Thursday, January 31, 2008

Dubai Desert Classic Round 1 Wrap

Tiger Woods took up at the Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday where he left off at the Buick Invitational in California on Sunday with a commanding display of golf to top the leaderboard.

The world No.1 was out early in the first round of the 2.5million dollars European PGA Tour event and he did not disappoint the large gallery following him by birdieing his first hole.

It could have been even better had his greenside chip for an eagle on the par-5 10th not stopped an inch from the cup.

He added six more birdies for an ominous opening seven-under 65 over the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club and that was good enough for an early two-stroke clubhouse lead.

The 32-year-old Woods came into Dubai hot on the heels of a commanding eight-stroke win at his season-opener, the Buick Invitational, at Torrey Pines, California on Sunday.

That was his fourth consecutive tournament win stretching back to the tail end of last year and it came wrapped around an uncustomary 10-week winter break for the American.

Woods said that he felt he had played better on Thursday than at any stage last week despite the margin of his victory...

Read the complete golf news story

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Dubai Desert Classic Preview

The Dubai Desert Classic takes place in the United Arab Emirates and is part of the European Tour schedule. It was inaugurated in 1989 and was the first European Tour event in the Middle East. It is played on the "Majlis" course at Emirates Golf Club

The event is notable for attracting some of the biggest stars in the world of golf with the assistance of generous appearance fees.

Prize Money (Total 2.5million)

Winner
416,660

Second
277,770

Third
156,500

Fourth
125,000

Past Winners

Dubai Desert Classic

  • 2007 Flag of Sweden Henrik Stenson
  • 2006 Flag of the United States Tiger Woods
  • 2005 Flag of South Africa Ernie Els
  • 2004 Flag of the United States Mark O'Meara
  • 2003 Flag of the Netherlands Robert-Jan Derksen
  • 2002 Flag of South Africa Ernie Els
  • 2001 Flag of Denmark Thomas Bjørn
  • 2000 Flag of Argentina José Cóceres
  • 1999 Flag of England David Howell
  • 1998 Flag of Spain José María Olazábal
  • 1997 Flag of Australia Richard Green
  • 1996 Flag of Scotland Colin Montgomerie
  • 1995 Flag of the United States Fred Couples
  • 1994 Flag of South Africa Ernie Els
  • 1993 Flag of South Africa Wayne Westner
  • 1992 Flag of Spain Seve Ballesteros

My tip

It would be hard to go past Tiger as the clear favorite, but don't discount defending champion Henrik Stenson.

Domain Registration

Lately I have been talking a fair bit about domain registration and hosting for my new projects that I am undertaking. Finding a domain name registrar isn't hard, but finding a quality company is slightly more difficult. Being an Aussie I have been looking for a good Australian domain registration website that also allows me to register US domains and I really think I have found it. Pay less domains offer everything a webmaster could need including the initial domain name registration, domain transfers and renewals and they even cater for you hosting needs with quality web hosting packages. You don't have to be from Australia either as they offer domain name registration from all over the world! Their website has a really modern crisp design and the navigation is a breeze. Their pricing is also quite reasonable and is probably one of the cheapest places to register an Aussie domain name. If you are looking for a quality domain name register then I would recommend a visit to their website.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Has Tiger already won the 2008 US Open?

Well according to some reports today everyone else might as well not turn up this year. There is no doubt that he plays the course well and is in a very rich vein of form, but golf can be a funny game at times.

Here is one of the news stories I am talking about:

Tiger Woods's comfort factor at Torrey Pines, where he won a record sixth Buick Invitational on Sunday, will have sent a collective shudder down the spines of his rivals for this year's US Open.

The second major of the season will be staged from June 12-15 on the scenic South Course at Torrey Pines, a coastal layout Woods has played countless times since his youth.

As if that was not enough to inspire fear into any would-be Tiger hunter, the American world number one says he is now playing the best golf of his life.

His eight-stroke victory romp at the weekend earned him his 62nd PGA Tour title, and his 16th in just 32 starts since the beginning of 2006.

The benchmark for Woods was previously his golden run of form in 2000 when he clinched the last three majors of the year, ending that season with 11 victories worldwide.

"I'm starting to get better," he told reporters after spread-eagling the field at Torrey Pines in his first tournament of 2008.

"I'm hitting shots that I never could hit before, even in 2000.

"People think: 'Yeah, you played great' but I made everything (with the putter). I'm actually hitting the ball better now than I did during that (2000) stretch."

US Ryder Cup player Stewart Cink, a four-times winner on the PGA Tour, was awe struck after partnering Woods for the last two rounds at Torrey Pines.

"I'd say this is the best I've seen him play," Cink said after tying for third at the Buick Invitational.

"The last couple days, off the tee, the control he had was just really very impressive.

"The Tiger that we saw a year and two years ago, hitting it sort of all over the place, I think that's a thing of the past. He's got it geared down and he came out and played really well."

Six-times major champion Nick Faldo, while working as a golf analyst for CBS television for the last two rounds at Torrey Pines, said: "The message Tiger sends to his fellow competitors is a bit of a bolt."

The last time a venue on the PGA Tour staged a regular event and the US Open in the same year was Pebble Beach in 2000.

Again, the omens are bleak for Woods's rivals.

The remarkable American won the 2000 Pebble Beach National Pro-Am by two shots before returning four months later to post a record-breaking 15-stroke victory at the US Open.

Already a winner of 13 major titles, Woods triggered shock waves in the game earlier this year when he suggested on his Web site that a sweep of all four in 2008 was "within reason".

At Torrey Pines, he added: "The question is: 'Do I see it as a possibility?' and I say yes.

"A lot of different factors go into it and hopefully all those factors line up for me. The venues this year, I like all of them but I've liked all the venues before in the past.

"It's just a matter of getting your game coming together at the right time and getting all the right breaks. Hopefully you get lucky at the right times."

Although the course set-up at Torrey Pines will be different in June when the US Open features its traditional tight fairways, thick rough and lightning-fast greens, Woods's comfort factor will still apply.

"I've always felt comfortable coming down here and playing, ever since my junior golf days, even though the golf course has been redesigned," he said, referring to changes made to the South Course in 2001.

"I still feel comfortable even after the redesign. I still felt good with the lines. I picked up on the greens pretty quickly and I've had success ever since then."

Monday, January 28, 2008

World Golf Rankings - Week 4 2008 (27th January)

I thought I would take to posting the world golf rankings every now and then because a few people might be interested like me. I was amazed at just how many Aussies are in the top 50 at the moment. English golf also seems very healthy!


