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Lawrie proves it pays to keep on going

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Iain Carter | 13:51 UK time, Monday, 6 February 2012

"There's always next week," is the phrase that provides first refuge to the gutted golfer.

When hopes and dreams have been shattered, sometimes by calamitous self destruction, often all that is left is the belief that wrongs can be righted seven days hence.

It is usually said in hope rather than expectation and in recognition of the need to swiftly climb aboard the horse again to allow mental scars to heal rather than fester.

Kyle Stanley provided no finer example with on Sunday and, to a slightly lesser extent, Paul Lawrie gave another a few hours earlier with his popular win in Qatar.

Paul Lawrie at the Qatar Open

Lawrie won his in Qatar after missing out in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Getty

The previous week Stanley had blown a three-shot lead by taking eight at the 72nd hole before at Torrey Pines. Lawrie also let slip a potentially winning position in Abu Dhabi.

"I think the biggest challenge was seeing if I could put last week behind me," Stanley said after his closing 65 gave him a one-stroke victory. "I think I did."

The 24-year-old American had been the talk of golf in the US after his failure to win in California and was carrying substantial baggage when he teed it up in Arizona. It was some response, especially in a country that loves a healthy dose of redemption.

Lawrie didn't shoulder the same external burden, but inside he would have been thirsting for the victory his recent form had suggested was just around the corner.

In the final round in Abu Dhabi most attention was on eventual champion Robert Rock and the men he beat down the stretch, namely Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. But I at the time that an inward half of 34 might be enough to put Lawrie firmly in contention.

Covering the back nine in two under should have been well within his compass (it would have put him in a play-off with Rock as it turned out) yet he took 38 blows and Lawrie slipped down to a share of eighth place.

It must have been bitterly disappointing because at the end of last season he had come desperately close to landing the Dubai World Championship where a level par back nine left him two strokes behind champion Alvaro Quiros.

The frustration of those two near misses is now firmly behind the Scot, who turned 43 on New Year's Day. "You kind of want it a wee bit when you get a little bit older and you kind of lose a little bit of focus, but I actually feel the opposite," Lawrie said.

The most impressive thing about Lawrie is his enduring appetite for the game. He has been around the golfing block year in and year out; his ambition undimmed despite having claimed the game's greatest prize - the Open Championship back in 1999.

Throughout he has stayed loyal to his Aberdonian roots rather than setting up home in a more convenient location for the endless international travel that defines the career of a touring pro.

"I probably work harder now than I have ever done," Lawrie told 91Èȱ¬ Sport during the Abu Dhabi tournament.

He is inspired by his two sons, Craig, 16, and Michael, 13, who are making marks on the Scottish junior scene. "I was never lazy, but I'm probably out there practicing more than ever, especially with the boys coming up.

"They are coming through and I'm playing more golf at home than I ever did, which I think is helping me."

Lawrie's ended a nine-year drought and this win has taken him back into the world's top 50.

His Open triumph gave him a five-year exemption to play the Masters and it expired after his last appearance at Augusta in 2004.

Now the world number 47 has Georgia back on his mind because if he can stay in the top 50 between now and the beginning of April, he will be eligible for the year's first major.

"I feel I'm getting better. I feel my ball striking has improved immensely since I turned 40. And I'm hitting it a lot further than I probably ever hit it going by the stats," he said.

Already he can look forward to the WGC events in Tucson and Doral and will relish the opportunities those events provide for boosting his qualification hopes.

Lawrie was not found wanting in his one appearance for Europe back in 1999, but sensibly refuses to be carried away with the thought of earning a place in Jose Maria Olazabal's team.

"I keep saying to you guys that the Ryder Cup is a long way off, and there's a lot of golf to be played from now until then. I'm not getting ahead of myself. I'm obviously playing very well, but who knows what's going to happen?"

It is a voice of reason that takes account of golf's extraordinary unpredictability. Lawrie's current renaissance was hard to foresee through much of last year when there were no top-10 finishes between June and December.

And Stateside there is Stanley's redemptive story, made all the more remarkable by the fact that Spencer Levin had led by six strokes heading into the final round.

"My family still loves me; my friends are still my friends; I'm still going to eat dinner tonight," Levin observed as he sought solace at his own capitulation. He will also do well to remember that next week will come soon enough as well.

Comments

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  • Comment number 1.

    This comment has been referred for further consideration. Explain.

  • Comment number 2.

