Focus and vision

NO, not that sort of focus and vision. Not the sort which is espoused by the sports psychologists which line the practice grounds of every European Tour practice ground. I'm talking about actual eyesight.
I have long pondered undergoing laser eye surgery and for one reason or another - OK, mainly financial ones! - I have never taken the plunge.
It moved to the top of my agenda on the first day of the 137th Open Championship. To be exact, while I was standing at the side of the 5th fairway watching the world's finest players in action.
The problem was, I could barely see them strike the ball, so riddled with rain were my glasses. It was infuriating and at that point I vowed to at least investigate the laser surgery scenarios.
I chose Optical Express, a colleague having successful had his vision corrected a year ago and recommended them highly.
The initial consultation was excellent. Well explained and thorough (not that I'm an optometrist, but it certainly seemed comprehensive!), it gave me all the tools I needed to make my decision.
That decision was fairly easy to be honest. I went in there with a real urge to have the surgery and nothing changed my mind. Quite the opposite in fact.
I was suitable for surgery and with a fairly low prescription, i.e. my eyesight really isn't that bad, it should be a straightforward procedure.
It is set to take place on Saturday. I can't wait. It's just going to make life so much easier, well, in terms of vision anyway. Over the years I have become very skilled at putting my contact lenses in prior to playing golf, football or cricket.
As one colleague said to me yesterday, I was like the Ferrari Formula One team changing a tyre compared to him, who is more like Kwit-Fit on a busy day.
Nevertheless, it's still annoying. I wish I had a pound for every time I have hurriedly put my contacts in using the mirror of my car while the rest of the fourball strolled off to the putting green.
I'm also absolutely convinced i will be able to read greens better. Or is that just wishful thinking from a poor putter?
Anyway, I'll return on the blog next week with the final results. And before you ask, yes, I am paying for the procedure. This is not a journalist's freebie. I am simply expecting it to be worth every penny and make miserable days like the one I had at Birkdale earlier this month a thing of the past forever.
• If this blog has interested you in laser eye surgery visit www.opticalexpress.com for some of the more technical details and prices.
By Chris Bertram

Why there's life after Annika

IN a week's time the leading lady golfers on the planet will converge on Sunningdale for the Women's British Open.
It will be the last Major in which Annika Sorenstam appears as the Swedish legend is retiring at the end of this season.
It is a significant blow to the ladies' game. Look at the fuss being made of Tiger Woods missing our Open Championship and the US PGA a month later. Imagine him being gone from the game forever?
Pretty scary stuff. No matter what we might like to think, Birkdale last week did miss a Tiger stalking the fairways (producing miracle recoveries out of the deep rough).
The ladies' game is however well equipped to deal with Annika's absence. There are many, many good candidates to fill the void.
For a start, she isn't even the best player in the world anymore. That honour belongs to Lorena Ochoa, who looks capable of dominating the game in a similar manner to that of Annika in the last 10 years.
But she will have plenty of challengers. Norway's Suzann Pettersen is a classy, consistent performer these days, Paula Creamer is showing her very best form again and Morgan Pressel definitely has more than one Major in her.
Then there is the Asian contingent. They have stars of past, present and future making their way at home and on the LPGA Tour. Expect the conveyor belt of talent to continue.
Stacy Lewis of America and Maria Uribe from Colombia are two stars of the amateur game set to take the paid ranks by storm.
Do Britain have anyone with a hope of making an impression on these stars? Yes, actually.
Melissa Reid and Kiran Matharu are the two most exciting talents to emerge since Laura Davies and Ali Nicholas. They are progressing in Europe with one eye on America.
And don't rule out Rebecca Hudson from making a slightly late charge to the top of the ladies' game. After a stellar amateur career she struggled initially on tour but is now excelling.
The future is bright all round, even without the departing Annika.
By Chris Bertram

Why bother with the Olympics?

SO golf's big hitters want golf to be introduced to the Olympics in 2016. My first reaction is: why?
Golf is not a sport short of high-profile events. We have four Majors every year, we have even more World Golf Championships every year and we have team events of different guises every year.
Do we really need golf in the Olympics? I don't think so. Would the top, top players support it? I'm not so sure.
Would, for example, Tiger schedule his year to take in the Olympic Games? No-one could say for sure but unless the unique aspect really appealed to him I can't see him pitching up.
Nevertheless the major governing bodies have united to set up a committee which will push for the sport to be included in the 2016 games.
The International Golf Federation changed its structure following golf's failure to be included in London 2012.
Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal and Ancient, has said golf now "spoke with one voice."
He added: "There's much to be done, but we're putting together the right organisation to get the job done."
The IGF's Olympic committee is to be headed by PGA Tour official Ty Votaw and represents the R&A, the USGA, LPGA, PGA Tour, European Tour, Augusta National and the PGA of America.
Two from seven sports - golf, baseball, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens, softball and squash - will be added to the Games in eight years' time.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will make a decision next October, when they will also decide on whether Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo or Rio de Janeiro will host the event.
Justin Rose is one who claims he would welcome the opportunity to compete in the Olympics.
"I'd love to be a part of it," said Rose, who will be 36 in 2016.
"The Olympics is all about competing at the highest level, world records and things like that. That's what the Olympics means to me. Golf at the Olympics would be fantastic."
By Chris Bertram

Sandy's mad moment

I CAN'T help feeling that an hour after he walked off the course, sandy Lyle will have started regretting his decision to turn his back on the Open Championship 2008.
After a hot shower and a stiff drink, I'm convinced the former Open champion will have looked out of the window at his fellow competitors battling the conditions and wished he had still been out there trying to do the same.
And I think that's what he should have done. I have always been a fan of Sandy's but walking out of the Open Championship, one of the biggest events a golfer can be involved in, is in my opinion wrong.
Most are never lucky enough to have the opportunity to play in The Open. Sandy, being a past champion is invited to play each year. Fine - but please treat the invitation with more respect.
The conditions on the opening day were miserable but that IS the Open Championship after all. When the going got tough Sandy opted for the locker room.
He'll be back next year and I'm sure he'll want to make amends. In some people's eyes that will take a lot of doing.
Indeed, it might just be the end of his already shaky candidacy for the Ryder Cup captaincy. I hope not - but it was still a mad moment from a very likeable and popular golfer.
By Luke Kelly

