Phil Backs Scottish Open Move

Phil Mickelson has backed the European Tour's decision to move the Scottish Open away from Loch Lomond to a links course.

The move, the US Masters champion says, will better prepare players for the Open.

Castle Stuart near Inverness and the Renaissance Club to the east of Edinburgh are the front-runners to host the high-profile event, and European Tour representatives have already delivered reports after visiting both venues.

The 2011 Open will be played on the links at Royal St George's in Kent, England.

"Moving to a links course will benefit the tournament whether it's Castle Stuart ... or other links courses," the American left-hander said at the Singapore Open on Friday. "The players that will compete there will have a better preparation for the Open and because of that, it should increase the quality of the field even though it's been quite strong for the last few years. But whatever the venue I will be returning."

World number four Mickelson has played in seven of the past 10 Scottish Open's at Loch Lomond, losing a play-off to Frenchman Gregory Havret in 2007.

McIlroy To Play In Europe In 2011

Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy will not join the US Tour for 2011, saying he enjoys his time in Europe too much.

The 21-year-old told reporters he no longer wanted to play the mandatory number of tournaments required in the States.

"Sometimes you feel as though you have to be in America just to play the mandatory 15 and, at the start of this year, that was something I really wanted to do," he said.

"I did that, but I also realised it wasn't for me but then it doesn't mean to say that I don't want to play full time in the States again."

The world number nine was in Singapore on Monday for a corporate outing but was heading home to Ireland for a week's break rather than contest the Singapore Open starting on Thursday. McIlroy's manager, Andrew Chandler, sought a meeting with US Tour commissioner Tim Finchem last Sunday night straight after the HSBC Champions prize-giving ceremony.

McIlroy had been considering the decision since September, when he was watching TV coverage from the States of the Omega European Masters in Switzerland, an event he almost won in 2008. "I found myself in America... especially in the FedEx Cup play-off series, just not wanting to be there, especially on the golf course," said McIlroy. "I switched on the Golf Channel and began watching the Omega European Masters in Switzerland and thinking to myself I would rather be there instead.

"It would be easier if I had a place in the States and that would definitely make it easier to play both Tours.
"Besides, with the Majors and the WGCs, plus a few other events such as my defence of the Wells Fargo Championship (formerly Quail Hollow Championship) I will still play 11 or 12 there next year, and I will be happy with that."

It was a year ago when McIlroy revealed during the UBS Hong Kong Open he would be taking up 2010 membership of the game's greatest money-making tour.

McIlroy said his decision had also been slightly based on a recent European Tour decision to increase the number of events to retain automatic membership to 13 from next season. "I had made my mind up before the new decision you have to play 13 but that does make it more difficult," he said.

"But as I mentioned, I don't have a base in the States and besides I enjoy my time too much back at home.
"Holly (his girlfriend) also has another two years at Uni' and we have two dogs, a nice house and I love my life back in Ireland, back in Europe and I don't want ever to give that up.

"But if I keep playing the way I have been playing, I will get all the invitations I need.

"Also after playing the Ryder Cup, I got a great sense of the camaraderie out there, and I got to know many of the European guys a lot better.

"The thing is that if you are playing well in the States it's a great place to be but if you're not it can be a lonely place. Whereas if you are not playing well on the European Tour you still have plenty of mates to hang out with."

Reuters

Loch Lomond To Lose Scottish Open

The days of the Scottish Open being played at Loch Lomond look to be numbered. Barclays, the tournament's current sponsor, are keen to extend their sponsorship when the present deal finishes in 2012, but would like it to be played on a links course instead.

The main reason for the change is an attempt to attract more stars to compete in the event, which is played the week before the British Open. Tiger Woods has never played in the Scottish Open in the 15 years it has been played at Loch Lomond, preferring instead to go to Ireland and play on a links course in preparation for the Open. Many other US players opt to stay away as well, and even Padraig Harrington snubs the event to play in Ireland instead.

But finding a venue will prove a problem, and even then switching to a links course might not suit everybody. Playing a links course 2 weeks on the trot will not be everyone's cup of tea.

