10-6 Europe going into today's play.. Europe needs just 4 points from 12 matches... USA needs 8 1/2.. Sounds easy right !!!
Now set your mind back to Medinah on this day in 2012... 10-6 USA was the score only difference was Europe needed 8 points... and you know what happened..
So depending on your point of view either the USA is all set up for redemption, for a big upset, or this will be a walk in the Glen for Europe..
Weather: overcast cool, no rain forecast, slight breeze...
Here are the matches with live scoring starting at 6.36am est
Sunday singles....Live scoring click http://www.rydercup.com/europe/scoring?autorefresh=1
1. Graeme McDowell wins 2&1 vs Jordan Speith
2. Henrik Stenson vs Patrick Reed wins 1up
3..Rory McIlroy wins 5&4 vs Rickie Fowler
4. Justin Rose vs Hunter Mahan match halved
5. Stephen Gallagher vs Phil Mickelson wins 3&1
6. Martin Kaymer wins 4&2 vs Bubba Watson
7. Thomas Bjorn vs Matt Kuchar wins 4&3
8. Sergio Garcia wins 1up vs Jim Furyk
9. Ian Poulter vs Webb Simpson match halved
10 Jamie Donaldson wins 4&3 vs Keegan Bradley
11.Lee Westwood vs Jimmy Walker wins 3&2
12. Victor Dubuisson vs Zach Johnson match halved
In the end the foursomes were the difference 7 points to Europe 1 to USA. That I did not see coming when I picked them to win. Europe is a better team once right again, fully deserving of the win..from the captain Paul McGinley and his 5 assistants right through Rory at 31 down to French sensation Victor Dubuisson... What a great 3 days, the best in golf, perhaps in all of sport...
Bryan Angus
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Europe leads 10-6 after Saturday at Ryder Cup.. Final scores
This morning has dawned cool and clear in the rolling hills of Perthshire at Gleneagles. The USA are in dark blue sweaters with the Stars and Stripes on their chests, most are wearing touques, Matt Kuchar looks as Monty said "like he's on a skiing holiday" with big winter mittens to round the outfit off.. Europe are in white sweaters and hats and blue pants..
The crowd arrived in the dark, apparently capped at 45,000, they could put 10 times as many in here if they'd let them..
Live scoring click here http://www.rydercup.com/europe/scoring?autorefresh=1
With the lack of wind there have been birdies galore in this morning's fourballs, here are the pairings
Rose and Stenson win 3&2 vs Watson and Kuchar
Justin is in full flight right now and Stenson woke up with a stiff back so may not play this afternoon. Bubba is revived playing with Kuchar who rarely makes a mistake. This match was amazing with the Rose and Stenson making 10 straight birdies to win 3&2
Donaldson / Westwood vs Furyk / Mahan win 4&3
Jim Furyk is playing well for a change in the Ryder Cup as is Hunter, they have made 6 birdies and are 3up thru 10, and the European pair weren't playing badly but the US pair were in charge from the start and won handily 4&3
Bjorn / Kaymer vs Reed / Speith win 5&3
The American rookies were not chosen to play yesterday afternoon after winning 5&4 in the morning, a definite mistake in hindsight by captain Watson as they are solid again this morning, in charge all the way to win 5&3. I am not sure why Thomas Bjorn is playing ahead of Sergio Garcia, or GMac for that matter...
McIlroy / Poulter vs Walker / Fowler A/S
Europe, and they were paired at Medinah. They were currently 2up at the turn, but US has fought back to be 1up at 16. Poulter chipped in from off the green to save a halve and bring the house down then sank the birdie to win the 16th to go A/S. The teams halved 17 and the 18th with each side getting a hard earned 1/2 point.
After a morning with more than it's fair share of drama and birdies the US won 2 1/2 to 1 1/2 Total score going into the afternoon Europe 6 1/2 USA 5 1/2
Saturday afternoon Foursome pairings
Mickelson and Bradley, Watson and Simpson will not play for the US, Poulter, Gallagher Stenson with his tight back and Bjorn sit for Europe
Donaldson / Westwood win 2&1 vs Johnson / Kuchar
This was a good fair match that went back and forth until USA ran out of holes after a halve in 3 at the 17th..
Garcia / McIlroy win 3&2 vs Furyk / Mahan
on the 4th tee Europe was 1up and it stayed that way all the way until the 14th when they got it to 2up and were conceded the match on 16..Sergio played better today, Rory is getting better as the week goes on..
Rose / Kaymer A/S vs Speith / Reed
Reed may never forget the 2 footer he missed on 16 as the teams halved that par 5 in 6's ! The rookies haven't lost yet in 3 outings and it was fitting that Justin Rose holed an 8 footer on the 18th to halve the match and cap a magnificent 2 days of golf on his behalf..
Dubuisson / GMac win 5&4 vs Walker / Fowler
For US fans who have never seen Victor Dubuisson's sublime talent they have now. GMac calmed him down and the French star did the rest. They were 5up at the turn after Rickie and Jimmy Walker finally ran out of gas. Never close..
Europe has won 6 of the 8 foursome matches and halved the other 2 which has resulted in a 10-6 tally in favour of the Europeans..
The weather http://www.metcheck.com/SEASONAL/ryder_cup_weather_forecast.asp for Sunday, overcast, no rain, very little wind.
Europe now need 4 points on Sunday to retain the Cup and play begins at 5am est or 10am at Gleneagles..
Bryan Angus
The crowd arrived in the dark, apparently capped at 45,000, they could put 10 times as many in here if they'd let them..
Live scoring click here http://www.rydercup.com/europe/scoring?autorefresh=1
With the lack of wind there have been birdies galore in this morning's fourballs, here are the pairings
Rose and Stenson win 3&2 vs Watson and Kuchar
Justin is in full flight right now and Stenson woke up with a stiff back so may not play this afternoon. Bubba is revived playing with Kuchar who rarely makes a mistake. This match was amazing with the Rose and Stenson making 10 straight birdies to win 3&2
Donaldson / Westwood vs Furyk / Mahan win 4&3
Jim Furyk is playing well for a change in the Ryder Cup as is Hunter, they have made 6 birdies and are 3up thru 10, and the European pair weren't playing badly but the US pair were in charge from the start and won handily 4&3
Bjorn / Kaymer vs Reed / Speith win 5&3
The American rookies were not chosen to play yesterday afternoon after winning 5&4 in the morning, a definite mistake in hindsight by captain Watson as they are solid again this morning, in charge all the way to win 5&3. I am not sure why Thomas Bjorn is playing ahead of Sergio Garcia, or GMac for that matter...
McIlroy / Poulter vs Walker / Fowler A/S
Europe, and they were paired at Medinah. They were currently 2up at the turn, but US has fought back to be 1up at 16. Poulter chipped in from off the green to save a halve and bring the house down then sank the birdie to win the 16th to go A/S. The teams halved 17 and the 18th with each side getting a hard earned 1/2 point.
After a morning with more than it's fair share of drama and birdies the US won 2 1/2 to 1 1/2 Total score going into the afternoon Europe 6 1/2 USA 5 1/2
Saturday afternoon Foursome pairings
Mickelson and Bradley, Watson and Simpson will not play for the US, Poulter, Gallagher Stenson with his tight back and Bjorn sit for Europe
Donaldson / Westwood win 2&1 vs Johnson / Kuchar
This was a good fair match that went back and forth until USA ran out of holes after a halve in 3 at the 17th..
Garcia / McIlroy win 3&2 vs Furyk / Mahan
on the 4th tee Europe was 1up and it stayed that way all the way until the 14th when they got it to 2up and were conceded the match on 16..Sergio played better today, Rory is getting better as the week goes on..
Rose / Kaymer A/S vs Speith / Reed
Reed may never forget the 2 footer he missed on 16 as the teams halved that par 5 in 6's ! The rookies haven't lost yet in 3 outings and it was fitting that Justin Rose holed an 8 footer on the 18th to halve the match and cap a magnificent 2 days of golf on his behalf..
Dubuisson / GMac win 5&4 vs Walker / Fowler
For US fans who have never seen Victor Dubuisson's sublime talent they have now. GMac calmed him down and the French star did the rest. They were 5up at the turn after Rickie and Jimmy Walker finally ran out of gas. Never close..
Europe has won 6 of the 8 foursome matches and halved the other 2 which has resulted in a 10-6 tally in favour of the Europeans..
The weather http://www.metcheck.com/SEASONAL/ryder_cup_weather_forecast.asp for Sunday, overcast, no rain, very little wind.
Europe now need 4 points on Sunday to retain the Cup and play begins at 5am est or 10am at Gleneagles..
Bryan Angus
Friday, September 26, 2014
Europe storm back in foursomes, lead 5-3 after day 1..
Live scoring click here http://www.rydercup.com/europe/scoring
Hi everybody at 225am est..It is a cool breezy morning in at Gleneagles in the beautiful rolling hills of Perthshire. The crowds are huge, some 50,000 jammed into the grounds around the PGA Centenary Course. It rained overnight and is 10*c..
The matches are live on the link above and I will be blogging live through out this mornings fourballs.
235am Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson win 5&4 vs Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson
* All veterans, a new pairing for Europe, an established pair for USA..
* Europe with Sweaters that look like the Soltaire with white hats and dark blue pants,,
* USA white shirts, black pants, black aweaters with the Ryder Cup logo on the front
* Webb Simpson popped up his drive, barely made the fairway, Bubba played up the crowd then drove into the deep rough left
* Rose stripes one right down the middle, as does Stenson
* Rose, 9 iron below the hole 15 feet, Stenson greenside bunker
* Watson on green far left, Simpson front of green.. Watson lags up 4 conceded
* Stenson splashes out..Rose leaves it short in the jaws
* Match A/S after one
* 2nd par 5 Rose par conceded, Stenson makes birdie from 10', Bubba misses from 8'
* Europe 1 up after 2
* Europe now 1 up after 3
* Europe now 3up thru 4 after a Rose birdie putt..
* Europe 2up thru 6
* Rose has a 6 footer to win 7th... misses..Europe 2up thru 7
* 8th Hole halved in par
*9th hole long par 5 Rose has lost his ball.. Webb Simpson has a putt for birdie as does Stenson,, Bubba has 15 feet for birdie as well.. Bubba misses putt for birdie, Simpson misses as well.. Stenson makes his Europe goes 3 up at the turn
*10th hole Rose makes birdie putt at 10 to go 4 up
* 11th hole halved in par
*12th par 4 uphill.. Simpson pulls drive into crowd..Stenson from bunker is just off the edge of the green...Bubba long and right of the pin with his approach from fairway..Rose is just past pin high to the right.. Hole was halved in par
* 13th hole halved in par
* 14th hole Both Rose and Stensen both had birdie putts Rose made his with Bubba in for 5 so the match is OVER Europe win 5&4
252am Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer Match A/S vs Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker
* Fowler drives into rough left, Walker down the middle
* Bjorn and Kaymer in the fairway...
* Bjorn misses green, Fowler short in rough
* Kaymer nearly holed his approach, Walker hole high to 15'
* Kaymer conceded, Walker misses
* Europe 1up
* USA misses 2 short putts.. Bjorn makes
Europe 2up
* Bjorn makes 10 footer to halve at 3..
*Europe 3 up thru 4 after a 15' Kaymer birdie
* Fowler makes 3 at 5th Europe 2up thru 6
* Fowler and Walker make an eagle at 9th as Walker chipped in from the bunker are now just 1 down
* 10th hole all on green with long birdie putts. Fowler misses but shows Walker the line.. Walker misses.. Kaymer misses a 4 footer for par.. Goodness me !! Bjorn now from 3 feet makes it to halve hole Europe 1 up thru 10
* 11th hole halved in par..
* Europe now 2up after a Bjorn chip in at 13..
*15th hole par 4 Fowler on in 3 after trouble in the rough, Walker has a birdie putt. Bjorn from the greenside bunker to 2 feet..Fowler misses Walker misses birdie, hole halved
*16th Both Bjorn and Kaymer made poor putts then Walker chipped in from the grass fringe to win the hole..Europe 1up two to play.
*17th par 3 Fowler on line just short of the green, Walker in greenside bunker.. Bjorn a way short and right.. What a shot by Kaymer in there about 10 feet ..
* Fowler misses for birdie, Kaymer misses both make par, hole halved
*18th Europe 1up par 5 Fowler left of fairway, Walker in short rough, Bjorn short but in fairway, Kaymer long in first cut of rough.
The wind is against, Fowler away right in the rough, Kaymer is in a collection area hole high and left..Walker short of the front bunker.
Bjorn plays in a nice wedge 12', Kaymer has a tough chip because this green is elevated, plays a bump and run to 12..
Walker plays up to 5 feet away
Bjorn misses his birdie, conceded par... Kaymer misses.. Walker makes his putt to win the hole and get the halve Match A/S
300am Gallagher and Poulter vs Speith and Reed win 5&4
* Gallagher and Poulter arrive arm in arm onto huge ovation on first
* Patrick Reed fairway right side, Speith fairway wood in fairway
* Gallagher with white touque drives into bunker, Poulter in first cut left good lie
* Gallagher bad lie hits out into deep rough, Poulter 9i greenside bunker... Reed misses green in bunker Fowler on in reg but long lag putt coming
*Poulter out to 3' Reed out to 10' .. Poulter misses 3 footer for par
*USA Iup
*USA 1up thru 2....
* Gallagher way short with birdie putt on 3.. nervy start for Scot.. Poulter makes 20 footer for halve USA 1up thru 3
* Speith and Poulter on close at par 3 4th...Poulter misses left Speith misses left
4th halved in par USA still 1up thru 4
* Poulter 6 footer for halve at 5 and makes it USA 1up thru 5
* On par 3 6th Poulter on, Gallagher in bunker, both Reed and Speith on but long..
* Reed makes long birdie putt to win hole USA 2up thru 6
* 7th Hole par 4 Poulter on in 2, Reed and Speith both on. Reed misses birdie..Poulter just misses. Gallagher chipping for par misses.. Speith has putt to win and makes it to go 3up thru 7
*8th hole Reed from 8 feet for par misses... Gallagher misses birdie putt to win hole conceded for a halve.. USA 3up thru 8..
