Masters Golf 2011: October 2010

Shoreacres

October 2010

Shoreacres (ranked #51 in the world) is located in Lake Bluff, Illinois, north of Chicago on Lake Michigan and was designed by Seth Raynor in 1919.

In a happy coincidence, I bumped into The Itinerant Golfer, who happened to be playing Shoreacres the same day I was. For some reason, probably because I’m psychotic, my first thought was, “Criss Cross,” which is the phrase used in the wonderful Alfred Hitchcock movie Strangers on a Train, where Guy Haines and Bruno Anthony meet coincidentally.

What are the odds that two golf lunatics will meet crisscrossing the planet playing their top 100 lists? Pretty slim. Steve and I played together at Galloway National a couple of years ago as part of his journey, and we both hosted the crazy kiwis this summer. An amazing coincidence and a stroke of good fortune. Small world.

If you’ve never seen the movie, it is one of Hitchcock’s best, particularly the tennis scene played on grass at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, New York where the US Open used to be played.

The Golf Course

My experience at Shoreacres was very rewarding. We had an 8am tee time on a lovely summer morning and were the only ones on the course. When I stepped to the first tee to hit my drive, the Star Spangled Banner started playing. I thought, "Hey, this is pretty cool," until my host politely pointed out that it wasn't in my honor but was the daily ritual at the Great Lakes Naval Station, which is located across the street from Shoreacres. Throughout the round we heard our nation's bravest marching, chanting and doing drills.

The defining characteristic of Shoreacres is the way Raynor routed the course around, over and through the ravines that dominate the landscape. The majority of holes play over a ravine on either the tee shot or the approach shot, sometimes both. The ravines are so prevalent that the scorecard features a local "Ravine Rule," allowing you relief under various penalty strokes if your ball ends up in one.

A ravine on the 4th hole at Shoreacres

A major ravine crossing the fairway on the 5th at Shoreacres

Raynor is known for his use of prototype or replica holes, and Shoreacres has many. The prototype "Biarritz" hole, the sixth, is a 192 yard par three that features a green that measures an amazing 88 yards from front to back with a big swale through its middle. Without moving the tees, the hole can vary in length from 148 yards to 236 yards just by moving the pin.

Like the golf course itself, the halfway house behind the sixth green is classic and refined. They have a nice selection of finger sandwiches stacked on a three tiered serving tray. The edges of the bread are nicely cut off the salmon, chicken salad and egg salad sandwiches. Her Majesty would approve of the halfway house at Shoreacres. Call me a ponce if you'd like, but I get off on this kind of stuff. It's the little things in life that count!

Shoreacres has the usual polish of a Raynor course, and the front nine was a joy to play. The course really picks up steam, though, on the back nine: Holes eleven through fourteen really get your heart racing. The tenth is a great rendition of a "Road" hole with only one bunker protecting the green, but when the pin is on the left side, one is all that's needed.

The intimidating 11th hole from the tee

The eleventh is a 378 yard par four with the fairway set at an angle to the tee so you have to decide which line you will hit on and judge the distance correctly. It is a classic risk-reward shot with a big penalty for a miss.

Not only do you have to carry the massive ravine off the tee, but also once again as you approach the green. The hole is seen from the green looking back below:

The 11th hole seen looking back from the tee

The eleventh is a true world-class hole and is followed by another at the par three twelfth, a prototype "Short" hole. It plays only 127 yards from an elevated tee box, but just look at the beauty of how Raynor designed the large green to sit tucked away in a small valley.

The world-class par three twelfth, "Short" hole at Shoreacres

The short 332 yard par four thirteenth features a completely blind tee shot over the ravine. Once again, your second must also carry a smaller ravine.

The approach to the 13th green

Shoreacres is not a long course; it measures 6,530 yards from the tips, but remember, golf is supposed to be a game we play to have fun and not a place to prove our manhood by demonstrating how far we hit the ball. Besides, holes like the 449 yard par four fifth and the 438 yard par four sixteenth provide plenty of opportunity to use muscle, if that's your cup of tea. Raynor routed the entire course to take advantage of the ravines, and even though the property abuts Lake Michigan, there are no holes where you can see the water.

Shoreacres is a tremendous place to play golf and I am a lucky man indeed to be invited to experience a place such as this, although as I approach the end of my journey, I wish I could slow the whole thing down and make it last longer. Shoreacres also represents the 52nd course I have played where you have to be hosted by a member. I've really become spoiled playing courses without a lot of people on them and with great caddies.

In addition to a world-class golf course, Shoreacres also has one of the stand-out clubhouses along with Shinnecock, Loch Lomond, National Golf Links and Cypress. There are few places better to enjoy an after round refreshment, overlooking the beautiful and cooling Lake Michigan. The clubhouse is set on the top of the bluff overlooking the lake. Of the 95 courses I have played, eight stand out as places I would like to join if I had unlimited money and better manners. The other seven are Maidstone, San Francisco Golf Club, Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Sunningdale, Yeamans Hall, Somerset Hills and Camargo Club.

The stand out Shoreacres clubhouse

Some of the best golf courses in the world such as Pine Valley and Peachtree are located in average neighborhoods. Shoreacres is no such animal. Lake Bluff and the adjacent town of Lake Forest are one of those elite suburban areas where everything is perfect and the people are at the highest echelons of wealth in the country.

An interior view of the classic clubhouse

The view from the clubhouse overlooking Lake Michigan

I have now completed playing all of Seth Raynor's courses ranked in the top 100 and feel that he got better as he went along. I think his best is Yeamans Hall (1925), followed by Camargo (1921), then Shoreacres (1919) and Fishers Island (1917). Yeamans, Camargo and Shoreacres have all been renovated by Tom Doak and seem better because of it. Perhaps Fishers can hire Tom and his firm to refresh the course to be more in line with its peers and for it to live up to its true potential.

TRI-AM RESULTS

October 2010

On Saturday we held an End of Season Tri-Am in which 51 Members took part from the Gents , Ladies and Junior Section and a great day was had by all on a lovely Autumnal day.

The results was as follows:

1st Andy Ramsay, Ray Michie, Chris Sturgis.......142 points

2nd Sheena Scott, Eric Ritchie, Jack Scott.......147 points

The Winners with Lady Captain Kay Finlay

Runners-Up with Lady Captain Kay Finlay (Eric Ritchie not available for picture)

Sheena Scott also had a hole in one at the 4th hole.

Four Canadians move on to stage 2 of PGA Tour qualifying

October 2010

Four more Canadians moved on to the next round of the PGA's fall qualifying school Saturday.

Peter Laws of Mississauga, Ont., fired a final-round 72 to finish at 9 under, good for 14th place at the PGA Golf Club. The top 23 plus ties advanced in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Matt Hill of Bright's Grove, Ont., also shot 72 but could only manage a 30th-place finish.

