Graeme McDowell says he wants to shake off his inconsistent form of last year in 2012 and is dreaming of another headlining Major win to go alongside his 2010 US Open victory.

‘G-Mac’ shot to prominence a couple of years ago with his US Open success, while he also starred for Europe in the Ryder Cup triumph at Celtic Manor later that year.

But he has struggled somewhat since then to match those exploits and has slipped down to 13th in the world ahead of the Abu Dhabi Championship he is competing in this week alongside Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and co. People looking at the latest online US Open golf betting odds  need to bear this in mind.

The Northern Irishman had to play second fiddle to fellow countrymen, McIlroy and last year’s Open winner, Darren Clarke, in 2011, but he insists he is now ready to emerge from the shadows and challenge for the Majors once again.

“I would like this year to get back to being consistently giving myself chances week in and week out,” he said.

“I want to shake off the frustrations of 2011 and get back to playing the way I know I can, and competing in the Majors.”

McDowell, who has not won a title for 15 months now, missed the cut in three of the four Majors last year but he is determined to put that record straight and start creating some more positive headlines.

“That is the target I am setting myself this year. I missed the cut in three of the four Majors last year and that’s  not good enough, so I am looking to get my consistency levels back,” he added.

“So if there is a headline in the newspapers I want to see this year it’s ‘G Mac wins a second Major’ or maybe just simply ‘G Mac is back’.”

Officials at YourGolfTravel.com, the largest golf travel retailer in Europe, are celebrating after being named in The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 for the third year in a row.

The Fast Track 100 lists the top 100 private fastest-growing companies in Britain in terms of sales growth over three years. It is released every December and yet again YourGolfTravel.com has performed well, finishing an impressive 26^th overall.

Providing Algarve golf packages and breaks to all manner of destinations around the world as well as offering players the chance to book tee times online, YourGolfTravel.com have seen sales rise from £3.3million in 2007/08 to £26.4million in 2010/11, which represents a sales growth annually of 99.28 per cent.

Ross Marshall, chief executive of YourGolfTravel.com, commented: “When we launched the company in 2005 we could only dream of being included in The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100, and now we are celebrating our third appearance.

“That the company has maintained such strong growth is testament to the fact we are providing a service golfers want and YourGolfTravel.com is now firmly established as Europe’s largest golf travel company.

“Given the tough economic climate and the current doom and gloom in the travel sector, this is fantastic recognition for our whole team that has worked exceptionally hard over the last three years to achieve such great accolades.

“We are absolutely delighted to be recognized once again, but we have no plans to rest on our laurels and we will continue to invest in and grow the company in order to list in the rankings in 2012 and beyond.”

When it comes to taking European golf breaks, Scotland has been a popular choice for years.

Granted, the weather is better in places like Spain and Portugal, but it’s the chance of following in the footsteps of the game’s greats on iconic courses such as Carnoustie, Gleneagles and St Andrews, the home of golf, that makes Scotland such a coveted destination for players of all ages and abilities. 

Image: Longshotgolf.com

Scotland’s golfing profile is set to increase significantly over the coming years as Gleneagles prepares to host the 2014 Ryder Cup, which represents the first time in more than 40 years that the tournament has been held in the country.

It has been reported that staging the event could generate more than £100million into Scotland’s economy.

These are exciting times for golf in Scotland and Lee Derrick, chairman of Golf Tourism Scotland (GTS), said: “Golf in Scotland has been so ingrained in the culture that the economic contribution it makes is often overlooked.

“This is changing, and with a run of high-profile tournaments taking place in Scotland over the next few years, not least of which is the Ryder Cup, I believe the industry’s significance is set to soar.”

Derrick’s comments come after figures released by GTS revealed that 76 per cent of professionals from within the travel, hospitality and golf sectors felt that progress has been made in the golf tourism industry in 2011.

A part of Scotland where progress is definitely being made is Fife, which was named as ‘Golf Destination of the Year – Europe, 2012’ at The International Association of Golf Tour Operators Awards in Turkey last month.

In terms of golf holidays Europe in general has plenty to offer players of all ages and abilities, none more so than Scotland.

