Stephen Clark aims to be on

European Tour next year

Former United States college circuit player Stephen Clark is in Turkey this week for the TGI pro-am, having turned professional recently.

Stephen, born February 12, 1985, comes from Glasgow and was a student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

"I had a pretty succesful time there, winning three times on the college circuit and achieving several top 10 finishes," recalls Clark.

He became the first player in the school's history to become Conference Player of the Year and the first golfer in the school's history to be named Athlete of the Year for the university, an award which normally is won by a basketball of (American) footb all player.

"I turned pro recently and had my first top 10 finish at the Major Golf Pro-am at Archerfield. I will be playing on the 2010 EuroPro Tour with the goal of getting on the European Tour for 2011.

"Another big target for 2010 is to qualify for the Open at St Andrews. I have recently become attached to The Carrick on Loch Lomond as a playing professional. I have been up there practising the last couple of weeks and feel that the world class facilities there will help me develop as a player.

"During the winter I have been working with Simon Payne with my long game and since joining the team at the Carrick I have been working with their new Head of Instruction, Spencer Edwards who has a wealth of knowledge and experience teaching players on the European Tour."

+When Stephen turned pro he had an amateur handicap of +4 (When Nick Faldo and Padraig Harrington turned pro, they both were +2!).

+Stephen played for Scotland at boys and youths level and was in Scotland men's squads.

+He was four times Ralston Golf Club junior champion and four times Glasgow boys' champion.

Harrington makes move but Poulter has a painful day

FROM THE SCOTSMAN SPORT.COM WEBSITE
By Mark Garrod in Miami
Playing partners Ian Poulter and Padraig Harrington went in totally opposite directions in the second round of the WGC-CA Championship in Miami yesterday.
Harrington moved into contention on six-under-par following a four-under 68, four behind clubhouse leader Ernie Els in joint fifth place. But, three weeks on from his World Match Play victory, Poulter crashed to near last place with a 78 for 150 and then revealed that he had nearly quit the event because of a neck problem.
The pair finished their day's work just before play was held up briefly because of an approaching thunderstorm, officials having made a very wise move in bringing forward tee times by nearly three and a half hours.
South African Els, 40, added a 66 to his opening 68 to lead on 10-under-par 134 by one shot from Australian Robert Allenby who had a hole in one - the 14th of his career - at the 233yd 13th. Allenby finished with a 67 for 135.
Harrington's only 2009 success came in the non-Tour Irish PGA Championship, but he was making no promises about putting that right this weekend.
The Dubliner has dropped to 13th in the world with nothing better than a 16th place finish in four starts so far this season. With that in mind he said:
"I have a tradition that I don't normally win out of the blue. It's very rare. I normally warm up by getting into contention a few times. I'm happy with my scoring but I made a few mental errors out there and missed a few putts. Obviously, though, I hit enough good shots and I seemed to have a lot of reasonable chances for birdies."
His only dropped shot came after he hooked his drive into the lake on the treacherous 18th, his ninth of the day.
Poulter did the same, but for him it was one of seven bogeys.
"I nearly didn't play yesterday," said the world No 5. "My usual physio guy is in Australia so I had to get some treatment when I got to the course and as I went to practice I still wasn't sure I'd be playing."
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Blue Monster at Doral Golf Resort, Miami, Florida
Par 144 (2-71)
134 Ernie Els (South Africa) 68 66.
135 Robert Allenby (Australia) 68 67
136 Bill Haas 71 67.
137 Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 67 70.
138 Soren Hansen (Denmark) 69 69, Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 70 68.
139 Yuta Ikeda (Japan) 71 68, J B Holmes 69 70, Vijay Singh (Fiji) 68 71, Mike Weir (Canada) 73 66, Tim Clark (South Africa) 70 69, John Senden (Australia) 69 70.
140 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain) 72 68, Peter Hanson 74 66, Phil Mickelson 71 69, Camilo Villegas (Colombia) 72 68, Francesco Molinari (Italy) 69 71.
141 Alvaro Quiros (Spain) 72 69, Paul Casey (England) 69 72, Dustin Johnson 69 72, Wen-Chong Liang 72 69.
142 Alistair Presnell 72 70, Hunter Mahan 72 70, Steve Stricker 73 69, Matt Kuchar 71 71, Jason Dufner 73 69, Sean O'Hair 71 71, Lee Westwood (England) 74 68, Martin Kaymer (Germany) 70 72, Jerry Kelly 70 72, Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 74 68.
143 Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 72 71, Brian Gay 74 69, Adam Scott (Australia) 74 69, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 71 72.
144 David Toms 72 72, Lucas Glover 72 72, Anthony Kim 71 73.
145 Heath Slocum 74 71, Luke Donald (England) 70 75, Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) 73 72, Simon Dyson (England) 72 73, Y E Yang 73 72, Nick Watney 73 72, Ross Fisher (England) 73 73, Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 74 71.
146 Steve Marino 75 71, Zach Johnson 76 70, Sergio Garcia (Spain) 74 72, Anders Hansen 76 70, Edoardo Molinari (Italy) 72 74, Jim Furyk 70 76.
147 Ryan Palmer 79 68, Ben Crane 74 73, Kenny Perry 73 74, Ross McGowan (England) 76 71, Retief Goosen (South Africa) 76 71.
148 Kevin Na 78 70, Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 78 70, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 73 75, Scott Verplank 76 72.
149 Michael Sim (Australia) 75 74, Stewart Cink 75 74, Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 76 73.
150 Ian Poulter (England) 72 78.
151 Marc Leishman (Australia) 78 73.
152 Oliver Wilson (Engloand) 78 74, Soren Kjeldzen 74 78.

Tiger Woods' early comeback is on the cards

FROM THE BBC.CO.UK WEBSITE
Speculation is growing that Tiger Woods will make his return to competitive golf within the next few weeks.
The American world number one has not played since November when revelations about his marital infidelities began.
In February, Woods said he did not know when he would return, but he has been working out with his coach Hank Haney.
"If he wasn't going to play for six months, why would Hank be there?" said Australian pro Roger Allenby, a Florida neighbour of Woods.
"I look at that as maybe he's getting ready."
Woods announced in December that he was taking an indefinite break from golf to try and save his marriage to wife Elin Nordgren. The couple have two children.
In an apology for his conduct which was televised worldwide last month, he again said he did not know how long he would be away from the sport. But the New York Post, citing two unnamed "sources in the golf community," said on Thursday that Woods was preparing for a possible return at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando on March 25.
The newspaper also reported Woods had consulted Ari Fleischer, a former presidential adviser to George W Bush, on a strategy to manage his return.
The Bay Hill tournament is run by Woods' management company, International Management Group, but tournament director Scott Wellington said he has not heard from the player's agent, Mark Steinberg.
"At this point, we still don't know," he said. "Tiger has until next Friday to commit. But it was a busy day, for sure. We had a lot of calls, a lot of interest and we sold some tickets. It was interesting."
Woods has won at Bay Hill six times, from 2000-2003 and again in 2008 and 2009, and it is the only US PGA Tour event he has never missed since turning professional.
The first major championship of the year, the Masters at Augusta (April 8-11), also remains a likely venue for his return.
Augusta National is famed for its water-tight security, which means it would be next to impossible for the paparazzi to gain access to the course.
Speculation has also centered on the Tavistock Cup, a made-for-TV exhibition team event between PGA talent from rival Florida golf clubs Isleworth and Lake Nona.
Golfer Mark O'Meara, a friend and neighbour of Woods, fanned that flame this week when he told Golf Channel that he "wouldn't be surprised" to see Woods play in the March 22-23 competition.
Woods has represented Isleworth in the past, and the club is hosting the event this year, meaning he would not even have to leave the exclusive estate where he lives.
And Allenby added: "I hope he plays Tavistock Cup, because we need him on our team. And I hope he plays Bay Hill and then I hope he plays Augusta.
"He's the best golfer in the world and we want to play the best, (although) I'm definitely making more money when he's not playing."

Seve OK after falling off golf cart

Seve Ballesteros has fully recovered after falling off a golf cart and banging his head on the ground in his home town of Pedrena in northern Spain.
The three-time Open champion, 52, underwent hospital exams for four days before being discharged.
In 2008, Ballesteros underwent surgery after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Tiger resumes work with swing coach Haney

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
Tiger Woods's return to competitive golf has moved a step closer after it emerged that he has resumed work with his swing coach, Hank Haney.
According to reports in the United States, Haney travelled to Orlando, Florida last Sunday to recommence practice sessions with Woods near his Isleworth home.
Haney is one of Woods’ most trusted allies, having helped him win his last six Major championships, and the news that the pair have started working together again will intensify speculation that the world No 1’s return to the game could be imminent.
Woods has not played a tournament since crashing his car outside his home on November 27, an incident which sparked a lurid series of revelations about his extramarital affairs.
The American, who has been undergoing therapy, made a televised statement apologising for his behaviour last month, but refused to set a date for his return.
That prompted suggestions that Woods might not play again this year, but it now likely that his return could come much sooner.
He resumed practising last week and, while he will not take part in this week’s event at Doral, he could return at the Tavistock Cup, a two-day exhibition event at Isleworth which begins on March 22. Failing that, the Arnold Palmer Invitational begins at Bay Hill later that week.
The next Major, the Masters, starts on April 8 at Augusta, one of Woods' favourite venues.
It has also been suggested that Woods is considering whether to sack his caddie, Steve Williams, for speaking about his behaviour on television in his native New Zealand. Few would shed tears for the unpopular Kiwi if that happened.
Williams claimed he was angry at Woods and would have spoken up had he known about his affairs.

