MONDAY US PGA TOUR QUALIFIER ENDS DRAMATICALLY ON TUESDAY

COCHRAN, jun PRODUCES ACE TO GET

 INTO BYRON NELSON TOURNAMENT

FROM GOLF DIGEST WEBSITE
By ALEX MYERS
Case Cochran will make his US PGA Tour debut this week at the HP Byron Nelson tournament -- thanks to the shot of his life. 
Cochran shot 69 on Monday at The Lakes at Castle Hills, but storms suspended the Monday qualifier's finish until Tuesday. At the end of the round, the Dallas resident was one of four players at 69 playing off for three spots (Will Strickler took the first spot with a 68) in the local US PGA Tour stop. This is normal at a Monday qualifier, but what happened next wasn't. 
On the fifth extra hole, a par-3, Cochran earned the final available Thursday tee time at TPC Four Seasons Resort by holing a 7-iron from 152 yards for an ace. Good timing! Well, not for Chris Parra, who lost the play-off. 
Cochran, 25, is the son of Russ Cochran, the 1991 Western Open winner on the US PGA Tour and a five-time winner on the Champions Tour. Case, a two-time Kentucky state champion in high school, . He played in 20 college events during his four years at Texas A and M University, posting a 74 average in his last four events  in 2013. But in the year since as a pro, his scores have got much better.
Cochran is coming off a runner-up finish at the Merrill Lynch Open on the Adams Pro Tour, which included a third-round 63. For the season, Cochran is fourth on the tour's money list, having earned just under $22,000.
Not bad, but with just four more good rounds of golf this week, Cochran can make a lot more. He doesn't have to look far for inspiration. Joining Cochran as one of the four alternates is Jason Allred, who Monday Qualified for the Northern Trust Open earlier this year and took home $388,600 for a T-3.

R AND A and THE USGA ASKED FOR THEIR ADVICE SUNDAY MORNING

WHY US PGA TOUR CHANGED ITS MIND 

 

ABOUT PENALTY ON JUSTIN ROSE

FROM GOLF CHANNEL WEBSITE
By REX HOGGARD

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – Justin Rose began Sunday’s final round of the Players' Championship two strokes closer to the lead than he had originally thought after US PGA Tour officials reversed a two-stroke penalty they had assessed Saturday. 
The reversal came thanks to a new rule that was implemented to protect players from violations that can be seen only through high-definition devices and sophisticated technology.
Rose was assessed the penalty on Saturday after his ball moved on the 18th hole after he had addressed it. 
After three separate reviews of the incident using high-definition cameras and highly magnified images, officials ruled it was a violation of Rule 18-2b and he was assessed a two-stroke penalty, one shot for the ball moving at address and one for not replacing it after it had moved.
But an adjustment to the Decisions of Golf (Decision 18-4) was implemented last year so that “The ball will not be deemed to have moved if that movement was not reasonably discernible to the naked eye at the time.”

---

Late Saturday, US PGA Tour vice-president of rules and competitions Mark Russell told GolfChannel.com that the new rule didn’t apply to Rose’s situation because “It's not as though he didn't see anything and then it came up because of high-definition television. He saw something and backed off; that's why the high-definition rule didn't apply.”
But after further review, officials rescinded the penalty based on the new decision.
“This has never been used before,” Russell said Sunday. “It’s a situation where it protects the player. We asked for this decision and this is exactly why this rule is in there.”
Russell said the issue was readdressed on Sunday morning when the rules committee arrived at TPC Sawgrass at about 7:30 a.m.
After a 45-minute discussion, officials asked the governing bodies – the Royal and Ancient and U.S. Golf Association – for advice at 10 a.m. and an hour later the committee decided to rescind the ruling.
“It’s pretty complicated, really,” said Russell, who confirmed to GolfChannel.com that both organizations agreed with the implementation of the new decision. “This isn’t going to happen every day.”
Rose was informed at 11:40 a.m. (ET) Sunday, about an hour before his final-round tee time, that the penalty had been withdraw under the new rule.
“Overnight I read an article that explained the (high-definition) rule and I kind of thought it applied to my case,” Rose said following a final-round 69 for a 10-under total. 
“I didn’t see how my case was any different than what I read.”
Rose was given a par on the 18th hole, instead of a double-bogey-6, and moved into a tie for eighth, five strokes off the lead, although his final-round tee time remained the same despite the change to his score.
Read the US PGA Tour's statement on the rescinding of the penalty.

