If you build it – they will come. At least that’s what developers must be thinking as they launch plans for the world’s first floating golf course in the Maldives.
Threatened with rising sea levels from climate change, the island nation may be doomed to a watery grave unless it transitions to floating developments.
Designed through a collaboration between Waterstudio.NL, Dutch Docklands, and golf course developer Troon Golf, the zero-footprint solar-powered golf course will be one of the first floating developments and is expected to bring in a wave of new tourists.
Posted onApril 19, 2011bymattd|Comments Off on New In My Bag: David Whitlam Gauge Design Putter
I am delighted to introduce the limited edition G2-Mill 10th Anniversary putter, made out of 303 stainless steel. Each putter is individually numbered from 1-100. I have number 2.
This is a materpiece from the David Whitlam stable, if you own a Gauge putter you will probably never want anything else.
The specification is as follows:
Lie: 71 degrees
Loft: 3.5 degrees
Headweight: 352 grams
It has a slightly heavier head than I am used to, which makes it feel like it swings very naturally. The feel off of the milled face is very consistent across the blade and very, very sweet.
Posted onApril 18, 2011bymattd|Comments Off on New In My Bag: Taylor Made Tour Preferred MB Forged Irons
I’m delighted to say that I’ve received my new clubs this week – they are the Taylor Made Tour Preferred MB forged irons.
I ordered the 3-iron through to Pitching Wedge, with rifle shafts.
They have a smaller head size than my old Taylor Made 300 series irons – this made it a bit intimidating at first as the golf ball now looks the size of a football next to the club head!
However they have very strong lofts which means that I now hit the ball ‘a club further’, so for example I can now hit a 6-iron as far as I used to hit a 5-iron – a very nice feeling…
Check out the photos below, and visit the Taylor Made website for the full specification – I think you’ll be impressed!
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Posted onApril 15, 2011bymattd|Comments Off on And You Thought McIlroy’s Meltdown Was Bad…
Every now and again, a golfer usually at the top of his game will have a meltdown.
A nightmare.
Will take a position where it seems hard to lose, and somehow make it happen.
Snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Rory McIlroy, at just 21 years old, was the latest player to endure this indignity, having built his way up the leaderboard and stayed there for three days, two disastrous holes in his final round cost him dearly.
Some players are actually defined by these moments, one of the best examples of this is Jean Van De Velde playing at the 1999 Open Championships at Carnoustie.
Van de Velde was the clear leader playing the closing holes, and arrived at the 18th tee needing only a double-bogey six to win this historic tournament, and become the first Frenchman for over 90 years to do so.
Despite a three-shot lead, and having birdied the same hole twice already in previous rounds, Van de Velde drove to the right and only just avoided the water. Van de Velde decided to go for the green with his second shot – a decision that everybody except for him thought was suicidal – particularly given that he could afford to lay-up. His shot went right again, smashed into the grandstand next to the green, hit a rock, and then flew backwards into knee deep rough.
On his third shot, Van de Velde’s club got tangled in the rough on his downswing, and his ball flew into the Barry Burn. In purely farcical circumstances, he then removed his shoes and socks and waded through the water – seemingly considering trying to actually hit the ball out of the water.
Thankfully he decided to take a drop, but then played his next shot into a bunker! He got out of the bunker successfully and holed a tricky six-foot putt for a triple-bogey seven, dropping him into a three-way playoff with Justin Leonard and Paul Lawrie, which Lawrie won – virtually to his disbelief.
Anyway as it’s Friday it seems wrong to show you the video of Van De Veld, it’s incredibly painful to watch, although if you want to have a peek through your fingers, it’s here.
Instead, here’s a video of a player called Kevin Na, who had the misfortune this week to take a 16 in a tournament in Valero, Texas. Enjoy!
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(from www.bbc.co.uk) Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy put his Masters disaster behind him to card a three-under 69 in the first round of the Malaysia Open in Kuala Lumpur.
The 21-year-old threw away a four-shot lead at the Masters, eventually finishing joint 15th, 10 shots behind winner Charl Schwartzel.
McIlroy sits five shots behind leader Alexander Noren of Sweden, while South African Schwartzel shot a one over 73.
World number one Martin Kaymer shot 70 to finish two under.
McIlroy and Schwartzel travelled together to the tournament in a private jet, but the golf clubs of both players were lost in transit during the journey.
Both sets turned up on Wednesday, but not in time for Schwartzel, who had an early start on Thursday, to practice with his clubs.
Posted onApril 13, 2011bymattd|Comments Off on Woods Is Favourite To Win The US Open
Tiger Woods is favoured by the bookies to win the U.S. Open, golf’s next major championship, even though he hasn’t claimed a title for almost 18 months!
Woods, a three-time U.S. Open winner, is 6/1 favorite at Bet365 to win this year’s tournament, which is scheduled for June 16-19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.
