Saturday, November 19, 2011

Finally!! What PGA Tour Players And Caddies Talk About

Thanks to Mark Mouland and Paul Cast for finding this..

This Would Never Happen In Golf!!!

Taxi driver gets Lionel Messi to take a photo of him with Javier Mascherano. A mastercard moment if there ever was one.

Iskandar Johor Open To Be Played At Bottom Of Swimming Pool

The Iskandar Johor Open is rapidly turning into the Iskandar Joker Open with heavy rainfall again suspending play.  They did manage to get the second round played but the leaders barely got the third round started when play was again halted.  The news is Daniel Chopra’s lead is down to two with Bourdy, in form Morrison and defending Pod Rig hot on his heels.  Another mover is Brett Rumford at nine under, he birided two of his three holes in round three.

2011 Iskandar Johor Open Leaderboard

Iskander Johor Open Second Round Leaderboard

President’s Cupdate Day Three

presidents cupdate day three

Friday, November 18, 2011

Gonzo Leads But Lowry Lurking In Dunlop Phoenix

Fresh from his win just last Monday in Singapore Gonzalo Castano continues the good play in Miyazaki Japan by leading at the halfway mark on eight under.  The Spaniard is one shot ahead of a whole host of homegrown players I couldn’t even begin to start typing.  However Esker Hills finest, Shane Lowry is handily placed on four under alongside Ricky Barnes in a tie for sixth. Fingers crossed for some Irish glory at the weekend.

2011 dunlop phoenix open second round leaderboard

2011 dunlop phoenix open second round leaderboard

2011 President’s Cup Day Two Highlights

 

Homeless Bum Invades Golf Channel Studio At Presidents Cup

Thanks Geoff Shackelford for spotting this. We dont get the Golf Channel in Europe anymore. And we don’t David Furdy anymore either! Awwwww

Stevie Makes Good On Promise To Shove Something Somewhere

President’s Cupdate

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Delta Goodrem Tells Bubba Claus What She Wants For Christmas

Top Aussie singer Delta Goodrem, better known to GB&I fans as Nina Tucker from Neighbours before it was crap, stunned golf fans at the President’s Cup by calling out Bubba Watson to dance with her.

After a brief silence Bubba obliged saying “Heee heee shamone Bubba Claus here, here’s how to dance with Delta, you’re welcome!”

The pair sang the theme tune from Neighbours and “You Can Ping My Bell” before before Goodrem went over and hugged Watson’s wife, Angie. Unconfirmed reports say that she whispered “You poor poor poor woman. I admire your courage, may God give you strength.”

Attempts were then made by journalists to pad out articles on the subject by saying who else was there etc, but trust me, very little else happened and it’s not like any big wigs were there. Except Bubba’s wig.

neighbours_nina_pinkbackground

New Cleveland Magic Driver For Old People Goes Like ‘Paula Radcliffe’

Calling all senior citizen golfers.  Are you tired of pesky young people with unkempt hair and trousers with pockets down at the knees  hitting the golf ball miles past you?  Now Cleveland have the answer for you.

Simply pay 350 quid for the new Cleveland Retro driver and bobs your uncle.  It may look like the club that featured in scene eight from ‘Debbie Does Dallas Again’ from 1973, but that’s only a clever feature from Cleveland to fool the youth.  The club is actually jam packed with great new scientific things that make it go as far as young people’s clubs.  Cleveland have used new ‘cloaking’ technology and ‘nano-disguisereen’ particles to cleverly make this driver look like a piece of junk you might find at a car boot sale.

Cleveland staffers were so impressed with the fake vintage look of the club they said things like “What’s this piece of shit?” and “Did you get that at an antique auction?” before being wowed by the performance.  One Cleveland Senior’s Tour pro said “This new retro driver is a bit like Paula Radcliffe, the head is all over the place, but by God it travels!”

The only worry now for Cleveland is that young people may start actually using this driver. “That’s a bridge we will have to cross if and when the time comes. For now we think we’ve made this driver look as cheap and crappy as possible,” said a top Cleveland designer  “Short of putting grey hair and fluff on the sole, I cant see what more we can do.”