Rank Player Country Avg. Pts. Evts
1 Tiger Woods USA 19.55 782.17 40
2 Phil Mickelson USA 8.53 366.78 43
3 Steve Stricker USA 6.72 282.3 42
4 Adam Scott Aus 6.19 309.28 50
5 Ernie Els Zaf 6.18 352.19 57
6 Jim Furyk USA 6.13 312.44 51
7 Justin Rose Eng 5.92 296.06 50
8 K.J. Choi Kor 5.73 332.15 58
9 Rory Sabbatini Zaf 5.68 289.64 51
10 Padraig Harring Irl 5.17 299.83 58
11 Vijay Singh Fji 4.94 296.18 60
12 Sergio Garcia Esp 4.75 232.88 49
13 Henrik Stenson Swe 4.59 252.3 55
14 Geoff Ogilvy Aus 4.3 197.7 46
15 Angel Cabrera Arg 4.14 219.54 53
16 Zach Johnson USA 3.87 197.25 51
17 Aaron Baddeley Au 3.83 206.87 54
18 Luke Donald Eg 3.66 190.42 52
19 Lee Westwood Eng 3.61 205.77 57
20 Trevor Immelman Zaf 3.54 187.68 53
21 Stewart Cink USA 3.39 176.38 52
22 Ian Poulter Eng 3.24 194.67 60
23 Niclas Fasth Swe 3.22 167.39 52
24 Paul Casey Eng 3.05 158.83 52
25 Scott Verplank USA 2.97 148.33 50
26 Stephen Ames Can 2.96 133.36 45
27 Toru Taniguchi Jpn 2.89 150.02 52
28 Retief Goosen Zaf 2.84 173.4 61
29 Richard Sterne Zaf 2.79 131.13 47
30 Andres Romero Arg 2.77 135.78 49
31 Tim Clark Zaf 2.76 126.85 46
32 Hunter Mahan USA 2.73 155.58 57
33 Martin Kaymer Deu 2.69 107.63 40
34 Mike Weir Can 2.69 137.21 51
35 Stuart Appleby Aus 2.67 144.15 54
36 Arron Oberholse USA 2.66 111.58 42
37 Woody Austin USA 2.61 153.79 59
38 Charles Howell- USA 2.53 146.73 58
39 Miguel A Jimene Esp 2.46 130.11 53
40 Richard Green Aus 2.45 105.36 43
41 Robert Karlsson Swe 2.44 139.16 57
42 Brett Wetterich USA 2.43 138.27 57
43 Shingo Katayama Jpn 2.42 133.15 55
44 Nick O'Hern Aus 2.42 128.1 53
45 David Toms USA 2.37 99.41 42
46 Boo Weekley USA 2.34 135.85 58
47 Nick Dougherty Eng 2.33 125.67 54
48 Soren Hansen Dnk 2.33 121.01 52
49 Brandt Snedeker USA 2.28 139.28 61
50 Mark Calcavecch USA 2.27 126.86 56

Sportsgist

Like I have said many times before, I believe that sports are mans greatest invention. This means that I am always on the lookout for great sports sites I can add to my bookmark list. I personally enjoy sites with a bit of video and photo and it always helps to have some latest news and unique content or information that I like to read. Today I came across Sportsgist and I must say I am impressed with what I have found.

Their website is made so that athletes have a place to connect with other athletes. They also are focused on college recruiting, including college recruiting video, which I understand is a very competitive market in the US. Once you become a member you can upload your photos and videos, get tips and tools for college recruiting, start your very own blog, connect with friends, upload your stats and they even have an area when family and fans can get the inside scoop. They also offer high school sports live, which is a really great bonus for anyone that likes watching high school sport.

The website itself is really well designed and easy to navigate - I didn't have any problems at all. If you are interested in high school sports, connecting with other athletes or want to get a head start with college recruiting then I would recommend a visit to their website.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Tiger wins Buick Invitational and 62nd Tournament

I love this photo - congratulations again Tiger (what a start to the year!)


Tiger Woods shrugged off three consecutive bogeys while cruising to an eight-shot victory at the Buick Invitational on Sunday for his 62nd PGA Tour title.

Eight shots in front overnight, the world No.1 holed two monster birdie putts on his way to a one-under-par 71 in increasingly windy conditions on the South Course at Torrey Pines.

Woods piled up five birdies and four bogeys for a 19-under total of 269 to record a fourth successive triumph at the coastal venue and his sixth overall.

Japan's Ryuji Imada closed with a 67 to finish a distant second at 11 under, two ahead of South Africa's Rory Sabbatini (67) and American Stewart Cink (73).

John Senden (72) and Stuart Appleby (73) were the leading Australians, finishing in a tie for eighth on five-under, a massive 14 shots behind Woods.

Aaron Baddeley, who started the day tied for fourth, shot a disappointing 76 on Sunday to finish in equal 13th on three-under.

"I wanted to go out there and make no bogeys and shoot something under par, so I got half of that right," Woods said in a greenside television interview.

"I think we are all pleased to get this thing in," he added, as the rain and wind intensified at Torrey Pines.

His winning margin shattered the previous tournament best of five set by fellow American Tom Watson in 1977 and equalled by Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

Woods joined Arnold Palmer in fourth place in the all-time standings for PGA Tour career victories. Only Sam Snead (82), Jack Nicklaus (73) and Ben Hogan (64) have won more.

With the bad weather forecast for Sunday not materialising until late in the final round, the only question on the lips of fans crammed around the South Course was the ultimate margin of Woods' victory.

The game's leading player has never lost a tournament when leading by more than one shot after 54 holes.

Eight times he has gone into the final round of a PGA Tour event with a cushion of more than six strokes and he has won by at least five shots on all eight occasions.

AAP

Adam Scott Wins Qatar Masters



Bringing this news makes me very happy - and on Australia Day Weekend too!!

I had always thought that when Adam Scott finally broke his tournament drought it was going to be a sparkling performance and it didn't disappoint. It was one of the most amazing final rounds I have ever witnessed. His putting has always been a slight week point, but not today. He made five successive birdies in the first five holes he never looked back.

Stay tuned - I will post the full final days play news here when I have it.

Edit: I finally found the report

Australia's Adam Scott produced a record final round of 11-under-par 61 to win the Qatar Masters by three strokes on Sunday.

The 27-year-old Scott started the day tied for fifth place but came out firing to stun his rivals with a total of 20-under 268 and finish ahead of Sweden's Henrik Stenson.

"This is my lowest ever score but the thought of a course record was never on my mind," said Scott, who became the first player to take the title for a second time after winning in 2002.

He was in terrific form from the start, sinking birdies on all the first five holes. He added another birdie on the seventh for a front-nine 30.

His return journey was also impressive, with birdies on the 10th, 11th and 12th. After missing a birdie putt on the 14th he made amends with another two birdies on the 15th and 17th.

He said overnight rain and occasional drizzle on Sunday had made the course soft but added that the Doha Golf Course was tailor-made for him.

"It's a driver's course and it suits my game," he said.

The lowest score at the Qatar Masters was previously the seven-under 65 set by Sweden's Joakim Haeggman in 2004, which was later equalled by 2005 winner Ernie Els of South Africa.

Scott's sixth European Tour victory earned him a winner's cheque of $416,660 and moved him up three places to fifth in the world rankings.

Stenson finished second with 271 while South African Charl Schwartzel was third on 273. Stenson had a final round of seven-under 65 while Schwartzel carded a five-under 67.

Stenson, who had a share of second place overnight, equalled the previous course record with a seven-birdie final round. England's Lee Westwood also hit 65 but finished fifth after a poor third round, two shots ahead of Scotland's Colin Montgomerie.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Golf News: Buick invitational Round 3 Wrap

Five-times champion Tiger Woods tightened his grip on a 62nd PGA Tour title, surging eight strokes clear after the Buick Invitational third round.

