The PGATour posted up the video of Kevin Na’s 16 in the Valero Texas Open. He still shot 80. After a second round 77, he deserves to take the weekend off. The dialogue is intriguing. His caddy says “how are we going to count all the shots?”
Saturday, April 16, 2011
PowerPlay Golf Event Announced for Celtic Manor 30th April
PowerPlay Golf today announced plans to increase golf’s appeal to a wider sporting TV audience, and the first stages of its strategy to roll-out an innovative nine hole, two-flag golfing format to invigorate the sport.
Taking place next month, POWERPLAY GOLF: IGNITION is the first of a series of three unique televised professional golf tournaments, to be broadcast live worldwide in 2011. In POWERPLAY GOLF: IGNITION, sponsored by automobile manufacturer Saab, golf’s global ambassador Gary Player will headline the field. Reigning US Open Champions Graeme McDowell and Paula Creamer, Ryder Cup stars Paul Casey and Ian Poulter, and Major Championship winners John Daly, Ian Woosnam and Helen Alfredsson will also be among the stellar field of 12 players competing at The Celtic Manor Resort, City Of Newport, Wales, on Bank Holiday Monday May 30th 2011 at 1700 BST.
Golf’s Twenty20?
Hailed as golf’s equivalent to Twenty20 Cricket, PowerPlay Golf is played over nine holes, with two flags on every green, golfers use a limited number of ‘PowerPlays’ to score extra points when aiming at the harder Black Flag, creating risk-and-reward decisions on each tee. The international field contains no fewer than six Major-winners with 15 Major wins and over 300 Tour victories between them. The winner of the nine-hole tournament in May will receive £100,000 from a £350,000 prize fund.
Paul Casey and Monty looking “excited”. Actually I think Paul Casey looks like the guy in the ad who just came out of the hair restoration clinic!
Curley, O’Keefe and our John Kelly in Europro Top 30
from Brian Keogh, IrishGolfDesk. Click here for full story
Newlands’ Cian Curley was the top Irish qualifier in the 54-hole PGA Europro Tour Q-School finals at Frilford Heath.
The 25-year old, who won last year’s East of Ireland Amateur Open before turning professional, closed with a one under par 70 on the Blue Course to finish tied for fifth on six under, just two strokes behind winner Paul Grannell of England.
Douglas’ Peter O’Keeffe saved the best for last, firing a bogey free, four under 67 to move up to tied 20th on three under. St Margarets’ John Kelly finished two shots further back in tied 30th on one under after a closing 69 that featured a hat-trick of birdies at the start of the back nine.
Valero Texas Open 2011 Second Round Highlights-PGA Tour
Its Ogilvy, Scott and Steele battling in Texas.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Rors Roars Back- Maybank Malaysian Open 2011 Second Round Leaderboard and Highlights
Full article here from europeantour.com
Rory McIlroy produced a superb eight under par 64 to move into a share of the clubhouse lead during the second round of the Maybank Malaysian Open.
Just five days after missing out on the Masters Tournament title after leading for 63 holes, and having flown halfway across the globe since, the 21 year old Northern Irishman joined Swede Alex Noren (69) on 11 under par at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.
McIlroy had suggested after his opening 69 - the first time he had seen the course after his clubs failed to arrive on time, denying him a practice round - that others were more upset about his disappointing final round at Augusta National than he was.
And the World Number Nine certainly didn't seem too hung up as he reeled off three birdies in his first four holes after teeing off at the tenth.
He added back-to-back gains at the 16th and 17th, the first from 12 feet, to turn in a five under 31, and three more birdies on the way in completed a bogey-free round.
Highlights to be inserted here when available
Kevin Na’s 16 Valero Texas Open 2011 First Round Highlights PGA Tour
Ouch! Golf can just jump up and bite you in the ass sometimes. Check out Kevin Na’s scorecard for the first round of the Valero Texas Open. Yep that’s a 16 on the ninth. The highlights below show what happened the poor guy.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Valero Texas Open 2011 Betting Tips- Computer Says No
We’ve had our resident computer wiz Carol feverishly crunch the numbers and solve a few theorems to bring you our 2011 Valero Texas Open Tips. After saying “No” 12 times Carol reckons Martin Laird will take the win with an 85.3% chance of winning.
