JAMES BYRNE HAS A SIX-OVER 78 IN NZ OPEN FIRST ROUND

Banchory's James Byrne had a disappointing opening round of six-over-par 78 in the New Zealand Open at Clearwater Golf Club, Christchurch.

The rookie professional, starting at the 10th, had bogeys at the short 11th, 13th and long 14th before running up a double bogey 6 at the 15th. Another bogey followed at the 17th before he claimed his first birdie of the round at the 18th.

On his inward half Byrne birdied the long second but bogeyed the seventh and ninth.

He is the only European  player in the field.

SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW THE FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD

REPORT FROM THE NZ OPEN WEBSITE:

TWO SHARE LEAD ON 68 

Little known Waikato professional Jim Cusdin defied the strengthening afternoon winds to claim a share of the lead in the first round at the BMW New Zealand Open in Christchurch. He joined Queensland professional Brad Kennedy as joint round one leaders after firing four-under par 68s at the Clearwater Golf Club.

The pair leads Australian Leigh McKechnie and Kiwi Doug Holloway (69) by one shot with 2003 New Zealand Open champion Mahal Pearce (70) only one shot further back. He shares fifth place with 2002 champion Craig Parry, and fellow Australian professional Nicholas Cullen. 

After the morning field had made the most of the calmer conditions, Cusdin defied the challenging nor-easterly winds with a superb display, reaching the lead at one stage on five-under after just 10 putts in his first nine holes. 

After a double bogey and bogey he dropped to two-under, but rallied with the maturity beyond his 26 years to make two late birdies. The recent Tauranga Open winner on the Charles Tour was delighted with his play today.

“My front nine was awesome today in that wind,” said Cusdin. “I felt like I couldn’t do anything wrong. I was putting really well and hitting really good shots and going on with it. I hit it clean and putted well so yeah I am pretty happy.” 

Cusdin credited his recent success on the Charles Tour as the reason he was able to bounce back from his back nine mistakes. “I said to Scotty [Wightman], my caddie, that whatever happens this week just stay cool you never know what is going to happen, especially after I three putted too, after only 10 putts on the front nine … I just tried to stay patient get myself into position and I managed to make a couple coming home.” 

He plans to move to Melbourne in 2012 with his girlfriend for a full year on the Australasian Tour and is hoping for better status with a good performance this week. 

He feels better equipped to handle the pressure of contending in a big tournament like the BMW NZ Open after growing with experience.

“I suppose you get used to it. If I had’ve done this two years ago and I looked at the scoreboard then I would have gone the other way but it’s like anything you just have to get used to it. I like to know where I am.” Kennedy, who plies his grade in Japan and won the Western Australian Open in 2010, made the most of the benign early morning conditions with three birdies in his opening five holes from the 10th tee. 

He made further birdies on holes two, three and four to get to five under for the tournament but dropped a shot coming home at the 8th to sign for an impressive four under 68. “The key to my round was just staying patient,” said the 37-year-old. “I got it going early on when it was really calm and then the wind picked up on my final few holes and it was a much tougher. I have played here a few times and I enjoy playing in the wind. “Coming from Queensland and playing a lot in Asia I am used to these conditions and I am happy with my start. Kennedy enjoys playing on the Australasian Tour and is looking forward to the Anzac battle over the weekend. 

“I really enjoy coming back to New Zealand, I have some good mates that live here on the course who I am staying with and its good catching up with them for a few beers and a few glasses of Pinot. I love coming back to New Zealand to play and it’s nice to be in contention.” 

Holloway is the next best Kiwi after the 28-year-old fired a three-under 69 to be tied third. As the nor-easterly winds started to blow it reduced the players finishing in red figures on Red and Black Day, where players were encouraged to wear Canterbury colours in support of the city. Starting off the first, Holloway made a birdie on the fourth and mixed three birdies with one dropped shot coming home.

“I played really, really good up until the final hole where I got very lucky on the last when I hit a bit of a cut into the wind and stayed in-bounds by about a foot. My provisional was in the bunker and so best case scenario was that I would have made seven so I was very lucky to stay in-bounds,” said Holloway.

“Looking at the weather so far it seems to be quite a big advantage playing this morning. I got off to a pretty good start. “It plays a lot harder around here in the wind. If the wind stays like this or blows harder, then even-par will be a good score. I will try not to make any mistakes. That will be the key.” 