Ping wedges with square grooves banned from March 29

The 20-year-old Ping wedges with square grooves will no longer be allowed on the US PGA Tour, starting March 29 under an agreement reached with the Ping executives.
Ping chairman and chief executive John Solheim said today that Ping will waive its rights to a settlement that had kept the US PGA Tour from banning the deeper, wider grooves that no longer conform under new regulations.
Those wedges were allowed through a settlement in 1990 from when Ping sued the US PGA Tour and the US Golf Association.
Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan and Fred Couples were among players who had used the Ping wedges this year.

Winner Villegas now No 12 in World Rankings

Colombian Camilo Villegas moved up nine places to World Number 12 following his victory in the Honda Classic, where seven European Tour Members finished in the top ten.
Villegas finished on 13 under par 267 to win by five from Anthony Kim of America, with England’s Justin Rose claiming third, ahead of compatriot Paul Casey and Fiji’s Vijay Singh. All the top five players hold European Tour Membership.
Casey remains sixth in the World Ranking after his joint fourth finish and the only change in the top ten was Henrik Stenson moving up a spot to tenth. Geoff Ogilvy also edged up a place to 11th, ahead of Villegas, while Padraig Harrington dropped three places to 13th. Anthony Kim advanced to 26th, a climb of four places, the same move as Vijay Singh.
Among those competing in the Maybank Malaysian Open, Thongchai Jaidee moved up two places after finishing joint seventh, and Søren Hansen climbed five places to 45th, after finishing joint third. Teenager Noh-Seung-yul from Korea gained 136 places with his victory at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, moving up to 130th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

John Daly tries to Twitter his own back on golf writer

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
John Daly was so irritated that a Florida newspaper wrote about his US PGA Tour disciplinary file that he referred to the writer as a "jerk" on Twitter and posted the writer's mobile phone number for his followers to call.
The Florida Times-Union reported on Tuesday that the Daly file was now public record through the player's unsuccessful libel lawsuit against the newspaper. The file is 456 pages and notes that Daly has been suspended five times and cited 21 times for not giving his best effort.
"Here's the jerk who writes non-news article on debut of my show – call and flood his line and let's tell him how we feel," Daly said on Twitter, adding the cell phone number of golf writer Garry Smits.
The story appeared the day Daly's reality show made its debut on The Golf Channel.
Smits, the golf writer for the Florida Times-Union, said he received about 30 calls after a series of three tweets late Tuesday night, and nearly 100 calls by early Wednesday afternoon. Smits said most of the callers hung up, and about 30 left messages.
"His fans are very unhappy," Smits said.
Daly removed the tweets by mid-morning on Wednesday. Bud Martin, president of SFX World and Daly's agent, could not be reached for comment. The US PGA Tour would not comment on Daly's tweets.
"Over the haters – To me, this isn't journalism, it's paparazzi-like gossip. Please try harder to find some real news next time Gary," said Daly's second tweet.
It was followed by, "Gnight all but here's Gary Smits cell number in case you didn't get it ... non sports writer."
The US PGA Tour does not comment on player discipline, but it was forced to turn over Daly's file to attorneys for the newspaper's parent company when Daly sued for libel. The file is now public record.
The lawsuit was dismissed a year ago, and Daly was ordered to pay nearly $272,000 in legal fees.
The 456-page file includes several newspaper clippings and incidents that already have been reported during Daly's tumultuous career. It also included some startling numbers – he was placed on probation six times, ordered to go to counselling or alcohol rehab seven times, cited for conduct unbecoming a professional 11 times and fined nearly $100,000.
Daly has not had his full US PGA Tour card since 2006 and has been playing on sponsor exemptions.

Gatorade 'no longer sees a role for Tiger in our marketing efforts'

Gatorade, a non-alcoholic drink sold by PepsiCo Inc, means nothing on this side of the Atlantic but in the States it is HUGE.
Add Gatorade to the list of endorsement deals that Tiger Woods has lost.
A spokesperson for Gatorade confirmed late today that the company had ended its relationship with the golfer.
"We no longer see a role for Tiger in our marketing efforts and have ended our relationship," a Gatorade spokeswoman said. "We wish him all the best."
The spokeswoman said Gatorade would continue its relationship with the Tiger Woods Foundation.
Gatorade discontinued its Woods-brand drinks in November, a decision made before Woods' marital problems and infidelities became known.

Paul Casey gives $100,000 to Houston charity

Paul Casey promised to help a local charity after winning the Houston Open last year for his first US PGA Tour victory. Tournament officials discovered today that it was no idle small talk. The English Ryder Cup player was serious.
Casey and his wife, Jocelyn, are giving $100,000 to a charity through the Houston Golf Association, which runs the event. He will work with tournament director Steve Timms to figure out which charity gets the money.
Casey, a runner-up at the World Match-play Championship on Sunday in Arizona, flew to Houston to make the announcement and meet with the media about his title defence. He won last year in a play-off over J B Holmes.
The Houston Open is held from April 1-4.

Poulter v Casey in World Match-play final

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Paul Casey set up an all-English final against Ian Poulter at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship when he returned to Dove Mountain in Arizona and won his marathon duel with Camilo Villegas.
Five extra holes had failed to produce a winner last night, but on the resumption at 7.10am it took only one more for Casey to reach his second successive final in the event.
Runner-up to Australian Geoff Ogilvy last year, Casey triumphed with a par four on the 24th - the longest match of the week - after his Colombian opponent snap-hooked his drive.
Villegas did well to find it in the middle of the desert scrub and, although it was in a bush, he was able to hack it back onto the fairway.
While he hit his third to 30 feet beyond the flag Casey's approach came up short of the green, but he chipped to five feet and after Villegas missed he holed.
There was a possible difference of almost €580,000 between winning the semi-final and losing it.
If Casey then beat Poulter in the 36-hole final - it began almost immediately - he would earn over €890,000, whereas losing to Villegas would have sent him into an 18-hole third-place play-off against Sergio Garcia. Losing that would leave him with €311,712.
At stake between the two men handed wild cards into the last Ryder Cup by Nick Faldo was not just the money, but the World Number Five spot.
As soon as Casey had shaken hands with Villegas, the only player so far to take him past the 14th hole this week, he was taken in a buggy back to the practice putting green.
There he was met by Poulter, dressed all in pink, and they walked together to the first tee.
Villegas was left to rue a missed putt of under three feet in the fading light yesterday evening, but had to gather himself again to take on Garcia at lunchtime.

Ian Poulter through to final with big win over Sergio Garcia

Arizona semi-finalists struggle as desert weather worsens

FROM THE GOLFWEEK.COM WEBSITE
By Jim McCabe
MARANA, Arizona – We came to watch the Accenture Match Play Championship and the British Open broke out.
It might sound funny to you, but to those trying to compete here at Dove Mountain, it’s no laughing matter. With cold winds whipping at 20-25 miles per hour and a steady rain pounding down, it sure feels like Carnoustie.
But all the signage assures us we’re at the Accenture and all the cacti shows us that we haven’t left the desert. Until this morning, it had been a pristine week, warm temperatures and endless blue sky. Forget all that, however, because with the semifinals barely under way, play had to be halted.
With Sergio Garcia vs. Ian Poulter through two holes and Camilo Villegas vs. Paul Casey through one, players were put into vans, kept out on the course, and allowed to let the worst of the wind and driving rain blow by.
We’re back to golf here and while the wind has subsided, it’s still cold and wet.
It’s also ugly golf – though you can’t blame the players. Conditions are just brutal.
Garcia needed five strokes at the 445-yard, par-4 first – and still didn’t finish the hole. He conceded to Poulter, but coming along next, Casey could commiserate. The Englishman had made a birdie and three pars at the first in his previous matches, but against Villegas he made a double-bogey to fall 1 down.
Play isn’t getting any better, either.
At the 209-yard, par-3 third, Garcia shanked his shot dead right into water, while Poulter hooked his shot into a bunker 30 yards left of the green. He hit his second into another bunker, blasted on to 5 feet and won the hole, with a bogey.
Nasty stuff.
Gotta love it.
SCOREBOARD
QUARTER-FINALS
I Poulter bt T Jaidee 1 hole.
S Garcia bt O Wilson 4 and 3.
C Villegas bt R Goosen 4 and 3.
P Casey bt B Gay 5 and 4.
SEMI-FINALS
Poulter bt Garcia 7 and 6.
Villegas and Casey all square after 13 holes

Three English players in last eight in Arizona

Accenture World Match-play Championship Scoreboard
Dove Mountain, Tucson, Arizona

ROUND OF THE LAST 16

BOBBY JONES BRACKET
T Jaidee bt R Ishikawa 5 and 4.
I Poulter bt J M Singh 5 and 4.

