Hello Golfers,
What an absorbing *US Open*, rain delays, two rounds in one day and funny shaped baskets posing as flag sticks!
Congratulations to Justin Rose, who has been in great form for some years with no break.
In recent times the English have held a strong presence in the world's top ten golfers, but with no real success to mention, until now. Australian can boast a couple of majors in recent times, but now it could be the turn of the English to lead the way.
Onto a completely different subject, if you’ve been getting depressed by the fact that you’ve been going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark, we have some good news for you. The Winter Solstice, the shortest day of year, is this Friday, so from then on the days will be getting longer and you should soon experience more daylight.
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US Open Wrap
Justin Rose clinched his maiden major title to become the first Englishman for 43 years to win the US Open. The 32-year-old won by two shots from now six-time runner-up Phil Mickelson and Jason Dayon a gripping final day.
Rose, also the first Englishman to win a major since Nick Faldo in 1996, fired a level-par 70 to end one over as overnight leader Mickelson carded 74. Jason Day shot a round of 71
Mickelson, who was also feeling emotional was celebrating his 43rd birthday, but needed to birdie the last to force an 18-hole play-off, but the four-time major champion could only make a bogey five.
"For me, it's very heart-breaking," said Mickelson, who had previously finished second at the event in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2009. "This was my best chance on a golf course I really liked. I felt like this was as good an opportunity as you could ask for and to not do it hurts."
Rose, world number five, looked up to the sky with tears in his eyes after he tapped in his final putt and admitted later to thinking of his father and long-time mentor Ken, who died from leukaemia in 2002.
"It wasn't lost on me that today was Father's Day," said Rose of his gesture when he was presented with the trophy on the 18th green.
"A lot of us come from great men and we have a responsibility to our children to show what a great man can be.
"For it to all just work out for me, on such an emotional day, I couldn't help but look up to the heavens and think that my old dad Ken had something do do with it."
Rose, burst onto the wider scene as a 17-year-old amateur when he finished in a tie for fourth in the 1998 Open at Royal Birkdale. He went on to miss 21 consecutive cuts when he joined the paid ranks, before winning his first professional event in 2002. His biggest victory to date was the WGC Cadillac Championship last March.
Rose's previous best major finish was tied-third in the US PGA behind Rory McIlroy last year, while he has had six other top-10s in majors. He becomes the third UK winner of the title in four years after Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy (2011) and Graeme McDowell (2010).
RECENT WINNERS:
2012: Webb Simpson (US)
2011: Rory McIlroy (NI)
2010: Graeme McDowell (NI)
2009: Lucas Glover (US)
2008: Tiger Woods (US)
2007: Angel Cabrera (Arg)
2006: Geoff Ogilvy (Aus)
2005: Michael Campbell (NZ)
2004: Retief Goosen (SA)
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Golf on the Box
AUSTRALIA's biggest tournaments are back on free-to-air this coming summer after Seven this week snapped up the remaining two events.
Defending Masters champion Adam Scott committed to November's PGA Championship at his home Royal Pines course on the Gold Coast, Channel Seven announced it had secured three-year deals to televise the Australian Masters and the nation's richest event, the Perth International.
The Australian Masters, won last summer by Scott, was shown by Channel Nine from 2009 to 2011. Seven was the long-time TV host of the Masters before the event's shift in 2009 from Huntingdale to a rotation through Melbourne's sand-belt courses.
The Australian Open remains a Seven tournament while the PGA Championship will be carried by Ten.
The World Cup of Golf,will be hosted at Royal Melbourne in November. Channel 10 has secured the TV rights for the international teams event.
"This is a wonderful result for both the PGA Tour of Australasia and golf fans," PGA chief executive Brian Thorburn said.
Golf coverage on free-to-air TV has been fading since the Greg Norman golden era, but it is understood Queenslander Scott's breakthrough as the first Aussie to win the green jacket at Augusta in April was central to Seven's renewed interest in the sport.
While preparing for the second international major of the year, the US Open, Scott added the PGA Championship, a week before the Aussie Masters, to his domestic schedule.
Scott's best finish at the event is fourth, and he said adding his name to the winners' list remained a goal.
"To be able to play at home at Royal Pines is going to be a lot of fun," Scott said. "All my friends and family will be out there so it's going to be exciting way to start.
"The Gold Coast has been so supportive of me my whole career, so it's a good chance for me to hopefully go out and say thanks to them and play well and hopefully win one on the Goldy.
"The PGA is an amazing event - the history of winners there is Australia's finest and I'd certainly like to put my name on that trophy."
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Funny Old Game
It’s the only sport where rain-gear is an equipment required. Look in any avid golfer’s bag and you will find rain pants and jacket with a hood or rain hat. There will be some dry towels and gloves buried in one of those zippered compartments (probably wrapped in a plastic bag).
Tournaments of all kinds are played in rain and will only be halted with the sight of lightning or when water is deep enough on putting surfaces to make it impossible to roll the ball.
We asked players why they play in the rain and got some interesting answers.
“I play in the rain because the golf course is less crowded and I can get the round in earlier,” said one regular.
“A little rain and no sun glare is comfortable and no sunscreen is necessary,” added his playing partner.
Another guy at commented, “_I like it when the greens are soft enough that you can play it right at the flag and the ball will stop.”_
One female player said “It beats doing housework at home.”
Now is a good time get your father that umbrella so he can stay out of harms way!
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What's in the bag
Name: Phil MICKELSON
Age: 43 Professional Wins: 49 Clubs: Callaway
Fairway Wood: X Hot 3 Deep
Wedge: X Series Jaws CC Irons: X Forged Irons
Rose first came to prominence as an amateur at the 1998 Open Championship where he holed a dramatic shot from the rough at the final hole to finish in a tie for fourth place.
He won the 2007 Order of Merit on the European Tour and was ranked in the World top ten for 34 weeks between November 2007 and July 2008.
In March 2012, Rose won his first World Golf Championship event at the WGC-Cadillac Championship and as a result he re-entered the world top-10.
Now he can boas the 2013 US Open to his record.
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Hot Picks |
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Old clubs?We'll buy them from you...
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PRO TIP:Stand Tall and Deliver
Having the correct posture at address allows a golfer to be able to make a decent turn, back and through to the golf ball.
Here are a few tips to accomplish the proper golf posture:
• Stand tall with a slight knee bend from the hips.
• You should feel a pelvic tilt (butt out) with a flat back as you bend over.
• Your weight should be on the balls of your feet.
• You want a slight tilt with your spine away from the target so your lead shoulder is slightly higher than your trailing shoulder.
• Your arms should hang straight down from your body and you should then grip the club from there.
Once you are in this correct posture you should feel very stable over the ball. If someone came up and pushed you, the chances are you would not fall over.
Try having someone push you once you get in your posture and see how balanced and stable you are.
Happy golfing
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David Fearns (PGA)
Remember, We Buy, Swap and Sell Used Golf Clubs. Send us your trade in!
Golf Traders Have a good week, David Fearns (PGA) Golf Traders Golf Traders is a Used Golf Clubs Specialist. We buy, swap and sell used golf clubs |
