Tag Archives: US open

Clarke Tells Critics To ‘Get A Life’

Darren Clarke has told those who criticised his celebrations after his Open Championship victory to “get a life”.

In his own words, Clarke had “quite a few drinks” after his win at Sandwich, however this has led to criticism from certain parties.

“There’s been a little bit of chat about ‘he shouldn’t have had a drink, he shouldn’t have done this, he shouldn’t have done that’. People are concerned about whether or not I had one pint too many. I mean, get a life – it’s sport” said Clarke on Wednesday.

Hopefully Darren has fully recovered as he joins fellow Northern-Irishman and US Open champion Rory McIlroy at the Irish Open, which kicked-off this morning.

You can see how he’s getting on by checking out the live leaderboard here.

 

Open Championship Day One Review

Tom Lewis, an amateur who had to come through qualifying, is the surprise leader of the British Open Championship after day one, sharing the lead with Danish veteran Thomas Bjorn after the first round.

Bjorn, who went out earlier in the day, shot a five-under 65 and was joined later on by the 20-year-old Lewis.

The pair lead by one from Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, 2009 US Open champion Lucas Glover and American debutant Webb Simpson.

Northern Ireland’s 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell and countryman Darren Clarke (playing in his 20th Open!), England’s Simon Dyson (one of my Outside Bets) and Germany’s world number three Martin Kaymer were in a large group on two under.

World number one Luke Donald had a bad day with the putter, shooting 71, (+1), as did Lee Westwood and US Open champion Rory McIlroy, who got off to a shaky start, dropping two shots in his first three holes, fighting back to play the last 15 in one under.

The other star of the day was Dustin Johnson who shot a hole-in-one on the 16th during a roller-coaster round.

Remember you can keep-to-date with the latest leaderboard by clicking here.

Open Championship Preview

Following my article yesterday on who I’m backing to win the British Open, it’s time to get excited as this time tomorrow we will be well underway.

There seems to be more interest than usual in this historic tournament and I would put that down to the amazing form of Rory McIlroy and also the absence of a certain Tiger Woods.

Should McIlroy repeat his amazing achievement at Congressional, the 22-year-old will become the youngest Open champion since 1893, only a few weeks after becoming the youngest winner of the US Open since 1923.

He has played in the tournament three times previously, in 2007 as an amateur, and then in 2009, and last year when he finished joint third.

The BBC will be providing some epic coverage of the tournament, showing over 40 hours live over the four days.

The coverage starts tomorrow at 0900 BST, a lot of the coverage will be via the red button and also freely available on the BBC website.

Talking of the BBC website – there’s a great article here called ‘The A-Z Of The British Open‘ – well worth a read if you’ve got five minutes!

I’ll be providing my own round-up and views across the next four days so stay tuned and look out for my updates on Facebook and Twitter too.

 

 

My Tips For The British Open

In just 48 hours the British Open at Royal St George’s in Sandwich will be well underway, with American Jerry Kelly hitting the first shot of the historic tournament at around 6.30am on Thursday morning.

All eyes are of course on Rory McIlroy, who has been teamed up veteran Ernie Els and rising American star Rickie Fowler for his first round, to see if he can repeat his success of last month at the US Open.

However in terms of the betting – I’m heading for value elsewhere!

Here are my tips:

Lee Westwood – has been paired with Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and American Steve Stricker in his first round. He looks good value at around 11/1.

Ricky Fowler – As above, he’s a rising star and expected to perform well at this tournament – he’s tremendous each value at around 90/1,

Simon Dyson – I like to back an outsider each way, and this year I’ve got my eye on this guy at 150/1 – he’s got the ability to produce a shock.

George Coetzee – Talking of outsiders, there’s a chance you may not have heard of this 24 year old South African, but he’s on form and has a tournament win to his name this year – I’ve had a cheeky couple of quid on him each-way at 200/1.

Let me know who you’re backing!

 

A Week In Golf: Round-Up

It’s been a week of mixed weather but great to see so many golfers practising and playing, also great to see so many youngsters out there too, hopefully inspired by Rory McIlroy’s US Open win which is still dominating the golf headlines nearly two weeks on!

Here are some links to some decent articles summarising the week’s golfing news, starting with a really good CNN interview by Piers Morgan with Rory himself.

Have a great weekend!

AT+ T National Leaderboard

PGA European Tour – French Open – Le Golf National – Leaderboard

Justin Rose Targets Return To Form

 

McIlroy Still Dominating The Headlines

Rory McIlroy continues to dominate the sporting headlines three days after his emphatic US Open win.