BEN HOGAN BRACKET
S Garcia bt T Clark 2 and 1.
O Wilson bt L Donald at 19th.

GARY PLAYER BRACKET
R Goosen bt N Watney 1 hole.
C Villegas bt B Crane 3 and 2

SAM SNEAD BRACKET
S Cink bt C Schwartzel at 19th.
P Casey bt B Gay 5 and 4.

World-class control freak Tiger is picking

-

up again where he left off ... in charge

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
By Michael Bamberger, Senior Writer, Sports Illustrated
Tiger Woods' people have made an announcement: On Friday at 11 am (local time) he will conduct a non-press conference!
Woods is expected to discuss his future plans, and to say something about his "indiscretions,” likely in the gentlemanly terms suitable for the setting, the obscene 77,000-square-foot clubhouse, with its baronial fireplaces and framed artwork, of the TPC Sawgrass, at the PGA Tour's headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Woods's agent, Mark Steinberg of IMG — yep, still on the scene — told the AP that "a small group of friends, colleagues and close associates” will join Woods, and that a half-dozen reporters will be allowed to attend the non-press conference. But there will be no questions.
Got that Vartan Kupelian? Kupelian came by his invite to the non-press conference by virtue of his position as the president of the Golf Writers Association of America. One peep and you're out, kid.

Now, it so happens, Kupelian writes for the Detroit News, where he's been since ‘71, meaning his job is to report about Tiger's recent past and future plans for a readership in a city that has 28 percent unemployment. Kupelian might have some insight into what his readers want to know about Tiger's mindset. He might have some good questions to ask. Not now, Vartan. You'll be told the appropriate time for that. (That is, never.)
Tiger Woods is a world-class control freak, and in his re-entry into public life — which has showered him with wealth and opportunities and trappings that we can only imagine — he is picking up right where he left off. He controls all. He's the same way with his golf ball. He tells it exactly what he wants it to do.
A guess is that Tiger is very angry. Angry at the National Enquirer for breaking the story of his infidelity. Angry at NBC — one of the Tour's most reliable media partners! — for trotting out one of his babes on the Today show with golf buff Matt Lauer. Angry at the mainstream golf press for writing oh-that-Tiger-is-a-fraud stories.
(Yes, it's possible that he'll do something totally radical, announce his retirement or something like that. But would he go to PGA Tour HQ to do it? Doubtful.)
And you know what he'll do with that anger? He'll take it out on his golf ball, whether he's at Arnold Palmer's tournament at Bay Hill in March, the Masters in April, the Players in May, the U.S. Open in June, the British Open in July or the PGA Championship in August. Come September, when the American Ryder Cup team jets off to Wales for a nothing-but-pride team competition? The guess here is he'll be back on hiatus. Of those tournaments how many could he win? Pick a number between one and five.
Another guess is that Woods will do everything he possibly can to keep his marriage to Elin, and to keep his young son and daughter all under one roof. Woods reportedly spent nearly half of his three months in seclusion in a clinic in Hattiesburg, Miss., that specializes in sex addiction. Like other world-class athletes — the elites of the elite — Woods never acknowledges any vulnerabilities. It seems unthinkable that he would actually consider himself to be a sex addict. What is realistic is that he would spend five weeks or so in therapy because his wife felt that was a necessary starting point to reclaiming their marriage.
One more guess for what Woods might say at his non-press conference on Friday, in front of his small group of friends, colleagues, close associates — and the half-dozen seen-but-not-heard reporters He will be seriously cutting back on his off-course activities. (Note to self: Avoid bad joke here)

Some sponsors have cut him loose or reduced his role. Woods will take that in stride and devote more time to his family and to his foundation. The most impressive thing Woods ever said came in 2006, at the opening of the Tiger Woods Learning Center in Anaheim, near his boyhood home. He called it the single most important thing he'd ever done. Bill Clinton was standing at his side. Clinton got his second act. Woods will, too. He'll win tournaments, money will come flowing in again and everybody will feel good.
But in the meantime, he's getting off on the weakest of notes, with this non-press conference in a ridiculous palace that pays homage to all the excessiveness Tiger's gaudy Phase I brought. On his first step back, he's showing that he has all the cards, and you and I and all the people who like golf and are fascinated by what he's done in the game, well, we have none. Don't blame Steinberg for this move and don't blame the high-priced polo shirts at the PGA Tour.

This move has Tiger Woods written all over it.
Arnold Palmer played for his fans, but Woods never has, and nothing's likely to change. It's arrogant and offputting, the whole idea of this most public of people, one of the best known faces in the world, stepping back into public life without taking so much as a question.
It's also brilliant. He's reminding us, and his opponents, too: he's still in charge.

Any comments? You can E-mail them to Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Tiger to talk on Friday: Choice of date may be

getting own back on ex-sponsors Accenture

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By MARK REASON
Tiger Woods will make a public statement at the US PGA tour's headquarters in Florida on Friday morning.
It will be the first time the world has heard from Woods since he went into hiding following his car crash at the end of November last year and the subsequent revelations of his extensive sex life.
A message from Woods's management company said: "Tiger Woods will be speaking to a small group of friends, colleagues and close associates at 11:00am EST Friday at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Tiger plans to discuss his past and his future and he plans to apologise for his behavior."
It seems strange that the US PGA should sanction such a 'conference' in the middle of a World Golf Championship event. The Woods' statement will immediately suck publicity out of the Accenture Match Play Championship, currently taking place in Arizona and the sponsors will be justifiably furious.
Accenture used to sponsor Woods, but were among the first to pull out following the scandal. Is this Woods getting back at them? The thought certainly occurred to Rory McIlroy after he had completed a brilliant comeback victory over Kevin Na in the first round of the Accenture.
McIlroy said: "I suppose he (Tiger) might want to get something back at the sponsors. He's got to come back at some point. It's just gone on for so long. I'm sick of hearing about it and I'm looking forward to when he's coming back on the golf course."
How the world has changed in a year. Twelve months ago McIlroy was a kid making his debut on the big American Tour and Woods was making his return to competitive golf at the Accenture Match Play after undergoing knee surgery.
On Friday Tiger will make another return, but in staggeringly different circumstances.
The old Accenture advertisement showed Tiger looking down at his ball among the rocks, with the strap line: "It's what you do next that counts." It seems that Tiger is now going to throw Accenture's own line back at them.
The players are unlikely to be amused. Last month Geoff Ogilvy, the defending champion this week, urged Woods to make a public appearance before making his tournament return. That way, said Ogilvy, the tournament at which he returns would be less of a "circus."
It appears that Tiger has taken Ogilvy's advice, but only up to an extent. Woods is making a public appearance before his tournament return, but it is one that will detract from this week's tournament.
The brilliant start made by English golfers at the Accenture was almost buried by the news of Tiger's return - almost, but not quite. Luke Donald was the first to come in with a 2 and 1 victory over Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, a win that included no fewer than eight birdies.
McDowell said afterwards: "I ran into a buzz saw. Every time I had a sniff of a chance, he made a great putt. He is unbelievable with the wedges and the putter. He's old school. I like the way he plays, I have a lot of respect for his game, he's a fabulous player."
As morning turned to afternoon Paul Casey, last year's runner-up, concluded a 5 and 4 dusting of Stephen Ames, Oliver Wilson beat Miguel Angel Jimenez by 4 and 2 and Ian Poulter won a colossal match against Justin Leonard on the first extra hole.
Poulter had come back from a two-hole deficit to take a one-hole lead going up the 18th, but then Leonard birdied to take the match into extra time. As Poulter walked off the 18th green he said: "That was silly, Arsenal are kicking off in ten minutes." He needed a speedy birdie and he got it.
Casey will next play Mike Weir who had a stunning win over Spain's Alvaro Quiros, the Canadian left-hander birdieing nine of his first 10 holes. Casey said: "I hope he watches the Olympics tonight and gets tired."
Sweden's Henrik Stenson, winner of the title in 2007, conceded his first-round match after only one-hole to American Ben Crane. Stenson felt like death warmed up - flu-like symptoms - but played one hole to see if the fresh air made him feel any better. He didn't - and conceded.
Crane continued to play the course on his own - a familiarisation jaunt. Even if Stenson had withdrawn before starting the match, Crane would have advanced unchallenged to the second round because none of the alternates (reserves) had gone to Arizona.