A strong player in winds, Holloway has been buoyed by excellent recent form. “I have a tendency of playing well in the wind. My expectations have been pretty high. So coming into this I did like my chance of coming close. It is early days so we will see what unfolds.” 

Also in the mix is Parry who managed a two under par 70 to be two shots back from fellow Queenslander and Cusdin. 

“I played really well today,” said the Australian veteran. “The wind was a lot less than yesterday but it was still difficult to get it close. I played well so happy with two under.” 

Tournament draw card Michael Campbell got off to a fast start in the morning when he was two under after five holes but faded to card a five over 77.  

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE NZ OPEN WEBSITE

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JIMMY GUNN MISSES TOP 20 IN ARIZONA

Dornoch exile Jimmy Gunn finished joint 21st in a field of 41 with a round of one-over-par 73 in today's 18-hole All-American Pro Tour competition at Ocotillo Golf Club, Chandler in Arizona. Winner was American Tommy Media with a 66. LEADING FINAL TOTALS Par 72 Players from US unless stated 66 Tommy Medina. 67 Ryan Hogue, Nathan Leonhardt (Canada). Selected score 73 Jimmy Gunn (Scotland) (T21) Field of 41 players.

SUNSHINE TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL SCORES

TO VIEW THE SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD AT THE SUNSHINE (South African PGA) TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL

CLICK HERE

ALLENBY-OGILVY SPAT - ALMOST FISTICUFFS

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE

The International team suffered another humbling loss earlier this month at the Presidents Cup, and there could be lingering ramifications for a pair of Australians.

After Sunday’s final round of the Australian PGA, Robert Allenby and Geoff Ogilvy got into a verbal spat that nearly dissolved into a physical altercation, according to published reports in Australia. The incident stemmed from critical comments made last week by Allenby, who claimed that his poor performance at Royal Melbourne – he was the only player on either team who failed to earn a point – was partly because of his partners, including his longtime friend Ogilvy.

Following his opening round at the Australian PGA, Allenby told reporters: “Everyone’s making me look like I’m playing like s--- and then it starts wearing on your mind a little bit, maybe you are. It’s quite draining . . . there was a lot of pressure on me to hit the shots and also make the putts, and it was windy and it was tough conditions.

“It was a combination of a lot of things. People look and say how disappointing can you be, because you didn’t get a point. But when you’re relying on someone else as well, it’s sometimes not all just you. It can be other people hitting you in the s---.”

Ogilvy, the 2006 U.S. Open champion, responded on Twitter, writing, “Warms the heart to see Robert playing so well this week.”

Allenby and Ogilvy exchanged words Sunday at the Hyatt Coolum, where players, caddies and friends were celebrating Greg Chalmers’ playoff victory at the Australian PGA. (Allenby had lost in a playoff.) According to one report, Allenby urged Ogilvy to “step outside and settle it,” and at least one glass was smashed during the dispute before Allenby stormed away.

Allenby’s manager, Tony Bouffler, told the Herald Sun: “All I know is that they have been good mates and I’m sure will continue to be so in the future.”

