Click on pic to see BMW PGA Championship Second Round Highlights from the European Tour Golf website.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Jewel Thief Has Field Day on Chi Chi
Chi Chi Rodriguez, the club twirling, Sammy Davis Jr lookalike gave opportunistic jewel thieves more than they bargained for on Wednesday. Police estimate the three robbers made off with swag consisting of cash and jewellery was worth $500,000. The men swooped at 1.45am, tying up Chi Chi and his wife, who were uninjured.
Chi Chi’s wife was said to be particularly upset about the stolen jewellery, and wondered what Chi Chi would now wear on the course
Sources close to the robbers said they were surprised Chi Chi had so much wedge considering none of them remember him ever winning anything!
Pic: Chi Chi: “All I have left is my wife’s hat.”
HP Byron Nelson Classic 2010 Round One Highlights – PGA Tour Golf
HP Byron Nelson Classic 2010 Round One Highlights from the PGA Tour
Thursday, May 20, 2010
BMW PGA Championship 2010 Day One Highlights on the European Tour
Click on picture to view highlights from day one of the BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Is Tiger Woods’ Doctor In The Simpsons?
Dr. Anthony Galea, the doctor who treated Tiger Woods with "blood-spinning" therapy, has been charged by U.S. authorities with giving human growth hormone to professional football players.
The rest of Galea’s charges read like he has broken all Ten Commandments. These include lying to federal officials, smuggling, fraud, unlawful distribution of HGH, introducing actovegin to the US among others.
Galea performed platelet-rich plasma treatments for Tiger Woods knee and Achilles tendon. Both deny any funny business.
Maybe Dr. Galea should have stayed in The Simpsons where he famously sang "The knee bone's connected to the...something. The something's connected to the...red thing. The red thing's connected to my...wrist watch. Uh oh."
Pic: Woods’ Doctor Anthony Galea
Nailbiting Time For Ernie
To say the last few days have been nailbiting for Ernie Els is probably understating it a little. The South African this week is in the same boat as Colin Montgomerie was when the tour came to his course at Carton House in 2006. And we all know what happened that vessel. Wasn’t Titanic a great film!
Some of the much hyped changes to Wentworth include “deepened bunkers that will force players to play out sideways”, and a “newly installed lake in front of the 18th green”. In fairness, that 18th needed something, players have been aiming for the hospitality tent down the left and getting away with free drops for years.
Critics say Ernie’s changes are out of character with the Wentworth heath, and say the heavily sand-protected greens may not hold approach shots. However these are most likely the 70 something Wentworth clique who have just realised they are not going to win every Sunday from now on.
You go girl Ernie. If in doubt say you’re “delighted” with the changes. That’s what Monty did!
Pic: Ernie Els Is Aging Well
Monday, May 17, 2010
What’s In The Bag 2010 Matteo Manassero- Castello Masters Winner
Full name Matteo Manassero
Born 19 April 1993 (age 17) in Negrar, Italy
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Residence Verona, Italy
Career
Turned professional 2010
Best results in Major Championships
Masters Tournament T36: 2010
The Open Championship T13: 2009
At the 2009 British Open in Turnberry Matteo started the week and ended it with legend Tom Watson. With an age difference of 43 years the two were paired in the opening rounds together but met again on the 18th green Sunday evening where the Italian collected the medal for low amateur and Watson accepted the runner up Salver.
Alberto
Much of Matteo Manassero’s success is being put down to the hard work and dedication of Alberto Binaghi, a member of the Italian Golf Federation coaching staff and coach of the Italian national team. A former European Tour pro himself, Alberto is also widely credited with overseeing the efforts that took Edoardo and Francesco Molinari into the world's top-50, and saw the brothers win the World Cup event. With a playing pool of just over 100,000 players in Italy, it is an amazing accomplishment. Binaghi even find time to caddy for Matteo in the bigger events.
what’s in the bag 2010 Matteo Manassero
Born 19 April 1993 (age 17) in Negrar, Italy
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Residence Verona, Italy
Career
Turned professional 2010
Best results in Major Championships
Masters Tournament T36: 2010
The Open Championship T13: 2009
Biography
Italian golfer Matteo Manassero earned his first European Tour International Schedule victory in his 18th European Tour event.He created European Tour history by becoming the youngest winner, aged 17 and 188 days. This beats the previous record of Danny Lee, while still an amateur, at the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic, aged 18 and 213 days.