| Predicted finish | Name | Odds | Avge Finish | Last 5 events | World rank | Scoring Avge | Cuts Made | Events Since win | % Chance |
| 1 | Martin Laird | 16/1 | 26.56 | 13.80 | 23 | 70.08 | 6 | 1 | 85.3 |
| 2 | Adam Scott | 11/1 | 49.83 | 55.60 | 17 | 71.51 | 2 | 6 | 82.7 |
| 3 | Geoff Ogilvy | 13/1 | 29.29 | 22.20 | 29 | 70.49 | 4 | 28 | 81.0 |
| 4 | Bo Van Pelt | 25/1 | 50.67 | 39.80 | 44 | 71.30 | 3 | 47 | 74.1 |
| 5 | Anthony Kim | 25/1 | 40.00 | 46.60 | 41 | 71.03 | 0 | 20 | 73.0 |
| 6 | Charley Hoffman | 40/1 | 57.09 | 29.00 | 63 | 72.12 | 5 | 14 | 72.8 |
| 7 | JB Holmes | 28/1 | 26.71 | 23.80 | 61 | 70.51 | 12 | 83 | 72.7 |
| 8 | Anders Hansen | 70/1 | 31.57 | 38.00 | 45 | 70.51 | 0 | 58 | 72.0 |
| 9 | Scott Verplank | 40/1 | 23.00 | 23.00 | 66 | 69.98 | 7 | 89 | 71.3 |
| 10 | Ryan Palmer | 25/1 | 47.90 | 49.40 | 52 | 71.53 | 1 | 38 | 68.4 |
Technorati Tags: Valero Texas Open 2011 betting Preview and Tips
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Lee Valley All Set For Cracker. The Odds Are Out. Betting Preview
Paddypower has published the odds for the Lee Valley scratch cup. Last year they lost an unprecedented €14 million in bets during the event resulting in the firm having to receive a bailout from billionaire Paul Keohane.
Topping the odds again is Paul Dunne at 9/1 but everyone knows the Lee Valley Scratch Cup is like the Grand National; the favourite isn't a shoe-in. Throw in the thundering hooves of Seanie Barry coming up behind you and its even more like Aintree. Alan Dunbar is in there at 12/1 but the worries of jet lag after travelling 4 degrees latitude south to Cork exists for the Ulsterman.
The bookies wont be stung again by Rory Leonard who won in Lee Valley and the West last year, he’s only available at 18/1. The word is he’s still using a set of ancient x14’s, and was refused entry into last week’s World Hickory Golf Championships at St Andrews after the committee deemed his clubs to be “prehistoric”.
The word in the backstreets of Ballincollig is all about Andy Hogan 18/1, Grandson of Ben Hogan, a Dublin Bus driver, who shares a name with a famous US golfer. Andy’s been down to Ballincollig at least 20 times for practice rounds and is rumoured to be hiring out of work caddy Dave McNeilly for the weekend. One local said that Hogan has been around so much he’s become “more rebel than the rebels themselves”.
Pic: Keith Crowley- Jaysus that looks more like a skirt to me….
Watch out too for Keith Crowley for 40/1. A massive ACDC fan, and the one they call “girlie legs”, Crowley will be easily recognisable by his dodgy public schoolboy shorts/skirt. He’ll be joined on the start line by dodgy footwear wearing, and GCD resident TPI expert Robbie Cannon at 33/1. 
Cannon arrives fresh from winning the Turkmenistan leg of the World’s Strongest Man Series, defeating Žydrūnas Savickas in the dead lift after hoisting a family of four in a Skoda 25 times in a minute.
Pic: Seanie Barry- Partial to a lovely jumper. He got this one from Ebay on the Nick Faldo collectables shop.
And what about the organiser Seanie Barry at 28/1? Apparently he went up to Dublin (all by himself on the bus) and camped outside the paddypower offices demanding that they slash his odds from the original 500/1 quoted. During a practice round recently he carded 18 straight pars and has started dressing in Pringle sweaters like a 90’s Nike Faldo. If the heaven’s open, lump on Barry, he’ll need divine intervention!
Whatever happens, it’s set to be a cracker.
Technorati Tags: lee valley scratch cup 2011 betting preview and tips
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
John Kelly PGA Pro: Come On Inside For More Power
Fit and Able: With top Irish PGA pro John Kelly of Harrington Golf and St Margaret's Golf and Country Club. To book a session call John on 086-8155248 or +353-86-8155248 from outside Ireland.
