Wednesday, May 25, 2011

LUKE DONALD SAYS HE IS 'PROBABLY THE BEST GOLFER IN WORLD'

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By KEVIN GARSIDE
The strongest field in the world this year outside of the Masters is assembled at Wentworth for the European Tour’s flagship event.
The four major champions, the world’s top three, seven of the top 10 and the full compliment of European Ryder Cup all stars are contesting the BMW PGA Championship over the next four days.
The three absentees at the top of the rankings are all American. The global penny is slow to drop on the other side of the Atlantic unless, of course, it is attached to an appearance fee. The loss is America’s, not Wentworth’s.
Luke Donald, pictured right, enlivened the preamble in most unDonald-like fashion by claiming he is probably the best golfer in the world despite his No 2 ranking behind Lee Westwood. Perhaps he was imbibing a particular brand of amber nectar at the European Tour Awards dinner the night before.
He has a point. Seven consecutive top-10 finishes this season, 13 out of 14 stretching back to last year confirm Donald as the most consistent golfer in the world.
Westwood, traditionally a slow starter, banged in back-to-back victories on his Far East tour in April to illuminate the difference between the two; when a door opens Westwood is inclined to rip it off its hinges.
Donald continues to knock politely. He’s working on it. He has tabled one victory in that run, albeit in match play, the Accenture in February, which rewards a different facet of the game and lacks the rigour of conventional stroke play.
“I don’t know whether you choose someone who has won events or majors [as world No1] or you go with someone who has chances to win every week. I feel I’ve been the most consistent,” Donald said. “I think I’ve proved that in the last few months.”
The stats will deliver Donald to the top of the rankings on Sunday should he finish above Westwood and No3 Martin Kaymer does not claim a top-two spot.
Westwood, too, was in perky mood on the media oche. After losing to Ian Poulter in the last 16 at the Volvo Match Play in Andalucia last week, despite hitting the ball sweetly, Westwood “wants it large” this week in the words of his manager Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler.
Westwood bristled at the suggestion that his comments afterwards lacked generosity and claimed his observation that Poulter does not “hit it great” were taken out of context.
The banter was flying across the floor at the awards dinner, with Westwood’s high sheen black shirt with stacked collar attracting a lot of attention. “He [Poulter] dropped a couple in. Might have mentioned Harry Hill a few times. That’s the way we are. We’re good mates. He gives it. I take it. I give it. He takes it. There’s nothing more to it than that.”
Westwood was tinder box dry and just as prone to combustion, revealing a competitive edge seeking an outlet. Westwood finished 10th last year and second here in 2000. Beyond that zip.
“I’ve played well here but not put four rounds together in recent years. There’s no reason for it. I actually love playing the course. It’s a tough one to explain. I suppose that’s why golf is great.”
Rory McIlroy could pen his own treatise on the vicissitudes of golf. He has been trying to put his Masters collapse behind him, but that green jacket will not leave him alone.
Charl Schwartzel, the man who ran from the McIlroy bonfire holding the Masters title, shot the Northern Irishman an emerald reminder at Tuesday’s awards dinner.
McIlroy answered in the affirmative when asked if the sight of Schwartzel parading on stage in his green jacket triggered his envy glands. “Yeah, of course. It’s tough, but, you know, I’m a big boy. I’ll get over it. I could go to the US Open in a few weeks and it might all be forgotten.”
McIlroy is out on Thursday with Matteo Manassero and Darren Clarke, a winner in Majorca a fortnight ago. Westwood is partnered by Alvaro Quiros and Retief Goosen while Donald tees up with Graeme McDowell and defending champion Simon Khan.

