SGU SHOULD INVOLVE SQUAD FRINGE PLAYERS MORE OFTEN

By PAUL CORMACK
A Scot on the American mini-tour scene
Playing golf to make a living is not all rock and roll, especially at the lower end of the spectrum. We all work hard, some just adapt quicker than others. The guys that were on my Scotland squads were just as good as the guys that have came through the last few years but I believe that they (the next generation) were given better opportunities.
I for one got left out of the Scotland squads when I decided to come over to the United States to college. How do you leave out your boys' home international top points scorer and probably one of the most consistent performers over my last year or so as a junior?
The guys that were in those squads got a lot more help than I did. Now that is not a dig at the SGU. They pick those squads on who they think are the best players. They just didn't think I was one of them.
Had I been in those squads I may have delayed turning pro but when you are not involved in the squads and have no hope of getting in them it was an easy decision.
You just have to look at the leaps and bounds my friend Kris Nicol has came in since being involved in the SGU set-up. Little things or opportunities to speak to the correct people about fitness and the mental side of the game help. I'm sure those guys have had the best available to them.
My one hope still for the SGU is that they involve the players on the fringes of their squads more often, especially during the winter to give them the taste and the belief that they can get there. That's all I would have ever ask. Just a chance.
My biggest win as an amateur was probably winning a regional tournament on the US college golf circuit. I equalled a record that I believe still stands at 18 under par for the three rounds.
I attended McLennan Community College at Waco, Texas.
Pro wise i haven't won much apart from the odd alliance competition and the North-east Alliance championship (pictured above with the trophy two or three years ago). That's something I'd like to rectify sooner rather than later.
I personally think that the perception of us lower tier golfers is that we all don't work or try as hard as the big boys. I know for a fact that's not true. I'd  welcome the chance to inform people of the life of "the mini tour" player. Money has never been or will ever be the object of me playing golf. It wasn't like that at the start of my career and hopefully it never gets that way.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Paul has agreed to write for scottishgolfview.com a regular Golfing Letter from America).
I think I'll enjoy writing about the emotional and hard working side of the game that not many people know about. Golf fans all over the world read about the winner and just see everyone else in the field's score. They don't really know the day-to-day grind at any level of golf, never mind the lower tiers.
I think it will be fun and interesting for me anyway. I hope scottishgolfview.com readers will like it too.

I will keep you up to date with my progress after every series of the the NGA Tour during the year.

I find there is actually something therapeutic about writing down my thoughts and the state of my game. I don't know how many people will be interested in reading the trials and tribulations of a mini tour golfer but I'd be more than happy to keep you informed.

As of now I'm taking a short break but within the next couple of weeks I'll be back practising and getting myself prepared for the winter series tournaments and the start of the NGA Tour (formerly the Hooters Tour) season in February.

Regards,

Paul Cormack

+If you have any questions on golfing matters for Paul, send them to Colin@scottishgolfview.com and they will be forwarded to him without delay.

Ian Bratton's Winter Rules for playing in Alliance competitions

E-mail from Ian Bratton
North-east Alliance captain

Slow play is caused by players taking the Alliance too seriously. Hence playing too slowly.
The alliance should be a fun competition playing winter golf. Winter golf can be a bit of a lottery, with wind , rain, snow, frost and bumpy greens.
If you happen to play well then so be it. Most guys are playing only once a week so it can be a hit or a miss.
Don't get me wrong. If you are on a score then knuckle down, but for the first 14 holes just take what comes and move on as quickly as possible.
Winter rules:
1: Always keep up with the group in front, do not try to gauge your speed with the group behind you.
2: One practice swing max (don't waste a good one).
3: Line up a putt from one side, not both unless you have time while your partners are putting.
4: First person to hole out on the green gets the flag.
5: Mark your ball on the green of driveable par 4s and let the group behind tee off. eg. 5th hole at Montrose.
6: Alway hit a provisional ball if in doubt.
7: Anybody using range finders should try to get their yardage while their playing partners are playing their shots. On a par 3, offer your yardage to your partners.
8: Can't think of any more rules. Bet you're all glad!

Good luck at Craibstone on Wednesday.
Yours Speedily,
Ian Bratton,
North East Alliance Captain.
PGA Professional, Newburgh-on-Ythan Golf Club.

