Author Archives: mattd

My tips for The Open 2016

The tournament that everyone has been waiting for is here again……yes it’s The Open! 

The Open has been held a Royal Troon 8 times now with the first being in 1923 where the course measured 6,415 yards. The players in 2016 will face a course that measures nearly 7,300 yards which shows you how equipment and human strength have changed over the last 90 years.

Since 1962 The Open at Troon has been dominated by Americans who have won the last 6 Opens on this demanding links course. Does that make an American favourite to win here again? Well going by recent performances from players such as Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth you would probably think so.

Here are my tips if you fancy having a bet.

Dustin Johnson E/W – 9/1

Jordan Spieth E/W – 12/1

Lee Westwood E/W – 40/1

Adam Scott E/W – 22/1

Sergio Garcia E/W – 25/1

Good luck to everyone and enjoy watching the golf over the next few days!

My Favourite Recovery Shots Of All Time

We saw a great recovery shot from Dustin Johnson last week at the 10th hole at Muirfield Village and it got me thinking about some of my favourite recovery shots of all time.

Here are a few of mine. Enjoy!

Phil Mickelson Backward Shot By James Irons Golf

Winter can be a fairly quiet time sometimes, so we have spare time on our hands to do things like try audacious trick shots like the famous ‘over the head’ one by Phil Mickelson.

See my attempt below…

See Phil’s effort here…who do you think is better?

Learn how to play trick shots like this or even learn to play proper golf by finding out more about the golf lessons I offer.

Is Clarke The Right Man To Captain Europe?

Well as you all know by now Darren Clarke has been appointed European Ryder Cup Captain for 2016 which seems to be a popular choice among fans and player alike, and no doubt his current sponsors will be very happy with the publicity.

Clarke has won the Ryder Cup 4 times as a player which will stand him good stead as he prepares for seemingly one of the biggest weeks of his life next year in America. He has been victorious under the captaincy of Seve, Sam Torrance, Bernhard Langer and lastly Ian Woosnam in which Darren Clarke bravely lead Europe to victory in Ireland after the death of his wife a week earlier.

Next September the event will be held at Hazeltine National Golf Course in Minnesota, and Clarke will be up against good friend and opponent Davis Love III who will be trying to heal the wounded tiger that is the US team, after many years of domination by Europe.

The last time Europe were defeated in America was under the captaincy of Nick Faldo who didn’t conduct himself amazingly well in Valhalla in 2008. I really we hope we see a professional approach from Clarke as he is known as a bit of a ‘boy’ on the tour and does like to party, but I guess we will only find this out as time goes on…

I’m sure it will definitely be as fiercely contested as ever and will be another great spectacle for this game we all love. It’s a long time to wait, but I remember thinking that when I was waiting for the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, and look where that time as gone!

How to book a golf lesson in London

If you like me are looking for a new hobbie to get your teeth into this year, then why not come to Dukes Meadows and try your hand at golf?

Dukes Meadows Golf really is a little gem only a few miles from Central London and very accessible by public transport. When you arrive here, you wouldn’t believe where you were as you walk from the car park onto the beautiful terracing that overlooks a beautiful lake full of ducks and Canadian geese, and beyond that, a beautiful challenging 9 hole golf course.

The golf course was built in 1996 and has matured into London’s finest and is even a test for professional golfers with it’s fast and slopey greens. It is also host to the Middlesex small course championship every year.

Although it’s a test of golf, it is also the perfect place to come start learning and even have a coach like me take you out there to give you some tips. It only takes about 90 minutes to play 9 holes which allows you time to relax and have a drink outside on the beautiful promenade afterwards.

If you want to find out more about having a golf lesson on a golf course in London then please contact me and view my lesson prices and we can arrange a time for you.

 

Montgomerie Tips McIlroy To Win All Four Majors Next Year

Ex European Ryder Cup Captain and eight time Order Of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie has stuck his neck out and said that he thinks Northern Irishmen Rory McIlroy can win all four major titles next season.

