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Donald is ready to win a major, but will he?

Posted on March 29, 2012 by | Comments Off on Donald is ready to win a major, but will he?

Luke Donald back at world number one will be looking to build on his impressive record at the Masters Tournament when he makes his eighth appearance at Augusta National next week.

A year ago Donald finished four shots behind winner Charl Schwartzel in a share of fourth place to take his total of top ten finishes at the first Major of the season to three in seven appearances, with tied third back in 2005 on his debut being his best finish yet.

Donald ran up a double bogey in the final round on the par three 12th hole, where his tee shot found Rae’s Creek adjacent to the green, the early momentum he had gained may have propelled him to his first Major title.

As it was, Donald was unable to stop the fast-finishing Schwartzel from claiming his first Green Jacket in spectacular fashion, but Donald is determined to make amends this time around after going so close last year.

Donald is ready to win, he has the talent to win and he is knocking on the door week in week out, but will he open the door next week?

The Masters starts next Thursday, the main coverage is on Sky now, but I think the BBC are showing highlights or maybe even a little bit of live coverage.

If you get the bug after watching the Masters and want a golf lessons to learn how the pro’s do it, then click here to send me an email and I will be more than happy to help.

James

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Woods ends win drought at Bay Hill and is now eyeing up the Masters

Posted on March 26, 2012 by | Comments Off on Woods ends win drought at Bay Hill and is now eyeing up the Masters

Tiger Woods can now turn his attentions to trying to win a fifth Masters title after claiming his first PGA Tour title for well over 2 years at Bay Hill.

The 14 time major winner is now warming up for the first major of the year with a five-shot victory over Graeme McDowell at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

“I’m excited about the Masters,” said the 36-year-old, who has won 14 majors.

Woods made an incredible recovery after pulling out of his last event two weeks ago with an Achilles tendon strain that initially seemed likely to threaten his participation at Augusta. Nobody could have foreseen this happening, not even Tiger.

Chasing a seventh Bay Hill title, and 98th professional victory, Woods held a one-shot lead over Northern Ireland’s McDowell going into the final round in Florida and carded a final-day two-under 70 to wrap up the win.

“It’s always fun to play there and I’m looking forward to going to Augusta with the momentum I’ve built here.”

I made a prediction a couple of months back that Woods and McIlroy would be fighting it out at the final day of the masters, let’s hope for great viewing that’s going to be the case.

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Rock and Manassero fight it out for Augusta spot

Posted on March 22, 2012 by | Comments Off on Rock and Manassero fight it out for Augusta spot

Matteo Manassero and Robert Rock go head-to-head Today with a place in the Masters Tournament up for grabs.

Robert Rock beat Tiger Woods two months ago and since winning in Abu Dhabi Rock has slipped from 55th to 57th in the world, but he has this one last chance to climb into the top 50 and earn a debut at Augusta National.

The 34 year old  Englishmen could make it by coming first or second in the Trophée Hassan II at the Royal Palace course in Agadir, although a runner-up finish might see him thwarted by others – Ernie Els included – competing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida.

For the young Italian, currently 61st, only a victory will do and his second place at the Open de Andalucía Costa del Sol last Sunday takes him into the event full of confidence and high hopes.

Rock was one off the lead at halfway last year at this very same course, but rather than grabbing his first victory dropped back to 19th finishing eight strokes behind fellow Englishman David Horsey.

Should be an exciting week of golf, make sure you’re watching!

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Beautiful Golf Course Inspires Daly

Posted on March 21, 2012 by | Comments Off on Beautiful Golf Course Inspires Daly

American John Daly the two-time major winner says the Golf du Palais Royal course for this week’s Trophée Hassan II is “one of the nicest courses that I have ever seen and played”.

The course is situated in the grounds of the Royal Palace of Agadir, and Daly says such an exclusive venue gives the event that bit of added excitement.

“This golf course is just beautiful and it is probably more difficult to get on here than it is to play Augusta National,” said the 45 year old.

Daly has been showing signs of a return to form with a fourth-placed finish in Qatar earlier this year, before an injury slowed him down on his good start to the year.

But the Daly insists he is ready to put himself back in contention this week, and will be trying to get back the form that he found earlier in the season.

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The Masters is around the corner now – Plus a review of my betting tips

Posted on March 14, 2012 by | Comments Off on The Masters is around the corner now – Plus a review of my betting tips

Just a few weeks now until the season really starts to kick in and the fair weather golfers come out of the closet and get the bug back for golf again. Who wouldn’t get the bug back for golf after watching the Masters which starts on April 3rd!

If you’re not up to scratch with the history of the Masters and the past winners then click here to see the complete list of past champions. Alternatively click here to check the Masters website and all the information you need to know about the wonderful tournament.

If you missed them before then here are my bets for the Masters and the rest of the majors.

The Masters –  Tiger Woods                                                                                                                                            Steve Stricker                                                                                                                                          Luke Donald                                                                                                                                            Rory McIlroy

The US Open –  Jason Day                                                                                                                                                 Webb Simpson                                                                                                                                       Steve Stricker                                                                                                                                          Sergio Garcia

The Open –   Sergio Gacria                                                                                                                                          M. Mannasero                                                                                                                                        Rory McIlroy                                                                                                                                          Lee Westwood

The US PGA – Sergio Garcia                                                                                                                                           Luke Donald                                                                                                                                             Bubba Watson                                                                                                                                         Ricky Fowler

 

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Woods Believes McIlroy Could Follow In His Footsteps

Posted on March 8, 2012 by | Comments Off on Woods Believes McIlroy Could Follow In His Footsteps

Tiger Woods has added his voices to all of the praise which has been heaped on Rory McIlroy since his rise to the top of the Official World Golf Ranking.

