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There seems to be a lot of talk at the moment about Tiger Woods winning the US Open and also missing the rest of the golfing season. What I would like to say is does it really matter? Surely this takes the edge off the British golfers and Irish golfers knowing that Woods won’t be taking part. Isn’t it time that we got behind our own golfers and stopped worrying about Tiger Woods and his knee?

There are similar trends in other sports, like football for example. There are a large number, if not more Manchester United supporters that either do not live in or come from Manchester. Whatever happened to supporting your local team or local sports players? You can look at this in two different ways. Firstly, it is always easier to support the winning team or player and this can usually be applied to people who don’t really have any genuine interest in the sport. Secondly, it would appear that celebrity has crept into the sports we follow and therefore become engaged with their lives due to the number of column inches and news minutes they receive.

So yes, Tiger somebody or other is out for the rest of the golfing season, but let’s not forget, there are a fair few British golfers and Irish golfers in the top 100 all hoping to better their position and give us all a good round of golf to watch. These British golfers and Irish golfers are Justin Rose (9^th), Padraig Harrington (13^th), Lee Westwood (17^th), Luke Donald (18^th), Ian Poulter (39^th), Paul Casey (43^rd), Oliver Wilson (46^th), Nick Dougherty (58^th), Steve Webster (85^th), Alastair Forsyth (91^st), Bradley Dredge (97^th) and Darren Clarke (100^th).

When The Open begins in 3 weeks time remember, golf’s not just about Tiger Woods.

*Positions correct as of June 23rd 2008.

As we all know, Tiger Woods is out for the rest of the golfing season but his display at Torrey Pines was nothing short of spectacular. Even though it was clear his knee was causing him grief he managed to show the world just why he’s golf’s Number One.

With a 7,643-yard layout to contend with the emphasis was on both length and accuracy so Tiger Woods had to choose his golf clubs very carefully. Unlike Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods rarely makes changes to his golf clubs. When courses are running fast and the rough is not especially wet or deep, he normally takes out his 19° 5-wood and puts in a 2-iron. Tiger Woods used the 2-iron off the tee on many occasions at Royal Liverpool when he won The Open in 2006.

Here’s what Tiger Woods put in his golf bag at Torrey Pines:

Driver: Nike SasQuatch Tour (7.5°)

Fairway woods: Nike SasQuatch Sumo (15°, 19°)

Irons: Nike Forged Blades (3-PW)

Wedges: Nike Forged (56°, 60°)

Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2

Ball: Nike One Platinum

Vijay Singh may have 3 major wins under his belt, but The Big Fijian is without a major win this year and with only 2 more major events to go this year he’ll have to work harder than he is already doing, which apparently, is harder than British golfers. Singh is no stranger to opening his mouth and causing a stir. In 2003 he was quoted as saying, “I hope she misses the cut … because she doesn’t belong out here” regarding Annika Sörenstam. Due to this Singh became known as “pro golf’s bad guy” as well as a “sexist oaf”, a “big, whiny, whimpering baby” and “Vijay the Villain”.

Singh uses a Cleveland 900 Tour Action Gun Metal Wedge. The unique finish on the gun metal version reduces glare and helps frame the ball at address. The treatment to create this finish is a proprietary process that retains the softness of the inner core while strengthening its exterior. Two solid years of research on the PGA Tours helped Cleveland develop the 900 series wedges with the consistency of Form Forged Irons and a new shape, size sole design. The 900 Form Forged Wedges feature a loft and bounce selection system that allows all golfers a simple way to select wedges for their own short games.

Phil Mickelson was paired with Tiger Woods at the recent US Open at Torrey Pines, struggled mightily even though he was seen as one of the top favourites to win; unfortunately he even notched a quadruple bogey. Finishing tied for 18^th place he will be looking to improve on this if he is to beat his highest win at The Open which was 3^rd place in 2004.

Mickelson’s putter is the White Hot XG putter by Odyssey which is the latest generation of White Hot Technology that uses a multi-layer insert and takes feel, feedback and distance control to the next level. The White Hot XG is Odyssey’s latest putter that uses a insert made up of multi-layers which results in excellent performance on the putting green. It combines two materials with different properties to take the level of feedback, feel and distance control to an all-new, extreme level.

Justin Rose may not have made the halfway cut at last weekend’s US Open, but he feels positive that his performance will improve for both the Traveller’s Championship and The Open. His result at the US Open is more disappointing that his result at this year’s Masters where he finished tied for 36^th.

