Masters Rountable with Strange and Azinger: Tiger Hasn’t A Hope

Padraig Harrington on his and Tiger’s 2010 Masters Chances

Ernie switches caddy Ricci Roberts for Dan Quinn for Masters

Ricky Barnes To Star in Desperate Housewives

2009 US Open sensation and former US Amateur Champion Ricky Barnes is set for the biggest role of his life when he takes to the screen in the ABC studios award winning show Desperate Housewives.  The hot and cold PGA tour golfer has been contracted to deputize as Lynette Scavo for six episodes later this year while actress Felicity Huffman finishes shooting her latest film in LA.  According to show creator Marc Cherry “We searched the world for a Lynette double and drew a blank.  Her looks are so ‘distinctive’.  Then I saw Ricky Barnes face on a box of washing powder and thought ‘Oh My God, that’s her’.  Barnes, who hasn’t had a prime time TV slot since his US Open cameo is said to be delighted with the development.  “I’m delighted with this development and thank God everyday for giving me the jaw of a Neanderthal”, said Barnes.

Shell Houston Open Statistical Top 10 Prediction

Here’s what the computer predicts for the Shell Houston Open

Rk	Last Name	Season Avge	Last 5 Events	World Rank	Scoring  Av	Overall % chance
1	Casey	9.29	5.60	6	69.96	88.243
2	Westwood	27.67	12.20	4	69.86	87.875
3	Els	16.25	19.20	7	69.06	85.774
4	Mickelson	23.33	24.20	3	70.43	84.888
5	Harrington	30.33	20.00	10	69.93	82.290
6	Ogilvy	31.17	37.20	13	71.09	77.065
7	McIlroy	26.20	26.20	11	70.38	76.715
8	Kaymer	31.50	37.60	9	70.10	76.450
9	Mahan	37.43	30.60	21	71.04	76.372
10	Donald	26.86	11.80	20	70.09	75.242

Chad Campbell’s Sister Marries Elite US Marine

What’s In The Bag 2010 Rhys Davies

Vital Stats

Residence: Bridgend, Wales

Attachment: none

Date of birth: 28/05/1985

Place of birth: Edinburgh, Scotland

Height and weight: 185cm 74kgs (6ft1in 11st 8lb)

Married: No

Interests: Cricket, all sports

Turned Pro: 2007

Qualifying School: (2007), (08)

Biography

The European Ryder Cup team could be headed to Celtic Manor in Wales with a home favourite in their ranks after Rhys Davies captured the Hassan II trophy in Morocco recently. Twenty four year old Davies, from Bridgend is in his first full year on the main Tour, having graduated from the Challenge Tour. Davies first played golf on a small nine hole course in Barry with his Dad but he did not join a club until he was 11 years old. The former Brynteg Comprehensive School pupil, enjoyed an outstanding amateur career in college golf in the USA. He combined his golf with a business degree at East Tennessee University, where local media called him "the best player to ever play" at the college. In his final year there in 2007 Davies extended his own ETSU record for career individual titles to 10 and became the first UK player to reach number one in America since Graeme McDowell achieved the feat in 2002 while at Alabama State. Davies also played twice in the Walker Cup (he won both his singles matches). He turned pro after the 2007 Walker Cup at Royal County Down. Davies would not be drawn on his chances of becoming a Ryder Cup player in Wales ahead of the October event. "That's way out of my equation at the moment. This is the first win, hopefully the first of a few, and it's really special." Davies currently lies 81st in the official world rankings and his aim is to climb into the top 50 in order to gain entry to the lucrative events where more Ryder Cup points are available.

 

Secret Scot

Davies was welcomed into the winner's enclosure in Rabat to the strains of Flower of Scotland. Glasgow's Clarkston Pipe Band did the music and, as it turned out, the tune was highly appropriate. "I was actually born in Edinburgh as was my younger sister before we moved to Wales when I was two years old. I have lived there ever since,”said Davies. "My father worked for the Scottish Sports Council.”