Excitement at my Open debut

THIS week promises much. Firstly, my beloved Huddersfield Town are rumoured to be close to luring our former star striker Jon Stead back to the club. Enough of League One matters though!
Secondly, and more importantly, I will be making a long-awaited Open Championship debut at Royal Birkdale on Friday – and I simply cannot wait.
I have been part of the dedicated and hardworking team (!) at NCG Towers for almost three years and have heard many stories from colleagues recollecting their own experiences from previous tournaments whether it be the Muirfield storm in 2002 or Jean Van de Velde throwing away the claret jug at Carnoustie.
Now I get a piece of the action for myself and the memory of attending one of the greatest sporting events on earth.
Growing up football and cricket were my forte. Golf didn't even come into the equation. It was boring - just like horse racing. Now however I love the game even though I am still trying to reach a standard of play which I am happy with (this is because I don't have enough time to practise as I'm always far too busy in the office selling advertising in the magazines).
I'm being totally honest I'm not exactly sure why golf has grown on me so much. I don't remember having any specific memories of watching anything too exciting on TV but these days I completely adore the sport.
Maybe I am just in awe of how the likes of Tiger and Mickelson make probably the toughest sport in the world look so easy?
Now I'm not going to go on and on about this, simply because we've heard so much about it, but I feel it's definitely going to be strange not having Tiger around in Birkdale. He has such an aura about him and creates so much excitement wherever he is.
Personally I would have loved to have felt that but it seems like I'll just have to settle for that from my own idol, none other than Johan Edfors!
Edfors has been my nickname in the office for some time now and fits quite well as we're both slightly random characters.
It all started a couple of years ago when I predicted he'd win the Scottish Open. He did, of course, go on to win so typically the name has stuck.
Ever since then I've taken quite a close interest in any tournament he's taken part in, hoping that one day he'll make me proud
and silence the hecklers. Give Edfors all your support whether you're at Birkdale or watching from your sofa.
I will be - in person! I'm counting down the hours...
By Luke Kelly

10 hopes for The Open

1) We don’t have too much Tiger talk. It’s a shame he’s not fit but let’s not remind ourselves of the fact every 10 minutes
2) We don’t get too disappointed with Justin Rose when he doesn’t improve (as he almost certainly won’t) on his Birkdale heroics in 1998
3) The weather is kind – it’s so much better spectating at the course and on TV with the sun on everyone’s back - and not unfair as it was for half the field in 2002
4) Ian Poulter minds his language
5) Colin Montgomerie minds his manners
6) Sergio Garcia puts himself in with a chance of exorcising his Carnoustie demons - and don’t forget his crumble 12 months before at Hoylake – going into Sunday (and not just because I’ve backed him)
7) Any Ryder Cup issues don’t interfere with The Open (it’s very possible with captain Faldo in town). That’s for another day – let’s concentrate on the biggest championship of the year for now
8) Peter Alliss keeps well and is thus able to save the BBC’s coverage
9) A genuine British challenge come Sunday afternoon
10) We are treated to even 50 per cent of the drama of Carnoustie last year

By Chris Bertram

Great expectations

WHILE watching the coverage of the last round of the Barclays Scottish Open I started wondering which of the players I would like to be – or rather in which category of player I would like to be in.
Would I prefer to be a big name like Ernie Els or Lee Westwood who are expected to challenge by fans, sponsors, tour officials – and themselves.
Or maybe it would be better to be a Ross Fisher or a Graeme McDowell, who are in the next tier – multiple tour winners seeking to take the next step up the ladder.
They have less expectation on them, but then they dearly, dearly want to be in that upper tier and so the pressure they put on themselves might be just as heavy in its own way.
Or how about being in Simon Khan’s group? Everyone looking at him was expecting only one thing from the Essex man – to collapse when the going got difficult.
Does he therefore have to battle an inferiority complex throughout his round and buckle under the desperation to prove he is better than the perception of being an also-ran?
As the players reached the turn I had no idea. What it showed is that there is pressure on every single player who is in contention for a tournament.
So, while we many not think there was any pressure on Rocco Mediate as he battled Tiger in the US Open play-off, I believe that is inaccurate.
Mediate might not even have expected to win himself, never mind anyone else giving him a chance, but consider this – he will have known in his heart that it was almost certainly going to be the best chance he’ll ever have in a Major.
Yes, he had to beat the best player ever to play the game. But it was just one man, over 18 holes. Costantino Rocca proved in the 1997 Ryder Cup and Shaun Micheel did likewise at the 2006 matchplay at Wentworth that it can be done. Others in the WGC Match Play have too.
Mediate DID have pressure on him.
Similarly, everyone expected Tiger to win – most notably himself - and that brings its own pressure.
How annoyed would he have been to miss out on getting one closer to Jack’s record of 18 Majors by failing to beat a PGA Tour journeyman over 18 holes on a course he loves (even if he was on one leg)?
We all have another chance to test these theories this week at Royal Birkdale. It’s almost guaranteed the final-day leaderboard will contain at least one player from each of the categories above. I wonder who will prevail?
By Chris Bertram

Why sand is under-rated

WE spend a lot of time dissecting whether the greens we are playing on are any good. Fairways also come in for some critical attention too at times. Tee boxes aren’t immune from comment.
Not enough focus is put on sand in my opinion though.
That thought occurred to me as I played at my favourite Bank Holiday retreat, Colvend in South West Scotland, over the weekend.
On finding a trap and jumping into the bunker I actually relished splashing out in the expectation I might well get the ball to within six feet of the flag.
The reason was simply that the sand in the bunker was gloriously white, fluffy and fine. Anyone lacking confidence out of sand should seek Colvend out because a few shots out of its bunkers will sort them out.
Of course, Colvend is fortunate. One of the nicest beaches in Scotland – Sandy Hills – is just five minutes drive away.
One can’t help but imagine club officials loading up trailer full after trailer full at Sandy Hills and dispersing in its bunkers.
However it got there, everyone playing Colvend should be grateful. Its bunkers put to shame some very, very prestigious names I’ve played at this year.
By Chris Bertram

Wanted: European union

THE BMW PGA Championship again provided excellent Bank Holiday Weekend viewing and it was good to see so many of Europe’s leading players enter the continent’s flagship event.

Then again, it’s not exactly a hardship to play at Wentworth, be treated like a king and be rewarded handsomely merely for playing all four days. The previous week Adare Manor hosted the Irish Open – this year without a sponsor, which added a bit of class to the event.

Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood played but plenty of their Ryder Cup colleagues remained in America? I thought to myself, why?

The PGA Tour still has bigger purses than in Europe but it’s not as if the Garcias and Caseys of the world are short of cash. Are the courses in America better preparation for competing in the Majors and WGCs? Possibly, but Angel Cabrera and Padraig Harrington – European Tour stalwarts – seem to have managed along OK.

The weather? Granted, America usually wins hands down here. But is that really the reason they’d rather merely dip in and out of the European schedule rather than commit to it. Or is that the easy money is in America and that once in the system it’s difficult to opt out of the cosy PGA environment?

Justin Rose hinted that he was ready to play more in Europe in the future and I hope he sticks to that suggestion. I firmly believe if we got our best players on our tour week in week out, the likes of Ernie, Retief and Vijay would follow suit because sponsors would be desperate for a slice of the action – and that means big prize funds.

That then opens up the intriguing prospect of Tiger throwing his hat into the European ring. Perhaps unlikely, but he has a Swedish wife and she might well like to bring their daughter up for at least part of Sam Alexis’ tender years in her home country.

It needs our own players to support their tour first though. Over to you boys.

By Chris Bertram

Smashed putter solutions!

HAVE you ever watched professional golfers in awe, admiring their skills and emulating their swings?