Occasionally Aspiring Golfer is invited to review Golf merchandise and this time we were asked to review the Nike Lunar Golf Shoes. We thought it would be nice for someone else to benefit, so we asked one of England’s top junior golfers, George Howard, if he would put the Nike Lunar Golf Shoes through their paces. This is what he had to say….

Age: 18
Handicap: 0
Honours: British Colleges Gold Medalist, Faldo Series World Final Competitor 2009, Lagonda Trophy last 32, Gogs Junior Champion 2010 and 2011, Boys County Champion 2010, Boys County Captain 2011

Current Shoe: Footjoy Icon (White & Black)
Trial Shoe: Nike Lunar (White & Silver) £90-£130
Rounds used: 8-10
Practice hours: >60

The Nike Lunar has an instant appeal from its trainer  look and although not a traditional golf shoe,  it fits in very well with modern golfing attire. The one thing I noticed when I first opened the box was the patterned leather at the front of the shoe which cannot be seen on photos unless they are high detail. When I first put the shoes on there was no feeling that you needed to wear them in, as there is an instant comfort and softness to the shoe. This is provided by Nike technology called Lunarlon Foam which they use in the sole of the shoe and gives this shoe its name.

Although I have the shoes in white and silver, I have found them incredibly easy to clean after a Winter round they are also as waterproof as any other golf shoes I’ve used.  Another great thing about the Lunar is the underside of the shoe; I’ve never seen a golf shoe with so many ways to prevent slipping in the winter months which is provided by soft spikes and little studs almost like molded football boots.

After many hours of use there is still no real sign of wear and tear, and although I find many of my shoes crease above the toes; these remain as they were brand new. The only downside of the shoe which I have encountered is that the shoe strings/laces, seem to loosen and come undone a couple of times during a round.  I have fixed this small problem simply by changing them for another pair of inexpensive laces.

I have never used Nike golf shoes before but I think these shoes are up there with Footjoy, Callaway and Adidas and I will definitely be getting more Nike golf shoes in the future.

Rory McIlroy, a man who became the youngest golfer in history to claim the lead on the opening day of the Masters Tournament, earlier this year, has had his position as favourite for the 2012 instalment of the competition snatched from his grasp by resurgent golfer, Tiger Woods.

On the back of his recent run of form, which saw him help the United States team to victory in the Presidents Cup, Tiger Woods has witnessed his popularity with the bookmakers soar. The fourteen-time Majors winner currently stands at 7/1 in the best Masters golf odds , compared to McIlroy on 9/1, and the States’ Phil Mickelson on 14/1.

Creeping down the odds chart, England’s Luke Donald is tied on 18/1 with his compatriot, Lee Westwood, while Australia’s Adam Scott stands on 33/1. Rounding off the bookies’ top ten are Nick Watney (US), Sergio Garcia (ESP), and Jason Day (AUS), also at 33/1, and Germany’s Martin Kaymer, on 40/1.

It is interesting to note that South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel, who won the Masters in 2011, is ranked at 40/1, making the golfer something of an outsider for next year’s event in Augusta, Georgia. Of course, with the Masters Tournament still five months away, the odds remain in the realm of conjecture.

Rory McIlroy’s position as second-favourite stands in defiance of his record in major tournaments. With the exception of his win at the US Open, earlier this year, McIlroy has only won one other event in 2011, the Shanghai Masters. He tied for fifteenth in the Masters, 25th in the Open Championship, and 64th in the PGA Championship.

Whether the youngster has the chops to defeat a field consisting of Mickelson, who has three Masters titles under his belt; Tiger Woods, with four, and Schwartzel, with one, remains to be seen. However, it would be difficult to deny that McIlroy is one golf’s most exciting prospects, given his age.

Golf is seen by many people as a rather tame and fairly easy game, but for those who actually play golf, this couldn’t be further from the truth. While playing a round of Sunday golf can be a relaxing way to spend the day, it is certainly not easy, and it requires a high level of skill and precision. The following five tips will help you get started off on the right foot and avoid a few common newbie mistakes.