* 9th par 5 Poulter in water, Gallagher in close but Reed is closer and Speith is on the green as well. Gallagher misses right now USA has door wide open..Speith misses.. Reed makes birdie from 4 feet now USA 4up at the turn
* par 3 10th all 4 on with birdie putts..Gallagher misses birdie, conceded par..Reed misses par conceded... Poulter misses .. Speith to win makes it to go 5 up
* USA wins 11th to go dormie 6
* Europe win the 12th now down by 5
* 13th hole Poulter runs up a great long lag, Gallagher has a 15 footer to win the hole and he misses yet again, what a dismal day for this pair. Reed holes his par putt to halve the hole USA dormie 5
*14th Speith misses 20 foot birdie putt to end match ..misses now Reed with a 12 footer to win...he misses.. Gallagher for the win from 12 feet.. guess what he misses again.. Poulter leaves it short and mercifully this match is OVER 5&4
* So a great win for Tom Watson's 2 rookies who played steadily, and from a European point of view Gallagher's debut was very poor right from the first hole when he found a bad lie in the fairway bunker then all but lost his second in the rough. Poulter simply played the way he has all year.. poorly..
320am McIlroy and Garcia vs Bradley and Mickelson
* Bradley way right into deep rough, Mickelson in jacket and gloves, short but in fairway..
* Garcia in 1st cut good lie, Rory with new driver miles down the middle.
* Garcia middle of green, Mickelson right over flag, Bradley from rough into bunker, Rory 15' below hole..
* Mickelson makes birdie, Rory tough 15' makes it with fist pump !!
* A/S thru 1
A/S thru 2 pars on par 5
*Par conceded to Bradley at 3rd A/S thru 3
* All four miss the green at 4th.. yet another TV commercial !!
* Hello Garcia holes out from bunker during tv time out, now back to another commercial
* Europe 1 up thru 4
* Mickelson in for par at 5th..Garcia matches him Europe 1 up thru 5
* Par 3 6th McIlroy 20 feet from hole 7iron..Bradley on line 20 feet short. Mickelson same line closer..Bradley to putt first rolls it 6 feet past on the left..Rory misses on left, now Phil to win the hole just missed Europe 1 up thru 6
* Par 4 7th Mickelson drives Fore right.. Sergio right in the middle of fairway... Rory in bunker.. Bradley in first cut..Bradley hits a great shot in to about 10'...Mickelson draws a good lie in rough plays onto green.. Sergio approach comes up short, lags putt up to 3 feet.. Phil misses..Rory putting for par just misses... Bradley birdie putt to win and misses badly.. Sergio misses...Bradley makes to even match
* 8th hole Rory is 15 short with his chip after a massive drive, Sergio's approach goes long on the wind into back bunker.. Bradley is long as well with sprinkler head in his way..Mickelson lags up close.. Bradley has to chip over sprinkler and misses.. Rory for a birdie to win...misses...Mickelson makes hole halved
* 9th hole, long par 5 Sergio on in 3 at back of green.. Rory plays a great 3rd and it rolls on with both Bradley and Mickelson in front bunkers in 2..Mickelson plays out stone dead for birdie 4.. Rory misses narrowly to halve so USA goes up by 1 at the turn
* 10th hole USA goes up by 2 as I was in the shower..
* 11th hole believe it or not Rory and Sergio win with a par now USA 1up
*12th hole Rory misses a par putt but Mickelson misses his 8 footer and Rory asks him to make the little one coming back which he does for par... Sergio now for the halve..he makes it USA 1up
*13th Bradley played his second off the cartpath but over the green and in the end Europe won the hole with par after Bradley missed a winner Match A/S
*14th Mickelson and McIlroy having a little chipping competition, however it's Bradley who holes his birdie putt with a fistpump.. Now Sergio from 18 feet.. rolls his right in on top to halve the hole !!
*15th Rory in the fairway, Bradley is so bad they are all looking for his ball. Mickelson ended up missing a 5 footer for par giving Europe another win with a par Europe 1up
16th par 5 Bradley with best drive of 4.. Garcia in the rough goes for it and just clears the water and lands in front of the green. Bradley hits a beauty about 10 feet away for an eagle try Now Rory from the rough hits a beauty way up in the air and lands in the middle of the green..
Mickelson chips up onto the green, the entire crowd is gathered around this 16th, it is a huge gathering.. Sergio bump and run to 8 feet. Rory lags up close. Now Keegan for the win..and he makes the eagle ! Match A/S
17th Par 3 Mickelson is bunker right, Bradley on but away over to the right. Rory on line but a club short of the green and Sergio is away left and long in the deep rough..
Great chip stone dead from Rory for his 3..Mickelson runs 5 feet past from the bunker...Sergio will try to pitch one in and goes long so here's Keegan again to win..
He rolls it 3 feet past and makes it coming back for the half..Match A/S
18th Par 5...Bradley left into crowd. Mickelson in middle of the fairway... Rory goes left, and Sergio hammers one into the middle of the fairway..
Sergio and Phil both come up short and right, Sergio in the rough and Phil in the fron bunker. Both Keegan and Rory have short 3rd shots as well. Rory mishits his into front bunker..what a mess ! Bradley now to within 4 feet..Sergio has a terrible lie..chips it and it rolls back into the bunker
Rory out to 6 feet lying 4... Sergio out as well now lying 4..Mickelson out 3 feet lying 3. Now Bradley for the win..he misses... Rory misses.. Sergio makes 5 now Phil from 3 feet..He sinks it and USA wins 1up
So what a morning, a lot of sloppy play, a lot of brilliant moments, the wind has been blowing, this course is tough, greens are tricky and the score after the fourballs is
USA 2 1/2 Europe 1 1/2
However Europe came storming back in the afternoon and never lost a match
Donaldson/Westwood won 2up vs Furyk / Kuchar followed by an incredible Justin Rose /Stenson who won 2&1 vs Hunter Mahan/ Zach Johnson. Rory / Sergio won their last 3 holes to halve their match with Walker / Fowler and finally Victor Dubuisson/ Graeme McDowell beat up Mickelson/Bradley 3&2.
Nearly 50,000 people went home happy as a result with Europe leading 5-3. The weather forecast for Saturday is clear and cool, but more importantly no rain a little wind in the morning at least..
Bryan Angus
*
Hi everybody at 225am est..It is a cool breezy morning in at Gleneagles in the beautiful rolling hills of Perthshire. The crowds are huge, some 50,000 jammed into the grounds around the PGA Centenary Course. It rained overnight and is 10*c..
The matches are live on the link above and I will be blogging live through out this mornings fourballs.
235am Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson win 5&4 vs Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson
* All veterans, a new pairing for Europe, an established pair for USA..
* Europe with Sweaters that look like the Soltaire with white hats and dark blue pants,,
* USA white shirts, black pants, black aweaters with the Ryder Cup logo on the front
* Webb Simpson popped up his drive, barely made the fairway, Bubba played up the crowd then drove into the deep rough left
* Rose stripes one right down the middle, as does Stenson
* Rose, 9 iron below the hole 15 feet, Stenson greenside bunker
* Watson on green far left, Simpson front of green.. Watson lags up 4 conceded
* Stenson splashes out..Rose leaves it short in the jaws
* Match A/S after one
* 2nd par 5 Rose par conceded, Stenson makes birdie from 10', Bubba misses from 8'
* Europe 1 up after 2
* Europe now 1 up after 3
* Europe now 3up thru 4 after a Rose birdie putt..
* Europe 2up thru 6
* Rose has a 6 footer to win 7th... misses..Europe 2up thru 7
* 8th Hole halved in par
*9th hole long par 5 Rose has lost his ball.. Webb Simpson has a putt for birdie as does Stenson,, Bubba has 15 feet for birdie as well.. Bubba misses putt for birdie, Simpson misses as well.. Stenson makes his Europe goes 3 up at the turn
*10th hole Rose makes birdie putt at 10 to go 4 up
* 11th hole halved in par
*12th par 4 uphill.. Simpson pulls drive into crowd..Stenson from bunker is just off the edge of the green...Bubba long and right of the pin with his approach from fairway..Rose is just past pin high to the right.. Hole was halved in par
* 13th hole halved in par
* 14th hole Both Rose and Stensen both had birdie putts Rose made his with Bubba in for 5 so the match is OVER Europe win 5&4
252am Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer Match A/S vs Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker
* Fowler drives into rough left, Walker down the middle
* Bjorn and Kaymer in the fairway...
* Bjorn misses green, Fowler short in rough
* Kaymer nearly holed his approach, Walker hole high to 15'
* Kaymer conceded, Walker misses
* Europe 1up
* USA misses 2 short putts.. Bjorn makes
Europe 2up
* Bjorn makes 10 footer to halve at 3..
*Europe 3 up thru 4 after a 15' Kaymer birdie
* Fowler makes 3 at 5th Europe 2up thru 6
* Fowler and Walker make an eagle at 9th as Walker chipped in from the bunker are now just 1 down
* 10th hole all on green with long birdie putts. Fowler misses but shows Walker the line.. Walker misses.. Kaymer misses a 4 footer for par.. Goodness me !! Bjorn now from 3 feet makes it to halve hole Europe 1 up thru 10
* 11th hole halved in par..
* Europe now 2up after a Bjorn chip in at 13..
*15th hole par 4 Fowler on in 3 after trouble in the rough, Walker has a birdie putt. Bjorn from the greenside bunker to 2 feet..Fowler misses Walker misses birdie, hole halved
*16th Both Bjorn and Kaymer made poor putts then Walker chipped in from the grass fringe to win the hole..Europe 1up two to play.
*17th par 3 Fowler on line just short of the green, Walker in greenside bunker.. Bjorn a way short and right.. What a shot by Kaymer in there about 10 feet ..
* Fowler misses for birdie, Kaymer misses both make par, hole halved
*18th Europe 1up par 5 Fowler left of fairway, Walker in short rough, Bjorn short but in fairway, Kaymer long in first cut of rough.
The wind is against, Fowler away right in the rough, Kaymer is in a collection area hole high and left..Walker short of the front bunker.
Bjorn plays in a nice wedge 12', Kaymer has a tough chip because this green is elevated, plays a bump and run to 12..
Walker plays up to 5 feet away
Bjorn misses his birdie, conceded par... Kaymer misses.. Walker makes his putt to win the hole and get the halve Match A/S
300am Gallagher and Poulter vs Speith and Reed win 5&4
* Gallagher and Poulter arrive arm in arm onto huge ovation on first
* Patrick Reed fairway right side, Speith fairway wood in fairway
* Gallagher with white touque drives into bunker, Poulter in first cut left good lie
* Gallagher bad lie hits out into deep rough, Poulter 9i greenside bunker... Reed misses green in bunker Fowler on in reg but long lag putt coming
*Poulter out to 3' Reed out to 10' .. Poulter misses 3 footer for par
*USA Iup
*USA 1up thru 2....
* Gallagher way short with birdie putt on 3.. nervy start for Scot.. Poulter makes 20 footer for halve USA 1up thru 3
* Speith and Poulter on close at par 3 4th...Poulter misses left Speith misses left
4th halved in par USA still 1up thru 4
* Poulter 6 footer for halve at 5 and makes it USA 1up thru 5
* On par 3 6th Poulter on, Gallagher in bunker, both Reed and Speith on but long..
* Reed makes long birdie putt to win hole USA 2up thru 6
* 7th Hole par 4 Poulter on in 2, Reed and Speith both on. Reed misses birdie..Poulter just misses. Gallagher chipping for par misses.. Speith has putt to win and makes it to go 3up thru 7
*8th hole Reed from 8 feet for par misses... Gallagher misses birdie putt to win hole conceded for a halve.. USA 3up thru 8..
* 9th par 5 Poulter in water, Gallagher in close but Reed is closer and Speith is on the green as well. Gallagher misses right now USA has door wide open..Speith misses.. Reed makes birdie from 4 feet now USA 4up at the turn
* par 3 10th all 4 on with birdie putts..Gallagher misses birdie, conceded par..Reed misses par conceded... Poulter misses .. Speith to win makes it to go 5 up
* USA wins 11th to go dormie 6
* Europe win the 12th now down by 5
* 13th hole Poulter runs up a great long lag, Gallagher has a 15 footer to win the hole and he misses yet again, what a dismal day for this pair. Reed holes his par putt to halve the hole USA dormie 5
*14th Speith misses 20 foot birdie putt to end match ..misses now Reed with a 12 footer to win...he misses.. Gallagher for the win from 12 feet.. guess what he misses again.. Poulter leaves it short and mercifully this match is OVER 5&4
* So a great win for Tom Watson's 2 rookies who played steadily, and from a European point of view Gallagher's debut was very poor right from the first hole when he found a bad lie in the fairway bunker then all but lost his second in the rough. Poulter simply played the way he has all year.. poorly..
320am McIlroy and Garcia vs Bradley and Mickelson
* Bradley way right into deep rough, Mickelson in jacket and gloves, short but in fairway..
* Garcia in 1st cut good lie, Rory with new driver miles down the middle.
* Garcia middle of green, Mickelson right over flag, Bradley from rough into bunker, Rory 15' below hole..
* Mickelson makes birdie, Rory tough 15' makes it with fist pump !!
* A/S thru 1
A/S thru 2 pars on par 5
*Par conceded to Bradley at 3rd A/S thru 3
* All four miss the green at 4th.. yet another TV commercial !!
* Hello Garcia holes out from bunker during tv time out, now back to another commercial
* Europe 1 up thru 4
* Mickelson in for par at 5th..Garcia matches him Europe 1 up thru 5
* Par 3 6th McIlroy 20 feet from hole 7iron..Bradley on line 20 feet short. Mickelson same line closer..Bradley to putt first rolls it 6 feet past on the left..Rory misses on left, now Phil to win the hole just missed Europe 1 up thru 6
* Par 4 7th Mickelson drives Fore right.. Sergio right in the middle of fairway... Rory in bunker.. Bradley in first cut..Bradley hits a great shot in to about 10'...Mickelson draws a good lie in rough plays onto green.. Sergio approach comes up short, lags putt up to 3 feet.. Phil misses..Rory putting for par just misses... Bradley birdie putt to win and misses badly.. Sergio misses...Bradley makes to even match
* 8th hole Rory is 15 short with his chip after a massive drive, Sergio's approach goes long on the wind into back bunker.. Bradley is long as well with sprinkler head in his way..Mickelson lags up close.. Bradley has to chip over sprinkler and misses.. Rory for a birdie to win...misses...Mickelson makes hole halved
* 9th hole, long par 5 Sergio on in 3 at back of green.. Rory plays a great 3rd and it rolls on with both Bradley and Mickelson in front bunkers in 2..Mickelson plays out stone dead for birdie 4.. Rory misses narrowly to halve so USA goes up by 1 at the turn
* 10th hole USA goes up by 2 as I was in the shower..
