It’s fifth major time. Well to us Irish that is. The Irish Open has a long and proud heritage which nearly ended this year when it had trouble finding sponsors and funding. Luckily for us the Irish Open has found funding and will be going ahead albeit with a prize fund of only €1.5 million which amounts to only half of last year’s prize fund. As a result of this many big name players who would normally have the Irish Open on their schedule are not taking part but don’t let that deter you. Still in attendance are some of Ireland’s heroes such as Padraig Harrington, Rory Mcilroy, Graeme McDowell and of course the present Open Champion Darren Clarke. The event is sure to throw up some drama as it has had more playoffs in its history than any other tournament on the European Tour schedule with 11. The tournament is to be played on the Killeens course at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club. Last year it was expected that it was going to be a birdie fest with the expectation that the Tour’s first 59 was going to be shot but it was not to be. In fact, the course provided quite a good test with the winning score being 18 under. 2011 US Open Champion Rory Mcilroy is clear favourite for the event at 5/1. He is followed by 2010 US Open Champion and fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell at 16/1. Next comes three time major champion Padraig Harrington at 18/1 and rounding off the top five are Darren Clarke and Ross Fisher at 22/1.

Mark Foster each way @ 40/1
Mark is quite an obvious tip this week. His form this year and especially recently has been more than impressive. He has finished in the top three in two of his last three events and a win is beckoning. He played in this last year and while he didn’t have a great finish, he made the cut and has four rounds of competitive experience at this course which will stand him in great stead this week. I have tipped Foster on more than one occasion and I still have full faith in him to prove triumphant this week. At 40/1 you’d be crazy to pass this opportunity up.

Richard Green each way @ 28/1
Green has been in pretty solid form recently, recording three top sixteen finishes in his last four events. The latest was a T16th at the Open Championship. This shows that he is in good form and is very close to recording a good finish. He finished in a tie for fifth here last year so he should have good memories of the course. Green is a player who should have won a lot more than he has. He is a very solid iron player and a superb wedge player and if the putter is hot this week I’m sure he will be a big threat.

Raphael Jacquelin each way @ 33/1
I’m going to go for another player who did very well at the Open Championship. The Frencman finished in eighth place at Royal St Georges but this is far from his best performance of the year. Raphael recorded his first win in four years in Sicily earlier this year as well as two other top five finishes. Jacquelin is a form player and I think his performance at the Open Championship may have started another pocket of form.

Last week Phil Mickleson said that the winner of the Open Championship would come from the field in the Barclays Scottish Open. This field included Lee Westwood, Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell so ‘Lefty’ could well be proven right. This year’s Open Championship will be played at Royal St Georges. The last time the event was played here was in 2003 when Ben Curtis came out as surprise winner. The course is a links course which will suit players from Britain and Ireland and players who are generally accurate. If you are a bomber, I wouldn’t rate your chances too highly this week as links golf is a very tactical game. Also, the weather will play a huge part in the event and you can expect it to be windy as per usual with links golf. Rory Mcilroy is favourite for the event at the odds of 7/1 with Lee Westwood and Luke Donald coming in tied second at 11/1. There is a huge jump then to fourth favourite where Martin Kaymer comes in at 25/1. Graeme McDowell rounds off the top five at 28/1. I will be giving you four tips this week.

Luke Donald each way @ 11/1
These are really good odds for Donald who was actually the winner of last week’s event in Castle Stuart. This was the perfect preparation for the world number one and the win should fill him with confidence. Donald is perfectly suited to the course this week. His lack of length will benefit him this week and if he can keep it accurate off the tee this week he will be a serious contender. He has such a good short game that I believe whenever he gets into trouble this week, he will be more than able to get out of it due to the quality of his short game. Zach Johnson said via Twitter that the greens are looking great and that it will be a putting contest and if it comes down to this, Donald will win, no question. Luke has proved in recent times just how much he has progressed as a player and can now be looked at as a proven winner. My advice to you is to back the world number one before he drops in price.

Matt Kuchar each way @ 40/1
Kuchar had a good showing last week finishing in a tie for tenth. This shows that he can handle links golf and enjoys the game. It isn’t hard to imagine Matt as a major champion with his unflappable consistency. Kuchar was in good form before he crossed the pond to Europe last week, having recorded four top sixteen’s in his last four events. Kuchar has a great game and at 40/1 I can really see him coming up trumps this week.

Peter Hanson each way @ 66/1
Here we have another player who is fantastic from tee to green. Hanson is at great odds and his mentality is ideal for a major. He is patient and will keep his feet firmly grounded if he gets into contention. He finished in a tie for tenth last week in Castle Stuart showing that he is able to play links golf. He is also a pretty good wind player so if the wind does blow which it inevitably will; he will be able to cope. At the great odds of 66/1 Hanson is somewhat of a steal.