    IAIN CARTER PREDICTION LEAGUE FULL LEAGUE TABLE

    BiloMcT - 10 POINTS
    TheSorcerer - 10 POINTS
    daveyboyfletcher - 10 POINTS
    mickysausage - 8 POINTS
    Diamondvneck - 3 POINTS
    powerhitterLee - 0 POINTS
    cfcboy23 - 0 POINTS
    sumo82 - 0 POINTS
    CHUMBAWUMBA12 - 0 POINTS
    Jeffkenna GMac - 0 POINTS
    gbell - 0 POINTS
    Jimmy - 0 POINTS
    PeterTheHoss - 0 POINTS
    Golfnut99 - 0 POINTS
    mattefc - 0 POINTS
    Rich - 0 POINTS
    divotedgolfer - 0 POINTS

  • Comment number 3.

    Just noticed that Diamondvneck picked Hanson, so he gets 3 points, i have added him to the table above, well done Diamondvneck!

  • Comment number 4.

    Well done to :

    Paul Lawrie
    BiloMcT
    Daveyboyfletcher
    The sorcerer

    for the first place finish, in the tricky weather as well !

  • Comment number 5.

    How much of a Legend is BiloMcT!

  • Comment number 6.

    Excellent win for Lawrie, never looked as if he was going to be caught. And a good blog by Ianin to highlight the persistence of the common golfer. As usual the 91Èȱ¬ blog shut down just in time for the start of the tournament i.e. Thursday. What we did see on Thursday was a splendid performance from my beolved John Daly (oh if only that guy had a decent work ethic, so much talent, what a waste). One somewhat upsetting thing was watching Jason All Day Long - I like the guy in many ways, he's got a very solid game, gritty as hell and a good attitude with a little bit of fire and character at times, which is no harm given today's conveyor belt of robot golfers - but he really does need to pick up his pace of play.

  • Comment number 7.

    Iain - some good points there, but surprisingly little mention anywhere of the impact of the death of Lawrie's long-time coach and friend Adam Hunter seems to have had on him. It's almost seems that it's given him that extra 10% motivation. Congratulations to Stanley too - great comeback from last week.

    Anyway, well done to those who picked the winners (thought Sergio was going to get a top 3 for me at one stage), with the exception of BiloMcT as one of his picks was Harrington who wasn't even playing. Worst pick ever!!!

  • Comment number 8.

    Was Jason Day really that slow? I noticed the commentators giving him a hard time about it yet their group didn't appear to be falling behind at all.
    He is deliberate and methodical in his approach to each shot but then so are other players. I got pretty frustrated that every time he and his caddie had a conversation about the shot it was 'paralysis by analysis' yet when it was one of the others e.g. Sergio, it was sensible to talk it through! Do the commentators have something against Day?

  • Comment number 9.

    Good blog Iain. What is so impressive about Paul LAwrie is his dedication to sport. His foundation programme is an example to all sportsmen. ITs not just some PR exercise with his name attached, he coaches the kids supports them runs prizes and funds a huge amount of it himself. A passionate Aberdeen fan Paul has never lost his identity and I for one wish him the best, would love to see him on the RC side again and can see him going well throughout the season....

    also he's always pretty good odds - I got him at 40-1 this weekend!! nice....

  • Comment number 10.

    Had a gut feeling on Paul Lawrie he had played well in the event before and was the last man standing in the wind when he won the open. Good to see a win from again another unassuming guy who works hard at his game and like Robert Rock has recently set up an academy.

  • Comment number 11.

    Jason day was so slow looked like he grew a mullet during his round his hair appeared to get longer and longer.

  • Comment number 12.

    These desert courses are lovely in the sunshine but didn't it look desolate in the bad weather on day 2? Everything seemed to look grey-sort of like Walsall on a Tuesday afternoon in February.
    Oh well it brightened up and Paul Lawrie was stunning he never wavered at all under pressure. Where has he been all these years.
    Looking forward to this week and a bit of form from the big boys like Kaymer and Quiros.
    Also what has happened to Ross Fisher of late. He seemed to have such promise and has not really featured for a bit too long. Is it putting problems-perhaps he needs to try the broomhandle..

  • Comment number 13.

    Good work on the Prediction league Mr Sausage. Such a sucess that I think its only right that you continue on for the rest of the season.

