USPGA to suspend Pro-Am rule that disqualified Jim Furyk

The US PGA are to suspend the rule which caused Jim Furyk to be disqualified for the first of the FedEx Cup playoffs, The Barclays, last week.

On Wednesday before the tournament, Furyk had overslept due to his mobile phone battery running out of charge and not sounding his alarm with the result that the player missed his allotted tee-off time for the Pro-Am. US PGA rules state that a player who misses his Pro-Am obligation is automatically disqualified from the tournament proper.

After Furyk’s dismissal, Phil Mickelson called the ruling “ridiculous” and added: “I cannot disagree with it more – I have no idea how the commissioner let this rule go through.”

However, US PGA commissioner Tim Finchem has announced that the rule will now be suspended for the remainder of the season. Players who turn up late for their Pro-Am tee-time will be obligated to participate in the remainder of the round, as well as perform additional sponsor activity as required.

But players who miss their obligation altogether will still be disqualified from competing unless the player has been excused from appearing as per the regulations. Currently, players can be excused appearing in Pro-Am events through family emergency or injury.

Finchem has also announced that the current regulations surrounding Pro-Am participation be evaluated by the Player Advisory Council and Player Directors, with discussions into the matter to be held in November.

“The commissioner has asked the Player Advisory Council and Player Directors to evaluate the current pro-am regulations to determine whether alternative measures can effectively ensure that players honour their pro-am obligations without placing them at risk of disqualification.

“The matter will be discussed at the Policy Board meeting in November.”

Golf Picture of the Week – Kingsbarns

Rusacks raises the steaks!

The next time you visit the Home of Golf, St Andrews in Scotland, make sure you drop in at the newly refurbished and re-branded Rocca Bar & Grill and the One Under gastro pub at Macdonald Rusacks Hotel St Andrews, which have been receiving rave reviews.

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Lee Westwood opens Cheshire golf academy

Lee Westwood took some time out from his Ryder Cup preparations in order to open his first golf school at the Macdonald Portal Hotel Golf and Spa in Cheshire.

Westwood, currently recovering from an ankle injury which has kept him sidelined from competitive golf for the past month opened the centre with the intention of giving young golfers the chance to ‘follow their dreams’.

The Academy will be aimed at young golfers aged 16 and over, and will offer a two-year, full time programme designed to provide and combine academic studies with golf training, fitness and psychology.

The programme will work towards providing students with a diploma in sport, and aims to provide work opportunities in the golf industry.

Speaking about the centre, Westwood described the Portal centre as a world class championship venue with some of the best facilities in the UK during his sojourn to Cheshire to officially launch and welcome the first intake of 20 students into the program.

Westwood also talked about his injury and revealed he is making good progress in his recovery, and that he would be ready in time to face the United States in the upcoming Ryder Cup match at The Celtic Manor Resort, Wales.

“The rehabilitation is going well and I am a bit further on in my recovery than I thought I would be at this stage,” he said. “I won’t play a tournament before the Ryder Cup but will play a charity event in Scotland the week before and then play 36 holes in a day, which is what I will need to do in the event itself.”

More information on the Lee Westwood Golf Academy can be found at http://www.leewestwoodgolfschool.com/ .

Boening Classic victory for Bernhard Langer

Is there no stopping Bernhard Langer?

Playing in the Champions Tour Boeing Classic, Langer shot a final round 69 to record a three shot win over Zimbabwe’s Nick Price and pick up his fifth Champions Tour win of the season.

Leading by two shots after a bogey at the 11th hole, Langer carded back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th holes to stretch his advantage to four strokes with just two holes to play at the TPC at Snoqualmie Ridge, Seattle.

Langer had already won the US Senior Open at nearby Sahalee and this win gives Langer a clean sweep of Champions Tour events played in the Seattle area.

“I think right now I’m playing as well as I’ve ever played.” Langer said after the win.

Price had started the day just one behind but carded three successive birdies between the 3rd and 5th holes to drop behind the German, who uncharacteristically had missed the fairway on each of his first three holes. By the turn, Langer had racked up a 4-shot lead but a bogey on the 11th saw a 2-shot swing as Price made birdie to reduce the gap to two shots.

Home crowd favourite, Fred Couples – a native of Seattle – shot a 5-under 67 to finish third at 207, and will be left to rue a poor back nine holes during his Saturday round which dropped him out of contention.

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