Highlights from Rd 2 of The Wyndham where local man Webb Simpson and Ryder Cup hopeful Sergio Garcia were on the move.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Friday, August 17, 2012
All going well I hope to be back to full speed with the posts early next week. Wish me luck!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
I just came across this home video of Hogan at his great friend George Coleman’s house, pelting balls into the ocean. If you look closely at 3.00 minutes in, you can see the ball actually land out in the water.
There’s a lovely Hogan grip lesson in there too. It’s terrific stuff. Coleman died within days of Hogan in 1997.
Is this brave or foolish or just an attempt to sell more papers? Whatever it is, it’s yet another article, this time from The Telegraph newspaper mixing Rory McIlroy, religion and the 2016 Olympics.
Here’s a snippet and here’s the link. I do have a few issues after!
“I’d love to win an Olympic gold medal,” McIlroy told this newspaper in 2009, when golf was accepted as part the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. In a remark that risked provoking a firestorm of sectarian sniping, the Ulsterman added: “I’d probably play for Great Britain.” To date, it was his only substantive comment on the subject of his twin allegiance to Britain and the Republic of Ireland — the vexed question that, in an Olympic context, dare not speak its name.
So sensitive is the issue of McIlroy’s national loyalties that, when an Irish tricolour was tossed in his direction after the US Open triumph at Congressional, video evidence suggested it was hastily removed by security guards. McIlroy, for his part, has not demonstrated the slightest aversion to the green, white and orange but simply an acceptance that any display of partisanship would only be provocative. “Whatever I say is going to upset someone,” he shrugged.
It is regrettable that McIlroy should be facing such a dilemma, when his second major title at the US PGA is a cause for jubilation on both sides of the Irish border. And yet he is under pressure to declare his hand for the Rio Olympics because he is Catholic. His great friend and compatriot, Graeme McDowell, is spared the same predicament as a Protestant, since it is widely expected that he will compete for Britain.
But Northern Irish Catholics tend, as boxing medallists Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan showed at London 2012, to align themselves with the Republic. Representing Britain would, at one time, have been deemed perfidious, equivalent to backing a state that they perceived as oppressive.
All very nicely written but aren’t there a few sweepers in there. Especially the bit about GMac being spared the predicament because he’s protestant. Is that correct? If I recall correctly GMac said after the 2010 US Open that his Mum is Catholic, his Dad is Protestant and that he grew up Presbyterian!
And the Irish amateur boxing team, like the rugby and amateur golf team have an All Ireland system. I doubt Billy Walsh and co give a flying monkeys what religion an amateur boxer is, as long as he’s from the island and can outpoint a Cuban.
Why cant we build a bridge and remove religion from complicating this debate for everybody, not least for Rory and GMac?
But nice try Telegraph.
On the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ben Hogan, here’s a great insight into the legend from Andrew Lynch of Hambric Sports. It’s Ben’s locker at his home club Shady Oaks, perfectly preserved as it was on the day he died. What a fantastic picture. Loving the clothes!
All credit to salacious tabloid headlines, but this one, shocking and all as it is, is 100% true, as reported by the Belfast Telegraph.
Jade made some cookie dough Sunday night, mixed in some curly black hair for effect and while they were in the oven at 200C for 15 minutes, got busy with her inkjet printer and scissors, to make a load of Rory face toppings. The result, an ingenious McBiscuit.
“If you can make it past the taste of printer paper and the strands of hair getting stuck in your lips, they’re not bad”, said local postman John Crumbledon who regularly pops into Jade’s shop to deliver letters, stare at the girls and scab some free biscuits.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Setanta have acquired new exclusive content from The Golf Channel in the US. This content gives Setanta a 4 hour golf block each Monday night on Setanta Ireland. It starts from this Monday Aug 20th and a typical Monday evening will look like the below. This content is not available anywhere in the UK or Ireland and is a real positive for our viewers. The content will run for a year.
MONDAY NIGHT GOLF CHANNEL BLOCK
18:00 – 18:30 Golf Channel Academy
Features Hall-of-Famers Greg Norman, Annika Sorenstam and Lanny Wadkins sharing the best tips and lessons they received while playing professional golf.
18:30 – 19:00 Golf Central
From the Golf Channel, Golf Central is the best round-up of daily news stories from the US and around the world including unique interviews and analysis.
19:00 – 19:30 Being John Daly
From the Golf Channel, we get an insight to the games most colourful character. Each episode follows John’s daily trials, tribulations and triumphs.
19:30 – 20:30 Big Break Ireland The K Club
Episode 1: 12 golfers head to Ireland in search of an $80,000 pot of gold and two Tour exemptions. All their skills and their confidence will be put to the test.
20:30 – 21:30 Feherty
From the Golf Channel, David Feherty interviews some legends of the game and gets rare and witty insights. Tonight, it’s Greame McDowell’s turn.
21:30 – 22:00 The Haney Project - Ray Romano
Hank Haney, former coach to Tiger Woods, spends a series grappling with improving the golf game of comedian Ray Romano.
Forget one hour golf lessons. Here’s my favourite Ben Hogan lesson delivered in under two minutes!
One hundred years after his birth and the legend that is Ben Hogan is stronger than ever. Here’s the curious story of how Hogan always signed Masters Flags in EXACTLY the same place. If you see one signed somewhere other than shown in the video below, it’s a fake! Click to 43 seconds into the video below.