Well, I have. And when watching the Italian Open last week, I was pleasantly surprised and extremely envious of England's very own Oliver Wilson, who was forced to putt with his wedge in the second round.

The Mansfield-born 27-year-old looked good going into Friday and at six-under looked set for the cut.

But unfortunately for him, after missing another short putt just before the turn, he rifled the club straight at his bag and stormed onto the 10th tee. Little did he know that, in his fit of rage, he had bent the shaft of his putter.

To conform with R&A rules, he was no longer allowed to use the club and so was forced to choose another of the remaining 13 when on the greens for the remainder of his round.
In a nutshell, the rules state that if a club has been damaged directly by a player¹s actions, that club is deemed to have been unlawfully altered to improve that player¹s game.
As a result, the club cannot be used again. In accordance with the rules, Wilson improvised and chose to wield his wedge instead of the flat stick and 'blade' ­ in other words, strike the ball on its centre so it rolls smoothly along the ground.
Amazingly, he bagged three birdies on the back nine to make the cut.What is more, reunited and ended up finishing second after a fantastic final round 64.
How is that possible? Seriously.

I don't know if any of you at home have ever tried 'skulling' the ball with the wedge to roll it along the ground, but it is a lot harder than it seems, especially from over 10 feet.
"I could have easily let that get to me and blow myself out of the tournament," the former Walker Cup star said. "But luckily, I didn't, and I'm proud of myself," said the Mansfield golfer ­ and so he should be.

To get three birdies in nine holes with a wedge instead of a putter is remarkable, even more so when you consider the factors Wilson had stacked against him:

-When 'putting' with a wedge, the ball MUST be hit out of the very centre, millimetres either side would cause the ball to wander off line and consequently miss the hole

-The sharp leading edge makes it much harder to judge distance correctly than a putter face. In fact, it makes any putt of any distance almost impossible to judge correctly ­ well, impossible for a normal golfer

- Catch the ball underneath its centre and you impart backspin. Putting gurus claim that topspin gets the ball running straight and true, and backspin is certainly not desirable when trying to hole out

- The margin for error is very small. We amateurs have a hard enough time as it is with a fully-fledged putter face ­ let alone a wedge

Wilson's performance got us at NCG wondering, is there any other club in a golfer¹s arsenal that would have been better suited to the task. Who knows ­ it might even allowed the Englishman to hole a few more 'putts' and possibly grab his elusive first tour victory.
We decided to test a few alternatives.

Club: four ironWhat we thought: The first office suggestion was the 'butter-knife' long-iron, and after a quick test the results were similar to a wedge. The ball reacted exactly like it's lofted brethren and rolled with a hint of backspin towards the hole, but any loss of accuracy would have killed it.Verdict: 2/5

Club: 8 ironWhat we thought: The next option was to test a mid iron, but the results were even worse. More loft resulted in more spin and ultimately much less accuracy and feel. The eight iron is not the club to use.Verdict: 1/5

Club: HybridWhat we thought: There has always been plenty of hype surrounding the hybrid and it's ability greenside, so we thought that it could be the perfect option when without the putter. And we were right, the ball rolled straight and true and the two-iron loft kept spin to a minimum, without a doubt, this is the club to use.Verdict: 5/5

Club: 3 WoodWhat we thought: After the irons didn't work out, a suggestion was made to delve into the world of woods, and we were pleasantly surprised. Much is made of the ability of the fairway wood to brush through grass for greenside chips, but the flat sole and larger head made it much easier to putt with when we choked down on the grip. The result was straight putts with decent accuracy. For us, definitely the best option if you're without a hybrid.Verdict: 4/5

Club: DriverWhat we thought: The next club in line was the big dog, and although it has a massive head and little loft which meant good accuracy, the titanium face had no feel whatsoever, and resulted in putts firing pastthe hole or coming up way short.Verdict: 2/5
So there it is, we found the hybrid reigned supreme and that if you ever find yourself in this position, you should opt for the hybrid ­ it outperformed the others options on test in all areas.
By Joe Whitley

Early bird or late late show?

Opinion is often split in this particular debate - when is the best time to play golf? Tee off early and you get the best of the greens, the rest of the day to yourself. Play late and you might be struggling to get round before nightfall and held up by other like-minded nine to fivers. Give me the latter any day of the week.

A friend last week made all manner of excuses why he couldn't make a post-work tee-time before finally admitting that he feels 'very anxious' when playing golf any time after three o'clock and that he struggles to relax throughout the day.

Each to his own and all that but I am firmly in the other camp. Any tee-time before 9am normally follows a similar pattern for me. Stiff and awkward for the first couple, too hungry to concentrate by halfway and, by the time we are back on track, the final putts are being taken.

Play late and you've got the whole day to dream and argue over shots. Much of the day is spent clock-watching but plenty of that can be spent wisely kidding yourself that tonight will be different. Torrential rain and three hours of light were two small drawbacks as we set off at Leeds Golf Club last night at quarter to six.

Time might have been tight but this is another plus, in my book anyway, as there isn't time to spend 10 minutes in the undergrowth or double-checking yardages and lines of putts. For those of you unaware of Leeds GC, or Cobble Hall as it is affectionately known, it is the oldest club in the city. Dr Alistair Mackenzie, architect of the Old Course, Augusta, Troon and Prestwick to name but a few, was one the club's former members at the turn of the 20th century and, during that time, gave advice on the layout and bunkering so it is no surprise that the course is a cracker.

A mature, parkland track it is beautifully maintained with generous greens and some stunning views of north Leeds. It is also, thankfully, not overly long so a threeball can just about scrape round in approximately three hours even if the last was played out in near darkness.

There are two other benefits of a late start. Most of us tend to play a bit better than normal by not over complicating matters and, better still, you can then head straight to the bar with a clear conscience. If you still think clubhouses are stuffy and pretentious try Cobble Hall if you're in the Leeds area and be ready to be surprised.

By Mark Townsend

Can a tee REALLY cure your slice?

THE answer is 'no', of course. An out-to-in slash across the ball will produce a slice no matter what your ball is teed up on.

Incredibly, there was a device - nothing more than a tee with a fuzzy top to it really - a few years ago which claimed it could straighten out your banana shots. We all know, though, that only a better swing can do that. There isn't really an easy answer, although drivers with off-set faces can give some assistance.

No, the only solution is lessons from your local PGA pro and subsequently plenty of work on the range.

This is where tees CAN help. Maybe not to devastating effect but, as they say, every little helps.

I was at Wentworth this week with the team who run Power Tee and a very nice day it was too. It's difficult not to have a good day there, if truth be told, but nevertheless mixing with genuine, enthusiastic and sensible people in the golf industry is rather more rare than you might think.

It was instructive as well as enjoyable. We warmed up using Power Tees, which for the uninitiated is an automatic teeing system which is used on driving ranges.

You hit your ball off a tee (which can be adjusted to four different heights) and then within seconds a new one is teed up at exactly the same height.