    I dont want to come across all joyless but does anyone feel that a tournament slightly loses a touch of its integrity or prestige when reduced to 54 holes. I wouldnt wish to take anything at all away from the way that Lawrie played over 3 rounds, he was very good for 2 and magnificent at the end and deserved the title. I'm just always left feeling a little bit less satisfied with the event as a whole when this kind of thing happens. And as we have seen countless times anything can happen in that last round, though I suspect that Lawrie is hewn from something rather more similar to Aberdeen granite than Spencer Levin

    A special mention to Thomas Bjorn who placed fairly highly despite a +7 opening round. I was paying particular attention because i had him in my fantasy race to dubai team and thought he was a nailed on MC after round 1.

  • Comment number 14.

    What a stunning final round from Lawrie, started watching the coverage from hole 7 and he didn't play a single poor shot, absolutely stunning. A brilliant cruciatus curse on the rest of the field.

    @Jimmy I kind of agree about the tournament losing a bit of its prestige. However, the decision to reduce to 54 holes was made very early on, before a lot of the players had even played their second round, so in that respect I don't think you could say that any of the mental challenge was diminished, i.e. they knew the 2nd round was the penultimate and the 3rd the final one. Would never happen in a Major though.

  • Comment number 15.

    French golfers
    Is it me or do they seem to fall short of promise?
    So many of them but perhaps lacking the winning edge
    Maybe it's the French approach to life-laissez faire!!
    I like the look of Wattel and Dubuisson, also Gonnet showing form

  • Comment number 16.

    re 12 Mickey did a top job with predictions and talks a lot of good sense in the blogs got to hand it to him.Keep the good work Mr Sausage

  • Comment number 17.

    Well done to all as mentioned... however, might I suggest there be points deducted if your pick misses the cut? Should keep things interesting... did anyone pick Karlsson, Manessero?

  • Comment number 18.

    Great win for Lawrie and stanley, but what about this weeks desert classic,have just been looking at the odds Rory favourite closely followed by Kaymer and Westwood(love to see him beat McIlroy)but if you fancy an outsider BoomBoom Couples 225/1 and Monty 350/1 . I,m going to have a little flutter on Ross Fisher 90/1 surely a good e/w bet

  • Comment number 19.

    Also - I have to agree re 54 holes last week. Without studying every card, I do know for instance, Westwood played 6 holes on Friday before play was stopped and he was +2 for those holes. Any shots lost to the field on that Friday were not the same difference at the end of the tournament... if that makes sense?
    Ref. Jason Day - I always Sky+ the golf... problem solved!!

  • Comment number 20.

    Really chuffed for Lawrie. His mental strength shone through and he could be worth a sneaky bet if the wind is blowing at The Open.
    Just noticed you guys are running a predictions league. Can anyone join?

  • Comment number 21.

    i'm not sure about letting welshwizard5 into the prediction league, purely based on the fact Wales beat Ireland at the weekend!

    mickysausage is doing a great job and he does talk a lot of sense on these blogs. well said daveyboyfletcher.

    How about that Mark Roe as a pundit, how much nonsense was he talking on Sunday night while Kyle Stanley redeemed himself. They need to get John Hawksworth back in that studio.

  • Comment number 22.

    @14

    Of course you are right, because the event was reduced to 54 holes early the players were aware of the situation and therefore the pressure of playing well down the stretch was the same as it would be in a 72 hole event. Far more satisfactory than where bad weather on the sunday causes a last round cancellation and the 54 hole leader automatically becomes the winner. Just less satisfactory than a 72 hole event is all.

    Bilo if you're a real legend lets see you follow it up with another W this week. I'll happily admit i'm rubbish

  • Comment number 23.

    Yes sky+ is great for anything you'd like to whizz through in life
    Adverts, preshot routines, postshot routines
    David Cameron, Harry Hill, Davina McCall
    It would actually be quite useful at work..if life was a recording
    That's a bit sureal

  • Comment number 24.

    @22

    You're right, events with last round cancellations really do take away the challenge of leading in the final round and having the bottle to finish it off, as Lawrie did so brilliantly on Sunday.

    Slight curveball but looking forward to the WGC does anyone know when the draw comes out? Because I can't stop thinking about a Woods - McIlroy showdown. What with Woods being relatively far down the OWG rankings there's a reasonable chance it could happen if they were drawn in the same quarter.

  • Comment number 25.

    BiloMcT, you assume that because my username is welshwizard I am Welsh?

  • Comment number 26.

    Jimmy, I don't like the shortened tournaments either, but making it 54 holes on the Friday meant that the Sunday was a pretty normal day in terms of pressure etc.

    LordVoldemort, I'm not sure when the 64 from the rankings are finalised for the WGC matchplay. Of course, if McIlroy and Woods keep winning then they'll meet at some point.

