Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Seventh Heaven

We've all had it.

The round where your scorecard looks more like Kevin Pietersen's run rate than a round of golf. It was no different for golfer Allan Errington. Playing in a staff golf day at Newmachar Golf Club, he averaged seven for the first eight holes before reaching the par three 9th.

"I had hit seven on each hole, so I thought I may as well use my seven iron here" said the Operations manager from Aberdeen. The shot he then proceeded to hit bounced once before dropping straight into the cup. "I hit the ball and I knew it was good and I saw it go in. It was a fantastic feeling".

The feeling was probably made slightly more fantastic by the £15,000 car that he won for his troubles, which he says his wife would now be driving. Rather than being the catalyst for success though, Mr Errington then proceeded to lose 23 balls in the next nine holes after his hole in one.

Good effort.

 


7/8/2008 12:40:22 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [1] 
Monty sets out plan.

Colin Montgomerie has been in reflective mood ahead of the Scottish Open, which tees off on Thursday.

"I'm a Scot, and whether it's me or someone else, we want a Scot in the Ryder Cup team" he said. " As far as I'm aware, we've always had one in the modern era. We dont want that run to end, which is more motivation for me to make the team" he added.

Monty is happy with his form tee to green currently, but is less enthusisatic about his form on the greens. "I've been chopping and changing with putters and don't really know where I am. I wouldn't recommend that to anyone". He is set on choosing a putter and trying to stick with it. "Even if it doesn't work for nine holes I have to stick with it. It's not the putter, its the putter".

 
'Think we can cross this one off the list....'


7/8/2008 10:35:28 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 
Donald out of Scottish Open.

Luke Donald has withdrawn from the Scottish Open which starts this Thursday, as he battles to overcome the wrist injury he picked up in the final round of the US Open at Torrey Pines. Donald, who has slipped to 39th on the Ryder Cup standings, finshed fourth last year, and was runner up to Johan Edfors two years ago at Loch Lomond, but a spokesman for the Englishman has said that his injury needs one more weeks rest. "Lukes been speaking to specialists and is almost ready to resume playing, but as a precaution hes going to give it one more week" said Donald's spokesman. Another absentee from the event will be German Martin Kaymer, whose mother died of cancer over the weekend. He is currently seventh in the Ryder Cup standings. Despite the withdrawals, the event retains a very strong field, including Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Adam Scott, Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie and Rocco Mediate, who lost the memorable play off to Tiger Woods at last month's US Open.
 
'Easy on the wrist fella...'


7/8/2008 9:49:42 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 

  Monday, July 07, 2008
Vader Draw - Golf Out Of This World

Monday isn't the cheereiest of days so here's a little something to deal with your new week blues. It's not as good as drinking water and regular exercise but it made us smile.




7/7/2008 3:53:19 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [1] 
Hudson rocks English Open.

England's Rebecca Hudson claimed the English Open at The Oxfordshire Golf Club on Sunday with a final round 64. Hudson's impressive round contained 8 birdies, despite the blustery conditions. Overnight leader Melissa Reid, who led by four shots going into the final round, had to settle for second place after missing a birdie on the 17th to draw level. Hudson described her victory as 'wonderful'. It was her second title of the year, following her win at the Tenerife Open in June. "Back to back wins, I can't believe it" she said. "To win in your home country is just fantastic". Becky Brewerton of Wales finished tied 7th, alongside England's Lora Fairclough.

 



7/7/2008 11:08:02 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 
Tiger out, Kim in.

Last week we brought you the story of the journeyman pro's bidding to take home the winners cheque in the absence of Tiger Woods. It seems they will have to keep plodding along, as in the absence of one sensation, an emerging one claimed the spotlight. 23 year old Antony Kim claimed his second tour title of the year at the AT&T National on Sunday with a final round 65, becoming the first American under the age of 25 to win two PGA Tour events in the same year since the great man himself. Kim finished with a bogey free round to end on 12 under. He has attributed his success down to a change in attitude. "My preperation and work ethic couldn't have gotten any worse" he said. " So it had to get better". Sweeden's Freddie Jacobsen came home in 30 shots to finish with a 65, claiming second place and a spot in the Open at Birkdale, which begins on the 17th July.
 
'Tiger or Kim?'


7/7/2008 10:44:19 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 
Ross the Boss.

England's Ross Fisher claimed the European Open at the London Club in Kent on Sunday after a final round 68. The win is Fisher's second on tour, and puts him up to 11th in the Ryder Cup standings. "They say the second win is harder" said Fisher. I might have made it look easy, but it certainly wasn't". Fisher finished on 20 under par to take the first prize of £400,000. His round included a holed bunker shot on the 18th green. Sergio Garcia appears to be continuing his good form. The joint favourite for the Open at Birkdale shot a best of the day 66 in blustery conditions, and for those of you contemplating putting some of your hard earned cash on him, you'll be pleased to hear he had a great day on the greens. Garcia said "it's the best putting round I have ever had. I don't expect to putt like this every round. I would love to though because it would make the game easy."
  'Should really find the ball first sir before I get the yardage?'


