Stuff About Golf!

Should Golfers Be Paid an Appearance Fee?

2012-01-25T04:07:00.000-08:00

It is common knowledge that Tiger Woods has been paid large appearance fees to take part in golf tournaments, particularly in the Middle East. Last year it was claimed that Woods was paid more that the first prize money that was being offered for the Dubai Desert Classic, just for playing in the event. And this year he is being paid appearance money to play in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship too.

The organisers of these events know that the appearance of Tiger Woods in their event will not only guarantee larger crowds on the day but also give them a larger global television audience and so wider coverage for the event sponsors. This in turn makes it more likely for them to get sponsors for the event and for the event to be successful. So is it a win win situation?

Well one of the problems is that that PGA tour does not allow players to be paid appearance fees, whereas the European Tour has no rules against it, although it does not advocate the practice. So, if there is a choice between playing in a PGA event or a European Tour event, and the player will get paid a large appearance fee for the European Tour one, then there may not be a big choice to be made.

So maybe it is up to either the European Tour to ban the practice (and there would be a lot of big money behind the opposition to this) or else for the PGA Tour to allow it.

Luke Donald Makes History

2011-12-11T03:06:00.000-08:00

Luke Donald today secured his place in history by taking the number one spot for earnings on both sides of the pond. No-one has previously had the top level of earnings in both the US and the European Tour so this is truly a first. Added on to this he is number one in the world so things couldn't be going any better for him golf-wise.

His personal life has had a couple of highs and lows recently with the birth of his second daughter coming shortly after the death of his father.

Donald just needed to finish higher than 10th at the Dubai World Championship to secure the top earnings spot for the European tour and the only player that could beat him was Rory McIlroy - who needed to win - but he was struggling with illness over the last couple of weeks.

Tiger Woods Comeback?

2011-12-06T09:52:00.000-08:00

So is it possible that the Tiger Woods comeback that we have all been waiting for, might actually now happen? With his first win for over 2 years, Tiger won the Chevron World Challenge by 1 shot from Zach Johnson. I would imagine that at times Tiger had wondered himself if this win would ever come, after a massive comeback sparked from not only his knee injury but also the psychological damage caused by the sex scandal and his divorce.
It seems that most of the other players are happy that Tiger is back in the game - after all it brings more attention, media coverage and even sponsorship to golf which consequently will likely mean higher levels of prize money and gate receipts etc which is all good for golf.

Dubai Desert Classic Marshalling Opportunities

2011-11-20T03:45:00.000-08:00

Although the next big event in golf is the Dubai World Championship, which is a culmination of the Race to Dubai taking place in early December, if you are interested in being a marshal at a high profile golf event then registration is now open for the Dubai Desert Classic Volunteers.

Having been a volunteer marshall at this event 3 times in the past I can highly recommend it. If you have not been a golf marshall before then sign up and you will be shown what you need to do. If it is your first time then make sure you volunteer for the Wednesday pro-am as this gives you an opportunity to learn the ropes in a slightly more relaxed environment - and usually there are not so many spectators at the Pro-Am event. if you are a spectator then I recommend you GO to the Pro-am as this is the one day when you are allowed to take cameras and get autographs from the players and mostly they are very happy to do this. I have chatted to quite a few players on the Pro-Am day and been maybe one of only a handful of spectators on the course.

Anyway, back to the marshalling. You need to volunteer early, so get your name down now. You can find the volunteer registration form here. And a note to female volunteers, the shirts come very small so choose maybe a size larger than you would normally! Ideally they like you to sign up for at least 3 days, if not more, and in the past they have turned down anyone not offering to do 4 or 5 days as they usually have a lot of volunteers. The marshalling basically involves helping the public find their way around the course and ensuring that the players are safe and not disturbed by anyone by keeping the spectators quiet and only in the places where they are meant to be! It can be tiring work as you may end up walking the course 3 or 4 times but it is very enjoyable and you usually get to see a good bit of golf in your off times. You also may be able to play a round on the Emirates Golf Club Majlis course where the event is held as they have a volunteer golf day a week or so after the tournament. You are given free meals and access to the course but the majority of volunteer jobs are obviously not paid.

And to prove my point, here is a picture of myself and Rory McIlroy at the Dubai Desert Classic!

More Tiger Woods Controversy

2011-11-10T01:57:00.000-08:00

So there was more controversy surrounding Tiger Woods recently - or more to the point his ex-caddy Steve Williams. On receiving an award for best caddy celebration at the annual golf caddy awards for his post match celebration at the Bridgstone Invitational where Adam Scott had his first big win, Williams was alleged to have said about Woods "I wanted to shove it up that black a***hole"

Tiger Woods says that Williams is not racist and to be honest, to describe a part of his body as black - when it is - to me does not make him a racist. If Tiger Woods said about Williams "I wanted to shove it up his white..." then would that be described as racist? I somehow doubt it. Tiger Woods is black and I say that as a fact, if people reading something describing a part of someone's body as the colour that it is then isn't that their problem to believe the word 'black' to be racist? OK yes it was an insult but if Tiger Woods stands up for Williams and says he is not racist then maybe we should assume he didn't mean it in that context.

Sometimes it just seems that we are taking things a bit too far and need to take a look at things a bit more closely before calling the racist card. I am not denying that there is racism out there but to aggravate a situation by tarring it with that brush only serves to stir up controversy like the media want.

Tiger Woods New Caddie

2011-09-26T03:10:00.000-07:00

So Tiger Woods has a new caddie at last after the slightly unceremonious dumping of Steve Williams who then went on to become caddie for Adam Scot. Tiger has been slightly in limbo since the parting with Williams but now hopes to get back on track with his new caddie, Joe LaCava.

LaCava had been working for Dustin Johnson who is one of the up and coming names in golf and at age 27 has a great future in the game. Prior to that LaCava had worked for Fred Couples for 20 years.

According to Tiger's website, Joe and Tiger had been friends for years and Tiger is very excited to be working with Joe. Their first tournament together will be the frys.com open on Octber 6-9.

So, now that Tiger Woods has settled on a caddie could this be the start of a real comeback? It certainly gives him some stability that has been missing since Williams left and will psychologically feel like a new start if nothing else.

Looking For a Set of Cheap Golf Clubs?

2011-09-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

Maybe you are just starting out playing golf and you are looking for your first set of clubs, maybe you currently have an old set that was given to you (and frankly is a bit old and out of date), or maybe you are looking for a set of golf clubs as a present for someone who wants to start playing: whatever the circumstances there are plenty of golf club sets available for under $200 that should suit beginner or intermediate golfers.

Check out a selection of cheap golf clubs here. If you are looking for a great value set of women's golf clubs costing under $200 then check out these cheap ladies golf clubs.

