Palmer to receive the Congressional Gold Medal

Arnold Palmer, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, has been selected to receive a Congressional Gold Medal, which honours a person for his or her distinguished achievements and contributions.
Palmer, a seven-time major champion whose charisma and hard-charging style made an elite sport popular with the masses, said he would receive the medal from President Barack Obama during a ceremony at the White House tomorrow.
Palmer is the second golfer to receive the medal. Byron Nelson was honoured shortly after his death in 2006. The Congressional Gold Medal has been presented to 141 persons or groups, with George Washington receiving the first one in 1776.

STENSON, GARCIA, WESTWOOD AND KAYMER

WILL PLAY IN VOLVO WORLD MATCH-PLAY

NEWS RELEASE FROM I M G
Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Marin Kaymer are the latest golf stars to commit to the 2009 Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin from the 29th October to 1st November.
Ranked 6th, 8th, 11th and 13th in the world respectively they qualify as the highest ranked available players not otherwise qualified on yesterday’s Official World Golf Ranking. Seven of the 11 players now confirmed are ranked in the world’s top 20 and the field looks sure to be the strongest ever with many tantalising match ups as the world’s best golfers go head to head in the new look Volvo World Match Play Championship.
World number 6 Henrik Stenson, who reached the semi final of the 2007 World Match Play Championship explained, “I am really looking forward to it. It is a tournament with a great history and lots of fantastic Champions and it is certainly a title I would love to get my hands on! I have a good record in Match Play and I really enjoy the format so qualifying for the Match Play was definitely on my agenda this year as we don’t get too many opportunities to play this format during the season. I am interested to see how the modified round robin groups work out – I think it is always interesting to try something new.”
Sergio Garcia added, “I am delighted to have formally qualified for the first Volvo World Match Play to be held in Spain and I am really looking forward to playing in front of my home crowds. It is going to be an exciting few weeks for me playing at home in Spain . As well as playing in the Madrid Masters, I am hoping to defend my title at the Castello Masters and then try to go on to win the inaugural Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin.
"I think it will be fascinating for the spectators to be able to go and watch two such different events. Match play offers such a different spectacle and atmosphere for the fans and I think it is great for Spanish golf to be welcoming such a prestigious event.”
Lee Westwood, the 2000 World Match Play Champion after he beat Colin Montgomerie at the 38th hole in a thrilling final and whose stellar match play talents have contributed so much to the European Ryder Cup team in recent years is a fantastic addition to line-up.
Martin Kaymer, currently leading the Race to Dubai rankings after back to back wins at the Open de France and the Barclay’s Scottish Open, is battling to recover from injury added, “It is great to have made it into this limited field event and I will be working hard on my fitness and game over the next month to ensure I am ready to play. This event has an amazing list of past champions and is definitely a title I want to win. Also the freedom that the match play format offers should suit me well after having had this time off as I won’t have to worry about the odd loose shot. I have heard that Finca Cortesin is an amazing venue and I am looking forward to the week.”
There are now only five places left to confirm in the field and this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship presents the last chance for the likes of Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher, Angel Cabrera, Oliver Wilson and Spain ’s very own Gonzalo Fernandez Castano to secure their places. The five highest ranked players as of Monday, 5th October on the European Tour Race to Dubai Rankings not otherwise qualified will complete the 16-man line up and the right to compete for the €3.25 million prize fund and a first prize of €750,000.
This is the 45th edition of the World Match Play Championship and will be Volvo’s first time as Championship partners with IMG, having hosted the 21st and final Volvo Masters at Club de Golf Valderrama in 2008. The Finca Cortesín event is Volvo’s 120th title sponsorship in professional golf.
The Championship will be held in Spain for the first time in its history moving from Wentworth Club as 16 of the world’s best players go head-to-head in classic match play golf over the magnificent 7,439-yard course at Finca Cortesin designed by Cabell B Robinson.
The winner of each group will qualify for the semi finals which, along with the final, will be played over 36 holes in traditional and compelling head-to head-match play golf, considered by many to be the purest form of the Royal and Ancient game.

Craigielaw wins Scottish Junior Team Final

For the third time in four years, Craigielaw Golf Club's junior team has won the Scottish final of the Junior Team Golf Home Nations Inter-club Championship.
This year's event took place at Westerwood Golf Resort. Twelve teams representing junior leagues throughout Scotland took part and the East Lothian League team pipped Cardross for the title and will represent Scotland in the Home Nations Final in Spain in early January.
Team captain Greg Smail, in accepting the trophy from well-known golf commentator Alex Hay, paid tribute to team manager Gordon Smith who has guided Craigielaw to three British finals; his team just coming up short of winning the overall title on the previous two occasions.
"This is a great competition for our junior team members" said Smail in accepting the trophy. "It really develops our junior members, some of whom are already in area and national squads, and gives our younger members something to aim for."
Alex Hay who, along with Sir Steve Redgrave, are patrons of the annual competition, praised the competitors for the high standard of competition and sportsmanship shown and thanked Brian Whittle of TalentNation who are the event's new sponsors.

