Category Archives: News Stories

Poulter Beats Donald In World Match Play Final

Posted on May 23, 2011 by | Comments Off on Poulter Beats Donald In World Match Play Final

Ian Poulter beat Luke Donald 2&1 to win the World Match Play Championship in Spain on Sunday.

Had Donald won, he could have replaced Lee Westwood as world number one, but was unable to find form at the crucial times.

Poulter took the lead at the 14th and held his nerve to become the first player to win both world match play titles on either side of the Atlantic.

It was the 14th trophy of Poulter’s career but the first since the Hong Kong Open in November of last year. He moves up seven places in the world rankings as a result, from 22nd to 15th.

“I thought it would be pretty special to win this,” said Poulter.

“I finally started holing some putts. I’ve been frustrated for a few months and you have to hole putts to win.

“It’s a nice boost. Questions have been asked of me over the last five months.”

Poulter knocked out Westwood on his way to the final, and in a thrilling semi-final, he trailed Nicolas Colsaerts by two with four to play but fought back to take the match to sudden death. He then secured the win when the Belgian missed a par putt on the 19th hole.

 

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Westwood and Donald Record Early Wins

Posted on May 20, 2011 by | Comments Off on Westwood and Donald Record Early Wins

(From www.bbc.co.uk)

Lee Westwood and Luke Donald both recorded comprehensive victories in their opening games at the World Match Play Championship in Casares.

Englishman Westwood beat Denmark’s Anders Hansen 6&5, while countryman Donald defeated American Ryan Moore 4&3 in the first round of group matches.

Northern Ireland duo Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell also won but Paul Casey lost 3&1 to Alvaro Quiros of Spain.

Ian Poulter birdied the last to force a half with Italy’s Francesco Molinari.

McIlroy defeated South African Retief Goosen on the last hole and US Open holder McDowell beat Open champion Louis Oosthuizen 3&1.

Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez trounced Masters champion Charl Schwartzel 6&5, while former world number one Martin Kaymer beat 2009 US PGA champion YE Yang 2&1.

The format sees 24 players divided into eight groups of three based on world rankings, with two points for a win and one for a halved match.

The top two from each group will progress to the last 16 knockout stages.

 

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Donald Looks To Claim Number One Slot Back From Westwood

Posted on May 19, 2011 by | Comments Off on Donald Looks To Claim Number One Slot Back From Westwood

Luke Donald has another opportunity to claim the world number one slot from Lee Westwood at the World Match Play Championship in Marbella, which started earlier on today.

Westwood leads the field for the new format, with 24 players in eight groups of three and the top two progressing to the knock-out phase which will take place across the weekend.

Should Donald win, he will become the first player to win two match play titles on both sides of the Atlantic.

“I enjoy the challenge of one against one over 18 holes,” he said.

Donald beat Martin Kaymer in the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play in February and has since been in decent form.

The Englishman has made 12 top-10 finishes in his previous 13 tournaments, surging up the world rankings to second behind Ryder Cup team-mate Lee Westwood, who goes into the tournament at the Finca Cortesin course on the back of successive titles in Indonesia and Korea.

The match play event is returning to the European Tour after a 12-month absence.

“I think my records in the Ryder Cup, Walker Cup, the Match Play this year speak for themselves,” said Donald.

Westwood is in fine form himself,  after winning the recent Ballantine’s Championship.

“We play a lot of individual stroke play and match play is a different feel and mindset. It’s certainly nice to break it up.”

World number one Westwood will be up against Dane Anders Hansen and Australian Aaron Baddeley, while Donald faces holder Ross Fisher and Ryan Moore.

You can keep up with all the latest scores by clicking here.

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Golf Stars Impressed With 2018 Ryder Cup Venue

Posted on May 18, 2011 by | Comments Off on Golf Stars Impressed With 2018 Ryder Cup Venue

Golf stars Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald are in agreeance that Le Golf National in Paris will make a great Ryder Cup venue. They were speaking as France were awarded the 2018 tournament ahead of Spain, Germany, Portugal and Holland.

“France had a very strong bid and had a lot of support from the French government. I think the most important thing is that they have a fantastic golf course,” said  Kaymer who won the French Open there in 2009, and is currently number 3 in the world rankings.

“That golf course that they have there, I think it’s made for The Ryder Cup. It’s great for the spectators, especially the last five holes. I think France will do a fantastic job, as well.”

Donald, the world number two, said:

“From an outsider’s view, France is a very logical choice. It has a great course already, great accommodations there, the Trianon Palace and the Palace of Versailles. They can do a lot of fun events down in Paris. I think it will be a great event.

“I played The French Open last year. It’s a linksy style course, it’s tough, it’s tight, great finish. There should not be any complaints about the course. I think it will be a fantastic venue.”

Asked if he would like to be there himself, Donald replied: “Yeah, I would love to. It’s 2018, so seven years, I’ll be 40. Hopefully I’m still chugging along. I kind of have that kind of game where hopefully I can keep competing for a long time.”

