Golf Digest/LYTHAM TROPHY: Rory McIIroy put up a tenacious fight before fellow Walker Cup squad member Lloyd Saltman finally got the better of him in the Lytham Trophy to complete a wire-to-wire victory.
The 18-year-old from Belfast club Holywood was always two or three shots adrift of his opponent from the first day but he drew level after five holes in the final round and the pair, who are great friends, remained deadlocked until the 14th.
McIIroy handed back the advantage when he drove into the uncompromising Royal Lytham and St Annes rough and fell a stroke behind.
Bunker trouble led to bogeys on the final two holes as he posted a 74, three shots adrift of Saltman, who closed with 73 for a five-under-par total.
"I'm disappointed but I don't mind losing to Lloyd because he's such a great player," said McIIroy. "I had a bad finish but the holes are hard coming in and I hit a few poor shots which cost me. I played well but now I will have to go to Ireland this week to try to make up for it."
Ironically, he is paired again with Saltman in the Irish Strokeplay Championship, which starts at Royal Dublin on Friday.
Welshman Nigel Edwards returned a 71, the best score on a wet and windy afternoon, to share second place with McIIroy.
Ben Parker was fourth, six off the pace, as Walker Cup players occupied the leading positions, much to the delight of team captain Colin Dalgleish.
LET TOUR: Australia's Nikki Garrett yesterday captured her first European Tour title in the Tenerife Open at Golf del Sur.
The talented 23-year-old posted four birdies and four bogeys in testing conditions for the 72 that saw her finish on one-under-par 287, two clear of England's Trish Johnson (71) and Spain's Tania Elosegui (72).
Garrett was forced to hit a provisional ball off the first tee but found her opening drive and made par while overnight co-leaders, Sophie Sandolo and Becky Brewerton, both bogeyed the hole. Two shots clear at the turn, Garrett was caught by Elosegui after a bogey on the 15th but promptly made a birdie on the next, which proved decisive.
PGA TOUR: Tiger Woods was last night on course for victory in the Wachovia Championship in North Carolina.
Despite dropping a shot on the par three 17th, Woods, on 13 under, held a two shot lead over his nearest rival, Steve Stricker, who finished with a three-under-par round of 69.
Padraig Harrington, who had a disastrous 79 on Saturday, finished with a 69 for a one over par total of 289.
