Friday, July 22, 2011

Two years of his life wasted...





Steve Williams at the Open Championship St. George's
Tiger Woods recently fired long time caddy Steve Williams.  This ended a 12 year relationship that included 13 out of 14 major championships.  Steve Williams responded by telling Television New Zealand  "You could say I've wasted the last two years of my life. I've stuck with Tiger and been incredibly loyal. I'm not disappointed I've been fired — that's part of the job — but the timing is extraordinary. Apparently Steve had known that Tiger was ending his relationship but had kept it quiet out of respect for Adam Scott.  
I watched both Williams & Scott at the British Open and they seemed to have a good rapport between them.  
Williams caddying Adam Scott at the British Open

Steve announced that he would now be caddying full time for Adam Scott and hopes to take him into a Major. Meanwhile Woods has not named a replacement for Williams.



Tuesday, July 19, 2011

This is one British Open I won't forget!


Darren Clarke/ CBS News

It was a wonderful week for golf at the Royal St. George's this week.  The Northern Irishman Darren Clarke won his first major title in the Open at Royal St George's. Clarke was stable all the way until the18th hole. There were moments when i thought Phil Mickelson or even Justin Johnson would be able to win the Open especially when they were within just two strokes behind Clarke.  At the end of the day, both Mickelson and Johnson who could have won, just handed it over to Darren. In his victory speech, Darren Clarke said "I've been writing this speech for 20 years now and it's been a long and bumpy road." I've had good and bad things happen to me on the way.  Sometimes I was good, sometimes I was bad but i have had so much support from everyone."

It was truly was a memorable week of golf for me.  There really is nothing quite like the British Open.  It was an awesome experience to be able to watch the best golf players in the world compete. I never imagined how brutal the conditions could be in a tournament such as this.  From winds at 35 miles an hour in pouring rain to treacherous bunkers, and deep roughs. I saw the best golfers in the world miss three footer putts and realized that even they are human after all. Royal St George's they say is the most traditional of all the Championship links courses.  That means there are lots of good and bad breaks. So a golfer can make bogeys with good shots or birdies from bad shots. Watching the players walk down to the 18th hole with the stands full is just indescribable. It was overwhelming! Many golfers say that the Open Championship is still the one to win as it gives the hardest test of golf a player will experience. After having watched the entire tournament including the practice rounds, I will have to agree. It's one tournament I hope I will have the chance to watch again.



18th hole Royal St. George's/ CBSNEWS


Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy, Charles Schwartzel
KJ Choi
Martin Kaymer
Stewart Cink
Retief Goosen
Luke Donald
Sergio Garcia
Bubba Watson
Simon Dyson
John Daly

Lucas Glover

Adam Scott

With Tony and Meg Brewer


Fore!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Wicked!

Day 3 Open Championship St. George's/ Getty Images

It was wicked weather.  Imagine that you are inside a refrigerator with 30-35mph howling winds and non- stop rain for 18 holes...  That was the weather condition for the bulk of the players at St. George's 2011 Open Championship today.  I was in a semi frozen state despite the fact that i was dressed in thermal wear, pullover, water proofs, beanie and gloves. Freezing and wet is an understatement!  The winds were gusty and seeking shelter in a links course is not exactly easy.  Welcome to British summer!

Ricky Fowler / Getty Images
I watched Ricky Fowler with his "mega gloves" try to hold down the umbrella towards the 9th tee and he was just totally drenched.
Rory McIlroy / Getty Images

Rory  McIlroy unraveled at the back 9 ending the 3rd day with a 4 over par while Ricky did wonderful at 2 under par considering the weather condition.

Adam Scott who, was celebrating his birthday today, was not spared and dropped a few shots before ending the day at even par.
Adam Scott

It was a huge struggle not just for the players but for all the spectators who braved the brutal weather . I must have been standing under the cold and rain for at least 6 hours before i finally saw the sky clear up.
Darren Clarke
By the time Darren Clarke teed off, the sun started to come out.  This must have contributed to Darren Clarke's game.  He was steady all the way and ended with a 5 under par and topping today's leaderboard.

Tomorrow is the final day and the weather forecast is even stronger rains.  Lovely!

Schedule for the final round below:


108:00Jung-Gon HWANG
208:10Paul LAWRIEMatthew MILLAR
308:20Spencer LEVINJoost LUITEN
408:30Justin ROSEBill HAAS
508:40Gregory HAVRETPaul CASEY
608:50Ricky BARNESFredrik ANDERSSON HED
709:00Simon KHANGregory BOURDY
809:10Harrison FRAZAREdoardo MOLINARI
909:25Floris DE VRIESRyan MOORE
1009:35Rory SABBATINIStephen GALLACHER
1109:45Stewart CINKKenneth FERRIE
1209:55Jim FURYKHenrik STENSON
1310:05KJ CHOIJeff OVERTON
1410:15Kyle STANLEYJason DAY
1510:25Gary BOYDMark WILSON
1610:40Peter UIHLEINGary WOODLAND
1710:50Robert ALLENBYSeung-Yul NOH
1811:00Richard McEVOYLouis OOSTHUIZEN
1911:10Tom LEWISYuta IKEDA
2011:20Bubba WATSONBo VAN PELT
2111:30Pablo LARRAZABALRobert ROCK
2211:40Rory McILROYSergio GARCIA
2311:55Richard GREENCharles HOWELL III
2412:05Trevor IMMELMANTom WATSON
2512:15Charl SCHWARTZELYE YANG
2612:25Fredrik JACOBSONAdam SCOTT
2712:35Steve STRICKERWebb SIMPSON
2812:45Simon DYSONRaphael JACQUELIN
2912:55Chad CAMPBELLTom LEHMAN
3013:10Ryan PALMERZach JOHNSON
3113:20Martin KAYMERDavis LOVE III
3213:30George COETZEEAnders HANSEN
3313:40Phil MICKELSONAnthony KIM
3413:50Lucas GLOVERMiguel Angel JIMENEZ
3514:00Thomas BJORNRickie FOWLER
3614:10Dustin JOHNSONDarren CLARKE