Cabrera wins US Open

June 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment

So the Argentinean, Angel Cabrera, held off the late challenge from Woods and Furyk, to win the 107th US Open at Oakmont, by one stroke. The players struggled with challenging conditions, and with shades of Augusta, the best, ‘worst golfer’, won. That’s a bit unfair, but as a spectator, it doesn’t seem as satisfying to determine who has the lowest score, over-par, rather than the lowest under-par score.

One commentator mentioned that it was almost as if the courses were becoming the centre of attention, with little regard to the players and the competition itself. I wonder if this is a trend that will continue, or if questions will be asked?

As a smoker (soon to be ‘Ex’, one of these days I hope) it was heartening for me to see that even at the top level, Cabrerea and his caddy, ‘Big Break’, Eddie, couldn’t go a round without a nicotine fix. When I first started playing golf, and mindful of the etiquette which surrounds the game, I enquired about how smoking on the course was generally viewed and whether it was considered poor ‘form’. Apparently it wasn’t. After a particularly satisfying hole I find the best way to savour the moment is a sip of Lucozade Sport and a suck on a Marlboro light - perfect preparation to attack the next drive!

So if I can overcome this, together with the first cigarette in the morning, the one after a meal and the one (or two) with a beer, giving up should be a breeze. I haven’t smoked in the house for years, so haven’t missed the other, ‘traditional’ cigarette, for some time now….I guess it’s a start!

Deja Vu

June 14, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Today I received an unsolicited email that went as follows..

This is going to sound like a joke.

Why?

Because in just a moment you’ll discover how to improve your general well being by 68%… simply by carrying around a tiny piece of ‘clever metal’

I’m also going to tell you how this device is capable of producing:

- A 93% reduction in headaches
- Mood swings (including pmt) down 72%
- Hangovers 80% less severe
- Skin complaints cleared up by 64%
- Quality of sleep improved by 85%

I know, I know, sounds crazy doesn’t it?

But there’s really not enough space to explain everything in detail here.

So just click the link below and all will be revealed. It’ll only take two minutes and it could transform your life.

Intrigued to find out what this ‘clever metal’ was I clicked on the attached link and Yes!…it’s my friend the Q-Link…it’s a funny old world.

Drivers

June 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Lewis Hamilton

Congratulations to Lewis Hamilton for winning his first F1 Motor GP at Montreal this weekend. In his first season, Lewis has had six, straight podium finishes and now sits at the top of the tree in the championship standings. It’s difficult to ignore this early success and what he could potentially go on to achieve and dominate his sport, in the same way Tiger Woods has in Golf. There are obvious parallels and surely a Woods/Hamilton photo shoot is not far away? Next week the F1 roadshow travels to Indianapolis…should be interesting.

I was also struck by two other events at the weekend. The first was Michelle Wie’s poor showing in the LPGA Championship. I had been following progress with interest and was continually surprised by the number of pages in the standings which had to be scrolled through to find her name. On the final day, she was bottom of the last page, 10 shots behind the next player.

Despite on-going injury problems you actually had to admire her for sticking with it, when it would have been so easy to pull out, to save face and her faltering reputation.

The other event which struck a chord is the car-crash, John Daly and a so-called domestic dispute which left him with facial injuries. There seems no point in going to detail here, as it is already very well documented, but it does make you wonder where it will end, and also what he might be capable of achieving without these side-shows in his life. Maybe he’s one of these guys that thrives on adversity, and is in fact already achieving what he’s capable of…who knows?

Ditch the Buggy

June 8, 2007 | Leave a Comment

My standard of Golf may still be poor, but according to new research, my fitness might be better. In the first study of it’s kind, a sports medicine doctor has established that a golfer playing 18 holes, will, on average, stride approx 12,000 steps. This compares to the daily recommended number of steps of 10,000. At a moderate or brisk walking speed, this would equate to burning approx 500 calories during a round of Golf.

The new research contradicts claims that Golf is not a legitimate form of exercise. The study goes on to say that the less developed your skill, the more exercise you will get, since hitting the ball off target will require more walking to find the ball. Those Golfers with a greater shot accuracy might get less exercise.

I now have a dilemma of whether I should improve my Golf or my life expectancy, through increased exercise….I think I’ll concentrate on the Golf and die happy!! Golfers who play well into their old age are leading the most active lifestyles anyway, so it sounds like a win-win.

Fancy $1,000,000?

June 7, 2007 | Leave a Comment

show me the money!

Golf ball manufacturer, Top-Flite, gives new meaning to the expression,’Puttin for Dough’, with their ‘You vs Vegas’, putting challenge. Top-Flite has put one million bucks on the line for the ‘ultimate high pressure shot’. If putting for the money wasn’t enough pressure, the lucky challenger will compete on the strip, with all the razzmattazz Vegas can offer to put them off their stroke.

On August 9th, 2007, the winner of a random draw will be invited to Vegas to attempt the 40ft putt. You can enter the draw here. If you’re successful, remember where you heard it first.

Scotty Cameron

June 4, 2007 | 3 Comments

I like Scotty Cameron Putters. I’ve never tried one, but instinctively I know that I want one. My Putting game is coming on quite nicely and I’m pleased with the progress I’m making. My Odyssey Putter does the job it was intended for, so there is no justification for changing. But for me there’s something about the aesthetics of a Scotty that go beyond the mechanics of the game.

I don’t know of any other Golf Club that has its own forum (The Cameron Collector) and museum (Scotty Cameron Putter Museum)or generates such passion that a collector is willing to pay $35,000 to own one.

Having visited the Scotty Cameron’s new Blog it was no surprise to find that the man himself is interested in fine art and his blog carries the tag-line,”Art of Putting”.

I keep telling myself I’ve got all the clubs I need and just get on with playing and improving…but hey, there’s only 207 shopping days left until Christmas.