  • Comment number 27.

    Everybody is saying that the tournamet has lost its prestige because it changed to 54 holes. Every player played the same amount of holes and Paul Lawrie won comfortably. If he keeps the same mental from of mind, a definate for the ryder Cup on the points list

    What are peoples views on Sergio? His putting has improved immensely as he is now giving his putts a chance by getting them past the hole. Major winner this year?

  • Comment number 28.

    Great Blog Iain, nice to see after last weeks ridiculous decision to centre the blog on TW and not our very own Robert Rock!

    British golfers in the W column already and its only February!

    We will go over to Chicago and thump USA on this sort of form!

  • Comment number 29.

    #27

    Garcia great front nine to get into contention, but fell away on back nine - which is where the majors are won

    with his ball striking and improved putting he will surely be up there in one of the majors, but its a lot different winning in Spain than coming down the stretch of a major with a couple of big players on your heels.

    Although he can't win every week, and he wont play every back 9 like that, so hopefully he will keep improving and we will see a Woods - Mcilroy - Garcia - Westwood - Donald on back 9 of Masters all level.

  • Comment number 30.

    Chuffed to bits for Paul. On his day 1 of the finest strikers of a golf-ball and i'll never forget being soaked to the skin and freezing cold watching his ball appear from the gloom at the 18th at Carnoustie.

    If you're reading this Paul then i hope your resurgence continues - so that you can buy that clown Milne out of the footie club.

  • Comment number 31.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 32.

    yorkshire_blogster - I like the cut of your jib! Ever been to Bridlington?
    Regards cheeky predictions... how about the Campbell/Jaidee/Stenson 3 ball being the most over par after 36 holes?

  • Comment number 33.

    #32

    I have played Brid Links and am playing again in a similar thing at Flamborough in May! Part of a festival my dads friend plays in that goes around the 4 courses in the area.

    Most over par at 36....Darren Clarke / Ernie Els / Thomas Bjorn

    PS - Jim Furyk world number 59!!! how did that happen???

  • Comment number 34.

    #33
    Nice... I was born and bred there (residing in Manchester) - still play a charity am/am at Flamboro every July for a 'late' friend. If you're playing all 4 course, you'll enjoy Belvedere - very tough.
    I fancy my 3-ball over yours, though!

  • Comment number 35.

    #33

    Belvedere is the one I played last year...thought it was quite easy really :P couple of long holes at the end but front nine was fairly bully-able

    Live in West riding but work in Beverley so played most of courses around here

    I did not want to use any of your 3 ball to be different - but I dare say Clarke / Campbell / Stenson would be a hard 3 ball to beat!!

  • Comment number 36.

    @28

    It is good seeing Uk golfers winning against some very strong fields. So far i think that since the desert swing started the fields have been stronger than the US Tour events, Biased perhaps??

    Anyway you mention the Ryder Cup, I think that there is a fair chance at this early that neither of these homegrowns will make it to Chicago. Its safe to say that neither was really in the popular reckoning 3 weeks ago

  • Comment number 37.

    # 36

    I agree, neither RR or PL will make it onto Ryder Cup team but unless some of the others - Molinari, Rose, Casey, Jimenez, et al win some tournaments this year they might not get a look in

    In any case I certainly think we have a stronger potential 30 golfers to pick from to beat them in Chicago.

    I also agree that the European Tour events in teh far east seem to attract better fields than america - though Ian Poulter played in America??

    Martin Laird to get in the team this year do you think??

  • Comment number 38.

    yorkshire_blogster,

    While it's too early to get into a serious debate about the Ryder Cup prospects, I actually think the US have got potentially a stronger 20 or so to pick from. While we have the top 4/5 in the rankings, the rest of the top 20 is still dominated by the US players.

    Martin Laird is a decent shout, but given his limited ET events, he'll have to get in via the World rankings list (very unlikely) or a wildcard, and he would probably need to have an exceptional season to be given the nod for one of these.

  • Comment number 39.

    I like Martin Laird. I think he's a good player, looks to be playing well so why not. Must be said it is far too early to be actually picking an RC team even hypothetically, for a start there are always a few unfancied players making the team (Jeff Overton, Peter Hanson for example from the last RC)

    The only thing for certain is that i cant see us being in a situation where an Andrew Coltart is a captains pick and then is basically sent over to make up the numbers. I think there will be some quality players dont make it.

  • Comment number 40.

