European Tour 2015 - DP World Tour Championship

First topic message reminder :

I thought with no place to discuss European Tour events, and with important upcoming event. I felt it would be a good idea to set up a thread to I am going to try and keep this updated every week with selected tee times.

Super, same here. Bugger all that golf is a honest sport nonsense, if you don't get caught it isn't a penalty.

super_realist wrote:I just repair them under the guise of it being a pitchmark.

The rules of golf do come across as a strange mix of self-regulation and leveraging the integrity of the player (a stroke is not a stoke unless you had the intention of hitting the ball etc.) and ridiculously convoluted and prescriptive (no touching the line of the putt at all except for a pitch mark).

Did they not sell tickets for the Russian Open?  There is no gallery whatsoever at the tournament.

They were trying to pass out tickets for the "Russian Open" at Budapest train station but no takers.


European Open commitments include Mahan, Hoffmann, McDool, Harrington, King Charl, Donaldson, Wiesberger, Dubie, Warren and a dozen more in the owgr top 100.
EDIT: Wonder why Kaymer isn't playing in the Porsche European Open in Germany - sponsor conflict?

No point in Padraig Harrington entering these tournaments - he'll be out for months as he is treated for a torn meniscus according to his Twitter account.

If Casey fails to renew his ET card, won't he be ineligable for the RC?

kwinigolfer wrote:They were trying to pass out tickets for the "Russian Open" at Budapest train station but no takers.

European Open commitments include Mahan, Hoffmann, McDool, Harrington, King Charl, Donaldson, Wiesberger, Dubie, Warren and a dozen more in the owgr top 100.
EDIT: Wonder why Kaymer isn't playing in the Porsche European Open in Germany - sponsor conflict?

Think they'd prefer the European Open...

I'm sure that's correct about Casey.


European Open a more enticing attraction? Yup, the Porsche dealership in Aleppo is not what it used to be.

Tom Watson playing next week's KLM Dutch Open?  McGinley too.

It looks like the tournament will not need any OWGR subsidies with Kaymer, Luiten, Jimenez, Donaldson, Gallacher in the field.

Surprised Westwood did not enter.

GPB,
Did you see that PGA Tour "non-members" Iwata, Aiken, Grillo, Lahiri and Siem are signed up for the first of the WTF events? Gonzo too.

I walked a few holes with Mark Immelman last week, but didn't get any insight as to where brother Trev will be compressing his balls next season. Sterne will presumably return to Europe. Or possibly even retire, except for the Africa events.

kwinigolfer wrote:GPB,
Did you see that PGA Tour "non-members" Iwata, Aiken, Grillo, Lahiri and Siem are signed up for the first of the WTF events? Gonzo too.

I think that is terrific, and I suspect the Web-com officials are giddy that these players are playing the series.

Any or all of them will be great additions to the PGATour.

If Lahiri plays all four events, he will play 4 straight tournaments going into the Prez Cup.

Also think it's terrific, think the Americans playing on the European Tour, or its fringes, are great too.

Lack of success on either Tour shouldn't define golfers, but success in all parts of the World can. Still think Spieth's coming out party was the Aussie Open, where he really went out and dominated.

Great finish by Slattery, good to see one of the tours grafters get a win.

It will certainly be the easier 24 OWGR points he or possible anyone else ever earns.

I see Monty won at Woburn for the 3rd year in a row - having won the PGA 3 years running in the late 90s. Like him or loathe him, you have to say that's pretty impressive.

I remember watching him play in one of those wins, Smithers, think it was 97? he was unreal then, on a different level to the rest of the field.

I was at a sun-drenched Woburn yesterday Smithers and it was a really good day. It was impressive from Monty especially when he smashed a driver on the 18th nearly onto the green, then making the up and down for birdie to get into a play-off with an unlucky Ross Drummond.

I thought Monty spoke extremely well at the presentation and was very friendly afterwards, happily signing autographs and posing for photographs with spectators and I even managed to get a few words with him myself. No doubt though it would have been a different story if he had lost in the play-off!

Which of us isn't like that in victory/defeat though? Sounds like a great day for all!

Very true but I just get the impression that Monty is more bad-tempered and grumpy than most in defeat!

It was, just over 7000 people there which is good for a Senior event but you could still get really close to the players on the range and on the course. Don't expect that will be the case when the British Masters is there next month though!

I've got a ticket for next month Blue. What is the course like to get around? Anything I need to know that might be useful?

Found the course pretty easy to get around to be honest MPB. We followed Monty's group all the way round and although he had the biggest following it was still pretty comfortable, I guess that might be a bit different next month with more spectators. The Seniors were playing on the Dukes course, the British Masters is on the Marquess course but I imagine the terrain will be fairly similar and certainly some of the scenery is quite stunning.

The reserved parking was all sold out so we parked in the main public car park and as we were there by 9.00am we were literally only a few minutes walk from the course. Again that may well be different next month with more traffic. The biggest mistake I made was not putting a pair of golf shorts in the bag, it was roasting!

The food and drink was ridiculously expensive but isn't it always at these type of events. Other than that couldn't fault it and I'm sure you will have an enjoyable day, we are hoping to go on the Friday.

BlueCoverman wrote:The biggest mistake I made was not putting a pair of golf shorts in the bag, it was roasting!
.