Woods tied for fourth place at the Masters last week in Augusta, Georgia, after taking a share of the lead in the final round. It was the best finish in six events this year for Woods. That success, along with his overall popularity, makes him the clear favourite at this stage.
Phil Mickelson is the second favorite at 10/1, followed by Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy at 16/1. Defending U.S. Open champion has odds of 33/1, while Masters winner Charl Schwartzel is out at 40/1.
The last of Woods’s 14 major championship titles came at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California. His last victory was at the Australian Masters in November 2009. He remains winless since returning from his self-imposed break following the events that led to his divorce last year.
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Posted onApril 12, 2011bymattd|Comments Off on Time To Practise! | Golf Needs Tiger
Good morning – another great day in West London!
Great to see the sun shining and also to see so many people coming to play golf over the last few days. This often happens after major tournaments and the combination of this and the good weather means that the golf season has officially started – it’s time to get out there and practise!
Of course it’s also the Easter Holidays and we are running some great camps for the kids over at Dukes Meadows – please click on the link on my homepage for full details of these or contact me at james@jamesironsgolf.co.uk .
I’ve just read this great article on why golf needs Tiger Woods – give it a read and let me know what you think:
Posted onApril 11, 2011bymattd|Comments Off on US Masters: Final Day Summary
South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel has become the third South African to win The Masters, having come from through from the rest of the pack on the final day with an exhilarating round of 66 – which included birdies on each of the last four holes.
As I predicted yesterday, it was a classic final day of one of the finest Masters tournaments ever staged, certainly the best in my living memory.
Australian duo Jason Day (68) and Adam Scott (67) we tied for second place, meaning another year has past without an Australian winner, although it looked with a few holes to go that Scott was going to be wearing the famous green jacket.
Tiger Woods showed that he is still up there with the very best, at one point very much in contention having carded a superb 67 – he tied for third at 10 under with Luke Donald (69) and another Australian, Geoff Ogilvy (67).
Rory McIlroy, who led for the opening three rounds, had a nightmare couple of holes, and collapsed on the back nine, eventually going round in 80 to finish four under for the tournament.
“It was such an exciting day, with all the roars,” said Schwartzel. “The atmosphere was just incredible.”
His victory means that for the first time since 1994, none of the four majors are held by an American. He joins countryman Louis Oosthuizen, who won the Open last July, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell (US Open) and Germany’s Martin Kaymer (US PGA).
Schwartzel’s win, in only his second Masters, sees him climb to 11th in the world rankings.
There are some great final day photos on the BBC Website.
As for my tips, well my main tip Phil Mickelson finished way down the leaderboard, but one of my each way tips Luke Donald tied for third place at 25/1 which will do me for now! Another of my tips, Bo Van Pelt at 175/1 came extremely close too, finishing on eight under – he’s definitely one to watch in the future…
Posted onApril 10, 2011bymattd|Comments Off on US Masters: Day Three Summary
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is edging closer to his first major title as he takes a four-shot lead into the final day of the Masters in Augusta.
McIlroy carded a two-under-par 70 to move to 12 under, four clear of 2009 Masters champion Angel Cabrera, Charl Schwartzel, KJ Choi and Jason Day.
England’s Luke Donald is on seven under (with a round of 69), currently tied with Australia’s Adam Scott (67).
Tiger Woods failed to capitalise on the progress he made on Friday, shooting 74 to finish five under and share that spot with Ross Fisher (71), Bubba Watson (67), veteran Fred Couples (72), and Geoff Ogilvy (73).
Defending champion Phil Mickelson also dropped shots, carding a 71 to drop to three under.
Don’t forget you can follow the official Leaderboard here.
Remember that there is also a Masters App for the iPad where you can watch eight exclusive feeds – you can get this on iTunes now.
Otherwise make sure you catch the live coverage of the final day on Sky Sports, there is also live coverage on BBC2 from 7pm tonight.
Enjoy it – I’ve got a feeling we have a classic final day coming up!
Posted onApril 9, 2011bymattd|Comments Off on US Masters: Day Two Summary
Rory McIlroy continues to lead The Masters going into day three of the tournament, having carded a decent three-under-par 69 on Friday.
That puts him on -10 for the tournament, however the round of the day belonged to Australian’s Jason Day. Partnering McIlroy, Day fired an incredible 64 – eight under on the day – to climb to second place.
Tiger Woods proved that he has still got what it takes and is now in contention – tied for third at -7 after a great 66 – with South Korea’s KJ Choi who shot a two-under-par 70.
Spain’s Alvaro Quiros, who led overnight with McIlroy, slipped back to six under par after a one-over-par 73, alongside Australian Geoff Ogilvy (69).
Last year’s runner-up Lee Westwood (67), South Korean YE Yang (72), Americans Ricky Barnes (71), Rickie Fowler (69) and 51-year-old 1992 champion Fred Couples (68) are all tied at five under.