Retief Goosen each way @ 50/1
The current Open champion is South African Louis Oosthuizen and I think that his fellow countryman Goosen will gain confidence from this. He is a two time U.S Open winner so he knows what it takes to win a major. The Goose has been in good form lately, recording five top twenty fives in his last five events. One of these was a tied third which he recorded three weeks ago and he finished tied fourteenth last week in Castle Stuart. I have a good feeling about Goosen this week and I think he could record his first major victory since 2004.

Thanks to Mark Foster for giving WeGetGolf.com the chance to ask him a few questions. Mark was oh-so-close last week in France, netting our readers some tidy gains as we tipped him at 80/1. We wish Mark all the best for the rest of the season and are confident it wont be long before he is in the winners enclosure once more. Enjoy the interview below.

You have been a professional now for sixteen years and have been on tour for fourteen years. Do you feel like are becoming a veteran of the game by now and what advice would you give to young professionals trying to make a living on tour? 

My best advice would be to continue doing what got you to that point. Too many people get on tour then feel they have to change things.

A trip to the Q School has been reported by some as being tougher than coming down the stretch in contention on a Sunday. You have taken a total of six trips to it with your last coming in 2000. Can you vouch for this statement being true?

Yes it’s true. If you fail down the stretch you still have a good finish for the week. If you fail at tour school that’s another year written off.

This slow start to your career was undoubtedly down to a back injury which you underwent surgery for in 1998. Has this injury given you any problems since and did you feel an immediate improvement to your game following the surgery?

Sadly I had to have surgery again in 2003 so it’s something I just have to keep an eye on and hope it doesn’t come back.

Your sole win on the European Tour came eight years ago in the Dunhill Championship in South Africa. The really interesting thing about this however is that you had to win a six man playoff to claim the victory which included players like Anders Hansen, Trevor Immelman and Paul Lawrie. I realise that this was a long time ago but can you remember how you felt going into that playoff?

It was funny. I finished quite late then, was rushed to the tee for the playoff and I remember asking my caddie ‘What are all these players doing here?”  “It’s a six man playoff” he said. “Oh dear” was my reply. Haha

Your search for a second victory on the European Tour and has been unsuccessful to date but you have been threatening that number one spot on more than one occasion in recent years. Do you feel like you are playing well enough to claim another victory?

Definitely so. I just need to putt well on a Sunday and I’ll go close.

Earlier in the year at the Open de Andalucia de Golf you recorded a tied fourth finish after heading into the final day only one stroke back but the eventual winner was 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie who claimed his first victory in nine years. Does his win give you and others like you who have not won in a while the confidence and the belief that you can win after such a long dry period?

The honest answer is everyone on tour knows they can win but it’s just doing it! It was a great win for Paul and good for us oldies. Haha

One thing that is very interesting about your childhood is that you grew up in Worksop which is also the home of former world number one Lee Westwood. Since Lee is only two years older than you, your paths must have crossed many times in the amateur game. Has this made you two become good friends? 

Yes, Lee was recently an usher at my wedding. Both our families are very close.

A lot of amateurs wonder about the pace of play on the European Tour. You recently stated your discontent via Twitter at the first round in the BMW International Open which took you 4 hours and 40 minutes. Are rounds generally this length or was this just a particularly slow day?

It amazes me how long players take. If it was just a case of taking your time, we would all be best in the world.

Do you see yourself as a ‘horses for courses’ sort of player and if so what type of courses suit your game?

It’s a mentality I never use because it has a negative effect if you haven’t played well somewhere. On tour you need to be able to compete on any course.

After watching you on numerous occasions I get the impression that you are quite a level headed guy who never seems to lose his temper. Would you agree?

Haha. I used to be crazy and a few caddies would back that up. I’m mellowing in my old age but I still have my moments!

Your caddy Dave Moorecroft’s nickname is ‘Happy Gilmore’. Is there a story behind the name?

‘Hippy Dave’ has the appearance of the caddie from Happy Gilmore. Great guy

When Tiger Woods took an indefinite break from game you were among those with the view that the game was going to struggle without him but after seeing Rory Mcilroy’s performance in the U.S. Open and how other players like Westwood, Donald and Kaymer carried the torch for world golf are you still sceptical about its future?

Rory has stepped up to the plate and golf is in great hands with him.

A lot of players say that they don’t like to watch golf unless they are involved in the tournament. Do you feel the same way or will you watch golf no matter what the situation is?

I actually watch quite a bit of golf as I try to learn from other players.

In an interview recently you stated that you are trying to play less in between tournaments in an attempt to keep the mental side of your game fresh. Is this something that you have struggled with over the year, possibly preventing you from getting over the line more and do you feel that this routine has helped you?

This is my first season doing this so I’m hoping that it will help this year.

There was a bit of controversy at this year’s Alstom Open de France with Bubba Watson coming under fire for a complete lack of gratitude and respect for the sponsors, fans and in general, the whole European Tour set-up. You were one of the players to have voiced their discontent at his behaviour. Is your view shared by many of your fellow European Tour players?

Yes the European players feel there was a total lack of respect!

