SGU NATIONAL COACH IAN RAE SAYS MOST SCOTS AMATEURS WON'T MAKE TOP GRADE AS TOUR PROS

FROM THE DUNDEE COURIER WEBSITE

• By Steve Scott, golf correspondent

Ian Rae has a question for both the optimists and the pessimists in the development of Scotland's next generation of professional golfers — ''do you really understand how difficult this is?''  
The long-time Scottish national coach (pictured) gets plenty of advice — not all of it friendly — from critics about the programmes to develop professional golfers, but he admits the unrealistic expectations of many of the developing players themselves is an equal problem.
And breaking down the figures, it often seems that there's better job prospects in astrophysics than professional golf.
''Every week on the main Tour and Challenge Tour, there's only about 300 people playing top-class professional golf in Europe, and they're coming from all over the world,'' explained Rae.
''There's 30 Tour cards a year to get on the main tour, but realistically there's only about six for new guys because so many are taken up by Tour players looking to get back or Challenge Tour guys coming up.
''So for a guy starting from amateur golf there's only 15 to 20 places available on the two big tours. It's really tough and guys wanting to turn pro have to understand just how tough it is.''
For Scots, it's no easier than any other nation. Taking as an example the mid-September week when both tours had fully-fledged events, there were 18 Scots in total competing at the Italian Open in Turin on the main tour and the Kazakhstan Open on the Challenge Tour.
That's 6% of all those competing, almost exactly the same percentage of Scotland's registered golfers in Europe's total of 4.2 million.
Scotland is therefore punching its weight, which is slightly encouraging, given that the 'Home of Golf' advantage has lost its currency as the game goes global.
''We've got a boys' squad, a development squad and a main squad, and to a man or boy they all want to turn pro, but the stats tell us they ain't going to make it,'' continues Rae.
''There's only one amateur who made it through to the Q School final stage last year in both of the big tours. Put 10 guys in a training room and the stats say that if you get one who makes it you're doing okay.''
Despite all the programmes, the assistance and the benefits to the amateur players, the only accurate defining mark for Rae is the pedigree of winning big events — at all levels.
''Players like Richie Ramsay, Stevie Gallacher and, of course, Rory McIlroy had a great pedigree, so it was easier to predict that they had a great chance,'' he continued.
''I get guys coming to me saying 'I'm turning pro because I can't get in the Scotland amateur team', or they can't get into the high ballot amateur competitions like the Links Trophy or the Amateur Championship.
''To me, if you can't even get in events at that level, should that not tell you something?''
Even exceptions like Paul Lawrie, who came up through the club professional route, had pedigree from winning consistently at all levels, argues Rae.
Kazakhstan saw one product of the SGU system, former Scottish Amateur champion Scott Henry, win and book his tour card for 2013.

''Everybody is going to be different coming through, but there are very few who make it early. Rory and Matteo Manassero are the exceptions, but they're exceptional talents.''

JAKE ROOS WINS FOUR-MAN PLAY-OFF FOR CAPE TOWN OPEN

FROM THE SUNSHINE TOUR WEBSITE
Jake Roos slotted a 15-footer for birdie on the second play-off hole today to win the inaugural R2-million Lion of Africa Cape Town Open at Royal Cape Golf Club.
“As I walked up to the green on that second play-off hole, I had a good feeling about the putt,” he said. “I saw the line immediately, and I told myself that I could hole it.”
The putt gained him his fifth Sunshine Tour title – his third for the year – and every one of his victories has come in a play-off.
“There’s nothing to lose when you get into play-offs,” he said, “so you can just relax and let yourself go. Other than that, I don’t know how to explain how I’ve won so many.”
He defeated Tyrone van Aswegen, Mark Williams and Jaco van Zyl in the play-off after all four had finished at nine-under-par 279 in regulation play.
It was a case of things coming together nicely for Roos, as he had his father on the bag for the first time – and they will be travelling together to the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School in January.
Van Zyl was the first to drop out when he made bogey on their first return journey down the 18th, and then Roos managed to close the deal with his putt from the fringe just right of the flag.
It was a day during which Roos probably could have finished things off in regulation, but the putts seemed intent on staying out of the hole. His chances seemed to have slipped away when he made bogey on 15 with a missed three-footer, but he clawed his way back with a birdie on 16.
It wasn’t the first time he missed a short one and bounced right back in that final round: He missed a four-footer for par on six, but he rebounded with an eagle-three on the seventh. “I hit a three-wood which pitched about pin-high and then rolled through green, about 20 feet away and in the fringe.
“It was the same feeling for me when I walked onto the green there as I got later on 18 in the playoff,” he said. “I saw the line immediately, and I just knew I could make it.”
But there was more tension to come for him, and after the bogey on 15, and the recovery on 16, it was a sublime approach to 18 inches on the 18th in regulation which set up his finishing birdie and got him into the playoff.
Williams had a chance to win it, holding a one-stroke lead at 10-under as he teed off on 18. But he was overly cautious and sliced his tee-shot to the base of a tree in the rough. He could only advance his ball diagonally over the fairway and his approach left him too much work for the par he needed to win.
It was a third title for Roos in 2012, but the first in a major summer event on the Sunshine Tour over four rounds. “It took something more than it took to win those three-rounders,” said Roos, “and it’s making me feel pretty confident ahead of the rest of the big summer events."

