Posts Tagged ‘european tour’
Colsaerts claims Volvo World Match Play
- With this win – Nicolas Colsaerts
- Results – Volvo World Match Play 2012
- Nicolas COLSAERTS
- Graeme MCDOWELL
Nicolas Colsaerts beat Graeme McDowell on the final green to win the Volvo World Match Play Championship.
In blustery conditions at Finca Cortesin, the Belgian bomber continued his remarkable record in Volvo-sponsored events. Since winning his maiden European Tour title at the Volvo China Open in 2011 he has finished third at last year’s Volvo World Match Play, fourth at the Volvo Golf Champions and second at the 2012 Volvo China Open.
But he was pushed all the way by McDowell, Europe’s 2010 Ryder Cup hero, who levelled the contest three times on the front nine and twice halved a two-hole deficit after the turn.
“It means everything,” he said. “Where do I start? I felt that I had a pretty good shot at it last year in the same format, and I was a little disappointed not to get to the final.
“Two days ago I was in my room taking a nap thinking I was going to fly home. It means so much to be here, it’s fantastic.
“I played well in tough conditions. Wind like this, you know it’s going to be very difficult. Graeme McDowell, he’s won the US Open, so he’s used to playing in tough conditions. I knew that it was going to be a tough game in conditions like these.”
Colsaerts, who knocked McDowell out at the quarter-final stage last year, won on the last after a game in which he was ahead on four separate occasions.
The 29 year old from Brussels, whose 316 yard average off the tee is longer than that of America’s number one bomber Bubba Watson, is also into both the Official World Golf Ranking’s top 50 and close to a Ryder Cup qualifying position.
It all came his way after a week of living dangerously at Finca Cortesin in Spain.
Like last year’s winner Ian Poulter, Colsaerts did not win either of his group games and survived only after a play-off with Charl Schwartzel.
His semi-final with Paul Lawrie this morning began with him losing the first four holes, but he then launched a fightback and after an hour-long thunderstorm delay won at the 20th.
That set up a clash McDowell, who beat Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello on the last, and a year after beating him 2 and 1 in the last eight he took the €700,000 cheque.
In increasingly difficult conditions, with winds gusting over 30mph, McDowell, without a victory since he beat Tiger Woods in California 17 months ago, was hoping to become the first Irish winner of a championship dating back to 1964.
He had to be content, though, with just being their first finalist and with giving his Ryder Cup prospects a healthy boost – plus €360,000.
Colsaerts led on four separate occasions and only at the fourth time of asking did he turn that into a two up advantage.
McDowell fought, but could not get back on terms.
The turning point for Colsaerts before lunch came when Lawrie, with a chance to go second in the Ryder Cup points race, hit his second to the long eighth into the bushes.
He bogeyed that hole, lost the next to birdie to turn only two ahead, then let Colsaerts off the hook at the long 11th as the wind really picked up.
The Belgian lost his ball right, but Lawrie twice had to take penalty drops himself and eventually halved it in double-bogey sevens.
Colsaerts then birdied the 13th and 14th to level, bogeyed the 16th, but after the rain delay birdied from a bunker on the last to force sudden death and won it at the second extra hole when he got up and down again.
“I could see Paul was not very happy – he wanted the match to finish a little earlier,” he said.
“I was probably feeling a lot better than he did and I thought I was going to capitalise on that.
“I probably deserved a place in the final last year, but I’ve got one now.”
He had lost at the 19th to Poulter in last May’s semi-finals.
McDowell would have been as angry as Lawrie if he had lost to Cabrera-Bello after winning three of the first four holes – and for a while it looked as if he might.
With two to play there was only one in it and the Canary Islander was the closer of the pair to the par five final hole in three, but three-putted to lose.
“It was a tough one. I’ve simply not putted well enough – I just need to get my putting boots on,” said McDowell, as relieved as he was when Sergio Garcia three-putted the same green to go out in the quarter-finals.
He could have no complaints about the way he started the final, making an 18 footer on the first and nine footer at the short second.
However, he then fell behind at the fourth, sixth and eighth, only for Colsaerts to lose the next each time – the ninth when he duffed his pitch after McDowell had done the same.
That took them into the back nine level but McDowell found the bushes at the 11th and bogeyed to go one down for a fourth time.
He could have levelled once more on the next, but missed from three feet and then hit what looked dangerously like a shank down the 13th to bogey again and fall two down for the first time.
McDowell, though, was the one to drive the green at the downwind 14th and an eight foot birdie putt narrowed the deficit.
Both bogeyed the 15th, but McDowell dropped another on the next and in the process threw down a club in disgust, but Colsaerts three-putted the 17th.
His length paid handsome dividends at the last, though, and that was that.
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With this win
- Colsaerts claims Volvo World Match Play
- Results – Volvo World Match Play 2012
- Nicolas COLSAERTS
SUNDAY MAY 20, 2012 – VOLVO WORLD MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
• His second European Tour International Schedule victory in his 207th European Tour event.
• Moves to €1,130,111 in The Race to Dubai. This is the second consecutive season and second time in his career he has won more than €1 million in a single season. It is also his highest single-season earnings, beating the €1,091,504 he amassed in 2011.
• Could move to just outside the top 30 of the Official World Golf Ranking from 51st.
• Both of his European Tour victories have come in Volvo-sponsored events, following the 2011 Volvo China Open.
• Victory beats his previous best 2012 performance of second in the 2012 Volvo China Open.
• Victory comes in his second appearance in the Volvo World Match Play Championship.
• This victory beats his previous best finish in the Volvo World Match Play Championship of losing in the semi-finals in 2011.
• The first Belgian to win twice on The European Tour.
• Becomes the second player in European Tour history to win his first two events in Volvo-sponsored tournaments. The first was Ignacio Garrido. He won the 1997 Volvo German Open and 2003 Volvo PGA Championship.
• Continues his wonderful record in Volvo-sponsored events since 2011. He was first in 2011 Volvo China Open and tied third in the 2011 Volvo World Match Play Championship. In 2012 he was fourth in the Volvo Golf Champions, second in the Volvo China Open and first in the Volvo World Match Play Championship.
OTHER FACTS
• His seventh win as a professional.
• The third Belgian victory in European Tour history.
• This victory continues his wonderful form in 2012.This is his seventh top ten finish from his 11 events and the most of any player so far this season.
• Gains place in the 2012 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational, 2012 WGC – HSBC Champions and 2013 Volvo Golf Champions.
• Moves to €1,382,544 in The European Ryder Cup Points Table.
• Gains his largest European Tour prize of €458,333
• Extends his European Tour exemption until the end of 2014.
• Becomes the 14th European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player on the 2012 European Tour from 19 events so far. They are: Louis Oosthuizen (Africa Open and Maybank Malaysian Open), Branden Grace (Joburg Open, Volvo Golf Champions and Volvo China Open), Robert Rock (Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship), Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Omega Dubai Desert Classic), Justin Rose (WGC – Cadillac Championship), Julien Quesne (Open de Andalucía Costa del Sol), Michael Hoey (Trophée Hassan II), Thorbjørn Olesen (Sicilian Open), Bernd Wiesberger (Ballantine’s Championship), Ricardo Santos (Madeira Islands Open – Portugal) and Nicolas Colsaerts (Volvo World Match Play Championship).
• Becomes the 298th European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player.
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Cabrera-Bello carrying home hopes
- Colsaerts cruises into last four
- Lawrie seals semi-final spot
- Graeme MCDOWELL
- Rafael CABRERA-BELLO
Rafael Cabrera-Bello came from behind to beat compatriot Alvaro Quiros and secure a tie with Graeme McDowell in the last four of the Volvo World Match Play Championship.