There was great hype on Bubba coming over to play. His exciting game was going to give an extra dimension to European golf but this dream crashed and burned when he said that the only way he will play in Europe again is when he is playing in the Open Championship, even though he has been invited back by the sponsors. Would you welcome back a return of Bubba or do you think he causes more trouble than he is worth?

Stay in America Bubba!

A lot of players wake up at five in the morning even if their tee time isn’t until half ten. Are you one of these players and what do you do to prepare for your round in this time?

I’m a 12 hours sleep a day man when possible!

When putting, you take a couple of practice strokes behind the ball and then drag yourself up to the ball keeping the same set-up. How long have you been doing this and do you feel that this pre shot routine has helped you?

This is a new routine and I’ve been trying it since Wentworth this year. The routine gives me a better focus on the target.

What are your goals for the future?

To become the best person I can be!

What is your favourite golf course?

Sunningdale

Who were your golfing idols growing up?

Seve and Woosnam

Do you have any golfing superstitions?

No

Best golfing advice you have ever received?

If you miss a putt for a 9, knock the one in for a 10. Always do your best!

What is the best thing about being a professional golfer?

Competing where it hurts! (Sunday afternoon)

What is the worst thing about being a professional golfer?

Competing where it hurts (on the cut mark)

What is the strongest part of your game?

Consistency

And the part that needs working at?

Short game

Have you ever had a hole in one?

Yes several. I won a car in the Dutch Open once!

What was your lowest round ever?

63 (Paris National 2010)

Non golfing questions:

Favourite food?

Fish and chips

Favourite movie?

Kes

Favourite book?

Not a reader I’m afraid. The wife shouts at me for that

What’s on your iPod?

Massive genre but my favourite artists are Ray Lemontagne and Kings of Leon (older material though)

What sports do you like besides golf?

All sports

Which soccer team do you support?

Leeds Utd

If you weren’t a golfer what would you have liked to have done?

Had no other dreams so probably would have worked with my friends at home doing a trade!

What do you like to do to relax?

Live music and catching up with friends.

The European Tour moves from Germany to France this week for the Alstom Open de France. This is one of my favourite events on tour. Why? Well it’s the course. Le Golf National is a splendid piece of course design. I know it’s an old golfing cliché to say that it’s a ‘drama assured’ event but this cliché is more fitting for this event than any other event on tour, maybe in the world. Let me just lay out the last hole for you. It’s a 470 yard par 4. The players must drive onto a tight, narrow fairway which snakes to the right. All down the left hand side is water and down the right hand side are bunkers and thick rough. If you are successful with your drive then you are faced with a daunting shot over water to a green which is extremely narrow in places. This second shot however, could be anything between a seven iron and a rescue depending on how brave you want to be with the drive. If you do happen to go into the rough, you have no hope of getting it over the water and keeping it on the green with most players opting to hit further up along the fairway as a lay-up. I think you get the picture. Anyway, the course is a 7,300 yard par 71 which, as you can tell, requires premium ball striking and good course management. Just to prove this point, Miguel Angel Jimenez claimed the title last year and to do so, he fended off Francesco Molinari and Alejandro Canizares in a playoff. All three of these players are accurate hitters with good course management. Also, none of them are that long, proving that length isn’t overly important. A strong field is in attendance with Martin Kaymer, Alvaro Quiros, Matteo Manassero, the Molinari brothers and Miguel Angel Jimenez all taking part. As well as this, big hitting Bubba Watson will make a rare appearance on this side of the pond when he leaves America to try his hand at European Tour golf. Martin Kaymer is favourite for the event at 9/1 with Peter Hanson coming in a distant second at 16/1. Rounding off the top five are Francesco Molinari, Matteo Manassero and Bubba Watson all at 20/1.

Peter Hanson each way @ 16/1
It is incredible, simply incredible that the Swede has only won four times on the European Tour. Two of these wins came last year and he has grown rapidly as a player over the last couple of years. He has a fantastic game tee to green, something which he doesn’t get enough credit for because he isn’t as well known internationally as let’s say Francesco Molinari or Rory Mcilroy. He is a very patient player and to show this I have my own little anecdote about him. Last year when he won the Iberdrola Open Cala Millor Mallorca, he took a double hit which was unbeknownst to him until being informed by European Tour chief referee John Paramor. He was told mid-way through his round that the double hit had occurred but rather than get flustered, he simply got on with his business, confident that his game was good enough to carry him through. He ended up tying with Alejandro Canizares for the lead and won the playoff. As you can see Hanson is patient. That’s one box ticked. He is pretty accurate off the tee having finished only one year on the European Tour with a fairways in regulation average less than 60% and on that year he hit 59.8% of fairways in regulation. That’s another box ticked. In his last six years on tour, he has finished up hitting over an average of 70% of greens in regulation. This ticks another box. His putting has also drastically improved over the last three years which won’t do him any harm. Hanson has a good record at this even and his performances here over the last two years have ended in a tie for fourth and a tie for sixth. That’s a pretty compelling argument as to why you should tip him but I still have one more bit of info for you and that is about his recent form. He finished in a tie for fourth at the Saab Wales Open before heading to the U.S Open and recording a tie for seventh. Ok so the tips of my fingers are beginning to bleed with the amount of information I’ve just typed and I feel that Peter Hanson cannot be overlooked this week. Be wise with your money and go for the Swede.

