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Last week I had the honor of playing in the Killarney Pro-Am. Played over two days on the Lackabane and beautiful Killens course, it was a fantastic outing. The good news also is that my team, along with our pro, Brenden mcDermott and my fellow friends Owen Lyons and Andrew Whelton won the event, beating a team which coincidentally consisted of my friends Paul Dykes, Kevin Ryan and Jim Ahern.

We had rounds of 95 on Lackabane and 93 on the much more difficult Kileens for a total of 188pts. That was enough to win by 5pts from second and 7pts from the 3rd placed team. I will post some photos from the event when I receive them.

Coming up in the not too distant future is the World Invitational Father and Son competition in Waterville, which I look forward to competing in. I will be doing a quick review of this tonight and also will be interviewing the organizers at the event itself.

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I know it’s been too long but I am still working through computer issues. My laptop turns on and off as it sees fit. Incredibly frustrating!!

Lots to talk about but first, here is a review of the RBC Canadian Open, brought to you by the PGA Tour and Win McMurry. Some were ridiculing Win’s dress sense on YouTube…..shame on you!! My interview with Win is coming make sure you keep an eye out for it.

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A quick video previewing this weeks RBC Canadian Open.

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What an incredible British Open! It was always obvious that TW was going to perform well wasn’t it?

The only surprise was that it was Tom Watson and not Tiger Woods. Woods long game frailties became evident and it is clear that it is still nowhere near where it should be. What concerned me was Woods inability to hit different types of shot. Remember that stinger 3 wood that was so effective….or a few years back, the raking 3wood draw shot he practiced for months before the Masters specifically for the 13th hole at Augusta….or those three quarter long iron shots he was so precise with……well, none of these were evident. In fact, it was all very “ordinary” and if truth be told, he was lucky with many of the lies he was getting when he sprayed the balled during the first 26 holes. Add to this, his attitude whereby he was throwing clubs, was in my opinion disgraceful and is something the authorities should address because he is the role model for so many young kids. Woods will be back but I’m hoping with a better long game and better attitude……something more in line with the champion Jack Nicklaus perhaps?

So what of the other TW. at 59 years of age, Tom Watson almost completed a fairytale win and really showed Tiger the importance of hitting fairways and controlling your iron shots. It was an incredible performance and all of our hearts dropped when he missed that putt on the 18th.

However, you cannot deny Stewart Cink his win. When he needed it, he produced a birdie of the highest quality on the 72nd hole. What people fail to then recognize was his performance in the play off, which was top class. He barely missed a shot, despite knowing the crowd were willing Watson on, yet still produced the goods. He has always had the potential and with his putting problems now seemingly behind him, I don’t think anyone will be too surprised if he pushes on from here.

Tags: British Open 2009 by admin
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Stylish, eccentric, poser…..call him what you will, Ian Poulter is an immense talent and is not shy to express himself. Here we get to find out his love for reality TV (well, no actually) and his most embarrassing moment on a golf course.

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A brief British Open Preview brought to you by Win McMurry.

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My updates over the last few days have been sparse due to the shutdown of my laptop. A new motherboards is needed so things have been a little all over the place.

On the plus side, it’s British Open Week and we have full days of full on golf to look forward to. I always think it is difficult to pick the winner of the Open because so much can depend on the weather and who gets the right side of the draw. There are also a few stats/omens to consider:

I have outlined the spooky omens surrounding Harringtons Open build up. I have also outlined that the three times the Open has been at Turnberry, the #1 ranked player in the world has won it, hence further support for Tiger Woods. Finally, here is an interesting one; Americans have won 10 of the last 14 Opens while 16 of the last 21 winners of the claret jug have been ranked in the top 20 in the world rankings.

So with this in mind, Im going to pick my top 5.

Ben Curtis: Has a fantastic record in the British having finished in the top 10 the past two years and winning the event in 2003. He is also in good form this season so at 55/1 represents a good bet. He is not ranked in the top 20 (#27) but this does not put me off.

Rory McIlroy: I have to pick an fellow Irish man to do well considering this is the British Open after all. Harringtons form is poor so I cant recommend him. It is a close call between McDowell and McIlroy but the youngsters slightly better form edges it. Having impressed 2 years ago as an amateur in the Open, McIlroy has the game to do well. Obviously he is well suited to links golf also. Can be got at 40/1.

Jim Furyk: With such a premium on being straight off the tee, Furyk gets the nod just ahead of the likes of Stricker, Perry and O’Hair (although it would not surprise me to see Stricker especially to go well). It’s been a while since Furyk has been in the winners enclosure but he has the game this week to challenge. Ranked 9th in the world and hailing from America, he fits in with what the records show. 33/1 is a good price.

Ian Poulter: The rather volatile Poulter has a big chance, if he can keep his mind focussed on the job in hand and  not get distracted by outside influences, such as camera men. We all remember how he challenged last year and there is no doubt, Poulter is a gritty competitor. He however, has not been overly impressive with the way he has closed out tournaments but at 33/1, full of confidence and ranked 18th in the world, Poulter gets my vote ahead of Casey, Harrington, Garcia (only just), Stenson (again only just) and Fisher.

Thomas Levet: Finally, my outside bet is Levet at 125/1. He is only here because Brett Quiqley pulled out late but the Frenchman is in good form and links golf may suit him very well, considering his low ball flight. He is ranked #82 in the world but bringing form into the event is important. It was a close call between himself and Marcus Brier (250/1), who made 17 birdies in his 36 hole Open Qualifier and like Levet, has a low penetrating ball flight.