Four ahead overnight, the world No.1 doubled his lead with a flawless six-under-par 66 on the South Course at Torrey Pines.

That left him 18-under, well ahead of playing partner and fellow American Stewart Cink, who rolled in a 35-foot eagle putt at the last for a 69.

Joe Durant was a further stroke back in third at nine under after a 67.

Australia's Aaron Baddeley (71) was in a group of players in a tie for fourth on seven under, 11 shots behind Woods.

Woods, bidding for his fourth successful title at Torrey Pines, produced a six-birdie display that could have been even better but for a missed four-foot birdie putt at the second.

His 54-hole lead shattered the previous tournament best of five set by Gene Littler in 1954 and equalled by Bob Goalby in 1967 and JC Snead in 1976...

Read the complete golf news story

Wierdest golf story ever (and pretty disturbing too)!

Yep this one takes the cake as the most strange story I have ever heard (not just about golf either). I read it in my local paper and didn't even believe it at first (and still can't really).

Golf workers fired over Caddy snack

TWO golf club employees in Hawaii have been charged after stealing a patron's dog while he was playing a round, then killing and eating it.

Witnesses told Moanalua Golf Club officials they saw Saturnino Palting, 58, and Nelson Domingo, 43, put the German shepherd-labrador dog named Caddy into a car and drive away at the end of their shift on December 16,.

The dog's owner, Frank Manuma, said he tied up eight-month-old Caddy while he played a round of golf but the dog was gone when he came back, the Associated Press said.

The club fired the workers and investigators later told Mr Manuma they had butchered and ate his pet.

Mr Manuma said he and his wife considered the dog like a child they never had.

A grand jury indicted Palting and Domingo on theft and animal cruelty charges, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $US10,000 ($11,370) fine.


I would love to hear what you think - please leave a comment!

Friday, January 25, 2008

Golf News: Buick invitational Round 2 Wrap

Tiger Woods, back in action after a five-week break, overcame a second successive day of wayward driving to take control of the Buick Invitational.

Two off the pace overnight, the world number one forged four strokes clear with a sparkling seven-under-par 65 in the second round at a sun-drenched Torrey Pines.

Woods piled up seven birdies in a bogey-free display on the North Course, the easier of the two par-72 layouts hosting the fourth event on the PGA Tour.

That left him at 12-under 132, ahead of American rookie Kevin Streelman who birdied the last for a 69 on the longer South Course to secure second place.

Australian Aaron Baddeley was a further two strokes back at six under after a 67 on the North Course.

"It was the same thing as yesterday, low left and high right," Woods told reporters of his tee shots after finding only six fairways out of 14.

"I've got to get that organised. When I tried to steer it out there today it wasn't very good."

Despite his struggles off the tee, Woods covered his back nine in four-under 32...

Read the complete golf news story

Sports


In my opinion sports are one of the best inventions man has ever made. Sports have united countries, caused wars, created friendships and rivalries, provided us with some of the most memorable moments and upsets, and made those holidays bearable. However, some people believe that the best part about sports is being able to put a few dollars on the game and make it more exciting to watch. I must admit that I am not one of these people - I enjoy sports without the thrill of gambling on them, but I can understand why people do it.

football betting is big business and it really doesn't matter if you are talking about soccer football or American football - they are both really popular. However you can bet on almost everything these days and online betting is so popular (and easy I must say) these days. Betfair is one of these online sites and it is one of the more popular sports betting sites. As you would expect the site is really well designed and is too easy to use. You will be able to find almost everything and anything to bet on. If you are into sports betting online it would be worth checking them out. Like I always say though - remember to gamble responsibly.

Golf News: Qatar Golf Masters Round 2 Wrap

Swede Johan Edfors shot a scintillating six under par 66 to take a two-shot lead going into the third round at the 2.5 million dollar Qatar Masters on Friday.

Edfors, who was tied for the second place in a pack of six players on 69 at the end of the first round on Thursday, blazed a birdie trail at the Doha Golf course on a day when the chill caught many by surprise.

He hit the best score of the tournament so far, which included seven birdies and a bogey on the fourth.

Enjoying a purple patch on the front nine, he picked up successive birdies on the fifth, sixth and seventh holes to set himself up nicely for the rest of the tournament with an aggregate of nine-under-par 135.

Trailing Edfors by two shots were South African Charl Schwartzel and England's Lee Westwood on seven-under-par 137, while Sweden's Alexander Noren, South African Anton Haig, Englishmen Ross McGowan and David Howell were in third place a shot behind.

Westwood, the joint overnight leader, stroked a 70 in the second round following his 67 in Thursday, a dropped shot on the 14th hole denying him a clear-cut second spot.

England's Paul Casey, former winner Joakim Haeggman and Abu Dhabi champion Martin Kaymer was among those who missed the cut which was set at 145...

Read the complete golf news story

Holidays - you can't spend all your time playing golf


When you go on a holiday you can't spend all your time golfing can you? I remember my trip to Vegas wasn't just filled with golf :-) I went on tours of the Madame Tussauds Las Vegas Wax Museum, the Grand canyon and even visited the Hoover Dam. I also packing in a fair bit of golf and spending (or rather losing) a few dollars in the many many casinos! On one of my tours I met one of the extras from the movie Troy and had a grand old time asking questions about the making of the movie and what it was like to work on a movie set! If you are interested in taking some Vegas tours there really is heaps to do!

Trusted Tours & Attractions are a really top quality travel company that can hook you up to some great sightseeing tours all over the US. They have tours for most of the major cities and their website is really well setup and easy to use. I found exactly what I was looking for without any trouble. At the moment they are running a promotion where if you sign up to their newsletter you can win a handheld GPS. If you are looking for a tour in the US then I would recommend giving their website a visit.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Golf News: Buick invitational Round 1 Wrap

American Troy Matteson fired a seven-under 65 to grab a one-shot lead after Thursday's opening round of the 5.2 million dollar PGA Buick Invitational.

Tiger Woods, who is making his season-opening appearance, was one of four golfers at five-under 67 and is two shots back.

Matteson was one shot ahead of fellow American Brad Adamonis, who shot a 66 on the north course.

Matteson played Thursday on Torrey Pines' south course which will be showcased later in June when it plays host to the 2008 US Open. He posted eight birdies and one bogey.

"I played the south course earlier this week and didn't break par either day I played it," said Matteson, who hit 11 of 14 fairways. "For the Open it's going to be tough. I know I missed a few fairways."

The only other score in the top 12 from the demanding south course was by Woods, the three-time defending champion.

Woods was tied with South African Rory Sabbatini, Australian Stuart Appleby and American Kevin Streelman at 67.

A half dozen golfers, including Charles Howell, were three shots behind Matteson.

This was the first tournament of 2008 for Woods, who at one point was tied for the lead before a bogey on 16 dropped him back a stroke.

This is also the season opener for Phil Mickelson. The lefthanded American shot a two-under 70 on the north course to lie five shots adrift of Matteson...