Both players are scheduled to compete again next month at the Australian Masters

F

McILROY WARNS DONALD MONEY RACE IS NOT OVER YET

By Mathew Scott | AFP
Rory McIlroy has warned he can bring his breakthrough year to a thrilling close by snatching the European money title from leader Luke Donald, starting with this week's Hong Kong Open
The world No 2 trails Donald in season earnings by just over US$1.5 million, meaning he has to win or finish second in Hong Kong and triumph in the year-ending Dubai World Championship to have a shot at denying the Englishman.
But Donald and second-placed Martin Kaymer have both opted to skip Hong Kong, the season's penultimate event, potentially opening the door for US Open champion McIlroy -- who is a two-time runner-up at Fanling.
"Luke Donald has won the money title in America and it looks like barring Martin Kaymer or myself doing something very good in the last couple of weeks, he's going to win the money list in Europe as well," said McIlroy.
"But it's not over yet and I am here to play and to play well."
McIlroy's career was turned upside-down by his US Open victory in June and he has shown why he's the most exciting talent in golf with four straight top-four finishes since September, plus a US$2 million exhibition win in China.
And the 22-year-old Northern Irishman makes no secret of the fact he would dearly love to win in a city he has been visiting since he was just 16 and plying his trade on the junior Faldo Tour.
The venerable Fanling course clearly suits the laid-back McIlroy after he finished runner-up after a thrilling play-off in 2008, repeated that performance in 2009 and was sixth behind England's Ian Poulter last year.
"I've played very, very well this year," said McIlroy. "Climbing to number two in the world rankings feels like a big achievement for me, and it would be great to finish off the season well with a good result here.
"I would love to have the chance to win here; it's a tournament that I've wanted to win for the past number of years and haven't quite been able to do it."
McIlroy is not the only player with much riding on the US$2.75 million, co-sanctioned event.
Triple Major winner Padraig Harrington -- the Hong Kong winner in 2003 -- needs to finish sixth or better to reach Europe's top 60 and earn a ticket to Dubai, which carries a lucrative US$7.5 million purse.
"I won in 2003 and was second in 2004," said the Irishman. "I think everyone who comes here likes the course so nobody has an advantage here."
He added: "I am happy with my game, I've been happy with it all year but I haven't been getting the most out of it but I think maybe I have turned the corner with that."
Asia's money race is also coming down to the wire with Filipino Juvic Pagunsan, a Hong Kong runner-up in 2006, about US$288,000 ahead of India's S.S.P. Chowrasia with both players set to tee off here Thursday.
Meanwhile Poulter showed his fierce competitive nature as he arrived to defend his title.
When South Korea's one-time US PGA Championship winner Y.E. Yang said he was in town to "take away Ian's trophy", the Englishman simply cast his rival a steely gaze and muttered coldly: "Bring it on."
The 53rd edition of Hong Kong's oldest professional sporting event also has a field that includes former Hong Kong champions Miguel Angel Jimenez, Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal, along with England's Justin Rose.
Title sponsor UBS's seven-year deal comes to an end this week and the Open was forced to seek government help for its hefty appearance fees. However, rumours are swirling that a new sponsor is set to be unveiled.

COLIN NELSON WINS NE ALLIANCE AT FRASERBURGH WITH A 65

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com 

PGA professional Colin Nelson, manager of the golf shop at Aberdeen's municipal Hazlehead course, scored his first win on the North-east Alliance circuit for a year or two with a double-eagle round of five-under-par 65 at a windy and very cold Fraserburgh links today.

He headed a field of 76 with the help of an eagle 3 at the par-5 sixth and an eagle 2 at the par-4 ninth in an outward two-under 33.

Coming home Nelson, pictured right, who had birdied the first hole, added further birdies at the 10^th, 11^th 15^th and 16^th with just one shot dropped, at the 12^th, in an inward 32.

He won by two shots from rookie pro David Law, the Northern Open champion and Scottish amateur championship title-holder, and Royal Aberdeen amateur Donald Macandrew. They both hit the two-under 68 mark.
Law is now officially "unattached," not playing out of Hazlehead Golf Club. Now there's a sponsorship opportunity for some North-east based oil company or whatever!
David, out in 35 and back in 32, was one over par standing on the ninth tee having bogeyed the fifth and the eighth to more than cancel out a birdie at the long sixth. Law then covered his last 10 holes in four under par with birdies at the ninth, 10th, 12th and 15th.
Macandrew had an eagle 2 at the ninth, birdies at the short fifth, 10th and 13th with early bogeys at the third and seventh in halves of 34-33

The only other players to break par were rookie pro Jordan Findlay, playing over his home course, and Carnoustie's Lee Vannet. 
Findlay had a curious mixed bag of an eagle (sixth), two birdies (seventh and ninth, TWO double bogey 6s (fourth and eighth) and a bogey at the second, all of which added up to one-over 36 for the outward nine. Having got all that out of his system, Jordan came home in 32 with birdies at the 13th, 16th and 18th.
Lee Vannet also had two double bogey 6s and an eagle in an outward 36 and he too came home in a bogey-free, three-birdie 32.
Deeside amateur Allan Ross had the proverbial game of two halves for a level par 70. He struggled to the turn in five-over 40 and then had the best inward nine of the day - five-under 30, as follows: 4-3-3-4-2-4-4-3-3

It's not often a girl heads the Class 1 net returns but Claire Prouse (Hazlehead), playing off the same tees as the men but with a handicap adjusted to nine, did it with a net 66.

Claire, pictured right, had the same gross score, 75, as her dad Lawrence. No question that playing regularly on the Alliance circuit has improved Claire's game. The SLGA selectors will be keeping an eye on her progress.

