Adam & Rory Set For Australian Open Weekend Duel

After a second round 65 at Royal Sydney Rory McIlroy has moved to within two shots of leader Adam Scott, reports Martin Blake.

Scott is making his final start of 2013 and attempting to win the Australian triple crown after capturing the Australian Masters and Australian PGA.

Also of note: U.S. Amateur semi-finalist Brady Watt is tied for fifth at six-under par and 15-year-old Ryan Ruffels, who was discussed on this week's State of the Game, also made the cut. Mike Clayton reports on Ruffels' impressive second round 68.

State Of The Game 32: Australia 2013 In Review

We recorded this week's State of the Game just a few hours before Adam Scott played one of the more amazing rounds of the year--62 at Royal Sydney with six birdies to start, four to finish--but we talk with Mike Clayton about his impressive play at the even more impressive Royal Melbourne.

Other topics covered include Royal Melbourne's design and setup, Rory McIlroy's game as seen up close by Clayton and 15-year-old amateur Ryan Ruffels.

As usual you can access all episodes here on the State of the Game webpage, or on iTunes.

Or for this week's episode you can download the mp3 here or, subscribe/listen on iTunes. Or here:

Monty's Ex Testifying Against News International Chief

Lisa O'Carroll and Caroline Davies report on Eimar Cook's lively testimony in the Rebekah Brooks hacking trial.

Cook was accused of lying under oath about a lunch where Brooks bragged about News International's voice mail hacking skills.

Cook, who was married to the former European Ryder Cup team captain for 14 years from 1990, met Brooks at the suggestion of friends after finding herself the subject of press intrusion following the break up of her marriage, she said.

Describing the private lunch, which took place at the Knightsbridge home of mutual friends, Cook told the jury the four had enjoyed lighthearted conversation about celebrities.

"We discussed a lot of public figures, people in the media in a gossipy fun way. I think I remember we were laughing because she had been in her own newspaper because she had a domestic row with her husband and that it had made her newspaper and we were laughing at the irony of it."

Three years ago Monty was said to have sued to keep something out of the Daily Mail which is not part of the News International empire.

USGA XC Member: "We're losing our client base"

Global Golf Posts' Len Shapiro talks to Sheila Johnson about holding a seat on the USGA Executive Committee and in particular, what the group feels is a necessary mission to grow the game.

"The USGA is shedding the skin of the way it's been operating forever," she said. "Golf is losing ground. We're losing our client base and we're looking internally to see what we need to do in terms of a governing body to fix that. We want to be all inclusive and we're developing a strategic plan on what we can do."

Thinking of golfers, potential golfers or former golfers as the "client base" suggests a certain corporatization of the USGA that probably doesn't bode well for their chances of separating the pursuit of pennies from common sense initiatives. Especially "far more media outreach" under the new Fox Sports deal is now available according to Johnson, who obviously hasn't been looking at the FSN1 ratings.

"We want to send a message that we are the new USGA and really paying attention to these issues," she said. "That's my specific job."

The client base eagerly awaits.