Read the complete golf news story

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Retief Goosen Swing Vision

I guess this post is a little ironic - swing vision of someone having trouble with their vision, but I thought that it might be of interest. Retief certainly has an awesome swing and he will be missed from the Qatar Masters as he tries to overcome this vision problem. Enjoy.

Womens Golf Apparel

In the US there are approximately 5.76 million female golfers which make up 22% of the countries golfing population and I would assume that these figures are growing every year. This means that the range and choice of Womens Golf Apparel is increasing and everyone should be able to find something fashionable to wear on the golf course.

The website golf sophisticate offers some of the most modern and fashionable Womens Golf Clothes that I have ever seen. The range of products is very good and the prices and shipping seem very reasonable. They stock many popular brands including Tehama Golf, Fairway and Greene, Sport Haley, EP pro and many more. The website is really well designed and navigation is a breeze - I found what I was looking for within a minute. If you are looking for womens golf clothes then I would recommend visiting their website - My wife is placing here order now!

Goosen withdraws with vision problems

The title may be a little misleading, Goosen doesn't have a lack of drive, goals or vision, but a problem with his eyes after corrective laser surgery:

Retief Goosen's hopes of becoming the first golfer to win the European Tour's Qatar Masters on two occasions were wrecked on Wednesday when he was forced to withdraw with vision problems.

The South African came to Doha after undergoing corrective laser surgery ten days ago but during practice on Tuesday, his vision in one eye began to blur. He immediately travelled to Dubai for further treatment and was hopeful of playing the event even on Tuesdy night. However, he announced his withdrawal Wednesday morning, saying he was still having problems with his vision.

Goosen said: "I am obviously very sad that I am unable to defend my title. I came all this way to play but unfortunately the eye is causing a problem.

"I thought it would come good but it hasn't. I went to Dubai yesterday and the advice was to go back to London for treatment.

"It is a shame as I love this event, love this course and I can't remember the last time I pulled out of a tournament."

The absence of Goosen, twice a winner of the US Open, is a body blow for a tournament that has grown in stature over the last few years and taken its central role in what has become known as the "Desert Swing" which includes the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and the Dubai Desert Classic.

Goosen joins fellow South African Ernie Els on the sidelines following the latter's decision to skip Doha this year and play instead in the Indian Masters...

Read the complete golf news story

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Asian golfers invited to the masters

Asian Tour stars Liang Wen-chong, Jeev Milkha Singh and Prayad Marksaeng have expressed delight after receiving special invitations to compete in The Masters tournament in April.

The trio were over the moon Tuesday after learning they will compete in the year's first major and have vowed to perform admirably at Augusta National Golf Club to reinforce the rise of Asian golf.

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han said their invitations were further recognition of the Tour's growing stature.

"We are delighted for our three players. It is another endorsement for the Asian Tour," said Kyi, adding that he was grateful for the "belief and vision for golf in Asia".

"I am confident that Liang Wen-chong, Prayad Marksaeng and Jeev Milkha Singh will fly the Asian Tour flag proudly at Augusta National in their quest to challenge the world's best golfers."

Augusta National chairman Billy Payne announced the names for the April 10-13 tournament on Monday.

"These three individuals are successful, accomplished and talented golfers deserving of a Masters invitation," Payne said. "They are outstanding representatives of their respective countries."

More Asian players can qualify for the Masters by winning a US PGA event or placing among the top 50 on the world golf rankings in the week before the tournament...

Read the complete golf news story

My Thoughts

I have been saying it for a while now, but golf in Asia is gaining strength all the time. When Asians get a chance to play in the English Premier League the TV money follows and I think that golf will also reap the rewards. However, I don't think that this is purely a marketing ploy and I am sure that the Asia players will do themselves and their countries proud.

Web hosting for your golf site

It is no secret that I have been thinking about properly hosting this golf blog away from the blogger servers partially because of the slow speeds the site takes to load some days. Since I created the ultimate golf blog I have started several other projects that I have hosted properly and must say that dedicated hosting is really the only way to go. However, there are literally thousands of choices out there and you really need to find a good website to compare all the options such as web hosting choice . I have personally used their website and it is really simple to use. You can search by monthly cost, disk space, setup fee and bandwidth. If you are looking for a web host then I suggest checking out their site.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Tiger brushes off lynching comment

Tiger Woods says Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman meant no harm when she used the term "lynch" during television commentary about him, and he regards the issue closed as he returns to work this week.

"It was unfortunate," Woods said on Monday in his first public comments since Tilghman was suspended for two weeks. "Kelly and I did speak. There was no ill intent. She regrets saying it. In my eyes, it's all said and done."

Woods spoke at the Tiger Woods Learning Center, where he announced a contest for children to talk about their first "fist-pump" moment. He also unveiled a bronze of his late father, Earl Woods, which will be in the lobby of the educational centre.

The world's No. 1 player will make his 2008 debut at the Buick Invitational in San Diego, which starts on Thursday.

Despite not having played since his season-ending Target World Challenge last month, Woods has been a big part of golf news.

"I've been in that situation before," he said with a slight smile.

Toward the end of the second round at the Mercedes-Benz Championship, Tilghman and analyst Nick Faldo were discussing possible challengers to Woods when Faldo suggested the players gang up on Woods.

"Lynch him in a back alley," Tilghman said, laughing.

Woods' agent had issued a statement before Tilghman was suspended, noting Woods and Tilghman were friends and he considered the matter over.

Under increasing pressure, however, Golf Channel suspended the anchor for two weeks.

The topic was cranked up a notch last week when Golfweek magazine put a noose on the cover of its January 19 issue, which drew more criticism and an unusually sharp rebuke from US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem.

Golfweek last week fired Dave Season, the editor responsible for the cover.

Woods said he never felt pressure to speak out on the use of "lynch," which stirs graphic reminders of the American South in which 3,466 blacks were lynched from 1882 to 1968.

"It was more media-driven than anything else," Woods said.

He said several people contacted him because they were curious what he thought.

"I tell them she's a friend of mine, which she is," Woods said. "I've known her for 10 or 11 years now. We all say things we do regret, and that's certainly a moment she does regret."

AAP

Golf and the law


From time to time golfers get into trouble and sometimes they are not even on the golf course at the time. Recently a very famous Australian footballer was caught speeding on his way to the golf course exceeding the speed limit by a whopping 88 kmh (about 54 miles). When things go wrong it is important to have a very good lawyer (or two) to represent your case. If you have are in LA then a visit to Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys | California DUI Felony Misdemeanor Lawyers might be worthwhile.

This post should not be taken as legal advice

Sunday, January 20, 2008

The ultimate golf blog is back

After a week on holiday I am glad to be back to my blog and without access to the Internet I missed all the big news like the Tiger Woods lynching story gaining more media attention as magazine editor Dave Seanor being fired for using a graphic of a noose on the front page of a popular golfing magazine.

This year I have heaps of stuff planned for the blog and I am going to continue to update at least once daily so my regular readers always have something new each day.