Brennan Webb of Bracebridge, Ont., just made the cut at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga, after shooting a final-round 74. Webb slipped from seventh place into a tie for 20th. The top 21 plus ties advanced.

Richard Scott (70) of Kingsville, Ont., finished in a tie for 31st.

Mitch Gillis of Williams Lake, B.C., shot a final-round 72 to finish at 4 under in a tie for third at the Oak Valley Golf Club. Vancouver's Richard T. Lee (70) was a stroke back in a tie for sixth. The top 22 plus ties advanced from Beaumont, Calif.

Brett Bingham (69) of Red Deer, Alta., was tied for 32nd, Darren Wallace (72) of Langley, B.C., finished 47th, Edmonton's Barrett Jarosch (72) was tied for 52nd and Ryan Williams (72) of Surrey, B.C., tied for 58th.

At the Auburn University Club, Adam Short of Vineland, Ont., just missed the cut after firing a final-round 72. That tied him for 25th, but only the top 23 plus ties from Auburn, Ala., advanced.

David Morland IV (72) of Aurora, Ont., finished tied for 37th, while Mark Leon (75) of Oakville, Ont., tied for 55th.

Montreal's Yohann Benson, Winnipeg's Adam Speirs and Calgary's James Love advanced to the next round of qualifying on Friday.

Ryder Cup rain gear still topic of discussion

October 2010

Rick Reimers looked out from his hotel room in Wales and saw nothing but sheets of rain. It was his last day at the Ryder Cup before flying to a business meeting that Friday afternoon, and he didn’t even bother going out to Celtic Manor.

“I thought, ‘No way they’re playing in this thing,”’ Reimers said. “And they did for three or four holes – unfortunately.”

Indeed, it was most unfortunate for Reimers.

He is the founder and owner of Sun Mountain, the Missoula, Mont.-based company that invented the first golf bag with built-in legs and, most recently, provided the U.S. Ryder Cup team with its rain suits.

Two hours of golf was played before heavy rain halted the opening session.

The rain suits, already lampooned for looking like basketball warmups with stripes and names on the back, didn’t seem to be working. It was never clear if they leaked or retained too much water. During the seven-hour delay, U.S. team officials bought a different brand of rain suits from the merchandise tent.

“We were pretty depressed,” Reimers said in a telephone interview. “It was hard to talk directly to anyone using the garment. We didn’t know any more than what was being reported in the press. And it turns out, that was the only thing to talk about.”

With no golf being played, the rain suits turned into the big story on the opening day.

Sun Mountain immediately tried to figure out what happened with its RainFlex gear, unique in that it is waterproof and the knit fabric stretches so that it doesn’t make noise when a golfer swings.

Reimers had an employee put on a rain jacket (that had been made for a player not picked for the team) and stand in the shower for two hours. He said water was coming down the neck and up from the cuffs, but “we couldn’t see that it leaked anywhere.” The company also ran tests at an independent lab that showed the suits were waterproof.

So what happened?

“We think nobody got wet with rain coming through the garment,” Reimers said. “Did the outside material hold more moisture than you’d like? Probably. When something gets soaked, it feels cold on the skin. People might interpret that as being wet.”

Reimers was remarkably honest in the wake of such bad publicity. He said he heard from one prominent Ryder Cup player who told him he liked the rain suit and didn’t understand all the fuss. Several players continued to wear them.

The contract with the PGA of America, which bought the gear, kept Sun Mountain from promoting its role in the Ryder Cup. The only way anyone would know the brand would be if something went wrong.

“If people had loved them, we wouldn’t receive any benefit,” Reimers said. “We just never imagined anything like this would happen. We’ve had people call our tour rep and say, ‘I’ve worn it in the rain and it’s an advantage.’

Reimers expected Sun Mountain sales to take a hit, although he hasn’t seen any evidence of that, only anecdotes. Some longtime customers don’t understand the complaints and continue to buy, while prospective customers have shied away because of the Ryder Cup.

So what’s next?

As it has done for nearly 40 years, Reimers said Sun Mountain will try to make improvements. It is in the running to supply the U.S. Presidents Cup team with rain gear, as it did in 2009. He said the PGA Tour already has asked for samples.

Rest assured, they will not look like the ones in Wales. Reimers said Lisa Pavin, the wife of U.S. captain Corey Pavin, wanted a retro look and was responsible for the design. For the Presidents Cup, he is providing a more conservative look – navy blue, with a small amount of color to accent the garment.

“But no names,” he said. “And no stripes.”

Ryuji Imada assessed 26 stroke penalty in one round

October 2010

Failing to read the local rules sheet cost PGA Tour golfer Ryuji Imada a whopping 26 penalty strokes at a tournament in China on Saturday, GolfChannel.com reported.

Imada wasn't the only golfer affected by a rules misunderstanding at the Mission Hills Star Trophy. Colin Montgomerie was penalized two shots after his caddie moved a sign on the 16th hole and finished two strokes behind tournament winner Lorena Ochoa.

Ochoa, the Mexican star who retired last year at the top of her game, shot a 71 in both rounds to earn the $1.28 million winner-take-all check at the 36-hole, mixed-field event.

Ochoa said the exhibition victory isn't enough to make her consider coming out of retirement. She said she's going to go back to Mexico "really happy."

Imada's 26-shot penalty came as a result of players being allowed to lift, clean and place their balls due to soft conditions on the Blackstone course.

Imada assumed he could place the ball within a club length of its original position, as is standard on the PGA Tour. But the local rules stated that placement had to occur within the length of one scorecard, as is standard on the Asian and European tours, according to GolfChannel.com.

Danny Lee pointed out the error to Imada on the 12th hole and at the end of the round, Imada informed tournament officials that he'd broken the scoring rule, according to the report. Imada couldn't remember exactly how many times he had given himself the more generous placement, but guessed he'd done so 13 times.

So Imada was assessed 13 two-stroke penalties, for a total of 26 penalty strokes and a first-round score of 24-over-par 97, according to the report.

Imada, who's 78th on the PGA Tour money list, has one career Tour win -- the 2008 AT&T Classic -- and four top-10 finishes this year. He had a solid October, tying for eighth at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and tying for sixth at the Frys.com Open.

But Imada acknowledged he failed to read the local rules sheet, GolfChannel.com reported.

"I'm an idiot," Imada said, according to the report.

He wasn't the only golfer who got stung by the local rules.

Montgomerie's tee shot on the 16th had landed a few yards behind an advertising sign on the fairway, which a marshal and Montgomerie's caddie, Jason Hempleman, moved out of the way, according to the report.

But tournament director David Parkin said players had been informed that under the local rules, the signs could not be moved. Since Hempleman had helped move the signs, Montgomerie was assessed a two-stroke penalty.

