Globe Greens

Posted on Marca Golf - May 20, 2013

"El surcoreano Sang Moon Bae aprovechó que el líder, el estadounidense Keegan Bradley, se estrelló en su último recorrido para adjudicarse el Byron Nelson Championship de golf, incluido en el circuito de la PGA y dotado con 6.700.000 dólares en premios.

Bradley, dominador del torneo desde la primera jornada en la que logró batir el récord del campo para una vuelta con 60 golpes, no tuvo un día afortunado y con 72 impactos, dos por encima del par, perdió sus opciones de sumar su cuarto título en la PGA.

El desacierto del jugador estadounidense fue aprovechado por el surcoreano Sang Moon Bae para asaltar el liderato. Los 69 golpes (-1) con los que cerró su participación en el torneo fueron suficientes para llevarse la victoria con un total de 267, dos menos que Bradley."

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Posted by Benjamin Cadiou - May 20, 2013

"Grégory Havret retrouve peu à peu sa forme d'ex joueur du top 30 européen. Le Rochelais vient d'arriver à Wentworth, pour sa 11e participation au BMW PGA Championship. Le 103e de la Race to Dubai nous présente ce plus gros tournoi régulier de la saison continentale.

Wentworth, banlieue Ouest de Londres. Comme la plupart de ses collègues, Grégory Havret a débarqué lundi, pour le PGA Championship, dans le courant de l'après-midi. Sous la froide grisaille du Surrey, l'ex n°1 français prend des nouvelles de ses compatriotes débarquant au compte-goutte sur le practice. Au milieu des Lee Westwood et Rory McIlroy, le Rochelais profite de son nouveau coach, Jamie Gough, pour peaufiner son swing, puis accorde cinq minutes pour nous planter le décor du plus beau/prestigieux/riche tournoi du calendrier de la Race to Dubai.

Grégory, aidez-nous à réaliser au combien le PGA Championship est un tournoi à part ?
Grégory Havret : « C’est un évènement que l’on ne peut pas louper. À part Peter Hanson, qui est ici mais sans jouer, tous les meilleurs joueurs du Tour européen sont là. Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy ou Justin Rose reviennent même exprès des USA pour jouer Wentworth !
C’est un parcours typiquement britannique, très intéressant et magnifique, même si les changements récents opérés par Ernie Els sont discutables. Le vent tourbillonne beaucoup, ça le rend dur à gérer. Beaucoup de spectateurs sont là, le public d’ici est très connaisseur. Ça nous change des tournois asiatiques, avec des gens encore peu au courant des usages. À tous les points de vue, ce PGA Championship est notre « 5e majeur ».

Au jeu des favoris, que peut-on attendre ?
Des favoris gagnent souvent, comme Angel Cabrera, ou Luke Donald vainqueur ces deux dernières années. Mais nous avons aussi des surprises, comme Andrew Oldcorn ou Simon Khan en 2010. Un joueur comme Donald est très à l’aise ici : c’est un « lanceur de fléchette », comprenez un joueur très précis. Il faut bien penser et très bien mettre en jeu. Trop souvent à Wentworth, un tee shot moyen vous enlève toute chance de par ou birdie."

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Posted on Orange Sport UK - May 20, 2013

"Graeme McDowell expressed his delight at becoming the first Irish winner of the Volvo World Match Play after victory over Thongchai Jaidee.

McDowell, runner-up last year to Ryder Cup team-mate Nicolas Colsaerts, only took the lead for the first time in the final on the 14th hole after several vital par saves on the front nine at Thracian Cliffs, Bulgaria.

But the top seed then birdied the 15th to move two ahead and sealed a 2&1 win on the 17th - his 99th hole of the week - to claim the first prize of £675,000 and a first European Tour title since 2010 to go with his win at the RBC Heritage on the PGA Tour last month.

Arnold Palmer won the first World Match Play event in 1964 and the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Greg Norman and Ernie Els all have their name on the trophy.

"It's very special," said McDowell, who moved to the top of the Race to Dubai and should climb from eighth to seventh in the world rankings.

"We have been talking all week about how prestigious this event is. I can't say how excited I am to win it and add my name to that list of legends.

"It was not quite the salubrious golf of this morning (when he was eight under in beating Branden Grace 3&2 in the semi-final). It was a little more tentative, there was a lot on the line.