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

CLICK HERE 

MyGolfRanking.co.uk, Fife Golfing Association

CLUB HANDICAP RANKING 
Week 47, ending November 25 

1 Chris Nelson (St Michaels) 993.18 pts

2 Euan Davidson (Charleton) 979.2

3 Garry Cramb (Canmore) 970.43

4 Marc Elvin (Forrester Park) 968.75

5 Bill Baillie (Balbirnie Park) 956

6 Iain Fleming (Auchterderran) 939.29

7 Victor Taylor (Lundin) 917.86

8 A R Medcraf (Balbirnie Park) 912.09

9 Graeme Angus (Scotscraig) 911.63

T10 Andrew Davidson (Charleton) 910

T10 Owen McCue (Kirkcaldy) 910

T12 Tom W Corke (St Andrews GC) 908.33

T12 Gavin Lowe (Pitreavie) 908.33

14 Ben Kinsley (St Andrews GC) 907.14

15 Andrew Hamilton (Balbirnie Park) 900

16 Jacky Henderson (Ladybank) 895.58

17 Kyle Russell (Dunfermline) 895

T18 Angus Liddle (Cupar) 893.75

T18 Jim Woods (St Andrews GC) 893.75

20 Greg Walker (Earlsferry Thistle) 888.46.

For ranking lists of participating clubs, the full Fife and National ranking lists and How It Works, visit www.MyGolfRanking.co.uk

SCOTS STAR IN GARY PLAYER INVITATIONAL

Scots figured prominently in the weekend's Gary Player Invitational 36-hole tournament at Zimbali Country Club, South Africa.
At the end of an event which raised a record of just over R4 million for charity, South African pro Tim Clark and his team of Scottish football legend Kenny Dalglish and businessmen Alex Maditsi and Doug Jackson celebrated a seven-point victory with a total of 175 Stableford points.

Second place went to the team of Ladies European Tour professional Carly Booth, Irish pop star Brian McFadden and businessmen Greg Whittaker and Steve Phytides on a total of 168 points.
The final day brought with it tough conditions as a strong wind challenged the field of professionals, celebrities and businessmen.
The team of double senior Major champion Roger Chapman, South African cricket legend Shaun Pollock and businessmen Chuck Colton and Joe Ralebepa struggled to hold onto their second place overnight and finished third overall on 165 points.

Tournament host Gary Player and his team of actor Jack Wagner and businessmen Carlos Pires Oliveira Dias and Andre Pires Oliveira Dias finished on 163 points. 

“The last two holes really hurt us,” said the ever-competitive Player. 

Sam Torrance, Ian Wright, Gideon du Plessis and Nick Jonsson took sixth place on 150 points, with Du Plessis loving every second of being in the presence of a former Ryder Cup captain for two days. “It was such a memorable experience. Sam Torrance is a fantastic golfer, but an even better storyteller."

 “We had a great time,” said Torrance. “The team was dead easy to lead. They just did whatever I told them. I wish my wife was the same."

FINAL TEAM TOTALS

Stableford points format, two scores to count each hole).

175 Tim Clark, Kenny Dalglish, Alex Maditsi, Doug Jackson

168 Carly Booth, Brian McFadden, Greg Whittaker, Steve Phytides
165 Roger Chapman; Shaun Pollock; Chuck Colton; Joe Ralebepa
163 Gary Player; Jack Wagner; Carlos Pires Oliveira Dias; Andre Pires Oliveira Dias
159 Ian Woosnam; Angie Everhart; Christian Karg; Brad Caulfied
150 Sam Torrance, Ian Wright, Gideon du Plessis, Nick Jonsson
ends

THREE SCOTS IN QUALIFYING ZONE

 By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Only Helensburgh's Gary Orr, George Murray from Anstruther and Paisley's Alistair Forsyth of the nine Scots competing at the European Tour Final Qualifying School are within the qualifying zone of the leading 25 players after two rounds of the six-day marathon test at PGA Catalunya, Gerona near Barcelona in North-east Spain. 
The top 70 and ties from a starting field of 156 after four rounds will go on to the final 36 holes that will decide the leading 25 who will earn playing rights on Europe's "Big League" next year. 
Orr, 45, pictured above, took over as the leading Scot in a share of second place behind Argentinian Tano Goya - Carly Booth's boyfriend and sometimes caddie - with a three-under-par 69 over the longer and tougher Stadium Course for a 36-hole tally of six-under-par 136 - one shot behind Goya (64-71). 
Murray had two double bogeys but played the other holes very well indeed to salvage a one-under 71  on the same course to be sharing seventh place on 137. Forsyth took advantage of the easier conditions - Saturday's wind blew itself out - to return a five-under 65 over the shorter Tour course to be sharing 20th place on 140.