What are your views? Are you happy that it’s gone to France? Let me know!

 

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France To Host 2018 Ryder Cup

Posted on May 17, 2011 by | Comments Off on France To Host 2018 Ryder Cup

France has been named as the host country for the Ryder Cup in 2018, beating off favourites Spain.

Le Golf National course, near Paris, was chosen ahead of other bids from Portugal, Germany and the Netherlands.

It will be the first time France has hosted the biennial Europe versus United States match and only the second time to be played on mainland Europe.

The first was in 1997, when the late Seve Ballesteros captained Europe to a narrow victory at Valderrama in Spain.

There had been calls to award the event to Spain in honour of the five-time major winner, who was patron of the Madrid bid and died earlier this month after a long battle with cancer.

But the European Tour resisted the emotional pull to select a venue which has hosted 18 of the last 20 French Open tournaments for the 42nd edition of the Ryder Cup, which continues to grow in popularity.

 

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Ryder Cup 2018 Venue To Be Announced Today

Posted on May 17, 2011 by | Comments Off on Ryder Cup 2018 Venue To Be Announced Today

The toughest contest in European golf right now isn’t the one at the top of the world rankings, where Europeans occupy six of the top-10 spots in this week’s list.

It’s the vote for the host nation of the 2018 Ryder Cup. After a two-year, $20 million campaign, five European countries will find out today which of them will stage the biennial match-play tournament between Europe and the U.S. when it is held on mainland Europe for only the second time.

Please click here to read a guide to all of the courses in contention.

 

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KJ Choi Lands Players Championship | The 17th Hole At Sawgrass

Posted on May 16, 2011 by | Comments Off on KJ Choi Lands Players Championship | The 17th Hole At Sawgrass

South Korea’s KJ Choi beat American David Toms in a play-off to win the Players Championship at Sawgrass.

The pair finished tied on 13 under but 2001 USPGA champion Toms three-putted the short 17th, the first sudden-death play-off hole, as Choi made par.

American Paul Goydos was 11 under, with countryman Nick Watney and England’s Luke Donald another shot behind.

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, who led by one going into the final round, collapsed to a 79 for five under.

The first play-off hole saw Choi and Toms re-play the 17th – both found the heart of the green off the tee, but Toms missed his par putt from a couple of feet and the 40-year-old Choi calmly slotted in his par to clinch the biggest title of his career.

The par-3 17th at TPC Sawgrass is one of the most iconic holes in all of golf. It’s basically an island surround by water and takes an extremely accurate tee shot to avoid a splashdown! The PGA Tour website was keeping a record of this throughout the week and it makes for interesting reading…!

 

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Spain Set For Ballesteros Funeral

Posted on May 11, 2011 by | Comments Off on Spain Set For Ballesteros Funeral

The funeral of Seve Ballesteros will take place today in his home village of Pedrena in Spain.

Household names from the world of golf such as Nick Faldo, Jose Maria Olazabal, Colin Montgomerie and Sam Torrance are believed to be attending.

A statement from the Ballesteros family read:

“Seve will be cremated at a ceremony that will be as intimate as possible and at a place that nobody will know. That was his express wish. His ashes will remain at his estate, at his home in Pedrena.”

“The funeral rites will be as simple as those for any neighbour from the village. He was born here and here he will remain.”

At the Players Championship in Florida this week, the Spanish flag will fly in honour of Ballesteros until Sunday.

Normally, the previous year’s winner has his national flag flying over the Circle of Champions but the South African flag marking Tim Clark’s victory last May has been replaced.

 

 

 

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Seve Ballesteros: A Sad Loss

Posted on May 9, 2011 by | Comments Off on Seve Ballesteros: A Sad Loss

One major story has dominated not just the golf world across the weekend, but the whole world – the sad loss of Seve Ballesteros at the age of just 54.

Seve was certainly a hero of mine, but to be honest he was a hero to virtually anyone who has ever played the game, and fully deserving of ‘legend’ status.

Seve was responsible for popularising golf in the seventies and onwards and it’s largely thanks to the way he played the game that golf today is as popular as it is – an amazing achievement by any standards.

There are some fabulous tributes to the great man here on the BBC website. The official PGA website also offers a comprehensive memorial page – take a look at it here.

Seve’s presence in the game will be sorely missed, but his legend will live on forever, thanks to moments of genius like this:

 

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25 Outrageous Putts

Posted on May 3, 2011 by | Comments Off on 25 Outrageous Putts

Good morning and I hope you had a great long weekend – there was certainly plenty of stuff in the news to keep you occupied, as well as the lovely weather too!

To ease you back into the week, I’ve found this great article: it’s a slideshow of 25 of the best (and worst!) putts of all time…

You can view it by clicking on the link below – enjoy 🙂

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/686017-tiger-woods-and-the-25-most-ridiculous-putts-in-golf-history

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