Theory
The key to hitting big accurate powerful tee shots is developing a good inside path on your downswing. To test your swing path place a stick just outside the ball pointing in the direction you want your ball to go. Simulate your swing checking that your downswing passes inside the line of the stick. A very common mistake is where a player goes “over the top” on the downswing, this type of swing passes over the outside of the stick resulting in a weak shot.
Practice Drill
Here’s a great drill to help you develop a constant inside path. Place your drive cover just a couple of inches away from the ball. Play your drive as normal making sure you don’t hit the cover. This will help you develop a consistent inside path, resulting in more power and greater accuracy off the tee.
Filmed on location at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links, Dublin
The Lee Valley Fourball Quiz
Our prize this week is a fourball in the Christy O’Connor designed Lee Valley Golf and Country Club near Ballincollig in Cork. The course is in immaculate condition in the build up to the Lee Valley scratch cup this coming weekend where Ireland’s top amateurs will compete for top honours. Check out their website www.leevalleygcc.ie/ for more info
To enter email your answer plus your name and address to examinerspindoc@eircom.net.
Question: Can you name Rory McIlroy’s caddy?
Congrats to last weeks winner Ray Sheehan, Waterville, Co. Kerry who answered Nike.
Technorati Tags: lee valley scratch cup 2011,fourball quiz
Karl Morris - Golf Brain: “Consequence”
Mind Funk with Karl Morris Consequence
A critical key to improving through practice and that is the concept of CONSEQUENCE. Golf is a unique game in the sense every single time you make contact with the ball there is a CONSEQUENCE to that action. Whether we like it or not, each shot we make has a consequence because it is going down on that scorecard.
So, if we are playing a game which is high in consequence, then surely a BIG portion of our practice should involve the same principle. Yet , consider what we see on every range up and down the country and across the world. How many balls carry a consequence? How many shots carry any pressure?
For most golfers, the only ball that carries any sort of pressure is the last one! And far too many times I have seen a golfer hit ball number 48 out of 50 like a bullet, then actually kick the last two balls out onto the range! That isn’t practicing - that is CHEATING!!
If we practice in a way which creates consequence, then we will get better at dealing with the very same situation out on the course. Understand the person, a human being, who he is most competitive with is HIMSELF, so then if you devise strategies which create a score and a consequence, then you can let human nature do the rest for you.
Also tied in closely with consequence, we also need to understand that confidence needs to be based on FACTS not FEELINGS! If a 100 metre sprinter like say Usain Bolt was working each day with his coach and the coach kept telling him he was improving but had no means to actually prove it, how do you think the confidence levels of the athlete would be?
The great beauty for an athlete is the CLOCK will give him a FACTUAL example of his improvement. For too long now in golf people have been basing their confidence on feelings as opposed to facts. Hit it great on the range this morning FELT great! However, as soon as that first ball travels offline on the course, where do all of those good feeling go?
When you are building your confidence on FACTS then you are building a process which will stand up over time and build UNSHAKABLE self confidence. Facts not feelings. Build CONSEQUENCE into your practice by playing games that involve a SCORE that you have to RECORD. As soon as a score is involved we create pressure.
Check out Karl’s website www.golf-brain.com
Techno Babble: Augusta Equipment Chat
Hybrids
Hybrids are not just dodgy looking cars that can go tot the moon and back on one tank of petrol you know? Over the last 10 years hybrids have played some of the most critical shots in major golf. How about Y E Yangs stone dead approach on the final hole at Hazeltine to beat Tiger to the 2009 PGA Championship? That was played with the TaylorMade Rescue TP hybrid. Seven years ago Todd Hamilton used a Sonartec MD on almost every hole in Royal Troon when he won the 2004 British Open.
Last week at Augusta National where approach shot accuracy is critical, K.J. Choi alternated between four and three hybrids in his bag. The longest iron in Choi's bag during the first round was a seven iron, but put back in his six iron from then on and went with only three hybrids.
His aforementioned countryman YE Yang carries four hybrid clubs all the time, namely a two, three, four and five hybrid. The longest iron in his bag is a six iron. His coach calls him “Grandpa” because his bad resembles that of an old man.
