Golf News

As part of the BBC Christmas schedule announced today, R&A chief Peter Dawson is set to reprise the role of host of the hit game show Blankety Blank held for many years by his late brother Les. Speaking to reporters outside television centre whilst trying to stop a blue skittle falling out the side of his mouth Dawson said “I’m really happy to be taking over from Les, even if it is for just for a one off Christmas special. Our younger brother Matt, the ‘Question of Sport’ guy, has been really great at helping show me how to act like a complete fanny on TV.” New BBC director general Worzel Gummage who took over from the guy who knew Jimmy Saville was kiddie fiddling for years and said nothing about it said “We’ve been trying to get Peter to do this for ages.  He’s really well known for entertaining gentlemen in the private members bar at St Andrews with his impromptu gurning displays when all the pole dancing finishes around 2am.” Dawson agreed to do the Sp...

English prankster David Lynn, runner up at the US PGA Championship just a few short months ago, is this evening left facing the prospect of a future without golf thanks to a heretofore glossed over paragraph in yesterday’s R&A anchoring ban communiqué. The final part of the letter bans, from January 1st 2013, any player whose shoulders, tip to tip, exceed one metre in length.  Players with outrageously large shoulders resembling those of a cow, are deemed to have a decided advantage when putting, as opposed to normal human beings. R&A Chief Peter Dawson, who always looks like he’s lost control of something in his mouth, like a polo mint, said “The only player that this ban is going to affect is David Lynn and if you take into account the world’s entire population of golfers, that’s really nobody. Not calling Mr.Lynn nobody for a second.” Lynn was born with a disease called “Linebackers Syndrome” which manifests itself in the form of shoulders resembling...

Congrats to Miguel on his latest win.  Here’s what’s in the Jimenez bag heading into the 2013 season. Here’s another version! Technorati Tags: what's in the bag 2013 Miguel Angel Jimenez , witb , whats in the bag , witb 2013 Miguel Angel Jimenez , Ping Staff equipment , Ping Tour Truck , Dominic Griffiths , Marty Jertson , European Tour whats in the bag , Ping Anser Milled 1 putter , Jimenez Ping i20 driver

Just weeks after the Jimmy Saville fiddling controversy, the BBC are faced with another potentially embarrassing headache on the eve of the 2012 Sports Personality of the Year Awards. In a unique twist of fate this year, more than one UK citizen, including an Englishman actually won something during 2012, raising questions as to whether a real  voting system will be required to replace Irene in HR who normally counts the votes. “We’ve never really had to have more than Irene taking votes or counting texts for SPOTY on a ‘ready to go’ mobile because all our sports stars are usually rubbish”, BBC spokesman Des Lynam said today. “It’s normally pretty clear who should win, we just pick the least bad from a terrible lot.” Instead this year Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland, Mo Farah from Africa somewhere, Andy Murray from Scotland, Bradley Wiggins actually from England and the lad who won the long jump replace regular losers David Haye, Michael Owen, Tom Daley and David...

The text of The Ban. No Snoozing! THE R&A AND USGA ANNOUNCE PROPOSED RULES CHANGE TO PROHIBIT USE OF ANCHORED STROKES Rule Would Take Effect on January 1, 2016, Allowing for Transitional Period Belly-Length and Long Putters Would Remain as Conforming Clubs St Andrews, Scotland and Far Hills, N.J., USA (November 28, 2012) â€" The R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), golf’s governing bodies, today announced proposed changes to the Rules of Golf that would prohibit anchoring the club in making a stroke. The proposed Rule 14-1b, which follows an extensive review by The R&A and the USGA, would prohibit strokes made with the club or a hand gripping the club held directly against the player’s body, or with a forearm held against the body to establish an anchor point that indirectly anchors the club. The proposed new Rule would not alter current equipment rules and would allow the continued use of all conforming golf clubs, including belly-length and long put...

2012 World Challenge Betting Preview and Tips odds from paddypower Looking for a unique present this Christmas? Check out my GMac Tour Apparel . Bo Van Pelt 14/1 Tied for 10 th in his only appearance here in 2011 but enters this year on the back of some stellar late season form. Second to Watney at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia at the end of October and winner of the ISPS Handa Perth International after a great battle with Jason Dufner. A few weeks have passed but at 14/1 in a limited field of 18, this looks to be where the value lies, each way.   Jim Furyk 14/1 Jim’s lack of length won’t be an issue on the short (7052 yards) Sherwood Country Club. The course demands precision from the tee and pinpoint iron play which should suit Jim’s game perfectly. An ever present over the last five stagings, Furyk’s worst finish is 11 th in 2010, his best is winning in 2009, with a T6 in 2011, T5 in 2008 and 3 rd in 2007. Add to that three consecutive top-10’s at the McGladrey (...