An Evening With Davis Love III and Jose Maria Olazabal

2011-09-15T23:08:00.000-07:00

If you want to attend an evening with the Ryder Cup captains of 2012, Davis Love III and Jose Maria Olazabal then tickets are currently on sale for an event taking place on Monday September 26 at the Chicago Theatre. Hear insights into how the whole spectacle of the Ryder Cup comes together and get behind the scenes info from them and other special guests.Tickets are a very reasonable $55 and you can get them here.

Adam Scott's Long Putter

2011-09-15T04:59:00.001-07:00

So it is interesting to see that long putters are coming to the fore in golf. It all started with Adam Scott winning the Bridgestone Invitational as well as Keegan Bradley winning the PGA, both with belly putters. So I had a bit of a look around what was available in terms of long or belly putters and there wasn't a huge amount but check out this article on how to get hold of one, including the same one that Adam Scott uses.Belly Putters

2012 PGA Tickets on Sale Sunday

2011-08-10T03:38:00.000-07:00

The last few tickets for the 2012 PGA Championship will be on sale from Sunday. They are likely to be sold out quickly as the ticket numbers have been reduced by 30% to enhance the viewing experience. Sign up for tickets here.

TV Coverage at the Bridgestone Invitational

2011-08-07T03:47:00.000-07:00

I for one was somewhat disappointed in the coverage by the US TV media of the Bridgestone International Golf Tournament. In case they hadn't realised, there are other golfers apart from Tiger Woods. OK so we all want to see a few shots of how he is doing on his latest comeback, but to blatantly ignore golfers who are shooting up the leaderboard is just plain annoying, if not ridiculous.

With Tiger shooting an OK but not exceptional first couple of rounds, all focus was on him, the two Australians at the top of the leaderboard (Adam Scott and Jason Day) and a few others in the field. However, making a great run was Luke Donald, the world's number 1 (who'd have thought it watching the coverage?) to at one point, 3rd place. I think we may have seen him for a couple of seconds as he finished his round on the 18th but that was about it.

Hopefully this blatant favouritism which only goes to compound the myth that is Tiger, will stop on the final day.

Bahrain Dropped from 2012 European Tour

2011-08-02T10:47:00.000-07:00

Bahrain has temporarily been dropped from the schedule of events for the 2012 European tour golf due to the continued political uncertainty in the kingdom. The event, which was won last year by Paul Casey, was due to be played in January as part of the 'Desert Swing' events which also include Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Although the venue will remain on the books as a possible for later years, it will be passed over this year.

Tiger Woods Comeback Number...?

2011-07-30T03:36:00.000-07:00

So Tiger Woods has announced that he is coming back to play in a tournament for the first time since he stepped down and headed off for treatment on his injured knee 11 weeks ago. The big question is, was that long enough to fully recover from the ligament problems and also to get in enough practice for his game to be back on track? Tiger will play in the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio next week, a tournament that he has won 7 times.

The other big question is - who will be Tiger Woods caddie at the event? He has not yet announced and permanent replacement for Steve Williams who he sacked recently and it is thought he could have a temporary replacement until he decides on a permanent one.

Tiger Woods Caddie is Sacked

2011-07-23T02:50:00.000-07:00

So Tiger Woods thinks it is time for a change and has let go of/sacked/parted company with (whatever you want to call it) his caddie Steve Williams. Williams had been Tiger Woods caddie for 12 years and had been with him for 13 of his 14 major victories. From Tiger's side all seemed amicable and he wished his former caddie well but from Williams side it looked like a different story - it seems that Steve Williams was shocked with this news and not completely happy.

However, Williams has walked straight into his next job as he will now be permanent caddie for Adam Scott, the upcoming Australian golfer who he has recently caddied for in the US Open and the Open. As Williams is from New Zealand and Scott Australian, this could be a good set up for them both.

So who is next to be Tiger Woods caddie? We'll just have to wait and see!

Darren Clarke wins the Open!

2011-07-18T01:57:00.000-07:00

So with a great show of ball striking particularly over the last 2 days of the tournament, Darren Clarke became one of the most popular winners of the Open in recent years. In fact he was the first British winner this century since Paul Lawrie won in 1999.

The weekend bought tough conditions for golf with intermittent torrential rain and some dry spells. The players braved the weather and after day 3 Clarke was already in the lead. it was close on day 4 when Phil Mickleson hit a great front 9 to put himself level with Clarke and in contention. However, at the moment that Mickleson missed an 18 inch tap in and Clarke bunny-hopped his ball over the bunker and on to the green, the game turned and Clarke was in charge until the end. Dustin Johnson out in a spirited attack to secure joint 2nd with Mickleson and there was no doubt that the Guinness would be flowing for Clarke until the early hours!

The Open Starts Tomorrow

2011-07-13T15:24:00.000-07:00

So the Open at Royal St George's in Sandwich, Kent starts tomorrow and the pressure is rising on Rory McIlroy to get a 2nd Major title. However, no-one has won a 2nd major in a row after winning their first one, since before the war, so past history says the chances are slim! Waiting in the wings for their first major titles are Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, the golf world number 1 and 2, who are both currently on good form. The Open has not been won by an Englishman since Nick Faldo won it in 1992.

Weather reports look a bit bleak with rain predicted over the weekend and possible high winds on Sunday so the course could be quite unpredictable. Which could set the scene for a fascinating battle!

Tiger Woods Out of the Open

2011-07-07T05:20:00.000-07:00

So yesterday Tiger Woods announced that he was not fit enough to take part in the Open next week. He said that he will not take part in any more tournaments until he is fully fit which may be some time by the sounds of things. he still thinks that his best years are ahead of him but as the years creep by and he slides down the rankings I have to ask if he will ever get back to the top of the tree? There are plenty of hot young golfers waiting in the wings to take his crown as well as the current top golfers Lee Westwood, Luke Donald and Martin Kaymer.

Ryder Cup Volunteers Wanted

2011-07-01T06:31:00.000-07:00

So if you want to be a Ryder Cup volunteer for 2012 at Medinah Country Club, then the volunteer registration will begin on 11 July 2011 at 8am. There are a few jobs that you can do as a Ryder Cup volunteer including being a marshal around the golf course, ensuring that the players have a quiet and troublefree round of golf and the spectators are kept informed and kept quiet!

All Ryder Cup Volunteer assignments are made on a first come, first served basis so be sure to get to the RyderCup.com website early to secure your spot.

If you haven't yet registered for Ryder Cup volunteer information then you can do so here.

US Open Golf Prize Money

2011-06-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

So I was just checking out the prize money for the US Open 2011. No wonder those guys agonise over the top spots! For Rory McIlroy who walked away with the tournament, he also took with him a cheque for $1,440,000 for his trouble, not bad! However, drop back to second place and you have lost the price of a rather nice house by only winning $865,000 (still not to be sniffed at!). Then for the 4 players tied for 3rd place, they might have kicked themselves for losing the chance of a couple of spare Ferraris with a prize each of $364,241.

But the one I feel most sorry for, although I shouldn't as he himself doesn't seem to be bothered by it, is Patrick Cantlay, the leading amateur, who tied for 21st place. For this he would have got $97,242 except that he gets nothing, due to his amateur status.

