Tag Archives: PGA

Hanson Leads By Two Heading Into The Weekend

Posted on October 26, 2012 by | Comments Off on Hanson Leads By Two Heading Into The Weekend

A brilliant round of 64 gave Peter Hanson a two shot advantage over Rory McIlroy after round two of the BMW Masters in Shanghai.

McIlroy really did look in good touch as he started  to get into a nice groove on the back nine and really did turn the style on, but could not match the brilliance of his Ryder Cup team mate.

Overnight leader Jamie Donaldson teed it up in  the second round four shots clear after his course record 62 but failed to capitalise with a disappointing 74  leaving him six shots back.

World number one McIlroy carded seven birdies for his 65 which got him to 12 under par and Hanson hit nine birdies leaving him at 14 under par.

It should be an exciting weekend ahead, all the top players are lurking waiting to make their move but for me McIlroy looks calm and in control, I think it will take something special to beat him come Sunday.

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Ramsay’s Blunder Costs Him The Indian Open

Posted on October 22, 2012 by | Comments Off on Ramsay’s Blunder Costs Him The Indian Open

The Hero Indian Open ended  in an exciting play-off which ended in an agonising defeat for Scotland’s Richie Ramsay against Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant.

Ramsay who led overnight just needed a par at the last to win the tournament in regulation play. Unfortunately he three-putted to make bogey which saw him tied for the clubhouse lead at 14 under which had been set by Wiratchant minutes earlier.

So the pair went back down the 18th to try and decide it. Ramsay’s nerves were evident as he’s wayward tee shot found a watery grave in the creek and could only manage a six which left Wiratchant just having an easy two-putt for the victory.

Wiratchant won this event back in 2005 and went on to say “To be honest, I didn’t expect to win with the way I was driving the ball this week,”

Just goes to show that golf isn’t just about driving the ball a long way or even keeping it on the fairway off the tee all of the time, you can still putt a score together even if your having a bad day or week. Getting the golf ball around the golf course is an art and when it comes down to it it’s about getting the ball in the hole. I can’t emphasise how important it is to practice your short game twice as much as you do at the moment if you want to lower your scores!

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Casey Plays Wonderful Golf In Overdue Return To Form

Posted on October 18, 2012 by | Comments Off on Casey Plays Wonderful Golf In Overdue Return To Form

A delighted Paul Casey was all smiles after his first round display at the Perth International as the former world no.3 continued to rediscover his form.

A superb round of 67 at Lake Karrinyup put the Englishman in a tie for fourth place, two behind leaders  Michael Hendry and Alejandro Cañizares who are on seven under par.

Casey who was in the top ten in the world only 18 months ago, was involved in a  snowboarding accident last winter which kept him out of the game. After a lot of rehabilitation Casey returned, but a lack of form saw him slide to 132nd.

There were signs that his game was on back on track last week when he finally collected ranking points for the first time since April with a third-place finish in Korea.

“I played wonderful golf today,” said Casey, who played some wonderful golf from tee to green today.

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Irishman Shane Lowry Decides To Snub Q-School

Posted on October 16, 2012 by | Comments Off on Irishman Shane Lowry Decides To Snub Q-School

Ireland’s man of the moment Shane Lowry has decided not to go to the PGA Tour qualifying school after winning the Portugal Masters last week.

The big Irishman was due to fly to the States this week for the First Stage of qualifying, but has now made himself available for the BMW Masters in Shanghai next week instead.

The win in Portugal on Sunday lifted Lowry from 126th to 74th in the world, but getting into the top 100 came too late to get him an exemption to Stage Two.

Lowry told the Irish examiner website earlier this month: “If I get through to Second Stage the problem will come if I make the top-60 for the finish of the Race to Dubai.

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Els Hoping To Win On British Soil Again

Posted on October 3, 2012 by | Comments Off on Els Hoping To Win On British Soil Again

It’s back to British soil this week for  the Open Champion Ernie Els, who hopes a return to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship can reignite his form again.

The ‘big easy’s’emotional victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes this summer has been followed by some lackluster performances, and he has not recorded a top-20 finish since Adam Scott made a mess of the final few holes at The Open to hand Els a fourth Major Championship.

Els is hoping that his return to links golf could bring back the memories of July and spark his golf off again. This week will see him playing three different courses, St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. It’s always a good week in the golfing calender and has produced some unlikely winners in the past.

“It’s great to be back,” he said. “Nice to see the sun shining. I haven’t played links obviously since July, so I’m really looking forward to catching up with friends and hopefully playing good golf.

