RORY \McILROY READY TO ROLL IN WGC MATCH-PLAY

FROM THE BBC SPORTS.COM WEBSITE

• Venue: Dove Mountain, Arizona
• Date: 20-24 February 2013
• Coverage details: Radio 5 live and BBC Sport online

Rory McIlroy says he is much happier with his game heading into the WGC Match Play Championship.

The 23-year-old world number one blamed his swing after a premature exit from the Abu Dhabi Championship last month.
But McIlroy, criticised for switching from Titleist to Nike in a lucrative deal, has arrived in Arizona with a new putter and a slightly heavier driver.

Recent Match Play champions

• 2012: Hunter Mahan
• 2011: Luke Donald
• 2010: Ian Poulter
• 2009: Geoff Ogilvy
• 2008: Tiger Woods
• 2007: Henrik Stenson
• 2006: Geoff Ogilvy
• 2005: David Toms
• 2004: Tiger Woods
• 2003: Tiger Woods

"The clubs were performing fine in Abu Dhabi, it was just the fact that I wasn't swinging my best," he said.

"I feel like I've turned a corner with my swing. I've got it back on track, and that's ultimately what's going to help me play better.
"I'm much happier with how I'm swinging the club."
McIlroy, runner-up in 2012, plays Shane Lowry in the first round on Wednesday.
"I've had a nice few weeks off and I feel like I'm coming into this event prepared, ready and swinging the club well," he added.
"Hopefully that can translate into playing some good golf and getting quite far into this week."
Six-time major champion Nick Faldo described McIlroy's decision to switch his golf brand as "a dangerous move".
But Northern Irishman McIlroy responded: "Nick Faldo doesn't know how I feel over the golf shot and I don't know how he felt, but my guess is he was a little more analytically minded than I am.
"I try and keep things as simple as possible.
"If I see the ball going in the direction that I want in the flight that I want, then I'm happy. It feels good, and hopefully I can show that to everyone this week."

GUSTAV SETS PACE IN THIS WEEK'S EVOLVE TOUR EVENT

Swedish players have made a good start to this week's Spanish Evolve Tour event - the Saurines Open.
Gustav Adell (Sweden) leads the field at the end of the first
round of a 54-hole tournament with a four-under-par 68.
He is two shots clear of compatriot Marcus Palm and England's
William Harrold.
Sharing fourth place on 71 is another Swede, Simon Malmberg, and another Englishman, Gary King.

TO VIEW ALL THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES

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SENIORS' REPORT FROM NEWBURGH ON YTHAN GC

In the February Monthly Medal, Newburgh Seniors enjoyed a fine Spring day that inspired some very good scoring. Best of all was John Gray who completed an historic double. Having won the January Medal 3 weeks ago with a nett 61, John improved by three strokes to take the February Medal with a nett 58. Ian Cromarty's excellent net 60 was good enough for only second place.

Leading Scores, Seniors' February Medal, Monday, February 18
John Gray (18) 58; Ian Cromarty (21) 60; Richard Clifton (13) 62;
Peter Scott (16) 62; Roger Addison (12) 62; Peter Young (26) 62;
George Duthie (8) 62; Zander Kirk (20) 62; Billy Murray (15) 62.
 
Andy Williamson achieved his first win of the competition in Round 14 of the Newburgh Winter League with a very strong 42 points on a high scoring day. Two Senior stalwarts, George Duthie and Dave Philip were close in joint second with their 41s.
With only two rounds to play, Wullie Dyker was again the only top ten player in the league to score points as he took 4th place on the day and also consolidated the same position in the League Table.
Leading Scores, Winter Stableford League Round 14, Sunday, February 17
Andy Williamson (13) 42pts; Dave Philip (7) 41; George Duthie (9) 41; Keith Watson (5) 39; Gareth Aitken (15) 39; John Watt (10) 39;
Geoff Cooper (15) 39; Jeff Turner (19) 39; Wullie Dyker (2) 38;
Bruce Finnie (11) 38.

Sunday Stableford, Winter League Placings after 14 RoundsStuart Mitchell 16 pts; Shelley Johnstone 12; Stewart Clark 10;
Wullie Dyker 10; Sheena Cruickshank 8; Don Hawthorn 8;
Keith Watson 8.
Robert McClymont
Seniors Convener
Newburgh on Ythan Golf Club

INTENSE RESEARCH BEHIND PAINTING OF FIRST OPEN DRIVE AT PRESTWICK

           View back over the first green of the Prestwick clubhouse as it is today.

 
FROM THE HERALDSPORT.COM WEBSITE
By NICK RODGER  
Every picture tells a story but, as far as the story of the Open is concerned, there is one significant visual representation that has remained elusive - an image of the very first championship at Prestwick in 1860.