Amateur Patrick Cantlay Shoots 60!

2011-06-25T03:58:00.000-07:00

So, riding on the back of his great result at the US open where he won the title of lowest shooting amateur, Patrick Cantlay now shoots the lowest ever score by an amateur in a PGA tour event! The round of 60 came on a day that the 19 year old from the US actually played two rounds, his first and second, on the same day, with the 60 following a 67, at the Travelers Championship.

The feat obviously didn't pass Rory McIlroy, who had stood next to him at the US Open awards ceremony, by, as he tweeted "Patrick Cantlay......... RESPECT!!" shortly afterwards.

So it looks like Patrick Cantlay is another young golfer to look out for. It seems right now that there is some great talent out there that is bringing more welcome attention to the game, away from the whole Tiger Woods scenario, which was at one time threatening to monopolise the game.

I'll be keeping an eye out for Patrick Cantlay in the future - wonder when he will turn professional!

Rory McIlroy Wins The US Open

2011-06-23T10:19:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the late posting of this but the excitement got the better of me! Was so glad that Rory managed to hold on (with style) and win the US Open last Sunday. I have to admit I had my doubts after the Masters and it was only when he got to the 17th that I really believed he was going to win it!

Anyway, he won the US Open in style and broke lots of records on the way, so let's hope that this is the first of Rory McIlroy's major wins. I'm sure that he will win many more tournaments in the future as, after all, he is only 22 right now.

Watch out Tiger Woods!

US Open Day 3 - Rory Still in Charge

2011-06-18T17:05:00.000-07:00

So after day 3 Rory is still 8 shots ahead of the pack at 14 under with YE Yang behind in second place on 6 under par. Good rounds by Lee Westwood and Jason Day put them back in contention at 5 under so it is just left to see if Rory can hold it together for day 4.

Golf: US Open First Day

2011-06-17T01:28:00.000-07:00

So with no Tiger Woods in the US open this year the attention turned to the many other top golfers out there. In a way I think it is good that Tiger is not there - it kind of detracts from the other players when all of the media attention is on him. For example, at the Dubai Desert classic Tiger had his own set of marshalls who walked around with ropes following him round the course as everyone wanted to be near him, it was really crazy and in a way ridiculous.

Don't get me wrong, I think Tiger has done a lot for golf and it is good that he gets a lot of media attention because that means that golf itself does to.

Anyway, Rory Mcilroy put in a good show in the first round with an amazing 6 under par, 3 shots ahead of his nearest rival. he didn't really put a foot wrong on the tricky course that was not expected to yield too many under par performances. He will be the first one to admit that he has to hold it together for the whole tournament to actually get a result, particularly after the famous Masters meltdown, but he seems to be a young guy with an old head on his shoulders so is bound to come back from that.

Graeme McDowell, the defending champion at the US Open also put in a solid performance which was what he needed to start off his campaign in a steady way with still a perfectly good chance of taking a second win if he maintains his consistency.

Many commentators have said that it will not be a huge under par score at the end of the US open as the course is so hard, so we will look forward to seeing how the tournament progresses.

Golf Clubs Under $200

2011-06-12T06:34:00.000-07:00

So if you are looking for golf clubs for under $200 then check out my article that lists golf clubs for men and women that you can buy for under $200 and some golf club sets that are under $100.

Tiger Woods Out of the US Open

2011-06-08T14:41:00.000-07:00

So for the first time in 14 years Tiger woods will not be taking part in the US Open. The knee injury that he has will put him out of action for a while and although it looked like he was doing everything that he could to try and get to the US Open, at the end of the day you can't push yourself that hard when your body is just not fit enough.

The US Open Golf Championship takes place from 13th to the 19th June with the defending champion Graeme McDowell trying to head off all challengers. It will be a tough job for him to regain the title I think as his form has not been completely consistent in the past few months, albeit he has had some good rounds of golf in there.

Wales Open - Back at Celtic Manor

2011-06-03T02:46:00.000-07:00

So it is good to see some of the top golfers back at Celtic Manor, the scene of the 2010 Ryder Cup, for the Saab Wales Open. The course is looking great with the fairways bathed in sunshine this time, rather than the torrential rain that dogged the Ryder Cup and delayed it by a day. With Graeme McDowell defending his title, there are plenty of other top players there to try and take it from him...

Luke Donald - World Golf Number 1

2011-05-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

So Luke Donald can celebrate his victory over Lee Westwood in the PGA Championship at Wentworth which not only gave him the tournament victory but also the golf world number 1 spot. All Donald needed to do to get the number 1 spot was to finish higher than Westwood. Well it was a close run thing with the tournament going to a play off at the final hole which Donald took on the first go as Westwood hit his ball into the newly configured water hazard. Both players had played some great golf shots (also some not so good one) in a bit of a controversial tournament in terms of the course - which ended in a winning score of 6 under for each of them after 72 holes - not a great score compared to other tournaments so the course really must have been tough.

Whether this is good for golf is debatable as spectators often want to see birdies, eagles etc going in and they didn't see so much of that on this course.

PGA Championship Golf at Wentworth

2011-05-28T12:52:00.000-07:00

So the golf at Wentworth has been interesting! Some of the golfers have complained that they don't like the course and the way it has been remodelled (most notably Ian Poulter). The scoring has not been particularly low (apart from Luke Donald's 64 on the first day) and today some of the shots could have been hit by, well, me actually! With Manassero leading at the end of day 3 it is still anyone's game and with some added interest that if Luke Donald finishes ahead of Lee Westwood then he will take the golf world number one spot.

So hopefully we will see some better golf played on the last day with a few more birdies and eagles rather than the 7's and 8's that were showing up on a few scorecards...

Tiger Woods To Fall Out of the Top 10

2011-05-21T06:14:00.000-07:00

For the first time since 1997 Tiger Woods will fall out of the golf world rankings top ten list on Monday. His ranking has been dropping all this year as 3 particular golfers vie for the top spot - Lee Westwood, who is the current world number 1, Luke Donald and Martin Kaymer. The number 1 spot has changed hands a few times this year, a change from the times when it was dominated by Woods for years on end.

Seve Ballesteros Dies at Age 54

2011-05-07T05:35:00.000-07:00

Well today is a sad day for golf with the death of Seve Ballesteros at the age of just 54 after fighting a brain tumour for around 2 years. He had such a huge impact on golfers all around the world and will be sorely missed by all. I remember watching him as a teenager in the eighties and wondering at his ability to make such great shots.

A true golfing legend, RIP Seve Ballesteros

Golf Skills Subliminal MP3

2011-05-03T03:04:00.000-07:00

Subliminal MP3s are things that I use myself to improve many aspects of my life - they are basically affirmations that are recorded and played back subliminally so that your subconscious mind takes in all the information. You can get general information about Subliminal MP3s here as well as downloading 3 free subliminals. There is a specific Golf Skills Trainer subliminal that should help improve your game with regular listening. This MP3 will:

help you to improve your specific golf skills such as your swing, body positioning, and technique. You will become more aware of minute details and tiny errors and aim to correct them one by one. You will take a real methodological and pragmatic approach to your golf, which leads to the next point:
It will make sure you take your training and practice seriously. You will practice harder and longer than ever before. You will be dedicated, you won't cut corners, and you will always put those extra few shots in. This will help you to improve at a faster rate.