 

 

Blade Runner

Davies putting hero is Phil Mickelson and like him uses a Ping blade putter. His original blade was a present from his parents while at a college at ETSU. According to former coach and head PGA pro at Royal Porthcawl, Peter Evans "His putting stroke is incredible and always has been. A blade is an old-fashioned style of putter where your putting stroke is absolutely critical and he's got wonderful technique and a wonderful feel to the putter. His speed putting is the best I have ever seen."

 

 

Just Not Cricket Old Boy

Rhys was quite the sportsman in his formative years, excelling at cricket. Having represented Glamorgan and Wales at the crease, he had to choose between playing cricket or golf professionally as a teenager. Still a huge fan, Davies lists the Ashes as the one event he would pay money to see. One of his sporting heroes growing up was Darren Gough.

 

Ratings

Power

Longest Drive: 316

Average Drive: 283.8

Rank: 99

Accuracy

Fairway Hit %: 55.5 (136 th)

Greens in Regulation: 11.5 gir (145^th)

Putting

Putts per round: 28.2 ppr

Putts per GIR: 1.714

Rank: 24th

Bet Your Balls: Shell Houston Open

Thursday Apr 1 – Sunday Apr 4, 2010

Redstone Golf Club Tournament Course · Humble, Texas

Course Par Value: 72

Course Yardage: 7457

Early odds from Betfair

Geoff Ogilvy 25/1

The Shell Houston Open is unusual in that international winners dominate its recent history. Aussie Geoff Ogilvy will feel this event owes him after he threw away the chance to win last year with a dreadful final round of 75 which dropped him from a promising position to finish tied sixth. Ogilvy also came close in 2008 tying for second. Winner of the SBS Championship early doors, his last outing was at The Transitions where he finished 28^th. Will be keen to contend with the Masters around the corner.

 

 

JB Holmes 40/1

Big hitting JB Holmes has shown some really impressive form this season and could well be in the Ryder Cup mix later in the year. Holmes played brilliantly in last years final round where he and Paul Casey contested a playoff. A mistake in club selection saw his playoff approach shot hang in the wind and find the water handing Casey the victory. Already has a second and third in his last seven events and a solid top 25 last week, write JB off at your peril.

 

 

Fred Couples 60/1

If you’re after some long odds value this week (and next), I think 50 year old Fred Couples makes a compelling argument for your money. Couples has always had a long affinity with Houston playing for the Cougars in College and winning this event in 2003. Came so close to victory again last year but a Sunday 74 saw him just miss out to finish tied third. The fairytale was also ‘on’ in 2008; that year he finished tied fourth. Fred warmed up last week in the Dominican Republic where he shot a 10 under par final round to cruise to victory on the Champions Tour. Will Freddie’s back hold up? If it does watch out, Boom Boom’s about!

 

Past Winners

2009 Paul Casey - England

2008 Johnson Wagner - United States

2007 Adam Scott - Australia

2006 Stuart Appleby - Australia

2005 Vijay Singh - Fiji

The Carton House Fourball Quiz

To celebrate their hosting of the 2010 Irish Seniors Open from the 11-13^th June this week we have a very special fourball voucher for the Montgomerie Course at Carton House in Maynooth. For more details on golf at Carton House log on to www.cartonhouse.com. To enter text your answer with name and address to 087-2029040 or e-mail to examinerspindoc@eircom.net no later than Friday next.

This week’s question: Who Am I?

I’m Irish through and through and as a kid had a bright future ahead of me in Gaelic football, but a broken knee cap ended my GAA career at the age of 19. I turned to my other love, golf, and my crowning glory came in holing the winning putt on my Ryder Cup debut in 2002. I am actually the first European golfer to be a winner in every one of my appearances. I’ve also won nine times on tour the highlight being the 2005 Volvo Masters. I’ve had more injury battles over the past year but am delighted to be back on tour coming into the Summer months.

Congrats to last weeks winner Thomas O’Brien, Clonmel, Tipperary who answered Seve and wins a fabulous fourball at The Slieve Russell Golf and Country Club.

