Sergio still leads the Open Championship, but the real excitement is at the other end of the leader board as we wait to see which major casualties are going to miss the cut and do a bit of window shopping on their weekend off.

Philly Mic, Monty and Darren Clarke look to have missed out and the last man to win an British Open at Carnoustie, Paul Lawrie is hovering precariously on the cusp.

Despite the pressure of trying to ensure he gets to play a couple more rounds Lawrie did have time to stick up for the paying customers and there less than perfect view.

Stick it to them Lawrie lad.

“CARNOUSTIE (Reuters) - Paul Lawrie, the 1999 British Open champion, spoke sympathetically about the less-than-perfect views afforded the gallery during his three-ball with Tiger Woods and Justin Rose on Thursday.


Carnoustie yesterday

"It is surprising how many people are allowed inside the ropes at a tournament like this," said the 38-year-old Briton after carding a first-round 73. "I don't personally agree with it. "You've got people behind who are paying a lot of money and half the time they are asking you guys (media) to sit down and get out the way. It doesn't happen at the U.S. Masters, does it?"

For more on this story click here….

7/20/2007 1:25:59 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

So Sergio is ahead of the pack and it is beginning to look like maybe, just maybe this could be his year to throw that major monkey off his back. However unless somebody goes ballistic majors aren’t won on Thursday’s, especially Open Championships at Carnoustie.

With this in mind we bring you the other major story to come out in golf during Open week. Player doping, and we’re not talking about Gary chuffing on Jamaican Woodbines. The South African 9 time major winner and fittest 71 year old since Methuselah has spoken out against the use of steroids in golf.

We don’t want to start telling people we told you so, but, we told you so. Back in November last year we blogged the denial of LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens that drugs exist in the women’s game. Even more prophetically back in May 2006 we reported on the US PGA rejecting claims of drug abuse on tour. We were a little sceptical then and GP agrees with GP, which is nice.

This story is brought to you Christine Brennan from usatoday.com. Take it away Chrissie.

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland — After months of self-serving, often-elitist denial, golf officially entered the steroid era Wednesday, dragged into the netherworld of 21st-century sports not by a positive drug test, but by a 71-year-old legend who last won a major championship nearly 30 years ago. It was about time. Somebody had to do it.

Gary Player…. assuredly stated what no one in his game has had the courage to publicly say before: that international golfers are taking performance-enhancing drugs and getting away with it because the sport does not yet have drug testing.

”I know that there are golfers (taking performance-enhancing drugs), whether it's HGH (human growth hormone), whether it's creatine, or whether it's steroids, I know for a fact that some golfers are doing it," he said in a news conference on the eve of the 136th British Open.


Gary Player speaks out.

"The greatest thing that the R&A (which runs the British Open), the USGA and the PGA can do is have tests at random. It's absolutely essential that we do that. We're dreaming if we think it's not going to come into golf."

For more on this story click here

For more on the US PGA comments about drugs on the US tour click here…

For more on the LPGA’s comments about drugs in women’s golf click here…

7/19/2007 1:20:21 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

With the worlds greatest golfer due to begin his quest for a British Open ‘three-peat’ tomorrow here is timely reminder that things have not always been easy for Tiger Woods. Navy Golf Club where Earl Woods, Tiger’s father, took his prodigious boy to learn the skills that will light up the links this weekend, has belatedly apologised for the treatment a select few metered out to TW 20 years ago.

Woodsy, his old man and his mates played Navy GC every week from the age of ten until he went to college. Unfortunately the club was not too progressive and some of the decision makers seemed determined to make his early golfing career as miserable as possible. Joe Grohman, who was an assistant professional at Navy in the early 90s says, "It was only a small group but they were in a position of power at the club. They had the choice to make life easy for Tiger or make life difficult. They chose the latter path."


A young tiger (not Woods)

Some of the problems encountered by Tiger have been attributed to the members not wanting a young kid running around, but there is a wide held belief that it was also to do with the colour of his skin. It is a good job that the world’s number one is not as petty as some of the members. As one of the most powerful men in sport if he chose to smite them I am sure there would be serious consequences. Luckily Tiger seems to have forgotten, if not forgiven, the indiscretions of the few who were associated with the club.

