GolfbloggerUK

February 2011 - Posts

• European Golf Stars are 1, 2, 3 & 4 in Official World Golf Rankings, headed by Martin Kaymer

  European Golf Stars are 1, 2, 3 & 4 in Official World Golf Rankings, headed by the pictured Martin Kaymer of Germany. Kaymer is first, Lee Westwood down to second, Donald now third  and Graeme McDowell fourth, means Europe holds the top four spots in the world golf rankings for the first time since 1992, when Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Jose Maria Olazabal and Seve Ballesteros led the golf rankings. 26 year Martin Kaymer the new number One golfer on the planet, has completed a meteoric rise to the summit of the professional game. The Düsseldorf golfer replaced Lee Westwood at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking after reaching the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona, where he was beaten 3 and 2 by England’s Luke Donald. Kaymer’s runner-up finish, was sufficient to propel him to the Number One spot – almost 25 years to the month since his highly-decorated countryman, Bernhard Langer, became the first person, and only other German, to head the newly-created World Golf Ranking in April 1986. Kaymer’s elevation caps a remarkable week for European golf, with Europeans now occupying  the top four places in the World Golf Rankings for the first time in 19 years. While Kaymer and Westwood will switch places, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell will move to a career-high third place unless Donald wins, in which case he would occupy third and the Ulsterman would take fourth. The last time that Europe enjoyed such riches was on March 15, 1992, when the formidable quartet of Ian Woosnam, Sir Nick Faldo, José Maria Olazábal and Seve Ballesteros filled the leading four positions. While two-time Major Champion Langer was the first to ascent to the summit – staying there for a further two weeks – Kaymer is only the 14th player, and the sixth European, to fill that coveted position in the quarter of a century since the World Ranking was devised. Since turning professional in 2005 and winning on his debut on the European Challenge Tour the following year, Kaymer has gone from strength to strength in a remarkably short space of time, winning nine times on The European Tour International Schedule with his most recent victory coming by eight shots at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship – an event he has won three times. England's Luke Donald defeated new world golf number one Martin Kaymer of Gergmany 3&2 to win the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship at Dove Mountain  in Tucson, Arizona to earn £864,838 and climb six places to number three in the world golf rankings. Donald's golf victory, his first in the USA since 2006, follows fellow Englishman Ian Poulter's defeat of compatriot Paul Casey in 2010. Posted Feb 28 2011, 10:34 by GolfbloggerUK with no comments Filed under: GolfbloggerUK, World Golf Rankings, Martin Kaymer

• PGA Tour 2011 The Mayakoba Golf Classic Live Leaderboard is available at GolfbloggerUK

  Tuesday, 22 February 2011 The PGA Tour 2011 The Mayakoba Golf Classic Leaderboard is available on a real time basis at GolfbloggerUK on a round by round basis. The Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun to be played at El Camaleon Golf Club, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico from Thursday Feb 24 – Sunday Feb 27, 2011. All the latest golf news, draws, tee times, prizemoney, golf scores, golf betting odds, tv times  and golf scores shall be provided on a daily basis, so please stay tuned into GolfbloggerUK. LIVE GOLF SCORING, can be found by CLICKING HERE. The Ed., GolfbloggerUK Posted Feb 22 2011, 10:32 by GolfbloggerUK with 2 comment(s) Filed under: GolfbloggerUK, PGA Tour, The Mayakoba Golf Classic

• FootJoy, the #1 Shoe and Glove in Golf, plans ahead for another successful year

  As the season gains momentum FootJoy, the #1 Shoe and Glove in Golf, is able to look ahead to what should be another successful year for their stable of players on Tours worldwide. Reflecting on last year and yet another impressive year on tour as 63.5% of all European Tour players chose FootJoy compared to just 20.5% for the nearest competitor, clearly demonstrating the popularity of the market leading brand continuing to strengthen the game’s elite. 2010 highlights included England’s Lee Westwood taking the spot of World Number 1 in October, Ian Poulter being victorious  at WGC World Match Play and Louis Oosthuizen capturing his first major. Adding to their illustrious list of ambassadors for 2011, FJ looks set for yet another strong year, welcoming to their stable seasoned veterans and fresh-faced rookies such as: Felipe Aguilar             Thomas Aiken Oscar Floren              Alastair Forsyth Anders Hansen          Michael Jonzon Chris Lloyd                Colin Montgomerie Matthew Nixon          Wade Ormsby “This year looks set to be an exciting season for FootJoy on Tour. We’ve launched the new FJ DryJoys TOUR which has proven very popular with the players on Tour and continues to strengthen the position of FootJoy as a clear leader. Whether it is established FootJoy loyalists like Westwood and Poulter or the new crop of talented youngsters like McIlroy or Manassero, we have a FootJoy shoe to a suit a wide range of tastes and performance needs,” commented Richard Fryer, European Marketing Manager, FootJoy. Further reinforcing the presence of FJ on Tour this season will see more leading players sporting the FJ logo on their shirt collar, including Chris Wood, Shiv Kapur and David Horsey. On the back of a hugely successful 2010 and with the new DryJoys Tour™ set to give the DryJoys microbrand fresh impetus this year plus a whole raft of updated styles in the best selling models hitting the shelves in the Spring, FootJoy looks set for another successful year in 2011 Posted Feb 17 2011, 10:01 by GolfbloggerUK with 2 comment(s) Filed under: GolfbloggerUK, FootJoy

