Written by Jake O'Reilly on Wednesday 16 January 2013
New Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has described how he was overwhelmed and humbled by the reaction of the tour players who backed his bid to lead Team Europe at Gleneagles. As the race for the 2014 Ryder Cup captaincy hotted up between bookie’s favourites McGinley and Scot Colin Montgomerie, the Irishman’s hopes were boosted by a number of players though the...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Wednesday 16 January 2013
At the press conference where he was unveiled as the new Ryder Cup captain for 2014, Paul McGinley has confirmed he will do something to honour Seve Ballesteros again at Gleneagles. While talking about his captaining apprenticeships, McGinley said: “There is a really good infrastructure on The European Tour, it is the Seve Trophy, it is the Vivendi Trophy and I would...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Tuesday 15 January 2013
Rory McIlroy has once again reiterated his desire for Irishman Paul McGinley to lead Europe’s Ryder Cup team in 2014 ahead of today’s captain announcement. In an interview with TG columnist Andrew Cotter, the new Nike staffer said: “I’d love McGinley to get it. I think he deserves it.” He went on to add: “Hopefully the committee make the right decision because most of the players who...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Tuesday 15 January 2013
New Nike posterboy Rory McIlroy has taken a break from his busy schedule to meet a camel and drink some coffee. Under the watchful eye of a ‘Hero’, the defending Race to Dubai champion, accompanied by 14 time major winner Tiger Woods and world number five Justin Rose, joined locals for a traditional coffee pouring ceremony ahead of the HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. The trio are...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Friday 11 January 2013
Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, has announced that Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant and Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa of Japan have accepted invitations to compete in this year’s Tournament, bringing the current field up to 85. The field will include 21 different nationalities, 16 Masters debutants and six amateurs. “Through our established qualifications, and invitations to select international players not otherwise qualified, we...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Wednesday 9 January 2013
Dustin Johnson shot a closing 68 to win the wind-battered Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii by four shots from fellow American Steve Stricker. High winds reduced the first event of the season to playing 36 holes on Monday and 18 on Tuesday, but Johnson – who didn’t set foot on the course during either of the brief trial starts – was...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Tuesday 8 January 2013
World number four Justin Rose and world number nine Jason Dufner are among the highest-ranked players to confirm their participation for the January Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club. Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup captain José Maria Olazábal will also compete alongside Ryder Cup colleagues Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer and defending champion Paul Lawrie. Rose impressed on his last visit to the Middle...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Tuesday 8 January 2013
Rory McIlroy’s expected switch to Nike has moved a step closer with the announcement from the Jumeirah Group that it will not be renewing its sponsorship deal with the Northern Irishman. The world number one is believed to have earned around £4.4m from a five-year deal with the Dubai company. The news comes after Titleist and Oakley also ended relationships with the player late...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Monday 7 January 2013
2010 Open Champion Darren Clarke and 2009 Masters winner Angel Cabrera are among four major winners set to tee it up in a new golf league in India next month. The league, that could also feature Michael Campell, Rich Beem and David Howell, will be modelled on the format used in the country’s Twenty20 cricket league. It is the brainchild of Indian...
Written by Jake O'Reilly on Monday 7 January 2013
After Thursday, Friday and Saturday were battered by wind at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, play finally got underway on Sunday, only for it to be postponed again after only an hour. High winds were again the cause, this time measuring at 48mph. The plan now is to play 36 holes from split tees on Monday and 18 on Tuesday to ensure...
Written by TG staff writer on Thursday 3 January 2013
Former Ryder Cup Star and three time European Tour winner Peter Baker has been unveiled as the latest addition to the team at Champions of Golf, the full-service golf management agency run by brand agency Champions (UK) Plc. As one of the European Tour’s most respected and popular players, Baker will take on responsibility for providing support and care to all...