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TIGER WOODS UPBEAT ABOUT HIS FUTURE

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
The first question fired at Tiger Woods at a news conference in Irving, Texas, promoting the AT and T National, which Woods hosts, predictably was about the left knee sprain and Achilles’ tendon strain that have limited Woods to nine holes since the Masters. 
Woods said his doctors have said his leg should be healthy enough for him to play in the June 16-19 U.S. Open at Congressional. But he said it’s doubtful he’ll play in Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial Tournament, which he has won four times.
Woods said he has been on crutches to take pressure off of his knee and back and that his foot has been in a boot as part of Achilles treatment. He said his rehabilitation also includes icing, ultrasound and soft-tissue work and that he hopes to start strength training next week. 
He sounded upbeat, saying, “It’s been great” and that his leg should be “pretty good” over the next 15 years.
He hardly sounded like a player whom some observers have speculated might be “done.”
“It's certainly not the doomsday that some of the press members are writing about,” Woods said. “I was certainly a lot more concerned back in ’08, end of ’07, finishing out the year in ’07 with my ACL already ruptured and then dealing with the wrath of the Masters that year to clean up the cartilage because I was playing on it still.”
Though he has been sidelined, he clearly hasn’t lost sight of Nicklaus’ record of 18 major-championship titles. 
“I still have plenty of time, and I feel that going forward I’m excited about playing major championships and playing golf again,” said Woods, stuck on 14 majors since June 2008. “I just want to be healthy and solid, and I feel like I can give it a go.”

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IRISH SENIOR MEN'S AMATEUR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

ROSSLARE GOLF CLUB
First Round Scores @1920hrs
78 H Smyth (Mourne), M Coote (Tralee)
79 B Edgar (Scotland), T Cleary (Cork), B Griffiths (Wales)
80 H Mackeown (Portmarnock), D Harte (Fota Island)
81 A Smith (The Island), J Carroll (Bandon), A Pierse (Tipperary)
82 M McNally (Powerscourt), J O'Donoghue (Tipperary), P McGarvey (England), G O'Keeffe (Waterford), A Stracey (England), W Donlon (Birr), E Condren (Greystones)
83 T Goode (Lucan), A Brewer (England), P O'Rourke (Kilkenny), I MacDonald (Scotland), M Kelly (Killeen), I Stewart (Curragh), N Duke (Killiney), I Brotherston (Scotland)
84 R Smyth (Elmgreen), R Fitzgerald (Tramore), S McParland (Greenore), P O'Brien (Rosslare), B O'Leary (Greystones), L Gort (Isle of Man), S Whymark (England), D Lane (England), A Morrow (Portmarnock)
85 D Cash (Rosslare), N Patterson (Milltown), T Saunders (Ennis), J Johnston (Scotland), M Butler (Portmarnock), R Smethurst (England), D Jessup (England), A Donkersley (England)
86 G Mellerick (Fota Island), J Towlson (England), W Brown (Scotland), H Donnelly (South County), L Mac Namara (Woodbrook), J Doyle (Rosslare), P Slater (England), S Hopkins (Wales), P Cowley (Cork), J Dempsey (Craddockstown), P O'Sullivan (Co. Louth), S Pond (England), B Mitchell (Scotland), M Eager (Lucan)
87 P Harrington (Muskerry), G Rees (Wales)
88 E Connolly (Blainroe), W Davis (Rosslare), G Smith (Wales), J Cullimore (Rosslare), P Callery (Rosslare), L O'Neill (Wexford), J Whitcutt (Wales)
89 J Cuffe (Monkstown), K Raftery (Forrest Little), J O'Malley (Rathdowney), T Lilly (Slade Valley), W Mernagh (Kanturk)
90 N Mannion (Dun Laoghaire), J Kirwan (England), E O'Brien (Portmarnock), T Wright (England), R Quilty (Rosslare), D Sheedy (Lahinch), B Madden (Edmondstown), D White (Moate), J Gilbert (Malone), N Lonergan (Cahir Park), B McDonnell (K Club)
91 B Fleming (Royal Co. Down), R Cotter (Delgany), R Timlin (Galway), P Kinloch (Scotland), P Hautz (Delgany)
92 B Grieve (Scotland), G O'Kennedy (Athlone), P Smyth (Killiney), T Coughlan (Harborne), B Campbell (Scotland), D McCart (Scotland), B Malone (Strokestown), G Finn (Cork), R Walker (England), M Quirke (Doneraile)
93 F Caine (Co. Louth), J Kinloch (Scotland), R Gill (Scotland)
94 S Lynch (Minchinhampton), P Lynch (Slade Valley), P Fulham (Glenlo Abbey), J Smith (Portmarnock)
95 C Cameron (Letchworth), J McDonnell (Castletroy), D Tobin (Waterford), A Bell (Greencastle)
96 G Phelan (Woodenbridge), J Moloughney (Templemore), J Bourke (Castle), T Pryor (Goldcoast)
97 B O'Gorman (Rossmore), L Wall (Cahir Park)
98 J Lang (Scotland)
100 L Treacy (K Club)
  
