Nobilo to replace retiring Oosterhuis as TV analyst

Frank Nobilo will be joining CBS Sports as a golf analyst for coverage of the Masters and US PGA Championship, as well as other selected events.
Nobilo, a 14-time worldwide winner as a player, will continue in his role as an analyst for Golf Channel, where he has been since 2002.
“Frank Nobilo is one of the most intelligent and engaging analysts in golf,” said CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus.
“His knowledge of the game and insight as a worldwide champion make him a perfect fit for CBS Sports’ golf coverage. We are proud to showcase the strongest ensemble of voices in golf.”
Nobilo is a native of New Zealand and is a three-time Presidents Cup team member.
Last week CBS Sports announced that veteran Peter Oosterhuis was 
retiring after 20 years as an analyst.

Allenby's animosity toward media misplaced

FROM GOLF.COM
By JASON SOBELL
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona– Robert Allenby appeared outraged, vindictive and spiteful in his first public comments since leaving Honolulu two weeks ago following an alleged attack that he says left him beaten and bloodied.
And he should be. Clearly something happened to him that night and clearly he doesn’t know what it was.
But here’s the part where it all gets confusing: Allenby didn’t show as much resentment toward those he says left him with facial lacerations and lingering headaches as he did against another group of people.
No, he instead seemed more irritated with the media.
When asked what’s most surprised him in the past 10 days, he responded, “I realised that I don't have any friends in the media. Maybe one. That's it. That's all I can say on that.”
That might be all he can say, but I’ve got a little more to add.
Members of the media aren’t supposed to be “friends” with those whose actitivies they report on. 
Can relationships be forged over time between people in each party? Of course. But if Allenby is condemning reporters for doing their jobs and not being more chummy with him in the reporting of this story, well, that’s a condemnation with which we can easily live.

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He didn’t stop there, either. Allenby held media reports accountable for labelling him as a culprit rather than the victim.
“I never lied to anyone,” he insisted. “I only told you what I knew and what someone had told me. That is the bottom line. From that, obviously the media have decided that they are the most amazing experts at investigations. 
"There is a reason why detectives in Honolulu are some of the best in the world. I think I'd really appreciate if we just let them do their job and maybe we could get to the bottom of it.”
It’s at this point that we should note two important dates on the timeline of events following the alleged attack.
On January 18, two days after the incident, he went on national television and told the story of his “kidnapping.” There was no blaming the media when he was using them to absolve himself of any wrongdoing.
And today he called a news conference for himself. It wasn’t mandatory. He scheduled this news conference to, in part, chastise/antagonise the media for doing its job – reporting the story of what might have happened that Friday night.
There remain plenty of curiosities in this story. What happened to Allenby during the two-hour, 21-minute period that he can’t remember? How did he receive those bruises? Who stole his credit card and is using it at retail stores around Honolulu?
Now we can add one more curiosity to that list, as Allenby appeared combative toward media members – having set up his own news conference to speak with them.

FROM BBC SPORTS.COM
Royal Troon Golf Club will undertake a "comprehensive review" of its male-only membership policy.
It follows September's decision by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews to end its single-sex policy.
Royal Troon has also announced it will share responsibility for hosting the 2016 Open Championship with the Ladies' Golf Club, Troon, by forming a joint championship committee.
The 2016 Open will be the ninth to be played at the Ayrshire course.
Royal Troon is one of three clubs on the Open Championship rota with a male-only membership policy.
The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which is based at Muirfield, is reviewing its membership criteria with a report to be completed by March 2015, while Royal St George's is "considering its position" on the matter.
Royal Troon has always considered itself a special case in this respect as it shares facilities - each has its own clubhouse - with the ladies' club whose members mainly play Royal Troon's No 2 course, Troon Portland.
But, in a statement, Troon said it will "undertake a comprehensive review to consider the most appropriate membership policy for the future" and added "the recommendations from this review will be presented to the membership for their consideration".

