Written by Joe Downes on Monday 10 August 2015
There was European success to savour last week as Shane Lowry became the latest Irishman to make his name in the States with a two-shot victory at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational. His was a popular triumph, celebrated by none more so than Elizabeth Hudson who took the weekly win in our Fantasy Golf game. As well as Lowry, her ‘death...
Written by Golf World on Monday 10 August 2015
We look at how the US PGA’s Whistling Straits and the USGA’s Chambers Bay stack up against each other as courses and venues for a major championship. Whistling Straits Chambers Bay Great lake views (from 14 holes) and a nice place to visit, for sure. But it’s not the easiest place for players or fans to reach. Location Even better water views (every hole) and...
Monday 10 August 2015
You’ll never hear it spoken of course, but it’s a pretty safe bet that there were a few folks at the PGA of America quietly delighted by the players’ harsh comments about the course during this year’s US Open at Chambers Bay. The United States Golf Association (USGA), which conducts the US Open Championship, and the Professional Golfers Association, which stages...
Written by Courses & travel editor Kevin Brown on Sunday 9 August 2015
Irish eyes were smiling in Ohio tonight when Shane Lowry captured his first title on American soil – the prestigious World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational. It was an outstanding performance by the 28-years-old who shot to prominence in 2009 when he became only the third amateur to win a European Tour title – when he claimed the Irish Open at County Louth...
Thursday 6 August 2015
Sometimes the good guys do win, and that’s what happened in March at the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic. At PGA National in Palm Beach, triple Major champion Padraig Harrington ended a seven-year wait for a victory. The 43-year-old’s play-off success in Florida over American Daniel Berger – and ahead of a GB&I-themed chasing pack of Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Russell Knox, Jamie...
Written by Joe Downes on Monday 3 August 2015
Hats off to Troy Merritt. The American went a combined 14-under par over the weekend to leave an illustrious chasing pack in his wake and lift his maiden PGA Tour title. We extend similar cap-doffing to Alex Carter who took the weekly spoils in our Fantasy Golf game. His ‘ForeLeeeft’ team included Merritt and four others who were no worse...
Written by Today's Golfer on Monday 3 August 2015
Inbee wins the Women’s Open… but what about the Slam? South Korea’s Inbee Park won the Women’s British Open, gaining seven shots in her final 12 holes to shoot a 7-under 65 at Turnberry. It was here seventh major title, and she is just the seventh female player ever to win the four original LPGA majors – after Louise Suggs,...
Written by Courses & travel editor Kevin Brown on Monday 3 August 2015
The fields are so deep that just anybody can win on the US PGA Tour these days. This week it was the turn of world no. 180 Troy Merritt – the 10th first-time winner already this season – who celebrated his first Tour win at the Quicken Loans National in Virginia. American Merritt finished -18 after carding a -4 67 in...
Written by Courses & travel editor Kevin Brown on Sunday 2 August 2015
Korea’s Inbee Park has become just the seventh woman golfer to achieve the traditional career Grand Slam. The World No. 1 carded a superb seven under par 65 to win the Ricoh Women’s British Open at the Trump Turnberry Resort and in the process join the elite group comprising Pat Bradley, Juli Inkster, Annika Sorenstam, Louise Suggs, Karrie Webb and Mickey...
Written by Courses & editor Kevin Brown on Sunday 2 August 2015
No. 4 seed Kiradech Aphibarnrat – Asia’s answer to John Daly – scored a thrilling one hole victory over Swede Robert Karlsson in the final of the inaugural Paul Lawrie Matchplay at Murcar, Aberdeen. Thailand’s in-form star secured his second European Tour title of the year, reaching the decider after disposing of home favourite Marc Warren 3&2 in the semis. But the...
Written by Courses & Travel Editor Kevin Brown on Wednesday 29 July 2015
The Ricoh Women’s British Open gets underway at Trump Turnberry Resort tomorrow with the new champion being crowned on Sunday, weather permitting of course. Here are eight good reasons why you should go along and see the action and drama unfold… *It’s being played on Turnberry’s stunning Ailsa course – one of the world’s greatest links layouts. * The event is one...
Written by Courses & Travel Editor Kevin Brown on Wednesday 29 July 2015
Paul Lawrie will be aiming to triumph on home turf this week in the inaugural edition of the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play at Murcar near the 1999 Open Champion’s Aberdeen home. And the 46 year old is in good form and heart following vastly improved performances in the BMW International Open and the Scottish Open and was looking good...
Written by Today's Golfer on Wednesday 29 July 2015
Tiger Woods is in action again this weekend, hosting and playing in the Quicken Loans National in Virginia. The former world No1 – now 266 in the world – sat down with the media to discuss the event, and gave some insight into the current state of his game, playing with today’s youngsters and the changes he’s made to his...
Written by Joe Downes on Tuesday 28 July 2015
Danny Willett continued his rich vein of form last week with victory in the European Masters. Richard Green had a good week too (not that one, though the Australian did finish 10th in Switzerland) as he took the weekly honours in our Fantasy Golf game. As well as the winner, his ‘ashmac’ team included three other top-six finishers – Fitzpatrick,...
Tuesday 28 July 2015
This weekend sees an all-new matchplay event debut on the European Tour – hosted by former Open champion Paul Lawrie. It will see 64 players, including John Daly, Richie Ramsay, Nicholas Colsaerts and Lawrie himself, take each other on over four days at the beautiful Murcar Links GC, near Aberdeen for the first ever Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play. “It’s a...
Written by Courses & Travel Editor Kevin Brown on Monday 27 July 2015
American Marco Dawson silenced big guns Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer to emerge a shock winner of the British Senior Open at Sunningdale yesterday. But full credit to the little known American who fired a sparkling closing 64 to win the title by one shot from German Langer. Thanks to a pair of eagles, Dawson edged out Langer, twice US Masters champion,...
Written by Courses & Travel Editor Kevin Brown on Monday 27 July 2015
It was again a case of so-near-but-so-far at the St Andrews Open, but Australian Jason Day made no mistakes to clinch the Canadian Open. So Day, who agonisingly missed the three-way play-off at St Andrews, will head to next month’s PGA Championship with renewed belief he can finally break his major duck. Bouncing back in emphatic fashion from his St Andrews heartache,...
Written by Courses & travel editor Kevin Brown on Sunday 26 July 2015
Danny Willett emerged the king of the mountains following his third European Tour victory in the prestigious European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland. Tied 6th after an impressive Open showing at St Andrews, Willett continued where he left off at the Home of Golf by holding off the determined challenges of fellow Englishmen Matt Fitzpatrick and Tyrell Hatton. Willett kept his cool...
Written by Joe Downes on Wednesday 22 July 2015
A Monday finish followed by a three-man four-hole play-off – it was the Open that refused to finish. One man who will be savouring the events of St Andrews is weekly winner Ron McKinley. His ‘Athenaeum’ team comprised Claret Jug winner Zach Johnson, play-off man Marc Leishman and top-tenners Danny Willett and Sergio Garcia. We stay in Europe for another prestigious...
Tuesday 21 July 2015
At its recent meeting at The 144th Open the Governing Board of the Official World Golf Ranking approved the inclusion of the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour into the OWGR system. The HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour, along with the other three third-tier satellite tours in Europe, will enter the OWGR system from this week, with a minimum level of four points awarded...