For Professor David Purdie, a native of the Ayrshire town and a well-respected author and after-dinner speaker, the quest to produce the missing link in the pictorial history of the game's most celebrated contest is almost complete.
"The germ was planted over 40 years ago and when I was just getting into golf as a boy in Prestwick, I remember asking my grandfather 'the first Open was here?' and he said, 'Yes, the first several Opens were here'," recalled Purdie. 
"I asked if I could see it but he responded by saying 'it's funny, but I've never seen an image'. It wasn't until I was doing a book on the history of golf years later, and I began a serious hunt for an image from that first Open, that I realised there was nothing. That has since been confirmed by the R and A and Prestwick Golf Club."
Utilising historical records, archive material and the kind of sleuthing that would make the work of Poirot look shoddy, Purdie has commissioned the distinguished Scottish painter, Graeme Baxter, to produce "Opening Drive", a substantial oil on canvas that will be the end result of a period of intense research into one of golf's most momentous occasions.
At noon on Wednesday, October 17, 1860, the first tee-shot of the first Open was struck by Old Tom Morris and Baxter's painting, which is to be unveiled in late March, will depict the scene on Prestwick's first tee in meticulous detail, from the assembled players, caddies and officials to the "fitful sunshine" and the level of the tide.
"I called the hydrographic department at the Admiralty and asked where the tide was on Prestwick beach at noon on this day in October 1860," said Purdie, who grew up on Links Road just yards from the first tee and remains a member at nearby Prestwick St Nicholas. 
"A very posh voice responded and said 'could you give us a couple of hours.' They called back and said 'one hour below high water'. This was confirmed by The Herald, which, for God knows how long, has carried high water at Greenock. You could calculate from high water at Greenock if it was high water at Prestwick and it matched. That was important for the accuracy of the painting."
The one aspect of the painting that remains conjectural, however, is the presence of Young Tom Morris, who would go on to win four consecutive Opens at Prestwick from 1868.
Purdie added: "We don't know who caddied for Old Tom Morris, we hoped it would have been his son, Young Tom. He was a pupil at Ayr Academy and I phoned the rector and asked if they had the truancy records for October 1860 . . . sadly they did not. 
"The painting, therefore, will depict Old Tom being caddied for by a young boy who may or may not be Scotland's greatest ever golfer."
The inaugural Open was won by Willie Park, who topped a field of eight professionals at the end of 36 holes – three rounds of 12 – that were completed in one day.
"By God, they were fast," said Purdie. "I phoned the Met Office to ask when the sunset was on that day. It was 5.14pm. So they started at noon, whizzed round three times in between lunch at the Red Lion pub, sorted the championship out, presented the belt and were away hame by the back of five. There was no slow play in those days."

US PGA TOUR OPPOSITION TO BAN ON BELLY PUTTERS IS GAINING MOMENTUM

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
By Alex Miceli
 TUCSON, Arizona – Opposition to the proposed ban on the anchored stroke surfaced Monday night in two key meetings on the US PGA Tour. 
According to a source, more than 80 percent of participants on a Player Advisory Council conference call voiced a position against the recommendation by the US Golf Association and the R and A to ban the stroke associated with long and belly putters. 
Golf's governing bodies have called for the ban to take effect with the next printing of the Rules of Golf, in 2016. 
Members of the Tour's Policy Board hold similar views (to the Player Advisory Council), according to a US PGA Tour source close to the discussions. 
A letter is being drafted to be delivered to the USGA, likely this week and before the 90-day comment period ends on February 28.
With the four player representatives on the board – Jim Furyk, Harrison Frazar, Paul Goydos and Steve Stricker – opposed to a ban on anchoring and the PAC also opposing a ban, the letter will express those sentiments but leave the door open for compromise.
The US PGA Tour and commissioner Tim Finchem have provided no public guidance regarding the proposed ban since the USGA announced the proposed rules change on November 28. 
At a news conference in San Diego during the Farmers Insurance Open in January, Finchem mentioned the possibility of two sets of rules: one for the game's touring professionals and elite amateurs, another for recreational players.
The idea for different rules, or bifurcation, is gaining momentum, according to players involved in both meetings. However, Finchem and the US PGA Tour would prefer to maintain a uniform Rules of Golf.
The PGA of America also is drafting a stronger response against the proposed ban than the one it delivered on behalf of its 27,000 club professionals in December.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, the PGA of America's response will be similar to the US PGA Tour's and ultimately will show how the two organisations are aligned on the issue of anchoring.
Once the comment period has expired, it will be up to the USGA and R and A to decide whether a ban on anchoring is worth a potential schism in golf: the US PGA Tour playing by its own rules and millions of recreational golfers ignoring the Rules of Golf. 
 Editor: There is no indication of the European Tour's stance on the issue - yet.