For those of you who are new to this, every Christmas I team up with my clothing sponsor Kartel to bring you a few really cool items which would make unique Christmas presents. Last year we had Padraig Harrington Tour apparel, which made for Christmas presents in Ireland, the UK, Austria, Germany and the USA.  This year we have three Tour issue Graeme McDowell items from this, the first year of his GMac for Kartel range. These three items are genuine Tour issue complete with sponsors logos from Graeme’s clothing room at the Kartel HQ in Dublin. You will not find them anywhere else except on the man himself. Selling on a first come first served basis. Payment by paypal or by cash in Ireland, and I’ll post anywhere (within reason) for free using national post.  I along with Kartel guarantee the items as 100% genuine Tour issue and offer money back if not satisfied. To purchase please contact me on examinerspindoc@eircom.net . Please no tyre kickers, these are exclusive ite...

If you’re thinking of coming to Ireland for The Gathering in 2013 and are bringing your clubs take some personal advice from the Doc. I wan’t you to have a super golf vacation, not trudge down the same conveyor belt as all the other tourists. The Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort in North-West Donegal is seriously worth considering as a base for your golf holiday.  Why? 1. Rosapenna Golf Rosapenna have two top class courses, the Old Tom Morris Links and the Sandy Hills Links, another 9 hole course “Coastguard Nine”, a par 3 course and a top class practice facility.  Just last week they acquired two Jack Nicklaus links courses adjoining their own along the picturesque Sheephaven Bay to become the largest links golf destination in Europe. That’s a whopping 81 links golf holes without ever having to start your car. Here’s a link to my lay mans review of Sandy Hills when I visited last year. Apart from the Rosapenna courses you’re in a golfing mecca in the Nort...

It stinks, it stinks, it stinks to high Heaven. In the same breath as George O’Grady spoke about a “challenging economic climate”, he announced a near €19 million Final Series of four events in China, Turkey and Dubai.  Okay you cant blame the Tour for embracing the big money events, and you cant blame the new venues and sponsors for wanting to host events but George should call it for what it is, a selling out of mainland Europe.  The only part of the European Tour that seems to be guaranteed is their office in England. In case you missed the European Tour have announced changes to the format of the season for 2013. The Race To Dubai will now include a final series of four massive money events totalling almost €19 million to end the season. And for all the guys out in Catalunya battling to get their card; these events are only for the top 60. Are any of these big money events in Europe I hear you cry? Not a snowballs chance. Two are set for China (at the BMW Masters...

5. The Alex Noren 4-Iron Flip Flop 4. The Phil Mickelson Backwards Shot “It was a tricky green, I misread the break…” 3. The Mickelson over Dave Pelz Flop Shot Don't mind the name of the video, the Doc knows that's Dave Pelz about to get mashed. McCord would never risk losing his balls like that. He just does the talking! 2. The Jon McLean Guy With Sign Flop Not the McClane from Die Hard, but not far off!  Yippeeekiiiayyy. 1. The Miguel Angel Jimenez When A Flop Just Wont Cut It Shot And he took a piddle, and nobody noticed! Technorati Tags: Best golf flop shots ever video

Sick and Tired of living off the fame of being extras in the hit Police Academy films, handlebar moustachioed Peter O’Keefe and Mark Murphy are set for a tilt at European Tour Q School tomorrow. “If we make it we make it so there’s zero pressure” said O’Keefe, “We’re definitely not going to give up the lifestyle of luring lithe young men into the Blue Oyster for a waltz by night. How could we?” Speaking to reporters as he packed enough fudge into the bag for the week caddie Mark Murphy said “We’re doubly adaptable, golf hats by day, mock leather police hats and truncheons by night.” Commenting on the rigours of Q School O’Keefe said “If you think Tour school is a pain in the ass, you’ve obviously never popped in to the Blue Oyster!”  Best of luck boys!   Technorati Tags: European Tour Q School 2012 , Peter O'Keefe , Mark Murphy

Just days after assuming a new career as an analyst for Sky Sports Golf, Paul McGinley finds himself on the brink of dismissal by the broadcasting giant after breaking one of their golden rules. Nearing the end of the coverage from the second round at the DP World Championship, a slouched McGinley was seen on camera appearing to lean on the silver rail of the fake set.  An extremely large breasted woman wearing shades who spotted the incident, reported it immediately to the broadcasting complaints commission. It’s widely known in TV circles that Sky analysts receive weeks of intensive training in perfecting the art of glancing into the camera and standing upright without the aid of props or rails.  Slouching or touching the silver rail is strictly forbidden under Sky broadcasting Health and Safety rules since an incident three years ago which saw Howard Clark fall out of the set and injure his head.  Many say that, due to his injuries, Clark still isn’t as depress...

