Tag Archives: Lee Westwood

The Vivendi ‘Seve’ Trophy

Posted on September 13, 2011 by | Comments Off on The Vivendi ‘Seve’ Trophy

The Vivendi Trophy kicks off this week in France, the Ryder Cup style event takes place every two years. The Vivendi Trophy 2011 will take place from 15th to 18thSeptember at the Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche Golf Course.
Following the success of its 2009 version, the second edition of this great competition, initiated and organised by CANAL+ EVENTS, will once again put the 10 best players in Continental Europe in a head to head with the elite of Great Britain and Ireland.

A new champion at the helm

Jose Maria Olazabal will succeed Colin Montgomerie as the Ryder Cup 2012 Team Captain. The Spanish champion will then head the Seve Trophy 2011. “Txema” may, like Monty did in 2009, oversee and observe the two teams. This arrival is also highly symbolic: we all remember the achievements of the fearsome pair in the Ryder Cup with Olazabal and Ballesteros. For Jose Maria, the Vivendi Trophy will be a great moment in many respects.

Colin Montgomerie will also be present at this meeting to share a few words of wisdom with the new Captain, to fulfil his role as Vivendi golf ambassador, but more importantly, to pay tribute to the Spanish champion.

I’m looking forward to watching some great golf this week, tell me who you think is going to win? And who will be the key players?

To see more on the Vivendi Trophy Click Here

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Rory Pulls Out Of Seve Trophy

Posted on September 1, 2011 by | Comments Off on Rory Pulls Out Of Seve Trophy

US Open champion Rory McIlroy has pulled out of Great Britain and Ireland’s team for the Seve Trophy.

 22-year-old Rory was part of the winning side two years ago and cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal had said he wanted to see as mny big names as possible play especially the US Open Champion.

But McIlroy said he wanted some time off, as he had 12 weeks on the road ahead to look forward to.”I want to spend some time at home and do a few things before I head off on that big run,” said McIlroy.

Britain’s Lee Westwood has yet to confirm his attendance while world number one Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Martin Laird and Justin Rose are likely to be absent because of the FedEx Cup play-offs in America.

McIlroy is due to tee of in the first round of the European Masters in Crans-Montana, Switzerland on Thursday in his first event since injuring his right arm at the US PGA Championship earlier this month.

“Now it’s not painful,” he said. “It’s more like a numb sensation, like if someone gives you a dead arm.

“It’s nearly 100% and I’m happy with it.”

The world number six has been in the United States with new girlfriend Caroline  Wozniacki, the current No.1 tennis player in the world as she is currently playing at the US open.

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2012 Ryder Cup Race Set To Begin

Posted on August 31, 2011 by | Comments Off on 2012 Ryder Cup Race Set To Begin

Ryder Cup Qualifying Starts On Thursday

The battle for 2012 Ryder Cup places is set to unfold as the first event in the race for qualification draws closer.

The European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre starts tomorrow with six players from the victorious 2010 team in the field.

“I’m excited the qualification period is starting. It will be interesting to see how the players perform,” said Europe’s 2012 Captain, Jose Maria Olazabel.

Ten players will qualify automatically, with Olazabal choosing two wildcards.

Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Miguel Angel Jimenez and brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari begin their campaigns in the Swiss Alps.

Five players automatically qualify through the European Tour‘s points list, with another five decided by the world rankings.

Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter and Padraig Harrington will all be looking for solid performances in the latest round of the FedEx Cup play-offs, which take place in Boston on Friday.

“It is going to be very difficult to make the team – to be one of the top five on the European points list or the world points list is going to be tough,” added Olazabal.

“The players will have to play really well to make it and I am sure they are preparing themselves to peak at the right times so that we can have the best chance to win.”

The 2012 Ryder Cup takes place at the Medinah Country Club in Illinois in September 2012.

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Rookie Bradley Wins US PGA

Posted on August 15, 2011 by | Comments Off on Rookie Bradley Wins US PGA

Keegan Bradley, ranked 108th in the world, beat Jason Dufner in a three-hole play-off to win his first ever major at the US PGA.

The 25-year-old American triumphed by one shot over his fellow countryman over the extra holes after they had both finished level at eight under in Atlanta.

Incredibly, Bradley had triple-bogeyed the 15th, giving Dufner a five-shot lead with just three holes to play,  but fought back as his rival seemingly suffered an attack of nerves.

Top two in the world, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood both halved their six-shot deficits on Sunday but fell away towards the end to both finish on three under.

Bradley went into the final day one shot behind  Dufner and after a shaky start, an eagle on the 12th hole saw him join his compatriot at the top of the leaderboard on nine under.

However he then chipped through the green into the water on the 15th, before back-to-back birdies on the next two holes.

34-year-old Dufner also found water on the 15th, this time from the tee, and this  sparked a spectacular downfall, as his bogey on the same hole, plus two more on the 16th and 17th saw him drop back alongside Bradley.