Woods became the youngest World Number One in history on June 15, 1997, with McIlroy becoming the second youngest aged 22 when he clinched the top spot last Sunday following his victory at the Honda Classic.

Woods spent a total of 623 weeks at the game’s summit before being knocked off by Lee Westwood; and whilst McIlroy’s reign could be ended as soon as Sunday night if either Luke Donald or Westwood were to prevail, Woods believes the Ulsterman has the potential to achieve as much as he did.

He said: “Rory has fantastic talent. He made a few makes on Sunday, but he recovered every time.  You’re not going to play perfectly all the time – some people don’t realize that. You’re going to make mistakes, which he did, and that’s fine. He recovered, and if you look at it, he missed on the correct side each time. He did all of the things that you need to do to get the job done.

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McIlroy and Woods will be world No.1 & 2

Posted on March 5, 2012 by | Comments Off on McIlroy and Woods will be world No.1 & 2

If anyone watched The Honda Classic last night then they would have noticed how far Rory McIlroy has come as a player over the last 12 months, and even more impressively after the total collapse on the final day of the masters.

He has gone from strength to strength and maybe should have won more tournaments than he has done but let’s not forget he is only 22!

I think we saw last night what the next couple of years hold for us in the battle for world no.1 and for majors, because Tiger is back on the prowl and he won’t lay down and let the young cub being Rory McIlroy take over easily. Believe me Tiger is back and is hungrier than ever and the thought of him and Rory pairing up on the final of the Masters is a mouth watering prospect for all of us!

McIlroy is an old head on young shoulders and Tiger is a slightly confused head on very experienced shoulders, I for one am really looking forward to the season ahead, could be one of the best for a long time. Let’s not forget about Mickelson too!

Please feel free to leave any comments, I would like to discuss things more about this great game that we all love!

I am a golf teacher in West London where I give lessons to all standards of golfers, to book a lesson please contact me here, thanks.

 

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Sergio Garcia’s Ace Voted Shot Of The Month

Posted on February 28, 2012 by | Comments Off on Sergio Garcia’s Ace Voted Shot Of The Month

Sergio Garcia’s first hole-in-one on The European Tour career has been voted Shot of the Month for January by fans of The European Tour.

Garcia ripped the perfect seven iron shot on the 186-yard par 3 12th hole in the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, with the ball pitching on the back plateau of the green and rolling into the cup.

The ace won Garcia a three-night stay at the Emirates Palace every year for the rest of his life, and was the undoubted highlight of his opening round of 69. He went on to finish in a tie for 12th place to continue a fine run of recent form which has not seen the Spaniard finish outside the top 12 in a stroke play event on The European Tour since last August.

I’ve had a couple of hole-in-ones and it’s a great feeling, the feeling of doing it in front of a crowd and in front of millions of viewers must be something special.

Some people say that getting a hole-in-one is lucky, and yes there is an element of luck to it, but if you hit enough good shots that have got a chance of going in then you deserve the little bit of luck that you might get along the way!

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Mahan Denies McIlroy No.1 Spot

Posted on February 27, 2012 by | Comments Off on Mahan Denies McIlroy No.1 Spot

Hunter Mahan denied Rory McIlroy the chance to become World Number One by beating him in the final of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play.

After a thrilling semi-final win over Lee Westwood from three down before lunch, McIlroy’s bid to take the world No.1 spot from Luke Donald fell flat when he lost the final 2 and 1 to Mahan.

McIlroy will be playing again this week in Florida – Donald is not playing – but he will be back to facing nearly 140 players there compared to just one.

McIlroy lost his way early on against Mahan after playing some sublime golf against Westwood and just left himself too much to do against such a solid player.

If you remember Mahan was in the crucial game against McDowell in the 2010 Ryder Cup and lost out after duffing a chip shot, so he didn’t have fond memories of playing match play golf against a European, but did well to hang on.

McIlroy said: “I played a great back nine, which was nice, but just left myself too much to do.

“When I didn’t eagle the 15th I knew it was going to be tough because he is very solid from tee to green.

“It wasn’t to be. I didn’t have my best game with me this week, but I’m happy with how I’m playing and hopefully it won’t be long before I’m winning again.

“I’ve got two more tournaments before the Masters and that’s what I’m building up to.”

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Tiger responds to Castano’s threat

Posted on February 22, 2012 by | Comments Off on Tiger responds to Castano’s threat

Tiger Woods made a confident response when told of Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano comment about believing he could beat Woods in the first round at the WGC Match Play in Arizona.

Fernandez-Castano said he “doesn’t think Woods is at his best” and “if I play well I can beat him” in a pre-tournament news conference .

When Tiger  (3 time winner of this event ) was told of these comments he replied: “I feel exactly the same way as he does. I feel he’s beatable, too.”

In his last two tournaments Woods has failed to capitalise on potentially winning positions.

He was beaten comfortably by England’s Robert Rock in Abu Dhabi and at Pebble Beach shot a final round 75 in the company of Phil Mickelson, who surged to victory with a final round 64.

“The past Sunday was awful,” admitted Woods, who knows this week’s 18-hole knockout tournament can generate a surfeit of shock results.

“Any guy can win any match. We’ve seen that over the years,” Woods said. “That’s what makes it interesting for us players – and I’m sure for the fans as well.

“You can see guys go out and play well and go home. You don’t always have the marquee names on the final, but that’s the nature of the format.”

In the event of a McIlroy victory, Donald would need to reach the third round to remain number one.

A Westwood win would take him back to the top of the rankings if Donald does not reach Saturday’s quarter-finals.

 

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