You never have to touch the ball, you never have to bend over to tee it up and indeed you never have to take your hands off the grip. You swing, you hit the ball, you watch the flight, you wonder what you had done correctly (or not) and then you prepare to hit another.

It is less tiring than teeing it up yourself and enhances muscle memory. So you can stand there for hours doing nothing but repeating the swing your pro has encouraged you to adopt. We all know that is how how cure a slice...

Power Tees are being installed at driving ranges up and down the country every day. it's one of those things that you can't help but feeling will become part of the golfing furniture in months and years to come.

If you want to try the system out for yourself, visit www.powertee.co.uk to find your nearest range.

By Chris Bertram

The great handicap debate

Nobody can play to their handicaps. Or at least not unless they are playing at their home course. Otherwise, short of holing out a couple of times with a five iron, it's scores of between 28 and 34 points all round.

And that's before we even start thinking about strokeplay formats.This, to me, indicates that the handicap system is unduly flattering. I don't really think the point of handicaps is to make us all think we're better than we are. Rather, they should tell it like it is.

But take the case of your average 24 handicapper. He struggles to amass 30 points all year round until it comes to the August Stableford when the sun is out, the greens are true and the fairways running.He makes a couple of birdies and a bunch of pars, for once avoiding is usual disaster holes, and runs up 46 points.

For this he gets pulled three shots.The rest of the year is spent earning 0.1s back until he eventually peaks at 24. The next month it's someone else's turn. And the one after that somebody else's still.The result? Grunts and whispers about bandits.But these people ignore the rest of the field on any given day, who are getting their customary 31 points.

So what would I do about it? Well, I'd like to see a system where a group of travelling club players could go to another course and atleast a third of them would get, say, 35 points or more.

I don't see a handicap as indicating your best-possible round, more your average one. I'm convinced this would be fairer when it came to matchplay as well.But who would go for a system which would involve almost everyone's handicap rising by at least a couple of shots?

It would be like turkeys voting for Christmas for all those ego-filled golfers no longer able to claim their Tiger or single-figure status.

So what, I say. Let's do it. And let everyone play off a handicap they have a chance of matching on more or less any given day of the year.

By Dan Murphy, editor

Handicaps - the ultimate test of vanity?

IN the offices of NCG we have our very own handicap board. It is, as you might imagine, the source of much amusement, controversy and interest.

It is regulated by Editor Dan Murphy and, it has to be said amid all the complaints, he is as honest as he is a fine judge of ability (although to be cut five strokes in one fell swoop is surely harsh?).

The handicap committee sat over the weekend after plenty of action on the course in various parts of the country produced some surprising scoring.

Feature writer Mark Townsend, usually off around 10 depending on the smoothness of his putting stroke, breezed his way around two lengthy courses in little more than three over. he then popped down to the 2010 course at Celtic Manor and hit the ball so far he had caused the design team to rethink some of the holes (that statement is, remarkably, not entirely without truth).

Others played moderately while the previous Thursday's regular match at Howley Hall had required the tweaking of a couple of more employees.

Thus, the composition of new handicap board was eagerly anticipated. It got me thinking, why?

Is it because people are desperate to get a few more strokes and help to victory the next time we play at Howley? or do they want to see their handicap fall in recognition (granted, merely in the mind of Dan, the strongest player - off two) that they are improving?

Do some people want to be recognised as the best, or second best player? Do others dread being recognised as the worst?

I concluded that I could make no firm or accurate conclusions. The best I could do was think that everyone was different (hardly an earth-shattering revelation) and that different people had different motivations.

Fascinating stuff though. There is little in golf that isn't, I find.

By Chris Bertram

Fancy an Augusta punt?

The next couple days promise to be some of the most challenging on the 2008 golfing calendar. We're not taking here about swiring winds, chilly breezes or lightning greens rather a needless necessity to go berserk with the bookmakers.

Every year, as Augusta rolls round, I kid myself that there is no need to add to my enjoyment of the Georgia spectacle with a string of outsiders. Best to just sit back, put my feet up and spend four nights in front of the box cheering on a European win. For the 19th successive year I have come up short.

Rather than getting behind our heroes from the K Club I will be charting, in the minutest of details, the progress of Argentinian Andres Romero, Korean KJ Choi, American duo Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly (runner-up in Puerto Rico in recent weeks) while also keeping a keen eye on how Sean O'Hair is faring in the Best US finish market without Tiger Woods.

Just for good measure I have also backed any Australasian winner at 8-1. Curiously any Australian champion was quoted as 9-1 which says little for the chances of New Zealand's Michael Campbell.

There are a few which will always cause concern, those that we may have had in mind for the last few months but then just fall out of favour at the last minute. In this category we have Geoff Ogilvy, Luke Donald, Justin Rose and Aaron Baddeley.

Still time though and the above is just for starters. Last year, having only had nine single bets, I lumped on Robert Allenby, without a win in the States since 2001, after a par-birdie start and may well be sniffing out a price on dear old Arnie should he rifle one down the 1st. My goal this year is to steer clear of any more visits to my online turf accountant...at least until Saturday morning.

Good luck to all those punting this week

Mark Townsend

Monty’s Ryder mission

COLIN MONTGOMERIE’S first target in 2008 was to collect enough ranking points to squeeze into the field for the Masters. He looks to have failed there, barring a late invite) but it wasn't for the lack of trying.

Now he turns his attention to ensuring he’s in the Players and subsequently looking forward to the Major which has brought him most success, the US Open, and his favourite Major, The Open.

His whole season, though, will be played against a backdrop of one week in September - Ryder Cup week.

Whether Monty makes it to Valhalla or not looks to me like the story of the year, once Tiger’s Grand Slam dream expires, as it surely will (won’t it?).

It would be a great story in any set of circumstances but extra spice is provided by the fact his former foursomes partner Nick Faldo is Europe’s captain.

Quite what Monty was thinking of when he a) wasn’t a perfect team member on Faldo’s side at the Seve Trophy and b) returning fire when the GB and I skipper criticised him is beyond me.

All it has done is make the chance of another Ryder Cup appearance, the thing which gives him most pleasure in life, less likely.

Personalities aside - and let’s be frank, there are some huge personalities involved here - the key question is this: would YOU select Monty for the European side if he fails to qualify automatically?

Would you remember that he plays like a man possessed in European colours and select him despite indifferent form over the past two seasons?

Would you summise that, while Monty appeared scared of Tiger during their duel at The Open at St Andrews in 2005, if they were drawn together in Sunday’s singles at Valhalla the Scotsman would be giving an interview an hour before they locked horns in which he pretty much called the margin of his pre-ordained victory.

Or would you be thinking that his time has come. That he’s not one of Europe’s best 12 players any more. That his putting – the key to success in matchplay - is awful. And that he might not be the best team man.

If you’re Nick Faldo, would you pick him?
Chris Bertram

Wet wet wet

I’VE been the butt of many jokes in the NCG offices so far this year. Nothing new in that I suppose, but this time it has surrounding the lack of time I’ve spent on the course in 2008. Usually I’m getting stick for disappearing for three days on urgent business which simply has to be conducted on a collection of Irish links.

