hot 12BET sports: 12BET Golf News 12/29: Rory McIlroy arrives on world stage LONDON – A year that witnessed the passing of one European golfing legend may have heralded the arrival ...
12BET Golf News 12/29
Rory McIlroy arrives on world stage
LONDON – A year that witnessed the passing of one European golfing legend may have heralded the arrival of another.
Rory McIlroy, a mop-haired Northern Irishman, triggered frenzied talk of becoming a genuine successor to Tiger Woods by powering to an eight-shot win at the U.S. Open at Congressional. At 22, he was the second-youngest player to win a major since 1934.
What made McIlroy's first Grand Slam success all the more remarkable was that it came two months after he blew a four-shot lead in the final round of the Masters, shooting a closing 80 in one of golf's more memorable meltdowns.
"He's a breath of fresh air for the game," said Graeme McDowell, McIlroy's close friend who won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in 2010. "Perhaps we're ready for golf's next superstar and maybe Rory is it."
One of the sport's cleanest hitters, McIlroy has every shot in his bag and the clinic he produced at Congressional brought back memories of Woods' 15-shot win at Pebble Beach in 2000.
The American's haul of 14 majors — four short of Jack Nicklaus— is now in the sights of McIlroy, who finished the year as the world's second-ranked player.
"I was trying to go out there today and emulate him in some way," McIlroy said of Woods after his final round at the U.S. Open.
So what of the former No. 1? By his very high standards, it was another year to forget.
No major wins, more injuries (leg, knee, Achilles tendon) and even a fine for spitting on the green during the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic in February, further tarnishing his name almost a year after vowing to improve his behavior following the sex scandal that ended his marriage.- http://www.usatoday.com
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/28
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/28: OZAKI GETS TROPHY NOD 2012 Ryder Cup. Japan's Naomichi Ozaki is to continue as Asia captain for next year's Royal Trophy against Europe. ...
GOLF news 12BET update 12/28
OZAKI GETS TROPHY NOD 2012 Ryder Cup.
Japan's Naomichi Ozaki is to continue as Asia captain for next year's Royal Trophy against Europe.
The 55-year-old has led the team for the last four editions of the match play tournament after his compatriot Masahiro Kuramoto took charge for the inaugural event in 2006.
The 2012 event will take place in Brunei from 14-16 December and will be played in honour of Seve Ballesteros, Europe's captain for the first two years, who died in May after a lengthy battle against cancer.
"I am certain that the eight members of the Asian Team will play their hearts out in honour of Seve's career and life," said Ozaki, whose only success as captain came in 2009.
"I have great memories of Seve during my years playing full-time internationally, of the times he played in our tour in Japan and of captaining against him at the Royal Trophy in 2007."
Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal will lead the European team, taking over the captaincy from Colin Montgomerie, who skippered the side to a 9-7 victory earlier this year. htp://www.sportinglife.com
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/27
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/27: Broadhurst makes Tour admission Paul Broadhurst has conceded that his days on the European Tour are all but over. The 46-year-old has se...
GOLF news 12BET update 12/27
Broadhurst makes Tour admission
Paul Broadhurst has conceded that his days on the European Tour are all but over.
The 46-year-old has seen his hopes of securing a 2012 tour card dashed after he failed to make the cut at a tour school event at Spain’s Catalunya Resort.
Having first earned a place on the European Tour 22 years ago, the veteran admits he now expects his playing days to be more focused on the Challenge Tour.
"It does look like the end for me in terms of playing on the tour," the Englishman was quoted as saying by the Tamworth Herald.
"Golf is changing around me, the standard is getting higher and higher.
"I shot 16 birdies yet came out only one under – there were far too many errors and I was always up against it.
"When you look at it there are only two players on the Tour who are older than me, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Colin Montgomerie – and even he only plays here and there now.
"I've noticed that I do not read the greens as well as I used to do, and I am shooting an average of 2.5 putts more than in previous years – that's massive, you can't overlook that.
