011, faces Italian Matteo Manassero in the Player Division and fellow Englishman Lee Westwood — looking for his 40th career title — starts with an opening round against Harris English.

Former winner Henrik Stenson of Sweden, winner at the Gallery Golf Club in 2007, is due to take on Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibanrat just after noon.

Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher comes up against Ernie Els in one of the later matches of the day, while defending home champion Matt Kuchar takes on Austrian Bernd Wiesberger.

Jamie Donaldson of Wales tees off against Billy Horschel and Bubba Watson, who won the Northern Trust Open in California on Sunday by two shots, faces Finland’s Mikko Ilonen in an early start at the Golf Club at Dove Mountain.

First round draw (USA unless stated)

Henrik Stenson (Sweden) v Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand)
Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) v Nick Watney
Brandt Snedeker v David Lynn (England)
Webb Simpson v Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand)
Jason Day (Australia) v Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark)
Jamie Donaldson (Wales) v Billy Horschel
Steve Stricker v George Coetzee (South Africa)
Graham DeLaet (Canada) v Patrick Reed
Justin Rose (England) v Scott Piercy
Ernie Els (South Africa) v Stephen Gallacher (Scotland)
Jason Dufner v Scott Stallings
Luke Donald (England) v Matteo Manassero (Italy)
Matt Kuchar v Bernd Wiesberger (Austria)
Ryan Moore v Joost Luiten (Netherlands)
Jordan Spieth v Pablo Larrazabal (Spain)
Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) v Francesco Molinari (Italy)
Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) v Boo Weekley
Lee Westwood (England) v Harris English
Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) v Kevin Stadler
Jim Furyk v Chris Kirk
Sergio Garcia (Spain) v Marc Leishman (Australia)
Bill Haas v Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain)
Ian Poulter (England) v Rickie Fowler
Jimmy Walker v Branden Grace (South Africa)
Zach Johnson v Richard Sterne (South Africa)
Hunter Mahan v Gonzalo Fenz-Castano (Spain)
Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) v Gary Woodland
Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) v Martin Kaymer (Germany)
Dustin Johnson v Peter Hanson (Sweden)
Victor Dubuisson (France) v Kevin Streelman
Bubba Watson v Mikko Ilonen (Finland)
Keegan Bradley v Jonas Blixt (Sweden)

Eisenhower’s Trees goes – 45 years after Ike

Former US president’s golfing bete noire bites the dust following Augusta ice storm

Augusta National’s famed Eisenhower Tree can be seen on the left side of the fairway in this file photograph of Tiger Woods teeing off at the 17th hole during the 2005 US Masters at Augusta National. Photograph: Shaun .

Some 45 years after his death, former US president Dwight D Eisenhower has had his way. By freak of nature, admittedly, rather than by design.

Eisenhower’s deep distaste for a sprawling loblolly pine tree, 210 yards distant and to the left off the 17th tee at Augusta National Golf Club, was such that he campaigned for it to be cut down. The reasoning for this was simple: Eisenhower, an Augusta member, kept hitting tee shots into the tree.

In keeping with Augusta’s tradition of not bowing to even those in high office, Eisenhower’s 1956 bid was swiftly rejected at a meeting of club council. (Dwight D “Ike” Eisenhower had been an Augusta member since 1948.)

Famous victimOn Sunday, it was announced that a severe spell of weather in Augusta had claimed a famous victim. The landmark affectionately named “Eisenhower’s Tree” has been removed, after spells of snow and wind culminated in an ice storm which damaged its branches beyond repair.

“Like so many of our family, friends and neighbours in this community, Augusta National Golf Club has been busy cleaning up after the historic ice storm last week,” saidBilly Payne, the club’s chairman.

“Everyone affected remains in our hearts and prayers, and we likewise hope for a speedy and complete recovery for all.

“The loss of the Eisenhower Tree is difficult news to accept. We obtained opinions from the best arborists available and, unfortunately, were advised that no recovery was possible.

“We have begun deliberations of the best way to address the future of the 17th hole and to pay tribute to this iconic symbol of our history. Rest assured, we will do both appropriately.”

The planting of another tree, therefore, is entirely possible. As is the placement of a plaque marking this iconic site at the host venue of the Masters. Those running Augusta National have proved perfectly capable down the years of making modern alterations look like parts of ancient history.

With the first golfing major of the year now less than two months away, Payne insisted preparations had been unaffected aside from the Eisenhower Tree removal.

Although most modern Masters competitors had the ability and power not to have been troubled by the tree, Tiger Woods once had cause to share the former president’s sentiment. In 2011, Woods played a shot from an awkward position underneath the tree and duly injured both his left knee and achilles.

Jack Nicklaus, a six-time Masters winner, said: “The Eisenhower Tree was such an iconic fixture and symbol of tradition at Augusta National. It was such an integral part of the game and one that will be sorely missed.

Kind choice“Over the years, it’s come into play many, many times on the 17th hole. When I stood on the 17th tee, my first thought, always, was to stay away from Ike’s Tree. I hit it so many times over the years that I don’t care to comment on the names I called myself and the names I might have called the tree. Ike’s Tree was a kind choice. But looking back, Ike’s Tree will be greatly missed.” –
Guardian Service