Manassero spent his early teens working under the tutelage of Italian national golf coach Alberto Binaghi. By 16 Matteo was ready to appear in his first pro event at BMW Italian Open on the European Tour where, as an amateur, he finished inside the Top 20. Over the next few year, Manassero cemented his place as one of the brightest up and coming stars in golf by firstly becoming the first Italian to win the British Amateur championship, and then in July 2009, aged16 years and 3 months, he finished tied for 13th in the British Open. Paired in the opening rounds with legend Tom Watson, Manassero was the youngest to play a British Open in around 140 years, and the youngest-ever low amateur. By the end of 2009 Manassero had ascended to world number one amateur and in April this year, a week shy of turning 17 he made his Masters debut. Manassero made the Augusta cut eventually finishing the tournament tied for 36th. On May 3, 2010, Mannassero turned pro, with his first start coming at the 2010 BMW Italian Open. He was 17 years and 17 days old when he teed off, the second-youngest golfer ever to join the European Tour.What’s In The Bag 2010 Matteo Manassero
Matteo Shorts
What a Memory
At the 2009 British Open in Turnberry Matteo started the week and ended it with legend Tom Watson. With an age difference of 43 years the two were paired in the opening rounds together but met again on the 18th green Sunday evening where the Italian collected the medal for low amateur and Watson accepted the runner up Salver.
Alberto
Much of Matteo Manassero’s success is being put down to the hard work and dedication of Alberto Binaghi, a member of the Italian Golf Federation coaching staff and coach of the Italian national team. A former European Tour pro himself, Alberto is also widely credited with overseeing the efforts that took Edoardo and Francesco Molinari into the world's top-50, and saw the brothers win the World Cup event. With a playing pool of just over 100,000 players in Italy, it is an amazing accomplishment. Binaghi even find time to caddy for Matteo in the bigger events.
what’s in the bag 2010 Matteo Manassero
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BMW PGA Championship 2010 Betting Tips
Winner Alright: Last Week we tipped Fredrik Jacobsen who came second at 33/1 paying out €92.50 for a €10 each way bet.
Lee Westwood 13/1
Out of the last 20 events Lee has played he has finished in the top-10 a staggering 14 times including victories in Portugal and Dubai. Though winless in 2010 it seems every time Lee tees it up these days he’ll be right in the mix. Bound to be a nailed on favourite but a word of warning. Last year at Wentworth Lee shot 77,77 to miss the cut following a withdrawl the previous year. There’s no question that Westwood is a different man now, as is the course, but will his excellent recent showings at The Masters and The Players be enough to exorcise those Wentworth demons?
Blade or Cavity Back? On The Tour Truck with Derek Murray of Foregolf.ie
There’s a common misconception out there that all Touring pros use blades. The truth is just over half of all players on Tour prefer a cavity backed club. The extra reassurance of success of a miss off centre can be enough to settle a players mind during a poor swing. Most players prefer the feel of the softer, forged head but I find pros are more concerned about how the club looks behind the ball; what we call “framing”.
So why do some players still use blades? They may be unforgiving but pros favour their strong, neat shape and superior ball shaping qualities. On six iron tests with a swing machine and 100 balls, on dead centre hits blades produce about one quarter the spray pattern of a cavity back iron.
Thus a very popular combination on tour is where we build a split-set with a cavity head for the 3- 4 iron for more forgiveness and ease of flight and a bladed muscle-back design from 5-PW where more shot shaping and flight control is required.
with Derek Murray from www.foregolf.ie
Chad’s Golfing Tardice
No sooner had Paul Casey sunk the winning putt at the 2009 BMW PGA Championship but the diggers came rolling in to commence a £4 million modernization project of the West course at Wentworth. Under the watchful eye of Ernie Els all 18 greens and surrounds have been rebuilt to USGA specification. This coupled with its lengthening over the past few years, make this weeks host course a totally different proposition than in the past.
It all begs the question: what is the extent of the disconnect that
exists nowadays between new and older courses? Everybody gets their handicap based on their performances on their home course right? So it really believable that a four handicapper from a 100 year nine hole track in Dublin is of the same standard as the four handicapper in, say Carton House? With respect, having played both kinds of track, I think not. Newer layouts take into account modern technology, are thus much longer, more tricky with deeper bunkers and more undulating greens than traditional layouts. Is there an argument to give every course a difficulty tariff to make the handicapping system more equitable?
What’s more, it is amazing to think that technological advances have brought us to the point that older classic layouts seem like pitch and putt tracks compared to the stadium courses of today. So how would today’s players fare if they could jump into some golfing tardice and travel back in time a half century? Last year PGA tour player Chad Campbell took part in such an experiment. He hit drives with a 1950’s persimmon driver and balata ball and then with his own modern equipment. The difference between the new and old clubs and balls was 44 yards. With the old steel shafted driver his swing speed was 106 mph, this jumped to 113 mph with graphite shaft, which could account for 15-20 yards by itself.
Pic: Sorry Chad, I could only find this pic of your sister.