    I like Laird and think playing in America can only help when it comes to the rigours of a Ryder Cup played on American soil.
    Put it this way - if Laird does not qualify or is not picked then Europe must have one hell of a team already.
    Another predictions 'test' for mickeysausage... pick your RC team before, say, end of March!

  • Comment number 41.

    cfcboy23

    I like Laird too, but the selection system will work against him. He won't be in the top 5 Europeans from the World rankings (unless he has an incredible year), and given how few events he plays over here he's probably not likley to make the next top 5 from the Euro list. He'll probably need to win something big to get on the team, and even then that might be to force a wild card pick.

    The other way of looking at it is that he'll get on the team if he's good enough/has a good enough year.

  • Comment number 42.

    I know its all hypothetical but its all good fun!

    dead certs you would think are: westwood, rory, luke

    then probables would be G-Mac, Poults (?), Garcia, kaymer,

    Then you still have Rose, Casey, Molinari, Molinari, Mannasero, Laird, Dyson, Quiros, Jimenez, Bjorn, Henson, Karlson, Castano, Hansen


    I think Europe have a better top 6 players

  • Comment number 43.

    Powerhitter - Following your post i had a quick look on the world rankings website, looking at it you can interpret them however you like in order to determine relative strength of the teams.

    For example the top 50 has 20 Europeans and 18 Americans, Advantage Europe you'd think. However the top twenty gives America a 9 - 7 advantage.

    But then are the rankings even relevant at all? Bo Van Pelt is No 32 but you would fancy lower ranker europeans such as Karlsson, Laird or Jimenez over him. Probably most American would rather have Furyk or (On current form) Stanley yet they arent even in the top 50.

    And anyway come september the rankings could be completly different, so all of the above is irrelevant, apart from giving me something to do instead of working

  • Comment number 44.

    Well, from a Dutch point of view I'd like to see Luiten in. He has the matchplay mentality as he showed in last years world cup. But more importantly i feel is if the US can get a team that the fans can get behind. Maybe without Tiger or Phil what crowd pleasing players do they have. It can be the tamest Ryder Cup for decades if their stars cannot qualify

  • Comment number 45.

    "My family still loves me; my friends are still my friends; I'm still going to eat dinner tonight,"

    With the big cheque he got for finishing 3rd, I too would enjoy my dinner that evening.

  • Comment number 46.

    #44

    barring serious injury or 20 missed cuts in a row there is no chance TW or phil wont be there - for as you say at the very least they will be needed to get the crowd going and make it as partisan as possible

    though I do agree they do not have the crowd pleasers we are blessed with onthe european tour at the moment - perhaps Dustin Johnson would be one. Get John Daly in as a wildcard that will certainly get them roaring!!

  • Comment number 47.

    @46
    TW is currently 33rd on their RC-list and he didnot really convince in the Presidents Cup. No captain can ignore that.
    Phil is number 9, but he will be 42 when the Cup comes a long. Since the Open his best finish in 10 starts was 10th at the Tour Championships.
    i feel i have a pretty strong argument that this can be a tame, onesided Ryder Cup, because of the lack of support for the American team. Europeans tend to support underdogs, not so the Americans.

  • Comment number 48.

    Americans tend to support the Americans, in my mind there is no question about their support, They have really got behind Luke and Rory in recent years but they'll get behind their own, dont worry about that. As for crowd pleasers, There is Bubba of course, plus in a Ryder Cup in America, any American who makes birdies is a crowd pleaser. Even the excellent, but rather unexciting players like Stricker.

    A final word on the Rankings, It'd seem that Snedeker is a better player than TW and Phil

  • Comment number 49.

    has anyone heard John Hawksworths views yet?

  • Comment number 50.

    Great win for Lawrie, a good lesson for the kids that hard work does pay off in golf. As for Spencer Levin....he's a choker. He crumbled a bit last year as well in the Mayakoba Classic which Johnson Wagner won. Great bounceback from Stanley.

    Bring on Tiger at Pebble Beach!

  • Comment number 51.

    Agree re Laird being unlikely to qualify but simple by playing the US tour he may very well win a couple of tournaments and that would give him every chance of a wild card. Not if the RC were over here but simply because it's in the States. A winning mentality 'over there' would prove valuable but - as rightly said - there's a long way to go.
    Put it this way... if Laird, Rose and Casey were relying on a WC and only the former had a 'W' in the season - wouldn't he be the obvious pick?

  • Comment number 52.

