McDowell bound between Team GB and Ireland but Sea World Win

  A war of words opened last night between the Great Britain Olympic Council and its Irish counterpart, over who actually owns Graeme McDowell. The amazing thing about the argument is that it has nothing to do with golf.

GMac’s incredible 1.4 metre leap into the air from a standing start in a Celtic Manor bunker last Sunday sent Olympic high jump coaches scrambling to sign the Ulsterman for the London games. Even “Sky” Sports commentators (who you would think might know about all things celestial) were at a loss to explain McDowell’s incredible bound. Wearing a black shirt and an orange tie, analyst Mark Roe said he hadn’t seen such feats of levitation since the Exorcist, in which he starred alongside Robert Lee.

McDowell is now back in Portrush having tests carried out on his rocket like ankles. Team GB are said to be waiting in the wings to sign McDowell for the London Olympics but face a standoff with their Irish counterparts. McDowell’s bunker jump easily beat the Irish record set in 1963 outside a pub in Killarney but came up agonisingly short of the British best, set by Daley Thompson when he won the decathlon in 1980-something.

Whilst the Olympic Councils argued, beleaguered US company Sea World were straight out of the blocks to sign McDowell, booking him up for 8 weeks during the Summer. “We’re very excited about the prospect of having GMac leap out the water to ring bells with his nose, and he’s a damn sight safer than our killer whales” said a Sea World spokesperson.

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St Jude Classic 2010 Betting Tips

Lee Westwood 13/1

Though a big Rory McIlory performance cannot be ruled out, the big European hope has to be Lee Westwood. He has by far and away the best stats of the field going into this week and with Pebble around the corner, is sure to be mentally and physically right. Whether a player wants to win the event before a major, with all the emotional baggage it brings, is up for debate but I think Lee wants to win every time he tee it up right now. Four top-10’s in his last five events the stats equation churns out an 88% chance of a Westwood win.

David Toms 22/1

Finished just outside the top ten in his last event at Colonial with four rounds in the 60’s. Although carrying a shoulder injury that will need an operation, Toms continues on Tour. Southwind is one of his favourite courses and with two wins, and three other podium finishes including last year behind Brian Gay, it’s easy to see why.

Ben Crane 18/1

Winner of the Farmers Insurance open early doors, Crane is right back in form with three top tens in his last three events. Played decent here last year and has a great chance of becoming a two time winner on Tour. Tied third at Colonial last time out so bound to be fresh and ready for a massive two weeks. To be watched at Pebble Beach also.

Brian Gay 28/1

Brian Gay lorded it over the St Jude field last year, winning by five shots, but this season has found himself in somewhat of a cul de sac. Proved at the Byron Nelson however that this Gay just wont lie down, and though Jason Day seemed out of reach-around the turn, Gay almost reeled him in with a fantastic 63 to tie second. Likes to snack on the course so don’t be surprise to see several bars of fudge packed into Gay’s bag at Southwind.

Robert Allenby 20/1

The Marconi Pennsylvania Classic of 2001 was Robert Allenby’s last PGA win. Always seems to be in the mix of late but like the Minster pack this year, just cant get over the line. Came back last year a month after finishing second at the Players and missed the cut but that allowed him get to Southwind early for a tilt this week. Tied fourth last year and you guessed it, second in 2008. It could be a Battle Royale between Davis and Allenby for second this week.

 

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Waterford Teenager Golfer Kevin Phelan Secures US Open Spot. Rose and Fowler miss out

Waterford teenager Kevin Phelan took his first step towards golfing stardom by Qualifying for next weeks US Open.  The University of North Florida freshman golfer qualified on Monday at McArthur Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla. Phelan shooting rounds of 73-65 (138) to co-medal and secure his Open place. Phelan made up for a triple bogey on the final hole of his first round by making a 30 yard flop shot on his final hole for an eagle and a spot in the years second major.

Meanwhile,the price of contending at The Memorial took its took on Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler as both failed to qualify for next week's U.S. Open. At a 36-hole qualifying event in Ohio, Rose, finished tied for 31st on four under par, while Fowler missed out by six shots.  "Being in contention definitely wears you out quite a bit, and this is my third week in a row playing," Fowler said.

