Manuel de Los Santos Takes the Headlines at Dunhill Links

This week in St. Andrews sees Manuel de los Santos taking part in the Dunhill Links Championship. Despite many famous celebrities and professionals taking part in the tournament it is the 25-yeard old from the Dominican Republic who has been grabbing the headings. Manuel looked certain to pursue a career in Baseball until he was involved in a traffic accident which resulted in the loss of his left leg. Despite his disability Manuel has quickly become one of Europe’s top disabled golfers, and will go up against some of the best golfers in the world around Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and the Old Course at St. Andrews.

Having lost his left leg aged just 18 Manuel still to this day he refuses to wear a prosthetic limb which in my opinion makes it even more difficult for him. Instead he has relied on his poise and wonderful swing to accomplish a handicap of just three. The Dominican Republic-born golfer also insists on using crutches to get between shots rather than riding a buggy. “I’m an athlete. I walk…My dream has come true.”

Mr de los Santos only began playing golf after moving to France with his Spanish wife Elena following his accident in 2003. His desire to play golf came when his wife brought home the film The Legend of Bagger Vance one evening. The film, which stars Will Smith, is about a golfer prevailing over adversity.
While watching the film Manuel noticed that his familiar baseball swing was not to dissimilar from that of a golf swing.  He was instantaneously captivated. “I hit four balls and I immediately felt good. I felt well balanced. I said that’s what I can do! Let’s go!” In 2005 he joined the French “Handigolf” association and with a tough training schedule and after just six months he was triumphant in the Spanish Open.
“I decided to devote myself 100 per cent to golf,” he said. “I felt ready to consider a new life and start.

Follow Manuel’s progress in the Dunhill Championships on the European Tour’s website.

Doonbeg Autumn Pairs

Taking place on the spectacular links course in County Clare, the Doonbeg Autumn Pairs tournament will see amateurs take on one of Ireland’s finest courses. Golfers can enjoy a wealth of luxury accommodations while at Doonbeg Hotel and Golf Links combined with a level of hospitality which is found in few other parts of the world. With views across the Atlantic Ocean and a five-star hotel on site, those taking part in the tournament are guaranteed a golfing experience they will never forget.

The tournament is due to take place from 29th October until 1st November 2009 and will see golfers pitting their wits against the Greg Norman designed course. The course itself measures nearly 7,000 off the championship markers and with ancient dunes for golfers to negotiate it is a test which will test every element of your golfing armoury.

Doonbeg Autumn Pairs Itinerary –
Thursday 29th October 2009 –
- Arrive and Check in to hotel
- 18 holes Practice round at your leisure
- Welcome Reception Buffet

Friday 30th October 2009 –
- Breakfast
- 18 holes of competition golf (better ball stableford)
- Evening at your leisure

Saturday 31st October 2009 –
- Breakfast
- 18 holes of competition golf (better ball stableford)
- Prize giving buffet

Sunday 1st November 2009 –
- Breakfast
- Depart at your leisure

For more information on the Doonbeg Autumn Pairs please visit Your Golf Travel.com or call 0800 043 6644.

Inagural Raffles Canouan Golf Classic

The extravagant Raffles Canouan Resort has quickly become a must see destination for anyone seeking a golf resort with a difference. Having achieved critical acclaim since it’s opening, the Trump International Golf Club which has was recently voted 11th in the Top 100 Golf Courses guide, is a golfing treat which tests every facet of your game as well as giving you a visual treat. Read more

McGinley’s underdogs take a bite out of Europeans in Vivendi Trophy

Paul McGinley’s Great Britain and Ireland team completed a nap hand of victories in the Seve (Vivendi) Trophy at St Nom la Breteche, Paris with a fifth straight win the competition over the Continental Europe side captained by Thomas Bjorn.

After taking a slender two-point lead into Saturday’s greensomes and foursomes matches, many thought that McGinley’s side would eventually succumb to their underdogs tag and allow the Europeans back into the match. However, nothing could have been further from the truth as McGinley’s men set up victory by taking command of Saturday’s matches to open up a seemingly invincible seven-point gap with only the singles matches left to play on Sunday.

The ten singles matches became nine after Anthony Wall was forced to pull out of his match against the big hitting Spaniard, Alvaro Quiroz due to a shoulder injury, meaning that match would be halved. It left the Great Britain and Ireland team needing only one-and-a-half points to secure victory and with seven matches still on the course stood with an insurmountable 15-7 lead after Rory McIlroy defeated Henrick Stenson on the last green and Graeme McDowell had beaten Robert Karlsson 3 and 2.

Although the Europeans fought back to reduce the scoreline, there was nothing they could do to win the trophy and eventually succumbed to a 16.5 to 11.5 loss.

“We had a huge lead going into Sunday,” said victorious McGinley. “We had 90 per cent of the job done, and I think we all really enjoyed it.

“The team spirit was extremely good, and the boys who had not played team golf before, got off on a really good foot and hopefully they will fly the flag for Europe in the future.”

Debutant Chris Wood enjoyed a rich vein of form in the tournament and clawed a half from his match against Sweden’s Peter Hanson, despite being two down at one stage.

Ten birdies saw Denmark’s Anders Hansen thrash Englishman Nick Dougherty 7&6, while Soren Hansen defeated Steve Webster 4&2. Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain secured a 3-and-2 win against Ross Fisher, while his compatriot Gonzalo Fernandez Castano lost to Robert Rock by one hole.

Francesco Molinari, meanwhile beat Oliver Wilson 5&4 and Simon Dyson lost to another Dane in Soren Kjeldsen by 3&1

Mickelson wins at East Lake but Woods takes FedEx Cup

Phil Mickelson put the seal on a rollercoaster 2009 season with a win in the Tour Championship at East Lake, Atlanta. But despite winning the final leg of the FedEx Cup play-off tournament, it was current world number one Tiger Woods who won the big trophy.

Leading at half-way, many thought Woods would go on to win but a blistering 64 in the third round by Kenny Perry saw him take the lead going into the final round. Mickelson had started the day looking to bridge a four-shot deficit on Perry – who recently was awarded the Payne Stewart Trophy – while Woods had laid up just two shots behind the veteran American player and two in front of Mickelson.

However, while Tiger struggled to make the shots that mattered, Mickelson found his putting groove and stormed round the Georgia venue with a five-under-par round of 65 to eventually win by three strokes from Woods, who carded a level-par round of 70 to claim second. Woods’ finish was sufficient to safeguard his lead at the top of the FedEx Cup standings to collect the £7million ($10 million) winners’ cheque for the series. Mickelson, meanwhile, collected $1.35million for his win, which is his first since his wife and mother were both diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year.

Not for the first time this season, Kenny Perry wilted under the Georgia sun when it mattered most and fell away to a disappointing four-over par round of 74 to eventually finish in a tie for fourth place, alongside Padraig Harrington who had another steady performance to secure his sixth consecutive top-ten finish. Harrington’s achievement will go a long way to erasing the memories of a miserable start to the season where he struggled with his game after undergoing swing changes during the winter.

The third podium place went to Sean O’Hair, who had held onto Mickelson’s coat-tails throughout the final round before a bogey on the 17th hole finally loosened his grip. O’Hair finished with a round of 69 to finish alone in third place.

In addition to the $1.35million winners’ cheque, Mickelson also pocketed a further $3million for finishing second in the FedEx Cup standings, while the victory saw him regain second place in the world rankings.

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