    #47

    you seriously think TW is not going to make it into worlds top 20 this year? his rankings will get better and better because he will be in more tournaments. Compare 37 in world to where he was 3 months ago - and regardless of his pairs form he still battered his opponent in the singles - plus he was playing his ex caddy which cant have been good for his mental state

    big phil is admittedly struggling at the moment, but I think with the up and coming new boys they will want his experience there

    bubba is a great shout and I would love to see him play quiros in a matchplay - you would not want to be a golf ball in that match...BOOOOOOOM

  • Comment number 53.

    @43 - jimmy wrote -

    And anyway come september the rankings could be completly different, so all of the above is irrelevant, apart from giving me something to do instead of working

    Fantastic !!

    i've been a bit busy today so i've just been reading.

  • Comment number 54.

    Sorry Bilo mate but you broke the house rules above so I had to complain -don't do it again.

  • Comment number 55.

    Eh.....what did i do that broke the rules? i am glad i have never complained about anyone on here. Its like squeling in school to the teacher. i would never do it, stand by your friends and fight your enemies....dont run off and tell the teacher!

  • Comment number 56.

    BiloMcT, what you said about Mickysausage there broke every rule in the book. It was a disgrace and you should be ashamed.

  • Comment number 57.

    Bilo you were picking on the Welsh Wizard, if you don't like him you should keep it to yourself. poor lad hasn't posted since.

    what would john hawksworth say ??

  • Comment number 58.

    I see BiloMcT is up to his old antics again, bullying the new posters and slagging off mickeysausage. John Hawksworth wouldn't be happy with your contant skullduggery and trash-talk.

  • Comment number 59.

    @Bilo you'd never run and tell the teacher but you'd unjustifiably attack someone from behind the anonymity of a computer screen. Nice one mate.

  • Comment number 60.

    BiloMcT grow up and stop your childish bullying. What you said about mickysausage, was totally out of order. You should be ashamed of yourself!!!

  • Comment number 61.

    Once again you are all ganging up on me because i'm the only Austrian person who posts here. I'm sick of it. I am leaving this blog forever.

  • Comment number 62.

    #61 Back to Germany?

  • Comment number 63.

    @24... lordvoldemort..... I think the brackets for tuscon are released the weekend prior to the tournament, but if the rankings stayed the way they are now and mickelson played they would potentially meet in the last 16!!!
    mickysaus..well played dude.....what about predictions for both tours this week it will probably close tonight!!!

  • Comment number 64.

    Oh dear bilo seems upset oh well at least the irrelevant references to john hawksworth might cease hurrah.

  • Comment number 65.

    Micky early predictions for Dubai
    Westwood
    mclroy
    Quiros
    feel that one of the big guns will win this week but could be completely wrong this course tends not to throw up a surprise.

  • Comment number 66.

    Sorry to bring up a a previous blog, but did anyone just see TW pre tournament interview at pebble...totally agree with his comments regarding smelly putters

  • Comment number 67.

    BiloMcT, I don't know what you said but I'm sure I can look after myself without the moderators help. I was only having a laugh. Of course I'm Welsh!!!

  • Comment number 68.

    bilo...cmon dude get back on here!!! by the way do you think john hawksworth FAMOUS shot was better than TW's 6 iron in the canada open, from a bunker, over a tree, over water to land within 10 feet..honest opinion

  • Comment number 69.

    Kudos to Paul Lawrie a real good pro.I remember him winning the Open,and his "spot" was i imagining it or did he have a spot that was bleeding and he had to keep dabbing at it...im sure he did...anyway i am convinced this helped him cus he was more concerned about the "spot" than the pressure and in some strange way it relaxed him...does my comment sound like utter madness? Maybe,but i am right!

    I hate all this yellow on the bbc sports site...i urge all real sports fans to complain to the editor...perhaps a nice light blue would be better.

  • Comment number 70.

    re 66 was tiger referring to some of the putters being used? i saw one guy on the us tour using something that looked like a box on a stick it was laughable.It seems to be that belly and long putters are growing on the us tour though not quite so much on the euro tour yet.

  • Comment number 71.

    @70 daveyboy......take a listen on the pga tour website m8, the r@a and usga are meant to be looking into this, apparently TW has spoken at lengths with dawson about this. He basically was saying that the putter should be the shortest/even club and you should swing in a pendular motion without any support, which in my opinion is spot on!! but others digress......i personally think they should be deemed illegal because whatever way you look at it they hold an advantage???

  • Comment number 72.

    Interesting what Tiger had to say but cant see anything changing. There are to many pro players now using them esp belly putters. Funny thing is I have never seen anyone using one other than a pro. The general opinion seems to be that the long putters are better for short putts but not so great for longer putts where distance judgement is needed. This debate will run and run a bit like the thought that reducing the distance the ball goes.