The Omega Dubai Desert Classic winner was three down after seven, but won six holes out of eight on the back nine for a 3 and 1 victory.
And with Northern Ireland’s McDowell knocking out Sergio Garcia at the first extra hole, Cabrera-Bello will be carrying local expectations on his own on the final day at Finca Cortesin.
“I got to play with a friend in Alvaro – I’m very happy for me but I feel sorry for him, and he’s such a good guy,” said the 27 year old, who earlier in the day beat Robert Karlsson in the last 16. “We had a good match today. I feel like I’m playing really good.
“This morning I recovered in a tough game, being two down with five to play, and now this afternoon, three down after nine and being able to win, I feel really proud of that.”
McDowell, a former US Open Champion and the man who holed the winning putt for Europe at The 2010 Ryder Cup will start as favourite, but Cabrera-Bello believes he is capable of upsetting the World Number 20.
“I have to play G Mac, and he has a lot of experience and is a Ryder Cup hero, so he’s obviously going to be a very, very tough guy to beat,” he added.
“I’m going to try my best and I’m playing good. Hopefully I can start as good as I did on my first two matches and if I don’t, I know I can come from behind and make it through. So we’ll just see what happens.”
McDowell was left to breathe a huge sigh of relief. He was comfortable enough against Richard Finch in the morning, but then had to go into extra holes against Garcia when he missed a five footer for the match on the last.
The Spanish star was favourite when they returned to the same hole, but charged a 15 foot putt for victory four feet past and missed it after McDowell had holed from five.
“It wasn’t exactly El Clasico and I feel like I dodged a bullet there,” said the 2010 US Open Champion.
“I kind of resigned myself to the fact that I was going home, but sometimes you have to win ugly and sometimes to win you need what just happened to me. I count myself lucky.”
Garcia was disappointed to go out, but was pleased to have reached the last eight despite not firing on all cylinders.
“I’m playing so badly this could happen at any moment,” he said.
“Making it to the quarter finals having played so badly means it was a good tournament. I had no good quality shots.
“He gave me some chances that I could not take and I have been saying it from the first day that I have not felt comfortable and I am not happy with my game.”
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European Tour stars join Chris Evans in new speed record
A celebrity team including Ryder Cup winning captain Colin Montgomerie and BBC radio and TV personality Chris Evans are claiming a new British record after playing 18 holes of golf today – in less than 11 minutes.
Evans joined a team of eight of the world’s top golfers at the London Golf Club, a European Tour Destination, near Ash, Kent, as they completed their round in 10 minutes and 53 seconds, with the Radio 2 DJ holing the final putt to beat the previous record by an impressive one minute and 54 seconds.
But not content with a British record, Evans has vowed to try to go one better with an attempt to break the world record of seven minutes 56 seconds when Golf Live stage a second endeavour on Sunday.
He said: “Adrenaline always gets you going. To be frank, we had a practice earlier in the day and weren’t sure how things were going to go, but everybody did brilliantly and played their part.
“I definitely think we can improve on our time tomorrow while the world record is not out of the question and I would urge everybody to come on down to Golf Live to see how we get on.”
The feat was completed on the London Golf Club’s Jack Nicklaus-designed Heritage Course, with Golf Live’s big-name players completing nine circuits of the 10th and 18th holes – creating a 6,183-yard par-72 course.
Ryder Cup winning captain Colin Montgomerie and European Tour star Oli Fisher hit tee shots on the 10th and 18th respectively, while nine-time Major winner Gary Player, victorious Solheim Cup captain Alison Nicholas, Scottish teenage-sensation Carly Booth and Evans handled everything on or around the greens.
In between them, European Tour stars Rhys Davies and Benn Barham were positioned to play approach shots from the fairways along with Ladies European Tour player Melissa Reid.
While speed was valued over accuracy the players still managed to register an impressive four-over-par score of 76, after recovering from a disastrous eight on the opening hole.
The combination of Fisher, Davies, Barham, Player and Evans proved successful on the 18th as they failed to drop a shot with nine consecutive pars.
Montgomerie’s accuracy off the tee kept the grouping on the 10th hole on track, as seven of his nine tee shots hit the fairway, while on the green Nicholas holed two crucial birdie putts.
The all-star cast were ably assisted by a group of low-handicappers selected from Evans’ listeners, who were strategically placed around the course to play any errant shots in the direction of the green.
BBC commentators Andrew Cotter and Iain Carter provided the hundreds of fans present with commentary throughout the attempt, and a wave of euphoria swept the crowd as Cotter announced the official time and a new world record for Golf Live.
The record-breaking 18 holes was the finale to the second day of Golf Live, where thousands of golf fans have had the chance to get up close and personal with some of the game’s greatest players, marvel at their skills and learn their favourite hints and tips.
The three-day golfing extravaganza is taking place at the London Golf Club, Kent, until 6pm on Sunday and gives visitors the chance to enjoy a host of interactive features including free coaching, club-fitting and the chance to try out the latest equipment from all the big brands.
Tickets for Golf Live cost just £20 for adults while under-18s can gain free entry by registering on Golf Live’s website. For more information or to buy tickets visit www.golfliveevent.com
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Finch flying after thrilling win
- Poulter sees off Lewis to top group
- Robert Rock – Volvo World Matchplay day 2
- Rafael Cabrera-Bello – Volvo World Matchplay day 2.
- Ian Poulter – Volvo World Matchplay day 2
- Graeme McDowell – Volvo World Matchplay day 2
- Richard Finch – Volvo World Matchplay day 2
- Justin Rose – Volvo World Matchplay day 2
- Paul Lawrie – Volvo World Matchplay day 2
- Tom Lewis – Volvo World Matchplay day 2
- Thomas Bjorn – Volvo World Matchplay day 2
- Camilo Villegas – Volvo World Matchplay day 2
- Alvaro Quiros – Volvo World Matchplay day 2
- Robert Karlsson – Volvo World Matchplay day 2
- Retief GOOSEN
- Richard FINCH
England’s Richard Finch knocked out top seed Martin Kaymer as three Major Champions exited at the first round stage of the Volvo World Match Play Championship.
The World Number Nine from Germany missed a three footer on the last and, having also lost to Rafael Cabrera-Bello, there was no reprieve for the former US PGA Championship winner.
Finch, whose third-place finish in last month’s Volvo China Open qualified him for the 24-man field because top two Branden Grace and Nicolas Colsaerts already had places, next plays Graeme McDowell.
Northern Ireland’s 2010 US Open Champion made it two wins out of two, following his last-green success over Robert Karlsson with a 4 and 3 victory over South African Jbe Kruger.
Karlsson, who stepped in on Sunday for the injured Paul Casey, is still alive after beating Kruger in a play-off. He will meet Cabrera-Bello.
Scot Paul Lawrie, in his 500th European Tour event, won his group, but only in a play-off with Colombian Camilo Villegas after they halved.
It is Dane Thomas Björn next for the former Open Champion. Björn was involved in a three-way shoot-out with American Brandt Snedeker and Grace.
Snedeker, reunited with his own full set of clubs after they failed to arrive for the start of the event yesterday and he set off with ten borrowed ones, birdied the first extra hole and will now take on Villegas.
Retief Goosen won twice on day two to secure his passage into the last 16, where he will face Robert Rock.
Having beaten Colsaerts on the final green, the South African overcame compatriot Charl Schwartzel 4 and 3 in the afternoon to top his group.
Having halved their opening match on Thursday, Schwartzel and Colsaerts went into a play-off to determine the second qualifier and the Belgian prevailed with a birdie at the first extra hole.
The 2011 Masters Tournament winner and Kaymer were joined in an early trip to the airport by Open Champion Darren Clarke, who saw his hopes ended 6 and 5 by Justin Rose.
