Golf

In association with  They say “everything happens for a reason.” I have been following young Leona Maguire at Tour school this week in her quest to gain membership of the LPGA tour in the States. It was a tough week for the 23-year-old, a former amateur, world number one, missing out by just one shot to advance to the final …

Veteran Scott Piercy took the second round lead at the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges on Friday with world number three Brooks Koepka lurking in second place. The 39-year-old Piercy defied his world ranking of 252 to fire a bogey-free seven-under-par round of 65, moving to nine under for the $9.5 million US PGA tournament. But Koepka, US PGA Tour …

Sergio Garcia got off to a quick start in his bid for a third consecutive Valderrama Masters title on Thursday, as a three-under-par 68 left him just two strokes off the early clubhouse lead. Half of the field will finish their opening rounds on Friday after lengthy delays due to thunderstorms in Andalusia. England’s Ashley Chesters claimed the clubhouse advantage …

Former Masters champion Danny Willett got into the hunt early at the CJ Cup in South Korea on Thursday. The Englishman has not won a tournament since his shock 2016 success at Augusta National, but was joint second with a three-under 69 in the first round of the $9.5 million US PGA tournament. Chez Reavie of the US was in …

Tiger Woods on Wednesday blamed his dismal Ryder Cup form on tiredness, citing a lack of physical preparation after a demanding comeback from injury. Woods lost all four of his Ryder Cup matches in Paris last month as the United States were crushed 17.5 to 10.5 by a rampant Europe. The 14-time major winner had forced his way back into …

In association with  Tadhg Harrington returns to discuss the main talking points from the golfing world. This week he discusses the rise of power hitters, while also discussing how to improve our putting. An important event for golf took place last weekend in Orlando, Florida. The Titleist Performance Institute hosted their 7 th biennial World Golf Fitness Summit, and a …

A popular home favourite has prevailed in the 2018 British Masters. Eddie Pepperell has a huge following on Twitter due to his humour and honesty. But yet to win on the European Tour since turning professional in 2011, the Englishman has won twice in 2018, first in Qatar back in February and today in his home event. The 27-year-old was …

Australia’s Marc Leishman unleashed an early birdie barrage as he romped home by five shots to claim top place in the $7 million CIMB Classic on Sunday. At the par-72 TPC Kuala Lumpur, Leishman closed with a seven-under par 65 to finish the only PGA Tour event in southeast Asia at 26-under par 262 for his fourth win on the …

A challenging third round saw some players fall out of contention at the British Masters. At Walton Heath, Eddie Pepperell maintained his three shot lead heading into the final round tomorrow. The Englishman only shot a one under 71, but it was good enough to hold a healthy advantage over a bunched second place contingent made up of Alexander Bjork, …

In association with  Tadhg Harrington returns to discuss the main talking points in the golfing world. This week he discusses Justin Rose’s rise and how to improve bunker shots. _____ Rose’s Rise Justin Rose hosts the British Masters this week at Walton Heath, continuing a tradition of top British stars hosting the event at different venues over the past four years. …

Francesco Molinari says he is fit to battle Ryder Cup partner Tommy Fleetwood for the title of European number one, even though his Paris heroics left him unable to tie his shoes. Molinari and Fleetwood became the first European pair to win all four of their matches together at Le Golf National in France. British Open champion Molinari went on …

Lee Westwood has ruled himself out of the running to be Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain, leaving Padraig Harrington as the overwhelming favourite. Westwood had previously expressed a desire to captain Europe at Whistling Straits in 2020, but told the Daily Telegraph he would “wait until Rome” hosts the biennial contest in 2022 to make his bid for the role. …

Former world number one Justin Thomas gave his backing to Jim Furyk on Wednesday after the USA Ryder Cup captain was accused over his pairings in their heavy defeat to Europe. Thomas supported Furyk’s assertion that the pairings were decided well in advance, after Masters champion Patrick Reed said he was “blindsided” by being grouped with Tiger Woods rather than …

Brooks Koepka, this year’s US Open and PGA Championship winner, was announced as the US PGA Tour Player of the Year, having won a vote by tour players. The 28-year-old American captured the Jack Nicklaus Trophy after a historic 2017-18 campaign that saw him defend his US Open crown by winning at Shinnecock and then deny Tiger Woods a 15th …

In association with In this week’s blog, Tadhg Harrington warns of the pitfalls of ‘YouTube’ and self-taught golf and gives his tips for avoiding them. _____ Let me tell you a story… Every Saturday, Bob the accountant, plays in his regular four-ball, at the local municipal. One particular Saturday, he notices that one of his playing partners, Jim, a qualified …