Golf- Westwood Winning Again At The Number 1 Spot

2011-05-03T02:51:00.000-07:00

So it seems that Lee Westwood is back on form after regaining his number one spot recently and getting 2 wins in a row to cement that position. Since Tiger Woods fell from holding the number one spot in golf for so long there has been a bit of to-ing and fro-ing with the number one spot with a few contenders up for it including Luke Donald and Martin Kaymer. This does make golf a bit more interesting in my view rather than the monopoly held by Woods so let's hope there are more golfers up there vying for the number 1 spot in the next few years.

Matteo Manassero Wins the Malaysian Open

2011-04-17T02:54:00.000-07:00

Well done to 17 year old wonder kid Matteo Manassero for winning the Malaysian open golf tournament with a score of 16 under par by one stroke from Gregory Bourdy with Rory McIlroy 1 stroke further back at -14. Manassero, who is 18 on Tuesday led after day 3 and there were plenty of players in the mix who could have won on the back 9 on the final day, including McIlroy, who seems to have quickly forgotten his Masters meltdown from last week.

The weather conditions were a bit of a struggle over the 4 days with delays and players finishing their 3rd round on the 4th day but a round of 68 including a great eagle 3 at the 10th, enabled Manassero to be the youngest golfer to win the tournament.

A great birthday present for the young golfer who turns 18 on Tuesday.

Tiger Woods Favourite to Win the US Open in June

2011-04-13T03:05:00.000-07:00

So finally Tiger Woods has hit some good form after the last few months of meltdowns and pretty average rounds of golf. He showed in The Masters last week that he possibly still has what it takes to win majors when some people had doubted that he would ever come back to form. Leading the tournament for a short while on the final day, I for one was shocked that he might actually go on to win the Masters. As it happened, we all know that he didn't and Charl Schwartzl of South Africa took the title after Rory McIlroy had a last day meltdown, but at least he showed that he was still in contention.

So, William Hill have him as favourite to win the US Open which takes place from 16-19th June at Bethesda, Maryland. The odds on Tiger Woods winning the US Open currently stand at 6-1 with Phil Mickleson at 8-1, Luke Donald at 14-1 and Lee Westwood at 16-1. Rory McIlroy, who is determined to come back from his last day meltdown at the Masters, is at 25-1.

Rory McIlroy Has A Meltdown at the Masters

2011-04-11T06:06:00.000-07:00

Well I for one am a big fan of Rory McIlroy and this week he had an amazing start to the Masters. Not many players can say that they led the Masters on all of the first 3 days and having gone into the last day with a 4 shot lead, the pressure was really on Rory McIlroy to perform. However, what we need to remember is that he is still only 21 years old. A lot of pressure has been put on him in recent years and he has had to live with being called a lot of things, including the next Tiger Woods.

So, going into the last day of the Masters with a lead is never an easy thing for anyone, let alone a 21 year old hoping to win his first major. He did get off to a good start with a perfect tee shot at the 1st but I think you could see from his demeanor that he knew the kind of pressure that he was under.

It was a good experience for him and a learning curve as he himself said on his twitter feed and he will no doubt come out of it stronger. He is such a gracious and likable guy that he always wins over the supporters with his 'boy next door' kind of demeanor and his honest interviews. Compare his interview after the 3rd round with the monosyllabic replies of Tiger Woods and you can see why he is going to gain more and more fans.

Golf Courses in Dubai

2011-03-06T20:41:00.000-08:00

So the golf courses in Dubai overall are excellent and many people come over just for a golf holiday here. The facilities are 5 star in most of them and the courses are often championship standard. Check out this review of the Dubai Golf courses if you want more information.

Tiger Spitting Is Not His Biggest Problem

2011-02-18T03:26:00.000-08:00

So with all the publicity about Tiger Woods spitting on the 12th green at the Dubai Desert Classic last Sunday still reverberating around, I feel there is something more important that he needs to address if he wants to get his reputation back.

Anyone who went to watch the Pro-Am at the Dubai Desert Classic will have seen Tiger playing his rounds with 3 guys, one of whom was a Colonel in the US army who was flown in to play with Tiger, having won a competition to play in the Pro-Am. However, what they also would have noted was the Tiger didn't really interact much with these guys, the other 2 of which had probably paid huge bucks to play with him. Instead the only person (of the many I should say) that were on the fairways/greens/tees with him that he interacted with was a blonde young lady who was caddying for one of the amateur players.

Surely Tiger needs to sort out this kind of behaviour if he is going to get any of his reputation back...

Quiros Wins, Westwood Up A Tree!

2011-02-13T05:51:00.000-08:00

So on the final day of the Dubai Desert Classic Alvaro Quiros wins on 11 under par. However, it could have been anyone's tournament as the scores were pretty close and bar a couple of players, scoring low was hard due to another day of high winds. I was marshalling with Lee Westwood and Peter Hansen and up to the end of the 16th Westwood was still in contention. However his tee shot off the 17th went into a palm tree and failed to come down. He therefore had to go back to the tee and take another tee shot which ended up in a double bogey. After that it went downhill when both he and Hansen went into the water at 18th where they had to really go for it or know they would not stand a chance of winning. Congrats to Quiros on his win and next time I will wear more sunscreen :-)

First Day of the Dubai Desert Classic

2011-02-10T06:13:00.000-08:00

So today the Dubai Desert Classic kicked off with the top three golfers in the world all vying for a win. Lee Westwood, Tiger Woods and Martin Kaymer played as a threesome today but in the end none of those 3 was top of the leaderboard at the end of play. Instead the winner from a few years ago, Rory McIlroy, ended the day on 7 under which gave him a 2 shot lead. However shot of the day was from David Howell who got a hole in one at the 7th and won 2 first class Emirates flights for his trouble. As it happened I had been marshalling with David Howell yesterday (see pic) and he is such a nice guy so I am really pleased for him. The usual circus surrounding Tiger Woods went on with large crowds following that group around and although he had a better back 9, he didn't seriously trouble the leaderboard on day 1, ending on 1 under par.

Want To Play Golf With Tiger Woods?

2010-12-21T02:11:00.000-08:00

It must be pretty much every golfer's dream to play a round of golf with the legend that is Tiger Woods. Well now this will become reality for one golfer at the Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am. The organisers are offering one place to play with Tiger, along with 2 other amateur golfers on February 9th 2011.

So, all you need to do is go to the website and register there. You must have a valid handicap to register (max 28 for men and 30 for ladies).