Bransdon leads Victoria PGA title race at halfway

In yet another day of amazing scoring around the Sandhurst North Course, Alistair Presnell has shot the low round of the Cellarbrations Victorian PGA Champioship, Australia so far, firing a seven under 65 to leap up the leaderboard.
Presnell, whose last victory was at the 2009 Moonah Classic, came out firing this morning determined to build upon his relatively slow start to the tournament yesterday.
Getting out early at 7.30am Presnell fired 10 birdies throughout his round.
However with three bogeys also scattered throughout his round the 32-year-old was left wondering what might have been.
Presnell's round 0f 65 was later matched by David Brandson who took over the 36-hole lead on 12-under-par 132.
Presnell is at eight-under 136 and only two shots behind Kurt Barnes, Gareth Paddison and Anthony Brown who share second place, two strokes off the lead.
The current course record for the Sandhurst North Course is 63 and is held by Craig Scott.
Scott currently sits in outright fifth on the leaderboard at nine-under 135.
LEADING SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
132 David Bransdon 67 65.
134 Kurt Barnes 67 67, Anthony Brown 68 66, Gareth Paddison 66 68.
135 Craig Scott 67 68.
136 Stephen Allan 69 67, Martin Doyle 67 69, Steven Jones 66 70, Andrew Martin 67 69, Alistair Presnell 71 65.

Lothians-based pro furthering his golfing education

David Armitage at top club in Orlando

in quest for 'Masters' status

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
A Lothians-based golf professional is spending the next few weeks at the exclusive club in Orlando where Tiger Woods practises in a bid to help him earn a place in the record books.
David Armitage, the director of golf/head professional at The Renaissance Club just outside Gullane, has made the trip to Isleworth to further his golfing education as he attempts to gain 'Master PGA professional' status.
The 28-year-old, pictured, who has been at The Renaissance since it opened in 2008, is playing in the Isleworth Invitational Pro-Am this week and will be involved in the running of the Tavistock Cup as he shadows the club's General Manager and Director of Golf over the coming weeks.
"I believe that the golf industry is getting tougher and tougher and therefore want to keep learning to keep ahead of the game," said Armitage, who started his professional career as an assistant at the Old Course Hotel and Duke's Course at St Andrews and had a spell at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin before returning to Fife to become the senior instructor at the St Andrews Links Golf Academy.
"I learned very early on that the winters in Scotland are very quiet and can be bleak so decided this would be a great time to further my education and experience. Each winter I set myself goals to enable me to come into the season with more experience.
"Despite my tender age within the golf industry, I feel I have a wealth of experience which has helped me extremely in my present positions, but I am always aware of the traditions of the game which are very important to me."
Isleworth is one of the most successful private clubs in the United States. Renowned for its exclusivity and service, it is home to more US Tour players than any other single club in the country.
"I have a specific role within the running of the Tavistock Cup, which is a televised match between Lake Nona and Isleworth that takes place in March each year, alternating home and away venues," added Armitage, who went to the PGA Show in Orlando last week to attend various seminars as well as look at future brands for The Renaissance.
"Both clubs are owned by Joe Lewis and I think my experience at this type of club would be unique and give me great insight into the running of a successful private operation. Completing my advanced certification of the USA PGA will allow me to complete my Masters in the following years and I aim to become the youngest Master PGA professional in the USA. I am also planning to complete it in the UK."

McIlroy sets himself a major goal within four years

FROM THE IRISHTIMES.COM WEBSITE
World number nine Rory McIlroy is targeting a major victory within four years. Twelve months ago the Holywood (Belfast) star was aged 19 years and 273 days when he landed his first European Tour title by winning the Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club.
Since then McIlroy has collected 11 top-10 finishes on the circuit, including eight in his last nine events, and was second to Lee Westwood in last season’s Race to Dubai money-list.
"I am gaining experience every year and by the time I'm 24, 25 I will have played in 20, 25 majors ... so hopefully by then I should know how to finish them off," said McIlroy in reference to winning majors.
"That's the ultimate goal ... to win a major championship and try and become the best player I can be."
McIlroy said he had learnt a great deal since making his Dubai breakthrough.
"I've gained a lot of experience since I won here last year and I've put myself in a lot of great positions to win golf tournaments," added the 20-year-old ahead of defending his title at the Emirates this week.
"I haven't quite finished them off but I've learnt from those experiences and feel as if I'm a more-rounded player. I feel as if when I get myself into those positions now that I feel a lot more comfortable in final rounds and final groups."
McIlroy burst on to the international scene in the 2007 Open at Carnoustie where he finished as leading amateur when Pádraig Harrington claimed his first major. Since then his best display in a major was a share of third place in last year's US PGA Championship.
"When I look back on the last 12 months it has been very satisfactory," he said. "It was a year when everything was new to me. The majors were new and the World Golf Championships were new and I felt as if I handled it pretty well. I've gained a lot of experience in them and I feel the experience will help me a lot this year and hopefully I'll perform even better in them." McIlroy begins the defence of his Dubai title on Thursday and is joined by fellow Irishmen; Shane Lowry, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Michael Hoey and Gareth Maybin.
Stephen Deane is the ninth Irishman in the field after the Co Down native, who is one of the resident teaching pros at the Emirates Golf Club, won the UAE regional qualifying open.
McIlroy also told the Associated Press today that he wants golf authorities to reconsider their new regulations on the shape of grooves in clubheads.
"I don't see why they don't firm greens up and get the rough longer to bring scores down (Editor: I think he means push the scores up). They can make golf courses a lot tougher and turn 20-under winning scores into 12 under."
The USGA and The Royal & Ancient in January introduced rules designed to prevent tour professionals from putting excessive spin on golf balls when playing out of long, rough grass.
The measures have been greeted with mixed reactions and confusion on the US PGA and European Tours. Phil Mickelson has found a way around the ban on "U"-shaped grooves by playing with a 20-year-old Ping wedge.
US Tour player Scott McCarron has claimed that it's "cheating" to use them.
The new regulation shrinks the volume and softens the edges of the club head grooves. Mickelson was among at least four players at Torrey Pines last week who used the Ping wedges, which have square grooves.
The Ping wedges made before April 1, 1990, are approved for competition because of a 1990 settlement from Ping's lawsuit against the USGA.
McIlroy says he would prefer other ways to make golf more difficult rather than tampering with club design.
But the 20-year-old acknowledged that more difficult scoring conditions at professional tournaments could cause golf to lose some spectator appeal.
"When I turn on the TV and I am watching a tournament, I don't like to see guys struggling for pars all the time," he said. "I think people like to see birdies as well."

More on the "Is Michael Sim a Scot" great debate

E-mail from Euan MacKinnon

Colin,
Scottishgolfview.com asked if it annoyed any of its readers that it was proud of Michael Sim's Scottish roots (following an E-mail from Stan Drews that it was time to recognise that he has become an Australian).
Indeed it does not. Last year I watched via your site with excitement and pride as Michael played so well on the Nationwide Tour and shared the disappointment, probably along with many others, that due to the Play-Offs etc he got so few PGA Tour starts.
Your site (and Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk) provides me with so much comprehensive information, all in one place, that it has become my primary source for golf news.
In my opinion that, along with your title Scottishgolfview entitles you to some editorial freedom, including phraseology and comment that I can either agree or disagree with.
In general I abhor society's apparent need to label and categorise everything and everyone.
In Michael's case he potentially will have to categorise himself. Does he feel like he is a young Aberdonian who moved with his family to Australia, taking up golf there and rising up through their amateur system until he was able to gain firstly membership of the Nationwide and ultimately the US PGA Tour itself?
In the last couple of years he will have mainly domiciled in the US but underneath all he is a Scot.
On the other hand, does Michael feel his place of birth is largely irrelevant. He learned his golf in Australia, played his amateur golf there and feels Australian.
What is most important is Michael must choose for himself. Maybe our Editor can ask him this question!
Why? Well if Michael continues to progress at this rate, he will have to choose whether to play in the Ryder or President's Cup!
Finally, whether Scot or Aussie, it is great to see a young man breaking through into golf's elite and I am excited at the prospect of following Michael over the next few years, courtesy of Scottishgolfview.com
Euan MacKinnon

E-mail No 2 from Stan Drews (the man who started the debate!)