In the play-off, Bradley birdied the first hole, the 16th, to Dufner’s par and then made par on the short 17th as Dufner once again bogied. Dufner birdied the 18th but Bradley’s par was enough to hand him the Wanamaker Trophy and become the first American to clinch a major title since Phil Mickelson won the Masters in 2010.

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Scott And Caddie Williams Win WGC Invitational

Posted on August 8, 2011 by | Comments Off on Scott And Caddie Williams Win WGC Invitational

Adam Scott has won the WGC Invitational by four shots after a superb final round of 65 in Ohio.

The Australian, leading from day one, finish on 17 under, ahead of Rickie Fowler and Luke Donald, who both shot 66.

Rory McIlroy shared sixth place at 10 under after a robust 67, while Lee Westwood was just behind after a fine 65.

However the big story of the tournament centres not around Adam Scott himself, but his caddie Steve Williams, who was sacked by Tiger Woods just a fortnight ago. Incredibly  it was Williams’ eighth victory at the event, having won the event seven times while working with Woods.

Woods himself finished way behind Scott, tied in 37th place.

 

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Tiger Woods Impresses In Comeback

Posted on August 5, 2011 by | Comments Off on Tiger Woods Impresses In Comeback

Tiger Woods shot an impressive opening round of 68 in the first round of the WGC Invitational in Akron, Ohio, in his first golfing action in twelve weeks.

Woods parred the first nine holes and dropped only one stroke all round as he finished on two under, six shots behind leader Adam Scott, who co-incidentally has employed the services of Tiger’s ex-caddie Steve Williams.

Open champion Darren Clarke, playing alongside good friend Woods,  shot a disappointing 77, while Lee Westwood shot 67 and world number one Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy 68’s.

Going into day two of the tournament, Australian Scott leads compatriot Jason Day by one shot.

Click here to see the full leaderboard.

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British Open Championship: Day Two Round-Up

Posted on July 16, 2011 by | Comments Off on British Open Championship: Day Two Round-Up

Darren Clarke and Lucas Glover are joint top of the leaderboard after day two of the British Open, carrying a one-shot lead into today’s action.

Clarke shot 68  and 2009 US Open champion Glover carded 70 to lead the field at four under on a beautiful day at Royal St George’s.

They pulled away from joint overnight leader Thomas Bjorn (72), Chad Campbell, Martin Kaymer and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, the world number one and two respectively, both missed the cut.

Other big-name players getting the weekend off are former major champions Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Ernie Els and Angel Cabrera.

Ian Poulter (+7), Ernie Els (+8), world number eight Matt Kuchar and 2003 winner Ben Curtis (both +11) are also on their way home.

Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, 1996 Open winner Tom Lehman, US Ryder Cup captain Davis Love, American Dustin Johnson, Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal, Dane Anders Hansen and South African George Coetzee (one of my tips!) all finished on two under.

US Open champion Rory McIlroy had four birdies and three bogeys in a 69 to finish level par.

Watch today’s play live on the BBC – and checkout the leaderboard here.

The highlight of the day arguably came on the sixth hole when Tom Watson hit a hole-in-one, the second of the tournament so far.

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My Tips For The British Open

Posted on July 12, 2011 by | Comments Off on 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!

 

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British Golfers Hold Top Three World Ranking Places

Posted on June 28, 2011 by | Comments Off on British Golfers Hold Top Three World Ranking Places

British golfers currently hold the top three spots in the world ranking, the first time that’s happened in the 25-year history of the ranking.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland rose to third on Monday following his triumph at the U.S. Open last week.  Luke Donald remains top, with fellow Englishman Lee Westwood in second place.

“We’ve fed off each other’s success,” McIlroy told Sky Sports. “We saw Lee get to No. 1 in the world and Luke has been very consistent for the last two years. We’re working hard to beat one another and strive to be better than everyone else.”

Having started the year at No. 10, McIlroy overtook PGA champion Martin Kaymer without playing last weekend because of the German’s poor showing at the BMW International Open.

McIlroy,who won the U.S. Open by a record score, is next scheduled to play at the British Open at Royal St. George’s – starting in just over a fortnight.

McIlroy says he wants to keep playing well while Tiger Woods continues his recovery from an injured left leg.

“It’s a good time for me to win things when he’s not playing his best,” McIlroy said. “The first thing for Tiger is to get healthy and see what happens from there. I don’t know if anyone can answer if he’ll get back to where he was 10 years ago, but a lot of people would like to see him back on the course.”

Woods hasn’t won a title since the Australian Masters in November 2009. The 14-time major champion has plunged to No. 17 in the world rankings, his lowest spot since 1997. He is yet to announce whether he will be healthy enough to play in the British Open.

 

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Donald And Westwood Struggle On Day One Of US Open

Posted on June 16, 2011 by | Comments Off on 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.

Please click here for the latest leaderboard.

 

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