RUSSELL KNOX FEELS AT HOME ON THE US PGA TOUR

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
In 2013 Scot Russell Knox rose from No 221 to No 56 in the US PGA Tour rankings, a leap of 165 places.
Why the rise? Knox split fairways while splitting time in 2013 between the US PGA Tour and Web.com Tour, making eight of 11 cuts and finishing No. 166 in the FedEx Cup point standings, and 12 of 15 cuts on the Web.com Tour.
On the big tour, the 28-year-old from Inverness averaged 285 yards off the tee and led the league by hitting the fairway 73.68 percent of the time. 
He also ranked eighth in greens in regulation at 68.95 percent.
Fairways and greens always have been Knox’s bread and butter. He attributes the biggest improvement in his game to his mental approach. As a disciple of instructors Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson, Knox has been schooled in the Vision 54 philosophy of striving for a birdie on every hole. 
He came close, shooting the fifth 59 in Web.com Tour history, and missing a chance to break the tour record when he parred the final two holes in the second round of the Albertsons Boise Open.
“I think Vision 54 really helped when I shot 59,” he said. “It’s not easy to shoot 59 but when 54 is your goal it’s a little easier.”
Knox showed steady improvement all year, qualifying for the U.S. Open and tying for 45th in his first major. He saved his best for last, tying for seventh or better in three of his final six starts on the Web.com Tour.
The former Jacksonville University stand-out -Duncan Stewart was one of his team-mates -  secured his card with a tie for sixth in the Web.com Tour Championship in front of friends and family at Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass.
Knox, who has lived at Jacksonville Beach since he graduated from university, is confident that his game is ready to take the next leap forward in his second tour of duty with full Tour status. He opened the 2013-2014 season by making his first four cuts.
“My first year I was kind of hoping to play well,” he said. “Now I come here and I don’t care about anyone else who is playing in the field and I’m focused on what I need to do to play well.”
Knox says: “I feel like I’ve started to earn respect from other players. That’s the biggest thing to be able to walk out on that practice green and feel in your gut you belong.”

NORTHERN IRELAND LADY GOLFER RETAINS MYGOLFRANKING INTERNATIONAL NO 1 SPOT

FROM DAVID MOIR

This week’s MyGolfRanking Golfer of the Week is Toni McDonagh of Fortwilliam Golf Club, Northern Ireland.
Toni retains her No 1 spot in the last MGR International Ranking of 2013 from Scott Hunter of Tillicoultry at No 2 and Alastair Wastson (Langlands) in third position.                          

As last week, the MyGolfRanking Club of the Week is every participating club. The MyGolfRanking Club of the Week will restart in Week 14/01 next week.

MY GOLF RANKING INTERNATIONAL at January 3, 2014
1 Toni McDonagh (Fortwilliam, N Ireland) 1217 pts
2 Scott Hunter (Tillicoultry) 1185
3 Alastair Wastson (Langlands) 1175
4 Craig Meeks (Thornton) 1157
5 Lewis Blyth (Prestonfield) 1133
6 Adam Jobes (Seacroft) 1129
7 Gary Barclay (Torrance Park) 1125
8 Conal Duffy (Fortwilliam, N Ireland) 1123
9 Roger Leslie (Spey Bay) 1105
10 Ricky McNeill (Dunnikier Park) 1102
11 Douglas Taylor (Dunfermline) 1100
12 Kevin Wood (Prestonfield) 1085
13 Daniel Alexander (Kingsknowe) 1075
14 Alex McKenzie (Lothianburn) 1061
T15 Graeme Cox (Drumoig) 1058
T15 Jack Owens (Bangor, N Ireland) 1058
T15 Jim Rice (Aberdour) 1058
18 Paul Page (Kingsknowe) 1056
19 John Douglas (Leven Thistle) 1055
20 Jo Elson (Aqualate) 1050
21 John Boag (Blairgowrie) 1048
T22 Greig Denton (Balfron) 1043
T22 Laura McGeachy (Windyhill) 1043
24 Russell Bracey (Ashridge Artisans) 1034
T25 William Barwood (Langlands) 1031
T25 James Batchelor (Kirriemuir) 1031.

