Friday, October 28, 2011

2011 Andalucia Masters Second Round Highlights – European Tour

Click below to view 2011 Andalucia Masters Second Round Highlights on the European Tour website. Opens in a new window.

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McIlroy Tops Leaderboard After Second Round Of 2011 Shanghai Masters

Rory McIlroy leads after two rounds in Shanghai on 11 under. Two back is Noh Seung-Yul with 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen a further shot back on 8 under. Padraig Harrington finished with a 72 to lie on 7 under.

2011 Shanghai Masters Second Round Leaderboard

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McIlroy Second Round Leaderboard 2011 Shanghai Masters

2011 Andalucia Masters First Round Highlights – European Tour

Click below to watch 2011 Andalucia Masters First Round Highlights on the European Tour site. Opens in a new window.

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Thursday, October 27, 2011

Players Furious Over R&A and USGA’s Refusal To Address Swampass Rule

News is just emerging of a group of European and PGA Tour players seemingly furious over the R&A and USGA’s continuing decision to leave the “Swampass” epidemic unchecked in the latest revision of the rules of golf.

The anonymous group of Touring Pros calls itself “SOS” or Stamp out Swampass, consists of players who at one point had to stand alongside or play with swampass suffers during the year and were traumatized, not to mention physically ill, after the experience.

One member of SOS said “Take Garrigus for example, he hits it a long way, but at what price? He literally craps himself a little attempting to hammer every tee shot. Golf courses all the US are having to beef up their drainage systems and one course reported record grass growth on a patch of fairway where Garrigus sat during a delay at this year’s St. Jude Classic.” Another said “He held his hand out after the round. I was afraid to shake it. Next time I’m gonna bring some loo roll for him in my bag!” Tiger Woods is also listed as a Level 1 Swampass sufferer.

SOS are advocating the use of diapers, talcing tents alongside the first tee where players must “drop and powder up” and are campaigning heavily to the R&A and USGA for a rule change forbidding the wearing of white or pink golf trousers in warm weather.

A statement from Garrigus and Woods, joint Chairmen of the Association of Swampass Sufferers (ASS) is due out later today.

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What Photoshop Masterpieces Will Andalucia Bring Us This Year?

The Andalucia Masters is rapidly becoming as famous for the Murals on the tee boxes as for the golf itself. The sponsors were kind enough to give Miguel Angel Jimenez a tummy tuck last year! I’ll keep you posted.

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McIlroy Heads Leaderboard after First Round of 2011 Shanghai Masters

Rory McIlroy shot an 8-under 64 to lead by one after the first round of the Shanghai Masters, the lucrative 30 man invitational event at the Lake Malaren resort. His round consisted of eight birdies on the Greg Norman redesigned track. One back is Hunter Mahan, with Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey and Ian Poulter three behind on 67. Pic: Rafael McIlroy

First Round Scores and Round two Tee Times

9:15 AM Hao Yuan (CHN) 79
Dong Su (CHN) 79
Wei Huang Wu (CHN) 80
9:25 AM Chi Huang Tsai (TPE) 74
Jim Furyk (USA) 75
Lian Wei Zhang (CHN) 78
9:35 AM KJ Choi (KOR) 73
Wen Yi Huang (CHN) 73
Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 73
9:45 AM Keegan Bradley (USA) 72
Kevin Na (USA) 72
A Shun Wu (CHN) 73
9:55 AM Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 70
Xin Jun Zhang (CHN) 71
Seung Yul Noh (KOR) 72
10:05 AM Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 70
Colin Montgomerie (SCO) 70
Mu Hu (CHN) 70
10:15 AM Lee Westwood (ENG) 69
Retief Goosen (RSA) 69
YE Yang (KOR) 69
10:25 AM Chao Li (CHN) 68
Robert Karlsson (SWE) 69
John Daly (USA) 69
10:35 AM Padraig Harrington (IRE) 67
Ian Poulter (ENG) 67
Anthony Kim (USA) 68
10:45 AM Rory McIlroy (NIR) 64
Hunter Mahan (USA) 65
Paul Casey (ENG) 67

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2011 Shanghai Masters Leaderboard, 2011 Shanghai Masters Highlights, Paul McLoughlin. Lake Malaren, Rory McIlroy

2011 Shanghai Masters Scores Coup By Pairing Westwood and McIlroy

Irishman Paul McLoughlin who heads up the Lake Malaren Resort in Shanghai will be rubbing his hands with glee at the prospect of Lee Westwood playing with Rory McIlroy less than a week after calling Rors move from ISM to Horizon, a "bizarre decision".

