Tag Archives: World Match Play

Poulter Defeats Senden But Faces Tough Next Match

Posted on May 17, 2012 by | Comments Off on Poulter Defeats Senden But Faces Tough Next Match

Ian Poulter began the defence of his title in style at the Volvo World Match Play Championship with a victory over Australian John Senden.

Poulter who won his first match 3&2 faces a tough test against Portugal Masters champion Tom Lewis in his second and final group game tomorrow.

Poulter who has also won the WGC-Accenture Match Play, went three ahead with a ten foot putt at the ninth and five footer on the short 12th.

The Englishman admitted that the half he got on the fourth  hole was a turning point in the contest.

“I said John was going to be a very steady opponent, and he was on front nine,” he said.

Can Poulter defeat Tom Lewis tomorrow? I think it will be a really tough test as young Tom Lewis is fearless and has a very old head on a young pair of shoulders. Should be an interesting contest!

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Westwood and McIlroy have years of rivalry ahead

Posted on March 1, 2012 by | Comments Off on Westwood and McIlroy have years of rivalry ahead

Lee Westwood is relishing the current rivalry with Rory McIlroy as he prepares to partner Tiger Woods at this weeks Honda Classic.

Westwood who lost to McIlroy in the thrilling and quite brilliant WGC Match Play semi-final on Sunday as they both chased Luke Donald’s world number one spot.

“If I’m going to have a rivalry, I would like it to be with Rory,” said world number three Westwood.

“He’s arguably the hottest player on the planet right now.”

McIlroy, lost to American Hunter Mahan in the Match Play final to remain at number two in the world, but with Donald not playing this week, McIlroy can lead the way as No.1 if he wins at Palm Beach Gardens on Sunday and if he gets there he’s going to be hard to budge.

Owing to the number of world ranking points on offer, Westwood will have to wait until next week’s WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami for his next opportunity to regain the top spot he relinquished to Donald at the PGA Championship at Wentworth last May.

If you want to improve your game and enjoy some great battles on the golf course yourself this year then why not contact me and I can advise you on how to do that!

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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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Clarke Parts Company With Open-Winning Caddie

Posted on January 31, 2012 by | Comments Off on Clarke Parts Company With Open-Winning Caddie

Darren Clarke has sacked the caddie that helped him win his first major championship in The Open at Sandwich in July last year.

Clarke’s team said that the split with John Mulrooney was amicable and had come after he missed the cut at the Abu Dhabi Championship on Friday.

The Northern Irishman will be looking for a new caddie as he practices over the coming weeks ahead of his return to competitive golf at the WGC-Accenture Match Play in Arizona on February 22.

Clarke hasn’t been at his best since his victory at Sandwich, his best result a 20th-place finish at the Volvo Golf Champions tournament in South Africa a couple of weeks back.

He slumped to rounds of 72 and 81 last week in Abu Dhabi

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Walker Cup Victory For GB & Ireland

Posted on September 12, 2011 by | Comments Off on Walker Cup Victory For GB & Ireland

Great Britain and Ireland’s true spirit saw them to a famous victory as they took the Walker Cup for the first time in eight years and only the eighth occasion in the history of the fantastic  matches.

Seen as underdogs by all bar the team and its inspirational captain Nigel Edwards, the home side upset the formbook and secured their 14-12 win with three matches still to come in.

GB&I took a 10½-5½ lead into Sunday’s singles but despite holding the initiative, many of the matches still had the potential to swing either way. The nervy situation meant that Jack Senior’s brilliant birdie putt from the front of the 18th green to snatch an unlikely half against Nathan Smith was crucial.

Michael Stewart’s 3&2 win over Patrick Rodgers calmed down nerves and he was among several heroes, included the outstanding 17-year-old Rhys Pugh, who made it three wins out of three when he beat US amateur champion Kelly Kraft 2&1.

And moments after Stewart’s win GB&I’s Steven Brown parred the last to gain a half against Blayne Barber to secure the famous victory.

SINGLES

  • Lewis lost to Henley 4&2
  • Sullivan lost to Spieth 3&2
  • Senior halved with Smith
  • Stewart bt Rodgers 3&2
  • Hodgson lost to Uihlein 2&1
  • Brown halved with Barber
  • Pugh bt Kraft 2&1
  • Dunbar lost to Williams 1 hole
  • Byrne lost to English 2&1
  • Cutler halved with Cantlay
  • Final score: GB&I 14-12 USA


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Luke Donald: Titles More Important Than Rankings

Posted on May 25, 2011 by | Comments Off on Luke Donald: Titles More Important Than Rankings

England’s Luke Donald insists that being the number one ranked player in the world would not diminish his appetite for silverware and major championship titles.

Donald is locked in a three-way tussle for the top spot with Lee Westwood, the current incumbent, and Germany’s Martin Kaymer who lies third.

Any one of the three could be the number one player by the end of the PGA Championship at Wentworth on Sunday.

Donald missed out on a chance to overtake Westwood when he lost to Ian Poulter in the final of the World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin in Spain last week.

But Donald is adamant that becoming statistically the top golfer in the world is a secondary consideration compared to adding to his collection of eight tournament wins worldwide.

“Being number one is not a focus of mine. Winning tournaments is,” said Donald as he prepared for the European Tour’s flagship event.

“It is a fun topic to debate and there has not been a world ranking for a long time where it has been this close, where there has been some movement in it.

“If everything goes to plan and I get to number one, it doesn’t mean I have made it – it would be an honour and a great achievement but it doesn’t mean I can just stop working, that’s the end of the road and I can put my clubs away.

“There’s plenty more to do in this game, to improve and get better and being number one would be great but it is not everything.”

 

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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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