Forbes Say Tiger Woods Is Still Absolutely Loaded

Tiger Woods wife is long gone, many of his sponsors have also scarpered, he hasn’t won a tournament in 18 months and is whizzing down the world rankings faster than a kid with Teflon shorts on a playground slide. Yet according to Forbes, Woods is still the biggest celebrity in the sports world.

Only 19 people from the world of sport made Forbes annual "Celebrity 100" list of the most powerful people in the entertainment business, with Woods ranking highest at number six overall. He has only dropped one place in the last year. Forbes calculate the list using pretax income coupled with the persons visibility in the media.

Even without winning Woods raked in a whopping $75 million in the last year up to May 1st, that’s $27 million more than the next highest athlete Miami Heat’s LeBron James. Singer Lady Gaga sits on top of Forbes' overall rankings, with Oprah Winfrey, Justin Bieber, U2 and Elton John ahead of Woods.

Yesterday Woods dropped out of the top 10 in the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time since the week before he won his first green jacket in April 1997.

After earning $105 million in 2010, many people expected Woods to fall off this latest Forbes list along with the likes of Michael Jordan (20th in 2010); Floyd Mayweather (31st); Shaquille O'Neal (52nd); Manny Pacquiao (55th); and Lance Armstrong (65th).

Instead Woods, who reportedly (by Forbes) passed the $1 billion mark in earnings two years ago slipped only one place. The next highest golfer on the Forbes List is Phil Mickelson who tied with David Beckham at No. 35).

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2011 Madeira Islands Open Third Round Leaderboard- Hoey Leads

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2011 Volvo World Matchplay Quarter Final Highlights and Results

Click on pic to view highlights from day three of the 2011 Volvo World Matchplay on the European Tour site (opens in a new window).

Results

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Put Mark Roe on Mute…That’s Given Me A Brilliant Idea

Very funny RT from Rory McIlroy re putting Mark Roe on mute.  Poor old Roey, he’s not the worst.  I’d choose to put Simon Holmes on mute, but the button on my remote control is broken ever since I smashed it off the screen watching him drone on during the rain delay at the Crowne Plaza.  I’d rather listen to the kettle boil! Or a wasp.

This is fun!  Where’s the permanent mute button for Brucie? 

I’d never turn Di down though!

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Social Slagging Means Lee Could Quit Twitter

Lee Westwood has bird problems.  He says he might power down his Twitter account because of the amount of abuse he’s getting.

“It’s social media, not social slagging,” he said.

If Lee does quit Twit, he’ll follow zany, quit witted Scot, Paul Lawrie whose closed account has been mourned by tens of followers.

Ian Poulter on the other hand is a hardcore tweeter, and more than able to dish it the retorts when the situation requires.  Maybe Lee needs to bottle some of Poults spirit and mix it with a bit of Wayne Rooney who threatened to put a follower “to sleep in 10 seconds” after being abused on Twitter.

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2011 Crowne Plaza Invitational Second Round Highlights

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2011 Volvo World Matchplay Round Two Results and Standings

Click below for Standings

Brian McConnell Demonstrates How To Use the Bushnell V2 and V2 Hybrid Laser Range Finder- Golfbidder at the 2011 PGA Show

No more guessing yardages for amateur golfers. Range Finders are 100% legal in practically all club competitions in Ireland and the UK and Bushnell are the best. We caught up with Brian McConnell, Bushnell’s number one man inside the ropes of the European Tour to demonstrate the Bushnell V2 and the new V2 hybrid laser range finder. Golfbidder stock a range of Bushnells with rapid delivery to Ireland and the UK.  Click on the pic to view Golfbidder’s Bushnell range in a new window.

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Podge’s Hammer/Knee/Popeye Muscle In Bits

Padraig Harrington has pulled up lame and will miss next week’s BMW PGA Championship.

Pic: Padraig on the treatment table receiving some acupuncture on his hammer. Knickers by Kartel.

Here’s Padraig talking science.