* 11th hole believe it or not Rory and Sergio win with a par now USA 1up
*12th hole Rory misses a par putt but Mickelson misses his 8 footer and Rory asks him to make the little one coming back which he does for par... Sergio now for the halve..he makes it USA 1up
*13th Bradley played his second off the cartpath but over the green and in the end Europe won the hole with par after Bradley missed a winner Match A/S
*14th Mickelson and McIlroy having a little chipping competition, however it's Bradley who holes his birdie putt with a fistpump.. Now Sergio from 18 feet.. rolls his right in on top to halve the hole !!
*15th Rory in the fairway, Bradley is so bad they are all looking for his ball. Mickelson ended up missing a 5 footer for par giving Europe another win with a par Europe 1up
16th par 5 Bradley with best drive of 4.. Garcia in the rough goes for it and just clears the water and lands in front of the green. Bradley hits a beauty about 10 feet away for an eagle try Now Rory from the rough hits a beauty way up in the air and lands in the middle of the green..
Mickelson chips up onto the green, the entire crowd is gathered around this 16th, it is a huge gathering.. Sergio bump and run to 8 feet. Rory lags up close. Now Keegan for the win..and he makes the eagle ! Match A/S
17th Par 3 Mickelson is bunker right, Bradley on but away over to the right. Rory on line but a club short of the green and Sergio is away left and long in the deep rough..
Great chip stone dead from Rory for his 3..Mickelson runs 5 feet past from the bunker...Sergio will try to pitch one in and goes long so here's Keegan again to win..
He rolls it 3 feet past and makes it coming back for the half..Match A/S
18th Par 5...Bradley left into crowd. Mickelson in middle of the fairway... Rory goes left, and Sergio hammers one into the middle of the fairway..
Sergio and Phil both come up short and right, Sergio in the rough and Phil in the fron bunker. Both Keegan and Rory have short 3rd shots as well. Rory mishits his into front bunker..what a mess ! Bradley now to within 4 feet..Sergio has a terrible lie..chips it and it rolls back into the bunker
Rory out to 6 feet lying 4... Sergio out as well now lying 4..Mickelson out 3 feet lying 3. Now Bradley for the win..he misses... Rory misses.. Sergio makes 5 now Phil from 3 feet..He sinks it and USA wins 1up
So what a morning, a lot of sloppy play, a lot of brilliant moments, the wind has been blowing, this course is tough, greens are tricky and the score after the fourballs is
USA 2 1/2 Europe 1 1/2
However Europe came storming back in the afternoon and never lost a match
Donaldson/Westwood won 2up vs Furyk / Kuchar followed by an incredible Justin Rose /Stenson who won 2&1 vs Hunter Mahan/ Zach Johnson. Rory / Sergio won their last 3 holes to halve their match with Walker / Fowler and finally Victor Dubuisson/ Graeme McDowell beat up Mickelson/Bradley 3&2.
Nearly 50,000 people went home happy as a result with Europe leading 5-3. The weather forecast for Saturday is clear and cool, but more importantly no rain a little wind in the morning at least..
Bryan Angus
*
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Friday fourball pairings.. Opening Ceremony..
Well the weather co-operated and the Opening ceremony is over at Gleneagles, a rather polite, warm ceremony and the opening matches were announced by the captains.
(my pick in bold)
Match 1 Justin Rose / Henrik Stenson vs Bubba Watson / Webb Simpson
Match 2 Thomas Bjorn / Martin Kaymer vs Rickie Fowler / Jimmy Walker
Match 3 Stephen Gallagher / Ian Poulter vs Jordan Speith / Patrick Reed
Match 4 Rory McIlroy / Sergio Garcia vs Keegan Bradley / Phil Mickelson
Surprises ; Euro's McGinley splits up Rose and Poulter, sends out Bjorn / Kaymer against Fowler and Walker
USA Watson sends out two rookies in Speith and Reed.
Remember in the Ryder Cup the pairings are submitted blind by the captain's
I'm just about to join Rick Ralph on TSN1290 in Winnipeg..
As for the Opening ceremony Di Dougherty from Sky Sports was chosen to be the MC on a cool breezy afternoon and the magnificently dressed Atholl Pipe Band led in the teams.
Amy McDonald from Bishopbriggs brought a lump to my throat with her song about Scotland called " I'll do anything you ask of me" followed by the pipe band leading the crowd in "Flower of Scotland"
The captains introduced their teams, Tom Watson getting a standing ovation spoke with passion and respect, and sang the Stars and Stripes with great gusto..
Paul McGinley from Dublin, who's career as a Gaelic footballer was shattered along with his kneecap when he was 18, took up golf while working at the European Union HQ in Brussels as a 4 handicapper on his long journey to the podium at Gleneagles introduced his 12 with Gallagher getting a huge ovation from the Scots who all had blue suits on with a very fine light green tartan on the jackets..
In all an uneventful, respectful ceremony but I must say.. the European team doesn't have a national anthem, rather something called "Ode to Europe" as they raise their collective flags.. It's a competition in the making I guess.
So an early night for me and I'll be up early here on FairwaysPlus at 2.30am join me then !!
Bryan Angus
Bryan Angus
(my pick in bold)
Match 1 Justin Rose / Henrik Stenson vs Bubba Watson / Webb Simpson
Match 2 Thomas Bjorn / Martin Kaymer vs Rickie Fowler / Jimmy Walker
Match 3 Stephen Gallagher / Ian Poulter vs Jordan Speith / Patrick Reed
Match 4 Rory McIlroy / Sergio Garcia vs Keegan Bradley / Phil Mickelson
Surprises ; Euro's McGinley splits up Rose and Poulter, sends out Bjorn / Kaymer against Fowler and Walker
USA Watson sends out two rookies in Speith and Reed.
Remember in the Ryder Cup the pairings are submitted blind by the captain's
I'm just about to join Rick Ralph on TSN1290 in Winnipeg..
As for the Opening ceremony Di Dougherty from Sky Sports was chosen to be the MC on a cool breezy afternoon and the magnificently dressed Atholl Pipe Band led in the teams.
Amy McDonald from Bishopbriggs brought a lump to my throat with her song about Scotland called " I'll do anything you ask of me" followed by the pipe band leading the crowd in "Flower of Scotland"
The captains introduced their teams, Tom Watson getting a standing ovation spoke with passion and respect, and sang the Stars and Stripes with great gusto..
Paul McGinley from Dublin, who's career as a Gaelic footballer was shattered along with his kneecap when he was 18, took up golf while working at the European Union HQ in Brussels as a 4 handicapper on his long journey to the podium at Gleneagles introduced his 12 with Gallagher getting a huge ovation from the Scots who all had blue suits on with a very fine light green tartan on the jackets..
In all an uneventful, respectful ceremony but I must say.. the European team doesn't have a national anthem, rather something called "Ode to Europe" as they raise their collective flags.. It's a competition in the making I guess.
So an early night for me and I'll be up early here on FairwaysPlus at 2.30am join me then !!
Bryan Angus
Bryan Angus
Rarin' to go...All you need to know for this Ryder Cup..
The panels at the Golf Channel who by the way sent their entire crews over to Gleneagles and have been live since Monday morning, ( love to see the final bill there) have long since run out of things to analyze.. It's time to play so I have compiled a bucket list of everything you need to know..
Schedule of play http://www.rydercup.com/europe/event/2014-ryder-cup-schedule-events
For those of us on EST in Canada the 7.35am local time start is 2.35am Friday morning. Remember this year they are playing fourballs first with foursomes in the afternoon a switch from the traditional format..
Weather forecast http://www.itv.com/news/2014-09-23/ryder-cup-weather-will-be-dodgy-at-the-start/
It's going to be cool, windy and rainy when play begins Friday morning. Having played many times at Gleneagles I can't remember seeing the rough as deep and thick as it is now and much of that is because the summer in Perthshire has had a lot of this type of weather. It really doesn't favour either team, and the Scottish spectators are well used to it and their support will make a difference
Europe Bio's and Ryder Cup records http://www.rydercup.com/europe/team/2014-ryder-cup-team-europe-player-profiles
USA Bio's and Ryder Cup records http://www.rydercup.com/usa/team/2014-ryder-cup-team-usa-player-profiles
Past Champions http://www.rydercup.com/usa/history/2014-ryder-cup-past-results
The first 22 Ryder Cup matches with Great Britain and Ireland against the United States, the US won 18, GB and Ireland three and one match, the famous 1969 contest, tied.
That all changed in 1979, with the little or no interest in the USA, Jack Nicklaus for one, suggested that Europe become included and Seve Ballesteros and Antonio Garrido became the first continental golfers to play in The Ryder Cup.
In the subsequent 16 matches, Europe have won eight, the United States seven, with one match tied and importantly of the last 9 matches Europe has won 7.
Future matches http://www.rydercup.com/usa/event/2014-ryder-cup-future-sites
Tour of the Course http://www.rydercup.com/europe/course/2014/tour/1
History of Gleneagles http://www.rydercup.com/europe/news/course-history-endless-charm-Gleneagles
This is a bit wordy by my old pal Mitchell Platts of the European Tour office but does give you the history in particular Jack Nicklaus's designing of this PGA Centenary course.
I only stayed in the hotel one night on a splurge,, always staying at home in Perth and driving down because it is very very expensive Here is a link to give you an idea http://www.booking.com/searchresults.en-gb.html?aid=311088;label=the-gleneagles-zawzWMLyi8CuG95%2A2zTaGAS22130694963%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2300%2C000%3Aac%3Aap1t2%3Aneg;sid=zchoCSmTw_wcB;hh=576113
It is $1200 Canadian for 2 nights after the Ryder Cup so you know it is significantly more during..It costs $50 for afternoon tea, and if you eat in the dining room expect to pay $150 for a steak dinner.
Price of Tickets Golf fans had to complete a two-stage process that included registering a photograph, before applying for tickets when the application process officially opened June 10. Daily Tickets range in price from a £10 ($20) concession ticket for Under 16s on the Practice Days, to £145 ($300) for a Sunday ticket, while a range of combined ticket options is also available.
All Match Day applications were included in a ballot, with those who were successful getting the good news in mid August.
Early pairing predictions
Tom Watson has had the same pairings out together most of this week and has said he will likely play all 12 guys on Friday so here is my educated guess on his pairings.
Possible US Friday 4 ball pairings Mickelson/ Bradley , Simpson /Watson, Walker /Fowler, Speith/ Kuchar
Possible US Friday 4some pairings Mickelson/Bradley, Furyk /Reed, Johnson/Mahan, Walker/Fowler
Paul McGinley on the other hand has mixed up his groups although it is a lock Poulter/Rose will continue their dominating partnership..
Bryan Angus
Schedule of play http://www.rydercup.com/europe/event/2014-ryder-cup-schedule-events
For those of us on EST in Canada the 7.35am local time start is 2.35am Friday morning. Remember this year they are playing fourballs first with foursomes in the afternoon a switch from the traditional format..
Weather forecast http://www.itv.com/news/2014-09-23/ryder-cup-weather-will-be-dodgy-at-the-start/
It's going to be cool, windy and rainy when play begins Friday morning. Having played many times at Gleneagles I can't remember seeing the rough as deep and thick as it is now and much of that is because the summer in Perthshire has had a lot of this type of weather. It really doesn't favour either team, and the Scottish spectators are well used to it and their support will make a difference
Europe Bio's and Ryder Cup records http://www.rydercup.com/europe/team/2014-ryder-cup-team-europe-player-profiles
USA Bio's and Ryder Cup records http://www.rydercup.com/usa/team/2014-ryder-cup-team-usa-player-profiles
Past Champions http://www.rydercup.com/usa/history/2014-ryder-cup-past-results
The first 22 Ryder Cup matches with Great Britain and Ireland against the United States, the US won 18, GB and Ireland three and one match, the famous 1969 contest, tied.
That all changed in 1979, with the little or no interest in the USA, Jack Nicklaus for one, suggested that Europe become included and Seve Ballesteros and Antonio Garrido became the first continental golfers to play in The Ryder Cup.
In the subsequent 16 matches, Europe have won eight, the United States seven, with one match tied and importantly of the last 9 matches Europe has won 7.
Future matches http://www.rydercup.com/usa/event/2014-ryder-cup-future-sites
Tour of the Course http://www.rydercup.com/europe/course/2014/tour/1
History of Gleneagles http://www.rydercup.com/europe/news/course-history-endless-charm-Gleneagles
This is a bit wordy by my old pal Mitchell Platts of the European Tour office but does give you the history in particular Jack Nicklaus's designing of this PGA Centenary course.
I only stayed in the hotel one night on a splurge,, always staying at home in Perth and driving down because it is very very expensive Here is a link to give you an idea http://www.booking.com/searchresults.en-gb.html?aid=311088;label=the-gleneagles-zawzWMLyi8CuG95%2A2zTaGAS22130694963%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2300%2C000%3Aac%3Aap1t2%3Aneg;sid=zchoCSmTw_wcB;hh=576113
It is $1200 Canadian for 2 nights after the Ryder Cup so you know it is significantly more during..It costs $50 for afternoon tea, and if you eat in the dining room expect to pay $150 for a steak dinner.
Price of Tickets Golf fans had to complete a two-stage process that included registering a photograph, before applying for tickets when the application process officially opened June 10. Daily Tickets range in price from a £10 ($20) concession ticket for Under 16s on the Practice Days, to £145 ($300) for a Sunday ticket, while a range of combined ticket options is also available.
All Match Day applications were included in a ballot, with those who were successful getting the good news in mid August.