Colin,
I can assure you Michael Sim is proud of his Aberdonian roots and he is also a Scot by birth - why did his parents not tell him to represent Scotland as a professional then?
My point is he has elected to represent Australia as a professional golfer so could never play in a Ryder Cup or represent Scotland in a tournament like the old Dunhill Cup or the Omega World Team Championships played last year in China.
I do hope he makes the Open at St Andrews.
I think he will qualify automatically if he keeps up this early season form.
Stan Drews

E-mail from Michael's father, George Sim in Australia

Colin,
Everyone is entitled to an opinion and it is good to see some healthy debate on the subject. We are really pleased that Michael has had a good start to the PGA tour. Susan and I are going to the Masters in April and have rented a house near St Andrews for the Open. We will have family and friends turning up at the Open in good numbers to support Michael.
George Sim

Tom Watson tells Tiger, clean up your act on and off the course

FROM THE PGA.COM WEBSITE
Tom Watson has joined the litany of US Tour players chiming in on Tiger’s matrimonial disharmony and eventual return to the game, and he told Kansas City's NBC Action News that the world’s No. 1 golfer doesn’t just need to work on his behaviour at home.
After describing Woods’s current personal fiasco as “bad for our game,” and “something that he needs to get control of,” the eight-time major winner took a shot at some of Tiger’s ungentlemanly conduct on the course.
“His swearing and his club throwing, that should end,” said Watson. "That’s not part of what we want to project as far as the professional golf tour is concerned.”
This is not the first time the Kansas City native has taken Tiger to task on his manners. In September, Watson admitted that he dropped Woods a note about his behaviour at some point last summer, although Watson described the letter as “personal," and wouldn’t share the details at that time.

Stenson to spend more time Stateside

World number eight Henrik Stenson has defended his decision to rejoin the US PGA Tour this year. The Swede first joined the US PGA Tour in 2007 but let his membership lapse in 2008 and 2009.
Now he has rejoined the US PGA Tour, indicating he will contest the minimum 15 events while also satisfying European Tour membership by playing 12 Race to Dubai-counting tournaments.
"I've taken up membership this season so I will spend most of the spring and summer in America until the later part of the season," Stenson told reporters on the eve of the Qatar Masters.
"There were a couple of different reasons but family-wise it's convenient to be based over there and have the family in the States and also, all of the big events are in America, from the Accenture Match Play (next month) until the US Open (in June).
"I felt it was time to take up membership again. Great tournaments, great weather and great competition so it's got a lot going for it but obviously Europe is still my home tour and I'll be making a few visits here and there," said the 33-year-old.
Stenson, who has joined Rory McIlroy by committing to the 2010 US PGA Tour, is among nine of the world's top-20 playing in Qatar this week.
World number 13 Kenny Perry is also in the field and has called on Tiger Woods to end his self-imposed exile from golf.
Woods is taking an indefinite break from the sport after admitting last month he had cheated on his wife.
"Tiger needs to come back for himself rather than his golf and when he does I'm going to give him a hug and shake his hand and tell him if he needs to talk or if I can help in any way, I will," Perry told reporters on the eve of the Qatar Masters.
"Tiger needs to come back as, you know, we (in golf) are his family too . . . if he comes back to us I'm sure he'll get a lot of support from the players, I really do."
After being heavily criticised for skipping the 2008 Open, Perry indicated he would compete in July's edition at St Andrews.
"I really got crucified when I elected not to contest the 2008 British Open," he said."But I finished sixth in Milwaukee and I was able to accomplish my goal and make the Ryder Cup team.
"My whole life has been in America, now I'm comfortable with my life and I want to see the world a little bit. It's a great opportunity for me to come over here and see what it's all about and I'm pleasantly surprised."

Paul Lawrie goes back to Wilson Staff clubs

FROM THE PGA.COM WEBSITE
CHICAGO -- Wilson Golf has signed Paul Lawrie as its latest Wilson Staff Advisory Member, company officials have announced. Lawrie is a former Open champion and Ryder Cup player who will join three-time major winner Padraig Harrington as a Wilson Staff European golfer with a major title to his name.
Lawrie will use Wilson clubs in tournament play and will promote the Wilson Golf brand globally. Both players share the same coach, Bob Torrance, as well as the venue of their first major win: the daunting links at Carnoustie.
Lawrie, 41, is a Scotland native and will play on the European Tour with the latest Wilson Staff FG Tour irons and Tw9 wedges. He will wear a branded Wilson Staff cap and carry a Wilson Staff-branded bag and umbrella.
In 1993, Lawrie first signed with Wilson and, with Wilson irons in his bag, won the 1999 British Open, coming from 10 shots back with a final round of 67. He used a Wilson 4-iron on the 17th and 18th holes and won a play-off with Jean Van de Velde and Justin Leonard.
Lawrie enjoyed a high-scoring debut (3.5 points) for Europe in the 1999 Ryder Cup at The Country Club. He also captured the inaugural Dunhill Links Championship in 2001.
"I'm delighted to be back playing with Wilson Staff clubs and believe my game will benefit from using them in the months ahead," said Lawrie.
"I really like the feel of the new FG Tour irons which I've been playing with since last August, and the Tw9 wedges are just outstanding."
Other Wilson Staff Advisory Members include England's Anthony Wall, Spain's Jose Manuel Lara, Fredrik Ohlsson of Sweden and American Ricky Barnes.

Verdura Spa & Golf Resort's sixth green with the Mediterranean providing the blue background.

......................................The approach to the 18th green at Verdura Spa & Golf Resort.

Niall Cameron Director of Golf Operations at

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Verdura Spa & Golf Resort in Sicily

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By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Some people have all the luck! Glasgow-born Niall Cameron, now 50, is Director of Golf Operations at Verdura Spa & Golf Resort in Sicily, Italy. Has been in this plum job since July 2008.

But, to be fair, luck does not have much to do with Cameron's success. Being in the right place at the right time is not Niall's secret as he has built up an impressive international CV.

As you can read below, it stretches from winter work as a young assistant professional to Bob Jamieson at Turnberry on Arnold Palmer's course at Bay Hill Club, Orlando to designing and building a course at Marrakesh, Morocco and working with course architect Kyle Phillips (of Kingsbarns fame) over the last 15 months of the Verdura project.

"I have a low boredom threshold and I have been able to change direction in my career several times and consider myself very lucky to have been able to do so," says Niall, pictured above.

Cameron has also been lucky in love. He married Fiona Alcorn in 1987 and they have two sons. The elder, Alasdair (19) is a student at Aberdeen University and the younger, Robbie (18) is sitting A Levels this year.

Niall and Fiona must have made a formidable mixed foursomes pairing at their peak. She still has two of a handicap and is a past club champion at Cardross Golf Club and three times women's of Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Deal in Kent.

So let's have a look at Niall Cameron's CV:

Born Glasgow 1959
Brought up from age of four at Turnberry. Family lived opposite the first fairway.
Became assistant to Bob Jamieson, the head pro at Turnberry.
1977-82: Five years winter work arrangement at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Florida. There Niall acquired early knowledge about golf course agronomy which would later be developed.
Scottish assistants champion at Prestwick 1979. Played in Open Championship at Muirfield 1980.
British PGA 'Trainee of the Year' 1980 and winner of the Scottish equivalent 'Stuart Thom' Award 1980.
1981-82 Played European Tour.
1983-84 Club pro at Tenby, South Wales.
1984-88 Cardross GC head pro.
1988-95 Head pro at Royal St George’s, Sandwich (Greg Norman’s 1993 Open win there during tenure).

1995 to 2008 Worked at Lyford Cay, Nassau, Bahamas for 13 years, having been approached by New York Search Company for Director of Golf position.
Worked closely with the Bahamian Golf Federation to further golf especially to the BGF Junior programme. In charge of all golf aspects including retail, golf cart operation, caddy programme, golf services, tuition and tournament schedules , corporate golf business and course agronomy. Oversaw direct staff of 56.

2004-05 Designed and built course in Marrakesh, Morocco www.assoufid.com Scheduled to open November 2010 and the Assoufid Hotel will be managed by the Rocco Forte Collection http://www.roccofortecollection.com/ Due to open 2011.

July 2008- Director of Golf Operations at Verdura Golf & Spa Resort Sicily. Worked with course designer Kyle Phillips over last 15 months before course opened to ensure final course construction was carried out to specification.

Oversaw the 'grow-in' of the 45 holes and extensive practice facilities. Conducted staff search and placement, all pre-opening procedures, wrote Operation Manual etc.

Oversee a staff of 49.

Niall and Fiona Cameron with their sons Alasdair (left) and Robbie (right) at a recent wedding in Scotland.