Clarke had also lost to Rock earlier in the day in a contest that went to the final green.
The 43 year old has yet to survive a halfway cut this season and has still to record his first top-ten finish since his memorable triumph at Sandwich last summer.
Rose, in contrast, has not gone beyond the 14th hole in either of his games – he beat Rock 7 and 6.
Rose went four up on the 574 yard eighth even though he hit only one shot there. Clarke pulled his drive into bushes, the ball was never found and he decided not to return to the tee, leaving Rose to face Colsaerts in round two.
Defending champion Ian Poulter, Rose’s great friend and Ryder Cup partner in 2008, is still going strong and they could meet in Sunday’s final.
After Australian John Senden lost to both Poulter and 21 year old Tom Lewis, the only thing at stake when the two Englishmen – both Hertfordshire players – clashed was who topped the group. Both were already through.
Poulter won it 4 and 3 to set up a meeting with big-hitting Alvaro Quiros, while Lewis, who won the Portugal Masters last October in only his third start as a professional, is also up against Spanish opposition in Sergio Garcia.
“I don’t think either of us were 100 per cent switched on – I guess it was hard to get that adrenaline rush you normally get in match play,” said Poulter, who beat Luke Donald in last year’s final.
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Garcia leads Spanish trio into last 16
- Finch flying after thrilling win
- Poulter sees off Lewis to top group
- Volvo World Match Play – Sergio Garcia Interview (42)
- End of Play Report – Volvo World Matchplay day 2
- Rafael Cabrera-Bello – Volvo World Matchplay day 2.
- Alvaro Quiros – Volvo World Matchplay day 2
- Sergio GARCIA
- Rafael CABRERA-BELLO
- Alvaro QUIROS
Sergio Garcia is looking to lead a strong home challenge over the weekend at the Volvo World Match Play Championship after winning his group.
Garcia faces 21 year old Tom Lewis in the second round after beating compatriot Alvaro Quiros and Japan’s Tetsuji Hiratsuka.
Quiros joins him in the last 16, having beaten Hiratsuka 5 and 4 in the morning session, with Rafael Cabrera-Bello making it a hattrick of Spaniards through after wins over Martin Kaymer and Richard Finch.
“I wasn’t hitting the best of shots, but somehow I found a way of getting the ball in play and hitting a couple decent iron shots, gave myself good birdie chances on 11 and 12 and 15, and rolled a good putt in to get things going,” said Garcia, after his 4 and 2 victory over Hiratsuka.
“I obviously got a little bit fortunate because neither of my playing partners played great the first two days. I got on a good run today after starting poorly the first seven holes.
“Overall I think it was a mix of hitting a couple of good shots at the right times, and getting a little bit lucky.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been fairly good at match play. As a professional, maybe not as good but as an amateur I was usually pretty good. It’s nice to get a couple of wins and hopefully we’ll play well tomorrow and have a chance of winning again.”
Quiros now faces defending champion Poulter, while Cabrera-Bello takes on Robert Karlsson after ensuring top seed Kaymer went out in the first round.
“I’m very pleased,” said the Omega Dubai Desert Classic winner after his morning win against Finch.
“I played really good today again. Richard fought back really hard so it was a really, really tough match.
“I was lucky enough that I could pull a few clear at the beginning, similar to the way I did yesterday, and the rest of the game, I protected my lead and managed to win a lot of holes again.
“It’s potentially a long weekend. I’m playing really good but this is match play and you never know what’s going to happen. I’ll just play one match at a time, one hole at a time, and hopefully we can have a long weekend.”
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Midland ace set for US Senior PGA debut
Paul Wesselingh’s blistering start to life in the senior ranks continues to hit new heights after he secured a place in next week’s US Senior PGA Championship.
The Kedleston Park pro earned his spot in the first senior major of the season, which is being held at Harbor Shores, Michigan, on the back of his stunning debut in the Mallorca Open Senior, where he finished tied second.
The six-time PGA Cup player claimed one of two exemptions on offer at Mallorca, the other going to fellow PGA pro Andrew Sherborne (The Kendleshire). The pair will be joined in the US by the top 18 players from last year’s Senior Tour Order of Merit.
Wesselingh had further cause to celebrate after winning the Senior PGA Professional Championship at Northants County on Friday to cap a memorable two weeks.
He admitted he was stunned to have secured a place in the $2m USPGA tournament and was left with a massive dilemma as the championship clashed with next week’s BMW PGA Championship, which he has also qualified for via the Titleist PGA Play-Offs.
But he revealed the choice was made much easier following a chat with Australian Mike Harwood, a former PGA Champion.
“As soon as I signed my card in the tournament office on Sunday I was given a pack by an official and told ‘there you are, you’ve got into the USPGA Seniors’,” said Wesselingh.
“I asked when it was and was told ‘next week’. I replied I’m playing at Wentworth and he said ‘well you’ve got to make your mind up by midday Monday’.
“I was stunned with that and Mike Harwood, who I had just played with, had heard the conversation and took me to one side. He asked me how many times I’d played Wentworth and I told him seven. He then said ‘how well have you done?’, and I told him I made the cut once.
“He said ‘It’s a no brainer, go to the States. If you play the way you did you could be competing for it’. I also learned that any money I win there will count towards the Order of Merit, which will help give me a head start on a lot of the other players, while there’s also the experience as well.”
The late change of plan has also benefited one of Wesselingh’s three children, who will be going to the US with him.
“Ryan was going to caddy for me at Wentworth and now I’m going to take him to America with me,” said Wesselingh.
“He’s getting a nice trip but that also means the others want the same so I have had to promise them that.”
Wesselingh’s withdrawal from the BMW PGA Championship has seen Elie’s David Patrick, winner of one Scottish Region Order of Merit this season secure a late-call up to The European Tour’s flagship event.
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Garcia victorious in all-Spanish encounter
- Poulter pleased with opening victory
- Snedeker beats Björn in Spain
- Sergio Garcia – Volvo World Matchplay day 1
- Sergio GARCIA
Sergio Garcia claimed the local bragging rights as the Spaniard kicked off his Volvo World Match Play Championship with a 2 and 1 victory over compatriot Alvaro Quiros.
The 32 year old went one up at the first when Quiros hooked his drive and double bogeyed, lost the second with a bogey but birdied the third to restore his advantage.
Quiros levelled with a par at the seventh, and went ahead for the first time with a birdie at the short tenth.
But Garcia birdied the 13th and 17th, and with Quiros losing the 14th after a bogey it was The Ryder Cup star who made a winning start to the group stage.
“I guess you could say it was a good battle, because it was a battle,” said Garcia. “That’s about it pretty much.
“I think the one that has the most credit today is the people that were following us for not walking off after nine probably, because I can’t really imagine that that was a lot of fun to watch. We weren’t playing very good.
“I had a stretch there on ten, 11, 12, where he did hit some good shots. I made a big putt on 11 to stay one down, and then he had a great chance on 12 from about probably five feet, no more than that, to go two up.
“If he would have made that, the way I was feeling, I would have struggled. You could see that he felt that, because after that hole, he struggled the next couple. He hit a couple bad drives and I managed to win both of them and got one up.
“I was fortunate enough to hit three really good iron shots coming in on 15, 16 and 17. So that was about it.”