Early pairing predictions
Tom Watson has had the same pairings out together most of this week and has said he will likely play all 12 guys on Friday so here is my educated guess on his pairings.
Possible US Friday 4 ball pairings Mickelson/ Bradley , Simpson /Watson, Walker /Fowler, Speith/ Kuchar
Possible US Friday 4some pairings Mickelson/Bradley, Furyk /Reed, Johnson/Mahan, Walker/Fowler
Paul McGinley on the other hand has mixed up his groups although it is a lock Poulter/Rose will continue their dominating partnership..
Bryan Angus
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Why the USA will win this Ryder Cup..
I am a proud Canadian, but also a Scotsman and the Ryder Cup is only 8 miles from my birthplace in Perth, so this hurts me ..
I said it first on my TSN 1050 radio hit Sunday morning on the ISR, my gut has been telling me for a while now that this is the perfect storm for the Americans..they are rated as under dogs, but I believe they are going to win this year..
Here's why..
Lets look at the first at the world rankings...apparently the team with the best average World Ranking has won the last five Ryder Cups? The Euros average position is 19.8 compared the Americans at 16.4.
1. Euros Rory 1, Sergio 3, Henrik 5, Rosey 6, Kaymer 12, GMac 18, Dubuisson 23, Donaldson 25, Bjorn 30, Gallagher 34, Poulter 38, Westwood 44
Yanks Furyk 4, Bubba 7, Kuchar 9, Fowler 10, Phil 11, Speith 13, ZJohnson 16, Walker 19, Mahan 21, Bradley 26 Reed 27, WSimpson 33
Euros..Apart from the Rory, Sergio, Stenson, Rosey at the top of McGinley's line up, look how solid the Yanks are 4 thru 26..
Rory has gone off the boil of a brilliant summer, Kaymer has been invisible since his week of weeks at the US Open, please tell me, apart from Donaldson's T4 last week in Wales, who is hot on the Euro squad ??
Yanks Despite their brilliant individual career records, Furyk and Mickelson along with Tiger have the worst Ryder Cup records for USA , however Bubba is in the top four for length important here on this soft, heavily roughed, long Century course and paired with steady Webb Simpson is formidable, while Kuch, Fowler, Phil and Bradley together are the meat of the order and backed by under rated Jimmy Walker who led the Fed Ex for much of this year, Zach Johnson, and nerveless Jordan Speith, they could well handle the likes of off form Kaymer, GMac, Bjorn and Gallagher....
Advantage Yanks..
2. The Course
At 7,243 yards, Gleneagles PGA Centenary course is soft and playing long so that will play into the hands of the longer hitters. Bubba Watson, Rory McIlroy, Victor Dubuisson and Keegan Bradley, are the longest in this year’s matches, all average more than 300 yards off the tee. This summer an in form Rory drove the ball astonishingly long and with a slight controlled draw, the question is can he do it again..
More important this is a soft, heavily roughed parkland course, the likes found all over the US...No disadvantage here for them..
The average driving distance of the European team (293.48 yards) and the US team (293.25 yards) is the same. As for fairways hit again there is little difference with the US averaging 62.1 per cent and Europe 61.4 per cent All square on this one
3. The Prelude....I watched the captain's presser today, both said the right things but Tom Watson is a legend, Paul McGinley nothing more than a grinder with a great Ryder Cup record..
The Yanks are all about redemption after blowing up on Sunday at Medinah last time round. They all flew in together, bonding with Ray Floyd, Steve Stricker etal as travel companions and coaches. Rickie has USA shaved in his head, Tiger is at home sending inspiration while the Euros are arriving indivdually from all over. I remember when the Europeans won in 1995 and flew over together to Rochester at Oak Hill in the Concord, and it's a small thing but they felt like they were first class, they belonged and they bonded.Advantage USA..
4.Scrambling .
Six of the seven best “scramblers" headed to Gleneagles are in Tom Watson's team with Sergio Garcia the only European that gets up-and-down more than 65 per cent of the time. On the greens, Jordan Spieth averages the fewest putts per round (27.86). 11 of the 12 US players average fewer than 29 putts while there are only seven EuropeansAdvantage USA
5. Ryder Cuppers..
There are three rookies on each team, but of the rest, Europe more experience. They have a total of 31 individual Ryder Cup appearances with 78 total points won, while the US team has 29 appearances with 52 points won.
I read a stat that said Lee Westwood has raised the Ryder Cup trophy on more occasions (6) than all the players on the US team combined. Advantage Europe..
6. The secret..
If you are not of British, or even European heritage this is hard to explain but I'll try because for me it is at the heart of the European motivation.
For the rest of the world the USA is the land of milk and honey, it's why so many of us immigrated. Yanks are considered whether it's fair or not as richer, more spoiled, more affluent, better weather, houses, cars, toys etc than the rest.
Now take that backdrop to the Ryder Cup. From 1927 -1985 GB only had 3 wins and a tie in 1966. Every year it was David vs Goliath...Unheard of players in the States like Neil Coles, Ronnie Shade, Brian Barnes and many more were pitted against Palmer, Nicklaus, Trevino, Hogan, Snead...
It meant everything just to get a half never mind a win. European players earned their pro status serving club members as assistant pros, some of the Spaniards like Seve as caddies, while Americans were on all paid 4 year scholarships in Florida and California etc, virtually playing and practicing golf 12 months a year, preparing to be a pro.
That is why European players bond together so easily, they are from common everyday stock, compared to the spoiled, big name self absorbed Americans..
However !.. All that is changing as more and more Euros are not only taking a residence in the States, joining the PGA Tour ( see Rory, Lee and Ian Poulter) and now being awarded golf scholarships to those very same colleges, and pro golf is now truly a world wide game..
With Tiger gone and Phil in a lesser role I sense under Tom Watson's legendary influence, the USA is bonding strongly with new leadership from Rickie Fowler, Keegan Bradley, Jordan Speith, Matt Kuchar and willing foot soldiers like Patrick Reed, JimmyWalker and Zach Johnson..
It's them against the world this week, a perfect storm, if they lose they were expected to by all the pundits, but not by me for one..
I think they are way under rated, I think they have taken some of the secret that has been the Euro edge for 7 wins in the last 9 Cups..
And I think they are going to win and it shouldn't be a surprise..
Bryan Angus
I said it first on my TSN 1050 radio hit Sunday morning on the ISR, my gut has been telling me for a while now that this is the perfect storm for the Americans..they are rated as under dogs, but I believe they are going to win this year..
Here's why..
Lets look at the first at the world rankings...apparently the team with the best average World Ranking has won the last five Ryder Cups? The Euros average position is 19.8 compared the Americans at 16.4.
1. Euros Rory 1, Sergio 3, Henrik 5, Rosey 6, Kaymer 12, GMac 18, Dubuisson 23, Donaldson 25, Bjorn 30, Gallagher 34, Poulter 38, Westwood 44
Yanks Furyk 4, Bubba 7, Kuchar 9, Fowler 10, Phil 11, Speith 13, ZJohnson 16, Walker 19, Mahan 21, Bradley 26 Reed 27, WSimpson 33
Euros..Apart from the Rory, Sergio, Stenson, Rosey at the top of McGinley's line up, look how solid the Yanks are 4 thru 26..
Rory has gone off the boil of a brilliant summer, Kaymer has been invisible since his week of weeks at the US Open, please tell me, apart from Donaldson's T4 last week in Wales, who is hot on the Euro squad ??
Yanks Despite their brilliant individual career records, Furyk and Mickelson along with Tiger have the worst Ryder Cup records for USA , however Bubba is in the top four for length important here on this soft, heavily roughed, long Century course and paired with steady Webb Simpson is formidable, while Kuch, Fowler, Phil and Bradley together are the meat of the order and backed by under rated Jimmy Walker who led the Fed Ex for much of this year, Zach Johnson, and nerveless Jordan Speith, they could well handle the likes of off form Kaymer, GMac, Bjorn and Gallagher....
Advantage Yanks..
2. The Course
At 7,243 yards, Gleneagles PGA Centenary course is soft and playing long so that will play into the hands of the longer hitters. Bubba Watson, Rory McIlroy, Victor Dubuisson and Keegan Bradley, are the longest in this year’s matches, all average more than 300 yards off the tee. This summer an in form Rory drove the ball astonishingly long and with a slight controlled draw, the question is can he do it again..
More important this is a soft, heavily roughed parkland course, the likes found all over the US...No disadvantage here for them..
The average driving distance of the European team (293.48 yards) and the US team (293.25 yards) is the same. As for fairways hit again there is little difference with the US averaging 62.1 per cent and Europe 61.4 per cent All square on this one
3. The Prelude....I watched the captain's presser today, both said the right things but Tom Watson is a legend, Paul McGinley nothing more than a grinder with a great Ryder Cup record..
The Yanks are all about redemption after blowing up on Sunday at Medinah last time round. They all flew in together, bonding with Ray Floyd, Steve Stricker etal as travel companions and coaches. Rickie has USA shaved in his head, Tiger is at home sending inspiration while the Euros are arriving indivdually from all over. I remember when the Europeans won in 1995 and flew over together to Rochester at Oak Hill in the Concord, and it's a small thing but they felt like they were first class, they belonged and they bonded.Advantage USA..
4.Scrambling .
Six of the seven best “scramblers" headed to Gleneagles are in Tom Watson's team with Sergio Garcia the only European that gets up-and-down more than 65 per cent of the time. On the greens, Jordan Spieth averages the fewest putts per round (27.86). 11 of the 12 US players average fewer than 29 putts while there are only seven EuropeansAdvantage USA
5. Ryder Cuppers..
There are three rookies on each team, but of the rest, Europe more experience. They have a total of 31 individual Ryder Cup appearances with 78 total points won, while the US team has 29 appearances with 52 points won.
I read a stat that said Lee Westwood has raised the Ryder Cup trophy on more occasions (6) than all the players on the US team combined. Advantage Europe..
6. The secret..
If you are not of British, or even European heritage this is hard to explain but I'll try because for me it is at the heart of the European motivation.
For the rest of the world the USA is the land of milk and honey, it's why so many of us immigrated. Yanks are considered whether it's fair or not as richer, more spoiled, more affluent, better weather, houses, cars, toys etc than the rest.
Now take that backdrop to the Ryder Cup. From 1927 -1985 GB only had 3 wins and a tie in 1966. Every year it was David vs Goliath...Unheard of players in the States like Neil Coles, Ronnie Shade, Brian Barnes and many more were pitted against Palmer, Nicklaus, Trevino, Hogan, Snead...
It meant everything just to get a half never mind a win. European players earned their pro status serving club members as assistant pros, some of the Spaniards like Seve as caddies, while Americans were on all paid 4 year scholarships in Florida and California etc, virtually playing and practicing golf 12 months a year, preparing to be a pro.
That is why European players bond together so easily, they are from common everyday stock, compared to the spoiled, big name self absorbed Americans..
However !.. All that is changing as more and more Euros are not only taking a residence in the States, joining the PGA Tour ( see Rory, Lee and Ian Poulter) and now being awarded golf scholarships to those very same colleges, and pro golf is now truly a world wide game..
With Tiger gone and Phil in a lesser role I sense under Tom Watson's legendary influence, the USA is bonding strongly with new leadership from Rickie Fowler, Keegan Bradley, Jordan Speith, Matt Kuchar and willing foot soldiers like Patrick Reed, JimmyWalker and Zach Johnson..
It's them against the world this week, a perfect storm, if they lose they were expected to by all the pundits, but not by me for one..
I think they are way under rated, I think they have taken some of the secret that has been the Euro edge for 7 wins in the last 9 Cups..
And I think they are going to win and it shouldn't be a surprise..
Bryan Angus
Monday, September 22, 2014
Hadwin tops weekend winners.. Final scoreboards
To the casual sports fan this weekend wasn't a major, or the Fed Ex Cup finale or the upcoming Ryder Cup, but for many pros, both male and female this was a huge weekend where PGA Tour, LPGA cards were finally earned, hearts both overjoyed and broken, new careers launched, some shattered..
Web.com Tour
Final scoreboard click http://www.pgatour.com/webcom/tournaments/web-com-tour-championship/leaderboard.html
With Hadwin and Merrit, B.C.’s Roger Sloan having already secured their PGA Tour playing privileges, the stage was set for one of the most clutch final rounds in Canadian golf history. Nick Taylor also from Abbotsford joined the pair as PGA Tour rookies for next season after firing a blazing 7-under 63 on TPC Sawgrass Dye’s Valley Course. Taylor, 26, would go on finish 37th on the Web.com Tour eligibility category.
European Tour
Final scoreboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014074/leaderboard/index.html
Joost Luiten who was overlooked as a captain’s pick for next week’s Ryder Cup in favor of Lee Westwood, overcame a shaky start to shoot a level-par 71 and hang on for a one-shot victory at the Wales Open.
Web.com Tour
Final scoreboard click http://www.pgatour.com/webcom/tournaments/web-com-tour-championship/leaderboard.html
Abbotsford, B.C.’s Adam Hadwin topped the combined Web.com Tour money list to earn a full exemption and a spot in The Players after he had a 72 at the Tour Championship on Sunday to tie for seventh at 6 under. He earned $30,125 for a total of $529,792.
“I think everyone out here knows the importance of being No. 1 and knows how good it is not to have to reshuffle for the next year,” Hadwin said. “It allows you to just go out and have some fun and enjoy it. You don’t have to put pressure on yourself to perform before the first reshuffle or the second reshuffle.”
European Tour
Final scoreboard http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014074/leaderboard/index.html
Joost Luiten who was overlooked as a captain’s pick for next week’s Ryder Cup in favor of Lee Westwood, overcame a shaky start to shoot a level-par 71 and hang on for a one-shot victory at the Wales Open.
Luiten opened with two straight bogeys but bounced back with three birdies on the back nine and then recovered from a poor tee shot on the 18th to make par for the victory. The Dutchman, who had led by two shots after the third round, finished with a 14-under total of 270. It was Luiten’s third European Tour victory.
