Golf: Nobilo right behind Woods

KUALA LUMPUR - New Zealand's Frank Nobilo ended a wretched season with his best four-round display in two years after a rousing performance at the World Cup of Golf yesterday.

Nobilo finished second in the individual standings, nine shots behind world No 1 Tiger Woods, with a 12-under-par total that included a mistake-free last round on the Mines Resort course.

Woods closed with a six-under 65 to spearhead the United States to their 22nd win in the 45-year history of the 32-nation two-man teams event, six strokes ahead of their nearest rivals Spain.

Ireland finished third at 14 under with the New Zealand side of Nobilo and Stephen Scahill 10th on four under.

Woods, competing in the event for the first time, finished 21-under-par to easily capture the individual trophy for the lowest four-round total.

His team-mate Mark O'Meara ended with a disappointing five-over 76 for a three-under total.

Woods, 23 and collecting his 10th title of the season, pocketed $US100,000 ($197,280) for his individual World Cup success and a further $US200,000 for his share of the American team's win.

Nobilo yesterday recorded a four-under 67 while team-mate Stephen Scahill fired a 69, easily his best round of the event, to earn $US12,000 each for their joint effort.

Nobilo's late burst of form came too late for him to retain his playing card on the US PGA Tour on which he hopes to play next year on sponsors' invites.

"You could probably count the number of poor shots I've hit on one hand, which is something I haven't been able to say for some time."

Nobilo recorded earlier rounds of 69, 68 and 68 in what he described as his best scoring display since winning the 1997 Hong Kong Open.

For Scahill, competing for New Zealand for a first time in the professional ranks, yesterday's round came as a relief after earlier rounds of 77, 70 and 76. He recorded five birdies, three of them in the closing four holes.

Scahill now heads to Sydney for the Australian Open starting on Thursday while Nobilo heads home to Florida where he'll start an intensive fitness programme.
- NZPA