Carl Pettersson 20/1
The Swede has already has a win and second on Tour this year at the PBC Heritage and Houston Open respectively but he’ll be targeting the putting contest that this tournament will inevitably be this week. With a top-30 at the Open and the WGC Bridgestone and a fine performance at last weeks PGA Championship, Pettersson brings decent form back to the site of his win in 2008 and his tied fourth last year.
Webb Simpson 12/1
The US Open winner is a native of nearby Raleigh and still lives there. He also top 10’d here in 2010 on his first appearance. Sedgefield is the perfect PGA Championship antidote ranking perennially as the easiest par 70 on the PGA Tour. From 12 rounds at the venue Simpson has shot 11 under 67!
Brandt Snedeker 22/1
Sned won this event inn 2007 the final year it was held at Forest Oaks but remains one to watch this week. Tied third at The Open with a super putting display and ranks fifth on the PGA stats for strokes gained putting. Top 10’s at Sedgefield in 2009 and 2010 add to Brandt’s credentials heading into this week.
John Mallinger 66/1
Got himself into contention at the AT&T a few weeks back before a poor final round saw him drop down to 11th. Bounced back at the lower order Reno Tahoe Open with a fourth under modified stableford scoring. Mallinger has a best of tied third here in 2010 when Arjun Atwal took the title.
Best Of The Rest
Argentina’s Andres Romero 66/1 has been bleeping on my radar recently. He came close to winning at The Memorial at the beginning of June and again two weeks back at the Reno Tahoe Open. A great putter on his day and long overdue a win. Last but not least keep an eye on former K Club Ryder Cupper JJ Henry who got his win in Reno and tied fourth here in 2008.
The European Tour has had Asian events in the calendar for years. Last season for instance they ducked out to Malaysia the week after the Masters, jumped to China the following week and on to Korea to complete the €6 million three week stint. It’s a Star Trek like odyssey that takes the Tour far from home and around the golfing galaxy in a quest for survival.
Throw in the heretofore unsanctioned Lake Malaren Masters in Shanghai (which I’ll come back to later), the World Cup in China in late November, and the last chance for Santy money in Hong Kong before Christmas and it’s easy to see where both the money and the burgeoning golf market is at.
Even though it’s far from our shores, you have to credit George O’Grady for doing a ‘Captain Picard’ in Star Trek, and seeking out new life, new golfing civilizations and boldy going where no Tour has gone before.
Okay it’s not very palatable for us to wake up on Sunday morning and switch on the telly at 7am only to watch the last putt of the tournament in China but Asia is where it’s at. If the European Tour hadn’t spread it’s tentacles beyond mainland Europe and into Africa and Asia, the reality is it would be a no more than a mere satellite of the PGA Tour or worse still, dead Jim.
But lest George O’Grady and his crew of this Enterprise think they own Asia, be warned, they are not alone. Arch nemesis PGA Tour overlord Tim Finchem of they Klingon Empire have decloaked and swooped in announcing that from 2013 the CIMB Classic held in Malaysia will become an Official Money Event on the PGA TOUR and be part of the FedEx Cup. But that’s not the best bit, the prize pot is expected to be $7 million to be played for by only 78 players. Set your phasers to be stunned at the news that prize money is the equivalent of approximately four European Tour events without even counting the complicated appearance money doled out to the likes of Tiger Woods who will front the event.
This first salvo in this war to end wars will be fired on October 25th when the PGA Tour will stage that CIMB Classic at the Mines Resort, while on the same day the European Tour will be at the €7 million BMW Masters at Lake Malaren in Shanghai which we mentioned earlier.
Set a course for the money galaxy, warp factor 10. Engage! And all the while we will be wondering will they ever come back home?
Here’s what Italian ace Francesco Molinari is gaming this season. I’m away from the office this week but promise a sexy what’s in the bag graphic update on this in the near future. In the meantime here’s the pic and all the info for you gear buts to get your teeth into!
Born 8 November 1982 (age 29)
Height 5 ft 8 in
Weight 11.3 st
Residence Turin, Italy
Spouse Valentina (m. 2007)
Turned professional 2004
Professional wins 5
European Tour wins 3
What’s In The Bag
Driver: Nike VRs 9.5º with Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 7.0 shaft
3 Wood: Nike VR pro Ltd Edition 15º with Aldila RIP 70 x-stiff shaft
Hybrid: Nike VR pro 2, 18º with Fubuki 450 ct shaft
Irons 3-PW: Nike VR II pro with Dynamic Gold Tour shaft
Wedges: Nike 52, 58º
Putter: Nike Method Core prototype
And check out the West Ham putter cover!
Monday, August 13, 2012
Well done Rory McIlroy who claimed the second Major of his career in stunning fashion, pulverizing the field at Kiawah.
Final Green and Putt Highlights
Final Round Highlights and Interviews
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Recently crowned the most decorated Olympian in history with an astonishing 22 career Olympic medals, U.S. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps has plans for the next stage of his career: to play the world’s greatest golf courses and improve his golf game under the watchful eye of Golf Channel’s Hank Haney.
The Haney Project will chronicle Phelps’ attempts to improve his game from tee-to-green with the guidance of Tiger Woods’ former swing coach when the hit original series returns for a fifth season on Golf Channel – television’s fastest-growing network among those servicing more than 80 million homes – in February 2013. The announcement was made today by Phelps and Mike McCarley, President, Golf Channel.