“I originally picked up a knee injury during the Wells Fargo Championship, which then got worse during last week’s PLAYERS Championship,” Harrington said. “After returning home I continued to have physio on what was originally a hamstring tear, which caused the popliteus muscle to become inflamed. This resulted in the inability to stabilize my knee, causing acute pain. As it hasn’t improved significantly and the recommended course of action is a couple of weeks rest, reluctantly, I am forced to withdraw from next week’s BMW PGA Championship.”

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Rob’s Tee Peg Dunk “Stupid Dumb Luck” or Raw Talent? You Decide

The latest comment on Rob’s tee peg trick shot is “the definition of stupid dumb luck”.  The truth is that Rob has spent ten thousand hours working on this shot and can now not only dunk the tee peg in the bag, but can get it to spin end over end exactly how many times you want.  Oh ye of little faith.

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2011 Crowne Plaza Invitational First Round Highlights

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2011 Volvo World Matchplay Championship Leaderboard

Click below for Day Two Draw

2011 Irish Amateur Close Championship Preview and Lies!

The word on the streets is that fairways in Shannon are about as narrow as the corridor in the clubhouse and while that has some of the field jumping for joy. others have a tiny dribble of wee running down their leg at the prospect.

“It’s as tight as a nun’s knickers” one source claimed yesterday, while another said “it’s as tight as my banjo string!”. That coupled with forecasted blustery winds and rain threaten to make one epic battle.

Paddypower has installed West champ Paul Cutler 7/1 and Alan Dunbar 10/1, two players with an incredibly low centres of gravity as favourites.  Pat Murray, manager at Limerick Golf Club is third favourite at 20/1, having been living like a hermit in a tent beside the ninth green for the past two months in preparation. Having not showered or shaved in that time locals are calling him Pat Bin Laden.

Other notables include Niall Gorey at 33/1 who likes what he sees at Shannon and is rumoured to have bought a new glove in case it rains; there’s Harry Diamond at 40/1 hoping to draw on the inspiration of his idol Jackie Chan; and Rory Leonard also at 40/1 who is thinking of upgrading from his X14’s to the X16’s in the next couple of years when they get a bit cheaper.

There’s plenty of value too.  Joe Lyons, the Andre Agassi of amateur golf there at 50/1, Westport via USA’s Cathal O’Malley at 66/1, and what about GCD’s touring strongman Robbie Cannon at 66/1, recently spotted out the side door of a niteclub with Rory McIlroy sporting laser eyes.  When Robbie asked Rors for advice on winning in Shannon McIlroy simply said “Use the force Robbie, and oh yeah, a 3 wood on the 10th”.

Pic: Rors and Robbie, laser eyed, with a fire extinguisher, outside the men jacks, at a niteclub. What could possibly go wrong?

It’s all set up for a great weekend of golf and mayhem in Shannon.

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2011 Crowne Plaza Invitational Betting Preview and Tips

2011 Crowne Plaza Invitational Betting Preview and Tips. odds on the exchanges

Sergio Garcia 36/1

Garcia won this event ten years ago when it was the Mastercard Colonial. Carded a stunning 65 at The Players last Sunday to climb 27 places up the leaderboard and finish just outside the top 10. Garcia seemingly hasn’t holed a putt all year, yet has finished inside the top 35 in each of his nine US and European Tour appearances. He is also sure to have one eye on the Volvo Matchplay at Finca Cortesin, a fact which might heighten his awareness and spur him to his first win since the 2009 HSBC Champions.

Zach Johnson 21/1

The defending champion, Zach Johnson will be raring to go at Colonial on Thursday after a storming finish at Sawgrass last week. After three rounds in the 70’s, the former Masters champion shot a blistering Sunday 66 which included seven birdies. His driving and greens in regulation stats at the TPC were excellent and if Johnson can keep his SeeMore putter hot this week we may well be looking at a successful defence come Sunday Night.

 

Ben Crane 30/1

Well down the leaderboard last week the odds have lengthened significantly on Ben Crane who can now be got at 40/1 or better on the exchanges. I really expected a good show last week at Sawgrass from Crane but a Friday 76 and a card without a birdie was particularly worrying. The test however at Colonial is vastly different to Sawgrass and it’s a course where he has good form. Tied fourth in 2006 after a final round 64 rocketed him through the field. In 2008 when Mickelson won, Crane came fifth and he again contended last year, tying third. He has the course form, but is he in form? Worth an each way look we say.