"I've looked into if there's anything I can get done with my short vision, because my long distance is brilliant, but there's nothing that can be done.
"I've just got to get on with it."
Broadhurst is also set to turn to golf coaching, adding: "I feel like I have plenty to give but we will see " - http://www.setanta.com/
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/26
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/26: DONALD SCOOPS ANOTHER AWARD Luke Donald can add another accolade to his long list after winning the Golf Writers Trophy for 2011 ahead of...
GOLF news 12BET update 12/26
DONALD SCOOPS ANOTHER AWARD
Luke Donald can add another accolade to his long list after winning the Golf Writers Trophy for 2011 ahead of joint runners-up Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy.
"Any award you win gives you a great amount of pleasure and for the golf writers to consider me as their player of the year means a lot, it really does," Donald said.
"These are the people who really understand golf and appreciate all that I have achieved this year.
"All the people in the running - Rory, Darren, the Solheim Cup team and the Walker Cup team - would have been worthy winners and therefore it is very gratifying to get the vote ahead of all of them."
Donald reached world number one in May, won the final event of the PGA Tour season in America to be their leading money-winner and then completed an unprecedented double by taking the European Tour title as well despite competing in only 13 counting tournaments.
Clarke, who won The Open 20 years after his first appearance in it, said: "What Luke Donald has achieved this year is unbelievable, I'm full of admiration for him."
McIlroy shot a record score in becoming the youngest US Open champion since 1923 and did so only two months after blowing the US Masters with a closing round of 80.
The Solheim Cup team came fourth in the vote and captain Alison Nicholas said: "It proves the strength of men's and women's professional golf in Europe at present and highlights the young and fearless talent that is coming through."
That was underlined by the unexpected Walker Cup victory over the United States at Royal Aberdeen, with that side finishing fifth in the poll.
Donald will receive the trophy - first awarded in 1951 - at a dinner during The Open Championship at Royal Lytham in July. - http://www.sportinglife.com
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/25
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/25: Casey looks ahead to 2012 Paul Casey is looking to put a disappointing year behind him as he prepares for what he hopes will be a successfu...
GOLF news 12BET update 12/25
Casey looks ahead to 2012
Paul Casey is looking to put a disappointing year behind him as he prepares for what he hopes will be a successful 2012.
The Englishman has struggled to find his best form over the past 12 months, largely down to a foot injury that was not diagnosed until later into the year.
The season started well for the 34-year old as he picked up the European Tour's Volvo Golf Champions event in Bahrain in January, but afterwards he only won one other tournament - on the Korean Tour in October.
Casey admits it has been a difficult year to get through but has high hopes for 2012.
"It's been incredibly frustrating," he said. "The trouble with the toe injury was that I didn't really know what was going on until it was too late.
"I picked it up in late May, battled through it and I didn't really get a full diagnosis until August.
"By then, it was too late to take a medical (exemption) so I tried to play through it and got into a lot of bad habits.
"My very lofty goals I haven't yet achieved so they're going to be the same in 2012, and those will be the majors and World Golf (Championships) events." - http://www.setanta.com
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/23
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/23: Dyson eyes Ryder Cup berth Simon Dyson is targeting a place on the European Ryder Cup team after narrowly missing out on the 2010 event at...
GOLF news 12BET update 12/23
Dyson eyes Ryder Cup berth
Simon Dyson is targeting a place on the European Ryder Cup team after narrowly missing out on the 2010 event at Celtic Manor.
The 34-year-old has made great strides over the past few years and won twice on the European Tour this year, with victory in the Irish Open and Holland's KLM Open.
He is currently 16th in the Ryder Cup points list and 28th in the world rankings with every chance that both of those positions will improve if he continues to progress in 2012.
The York-born star just missed out on qualification for Colin Montgomerie's side last time out, who went on to regain the trophy in Wales by the narrowest of margins.
Dyson feels he is now a better player than 12 months ago and is hoping that his performances over the next seven or eight months can end in a place in Europe's elite 12 to face the USA on their own patch.