KIWI GOING DOWN ... No 1

Slump does not worry Danny Lee

... dismisses the need for a coach

FROM THE STUFF.CO.NZ WEBSITE

A retreat from the US PGA Tour to the European version, a putting catastrophe at the cathedral of golf in Augusta and another missed cut overnight to add to a terrible start to 2010.
Welcome to the world of Danny Lee, the supposed next big thing of international golf – a fair statement too, after the teenager wiped Tiger Woods out of the history books as the youngest US amateur championship winner.
But after a duffed professional debut on tour, with only one top 10 finish and six missed cuts out of 12 tournaments, Lee lost the right to play with the big boys in America. Lee is picture above in happier trophy-winnng days.
Vowing to return with a solid season in Europe, his fightback is off to the worst possible start with Lee yet to make a cut, his latest failure coming last Friday when he failed to advance beyond the second round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
This is not the scenario many anticipated for a young man frequently mentioned worldwide alongside precocious 20-year-old Irishman Rory McIlroy as the new kids Tiger and company need to fear in the new decade.
Not that Lee gives any impression that things are not on track.
In fact, his first major media interview for the year was remarkable for the supreme confidence the 19-year-old Lee has in himself.
"My game's good and I can make it back," he told Sunday News from Dubai.
"I always dreamed about playing on the US PGA Tour and last year it finally came true. But I wasn't good enough to make this year's card. It was tougher than I thought. I think it's hard to manage the schedule."
Despite being a full-time member of the European Tour, Lee continues to live in Dallas, facing hefty commutes to Africa and the Middle East already this month. Even odder is Lee's admission to Sunday News that Dallas "doesn't really feel like home".
Asked why he hasn't relocated, Lee said: "I haven't really thought about it." Unusual? Yes. But then comes the downright bizarre.
While the world's best players Phil Mickelson, and Lee's self-confessed hero, Tiger Woods, put their careers in the hands of world-renowned swing gurus Butch Harmon and Hank Haney, the struggling young Kiwi dismisses the need for a coach.
"Hearing lots of information from lots of people, always thinking about your swing – it messes with my head. I don't think it's worth it.
"I think coaching yourself is the best way to do it, not thinking too much."

A rude awakening surely awaits such a naive stance, and should Lee's poor form continue much longer, persuasion to reconsider will be essential to prevent him slipping into oblivion.
The image of Lee waving the New Zealand flag on the green at Pinehurst after victory over Drew Kittleson seems a distant memory. Since winning the US amateur little over a year ago Lee's had little to celebrate on the fairways.
A dream appearance at Augusta National, arguably the world's most prestigious course, quickly turned into a nightmare when Lee took a record-high quintuple bogey 9 to complete the par 4 10th hole at the 2009 US Masters.
In his first three tournaments this year, Lee has failed to make the cut. "My game's really good at the moment, I'm confident about the year ahead," he said.
"You've got to be yourself and not listen to other people too much. Michael Campbell has helped me a lot and he told me the same thing, you've got to be yourself."
But while Lee struggles to match his billing, other hotly-tipped young-guns like Rory McIlroy and Ryo Ishikawa go from strength-to-strength on the world stage.
Ultimately, golfers are judged on their performance in the season's four majors, the US Masters, US Open, British Open and USPGA Championship.
Lee faces an uphill task to qualify.
"If I play well in Europe my world ranking will go up and I'll have a good chance," Lee said.
Currently weighing in at 147th in the world, Lee needs to get his skates on if he is to make the US Masters in April and revisit the scene of his infamous six-putt at Augusta National.

KIWI GOING DOWN ... No 2

Michael Campbell, the 2005 US

Open champion's free fall continues

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FROM STUFF.CO.NZ WEBSITE
From United States Open champion in 2005 down to a player who missed the cut in 17 events on the European Tour last year ... and again in the Abu Dhabi Championship this past week.That's the free fall from a place in the sun to the golfing pits that has beset popular New Zealander Michael Campbell whose surname supports his theory that a century or two ago his forefathers came from Scotland.
Campbell, pictured with the US Open championship trophy in 2005, says he has seriously considered quitting professional golf but the only thing holding him back is that he would have nothing else to do.
Campbell's new season began horribly when he signed for an 11-over par 83 on day one of the Abu Dhabi European Tour event last Thursday, the worst score of any player over the four rounds.
Campbell scored 77 on the second day to miss the halfway cut in the first event of his 18th season in the pro ranks.
Disappointingly, his scoring display in the UAE capital continued an embarrassing downturn in form for the 2005 US Open champion who either missed the cut or was forced to withdraw in 17 of 21 events he contested on the European Tour last year.
Campbell's 249th overall standing on the 2009 money list was his lowest since joining the European Tour full time in 1995 while his earnings of €19,655 ($NZ38,545 ) was also the poorest of his career.
This year will mark an important point in his career as some of the exemptions for winning the US Open will expire, including April's US Masters and July's Open at St Andrews.
Campbell will drive down Magnolia Lane for what could be his last-ever Augusta appearance, knowing he has never played all four rounds in nine appearances.
But that was of little concern to 40-year old.
"I just don't know what is going on as it's like there are two Michael Campbells at a golf tournament these days," he said.
"On the practice range my game is fine and I am hitting balls perfectly but when I get onto a golf course I just tighten up. I just can't bring it from the practice range to the first tee.
"Maybe it's the expectations of trying too hard because I can feel myself tightening-up on the golf course.
"But what I do know is that it has been a horrible rut over the last two to three years. I've been through this before, so I have some idea what it's like but hopefully this will be the last time.
"I know that my peers are feeling for me and I've got a lot of support from other people but it's up to me, really.
"The lows of my career have always been very, very low but then my highs have always been very high so there has never been any happy medium for me unfortunately.
"I've even thought about quitting but what am I going to do with myself?"
"I've accomplished a lot in my life that I get in a comfort zone, take it easy, stop practising, don't go to the gym to work out and that sort of things.
"It's almost like I am doing it on purpose to get away from the limelight but now I miss it. Though not so much the limelight but just winning golf tournaments ."
Two people Campbell has spoken with have been fellow New Zealander Steve Williams, who caddies for Tiger Woods, and fellow US Open winner Ernie Els.
"I was chatting with Steve Williams towards the later part of last year at a tournament somewhere and he suggested I should try to be more aggressive when I am playing poorly," said Campbell.
"That's a strong aspect of Tiger's make-up when he is not playing that great. So sometimes when you get defensive, Steve said you can become more negative.
"When I spoke to Ernie all he said he (when in the doldrums) was trying to do was break 40 for nine holes and that's how low he got.
"So having very low expectations helped him come through that period of his career and to start winning again.
"So that was a nice little tip from Ernie but I'm trying to soak-up information as I can and filter out what I feel will work for me.
"But while they have been helpful it's up to me to choose my path. I know whatever it is can be fixed very easy so here's hoping."
Campbell said he would resume working with Belgian-born sports psychologist Josh Vanstiphout at this week's Qatar Masters in Doha.

+Australian Ian Baker-Finch, winner of the Open at Royal Birkdale in 1991, had a comparable complete loss of ability to play golf at the highest level ... and he never found it again, eventually retiring competitively.

Brown beats Hall in NZ PGA Championship play-off

Australian Mitchell Brown won the New Zealand PGA Championship at Christchurch today after a final round of fluctuating fortunes.
Brown beat long-time leader and compatriot Ashley Hall in a sudden-death play-off.
New Zealander Grant Moorhead who finished third, one shot behind Brown and Hall, also led early on the inward half.
Mitchell Brown set the clubhouse target and then hoped the gusting wind would grow and make things difficult down the final stretch for Hall. His hopes came true.
Brown was playing ahead of Hall and managed to avoid most of the wind. Hall, on the other hand, had to battle with the worst of it and dropped a shot on the 18th to finish the round at seven under and set up the play-off.
Brown, who won the play-off after Hall misjudged a putt and bogeyed, said it was lucky he managed to get off the course before the worst of the weather hit.
"It was probably a good thing that those guys were two or three holes behind so they had to play the last four holes in the wind. We only played a hole in the rough stuff," said the 24-year-old Hall from Sydney.
"That was probably a good thing, if it hadn't of got windy they probably wouldn't have dropped shots."
"It's always a good thing when you're in the clubhouse and there's guys coming in because it's a lot easier to drop shots than it is to make them."
The win was Brown's first since becoming professional four years ago and was made even sweeter given he had to win it in a play-off against a good friend.
Brown said he is very familiar with Hall's playing style and knew he had an advantage going into the play-off on the difficult 18th hole at Clearwater.
"He's a good mate of mine, we travel together a lot and we were actually roommates for about two years on the Asian tour," he said.
"We play practice rounds together and everything so it was good, it was a bit of fun."
"Ash hits fades and I hit draws so the play-off hole was set-up perfectly for me with the right to left wind."
"I could hit it out to the right and let it come back while Ash had to hit against the wind so it was a bit of a harder tee shot for him."
Hall led the tournament from the second round and has dealt with the atrocious Christchurch conditions perfectly throughout.
The Victorian admitted his last round was a struggle however and felt he didn't really play well enough to deserve the title in the end.
"It was definitely a battle," he said. "Until the last three holes it was definitely a day for scoring and I thought that if I shot even par I'd have a chance anyway."
"I didn't play good enough today, I didn't hole any putts at all. I was probably hitting it just the same but I putted terribly today."
"I'll be disappointed for a little while but I'll take positives out of it. I have been playing badly lately so it definitely does a lot for the confidence."
Both Brown and Hall will be playing in the New Zealand Open at Hillbrook in Queenstown that begins on Thursday morning.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
281 Mitchell Brown (Aus) 68 73 72 68, Ashley Hall (Aus) 68 69 71 73 (Brown won sudden death play-off at first hole).
282 Grant Moorhead (NZ) 67 74 70 71.
283 Joe Affrunti (Us) 71 73 69 70, Stephen Allan (Aus) 72 69 71 71.
284 Scott Arnold (Aus) 73 71 72 68, Andrew Bonhomme 71 73 70 70, Adam Crawford (Aus) 71 76 70 67, Mahal Pearce (NZ) 71 74 69 70.
285 Anthony Doyole (NZ) 71 69 74 71, Michael Hendry (NZ) 71 74 71 68, Ewan Porter (Aus) 68 74 72 71, Grant Waite (NZ) 69 74 75 67.
286 Adam Blyth (Aus) 72 71 75 69, Michael Curtain (Aus) 66 77 71 72, Matthew Holten (NBZ) 67 76 72 71, Gareth Paddison (NZ) 70 71 70 75, Anthony Summers (Aus) 70 73 72 71.

