Golf Course Digest

There are high hopes that Kim, the youngest member of the U.S. team, is the one to end a string of Ryder Cup defeats.

So the youngest player on the U.S. team is supposed to make the biggest difference in the oldest match-play competition in pro golf?

That’s all there is to deal with this week for Anthony Kim, a Ryder Cup rookie at 23, a two-time winner in his first full year on the PGA Tour and the player who’s probably having more than a few bricks of pressure heaved on his back.

He said Tuesday that he’s ready.

“This is what I’ve worked toward,” he said. “I feel like this is a huge accomplishment in my life, something I’ll never forget, and I’m looking forward to having a great week.”

Kim might need to be great if the U.S. is going to avoid a fourth consecutive loss to Europe and a third consecutive blowout. (more…)

Ryder Cup team speculation gathered pace at Valhalla Golf Club on Wednesday two days ahead of Friday’s opening foursomes.Both skippers, Nick Faldo and Paul Azinger, were under pressure to divulge information on which four pairings they had chosen to set the ball rolling in the highly-anticipated clash.

And while both said they had mainly made up their minds, they insisted there was still time for changes ahead of the announcement on Thursday afternoon.

Faldo in particular was under interrogation over a photograph of him out on the course holding a piece of paper with player initials on it. (more…)

The closest Tiger Woods will get to the Ryder Cup is in front of his television.

Despite speculation on various Web sites that Woods planned to show up at Valhalla Golf Club this week, he said Tuesday in a monthly newsletter he has no intention of coming.

“I plan to watch the Ryder Cup this week, but I will not attend,” Woods said. “U.S. captain Paul Azinger has my cell phone number and he or any U.S. player can call me any time. If I can offer any assistance, I’m happy to help.” (more…)

Lee Westwood said on Tuesday it was his turn to provide some leadership to a European Ryder Cup team missing long-time members such as Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke.“Obviously Monty and Darren are not here and that’s quite different,” Westwood, playing his sixth Ryder Cup, told reporters.

“It’s a little bit less experienced team but it’s the first team… where everybody is inside of the top 50 in the world rankings. Got a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of young, enthusiastic people.” (more…)

Viewer interest in FedEx Cup, minus Tiger Woods, in question

Phil Mickelson was to ring the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange this morning. Consider it your wakeup call. The PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs are about to start.

You might not have noticed between updates on Antonio Gates’ toe, that little thing called the Olympics and the Padres doing absolutely nothing, but the tour’s second effort at its postseason format begins Thursday, eight miles out of Manhattan at venerable Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J.

Last year, the inaugural FedEx Cup overcame many, many doubters – including this one – with some highly watchable golf, including Mickelson’s winning duel with Tiger Woods in Week 2, and Woods’ eventual record-setting blitzing of the pack at the Tour Championship.

The PGA Tour executives were rightly thrilled with the outcome, but now they face a run of four playoff events in a six-week span without the sidelined Woods. (more…)

Danny Lee on US Amateur Championship

Golfer Danny Lee shot a one-over par 71 in the first round of strokeplay at the US Amateur Championship today, putting him in a tie for 36th.
Playing on the No 4 course at the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in North Carolina, the world No 1 amateur stumbled with a pair of bogeys on the front nine. He carded three more at the 11th, 12th and 13th holes.

Lee made the turn at one under with birdies on the 7th, 8th and 9th holes but added just one more on the back nine, at the 17th.

South Carolina’s Wesley Brian and Washington’s Andrew Putnam with three-under par 67s, jointly lead by one shot over a group of six players.

Only 20 players from the field of over 300 carded red figures today. (more…)

Tiger Woods said he’s begun riding a stationary exercise bike, can’t move fast enough to catch his 13-month-old daughter, and won’t start swinging his golf clubs until next year.

Woods said things are getting a “lot better”, seven weeks after surgery on his left knee. He’s also regained some weight after dropping 10 pounds since his June 24 surgery to reconstruct his torn anterior cruciate ligament.

“I’m a lot more mobile, which is really nice”, Woods said in a monthly newsletter. I can’t catch Sam yet, but I’m getting close. As far as swinging a club, that’s not going to happen until next year. I just don’t have a choice. We simply don’t know what type of swelling there would be. Everyone’s body reacts differently.” (more…)

Kenny Perry

American Kenny Perry, one of the hottest players in the game, withdrew from the U.S. PGA Championship on Thursday because of an eye problem.

The 47-year-old pulled out of the final major of the year after carding a nine-over-par 79 in the opening round at Oakland Hills Country Club.

“I have had Lasik (laser eye) surgery and have been wearing lenses which have a hard centre and flatten out at the end,” Perry said in a statement.

“I had some infection in there and my doctor said that I needed to let my eyes rest by keeping the contacts out. (more…)

Ryder Cup

Kenny Perry arrived at Oakland Hills Country Club, site of this week’s PGA Championship, as soon as possible, perhaps eager to get preparations under way for what will be, amazingly, his first major championship appearance of the year.

He didn’t recall The Monster being as long or as difficult as it is now. The last time he traversed these hallowed fairways, however, things did not work out so well. Perry was part of an embarrassing 18 ½-9 ½ United States loss to Europe in the 2004 Ryder Cup, matches in which he went 0-2.

That and the fact that next month’s Ryder Cup is in his home state of Kentucky fueled Perry’s desire to make the U.S. squad, despite the fact that he’ll be 48 when the first ball is struck at Valhalla.

That goal has been accomplished despite his not playing this year in a single major championship, where Perry could have earned double points to help in his quest to qualify for the Ryder Cup team. Perry also did not compete in a World Golf Championship event — where the purses are higher, thus offering more points — until the Bridgestone Invitational, where he tied for 66th on Sunday. (more…)

What type Golf Training Get Help?

Golf is increasingly popular among men and women. You can not play at amateur and professional level. Because the equipment is relatively expensive, even an amateur level is important to learn how to play the game correctly in order to maximize both the team and the game itself. If you are a beginner or just want to improve their technique to get a golf training aid is a great idea. There are several aids available on the market, however professional players suggest trying to put a golf course aid from the placing is very important in the game play.

If you want to buy a golf training aid that must know that there are several systems available on the market. The training aid includes conducting mat, mat practice, practice net, the swing training aid and, of course, the golf putting aid. Most of these aids are small enough to fit inside a bag and they all want to help improve their golf skills. (more…)