  • Comment number 73.

    In terms of the rc, we could all pick our 12 man european team and have good debates on our selections. However makes the team, Europe will be strong and probably faverouites. in my opinon eduardo molinari, Poulter and Jimenez will miss out from the last team and be replaced with Quiros, Garcia and Dyson. The team will further be strengthened by more players winning majors, Mcilroy with the us open since the last rc and with the strength of European golf it is likely that more players will have won a major before teeing it up at medinah however i believe one player that wont willl be westwood as hit putting at crunch time in majors is quite frankly awful

    What is more intersting is the us team. TW, phil, dustin johnson and webb simpson will make the team but after that it is wide open. none of the older plyers such as Furyk and Cink have been playing since the last rc and anytime a young player does anything you dont hear from them for a while eg Keegan Bradley winning the USPGA with the only excetion being Kyle Stanley recently. This is as good a chance as any to continue to win the ryder cup away from home in the states unless 5 or 6 yanks start to hit some form

  • Comment number 74.

    The Ryder Cup without Poulter- unthinkable
    He psychs out the American team on his own
    McIlroy
    Westwood
    Donald
    Kaymer
    GMac
    Poulter
    Garcia
    Quiros
    Hanson
    Lawrie
    F Molinari
    Casey
    eur-or-ope eur-or-ope!
    The Americans will be no push over with young unafraid players
    But you never win with kids apparently
    For Dubai:
    Westwood
    McIlroy
    Quiros
    Sorry a bit predictable I'm going to bed

  • Comment number 75.

    Well done to the young scot, Remarkable.

    Completely unrelated issue but I am considering the unthinkable... getting a belly putter - thoughts?

    Oh and my predictions for this week are
    Rors
    Westwood
    Ross Fisher

  • Comment number 76.

    Dubai... I'm backing team England:
    Westwood
    Dyson
    Finch

  • Comment number 77.

    @75

    You serious? If so go for it, as long as you can put up with the sniggers and the snide remarks you may receive.

    Personally i hope Westwood has an absolute nightmare this week, I thought he wasnt playing and took him out of my fantasy team. On that basis alone he's probably a very safe bet for a win

  • Comment number 78.

    @75 gbell

    I find that belly putters are not widely available. I'd like to try one (in the shop at least) but find that even in the big American Golf stores they rarely have any. Seems a bit odd given how often we are seeing them now on TV.

  • Comment number 79.

    Right guys i was away yesterday on golfing business, it seems that BiloMct as been in trouble and looks to have left the blog. @WelshWizard of course you are aloud to enter the prediction league, you are a tournament behind though but that doesnt really matter as a lot of people didnt get any points.
    May i point that i may also be leaving this blog, it seems that some childish bloggers are trying to get peoples comments removed, i'm not sure what BiloMct said and i dont condone bullying if this was the case, but whoever has complained about my comment number "1" on the blog, need to grow up. I was clearly only stating who had picked up points in the prediction league, and my comment is up for "further Consideraton" By the moderators. I will ponder my quitting over the next few hours.....

  • Comment number 80.

    In the mean time guys i need your picks for this weeks tournaments today, there is two tournaments so i need 3 picks for both tournaments.........

    AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
    &
    Omega Dubai Desert Classic

    **
    I also need a new prediction league candidate if i decide to leave the blog

  • Comment number 81.

    PICKS NEED TO BE IN BY 12 O CLOCK TONIGHT AS THIS BLOG WILL CLOSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
    **
    AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
    &
    Omega Dubai Desert Classic

  • Comment number 82.

    Would rather you didn't leave Micky, it wasn't me who try to remove your first comment, I remember there being nothing wrong with it in fact.

    My predictions:

    Dubai: Kaymer, McIlroy, Lawrie.

    Pebble Beach: Mickelson, Woods, Immelmann.

  • Comment number 83.

    Mickysausage, you need to rise above the complainers on here - leaving the blog (like it would appear BiloMcT has done) only lets them win......

    My predictions:-

    Dubai - McIlroy, Garcia, Kaymer

    AT&T - Woods, Mahan, W. Simpson

  • Comment number 84.