The best gross score by a lady was a 73 by former Scotland international Laura Murray (Alford). She beat her boyfriend, Inchmarlo teaching pro Keil Beveridge by one shot. No news yet of Laura's plans, i.e. whether or not she is going to go to the Ladies European Tour School at La Manga in January.

LEADING SCRATCH

Par 70. 6,308yd
PAR: OUT 4-4-4-4-3-5-3-4-4:35.
            IN 4-4-4-4-3-5-4-3-4:35

65 C Nelson (MacKenzie Shop).
OUT: 3-4-4-5-4-3-3-5-2: 33 IN: 3-3-5-4-3-4-3-3-4: 32

67 D Law (unattached) 35-32, D Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) 34-33

68 J Findlay (Fraserburgh) 36-32, L Vannet (Carnoustie) 36-32.

70 A Ross (Deeside) 40-30

71 J Duncan ( Newburgh ), F Clarke (Newmachar), A Fiddes (Murcar Links), E Kennedy (Newmachar).

72 A K Pirie (Hazlehead).

73 B Nicolson (Auchmill), P Lovie (P1 Corporate), S Finnie (Caledonian), Laura Murray (Alford).

74 R Lamb (Newmachar), J Duff (Newmachar), D Brown (Kemnay), K Beveridge (Inchmarlo), I Bratton ( Newburgh ).

75 A Gall (Deeside), G Munro (Fraserburgh), F Bisset (Banchory), J Scott (Peterculter), L Fowler (Royal Aberdeen), C Duff (Kemnay), W Mackenzie (Berryhill DR), L Prouse (Hazlehead), Claire Prouse (Hazlehead), C Cassie (Nigg Bay), B Harper (Newburgh).

76 D Fleming (Portlethen), K Ingram (Deeside), D Leslie (Northern).

77 A Rodger (Fraserburgh), P McIntosh ( Newburgh ).

78 J Nicolson (Auchmill), J Turner (Kemnay), J Borthwick (Craibstone.

79 J Dalgarno (Hazlehead).

80 T Collie (Kemnay), P Morrison (Oldmeldrum).
81 D McKay (Caledonian).
82 A Graham (Aboyne), J Murray (Banchory), D Wilson (Duff House Royal).
83 C Carnegie (Kemnay), M Duncan (Murcar Links).
84 D Mackay (Newmachar), W Shaw (Banchory).
85 R Brown (Newburgh), P Cornfield (Auchmill).
86 G Milne (Newburgh), A Petrie (Oldmeldrum), D Rnadall (Banchory), M Rogers (Kemnay).
87 Jackie Forrest (Northern), G Leslie (Newburgh), N K Parker (Murcar Links), N Stewart (Northern).
88 G Homer (Northern), J Jessiman (Oldmeldrum), H McNaughton (Cruden Bay).
91 M Brown (Newburgh).
92 B Lumsden (Northern).
93 M Smith (Inverurie).
94 P Leech (Oldmeldrum).
95 D Wright (Northern).
98 J Gall (Caledonian).
99 I Grant Keith).
 

LEADING HANDICAP

Class 1 – Claire Prouse (Hazlehead) (9) 66; J Duncan ( Newburgh ) (4) 67; A Rodger (Fraserburgh) (9), A Fiddes (Murcar Links) (3), C Duffus (Kemnay) (7) 68.

Class 2 – J Scott (Peterculter) (10) 65; T Collie (Kemnay) (11), J Dalgarno (Hazlehead) (10) 69; P Cornfield (Auchmill) (15) 70; M Rogers (Kemnay) (14), J Murray (Banchory) (10) 72.

 

FOUR-BALL TEE TIMES AT BUCKPOOL NEXT WEDNESDAY

1 08:15 1 Charlie Cassie, Brian Harper, Ian Bratton, Keith Watson

2 08:23 1

3 08:31 1 David Mackay, Bryan Robson, Phil Morrison, A N Other.

4 08:39 1 Claire Prouse, Colin Nelson, John Dalgarno, Lawrence Prouse

5 08:47 1

6 08:55 1 Ryan Fitzpatrick, Patrick Lovie, Craig Dempster, Craig Carnegie

7 09:03 1 Donald Macandrew, Gordon Munro, Fraser Clark, Martin Lawrence.