Oh and if anyone is interested I had a great trip (no golf though)

Golf with glasses


If you use corrective lenses on the golf course you will know how easy it is to damage them looking in the trees for your ball - thats why I always carry a cheap back up pair that I use only for golfing. These days through the magic of the web you can pick up prescription glasses for as little a $8 with UV protection. If you are interested in some cheap glasses for sports, other activities or you just want a cheap spare pair of glasses I recommend a visit to the website Thank you for using Zenni Optical

Friday, January 11, 2008

Holidays - (the ultimate golf blog returns in one week)

Well that time of the year has come again - I am going on holidays. I will be back in a week, but if you really need an ultimate golf blog fix then I am going to leave you with the most popular posts of 2007.

1. FedEx Cup Explained
The most popular post of 2007 (by a long way) was my Fedex Cup explained post - I guess that makes sense because no one could work out how it all worked and when they did it still didn't make much sense. This post had over 200 visitors in one day alone!

2. Tiger Woods PGA Tour video review
There must be a few Tiger Woods video games fans out there because this happens to be the second most popular post.

3. Q School 2008
I was late with the info got some of it wrong and forgot to name the post something memorable, but this post just kept getting visitors.

4. Preview Target World Challenge
I don't have any idea why this is 4th maybe you all really love this tournament?

5. Equipment review maxfli noodle long and soft
It makes sense that this is high up on the list. People seem to be searching for reviews of golf stuff everywhere.

5. Ben Hogans Golf Tips
Equal 5th this little post took off and ranks second for time spent reading/watching.

I look forward to being back with you in a week.

If you have a favorite or memorable post please leave a comment

Online golf superstore

Buying golf equipment online is becoming more and more popular. I think the reason for this is that online retailers have fewer costs than a store and can pass the savings onto the consumers. I still recommend trying out golf clubs before buying them, but it is easy to try them in store and then order the same model online.

Today I came across the online golf superstore and I was surprised at the amount of golf equipment they had on offer. They carry everything from balls and clubs to tees, shoe bags and training aids. I would be surprised if you couldn't find what you were looking for - I certainly did. They offer discount golf clubs, but they still carry quality products and are certainly one of the better online stores I have visited. If you are looking for some cheap golf clubs I would recommend a visit to their website.

Sony Open - Day 1 Wrap

SOUTH Korea's KJ Choi reeled off six birdies in a blemish-free display to grab a one-shot lead in the Sony Open first round.

Bidding for his seventh PGA Tour title, Choi fired a six-under-par 64 in surprisingly calm conditions at Waialae Country Club to take control of the second event of the 2008 season.

The 37-year-old Korean rolled in an 11-foot birdie putt at the 15th to move into a four-way tie for the lead before edging ahead with another birdie at the par-five last.

Americans Heath Slocum, Steve Marino and Jimmy Walker had to settle for joint-second spot after opening with 65s.

Nathan Green was the best of the Australians after shooting a two-under 68 with Aaron Baddeley and Matt Jones a further shot back.

“In practice I felt my shots were coming back, that I was getting into my rhythm,” Choi said after getting up and down from a greenside bunker on the final hole.

“Last week I had a bit of trouble with the putting. But this week I felt like my putting was coming back, and I felt very good. I'm adjusting to the course very well.”

Choi, who tied for 28th in a winners-only field of 31 at the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship, needed only 25 putts at Waialae where he was urged on by the galleries.

“It's a good vibe that I'm feeling,” he said. “With all the local fans supporting me, I feel a lot of support out there. They are treating me well.”

Slocum was delighted with his first round on the 2008 PGA Tour.

“A very good opening to the year,” the 33-year-old said after piling up five birdies on a bogey-free card.

“I played really solid, hit some quality iron shots and made some putts. We got a little break with the wind because we're definitely accustomed to windier days here. I'm definitely very pleased and hopefully can carry it over for the rest of the week.”

South African Rory Sabbatini, one of five members of the world's top 11 competing this week, moved into contention with a four-birdie 66.

“Even though I didn't drive the ball as well as my stats showed, I felt like I hit the ball very well,” the four-times PGA Tour winner said after signing off with an eagle at the last.

“I'm giving myself a lot of opportunities out there for birdies and that's key out here. The rough is definitely up and if you hit it, it's penalising. I'm extremely happy with my position so far.”

Sabbatini was among a group of nine bunched on 66, including American Chad Campbell, Swede Daniel Chopra and PGA Tour rookie Kenneth Ferrie of Britain.

World No.4 Jim Furyk, the 1996 champion, opened with a 68 while 2005 winner Vijay Singh returned a 70.

AAP

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Kelly Tilghman suspended! Your thoughts?

cable television network The Golf Channel has suspended one of its presenters for two weeks for making a racially sensitive comment at the expense of world No.1 Tiger Woods.

Anchor Kelly Tilghman, a former playing professional, joked in a telecast with Nick Faldo that players bidding to challenge Woods might have to "lynch him in a back alley''.

The Golf Channel said it regretted Tilghman's remarks and had decided to suspend her for two weeks.

"There is simply no place on our network for offensive language like this,'' it said in a statement.

"While we believe that Kelly's choice of words were inadvertent and that she did not intend them in an offensive manner, the words were hurtful and grossly inappropriate.''

Tilghman apologised for the remark, which was made after Friday's second round at the PGA Tour's season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

"On Friday, during our golf broadcast, Nick Faldo and I were discussing Tiger's dominance in the golf world and I used some poorly chosen words,'' she said.

"I have known Tiger for 12 years and I have apologised directly to him. I also apologise to our viewers who may have been offended by my comments.''

Mark Steinberg, Woods's agent, said in a statement that the story was a non-issue.

"This story is a non-issue in our eyes,'' he said in a statement.

"Tiger and Kelly are friends and Tiger has a great deal of respect for Kelly.

"Regardless of the choice of words used we know unequivocally that there was no ill-intent in her comments.''

Tilghman is working as an anchor for a second consecutive season with The Golf Channel, which became the PGA Tour's exclusive cable partner in a 15-year deal starting in 2007.

Reuters

Your Thoughts
I haven't had much time to ponder this news yet, but I would be really interested in what you think about all this! Please leave a comment!

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Golf Jokes - The True Rules of Golf (Part 2)

The True Rules of Golf Part 2

  • The shortest distance between any two points on a golf course is a
    straight line that passes directly through the center of a very large tree.
  • There are two kinds of bounces: unfair bounces, and bounces just the
    way you meant to play it.
  • You can hit a 2-acre fairway 10% of the time, and a 2-inch branch
    90% of the time.
  • Every time a golfer makes a birdie, he must subsequently make two triple bogeys to restore the fundamental equilibrium of the universe.
  • If you want to hit a 7-iron as far as Tiger Woods does, simply try to lay up just short of a water hazard.
  • To calculate the speed of a player's downswing, multiply the speed of his backswing by his handicap. Example: backswing 20 mph, handicap 15, downswing 600 mph.
  • There are two things you can learn by stopping your backswing at the top
    and checking the position of your hands: how many hands you have, and which one is wearing the glove.
  • Hazards attract. Fairways repel.
  • You can put "draw" on the ball, you can put "fade" on the ball, but no golfer can put "straight" on the ball.
  • A ball you can see in the rough from 50 yards away is not yours.
  • If there is a ball in the fringe and a ball in the bunker, your ball is the one in
    the bunker
  • If both balls are in the bunker, yours is in the footprint.
  • Don't buy a putter until you've had a chance to throw it.