North-east Alliance tee times for Fraserburgh

8-15 C Cassie G. Leslie B. Harper R. Mason
8-23 A Smith A. Campbell C. Campbell G. Esson
8-31
8-39 H. Roulston, M Rendall, L Roger, P.Morrison
8-47
8-55
9-03 R. Stewart K. Duncan G. Craig C. Adam
9-11 A. Benton S. Davidson R. Brown M. Brown
9-19 M. Smith J. Duff
9-27 D. Mackay K. McGillivary, W. Beattie
9-35
9-43 M. Winton D. McDougal
9-51 T. Robertson D. Wright B. Lumsden G. McDonald
9-59 A. Gall L. Vannet I. Clark
10-07 B. Skene J. Scott R. McConnachie
10-15 L. Fowler D. Fleming
10-23 D. Lane, A. Clark R. Duncan
10-31 J. Hopwood, Miss K. Beveridge, K. Beveridge, Miss  L. Murray
10-39 G. Homer D. Leslie W. Shaw H. McNaughton
10-47 S. Allison R. Davidson G. Mackie
10-55 J. Duncan G. Milne A. Graham D. Nelson
11-03
11-11 J Borthwick N. K. Parker D. Buchan
11-19 J. Murray F. Bisset B. Murray S. Murray
11-27 J. Nicholson B. Nicolson S. Mackie
11-35 S. Finnie M. Booth D. McKay C. Duffus
11-43
11-51
11-59

Defibrillators gifted by St John Scotland to SGU and SLGA
 
SGU/SLGA NEWS RELEASE
Golf clubs across Scotland are set to reap the cost-saving benefits after St John Scotland (SJS), a national charity, agreed to gift a life-saving defibrillator device to all Scottish Golf Union (SGU) and Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association (SLGA) national event venues over the next three years.
Having approached the SGU last September, the unique deal has been struck to offer a defibrillator free to each of the golf club venues for SGU and SLGA national championships from 2015-17, as well as offering defibrillator training in advance of each event.
A scheme has also been agreed for other neighbouring clubs to attend the training and obtain their own defibrillator, typically priced around £1,000, from St John Scotland at a 50% discounted rate.
SJS, formed in 1947, is a Scottish charity dedicated to helping others through medical and rescue activities across Scotland and abroad. Through their support, better availability of defibrillators, and the necessary training, could lead to the lives of golfers across the country being saved.
Each year 100,000 people die from sudden cardiac arrest in the UK, causing more deaths than lung cancer, breast cancer and AIDs combined.  CPR and early defibrillation with an AED (automated external defibrillator) can increase sudden cardiac arrest survival from 5% to over 50%.
The importance of defibrillators was brought into sharp focus in August 2013 when the former Ryder Cup captain, Bernard Gallacher, collapsed during a dinner at a hotel on the outskirts of Aberdeen. Gallacher had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and it was only thanks to the hotel’s defibrillator and the immediate action of trained staff that he survived, before going on to make a full recover
Announcing the new partnership at the SGU Annual Conference in Stirling over the weekend, Sir Malcolm Ross, the Prior of St John Scotland, said: “As one of the country’s leading caring charities, it is our mission to improve the safety, health and quality of life of people in our communities.
“This might include tiny, sick babies in need of specialist care in the ambulance taking them to hospital, the seriously ill person who needs help getting to and from hospital for treatment, or the mountain rescue teams who risk their lives to go to the aid of others.
“Scotland’s golfing community is one of our most vibrant, but the course or the club can feel like a very isolated place to anyone who suffers a heart attack. Defibrillators will save lives and we are very proud to be working with the Scottish Golf Union and the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association to supply the equipment and the training which will make all the difference until the medics or paramedics can take over.”
Hamish Grey, chief executive of the Scottish Golf Union, added: “Thanks to the support of St John Scotland, we’re delighted each golf club venue in Scotland hosting a Scottish Golf Union or Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association national championship in 2015 will be gifted a defibrillator.
“The outcome will be significant cost-savings for golf clubs, positive golf club and community engagement and, above all else, could lead to the saving of lives at Scottish golf courses.”
Karin Sharp, Chief Operating Officer of the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association, said: “We look forward to working with St John Scotland over the next three years and thank them again for their support for the game in this country.”

 

Sandy Lyle first client on golf manager Gordon Sherry's books

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Gordon Sherry stayed up late as a 14-year-old to watch Sandy Lyle win The Masters in 1988 – then followed in his spikemarks by playing at Augusta National himself eight years later.
Now Sherry is still “living my Sandy Lyle dream” after becoming the two-time major winner’s new manager – the first client on the books of Goliath Sports Assets.
“Where do you think the name came from?” said a smiling Sherry in reference to it, having been inspired by his 6ft 8in frame.
 “All I need now is a David,” he added, having certainly landed a golfing Goliath to get his new venture up and running.
“The opportunity fell into my hands,” admitted the 40-year-old of Lyle, who was looking for new representation after leaving American-based ­Hambric Sports. 
“The great thing is that he’ll be able to help me as much as I can help him.
“It’s fantastic to be working with Sandy as he’s such a great guy. He was also my idol as a kid and I remember staying up to watch him win The Masters when I was 14, so I’m still living the dream by working with him now.”
Sherry was speaking during the Abu Dhabi Invitational at Yas Links, where Lyle, who starts his 2015 Champions Tour soon with back-to-back events in ­Florida, made an instant impression with his new manager.
The Ayrshireman said: “He’s not got a bad bone in his body and what has been interesting watching him out here is that he can’t do enough for the people he’s been playing with.