LPGA
Final scoreboard http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx
Mi Jung Hur matched top-ranked Stacy Lewis stroke for stroke Sunday in the final round of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic in Alabama
Another in the seemingly endless stream of South Korean players, she never gave up the last-day lead on her way to a tournament-record 21-under 267 total. Hur birdied four of the final eight holes to beat Lewis by four strokes for her second LPGA Tour victory. The each shot 6-under 66
Alena Sharp climbed 20 spots up the leaderboard after a final round 6-under par 66 and tied for 30th at 5-under 283. Sue Kim of Langley, B.C. tied for 63rd at 3-over 291
Symetra Tour
Final scoring click http://www.symetrascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx
Norway’s Marita Engzelius eagled the first hole of a playoff Sunday to win the season-ending Symetra Tour Championship, and the top 10 on the money list earned LPGA Tour cards. Engzelius earned $22,500 to finish 15th on the money list with $36,050. She earned an exemption into the final stage of the LPGA Tour’s qualifying school
Marissa Steen from Ohio, a three-time winner this season, topped the LPGA Tour qualifiers with $75,348. Min Seo Kwak was second at $69,143, followed by Stoelting ($60,452), Sadena Parks ($57,597), Min Lee ($57,011), Wei-Ling Hsu ($53,004), Yueer Cindy Feng ($51,992), Kendall Dye ($47,684), Runas ($45,095) and Mallory Blackwelder ($41,381
Heartbreak for Canadians narrowly missing out on LPGA Tour cards for next season were Sara-Muade Juneau, Nicole Vandermade and Maude-Aimee Leblanc. Juneau, of Fossambault, Que., finished 13th on the tour’s money list. Brantford, Ont.’s Vandermade finished 17th.
Leblanc, needed a win this week to retain her full status on the LPGA Tour for next season. She held the lead heading into the final round but missed a 6 footer on the last green to miss out on the play-off as she carded a final round 74 to tie for 4th and finish 19th on the money list.
Champions Tour
Final scoreboard http://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/pacific-links-hawai-i-championship/leaderboard.html
Watching Paul Goydos win the Hawaii Championship for his first Champions Tour title, breaking out of a tight pack with four straight birdies, just made me determined to return to Oahu some time before it becomes too late. There is something magical about the Hawaiian islands, the sun the breeze the stunning colour the ocean, the mountains, volcanos, beaches of all kinds, black, dazzling white, and so much more..
Anyhow Goydos was making his fifth start on the senior circuit since turning 50 in June, Goydos closed with a 4-under 68 at Kapolei Golf Club for a tournament-record 19-under 197 total. He opened with rounds of 66 and 63 for a share of the second-round lead with Fred Funk.
Funk finished with a 69 to tie for second with Scott Dunlap. Funk had a hole-in-one on No. 16, using a 4-hybrid on the 200-yard hole. Dunlap who is playing the best golf of his career, shot a 65.
Rod Spittle tied for 40th at 7-under 209 and Davis Love III who turned 50 in April struggled in his Champions Tour debut, closing with a 72 to tie for 64th in the 81-man field at 3 under with Canada’s Jim Rutledge.
Bryan Angus
( files from AP, CP, europeantour.com, BBC, Reuters )
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Luiten poised to be first Dutchman to win Wales Open
Live scoring click here http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014074/leaderboard/index.html
AP...Joost Luiten birdied three of his closing four holes in a 6-under 65 at the Wales Open on Saturday to take a two-shot lead.
AP...Joost Luiten birdied three of his closing four holes in a 6-under 65 at the Wales Open on Saturday to take a two-shot lead.
The three-time European Tour winner came from a stroke back at the start of the third round to overhaul Ireland’s Shane Lowry (68) and move to a total of 14-under 199 in ideal scoring conditions on the Twenty-Ten course at Celtic Manor.
The 28-year-old Luiten arrived in Wales having finished fifth in his defense of last week’s KLM Open title and is now primed to become the first Dutch-born winner of the Wales Open
Luiten finished 15th overall on the European Ryder Cup points table but was overlooked for a wild card pick by the 16th-placed and eight-time Ryder Cup star Lee Westwood.
As for the other Ryder Cuppers, rookie Jamie Donaldson continues to impress, shooting a 68 to move to 8-under overall while Lee Westwood jumped 23 spots with a round of 68 to be in a share of 32nd on 3 under. However, Dane Thomas Bjorn slipped two dozen spots with a round of 71 and is tied in 46th position at 2 under
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Web.com Tour Championship stalls in rain at TPC Sawgrass
Live scoring click http://www.pgatour.com/webcom/tournaments/web-com-tour-championship/leaderboard.html
It's a big weekend for the Web.com 'ers down in Ponte Verde at TPC Sawgrass.
Golf Channel ...At (almost) the halfway mark of the Web.com Tour Championship, the fun is just getting started. With 25 new Tour cards up for grabs and the priority order of all 50 spots on the line, including the No. 1 overall spot, weekend fireworks are sure to be coming, that is, if the rain stays away. The 1 hour, 18 minute delay Friday is what led to the final few groups not being able to finish their rounds.
Zac Blair kept up his strong play and held a three-shot lead when darkness fell bringing an end to Day 2 with a handful of players still on the course.
Here's how things look with two days in the books at TPC Sawgrass’ Valley Course:
Zac Blair (-12), Derek Fathauer (-9), Sung Joon Park (-7), James Nitties (-6), Chad Collins (-6), Whee Kim (-6), Tom Gillis (-6), Jason Gore (-6).
It's a big weekend for the Web.com 'ers down in Ponte Verde at TPC Sawgrass.
Golf Channel ...At (almost) the halfway mark of the Web.com Tour Championship, the fun is just getting started. With 25 new Tour cards up for grabs and the priority order of all 50 spots on the line, including the No. 1 overall spot, weekend fireworks are sure to be coming, that is, if the rain stays away. The 1 hour, 18 minute delay Friday is what led to the final few groups not being able to finish their rounds.
Zac Blair kept up his strong play and held a three-shot lead when darkness fell bringing an end to Day 2 with a handful of players still on the course.
Here's how things look with two days in the books at TPC Sawgrass’ Valley Course:
Zac Blair (-12), Derek Fathauer (-9), Sung Joon Park (-7), James Nitties (-6), Chad Collins (-6), Whee Kim (-6), Tom Gillis (-6), Jason Gore (-6).
Rank continues great summer for Canadian amateur golf
Final scoreboard click here http://golfcanada.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/rcga14/event/rcga1423/contest/6/leaderboard.htm
Both the Canadian women and men finished 2nd at the World Amateurs, Brook Henderson is the world's #1 at only 16, Corey Connors lost in the final of the US Men's amateur, last week Judith Kyrinis from Thornhill was in the final of the US Women's senior amateur, now Garret Rank joins their "ranks' after winning the Canadian Men's Mid Amateur Championship at Barrie CC..
Golf Canada..He rolled in a short birdie putt on the first playoff hole after he had finished the championship tied with Rob Couture of Dallas, Texas at 4-under 284. Couture forced the pair into a playoff by birdieing the par-5 18th hole in regulation.
The pair headed back to No. 18 tee for the first playoff hole, where Rank found the right rough off the tee. He went on to hit a magnificent 3-iron, leaving just 20 feet for eagle, putting the pressure squarely on Couture.
After Couture’s approach from the fairway came up short, he left his third shot 20 feet below the hole and couldn’t convert his birdie putt after watching Rank’s eagle putt slide by. The stage was then set for Rank who was left with only a tap-in birdie for the victory and a spot in the field at the 2015 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club.
Both the Canadian women and men finished 2nd at the World Amateurs, Brook Henderson is the world's #1 at only 16, Corey Connors lost in the final of the US Men's amateur, last week Judith Kyrinis from Thornhill was in the final of the US Women's senior amateur, now Garret Rank joins their "ranks' after winning the Canadian Men's Mid Amateur Championship at Barrie CC..
Golf Canada..He rolled in a short birdie putt on the first playoff hole after he had finished the championship tied with Rob Couture of Dallas, Texas at 4-under 284. Couture forced the pair into a playoff by birdieing the par-5 18th hole in regulation.
The pair headed back to No. 18 tee for the first playoff hole, where Rank found the right rough off the tee. He went on to hit a magnificent 3-iron, leaving just 20 feet for eagle, putting the pressure squarely on Couture.
After Couture’s approach from the fairway came up short, he left his third shot 20 feet below the hole and couldn’t convert his birdie putt after watching Rank’s eagle putt slide by. The stage was then set for Rank who was left with only a tap-in birdie for the victory and a spot in the field at the 2015 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club.
Davis Love debut's on Senior circuit in Hawaii..
Live scoring click http://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/pacific-links-hawai-i-championship/leaderboard.html
CP.. Tom Pernice Jr. birdied his final four holes for a 12-under 60 and a four-stroke lead in the Champions Tour’s Hawaii Championship. He finished a stroke off the tour record of 59 set by Kevin Sutherland last month in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open in Endicott, New York.
CP.. Tom Pernice Jr. birdied his final four holes for a 12-under 60 and a four-stroke lead in the Champions Tour’s Hawaii Championship. He finished a stroke off the tour record of 59 set by Kevin Sutherland last month in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open in Endicott, New York.
Davis Love III opened with a 69 in his Champions Tour debut. The 20-time PGA Tour winner turned 50 in April.
Pernice, now 55 and a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, played his final nine holes, the front nine at Kapolei Golf Club in 7-under 29, also birdieing Nos. 1, 2 and 4. He had five birdies on his opening nine. Michael Allen was second after a 64.
Joey Sindelar and Scott Dunlap shot 65, and Jay Haas, Vijay Singh, Paul Goydos, Jim Carter and Mike Goodes followed at 66.
Rod Spittle is the leading Canadian at 4 under after a 68, also Bernhard Langer, the tour leader with five victories, skipped the tournament to play in a European Senior Tour event in Germany.
It's an "L" of a story in Wales...
Live scoring click here http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014074/leaderboard/index.html
With round 3 well under way Joost Luiten and Shane Lowery, a Dutchman and an Irishman made round 2 an "L" of a story in Wales.
Shane Lowry shot a 6-under 65 to take a one-shot lead on Friday as he didn’t drop a shot and moved to 9-under 133, one shot ahead of Joost Luiten (69) and Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, who eagled the 18th hole for the second day in a row in shooting a 68.
Stephen Gallacher failed to recover from his opening round of 78 at Celtic Manor, with his 70 leaving him five shots below the cut line. Fellow Ryder Cup player Lee Westwood nearly missed the cut but birdied two of his closing four holes for a 69 to sit nine shots behind Lowry. Westwood will be making his ninth straight Ryder Cup appearance for Europe, but this is his first tournament since missing the cut at The Barclays last month.
Jamie Donaldson, another Ryder Cup rookie, remains well-placed to become the first Welshman to win the Wales Open after a bogey-free 67 put him four shots back. Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn, who is playing in his first Ryder Cup since 2002, added a 69 to move to 2 under.
Bryan Angus ( files from europeantour.com )
With round 3 well under way Joost Luiten and Shane Lowery, a Dutchman and an Irishman made round 2 an "L" of a story in Wales.
Shane Lowry shot a 6-under 65 to take a one-shot lead on Friday as he didn’t drop a shot and moved to 9-under 133, one shot ahead of Joost Luiten (69) and Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, who eagled the 18th hole for the second day in a row in shooting a 68.
Stephen Gallacher failed to recover from his opening round of 78 at Celtic Manor, with his 70 leaving him five shots below the cut line. Fellow Ryder Cup player Lee Westwood nearly missed the cut but birdied two of his closing four holes for a 69 to sit nine shots behind Lowry. Westwood will be making his ninth straight Ryder Cup appearance for Europe, but this is his first tournament since missing the cut at The Barclays last month.
Jamie Donaldson, another Ryder Cup rookie, remains well-placed to become the first Welshman to win the Wales Open after a bogey-free 67 put him four shots back. Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn, who is playing in his first Ryder Cup since 2002, added a 69 to move to 2 under.
Bryan Angus ( files from europeantour.com )
Friday, September 19, 2014
Scotland votes "Nae"..
Scots have rejected independence from the United Kingdom, by a vote of 55.3 per cent to 44.7 per cent, in a referendum that was watched closely by the rest of Britain, its allies, investors and restive regions at home and abroad.
As I wrote yesterday Scotland will still be part of the United Kingdom, but here could still be negotiations and changes about Scotland's status within the union. British Finance Minister George Osborne had pledged to give the Scots more fiscal and budgetary autonomy and more control over welfare if they voted No.
So we will benefit from the vote, to the straightforward question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”
There was a 97% turn out !!
So business as usual today, although there is a high percentage of absenteeism from work this morning as the celebrations went on well into the wee hours...
Bryan
As I wrote yesterday Scotland will still be part of the United Kingdom, but here could still be negotiations and changes about Scotland's status within the union. British Finance Minister George Osborne had pledged to give the Scots more fiscal and budgetary autonomy and more control over welfare if they voted No.
So we will benefit from the vote, to the straightforward question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”
There was a 97% turn out !!
So business as usual today, although there is a high percentage of absenteeism from work this morning as the celebrations went on well into the wee hours...
Bryan
Colsaerts hits 447 yard drive... Luiten leads in Wales
Live scoring click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014074/leaderboard/index.html
Round 2 is underway in Newport after Joost Luiten birdied seven of his last 10 holes to grab a one-shot lead in the first round of the Wales Open at Celtic Manor on Thursday.
Of Europe’s four Ryder Cup players in the field, Jamie Donaldson shot a quiet 1-under 70, Thomas Bjorn birdied the 18th to finish on par, Lee Westwood, who hasn’t played in a month, bogeyed his last two holes to card a 2-over 73, and Stephen Gallacher failed to manage a birdie in a 7-over 78.
Bryan Angus (files from europeantour.com)
Round 2 is underway in Newport after Joost Luiten birdied seven of his last 10 holes to grab a one-shot lead in the first round of the Wales Open at Celtic Manor on Thursday.
One shot behind and tied for second with Andrew McArthur of Scotland was former Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts, who hit the longest recorded European Tour drive.
The Belgium-born Colsaerts, who played in the 2012 Ryder Cup, hit his tee shot 447 yards at the 575-yard, par-five 18th hole. That left him with a wedge to the green, and he walked off with an eagle three.
