Mike Weir: Optimistic and realistic

By his own admission, Mike Weir doesn’t have many expectations for this year’s RBC Canadian Open. He’s coming in off a year of struggles that’s seen him miss 10 cuts in 10 starts and fall to 1,438^th on the Official World Golf Ranking. Weir is now the 34^th-ranked Canadian on that global list; many Canadians would have a hard time naming 33 other Canadian professional golfers. 

But Weir is still positive, still confident as he approaches the first tee for the 22^nd time at the RBC Canadian Open. 

“The state of my game hasn’t been very good at all,” he stated. “It’s been poor. But I’m a worker. That’s what I do.”

It was one year ago this week that Weir’s already struggling season was ended when he tore a tendon in his elbow trying to extract a ball from the tangle of hay that doubled as rough at the Shaughnessy G&CC in Vancouver. The surgery that followed sent Weir to the shelf for seven months. 

He returned at Pebble Beach after working mostly by himself but never seemed to find a groove, only breaking par twice in 21 rounds. Three months ago, he hit re-set and hired Grant Waite to coach him, which he said has been paying dividends. 

“Grant, being a former player, I think that’s one good thing. He knows a lot,” said Weir. “He’s a very smart guy and he’s able to just relay kind of what I need at the time. And he knows that this is going to be a process.”

By process, Weir means time. As in 2013. It will take that much time but at the very least, the lefthander is seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. And for the first time, it’s not an approaching train. 

In practice rounds this week, Weir has seen some good shots and some not-so-good shots that have rattled into the trees. As has been the case all year, the driver is the club giving him the most trouble. 

“It’s so up and down right now,” he stated. “I’ve played some really nice rounds where I string a bunch of good holes together and then I fall back into some bad habits I’ve gotten myself into. 

“So hopefully I can just string some of the better ones together, because my good ones, I’m hitting a lot of great shots. And my bad ones are bad. I gotta keep shaking those ones out.”

To be sure, the last year hasn’t been easy on Weir. He’s posted some almost embarrassing numbers, been the subject of ridicule on web sites and seen his career flounder. He’s been reduced to looking for sponsor exemptions after losing his status. But through it all, he’s stayed positive. 

He’s peers want nothing more than for Weir to return to form. He is exceptionally well liked on Tour and that was evident yesterday in comments from a couple of other pros who share the same age of 42 with Weir. 

“I went to the grocery store yesterday and a guy wished me well in the tournament,” said Jim Furyk, who won the tournament the last time it was at Hamilton, “and in the very next sentence he said, ‘But I think this is the event Mike Weir pulls out of it and wins.’  I said, ‘I'll be honest with you, I hope you're right.  I think it would be great.’  It would be a great story.  I wish him well, and I know how hard a worker he is, and I believe he'll play better and start playing well again.”

“Mike is a grinder,” said Open champion Ernie Els, “and I know he's working hard, and I'd love for him to get back to we know how he can play.  So hopefully it happens this week.”

Weir appreciates the support of not only his fellow players, but the fans, who followed him in a large gaggle during Wednesday’s pro-am. 

“I never get to the point where I think I’m not going to do this anymore,” Weir said, “because I love the game and I love working at it and I love the challenge. I’m still motivated and positive that I’m going to get this figured out.”

Eight years ago, Weir came within a couple of inches of winning this tournament. This week, he said he’d like to make the cut so he can get in four competitive rounds. It’s a long road back, but he’s prepared to walk it. 

Source  http://scoregolf.com/blog/bob-weeks/2012/july/mike-weir-optimistic-and-realistic

UK Open ignites next month, diversity may be a missing aspect at this year’s golf mega event!

UK Open ignites next month, diversity may be a missing aspect at this year’s golf mega event!

The UK Open is about to hit the world of golf and some of this year’s best golfers have failed to qualify for the mega event in golf.

It has been a tough ride for numerous golfers this year. The world’s top-2 Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy were among the biggest disappointments this year.

The US Open was a tournament where McIlroy grasped glory last year. His name was headlining every news paper that was covering the sport of golf.

This year, McIlroy failed to defend his title and left the US Open with shame and misery.

Donald was no different. The world number 1 had the worst US Open of his entire career and was among the worst golfers in the US Open. He blamed the pressure of the entire England fan lot for his misery but clearly, that was not the case.

The BMW International Open saw Danny Willett marking his territory as the top golfer on the European field.

His level of play was of the highest order at the tournament and he seized victory with his passion and conviction.  

