Alfredsson fires career-low 62 for Sybase lead

Golf Betting Lines

05/14/2009 - Clifton, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It was only the first round, but Helen Alfredsson was still nervous standing over her last putt.

"I never shot 62 before," she said.

Until now.

Alfredsson, an 18-year veteran of the LPGA Tour, fired a career-best 10-under 62 in chilly, rainy conditions Thursday to take a two-shot lead at the Sybase Classic.

It was one of those days, the 44-year-old Alfredsson said, when the game seems easy.

"When [you] play good, you wonder why you don't do this all the time because it's so easy," she said. "It's not strenuous, your head is not going crazy, your body doesn't hurt. At my age all that stuff usually comes along with it. So you don't know why."

Alfredsson holed a 70-yard shot for eagle at her second hole -- the par-five 11th -- then collected nine birdies the rest of the way while only making one bogey.

She established a new tournament scoring record, but could have gone even lower. She had a three-putt par at No. 18.

"I was actually pretty close to the pin all day. I hit some good shots, kept myself out of trouble, which is nice for a change," said Alfredsson.

Brittany Lincicome's eight-under 64 was also a career-best, but it left her sitting alone in second place behind Alfredsson.

Suzann Pettersen shot a seven-under 65 for third place and Ji Young Oh had a six-under 66 for fourth.

Alfredsson's low score means many top stars will have to play catch-up over the next three rounds at Upper Montclair Country Club.

Karrie Webb (70), Michelle Wie (70), Natalie Gulbis (70), Paula Creamer (70) and defending champion Lorena Ochoa (71) all posted respectable numbers that paled in comparison to Alfredsson's 62.

"She's a streaky player. When she gets hot, she's hot," said Pettersen. "Obviously she played pretty good today."

Alfredsson followed her eagle at No. 11 with three consecutive birdies, including a chip-in from the edge of the green at the 13th.

She made her only bogey of the round at the 15th, where she three-putted, but followed that with two straight birdies to make the turn in just 30 shots.

At that point, a 59 was not out of the question.

Annika Sorenstam, who announced her retirement ahead of this tournament last year, is the only LPGA Tour player who has ever shot a 59 in competition.

Alfredsson's scoring barrage slowed down on the front nine, however, although she did manage to make four more birdies. A six-foot birdie putt at the par- three eighth -- and that "nervous" par putt on No. 9 -- secured her lowest round in 365 LPGA Tour events.

Last year was a comeback season of sorts for the seven-time LPGA Tour winner from Sweden.

After a herniated disk limited her to just 11 events in 2007 -- she also captained the losing European Solheim Cup team that year -- Alfredsson won twice in 2008, including the lucrative Evian Masters.

"I just wanted to give it two more years," she said. "I felt as good as I've done since I started playing, and it was just fun to get another chance at it.

"It would be nice to do it again."

Nikkansport Golf Betting News

<< Inter's Crespo to play through pain
Milan, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hernan Crespo has vowed to play through the pain barrier in a bid to win a new Inter Milan contract. The veteran Argentine striker was expected to miss the remainder of the season after limping out of las

<< Bourn and Astros run past Rockies
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michael Bourn went 4-for-5 with a double and stole home, as the Houston Astros topped the Colorado Rockies, 5-3, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Coors Field. Carlos Lee homered and Hunter P

<< Cats loanees wait on Sbragia
Sunderland, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia will not discuss the futures of any of the clubs loan players until the season is over. The Black Cats remained haunted by fears of relegation and until the outcome of th

<< Santa Cruz still wants Rovers exit
Blackburn, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz has reiterated his desire to leave Blackburn Rovers at the end of the season. Santa Cruz, 27, was the subject of several unsuccessful bids from Manchester City i

<< Lovenkrands eyes Toon stay
Newcastle, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Striker Peter Lovenkrands is the latest Newcastle United player to reveal his desire to remain at St James' Park beyond the end of the season. The Denmark international joined the Magpies on a short-term

MLB changes ruling on Kendrick homer >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Major League Baseball has reversed a scoring decision from last Friday's game between Kansas City and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, concerning Howie Kendrick's inside-the-park homer. In t

Mathis' hit lifts Angels past Red Sox in 12 innings >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Mathis' RBI single in the bottom of the 12th sent the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim over Boston, 5-4, in the rubber match of a three-game series. Facing Manny Delcarmen (1-1), Juan Rivera began the

Cubs' Bradley has suspension reduced to one game >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley has had his suspension, which was handed down last month, reduced from two games to one. On April 18, Major League Baseball suspended Bradley two games and fined

Leonard, Goydos share Texas Open lead >>
San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Justin Leonard and Paul Goydos both shot seven-under 63s on Thursday to share the first-round lead at the Texas Open. Leonard, the three-time Texas Open champion, chipped in from 62 feet for a birdie

Canucks re-sign Bernier; Demitra to have surgery >>
Vancouver, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Vancouver Canucks re-signed forward Steve Bernier to a contract extension on Thursday and announced that forward Pavol Demitra will have surgery. Bernier, who was to become a free agent, tallied 1

Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

Bet on NFL

Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

Bet on NFL

Mysportsbook.com online online sportsbook accepts Visa & Mastercard