However the extensive surgery which has been conducted on my swing has meant I’ve not been as eager to take to the course this year. A Bank Holiday weekend meant I could resist the urge no more, albeit there were no NCG colleagues within a 200-mile radius of the venue (I played in Scotland).

The morning was notable for two things: a) that I was right to delay any intra-NCG action and b) how my equipment coped with the horrendous weather. It was absolutely throwing it down and, combined with a stiff breeze, made for exacting conditions (which provided a ready excuse).

What was remarkable was the fact that as I peeled away the layers in the clubhouse at Colvend following our round, I was totally dry. A few thank-yous are therefore in order. First, well done Nike for producing shoes which genuinely are waterproof. Don’t forget it was only a decade ago when such a claim was, frankly, a lie.

Secondly, to Galvin Green. With due respect to the likes of Proquip and Cross, both of whom offer terrific waterproof garments, GG kit is simply brilliant. Waterproof AND lightweight – a fabulous combination.

I knew most of that already though. What was a real surprise was the way my gloves coped. It was the first time I’d worn Nomis gloves and it was a revelation. I’d heard good things from NCG’s equipment editor (who gets all the goodies first) but had never had the pleasure.

Quite simply, if you are known to find yourself playing in rain (i.e. everyone) invest in a pair of these. I say pair, because, finding myself the owner of a right and a left, I ended up doubling up. I might have looked like Petr Cech but I could thrash a fairway wood out of the soggy rough and remain in contact with the club. Very surprising.

It left me thinking that any fair-weather golfers ought to be ashamed of themselves. There really is no excuse these days (and yes, that is a dig aimed at NCG’s Advertising Manager!)

Chris Bertram (not pictured)

Alex Cejka doesn't need clubs

The German PGA Tour star showed his talent by shooting his best round of the week using borrowed clubs...

We often hear about tour pros only using the very best equipment available and then spending hours working with the experts to make it perform just the way they want it so it was heartening to hear about Alex Cejka's experiences at last week's Zurich Classic in New Orleans.

The German, who plays full time in America, missed the third-round cut and promptly headed back to his home in Las Vegas.
Then he heard that, due to weather delays, the cut was not being used so he was scheduled to play the following morning after all.

Cejka caught a flight to Houston, in Texas, then rented a car and drove through the night. He arrived back at the course with less than an hour to spare before his tee time. His clubs and golf clothes, however, were back in Las Vegas.

He borrowed some trousers, bought a shirt from the tented village and a glove from the pro shop. A Callaway staff player, he had to settle for some Titleists from the rental facility at TPC Louisiana. The putter came courtesy of the club's general manager, who offered Cejka use of his Scotty Cameron putter.

Remarkably, Cejka posted his best round of the week, a one-under-par 71. That gave him a finish of T75, which was worth almost £6,000 and 47 FedEx Cup points.

"The first 150 miles of the drive I was really tired," said Cejka. "I bought about six Red Bulls to keep me going. The first couple of holes were good, so I think the Red Bulls pushed me through it."

By Dan Murphy
Editor

Questioning the BBC

I woke up on Thursday morning to the surprise news that the BBC had regained the rights to televise Formula One. Like most sports fans brought up on Murray Walker commentating on Nigel Mansell and who finds it sad that the Beeb has lost so much world-class sport, I welcomed the development. Plus there’s also the brilliant theme tune.

Then I started thinking. Wouldn’t the BBC have been better advised to spent that money – reported to be £300m - on golf?

From a general sporting perspective, given F1 was already on terrestrial tv wouldn’t it be more beneficial to snare some of the golf which is currently on satellite channels and bring it to the British public?
I’m not quite sure how the figures compare but it’s difficult to imagine F1 rights are any cheaper than those of the PGA or European tours.

Of course I’m biased, with F1 being about my eighth favourite sport. Of course I’d rather they bid for golf.
But it’s not really about the likes of me, who have all the sports channels literally at their fingertips. I get to see plenty of golf, week in, week out.

But do the 12-year-olds who only have terrestrial tv? No, they get two good weeks a year in the Masters and The Open. Hardly much chance to provide inspiration for those 12-year-olds to take up the game. As a colleague at NCG noted last week, it was watching the Duel in the Sun in 1977 which inspired him to take up golf.

Having golf on every week would provide myriad more opportunities to inspire kids, who are the next generation of golfers. Or am I being naïve and the BBC has no real interest in tour golf. As long as they have the Masters and The Open, they’re happy?

Perhaps they have no stomach for six, seven or eight hours of action, Thursday to Sunday on as many as 40 weeks of the season. I think that’s probably about right. In which case do they deserve the glory of showing the Masters and The Open?

Why couldn’t they slip another channel on our satellite/freeview box and devote it to sport? Even if they have to show repeats or only have programmes on seven hours a day, so what?

Get the golf on there Thursday to Sunday, throw in a couple of magazine shows and intersperse it with their other sport – Match of the Day re-runs, motor sport, rugby league, Six Nations and snooker. I’m not looking for flashy sets and highly-paid presenters, I just want to see the action (indeed Match of the Day without Lineker and co is a joy) – and more importantly give youngsters the chance to see it.

Still, at least we’ll get the chance to watch 20 cars driving on a circular piece of tarmac on many weekends next season.

Chris Bertram

How Tiger can spoil the Masters in less than five hours

Just like every year, I can't wait for the Masters to begin in a couple of weeks.

But just like every year, I am also slightly anxious. Because ahead of every Major, but most of all this one, if Tiger opens up with a 67 then as far as I'm concerned it's all over bar the shouting.

Now let's get one thing clear - I'm not one of those morons who claims the game is somehow the poorer for this genius being in our midst. I consider it to be a privilege to be able to watch Tiger in his prime. I love watching him take control of a tournament and I am loving watching him in his inexorable journey towards overhauling Jack Nicklaus's tally of 18 Majors.

But when you can get a price of 6/5 on the field to win an event Tiger is playing in, as is the case at this week's WGC CA Championship, then there is a danger in the event being less than compelling. Just think how ridiculous it is that the bookies say it's more likely Tiger will win a given event then all the other players put together.

Now I have no problem with Tiger winning the Masters for a fifth time next month. But I do hope he doesn't do so on a wire-to-wire basis. Let's at least have some excitement before Zach Johnson presents him with the Green Jacket.

Any anyway, it isn't such a given that he will do so. At least not as much as many people seem to think.

It says here that Tiger will not win the Grand Slam this year. And let it also be said that in 11 pro appearances at Augusta to date, he has 'only' won four times. So maybe it won't be such a procession after all.

I certainly hope not. Because winning Major championships should not be easy. It's only Tiger who makes it look that way.

By Dan Murphy
Editor

Notes on the Accenture

10 things that struck me about the WGC Matchplay last week:

1) From the moment Tiger escaped from his opening round match against JB Holmes, you got the feeling he was going to win the first WGC event of the year.