He only has to win The Masters and the US Open next year to emulate the achievements of Tiger Woods who has held all four majors at once, but Montgomerie believes he can win all four and gain an unprecedented six-major sweep for the first time in the history of the sport.

The only player to win all four majors in one season was Bobby Jones but this came back in the 1930’s before The Masters was introduced and two of the grand slam tournaments were for amateurs.

There’s no doubt that McIlroy is the best player in the world right now and will dominate the game for the next 5 years, but winning all of the majors in one season is one hell of a task and something that I believe way beyond McIlroy’s dreams.

There are just too many good other players now compared to many years ago, and although McIlroy is way better than most, it only takes one off day in a major championship for him to be overtaken by someone waiting in the wings.

I’m not saying it’s impossible but it is highly unlikely, and be a betting man like am I will not even be looking at the odds for this one.

 

Lyoness Open Agrees A New Five Year Deal With European Tour

The European Tour have agreed a new five year deal for The Lyoness Open to feature in the Race To Dubai until 2019 .

The tournament held in Austria will see it’s tenth consecutive staging next year but also held the event between 1990 and 1996 in the past and has had famous winners with the likes of Bernhard Langer and Paul McGinley.

The prize money has increased a bit since those days, and as part of the new agreement the 2015 tournament will see the prize money increase by 50% from €1,000,000 to €1,500,000. Diamond Country Club will be the host again next year as it has been since 2010.

This years event was won by Mikael Lundberg after holing a 40ft putt in a play-off against home favourite Bernd Wiesberger who was the winner of the event back in 2012.

This is a really excellent tournament and to have it as part of the Race To Dubai until 2019 is a great thing for the tour and for the players.

David Lynn Hopes To Rediscover Form At Portugal Masters

This week the European Tour returns to Oceanico Victoria Golf Club for the annual Portugal Masters.

12 months ago it was David Lynn who was on top of the world after winning this event, but unfortunately it was the last time he won, and he is hoping that he can rediscover his form as his highest victory since is 21st place at the Omega European Masters last month.

Lynn’s form has taken an alarming dip in 2014, and playing on both sides of the Atlantic has probably not helped him as he has struggled to find consistency in his swing.

Another player searching for some form this week is Francesco Molinari who has a good record at this event, and he will be looking to put the disappointment of missing out on his third Ryder Cup in a row with a win here this week.

 

Adam Scott and Caddie Steve Williams Part Company

It’s come to light that after a three year long working relationship Adam Scott and Steve Williams will no longer be working together.

Australian Adam Scott made an announcement this morning saying that Williams’ dedication and professionalism have been without question and that he highly valued his friendship, but their priorities at this stage in their careers were different.

Williams joined Scott after Tiger Woods fired him in 2011 and after winning 13 majors. He then helped Scott to win The Masters in 2013 which Williams calls his career highlight.

It appears that Williams wants to spend more time with his family in New Zealand and is looking for more of a part-time role with a player.

Is there something fishy going on? Could Williams be getting with Tiger?

I’m sure we’ll find out sooner or later?

The PGA Tour Season Comes To An End This Weekend In Georgia

This week is basically the top 29 golfers in the FedEx Cup battling it out to win a lottery of $10m. All 29 players (Dustin Johnson ‘decided to take a break from golf’) can have the chance to win the bonus pool of money but only a few have it in their own hands, which include Rory McIlroy and Bubba Watson.

East Lake  in Atlanta plays host again to this showdown which is always entertaining. The course is 110 years old this year and hosted the Ryder Cup back in 1963 which ended in an American victory where they smashed us 23-9.

Let’s hope with the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles so close, that a European player can take the Tour Championship and carry that momentum onto Scotland and give the whole team a boost with only two weeks to go.

Henrik Stenson was victorious last year and took the jackpot home with him with a score of 13 under par.

The winning score is normally between 8 under and 13 under par, so if you can get into double figures in the red you are going to be there or thereabouts come Sunday evening!

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