"I played strongly coming in and I sensed Thongchai was a little fatigued. I really tried to feed off that and show him I was really up for it. He made his first mistake on the 14th and the 15th has been kind to me all week."

Jaidee had the consolation of £338,000 as runner-up, but could be forgiven for wondering how he had failed to turn an early advantage into a decisive lead.

Birdies at the second and fourth took the former Thai paratrooper two up, but he missed from eight feet to go further ahead on the next after McDowell had scrambled a par despite taking a penalty drop from an unplayable lie left of the green.

McDowell won the seventh with a birdie to reduce his deficit but was grateful to see Jaidee miss from six feet on the next to win the hole, while McDowell then holed lengthy par putts on the ninth and 10th to stay in touch.

"The par putts on the fifth, ninth and 10th were huge, they were the turning points," McDowell admitted."

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Posted by Alistair Tait - Getty Images - May 19, 2013

"Add Graeme McDowell’s name to a list of winners that includes most of golf’s greats. The Northern Irishman became the Volvo World Match Play Champion after defeating Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, 2 and 1 in the final.

McDowell follows in the footsteps of Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Bob Charles, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf, Hale Irwin, David Graham, Greg Norman, Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam, Sandy Lyle, Sir Nick Faldo, Ernie Els and Ian Poulter, among others.

The Northern Irishman picked up just over $1 million for his win. Jaidee took home approximately $500,000.

“I’ve been in control of my emotions most of the week,” McDowell said.

“This golf course, the second I saw it I knew it felt like it suited my type of game. It requires accuracy off the tee. I work my driver from left to right and that suits the finishing stretch because that land sits from right to left.”

It is McDowell’s second win of the year, following the RBC Heritage. The victory also makes up for the Northern Irishman’s loss to Nicolas Colsaerts in last year’s final, but he had to win the hard way.

McDowell was imperious in his morning semi-final win over Branden Grace. He recorded eight birdies and no bogeys in 16 holes. He ran out a 3-and-2 winner, the same score by which Jaidee defeated South Africa’s Thomas Aiken.

He had to hang onto Jaidee’s coattails for much of the final. The Thai golfer was 2 up after four but McDowell stayed tough to grind out the win. He has his putter to thank for that.

The Ryder Cup star holed a number of good par-saving putts for halves. He holed from 15 feet at the fifth, 12 feet at the ninth and 8 feet at the 10th hole. He also holed a good 7-foot birdie putt at the 7th to reduce the deficit to one hole."

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Posted on BBC Golf - May 19, 2013

"Graeme McDowell made amends for last year's defeat in the final by beating Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee to win the World Match Play Championship.

The Northern Irishman came from two down after four holes to win 2&1 at the Thracian Cliffs course in the Bulgarian coastal resort of Kavarna.

McDowell, 33, had earlier beaten South Africa's Branden Grace 3&2 in their semi-final.

Jaidee saw off another South African, Thomas Aiken, by the same score.

It looked as though the Thai player was on his way to victory in the final after he birdied the second and fourth holes, with McDowell producing several vital par saves on the front nine.

However, the 2010 US Open champion worked his way back into contention and a third birdie at the par-five 14th put him in front.

When Jaidee missed a birdie opportunity at the 15th, McDowell made him pay to go two-up, and he wrapped up the title by holing out to halve the par-three 17th.

It is McDowell's second win in three events after he also captured the PGA Tour's RBC Heritage earlier this month at Hilton Head in South Carolina.

McDowell joins the likes of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Greg Norman and seven-time champion Ernie Els as a World Match Play winner.

"It's very special," said McDowell. "We have been talking all week about how prestigious this event is. I can't say how excited I am to win it and add my name to that list of legends."

Posted by Mike Walker - May 18, 2013

"Anchored putters, your time may be up.

The USGA will announce its final decision on whether to ban anchored putting -- in other words, belly putter and long putters that are "anchored" against the body -- at a news conference Tuesday at USGA headquarters in Far Hills, N.J. The 8 a.m. press conference will be broadcast live on Golf Channel. The USGA will also provide a live webcast of the press conference here.

