Hello Golfers,
There's plenty happening in the news recently, both at home and overseas. Footy season is also in full swing, all the talk about town is about who should be selected for origin, then you know June is looming just around the corner and that means the start of winter golf, our favourite golfing season, here at GT.
But all that aside it has been a bumpy week for golf and for two of it’s biggest personalities. The on going feud between Tiger and Sergio has been plastered over every news article going from here to Timbucctoo.
It was a shame Garcia said that because it was shaping up as a nice bit of niggle between two of the biggest characters in the game. Instead he has made himself look rather stupid.
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Best of Mates!
Garcia, 33, had joked he would invite Woods for dinner to settle their recent argument and serve fried chicken.
In a press conference on Wednesday, a contrite Garcia said: "Most importantly I want to apologise to Tiger, I feel sick about it and I'm truly sorry."
“I didn't sleep at all last night. It has been difficult to hit a shot without thinking about it. The only thing I can do is say sorry”
Shortly beforehand, 37-year-old Woods wrote on Twitter: "The comment that was made wasn't silly. It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate".
"I'm confident that there is real regret that the remark was made."
Woods and Garcia have been involved in a public spat since The Players Championship earlier this month, when Garcia accused Woods of gamesmanship.
World number one Woods angered Garcia during the third round of the tournament at Sawgrass by preparing for his own shot as the Spaniard was about to play an approach shot.
The Spaniard's remark was similar to one made by veteran American Fuzzy Zoeller to Woods in 1997. After Woods won the Masters which entitled him to choose the champions' dinner menu for the following year, Zoeller said: "You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not to serve fried chicken next year".
"Got it? Or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve."
Zoeller later apologised and said he had been misconstrued.
At a packed press conference at Wentworth ahead of Thursday's BMW PGA Championship, Garcia said: "I obviously was caught off guard by the question but I understand my answer was totally out of place and I can't say sorry enough about that.
"Also I'd like to say sorry to the European Tour and my Ryder team-mates for taking the shine away from what was a wonderful awards dinner and most importantly I want to apologise to Tiger.
"I don't have his phone number but I've called his manager. He didn't pick up but I left a message saying I would love to talk as soon as possible telling him how sorry I am and say it was a bad comment."
Garcia added that he did not expect to face disciplinary action, having spoken to PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and European Tour chief executive George O'Grady.
Asked if he had considered withdrawing from this week's Wentworth event, Garcia said: "If you asked me this morning I might have but I feel like the tournament deserves to have me, I want to go out there and give everything I have and make sure the people enjoy watching me play.
"As soon as I left the dinner I had a sick feeling in my body. I didn't sleep at all last night, I felt like my heart was coming out of my body. It has been difficult to hit a shot without thinking about it. The only thing I can do is say sorry."
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ITALIAN STALLION
Italy's Matteo Manassero became the youngest winner of the PGA Championship when he beat Simon Khan and Marc Warren in a play-off at Wentworth.
The 20-year-old birdied the fourth extra hole to edge 2010 champion Khan after Scotland's Marc Warren dropped out on the first hole.
The trio ended on 10 under, one clear of Spaniards Miguel Angel Jimenez and overnight leader Alejandro Canizares.
Manassero, who has now won four European Tour titles, is 60 days younger than Bernard Gallacher was when the Briton lifted the title in 1969 at the age of 20 years and 97 days.
Matteo Manassero factfile
"It's been an amazing week, I've always felt something special about this place and this tournament," said Manassero, who booked his place in the upcoming US Open and Open championship. "I'm the happiest man in the world right now."
Manassero reached 10 under on the 13th and parred his way home for a 69 to join Khan. Warren, meanwhile, had four straight birdies from the 10th to edge into the sole lead, but dropped a shot at the 15th to make it a threesome at the top.
"I was less tense in the play-off than walking the last few holes because you have done all you can in 72 holes and the rest is about trying to hit good normal shots," said Manassero.
Manassero became the youngest winner of the PGA Championship at Wentworth when he beat Britain's Simon Khan with a birdie four at the fourth hole of their sudden-death playoff on Sunday.