Candie Kung and Hong Kong celebrity Eric Tsang won the team competition.

The field included Greg Norman, Annika Sorenstam and Nick Faldo, along with celebrities Catherine Zeta-Jones, Hugh Grant, Michael Phelps and Matthew McConaughey.

McIlroy or Fowler for rookie of the year?

October 2010

Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler are the leading candidates for this year's Rookie of the Year award.’ So says Stan Awtrey who then proceeds to present his case for Rickie Fowler.

It sounds like Stan’s on shaky ground from the outset when he writes, ‘The win column is the only thing that's empty from Rickie Fowler’s first full season on the PGA TOUR...That shouldn't stop him from winning this year's Rookie of the Year award.’

To support his preference for Rickie, Stan mentions what could be the crucial factor in determining the decision. ‘Even if Fowler doesn't win this year, he should still be the PGA TOUR's Rookie of the Year. He's been the most consistent and persistent rookie on a week-to-week basis.’

‘Week-to-week’, in other words more regular appearances, may well be an important consideration in the selection process. But I can’t confirm this because nowhere on Google could I find The Players Advisory Council’s criteria or process for the Rookie of the Year award. And for the record, year-to-date, it’s 26 PGA Tour events for Rickie against only 16 for Rory.

What I did discover was that the Council could not commit to a Comeback Player of the Year Award for 2009. And the mind boggles with delight at the, albeit unlikely scenario of Tiger receiving the award for 2011. Should he win a couple of the big ones next year.

From what I’ve been told the award is usually given to someone who’s returned to form after an illness or injury. Or a person who has impressed his peers by performing well after a slump.And I guess it all depends on how they define ‘slump’. However given Tiger’s high-performance expectations, 2010 must be seen by him as something of a slump

Coming back to the case of Fowler versus McIlroy I have to write that I’m most impressed by the fact that there does not appear to be an American bias.

In the last four years, three non-Americans have won the Rookie of the Year award. Aussie Marc Leishman in 2009, Argentinian Andres Romero in 2008 and South African Trevor Immelman in 2006.

Quoting Stan Awtrey’s own words in my support of Rory, ‘The lad from Northern Ireland won almost as much money as Fowler ($2.55 million, which ranks No. 26 on the TOUR compared to Fowler at No. 23) and actually won an event, the Wells Fargo Classic, with a final-round 62 that enabled him to pass Phil Mickelson.

No doubt that 62 is one of the signature moments of the year and will be hard for voters to ignore.’

And I rest my case with Rory’s major championship record-equaling round of 63 at The Open. And for those who still doubt Rory’s remarkable Rookie qualities.

If courage and persistence is the measure of a man who would be, should be, Rookie of the Year. Then Rory’s rounds of 69, 68 following his disastrous second round should win him the right to the title of Rookie of the Year for 2010

-Stan Sutherland

Tiger's topple from the top good for the game: Norman says

October 2010

Former world No.1 Greg Norman said on Saturday the end of Tiger Woods's 281-week run at the top of golf's global rankings was good for the game.

Either Lee Westwood or Martin Kaymer will take Woods's crown this weekend, unseating the American for the first time since he reclaimed the top spot from Fiji's Vijay Singh in 2005.

Norman said either player would be worthy of the accolade.

Advertisement: Story continues below "I think it's fantastic for the game of golf, number one. I think it's always good that it's a change and a change for global golf," Norman said.

"Irrespective (of who takes the top spot), I think it's great for the game of golf.

"No disrespect to Tiger, but to see what's happening with the Ryder Cup, to see what's happening here in China and to see what's happening with the new number one, I think it's fantastic."

The veteran Australian said Westwood's lack of a major win did not mean he was undeserving of the top spot.

"He's been a consistent performer and Tiger hasn't won a tournament this year, so does that make him worthy?" Norman said.

"The numbers stack up and he's performed consistently week in, week out, more than anybody else."

Kaymer needs to finish in the top two at the Andalucia Masters this weekend to unseat Woods, while Westwood - currently out resting a calf injury - will take top spot if the German slips up.

Norman is in southern China competing in the inaugural Star Trophy pro-celebrity tournament, where he shot a four-over-par 77 first round as he competed for a $US1.28 million ($A1.31 million) winner's prize.

Westwood to claim world #1 on Monday

October 2010

Golf is entering a new competitive era with Tiger Woods set to be toppled from the number one spot after this weekend, European Ryder Cup winning captain Colin Montgomerie believes.

Either Briton Lee Westwood or German Martin Kaymer, both in Montgomerie’s successful European Ryder Cup team at Celtic Manor in Wales, will be crowned number one when the new rankings are released on Monday, ending Woods’s 281-week reign.

Kaymer, who won the U.S. PGA championship this year, needs to finish inside the top two at the Andalucia Masters to take the top spot. Westwood, at home resting an injured calf, will become world number one if Kaymer does not achieve the top-two finish.

"Both Martin and Lee are deserving of the number one title," Montgomerie said at the Mission Hills pro-celebrity tournament in Hainan, southern China on Saturday. "I would say they are number one and two in the world.

"You can’t knock Martin’s and Lee’s current form.

"It could mean Europe has one and two for the first time since the heady days when (Nick) Faldo, (Bernhard) Langer, (Ian) Woosnam and Seve (Ballesteros) were on top of that tree.

"This world competition being so close is fantastic and great for golf, (especially) with Phil Mickelson close behind and other Europeans coming through to join that band."

Montgomerie, however, was quick to warn his European proteges the American will roar back.

"It might be the end of Tiger’s reign for a limited spell. I don’t think he will be happy at being number two or three in the world," Montgomerie added.

"I am sure with the form he showed at the Ryder Cup he’ll be back with a vengeance next year, winning majors again and will get to Jack Nicklaus’s record. He hasn’t gone anywhere.

"But once you are number one, you want to stay there and you have to improve as the competition behind you gets better. I am sure Lee and Martin will seek to do so."

Montgomerie, who escaped serious injury in a car crash in Britain just over a week ago and was limping in Hainan, ignored his doctor’s advice to vie for the US$1.28 million purse.

"I am still getting flash backs from the accident and my rib cage and hip were knocked out of position slightly. My hip is very stiff and is not quite right," he said.

"I had intense physio before I travelled and it was touch and go whether I would come. I semi-ignored medical advice because I wanted to come as I always enjoy it here."

He said the crash had given him a jolt and changed his outlook on life.

"It was shock. It puts certain things into perspective. We have to be very, very thankful."

Ochoa glad she left on top but not ruling out playing again

October 2010

Long-time world number one Lorena Ochoa said on Wednesday she had no regrets about quitting the LPGA, five months after walking away to start a family, but refused to rule out a return in future.