• PGA Tour 2011 Northern Trust Open Golf Schedule for Riviera Country Club, California, USA

  Please find listed below the week's schedule for the PGA Tour 2011 Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, California, USA. Reigning U.S Masters Golf Champion and two-time Northern Trust Open champion Phil Mickelson will be joined by several other former winners and major champions. Mickelson, is 8/1 favourite with PaddyPower Bookmakers to win a 3rd Northern Trust Open. Fellow-American Steve Stricker is 2nd favourite at 12/1. Round by round coverage with all the latest golf news, draws, tee times, prizemoney, golf scores, golf betting odds, tv times  and golf scores shall be provided on a daily basis, so please stay tuned into GolfbloggerUK. LIVE GOLF SCORING, can be found by CLICKING HERE. The Ed., GolfbloggerUK PGA Tour 2011 Northern Trust Open Schedule:- Monday, February 14, 2011     * Course Closed to the Public     * Kickoff Pro-Am presented by TaylorMade Golf 8 a.m.     * PGA TOUR professionals practice rounds 1 p.m. Tuesday, February 15, 2011     * Gates open to the public at 6 a.m.     * PGA TOUR profesionals practice rounds 8 a.m. Wednesday, February 16, 2011     * Gates open to the public at 6 a.m.     * Official Pro-Am 6:40 a.m. and 11:10 a.m. Thursday, February 17, 2011     * Gates open to the public at 6 a.m.     * First Round 7 a.m. Friday, February 18, 2011     * Gates open to the public at 6 a.m.     * Second Round 7 a.m. Saturday, February 19, 2011     * Gates open to the public at 6 a.m.     * Third Round 8 a.m. Sunday, February 20, 2011     * Gates open to the public at 6 a.m.     * Fourth Round 8 a.m. Posted Feb 14 2011, 11:18 by GolfbloggerUK with 3 comment(s) Filed under: GolfbloggerUK, Northern Trust Open, Riviera Country Club

• Modified Qualification Procedure Announced For 2012 European Ryder Cup Team

  After consultation with European Team Ryder Cup Captain José Maria Olazábal, The European Tour Tournament Committee is pleased to announce a modified qualification procedure for The 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club, Chicago, Illinois, from September 28-30, 2012.                                                               The qualification criteria, beginning at the Omega European Masters at Crans-Sur-Sierre from September 1-4, 2011, and ending at the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in 2012, will now see the leading five players from the European Points List joined by the leading five players from the World Points List as automatic qualifiers to the European Team. This represents a reversal of the two lists with the European Points List counting before the World Points List. Olazábal will then add two Captain’s Picks to complete the 12-man team that will defend The Ryder Cup against the United States at Medinah Country Club. Olazábal said: “I am very pleased that the Tournament Committee has agreed to my request. The only reason that I asked for a change in the criteria is because I believe that it will give me the strongest team possible to defend The Ryder Cup. “I looked over the last few qualification processes, going back to 2004, and was satisfied that my proposal would give me the strongest team on paper. We are going to have a very strong team but I just felt that this would give the team the best chance to keep The Ryder Cup and that is what we all want. “At the end of the day, it is the players who are the stars and it is the players who hit the shots and win the points to win The Ryder Cup.  I would like to thank the committee for their support and I hope that this is the first step to us retaining The Ryder Cup in 2012.” Qualification Criteria for The 2012 European Ryder Cup Team Qualification for The 2012 European Ryder Cup Team will be selected employing the following criteria:- (a) The leading five players on The Ryder Cup European Points List (1) at the conclusion of the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. In the event of a tie (equal number of points accumulated), placings will be decided by the player with the higher ranking on The 2012 Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. (b) The leading five players, not otherwise qualified (having selected the five players from The Ryder Cup European Points List) from The Ryder Cup World Points List (2) at the conclusion of the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.  In the event of a tie (equal number of points accumulated), placings will be decided by the player with the higher ranking on the Official World Golf Ranking. (c) The Captain, José Maria Olazábal, will choose the remaining two players following the conclusion of the 2012 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. (1) The Ryder Cup European Points List will comprise points (1 point = 1 Euro) earned by a European Tour Member from all officially sanctioned European Tour tournaments on The European Tour Race to Dubai from September 1, 2011 until the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in 2012. (2) The Ryder Cup World Points List will comprise World Ranking Points won by a European Tour Member from each tournament in which he participates from September 1, 2011 until the conclusion of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in 2012. World Ranking Points are allocated to all officially sanctioned tournaments (on any Federated Tour) by the Official World Golf Ranking and are allocated according to the Event Rating of the tournament.  Posted Feb 10 2011, 12:30 PM by GolfbloggerUK with 2 comment(s) Filed under: GolfbloggerUK, Ryder Cup

