Monty in Afghanistan. Frightens Off Taliban For Good

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2011 Omega Mission Hills World Cup Day Three Fourball Highlights

Click below to watch 2011 Omega Mission Hills World Cup Day Three Fourball Highlights.

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Otto on the Bus to Winning in South Africa

Hennie Otto, the South African version Tommy Bjorn is almost home and hosed after a  7-under 65 at the South African Open today. Otto, who grew up not far away Johannesburg, is three clear of Retief Goosen, Magnus Carlsson, Thomas Aiken and last week’s winner Garth Mulroy.
Goosen (71) couldn't capitalize on a blistering start where he birdied his first three holes. He had bogeys at Nos. 9, 13, 17 and 18 for his worst round at the (euro) Ernie had a disaster on the 16th taking nine after he hit his tee shot into the water and then his second ball into sand. He made the green in six shits, then three putted. Ouch!
Otto meanwhile picked up eight shots from the seventh hole on to stretch his lead in hope of repeating his Italian Open win in 2008.
"I'm not a guy who gets all nervous," Otto said after. "Maybe angry, not nervous."

2011 South African Open Third Round Leaderboard

Ireland Ease Through The Gears In China

From European Tour website

Ireland lead the Omega Mission Hills World Cup by two shots going into the final round at Mission Hills Resort on Hainan Island.
Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy combined for a bogey free eight under par 64 in the third round fourballs to head the leaderboard on 21 under par.
Germany and South Africa produced best-of-the–day rounds of 61 to join the United States (63) in second on 19 under.
While pre-tournament favourites Ireland look to be in a strong position after combining for eight birdies, the last two winners of the US Open Championship are well aware of the big names hot on their heels.

Mission Position On Top For Rors and GMac

See what I did there??!  Ireland were the big movers on day two of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup with GMac and Rors making their expected move in the tougher foursomes format with a 68.  That sees them tied with Australia at the top, one shot clear of Scotland.  Ireland’s 68 on the day was matched by China and many people’s pre tournament fancy South Africa.

 

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World Cup Opening Ceremony Restaged After Rory GMac Flag Cock-Up

After World Cup organizers decision to put Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell behind the Irish tricolour at the opening ceremony was met with much disapproval in Ireland, the decision was taken to restage it with the correct flag.

 

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Rors, GMac and the Tricolour! I Thought I’d Never See The Day

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2011 Omega Mission Hills World Cup Day One Highlights

Early highlights from the 2011 Omega Mission Hills World Cup where Australia set the pace.  This post will be updated when the full highlights package is available.

Leaderboard

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The Golf Channel’s Big Break Ireland Grand Final Highlights (Episode 10)

Click below to view highlights of the final of Big Break Ireland on the Golf Channel.  Waterville native Mark Murphy takes on Julien Trudeau.

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Harrington Turns Brains To Nursery Rhymes. Question’s King

Padraig Harrington, the most cerebral (that’s brainy to you and me) golfer on the planet is taking a break from golf at the moment and for the first time ever is focussing his immense intelligence on matters other than his swing. Pog-Rig as he is affectionately known in the US attended the Gift Grub Live Show in Dublin last night but spent the entire performance reading a book of children’s nursery rhymes and frantically scribbling notes.

Golf critics, who filled the entire row behind him, later questioned Harrington’s concentration and shorthand game.  The three time Major Champion told the assembled press, “Aaaaaaa I lost my focus during the show. I had no Crunchy Granolas.  Instead my attention was drawn to some glaring inaccuracies in these nursery rhymes my kids read.”

“Take for instance Humpty Dumpty.  Obviously I’m not delighted that he fell off the wall but am concerned that they sent all the King’s horses and all the King’s men to try and reassemble him.  What would have happened if another country invaded at that very moment?  Would the Queen have had to tell the invaders ‘sorry the King, all of his men, and every horse we have are not available to fight today as they’re trying to glue a broken egg’.  Anyway why would you send a horse to fix an egg?  Surely hooved equines would never have the brain power or dexterity to complete such a delicate operation?”

Pic: Harrington and friend Sergio Garcia  took time out earlier this year to visit Humpty Dumpty during his recuperation.  The blue scrubs are an indication of just how delicate Mr. Dumpty’s condition remains.

Harrington went on to question Jack and Jill’s complete lack of preparedness when fetching their pale of water.  “Did they not even consider Health and Safety for even one minute?” he asked before adding  “Notwithstanding the fact that I’ve never even heard of people climbing a hill to fetch water, it was obvious that both Jack and Jill attempted the technically challenging ascent totally unprepared, without the correct footwear, headwear or any form of communication device.  As soon as Jack fell and broke his crown, Jill should have secured her position on the hill then radioed mountain rescue services seeking help. From the rhyme it’s clear she took matters into her own hands in attempting a daring rescue and suffered the consequences by tumbling after.”

It’s thought that during the Christmas break Harrington will also turn his gray matter to solving Fermat’s last theorem, figuring out the mystery of how they get the figs into the fig rolls and why socks disappear in the laundry.

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The Bluffers Guide To The Mission Hills World Cup

When And Where?

