SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Adam Scott shot down a putter rule change suggestion by Tiger Woods on Tuesday and told golf’s governing bodies to focus on more pressing issues as the Australian leapt to the defence of controversial long putters.

Once seen as a desperate attempt by struggling golfers to change their fortunes on the greens, long putters – like the broom handle or belly putter that Scott uses – have seen a dramatic rise in popularity in professional golf.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The lure of gold medals is driving unprecedented Asian interest in rugby sevens but Olympic inclusion is having a detrimental effect on the 15-man game in key markets like China, regional official Trevor Gregory told Reuters.

The Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) vice-president was in Singapore for a Rugby Sevens World Cup qualifying event in which Guam and Indonesia will make their series debuts over the weekend as the ever-expanding game shows no sign of slowing.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The lure of gold medals is driving unprecedented Asian interest in rugby sevens but Olympic inclusion is having a detrimental affect on the 15-man game in key markets like China, regional official Trevor Gregory told Reuters.

The Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) vice-president was in Singapore for a Rugby Sevens World Cup qualifying event in which Guam and Indonesia will make their series debuts over the weekend as the ever-expanding game shows no sign of slowing.

SINGAPORE, Nov 2 (Reuters) – The lure of gold medals is driving unprecedented Asian interest in rugby sevens but Olympic inclusion is having a detrimental affect on the 15-man game in key markets like China, regional official Trevor Gregory told Reuters.

The Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) vice-president was in Singapore for a Rugby Sevens World Cup qualifying event in which Guam and Indonesia will make their series debuts over the weekend as the ever-expanding game shows no sign of slowing.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Commercialising the iconic All Black jersey with a sponsors name is not popular with Tana Umaga but the former captain told Reuters it was necessary if the World Cup winners wanted to stay ahead of the game.

The All Blacks had not had a sponsorship logo on the Adidas-branded jersey since 1999 but that ended last month when the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) signed a hefty, five-and-a-half year deal with the American International Group last month.

SINGAPORE, Nov 2 (Reuters) – Commercialising the iconic All Black jersey with a sponsors name is not popular with Tana Umaga but the former captain told Reuters it was necessary if the World Cup winners wanted to stay ahead of the game.

The All Blacks had not had a sponsorship logo on the Adidas-branded jersey since 1999 but that ended last month when the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) signed a hefty, five-and-a-half year deal with the American International Group last month.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Tiger Woods said fatigue was the reason he skipped this week’s World Golf Championship event in China.

As Australian Adam Scott and South African Louis Oosthuizen grabbed the first-round lead at the $7 million event in Shenzhen on Thursday, the 36-year-old Woods was holding a putting clinic for school children in Singapore.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Tiger Woods said fatigue was the reason he skipped this week’s World Golf Championship event in Shanghai.

As Australian Adam Scott and South African Louis Oosthuizen grabbed the first-round lead at the $7 million event in China on Thursday, the 36-year-old Woods was holding a putting clinic for school children in Singapore.

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Nick Watney was $1.3 million richer when he landed the CIMB Classic title on Sunday but after using three caddies over the four rounds, including his wife, the American’s cheque will involve some big deductions.

Watney, the world number 22, was battling jet-lag and rustiness as he sat way off the pace standing on the 18th tee of his opening round on Thursday when his caddie Chad Reynolds fell ill.

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Nick Watney was $1.3 million richer when he landed the CIMB Classic title on Sunday but after using three caddies over the four rounds, including his wife, the American’s cheque will involve some big deductions.

Watney, the world number 22, was battling jet-lag and rustiness as he sat way off the pace standing on the 18th tee of his opening round on Thursday when his caddie Chad Reynolds fell ill.