Pettersen and Pressel join China line-up
The first-ever LPGA Tour event in China received a nice boost when organisers were able to confirm the participation of world number four Suzann Pettersen and Morgan Pressel.
In a press release on Wednesday, it was announced that the pair will join already-confirmed Annika Sorenstam and Tseng Yani in the line-up for the October 24-26 tournanet at the Hainan West Coast Golf Club in Haikou, the capital of Hainan island.
Pettersen became the first Norwegian to win on the LPGA Tour when she won the Michelob ULTRA Open in Kingsmill in 2007. That was one of five victories last season, which helped her finish second on the money list. She was quoted as saying in the release:
“All of us on Tour are getting more and more excited about the LPGA visiting China for the first time. It is not often you get the chance to be a part of something that is so significant for the game, such as playing an elite event in a new country for the first time, and that is a very special privilege for all of us.â€
Pressel became the youngest major winner in April last year when she triumphed at the Kraft Nabisco Championship at 18 years, 10 months and nine days.
The tournament is open to the leading 51 available players on the LPGA money list as of September 28, 2008, plus eight Chinese professionals and four invitations.
China is seen as the last great golfing frontier to be exploited. The men’s game is well established in the country, having already established their own professional tour.
Villegas Earns First Tour Victory
Camilo Villegas has the look that would fit nicely in the first month of a golfing calendar featuring PGA Tour stars.
In fact, female fans may even insist that he take up the whole year, given his competition in the male model-like stakes.
Now, the 26-year-old is also a winner, after shooting a 68 on the final day for a wire-to-wire victory in the BMW Championship at Bellerive in St Louis.
His two-stroke victory over Dudley Hart made him the only man, apart from Vijay Singh, to win a tournament on the four-legged FedEx Cup series, although he is still far behind the Fijian in the overall race.
Singh, winner of the first two tournaments, tied for 44th and now only needs to finish four rounds at The Tour Championship to win the $10 million grand prize.
Villegas has been a prominent figure on the PGA Tour over the past few years, not only for his looks but also for his razor sharp golf and unusual putting routine.
He finished at 15-under-par 265 for his first tour victory, which also earned him $1.26 million and a place in the line-up for next year’s US Masters at Augusta. He said in a PGA Tour article:
“It’s awesome to be here. Hopefully, it’s the first of many.â€
His breakthrough could have come much earlier had he not stumbled during the latter stages of several events.
He was among the leaders after the second round of the British Open and was a contender at the US PGA Championship before settling for fourth.
He was also only a stroke adrift of the lead at last week’s Deutsch Bank Championship, but he made sure that this week for his for the taking.
Villegas first made himself known two years ago at the Doral tournament when he tied for second behind Tiger Woods.
He has also earned the nickname of “Spider-Man†for the way his contorts his body so his eyes can be level with the ball when lining up putts.
Although he has a mathematical chance of winning the FedEx Cup series, he goes into the final tournament knowing that he needs Singh to suffer a major collapse.
On the European Tour, Jean-Francois Lucquin made it two in a row for French golfers when he won the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland.
After Gregory Havret won last week’s Johnnie Walker Championship, Lucquin followed up with a play-off victory over Northern Irish teenager Rory McIlroy.
He closed with a 67 to finish on 13-under 271 as McIlroy stumbled with a 71 after he missed a five-foot championship putt on the 18th.
It didn’t get any better for McIlroy, who fluffed an even short putt at the same hole, the second play-off hole, from under two feet. Lucquin then sank a 12-footer to win the tournament.
Clarifying Ten Quick Golf Rules
Over the past few months I have answered far more questions than can be posted on the blog. Usually I pick the longer answers to post, but today I thought wouldn’t it be fun to add 10 short answers to one post.
I hope you enjoy reading these rules of golf questions and answers.
#1 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:
“My ball lands in grass cuttings that have been left in the rough ( may be even a pile of leaves left by the green keeper )
Can I play from where it is or do I get relief?”
#1 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:
“I will do my best to give you a complete answer to your question but there is not sufficient information to be absolutely definite. Whether you can obtain free relief or not depends on whether the grass/leaves are “material piled for removal by a greenkeeper”. If they are, then the player can obtain free relief in the same way as from ground under repair or casual water (see Definition of Ground Under Repair and Rule 25-1b). If however, it is obvious that the grass/leaves are not going to be removed by a greenkeeper, then the player can remove as much of the material as he can surrounding the ball, providing he does not move his ball, as they are loose impediments. Obviously, he will not be able to remove any grass/leaves that lie under the ball. If he does cause his ball to move while clearing the loose impediments, he is penalised one stroke and must replace his ball in the same place, with the same lie (i.e. on the grass/leaves).”
#2 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:
“Within the rules of golf it is allowed for a player to ask his opponent what club he used after both players have played their shots.
Is there a requirement for the opponent to answer?
Is there any penalty if he refuses?”
