Golf Comment: The Ryder Cup is like no other golfing spectacle but the extra pressure needs to be harnessed September 24, 2014 FROM the opening tee shot tomorrow morning to the final putt on Sunday evening, virtually every golf fan in the world will not want to leave their television screens. But that is not just the preserve of hardcore enthusiasts but sporting fans with just a passing interest in golf. They will want to witness every [...]
Golf Comment: Relaxation is vital but individual preparation is driven by players September 15, 2014 IT is just ten days to the start of the Ryder Cup and while in some senses it’s fever pitch right now, it’s also a slight lull for everyone concerned. The team is picked and everything but everything is done and we’re all just waiting now for a week on Friday now. These are very [...]
Golf Comment: This is as strong a Europe side as we’ve ever seen September 2, 2014 TO HAVE a Scot on Europe’s Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles is a great asset as the crowd will love it, and Stephen Gallacher’s selection as one of captain Paul McGinley’s three wildcard picks is certainly a wonderful story, but let’s be clear: he has thoroughly earned his place in the side and sentiment didn’t [...]
Golf Comment: Ryder Cup hope Gallacher must copy Donaldson August 25, 2014 IF STEPHEN Gallacher needs any further inspiration in his last-ditch attempt to qualify for a first Ryder Cup then he need look no further than fellow Briton Jamie Donaldson. Last week I mentioned that Donaldson was at risk of being pipped to a place on the European team due to his absence from the FedEx [...]
Golf Comment: Heat is on as Ryder Cup deadline looms August 18, 2014 THE RYDER Cup is less than six weeks away and, more importantly for a handful of European players, there are just two more weeks of competition in which to secure guaranteed qualification. At least two of the nine automatic places, based on European and world points lists, are still up for grabs and there could [...]
Golf Comment: Swing perfection, a cool head, hunger to win: why Rory’s the best by miles August 11, 2014 WHEN Tiger Woods burst onto the scene in the 1990s, the American was the best player that we had ever seen. It’s no exaggeration to say Rory McIlroy, following successive Major wins and his return to world No1 ranking, has hit those same heights. There’s no limit to what he could achieve over the next [...]
Golf Comment: McIlroy isn’t just back to his best – Rory is now better than ever August 4, 2014 RESURGENT Rory McIlroy’s return to world No1 ranking following back-to-back wins at the Open and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational have got people wondering: is the Northern Irishman back to his best? For me, he’s even better than ever. McIlroy’s turn of form has been extraordinary, and he was magnificent in chasing down Sergio Garcia at Akron on [...]
Golf Comment: Langer just gets better with age and McGinley will be taking note July 28, 2014 IT MAY not quite be up there with his two Masters wins, but Bernhard Langer’s utter dominance of the Senior Open Championship last week must rank alongside just about any of his other performances. His score of 18 under par was the lowest in Senior Open history, while his winning margin of 13 shots not [...]
Golf Comment: Rory’s back on form and that’s great for golf July 20, 2014 A WEEK ago I wasn’t sure that Rory McIlroy was ready to win his third Major but he blew away concerns with two blistering opening rounds and barely looked back. It was a magnificent display that not only showcased McIlroy’s talent but also his character, as he kept a cool head and fended off his [...]
Golf Comment: Rory answered doubts before and can again July 17, 2014 IT’S A case of so far, so good for Rory McIlroy, but this is a player who has developed an unfortunate habit of starting brilliantly only to scupper his chances on the second day. If the problem is psychological, then the backdrop of a Major, and a British one at that, is not going to [...]