PETER SMITH ANSWERS SENIORS TOUR CALL - HE'S TAIWAN-BOUND

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Former Northern Open champion Peter Smith, now a teaching pro at Deeside Golf Club, has accepted a place in the second last event of the 2011 European Seniors Tour - but it means him travelling halfway round the world at his own expense.
It's the Fubon Open at Miramar Golf and Country Club, Taiwan, the first time the over-50s tour has staged an event there. It will be played from November 28 to 30 with $400,000 of prize money.
Sandy Lyle is one of the big names who will be in the field of 96 players for the 54-hole event.
"I can hardly believe believe I've got a spot. There's a cut, which is unusual in seniors' events, so that is probably the reason why a lot of 'regulars' are giving this one a miss," said Peter who narrowly missed out at last year's Seniors Tour Qualifying School on the Algarve
"But it's a bonus for me and I'm really looking forward to it."

SLOW PLAY AT NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE COMPETITIONS

E-mail from Willie McKenzie

Regards the slow play in Wednesday's North-east Alliance competition at Montrose, a couple of things might help keep play flowing - 10min intervals between tee times and players observing the commonsense approach of if you are in doubt about your ball being in trouble, reload instead of searching for 5min and then walking back.
When we arrived at the third tee at Montrose, there were 15 golfers on or around the tee waiting to play.
I suggested to one group "When you reach the green, mark your ball and allow the next group to tee off. This should help speed play up a bit."
But he just looked at me as if I had two heads and walked away.
Montrose was a joy to play, a quality track. And a wee word for the two Daves (joint secretaries Wilson and Mackay),  they do a great job, so the players should do all we can to help everyone to enjoy playing in the Alliance.

Willie McKenzie

GOLF TOURISM SCOTLAND'S ANNUAL GOLD STANDARD AWARDS

NEWS RELEASE
The Scottish golf industry’s top honours have been announced at a glittering awards ceremony held in St Andrews . The annual Golf Tourism Scotland ’s Gold Standard Awards is the sector’s blue-ribbon event where the very best of Scottish golf tourism is celebrated.
Hosted by Fairmont St Andrews, this year’s gala evening saw the presentation of 11 awards including the Special Achievement Award which was received by the former secretary of Prestwick Golf Club, Ian Bunch. This year’s Young Industry Person of the Year was presented jointly to Simon Redmond from Macdonald Rusacks Hotel in St Andrews and Valerie Houston formerly of the Royal Golf Hotel in Dornoch.
The prestigious Golf Course of the Year award went to Kingsbarns Golf Links which beat off competition from the likes of Castle Stuart and North Berwick . In the accommodation provider category, this year’s hosts Fairmont St Andrews were named the country’s top resort, while Macdonald Rusacks Hotel was awarded the Large Hotel accolade.
Crail Golfing Society received the Golf Secretariat award and St Andrews Executive Travel was named Transport Operator of the Year. Elsewhere, Old Loans Inn at Troon received the Small Hotel/Guesthouse award while Meldrum House in Aberdeenshire was named Scotland ’s best country hotel.
Other winners of the GTS Gold Standard Awards included Martin Roy of Carnoustie Golf Links who clinched the Caddiemaster of the Year accolade and Golf Scotland which picked up the Golf Tour Operator of the Year award.

Full list of category winners 

GOLF COURSE OF THE YEAR. Nominations for this category were open to any golf course in Scotland that offers tee-times to visitors.
Kingsbarns Golf Links
GOLF SECRETARIAT OF THE YEAR. Nominations for this category were open to any golf club/course whose administration provides a service to visitors and/or the travel trade.
Crail Golfing Society
CADDIEMASTER OF THE YEAR. Nominations for this category were open to any caddiemaster providing a service to visitors and/or the travel trade.
Martin Roy, Carnoustie Golf Links
HOTEL OF THE YEAR (Small hotel/guest house category). Nominations for this category were open to accommodation providers with 20 or fewer bedrooms that provide services to golf visitors.
Old Loans Inn, Troon
HOTEL OF THE YEAR (Country house hotel category). Nominations for this category were open to hotels and exclusive-use properties operating in rural areas that provide services to golf visitors.
Meldrum House County Hotel, Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire
HOTEL OF THE YEAR (Large hotel category). Nominations for this category were open to hotels with more than 20 bedrooms which provide services to golf visitors.
Macdonald Rusacks Hotel, St Andrews
HOTEL OF THE YEAR (Resort hotel category). Nominations for this category were open to resort hotels with golf course(s) attached.
Fairmont St Andrews
GOLF TOUR OPERATOR OF THE YEAR. Nominations for this category were open to any tour operator bringing golfers to Scotland.
Golf Scotland
TRANSPORT OPERATOR OF THE YEAR. Nominations for this category were open to any business providing transport services in Scotland including rail, road, air and sea.
St Andrews Executive Travel
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Ian Bunch
YOUNG INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR
Simon Redmond, Macdonald Rusacks Hotel and Valerie Houston, formerly of the Royal Golf Hotel in Dornoch