#2 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:
“You are right in saying that a player may ask another player what club they have just played, providing they have both played their shots and the information will not influence the player in determining the choice of club for his/her next stroke. There is nothing in the Rules requiring a player to answer such a question and therefore there is no penalty for refusing to answer. Personally, I would rather not exchange this information as I tend to take more club than most players and would rather keep that fact to myself.”
#3 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:
“My young mate was awaiting his turn to putt while his parteners played their shots when he accidently dropped his putter on the green the handle striking his ball causing it to move a couple of inches.
What is the penalty, if any?”
#3 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:
“He incurs a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2a(ii) “equipment of the player or his partner causes the ball to move”. An important point is that he must replace the ball where it was at rest when his putter moved it, or he would be penalised a total of two strokes for causing his ball to move and then playing from the wrong place.”
#4 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:
“Can you help me with the following rule. I play golf in Spain most of the winter months. The following rule applies in Spain. I was playing in Portugal last week and had this problem. My ball finished close to a buggy path. I was standing on the path to play the shot. The local rule states one club length of the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole. I used my 3 wood to measure, the club I used to play the shot. The measurement took me out of the rough on to the fairway. My Irish competitor would not accept this rule and stated I had to drop the ball in the rough.
Please let me know the ruling.”
#4 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:
“You were correct and your Irish friend was wrong. In dropping away from the path, an immovable obstruction, you were taking relief under Rule 24-2b(i), which says “If the ball lies through the green, the player must lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green. When the ball is dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course at a spot that avoids interference by the immovable obstruction and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.
In your case the nearest point of relief was favourable to your next stroke, however, in many cases, the nearest point of relief may put you in a worse position (e.g. in longer grass, or behind a bush). The thing to remember is that the drop must be within one club length of the ‘nearest’ point of relief and not the ‘nicest’ point of relief.”
#5 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:
“I play in Arizona and we have some dry creek or what are called washes. These areas are yellow staked and spray painted. Some of these hazards have never seen the hint of water. My question is since you are allowed to hit from a water hazard, can you hit from a dry creek or wash that is yellow staked without penalty?”
#5 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:
“Yes, the fact that these areas are defined by yellow stakes and lines means that they are to be treated as water hazards under the Rules. The player may therefore play the ball as it lies within the hazard but must not test the condition of the hazard, touch the ground in the hazard with his hand or a club, or touch or move a loose impediment lying in or touching the hazard (Rule 13-4 Ball in Hazard – Prohibited Actions).”
#6 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:
“What are the obtions when a ball is unplayable in a bunker?”
#6 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:
“When a player deems his unplayable in a bunker the options are exactly the same as for a ball unplayable anywhere else on the course (except that this relief under penalty of one stroke is not available when the ball is in a water hazard);
a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or
b. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or
c. Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole.
However, if the player proceeds under Clause b or c, the ball must be dropped in the bunker.”
#7 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:
“Here’s one that happened while playing recently. We were all on the green and marking our balls while the man furthest from the hole was lining up his putt. A ball marker was in his line so he asked that it be moved over. The second player, using his putter blade as a guide moved the marker one blade length to the left. When it became his turn to putt, the second player, instead of replacing his ball one blade length to the right, placed it one further blade length to the left in error and putted from there.
What is the penalty for this?”
#7 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:
“Decision 20-7c/1 provides the answer to your question;
Q. In stroke play, a competitor in replacing his ball on the putting green inadvertently put the ball in a wrong place nearby and holed out. The error was then discovered and the competitor put his ball in the right place and holed out. What is the ruling?
A. The score with the ball played from the wrong place counts and the competitor must add two penalty strokes to that score (Rule 16-1b or 20-3a and Rule 20-7c).
The competitor incurs no penalty for having putted from the right place after holing out from a wrong place.”
#8 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:
“A friend of mine lost the match play tournament because his opponent called a penalty for unintentionally tossing his club into a sand trap. Is this an infraction? In my opinion, this would fall under the exceptions clause for rule 13-4?”
#8 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:
“In my opinion your friend should clearly not have been penalised. As you point out Exception 1b to Rule 13-4 specifically says that a player may place his clubs in a hazard. The fact that he unintentionally tossed his club into the hazard means that he was definitely not doing so in order to test the condition of the hazard.
Of course, as it was match play, your friend should have made a claim if he did not agree with the penalty called on him. The correct procedure is that he must notify his opponent (i) that he is making a claim, (ii) of the facts of the situation and (iii) that he wants a ruling. The claim must be made before he, or his opponent plays from the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the match, before all players in the match leave the putting green.”
#9 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:
“Whilst playing a medal round with two other guys we completed the eigth hole and I recorded a 6 for myself. On reaching the tenth tee the guy marking my card informed me he believed I had putted a moving ball and had added a two shot penalty. Having not said anything on the green or next tee I was angry and flabbergasted. I know in match play you have to make the
rules objection before playing the next hole but I wasnt sure about medal play?
Can you help?”
#9 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:
“In stroke play, penalties can be applied to a player’s score any time before the score card being agreed and signed by the player and the marker and returned to the Committee.
