Archive for the ‘Open’ tag

Play the British Open Venues with a Scottish Golf Break

Scotland plays host a large number of golf courses, several of which are so renowned that they form part of the golf course rotation for the British Open championship; one of the game?s four major championships.

From its inception in 1860 the British Open was organised by and played at Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland but from 1872 the tournament was played according to a rotating course schedule. Initially, the schedule featured three courses ? Prestwick, St. Andrews and Musselburgh which were all situated in Scotland. However, in 1893, two additional golf courses were added to the list ? both in England. These courses were Royal St. George?s and Royal Liverpool Golf Club, also known as Hoylake. Both these courses feature on the current rotation along with St. Andrews, although Prestwick and Musselburgh are no longer part of the schedule.

Since 1893, other golf courses have been added to the rotation while others have been dropped. In all there are nine golf courses which make up the current list of venues; 5 in Scotland and 4 in England.

In Scotland, the courses which form the Open rotation are the Old Course, St. Andrews; Carnoustie Golf Links; Muirfield; Turnberry Ailsa and Royal Troon. Golfers looking to tackle these and other courses in their immediate area can do so by booking a Scottish golf break which offers the chance for handicap golfers to walk in the footsteps of some of the games most illustrious players, such as Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Ben Hogan, James Braid, Sandy Lyle and Tiger Woods.

Each of the golf courses on the Scottish rotation are easily accessible from Scotland?s major airports and golf breaks in Scotland normally include travel costs, accommodation and green fees for the course so all you need once you arrive is your golf clubs and afterwards, your wallet in order to slake your thirst at the 19th hole.

Carnoustie is situated in the Angus region of Scotland, and represents a tough test for even the best golfer. It last held the Open in 2007, which was won by Ireland?s Padraig Harrington. Like all courses on the Open list, Carnoustie is a links golf course, and is very difficult when the wind blows!

For St. Andrews, book a golf break in Fife. The Old Course is known as the ?home of golf? and is perhaps the most famous golf course in the world and hosts the Open every fifth year and is due to return in 2010. Beware of the infamous ?Roadhole bunker?!

For Royal Troon and Turnberry Ailsa, look for a golf break in Ayrshire. The Ayrshire coast has many other golf courses besides and Turnberry Ailsa will be the scene of the 2009 British Open. Some of the most memorable Open finales have been played on Ayrshire?s Open venues, including the 1977 ?Duel in the Sun? at Turnberry, where Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus went head-to-head for the championship.

Murfield is situated in the town of Gullane, to the east of Edinburgh and is one of the oldest golf courses in the UK. Muirfield is considered to be the fairest test of all the Open venues, although it is far from being an easy course to play. Two circuits of nine holes rotate in opposite directions with the back nine looping inside the front nine, meaning no two consecutive holes are played in the same wind direction. Golfers looking to take on Muirfield?s challenge should Explore Edinburgh golf breaks and in particular the East Lothian region for a Muirfield golf tour, but be aware that the club only allows a certain number of visitors during the week so if Muirfield is on your list of courses to play, it?s always best to check beforehand that you will have the chance.

Whichever Open course you want to play, Scottish golf breaks can give you the chance to follow in the footsteps of some of golf?s greatest names and can provide a golfing experience you?ll never forget!

Can Tiger Make It Twice As Nice At Bethpage In The US Open Or Will A New Name Appear On The Trophy?

The 2009 US Open Golf Championship takes place on the Black Course at the Bethpage State Park, Long Island, New York, which in 2002 became the first public golf course to host a golfing major in the USA when it hosted the US Open.

The course proved very difficult too with only Tiger Woods managing to finish under par, he won the tournament that year by three shots from his greatest rival, Phil Mickelson. It was his second victory in the US Open at the time, but it was his last until he won last year in remarkable style, following a play off with compatriot, Rocco Mediate, at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in California.

His victory was remarkable as he played five rounds of golf on virtually one leg, seeing off Mediate after a close run play off round. Follow that success, Woods immediately withdrew from the rest of the 2008 tour and underwent knee surgery, which happily he has fully recovered from and is now back playing full time on the tour.

Woods of course will be favourite in the US Open Golf betting to win again this year and as usual there is little reason to doubt that he can pull it off and win his 15th golf major, especially on a course on which he has proven winning form.