Unfortunately, the passion and conviction the world saw at the BMW International Open was not seen at the qualifier round for the UK Open. Willett failed to qualify and took a flight home facing anguish and regret.

Colin Montgomerie also failed to qualify for the UK Open and faced disappointment. Tom Lewis, Jose Maria Olazabal, Rich Beem and Matteo Manassero were among the golfers who will not be visible at the UK Open this year.

All of these names have done remarkably well last year but this time, their lack of consistency has been the major aspect of their failure.

Golf remains and will remain a success for consistent golfers. Big names like Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood and Ernie Els have been victimised by the world of golf just because of a single reason, inconsistency.

The UK Open will lack diversity this year with the exit of prominent names. It is up to the golfers who have qualified to avail the opportunity and add to their career record a win at the UK Open.

Source  http://blogs.bettor.com/UK-Open-ignites-next-month,-diversity-may-be-a-missing-aspect-at-this-years-golf-mega-event-a165879

Olympic Torch at the home of golf

The Olympic Flame has been taken across the famous Swilcan Bridge on the Old Course in the home of golf, St Andrews.

It was also used to recreate a scene from the film Chariots Of Fire at the Fife town's West Sands beach.

The torch will travel 145 miles on this leg of its symbolic journey around the UK, reaching Edinburgh Castle on Wednesday evening..

A total of 115 torchbearers will carry the flame past some of the country's most recognisable landmarks, including the Forth Bridge, Stirling Castle, the Wallace Monument and the Falkirk Wheel.

The Swilcan Bridge dates back some 700 years and was originally built for shepherds herding their sheep over the Swilcan Burn that now winds through the first and 18th fairways.

The small stone bridge is now one of the most famous spots in the golfing world.

At the Old Course, the torch was carried by Louise Martin, 65, from Dunblane.

Mrs Martin is chair of Sport Scotland. She said: "Now that it's over, it's quite surreal. I can't believe I've actually done it. It's churning inside, just the pleasure and what it meant to me.

"Words can't explain how I feel to have just done what I've done with the Olympic Flame in my hand."

Source  http://www.harrowobserver.co.uk/west-london-sport/world-uk-sport/2012/06/13/olympic-torch-at-the-home-of-golf-116451-31173376/

Did Tiger Woods wreck his knee training with the SEALs? Hank Haney thinks so

The Navy SEALs may have been able to do what Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh never could: Take down Tiger Woods.

The Big Miss, Hank Haney's highly touted book on Tiger Woods, hits stores in a couple weeks. And while Haney's story of Woods wanting to join the Navy SEALs caused a bit of a stir a few weeks back, the New York Times brings us a bit of a twist on that story. According to Haney, Woods "tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in an exercise with the SEALs, not while running at home."

Well. That would certainly be of interest, wouldn't it? Think Woods' sponsors and the PGA Tour would be interested in the fact that their cash cow was out participating in activities that could have led to his nine-month sideline stint in 2008-09?

Regardless of cause, Woods tore the ligament in 2007. Initially, it didn't affect him much; he won five of six tournaments to lead off the 2008 season. However, he was clearly wincing in pain during that legendary Torrey Pines U.S. Open win, and shortly afterward shut it down for the rest of the 2008 season.

Haney also contends that Woods' interest in building muscle worked to the detriment of his game and caused injuries. He blamed Woods' weightlifting for injuries to his right Achilles tendon, which Woods tore in 2008 and reinjured several times in 2009.

(Of note: Haney said Sunday afternoon on Twitter that he was "very pleased" with how the book turned out, "but not about the one sentence out of context excerpts.")

As the New York Times tells it, the book has plenty of anecdotes but nothing too surprising or devastating. Woods liked to text and talk on his cell phone; Woods joked around with former wife Elin Nordegren but remained even more committed to winning than he was to her. Haney coached Woods during six major wins but resigned via text message in May 2010. And moments like The Popsicle Incident were probably part of the reason:

"When we were watching television after dinner, he'd sometimes go to the refrigerator to get a sugar-free popsicle," Haney writes. "But he never offered me one or ever came back with one, and one night I really wanted one of those popsicles. But I found myself sitting kind of frozen, not knowing what to do next. I didn't feel right just going to the refrigerator and taking one, and I kind of started laughing to myself at how hesitant I was to ask Tiger for one. It actually took me a while to summon the courage to blurt out, 'Hey, Bud, do you think I could have one of those popsicles?'" (Haney would eventually get his popsicle ... though, apparently, at the cost of some of his dignity.)

"The Big Miss" streets on March 27.