"I think I've improved from last year and if I can just keep doing what I'm doing, then I've got a very good chance," he told BBC Radio York. "I'm not going to beat myself up about it trying to get in it, I'm just going to let my golf do the talking."
Dyson finished in a tie for ninth at the Open Championship and won more than 1.6m euros in 2011 but the Manchester resident insists he is more concerned with winning titles and making the Ryder Cup team than amassing huge prize funds.
"If I keep playing how I have done for the last three months, if I don't get in it, they'll have a very strong side. If I do, fantastic," he added.
"It's not really about the money for me. It's about trying to achieve as much as I can. I've had six wins now which is pretty good." - http://www.setanta.com
hot 12BET sports: 12BET Golf News Update 12/22
hot 12BET sports: 12BET Golf News Update 12/22: Peter Uihlein turns pro with an eye on Europe JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP)—Former U.S. Amateur champion Peter Uihlein is turning pro and is willi...
12BET Golf News Update 12/22
Peter Uihlein turns pro with an eye on Europe
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP)—Former U.S. Amateur champion Peter Uihlein is turning pro and is willing to travel.In a decision that reflects the changing nature of a global game, Uihlein announced Monday he would not return for his final semester at Oklahoma State and will begin his career exclusively on the European Tour, not only through sponsor exemptions but even on Europe’s second-tier Challenge Tour.Uihlein, one of America’s top prospects, signed with Chubby Chandler of British-based International Sports Management, joining a stable that includes Lee Westwood, British Open champion Darren Clarke and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.
The idea of turning pro in January was to give the 22-year-old Uihlein an entire year to try to earn full status on a major tour. What makes this decision unusual was an American starting off in Europe.“There has been a great list of players who cut their teeth in Europe,” Uihlein said, mentioning Adam Scott, Rory McIlroy and Schwartzel. “They all started in Europe and gained great experience by playing different courses. It’s a new challenge.”
Uihlein will make his pro debut against the best. He is to play Jan. 26-29 in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, a tournament that boasts one of the strongest fields of the year with defending champion Martin Kaymer, world No. 1 Luke Donald, McIlroy, Westwood and Tiger Woods.
He also is expected to play in the Qatar Masters and Dubai Desert Classic, and possibly the Avantha Masters in India.
Uihlein won the U.S. Amateur in 2010 at Chambers Bay and was the No. 1 amateur in the world for 12 months. He played on two Walker Cup teams, twice was named AJGA Player of the Year and won nine amateur and college tournaments in an 18-month span. He was the Ben Hogan Award winner in 2011.
Taking advantage of a rule that allows amateurs to go to Q-school, he failed to advance out of the second stage on the PGA Tour, and two weeks ago at the European Tour qualifier in Spain.Uihlein is the youngest son of Acushnet chief executive Wally Uihlein, who has a keen understanding of the global nature of golf.
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/21
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/21: THE 2012 EUROPEAN TOUR INTERNATIONAL The 2012 European Tour International Schedule, announced today, features true worldwide competition c...
GOLF news 12BET update 12/21
THE 2012 EUROPEAN TOUR INTERNATIONAL
The 2012 European Tour International Schedule, announced today, features true worldwide competition celebrating both the diversity and the shared passion for golf across the globe.
From the curtain-raising Africa Open – which gets underway at the East London Golf Club on Thursday January 5 – through to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai at the Jumeirah Golf Estates – which culminates on Sunday November 25 – The 2012 European Tour International Schedule will present 11 months of enthralling tournament action.
All five continents – Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Australasia – will stage tournaments and while the schedule currently features 46 counting events towards The 2012 Race to Dubai – in addition to The 2012 Ryder Cup – further tournament announcements will be made in due course.
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/20
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/20: Confident Westy raring to go Lee Westwood is looking for more of the same in the New Year after moving up to second in the rankings with vi...
