The European Tour have brought forward the tee times for todays third round of the Madrid Masters in order to be all finished in time for tonight’s Eurovision Song Contest. Its a well known fact that European Tour golfers are huge Eurovision fans, often using winning songs to practic
e rhythm on the range. Stephen Dodd even represented the UK back in 1975. Gonzalo Castano said “Spain might not be there tonight, but I’m excited. That bird from Azerbaijan is gettin’ my vote.” Luke Donald, himself a talented artist, is obviously taken with the Romanian entry as he was heard singing “You and me, cant you see, playin’ with fire” as he walked down the third fairway in Madrid yesterday. Pic: Castano Favours Azerbaijan
Saturday, May 29, 2010
European Tour Prepares for Eurovision
Couples Leads Senior PGA at Halftime
TJ Auclair from PGA.com reports on the first Senior Major of the Year.
The leaderboard after 36 holes at Colorado Golf Club and the 71st Senior PGA Championship reads like a who’s-who of major champions. The names Couples, Kite, Langer, Lehman and Price are all sprinkled among the top 10.
Fred Couples, however, is all alone at the top. The Champions Tour rookie, who has already racked up a remarkable three wins in just six starts, carded a 4-under 68 in the second round on Friday, despite a bogey on the last hole due to a wayward tee shot that resulted in a penalty stroke for an unplayable lie. That, along with his 3-under 69 in the opening round, has Couples at 7-under 137 for the tournament, one shot clear of Tom Kite and two ahead of Tom Lehman.
“I'm happy to be in first place,” Couples said. “I played great today. I had a lot of birdies and a couple bogeys, three bogeys in there. But putted very well… I'm 7 under, one ahead of Tom, and maybe, I don't know what third place is, 5 under? So I'm not really worried about a lead, I'm just wanting to go out tomorrow and keep playing well and see what happens and then worry about a lead on Sunday on the back nine. If I have one.”
Round 2 Highlights: 2010 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
Round 2 Highlights, 2010 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
Friday, May 28, 2010
John Letters in the Post For Sam
Kids never forget their first set of clubs, mine were “John Letters”. Now nearly 40 years after signing his first professional contract with John Letters of Scotland, Ryder Cup legend and Seniors Tour star Sam Torrance has rejoined the Scottish equipment brand in the lead up to the 2010 Irish Seniors Open at Carton House from June 11-13th.
A delighted Torrance commented: “It’s lovely; I’m back to my roots. The first contract I ever had was with John Letters and I signed that at the end of 1971.”
John Andrew, Managing Director of John Letters of Scotland Ltd, said: "We are delighted to add Sam to our playing staff. With both our roots in Scotland, Sam provides the perfect fit with the Letters brand.”
Be sure to check out the Handa Irish Seniors Open at Carton House in Maynooth from June 11-13th.
First Round Highlights from Crowne Plaza Invitational 2010 at Colonial
First Round Highlights from Crowne Plaza Invitational 2010 at Colonial
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Madrid Masters 2010 Golf First Round Highlights from the European Tour
Click on the pic below to view golf highlights from Day One of the 2010 Madrid Masters on the European Tour.
Marriage Advice For Irish Amateur Tiger Spuds
An Irish amateur golfer called Tiger Spuds recently got a divorce and wanted to get married again. So dreadfully hurt by the local paper’s handling of his first marriage, he was very keen to be extra careful in choosing his new wife. He narrowed it down to three likely candidates. He gives each woman a present of €5,000 and waited to see what they do with the money.
The first does a total makeover. She goes to a fancy beauty salon, gets her hair done, new makeup; buys several new outfits, a few nips and tucks and dresses up very nicely for Mr Spuds. She tells him that she has done this to be more attractive for him because she loves him so much.
He was impressed.
Pic: Irish Amateur Tiger Spuds
The second goes shopping to buy Tiger Spuds gifts. She gets him a new set of Nike golf clubs (he likes those), some new gizmos for his computer, and some expensive clothes. As she presents these gifts, she tells him that she has spent all the money on him because she loves him so much.
Again, he was impressed.
The third invests the money in the stock market. She earns several times the £5,000. She gives him back his £5,000 and reinvests the remainder in a joint account. She tells him that she wants to save for their future because she loves him so much.
