Golf Bowling Club

The Greenbrier Classic

2011-07-29T05:16:00.000-07:00

The Greenbrier Classic

Golf: PGA Tour 2010/2011

Friday, 25th to 31th July 2011 to 03th Aug - Kickoff 21:00

http://www.greenbrierclassic.com/

The Greenbrier Classic will be played for the first time July 29 - August 1, 2010 at the Old White Course at The Greenbrier in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia. It replaces Flint, Michigan’s Buick Open, which had been a tour stop since 1958.

The Greenbrier is one of America’s oldest resort properties. As far back as 1778, the area’s hot sulfur springs attracted travelers seeking health benefits. Indeed, for the first 125 years of its existence, the resort spot was known simply as White Sulfur Springs. A hotel was built in 1858, which stood until 1922.

The property was purchased and expanded by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway starting in 1910. It was at that time that the resort became known as The Greenbrier, while the nearby town was White Sulfur Springs. The Greenbrier became a premier destination, attracting twenty six Presidents, foreign dignitaries such as the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Ghandi, Prince Ranier and Princess Grace as well as innumerable stars such as the always-ready-for-golf Bing Crosby.

In 1913, three years after purchasing the property, the C & O Railroad built the first golf course, the Old White Course. The Old White Course was designed by Charles Blair Macdonald and features several holes modeled after well‑known Scottish holes. Over the years, Sam Snead, the resort’s golf professional emeritus, as well as Arnold Palmer, Jimmy Demaret, Dwight Eisenhower, the Prince of Wales, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and the Rev. Billy Graham have enjoyed golf at The Greenbrier. Jack Nicklaus redesigned the Greenbrier Course in 1977 for the 1979 International Ryder Cup Matches. The third championship course on the property is the Meadows Course, redesigned in 1998 by noted golf architect Robert Cupp. In 1999, the Sam Snead Golf Academy opened offering half‑day and multi‑day classes for golfers of all abilities.

Curiously, The Greenbrier also was the site of a secret underground bunker complex that the US government built to house the Congress in case of national emergency (it figures that Congress would relocate itself to a luxury resort while the rest of us suffer). Now decommissioned and declassified, the bunker apparently houses data facilities and can be toured. The Washington Post article which exposed the secret bunkercan be read here.

PGA Tour legend Sam Snead held the position as the resort’s emeritus pro for many years until his death. Tom Watson now holds that title. The resort also hosted the Ryder Cup in 1979 and the Solheim Cup in 1994. Muirfield Village is the only other location to have hosted both the Ryder and Solheim Cups.

In 2009, the resort filed for bankruptcy, and apparently was slated to be bought by the Marriott Corporation. But that purchase was contested by James Justice, whose family holdings included mines, milling and farms in West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. In the end, the legal argument was settled in favor of the Justice family and they are the current owners of the property. Casino gambling was introduced at the Greenbrier in 2010.

There are of course, no past winners of this tournament as of this moment. That’ll change on Sunday.

Before the start of Greenbrier Classic, rumours were circulating around that Tiger Woods, who has been absent since early May this year, will make his comeback appearance at the Greenbrier Classic. But like any other rumour, this has been to a contrary; Woods will not be in the field for the PGA Tour’s second year of Greenbrier Classic. Woods has away from any tournament since his withdrawal at the nine holes of the Players Championship.

He has also missed the British Open Championship two weeks ago in Sandwich Kent. Once again, the 35-year-old Tiger will be missing in action this week, nonetheless, The Old White TPC will be graced by some of the big guns in golf. Both former Masters Tournaments winners Phil Mickelson and Tom Watson – who are both first timers -will be paring with the defending champion Stuart Appleby in hope to take a bid of the of the $1.080m winning prize from the total prize purse of $6M.

The Greenbrier Classic Defending Champion

At the inaugural of the latest edition of PGA Tour last year, Stuart Appleby made an astonishing display when he finished 59 at the final round of the tournament by carding 22-under par 258. A record setting that made him first Australian and the fifth player to have achieved the feat after Al Geiberger, Chip Beck, David Duval and Paul Goydos.

Having not won for four years, it was an intensified game for the Aussie at the final round going against Jeff Overton in the leaderboard, but somehow he manage to pull it of with his birdies on each of his final three holes and an eagle. By these, he succeeded to held off Jeff Overton by one stroke. His victory was then followed up by winning the JBWere Masters 2010 but since then, his form has plummeted. With his 20 events played this season, he has only managed to have one top 10 finish and the rest are marred by missing the cut.

Not to mention his disqualification at the AT&T National’s second round for signing an incorrect scorecard. With this, Stuart Appleby is in desperate need of a win but prospect of defending his title is slim that he is listed by Ladbrokes at 101.00 compare to Jeff Overton at 21.00 to win the Greenbriers Classic.

