LOCATED AT CRANS-MONTANA in the heart of the Swiss Alps, the spectacular Crans Sur Sierre Golf Club plays host from September 5-8th to the Omega European Masters. The tournament gives the 30 best Asian players the opportunity to challenge their European counterparts, and gives them all the chance to run round a mountain top singing “The hills are Alive!”
MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ is delighted at being tournament ambassador at Crans Sur Sierrre, where he won the European Masters in 2010. Jimenez has fond memories of the Severiano Ballesteros course. “I come back every year, I love the magnificent scenery, and the marvellous restaurants:” he enthuses.” Jimenez has participated in over 720 tournaments on the European Tour, won 21 European titles, and 13 on the PGA Champions Tour. He won the 2014 Spanish Open at the age of 50. Now aged 60, he is looking forward to competing against the young guns. “As long as I am capable of making birdies” he says, chomping cigars and knocking back the Rioja “You will find me at the OMEGA European Masters.” Viva Miguel!
THE PGA CUP will be held in America from 9-15 September, on Sunriver’s Meadows course, Oregon. A biennial contest between professionals from America and the UK, the event has been contested since 1973 by teams of 10 players over three days in a Ryder Cup format, with foursomes and four-ball matches on each of the first two days, and 10 singles matches on the final day. No prize money is awarded, the teams compete for possession of the PGA trophy, formerly the Llandudno trophy.
The Llandudno International Trophy began life as a prize for the Home Tournament Series, contested in 1938 by professionals from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. England won the tournament and the Captain, 6-time Ryder Cup player Percy Alliss, kept the trophy at his home near Ferndown Golf Club Dorset, where he was the club professional. During the relentless bombing raids on Southampton a German plane had to dump it’s load and a bomb dropped on the Ferndown course less than 50 yards from the Alliss home. Gary Alliss, son of Peter and a two-time PGA Cup captain himself, recounted: “There was this massive explosion which literally shook the house, and the trophy fell off the mantelpiece, denting it’s lid,” The Home Series tournament was suspended for the duration of the war, and never resumed. The impressive 18-pound silver trophy was repaired and donated to The PGA in the 1970’s. The 2022 event was held at Foxhills Golf Cub, Surrey, and America won by five points, retaining the trophy, which was renamed the PGA Cup. Probably because they couldn’t pronounce Llandudno.
AFTER CAPTURING the BMW Championship and Tour Championship to win the FedExCup last season, Norway’s Victor Hovland tried to make swing changes that backfired, and split with his coach, Joe Mayo. Dire results ensued however, and he soon reunited with Mayo. Hovland had lost his touch, missing three of four cuts in the Majors and failing to record any further victories.
Hovland confessed: “I ruined a relationship in my swing that makes it really difficult for me to control the face coming down. I know exactly why it happened. and now it’s just a process of getting back to where I was.” He should have consulted Luke Donald, champion of the golf world until he tinkered with his swing. If it ain’t broke etc., justest emerging from a great sea of early mist is to taste one of the I
BERNARD DARWIN described a round at Royal County Down as: “The kind of golf that people play in their most ecstatic dreams.” Rick Cleveland, golf writer, wrote: “Harder than any golf course I ever played in my worst nightmare! Players will doubtless experience both dream and nightmare in The Amgen Irish Open, from 12-15th September, but with a great line-up of pros and celebrities, some lively music and a great deal of Guinness, a good time will definitely be had anyway.
Until next time: Happy Golfing.
Contact Mick for regripping and repairs. Tel. 638 859 475.