MGR Scotland Men Top 25, 3 January 2014

1 Scott Hunter (Tillicoultry) 1185 pts

2 Alistair Wastson (Langlands) 1175

3 Craig Meeks (Thornton) 1157

4 Lewis Blyth (Prestonfield) 1133

5 Gary Barclay (Torrance Park) 1125

6 Roger Leslie (Spey Bay) 1105

7 Ricky McNeill (Dunnikier Park) 1102

8 Douglas Taylor (Dunfermline) 1100

9 Kevin Wood (Prestonfield) 1085

10 Daniel Alexander (Kingsknowe) 1075

11 Alex McKenzie (Lothianburn) 1061

T12 Graeme Cox (Drumoig) 1058

T12 Jim Rice (Aberdour) 1058

14 Paul Page (Kingsknowe) 1056

15 John Douglas (Leven Thistle) 1055

16 John Boag (Blairgowrie) 1048

17 Greig Denton (Balfron) 1043

T18 William Barwood (Langlands) 1031

T18 James Batchelor (Kirriemuir) 1031

20 Peter Miller (Milngavie) 1029

21 Ian Gorn (Aberdour) 1021, 22 Stan Thain (New Club, St Andrews) 1019, 24 Mark Evans (Lothianburn) 1017, 24 John Mitchell (St Andrews GC) 1008, 25 Sean Davidson (Craigie Hill) 1004.

For up-to-date ranking lists of participating clubs, the full Regional, National and International Rankings and how it works, visit www.mygolfranking.net.

The MyGolfRanking service is free to clubs and members. Clubs wishing to participate should register on www.mygolfranking.net or email info@mygolfranking.net for information.

MyGolfRanking Women, January 3, 2014
1 Toni McDonagh (Fortwilliam, N Ireland) 1217 pts
2 Jo Elson (Aqualate) 1050
3 Laura McGeachy (Windyhill) 1043
4 Emily Aird (Blairgowrie) 1010
5 Mary Carragher (Arrowe Park) 1006
6 Rosemary Macintyre (Fort William, Scotland) 1000
7 Susan Baldwin (Scotscraig) 996
8 Pat Magill (Newton Stewart) 981
9 Hilary Brown (Scotscraig) 979
T10 Alison Maillardet-O’Neill (Kingsknowe) 969
T10 Fay Paterson (Kinghorn) 969.

MyGolfRanking Clubs, January 3, 2014: 

1 Fortwilliam (N Ireland) 972 pts

2 Dunfermline 884

3 Kingsknowe 879

4 Prestonfield 871

5 Blairgowrie 861

6 Awali 856

7 Aberdour 849

8 Alyth 848

9 Milngavie 844

10 Falkirk Tryst 840.

David Moir

in LEAGUE with GOLF Ltd

info@mygolfranking.net

 

AMERICAN GOLF WRITERS VOTE SCOTT PLAYER OF YEAR AHEAD OF WOODS

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
By NICK MASUDA 
Adam Scott's four worldwide victories in 2013  carried more weight with members of the Golf Writers Association of America than Tiger Woods' five wins.
The Australian has been voted  Male Player of the Year for 2013 by the GWAA.
Scott, who won the Masters and a FedEx Cup event at the Barclays, was five votes better than Woods in the annual poll.
“It is an honour to be recognised as the most consistent male golfer of 2013 and it is appreciated to have the respect of the Golf Writers of America. Thank you,” said Scott.
The GWAA said in a statement: "(The GWAA) goes outside the boundaries of the US PGA Tour and takes into consideration global play." Apparently the Aussie’s brilliant stretch Down Under in November and December swayed voters; Scott won the Australian PGA and the Australian Masters, teamed with Jason Day to win the team portion of the World Cup of Golf, and was second in the Australian Open." Scott played 20 worldwide events in 2013, winning four times, was in the top 3 eight times, in the top 10 in half and never missed a cut. Scott was T-3 at the Open Championship and T-5 at the US PGA Championship.
Inbee Park was named Female Player of the Year and Kenny Perry the Senior Player of the Year, with each gathering 91 percent of the 220 votes.

JIMENEZ IS 50 TODAY AND HE WANTS TO BE RYDER CUP CAPTAIN SOME DAY

NEWS RELEASE
Miguel Angel Jiménez, the oldest winner in the history of The European Tour, celebrated his 50th birthday today by declaring his intention to compete in The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex, which tees off at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, exactly 200 days from now.
The evergreen man from Malaga they call "The Mechanic"  has also set his sights on playing in
the Ryder Cup match at Gleneagles in September - and then becoming skipper of the Europe team not too far down the road after that.