It is a fascinating tale, check out the excellent article on Guardian Unlimited by Laurence Donegan for examples of how narrow minded adults tried to upset a ten year old boy.


Sorry for being good.

This late apology got us thinking. Is saying sorry twenty years late really good enough? We hope so because we have a bit to confess. Shaun would like to apologise for going down a slide on his bike after specifically being told not to. Jason would like to hold his hands up for telling his parents that he was going to college when he was really bunking off, shopping and larking about, for a whole term. I would like to say sorry for burying my brothers Optimus Prime in the garden because he would not let me have a go on his Grifter. And perhaps most seriously Kieran has nothing but remorse for making a voodoo doll, then the subject of said occult device falling of his bike and breaking their leg, he has not dabbled in black magic since. To one and all, soz. It all seems a bit hollow now doesn’t it.

At this rate we won’t have to wait long to read that Eve repents for eating that apple.

To find out what Navy Golf Club are apologising about click here…
To find out more on this story click here

7/18/2007 12:05:21 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

Calling all golf geeks, and there are enough of us about. We summon you to debate the use of gadgets in this tech heavy game of ours.

Golf gadgets have traditionally been the Chrimbo present of choice for anyone who has ever expressed an interest in the game. When a friend took up the game aged 28 he got nothing but golf tat for two years. If you go round to his house you still can’t move for putting machines and positive energy bracelets. In the end he had to tell his loved ones that enough is enough. Yet he still gets exploding golf balls every year from a zany uncle.

Not everyone is as ungrateful as this mystery friend whom we have to keep nameless for fear of antagonising his relatives. Acario Daire blogged an ode to gadgets that Matty, sorry I mean Mr Anonymous, hopes the rest of the Kennedy’s, oops we mean the rest of his family won’t read.


The greatest golf gadget since the ham and cheese putter

Take it away Acario….

” Golf gadgets are things are interest you and are useful while playing golf. You find them in many varieties and they surprise you by coming in various sizes like the stars in the sky. They are made to make the crazy game of golf more fun, a lot less strenuous and simply easier to play. They are made in all the crazy ways possible, using all the imagination and all the possible ideas they get. Unlike short-game training devices or swing aids they do not work directly on teaching you the proper techniques of the golf swing. They are excellent presents that are regularly gifted to each other on Christmas. No family goes without getting at least one gadget. They are also taken to be of traditional importance.

For most of the golfers after receiving the gifts, it becomes even more important for them to play well. The expectations that are on them become more heavy than usual, and they try much harder with more determination. Some might feel embarrassed to receive the golf gadgets, but some may think it is funny to receive a golf gadget which might help them in making their swing better. It is a known fact that gadget addicts go to any extent to buy the new gadgets that comes up. Some say gadgets help them improve their game and so buy the gadgets. But it is a fact that nothing can improve your play than a straight hard practice that nobody really wants to do let alone has time for.”

For more on this story click here…

7/17/2007 11:41:47 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

Raise a glass of Rioja and toast adios to one of the most exciting golfers of any generation. Severiano Ballesteros the swash buckling Spanish matador has decided to hang up his Ecco World Class Saddle GTX’s.



A few po faced golf fans feared Seve would grow old disgracefully following a difficult year after returning from injury. But we prefer to revel in the genius of one of the greatest shotmakers ever to swing a wrench. Everybody has got their favourite Seve moment be it his part in Europe’s breakthrough Ryder Cup victory in 1985, his major wins or the odd Cinderella story out of a car park. Furthermore, Severiano’s wayward brilliance was a big influence on GOLFPUNK editor Owen Blackhurst’s decsion to try golf in the first place, so the Spaniard has a lot to answer for. In fact Owen still rates Ballesteros as his favourite golfer of all time.



So we implore you all to search the net to find out as much about the man as you can and dig out your GOLFPUNK 27 to go over our Top 20 Seve Moments.