8 09:11 1 John Duff, Euan Kennedy, Manson Merchant, Robert Lamb

9 09:19 1 Hamish McNaughton, Raymond Brown, Mike Brown, Sandy Davidson

10 09:27 1 Joss Turner, Chris Brown, Jim Scott, Jim Duncan

11 09:35 1 Keil Beveridge, Laura Murray, Paul Simpson, Gordon Milne

12 09:43 1

13 09:51 1 Mike Smith, Ian Grant, Alister Petrie, John Jessiman

14 09:59 1 Martin Forster, Norman Stewart, Jackie Forrest, Alan Gall

15 10:07 1 Paul McIntosh, Loren Graham, Chris Adam, Chris, A N Other.

16 10:15 1 Sandy Pirie, Billy Sim, Peter Kinloch, Peter, A N Other.

17 10:23 1 Les Fowler, David Fleming, Jim Kinloch, A N Other

18 10:31 1 David Brown, Tommy Collie, Mark Lawrie, Alister Graham

19 10:39 1 Fergus Bisset, Scott Larkin, Jim Murray, Derek Randall

20 10:47 1 David Leslie, Ben Lumsden, Gary Homer, Mike Rogers

21 10:55 1 Peter Leech, Willie McKenzie, Kenny Stephen, Dick Wright

22 11:03 1 Nigel Parker, Peter Guthrie, George Stevely, Willie Shaw

23 11:11 1 Stewart Finnie, Jim Gall, David McKay, Robert Orr

24 11:19 1

25 11:27 1 David Wilson, Jordan Findlay, Paul Cornfield, Brian Nicolson

RORY McILROY SAYS HE WILL PLAY IN NEXT YEAR'S IRISH OPEN

       Rory McIlroy in action at this year's Irish Open. Image by courtesy of Getty Images(c)

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOUR

 Rory McIlroy has confirmed his participation in the 2012 Irish Open from June 28 – July 1.
The US Open Champion revealed his intention to play in his national open at the UBS Hong Kong Open today.
“There has been a lot of speculation on whether or not I will play the Irish Open next year, so I am happy to announce that I will definitely play the tournament next season."
“For me, the Irish Open has always been, and will continue to be, one of the most important events on the global golf calendar. It’s our national open and it’s obviously a title that I would love to win at some stage in my career.
"With Irish golf on such a high in recent years, it is important that we put on a good show not only for the home fans, but also for the global golf audience who will be watching the event on TV next summer.
“A lot has been made of me joining the US PGA Tour again next year, but in reality, it's not a drastic change to the schedule I have played in recent seasons. It just means that I will be adding a few more events to my schedule in America in 2012.
“Taking my US PGA Tour card again does not mean that I'm going to neglect my European Tour status. I'll continue to play a similar schedule of events in Europe and will obviously fulfil my commitment to the European Tour.”
Looking ahead to this week at the UBS Hong Kong Open, the World Number Two is hoping to finally lift the trophy on Sunday night, having finished second twice at the Hong Kong Golf Club in the past three years.
Victory, or possibly a second place finish, at Fanling will mean that McIlory will retain an outside chance of winning The European Tour’s Race to Dubai by also lifting the season-ending Dubai World Championship presented by DP World next week.
The 22 year old would be relying on current Race to Dubai and World Number One Luke Donald finishing well down the 60-man field in Dubai in order to top The Race to Dubai, but he is confident that he can keep his side of the bargain.
“Of course winning the next two events is achievable,” said McIlroy, “but I probably need to win here in Hong Kong first to even think about it. So all I can concentrate on is trying to play the best I can here, and if I get myself into a position to win and end up winning, it gives me the chance of going to Dubai next week and trying to win The Race to Dubai.
“But even still, I'll have to win there and Luke will have to finish quite a way below me. It doesn't look like he's done that at all this year, so I don't expect him to do it to be honest, but you never know in this game. All I can do is try and win this week and see what happens after that.”
+McIlroy's participation in next year's Irish Open had been in doubt because of a clash of dates with the the AT and T National at Congressional, the scene of his US Open victory.