1. Practice First

Before you rush out to purchase a gleaming set of new golf clubs, remember that as a beginner you probably have no idea what will work for you. If you haven’t already played a fair amount of practice games, there is no way you or anyone else can know which clubs and equipment will best cater to your personal needs. Most golf clubs have equipment for hire, which allows you take some lessons and get a feel for the game before you shell out thousands of dollars on a new golf set. If you do have your heart set on purchasing your own clubs, keep in mind that a shorter iron (like the nine iron) or a wedge, is the best type of practice club for a beginner.

2. Grip, Stance and Posture

These are three things that are very important for a beginner to master. When starting out, it is important to learn to keep a proper grip on your golf club and maintain the right stance and posture. Although you may not think that the way you hold your golf club or stand will affect your swing, these three things are the fundamentals of golf. If you don’t have these down, you will not be able to progress. Practice holding your golf club and standing correctly with the help of a friend or instructor.

3. Foot, Knee and Leg Action

The way you plant your feet greatly influences the power and accuracy of your swing. How you plant your feet will also influence the position of your knees and legs, so everything is connected. When you move to swing, everything should be synchronized; your legs must be planted firmly, while your knees should be slightly flexed. When you swing, you will keep your knees flexed and roll your left foot back, while keeping your right leg braced. This is not as complicated as it may sound, but as a beginner you cannot skip this step.

4. Hips, Shoulders, Hands and Wrists.

Although it looks fairly simply when you see a professional take a swing, there is actually a lot of technique behind it. A good golf swing involves using your entire body, which includes your hips, shoulders, hands and wrists. Your hips should move naturally along with your feet and leg movements while your shoulders will turn when you swing back. Practicing the basics of a swing can be done at home before you even venture onto a golf course.

5. Develop Your Own Style

Once you have the basics of the golf swing down, you can start to figure out what works best for you. While the basics are the same for everyone, no two golf swings are ever exactly the same. You shouldn’t try to imitate someone else’s swing because your size, shape and body build is different. Finding your own personal style of swing is important if you want to continue to improve.

This is a guest article from Daniel P – a self-confessed golf addict from Wish.co.uk. Find out more about their golfing gift experiences.

POCKET PRO: THE PROFESSIONAL GOLFER THAT SITS IN YOUR POCKET
Golf Professional James Ellis Launches Unique Golf App

Providing professional golf tuition at your finger tips, Pocket Pro is a new golf coaching app featuring 25 golf lessons specifically designed not just for the range, but in the moment when they are needed most – whilst playing on the course.

Designed to help execute the right shot from the many awkward and varied lies a golfer may face during a round, each video includes three key components:

1. A 30-second video, focusing on the key points to execute the shot
2. Written bullet points to be viewed as an alternative or addition to the video
3. A more detailed written text, designed to be viewed at leisure, helping the golfer understand the lesson in more detail

With the reasoning cleverly divorced from the videos, they are quick and easy to navigate, and can be viewed in less time than it takes to walk to your next ball, and concentrates on exactly and only the key information required to execute the shot in question.

Created by James Ellis, a golf professional with over 20 years’ experience of the game, the inspiration for Pocket Pro came when he received a call from a client in the middle of their round querying how to play an awkward shot.

James said:
“I began to wonder how I could offer advice to all my clients in those moments when they need it the most – when their ball is buried in the bunker or when they are playing from under a tree! Pocket Pro removes the fear golfers experience and quickly replaces it with instant knowledge, focus and confidence, enabling users to execute the perfect shot whatever the circumstance.”

Pocket Pro is available from the Apple Apps store or via www.pocketprogolf.co.uk,
priced at only £2.99 (less than a packet of golf balls).

For more information please visit:

Visit the Website at http://www.pocketprogolf.co.uk/
Visit the Twitter page at http://www.twitter.com/GolfPocketPro
Visit the I-Tunes store at bit.ly/jJRJ4k

Sponsored Post

Oakley (http://www.oakley.com ) has launched an innovative marketing campaign to promote it’s Fast Jacket eyewear and golf apparel.