Naturally, it would have been more appropriate for your marker to advise you that he thought that you had incurred a penalty as soon as he witnessed it, but it is not mandatory.”
#10 RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:
“A player is on a course which has a local rule giving preferred lie of one clublength (not closer to the hole) on the fairway in play. The ball comes to rest on the fairway in play, a few cm From the edge of the fairway. Since one clublength movement is allowed, the player moves his ball, placing it just off the fairway on some nice tufty grass. Has he breached the local rule, and is he liable for a two stroke penalty?”
#10 RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:
“Since your question refers to a Local Rule there is no definitive answer from the Rules of Golf as it depends how the Local Rule is worded. However, if the Local Rule follows the recommended wording in the specimen for Preferred Lies and Winter Rules in Appendix 1, Part B, 4c, then the player is entitled to place his ball off the closely mown area, not nearer the hole, within the specified limit (in this case one club length)without incurring a penalty.
The first part of the specimen Rule reads: “A ball lying on a closely mown area through the green may be lifted without penalty and cleaned. Before lifting the ball, the player must mark its position. Having lifted the ball, he must place it on a spot within [specify area, e.g., six inches, one club-length, etc.] of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay, that is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.
It would be highly unusual for a Committee to restrict the placing of the ball to the closely mown area (i.e. fairway).”
Visit here for more Rules of Golf questions.
Disclaimer: Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of this information on the Rules of Golf I am human and have been known to be wrong! Neither I, nor anyone connected with GolfSwingSecretsRevealed.com, shall be held responsible for any losses caused by reliance upon the accuracy or reliability of such information. Readers should refer to the full text of the rules and decisions as published in the official publications of the R&A and the USGA, The Rules of Golf 2008-2011 and Decisions on the Rules of Golf 2008-2009.
Singh Signs On for Malaysian Return
Vijay Singh is the hottest player in the world right now. He would be the prize drawcard for any tournament, anywhere on the globe.
Singh, though, is looking forward to going back to his roots, which is why he has signed on for the Johor Open in Malaysia this October.
The FedEx Cup leader and three-time major champion has always had an affinity with Malaysia and the Asian Tour.
Malaysia is where he used to practice his golf skills and is also where his wife is from. He is an honorary member of the Asian Tour and won the 2001 Malaysia Open by beating Padraig Harrington in a play-off.
And if that is not enough, the Royal Johor Country Club venue for the tournament in the country’s southern-most city of Johor Bahru is where Singh was based during the 80s.
The Asian Tour has been in need of a boost this season, and they timed the news of Singh’s participation in Johor nicely, coinciding with his victory at The Barclays two weeks ago for the first of his two straight FedEx Cup Series triumphs.
The following week, he won the Deutsche Bank Championship, continuing his amazing form in the latter part of the season.
The world number five, who once dethroned Tiger Woods at the top of the rankings, goes into this week’s third event, the BMW Championships in Missouri, with a sizeable lead over his rivals.
Only Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Canada’s Mike Weir have a chance to catch him, but they will need major efforts over the final two tournaments if they want the winner-takes-all $10 million prize.
Singh has compiled 120,500 points with Garcia second on 108,275 and Weir third on 106,965. Justin Leonard and Jim Furyk complete the top five.
The first round of the tournament at the Bellerive Country Club in St Louis was a complete washout with 36 holes scheduled for Saturday.
The venue is hosting a PGA Tour event for the first time since 2001, when a WGC tournament was cancelled because of the September 11 attacks on New York’s Twin Towers.
Overcome First Tee Jitters
One of the most common problems in golf is first tee jitters. People go from the driving range, where they are relaxed and calm, to the first tee, where they are anxious and nervous. What causes this? Could be a number of things – from stage fright to uncertainty of technique. But what ever the reason — there is one simple exercise that can help you hit your best first tee shot.
When we’re nervous or stressed, our heart rate speeds up — so we have to slow it down. And learning to breath properly is the quickest way to get your heart rate under control. So, before your next round of golf — try this simple breathing technique and you’ll find it much easier to hit that opening tee shot.
Start this process 10 minutes before tee off. Get by yourself somewhere, whether on the range, putting green or just off the first tee. Then, clear your head and begin this simple method to slow your heart rate.
4-7-8 Breathing Method
Sit with your back straight. Place the tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue just behind your upper front teeth, and keep it there throughout the exercise. Exhale through your mouth around your tongue with your lips slightly pursed.
Follow these steps
1. Empty your lungs, making a wooshing sound
2. Close your mouth and inhale through your nose to a Mental count of 4.
3. Hold your breath for a count of 7.
4. Again, blow through your mouth. making a wooshing sound to a count of 8.
**This is one breath. Repeat the cycle 9 more times for a total of 10 breaths. Do it once or twice throughout the round in stressful situations.
As you are doing your breathing exercises, visualize the first tee shot and your ball going right down the middle.
Good Luck!
No More Slumps!