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Lawrie joins 500 club with a win
- Garcia victorious in all-Spanish encounter
- Poulter pleased with opening victory
- Paul Lawrie – Volvo World Matchplay day 1
- Brandt Snedeker – Volvo World Matchplay day 1
- Ian Poulter – Volvo World Matchplay day 1
- Justin Rose – Volvo World Matchplay day 1
- Rafael Cabrera-Bello – Volvo World Matchplay day 1
- Graeme McDowell – Volvo World Matchplay day 1
- Sergio Garcia – Volvo World Matchplay day 1
- Charl Schwartzel – Volvo World Matchplay day 1
- Nicolas Colsaerts – Volvo World Matchplay day 1
- Sergio GARCIA
- Justin ROSE
- Ian POULTER
- Paul LAWRIE
- Graeme MCDOWELL
- Rafael CABRERA-BELLO
- Brandt SNEDEKER
Scot Paul Lawrie started his 500th European Tour event with a 2 and 1 victory over Sweden’s Peter Hanson at the Volvo World Match Play Championship.
The former Open Champion won the 16th with a par to go one-up and then made birdie from five feet on the next after his six iron tee shot kicked off the bank right of the green.
“It came out absolutely beautiful,” said Lawrie, who beat Hanson into second place at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters earlier this year.
“But it wasn’t much of a game – neither of us holed any putts.”
Lawrie and Hanson now have to play Colombian Camilo Villegas, while Graeme McDowell next meets South African Jbe Kruger after his thrilling last-green win over Robert Karlsson.
The 2010 Ryder Cup hero trailed entering the closing stretch, birdied the 16th, got up and down from a bunker at the short 17th and then almost eagled the 568 yard last.
That left Karlsson, in sand for two, needing to hole from eight feet for a half, but he missed it.
“One down with three to play against a great player, I feel very fortunate,” said the Northern Irishman.
Top seed Martin Kaymer was beaten 3 and 2 by Omega Dubai Desert Classic winner Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Spain’s other winner was Sergio Garcia, who came from behind to beat compatriot Alvaro Quiros 2 and 1.
There was one halved game, last year’s Masters Tournament champion Charl Schwartzel making birdie on the last to square things against last year’s semi-finalist Nicolas Colsaerts.
In a history going back to 1964 the event had never seen anything quite like Brandt Snedeker’s victory over Thomas Björn.
The 31 year old American began his opening group game with just ten clubs in his bag and yet won the first three holes before more arrived.
Snedeker was forced to seek replacements when his usual set went missing en route from Florida on Monday.
They eventually showed up at Malaga Airport this morning, then were driven to Finca Cortesin an hour away and taken to him on the fourth tee.
Under the rules he was allowed only to add four to those he had started with, but was so happy with the driver he had borrowed from Australian John Senden and the putter he had chosen in the pro shop that he continued with them.
“The driver worked really well, so I think it’s mine now and no longer his,” said the three-time US PGA Tour winner, who hopes to use this week to impress American Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III.
“It was kind of a weird day to say the least. I didn’t like my chances at all actually – I knew Thomas was a world-class player and it was pretty windy, so I knew it favoured him.”
Björn, though, has been suffering from a virus lately – he pulled out of the last two events in America – and he could never recover from bogeying the opening three holes, falling five down after six and losing 5 and 4.
It was not the biggest defeat of the day, however. Robert Rock was beaten 7 and 6 by fellow Englishman Justin Rose, who birdied the first five holes, winning four of them, and later added two more.
Rock is the player, of course, who in January went head-to-head with Tiger Woods and beat not just him, but also world top three Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood in Abu Dhabi.
Under the revised format since Volvo took over sponsorship of the famous event, however, the week is not yet over for Björn, Rock, Hanson, Karlsson, Senden, Quiros or Kaymer.
They could yet make it through to the last 16 if they win their second games. Indeed Ian Poulter won the title last year after failing to win either of his group matches – he halved them both.
Second seed Rose said: “The game was good – I adjusted to the speed of the greens quickly and Robert didn’t.
“His only hiccup came when he missed from three feet on the ninth after his opponent had holed from eight.
“I had to remind myself to keep in it and play solid golf.”
To guarantee himself a place in the knock-out stages Rose now needs only a half against Open Champion Darren Clarke.
The same applies to Poulter against Tom Lewis, the 21 year old who led The Open Championship as an amateur last July and then won the Portugal Masters on only his third professional start.
Both are from Hertfordshire and Poulter was recently shown a picture of a ten year old Lewis caddying for him at Welwyn Garden.
“I think he’s a great player. Also very shy, very quiet – that to me is probably the bit that he needs to try and change in a way,” said Poulter after his 3 and 2 win over Senden.
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Wolstenholme seeking Spanish double in Benahavis
- Mason eyes more Spanish success
- New date for Benahavis Senior Masters
- Gary WOLSTENHOLME
Gary Wolstenholme will be hoping to complete a Spanish double as he travels to the Benahavis Senior Masters in two weeks’ time brim-full of confidence after his victory at the season-opening Mallorca Open Senior last week.
The Englishman claimed his second professional win in Mallorca after a final round of 69 sealed a two shot victory over the chasing trio of Mike Harwood, Paul Wesselingh and Chris Williams at Pula Golf Club.
It was a perfect start to the year for the 51 year old after a superb first full season on the Senior Tour which earned him the Rookie of the Year award. Despite not adding to his first victory at the 2010 Casa Serena Open, the six-time Walker Cup player only missed one cut in 21 appearances, racking up nine top ten finishes.
Indeed, the closest he came to victory last year was at the Benahavis Senior Masters, where he led going into the final day but finished tied second, three shots behind Carl Mason as the Senior Tour’s all-time leading money winner claimed his 25th Tour title.
Wolstenholme will be hoping to go one better this year as he attempts to build on his fine start to the season at La Quinta Golf and Country Club on the southern coast of Spain, just outside Marbella.
But his task has been made harder by the presence of 26 players from the top 30 of last year’s Order of Merit, who comprise what is arguably the strongest field in the tournament’s history.
The man whom Wolstenholme shared second place with last year, former Ryder Cup Captain Mark James, will be searching for his first win since 2009 – which came, coincidentally, at the Mallorca Open Senior.
Mason will return to a tournament which has brought him so much success as he aims to make it three Benahavis Senior Masters titles in the space of four years while Peter Fowler, the 2011 John Jacobs Trophy winner, also attends, in search of his third Senior Tour victory.
Amongst the local favourites at La Quinta will be the former Ryder Cup star who designed the course over which the Senior Tour’s third tournament of the season will be played, Manuel Piñero.
Four-time Senior Tour winner Juan Quiros is also in the field, as are his fellow Spaniards José Maria Cañizares, Antonio Garrido and Miguel Angel Martin, who will make his first appearance at the Benahavis Senior Masters having turned 50 earlier this month.
The fourth edition of the Benahavis Senior Masters has been moved to a new date on the Senior Tour Schedule, from October to the much earlier time of June 1 – 3, and has also benefitted from an increased prize fund of €200,000.
Entry to the tournament is free.
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Poulter primed for more Match Play success
- Rose keen to emulate Poulter’s Match Play success
- Man City pair celebrate in Spain
- Garcia warns of tough group
- Volvo World Match Play format explained
- Excitement builds after Match Play draw
- Paul Lawrie joins the 500 club
- Grace targeting ‘Volvo Slam’
- Ian POULTER
Defending champion Ian Poulter is determined to continue his remarkable match play record at the Volvo World Match Play Championship.
The 36 year old Englishman has a formidable Ryder Cup record, as well as having won the WGC-Accenture Match Play and this event at Finca Cortesin 12 months ago.
“Match play is one of the games which I love to play,” said eighth seed Poulter, who faces Australian John Senden and Portugal Masters winner Tom Lewis in the first round. “I love the buzz of it. I love the fact that the holes tick away pretty quickly, and I like looking straight at the guys you’re playing.
“I just like the buzz you get from it. It kind of puts you under pressure, and it’s a great format, which we don’t play enough of.
“John is a very consistent player, he hits a lot of greens in regulation. He will be a guy you will need to go out there and be patient, and try to pick your birdies.