The Mexican, who had been the top-ranked woman golfer in the world for three years in a row when she bid an emotional farewell to the LPGA in May, said she made the right decision at the right time.

“I’m not thinking right now of next year. They ask me all the time if I will play again,” she said.

“I don’t think I will play full-time but for sure I would love to be back, maybe play a (Kraft) Nabisco (Championship) or Evian (Masters) or British Open. I think I will play some tournaments in the future.”

Ochoa was speaking to reporters ahead of the Mission Hills Star Trophy pro-celebrity tournament in Haikou, southern China, where she is among the field of professionals chasing a US$1.28mil purse.

The four-time LPGA Player-of-the-Year, who notched up 27 career wins including two majors, said since leaving the Tour at the age of 28 she had been able to enjoy golf without feeling pressure.

“For sure I miss (it), I would be lying if I said no, but I am also super happy. Every day it’s more clear to me I made the right decision at the right time,” she told reporters.

“I achieved what I wanted to achieve and I wanted to retire as number one in the world.

“It was just the right thing to do for me. I knew I didn’t want to play forever – I wanted to play for a few years and then move on and do different things.”

Kaymer off to slow start as bid for #1 starts

October 2010

MARTIN Kaymer insists patience is the key after his bid to take Tiger Woods' world No.1 spot got off to a sluggish start in Spain.

The German can complete a stunning season by taking top place with a strong showing at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters at Sotogrande.

The 28-year-old needs to win or share second place with no more than one other player if he, rather than the absent Lee Westwood, is to succeed Woods when his 281-week stint at the top ends on Monday.

But Kaymer's quest to be the best did not start smoothly yesterday as he could only card a one-over 72 to leave himself six strokes adrift of first-round leader Pablo Larrazabal.

Three successive bogeys on the back nine ruined Kaymer's round although he grabbed an impressive birdie at 16.

The Ryder Cup star said: "It wasn't that bad and it's not the end of the world.

"I have a lot to think about but it's very important on this course not to give up. You have to stay patient and that's what I did after making three bogeys."

By contrast, Spaniard Larrazabal was flawless as he carded an impressive 66 to open up a two-stroke advantage over Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell.

The Irishman enjoyed a steady day with three birdies to help him share second with Irishman Damien McGrane.

McDowell is currently second on the European money list and his solid showing improved his slight chances of catching runaway leader Kaymer with 500,000 euros on offer to the winner this week.

Us Open champion McDowell said: "I'll have to play my best to catch him but that may not be enough. Martin didn't have his greatest day but he's never far from his best.

"But now I need to stay ahead of him, to win tournaments and have some strong finishes to have any opportunity of winning the Race to Dubai."

END OF SEASON TRI-AM

October 2010

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

This Saturday sees the last of the Mixed Events in the fixture book and an excellent field has signed up. Our thanks go to the Centre for enabling us to get a 2 TEE START.

There will be sheets of the rules available on the day!

We hope you enjoy the day and have lots of fun!

Can the PGA and LPGA Tour bring Asian golf to the ROW?

October 2010

The popularity of golf is escalating to a fevered frenzy in Asia but can the PGA and LPGA Tour help bring this emerging market to the rest of the world?

With the WGC-HSBC Champions event combining the talents of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson for a possible dream match and Michelle Wie needing a bodyguard to keep fans at bay during the LPGA Malaysia, Asian golf fans are coming out in droves to witness star power in professional golf.

The Asian golf market is relatively unknown here in the USA but has plenty of events during the season sanctioned by the Asian Tour, OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour. It appears as if all of the Tours operate independently of each other instead of combining strength to create one professional commission with larger purses and better known talent. The LPGA has already established the Japan and Korean Tours but the Ladies Asian Golf Tour remains a separate entity.

In July, Tim Finchem made rumblings that there may be more PGA Tour events springing up in China, Japan and Korea. Currently there are two such events; the inaugural Asia Pacific Classic in Malaysia (co-sanctioned by both the PGA Tour and Asian Tour) and the HSBC-WGC event in Shanghai.

In other words, if you can't bring the Asian Tour to the USA, bring the action of the PGA Tour to Asia.

Although the number of Asian golfers is "increasing in the majors" as Tim Clark has mentioned, Ernie Els doubts that golfers will make the long trip to the region. This, in my opinion, may keep Asian golf segmented from the rest of the world.

"It's a very long way from the U.S. to Asia so any more golf tournaments over here," said Els. It's going to be tough for players to travel. They have a full schedule anyway in the U.S. but it will be interesting to see what the commissioner [Tim Finchem] thinks about it."

Luke Donald has agreed with Els adding that more events on the PGA Tour roster may make the field "a little bit diluted." On the flip-side, Donald sees golf as global adding, that "people want to see the U.S. players playing in Malaysia, China or Japan"

"New events like this tend to increase fan support for the game and create awareness that there are great places around the world to play golf in."

Even though every win still counts and the event money is good, the Asian Swing might deter golfers because of the distance to travel. On the flip side, the Asia-Pacific Classic has a very solid group making the trip: the top twenty-five players on the FedEx Cup standings along with the top ten golfers from the Asian Tour and five sponsor exemptions for a select group of forty will play in this week's event.

Adding the star power of Michelle Wie and Natalie Gulbis to the region for last week's LPGA event in Malaysia will also help gain momentum for an Asian Swing. With all of the professional Tours working together to bring golf into the region by coinciding their events, this Asian Swing can be a success for the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Asian Tours and most importantly, the fans and the growth of golf.

Also read about golf supremacy in Russia?

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Padraig Harrington Meets Golf Support!

October 2010

Wilson Staff player and three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington spent the day with Golf Support professionals Shaun Brain and Andrew Malpas at European Tour destination The London Club in Kent recently.

After narrowly missing out on count back both Golf Support Professionals were disappointed not to play a skins match with Padraig, but quick thinking on behalf of Andy Malpas saw him become Padraig caddy for the round allowing him to get some real insight into how the major winner really plays his game.

Andy says “It was very interesting to watch and speak to Padraig as he is a very down to earth man, very polite and approachable. He was very talkative when giving tips and instructions to me and I found his whole story inspiring and admirable. He offered lots of advice about all aspects of my game including swing tips and mental attitude which I will defiantly find useful in the future”.

As Padraig is a Wilson Staff Player he played with the FG Tour Irons with Rifle shafts carried in the Wilson Staff Tour Golf Bag in red and white. He wore the Footjoy Synr-G golf shoes and as a Titleist Staff Player used Titleist Golf Balls.

Andy adds “It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to carry one of the worlds best and most respected players bags and really get involved with his game, a definite golf great with his feet still firmly on the ground”

Padraig is playing next in the HSBC Championships in China on 4-7th November and all at Golf Support thank him and wish him good luck for the future.