Source http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/golf-devil-ball-golf/did-tiger-woods-wreck-knee-training-seals-hank-215207618.html

Paul Lawrie back in world top 50 after second win in Qatar

PAUL Lawrie may have been a tad embarrassed to hear he’d been likened to Nick Faldo in his prime but the Aberdonian certainly produced a final-day performance the six-time major champion would have been proud of in winning the Qatar Masters for a second time yesterday.

“If you win that many majors, you are a legend – I don’t think I’m a legend,” commented Lawrie as he typically downplayed a display that had the Sky commentators, led by fellow Scot Ewen Murray, almost purring like never before.

One ahead at the start of play – that advantage would have been double but for the penalty Lawrie called on himself when he inadvertently dropped his ball on his marker in Saturday’s second round – the 43-year-old closed with a flawless seven-under-par 65 for a 15-under total and a four-shot success in an event reduced to 54 holes due to strong winds on Friday.

It lifted him back into the world’s top 50 – he leapt from 78th to 45th – for the first time since July 2003 and also secured spots in three of this season’s WGC events, starting with the Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona in just over two weeks’ time.

If Lawrie can stay in the top 50 until the beginning of April, he will be heading back to Augusta National for a first Masters appearance since 2004. And, if he can even come close to maintaining the sort of form that has now seen him record four top-10 finishes on the European Tour for the first time in his career, he will also be in with an excellent chance of bridging another 13-year gap – he also won in Qatar in 1999 before going on to be crowned as Open champion at Carnoustie a few months later – by earning a Ryder Cup return at Medinah in September.

Based on this effort, European captain Jose Maria Olazabal would surely love to have Lawrie on his team as it was a vintage performance from the Scot, who opened with a birdie but had been caught by the resurgent Sergio Garcia by the time he boarded the tee at the par-5 ninth. After two mighty blows, Lawrie chipped in there from just short of the green for an eagle and displayed his short-game prowess once again when he repeated the feat at the 17th, this time for a birdie-2.

In between, he produced a masterclass from tee to green to leave the chasing pack with a forlorn cause. Swinging the club in textbook fashion, he had decent chances at almost every hole on the back nine, converting the ones at the 11th, 14th and 16th to give himself a handy advantage before slamming the door shut with his fifth birdie of the round at the penultimate hole.

That gave him a four-shot cushion playing the last and, though Kyle Stanley had blown a similar lead seven days earlier on the PGA Tour, there was no danger of Lawrie doing likewise. He took the danger out by laying up with his approach at the par-5 and was so relaxed that he was whistling and talking to a cameraman as he walked up the fairway. “I don’t think I can play much better than that,” said Lawrie, whose closest challengers on 11-under were world No 10 Jason Day and Peter Hanson. “I’ve been playing well for a long, long time, but it’s nice to come out one ahead and shoot seven- under.

“I was hugely disappointed in Abu Dhabi as I played phenomenal there and finished eighth, which was a bit of a kick in the teeth. So to come here and keep playing how I was and knock a few putts in was very special.”

After keeping his calm all day, it was no surprise that Lawrie was close to tears when he was asked if he’d been dedicating the win – the seventh of his European Tour career – to Adam Hunter, his long-time coach and friend who died last October following a battle with leukaemia. “Yes” was all he managed in reply.

Source http://www.scotsman.com/sport/golf/golf_paul_lawrie_back_in_world_top_50_after_second_win_in_qatar_1_2099429

How a round of golf cost £400,000

Thousands of people who enjoy a game of golf this weekend may unwittingly be putting their home at risk.

True, the risk is infinitely small, but a £400,000 damages award against a golfer and golf club after another golfer lost an eye in an accident demonstrates the extent of damage awards in an increasingly litigious society.

Where people used to say ‘accidents happen’ many are now more inclined to seek compensation. With the best will in the world, most golfers will admit to having sliced the ball on occasion. Very few, fortunately, result in serious injury.

Sadly, that was not the case when novice golfer Anthony Phee, 44, was struck by a golf ball and lost an eye during a round at Niddry Castle Golf Course in Winchburgh, West Lothian.

He sued James Gordon, the man who struck the bad shot, and the golf club at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, seeking damages for the injury he suffered.

He said it had been a “harrowing experience” to partially lose his sight. The judge who heard the case, Lord Brailsford, ruled that Mr Gordon was 70pc responsible for the accident. The remaining 30pc of liability rested with the golf club for its “failure” to erect proper warning signs on the course.