MARTIN KAYMER VICTORY BOOKS HIS PLACE AT GLENEAGLES

McGINLEY HAS EMBARRASSMENT OF 

 

RYDER CUP RICHES TO PICK FROM

• FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
• By Alistair Tait
• Follow Me: Twitter @GolfweekTait

Martin Kaymer’s Players Championship victory pushed him onto the European Ryder Cup team. That’s good news for Europe’s chances of a third successive Ryder Cup victory, and fifth win in six matches.
But then the news is pretty much all good right now for Europe’s chances in the biennial match.
Kaymer takes up the ninth and final position at this point. If European captain Paul McGinley was naming his team right now, he’d be calling out the names of Victor Dubuisson, Jamie Donaldson, Thomas Bjorn, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Luke Donald and Kaymer.
McGinley has three captain’s picks this year. Those three right now would no doubt be used on Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell.
The above would make a pretty potent 12-man team. Dubuisson and Donaldson are the only two rookies. Yet McGinley probably won’t need to hide them in his lineup as previous captains have done with rookies.
Frenchman Dubuisson has lived up to the expectations of his amateur days over recent months. He ended last year with victory in the Turkish Airlines Open, his first European Tour win, finished third in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai and reached the final of the WGC-Accenture World Match Play Championship.
The eccentric Frenchman proved he has the match-play prowess to handle the Ryder Cup with his display against Jason Day in the Accenture. Some of his escapes from the desert were similar to those of Seve Ballesteros. He won’t fear anyone on the American team.
Neither will Donaldson. He’s shed the dreaded “journeyman” tag over the last couple of years with a couple of big wins, the 2012 Irish Open and last year’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. He hasn’t looked out of place against even stronger opposition this year with a second-place finish in the WGC-Cadillac Championship and was 14th in his Masters debut.
While Dubuisson’s strength lies in his innate talent, Donaldson relies on his putter. He’s very competent with the short stick, and that always helps in a Ryder Cup.
Bjorn hasn’t played in the match since 2004. He’s set to make his third appearance after first making the team in 1997. Two Ryder Cups is scant reward for his outstanding talent.
The Dane’s renaissance stems from his time as vice-captain to Colin Montgomerie in 2010 at Celtic Manor. While he was happy to help marshal Monty’s men, deep down he knew he was good enough to be playing alongside them.
“When I walked around that Ryder Cup, I knew that at my best I’m easily competitive with these guys,” Bjorn said.
Thus began a renewed desire to get on the team. He’ll more than fit right in. As one of the European Tour’s most senior figures – he serves as chairman of the powerful tournament committee – he’ll act as one of McGinley’s on-course leaders.
The Irishman is not short on those, as the list above proves.
Of course, much can change over the coming months with three majors, a WGC event and big European tournaments to be held before the team is chosen after the Italian Open. Expect others to force their way into the side with good results.
Those on fringes with realistic chances include Masters runner-up Jonas Blixt, Dutchman Joost Luiten, Francesco Molinari, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Gonzalo Fernandez Castano and Stephen Gallacher.
McGinley won’t be complacent, but he’s sitting pretty right now with an embarrassment of riches at his disposal.