It’s on Thursday in China.  Which means just as you wake up from a good nights sleep, it will be all over.  I hope to God it doesn’t lash rain yet again in China.  And I thought Ireland was bad!  It’s the one won by Italy last year, where Edoardo went mental climbing all over a tad embarrassed Francesco.

Who’s Playing?

The hot favourites are, wait for it, Ireland!  Yes it’s like the Eurovision Song Contest all over again and pulling on the green shirts will be Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell.  Rors and GMac wont have it all their own way though, the Dolmio brothers Francesco and Eduardo Molinari are back to defend, England are sending Justin Rose to partner Poults again and South Africa are sending in the big guns.

Pic: GMac makes himself comfortable in the humid conditions at the opening ceremony yesterday.

What’s The Course Like?

Well it’s like nothing they have ever played. Rough? Rough is for gimps.  There is zero rough at the Blackstone Course but every fairway is lined which crazy undulating bunkers. There’s more dykes than at Ladies Wimbledon and the track even passes through an old village.  Its a par 73 and just over 7800 yards with five par-5’s.  There will be birdies, but there could be disasters too. Pic: Now that’s what you call a bunker!

The Craziest Imada Rule

Riuji Imada was once penalized 26 shots on this course in a Tournament!  Imada assumed he could place the ball within a club length of its original position, as is standard on the PGA Tour. But the local rules stated different, offering only a scorecard length drop. Danny Lee told Imada on the 12th hole which resulted in Imada guessing he had placed the ball 13 times. Multiply each two equals 26 and a lorra lorra laughs.  Needless to say Riuji wont be here this week!

Who’s My Fancy

All the cameras will be on Rors and GMac 10/3 but its Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen at 5/1 on paddypower are the men for me.  If they were not here, they would be winning in South Africa like they do around this time every year.  An outside fancy to play well are the French at 28/1, Greg Bourdy was in flying form last week.

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2011 SA Open Championship Betting Preview and Tips

2011 SA Open Championship Betting Preview and Tips,

Serengeti Golf Club Ekurhuleni, South Africa 24 Nov 2011 - 27 Nov 2011

George Coetzee 13/1

We gave George the nod and he did not disappoint with a tied third place finish. Putting the winnings back on seems prudent this week on the Serengeti course which is new to the South African Open. That’s eight top 10’s already this season for George who lies 25th in the Race in Dubai. This week will be only his 58^th Tour start.

Jbe Kruger 30/1

Another man we tipped last week gave us a great run for his money until a double bogey on the front nine Sunday saw him fall out of the lead. Indeed he’ll be looking to do much better than a pair of weekend 73’s this week. I still think he can do well this week given that there is still some adrenalin in the tank.

Darren Fichardt 46/1

The Sunshine Tour’s form man Darren Fichardt was rather overshadowed last week but didn’t disgrace himself finishing just outside the top 10. Before that he racked up top six results in his previous four events including a win at the Suncoast Classic and remains one to watch this week.

Felipe Aguilar 40/1

Good performances in Portugal and again last week at the Alfred Dunhill for Felipe make it two T3 finishes in his last three events. Final day scoring remains the issue for the genial Chilean, 71 on Sunday on the manageable Victoria Course in Vilamoura and 72 last Sunday just didn’t get the job done. The good news is that Felipe is up to 53^rd in The Race and headed for Dubai. He’s crossed the winning line before in Indonesia in 2008 so deep down he knows he can do it again.

Best Of The Rest

Hennie Otto 32/1 has been in the top 20 in each of his last three appearances in Portugal, Spain and South Africa and knows he could have finished much better than tied seventh last week. Jaco Van Zyl 21/1 came good for us also last week tying third making it five consecutive top 20’s on Tour and with a recent second at the Gary Player event on the Sunshine Tour he’s on top form. The only really long odds shot that jumps out this week is Branden Grace at 180/1. Missed the cut last week with a Friday 79, but always manages to find a way to grind out results in this swing.

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What’s In The Bag Jason Day

Here’s what’s in the bag of top Aussie golfer Jason Day.

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It’s Amazing What A Little Weed Can Do!

First we thought it was Samuel L Jackson, then we thought it might be Stevie Wonder, but then somebody said it was Tiger Woods and we had to admit it’s a pretty good likeness. Except for the smiling. Tiger never smiles!

Lowry Third In Dunlop Phoenix Open

Shane Lowry produced another good display in Japan to finish in a tie for third at the rain shortened Dunlop Phoenix Open.  The event was won by Toshinori Muto who overhauled Gonzo Castano with a final round of 63.

Castano will be happy with his two weeks work having won in Singapore last week. That sees the Spaniard leapfrog Tiger Woods in the World Ranking’s top 50.

Muto carded nine birdies for his final round and not even a bogey on the last could take away from his four shot win.

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2011 President’s Cup Day Four Singles Highlights

All the action from the singles matches at the 2011 President’s Cup.

 

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2011 Iskandar Johor Open Final Round Highlights

Click above to view 2011 Iskandar Johor Open Final Round Highlights on the European Tour site.

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