There are 32 players on 140 and better and they will all be happy with their start to the most nerve-racking golf test of the year because the contestants are playing not just for the week or even the year but their future as tour pros is on the line.

Jamie McLeary (141) and Callum Macaulay (142) are just over the limit mark at the moment. McLeary had a second-round 72 and Macaulay a 71 for the second day in a row.

The four other Scots have it all to do. Their first target must be to make the cut at the end of the fourth round.

Scott Drummond must have given himself hope that he can climb up the field of 156 with a 68 for 144, one shot more than Raymond Russell who had a 72.

But the prospects are not good for Andrew McArthur (147) and Wallace Booth (148). McArthur, like Drummond, must have given his self-confidence a boost with a 67 but an opening 80 left him with so much ground to make up.

Booth improved by six shots with a 71 but probably needs two sub-70 scores just to survive the first cut.

SCROLL DOWN TO STORY ABOUT GOYA 

LEADING FOR ALL THE SECOND-R0UND TOTALS

GOYA STILL PAINTING A PICTURE IN LEAD AT EURO TOUR Q SCHOOL

By  NEIL AHERN

European Tour Press Officer

Etanislao Goya clung on to his lead at the Qualifying School Final Stage, but the Argentine’s advantage was cut to just one stroke as several of his nearest rivals profited from more benign playing conditions during day two at PGA Catalunya Resort at Gerona near Barcelona in north-east Spain today.

Playing the more demanding Stadium Course, Goya struggled to replicate his opening day heroics, but a round of 71 was just enough to maintain his lead a -third of the way through the six day examination.

The 2009 Madeira Islands Open champion moved to seven under par', courtesy of gains at the first, second and 15^th holes, which cancelled out his pair of dropped shots either side of the turn.

Goya cited a wayward driver as the main reason for his inconsistent display, but the 24 year old’s scrambling skills came to the rescue.     

He said: “I’m very happy with my score, because I didn’t hit many fairways today. To have an under par round was very good, especially on the Stadium Course, considering I was not very accurate from the tee.

“Golf is like that sometimes, so you just have to keep hanging in there and try to improve tomorrow. Yesterday was really good, and although I didn’t hit the driver very well today, I still hit some good shots. I hit my irons very well and was always on or just around the green, so I didn’t have any real disasters.

“I haven’t been playing well lately, so being here is a consequence of that and I have to accept it. But I have a chance here and I’ll try to make the most of it, so that I can get back playing where I know I belong.”

There is a whole host of players in hot pursuit of the leader, including Frenchman Anthony Snobeck, who started the week on the reserve list but gained an 11^th hour entry after a series of withdrawals.

He was joined on six under par by Italy’s Matteo Delpodio, Mikko Korhonen of Finland, Swede Mikael Lundberg and Scot Gary Orr.

SECOND ROUND TOTALS

Par 142 (1x70, 1x72)

135 E Goya (Arg) 64 71

136 A Snobeck  (Fra) 69 67; M Lundberg (Swe) 68 68; M Delpodio  (Ita) 67 69; M Korhonen (Fin) 74 62; G Orr (Sco) 67 69

137 J Lagergren (Swe) 71 66; G Murray (Sco) 66 71; D Higgins (Irl) 73 64; O Floren  (Swe) 71 66; M Lampert (am) (Ger) 70 67

138 D Im (USA) 72 66; S Little (Eng) 70 68; A Sullivan (Eng) 71 67

139 C Kim (USA) 73 66; P Erofejeff (Fin) 72 67; R McEvoy  (Eng) 67 72; P Hedblom (Swe) 70 69; D Griffiths  (Eng) 67 72

140 S Norris  (RSA) 68 72, M Brier (Aut) 71 69, T Van Der Walt (RSA) 71 69, T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 69 71, A Levy (Fra) 68 72, A Domingo (Esp) 70 70, E De La Riva  (Esp) 70 70, A Forsyth (Sco) 75 65, B Ritthammer (Ger) 69 71, S Arnold  (Aus) 67 73, T Murray (Eng) 68 72, M Crespi  (Ita) 72 68, M Nixon (Eng) 68 72