NR J Gilhooly (K Club), J McCrory (Knock), D Lee (Hermitage)


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RENFREWSHIRE NAME LINE-UP FOR AREA BOYS' TEAM CH/SHIP

RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION PRESS RELEASE
Donbremner@ranfurly9.freeserve.co.uk
Joint managers Graham McGee and Gary Havlin have announced the team which will represent Renfrewshire Golf Union at the Scottish boys’ area team championship at Hayston Golf Club on Sunday, June 5.
Graham said that there had been strong competition for the four places and that he was confident that Renfrewshire, which has a great track record in competitive golf, will win the championship for the first time.
The team is:
Alasdair McDougall (Elderslie)
Paul Reilly (Lochwinnoch)
John Scott (East Renfrewshire)
Greg Paterson (Ranfurly Castle)
In the morning foursomes, the first pairing will be Alasdair and Paul – both 16 – who recently met in the final of the Renfrewshire Champion of Champions with Paul emerging as champion. Paul is the son of the well known Lochwinnoch professional, Gerry Reilly.
Alasdair won an Under-16 Scottish cap last year and is in the Scottish training squad. He has the lowest handicap of all the Renfrewshire boys.
The second pairing will be John, 18, who made it to the last eight this year at the Scottish boys’ match-play championship at Dunbar, and Greg, 17, who has had a very solid start to the season including second spot in the Caven Trophy.
It is good to see that John’s match-play performance has led to his selection for the Scottish Junior Tour.
The competition will be decided by the foursomes scores being added to the best three of the four individual rounds played in the afternoon and Renfrewshire hopes to be the best of the 16 areas who will all be looking to have their name etched on the trophy.


Pictures show John Scott (top left) in action at Dunbar and (right) Alasdair McDougall and Paul Reilly at the county final







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OPTICAL EXPRESS TOUR EVENT 2 AT HILTON PARK GOLF CLUB

By ALAN TAIT
Braid Hills' Paul McKechnie, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, raced into a five-shot lead with a fantastic six-under-par 64 over a windswept and damp Hilton Park course today.
Paul was flawless in his play, posting 12 pars and six birdies which saw him home in a four-under 31.
Closest challengers on 69 are Graeme Brown, Graeme Fox and Mark Kerr.
Paul said: “I hit the ball very solidly and took my chances on the greens when they arose. Five shots is a great advantage, but anything can happen tomorrow, given the expected weather forecast”.
The field was reduced overnight Tuesday  from 70 to 69 following Scott Henry's late withdrawal. This was due to Scott winning the Alps Tour's Gösser Open in Austria (www.alpsgolftour.com and see below)) after shooting an amazing 9 under par final round of 63.
Henry He had hoped to fly home on Tuesday evening and compete at Hilton Park but unfortunately, due to the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud, all flights we're cancelled!  We would like to congratulate Scott on his magnificent win and we look forward to seeing him at Westerwood in July.