There are so many great articles emerging about how he learned the game, great photos, videos and interviews that I thought I’d collate the best of them here for you to take a look at.

McIlroy has indicated that he will now take three weeks off before the Open Championship which begins at Royal St Georges on 14th July 2011.

McIlroy’s Career In Photos.

Nicklaus Tips McIlroy For Glory

The Making Of McIlroy

Bernard Gallagher: Rory Will Dominate

Can Rory Steal Tiger’s Roar?

McIlroy Records Majestic US Open Win

Rory McIlroy yesterday produced that rare sporting achievement – a win that made the front pages of the papers as well as the back.

Breaking all sorts of records in the process, the 22-year-old became the youngest golfer to win the US Open since 1923, and did it in amazing style, an incredible eight shots clear by the time he rolled in his final putt.

Bogeying just three and double-bogeying 1 of an incredibly challenging 72 holes, he finished on 16 under for the tournament, leaving his competitors in his wake, and leading the competition from start to finish.

It really felt like watching a new golfing dawn, with McIlroy making the same kind of impact that Tiger Woods enjoyed when he first burst onto the scene, and there’s no doubt in my mind that McIlroy, like Woods, will be inspiring young golfers to take up the game – he is the proof that with hard work and total dedication you can achieve anything.

At 22 he has his whole career ahead of him and could well go on to be one of the greatest golfers the world has ever seen. And to do all of this just 70 days after his infamous last round at the Masters in Augusta, where he led the tournament for three days before choking on the last, showed that he has the mental strength to cope with that side of the game too.

I was proud to watch him dominate the final day at Congressional as he had dominated the previous three, check out the links below for highlights of his historic win.

Report And Video Interview

Media Reaction

Final Round Photos

 

 

Incredible McIlroy Closing In On Famous Victory

Rory McIlroy is closing in on a maiden major title after extending his lead to eight shots over YE Yang going into the final round at Congressional.

McIlroy, 22, shot 68 to post the US Open’s best ever 54-hole total of 199 and become the first man to reach 14 under in its 111-year history.

Yang (70) remained second at six under as Lee Westwood and Jason Day hit 65s for five under with Robert Garrigus.

World number one Luke Donald (74) and Phil Mickelson (77) ended seven over.

Sergio Garcia (69), American Matt Kuchar (69) and Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson (66) all climbed into a contention of sorts at four under.

Please click here to read the full report at bbc.co.uk .

 

McIlroy Flying At US open

Rory McIlroy broke a host of records to take a six-shot lead into round three of the US Open at Congressional.

McIlroy, 22, matched the biggest halfway lead in US Open history and posted the lowest 36-hole total with 66, 65 for 131 and 11 under.

He also became the first US Open player ever to reach 13 under but double-bogeyed the last via the water.

YE Yang was his only real rival but could get no closer than six strokes and carded 69 to end five under.

Sergio Garcia (71), Robert Garrigus (70), Brandt Snedeker (70), Zach Johnson (69) and Matt Kuchar (68) all finished two under.

Phil Mickelson bounced back with a 69 to climb to one over alongside Lee Westwood (68), while defending champion Graeme McDowell (74) ended two over and world number one Luke Donald (72) made the cut with no room to spare at four over.

Milestones:

  • First man ever to reach -10 in R2
  • First player ever to reach -13
  • Lowest 36-hole total of 131
  • Equals biggest 36-hole lead of six shots set by Tiger Woods in 2000

The year’s second major is traditionally set up to discourage low scoring and only 14 of the 156-man field finished under par on the second longest course in US Open history.

But Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, who led by three shots after an opening 65, produced another Maryland masterclass and was back in the clubhouse with an eight-shot advantage before second-placed man Yang had started his second round.

 

Donald And Westwood Struggle On Day One Of US Open

Luke Donald and Lee Westwood both struggled on the opening day of the 111th US Open at Congressional.

World number one Donald shot a three-over 74, while second-ranked Westwood took 75 to trail clubhouse leader YE Yang by six strokes.

The English duo played with world number three Martin Kaymer, who hit 74.

Defending champion Graeme McDowell made a promising start with a one-under 70.

South Africa’s Open champion Louis Oosthuizen was two under with American Ryan Palmer, while 2009 Open winner Stewart Cink ended one under alongside fellow Americans Davis Love and Chez Reavie and Swedes Johan Edfors and Henrik Stenson.

Three-time major champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland carded a level-par 71.

Please click here for the Official US Open Website.

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