Martin Kaymer Wins the Race To Dubai

2010-11-28T09:24:00.000-08:00

So today was the last day of the Dubai World Championship and the culmination of the Race to Dubai. I was volunteering as a marshall for this tournament, as I did last year, which is a great way to feel part of the action. Going in to the tournament there were only 2 players who could win the race to Dubai - Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell. The odds were weighted in Kaymer's favour as he went in as leader and it was up to McDowell to take the title from him. Unfortunately McDowell was not completely on his game and so Kaymer clinched it with a solid performance.

The DWC tournament title itself was a close battle with Ian Poulter and Robert Karlsson taking it to a play-off which was re-runs of the long 18th hole. The first run saw them both sink brilliant birdies but Poulter came unstuck at the 2nd go when he ended up in the bark from his tee shot. They both hit the green on their 3rd shot but Kaymer was about 4 feet away with Poulter having a much longer putt. Unfortunately Poulter was penalised on the green for replacing his ball on his marker after he lifted it. However, Karlsson sank his putt which meant that even without the penalty he would have won as Poulter missed his.

For me it was a great 5 days (including the Pro-Am) where you get a chance to get up close to the top players, lots of walking in the beautiful sunshine and and a chance to be part of a major event. Although it was exhausting I will hopefully be back next year doing it again!

First Day of the Dubai World Championship Tomorrow!

2010-11-24T06:08:00.000-08:00

So tomorrow brings the start of the Dubai World Championship and the start of the end of the Race to Dubai! I am reporting for marshalling duties quite late in the day (11am) so should be going out with one of the later groups that includes the guys at the top of the list - perhaps Ian Poulter and Ernie Els or maybe Schwarzel and Jimenez or possibly one of the Molinari brothers - in any case I don't mind as they are all great and it is set to be a fabulous tournament! Just remember, no cameras and turn your phones off or I will be battering you over the head with an exceedingly large Quiet Please sign that they have given us this year!

Dubai World Championship Pro-Am

2010-11-23T07:04:00.000-08:00

So today I was a marshall at the pro-am. Now from my point of view this is the best job in the world. You get to walk round the course with a top player who is relaxed and chatty and you can get photos and autographs and even some hints and tips. I don't know why more people don't go to watch the pro-am!

Me and Graeme McDowell

Today I was with Graeme McDowell. You can choose who you marshall with on a first come first served basis so I got there early to pick someone I really wanted to see. He was great and a really friendly guy as most of them seem to be on these days where they are playing primarily for their sponsors. Graeme is all keyed up to winning the Race to Dubai which is between him and Martin Kaymer.

Gearing Up For The Race To Dubai

2010-11-15T04:33:00.000-08:00

So the players are finishing up the last tournaments before the Dubai World Championship next week which is the last event in the Race to Dubai. Some of the players, including Graeme McDowell, are in Hong Kong although Martin Kaymer, who is currently in the lead, is giving that tournament a miss.

I will be marshalling at the Dubai World Championships again this year. Am particularly looking forward to the pro-am where the players are relaxed and chatty and the crowds are not huge so come on down if you get the chance.

Europe Win Back The Ryder Cup!

2010-10-08T02:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the late posting, as I am sure you are all aware, Europe won back the Ryder cup by a slim margin of 14.5 to 13.5 points. In the end it all came down to the last singles match of the day with Graeme McDowell and Hunter Mahan. At the start of the day, with the big lead that Europe had, almost no-one would have predicted this! So it ended on the 17th where McDowell just needed to halve the hole to win the point for the Europeans. Hunter Mahan graciously conceded the hole so that McDowell didn't need to putt out and the celebrations began. Well done Europe!

Day 4 - Singles Matches

2010-10-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

So, day 3 ends in a whitewash by Europe with scores finishing at 9.5 to 6.5. Day 4 of the singles brings the following matches:

Westwood v Stricker
McIlroy v Cink
Donald v Furyk
Kaymer v D Johnson
Poulter v Kuchar
Fisher v Overton
Jimenez v Watson
F Molinari v Woods
E Molinari v Fowler
Hanson v Mickelson
Harrington v Z Johnson
McDowell v Mahan

Ryder Cup - Day 3

2010-10-03T04:22:00.000-07:00

So with the bad weather hitting the course again, the Ryder Cup is postponed for another 5 hours or so until a 1.30pm start. Sunday should see the finish of the revised 3rd session of fourballs and foursomes but is unlikely to see the start of the singles which will probably start on Monday. This is the first time in Ryder Cup history that play has gone on til the Monday!

At the end of Day 2 the USA have a 2 point lead with the scores at USA 6, Europe 4 - but the advantage is with the Europeans going in to the 3rd day as they are up in all 6 matches that are in play, so it is certainly all to play for!

Ryder Cup - Next Pairings Announced

2010-10-02T07:28:00.000-07:00

So the pairings for the next session are as follows:

1. Harrington/Fisher v Furyk/D Johnson (Fourball)
2. Hanson/Jimenez v Watson/Overton (Fourball)
3. E & F Molinari v Cink/Kuchar (Fourball)
4. Poulter/Kaymer v Mickelson/Fowler (Fourball)
5. Donald/Westwood v Stricker/Woods (Foursomes)
6. McDowell/McIlroy v Z Johnson/Mahan (Foursomes)

Ryder Cup Session 2 - Pairings for the Foursomes

2010-10-02T02:28:00.000-07:00

Pairings are as follows (but may actually not go out in this order):

10.57am
Molinari Brothers v Z Johnson/Mahan

11.09am
Westwood/Kaymer v Furyk/Fowler

11.21am
Jimenez/Hanson v Woods/Stricker

11.33am
Harrington/Fisher v Mickelson/D Johnson

11.45am
Poulter/Donald v Watson/Overton

11.57am
McDowell/McIlroy v Cink/Kuchar

Ryder Cup Sessions Amended

2010-10-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

So because of the heavy rain and the lack of play today (Friday) the matches have been amended to try and fit them in better to finish possibly still on Sunday and the amended sessions are as follows:

Session 2: 6 Foursomes
Session 3: 2 Foursomes & 4 Fourballs
Session 4: 12 Singles

Ryder Cup Foursomes - How The Format Works

2010-10-01T01:40:00.000-07:00

So the afternoon format for the Ryder Cup is Foursomes. In this format 2 players make up each team from Europe and USA and each team only plays 1 ball between them. The first player hits the golf ball and then his partner takes the next shot and so on until the ball is holed. Whichever team gets the lowest score on each hole wins the point (or the hole is halved is they both score the same).