DVD region - golf DVD's from overseas

I wanted to watch a golf instructional DVD that I ordered from the US only to discover it wouldn't work on my player. Luckily in my country the high court ruled that region lockouts breached fair trade and market competition practices. This means that DVD players for sale need to be region free or be able to unlock. The problem is that you need a code to unlock your dvd player and computer DVD drive region lockouts are still in effect. With the software at http://www.dvdunlocker.com/ you can get the codes you need to unlock your DVD and the software to unlock the DVD region of your computers DVD drive. If you need play region free DVD then I recommend a visit to their website.

Golf Jokes - The True Rules of Golf (Part 1)

The True Rules of Golf - Part 1

  • The game of golf is 90% mental and 10% mental.
  • If you want to get better at golf, go back and take it up at a much earlier age.
  • Since bad shots come in groups of three, a fourth bad shot is actually the beginning of the next group of three.
  • When you look up and cause an awful shot, you will always look down again at exactly the moment when you ought to start watching the ball if you ever want to see it again.
  • Any change works for a maximum of three holes and a minimum of not at all.
  • No matter how bad you are playing, it is always possible to play worse
  • Never keep more than 300 separate thoughts in your mind during your swing.
  • When your shot has to carry over a water hazard, you can either hit one
    more club or two more balls.
  • Golfers who claim they don't cheat, also lie.
  • If you're afraid a full shot might reach the green while the foursome ahead
    of you is still putting out, you have two options: you can immediately shank
    a lay-up, or you can wait until the green is clear and top a ball halfway there.
  • The less skilled the player, the more likely he is to share his ideas about the golf swing.
  • The inevitable result of any golf lesson is the instant elimination of the one critical unconscious motion that allowed you to compensate for all your errors.
  • If it ain't broke, try changing your grip.
  • It's not a gimme if you're still away.
  • Everyone replaces his divot after a perfect approach shot.
  • A golf match is a test of your skill against your opponent's luck.
  • It's surprisingly easy to hole a 50-foot putt when you lie 10.
  • Counting on your opponent to inform you when he breaks a rule is like expecting him to make fun of his own haircut.

Recover deleted files - golf media included


Deleting a file that you really needed is probably the worst thing that can happen on the computer - but even after you have deleted a file and emptied the recycle bin your computer still keeps the file and with the right software these files can be recovered. At the http://www.file-saver.com/ website you can find a great file recovery program that will recover your undeleted files in just seconds. So if you have deleted that all important document, photo, video of your golf swing or any other kind of file you can recover it in full - remember that the sooner you run a recovery program the better chance you will have of recovering it. If you are looking for file recovery program then I recommend a visit to their website.

Tiger is not everyone's number 1

TIGER Woods has humbled opponents for more than a decade; made a mockery of the world's toughest courses; and forced golf's establishment to rethink the game's equipment, its tournament scheduling, even its dress code.

Less well-known is the mess Woods has made for fantasy golfers.

Though less prominent than the juggernaut of fantasy football, fantasy golf leagues are offered by Yahoo, ESPN, NBC Sports and the Golf Channel, among others.

These leagues usually operate by the same general principles used in other fantasy sports - you draft a "team" composed of the players you think will shoot the lowest scores, win the most tournaments or earn the most prizemoney in the year, then you watch them compete against the various imaginary teams assembled by your dimwit friends.

This week, as many fantasy golf leagues conduct their drafts, a lot of them are having to make up the rules as they go.

Golf keeps resisting their efforts to turn it into a parlour game.

Problem No.1 is Tiger.

He's so much better than anyone else that the fantasy player who selects him nearly always wins.

Despite capturing only one Major title last year, Tiger won seven of the 16 events he entered, finished 15 times in the top 25 and earned $US5million more than anyone else on the USPGA Tour.

To adjust for his dominance, many leagues take the easy way out: they simply declare him off-limits.

Others have tried to punish would-be Tiger owners by switching to an auction format rather than a draft, which forces them to pay a high price for his services, while a few leagues only allow him to be rented by the month.

Another challenge for fantasy golfers is to pick players who actually finish a fair number of tournaments.

Professionals often will decide at the last minute to sit out a tournament - sometimes because they just don't feel like playing...

Source foxsports golf

I may not know art, but I know what I like

Art is something slightly mysterious to me. I don't really understand it, but I don't mind looking at it or buying some for my house. If you are looking at purchasing some fine art then Park West Gallery may have what you are looking for. The gallery is located in Southfield, Michigan and they conduct fine art auctions at locations around the USA and Canada. Their website is well designed and is really easy to navigate. You can view titles by artist and then view or purchase these items. If you are looking for fine art then I can recommend a visit to their website.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Golf instruction: Bump and Run (Video)

While it is not regarded as a very glamorous shot the bump and run should be a shot in every golfers arsenal. This great little instructional video will give you the basics you need to play this great little shot. As always practice makes perfect (or so they keep telling me) and this shot is one that doesn't take too long to learn. I loved watching Greg Norman play this shot and he had one awesome short game.

Just a word of warning though this shot can be very frustrating - for the opposition! A 60 yard bump and run from my brother (he says he meant it) last round that ended up inches from the hole, while my pitch was still yards away, almost had me in tears.

Download golf (and any other) websites

At some stage you have probably wondered if it is possible to download a whole website. Whether for the purpose of downloading a single video or image file or to browse a whole website offline. You could potentially download a whole clip art site (free use only of course) and carry it with you on CD-ROM. If you have been wanting to capture website then http://www.web-site-downloader.com/ has software available for this purpose. The website is well designed and easy to navigate. The software has some really great features like the ability to grab images, video, audio and it even supports broken downloads. If you are looking for this kind of software then I would recommend a visit to the website.

Monday, January 7, 2008

More Golf Quotes

The best wood in most amateurs' bags is the pencil. ~Author Unknown

One under a tree, one under a bush, one under the water. ~Lee Trevino, describing how he was one under during a tournament

Golf is a game in which you yell "fore," shoot six, and write down five. ~Paul Harvey

Through years of experience I have found that air offers less resistance than dirt. ~Jack Nicklaus, on why he tees his ball high.

It is more satisfying to be a bad player at golf. The worse you play, the better you remember the occasional good shot. ~Nubar Gulbenkian, 1972

Talking to a golf ball won't do you any good. Unless you do it while your opponent is teeing off. -Bruce Lansky

Half of golf is fun; the other half is putting. - Peter Dobereiner

I'll always remember the day I broke ninety. I had a few beers in the clubhouse and was so excited I forgot to play the back nine. -Bruce Lansky

Why am I using a new putter? Because the last one didn't float too well. -Craig Stadler

Obviously a deer on the fairway has seen you tee off before and knows that the safest place to be when you play is right down the middle. - Jackie Gleason


Recover lost office passwords


If you have ever forgotten a password for an office file you will know how annoying it can be. However all is not lost - the website http://www.password-studio.com/ has now made available Excel password recovery and other office password recovery software. With this software you can recover the password on any office document potentially saving you the hassle and lost time. The software has a 100% guarantee and will work with Word, Excel and Access versions from 95 to 2007. The website is easy to navigate and you will find all the information you need to know about the product. If you need office password recovery then I recommend a visit to their website.