Mark Foster each way @ 80/1
Not only am I tipping the Englishman, but more excitingly I have an interview in the pipeline with him. Don’t mistake this though as a gratitude show of faith to him just because he is doing an interview with me because I’m not the kind of guy who would do that. I’m tipping Mark this week because I really do think could do well this week. Winning at odds of 80/1 might be a bit of a stretch but at these odds I am more than happy to see if he can win this week. So what makes me confident enough to choose the Englishman? Well first off, he is very experienced. He has been a pro for sixteen years and has been on tour for fourteen of those years. He also is a very calm player who rarely looks like losing the head and seems extremely grounded. So those are two key facets of a golfers character if he wants to triumph this week. He also has plenty of experience at this tournament and recorded his best finish in this event last year when he finished in a tie for sixth and in the process; he carded a fantastic 63 on the second day. Last week, he finished in a tie for third at the BMW International Open and was actually leading by two shots going into the final day. He’s accurate and hits a good deal of greens in regulation so he should be well suited to this course. At 80/1 you’d be mad not to have a small flutter on Foz.

Joost Luiten each way @ 33/1
Holland’s number one is going to win sooner rather than later. He is simply too good a player to be winless on the European Tour. Anyway, his quest continues this week and he is in great form coming into this week. In his last two events he has finished fifth and tied third. See a pattern? Luiten’s game suits this course perfectly. He is incredibly accurate off the tee and hits a bundle of greens in regulation. In contrast to my other two tips, this piece will be fairly short and all I have say is get Luiten while he is still going at this price.

Following the thrills and spills of the US Open, we head to the Golfclub Munchen Eichenried in Munich, Germany for the BMW International Open. Some high profile players have made the trip from Washington to be here this week including Martin Kaymer, Retief Goosen, Matteo Manassero and Dustin Johnson. Some big name players have had their names on this trophy including Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer. The course has been a regular host for this event and is a relatively short 7,073 yard par 72. The course is flat and will offer up low scores so expect the winning score to be somewhere around 18 under. David Horsey is the defending champion and he will have an uphill battle trying to retain his title against the field in attendance this week. World number three Martin Kaymer is favourite for the event at the short odds of 9/1 with big hitting American Dustin Johnson coming in at 14/1. Then we have a rejuvenated Sergio Garcia at 16/1 and rounding off the top five we have Retief Goosen and Matteo Manassero at 18/1.

Retief Goosen each way @ 18/1
I have a really good feeling about the South African this week. Despite not having won on the European Tour for four years, I’m sure that ‘the Goose’ will go into this event brimming with confidence. My first reason for this is down to his last two performances in America. He finished in a tie for third in the FedEx St Jude Classic and then went onto record a tied twenty third finish at the Masters last week. While the latter isn’t overly impressive, he did close out with a final day 68 which was a very solid round. My second reason for tipping him is his record here. In his last three appearances in this tournament, he has finished in the top three twice and in the third performance was a tie for thirteenth. I simply can’t look past the South African and odds of 18/1 are quite generous.

Thomas Aiken each way @ 40/1
I’m going to stick with South Africa and go for another one of their newly found stars. Aiken became a first time winner on the European Tour earlier this year. He is a player that I greatly admire. He’s a long hitter but is still fairly accurate. He is a solid ball striker and a very good iron player but most importantly, he is a great putter. I felt very much aggrieved when he won the Open de Espana and I hadn’t him tipped but this week I will be ready for him if he claims top spot. His results running up to his victory are practically a carbon copy of his last two results. He finished in a tie for seventh in Dubai and then played in a WGC and finished in a tie for thirty fifth. He then took a break from the European Tour and when he came back, he won the Open de Espana. Compare this with his T7th in the Iberdrola Open and then a T39th in the BMW PGA Championship before a break from the European Tour. Now he is going to play in his first event after another break and if history repeats itself, this is Aiken’s event. Thomas is playing the best golf of his life and I think he could become a big star on a worldwide stage but for now, all he can do is win this week.

Peter Whiteford each way @ 40/1
Here is another player who is playing the golf of his life. The Scot, after a very shaky start to the year, is now on the war path with three top tens in his last three events. His last finish was a fourth place in Italy at the BMW Italian Open. In fact, tournaments sponsored by BMW have been good to him as he also finished in a tie for seventh in the European Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship. Is this a sign? I don’t know, but what I do know is that Whiteford is in great form and should be rested and confident coming into this week.

