Castle Stuart Golf Links to host 2012 Scottish Open
November 21, 2011 by Brian · Leave a Comment
The Scottish Open will take place in 2012, and will return to Castle Stuart Golf Links near Inverness in the week prior to the Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.
Although the event is yet to find a new sponsor following the decision of Barclays not to continue their backing of the event, the success of the 2011 event has ensured that the Scottish Open will be played in 2012, easing fears it could be scrapped.
The European Tour will officially confirm the date and venue next month when it announces the second portion of the 2012 tournament schedule in Dubai next month.
Despite inclement weather that saw the event shortened to 54 holes and parts of the course suffer from landslip, England’s Luke Donald emerged triumphant at the European Tour’s most northerly venue en-route to consolidating his position as the world’s number one in a stellar season that saw him also win the WGC-Accenture World Match Play Championship, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, top the US PGA Tour money list and build up a lead in excess of $1million in The Race to Dubai amongst other strong performances.
The European Tour hope Donald will return to the venue in 2012 to defend his title, while Phil Mickelson has already suggested he would return to compete in the event.
Top 5 Golf Shots – Under Pressure
September 30, 2011 by Rory · Leave a Comment
Virtually every player on tour these days is good enough to shoot the lights out on the majority of the golf courses they play but it is the ability to cope with the pressure of tournament play that determines how effectively they put their sublime skills to use. Needless to say that pressure grows the further into a tournament and the closer to the title the player in question gets. For avid golf fans there is nothing quite like watching two golfing heavyweights fighting it out down the stretch come Sunday in a big tournament. In many cases this situation produces a spectacular collapse which hands the tournament to another golfer or an amazing “clutch” shot to which wins the player in question the title. Recently we saw one of the finest clutch shots of recent years at the Tour Championship as Bill Haas splashed out of a water hazard to three feet to save par and win the tournament and of course the $10,000,000 FedEx Cup. This got us thinking about the best pressure shots in golf’s history and here are five of our favourites. Read more
McIlroy tames Congressional with stunning 65 to lead US Open
June 17, 2011 by Brian · Leave a Comment
Rory McIlroy once again finds himself at the top of the leaderboard in a major championship after posting a stunning round of 65 in the first round of the US Open at Congressional Country Club, Maryland.
McIlroy, who had led by four heading into the final round of the US Masters in April only to capitulate under the pressure and expectation to post a closing 80, was without error in his first round as he carded six birdies with no dropped shots to open up the largest lead after the first round of the US Open in 35 years.
US Open Betting Preview
June 15, 2011 by Brian · Leave a Comment
The US Open at Congressional Country Club, Maryland takes centre stage this week, and the season’s second major looks a wide-open contest with most bookmakers going 12/1 the field and several paying out on the first six places – so shop around!
No Tiger Woods in the field this week with the former world number one having earlier withdrew from the tournament due to injury, but Woods’ absence detracts little from what is a star-studded field.
Lee Westwood and Luke Donald head the betting markets and the world’s top two players are sure to put on a bold show, while 2010 Pebble Beach winner Graeme McDowell will bid to defend his title.
Wells Fargo Championship Betting Preview
May 5, 2011 by Brian · Leave a Comment
The 7,400 yard long Quail Hollow course is the venue for this week’s event on the PGA Tour – the Wells Fargo Championship, won last year by Rory McIlroy and a strong line-up has assembled for the event, including the likes of Phil Mickelson and world number one Martin Kaymer amongst others.
A tight, tree-lined par 72 course, Quail Hollow represents a difficult challenge and requires patience and accuracy in order to score well. The closing three holes of the course is known as the ‘Green Mile’, with the 18th being one of the most difficult closing holes in golf. Outside of the majors last year, Quail Hollow ranked 2nd toughest of the par-72 courses used on the PGA Tour in 2010. Read more
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