• John Letters Golf Equipment successfully exhibits at 2011 PGA Merchandise Show, Orlando

  John Letters, Scotland’s finest clubmaker since 1918, were not only the oldest manufacturer at the 2011 PGA Merchandise Show, Orlando, but also turned out to be the real gem of the show.  The great Scottish brand, renowned globally for producing golf equipment of the highest quality for 93 years, showcased their latest range of handcrafted equipment at the Orange County Convention Center from the 29 – 31 January 2011 and received an overwhelming response from the trade. Featuring all the latest products, prototypes for the forthcoming season and the new Apparel collection for 2011, the John Letters booth (# 911) attracted a huge amount of attention from buyers and media as over 50,000 customers visited this year’s Trade Show. With significant interest in the new Master Model irons, Tour Black Wedges and Golden Goose Putters, the John Letters team handed out over 10,000 pieces of promotional material to help build awareness for the brand globally. Representatives from over 200 countries visited the stand including the USA, Canada, Australia, and Japan, all looking to significantly increase distribution globally for the brand in 2011. What’s more the recent announcement that John Letters were turning back the clock and opening a new Workshop at the home of golf in St. Andrews created a real ‘buzz’ on the show floor. With all 2011 John Letters equipment to be hand-assembled in Scotland, many of the American/Worldwide audience revealed their passion for St. Andrews and the traditional craftsmanship of custom building. Speaking during the exhibition John Andrew, Managing Director for John Letters, commented: “The golfers over here absolutely love the brand with its strong history and heritage. John Letters is proud to be turning back the clock, bringing custom built hand crafted clubs back to St. Andrews.” There was a real excitement about the brand with many golfers claiming the John Letters Tour Black wedge to be among the best looking wedge at the show. The Master Model irons also received significant praise from attendees, loving the simple looks and soft feel, and appreciating the attention to detail that John Letters have gone to with its customisation programme and beautiful display packaging. The Golden Goose also garnered much praise, with it being hailed for its addition of Roll-It technology to an absolute putter classic. With an unrivalled heritage and history of craftsmanship within the game, John Letters utilised the 2011PGA show as platform to showcase their latest comprehensive product range and catapult the iconic Scottish brand back into the global golf spotlight. Posted Feb 07 2011, 11:54 by GolfbloggerUK with no comments Filed under: GolfbloggerUK, PGA Tour Merchandise Show, John Letters Golf

• Yas Links Abu Dhabi receives further critical acclaim from The National newspaper

  Yas Island, UAE – February 02, 2011) Yas Links Abu Dhabi , already acclaimed as the ‘best golf course in the Middle East’ by Golf Course Architecture magazine and placed 5th in a Golf Magazine USA ‘Top 10 New International Golf Courses of 2010’ ranking, has been further decorated by one of the Middle East’s most prominent newspapers, The National. The English-language newspaper, based in the United Arab Emirates, has released a Top 10 ‘professional-level’ Golf Courses of the World ranking, in which Yas Links features at number two, sitting just behind the Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland – the historical home of golf. As part of The National rankings, it’s author, renowned travel writer, Minty Clinch, commented: “The American architect Kyle Phillips, who established gilt-edged links credentials with Kingsbarns in Scotland, has worked a similar magic with Yas Links.” Yas Links was the first project in the region for Kyle Phillips, who didn’t just design the course, but was also responsible for shaping the three-kilometre long coastline. During the construction stage he employed some of the 1.8 million m3 (cubic metres) of fill dredged from the sea to construct the golf course, creating dramatic links holes with no less than nine seashore greens.   Chris White, General Manager of developer Aldar Properties, said: “Yas Links continues to make headlines around the world as a must-play golf course that offers a very unique experience to its visitors. “We are always very grateful for any accolades we receive and The National ranking is a strong endorsement of Yas Links as a preferred golf course for professional play. This was further endorsed by the hugely successful Invitational Pro-Am Tournament which recently played host to a wealth of professional players, including World Number One, Lee Westwood, and eventual winner, Retief Goosen.” Yas Links is part of a world-class leisure development on Yas Island, created by Aldar Properties, and is home to the Yas Marina Formula 1 Circuit, venue of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and the spectacular Ferrari World, the world’s largest indoor theme park. For more information about Yas Links Golf Club, Abu Dhabi please visit: www.yaslinks.com. Posted Feb 03 2011, 10:43 by GolfbloggerUK with 3 comment(s) Filed under: GolfbloggerUK, Yas Links, Abu Dhabi