The latest in series of, ‘You Vs’, which began with cyclist Mark Cavendish, gives you the opportunity to go head to head with US Open champion, Rory McIlroy. The golfer from Northern Ireland has established himself as one of the most exciting talents around now that Tiger Woods has vacated that particular title.

McIlroy’s victory boosted him to third in the World Rankings and saw him become part of an unprecedented all-British top three. However he insists he will not be resting on his laurels and will be doing all he can to make it to the top.

In the interactive video game you are given the opportunity to test your course management skills at the prestigious Wentworth Club. If you bring your ‘A’ game to the challenge and you defeat Rory over 18 holes, then you could be selected to meet the man himself. Just to prove that your win was no fluke. you will also be invited to caddy for Rory and experience first hand, the sumptuous golf shots which have catapulted him to the top of the game.

Access to the challenge is either via Oakley’s dedicated microsite (http://youvs.oakley.com ) or their Europe Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/oakleyeurope . All you have to do is ‘ ‘like’ the page, select some sunglasses and then you’re ready to tee off in the challenge of your golfing lifetime.

We would love to see the eventual winner come from an Aspiring Golfer reader, so good luck and give our regards to Rory!!

Luke Donald clinched the PGA Tour money list title with a superb win at the Disney Classic and the Briton can now make it a year to remember by achieving the same feat on the European Tour.

It would be a fantastic achievement if the world number one can make history and become the first player to secure both titles in the same season but he looks in great shape after his victory in Florida. Anyone looking at the in-play betting should bear this in mind.

Donald’s chance of glory in the Disney seemed far-fetched earlier on Sunday, however, after a disappointing opening nine holes, that included a bogey six on the eighth, but he recovered brilliantly to storm the back nine, firing six birdies on his way to a final round 64. Those following the golf betting will have been very impressed.

The title brought with it a cheque of £531,000 to mean he ends the year with a winning total of £4.19m, finishing ahead of runner-up Webb Simpson on £3.98m.

In the Disney, Justin Leonard was second, finishing two shots back on 15 under for the tournament, with third-round leader Kevin Chappell ending the day in a three-way tie for third.

Donald believes securing top spot on the US money list will go some way to answering his critics.

“This was a tremendous year for me. I answered a lot of critics’ questions,” Donald told BBC Radio 5 live.

“This is one of the most satisfying wins of my career. Everything was on the line. I’m thrilled, over the moon.”

His attention will now turn to Europe, where the 33-year-old leads by over £1m, although there are still eight events to go.

Tiger Woods remains the most famous name in golf but for how much longer? It looks to many pundits like his hope of further major success has now gone.

The former world number one hasn’t won a tournament since November 2009, with his last Major Championship coming at the 2008 US Open. Woods’ off the course issues are well documented but it’s his golf game that is his biggest concern at present, with no end in sight to his winless run. Those following the mobile betting won’t be at all impressed.

The American superstar has recently changed his caddie, parting with long-time bagman Steve Williams, in what looks like a desperate move to rediscover the form that saw him dominate for a decade.

When Woods won the play-off against Rocco Mediate to clinch the US Open in the summer of 2008, it seems a matter of when and not if he would pass Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major victories. But the 35-year-old is now stuck on 14 and doesn’t look like adding to that anytime soon, as he scratches around for a solution to wayward driving and recent struggles on the greens.

One of the problems for Woods appears to be his lack of competitive action, taking long breaks from the tour – some enforced by injury – and seemingly then struggling to find a rhythm when he returns. Fans of free sports betting will have noticed this.

His latest comeback was at the Frys.com Open, a tournament which was missing many of the world’s top players and an event Woods would have dominated in the past. But the world number 55 could make it into the top 25, eventually finishing tied-30th.

The other problem for Woods is that there are a crop of younger players coming through who have no time or fear of reputations and are willing to take him on. In previous times, some of the world’s best have been intimated when Tiger strode onto the first tee.

It’s a real shame for many fans to see Woods struggling as he is, when we remember seeing some of the best golf ever seen during the early 2000′s, but the changing of the guard looks to be taking place in front of our eyes.