Jason Day 20/1

Rapidly becoming one of my favourite players on Tour, I think Colonial could be a huge week for Day. Aussies have always seemed to fare well here and indeed Day finished fourth on his first appearance at the event in 2009. Full of confidence after a great run which included that memorable tied second at the Masters, ninth at the Heritage and yet another top 10 at Sawgrass last weekend. Brilliant putting stats give Day every chance of adding to his Byron Nelson win last season.

 

Brian Davis 80/1

Couldn’t find the birdies to better his two round total of six under at The Players last week and ended at the foot of the top 30. The Englishman who is now a PGA Tour veteran always seems to thrive at this stage of the season and very nearly won here last after rounds of 64,65,65,68 were bettered only by Zach Johnson. Hugely respected on Tour following his calling a penalty on himself in the Hilton Head playoff two years ago.

Volvo World Matchplay 2011 Preview

Ross Fisher (20/1 on the exchanges) missed the cut at The Players, his first tournament back since finishing 15^th at the Masters. Winner here two years ago (the event wasn’t staged last year) when he overpowered Anthony Kim in the final. Like the London Club and Killarney, Finca Cortesin is one of those courses that Fisher has said suited his eye and game from the moment he laid eyes on it. Another player who may well thrive it big hitting Alvaro Quiros. He’s jetting in from Florida after a top 10 at the TPC and if tiredness is not an issue may just have the game to overpower his opponents in matchplay format. He should start at about 10/1. The main man to watch here is WGC Matchplay champ and favourite Luke Donald (7/1) who hasn’t finished outside the top 10 in each of his six events since his desert win. Another brilliant performance at Sawgrass, Donald is clearly playing the best golf in the world right now. And finally don’t count out the largely forgotten Paul Casey (14/1) when it comes to matchplay. His record mano a mano is excellent and he can be counted out in a limited field event.

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The Lough Erne and Links Challenge Quiz

This weeks prize is entry for a team of four to the Lough Erne & Links Challenge which takes place over The Faldo Course at Lough Erne, Murvagh and Narin & Portnoo on July 25-27th 2011. The winning team will compete over the three days for team and individual prizes. For €140 per person in a team of four you can avail of this unique opportunity to play links and parkland on the North West’s finest courses by contacting Grainne now on 074 9734054 or checking out details on www.narinportnoogolfclub.ie

To enter fill in your answer and details in the widget on the right hand side.

Question? Who is Lough Erne Golf Resort’s Touring Professional?

Congrats to last weeks winner Pierce Butler, Thurles, Tipperary on winning last weeks Dunmurry Springs Prize

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Beware The Timesheet Lurkers!

Here’s a piece I did for Golfing Magazine. It’s a sweet little publication with a swish online version on http://www.golfing.ie/. Well worth checking out.
Golfers of the world, heads up, this is important. A deadly new gang is spreading like a virus through golf courses throughout the globe, wreaking havoc wherever they show up. They have already claimed the lives of two retired golfers in Australia (although some say they were on their way on out anyway) and are suspected of causing a golf pond drowning in the West Of Ireland late last year. They target three men on a fourball line and strike when least expected, in some cases just 30 minutes before tee off. They are known by the name “Timesheet Lurkers” often abbreviated to simply “Lurkers” or known in some parts of Western Europe as “Hayseeds”. You need to know how to recognize them if you are to have any chance of defending yourself against them. These guys are so dangerous they make swine flu look like Miss Piggy in a bikini.
To lurk is to move stealthily or be concealed, especially for evil purposes and these guys tick all the boxes. Timesheet lurkers are a secret society, who like to add each other to their professional profile on linkedin, but have never ever actually meet. Said to have spawned with the advent of online tee-time booking in late 2004, the members have no real friends but trawl the timesheets of the world seeking the holy grail of a single free spot to join a threeball and reign down their havoc.
Lurker’s method of operation is crude yet devilishly effective. They never put their name down on the timesheet on a Monday, for this could blow their cover, preferring to stealthily watch the names building up before pouncing just before tee time. It leaves their prey stunned and unable to escape at short notice. To the timesheet lurker, playing golf with three unwitting strangers, is like an Ebay auction. Timing is crucial and they are the highest bidder.