Of Europe’s four Ryder Cup players in the field, Jamie Donaldson shot a quiet 1-under 70, Thomas Bjorn birdied the 18th to finish on par, Lee Westwood, who hasn’t played in a month, bogeyed his last two holes to card a 2-over 73, and Stephen Gallacher failed to manage a birdie in a 7-over 78.
Bryan Angus (files from europeantour.com)
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Scotland will vote "No", but will reap benefits of a strong Yes campaign..
All eyes will be on Gleneagles next weekend for the Ryder Cup, by far the 3 most thrilling days in golf, arguably in sport, but today the world is watching for a far more important reason as we Scots all vote yeah or nae for our independence..
In my opinion, after all the rhetoric, and all the votes are in, Scotland will still be part of the UK, but as all 3 political leaders ( David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg all made a last-ditch visit north of the border to make a final plea for unity,) the country will benefit from all the promises being thrown their way to vote No..
I've seen this all before with the SNP in the 70's rallying the "Braveheart " inherent in all of us, buoyed by years of government from Westminster that often bears no resemblance to the vote in Scotland..
When Maggie Thatcher swept to power on the blue tide of Conservatism 1979 -90 followed by John Major 1990 -97 , Scotland consistently voted overwhelmingly Labour or SNP
After 20 years of Tory rule, even the arrival of Labour's Tony Blair who established devolved government following simple majority referenda in Wales and Scotland in September 1997 and who established by law the Scottish Parliament, was not enough for many Scots who this time around have voted for a majority SNP
A number of the world’s biggest banks and financial experts have warned of disastrous economic consequences for the UK if Scotland votes for independence.
Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Societe Generale, JP Morgan, RBC Capital Markets and Credit Suisse all made dire predictions about the country’s finances as they warned clients of the increased risk of investing in Britain in the event of a Yes vote.
To all the YES voters I say enjoy the euphoria, thanks for bringing the attention of the world to our plight, take it easy in the pub, because tomorrow when you get up to go to work it will be business as usual, with a few more benefits thrown in.
We will remain as proud and fiercely patriotic as ever, Scots first and Brits second but after 5000 years of evolution, as warm a dream as independence is, we remain a wee nation of 4.8 million tied forever to Wales, Northern Ireland and yes the auld enemy England, and it is simply too big a risk to take to rent all that asunder..
Our hearts may say Yeah but our heads must say Nae...
Bryan Angus
In my opinion, after all the rhetoric, and all the votes are in, Scotland will still be part of the UK, but as all 3 political leaders ( David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg all made a last-ditch visit north of the border to make a final plea for unity,) the country will benefit from all the promises being thrown their way to vote No..
I've seen this all before with the SNP in the 70's rallying the "Braveheart " inherent in all of us, buoyed by years of government from Westminster that often bears no resemblance to the vote in Scotland..
When Maggie Thatcher swept to power on the blue tide of Conservatism 1979 -90 followed by John Major 1990 -97 , Scotland consistently voted overwhelmingly Labour or SNP
After 20 years of Tory rule, even the arrival of Labour's Tony Blair who established devolved government following simple majority referenda in Wales and Scotland in September 1997 and who established by law the Scottish Parliament, was not enough for many Scots who this time around have voted for a majority SNP
A number of the world’s biggest banks and financial experts have warned of disastrous economic consequences for the UK if Scotland votes for independence.
Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Societe Generale, JP Morgan, RBC Capital Markets and Credit Suisse all made dire predictions about the country’s finances as they warned clients of the increased risk of investing in Britain in the event of a Yes vote.
To all the YES voters I say enjoy the euphoria, thanks for bringing the attention of the world to our plight, take it easy in the pub, because tomorrow when you get up to go to work it will be business as usual, with a few more benefits thrown in.
We will remain as proud and fiercely patriotic as ever, Scots first and Brits second but after 5000 years of evolution, as warm a dream as independence is, we remain a wee nation of 4.8 million tied forever to Wales, Northern Ireland and yes the auld enemy England, and it is simply too big a risk to take to rent all that asunder..
Our hearts may say Yeah but our heads must say Nae...
Bryan Angus
Wales Open underway at Celtic Manor
4 members of the European Ryder Cup team headline a strong field at Celtic Manor the week before all eyes will turn to Gleneagles..
Thomas Bjorn, Stephen Gallagher, Lee Westwood and Welshman Jamie Donaldson are all hoping to fine tune their games with strong performances this weekend..
Live scoring click here http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014074/leaderboard/index.html
Thomas Bjorn, Stephen Gallagher, Lee Westwood and Welshman Jamie Donaldson are all hoping to fine tune their games with strong performances this weekend..
Live scoring click here http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014074/leaderboard/index.html
No surprise Rory wins PGA Player of the Year
Rory McIlroy is the Vardon Trophy winner and the PGA of America’s player of the year for the second time.
McIlroy won the points-based player of the year award on the strength of his two majors at the British Open and PGA Championship. Winning two majors comes with a 50-point bonus. McIlroy also won the Bridgestone Invitational. McIlroy had an adjusted scoring average of 68.62 to win the Vardon Trophy over Sergio Garcia (68.95).
The 25-year-old from Northern Ireland also won the PGA’s player of the year and the Vardon Trophy in 2012.
The PGA Tour awards a separate award for player of the year based on a vote of the players. Voting for that ends Sept. 25.
Thornhill member Judith Kyrinis reaches US Senior Women's final
Following 2nd place finishes at the World Amateur Championships for both our women and men more great news for Canadian amateur golf in this report from CP..
DEAL, N.J. – Joan Higgins and Canada’s Judith Kyrinis have advanced to the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur final, winning two matches Wednesday at Hollywood Golf Club.
The 58-year-old Higgins, a former University of Wisconsin tennis player who lives in Glendora, California, beat the reigning Canadian Women’s Senior champion Helene Chartrand 1 up in the morning quarterfinals, and then went in to top Kareen Markle of Meridian, Idaho, 2 and 1 in the semifinals.
The 50-year-old Kyrinis, a registered nurse in Toronto and member of Thornhill Golf & Country Club, had two 3-and-2 victories over past champions. She beat 2010 winner Mina Hardin of Mexico in the quarterfinals and 2011 winner Terri Frohnmayer of Salem, Oregon, in the semifinals.
“It’s awesome,” Kyrinis said. “It’s been awhile for me to get back here and play some good golf.”
Attempting to become the first Canadian winner since Marlene Stewart Streit in 2003, Kyrinis was a semifinalist in the 2000 Mid-Amateur.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Greg Norman will recover from gruesome chain shaw accident
AP....Greg Norman is recovering from a chain saw accident that nearly cost him his left hand, but not his sense of humor. “At least I can still play tennis,” Norman told The Associated Press by phone Sunday morning.
Immediately after the accident doctors gave Newton a 50-50 chance of surviving. He spent several days in a coma and eight weeks in intensive care. After a prolonged rehabilitation from his injuries, Newton returned to public life as a television and radio golf commentator, newspaper reporter, golf course designer, public speaker and Chairman of the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation.
Bryan Angus
Norman, was cutting back trees in his South Florida home when the weight of a branch pulled his left hand toward the chain saw. He said the blade hit him just below where a person would be wearing a wrist watch. He said doctors told him it missed his artery by a fraction of an inch.
“Thank God the blade wasn’t running full speed or it would have taken my hand off,” Norman said. “I handled everything as calmly as I could. There is no major damage. There is nerve damage, but no muscular damage. They fixed me up and here I am.” He is expected to make a full recovery.
When I heard the story my mind went back to his fellow Australian Jack Newton who
on 24 July 1983, during the height of his professional career, had a near-fatal accident when he walked into the spinning propeller of a Cessna airplane he was about to board at Sydney Airport; he was about to return to Newcastle having flown to Sydney that morning to see an AFL game. He lost his right arm and eye and sustained severe abdominal injuries. A severe rainstorm was in progress at the time, and in addition, safety aspects near the plane were deficient.Immediately after the accident doctors gave Newton a 50-50 chance of surviving. He spent several days in a coma and eight weeks in intensive care. After a prolonged rehabilitation from his injuries, Newton returned to public life as a television and radio golf commentator, newspaper reporter, golf course designer, public speaker and Chairman of the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation.
Bryan Angus
South Korea's Kim wins LPGA major in France
AP....EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France – South Korean teenager Hyo-Joo Kim beat Australian veteran Karrie Webb by one shot on to win the Evian Championship and become the third youngest major winner at 19 years, 2 months. At one point in the final round the top 4 players were all from South Korea
Kim trailed the 39-year-old Webb by one shot heading into the final hole. But she turned the tables with a birdie from 12 feet out, and Webb then missed a chance to force a playoff when a difficult attempt for par from the same distance drifted left of the hole.
Kim, who finished on 11-under 273, had already set a record for lowest round in any major with a 61 on Thursday and that as they say folks was the turning point
Final scoring click http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx
What a weekend for Paul Casey
Final scoring click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014072/leaderboard/index.html
Scores like 62 66 on a weekend will usually do it for you and that was the case at the KLM Open where new dad Paul Casey at 14 under, won by a single shot ahead of fellow Englishman Simon Dyson. Casey’s win came less than two weeks after his partner gave birth to their first son.
Scores like 62 66 on a weekend will usually do it for you and that was the case at the KLM Open where new dad Paul Casey at 14 under, won by a single shot ahead of fellow Englishman Simon Dyson. Casey’s win came less than two weeks after his partner gave birth to their first son.
Casey, one of the real nice guys in golf, looked to be cruising to victory before recording his only bogey of the day at the par-three 15th. Dyson, looking for his fourth KLM Open title, birdied the 18th to move within a shot of the lead, but Casey comfortably closed out with pars on the 17th and 18th for his 13th European Tour title.
Andy Sullivan completed an all-English top three, thanks in part to a hole-in-one on the 15th which won him a 100,000-euro seat on a commercial flight into space offered by a sponsor.
Williams wins Tour Championship, Dahmen Player of the Year
PGA Tour Canada...Brian Decker
LONDON, Ont. – After the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial was captured by Vancouver’s Ryan Williams, Joel Dahmen wrapped up PGA TOUR Canada Player of the Year honours at the 2014 season’s final event. The 26-year old Dahmen, who led the Order of Merit wire-to-wire and finished the season with $80,992 in earnings, is one of five players who earned status on the Web.com Tour in 2015.
Dahmen, who won two of the first three events on PGA TOUR Canada this season at the PC Financial Open and the Syncrude Boreal Open presented by AECON, finished $20,873 ahead of No. 2 Matt Harmon and will be fully exempt on the Web.com Tour next season.
Williams, a 33-year old in his sixth season on PGA TOUR Canada, carded a final round 68 to reach 14-under par and win by one over fellow British Columbian and travelling roommate Adam Cornelson along with Minnesotan Clayton Rask. The win moves him to No. 6 on the Order of Merit, earning an exemption into the final stage of Web.com Tour Q-School.
Final scoring click http://www.pgatour.com/canada/en_us/leaderboard.html
LONDON, Ont. – After the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial was captured by Vancouver’s Ryan Williams, Joel Dahmen wrapped up PGA TOUR Canada Player of the Year honours at the 2014 season’s final event. The 26-year old Dahmen, who led the Order of Merit wire-to-wire and finished the season with $80,992 in earnings, is one of five players who earned status on the Web.com Tour in 2015.
Dahmen, who won two of the first three events on PGA TOUR Canada this season at the PC Financial Open and the Syncrude Boreal Open presented by AECON, finished $20,873 ahead of No. 2 Matt Harmon and will be fully exempt on the Web.com Tour next season.
Williams, a 33-year old in his sixth season on PGA TOUR Canada, carded a final round 68 to reach 14-under par and win by one over fellow British Columbian and travelling roommate Adam Cornelson along with Minnesotan Clayton Rask. The win moves him to No. 6 on the Order of Merit, earning an exemption into the final stage of Web.com Tour Q-School.
Final scoring click http://www.pgatour.com/canada/en_us/leaderboard.html
Huge day for Horschel... Flop for Fed Ex...
Final scoring http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
Billy Horschel got a hot hand when it mattered most. He shot nothing but 60s in his last 12 rounds. He was 69th in the Fed Ex Cup standings a month ago then was runner-up in Boston, a winner in Denver and he capped a blistering 3 weeks with a 3 shot win in Atlanta this weekend.
Rory McIlroy messed up early in his round allowing Horschel to get ahead, then he holed two clutch putts to hold off Jim Furyk on the back nine. He closed with a 2-under 68 for a three-shot victory in the Tour Championship and he and his very pregnant wife collected an obscene $11.4m and 5 years exemption on the PGA Tour.
Furyk closed with two bogeys for a 69 and his fourth runner-up finish this year, he and Rickie Fowler and Sergio have been playing second fiddle all summer to McIlroy who never recovered from three straight bogeys around the turn. He finished with a 71 and wound up No. 3 in the FedEx Cup, which is worth $2 million in addition to his prize money this week.
So after a hot humid muggy mostly forgettable week at East Lake in Atlanta, Horschel joins the ranks of Bill Haas in 2011 to hit the jackpot, and I predict now that he is set for life he will go on to have a nice career on Tour, not spectacular, not a needle mover in the ratings game, but nice..just like this Fed Ex Cup..
As I wrote on Wednesday, these playoffs needed Rory to be the story to cap off his great summer, maybe that will happen at Gleneagles in a fortnight. Heck Jim Furyk who won this in 2010 would have been a nice story...Rickie after his top 3 in all the majors would have been a bigger story.. The finally grown up Sergio would have been a bigger story..
The PGA tour has done about all it can to wrap up their year with these playoffs, but they just don't work, there is no drama, no tension, no umph !!
You'll see plenty of that in 2 weeks, the Ryder Cup has all the ingredients these playoffs so badly lack.
Perhaps they should just go back to wrapping the year up after the PGA Championship then play the Ryder or Presidents Cup as the icing on the cake..
Congrats to Billy Horschel and his family, I don't mean to rain on their parade but these playoffs are being ignored by the general public and this win will soon be forgotten by all but the ardent golf fan..
Bryan Angus
Billy Horschel got a hot hand when it mattered most. He shot nothing but 60s in his last 12 rounds. He was 69th in the Fed Ex Cup standings a month ago then was runner-up in Boston, a winner in Denver and he capped a blistering 3 weeks with a 3 shot win in Atlanta this weekend.