In November, the USGA and the R&A proposed a rule change to ban anchored putting strokes after three of the previous five major champions used either belly putters or long putters, including Keegan Bradley [right] at the 2011 PGA Championship. After the USGA and R&A proposed to ban anchored putting, Adam Scott won the Masters with a long putter in April. (The R&A -- the Royal & Ancient Golf Club -- administers the game outside the United States and Mexico.)

The proposed rule change has been controversial; the PGA Tour and the PGA of America have both told the USGA that they are against the proposed change. However, the European Tour, the LPGA and several prominent former and current players -- including Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer -- support the ban."

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Posted on BBC Golf - May 18, 2013

"Graeme McDowell beat Nicolas Colsaerts in the World Match Play Championship in Bulgaria, gaining revenge for his defeat in last year's final.

Colsaerts had also knocked the Northern Irishman out in 2011, but McDowell made it third time lucky with a 2&1 win in the quarter-finals at Thracian Cliffs.

McDowell now plays Branden Grace who beat England's Chris Wood 2&1.

The other semi-final sees Grace's fellow South African Thomas Aiken take on Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand.

Aiken beat Italy's Francesco Molinari 3&2 while Jaidee defeated Scott Jamieson of Scotland 4&3.

Three up after nine, McDowell seemed set to go further ahead when Colsaerts' drive on the short par-four 10th finished inside a public toilet.

But after taking a penalty drop, Colsaerts pitched onto the green and holed from 15 feet for par to halve the hole.

Colsaerts could be heard laughing as he pleaded with the referee not to make him drop the ball inside a bathroom on live television, but had to drop it twice as it rolled nearer the hole the first time.

"I was laughing because I was going to look like a clown," Colsaerts said.

"I'm going to make 'A Question of Sport' and I'm sure it's going to make the news, some Belgian dude dropping the ball in a toilet.

"It is fun to be recognised for stupid stuff like that.""

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Posted on Orange Sport UK - May 18, 2013

"Graeme McDowell finally got the better of Nicolas Colsaerts in the World Match Play Championship to make the semi-finals in Bulgaria.

Colsaerts beat McDowell in the final last year and also knocked the Northern Irishman out in the quarter-finals in 2011, but McDowell made it third time lucky with a 2&1 win in the quarter-finals at Thracian Cliffs.

Three up after nine, McDowell seemed set to go further ahead when Colsaerts' drive on the short par-four 10th finished inside a public toilet.

But after taking a penalty drop - bringing new meaning to the phrase 'nearest point of relief' - Colsaerts pitched onto the green and holed from 15ft for par to halve the hole.

The Belgian got within one of his opponent by taking both the 13th and 14th holes but missed opportunities on 15 and 16 saw McDowell seal the match with a par on the penultimate hole.

He'll face Branden Grace in the semi-finals after the South African got the better of Chris Wood in one of the round's closer ties.

In a match with neither man could gain total control of, Wood's missed par putt from close range on 16 proved decisive and when he couldn't get up and down for par on 17, Grace was able to seal a 2&1 success.

In contrast, compatriot Thomas Aiken was always in command against Francesco Molinari in a 3&2 success while the most resounding victory came from Thongchai Jaidee, who beat Scott Jamieson 4&3.

McDowell, who almost squandered a four-hole lead with six to play before beating Bo Van Pelt on the 18th in the last 16, said: "I keep giving guys a look in and you don't want to give them too many chances.

"I was looking like going four up on the 10th and Nicolas then literally makes par from the toilet. It's when the Rules of Golf get a bit funny and wacky and people watching will be wondering what's going on, but what a four he made.

"I'm happy to get through and excited to be in the semi-finals. It's a very historic event and a trophy with a lot of legendary names on it. The golden years at Wentworth I remember watching a lot of my heroes win it and I would dearly love to add my name to the list.""

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Posted on ESPN Golf - May 17, 2013

"Keegan Bradley broke the TPC Four Seasons course record with a 10-under 60 in the opening round of the Byron Nelson Championship.

Keegan Bradley had no thoughts about a course record, or the possibility of a 59, after consecutive bogeys in the middle of his opening round at the Byron Nelson Championship.

Until his 136-yard wedge shot on his final hole Thursday.

"It was going right at it. (A 59) crossed my mind for a second, and it would be unbelievable if I buried this," Bradley said. "But I had 3 feet to shoot 60. I was actually very nervous, uncomfortable over it and thank God I made it."