CHANGES TO OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRY CRITERIA

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R AND AThe R and A has announced changes to the entry criteria for next year’s Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
The new qualification criteria for 2012, published today alongside the entry form, includes a change that will also see the recipient of the McCormack Medal - presented to the leading player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) at the culmination of the amateur summer season - gain automatic qualification.
Other changes include a new exemption that will allow past Major Champions into International and Local Final Qualifying (IFQ/LFQ).
For 2012, Patrick Cantlay, as the recipient of the 2011 McCormack Medal, has been awarded a place at Royal Lytham.
He joins other non-professionals including the winners of the Amateur Championship, the U.S. Amateur and the European Amateur in qualifying automatically for The Open.
R and A Director Mike Tate said: “The Open Championship entry criteria has been designed to ensure that we have the world’s best professional and amateur players competing at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
“The WAGR has grown considerably since its launch in 2007 and now covers more than 2,500 counting events and almost 6,000 players representing 100 countries. It is only right that the player who proves to be the most consistent over the course of the amateur season competes at The Open.”
The Open Championship, golf’s oldest Major, features a number of routes of qualification for those not exempt. Along with local and regional qualifying in the UK, IFQ events will be held next year in Africa (January 18-19, Royal Johannesburg and Kensington, South Africa), America (May 21, Gleneagles Country Club, Plano, Texas, USA), Asia (March 1-2, Amata Spring, Bangkok, Thailand), Australasia (January 10-11, Kingston Heath, Melbourne, Australia) and Europe (June 25, Sunningdale, Berkshire, England).

For full details visit http://www.theopen.com/en/Qualification.aspx

IAN POULTER AIMS TO BE HONG KONG KING AGAIN

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR

Hong Kong: Title-holder Ian Poulter is prepared for a tough defence at the US$2.75 million UBS Hong Kong Open which starts on Thursday.

The flamboyant Englishman won last year’s tournament with a spectacular 22-under-par 258 winning total, highlighted by a stunning 10-under-par 60 in the second round at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

But with the greens a touch firmer this week, Poulter is expecting birdies to be less accessible as he takes on a top-class field which includes world number two Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, current Asian Tour number one Juvic Pagunsan, Thongchai Jaidee and Jeev Milkha Singh.

“The golf course is in better condition this year than it actually was last year.  It's in the best condition I've seen it to be honest,” enthused Poulter, who is an 11-time European Tour winner.

“I'm going to say the greens are firmer and they are much faster, so to be honest, that actually takes it the other way. We all like quick greens and stuff, but the fact that they are quite firm, you won't see the scoring quite as good. You can get a few putts that are going to run a little bit past the pin and you are going to have a really, really quick putt coming back.

“I think it might play a couple of shots tougher, which is good, very good (for me).”

The world number 25 arrived in Hong Kong in top form after partnering Rose to tied second place at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China last week. A return to the bustling Hong Kong city has kept his adrenaline flowing as he searches for a second title of the year after winning the Volvo World Match Play earlier in the season.

“Fond memories.  This is always a fun event to come and play golf, and one on a golf course in which I love to play, and which all of the guys do. It's different to what we play week‑in, week‑out.  It's a little shorter than normal.  It's pretty tight. But it's very fun,” said Poulter.

“It's good to be back. Try and defend my title and I know the guys are going to press hard to try and put their name on the trophy.”

The UBS Hong Kong Open, one of the most prestigious championships in Asia, is jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour. It is the penultimate event of the season for both Tours.

Other top names vying for the title include two-time Hong Kong Open winner Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, 2010 champion Gregory Bourdy of France, Ryder Cup star Edoardo Molinari of Italy, countryman Matteo Manassero, who was last year’s runner-up, and three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland.

Visit http://www.asiantour.com/ for live scoring this week.

JIM HARDIE AND JAMES BYRNE IN CHRISTCHURCH

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
The world is certainly a small place. We had an E-mail from Aberdonian Jim Hardie yesterday, saying he was in Christchurch ... and a few hours later we had an E-mail from Banchory's rookie tour pro, James Byrne, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, to say that he too was in Christchurch - to play in the New Zealand Open - and could I put him in touch with Jim Hardie!
Jim Hardie takes up the story again this morning in another E-mail from Christchurch:

Colin,
Well, just when you think life is pretty straight forward! I got in touch with James Byrne as requested and also asked Sir Bob (Charles) to look James out ... to discover that they were playing together in the NZ Open pro am !
Spooky or what? Anyway it seems they got on well, and even more spooky was the fact they played with Ken Fergus, who happens to be another good friend of mine. He is president of Shirley Links, where i played my first game last week, and yes it was Ken who was my partner!
Sir bob phoned me earlier tonight to tell me about the pro-am. He was very impressed with James Byrne, and also it appears now laughing in the knowledge that James once beat me 7 and 6 when a mere 14 year old !
Hope I catch some fish!
All good stuff.
Best regards from New Zealand