Tailored Shorts: Weird and Wonderful Golf News (Warning: May Contain Lies!)

Augusta Practice

Tiger Woods wasn’t the only player doing an early scouting trip to Augusta National recently. British Open sensation Steve Marino and Ryan Palmer also made the trip down Magnolia Lane just behind the great (if somewhat tarnished forever) one. Among the Augusta changes Marino and Palmer encountered was the new practice tee, which replaces the member’s range this year and features two fairways, one that sways left and a dogleg right, a perfect replica of the par-5 second green, complete with four pin positions, and a heated teeing area to avoid possible frost delays. “It’s sick,” Marino said of the new range, “It looks like it’s been there forever.” It is reckoned the range will be open three weeks out of the year: Masters week, member-member week and opening week. As for Tiger, Marino and Palmer said they saw him on the range working with Hank Haney before teeing off the first when they off the tenth. “He looked good but what can I tell? He looks like he always does,” Palmer said. The pair also reported the layout was predictably impeccable and estimated the greens were rolling at about 11 on the Stimpmeter.

Monty Replacement Finally Found

Ever since Colin Montgomerie stepped out the limelight of top level golf the game has been has desperately been searching for his replacement. Enter Aussie Robert Allenby who has just been unofficially crowned the “biggest whiner in golf” in forums worldwide. “Allenbaby”, as he now known, chucked another in a long line of wobbly’s last week at the Tavistock Cup chewing up an official photographer for daring to stand behind him to get a shot. Be that as it may, we’re standing by old Rob, his “playing lessons with the pro’s” appearance was pure comedy gold. Perhaps he was suffering from a little bout of “White Line Fever” at Tavistock an illness which has been known to flare up and affect him every now and then!

Mickelson Hot in Desert

Phil Mickelson showed just how dangerous pros can be when transplanted back into an amateur setting with a record breaking game of social golf last week. Mickelson was tuning up at The Plantation Golf Club in Palm Springs. Following an early morning 18, big Phil had some lunch before deciding to play another nine with friends. After shooting seven under to the turn he decided to stay on, eventually firing a a course-record 14-under-par 58. "He had to get out of here quickly, but he was pretty excited," his playing partner said. "The golf course is actually playing extremely difficult. The greens are firm and fast, and the rough is pretty long. To shoot even in the mid-60s here is very impressive. To break 60 is phenomenal."

Kjeldsen In The Nip

Soren Kjeldsen got more than he bargained for at last weeks Andalucia Open when had to contend with the presence of a naked man as he attempted to play a shot in Friday's second round. The Parador club runs alongside a naturist beach in Torremolinos and while attempting to a play a shot Kjeldsen found himself confronted by a patron bearing all just 15 yards away. “It’s tough to keep your concentration with that going on,” Kjeldsen said of the horrific encounter. "That was a new one on a golf course for me." It didn’t seem to deter the great Dane who turned in his best performance of the season. Keep it up Soren!

Video Of The Week: Rory At Augusta

It takes nerves of steel to drive it super long and arrow straight down the tree lined fairways at Augusta. In this video Rory McIlroy’s driver swing can be enjoyed in super slow motion highlighting the phenomenal power he generates.

Bloggy Underfoot: Past Masters

One week to go before the Masters and the prediction mill is turning at full throttle. I’ve been weighing up the chances of the past five winners of the Masters in relation to “class”, “current form” and “course form” to try to decipher if any of them can do it again this year.

Would you believe it has been five years since Tiger donned the green jacket? Sabbatical aside, we know he has played practice rounds at Augusta and according to practice partners like John Cook, he’s reported to be at the peak of his powers. In the same way as Mayo always looked impressive in the kick-around before the All Ireland Final, there is absolutely no guarantee of what will happen come game time. Yes he has four green jackets and the most consistent course form of the entire field, but absolutely no tournament time in the lead up. Verdict: I’m going with “game time” over class here. Since he has none, I say no chance.