“Tom is obviously a great young talent, winning last year, he’s going to be an exciting player in the future and one that’s going to be hard to play against this week.”
Poulter’s compatriot Justin Rose put his match play success down to his ability to hole clutch putts, but the 11-time European Tour winner feels everything about the format suits him.
“I get excited to play match play,” he added. “I like the fact of playing one on one with somebody. I like the pressure of you have to hole a putt to win the hole or you have to hole a putt to halve the hole, or you have to hole a putt to make your opponent hole his putt to halve the hole.
“I guess it’s pretty cutthroat – you have to do something. It’s black and white, if you miss, you lose the hole, dead simple. I like the fact of having been put under that pressure you know exactly what you have to do, where stroke play just doesn’t give you that mind set, at all.”
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Dale Farm gets in the swing for the Irish Open
Leading local dairy business Dale Farm is ‘teed up’ and ready for this year’s Irish Open, having agreed a major sponsorship deal for the tournament next month at Royal Portrush Golf Club.
As well as throwing significant sponsorship behind the Irish Open, the company will be the Official Supplier of Ice Cream and Dairy Products at Royal Portrush throughout its duration.
Brian Beattie, Head of Marketing for Dale Farm, said: “With the tournament returning to Northern Ireland this summer for the first time in almost 50 years and the quality of local golfing talent at an all-time high, Dale Farm is delighted to put our brand name to this year’s Irish Open, which will draw interest from right across the globe. The event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our range of dairy products, made using the finest Northern Irish milk.
“Dale Farm backs local sport on many levels – from official dairy supplier to the Ulster Rugby team, to our Sports bursary awards for up and coming athletic and sports talent, to our grass roots school sports day initiative. We are very proud to add golf, and particularly the prestigious Irish Open, to our sponsorship portfolio.”
James Finnigan, Commercial Director for the Irish Open, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dale Farm as an Official Sponsor of the Irish Open. The welcome and interest from the Northern Irish community to the Irish Open has been exceptional and now the addition of one of UK’s leading dairy processing companies is a significant boost to the Irish Open. We believe the Irish Open offers Dale Farm an outstanding platform on which to promote their world-class range of products.”
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Watson ready to rekindle Turnberry love affair
- Watson to make emotional Turnberry return
- Tom WATSON
Tom Watson broke into a throaty chuckle as he listened to a description of the weather at Turnberry. Outside the clubhouse, where numerous images of the eight-time Major Champion beam down benevolently from the walls, the rain tapped insidiously against the window pane and, a few yards beyond, the 18th green flag cowered at a 45 degree angle against the bone-chilling wind.
“Just my kind of weather,” laughed Watson down the phone line as he participated in a conference call with the media to discuss the 2012 Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex and his enduring love affair with the Ailsa Course at Turnberry.
With typical humour, Watson gently chided the media ‘pack’ listening attentively to every word. “You guys playing today?” he asked, continuing: “Doesn’t sound as if too many of you are in a hurry to get to the first tee!”
In the event, the unseasonably cold and damp weather relented and suddenly Turnberry was bathed in glorious sunlight, just as it was those 35 years ago when the freckle-faced kid from Kansas went toe-to-toe with Jack Nicklaus for the 1977 Open Championship. The Golden Bear was in the prime of life, but he had to succumb to the brash, young upstart on that day of days – the iconic Duel in the Sun.
Turnberry has been both an alluring seductress and a cruel mistress to Watson. That Open in 1977 aside, he captured his first Senior Open title over the Ailsa Course in 2003 then suffered that final hole calamity in the most recent Open there three years ago. One par from immortality and a champion again at the age of 59. It wasn’t to be. A bogey five – where 32 years earlier he had made three at the final hole – enabled Stewart Cink to squeeze through by the side door.
Watson and Turnberry go together like Ailsa Craig and the famous Lighthouse, two of the familiar landmarks, along with the majestic Five Star Hotel, which combine to give Turnberry its fame and deserved popularity among golfing glitterati everywhere.
Despite missing out to Cink, 23 years his junior, and been forced to gaze forlornly at the Claret Jug he might have felt was rightfully his for a sixth time, Watson’s love for Turnberry burns as brightly as ever as he edges towards his 63rd birthday.
“That week only increased by love for the place” insisted Watson, who will line up in search of a fourth Senior Open crown from July 26 to 29. The response he received from so many people – people who thought they were too old to play golf anymore but were moved to play the game again after watching my performance that week – was uplifting.
“Going into the week I was playing very well but my putting was poor. Then on Tuesday I changed my putting and started to make everyone. I told my wife: ‘I can win this tournament’. It wasn’t just a bragging statement.
“Of course, on the Sunday night I was distraught. It tears your guts out when something like that happens. When the ball was in the air at the 27nd hole I said: ‘Just like 77’. It was going right at the flag but with the uncertainty of links golf maybe a gust of wind took it a bit further than it was meant to.
“I felt extreme disappointment, but one good was the response from around the world. I had thousands of people writing to me on a common theme, that they had quite golf because they felt too old but I had given them hope to work at it and go back and try again.”
Watson’s chances of winning again – he also triumphed at Muirfield and Royal Aberdeen at Senior level to add to his four Open Claret Jugs gained on Scottish soil – could depend on how quickly he recovers from a hand injury.
The three-time champion has spent a few days on a whistle-stop tour of the UK, taking in Royal Lytham and St.Annes in the process where he discussed the 2012 Championship with the new Presenting Sponsor, Rolex, The RA and the European Senior Tour Managing Director Andy Stubbs.
He added: “I’m not in very good stead at the moment because I have a never strength problem in my right hand. It was caused by mowing for a number of hours at my farm in Kansas. I woke up the next day with a little bit of soreness in my neck and three days later my strength in my right hand was diminished greatly. I can’t grip the club properly but the doctors say the strength will come back in time.
“I assume I will be ready and able to play in July and Turnberry will give me another of those great challenges to win again.”
As the wind abated and Turnberry glistened in the sunshine and stiff breeze, Watson must aloud about that expanse of green just outside the window.
“That 18th has sure seen some drama, hasn’t it?” he asked rhetorically. “I remember here at the Senior Open in 2003 I was very lucky to get into a play-off but Carl Mason made a mistake at the 18th and that let me in.”
A few minutes later and Watson signed off, again urging his attentive audience to get out and sample the course which has brought him so many memories. No-one can wait until Master and his Mistress are reunited in just over two months time.
TO BUY TICKETS FOR THE SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY ROLEX, CLICK HERE.
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Paul Lawrie joins the 500 club
- Lawrie back into World’s top 50
- Lawrie conquers Qatar again
- Grace targeting ‘Volvo Slam’
- Poulter ready for cut and thrust of Match Play
- Paul LAWRIE
Paul Lawrie will add another honour to his glittering CV at this week’s Volvo World Match Play Championship when he makes his 500th European Tour appearance, joining an illustrious group of players to achieve the landmark feat.
The 1999 Open Champion was presented with a special engraved ice bucket by Keith Waters, the European Tour’s Chief Operating Officer and Director of International Policy, at host venue Finca Cortesin, in Spain, ahead of becoming the 22nd European Tour player to become a member of the exclusive 500 club.
He is only the second Major Champion to reach the milestone after 1991 Masters Tournament winner Ian Woosnam and the fourth Scot to reach 500 appearances, joining former Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance, who holds the European Tour record with 706 appearances, Gordon Brand Jnr (597) and Colin Montgomerie (570).
Lawrie made his European Tour debut 20 years ago in the 1992 Johnnie Walker Asian Classic, winning his first of seven titles four years later in the Open Catalonia, and after a recent renaissance, he admits he is enjoying his golf more than ever as he continues to enjoy competing at the very top level.