MY GOLF RANKINGS

MyGolfRanking International, Week 2014/18

1 Lewis Blyth (Prestonfield) 1216 pts

2 Gary Dunbar (Dollar) 1203

3 Barry Logan (Dunnikier Park) 1200

4 Craig Meeks (Thornton) 1157

T5 Ronnie Quinn (Arrowe Park Ladies), Toni McDonagh (Fortwilliam Ladies, N Ireland) 1133,

7 Duncan Rodger (Fort William) 1110,

T8 Roger Leslie (Spey Bay), Douglas Taylor (Dunfermline) 1107,

10 Frances McIntosh (Aberdour Ladies) 1105,

T11 Cameron Bruce (Harrison), Julie Keay (Seacroft Ladies), Robert Leggate (Stonehaven) 1100

14 Isla Moncrieff (Pitlochry) 1096

15 Christopher McKenna (Langlands) 1093

16 Kevin Wood (Prestonfield) 1092

17 Kay Gillespie (New Galloway Ladies) 1083,

18 John Douglas (Leven Thistle) 1063,

T19 John Boag (Blairgowrie), Jim Rice (Aberdour) 1058.

                                                                   

MGR Scotland Men Top 25, 2014/18

1 Lewis Blyth (Prestonfield) 1216 pts

2 Gary Dunbar (Dollar) 1203

3 Barry Logan (Dunnikier Park) 1200

4 Craig Meeks (Thornton) 1157

5 Duncan Rodger (Fort William) 1108

T6 Roger Leslie (Spey Bay), Douglas Taylor (Dunfermline) 1107

T8 Cameron Bruce (Harrison), Robert Leggate (Stonehaven) 1100

10 Christopher McKenna (Langlands) 1093

11 Kevin Wood (Prestonfield) 1092

12 John Douglas (Leven Thistle) 1063

T13 John Boag (Blairgowrie), Jim Rice (Aberdour) 1058

15 Alastair Wilson (St Mungo) 1050

T16 Scott Hunter (Tillicoultry), Garry McLetchie (Leven GS) 1044

18 John Anthony (Ladybank) 1043

19 William Barwood (Langlands) 1028

T20 Cameron Davidson (Stonehaven), Craig Pettigrew (Doon Valley) 1021

                                                                                                                                                                                   

MyGolfRanking, Scotland Ladies, 2014/18

1 Frances McIntosh (Lundin Ladies) 1105 pts

2 Kay Gillespie (New Galloway) 1083

3 Fay Paterson (Kinghorn) 1042

4 Elaine Mitchell (Thornton) 1033

5 Claire Ross (Tain) 1032

6 Anne Sibbald (Ravelston) 1029

7 Pam Turner (Pitreavie) 1025

8 Pat Magill (Newton Stewart) 1005

T9 Susan Baldwin (Scotscraig), Rosemary Macintyre (Fort William) 1000

11 Dianne Watson (Ladybank) 990

12 Katharine Logan (Baberton) 979

13 Jean Pettit (Langlands) 964

14 Cathy Thomas (Carrbridge) 958

15 Edith Mathieson (Aigas) 957

16 Christine Steedman (Pitreavie) 950

17 Lorna Bennett (Leven GS) 944

18 Fiona Sim (Stonehaven) 932

19 Hazel Sturrock (St Michaels) 927

20 Gwen Lambie (Blairgowrie) 920

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.

GERMAN PRACTISED NEW SWING UNTIL HIS HANDS BLED

MARTIN KAYMER BACK IN BIG TIME 

 

AFTER VICTORY AT SAWGRASS

 

FROM THE BBC GOLF WEBSITE

By IAIN CARTER

Martin Kaymer practised until his hands bled in his quest to return to golf's big time.

With the prestigious Players' Championship trophy in his possession, the 29-year-old German (pictured) can reflect with huge satisfaction on a tortuous journey back to the top of the game.
It is hard to underestimate just how impressive this victory in the US PGA Tour's flagship tournament was. He led from start to finish after an opening 63 but it took the gutsiest of putts on the 71st green to realise the win he so desperately craved.
Kaymer had been cruising until a 90min break when the Sunday evening thunder rolled in. He resumed with a horrible double bogey at the 15th and from then on it was only his will to win that saw him through.

Martin Kaymer rose to the top of the world rankings in February 2011 after reaching the WGC World Match Play final, six months after winning his one and only major, the US PGA Championship.
His victory at Sawgrass moved him up from 61 to 28 in the rankings.