2) Why do players (like Stewart Cink) putt like gods in previous rounds and then as soon as they play against Tiger start missing five-footers?

3) I know it's played in the middle of the Arizona desert, but why were there only 35 fans watching the action at The Gallery? Take that field to Wentworth and they'd be hanging out of the pine trees to catch a glimpse of the action.

4) Is it worrying, in Ryder Cup year, that three-quarters of the semi-final line-up of the year's premier matchplay event were American?

5) Why is there a par four on The Gallery course that is only 300 yards long?

6) Is Aaron Baddeley our best hope of someone regularly going head-to-head with Tiger and actually winning now and again?

7) Wasn't it a great change to watch a matchplay event?

8) Did Sergio REALLY take two putters out with him? I hope that was someone's idea of a joke.

9) Don't you just wish Angel Cabrera could play for Europe in the Ryder Cup? El Pato would fit in well.

10) Facing defeat in that opening match against Holmes, Woods closed his round by going 3, 2, 3, 3. That isn't human.

By Chris Bertram

Can we trust Tiger's rivals?

I'M slightly worried about this year. Like every other season in golf, there are plenty of things to look forward to. The Majors and the Ryder Cup stand out of course and already we've had a couple of outstanding tournaments on the European Tour.

But I'm not sure we can trust Tiger's rivals to be just that: challengers to hi throne, men who make him win tournaments rather than the world No 1 simply waiting for them to lose them.

It seems to me this is going to be a transitional year at golf's top table. The so-called Big Five (Tiger plus Phil, Ernie, Vijay and Jim Furyk) never really came to the party at the same time - Troon 2004 was possibly the best roll call (and none of them won!) - and 2008 should see them disband.

Ernie Els is trying manfully to challenge Tiger but he cannot close out a tournament no matter how hard he tries. And that's probably the problem - he's trying too hard. 

I remember suggesting after his four near misses in the Majors in 2004 that he might just be too desperate to win another one.

Injury has played its part but I feel my prediction has come true to a certain extent, much as I wish he'd have a Green Jacket on his shoulders one day.

Things are worse for his countryman Retief Goosen, whose last top 10 came at Augusta 11 months ago. Pinehurst 2005 seems to have done for him.

Vijay Singh got to the top in terrific style in a showdown with Tiger and since then it's been a gradually increasingly slippery slope. Difficult to see that changing this year.

Finally, there's Phil Mickelson. He seems to be ahnging in there better than the rest but if he and Tiger go head to head down the stretch at, say, Birkdale, can you really see him triumphing?

Where does that leave us? Hoping underchievers such as Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia come good, that Padraig Harrington or Geoff Ogilvy have another Major in them or that the youthful likes of Richard Sterne or Martin Kaymer do a Rich Beem (remember him?) and take on Tiger like they're playing with a group of friends for a fiver.

Now you can probably see why I'm worried. Can we trust these men to give Tiger a game?

By Chris Bertram

 

USA USA USA

WHY are we not really, really excited by the start of the World Golf Championships for 2008? This week the matchplay leg of the WGCs takes place and it really should be a tremendously exciting event. 

Yet, after we've done the office draw and we've argued over who's got the best batch of players (this year I got David Toms, Anders Hansen, Jim Furyk, and Jerry Kelly which I'm quietly happy with), it kind of dies a death. Why is that? Probably partly because for most of this event's lifetime it has yet to produce a stellar final or even a star-studded semi-final.

Darrn Clarke v Tiger was pretty good I suppose but they're far too chummy for it to be really interesting.

It needs something thrilling to put it on the map and, let's be honest, it needs Tiger. Put him in the final against Sergio, Phil, Ernie or even Rory Sabbatini and suddenly we're all gathered round the TV.

A re-match against Stephen Ames would be pretty amusing too.

Another reason it's yet to take off? It's always in America! How about Dubai hosting one year? Because the Americans won't travel, just as they didn't when it was in Australia. Surely we've all moved on from there (although the American interviewer who spoke to Henrik Stenson - that's Ryder Cup star and serial tournament champion Henrik Stenson - after winning last year really did ask him if he thought Americans would know him after his victory) and the top names would make it to the Middle East. First-class travel, five-star and a huge prize fund. It's not THAT tough an ask, is it?

Tiger v Phil in Dubai, in the final. Now we're really excited.

By Chris Bertram

Who had more competition - Tiger or Jack?

Until very recently, it was accepted golfing wisdom that in the era of Jack Nicklaus (1960s and 70s) there fewer good players than there are now in Tiger Woods' prime (mid 1990s to the present).

This has always coloured the debate as to which is the greatest.

For the first time, this assumption is currently being questioned.

Now, comparing anything across eras, be it the state of the British Newspaper industry or the quality of real ale, is a completely subjective exercise. Let's get that straight immediately.

But it's also enjoyable and entertaining, so let's try anyway.

In Jack's day, there were a handful of true champions, most notably Gary Player, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, but we are led to believe the supporting cast was rather thin. In other words, when it came to a Major, there were only a handful of realistic potential winners.

Right now, the next best after Tiger are the likes of Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Jim Furyk - Major champions one and all.

I don't think any have yet earned the right to be talked about in the same class as Jack's peers, but beneath them in any given Major are at least another 50 players who, on their day, are capable of winning one of the big ones.

Yet, despite this supposed depth of talent, Tiger continues to have things pretty much exactly his own way.

When Mickelson has a good year, he wins a Major and perhaps two other events. Els the same. Whereas Tiger wins over half the events he enters.

So does that mean that the competition is not as strong as has been suggested? Quite possibly.

My conclusion is slightly different.

I think that Tiger's domination is on a completely different level to that of Jack's.

Because as good as Jack was, I believe Tiger is better. Much better.

I think he's stronger, fitter, more talented and has a better technique. And, crucially, he is the equal of Nicklaus when it comes to dedication, mental strength and thinking his way not only round golf courses but also entire tournaments and whole seasons.

And he is so good just at the moment that there are only two reasons he does not win every event he enters. One is that his driving is variable, despite his incredible recovery powers. The other is that it only takes one performance-of-a-lifetime display from one other competitor in one given week to deny him. And that happens.

These factors mean that I, personally, think the 15/1 price currently being quoted on him winning the Grand Slam represents very poor value.

But as for passing Jack's tally of 18 Majors, well, that is merely a matter of time.

By Dan Murphy

Editor  

 

 

We can never get enough of Tiger

THE media are often accused of being obsessed with Tiger Woods. For instance, I love Sky Sports’s coverage of golf but have heard others complain that it is too focussed on the world No 1.

I disagree. I think the concentration on Woods is as justified as it is welcome. He is a phenomenon in sporting terms never mind golfing ones, so let’s see as much of him as possible.

Everyone should wake up to this fact. Last Thursday I switched on my television at 8am with real anticipation – it was my first view of Woods in 2008. It was genuinely exciting to watch him hit the most ordinary of shots though of course it helped he was in the middle of a scintillating 65.