They will have their serious faces on too, as they battle for the richest first prize in golf £1.25million.

The exclusive 30 man field includes Keegan Bradley, Charl Schwartzel, Paul Casey, Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Poulter and others.

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2011 Shanghai Masters Leaderboard, 2011 Shanghai Masters Highlights, Paul McLoughlin. Lake Malaren

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Mark Murphy Finds His Calling In Big Break Ireland

What could Mark Murphy possibly give lessons to his fellow Big Break Ireland contestants in? Yep it’s pulling pints of Guinness. Check out the craic as the Golf Channel go to a real life Irish pub. Click on the link below or here.

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Big Break Ireland Episode 5 and 6 Highlights – The Golf Channel

A torrent of some the worst shots in Big Break history followed by some of the very best on the Ryder Cup course at the K Club started episode 5 of the Golf Channel’s Big Break Ireland. And there’s a shock in the elimination challenge too with Joe choosing to battle it out with Julien rather than pick on the struggling Nina. Would his decision pay off? Click below to watch episode 5 highlights.

Episode 6 saw the competitors move to the fantastic links at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links. The conditions were incredibly windy and this time it was the ladies that battled it out to avoid elimination. Click below to watch episode 6 highlights.

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Big Break Ireland, Episode 5 Highlights, epidoe 6 highlights, the golf channel, episode five, episode six highlights, big break ireland torrent,Big Break Ireland Streaming Torrent Download

Well Done Padraig As Daft Rules Changed, But No Consolation For Webb

Now I don’t know how much he had to do with it but I suspect R&A ambassador Padraig Harrington had a big hand in getting the daftest rule in golf changed. Golfers will no longer face penalty if their ball moves after it has been addressed. It was both stupid and unfair but funnily enough remained in place until Padraig joined the team. No penalty will now be incurred "when it is known or virtually certain that he (the player) did not cause the ball to move."

High profile casualties of the old rule include Rory McIlroy who was penalized after his ball moved in his final round at the British Open at Royal St. George's. The rule didn’t make much odds to Rors on that occasion but it did arguably have a huge bearing on the PGA Tour money title.

When Webb Simpson’s ball moved at the Zurich Classic, he was one shot clear with four to play. The penalty caused Simpson to tie with Bubba Watson, who subsequently beat him in the playoff. Had Simpson not been penalized, he theoretically would have won the Zurich Classic and gone on to beat Luke Donald to the PGA money title.

Other changes of note

Players will be allowed to smooth sand or soil before playing from a hazard "provided it is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and Rule 13-2 (improving lie, area of intended stance or swing or line of play) is not breached."

Late players who start within five minutes of their assigned tee time will no longer be DQ’d. Instead, they will lose the first hole in match play or two shots at the first hole in stroke play.

Addressing the ball now means "simply ... grounding his club immediately in front of or behind the ball, regardless of whether or not he has taken his stance."

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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

2011 Andalucia Masters. Doc Shows How Not To Play The 18th In Valderrama

I was lucky enough to get the call up from Derek Brown to play Valderrama a while back. Here’s what a happened on the 18th. What a track!

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What Is Moment Of Inertia? On The Tour Truck With Phil Bonham

On The Tour Truck: What Is Moment Of Inertia?

With Phil Bonham, Wilson Staff Tour Manager

Almost every driver that hits the market these days claim to have a higher "Moment of inertia," or MOI, than a previous model. In simple terms MOI is the resistance to twisting of the clubhead at the point of impact. MOI comes most into play on imperfect contact, when the ball and the clubface meet someplace other than the sweet spot.

One very good way I have heard MOI explained is to think of a spinning ice skater. At the beginning of the spin, the skater extends her arms and the rotational speed is slow. Then when the skater pulls her arms in tight to her body, the speed of the spin greatly increases. So when the arms are extended, the speed of rotation is resisted, her Moment of Inertia is high, and the result is a slower spin. Conversely, when the skaters pulls in her arms, her MOI is low, there is less resistance to rotation and the spin speed increases.

In hollow metal woods, the weight is all in the shell and as far away from the center of gravity of the head as possible. This gives it a high MOI and makes it very forgiving of mishits, something most of us can relate to. The forgiveness in these big heads enlarges the effective sweet spot in all directions on the face – up and down as well as side to side. This is why manufacturers have been making driver heads obscenely big and as forgiving as possible. Square headed drivers in particular tend to have the highest MOI.

