Golf News

I know. It’s uncanny! Scientists also say both have exactly the same sleep patterns.   Technorati Tags: Mark Roe funny pic

This just in from the Acushnet company aka Titleist who have announced they will not extend their relationship after this year. "Our goal has been to provide Rory with the best equipment and service that would help him be the best player he could possibly be," Acushnet chief executive Wally Uihlein said. "He has been a great ambassador for the Titleist and FootJoy brands, and in turn, we are proud of how our equipment has contributed to his success. We wish Rory all the best, both personally and professionally, going forward." "I will always appreciate the contribution Titleist has made in helping me become the player I am today," McIlroy said. The world number is now free to take up a reported deal to become a Nike Golf ambassador worth $250million (£156m) over the next ten years. Related: What’s in the Nike Bag Rory McIlroy 2013 Technorati Tags: Rory McIlroy Nike Apparel 2013 pictures

In a last ditch attempt to save Rory McIlroy from a big money move to Nike,  Oakley have sacked their clinically depressed top designer responsible for all his outfits for the past two seasons.  The media became aware something was amiss when McIlroy showed up for a match with Tiger Woods yesterday  in a sweater that didn’t suck. "We’ve basically got rid of the guy who dressed Rory like a cross between a Polo player and a chef with a sprinkling of leprechaun for the past two years” said a senior Oakley official, holding back tears as he spoke. “We’re Goddamn sunglasses makers for Christ’s sake, how were we to know that our designers 10 years previous employment experience with Oxfam was a bad thing?” Oakley have two months left on McIlroy’s back to prove all their polo shirts do not look like the Peru football strip and that all their trousers don’t resemble grannies tea towel. Even Tiger Woods was complimentary of McIlroy’s new look as he was overh...

Very interesting if “blink and you will miss it” moment during the Tiger Woods versus Rory McIlroy match in China today. While many say Rory is bound to move to Nike when his Titleist contract expires at the end of the season, others are not convinced. Today however Tiger and Rory were fitted with microphones and they talked equipment. After hitting off the fourth, McIlroy took Tiger’s Nike iron and had a couple of practice swings with it. Tiger also told Rory about the Nike golf ball and the technical aspects of the spin rates. Interesting!   Technorati Tags: Rory McIlory , what's in the bag , Nike

Luke Donald 12/1 Did we see Luke flexing those putting muscles again in Shanghai last week? I think we did. It’s hard to fathom how Donald keeps up with the power hitters of the modern game, then you look at his form; third at the Tour Championship, third again last week. Topping scrambling and putting stats you just know he’ll be in contention every step of the way this week. A best of tied third here in 2010. Louis Oosthuizen 23/1 Although Louis couldn’t match the firepower of Hanson and McIlroy in Shanghai last week his tied sixth cameo was enough to make me sit up and take notice. A renowned late season performer Oosthuizen played well here last year, especially on the Friday when a 63 catapulted him into contention. In the end he tied for seventh. It’s all about the flat stick here at Sheshan and I give Louis a great chance. Adam Scott 22/1 You won’t find Adam Scott’s name in the top 10 from last year but the facts are that for three days last year he played all t...

Well done Shane Lowry on winning the 2012 Portugal Masters.  Here’s his reaction when the victory was confirmed!   Technorati Tags: 2012 Portugal Masters , Shane Lowry Video

Love this mock up of the mock up that is Gangnam. In case you missed the original   Technorati Tags: Jesper Parnevik Gangnam Style Video

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Here are four videos that I think encapsulate day one. Tiger Gives Europe Hope Off The First Rory Does What Rory Does Best Bradley The Rookie Shows Emotion Mickelson Grinding

Never say that I don’t bring you the best stuff first.  Here’s the first exclusive picture of Rory McIlroy in his Nike apparel.  I guess it’s official!   Technorati Tags: Rory McIlroy Nike Apparel 2013 pictures

Graeme McDowell has waded in the debate over whether he and Rory McIlroy should represent Team GB or Ireland at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. In Shanghai yesterday McDowell says he and McIlroy "have one foot on each team" and said the IOC should step in and say "you guys are either playing for Ireland or you're playing for Great Britain." Technorati Tags: GMac , Rory McIlroy , 2016 Olympics Rory McIlroy

1 . Rory’s contract with Titleist is up at the end of the year.  Titleist have good ‘ole fashioned values and have a pay cap for their stars. Nike dont. 2. Nike are a company spanning multiple sports, apart from Wilson, the only major player in golf to do so.  They have experience in negotiating big money deals and making them work. This one would be worth $250 million over 10 years to McIlroy. 3. Nike have been shamed and embarrassed by Lance Armstrong not to mention being hit financially.  They will be looking to turn this into a positive news story with a young, clean living, wholesome superstar like Rory McIlory. 4. Rory’s manager Conor Ridge has already completed a carbon copy deal between Titleist and Nike with one of his other stars Ross Fisher.  This should make negotiations easier.