All of us, regardless of our skill level, have at times, swung the golf club very well. And, I imagine all you fortunate readers who’ve completed Andy’s course — The New Four Magic Moves To Winning Golf— swing the golf club exceptionally well at times. But what makes this game so frustrating is not the good days — it’s the bad ones. Especially if they happen very soon after a great day. What gives?
Why can we swing the golf club perfectly one day, hitting it long and straight, yet barely find the clubface on other days? Most assume they’re not talented enough. Or they don’t work hard enough. Or better yet, that PGA Tour pros have some secret for consistency they’re not sharing with the world.
For some, yes — you may lack the requisite athletic ability to hit the golf ball long and straight. But even so, in all my years of teaching, with thousands of students, I’ve only met one I considered hopeless. And to this day, I still can’t figure out why I couldn’t help him. But that’s another story. My point simply is: if you’ve hit it well in stretches before — you can and should be able to do it consistently.
Let me share a couple of my favorite tips on how to maintain a great golf swing — or get one back that seems to be on vacation.
First, to maintain a great golf swing — you must maintain your body. It’s amazing how may people can’t figure out the reason for a slump, yet in the last year — they’ve put on 20-30lbs around their belly. So now the feels they used to feel are gone. Maybe their 90 degree shoulder turn has become 75. Or their distance from the ball changes. Or their posture changes slightly. Or their transition at the top of the swing gets quicker because it’s shorter. Either way, it doesn’t feel the same. And with that loss of feel comes a search for new mechanics. And looking for answers — which rarely works. Look at the players who are consistent throughout the years and you’ll see very little change in their bodies. Hale Irwin and Bernhard Langer are both great examples of this. In fact, I read a few months ago that Bernhard can still fit into the same size pants he wore in high school. That’s nuts — but speaks volumes to why he is so consistent.
So, my first tip to staying consistent: Maintain your fitness level. This may require more effort as you age — but you’ll see the benefits in your handicap.
Second, to maintain a great golf swing — you must maintain your set-up. After years of teaching some of the best players in the world, this next piece of advice is the absolute best tip I could ever give you.
**You don’t lose your golf swing overnight. It’s impossible. But you can lose your set-up overnight, which in turn will impact your golf swing — especially how it feels. So, as a golfer, you’ll try to recreate a feel you have when playing well (such as back to the target at the top of your swing), but will fall short — because it’s impossible to feel the same thing from a different set-up. So, you spend the day manufacturing feels. Anything to get you back to your best days. But hear this — if you find your set-up, your swing will find you. You won’t have to look for it.
So, how do you keep your set-up? I’ll give you an easy tip — one I share with all the touring pros and scratch amateurs I teach — and that’s go buy a cheap hitting mat. I don’t want you to hit a lot of balls off the mat — only a few occasionally. But you’ll use it to maintain good form. Here’s how. Next time you’re hitting it well — I mean really well — go hit some balls on the mat. Then, have a friend trace your feet and ball position. Use a 7-iron or so. Also, have your friend draw your target line — as well as your body line. But only draw your body line — using your feet as the reference — once you’re hit a couple well on the mat. Why? Well, you may hit your best shots slightly open or closed. And this is valuable information to have. Lee Trevino — one of the best ball strikers ever — aimed way left. While Sam Snead, another of the all-time greats — aimed way right. You see, if anyone ever tried to get their stances to fit a model of perfectly square — they never would have been so consistent. But — they found their set-up all the time, which is why they were so good. Does that make sense?
Then, once you have your feet, ball, target line and body lines traced — put the mat away. Keep it in the trunk of your car or in the garage. Then, next time you are struggling — go stand on it and hit some balls. Your swing will find you in no time. Or better yet, stand on it for a few minutes a week and you’ll never have to worry about losing you swing.
Good luck!
Lefty Gives Tiger His Dues
Phil Mickelson paid an unlikely tribute to absent rival Tiger Woods during the Deutsche Bank Championship in Norton, Massachusetts, thanking the injured world number one for the state of golf and the state of Mickelson’s bank account.
Lefty won the tournament last year, beating Woods by two strokes. The two players have not enjoyed the best of relationships in the past but Mickelson, during a press conference, hailed Woods’ impact on the game.
Tiger is out until at next season after undergoing surgery on his knee, which he aggravated while winning the US Open at Torrey Pines. Mickelson said in a Reuters article:
“I think we’re lucky to have the most recognisable and largest icon in all of sport playing ours. If Tiger was not around …. and I was able to be the number one player in the world, I’d be making half as much (money) as I am now because of him. I am very thankful for the fact that he’s in our sport and he’s had the success and the charisma and the lure to attract corporate America as well as fans to the game. We’re all fortunate.â€
Indeed, the article reports that television audiences for golfing events have dropped sharply since Woods’ absence and that attendances at golf courses have also experienced big falls.
Woods, with his African-American and Thai background, as well as his charisma, has been a sponsor’s dream since he won the 1997 US Masters in his debut major.