CRAIG LEE OPTIMISTIC BUT CHRIS DOAK NOW A LONG SHOT

CRAIG LEE in action today. Image by courtesy of Phil Inglis ©

CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT
FROM NEIL AHERN, Puglia, Italy
nahern@europeantour.com
Craig Lee took another step towards a card on The 2012 European Tour International Schedule after a one under par 70 left him in tied 17th place after the third round of the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final.
For the third time in three rounds, the Stirling man started with bogey on the difficult first hole before following up with another on the second, but he battled back gamely with birdies on the third and fifth holes before gaining further shots at the 11th and 13th.
It all went slightly awry for the 34 year old when he found water at the par four 14th for a double-bogey, but he followed that up immediately with a birdie at the 15th to finish the day on eight under par for the tournament.
“I suppose it’s going to plan in the sense that I’m not going backwards, but it was a very frustrating day on the golf course,” conceded Lee, who sat in 11th place in the projected Rankings after round three.
“One under is OK, but it’s disappointing because I’m actually hitting it quite nicely. But when you only miss two greens all day, you don’t expect to shoot one under. So it’s a bit frustrating, but we’ll plod away and see what happens.
“It would have been nice to move forward a bit, but I’m still there or thereabouts. I’ll be relying on some strong wind tomorrow and it may have to be down to some of the other players’ fortunes or misfortunes, but it would have been nice to do it on my own.
“I don’t think I’ll be attacking tomorrow, I think if the wind picks up like it’s supposed to, it won’t be a birdie fest, so I don’t think I’ll have to attack too much. I just need to try not to hit it in the water next time out!”
Chris Doak’s hopes of breaking into the top 20 and gaining a European Tour card for next year look to be receding after he finished the day 11 shots off the lead on six under for the tournament after a level par 71.
The final day is set to be a titanic battle of the young guns, with home hero Andrea Pavan and rising English star Tommy Fleetwood fighting for the right to be crowned the winner of both the season-ending event and the Challenge Tour Rankings.
Pavan, the supremely gifted 22 year old who is sponsored by San Domenico Golf, edged ahead of overnight leader Fleetwood, who understandably struggled to maintain the momentum built up by his sensational round of 61 on day two.
Six birdies in a faultless round of 65 carried Pavan to the head of affairs on 17 under par, one stroke ahead of Fleetwood, who signed for a round of 69.
The 20 year old from Southport, Lancashire, still remains on course to become the youngest winner of the Challenge Tour Rankings, provided he finishes in the top two. But if he were to slip to third place or worse and Pavan prevails, the Roman would follow in the footsteps of his friend and compatriot Edoardo Molinari, winner of the Challenge Tour in 2009.

