Golf News

Bernard Gallacher knows a fair amount about what it takes to captain a Ryder Cup squad, and his advice to an American contingent looking to end its drought is clear: ditch the task force and install Fred Couples as captain in 2016. Gallacher made the European squad eight times as a player, then served as captain three times, including a victory at Oak Hill in 1995. He told GolfMagic.com that the establishment of a Ryder Cup task force after the U.S. loss at Gleneagles amounts to an overreaction following narrow defeats in both 2010 and 2012. "Things will swing back America's way if they don't panic, but that's exactly what they appear to be doing with this new task force. It just looks like a publicity stunt to me," he said. "America lost the 2014 Ryder Cup because they lost the foursomes 7-1. I find it difficult to see how a task force is going to help with that." Gallacher also captained the Europeans in 1991 and 1993, both narrow victories for t...

A spectacular hole-in-one helped Lee Westwood surge into contention for the CIMB Classic at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club on Friday. Westwood needed a hybrid club on the 226-yard 11th hole, but saw his perfectly-struck tee shot land 10 feet from the pin and roll inexorably into the hole. "Well that was a pretty special day," he posted on Twitter. "It's not often you see them go in from 226 yds!" The 41-year-old, who won the Maybank Malaysian Open on the same course on the European Tour in April, had already picked up three birdies on the front nine and added more on the 16th and 18th to complete a flawless 65. That took the former world number one to seven under par and three shots behind halfway leader Billy Hurley, who recorded his second consecutive 67. Fellow American Kevin Streelman was two shots back after two rounds of 68, with Westwood sharing third place with playing partner and Ryder Cup team-mate Sergio Garcia, Korea's Noh Seung...

Sky Sports golf pundit Rob Lee says Ian Poulter does not have the most natural talent in the world but is an inspiration to young players everywhere... Ian Poulter has hit the headlines this week after being criticised by former PGA of America president Ted Bishop, but it has been a pretty quiet year for the Englishman in the main. Ian has not won a tournament, didn’t really have the Ryder Cup he wanted, and seems to have struggled to piece everything together â€" though it was about this time last year he went on a bit of a tear. Poulter performed extremely well in the European Tour’s Final Series in 2013, lifting himself up to second in the Race to Dubai behind Henrik Stenson, so perhaps autumn is his time and he will come out all guns blazing over the next few weeks. Whatever happens, though, Ian is a man to be admired, as he has maxed out and made the most of every ounce of ability he has got; he may not have the most natural talent in the world but...

France's Alexander Levy made the ideal start to his bid for a third European Tour title of the season - and second in China - in the BMW Masters on Thursday. Levy, who won the Volvo China Open in April and the rain-shortened Portugal Masters three weeks ago, carded a flawless opening 65 at a damp Lake Malaren to finish seven under par, one shot ahead of compatriot Romain Wattel, Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo. Starting from the 10th, Levy birdied his first four holes and picked up another shot at the par-three 17th to reach the turn in 31, before recording further birdies at the second and ninth. "I think this country likes me," joked the 24-year-old. "For me, this golf course is pretty much the same as the one where I won in Shenzhen. "I like this type of golf course with water and the target golf. I enjoy being in China and I'm going to try my best the next few days to do the same things I did in A...

Justin Rose admits he will have one eye on the world rankings in the weeks ahead as he looks to sign off another fine season in memorable style. The Englishman has wins on both the European and PGA Tours to his name in 2014 and also played a leading role in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory at Gleneagles, taking four and a half points from his five matches. He is now refocusing his efforts on the European Tour with the Race to Dubai’s lucrative ‘Final Series’ starting this week in China. The four-tournament swing gets underway with the BMW Masters in Shanghai and culminates at the end of next month with the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. Rose is slated to play in three of the four events and, while the world number six is unlikely to reel in runaway leader Rory McIlroy, he acknowledges the next few weeks present him with a great chance to push on to a highest-ever world ranking. “I’m not sure I can catch (leader) Rory (McIlroy) in The Race to Dubai,” stated t...

The tournament director of this week’s BMW Masters says he is 'disappointed' that world No 1 Rory McIlroy will not be in the field at Lake Malaren in China. The 25-year-old, who won two Majors this year, is taking time away from golf to prepare for his multi-million dollar legal case against his former management company in Ireland. Tournament director Marco Kaussler said: "We are very sorry that Rory McIlroy will not tee off at the BMW Masters for the first time since the tournament has been held. "We obviously understand the disappointment of the many golf fans in China but we respect his decision."              Also absent from Shanghai is world No 5 Henrik Stenson who withdraw on Tuesday after his wife Emma gave birth in Florida on Sunday. McIlroy made his announcement last week leaving Jamie Donaldson as the leading European player in the field. The Welshman is currently fourth in the Race to Dubai standings with only a slim chance...

Henrik Stenson has become the latest big name to withdraw from this week’s BMW Masters tournament at Lake Malaren in China. The $7 million European Tour event had already seen both Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia pull out in recent weeks. Stenson has now confirmed that he will not be making the trip to China either following the birth of his third child, daughter Alice, on Sunday. "No3 has arrived!!" Stenson posted on his Facebook page along with a picture of himself holding the family’s latest arrival. "Alice was born Sunday afternoon! Mommy did great! Lisa and Karl seems to be pretty happy with the new addition." The Swede’s withdrawal means that none of the top three players in the Race to Dubai standings will now be present this week in the first of four season-ending series events on the European Tour. McIlroy & Garcia also absent McIlroy revealed last week that he would be skipping both the BMW Masters and the subsequent WGC-HSBC Champio...