Conference 7.286::golf

    Ted,
    
    The course at Son Vida is, I believe, pretty short. Magnus Persson
    started with two rounds of around 65 and 66 I think, playing with a 
    1 iron off the tee, so I guess it couldn't be that long. 
    
    Magnus Persson is one of the promising Swedish golfers that plays
    regularly on the European Tour. Others to look out for include Mats
    Lanner, Ove Sellberg and Anders Forsbrand. 
    
   
    
    Phil.
    
    

    Real good tournament on this past weekend the european PGA
    Championship.I can't think of the guy that won it he's a big guy(6'7
    or so) from australia. He beat out Faldo by one stroke. Ballesteros
    was conspicuous(sc) by his absense. Olazabel was playing well. Also
    Rodger Davis looked good. The New England Sports Network is carrying
    five tourneys from Europe with the Belgian open I beleive this weekend
    I love it.
    
       Watch out for Faldo in the US open
    
    Ted

    The Australian in question was Mike Harwood. It's his biggest (only?)
    tour win to date, although he was about #15 or so on last years tour.
    Conditions were very good, although the ground was a little hard and
    bouncy due to current weather conditions, and consequently scoring was
    good.
    
    Ballesteros was resting/preparing for the US Open (can't think why he
    bothers, he always flunks that).
    
    Faldo (defending his title) had a last round 65 to come close (shades
    of Greg Norman?). He'll look back on a couple of wasted shots at the
    end of the third round at 16 and 17.
    
    Olazabal could only manage -1 on the last day after leading all the
    way. He's been suffering from flu the last couple of weeks and he's
    been under the weather (I wish I could be -14 while I had the flu...)
    
    Anders Forsbrand (mentioned in .1) had a second round 90, including a
    10 and missed the cut, such is golf.
    
    Sandy Lyle however, actually made a cut! A second round 70 got him in
    for what must be his best tournament in a long time. Don't know his
    final finish however. He's been taking some intensive lessons from
    golf-guru David Leadbetter and finally seems to be cautiously
    optimistic about things.
    
    Paul
    

    Thanks for the info I am very interested in seeing the golf over
    there.I like watching neww players you don't see here often compete
    against the big guys like Faldo,Ballesteros etc. I can't understand
    Seve either they said this was a major on the european tour and
    he doesn't show up.Also surprised at the absense of Mark James and
    Bernhard Langer or did they not make the cut.
    
    Ted

    More info on the Volvo PGA championship at Wentworth:-
    
    Lyle finished with 74-70-70-68=282 same as Woosnam. James finished
    somewhere around the same score. Langer didn't play because his
    wife is giving birth to their second child soon.
    
    martin

    Watched the final two rounds of the Belgian Open yesterday.Won by
    a swede named Ove Sellberg(who entered at the last minute).Ian Woosnam
    was second. Ronan Rafferty,Olazabal,and Eduardo Romero from
    Argentina(veryimpressive player) all finished well. Who is this
    Bill Malley from the US. He is pretty good but they keep saying
    he is making lot's of suggestion about how to change the european
    tour. Also how did some of the other big names do:
    
              Ballesteros(another no show?)
              Faldo
              Rodger Davis
              Mark James
              Sandy Lyle
              Langer
    
    I know I am a pian maybe but I am interested how they are playing
    leading up to the US Open.
    
    Ted

    You watched the Belgian Open, but I think that was actually played
    a couple of weeks ago. If I remember, may players were unhappy with the
    course (notably Howard Clark) which they said wasn't mature enough for
    a tour event. Those amongst them not looking for excuses accepted that
    conditions were the same for everyone.
    
    Romero has had a good start to the season so far, winning (I think) at
    least once.
    
    Rafferty has had a quiet start to the season, although he played well
    at the Benson and Hedges at St Mellion (the course that Jack built)
    before fading at the close. [An interesting point at the Benson and
    Hedges was the tale of Wayne Grady (Aus). He retired midway through his
    round because he ran out of balls!]
    
    Faldo has in general been impressive if not quite spectacular yet this
    season. Lyle's problems continue - he may not have played in Belgium -
    he hasn't played too much this year. He's had a few attempts in the US
    and at home, but has spent a lot of time on the practice ground. 
    
    So far, Woosnam seems to be having a bad year. Langer has started to
    play some good golf again, but not to the level of his previous years
    yet - has his motivation gone?
    
    Paul

    Thanks alot for the info. Yah it was on tape they showed highlights
    of the final two rounds. And you are right about them complaining
    especially about the greens. Olazabal was very unhappy as was this
    Bill Malley from the US.

                  Ted

    The winner of the Dunhill British Masters at Woburn was Mark James.
    
    His 18 under par total was 2 shots clear of Irishman David Feherty. The
    final day started as a 3 way tie on 13 under between James, Feherty and
    Brett Ogle (Australia). Ogle fell away to finish 4th and after a couple
    of early birdies from James he was never in much trouble.
    
    James came out of the pack in the windy conditions of the 3rd day to
    tie the lead and from there was never headed. James played a
    particularly good recovery shot on the short par 4 17th when he found
    his route to the green blocked by one of many large trees on the
    course. A low draw between the tree and galleries/more trees found the
    green and a safe par.
    
    Again, conditions were a big talking point. The 'unseasonal' hot dry
    weather meant the course was hard and bouncy resulting in some low
    scoring, but at the same time inconsistency leading to frustration for
    the likes of Faldo and Woosnam (in particular). During the tournament
    itself however, the final day was interupted for 20 minutes due to
    torrential rain, such is our climate, and the 3rd day was particularly
    windy.
    
    Paul
    

    Yes they showed it here on tape delay. That rain was unbelievable.
    The shot by James was tremendous I was happy to finally see him
    play.Langer also.A good tournament all around.Howard Clark is having
    his problems isn't he. They mentioned he has gone through three
    swings changes with not to promising results.
    
    Thanks for the info I missed the last hole.
    
    Ted

    re:-.1
    Howard Clark's swing changes !!
    It isn't swing changes that he needs. He has always had one of the
    best swings in the business.
    It's a HEAD change that he really needs!
    
    He goes around like an antichrist at times on the course. He always
    seems to be looking to blame some distraction on a bad shot.
    
    martin (IMHO of course)

At the Cannes Open in France yesterday at the Royal Mougins course (next to 
DEC Valbonne) Colin Montgomerie had a put for an eagle at the par 5 18th....

... and put it into the lake!!!

Makes me feel better about my thrashing around a golf course.

	I saw the putt on ESPN last night, that green looked like the 
	loch ness monster with all the humps! I just surprised he was the 
	only one to do it.

	Turk