CHALLENGE TOUR THIRD-ROUND SCOREBOARD

Apulia San Domenico Grand Final
San Domenico Golf, Puglia, Italy

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 213 (3x71)
196 A Pavan (Ita) 66 65 65
197 T Fleetwood (Eng) 67 61 69
199 A Johnston (Eng) 67 67 65
200 V Riu (Fra) 68 67 65
201 P Edberg (Swe) 69 63 69
202 S Walker (Eng) 69 67 66, A Marshall (Eng) 67 67 68, C Lloyd (Eng) 68 65 69, F Praegant (Aut) 69 65 68
203 S Tiley (Eng) 67 66 70, F Colombo (Ita) 72 66 65, J Lima (Por) 69 68 66
204 J Quesne (Fra) 69 69 66, R Santos (Por) 66 69 69, J Guerrier (Fra) 66 66 72, L Jensen (Den) 72 65 67
205 T Ferreira (RSA) 72 63 70, M Baldwin (Eng) 69 70 66, B Grace (RSA) 70 67 68, C Lee (Sco) 69 66 70, C Gane (Eng) 68 65 72, J Campillo (Esp) 66 69 70,
206 C Russo (Fra) 68 68 70, E Dubois (Fra) 70 66 70, S Little (Eng) 67 68 71, A Tadini (Ita) 69 66 71, B Hebert (Fra) 67 69 70, A Snobeck (Fra) 69 70 67
207 C Doak (Sco) 71 65 71
208 M Erlandsson (Swe) 68 72 68, P Gustafsson (Swe) 71 67 70, E Kofstad (Nor) 70 69 69, S Thornton (Irl) 67 70 71
209 D Denison (Eng) 69 70 70, A Tampion (Aus) 69 70 70, F Delamontagne (Fra) 71 70 68, L Kennedy (Eng) 70 71 68, B Ritthammer (Ger) 69 70 70,
210 J Elson (Eng) 67 72 71
211 N Meitinger (Ger) 73 67 71
214 M Bothma (RSA) 71 68 75, P Archer (Eng) 73 71 70, J Moul (Eng) 73 72 69
215 M Southgate (Eng) 73 73 69, K Borsheim (Nor) 72 72 71

ST ANDREWS DAY WINTER OPEN AT CRAIBSTONE GOLF CLUB

Craibstone Golf Club, Bucksburn, Aberdeem is to stage a St Andrews Day Winter Open on Saturday, November 26.
Entry will be open men, women and juniors with an entry £15 for non-members of the host club (£5 voucher for food included in entry fee).
The competition is an 18-hole Stableford and there will be three prize sections for men - handicaps scratch to 10, 11 to 18, and 19 to 28. Women will have one prize section. The Junior section will have boys and girls' prizes.
Call Craibstone Golf manager Billy Sim (716777) to enter or E-mail golf@marshall-leisure.co.uk

LU GOES FIVE STROKES CLEAR IN TAIWAN MASTERS

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOURTaipei, November 4: Lu Wei-chih of Chinese Taipei raced into a five-shot lead courtesy of a hot putter after the halfway stage of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters today.
Lu, winner of the 2005 Mercuries Taiwan Masters, posted a second successive six-under-par 66 to lead over former Asian Tour number one Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, who traded four birdies and one eagle against two bogeys for 68 at the US$600,000 event.
Asian Tour rookies Kieran Pratt of Australia and Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines were a further shot back after shooting 68 and 71 respectively at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club.
Lu, who won his second Asian Tour tournament on home soil last month, needed only 23 putts in a round of seven birdies against one blemish highlighted by a 16-yard chip in birdie on the par three eighth hole.
“I didn’t put a number in mind that I wanted to shoot before my round. I just went out there and did what I needed to do,” said Lu, who leads on 12-under-par 132.
The 32-year-old, playing on his home course, said he needs to overcome the turbulent weather to win his third Asian Tour title.
“You need to be very wary of the weather here. I monitor the news on the weather updates before my round and talk to my caddy on our strategy depending on the weather conditions. I think that’s the key to having a good score here,” said Lu.
Thaworn renewed his fondness for the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, where he won in 2004, sinking a 10 feet eagle putt on the seventh hole for a 137 total.
He was not surprised with Lu’s lead. “I’m playing good and concentrating on my own game. Lu has an advantage because this is his home course but I’m going to play my own game and let the results come,” said Thaworn, a 12-time Asian Tour winner.
Tabuena, who at the age of 17 is the youngest Asian Tour member, posted a “boring” round of two birdies against one bogey to give himself a chance of making a charge in the next two days.
“It was a very boring round but I’m in good position of playing aggressively. Shooting under-par on this course is a really good effort. I just tried to get the red numbers and it worked for me,” said Tabuena, a silver medallist in the 2010 Asian Games.
The halfway cut was set at four-over-par 148 with a total of 57 players making the weekend rounds.
SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
132 - LU Wei-chih (TPE) 66-66.
137 - Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 69-68.
138 - Kieran PRATT (AUS) 70-68, Miguel TABUENA (PHI) 67-71.
139 - Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 67-72.
140 - LIN Wen-tang (TPE) 70-70.
141 - Daisuke KATAOKA (JPN) 69-72, Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA) 72-69, Miles TUNNICLIFF (ENG) 72-69
142 - Thanyakon KHRONGPHA (THA) 71-71.
143 - Daisuke MARUYAMA (JPN) 71-72, Angelo QUE (PHI) 72-71, LU Wen-teh (TPE) 70-73.
144 - Simon GRIFFITHS (ENG) 71-73, Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI) 72-72, Zaw MOE (MYN) 69-75, CHAN Shih-chang (TPE) 70-74.
145 - Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) 72-73, Ben FOX (USA) 73-72, BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR) 72-73, WANG Ter-chang (TPE) 71-74, HSIEH Tung-shu (TPE) 73-72, Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 69-76, Chris RODGERS (ENG) 71-74.
+Players with halfway totals of 148 or better qualified for the final two rounds.