141 B An (Kor) 69 72; J Ruth  (Eng) 70 71; M Sell  (Eng) 74 67; J McLeary  (Sco) 69 72; C Del Moral (Esp) 70 71; J Glennemo (Swe) 72 69

142 C Macaulay  (Sco) 71 71; J Howarth (Eng) 75 67; A Marshall (Eng) 75 67; S Strange (Aus) 75 67; W Besseling  (Ned) 69 73; J Parry (Eng) 71 71; S Hutsby  (Eng) 74 68; D Gaunt (Aus) 74 68; R Davies (Wal) 68 74; C Lloyd (Eng) 73 69; H Bacher (Aut) 74 68; M Southgate  (Eng) 72 70; B Åkesson (Swe) 70 72

143 M Jonzon (Swe) 74 69; O Wilson (Eng) 75 68; A Rota (Ita) 74 69; M Glauert (Ger) 73 70; A Johnansson (Swe) 76 67; D Vancsik (Arg) 75 68; J Hugo  (RSA) 71 72; Å Nilsson (Swe) 74 69; T Remkes (Ned) 71 72; S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 73 70; L Goddard  (Eng) 72 71; J Timmis (Eng) 74 69; J Lima  (Por) 76 67; C Brazillier  (Fra) 69 74

144 M Madsen  (Den) 78 66; L Kennedy  (Eng) 73 71; D Perrier (Fra) 73 71; L Jensen (Den) 70 74; R Kakko  (Fin) 74 70; O Lieser (Cze) 74 70; B Henson (USA) 76 68; R Blizard (Aus) 75 69; F Bergamaschi (Ita) 76 68; S Tiley (Eng) 77 67; W Bennett (Eng) 77 67; S Drummond (Sco) 76 68; N Ravano (Ita) 74 70; F Calmels  (Fra) 72 72; C Devlin (Nir) 71 73; C Monasterio (Arg) 72 72; B Koepka  (USA) 73 71

145 S Kim (Kor) 78 67; S Fallon (Eng) 73 72; J Watts (Eng) 77 68; A Hansen  (Den) 71 74; L Bond (Wal) 76 69; S Benson (Eng) 75 70; D Kemmer (USA) 79 66; N Kearney (Irl) 73 72; O Bekker (RSA) 73 72; N Schietekat (RSA) 70 75; S Hong (Kor) 71 74; S Whiffin (Eng) 75 70; D Brooks (Eng) 71 74; B Dredge (Wal) 70 75; G Clark (Eng) 78 67; R Russell (Sco) 73 72; A Saddier (am) (Fra) 80 65

146 G Boyd  (Eng) 76 70; P O'Keefe (Ire) 81 65; D Dixon (Eng) 72 74; D Frittelli (RSA) 76 70; M Tunnicliff (Eng) 74 72; J Scrivener (Aus) 77 69; J Jeong (Kor) 80 66; T Haylock  (Eng) 74 72; S Thornton (Irl) 71 75; J Barnes (Eng) 77 69; J Huldahl (Den) 76 70

147 M Zions (Aus) 74 73; A McArthur  (Sco) 80 67; P Edberg (Swe) 72 75; S Dodd (Wal) 77 70; A Otaegui  (Esp) 77 70; I Pyman (Eng) 76 71; M Haastrup  (Den) 72 75; N Floren (Swe) 80 67; J Sandelin (Swe) 75 72; S Walker (Eng) 74 73; K Pratt (Aus) 72 75

148 R Hjelm (Den) 77 71; T Pilkadaris (Aus) 75 73; C Aguilar  (Esp) 77 71; Z Scotland  (Eng) 76 72; M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 74 74; P Broadhurst (Eng) 74 74; R Karlberg  (Swe) 75 73; J Harding  (RSA) 74 74; A Haig (RSA) 76 72; M Siddikur  (Ban) 75 73; R McGowan  (Eng) 77 71; W Booth  (Sco) 77 71

149 C Suneson (Esp) 74 75; K Borsheim  (Nor) 78 71; J Grillon  (Fra) 72 77; T Sluiter  (Ned) 81 68; S Jeppesen  (Swe) 78 71; J Bäckström (Swe) 77 72

150 P Martin  (Esp) 81 69; M Grönberg (Swe) 75 75; P Maddy (Eng) 78 72; O Rozner (am) (Fra) 74 76

151 K Ferrie (Eng) 80 71; J Lerchedahl (Den) 76 75; G Stal  (Fra) 81 70; G Cambis  (Fra) 73 78; D Huizing (Ned) 70 81

152 P Uihlein  (US) 75 77; P Archer (Eng) 80 72

153 O Henningsson  (Swe) 79 74; N Dougherty  (Eng) 80 73

154 C Aronsen  (Nor) 74 80; G Shaw (Nir) 81 73;

156 J Gallegos (am) (Esp) 80 76

162 D Wuensche  (Ger) 86 76

RORY McILROY FINISHES WITH FIVE BIRDIES IN A ROW TO WIN IN DUBAI

Rory McIlroy with Mohammed Sharaf, Group CEO DP World, and George O'Grady, European Tour CEO.
NEWS RELEASE
By ALAN EWENS

Dubai (UAE): World No 1 Rory McIlroy reminded everyone just why he is the greatest player on Earth by winning the $8 million DP World Tour Championship on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai today.