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Fit and Able: The Slider Fix with Wayne O’Callaghan

Here’s one of my own favourite TPI tips given to me by Wayne O’Callaghan in Cork.

The biggest problem I have had with my swing is the Slide. To identify if this relates to you let me ask you two questions: Have you ever noticed that on the range when you stiffen up your lower body you connect better with the ball and it goes further than if you try to fire your hips and lower body? Or do you strike the ball better if you consciously place all your weight on your lead leg? If you’ve answered “Yes” to either question, you like me are a slider!

When I play well I don’t do it, but time and again when I play badly it’s there in my swing.

A slide is really a lateral motion towards the target with your lower body during the downswing or follow-through. Sliding makes every swing different as it’s almost impossible to maintain your height through the swing. That leads to an inconsistent swing arc and those demoralizing fat or thin shots that ruin our game.

So how do we get rid of it? Wayne gave me a great drill called Torso Turns One Leg. First stand on one leg and cross the hands across the chest. Now get into your golf posture and make some torso rotations as in the golf swing. This is a great way to learn how to stabilize the lower body and kill that slide. Make sure you do it equally on both legs. You will find it very tough at first but as your balance improves it will become much easier and you will reap the rewards on the golf course.

Log on to http://wayneocallaghangolf.ie/ today to learn more.

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The GPS GolfBuddy Readers Prize Final Week!

The GolfBuddy GPS device clips onto your golf bag and gives you exact yardages, whatever the course. GolfBuddy's hi-viz screen is superb & over 33,000 courses are available completely free. All courses in the Golfbuddy library have been mapped on foot for accuracy. Enter through the widget opposite as often as you like before next Sunday 30^th October when we will draw our fourth name and the overall winner.

For more info on the GolfBuddy GPS check out www.gpsgolfbuddy.eu/world

Into the hat from last week on week three goes Aidan O' Gorman, Murrintown, Co. Wexford

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Sergio Victory Kiss Fail!

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Monday, October 24, 2011

Donald Exhausted After 15 Parades in 8 Hours

Winning at Disney comes with its media commitments and if your name happens to be Donald you just know you wont be slipping away quietly. And so it proved for the World Number One who stood and waved alongside $10 an hour Goofy and Pluto from the local state penitentiary over an eight hour period. Highlights of the day include being dry humped by a dog, having his tail plucked by some brats and having to stand 24,000 times for Chinese tourist photos.

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2011 Andalucia Masters Betting Preview and Tips

2011 Andalucia Masters Betting Preview and Tips

Early Odds on Betfair

Andalucía Masters

Club de Golf Valderrama,Sotogrande,Spain

Thomas Bjorn 36/1

Three wins already this season and two of those in his last four events. Took a week off last week after a top 10 in Portugal and a rested Bjorn has all the armoury to get the job done on the gruelling Valderrama layout. It’s all about course management and greens in regulation here, something Bjorn on his day excels in. Tied fifth here last season.

Sergio Garcia 10/1

Granted he won on his home course last week at the Castello Masters last week but he will be equally dangerous around Valderrama. Tied tenth last year after his putter failed to convert several chances. In the pre Race To Dubai days when the Volvo Masters at Valderrama was the season finale, Garcia finished second twice and tied fourth between 2005 and 2008.

Soren Kjeldsen 60/1

From the Great Dane to a diminutive Dane who simply loves this Andalucian test, where length for once can be your enemy. Kjeldsen tied second in the 2007 Volvo Masters before returning and winning it in 2008. He tied second in the inaugural Andalucia Masters last year too as Damien McGrane and Gareth Maybin flittered away shots at the death. Soren has had a wretched season so far but played solid after a poor opener last week.

Joost Luiten 27/1

Still winless on Tour and for the life of me I cannot understand why. Last week in Spain Joost finished tied 11^th and has three top-10’s in his last five events. An exceptionally talented golfer and one of the few to card an under par final round last year in tough windy conditions. That gave him a tied fifth finish, something I think he can improve on this time around.

Graeme McDowell 18/1

You just cannot write anyone off on the basis of form leading up to this event. Not on a course where anything under par after four days could win you the tournament. It’s been a tough season for an Atlantic hopping GMac, but he showed at the Dunhill Links where he came third that he still can produce on the big stage. Graeme was flawless in winning here in 2010, capping off a truly remarkable season. A win here would finally shake off that hangover.