The First Timer at Greenbrier Classic 2011

Phil Mickelson will be playing for the first time at the Old White Course. He is the only player inside the top 10 to tee off at the 2011 Greenbrier Classic this week. As he heads in West Virginia, Mickelson will be putting behind him what had happened at the Open Championship 2011 in England. He could have won and added the Open title in his major bag but was edge out by Darren Clarke. Despite the British weather throwing all its elements, the “Lefty” started the final round with only five strokes behind the leader Clarke. At one stage of the final day, in the ninth green, Phil caught up.

However, he blew his chance when he lost focus at the 11th hole when he missed a 3-foot par, in which he called it a “dumb mental error”. Although he had another birdie in the 14th, it was not enough to seize Darren Clarke to win the Open 2011. The 41-year-old finished T2, carding 2-under par 68 at 278. Mickelson has to avoid similar “dumb error” and needs to play well here if he wants to overtake Nick Watney on top of the FedExCup standing. A win or second place result will make this happen. Fresh from a week off from the tournament, Phil Mickelson is the bookmakers favourite at 9/1 to win in the second year of Greenbrier Classic 2011.

Tom Watson skipped the U.S. Senior Open to play at the Old White TPC to honour his commitment made to Jim Justice, the owner of the golf course. The Pro Emeritus One is in form of the late. Two weeks ago at the Royal St. Georges, he has once again shown why he is a legend. On the par-three sixth green, the “Old Guy” and five time British Open champ made an astonishing hole-in-one shot in Kent.

A beautiful 4-iron hit into a 160 yards, with the ball bouncing once before it went straight into the cup. The 61-year-old finished T22, 6-over par 72 in the final round. Last week, at the Senior British Open, the eight-time major winner Watson carded 5-under 67 in the final round to finish T3. Tom Watson is the oldest to tee in Greenbrier Classic and he is offered at odds 11/1 to finish in top 10.

The Irish Open

2011-07-29T05:09:00.001-07:00

The

Irish Open - Killarney Golf & Fishing Club

Golf: European Tour 2010/2011

Friday, 29th July 2011 to 03th Aug - Kickoff 15:10

http://irishopengolf.com/

The European Tour is heading to Republic of Ireland for this week's Irish Open at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club. With Northern Ireland producing two major winners within the span of four weeks, this has never been so a timely welcome for the Irish Open to have the three major pride and joy of Northern Ireland to tee off in Co Killarney. To have Ross Fisher defends his title against its brood of Northern Irishmen champions, the last two major title holders of US Open Graeme McDowell (2010) and Rory McIlroy (2011) and recently added to the list, British Open winner Darren Clarke will be a massive boost not only to the organizer of the event but also to the entire region. The fans will be in a treat as they see them play in action against each other to win the most prestigious golfing tournament title of their country.

The Defending Champion

Ross Fisher, the defending champion collected his first European title after winning the Irish Open last year with his final round 65, a two shots lead charge against home favourite Padraig Harrington. Under pressure, the Englishman managed a superb finished 18-under par 266. After his recent outing in Kent, the Wentworth player had a one week off heading to Co Killarney this Thursday. At the Royal St. George's, the 30-year-old Fisher did not make the cut with his 3-over par 73 in on Friday of the Open Championship day. With this, he has dropped 4 places, from 59 to 63 in the world ranking. Ross Fisher has been inconsistent with his game since the beginning of this year. Out of his five recent tournaments, his best result was finishing T9 at the BMW International has twice missed the cut. Defending his title against the Irish lads talent would be not be easy, nonetheless, he will not give it up without a fight. Ross Fisher is at odds 26.00 to retain his title.

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Darren Clarke - Going against the world’s best golfers in Sandwich, who would have thought that the 42-year-old Darren Clarke who was 125-1 to win before the tournament begun will grab the headline at the end of 140th Open Championship. Having been forgotten by many to even have a chance to win tournaments, let alone a Major, the newly darling of the golf world was even doubted by many to falter at the final round. However, he defied the odds and has proven the doubters wrong with his two decades of perseverance to win a Major title. With time and experience in his side, this dream has come to reality two weeks ago. Perhaps it is a fairlytale indeed given his admission of nearly giving up playing in April. Nonetheless, his decision to continue has paid off, forever his name will always be remembered and will be part of the Major Players’ elite club of from now on. The British Open champion maintain his composure even when he was threaten by Phil Mickelson’s three birdies and one eagle leading to the eight of the final round. However, the “Lefty’s” inconsistence have prevailed to make the new No30 in the world to finish an outstanding win of 70, carding 5-under par. A three shot clear from the twoo Americans Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson who were both finished in T2. Darren Clarke’s success at the Open would not only mean a new found fame but it also given him a new found confidence leading to the Irish Open. The man of the moment whose last seven starts on Irish soil have all yielded top-20 finishes and last year, he finished T12 in Killarney. He is hoping to win a back-to-back Open but the likelihood of him finishing in top 10 is more probable and Darren Clarke is 11/5 in the market to finish in top 10 of the Irish Open.