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Until Next Time

The Golf Support Team

Golf supremacy for Russia at the Olympics?

October 2010

With a golf academy currently being designed in Moscow, are the Russians eyeing domination at the 2016 Olympics?

The golf course design practice founded by five-time Open Champion Peter Thomson with partners Ross Perrett and Tim Lobb has been commissioned to design a new golf academy at Moscow’s Luzhniki Olympic Complex.

The landmark development will introduce golf to Europe's largest sports center, venue of the 1980 Olympics and 2008 Champions League Final between Manchester United and Chelsea, which boasts facilities for more than forty different sports with five million visits per year.

The new golf academy will include a new 9-hole par-3 golf course, driving range, practice putting, family adventure golf, plus a spacious clubhouse with indoor golf simulators.

Luzhniki Olympic Complex, Moscow

TPL principal Tim Lobb said: “The golf academy at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex will be an important development for Russia. This will be the closest golf facility to the city centre and will be a family friendly and social venue that will enable the people of Moscow to experience, enjoy and learn to play golf.

“It is a very exciting project to be working on and, with the return of golf to the Olympics in 2016, is befitting of the Luzhniki Complex’s vision to be a legacy of Olympic sport.”

Among the Russian sports stars who have benefited from the facilities at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex are tennis aces Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin. The question is, could Russia’s first golf star emerge from Luzhniki’s new golf academy?

The first golf course in Russia was established in 1989 and has fourteen courses currently in operation. The Russian Golf Association is creating a five-year plan to establish a future in golf by increasing the number of courses to one-hundred, boosting the number of golf lovers to 100,000 and having a few golfers winning tournaments in time for the 2016 Olympics.

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Jonathan Byrd wins the Justin Timberlake Shriners with a playoff "ace"

October 2010

17 year old makes history on the European Tour

October 2010

Matteo Manassero shot a 4-under 67 in the final round to win the Castello Masters and claim a place in the history of the European Tour Golf.

At 17 years and 188 days old the Italian teenager is the youngest player to win on the European Tour, beating the record held by Danny Lee of New Zealand, who was 18 years and 113 days old when he won the Johnnie Walker Championship in 2008.

It is the second record of Manassero's short career after he also became the youngest winner -- at 16 -- of the British Amateur Championship in 2009.

And after winning $460,000, Manassero was at a loss to find a way to celebrate his victory.

"I am too young to have a drink, I am too young to drive so I will not be buying a car and I have not got a girlfriend who would like a present," he said.

"But this was my first chance to win a tournament, which I never thought would come so quickly and to do it is unbelievable. My first aim when I turned professional was to win enough money to keep my card for next year and I achieved that in September."

Manassero started the final round at the Club de Campo Del Mediterraneo two shots behind overnight leader Gary Boyd of England. But at 16-under he eventually won by four shots from Spain's Ignacio Garrido who shot a 68 to reach 12 under.

Boyd collapsed in the final round with three poor drives starting on the 15th hole which led to him dropping four late shots and after a 74 he slipped back into a share of third place.

Joost Luiten (68) of the Netherlands and Ireland's Peter Lawrie (70) also finished with a share of third place at 11-under.

Jose Maria Olazabal's attempt to overcome his chronic rheumatoid arthritis and play four rounds for the first time in 2010 was successful but proved to have a disappointing ending.

He had a series of bogeys in the final round and after handing in a 77 to the official recorder was disqualified for signing for a wrong score. It should have been 78.

"I feel happy to have played four rounds for the first time of the year," said Olazabal, who is favored to be Europe's next Ryder Cup captain. "The only pain is the way that I played today and what happened afterwards."

Kang beats Hall of Famer to win on the LPGA

October 2010

JIMIN Kang won the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia for her second LPGA Tour golf title, beating Juli Inkster by a stroke yesterday when the 50-year-old Hall of Famer bogeyed the final hole.

Kang, the 30-year-old South Korean player, birdied the par-four 18th for a six-under 65 and a nine-under total at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

Inkster finished with her second straight 67. She birdied the 15th-17th to take the lead, but couldn’t hold on in her bid to break the LPGA Tour age record of 46 years, eight months set by Beth Daniel in the 2003 Canadian Women’s Open.

Sweden’s Maria Hjorth (71) and Japan’s Mika Miyazato (69) tied for third at six-under, and South Korea’s Meena Lee (69) was five-under.

Michelle Wie shot a 74 to tie for 34th at three over.

Kang, also the 2005 LPGA Corning Classic winner, birdied three of the last four holes. She earned $270000 in the inaugural event.

Who would you want to have a drink with?

October 2010

The results of our latest poll question is in and not surprisingly, Bobby Jones commanded the lead in the voting, "Which golfing figure would you most want to have a drink with if you could?"

Bobby Jones 37%
Halter Hagen 21%
Jack Nicklaus 14%
Phil Michelson 12%
Tiger Woods 9%
Colin Montgomerie 4%

Only 12 other people voted with me selecting the dour Scot. Even after his performance on the Ryder Cup? The man is a living wonder.

Prior poll results:

Hardest course to get on? Augusta
Great golf course architect? Mackenzie
Best golfing region in the world? Long Island

Please join me in our new poll question: The best Redan hole?

I have a new write-up coming later this week on a real gem of a course.

October Greens Committee Report

October 2010

Course Condition

Winter weather has moved in and the grass is starting to slow down a little on growth.

Completed Items

 Broadleaf weeds sprayed on tees.

 Fertigation

 Trimming Native along paths.

 Greens and Fairway Aerification.

Current Affairs

 Cleaning up Javalina damage.

 Edging sprinkler heads, valve boxes and drains.

 Seeding, sanding and fertilizing thin areas in the rough.

 Cleaning rocks, weeds and fixing liner in the bunkers.

 Spraying for moss on the greens.

 Cleaning up plug drop areas from fairway Aerification.

Upcoming Events

 Sodding out Poa encroached collars.

 Fall fertilization application

 Hand picking Poa from greens.

 Winter Projects soon to come.

Staff

The season is coming to an end and the last day for the seasonal crew will be the 31st of this month. This will leave us with 3 FT employees and 2 PT employees on staff for the winter months.

Four Club Challenge Results

October 2010

The results of this competition, played in excellent autumn weather, are:

1st W McGregor 83-14 = 69
2nd J Wood 84-13 = 71
3rd I Scott 80-8 = 72

Twos were recorded by the following players:

R Michie @ 4th
D Thomson @ 6th

Draw for 4 Club Challenge - Saturday 23 October

October 2010

Morning starters

0800 G McLuskey; I Gray; M Bell
0807 T Bennet; D McDonald; P Johnstone
0815 J Wood; A Ramsay; F MColl

Lunchtime starters

1200 C McDonald; J Henvey
1207 K McVey; F Moran; K Ewan
1215 I Scott; E Ritchie; E Gray
1222 R Michie; D Thomson; W McGregor

Greg Norman, Annika Sorenstam worried about the future of golf

October 2010

In an effort to find innovative ways for golf to be more "affordable and accessible", Greg Norman, Annika Sorenstam and golf creative thinkers convened at the fourth annual Asia Pacific Golf Summit.