So as you sit down to watch the cream of Europe’s professionals battle it out at the new Wentworth and marvel at the distance they hit the ball, spare a thought for the players of yesteryear who battled hard with what equipment they had. The “little” tracks we are now tearing up, were the monsters of the past and as Chad Campbell proved, they had that name for good reason
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Breaking News: Ernie Is A Loveable Rogue
When all the TV cameras were packed way at the Valero Texas Open the real Ernie Els emerged surprising winner Adam Scott with a beer shower! Els was delighted to see Scott getting back in the winner’s circle, even though he himself was in the running down the stretch. Els has many reasons to be happy, he heads to this weeks PGA Championship (which he helped redesign) with a third on Sunday and two recent wins. Some insiders say only Icelandic ash can stop the Big Easy this week.
Seve For Challenge at Open
Legends of the game including Nick Faldo, last years runner up Tom Watson and now Seve Ballesteros have all signalled their intent to compete in The Open Champions’ Challenge, a four-hole event which will be contested over the first, second, 17th and 18th holes of the Old Course on the Wednesday evening before the Championship gets underway. Ballesteros, who returns to the scene of his 1984 Open triumph, said: "I will not be in 100 per cent condition to compete in the main tournament but I am happy and looking forward to playing the Champions Challenge, because I think I can do very well and say thank you to all my UK fans at St Andrews, where I have many great memories." Seve’s walk over the Swilken Bridge is set to eclipse Jack Nicklaus’ tearfull farewell in 2005.
Miguel Angel Martin Must Use Ponds
Pic: Iker the Keeper, Seve, The Mechanic and Miguel Angel “my wrist is fine lads” Martin.
The Spanish Golf Federation has submitted its bid to host the 2018 Ryder Cup. Federation president Gonzaga Escauriaza led the presentation before a delegation from Ryder Cup Europe. Seve Ballesteros, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Miguel Martin were joined by Spanish keeper to present the bid at an event in Madrid last Thursday. The cancer-stricken Ballesteros was given a standing ovation when he was introduced. Ballesteros captained the winning European team in 1997 and said that "to be the patron now of Madrid's candidacy means a lot." Escauriaza said hosting the competition would inspire a new generation of Spanish golfers through a $41.5 million development program and lead the way in environmentally friendly courses. The proposed course, yet to be built, will be located half an hour from Madrid at Tres Cantos. France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden are also bidding to hold the competition, the winner of which will be announced next year.
Stick to the Footie Lads. Except you Tony
Ex NBA Michael Jordan may have started it but an increasing number of American sports stars are trying their hand at golf. Already this year we had former NHL star and scratch player Dan Quinn on Ernie Els bag at The Masters. Then we told you a few weeks back about former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice’s battles on the Nationwide Tour (incidently he hasn’t got much better in the interim). However, best of all is current Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (pictured), who, during his off season break, has only gone and qualified for next weeks Byron Nelson Classic on the PGA tour. Well nearly. Romo has reached final qualifying where he must finish in the top four to gain entry. Not bad for holiday golf!
Wayne’s World Of Fitness: Chicken Winging
Problem:
A chicken wing is a loss of extension or breakdown of the lead arm through the impact area. This swing fault robs a golfer of power and tends to put excessive force on the outside of the elbow joint which can lead to developing tennis elbow. A common shot associated with chicken winging is a high shot going right with little power for a right handed golfer.
Cause:
Physical causes that can lead to a chicken wing is joint or muscular restrictions around the shoulder or having a tight lat muscle. 36% of golfers suffer from chicken winging.
Exercise:
To improve your lat length start by kneeling on the ground while sitting on your heels. Place both arms on a Swiss ball and slowly roll the ball straight out in front of you. Roll until there is a big stretch in the body and stop if you feel any pain.
Log on to www.wayneocallaghangolf.com PGA Pro and TPI fitness instructor for more info.
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Valero Texas Open 2010 Final Round Highlights; PGA Tour
Well done to Adam Scott who won the 2010 Valero Texas Open. A notable mention for our man Freddie Jacobsen who came second. Enjoy these Final Round Highlights from the PGA Tour.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Padraig’s Knee Op- No Need To Panic
Okay so Padraig Harrington is to have keyhole surgery on his right knee three weeks before the US Open at Pebble Beach but the good news is there’s no need to panic. The procedure is about as serious running out of milk at breakfast. There is a 14 day healing period advised but an athlete like Paddy will back beating balls within a week.
The operation coincides with the Celtic Manor Wales Open which Padraig is set to miss. Funny that, although Padraig said, “I had intended to play the Wales Open at Celtic Manor in a few weeks time, as I like the golf course …” 
He’s one of the few!
Pic: Athroscopic Surgery: Okay maybe a teeny weeny bit of panic might be more appropriate
Iberdrola Open Cala Millor Mallorca Final Round Highlights – European Tour 2010
Click on picture to view highlights from the final round of the Iberdrola Open Cala Millor Mallorca
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