7/7/2008 10:16:27 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 

  Friday, July 04, 2008
Journeyman Pro's strike back.

In the abscence of world number one Tiger Woods, several journeyman pros are looking to cash in on their increased chances of winning this week at the AT&T National at Congressional Golf and Country Club. First round leader Steve Marino fired a five under par 65 to sit one shot clear of Rod Pampling, Bob Estes and Frank Lickliter. Europe's Freddie Jacobsen and Alex Cejka are both on three under, alongside teen sensation Antony Kim. With first prize in the region of £542,000, those who make the cut will be optimistic of a big pay day.
  'Im sorry Mr Mayfair, but your not the only one trying to take advantage of this....'


7/4/2008 10:56:15 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 
Tiger declares he will roar back.

World Number one Tiger Woods has declared that he will be in his best physical shape for years on his return from injury. In case you've been living in a small cave for the last couple of weeks, Woods has taken the rest of the season off to have reconstructive surgery on his left knee. "The doctors say my long term health will be a lot better than it's been over the past decade" said Woods. He added "I'm really looking forward to that, and not having pain after I'm playing and while I'm playing". Woods is currently on crutches and in a straight leg brace, and is reduced to watching the remainder of the season on the TV.

 
'This Morning, Loose Women, Diagnosis Murder...my days are sorted'


7/4/2008 9:55:57 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 

  Thursday, July 03, 2008
99 Problems But A Pitch Ain’t One

We’ve been blessed today. Golfing royalty Sir Jeff of Ritter, Earl of Swington popped into GOLFPUNK Towers for a cup of tea and a chin wag.

To mark the occasion we presented him with an honorary Staunch Award for ‘Most Colourful Tuition Page In Golf’ 2008.


Check out the advice below on getting your pitches up to scratch.



Jeff will return on a whistle stop tour of the UK Jeff giving lessons to the UK brethren, The swing school takes place at Blundells Hill Golf Club on Merseyside on the 26th-27th and 28th-29th Aug and cost $850, which is £431.75 in real money. With around five in a class you’ll get enough of Jeff’s time to make a difference.

Visit Jeff’s web site www.jeffrittergolf.com for more information on his unique style of coaching.

For more information or to participate in his unique swing school, contact Jeff Ritter at jritter5@cox.net.


"Security"



7/3/2008 2:16:56 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 

  Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Perry out the Open.

American Kenny Perry, who won his second PGA Tour title in five weeks on Sunday, has decided not to play in the Open at Birkdale in two weeks. He will instead play in the US Bank Championship in Milwaukee. 'I've already commited to Milwaukee and I'm not going to back out on them" said Perry. "Next year I'll probably play all the majors" he added. Perry has risen to 19 in the world rankings, and has not featured in the Open for the last two years, despite finishing 8th and 11th in the two years previous.
  The super glue joke was beginning to get out of hand.


7/2/2008 10:48:00 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 
Monty tipped to make Ryder Cup

Former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher has backed Colin Montgomerie to make the Ryder Cup team this September.

"Nick will have alot of young guys and we need Colin's experience" said Gallagher. He adds " I think anywhere in the top 25 (in the world rankings) would get him in". Of the 10 players currently occupying the qualifying spots, only Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Miguel Angel Jimenez have made two or more appearances in the tournament. Monty, who has never lost a Ryder Cup singles match, is bidding to play in his ninth Ryder Cup.He is only 1.5 points behind the all time points record, help by European captain Nick Faldo.
 
"and we'll start the bidding at two grand...."


7/2/2008 10:26:20 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 

  Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Open Qualification Window Nearly Shut.

Several top European golfers hopes of Open qualification hang by a thread after 36 hole qualifying at Sunnigdale over the weekend. Notable names to miss out on the 18 places up for grabs include Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Jose Maria Olazabal and Rory McIlroy. Thomas Bjorn was forced to withdraw due to injury. Players who secured their places at Birkdale include Johan Edfors, Ross Fisher, Steve Webster and Phillip Archer, who was attempting Open qualifying for the 12th time. "It's just great- a dream" said Archer. Two time US Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal did not fare so well. The Spaniard failed to qualify despite shooting 71 and 65. He is now set to take a lenghty break from golf, due to his ongoing struggle with fatigue after returning from 7 months out the game with rheumatism. "Because it's the Open it was a good reason to come, but it was bascially a test for me" said Olazabal. "I haven't played at all and can't practice much, so I wasn't really expecting great things". For those who didnt qualify, their only hope now is to finish in the top five of the upcoming European and Scottish Opens.
 
'Mmmm..yeah definatley time for a break I think...'


7/1/2008 11:53:44 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 
Park Walks It

South Korea's Inbee Park became the youngest winner of the US Women's Open on Sunday with a final round 71. The 19 year old finished on nine under par to win by four strokes from Sweeden's Helen Alfedsson. Park was the only player to break par in all four rounds of the tournament, which was also her first win on the LPGA Tour. The tournament was not a great success for the British players involved, with Scotland's Catriona Matthew the leading Brit in 17th place. England's Karen Stupples finished with a 75 for a tie of 31st place, alongside world number one Lorena Ochoa. Three time champion Annika Sorenstam, who retires at the end of the year, finished on a dissapointing 3 over par, but did hole a six iron from 199 yards for an eagle three at the final hole.
 
