Donald Trump’s plans to build an exclusive golf course in Aberdeen, Scotland, have been denied by a Scottish Council, The Associated Press is reporting today. “Mr. Trump is shocked, extremely disappointed and dismayed at this decision,” George Sorial, managing director of Trump International Golf Resorts, told the AP."This is certainly not something we expected.” Aberdeen’s city council finally pulled the plug on the estimated $2.1 billion resort, which has faced strong local opposition, especially from environmentalists concerned about the sand dunes on which the course was to be built, which they say should be protected. Trump has been trying to build the golf ...

Jane Park has a two-stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA Final Qualifying tournament after opening with a 7-under-par 65 yesterday at LPGA International. The top 17 players after the fifth round Sunday will receive 2008 LPGA Tour cards … Craig Parry, Paul Sheehan and Matthew Woods all shot 4-under 68s yesterday to share the lead at the New Zealand Open. A two-time PGA Tour winner, Parry had five birdies and a bogey on The Hills Golf Club course in Queenstown … At GolfArizona.com, Senior Staff Writer Chris Baldwin writes about Phoenix-Scottsdale’s top underdog golf courses.

Stephen Ames earned a $675,000 paycheck Sunday by winning the Skins Game in Indian Wells, Calif. Ames finished with nine skins for his second consecutive victory in the event … Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren won the World Cup Sunday. They defeated Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum at Mission Hills Golf Club … “It’s been a long time for Scotland to win the World Cup, since 1953,” Montgomerie told the media. “There was pressure to come back after a playoff loss like we did last year, which was disappointing.” Meanwhile, Aaron Baddeley defeated Daniel Chopra in the Australian Masters at the weekend. Closing ...

The European Tour will introduce its own version of the FedEx Cup in 2009. The “Race to Dubai” will feature a points system similar to the PGA Tour’s playoffs and culminate with the Dubai World Championship, carrying a whopping $10 million purse … Hockey great Wayne Gretzky will host the Nationwide Tour’s Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic this summer, the tour announced yesterday. The announcement comes close on the heels of news that Justin Timberlake will host a PGA Tour event in Las Vegas … At GolfCourseRealty.com, Senior Staff Writer Chris Baldwin writes about Donald Trump’s views on the down real estate market ...

World No. 1 women’s golfer Lorena Ochoa took home the $1 million prize at the ADT Championship Sunday. The Mexican golfer shot a final-round 4-under-par 68 to defeat Natalie Gulbis by two strokes … Miguel Angel Jimenez shot a 3-under 67 yesterday at Hong Kong Golf Club to win the Hong Kong Open. He had an eagle and five birdies in his final round … The LPGA Tour has announced its new policy on drug testing next season. Players will be suspended for one year after the first positive test and face a lifetime ban for three or more offences. No distinction ...

The PGA Tour announced Tuesday only minor changes to the 2008 FedEx Cup playoff schedule. The biggest change is a bye week that will have play resuming with the Tour Championship after the Ryder Cup Matches … The PGA Tour will begin drug testing next season after a six month education program, meaning players will be held completely responsible for their actions. Commissioner Tim Finchem said yesterday that ignorance of the rules will not be accepted as a legitimate excuse … “This is not the FedEx Cup,” Finchem jokingly told the media. “You’ve got to know the details on this one.” At TravelGolf.com, ...

Curtis Strange and Hubert Green were inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame last night. Strange won consecutive U.S. Open titles and Green lifted the top trophy at the U.S. Open and PGA Championship. Also inducted yesterday, 30-year-old Se Ri Pak is the youngest player to enter the Hall of Fame … The PGA Tour announced yesterday that Justin Timberlake will become the 14th celebrity to host an official tournament at its Las Vegas event next year … “I couldn’t be more excited,” Timberlake, who reportedly has a 6-handicap, told the media. “We will make sure to make this event unique ...

It wasn’t pretty, but Phil Mickelson managed to win the HSBC Champions tournament yesterday in a three-way playoff with Ross Fisher and Lee Westwood. Mickelson shot a final round 2-over 74 for his fourth victory of 2007 and an $833,000 pay check … Meanwhile, Paula Creamer cruised to an eight-stroke victory at the Tournament of Champions Sunday. She finished with a 4-under-par 68 for a total 268, one stroke shy of the tournament record … “I wanted to break the record,'’ Creamer told the media. “It definitely was a goal of mine. But especially in the middle of the round where I ...

Paula Creamer shot a 5-under-par 67 yesterday to share the first-round lead with Meg Mallon at the Tournament of Champions. They are two strokes ahead of Suzann Pettersen, Natalie Gulbis, Pat Hurst, Mi Hyun Kim and Seon Hwa Lee … Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway and Natalie Gulbis won the Golf Skills Challenge at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort and Club this week. The duo will split the $310,000 first prize … Blue Tip golf course in Grand Cayman is Greg Norman at the top of his golf course design game, Tim McDonald writes at TravelGolf.com.

Stephen Ames won the Children’s Miracle Network Classic Sunday with a final round 4-under-par 68. He defeated Tim Clark by a stroke for his third career PGA Tour victory … U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera held off Vijay Singh to win the Singapore Open Sunday with a birdie on the final hole … “I knew that Vijay was putting together a good round and playing well,” Cabrera told reporters. “It was up to me to play well on the last two holes and I did that.” Meanwhile, Momoko Ueda finished with a 5-under 66 to take the Mizuno Classic title, becoming the event’s ...

Gavin Flint, Kane Webber and Jin Park share the lead after the first round of the $4 million Singapore Open, having all shot 5-under-par 66s today. Phil Mickelson and K.J. Choi are at 3 under … “I scored well and got the ball into the hole well,” Mickelson told reporters. “But my driving has been terrible and the worst that it’s been since I started working with [coach] Butch [Harmon].” Golf officials have amended 28 of the 34 Rules of Golf for the 2008 season. One of the most significant changes involves when a ball hits a player. The amendment reduces the ...