"Three weeks ago, I felt that to contend at major championships, I had to be able to get the ball up in the air, higher, and to stop the ball on the greens better," Choi said through his interpreter Friday afternoon. "That's why I put the hybrids in the bag. When I tried it, it made playing the par 3s much easier. I still don't feel that I'm 100-percent comfortable with those hybrids, but I still plan to continue using them."
Phil’s Drivers
Phil Mickelson has been fairly going through his drivers recently. After cracking the face of his Callaway FT tour in Houston last week, rumours are that the same thing happened during the first round of the Masters. He was carrying two drivers at the time. Some say it was to shape shots, other just say it was “contingency”!
Scotty Headcovers
It seems you’re a nobody in the pro ranks these days unless you have a custom designed putter headcover. Titleist head putting guru Scotty Cameron may be the pound for pound king of the short stick but he’s not shabby with the covers aswell. Here’s his latest 2011 Masters commemorative putter. The cover is set to be sold to members of website for, wait for it, $116 bucks. And that doesn’t even include a putter!
Technorati Tags: techno babble,golf equipment news
The Glover’s Guide to The Irish Amateur Scene
The more immersed I become in this great game of golf the more my eyes are opened to the machine churning away in the background that consistently churns out top amateurs. Twenty years ago who could have believed we would have Major champions in Harrington and McDowell and even a new breed in McIlroy who played so well in Augusta and seemed destined for even greater things.
Before Padraig Harrington won his Irish Open in 2007, it had been 22 years since an Irish player won their home championship. If that was a great achievement in itself, the victory by amateur Shane Lowry two years later at Baltray was truly remarkable. Ireland is rapidly becoming to golf what the All Blacks are to rugby and both countries have quite similar populations.
But of course we didn’t just magic up these great players and prospects. Every weekend at my home club, GUI coaches Hughie O’Neill and Leslie Robinson are busy coaching Connacht’s top prospects; Freddie Twomey is doing the same in Munster and it’s a scene replicated across all four provinces. There are no political divides in Irish golf. Those not involved in the elite panels still have some of the finest PGA pros on hand to provide the very finest instruction.
There are also characters in Irish golf around whom people gravitate to produce great things. Last week I had the pleasure of meeting one such man, Seanie Barry of Lee Valley. With a great community effort Seanie and his friends at the club have developed of one the finest scratch cups in the country on the eve of the first amateur major of the season. It’s testimony to the event that the cream of Irish amateurs will all congregate in Lee Valley to compete just days before travelling across the country to Rosses Point in Sligo. Part of the TopGolfer.ie schedule which has reinvigorated the scratch cup scene around the country, the event even has a live scoring system on plasma screens for instant score updates. Indeed last years West winner Rory Leonard won in Lee Valley the previous week, cementing its reputation as a must-play event in the Irish amateur calendar.
On the day of my visit two of the new generation of Irish professionals, namely Shane Lowry and Dara Lernihan had returned to lend their support to the Lee Valley Scratch Cup. Joined by Sean Barry and top amateur Andy Hogan the fourball put on an exhibition of golf for the locals with Lowry easing through the gears with a five under back nine to take the spoils.
Pic: Doc with Dara Lernihan, Keith Crowley and Freddie Twomey
If you’re a keen golfer living in the Cork area or have kids who golf try to make sure you put some time aside this weekend to see the top Irish amateurs in action at Lee Valley. You almost got the impression the two pros were longing to be back in the amateur ranks for just one week, so they could compete!
Every Cloud Has A Holly Lining as Rory Heads For Malaysia
from the Sun, with all the crap bits taken out (Click here for link)
RORY McILROY had one piece of good news after his Masters meltdown - long-time girlfriend Holly Sweeney was waiting to console him.
McIlroy, 21, was kept in the dark when his management company decided to fly her into Augusta as he led the Masters from day one.
The young Ulster ace saw his dreams of a Green Jacket, eventually picked up by South African Charl Schwartzel, disintegrate with an horrendous final-round eight-over-par 80.
Holly, 18, was kept under wraps for two days to avoid the risk of McIlroy being distracted, as he built an imposing four-shot lead over the first 54 holes.
She had planned to greet him by the side of the 18th green if he clinched his first Major.
Instead, she waited for him in the clubhouse and his face lit up as she hugged him, and helped him come to terms with his heartbreak.