Jim Hardie

SEVEN DAYS IN AFGHANISTAN MAKE BIG IMPRESSION ON MONTY

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By OLIVER BROWN
Colin Montgomerie hails life-changing experience after Afghanistan morale-boosting mission with Ryder Cup
“Life-changing” is how Colin Montgomerie describes his past seven days. And when this dervish of the fairways discloses that the next time he misses a four-foot putt, he will not flounce but instead accept the failure with perfect equanimity, you know that he means it.
For nothing in the Scot’s store of exotic experience could have conditioned him for a tour of Afghanistan. From tearing along Kabul’s streets in armoured vehicles, trying to screen out the perpetual din of the sirens, to giving British servicemen at Camp Bastion a first acquaintance with the Samuel Ryder Trophy, Montgomerie has seen more than enough in the last week to make him mellow.
He could be forgiven a certain exhaustion. Having flown back to RAF Brize Norton via Dubai and Cyprus in a Hercules, he shot around the M25 to Heathrow and headed straight out to Hong Kong for his next tournament.
Speaking to Telegraph Sport from the Fanling course, he discloses how profoundly his Afghan experience has affected him: “We all should live a little like I have lived this last week, and realise how lucky everyone is in Britain.
"It has been life-changing for me. If I do miss a putt of a four-foot nature out here, I will think, ‘Well, it doesn’t really matter, Colin, does it?’”
Montgomerie had joined the expedition at the request of the Professional Golfers’ Association, which saw the capacity of a winning Ryder Cup captain to galvanise troop morale.
While the connection between Celtic Manor and Helmand province might appear hard to fathom, he explains: “They watched it out there, more so than we think.
"They had the satellite coverage via the British Forces Broadcasting Service. Many of the guys could not believe it when they saw the metal box that the Ryder Cup has to travel in for security. The number of times I’ve manhandled it, you almost take it for granted.”
For a someone used to five-star resorts, the exposure to a few privations was powerful. “They’re on the edge, they live in fear. You ask them what they miss and some say, ‘Well, a knife and fork’, because everything has to be eaten off plastic plates. Others say simply that they miss vegetation and greenery. They’re in the middle of a desert.”
The 48 year-old Scot is not above admitting that he feared several times for his personal safety. After all, on the very day that he returned to Brize Norton, so did four coffins.
“You do feel you are in a war zone, no question,” he acknowledges. “There were certain occasions in Kabul where it was quite eerie, quite nervy. Trying to squeeze into bullet-proofed vehicles and seeing guys in the front fully armed — that was when I thought, ‘Hang on a minute’.”
As part of his visit, he and his retinue had intended to inspect Kabul Golf Club, commonly classified as the most dangerous course on earth.
But with craters bordering the fairways where bunkers ought to be, such an excursion was deemed as too risky. Montgomerie, as he points out, is no stranger to this particular spectacle. When he designed the links in his name in Vietnam, unexploded ordinance had to be cleared in the aftermath of a conflict that ended more than 30 years ago.
Golf’s presence endures in Afghanistan, though, not just among the small yet significant fraction of the civilian population but across all branches of the armed forces.
The 300-yard rifle range at Camp Bastion, a complex the size of Reading, is already being used by troops for a few swipes with the driver. Montgomerie even gave clinics there. “They need to get away from the day-to-day rigmarole of what they’re doing,” he says.
“There are no days off. They’re there for a reason. It goes back a little to the way I had to run the Ryder Cup team, in that everybody worked for everybody else.
"I always remember a great quote from when I was down in Houston at university. A janitor at Nasa, he was sweeping a corner of the floor and someone asked him what he was doing. And the guy said, ‘Well, I’m helping to put a man on the moon.’
“And it’s like that. They’re very proud, for example, of the hospital they have at Camp Bastion. However menial one’s task is within the armed forces, even if it’s cleaning the cutlery or the table, everyone is working on that essential task to keep the guys on the front line alive.”
The memory of teaching the youth of downtown Kabul how to swing a club is also, you sense, one that lingers. “All these children have known is war. They were born in war, they remain in war, they know nothing different. Education is vital to get the country back on its feet.”
After his transforming week, would he be prepared to travel there again? Montgomerie answers, with unmistakable passion: “You mature as a person. If I was invited again, I would go tomorrow.”