Careful Blue, Super will be telling you that you should have taken football shorts or bermudas, anything but golf shorts as a spectator!

BlueCoverman wrote:Found the course pretty easy to get around to be honest MPB. We followed Monty's group all the way round and although he had the biggest following it was still pretty comfortable, I guess that might be a bit different next month with more spectators. The Seniors were playing on the Dukes course, the British Masters is on the Marquess course but I imagine the terrain will be fairly similar and certainly some of the scenery is quite stunning.

The reserved parking was all sold out so we parked in the main public car park and as we were there by 9.00am we were literally only a few minutes walk from the course. Again that may well be different next month with more traffic. The biggest mistake I made was not putting a pair of golf shorts in the bag, it was roasting!

The food and drink was ridiculously expensive but isn't it always at these type of events. Other than that couldn't fault it and I'm sure you will have an enjoyable day, we are hoping to go on the Friday.

Cheers Blue

Interesting re the parking, I hadn't given that any thought yet so best get on and book a space!

SmithersJones wrote:

BlueCoverman wrote:The biggest mistake I made was not putting a pair of golf shorts in the bag, it was roasting!
.

Careful Blue, Super will be telling you that you should have taken football shorts or bermudas, anything but golf shorts as a spectator!

WOuld never advocate football shorts.

Not even when you are playing football?

Only when playing football.

Bet your a full kit w@anker when you play Mac.

Only when I play golf as I usually wear a full Nike outfit.

No doubt in the world that Mac wears his shin pads with socks pulled all the way up for even the smallest kick about. Elbow pads wouldn't surprise me to be honest

Better safe than sorry MPB. Am sure he feels more comfortable in his helmet and shoulder pads.

Curious entry in the KLM Dutch Open with Padraig Harrington playing despite writing that he has "a tear in the meniscus".

Wouldn't this be the best time to get it surgically repaired so that he has the winter months for recuperation? Imagine one should invest in him with caution until he clarifies his situation.

SmithersJones wrote:

BlueCoverman wrote:The biggest mistake I made was not putting a pair of golf shorts in the bag, it was roasting!
.

Careful Blue, Super will be telling you that you should have taken football shorts or bermudas, anything but golf shorts as a spectator!

Not sure what he would have said about the hugely overweight bloke I saw who was wearing a bright orange shirt with his massive gut hanging over bright red golf shorts!

Tut tut. Red and orange don't go together.

What are golf shorts, is there such a thing? dont people just wear shorts to play golf?

Tom Watson playing the Dutch Open?

Halfway through the afternoon GPB, and Watson's about 55th!

Afternoon scores a lot higher than the morning action, not sure why that is.
Donaldson and Fleetwood still in holiday mood. Fleetwood especially seems a very streaky golfer and he can't afford streaky average at the level he aspires to. Time to step it up Tommy.

Maybe the wind's picked up in the afternoon. Pretty common on links courses.

Seems much quieter now with Adam Scott's good mate Wade Ormsby finishing his round on fire.
Stoneham's best not so Bland, one shot back.

59 watch!
-8 after 14 holes, par 70: Matt Fitzpatrick

EDIT: -9 AFTER 15. . . . . and -10 AFTER 16!

kwinigolfer wrote:59 watch!
-8 after 14 holes, par 70: Matt Fitzpatrick

EDIT: -9 AFTER 15. . . . . and -10 AFTER 16!

59 watch over... Only a 60

Well done Fitz; imagine the Tour would have had a hard time recognizing a 59 with lift, clean and place, but terrific promise from him, just turned 21.
Cue snarky comments from McLaren . . . . . . . .

Someone will be getting extra cuddles at bedtime. :thumbsup:

Early declarations in for the Alfred Dunhill; eleven Top Fifty golfers with another 20-ish Top 100 players and some American tourists. Plus Stewart Cink on the second leg of a busman's holiday.

Why does the European Tour website insist on calling Tom Watson "The Peoples Champion"? The Peoples Ryder Cup Captain would be more apt, though his politics suggest he's hardly the peoples anything. Brilliant golfer though he is.

Looks like it should be a wonderful weekend of golf, though the cut possibly moving to -2 would wipe out several popular picks in Grumpy's game.

kwinigolfer wrote:Why does the European Tour website insist on calling Tom Watson "The Peoples Champion"? The Peoples Ryder Cup Captain would be more apt, though his politics suggest he's hardly the peoples anything. Brilliant golfer though he is.

Well, as new Labour deputy leader he should be right up your alley kwini?

Not sure pedro, but think Corbyn would have been my MP. Not quite clear where the constituency boundaries are there in the Peoples Republic of Islington. Lived right off Islington Green, just at the north end of Camden Passage. Fabulous place for a single lad 30+ years ago!

Cabrera-Bello: I wonder if that's some kind of record, 18 holes, 18 g'sir, 18 pars.

Can see why people picked Kaymer for Grumpy's game . . . . . . 74!

Another triumph for American Collegiate golf.
No, not the Walker Cup silly.
Thomas Pieters.

Win should get him inside the owgr Top 90.

US team loses Walker Cup - bunch of amateurs!

Has anyone ever managed more than 8 birdies in a row? Surely someone has right?

Calc had 9 in a row on PGA tour in 2009