Lowry, Maybin, Monty Walk Through Open Door

Open Qualifying Scores

pos	player	hole	r1	r2	total	to par	status
1	LOWRY, Shane	36	62	67	129	-11	Qual
T2	COLTART, Andrew	36	66	65	131	-9	Qual
T2	MONTGOMERIE, Colin	36	69	62	131	-9	Qual
T4	MAYBIN, Gareth	36	64	68	132	-8	Qual
T4	BJORN, Thomas	36	65	67	132	-8	Qual
T6	LARA, Jose Manuel	36	66	67	133	-7	Qual
T6	GOYA, Tano	36	66	67	133	-7	Qual
T6	GARRIDO, Ignacio	36	64	69	133	-7	Qual
T6	DREDGE, Bradley	36	68	65	133	-7	Qual
T10	SIEM, Marcel	36	64	70	134	-6	Qual

Report From The European Tour Site

Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie produced a remarkable course record equalling 62 on Sunningdale New today to earn himself a place in next month's The Open Championship at St Andrews - the course where he finished runner-up to Tiger Woods five years ago.

What's In The Bag: Cian Curley- East Of Ireland Champion 2010

Residence: Lucan, Co. Dublin
Club: Newlands
Handicap: Plus 3


Role Of Honour


East of Ireland Champion 2010
Represented Ireland in three Home Internationals and one European Championships to date.
Holed the winning putt at the 2008 Home Internationals in Muirfield.
Runner Up Irish Close Championship 2009
Joint 1^st Willie Gill Order of Merit 2009

Getting To Know Cian

When youre not golfing you are……….	“Trying NOT to think about golf! I like to go to the cinema quite a bit or just chill out with friends”
Most famous person you have ever met	“Probably Donald Trump, I met him in New York while playing for Ireland a couple of years ago. Seemed a pretty cool guy!”
Lowest 18 hole score and where	63 (-8) Newlands G.C
Favourite Film	“Dumb & Dumber – I reckon I can quote the whole movie at this stage!”
Favourite TV Show	Friends – Joey’s a hero!!
Worst TV Show/Film Ever Made	“All them English soaps. I cannot stand them!”
Pro you most admire	“Phil Mickelson, he’s great to watch play and he always seems to be smiling and having fun!”
Favourite Course	Co. Louth G.C
Are you any good at other sports?	“I have a few dusty football and hockey medals in the cabinet alright!”
What team do you support?	Man Utd.
Best shot you ever hit when people were watching	Holing a 6 iron for an albatross playing for Newlands
Worst shot you hit when people were watching	Probably playing the wrong ball in the Irish Close Final! That didn’t feel too good at the time.

What’s in The Bag Cian Curley

Click pic to enlarge

Estoril Open 2010 Betting Tips

Winner Alright: Last week we tipped Rhys Davies at 24/1. A 10 euro each-way bet was worth 70 euro!

Robert Rock 25/1 

Though he may always be known as the man Shane Lowry beat in the playoff to win the Irish Open last year, the progression Robert Rock has made almost one year on is impressive. The Englishman is on a six event cut streak finishing a cumulative 24 under in his last two tournaments. Rock added an impressive fourth place in Wales last week to his fifth in Madrid and a podium finish in Estoril would be no surprise.

Gregory Bourdy 25/1

Frenchman Gregory Bourdy is one of the steadiest guys on Tour finishing in the top 30 every other week. His win at the UBS Hong Kong Open last November was the third of his career, the second being the 2008 Estoril Open. He also put up an excellent defence of his title last year in extremely tough conditions eventually tying seventh. In what is a decimated field this week Bourdy is definitely one to watch.

Maarten Lafeber 60/1

Everyone likes to land an each way winner at big odds and this week’s pick is veteran Maarten Lafeber. The Dutchman’s 12^th place finish at Celtic Manor was his best since last October and while a win this week would take a miracle, a top three can not be ruled out. Lafeber covered the back nine in 28 shots during round three last year in extremely windy conditions and though he slipped away on Sunday cannot be ignored from 60/1.

Jamie Donaldson 26/1

Perhaps all the furore surrounding the home players got to Jamie last week as he slipped to a 46^th place finish at Celtic Manor, his worst in eight events. However with the pressure off and the sun on his back this week expect some serious bouncebackability from the Welshman. Despite an agonizing second at the SAS Masters last season and five top tens already in this campaign Donaldson remains winless on Tour. He had the Estoril Open more or less in the bag last year two before a stunning final round 66 from Michael Hoey relegated him to fourth.