This story and the brilliant analogy to Paula Radcliffe are entirely made up for comic effect.  Except for the driver, that’s not made up, it’s real. I swear. And it’s good……(that should fill back in that big hole I dug!)

The Tiger Stevie President’s Cup Handshake

The Pod Rig Gathering Momentum In Real Tournament

Defending champ Padraig Harrington has started the “Iskandar Kebab House King Johor Hows Your Father Open” in fine style with a 64.  Some members of the media at this year’s Irish Open attacked Padraig’s win record saying the Johor Open “did not really exist” and accused Pod of making it all up in his head.  However I can now confirm that it is a real tournament, it does actually exist and Harrington is right near the top of the leaderboard.  You go girl!

President’s Cupdate

presidents cup foursomes leaderboard

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Wednesday, November 16, 2011

The Golf Channel Big Break Ireland Episode 8 & 9 Highlights

The final of Big Break Ireland between Mark and Julian is on tonight.  Here are the highlights from the last two episodes.  Best of luck to Mark tonight, all Ireland is behind you.  Waiting for you to buy us drink!

The Golf Channel Big Break Ireland Episode 8 Highlights

The Golf Channel Big Break Ireland Episode 9 Highlights

Woods, Williams Paired- Cage To be Lowered Around First Tee

President’s Cup Captain’s Fred Couples and Greg Norman have today been accused of match fixing after the International team’s top front runner, American Stevie Williams was paired against American Tiger Woods and with Australian Adam Scott.  Witnesses in the Royal Melbourne Clubhouse saw US promoter Don King scurrying from the Captain’s meeting room late last night with dollar bills dripping from his trousers.

Suspicions grew further at the announcement of the foursomes pairings when both team pretended to play 1980’s MB Game “Battleship” but could clearly see over the divide.  Then came the announcement

Couples:  We'll go Tiger and Stricker.

Norman:  And obviously Adam Scott and K.J. Choi.

Couples: The fight will be at 150 pounds. Cage around the first tee.

Norman: 12 rounds, no 3 knockdown rule, no shoving fists up peoples assess.

Couples: Let’s get it on

Norman, while pretending to walk down  a really long corridor to his dressing room spoke to a shaky camera, “I think at the end of the day, the guys in that last group will be the consummate professionals and go out and attempt to beat the living tar out of each other like they should do.  If you haven’t seen the dicks pussies and assholes scene from team America, check it out, that’s what I mean.”

Meanwhile Fred Couples, wearing what appeared to be a pair of hired bowling shoes, then got in on the act. “Yes, I think Greg hit it right on the button the same way that Tiger is going to hit Stevie on his button.  We did not plan anything. Initially. But I think it worked out awesome for everybody involved to have Adam, Stevie and Tiger fight.  As we said all along, these guys absolutely stone cold detest each other, and I think it's an exciting match.

None of the players were available for comment yesterday except KJ Choi who said something about his Belly Belly Being Good and some other stuff nobody could understand.

 

Battleship pic: thanks and sorry to geoff shackleford!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

2011 Alfred Dunhill Championship Betting Preview and Tips

2011 Alfred Dunhill Championship

Leopard Creek CC, Malelane, South Africa 17 Nov 2011 - 20 Nov 2011

George Coetzee 15/1

George-Coetzee_1137519 With Charl Schwartzel away at the President’s Cup and Thomas Aiken playing his eighth week in a row many South African eyes will be turning to one of my favourite players of the year George Coetzee. With six top 10’s already this season George lies 26th in the Race in Dubai and has the potential to rise much higher after the South African swing. Taking into account his last start at Valderrama was a disaster and was his fifth week competing in a row, there’s not many who are bringing a form line like his into this week with a third in Portugal followed by a sixth at the Castello Masters. Deserving of a win this week after romping home with Mark James in the Gary Player Invitational on Sunday.

Jbe Kruger 32/1

JbeKruger083109 Another of the South African contingent to look out for this week is Jbe Kruger. He’s been in the top 30 in his last three events and 13th last week in Singapore. That has lifted Jbe to 99th in the race to Dubai and he’ll be keen to secure his rights for next year over the next few weeks. Tied for tenth last year and went onto play well at the Africa Open also.