Golf Quotes

Some great quotes here - more to come later!

Golf is a fascinating game. It has taken me nearly forty years to discover that I can't play it. ~Ted Ray, Golf - My Slice of Life, 1972

Golf is a lot of walking, broken up by disappointment and bad arithmetic. ~Author Unknown

If a lot of people gripped a knife and fork the way they do a golf club, they'd starve to death. ~Sam Snead

The reason the pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can't see him laughing. ~Phyllis Diller

They throw their clubs backwards, and that's wrong. You should always throw a club ahead of you so that you don't have to walk any extra distance to get it. ~Tommy Bolt, about the tempers of modern players

If you're caught on a golf course during a storm and are afraid of lightning, hold up a 1-iron. Not even God can hit a 1-iron. ~Lee Trevino

I'm hitting the woods just great, but I'm having a terrible time getting out of them. ~Harry Toscano

I know I am getting better at golf because I'm hitting fewer spectators. ~Gerald Ford


More Internet Privacy - Remove all traces of golf?


Your computer (or rather Windows itself) is keeping records of every page you visit, log files on every message you write and file you download - even after you delete the history and temporary files! At http://www.evidence-blaster.com/ you will find a powerful program that can remove all these traces of your browsing, downloading, messaging and more. It works as a hard drive cleaner to remove all these traces and you can use it to completely remove all history of the websites you visit. The website is well designed and easy to navigate and would be well worth a visit if you are concerned about your privacy.

Funny Golf Video

This is one of the funniest things I have seen (well today anyway). Just imagine you are in the deep rough yet still want to hit your driver - well then this is the product for you. Imagine the look on your playing partners faces! Hmmm... I wonder if it is on the non conforming driver list.

This is a must watch video (only 19 second long)

Secure web browsing


If you have you ever worried about your privacy on the internet then you have probably heard about the amount of information you leave behind via your IP address. Basically everything you do on the internet your IP address is left behind, which can be a serious security issue. At http://www.hide-my-ip-address.com you can find a great program that will completely hide IP address, which will ensure that you do not leave any traceable evidence behind. This prevents third parties from detecting your identity & penetrating your privacy. The website is easy to use and navigate and the product would be great for posting on forums without giving the owners all your details so you can remain completely anonymous.

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Chopra wins the Mercedes Benz Championship


All those times watching the Mercedes-Benz Championship on television and playing the Plantation Course at Kapalua on a video game could never have prepared Daniel Chopra for his wild playoff victory Sunday.

He twice blew chances to win the tournament on the 18th hole.

He got out of one jam when his chip settled into a sprinkler cup, and he might have avoided another one when Steve Stricker's long putt on the first playoff hole was slowed by hitting Chopra's ball mark. Two birdie putts in the playoff were held up by a blade of grass.

A long, nail-biting start to the PGA TOUR finally ended as the sun dipped below the Pacific's horizon when Chopra two-putted for birdie on the par-5 ninth to beat Stricker in four extra holes.

Chopra, who only qualified for this winners-only tournament with his first PGA Tour victory in the second-to-last event of last year, closed with a 7-under 66 and walked off with a number of prizes.

The Swede earned $1.1 million and a Mercedes-Benz sports car. And his victory earned him his first trip to the Masters.

"I get to go to Augusta, my lifelong dream," Chopra said.

Stricker also had a birdie putt that grazed the lip on the third playoff hole, but on the next hole, he pulled his fairway metal on his approach to the par-5 ninth, chipped 15 feet by the cup and missed the putt that would have sent them to the 18th for a third time.

But it was a valiant comeback for the two-time PGA TOUR Comeback Player of the Year. Stricker birdied three of his last four holes to close with a 64 and force a playoff.

"Building blocks," Stricker said as his voice started to choke, this time more out of disappointment than raw emotion.

It was the first PGA TOUR playoff for both of them, although Chopra lost in a playoff to Aaron Baddeley in November at the Australian Masters. Momentum shifted on just about every shot, as both players had excellent chances to win.

On the first extra hole on the par-5 18th, Stricker putted from 120 feet away just off the green when his ball hit Chopra's large ball mark and took a big hop, losing so much speed that it stopped nearly 10 feet short of the hole. He missed the birdie putt.

Stricker realized the mark was somewhere around his line, but figured odds were low he would hit it.

Turned out he was wrong.

"It wasn't a coin," he said. "In hindsight, I should have had him mark with a penny. It took a lot of speed off. But you learn from that."

Chopra had a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th in regulation to win, but it stopped an inch short. In the playoff, he left his eagle putt some 7 feet short and missed that one to the right, a scene that began to look familiar.

His 25-foot birdie on No. 1, the second playoff hole, looked so good that Chopra raised his putter and began to celebrate, then dropped to his knees and let the putter fall from his hands when the ball stopped on the edge of the cup. The second hole was Stricker's turn to win, and his 15-foot putt just turned away.

Chopra essentially won the tournament with a fairway metal to about 25 feet for eagle, and when that putt again was held up a a blade of Bermuda grass, he must have figured it was not meant for him to win.

"It felt like there was a goalie in the hole," Chopra said.

But it didn't matter when Stricker's chip came out too hot and the birdie putt stayed left of the cup all the way...

Read the complete golf news story

My thoughts
After almost having it won it twice I was really pleased that Chopra held it together to win. He is another golfer I admire and have a lot of time for - congratulations!

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Mercedes Benz Championship - Day 3 wrap

Mike Weir finally got one last birdie putt to fall, and it was enough to put him in the lead Saturday at the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

But even after a 5-under 68 on the most gorgeous day at Kapalua this week, one look at the leaderboard told the Canadian he would need another one just like it on Sunday, if not better.

This working vacation suddenly turned into a grind.

Weir, who missed three straight birdie chances inside 10 feet on the back nine, hit a deft chip to 3 feet for birdie on the par-5 18th that put him at 13-under 206 and gave him a one-shot lead over Nick Watney, who birdied his last two holes for a 67.

"I'm going to have to shoot another low one tomorrow," Weir said.

Daniel Chopra (67) and Jonathan Byrd (69) were another stroke back.

In the 10 years that the season-opening event on the PGA TOUR has been coming to the Plantation Course at Kapalua, there has never been so many players in contention going into the final round. Twelve players were separated by five shots, including defending champion Vijay Singh and Kapalua homeowner Jim Furyk.

"There's a lot of guys that have an opportunity tomorrow," Steve Stricker said after a 68 that left him four shots behind. "For me, it's going to take a real low one to catch him. But it's out there."

Weir had to wait three years to make it back to Kapalua, the longest stretch without winning in his career, and he appears ready to make sure he won't have to do that again. Playing in the final group with Stephen Ames of Calgary, followed along by a gallery with shirts, flags and even tattoos of the Canadian flag, Weir played without a bogey on a soggy course with strong breezes and sensational views.

Read the complete golf news story

Mercedes Benz Championship - Day 2 wrap

CANADIAN Mike Weir holed an 18-foot birdie putt at the last to grab a one-shot lead in the Mercedes-Benz Championship second round Saturday.