The 23-year old from Northern Ireland produced a sensational finish of five consecutive birdies for a round of 66 to finish on 23-under par and win by two shots from England’s Justin Rose (-21). 

World Number Two Luke Donald and former Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen tied for third place on eighteen under par.

It was a blistering finish by McIlroy – already The Race to Dubai Champion - who found himself two shots behind with five holes remaining after Rose’s new course record of 62 (-10) saw the 32 year-old Englishman emerge as the clubhouse leader.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling – I said I wanted to win both trophies this week and that is exactly what I’ve managed to do even though I didn’t get off to the best of starts with a bogey on the first,” said McIlroy after receiving the glittering DP World Tour Championship trophy from Mohammed Sharaf, Group CEO of DP World. 
“I saw that Justin was making a charge and knew I needed to do something special over the closing few holes - I really couldn’t have wished for a better ending.”

For McIlroy, victory in the final event of The European Tour season means he is the first player since Lee Westwood in 2009 to win both The Race to Dubai and the DP World Tour Championship in the same year. 

It was also the fifth win of a remarkable season that includes a Major triumph, Ryder Cup success with Europe and top spot on both the US and European money lists.

“I made all the targets that I set for this year and I’m already looking forward to 2013,” added McIlroy. “Today I went out with a target of 22 under par, which I thought would be enough to win, so making it to 23 (under par) gave me a bit of a cushion.”

Rose shot the best round of his European Tour career to take second place and while he hoped to at least make a play-off with his 62 he was ultimately left behind by McIlroy’s brilliance over the last five holes.

The 32 year-old Englishman ran in seven birdies and an eagle, including a sensational birdie 4 on the last that saw an outrageous putt from 100ft amble its way lazily across the green and down a slope to stop just two inches from the hole to deny what would have been a round of 61.

“I knew it was hero or zero there,” said Rose, who finishes the season ranked second on The Race to Dubai. 

“I was just trying to putt to a point on the hill and let gravity take its course.  As it got to the top of the hill and it was clear it was going to topple over, I knew it was perfect and I actually got goose bumps – for a second, I thought it was going to go in.  It was a really nice way to finish.”

Billed as the “Greatest Weekend on Earth”, the DP World Tour Championship was meant to be a final day showdown between McIlroy and Donald who went into the final day tied on seventeen under par. Unfortunately for Donald – whose bogey on the third in round four was his first in 103 holes on Earth –a closing 71 (-1) was his poorest round of the week and left him tied with Schwartzel in third. 

“Obviously Rory has been the best player all year and that was some finish by him,” said Donald.  “You have to give him a lot of credit for digging deep.  I think both of us weren't feeling 100 per cent physically, but he found the strength to finish like that - hats off to him, what a way to finish off a great year for him.”

McIlroy’s coronation as the king of the European Tour rounded off a day that also saw the announcement of the European Tour International Schedule for 2013 and the confirmation that the DP Tour World Championship will once again be final event of The Race to Dubai staged over the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates from 14-17 November 2013.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
265 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) 66 67 66 66
267 Justin Rose (England) 68 68 69 62
270 Luke Donald (England) 65 68 66 71, Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 68 67 67 68.
272 Branden Grace (South Africa) 69 65 70 68
273 Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) 68 69 68 68, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 68 68 69 68
274 Hed Andersson (Sweden) 67 69 72 66, Jamie Donaldson (Wales) 68 68 69 69, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain) 66 72 68 68, Sergio Garcia (Spain) 73 64 73 64, Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 67 71 68 68   

SCOTS' SCORES
(prizemoney in Euros)
275 Scott Jamieson 68 69 72 66 (T14) (109,353)
276 Stephen Gallacher 68 70 72 66 (T16) (87,482)
278 Marc Warren 66 67 72 73, Richie Ramsay 67 68 73 70 (T26) (56,551)
284 David Drysdale 71 74 70 69, Paul Lawrie 71 72 70 71 (T48) (29,369)

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES, SCORECARDS AND PRIZEMONEY ALLOCATION

