Written by Golf World on Tuesday 18 January 2011
It’s now an obligatory requirement for the world’s top golfers to engage in some kind of publicity pictures when the hit the desert on the European Tour, and here’s this year’s instalment. Half of the world’s top 10 golfers – Lee Westwood, Phil Mickelson, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Paul Casey and Louis Oosthuizen – hit the high seas this morning,,,...
Written by Golf World staff on Tuesday 18 January 2011
As expected, José Maria Olazábal has been named the captain of the next Ryder Cup team, to be held at Medinah Country Club, in Illinois, USA, from September 28-30, 2012. The two-time Masters Champion, Olazabal, will be the 23rd golfer to captain a Ryder Cup team against the USA, and the second Spaniard, following Seve Ballesteros in 1997. Olazábal made the first...
Written by Golf World on Tuesday 18 January 2011
JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL – CAREER FACTFILE FULL NAME: Jose Maria Olazabal Manterola COUNTRY: Spain BORN: 5.2.66; Fuenterrabia, Spain RESIDENCE: Fuenterrabia HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5ft 10in 12st 4lb (178cm 78kgs) TURNED PROFESSIONAL: 1985 (plus 4) QUALIFYING SCHOOL: 1985* (winner) EUROPEAN TOUR CAREER RECORD (Prior to the 2011 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship) EVENTS PLAYED 383 IN MONEY 323 TOP TEN FINISHES 141 EARNINGS €11,693,000 EUROPEAN TOUR VICTORIES: Total 23 1986 Ebel European Masters – Swiss Open,...
Written by Golf World on Tuesday 18 January 2011
Padraig Harrington has spent the winter changing his swing… again. He’s implemented some significant changes, from his set-up to his takeaway and even the way he puts his grips on. According to Golf World contributor Brian Keogh of the Irish Golf Desk (www.irishgolfdesk.com), Harrington said: “I changed the actual grips on my golf club. Most people would think ‘well, what’s that’.
Written by Golf World on Monday 17 January 2011
US Open champion Graeme McDowell has moved level with Phil Mickelson in fourth place in the world rankings as both build up to this week’s Abu Dhabi Championship. Northern Irishman McDowell and American Mickelson join a star-studded field in the Arabian desert for the event Martin Kaymer won last year. Englishman Lee Westwood, who took over the No 1 spot at the...
Written by Golf World on Monday 17 January 2011
Jose Maria Olazabal is set to be named the 2012 Ryder Cup captain in a press conference in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The Spaniard is the overwhelming choice of the players’ committee which makes the decision. It’s also emerged from the USA that Davis Love III will captain the American team at Medinah next year. Despite his continuing battle with rheumatism –...
Written by Golf World on Monday 17 January 2011
Q: How do you make one of the best tournaments on the European Tour schedule even better? A: Lengthen the course, toughen up the bunkering and bring in one of most innovative sponsors in golf. Tim Maitland sat down with some of the world’s top players to work out how to plot your way to success at this week’s Abu Dhabi...
Written by Golf World on Monday 17 January 2011
Mark Wilson endured an epic 36-hole Sunday before birdieing the last to win the Sony Open in Hawaii on Sunday. Wilson barely had time to eat a sandwich, much less keep track of his round, when he arrived at the 17th green Sunday afternoon at the Sony Open and realized he had not made a single bogey during this 36-hole...
Written by Golf World on Sunday 16 January 2011
Dustin Johnson says he hasn’t been dating anyone for two months, not even Natalie Gulbis. Johnson spoke out Saturday because he was tired of hearing gossip and innuendoes that he withdrew from the Sony Open because his girlfriend found out about a relationship with Gulbis. He said he broke up with college girlfriend Amanda Caulder a few months ago. Caulder has since...
Written by Golf World on Sunday 16 January 2011
South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel ground out a four shot win to successfully defend his Joburg Open title. The World Number 32 was never at his best from tee to green in his final round 67, but some remarkable up-and-downs helped him finish 19 under par, four ahead of compatriot Garth Mulroy. Another South African, Thomas Aiken, saw his challenge for a maiden...
Written by Golf World on Friday 14 January 2011
Two-time Open Champion Padraig Harrington is announced as The R&A’s first Working for Golf Ambassador, using his position in the global game to promote the work of the game’s governing body. The 39 year old Dubliner, who at Birkdale three years ago became the first European golfer to make a successful defence of the Claret Jug since James Braid in 1906,...
Written by Golf World on Friday 14 January 2011
Martin Maritz and Tyrone Mordt share the first round lead at the Joburg Open after both carded faultless nine under par rounds of 62. However, they came on different courses at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club, and while Mordt’s efforts on the West Course were outstanding, Maritz’s (right) on the more difficult East Course were truly sensational. The two South...
Written by Golf World on Friday 14 January 2011
All those rookies ready to start their PGA Tour careers will have to wait another day. The opening round of the Sony Open, the first full-field event of the season, was washed out Thursday because of heavy overnight rain that left too much water on Waialae Country Club. Once the sun came up and officials could see, it was a quick...
Written by Golf World on Thursday 13 January 2011
Davis Love has signed for Bridgestone this year, ending his long-standing association with Titleist. He has joined the Bridgestone Golf PGA Tour Team, which includes Fred Couples, Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker and Lee Trevino, and will play the new B330-S ball this year and prototype irons (3-PW). In addition to his new Bridgestone equipment, Love will showcase the Bridgestone brand on...
Written by Golf World on Thursday 13 January 2011
The Sony Open is the first full-field event of the PGA Tour, a time filled with as much optimism as curiosity. It is not unusual to see veterans looking at names on the golf bags to figure out who some of these guys are. There are 26 rookies at Waialae, 10 of them who have never teed it up in...
Written by Golf World on Wednesday 12 January 2011
The European Tour brings its South African sojourn to an end this week with the richest of the country’s four co-sanctioned events, the €1.3 million Joburg Open. Following hugely successful tournaments in Malelane and Durban before Christmas, followed by last week’s event in East London, the city of Johannesburg takes centre stage this week and the beautiful Royal Johannesburg and...
Written by Golf World on Wednesday 12 January 2011
Rory McIlroy has split from his long-term girlfriend Holly Sweeney. The two began dating when Rory was sixteen and Holly was fourteen, while they were both growing up in their hometown of Holywood, near Belfast. Since McIlroy hit the big time in both fame and bucks he’s been pretty good about avoiding the late night carousing scene and has spent most of...
Written by Golf World on Wednesday 12 January 2011
Ernie Els has reached a point in his career where he will not be traveling as far, and making decisions based as much on his business ventures as the golf itself. One of the first tournaments to go is the Scottish Open, which he has won twice and played the last nine years. Els signed an endorsement deal with the Royal Bank...
Written by 2-FORE!-1 Golf on Wednesday 12 January 2011
Popular 2-FORE!-1 venue Stapleford Park in Leicestershire will host the second edition of the ISPS Handa Senior Masters presented by the Stapleford Forum on June 3-5. Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, sponsors ISPS are once again backing the tournament, which attracted some of the leading Senior Tour players in 2010 including Sam Torrance, a former club captain...
Written by Gary Wolstenholme on Monday 10 January 2011
Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you enjoyed a well earned rest over Christmas and you are ready for what should be a great year in golf. I have decided to offer my predictions on what may happen for the following year and who will be taking the spoils at the end of it. I don’t expect everyone to...