Rory McIlroy – If there is a wonder-boy that Northern Ireland was hoping to make a dazzling display at the Open, it would have been Rory McIlroy. He was the hottest contention to triumph after his historic win at the US Open in June. Scorring he lowest score in the US Open history with his runaway 16-under-par 268, an eight-shot lead. In contrast to his record-setting victory, in the third round in Kent, the 22-year-old struggled to maintain his 4 shots back of the lead that by the end of the day he carded a 4-over 74. On top of that, he failed to be in contention to be a threat the following day, blaming the wet and the windy weather with his 7-over par 73 final result, T25 in the leaderboard. Last year’s tournament, in the same ground of Killarney Golf and Fishing Club, the No4 finished T35, carding 2-under par 71 with a three bogeys and three birdies in his card. The Ulsterman might not have been lucky in the greens of Kent but has been lucky to have found a new love since then, tennis world number one Caroline Wozniacki. As he yet proves again that he is not just a one-hit wonder boy, being in-love will be Rory McIlroy's inspiration to tee off this weekend as he is the bookmakers favourite to win the Irish Open 2011 at odds 7.00.

Graeme McDowell – the US Open 2010 winner started his opening round at the British Open Championship two weeks ago with a disheartening double-bogey 6 in the first and if that was not enough, he then followed it up a drop shot at 5^th and 8^th. G-Mac managed to turn the event around to get to the 2^nd round with his 2-under par 68. However, he went from bad to worse following the 2nd round of the tournament with his five bogies and 1 double bogey.Thus, his second miss-cut out of his five recent tournaments. Having climb the world ranking in the beginning of the year from sixth to fourth, after a depleted outing in Kent, the 31-year-old has continued to plummet down in 12^th this week. He will be under pressure to perform with his fellow compatriots in Co Killarney. Graeme McDowell has yet to post a top 10 finish at odds 6/5 in which he will be hoping to do so at least at the Irish Open.

28/04/11 Golf: European Tour & Asian Tour: Ballantines Championship Betting

2011-04-27T14:05:00.001-07:00

Golf: European Tour & Asian Tour: Ballantine’s Championship

Thursday 28 Apr 2011 until Sunday 1 May 2011

The European Tour remains in Asia for a third straight week for the fourth staging of the Ballantine's Championship. Some of the world’s top golfer are set to battle again in Korea for the Ballatine’s championship. The $2.9 million European Tour event will tee off on Thursday at Blackstone Golf Club in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province with a total of 156 golfers vying for the trophy.

The 2011 version is once again co-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and Korea PGA. However, unlike the three previous events which were all held at Pinx Golf Club, this week's instalment will be played at Blackstone Resort in Incheon, just south of Seoul. Blackstone, which was opened in 2009, is hosting a professional tournament for the first time.

The stunning resort has three nine-hole courses - North, East and West - with this week's event using the layouts of the North and West.

Defending champion is Australia's Marcus Fraser, who won by four shots 12 months ago in a weather-affected tournament restricted to 54 holes.

Since its establishment in 2007, the Ballantine’s Championship has been hosted on Jeju Island. But this year, the organizer has decided to host the event at a more central location to attract more star players and visitors.

Lee Westwood is set to dominate the headlines as the first incumbent world No. 1 ever to play in Korea.

“It’s a great field. I was in Jeju two years ago, but I’ve never been in mainland Korea before. I’m so looking forward to playing here,” said Westwood on Tuesday at Blackstone.

The 38-year-old Englishman, who held the No. 1 ranking from Nov. 1 until Feb. 28, has returned to the top spot last week by winning the Indonesian Masters.

“I played well last week. My confidence is high, and I’m looking forward to winning the title on Sunday afternoon.”

Asked whether he feels any pressure to stay in the top spot, he said: “Obviously being the No. 1 involves a lot of responsibility. You have a lot more things to do. And sometimes it becomes very difficult to get time to practice. But I’m so used to do it.”

Also joining the No. 1 are three-time Major winner Ernie Else, PGA Tour’s rising young star Dustin Johnson and Ryder Cup champion Ian Poulter.

Yang Yong-eun, who won the PGA Championship by beating the long-time world No. 1 Tiger Woods to become the first Asian winner of a major title, is looking to win his third European Tour event in his home country.

Yang, better known as Y.E Yang, won the Volvo China Open last year, but did not win another tournament until last week.

Fresh from this year’s Volvo China, in which he failed to defend his title, Yang said he was happy to be home.