CLICK HERE 

EUROPEAN TOUR SCHEDULE FOR 2013

JANUARY

10-13 Volvo Golf Champions at Durban Country Club, Durban, South Africa
17-20 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at Abu Dhabi GC, Abu Dhabi, UAE
23-26 Commercialbank Qatar Masters (Sat Finish)
at Doha GC, Doha, Qatar
31-3 Feb Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates GC, Dubai, UAE
 
FEBRUARY
7-10 Joburg Open at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington GC, Johannesburg, South Africa
14-17 Africa Open at East London GC, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa
21-24 WGC - Accenture Match Play Championship
at Ritz-Carlton GC, Dove Mountain, Marana, Arizona, 28-3 March Tshwane Open at Copperleaf Golf and Country Estate, Centurion, South Africa
 
MARCH
7-10 WGC - Cadillac Championship at Doral Golf Resort and Spa, Doral, Florida
14-17 Avantha Masters at Jaypee Greens GC, Greater Noida, Delhi, India
21-24 Maybank Malaysian Open at Kuala Lumpur G and CC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
28-31 Trophée Hassan II at Golf du Palais Royal, Agadir, Morocco



APRIL
4-7 TBA
11-14 MASTERS TOURNAMENT at Augusta National GC, Georgia
18-21 Reale Seguros Open de España at TBA, Spain
25-28 Ballantine's Championship at Blackstone GC, Icheon, Seoul, South Korea



MAY
2-5 Volvo China Open at Binhai Lake GC, Tianjin, China
9-12 TBA
16-19 Volvo World Match Play Championship at Thracian Cliffs Golf at Beach Resort, Kavarna, Bulgaria
23-26 BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP at Wentworth Club, Surrey
30-2 Jun Nordea Masters at Bro Hof Slott GC, Stockholm, Sweden
 
JUNE
6-9 Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity at Diamond CC, Atzenbrugg, near Vienna, Austria
13-16 UNITED STATES OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP at
Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania
13-16 Open Najeti Hotels and Golf atAa Saint Omer GC, Lumbres, France
20-23 BMW International Open at Golfclub München Eichenried, Munich, Germany
27-30 The Irish Open at Carton House, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland

JULY
4-7 Alstom Open de France at Le Golf National, Paris, France
11-14 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at
Castle Stuart Golf Links, Inverness
18-21 THE 142nd OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP at Muirfield, Gullane, East Lothian
25-28 Russian Masters TBA


AUGUST
1-4 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio
8-11 UNITED STATES PGA CHAMPIONSHIP at Oak Hill
Country Club, Rochester, New York
15-18 TBA
22-25 Johnnie Walker Championship at The Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, Scotland
29-1 Sept ISPS Handa Wales Open at The Celtic Manor Resort, City of Newport, Wales
 
SEPTEMBER
5-8 Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans Montana, Switzerland
12-15 KLM Open at Kennemer G and CC, Zandvoort, The Netherlands
19-22 Italian Open TBA
26-29 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Old Course, St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns
 
OCTOBER
3-6 Vivendi Seve Trophy TBA
10-13 Portugal Masters TBA
17-20 Perth International at Lake Karrinyup CC , Perth, Western Australia, Australia
24-27 BMW Masters at Lake Malaren GC, Shanghai, China
31-3 Nov WGC - HSBC Champions at Sheshan International GC, Shanghai, China
 
NOVEMBER
7-10 Turkish Open at The Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Antalya, Turkey
14-17 DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP, DUBAI
at Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, UAE

2014 RYDER CUP QUALIFICATION STARTS END OF NEXT AUGUST

NEWS RELEASE
The ISPS Handa Wales Open will tee off the race for qualification for The 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles when it switches to a new, attractive late summer date on The European Tour International Schedule next year.
The 2013 tournament will take place at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, South Wales, from August 29-September 1 and be the first counting event towards qualification for the European Team which will defend The Ryder Cup at The Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire in 2014.
The commencement of the qualification process continues the rich Ryder Cup history at Celtic Manor, which provided such a spectacular stage for Europe’s dramatic 14½-13½ victory over the United States in 2010.

SPANISH EVOLVE TOUR STARTS ON JANUARY 28

SPAIN'S EVOLVE PRO TOUR (formerly the Hi5 Pro Tour) WILL TEE OFF ITS 2013 SCHEDULE ON JANUARY 28

FOR ALL THE DETAILS

CLICK HERE

DAY TWO IN EUROPEAN TOUR FINAL QUALIFYING SCHOOL

IT'S DAY TWO IN THE EUROPEAN TOUR FINAL QUALIFYING SCHOOL AT PGA CATALUNYA, GERONA IN NORTH-EAST SPAIN.
LATER IN THE DAY, YOU CAN VIEW THE SCORES ON
THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