Three off the pace at the start of the day, Weir fired a blemish-free six-under-par 67 to take control at the halfway point of the 2008 PGA Tour's opening event.

The former Masters champion rattled up four birdies and an eagle at the par-five ninth for an eight-under total of 138 on the hilly Plantation Course at the Kapalua Resort.

Compatriot Stephen Ames also birdied the final hole, ramming in a 23-footer for a matching 67, to share second place with American Jonathan Byrd (69).

Brandt Snedeker, who held the outright lead for much of the day, had to settle for a tie for fourth at six under after three-putting from 17 feet to bogey the last.

Snedeker, the 2007 PGA Tour rookie of the year, returned a 69 to finish level with overnight leader Nick Watney (72).

Aussie Aaron Baddeley was three off the pace in a tie for sixth after a round of 71...

Read the complete golf news story

Friday, January 4, 2008

Mercedes Benz Championship - Day 1 wrap

AMERICAN Nick Watney fired a five-under-par 68 to seize a one-stroke lead over Daniel Chopra after the first round of the US PGA Tour season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship.

Watney, the winner of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans last year, made six birdies against a lone bogey at the Plantation course to grab the lead in a field of 31 winners from last season that did not include world No.1 Tiger Woods or second-ranked Phil Mickelson.

Their absence until a showdown later this month at the Buick Invitational in Torrey Pines dimmed the interest in this event, but big names were still on hand.

Watney began a run of three birdies in a row at the 3rd hole to seize a quick lead, and he answered a bogey at the 7th with a birdie at the par-five 9th hole before adding birdies at the 15th and 17th holes to secure the top spot.

"I'm very happy with it. It's got to be decent," Watney said of his round.

"Most of the guys that have won are playing here. I'm very pleased, but at the same time it's the first day of the first tournament of the year, so we've got a long ways to go..."

Read the complete golf news story

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Stuart Appleby Swing Vision Video Analysis

There is no hiding my admiration for this guy. I think he is a great guy who happens to be a decent golfer as well. I thought it was appropriate to post Stuart's swing vision analysis for my readers today on the morning of the Mercedes-Benz Championship because he has won the tournament 3 times. Why this early season form has never really followed him around has surprised me, but when it all comes together it is great to watch.

As for the swing vision itself it is one of the cleanest swings I have seen and even though the video is short I have picked up something to try at the range this week. Enjoy.

Waiting for the golf to start - Online Quizes

Well I was sitting here waiting for the golf to start and I thought I would take an fun quiz online (I am on holidays after all). I am sure you have seen them before, you know the type that tells you how old you will live and which Simpson character you are most like etc. It turns out I have a 75% chance of living to 100 years old, which isn't too bad and if I am playing golf for most of those years I will be pretty happy! If you are interested in taking an online quiz take have a visit to the link. Tell me your score!

75%Living to 100 Years Old

Cash for Structured Settlement

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

2008 PGA Tour Schedule

The first tournament is upon us so I thought I would post the 2008 PGA Tour Schedule for the year. I really hope it is going to be a classic season and an Aussie wins at least !one of these events!

Jan 3-6
Mercedes-Benz Championship, Kapalua, Hawaii
Jan 10-13 Sony Open, Honolulu, Hawaii
Jan 16-20 Bob Hope Classic, Palm Desert, California
Jan 24-27 Buick Invitational, San Diego, California
Jan 31-Feb 3 Phoenix Open, Scottsdale, Arizona
Feb 7-10 Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Pebble Beach
Feb 14-17 Northern Trust Open, Pacific Palisades, California
Feb 20-24 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, Tucson
Feb 21-24 Mayakoba Classic, Riviera Maya, Mexico
Feb 29-Mar 2 Honda Classic, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Mar 6-9 Tampa Bay Championship, Tampa Bay, Florida
Mar 13-16 Arnold Palmer Invitational, Orlando, Florida
Mar 20-23 WGC-CA Championship, Miami, Florida
Mar 20-23 Puerto Rico Open, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
Mar 27-30 New Orleans Classic, New Orleans, Lousiana
Apr 3-6 Houston Open, Houston, Texas
Apr 10-13 The Masters, Augusta, Georgia
Apr 17-20 Heritage Classic, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Apr 24-27 Byron Nelson Championship, Irving, Texas
May 1-4 Wachovia Championship, Charlotte, North Carolina
May 8-11 Players Championship, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
May 15-18 Atlanta Classic, Duluth, Georgia
May 22-25 Colonial Invitational, Fort Worth, Texas
May 29-June 1 Memorial tournament, Dublin, Ohio
June 5-8 St. Jude Championship, Memphis, Tennessee
June 12-15 U.S. Open, San Diego, California
June 19-22 Travelers Championship, Cromwell, Connecticut
June 26-29 Buick Open, Grand Blanc, Michigan
July 3-6 AT&T National, Bethesda, Maryland
July 10-13 John Deere Classic, Silvis, Illinois
July 17-20 British Open, Royal Birkdale, England
July 17-20 Milwaukee Championship, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
July 24-27 Canadian Open, Oakville, Ontario
July 31-Aug 3 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Akron, Ohio
July 31-Aug 3 Reno Tahoe Open, Reno, Nevada
Aug 7-10 PGA Championship, Bloomfield, Michigan
Aug 14-17 Wyndham Championship, Greensboro, North Carolina
Aug 21-24 Barclays Classic, Harrison, New York
Aug 29-Sept 1 Deutsche Bank Championship, Massachusetts
Sept 4-7 BMW Championship, St. Louis, Missouri
Sept 19-21 Ryder Cup, Louisville, Kentucky
Sept 18-21 Viking Classic, Madison, Mississippi
Sept 25-28 Tour Championship, Atlanta, Georgia
Oct 2-5 Turning Stone Resort Championship, Verona
Oct 9-12 Texas Open, San Antonio, Texas
Oct 16-19 Las Vegas Open, Las Vegas, Nevada
Oct 23-26 Arizona Open, Scottsdale, Arizona
Oct 30-Nov 2 Ginn sur Mer Classic, Palm Coast, Florida
Nov 6-9 Walt Disney Classic, Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Pragma Systems

My passion is golf and I work in IT - servers in particular. So I know how important it is to have a secure yet reliable network. Pragma Systems have some great client and server software for telnet and ssh connectivity that I have personally used. The software works seamlessly with your existing setup and provides SFTP (secure FTP). If you are looking for some world class network client and server software then I would recommend a visit to the Pragma Systems website.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

2008 PGA Tour is here - how excited are you?

It is time again. Really early tomorrow morning (my time) the PGA tour starts again and I must admit I am more excited this year than any other, possibly because it is will be my first full season as a golf blogger. The Mercedes-Benz Championship is one of my favorite tournaments too probably because Aussie Stuart Appleby has always done very well for himself at Kapalua and I have a real admiration for the guy.

You can read his amazing story in my post hope and love in golf? which I wrote earlier this year.

As for my tip for the tournament I have noticed many of the experts tipping Vijay Singh as their tip, but I happen to think that Jim Furyk will have a very good tournament. Whatever happens though I am going to enjoy it!