Then on Saturday morning we saw Damien McGrane behave round Woods as if he was a star-struck amateur in a Pro-Am rather than an established European Tour professional. So don’t try and tell me Woods is just another player. Even his peers act like autograph hunters round him.

Then there’s his golf. While his power off the tee – such as that whiplash-inducing drive on 17 – and his short game are awe-inspiring, there is more to him than that. A colleague once said to me he felt Woods willed the ball into the hole at times and on days such as Sunday in Dubai it’s difficult to disagree.

Woods brings excitement, class and entertainment to a field that no other comes close to supplying. We hardly get to see him in Europe so when we do I believe it’s something to cherish. He’s raised that fascination factor by playing so infrequently these days, much to the chagrin of PGA Tour journeymen such as Tom Pernice.

If I could have one golfing wish in the next five years it would be that the ungrateful likes of Pernice and PGA Tour chief Tim Finchem annoy Woods sufficiently that he decamps to Europe. Our tour is on the way up and he could hand-pick tournaments and venues to set himself up for the weeks he really wants to peak in – and there are only four of them every year.

Perhaps the best chance of this dream becoming reality is the fact his wife is Swedish and may enjoy living closer to home again. For now, I’m counting down the days when Woods is next on my screen. The WGC Matchplay Championship by my reckoning. Hopefully he’ll last longer than Round One this year…

Chris Bertram

Why Poulter is a prat

WHENEVER a sports star reacts to an interview he has given which has caused distasteful headlines by claiming he was misquoted, journalists all over the land breathe a collective sigh of disgust.

England cricket captain Michael Vaughan was a recent offender and made a total fool of himself when it was proved he made scathing, yet justifiable, comments about Andrew Flintoff.

It’s a real pity our PR-led society means he felt it was better to annoy journalists and temporarily appear a shameless idiot than it was to stand by his comments about a team-mate.

Ian Poulter picked up that same baton last week and, to no great surprise, made an even bigger prat of himself. Firstly he posed nude on the front cover of a golf magazine, his dignity preserved only by a pink golf bag (shameless product placement in full flow). Can’t honestly imagine Tiger doing that, but each to their own.

Secondly, he claimed he had little time for the games of his peers, Woods excepted, and that when he really hit his straps it would come down to a dogfight between the former club pro and the greatest player the game has ever seen.

Or maybe he didn’t. Poulter claims he was misquoted and taken out of context after kindly inviting the journalist into his home. I could be totally wrong, but given a choice between the characters of Poulter and the man who wrote the article, I’m backing the journalist.

For what it’s worth I rate Poulter’s game quite highly. He’s just the type to pluck a Major out of nowhere as the more talented likes of Sergio Garcia three-putts his way to distraction.

But to come out with such self-centred, disrespectful and arrogant nonsense is delusional at best.

After winning in Dubai Woods was asked about the mammoth gap between his ranking and that of world No 2 Phil Mickelson. “But I thought Poulter was number two,” responded Woods.

Word has it he and Woods are pretty friendly. But I sensed there was a good slice of disdain in Woods’s words and I welcomed every consonant and vowel.

Woods has a nice line in disdain, after all. Just ask Rory Sabbatini or Stephen Ames. At least those two didn’t compound their foot-in-mouth episodes with a pathetic attempt at an excuse.

Chris Bertram

Poulter: Yes or no?

Ian Poulter has never been one to shy away from a bit of publicity. Every Open Championship we are all treated to his wild and wacky wardrobe for a couple of days before everyone loses interest and life carries on as normal.

Perhaps his self-confidence is the main reason he is one of the top 25 players in the world, and therefore how he needs to be to perform at his best, but this week he appeared to have really excelled himself.

In a recent interview with Golf World he is reported to have said: "The trouble is I don't rate anyone else. Don't get me wrong, I respect everyone who is a professional. But the problem is I haven't played to my full potential yet. And when that happens it will just be me and Tiger."

He then supposedly went on to predict that Woods would win the Masters and that he himself would pick up the US Open (to be fair he is probably 50 per cent right).

Needless to say Poulter has since claimed that he was misquoted and it's not often that I would say this but I do feel a bit sorry for the Englishman. He is too outspoken at times, and plenty of us aren't overly keen on anyone with so much bravado, but he is also mischievous and it is unlikely that anybody could be that deluded.

Poulter offered his thoughts after an opening 70 in Dubai: "I have had it on my mind since last night. You put the internet on and it's THE (golf) story. I have to try and explain the situation of how it was actually said, as opposed to how it has been written. Two very different themes.

"That's how it has come out but that's not how it was said and that's a shame...a great shame. You let people in your house for three hours and you do a nice, private interview and this is what happens. Very unfortunate."

True to form he also added that getting to number two in the world was a real possibility. Getting a place in this year's Ryder Cup team should be enough to concern him for the next few months.

By Mark Townsend

Trip down memory Lane

Here at NCG we’d like to offer up our congratulations to Barry Lane for reaching the milestone of 600 European Tour events.

In a career spanning over 25 years the Englishman has become only the fifth man to get there behind Malcolm Mackenzie (603), Eamonn Darcy (610), Roger Chapman (617), and Sam Torrance (702), and no doubt by the time the 2008 season is over he will only have Torrance in his sights.

Personally I hope he supersedes that mark and becomes the longest serving European Tour player in history, it’s an honour he deserves as one of the stalwarts of the tour. Whether anyone will catch him remains to be seen, but it will take plenty of hard graft and dedication, something Barry has shown in bundles.

If you’ve caught any of the golf on Sky this week you’ll no doubt have seen him reminiscing about some of the lighter moments in his career as well as some of the tougher times, all of which is well worth listening to.

It took Barry three years to get from 500 to 600 appearances and the 47-year-old has a similar timeframe to chase down Torrance before having the option of joining the Seniors Tour, a place where he will surely thrive and recapture that winning feeling.

With a little bit of luck Barry has put the worst of his injury troubles behind him after missing a chunk of the 2005 season with a knee injury and has plenty of healthy and competitive years ahead of him. You never know, with a little more luck he could even take the record from Des Smyth as being the oldest winner on tour.

By Will Spence

Wild Goose

Two of the things I've often pondered are a) having laser surgery and b) growing a beard. Both are no longer considerations.

These big decisions have been made in the last 10 minutes having read that Retief Goosen will not defend his Qatar Masters title after complications following recent eye surgery.

If, as you would suspect, that Retief has splashed out and paid for the best that money can get, and is still not right, then it does not bode well for me scratching around looking for the cheapest deal on the market.

The second was more of a curiosity rather than a genuine dilemma and the picture here confirms that nobody looks better with any facial hair, let alone a full-on beard.

The suave South African now resembles a distant relative of Chris Bonington and, to make matters worse, there appears to be a hint of ginger and grey in there. No, I will battle on with an in-built laziness and get the old Gillette out when things start to get a bit itchy up top.