CLICK HERE 

AUSSIE AMATEUR WINS NEW ZEALAND OPEN AT CLEARWATER

FROM THE PGA OF AUSTRALIA WEBSITE
Australian amateur Jake Higginbottom has won the BMW New Zealand Open hosted by Christchurch played at the Clearwater Golf Course.
With a 7-under 281, 19-year-old Higginbottom from New South Wales becomes the first amateur since Australian Harry Berwick in 1956 to win the NZ Open.
Starting his round with a bogey, Higginbottom held his composure throughout the day and walked to the 18th green with a one shot lead where a par sealed him the title.
“I was a bit shaky to start with but it's actually good to be a couple behind after the front nine, I knew I had to go out there and make a few birdies and that's what I did.
“I think I was the most nervous I've ever been on the short putt on the last.”
A surprised winner, he is yet to comprehend the magnitude of his achievement.
“I don’t think it's sunk in yet but it's a good feeling, it means a lot to me,” said Higginbottom, who was the leading amateur at this tournament last year.
“It's good to come over here and play against all the Professionals and see that you're just as good.”
“I thought I'd probably have to shoot a little bit lower to beat Mark Brown, but he didn't hole many putts and only hit it okay, it just wasn't his day.”
Higginbottom becomes the second amateur to win on the PGA Tour of Australasia in 2012, showing that the future of Australian golf is bright, but we will still have to wait a little longer.
“I just think it's another stepping stone, I still plan to turn (pro) next year.”
“Yeah definitely, hopefully come back next year as a pro,” responded Higginbottom when asked of his intentions to defend the title.
Finishing a shot back at 6-under 282 was Victorian Peter Wilson and South Australian Jason Norris, who watched on greenside as the 19-year-old amateur sealed the victory.
While Jason Norris will split the the winner’s cheque with Peter Wilson it is bittersweet for the three time PGA Tour of Australasia champion.
“Obviously fantastic to take the money but a bit disappointing, I have never finished runner up behind an amateur, but Jake played great,” said Norris, who banked AU$56,400 for his second place finish.
“Coming down the stretch, the last three or four holes I wasn’t thinking of the money, which is the first time in my career, I just wanted to win the title.”
“It’s sort of gut wrenching to see someone else win even though he didn’t get the money, I just wanted the title.”
New Zealand remains winless for 10 consecutive years, as the Kiwi’s great hope Mark Brown finished three shots back from the lead in fourth.
“I only really holed one putt and had 34 for the day which is never going to win a golf tournament. I gave myself a lot of chances and think I hit 33 greens for the last 36 holes so that’s a lot of chances I didn’t take,” said Brown.
The PGA Tour of Australasia will now head to Mt Broughton Golf Course for the NSW PGA Championship to be played from the 29th November to December 2.

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS IN THE NZ OPEN

CLICK HERE 

BOOTH, TORRANCE, DALGLISH STAR IN GARY PLAYER INVITATIONAL

FROM THE SUNSHINE TOUR WEBSITE
US PGA Tour campaigner Tim Clark was at his best, his 77-year-old host Gary Player matched him on an individual score, Coca-Cola executives Alex Maditsi and Doug Jackson were impressive, and Irish pop star Brian McFadden made his first birdie in months on a thrilling first day of the Gary Player Invitational charity tournament at Zimbali Country Club on Saturday.
On a steamy day on the KwaZulu-Natal coast, the team of Clark, Kenny Dalglish, Maditsi and Jackson stormed to a commanding 90 points, opening up a five-point lead on the rest of the field.
Their nearest challengers are the team of double senior Major champion Roger Chapman, South African cricket legend Shaun Pollock and businessmen Chuck Colton and Joe Ralebepa on 85 points.
“Shaun played such great golf out there it was hard knowing who the pro in the team was,” Chapman said of his scratch handicap teammate.
“I loved it,” said Pollock, who was on the winning team here last year. “We’ve got a job trying to catch the leaders, but we might just have to find Tim Clark and Kenny Dalglish at tonight’s function and make sure something happens to them before tomorrow.”
In joint third place are the teams of Player, actor Jack Wagner and businessmen Carlos Pires Oliveira Dias and André Pires Oliveira Dias; and Ladies European Tour professional Carly Booth, singer McFadden and businessmen Greg Whittaker and Steve Phytides on 83 points.
On an individual level, Clark certainly showed that his elbow injury is a thing of the past as he prepares for the 2013 PGA Tour season, shooting 66 on Saturday. But it was a great contest between him and nine-time Major champion Player, who also produced a sublime score of 66 with four birdies in a row from the third hole.
But as a team, Clark and co. were untouchable on day one, finishing off with a six-pointer on the last. “It’s always nice to finish strong. It makes the evening that much better,” said Clark. His business partner Jackson paid tribute to his great golf. “Tim was incredibly solid, and that made the difference for us.”
However, the individual round of the day had to go to Player for his 66. “I’m thrilled to have broken my age by 11 shots,” he said.
McFadden was in high spirits after making a magnificent birdie for his team on the 17th, where he hit 3 wood, 3 wood and 3 wood again to just over the back of the green and then rolled in a monstrous putt that sent even Booth jumping into his arms.
“I think that’s my first birdie in about nine years,” said the former Westlife star, who earlier said his golf is so bad that his charity role this weekend is to donate golf balls to the local economy.
It was a great finish to his round, which hit a bit of a stumble on the par-three ninth hole where his tee shot barely cleared the ladies tee. “You’re better off laying up on this hole anyway,” he said of the shot.
His partner Phytides was happy they were able to remain in contention after the first day. “We were always in it and fighting hard, which was nice. We had one really bad hole when we made just two points on the 14th, but other than that we combined well as a team.”
Actress Angie Everhart was one of the stars in her team of Ian Woosnam, and businessmen Christian Karg and Brad Caufield as they finished off the day on 76 points.
“We had a great start, a bit of a lull in the middle and a good finish,” said Everhart, who was delighted to have contributed four birdies of her own and celebrated with a cartwheel across the 17th green. “But I must say, it was pretty intimidating standing on the tee next to a legend like Ian Woosnam.”
And former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance had an enjoyable day alongside football star Ian Wright, and businessmen Gideon du Plessis and Nick Jonsson as they started with 75 points.
“We had a great time,” said Torrance. “The team was dead easy to lead. They just do whatever I tell them. I wish my wife was the same."