“It’s been nearly six months since I played here last. I’ve been dreaming of playing in front of my home fans,” he said.

The 39-year-old Korean admitted that he was a little bit out of form in putting last week, but he is now focusing on regaining his rhythm.

“I couldn’t keep my focus until the last hole, and missed 3-4 putts in Volvo China. But I feel great about this competition and have confidence,” he said.

Yang also added that he was determined to win the Ballantine’s Championship on Sunday.

“Now I come here to play only once or twice a year. I think the best way to give something back to my home fans is winning the championship.” Yang will lead a strong squad that includes rising youngster Noh Seung-yul and three-time Japanese tour winner Kim Kyung-tae.

The Ballantine’s Championship, which was established in 2007, is co-organized by the European Tour, the Korean PGA and the Asian Tour. It was the first European Tour event staged in Korea. The prize in the first year was 2 million euros ($2.6 million), while this year it is 2.2 million euros ($2.9 million), underscoring the event’s status as the biggest golf tournament in Korea.

Three-time Major Champion Ernie Els is relishing teeing up at the Ballantine’s Championship’s new venue, Blackstone Resort in Seoul, later this month.

Els has had top ten finishes in the tournament for the past two seasons, when it was played at Pinx Golf Club on Jeju island, and is eyeing victory in this year’s €2.2 million event, taking place from April 28 to May 1.

“I had a chance last year and I didn’t play a good final nine holes,” said the South African. “So I’m coming back this year with the objective to try and win the tournament.

“It’s a prestigious event and they get a number of really good players, so if you can win, you’ve beaten a really good field. I would love to win, especially on a new course.

“I always read up on who designed the course.

It will be a long flight to get there so you can do a bit of background research and start reading up on the designer and his philosophy.”

Els added of golf’s huge growth in Asia in recent years: “The changes have been huge. I’ve been playing in Asia since the early Nineties, so I’ve seen some of the players come and go, but I’ve never seen it as strong as it is now.

“Golf in Asia has exploded, everywhere you go it is such a popular sport. They televise tournaments from Europe and the US and, of course, there is such a large audience.”

The 41 year old is feeling the benefits of having a more relaxed schedule this season, which started magnificently with victory in the South African Open Championship.

“I had a five-week break before playing in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson,” he said. “I normally play in the Middle East and on the US west coast, but I had a nice break and took it easy.”

Joining Els in Korea’s biggest golf tournament will be World Number Two Lee Westwood, his fellow Englishman Ian Poulter and home favourite Y E Yang, Asia’s first Major winner.

Lee Westwood hopes to put on a show in the Ballantine's Championship this week as the first No. 1-ranked golfer to play in South Korea. Westwood reclaimed the top ranking from Martin Kaymer when he won the Indonesian Masters by three strokes in Jakarta on Sunday, his 38th birthday.

Westwood shot 68-66-66-69 on Royale Jakarta for his seventh win in Asia, and was keen to pull off consecutive wins. "The world rankings are all about consistency and playing well week-in and week-out, which I tend to do,'' he said. The Ballantine's in Icheon, outside Seoul but will feature its strongest field.

Prediction:

The European Tour makes its final stop in Asia this week as it lands in Korea for the Ballantines Championship and it’s certainly leaving Asia with a bang as an excellent field has been assembled this week, a field headed by newly re-crowned world number one Lee Westwood. Asia’s first major winner YE Yang tees it up this week as does the likes of Ian Poulter, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Ernie Els. Australian Marcus Fraser is the defending champion this week.

As with a lot of events this season, this tournament will be played on a new course this week. The event is now at the Blackstone golf course in Seoul. The course is a par 72 and is 7275 yards long so it’s not very long by today’s standards. As with all courses in this part of the world hitting true golf shots will be key and accuracy is another necessity.

There’s some real big names in the field this week and it’s no surprise Lee Westwood is the market leader but at 6/1 on a new course even allowing for the fact he won in Indonesia last week isn’t for me really. Dustin Johnson makes a rare European Tour appearance and he’s 2nd in the market but I’ve not known him play across the seas too often before so I’ll pass him over as well. Ian Poulter will be popular as will YE Yang. The home hero looks a big price at 22/1 but not as big as my pick this week.

Ernie Els is massively overpriced here at 40/1. I accept his form hasn’t been good this season as a whole in terms of winning events although he did win in Africa at the beginning of the European season. He’s recently adopted a belly putter and you get the feeling at some point he’s going to light up a tournament on the greens soon. It could be here on these slower greens which should suit him better. Ernie remains a class act from tee to green and having been in the top 10 in this event in the last two years if he can sink a few putts he will be bang in the mix this week..

Pick : Ernie Els ( to win Ballantines Championship)
Odds :41.00
Stake : 1/ 10
Bookmaker : BETFRED