Players of the stature of Mickelson and Spain’s, Sergio Garcia, will no doubt be a threat to Woods and both acquitted themselves well when it was played at Bethpage in 2002. Mickelson was second to Woods on level par, while Garcia finished in a tie for fourth place, 4 over par. Woods, Mickelson and Garcia are the top three ranked players in the world currently and it could be that they will have to battle out the 2009 US Open between them.

The early antepost betting has Woods as the favourite, with Mickelson and Garcia behind him. Three time major winner, Padraig Harrington and former US Open champion, Geoff Ogilvy are also liekly to feature prominently and pose big threats to all comers.

Argentine Angel Cabrera, who won the US Masters at Augusta back in April this year, also won the US Open in 2007 and on that form he is surely a huge threat to win a third major.

Over recent years the US Open has had the tendency to throw up a host of unexpected and often first time major winners. It seems that if Woods isn’t winning then a new name appears on the trophy. Other than Woods, only South African, Reteif Goosen, has won it more than once. The following is the list of the last ten winners and with five first time winners appearing on the list, it could be worth spending time studying the form of the players who haven’t yet won the US Open.

2008 – Woods
2007 – Cabrera – 1st time winner
2006 – Ogilvy – 1st time winner
2005 – Michael Campbell – 1st time winner
2004 – Reteif Goosen
2003 – Jim Furyk – 1st time winner
2002 – Wood
2001 – Reteif Goosen – 1st time winner
2000 – Woods
1999 – Payne Stewart
The 2009 US Open Golf Championship takes place between 15-21 June

Wta Ptt Pattaya Open – Striking Sport for Tennis Lovers

If you are familiar with the historical details of this tournament, as tennis fanatics does, you must know a little bit about this. In the 1991, this event was the part of the WTA Tier v series and then again it was held in the same style in 2001 to 2003. From 1993 to 2000, it was held as Tier IV event but then promoted back as Tier IV in 2005.

Today it is known as WTA PTT Open international event and allures the minds of people with surprise and amusement. Many tennis players are working with enthusiasm of winning the title of this tournament. Bad luck for Conchita, a great tennis player who had to miss this great tournament as she had not fully recovered from illness and unfit position.

Us Open Champ Geoff Ogilvy

Geoff Ogilvy made a big splash in the world of golf this year by winning the prestigious US Open. Suddenly, he was on everyone’s lips and they were all asking the same questions: Who is Geoff Ogilvy and where did he come from?

Ogilvy is an Australian golfer who currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. This may come as a surprise to many but the US Open was actually Ogilvy’s third championship on the PGA Tour. He previously won the 2005 Chrysler Classic of Tucson and the 2006 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship last February before bagging the 2006 U.S. Open title in June. By virtue of this string of victories, Ogilvy barged into golf’s elite World Top 10 for the first time, rising to as high as number eight.

Ogilvy was simply electric in the US Open, finishing his round with a champion’s flourish and making improbable pars on the last two holes, a 30-foot chip shot at the 17th and a downhill six-footer on the 18th. He was lucky, too, as American Phil Mickelson gave up a two shot lead with three holes to play.

As the first Australian player to win a major golf tournament in 11 years (since Steve Elkington at the 1995 PGA Championship), the 29-year-old Ogilvy has been hailed as a hero in his homeland.

Tony Hallam, CEO of Golf Australia, stated, “The reaction of the Australian public and the Australian golf community to Geoff’s achievement has been phenomenal. Geoff’s victory is particularly significant for golf in Australia and for golfing fans who were willing an Australian to win a Major after an 11 year drought. No doubt this will inspire more young Australians to be successful on the international sporting field.”

Ogilvy turned professional in May of 1998 and won a European Tour card at that year’s Qualifying school. He played on the European Tour in 1999 and 2000, finishing 65th in his first season and improving to 48th in his second. He joined the U.S. based PGA Tour in 2001, and finished in the top 100 in each of his first five seasons. His first professional tournament win came in 2005 at the PGA Tour’s Chrysler Classic of Tucson. In February 2006 he beat Davis Love III in the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

« Older Entries    Newer Entries »