He has also fanned the popularity of golf as a spectator sport and many people tune in on TV or trek to the courses only to watch him.
The Deutsche Bank tournament at TPC Boston is the second event of the four tournament FedExCup play-offs.
LPGA to Introduce Compulsory English Rule
The language of golf is marketing and, as far as the LPGA Tour is concerned, it is also English.
The multi-national and multi-ethnic LPGA Tour is implementing a new rule from 2009 requiring all member players to have a reasonable grasp of spoken English, or face suspension.
This also applies to non-native English speakers who have been part of the Tour for two years, who need to pass an oral evaluation test. For new players, the rule is immediate.
With South Koreans by far forming the largest group of non-native English speakers, and also among the best players, the LPGA is quick to point out that the rule is not targeted at any particular ethnic group.
It has to do with the fact that sponsors, media and the fans want to interact with players in English. The Tour’s deputy commissioner Libba Galloway said in an AP article:
“Why now? Athletes now have more responsibilities and we want to help their professional development. There are more fans, more media and more sponsors. We want to help our athletes as best we can succeed off the golf course as well as on it. We are connecting with fans and sponsors like never before. But we want things to continue to get better, to continue to grow.â€
The South Korean players were informed of the rule and, according to the article, the reaction has largely been positive.
Multiple tournament winner Lee Seon-hwa is less reliant on a translator these days and said the Korean players understand the regulation with sponsorship key to the Tour’s success.
Understanding The Out Of Bounds Rule
This week I received a great question on the definition of “Out of Bounds”, understanding this rule is important and I thoroughly recommend you read the question and answer :
RULES OF GOLF QUESTION:
“I have a question. This is about a ball on the Out of Bounds line. The definition defines that a ball is Out of Bounds when all of it lies Out of Bounds. It also declares that, when Out of Bounds is defined by a line on the ground, the line itself is Out of Bounds.
Now the situation: A ball lying on what seems to be an oil line that defines the Out of Bounds, but the line itself is smudgy and unclear in particular the interior part of the line. Also you have a stalky grass that had part of its stalks touching the ball.
The following are the questions I would like to pose?
1. Note 1: under definitions states; that stakes and lines used to define the Out of Bounds should be white. Does the club need to change the line marking to white rather than oil. Does did affect the Out of Bounds and bring in the stakes instead which also located along the oil line?
2. If the Out of Bounds line is unclear, can one assume that the line is nevertheless there or should the benefit of the doubt go to the player who owns the ball?
3. Does the stalk from the grass inbounds change the status of the ball, noting the definition that the ball is Out of Bounds when all of it lies Out of Bounds yet although the ball is out but part of the course is touching it.
What is the proper ruling on this? Appreciate your assistance.”
RULES OF GOLF ANSWER:
“Firstly, the ‘oil line’ does legitimately define the Out of Bounds.
Although the definition states that the line ‘should’ be white, it is not mandatory.
Secondly, if any part of the ball overlaps the course inside the oil line it is in bounds.
It is worth noting here that if a ball lies completely between the two outside edges of a line defining out of bounds the ball is Out of Bounds.
Thirdly, where stakes are used at points along the oil line they identify the Out of Bounds area but it is the lines that actually define it. Finally, the stalky grass is not relevant to the decision on whether the ball is in bounds or out of bounds.
So, to try and answer your questions;
1. The club does not have to change the line marking to white (though it would be preferable if they did so) and it is the oil lines that define the Out of Bounds, where they exist, and not the stakes.
2. Even if the oil line is smudged it still defines the Out of Bounds area, so it does not matter whether it is one inch wide in places and six inches wide in others it is still the definitive guide. Where there is no line evident the players must take the nearest inside points of the stakes at ground level as being the definitive points to determine whether any part of the ball is lying in bounds.
Similarly, if there are two oil lines between stakes with an area between them where no line exists then the players must take an imaginary line between the inside points of each line end to determine whether the ball is in bounds or Out of Bounds.
3. The stalky grass, or anything else growing in bounds, is irrelevant in determining whether the ball itself lies in or out of bounds..”
Visit here for more Rules of Golf questions.
Disclaimer: Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of this information on the Rules of Golf I am human and have been known to be wrong! Neither I, nor anyone connected with GolfSwingSecretsRevealed.com, shall be held responsible for any losses caused by reliance upon the accuracy or reliability of such information. Readers should refer to the full text of the rules and decisions as published in the official publications of the R&A and the USGA, The Rules of Golf 2008-2011 and Decisions on the Rules of Golf 2008-2009.
Singh Puts Faith In Putting for Barclays Victory
There was a time when the big four of golf was Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Enrie Els.
A couple of names have dropped off that list, hopefully, to bounce back again. Vijay Singh is determined to stay there as long as he can.
And with his victory at The Barclays, the gentle giant from Fiji is definitely back. Singh beat Sergio Garcia and Kevin Sutherland in a play-off to win the first of the FedExCup Series and his record fourth Barclays title.