Read the full story HERE.

What do you think? Where would you like to see the Scottish Open Played? Let us know below.

Play Suspended - Again

For the second time in three days, the Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor resort in Wales has had to be suspended because of heavy rain.

Ironically, the course was under water from the same storm that caused a 7 hour delay to play on Friday. Weather forecasts had predicted that the bad weather could just skirt the venue, but unfortunately it has landed slap bang in the middle of it.

The earliest that play will resume is 12 noon, and only if the weather abates. With the rearranged format for yesterday's play, it was hoped that the competition would still manage to finish today as planned. But it is now certain to go into a fourth day on Monday. And with the uncertainty about the weather, there are no guarantees that all the matches will be completed.

There is a time limit for the event to finish at 18.43 BST tomorrow. If there are still matches on the course at this time they will be deemed as halved matches. So the event will be decided by the scores of the completed matches at that time. But lets keep our fingers crossed that we can get some play today and that all the matches are completed tomorrow.

There have been questions asked from the start why this years Ryder Cup is so late, especially as the British weather at this time of year is so unpredictable. The USPGA are now taking some of the flak, as it now seems that the addition of the Fedex Cup events to their tour is the main reason for the timing of the Ryder Cup. And the general concensus of opinion seems to be that the Ryder Cup could, and should, have been played before the Fedex Cup. Because of the venues for the Fedex Cup, they would not have the same weather problems at this time of year as have occurred in Wales.

What do you think, Should the Ryder Cup be played earlier and before the Fedex Cup?

Leave a comment and let us know your views.

World No.1 Is Gunning For Mcllroy.

Tiger Woods has set his sights on Rory Mcllroy, taking exception to comments made by the young Ulster-man last month.

Mcllroy said that any European would fancy their chances against Tiger given the current state of his game. Not a grossly outrageous statement ,some might think, in the current climate. But not Woods himself. He has seen it as a slur and has become fired up by the remark.

Woods approached Mcllroy on the practice ground at the BMW Championship in Chicago and told him “Be careful what you wish for.” And according to one eye witness, it was not said in jest!

Read the full story HERE.

Support Your Team- Wear The Gear.

With Ryder Cup week well and truly under way, now is the time for you to wear your team's colours. With everything from shirts to shoes on sale with the Ryder Cup logo, there is something for everyone, with a budget to suit.

From ball markers that will cost you a couple of pounds, to shoes that could cost a couple of hundred, there is no shortage of items for you to impress. Whether you are going to the actual event and want to be kitted out in your teams colours to show your support, or maybe you just want a sweater or shoes to impress your playing partners when you play your weekly medal, it is all there.

The popular  Ryder Cup golf shoe, pictured above, is available through THIS LINK, where you will also find mostly anything you would like with the Ryder Cup logo.

And don't forget when the official team clothing for this year's competition is available to the public, there will be even more chances for you to look your best on the course.

More shoes and equipment available HERE.

No Twits At Celtic Manor

European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has told his players not to make Twits of themselves this week by imposing a no Twitter ban until the event is finished – only for Graeme McDowell to almost immediately defy his skipper!

His US counterpart has made the same decision, the teams being forbidden to use social networking sites until the competition has ended. They are afraid that one of the players might say something to cause controversy on Twitter like some sport stars have done recently.

But as the ban was announced, golfers from both sides were determined to break it!

Full story HERE.

Ryder Cup Woes.

With the Ryder Cup fast approaching the pressure is starting to mount, on some people more than others.

With the kind of year Tiger Woods has had, no doubt he would have liked to arrive at Celtic Manor under the radar and prepare for his matches with no distractions. Well let's hope he still has a sense of humour as one local company has come up with a novel idea to generate more sales during this year's match.

And if we can believe everything we read or hear, then the European Captain, Colin Montgomerie has some personal issues at the moment as well. This, coupled with the fact that he is desperate to win back the Ryder Cup for Europe, does not make his job any easier.

With the match just over a fortnight away, let's hope that golf takes centre stage.

Read the full story HERE.

Do Your Research When Choosing New Golf Clubs.