Bradley shot 10-under 60, completed by that short birdie at the 428-yard ninth hole, to break the TPC Four Seasons course record and match the best round ever at the Nelson. He topped his career PGA Tour best by three strokes and equaled Phil Mickelson's opening 60 at Phoenix as the best round on the tour this season.

After missing the fairways off the tees and making bogeys at No. 18 and then No. 1, the latter starting his back nine when he drove into a bunker and had a par putt lip out of the cup, Bradley was at 3 under. He made a 17-foot birdie putt at the 221-yard second hole, and was 7 under his final eight holes with an eagle-birdie-birdie finish.

"It was rare to match up a ball-striking day and make everything. ... It happened today," Bradley said. "The hole looked huge. Even the putts I missed almost went in."

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Posted on Orange Sport UK - May 17, 2013

"Brett Rumford's bid to join Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros in the record books is on course at the World Match Play Championship in Bulgaria.

After back-to-back wins at the Ballantine's Championship and Volvo China Open two weeks ago, Rumford is looking to become only the third man in European Tour history to win three consecutive events this week at Thracian Cliffs.

Only Faldo in 1983 and the late Ballesteros three years later have achieved the remarkable feat, but Rumford was not looking fazed by the size of his task as he reached the last 16 of the £2.5million event with a game to spare.

The 35-year-old Australian was eight under par in the 15 holes it took to beat Jamie Donaldson 5&3, with a second defeat for Donaldson meaning Rumford and Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano were assured of advancing from their group before meeting this afternoon.

"I'm really happy," Rumford said. "Jamie got off to a bad start and I capitalised on that and was three up after four holes. I know Jamie fought hard yesterday afternoon and I wanted to try to conserve as much energy as I could so it was nice to close it out sooner rather than later.

"Seve was an inspiration to all European Tour players. He was a great player and fierce in match play which is what you need. It would be an honour to match his achievement."

Defending champion Nicolas Colsaerts lost to Branden Grace on Thursday but beat Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat 3&2 this morning to at least guarantee himself a play-off, something he needed last year as well after a draw and a defeat in his two group matches.

A win for Grace against Aphibarnrat would see him top the group and also seal Colsaerts' place in the last 16, while a win for Aphibarnrat would mean a three-way play-off with all three players on two points each.

Another play-off was a possibility in the Mark McCormack group, where Scott Jamieson had beaten Carl Pettersson by one hole to join the Swede on two points and make the game between Jamieson and Thorbjorn Olesen decisive.

Thongchai Jaidee, who beat Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter yesterday, secured his place in the next round with victory on the 18th against Thomas Aiken, with that group now coming down to Ian Poulter versus Aiken."

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Posted by Alyette Debray-Mauduy - May 17, 2013

"Le 1er juillet, l’Evian Resort Golf Club rouvrira ses portes après neuf mois d’ouvrage... semé d’embûches et de rebondissements. Tour d’horizon de travaux pharaoniques.

Le 18 septembre 2012, l’Evian Masters Golf Club fermait ses portes pour « travaux de rénovation ». À l’aube, les jardiniers déshabillaient le golf en ôtant drapeaux, râteaux et boules de départ… 1er juillet 2013, l’Evian Resort Golf Club, premier tracé Major d’Europe continentale, sera officiellement inauguré. « Pour devenir un tournoi majeur, il fallait agrafer au contrat avec la LPGA un parcours », explique Franck Riboud, PDG de Danone, grand patron d’Evian. Un parcours de dimension spectaculaire et stratégique. Pour y arriver, neuf petits mois… Autant dire rien, quand on sait qu’un tel challenge en demande au moins le double, avec des conditions météo conformes aux normales de saison, serait-il bon d’ajouter. Car, avec 60 jours de pluie tombée entre le 18 septembre et le 31 décembre, avec de la neige à profusion jusqu’à la fin du mois de mars, personne ne croyait vraiment au timing d’un tel projet. Les mauvaises langues auraient bien fait de se taire. Contre vents et marées, les clés du parcours seront remises en temps et en heure…

Une vraie prouesse

Celle-ci est d’abord le résultat d’une équipe de pros soudée et archimotivée : les architectes délégués de l’European Tour Design, le Sud-Africain Dave Sampson et le Britannique Jeremy Stesson, celui missionné par la LPGA, Steve Smayers, les shapers du terrain – traduisez les sculpteurs, Doog et Mooty, les 80 ouvriers de la société chambérienne Berlioz et un directeur de projet, Yannick Le Hec, qui n’est autre que le directeur général du Resort."