JUSTIN ROSE 62 TAKES HIM TO FRONT IN DUBAI FINAL ROUND

 EARLY REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
iT WAS advantage Rory McIlroy with nine holes to play in The European Tour's season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
The World Number One resumed tied for the lead with Luke Donald and it was the World Number Two who started the better, grabbing a birdie on the long second after McIlroy had pushed his opening drive and bogeyed.
But then came Donald's first bogey not only of the tournament, but in 103 holes on the Earth Course, when he three-putted the third.
McIlroy birdied the fifth and seventh, had another bogey at the next, but closed the outward half with a brilliant approach to two feet.
Already with The Race to Dubai title in the bag, the 23 year old started for home 18 under par, with Donald one behind and England's Justin Rose and South African Louis Oosthuizen two back.
Earlier Spain's Sergio Garcia equalled the course record of 64 for the second time in the week - he eagled the par five 18th again to do it - while Scot Stephen Gallacher and Dutchman Joost Luiten had holes-in-one at the fourth and sixth respectively.
It was suddenly all change at the top when Rose, six behind at the start of the day, followed his sixth birdie on the short 13th with an approach to the 626 yard 14th that curled round to within five feet of the hole.
In it went for eagle and he was 19 under, one ahead of McIlroy and two in front of Donald, who both missed birdie chances on the tenth.
McIlroy was back on terms after hitting in close on the 401 yard 11th, but Rose nosed ahead again with an eight footer on the 15th.
He needed only three closing pars for a new course record of 63, but that was probably not going to bring him the title and so he was looking to pick up more shots.
Donald missed the green on the 12th and by bogeying fell four behind and into a tie for third with Oosthuizen.
Rose parred the 16th and 17th and his lead went to two when McIlroy three-putted the 13th.
By chipping close for birdie on the next, however, the gap was back to one as Rose came to the par five last requiring a par for a course record 63.
Donald and Oosthuizen were three back after birdies on the 14th.
Rose sent his second shot to the back of the green around 100 feet from the flag and his eagle attempt looked as if it might die on a ridge, but then trickled down to the side of the hole.
He gave a fist pump before tapping in for birdie and a 62, a course record by two and his lowest-ever European Tour round by two.
McIlroy, though, pitched to three feet on the 15th and by holing was only one behind again.

EARLIER REPORT
Scotland's Stephen Gallacher followed three opening birdies with a hole-in-one on the final day of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai this morning (local time).
Gallacher aced the 214 yard fourth with a five iron to be five under par for his first four holes and after another birdie at the long seventh turned in a brilliant 30.
It moved him up from 31st to joint fifth on 12 under par, still five adrift of overnight leaders Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald, and made him the latest player to threaten the course record of 64.
Five players had achieved that mark prior to this week and Sergio Garcia and Jeev Milkha Singh added their names to the list in the second and third rounds respectively.

LIVE SCORING FROM FINAL ROUND IN DUBAI

CLICK HERE 

Luke Donald birdied the 2nd, bogeyed the third to be -17
Louise Oosthuizen birdied the first and second to be -16
Rory McIlroy bogeyed the first to be -16