GOLF news 12BET update 12/20
Confident Westy raring to go
Lee Westwood is looking for more of the same in the New Year after moving up to second in the rankings with victory in Thailand.
The 38-year-old has enjoyed another solid year on tour and has finished 2011 with only Luke Donald above him in the standings, courtesy of his amazing display in the Far East.
The talented Englishman managed to bounce back from a disappointing 73 on Saturday to card a 69 on Sunday and win by seven shots to claim his second title in the last three events.
The Worksop-born star has enjoyed considerable success in Asia this year with victory in the Indonesian Masters and South Korea's Ballantine's Championship before destroying the field in Bangkok last week.
He also recently triumphed in South Africa's Nedbank Golf Challenge to end the year in a positive frame of mind and head into next year full of confidence.
Westwood will play the majority of his golf on the PGA Tour in 2012 as he continues his quest for an elusive first major and is determined to keep improving and begin next year firing on all cylinders.
"I'm going to continue to work on my fitness and all aspects of my game," he told Sky Sports. "I'm going in the right direction, I can see a lot of improvement and I'm happy with the way I've finished the year, I've won two out of my last three events.
"I'll go into the winter with a lot of confidence and I'll try to come out next year playing the same kind of golf as I played this week, a little bit leaner and well rested." - http://www.setanta.com
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/19
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/19: Ian Poulter wins Australian Masters England's Ian Poulter won the Australian Masters on Sunday, spoiling Geoff Ogilvy's bid for a victory ...
GOLF news 12BET update 12/19
Ian Poulter wins Australian Masters
England's Ian Poulter won the Australian Masters on Sunday, spoiling Geoff Ogilvy's bid for a victory on his boyhood course.
Poulter, two strokes behind Ogilvy entering the round, closed with a 4-under 67 in windy conditions to finish at 15-under 269 at Victoria Golf Club.
``To come down here the week before Christmas and to win this tournament is very special,'' Poulter said. ``I had a message from (former champion) Justin Rose, who said, `Put a nice gold jacket in your wardrobe like I have,' and it's nice to do that.''
Marcus Fraser had a 64 to finish second, three strokes back. Ogilvy, the 2006 U.S. Open champion who matched the course record with a 63 on Saturday, shot a 73 to end up third at 11 under.
Poulter erased Ogilvy's lead with a 15-foot eagle putt on the short par-4 first hole.
The Englishman birdied the seventh to take the outright lead and added another on the ninth - after nearly making another eagle - to make the turn with a two-shot advantage.
``After the first couple of days when there wasn't much wind people may have thought the Victoria Golf Club was easy, but they were mistaken,'' Poulter said. ``It certainly showed its teeth today.''
Top-ranked Luke Donald had a 72 to tie for 12th at 4 under.
Greg Chalmers failed in his bid to become the second player to complete the Australian Triple Crown, shooting a 74 to join Donald in the group at 4 under. Robert Allenby remains the only player to sweep the Australian Open, PGA and Masters. He accomplished the feat in 2005. - http://www.golf.com
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/18
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/18: POULTER EDGES AHEAD Ian Poulter had his nose in front of playing partner and overnight leader Geoff Ogilvy heading down the home stretch a...
GOLF news 12BET update 12/18
POULTER EDGES AHEAD
Ian Poulter had his nose in front of playing partner and overnight leader Geoff Ogilvy heading down the home stretch at the 2011 JBWere Australian Masters at Victoria Golf Club.
Prepared to chance his arm, Poulter picked up four shots on the front nine to move to 15 under at the turn, two clear of Ogilvy who churned out nine consecutive pars.
Marcus Fraser, who was five under for his round through 14 holes, was holding down outright third place at 10 under.
Ogilvy's two-shot overnight lead was wiped out on the short 233-metre par-four opening hole when Poulter rolled in a five-metre putt for eagle.
The Englishman scrambled to save his par at the second and third and sunk a five-metre par saver at the fifth.