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"El ascenso del norirlandés Graeme McDowell a la séptima plaza, tras su victoria en el Mundial Match Play, es la nota más destacada de la clasificación mundial de golf en la que el estadounidense Tiger Woods lleva 633 semanas como líder."

Posted by Brentley Romine - May 20, 2013

"Tiger Woods announced Tuesday that he will play in the Memorial Tournament May 30-June 2 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. Amateur Tianlang Guan, 14, will join him after receiving a sponsor exemption.

Woods is the defending champion of the event. He won by two shots in 2012 to capture PGA Tour win No. 73, tying Jack Nicklaus, the event’s host. Woods has won the tournament four other times (1999, ’00, ’01 and ’09).

“I always look forward to playing in Jack's tournament,” Woods said on his website. “It's a wonderful course, and we are always treated well. We, as players, are very appreciative of what he has meant to the game.”

Woods is coming off a victory at the Players Championship, his fourth PGA Tour victory of the seasons in just seven starts. He’s won five times since his victory at last year’s Memorial and has since reclaimed the World No. 1 ranking, too.

His Memorial start will be Woods’ final tournament before the U.S. Open, which will take place June 13-16 at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.

Guan, who became the youngest player to make the cut in a major championship last month at the Masters, will be making his third PGA Tour start. He also played in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and last week’s Byron Nelson Championship."

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Posted by David Charpenet - May 20, 2013

"Sang-Moon Bae signe la première victoire de sa carrière sur le PGA Tour après avoir écoeuré Keegan Bradley, leader depuis le premier jour, en attaquant les derniers drapeaux du HP Byron Nelson Championship avec un certain panache.
Si la plupart des golfeurs sud-coréens cultivent leur image de golfeur du matin calme, à l'image de K.J. Choi, d'autres ont un comportement beaucoup plus démonstratif. Sang-Moon Bae fait incontestablement partie de la deuxième catégorie. À l'attaque sur les deux derniers trous en allant chercher les drapeaux collés aux obstacles d'eau au 17 et au 18, il a écœuré Keegan Bradley, son adversaire de la dernière partie, leader depuis le premier soir. Difficile de savoir s'il faut parler de panache, d'inconscience ou de coups légèrement manqués, mais cette attaque à outrance a fait plier tous ses adversaires et Sang-Moon Bae remporte ainsi le HP Byron Nelson Championship, premier titre de sa carrière sur le PGA Tour, avec deux longueurs d'avance sur Keegan Bradley. «J'ai toujours rêvé de gagner sur le PGA Tour, souriait Bae. C'était incroyable d'être salué par Peggy Nelson (NDLR : La veuve de Byron Nelson) avec toute l'histoire que cela représente. Je ne savais pas quoi dire. Sur ce coup du 17, j'ai senti que j'étais un peu court. Le vent a porté un peu ma balle en la dirigeant vers la droite... J'étais soulagé quand j'ai vu qu'elle était sur le green.»

Chance et audace sur les deux derniers trous
Le golfeur de Daegu suivait du regard sa balle avec inquiétude et son soulagement se matérialisait par une génuflexion qui simulait presque un évanouissement. Ce coup de chance allait se reproduire au 18, avec un drapeau collé à l'obstacle d'eau et une attaque de green sans aucune marge de sécurité. Le cadet de Bae lui tapait dans le dos avec un sourire hilare, témoin de ce mélange de chance et d'audace. Mais la chance ne sourit décidément qu'aux audacieux et Bradley ne pouvait dès lors que s'incliner avec un seul birdie pour la journée, au 15. «Je suis plutôt déçu, confiait Bradley. Mais Bae a très bien joué. Je n'ai pas été très bon personnellement, mais je me suis accroché. Après mon putt du 15, j'étais pourtant plutôt confiant sur ma victoire finale.» Le nouveau titulaire du record du parcours (60) ne succède donc pas à Tom Watson, dernier vainqueur après avoir mené de bout en bout, en 1980."