“When I turned pro at 17 as a five handicap in 1986 and then got to play with these boys each week – anything that happened after that was a bonus,” he said. “I think that’s helped me, longevity‑wise. I still see it as, ‘I can’t believe I’m out here winning and competing’.
“I still enjoy playing. I think I play more for fun now than I used to do with my sons coming up and being good golfers. I think playing with them is a help. About three or four years ago, I thought I might just scale this down a bit and play a little bit less. Then the boys got pretty keen into golf and I started playing a bit more at home and I’ve kicked on a bit again.
He added: “I can see me getting to 600 appearances now. To get to 700, where Sam is at, is a huge number. Playing for 40 years is just an incredible record. I think we’ll leave Sam at the top for a while. I don’t think I’m in danger of overtaking him but I’d like to get to 600.”
Lawrie, who passed the €10million career earnings mark earlier this season, became part of golfing folklore with his career-high victory at Carnoustie in The 1999 Open Championship when he famously came from a European Tour-record equalling ten shots back to claim the Claret Jug, defeating Frenchman Jean Van de Velde in a four hole play-off.
“In the play-off it was amazing how this feeling came over me and everything was clear and I just knew what I was doing and I was focused and I wasn’t harassed,” he said. “There were people everywhere and there was a circus inside the ropes and I just remember being really, really calm. It’s amazing how you can get in that position.”
That performance helped him earn a place in the European Team for The 1999 Ryder Cup when he had the honour of hitting the opening tee shot, playing alongside Montgomerie. He went on to win an impressive three-and-a-half points out of a possible five, including defeating Jeff Maggert in his singles match, to equal the record points total gained by a rookie alongside Paul Way (1983) and Sergio Garcia (also 1999).
After receiving an MBE in 2000 and following his Open Championship victory by winning the Alfred Dunhill Links title in 2001 and the Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open in 2002, leaner times followed, with Lawrie left contemplating his appetite for the game as he struggled for form.
However, with a renewed vigour for the game, he emerged from a nine year spell without a European Tour victory when he won the Open de Andalucía last season and he returns to Spain this week having already added another title in 2012, following success for a second time in the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy in February.
That victory means he is seriously targeting a return to The Ryder Cup fold at the age of 43, an incentive that is spurring on the man from Aberdeen, who launched the hugely successful Paul Lawrie Foundation in 2001 to encourage and support the next generation of players.
“If I get in The Ryder Cup, it would be the biggest achievement of my career, so that’s the motivation,” he said. “I really want to play on that team. It would be huge for me.
“I’m 43, but I feel like there is a wee bit left in the tank yet.”
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Excitement builds after mouth-watering Match Play draw
- Paul Lawrie joins the 500 club
- Grace targeting ‘Volvo Slam’
- Poulter ready for cut and thrust of Match Play
- Volvo World Match Play Championship Complete Draw
The draw for the 47th Volvo World Match Play Championship has been completed with the eight unseeded players drawn at random to produce a host of eye-catching encounters…
Ian Poulter will launch the defence of his Volvo World Match Play title at Finca Cortesin on Thursday against the World Number 35, Australia’s John Senden.
Making up the final place in the ‘Gary Player Group’ following the draw on Tuesday afternoon is exciting English prospect Tom Lewis, who won his maiden European Tour title in stunning fashion at the 2011 Portugal Masters in only his third start as a professional, and the 21 year old will take on the defending champion in what promises to be an intriguing encounter between the compatriots on Friday afternoon.
Scotland’s Paul Lawrie is making his 500th appearance on The European Tour this week and the 1999 Open Champion will be marking the occasion with a testing opening clash against the in-form Swede, Peter Hanson, on Thursday morning.
Hanson has already accrued four top five finishes in six starts so far this season, most notably a tied third finish at the first Major of the year, the Masters Tournament at Augusta, where the Ryder Cup star led going into the final round before eventually finishing two shy of the deciding play-off after a closing 73, while Lawrie has already hoisted a trophy aloft this season in the shape of the Qatar Masters title in February. Columbia’s Camillo Villegas fills the final place in an otherwise European ‘Greg Norman Group’.
Thursday’s initial exchanges also throw up an all-Spanish skirmish as crowd-favourite Sergio Garcia takes on Alvaro Quiros on Thursday afternoon in the ‘Ian Woosnam Group’ that is completed by Japanese debutant Tetsuji Hiratsuka.
Meanwhile, the third and final man to be carrying home hopes on his broad shoulders is Rafael Cabrera-Bello, who triumphed over Stephen Gallacher and Lee Westwood to claim the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February, and the Gran Canaria born 27 year old is relishing the start of a challenge that will see him face his good friend Martin Kaymer in the first tie of the ‘Seve Ballesteros Group’.
Cabrera-Bello will be attempting to become the first Spaniard to win the event since the man whose name adorns the group in which he has been drawn – Seve Ballesteros, won at the Wentworth Club in 1991.
He said: “My victory in Dubai has given me the opportunity to play in big events like this one with world class players. It’s definitely been a big improvement and a big jump for me to keep progressing in this game and I’m really looking forward to the week.
“There’s not a single group that you say is an easy one. All of the players who are playing here are winners; they are all really, really good players. And just the fact of being in Seve’s group, obviously if there’s one group to be in, I would choose that.”
And Cabrera-Bello is more than aware of the vagaries and uncertainty inherent in this form of the game, as he reflected in Tuesday’s preview press conference.
“It’s very commonly said, but in match play anything can happen,” he said. “We could all make the semi-finals or we could all be home by Saturday morning. Hopefully we will do as well as we can and we will try to perform our best. It’s just hard to predict, because sometimes you can play badly and go through and other times you play excellent and the guy who is in front of you plays just a bit better and he knocks you out.”
Germany’s Kaymer was defeated by Donald in the semi-finals last year so will be looking to go one better this time around, while Englishman Richard Finch will make up the remainder of their group.
The ‘Mark McCormack Group’ features the only American in the field, World Number 26 Brandt Snedeker, and it is a mini-league that also boasts a pair of European Tour Members with six Tour victories between them in the last 16 months, Denmark’s Thomas Björn and South Africa’s Branden Grace, who will face each other on Friday morning.
In consecutive weeks in the late summer of 2011 Björn won the Omega European Masters and the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, two victories to supplement the Qatar Masters triumph of earlier that year, while his younger opponent Grace has put together a scintillating run of form since gaining his European Tour card at the Qualifying School in December.
The Pretorian was victorious in his last run out at the Volvo China Open, claiming the biggest prize in his career at almost €400,000, after back-to-back successes on home soil at the Joburg Open and Volvo Golf Champions – an impressive performance that saw Grace prevail over his childhood heroes and compatriots Ernie Els and Retief Goosen in a play-off – earlier in the year.
Grace will be seeking a piece of history this week at Finca Cortesin, as he looks to become the first to win four events in the season after graduating from Qualifying School.
The aforementioned Goosen will be going head-to-head with another South African in the ‘Arnold Palmer Group’ when he faces 2011 Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel on Friday afternoon.
Two-time Major Champion Goosen will be making his 11th appearance at the Volvo World Match Play this week – more than any other in the field – in a group that also features big-hitting Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, who was defeated by eventual winner Poulter on the 19th hole of last year’s semi-final.
Sweden’s Robert Karlsson was drafted in as a last minute replacement for the injured Paul Casey and will compete in the opening match-ups against Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and the fourth South African in the field, 2011 Avantha Masters Champion Jbe Kruger in the ‘Gustaf Larson Group’.
“I was obviously very lucky to be here, because Paul Casey wasn’t able to be here,” Karlsson said. “I’m delighted to be here I’m looking forward to play. Even though it was a very late call, Sunday afternoon at three or four hours before the flight from Orlando, I knew immediately I was coming here. I have a wife on the way with some clothing!”