This 'call to action' in Thailand was only one of several forums designed to effect a change in the sport in order to attract more newcomers and to keep the golfers that already play interested in the game. Earlier this year, a Golf Business Forum in Turkey tackled similar questions with both Norman and Sorenstam in attendance.

Believing interest in the sport has hit its limit and is now declining, Hud Hinton, Troon Golf president and chief executive officer warned that, "The game is too expensive to play, too difficult to play, too expensive to operate and the pace of play is too slow."

Greg Norman came up with an interesting idea regarding the premise that it takes too long to play a round of golf.

"There's nothing to say that a golf course has to be 18 holes. Why shouldn't 12-hole courses be successful in Asia?"

Although it seems like an age-old question, what suggestions would you make in order to improve the sport and to bring in newcomers?

My idea?
Children are the future of the sport so perhaps add golf to a school's curriculum? Instead of just playing dodge-ball in a gym where kids learn it's okay to hit one another in the head with a ball, golf can also teach the nine basic principles of the First Tee Program.

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Gents Section AGM Agenda

October 2010

The agenda for the AGM, which takes place in the clubhouse at 7pm on Friday 22 October, is as follows:

1 Apologies
2 Election of Captain and Vice-Captain
3 Election of Committee Members
4 Captain's Report
5 Treasurer's Report
6 Competition Secretary's Report
7 Match Secretary's Report
8 Handicap Secretary's Report
9 Gents Captain's Charity
10 Previously notified business
- Proposed change to Rule 1.5
11 AOCB

The Big Easy comes from behind to win the Grand Slam of golf

October 2010

Ernie Els came from three strokes behind with five holes remaining to win the end-of-season PGA Grand Slam of Golf by one shot in Bermuda on Wednesday.

The smooth-swinging South African rattled up three consecutive birdies from the 14th on the way to a two-under-par 69 on the picturesque Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton.

That gave Els a 36-hole total of five-under 137, one better than first-round leader David Toms of the United States who closed with a 71.

U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland battled to a 73 to finish at three over, level with U.S. PGA Championship winner Martin Kaymer of Germany (71).

The elite Grand Slam event, billed as "the most exclusive tournament in golf," traditionally brings together the winners of the year's four majors.

Els and Toms were late replacements in the four-man field for U.S. Masters champion Phil Mickelson and British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen.

American Mickelson opted not to play and South African Oosthuizen pulled out because of an ankle injury.

Sergio Garcia's self imposed break from competitve golf over

October 2010

Sergio Garcia returns from a complete two-month break with a renewed appetite for tournament golf at his hometown Castello Masters starting on Thursday.

A combination of burnout and a broken heart after the end of his relationship with Greg Norman's daughter Morgan Leigh saw the 30-year-old Garcia slip to 68th in the world from a career-high second in March last year.

However, Garcia has dusted off his clubs to play in the European Tour event he promotes in his Castellon hometown near Valencia in eastern Spain. His luxury hillside villa overlooks the 7,111-yard (6,502-meter) course at Club de Campo del Mediterraneo, where he won two years ago.

"I made the decision to stop between The Players and the U.S. Open as I had lost my motivation and felt drained," Garcia said.

"I needed a break because I had lost the desire to play, and practicing had become an obligation.

"Since turning pro 12 years ago I have not had a proper break even when you take two weeks out during the season you are practicing.

"Now, on the contrary, I feel full of energy again and actually enjoy practicing. I have set myself new goals. I hope to return gradually to where I should be and perform to my full potential that is to be world No. 1."

For the first time in his career Garcia has sought help with the mental side of his game, using sophrology, a personal development program developed in Switzerland in the 1960s to reduce stress and promote physical and mental well-being.

"When I was down on myself I had many, many questions, but now answers," he said. "But now I know more about myself and feel able to answer my own questions. I am looking forward to playing again and hope I have got my head right."

The four days in Castellon will also ask questions of his fellow Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal, who is making only his second tournament start of the year because of his continuing health problems with chronic rheumatism.

Olazabal missed the cut when he played in the French Open at the beginning of July, but insisted, "I am feeling better, though not 100 percent well. I am still in pain and need to go on improving in order to perform full level. It's a slow process.

"I cannot practice as I would. My daily limit is hitting 130 balls and a bit of short-game work. But I actually played four rounds in a row last week without a problem.

"That's why I am here. I feel definitely better now than in the French Open."

One Spaniard missing the event, however, is Carlos Rodiles. He is unlikely to play again this year after tearing ligaments in his left knee on Tuesday while playing football for Garcia in a charity match.

Tiger Woods earnings down but still $30 million richer than Phil Mickelson

October 2010

According to SI.com, Tiger Woods may have dropped $9 million in earnings from last year but he is still the number one golfer on tour and still about $30 million ahead of Phil Mickelson!

In spite of his scandalous year, advertisers dropping like flies and nary a win in sight, Tiger Woods earned a whopping $90.5 million: only $20 million in "salary" from PGA Tour standings but $70 million from endorsements! In spite of being dropped by Gatorade, ATT and Accenture (see below), Woods' $10 million FedEx Cup bonus helped keep him in the number one position on the "Fortunate 50", ahead of Mickelson, LeBron James and Alex Rodriguez, whose Yankees salary of $33 million with only $4 million in endorsements barely halves Woods' home run.

Here is a list of Tiger Woods' corporate partners and sponsors, according to Golf.com, which helped keep Tiger Woods ahead on the money list:

1. Nike - "Just Do It"
2. EA Sports
3. Tag Heuer - "What are You Made of?"
4. Gillette - "The Best a Man can Get"
5. Accenture - "Go Ahead, Be a Tiger"
6. AT&T - "Reach out and touch someone"
7. Gatorade - "It's in Tiger, is it in you?"

Although Greg Norman recently stated, "...He'll come back and win golf tournaments, but he won't be as dominating as he used to be," I think that Tiger Woods' "B" Game was good enough to take home trophies. Once Woods starts winning regularly and this part of his life slowly fades into the past, companies will start returning to "Team Tiger".

People have very short memories and in golf, that's a good thing!

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Tiger to host strong field in December

October 2010

The Chevron World Challenge, hosted by Tiger Woods, will showcase a strong 18 man field at Sherwood Golf Club. The event will take place December 2-5 in Thousand Oaks, California.