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Posted on Orange Sport UK - May 19, 2013

"Top seed Graeme McDowell won the Volvo World Match Play Championship after fighting back to beat Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee in Sunday's final.

McDowell made amends for his narrow defeat at the hands of Nicolas Colsaerts in last year's final as he closed out a 2&1 victory at the spectacular Thracian Cliffs lay-out in Bulgaria.

Having overcome Branden Grace in his semi-final earlier in the day, McDowell showed patience and nerve as he overhauled an early deficit against Jaidee to secure his second title of the season - the first coming at Harbour Town last month.

Heading into the final, McDowell had not trailed in any of his matches all week but, after Jaidee had made a fine up-and-down to halve the first hole, that changed as early as the second when his opponent rolled home a 30-footer for birdie to move 1up.

The former paratrooper then extended his lead at the par-five fourth hole as another neat piece of scrambling secured his second birdie.

He should have moved further ahead at the next, but missed a short birdie putt after McDowell had bravely opted to drop out of some plants before making a clutch up-and-down of his own to record what would prove a valuable par.

Nerveless putts

That escape seemed to galvanise McDowell who halved the lead with his first birdie of the round at the seventh and the Ulsterman then made a series of nerveless putts around the turn to stay just one adrift.

He was back on terms following the 12th hole when Jaidee was unable to extricate himself from an awkward spot and carded his first bogey of the day.

All square with five to play, it was the Thai who blinked first as he pulled his drive way left on 14 and, having been forced to hack out sideways from thick undergrowth, fell behind for the first time as he failed to rescue a par."

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Posted on Sky Sports - Getty Images - May 18, 2013

"Graeme McDowell believes Rory McIlroy's poor form this season is behind his decision to create his own management group.

McIlroy denied speculation at the Players Championship last week that he would create his own team with his father, close friends and associates, but McDowell confirmed the two-time major winner had decided on his second management change since October 2011.

The 24-year-old left International Sports Management just four months after winning his first major by eight shots in the US Open at Congressional, joining his good friend McDowell at Horizon.

"Management is a funny thing and when things are maybe not going 100 per cent on the golf course it is natural to question everything you are doing, from relationships, business and just everything you do," McDowell said after reaching the last 16 of the Volvo World Match Play Championship.

"Rory has made a decision about his management structure for whatever reason. I don't know the reasons because I haven't seen much of him the last few months as our schedules have been different.

"But it's just one of those things and you only have to look at the last 18 months and the job Horizon have done for Rory. He's had a phenomenal 18 months, signing the biggest deal in golf (with Nike) at the end of last year.

"Business-wise Rory's in the best shape he's ever been in his life and while he has struggled with his golf the early part of this season for whatever reason, I am sure the management company weren't giving him golf lessons or caddying for him. That's kind of his own deal."

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Posted on BBC Golf - May 18, 2013

"England's Ian Poulter called his performance "disgusting, disgraceful and unacceptable" after he exited the World Match Play Championship at the first stage in Bulgaria.

Poulter, who inspired Europe's Ryder Cup triumph at Medinah last year, lost his opening group game to Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee on Thursday.

And Poulter, 37, was angry after his 18th-hole defeat against Thomas Aiken.

"There is no excuse for that display of golf over the last two days," he said.

"It's disgusting, disgraceful and there's no explanation. I should have been able to finish the match off.

"My concentration was simply not there and therefore you make mental errors when you have not used your brain. It's completely unacceptable."

Poulter, who won the event in 2011, was two down with four to play against South African Aiken and got back on level terms with birdies on the 15th and 16th.

But Hertfordshire-born Poulter bogeyed the last after hooking his drive onto the adjacent fourth fairway and failing to get up and down after hitting his approach just over the green.

Asked where he went to next, he said: "The tallest tree with the shortest rope.""

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Posted on Golf 365 - May 18, 2013

"Graeme McDowell was able to exact his revenge on Nicolas Colsaerts at the Volvo World Match Play Championship on Saturday.

The Belgian beat McDowell in the last year's final and also knocked him out at the quarter-final stage in 2011, but this time it was the Northern Irishman who came out on top, recording a 2&1 quarter-final win at Thracian Cliffs Golf and Beach Resort.

McDowell was already 3-up after nine holes and looked to be going even further ahead when Colsaerts' drive on the par-four tenth finished inside a public toilet.