An all-British contingent makes up the remaining ‘Assar Gabrielsson Group’, an eye-catching trio of WGC-Cadillac Champion Justin Rose, Abu Dhabi HSBC victor Robert Rock and the reigning Open Champion Darren Clarke.
Per Ericsson, President of Volvo Event Management, said: “We at Volvo have been waiting almost a year for this day, waiting for the qualifying through The Race to Dubai, World Rankings and through winning Majors.
“This is our 127th sponsored event – a world record in itself – and the 47th playing of the Volvo World Match Play Championship. We have players from all areas in the world, 13 different countries represented and six Major Champions.
“It promises to be a very good week; the stage is set, the stars are here, and let’s hope for the best man to win.”
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Golf Clubs in the UAE celebrate record month
Golf Clubs in the United Arab Emirates have been celebrating the increasing popularity of the sport in the region having recently hosted over 50,000 rounds in a single month for the first time.
The number of rounds at the UAE’s premier clubs including; Emirates Golf Club, Dubai Creek Golf Yacht Club, The Montgomerie Dubai, Arabian Ranches, the Els Club Dubai, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Al Hamra Golf Club, Saadiyat, Yas Links, Jebel Ali Golf Resort Spa and Jumeirah Golf Estates were reported upon by independent auditors BDO Chartered Accountants Advisors.
The United Arab Emirates has been welcoming golfers since 1988 when the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club, often referred to as The Desert Miracle, became the first grass course to open in the region.
In the 24 years that followed the United Arab Emirates has introduced a host of world class golf courses in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.
Mustafa Al Hashimi, Club Manager at Dubai Creek Golf Yacht Club commented; “It is a fantastic achievement for the golf courses in the United Arab Emirates to have hosted over 50,000 rounds for the first time. The profile of the region as a true golfing destination is growing every year due to the premium opportunities for golfers that exist, together with the excellent climate for golf especially in the winter months.”
In total 54,365 rounds were played in the United Arab Emirates during the month of March with over 44% of these being member rounds, 42% local rounds and 14% of rounds coming from overseas visitors.
The Majlis course at Emirates Golf had the most number of member rounds (over 3,300) and Abu Dhabi Golf Club welcomed the highest number of local players to the course (over 3,400). Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras Al Khaimah had the highest number of overseas visitors and welcomed over 1,200 tourists to the course in March.
Simon Mees, General Manager of Al Hamra Golf Club said; “Ras Al Khaimah is establishing itself as a tourist destination for visitors who want to enjoy the great golf courses and other leisure opportunities available within the Emirate. The club has benefitted from the increasing number of tourists to the region, many of whom also come and play our superb courses.”
The addition of floodlights within the past two years on both the Faldo course at Emirates Golf Club and the championship course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club has provided even more opportunities for golfers within the Emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
General Manager of Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Ken Kosak said; “In 2011 we introduced floodlights to the championship course and this has meant that local golfers who were previously restricted as to when they could play golf due to work commitments can now play at times convenient to them. Night golf has proven to be particularly popular in the summer months when the weather is hotter and the evenings can be the best time to play 9 or 18 holes.”
Golf in the region has also been boosted by the hosting of major tournaments which have attracted some of the biggest names in golf including; the Omega Dubai Desert Classic which was first played on Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course in 1989, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship which has been held on Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s championship course since 2006 and the prestigious DP World Tour Championship, Dubai - the season ending tournament of The European Tour which has been played on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates since 2009.
“The Race to Dubai has contributed very positively to raising the profile of golf in the region.Despite opening just over three years ago we have been able to welcome some of the game’s great players to Jumeirah Golf Estates, allowing us to showcase the Earth course to golf enthusiasts from all over the world – and introduce the equally stunning Fire course,” said Geoff Hunter, General Manager, Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Yas Links in Abu Dhabi is one of the regions newest courses and is now widely considered to be one of the best in the world as it was recently recognized in an industry ranking as one of the top 25 of the ‘World’s Best Courses Outside of America.’
Chris White, General Manager, commented; “This achievement is nothing short of incredible. The latest statistics state that there are over 33,000 golf courses worldwide – it is very hard to put into words the true meaning and value of this announcement until you look at the list of global courses Yas Links is now aligned with – the Emirate of Abu Dhabi has a true golfing gem.”
Discussing the regions recent record number of rounds Christopher May, General Manager of Dubai Golf said; “Despite being relatively new as a golfing destination in worldwide golfing terms, the United Arab Emirates really has established itself very quickly as a top class golfing destination. The recent record of over 50,000 rounds in a month is due to the commitment and contribution that has been made by every course in the region to providing premium facilities and delivering consistently exceptional levels of service to all golfers that choose to play on our courses. I am confident that we will build even further upon our recent successes and that the region will continue to go from strength to strength.”
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What’s in the Bag
- Santos seals fairytale victory
- With this win – Ricardo Santos
- Ricardo SANTOS
We take a look inside the bag of Ricardo Santos to explore how he became the first Portuguese to win on home soil on The European Tour after a thrilling display of golf at last week’s Madeira Islands Open – Portugal.
Santos, who gained his European Tour card last year thanks to a fourth place finish in the 2011 Challenge Tour rankings, fired a stunning final-round 63 – nine strokes under par for the day – to cut through the field and win the tournament by a comprehensive four strokes from Sweden’s Magnus A Carlsson.
Beginning the day four shots shy of overnight leader Carlos Del Moral in a tie for third place, Santos knew he would have to put a special performance together to be in with a chance of claiming his maiden European Tour title at Santo da Serra, and special it was.
After rounds of 68-67-68 Santos had looked all week like a man in form and comfortable playing on home soil, and this form only improved in Sunday’s fourth round, producing a flawless display featuring nine birdies – including a hat-trick from the 16th to finish in style.
Reflecting on the victory afterwards, the 29 year old highlighted the key areas of his game that had helped him capture the €112,500 first prize and propelled him up to 50th in The Race to Dubai.
“I just played very solidly all the way round,” he said. “I kept hitting fairways and greens and trying to hole putts, and luckily my putting was incredible today.”
Indeed it was incredible, including a huge birdie putt on the 17th green that effectively sealed Santos’ victory. In all, the Faro born man had just 24 putts in total in the final round – indicative of the form he had shown with the smallest club in the bag over the course of the week.
In the Genworth Statistics Santos ranked fourth overall in Putts per Round with 27.5 putts, and first in the field in Putts per Green in Regulation with 1.619. His rankings on the putting surface were also reflective of superb iron and wedge play throughout all four days, ranking third in Greens in Regulation with 80.6 per cent, and the 2011 Princess by Schüco Champion took full advantage with a red hot putter thrusting him towards a breakthrough victory.
The quality of his overall game, though, cannot be ignored, ranking favourably across the board after finding an average of almost 61 per cent of fairways from the tee to finish 16th in Driving Accuracy, and 35th in Driving Distance, his sizeable 310 yard average drive surprisingly only placing him 35th in the rankings.
Here is what he had in his bag:
Notes: 3, 4 and 5 iron, Titleist, 712 AP2
To view the European Tour equipment section, please click here.
To see a rundown of all the Genworth Statistics for this season, please click here.
All equipment data is collected during the first round of the event and is provided by ©SPORTS MARKETING SURVEYS INC.
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Watson to make emotional Turnberry return
- Buy Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex tickets NOW
- Tom WATSON
Three years after his unforgettable attempt to make golfing history ended in heartache, Tom Watson will make an emotional return to Turnberry, scene of so many of his greatest moments, when he joins the field for The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex from July 26-29.
The American agonisingly missed out on becoming the oldest Major Champion in history when, at the age of 59, he led The 2009 Open Championship going into Turnberry’s 72nd hole.