Fit and Able Week 8 with Robbie Cannon TPI: The C Posture Fix

Fit and Able: The C Posture Fix

With top Irish amateur and TPI certified fitness instructor Robbie Cannon of Harrington Golf. To book a session call Robbie on 086-6002432.

A very common golf mistake happens before the club is even swung. Instead of having a nice straight posture over the ball some golfers some golfers get rounded in their upper spine. We call it C Posture. This roundness in the upper back can be caused by tightness and weakness in the muscles between your shoulder blades . Stretching and strengthening exercises can help fix your posture. A great exercise to strengthen these muscles is the wall slide.

Wall Slide

Stand with your back flat against the wall and slight bend in your knees raise your arms and place them against the wall in a crucifix position. Bend your arms at the elbows 90 degrees so that the back of your hands are touching the wall. Keeping your hands on the wall slide your hands up and down the wall slowly and only as far as your flexibility allows. Trust me its not as easy as you think, the more you do this, you will begin to feel the burn! Doing this exercise every day you definitely notice your middle and lower trap muscles getting stronger which will lead to better posture for your golf swing.

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Karl Morris Golf Brain: Would the Ancient Greeks Have Been Good Golfers?

Karl Morris is one of the finest thinkers in the game of golf.  The Mr Miyagi to the finest Karate Kids on Tour.  Be sure to Check out Karl’s website www.golf-brain.com
Would the ANCIENT GREEKS have been good GOLFERS?
They say that ‘nothing is new’ but you probably never thought that we would be going so far back in time to be digging up the relics of some ancient Greek wisdom to try to lower our golf score!
In Ancient Greece there was a school of thought which became extremely popular to the degree that the Romans took it on board and for many was a guiding way of life. The ‘Stoics’ had a very interesting philosophy on how to get the best out of each and every day and whilst I am absolutely no expert whatsoever on ancient Greek philosophy what I have read so far has really caught my eye and got me thinking about how we could apply it to the modern world and how golf can be a really great place to start incorporating some of the ancient ideas.
Pic: Olympus- deadly from 100 yards and in.
The Stoics primarily believed that it wasn’t so much about what a person said that was important it was how he actually BEHAVED that was the key. It wasn’t what he thought about it was what he DID. How relevant to us all in the modern world is that? How many people do you know who SAY that they are going to do something? They SAY that they are going to call or get the job done, they say they are going to go on a diet, they say they are going to take some lessons, go to the range or whatever the latest fad is but what they SAY and what they DO is are two completely different things.

2011 Iberdrola Open Final Round Highlights- Darren Clarke Wins

Darren Clarke held his nerve while all about him were losing theirs, in almost impossible golfing conditions to win the Iberdrola Open by three strokes from Chris Wood and David Lynn. Ireland’s Shane Lowry contended over the front nine but suffered in the tough conditions over the back nine, eventually finishing a very creditable tied fifth.

The win was Clarke’s 13th career European win and first since the KLM Open of 2008.

"It's a bit of a monkey to get off my back after three years not winning so it's good," Clarke said. "At the same time I feel a lot for Chris Wood -- he's a young guy, a great player and I've been in his position before."

Final Round Highlights

Click on pic to view highlights from the European Tour website.

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The Real Story Behind the Turtle Dive at The 2011 Players Championship

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The Hoff Demonstrates Excellent Putter Snapping Technique

You have to love Charley Hoffman. Check out the way he ends the life of his putter by applying just the correct amount of pressure to the shaft as he walks off the green. He’s not looking for attention or anything, just keen to ensure the putter is decommissioned forever!

Fan Helps Michael Bradley Get His Driver From Drink at PLayers

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GMac and Watney Lead Ahead of Busy Sunday at Players

It was a bad case of Irish weather at TPC Sawgrass yesterday meaning the leading groups were not able to complete their third rounds.  GMac and Nick Watney will have a very early start this morning with 13 holes still to play.

MacDowell was three under for his first five holes to lead with Watney on 11 under.

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Out of My Way: Poulter Speed Golf in Round Three at The Players

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