The former world number one sneaked up on the field with a closing round of 70 to tie Garcia and Sutherland on eight-under-par 276 for the tournament.
That was one stroke ahead of a trio comprising Mathew Goggin, Ben Curtis and Kevin Streelman.
Singh took top honours on the second extra hole after Sutherland was eliminated after the 73rd hole.
He had to sink a 26-footer to nullify Garcia’s 27-foot putt on the first extra hole, the 18th. Then the Fijian and Spaniard went head-to-head, where Garcia got a little help from what appears to be a gopher.
He hit his second shot behind a tree and sought relief because of “gopher holesâ€, which he said were moving because the animal was actually burrowing at the time.
He was allowed to drop one club length away because of the unstable ground underneath and this gave him a clear path to the green.
He hit his approach to about 30 feet from the hole in front of the green and nearly holed his chip. However, Singh tapped in for birdie to ensure victory.
Singh, who also won the Bridgestone Invitational this year, attributed a change of attitude to his victory, by making sure he puts more faith in his putting. He said on the PGA Tour website:
“I think through the past weeks and months and years, with the media talking about my putting and writing about my putting and people talking about my putting and people want to help me, I must have had hundreds of letters and phone calls and all saying that they can fix my putting. You know, at the end of the day, it kind of gets to your head that you’re not a good putter.
“So I made a point that I’m going to change that attitude, and I believed in myself that I’m the best putter, and I came out here with a different attitude, and I putted great this week. If I keep doing this, I’m going to win a lot more golf tournaments.â€
For Garcia, it was another second place, having lost to Padraig Harrington at the recent PGA Championship. He also missed out on his third Barclays title.
On the European Tour, Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke boosted his hopes of claiming a spot on Europe’s Ryder Cup team with victory at the KLM Open at the Kennemer Golf and Country Club in the Netherlands.
Clarke shot a final round of 16-under-par 66 for a total of 16-under 264 and a four-stroke victory over Ireland’s Paul McGinley, who closed with 64.
The Ulsterman is unable to win an automatic place in the European squad to face the United States in September in Kentucky, but he is hoping his good form will convince skipper Nick Faldo to choose him as one of the two captain’s picks.
Clark has played in the past five tournaments against the United States and wants to make it six in a row by challenging for honours at his next tournament, the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson was third on 269 after fourth round of 68 while lee Slattery and Marc Warren shared fourth place on 271.
Meanwhile, Christie Kerr won her 11th LPGA Tour title and first of the season when she triumphed at the Safeway Classic in Portland, Oregan.
Kerr sank a 20-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to beat Sophie Gustafson and Helen Alfredsson in a play-off.
All three players finished on 13-under 203 for the three rounds of the tournament. Katherine Hull was two strokes behind in fourth with Han Hee-won fifth on 10-under.
World number one Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam joined Angela Park, Paula Creamer and Catriona Matthew on joint-sixth place at seven-under.
Azinger Casts Eye on US Ryder Cup Hopefuls
In previous years, the United States Ryder Cup team would have been announced by now.
The tradition is that the 10 players who had garnered the most Ryder Cup points plus the two captain’s picks would have already been decided by the end of the PGA Championship, which finished two weeks ago.
However, US captain Paul Azinger has decided that a different method is required, especially with the Americans suffering three straight defeats to their European rivals.
Azinger, whose team take on Europe at Valhalla Golf Club from September 16-21, has asked for, and has been granted, four captain’s picks instead of two.
He has also delayed naming the team until mid-way through the four FedExCup play-off tournaments, the first of which is the ongoing Barclays in New Jersey.
This means he can announce his squad by September 2 at the latest, choosing players who are more in form closer to the actual event in Louisville, Kentucky.
After years of American dominance, the Europeans finally emerged as serious contenders in the late 80s.
Such has been the turnaround in fortunes that, over the past few editions, Europe have now become the favourites whenever players from both sides of the Atlantic tee-up together.
Not even the presence of Tiger Woods in the American team seemed to work. Indeed, it proved to be more of a burden, especially when he was paired with Phil Mickelson.
With players like British Open and PGA Championship winner Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia leading the way, Europe will again start this year’s tournament as favourites.
Still, Azinger hopes his policy of picking “hot players†will knock the Europeans off stride. This is in addition to players whose heart will be fully turned on to winning.
Players like Kenny Perry, who missed out on the British Open so he could concentrate on his Ryder Cup ranking.
Perry is determined that he is in the US team as they play in his hometown course.
Mickelson, Jim Furyk and Anthony Kim will provide the Americans with quality while watch out also for Rocco Mediate, the man who took Woods to a play-off at the US Open earlier this year.
He will be using the FedExCup series in order the make the US team and recapture some of that magic that at times cast a spell on Tiger at Torrey Pines.
Woods, of course, will not be there because of a knee injury that will keep him out until next year.
However, he has never really been a team player – a necessary trait for one who has won 14 major titles – and the US might find more cohesion without him.
Swede Home Greensboro for Pettersson
For Sweden’s Carl Pettersson, Greensboro, North Carolina is his adopted hometown. Therefore, he had to win the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club.
