Hole High - Golf Blog

Latest reports are that Seve Ballesteros is responding well to surgery on his brain tumour.

The hospital in Madrid where he is being treated has stated: “The patient has a favourable trend in his neurological status but needs to be further controlled in the Intensive Care Unit”

This is promising news and lets hope it’s the start of whats going to be a long but successful recovery process.

Tags: seve

Every year at around this time all the major golf manufactures will be putting out their latest equipment for the new season. Initial prices for these new bits of kit are normally quite high and you may have to wait well into 2009 to see the prices drop to an acceptable level. But there are plenty of bargains to be had if you are looking for a new driver and are prepared to use last seasons models.

The best of the bunch at the moment are the Nike 5900 square head driver and the Callaway FTi driver.

The NIke 5900 can be snapped up for around the 130 quid mark and the Callaway has been cut to £215. Both these golf drivers represent great value and reviews and more info and can be found at www.sumo2.co.uk

Tags: 5900, callaway, driver, fti, nike, sumo

Just a quick note regarding the sad news about golf legend Seve Ballesteros.

I am sure that fellow golfers and sports fans around the world wish Seve a speedy recovery after his extensive surgery this week to remove a brain tumor. Reports on the BBC today say that he is in a stable condition and that the situation is under control.

Tags: ballesteros, seve

A stunning display of golf ensured Oliver Wilson a point in his first outing at Valhalla. Partnered by Stenson they were were four down after six holes against Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim but hit back to claim a vital 2&1 win.

Europe have now got back a point and trail by two. Latest Odds 13/8 for a European win.

The adverts on Sky are a bit of a pain so I have been entertaining myself in the ad breaks playing Mini Golf on my new nano iPod player.

Tags: cup, ryder

Looks like legend Jack Nicklaus is a bit peeved about European dominance in the Ryder Cup. He genuinely believes the Yanks will win because they have the better players.

Sorry Jack but it’s a team game and can’t be judged on the overall individual talent that makes up that team. Every two years this same argument rears it head; on paper the USA are the better golfers and therefore should reign as champions. Well it ain’t like that is it. What makes Jack or any other American believe that it is their devine right to kick our butts.

The Ryder Cup has been such a success over the last 20 odd years not because of any one team having a particular dominance or the best players, its more to do with what the Cup is all about and that is a band of players getting together and playing as a united team, something that is somewhat lost in the US camp.

Side Note:

Just picked up the new Sony Reader PRS 505 from Waterstone’s.
This is a serious bit of kit.
Must get onto the R&A and see if they will publish the Decisions on the Rules in ebook format.
More Info at:
www.prs-505.co.uk

Tags: cup, jack, nicklaus, ryder

It’s all hotting up this weekend as Captain Nick has to decide on his two wildcard selections.

Just had a peek at the Round 2 leaderboard at Gleneagles and Clarkey is lying in 4th spot at 3 under. So I take back my prediction of Casey and Poulter being the likely candidates. I think that Darren will bring something to Valhala in 3 weeks and Faldo must be giving his chance some serious thought. Casey is a pretty sure bet and Monty’s form of late has been disappointing.

The wildcard option given to Faldo is not always about picking in-form players but it allows the captain to give a player who is “up for it” and give some inspiration to the team. On that basis the man in the frame is Monty but with their background it seems unlikely. So my money is Darren as he fills both requirements at the moment.

There has been a lot of discussion in the press regarding Poulters decision to play in America this weekend and I will not dwell too long on the subject except to say that there will be a lot happy lads in Narf London on Sunday if he gets the elbow. Lets hope that Faldo isn’t a closet Gooner.

Tags: clarke, faldo, ryder

Donald will be out of golf for the rest of the year. He has just had surgery on the wrist injury that has put his golf on hold for the last few months. Having lost only 1 of his 8 matches whilst competing in the Ryder Cup his absence will be a blow to the Euro Team.

With only 3 weeks to go before Faldo picks his two widcards, the competition is hotting up to get an automatic place. I would not be surprised if his 2 picks would be Poulter and Casey.
Monty’s really got to up his game if wants a sniff.

Latest Odds: GB&Europe 8/11 USA 6/5 Tie 12/1

Tags: donald, ryder

Eight of the Ryder Cup European team who competed in the winning side at Oakland Hill in 2004 are returning this weekend to compete in this years USPGA.

Harrington has quoted that the experience gained 4 years ago will be an “advantage to anybody who’s played a tournament of that intensity”.

The victorious Europeans who return to Oakland are Harrington, Paul Casey, Darren Clarke, Sergio Garcia, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood. Other joining them include Oliver Wilson, Peter Heblom, Darren Clarke, Nick Dougherty, Ross Fisher, Paul Casey, Martin Kaymer, Anders Hansen, Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose.

The numbers look impressive and for the first time in many a year the chances of a European golfer picking up the trophy on Sunday look very good. It’s been 78 years since a European had his mits on this Major trophy.

Europe’s best chance this weekend will be the relaxed and inform Westwood. Most of the other Europeans are playing for points to get into Nick’s side in September.

Latest Betting Odds

Mickelson 10/1
Harrington 20/1
Singh 22/1
Furyk 25/1
Garcia 25/1
Westwood 25/1
Els 28/1
Stenson 45/1
Poulter 50/1
Casey 50/1

Rose 55/1
Jimenez 66/1
Clarke 110/1

EW tip for the weekend Cabrera at 125/1

Tags: uspga

So much for a wrist injury.

The most open of Opens was defended successfully on Sunday by the ever affable Padraig Harrington.
I wonder how far down the home stretch he was at a point where he thought victory was his in his grasp.

I’m just halfway thru Bob Rotella’s book “Golf is a not a Game of Perfect”. Dr Bob was in Harrington’s team at the weekend and what ever he said to Paddy got him in the perfect mind set. I mean how can you enter a tournament as big the Open with a suspect injury, battle weather conditions in which the weekend golfer would never contemplate and then walk down the final stretch as if you’re having stroll with the family in the park.

Some muppets are reporting that this years Open should be marked with an asterix because of the absence of Woods. What total baloney. Harrington dominated the back nine in his usual carefree manner.

Lets hope he is fully fit for the big one in September, as the consensus is that Paddy will take over Monty’s role to lead the boys to victory.

Tags: Harrington, open

I was not wrong in my last post that I thought the Aussies would enjoy the Birkdale links.

Norman was a hero of mine back in the old days of persimmon woods. So it was a pleasant surprise to see him battling the elements with a game that looked as good as it was when he was a major force.
Watching live as I write, (BBC Live coverage on a second monitor, a must for those who like to watch and work) the Shark still looks a contender as he goes 2 ahead with 2 to play in the 2nd round. Lets hope Greg doesn’t blow up over the weekend.

The rest of the field seem to coping well with the British weather today and the forecast for the weekend is favourable.

Bet of the day has to be Rose at 33/1

Tags: norman, open