Ashley Hall leads by three in NZ PGA Championship

FROM THE PGA OF AUSTRALIA WEBSITE
It has been a big turnaround for Australian golfer Ashley Hall after bouncing back from a poor run of form to holding a decent lead over the field at the New Zealand PGA Championship at Clearwater in Christchurch.
The Victorian holds a three-shot lead at seven under par 137, and he will likely keep it after hitting a three-under-par second round of 69, one shot better than his first round.
After an average start to the year, it is exactly the kind of round Hall needed to get his confidence up and get in contention for a much-needed title.
"Until yesterday I don't think I've shot under par competitively since the European Tour School in the final stages," he said.
"That was in late November so it's a good change of fortune really."
"At the start of this year I didn't do so well but I'm going to have to now."
Hall hit five birdies during his round and was well on his way to a near-perfect round before losing a ball at the 17th to shoot a double bogey.
Hall said the 17th was the only hole he was disappointed in during the day where he lost a ball off the tee and had to settle for a double bogey 6.
"That was the only real bad shot I've hit all week, so far so good," he said.
"We're playing into the wind and it's totally opposite to yesterday and I just hit it too far left and it didn't get it over the hazard. Well, we don't know if it went in the hazard or not because we couldn't find it. I went back to the tee and made six."
Hall felt right at home in the wet and rain as he comes from Melbourne where the weather has the ability to turn at any time and said it is all about 'playing smart' and taking rare opportunities as they arise.
"It was windy and drizzly when we teed off this morning so we haven't had it easy," he said. "It can rain and be as windy as much as it likes, as long as we're out there it's fine by me.
"In Melbourne we often have four seasons in one day and it's totally changeable back home so this is fine. "
"You've just got to be a little bit smart and make advantage of some holes when you can. Some of the fives were a little bit tricky today so it's just about playing smart."
Hall's only downfall was some wayward drives that he had to constantly make up for with accurate putting.
He admits it is an area of his game that he will have to improve before the third round on Saturday if he wants to be in contention on the final day.
"I was in the rough a bit today off the tee but recovered, so I will need to drive it straighter tomorrow," he said.
"The course is short enough that I'm able to drive a long way down and wedge in so if I hit it a bit straighter I could go really well."

LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
Players from New Zealand unless stated
137 Ashley Hall 68 69.
140 Anthony Doyle 71 69.
141 Stephen Allen 72 69, Mitchell Brown 68 73, Grant Moorhead 67 74, Gareth Paddison 70 71.
Selected scores
149 Eddie Barr (Ireland) 71 78.
156 Jonathan Bevitt (England) 75 81.
Field of 144 players.

Michael Curtain (66) leads NZ PGA Championship

Australian Michael Curtain grabbed the clubhouse lead at the New Zealand PGA championship late in the day after completing an opening-round, bogey-free, six-under 66.
Curtain, the reigning Western Australian PGA titleholder, collected six birdies at Clearwater in Christchurch missing only two greens in regulation and two fairways in difficult conditions.
The Victorian leads a group of three players - compatriot Neil Sarkies and New Zealand pair Matthew Holten and Grant Moorhead - by one shot.
Sarkies, 40, birdied five of the first seven holes on the course in what was one of the best rounds of his recent career while Holten was equally as impressive, sinking six birdies to lead New Zealand's hopes into the second round.
Moorhead, who teed off later in the afternoon, hit seven birdies during his round was tied for the lead after the 17th before a bogey on the 18th forced him back into second place.
New Zealander Grant Waite finished alongside defending champ Steve Alker on two under.
Waite, who has struggled with his putting during his career, made the switch from right to left-handed with the putter and it seemed to pay off early on.
He sunk a birdie on his first hole (10th) before putting together a rare round without a single three-putt.
Waite was generally happy with his form on the greens and is feeling positive about his prospects.
"That was a bonus for me (not hitting a three putt)," he said.
"I sunk a couple of nice birdie putts, my stroke was good throughout and there was only one putt that I didn't feel comfortable over."
The shock of the round came when the leader on the course, American Brian Smock, blew his lead with a disappointing eight on his final hole of the day.
At one stage Smock led by four shots, but twice he landed in the water that guards the left side of the long par-four 18th hole en route to a quadruple bogey and a round of 70.

THE CARRICK ON LOCH LOMOND CONTINUES PARTNERSHIP

WITH MAJOR WINNER PAUL LAWRIE

NEWS RELEASE
The stunning Carrick on Loch Lomond golf course has renewed its sponsorship agreement with 1999 Open Champion and multiple European Tour winner, Paul Lawrie, for the 2010 season. The five-star resort, which includes the award-winning Cameron House Hotel, recently voted Scotland’s best golf resort hotel at the annual Golf Tourism Scotland awards ceremony, has employed Lawrie as its ‘Touring Professional’ since the 2007 European Tour season.
Lawrie has enjoyed an illustrious career at the pinnacle of European Golf, playing on the European Tour since 1992 during which time he has claimed four victories, as well as the 1999 Open Championship and played in the Ryder Cup.
Lawrie’s agreement with The Carrick on Loch Lomond will see him sporting the resorts name and logo on his golf bag throughout the season as well being announced as The Carrick on Loch Lomond’s touring professional as he competes on the European Tour’s international schedule throughout 2010.
Ross Whitfield, The Carrick on Loch Lomond Director of Golf and Estates, commented, “Paul has been a fantastic ambassador for the resort in the past two seasons and we are delighted to continue our support of him in 2010.
"As well as being one of the most talented golfers Scotland has produced, Paul’s personality embodies the values of the resort and we feel he is the perfect person to represent the class and quality of the resort across the world. We wish him every success in the coming season.”
Paul Lawrie, commented, “I would like to thank The Carrick on Loch Lomond for their continued support. I have been very proud to be associated with such a high quality resort over the previous two seasons and I look forward to continuing to promote the golf course and hotel across the world.”
*The Carrick on Loch Lomond has quickly established itself as one of the UK’s leading new golf courses since opening in 2007. The Doug Carrick design meanders between the lowland banks of Loch Lomond for the front nine before heading into the highland heath on the back nine, all of which offers stunning views across the water and surrounding hills. The unique setting is one of the most picturesque anywhere in the UK, and the golf course offers a fitting test of guests’ games.
A variety of tee positions allow weekend golfers and tour professionals alike, to be tested.

Stars come out at night for Dubai par-3 event

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Eight-time major winner and World Golf Hall of Famer Tom Watson will lead a star parade at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic Match that formally kicks off the tournament week at the Emirates Golf Club on Tuesday, February 2.
The 60-year-old, who is making his first visit to Dubai, will be joined by European No 1 Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Mark O’Meara, Henrik Stenson and Miguel Angel Jiménez in the traditional ‘made-for-fans’ event, played at the floodlit par-3 course, starting at 6pm.
Sponsored by Jumeirah Golf Estates, the match offers the fans a rare opportunity to watch their favourite stars up close and personal as they deliver a ''clinic'' in wedge play.
The six players will be split into three teams, each comprising two stars, in a greensomes format. Both players play their drives and then select the best-positioned ball. Thereafter, they hit alternate shots with the same ball until the hole is completed.
The Emirates Golf Club’s par-27 course, measuring 1,239yd from the blue tees, has been designed such a way that it tests the skills of all. The longest hole on the course is the 194yd third hole, while the shortest hole, the fourth, measures 96yd.
Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of 'golf in DUBAi' — the promoters and organisers of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, said: “In a slight break from our tradition of holding the Challenge Match in the afternoon every year, this time we will have a 6pm start, followed by a dinner reception. I am sure the Challenge Match under lights will add to the festive atmosphere.
‘We would like to encourage more and more golf fans to come to the Emirates Golf Club and cheer the superstars who would be competing in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, starting on February 4.
"We have made elaborate arrangements to ensure that fans enjoy the proceedings on all four days of the tournament. A giant TV screen will be installed in the 'public village' for them to catch up the live action. Different food and beverage outlets and free golf clinics will be the added attractions at the village.
"I would like to thank Jumeirah Golf Estates for sponsoring the Challenge Match, an opening event which has always been a quite a hit with the fans.”
Meanwhile, the organisers of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic have decided to allow all youngsters, aged 18 and below, free entry to the Emirates Golf Club during the week, provided they are accompanied by an adult holding the ticket for the day.