The course designers had made the most of thier limited space.


7/1/2008 11:16:34 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 

  Monday, June 30, 2008
Spain Reigns Again.

Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal claimed his maiden PGA Tour title on Sunday with a surprise victory at the French Open in Paris. The 25 year old shot a final round 67 to finish on 15 under, four strokes ahead of Colin Montgomerie. "I don't know how it feels- it's fantastic" he said. "I really played great golf and my putter was great all week". Ranked 481 in the world prior to the tournament, Larrazabal began his final round with three birdies in his first five holes. His double bogey on nine though put Montgomerie to within to of the lead, but birdies on 15 and 18 at Le Golf National settled proceedings, with Larrazabal picking up a cheque for 527,800 pounds, and qualification for The Open at Birkdale later this month. Lee Westwood continued his good form by finishing on 7 under par, with fellow Brit Oliver Fisher finishing on 5 under, alongside Irishman Paul McGinley.
  'The old super glue trick had finally reached France.'


6/30/2008 10:34:20 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 

  Friday, June 27, 2008
An Apology

After bigging him up this morning we see Oli had a so so round this afternoon.

He's still in there but we can't help but feel a little responsible. So Mr Fisher were just going to shut up about it and let you crack on.


Babbsy handing Oli our apology in a nice bag.

Check the leaderboard to see how he did.




6/27/2008 5:28:41 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 
Fisher In The Hunt

What were you doing when you were 19? Still struggling to get served? Crashing your first car? Slacking off in your McJob? Then you clearly aren’t Oli Fisher.

Our GOLFPUNK Against The World has decided to be one shot off the lead held by Spanish rookie Pablo Larrazabal after day the first round the French Open.

Fisher ended with a five-under 66, level with Dubliner Peter Lawrie, who is bidding to clinch the first Spanish and French Open double for 24 years.

Lawrie began with a double bogey six but then hit 10 birdies in the next 14 holes at Le Golf National near Paris.

"I hit a lot of good putts and it was a rollercoaster ride," he said.

Oli Fisher, well good at golf.

"When I put my second shot in the water I thought 'you stupid you-know-what'," he added.

"That's not me usually. I'm normally calm and collected - par, par, par and the occasional birdie. Ten in a round is possibly a record for me."

Two more birdies for Lawrie would have matched the European Tour record of Darren Clarke, Fred Couples, Ernie Els and Russell Claydon, but he bogeyed two of the last three holes.

Larrazabal is making his debut in the event as a player after he caddied for his older brother Alejandro.

His own switch to the professional ranks was delayed on the instructions of his father Gustavo, who instead made him work on the family fish farm.

"I was up at 5.30 and had to clean trays and make sure the temperature was right - I was the rookie there," he said.

"He wanted me to know how normal people work for a living."

GP’s next cover star Lee Westwood was back in action on Thursday for the first time since his third-place finish in the US Open and finished level with Colin Montgomerie on two-under par 69.
    
Ian Poulter, partnering Westwood, returned a one-over 72, but was pleased he had no real problems with his right wrist after pulling out of the US Open during his second round.

"It felt good," he said.

"I had a couple of shots that tested it, but there was one where I could have gone for the green and decided it was not the clever thing to do."

Good luck this afternoon Oli. Let’s hope we haven’t jinked the lad.




6/27/2008 5:23:14 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 
Ouch

World number one Hop-a-long Woods has had successful reconstructive surgery on the torn ligament in his left knee overnight.

The procedure was performed in Park City by the same doctor who performed arthroscopic surgery on that same knee for Woods in April.

"It was important to me to have the surgery as soon as possible, so that I could begin the rehabilitation process," Sir Limp-a-lot said on his website.

"I am very appreciative of Dr. Rosenberg and Dr. Cooley and his staff's guidance and look forward to working with them through the necessary rehabilitation and training."

The doctors were also positive about the prognosis for the man who has become the face of golf worldwide.

Tiger's knee yesterday. Probably.

Captain Peg Leg announced that he would be having the season-ending surgery last week, days after capturing his 14th major title in a thrilling play-off victory over Rocco Mediate at the US Open.

Woodsy said he had played the open with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and with two stress fractures in his left tibia.

Throughout the US Open, played on the Torrey Pines South course in San Diego, California, Tiger could be seen limping and grimacing, sometimes even doubling over in pain after hitting a shot.

His distress was most apparent during a remarkable third round, when the Bert Trautman of golf seized the tournament lead with a back nine that included a 65-foot putt for eagle on the par-five 13th hole, a chip-in birdie at 17 and another eagle at 18.

The next day, Woods birdied the 72nd hole of regulation to force an 18-hole play-off with Mediate.

Trailing Mediate at the 18th play-off hole, he birdied that as well to force sudden-death, finally winning on the 91st hole of the tournament.

Woods ranked the victory as one of his best, right alongside his first major triumph at the 1997 Masters.

Get well soon Tiger, we miss you.




6/27/2008 5:07:06 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 


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