Scottish, sounds older than he actually is, singer Paolo Nutini is waking up this morning minus one high profile fan as Irish professional golfer David Higgins revealed he had deleted him from his ipod on the eve of one of the biggest tests of his career.  Higgins will now attempt to qualify for the European Tour through Q school starting tomorrow without the help of the dentally defective folk crooner. The skinny Scottish songster told reporters he was coping with the rejection, saying “I’ve got food in my belly and a licence for my telly, so everything is gonna be alright.” Higgins, who, according to wikipedia, turns 40 at the end of the month will then be certifiably medically too old to listen to Nutini and has thus sought out other musical genres in a bid to help him cope with the rigours of Tour School. “I’m going with ‘The Lumineers’ this week because I feel can keep me chilled,”  the Bernhard Langer dopple-ganger told a packed press conference at PGA...

Master clubmaker and first cousin of legendary sword maker Hattori Hanzo, Katsuhiro Miura appealed today for major golf companies to leave him alone and start making their own clubs. Miura has claimed he is constantly pestered by representatives from Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade and Nike who continually try to gain to access to his home in the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan.  “I caught the Titleist guy climbing up the drainpipe last night and two lads from Nike knocked over the bins the other morning and woke the kids.  One ran off with a half eaten sandwich and some rotten lettuce”. Totally refuting suggestions that he made the irons for all of the world’s top golfers whose club sponsors then stick their own labels on with sellotape, Miura said “That’s complete and utter bullshit. I didn’t make Snedekers.” “Do you honestly think I hand craft every players clubs, while the other 350 guys in our massive factory sit around and scratch their arses? You’ve been ...

While Graeme McDowell and Kristin Stape were on the helipad atop the Burj Al Arab in Dubai yesterday, Ian Poulter was gathering a crowd of his own as he staged an impromptu fashion show. Poults was unveiling the controversial new IJP 2013 collection with it’s patented new ‘ergonomic’ design.  The company claim the minimal IJP 2013 Masters Collection allows for zero restriction during the golf swing and has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with massive cost saving measures after depressing 2012 sales figures. “We had to think outside the box, no pun intended,” chief designer Ian Poulter told reporters. “When we started we were revolutionary, now everybody’s selling a pair of circus trousers.  We tried to copyright the tartan idea a few back, I cant really remember the full details but it turned out some Morris guy in Scotland had the patent since around 1900.” The new 2013 IJP collection should be available in all sex shops from January.   Technora...

Graeme McDowell finds himself in hot water this morning as he wakes up to the real possibility of having to spend a lifetime with girlfriend Kristin Stape after his attempts to break up with her gently were horribly misconstrued.  Instead of ending their relationship as planned in a quiet place atop the Burj Al Arab Hotel where nobody would be able to hear her crying,  GMac was shocked as Stape turned the tables, dropping to one knee ring in hand and proposed marriage as a marching band, friends and family streamed onto the rooftop. “What the hell could I do” a shocked McDowell said afterwards adding “This has gone completely arseways. How in the name of God do I get out of this one?”  Stape somehow misinterpreted McDowell’s recent strange behaviour including wanting to be left alone, going for pints with his mates and cryptic comments about their future; as signs that he was about to pop the question.  The former interior designer thought the fact that the...

DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP, DUBAI, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 22 Nov 2012 - 25 Nov 2012 With the great and the good of the European Tour headed once again for the Greg Norman’s Earth Course in Dubai for the end of season bash we preview just who might be heading home with the lions share of the €8 million bonanza on offer. Ian Poulter 14/1 The average winning score on the Earth Course over the three stagings of the event has been 18 under. With undulating bermuda greens well within the scope of the field, the real key here is Greens In Regulation. Enter Ian Poulter, third in the GIR stats over the season and with a game designed to feature here. Fourth in Lake Malaren a few weeks back and the winner at the WGC HSBC Champions in Shenzen all augur well for a tilt on a similar course this week. After tying ninth here in 2009, Poults battled Robert Karlsson all the way in 2010, just losing out in a playoff. Surely has big chances this week. Peter Hanson 20/1...