SNEDEKER OUT FOR REST OF YEAR AFTER HIP SURGERY

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
ST SIMONS ISLAND, Georgia (AP) — Brandt Snedeker will be out of golf the rest of the year as he recovers from hip surgery.
Snedeker, who won The Heritage in April and nearly earned a spot on the U.S. Presidents Cup team, had surgery earlier this week to fix a degenerative issue in his right hip. He is not expected to compete again for six to eight weeks.
That affects two players who will replace him in tournaments Snedeker had planned to play.
Rickie Fowler will take Snedeker's spot in the Chevron World Challenge, played December 1-4 at Sherwood Country Club in California. Snedeker will be replaced by Bo Van Pelt a week later at the Shark Shootout in Florida.



Read more: http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,2097434,00.html#ixzz1ck1Y1q00

PLAY MUIRFIELD FOR £280 PER FOUR-BALL IN AID OF JUNIOR GOLF

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNIONMuirfield, host venue for the 2013 Open Championship, has generously donated a number of tee-times during November and December, to the Scottish Golf Union with the proceeds from all sales going towards junior golf in Scotland.
These are now available to buy via the Scottish Golf Union for £280 per four-ball, with availability on Tuesdays and Thursdays (9.30am tee-time) for the next two months.
The course is in fantastic condition and there are no mats or winter greens in play. The first available date is Thursday, November 10 and bookings are made on a first come first served basis.
If you would like to book one of these, please ring Ross Duncan, the SGU's market, media and PR manager, on 01334 466477.

FREDRIK JACOBSON CLICKETY-CLIKS TO LEAD IN SHANGHAI

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
Shanghai, November 4: Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson overcame a two-shot deficit by returning with a flawless six-under-par 66 to take the second round lead at the WGC-HSBC Champions today.
Jacobson, who finished third in Malaysia last week, leads by one ahead of 2010 British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen who signed for the day’s lowest score of 63 to take a share of second place alongside Australia’s Adam Scott on 134 total.
Starting the day tied-second, Jacobson carded his first birdie on the seventh hole before adding another on the par-four ninth to reach the turn in 34.
He started his outward-nine with another birdie on the 10th hole before a hat-trick of birdies starting from the 14th hole ensured that he would head into the weekend with the lead.
“I think I've just been striking the ball really well. I've been driving the ball really well over these first two days,” said Jacobson.
“I got a new driver a couple of weeks ago and it just seems to work really well. I feel I've been having pretty good distance off the tees, and if I can hit it straight, which I have so far, I'm going to get some good looks with my irons,” added the Swede.
Meanwhile Oosthuizen surprised even himself after a sparkling 63 skyrocketed him up the leaderboard.
“I don't think I've ever shot a 63. I think I've shot 62 once in a tournament round, but you know, it was probably at my local course back in South Africa that I last shot a 63,” said the South African who completed his first round in tied-30th place after an opening 71.
“I don't think I missed a green today as I hit the ball really well. It was nice, a good, solid day for me,” added Oosthuizen.
Scott, winner of the last WGC event in Akron in August, also made his quick move up the top with a brilliant outward 31 that was highlighted by six birdies and one bogey.
The Australian then charged home with three birdies against another bogey on the 15th hole to stay in close touch with Jacobson.
“It was a good round today to keep pace with the leaders. I got off to a fairly fast start on the front-nine. It was nice to make a couple on the back nine to take advantage of the good front-nine,” said Scott.
“I'm pleased to be in touch but obviously scoring is low, so I'm going to have to play well on the weekend to keep in touch with them,” added the Australian.
SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72). Yardage 7,266
133 - Fredrik JACOBSON (SWE) 67-66.
134 - Louis OOSTHUIZEN (RSA) 71-63, Adam SCOTT (AUS) 69-65.
135 - Keegan BRADLEY (USA) 65-70.
136 - Bo VAN PELT (USA) 67-69, Paul CASEY (ENG) 70-66.
137 - Martin KAYMER (GER) 69-68, Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 68-69, Aaron BADDELEY (AUS) 69-68, Lee WESTWOOD (ENG) 69-68.
138 - Simon DYSON (ENG) 69-69, Graeme MCDOWELL (NIR) 69-69, Justin ROSE (ENG) 68-70, Hunter MAHAN (USA) 71-67, Ian POULTER (ENG) 70-68, K J CHOI (SKOR) 68-70.
SELECTED SCORES
139 - Rory MCILROY (NIR) 70-69, Charl SCHWARTZEL (RSA) 70-69 (T17)
143 - Paul Lawrie (Scotland) 72 71 (T39).
144 - Ernie Els (S Africa) 75 69 (T44).