    @82 LordVoldemort...sort it out lad, you are ruining this blog, complaining about posts. pathetic. you've managed to get BiloMcT to leave and now mickysausage threatning to leave. Last time these two left the Blog was terrible for a while. In amongst their hilarious banter they are probably the most knowledgable golf fans on here! isnt Bilo the leader in the prediction league?

    mickysausage, hope you stay, if you do my predictions are

    Dubai - McIlroy, Robert Rock, Micheal Hoey

    AT+T - Woods, Dustin Johnson, Martin Laird

  • Comment number 85.

    Right then. Prediction time, I can feel that this week will see me get my campaign up and running in fine style.

    Dubai - Westwood, Mcilroy, Noren
    AT&T - Laird, Fowler, Mahan.

  • Comment number 86.

    By the way, i think the blog usually closes after 3 days, which means that we should at least get the pleasure of commenting on the 1st round in Dubai (And the AT&T for the night owls)

  • Comment number 87.

    @79mickeysausage I to would like to join your prediction league if allowed with the following players
    Dubai Fisher Kaymer Westwood
    AT&T Watney Fowler Ogilvy
    May I just add I enjoy reading all the comments and some even make me chuckle, but there is also fantastic knowledge of the game from almost everyone and Individuals should be entitled to there opinion which in general makes this blog a very good read although I'm sure a book would be quicker sometimes

  • Comment number 88.

    AT&T - Tiger Woods, Ian Poulter, Ricky Fowler

    Dubai - Quiros, Rory, Westwood

  • Comment number 89.

    Complaining about comments without any due merit is scandalous - every single person on this blog is entitled to an opinion and others can either agree or disagree - and if backed up with reasonable judgement then there should be no barracking

    the banter on here is normally fairly light hearted so lets all try and keep it that way

    I see #1 is only up for "further consideration" so if the moderators have any sense they will simply ignore the pathetic complaint.

  • Comment number 90.

    Guys, I only complained about Bilo's comment, not Micky's as everyone seems to think. I don't want either of them to leave too, I just thought Bilo's comment was unnecessary, and clearly it was given that it was taken down.

  • Comment number 91.

    Terrible behaviour from LordVoldemort. Complaining isnt on, act like a man next time.

    mickysausage my picks are

    Bjorn,Lawrie and Kaymer for Dubai

    Dustin Johnson, Brant Snedeker and Fowler for AT&T

  • Comment number 92.

    #90

    I agree and thought it was unnecessary

    I know there are a lot of long standing bloggers on this forum, but some of you do like to think you have your own coterie of bloggers and the rest of us are only by-standers and outsiders - note that this is only a minor number of bloggers

    we are all here to talk about golf.

  • Comment number 93.

    I think his comment was fairly clearly tongue in cheek, It actually made me laugh, i suppose it broke the rules but read in context it was totally harmless.

    But move on, i'm sure Hawkesworth has bounced back from greater adversity in his time.

    Interesting to see a few picks for Fisher, he's in a real rut at the moment, if he doesnt come out of it soon i think he's in danger of just being a guy who had a couple of good seasons before falling back into the anonymous ranks of the Journeyman

  • Comment number 94.

    Dubai... as before Westwood, Dyson, Finch

    AT&T... Immelman, Na, Woods

    Ref. Bilo... if you say you 'don't like someone' in 'text' (on here)... nobody knows if you're being amusing/ironic/plain daft/very serious. Leave that to kids on facebook and problem solved - stick to the golf!

  • Comment number 95.

    Does anyone know why Luke Donald isn't playing this week, is he trying to give Rory and Tiger a chance ? And will Paul Casey be fully recovered from his dislocated shoulder to qualify for the Ryder cup

  • Comment number 96.

    @93 Jimmy
    I think Fishers odds @90/1 tempted me only had a couple of pound e/w but who knows as Jimmy Greaves once said about football "its a funny old game"

  • Comment number 97.

    what do people think of harrington playing the AT&T instead of far east?

    he showed some promise end of last year be good to see him back in top 10

  • Comment number 98.

    well it looks like most people agree that LordVoldemort was out of order. Now i have the support of my fellow bloggers i have chosen to return.
    @welshwizard5...i like you. Do you like me?
    @jimmy....check out John Hawksworths swing, its amazing.

    mickysausage my picks are:-

    Dubai
    1.Lawrie
    2.Bjorn
    3.McIlroy

    AT&T
    1.Tiger
    2.Dustin Johnson
    3.Haas

  • Comment number 99.

    #97
    I'd never write Harrington off. Class is permanent etc...
    However, he has always got my vote for worst dressed golfer - he just doesn't have a clue!

  • Comment number 100.

    i would like to hear from Sumo82, powerhitter and mattefc

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