Ryder Cup Fourballs - The First Pairings

2010-09-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

So the first pairings have been announced for the Fourballs for Friday morning and they are as follows:

Tee-Off	Europe	USA
7.45am	Westwood & Kaymer	Mickelson & D Johnson
8.00am	McIlroy & McDowell	Cink & Kuchar
8.15am	Poulter & Fisher	Stricker & Woods
8.30am	Donald & Harrington	Watson & Overton

Ryder Cup First Round - Fourball Explained

2010-09-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

So the first game of the Ryder Cup Golf Tournament is the Fourball on Friday morning. So what is a Fourball format? Well, each match is made up of 2 golfers each from the US and Europe and there are 4 matches - and so 8 players from each team take part. Each player plays their own ball and the player with the best score at each hole takes the point for that hole for their team. If one player from each side has the same score then the hold is halved. At the end of the 18 holes (or before if they are more points ahead than there are holes remaining) the team with the most points wins for that match and gets one point for their team (or the point is halved if they have the same number of points).

Here Comes the Ryder Cup!

2010-09-29T01:48:00.000-07:00

So only a couple of days before the Ryder Cup kicks off in Cardiff, Wales and the teams are as follows:
USA
Captain: Corey Pavin
Team Members: Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton, Matt Kuchar, Stewart Cink, Rickie Fowler, Zach Johnson, Tiger Woods.
Europe
Team Captain: Colin Montgomerie
Team Members: Luke Donald, Ross Fisher, Peter Hanson, Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Rory Mcilroy, Edoardo Molinari, Francesco Molinari, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood.
Looking forward to some great golf!

2nd Day at the Open at St Andrews

2010-07-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

So it's all change on day 2 with lots going on and a lot of players being affected by the change in the weather. There was an hour's break in play in the afternoon when the wind just got too much and the course was deemed unplayable with balls being blown on the greens.

Louis Oosthuizen took the lead away from Rory McIlroy as he played off early before the wind hit and McIlroy got sidetracked by the swirling wind and is currently struggling on 7 over for the day. There are plenty of players still in it including Tiger Woods - who knows what might happen with the weather tomorrow?!

The Open Starts Today!

2010-07-15T03:58:00.000-07:00

So, I'm watching the first day of the open and the thing that hits me most I have to say is the fashion!! There are some guys out there in some very bright colours just to add a bit of a dash to the slightly dour Scottish weather. John Daly is in a mixture of blue and pink with purple paisley trousers, Tiger Woods has a bright purple/pink top on, of course there are the usual mixes of greys, blacks and blues too but for those who want to stand out and make a statement they are really going for it and looking pretty good for the most part!

Also loving Peter Alliss' commentary on BBC2, the man is a legend!

Graeme McDowell Wins US Open

2010-06-22T07:52:00.000-07:00

Well done to Graeme McDowell for winning the US Open which must really be the highlight of his career. The golfer from Northern Ireland won by a shot and is the first European in 40 years to claim the title. There was a lot of talk in the US press about the championship being lost by everyone else, including Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson, together with the falling apart of Dustin Johnson on the last day. But at the end of the day, McDowell has worked hard to get where he is today and deserves the win. He held it all together when everyone else fell apart so well done to him.

Round 1 Leaderboard

2010-06-18T04:50:00.000-07:00

So after round 1 of the US Open on Thursday, there are 3 joint leaders who all had rounds of 69 - Shaun Micheel of the US, Paul Casey of England and Brendan de Jonge of Zimbabwe. It was a tough day for Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson who carded a 74 and 75 respectively. My picks of Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy also didn't fare that well with +3 and +4 for the day :-(

US Open Starts Today

2010-06-17T09:50:00.000-07:00

So the US Open gets underway today with a lot of people once again looking to Tiger Woods to make a good showing. Also hot on his heels for the British contingent are Lee Westwood and Padraig Hamilton together with Rory McIlroy. I'm personally hoping that Rory makes a good showing but unless he is totally on top of his game I think he might struggle.

Personalized Golf Balls!

2010-06-11T02:05:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a present for a golfer or else corporate golf gifts then Golfballs.com is the # 1 supplier of custom logo golf balls! Take a look at their site and see all of the golf balls and related accessories that they have to offer.

Choosing Golf Clubs When You Are a Beginner

2010-05-24T18:19:00.000-07:00

Starting out in golf can be expensive if you want to buy all the equipment that you might need but it doesn't actually have to be.

There are a few options for a beginner in golf to consider when buying their first set of clubs. First of all are you going to buy a set of new golf clubs or are you going to buy used ones? You can often find a second hand set of clubs advertised at your local golf club or in the classifieds. This can be a very economical way of starting off as you can get some great deals. However, one drawback here is that you don't know what you are getting. How often have the clubs been used? Are they damaged at all? Which model are they - are they 20 years old and behind the times in terms of golf club development? Unless you know the person that is selling them you might struggle to answer these questions.

The second option is to buy a new set of clubs. Some golfers might be put off this idea as they think new golf clubs have to cost a lot of money. However, this is not always the case. There are a lot of brands out there that make golf club sets for the beginner market, with some of them available at outlet prices. These golf clubs are perfectly suitable for a beginner and can even cost less than $100. With these clubs you know you are getting newly manufactured clubs with no chips, cracks, scratches etc, that won't confuse your game even more. If you prefer to go with the well known brand names then of course you could buy a new set of clubs from someone like Calloway where you have a trusted and well-known name and clubs you know you can use for years to come.

Another option that you may not have heard about is to buy brand name pre-owned golf clubs. This is almost the best of both worlds. You get a great brand name and often you get a choice of prices depending on the condition of the clubs. The clubs have all been checked over for you so you know the condition and that they are suitable for your use.

So, there should be beginner clubs available to suit all budgets, just have a look around and you will find something that will suit you.

Travelling with Golf Clubs

2010-05-03T01:52:00.000-07:00

So at the moment I am on the move and travelling around with my golf clubs. The one thing that you really need is a golf travel bag to keep all your clubs together and in one piece by the time you arrive. Check out the Golf Travel Covers at GolfOutletsDirect to get one delivered to your door before you go. It Also makes them much easier to carry around as they are on wheels and you can just drag them. Luckily for me I am flying with an airline that lets you take golf clubs for free too!

Take Part in an Apprentice Golf System for $1

2010-04-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

There's a new way of learning golf! Bobby Eldridge at Purepoint Golf has spent the last few months designing a program that allows him to coach students personally online. He's looking for a few "testers" for the program. It's a really great program, and it's revolutionary for golf instruction. The first month is only $1.00 so you can make an informed decision to see if the program is right for you You can check it out here.

Emirates Golf Club Par 3

2010-04-18T07:35:00.001-07:00

So I played at the par 3 on Friday night and hit some good shots. I think it is the longest par 3 in Dubai and can give you a good variety of shorter shots to play to practice your short game. It's the course where the pros play the challenge match prior to the Dubai Desert Classic so plenty of history even on this short course!

Phil Mickelson Wins The Masters

2010-04-12T08:03:00.000-07:00

Well done to Phil Mickleson for winning his 3rd Masters trophy. He won by 3 clear shots from Lee Westwood and had a great 4th day round. Bit of a shame for Lee Westwood as I was rooting for him and Tiger Woods crashed a bit on the last day but still did well as he hasn't played competitively for 5 months.