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

THE SPIRIT AMATEUR INTERNATIONAL SCORES ON kIrkwoodgolf.co.uk

SCORES FROM DAY 2 OF THE SPIRIT AMATEUR INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT AT WHISPERING PINES GC, HOUSTON, TEXAS CAN BE FOUND ON OUR SISTER WEBSITE, http://www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk/

McDOWELL "EMBARRASSED" BY 81-82 FINISH AT VALDERRAMA

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
Graeme McDowell’s surge up the leaderboard of ‘Asia’s major’ belied the torment simmering beneath.
While all looked serene from his perch at three under par, four shots adrift of American Keegan Bradley, his first-round 69 in the HSBC Champions here at Sheshan served merely as a tonic to his sense of being “embarrassed” and “ashamed”.
The Ulsterman’s angst could be traced to his grisly unravelling last weekend at Valderrama, where he botched the defence of his Andalucia Masters title with closing rounds of 81 and 82.
For a player anointed as US Open champion fewer than 18 months ago, McDowell’s finish at 25-over-par signalled a profound indignity. He was not quite entering Ian Baker-Finch territory — the Australian won the Open at Birkdale in 1991, only to shoot a 92 at Troon six years later — but it was not far off as a thudding fall from grace.
McDowell’s confidence had ebbed so drastically in Spain that he lost his capacity both to draw and fade the ball: a lethal combination for a pro of any standard, let alone a major winner. The club had become a slimy serpent in his hands.
The flight to Shanghai was, he claimed, a difficult one, haunted by helpless incomprehension as to how his game had disintegrated to this point. “I had a long time to think about it coming over here,” he said. “It was one of the more embarrassing weekends I have ever had on a golf course.
“I threw the towel in a little bit. I didn’t have a shot in the bag and I couldn’t make a putt either. That is how I have been this year.
“There’s an element of being ashamed of yourself, and an element of ‘What am I going to do about it’?”
In the drizzle that fell over Shanghai’s Songjiang district, McDowell, pictured above, appeared finally to have worked out some answers. Restored by a productive range session with coach Pete Cowen, he rediscovered some semblance of his natural rhythm, even if his round mirrored his past year-and-a-half through its mix of great highs and absurd lows.
Briefly grasping a share of the lead at four under, he proceeded to throw it with a triple-bogey at the short 17th after depositing his tee-shot into the bushes.
Creditably, he rallied with three birdies in his next four: testament to the tenacity McDowell needs at this juncture in his career. For as well as losing his best form, the 32 year-old has also had to surrender his pre-eminence within his own management company.
The second that Rory McIlroy joined Conor Ridge’s Horizon stable, the elder man had to accept he would be taking a step down. Nothing, though, seems to depress this perky son of Portrush for long.
“Rory and I probably haven’t spent as much time together recently as we would have liked to,” he reflected. “I am happy to be No 2. I am back to slipstreaming my old mate.”
McIlroy, whose girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki, had a first experience yesterday of watching him in competition, did not quite make the statement he intended with a one-paced 70. Neither did English prodigal Tom Lewis, fresh from winning in Portugal in only his third professional start. A six-over 78 constituted his welcome to the big league.
Lee Westwood was more impressive in his progress to a 69, coming close to an albatross when his approach over the water at the 594-yard 14th struck the flag. The world No 2 has had an acquaintance with the rarest bird in golf before, thanks to a two on the 18th at Kingsbarns in the 2003 Dunhill Links.
Even Westwood was eclipsed by Bradley, the surprise US PGA champion, whose astonishing season was sustained through a peerless 65. Delivering five birdies and an eagle, the 25 year-old proved emphatically that his triumph at Atlanta Athletic Club had been no fluke.
At times it was disconcerting to think that at the same stage last year, Bradley was still on the second-division Nationwide Tour; a young itinerant desperate for a break.
He need worry no longer. Bradley trumped fellow major champions McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Charl Schwartzel at last month’s PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda, and offered a nerveless display here in only his second World Golf Championship event.
The only question is why he has not received a place in America’s Presidents Cup team for the approaching contest in Melbourne.
Captain Fred Couples has taken the dubious decision of selecting Tiger Woods irrespective of results, while handed his other wild card to Bill Haas, the FedEx Cup winner who reached the Sheshan clubhouse yesterday at seven over.
But Bradley, arguably the US PGA Tour’s most exciting rising star, is left out in the cold. Go figure, as they might say on Team USA.

