Tag Archives: Junior Golf Coaching

McIlroy Continues To Get Frustrated By Current Form

The story on everyone’s lips ( apart from the ongoing putter row ) is that of Rory McIlroy, and his sudden loss of form since the equipment change at the start of the season.

It certainly didn’t get any better at the Honda Classic for McIlroy after he withdrew from the tournament in his second round after finding himself seven over par through eight holes.

He said it was because of pain in his ‘wisdom teeth’ that caused him to walk off the golf course, but only he will know the real reason why. Was it just the frustration of  playing awful golf? Was it petulance? Or was it more ‘I’m not going to win this golf tournament so I might as well call it a day and stop the embarrassment”?

Eighteen time major winner Jack Nicklaus believes that McIlroy is frustrated with his current form but will come good for the first major of the year at Augusta.

The Northern Irishman has had it pretty easy since he turned professional, so it will be interesting to see how things develop over the next few tournaments and whether he will get some more wisdom tooth pain if things don’t go his own way over the course of the next couple of months.

 

McIlroy Worried About Split Over Long Putter Row

There’s been  a lot of discussion recently about the rule changes of the long putter which has seen a lot of opinions and comments from professional golfers around the world.

It was announced last year  that the R&A and USGA were proposing changes to outlaw the use of anchored putters starting in 2016. But the move has been opposed by the PGA Tour which worryingly could cause a split in rules for different tournaments around the world.

Rory McIlroy has urged both parties to come to an agreement over this to stop the threatening split that is likely to happen if both parties don’t unite. The last thing that players want is different rules at different events.

To read more about the long putter law click here

 

Poulter Back In Top 10 Of World Rankings Once Again

England’s Ian Poulter has managed to get himself back into the top 10 in the world once again by coming fourth in the WGC-Accenture Match Play.

Poulter battled it out yesterday in the semi-final against Hunter Mahan before unfortunately losing 4&3 to the American, but it was still good enough to see him move up three places in the world rankings.

Poulter was the top European in the field of 64 taking part last week and with a slightly better putting display could’ve progressed into the final.

He has a pretty record in this event as you would imagine, and did win it back in 2010. He loves match play and loves the whole camaraderie that comes with it.

I get the feeling that this could be a good year for Ian Poulter. He seems more focused than ever and has matured quite a lot in recent years as a person and as a player.

 

 

Fichardt Wobbles To Victory In Africa

Well it wasn’t all plane sailing for South African’s Darren Fichardt, after looking like he was on his way to a comfortable win he managed to make hard work of it by bogeying three of the last four holes, but finally came away with a two shot victory over Jaco Van Zyl and  Grégory Bourdy to keep the African Open trophy firmly in South African hands for another year.

Fichardt started the day tied at the top of the leaderboard with Van Zyl but found himself four shots clear midway through the round but Van Zyl couldn’t capitalise on Fichardt’s late bogey run and it was a comfortable victory in the end.

This week it’s the WGC-Accenture Matchplay in Arizona where a 64-man field will battle it out at the Ritz-Carlton golf club where Rory McIlroy is bidding to win his first World Golf Championship title and look to put the bad start to his season behind him.

Mickelson Going For Riviera Hat-Trick

Phil Mickelson has said that he fees he’s ready to compete this week and win his third Northern Trust Open after having won the event in 2008 and 2009. He showed sublime form when he won the Phoenix Open two weeks ago and is hoping to re-capture some of that feeling again.

He was defending his title last week at Pebble Beach but had to settle for a tie for 60th even though he did produce some fine golf. He said that he just needs to find some consistency but feels he is in some of the best form of his life and is looking forward to competing in all four majors this term.

Mickelson has said that he is playing well in practice and loves Riviera and its set-up as it suits his game and eye.

Want to learn how Golf  Professionals like Phil Mickelson shape the ball in the air and keep it low in the wind? Feel free to contact me here with any questions….

Want to get your distance control ready for the start of the season? Read my blog about Winter Practice here

Great Golf Courses | Number 9 | Royal Portrush

Royal Portrush is is one of the most striking golf courses you will ever see. With its natural beauty and rugged landscape it really is a site to behold with its towering sand dunes.

Founded in 1888 the course itself has gone through many changes. It used to be a 9 hole course when it first opened but only a year later was transformed into an 18 hole course. It was redesigned in by Harry S Colt before the Second World War and was said to Colt’s finest achievement.

It used to be named the Royal County Club when the Duke of York was patron, but after the Prince of Wales came along in 1985 the name changed to Royal Portrush.

It is the only Golf Club outside of mainline Britain to the host the Open Championship, which was held in 1951 and was won by England’s Max Faulkner.

View the hole-by-hole guide of this wonderful golf course by clicking here

Sterne Wants Back-To-Back Victories

Well we have a new leader in the Race to Dubai after last weeks near perfect performance from South African Richard Sterne. He won the Joburg Open by seven shots and incredibly only carded one bogey in the 72 holes.

Sterne from Pretoria also managed to shoot the lowest 72 hole score of the season so far – a 27 under par score of 260.

Four years ago he managed to secure back-to-back victories and is hoping to do the same going into this weeks Africa Open, at East London Golf Club on the Eastern Cape.

This was Sterne’s first victory since 2009 and he is hoping that this is the foundation for a great season ahead.

As you know Richard Sterne only dropped one shot throughout the whole tournament, you can’t do this unless your short game is at its best. To learn more on how to get up and down from Greenside Bunkers click here.

Schwartzel Goes For Hat-rick At Joburg Open

Charl Schwartzel ended 2012 in fine form and is hoping he can continue that amazing form when he returns back to his native South Africa to compete in the Joborg Open. 

The little South African won the Dunhill Championship at the end of last year by an incredible 12 shots before taking a well earned six week break, will tee it up in confident mood, if not a little rusty.

He will see this as preparation leading up to the Masters and will want to get that competitive edge back after having such a long break from golf.

For me, this golfer can beat anyone on his day and will definitely be an each way bet for me at  the Masters, a tournament that he has won before and loves.

He is one of the best putters in the world which is just what you need around Augusta.

Sterne Shoots Lowest Round Of Career To Lead In Dubai

Well the opening day at the Dubai Desert Classic saw Richard Sterne shoot a round of 62, which is the lowest round of his European Tour career and he tops the leaderboard at ten under par on a heavy day of scoring from the field on the Emirates course. 

The South African had a couple of years of bad health in 2010 and 2011, nursing a back problem, but the man from Pretoria is back, and fit to play a full schedule again this season and couldn’t have hoped for a better start.

The superb round off golf was nearly good enough to beat the course record of 61 set by compatriot Ernie Els nearly 20 years ago. Els managed to go on and win the event that year and I’m sure Sterne is looking to do the same this time round.

Westwood Eyeing Up First Win At The Emirates Golf Club

Lee Westwood is confident of having one of his best seasons yet and is sure he can hit the ground running when he tees it up at his first tournament of the year, the Dubai Desert Classic.

The Englishman from Worksop who will be 40 this year has a great record at the Emirates Golf Club, coming second three times and a total of seven top ten’s in 19 appearances, but is still yet to claim the trophy.

Westwood feels that his move to Florida last year has given him the platform to get his game into tip top condition for the 2013 season.

He’s had time to practice his short game out in the Florida sunshine whilst the snow has been falling in the UK and it’s fair to say that his short game has been his Achilles heel in recent years and probably cost him many wins, so it will be interesting to see how much it has improved and whether he can capitalise on his great driving and iron play.

Want to hit as many fairways and greens as Westwood? Why not book a  golf lesson with me and get your game ready for the season ahead.