Obviously, young Master Spuds was impressed.
Tiger Spuds thought for a long time about what each woman had done with the money he'd given her.
Then he married the one with the biggest boobs.
Is it just Leopards that dont change their spots?
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Rory McIlroy for Pole Vault in Olympics
Now I’m no technical expert but I think Rory’s wedge was a wee bit whippy at Wentworth. It could be that he stuck his Mam’s clubs in the boot on Sunday by accident, but we cant be sure. Rors looks like he could represent Ireland (or Team GB - very PC of me-) in the pole vault at the 2012 Olympics if he doesn’t make the golf team. Here he is pictured breaking the Irish Pole Vault record which has stood since 1863.
The Hoff and Bubba Fail In Open Bid
Charley Hoffman and Bubba Watson narrowly missed on a British Open spot at final qualifying in Texas. In form Tim Petrovic shot 11-under to win the Qualifying event for The 139th Open Championship held at Gleneagles Country Club in Plano, Texas.
Bo Van Pelt and D.A. Points finished behind Petrovic and also claimed Open spots. The other five players that qualified include Scotland’s own Martin Laird, Tom Pernice Jr. Glen Day, George McNeill and Cameron Percy.
Percy birdied the third extra hole to edge out Bubba Watson and Charley Hoffman for the last qualifying spot.
Pic: The Hoff- Still Looking Good Despite Open Disappointment
Technorati Tags: British Open 2010 Qualifying
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Khan’t Buy Me a US Open Spot
One day after Wentworth glory, PGA champion Simon Khan los
t out in a six-man play-off for next month's US Open at Pebble Beach.
Ireland’s Gareth Maybin will be teeing it up at Pebble after he claimed one of the automatic qualifying spots. England's James Morrison won the event by two strokes from Argentina's Rafa Echenique. Welshman Rhys Davies, Gary Boyd and Cabrera-Bello also qualified.
Pablo Martin, Mikko Olonen, Swede Rikard Karlberg and French pair Gregory Havret and Jean-Francois Lucquin also qualified via a playoff.
Khan was joined by Monty in missing out, though as first reserve the newly crowned PGA Champ may well still appear at the US Open.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Betting Tips: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial 2010- PGA Tour
Crowne Plaza Invitational
Colonial CC, Ft. Worth, Texas
Purse: $6,200,000
Winner Alright: Last week tipped Luke Donald who tied second at the PGA Championship at odds of 28/1. A €10 each way bet wins €80.
Paul Casey 25/1
Paul Casey’s season, though injury hit, has been far from disappointing. The Englishman now based in the States crosses the Atlantic after his trip to Wentworth, having achieved five top-10’s this season. Aside from his final loss to Poulter in the WGC Matchplay, Casey has come close at the Honda Classic and the CA Championship and seems primed for his first win of the season in the coming weeks. Shot four rounds in the 60’s last year on his way to tying fifth, just two shots off the pace. He didn’t fancy Wentworth from the outset but watch out for Casey this week.
Ben Crane 45/1
It has been an excellent season so far for Texas resident Ben Crane. The winner of the Farmer’s Insurance open early in the season is extremely consistent finishing in the top-25 in five of his last six events. Indeed by closing with a blistering 66 at the Byron Nelson, Crane leapfrogged 22 players to tie seventh for his second consecutive top-10 after his tied fourth at the Players Championship. He has also come close at Colonial in the past, finishing in the top five in 2008 and 2006. A win this week would virtually seal Crazy Legs his Ryder Cup berth.
Tim Clark 25/1
The Players Champion has unfinished business at Fort Worth this week. He was positively robbed of victory in this event last year. During regulation play Steve Stricker chipped in from 50 feet for birdie on 17 to post a score, then Clark, needing par on the last for victory, took bogey. Worse was to come on the second playoff hole when, having watched Stricker hit in to three feet for birdie, Clark suffered cruel fate as he watched his ownapproach hit the flagstick and spin back out of range, thus handing Stricker victory. Clark also tied second in 2008 when Phil Mickelson won.