The field will consist of:

Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker, Martin Kaymer, Jim Furyk, Paul Casey, Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Hunter Mahan, Zach Johnson, Anthony Kim, Bubba Watson, Sean O'Hair, Camillo Villegas, Stewart Cink

Woods spoke with the media about the upcoming tournament. Here are a few excerpts.

"Well, it's great to be back. Looking forward to getting out there and playing. I haven't played in the last couple of years, unfortunately, but looking forward to this year with this year's field. The depth and the strength of it is something we've never experienced before. And with the ranking points from last year going into this year as well, I think from what I've talked to some of the players at the Ryder Cup, they're really excited about playing, really excited about getting out there, especially the first timers that have never been out here before. It's going to be a great week. I know the weather isn't perfect today. I know you guys are going to go out there and play. I heard the golf course is in great shape, and the new practice facility is remarkable, so hope everyone enjoys it."

Q. You're a four-time winner of this tournament. How would you evaluate your chances of winning for the fifth time, given the state of your game and now that you know what the field is?

TIGER WOODS: Well, my game's coming around, so the way I played at the Ryder Cup and then hopefully -- I know I have two more events prior to the Chevron event. Hopefully, I can get two more W's before I get to Chevron and see what happens.

Q. How is your health, and pretty much how is your confidence lately as far as your game and everything?

TIGER WOODS: Oh, I feel good. I feel good about my game as well. At the Ryder Cup, I played pretty good and especially in the singles match. I've had a little time off and still got a couple more weeks off before I head to China and Australia, so looking forward to that practice time and getting a little bit more prepared.

This should be an interesting event to end the 2010 golf season with many of the world's top players. We shall see if Woods can get a win.

Watch and follow your favorite golfers with AlliedSatelliteTV.com

Cigars Direct

October 2010

Looking for a wide assortment of hard to find cigars for the golf course? For the best choice in premium cigars check out our friends at Cigarsdirect.

4 Club Challenge

October 2010

This challenge of skill and improvisation takes place this Saturday (23 October) with morning and lunchtime tee times available and a trophy up for grabs. As the sign up sheet was only placed in the folder at the end of last week, anybody wishing to enter and who will not be in the clubhouse before the weekend should either contact me (07985 622625) or the clubhouse prior to 5:00pm on Thursday to be included in the draw.

Gents Section AGM

October 2010

All section members are reminded that the Gents section AGM will take place at 7:00pm this Friday (22 October) in the clubhouse. I will endeavour to post the agenda on line in the next 24 hours.

Amazing finish @ Frys.com as Rocco wins first title in eight years

October 2010

It's raining eagles @ Frys.com

October 2010

Fowler in top spot of Kodak Challenge and $1 million payout

October 2010

Rookies Rickie Fowler and Troy Merritt leave the Frys.com Open tied for first place at 15-under par in the chase for the Kodak Challenge $1 million prize. Fowler and Merritt traded birdies on the par-4 17th hole Friday to remain tied for first place standings. The two are poised for a first-place showdown at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open next week, which offers Kodak Challengers the last par 5 of the season. There are just two holes left in the 2010 Kodak Challenge season.

For the second straight day, the pros played from the front tees on No. 17, making the hole the most exciting spot on the golf course. Especially for Aaron Baddeley, who carded a birdie Sunday to move into second place in Kodak Challenge at 14-under-par. Baddeley was able to replace a par on his scoring card with his birdie, resulting in a one shot swing thanks to the competition's unique scoring rule, which allows players to record their best 18 scores.

The "Kodak Challenge Moment of the Day" belonged to Rocco Mediate, who holed his spectacular 116-yard second shot on No. 17 for eagle. The eagle moved Mediate from a tie with Rickie Fowler to take a two-shot lead in the Frys.com Open.

Kodak Challenge hole No. 17 at CordeValle Golf Club was the easiest hole at the Frys.com Open during Sundays final round. The hole yielded 4 eagles, 27 birdies, 31 pars, 8 bogeys and 2 double bogeys.

The Frys.com Open was the 28th of 30 tournaments to participate in the 2010 Kodak Challenge competition. The next Kodak Challenge hole is the par-5 16th at TPC Summerlin at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open on Oct. 21-25. The Kodak Challenge concludes on No. 17 at the Childrens Miracle Network Classic on Nov. 11-14.

Phil Mickelson unveils HSBC Champions official World Golf Championships trophy

October 2010

Two-time HSBC Champions winner Phil Mickelson has helped to unveil the new trophy for the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions: 'The Old Tom Morris Cup', reports Tim Maitland.

Photo:Getty Images

The new cup and name are in keeping with the other three World Golf Championships events, which also boast similarly-designed Wedgwood trophies named after golfing legends. The World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship awards The Walter Hagen Cup to the winner, the World Golf Championships-CA Championship offers The Gene Sarazen Cup, and the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational winner holds aloft The Gary Player Cup.

“I am really fond of the original trophy, which can happen when you win something more than once,” says Mickelson, who lifted the 2007 HSBC Champions and then became the first winner of the tournament following its elevation to World Golf Championships status in 2009.

“But the new trophy has even greater worldwide significance. First, it is instantly recognizable as one of the WGC prizes, second, it carries the name of one of the legends of golf. Third, and perhaps most importantly, it is proof of just how fast the game of golf in China and Asia has evolved and how significant that growth is to the world of golf,” the four-time Major champion adds.

In choosing Old Tom Morris the world’s local bank has found a figure recognizable to the established golf world. HSBC chose one of the famous names in the history of Scottish golf because the pioneering work “Old” Tom Morris did in the 1800s to shape the game of golf is symbolic of the pioneering work being done in Chinese golf now.

“Old Tom represents the birth of the game of golf. Asia, China and the WGC-HSBC Champions in varying ways represent the future of the sport and, you could argue, will in time be looked at as being part of one of the most dramatic shifts for golf since Old Tom’s era,” says Giles Morgan, HSBC Group Head of Sponsorship.

“The WGC-HSBC Champions could be described as the nucleus which has shaped the way tournament golf in Asia is evolving and developing on the world stage, in the same way the Old Tom Morris helped shape and define the sport of golf” he adds.

Padraig Harrington, Ireland’s three-time Major winner, describes Old Tom as one of the bedrocks on which the sport was built.

“He’s the heritage of the game! He was one of the first Open Champions and won it four times; it adds a lot to an event when it has heritage and I know it takes a long time to build heritage, but this helps" said Harrington. "It’s a trophy that anyone would be proud to lift and they’ll be proud of the association with Old Tom Morris and the history that goes with that. It’ll help the players feel even more about the event and it’ll make it that little bit more special.”