Angel Cabrera will be the defending champion next week and will be choosing the menu. The rumour is he’s going to change the word “Masters” on the front to “Mistresses” in honour of Tiger! Seriously though Cabrera goes so far under the radar he’s still on the ground. Last year in the build up to the Masters, he came 90th at Arnie’s event and 96th at Houston, a cumulative 10 over for the two events. Then he went to Augusta, arguably one of the toughest driving courses in the world, and shot 12 under. The “Duck” as he’s known, could never be accused of being a form dog but there’s not many guys that have a green jacket and a US Open trophy back at the pond. Verdict: I’m going with class, and the ability to surprise. Cabrera could contend.

Then there’s the 2008 champion Trevor Immelman. He was the model of consistency two years ago, wasn’t he? Surprisingly no. Of the five tournaments the South African played in the build up to his Masters win, his best result was 40th. He was a huge price going into Augusta, but drove it like Schumacher for the week and won. Immelman has had his troubles ever since with his health and injury but it’s great to see him out there plugging away. He finished 20th last year as defending champion, a finishing position he hasn’t bettered anywhere since. Verdict: Current form rules here, surely Immelman will only wear the green jacket again at the past champions dinner.

Zach Johnson came into the 2007 Masters as one of the most consistent players on tour. Sure, it surprised many that he went and won that week, but he did bring form to Augusta that year having top tenned in the CA Championship. Just like Trevor Immleman, Johnson finished 20th in his defence at Augusta in 2008 but he remains one of the most consistent players in the world. Between the British Open in July last year and the Transitions two weeks ago, Johnson played 12 events with a worst finish of 37th ! Thus nobody can argue that Johnson lacks form but he did miss the Augusta cut last year and I’m not convinced. Verdict: Beginning to think it was a flash in the pan, I say no chance.

Finally there’s 2006 champion, big Phil Mickelson. some including Butch Harmon say golf is not his priority right now (with his wife and mothers illness) and that he lacks form, but for me there is no argument, it’s a big thumbs up. For a guy who pops in for a game the add time, Phil has finished under par in his eight events leading up to the Arnold Palmer invitational, which include two wins and a worst finish of 45th and since 1999 has only been outside the top 10 once at Augusta. Verdict: Combine form with course form and add just a sprinkle of dedication next week and I say Mickelson to contend.

On The Tour Truck: Swing Speed & Distance

With the golf courses of today getting longer club golfers are obsessed with distance off the tee. When it comes to distance it’s all about swing speed or more importantly ball speed. The swing speed with the driver of the average tour player is around the 113 mph mark. The Tiger can get it up to 125 mph and sometimes faster. This speed roughly converts to around the 290 yard mark. On the Tour truck we use a fairly sophisticated launch monitor to measure flight distances and tune all the required factors into getting the most from the players speed such as shaft (weight, flex and kick-point), driver head design (spin rate) and even the type of ball. However there is no such thing as the best swing speed as it all depends on what’s comfortable and what can be replicated. Speed is only good if it’s straight and it’s why the longest pros on Tour don’t always win tournaments. Jim Furyk won recently and is 189th on driving distance with an average distance of 261.2 yards. Maybe you do drive for show and putt for dough!

with Derek Murray from www.foregolf.ie

Wayne’s World Of Fitness: Hanging Back

  Problem: Hanging Back is best described as a golfer that does not shift their weight correctly back onto the lead side on the downswing. Such golfers tend to hang back on their back foot with their spine tilting back through impact. This swing characteristic generally leads to lack of power in the shot and inconsistent ball striking.

Cause: Poor strength in the trail leg can prevent the golfer from achieving the correct weight shift on the downswing. Other causes of Hanging Back may be a result of having the ball to far back in the stance or the golfer performing a reverse pivot in the backswing that gets the upper body out of position.

Drill: A really great exercise is to balance on one leg with your eyes closed. Try timing how long you can balance, the PGA Tour norm is between 11 to 15 seconds. You will do well to stay balanced for half that time at the start but with practice you should be able to achieve it.

Log on to www.wayneocallaghangolf.com PGA Pro and TPI fitness instructor for more info.