Steve Marino 60/1
Steve Marino returns to the PGA Tour this week having finished in the top-16 in four of his last six events. Renowned as excellent around the greens, Marino lead the scrambling stats at Colonial last year. A stunning third round 62, saw him tear through the field and he ended up also making the three man playoff only to also lose out to Steve Stricker. Certainly a good each way bet on a week where we expect the winner to be double figures under par.
Kenny Perry 50/1
In the mix for the first time in a while last week was one of my favourite players, Kenny Perry. It’s almost a year since his last victory at the Travelers Championship, but with three in 2008 and two last year, the question is can Perry savour victory one more time before he hits 50 on August 10th ? With four of his last five wins coming in June and July, keep an eye on Perry over the next few weeks, starting at Colonial where he won in 2005 and 2003.
Past winners
Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
2009 Steve Stricker- United States
2008 Phil Mickelson - United States
2007 Rory Sabbatini - South Africa
Bank of America Colonial
2006 Tim Herron - United States
2005 Kenny Perry - United States
2004 Steve Flesch - United States
2003 Kenny Perry - United States
What’s In The Bag 2010 - Adam Scott
There’s have been several incarnations of Adam Scott’s what’s in the bag since his win at the Valero Texas Open 2010 but here’s the definitive one with thanks to Rick Veitch at Titleist in Fairhaven.
Adam Scott Player Profile
Full name Adam Derek Scott
Born 16 July 1980 (age 29) Adelaide, Australia
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)
Residence Crans-Montana, Switzerland
College University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Turned professional 2000
Professional wins 17
Biography
Adam Scott re-emerged on the World golfing radar when he took the spoils at the Valero Texas Open. He rallied from four strokes back on the final day for his first PGA Tour victory in two years. The Aussie was 11-under in a 36-hole Sunday finale, edging Fredrik Jacobson by a stroke on the new Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio. The course was designed by Scott's hero, fellow countrymen Greg Norman, who sent a congratulatory message after his first win since the Australian Open in December.
Scott was born in Adelaide, Australia. After attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, his playing career took off in 2001, his first full year as a professional golfer, when he won the European Tour's Alfred Dunhill Championship in Johannesburg, South Africa. Over the following years Scott continued to ply his trade on the European Tour picking up wins which included the Qatar Masters, the Scottish PGA Championship and the Scandinavian Masters. He then took up a PGA Tour card in 2003 and enjoyed three victories in his first 12 months including The 2004 Players Championship. Early in 2005 Scott reached the top ten of the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time. Though tipped by many to rival Tiger Woods for Major glory, Scott never quite achieved the expected levels of success. His form dipped in 2009 as dropped out of the top 50 in the world rankings and the top 100 of the PGA Tour money list.
Scott’s Valero Texas Open win was his first trip to San Antonio, a landscape that instantly reminded him of his homeland. After the win he said, “Greg Norman designed the course and when I first played it early that week I felt like the landscape looked very similar to Australia and I had a feeling that an Aussie would do well. I'm just very happy that Aussie was me! I hope to carry the momentum to The Memorial which will be my next tournament.”
What’s In The Bag 2010 Adam Scott
at the Velero Texas Open
Scott Shorts
Advantage Ana
Off the course Adam Scott is famed for his playboy looks and his relationships regularly take up gossip column inches. After splitting from a long term girlfriend Marie Kojzar in 2008, Scott briefly dated actress Kate Hudson, and is presently in a relationship with Serbian tennis star Ana Ivanovic.
Jet Setter
Last year Scott purchased of a $75 million long-range luxury Gulfstream G450 business jet. He could have picked up a cheaper second-hand plane. But an endorsement deal with Gulfstream will help offset some of his expenses. He estimates the end cost to him will be around $1.5 million a year. Scott helps pay for the jet by making promotional appearances and commercials for the company. His Gulfstream endorsement package is in addition to deals with Rolex, Burberry. Titleist, Footjoy and EA Sports, all of which add about $10 million to his annual income.
Wayne’s World Of TPI Golf Fitness: Lower Body Stability
Problem :
Poor lower body stability can cause swing faults such as Sway and Slide. These swing characteristics are when the lower body has too much lateral movement during the backswing and downswing. The ability to stabilize the lower body is critical for creating power in the golf swing.
