NEW YORK, 26 November 2004 — US Masters champion Phil Mickelson tapped in a birdie on the final hole to become the fifth player in history to shoot 59 as he charged to victory in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf event in Kauai, Hawaii on Wednesday.

The American’s 13-under-par final round gave him a five-shot winning margin over Fiji’s Vijay Singh in the 36-hole four-man $1 million event that brings together the season’s four major champions.

Overnight leader Retief Goosen of South Africa fired a four-under-par 68 to finish a shot behind world number one Singh, who matched his first-round score of 66.

British Open champion Todd Hamilton of the US slumped to a disappointing three-over-par 75 for a 36-hole total of 145, 18 shots behind the winner. Mickelson went out in 28 and his total included 11 birdies and an eagle, yet it could have been even more impressive.

The left-handed Californian stood over a 10-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole for an unprecedented 58, but his attempt curved just left of the cup. The world No. 5’s previous career low round was a 61 at the Greater Hartford Open in Connecticut in 2001. Three men in U.S. PGA Tour history, all Americans, had previously fired a 59, the first was Al Geiberger in the 1977 Memphis Classic. Chip Beck and David Duval then matched the feat before Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam became the first female to achieve the mark in 2001.

Barnes Leads Australian Open After First Round

In Sydney, former national amateur champion Kurt Barnes shot a brilliant 65 on Thursday to emerge as the unlikely first round leader of the centenary Australian Open.

The 23-year-old coalminer’s son fired in nine birdies to finish the opening day two shots clear of the field at six-under-par. Former champion Greg Chalmers was tied for second on 67 with Richard Green and Rod Pampling while Stuart Appleby and Aaron Baddeley, who also have their names inscribed on the Stonehaven Cup, were among a bunch of six players a further two shots adrift on 69. Barnes won the Australian amateur championship two years ago then quit his job as a storeman 12 months later to follow his dream of scratching out a living as a professional.

He won his first title last month when he captured the Queensland PGA with a 72-hole total of 29-under-par before making an even bigger impression on the Australian Open yesterday.

Playing in the afternoon when the wind was lighter, Barnes made a shaky start, with a double bogey on the fourth and a bogey on the next hole, but reeled off four birdies on the trot to go out in a two-under 33.

Park, Dredge Share Honors on Opening Day of China Open Golf

In Shanghai, Australian Unho Park and Welshman Bradley Dredge have their sights firmly on the Volvo China Open after sharing the opening day’s honors at Shanghai Silport Golf Club yesterday.

Park shot an accomplished five-under-par 67 which was matched by Dredge’s superb finish where he hit three birdies and an eagle in his last six holes in the one million dollar competition, jointly sanctioned for the first time by the Asian and European Tours.

A stroke back in what is the 10th Volvo China Open are a group of six players, including former European Ryder Cup star Barry Lane and India’s Amandeep Johl.

Defending champion Zhang Lian-wei of China enjoyed a strong start with a 69 as he blocked out the pain of an injured hip while the tournament’s draw card Thomas Bjorn of Denmark holed an eagle on the 18th to salvage a frustrating day on the greens en route to a 71. Former British Open champion Paul Lawrie also carded a 71 which included four birdies to stay within touching distance of the co-leaders.

Park recently underwent laser surgery on his eyes and his all-round game today was as sharp as his vision. He was five under through 10 holes but took his foot off the pedal soon after, parring home.