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What's in the bag
2012
Name: Bernd Wiesberger Age: 27 Professional Wins: 6 Clubs: Titleist
Driver: Titleist 910D3
Irons: CB Wedges: Vokey SM4 Putter: Scotty Cameron
Wiesberger claimed his maiden title on the European Tour in 2012 at the Ballantine's Championship, twice setting the course record and winning the championship by the margin of five strokes. The win moved him into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking.
In July 2012, Wiesberger won his second title of the year and of his European Tour career at the Lyoness Open, held in his home country of Austria. He started the final round four strokes back of Thorbjørn Olesen, but a round of 65 seven under par, including birdies at three of the last four holes secured a three stroke victory. He became only the second Austrian to win his home Open, after Markus Brier in 2006. After the victory he said:
"It's the best day of my life so far. It seems like it went my way, especially the last two holes. I had such a great country and such great fans backing me. I'm very proud to be following in such big footsteps [as Brier]. I'm sure I'm not going to be the last home winner."
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Hall of Fame or Greatness
Colin Montgomerie's induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame is richly deserved even though he never won the major title he craved throughout an otherwise glittering career.
Some observers claim the absence of one of the big four titles and his failure to win a Tour event in the United States should bar him from Hall of Fame status.
They argue that every truly great player has won a major and that certainly is a point of view that has genuine merit. But whether you consider Montgomerie one of the game's greats is a separate issue.
Profile:
* 2010 Captained Europe to the Ryder Cup * 1987 Turned professional * 1988 Won first title - the Portuguese Open * 40 The number of tournaments he has won since * 14 Years he was in top 10 of The Order of Merit * 8 Unbeaten singles matches in the Ryder Cup 4 European Tour Golfer of the Year awards
Montgomerie was inducted alongside former European Tour executive director Ken Schofield. The significance of both Scots cannot be underestimated.
Schofield was the architect of the massive expansion of the European Tour that harnessed the golden era of Severiano Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam.
He created the circuit where Montgomerie prospered with 31 Tour wins. Monty was also able to come into a Ryder Cup team that had learned how to beat America. Meanwhile in eight attempts the US never found a way to beat the burly Scot in a final day singles.
Whichever way you look at it, Montgomerie's standing in European golf cannot be disputed. A stunning eight Orders of Merit, seven of them coming in consecutive years between 1993 and 1999, illustrate his dominance.
Five times he was runner up in majors, the most of any player not to have landed a green jacket, claret jug, US Open or Wannamaker Trophy somewhere along the way.
He has been a total one-off; ploughing a lone, often successful, often controversial furrow wherever he has played.
One moment he is charm personified - the most engaging sportsman you will ever meet. The next he can be boorish, angry and rude. He will always be dogged by the contentious replacing of his ball in Jakarta in 2005 that had many questioning his integrity. Yet he will never be forgotten as a Ryder Cup hero and winning captain in 2010.
Monty is a walking contradiction. He is always forthright, always interesting and insightful. They are qualities that should make for a perfect TV commentator.
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PRO TIP:Posture and Alignment
The pros make a powerful, fluid swing look effortless. A beginner, on the other hand, can often find himself missing the ball entirely and, if he's really unfortunate, spinning himself around with such force that he winds up on the ground. To avoid this unfortunate comedy of errors, give proper consideration to your stance before you take a whack at the ball.
Alignment: Picture a set of railroad tracks running from the tee box to the green. Your body is aligned on the inside rail. Your ball is on the outside rail, which runs in a straight line from the tee box to the pin.
Spread the feet: Your feet should be roughly shoulder width apart, with your weight balanced on the balls of your feet. Posture: Flex your knees slightly, bend at the hips and keep your spine straight. No slouching! Relax: Loosen your death like grip on the club. You want to hold the club securely without squeezing too tightly. (like your holding a steering wheel) You also want to keep your body relaxed and not too rigid, then pull the trigger. |
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David Fearns (PGA)
Golf Traders |
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