Japan's boy wonder Ryo needs

handling with care

FROM THE IRISHTIMES.COM WEBSITE
By COLIN BYRNE
Who writes the "Caddies Role" column for the Irish Times
We have our own Irish revelation in the 20-year-old Rory McIlroy; America still has a vast reservoir of young talent, with an abundance of promising young players ready to spring on to the US Tour. Japan has the original teen idol, the 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa, who has single-handedly rejuvenated the flagging Japanese Golf Tour.
He is known as the “Bashful Prince” in Japan because of his naturally retiring demeanour, typical of many Japanese. There is an air of serenity about the young lad which unfortunately does not exude further than the first bodyguard who is only a few paces behind him, followed by a platoon of media warriors who operate a crash-and-burn policy when it comes to positioning themselves for the next shot of the Asian Sensation.
He is a living example of the new era of professional golfer who does not demand total pin-dropping silence as he settles into his shots. Ryo has been reared on the synchronised sound of high-powered Nikon shutter releases as he starts his back swing. It doesn’t seem to bother him. But for those of us brought up with the idea that total silence is required for players to hit shots, it is a hard to get used to.
Like with Tiger Woods, playing with the best golfer in the world is not a problem, but dealing with the circus that goes on around him is hugely off-putting. The need for business all but obliterates the most sacred unwritten decorum in golf, etiquette. The cameramen’s need for photos is obviously greater than the preservation of respect for all competitors.
We got drawn to play against the elegant Ishikawa alongside his more robust partner, Koumei Oda, in the four-ball match of the Royal Trophy a couple of weeks ago in Thailand.
The previous day he had played against the veteran European captain, Colin Montgomerie. His partner told us about the jamboree on the first tee. The juvenile Ryo enjoyed a lengthy introduction as the youngest winner of the Japanese Order of Merit last year and other wonderful achievements in his very short life to date. Eight-time European Order of Merit winner Monty got a terse 10-second introduction by the starter and was sent on his way.
Who could blame the Asians for celebrating the young wunderkind’s exceptional talent and looks? There is no doubt he added a huge buzz to the Royal Trophy and he has certainly saved the Japanese Tour from irrelevance as a serious golf tour.
But I would have concerns about the charming young Asian sensation’s long-term welfare, having so many parasites feeding off him from such a young age.
We have seen the toll child fame has taken on Michelle Wie, who has had the talent and resolve to overcome both the expectation and misuse by seemingly irresponsible handlers who could quite legitimately be accused of abuse of their position of trust with the Hawaiian in her formative years.
There has been much talk of the unreal world Tiger was reared in as a contributing factor to his recent travails. He was never allowed be a teenager and develop as a normal youth.
Naturally there is a fascination with such a huge talent. The European team-room was, naturally, full of chat about the “Bashful Prince”. But you have got to wonder where do such exceptional people possibly find space to pretend for a very small part of the day they are real people? Some of the European players said Ishikawa sounded worryingly like Michael Jackson in the pre-tournament press conference, with a feeble and quivering voice used to answer his questions.
He is, it must be remembered, still a teenager speaking in a foreign tongue.
Playing with Ishikawa in Asia was not only an ordeal for him but for those of us playing against him. It was a constant battle to get ahead of the entourage that smothered him off every tee; security guards, marshals, police, minders and the myriad press and photographers. As caddies, we had to shove cameramen out of the way of our players as the snappers scrambled for position to snap the boy wonder.
He is undoubtedly a talented golfer. Despite not playing well against Alexanedr Noren and Robert Karlsson he still hit some shots that would have got any seasoned pro’s attention. But playing outside his native land is a much more challenging proposition as not many Japanese players have taken their games successfully outside of their homeland; Isao Aoki is the only one who has enjoyed any sustained presence outside Japan.
The boy wonder embarks on his first real foreign campaign with invitations to play on the US Tour in the run up to the Accenture Matchplay Championship next month in Arizona. I hope his handlers are sensitive to the Bashful Prince’s delicate nature.
It would be a shame to have the huge commercial interests of so many Japanese publications stymie such a promising proposition before he gets a chance to prove himself against the best golfers in the world.
Ryo Ishikawa needs to be handled with care if he is to establish himself as Japan’s first serious world contender.

Richie Ramsay can't wait to

get back down to business

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Richie Ramsay, who delivered Scotland's first European Tour triumph in 21 months when winning the South African Open just before Christmas, is returning to the circuit this week eager to get back to work after hardly touching a golf club since his success at Pearl Valley.
The 26-year-old, who is now living in Edinburgh and has been sizing up The Renaissance Club outside Gullane as a possible practice base when he's at home, spent the festive period enjoying his breakthrough win and, due to all the snow, was able to give his American girlfriend, Angela, his undivided attention when she came over for a visit.
Ramsay, who will start his 2010 campaign just outside the world's top 100 thanks to his play-off victory over India's Shiv Kapur in South Africa, is now in the Middle East preparing for this week's Abu Dhabi Championship and says he's hungry to start hitting balls again and, equally, looking forward to trying to build on that victory.
"I've hardly done anything since my win as the snow hasn't shifted at all but that's probably not been a bad thing as it stopped me from saying I needed to go away and some practice, as I usually do when my girlfriend is over," he said.
"All I've done is pay a couple of visits to the range and some putting inside but, as a result, I'm feeling eager to get back into it again and I'm ready to get going.
"In the past, I felt I needed to work all the time on my game and, though I'd never say that practising was a chore, I'm definitely feeling more interested in the work I've got ahead of me. Sometimes if you work too hard on your game during a break, you can almost feel over-golfed at the end of the first two tournaments but that shouldn't be the case on this occasion."
Ramsay, who was delighted to receive a message of congratulations from Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, savoured his South African success in Aberdeen and is now hoping he'll have the confidence to strike again in the near future, just as he did when cutting his teeth in the paid ranks.
"In hindsight, it would have been nice if I could have gone out the week after my win and tried again as your confidence is up and, if I'd given myself another sniff, I might have been able to take it again," he reflected.
"However, you learn in life that sometimes things don't always work out the way you'd like them to."In any case, it was great to go home to Aberdeen and soak up my win. After winning the US Amateur Championship (in 2006], I flew straight to the Czech Republic and then to Wales, which meant I didn't get home for two or three weeks.
"When I won on the Challenge Tour, I then went out and won again five weeks later and it would be great if I could do the same again. No disrespect to the South African Open as it was a really good field but you want to be up there competing with the likes of Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson, players you've aspired to play against. If I could win an event with those sort of players, it would validate my progression even more."
Ramsay is playing in all three events of the Middle East swing – he heads to Qatar next week and then Dubai the week after that – and has now added the Avantha Masters in India to his early-season schedule.
"I played in Abu Dhabi last year and, while I wouldn't go as far as saying it is a bomber's course, it does suit the longer hitters In fact, I think it helps if you can shift the ball off the tee at all three courses in the Middle East swing.
"There are going to be courses this season where a top 15 or even top 20 will be a good week for me. There will be other weeks where I feel I can win and that was certainly the case at Pearl Valley. I think that will also be the case for the event in India, so I've added that to my schedule. I will hopefully be right back into it by then and can possibly peak on a course that suits my game more."
Ramsay is particularly looking forward to his first appearance in the Dubai Desert Classic, won two years ago by Tiger Woods and, 12 months later, by Rory McIlroy at the start of the young Irishman's stunning 2009 campaign.
"I'm really looking forward to playing at The Emirates. My aunt and uncle used to go out there when the event was on and brought me programmes back. I've still got the one from when Thomas Bjorn won (2001] so it will be nice for me to play in that event."
With lots of ranking points up for grabs over the next three weeks, there's a chance for Ramsay to join Martin Laird in the top 100 in the world and, like his Arizona-based compatriot, he's determined to get himself into the majors and the World Golf Championships in the near future.
"I watched the highlights of the SBS Championship in Hawaii and it looked as though Martin Laird was playing really well," noted Ramsay. "He's done a similar thing to me, having gained some experience on the Nationwide Tour before gaining his card on the US PGA Tour and then winning in his second full season. He's elevated himself into some of the bigger tournaments and more world ranking points are up for grabs in them. It's great that he's made it into the top 100 in the world and will be fantastic if we can get another Scot in there beside him.
"At the start of last season I felt excited but anxious at the same time as I was desperate to do well and wanted to get into the bigger tournaments to give myself a better chance of keeping my card.
"This time around it is excitement after excitement and no anxiety. I know I can go out there and play without having to worry about my card. If I have a chance to win again, I'm not going to be scared – I'm eager to get in the mix."
+The above article is published in The Scotsman newspaper today.