Theory
The ability to separate the upper body from the lower body allows the lower body to stabilize while rotating during a large shoulder turn. If the spine has limited mobility it will be difficult to achieve the necessary thorax (chest) to pelvis separation.
Exercise
An exercise to build greater stability in the lower body while developing more flexibility between your upper and lower body is horizontal chop wide base. Attach stretch tubing to a door handle and sit on a Swiss ball holding the handle of the tubing with both hands. Widen your feet past the hips and then rotate your trunk and arms back and forth. The Swiss ball will force you to stabilize the lower body.
Log on to www.wayneocallaghangolf.com PGA Pro and TPI fitness instructor for more info.
Technorati Tags: wayne o'callaghan golf,tpi fitness
The PGA Tour Banned My Rory McIlroy YouTube Video
I’m still reeling in shock after the PGA Tour swooped to block my own Rory McIlory YouTube video, claiming breach of copyright. Here’s the story
Blogging is great fun. It gives the ordinary man a virtual soap box to write about whatever he wants. Google, the all powerful search engine, give bloggers every chance to climb up the search engine rankings so they may enjoy the same popularity as the major websites. I started blogging on golf about two years ago and my site www.golfcentraldaily.com has consistently grown in popularity; it has brought the SpinDoctor to a worldwide audience and for that I am thankful.
One of the key components that has made golfcentraldaily so popular was a stroke of luck I had at the London Club in Kent two years ago. Exhausted after a day compiling “What’s in the Bag” pieces on the range, I was about to pack up when who walks up, only Rory McIlroy. We have a little chat and Rory agrees to do a “what’s in the bag” and allows us to make a video of him swinging on the range. Delighted with myself, I stuck the clip on youtube with a little banner for golfcentraldaily. The day after Rory won in Quail Hollow the video received 15,000 views bringing the total to 215,000. For a golfing video, that is a big number, far in excess of the views the PGA Tour receive for the majority or their swing vision videos.
Imagine my surprise then when, last week,
my pride and joy Rory video was removed by YouTube (aka Google) following a “breach of copyright” complaint. When I investigated I found the complainant to be none other than the “PGA Tour”. Were a huge corporation like the PGA Tour that jealous of my viewership that they felt the need to have my simple camcorder video clip removed? Furthermore, how can they lay claim to a video I made and clearly appear in with Rory McIlory? I know Rory has committed to playing on the PGA Tour but I don’t ever remember hearing that he sold his soul to them. Here’s the video which still opens on the site. Click to view
I have of course lodged my appeal comprising of a banal online form but fear its destination will most likely be the trash box of google’s e mail account. Whatever the outcome it worries me that the Big Brother of golf, the PGA Tour, need only click their fingers to inflict nuclear damage to a blogger in this most devious way. They may have won the battle but this set to be a long and bloggy war.
The Doonbeg Fourball Quiz
This week our prize is a cracking fourball at Doonbeg, Co. Clare. The good folks in Doonbeg are running a brilliant promotion of lunch with a round of golf for €90. Full details on www.doonbeggolfclub.com. If you’ve never had the pleasure of the total Doonbeg experience, now is the time. Head pro Brian Shaw reports excellent course conditions and lightning fast greens. To win text your answer with name and address to 087-2029040 or e-mail to examinerspindoc@eircom.net no later than Friday noon.
Which famous golfing Aussie lists designing the Doonbeg golf course as one of his greatest golfing achievements.
Last weeks answer: Scottish. Congrats to our winner Kathleen Crowley, Ballineen, Cork who wins a fourball at Glasson Hotel and Links.
Grip It and Rip It- On the Tour Truck with Derek Murray from foregolf.ie
The only connection a golfer has with the club is through the grip. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of control a tacky grip provides, yet this critical club component is so often overlooked by the club golfer. On the tour truck we are finding the new Golf Pride Tour Wrap 2G grip is very popular. This remake of the original “leather-look” wrap grip is about to hit the shelves. It is made of a special enhanced feel rubber that actually feels like leather. This product is by far the tackiest grip Golf Pride has ever produced so get a set on your bats and get better control and handle on your clubs. It is available in black, red and all white.
with Derek Murray from www.foregolf.ie
Rafa Nadal and More Romo Golf News
Rafael Nadal took time away from the tennis court last week to become the latest sportsperson to try their hand at golf. Part of the Nike golf team, Nadal showed up with Nike shoes, socks, tee shirt, hat and a pair of shorts robbed straight from the marooned survivors on “Lost”.