But he seized the lead outright after sinking a five-metre birdie putt at the seventh and maintained the pressure by knocking his approach to the 559-metre par-five ninth within inches of the cup to set up yet another birdie.
Ogilvy, by comparison, was the steadier of the two, but had not been able to take his opportunities.
Putts he had no trouble holing during yesterday's course record-equalling 63 today refused to drop.
Out in 32, world number one Luke Donald got to eight under before dropping shots at 13 and 14.
The best round of the day so far was returned by Queenslander Adam Crawford, a stylish 66.
Rain threatened for much of the day but the storm clouds sweeping across the city thankfully passed the course by, though conditions were extremely blustery. -http://www.sportinglife.com
hot 12BET sports: Thailand Golf Championship (72 Holes) Asia Tour - ...
hot 12BET sports: Thailand Golf Championship (72 Holes) Asia Tour - ...: Tha Thailand Championship has been established with the objective of building the highest profile professional sports event in Thailand wh...
Thailand Golf Championship (72 Holes) Asia Tour - 12BET prediction 12/15 8AM GMT+8
Tha Thailand Championship has been established with the objective of building the highest profile professional sports event in Thailand which will soon become a pillar of the sports calendar for many years to come by inviting the best players around the world to compete at the Thailand’s finest golf course
The Thailand Golf Championship will take up the prestigious position as the Tour’s season-ending tournament offering US$ 1 million prize purse and is listed as the flagship full field event on the Asian Tour’s schedule. To help mark the inaugural Thailand Golf Championship, this year’s US Open champion Rory McIlroy, British Open winner Darren Clarke and world number two Lee Westwood have committed to meet the golf fans in Thailand at Amata Spring Golf and Country Club in Chonburi from December 15-18, 2011.
The gathering of world-class stars and the finest players from the Asian Tour will provide a wonderful and dramatic setting as the season-ending tournament in Asia as well as a perfect opportunity to Thai professionals and amateurs to compete in the premier world-class tournament. - http://www.thailandgolfchampionship.com
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/13
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/13: PRAISE POURS IN FOR DONALD Luke Donald’s fellow professionals have been quick to praise the World Number One’s achievement after he won ...
GOLF news 12BET update 12/13
PRAISE POURS IN FOR DONALD
Luke Donald’s fellow professionals have been quick to praise the World Number One’s achievement after he won The Race to Dubai to become the first player top the Money Lists on both sides of the Atlantic.
RORY MCILROY: “He’s had an incredible year and I hope he now gets the recognition he deserves. I’ve said it throughout this year that I don’t think Luke has been given enough credit for how well he's played. He's been incredible and he's been up there every week. - http://www.europeantour.com
ALVARO QUIROS: “He’s unbelievable. You can never leave this guy behind. He’s always coming back, always coming back and trying to spoil the party for the rest of us! I heard a statistic about his third round stroke average this year is 67.5. That’s unbelievable. Obviously he plays very well under pressure. 
CHARL SHWARZTEL: “What he has done this year is amazing. I’m a guy that strives for consistency, and he’s taken consistency to another level. He deserves it. He’s played unbelievable golf, and you know, if you play golf like that you're going to get the rewards. We all have to congratulate him.”
SERGIO GARCIA: “Winning on both continents is simply amazing. No-one has ever done it and you can’t say any more than that. He already had an impressive resume but it just got a little bit better! He has just been so consistent – the week’s that he hasn’t won he has been in the top three, top five, top eight all of the time. To achieve that level of consistency is very, very impressive.”
SAM TORRANCE: “It’s just out of this world. To do it on both sides of the Atlantic is an unbelievable achievement and he deserves all the credit he gets for it. What a performance. Luke’s played magnificently throughout the year and to win both money lists is some feat.”
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/12
hot 12BET sports: GOLF news 12BET update 12/12: GLORY FOR BRADLEY AND STEELE Keegan Bradley and Brendan Steele fired a closing 13-under-par 59 to win the Franklin Templeton Shootout in F...