FRED COUPLES SHARES SENIORS' LEAD WITH JAY HAAS

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — U.S. Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples seems amused by all the controversy surrounding Tiger Woods' position on the American team.
Some might say he relishes it.
Couples, pictured right, shot a three-under 68 in rainy, wet conditions Thursday for a share of the lead with assistant captain Jay Haas after the first round of the Champions Tour's season-ending Charles Schwab Championship.
Not surprisingly, the first question Couples faced after his round was about Woods.
"In my mind some of it's very serious and some of it is comical because it just keeps going," said Couples, who guaranteed Woods a spot weeks before his captain's picks were due.
"We have 11 other guys on the team. But it seems like it's all about Tiger. I've picked him and we'll wait until we get to Australia and we'll see how he plays."
Coming off a seven-stroke victory three weeks ago in San Antonio, Couples had six birdies and three bogeys at TPC Harding Park, the site of the United States' 2009 Presidents Cup victory in his first year as captain.
He overcame a rough back nine, getting a birdie on the par-4 18th to grab a share of the lead.
"I always say he's (Couples) a golfing genius," said Haas, who had four birdies and a bogey. "He's kind of just got it. When he's healthy, he has a great work ethic."
Couples, who in July travelled to Germany for a treatment on his back that is not allowed in the U.S., looked much more relaxed on the golf course in the final event on the 50-and-under tour.
He got off to a quick start with birdies on five of the first nine holes and held a two-stroke lead midway through the back nine before running into trouble in the wet, windy conditions.
Couples, a two-time winner on tour this season, had bogeyed Nos. 13 and 14 - both par 4s - then added another bogey on the par-3 17th to fall a stroke behind Haas. Couples recovered on the 18th with a 10-foot birdie putt to regain a share of the lead.
"I didn't dominate the golf course but I drove it well and I made some of the holes seem easier," Couples said. "Today (the weather) was not really that bad. It was more of a nuisance."
Haas, whose only victory this season came at the 3M Championship in Minnesota in late July, had a more consistent round. His only stumble came on the par-3 11th when flew the green with his tee shot.
Haas made up for it with birdies on 16 and 17 to take a brief one-stroke lead.
"It was a difficult day out there," Haas said. "The rain is not as bad as the rain and the wind. It was a two- or three-club turnaround wind basically on most holes."
David Frost and Michael Allen were a stroke back and Charles Schwab Cup points leader Tom Lehman matched Kenny Perry and Rod Spittle at 70.
Periodic heavy rain combined with sporadic sweeping wind kept the scores high. Only seven of the 30 players broke par on the picturesque course.
Lehman, attempting to become the first to win player of the year honours on the US PGA, Nationwide and Champion tours, repeatedly struggled with his approach shots and had only two birdies.
Mark Calcavecchia, second in points behind Lehman, had an even rougher afternoon. He had five birdies but two double bogeys, one at the par-3 third, en route to a 71.
Frost eagled the 525-yard par-5 ninth, then birdied No. 10 to get to 5 under, but dropped back with bogeys on Nos. 11, 13 and 14.

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