Golf Blog

Archive for June, 2009

Jeppe Huldahl

Unknown Dane Jeppe Huldahl became another shock victor on the European Tour in just four weeks after winning the Wales Open at Celtic Manor.

Huldahl is now on a list of shock victors that includes Irish amateur Shane Lowry and world number 449 Christian Cevaer, the 26-year-old ranked 377th beat Ryder Cup Swede Niclas Fasth by one shot.

It was his first top-10 finish on the tour in 45 attempts spanning six years.

The £300,000 first prize was almost 30 times Huldahl’s previous biggest cheque, but he won in style on the course which in October next year will stage America’s defence of the Ryder Cup.

The 2008 Challenge Tour graduate went into the final round as joint leader with England’s Nick Dougherty and Spaniard Ignacio Garrido but he held his nerve superbly with a a four-under-par round of 67.

Fasth joined him at the top of the leaderboard with an eagle on the long 11th, but Huldahl responded with birdies at the next two holes.

Although the Swede had birdies at the 13th and 15th, he dropped shots at the next two holes and despite piling on the pressure again with a closing 20-foot putt, Huldahl parred the last seven holes to triumph.

Fasth’s 66 gave him second with Garrido in third a further shot back but Dougherty had a nightmare final round 79 to slip down to 37th.

Halfway leader Richie Ramsay, meanwhile, finished tied 10th, but it was a weekend the Scot will not forget in a hurry.

After two-hour talks with officials late on Saturday night he escaped a two-stroke penalty over an incident on the eighth when he pressed down ground behind his ball in testing for casual water.

But on Sunday he had his par five on the last turned into a six because of the way he took relief on the fairway.

Ryder Cup captains Colin Montgomerie and Corey Pavin finished 38th and 43rd respectively on three and four over.

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The Wales Open

The Celtic Manor Wales Open has returned for the tenth year. Already established as one of the leading events on the European Tour, the tournament is set for its second year on the spectacular Twenty Ten course, the first in history to be designed and built to host The Ryder Cup.

See some of the biggest names in golf – including Ryder Cup captains Corey Pavin and Colin Montgomerie, former champions  Miguel Angel Jimenez, Paul Lawrie and Paul McGinley, and Ryder Cup stars David Howell, Niclas Fasth and Thomas Bjorn – take on the formidable challenge of The Twenty Ten.

The Twenty Ten course has been designed with The 2010 Ryder Cup and all the thrills and spills of team match play in mind, but it will also provide a fantastic stage for traditional tournament stroke play. With £16 million invested in creating the new course and clubhouse, The Twenty Ten promises to provide an awesome playing test for the tour professionals.

Water hazards are significant features on no fewer than half of the holes and classic risk and reward dilemmas are thrown up at the 14th, 15th and 18th holes making for a compelling conclusion.

Spectators will be able to see much more of the thrilling finish than ever before at The Celtic Manor Wales Open thanks to the superb views afforded by the hillside overlooking the closing holes.

European team captain Colin Montgomerie ended day one two under 66, three shots ahead of US counterpart Corey Pavin.

Thomas Bjorn shot five-under 66 at Celtic Manor and was tied with David Frost, Alan McLean and Nick Dougherty.  Bjorn, likely to be one of Montgomerie’s assistants next year, played in the Ryder Cup in 1997 and 2002 but has gone off the boil in the last couple of years.  The 38-year-old’s playing fortunes have improved recently after he decided to stop listening to other people and analyse his own game to see how he could improve.

The benefits have been clear to see, with a third-place finish in the Spanish Open and a sixth-place finish and three top-25s elsewhere.

The day’s play earned a place in the record books for equalling the Tour record of three holes-in-one.

One of them fell to Spaniard Larrazabal to earn him a share of fifth place, while Jeev Milkha Singh and Mads Vibe-Hastrup also scored aces.

George O'Grady

European golf boss George O’Grady says Wales has the potential to host the Open Championship within 20 years.