Choosing new golf clubs is never easy, but it is worth putting some time and effort into it. If you spend some time researching the makes and models available, the more satisfied you will be with your final choice. When you start out, you will realize there are a few options open to you regarding how you go about your research. While you could visit your local golf store and rely on the advice of the salesman, it is not the best way to get what you want. You will find out here about resources you can use in your search for new golf clubs.

The first thing to say is if you are reading this then you have found the ultimate source of information - the internet. Here you can visit the web sites of the various companies who manufacture clubs, and discover all the technical specs you'll ever need. Or there are review sites that will tell you about the pros and cons of a particular club and who the club is aimed at. All you really need to do is type in your query to your favorite search engine and sift through the results. It is a good idea to bookmark any site you find helpful, making it easy to find in the future.

Golf magazines are another resource that usually have sections that are dedicated to news and reviews of clubs that are new to the market. If you are looking for a particular make or model it is a good idea to search through these golf magazines (or again, their online resource) to see what their opinion is on this club. You could even visit consumer based web sites that will also provide you with reviews of the club along with the best prices and where to buy. If you visit a few sites and find the reviews to be consistent, you can usually rely on the information.

Another way of getting good advice is to get in touch with the people who use the clubs. The best person to ask about this is your course professional. These guys really know their stuff, and if you let him have a look at the way you swing the club, he won't be long recommending the best club for you at this time. The more you play and the better you get may require a change of club in the future. If you are just starting out and are not yet a member of a club, you could visit one of the many online golf communities. There are many forums that aim to get golfers in touch with each other, and you should definitely consider joining at least one.

By far the best way of choosing new golf clubs is to actually try the clubs out for yourself. If your local golf store has a range attached, you can ask the pro if you can take the club onto the range to try it out. Most stores will let you do this, and it allows you to test the club and see if it is for you, before you commit to buying. If you don't have this facility, then maybe you know someone who has the clubs that you would like to try. Talk to them and ask if you could borrow his clubs for a round or two to see if you like them. There is no doubt that testing the clubs yourself is the best way to find out whether you like them or not.

For more information and help on choosing new golf clubs take a look HERE

Different Golf Bags For Different Rounds

Buying a golf bag is a personal decision that you will make on looks and styling, but even more so it's a decision based on your own circumstances. There is a golf bag for everyone, but you first have to decide  how you need it to work for you. The golf bag is what holds your clubs as you go around the course, so how do you need it to function?

Listed here are the types of golf bags, and what  they are used for and by whom:

Carry Bag:

If you are going to walk the course while playing and carry your bag over your shoulder, you will need a lightweight bag with a wide padded strap. If you can, before buying, try the bag on with everything in it you will be carrying, just to see that it fits properly and is comfortable to wear. It should be made of light material, such as canvas or nylon, and should just be big enough to hold the clubs, balls and tees that you will need for your round. It should also have a built -in kickstand so you don't have to lay it on the ground.

Cart Bag:

This bag is bigger than the carry bag and will hold more clubs and accessories.  It's also heavier and is not meant to be carried,but to be used either on a golf cart or hand-pushed cart.  There will also be more pockets in these golf bags to allow for more storage.

Tour Bag:

The tour bag is the biggest and heaviest of all golf  bags. This is the bag the pros use, and you will see this bag being carried by the caddie.  They're high quality, hold the most clubs and equipment, and are also the most expensive. And they are VERY heavy. The caddies have to be fit!

Junior Bag:

These golf bags are made for the young golfer. They hold less clubs, have a shorter shoulder strap and are lighter in weight. They are also less expensive, which is always a good thing when your not sure if junior is going to take to golf or not.

Travel Bag:

Travel bags are available in soft or hard sides.  If you are flying with your bag, though, the hard sided bag will be the better option. Also, if you can, get one with built in wheels so it is easy to transport across the airport parking lot. And look for one that has a locking mechanism as well, to help ensure that none of your clubs accidentally fall out or worse, get stolen.

Choosing the color and design of a golf bag is a personal thing that only you can decide. Keep an eye on quality and price, certainly, but above all make sure you get the right golf bag for you in your situation.