Recently, Ian had the good fortune of being able to interview golfing prodigy Carly Booth. If you haven’t heard of her, believe me, you soon will. At such a young age, Carly’s list of accolades is frightening and comparative with the very best of the world at this stage of her young career. To give you an idea, how about the following:

“Carly enjoyed an amateur career richly laced with records and accolades, being described as a Scottish golfing prodigy. Aged 12, she played with Sandy Lyle in the British Masters Pro-Am and at 14 she appeared in her first professional event, the Ladies Scottish Open, and finished 13th. She was rated the No1 junior in Europe after winning the European Junior Masters in 2007, the same year she lifted the Scottish Under-18 and Under-21 titles. In 2008, she became the youngest player to represent Great Britain & Ireland in the 76-year history of the Curtis Cup, facing the Americans in the 35th staging of that match at St Andrews. She also played at the Junior Ryder Cup in 2006 and 2008 and won the Daily Telegraph Finals in 2007 and 2008. In 2010, she finished 14th at LET Final Stage Qualifying School for 2010.”

Despite these accomplishments, today marks a different milestone for Carly, it is her 19th birthday so, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARLY. We intend on following her career closely here on wegetgolf.com and who knows, we might even be able to bring you further interviews in due course. An interview with the womens world number 1 on wegetgolf.com could be coming sooner that you thought…….Stay tuned!

At what age did you start golf and how?

5. I got a handicap when I was 8 and it was 20 which was said to be a world record for my age. I started through my brother.

At what age did you began to take it seriously and realise that you could make a living out of the game?

Probably when I was 11. I won the Dunblane ladies club championship on my 11th birthday, and won two more that same year at Auchterarder and Comrie. It became my main focus because I gave up gymnastics and swimming at both highest levels to focus my time to golf.

Where did you practice when you were young?

At my house, my dad built my brother and I a 15 hole golf course in our 100 acre farm… it started as 1 hole, then 3 and now 15

Hype has surrounded you your whole life and you have been tipped to become world’s number one ladies golfer at some point in your career. What do you think of this and do you feel the weight of expectation when articles are written about you titled, ‘The Girl Born to Be No1’?

It’s great to see but it does put extra weight and extra expectation on you. I felt there was a lot when I turned pro in December 2009, therefore adding pressure to perform and wanting to please others and play for others and it doesn’t just become about you playing the game you love.

You have been compared to American Michelle Wie. Are you happy being likened to her or would you prefer it if this and all other comparisons were dropped?

She is a great player and was in the lime light at such a young age which, in that aspec,t we were pretty similar, but when people say do you want to be as good as Michelle Wie one day, my answer is no. I want to be better!

You turned pro when you were seventeen years of age. This was a very young age to make such a life decision. Do you feel you made the right decision and what did your parents think about it?

I think it was the right decision. It was tough as I was still at school but it was a mutual decision with my parents. We all thought it was the right to go to tour school and get experience, even if I didn’t make it through, but I did!

Did being young and unproven in the professional ranks make it difficult for you to find sponsors or did your amateur record and reputation mean that they were all fighting for your services?

Nike have been there for me most of my amateur career and they said they were going to continue to support me when I make the change to professional, so that was a positive and a relief in a lot of aspects!

You have many amateur accolades to your name including two Junior Ryder Cup appearances, but which achievement was most satisfying for you?

The Curtis Cup at aged 15. Being the youngest player ever for Great Britain & Ireland was certainly an amazing experience and something I will always treasure, but I had many great moments throughout my amateur career, also winning the European Young Masters, two Scottish U18s and Scottish U21s.

Your first appearance in a professional event came when you were just fourteen at the Ladies Scottish Open and you finished in a very strong tie for thirteenth. How did you feel going into that event and how does it compare to the first professional event you played as a pro?

I had no expectations, it was a great experience. I learned a lot about the professional game and it certainly made me look forward to when I did turn professional.

Your brother Wallace is also a professional golfer, is there a big sibling rivalry between you two or does the gender difference prevent that?

If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be playing golf, he is a great brother and very supportive.

You were the Scottish under nine gymnastics champion so you clearly had a promising future in that and are naturally athletic but what made you choose golf over gymnastics?

I was too tall, and there is more money in golf.

You were the youngest person to ever represent GB&I in the Curtis Cup in 2008 and as aforementioned, you have played in two Junior Ryder Cups. Do you prefer these team events or singles competitions?

I prefer both in different ways. Team events are great fun as I loved playing home internationals. It’s only thing I do miss about the amateur game.

In that Curtis Cup, despite losing your match you entertained the crowds by somersaulting your way down the 18th hole at the Old Course at St Andrews. What kind of celebration will fans be treated to when you win your first event on tour?

Very similar!!!

You have one year on the circuit under your belt. Did you learn much from your experiences and did it help your game in any way?

Yes, I learnt a lot

You have had a tough time of it this year, having only made one out of seven cuts. However, the cut you made was in your last event at the Deloitte Dutch Ladies Open where you were in contention until you fell away in the final round carding a 75 and eventually finished in a tie for twenty first place. Is this a sign of improvement though and do you feel your game is good enough at the moment to win an event?

My game is getting really close. I’m just building the confidence up!

What are your goals for the future?