Robert Rock 19/1

Robert-Rock The BMW Italian Open champion seems to love coming out to Leopard Creek and has performed well here for the past three years. After tying second when Richard Sterne won in 2008, Rock tied fourth in 2009 and tied eighth last year. It could have been so much better 12 months ago too but for a Saturday 75 which ultimately cost him dear. Big Chances.

Jaco Van Zyl 26/1

van zyl Jaco is 54th in the Race To Dubai which is very impressive given that he hasn’t played an event on the European Tour since the Madrid Masters. Four straight top 20’s in Europe including tied for third in Crans Sur Sierre and tied ninth at the Dunhill Links before he headed back to the Sunshine Tour. Second last week when paired with Ian Woosnam at Gary Player’s event at Zimbali Lodge.

Best Of The Rest

slatts Pablo Martin 34/1 has won this event for the past two years but before you rush out to back him be aware that he missed the cut or withdrawn from his past seven events. When he’s good, he’s great, when he’s bad, he’s terrible! Darren Fichardt 48/1 has been in the best form of the Sunshine Tour contingent this week with top six results in his last four events including a win at the Suncoast Classic and has to be worth watching. A best of tied fourth in 2006 when Quiros won. Finally, my own sneaky fiver each way will be on Lee Slattery 48/1 who won the Madrid Masters earlier this year. Lee did really well here in 2007 when John Bickerton won and is having his best run of results for a long time.

2011 Alfred Dunhill Championship Betting Preview and Tips, European Tour golf tips, top golf tipster, 2011 Iskandar Johor Open Betting Preview and Tips, betfair golf tips, paddypower golf tips

2011 Iskandar Johor Open Betting Preview and Tips

Iskandar Johor Open, Horizon Hills G&CC, Johor, Malaysia 17 Nov 2011 - 20 Nov 2011

odds on excahnges

Louis Oosthuizen 9/1

louis Since the beginning of October when Louis came fifth at the Alfred Dunhill Links he’s only been outside the top seven once at the Frys.com Open. He followed that with fourth at the McGladrey, seventh at the WGC and tied for third again last week alongside Anthony Kim. With several tournaments in South Africa on the horizon, except Shrek to be in top form!

Anthony Kim 9/1

ANthony Kim at Quail Word inside the ropes is that Korean American Kim is hitting a bit of form. Got it to 13 under par last week in Singapore, his lowest score of the season, and good enough to tie third. Kimbo has had another tough season and didn’t break par for eight events from the Masters in April until the Travelers at the end of June where he missed the cut. Lucky then that level par was good enough to tie fifth at this year’s British Open which remains his biggest payday of the year. Many fancy a breakthrough this week while his mates are at the President’s Cup.

Juvic Pagunsan 75/1

Juvic Pagunsan BSO 2011 Obviously the bookies have absolutely no faith in last week’s playoff loser but I’m more a subscriber to the theory that if he played well in the sodden conditions last week he may just do the same in the predicted sodden conditions this week. If Juvic doesn’t grab your fancy of the Asian contingent, take a look at Wen-tang Lin from Taipei at 95/1 and Mardan Mamat at 250/1 who both finished top five last year.

Richie Ramsay 23/1

ramsay Hong Kong Third at the Castello Masters then third in Valderrama and 13th last week in Singapore. Ramsay has been playing super golf of late and if that belly putter behaves this week, he must have a chance.

Best Of The Rest

Jamie-Donaldson_2337076 Jamie Donaldson 36/1 also returned to action last week after a two week break and could be one to watch this week. Three top 10’s in his last five events and only missed one cut all season at the US PGA Championship. In the 21 events he played this season, Jamie has only been outside the top-50 once! Four top 10’s in his last seven starts for Joost Luiten 22/1 and though we keep saying a win must be on the horizon, it just hasn’t come yet. Top five again last week in Singapore after a well deserved break following a disappointing trip to Valderrama. Big fish in a little bit smaller pond this week.