After months of bitter opposition to the placing of controversial wind turbines one mile from the site of his Trump International Golf Links, Donald Trump, on a visit to Scotland, has done a dramatic U-Turn and is now giving them his blessing. Apparently clever people in Scotland came with a new design that Trump immediately took too. Each blade now features a 40 foot portrait of The Apprentice star. It’s thought the hot air created in each head will greatly boost the energy output. Donald said today “I love wind turbines, especially these ones.  They are really super to look at. And hey who needs seagulls anyway? All they do is crap on people. And all that stuff about them being noisy, I just made that up.  Everybody knows you cant hear anything other than the sound of rain beating against your face when golfing in Scotland.  As for the new turbines, I’ve commissioned one hundred of these beauties. More as it emerges. Technorati Tags: donald trump funny Pic ...

also check out my BMW Masters tips here   Bo Van Pelt at 8/1 is the defending champion this week after annihilating the field last year by six shots.  Three tap in birdies midway through the back nine separated Bo from the pack.  This time around he’ll have Tiger Woods 3/1 to contend with but with a victory last week on the European Tour in Australia (don’t laugh) he’s bang in form to defend his title. Jason Dufner at 8/1 marked Van Pelt all the way last week and tied 10th here last year. If he’s not smiling he’s happy, like Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street. Jeff Overton 25/1 slipped up a little last time out at the McGladrey Classic (51st) after two strong late season top 10’s led us to believe better things were in store.  Overton played in the final group here last year and remains one to watch. Greg Chalmers 40/1 could not get anything going last week in Perth and still managed 10th place.  Twice a Fall winner last season and showed good...

With speculation rife that Rory McIlroy will switch to Nike equipment at the end of the 2012 season, the next question is what range of Nike equipment will he use?  Has Nike developed a new range; “the victory green” perhaps? The spies thought they had a pic of a new 2013 Nike Prototype blade (shown) until Nike confirmed it was a hoax.  The picture is just a pre chromed model of their original blade. Nike remain tight lipped as what if any will be new for 2013.  With Rory on a six event schedule until Christmas during which he will play out his Titleist contract, that leaves just the early weeks of January, should he sign for Nike, to get him fitted and bedded into Nike equipment. The big unveil of Nike equipment traditionally comes at the PGA Show in Orlando in late January.  That is their deadline.  Having been outshone for two years in a row at the event by TaylorMade (with their R11 series), Nike will be going all guns blazing to herald the signing o...

An excerpt from Darren Clarke’s autobiography appears on today’s Telegraph . It’s a good read detailing big D’s struggles with his temper, how he took a personality test and his penchant for flittering away money. Here’s a tiny bit. As Butch Harmon once said to me, ‘You don’t see any hearses pulling a safe’. Well, you’re definitely not going to see mine pulling one. Sometimes I’m generous to the point of stupidity, but I get great enjoyment from it. I’ve always done it and for nobody more than my family. I like to share a bit of happiness and that’s why I employ all my family. One thing that has been a constant throughout my career and for most of my life is that when it comes to shopping and spending, I have few rivals. My excesses often have to be seen to be believed. If I said I once bought 60 pairs of Calvin Klein underpants, would you believe me? Didn’t think so, but I did. Or 40 pairs of trousers on the same day from the same shop? Yes, I did. Or thirt...

Following the showing of the controversial "You've Been Trumped" film BBC2 last Sunday night,  which documents Donald Trump’s war with the locals when developing his Trump International Golf Links in Scotland, the Trump organization have been quick to bring in the legal team with their arms waving frantically while the journalists had a field day. I have to say I’m quite enjoying all the banter!  I wonder is the course this good? Sarah Malone, the executive vice-president of Trump International Golf Links, also hit out with a few jabs including a thinly veiled reference to the beeb turning a blind eye to Jimmy Saville’s sex crimes "It just goes to show that recent criticism of the BBC's lack of sound editorial judgement to be correct. It is not a documentary - it is a piece of propaganda that is wildly inaccurate, defamatory and deliberately misleading." However the best blow came from a journalist called Sam Wollaston's in The Guardian newspaper ...

What a round of 60 by Tommy Two Gloves Gainey to cruise 29 places up the leaderboard and take the McGladrey Classic.  Here are his highlights: Technorati Tags: 2012 McGladrey Classic , Tommy two gloves gainey , 60 , Highlights

My good friend Tom Kennedy from Mount Juliet in Kilkenny, Ireland was just on to tell me about some October Bank Holiday weekend offers at the two time WGC host course. Fantastic offers over the October Bank Holiday Weekend at Mount Juliet - Friday 26 th October, Winter Series 4-person Team Event. €60 per person to include a Burger on the 10 th Tee   (Book online: http://www.mountjuliet.ie/OctSeries )   - Saturday 27 th & Sunday 27 th October, €60 per person for groups of 16 or more golfers. Please call Tom Kennedy on 056-7773012 to book or email golfreservations@mountjuliet.ie   Technorati Tags: Mount Juliet Offers

2012 BMW Masters Betting Tips Lake Malaren Golf Club,Shanghai,China Branden Grace 28/1 There’s just no way you can overlook a four time winner on Tour in 2012 who just happens to be South African coming into the meat of their season. Winner of the Joburg Open, the Volvo Golf Champions, the Volvo China Open and last time out in Scotland, the season has been spectacular for Branden. I hold my hands up and say I didn’t cop the fact that Branden won on the Sunshine Tour the week before the Dunhill Links and missed a trick there. I won’t be doing that again! 28/1 is generous this week for a recent Tour winner who has also done it in China. Richie Ramsay 50/1 A good late season performer, I think the odds of 50/1 on Richie Ramsay this week are very generous. After playing well at the Johnnie Walker (6 th ), Richie bagged his second Tour win in Switzerland and nearly did it again a week later at the KLM Open where he finished second. This time last season the Scot bagged three top...