Morris was greenkeeper and golf professional on the Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland; a four-time winner of The Open Championship and ranked among the top links course designers of the 19th Century. Among the 75 courses he designed or remodelled are some of Scotland’s world-famous courses, including Carnoustie, Muirfield and Royal Dornoch.

“You’re talking about one of the legends of the game. You talk about Tom Morris you’re talking about Prestwick and St Andrews and you’re talking about a game steeped in history; the legends of the game are hugely important to us!” exclaimed 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell.

“Guys like him shaped the game we play now. How different would it be if you didn’t have Old Tom Morris, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods? How big is the game now? A TV spectacle, a global game, you just look at the milestones of the game and he’s one of them.”

In one way or another, “Old” Tom influenced almost every aspect of the sport. He helped to set up the first (British) Open Championship in 1860 and competed in every Open until 1896. Various authorities and experts have attributed everything from standardising the number of holes to 18, the size of the golf hole, the appearance of bunkers and several fundamentals of greenkeeping to the influence of “Old” Tom.

“Old” Tom Morris, who was born in St. Andrews in 1821 and died there in 1908, is remembered as a true pioneer and exponent of golf.

In recognition of his service, the R&A has hung his portrait on permanent display in its clubhouse, while the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America's most prestigious honour is the Old Tom Morris Award.

WGC Winners

16 – Tiger Woods (USA)*

3 – Geoff Ogilvy (AUS)

2 – Phil Mickelson (USA)

2 – Ernie Els (USA)**

2 – Darren Clarke (NIR)

1 – Hunter Mahan (USA)

1 – Ian Poulter (ENG)

1 – Henrik Stenson (SWE)

1 – David Toms (USA)

1 – Kevin Sutherland (USA)

1 – Steve Stricker (USA)

1 – Jeff Maggert (USA)

1 – Mike Weir (CAN)

1 – Vijay Singh (FIJ)

1 – Stewart Cink (USA)

1 – Craig Parry (AUS)

*plus 2000 World Cup

**plus 2001 World Cup

HSBC Champions

Format: 72-holes, stroke play, no cut
Field: Approximately 78 players, consisting of tournament winners from around the world and the best players from the International Federation of PGA Tours, as dictated by each Tour’s money list, order of merit, etc.

2009 – Phil Mickelson (USA) 271 (-17) (Sheshan International GC, Shanghai, China)

2008* – Sergio Garcia (ESP)

2007* – Phil Mickelson (USA)

2006* – YE Yang Yong-Eun (KOR)

2005* – David Howell (ENG) 268 (-20)

* = Before granted WGC status

Bridgestone Invitational*

Format: 72-holes, stroke play, no cut
Field: Members of the most recent United States and International Presidents Cup teams and the United States and European Ryder Cup teams. Players ranked among the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking. The past year’s Major winners.

2010 – Hunter Mahan (USA) 268 (-12) (Firestone CC, Ohio, USA)

2009 – Tiger Woods (USA) 268 (-12) (Firestone CC, Ohio, USA)

2008 – Vijay Singh (FIJ) 270 (-10) (Firestone CC, Ohio, USA)

2007 – Tiger Woods (USA) 272 (-8) (Firestone CC, Ohio, USA)

2006 – Tiger Woods (USA) 270 (-10) (Firestone CC, Ohio, USA)

2005 – Tiger Woods (USA) 274 (-6) (Firestone CC, Ohio, USA)

2004 – Stewart Cink (USA) 269 (-11) (Firestone CC, Ohio, USA)

2003 – Darren Clarke (NIR) 268 (-12) (Firestone CC, Ohio, USA)

2002 – Craig Parry (AUS) 268 (-16) (Sahalee CC, Washington, USA)

2001 – Tiger Woods (USA) 269 (-12) (Firestone CC, Ohio, USA)

2000 – Tiger Woods (USA) 259 (-21) (Firestone CC, Ohio, USA)

1999 – Tiger Woods (USA) 270 (-10) (Firestone CC, Ohio, USA)

*From 1999- 2005 known as NEC Invitational

CA Championship*

Format: 72 holes, stroke play, no cut
Field: 65-70, including 44 of the top 50 from the Official World Golf Rankings and leaders of the six Tours' Official Money Lists/Order of Merit.

2010 – Ernie Els (RSA) 270 (-18) (Doral, Florida, USA)

2009 – Phil Mickelson (USA) 269 (-19) (Doral, Florida, USA)

2008 – Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 271 (-17) (Doral, Florida, USA)

2007 – Tiger Woods (USA) 278 (-10) (Doral, Florida, USA)

2006 – Tiger Woods (USA) 270 (-23) (The Grove, Hertfordshire, England)
2005 – Tiger Woods (USA) 270 (-10) (play-off) (Harding Park, San Francisco, California, USA)

2004 – Ernie Els (RSA) 270 (-18) (Mount Juliet Conrad, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland)

2003 – Tiger Woods (USA) 274 (-6) (Capital City Club, Atlanta, Georgia, USA)

2002 – Tiger Woods (USA) 263 (-25) (Mount Juliet Conrad, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland)

2001 – Cancelled (Bellerive, St. Louis, Missouri, USA)

2000 – Mike Weir (CAN) 277 (-11) (Valderrama, Spain)

1999 - Tiger Woods (USA) 278 (-10) (play-off) (Valderrama, Spain)

*From 1999-2006 known as American Express Championship

Accenture Match Play Championship

Format: Match Play

Field: Top 64 available players (Based on the Official World Golf Ranking)

2010 – Ian Poulter (ENG) 4&2 vs Paul Casey (Dove Mountain, Arizona, USA)

2009 – Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 4&3 vs. Paul Casey (Ritz-Carlton GC, Arizona, USA)

2008 – Tiger Woods (USA) 8&7 vs. Stewart Cink. (Ritz-Carlton GC, Arizona, USA)

2007 – Henrik Stenson (SWE) 2&1 vs. Geoff Ogilvy (Gallery, Arizona, USA)

2006 – Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 3&2 vs. Davis Love III (La Costa, California, USA)

2005 – David Toms (USA) 6&5 vs. Chris DiMarco (La Costa, California, USA)
2004 – Tiger Woods (USA) 3&2 vs. Davis Love III (La Costa, California, USA)
2003 – Tiger Woods (USA) 2&1 vs. David Toms (La Costa, California, USA)
2002 – Kevin Sutherland (USA) 1 up vs. Scott McCarron 1 up (La Costa, California, USA)
2001 – Steve Stricker (USA) 2&1 vs. Pierre Fulke (Metropolitan GC, Victoria, Australia)
2000 – Darren Clarke (NIR) 4&3 vs. Tiger Woods (La Costa, California, USA)
1999 – Jeff Maggert (USA) 38 holes vs. Andrew Magee (La Costa, California, USA)