Golf Digest

A round up of today's other golf stories in brief...

A round up of today's other golf stories in brief...

Injury rules Donald out of Open

BRITISH OPEN:Luke Donald will miss next week's British Open because of a left-wrist injury that may require surgery.

Donald injured a tendon during a tee-shot in the final round of last month's US Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course and was forced to withdraw from the tournament.

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"I first felt a pop in my wrist on the 15th tee," said Donald.

For the past three weeks, Donald has been visiting hand specialists to determine the best treatment.

Doctors told the 30-year-old Englishman to take the next three to four weeks off, keeping him out of the British Open, to be played at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.

Donald, the winner of six events around the world, said he's optimistic the injury will heal without surgery, though it hasn't been ruled out.

"If surgery is deemed necessary, I have been assured that it is a fairly common procedure with a high success rate," he said.

US TOUR:American Will MacKenzie took a two-shot clubhouse lead over South Korean Charlie Wi at the John Deere Classic at Silvis, Illinois, yesterday.

MacKenzie fired a bogey-free seven-under-par 64 in his second round to follow his 65 on Thursday and take him to 13-under-par 129 overall.

The American, who has struggled for consistent form after a knee injury, said he was finally feeling confident.

"I'm just trying to stay committed and hit it at my target and have great rhythm. There's good stuff going on in my golf swing, in my golf game," he said.

Wi, joint overnight leader with Ken Duke, shot 67 yesterday to end on 11 under par, a shot ahead of American Brad Adamonis, who added a second 66 for a total of 132.

The South Korean, who produced five birdies but bogeyed the par four 14th, was pleased with a second good round.

"I'm hitting the ball really solid. I continued my solid ball-striking today and made some putts out there. I left a couple of putts out there, but pretty pleased with the round today," he said.

CHALLENGE TOUR:Some sizzling strokeplay from Rafael Cabrera Bello saw the young Spaniard equal the course record of 64 for a 131 total and establish a three-shot lead on day two of the Credit Suisse Challenge.

It was a day of two halves at Wylihof Golf Club in Luterbach, Switzerland, with the morning starters able to take advantage of perfect playing conditions, while the afternoon groups were forced to contend with heavy showers and thunderstorms, which caused play to be suspended for an hour.

Yet despite the adverse weather, Cabrera Bello's compatriot Santiago Luna still managed to card seven birdies to finish on 12-under-par 134.

Michael McGeady added a second round 71 for a halfway total of 141, while Gareth Maybin slipped back after a 75 for 142. Colm Moriarty missed the cut after a 71 left him on 145.

AMATEUR:Ireland battled bravely but went down to Italy in the second flight of the European Women's Team Championship over Sweden's Stenungsund course yesterday.

They lost 3-2 and will now face Belgium in the 15th place play-off today, while Holland, after pipping England, tackle Sweden for the title after the Swedes ended Spain's domination of the tournament.

Dawn Marie Conaty and Maura Morrin were outclassed in the foursomes by Alessandra Averna and Camilla Patussi and they lost 4 and 3 and after that it was downhill.

Tara Delaney and Danielle McVeigh won their matches but defeats for Gillian O'Leary and Niamh Kitching ended Ireland's hopes.

BOYS:In the European Boys Team Championship at Bled in Slovenia, Ireland also lost to Italy 3-2 with Paul Dunne and Reeve Whitson getting the Irish points.

Today Ireland play Germany in the seventh place play-off.

GIRLS:Ireland lost both foursomes to Germany in the European Girls Team Championship at Murcar, Scotland, and despite winning two of the singles through 13-year-old Lisa Maguire and Sarah Cunningham, they still suffered defeat.

Remarkably, Sweden reached the finals of all three championships and will today face Holland in the women's event, Norway in the boys and England in the girls.