For more on choosing a golf bag and equipment CLICK HERE

McDowell Wins US Open

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell has won the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach. The 30-year-old shot a three over par 74 to finish on level par, one shot ahead of France's Gregory Havret. McDowell joins famous names Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tom Kite and Tiger Woods on the list of US Open champions at the Californian links.

The drama started early in his round when playing partner and overnight leader, Dustin Johnson squandered his three shot lead at the second hole, to open the door for the Irishman. Johnson never recovered from his horrendous start and finished with an 82, to go from 6 under  at the start of his round to finish on 5 over.

Havret finished second, shooting a final round 72 for a one over par total of 285. Els was third on two over after scoring a 73, and the world's top two ranked golfers finished tied for fourth, Woods scoring 75 and Mickelson 73.

McDowell, starting the tournament as world number 37 but now up to number 13 thanks to his victory, follows fellow Portrush golfer Fred Daly, winner of the 1947 Open, as a major winner. He almost didn't make the field though, after his tie for 28th place at the BMW PGA Championships opened the door for US Tour players Brian Gay, Scott Verplank and Michael Sim to knock him out of the world's top 50 if they could finish high enough in the Byron Nelson Championship. They didn't manage it though, and McDowell was in. He went on to win the Celtic Manor Wales Open two weeks ago, and brought that form in to Pebble Beach.

American Johnson, who up until the last day had shown an unflappable manner, had  outscored him in the third round to take a three-shot lead into the final. But that manner didn't last long with the pressure of a Sunday lead at the majors. He walked off the par-four second hole in a tie with McDowell after a terrible triple-bogey seven and then proceeded to lose his ball off the third tee, which led to a double bogey. lost his ball off the third tee en route to a double bogey. Having to wait for the hapless Johnson, McDowell did well to sink a far from easy par putt, and the Portrush man went to the fourth having taken over the lead again at three under as Johnson slipped to one under.

Johnson was all over the place and after dropping another shot at the fourth, his day was effectively over. But while the American faltered, McDowell did not drop a shot until the par-four ninth, the last player in the field to bogey on the final day. And although he dropped a couple of shots on the back nine, none of his challengers could make any headway, and so the famous trophy was his.

CLICK HERE for independent reviews.

Callaway Unveil Their New X-24 Irons

Callaway Golf today announced their latest X series irons, the X-24's will be available to buy from May 28th.

These new clubs boast all of the attributes of past X series irons, with some new additions to make the X-24 the longest, most accurate set yet.

“The X-24 Hot Irons are the latest evolution of our award-winning X-Series Irons, which have helped make Callaway the No. 1 Irons company in the game for the last 13 consecutive years,” said Dr. Alan Hocknell, Senior Vice President of Research & Development, Callaway Golf.

For more information on the new X-24 Hot Irons, please CLICK HERE

Choosing Golf Equipment.

Buying golf equipment can be like dumping money into a
money pit, but armed with some knowledge you can save
time and money in selecting the right clubs for
yourself. As with most things in life, you can spend a
lot or you can spend a little several times before you
get what you really need.

If you are first starting out and not completely sure
you want to commit to this addictive game, you should
either rent clubs at the golf course, or buy a starter
set of clubs.

Buying a set of starter clubs enables you to become
accustomed to them; enabling you to concentrate on
your swing instead of wondering how this set of
miss-matched clubs you just rented are going to work
out.

As you become better at the game, you should invest in
a better set of clubs, fitted to you.

Generally, a set includes a driver, one or two fairway
woods, 4-9 irons, a wedge or two and perhaps a putter.

As you become more experienced and start thinking
about new clubs, you may want to consider buying your
driver separately. Some players want a driver to give
them more accuracy; some need the distance.

There are numerous balls available and the box will
usually have a chart on the back and direct you to the
right ball for your needs. As you learn the game and
get better at it, you should experiment with different
balls which could improve your accuracy or distance.

Having the right equipment is an important aspect of
the game; buy wisely!

For more information on buying golf clubs and equipment visit www.the-golf-course.com