He had the best part of 30 feet downhill with at least four feet of left to right break when he faced that crucial par putt on the island green 17th. Somehow Kaymer found a way to locate the middle of the cup.
It was one of the greatest putts seen at Sawgrass, and helped seal a victory to suggest Kaymer is capable of adding to his one career major. It also propelled him back into the heart of this year's Ryder Cup reckoning.
He has finally departed the doldrums. A world number one in 2010, he had tumbled out of the top 60 while dedicating himself to new techniques to make him a more complete golfer.
After winning the 2010 US PGA Championship, one of four victories that season, Kaymer went to world number one the following February. But he knew he was incomplete as a golfer because he could only move the ball left to right through the air.
The remodelling of his action to be able to add a draw to his stock fade is somewhat akin to what Sir Nick Faldo did to make himself capable of winning majors. It's been a case of two steps back to advance three.
Kaymer and Faldo share similar levels of commitment and determination. "He has worked extremely hard," his long-time caddie Craig Connelly told BBC Sport.
"His hands can be in some state. You know they can bleed. He spends hours on the range when he's away from tournament play and back in Phoenix at Whisper Rock and then when he's back in Germany with his coach Gunter Kessler.
"He was probably at his lowest towards the end of last year. He was really struggling because he still had the really bad shot going left, which he hates.
"He just stripped it down and went back to basics with Gunter. He now knows he can draw the ball when he has to and that's what he's going to do."
That level of dedication is fuelled by an immense desire to win and this victory means as much to him as his US PGA triumph at Whistling Straits.
"It was not about how well I play or how bad I play, it's about how much you want that win," Kaymer said.
"At (holes) 17 and 18, I really, really wanted it, and it gives me a lot of satisfaction. For my caddie, as well.
"We worked so hard and we went through ups and downs the last two years, and it's very tough because as an athlete you always want it now, you always want the success now, but in golf you just cannot force it."
The day before Kaymer shot his opening 63 at Sawgrass, Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley walked a few practice holes with the German. Kaymer struck the decisive putt at Medinah in 2012 and is desperate to play for the Irish skipper at Gleneagles in September.
That's one of the reasons he sees this epic victory as a launch pad for the rest of his career. "It's very easy to just be happy now, relax and let things happen," Kaymer said.
"But now it's a time we have to work even harder. I need to sit down and reflect on the round, reflect on the last 36 holes that I played because I shot only one-under par on the weekend. It's OK, but there was a lot of room to be better.
"We still have three majors left this year. I'm not saying that I'm thinking about it now, but there's still a lot of golf left this year that I would like to participate on the weekends."
That's a winner's mentality.
Perhaps his faithful caddie summed it up best. Connelly said: "I shouldn't say he's back to the old Martin because he is obviously a much-improved golfer."

MEMBERS WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE MAJOR CHANGES

NEW FINISHING HOLES NEEDED FOR 

PORTRUSH TO BECOME  OPEN VENUE


FROM THE BELFAST TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

Weekend reports of an impending announcement of the award were premature – tournament organisers responding that 'some distance' remained from being able to stage The Open in Northern Ireland for the first time since 1951.
But it can now be revealed the note of caution was sounded so as not to compromise delicate negotiations involving changes to the famous old course and requiring consent of the Royal Portrush club membership.
The changes which must be made at Portrush to accommodate an event on such a vast scale are so great, they'll be permanent.
And all sides in the talks accept that it'll take more than one 'hit' to justify the inconvenience and expense involved.
In reality, before any sweeping changes can be made to the links, they must be approved by the members of Royal Portrush at an Emergency General Meeting.
And an EGM, which requires two weeks' notice, will only be called in the event of an invitation from the Royal and Ancient to host the Open. Negotiations have been wide-ranging, detailed and supposedly have proceeded smoothly, but they've yet to reach that formal stage.
It's quite a liberty to suppose members of Royal Portrush will row in with the proposals without very careful consideration. After all, this represents a crossroads in the club's history.
Changes include the building of two new finishing holes. After 16, the new 17th would sweep into the adjacent Valley Course, with the 18th heading back towards the clubhouse.