Miles Tunnicliff 210/1
I cannot believe I am putting the words Miles and Tunnicliff together in my tips column but at odds of 210/1 what the hell. Here’s the way it works for Miles: Unless the golf course is similar in length to a pitch putt track he simply has no chance. Ergo his stunning 127^th place finish last week in Wales. That leaves about two events all year where he can take home a cheque and at 6800 yards Estoril is one of those. In fairness to Tunnicliff he came very close in 2008 finishing fourth only one shot behind Bourdy. One for shopping trolley coins only.

Odds: Betfair

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Luke Skywalker's Taylormade Putter

Use The Rossa Luke

Taylormade have been spotted at US Tour events greens launching a new eye catching putter line called the “ghost” series. The spooky white polymer finish is designed to increase contrast with the grass. As far as we can decipher, most of the Rossa favourites will be available in this new other worldly colour. If Luke Skywalker played golf, you know this would be his putter!

Monty's Trial By Tabloid

Monty: Legendary Swordsman

Mention Colin Montgomerie and Celtic Manor and one inevitably thinks Ryder Cup. However Monty found himself discussing anything but golf last weekend. After a tabloid ran a story claiming he had been seeing a former girlfriend Monty issued a statement saying, "I have put my marriage under considerable strain, but we are working through these problems. I am very sorry for the hurt I have caused to the ones I love so much.” After his round he told waiting reporters, "I have said everything I have to say about that. I made a statement. The crowd were very supportive and it's up to Gaynor and I to work things out and continue and we look forward to welcoming everybody here in October. It's not going to impact on my captaincy at all. Not one bit." Montgomerie then added: "There was no question of me not playing today. The only thing to do today was play golf."

Bloggy Underfoot: 2010 Irish Seniors Open Preview

Ian Woosnam: Defending Champ

The Handa Irish Seniors Open starts on Friday at Carton House in Maynooth. The Montgomerie course will play host to the likes Ian Woosnam and Sam Torrance as well as home favourites including Des Smyth. I had a crack at the Monty layout a couple of weeks back and it positively battered me into submission. I can’t wait to see how the pro’s fare this weekend.
If you have never been to a Seniors Tour event, you must go. If your kids are aspiring golfers, they should go too. You will learn more observing these guys “live” for a day than you ever would watching the main tour. Firstly most of the senior players do not hit the ball much further than the average golfer. However the course management employed by these guys is simply awesome, and that coupled with short games tuned to perfect pitch after years of practice makes compelling viewing. They can tip-toe around a golf course and wrote the book on keeping horrors off the card.
Nowhere was that more evident than at last years British Open when then 59 year old Tom Watson came within one ball revolution of making off with the Claret Jug. The cream of Ireland’s youth golfers who receive GUI coaching at Carton House will no doubt relish the unique opportunity the Seniors Tour provides to get up close and personal with the pro’s on the range and on the course.
This year, entry to the Irish Senior’s Open is absolutely free on all three days and a huge number of facilities have been put in place to keep the whole family occupied while you sneak off to watch the golf. I will certainly be following one of my boyhood heroes Ian Woosnam as he attempts to defend his title.

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On The Tour Truck with Derek Murray of ForeGolf: Kickpoint

We have over 1,000 different shafts on board the Tour Truck and they are sorted into nine different categories but the most important factors are flex, weight and kickpoint. Kickpoint is basically where the flex is positioned within the shaft. A high kickpoint is up at the butt/grip end and low kickpoint is down at the tip or head end. When the kickpoint is low the ball flies high and when the kickpoint is high the ball flies low. Shaft companies vary the kickpoint when they construct the shaft in order to provide different types of ball performance to suit different golfers. Kickpoint is also used to regulate spin on the ball and can be tweaked to help with launch angles also. On Tour most players generate such high speeds that they prefer a high kickpoint shaft to make the ball flight as flat as possible in the air.
with Derek Murray from www.foregolf.ie

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Wayne’s World Of TPI Fitness: Medicine Ball

Problem:

Poor rotation of the body leads to loss of power and direction and often also results in failure to release the clubhead during the downswing. More often than not this leads to high weak shots fading away to the right for the right handed golfer.