Meanwhile Tony Romo. The Dallas Cowboy’s quarterback pulled out of the Byron Nelson Championship Monday qualifier because it would have coincided with the first day of team practice. That’s commitment! Romo did play Thursday though birdieing three of last four holes and surviving a playoff to advance to sectional qualifying for next month’s U.S. Open.
Bridgestone Not All Formula One Tyres
Bridgestone may be familiar name in Grand Prix pit lanes but they are rapidly becoming a leading force in golf. We’ve just noticed that Bridgestone players are ranked number one on the Champions Tour, LPGA Tour and Nationwide Tour money lists. Chief among them is Fred Couples who has taken the Champions Tour by storm this year, winning three times and earning over $1 million with the Majors season still to come. Couples uses J38 Dual Pocket Cavity Back irons. The other top Bridgestone staffers are Ai Miyazato, a three time winner in 2010 on the LPGA Tour and Kevin Chappell on the Nationwide Tour.
HP Byron Nelson Classic 2010 Final Round Highlights- US PGA Tour Golf
HP Byron Nelson Classic 2010 Final Round Highlights- US PGA Tour Golf
Sunday, May 23, 2010
BMW PGA Championship 2010 Final Round Highlights- European Tour Golf
Click picture to view final round highlights from the BMW PGA Championship 2010 at Wentworth. Simon Khan finished early with a 66, whilst the field following crumbled.
BMW PGA Championship 2010 Final Round Highlights- European Tour Golf
Simon Khan, Everyone Else Cant at Wentworth
Report from European Tour website
England's Simon Khan, the World Number 471 and not even in the event until Monday, was in dreamland at Wentworth Club when he came from seven behind to win the BMW PGA Championship.
The 37 year old from Essex, who faced an uncertain future when he had to go back to The European Tour Qualifying School last November, produced the biggest final-day comeback in the history of The European Tour's flagship event.
A 20 foot birdie putt on the last, which curled round the back of the cup before toppling in, gave Khan the first prize of €750,000 by a stroke from Ryder Cup star Luke Donald and Swede Fredrik Andersson Hed.
His stunning five under par 66, the round of his life, also brings him a five-year European Tour exemption and a place in July's Open Championship at St Andrews.
"This is what I've always dreamed of doing," said Khan, whose career had fallen away since he won the 2004 Celtic Manor Wales Open and then two years later was a distant runner-up in this tournament behind David Howell.
Technorati Tags: Simon Khan,BMW PGA Champion 2010
HP Byron Nelson Championship 2010- Day 3 Highlights- PGA Tour Golf
Watch highlights from Day 3 of the HP Byron Nelson Championship 2010 from the PGA Tour.
Karlsson Cashes In In Monaco
Shaken not stirred. Robert Karlsson went from London to Paris to Monaco and back to London on his way to a course record 62 at Wentworth. The Swede was so convinced he had missed the cut at the BMW PGA Championship that he grabbed a flight from London to Nice.
Within literally yards of his front door and the welcoming arms of his wife, Karlsson asked the taxi driver to take him back to the airport, jumped on a flight to Paris and chartered a private jet leaving at 6am.
Teeing off at 8.55am, Karlsson birdied five of the first seven holes to turn in 30 and, by picking up further shots at the 12th, 14th and 16th, even had a chance of The European Tour's first 59.
Karlsson said afterwards, "Søren Hansen said at breakfast 'This trip has 63 written all over it' and I said 'Could be 83, but we'll see'.
"It feels like you definitely get a second chance. You just go out to enjoy it, but don't touch my putter - you could burn your hands."
BMW PGA Championship 2010 Day 3 Highlights- European Tour Golf
Click on Picture To view Highlights from the BMW PGA Championship 2010 Day 3 from the European Tour Golf Website.
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