Fair play to Kip Henley, the Stevie Williams of the Alligator world for this ejection of a stubborn fan during the RBC Heritage.
Fair play to Kip Henley, the Stevie Williams of the Alligator world for this ejection of a stubborn fan during the RBC Heritage.
By Ron for golfcentraldaily.com
Paris, France: Weary diplomats emerged from congress Monday night after ratifying a motion that Hunter Mahan be banned forever from Fran
ce. Prime Minister Nicolas Sarcozy said “Mahan has offended the nation of France and given two fingers to the memory of General Charles de Gaulle by daring to wear a replica of his hat during a golf tournament.
I am handing the matter over to our Anti-Doping Agency to investigate if any other players need banning. They’re the best damn agency in whole of France and they’re free until the Tour de France starts so it suits.”
Sarcozy was then asked if France still also has a ban on Bubba Watson after last year’s Open de France outburst when he dismissed the iconic Eiffel Tower as "that big tower" and describing the Arc de Triomphe, the nation's salute to its fighting heroes, as "an arch in the middle of the road".
Sarcozy said, “We may have been a bit hasty with Bubba. We now believe he may actually have been correct. Architects have backed up Watson’s assertion that the Eiffel Tower is a bit too big and work will soon begin on taking away the pointy bit. As for the Arc de Triomphe, he’s right too, it might be better at the side of the road, where it doesn’t get in the way as much. Bubba’s welcome here anytime.”
By late yesterday evening special Anti-Doping operatives had retrieved Hunter Mahan’s hat and placed it the vault containing all eleven stripped Tour de France titles seized since 2000. “We’re going to have to buy a lock for this vault now” said Anti Doping chief Jean Christophe Nobelli adding “We didn’t need one until now. Everyone knows Tour de France titles are worthless but now that this hat is here we have to beef up security”.
More as it emerges.
Here’s what Tom Watson said yesterday after getting, or rather stealing, a chipping lesson from Bubba.
I practiced my chipping on Wednesday and he came up and I was practicing. We were 10 feet from each other, and I notice every chip shot he hit was absolutely dead solid perfect. I mean dead solid. In my ear, you can hear it. You know ‑‑ well, the way I chip it's clunky now. I look at his form there and I said to myself, my hands aren't quite far enough ahead when I chip, and I started doing that today and practicing the last couple days. Who would have thunk it, you know? I'm starting to hit the ball solid again with the chip just by watching Bubba chip, the way he was chipping. So I got some feedback that helped my game listening to his chip shots.
In a new feature on their golf coverage CBS/ESPN are including graphics where they show what a player will look like in 50 years time. Here’s their graphic from the Masters par-3 contest as captured by a viewer.
This just in from Ping.
PING announced today it will sell 5,000 limited-edition all-pink PING® G20™ drivers, inspired by the one used by Masters Champion Bubba Watson, and donate 5% of the proceeds to its fundraising campaign, “Bubba Long in Pink. Driven by PING.”
The bright-pink G20 drivers will be available in golf shops nationwide approximately June 1. As part of PING’s campaign, the company made a $10,000 upfront donation and gives $300 for every drive Watson hits 300 yards or farther (up to 300 drives). To date, $61,600 has been generated. All funds raised will go to Phoenix-area charities, chosen by PING with Bubba’s support. Its effort is part of the “Bubba & Friends Drive to a Million” initiative launched by Watson in January to raise $1 million for charities this year.
“Bubba is already approaching the target of 300 drives of 300 yards or longer, and we wanted a way to provide on-going support for his generous cause,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “Even prior to his win at The Masters, golfers were requesting pink G20s.Through word of mouth, social media, and phone calls, the interest was extremely high. We want to satisfy that demand while bringing even more visibility to Bubba’s goal of raising $1 million.
“Golfers who own a pink G20 will be excited to have this prized possession. They’ll not only enjoy the improved performance of the G20, they’ll be participating in a wonderful cause.”
Click here for the Bubba Watson What’s In The Bag Post
The drivers will have a bright pink shaft and clubhead featuring the same technology that has earned the G20 high marks for its performance from golfers of all abilities. The pink G20s are offered in 9.5º, 10.5º, and 12º lofts for right-handed players; 10.5º for left-handed. There is also a version geared for women with 12º loft and a Ladies flex shaft. All come with a matching pink headcover and a power-promoting high-balance-point TFC 169D shaft labelled, “Bubba Long in Pink. Driven by PING. Limited Edition 2012.” It is available in R, S, and L flexes.
by Ron for golfcentraldaily.com
Augusta—At a ceremony held in the Butler Cabin late Sunday night, Augusta Chairman Billy Payne presented South African golfer Louis Oosthuizen with a DVD box set of The Sopranos to commemorate his spectacular double eagle during the final round. "We considered offering him 16 crystal glasses but some of the members argued it should be 32 based on a logarithmic scale” said Chairman Payne adding “In the end we settled on our Sopranos box
set. We’ve finished watching it anyway. There’s 86 episodes of visceral action in there charting New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the conflicting requirements of his home life and the murderous criminal organization he heads.”
Handing the box set to Oosthuizen, Payne said “We offer this gift humbly, in memory of your double eagle, and hope that it brings you and your family many hours of worry, trauma and gut wrenching
action". Both men then paused for photographs holding aloft the box set which featured a blurry snagged image of James Gandolfini from youtube, some Chinese writing and the mis-spelling “The Supranos” beneath.