The couple are childhood sweethearts and McIlroy, when he first hit the golfing big time, used to pick her up at the school gates in his BMW. She was by his side when he made his Ryder Cup debut in October.
But McIlory later announced they were taking a "break" in their relationship, as he travelled the world and she concentrated on her studies sports technology student at the University of Ulster.
But within a few weeks he admitted: "Me and Holly still talk every day. We still get on great. I think we both understand what we want."
They flew together to Kuala Lumpur yesterday, where a shell-shocked McIlory is due to compete in this week's Malaysian Open.
And Holly's presence would have been especially welcome as Schwartzel was booked on the same flight.
McIlroy was being paid a reported £250,000 appearance fee to play in that event, but his value would have soared if he had managed to clinch the deal in Augusta.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Maybank Malaysian Open 2011 Betting Preview and Tips – European Tour
Betting Preview And Tips
Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, 14 Apr 2011 - 17 Apr 2011
Subject to field corrections, expected odds, odds not posted yet
Kiradech Aphibarnrat 45/1
It’s a co sanctioned event this week with the Asian Tour and of the local cast I like the chances of Kiradech Aphibarnrat. The big Thai might not be one for gym sessions but it doesn’t seem to affect his golf. Contended all the way to the death last year tying third (behind Seung Yul Noh) and recently won the SAIL Championship on the Asian Tour. Sure to be smiling come what may.
Rhys Davies 28/1
The young Welshman enjoyed a welcome return to form at the Trophee Hassan last time out, narrowly losing out in a three man playoff to David Horsey. That was Davies best result since coming 23rd in Abu Dhabi in January and he will be keen to emulate his tied third finish in Kuala Lumpur last season. A brilliant putter on his day, these greens should be right up his street.
Johan Edfors 35/1
The always colourful Swede hasn’t won on Tour since the Barcalys Scottish Open in 2006 but inside the ropes many think a victory is not far away. His second place finish in Andalucia behind Paul Lawrie (who himself bridged a long winning gap) two weeks back is sure to give him the belief that he can win again. Tied for seventh last year and is in arguably better form this time around.
Raphael Jacquelin 28/1
What a great start it has been to the season for the Frenchman winning in Sicily and then tying fourth in Andalucia the following week. The break came at the perfect time with a rested Rafa now returning to a course he played well on in 2006 finishing third after the event was reduced to three rounds due to storm delays. Missed the event last year, but one to watch.
Thongchai Jaidee 26/1
It’s impossible to preview an event in Asia without mentioning the former Thai army paratrooper Thongchai Jaidee. Probably the best record in this event of the field winning in 2004 and 2005 when it was the Carlsberg Malaysian Open. Finished in the top 10 also last year but a word of warning, Thongchai hasn’t played since the Avantha Masters in February so there might be some dust on his parachute.
Technorati Tags: Maybank Malaysian Open 2011 Betting Preview and Tips,European Tour
What’s In The Bag 2011 Charl Schwartzel US Masters Champion
What’s In The Bag 2011 Charl Schwartzel US Masters Champion
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Charl Schwartzel is 2011 US Masters Champion
You sense that after a chip in on the first followed by a second shot hole out on the third that this might just be your day. And so it proved for South African Charl Schwartzel who outpointed Aussie’s Adam Scott and Jason Day.
The day proved heartbreaking for overnight leader Rory McIlory who came a cropper on the 10 hole taking triple bogey, an experience from which he couldn’t recover.
It looked for a time like Adam Scott would take the title but four birdies from the 15th brought Schwartzel to the front. He shot 66, six under for the day to take the title on 14 under.
Other notable movers were Tiger Woods and Geoff Ogilvy who both shot 67’s to finish in a tie for fourth.
Top 15 Leaderboard
Rors Sleeps On Four Shot Lead Heading Into Masters Final Round
If you’re going to lead going into the final round of the Masters you might as well lead by four. Of the top 10, only Angel Cabrera with whom he plays tomorrow, has won a major. Granted Rors would doubtless liked to have played again with Jason Day on Sunday but Angel Cabrera was first to finish on eight under.
Biggest movers on the day were Cabrera and Adam Scott while Tiger’s putting woes continued as he slumped to a 74 leaving him seven back.
All the very best to Rory in the final round. What a stunning birdie on 17, let’s hope he keeps attacking tomorrow.
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