Craigielaw's winning team were Greg Smail (capt), Douglas Maxwell, Grant Forrest, Ewan Donaldson, Jack Dow, Gabrielle McDonald and Ewan Mackay.

Nixon and Senior fly flag for England in Turkey this week

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Two of Lancashire’s finest young talents will fly the flag for the English Golf Union in the Turkish Amateur Open Championship later this week.
Matthew Nixon (Ashton-under-Lyne) and Jack Senior (Heysham) will contest the 72-hole stroke play event over the Old Course at Gloria Golf Club in Antalya on the Turkish Riviera from Thursday to Sunday.
Nixon, 20, is a former British boys' champion who reached the quarter finals of the English Amateur at Woodhall Spa last year. Capped at boys level in 2007, he helped Lancashire win the English County Championship last year and has enjoyed a successful 2009.
He was a joint winner of the Henriques Salver for the best GB&I players aged under 20 in the Brabazon Trophy, finished runner-up in the Selborne Salver and the Lancashire Championship, third in the West of England Stroke Play and he made his full England debut in the winning Home Internationals team.
Senior, 21, was reserve for the Home Internationals, having finished runner-up in the West of England and third in the Lytham Trophy this year. In 2008, he finished runner-up in the North of England Youths Championship and third in the Lancashire Championship and the Lee Westwood Trophy and he was a member of the winning Lancashire team in the English County Finals.

Edinburgh Summer League Final at Turnhouse

Tait the hero as Burgess are victors in battle Royal

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Brian Tait, playing in only his second match of the campaign due to an injury, was the hero as Royal Burgess pipped courageous Kingsknowe to retain the Edinburgh Summer Golf League.
In match of unbelievable tension and drama, the Barnton boys held on to their crown for another 12 months after Tait secured the all-important victory in the final at Turnhouse.
On a day when conditions were difficult due to a strong wind and a dry course, Scotland captain Scott Knowles drew first blood for Kingsknowe with a 2 and 1 victory over Sandy Gray.
In a match everyone was looking forward to, former Scottish boys' champion Stephen Buckley went three up on Allyn Dick, the Kingsknowe kingpin, after seven holes. Dispatch Trophy winner Dick won the eighth and then birdied the 11th to get back to one down.
He squared the match at the 15th before a mistake by Buckley at the next, where he went through the green with his approach, saw Dick go in front and he held on thanks to halves at the last two holes.
John Yuille put the first point on the board for Royal Burgess, the son of the club's former pro producing a rock-solid performance – he was level-par for the holes played – in beating Steve McCulloch by 5 and 4.
Fraser McCluskey, after going two up after four, was just as steady in beating Mike Foley by 3 and 2 while John Fraser ensured he headed off to Ireland with the Scottish Seniors' team in good heart after a great display of match-play golf against young Andy Rowe.
Fraser was two up after six and did not hit a loose shot all day, finishing level par for the holes played as he won 4 and 3 to make it 3-2 for Royal Burgess.
When Ian Taylor returned to form with a vengeance in crushing Gary Malone by 6 and 5, Richard Hughes' Royal Burgess side needed only one more point to retain the trophy.
At that stage, however, they we were one down with two to play in match No.7 and two down with three to play in the bottom two matches, so it appeared to be swinging Kingsknowe's way.
Graham Fraser beat Grant Pollock, who was playing despite a bad ankle injury which ruled him out of the semi-final, by one hole, and Paul Page was also on course to chalk up a point for Bill Buchan's boys when he came to the 16th with a two-hole lead over Tait.
Having only recently recovered from a torn calf muscle, Tait won the 16th after Page's tee shot found trees before they halved the 17th in birdies.
Both missed the green in two at the 18th. Page pitched on to 20 feet and Tait had a very difficult bunker shot with little green to play with. In the circumstances, he produced a shot out of the top drawer in stopping it two feet from the hole. Page missed and Tait holed to give Royal Burgess 4½ points.
But, after Charlie Kivlin beat Doug Ross by two holes shortly afterwards, Kingsknowe also reached that mark which, under League rules, meant the halved match had to play sudden-death to decide the tie.
Tait holed from four feet to stay alive after racing his first putt past the hole at the 19th before the two of them went for the green at the next, a short par-4. Tait was pin high right of the green and Page hit a fantastic tee shot that almost hit the pin but ran through the back of the green.
Page pitched to 18 feet and then saw his birdie attempt sit on the edge of the hole. From 10 feet, and with the green surrounded by spectators and players, Tait rolled his birdie putt right in the middle of the cup to retain the trophy for the Royal Burgess.
"I've said it all along," beamed Hughes. "My team are fighters and are never beaten whilst there is still a shot to be played. Every player at some point over the season has stood up and been counted – a great team effort!"
A disappointed Buchan said: "It was a game where we looked like losing comfortably, then looked like winning, before ultimately being pipped at the post. Whilst we congratulate Royal Burgess on their fabulous success, we can only look back and think that, with a decent rub of the green, we might have been celebrating ourselves. That's golf, though, and we will be back."