Winning

You recently took part in Golf LIVE. Could you please explain to readers what that is and who else took part in it?

It was a great experience, interacting more with the public, golf lovers, doing clinics on different parts of the game. Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke, Nick Dougherty, Thomas Levet, Bredan Cole and Anton du Beck (Strictly Come Dancing stars). It was a mixture of professionals with celebs and TV presenters!

Long drive champion Joe Miller was one of the attractions at Golf LIVE. He said that interactive golf lessons with the pros like Golf LIVE are part of golf’s future. Do you agree with his sentiments?

Yes, of course. It’s great way to learn.

You seem to be enjoying your golf at the moment and just revelling in the fact that you are a professional golfer. You are attending things like Golf LIVE and you are keeping in touch with fans through social networking sites, but you do have big dreams so will all these things have to take a back seat in the future for you to concentrate on these goals and for you to reach your full potential?

I’m just working hard on my golf game and keeping fans up to date on Twitter and Facebook with what I’m doing and where I am.

Who were your golfing idols?

Tiger

Do you have any role models outside of golf?

The rock

Do you prefer match play or stroke play?

Both, but I do miss match play as that was more in the amateur game

What is your favourite golf course?

Yas links in Abu Dhabi

If you could have a dream fourball, what would it be?

Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and Jack Nicklaus

Do you have any golfing superstitions?

Ball marker sometimes. If I have putted badly never use it again. I try not to have any though.

Best golfing advice you have ever received?

Practice makes perfect

What is the best thing about being a professional golfer?

Doing something you love and seeing the world and the experiences that come with it

What is the worst thing about being a professional golfer?

Travelling can get tough sometimes

What is the strongest part of your game?

My distance and my driving

And the part that needs working at?

You can never be good enough at the short game

Favourite shot to practice?

The flop shot

Have you ever had a hole in one?

Not in tournament, no

What was your lowest round ever?

9 under 64 at Peterhead in Scotland at the Scottish U18s

Non golfing questions:

Favourite food?

Cereal and steak

Favourite movie?

Too many

Favourite book?

Goodnight Mr Tom

What’s on your iPod?

EVERYTHING

What sports do you like besides golf and gymnastics?

Football and snowboarding

Which soccer team do you support?

Liverpool FC

Do you have any phobias or fears?

Spiders

If you weren’t a golfer what would you have liked to have done?

No idea. I could say a million things but golf has been it and only it!

Hidden talent?

Walking on my hands, the worm and my left eye doesn’t move to the right. Haha

Twitter or Facebook?

Facebook, but I’m getting a feel for Twitter

What do you like to do to relax?

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Its US Open week and the event, no matter what the venue is, is the toughest test of golf the pros will play all year. Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell will attempt to successfully defend his title against the top names in golf, with the exception of Tiger Woods who has pulled out due to injury. The US Open will inevitably throw up thrills, spills and the odd birdie or two. Throughout the years, the US Open has been renowned for the length of its rough so you can see why an accurate hitter would do well here. The event will be held at Congressional and it will be played as a 7,574 yard par 71. This means that it is the longest course in US Open history so driving will be at a premium. Another thing extremely important for this event is a good short game. The pros will definitely find themselves in tricky situations throughout the week and their short games will need to be razor sharp in order to triumph this week. Lee Westwood is favourite at 11/1 with Luke Donald and Phil Mickelson trailing him at 14/1. Rory Mcilroy is 18/1 while Hunter Mahan and Steve Stricker round off the top six at odds of 22/1. An interesting stat for you is that in terms of odds, only three of the top thirteen players have won a major before. I am firmly convinced that whoever wins this week will claim his first major title.
Luke Donald each way @ 14/1
Either Westwood or Donald were going to feature in my tips this week and I went with Donald. Why? It’s largely down to his deft touch around the greens and his incredible putting ability. Yes Donald isn’t the longest of guys and is quite an inaccurate driver but he has certainly increased his distance over the past year or so. We saw at the BMW PGA Championship how he can win when he drives the ball all over the place. He was in every tree around the whole course but still managed to beat Lee Westwood in a playoff. Donald is the best player in the world at the moment without doubt and a win this week would give him his first major title and really would be the icing on cake. As well as this, his odds of 14/1 are extremely appealing.

Dustin Johnson each way @ 25/1
The majors owe Johnson something. He collapsed in this event last year and on the final day of the PGA Championship he got punished because of what I thought was a pretty stupid ruling and ended up getting a penalty and missing a playoff. I’m sure he will be back with a vengeance and his length will help around this long course. Johnson has had an average season so far for the quality player he is, recording three top fives. One of these came in his last event meaning that he has built up some momentum coming into this event and I feel he will be very dangerous.

Matt Kuchar each way @ 25/1
He was the leading money leader on the PGA Tour last year and could be heading that way again this year. I’m sure he is disappointed not to have a win under his belt this season but that could change this week. Kuchar is just ridiculous when it comes to his consistency and that is the name of the game this week. He has had finishes of T16, T6 and T2 in his three events so he is creeping that bit closer all the time towards the winners circle. There is no doubting Kuchar’s pedigree and this week I feel that could shine through and he will claim his first major title.