2011 Iskandar Johor Open Betting Preview and Tips, betfair golf betting tips, top european tour tipster, boylesports golf tips, paddypower golf tips

Concrete Greens Will Fool American Infidels- Norman (well sort of..)

adam scott melbourne fastest greens When the President’s Cup starts on Thursday, expect to see the fastest greens ever seen in Tournament golf.  Apparently Greg Norman has even pulled on the greenkeeper’s overalls a few times to help ensure Royal Melbourne’s putting surfaces are like “concrete”. Special machines are today injecting glycerine into the surfaces, to make them rock solid with blue lines are being painted down the sides for safety.

The theory is that the American Team will be ‘surprised’ when their balls bounce up in the air and way over the back of the green and this will propel the International Team to certain victory.  Adam Scott and co have been busy practicing a new special shot where the ball lands short of the green and bounces on before rolling up to within inches of the flag.  It is thought the American’s have never heard of this special shot and will be powerless to defend against it.

Royal's groundstaff director Morag Bellingham said, "Greg wants them like concrete. When Royal's greens are like concrete, they are the hardest greens in the world. Only the ones with the special shot will survive."

She added “You'd rather have a 30-footer uphill than a four-footer downhill” but was puzzled when I posed the question “what if you hit the 30 foot uphill putt four foot past, would you rather knock it back down 30 foot and try again?  Would you not just be better off with the downhill four footer to start?”

More on this rock hard story as it breaks.

Stevie Williams “Horse Wants To Leave Jockey” Interview!

Love the bit where Stevie indicates that sometime’s a horse would like to leave its jockey because it feels it could do better!  It’s about a minute into the interview with Will Ferrell, er Graham Bensinger.

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Monday, November 14, 2011

Nike Unveil New Tiger Woods 2012 Ball

Nike have unveiled the new Tiger Woods 2012 ball at the Australian Open.  We managed to get a close up shot of its distinctive markings.

MILK Hunter? Maybe Not. He’s Got A Dicky Shoulder

hunter sore shoulder Freddie Couples tried to convince Keegan Bradley a couple of weeks ago to come down to Australia to be a substitute. Not surprising Bradley told him to sit and swivel.

Now it seems Couples is swivelling like an office chair with the news that Hunter Mahan might be out of the President’s Cup. The Hunter withdrew from the Aussie Open with a pain in his shoulder and is touch and go to be fit for this weekend. The injury is set to be exactly the same as the one that plagued his dad, Hunter from gladiators, throughout the 90’s. If

Mahan doesn’t make it, the plan is to try and get Bradley to come half way across the globe to play. And Plan B? Yes there is one, but its a bad one. John Cook.

Golf Digest Ireland Top 100 Irish Courses 2012 Listings Released

Rennie_Antacidum_PP_Internet_01.jpg Where are my Rennie’s?  I can feel the indigestion coming on……..but hey hang on, the Golf Digest Ireland Top 100 Irish Courses listings are beginning to make a bit of sense.  While there has never been much argument about the courses on the top of the listings, there seems to have been some overhauling of the contentious spots further down the list.

Previous Golf Digest Ireland listings were subjected to much criticism and whispered stories of advertising revenue in exchange for good rankings which has prompted somewhat of an overhaul. Changes in the system this year include the opinions of Golf Digest Readers being considered as part of the democratisation of the process.  There’s also a few respected Father Ted’s on the panel that would not put up with “that sort of thing” and a new scoring system was used which includes Wow Factor and  Memorability.

Happy Bunnies

Royal County Down can again celebrate being hailed as Ireland’s No.1 golf course by Golf Digest Ireland ahead of Portmarnock and Royal Portrush.  Tralee in Kerry was the biggest mover in the top 10, up to 7th with Adare regarded as Ireland’s top parkland course and the only non links course in the top 10.  Brian Shaw and his gang in Doonbeg can crack open the bubbly after cracking the top 25 by climbing 13 spots to 23rd. County Donegal is also recognised for its excellence with Murvagh, both Ballyliffin courses and the fine Rosapenna Sandy Hills course all making the top 25. Finally too there seems to be a softening of attitudes towards the Old Head of Kinsale who have “done a Sinn Fein on it” and climbed 23 places to 24th on the list.

