European star Pettersen out of Solheim Cup with back injury

Veteran Norwegian golfer Suzann Pettersen was hoping to move past the furor she created at the 2015 Solheim Cup by helping return the trophy to Europe. Pettersen's balky back won't let her get that opportunity. Pettersen announced Wednesday that she was pulling out of this weekend's biennial tournament between the U.S. and Europe because a slipped disk. Scotland's Catriona Matthew, another longtime Solheim competitor, will take Pettersen's place when play begins Friday at Des Moines Golf and Country Club. Pettersen angered the Americans in Germany two years ago by insisting that Alison Lee be penalized for picking up her ball when she thought her short second putt had been conceded. The U.S.

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  LPGA expects record crowds for Solheim Cup

  Golf Channel
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  Matthew replaces Pettersen on Europe Solheim Cup golf team

  AFP

Discharged Bae 'dying to play golf'

With his stint in the South Korean military now over, two-time PGA Tour winner Sangmoon Bae is eager to turn his attention back to golf. Bae has not played since the 2015 Presidents Cup in Korea, after which he began a 21-month military obligation that is required of all able-bodied Korean men between the ages of 18 and 35. He was discharged from the Korean army on Wednesday and released a statement via the Asian Tour to express his excitement at getting back out on the course. "I've had such great memories serving in the military, and I feel that I've grown a lot stronger," Bae said. "I did a lot of weight lifting and running to improve my conditioning, and I am not concerned about my fitness

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  Bae Sang-moon set for pro golf return following military service

  Yahoo7
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  Sang Moon Bae completes his military work, planning return to golf

  CBS Sports

Pepperdine's Sahith Theegala survives thrilling first-round U.S. Amateur match

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Even as a quarterfinalist in last year’s U.S. Amateur, Sahith Theegala didn’t emerge as a nationally-recognized talent until he qualified for the 2017 Genesis Open. Having never played Riviera until one day before qualifying, Theegala made the cut, was paired with Phil Mickelson and finished an admirable T-49.   The Pepperdine junior-to-be also qualified for the 2017 U.S. Open, where he missed the cut but enjoyed a late evening practice round with the last two national champions, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka. Yet the highlight of his week – and maybe his year – was playing before family and friends in a thrilling first round U.S. Amateur match against Gavin Hall.