WEST DUNBARTONSIRE PRO-AM TEE TIMES FOR PROS

West Dunbartonshire Pro-Am tee times for the professionals on May 31 are:

 Round 1: Dalmuir Municipal Golf Course 

 Tee  Time      Name

  1   7:30 AM   David Andrews, Bonnyton Golf Club

  1   7:40 AM   Paul Gallacher, Bearsden Golf Range

  1   7:50 AM   Riccardo Scarafile

  1   8:00 AM   Chris Brown, Carrick on Loch Lomond

  1   8:10 AM   Craig Gordon, Edinburgh Golf Centre

  1   8:20 AM   Gary McFarlane, Clober Golf Club

  1   8:30 AM   Scott Gillespie, Burntisland Golf Club

  1   8:40 AM   Jordan Gallagher, Douglas Park Golf Club

  1   8:50 AM   Calum Lawson, Wellsgreen Golf Range

  1   9:00 AM   Ryan Buckley, Royal Musselburgh Golf Club

  1   9:10 AM   Craig Matheson, Falkirk Tryst Golf Club

  1   9:20 AM   Ewan Grimes, Carrick on Loch Lomond

  1   9:30 AM   Christopher Tierney, Carrick on Loch Lomond

  1   9:40 AM   Stephen Craig, Craig Golf 79

  1   9:50 AM   Garry Forrester, St Andrews Golf School

  1   10:00 AM  Norman Huguet, Musselburgh Golf Club

  1   10:10 AM  Anthony Mackrell, Playsport Golf

  1   10:20 AM  Greg Paxton, Ralston Golf Club

  1   10:30 AM  Colin Gillies, Kingsfield Golf Range

  1   10:40 AM  Robert Arnott, Bishopbriggs Golf Range

  1   10:50 AM  Gavin Hay, Nairn Dunbar Golf Club

  1   11:00 AM  Scott Herald, Mearns Castle Golf Academy

  1   11:10 AM  Greig Hutcheon, Paul Lawrie Golf Centre

  1   11:20 AM  Stephen Gray, Hayston Golf Club

  1   11:30 AM  Scott Henderson, Kings Links Golf Centre

  1   11:40 AM  Christopher Robinson, Portpatrick Dunskey Golf Club

  1   11:50 AM  Mark King, Kingsfield Golf Range

  1   12:00 PM  Greg McBain, Kemnay Golf Club

  1   12:10 PM  Christopher Currie, Caldwell Golf Club

  1   12:20 PM  Graeme Brown, Montrose Golf Links Ltd.

  1   12:30 PM  Stewart Savage, Dalmuir Golf Club

  1   12:40 PM  Chris Kelly, Cawder Golf Club

  1   12:50 PM  Mark Kerr, Marriott Dalmahoy Golf & Count

  1   1:00 PM   Graham Fox, Clydeway Golf

  1   1:10 PM   Jonathan Lomas, Caprington Golf Club

  1   1:20 PM   Iain McNab, Dundonald Links

Complete information is available at Tournament Information Page (TIP)

BUSY TOURNAMENT TIME AT STONEHAVEN GOLF CLUB

FROM BRIAN LAWSON

Stonehaven GC Match Secretary

There is a lot happening at Stonehaven Golf Club next week. On Monday the 19^th through until the finals evening on Friday 23^rd of May Stonehaven will host the prestigious City of Aberdeen men's double foursomes for the Maitland Shield, sponsored by the Cults Hotel.

Stonehaven will  also host the Deeside League event, the Scott Trophy, on Sunday, May 25 with 12 teams from around the area invited to attend. Sandwiched between these two events is the annual Stonehaven men's open Texas Scramble on Saturday^, May 24 (team entry costs £40).

Any visitors wishing to play in the Texas Scramble  can do so by contacting Stonehaven Golf Club on 01569 766783 or the website www.stonehavengolfclub.com