Time to stop paying stars tournament appearance money
FROM SKYSPORTS.COM
By EWEN MURRAY
I won't be popular for saying this, but I believe it's time to look at phasing out tournament appearance fees for the top players. In years gone by, I could understand why these inducements happened as a minority were in the upper bracket.
Today, players are maturing at a younger age. Practice facilities are superb, as are the fitness levels of the competitors. Add to that the business way they go about their chosen profession and their diligence in living their lives correctly, the upper echelon has increased in numbers and on any given week, any one of a hundred players are capable of winning. 
That was not the case a couple of decades ago.
The golf in Qatar was fantastic, as was the HSBC in Abu Dhabi the week before. You couldn't ask for more exciting events with many of the "unheralded" names producing excellence.
Would these tournaments have been poorer if some of the top players in the world ranking were not there?  
You will have your own thoughts on that. I understand sponsors want the very best fields they can have and after all, without sponsors, there are no tournaments.
Should appearance fees be paid to the best performers? I'm in the "no" category. 
They are the best players so they will win many tournaments and accumulate healthy prize money. That's the way it's been since the beginning of time and that's the way it will continue.
I'd like to see the sponsors get together and make payments to top names a thing of the past. If they all stuck together, they could put half of what they were going to pay in "sweeteners" into the prize fund. Let's say then, a 3million euro tournament would then become a 4million event. Then a 4million one would progress to a 5million one, and so on.
Some would say if you don't pay, 'you won't get the big names' and for a short spell, they would be correct. However, would the big names stay at home for long and not play? 
Many of their contracts are geared to where they finish in the world rankings. If they don't play, there are no points and they tumble down that list.
The four majors and four World Golf Championships have prize money of around £50m. The four events that make up the Final Series on the European Tour have a purse of over $30m and there is of course the FedEx Cup riches in the United States, along with first prizes that are regularly over a million dollars.
Add to that the BMW PGA Championship and the French Open and you have another £10m. That's impressive, healthy, and in my opinion, enough to be going on with. Some will say if we took this route in Europe, the big names would all take themselves to the US PGA Tour in America.
Yes they would, but only if they achieved the qualifying criteria. There is no qualifying school in the US now so starting from scratch, a year on the web.Com Tour is one route. But with bigger purses and enhanced events, why would that route appeal?
Another avenue is to achieve enough money from playing in US PGA Tour counting events to surpass a total of around three quarters of a million dollars. To do that, you have to play. Also, the top 20 or so in the world can't just play the majors. To be competitive in them, there is a need to play regularly.
Much is talked about the "silly season" when players go to obscure places with little or no world ranking points. 
The carrot is dangled and they do that solely for money. I'm fine with that, but it shouldn't be at a cost to the platinum and loyal sponsors we are fortunate to have.
Last year, some players were disappointed that to get their bonus at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, they had to play in three of the final four events which would be too tough a schedule, yet some of these players were seen in the weeks ahead flying all over the world chasing the dollar.
It's food for thought. With increased prize money, yet lower output for the sponsor, the big boys would, in time, play as often as they do now, the incentive for the next generation would increase, so would the competition and everyone would start on a level playing field.
My guess is this will not happen, but I think it could work and in the end it would benefit the game of golf both professionally and corporately.
Anyway, I'll leave that with you - back to the Gulf. The only thing missing from last week in Qatar was bigger crowds, but one must remember golf is still relatively new in this part of the world. In the years ahead, this evolving country will continue to grow at pace.
The football stadiums are well under construction ahead of the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Formula One comes to Qatar in the near future and many top sporting events are planned in the months and years ahead. Other golf courses are at the construction stage.
I'm now back in the United Arab Emirates for the 26th playing of the oldest event that makes up the trilogy that is the Desert Swing, the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. The Emirates course is, as always, looking splendid and if the last fortnight is anything to go by, we should be in for a grand four days in the City of Gold.
Look forward to your company on Thursday morning.

Watch Day 1 of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic live on Sky Sports 4 HD from 6am on Thursday morning.
From Sky Sports