Rose hit some nice iron shots at Torrey Pines thanks to both his ability and also his TaylorMade rac TP Forged irons. TaylorMade engineers worked closely with Tour professionals to create the rac TP Forged irons, which sets a new industry standard in tour-performance irons. Improved rac technology makes this TaylorMade’s best-feeling forged iron ever. Thin top-line, progressive offset and great shape instantly increases confidence at address. Tour-cambered sole and leading edge limit turf-resistance for improved power and accuracy.

Sergio Garcia has never won a major, but has been a runner up a number of times including the 1999 PGA Championship and the 2007 Open. At the recent US Open Garcia finished tied for 18^th place, which means he will have to work harder at The Open if he wants to finish higher than last year.

The majority of Garcia’s equipment is by TaylorMade and his Fairway Wood is the Burner TP Fairway. The Burner TP fairway has a tour-shaped clubhead with a compact footprint that promotes confidence at address and is preferred by tour pros. The superfast crown alignment is easy to aim and promotes increased confidence and accuracy.

Jim Furyk may have been one of the 12 golfers who finished tied for 36^th at the recent US Open, but he is still a favourite to win The Open at Royal Birkdale in July. Furyk has finished 4^th at The Open three times and last year finished tied for 12^th.

Furyk uses Srixon golf equipment and his driver is a Srixon W-506 Driver. The Srixon W-506 Driver is the world’s first high volume driver to feature Srixon’s proprietary Impact Power Body construction, a remarkable advancement in driver design, where not only the clubface but the sole and backwall of the driver all have varying wall thicknesses. Complementing the W-506 is the proprietary Srixon SV 3004 graphite shaft which has been custom designed specifically for the W-506. The flex, torque and weight characteristics of the SV 3004 have been optimised for the dynamics of the W-506 design.

Padraig Harrington may have won The Open in 2007, but during this year’s US Open, he finished tied for 36^th. Victory at the Open at Carnoustie last July has left Harrington with a voracious appetite for the winning feeling.  And yet, apart from a relatively small invitation tournament in Morocco last October, he hasn’t won. He has played some excellent golf and been a consistent high finisher on the USPGA Tour with four top five finishes in eight events, but winning has eluded him and he may just have realised that the pursuit of perfection might be costly rather than rewarding.

Harrington’s wedges of choice are Titleist Vokey Wedges. Vokey wedges come in two types, Spin Milled and the Design 200 Series. Vokey Design Spin Milled wedges are unique new products that provide a truly discernible performance option, increased spin and control into and around the greens. Vokey Design 200 Series wedges are tour-proven wedges that are available in a broad range of loft, sole and bounce configurations to fit any swing type or course condition.

South Africa’s two-time US Open champion Ernie Els was edging into contention until a triple-bogey seven at the 15th ruined his chances and finished tied for 14^th at this weekend’s US Open. Earlier this year Els officially announced that he was switching swing coaches from David Leadbetter, whom Els had worked with since 1990, to Butch Harmon who has revamped the golf swings of many established pros. During Els’ 2008 Masters press conference Els said the change is in an effort to tighten his swing, shorten his swing, and get a fresh perspective.

Golf wedges are clubs that are specially tailored and designed for the short game, which makes sense when you consider that approximately 70 percent of shots in a golf game are done from within 150 to 100 yards in.  In other words, it is all well and good that you can drive over 250 yards from the tee, but it will not help you in your short game.

Els uses Callaway X-Tour Wedges. Inspired by two-time major champion Phil Mickelson, the X-Tour Wedges offer tour-proven precision for the more accomplished golfer.  Legendary clubmaker Roger Cleveland worked closely with tour players to design the best-looking, best-performing wedges Callaway Golf has ever produced. Preferred by tour players, the new improved head shape creates confidence on full shots and on delicate feel shots around the greens.

As most of you will no doubt be aware, Tiger Woods has come back from the operation on his knee to find himself in the playoff for the US Open. Woods began the last day with his third double bogey of the week on the first hole. He followed that up with a bogey and was clearly in pain from the left knee that was operated on for a third time two months ago.

Woods had already shown, if anyone needed reminding, that he was capable of the sublime after firing 30 on the back nine on Friday and surging to the top of the leader board on Saturday with two eagles and a birdie in his last six holes. The world number one drew another exultant roar from the crowd when his putt dropped on the final green for a 73.

Woods’ putter, unlike the rest of his clubs, is the Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2. The entire Studio Style line of putters is the optimal blend of high-performance and classic design. The Newport Studio Style model is no exception. The Studio Style series incorporates a German Stainless steel inlay, adhered with screws and a hi-tech polymer, seen on the Tour proven Red X line, with precision milled 303 stainless steel. The success and winning reputation of the Newport 2 design is undeniable and this success is carried over into the Studio Style series. The new look of the Studio Style putter line promotes confidence with feel and performance that is distinctly Scotty Cameron.