GOLF news 12BET update 12/12
GLORY FOR BRADLEY AND STEELE
Keegan Bradley and Brendan Steele fired a closing 13-under-par 59 to win the Franklin Templeton Shootout in Florida.
Holding a one-shot lead going into the final round, the young American duo finished three strokes clear of Rory Sabbatini and Jhonattan Vegas who tied for second with Mark Calcavecchia and Nick Price.
Using the Texas Scramble format, Sabbatini and Vegas closed with a 60, while veterans Calcavecchia and Price posted 61.
The day's best scores belonged to Charles Howell and Justin Leonard who, along with Stewart Cink and Bo Van Pelt, carded 58s.
The key to Bradley and Steele's win was a streak of seven straight birdies from the sixth holes, followed by an eagle on 14 and another birdie at 15.
At the end of the 54-hole event, they stood at 32-under-par for a three-round total of 184.
However, the lowest total in tournament history remains 182, set by Fred Couples and Ray Floyd in 1990. - http://www.sportinglife.com
hot 12BET sports: Retief Goosen VS Thomas Aiken Dubai World Champion...
hot 12BET sports: Retief Goosen VS Thomas Aiken Dubai World Champion...: At the 2010 Open Championship at St Andrews, Goosen finished 6th, breaking par in all four rounds. It was Goosen's 7th top-10 finish of the...
Retief Goosen VS Thomas Aiken Dubai World Championship -12BET preview 12/11 12PM GMT+8
At the 2010 Open Championship at St Andrews, Goosen finished 6th, breaking par in all four rounds. It was Goosen's 7th top-10 finish of the season. Goosen had his first top-3 finish of the season in August at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, his 8th top-10 of the season.
After a 7th place finish at the BMW Championship, Goosen played in the final group on Sunday at The Tour Championship with eventual winner Jim Furyk. Goosen finished 3rd on his own. Goosen finished 10th in the final standings of the 2010 FedEx Cup Playoffs. He finished his 2010 PGA Tour season with 10 top-10s, and over $3.2 million in earnings. In December, Goosen finished runner-up to Ernie Els at the South African Open in Durban. Goosen finished at 24 under par, one stroke behind Els.
In May 2011, Aiken won his first event on the European Tour at the Open de España, winning by two strokes from Anders Hansen. After winning Aiken dedicated the win to home hero Seve Ballesteros who had died the previous day. "I definitely want to dedicate this win to him with it being his home Open and what he gave to his home fans and to golf," said Aiken.A number of top 10 finishes on the European Tour in 2009, including one each in the Majors and the World Golf Championships, helped Aiken reach the Dubai World Championship despite holding only partial status on the tour. He finished the season ranked 46th on the Race to Dubai.Aiken has participated several times in the Gary Player Invitational charity tournament.
12BET European Tour - Dubai World Championship (2nd Round - 18 Holes) 12/9 12:30PM GMT+8
The PGA European Tour is an organization which operates the three leading men's professional golf tours in Europe: the elite European Tour, the European Seniors Tour and the developmental Challenge Tour. Its headquarters are at Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England. The European Tour is the primary golf tour in Europe and is second to the United States-based PGA Tour in worldwide prestige. The European Tour was established by the British-based Professional Golfers' Association, and responsibility was transferred to an independent PGA European Tour organisation in 1984. Most events on the PGA European Tour's three tours are held in Europe, but in recent years an increasing number have been held in other parts of the world outside of North America.
The PGA European Tour is a golfer-controlled organisation whose primary purpose is to maximise the income of tournament golfers. It is a company limited by guarantee and is run by a professional staff but controlled by its playing members via a board of directors composed of 12 elected past and present tour players and a tournament committee of 14 current players. As of 2007, the chairman of the board is Neil Coles and the chairman of the tournament committee is Thomas Bjørn.
The European-based events on the European Tour are nearly all played in Western Europe and the most lucrative of them take place in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France and Spain.
The PGA European Tour also conducts the Ryder Cup Matches in cooperation with the PGA of America.
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