Day 1 at The Masters

2010-04-08T21:49:00.000-07:00

So I'm pleased to see that Tom Watson is up there with the leaders as well as Lee Westwood with Tiger Woods only 2 strokes behind the leader Fred Couples. By the sounds of it you wouldn't have believed that Tiger had been away, hitting a couple of eagles on the par 5 8th and 15th. This was his best finish for a first round too, previously he has won it by hitting a 70 on the first day, this time he hit a 68.

Louis Oosthuizen wins the Masters Par 3 Tournament

2010-04-08T04:20:00.000-07:00

So South African Louis Oosthuizen won the par 3 tournament at Augusta yesterday. Hopefully he doesn't believe in the jinx that some people believe means that if you win the par 3 you won't win the Masters!

Meanwhile we all wait with baited breath to see what Tiger Woods can do when he tees off in just over 6 hours time...

Discounted Green Fees (And Some Free!) in the US and Canada

2010-04-05T22:56:00.000-07:00

So if you are looking to save money on green fees and get cheap tee times then look no further than the Golf Card. For a great value joining fee you can get discounted tee times at over 3,000 courses in the US and Canada. Some courses you can even play for free! Take a look at their website to check out all of the courses that are covered - you could save the cost of membership in a few rounds - great value!

The Masters is Almost Here!

2010-04-04T23:05:00.000-07:00

So this week is the build up to the Masters which starts on Thursday. On Wednesday there is the par 3 tournament which has its 50th anniversary this year and is a big pull for the crowds who get to see their favourite players relaxed and chatty. If ever you want to get pictures and autographs of the players then go to the pro-am and par 3 tournaments that precede major events. Everyone of course is wondering how Tiger Woods is going to play after his time off...

A Day Out at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club

2010-04-01T06:26:00.000-07:00

Dubai Creek Golf Club have a great deal on offer at the moment for UAE residents:

Spend your day at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and take advantage of our special full day package which includes a Continental Breakfast for 2 on Lake View Terrace, one round of golf on the championship course plus full day use of all Golf Academy practice facilities, use of the club's gym and tropical swimming pool ALL DAY and our new buffet lunch for 2 at the Boardwalk.

All this is available for only Dhs.495, valid for UAE Residents everyday, until the end of April.

Please contact us on Tel: 04 2956000,
or email:dcgyc@dubaigolf.com

Masters in 3D

2010-03-31T23:22:00.000-07:00

So The Masters at Augusta kicks off next week and this year there is a first in sports broadcasting with some of the tournament being broadcast in 3D. This is mainly focused on the back 9 and will be available to subscribers with 3d capable televisions and computers. A sign of things to come! Take a look at the Masters Website for more info.

Improve Your Swing and Your Distance

2010-03-31T11:02:00.000-07:00

So do you want to improve your distance by really improving your golf swing? This really is one of the best-selling golf guides on the internet and it guarantees that you will play the best golf in your life in just 2 weeks or your money back! So really what is there to lose? Have you been struggling to improve your scores and your handicap? Then you must try this guide from the golf swing guru - it was created specifically for the average golfer in mind to hit the ball straighter and further than you have ever done before.

Scored 39 Today!

2010-03-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

So today I played at a fantastic golf course in Dubai - and I think I would have to say my favourite although I have only played there a few times - Al Badia Golf Course run by Intercontinental at Dubai Festival City. And I played my best golf in a long time! The surroundings are beautiful with lots of birdlife including huge herons. The course is really well kept and of course the weather was stunning! For ladies it is a 5,400 yard par 72 and for men a 7,300 yard course. Lots of water to get round and so a challenge as well but was extremely happy with my 39 points:-)

Golf Handicap Calculator

2010-03-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

So if you want to work out your golf handicap (according the the USGA methods) then you can see the actual mathematical handicap calculation or if you just want to get it easily calculated I have an online calculator on my golf website where you just need to put in the golf scores, slope index and course rating.

Which Golf Clubs Should a Beginner Buy?

2010-03-18T12:10:00.001-07:00

If you are just starting to learn golf of have been having a few golf lessons and think it is about time to buy yourself a set of clubs, how do you decide which golf clubs to buy? Have a look at this article on buying golf clubs and see if that helps at all...

New Rules For Grooves on Golf Clubs

2010-03-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

So some new rules were introduced this year on the shape of grooves on some golf clubs. I have written an article to explain a little bit about the new golf club rules, so check it out...

Tiger Woods Announces His Return to Golf at the Masters

2010-03-16T22:14:00.000-07:00

So Tiger Woods has announced that he will return to competitive golf at the Masters at Augusta in April. I have to admit I was a bit surprised about this. From his press conference a few weeks ago I thought the implication was that he would not return to golf for a few months, if at all this year. However, what better golf tournament for his comeback than the Masters? One advantage for him is that the paparazzi will not be there as only accredited sports and golf reporters are allowed in. Maybe he has chosen the Masters as his golf return so that he can be somewhat cocooned within the tournament and can focus purely on his golf for the time he is there. I can imagine there will, however, be hoards of eager spectators on the fairways and greens, eager for a glimpse of the champion golfer on his eagerly awaited return.(picture from my collection)

More Golf Info on my Leisure Website

2010-03-08T06:09:00.000-08:00

Just to let you know that you can find more great golf info and hints and tips about playing golf on the golf section of my new Leisure Info website. It is still a work in progress but I will be adding more and more data as time goes by.

Playing Sloping Lies

2010-03-03T20:57:00.000-08:00

Playing sloping lies is always a tricky thing and to remember what you are supposed to do differently has been my downfall, even after I have had quite a few lessons to teach me this. So I came up with an idea to help and have put this in an article that has been published here.

Tiger Woods dumped by Gatorade

2010-02-28T04:51:00.000-08:00

Not really any surprise that Tiger Woods has been dumped by another sponsor. I think that really the problem is he isn't the guy that we (and the sponsors) thought he was. Still, I'm sure he is not short or cash...

Tiger Woods Golf Trick Shot Video

2010-02-28T03:36:00.001-08:00

I was lucky enough to catch Tiger Woods when he was playing in the Dubai Desert Classic Challenge Golf Match at Emirates Golf Club in 2008. Tiger was on the putting green with Mark O'Meara and they were having a bit of a laugh and a joke together when Tiger hit a shot that span round to the hole (shame it didn't go in!). Mark O'Meara gave it a try with slightly less success but I didn't realise this was going to happen when I started filming them!

UAE Digital Golf Magazine Issue 2

2010-02-25T09:04:00.000-08:00

Issue 2 of the UAE Golf online digital magazine is out and it has lots of great info and interviews with those in the golfing world. This issue focuses on the recent Dubai Desert Classic plus has competitions etc. Find it here.

Played at Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club

2010-02-23T23:16:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I played a very enjoyable round of golf at Sharjah. The weather was perfect and the greens were very fast, nice once you got used to it! At Sharjah you play 2 rounds of the 9 hole course with the men going off the black tees in the first round and the blue tees in the second round. I hadn't played for a couple of months but did manage to get some good drives in a also a few good chips. Nothing compared to my playing partner who twice chipped in from off the green! needless to say after that I didn't win!