Francesco Molinari each way @ 80/1
This is simply a fantastic price for someone whose games set up so well for a US Open. Molinari is all about tee to green, don’t even contemplate the rough. He’s not a long hitter but he’s not short either and is considered to be ‘sneaky long’. Molinari’s putting has been holding him back but after a lot of hard work with Mark Roe, he finally seems to be coming to grips with that part of the game and it no longer looks like he has a live snake in his hands over those three footers. He showed some signs of form at the BMW Italian Open last week and even though he did hit a couple of shaky shots, he can work on that with Denis Pugh and I’m sure he will have that rectified soon and will arrive at Congressional in tip-top shape. Francesco claimed the HSBC Champions last year, fending off a strong challenge from Lee Westwood so it is clear that he has the head to succeed at big events and at 80/1, I’m certainly willing to have a flutter to find out if can triumph this week.

James View: Luke Donald………AGAIN!!! Some interesting names there from Ian to be sure but I do not necessarily agree that this years winner will be a first time major winner. As such, I am going to give you three names, all at decent odds and all previous major winners. Retief Goosen (70/1), Ernie Els (50/1) and Y.E Yang are my outside each way bets and of those three, provided Goosen can get off to a reasonable start, I think he could well be there in the mix come Sunday. He loves fast greens and of late, his form has been quite good. (if I had to pick one of the favourites who I think could go well, it would be Luke Donald also. As for someone who I think is overvalued at current, that man is unfortunately Rory McIlroy. I hope Im wrong on this one though)

The PGA Tour moves onto Memphis, Tennessee for the FedEx St. Jude Classic. A fairly modest field is in attendance with the US Open on next week, but fans will still be able to see superstars such as defending champion Lee Westwood, three time major champion Padraig Harrington and 2009 PGA Championship victor Y.E. Yang. Last year’s event threw up huge drama, when Robert Garrigus, or ‘Big Bob’ Garrigus as he is also known because of his unbelievable length, held a three shot lead coming onto the eighteenth. He hooked his ball into water and ended up taking a triple bogey. He then lost out in a three man playoff to Lee Westwood with the third player in that playoff being Robert Karlsson. There are no prizes for guessing who is favourite for the event and Lee Westwood comes in at 7/1. David Toms is a distant second at 14/1 with Zach Johnson close behind him at 16/1 and Brian Gay and Sergio Garcia round off the top five, both at odds of 25/1.

Lee Westwood each way @ 7/1
How could you pick anyone over ‘Westy’ this week? There are three motivation factors in play for him this week. The first is that he wants a strong finish to build up momentum for the US Open. It is only a matter of time until Westwood wins a major and I think he needs to win one ‘sooner’ rather than ‘later’ The second reason is of course because he is chasing Luke Donald for that number one spot and I am extremely confident that he will get it back. The third reason is that he is the defending champion and his win here was his first victory in America for twelve years and I’m sure he would love to hit back at critics in America with a win here. Lee is playing some beautiful golf this year and the only reason why he is not the world’s number one is because he lost in a playoff to Luke Donald (I tipped him at 7/1, just saying!!!) last week at the BMW PGA Championship.

David Toms each way @ 14/1
Toms’ record here is just scary good. In his last nine appearances here he has had six top fives and a top ten, which includes back to back wins in 2003 and 2004. Impressive? I think so. The reason he isn’t my top tip is simply because it’s Lee Westwood and he is a truly remarkable golfer but to be honest, there isn’t much between them this week. Toms claimed his first win in five years at the Crowne Plaza Invitational (I tipped him at 33/1 again, just saying!!!) a couple of weeks back and that came on the back of a lost playoff at the Players Championship. These finishes made his record four top fives for the season and let me tell you, he was hugely impressive when he won. He started off 62, 62 and held a lead of seven shots after two rounds. He had a rocky time of it in the third round but he pulled it back and won the event. That week, he drove the ball superbly all week and his class shone through the first two days. If Toms gets on a roll like he did at the Crowne Plaza, it will be tough to see anyone topping him this week.

Jonathan Byrd each way @ 28/1
It’s a golfing cliché when someone is branded as never three putting. Well, this is truer for Byrd than any other player on the PGA Tour. He unfortunately three putted his 72nd hole last week but, it was his first three putt in over 200 consecutive holes. This is extremely impressive and if he putts like that this week he will be a huge contender. He has won already this year on tour, and besides that he has three more top tens, two of which came in his last three events. He doesn’t have a great record here but does have experience of the course and I think he could be dangerous this week.