The Spaniard, who claimed his 20th European Tour win in last month's Hong Kong Open, is maintaining a busy schedule and will take part in this week's Volvo Champions tournament in South Africa, but plans to take time out to make his debut in the over-50s Major tournament in July at the South Wales links venue.
Jimenez is then aiming to become Europe's oldest Ryder Cup player by earning a place in the team ahead of the event in Gleneagles in September, and believes one day he can be captain.
"I think I can do it but I have to go step by step. I would certainly like to be at Gleneagles. I am
waiting for news and it would be great if I can."
Perhaps a reference to being named as one of Paul McGinley's vice-captains if he does not make it as a player.
Jimenez has been a Ryder Cup player on four occasions, the last in 2010 at the Celtic Manor Resort. The distinctive cigar-smoking, pony-tailed character, who began his career as a caddie remains as driven as ever.
"I feel fine. I have spent 25 years travelling the world and competing and if you aren't happy doing that then it would be impossible to be so. I am motivated," he said, before evaluating how the sport has changed in Spain.
"I am the last of the caddie players," he said.
"Golf has evolved. Before it was much more difficult to make it as we came into the game by being caddies and working our way up.
"We couldn't play with the children of (club) members and play better than them. I am the last caddie and (Jose Maria) Olazabal is the first Spanish amateur player that came from humble roots."

The popular Spaniard remains a potent force at the very highest level of the game. His 20th European Tour win in last month’s Hong Kong Open extended his own record as the European Tour’s oldest champion.
It was Jiménez’s 13th European Tour victory beyond the age of 40 – another record - and he is aiming to become Europe’s oldest Ryder Cup player in September..
“I'm looking forward to playing my first Senior Major at Royal Porthcawl” he said. “I hear it's a great golf course and I am really looking forward to playing there for the first time.  
"I was checking the Internet to see where it is. About 20 minutes west from Cardiff and on the coast – perfect venue!”
Having enjoyed so much success in his 40s, Jiménez admits to having mixed feelings about reaching senior age, but he is also looking forward to trying to become the first European winner of The Senior Open since Bernhard Langer in 2010.  
“Oh my goodness, am I really 50?” he said in mock indignation. “I can’t believe time has passed so fast. It seems just like yesterday that I got my Tour card and then – five, ten, 25 years have passed so quickly.
“Now, in my 26th season, I am a rookie again – the young man in the field at the Senior Open. It will be nice to see some familiar faces from the old days but I don’t know if they are going to like seeing me competing against them! “
Jiménez has enjoyed some close calls in Major Championships as a popular member of the European Tour, but he has no preference when it comes to the Majors on the other side of 50. He added: “It’s always nice to win a Major, whatever Tour I am on. I am just looking forward to this chance to win one on either Tour. I don’t want to leave my life on the European Tour but I am going to enjoy my other life in senior golf as well.”
To recognise Miguel’s milestone birthday, the pre-Christmas ticket offer for The 2014 Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex has been extended by two weeks.
That means golf fans booking before January 16 can enjoy large savings, with season tickets costing just £60 – a 25 per cent saving on the gate price of £80.
One-day tickets purchased before the deadline cost £20, a saving of £10 on the gate price, while Wednesday practice day tickets are also available at the reduced price of £10, a saving of £5 on the gate price. Under 16s are admitted for free when accompanied by an adult and parking is also free.
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: “Miguel Angel Jiménez is one of the most popular figures in European golf and we are delighted that he has confirmed his participation in this year’s Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex at Royal Porthcawl.
“It already promises to be a special week when Wales hosts its first Senior Major Championship and Miguel’s presence in the field, in a country where he has already enjoyed some memorable moments, will certainly add to the sense of occasion.”
American Mark Wiebe won the 2013 Senior Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, defeating two-time Masters Champion Bernhard Langer in a play-off.
The Championship delivered the best of senior golf with Wiebe and Langer joined in the field by stars such as Fred Couples, Sandy Lyle, Tom Watson and Welshman Ian Woosnam, along with Colin Montgomerie, the man who led Europe to Ryder Cup glory at The Celtic Manor Resort in 2010.
Tickets for The 2014 Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex can be bought online via www.senioropengolf.com or by calling +44 (0)800 0232557, with details of hospitality packages also available.