So there we are. As you will have noticed, I did not include Tiger Woods. That is because I backed him at the beginning of the year to win a major this season and am convinced he will still win one of the remaining two. However, I think you would prefer me to tip people other than Woods in this blog. After all, it isn’t that hard to pick him.

Finally, just a few things. Boyle Sports are actually paying out top-8 for the Open Championship, if you place your bets online or over the phone so be sure to take advantage. Also, I will be doing regular updates on Twitter, so be sure to check them out for those who cant watch it.

Okay Im off in front of the TV for the day. Come on Paddy Harrington…..3 in a Row!!!!

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Now my girlfriend, Dominique, is certainly not a golf fan. When I explained to her last Saturday night that I was leaving in the morning at 8:30am for golf and would not be back until 8:30pm, she was mystified. Add to the fact Im off for 3 days golf next week and another 5-day golfing break in August and poor Dominique must be praying I somehow fall out of this rejuvenated love affair with golf!

As much as I have tried over the years, she remains an avid non-golfer so my suggestions of going on holidays in the sun and playing a bit of golf are stoutly rejected. However, I have witnessed the first chink in her armour…..this golf blog. Just a few minutes ago, she emailed me from work pointing me in the direction of a golf article she read that might make interesting reading for you guys. Bingo…we have you now Dominique. Welcome to the world of golf! Perhaps I could ask Dominique to do a piece on golf fashion?

Well anyway, the article relates to the noise some of the modern golf drivers make upon impact with a golf ball. Experts have identified at least one case of a golfer of 55 who they believe has damaged his hearing as a result of using one of the new drivers three times a week for the last 18 months. The man in question had been playing golf with a King Cobra LD titanium and the noise of the club hitting the ball was ‘like a gun going off’ he said. It had become so unpleasant he had discarded the club. 

Dr Malcolm Buchanan, an Edinburgh-trained ear, nose and throat specialist - and a keen golfer - said: ‘Our results show that thin-faced titanium drivers may produce sufficient sound to induce temporary or even permanent cochlear damage in susceptible individuals. The solution…..ear plugs is offered as one. However Andrew Coltart has pointed to the fact that if golfers wear ear plugs, they may not hear someone shout fore and could subsequently get hit my a golf ball on the head causing severe injury.

I must admit that I know exactly the type of noise they are talking about and it is completely irratating. When I was on the range a few weeks ago, the noise of the drives from the bay next to me was enough for me to stop and take a 5min break. Why manufacturers cannot create a more solid, favourable noise is beyond me but hopefully now, they will revisit these ridiculous tin-can sounding clubs.

So, who says golf isn’t a sport. Us golfers might not engage in the same physical activities as you rugby players or you soccer players but everyday we go on the golf course, we endanger our own well being. We have to deal with the loud gun-shot drivers that ring out around the course, protecting our ears in an effort to just make it off the course with our hearing intact. Every time we step on to the tee, we cannot know for certain where the other guys are going to hit their ball so when we hear fore, we don’t run…..we stand our ground (albeit with our head crouched between our hands to protect ourselves). When the rain buckets down, the thunder rolls and the lightning strikes, we are there with 14 metal rods, standing in the middle of a field with our only place of refuge under a tree. Think about it, bolts of lightning, metal rods and timber! We are not mere men, we are gladiators every time we step on the 1st tee, ready to do battle with whatever comes our way……..oh and by the way, I picked up a very comfortable pair of ear plugs in the local pharmacy so if anyone needs a recommendation, Im your man…..yes Gladiators I said!

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Wow, these omens are really beginning to appear all over the place about Padraig Harrington. Forget about the state of his golf game and Obey the Omen.

When Padraig Harrington won his first British Open, he was the #14 ranked player in the world. As luck would have it, Padraig is now ranked 14 again in the World and so, it would seem everything is perfectly in place for a Harrington 7 shot win…..Forgetting about the fact of course, that the reason Harrington is #14 in the world is because he has plummeted down the rankings, from 3rd, over the past 9 months.

I’m hoping now the hotel staff burn his toast similar to last year, he wears the same socks and shoes as last year and the Worlds best Player is missing like last year…….Doh!!! Come on Padraig, lets prove all the doubters wrong and claim the coveted three in a row at the expense of the mighty Woods!

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Moses, Jesus, and another guy were out playing golf one day.

Moses pulled up to the tee and drove a long one. It landed in the fairway but rolled directly toward a water trap. Quickly Moses raised his club, the water parted and it rolled to the other side, safe and sound.

Next, Jesus strolled up to the tee and hit a nice long one directly toward the same water trap. It landed directly in the center of the pond and kind of hovered over the water. Jesus casually walked out on the pond and chipped it up onto the green.

The third guy got up and sort of randomly whacked the ball. It headed out over the fence and into on-coming traffic on a nearby street. It bounced off a truck and hit a nearby tree. From there it bounced onto the roof of a nearby shack and rolled down into the gutter, down the downspout, out onto the fairway and right toward the same pond. On the way to the pond, it hit a little stone and bounced out over the water, onto a lily pad where it rested quietly. Suddenly, a very large bullfrog jumped up on the lily pad and snatched the ball into his mouth. Just then, an eagle swooped down and grabbed the frog and flew away. As they passes over the green, the frog squealed with fright and dropped the ball, which bounced right into the hole for a beautiful hole in one.

Moses then turned to Jesus and said, “I hate playing with your Dad.”

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