The European Tour heads to Italy this week for the BMW Italian Open. This event saw Swede Fredrik Andersson Hed triumph last year after an incredible fourteen trips to Q school during his professional career. Home hopes will rest on young sensation Matteo Manassero and the ever steady Francesco Molinari. Besides these two players, the field is pretty weak, though players like Darren Clarke, Simon Dyson, Thomas Bjorn and Jeev Milkha Singh do add a touch of class to the event. It’s not surprising as to why there is a lack of talent in the field with the US Open on next week. The event is to be held at the Royal Park I Roveri which hosted this tournament for the first time last year. The course is tree lined and the rough is penal but long hitters can take comfort in the fact that the fairways are on average 30-35 yards wide. Manassero is favourite for the event at the short odds of 15/2 with his Italian counterpart, Molinari, coming in close behind him at 10/1. Gregory Bourdy stands at 16/1 and David Horsey and Jamie Donaldson round off the top five, with odds of 22/1 each.

Matteo Manassero each way @ 15/2
The young Italian has been a breath of fresh air since he became a professional. He’s a two time winner, he’s fun to watch, he’s modest and most importantly of all, he respects the fans and he’s very good with the media. He is both the youngest and second youngest player to have won on the European Tour with both his victories coming before he turned eighteen. He’s in good form, and was leading the BMW PGA Championship at different stages during the event but in the end had to settle for a T7th finish after a bad run in the last round. He’s played in this event twice and both times he has finished inside the top thirty. With home support, Matteo could be very dangerous this week.

Chris Wood each way @ 25/1
I know I tipped the Englishman for the BMW PGA Championship and he missed the cut but I’m willing to overlook that. At around this time last year, Wood recorded three consecutive top sixes, one of them coming here. He finished in a tie for second in Spain a couple of weeks ago, where he was dominating the field until he ‘blew up’ in the final round and finished with a closing 6 over par 76. It wasn’t the first time he had led a tournament either before letting it slip but at least this shows us that he has experience if he does get into contention. He didn’t play last week so he should be refreshed and ready to go. Wood had a good finish here last year; he has a runner up finish in his recent form and is one of the better players in what I consider to be a weak field this week. All in all I think that Chris will be feeling pretty confident about his chances.

Pablo Larrazabal each way @ 28/1
The Spaniard is possibly the most inconsistent player to have ever played the game of golf. One week he could be playing the golf of his life and the next he could open with a horrendous round. He is however, a very talented golfer and could really challenge this week. He finished in a tie for fourth last week in Wales, and this was his third top five finish of the season. He did play in this event last year but despite making the cut he failed to make much of an impact at the weekend. If Larrazabal continues his good form this week and keep his temper in check then he could really be a serious threat to the top of the leaderboard.

The PGA Tour heads to Dublin, Ohio this week for the Memorial Tournament at the Muirfield Village Golf Club. The event is filled with stars from around the globe with players like Phil Mickelson, Rory Mcilroy, Luke Donald, Nick Watney and K.J. Choi all in attendance as well as many more. The course is a 7,300 yard par 72 and this event certainly favours the higher calibre player. Luke Donald stands as runaway favourite for this event at the odds of 8/1 with Phil Mickelson being the closest to him at 12/1. Matt Kuchar and Nick Watney are both at odds of 20/1 and Rory Mcilroy rounds off the top five at odds of 22/1.

Matt Kuchar each way @ 20/1
I’m picking the steady American this week and with good reason too. Kuchar’s record here is fantastic. Over his last four starts here he has finished T13th, T10th, T5th and T8th. That is an absolutely cracking record to have and this alone, is enough to warrant Kuchar as a tip but wait, there’s more. We all know how impressive he was last year, racking up a win and eleven top tens, but he has carried this form into this season and has already amassed seven top tens. He finished in a tie for sixteenth at the Crowne Plaza Invitational and last week at the HP Byron Nelson Championship he finished in a tie for sixth. He’s going in the right direction and it’s only a matter of time before Matt is in the winner’s circle once more.

K.J. Choi each way @ 25/1
The Masters seemed to spur Choi into action this year. He finished T6th in his preparation event for it, then went to Augusta and finished in a tie for eighth. After a mini sabbatical, he came back and recorded a T3rd in New Orleans before heading to Florida to claim the Players Championship. Now he plays in an event which he has won before and has recorded a further four top fifteen finishes in. This is all that needs saying for Choi and I think he can win again this week.

Robert Karlsson each way @ 66/1
It’s strange to call the 41 year old Swede a rookie but that’s exactly what he is on the PGA Tour. He is not, however, like normal rookies who come off the Nationwide Tour just starting out their careers and hoping to make it to the big time because Robert has already hit the big time. He’s represented Europe in the Ryder Cup twice, he’s an 11 time winner on the European Tour and he even claimed the Order of Merit (now known as the Race to Dubai) in 2008. Since then he had an eye injury which forced him out of the game but he recovered from that and showed his resilience by winning twice on Tour last season. This year he packed up and left for America and he clearly didn’t make the impact he was hoping to, only being able to record one measly top twenty in eight starts. This changed at the Crowne Plaza when the big Swede finished in a tie for fifth and judging from past performances, if Karlsson gets a sniff of form, he’ll pounce. These are great odds for someone so talented and I would advise you to get on the gravy train before it’s too late.