David Sandison, senior partner of Lawford Kidd Solicitors in Edinburgh, said: “We are delighted that, after a long struggle, Mr Phee has been awarded compensation for his injuries. Damages have been agreed at around £400,000.”

It remains to be seen how the award will be paid for. While many golf clubs have indemnity insurance to cover their liability, most individual golfers would struggle to meet such large unexpected costs without insurance.

Fortunately, because the risk of a claim is so low, so is the cost of cover. John Hayes of CCV Underwriting Sports & Leisure, and a member of the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA), said: “Individual golf players can have up to £5m indemnity cover at an annual cost of just £7.50, including all fees and taxes, from Golfsafe Insurance.

“In addition we offer a more comprehensive policy from Caddysure, with premiums starting at £27.26, which covers the same third party liabilties but also loss or damage to equipment and accidental damage to third party property.”

That raises the important point that golfers are far more likely to suffer financial loss because of the theft of their clubs and other equipment, or to be held liable for breaking windows in nearby homes or cars, than they are to cause the horrific injury suffered by Mr Phee.

So, one way to determine the level of cover golfers need is to look at the value of their equipment. Carrick Neill – the trading name of Giles Insurance Brokers – offers a specialist golfers’ policy where premiums start at £20 a year for equipment worth up to £500, rising to £55 a year to cover gear costing up to £2,500. Additional cover for a husband, wife or child can be obtained for an additional £15 a year at the lower level of equipment value, rising to £35 at the upper level.

Beware, though, that these costs only cover British golf courses; there is an additional annual charge of £5 per person to cover play elsewhere in Europe or £10 for a worldwide extension. In addition to £5m third party cover, this policy also includes £50,000 personal accident and £500 dental treatment cover for the policyholder him or herself.

But some BIBA brokers point out that good household cover can provide all the third party liability cover most golfers need. Dennis Veingard of Premier Insurance Brokers said: “Liability cover is automatically provided under most household contents policies and some insurers include reverse liability for unrecoverable courts awards.

“The injured party claims against the golfer and the golfer then notifies his insurer. If the golfer is uninsured and unable to pay any court award, under reverse liability cover an injured party could claim on his own policy.”

Similarly, Ian Smith of Bennett Gould & Partners said: “Many home contents insurance policies provide worldwide liability cover. They will usually exclude accidents involving motorised vehicles, watercraft and horsedrawn vehicles but will cover liability arising from golf or other sporting accidents.

"The increase in the number of these claims clearly mirrors the increasingly litigious nature of society and inevitably leads to increases in premium as both the number and size of claims increases.”

But serious injuries on the golf course remain very rare. Orthopedic surgeon Dr Larry Foster, author of ‘Dr. Divot’s Guide to Golf Injuries’ says the most common are back pain, elbow and shoulder inflammation, followed by carpal tunnel syndrome – a repetitive stress disorder that affects the nerves of the hands – and DeQuervain’s tendinitis, which causes pain in the wrist near the base of the thumb.

None of these conditions is likely to be covered by specialist golf policies – unless it can be proved that the injury was caused by playing the game and resulted in disability or redundancy, in which case one year’s golf club fees can be reimbursed.

On a brighter note, specialist golf policies can pay out £150 if the policyholder hits a hole in one during an official club, area or national competition.

Source http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/ianmcowie/100013323/how-a-round-of-golf-cost-400000/

Tiger Woods not one of golf's top 50 players for first time in 15 years

Tiger Woods is no longer officially considered one of golf's top 50 players, ending a streak that extended back 15 years.

According to the official World Golf Ranking, the 35-year-old Woods entered the weekend as the sport's 50th best player. But he lost that standing when Louis Oosthuizen finished tied for fifth at this weekend's Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland, earning him a place in the standings and ousting Woods.

The rankings are endorsed by Professional Golf Association tours in the United States, Europe, Australia, Asia and elsewhere, according to the World Golf Ranking website. An updated ranking comes out every Monday.

The last time Woods was not among the top 50 was on October 13, 1996. Since then, he won 14 major championships -- a distinction used for the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA championship -- and, for much of the next 778 weeks, ranked as the game's best player.

In recent years, Woods has been plagued by the fallout surrounding his infidelity and divorce from his wife as well as numerous injuries. His last tournament win was the Australian Masters in November 2009.

His next competition will be this week at the Frys.com Open in Corde Valley, California. Despite his recent slump, American team captain Fred Couples chose Woods as one of his wild card picks for next month's Presidents Cup in Australia.

Source http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/02/sport/golf/tiger-woods-ranking/