Is Darren on the up?

Darren Clarke is showing some excellent new form of late, lets hope this is a new surge of form to get the great man back to the top.

Kingston Finally Gets His Win

James Kingston completed an emotional victory at the South African Airways Open, holding off the challenge of England’s Oliver Wilson to lift his National Open Championship.

Home favourite Kingston was eventually crowned champion after a rain-drenched final round at the Pearl Valley Golf Estates.

Play was suspended for nearly four hours earlier in the day after persistent rain overnight made the course unplayable.

When the players did get back Kingston managed to maintain his composure, shooting a final round 71 for an overall score of four under par 278 total, one ahead of Wilson.

Kingston, a professional for 20 years, had had numerous near misses on The European Tour, but he was not to be denied as he savoured the greatest moment in his career.

“That was the toughest day I have ever had,” said Kingston. “I have had chances before and not made the most of those chances, but today, for once, I clinched it.

Tiger Woods

Who Else Felt Really Sorry for Ross Fisher?

I couldn’t believe my eyes when witnessing Ross Fisher hit the ball into the lake on the last, only needing to chip sideways and 2 putt to win. Ross has played many times at my golf club and has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years. He has always been an enormous hitter but he has really toned his game to now be competing with the world’s elite.Don’t worry Ross, your win will come soon.

Little Holds on to Secure Card

What a great performance last weekend from Londoner Sam Little, shooting a final round 3 under par 67. Little had come to Mallorca in 136th place on the European Order of Merit with only this event left to climb 18 places to salvage his card. Various sums had been placed on what position he might need to finish to survive.

In the end a £154,000 prize for runner-up which took him to 76th on the money-list was way over the top. His brave display made him vow not to put himself through the agony again next year.

It was not the first time he had been in such a scramble. Last year he lost his card by just four places – a matter of three shots in the closing round – and had to return to tour school. Two years ago he kept his card by just £400.

“I’m determined not to go through it again,” he said. “This week showed me I’m good enough not to, simple as that.” Simple it certainly was not. With a career on the line, he began the final round two shots off the lead in fifth place, knowing he would need to maintain something like that position to be certain to be playing on the main tour next season. After a run of solid pars, Little joined battle with Bourdy by claiming three birdies in five holes from the sixth, and became the Frenchman’s chief rival.

Three weeks ago Little was floundering around 170th on the money-list. But after he returned to the tour following the birth of his twins Natalie and Amelia, good results in Madrid and Vilamoura gave him hope he could keep his card, and he finished off the job yesterday.

Gulping back his sobs, Little said: “When the girls were born three weeks ago my head was all over the place. It’s no coincidence, though, with the worry over of them being born, I started playing well.” His playing-partner Richard Finch was another celebrating survival. Finch climbed 14 places to 110th on the Order of Merit, by finishing in a tie for seventh place on five-under. He registered his 72 with visible huge relief.

“I’m so glad I’ve come through but it was horrible really,” the Hull player said. “I knew I had to hang in. I kept doing all the right things but kept running into problems. Then I had a double-bogey and knew I needed three pars to make it.” Just for good measure he holed a 15ft birdie putt on the last.

It was not such good news for fellow Englishmen Lee Slattery and Ian Garbutt who were among those relegated down the order and left to contemplate tour school. Southport man Slattery missed out by one place and just £53.50. Garbutt, who had just squeezed in for his card here last year, fell two places and £121 short.

Bourdy finished £232,098 richer and was soaked in champagne after receiving the time-honoured accolade by his fellow Frenchman. He had tied for the lead in the morning with Robert-Jan Derksen when the weather-affected third round finished, and took charge when the Dutchman, who finished in third place, faltered. Scot Alastair Forsyth took fourth place.

It was the 18th first-time victory of the season, a European Tour record by one.

 

Tiger Woods Golf Clinic Part 2

Tiger Woods Golf Clinic Part 1

Order of Merit

Will Ernie hold on for the order of merit title, despite not playing at Valderrama?

Azinger Names Three Assistants for 2008 Ryder Cup

US Captain Paul Azinger has named former Ryder Cup Captains Raymond Floyd and Dave Stockton, along with Tour regular Olin Browne, to serve as assistants for The 2008 United States Ryder Cup Team.

The trio, announced at a news conference at Southern Hills Country Club, will be on duty during The 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, from September 19-21.

Floyd, 64, a four time  Major Champion, is a veteran of eight Ryder Cup Teams, posting a 12-16-3 record and serving as Captain in 1989. He won one of his two USPGA Championships at Southern Hills in 1982.

Stockton, also 64, won USPGA Championships in 1970 at Southern Hills and in 1976 at Congressional Country Club. He served on two Ryder Cup Teams, compiling a 3-1-1 record. Stockton was Captain in 1991, when the US edged out Europe, 14½ to 13½, at The Ocean Course in Kiawah Island.

Browne, 48, is one of Azinger’s closest friends on Tour, and owns three USPGA Tour and four Nationwide Tour victories since joining the PGA Tour in 1995.

Tour School Schedule

Section A

September 11-14, 2007

Chart Hills Golf Club, England

Oxfordshire Golf Club, England

Fleesensee Golf and Country Club, Germany

Section B

September 18-21, 2007

St Annes Old Links, England

Golf de Moliets, France

Circolo Golf Bogogno, Italy

SECOND QUALIFYING STAGE

November 7-10, 2007

Arcos Gardens, Jerez, Spain

PGA Golf de Catalunya, Spain

Golf Costa Ballena, Spain

Sherry Golf Jerez, Spain

FINAL QUALIFYING STAGE

November 15-20, 2007

San Roque Club, Old Course, Cadiz