O’Grady, the chief executive of the European Tour, insists if Wales built a top-class links course it would become an Open candidate.

At the moment there are nine links courses in England and Scotland which are on the Open rota.

“I’d love to see a new links course in Wales and with the Open staged there in 20 years’ time,” said O’Grady.

“There is absolutely no reason in my opinion why the Open Championship should not come to Wales.”

O’Grady was talking ahead of the 10th Celtic Manor Wales Open and 16 months before the 2010 Ryder Cup comes to Wales.

“The Walker Cup has come to Royal Porthcawl and that is a tremendous golf course. I think there is a tremendous possibility to build a new links course in Wales.

“You probably need the Welsh Assembly to think of it and perhaps come up with a commercial partner as well.”

Meanwhile, O’Grady hinted that the Wales Open would continue beyond 2010 and that Celtic Manor Resort owner Sir Terry Matthews was keen for an extended contract.

“Terry Matthews wants to continue the Wales Open. He very much wants to,” confirmed O’Grady.

“He wants to have a lengthy contract. It’s the right date for Wales. I would be very disappointed and surprised if it didn’t continue.”

This year’s Open has attracted both Europe and USA Ryder Cup captains Colin Montgomerie and Corey Pavin.

But Matthews has promised the 2010 Celtic Manor Open will be even bigger and better ahead of the Ryder Cup.

“The 11th Welsh Open will be just a blow out, because most of the top players will want to play this course before they turn up for the Ryder Cup,” Matthew said.

Let us know what you think.  Do you think it’s about time there was a top-class links course in Wales?

TaylorMade Irons

TaylorMade irons are designed to meet the requirements of senior, ladies, as well as, men golfers. Not only, are they able to cater for differing styles of iron play because of sex or age, but, TaylorMade make irons to suit your level of golf expertise too.

TaylorMade Irons Sets

For golfers with a handicap up to mid-range, TaylorMade irons with supersize or oversize clubheads would be an ideal choice for game improvement irons because of their forgiving nature:

Supersize Clubface

·         Burner Plus Irons are available with, either, steel or graphite shafts that come with a choice of a regular or stiff flex. The ladies version is available with a flex specially designed for lady golfers.

·         Burner XD Irons boast a thin, fast and flexible titanium face, which helps to promote ball speed.

·         R7 CGB Max Irons, in graphite or steel, comes with three flex options (medium, regular and stiff for both men and seniors, whilst lady golfers, have the ladies flex shaft) and the increased moment of inertia (MOI) of the clubhead makes for an extremely stable and forgiving irons set.

The R7 Draw Irons set has an oversize clubhead, regular flex graphite shaft, and, as the name suggests, helps promote a draw. Ideal for dog-legs and for golfers who slice the golf ball. Available with regular flex for senior golfers.

The Tour Burner irons set offers a midsize clubface, ideal for all levels. With three flex options and available in graphite or steel, this TaylorMade irons set increases ball speed, gives greater distances and is still forgiving of off-centre shots.

Tour Size Clubheads for Men

For the professional or low handicap golfer, TaylorMade produce a range of performance irons to enhance your game:

·         Tour Preferred Irons set has a classic irons look, but, is brimming with the latest, innovative irons technology to increase stability, playability and consistency. This TaylorMade irons set gives the golfer the choice of regular, stiff and extra stiff flex and, also, comes with a graphite or steel shaft.

·         TP MB Smoke Irons set has been designed to give consistent spin and control, prevent digging into turf, whilst enhancing the workability of the ball.

·         TP Forged Irons set is constructed in steel, gives increased control and accuracy over distances, has a satisfying sound and feel, as well, as benefitting from tour quality good looks.

Whether your golf game needs improving or performance enhancing, Golfbuyitonline supply a fantastic selection of TaylorMade Irons, as sets or individually, and are sure to be able to advise which irons best meet the needs of your golf game.