Let’s Have A Heated EGM!

pat ruddy_thumb[2] Among those planning a metaphorical bonfire of back issues of Golf Digest Ireland might be design legend Pat Ruddy whose own European Club has been hijacked by the Kingdom with Tralee, Ballybunion and Waterville now deemed by the experts to be better. The K Club also seems to be losing some of its lustre with the judges too down at 20.

So You’re Trying To Tell Me….

confusedWhile I’m in broad agreement with the rankings this year and understand that they are not definitive, I have spotted a few anomalies on the list that I feel wouldn’t stand up in a court of law. Here’s just a few before I lose my temper!

So You’re Trying To Tell Me….

Carlow (29) is 40 places better than Dromoland Castle (69).  You’re off your rocker there completely.

Westport (56) is 34 places better than Ballinrobe (90). How exactly? Confused.com!

How can Carton House Monty (28) be 21 spots higher than Carton O’Meara (49).  Drive down to the first tee of both today and see which car park is full.  Or maybe the panel saw Monty’s bunkering and thought “sand means links, yes it must be better!”

All in all however, it seems to be the best listing yet, so I will allow GDI a small clap on the back, or maybe a gentle squeeze on the shoulder.

Golf Digest Ireland Top 100 Irish Golf Courses 2012

Ireland (In brackets is the Movement from last year)