Lanarkshire boys' championship semi-finals

Alan Welsh of Torrance House will play James Steven of Kirkhill in the final of the 2009 Lanarkshire boys' match-play championship.
In yesterday's semi-finals at Hamilton, the results were:

Alan Welsh (Torrance House) bt Nicky Clenaghan (Mount Ellen) 3 and 2.
James Steven (Kirkhill) bt Ian Anderson (Colville Park) 3 and 2.

Ian Anderson was the winner of the trophy in 2008.

Anthony Wall pulls out of Dunhill Links Championship

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
The shoulder injury Londoner Anthony Wall suffered last Friday playing for Britain and Ireland against Continental Europe has led to his withdrawal from this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
Wall won both his four-ball games on his debut in the Vivendi Trophy, but was unable to play any further part in the match and feared it might signal a lengthy lay-off.

LINKS TO MORE GOLF NEWS ====
Mickelson moves back up to second
All-star cast for Dunhill Links
Quartet poised for Match Play places
Mickelson takes win
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Martin Kaymer and Paul Casey, first and second on the European Tour money list, are also missing this week.
Kaymer is recovering from surgery after breaking toes in a go-karting accident, while Casey is still struggling with the torn rib muscle injury that has been bothering him since The Open in July.
In their absence Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Ross Fisher all have a chance to go top of the "Race to Dubai" standings.
McIlroy and Westwood need a second place finish on Sunday, while Fisher, who last year lost a play-off to Swede Robert Karlsson, would have to take the first prize of just over £485,000.

WORLD FINAL AT CARNOUSTIE

GLENMUIR RENEW PARTNERSHIP

WITH INTERNATIONAL PAIRS

NEWS RELEASE
Prestigious golf clothing company Glenmuir has revived its relationship with International Pairs and agreed a deal to be the official supplier for the 2009 world final to be staged at Carnoustie next month.
The Lanark-based firm has finalised a sponsorship agreement with the world’s largest competition of its kind for club golfers to provide competitors with the official clothing at this year’s event.
Competitors and staff at the tournament, which takes place in Scotland from October 11-13, will receive a range of Glenmuir products branded with the International Pairs World Final logo including a waterproof top, polo shirt and cap.
Glenmuir last teamed up with International Pairs at the 2000 world final in Ireland and sales director Graham Hayward is looking forward to working with the global competition again.
Hayward said:
“Glenmuir is delighted to be involved with such a prestigious global event.
“As we know from years of supporting the European Ryder Cup team, in this type of pressurised environment it is essential to look good and feel comfortable on the course.
“By wearing Glenmuir, each member of staff and finalist can be sure of getting the very best in style and performance from their clothing.”
Glenmuir has been the preferred supplier to the European Ryder Cup team for 23 years and enjoys partnerships with the PGAs of Europe, the European Tour and the English Golf Union among others.
The new agreement with International Pairs follows after the company finalised deals this year to supply the team kit to the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup and PGA teams and both teams in the Vivendi Trophy.
Ross Honey, managing director and founder of International Pairs, said: “Glenmuir is a clothing brand that is synonymous with the best golf competitions in the world.
“Their involvement in International Pairs can only strengthen our status across the world and it is fantastic to be working with them again.”
Competitors from 20 countries including South Africa, America, Spain, Canada and Portugal will gather at Carnoustie next month for the chance to be crowned as the sixth International Pairs world champions.
And this year will see Romania, Antigua and Barbuda make their debuts in the 36-hole event, which will be played over two days on Monifieth’s Medal Course - an Open qualifying venue - and the Championship Course at Carnoustie - venue for the 2007 Open Championship.
The Angus course has played an integral role in the success of International Pairs in recent years, hosting the competition’s UK final for three years in a row prior to next month‘s event.
International Pairs has grown to enjoy a worldwide status since being started by Honey in 1998 and the competition is set to flourish further with global media giants IMG having come on board in 2009 to play an integral role in planning its future.