Rory McIlroy messed up early in his round allowing Horschel to get ahead, then he holed two clutch putts to hold off Jim Furyk on the back nine. He closed with a 2-under 68 for a three-shot victory in the Tour Championship and he and his very pregnant wife collected an obscene $11.4m and 5 years exemption on the PGA Tour.
Furyk closed with two bogeys for a 69 and his fourth runner-up finish this year, he and Rickie Fowler and Sergio have been playing second fiddle all summer to McIlroy who never recovered from three straight bogeys around the turn. He finished with a 71 and wound up No. 3 in the FedEx Cup, which is worth $2 million in addition to his prize money this week.
So after a hot humid muggy mostly forgettable week at East Lake in Atlanta, Horschel joins the ranks of Bill Haas in 2011 to hit the jackpot, and I predict now that he is set for life he will go on to have a nice career on Tour, not spectacular, not a needle mover in the ratings game, but nice..just like this Fed Ex Cup..
As I wrote on Wednesday, these playoffs needed Rory to be the story to cap off his great summer, maybe that will happen at Gleneagles in a fortnight. Heck Jim Furyk who won this in 2010 would have been a nice story...Rickie after his top 3 in all the majors would have been a bigger story.. The finally grown up Sergio would have been a bigger story..
The PGA tour has done about all it can to wrap up their year with these playoffs, but they just don't work, there is no drama, no tension, no umph !!
You'll see plenty of that in 2 weeks, the Ryder Cup has all the ingredients these playoffs so badly lack.
Perhaps they should just go back to wrapping the year up after the PGA Championship then play the Ryder or Presidents Cup as the icing on the cake..
Congrats to Billy Horschel and his family, I don't mean to rain on their parade but these playoffs are being ignored by the general public and this win will soon be forgotten by all but the ardent golf fan..
Bryan Angus
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Canada's Ryan Williams leads Tour Championhip in London
Live scoring click here http://www.pgatour.com/canada/en_us/leaderboard.html
LONDON, Ont. – Vancouver’s Ryan Williams carded a 7-under 65 on Friday at Sunningdale Golf & Country Club to take a one stroke lead through 36 holes at the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial.
The 33-year old was bogey-free on Sunday, matching his low round of the season to reach 10-under through two rounds, one clear of Kalamazoo, Michigan’s Erik Barnes and two clear of playing partner and travelling companion Adam Cornelson. With one event to go to make the most of his 2014 season, Williams said he was firing on all cylinders this week in London.
“I worked a little harder this week than I think I have in the previous weeks,” said Williams. “The game’s clicking right now, but you know, it’s only two days and I’ve put myself in a good position for the weekend. It should be fun.”
Williams comes to Sunningdale with two top-10s and four top-25 finishes on the year, but seven missed cuts, including four by a single shot. The seven-year PGA TOUR Canada veteran said the frustration got to him at times this season, but that he knew he was on the verge of playing well with one week to go.
Brian Decker (PGA Tour Canada)
LONDON, Ont. – Vancouver’s Ryan Williams carded a 7-under 65 on Friday at Sunningdale Golf & Country Club to take a one stroke lead through 36 holes at the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial.
The 33-year old was bogey-free on Sunday, matching his low round of the season to reach 10-under through two rounds, one clear of Kalamazoo, Michigan’s Erik Barnes and two clear of playing partner and travelling companion Adam Cornelson. With one event to go to make the most of his 2014 season, Williams said he was firing on all cylinders this week in London.
“I worked a little harder this week than I think I have in the previous weeks,” said Williams. “The game’s clicking right now, but you know, it’s only two days and I’ve put myself in a good position for the weekend. It should be fun.”
Williams comes to Sunningdale with two top-10s and four top-25 finishes on the year, but seven missed cuts, including four by a single shot. The seven-year PGA TOUR Canada veteran said the frustration got to him at times this season, but that he knew he was on the verge of playing well with one week to go.
Brian Decker (PGA Tour Canada)
Casey making a big move on Larrazabal today at KLM Open
Live scoring click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014072/leaderboard/index.html
Play in round 3 is well underway today after Pablo Larrazabal broke the course record at Kennemer Golf & Country Club on Friday, shooting an eight under 62 to take the lead at the halfway stage of the KLM Open at 10 under.
Play in round 3 is well underway today after Pablo Larrazabal broke the course record at Kennemer Golf & Country Club on Friday, shooting an eight under 62 to take the lead at the halfway stage of the KLM Open at 10 under.
The Spaniard got off to a blistering start, birdying his first six holes, and did not drop a shot until a bogey on his 17th hole of the day, the par three eighth. He followed that with another birdie to break the Kennemer Golf & Country Club course record by a shot and go to 10 under after two rounds.
Romain Wattel of France also got off to a strong start on the back nine with four birdies on his way to a five under 65 to take him into second place, level with Edoardo Molinari, who recorded his second consecutive round of 66 to put him two shots behind Larrazabal
Paul Casey is making a big move today at -6 through 13 holes, -8 total just 2 shots behind Larrazabal..
Bryan Angus (files from europeantour.com)
Lincicome continues fine play in France.
Live scoring click http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx
AP....EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France – Brittany Lincicome had six birdies in a 6-under 65 to take a one-shot lead from Hyo-Joo Kim of South Korea at the halfway stage of the Evian Championship on Friday.
The 28-year-old American has won a major before, the Kraft Nabisco in 2009, but clinched the last of her five LPGA titles in 2011 at the Canadian Women’s Open. She finished second behind South Korea’s Inbee Park at this year’s LPGA Championship, when she also led after 36 holes.
Lincicome’s relaxed frame of mind is down to an unusual practice technique – whereby she hits balls bare-footed on the driving range.
“It just slows it down, my tempo. Obviously I can’t swing as hard as I would like to with no shoes on because I will fall,” she said. “It makes me swing a lot slower, which is really good for me. With a driver I tend to want to hit it really hard, and with no shoes on I can’t do that.”
Inbee Park, meanwhile, is tied for 20th at 1-under and drifting out of contention for a sixth major.
The day after making history with the lowest ever score in a women’s or men’s major with a 10-under 61, Kim (73 -9 ) had four bogeys and rescued her round with three birdies on the back nine – including a 35-footer on the last hole.
Countrywoman Mi-Jung Hur is three shots behind Lincicome, while veteran Karrie Webb of Australia and defending champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway are four shots back. The 39-year-old Webb is chasing an eighth major – her last was the Kraft Nabisco in 2006 – while Pettersen is eyeing a third.
One shot behind them are No. 1-ranked Stacy Lewis of the U.S., 17-year-old Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn.
Team Canada finishes 2nd at World Amateurs' in Japan
Despite a final combined round score of -11, Team Canada has just finished 2nd to the USA. Canada ended up at 538, while the Americans prevailed at 536...
Adam Svensson's -7 65 led the way while Corey Connors followed with -4 68. Taylor Pendrith had a non scoring -2 70.
The USA was led by Dennis McCarthy's brilliant -8 64, just as well as partners Bryson DeChambeau could only manage +1 73 while Beau Hosler came in at +3 75. DeChambeau was 12 shots worse than his scorching 61 on Friday..
Final scoreboard http://www.igfgolf.org/watc/watc2014/eisenhower-trophy-scoring/
Bryan Angus
Adam Svensson's -7 65 led the way while Corey Connors followed with -4 68. Taylor Pendrith had a non scoring -2 70.
The USA was led by Dennis McCarthy's brilliant -8 64, just as well as partners Bryson DeChambeau could only manage +1 73 while Beau Hosler came in at +3 75. DeChambeau was 12 shots worse than his scorching 61 on Friday..
Final scoreboard http://www.igfgolf.org/watc/watc2014/eisenhower-trophy-scoring/
Bryan Angus
Horschel leads into the sweaty weekend at East Lake..Tee times for Saturday
Live scoring click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
AP...Billy Horschel showed why he might be the hottest player in golf at the moment with another 4-under 66 on Friday in the Tour Championship. It was his 10th straight round in the 60s. He already has a victory and a runner-up finish in the FedEx Cup playoffs
Rory McIlroy rode three big putts and one bizarre break – a tee shot landed in a spectator’s pocket – on his way to a 65 that left him two shots behind and put him in the final group at East Lake going into the homestretch of the FedEx Cup.
AP...Billy Horschel showed why he might be the hottest player in golf at the moment with another 4-under 66 on Friday in the Tour Championship. It was his 10th straight round in the 60s. He already has a victory and a runner-up finish in the FedEx Cup playoffs
Rory McIlroy rode three big putts and one bizarre break – a tee shot landed in a spectator’s pocket – on his way to a 65 that left him two shots behind and put him in the final group at East Lake going into the homestretch of the FedEx Cup.
Horschel is 35 under par in his last 10 rounds. He was runner-up at the Deutsche Bank Championship two weeks ago, when he squandered a shot to at least get into a playoff by chunking a 6-iron into a hazard. And he followed that with a victory in the BMW Championship at Cherry Hills.
McIlroy made his only bogey with a buried lie at the face of a bunker on No. 4, causing him to blast out sideways. He bounced back with birdies, and poured it on at the end of his round with a 12-foot par save, a 20-foot birdie and a 25-foot birdie.
And then there was his par on the 14th, which looked ordinary only on paper. His tee shot drifted right into the pine trees, clattered around and dropped straight down. No one knew where it went until a fan realized it had fallen into the front pocket of his shorts.
McIlroy was joined by Jason Day, who made bogey on his last hole for a 67; and Chris Kirk, who made two bogeys on the back nine that offset a run of four straight birdies around the turn for a 68.
Tee times for round 3 http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/tour-championship-by-coca-cola/tee-times.html. Geoff Ogilvy playing with a marker tees it up at 1215est to get play started..
It will be another listless, hot humid day in Atlanta, 28* scheduled high, 100% humidity and 10 % chance of rain, thunderstorms..
And now he has a pair of 66s, putting him at 8-under 132 at East Lake
Friday, September 12, 2014
Canada now 3rd at World Amateurs' in Japan
Live scoring http://www.igfgolf.org/watc/watc2014/eisenhower-trophy-scoring/
KARUIZAWA, Japan – Team Canada’s trio combined for an 9-under 133 on the Oshitate Course to sit in a tie for third after 54-holes at the World Amateur Team Championship at Karuizawa 72 Golf East.
Overall, the Canadian contingent sits at 25-under par, tied for third with Spain, three strokes behind second place Sweden, and six back of the leading Americans.
U.S.A made a surge up the leaderboard thanks to Bryson DeChambeau’s record-setting 61. DeChambeau closed out his round with six consecutive birdies to lift the Americans into sole possession of first place.
The Canadians were led by Adam Svensson from Surrey, B.C, who is entering his junior year at Barry University, carded a 5-under 66 that was highlighted by a string of four birdies over six holes on the back nine. He currently shares a tie for 17th on the individual leaderboard.
The other Canadian score counting for the day was posted Corey Conners. This year’s U.S. Amateur runner-up recorded a 4-under 67, with an eagle on the par-5 15th. The 22-year-old Kent State graduate leads the Canadians individually at 12-under par in a tie for 8th.
Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. shot a non-counting 69 as the team’s highest score for the day. He shares a tie for 17th with Svensson and three others
Golf Canada
Yet another South Korean makes history on LPGA Tour..
Live scoring http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx
South Korean teen Hyo-Joo Kim made history look easy, with barely a glitch as she posted the lowest score ever in a major with a 10-under 61 to open the Evian Championship
Her good experience exceeded the previous best score in a major of 62, by Minea Blomqvist of Finland in the third round of the 2004 British Open – also when she was 19 – and Lorena Ochoa in the first round of the 2006 Kraft Nabisco Championship. In a men’s major, 63 is the lowest, and it has been achieved multiple times
She takes a four-shot lead over veteran Karrie Webb into the second round of the last major of the year
Korean Mi-Jung Hur was five behind Kim in third after a round of 66, while defending champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway and Brittany Lincicome of the U.S. were six behind.
Inbee Park, bidding for back-to-back majors after defending her title at the LPGA Championship, was tied for 12th at 2 under
Today she has posted a +1 72 but is still the leader at -9 with round 2 underway..
Bryan Angus (files from lpgatour.com)
Kirk, Horschel tied for the lead in Atlanta..
Play has been moved up and is well underway in round 2 with stormy weather scheduled for this afternoon..
Yesterday ....
AP.... Chris Kirk and Billy Horschel took a big step Thursday toward the biggest
payoff in golf. Both players already have won FedEx Cup playoff events to earn the top two seeds going into the Tour Championship. Playing together in the last group at East Lake, they both made late birdies and were tied for the lead at 4-under 66.
If either of them were to win the Tour Championship, they would capture the FedEx Cup and the $10 million bonus. Masters champion Bubba Watson isn’t out of the mix just yet. He made bogey from the bunker on the last hole for a 67 and was one shot behind, along with Jim Furyk, Patrick Reed and Jason Day.
Rory McIlroy made enough par saves to grind out a 69'
The weather for today is hot, 31*c, 30 % chance of rain, possible thunder storms..
Live scoring click http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
Clutch putt wins McCann PGA Assistants' title..
Brian McCann made a dramatic 12-foot par putt on the final hole to win the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy.
The 39-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., shot a three-day total of 6-under-par 210 for the one-stroke victory over G.W. King of Thornbury, Ont., and Mississauga, Ont.’s, Nick Kenney.
“I had 60-yards to the pin on (hole) 18 and with the golf course being this wet, I got the club stuck in the ground,” McCann said about his approach to the par-5 finisher at The Ridge at Manitou in McKellar, Ont. “So, then I have this 10 or 12-yard shot to get up and down and I didn’t really hit that one well either. But I knew I had to make par to win the golf tournament and I made it right in the middle.”
With the dramatic victory, the Brampton Golf Club PGA assistant professional becomes a two-time winner of the PGA Assistants’ Championship, hoisting the trophy previously in 2010
golf Canada
The 39-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., shot a three-day total of 6-under-par 210 for the one-stroke victory over G.W. King of Thornbury, Ont., and Mississauga, Ont.’s, Nick Kenney.