Catch the action on Sky Sports from tomorrow morning!

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The Ryder Cup Is Underway

Posted on September 28, 2012 by | Comments Off on The Ryder Cup Is Underway

Well the Ryder Cup is under way with Graeme McDowell hitting the first tee-shot which went left and just stopped short of trouble. Jim Furyk did pretty much the same as well. It just shows that even the straightest hitters on the tour get affected by nerves.

Ian Poulter was interviewed half an hour before the first group tee-off and he said it was the most excited he’d ever felt and that it doesn’t get any bigger than this. Poulter and Rose are playing against Woods and Stricker and I think he’s right, it doesn’t get much bigger than that.

The first few holes have all been halved as I write this, with players being a little bit cautious which is understandable, but i’m sure it won’t take long to get going.

Three long day’s in front of the TV ahead, I hope you will enjoy as much as I will.

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Strongest Dunhill Line-Up Ever

Posted on September 20, 2012 by | Comments Off on Strongest Dunhill Line-Up Ever

Paul Lawrie probably known as Scotland’s best player now and England’s World Number Four Lee Westwood are going to be leading the home challenge for this year’s Alfred Dunhill Links at St Andrews.

These two players have won this event before and we will be up against it this year as a strong field includes no fewer than 11 Major champions.

Westwood who won this event back in 2003 said: “I’m hoping for two memorable weeks: victory for The Ryder Cup team in the United States and then back to St Andrews for a second Dunhill victory.

Ernie Els who is the current Open champion and a four-time Major winner leads a strong South African line-up, including  2011 US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen. 

We will also see appearances from Colin Montgomerie and Martin Laird, plus England’s Paul Casey and Simon Dyson who won in 2009.

But let’s not get too excited or ahead of ourselves, we still have the Ryder Cup to decide first and this will be a bit of a comedown for a lot of the players. Well hopefully only the European ones!

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Ballesteros Wins In Madrid

Posted on September 17, 2012 by | Comments Off on Ballesteros Wins In Madrid

Something pretty special happened yesterday, the son of the late Seve Ballesteros – Javier Ballesteros won the Madrid Amateur Open.

The young 22 year old Spaniard won by four shots finishing six-under par and was quick to dedicate his victory to his  amazing father who passed away in May 2011.

“My father always told me that you have to play with what you’ve got, and that’s what I did,” said Ballesteros.

“I thought about him a lot during the 18 holes and I dedicate this victory to him and my mother.”

Javier is currently studying law at  the Complutense University and will not decide about turning professional until he has finished his degree in Madrid.

If this young man has anything like the flare and passion of his father then we are in for a real treat. You get the feeling there could be something special happening here. What do you think?

 

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50mph Winds Stop Play In Liverpool

Posted on September 14, 2012 by | Comments Off on 50mph Winds Stop Play In Liverpool

The women’s British Open came to a standstill today as 36 players scores were scrapped after the second round at Hoylake was cancelled due to 50mph winds.

The day started windy and it was tough for the early starters but the winds rapidly got stronger and only an hour’s play was possible this morning, with those on the course a cumulative 52 over par!

Personally I would have let them get on with it, would have made for great viewing!

A statement was released by the Ladies’ Golf Union saying “It would have been unfair to those competitors not to cancel all scores for the round in question.”

Conditions did not improve and play will  get under way again at  06:50 BST tomorrow morning.

Felicity Johnson who is flying the flag for England and was the joint leader early in the first round, shot a nine on the par-four first and was eight over after three holes when the play was bought to a halt at 8am this morning.

It was so winday on the 12th tee Cristie Kerr had her ball blown off the tee three times, I think that’s when it was decided by the officials to stop play.

Let’s hope for calmer conditions tomorrow.

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It Could Be A Wie Bit Tough At Hoylake

Posted on September 12, 2012 by | Comments Off on It Could Be A Wie Bit Tough At Hoylake

The Women’s British Open comes to our screens this Thursday and American superstar Michelle Wie says she expects the course at Hoylake to provide a tough but fair enjoyable challenge.

The young American has struggled to find form this season but is hoping that her experience in majors will help her out this week. Wie has played in an incredible 30 major championships so far in her career.  She also has two Solheim Cups under her belt but she has only had one top-10 finish all season.

Keep your eye out for 15-year-old Lydia Ko, who three weeks ago become the youngest-ever winner on the LPGA Tour.

Catriona Matthew who won the Open in 2009 and Karen Stupples the 2004 champion are flying the flag for the Brits.

Come on girls!

 

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