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
NameAttachmentParScore
Paul McKechnieBraid Hills(-6)64
Mark KerrMurrayfield (-1)69
Graeme BrownMontrose(-1)69
Graeme FoxNorth Gales(-1)69
Shaun McCallisterCraigieLawE70
Eric RamsayCarnoustieE70
David OrrEastwood(+1)71
Kevin McAlpineAlyth(+1)71
John GallagherSwanston(+1)71
Craig RonaldCarluke(+1)71
James McGheeBishopbriggs Golf Range(+1)71
Scott HeraldMearns Castle(+1)71
Mark LoftusAdam Hunter Golf(+2)72
Corisande LeeWest Lancs(+2)72
Chris CurrieCaldwell(+2)72
David RogerWindyhill(+2)72
John HenryClydebank & District(+2)72
Keir McNicollCarnoustie(+2)72
Lindsay MannCarnoustie Links(+2)72
Steven DuncanLochlomond(+2)72
Scott PithieCarluke(+2)72
Campbell ElliottHaggs Castle(+2)72
Lee HarperArcherfield(+2)72
Alan ReidWest Lothian(+3)73
Stewart SavageDalmuir(+3)73
Jason McreadieBuchanan Castle(+3)73
Mark KingKingsfield(+3)73
Tracy BoyesMeon Valley(+4)74
Neil FenwickDunbar(+4)74
Ed WoodCrowwood(+4)74
Alan LockhartLadybank(+4)74
Michael PatersonKilmacolm(+4)74
Robert ArnottBishopbriggs Golf Range(+4)74
Zach SaltmanCraigieLaw(+4)74
Barry CampbellVale of Leven(+5)75
Heather MacraeGullane(+5)75
Craig GordonEdinburgh Golf Centre(+5)75
Francisco Pinter SmithThe Dukes(+5)75
James ErskinePortpatrick(+5)75
Stephen McCallisterMearns Castle(+5)75
Ben IrvingKirkcudbright(+5)75
Alistair BrownWhitecraigs(+6)76
Alan WaughClydebank & District(+6)76
Lauren MackinSon Gual(+6)76
Andy FullenLargs(+6)76
Katy McNicolCarnoustie(+6)76
Lorne KellyPro Dream USA(+6)76
Chris KellyCawder(+6)76
Tim Rich(+6)76
David SnodgrassHilton Park(+6)76
Iain ColquhounDundonald(+7)77
Stephen ClarkUnattached(+7)77
Ian RedfordSt Andrews New(+7)77
James SmallwoodFereneze(+8)78
Malcolm IsaacsNairn Dunbar(+8)78
Andrew McIintyreRanfurly Castle(+8)78
Alastair ThomsonDouglas Park(+9)79
Stuart Burns(+9)79
Eric WalkerBurntisland(+10)80
Brian Smith(+10)80
Paul Robinson(+11)81
Scott GarettIrvine Bogside(+12)82
Gary CookeAspire(+13)83
Paul GallacherDalmuir(+13)83
John GreenHDA Properties(+13)83
Vincent BrownWesterwood(+14)84
Ross DixonRenaissance(+14)84
Ted Innes KerrN/RN/R
Lewis BurnettN/RN/R
Craig MathesonFalkirkW/D
Norman HuguetMusselburghW/D
Scott HenryW/D

SCOTT HENRY'S MAIDEN WIN AS A PRO

FROM THE ALPS TOUR WEBSITE
Scotland's Scott Henry had to wait 50 long minutes on the putting green before he knew he had won the 2011 Gösser Open presented by Martin Wiegele with a total of -17.
He fired a 63 (nine under par) to grab a one stroke margin victory. Austrian Roland Steiner signed for 66. For the second year in a row, local fans applauded an Austrian runner up. At third place, a group of 4 players, Swiss Martin Rominger, Northern Ireland's Richard Kilpatrick and England's Jamie Abbot and Chris Paisley.
The weather was warm and humid in Styria. It doesn't bother the big group of British players running for good results. Since the beginning of the Alps Tour season, players from Great Britain are dominating the Alps Tour events. At the middle of the day, no less than 7 of them where in top 10 with a total between -10 and -13.
But the odds were very good for a group run by Alps Tour leader, Chris Paisley. He was -7 as he started the day.

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