1. Royal County Down  (=)

2. Portmarnock (=)

3. Royal Portrush  (=)

4. Waterville  (Up 2)

5. Ballybunion (Old)

6. Lahinch (Up 1)

7. Tralee  (Up 3)

8. The European Club (Down 4)

9. County Louth (Baltray)

10. Adare (Down 2)

11. County Sligo (Rosses Point) (=)

12. The Island (=)

13. Ballyliffin, Glashedy (Up 3)

14. Enniscrone (Up 3)

15. Mount Juliet (Down 2)

16. Donegal (Up 3)

17. Portstewart, Strand (Up 3)

18. Killeen Castle (Down 4)

19. Royal Dublin (Down 1)

20. The K-Club, Palmer (Down 5)

21. Belmullet, Carne  (Up 4)

22. Ballyliffin, Old Links (Up 10)

23. Doonbeg (Up 13)

24. The Old Head of Kinsale (Up 23)

25. Rosapenna, Sandy Hills (Down 4)

26. Killarney, Killeen  (Down 3)

27. Portsalon (Up 8)

28. Carton House, Montgomerie (Up 2)

29. Carlow (Down 5)

30. Cork (Down 1)

31. Portmarnock Links (=)

32. Lough Erne (Down 10)

33. Dooks (Up 4)

34. Rosapenna, Old Tom Morris (Down 1)

35. Castlerock (Down 7)

36. Headfort, New  (Up 4)

37. Druids Glen (Down 10)

38. Concra Wood (Up 1)

39. Luttrellstown Castle (Up 10)

40. Fota Island, Deerpark (New entry)

41. The K-Club, Smurfit Course (Down 7)

42. Seapoint (Down 16)

43. Narin And Portnoo (Up 8)

44. Heritage (New entry)

45. Slieve Russell (Down 3)

46. Palmerstown House Estate (Up 8)

47. Tramore (Up 11)

48. Connemara (Up 8)

49. Carton House, O’Meara (Up 3)

50. Powerscourt, West Course (Down 12)

51. Belvoir Park (Down 8)

52. Malone (Down 11)

53. Portumna (Up 8)

54. Farnham Estate (Down 6)

55. Dun Laoghaire (Down 9)

56. Westport (Down 11)

57. Hermitage (=)

58. Portrush, Valley  (Down 14)

59. Bunclody (=)

60. Dundalk (Down 10)

61. Tullamore (Down 8)

62. Glasson (Down 2)

63. Castletroy (Up 22)

64. Mount Wolseley (Up 12)

65. Arklow (Down 3)

66. Clandeboye (Up 3)

67. Rathsallagh (=)

68. Killarney, Lackabane (Down 4)

69. Dromoland Castle (Down 4)

70. Druids Heath (Down 15)

71. Ardglass (Down 3)

72. Royal Belfast (Up 1)

73. Shannon (Down 1)

74. Grange (Up 10)

75. Powerscourt, East Course  (Down 12)

76. Castlemartyr (Down 2)

77. Laytown and Bettystown (Up 9)

78. Strandhill (Up 5)

79. Castle (Up 1)

80. Mullingar (Down 2)

81. Rosslare (Up 17)

82. St. Annes (Down 11)

83. Kilkenny (Down 17)

84. Skellig Bay (Up 3)

85. Knightsbrook (Down 6)

86. Bantry Bay (Down 16)

87. Galway (Down 6)

88. Galgorm Castle (Down 6)

89. Courtown (Down 14)

90. Ballinrobe (Up 1)

91. Ballybunion, Cashen  (Up 2)

92. Balbriggan (Down 15)

93. Kirkistown Castle (New entry)

94. Tulfarris (New entry)

95. New Forest (New entry)

96. Galway Bay (Down 7)

97. Moyvalley (New entry)

98. Dingle, Ceann Sibeal  (New entry)

99. Castleknock (New entry)

100. Woodenbridge (New entry)

Golf Digest Ireland Top 100 Irish Golf Courses 2012, Golf Digest Ireland Top 100 Irish Golf Courses 2010, Golf Digest Ireland Top 100 Irish Golf Courses 2009

Gonzo Wins Singapore Open on a Soft Day Thank God

gonzo1 Well done to Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano who banked $990,520 and claimed his fifth victory on the European Tour when he won the washed out Singapore Open earlier today overcoming Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines with a birdie on the second playoff hole. The pair had tied for 19 under after the shortened 54 holes when rain again stopped play.

Anthony Kim (64) and Louis Oosthuizen (65)  were tied third.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Chalmers Coke Can Trick “My Best Achievement This Year”

 

Second Time’s A Chalmers for Greg

Greg Chalmers shot a final round three-under-par 69 to win the Aussie  Open for the second time.  Chalmers win was made all the sweeter by beating John Senden by a shot and Tiger Woods by two.

Senden nearly forced a playoff when his long birdie putt on the last which shaved the hole. Woods bagged an eagle and five birdies in a 67, but coming from six back he left himself too much to do.

"It could have been really low today, a couple of drives on the back nine cost me," the 35-year-old Woods said. "I fought real hard all day but it looks as though I've come up just short.

"I'm just going to keep plugging along," added the 14-times major winner. "It's just nice to be playing and not on the sidelines."

2011 Australian Open Final Round Leaderboard

 

2011 Barclays Singapore Open Final Round Highlights

2011 Barclays Singapore Open Final Round Highlights from the European Tour site

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño and Juvic Pagunsan will resume their play-off for the Barclays Singapore Open on Monday after more weather delays at Sentosa Golf club.
Spaniard Fernandez-Castaño saw a four shot lead evaporate on the back nine during the third and final round and Filipino Pagunsan birdied the last to force extra holes.
But after storms on Friday and Saturday had already reduced the event to three rounds, there were two further delays in the play-off, which will now resume at 7.30am local time on Monday.
Four time European Tour winner Fernandez-Castaño began the day three clear of Edoardo Molinari and James Morrison, and with an eagle at the par five fourth, a birdie at the sixth and a bogey in between turned four clear of the chasing pack.
But he had three bogeys in four holes from the 12th, and when Pagunsan holed a ten foot birdie putt the recent Castelló Masters runner-up needed a four at the par five last to win.
Instead he drove into water down the left and ultimately did well to get down in five and force extra holes – dramatically curling in a 20 footer.
Pagunsan split the fairway with his drive while his opponent found a bunker before the first delay of the day, but when they returned both laid up to 100 yards short of the green with their second shots, only for another loud clattering of thunder to force them to retreat once more.
Tournament Director Mike Stewart admitted it was frustrating for all concerned, but insisted that the only option was to abandon play for the day.

Click below to watch highlights on the European Tour site