Early Bird Special at Emirates Golf Club

2010-02-23T03:15:00.000-08:00

Emirates Golf Club, Dubai are having an Early Bird Special, valid from 1st March to 30th April 2010.

Tee off before 8am for nine holes on the Faldo course, Sunday - Thursday (excluding public holidays), for just Dhs.240 including a breakfast sandwich, a coffee and a cart.

Bookings can be made 7 days prior to play. Proof of UAE residency required.

Contact Golf Reservations on T: +9714 380 1999
or E: egcreservations@dubaigolf.com

Tiger Woods Press Conference

2010-02-23T02:56:00.000-08:00

Well I actually thought he was quite honest in what he said. Whether or not he can change is another story but at least he knows the problems and has admitted them. OK, it was all a bit staged but he actually said more than I expected him to about how he thought he was above all the rules that applied to other people. Hopefully he can put this all behind him and get back on the golf course soon, as, whatever we think of him privately, he is no doubt one of the best golfers of all time.

Tiger Woods Press Conference Tomorrow

2010-02-17T23:18:00.000-08:00

So at last Tiger Woods will face the press tomorrow in a press conference at the PGA headquarters in Florida. Tiger is expected to speak for just 5 minutes and apologise for his transgressions and say a few words about the future. It will be interesting to hear if he is going to make a return to golf. Tiger has not been seen in public since November so maybe this is the start of him getting back to a 'normal' life. (picture my own)

Rory McIlroy takes a trip in a balloon during the Dubai Desert Classic 2010

2010-02-17T00:20:00.000-08:00

During the Dubai Desert Classic Rory McIlroy took a trip in a hot air balloon with the Jumeirah people. View the video on youtube.

Emirates Golf Club Demo Event - 20th Feb

2010-02-13T02:31:00.000-08:00

Emirates Golf Club are holding a demo event on Saturday 20th February where you can try the latest equipment from the top golfing brands. Custom fitting experts will also be on hand to assist and you can have your shots analysed on the Flightscope system. This will take place on the Majlis range from midday until 3pm.

For enquiries and bookings, please contact the Emirates Golf Academy on: T: +971 4 380 2222, F: +971 4 380 1752, E:eacademy@dubaigolf.com

Jimenez wins the Dubai Desert Classic 2010

2010-02-07T11:20:00.000-08:00

So it came down to a nailbiting finish. The wind really took it's toll on all the golfers today and it was all really tight when the last 3 groups came in. Jimenez finished in front on 11 under and then it was only down to Lee Westwood to take the title from him. Westwood went for the green with his 2nd shot on the par 5 and made it to the fringe. At the start of the 18th he was 10 under and so with a long eagle putt to go for he could take the title. (Video of the shot here) He missed by only a few inches, grabbing a birdie to take it to a play-off. 3 holes later it was touch and go until Jimenez took it on the 3rd time up the 18th.

Dubai Desert Classic 2010 - Final Day Tomorrow!

2010-02-06T11:59:00.000-08:00

So tomorrow is the last day of the DDC and I will be going to watch all the action from the Emirates Golf Club. The Majlis Course has been looking good and after day 3 Jimenez, Westwood, Jaidee and Quiros were all on 11 under, with McIlroy poised just under them at 9 under. Will McIlroy be able to take the title for a second time? Will Westwood still be riding on the wings of his recent victory in the Race to Dubai? Golf is such an unpredictable game that there are a few other contenders also lurking in the background so we'll just have to wait and see!

Lee Westwood Golf Video

2010-02-04T02:08:00.000-08:00

I have posted a video on YouTube showing Lee Westwood taking a chip and a bunker shot at the Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am yesterday
Lee Westwood Video

Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am

2010-02-03T05:45:00.000-08:00

So today I had a great day at the Pro-Am golf tournament at Emirates Golf Club. I got there early as there were 2 shotgun starts - 7.30am and 12.45pm and there were a few players in the first shotgun that I wanted to see, most notably Rory McIlroy, Tom Watson, Darren Clarke and Mark O'Meara.

The Pro-am is such a great day to go and watch the golf because the players are so relaxed and most of them are friendly and happy to chat to you. Also there are hardly any spectators and in the morning I was one of the few out on the course. In fact on a few holes I was the only spectator and a couple of the golfers - Anthony Wall and David Howell - were nice enough to come and have a chat with me off their own backs - what lovely guys! I'll definitely be willing them on at the tournament as my fellow-countrymen :-)

I also bumped into Jim Davidson there playing in one of the groups and he was also very nice and friendly and I walked round with his group for the last 4 holes having a chat with him.

Altogether a great day although exhausting as I was walking around the course for about 6 hours! I took a bunch of videos which I will post on YouTube which might be helpful in checking out the swings of the Pros.

Dubai Desert Classic 2010

2010-02-01T04:05:00.000-08:00

So the tournament kicks off this week with the par 3 charity challenge match on Tuesday, the Pro-am on Wednesday and the main tournament from Thursday through until Sunday. Will McIlroy be able to hold on to his crown? Will the oldest player in the field (Tom Watson) make another great showing after his appearance at The 2009 Open Championship? In any case the cream of the golf world is coming to Dubai for the world to see. Last year I was a marshall but this year just a spectator. Picture is from last year and I am 2nd from left in the bottom row.

Dubai World Championship

2010-02-01T03:16:00.000-08:00

I was marshalling for 3 days at the DWC and it was a great tournament! Although the course was really only just finished and the surroundings could have done with a little more work, it was really well organised and there was some fantastic golf to be seen. Lee Westwood won the tournament and with it the Race to Dubai with Ross McGowan 2nd and Rory McIlroy third (see pic). Luckily I got to play the course afterwards with it's pristine white bunkers which was great fun. Already looking forward to next year!

Marshalling in Dubai

2010-02-01T03:10:00.000-08:00

I have had the pleasure and privilege of marshalling in 3 golf events in Dubai - the Dubai Desert Classic, the Dubai Ladies Masters and most recently the Dubai World Championship/Race to Dubai. It is hard work but great fun and I always make sure I marshall for the Pro-Am as you get to be up close and personal with some of the best golfers but when they are happy to chat rather than be totally focused on the golf. Unfortnately I am not marshalling in the DDC coming up this week as they had too many volunteers who were able to do all 5 days and I was only available for 3 :-(. Showing though is a picture of me and Johan Edfors whose group I was with in the pro-am at the DWC. He played some awesome golf and was -10 for that one round (which I think would have been a course record if it was in the event).

Introduction

2010-02-01T02:53:00.001-08:00

I live in Dubai and have been playing golf for about 20 years. Over that time I have occasionally improved and sometimes regressed and sworn that I will never play again but always the pull of the fairways and the greens is there to keep me coming back for more! In this blog I will just chat about courses, competitions, players and round that I play myself.