“I had 60-yards to the pin on (hole) 18 and with the golf course being this wet, I got the club stuck in the ground,” McCann said about his approach to the par-5 finisher at The Ridge at Manitou in McKellar, Ont. “So, then I have this 10 or 12-yard shot to get up and down and I didn’t really hit that one well either. But I knew I had to make par to win the golf tournament and I made it right in the middle.”
With the dramatic victory, the Brampton Golf Club PGA assistant professional becomes a two-time winner of the PGA Assistants’ Championship, hoisting the trophy previously in 2010
golf Canada
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Player takes a shot in the head at KLM Open
europeantour.com..Home favourite Joost Luiten made a perfect start to his title defence as the KLM Open began in The Netherlands.
The Dutchman was level par through 11 holes at Kennemer Golf & Country Club when play was briefly suspended, but stormed home with three birdies and an eagle in his last seven holes for a five under par 65.
That was one ahead of 22 year old Frenchman Gary Stal, who carded 32 on a flawless front nine which included four birdies, and Italy’s Edoardo Molinari.
“I played well and didn’t make any mistakes said Luiten. That’s the key on this course, keep the ball in play and take your chances. For me it was a good solid round and I hit some nice spots.
“You have to take your chances. Sometimes you can be conservative and take irons off the tee but if you feel good with the drive you have to hit it and make a tough hole into a birdie hole. It all depends how the winds but I was hitting my drive well and I tried to take advantage of that.”
The delay occurred after this season's BMW International Open winner Fabrizio Zanotti was injured by a ball struck from the 14th tee by Alexandre Kaleka when he was on the 16th fairway.
The 31 year old did not lose consciousness and received treatment on the course from a doctor and a paramedic before he was then taken to hospital as a precaution where he was accompanied by fellow players Felipe Aguilar and Ricardo Gonzalez, who withdrew from the tournament to stay with him. He is now recovering in his hotel room.
Live scoring click http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014072/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
The Dutchman was level par through 11 holes at Kennemer Golf & Country Club when play was briefly suspended, but stormed home with three birdies and an eagle in his last seven holes for a five under par 65.
That was one ahead of 22 year old Frenchman Gary Stal, who carded 32 on a flawless front nine which included four birdies, and Italy’s Edoardo Molinari.
“I played well and didn’t make any mistakes said Luiten. That’s the key on this course, keep the ball in play and take your chances. For me it was a good solid round and I hit some nice spots.
“You have to take your chances. Sometimes you can be conservative and take irons off the tee but if you feel good with the drive you have to hit it and make a tough hole into a birdie hole. It all depends how the winds but I was hitting my drive well and I tried to take advantage of that.”
The delay occurred after this season's BMW International Open winner Fabrizio Zanotti was injured by a ball struck from the 14th tee by Alexandre Kaleka when he was on the 16th fairway.
The 31 year old did not lose consciousness and received treatment on the course from a doctor and a paramedic before he was then taken to hospital as a precaution where he was accompanied by fellow players Felipe Aguilar and Ricardo Gonzalez, who withdrew from the tournament to stay with him. He is now recovering in his hotel room.
Canada slips to 5th at World Amateur
Day 2 of the Men's World Amateur's in Japan is over.. Here is a report from Tyler Costigan of Golf Canada
KARUIZAWA, Japan – Canada combined for a 6-under 136 in Thursday’s second round to slip to fifth place (-16) at the men’s World Amateur Team Championship at Karuizawa 72 Golf East.
The Canadians held the lead at 19-under par through 15 holes but lost four strokes in the last three holes to sit alone in fifth. Sweden, Switzerland and the U.S. share a tie for second, while Argentina holds the outright lead at 18-under.
“Both days, we gave a few shots back on the way in,” said Canadian captain Graham Hill. “It’s something we will talk about tonight. There are lots of low scores and it’s a bunched up leaderboard. While it’s not exactly what we wanted, 6-under is still a good score and we are still right there.”
The Canadian trio was led by Richmond Hill's Taylor Pendrith. The 23-year-old carded seven birdies on the day en route to a 4-under 67 on the Oshitate Course. His teammate, and Co-Mid-American Conference player of the year, Corey Conners, carded a 2-under 69. The Listowel, Ont. native sits at 8-under in a tie for 12th with Pendrith on the individual leaderboard.
Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., matched Conners with a 69 as the team’s second lowest counting score for the day. The 2014 Jack Nicklaus award winner sits at 5-under individually (69-69).
The Canadian contingent is back on the Iriyama Course for Friday’s third round. They will tee-off starting at 11:05 a.m. (JST), grouped with Sweden and Spain.
Click here for team scoring
Click here for individual scoring
KARUIZAWA, Japan – Canada combined for a 6-under 136 in Thursday’s second round to slip to fifth place (-16) at the men’s World Amateur Team Championship at Karuizawa 72 Golf East.
The Canadians held the lead at 19-under par through 15 holes but lost four strokes in the last three holes to sit alone in fifth. Sweden, Switzerland and the U.S. share a tie for second, while Argentina holds the outright lead at 18-under.
“Both days, we gave a few shots back on the way in,” said Canadian captain Graham Hill. “It’s something we will talk about tonight. There are lots of low scores and it’s a bunched up leaderboard. While it’s not exactly what we wanted, 6-under is still a good score and we are still right there.”
The Canadian trio was led by Richmond Hill's Taylor Pendrith. The 23-year-old carded seven birdies on the day en route to a 4-under 67 on the Oshitate Course. His teammate, and Co-Mid-American Conference player of the year, Corey Conners, carded a 2-under 69. The Listowel, Ont. native sits at 8-under in a tie for 12th with Pendrith on the individual leaderboard.
Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., matched Conners with a 69 as the team’s second lowest counting score for the day. The 2014 Jack Nicklaus award winner sits at 5-under individually (69-69).
The Canadian contingent is back on the Iriyama Course for Friday’s third round. They will tee-off starting at 11:05 a.m. (JST), grouped with Sweden and Spain.
Click here for team scoring
Click here for individual scoring
Teeing up this weekend..Live scoreboards
While all eyes are on East Lake GC in Atlanta for the season ending Tour Championship, the culmination of the Fed Ex Cup there is as always a feast of golf around the world. Here are their storylines and live scoreboards..
PGA Tour Championship
http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
It will be hot and muggy in Atlanta all weekend, lot's of thunder, lightning and rain in the forecast with next to no wind. Result, soft course, low scores..Today there is just a 20% chance of rain but that jumps to 90% on Friday Click here for the weather
http://www.weather.com/weather/5-day/Atlanta+GA+USGA0028
PGA of Canada Tour Championship
http://www.pgatour.com/canada/en_us/leaderboard.html
The Tour Championship, kicks off this morning at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club in London has been altered this year where it will be a tournament without a cut and only open to top 60 players on the order of merit. Players finishing one through five on the money list gain access to the Web.com Tour, while those sixth through 10 earn exemptions into the final stage of Web.com Tour qualifying school, and those players from 11 to 20 get into second stage.
Men's World Amateur Championship
http://www.igfgolf.org/watc/watc2014/eisenhower-trophy-scoring/
The men’s trio of Corey Conners, Taylor Pendrith and Adam Svensson have continued the success for Canada at the World Amateur Championship, firing a 10-under 134 to share the lead with Sweden and Switzerland after Wednesday’s opening round at Karuizawa 72 Golf East.
LPGA Evian Championship
http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx
This event in Evian France has been elevated to 5th major status, Alena Sharp is the only Canadian, Karrie Webb is late in her first round and leads at -5..
Web.com Tour
Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship
http://www.pgatour.com/webcom/tournaments/nationwide-children-s-hospital-championship/leaderboard.html
European Tour
KLM Open, Zandvoort, Holland
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014072/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Play has been suspended when Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti was hit on the head by a golf ball. Zanotti, who won the BMW International Open earlier this season, was on the 16th fairway when he was injured by a ball struck from the 14th tee.
The 31 year old received treatment on the course and was then taken to hospital. Zanotti had started his round from the tenth at Kennemer Golf Club and was level par after six holes when the incident occurred
The final round goes today with Bill Walsh of Markham, Brian McCann of Mississauga and Bryn Parry of North Vancouver tied for the lead at -5.
Bryan Angus
(files from europeantour.com, golf Canada )
PGA Tour Championship
http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
It will be hot and muggy in Atlanta all weekend, lot's of thunder, lightning and rain in the forecast with next to no wind. Result, soft course, low scores..Today there is just a 20% chance of rain but that jumps to 90% on Friday Click here for the weather
http://www.weather.com/weather/5-day/Atlanta+GA+USGA0028
PGA of Canada Tour Championship
http://www.pgatour.com/canada/en_us/leaderboard.html
The Tour Championship, kicks off this morning at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club in London has been altered this year where it will be a tournament without a cut and only open to top 60 players on the order of merit. Players finishing one through five on the money list gain access to the Web.com Tour, while those sixth through 10 earn exemptions into the final stage of Web.com Tour qualifying school, and those players from 11 to 20 get into second stage.
Men's World Amateur Championship
http://www.igfgolf.org/watc/watc2014/eisenhower-trophy-scoring/
The men’s trio of Corey Conners, Taylor Pendrith and Adam Svensson have continued the success for Canada at the World Amateur Championship, firing a 10-under 134 to share the lead with Sweden and Switzerland after Wednesday’s opening round at Karuizawa 72 Golf East.
LPGA Evian Championship
http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx
This event in Evian France has been elevated to 5th major status, Alena Sharp is the only Canadian, Karrie Webb is late in her first round and leads at -5..
Web.com Tour
Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship
http://www.pgatour.com/webcom/tournaments/nationwide-children-s-hospital-championship/leaderboard.html
European Tour
KLM Open, Zandvoort, Holland
http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014072/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y
Play has been suspended when Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti was hit on the head by a golf ball. Zanotti, who won the BMW International Open earlier this season, was on the 16th fairway when he was injured by a ball struck from the 14th tee.
The 31 year old received treatment on the course and was then taken to hospital. Zanotti had started his round from the tenth at Kennemer Golf Club and was level par after six holes when the incident occurred
France’s Gary Stal raced into an early lead at -4 through 11 holes when play had to be suspended. Play will resume at 1300 hours local time.
PGA Assistants Championship of Canada
The Ridge at Manitou GC, Parry Sound, Ont.,
The final round goes today with Bill Walsh of Markham, Brian McCann of Mississauga and Bryn Parry of North Vancouver tied for the lead at -5.
Bryan Angus
(files from europeantour.com, golf Canada )
Canada tied for the lead at World Amateurs'
Inspired by the Team Canada women's 2nd place finish at the World Amateur's it's time for the men. Playing on the same courses in Japan, they are T1 after the first day of play..
Here is the report from Tyler Costigan of Golf Canada..
KARUIZAWA, Japan – The men’s trio of Corey Conners, Taylor Pendrith and Adam Svensson have continued the success for Canada at the World Amateur Championship, firing a 10-under 134 to share the lead with Sweden and Switzerland after Wednesday’s opening round at Karuizawa 72 Golf East.
Conners, the 2014 U.S. Amateur runner-up, carded a 6-under 66 to lead the way for the Canadian contingent. The Listowel, Ont. native posted five birdies on the front nine, boosting him to a tie for second on the individual leaderboard, one back of Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult.
“It was definitely motivating to see the ladies do so well and we want to continue the success for Canada,” said the 22-year-old. “We’re all hoping to play as well as they did and we’re off to a nice start.”
His Team Canada teammate and old roommate at Kent State, Taylor Pendrith, carded a 4-under 68.
“I drove the ball pretty well and my putting was probably the best part of my game today – I made a lot of nice putts and some 15- to 20-footers,” said the Richmond Hill, Ont. native. “Overall I’m pleased with the way I played. It was unfortunate to bogey the last two holes but I’m very happy.”
Adam Svensson, a Surrey, B.C. native, carded a non-counting 3-under 69.
“We put in some really good preparation,” said team captain, Graham Hill. “Derek Ingram, our coach, works very closely with all the guys here. I don’t think we’re surprised that we played well here today. We’re just taking it day by day and we’re happy with the start.”
Canada was one of thirty-seven teams to break par in the first round and contribute towards the 65 sub-par scores, breaking the record of 42 in 2004.
The Canadians opened on the Iriyama Course in the first round – they will alternate today by playing the Oshitate Course. They are set to tee-off at 10:35 am (JST), grouped with Malaysia and Slovakia.
Click here for team scoring.
Click here for individual scoring
Here is the report from Tyler Costigan of Golf Canada..
KARUIZAWA, Japan – The men’s trio of Corey Conners, Taylor Pendrith and Adam Svensson have continued the success for Canada at the World Amateur Championship, firing a 10-under 134 to share the lead with Sweden and Switzerland after Wednesday’s opening round at Karuizawa 72 Golf East.
Conners, the 2014 U.S. Amateur runner-up, carded a 6-under 66 to lead the way for the Canadian contingent. The Listowel, Ont. native posted five birdies on the front nine, boosting him to a tie for second on the individual leaderboard, one back of Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult.
“It was definitely motivating to see the ladies do so well and we want to continue the success for Canada,” said the 22-year-old. “We’re all hoping to play as well as they did and we’re off to a nice start.”
His Team Canada teammate and old roommate at Kent State, Taylor Pendrith, carded a 4-under 68.
“I drove the ball pretty well and my putting was probably the best part of my game today – I made a lot of nice putts and some 15- to 20-footers,” said the Richmond Hill, Ont. native. “Overall I’m pleased with the way I played. It was unfortunate to bogey the last two holes but I’m very happy.”
Adam Svensson, a Surrey, B.C. native, carded a non-counting 3-under 69.
“We put in some really good preparation,” said team captain, Graham Hill. “Derek Ingram, our coach, works very closely with all the guys here. I don’t think we’re surprised that we played well here today. We’re just taking it day by day and we’re happy with the start.”
Canada was one of thirty-seven teams to break par in the first round and contribute towards the 65 sub-par scores, breaking the record of 42 in 2004.
The Canadians opened on the Iriyama Course in the first round – they will alternate today by playing the Oshitate Course. They are set to tee-off at 10:35 am (JST), grouped with Malaysia and Slovakia.
Click here for team scoring.
Click here for individual scoring
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