Cause:

The prime cause of this swing fault is limited hip and thoracic spine mobility as it will limit the golfer’s ability to rotate their body freely in the downswing. Another cause can be the lack of understanding of the proper technique involved in rotating the body and squaring the club at impact.

Exercise:

Practicing rotational medicine ball throws are key to developing torso power as the medicine ball is an unparalleled tool for power development. Assume golf posture, rotate the body back then rotate the hips and chest forward throwing the medicine ball in front of you. Do 10 to 15 throws. If you release the ball properly it should go straight in front of you.

Log on to www.wayneocallaghangolf.com for more info and congrats to Wayne on his winning 66 in the Clontarf Pro-Am!

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Lowry Opens Open Door

Report from opengolf.com

Shane Lowry has given him the best possible chance of appearing at the 150^thAnniversary Open Championship after an opening-round 62, eight under par, left him two clear of the field at International Final Qualifying — Europe. Despite only reaching the turn one stroke under the card, the Irishman, who became the third amateur to win on the European Tour when he claimed the Irish Open last year, registered six consecutive birdies in a seven-under-par back-nine.
Two putts of 20 feet on the 10^th and 11^th holes, followed by a 60-foot monster on the 442-yard, par-4 12^th, were the catalyst for the 23-year-old from County Offaly, as he went on to come home in 28 and tie Nick Faldo’s Sunningdale Old Course record. 
“I played lovely all day. Tee to green I was really good,” he said. “Now I need to try and play the golf course for the next round and keep up the momentum and confidence.”
Matteo Manassero had set the early pace at IFQ with a faultless sic-under-par 64. The Italian, who won the Silver Medal at Turnberry last year, then aged just 16, made six birdies and 12 pars on the Old Course to give himself the best possible chance of making his first Major Championship since turning professional.
The Veronese, 17, said: Obviously, after last year, it’s important to get back to St Andrews, especially as it’s the 150^th anniversary. I have good memories of the Championship.”
Manassero is joined on 64 by Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, Spain’s Ignacio Garrido, German Marcel Siem and Gareth Maybin of Northern Ireland.
Maybin’s 64 was the best of the morning rounds on the New Course. An opening bogey was quickly forgotten as the 29-year-old bagged seven birdies, five of those coming in a back nine of 30.
Conversely, Siem’s 64 came courtesy of a front nine completed in 30 strokes on the Old Course. An eagle at the 492-yard, par-5 first was followed by two birdies, a bogey and, remarkably, another eagle on the ninth — Siem holing from 60 feet after putting a three-wood onto the green from the tee.
“It was good, especially the front nine,” he said. “I just couldn’t hole anything on the back nine. I had chances so it could’ve been better. It gives me a chance to finish it off now though.”
England’s Paul Broadhurst, Alastair Forsyth of Scotland, Frenchman Francois Delamontagne, Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn and South African James Kingston are all three of the lead after opening-round 65s.
An early bogey at the 475-yard, par-4 fourth proved to be Kingston’s only blemish as he made birdies at the sixth, ninth, 12^th and 13^th, before completing a five-under-par 65 with an eagle at the 18^th.  
“It was a great way for me to finish and that will really help,” explained Kingston. “I’ve played a few Opens before, but never a St Andrews one. That would be the dream Open — fingers crossed!”10 places are available in the 150^th Anniversary Open Championship.

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The Memorial 2010 Final Round Highlights

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The Memorial 2010 Final Round Highlights

Celtic Manor Wales Open 2010 Final Round Highlights

Click on pic to view final round highlights from the Celtic Manor Wales Open 2010 on the European Tour site.

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Celtic Manor Wales Open 2010 Final Round Highlights

Celtic Manor Wales Open 2010 Day Three Highlights

Click on pic to view highlights from Day Three on European Tour site

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Rickie and Ricky Different Strokes At Memorial

2010 Memorial Day 3 Highlights.

Ricky Barnes shot a 10 under round of 62 in round three at Muirfield Village yesterday. The former US amateur champion (and desperate housewives star) hooked bombed and gouged his way to one of the most memorable Memorial rounds ever.  Barnes will play with Rickie Fowler in todays final round.  Fowler leads by three after a steady 69.

Here are the 2010 Memorial Day 3 Highlights

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