Doff your cap to the legend that is Seve Ballesteros and I am sure he will be Representing… For All The GOLF PUNK’s All Across The World in an issue near you soon.

To find out all things Seve click here…
To find out most things Seve click here…
To find out more about The Matador’s retirement click here…

7/16/2007 5:23:10 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

Calling all golf widows.

US golf widows anyway. Good Morning America wants to hear from you. The long running morning news show is looking for the tales of those that are left behind for their weekend edition.


Heaver Castle Golf Course yesterday.

To get involved click here and fill in the form. and if they like your story the producers might get in touch.

7/10/2007 10:20:20 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

Not for the first time in his all-conquering decade in professional golf, Tiger Woods followed in the footsteps of the great Jack Nicklaus yesterday.

But, it wasn't a spectacular bunker shot or a tournament-winning putt on this occasion, it was a championship presentation to K.J. Choi.

"Here's your trophy, big guy," said Woods, who watched as Choi kissed the silver-colored replica of the Capitol.

For the second time in five weeks, the biggest South Korean star of the PGA TOUR soaked up the cheers as the prized guest at a golf party thrown by one of golf's greats. Having accepted the crystal trophy from host Nicklaus at the Memorial in late May, Choi persevered in an adventurous back nine for a three-stroke victory Sunday at Woods' inaugural event, the AT&T National.

"This tournament is just too big for me to really absorb right now," Choi said. "But it's a very big win for me, and definitely the biggest win of my career."

But even Choi's victory -- with the accompanying $1.08 million first-place check that equaled the one he got at the Memorial -- couldn't overshadow Woods, who turned his first tournament into a red, white and blue spectacle of military tributes and Fourth of July patriotism. In return, the huge galleries all but worshipped Woods' every move, thanking him endlessly for bringing the TOUR back to the Washington area.

"It's been a perfect week," Woods said.

Perfect, with one obvious exception: He was never really in contention at his own event. His putter let him down Thursday (73) and Saturday (69), and his 66 on Friday wasn't enough to compensate. Seven strokes behind as Sunday dawned, Woods played a final round of even-par 70 that was more celebratory than competitive.

Still, the crowd of 37,211 didn't seem to mind.

"I didn't get a 'W,' so that was frustrating in that sense," said Woods, who finished tied for sixth at 2 under. "But this tournament in general has been a bigger success than anyone could have imagined."

Woods wore several hats during the week, juggling daily organizational meetings in between rounds while also dealing with the joys of becoming a father, but no one had any qualms when he proclaimed the event a success. Servicemen from all branches of the military served as announcers at the first tee and 18th green. A huge American flag welcomed the leaders Sunday as they headed down the 18th.

Choi added to the international flair, attracting a substantial gallery of Korean-Americans that cheered him in his native language. One fan held a sign with a Korean flag with the words "Go Tank," a reference to his nickname. He's also known for learning golf from an instructional book in Korean that featured pictures of Nicklaus, a present from a physical education teacher who thought the teenage Choi might have a gift for the game.


KJ Choi and bag man (bag man right).

There's now no question that Choi, 37, has that gift. He shot a final-round 68 for a 9-under 271 total to win for the sixth time on the PGA TOUR, the most victories by an Asian-born player.

For more on this story click here…

7/9/2007 4:05:39 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0] 

So there you have it Welsh wizard Becky Brewerton carded a seven-under-par 209 to win the GOLFPUNK Ladies English Open by three shots, trousering 24,750 Euros in the proesses. This was Becky’s first victory on the Ladies European Tour after knocking on the door with 16 top ten finishes including four runner up spots in the last four years.


Next stop Sweden

A clearly emotional Becky said, “It means so much to me. I’ve been trying for so long. To finally do it is just unbelievable, unbelievable”, “I can’t believe it. I’m just in shock.”

So congratulations again Becky and here’s hoping this victory will boost you into the Solhiem Cup team. Roll on Sweden.

For a full round up of the leader board click here…
For more on the GOLFPUNK Ladies English Open click here….

7/8/2007 3:58:10 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)    Comments [0]