That is what he told himself in order to get out of a rut and shoot two-under-par 68 in the final round to win the tournament by two strokes.
Pettersson led going into the 11th hole but a bogey, after dropping a shot on the 10th, saw him fall down to second place. He hit back strongly with three birdies in four holes to complete four days at 21-under 259 and his first PGA Tour title.
In second place was Scott McCarron, who also shot 68 but had to settle for 19 under. Former PGA Championship winner Rich Beem had his second straight 63 but it still only left him four strokes off the lead while J.J. Henry (62) and rookie Martin Laird (63) were a further stroke behind.
Pettersson admitted he had some strong words for himself after that bogey on the 11th. He said in an AP article:
“Not getting it up and down on 11 kind of ticked me off. I kind of told myself, ‘I’m letting the tournament get away from me again.’ That was where the tournament was won for me. I felt like I let the tournament slip away on 10 and 11.â€
Pettersson, who shot a tournament record 61 in the second round, won $918,000 for his efforts with the tournament marking the final event before the play-offs for the FedExCup.
His birdie on the 13th gave him back a one-stroke lead after McCarron had earlier dropped a shot. The Swede then went two up when he chalked up his first birdie on the par-five 15th, having had two bogeys and a par on previous rounds.
Pettersson wasn’t the only Swede who lifted a trophy over the weekend. On the other side of the ocean, in Stockholm, Peter Hanson became the first local player to win the SAS Masters in 10 years when he triumphed at the SAS Masters.
It was the 30-year-old’s second European Tour victory as he held off fellow Swede Pelle Edberg and England’s Nick Dougherty.
Hanson closed with 71 for a total of nine-under-par 271 with Edberg and Dougherty one stroke back. England’s Paul Broadhurst and Scot Gary Orr tied for fourth on 273.
The victory raised Hanson’s outside hopes of making Europe’s Ryder Cup team for their clash with the Americans next month.
He moves up to 17th place from 24th and had decided to player in this week’s KLM Open in the Netherlands rather than skip a week in order to press home his Ryder Cup claims.
Dougherty also enhances his Ryder Cup ambitions, holding on to 14th place. However, he almost didn’t finish the tournament after hurting his back after the third round.
In trying to fix himself in the gym, the Englishman only made his condition worse, as he said on the European Tour website:
“What a day. If my chiropractor had been here he might have told me to pull out, so I’m glad he wasn’t. After all I’ve been through I was going to finish no matter what.â€
On the LPGA Tour, Australian Katherine Hull won her maiden title with a one-stroke victory over Korean Pak Se-ri in the CN Canadian Women’s Open after overcoming a six-stroke deficit.
Her final round of three-under-par 69 comprised of four birdies and a bogey for a total of 10-under 277 while Pak closed with a 72 to finish on 278. Tseng Yani collapsed in the final round with 77 to finish third on 279.
World number one Lorena Ochoa, of Mexico, shot 73 to tie for fourth on seven-under 281 with Yoo Sun-young and Kim Song-hee.
Beijing Games Revive Golf’s Olympic Issue
With the Beijing Olympics nearing the halfway stage, fans from all over the world can look at the medals standings to check on how their country is doing or who is vying for gold in various sports.
Golf fans are not included in the vast group of people as the sport still tries to convince International Olympic Committee executives that it is deserving of a place in the four-yearly sporting extravaganza.
Sports such as baseball have lost their Olympic status because of what the IOC feels is lack of interest and, with other codes such as rugby union, particularly the crowd-friendly sevens game, also trying to muscle in, golf faces a tough task.
One of the main criteria for acceptance as an Olympic sport is that it has to be widely available for the general public to be able to play and how it is covered on TV.
In some countries it is easy to go to your local public course and tee-up at little cost. In other places, golf is limited to only the elite and the affluent. And that is the general perception of the Olympic crowd.
Other sports competing with golf for Olympic status in 2016 are baseball, trying to return to the fold, softball, squash, roller sports and karate. Only two sports are open.
PGA executive Ty Votaw is leading golf’s bid for Olympic recognition and recently said at a press conference:
“The time is right for the world of golf to come together for the common good of the sport, to reinstate golf as an Olympic sport and to the Olympic program.â€
Another problem with golf is the timing. Olympics are during the summer, one of the busiest times for majors in pro golf, with the British Open and PGA Championship in close proximity.
If these issues can be resolved, and the IOC is happy with golf as a spectator sport, we may see the likes of Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington and Phil Mickelson teeing off for gold in eight years time.
Frustrated Woods Hails Harrington’s Triumph
Tiger Woods has congratulated Padraig Harrington for his PGA Championship victory, while at the same time expressing frustration that he wasn’t there to battle it out with the Irishman.
Writing in his newsletter, Woods said he watched some of the action unfold at Oakland Hills last week when Harrington won his second straight major after the Open at Royal Birkdale.