Needing a par for a record-equalling sixth Claret Jug, Watson could only manage bogey meaning he joined compatriot Stewart Cink in a play-off, which the younger American duly went on to win.
However, Watson’s remarkable performance captured the imagination of the golfing world and wider sporting public, coming 32 years after he was part of another of the game’s most enthralling battles, the famous Duel in the Sun with Jack Nicklaus, also over Turnberry’s iconic Ailsa Course.
Watson emerged victorious on that occasion, winning The 1977 Open Championship, and he also won the first of his three Senior Open Championships in dramatic fashion at Turnberry in 2003, beating Carl Mason in a play-off after Mason had led by two shots going into the final hole.
The 62 year old, who won the US Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid last year, returns to Turnberry hoping to become the most successful player in the history of The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex, having also won the replica Claret Jug at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in 2005 and Muirfield in 2007. This year’s Championship is the 26th staging of the event.
Watson also finished tied third in last year’s Championship at Walton Heath, won by his compatriot Russ Cochran, and his presence in the field is certain to be popular with the Scottish crowds, with whom he has such a strong affinity.
Watson is closely affiliated with The Senior Open Championship’s new Presenting Patron, Rolex, and the leading Swiss watchmaking brand is proud to count such a legendary player among its valued family of Testimonees. Considered one of golf’s most enduring professionals, Watson’s etiquette, passion and excellence exemplify Rolex’s philosophy and values.
Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: “The Senior Open Championship is always a special tournament that brings together masters of the professional game, and it is fantastic news that Tom Watson will once again join the field in 2012.
“Scotland is the home of golf, and in Turnberry we have a course that has played host to so many iconic moments in golf; not to mention some highlights from Tom’s incredible career. As we build towards the 2014 Ryder Cup we are delighted to be supporting the Championship for the sixth time, which will give younger fans the chance to see the likes of Watson, Sam Torrance and Barry Lane, who have all contested the famous biennial match between Europe and the USA.”
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said on behalf of the Championship: “We are delighted that Tom will once again be joining us for The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex and I’m sure golf fans around the world cannot wait to see him return to Turnberry where he has played his part in so many of the game’s most memorable moments.
“Anyone who was present at either the Duel in the Sun, or his heart-warming performance in The Open Championship three years ago, will remember those occasions for the rest of their lives, and we all look forward to seeing whether Tom can conjure another piece of history in July.”
Discounted advance tickets for The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex can now be purchased online, with season passes now available at £60 and any one day tickets at £18. They can be booked online at www.europeantourtickets.com as well as www.senioropengolf.com where other discounts and offers can also be found.
Hospitality packages are also now available at £95 per person inc VAT, which includes admittance to the course along with a three-course lunch and glass of champagne in Turnberry’s signature restaurant, 1906, reserved parking, a Championship programme and a draw sheet.
American Cochran won The 2011 Senior Open Championship at Walton Heath, England, holding off the challenge of former Open Champion Mark Calcavecchia, three-time Senior Open Champion Watson and 2010 United States Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin.
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Laird roars into contention
- Fowler shines yet Na leads
- Matt KUCHAR
- Luke DONALD
- Martin LAIRD
Martin Laird set a new clubhouse target after an outstanding final round of 67 in The Players Championship at Sawgrass, but Matt Kuchar led in Florida.
The Scot, ahead after the first round following a 65, was six under heading into today, but made his move with a hat-trick of birdies just after the turn.
Laird had already picked up shots at two, seven and nine, yet it was a magical run in the middle that left him level with Kuchar on 12 under.
He went on to bogey the 14th, but responded with a birdie two holes later courtesy of a fine two putt.
Laird narrowly avoided the water after a poor second shot on the last, eventually dropping a shot to finish 11 under.
That did not ruin a fine effort, which came after Luke Donald had dazzled.
Donald needs a top four finish in Florida to overtake Rory McIlroy as World Number One, who missed the cut earlier in the week.
The Englishman started in solid fashion; a birdie and bogey ensured he remained three under par through the front nine.
Yet a charge was to come; the 34 year old birdied six of the last nine holes to equal a course record 30 on the back.
His hopes of moving to the summit of the World Golf Rankings looked faint, though, with five players ahead or level with him.
Leading the pack was Kuchar on 13 under having played typically solid golf.
Even when he did make mistakes, the American made amends epitomised on the 13th, when Kuchar holed a nine footer for par.
That save perhaps earned him the luck gained on the next as after finding the sand, his second shot clipped a tree to fall on the green and earn another par.
That left him one shot ahead of Zach Johnson, who was also 11 under following an impressive birdie on the 17th.
Source: http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=160082.html#laird+roars+into+contention
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Cool Kuchar scoops Sawgrass success
- Fowler shines yet Na leads
- Matt KUCHAR
- Luke DONALD
- Ben CURTIS
- Zach JOHNSON
- Rory MCILROY
- Martin LAIRD
- Rickie FOWLER
Matt Kuchar won The Players Championship at Sawgrass as Luke Donald narrowly missed out on returning to the summit of the Official World Golf Ranking.
Kuchar headed into the day a shot off the lead, but played typically solid golf to hand in 70 and seal the biggest victory of his career.
The American’s effort was typified by excellence around the greens as he registered his highest score of the week following 68, 68 and 69.
Even when he did make mistakes, the 33 year old made amends, epitomised on the 13th, when a nine footer was holed for par following a brilliant first putt.
What followed was even better as, just after hearing the roar for Rickie Fowler moving to 11 under, Kuchar rolled in a 15 footer on 16 to move three shots ahead.
Zach Johnson showed similar resolve to par the 18th and tie Martin Laird, who had earlier shone in striking 67, in the clubhouse.
Their efforts – and those of Fowler and Ben Curtis, who finished on the same score – proved in vain as Kuchar held his nerve.
Having bogeyed 17, he was made to wait for a second shot after Kevin Na hit his first right.
That seemed to have little impact on Kuchar, however, as he delivered a par to seal the title and €1.32million to boot.
“It is such an amazing feeling,” he said. “It is really magical and special.”
Laird, ahead after the first round following a 65, was six under heading into today, but made his move with a hat-trick of birdies just after the turn.
The Scot had already picked up shots at two, seven and nine, yet it was a magical run in the middle that left him level with Kuchar on 12 under.
He went on to bogey the 14th, but responded with a birdie two holes later courtesy of a fine two putt.
Laird narrowly avoided the water after a poor second shot on the last, eventually bogeying to finish 11 under.
A frustrating finish did not detract from an outstanding round that was only bettered by David Toms and Donald, who struck 65 and 66 respectively.
Donald’s was the more important as he gave himself the opportunity to overhaul Rory McIlroy as World Number One by equalling the course record with a scintillating 30 on the back nine.
The Englishman required a top four finish to go past his 2010 Ryder Cup team-mate but ended up in sixth – though he can still take great pride from a simply outstanding performance today.
Donald started in solid fashion; a birdie and bogey ensured he remained three under par through the front nine.
However, a charge was to come; the 34 year old birdied six of the last nine holes, with his fine play being illustrated by an outstanding first shot on the tricky par three 17th.
“Suddenly the putts clicked and I got on a nice little run,” he said. “The wind direction was favourable and the greens were holding.”
Donald’s eventual disappointment means the battle with McIlroy and Lee Westwood, who hit a disappointing 77 today, will re-commence at the BMW PGA Championship at the Wentworth Club on Thursday week.
Further back, Peter Hanson, so impressive in the Masters Tournament, made 68 to finish five under alongside Germany’s Martin Kaymer.
Source: http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/news/newsid=160084.html#cool+kuchar+scoops+sawgrass+success
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