Anne Marie Kennedy from Yoga For Golf Ireland is our new teaching bay contributor. Anne Marie works with Ireland’s elite amateurs, training them to maximize their flexibility, and power in their game through yoga. For more details check out www.yogaforgolf.ie
The Warrior exercise builds lower body strength and stability, thus increasing speed and power in the golf swing.
INSTRUCTION: Take a big step out to the side about four feet. Turn the left foot in slightly and lift and rotate the right foot out 90 degrees. Tuck the tailbone under slightly to lengthen the spine and activate the core abdominals. Keeping the hips facing forward, bend into the right knee making sure the knee doesn’t come out over the ankle joint. Keep the hip open by ensuring that the right thigh stays rotating to the right. You should be able to see your 2nd & 3rd toes. Raise the arms to shoulder height, relax the shoulders rolling the shoulders blades together and down the back. Palms face down towards the floor and take the gaze out over the right fingers. Hold for 5-10 breaths and repeat on the other side. Do this regularly and notice the improvement in your swing.
Last week our competition on the blog and in the Irish Examiner featured a fourball in the iconic Old Head Of Kinsale Golf Club.
and the winner is (drum roll please)……..
2 minute pause for suspense
Garry O’Brien, Blarney, Co. Cork, Ireland
who correctly told us that four Irish golfers North and South teed up in Augusta.
Your fourball is on its way Garry! Well done!
Maybank Malaysian Open
Kuala Lumpur G&CC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 12 Apr 2012 - 15 Apr 2012
odds on the exchanges
also see my 2012 RBC Heritage Classic Tips on the PGA Tour here
Clearly jetlagged here last season but nonetheless finished in a tie for ninth. Kaymer makes the trip again along with Oosthuizen and Schwartzel from Augusta. Top 20’s in his last four starts before The Masters where his fade just does not suit the course. Jointly lead the field in greens in regulation here last year and if Kaymer can get his putter warm has a chance. You decide about the jetlag!
Eighth start of the season for Nico and he has already clocked up four top-10’s and has a lowest finish of 35th. Showed he is on form with a respectable tied third in Sicily. The Belgian won the China Open in this calendar slot last year.
Not a long course by Tour standards this week and certainly one suited to the Dane. Soren has only played twice since February and scored well on both ocassions with a top five in the Dubai Desert Classic and a tied third in Sicily. Finished with a 67 here last season to finish just outside the top-10.
Whatever happens this has been a great season for Branden Grace after winning the Joburg Open and the Volvo Golf Champions early doors in South Africa. Very solid since with just a slight blip in Sicily last time out. It’s European Tour start number 55 this week for Branden who’s well worth an each way look.
The defending champion this week and well worth a punt. Manassero was second recently to Julien Quesne at the Open de Andalucia then added a sixth at the Trophee Hassan. Missed the cut in Sicily but this layout is more suited to the young Italian who saw off Greg Bourdy and Rory McIlroy in spectacular style last season. What a nice birthday present a win would make before his 19th birthday the following Tuesday.
A three time winner on Tour and another who seems to have figured out this Kuala Lumpur track which is so susceptible to downpours. Shot 66 67 at the weekend last year and surged through the field after starting six groups behind the leaders on the final day. Just outside the top-10 in Andalucia recently and worth a look.
Here are Bubba’s official stats versus the field at the 2012 Masters.
| Bubba Versus The Field At The Masters | Bubba | The Field |
| Greens Hit | 53 of 72 73.6% | 60.10% |
| Fairways Hit | 37 of 56 66.1% | 71.87% |
| Sand Saves | 4 of 6 67% | 47.53% |
| Average putts per green | 1.67 | 1.66 |
| Average Driving Distance | 290.38 yards | 278.55 yards |
| Longest Drive | 324 yards | |
Here’s the link to Bubba’s what’s in the bag at the US Masters article
Thanks to everyone for their messages of thanks for tipping Bubba Watson to win the 2012 US Masters. Truth is we previewed lots of players and it’s up to the readers to make a decision. Here’s what we said last week:
Congrats to all who picked up on it and ran with it!
Here's Bubba Watson's driver swing in slo mo
Here's Bubba in one of his many Christmas Bubbaclaus vids
Here's Bubba with Ben Crane, Rickie Fowler and the Hunter in the Golf Boys video
Bubba skimming a shot at this year's par three contest
Bubba's driver swing broken down and analysed.
Access all ares Bubba Watson PGA Tour video
2012 Travis Matthew Video
Bubba and the Watermelon drill
and last but not least Bubba's PGA Tour video
Congrats to Bubba Watson on winning the 2012 US Masters. Here’s what’s in the bag.
Here’s a close up of Bubba Major championship winning driver.The 8.5-degree G20 has "Made Exclusively for Bubba," written on the crown. It measures 44.5 inches and includes a pink True Temper Grafalloy Bi-Matrix shaft and Ping 703 Gold grips.
and his irons this week.
This is how David Feherty described Phil Mickelson's miracle flop shot on 15 yesterday. "No one hits that shot. No one," CBS' David Feherty said. "If this doesn't make every hair on your body stand up you need therapy. Nobody but Mickelson even thinks about trying a shot like that."
and here’s the Sky version