US Open winner Woods, of course, had won the PGA Championship the previous two times but was unable to compete in the final two majors of the season because of a knee injury that will keep him out of action until at least next season. He wrote:
“I watched some of the PGA Championship and want to congratulate Padraig Harrington on his wins at the British and PGA. As a two-time defending PGA champion, it was a lot more frustrating not to be competing and that hurts the most.
“The thing I miss the most about not competing is the fight. I’ve gone through this experience before, so I knew what I was in for. I know I’m in no condition to beat anybody right now, so I don’t have a problem with not being able to compete.â€
Woods is happy with his recovery so far but said he would not be able to even attempt a swing until next year.
Meanwhile, Harrington’s victory last week bodes well for defending champions Europe at this year’s Ryder Cup.
Nick Faldo’s team not only have a bunch of Europeans, led by Harrington, itching to win in the United States’ backyard but they won’t have to contend with Tiger – not that Woods has ever been a major factor in team events.
But two-time Open winner Harrington is likely to be the target of American players according to some reports.
PGA Tour player Boo Weekley said in a Belfast Telegraph article that there will be a queue of Americans eager to take him on. Said Weekley:
“He’s got a target on his back – yes, sir. I want to beat anybody I tee it up against and it would be an honour to beat him. I’m ready to go out now. It doesn’t matter who Paul puts me against.â€
However, golfing legend Jack Nicklaus is still backing the US to reclaim the trophy at the Valhalla Club on the course he designed. He said his only advice to US captain Paul Azinger was to let the players “go out and playâ€.
Harrington Joins Major League of Champions
If he hadn’t done so already at last month’s British Open, Ireland’s Padraig Harrington sealed his status as a true golfing heavyweight with his epic and draining victory at the USPGA Championship at Oakland Hills.
Battling through 36 strength-sapping holes on the final day, and then scrapping with Spain’s Sergio Garcia in a tussle reminiscent of their 2007 Open play-off, Harrington won his second straight major title by two strokes.
Rain had washed out most of Saturday, which meant the players had to fight through two rounds on Sunday.
Harrington went into the third round seemingly out of the reckoning, having shot a 74 in the second round to follow up his opening 71.
However, he saved his best for last with successive four-under-par 66s to complete the 72 holes in three-under 277, two ahead of Garcia and former Open winner Ben Curtis.
Colombia’s Camilo Villegas and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson were tied for fourth at one-over 281, with Steve Flesch along on 282.
Phil Mickeslon and Andres Romero both ended on 284 for joint seventh. India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, the first-round leader, and Korean Charlie Wi, who emerged as a contender on the final day, had to be satisfied on 285, along with Alastair Forsyth and Justin Rose.
But the day belonged to Harrington, who has done what no other European has achieved since Scotland’s Tommy Armour in 1930, and that is lift the Wannamaker Trophy, to go with the two Claret Jugs that he has already won.
Harrington himself was totally mystified by his ability to overcome his Open “hangover†and claim two straight major titles, last achieved by Tiger Woods in 2006. He said in a RTE Sports article:
“It is totally different to The Open. I was very confident in The Open. Here I hit some of the wildest golf shots ever hit on a golf course on Friday. In the end it was a lot of sheer willpower.â€
Just as he had at Carnoustie in 2007, Garcia played a major role in ensuring an enthralling conclusion to the 90th PGA Championship.
That won’t make him feel any better, though, as the end result was the same, with Harrington all smiles and Garcia dejected, having come so close again to winning his first major title.
Garcia effectively lost it at the 16th when he hit an approach into the water. Still recovering, he missed fluffed an easy putt on the 17th to allow Harrington to take control. Said Garcia:
“If a couple of things had gone differently, we would have been talking differently. But they went Padraig’s way, not mine.â€
Still, it would have taken some courage to beat Harrington. These were not easy conditions and two 66s was an amazing feat, even for the absent Tiger Woods.
Also, it was more than just a two-man race with Curtis, the 2003 Open champion, going into the fourth-round with a one-stroke lead over Stenson and American JB Holmes, who had put himself into contention at the halfway stage.
And indeed, Curtis appeared to be blowing away the opposition as he went four under after only six holes. But he came back down to earth around the turn with three bogeys that brought he field back.
Harrington was fairly subdued in the early holes of the fourth round following his sizzling third-round 66.
A bogey on the fifth was followed immediately by a birdie. It was after the turn that he really started to come to life.
He fired birdies on the 10th, 12th and 13th to stride alongside Garcia at three under as the tournament took on a matchplay feel.
Then came the decisive 16th, where Garcia’s ball fell in the drink with his second shot after it bounced off the green. Harrington fell into a greenside bunker and then blasted 25 feel past the hole.
The Irishman then holed the as Garcia bogeyed and both players were involved with a three-way tie with Curtis.
Garcia then lipped out on the 17th as Harrington nailed the putt, while Curtis fell one behind. On the final hole, Harrington, putting first, parred to ensure victory and Garcia, knowing the title was beyond reach, only managed a bogey.