"I ain't hitting from in the loo!" Colsaerts was heard joking, but he was able to take a penalty drop and pitched onto the green before holing from 15 feet for par to halve the hole.

Colsaerts did manage to get two holes back after consecutive wins on the 13th and 14th, but when McDowell won the 17th to again go 2-up it was all over.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold," McDowell told Sky Sports. "I was disappointed, especially in the final last year when conditions were tough and I didn't really give him enough of a game. He's a very good match player. He's a tough guy to beat.

"I've played the first 10, 11 holes here every day just about as good as I can possibly play, but for some reason I can't work these last five or six holes. But I'm surviving and it's about survival out here."

McDowell will now play South African Branden Grace in the semi-finals after the South African bested Englishman Chris Wood 2&1."

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Posted by David Charpenet - May 18, 2013

"Keegan Bradley a conservé ses trois coups d'avance sur ses poursuivants, après un deuxième tour du HP Byron Nelson plus sobre que son record de la veille. Les Allemands sont bien présents. Le tournoi est déjà fini pour Robert Karlsson et Tianlang Guan.
Évidemment, le rythme imposé par Keegan Bradley en tête du HP Byron Nelson a baissé. Mais le résultat est le même puisque l'Américain compte toujours trois coups d'avance sur ses principaux poursuivants. Auteur du record du parcours en ouverture du tournoi (60), le vainqueur du PGA Championship 2011 a été beaucoup plus sobre vendredi (69) avec toujours un bogey au trou numéro un et un autre au trou numéro 18 (et un autre au 6 lors du deuxième tour). «Je suis presque plus satisfait de ma performance d'aujourd'hui, parce que je ne me sentais pas bien dans mon jeu et j'ai réussi à limiter les dégâts, commentait Bradley. J'ai mal débuté et après, j'ai eu du mal à retrouver le rythme. Je ne sais pas ce qui se passe sur ce trou numéro un où je n'arrête pas de faire des bogeys alors qu'il est un des plus faciles du parcours ! Quant au 18, ma balle a été prise par le vent.» Malgré cette performance moins éblouissante, Bradley conserve trois longueurs d'avance sur ses poursuivants immédiats.

Les parties du matin avantagées
Tom Gillis et Sang-Moon Bae suivent le leader à trois longueurs. Le vétéran Américain a signé la plus belle carte du jour en profitant des conditions climatiques matinales plus clémentes (63) et il aurait même pu endosser seul le rôle de dauphin sans un bogey au 9 (son 18e trou de la journée). «C'était plus facile le matin, avouait Gillis. Il y avait incontestablement moins de vent.» Les scores montrent également cet avantage des parties du matin puisque six golfeurs ont scoré sous les 66 le matin contre un seul l'après-midi (Marc Leishman). Le Sud-Coréen a également profité de la matinée pour se rapprocher du leader. Bae court également après son premier titre outre-Atlantique, mais à 26 ans, il a encore le temps de faire mieux que sa défaite en playoff face à Luke Donald au Transitions Championship en 2012."

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Posted on BBC Sport - May 17, 2013

"A Northern Ireland team will not participate at this year's World Cup in Melbourne, the European Tour has said.

Ireland has competed at previous World Cups but organisers of this year's event said on Sunday that a Northern Ireland team would feature in November.

However, the European Tour said on Friday that the original statement had been incorrectly worded.

The World Cup issue has implications over who Rory McIlroy or Graeme McDowell represents at the Olympics.

McIlroy and McDowell have played for Ireland in the last two World Cups but McIlroy confirmed last month that he would not do so this year as it would rule out the possibility of him playing for Great Britain in the 2016 Olympics.

For his part, McDowell said that he was determined to play at Royal Melbourne even if that closed the door to him representing Britain at the Rio Olympics.

McDowell added that he wanted world number two McIlroy to be his partner in Australia.

On hearing of the apparent change earlier this week, McIlroy said: "That might change things a little".

However, the European Tour's clarification of the issue on Friday could end the prospects of McIlroy joining McDowell at Royal Melbourne, with an all-island team again set to represent Ireland in the event.

"Can I stress that Northern Ireland will NOT be entering a team in the World Cup," the European Tour spokesman told the BBC."

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