By Mark Townsend

Seve shines on Setanta

Last night, while waiting for the football to begin, I had the usual flick through the sports channels and was lucky enough to stumble across The Open Years 1984 on Setanta. Everyone remembers their first time and this was the case 23 years ago when I sat through my first Major for pretty much four days and it was as thrilling last night as it was back then.

The fashions and course looked magnificent and these were matched by the true star of the show. If anyone wasn't lucky enough to watch Seve Ballesteros, in the flesh or on tv, then they should make the most of these little nuggets. The swing was fearless, quick and athletic, and bore no resemblance to the one he employed in his last few years on the tour. His short game was sublime.

The shot of the championship came at the Road Hole 17th, a hole the Spaniard had bogeyed the previous days, but when it really mattered he nailed a six-iron 200 yards into the heart of the green.

Tom Watson, playing in the group behind, took a tighter line off the tee and then, in one of the more curious club selections of all time smoked a two-iron over the green, landing on the road, and finishing beside the wall.

Moments later maybe the finest celebration ever? Seve's putt never looked like going in until the last mini-second when it just toppled in from the top side. Cue the fist-pumping and look of the happiest man on the planet.

For all us sentimental types there is always a hint of sadness. Wouldn't it be great to see Seve battling away occasionally on the Seniors Tour or at least dazzle us for two days at the Open but this isn't going to happen and it's a shame. But then again with memories like these there is still plenty to smile about.
By Mark Townsend

Finally a quick quiz question - Who holed the last putt in 1984 for a birdie and a 79 before going on to win the Championship in the early 90s? Scroll down for the answer







A: Ian Baker-Finch

Deadly dozen

What if the Ryder Cup returned to its roots and was contested by the United States and Great Britain and Ireland?

Firstly, there¹d be no room for the likes of Garcia, Stenson and Fasth. Secondly, Nick Faldo would have to make it up with Monty.

Just for fun, here¹s my British and Irish dozen to take on the States at Valhalla.

Justin Rose
Padraig Harrington
Luke Donald
Ian Poulter
Lee Westwood
Paul Casey
Colin Montgomerie
Nick Dougherty
Darren Clarke
Bradley Dredge
Graeme McDowell
Rory McIlroy

Now I don't think this particular dozen would disgrace themselves in the States if Continental Europe decided not to show up in September. What do you think?

By James Varley

Cut policy set to be spliced

Last week 18 players appeared to make the cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii, were then paid for making the cut but didn't play another shot in the tournament. The reason for this is the newly-introduced, and seemingly ludicrous, MDF status next to the player's name.

MDF (somehow) stands for "Made Cut, Did Not Finish" and has been brought into use this year to have as near to 70 players competing at the weekend. If more than 78 'make the cut' then that number is trimmed so, in Hawaii, 18 of the field, including Angel Cabrera (pictured), were paid a share of last place earnings and played no further part in the tournament.

Needless to say the ruling has not been met with universal acclaim and the last two American Ryder Cup captains have already made their feelings known.

Paul Azinger said: “I think the Tour should change the rule immediately. This has an impact on the Ryder Cup and an impact on the FedEx Cup. They’re going to pay you not to play. I think that’s awful.”

K Club skipper Tom Lehman was equally dismissive, adding: "Overall, I think it’s simply unfortunate is the best way I can say it. I understand why they chose to do it, but I’ve never been a promoter of doing something because it’s easier. Let’s not err on the side of convenience. We should be maximizing a player’s ability to make a living and move up in the game.

“I think this looks bad, and we should find a way to change it. There are ways of getting things done with a vote of the players. There’s a way to make it happen. Things can be changed.”

The ruling was brought in last November but do not expect to see it enjoy too long a run. On the Saturday in Hawaii an unidentified player left a petition, using the back of a paper place mat, with the question: Are you in favour of the current cut policy?

Not one player added their name to the column marked 'yes'. Expect to see a very quick reversal by the PGA Tour.

By Mark Townsend

Poulter to be great in 08

Year after year, the glorious game of golf tends to throw up a surprise package from absolutely nowhere.

In 2006 Australia's Geoff Ogilvy capitalised on final-hole failings from Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie to win the US Open and in 2007 Zach Johnson and Angel Cabrera picked unlikely Majors.

It would, therefore, be a surprise if 2008 did not come up with a shock somewhere along the line.

One man who I believe will come to the fore this year is England's Ian Poulter. Since the man from Milton Keynes won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award in 1999, he's performed consistently on both sides of the Atlantic, positioned himself in the top 30 of the world and made one Ryder Cup appearance.

And although he's probably better known for his outlandish dress and appearances on TV shows such as Soccer AM at present, I fully expect that to change this year, mainly due to an event that takes place at Valhalla in late September.

So far in his career, Arsenal fan Poulter has tended to make the cut at Majors without featuring at the business-end of events and to date has bagged just one top-10 finish – at the USPGA in  2006. That said, he did play in all four rounds of every Major in 2007 and managed a top-13 finish at the Masters. 

Augusta National, home of the Masters, may be a track that suits Poulter's game. He's long enough off the tee when required and is capable of getting up and down under pressure.

Also, in each of his three appearances there Poulter has made the cut, with a worst finish of 33rd.

Making Nick Faldo's final 12 for Kentucky will be Poulter's primary aim and I believe that particular bounty will spur him on in 2008 – possibly to  Major success.

The 32-year-old loved every minute of his debut at Oakland Hills in 2004, under the captaincy of Bernhard Langer, and would love to be a part of a second American success story.

By James Varley

Chopra opens Ryder door

A couple of months ago in the NCG offices, for a bit of fun, we all predicted what Nick Faldo's European team would look like come September's Ryder Cup.

I won't embarrass either myself or my colleagues by revealing some of the names that came up but I will admit that Daniel Chopra's was not among them.

But the US-based Swede has now won twice in the space of less than three months, and also featured in a play-off for the Australian Masters. He won the PGA Tour's Ginn sur Mer Classic in late October, and that earned him a place at Kapalua for the Mercedes. By claiming the season-opener, following a play-off with Steve Striker, the 34-year-old has suddenly vaulted into second place on Europe's world points list. The top five on this list at the cut-off point in August will automatically make it onto Faldo's team.

Chopra has already a place at the Masters and his ranking is now high enough to guarantee entry into at least the first two WGC events, which take place in February and March respectively.

This all means he has a great chance to cement his place. The only problem is, Chopra is not a member of the European Tour, which must change if he is to be eligible to make the team. This brings with it the requirement to play in at least 11 events. Chopra, then, will have to alter his schedule, albeit not that significantly should he go on to play in all four Majors and the three WGC events.

Most likely, a couple of events around The Open, such as the Scottish Open, will help him to the required number.

As a hardened member of the PGA Tour, Chopra would surely be an asset to the European team but his form does make life more difficult for the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Carl Pettersson, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal and Ian Poulter. All of these players are likely to have targeted the world points list as their most likely method of qualifying for the team, because they play much of their golf away from the European Tour.

It all suggests that this will be the most competitive race for to make the European team we have ever seen.

By Dan Murphy